Sapphires

Crash-Landing

Rainbow Dash enjoys sleeping. She always has, and today was no exception. It was a chance for her mind to roam freely, not needing to be restricted. As she rested her head on her cloud-bed, she began to think about Rarity, as she did almost every night. However, with the rain she helped create pouring down, it was easy to lose your mind someplace else.

As Rarity trotted up the Carousel Boutique steps to her room, she sighed with content. It had been a good day at the Boutique, and she had finished ten dresses; a new record for her standards. Her clients had all been happy today, meaning that her Boutique was just that much more known. As she plopped her plot on the bed, she remembered that it was Rainbow Dash who recommended that she buy the latest sewing machine, which had the capability of making a back stitch and a top stitch on the same machine.Because of her recommendation, Rarity was able to make as many dresses as she did. She sighed once more, and fell fast asleep.

"H-hey, Rarity?" Dash asked with uncertainty at the darkness.

"Yes, Dash?" Rarity asked, appearing in front of me.

"I've been meaning to t-talk with you about...um..."Dash faltered.

"You don't have to say a word, Dash. Now, let me ask you, were you expecting me to fall head over hooves with YOU, of all ponies? A dirty, uncultured brute of a Pegasus? I don't even feel that way about mares, so what makes you think that I would just forget, hmm?You think I don't notice those looks you give me during our daily meet-ups? You think I'm waiting for you to ask? Were you expecting me to kiss you and confess my undying love for you?"

Each word hit Dash like a brick wall. She took a step back with each insult, until she was backed up against a wall. She shrunk on the ground, trying to make herself fade out of existence. No such luck.

"News flash, Rainbow Dash. I. Don't. Love. You. Now get your silly little flank out of Ponyville NOW! AND DON'T EVER COME BACK!" she shrieked.

Dash woke up with a start, and instantly flew out of the window, terrified out of her wits. She flew as fast as she could, trying to hold the tears back. She was failing. The tears clouded her vision as she proceeded to crash land into the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy woke up to a very grumpy-looking Angel hopping up and down on her stomach, frantically pointing downstairs. "Hmm? Oh..good morning Angel.. don't you think it's a bit early for breakf-"

She was cut off as Angel closed her lips and attempted to drag her downstairs. The bunny gave her an urgent look, and Fluttershy knew all she needed to know.

"Show me what's wrong, Angel." Fluttershy instructed.

Urgent times was the only place Fluttershy would allow herself to be assertive, for fear of hurting her friends like she did last time. Never trust minotaurs , she concluded with a giggle.

Angel urgently hopped out the door and into the forest, towards Zecora's house. Halfway through, however, Angel made a sharp turn into the inner forest.

"A-are you sure about this Angel? I think that..um..maybe we should turn back...um, if you want to, that is...I haven't even brushed my mane.."

Once again she was silenced by Angel. The little bunny hopped into a clearing where Fluttershy saw all she needed to. Rainbow Dash was lying on the floor against a tree which he had collided with,blood on the ground. She gasped and ran to aid her best friend.

"Thanks, Fluttershy. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come." Rainbow said as she limped to the door.

"Oh, no, don't thank me, thank Angel, who saw it all." Fluttershy smiled warmly at her friend. "But, before you go...could you, um..maybe..tell me what happened? Um, if you want to, that is..."

Rainbow winced, from both the pain in her leg and the memory. " I...I had.....a nightmare. A-about..you know who." She finished lamely.

"Oh...I see...it must have been pretty bad for you to...um...crash like that. Did she..." Fluttershy whispered the last part, "Reject you...? In the dream, I mean."

Rainbow put her head down and let her ears droop. "Um...yeah."

"Oh, i see...don't let that get you down. It was just a dream, after all..."

"Yeah...your right, Fluttershy. I think I'll go speak to her on my way home." Rainbow smiled her best smile, and walked out the door.

"Are you sure you don't want to go see the doctor? I mean, if you want to..." Fluttershy called out, being no more audible than a whisper.

"Nah, I'm fine! Thanks again!"Rainbow smiled again and looked back to the road.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of the Carousel Boutique. She had been here so many times, yet it never got easier to hide her feelings. On so many occasions she wished she could tell her to be done with it, but she wouldn't. Rainbow wanted to be able to tell her with her eyes. She was never good at talking about romantic stuff, so she thought that this way she couldn't screw it up. Every time she visited the Boutique, she tried to show Rarity, but she never saw it, for one reason or another. For a drama queen who reads romance novels in her spare time, she really isn't good at noticing love at all. Rainbow sighed, and raised her right hoof, and knocked. She instantly cried out in pain. She used her injured hoof to knock.

"Idiot..." she mumbled to herself as the door opened.

"Why hello there, Rainbow-"Rarity stopped as she saw her hoof.

"My goodness, what ever happened to your hoof? Come in, come in!" Rarity hastily allowed Rainbow inside, who slowly entered.

"So, Rainbow Dash, tell me all about your mishap."

Oh, crap. Rainbow Dash thought. How the buck am I gonna get outta this one? I really don't want to lie to her, but I don't want to confess either..

"I had a nightmare" She blurted. Stupid. Do you ever think straight around her?

"Whatever was it about darling? I don't see how a nightmare could injure your hoof."

"I, um...I fell out of the house while I was having the nightmare." Dash said, avoiding the question. Better. At least it's half right.

"You fell out of your house?! I simply cannot allow you to return there then! You might have the same thing happen again! You could injure yourself ten times worse!"

Rainbow Dash's eyes slightly widened. Does that mean...no, don't make any assumptions yet.

"I shall hire some ponies to make your house safer. In the meantime, you will stay with me. Don't worry, I just had a guest room built upstairs." Rarity finished, turning around. "Come, come. I will show you the guest room."

Rainbow's jaw dropped. "I..I couldn't impose..."

Rarity turned her head towards Rainbow. "Nonsense, it is not a problem at all.The workponies should take no more than a week to get the job done."

Rainbow's mind was working overtime. I can't believe it! She just invited me to stay with her! This is the perfect opportunity to tell her! This is going to be great!

"Hey, Rarity..." Dash gulped.

"Yes, darling?" Rarity turned back toward her, giving her full attention.

"I...uh, wanted to.." Dash was visibly shaking now. "I wanted to tell you..that,um..." Rarity was looking at her with concern. With her sapphire eyes looking at her expectantly, burning through Dash's soul, lips slightly puckered, huge eyelashes, the Sun shining through her purple mane, off her snow white coat, catching it perfectly, making her almost blindingly white. Dash broke down at the sight. "I wanted to tell you that, um...that...I think your mane is pretty!"Dash blurted. Instantly she covered her mouth with her good hoof.

Luckily Rarity was turning around, and didn't see Rainbow's expression.

"Thank you, darling. I think your mane is quite dazzling as well, although it could use a brushing. Why don't I help you with that?"

Dash groaned, partly because of her getting her hair brushed, partly because of her near-miss.

As Rarity combed her hair using her magic on a brush, Rainbow was obedient, surprisingly enough.

Only two things were going through Dash's head at the moment;

I will let my feelings be known to Rarity, and it will be through her eyes

This is going to be a loooooong week.

"Why did Rainbow dream about my sister?" Sweetie Belle asked the Cutie Mark Crusaders. All three of them were sitting near Fluttershy's cottage, trying to piece together Rainbow and Fluttershy's conversation.

"What did Fluttershy whisper to Rainbow?" Scootaloo inquired.

"Too many questions..." Applebloom murmured.

"Alright, crusaders! We need a plan of action!" Scootaloo said, raising a hoof to her chin.

"Well, ah suppose I could ask my sis', Applejack.." Applebloom pondered.

"Good idea! I will talk to Fluttershy." Scootaloo said.

"I'll talk to Rarity about it." Sweetie Belle commented.

"Alright, Crusaders! Our mission is to find out why Rainbow Dash crashed into the forest. Who knows, we might even get our Cutie Marks for being detectives!" Scootaloo cheered. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, away!" Scootaloo said as she got on her scooter and sped towards Fluttershy's cabin. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom watched her go, looked at each other, nodded, and made their way home, to have a chat with their sisters.