"With all your insecurities you can do anything."
Chapter 7
Soothing Hearts and Cherished Memories
Under the calm night sky, in Ponyville, two ponies danced to a tune nopony but themselves were hearing; draped in happiness and in one another. Their hearts beat in unison, sharing this moment with nopony else; leaning against each other and tangled in each other's hooves and tails.
"Kiss her! Kiss her!"
Eyes closed, Dash sat on her haunches, outside the town hall; she didn't feel like going anywhere right then, her frantic search for the pink mare failing terribly, and the noise coming from the building wasn't much comfort. She couldn't go back there now, not with all those ponies and the Wonderbolts seeing her act like that; her one chance to impress them was surely gone.
"Jus' what in the hay was that all about?" A Southern accent broke the cruel silence of the night outside, and Rainbow's ears perked; she recognised that pony's voice immediately, but was too exhausted to be mad and settled for uninterested.
"What do you want Applesmack?" Dash turned to face the orange mare and snorted slightly.
"Ah wanna know why ya'll were shoutin' at Pinkie Pie," Her answer came as a surprise to Dash's ears; but she should have known to expect this.
"Because she had it coming that's why…" A sharp reply, tainted with regret and shame; and Dash knew Applejack saw threw it. She looked down at the ground miserably, "She deserved it… for all the things she's done to me…" She remembered her dream again, and immediately hated that statement.
Applejack gazed down at the cyan pony and smiled softly with a hunch, "You're Dashie, ain'tcha?"
"Huh?" Dash lifted her head from staring at the ground; hope to wait the cowgirl pony out all but forgotten.
"Pinkie… whenever ah was with 'er the only thing she would talk about was how great her Dashie was-"
"Oh yeah? Well what about all the plans huh? Even you. She'd rather hang out a buncha ponies she's just met than spend time with her… bestest best friend."
"Ah yeah, the plans with ponies; she told me 'bout that too," Applejack strolled over easily and sat down next to Rainbow Dash; she heaved a relaxed sigh as she looked towards the stars that had risen from their slumber, and now dotted the dark blue skies above, "After ah cheered 'er up from the first time she was here, she still seemed a might mopey over this Dashie o' hers. So when ah had dropped 'er off at Sugarcube Corner, ah asked if she would like to help me with apple buckin'." Dash stared over at Applejack, interest showing through in the mare's eyes, "She seemed quite taken by the whole thing, so I thought why not; if it made 'er happy."
Dash's mind hung on that last word, but she stayed put; ears perked, listening to Applejack continue. "But when ah did ask about it she told me she could only do it in the evenin'. Said she had already made plans with Daisy to help with the floral arrangements for the Wonderbolt's shindig tonight and needed all the time in between then ta hang out with another pony named Dashie, er somethin'. Ah reckon that pony's somethin' special to 'er."
Without another word to the rainbow-maned Pegasus, Applejack got up and tipped her hat before heading back to Sweet Apple Acres; it was both a relief and a punishment to Dash, to have her leave. She had this time now to think, which was good because she had a lot on her mind right then and needed to figure it all out, and bad because she had nopony to talk to or ask questions about the multitude of puzzling thoughts she suddenly had.
It bothered her, "Then, what the hay was with all the other ponies?"
Eyes closed.
The two ponies looked startled at first, not knowing what to do or say or even quite what had been said; but they ignored all the commotion and looked to each other instead. Tails flicked back and forth as they danced, and their bodies drew closer.
Dash woke up late in the morning and found herself back in her cloud home, having flown home after the party was finished. She didn't want to be seen by anypony after what she had done, an unwelcomed fear gripping her; and she flew away.
She had had no dreams that night. No dreams of baking cakes or pranking or being held close by soft pink hooves. She wanted to take that as a good thing; that she didn't wake up in a cold sweat with her wings spread out beside her, but she couldn't think of anything else.
She lay there, in her cloud bed, unable to move; not wanting to get up and look outside. Her thoughts drifted back to her frantic search for the pink mare last night.
"Pinkie Pie! I'm sorry; I didn't mean what I said. Please come back. Please… don't leave me here all alone."
Tears welled up in her magenta eyes. She had never felt like this before; weak and alone. Dash had always been the pony to get all the attention; she was known by everypony back in Cloudsdale as their best flier, and she acted tough and together, because she feared if she didn't show off and aim to be the best nopony would like her for just being herself. And now she knew because of what she had done nopony would see her that way, not even as a nice pony just… cruel.
It was always the outer shell showing; always trying to be better, to be respected and admired, never letting her emotions take over and never letting anypony get in the way of her achieving her goals. And now they wouldn't speak to her again because of that, especially Pinkie Pie.
Her parents had never appreciated her; pushing her to her limits to be stronger and faster and punishing her if she wasn't perfect. That's what had started it all. She was never afraid of anything. Not falling or getting hurt; not even her parents, eventually getting used to all the hateful words her parents spoke to her. She'd run away from them a long time ago; and she felt better for it, but now…
Dash hated to be alone. Nopony to see her or comfort her or tell her everything would be alright.
She was the best young flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale, and the first pony ever to do a Sonic Rainboom; but her heart still ached for the attention of one pink pony, and she just felt unimaginably lonely.
Her hot tears soaked the cloud bed and Dash wiped her eyes gently, knowing what she needed to do; she didn't want to feel this way ever again.
"Pinkie. I gotta know if she's okay."
She rose to her hooves and made her way to the door, a sudden determination settled itself in the pony's eyes; but she felt her chest twist when she looked down to the ground, and she sat at the entrance to calm her nerves. Dash wasn't supposed to feel this way…
"I can't be like this now. I've gotta find Pinkie."
She took off quickly, spreading her wings out and feeling the breeze running through them again. Dash soared through the skies towards Sugarcube Corner and started to fear the worst, hesitating as she approached the bakery.
"What if she's already gone? She… She can't do that without saying good-bye; she wouldn't."
Dash flew faster.
She had to get there and stop the pink mare from leaving; anyway she could, even if it meant telling her how she felt.
Landing heavily at the door she placed a hoof to it and pushed in. A bell announced her arrival, and soon after Mrs. Cake was at the counter; but her expression didn't sit well with Dash. She knew why she was angry, but she had no time to explain anything to the older mare.
"Hi… uh, I… I need to see Pinkie…"
"I don't think she wants to see you right now. Not after what she said happened."
This was one time when Dash hated that Pinkie talked about her so much; her heart sank and she tried to say something, but her words caught in her throat. Her mouth felt dry, and she shut her eyes tightly in frustration. It wasn't supposed to be this hard.
The ponies stood in silence for a moment. Neither of them making a sound, and Mrs. Cake seemed to wait for Dash to say something; make an argument and get her to listen. But before Dash could protest further…
"Who is it honey bun?"
A tall Earth pony trotted out from the back and stood next to Mrs. Cake, confusion to who the Pegasus in front of him was.
"This is the pony Pinkie was talking about. Rainbow Dash."
Her voice was soft; but it felt sharp in Dash's ears, her fur prickling in worry.
"I see. Dash I think you should leave; what you did to Pinkie… she's heartbroken you'd say such things to her..."
"I know…" Rainbow Dash interrupted, suddenly regaining her voice; but her throat knotted, and she closed her eyes struggling out softly, "that's why I need to talk to her… to… to apologize."
Mr. Cake shook his head sadly, "I don't think that's a good idea… she told us she didn't want to speak to anypony until the party."
"What? Why?" Why would she still be going to the party? Didn't she know Dash would be there too… or…?
The couple looked to one another in silence. Mrs. Cake nodded slightly and her husband turned back to Dash hesitantly, "… she's decided to leave after she's seen everypony… she said it was a 'farewell to Pinkie Pie' party…"
Dash's eyes grew in shock, and they shut tightly dropping her gaze to the floor. Her heart beat loud against her ribcage, but for some reason she suddenly felt relieved; like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and the knot in her throat relaxed, "… no…" She whispered to the floor.
"What was that dear?" Mrs. Cake asked, leaning in closer.
Dash raised her head and ruffled her wings angrily, "… no… she can't do that. Not because of me… I should… ugh, I'm not gonna let that happen."
"Rainbow Dash, it's not your decision to make…" Mr. Cake said softly, no longer holding the anger he had before.
"I'm not letting her leave forever because of something I did." She shouted back, feeling a renewed resolve surge through her body and a warmth forming in her chest. Emotions flowed through her, causing her feathers to twitch anxiously; Dash let them relax against her sides and focused on the bakery owners.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake looked at each other, considering the Pegasus' words; and Dash stepped forward, raising her wings up impatiently.
"I have a plan… and it won't be easy; I can't do it by myself. I need your help… please."
She grumbled out that last word; she had never been good with asking for help, being so proud and strong. She never really needed any help, or never thought she did, getting everything on her own and never relying on anypony else to get something done, but something about this seemed different. Somepony else needed her help, and Rainbow Dash needed help from her as well.
The older ponies looked at Dash and heard the sincerity in her voice. They smiled kindly at the cyan mare and nodded their approval.
"Alright Rainbow Dash, what do you need?"
Rainbow Dash grinned at the older ponies trust in her.
She didn't want to lose that trust, depending on it for some unknown reason that she needed ponies to have faith in her judgement. She thanked them and told the couple to bake as many sweets as they could by that night.
Nodding in understanding, Mr. and Mrs. Cake made their way into the back after saying 'good-bye' and 'thank you' to Dash.
Rainbow Dash sped out of the sweets shop shortly after with a new plan in her mind. She didn't have much time for such a large scale plot and she knew it would be difficult with all the ponies seeing her so mean.
Dash needed to get more than just the Cakes helping her. She had to find the ponies she had seen hanging around Pinkie Pie, but she only had an idea of where each of them lived. She didn't pay much attention while flying when she had the pink mare lying on her back, even if she was the pony pointing out the houses. It was a bit distracting; but she decided to ask around about the residents in Ponyville, hoping to get some direction to where each pony lived.
She knocked on doors, trying to explain that what she had done was wrong and was trying to fix it; but the ponies would just shrug her off or shut the door on her. Dash kept trying all around town, but always ended up at the same result; heart pounding or ears ringing at the actions of the ponies.
So the day went on and Dash flew through the town asking ponies to help her with her idea, but they were all there at the party and knew what the cyan mare had done. Still it didn't stop Rainbow Dash from trying; if she could get through to one pony she could get to the rest and apologize for what she did.
On once such an occasion Rainbow flew into Roseluck's flower shop from the chimney, effectively skipping over the knocking politely thing she was getting nowhere with, and tried instead to tell her that she needed some special flowers for the party; but Rainbow Dash was swiftly bucked out of the store and the door slammed shut.
Lyra's house yielded the same result; being denied the ability to explain what happened and having to move on. She didn't even bother going to Rarity's boutique, knowing for a fact that she'd probably get a huge long lecture about romance and what not to do in it and didn't feel very up to that right then. So that left her with Fluttershy's cottage.
On the outskirts of Ponyville Dash landed softly at the door and knocked quickly; becoming more and more frustrated at not getting anypony to listen to her. Hopefully, she thought, she could get Fluttershy to turn everypony around and help her.
"Rainbow Dash?"
"Not now 'Shy, I'm trying to get Fluttershy to come to the door so I can ask her to help me with getting Pinkie Pie back… what the?"
Dash's eyes widened. She turned around to see the timid yellow mare flying just above her, with a confused look across her face, and she settled down again.
Rainbow Dash's shock quickly sank into relief at seeing the pegasus without an angry expression on her face; but she still didn't know quite what to say, not getting very far with the other ponies anyway.
"Uh… oh, there you are… listen… Pinkie's leaving tonight after the party you're throwing for us and I need your help…" Fluttershy's eyes widen at this.
The yellow mare landed on the dirt path in front of Rainbow Dash with her ears perked in shock, and Dash quickly continued. "nopony will listen to me about getting her back and I thought the one pony I could trust… was you…"
Fluttershy looked a bit shaken at first, but then she smiled softly at the cyan mare.
Rainbow Dash felt a surge of emotions wash through her when she saw the caring look always present on the timid pegasus' face, and shook her head vehemently.
"… I don't care if everypony hates me because of what I did; I just need Pinkie… to like me again… I can't be me anymore without her… and I just feel so alone without her being with me… after everything I've done to her, she's not the one that should be leaving."
Dash heaved a heavy sigh and sat on her haunches. She closed her eyes and remembered how Pinkie Pie had conceded defeat in a cupcake eating contest for her. She smiled a little and looked back at Fluttershy.
"… I heard what you said yesterday… you broke Pinkie's heart…" Dash looked away and clenched her teeth, "but Dash… if… if you're serious about this… then… you are going to need some help." Fluttershy smiled. That ever existing reassuring smile spread across her face when Rainbow Dash looked back up, disbelieving.
And Dash returned that expression gratefully.
"You're the best Fluttershy."
Fluttershy blushed slightly at the compliment and took off into the air softly, hovering just above the ground looking hesitant.
"Now, I know that you probably won't like this; but if you want everypony to forgive you… including Pinkie, then… we need to speak with Rarity."
"Uh…" Rainbow Dash began on impulse, holding up a hoof in protest; but she stopped herself from continuing. She slumped down further to the ground, "urgh… I guess… you're right; but you'll need to get her to listen to me… I didn't try her because I knew I wouldn't get through to her on my own."
"He he, yes, I don't think she'd listen to you for very long after last night… so, ready to go?"
Fluttershy flew a bit higher and glanced back to the seated pegasus, waiting patiently for her to respond… like always. Dash stood up and shrugged her shoulders.
"Ugh, not one bit."
The cyan mare spread her wings up quickly, and Rainbow Dash took off back to Ponyville with Fluttershy following closely behind; and when they reached Carousel Boutique, the yellow Pegasus told Dash to stay back a bit. A very good idea, Dash thought to herself.
Fluttershy knocked lightly on the door to the clothing shop, and soon after the purple-maned Unicorn opened her store to the timid mare.
"Why Fluttershy, what are you doing here? Is it our spa day today and I forgot?" Rarity asked, looking suddenly devastated; but Fluttershy shook her head gently.
"Oh no, nothing like that… it's just… well… remember at the party last night, and Pinkie crying…?"
Rarity nodded slowly, "Indeed. And I remember Rainbow Dash rushing off angrily because her Wonderbolts saw her with Pinkie… if she had stayed behind for a moment longer I would have–"
"I'm right here." Rainbow Dash interrupted, stepping forward to be seen by the unicorn.
Shock was present in the fashionesta's eyes for a moment, but she quickly turned it into a look of irritation when she said, "You have quite the nerve to show your face here again Rainbow Dash."
Fluttershy flew down to eye level with Rarity, eyes pleading and uncertain, "Please Rarity, she needs our help… your help…"
With a determination showing on Rainbow Dash's face, she stepped forward again, "Pinkie's leaving… and I can't let that happen… not from what I said to her, she doesn't deserve that."
"I don't think I can trust what you say after that performance… was it so hard to feel a little embarrassment in front of your heroes that you felt you had to yell at your best friend? The friend you say you love?" The white mare raised a questioning eyebrow at Dash.
"… please… Rarity… I'm asking you… I can't get anypony to listen to me without you and Fluttershy on my side and I need them so I can get Pinkie back. Just… give me a chance."
Dash's heart pounded against her chest and she felt her throat tighten, but her gaze never shifted from the unicorn's eyes as she said those words.
"… I must be out of my mind…" Rarity sighed after a moment of blankly staring at the cyan mare.
"You mean…?" Dash replied, raising her head hopefully.
Rarity smiled softly and nodded, "Yes… we will get your pink pony back; but you better not pull anything like that again… I'm not sure if MY heart can take it."
Fluttershy landed next to the white mare and looked across at her, "Great… so, um, Rarity… what do you think we need?"
Rarity placed a hoof under her chin. It reminded Dash of how Pinkie could concentrate on something so trivial as a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-pony… and how it always managed to bring a smile to her face.
"Hmm. Well, flowers are a nice touch… I know just the ones you need… a cake, good music, and lots of pink and blue… it'll be hard to stay mad at you after we have all that at the party."
Rainbow Dash nodded her understanding.
Dash took to the skies and stared down at the two ponies, looking suddenly impatient; maybe because she was just annoyed with them for taking so long to get to the point, or maybe since it had taken so long to convince Rarity to help her.
Or maybe it was to hide that weakness she had shown so grudgingly to the pegasus and unicorn earlier, with her strong attitude. That loneliness she wanted to forget.
Maybe.
"… well, we're not getting anywhere by standing here… I say we split up. Fluttershy will get the music and Rarity can get the flowers and the decorations…"
Fluttershy took to the skies as well, and looked worriedly at the cyan mare, "But Rainbow, what does that leave you with?"
"I believe she'll have to make the cake." Rarity offered softly.
Realisation struck the cyan mare, and her eyes widened, "Uh, what…?"
Rainbow Dash's heart raced a little, and she tried to brush it off as an expected ordeal; but the shake in her voice gave away her nervousness.
The white mare only smiled cleverly at Dash and shook her head, "Oh, no need to worry Rainbow Dash… I have an idea for that too."
Blushing smiles and beautifully colored eyes were what they both saw; pink and blue colors blending into the shades of night. She looked away, down at the floor, and the other followed her gaze, lifting her round eyes back up to meet hers with a gentle hoof.
Rainbow Dash groaned as she neared Sweet Apple Acres. This wasn't what she had in mind for baking a cake, and it made her all the more uncomfortable.
"So, ya need mah help with makin' a cake do ya?" Applejack asked from beside her.
Dash groaned again, blowing the annoying strands of mane from her face.
"… ugh, this was a bad idea…"
Rainbow Dash flew into the air, trying to shake the boredom off from Rarity's super long lecture about romance; which she had to sit through and didn't really listen to because she was so bored, like she had so feared, with a good soar in the clouds.
It was a short flight, but it was a relief; it made her think of all the times Pinkie had been with her, pranking from on her back, talking to her in that nonsensical way only she could, and even the first time Rainbow Dash had given her a ride when she'd injured her wings.
Pinkie Pie had so quickly and easily offered to help her.
They entered the barn and made it into the kitchen, where everything was set up to start baking. "Well alrighty then… better get started… we don't have much time before the party tonight."
Dash grumbled along, a little less grumpy then before her short flight, and took her place among the ingredients spread across the counter top.
"… I shoulda asked to get the decorations, I can't bake… not without Pinkie…" Rainbow Dash started to get worried.
Last time she'd done this it had been with the pink mare and even when she left to help some other pony, Dash had only needed to learn how to ice some cupcakes. This was a whole cake that needed to be made; a huge task for anypony, but achievable. She was Rainbow Dash; she didn't get worried about anything… or scared. Maybe…
Rainbow felt a comforting hoof on her shoulder, and turned to see Applejack smiling confidently at her, "Well RD, you gotta prove yerself wrong fer you and fer Pinkie… and make her the best darn cake ya ever could make."
For Pinkie. Rainbow Dash's heart started beating louder against her ribcage; a feeling she had begun to accept whenever she thought of Pinkie, and she looked into Applejack's green eyes. Dash nodded lightly, and they got to work.
Thankfully Pinkie had already showed her how to bake cupcakes, so she knew a little about making full cakes; and Dash thanked Celestia she had listened to the pink pony's rambling during that instead of just watching her rump and tail wiggle back and forth.
And the frilly apron she wore during that, wait! Dash shook her head. She needed to focus; especially with such a hard teacher like Applejack giving her directions. She certainly wasn't as forgiving and understanding as Pinkie was… or as patient with her fail attempts.
"Now ya gone and burned 'em again. Ugh, Applebloom got the hang of it on her third try; what was this one now?"
A low grumble was her answer.
"Just… I'll start over okay?"
But Dash knew she was trying her best to help her; she still thought she could've eased up a bit, but when they had finished with the apple cupcakes Applejack decided they could move onto the center piece to the anti-farewell to Pinkie Pie party. A large, pink and blue icing red velvet cake.
Pinkie Pie's favorite cake, Rainbow Dash had been told once when she was flying with the pink mare, as they glided around Manehattan for another prank target.
Dash had asked to make the icing for the cake, and Applejack accepted that offer, considering the little experience the cyan pegasus had with making such elaborate treats; Rainbow Dash was a little surprised that the cowgirl mare had agreed she do that, but she didn't have any time to explain why.
Rainbow had too much on her mind right then to bother explaining to the orange pony that she was trying to impress Pinkie Pie with her cake decorating experience. She had learned it by herself, for the pink mare, and she wanted to show her how much she influenced her, and taught her; even if she didn't tell her she'd made the icing, she would still feel proud that she had done it for Pinkie.
Lonely. Something Dash hated to be, and something Pinkie also understood…
They drifted closer, closer probably then they had ever been to one another, and the heat in their cheeks burning bright red; but soft smiles were present on their faces as well, smiles meant only for each other as their lips met.
It was getting rather late, the party was almost to begin, and neither Rainbow Dash nor Applejack had said a word to each other since they started the cake. They didn't have to say much except when they needed something the other had or when Dash needed the cowgirl mare to explain something to her; which she would happily answer and return to work.
But they had finished. Just in time too. A three layered cake; complete with pink and blue strawberry and raspberry icing on top of the delicious looking red velvet recipe.
"Right then," Applejack spoke for the first time in a few hours of silence, "we should get this cake to the party. Don'tcha think Rainbow?"
"Uh, yeah… hey Applejack… thanks for all the help… for… everything really… if you hadn't sat down with me after the party, and just… talked to me, I don't think I'd be doing this right now…" Rainbow Dash was never good with thank yous, since she had hidden all her faults and problems behind her cocky attitude and high-flying skills; but Dash felt in this moment it was the most important thing she needed to do to show her appreciation. "You must have a ton of patience for ponies like me…"
Applejack chuckled in response and elbowed Rainbow Dash in the shoulder good-naturedly, "Nah, I'm just real good at hiding it… he he… nah come on… you ain't getting Pinkie back by just standing here chattin'."
"Right."
Sugary and sweet and spicy.
All the guests had arrived at Sugarcube Corner, the Cakes having lent the shop out to Dash for this party, and they waited anxiously for the pink mare to come in and see them.
"Alright everypony," Rarity whispered to the crowd in front of her, with Rainbow Dash standing beside her nervously, "Do you all know the plan?"
Nods all around, and Rarity nodded back before facing the front door.
The others went suddenly about their business, talking and socializing with each other while Rarity waited in silence. Rainbow Dash thought that the mare must have noticed the anxious look on Dash's face because Rarity turned to reassure her that everything would be alright. Dash stood up straight and spread her wings out proudly, her eyes set on the open doors to the sugar shop.
Suddenly Fluttershy flew in and stopped in front of Rainbow Dash.
"She's coming."
"Thanks Fluttershy." The cyan mare placed a hoof on the timid pegasus' shoulder, and smiled brightly; getting a soft nod and a small smile from Fluttershy in return.
"Is… everything ready…?" Fluttershy asked, turning to Rarity for an answer.
"All of the decorations are up and Rainbow arrived with the cake a short while ago... I hope you're not as good with making cakes as you look."
Dash flared her wings at the insult and glared at the white mare. "H-Hey!"
Fluttershy started to giggle, but stifled them with a hoof.
Rarity raised a curious eyebrow at the flying pony, "What's the matter darling?"
The shy mare could only shake her head dismissively before landing carefully on the floor of the sweet's shop, and walk quietly inside.
All that came from Rainbow's mouth was an annoyed groan; but before she could speak again she saw Pinkie trotting in and rushed to the back where Applejack waited near the cake.
"She's here?" The orange pony asked.
A nod.
"You gotta do this RD. Gotta do it 'n' mean it…"
For the shortest of moments, they held each other close, feeling their chests rise and fall and brush the other's fur gently as the pegasus and the earth pony kiss one another. Silence and bliss surrounded them and neither of them felt uncomfortable in that embrace.
"Why Pinkie Pie, you made it," Rarity's voice filled the store, "it just wouldn't be a party without the other mane guest being here."
Pinkie Pie bounced up to the unicorn, and stopped to look around at the other guests. She didn't see the guest she really wanted to talk to.
Pinkie looked back at Rarity, worry showing in her cyan eyes, "Well… where's Rainbow Dash…?" Dashie… Dashie... She wanted to say, but her heart held her back. She didn't deserve to call her that anymore.
Not after everything she'd done.
She only deserved to be alone, but...
"Oh, well I believe Rainbow Dash has something she would like to give you actually… before you go that is."
"… uh… I…" The pink mare tilted her head to the side in confusion, and turned it to the back; seeing a cart being rolled out by an unseen pony.
"Go on. No goin' back now Rainbow Dash." Applejack whispered to the cyan pony; and she followed soon after as the other guests gathered around Dash to see what she had brought.
"But… But I…" Pinkie stuttered, unsure what to say to the cyan mare.
"H… Hey, Pinkie… I kinda… made this for you… I just… wanted to say… I'm sorry… for last night, and everything… I didn't mean to yell at you…"
Dash hated being sappy. Probably more than she hated losing, but then…
The look Pinkie was giving her right now…
Tears formed in the pink mare's beautiful cyan eyes; a soft smile across her face and her cheeks burning brightly, "… I…"
It was more than worth it to Dash.
She saw the look on Pinkie's face, and Dash felt her own cheeks heating up.
She looked down at the cake on the cart, words in blue icing:
'I'm sorry Pinkie' spelled across the top. It wasn't the best icing writing, but it made sense to Dash.
But all Pinkie could do was stare at Dash. Her mouth was dry; she felt a tingling in the pit of her stomach, and her heart beat fast against her ribcage.
"… who… who did this?" Pinkie squeaked out, but she knew the answer. She needed to hear it from the cyan mare herself though; just to be sure she meant it.
"It was all RD's idea to put all this up, and ah helped 'er some with the cake."
Rainbow Dash nodded and mumbled at the cowgirl mare's statement and at the strangely shy look on the pink earth pony's face, and Pinkie Pie's smile grew.
"Oh, that reminds me. Dash has something else to give you." Rarity winked, Pinkie Pie gasped in excitement, and Rainbow Dash winced.
"Uh… uhhh…" Dash looked up with a sigh, and met Pinkie's cyan eyes. She looked back down; feeling a knot form in her chest, and when she brought her head back up, she was blushing softly, "… I… kinda, got you these…"
Flowers. Bright yellow flowers in an outstretched cyan hoof to the pink mare.
"Dash…" Pinkie whispered.
The pegasus looked up into Pinkie's eyes again, seeing those same lidded eyes and small smile she had seen almost every day… only for her. She missed that a lot.
Rainbow Dash found herself smiling back, as Pinkie Pie wordlessly accepted the bouquet, sniffing them carefully and locking her gaze on them. A present from Rainbow Dash…
"Forget-me-nots," Rarity said, looking at the two blushing ponies happily, "It was my suggestion to Rainbow instead of roses. They're so… over done, and it has more of a meaning for when you go."
Pinkie Pie wasn't listening.
She was smiling, staring at Rainbow Dash, and she pulled the cyan mare closer; Pinkie wanted this moment to last forever. Pinkie drew her arms across Rainbow Dash's back in a gentle hug; a soft tender hug like the one yesterday; Pinkie Pie's favorite kind of hug.
Dash hadn't been expecting this; but whether or not it was something she enjoyed, and despite the voice in her head telling her to pull away, she found herself returning the embrace.
Pinkie Pie rested her head on Rainbow Dash's shoulder, pulling Dash's body flush with hers and started to rock back and forth as if she were dancing; Pinkie didn't want to let go of Dash anymore, but she knew she couldn't.
She couldn't do THIS anymore, and Pinkie still clung to her desperately. Not wanting to be left behind.
She felt tears in her eyes again, and she smiled.
Pinkie Pie buried her face in the cyan mare's neck, not knowing what else to do; feeling herself confessing to every secret she had ever known, including the most important one, in Dash's arms, and letting her tears fall.
"Thank you… Dashie." Pinkie whispered through the surge of emotions that she had built up for so long and kept to herself.
"… uh…" Dash felt Pinkie Pie tremble into the embrace; her tears soaking into Dash's cyan fur. Rainbow Dash tightened her grip on the pink mare, and shut her eyes. She felt her cheeks heat up again, and her wings tingled slightly at the contact. She called me Dashie… She opened her eyes and smiled silently at Rarity.
Nodding back, the white mare shoed the other ponies away.
Eventually the two parted. Not because they were uncomfortable and not because everypony was staring at them, but because they needed to come up for air. And when they did, their eyes met once more; and they smiled at each other in silence and in feeling their cheeks burning bright red in the light of the night sky.
The party quickly got underway; all the ponies having fun with the party games Dash had set up. They were all the games she had played with Pinkie five days ago, with a few… surprises inside some of them, courtesy of Rainbow Dash.
It was a wonderful gathering. Almost all of Ponyville it seemed had shown up, and the decorations hung down from the ceiling, the door, and any other place you could think of. Rarity had a knack for decor arrangement, Dash figured. Pink streamers and blue bows and even the cupcakes the Cakes had made were pink and blue.
The flowers from Roseluck's store were all around Sugarcube Corner; carnations and azaleas strewn about, brightening up the shop even more in the night.
Music of the lyre danced through the room. Rainbow would have to thank Fluttershy for getting Lyra to help out; for some reason the sounds seemed to calm her nerves. She felt more comfortable being there now.
Strangely so, until her eyes shifted to the pink mare sitting off to the side… by herself; sitting at a table with the flowers Rainbow Dash had given her in a vase, but still one was being held in her hoof tenderly.
Dash's wings twitched… and she ignored it, trotting over to Pinkie's table with an increased weight on her shoulders and a heat in her cheeks. She still has the flowers…
Rainbow Dash stopped a few hoof steps away from Pinkie, hesitant, and her chest hurt.
"… uh… hi."
"Oh… hi Dashie," Pinkie looked up from her flower and gazed into Dash's eyes; gorgeous and round magenta eyes, that made her heart flutter uncontrollably.
Pinkie Pie was smiling again, and it should have made Dash happy, that she was the pony to make her smile, but something was different about it… half-hearted… a fake, hollow grin and that broke Dash's heart.
Dash tilted her head away silently; she didn't want to see Pinkie smiling like that. Making herself smile despite what pain she must have felt all the time.
Being alone for so long.
Pinkie's smile dropped. She felt a pang in her heart at seeing the cyan mare look away so suddenly. Maybe it wasn't like what she had thought… and that should have made her happy… almost relieved… but…
She looked back at the flower she removed from the vase, and smiled weakly. Pinkie had always come to like flowers, but nopony had ever given her one or… even spoke to her.
Pinkie Pie was used to getting nothing in return… she never asked for anything… for all the happiness and cheer she tried so desperately to spread to everypony's heart; her always joyful bouncy attitude kept her going. And she hoped that she'd find somepony that would like her for who she was.
This was what Pinkie always wanted; to have somepony like her, and worry about her… to give her comfort when things became too much for her to manage on her own.
Pinkie Pie's parents had been all gloomy and grey and no fun, and so had she… until Pinkie saw that beautiful rainbow dancing across the sky, six different colors and all of them brighter than anything she had ever seen before. She just wanted to be happy after that. Bouncy and excitable, giggly and jumpy, and she wanted her parents and sisters to feel that way too.
The party had been a success, all of her family smiling and having fun. They told her that her gift was special… something to be shared with everypony, and she had agreed to leave… hesitantly at first. But they reassured her and hugged her and they told her to try living in Fillydelphia for a few weeks… but… when Pinkie went back to see them…
"… you know, you didn't have to do this." Pinkie Pie's voice echoed in Dash's head, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Rainbow Dash's ears perked. Dash turned her head back and looked into Pinkie's saddened cyan eyes.
"But I wanted to Pinkie… I don't want you to leave…"
Pinkie couldn't speak. Her throat dry and her heart beating too fast for her to keep up; she shook her head softly.
"I… I can't… it's only making it harder for me to…" Pinkie gasped softly. Dash placed a hoof over Pinkie's and sat on her haunches, looking calmly at the pink mare.
"Then please… don't… I don't… want you to leave me…"
Pinkie Pie swallowed thickly. She didn't know what to say and her tail shook madly; Dash seemed so vulnerable all of a sudden and she couldn't tell why. Why she couldn't bring herself to say anything, only managing to stare into Rainbow Dash's pleading eyes and wishing she could say that she would stay.
"Dance!"
Dash's eyes widened. She turned her head away from Pinkie and saw Rarity smiling back at her. She hadn't spoken to her about this. What the hay?
"Yeah, come on sugarcube."
Applejack too? Dash groaned inwardly at the white mare… Why that little… Rarity waved a hoof in front of her, and Dash raised an eyebrow at her. Rainbow Dash turned around in confusion and felt her heart beat harder against her chest.
Then Dash saw something that she never thought possible on the pink mare's face. She actually seemed… embarrassed… genius.
Pinkie Pie felt heat spreading in her chest and her cheeks, and she was smiling, staring down at the lone flower she had in her hoof.
Rainbow Dash gulped nervously and raised her hoof up to the pink pony, "P… Pinkie, do you want to…?"
Dash paused, and the pink pony didn't move. She thought of all the awkward moments she'd had with Pinkie Pie, and how she wanted to break the silence and tell her how she felt…
Rainbow Dash blinked. "Please Pinkie… just once… before you go?"
Pinkie raised her head slowly and stared into Dash's eyes.
Rainbow Dash's cheeks were burning, but she couldn't wipe the smile off her cyan face; holding out one hoof in front of the pink pony.
Just one chance to dance with the mare of her dreams.
"… no I… I can't do this anymore… it isn't fair."
She thought about this ever since she woke from that dream of baking with her pony… heart racing and mind wishing she could keep dreaming.
Wordlessly, Pinkie Pie held out her hoof and placed it over Dash's; shaking the pegasus from her reverie. Rainbow Dash glanced down at Pinkie's arm and up into her cyan eyes, and all she could think of was how incredibly beautiful Pinkie was in that moment.
The pink mare only smiled softly at Rainbow Dash, and she still managed to make everything brighter. She loved that about her; and she didn't want to forget anything about her.
Dash rose to her hooves and brought Pinkie Pie into the center of the room. It seemed so different now than it had before; Rainbow Dash felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and her eyes locked with Pinkie's.
They began to dance in the middle… hearing the music of the lyre and letting it carry them, feeling their hearts beat together.
Pinkie drew closer, slowly bringing her hooves around to rest on Rainbow Dash's back. Pinkie Pie looked at her hooves for a moment, not believing that she could finally do this for real; only being able to dream of such an embrace with the cyan mare until tonight.
Pinkie Pie tightened her grip on the pegasus; she was so close to Dash, feeling her tummy brush against the cyan mare's and she rested her head on Rainbow's shoulder.
Rainbow Dash blushed furiously at what the pony in her arms was doing, but she ignored the heat in her cheeks and closed her eyes softly; only smiling and feeling the pink pony's heart beating gently against her chest. She lowered her head and rested it on top of Pinkie Pie's mane…
It had no discernible smell to it; but to Dash it was the sweetest smell in Equestria… cotton candy and chocolate was an understatement.
The cyan mare ran her hooves over Pinkie's back, wanting to know this moment was truly happening and wasn't another dream; feeling her hooves tingle as she relaxed into the embrace.
Pinkie Pie gasped at Dash's touch and melted into the cyan arms wrapping around her, arms holding her close; she moaned her approval and felt Dash run her hooves down her body to her rump, sighing softly into Rainbow Dash's mane.
"You're a great dancer Dashie." Pinkie whispered throatily into Rainbow Dash's ear, pulling the pegasus closer and moving her hooves up to massage her wings carefully.
Rainbow Dash gulped heavily, feeling her wings stiffen. She lifted her head up and put her head into the crook of Pinkie's neck, rubbing the pink mare's back absentmindedly now.
"I'm only happy when I have you with me, you know."
They brought their heads away, finally; and their eyes met. Rainbow Dash wanted to tell Pinkie that she was a good dancer too, thank her at least for everything she'd done for her; but she could only look into Pinkie's bright cyan eyes. She was locked in them and Dash never wanted to look away again; wanting to stay in this embrace forever.
Pinkie Pie was smiling. Smiling at Dash, and leaning safely against her chest… at those eleven words that meant so much to her; and all she could do was think of how breathtakingly beautiful Rainbow Dash always was.
Nopony spoke, the only sounds entering their ears was the sweet music of the lyre; but Rainbow Dash still felt Pinkie's hooves at the base of her wings. They tingled under the softness of her massage, spreading out and she felt herself flush.
Kiss her! Kiss her!
Dash's heart pounded against her ribcage; and she leaned in closer. She felt Pinkie's chest brush against hers as her breathing quickened, soft and warm; and Rainbow Dash tightened her grip on the pink mare, afraid that she would lose her if she ever let go.
Dash was so close, not thinking of anything but the mare in her hooves, and kissed her.
It only lasted for a moment… and when it was over, and they separated, they still held one another; and suddenly, Pinkie Pie kissed her back.
Eyes drifted shut, and Rainbow Dash melted into the soft kiss.
Desperate hooves pulled her close, close enough that their tails were touching and tangling into one another; and Dash found herself returning the kiss, wrapping her arms completely around the pink mare's back. Rainbow Dash never thought Pinkie Pie would be capable of such a loving touch or such a small shy show of affection, but she didn't care… for a moment nothing else existed…
Nothing mattered but the pony in her arms.
Pinkie separated from Dash suddenly and immediately realised what she was doing, flushing wildly at her actions. She shook her head and staggered back towards the front door.
This was not what she was expecting. Not what she wanted and at the same time wished so much for.
Coming to this party and saying good-bye properly was supposed to make it easier to leave; and apologizing to Rainbow Dash would give her some comfort, not make her even more confused and scared of what might happen if…
"N-No… I… can't do this… it isn't fair."
Tears poured from her eyes and she closed them in a panic; running for the exit, and leaving Rainbow Dash in a daze. Pinkie rushed easily through the crowds of ponies, looking on at what had just happened.
Her heart was breaking and her tears were falling like raindrops, and all she could think to do was run.
When Dash snapped out of her stupor she looked up at the door; and she shook her head. "Not this time… not again."
Rainbow Dash launched herself forward; into the crowds of speechless ponies and made her way outside. She gazed intently around the town and caught sight of the pink mare running into the Everfree Forest.
"Pinkie!"
Wings spread out beside her; her magenta eyes focused on the place where Pinkie Pie entered, and she shot into the dense foliage.
She brushed through branches and bushes, being cut by the sharp needles on some of the trees; but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She had sustained much worse in the past, being raised by such a violent family had some advantages; the ability to handle and ignore pain was one of them.
Rainbow Dash saw her running on ahead and zoomed forward, following as Pinkie Pie dodged the trunks of the trees and speeding on; almost zigzagging in between them, like she was making a game out of it.
Pinkie Pie was panicking, her Pinkie-sense taking over as she moved around the trees and rocks and bushes in front of her. Tears still fell from her eyes, but she had closed them back when she started running; they wouldn't be much help anyway with her clouded mind preventing her from thinking clearly.
Pinkie just kept running, afraid to look back and see the cyan mare still right behind her. She knew she was there, but if she looked back only once and saw her there above her, she knew she would freeze or fall or something and Rainbow Dash would catch her.
She had no real idea why she was running, but it was all she could think to do, to get rid of the feelings she felt in that moment back in Sugarcube Corner. She never should have come to the party; never left the shop when the Cakes had given her an errand to take care of. Now she was scared of being caught by the only pony ever to like her for her excitable nature, scared of what the cyan mare would do to her if she ever managed to grab her.
Pinkie wanted to be alone… she had never wanted that before, but now…
Right now she only wanted…
She stopped; she still had her eyes shut tight, tears hitting the ground silently as she opened them and turned her head around. Pinkie heard no branches being hit or the sound of the wind being torn by cyan wings. For some reason she couldn't bring herself to keep going. Running away from everything again, and she faced nothing. She had outrun Dash in the forest and there was no sign that she was still looking; she might have given up already... just like every other pony. She felt like her heart had stopped beating.
Pinkie Pie wanted to be happy about this. She was finally by herself; but she only felt terrible for abandoning her bestest best friend. She had exploited the pegasus' weakness in the woods to get away, and she was a horrible pony for it and deserved to be alone for being such a terrible friend. She didn't deserve to be comforted for what she had done; especially by the pony whose life she had ruined…
Dash had landed on the forest floor. She felt a knot in her throat, and her heart still beat heavily in her ribcage; sending a wave of adrenaline through her system and increasing her hearing and sight.
Her ears perked suddenly. Somepony was crying. Not somepony; her pony, and Rainbow Dash turned her head to where she had heard the sad sniffling.
Her magenta eyes met with a cliff on the side of Everfree Mountain. Her wings spread wide again and she lifted herself quickly up to land at the tip of the rock. Quietly she stepped forward and saw the pink mare.
Pinkie Pie had sat her rump down in the middle of the stone, letting her tears fall and sniffing miserably. She just looked so lonely and broken…
Lonely… broken… like her.
Rainbow Dash saw her look up… into the night sky and sniff back her tears, "… Mom? I… I'm sorry you had to leave… sorry you had to go… because–… if I could go back I would've…"
More sobs; stretched and held back by the pink mare as she cried into the floor.
Pinkie's words were like daggers; piercing Dash's heart and bringing tears to her eyes. "… Pinkie…"
Pinkie Pie turned her head and her stomach knotted itself, "Dashie! …no please… don't. Just let me go." Even in desperation to be captured, Pinkie still couldn't bring herself to accept the pegasus' help… please Dashie… don't leave me here all alone…
The cyan mare felt a pang in her heart, but she ignored it and shook her head. "I'm not leaving Pinkie Pie." … you need this as much as I do, Pinkie…
Rainbow Dash walked forward confidently, locking her gorgeous eyes with Pinkie Pie's as the pink pony's tears poured down her face; and Pinkie wiggled back in fear.
"No… please, I–"
Dash wrapped her hooves around Pinkie carefully, and rested her head on her shoulders once more. Pinkie stifled her sobs and tried to wriggle out of the cyan mare's grasp, but Rainbow Dash pulled her flush against her chest with strong arms.
A surge of emotions washed over Pinkie, reducing her to heart-wrenching sobs. Pinkie's eyes shut tightly and she wrapped her arms tightly around Dash; she couldn't stand it any longer… feeling so alone and frightened.
She clung to the pegasus desperately and poured out all the apologies and secrets she had to the cyan mare in one long breath filled with heart-wrenching tears. How she was afraid she would never see her again and how horrible she had been to her...
Rainbow Dash held her close and whispered softly into the earth pony's ears that everything would be fine, letting Pinkie Pie spill out all the loneliness and regret she felt inside her; only pulling Pinkie closer when her sobs became too much for the pink pony to manage one her own.
Only when the pony had settled down and her tears had run dry did Rainbow relax her grip on Pinkie, and she brushed her cheek against Pinkie's trying to calm her.
"I… I'm s-so sorry… Dashie." Pinkie Pie whimpered out between dry sobs. She buried her face in the cyan mare's mane and continued to cry gently.
Dash shook her head and brushed her cheek against Pinkie's more, not knowing what else to do, "… it's not your fault Pinkie… I'm the pony who should be sorry. I… I shouldn't have kissed you, I just…"
"… no Dashie… that wasn't the reason…" Pinkie sniffled a few times, and brought her hooves up and around the pegasus' neck shakily, looking shyly into Rainbow Dash's magenta eyes as her smile brightened a bit, "… I liked that… a lot."
"You, uh…" Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie's hooves nervously and then back into her cyan eyes, blushing furiously.
"I, um… was talking about last night…" Pinkie explained, feeling her own cheeks burning and letting her eyes drift to the side a little.
"… oh…" Dash's heart relaxed a bit and she rubbed the pink mare's back reassuringly, trying to get her to settle her own nerves.
Pinkie's smile wavered and she lay her head on Rainbow Dash's shoulder sadly. "… I'm sorry about last night… I'm sorry that I ruined your chance… to be with your heroes."
"It… It wasn't your fault Pinkie… I don't blame you for that, I never did." And that was the truth, Dash realised. She had never been angry with the earth pony to begin with, it was just the shock of meeting her heroes for the first time and the embarrassment of being seen with the bouncy pink mare that had caused her to shout; and now she regretted ever going.
Pinkie tightened her grip on Rainbow Dash, sniffling miserably.
Dash felt her tears soak into her cyan coat and began stroking Pinkie Pie's mane, trying to calm the distraught mare. "Pinkie, you know I don't… so… why… why did you run away? Why did you tell the Cakes that you were leaving?"
The pink mare pulled the pegasus tighter in her grasp and clenched her jaw, leaning her head down and sobbing into Rainbow Dash's neck and shoulder.
"… that night with the Wonderbolts… I didn't want you to leave… not without a good-bye… not without me saying…" New tears welled up in her round eyes, and she blinked them away.
"… what? I don't…"
Pinkie pushed herself away from Dash's chest so she could see her tear-filled face. She needed to do this right and she needed to tell Rainbow Dash everything to her face; she couldn't run away anymore.
Pinkie clenched her teeth, and remembered the day she returned to her family's rock farm. "I… heard what you said last night… before the party, what you said about me…"
Dash's felt her chest twist at hearing how suddenly calm Pinkie Pie was; she should have learned to expect such radical changes in the pink pony's mood, but this came as a huge shock all the same.
"Pinkie–"
"You wanted to forget me… and all the feelings I brought up in you… without you wanting them…" Pinkie gulped and held her hooves up to touch Dash's, feeling her heart flutter inside her ribcage at the contact, "I decided I'd tell you how I felt about you at the Wonderbolts… how I really felt all this time, all nervous and tingly hooved…"
Dash looked down at her hooves in surprise and returned her gaze to Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash saw that same confusing hurt filled smile she had secretly possessed until she showed it to the cyan mare.
"… I was the pony who made you so unhappy so I wanted to make things better; but… but then I… heard two ponies talking… saying how the Wonderbolts came to see the pony that made the first ever sonic rainboom and that they might make her a member on the team…"
Pinkie grinned at the pegasus and felt her tail tingle again, but she ignored the feeling… she knew which pony was falling, and who for… "I just… knew it was you Dashie… you were who they were talking about… the pony that let me smile before I even knew you."
Rainbow Dash's blush intensified, locking her eyes with Pinkie's gorgeous cyan eyes as she listened to her. "H-how do you know I was the one that made the sonic rainboom?"
Pinkie's blood boiled and she felt her chest knotting, wanting to keep going; and Pinkie Pie swallowed, feeling her face burn. "I knew a long time ago… that day… back when I was a filly… whenever you were with me, I just felt like back then all the time… I just wanted to hug you and to thank you for cheering me up… to kiss you for every happy feeling you gave me."
"K-kiss… me? … uh…" Rainbow Dash's heart was pounding and she could feel it in her hooves that seemed to belong to Pinkie now, and Dash just stood there dumbly.
Pinkie shook her head and her smile weakened, but its meaning was clear to Dash. Pinkie Pie was actually… embarrassed. "N-never mind, it was silly to think like that… so after… I was scared… I was coming to tell you how much you meant to me and then, when I found out… I was sure you were going to leave with them.
Pinkie pulled her hooves away from Rainbow Dash's and put her arms in between her hind legs shyly, sitting back to see Dash better.
"I got so jealous that you paid so much attention to the Wonderbolts and not me, even when we were pranking, you'd talk about them and I'd get mad at you… mad that you didn't talk about me… I'd get angry at myself for getting mad at you and I'd try harder to get your attention."
Dash shook her head free of what Pinkie Pie was saying and huffed unbelievingly. "What about all those ponies you were helping? You seemed quite happy to ignore me and spend time with them instead."
Pinkie Pie looked down at the ground in silence and felt a pang in the pit of her stomach at the cyan mare's words.
"…"
Dash drew closer again, and tried to gaze into Pinkie's eyes to hear her answer. "… so then why did you say you could hang out with me when you had so many plans that day?"
Pinkie Pie looked up, with her round cyan eyes, at Dash and felt her face heat up again. "I wanted yesterday to be special, so we could plan what we did at the party and make it the best party ever…"
Pinkie Pie paused to chuckle softly at her silly idea and move closer to the pegasus mare, feeling more and more comfortable with her company and that she was finally listening to her… at least a little.
"I had already said I would help Applejack with apple-bucking in the evening and I told Daisy I would help collecting the flowers for the Wonderbolts… and I told them I wanted to spend that whole time in between with you, but… everypony else kept dragging me away from you…"
Pinkie's eyes dropped to stare at the floor and Rainbow Dash thought she saw her lower lip trembling, but then Dash remembered something that day that worried her; and she looked away suddenly.
"W-Well, you coulda fooled me. I even saw you with Cloudkicker, watching her train for… well, for something." Dash couldn't think of what it was… and maybe that's why it annoyed her.
Bringing her head and pink mane back up to Dash level, Pinkie chuckled pleasantly.
"Train? Dashie I was trying to help her run away from an angry group of bees. My nose was itchy and I saw her flying around, so I told her she should take cover, but she didn't listen… it takes ponies about three Pinkie-senses for them to trust me on what I say… four if you're as stubborn as Applejack…"
"…"
"…"
"Keep going."
Pinkie shuffled her hooves together, trying to pick up where she'd left off… she didn't want to miss anything and regret it later. "O-oh, well… when I heard about you being the reason for the Wonderbolts coming, I actually felt a little happy at first."
"Why?" Dash asked, raising a curious eyebrow at the mare and tilting her head to the side questioningly.
Pinkie only smiled back at her and nuzzled Rainbow Dash softly, feeling the warmth in her cheeks. "… all that stuff I did… picking flowers with Daisy, bucking apples with Applejack, and anything I could think related to that… was to get you to notice me…"
"…"
"I wanted you to know I could take things seriously and not just… be silly and crazy and happy about everything all the time." Pinkie Pie looked down at the floor and swallowed softly; Rainbow Dash only looked at her in shock. Pinkie wanted to be taken seriously… by her?
"I, ugh…" Dash pulled Pinkie Pie in for another long hug, and she nuzzled the earth pony's cheek with her own. "… I'm sorry Pinkie… if I didn't take you seriously, I didn't mean to…"
Pinkie Pie returned the embrace and rested her head on Rainbow Dash's shoulder, letting her tail tangle up in the pegasus'. "I know Dashie."
Rainbow Dash blushed at how warm the pink mare's body was, rubbing against hers and gulped softly.
"I actually… said all that to get your attention Pinks…"
Pinkie pulled away and looked giddily into the cyan mare's magenta eyes, feeling her smile returning immediately. "... you were trying to impress me?"
Dash scratched the back of her mane nervously, and felt her wings twitch slightly.
"… uh, well I wanted to show you how awesome I was at flying… you always seemed more happy when you were flying with me, so I'd brag a bit at the Wonderbolts' technique and then show off how I would do it."
Pinkie looked at Rainbow Dash quizzically and wiggled closer to be brushing up against the cyan mare, smiling sweetly. "Dashie you always impress me… you're always so nice and kind and cute and sweet–"
"H-hey! I am not cute." Rainbow Dash tried to sound angry and annoyed, but the blush and the small smile spreading across her face betrayed her.
"Yes you are." Pinkie teased with a wide grin on her muzzle.
"No way! Y-you're the cute one, adorable really." Dash froze and tried to say something more, but her voice caught in her throat and she only felt her wings tense up around the pink mare's back.
"Oh thanks Dashie, but I always thought you were cute and cuddly." Pinkie pulled Dash into a tight hug and rubbed her hooves over Rainbow Dash's back gently.
"Pinkie! I am not cuuute!" Dash yelled absentmindedly, feeling the earth mare leaning against her; her wings were so stiff they almost hurt, but she didn't move away or break the hug.
Pinkie Pie just giggled at the mare's frustration and embarrassment, and Dash couldn't hold back a smirk of her own anymore. Pinkie had that effect on you; but that didn't mean Rainbow Dash couldn't still try to look angry about it though.
"Just… keep talking." Dash responded grumpily.
Pinkie giggled again and nodded, she grew quiet for a while and just stared at her hooves around Dash, "… so that night when you actually came to get me, I was happy… it felt like you had forgiven me and chose me over the Wonderbolts... and when you said how pretty I looked in my dress… I…"
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie both blushed lightly and smiled at each other through their beautiful eyes; but Pinkie's smile faded into that hidden unhappy expression that Dash hated.
"… but when we got close I started to feel scared… like this was a game and I was losing you to somepony else… I… I tried so hard to tell you how I felt about you in the closet, to make you listen to me, but you yelled at me for ruining your dream and tried to get to the Wonderbolts. That's when I knew what I had done was so wrong… I ruined your chance to live your dream and be happy… I never wanted to feel that way again… I really truly sincerely tried to help you find them and join them; but… then the vent collapsed and we fell on each other…"
Pinkie started to shake suddenly, in the pony's arms and Dash pulled her closer, letting her emotions pour out freely.
"I wish I could have taken it back, maybe left before all that and you might've had a chance to be with them…" Pinkie sobbed into Dash's shoulder, and she remembered what her mom had said to her, "I really didn't want to do this again Dashie! I'm so sorry…"
"Pinkie it's okay. Settle down… what do you mean again?"
Pinkie didn't speak. She couldn't. She'd said too much already and now Dash was sure to hate her; but the pink mare gasped and felt her fur brush up against Rainbow Dash's once more, her hooves cradling her in a soft embrace.
"… please Pinkie, I gotta know."
Pinkie sniffled a bit and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash's neck. "… m-my first ever party was a huge success… I cheered my whole family up and made them smile. They still farmed rocks after, but they spent that time having fun and being super nice… my parents said I should make more ponies smile like them; and I was so glad… I had found my special talent and made my family proud of me… but when I left I couldn't cheer anypony else up… they would always ignore me and tell me to leave them alone, and I started to feel scared… I just wanted to go back and be happy with my mom and my dad and my sisters…" Pinkie Pie gulped and tensed up in Dash's arms. "… it had only been a few months, but when I got there, I…"
Dash heard Pinkie Pie's voice tremble and the snivels of the pink mare, "… Pinkie?"
Pinkie pulled Dash's body flush with hers and cried thickly into the nap of her neck, feeling her chest burning with anxiety. "My mom was sick." Pinkie Pie forced out through her sobs.
Rainbow Dash's heart flew up into her throat and she clenched her teeth as if in pain; she didn't know what to do. Carefully, she wrapped her wings around the pink mare's body and stayed silent, letting Pinkie Pie continue when she was ready.
"… she looked so sad…" Pinkie struggled out suddenly, and she felt her stomach flutter wildly; she had never told anypony this before, she'd never wanted to until now… with Dash. "… my dad said I made her sick, because I was the one that through that party months back and she got so excited she–… but my mom just shook her head and said it was nopony's fault… sh-she hugged me for so long… just letting me cry and whispering to me that everything would be alright…"
"…"
"… I never got to say good-bye… I fell asleep in her arms and when I woke up…" Pinkie couldn't hold it in any longer. Her bottled up sadness and regret came pouring out of her, and surged through her hooves and into the embrace she was sharing with Rainbow Dash.
Dash felt like her heart had stopped beating. How could Pinkie… Why would her parents…? But the two ponies just sat there in each other's arms and said nothing.
"I know what that's like Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said once Pinkie's tears had run dry on her cheeks, "my parents would always punish me if I didn't do something right… if I failed they'd yell at me and beat me…"
As Rainbow Dash spoke, Pinkie Pie sat in silence; being so unbelievably quiet and patient with Dash even after she had let all her emotions rush out of her at once. She just sat on her haunches and occasionally sniffed back her tears, waiting for the cyan mare to finish.
"… they ALWAYS seemed to hate me… they were never proud of me or ever let me know they appreciated me… I ran away as soon as I was old enough with what I had and got into Cloudsdale's flight school… and I could finally relax, but I just felt so alone…" Dash swallowed back her tears and sighed shakily.
"… my parents didn't care about me and never tried to look. And even then everypony teased me for having no parents and for not being Miss Perfect Flyer all the time. I hid all that fear and pain behind being the best I could be, so they would stop annoying me… I didn't have much time for friends… they wouldn't care, except Fluttershy… she was the only other pony I talked to… she helped me through a lot, so I just didn't tell anypony about all that… it wasn't their problem and I told myself I would handle it on my own… I could manage all those feelings by myself… I know what it feels like to feel so empty and lonely."
"Please don't go Dashie… don't leave… when I was packing to leave Ponyville, to stop myself from holding you back… I found something, something super special to you… and to me. The only reason I stayed and came to the party… was to see you one more time and give you this…"
Pinkie held out the sheet of paper with the drawing Dash had made as a filly; and the pegasus took it wordlessly, staring at it and wondering how the pink mare must have got it.
"… I found it on the floor of the house back in Manehattan… it must've fallen out when I was packing and I didn't have much time to think about what to do, you were right there with me so I stuffed it in one of the bags quickly. I must have… put it in mine by mistake…"
Pinkie Pie gulped at the lost expression on Dash's face and tried to continue, "I really wanted to give it back, but… but I couldn't, not with all the ponies' eyes on you and how sad you looked from missing the Wonderbolts. I'm sorry… just… just please don't go… I'm sorry." Pinkie looked down at the floor and let her tears fall onto the rocks.
"Pinkie, I'm not leaving. I'm not going anywhere!" Dash replied, covering the pink pony's back with her wings, making Pinkie Pie look back up at the cyan mare in surprise.
"… you're not?" Pinkie Pie asked with her ears perked, wiping away her hot tears and looking hopefully into Rainbow Dash's eyes.
"No! And even if I did…" Rainbow Dash hugged Pinkie again, pulling her tightly against her with her wings and resting her head in Pinkie Pie's curly mane. It still smelled indescribably beautiful, just like the first time and all Dash could do was smile. "I'd take you with me…"
"… Dashie…"
"… you, um… said you wanted to… kiss… me?"
Pinkie's cheeks flushed and her heart bounced into her throat. "… uh, well… maybe, just… a little."
Rainbow Dash smiled with her wings tightly wrapped around Pinkie and a blush covering her face; and Dash leaned in and locked her lips with Pinkie's.
They sat there, on the top of the cliff, pressed against one another desperately with their legs wrapped around them. Pinkie was a little surprised at first that Dash had kissed her, but her cyan eyes drifted shut and she kissed back; relief overflowing her that Rainbow Dash was holding her so close and cherished her so much.
Dash leaned in and deepened the kiss, feeling her body shake with pleasure from finally being able to hold the pink mare in such a loving embrace. She didn't think Pinkie felt this way about her, thinking that she was just really cuddly and affectionate all the time; she ran her hooves over Pinkie Pie's back, wanting to know every inch of the earth pony.
Pinkie melted instantly into the cyan mare's touch and moaned her approval, letting her body relax into the pegasus' hooves. Pinkie Pie flicked her wet tongue around in the cyan mare's mouth, lowering her arms to Dash's flank and rubbing her cutie-marks absentmindedly.
Rainbow Dash stifled a gasp and moaned into Pinkie's mouth, returning the passionate kiss earnestly and feeling her wings stiffen and spread open; Pinkie Pie just giggled at the pegasus' obvious excitement and licked Dash's tongue as she pulled the pink pony flush with her body and pushed her to the ground, lying down on top of Pinkie and rubbing her flank.
Pinkie moaned and pulled the mare closer to rest flush against her stomach and grinded her crotch against Rainbow Dash's, earning a shocked gasp from the cyan mare; and Pinkie Pie broke the kiss to look into her worried magenta eyes.
"Don't worry Dashie… I won't do anything you don't want me to." Pinkie smiled sweetly and moved her hooves up, to stroke Rainbow Dash's tensed up wings, feeling the muscles relax under her massage.
But Rainbow Dash shook her head and lowered her head down to kiss Pinkie's neck softly, making the pink mare moan as she felt a shock of pleasure through her; she giggled and squirmed slightly into the kisses and Rainbow Dash smiled in amusement.
Dash lowered herself down Pinkie Pie's body, kissing and licking intently at her chest and stomach, getting further moans of approval from the earth pony. All of Pinkie seemed to have a different taste to it, all of them sugary and sweet and not quite what Dash was expecting; but she didn't care, Pinkie was hers at last.
Dash placed her hooves over Pinkie's rump and licked softly at her clit; and her ears perked at the gasp from Pinkie as she arched her back slightly, feeling a wetness and her heart pounding in her chest for more.
Dash circled her tongue around Pinkie opening and licking softly at her hind legs, before she plunged her hot wet tongue into Pinkie's opening and licked at her vagina. Rainbow Dash rubbed Pinkie's sides and rump absentmindedly as she focussed on the pleasurable moans from the pink mare under her.
Pinkie groaned loudly and brushed her hooves down her chest and stomach and grasped the cyan mare's ears tightly, arching her back more. Pinkie panted heavily, feeling the pressure in her building up and her heart beat quickening. "Oooh Dashie, don't stop! I'm… ah… I'm about to… hnn…"
Dash groaned and felt a wave of adrenaline rush through her body, heating her up, and she licked faster, swallowing the juices inside the pink mare's vagina. Pinkie pulled harder on Rainbow Dash's ears and felt her entire body tense up. She arched her back again as she came, "D-Dashie!"
Pinkie let her back fall back onto the ground and she panted softly, and in ecstasy now that she had Dashie all to herself.
Rainbow Dash licked up the juices greedily and looked up at the earth pony, and her wings tensed up again. Pinkie looked up intently at Dash, with an almost predatory smile as she said, "It's your turn Dashie."
Pinkie wrapped her arms around the pegasus and rolled her over and onto her stomach so she could lie on top of her carefully. She still panted slightly, feeling her soaking wetness leaking onto Dash's coat.
Pinkie started to rub at the base of Rainbow Dash's erect wings, feeling them tense up under her touch; and she ran her hooves along Dash's strong muscles as she stroked them more quickly, feeling Dash tremble in excitement.
A shock of pleasure shot through the cyan mare and she started to pant wildly, letting a moan escape her lips before she could stifle it. Pinkie giggled and continued her tender massage, sliding her tongue along the tips of her wings; and Dash's eyes fluttered shut. "Pinkie… mmm…"
Rainbow groaned softly and rubbed her crotch against Pinkie's gently, wanting to feel like the pink earth mare had and getting approving groans from Pinkie Pie in response. She opened her eyes and locked them with Pinkie's beautiful cyan eyes as they stared at one another, both mares panting in ecstasy and bliss.
Pinkie lowered her head down, shut her cyan eyes, and kissed the cyan mare on the lips deeply, stifling the moan from Dash's mouth and continuing the massage on the tips of the pegasus' cyan wings.
Dash kissed her back passionately and closed her eyes again. Rainbow Dash wrapped her hooves around the pink pony's back, pulling her closer and rubbing Pinkie Pie's back intently.
Pinkie moaned approvingly into the cyan mare's mouth and broke the kiss slowly, bringing her hooves to rest on Dash's chest; feeling her heart beating quickly and her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Pinkie Pie peppered Dash with kisses along the nape of her neck and on her collar bone as she lowered down to lick at Dash's wetness.
Rainbow Dash moaned and arched her back in pleasure, feeling Pinkie's wet tongue against her clit. Pinkie licked and kissed playful at Dash's legs, getting a surprised gasp from the cyan mare, before she pushed her tongue in and rolled it around Rainbow Dash's vagina; massaging the opening softly.
Rainbow Dash grasped Pinkie's ears with her fore-legs quickly and stifled a moan, preventing the pink mare from teasing her and feeling her wings tingle and tense up in pain.
Pinkie just giggled and lapped up the juices inside Dash's opening and massaged her vagina until it tensed up around her tongue. Dash screamed, arching her back in pure ecstasy, before letting her body drop back. "Pinkie!"
Dash relaxed against the dirt and rock scattered around the cliff and began panting for air as Pinkie licked the juices quickly and happily.
Pinkie got up shakily and lied down carefully on top of Dash, resting her head on Rainbow's chest peacefully. She sighed. "I love you Dashie."
"I love you too Pinkie." Rainbow Dash drew her arms around the pink mare's back and nuzzled her cheek lovingly. Dash sighed and Pinkie kissed her cheek before resting her head on her chest again.
The two ponies fell asleep there, in each other's hooves as they heard the other's heart beating rapidly out of their chests.