Cure for Pain

Part 27: Light it Up

“DARLING! THIS IS AMAZING! So… you need help with persuading Coleton to-“ Rainbow Dash pushed a hoof against her fashion-obsessed friend’s mouth. “Pop the question, yes. Could you say it a bit louder? I don’t think the people in Saddle Arabia heard you!”

Rarity restrained herself from squealing with delight, but her voice was still riddled with happiness. “Of course, darling, I will help. So what have you tried?”

Awkward silence followed. “I didn’t know what to do, so I haven’t tried anything yet. Did I do something wrong?” Dash admitted, ashamed. Rarity simply hugged her pegasus friend. “Of course not, darling. I just need to teach you about it. So first thing: try a romantic dinner. That’ll give him a hint as to what your desire is.”

Rarity couldn’t keep a straight face. After laughing for an undetermined amount of time, and leaving Dash red in the face with anger and embarrassment, Rarity calmed herself. “So, can we cross that option off?” Dash simply sat down. “Sure. What else is there?”

“Well… there is the romantic date. Try going to a place that means a lot to both of you, and remind him of how important your relationship is. It’ll give him a hind as well.”

Dash was about to say something, but perished the thought. “I don’t think subtle things will work; I don’t really like beating around the bush. Is there any more blunt methods?”

Rarity bit her lip, having tried to avoid it since she was approached with the request for help. “Well… there is one thing.” Dash’s eyes lit up. “What is it, Rarity? What can I do?”

Rarity tried to word it as eloquently as possible. She had to be subtle, but not too subtle; she needed to be blunt, but not to blunt. “Have you two had sex yet?”

Nice job, Rarity.

Dash backed away, aghast. “Ew, no! NO! JUST NO!” Rarity tried to console her friend. “You do realize that that type of thing is normal for a couple like you and Coleton? I mean, you’ve been together for a month or two, and most people have… sealed the deal… by then.”

“You know, it doesn’t help to use colloquialisms.” Dash said. “You can just tell me what you’re thinking.”

Rarity reviewed what she had learned through years of relationship advice, and tried to help her friend with her dilemma. “Well, if you want my opinion…. do it. Damn double entendre, I meant I would go ahead and reach that point in the relationship.”

Dash tried to think about what to do, but realized she had no idea how to go about it. “Well… I guess that isn’t a bad idea, but I’m not sure what to do.”

Rarity sighed, going over to her friend, sitting down with her on the bed. “Well… if you want… NO! I’m not going to “demonstrate” or “help” with THIS problem. It’s something you have to learn on your own like the rest of us.” With that, Rarity stormed out of the room, attending to the large line of patrons, angry at her absence for the last thirty minutes.

Dash sighed. This was not going to be easy.

“Finally.” Coleton said as he saw Dash leave the back room of the boutique. She looked like she was in a trance. I noticed this. “Dash, what happened? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

Dash simply chuckled. “What do you mean? I’m fine!” I looked at her, knowing she was lying, but I let it go. “Whatever. So does anyone have a solution to my drum set problem?”

Coleton sighed. “Just ask Celestia for another one. She owes us, doesn’t she?” I covered my head. “She gave us train tickets, remember?

“Yeah, but she loves us! She’ll get you a new drum set, I swear!” I looked over at Dash. She wasn’t even paying attention, she was just walking down the street with us with a thousand-yard stare in her eyes. What did she and Rarity talk about?

“G’night, Dash.” Coleton said that night as they got in their cozy cloud bed, ready for sweet slumber to envelope them. “Night, Coleton.” Dash said, the words of her white unicorn friend ringing in her head still, after all these hours.

The lights switched off, and Coleton immediately fell asleep, quiet snores coming from the left side of the bed. Dash laid down trying to sleep.

Dash, this is not like you to worry about romantic crap. Just go to sleep; you’ll be fine. Her brain was trying to console her, but her hear, with all worries, thoughs, and emotions it pumped into her brain every second, wouldn’t let her relax.

Damn it, heart! Shut up!

Alright, so let me recap:

I have a boyfriend that I want to marry, but he won’t pop the question. I also have a friend who recommends… never mind that. It’s even worse that I’m actually considering her proposition. But I’m not skilled at… that.

“Yo, Dash!” She heard from the other side of the bed. She turned around to see a concerned Coleton looking at her, fear in his eyes. “You alright? You’ve been churning for the last couple of hours.” Dash looked to her bedside clock. It was three in the morning. So… I’ve been dreaming about worrying about this situation?

Dash sighed. It looked like sleep wouldn’t even be solace from this discomfort. “It’s alright, Coleton. Just… a bad dream.” Coleton’s voice went from worry to concern. “You wanna talk about it?”

Dash gave a dry laugh, wanting nothing less than to do that. “Nah, it’s alright. It’s stupid, anyway.”

Dash laid back down, facing the wall with a fed-up look on her face. This wasn’t gonna keep going under her watch. She was going to find someone better to talk about this stuff than Rarity; she was too romantic with her suggestions; she needed someone more practical; who had much more of a relaxed view of love. It was ironic, because Dash wasn’t relaxed, but it was the best she could do.