Time Flies:
Doctor Hooves: the time specialist, renowned genius of Ponyville, and colt friend to a special and beloved cyan Pegasus. The stallion marched silently towards the lurching epitaph, eyes lament on the lightning bolt insignia carved into the fading marble. Lips begin to tweak and quiver as liquid crystals form up around his sapphire blue eyes, glistening in the moons light; the teary gloss obscuring vision for seconds at a time. Hooves blinks furiously, gritting his teeth in pure frustration as he tries to withdraw the whimpering cries held in his throat. He gazes with sparkling eyes at the secret sanctuary he built in memory and dedication to his mare friend: Rainbow Dash. He slumps down, burying his head into the ground, nostrils flared; he relentlessly blares heavy breaths against the grass. The wind catches him, the cold and bitter sting whirls around his body like frozen arms embracing the softness of ones soul.
A flower softly taps against his face as it sways gently in the icy breeze, dancing amongst the moon lit streaks of green. Even in the cold of the night, it smells sweet, the scent ever so reminiscent of a certain technicoloured mane. The crying holds back, and a weak smile reaches Doctor Hooves face as he remembers how Rainbow Dash’s mane used to flow in the wind. It seemed almost luminous in the twilight, and according to memory, her silhouette radiated an aura of beauty and wonder. Going over a discussion he and her had in what felt like eons ago.
“Why did you save me that day?”
“Why not?”
“But wh-”
“Look Mr. Smarty pants, I acted on instinct, my body just compelled me to do so. I did what I did, alright?”
The evening was nigh, and the sun began to sink away into the horizon as Luna started to raise the moon. It was only ¼ crescent then. The skies were smeared with purples and oranges, and Rainbow Dash coveted the very sight with all her heart. He could feel it, that day lying with her on the cliff. He could feel the calmness emanate from the relieved blue mass as she slowly drifted into sleep.
The doctor remembered hearing:
“This is all I ever wanted…” Her voice faded away, a minuscule smile of satisfaction formed as the colour in her closing eyes began to diminish. “Promise me something doc. Promise me, you won’t cry…”
He rose in shock, the stallion jumping to his hooves, launched himself at the Pegasus, and held firmly her head in his arms. Tears had already begun to formulate, and dribble down his cheeks, dripping onto the silent blue face. They glimmered in the Twilight, slowly pouring down like a melodic rain, grieving and alone. He spoke. “I-…”
Eyes so blue, fixed on the starry sky. The glittering figures danced merrily around the lustrous moon. Gratitude was aimed towards the princess who had graced him with such a night, a symphonic melody playing as he went back.
Nervousness frothed up in his mouth, thoughts rushing through his head as he stood down below the cloudy castle. ‘Is my mane right? Oh, my tie isn’t straight! Wait, those things are so trivial I forgot about the most important thing of all! Will she say yes?’ Scuffing the dirt with his hoof, he circled a small piece of grass. After moments of hesitation, he finally spoke up, albeit the shaky intonations of fear slipping in.
“uh.. Excuse me Miss. Rainbow Dash! Um… uh… I-I was just wondering whether you… Whether you’d accompany me to the town social this evening?” He cussed beneath his breath, cursing in a cadence of languages at the tangent of his nervousness.
A hoof prodded him gently on the shoulder, causing the stallion to jump up in shock. He froze as stiff as the statue of Discord in the Royal Canterlot Garden. There was a typical chuckle that sounded to his flank, and upon turning he found the very mare he was after, massed in a fit of hilarity. This seemed to break down the tension that orbed itself around Doctor Hooves.
Recovering from her little laugh, the mare proceeded into the air, hovering around Doctor Hooves. Her eyes peering at him in an analytical manner, silently judging his form and characteristics. He had this ‘Get to know me’ feel about him, and looked like a ‘I’m full of surprises’ type of guy. He almost seemed a romantic in ways, the charm being his levelled self consciousness. His will to make a moving first impression. Pouting her lips, Rainbow shrugged, saying: “Sure, but on one condition.”
The doctor straightened up. “Yes?”
“Relax.”
Confidence began to build up, an eager blast of joyousness filled his entirety. “Of course Miss-”
Rainbow quickly interjected. “And none of this formality! It’s a social after all, we are on equal grounds now. Besides, I can’t stand the haughty formal praise, I’m not that kind of girl. Call me RD, or Dash.”
“Whatever you say.” He tipped his head.
The Pegasus glared. “Ahem!”
“Oh! Right. Sorry.”
“And if you can; come in a different suit. I think you’ve started to break a sweat and we’re not even on the dance floor.”
With a salute, The doctor galloped off into town.
Where was it we met again? He pondered, trying to place his hoof on the crucial details of that evening. His mind slipped into a different train of thought, as he caught a number of leaves toppling from their branchy haven. The falling… Falling… falling… Why did I fall?
Looking out at the vast ocean, Doctor Hooves could hear the roaring oceanic waves as they curled and crashed into the adamant rock beds and shorelines. The sea breeze, salty in scent and taste lingered about, bringing with it a light sting to the eye. His brown mane wavered and rippled as the wind rushed through each strand of hair. He didn’t look back. He couldn’t look back. He couldn’t face the shame, the darkness. His heart tumbled and plummeted, as all emotion sank away into a void.
He glanced to his left, then his right and quickly to the ominous frothy pool of rocks below. He could hear the gulls squawking, the screech of each cry scraped its way into his brain. The birds cries turned to a mares voice. They screamed horrible things; terrible things. It was unnatural.
“How could you?” It howled. “Get out!”
The memory pained him so. There was no other choice, he had to do it. He had to-…
Jump…
What a mad world. He made his descent without remorse, the currents of air lashing against his caramel coloured coat. Why did it have to be this way? He felt the sea spray whisk against his face, he heard the crushing waves hurtle themselves carelessly against the cliff and saw through clenched eyes, black. But then something happened, a terribly strong force struck his side, and the accelerating fall began to cease. A reaction of opposite and equal force met him, and with widened eyes found himself vice gripped by a struggling Pegasus trying to keep herself afloat in the air.
Slowly rising up to the cliff top, Doctor Hooves wondered why. Why did this mare save him? What possible reason was there to help out such a cruel monster? By the time those thoughts ran through his head, he found himself plonked down onto solid ground. The Pegasus veered back in disgust, giving the buck a disdainful look, and between long hard grunts of exhaustion, panted:
“What… on Equestria… were you thinking?!”
There was no clear answer to that. This, Hooves was sure of. He messed up, and that was really all he could think. Rainbows friends didn’t honestly take to kindly to him either. It was always awkward being with them, indirectly mocking him and giving him a condescending glare when they spoke. Rainbow Dash would stick up for him however, giving him sincere praise for his efforts at the end of the day.
“Thanks for that.” She said, kissing him gently on the cheek. “My friends can be really uncool sometimes. But to be honest, I think it’s because they’re jealous.” With a smile she rose up into the air, lifting her colt friends head up, she pecked him lightly on the lips, and flew off without any goodbyes.
Holding dearly to the sensation that buzzed through his body, he tried to hold onto the feeling of that kiss. Her dreamy eyes nearing that of his own, mane brightening as both sets of lips make contact. It was bliss to say the least. Never before had he ever been so enticed by a single kiss. His heart beat furiously as he tried to recover from such a spectacle. And at one stage, almost felt as if he were about faint.
Heart fluttering in excitement, his sodden cheeks rise up, as a flustering blush of pink covers his face. One last glance at the moon, one last whiff of wintry air and one last glance at the sacred stone. Feeling it was about time, he brought up one last memory.
“Congratulations Rainbow Dash! I can’t believe you made it in!”
“Yay, Dashie made it in! She actually made it in! This calls for a PARTY!”
“I guess congratulations are in order, well done.”
“Darling, that’s simply magnificent. I’m proud.”
“you rock, woohoo…”
“Wonderbolt? Some fancy sciomancy Pegasus flying round in a leather suit, tch! Not impressed… Just kiddin‘ great job, but doesn‘t mean you‘re better than me.”
“Hooves?” Rainbow grabs his attention.
“Yeah, what’s up?” he asks.
She rolled her eyes, avoiding as much contact as possible. “You mind coming with me, alone perhaps? Out by the cliffs?”
‘The cliffs?’ he wondered. ‘What could be there?’ “Sure.” He replied.
The two went off together in silence, a nice romantic silence; but silence none the less. The feel between them remained calm as the two approached the cliffs after and hours long trek. By then, the sun began to set, and a harmonious warmth slowly grew out of the days settling air. The shadows cast out by the fiery orb in the sky lengthened out into the bushes from which Dash and Hooves had emerged. They remained the same. They both smiled so softly, looking out into the vast sea, glistening a ember like lustre as the water rippled out in the distance. Rainbow lay apart from her colt friend, embedding herself within the soft meadowy grass. It brisked and tickled her, causing small titters of delight to escape her lips. The doctor mused at his partner, lying down as he asked: “Why are we here?”
The laughing stopped, and Rainbow replied: “Because I wanted you to see this with me.” she paused briefly, glancing at the sky as dusk came to be. “Celestia and Luna definitely know how to put on a show, don’t they?”
Doctor Hooves pondered on an appropriate answer, but winged it with a simple: “Yeah.” But the true question he had in mind peaked, and made its way out of his lips. He inquired in a gentle manner. “Why did you save me that day?”
Rainbow shrugged. “Why not?” Her black silhouette was outlined by the suns golden radiance, giving a trimmed effect to her form. She beamed brightly as her swagger greatly increased, but in a good way. A bubble of pride and satisfaction formed itself around the technicoloured Pegasus.
He persisted. “But wh-”
Not bothering to turn the other way, she said in a rushed and aggravated tone. “Look Mr. Smarty pants, I acted on instinct, my body just compelled me to do so. I did what I did, alright?”
Finally, evening had come around and the moon was in crescent. It sat in the dark sky like a cradle, harbouring the mind and soul of one seeking rest. Rainbows eyes began to shutter, a sudden sympathetic expression in both appearance and tone was aroused as the Pegasus said: “Thank you, for the dance. I appreciate it.”
The comment was gratuitous, bringing a slight hint of despair to the stallions form. He relieved himself when he replied. “No thanks necessary. In fact, I should be thanking you. It really was an honour.” Doctor Hooves and Rainbow then laughed in unison, as they both fell back into the grass. The moment went on endlessly, as the two lay in content silence.
Continuing her upward gaze, Dash held her eyes half open, and with a solemn smile said: “This is all I ever wanted…” The crystaly glaze slithered away, and the magenta faded. Her eyes wore dreary but her heart felt serenity at long last. This was the moment she was waiting for. This was her cue. Her time in the spotlight was finally over. She had done it. Accomplished her one goal, and in turn, gained an unexpected reward. “Promise me something doc. Promise me you won’t cry.”
…
He did cry that night. He cried many more after. Solitude never existed in those words however. For he knew, that Rainbow Dash was certain she’d never be alone. And into the wind, at the moon, and to the Pegasus of his dreams, the colt finished with his last words to her.
"I Love you..."
“Goodbye…”