Chapter 1
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FlutterFire
By Criticul & ScriptScrolls
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Rainbow Dash and Spitfire definitely held the title of most famous couple in Ponyville. The two had met and grown very close after Dash finally managed to become a Wonderbolt. In the eyes of many they were the picture-perfect couple. They had even gained nation-wide popularity, appearing on the cover of several magazines, such as Ponies, and even made the front page of The Canterlot Post. None of the media coverage could depict the growing tension at their home, however. Thus, nopony had any idea of how horribly things were going between them.
The two almost always argued when the media turned their cameras elsewhere. Spitfire despised Dash’s work ethic like a plague. Rainbow Dash had the “I’m already the best” attitude, so she often skipped out on practices. Spitfire also hated how much of a slob she could be. The house they were currently sharing looked like a whorse’s handbag.
“Dashie! Will you get down here and clean this mess?!” Spitfire yelled up the stairs, irritation practically steaming out of her. Dash often spent most of the days at home in their room, just reading “flying” magazines.
“Clean what up? I haven’t made any messes!” Dash chuckled. She knew exactly what Spitfire was talking about. Dash had tried to make lunch earlier, and being Dash, it ended up being a huge disaster.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about! Now get your flank down here!” Spitfire felt fed up with always having to clean Dash’s messes.
Rainbow Dash crept down the stairs, mocking the yellow mare as she did. “Yeah yeah, I knoooww what you’re talking about.”
“Are you...mocking me?” That was another thing she hated about her marefriend, Dash’s attitude had become sarcastic, narcissistic, and endlessly mocking. Some would enjoy her self-loving nature, but after a whole year of hearing Dash talk about how awesome she was, it got old -- fast.
“Maybe I am mocking you. What, can’t handle it...?” Dash enjoyed teasing her lover, though she never truly realized how it made her feel.
“No, I can’t Dash. Do you know what it feels like to be teased every day!? I’m done Dash; I’m done!” Spitfire threw the cloth she was using to clean the counters in the sink and ran up the stairs.
“What do you mean you’re done...?” Rainbow began to realize exactly what Spitfire talking about and prayed she wasn’t being serious. Regardless of how badly Dash poked fun at her, she loved the fiery mare intensely. Nothing scared her more than the prospect of Spitfire leaving her.
“I mean I’m moving back into m-my old house...” Spitfire emerged from up-stairs carrying a large suitcase with her Wonderbolts uniform draped over her back, confirming Rainbow’s fears. Tears were forming in the corners of the Wonderbolt Captain’s eyes. She loathed the idea of breaking Rainbow’s heart more than anything, but Spitfire knew their relationship was doomed to fail.
“You’re...you’re not really going to leave over a messy kitchen? I mean, really...?” Dash was in complete shock. She had been with Spitfire for over a year now, and it was all coming to an end. Her whole world seemed to crumble right in front of her as the teary-eyed yellow mare spoke.
“No Dash...it’s not the mess. It’s everything...it’s just... everything. You’re a great mare Rainbow but...we’re not made for each other...I-...I’m sorry” Tears now flowed freely from her face as Spitfire began to leave.
“S-so this is really it then? Every thing we’ve b-been through, all for n-nothing?” Rainbow stammered with tears in her eyes. She wiped her face with a hoof and fell on her haunches, hoping desperately she would emerge from this nightmare. Dash never thought it would come to this even if they did tend to argue more frequently.
“D-dont make this harder than it has to be... p-please.” Spitfire could feel her own heart breaking. Despite everything she loved Rainbow and hated to see her like this.
“I-I can change...please...j-just give me one more chance...” Rainbow Dash started nuzzling Spitfire, something she rarely did anymore. Spitfire sighed and wiped more tears from her face.
“No you can’t Dashie...you’ll never change. You’re always going to be...you.” Spitfire saw Dash beginning to break down in front of her and turned her head. She knew the cyan pegasus couldn’t bear to be seen this way. “... But I’m sure there’s somepony who’ll l-love you for it,” Spitfire tried to say reassuringly. ‘I’m just sorry it’s not me,’ she thought to herself.
“I-...If this is really w-what you want...I can’t stop you...J-just...go, please.” Rainbow Dash turned away from Spitfire and advanced towards the stairs. She was going to handle this like she always handled problems: by hiding away in her room.
Spitfire watched Dash retreat upstairs; tears still leaking from her eyes. ‘I’m such a horrible pony...’thought Spitfire. She had felt this way for some time but held off breaking up because she thought she could rekindle her love for Dashie somehow. She regretted letting their relationship linger for so long now. While her feelings diminished, Dash’s only grew in intensity.
Spitfire grasped the door handle with her hoof, before turning her head to take one final look at the house she had grown so fond of. For every bad memory here there a good one accompanied it which Spitfire was going to miss dearly.
“Well...this is it. Time to move back to Cloudsdale. Ponyville has been nice and all...but it will be good to be back where I belong.” Spitfire smiled weakly as she left the house.
Spitfire stepped out of the door frame to see Fluttershy standing in awe, shaking slightly. The distressed mare sighed as she realized that Fluttershy probably heard everything that went on between her and Rainbow Dash.
“Sp-spitfire...a-are you okay...? I heard the fight you and Dash j-just had...” Spitfire was furious at this point. She couldn’t believe the Element of Kindness had the audacity to eavesdrop on a private altercation between her and Dash. Her emotional distress prompted a response that was very unlike the famous Wonderbolt captain.
“Do I look okay!? Besides, what are you doing hanging outside of my door like some kind of lost puppy?!” Spitfire used Fluttershy as a target for all her pent up emotions. Fluttershy began to whimper and cower in fear, awestruck at Spitfires bizarre reaction to a simple question.
“I-Im sorry...I just came to s-see Rainbow Dash...” Spitfire spat at the name.
“Of course you did. Everypony likes her better anyway, right!?” Spitfire groaned, waving her hooves in an melodramatic fashion.
“N-no, I-...everypony loves you Spitfire. Pl-please...just calm down.” Fluttershy hid her face behind her mane. She started to tear up at Spitfires harsh words. The yellow mare secretly liked Spitfire more, mainly as a result of her humility.
“Ugh, just forget it. Go be with your little mare friend; I’ll be in Cloudsdale if you need me.” Spitfire stomped off, leaving behind a deeply hurt yellow pegasus.
~ ~ ~
Spitfire waited impatiently by a carriage loading station, tapping her hoof anxiously and trying to push the thoughts of her earlier outburst out of her head. ‘I feel so bad about that...The last carriage leaves in a few minutes, but I really want to apologize to Fluttershy. But then, I wouldn’t even know where to find her, I doubt she’s still at Dash’s. I can’t just leave on that note though...’ Spitfire felt absolutely horrible for yelling at Fluttershy like that and couldn’t leave without properly apologizing.
She turned to the Stallion now standing in front of the empty carriage. “I’m terribly sorry, but I think I’ll be staying in Ponyville for another couple of days.”
The pegasus nodded and smiled cheerily. “Oh think nothing of it, I’ll probably be back by that time, so be sure to look for me, okay?”
Spitfire grinned. These stallions were always thinking about business. “Actually I have a request. If I pay you for a trip, could you take my bags to my estate? I’ve been carrying them around all day. They’re so heavy and I can’t even fly with them.” She dropped her bags and stretched her shoulder. The stallion picked up the bags and placed them in the back of carriage.
“Of course Ma'am. The ticket you already purchased will work just fine.”
Spitfire smiled while handing the stallion the ticket. “Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to find you when I come back in a few days.” She waved a hoof and quickly took off, flying back towards the center of town.
Spitfire landed on Mane Street with a thud. She brushed her fire-colored mane out of her eyes, looking around for any sign of Fluttershy. “Errrg...maybe I should go see Twilight. She probably knows where I can find her...” Spitfire, still exhausted from hauling the heavy luggage, trotted her way to Ponyville’s library. As she walked up the path to the front door, she could hear a muffled explosion come from within, followed by swearing.
“For Celestia’s sake, Spike! You told me that bucking crystal was secure! Well not only is it not secure now, it’s in a thousand bucking pieces! You are the most --” Twilight’s rant was interrupted by Spitfire’s knocking on the front door. “Ugh, just go fetch the door! I’ll get started on cleaning up this mess...” In a matter of seconds, the door opened, and in the frame stood a baby dragon. He looked quite depressed, staring at the ground as he spoke.
“Yes, is there something you need?” Spike asked after giving a heavy sigh.
“Umm... I came here to see Twilight about something,” Spitfire slowly responded, attempting not to hit a nerve.
“She’s not exactly in too good of a mood at the moment...” the dragon grumbled.
“This will only take a moment,” she assured him.
“Step right in,” Spike invited, turning to allow her through the doorway. After closing the door, he quickly walked down the basement stairs. Spitfire could easily hear their conversation from the anti-chamber of the library.
“What is it now?” Twilight snapped at him.
“Spitfire is here to see you. She said it’d only take a moment,” Spike relayed, trying not to anger the unicorn any further.
“Fine.” responded Twilight, her voice showing obvious signs of agitation.
Spitfire was growing slightly nervous due to the hoofsteps echoing up the stairwell. ‘I better avoid making her any more angry... I just hope she’s not like me, and won’t suddenly snap for no good reason,’ she thought, recalling her earlier outburst which made her feel even more guilty.
“Hey Spitfire, you needed to talk to me?” Twilight asked rhetorically.
“Yeah, I just needed to know where Fluttershy’s cottage is.”
“Sure thing, I’ll give you directions, but if it’s not too intrusive, may I ask why?”
Spitfire sighed as she began to explain the day’s events. “Dash and I were arguing this afternoon about us, and... well... I broke up with her,” Twilight gasped and began to apologize before Spitfire, teary-eyed at this point, held a hoof up to stop her. “As I was leaving, I saw Fluttershy standing outside... She was trying to be polite, but I completely snapped at her. I was going to go back to my home in Cloudsdale, but I just... couldn’t leave. I feel just awful! She didn’t deserve any of that; she was just trying to see Rainbow.” Spitfire had now let a single tear stream down her cheek. As terrible as she felt about what she had said to Dash earlier, it couldn’t compare to the guilt in Spitfire’s heart about treating Fluttershy like manure.
“I’m so sorry that happened,” Twilight now sympathized, all her previous anger forgotten. “Fluttershy is a very sensitive pegasus, as I’m sure you know. Your words probably hurt her pretty badly. I think you made the right choice to stay and apologize.” Spitfire smiled slightly at the praise, tears still running down her cheeks. “And as sure as I am that you hurt her, I am equally positive Fluttershy will forgive you. She is the Element of Kindness after all...” Spitfire rose her head and looked at Twilight.
“But the things I said to her...” The Wonderbolt trailed off.
“Don’t worry, Spitfire. She’s never held a grudge, and if I know her well enough -- which I do -- she’ll try to apologize first,” Twilight said, giggling slightly. “In fact, I would bet she could help you right now. You look like you’re taking this break up really badly.” Spitfire nodded a little in response to Twilight’s concerned gaze. The breakup had been harsh on her, and she wanted nothing more than to put it behind her.
“Th-thanks, Twilight,” Spitfire said with a sniff.
“No problem,” the unicorn assured her, returning a grin. “Her house is on the edge of the Everfree Forest; you can’t miss it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think there’s a certain dragon I need to apologize to.” Twilight said, glancing sheepishly at the baby dragon who was sitting in the corner. Spike got on his feet and walked over to them.
“Already forgiven, Twilight. It was my fault after all...” The dragon hugged her foreleg and rested his head against his chest. Twilight returned the gesture by placing her other hoof around his head.
“It was still inexcusable for me to yell at you the way I did. I’m very sorry, Spike.” Spitfire beamed at the scene unfolding before her and hoped her apology to Fluttershy would go half as well. She began to make her way to the door before turning around.
“Thanks, Twilight. I just hope you can give as much help to Dashie as you’ve given me. I know this is even harder on her...” Spitfire hung her head low, still regretting it had come to this. She still found no consolation in knowing it had to happen; heartbreak is heartbreak.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to give ‘Dashie’ all I can offer,” Twilight mused, finding the pet name adorable. Spitfire blushed a little at her tease, but proceeded out the door and shut it. ‘Poor Dash,’ Twilight thought, ‘I’ll have to make sure to treat her well.’ She immediately imagined kissing Rainbow better, vacuuming out her negative emotions one by one. Twilight blushed intensely and immediately became grateful nopony was around to see her. ‘Where did that come from?’ she asked herself. The lavender unicorn violently shook the thoughts out of her head and proceeded to trot back to the basement laboratory. She had experiments to continue after all.
The walk to Fluttershy’s house seemed to take only a few seconds, although Spitfire could tell by the sun’s movement across the sky that it took her a very long time -- at least compared to if she flew there. As she crossed the bridge, second thoughts raced into her mind. ‘What if she cries? What if tells you she hates you and that you should go away? What if she won’t accept your apology, even though you’re sorry?’ Spitfire cringed, fearing all such outcomes. One thought kept her walking towards the cottage; one worry forced her to put one hoof in front of the other: ‘What if I don’t try?’
Chapter 2
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FlutterFire
By ScriptScrolls & Criticul
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“Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to give ‘Dashie’ all I can offer,” Twilight mused, finding the pet name adorable. Spitfire blushed a little at her tease, but proceeded out the door and shut it. ‘Poor Dash,’ Twilight thought, ‘I’ll have to make sure to treat her well.’ She immediately imagined kissing Rainbow better, vacuuming out her negative emotions one by one. Twilight blushed intensely and immediately became grateful nopony was around to see her. ‘Where did that come from?’ she asked herself. The lavender unicorn violently shook the thoughts out of her head and proceeded to trot back to the basement laboratory. She had experiments to continue after all.
The walk to Fluttershy’s house seemed to take only a few seconds, although Spitfire could tell by the sun’s movement across the sky that it took her a very long time -- at least compared to if she flew there. As she crossed the bridge, second thoughts raced into her mind. ‘What if she cries? What if tells you she hates you and that you should go away? What if she won’t accept your apology, even though you’re sorry?’ Spitfire cringed, fearing all such outcomes. One thought kept her walking towards the cottage; one worry forced her to put one hoof in front of the other: ‘What if I don’t try?’
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Spitfire stood lingering in front of Fluttershy’s cottage door. She felt extremely nervous about apologizing to Fluttershy after the day’s earlier events. Every time the mare raised her hoof to knock on the door, a deep fear within her caused her to withhold. ‘Come on, Spitfire,’ she mentally berated herself, ‘just knock on the door. You have nothing to fear.’
Fear. The word itself reminded Spitfire of Fluttershy and her own actions.
“Do I look okay?!... some kind of lost puppy?!... Everypony likes her better anyway, right?!... Go be with your little marefriend...”
A single tear rolled down Spitfire’s cheek as she remembered in vivid detail the look of pure terror on Fluttershy’s face. The orange-maned pegasus sniffed a little, wiped her face with her hoof, and stood up straight. ‘Fluttershy was brave enough to stand there taking violent insults,’ she thought to herself. ‘I should have enough courage to just knock on this door.’ And, with that, Spitfire struck the door thrice.
Spitfire’s heart rate soared and her knees began to shake as she pondered what to say to the mare once they came face to face. ‘Oh Celestia...I really should have thought this through before I went knocking on her door.’
Finally a soft sweet voice emanated from the large wooden door, “Coming! Angel Bunny, be good...we have a guest at the door.” A loud thump could be heard immediately afterwards. “Oh Angel, you can be a really grumpy bunny sometimes.”
When the door swung open, the sight that greeted Fluttershy caused her legs to lock and her mouth to drop. “O-oh! Sp-Sp-Spitfire...”
Spitfire frowned as she observed the reaction Fluttershy had in response to her presence. ‘I knew it...I’ve ruined all possibility of reconciliation..” Spitfire allowed her head to drop, so she could stare at the ground in front of her hooves. Her ears drooped back as she pawed at the dirt with her front hoof. ‘Nopony likes me anyway. Why should she act any differently?’ A single teardrop fell from Spitfire’s eye and landed in the dirt below.
Fluttershy felt distraught at the scene unfolding outside her door. Here stood a strong mare -- a Wonderbolt nonetheless -- falling apart in front of her. At first, Fluttershy felt apprehensive, remembering Spitfire’s reaction last time she had offered help. Upon closer inspection however, the yellow pegasus concluded this was not the same mare who had hurt her so badly this morning. No, this mare had puffy eyes from crying all day, an unkempt mane -- indicating she had been pulling at it to relieve stress -- and a seriously depressed demeanor. Fluttershy’s heart wrenched at seeing such a dispirited pony, so much so that she struggled to keep tears from her own eyes.
“P-please come in,” She requested, stepping aside so Spitfire could pass. Spitfire looked up at Fluttershy with gloom still lingering in her orange eyes. The Wonderbolt did, however, allow a small smile to form from her previously quivering lips. Fluttershy’s heart melted. She had never seen Spitfire smile once during her residence in Ponyville, even in the presence of her former marefriend. Something Rainbow Dash did, always seemed to upset the pegasus.
As Spitfire walked past her, Fluttershy noticed the amber mare stood shorter by about an inch, which made her quite small in comparison to other mares. What Spitfire lacked in height however, she made up for in build. Her limbs were covered in lean muscle, and there wasn’t an ounce of fat to be found on her neck. Spitfire’s back impressed Fluttershy more than anything; it seemed utterly ripped -- the trademark of an extremely strong flier. As if to confirm this, the pegasus’ wings fluttered restlessly. The fluffing caught Fluttershy’s eye as she continued examining the pegasus, and her jaw dropped slightly. Spitfire had the largest, most gorgeous wings she had ever seen on a pegasus. Fluttershy knew, even while they were folded against her firm body, Spitfire’s wings must have spanned at least twenty percent longer than hers. Not only that, but each feather gleamed in the light of the room, making her wings seem wet.
Fluttershy looked back to Spitfire’s face to see a pair of amber eyes looking curiously at her. The shy pegasus hid her face behind her mane and blushed, embarrassed at succumbing to her wing fixation. Spitfire finally gathered enough courage to speak.
“Fluttershy,” she said softly, “I’m so sorry for the way I acted earlier today. I... I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It wasn’t your fault -- nothing was. It was mine... all mine...” Spitfire now stared at her hooves, completely ashamed at what she had done -- both to Fluttershy and Rainbow. Fluttershy walked over to the Wonderbolt and placed a hoof on her shoulder, gently nudging so the amber mare would raise her head.
“Spitfire,” she whispered, “I know you didn’t mean what you said today; you’re a nice pony. Even though it honestly did hurt a bit, I know it can’t be nearly as painful as what you went through today. So, I need you to tell me the truth when I ask this... Are you alright?”
Spitfire responded to this question in a knee-jerk reaction before she caught herself. “Yea- .... well... no... N-no, I’m not a-alright!” she said, sobs now choking her voice. After an entire day of mostly failed attempts at bottling her emotions, Spitfire set them loose as she wailed in the hooves of the kind pegasus. Fluttershy stroked the back of her mane while the sobbing mare clung tightly to her.
“Sssshhhh... It’s okay...” Fluttershy whispered gently. It relieved her that Spitfire couldn’t see the blush slowly forming on her face.
Spitfire didn’t know how to reply to the kindness Fluttershy was showing her. She had never before been treated as anything more than a celebrity, yet here was a mare she hardly even knew comforting her. Spitfire couldn’t understand why she was even being so generous; not to long ago Spitfire was screaming at this very pegasus.
“I don’t deserve this...” Spitfire pulled away from Fluttershy and looked at her with sad eyes. “I treated you so terribly, and you act like nothing happened...Why?”
Fluttershy blushed slightly and turned her gaze from Spitfire. “W-well....um...you see, I always try to help everypony. Nopony is truly bad; we all just do things we regret from time to time...”
Spitfire felt a grin form across her lips. “I don’t know if that’s naive or just simply amazing. I think I’ll settle for the second one...” Spitfire wiped the tears from her eyes. “I need to stop crying...I have a reputation to keep up.” The last thing she needed was an epithet like “the Weeping Wonderbolt.”
Fluttershy giggled slightly and smiled at Spitfire. “Oh, I would never tell anypony about this...it’ll be our little s-secret...”
Spitfire returned the kind gesture with a light hug. “Thank you so much Fluttershy... your forgiveness means a lot to me. I don’t exactly have a lot of friends to go around being rude to...”
A light scarlet danced across Fluttershy’s cheeks, though Spitfire couldn’t see it as a result of their close embrace. “U-um... I’ll always be your fr-friend...”
Spitfire pulled away from the hug, now wearing a cheery smile. Since arriving her mood at improved greatly. Spitfire was now feeling a million times better, knowing that Fluttershy held no resentment towards her for what she did.
“Say...would you maybe...want to go out for lunch or something? It’s the least I could do...” Spitfire bit her lower lip in anticipation. She really wanted Fluttershy to say yes so she could get to know the shy pegasus better. Spitfire felt the mare had already shown more then enough promise to potentially be a great friend, something Spitfire doesn’t have much experience in.
Fluttershy squee’d and fell backwards off the couch. The pony she had just been ogling earlier had basically her out on a date. Spitfire peered over from the side of the couch and started giggling.
“Are you okay there, Fluttershy? You took quite a fall there...” Fluttershy stood up and stretched her wings.
“Yeah...I’m okay, just landed on my wings awkwardly...” Fluttershy closed her wings and returned to her seat next to Spitfire. “Anyway...I’d...I’d l-love to have lunch with you...”
“This is great! We can really get to know each other,” Spitfire’s mind began to imagine the dreams of friends that she never had as a filly. She knew it was silly to get worked up over having lunch with somepony, but this felt different than all the others. There was a real chance to make a friend, not just somepony to admire and envy Spitfire for her flying prowess. “We can go to this really great restaurant off Stable Street!”
~ ~ ~
Rainbow Dash trotted slowly down the street towards Twilight’s. She was drawing a lot of attention today. Mainly due to the fact that she looked extremely gloomy, something uncharacteristic to the charismatic mare. Ponies all around were whispering to each other, dreaming up reasons as to why such a confident pony could be so distraught.
Rainbow Dash noticed the stares and whispers, but she was in no mood to deal with the everypony else’s concerns. Secretly, she hated how they all saw her as this untouchable creature that could never be anything less than perfect. Dash would like, for once, to go about her business without judgemental ponies analyzing her every move, but such was the price of fame.
She quickened her pace to a canter as she neared the tree’s entrance, eager to leave the piercing views of onlookers. Rainbow knocked three times on the wooden door and was relieved to hear Twilight’s voice.
“Come in!” Twilight said warmly. Dash didn’t need to be told twice and quickly opened the door, stepped through, and shut it behind her. Twilight got off her hooves as soon as she saw the pegasus’ face and mane. Rainbow’s typically neat yet casual mane was an absolute mess, and her eyes had dark purple rings under them. Her cheeks shone with lines from the tears she had recently allowed to roll down her face unhampered, and her hooves were bruised for some reason Twilight had yet to ascertain.
“Dash! P-please lie down on the couch! I’ll get you something; just relax!” The lavender mare rushed into the kitchen to fetch something -- anything -- to help Rainbow. After grabbing everything she could find, Twilight made her way to the cyan mare with an armament of medical supplies, relaxation therapeutics (courtesy of Rarity), and comfort food.
“Th-thanks Twi...” Rainbow Dash reached for the hay chips in Twilight’s hooves and immediately stuck her whole face in the bag as she munched away, groaning softly. Twilight carefully seated herself on the couch next to Rainbow Dash, and gently placed her hoof on the dismal pegasus’ shoulder.
“Now...tell me, what’s wrong?” Twilight rubbed Rainbow Dash’s shoulders comfortingly.
Rainbow Dash responded with a huff and by placing her muzzle in her hooves. “Spitfire and I-…we...” the cyan pegasus began before taking a deep breath. “We... s-she just lef--” Dash stopped speaking as the sobs choked out her voice. She offered no resistance to the flood of emotions she had been bottling all day. Twilight felt a tear begin to well up in her own eye, extremely despondent at seeing her friend in such a state. Rainbow, possibly the most self-sure mare she knew, was collapsing right in front of her.
Twilight didn’t think twice before wrapping her hooves around the pegasus’ back. “It’s okay, Dashie,” she whispered softly, keeping Spitfire’s pet name at an inaudible volume. “Let it out. I’m here for you.”
Rainbow Dash stared deeply into Twilight’s violet eyes. They were looking back at the rainbow mare with something she had not seen before: empathy. She reflected how most ponies saw her as nothing more than a Wonderbolt these days -- some immortal idol nopony could even hope to relate to. Twilight’s compassionate gaze, however, reminded her that she did have friends and not just fans.
It was also at this moment that Rainbow Dash noticed how gorgeous her eyes really were. Twilight’s irises were a dark, royal violet, expressing her emotional depth and sincerity. While she mayn’t possess Fluttershy’s notorious stare, Dash could regardless feel an odd sensation tingling in her chest and stomach as the unicorn’s eyes gently peered into her own puffy ones. As if on cue, Twilight lifted her hoof to wipe away the cyan mare’s remaining tears. Rainbow averted her gaze downwards and blushed, ashamed that she had lost her composure and burdened her best friend with such a flux of emotions.
“I-I’m sorry Twi...you know I’m not usually like this.” Rainbow sniffled and attempted to get off the couch. She wanted to avoid being seen like this any longer than she had to, but a gentle, purple hoof blocked her way. She turned to say something to the purple unicorn, but was met with a very stern smile, and gentle, glossy eyes.
“Please, Rainbow Dash. I can’t help you if you run off...” Rainbow felt her knees wobble as the little unicorn calmly stared her down. There was nothing intimidating about the way she was looking at her, yet Twilight’s gaze was filled with such compassion and determination that Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but sit back down.
”I know this must be difficult for you. If you’re even half as devastated as Spitfire was when she ca--”
“Spitfire was here?!” Dash shouted. Her wings shot out and her face began to turn beet red. A pang of fear shot through Twilight as she shirked away from the aggravated pegasus. The unicorn buried her squinted eyes in her hooves, preparing for whatever verbal assault would be headed her way.
Rainbow’s mind began racing. She had no clue as to why Spitfire would have already visited Twilight. What could the other Wonderbolt possibly want from her best friend after breaking up with her? Furthermore, Twilight said Spitty was devastated. The thought made Rainbow huff; she couldn’t possibly even contemplate the level of misery Dash was enduring. Anger still distorting her face, the cyan mare observed the malingering unicorn next to her and immediately saddened. She hadn’t meant to lash out like that, especially not to the only pony who was offering her any consolation.
“I-I’m sorry, Twi... I was just surprised is all.” The lavender unicorn flustered slightly at the nickname. Her friends often used it, but it felt... different when Rainbow Dash said it, as if it were somehow more personal.
“Rainbow, I think we both know that’s not true. You’re still frustrated, but it’s understandable.” Twilight had inched her way back over to the mopey pegasus. “You two were together for a really long time... I wish I could say I understand what you’re going through, but I honestly don’t.”
“Trust me, you’re not missing much,” Dash muttered. Twilight merely frowned at the pegasus.
“Do you really regret it, Dash? I mean -- everything? Surely some of what you both had was worth it, right?” The unicorn was only half asking to make Rainbow reconsider; the other half of her really wanted to know about it. She never had much experience in relationships, largely because she was always caught up in her studies, but also because she had never seen the appeal of dating colts. They always seemed so brash and immature to Twilight, even if she admired their confidence.
“Well, yea-- no-- I don’t know!” Dash’s wings folded back in as she hung her head low, trying to sort her feelings. Twilight put her hoof around the pegasus’ shoulders, hugging her in close.
“Shh... It’s okay, Dashie.” Rainbow’s wings shot out slightly at the use of her pet name, inciting a muffled giggle from the unicorn. The cyan pony blushed hotly and growled a bit, causing Twilight make a better attempt at stifling her chuckles. Rainbow found the laughter a bit contagious and even cute.
“Let me guess,” Dash sneered, “she used that name while she was here” Twilight smiled coyly and nodded.
“I’m sorry, Dash. I shouldn’t have used a name that’s private between you two.”
“No, don’t sweat it, Twi’. It’s just a little pet name Spitty had for me.” At that, both ponies started giggling uncontrollably, gasping loudly between hurls of laughter. By the time the chuckles had subsided, both ponies were clutching their sides with two hooves. Rainbow glanced at the lavender mare and smiled gently, happiness finally shining through her puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. Twilight felt practically giddy that Dash had at last cheered up.
“Thanks, Twilight,” the cyan mare whispered as she put both hooves around her. Rainbow pulled the unicorn into a tight embrace, proceeding to nuzzle the side of her face. It took all of Twilight’s willpower not to squee like Fluttershy from joy. Rainbow Dash began to pull away slowly, and the lavender mare reluctantly released her hold.
“Anytime Rainbow Dash...my library is always open for you.” Rainbow Dash smiled and turned her attention to the darkening windows. She gasped as she remembered that the pegasi had a big thunderstorm planned for today, and she did not want to get caught in that. The frantic mare jumped off the couch and ran towards the door. As Rainbow Dash grabbed the handle she turned to face a confused Twilight.
“Sorry Twi! There’s a big storm coming, and I don’t want to get caught in it. And hey...thanks for everything...egghead,” the pegasus teased, smirking widely. As Rainbow pulled the door open, thunder cracked just outside the library causing the pegasus to shut the door quickly in fear. “Er...it’s here.” She turned to Twilight with a sheepish smile.
“Let me guess...you need a place to stay?” Rainbow chuckled and nodded bashfully. The gentle unicorn smiled and got off the couch. “I’ll go get some blankets. I can sleep on the couch; you can have my bed.”
“Twilight, you know I could never intrude on your home and take your bed. I’ll take the couch.”
“No way I’m letting you sleep on the couch, Dash. You’re my guest after all,” Twilight said with a small smile.
“Well, what kind of friend would I be if I forced you out of your own bed? That’s a real loyal thing to do, huh?”
“I’m the one offering it to you.”
“And I’m refusing,” Dash said, a smirk spread widely across her face. She was determined to have Twilight give in first. Twilight giggled at her friend’s sudden display of witty courtesy -- a trait she had always looked for in the few colts she attempted dating. The lavender unicorn, while inexperienced, decided to use a bit of charm to her advantage in the situation. Twilight trotted slowly up to the cyan mare and sat on her haunches right in front of Rainbow, pouting despondently.
“Please, Dashie,” she said, batting her eyelashes. Rainbow experienced a reaction to the pet name quite similar to the one earlier. “I really don’t want you to sleep on the couch.” After snapping her wings back in place, Dash tried staring at the ground to little avail. Twilight’s dark, doleful eyes continued to solicit her attention until, at last, she could no longer bear it.
“Argh, Twilight!” the pegasus whined, “I’ll feel so bad if you have to sleep on the couch!” An idea suddenly engendered itself in the purple mare’s mind. Although her conscious mind screamed at her for the audacious suggestion she was preparing to make, a feeling inside Twilight filled her with confidence as she spoke unwavering.
“Fine, I’ll sleep with you if it makes you feel better,” she said flatly, as if it were a common statement. To the rainbow-maned mare, the proposition was everything but normal. Dash began stammering uncontrollably, her mouth tripping over itself as her brain kept changing what it wanted to say.
“What? I-I mean, Twi -- wait, um... I-uh,” the cyan pegasus mumbled incoherently before shaking her head violently. “But I’m lesbian, Twilight. Wouldn’t that be a bit... uh...?” Rainbow’s face began to turn a shade of light crimson as her voice trailed off.
“It’s fine,” Twilight said with a smile. “You’re a loyal friend, and I trust you.”
~ ~ ~
Rainbow Dash lay awake far after the pony beside her had dozed off into blissful slumber. The pegasus found it difficult to sleep next to another mare after everything that had transpired that day. It felt so strange to be in bed next to somepony that wasn’t Spitfire, the pony she had spent the last year. Still, if there was anypony she felt comfortable enough with, it was the book-worm Twilight Sparkle.
‘I bet she even sleeps like an egghead...’ Rainbow Dash chuckled at her little joke. She pondered the possible ways Twilight could sleep. Images of the unicorn curled into a ball with her hooves locked tightly in her chest came to mind. ‘I have to see that!’
Curiosity piqued in the young mares mind as she rolled over to catch at peak at how the quaint unicorn slept. Twilight was facing away from Rainbow Dash with her hooves tucked neatly under her muzzle. Her mouth hung slightly ajar as she snow snored softly. ‘Hm...I guess not. It actually reminds me of the way Spitty sleeps...’
As she watched Twilight sleep an idea came to Rainbow Dash. Gently, she placed her head on the lavender mare’s back and carefully wrapped her hooves her. The familiar warmth of another pony was comforting to Rainbow. A blush caressed her cheeks as she thought of her actions’ consequences which were sure to come in the morning.
