With a start, Rainbow Dash caught herself as her glide erred off-course.
"Dang it, Dash," she chastised to herself. "Keep it together, you're nearly home."
Her wingbeats, normally strong and consistent, were now strained and sluggish like an attempt to stir treacle. And as she took pauses, wings spread wide allowing winds and thermals to carry her forwards while maintaining her altitude, the exhaustion was creeping in. The early afternoon sun tickled her back with pleasant warmth, which only served to nudge her even further towards sleep.
With each laboured movement, the familiar landmarks of Ponyville gradually inched into view. The clock tower, the marketplace, and the distant silhouette of Twilight's castle. They all served as beacons, guiding her back to safety. Yet, the closer she got, the harder it became to keep her eyes open. With a furious shake of her head, she stretched her back, adjusting her heavy saddlebag back into a slightly-less comfortable position. Hopefully that would distract her mind for long enough.
"Just a little further," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as sleep clawed relentlessly at the back of her mind. "You can do this."
Her vision blurred once more, the colours of the landscape blending together like a fresh painting left out in the rain. She forced her eyes to widen, blinking rapidly to clear her sight. The vibrant hues of the blue sky above, merging with fluffy white clouds below. At ground level, verdant shades of Everfree Forest encompassed the rich tapestry of colours that made up the sprawling town of Ponyville.
The wind was a merciful ally, occasionally buoying her up and giving her wings a brief respite. Each gust felt like a gentle nudge, encouraging her to keep going. She banked left, her wings dipping unevenly as she corrected her course towards her cloudominium. It was nice. Peaceful. Like she could completely surrender all control, and she would be deposited right at her front door.
"Think of your bed," she told herself, grinning at the thought of the soft, fluffy clouds waiting to cradle her. "Just a few more minutes and you can sleep for a week."
Her home finally came into view, the familiar cloud structure standing out among its fellow floating neighbours for its larger size and more complex construction. With a final surge of effort, Rainbow Dash angled herself towards the front door, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.
She touched down on the soft clouds with a stumble, her legs wobbling beneath her. For a moment, she just stood there, swaying on her hooves. A single snore escaped her mouth, before she jolted back to reality, and mustered the last bit of strength to step inside.
The interior of her home was a comforting sight, everything in its usual place, but right now all she cared about was her bed. Slamming her front door behind her, she unhitched her saddlebag and deposited it to one side of the doorway. Unpacking was a problem for future Dash. She dragged herself up the stairs, each step an test of will, until finally she reached her bedroom.
What felt like thirty seconds later, Rainbow Dash sat bolt upright in bed to the sounds of timid knocking at her front door. But the transition from clear blue sky to deep purple twilight outside her window betrayed the true passage of time. She blinked groggily, the knocking at her front door pulling her from the comforting embrace of sleep. For a moment, she considered ignoring it, but the nature of the knocking gave her a strong idea of who it was, and she wasn't about to leave them hanging.
She stretched, her body protesting slightly after hours of rest, and stumbled out of bed towards the front door. With a yawn and a shake of her mane, she reached the door and opened it to reveal Fluttershy standing there, looking slightly worried.
"Hey, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash greeted, her voice still thick with sleep. "What's up?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry to wake you, Rainbow," Fluttershy began, her voice soft and apologetic. "But I heard from some ponies in town that they saw you coming home earlier, and that you looked really tired. I wanted to check in, make sure you're okay."
Rainbow Dash felt a warm appreciation for her friend's concern. "Thanks, Fluttershy. I was pretty wiped out, but I'm feeling better now after some sleep. Come on in."
Fluttershy stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the cozy, albeit slightly disheveled, interior of Rainbow's home. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I brought you some herbal tea and a few treats from Sugarcube Corner. I thought they might help you recover."
Rainbow Dash grinned, her stomach rumbling at the mention of treats. "You're the best, Fluttershy. Thanks a ton."
They moved to the living room, where Fluttershy carefully unpacked the treats and tea. Rainbow Dash plopped onto the couch, feeling the soft cushions sink beneath her. As Fluttershy poured the tea, a comforting aroma filled the air.
"So how was the con?" Fluttershy asked, passing Dash a steaming cup.
"Amazing," Dash gushed. "I kinda got roped in to volunteering this year, Conops desk, but that turned out to be a blast."
"Conops?"
"Convention Operations. Just a helpdesk really, answer any questions that anypony in help might need, but everypony was super great to work with. I wanna volunteer to do it again next year."
Fluttershy grinned as she sipped her own tea. "How're you dealing with the... umm... PC...P?"
"PCD," Rainbow Dash corrected. "Post-Con Depression. And actually, this year, it ain't so bad. I'm still kinda glowing right now, just good memories."
"You had fun then?"
Dash paused, her eyes shimmering with the purple hues of twilit sky. "It’s weird, you know? How you can feel so at home with a bunch of strangers. But I guess that’s what makes it special."
Fluttershy nodded, understanding the sentiment. "It sounds like you made some really wonderful memories."
"I did, 'Shy. I really did."
Author's Note
One weekend, isn't this the life?
And I wouldn't change it for no one~
