Worn Out
A TwiDash romance by Treco89090
Rainbow Dash had been sick for about a week when she decided to see a doctor.
“Well Ms. Dash, it seems that you have a very nasty cold,” Nurse Redheart said after taking Dash’s temperature.
“I could’ve told you that,” said the egocentric, but still very trustworthy, pegasus right before sneezing.
“Well, if you keep flying back to Cloudsdale it won’t get any better, so I suggest you stay with a friend on ground level for about two to three days,” said Nurse Redheart before leaving the room to check on other patients.
“Well, that’s just great,” Dash muttered to herself as she got off the examination table to go talk to Twilight, she'd know what to do.
Twilight, who is almost the exact opposite of Rainbow Dash, is a very selfless pony, always trying to help others. She is also very, very smart, however it didn't take a rocket scientist to see that something was wrong with Dash.
“Dashie, are you okay?” She asked, looking at her friend as she walked into the library.
“No,” Rainbow said, sneezing and coughing “I can’t go home because if I do, this cold will get worse.”
“Well how long have you been sick?” Twilight asked. She cursed herself for not seeing her friend more to know this stuff, but she had been incredibly busy at the library.
“It’s been about a week, Nurse Redheart says I can’t go home or it will get worse, so can I stay here for a few days?” Rainbow asked, stifling a sneeze.
“Of course you can stay here!” Twilight exclaimed. “Can I get you anything? Soup? A blanket?” Twilight asked, bouncing a little.
Dash just looked her weird and slowly said “Um, thanks but i’m good,” walking past her friend and sneezing “buck this cold,” she muttered.
Twilight just let her past and closed the door. “How long do you think you’ll stay here? Specifically, I mean,” She asked.
“Um, probably three days, or whenever this cold passes,” Dash said “Where will I be staying anyway?”
“Um the guest room is always open. Do you need anything taken up there?” Twilight replied. Dash just shook her head.
“I’m fine, all I need is this notebook” Dash said motioning to her saddlebag.
“You write?” Twilight asked, a little surprised. Her friend never really struck her as the writing type.
“Yeah, I note new tricks and things in here.” Dash replied, a little uncertainty in her voice. Twilight just nodded.
For some reason i’m not convinced Twilight thought to herself, but she thought nothing of it and took Dashie to the guest room.
Twilight opened the door and turned on the light. The only things in the room were a writing desk and an old, generic bed.
“There is a desk if you want to write, there’s your bed, and of course you’re always welcome to the library to read” Twilight said with a smile.
Dash just said thanks and Twilight left her in peace. I hope she fell for my bluff Dash thought pulling out her notebook and a pencil and going over to her desk. In the notebook were several sketches of Twilight.
Twilight went back down to the library (after all it WAS still work hours) and helped the customer who walked in at that time.
...
After the slow work day concluded Twilight flipped the sign on the door and locked up. She went upstairs to see if Dash wanted dinner.
She knocked on the door. “Rainbow? May I come in?” She asked. Upon hearing the OK she opened the door and saw Dash lying in bed, resting.
“I was gonna make dinner, do you want soup or something?” She asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Um, that would be nice, as long as you don’t make me get it” Dash replied with a chuckle.
“Of course not! I’ll be up again in a few minutes, don’t move” Twilight exclaimed getting up and leaving the room.
Dash just stayed where she was, enjoying the fact that her friend was being so generous. She was thinking about ways she could be more generous when Twilight walked in while levitating a tray and bowl of soup over to Dash.
“I hope you don’t mind veggie noodle soup” Twilight said, sitting down at the desk.
“As long as the noodles aren’t made out of veggies I’m fine” Dash said, then she let out a laugh that turned into a cough.
Twilight laughed with her. Come on, now is the perfect time to tell her she thought as she sat there smiling at her friend eat the soup. Instead she just stood up and told Dash she would be right outside if she needed anything.
“Thanks again for everything Twilight, I promise to pay you back at some point” Dash said, between sips of soup.
“Don’t worry about it” Twilight replied before walking downstairs to grab a book to read. Hm, The Pony in the Rye by P.D. Salinger, that’s sounds good She thought before grabbing it and heading back upstairs.
As she read she thought about the cyan pegasus in the other room.
Dammit, I just need to tell her how I feel. Goddess, why do I have to be so insecure? Okay, don’t think about the negatives just say it: “Rainbow, I love you” but what if she doesn’t feel the same way back?
She was so lost in thought she almost didn’t hear her friend calling her. She walked in to see Dash with an empty bowl in front of her.
“Here, let me take that out of your way” Twilight said, telepathically taking the bowl.
“Hey Twi, could you get me a book to read? And Smarty Pants?” Dash asked from her bedded position.
“Okay, I’ll get you a Daring Do book, how’s that sound?” Twilight asked in response. “Actually I kind of wanted to try a different fantasy book today”
“Wow. Dash just turned down a Daring Do book, must be my lucky day” Twilight joked as she left to get Rainbow’s items.
She reemerged about three minutes later carrying her trusty stuffed animal and a book.
“Here you go, Smarty Pants and Eragon, it’s a good book, trust me” Twilight said, adding the last part after seeing her friend’s confused expression. “Anyway, why did you want you want Smarty Pants?”
“Well” Dash began “Don’t tell anypony I said this but I actually can’t sleep without a stuffed animal and I forgot mine back at home” she finished, a little embarrassed.
Twilight just laughed but still assured her friend that she wouldn’t tell anypony about her secret.
“Thanks Twi, you’re such a good friend” Dash said getting out of bed to hug her friend.
“Thanks Dashie, I’m glad I can be your friend” Twilight said, accepting her friends hug.
Dash broke the hug and went back to her bed, she pulled down the covers and got in in, but didn’t pull them up.
Twilight walked out of the room and went to her own room to finish up the night. When she walked in she found Spike reading a book.
“Oh hi Spike, where have you been all day?” She asked happily.
“I’ve been in town helping Applejack with her stand, sorry I forgot to tell you” he replied, a little down.
“Don’t worry about it, oh by the way, Dashie will be staying us for a few days so the guest room will be occupied” Twilight said going over to her desk and pulling out a notebook and quill.
Spike just nodded and went about his business of reading a book. Twilight looked over to look at it and found it was her favorite book The Pony in the Rye
“Where’d you find the book?” She asked, making sure it was the one she was reading earlier.
“I found it on a chair by the guest room, I was going to put it back but it looked like a good book so I decided to read it” He replied.
Twilight sighed. “Okay thanks, just making sure it was mine”
About an hour later Spike said goodnight to Twilight, put her book back on the shelf, and went to bed. Twilight decided it was time to check on Dashie so she went back to the guest room.
She found Rainbow sleeping with her head on the pillow, the book still open, and Smarty Pants in her arm. Twilight smiled gently as she walked in and covered up her friend. She then kissed her on the forehead and wished her good night.
The next day Twilight woke up early, despite being the weekend, to prepare for a trip over to Fluttershy’s for lunch. Even though that was almost 6 hours away she still wanted to be extra prepared.
She walked past the guest room to head to the kitchen for a quick snack she saw Rainbow up and at the desk.
“Oh Rainbow, you’re up early” she said walking in.
“Yeah, stupid stuffy nose woke me up, it cleared up about ten minutes ago, but I still feel terrible” Dash said turning in her chair.
“If you feel bad why don’t you relax, it would really help you” Twilight said walking over to feel her friends forehead.
Seeing Twilight walk over Rainbow quickly shut her notebook and got up.
“What was that for?” Twilight asked, motioning to Dash’s notebook.
Rainbow stood there, thinking up an excuse, when she finally said “I
don’t really like showing off my tricks’ before they’re ready” with a laugh.
Twilight laughed as well. She loved it when Rainbow laughed, she could listen to it all day if she wanted.
“Well I’m going to see Fluttershy for lunch so you’ll be stuck with Spike for about an hour later” Twilight said, turning to leave.
“Okay, when will you leave?” Rainbow asked.
“I don’t know, probably around 11:45 or so, why?” Twilight responded, turning back around to look at Rainbow.
“No reason, just wondering” Rainbow replied. Twilight just nodded and began to leave the room.
Rainbow couldn’t help herself, she found herself looking at Twilights butt as she walked out, so she quickly shook her head, smiled, and went back to drawing.
...
About an hour passed when Twilight came back with some medicine for Rainbow after she heard her have the loudest coughing fit in the history of coughing fits.
“Twi, I don’t need cough medicine!” Rainbow whined after her friend walked into her room carrying the bottle of red liquid.
“Don’t deny it Rainbow, you need this” Twilight said pouring some into the cap to give to Dash.
Mumbling a little Dash took it and gagged a little. “That was awful” She said laughing a little and accepting the water Twilight also brought with her.
“It will help don’t worry and Dash” Twilight said come on, just say it “have fun today” Dammit Sparkle! You blew it She thought as she blushed and began leaving the room.
“Um, thanks” Rainbow replied, a little confused. Once her friend left the room she turned back to the desk and opened it up to her latest creation.
She sighed as she ripped it out and put it in her saddlebag, it would be one for the scrapbook at home, she just had to keep Twilight from seeing it, because if she did, Rainbow thought it would ruin our friendship.
...
Twilight knocked on Fluttershy’s door and waited for an answer. When Fluttershy answered the door she greeted her and asked to come in.
“Of course you can come in, it is a lunch party after all, isn’t it?” Fluttershy said stepping aside.
“As long as Pinkie Pie isn’t here” Twilight said chuckling “I need to get out of the library more, don’t I?”
“No, why?” Fluttershy asked. “Well, Rainbow is sick and” Twilight began but Fluttershy cut her off.
“Rainbow’s sick?! Why didn’t you say so, let’s go” Fluttershy said and she grabbed her bag, but Twilight stopped her.
“It’s just a cold, I can handle it, really” Twilight said blocking the doorway “now, let’s eat lunch”
Fluttershy just sighed and put her bag down “very well, I set up in the dining room” She said, leading Twilight through the way.
They were about ten minutes through their meal when Fluttershy, who was in a much better mood, spoke up.
“How is Dash feeling?” Fluttershy asked looking up from her daffodil sandwich.
“Oh she’s doing well, I guess.” Twilight said sipping some tea. “I’m sure she’s felt better though”
Fluttershy paused “have you told her how you feel yet?” She asked.
Twilight sighed. “I wish I could, but I i just can’t bring myself to do it. I’m hating myself for being insecure right now” she said.
“Well, I think you should just tell her how you feel with no regrets” Fluttershy said.
“This coming from the pony who has the word SHY in her name. Besides, what if she says no?” Twilight asked.
Meanwhile back at the library...
Spike walked into Rainbow’s room to ask her a question but then he saw her drawing or something like that at her desk so he wanted to check it out.
“That’s a very nice drawing Dash” he said when he saw it. He frightened Dashie enough to shut her notebook instinctively.
“Spike! Didn’t Twilight ever teach you to knock?” She asked, frightened.
“Of course, and I would if there was a door to this room” Spike replied looking back at the doorway.
Dash just facehoofed and sighed. “Well I guess you already saw it. Wanna see my drawing?” Dash asked, reopening her notebook.
Spike nodded, so Dashie reopened her notebook to the correct page. Spike just looked at it and smiled.
“It looks very nice Dash, do you have more like this?” Spike asked. Dash nodded and showed him the whole notebook.
“These are all very nice, but why are they all of Twilight?” Spike asked.
Dash just sighed. “I have a crush on her okay? Please don’t tell her though, I want to tell her myself” she said retaking her notebook and coughing.
“Oh yeah that reminds me, want some cough medicine?” Spike asked, remembering why he was there in the first place.
Dash just gagged. “Goddess no, that stuff tastes nasty and doesn’t help me at all” she said, turning back to her notebook and grabbing her pencil.
“Okay, well I’ll be reshelving books in the library if you need me” Spike said turning and leaving. Dash just grunted in response, focused on her drawing.
About twenty minutes later Twilight returned from Fluttershy’s house and went to check on Rainbow.
“How are you feeling?” She asked walking into Dash’s room. Dash was sitting on her bed reading, so she looked up at her friend and smiled.
“I’m doing good, thanks for asking, I got a little cough about ten minutes ago, but it’s gone now” she said going back to her reading.
“How do you like the book?” Twilight asked, sitting on the edge of Rainbow’s bed.
“It’s really cool! Like, almost Cooler than Daring Do, almost” she exclaimed with a big smile on her face. she hugged Twilight. “Thanks for getting it for me”
Twilight smiled and returned her friends hug, blushing a little as she did so.
“You’re very much welcome Dash, i’m glad you like it” She said, breaking the embrace.
Come on just tell her Twilight thought. “Dashie, I...” She began but couldn’t bring herself to finish that sentence.
“Yeah?” Dash asked, obviously anxious and blushing all of a sudden.
“Um, I’ll be in my room if you need anything” Twilight said before
running off to her room and shutting and locking the door. Meanwhile Dash was just sitting there wondering what the buck just happened.
Twilight just sighed and walked over to her bed where she laid face down on her pillow and began to cry softly.
Dang it! Why can’t I say three simple words! I love you. See? Why can’t I say them?? Twilight thought as the tears fell into her pillow.
She was so focused on her crying that she didn’t even hear Spike unlock the door and walk in.
“Twilight? Are you ok?” He asked, walking cautiously to her bed.
“Go away!” She shouted into her pillow, not looking up. Spike just frowned and walked over to sit on her bed.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, rubbing her back as she cried.
“I just can’t bring myself to tell Dash that I love her” Twilight said lifting her head off of her now tear-soaked pillow.
It took all of Spike’s self control to not tell Twilight that Dash had the same feelings for her, but he held his tongue, metaphorically speaking.
“Don’t worry about it, just try to focus on other things, you can tell her, I have faith in you” Spike said getting up “now, I have to get things in order downstairs, we still have work tomorrow”
With that Spike left, after he left he decided to stop by Dash’s room. He walked in to find her reading on her bed, reading Eragon.
“Hey Dash, I think Twilight needs your help with something” Spike said when he walked “I think you should tell her” he whispered at the end.
Dash didn’t look like she was paying attention, until he whispered that last phrase, then her face went white.
“I.. I can’t tell her! What if she doesn’t feel the same way back?” Dash stammered nervously.
“Trust me, she won’t decline” Spike giving his friend a comforting tap on her back.
Dash just exhaled deeply and got out of bed. She began to slowly build up the courage to walk into Twilight’s room and tell that unicorn her true feelings.
She finally built up enough courage to walk up the stairs, then a little more to knock on her door, then a little more to open it. As she walked in she found Twilight asleep, even though it was only about 2 in the afternoon.
Dash just sighed, stifled a sneeze, and flew out of her window to the ground below. Once there she took off in a full on gallop to get away from town and hope no one saw the tears threatening to fall down her face.
When she finally reached the grassy areas outside of town she let them all come out, bawling her eyes out into the grass.
About two hours passed when the tears finally stopped falling, so Dash just sat there, her eyes red and fur matted down, wallowing in her sorrows.
Around that time the setting sun shown through Twilight’s window and into her eyes, waking her up. As she slowly regained consciousness she felt something was off. She got out of bed and walked to Dash’s room, and woke up almost immediately.
She ran downstairs to where Spike was making a ruby encrusted sandwich.
“WHERE’S DASH?!?” She shouted to her little helper.
“I think she went for a walk” Spike said “she really wanted to see you and when she saw you were asleep she kind of just... left”
This realization hit Twilight harder than a slash across her face from a manticore. She didn’t know why, but she felt she did something wrong.
“Did I do something wrong?” She asked, half to herself and half to Spike.
“I don’t think so” Spike said, walking over to his accepted big sister. Even though they weren’t related, Twilight always treated Spike like her little brother, now Spike felt obliged to try to help her out too.
However he failed to do anything as she ran back upstairs and charged into Dash’s room and put a magical barrier in front of the doorway to keep spike out. She then broke down again and felt the first tears roll down her cheeks once again.
After about twenty minutes Twilight convinced herself to leave her friends room, however she thought that Dash was no longer her friend because of her quick departure, so that would make it her “ex-friend’s” room.
She walked slowly up the rest of the stairs and closed her door and went over to her balcony to look at the beautiful sky Luna had made. She looked up the sky and marveled at the stars before sighing and getting lost in thought.
Dash finally returned home well after three in the morning expecting to see everyone in bed, but to her surprise Spike was still up, coloring in a coloring book.
“I’m back” Dash said a little sad. Spike looked up, smiled, happy she was back, and went back to coloring. Dash decided to go to bed.
Dash slept in, as per the usual for her, and Twilight woke up early, as per usual for her, and when she did wake up she was still in a deep blue funk. She went downstairs to make some cereal, but she found a note where the cereal should’ve been.
Twilight, went out to get more cereal,
Spike
Twilight just sighed, still feeling a little depressed, even though Dash had returned and didn’t actually leave her, she still felt really sad and thought she did something wrong. At around the same time a particular pegasus was stirring.
Twilight heard a knock on the door and answered it. It was Derpy. Twilight thanked her for the mail delivery and went back inside.
As she found some bread to make a sandwich instead of cereal she decided to go through the mail. Nothing of interest she thought, tossing it aside and getting out supplies for her sandwich.
About then Dash was stirring upstairs. She opened her eyes and looked at the clock: 7:30 AM.
Great she thought five more minutes and she closed her eyes again. When she awoke the second time the clock read 10:56 AM.
She jumped out of bed at seeing the time five minutes my ass she thought I have to explain things to Twilight.
She ran downstairs and found Twilight sitting in the library reading a book, her plate sitting next to her, with Spike asleep on the couch next to her.
“Twilight, I need to talk to you” Dash said, motioning to the kitchen. Twilight looked up and saw her motioning to the kitchen. She sighed but got up to follow her anyway.
Once they were in the kitchen Dash started babbling on so fast that Twilight had to put a hoof to her mouth to shut her up.
“Rainbow, shut up and slow down” Twilight said, still not in the best mood ever.
“Okay, right, sorry” Dash said “listen, I’m sorry that I ran off yesterday I just needed some time to think is all”
“About what?” Twilight asked, now a little curious.
Well it’s now or never “I was thinking of how I would tell you that...” Dash began Say it dammit! “That I am in love with you!”
Twilight was shocked. She had the biggest crush on Rainbow for the past three months, and it turns out she felt the same way.
Rainbow just stood there with a blush about as red as a tomato when Twilight finally did something. She kissed Rainbow.
Now it was Dash’s turn to be shocked. She just told Twilight that she loved her, and now she was kissing her. Either she had felt the same way or she just wanted her to feel good.
When Twilight finally broke the kiss, she was blushing just as deep as Rainbow.
“So um, yeah” Dash said finally, still blushing. Twilight looked at her and smiled.
“Now what?” Twilight asked. Dash just shrugged “wanna see my notebook?” She suggested Twilight nodded.
They went up the stairs to Dash’s room to look at the said notebook. When they got to Dashie’s room she grabbed her notebook and handed it to Twilight.
“Only go about ten pages in, after that I haven’t gotten many things
done” Dash said.
“Um Dash, there’s only eleven pages in it” Twilight said. Dash just chuckled.
“I screwed up a lot...” she said “anyway the last one isn’t done yet”
Twilight just chuckled and opened it up, and was shocked to find they were all drawings of her.
“Wow, Dash these are really good drawings, I didn’t know you could draw” Twilight said with a smile.
Dash just blushed and smiled. “I’m glad you like them” she said.
There was a few minutes of silence as they sat down on the bed and enjoyed the others company. Finally Twilight spoke up.
“We should probably tell the others” She said, looking at Dash. Dash just nodded in approval.
So the next day Twilight and a now completely healthy Rainbow Dash anxiously awaited the arrival of their other friends.
Since Twilight had pretty much told all of her friends about her crush, after they vowed an oath of secrecy, they all pretty much had an idea what this was about. Regardless, they showed up with neutral opinions on it all.
Once they all arrived Twilight ushered them into the library area, place, the reading area there, and began to explain everything.
“Hello everyone, i’m sure you’re all wondering why you are here” She began “but anyway, I digress”
She then began a long spiel on how friendship is important and nothing should get in it’s way and blah blah blah.
“Get on with it!” Dash shouted, the others shouted in annoyed agreement.
“Fine, Dash and I are a couple now” Twilight said, pretty much giving
the too long; didn’t read version. The others were not very surprised but still incredibly happy. They all congratulated Twi and Dash and Pinkie Pie broke out the party cannon.
After their short, yet still awesome, party the group went their separate ways, leaving Dash and Twilight alone. Again.
During the party Dash had also put the finishing touches on her final picture.
“Hey Twi, it’s done” she said walking out onto the balcony beside her fillyfriend.
“Really? Can I see it?” Twilight asked, barely able to contain her new-found excitement.
Dash just smiled and showed her the last picture in her notebook. When she saw it, Twilight gasped.
“It’s... beautiful” she said taking it with her magic. “I love it”
“You do? Really?” Dash asked. Twilight nodded. Dash just smiled and embraced her friend in a hug.
“I got the inspiration from the winter wrap-up when you were super excited. I saw you and had a very big moment of inspiration” Dash said, telling the story behind the drawing.
Twilight looked at her and took a step towards her. Dash closed the distance and they kissed in front of the sunset, the feeling of her friends kiss still making her shiver with joy. They broke the kiss and marveled at the work of art of a particular blue pegasus had drawn through thick and thin, proving that even if you are worn out, things can still get bright in the end.
THE END
Author's Note
Well, after 2 months, 4,491 words, and 21 Google Docs pages, it's finally done. I hope you enjoy it, I had a lot of fun writing it, so I hope you get the same amount of joy from reading it.
