Head in the Cloudsby Noash123ChaptersEtherealExtenuationsSalacityFidelityAmourAmour (Re-Written)ArdencyEthereal"In my wildest dreams, you always play the hero. In my darkest hour of night, you rescue me, you save my life." - Anonymous The white unicorn snuggled under Rainbow Dash’s wing. The vibrantly colored pegasus smiled warmly. She enjoyed this. The serenity; being disconnected from the troubles of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash nuzzled Rarity, and she nuzzled back. They sat there in silence, because no words needed to be said. They were both content to sit there, on the hill overlooking the grass field, and just watch Celestia’s sun slowly set behind the horizon. A small flock of birds flew by, adding to the tranquility of the near unearthly scene. The silence was broken when Rarity gave a small yawn, and lay her head down on the grass; a small, complacent smile on her face. Dash looked down at the blissful unicorn. A tear came to her eye. The whole scene, lied out in front of her. It was perfect. The pegasus lay her head down softly on the back of the white pony, and closed her eyes. Some time passed. Rarity looked up at Dash, who was peacefully resting her head. Dash looked down, and their eyes locked. A twinkle filled Rarity’s eyes, and Dash couldn’t help but notice her own face turn bright crimson. The white pony pecked the pink-faced pony on the cheek, and lay her head back down on the crisp grass. Dash felt her face burning. This was just how she wanted it. Just the two of them; alone and with each other. Another tear formed under Dash’s closed eyes. The tear escaped, and rolled down her cheek, hitting Rarity’s coat. Rarity looked up at Dash, who proceeded into a sitting position. “Is something wrong?” Rarity asked with concern. Dash looked at her with a pleasant smile. “No, nothing's wrong. In fact, everything is right. This landscape, your beauty---” Dash stopped, her cheeks flaming. Rarity smiled, and blushed slightly herself. “It’s all so unreal, isn’t it?” Rarity said with a soft smile, her eyes fixed on the scenery. Dash nodded softly, her cheek wet from another stray tear. “I never thought we’d be together. I always worried that you.. you wouldn’t..” “Love you?” Rarity spoke, a gentle tone in her voice. Dash nodded again, this time not saying anything. The unicorn gave a sympathetic smile and nuzzled the pegasus. Dash smiled slightly, and nuzzled back. “Thanks,” She said, a hint of sadness still lingering in her voice. Her mind was focused on everything at once. The strangest thing, though, was that she didn’t remember how she got here. Onto this beautiful and sweet smelling grass; next to the pony she thought she could only ask for. Everything was perfect; not a single bad thing.. at least that she could remember. She dismissed it, and lied back down on the grass, next to the now settling Rarity. “Hey, um, Rarity? May I ask you something?” Rarity looked over and nodded; another concerned look taking over her face. “How did you feel when I.. confessed how I felt about you..?” The white pony looked slightly dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected a question like this. “I.. was actually.. happy. I had been feeling the same way about you, and I guess you worked up the courage before I did.” Rainbow Dash had taken up a proud look on her face. That she had not only gotten the courage to state her feelings, but that she did it first. Rarity saw the pegasus’ pleased look, and smiled. She set her head down on Rainbow Dash’s back, and let out a placate sigh. Rainbow continued to look out, as the last of the sun’s light shone it’s way into Equestria. The last of the animals had skittered into their homes, and the crickets began their soft lilt. The last of the sun’s rays set back behind the horizon, and Luna’s moon had began it’s ascent across the sky, shedding a dim, white light on the two ponies who lie out on the crest of the field. Dash bundled against Rarity, and the two of them situated in silence. Rainbow Dash’s thoughts lingered; her eyes closed, and she rested her head on Rarity’s back. Reticence beset the field, and a sense of concord swept over Rainbow Dash. Just the two of them.. alone and with each other. Her heart swelled with a strange emotion she had never felt before.. love. She inhaled one last whiff of the nature that surrounded them, and she grinned. Everything.. so quiet.. so blissful.. so.. dreamlike. Extenuations"The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable." - Victor Hugo Dash opened her eyes. She stared at the soft cloud ceiling for what seemed like decades. She couldn’t get that dream out of her head; it seemed too vivid to be fabrication of her mind. She could remember everything; the beautiful sunset, the crisp grass.. she even remembered the smell. How could everything have been false when she felt she could reach out and embrace Rari-- Dash blushed at the thought; she had had a dream about the white unicorn that she.. loved? Her mind scrambled at the thought.. she had feelings for Rarity. She continued to gaze at the ceiling, disbelief filling her head. With a dejected sigh, she got out of bed. “Maybe a short fly around town would help? Yeah, that’s it.” She knew, though, that she wasn’t doing this to clear her thoughts. She was doing this to visit Rarity. Rarity stumbled throughout the shop. The Carousel Boutique was unusually busy today. The white pony moved awkwardly around, trying to get organized; unfortunately, organization wasn’t something that she could achieve easily. She’d give anything to be able to walk without bumping into another pony. “At least it can’t get any worse.” She thought to herself. As if on cue, Rainbow Dash walked into the boutique. “Oh no..” “Hey, Rarity.” Dash looked around the shop casually, as if the crowd that seemed to only grow wasn’t there. Rarity responded with a grated sigh. “What is it, Dash? Can’t you see I’m busy?” This killed any hopes Dash had about starting a conversation. “Oh.. um.. well, I was just wondering if I could ask you something..?” “What?” Rarity replied, slightly more aggravated this time. Rainbow knew this wasn’t the best time to evince her feelings. She stuttered, trying to get her way out of this situation. “Do you need any help around the Boutique?” She stopped, seemingly stunned about what had just left her lips. Rarity seemed to be as puzzled as the pegasus. “Sure.. I guess.. um, why don’t you try to get the crowd in order? It’d really help.” Without hesitation, Dash walked into the middle of the crowd. “LISTEN UP EVERYPONY!” Rainbow Dash charm at work. Rarity tended to the customers, while Rainbow Dash barked orders to keep them regulated. Rarity thought for a moment; this seemed like a very Applejack thing for Rainbow to do. She shrugged it off, as she had customers to tend to. This went on for several hours; it seemed more dresses were tailored in the rush than her entire career. After the last of the customers had dwindled out, Rarity and Dash were both exhausted. They both looked at each other. Rarity was at a loss for words. “Um.. thanks for the help..” She added a much too exuberant smile after she said this. “Yeah.. anytime..” Dash panted in between each word. She was out of breath. Hollering orders for that long made her seem like she had just flown a marathon. “Well, I uh.. guess I should head back home.” Dash made a gesture with her head towards the door. Rarity raised an eyebrow. “After all that work.. you’re just heading home?” Rarity scowled at the bright faced pegasus before her. “You obviously came here for something. And I have a feeling that you weren’t helping me out of the kindness of your heart.” Rainbow Dash’s already pink face turned to a deep crimson. “What did you really want to talk about?” Dash stumbled over her words. All of the possible excuses were tossed around in her mind and dismissed. She couldn’t talk her way out of this, and she wasn’t prepared to simply blurt out her feelings; she wanted the moment to be right. “Really.. I was flying overhead and saw the Boutique was busy.. so I decided to drop in and help a little..” Dash could tell Rarity wasn’t buying it. Rarity went with it anyway. “Alright.." She raised an eyebrow, "Well I do ever so appreciate the help. Wish I always had a pony with such.. charm.. in the Boutique. But I know you have better things to do than to just stand around and idly stand around and chat with me. What with having to clear the skies and all that.” Dash didn’t really have anything better to do, but knew she should take the opening to leave, rather than sit there awkwardly. With a final goodbye, she was up in the sky, heading nowhere. Salacity"To be your friend was all I ever wanted; to be your lover was all I ever dreamed." - Valerie Lombardo The air screamed past her. Her hair waved in the wind in every direction. She beat her wings furiously, desperately trying to get home; for there.. there she could shield herself from her problems. “What was I thinking? Do you need any help around the Boutique?! I might as well have been screaming I LOVE YOU!” Dash berated herself, seemingly detached from the world as she flew. All she knew was that she was flying in the right direction, and this was enough for her. “How could I have made it more obvious?!” Dash became silent as she realized she had yelled this out for all of Equestria to hear. Her mind went blank, and she only flew faster, until that familiar cloud house came into view. “Peace,” she thought, as she approached the house surprisingly fast. She virtually flew through the door and came to an immediate halt, landing with force. She shook it off, just happy to be inside the comfort of her familiar home. She panted, regaining her composure. “Maybe I’ll just take a nap. Yeah, naps always do me some good.” But she once again knew that, like her “short flight”, she was only doing this in the hopes that she would once again see who her heart lusted for. She wanted that familiar smell of the crisp grass, the inviting warm rays of the sun as the last of the light slipped just below the horizon. But most of all, she wanted to be with the pony she could only dream for... Rarity. Dash gave a fake yawn as she headed to bed, attempting to convince herself of being tired. She let another yawn leave her mouth, this one being sincere. “Wow, I must actually be tired. Yelling at other ponies is hard work, after all.” Today’s events vacated Dash’s mind as she realized how exhausted she actually was. She finally reached her bed, collapsing into it without hesitation. Her face lit up, that familiar smell of strong perfume entering her nose. She breathed in, savoring the fragrance for every last moment she could. Dash and Rarity both lied in the grass, under the cool shade of an oak tree. They were settled next to each other. The oak tree had just begun it’s transition from a dull green to a bright red. Leaves littered the ground, and the air itself was surprisingly still. A few birds chirped as they landed in the oak tree. The sun hung high overhead, casting the grassy field in a bright light. A few clouds lingered in the sky. “Autumn,” Dash thought, and smiled pleasantly. Her thought was broken when she noticed Rarity shuffle closer towards her. She looked over, but before she could say anything, Rarity planted a kiss on Dash’s lips. The pegasus gawked at the unicorn, who stared back, smiling. Dash was stunned. The sudden affection dumbfounded her. She couldn’t help but blush. Rarity took the opportunity to kiss her again, more affectionately this time. Dash, still in the lock of the kiss, looked past Rarity, wide-eyed. But slowly, she closed her eyes, and passionately deepened the kiss. They pulled away from each other slowly, and they looked into each others eyes. Dash’s mind raced with thoughts about what had just happened. “Did we just.. did we really.. we did..” Rarity nodded, as if reading Dash’s thoughts, but Rainbow Dash continued to sit there, staring into space, entirely unsure of what she should do next. But Rarity had already begun nuzzling Dash slowly; her cyan face turned pink as she looked back at the unicorn. Rarity settled, her eyes closed, bundled up right next to Rainbow Dash. Dash couldn’t help but feel that emotion she was so fond of. It warmed her heart like a passionate fire. It filled her body completely with ecstasy. Love. She woke with a jolt; forced out of her pleasant dream as reality called her back to the present. Only fifteen minutes had passed. Dash felt more bliss in this fifteen minutes than one could get in an eternity. Dash sighed, the cycle repeating itself. She knew she couldn’t dream forever, no matter how much she willed herself to. She reluctantly got out of bed. “I have to tell Rarity.” With this, she opened the door to her home. She looked out across the land of Ponyville. The sun had just begun setting, the sky turning orange as it descended from view. Dash nervously nodded to herself. Before she could reconsider, Dash’s powerful wings were carrying her across the sky, with one destination in mind. The Carousel Boutique. Fidelity"Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell." - Joan Crawford Her body shook. Her mind was racing. Her heart ached with everything she was feeling right now. “Am I really doing this?” She was once again tearing through the wind; but this time, she wasn’t running away from her problem. She was challenging it head on. “Come on Dash, it’s three words... I love you.. that’s all I have to say.” She knew, though, that it wouldn’t be so effortless. Dash landed outside the Boutique only a few moments later. The sun was midway behind the horizon. The sky was lit with various shades of red and orange. She stood alone on the path leading into the Boutique. A faint breeze had begun stirring, rousing her mane inappreciably. She took her first step up the path. “Come on Dash. Left, right, left, right..” Walking had become a chore. Her body filled with apprehension as she took the agonizing steps up to the Boutique’s door. She peeked in the window. No one was inside. “Rarity must be upstairs relaxing. With the amount of customers she dealt with, I can see why.” She yawned, realizing she was still tired. She shook it off, and put a hesitant hand on the Boutique’s door handle. She opened it. “Uh... Rarity..?” Dash was almost hoping no one answered. She breathed in the strong odor of perfume she was so accustomed to. The windows’ blind were slightly drawn. The shop was colored in hues orange and red, and seemed to be enveloped in silence; everything was so heavenly. “Just a minute.” Rarity’s song-like voice rang out from upstairs. Dash blushed slightly. “Her voice is.. beautiful..” Rarity ambled down the staircase to meet Dash. Rarity’s mane held that familiar curl to it. Her eyes sparkled in the light, adding to the already celestial feeling of the scene. She seemed to be in a perfect state of grace. “Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. Do you need something?” Her voice sounded like an angel’s. Dash stammered, trying to gain her composure. “Uh.. yeah.. maybe we could talk about it another--” Dash stopped herself as she turned towards the door. “Now, Rainbow Dash; this needs to happen now.” She turned back around, and with a hesitant sigh, she began speaking. “Look, Rarity.. I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a while now.. and..” She stopped. The words were stuck in her throat. They defiantly refused to come out. Dash decided to not be so blunt as to just say “I love you”. “Rarity, for the past couple of months, I’ve been thinking about you. I could never get you out of my head. Your personality, your beauty, everything about you is.. perfect.. and I’ve started to.. admire that.” Rarity was stunned. “You.. love me..?” Dash nodded silently. She knew she couldn’t take back what she said. This thought rolled around in Rarity’s head. “Rainbow Dash.. loves me..” It was unimaginable. Rainbow Dash, the most cocky, mischievous, daring pony she knew loved her; the cleanest and tidiest pony in Ponyville. “I.. don’t know what to say.. you always seemed like you would be more to the liking of Applejack; after all, you two have so much in common.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Everyone assumes that I like her. Sure, we have a lot in common. But who’s to say I can’t like somepony who’s ‘not my type’ according to everypony else?” Rarity couldn’t seem to find the right words to respond. She was in a state of complete bewilderment. “Rainbow.. I.. I’m not sure if I can say I feel for you the way you do for me.. you’re a great and caring pony, but I’m not sure I can say ‘I love you’.” Dash stood still. Her heart ached at the words. “It’s alright, Rarity... thanks for the honesty.” Sadness lingered in Dash’s voice; but, somehow, she felt relieved; proud, even. She had gotten her biggest burden off of her chest.. and something about the way Rarity turned her down.. something about it made Dash feel content. “Well.. I guess I’ll leave then..” Rarity looked at the ground, biting her lip. She couldn’t stand seeing another pony unhappy. She walked with Dash to the door, uneasiness filling her body. Dash opened the door. She looked towards Rarity, who was still uneasy about what had taken place. “Hey..” she spoke, a slight smile on her face. “Thanks.” Dash opened her wings, preparing to make the flight home. “Wait..” Rarity spoke up. “Can I ask you something, before you leave, Dash?” Dash nodded. “You seem so.. satisfied with my answer. Usually, a pony would be unhappy, depressed even, but you seem.. content.” Dash smiled. “I am, Rarity. You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’. You’re independent, and I like that. You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.” Rarity’s guilt lifted away from her. “Thank you for being understanding, Dash.” Dash nodded again, a warm look still lingering on her face. With this, she lept into the air, soaring off towards home. Rarity watched Dash until she was out of sight. But still, she stood there, looking up at the violet sky. She thought about what Rainbow Dash had said. How she had been so understanding. How she took everything. Rarity couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for Rainbow Dash; a respect that was given to no other pony. Rarity realized that this respect was so deep, it was almost.. love. Rarity turned away from the now dark sky, and headed back into the Boutique. She turned around one last time to look up into the night sky. And she smiled. Amour(Please note: this chapter has been re-written. I suggest you read that version.) "When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?" - Anonymous Rarity stepped back inside the Boutique, closing the door gently. The sun had set, and Luna’s moon crept along the sky, bathing Ponyville in a soft light. Rarity lost herself in thought. Her smile faded away, realizing the importance of the recent revelations. “Rainbow Dash admitted her feelings to me.. and I lied to her.. I said I couldn’t say ‘I love you’.. right to her beautiful face. Why would I lie to her like that? I’ve been wanting to work up the nerve to say that to her for months.. and I turn her down?” The harsh reality struck Rarity’s heart. She turned Rainbow Dash down because she, herself, wasn’t ready to confess her own feelings toward the pegasus. “I had an opportunity, and I decline it due to my own fear? I’m a coward.” Rarity paced the Boutique, criticizing herself for being fearful. “Maybe I could talk to Rainbow Dash..? Maybe I could.. no, no, she’d probably be upset for my appearance so early after I..” Rarity remembered Dash’s last words before she left. “I am, Rarity. You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’. You’re independent, and I like that. You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.” “You’re independent, and I like that.” Those specific words replayed in her head. “No, I’m not independent. I need you, Rainbow Dash..” “You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.” “I do give into pressure.. I gave into myself.. I turned you down.. my trepidation got the better of me..” “You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’.” This part stabbed Rarity’s heart. Rainbow Dash meant this sincerely, a way to ease Rarity’s guilt; but to Rarity, it was a blow she couldn’t shake off. “I turned her down without an apology..” A tear came to her eye. “I was heartless enough to not apologise for my own mistake?” She was sobbing loudly at this point. “I need to fix this.” With these final thoughts, she ran out of the Boutique, heading towards Dash’s cloud home. Dash had just settled down, taking in the events that had happened. “Well, I guess I can’t blame her. I mean, why would she like me? I’m not some glamorous prince, or a charming stallion. I should have guessed Rarity wouldn’t be into mares.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “I hope we’ll still be friends.. maybe we’ll both just forget this ever happened?” This thought soothed Rainbow Dash. She knew they both could never entirely forget the events of tonight, but she hoped that they could be put behind them. “Maybe I should just head to bed. I’ve got weather patrol tomorrow, after all. Don’t want to be tired and distracted when I need to be kicking clouds.” She had just headed up to bed when she heard a faint voice coming from seemingly below her. She looked out of a window. “Hello..?” Staring back up at her were the most beautiful and enchanting eyes Rainbow Dash had ever seen. “Rarity..? What are you doing here? It’s late.” Rarity didn’t seem to notice the hour until Dash had pointed it out. Rarity beckoned for Dash to come down. Rainbow nodded quietly, moving down to the door and hastily, but quietly, gliding down to the ground. Rarity was panting. She had galloped from the Boutique to Rainbow Dash’s home. She stood there, wordless, until she caught her breath. “What do you need, Rari--” Dash was cut off by Rarity, who began to talk a thousand words a minute. “Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry for what I did at the Boutique. I let fear get the best of me, and I made a stupid, STUPID, mistake. I said no, right in your face; your divine face. I turned down the best mare a pony could ask for, all because I was afraid of myself. The truth is, Rainbow Dash.. I love you.” Rarity embraced the pegasus, crying on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what to think. This was all out of character for Rarity. Dash was used to her being strong, graceful, and sophisticated. This all seemed out of place. Nevertheless, Dash was fond of this sensitive side to her. She hugged the unicorn back tightly, comforting her to the best of her abilities. “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash.. I’m so, so sorry..” Dash pulled away enough to look into Rarity’s now watery eyes. “Rarity, what are you sorry for? There’s nothing to be sorry about. You said you were afraid, but you just stood up to your fears and told me what you felt. That’s the bravest thing I’ve seen someone do.” Rainbow Dash smiled warmly at Rarity, who was still giving small sobs as she looked back into the pegasus’ eyes. Rarity seemed to calm down slightly, but her eyes unlocked from the pegasus’. She looked at the ground, and spoke, a slight sob escaping in between words. “I’m sorry for being so dramatic about this.. but I just couldn’t stand it when I thought about what I said.” Dash continued to look at the unicorn, a more serious expression taking her face. “Rarity, like I said, there is nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I should be the one to be sorry..” Dash frowned, a sad tone entering her voice. “After all, I’m the one who put you on the spot..” Rarity, now recovered from her crying, looked back up at Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow.. I would have never said anything to you if you hadn’t done that. It was that push that let me get my feelings out. And I thank you for that.” Rarity nuzzled Dash slightly, and Dash looked up. “Thanks,” Dash said softly. Dash looked at Rarity, a slight concern in her expression. “We still have something to do, though..” “What is that?” Rarity spoke, looking back up at the cyan pony. “How are we going to break this to our friends?” Rarity seemed less concerned about the issue. “Well, we have all been ever so understanding of each other, no matter what we did, have we not? I think they’ll understand us.” Dash nodded, taking comfort in Rarity’s words. Rarity and Dash both yawned, realizing how tired they were. “Dear me; I’m exhausted.” “Yeah, me too. I think today has been more tiring than when I flew that marathon.” Rarity smiled slightly as she laid down, curling up in the grass. She closed her eyes, peace taking over her body. Rainbow Dash walked over to Rarity, lying down next to her on the grass. The moon now hung high in the sky. Stars filled the night with their glistening light. The crisp grass smelled ambrosial. Everything was quiet as the crickets sung their soft lilt. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, smiling, as she lied her head down on the grass. Amour (Re-Written)"When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?" - Anonymous Rarity walked back into the Boutique, a smile still lingering on her face. She turned around, looking outside a final time. Luna’s moon had begun its rise across the violet sky, casting Ponyville in a soft light. Stars lit up the heavens, giving the sky an unearthly, almost ambrosial, look. The crickets had started their soft lilt, their song filling the air with peace. And, for a moment, Rarity envisioned herself, standing outside the Boutique with a familiar mare, a loving embrace between them. Rarity broke her vision. “Was I just thinking about.. no, I wasn’t..” Rarity was blushing, knowing she had just pictured herself with the rainbow-maned mare she had so recently talked to. Rarity gently shut the door, hiding her crimson face. She walked up the stairs, heading to her room. Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her. She continued on to her bed, lightly setting herself down, relieving her legs. She gently closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. Rarity watched Rainbow Dash soar through the cloudless sky. She was faster than anything she had ever seen. Her vibrant mane flew around in the wind, going anywhere it desired. And yet, while she flew at such an accelerated pace, there was a certain grace to her form; something Rarity had never seen before. Rarity continued to watch Dash, her eyes locked on the pegasus, until Rainbow Dash began her descent out of the sky. Dash landed, still maintaining a hasty pace as she stumbled, attempting to regain her balance as she recovered from the much-to-fast decline. She firmly set her hooves down in the grass, managing to skid to a stop. “So, how was that?” Dash asked enthusiastically. Rarity answered back,“That was marvelous. Better than last time.” Dash smiled as she nuzzled the unicorn. “You’re just saying that.” Rarity added on a small smile. “I mean it. That was a flawless performance.” Dash smiled, pecking the unicorn’s cheek. “Thanks.” Rarity blushed slightly, feeling the inviting warmth of the pegasus’ lips. “Uh.. Rainbow Dash.. would you be willing to fly maybe.. one more time..?” Dash looked at her, slightly surprised. “You want me to fly? You’ve been watching me for the past fifteen minutes.” Rarity nodded. Rainbow Dash grinned at the opportunity to get in the air again. She took off without hesitation, flying the same route she had taken previously. Rarity looked up at the sky, watching Rainbow Dash move across it. Rarity could watch her navigate the skies for eternity. Dash was swift, but, at the same time.. Elegant. Rarity gradually opened her eyes. She sat up, looking at a clock mounted on the wall of her room. ‘4:31’ “Did that dream really last.. no, it couldn’t have. It was too short. It couldn’t have been that long.” Rarity continued to sit up in her bed.The time flew by extremely fast. But this was put behind Rarity as she lost herself in thought, thinking about her recent dream. “What did that mean? Do I really like..” Rarity knew that “like” wasn’t a strong enough word. “Love.. Rainbow Dash..?” Her emotions conflicted. Thoughts scattered inside her head. “Maybe I really do love her..” Rarity knew, though, without a single doubt in her mind, that she cared for the mare she had seen in her dreams. She knew she had always wanted to be more than just friends with Rainbow. Her loyalty outmatched any other. She could stand and speak for herself. And while Rarity generally wasn’t one for humor, she still enjoyed the jokes Rainbow Dash played on her. But, one issue lingered in Rarity’s head; one that she couldn’t get rid of. How would she tell her? Rainbow Dash flew through the now dawn sky. Not a single cloud lingered in the atmosphere. The sun had only just peaked over the horizon, shedding a dim, but warm and inviting, light on Ponyville. Dash had yet to sleep. She had been flying through the orange sky, trying to get her thoughts straight. “She had every reason to say no to me. I’m not the dashing prince or charming stallion Rarity wants. I’m just a mare.” While Rainbow Dash showed understanding at the Boutique, accepting Rarity’s answer, she now loitered on the thought of it all. “Maybe I should have waited. I only developed my love for her several months ago. Maybe I would have grown out of it.” Rainbow Dash started towards home, still lost in thought. “Who am I kidding? I wouldn’t have ‘grown out of it’.” Dash scoffed at herself, looking at the ground below her. She yawned wearily. “Maybe I’ll just land here for a while.” She descended from the sky; a grassy clearing invited her tired body to the earth. She slid to a stop, uprooting some of the green foliage as she did so. She simply fell over, fatigue taking her body. Right now, the grass was her pillow, and the sun was her blanket. She closed her eyes, falling asleep in the field. Rarity left the Boutique, heading towards Rainbow Dash’s cloud home. The sun was now whole in the sky. The sky had changed from a warm shade of orange to a lighter shade of blue. Rarity walked slowly, lost in her thoughts. “I can’t really expect her to be alright with this.. especially after last night.” Rarity questioned whether this really was the right time to confess how she felt. It was, after all, not so long ago that she had said she couldn’t say “I love you”, right to Rainbow Dash. The sudden change of heart, she felt, would put them both in an awkward position. She continued walking. A few birds chirped overhead in the clear sky. Rarity took in a small breath of the crisp morning air, letting it ease her thoughts. The familiar cloud house was now only a few moments away. They were the only clouds in the sky today. Rarity sighed hesitantly. “Now or never, I suppose.” She falteringly stepped up to the house. “R--Rainbow Dash?” No response. “Rainbow?” Silence. “She must certainly be home..?” ArdencyPlease note that this chapter is being based off of the re-written version of Amour. "Love, till dawn sunder night from day with fire, dividing my delight and my desire." - A.C. Swinburne Rainbow Dash opened her magenta eyes, being greeted by the morning sky. She lifted her head up sleepily, tempted to simply lie back down again and enjoy the comfort of the field, sleep whisking her away from this world. She stood up lazily, yawning as she stretched out her body. Her wings opened to their full extent, a looming shadow being cast upon the land. “Maybe I should head home. Wouldn’t want to be missed.” Dash took one last look at the nature around her. She breathed in the refreshing smell of the cool grass, savoring the aroma. The scenery melted away her problems. With a final content sigh, Dash took off into the air, heading home. Rarity started her walk back to the Boutique. Her heart was filled with disappointment. “I guess I can come back later..” Rarity felt it though. She was losing the will to state her mind. While previously the heat of the moment had given her confidence, this confidence had begun to fade away. Her desire to tell Rainbow Dash her feelings was waning. “I hope she comes back soon..” Rarity walked idly, losing herself in her mind. The setting sun had set the sky afire with color. The two had settled on a grassy hill, overlooking the calm, clear water. The soft wind flowed through their manes. Rarity looked down, a pair of glistening eyes meeting her own. Rainbow Dash smiled warmly, leaning her head on the unicorn’s shoulder. They both looked out across the crystal ocean. Rarity had become lost in her emotions. “Peace, happiness, love..” All of these emotions had overwhelmed Rarity, but one emotion was prominent, one that she couldn’t help but notice the most. “Trust.” Trust in their relationship. Trust in Rainbow Dash. But, most of all, trust in herself. Trust that she had made the right choice. Trust in that she had picked the right mare, the one she-- Rarity broke out of her vision, interrupted by a beating of wings. She looked up, spotting a familiar rainbow-colored mane flying high over her. She stumbled, attempting to remove the vision from her mind so that she might get her thoughts together. “She looked like she was heading home.. maybe I should head back..” Rarity mustered whatever courage she could, beginning her walk back to the cloud formation. And while seemingly much time had passed, Rarity realized she had not made it far from Rainbow Dash’s home, the house only being a short walk back. Rarity stopped a moment, looking at the in-flight Rainbow Dash. She saw it again, in her form; something more than just swiftness. Elegance. Rarity’s face heated. She took one last glance at Rainbow Dash before beginning her walk back. Rainbow Dash once again nearly flew through her door; this time, though, she had much more control, stopping fleetly once inside her home. She set herself down airily, the white clouds pillows beneath her feet. She yawned drowsily. “Guess I didn’t get as much sleep as I thought.” With another small yawn, Rainbow Dash walked over to a window. Closing her eyes, she once again breathed in the fresh morning air, contently sighing. She relished mornings like this. Calm, peaceful, and not a single cloud in the sky. She opened her eyes, surprised to see something she hadn’t noticed before. A pony on the road, walking towards her house. It looked like.. “Rarity? What is she doing here?” Rainbow Dash cantered to her door, opening it hastily. Unfolding her wings, she promptly took off into the sky, heading towards the white unicorn. Hearing a flutter of wings, Rarity raised her head, looking for the sound’s source. She didn’t have to look far. “Rainbow Dash?” Rarity was stunned. She didn’t expect to be meeting with her yet. She wasn’t prepared. Stopping in her tracks, Rarity hurriedly thought about what she should say. “Tell her I’ve been thinking of her? No, no. I love you? No. Mayb--” “Hey, Rarity. Something you need?” Rarity looked up from her thoughts. She hadn’t noticed the pegasus until she spoke. “Oh.. uh.. yes, actually..” “Alright. Shoot.” Rarity still hadn’t figured out what to say, but she had been put on the spot. She decided to go with whatever came out. “Rainbow Dash.. I’ve been thinking about what happened.. in the Boutique.. and I realized something..” Rainbow Dash nodded, acknowledging her friend’s words. “I can say ‘I love you’. I never thought of this before.. but I do love you, Rainbow Dash. I didn’t consider how much I really did until you told me how much I meant to you. You’ve opened my heart up to love.. true love.. love that burns for only you. Rainbow Dash, you’re the only mare I want to be with. Nothing can change that.” Rainbow Dash’s cheeks burned. A smile spread across her face. She felt tears coming to her eyes. “Rarity.. I.. I love you, too.” The unicorn smiled, embracing the pegasus in a tight hug. Dash returned it, a slight sob escaping her. “Rainbow Dash.. thank you for this.” They slowly pulled away from each other, staring into each other’s eyes. “Thank you for showing me true love.”
Ethereal"In my wildest dreams, you always play the hero. In my darkest hour of night, you rescue me, you save my life." - Anonymous The white unicorn snuggled under Rainbow Dash’s wing. The vibrantly colored pegasus smiled warmly. She enjoyed this. The serenity; being disconnected from the troubles of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash nuzzled Rarity, and she nuzzled back. They sat there in silence, because no words needed to be said. They were both content to sit there, on the hill overlooking the grass field, and just watch Celestia’s sun slowly set behind the horizon. A small flock of birds flew by, adding to the tranquility of the near unearthly scene. The silence was broken when Rarity gave a small yawn, and lay her head down on the grass; a small, complacent smile on her face. Dash looked down at the blissful unicorn. A tear came to her eye. The whole scene, lied out in front of her. It was perfect. The pegasus lay her head down softly on the back of the white pony, and closed her eyes. Some time passed. Rarity looked up at Dash, who was peacefully resting her head. Dash looked down, and their eyes locked. A twinkle filled Rarity’s eyes, and Dash couldn’t help but notice her own face turn bright crimson. The white pony pecked the pink-faced pony on the cheek, and lay her head back down on the crisp grass. Dash felt her face burning. This was just how she wanted it. Just the two of them; alone and with each other. Another tear formed under Dash’s closed eyes. The tear escaped, and rolled down her cheek, hitting Rarity’s coat. Rarity looked up at Dash, who proceeded into a sitting position. “Is something wrong?” Rarity asked with concern. Dash looked at her with a pleasant smile. “No, nothing's wrong. In fact, everything is right. This landscape, your beauty---” Dash stopped, her cheeks flaming. Rarity smiled, and blushed slightly herself. “It’s all so unreal, isn’t it?” Rarity said with a soft smile, her eyes fixed on the scenery. Dash nodded softly, her cheek wet from another stray tear. “I never thought we’d be together. I always worried that you.. you wouldn’t..” “Love you?” Rarity spoke, a gentle tone in her voice. Dash nodded again, this time not saying anything. The unicorn gave a sympathetic smile and nuzzled the pegasus. Dash smiled slightly, and nuzzled back. “Thanks,” She said, a hint of sadness still lingering in her voice. Her mind was focused on everything at once. The strangest thing, though, was that she didn’t remember how she got here. Onto this beautiful and sweet smelling grass; next to the pony she thought she could only ask for. Everything was perfect; not a single bad thing.. at least that she could remember. She dismissed it, and lied back down on the grass, next to the now settling Rarity. “Hey, um, Rarity? May I ask you something?” Rarity looked over and nodded; another concerned look taking over her face. “How did you feel when I.. confessed how I felt about you..?” The white pony looked slightly dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected a question like this. “I.. was actually.. happy. I had been feeling the same way about you, and I guess you worked up the courage before I did.” Rainbow Dash had taken up a proud look on her face. That she had not only gotten the courage to state her feelings, but that she did it first. Rarity saw the pegasus’ pleased look, and smiled. She set her head down on Rainbow Dash’s back, and let out a placate sigh. Rainbow continued to look out, as the last of the sun’s light shone it’s way into Equestria. The last of the animals had skittered into their homes, and the crickets began their soft lilt. The last of the sun’s rays set back behind the horizon, and Luna’s moon had began it’s ascent across the sky, shedding a dim, white light on the two ponies who lie out on the crest of the field. Dash bundled against Rarity, and the two of them situated in silence. Rainbow Dash’s thoughts lingered; her eyes closed, and she rested her head on Rarity’s back. Reticence beset the field, and a sense of concord swept over Rainbow Dash. Just the two of them.. alone and with each other. Her heart swelled with a strange emotion she had never felt before.. love. She inhaled one last whiff of the nature that surrounded them, and she grinned. Everything.. so quiet.. so blissful.. so.. dreamlike.
Extenuations"The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable." - Victor Hugo Dash opened her eyes. She stared at the soft cloud ceiling for what seemed like decades. She couldn’t get that dream out of her head; it seemed too vivid to be fabrication of her mind. She could remember everything; the beautiful sunset, the crisp grass.. she even remembered the smell. How could everything have been false when she felt she could reach out and embrace Rari-- Dash blushed at the thought; she had had a dream about the white unicorn that she.. loved? Her mind scrambled at the thought.. she had feelings for Rarity. She continued to gaze at the ceiling, disbelief filling her head. With a dejected sigh, she got out of bed. “Maybe a short fly around town would help? Yeah, that’s it.” She knew, though, that she wasn’t doing this to clear her thoughts. She was doing this to visit Rarity. Rarity stumbled throughout the shop. The Carousel Boutique was unusually busy today. The white pony moved awkwardly around, trying to get organized; unfortunately, organization wasn’t something that she could achieve easily. She’d give anything to be able to walk without bumping into another pony. “At least it can’t get any worse.” She thought to herself. As if on cue, Rainbow Dash walked into the boutique. “Oh no..” “Hey, Rarity.” Dash looked around the shop casually, as if the crowd that seemed to only grow wasn’t there. Rarity responded with a grated sigh. “What is it, Dash? Can’t you see I’m busy?” This killed any hopes Dash had about starting a conversation. “Oh.. um.. well, I was just wondering if I could ask you something..?” “What?” Rarity replied, slightly more aggravated this time. Rainbow knew this wasn’t the best time to evince her feelings. She stuttered, trying to get her way out of this situation. “Do you need any help around the Boutique?” She stopped, seemingly stunned about what had just left her lips. Rarity seemed to be as puzzled as the pegasus. “Sure.. I guess.. um, why don’t you try to get the crowd in order? It’d really help.” Without hesitation, Dash walked into the middle of the crowd. “LISTEN UP EVERYPONY!” Rainbow Dash charm at work. Rarity tended to the customers, while Rainbow Dash barked orders to keep them regulated. Rarity thought for a moment; this seemed like a very Applejack thing for Rainbow to do. She shrugged it off, as she had customers to tend to. This went on for several hours; it seemed more dresses were tailored in the rush than her entire career. After the last of the customers had dwindled out, Rarity and Dash were both exhausted. They both looked at each other. Rarity was at a loss for words. “Um.. thanks for the help..” She added a much too exuberant smile after she said this. “Yeah.. anytime..” Dash panted in between each word. She was out of breath. Hollering orders for that long made her seem like she had just flown a marathon. “Well, I uh.. guess I should head back home.” Dash made a gesture with her head towards the door. Rarity raised an eyebrow. “After all that work.. you’re just heading home?” Rarity scowled at the bright faced pegasus before her. “You obviously came here for something. And I have a feeling that you weren’t helping me out of the kindness of your heart.” Rainbow Dash’s already pink face turned to a deep crimson. “What did you really want to talk about?” Dash stumbled over her words. All of the possible excuses were tossed around in her mind and dismissed. She couldn’t talk her way out of this, and she wasn’t prepared to simply blurt out her feelings; she wanted the moment to be right. “Really.. I was flying overhead and saw the Boutique was busy.. so I decided to drop in and help a little..” Dash could tell Rarity wasn’t buying it. Rarity went with it anyway. “Alright.." She raised an eyebrow, "Well I do ever so appreciate the help. Wish I always had a pony with such.. charm.. in the Boutique. But I know you have better things to do than to just stand around and idly stand around and chat with me. What with having to clear the skies and all that.” Dash didn’t really have anything better to do, but knew she should take the opening to leave, rather than sit there awkwardly. With a final goodbye, she was up in the sky, heading nowhere.
Salacity"To be your friend was all I ever wanted; to be your lover was all I ever dreamed." - Valerie Lombardo The air screamed past her. Her hair waved in the wind in every direction. She beat her wings furiously, desperately trying to get home; for there.. there she could shield herself from her problems. “What was I thinking? Do you need any help around the Boutique?! I might as well have been screaming I LOVE YOU!” Dash berated herself, seemingly detached from the world as she flew. All she knew was that she was flying in the right direction, and this was enough for her. “How could I have made it more obvious?!” Dash became silent as she realized she had yelled this out for all of Equestria to hear. Her mind went blank, and she only flew faster, until that familiar cloud house came into view. “Peace,” she thought, as she approached the house surprisingly fast. She virtually flew through the door and came to an immediate halt, landing with force. She shook it off, just happy to be inside the comfort of her familiar home. She panted, regaining her composure. “Maybe I’ll just take a nap. Yeah, naps always do me some good.” But she once again knew that, like her “short flight”, she was only doing this in the hopes that she would once again see who her heart lusted for. She wanted that familiar smell of the crisp grass, the inviting warm rays of the sun as the last of the light slipped just below the horizon. But most of all, she wanted to be with the pony she could only dream for... Rarity. Dash gave a fake yawn as she headed to bed, attempting to convince herself of being tired. She let another yawn leave her mouth, this one being sincere. “Wow, I must actually be tired. Yelling at other ponies is hard work, after all.” Today’s events vacated Dash’s mind as she realized how exhausted she actually was. She finally reached her bed, collapsing into it without hesitation. Her face lit up, that familiar smell of strong perfume entering her nose. She breathed in, savoring the fragrance for every last moment she could. Dash and Rarity both lied in the grass, under the cool shade of an oak tree. They were settled next to each other. The oak tree had just begun it’s transition from a dull green to a bright red. Leaves littered the ground, and the air itself was surprisingly still. A few birds chirped as they landed in the oak tree. The sun hung high overhead, casting the grassy field in a bright light. A few clouds lingered in the sky. “Autumn,” Dash thought, and smiled pleasantly. Her thought was broken when she noticed Rarity shuffle closer towards her. She looked over, but before she could say anything, Rarity planted a kiss on Dash’s lips. The pegasus gawked at the unicorn, who stared back, smiling. Dash was stunned. The sudden affection dumbfounded her. She couldn’t help but blush. Rarity took the opportunity to kiss her again, more affectionately this time. Dash, still in the lock of the kiss, looked past Rarity, wide-eyed. But slowly, she closed her eyes, and passionately deepened the kiss. They pulled away from each other slowly, and they looked into each others eyes. Dash’s mind raced with thoughts about what had just happened. “Did we just.. did we really.. we did..” Rarity nodded, as if reading Dash’s thoughts, but Rainbow Dash continued to sit there, staring into space, entirely unsure of what she should do next. But Rarity had already begun nuzzling Dash slowly; her cyan face turned pink as she looked back at the unicorn. Rarity settled, her eyes closed, bundled up right next to Rainbow Dash. Dash couldn’t help but feel that emotion she was so fond of. It warmed her heart like a passionate fire. It filled her body completely with ecstasy. Love. She woke with a jolt; forced out of her pleasant dream as reality called her back to the present. Only fifteen minutes had passed. Dash felt more bliss in this fifteen minutes than one could get in an eternity. Dash sighed, the cycle repeating itself. She knew she couldn’t dream forever, no matter how much she willed herself to. She reluctantly got out of bed. “I have to tell Rarity.” With this, she opened the door to her home. She looked out across the land of Ponyville. The sun had just begun setting, the sky turning orange as it descended from view. Dash nervously nodded to herself. Before she could reconsider, Dash’s powerful wings were carrying her across the sky, with one destination in mind. The Carousel Boutique.
Fidelity"Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell." - Joan Crawford Her body shook. Her mind was racing. Her heart ached with everything she was feeling right now. “Am I really doing this?” She was once again tearing through the wind; but this time, she wasn’t running away from her problem. She was challenging it head on. “Come on Dash, it’s three words... I love you.. that’s all I have to say.” She knew, though, that it wouldn’t be so effortless. Dash landed outside the Boutique only a few moments later. The sun was midway behind the horizon. The sky was lit with various shades of red and orange. She stood alone on the path leading into the Boutique. A faint breeze had begun stirring, rousing her mane inappreciably. She took her first step up the path. “Come on Dash. Left, right, left, right..” Walking had become a chore. Her body filled with apprehension as she took the agonizing steps up to the Boutique’s door. She peeked in the window. No one was inside. “Rarity must be upstairs relaxing. With the amount of customers she dealt with, I can see why.” She yawned, realizing she was still tired. She shook it off, and put a hesitant hand on the Boutique’s door handle. She opened it. “Uh... Rarity..?” Dash was almost hoping no one answered. She breathed in the strong odor of perfume she was so accustomed to. The windows’ blind were slightly drawn. The shop was colored in hues orange and red, and seemed to be enveloped in silence; everything was so heavenly. “Just a minute.” Rarity’s song-like voice rang out from upstairs. Dash blushed slightly. “Her voice is.. beautiful..” Rarity ambled down the staircase to meet Dash. Rarity’s mane held that familiar curl to it. Her eyes sparkled in the light, adding to the already celestial feeling of the scene. She seemed to be in a perfect state of grace. “Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. Do you need something?” Her voice sounded like an angel’s. Dash stammered, trying to gain her composure. “Uh.. yeah.. maybe we could talk about it another--” Dash stopped herself as she turned towards the door. “Now, Rainbow Dash; this needs to happen now.” She turned back around, and with a hesitant sigh, she began speaking. “Look, Rarity.. I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a while now.. and..” She stopped. The words were stuck in her throat. They defiantly refused to come out. Dash decided to not be so blunt as to just say “I love you”. “Rarity, for the past couple of months, I’ve been thinking about you. I could never get you out of my head. Your personality, your beauty, everything about you is.. perfect.. and I’ve started to.. admire that.” Rarity was stunned. “You.. love me..?” Dash nodded silently. She knew she couldn’t take back what she said. This thought rolled around in Rarity’s head. “Rainbow Dash.. loves me..” It was unimaginable. Rainbow Dash, the most cocky, mischievous, daring pony she knew loved her; the cleanest and tidiest pony in Ponyville. “I.. don’t know what to say.. you always seemed like you would be more to the liking of Applejack; after all, you two have so much in common.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Everyone assumes that I like her. Sure, we have a lot in common. But who’s to say I can’t like somepony who’s ‘not my type’ according to everypony else?” Rarity couldn’t seem to find the right words to respond. She was in a state of complete bewilderment. “Rainbow.. I.. I’m not sure if I can say I feel for you the way you do for me.. you’re a great and caring pony, but I’m not sure I can say ‘I love you’.” Dash stood still. Her heart ached at the words. “It’s alright, Rarity... thanks for the honesty.” Sadness lingered in Dash’s voice; but, somehow, she felt relieved; proud, even. She had gotten her biggest burden off of her chest.. and something about the way Rarity turned her down.. something about it made Dash feel content. “Well.. I guess I’ll leave then..” Rarity looked at the ground, biting her lip. She couldn’t stand seeing another pony unhappy. She walked with Dash to the door, uneasiness filling her body. Dash opened the door. She looked towards Rarity, who was still uneasy about what had taken place. “Hey..” she spoke, a slight smile on her face. “Thanks.” Dash opened her wings, preparing to make the flight home. “Wait..” Rarity spoke up. “Can I ask you something, before you leave, Dash?” Dash nodded. “You seem so.. satisfied with my answer. Usually, a pony would be unhappy, depressed even, but you seem.. content.” Dash smiled. “I am, Rarity. You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’. You’re independent, and I like that. You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.” Rarity’s guilt lifted away from her. “Thank you for being understanding, Dash.” Dash nodded again, a warm look still lingering on her face. With this, she lept into the air, soaring off towards home. Rarity watched Dash until she was out of sight. But still, she stood there, looking up at the violet sky. She thought about what Rainbow Dash had said. How she had been so understanding. How she took everything. Rarity couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for Rainbow Dash; a respect that was given to no other pony. Rarity realized that this respect was so deep, it was almost.. love. Rarity turned away from the now dark sky, and headed back into the Boutique. She turned around one last time to look up into the night sky. And she smiled.
Amour(Please note: this chapter has been re-written. I suggest you read that version.) "When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?" - Anonymous Rarity stepped back inside the Boutique, closing the door gently. The sun had set, and Luna’s moon crept along the sky, bathing Ponyville in a soft light. Rarity lost herself in thought. Her smile faded away, realizing the importance of the recent revelations. “Rainbow Dash admitted her feelings to me.. and I lied to her.. I said I couldn’t say ‘I love you’.. right to her beautiful face. Why would I lie to her like that? I’ve been wanting to work up the nerve to say that to her for months.. and I turn her down?” The harsh reality struck Rarity’s heart. She turned Rainbow Dash down because she, herself, wasn’t ready to confess her own feelings toward the pegasus. “I had an opportunity, and I decline it due to my own fear? I’m a coward.” Rarity paced the Boutique, criticizing herself for being fearful. “Maybe I could talk to Rainbow Dash..? Maybe I could.. no, no, she’d probably be upset for my appearance so early after I..” Rarity remembered Dash’s last words before she left. “I am, Rarity. You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’. You’re independent, and I like that. You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.” “You’re independent, and I like that.” Those specific words replayed in her head. “No, I’m not independent. I need you, Rainbow Dash..” “You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.” “I do give into pressure.. I gave into myself.. I turned you down.. my trepidation got the better of me..” “You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’.” This part stabbed Rarity’s heart. Rainbow Dash meant this sincerely, a way to ease Rarity’s guilt; but to Rarity, it was a blow she couldn’t shake off. “I turned her down without an apology..” A tear came to her eye. “I was heartless enough to not apologise for my own mistake?” She was sobbing loudly at this point. “I need to fix this.” With these final thoughts, she ran out of the Boutique, heading towards Dash’s cloud home. Dash had just settled down, taking in the events that had happened. “Well, I guess I can’t blame her. I mean, why would she like me? I’m not some glamorous prince, or a charming stallion. I should have guessed Rarity wouldn’t be into mares.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “I hope we’ll still be friends.. maybe we’ll both just forget this ever happened?” This thought soothed Rainbow Dash. She knew they both could never entirely forget the events of tonight, but she hoped that they could be put behind them. “Maybe I should just head to bed. I’ve got weather patrol tomorrow, after all. Don’t want to be tired and distracted when I need to be kicking clouds.” She had just headed up to bed when she heard a faint voice coming from seemingly below her. She looked out of a window. “Hello..?” Staring back up at her were the most beautiful and enchanting eyes Rainbow Dash had ever seen. “Rarity..? What are you doing here? It’s late.” Rarity didn’t seem to notice the hour until Dash had pointed it out. Rarity beckoned for Dash to come down. Rainbow nodded quietly, moving down to the door and hastily, but quietly, gliding down to the ground. Rarity was panting. She had galloped from the Boutique to Rainbow Dash’s home. She stood there, wordless, until she caught her breath. “What do you need, Rari--” Dash was cut off by Rarity, who began to talk a thousand words a minute. “Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry for what I did at the Boutique. I let fear get the best of me, and I made a stupid, STUPID, mistake. I said no, right in your face; your divine face. I turned down the best mare a pony could ask for, all because I was afraid of myself. The truth is, Rainbow Dash.. I love you.” Rarity embraced the pegasus, crying on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what to think. This was all out of character for Rarity. Dash was used to her being strong, graceful, and sophisticated. This all seemed out of place. Nevertheless, Dash was fond of this sensitive side to her. She hugged the unicorn back tightly, comforting her to the best of her abilities. “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash.. I’m so, so sorry..” Dash pulled away enough to look into Rarity’s now watery eyes. “Rarity, what are you sorry for? There’s nothing to be sorry about. You said you were afraid, but you just stood up to your fears and told me what you felt. That’s the bravest thing I’ve seen someone do.” Rainbow Dash smiled warmly at Rarity, who was still giving small sobs as she looked back into the pegasus’ eyes. Rarity seemed to calm down slightly, but her eyes unlocked from the pegasus’. She looked at the ground, and spoke, a slight sob escaping in between words. “I’m sorry for being so dramatic about this.. but I just couldn’t stand it when I thought about what I said.” Dash continued to look at the unicorn, a more serious expression taking her face. “Rarity, like I said, there is nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I should be the one to be sorry..” Dash frowned, a sad tone entering her voice. “After all, I’m the one who put you on the spot..” Rarity, now recovered from her crying, looked back up at Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow.. I would have never said anything to you if you hadn’t done that. It was that push that let me get my feelings out. And I thank you for that.” Rarity nuzzled Dash slightly, and Dash looked up. “Thanks,” Dash said softly. Dash looked at Rarity, a slight concern in her expression. “We still have something to do, though..” “What is that?” Rarity spoke, looking back up at the cyan pony. “How are we going to break this to our friends?” Rarity seemed less concerned about the issue. “Well, we have all been ever so understanding of each other, no matter what we did, have we not? I think they’ll understand us.” Dash nodded, taking comfort in Rarity’s words. Rarity and Dash both yawned, realizing how tired they were. “Dear me; I’m exhausted.” “Yeah, me too. I think today has been more tiring than when I flew that marathon.” Rarity smiled slightly as she laid down, curling up in the grass. She closed her eyes, peace taking over her body. Rainbow Dash walked over to Rarity, lying down next to her on the grass. The moon now hung high in the sky. Stars filled the night with their glistening light. The crisp grass smelled ambrosial. Everything was quiet as the crickets sung their soft lilt. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, smiling, as she lied her head down on the grass.
Amour (Re-Written)"When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?" - Anonymous Rarity walked back into the Boutique, a smile still lingering on her face. She turned around, looking outside a final time. Luna’s moon had begun its rise across the violet sky, casting Ponyville in a soft light. Stars lit up the heavens, giving the sky an unearthly, almost ambrosial, look. The crickets had started their soft lilt, their song filling the air with peace. And, for a moment, Rarity envisioned herself, standing outside the Boutique with a familiar mare, a loving embrace between them. Rarity broke her vision. “Was I just thinking about.. no, I wasn’t..” Rarity was blushing, knowing she had just pictured herself with the rainbow-maned mare she had so recently talked to. Rarity gently shut the door, hiding her crimson face. She walked up the stairs, heading to her room. Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her. She continued on to her bed, lightly setting herself down, relieving her legs. She gently closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. Rarity watched Rainbow Dash soar through the cloudless sky. She was faster than anything she had ever seen. Her vibrant mane flew around in the wind, going anywhere it desired. And yet, while she flew at such an accelerated pace, there was a certain grace to her form; something Rarity had never seen before. Rarity continued to watch Dash, her eyes locked on the pegasus, until Rainbow Dash began her descent out of the sky. Dash landed, still maintaining a hasty pace as she stumbled, attempting to regain her balance as she recovered from the much-to-fast decline. She firmly set her hooves down in the grass, managing to skid to a stop. “So, how was that?” Dash asked enthusiastically. Rarity answered back,“That was marvelous. Better than last time.” Dash smiled as she nuzzled the unicorn. “You’re just saying that.” Rarity added on a small smile. “I mean it. That was a flawless performance.” Dash smiled, pecking the unicorn’s cheek. “Thanks.” Rarity blushed slightly, feeling the inviting warmth of the pegasus’ lips. “Uh.. Rainbow Dash.. would you be willing to fly maybe.. one more time..?” Dash looked at her, slightly surprised. “You want me to fly? You’ve been watching me for the past fifteen minutes.” Rarity nodded. Rainbow Dash grinned at the opportunity to get in the air again. She took off without hesitation, flying the same route she had taken previously. Rarity looked up at the sky, watching Rainbow Dash move across it. Rarity could watch her navigate the skies for eternity. Dash was swift, but, at the same time.. Elegant. Rarity gradually opened her eyes. She sat up, looking at a clock mounted on the wall of her room. ‘4:31’ “Did that dream really last.. no, it couldn’t have. It was too short. It couldn’t have been that long.” Rarity continued to sit up in her bed.The time flew by extremely fast. But this was put behind Rarity as she lost herself in thought, thinking about her recent dream. “What did that mean? Do I really like..” Rarity knew that “like” wasn’t a strong enough word. “Love.. Rainbow Dash..?” Her emotions conflicted. Thoughts scattered inside her head. “Maybe I really do love her..” Rarity knew, though, without a single doubt in her mind, that she cared for the mare she had seen in her dreams. She knew she had always wanted to be more than just friends with Rainbow. Her loyalty outmatched any other. She could stand and speak for herself. And while Rarity generally wasn’t one for humor, she still enjoyed the jokes Rainbow Dash played on her. But, one issue lingered in Rarity’s head; one that she couldn’t get rid of. How would she tell her? Rainbow Dash flew through the now dawn sky. Not a single cloud lingered in the atmosphere. The sun had only just peaked over the horizon, shedding a dim, but warm and inviting, light on Ponyville. Dash had yet to sleep. She had been flying through the orange sky, trying to get her thoughts straight. “She had every reason to say no to me. I’m not the dashing prince or charming stallion Rarity wants. I’m just a mare.” While Rainbow Dash showed understanding at the Boutique, accepting Rarity’s answer, she now loitered on the thought of it all. “Maybe I should have waited. I only developed my love for her several months ago. Maybe I would have grown out of it.” Rainbow Dash started towards home, still lost in thought. “Who am I kidding? I wouldn’t have ‘grown out of it’.” Dash scoffed at herself, looking at the ground below her. She yawned wearily. “Maybe I’ll just land here for a while.” She descended from the sky; a grassy clearing invited her tired body to the earth. She slid to a stop, uprooting some of the green foliage as she did so. She simply fell over, fatigue taking her body. Right now, the grass was her pillow, and the sun was her blanket. She closed her eyes, falling asleep in the field. Rarity left the Boutique, heading towards Rainbow Dash’s cloud home. The sun was now whole in the sky. The sky had changed from a warm shade of orange to a lighter shade of blue. Rarity walked slowly, lost in her thoughts. “I can’t really expect her to be alright with this.. especially after last night.” Rarity questioned whether this really was the right time to confess how she felt. It was, after all, not so long ago that she had said she couldn’t say “I love you”, right to Rainbow Dash. The sudden change of heart, she felt, would put them both in an awkward position. She continued walking. A few birds chirped overhead in the clear sky. Rarity took in a small breath of the crisp morning air, letting it ease her thoughts. The familiar cloud house was now only a few moments away. They were the only clouds in the sky today. Rarity sighed hesitantly. “Now or never, I suppose.” She falteringly stepped up to the house. “R--Rainbow Dash?” No response. “Rainbow?” Silence. “She must certainly be home..?”
ArdencyPlease note that this chapter is being based off of the re-written version of Amour. "Love, till dawn sunder night from day with fire, dividing my delight and my desire." - A.C. Swinburne Rainbow Dash opened her magenta eyes, being greeted by the morning sky. She lifted her head up sleepily, tempted to simply lie back down again and enjoy the comfort of the field, sleep whisking her away from this world. She stood up lazily, yawning as she stretched out her body. Her wings opened to their full extent, a looming shadow being cast upon the land. “Maybe I should head home. Wouldn’t want to be missed.” Dash took one last look at the nature around her. She breathed in the refreshing smell of the cool grass, savoring the aroma. The scenery melted away her problems. With a final content sigh, Dash took off into the air, heading home. Rarity started her walk back to the Boutique. Her heart was filled with disappointment. “I guess I can come back later..” Rarity felt it though. She was losing the will to state her mind. While previously the heat of the moment had given her confidence, this confidence had begun to fade away. Her desire to tell Rainbow Dash her feelings was waning. “I hope she comes back soon..” Rarity walked idly, losing herself in her mind. The setting sun had set the sky afire with color. The two had settled on a grassy hill, overlooking the calm, clear water. The soft wind flowed through their manes. Rarity looked down, a pair of glistening eyes meeting her own. Rainbow Dash smiled warmly, leaning her head on the unicorn’s shoulder. They both looked out across the crystal ocean. Rarity had become lost in her emotions. “Peace, happiness, love..” All of these emotions had overwhelmed Rarity, but one emotion was prominent, one that she couldn’t help but notice the most. “Trust.” Trust in their relationship. Trust in Rainbow Dash. But, most of all, trust in herself. Trust that she had made the right choice. Trust in that she had picked the right mare, the one she-- Rarity broke out of her vision, interrupted by a beating of wings. She looked up, spotting a familiar rainbow-colored mane flying high over her. She stumbled, attempting to remove the vision from her mind so that she might get her thoughts together. “She looked like she was heading home.. maybe I should head back..” Rarity mustered whatever courage she could, beginning her walk back to the cloud formation. And while seemingly much time had passed, Rarity realized she had not made it far from Rainbow Dash’s home, the house only being a short walk back. Rarity stopped a moment, looking at the in-flight Rainbow Dash. She saw it again, in her form; something more than just swiftness. Elegance. Rarity’s face heated. She took one last glance at Rainbow Dash before beginning her walk back. Rainbow Dash once again nearly flew through her door; this time, though, she had much more control, stopping fleetly once inside her home. She set herself down airily, the white clouds pillows beneath her feet. She yawned drowsily. “Guess I didn’t get as much sleep as I thought.” With another small yawn, Rainbow Dash walked over to a window. Closing her eyes, she once again breathed in the fresh morning air, contently sighing. She relished mornings like this. Calm, peaceful, and not a single cloud in the sky. She opened her eyes, surprised to see something she hadn’t noticed before. A pony on the road, walking towards her house. It looked like.. “Rarity? What is she doing here?” Rainbow Dash cantered to her door, opening it hastily. Unfolding her wings, she promptly took off into the sky, heading towards the white unicorn. Hearing a flutter of wings, Rarity raised her head, looking for the sound’s source. She didn’t have to look far. “Rainbow Dash?” Rarity was stunned. She didn’t expect to be meeting with her yet. She wasn’t prepared. Stopping in her tracks, Rarity hurriedly thought about what she should say. “Tell her I’ve been thinking of her? No, no. I love you? No. Mayb--” “Hey, Rarity. Something you need?” Rarity looked up from her thoughts. She hadn’t noticed the pegasus until she spoke. “Oh.. uh.. yes, actually..” “Alright. Shoot.” Rarity still hadn’t figured out what to say, but she had been put on the spot. She decided to go with whatever came out. “Rainbow Dash.. I’ve been thinking about what happened.. in the Boutique.. and I realized something..” Rainbow Dash nodded, acknowledging her friend’s words. “I can say ‘I love you’. I never thought of this before.. but I do love you, Rainbow Dash. I didn’t consider how much I really did until you told me how much I meant to you. You’ve opened my heart up to love.. true love.. love that burns for only you. Rainbow Dash, you’re the only mare I want to be with. Nothing can change that.” Rainbow Dash’s cheeks burned. A smile spread across her face. She felt tears coming to her eyes. “Rarity.. I.. I love you, too.” The unicorn smiled, embracing the pegasus in a tight hug. Dash returned it, a slight sob escaping her. “Rainbow Dash.. thank you for this.” They slowly pulled away from each other, staring into each other’s eyes. “Thank you for showing me true love.”
