Late Night

It was a cool September night in Ponyville. The shutters were all shut, and the street lamps let off their gentle light as the residents of the sleepy little town settled in for sleep and snuggles. While the ponies in Ponyville all visited their dream worlds, a certain pair of pegasi were not quite ready to retire.

Rainbow Dash sat up awake and alert reading a Daring Do novel, while her coltfriend Storm paced in front of their bed. She idly turned a page, with her mouth agape slightly as she carefully scanned the words on the page, as she allowed the story to take her imagination away to a faraway land.

Meanwhile, Storm made a hole in the floor with his non-stop pacing. He let out multiple sighs, had a mini conversation with himself, and finally sat his haunches down on the floor.

As Rainbow Dash turned another page, Storm let out a tiny cough, and made Rainbow Dash jump in her seat. Storm chuckled as he saw Rainbow grab at her chest for a second.

She groaned, “You know I hate it when you do that.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I know. Someone has to pull you out of that story-coma after a while.”

She swatted a hoof to him like he was a fly. “Oh, hush. I’m on the best chapter.”

He deadpanned, “You said that three chapters ago.”

She looked up at him with a playful glare, “Yeah? Well, I don’t complain when you take over the whole room to practice guitar. So deal with it.” She eyed him over, and studied how he paced back and forth. “Besides, you’re one to talk. Why haven’t you even tried to come to bed?”

He took in a sharp breath, “Because, I want to be too tired to go anywhere so I can get out of this.”

Rainbow took out her favorite pink bookmark, and marked her place. She let out a sigh, and rubbed her temples. “Storm, we’ve been over this. We can’t keep putting this off. Do you know how annoying it is to visit dad and keep coming up with excuses for why he hasn’t met the boy who’s been dating his daughter for the past six months?”

“I know, but it’s just such a big deal. I mean, this is the one who raised you. Just a bit of pressure, ya know? I mean, you’re the first real girlfriend I’ve had, and things have been going great. But, I’m...I don’t know. I just...I don’t know.” His words drained away from his voice, and he fell quiet.

Rainbow Dash got up from the bed, a softer expression graced her face. “Storm, what’s going on? Ever since I brought this up, you’ve been acting lame.”

“I don’t really wanna talk about it. I’m kind of tired, and I just really want to go to bed.”

She shook her head. “Nuh-uh. You’re not getting off that easy. Why don’t you just want to talk about it?”

No response.

She tried a different tactic. “I’ll tell you what: you do this for me, and I’ll do whatever you want the next day, okay? We can go anywhere we want to, do whatever we want, I don’t care. I just want this one, simple thing. Can’t we do that?”

He let out a sigh. “I’m just...eh. I don’t know. I just kinda...I don’t know.”

She took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Storm, you’re repeating yourself. Look, I can see why you’re feeling a little anxious, but really, it’s just my dad. It’s not like it’s a huge deal, it’s just one parent.”

He rolled his eyes, “Yeah? Well, that one parent could make our life hell if he doesn’t like who you’re with. Besides, what if he just gives me crap for being your coltfriend? I’ve seen it happen, ya know. Some parents resent that their kids are with someone, and they try to split them up because they don’t like it. What if he does that?”

Her brows furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?! My dad is the most awesome guy in the world! Like, seriously, there’s not anything to hate about him, and you’re making a big deal out of nothing. What the hell, Storm? You haven’t even met the guy yet, and you’re already passing judgement?”

Storm sighed, and tried to put his wing around her. “Rainbow, look, let’s just calm down, okay? I-”

She slapped his wing away. “No! I will not calm down! You better apologize to me, you know that?”

He scrunched his muzzle, “What did I do?”

“You totally made my dad sound like some...some...loser! I can’t believe that you haven't even met the guy, and you’re assuming all this crap about him, when I know for a fact that he’s not even close to the jerk you’re describing!”

Storm felt his body temperature rise, and the blood start to flush his cheeks. “Dangit Rainbow, don’t you understand? Every time I’ve tried to be with someone, their parents always hated me!”

She crossed her forelegs and rolled her eyes, “Well, why do you think that is, Storm? Could it be because you judged them before you even freakin’ met them? That you played all these little twisted scenarios in your head before you even knew what way was up and down?! Could it be because of that, Storm?! Maybe if you’d stop being so damn stupid half the time, you’d finally unclench your butt and learn to enjoy life for a change instead of acting like such a damn coward!”

“Oh, whatever! Why don’t you try thinking of things from my point of view for once, huh? How about that? Are you even capable of empathy, Rainbow? Or are you just so absorbed with your awesome world, that everything has to be just the way you want it? Well, I got news for ya Dashie, you didn’t have to worry about the crap I have in my life! You haven’t had to worry about all the nonsense of going through college, and failing to meet almost everyone’s expectations! You didn’t have to worry about all the times you fail in a relationship, because you aren’t what the parent wants for their precious little girl!” He backed up from her, and took a few breaths to try and cool his nerves.

She squinted her eyes at him, and walked up to where he was standing. Inches away from his face, she shot back in a venomous tone, “If you were half the stallion my dad was, you would understand why this was so important to me.”

He felt the breath get crushed from his body as he and Rainbow Dash were locked in a staring contest.

He finally spoke up after a moment or two, “I need to clear my head. Don’t wait up for me.”

With that, he turned and flew out the window.

Rainbow Dash held her breath for a few moments, before she let it out in what was almost a sob. She walked over to the window Storm flew out of, and slammed it closed.

Author's Note

Comments and feedback is asked for and appreciated.