~ IX ~

Left Letters

Rainbow Dash awoke alone in her bed.

Its emptiness troubled her. Her hooves searched for another. Rustling blankets and sheets and the pushing of a pillow returned her touch. No strong arms wrapped around her. There wasn't a subtle wave of heat that came from preheated scales. No soft breathing from a beast to quell Rainbow's anxiety.

N-Not… a-again…

Memories flooded. Their embrace on the hilltop. Their talks in the shop. The words that coached Rainbow into becoming a cyan flame again. Warmth flooded her nerves as the bed ceased to be oppressive. She was a stronger mare now. One with more to live for.

And her eyes opened to a letter on the bedside table.

No.

Crawling across the mattress to stretch a wing after the envelope, she rolled back on her bed, the back of Rainbow's head planting into the pillows. She broke the seal of a green heart—stickers left-over in the boutique, perhaps. The tip of her wing pulled out the letter.

Dear Rainbow,

Sorry I didn't wake you. Not even when the moon came out to say 'hey'. You're beautiful when you sleep, and to force those eyes to open before they're ready felt like a sin. You're adorable without having to try. You never cease to be perfect.

Do you know what that does to a guy's heart? Watching you was torture.

I tried letting you sleep for as long as possible but with how busy things have been with you, I guess you haven't had much time to relax. Indulge in it for my sake. I flew you home and tucked you in. Hope you don't mind that.

I'm going to spend the night whipping Rarity's shop back into order. See if my talons remember any of her talents. Let me know if there are any outfits you need made or fixed. Gives me a chance to practise before ponies start yelling at me.

And thank you for letting me protect you.

Despite the Dash needing no protection.

~ Yours, Spike.

Rainbow smiled. Something wet nipped at the corner of her eyes. She turned to the side of the bed to throw the letter in the bin she kept next to it—halting at the last second. Instead, she rolled back and reread the words. Devoured the curves to the letters and allowed each syllable to echo inside her skull.

Her hooves clutched the note to her chest as she cradled it. The closest thing she owned related to Spike. That she could do anything with and not have to fear his reaction. Rainbow embraced the letter as though it were him. She missed when he was smaller—she could have cradled him instead.

Lovestruck.

It'd been the first time in her life. None else consumed her. Never made her feel like her life depended on being with another. It was a dangerous feeling. Should she admit it, the dragon would know that he owned her. That his word was her world.

He intended to leave again. He said his goal was to wander and offer the shop to another. Would Rainbow be able to stop him? Prove to be enough to sate his nature? The future blurred again. Everything was too unknown. It hurt her. Cut at her veins and caused her belly to feel weak.

Who did I expect to wind up with?

Romance had never been a concern. Not when training, saving the world, making friends, becoming a Wonderbolt, inspiring others, and ambitions were Rainbow's everything. Maybe, in her string of pleasures, one lover would stick around longer than the others. But settling down with someone? That never seemed in the future of Rainbow Dash.

Now it's here.

Was Spike the one she was going to settle down with? Go on dinner dates and watch plays every now and again in Canterlot? Get married. Have a honeymoon on a beach. Double dates. Have a home together and share the little things. Would Spike mellow into that kind of life? Would she?

He'd probably fuck me against the piping instead of fixing it.

Rainbow used to mock the little things lovers did together.

Now she craved those little things more than anything.

But she only wanted to do them with the dragon.

Could you see it as a filly? Walking down the aisle with a dragon that would tease you all the way to the stand? That threatens to bang you before the princess, friends, and family? To think that little wimp could control me so much. Was he the one I was meant to end up with? On paper, it should have been another Wonderbolt.

But they meshed well. Spike and Rainbow's weirdness matched. It didn't make sense for them to be together—but everything screamed for them to be as one. They joked, were athletic, loyal to each other, deeply caring, and somewhat loving. They worked. It shouldn't have been so. But the unexpected gifted the greatest delights.

The future scared Rainbow.

How long could they keep things up like this? How would their marriage look after she became older? Would he still look at her the same even if he couldn't pleasure her anymore? Would he still be there for her in all those other ways—or would he chase after some other young thing. What happens when her mind or body can't take his teasing?

You forget his sweetness.

He also wasn't all mean.

Their time before the pond proved that. Rainbow's accomplishment, which wouldn't have meant much, now shared, bared more weight. Cuddling him in the warm afternoon spread colour in her vision. It was the little thing she'd been searching for. What caused her to feel like she, and her life, mattered.

Her days, which usually blurred, now carried more meaning, shared with the dragon.

I need you, Spike.

She curled on the bed and tightened into the letter.

You scare me. I don't know if you'll leave me. If you'll suddenly be gone. You're the one frightening me—and yet, it's you I need to hold me. Wrap me in your arms. Whisper in my ear that everything will be okay. That's the only way I'll believe everything will be fine. It's the only way I know I can make it through this.

Rainbow rarely needed support to do the impossible.

Now she needed his love to merely live.

Author's Note