It was the perfect plan.
At least, that's what Twilight assured her. Of course it was a good plan. It was a great plan, even. It had to have that kind of backing with an obsessive egghead behind it all. The connected executions, the irrefutable logic. It was fool-prove! And then Rainbow Dash, in all her infinite wisdom, decided to go along with it. It didn't seem like a bad idea at the time. In fact, Rainbow was sure that she'd FINALLY be able to let Pinkie down gently, following Twilight's advice.
Even on her swift trek to Sugarcube Corner, every detail of the plan resonated in her mind with absolute clarity. Finally, she would be able end this cat and mouse game, and tell Pinkie exactly what she needed to hear, the way she needed to hear it. Ah yes, Rainbow Dash could remember wanting to thank Twilight a thousand times over. To take back all the negative things she may have said. Hell, even throw her a party.
So why, now, was she cursing the unicorn's very existence? Simple... the plan failed. Completely and utterly failed. And now?
Now there was no escape.
That spine twisting comprehension destroyed all the hope Rainbow Dash had mustered when she arrived. Her plans ruined. Her resolve shattered. Her pride crushed. And her confidence, the most precious of all her eccentricities, melted away. She could only exhale raspy whines as she scurried against a wall of Sugarcube Corner, dragging her haunches against the floor. She stared helplessly into the eyes of her nightmare. Those big, bottomless, happy blue eyes, staring back at her, breaking her defenses all the more.
That deluge of nauseating innocence.
Before this nightmare, graveled a pony that was once an unstoppable champion. A mare that could meet any challenge head-on, and dominate. A pegasus that was respected and held in the highest regards as a competitor and a force to be reckoned with.
Now, however, she was reduced to a blathering shell of what she once was. A pathetic trembling lump of meat, dampened with sweat and shame. A weak and helpless foal that played her cards in all the wrong ways, and was now paying the price. Her lungs flapped of ragged breaths. Her eyes glistened and begged for mercy. Her limbs reflexively clung to the wall behind her, leaving her precious, unspoiled body exposed...
Vulnerable.
Underneath this nightmare's paralyzing gaze, Rainbow Dash could only shake and wallow in terror of what was going to happen to her. Her heart-rate soared dangerously at the thoughts of her forbidden areas being fumbled with and manipulated. This female, this... monster before her was not equine. It was impossible! Nopony was capable of doing this to her. Nopony could weaken every fiber in her muscles, and crush all defenses with a simple stare.
Aww, Dashie! You look so cute! I could just kiss you, right now!"
"No! Get away from me!"
Rainbow Dash drove herself further into the wall, her mind screaming for a way out, cursing at her inability to find one. As pink forelegs stopped mere inches from her widely exposed nether region, Rainbow's veins were stabbed with ice, making her as rigid as a tree.
Her nose was matted with warm breath. She was so close. Too close.
"Silly filly! You came to me, remember?! And I'm so, so, SO glad you did! You just know all the right things to say, Dashie!"
The inverse twinge of regret sent the Pegasus reeling. Everything around her became strikingly vivid as her remaining dignity crumbled. She couldn't deny the slapping irony. 'The right things to say' were all Twilight's idea. Rainbow had listened to Twilight's idea. Rainbow had brought this on herself.
"If I'd known you were having so much fun, I'd have tried catching you months ago! Your just the sweetest thing admitting your feelings to me!"
"N-NO! You've got it all wrong, Pinkie! I was trying to say that we can't-"
"Oh you don't have to hide from me anymore, Dashie! But I gotta tell ya; between materializing in front of you at every turn, and finally hearing your confession, I've worked up a doozy of an appetite.", Pinkie's tone dropped seductively, almost hissing, "If you know what I mean."
Perish the thought.
Rainbow's innards became liquid, unable to salvage the last iota of pride she may have had. Rainbow's fore-hooves clutched over her goodie-bits, both out of protective paranoia, and to prevent an humiliating release.
"I-... This was a mistake! I shouldn't be here!", her words were met only by joyful laughter, stirring her terror to a boil.
"Why not Dashie? We've been friends for such a long time! We know each other so well! Like we get each other, ya know?! And... Oh, Dashie, I feel so alive around you! Like I'm on top of the world!"
She was way too close!
The lack of distance and regard for personal space further degenerated Rainbow Dash's composure. As though it were even possible, she shrank back into the wall that kept her at this pink monster's mercy, clutching tighter unto herself. Pinkie's words invited alien thoughts into her psyche. Absurd, and brutally unacceptable were these musings, eradicating all trace of rational thought and care. Never had she dreamed that she would be in this position. Never had she believed that her, the one and only Rainbow Dash, would be shaking like leaf in the wind before an infatuated Pinkie Pie.
"I really, really, REALLY like you, Dashie! I wanna... I wanna go places with you! I wanna try things with you! We are gonna have the bestest, most super, fantabulous dates EVER! You and me! Two peas in a pot! Four times pie to the second power!"
"But... But I'm scared..."
Rainbow Dash had certainly reached the lowest of the low, and, now, she was certain of that. Even in the suffocating cocoon of dread, she could feel tears stinging her terrified eyes. She was totally unprepared. She hadn't the faintest clue what to do. Nopony had ever gotten this close, she didn't let them. But this earth pony, this party-crazed creature, shattered through her barriers with glimmering naivety.
"Of little ol' me? Oh, Dashie...", Pinkie's voice fell to a treble that would haunt Rainbow for the rest of her days.
Then, it happened... and nopony could stop it.
It was the simplest, most innocently taunting of all actions. There was no hesitation behind it. Not even a sliver of shame. But even a loving, tender kiss on the nose could open Pandora's Box when Pinkie Pie was involved. All thoughts were finally cast away in a flash of fright. Rainbow Dash whiffed into the air, and shrieked, the strength in her wings mysteriously returned. She had to get away.
And with no regard for possible property expresses and lack of coverage, Rainbow Dash made her exit through the ceiling of Surgarcube Corner, her fading scream serenading the echoing skies. Pinkie Pie could only stare up into the new opening of her shop-made-home, and lifted her hoof to her chest. The splinters of debris fell lazily around her, and she couldn't care any less. A jolt of infectious laughter howled through Surgarcube Corner, and the elated earth pony collapsed to the floor trying to contain herself. In time, her laughter fell pray to dreamy swoons and longing sighs.
Her back wiggled and swerved against the tile, and she pressed her hooves to her cheeks, feeling the rushing warmth upon them. With every meeting, a step closer. With every word, a heart-beat quicker. Rainbow Dash could run, glide, zip, dive, and even rainboom away from Pinkie all she wanted. But the seed had been planted. The broad had been set. After that day, all of her persistence would finally pay off.
She was close.
She could feel it.
Author's Note
Tangible critique is welcome for improvement purposes! :D
