A new flying buddy!

by JSCD

Rating: teen
Tags: Random, Slice of Life, Romance
Length: 7864

After Twilight became an alicorn, she has been eager to be taught how to fly by Rainbow Dash. But what starts out as a normal flying lesson becomes much more special than that.

It was a nice sunny afternoon in Ponyville, the birds were chirping, the leaves were rustling in the gentle breeze, and Twilight was getting ready for her first flying lesson. Being given wings is one thing, being able to use them is another. Twilight had been practicing flying, but all she could do was keep herself in the air for a couple of moments, before dropping back down to the ground. As for actual flying around… it was hopeless. Luckily for her, she has friends that are always eager to help, and Rainbow Dash jumped at the opportunity to become a flying teacher.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-14 22:12:06 UTC

Chapter 1 - Acrophobia

Twilight paced around the library, listing out all the items she needed for her lesson while a worn-out spike was running around, carrying various items to and from Twilight’s saddlebag, ticking them off his checklist as he ran.

“Is…this…really…all….necessary?”  Spike panted between breaths.

“Of course it is, Spike” Twilight said, flipping the page of a book on flying. “I want to get the most out of this lesson as I possible can, and I want to make sure I have everything I need.”

Spike dumped the last of the equipment into the saddlebag and wiped his brow.

“And that includes 3 bottles of ink and a metre of paper?” Spike asked, raising his eyebrows.

“I might need to record special flying techniques” Twilight replied, placing the book back on the shelf. “Have you got everything?”

Spike peered around in the bag. “Well, yeah, everything is in there. But you probably won’t need half of it.”

“Nonsense” Twilight said, walking over to the saddlebag, and attempted to pull it onto her back.

“Well, have fun lugging that thing around.” Spike said, watching Twilight struggle with the heavy bag. “I sure am glad that I’m not the one carrying that tonne of stuff.”

“I’ll…do…fine!” Twilight finally pulled the bag onto her back, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Phew…this is pretty heavy. But it’ll all come to use, I’m sure of it” she said. “You know what they say…no pain, no gain!”

Spike laughed. “That’s not pain Twilight, that’s mild back stress!”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I-

She was cut off by a loud tapping on the door.

“Oh, that must be Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said excitedly, and she ran to the door and opened it, eager to get straight into her lesson.

“Oh hey Rainbow Dash! I can’t wait to-

“Letter for Twilight Sparkle” Interrupted the mail pony.

Twilight’s cheeks went red.

“Oh, uh, thanks” she said, taking the letter from the stallion’s hoof.

The mail stallion grunted and walked off.

“I wonder who this is from” Twilight said, closing the door behind her and taking a seat next to spike.

No features on the front of the letter gave away who it was from. It was just a simple envelope, sealed with wax at the back.

“Who’s it from?” Spike asked, leaning over Twilight’s shoulder to get a better look.

“I don’t know yet” Twilight said, breaking the seal and unfolding the letter. It read:

Hey Twi,

Just letting you know that I’m all set for your flying lesson, so come on down to my house whenever you like and we’ll get started. ;)

Rainbow Dash

“Oh! It’s from Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said, finishing reading out the letter.

“I wonder why she didn’t just come over here” Spike said, looking out of the window towards Rainbow Dash’s house.

Weird…Rainbow Dash had never sent a letter before. The mail service was fast, but she definitely could have got here faster. How strange.

“I’ll ask her that. But she said I can go round whenever I like, and I can’t wait to get flying!” Twilight said excitedly, jumping up. “Okay, I’ll see you later Spike!”

Twilight trotted over to the front door and opened it, but before she left, Spike called out to her.

“Wait…what am I supposed to do while you’re gone?” he asked.

“Well, what do you usually do?” Twilight replied.

“I, uh… sleep” Spike said sheepishly.

Twilight laughed and turned to leave.

“Well, you go and have yourself a nice nap” Twilight said, smiling.

She closed the door behind her and walked out into the sun.

“What a perfect day for flying” Twilight said to herself, looking up at the sky and clouds. She trotted her way slowly through Ponyville, heading towards Rainbow Dash’s house.

***

Twilight arrived at, or rather, below Rainbow Dash’s house. She looked up, admiring the mansion of cloud and wondered how in Equestria she was going to get up there. Flying was a definite no-no. Teleporting could work, but she’d never teleported onto clouds before… it could end up with her faceplanting into the ground again.

Well, there was only one way to find out. Twilight focused on the cloud before the front door. As her horn glowed the world dissipated around her, and she disappeared with a loud bang. A split second later, the world suddenly rebuilt itself, and she found herself to be standing at Rainbow Dash’s doorstep.

“Well, that went better than expected” she said, raising her hoof to the door.

She knocked three times in quick succession.

Then she waited.

And waited some more.

‘What’s taking her so long?’ Twilight thought, knocking again.

It wasn’t like Rainbow Dash to be tardy; she was the fastest pony in Ponyville. Unless she was asleep, of course. But she wouldn’t just go to sleep after telling Twilight she could come over at any time, would she?

Suddenly the door opened and Rainbow Dash stood there, wearing her blue and yellow Wonderbolt trainee costume, goggles and all, smiling happily.

“Oh hey Twilight!” she said excitedly.

“Hey Rainbow Dash!” Twilight replied, just as excited. “Wow…You look amazing!”

“Aww, thanks” Rainbow Dash replied, blushing a little. “You ready for your first flying lesson?”

Rainbow Dash blushing from a compliment? She receives compliments all the time…why should one from Twilight be any different?

Twilight flapped her wings eagerly.

“Am I ever!” she cheered.

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Alright then, come on through. I’ve set up a flying course for you.”

Twilight followed Rainbow Dash through the house, and out the back door on to a long stretch of cloud. There were clouds floating in midair, shaped in various forms such as poles and rings, to simulate a real-life flying situation.

“Welcome to the course!” Rainbow Dash said, raising her hooves up and admiring her work with pride. She had set this all up herself, bunching and shaping clouds and positioning them in the air.

“You made all of this? By yourself? For me?” Twilight asked in astonishment, examining her friend’s effort.

“Eh, it was nothing” Rainbow Dash said, smiling.

Twilight dropped her saddlebag onto the cloud below her hooves and began to rummage through it, and pulled out a pot of ink, a quill and a roll of paper. She sat down on the cloud, and dipped the quill into the pot of ink.

“Okay! What important things should I write down about flying?” Twilight asked, levitating the quill and the paper in front of her.

Rainbow Dash laughed nervously. “Uh, Twilight…you don’t need to write anything down” she said, looking slightly confused.

“What?” Twilight said, tilting her head to one side. “Surely I must need to write something I need to know! The most efficient flying vector? The best angle to take off from the ground? The frequency of wing flaps per minute?”

“Oh, Twilight! That’s not how it works at all! There’s no studying, there is no learning involved!” Rainbow Dash explained enthusiastically. “Flying will come to you naturally, it’s an instinct!”

“But I-

“Flying is not something that is to be revised, or studied. You don’t need to know every itty bitty physics calculation in your head for every possible scenario you’ll be in. You don’t need to think at all. You just feel it…and off you go. It’s natural” Rainbow Dash finished.

“But it all seems so complicated…” Twilight said.

“Trust me, it isn’t.” Rainbow assured. “When I first learned to fly I thought exactly the same thing. But after a bit of practice, I could just do it without thinking. Just don’t worry about a thing, it’s really simple.”

Twilight thought for a moment, and then proceeded to return the items back into her saddlebag.

Twilight sighed. “Alright” she said, standing up.

“There you go, that’s the spirit!” Rainbow Dash cheered. “So, are you ready to fly?” she asked.

“Just a second, let me get ready” Twilight replied, rummaging around in her saddlebag.

“Okay, I just need to go get something, I’ll be right back. When you’re ready, just stand on the edge of the cloud over there” Rainbow Dash said, pointing to a floating cloud at the top of a long flight of stairs, which were also made of cloud, before she disappeared back into the house.

Twilight pulled a helmet out of the saddlebag, with a conveniently placed hole in the top, perfectly cut for a unicorn horn. It was a dark purple colour, with a large pink stripe down the middle, matching Twilight’s mane. She pulled it over her head, clipping the strap together and tightening it adequately. She pulled out two pairs of knee pads, strapped them around her legs and stood up, and placed small purple bag which contained a parachute onto her back.

Twilight walked over and stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She breathed out slowly.

“Come on Twilight, you can do this…” she said to herself, before placing her left hoof on the first step. She hated to admit it, but she was terrified of heights. She was happy as a unicorn, where most of the time she would keep all four hooves firmly on the ground. But suddenly becoming an alicorn changed that. She really wanted to learn to fly, but her fear of heights was going be a very large obstacle she had to overcome.

She carefully inched her way up the stairs, trying not to look down.

“Don’t look down… don’t look down” Twilight repeated.

When she reached the top, she ever so slightly peeked over the edge of the cloud. It was a long way down, at least 25 metres, and the longer she looked, the further and further the ground seemed to be. Twilight’s heart pace quickened, and fear took over. She lay down and closed her eyes, quivering.

Rainbow Dash returned from the house with a stopwatch in hoof, but she dropped it when she saw Twilight cowering on the top of the platform.  She rushed up the stairs, and knelt down beside her frightened friend.

“Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked worriedly. “Are you alright?”

Twilight slowly looked up, and Rainbow Dash could see tears in her eyes.

“No…” she replied.

“What’s wrong?” Rainbow asked. “Are you hurt?”

“N-no…I…I’m terrified of heights…” Twilight said quietly, covering her face with her hooves.

“Aww…” Rainbow Dash said sympathetically, pulling Twilight into a hug. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know…I just…” she replied.

“Its okay, Twi. We can start on the ground first if you want.” Rainbow Dash suggested.

It was a very tempting offer…but Twilight couldn’t just walk away from this fear…flying is all about heights, and she would have to overcome her phobia if she was to succeed.

“N-no…I have to beat this fear of h-heights…” Twilight said, slowly pulling herself up.

Rainbow Dash held onto Twilight, and helped her keep her balance as she shakily stood up.

“W-what do I need to do?” Twilight asked, still nervous about the height.

“Well, before you do anything, you need to lose the gear” Rainbow said.

“W-wha? Why?” Twilight replied.

“It’s all just going to slow you down, it’s heavy and it will put you off-balance” Rainbow Dash explained.

“B-but w-what if I f-fall?” Twilight stuttered.

Rainbow Dash placed her hooves gently on Twilight’s shoulders. “If you fall, I’ll catch you. I promise.”

Twilight was unsure, but Rainbow Dash’s warm reaction and friendly expression gave her strength.

“Okay…” Twilight said, slowly taking off her helmet.

She sat down, and removed the parachute and her knee pads.

“Will you be okay up here for a minute?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight nodded.

“Alright, I’ll be back in a second” Rainbow Dash said, picking up the equipment and walking downstairs.

Twilight watched her as she walked downstairs and returned the equipment to the saddlebag, and on the way back she bent down to pick up the stopwatch she had dropped earlier. Rainbow climbed the stairs again, and returned to Twilight.

“So, um, what do you want me to do?” Twilight asked nervously.

“Well, this may seem a bit crazy, but I need you to jump off the edge” Rainbow Dash explained.

“You need me to what!?” Twilight shouted in surprise.

“Twilight, hear me out” Rainbow said. “It’s how my father used to teach me. By jumping off something at such a height, you should just be able to extend your wings and glide without thinking. Like a reflex” she explained.

Twilight didn’t like the idea of throwing herself off a cloud…but oddly, it made sense.

“I understand…” Twilight replied, peeking uncertainly over the edge.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to” Rainbow assured.

“No. I must do this.” Twilight said, suddenly regaining her confidence. She carefully placed her hooves on the edge of the platform, and breathed out slowly.

“I can do this…” Twilight said, trying to convince herself.

She peeked over the edge again. That was a mistake. Twilight’s legs turned to jelly, and adrenaline surged through her blood. She jumped back quickly, and latched herself onto Rainbow Dash like you’d expect from a Scooby-Doo episode.

“I-I d-don’t think I c-can d-do this Rainbow D-Dash…” Twilight stammered.

“Yes you can Twilight…I believe in you” Rainbow said softly, and she kissed Twilight gently on the lips. She gazed lovingly into Twilight’s eyes. “I know you can.”

Twilight was thunderstruck. Rainbow Dash just…kissed her. Out of the blue. Why? Was it a gesture of encouragement? Or love? Rainbow Dash had never shown feelings of affection to her before…why now? Not that Twilight was complaining. She rather…liked it. You might even say that she loved it. But Twilight had never dwelled on the subject of love, or relationships. She was just so caught up in it all; the studying, the Crystal Empire, Discord again, becoming an Alicorn…

But Rainbow Dash’s kiss had almost stopped time… it had made her think. Maybe it was time for that. Maybe it was time to think about…relationships. Every Hearts and Hooves day is spent studying…like any other day. Maybe it was time for a change. But not…right this minute. Right now she needed to-

“JUUUUUUUUMP!”

Chapter 2 - Airborne

To other ponies a fear of heights may just seem like an overreaction. But one can never truly experience the true terror of a phobia unless they have one. Twilight couldn’t explain it. Nopony really could. It was an irrational fear that your entire being and soul would choose to avoid at all costs. So that’s what Twilight did; she just chose to avoid heights as best she could. But as an alicorn Twilight could not stand by and let this fear restrict her to the ground. She was a strong minded pony, and this phobia to her was just another challenge to overcome, another problem to solve. No matter how difficult it was, Twilight would come out on top.

The kiss that Rainbow Dash had given to her...Twilight was still unsure of what it meant. But it had given her confidence, and she had managed to jump of her own accord. Perhaps it was that; a kiss of encouragement.

Twilight opened her eyes very slowly. She expected to see the ground looming towards her…but she didn’t. Everything was perfectly still. Somewhere in the background Rainbow Dash was cheering.

She was…flying.

Yes! She was flying!

Twilight didn’t know how…but she was indeed flying. Her wings were flapping in unison, keeping her suspended in midair.

“I…I’m flying!” Twilight said in disbelief.

“Yes Twilight! You’re flying!” Rainbow Dash called excitedly from the cloud.

Twilight couldn’t believe it. She wasn’t even doing anything; her wings were flapping all by themselves.

Rainbow Dash went straight into teaching, not wanting to waste such an opportunity.

“Twilight, I want you to listen to me very carefully” Rainbow called out. “I want you to turn around in the air to face me. But to do that, you must think…you must imagine that you have already done it.”

How strange… imagining you have already done something to do it? But Twilight wasn’t going to argue. She focused, putting a mental image in her mind of herself turning in the air to face Rainbow Dash. But nothing happened. She did not move.

“Do not focus on the task” Rainbow Dash explained slowly. “Focus on the goal.”

Twilight understood. This time, she imagined that she had already turned to face her friend. She concentrated hard, and sure enough, she began to turn slowly in the air.

“I’m doing it!” Twilight squeaked happily.

Twilight made a full turn, and smiled with delight the whole time whilst doing it.

“Excellent! Now come forwards towards me!” Rainbow shouted.

Twilight concentrated, and thought hard about being in front of the cloud, and she began to fly slowly forwards.

“I’m doing it! I can fly!” Twilight shouted with glee.

She was only a few metres away now. But as she got closer and closer to her goal, a strong feeling of doubt began twisting in the pit of her stomach. She dreaded to think how far she was above the ground…

“Come on Twilight! You can do it!” Rainbow Dash called.

“Don’t look down…don’t look down…” Twilight repeated to herself, trying to focus her mind on the goal, and Rainbow Dash’s shouts of encouragement. But anxiety and fear began to cloud her mind, and it became harder and harder to focus. Twilight closed her eyes, and tried to avert her thoughts away from the height. She was so close.

“Yes Twilight! Just a little bit further!” Rainbow called again.

But Twilight's mind started wandering...back to the moment where Rainbow Dash had kissed her. Her mind and her heart were at battle, struggling to decide the meaning of Dash's irregular behaviour.  The thoughts obscuring her mind forced her to open her eyes, and she found herself floating in midair, with a very long drop below her. Fear took control. The world began to spin away. Twilight began to hyperventilate, her wings snapped to her sides and she began to fall helplessly through the air. She tried to make a sound, to cry out, but she couldn't. Fear had control of her body, and all she could do was watch as the ground loomed closer and closer.

Rainbow Dash saw Twilight falling towards the ground and jumped into action. Off the cloud she dived, putting her hooves over her head in the shape of an arrow as she flew downwards, beating her wings as hard as she could, determined to save her falling friend. She swooped down, catching Twilight in her hooves barely inches above the ground.

Rainbow Dash touched down softly on the long stretch of cloud, with Twilight’s hooves firmly clamped around her chest. She slowly sat down, keeping the terrified pony within her hooves, slowly stroking her shoulders and whispering soft words of reassurance in an attempt to calm her down.

“It’s okay Twilight…you’re safe now…”

Rainbow Dash’s presence and soothing words helped calm Twilight down. Her heart rate, breathing and pupil dilation returned to normal. The warming security of Rainbow Dash’s hooves made her feel safe, and she began to look around slowly, taking in her surroundings and confirming that safety.

“You…you saved me…” Twilight said, looking up at Rainbow Dash.

“I promised I would catch you” Rainbow Dash replied softly. “I don’t go back on promises.”

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment.

“You did really well, you know” she said, looking at Twilight. “When I first learned how to fly, I didn’t even manage to turn around! Let alone fly most of the way back!”

“But…I fell…” Twilight replied, frowning.

“Nopony makes the first jump” Rainbow Dash said. “You did awesome for a first time. After some practice, you’ll be able to fly without even thinking.”

Twilight smiled. “Thanks Rainbow Dash…you’re the best” she said, hugging the blue pegasus.

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Tell me something I don’t know!”

Twilight giggled.

“Remember, I can't teach you how to do this myself. I can only help you, ya know, like a guide. You gotta teach yourself, and your heart will do everything for you. Every pegasus knows that.” Rainbow Dash explained.

“I understand” Twilight said, standing up.

Rainbow Dash stood up, and beckoned Twilight to follow her as she walked back towards the house.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but before she was able to make a sound, Twilight interrupted.

“I want to go again” she said.

Rainbow Dash stopped. “Are you sure?” she asked, cocking her head. “I mean…didn’t that scare you?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, that was the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced.”

Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.

“I want to be able to do this” Twilight said as she began pacing. “What’s the point of wings if you’re too afraid to use them? As they say, practice makes perfect, and that’s exactly what I want to do; practice.”

As she finished, she stopped pacing and waved her hoof into the air like a magician. “Practice."

“Well, if you really want to then let’s do it!” Rainbow Dash cheered enthusiastically.

Twilight smiled and the two mares started walking down the cloud towards the house once again.

Twilight came to a halt at the foot of the stairs again, and looked up to the top. She gulped and began to climb, but she stopped when she felt Rainbow Dash’s hoof fall gently onto her shoulder.

“I’m right behind you” Dash said assuringly, encouraging Twilight to begin her ascent.

Twilight gulped, and trundled slowly up the stairs again, but this time with Rainbow Dash close behind as morale support. Step by shaky step Twilight slowly made her way up the stairs of cloud. She reached the top and breathed out a loud sigh of relief, but it wasn’t over yet.

She breathed out slowly, and approached the edge of the cloud, keeping her chin up and her eyes forward. She can do this.

“Whenever you’re ready, Twi” Rainbow Dash said, waiting for Twilight’s move.

Twilight took a few long breaths, and closed her eyes. Using all the power in her mind, she forced herself to jump once again.

When she opened her eyes, she was in the same position as she remembered the last time she jumped; overlooking the fields of Ponyville. Twilight breathed out slowly, and focused on getting back to the cloud that Rainbow Dash was calling from.

Twilight was faster this time, and she had no trouble turning back around to face Rainbow Dash. But it was when she began to move forward, and that was when her mind went back to the kiss. She couldn't help it. It just replayed the recent memory in front of her over and over again, and she was forced to open here eyes. Then she began to become frightened, staring down at the world below. Her stomach clenched, and she found it harder and harder to focus on her goal of reaching the cloud.

It’s like when you’re very young, and you go down to your local swimming pool with your parents and some friends. You have fun, swimming underwater and splashing around in the shallow end of the pool, generally causing anarchy between the many groups of children there. When you’re feeling brave, you challenge your friends to see how far out they dare to swim towards the deep end; where all the sharks and jellyfish roam. You quit shortly after your little feet can no longer touch the tiled bottom of the pool, swimming back to the shallow end as fast as you can to put as much distance as you could between you and the terrifying monsters that lurked in the depths of the 2 metre deep water. You leave shortly after, knowing that you will come back yet again to see who will swim out the farthest, and risk being pulled down to the bottom by the creatures of the deep.

That’s exactly how Twilight felt. She felt like a foal again, being scared by the deep end of the pool. She fought against the fear and anxiety that was trying to take control, and battled against her mind's constant contemplation of the previous kiss. But it was no use. She couldn’t stop herself looking down. It was like a reflex, you just can’t stop it. Twilight’s wings froze again, and she dropped like a stone.

Rainbow Dash leaped to the rescue once more, swooping down again and catching Twilight safely in her hooves, before flying away, back to the cloud. Rainbow Dash lowered herself down, and carefully dropped Twilight down onto the cloud, before dropping herself down next to her.

Twilight was annoyed. A second time the same thing had happened, and she had fallen at exactly the same spot. She was trembling in fear, but she wasn’t going to let that slow her down. Twilight wanted to ask Rainbow Dash about this kiss, to set things straight, to get some answers. But she couldn't...she was so frustrated about failing to fly, and she'd never been in a position like this before. She couldn't ask such an awkward question...

“Again!” Twilight shouted out of frustration, and she took off, heading for the platform jump again.

Rainbow Dash took off running after her. “Twilight, wait!”

But Twilight wasn’t going to wait. She was going to succeed, even if that meant jumping off the same damn cloud again, and again, and again.

***

For the next three hours, Twilight continued to jump off the cloud. Each time she became a little faster, her turning and moving was quicker, and there was less of a delay between her actions in the air. She didn’t really have to think that much anymore. She could just do it. But every single time, whenever she began to fly forwards towards victory, it was taken sharply from her, and she fell, time and time again. But every single time, Rainbow Dash zoomed down and caught her, safely returning her to the runway for another jump. As the day drew on, the afternoon became evening, and the bright sky became dark.

***

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash yelled, panting heavily. “Can…we…stop…for…one…second?”

Rainbow Dash was exhausted. Every time Twilight made a jump, she became faster at turning and moving in the air, which meant she fell sooner. So Rainbow Dash was constantly going back and forth, speeding down as fast as she could to catch Twilight in her hooves, before flying back to the runway, where Twilight would proceed to dash up the stairs, and leap off the top again. Rainbow Dash’s hooves, wings and chest were all aching from the constant ferrying of the purple mare, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could last.

Twilight stopped running, and looked back at her tired-out a friend, who was struggling to catch her breath.

“Same thing happened, Twilight” Rainbow Dash said in between short breathes. “Every single time you've gotten faster, but you’re not going anywhere . You've done awesome today, but can we just give it a rest? I’m so unbelievably tired…”

Twilight stomped her hoof on the white fluffy ground in frustration.

“No! I must do this!” she said, preparing to climb the stairs to the platform again.

“Are you sure? We can always come back to it tommor-

“Don’t you see, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight interrupted, turning around. “I won’t be able to sleep at night knowing that I can’t do this. I’m sure you out of all ponies would know that feeling! I have to overcome this, and I’ll be damned if I don’t!

Twilight knew she could do this.

Rainbow Dash smiled empathetically, knowing how much this meant to Twilight.

“Okay…just this once more?” she asked. “I’m so knackered…and it’s getting dark too…”

Twilight thought for a moment, looking up at the darkening sky. “I suppose so” she said reluctantly.

“Great” Rainbow Dash said, wiping her brow with her hoof.

Twilight slowly walked up the stairs again, reaching the top and preparing herself for her final jump of day. This jump would be different. This time she would succeed. Twilight walked over to the edge of the cloud and looked out over the distant fields, calming her body and focusing her mind. She was ready.

Twilight kept her eyes open this time as she jumped, looking far off into the horizon to distract herself from the distance between her and the ground. She quickly turned, and began to fly slowly forwards, keeping her eyes fixed on the edge of the cloud, fighting the urge to look down.

Rainbow Dash began shouting words of optimism and encouragement, trying to help Twilight in every way she could.

But Twilight's mind began to wander again, and could not resist the urge to look down, no matter how she tried. But just as she was about to look down, and give up all hope…

“I love you, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

Twilight’s head shot up before she had a chance to get a glimpse of the ground below. Did Rainbow Dash just say what she though she said? Twilight’s fears and worries suddenly disappeared, and she was left hovering in the air, staring at a blushing Rainbow Dash.

“…What!?” Twilight asked, taken aback by Rainbow Dash’s sudden outburst of affection.

She didn’t really say that, did she?

“You heard me, Twi” Rainbow Dash called. “…I love you.”

Twilight was astounded. She was too surprised to say anything at all. She just lingered in midair, mouth agape.

“You act surprised…why do you think I kissed you earlier?” Rainbow Dash called again.

Rainbow Dash had never kissed her before, or shown any feelings towards her in that way at all. Twilight's mind was still replaying that scene of the kiss in her mind, and now she finally knew what it meant.

“I thought that was just because I was scared!” Twilight blurted out, finally managing to speak.

“No Twilight… I’ve loved you since…well, for as long as I can remember” Dash replied.

Rainbow Dash was serious…but why is she telling her all this now?

“Why? Why tell me all this now? You’ve never mentioned or hinted these feelings towards me before!” Twilight shouted. She sounded…almost angry.

Rainbow Dash scratched her ear. “Well, uh, we’ve never really been alone for long enough so I could tell you…until now…”

What? Twilight was always alone in the library, apart from when spike was around. Why didn’t she tell her there?

“But if you have…loved me for so long then why didn’t you just come to the library? Tell me there, there’s never anypony else around!” Twilight shouted again.

Rainbow Dash sighed and hung her head. “I have…many times…”

Twilight landed on the cloud in front of Rainbow Dash.

“What…?” she asked softly, suddenly lowering her voice.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened, and she looked to the sides of Twilight, over the edge of the cloud.

“Twilight, did you just-

“I know what I did, but that’s not important right now” Twilight said sternly.

Twilight knew well that she had managed to fly all the way back to the cloud to success, without looking down. How she managed it; she didn’t know, but somehow she had subconsciously flown her way forwards without even realising it. But there were more important matters to attend to, and now wasn’t the time for a big victory dance. She wanted to know what Rainbow Dash meant.

Rainbow Dash frowned and beckoned Twilight to follow her as she trotted down the stairs, through the back door of the house and into the living room.

The room was quite bare, just a few brightly coloured sofas arranged in a square around a fireplace. There was a small clock on the mantelpiece, slowly ticking away the seconds, next to a few framed pictures. Two of the pictures were of the Wonderbolts, one of Twilight and the final one containing all of Rainbow Dash’s 5 best friends.

Dash sat down on one of the sofas, and signalled Twilight to do the same.

“So…you said…you’ve come to the library a lot…when I’m there to tell me that…you love me?” Twilight asked, sitting down next to her friend.

Rainbow Dash nodded, but said nothing.

“But I’ve never noticed you there at all…” Twilight said, her voice trailing off.

“Exactly!” Rainbow Dash cried unhappily, covering her face with her hooves. “I come over almost every week, and I knock on your door load of times, but I never get a answer, so I let myself in. And every…single…time I enter, I see you just…sitting there, buried in a book, your eyes darting back and forth slowly with the same bleak expression on your face. You spend all of your spare time…reading and studying...”

Rainbow Dash raised her head, and Twilight could see tears in the blue mare’s eyes. Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Rainbow Dash continued before she could even make a sound.

“And it saddens me…” Rainbow continued, struggling to fight back the tears. “You never notice anypony when you’re studying…there could be a war going on right outside the library…and you’d never notice. I hardly even see you outside anymore. That’s why I sent you a letter…because you would never notice me knocking…”

A single tear rolled down Rainbow Dash’s cheek, and she let out a sad whimper, one you might expect from Fluttershy.

“So when I see you, just sitting there…I just leave…I can’t bear to see you like that. That wasn’t the pony I fell in love with…” Rainbow Dash finished, sniffling loudly.

Every sentence Rainbow Dash uttered felt like a bullet piercing Twilight’s heart. Everything the cyan mare said was true…she’d spent so long studying in the library that she had neglected and forgotten the most important thing in her life…her friends…

Twilight began to sob quietly, and she threw her hooves around Rainbow Dash, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash…” Twilight whispered, choking up. “I’m so…so sorry…”

Rainbow Dash said nothing, but rested her head against Twilight’s cheek. The two mares sat in the quiet for a while, holding each other close, comforting one another and wiping away their tears.

***

Rainbow Dash broke the silence.

“Twilight…” she said, holding Twilight at hooves length, gazing into her purple eyes.

“…Yes, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight replied softly.

“Do…do you…love me?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight sighed, and breathed out slowly.

“Look Rainbow Dash…” Twilight said softly, trying to say this in the nicest way possible. “You’re my best friend, and I love you…but…not in that way…”

“Oh…I see…” replied Rainbow Dash, breaking eye contact and hanging her head.

Twilight placed her hoof gently under Dash’s chin, and moved it slowly upwards so the two ponies were face to face once again.

“And I mean that in the nicest way possible…because that doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends…” Twilight said, smiling warmly.

Rainbow Dash attempted to form a smile, but she was too crushed inside to move a muscle.

The clock on the mantelpiece began to chime subtly, but just enough for Twilight to hear.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven chimes. Seven O’clock.

“Oh…I’m sorry Rainbow Dash but…I have to go, it’s getting dark and I need to wake up Spike from his nap, or he won’t be able to sleep tonight” Twilight said, stifling a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry it’s sudden, but I only just realised what time it is. You promise me you’ll be okay?” she said, stroking Rainbow Dash’s chin with her hoof.

Rainbow Dash gave a small nod, wiping her eyes as Twilight pulled slowly out of the embrace and stood up.

“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash…” Twilight said, trying to think of something more comforting to say. “I’ll be back tomorrow for some more flying…if that’s okay with you…”

Rainbow Dash nodded again, but this time she spoke. “I…I guess I’ll have a training plan…for tomorrow…I’ll…just get started on that…” she said, standing up and beginning to head for her bedroom. “I’ll…see you 'round…”

Twilight couldn’t help but feel really awful as she watched the cyan mare disappear up the stairs to her room. She knew Rainbow Dash was a tough pony but she couldn’t imagine how she must be feeling right now…

Twilight had never been rejected by anypony, simply because she’d never asked. But Twilight had no idea about Rainbow Dash’s feelings for her, and she wasn’t going to make any rash decisions. She hated to see her friend hurt in such a way, but she wasn’t exactly going to turn around and say ‘I love you’ back, when that wasn’t really true.

But over it all, she felt a strong sense of guilt in the pit of her stomach, and as she slowly walked back through Ponyville towards the library, she wondered if she was making the right choice at all.

Chapter 3 - Love and Confusion

Twilight pushed open the door to the Library, still distracted in deep thought about Rainbow Dash. Twilight had never seen her cry before. If this whole situation was enough to make the blue mare cry, then it must mean a hell of a lot more to her than Twilight originally thought.

“Oh hey, Twilight!” called a voice. “How was your flying lesson? And where’s your saddlebag?”

An apron-clad Spike was standing in the doorway between the main room and the kitchen, chef’s hat atop his head. He smiled, and waited for Twilight’s response.

Twilight walked over to the couch and sat down without saying a word, furrowing her brows in concentration.

Spike’s grin fell, and he wandered over to Twilight with a confused expression on his face.

“Are you okay, Twi?” he asked.

Twilight said nothing.

“Twi?” Spike repeated again, raising his eyebrows.

Twilight still said nothing.

Spike clicked his fingers in front of Twilight’s face, causing her to shake her head and look up, her concentration finally broken by the small dragon.

“What?” she snapped angrily.

Spike took a step back, both surprised and slightly frightened by Twilight’s attitude.

“Uh, I was just asking if you were okay?” he said apprehensively.

Twilight sighed.

“Yeah…I’m fine…I’m just a little…distracted, that’s all” Twilight replied, hanging her head a little. “Sorry for shouting at you…”

Spike tilted his head.

“Okay…” he said, taking a seat next to the purple alicorn. “How was the flying lesson?”

Twilight’s mind wandered back to the kiss, and she blushed, shaking her head to try and move her mind away from those thoughts.

Spike was about to ask why Twilight was blushing, but he was cut off before he could open his mouth.

“It…was pretty good…I managed to fly quite a bit more than I thought. I’m going back tomorrow for some more practice…” Twilight said slowly.

“Cool! But, uh, where’s your saddlebag?” Spike asked.

“Oh…I must have left it at…Rainbow Dash’s house…” Twilight said, turning red when she said Rainbow Dash’s name.

Spike was worried about Twilight’s strange attitude; it was almost like she was there in body, but not in mind.

“Twilight…are you sure you’re okay? I don’t mind, you can tell me anything. Let Uncle Spike help!” Spike said encouragingly.

Twilight sighed again.

“No Spike, I’m fine… I just need some time to myself, that’s all…” Twilight said quietly.

“Are you sure? I won’t tell anypony about anything if-”

“Spike! I’m fine! Just…leave me alone!” Twilight bellowed.

Spike jumped back in shock, hurt by Twilight’s sudden and irregular outburst of frustration.

“Well, uhm…I’ll be asleep if you need me…I baked a cake instead of taking a nap so…yeah…uh, goodnight…” Spike said as he retreated up the stairs.

Twilight watched as Spike climbed the stairs, and then after he was out of sight, she returned to her deep state of thought.

***

Twilight sat at her desk in the library, silently twirling a quill in one hoof, and resting her chin on the other. She gazed out of the window, over to Rainbow Dash’s house in the distance.

It was very quiet.

The only sound she could hear was the steady ticking of the cuckoo clock on the wall. A single candle on the desk flickered, its soft amber glow barely illuminating the room.

Twilight looked at the clock. Quarter to Twelve. But she couldn’t sleep. After mulling it over in her head for what seemed like forever, she gave up and went to bed, hoping that sleeping on it would make things clearer. But it didn’t. She tossed and turned, but whenever she closed her eyes she saw Rainbow Dash. Why? Why was this happening?

Twilight had been trying to make sense of everything all day, but she had got no closer to a solution to the dilemma.  Her mind and heart were restless, and she needed to think about this logically and in an orderly fashion, and set things straight. But how could she? The emotions in her head and her heart ran wild, fighting against one another, keeping Twilight from coming any closer to an answer.

Twilight was feeling so many conflicting emotions that it was beginning to overwhelm her. She was still confused about Rainbow Dash’s feeling for her. Even though Dash had declared her love for Twilight right in front of her, somehow, she still couldn’t make sense of it. And her own feelings for Rainbow Dash were present as well. Twilight felt sorry for the pegasus, leaving one her best friends alone in their time of need; she had no idea how much this all could mean to Rainbow Dash. And Twilight had this strange fluttering sensation in her heart when Rainbow Dash had kissed her, and strangely, she was feeling it again now. But she had no idea what it was, or what it meant. Twilight was so angry with herself; not being able to make sense of all of this, how she reacted to the actions of Dash, and leaving the blue pony alone at exactly the wrong moment.

She regretted being holed up the library most of her time. What Rainbow Dash had said to her really made an impact; she didn’t realise how long she had spent studying, or how much pain she had caused by doing it. Her mind kept going back and replaying her experience that day, over and over again in her head. Twilight wasn’t sure how much longer she could last; she had to make a decision.

***

Twilight slowly stood up from her desk. She licked her hoof and snuffed the candle, plunging the room into darkness. Using the magical glow of the tip of her horn, Twilight managed to slowly navigate her way through the library, carefully pushing open the front door, and tiptoeing out.

It was a beautiful, clear night. The unimaginable amount of stars shone brighter than Twilight remembered them being before. The silver glow of the full moon illuminated the land just enough for one to see without the need for another source of light. It was strangely warm, and an easterly wind blew gently through the trees.

Twilight moved soundlessly through Ponvyville, her heart beating faster with each step as she headed for Rainbow Dash’s house.

***

Twilight breathed out slowly, and raised her hoof to the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Twilight had no idea what she was going to say when Rainbow Dash came to the door. She just knew she had to do something.

Suddenly, a quiet voice called through the door.

“…Who is it?” the voice said, sniffling.

Hearing Rainbow Dash’s saddened voice made Twilight feel a pang in her heart.

“It…it’s Twilight…” she said, almost choking up.

There was a pause.

“…Whaddya want…?” the voice said.

“I…I want to talk to you…” Twilight said softly. “Can I come in...?”

“No…no…we can talk tomorrow…for your next flying lesson” the voice said slowly. “Bye…”

“N-no, Rainbow Dash…please…” Twilight called. “I feel really bad for leaving you alone earlier…”

“I’m fine…it’s fine…go home and sleep…I’ll be fine” the voice replied.

“It’s not fine at all!” Twilight said. “Look, Rainbow Dash…I’m sorry…please….let me in…I want to talk…”

No response.

“Whenever I close my eyes…I see that moment where...” Twilight gulped. “Where…you kissed me and…I…” she trailed off, tearing up. “I…”

Twilight didn’t know what to say. All the emotions in her head were screaming at her to say different things, and she couldn’t control them.

“…Please Dashie…just…I…” Twilight choked, trying to form a sentence.

There was a long silence.

“I…don’t want you to see me like this…” the voice said finally.

“Please, Rainbow Dash…there’s no shame in crying…even if you are the toughest pony in Equestria…” Twilight assured. “I don’t mind at all…there’s no need to be nervous…please…”

There was a short pause, and Twilight heard the distinctive click of a door being unlocked. The door slowly swung open, and a tear stricken Rainbow Dash stood in its place. Twilight could see that Rainbow Dash had been crying; her eyes were red and her cheeks had darkened in colour from tears.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash…” Twilight said, pulling the blue pegasus into her hooves. “I’m so sorry I left you alone earlier…I was just so…confused and…I should have stayed…I just feel so guilty about it...”

Twilight broke the embrace, but leaving her hooves firmly on Rainbow’s shoulders.

“I’m really sorry, Rainbow Dash…” Twilight said softly.

Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“You shouldn’t be saying sorry. It’s me who should be. I mean, you had no idea, and I just kinda…said I love you without even thinking that you might not like me the same way…or that you didn’t even know. I just thought that you would love me back straight away...” Rainbow Dash replied.

“No Rainbow Dash, you got it all wrong. I didn’t give you any credit for helping my fly, hell, I didn’t even say thank you!” Twilight said, becoming angry with herself. “All those times when you cheered for me and encouraged me and when you caught me when I fell. And then I just leave straight away after crushing your heart?! I’m gonna make this up to you, I swear.”

“Nononono, I-”

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight interrupted. “After what you said, with me being stuck in the library forever, oblivious to everything else that was going on, you made me think for a long time about your feelings towards me, and mine towards you. You made me think about my friends and my emotions, and for once in my life I didn’t just pick up a book and look for an answer. I thought it through myself. I tried to sleep on it, but I just couldn’t. My mind was full of chaos, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I have had this strange fluttering sensation in my heart ever since I left earlier, and I still have it now. I don’t understand it, but I know what it means. The moment you kissed me, and forced me to stop and think for one minute, changed me for the better.”

Twilight smiled, and placed her hoof gently on Dash’s cheek.

“You’ve opened my eyes, Rainbow Dash, and for that...I love you” Twilight finished, before leaning forward and touching her lips with Rainbow’s, to form a deep, passionate kiss that said more than words ever could.