Light. Blurry light. And soreness.
"Dashie! Dashie, wake up!"
"Pinkie, dear, do let poor Rainbow Dash rest. You do remember how you felt after you went through this, don't you?"
"Well, duh! But-"
"She's right, Pinkie. Dash'll wake up on her own. You'll see."
Why was she so sore? She didn't work out any harder than usual. As far as she knew, she hadn't been drinking or in a fight that night. She groaned and turned her head to the side. She didn't want to look at the light.
"Shh. She's comin' to."
Rose-colored irises exposed themselves to the world as her eyelids fluttered open. Her pupils dilated, then contracted, and dilated again, desperately attempting to adjust to the ambient light. She tried to sit up, but a soft hand on her solar plexus convinced her to stay laying down.
"Easy, Rainbow. You don't want to move just yet..." The soft voice of her friend Fluttershy broke through the haze. She turned her head back, the light being more bearable. She saw her five best friends sitting around her bed.
"Guys? Wha' happened?" She grumbled, her words slurred by the haze of sleep.
"Shoot. She doesn't remember?" Applejack broke through.
"Sometimes short-term memory loss can be a result of the Rite. She'll remember everything after the Awakening," Twilight Sparkle's voice this time.
"Great. How long'll that take?"
"Judging by her initial reaction to the Rite, any minute-"
"Guys? I don' feel so good..." Dash groaned. The soreness was getting worse. It felt like her body was going to fall apart.
"Girls, it's time," Twilight stated simply, and Dash could feel hands on her wrists and ankles. She started to panic. Her pulse skyrocketed. Twilight noticed.
"Dash, listen to me. Are you listening?" Dash nodded. "You're going to be in a lot of pain in a minute. It'll only last a small amount of time. We're going to hold you so you don't hurt yourself, okay?" Dash nodded again. Her breathing quickened. She didn't like pain. She could tolerate it well enough, but she didn't like it one bit. She felt a soft tapping on the back of her right hand.
"Ah'm right here, sugarcube. Don't you fret." Dash looked over to see Applejack, holding her hand and giving her a reassuring smile. The blonde farm girl was ready to spring into action, Dash could tell, but she was able to provide reassurance with that smile alone. It was something that all of her friends had seen. She felt two hands on the sides of her head, gently lifting her up before setting her down again. The soft pillow had been replaced with something more firm, yet warmer and more pleasant. Her eyes darted up to find a pair of gorgeous sapphire irises meeting her own. The indigo-haired goddess smiled kindly down to her. Rainbow could feel fingers brushing through her unkempt-rainbow-colored hair. A brief realization struck her.
Rarity was returning the favor.
During her own Awakening, everyone had already taken a point on Rarity's wrists and ankles to keep her from thrashing. Dash didn't want to feel useless, so she did the only thing that she thought would help her friend. She sat beside Rarity and set her head on her lap, running her fingers through the elegant locks of her hair.
That was when the screaming started. Shrill, pained screams that echoed through the bedroom. Dash hated it. She couldn't stand to see Rarity in that much pain. Tears ruined the mascara she had put so much effort into. She was crying, pleading, begging for the pain to stop. It hurt Dash more than she could describe. It nearly brought her to tears. When the screaming finally stopped, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, and pressure on her stomach. Rarity was clinging to her like she was the only thing that could save her from death. She was openly sobbing, her face buried in the cyan fabric of Dash's t-shirt.
That night, Dash insisted that she stay with Rarity, and each of her friends when they went through their own Awakening. She wanted to protect them. She wanted to make sure they would be alright. She didn't want them in any more pain. Pinkie Pie saw it as a slumber party, and the two stayed up all night playing video games and having fun. Applejack stubbornly tried to refuse, as usual, but Dash convinced her, and the two enjoyed a quiet night on the farm. Fluttershy passed out from the pain, so Dash carried her home and stayed the night. Twilight, though she'd undergone her Rite and Awakening in Canterlot under the supervision of the royal sisters, arranged an overnight between the two of them, where Dash caught up on the Daring Do series, and Twilight let her read a few more novels that she found interesting.
With Rarity, though, it was strange. The fashionista tried to give up her bed to Dash multiple times. Dash's stubborn refusal frustrated her to no end, and the exchange ended with the two agreeing to share the bed. It was big enough for two. But that lead to another problem for Dash. She usually slept in the nude. She hadn't shared a bed with someone in... well, ever. She couldn't sleep in her normal clothes. Rarity wouldn't allow it. Instead, the indigo-haired woman spent an hour sewing a set of pajamas for her guest. Rainbow Dash kept trying to talk her out of it, saying she would sleep on the couch if she needed to. Rarity had either tuned her out or was intently focused on her work, as she didn't respond until the deed was done. When finished, she presented the garments to Dash, who changed in the privacy of the bathroom. They were surprisingly comfortable, having been made on a whim and in such a hurry. The two slept comfortably and peacefully that night, and Dash found herself questioning things. Things that she pushed aside for the sake of their friendship. But the pajamas were a cherished gift.
Dash didn't show it to Rarity, but she was afraid. Her thoughts had taken her to the only logical conclusion.
The next minute was going to blow.
Pain. That was all she could feel. It shot from her very core into every single inch of her body. She made to bite her lip to keep from screaming, but the momentary parting of her lips was enough. A wail tore from her throat, raw and pained. Her friends' hands kept her arms and legs firmly in place. A good thing, considering she would have been clawing at herself to tear the pain from her body. As her friends had already heard her scream, she felt no more reason to hold back. She had wanted to be the tough one. The one the pain didn't get to. But even Applejack had reacted the same way when she went through the Awakening. The strongest person she knew, reduced to a screaming mess. Her screams grew louder and more frequent. Seconds felt like years as the pain rushed through her. She felt a wetness on her cheeks, and she more than once found herself looking to Rarity. She could take no more.
"Help me! Help me, please!" She cried, mentally cursing herself for her weakness. Rarity's soft, elegant features looked down to her with a sad smile. A hurt smile. She hated this as much as Dash hated seeing her in pain.
"It will all be over soon, dear. Let it run its course," she cooed, and through the pain, Dash could vaguely feel her fingers still brushing through her hair. The pain endured for what seemed like an eternity, but as time went on, it began to dull. Pain became a sharp ache. The sharp ache became a dull soreness. And eventually, she was numb. She lay limp in her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks, panting and sweating as if she'd run a marathon. She couldn't move. She recalled Twilight saying something about how the Awakening affected different people. She had been sent into a catatonic state for a week, she'd said. Applejack was noticeably weaker for the next few days. Pinkie was slower and less cheerful. Fluttershy had passed out, and Rarity had gone through an emotional breakdown. This must have been her way of coping.
"Dash? Dash? Are you okay?" She heard Twilight. She couldn't nod, so she had to speak.
"Yeah... Yeah, I'm fine..." She lied. She had to. She needed to be strong for her friends.
"Sugarcube, yer a terrible liar," Applejack chuckled, relinquishing her grip on her friend's wrist. She felt each of her friends' hands leave her body, and the final pressure was gone. She looked up. There was Rarity, still delicately combing her hair with her fingers. Dash couldn't tell if it was the wetness on her cheeks, or if she was blushing, but there was a heat forcing its way through her face. She took a moment to carefully examine the contours of the woman's face. Every angle was so delicately curved and sloped. She looked like she had been carved from the finest marble. Wait, what was she thinking? All that mushy stuff made her sick. So her friend was hot. Smoking, in fact. She was the most beautiful...
"Rainbow, darling, are you alright?" She cooed. Dash quickly looked away. She'd been staring, hadn't she?
"Y-Yeah... I'm okay," she stammered. Why was she so nervous? She felt a finger dragging along her cheek, taking the wetness with it. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she felt weight leaving her bed. Her friends were standing up, all except for Rarity.
"Well, we all talked about it, and Rarity insisted that she spend the night with you," Twilight stated matter-of-factly. Dash's eyes darted to each of her friends in turn, then up to Rarity.
"Wha'? Why?" She asked blearily. Rarity gave a laugh. That damn laugh. It drove her wild.
"Well, darling, we all wanted to repay you for watching over us when we went through this. Being that I was the first one you helped, I figured I'd return the favor," she said with a smile. Dash couldn't help but smile at her. The feeling in her fingers was coming back. She could move them.
"Thanks, Rare," she said weakly, enjoying every second she spent with the fashionista. Rarity nodded and gave her hair another gently combing with her fingers.
"I do, however, need to run to the boutique and pick up a few things. Will you be alright here for a few minutes?" Dash tried to nod, but found she couldn't.
"Yeah. Go do what you need to. I'm not going anywhere," she joked, getting another laugh from the indigo-haired goddess.
"Alright. We're gonna head off now. Ya take care now, Rainbow. Let Rare know if'n ya need anything, ya hear? I know how you don't like it," Applejack teased, getting a snicker from the bedridden Dash.
"I will, I will," she groaned in feigned exasperation, grinning as she watched her friends leave, one by one. When Rarity shut the door behind her, Dash found herself exploring her room. It was... cleaner than she remembered. Did they clean up while she was out? And did the Rite work? She had one way to find out. Twilight had mentioned something about being able to communicate with what was within them. After a few minutes of contemplating, she decided to try it.
"Hello? Anyone in there?" Her thoughts called out to no one in particular. She thought she was crazy for a minute, but a voice rang out through every corner of her mind.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash."
That took her by surprise. A male voice, with a rich timbre and almost perfect clarity, spoke back to her.
"So, you're-"
"The Element of Loyalty, yes. And I have to say, I admire your bravery already. It's not every century we come across one so willing to accept something into her very soul," it said bluntly. Dash blinked.
"Well, it wasn't my idea, it was-"
"Yes, the Princesses' idea, I know. The Element of Magic relayed that information to the rest of us," the voice cut her off again.
"Wait, you can talk to the other Elements?"
"Yes. And you can, as well. Not to the Elements themselves, but to the bearers," the voice was calm, almost soothing.
"Let me talk to Twilight."
"Go ahead." Damn, that was fast.
"Twi? You there?"
"Rainbow Dash! I hadn't expected you to be using your Element so soon! Are you feeling okay?" Twilight's voice echoed back. Dash smiled.
"Yeah. Still getting the feeling back in my toes, but I'm alright. Everyone else okay?" She could almost feel Twilight's laughing.
"Don't worry about them. Rarity got to the boutique safe and sound. Pinkie's bringing us to Sugarcube Corner for some sweets before we all turn in. You want anything? Pinkie said she would bring you something if you wanted."
"Nah, I'm alright. Tell everyone I said hi, though. And tell AJ we're still on for that cider drinking contest on Friday." She heard Twilight laugh again.
"I'll let her know. You take care."
"Yeah, you too, Twi." She could feel Twilight's thoughts drifting away, and she was alone again. "Well, that was interesting."
"I figured you would say that." The voice was back. She snickered.
"So, is there anything I should call you?" The voice was quiet for a moment.
"Loyalty will suffice," it replied, getting a snicker from Dash.
"Easy enough," she said with a chuckle.
"Dashie! Dashie Dashie Dashie!" She could recognize that voice anywhere.
"Hey there, Pinks," she replied nonchalantly. She could almost hear Pinkie's squeal of joy.
"This is sooooooo cool! You sound like a ghost!" Pinkie chirped, and Dash could see her hopping around the bakery, giggling. The pink-haired girl had been best friends with Rainbow Dash since grade school, so she was more accustomed to her antics than most.
"Yeah, you sound pretty crazy too, Pinkie," she teased, getting a laugh from her friend.
"Yeah, I probably sound all creepy, huh? OH! Now that you're done with everything, we should have a party! I'll start throwing everything together! Bye Dashie!" Dash couldn't help but smile.
"The Element of-"
"Laughter, yeah, I know," She snickered, before she heard the water running in the kitchen.
"Rarity? Is that you?" She called out, somewhat concerned. If it wasn't, she was in no shape to chase them out.
"It's just me, darling! I'm just fixing us up some tea!" Rarity's voice rang out from the kitchen. Dash sighed and, while waiting, tried to flex her toes, and upon further investigation, found her arms were once again functional. That was the only change in her condition, however, so she used every ounce of strength she could muster to maneuver herself into a sitting position against the headboard. As she let a low sigh, she heard a shrill whistle from the kitchen. Rarity opened the door open a crack and peeked her head in.
"Extra sugar, dear?" She asked, with Dash nodding in response. Her eyes lingered on her friend's smile, and she gave one of her own.
"Yeah. Thanks, Rarity," she said softly, watching as the beautiful woman disappeared behind the door to fetch their tea. The movement it took to get into her current position had drained her of any energy she had. The tea would help, but she was much weaker than she liked to think she was. It drove her insane. She was lucky Rarity was the only one who would see her like this, she thought. She wouldn't judge her. She wouldn't laugh at her. She would accept her no matter what. As she opened the door, Dash saw her face change into a look of surprised joy.
"Why, Rainbow Dash! It looks like you're able to move again!" She cried happily, getting a chuckle from Dash.
"Yeah, just using my arms to do this? Pretty awesome," she joked, making sure to sound as nonchalant as possible. Rarity giggled as she sat down in the chair beside the head of Dash's bed, setting the tea meant for her friend on the bedside table.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash, you are simply too much sometimes," she chided playfully as she sipped her tea. Dash snickered and reached down, shakily lifting the cup to her lips. She let out a soft sigh of contentment as the flavored liquid filled her mouth. She swallowed and smiled.
"That's some good stuff," she purred as she placed the cup back onto her table. "Anyway, do you have anything you want to do tonight? I'm game for pretty much anything," Rarity gave a mischievous smirk at that last bit.
"Well, I brought over a movie. I don't want to say anything more, but I do think you'll enjoy it," she said, and with another sip of her tea, her expression had changed to an innocent smile. Damn, was she good at that. Dash laughed a bit.
"Well, if you don't mind helping me hobble into the living room, I don't have a problem with that," she joked, watching as Rarity set down her cup.
"Well, if you'd like, I still have those crutches from when Sweetie Belle broke her leg because of her and her friends trying to be 'Cutie Mark Crusader Freerunners.' It would only be fitting if you used them," she teased, sending Dash into a fit of laughter. When she recovered, she had to wipe a tear from her eye.
"Daaaaamn, Rarity! I didn't know you had that in you!" She exclaimed, almost afraid to take another sip of tea until she knew what Rarity would say next. She didn't want to gross out her friend by having tea come out of her nose.
"Well, we clearly have to spend some more time together, darling. It's a shame we don't get to see each other unless under exacting circumstances," she said softly. That would have made tea come out of Dash's nose, but for a completely different reason. Was Rarity really coming on to her? She could definitely feel her cheeks heating up at the prospect.
"Yeah... Yeah, I'd like that," she murmured, quickly reaching down and taking a quick sip of her tea. She was still shaky from moving, and nearly spilled the drink all over herself. Rarity reached up and steadied her hand, and the contact of her silky skin against her own nearly made her choke on the beverage.
"Easy, dear. I don't know how much effort it took to get you where you are now, but you're worn out. Come, let's get you into the living room," she cooed, wrapping an arm around Dash. Dash found the strength had vaguely returned to her core and her legs, so she was slightly more useful than she would be otherwise. Of course, she couldn't stand up without support, so when she managed to get to her feet, she nearly slumped over onto her friend. She had Dash place her arm around her shoulders, and the two slowly made their way into the living room. It wasn't a long walk, but the hallways proved difficult. And it was enough time for Loyalty to get a few thoughts in.
"Generosity is interested in you," it said plainly, with Dash's cheeks heating up.
"The Element or the person?" She blurted out. Damn being in her thoughts.
"Both. Notice how Rarity is dressed," Loyalty's voice caused her to look to her friend's body. It was right. She wore a silver t-shirt, encrusted with gems, and a pair of black yoga pants. To anyone else, it would be a sign of laziness or apathy, but not Rarity. Only her closest friends ever got to see her dress down in that way. Not even the other four friends they shared had ever seen her in such casual attire. And, Dash thought, it looked good on her. Not that she didn't always look good, but the lack of frou-frou accoutrements and ostentatious dresses made her look more natural. More beautiful, if it were possible. Of course, she probably wore a jacket on her way back from the boutique, but it was an act that meant a lot to Dash.
"Yeah... I guess she is," she sighed inwardly.
"What will you do about it?" Damn, Loyalty got right to it.
"I... I don't know. I could ask her out..."
"Then do it. I've relayed the information to Generosity. Rarity is already aware of your feelings towards her."
"WHAT? Why didn't you tell me you were doing that?"
"We deemed it necessary to exchange this information at this point. I am sorry if I offended."
"Nah. It's okay. I'm kind of glad you butted in. Saved me from feeling awkward about it," she admitted, looking over to Rarity with a blush. It looked like she was trying not to look at her, but was doing a poor job of it. When they made it to the couch, Rarity slowly lowered Dash into sitting down before standing up straight.
"I'll go fetch the tea," she said curtly before turning and rushing off to the bedroom. Dash sighed and leaned back against the couch.
This is going to be awkward...
Rarity came back in with the tea cups, setting them down on the unusually clean coffee table before taking a seat next to Rainbow Dash, who was wringing her black tank-top in her hands nervously.
"So... Generosity told you about me?" She asked, looking into the liquid before her. She could feel Rarity shift next to her.
"Yes... And I suppose Loyalty has already given you all the juicy gossip about my feelings?" She sounded... hurt? Ashamed? Dash couldn't tell.
"Yeah. He kind of shocked me with that," Dash tried to lighten the mood, but Rarity just sighed.
"Am I a freak, Rainbow Dash?"
"What? No!" Dash tried to lean forward, but her muscles gave way before she could. She ended up slumping awkwardly into Rarity's shoulder. "Why would you think that?"
"Because... at the Gala. When we met Prince Blueblood..."
"Don't even get me started on that prick," Dash growled. Even bringing him up made her blood boil. For him to treat one of her best friends like he had... he was lucky she didn't get a hand on him. "You deserve much more than him."
"Well... I thought he was supposed to be the man of my dreams. But, when I first saw him... I couldn't see why. And so many other women there were fawning over him. When he started paying attention to me personally, I... I thought I would see why. But I never did. Not only was he completely insufferable, but I wasn't attracted to him. He was supposed to be what every woman fantasized about, but I couldn't bring myself to be one of them."
"So you're not attracted to men. So what? Neither am I!" Dash grinned, watching Rarity sink into thought for a minute. "I mean, I did a lot of searching in high school. Everyone else had a boyfriend or girlfriend. So, I thought, why shouldn't I have a boyfriend? So I went out with this real nice guy. I think his name was Orange Cloud..."
"You were the one dating Orange Cloud?" Rarity looked stunned, and Dash smirked.
"Damn right! Anyway, we were going steady for about six months. He was really sweet, but... I couldn't picture myself getting in bed with him. And every time I looked at another man? Same thing. No desire whatsoever. I mean, I can admit when a guy's attractive and all, but I just... don't really picture myself with a guy in bed, you know? I told Cloud and... he was really cool about it. He said that I could take as much time as I needed to figure things out. That he'd still be my friend either way.
"So I took a month or so, just thinking. I would look at a hot guy, like some smokin' hot model? Nothing. Not even a second thought. Then I looked at a girl for the first time like that. It felt right. I could feel everything that everyone else says they feel with their man or woman. But I felt like you do now. Like a freak. So I told Cloud. He was still really cool about it. He even came out to me that he was bisexual. He just did an awesome job of reassuring me that everything was fine. So, I'll do the same for you."
"But, Dash..."
"Listen to me. There is nothing wrong with you. You are who you are. Besides, would you really have been happy with Blueblood if you tried to force attraction to him?" Rarity thought for another minute.
"No. I suppose I wouldn't have been anywhere near happy." That made Dash smile. "So... Did you go out with any women?" A blush heated her cheeks.
"Well, Pinkie and I went out for a few months. I don't know what happened, but we both thought it would be a good idea to not be together like that. We're still friends, obviously. Probably closer than most friends." Dash locked her eyes with Rarity's. "I guess it's because we didn't feel the same way towards each other. Not like the way I feel with you..." Dash cut herself off there.
"And that is?" Rarity asked with a hopeful, playful smile. Dash sighed in feigned annoyance.
"C'mon Rare. I'm not that good with all the mushy stuff. It took all I had to tell you about me," she teased, getting a laugh from the goddess she was leaning on.
"Well, if it's anything like how I feel, then I suppose we're a fabulous match," Rarity's eyes sparkled with something Dash had never seen before.
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess we are," Dash said quietly, barely able to contain the goofy grin no doubt plastered on her face. Rarity sighed and pecked Dash on the cheek, with Dash absolutely stunned in response.
"Now, why don't we get this movie started, hmm?" Rarity slowly shifted Dash so she was sitting up straight before standing up and going to her purse. The look of shock stayed on Dash's face, even as she brushed her fingers along where Rarity had kissed her. Her mouth formed a soft smile. She was truly happy. She didn't even notice Rarity popping a disc into her movie player and setting up the television. An arm wrapped around her shoulders snapped her out of her reverie. She subconsciously shifted her weight so she slid rather ungracefully into Rarity. It felt right. Normally, she would be the one making the move to get closer while watching a movie. Given her current situation, she didn't mind being on the receiving end. The two enjoyed the closeness through the opening credits, and Dash immediately found something she recognized. She blinked once. Twice. She looked up to Rarity.
"Are you serious?" She asked. Rarity looked down to her with a grin.
"I am. I know how much you've been looking forward to this-"
"The Daring Do movie? This isn't even out yet! How did you...?"
"Having friends in Canterlot has its advantages," Rarity gave a playful wink before they settled down and watched together. Dash found herself more than once nestling in closer to Rarity, with Rarity combing her fingers through Dash's unkempt hair. By the end of the movie, Dash was completely entangled in Rarity's arms, her head nestled in the crook of her new lover's neck. She hadn't cuddled this close to even Pinkie during their time together.
"Did you enjoy yourself, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity's voice broke the silence. Dash scoffed.
"Of course! Best movie ever!" Dash caught herself. "What about you? Did you like it?"
"I did, dear. It was a very well-done movie," she said with a smile, helping Dash sit herself up. Dash then yawned. It was getting late. It was midnight. Dash only stayed up that late if she was out with her friends. "Are you getting tired, darling?" Dash nodded.
"Yeah. I guess the Awakening took more out of me than I thought," she murmured, managing to get herself, rather unsteadily, to her feet. The fashionista caught her before she went to the ground.
"Easy, dear. Let's get you to bed," Rarity cooed, escorting Dash back to her bedroom. Dash limped alongside Rarity before they finally made it to the bedroom. Rarity sat herself down on the bed as Dash, using the walls for support, hobbled over to the chest of drawers. She pulled open the top drawer to find the pajamas Rarity had sewn for her. While everything else was in disarray, those two items of clothing were perfectly folded. She pulled them out, and found Rarity looking away from her. She found it endearing that she still wanted to give Dash her privacy.
"Y'know, I don't mind if you look," Dash teased, slipping her t-shirt over her head and throwing it to the floor. She saw Rarity peek up at her, then look away. Dash snickered and quickly changed into the soft, sky blue garments before slowly hobbling her way over to the bed. She found it was easier to move on her own for a few seconds before she flopped onto the bed. She felt Rarity shift her weight before feeling her arms around her. She sighed happily, scooting herself closer. She felt the haze of sleep slowly overtake her thoughts.
"G'night, Rare," she murmured.
"Good night, Rainbow Dash." That was the last thing she heard before sleep fell over her.
(( Hey all! I know, another new story, but I'm going to be getting back on a regular schedule of updating soon. I've been having some medical issues going on, so it's been a little rough lately. Anyway, read and review! Enjoy! ))