Outside in Ponyville, all was quiet.
Night had fallen, and in turn had given way to the stillest hours; those that some, such as the pink Earth pony currently relaxing inside her home and work, found the most magical. The quiet hours, often given as anywhere from two in the morning until four in the morning. These were the times, she believed, that the stars seemed to shine the brightest, unhindered by the drowning glow of village lights.
It was by the dim glow of her lantern, however, that she cast her gaze upon her best friend. The stars, while lovely, didn't do the Pegasus justice from inside-her mane, painted every color of the rainbow and falling softly into her face, required a slightly brighter light to truly shine. The earth pony's eyes roamed downwards, over the gently closed eyes with their soft lashes casting sharp shadows in contrast to her downy cheeks.
It had taken time. Oh, so much time! While so outgoing and gregarious in public, both the Earth pony and the Pegasus held their deepest selves locked down inside. She smiled faintly, remembering how jealously she had guarded her heart; how long she had suffered alone. She wasn't sure, exactly, if Dash had suffered the same way, but she could always ask later.
They had all the time in the world, now.
Sleepless nights had plagued the otherwise cheerful pony. So much time had been spent just thinking, wishing, dreaming, tangled in her sheets and sweating in the dead of night. And, of course, watching the Pegasus from her window. Tonight was another sleepless night, but for a different reason. The relief that had flooded her upon realizing that this amazing pony, this gorgeous blue thunderbolt, was hers, had been so amazing that she stayed up to relish it.
"You were always my best friend, Dashie," whispered the pink pony, tears beginning to well in her eyes. "You were always there for me, no matter what. That meant so much to me, and I began to see..." She trailed off, lost in thought once more.
It had been rough at the beginning, certainly. They had been brought together by the machinations of...fate? Luck? Divine intervention? If that situation had been the reason for Dashie's birth, she reasoned, the reason for her own had been to love her. She could die happily with that.
After they shared their love of practical jokes, and after the visit of a particularly abrasive friend of Dash's, the two grew closer. Acquaintance turned to friendship turned to best friendship, and something had stirred deep in the Earth pony's soul. When Dashie had rescued her from her own delusions on her birthday, the pink pony had recognized the deep burn of love inside herself.
Her own jealousy had gotten the better of her a number of times. Growing up as she had, on the dull rock farm where each day was the same and every horizon meaningless, had warped her sense of perspective. Her own mother had loved her father, but it was a plodding love; it was a love that merely weathered the tide of time. There had been nothing special, nothing amazing. Neither strayed, yet nor were either truly happy.
She swore she would never be that way. Her love would be not just forever, but eternal. There seemed to be no difference in those two words to most ponies, but Pinkie knew better. She loved better.
And so she rode out the jealousy, throwing parties to mask the pain she felt whenever the Pegasus's amazing rose eyes were fixed elsewhere. She swallowed her grief at Rainbow's incessant chattering about Spitfire. She bit the inside of her own cheeks and excused herself when Rainbow spoke wistfully of joining the Wonderbolts, an endeavor that would surely keep the two apart if it came to fruition.
Now it would not, and the pink pony couldn't be happier. Certainly, she was somewhat sad; seeing her friend accomplish her dream was important! Pinkie had decided, however, that her own needs and dreams were just as important. And so, there was compromise.
There was sacrifice.
There were others before Dash, certainly. She had kept a piece of each one close to her heart, but none held the same riveting attention for her as the rainbow maned Pegasus. She giggled, remembering her past endeavors that just felt like jobs now, the feelings she had while with them now just abstract concepts. Things that distracted her from her true love, things to be pulled apart and examined and ultimately found wanting.
She moved closer to Dashie, burying her nose into her fur. She reveled in the light, airy smell there, tinged with a hint of sourness. With a smile, she recognized it as the smell of sweat, the smell of adrenaline, two things she instantly associated with the Pegasus.
"Dashie," she moaned out, no longer keeping quiet out of respect. Her hooves encircled the body of her love, pulling her gently to her. "Oh, my Dashie. I'm so sorry. I just love you so much, I couldn't bear the thought of you leaving me for such a dangerous reason." She looked up into the impassive face of her love, the rose eyes still hidden below blue lids.
One pink hoof reached up and stroked Rainbow's cheek, coming away wet. "You just flew so fast and so high and I knew that if I didn't do something, you'd fly right away one day." She nuzzled closer into Dash's chest. "But now you won't. You'll always be with me. I'll always love you. Part of you will always be with me."
With a nod, the pink pony collected herself and moved to a worktable strewn with sewing supplies. Selecting shears, thread, a needle, and some soft cotton batting, she returned to Rainbow. Her eye twitched slightly as she looked upon her quiet friend.
"Always be with me."
With silent tears running down her face, she began her work.
When she was finished, all that was left was a stuffed doll that was the very image of the late Rainbow Dash. She turned away from the fleshy remains, the entrails, the blood pooling on the floor, and headed up the stairs. She ignored the smell of blood in the air. She looked her new doll in the eye as she exited the basement, kissing it on the nose.
"I'll always love you."
