Confessions

Twilight sat curled up in her reading nook and raised the white cup of tea to her lips. A copy of the latest Daring Do novel, Daring Do and the Lost Sunstone, rested in her hooves. All should have been well. But, something felt off. She glanced over to her dear friend Rainbow Dash who had curled up beside her. The oddity that Twilight noted was how Dash had not turned a page in ten minutes. Her tail was flipping erratically, violently swishing the air.

She cleared her throat. "Dash? You okay?"

Dash's ear twitched and she turned the page. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

Dash clapped her hooves nervously. Her ear twitched. "Twi, y'know how you're an Alicorn now?"

Twilight blinked. "Um, yes?"

"So, can you see inside my soul?"

"Only Celestia and Luna can do that."

"Oh...okay." Dash flipped another page even though Twilight knew she didn't read that fast.

Twilight returned her attention to her copy. "So, is there something you want to talk about?"

Dash did her best Fluttershy impression, pawing at the ground and squeaking. "No? Yes? Maybe?"

Twilight extended her wing, laid it over the Pegasus' back. "I can tell something's bothering you. You know you can tell me."

Dash leaned into the affection. "Alright, but you gotta promise not to call the Guard."

Twilight's ears perked up. "Um. Alright. I'll get my paperwork for an official pardon." But only if it wasn't too bad. "Did you hurt someone?"

Dash shook her head. "No. Well, sort of."

Twilight nodded. "I think you should just tell me."

Dash took a deep breath. "Do we gotta do that, y'know, that whole thing?"

"If you want this to be official."

"Forgive me Mother for I have sinned." The words all ran into each other. "Celestia, that made me feel like a foal." She blushed.

Twilight breathed. "What was your sin?" She was getting better at this.

"I, uh, is it wrong if you like a stallion a little too much?"

"Just one? What do you mean?"

Dash clapped her hooves together so much Twilight looked around to see if Spitfire had walked into the room. She jumped up. "Never mind, this is dumb, I'm out."

Twilight sighed. "Dash? Are you sure? Now I'm worried about you. You know I'm not here to judge you."

"Yeah, you're gonna judge me. Anypony would."

"It can't be that bad." She patted the cushion and Dash hesitated before floating back down.

They faced each other, but Dash wouldn't meet her gaze. At last, she spoke. "Let's say you, uh, you like this stallion. You like him a lot, but you know he's never going to notice you cause he's-"

"You should just ask Soarin out."

Dash's eyes widened. "You can see inside my soul!"

"Everypony knows it. Every creature in Equestria knows it."

Dash snorted. "Yeah, like he's ever gonna notice me. I mean, we did talk at the Equestria Games trials. Do you think maybe there's a chance?"

Twilight laid a hoof on her shoulder and smiled. "I'm sure there is."

Dash laid her head in her hooves like she was on the verge of tears. "But I went and screwed it all up!"

Twilight rubbed her back. "Hey, come on. Just tell me. Maybe I can help?" A thought occurred to her. "Um, Dash? Does this have anything to do with that gossip column Rarity showed me about a crazed fanfilly sneaking into Soarin's room and making off with his socks?"

Dash whimpered.

"And underwear?"

Another whimper.

"And manebrush?"

Dash burst into tears. Flat out bawling, like one would hear from Sweetie Belle if she tripped over a rock and chipped her hoof or from Rarity if she tripped over a rock and chipped her hoof. Twilight wrapped her up in a hug and rubbed the place between her wings which acted as a relaxant for her tribe. Dash began to calm down, resting her head on Twilight's shoulder and sniffling.

Twilight stroked her mane. "Feel better?"

"...No. What am I gonna do Twilight?"

"Well, why don't you tell me why you took his stuff?"

Dash wiped away her tears. "I didn't mean to. I...I was just gonna go up to his room after a show. I found out where he was staying and I wanted to talk to him about setting up a time where I could really show him my stuff. The door was unlocked."

Twilight gave her a flat look.

"...After I bucked it once or twice. Look, Soarin is a really heavy sleeper apparently. He'd fallen asleep with the lights on and I saw his manebrush." She shuddered. "It smelt like him. So, I uh...look Twi, I'm a mare, I have needs. He woke up and I got out as fast as I could. I'm glad I'm not the only Pegasus with a rainbow tail."

"I understand." She sighed. "I absolve you of your sins."

Dash smiled slightly. "Thanks."

"You know you have to return what you stole right?"

Dash pouted. "He's gonna hate me." She sniffled. "I'm never gonna be a Wonderbolt now!"

Twilight hugged her to cut off a fresh round of crying, but Dash still burst into tears. "Look, Dash, sweetie. It was a mistake. Just tell him you got caught up in the moment."

Dash sniffled some more. "Do you think that will work?"

"I'm sure it will. Most Ponies are very forgiving."

"Will you come with me?"

"Of course."

...
They stood at the door to what could only be described as a mansion carved from clouds and rainbows. Dash stared in awe. It was bigger than her own cloudaminium, but in the same Classical Pegasan style. His was more solid looking, pillars on all sides holding up the arched roof.

Dash stared up and up at it, not moving at all. In her mouth she held a bag full of the loot she'd snagged from his room. Twilight pushed her forward. "The sooner you do it, the sooner it'll be done."

She sighed. "Okay. I'm gonna do it. I mean it this time." She lifted her hoof and gently tapped on the door. After waiting half-a-second, she turned. "Whoops, he must not've heard me, let's go."

"So, you're finally returning it?"

Dash froze and slowly, agonizingly slowly, turned around. Soarin stood in the doorway and Twi placed a hoof on her withers before she could fly off. Her lips trembled and she dropped the bag. "Look, I'm really sorry! I actually think my heat's coming earlier this year, we've had a hot spring and well, y'know what that does to a mare-"

Soarin touched her lips and she stopped. Twilight's eyes widened and she inched away. Soarin didn't even look remotely angry.

Quite the opposite actually. Dash's face had turned crimson and she moved towards him. Soarin moved closer to her. Twilight began to inch further away. Soarin came close and nuzzled her. "Hey, I'll forgive you on one condition."

"Name it."

"You take me out."

Dash shot into the air, air-prancing in circles. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Soarin smirked and flew into the air after her. "Not doing anything. Wanna get some lunch?"

Dash flew more circles, still chanting yes. Twilight groaned, then shook her head, smiling before she sailed from the field of clouds.