She also was plagued by these strange emotions she never felt before and it drove her crazy. The fact that Pinkie thought so highly of her didn't sit right within her. How could she even see me as a friend? We are enemies! At least we are supposed to be...
Dash looked up in time to see the pink pony trot into the room.
"Hi Dashie, you're finally awake... you sleepy head." Pinkie chuckled and hopped closer to the pegasus stopping at the end of her bed.
Rainbow grumbled angrily, trying to hide the small smile that threatened to form onto her face from seeing the pink pony happy again. Looking away from the pink pony's deep-blue eyes, Dash pulled on the best grumpy expression she could, "What do you want Pinkie?"
"I... I made you breakfast Dashie." Pinkie attempted to smile, but Dash noticed that the gleam that was usually in her eyes had faded. She would never admit that she knew about that of course.
Fidgeting, Dash slowly pulled herself out of the bed. "Well...what did you make?" Her tone lacked the edge it previously held. Her expression became softer, almost caring. She didn't meet Pinkie's eyes; if she did she wouldn't be able to hold back the concern that was welling up within her.
Pinkie shifted her hooves around and smiled weakly at the unhealthy pegasus.
"Well, I... made you more of that soup you really like... I... tried not to make it too hot for you like you asked, so..." The earth pony stammered and quietly watched Rainbow tremble slightly, her sickness still gripping her tightly.
Hearing pain laced within Pinkie's voice, the concern Dash was holding back came crashing through her steel barrier. Glancing morosely at Pinkie, Dash opened her mouth. Only to close it again. Swallowing thickly she forced out the question burning in the back of her throat.
"Are...are you alright?" As soon as she finished she immediately looked down at her hooves; Irritation crossing her face.
"I'm fine... I just... I'm sorry for everything I... might have said to upset you... I didn't mean to." Pinkie looked down at her hooves and backed up slowly, turning around to ask the cyan-colored pony another question, "Do... Do you want it right now Dashie?"
"You are a terrible lier Pinkie...If you aren't going to tell the truth then fine. I won't ask again." Turning away from Pinkie, Dash began slowly trotting toward the kitchen. "Yea.. I will have some now."
Pinkie watched from over her shoulder as the pegasus sauntered through the house to the kitchen. She wanted to say what was on her mind, but couldn't bring herself to stop her. But... it was the truth... part of it...
Dash settled in front of the meal that Pinkie painstakingly made just for her. Looking down at it she felt a strange feeling fill her before turning to face the slowly approaching pony.
"Pinkie..." The words she wanted to say immediately died in her mouth. "...never-mind... just stop being so mopey ok? You're making me feel all depressed now with the way your acting!"
Shock ran through Pinkie's body; she looked to see the sad expression covering the pegasus' face... a feeling she created inside her. She couldn't take it; her heart filled with emotions, each one wanting to escape at the same time, "I'm sorry okay? Sorry about everything I've done to you... I'm sorry I took off your armor without your permission and for... for being so nosey and bouncy all the time 'cause it annoys you and now... now that I'm... that I'm not doing those things you're just... never mind... You should eat your soup... so you can feel better and get back to your kind..."
Pinkie couldn't stand being in the same room as Dash anymore. She turned quickly and rushed away from her.
Dash stared at Pinkie, dumbfounded by all the apologies she had said to her. What is her problem? Jumping up quickly, Dash flew ahead of the pink pony and landed just before the exit to block Pinkie's path.
"What's going on Pinkie? Why are you so sad all the time?" Full blown worry covered Dash's face and tainted her voice.
Closing her eyes tightly, responded with a strained voice, "No reason... I just... don't feel like being happy right now... Please... can you... just..."
Attempting to leave the kitchen, the earth pony stepped from left to right trying to make her way around the pegasus, but Dash mirrored her every movement and prevented any escape.
"I heard what you said the other night. How you loved your mother even though she didn't love you back... What happened between you and your family Pinkie?" A sharp commanding edge manifested itself in Dash's voice. A concerned and serious expression covered her face.
"I... I don't..." She stared into the pegasus' eyes and saw the concern she felt for her and her alone. She felt her eyes water and she gulped down her apprehension to answer such a question. She sighed, "It... It happened a couple months before the annual food trade..."
***
I was planting seeds in the field so we could grow the last of the crop before it was too cold for any food to grow... when my mother called for me from the house...
*****
"Pinkamena Diane Pie! Will you come here please?" Pinkie's ears twitched at her mother's sharp voice.
"Coming!"
***
Whenever she called me by my full name I was in trouble for something... She called me by my full name a lot...
Pinkie rushed into her fillyhood home and was greeted by stern looks from both her mother and father.
"Pinkamena, dear...Your father and I have been talking. We think it would be a wonderful thing if you go and attempt to cheer up all the other ponies in the village!" Strained smiles covered both her mother and father's face as they looked down at her.
"Really? Okie Dokie Lokie! How long should I be?" Pinkie smiled happily up at her parents; joyful at the thought that they seemed to be accepting her talent instead of forcing her to be something she wasn't for a change.
"Why don't you go for a week Pinkamena. See how it's like." Her father's gruff voice reached her ears. Smiling Pinkie nodded vigorously and prepared for her week long trip.
*****
"...When I returned home, they were gone...The only thing left... was a note." Pinkie's paused for a moment to regain her composure and finished agonizingly, "…. It said, don't look for us. You are not family anymore..." Tears were streaming rapidly down Pinkie's face as her mane and tail fell straight and dull. She was shaking visibly and could barely stand on her own four hooves.
Dash stared at Pinkie, horror and rage mixing across her face. Calming herself ever so slightly, Dash moved closer to Pinkie and hesitantly nuzzled Pinkie in a comforting way.
Feeling the pegasus' cheek against hers she gasped and opened her eyes to stare across at Rainbow, with a mixture of confusion and happiness at the contact, "D-Dashie... what...?"
Dash turned her face away from Pinkie, a bright blush staining her cheeks. "L-look...I'm sorry for what you went through... you didn't deserve to be treated like that..." She sat on her haunches mutely. Gritting her teeth in agitation and embarrassment.
Pinkie's tears began flowing faster, her crying turned into heavy sobbing. She lunged at the cyan pony and clinged to her desperately, burying her face under Dash's chin, the only exposed part of her neck. Her emotions spilling out like a savage waterfall.
Dash nearly tumbled backward at the force of the pink pony's tackle. She sat there, bewildered at what was happening. She could feel the earth ponies tears soak the fur on her neck. Tentatively, Dash wrapped her forelegs around the sobbing mare, hoping to calm her in any way possible.
"Th... Thank you... D-Dashie... Nopony's... ever b-been so nice to me before... Thank you..." She continued sobbing into the concerned pegasus' embrace and smiled with joy.
"R-Really... it's no trouble... I just didn't want to see you so sad anymore..." Dash muttered out softly into Pinkie's ear.
Smiling happily and rubbing the tears from her eyes to look up at Rainbow, Pinkie spoke what was eating at her for a while, "D-Dashie? A... Are your parents... nice to you...? I couldn't imagine another pony being s-sad like me."
Dash's gaze hardened and she appeared to be looking off at something far away. "I'm an orphan. I lived in an abusive foster home for a long time before I was moved to the military academy. I don't know who my parents are, or even what they look like...I don't even know who my grandparents are."
Pinkie's eyes watered even more at hearing how horrible the pegasus' past must have been; she locked her cyan-blue eyes with Dash's magenta-colored ones, "Dashie... I'm so sorry... I didn't know..."
Shrugging, Dash cracked a confident smile. "It's alright Pinks. If I didn't grow up that way then I wouldn't be the super awesome mare that I am today!" Dash held her head up proudly after her proclamation. She didn't like it when others pitied her on her past; she wasn't about to let Pinkie do the same.
"A-And if you didn't... I wouldn't have you... as a friend right now... I... am your friend... aren't I...?" Pinkie pushed away from the hug to look hopefully at the armor-covered pegasus for an answer.
Shifting uncomfortably under the pink mares gaze, Dash reluctantly locked eyes with Pinkie. "Y-yea...we're friends..." Her voice was filled with raw honesty.
"R-Really...? I'm not... just some dirt pony to you...?" Pinkie's ears perked up and her smile grew larger across her face, but she was still a bit worried about the pony's reaction. She didn't want to upset her again... just after they might have become friends, but she had to know for sure.
A warm feeling washed over Dash. Staring down at her hooves she struggled to answer. She was NOT very good with this emotional stuff. "Well...we hugged didn't we? That's proof enough."
Pinkie's smile now threatened to break her face in two, her mane and tail poofing up and her fur brightening. "We did, didn't we? Oh Dashie I'm so happy we're friends now!" Feeling her emotions and a heat spreading through her, she leaped at the pegasus and knocked her over.
Noticing that there were no spikes sticking up from underneath her like the last time she had been on top of Dash; her eyes twinkled as she peered down at the bewildered pony with a new energy, "Oooh, that reminds me... since we're kinda friends now... do you want your stuff back? I mean all your weapons?" Pinkie tilted her head to the side quizzically and awaited her friends response with wide open eyes.
Dash was only able to splutter out one word. "Buh?" She was having a difficult time processing everything that had happened within the past few minutes. Pinkie sitting on top of her wasn't helping either.
Chuckling at the ponies lack of reply, Pinkie leaped off her and bounced happily into her hiding place for all things hidden and brought back the weapons to the still stunned Rainbow Dash, "Here you go Dashie... I hope they didn't rust or anything... I tried to dry them off too, but they're soo dented it's hard to get it all clean." Pinkie tilted her head to the side with a new question on her mind, "What do you do with this stuff anyway?"
Sitting up quickly, Dash began reattaching her weapons to her wings and forelegs. Glancing at Pinkie's curious face, Dash sighed and calmly replied, "I fight enemies with them. I've had to kill many with these blades for the protection of my tribe as well as in defense for the other tribes. We do need you earth ponies and unicorns to provide food and sunlight. I also provide mercy kills to those who need it."
Pinkie stepped back a bit at this new information, "K... Kill...?" The earth pony froze in place and stared unbelieving into the pegasus' calm eyes, "How... could you...?"
"I am in the military. It is my duty to destroy those that go against the pegasi tribe. My first test to become a part of the battle ranks of the military was to kill a pony; a terminally ill pony in need of release from their pain. I do what I have to in order to protect my tribe." Dash's eyes slowly turned cold during her entire explanation, her tone even and unwavering.
"B-But you don't have to kill them... they... they have families... and friends and... loved ones." Pinkie was shaking again, but this time it almost seemed like she was holding back anger.
"Families ask us to do this. We do not decide to do it. I have been thanked for releasing them from their pain. I have been thanked for killing rabid manticores in order to protect the hundreds, and I have been thanked for killing the ponies that have attacked us. I do what I must. This is who I am." Dash's tone became eerie and hard. She stared at Pinkie in contempt for questioning her duties.
Pinkie shook her head quickly, "No, it's not... you can't... you're too nice and sweet and kind to have to do that! I don't... believe you." She sat sadly on her rump and stared down at the marble floor of the kitchen, not caring if the pegasus responded or not.
Anger sparked instantly within the pegasus, "What you think I wear these weapons as a fashion statement? They aren't here to make me look good, they are here to defend and kill! If you don't want to believe me then fine, but don't go lying to yourself about what is right in front of you!" A cold fire blazed within Dash's magenta eyes as she glared at Pinkie.
The earth pony recoiled instantly at seeing Dash so angry. She stared fearfully and confusedly into the pegasus' eyes for a few moments. The truth was painted on Rainbow's face and in her freezing stare; she nodded slowly and trotted out of the room as quickly and quietly as she could. I did it again! Why must I be so...?
Halting the berating of herself she saw the comfy bed Rainbow had used for so long. She thought of curling up in all those cosy blankets and falling asleep forever. She knew she couldn't do that really, but that didn't help with cheering her up.
Instead, she sat on her haunches and dangled her back-legs off the bed sadly. Her ears drooped to the sides of her head and she held back sniffs.
A low creaking noise alerted Pinkie to the presence of another pony. Looking up, she locked eyes with gentle looking magenta eyes. Halting in the doorway, Dash sat on her rump and addressed Pinkie formally, "Look...I'm sorry you had to find out this way alright? This is probably a lot to take in..." gritting her teeth she forced herself to continue, "I'm...sorry...that I yelled at you."
"No it... it's not your fault... It's mine. I'm just not used to hearing about this kind of stuff... I just can't see you doing anything so... horrible, even if it is to help ponies... It must take a lot of courage..." Pinkie stared down at her hooves. She couldn't bring herself to look into the pegasus' eyes anymore.
Shaking her head, Dash slowly approached Pinkie. The gentle look never left her face. "Either way Pinkie, I'm still...sorry...that I scared you." Once she reached the downcast mare, she gently placed a fore-hoof onto Pinkies. "I...won't hurt you...alright?"
A warm feeling started from her hoof and worked its way up to her heart and her face. She slowly looked up at the pegasus dressed in armor. Seeing Rainbow's sincere expression a knowing smile bounced across the pink pony's brightening face, "... I know..."
Suddenly feeling uncomfortable under Pinkie's gaze, Dash pulled away and cleared her throat. "W-well good! You should know better."
Pinkie giggled and hopped up from the bed, walking over to Rainbow and bumped her teasingly, "You're silly Dashie... I think it's about lunchtime now... Do you want anything?" She asked happily and trotted into the kitchen.
Startled by the bump, Dash almost didn't hear Pinkie's question. Shaking her head she trotted after her, a grin set on her face. "Buck yea I do! I'm starving!"
"Great! So do you want soup again? I've still got some of your favorite left." Pinkie checked each cupboard and noticed the cupcakes from the week before wrapped up in the freezer. She glanced over her shoulder at the approaching pegasus and looked back to the fresh-looking minty cakes before her. She couldn't bring herself to shut the door; she could only stare fondly at the small sweets at the memory from the week before. She said she liked them...
Tilting her head in confusion, Dash stared at the mesmerized pony curiously. "What are you looking at that is so interesting, Pinkie?" Trotting closer, she attempted to shove her way beside the pony to see what it was.
Pinkie, happy to let her see, bounced aside and smiled kindly at her friend, "O-Oh, sorry Dashie... I was just thinking about when I made you those super yummy cupcakes. I forgot I put them in the freezer. They should still be good though, I think... I can test them for you if you want. Make sure they're not dangerous or anything."
Shrugging her shoulders, Dash grabbed a cupcake and popped it into her mouth. She chewed quietly on the cupcake, relishing it's sweet flavor. "They seem fine to me." Dash reached for a few more and trotted over to the couch to relax. "Let me know when lunch is ready 'kay?"
"Okie dokie Dashie! Dashie's favorite miracle healing soup coming right up!" Pinkie giggled at what she said and trotted over to the stove top to set it up to cook the chili. She hummed along to a tune only she could understand properly as she filled the pot with water and placed it on the stove to heat it up. 'I'll have it done in two shakes of a pony's tail!" She spoke, shaking her tail once and gasping, "I better time my shakes better."
Dash shook her head at Pinkie's crazy antics, still not use to her odd behavior. Instead of annoying her like it use to, it made a small smile form on her face. Realising what she was doing, she quickly schooled her expression to look bored and uninterested at what was happening.
Pinkie noticed and chuckled softly at Dash's attempt at hiding her obvious excitement at having those cupcakes AND her favorite chili at once. She turned back to her work as she heard the water boiling. She prepared the ingredients and dumped them carefully into the pot as if she had made this a million times before. She probably had.
Dash found herself drifting toward the kitchen. The smells making her stomach growl loudly. Her wings involuntarily began fluttering, causing her to hover above the pink pony so she wouldn't distract her from cooking.
Pinkie, however, felt the cooling breeze coming from her wings and looked up at the pegasus, while still facing the stove top and the pot of chili in her hooves, "Hiya Dashie! Too hungry to wait? Here, you can have the first taste of the chili!" Pinkie lifted a spoonful of chili up toward the pegasus.
Fluttering closer, Dash carefully slid the spoon in her mouth and pulled away the contents of the spoon with a satisfied moan. Her lips puckered together when they clasped around it. Pinkie found herself blushing at the display. "H-hey Dashie...Would you like to have a few more bites?"
"W-Well, I... I don't..." She looked down at the chili pot, at the spoon, and back at Pinkie. She felt heat spread over her cyan face as she gulped lightly, her wings tensing up slightly, "I... I would love some..." She smiled down at the pink pony with an increasing blush in her cheeks and a hungry look in her eyes. A sudden fearful feeling clenched at her heart, halting her actions.
Looking around for anything to diffuse the situation, she grabbed a nearby bowl and presented it to Pinkie. Giggling, Pinkie stared at Dash with an almost predatory look gleaming in her eyes. "It's not ready for that silly...but I can give you a few more spoonfuls."
Heart pounding so hard, Dash swore Pinkie could hear it, she fluttered away from the pink mare. She was still wary of her and didn't want to...complicate things...
"W-Where are you going Dashie?" Pinkie stared wide-eyed at the retreating form. Why did I do that? Now she's mad at me for sure! She turned her head down to stare at her hooves in anger of herself.
So she didn't notice the pegasus look over her shoulder at the pink pony with a small smile and a light blush still present on her face. She turned back around quickly and made her way into the bedroom to think about her situation.
What am I doing? She needs to stay a friend... I'm even pushing it with her being a friend. I have to keep whatever... THIS IS from happening. This CAN'T happen. It's for both Pinkie's and my safety. I have to keep pushing her away... Determination washed over her; decision filling her. I will NOT be responsible for this pony's death.
Filling the bowls she had grabbed from the cupboards, Pinkie sighed. Okay... enough of that... it's just lunch and Dashie's my friend... It's her favorite lunch... She looked down at the chili. Oh, I hope it's cool enough for her this time.
As she approached the bedroom she could see Dash seated on her flank in the center of the room and gulped. She walked forward, cautious and noisy so as not to startle the pegasus from her thoughts, "H-Here you go Dashie! I hope it's right this time..." Pinkie hoofed over the bowl and sat down a few hooves away from her with her own bowl.
Dash mutely lifted the spoon to her mouth and began eating it slowly, not focusing on anything in particular. All of her attention was on the pink pony; prepared to move if she tried to get any closer than what she was now. e could feel the fur on the back of her neck rise; as if she was preparing for battle.
Pinkie never even looked her way. She merely focused her eyes on her chili and when she was finished she only smiled once in Dash's direction, careful not to make eye contact. She got up and walked back into the kitchen quietly.
The awkwardness that had finally dissipated only a few hours ago had returned twice as thick between the two ponies. One unsure how to act, the other building up walls to keep the other away.
What she had thought would be better to have happen had become the opposite. She shook that thought from her mind. No, it's better this way... Her thought trailed off and she looked into the hallway at the entrance to the kitchen. But... what now...? She looked back down at her finished bowl and sighed. I guess... I should at least put this in the sink... She got up hesitantly and, as casually and coolly as she could, walked into the kitchen and set her bowl down.
Turning to head back to the room, she was shocked to find an uncharacteristically serious pink pony staring back at her. Shuffling backward, Dash collided with the counter. She was trapped.
"Hi Dashie... did you like it? The chili I mean?" She quickly added, backing away to let Dash breath easily, "S-Sorry... I forgot... about your space..." She looked down slightly, but could still make out Rainbow's calming expression at seeing her further away.
"Oh yea it was good...Don't worry about it." Dash smiled awkwardly at Pinkie. She didn't like these feelings that were rushing through her so violently. They somehow increased in power from the last time she felt them.
She looked back up, but stared at the stove top just passed her, "O-Okay... that's good... I'll just... be outside for a bit okay? Call me if you need anything." She began lightly bounding her way to the exit, never making any motions or glances towards the cyan mare as she hopped out of sight.
Rainbow Dash's heart clenched painfully in her chest. This is for the best...this is for the best. She attempted to calm herself with these thoughts...but it did nothing to help. Frustration began to build rapidly within her. Her frustration finally manifested itself in a solid punch- straight through a cabinet door.
"Dashie!" Pinkie called from outside and quickly found herself a few hooves from the angry pegasus, "What happened? Are you hurt?"
Snorting, Dash looked down at her hoof. Blood oozed from the soft part under the hoof, chunks of wood lodged in the crevices. Turning her attention to the obliterated door, she felt satisfaction flow through her. "I'm fine Pinkie, I'm fine."
Looking down at Rainbow's hoof, she gasped at the blood dripping freely to the floor. Her heart raced and she felt fear take hold of her emotions, "But... But your hoof... I-I've gotta get some bandages quick! I promised myself and your friend that I'd look after you and I haven't been. Wait here!"
Pinkie zoomed off to get the first-aid kit and returned the next second. "Sorry I took so long." She huffed.
Dash looked up at Pinkie absentmindedly; she was currently picking out the chunks of wood. Any other pony would have been crying out in pain, but Dash was able to remove them with a strange sense of calmness surrounding her. Dislodging the chunks caused the tissue to tear further; the bleeding intensified and flowed freely down her upturned foreleg.
"Dashie STOP! Let me help you!" Pinkie cried out loudly to the pegasus, hoping to grab her extended a fore-hoof, but remembered what doing that got her into and lowered it, "... Please...?" She whispered, almost to herself.
Dash's ears twitched, she turned to the visibly upset pony and sighed in defeat. "Here." Dash thrusted her bloody hoof toward Pinkie. A somewhat guilty expression washing across her face. She didn't mean to freak her out.
Pinkie recoiled at the sudden offering of help and backed up a little. She stepped forward and went to grab the extended hoof with her own to wash it in the sink, but froze again. What if this upsets her more...?
Pinkie adopted a calm and somewhat sad expression as she moved away from the injured mare. She looked back at Dash, "C-Come on Dashie, you... you should really get it all cleaned first..."
The frustration that had been ebbing away returned at full force. "DARN IT PINKIE!" She slammed her injured hoof down on the stone counter, cracking it. "What in the hay is your problem now? At least I have a reason to...n-never mind..." She turned away from the stunned mare and began cleaning her injured hoof.
Pinkie gulped and stepped back again, lowering her head in defeat, "W-Well... whenever I get close or... touch you... or do anything you... get all uncomfortable and I don't want that to happen to you, so I... just... don't do anything... I don't want you to hate me Dashie..."
"Well don't WORRY! YOU MAKE IT TOO DARN HARD TO- uh... you shouldn't think stupid things like that...You didn't do anything wrong." Dash felt her face heat up with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
"Then... why do you act so weird when we start talking? Do I scare you or make you nervous... 'cause I don't mean to..." Pinkie stammered slightly, but regained her composure quickly and finished, "... I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I... want you to get better... so you can see your friends again and return to your tribe..."
Freezing at Pinkie's words, Dash finished bandaging her hoof before turning to face her, "Look... What I am doing... is saving your life. You can act however you want alright?" Tension built inside Dash, forcing her to turn away from the pink mare.
"Why do you keep SAYING that? How do you expect me to know how you feel when you don't TELL me how you actually feel?" A sudden heat of anger and frustration rose up in the pink pony's body and it burst out freely at the dumbfounded pegasus.
"...Because telling you is dangerous..." Dash had an unreadable expression covering her face. She clenched and unclenched her jaw rapidly as she glared off at nothing.
Pinkie's anger continued to build and she stepped forward, glaring at the pegasus, "Why? Because you hate me? Or- Or like me? Or you despise me? What is so dangerous that I can't know about-?"
Taking in a sharp breath, Dash's smoldering eyes locked with Pinkie's blazing eyes. "Because if you knew, you would die...and I don't want that to happen."
"I don't care! Not knowing is more dangerous to me than knowing ever is... I don't want to hurt you either..." Pinkie's anger subsided into an inwardly sad expression and she let her head drop finally. "... I really don't..."
Dash swallowed thickly, her emotions roaring wildly within her, "Pinkie... I... can't. I don't want to be the reason why you are killed. It's just not safe..." Her emotions made her tremble madly; she was itching to hit something, anything to vent away the emotional roller coaster she was involuntarily riding.
"But..." Pinkie looked up into the pegasus' eyes and saw the hesitation in her eyes; it was too much to bare. She looked away and trotted into her room without another word to the armored pony. Why...? She thought to herself.
As soon as Pinkie left, Dash cried out in a blind, emotional driven, destructive rage. She began smashing anything she could with her bare hooves. Not feeling any satisfaction using her blades. By the time she was finished her bandaged hoof was soaked with blood. Her other hoof didn't fair any better. Blood dripped liberally from the torn flesh. She sat in the middle of the torn apart room growling in frustration.
In the bedroom the pink pony covered her ears with her two pillows and curled up into a ball, wanting to escape both physically and mentally from the exploding situation in front of her. She clenched her jaw and her eyes shut hoping that she wouldn't be able to hear the agony the pony in the other room was feeling, if not by her wounds, by something else.
Dash mutely shuffled through the destroyed room and began treating her ruined hooves yet again. She stared blankly at the pink water flowing down the drain as she washed them carefully. Looking up from the blood tainted water, she began surveying the destruction that had just taken place. Smashed cabinet doors, some even ripped straight off the hinges, cracked stone counter and walls, shattered dishes, dented pots and pans, as well as torn blankets greeted her. Her blood stained many of the objects within the room.
She sighed, looking down at her wounded fore-hooves. This isn't going to help... She thought. Pushing her away makes her upset, yet if I don't...
She carefully walked into the living room, watching the fire flicker. She sat down in front of it, allowing herself to become lost in the flames warm glow. She let her mind wander, unsure of her own actions.
"What am I going to do...?" She groaned, hanging her head. "This is too hard..."
A quiet, timid voice called from the hallway, "D...Dashie...? Are you- Are you alright...?"
Dash quickly threw her head up and met the pony's cyan-blue eyes. She froze again and let out a difficult sigh before answering her, "Y-Yeah Pinkie..."
The pink pony suddenly rushed in taking the bandages in her mouth and sitting down in front of the pegasus. Taking the gauze in her hooves she looked into Dash's eyes, "Here Dashie... It'll be easier if I do it." Pinkie waited intently for the Rainbow to show any acknowledgement before attempting to help. She still didn't want to startle her again after all this.
Dash slowly presented her severely injured hooves to Pinkie, looking everywhere except in the direction of the pink mare.
Ignoring the pegasus' apprehension to look at her, Pinkie focused on wrapping the bandages carefully around her hooves. Unable to hide a smirk the earth pony looked up to Dash when she noticed the other fore-hoof bleeding, "Again, Dashie...?" Pinkie clicked her tongue jokingly and continued wrapping them.
Dash's ears laid back in partial guilt. She had completely obliterated Pinkie's kitchen and here she was still here helping her. "I'll... clean up my mess. Alright?"
Pinkie shook her head and finished bandaging up the other hoof, "Nopey dopey Dashie. You're too hurt right now to help. You need to rest your hoovsies... Your Auntie Pinkie Pie has it all taken care of." The earth pony shot Dash a genuine joyful smile and brought Rainbow's hoof gently to the ground, "Do ya think you can get to bed by yourself?"
Dash snorted, "C'mon Pink's I have had way worse than damaged hooves before, and I continued doing my job. It doesn't even bother me." To punctuate her point, Dash trotted easily around the room. "Let me help. I destroyed your stuff, I should clean it up."
"Uh..." Seeing the pegasus' determined expression Pinkie held back her argument and nodded gently, "Okay... but if you end up getting yourself hurt again you're going straight to bed, got it?" She ended her speech with a head tilt directed at the cyan pegasus and waited for her reply.
"Yea, yea... fine." Waving off Pinkie's concerns, Dash began gathering up the destroyed material. She worked diligently. Taking care in all of the unharmed belongings so they wouldn't get ruined. Buzzing around the home with her wings, she managed to clean up most of her mess all by herself.
Pinkie watched Dash work for a few moments, taking in how dedicated to helping with the clean up she was, only until she realised she wasn't doing anything. She quickly got to work, starting at the opposite end that Dash had began at and carefully picked up the broken plates and dented pots and pans that lay scattered along the floor.
She worked diligently, not really paying attention to her surroundings except for those smashed and broken objects on the floor. She made her way along and bumped into something hovering a few hooves above her. It was Rainbow Dash.
"Oops... sorry Dashie. Guess I should watch where I'm going, huh?" She looked cheerfully into the magenta-colored eyes of the pegasus and smiled her bright, friendly smile.
Before Rainbow could make a reply though, Pinkie bounced off a tad shyly to the other side of the room to place the plates that weren't broken back in the shelves. She wiggled her rump and tail absentmindedly as she did so.
Dash immediately turned her head away from Pinkie. A light blush staining her cheeks. Why did she have to do things like that? Attempting to distract herself from what she had just seen, she poured every ounce of energy into cleaning up the damaged goods.
Pinkie's head turned back around to find a warmth spreading across her face as well. She tore her eyes away from the cyan mare and cleaned up the bashed in cupboards on the floor. She didn't want these feelings to take hold of her. No Pinkie, you can't do that... It upsets Dashie...
Finishing up her side of the room, Dash surveyed the area to make sure she didn't miss anything. Feeling satisfied, she gracefully landed on the, now clean, floor. A small wince shot threw her. Oh yea...I hurt my hooves. Shrugging it off, she trotted over to the couch again and laid down to rest.
Noticing the lack of blue and grey in the area now, Pinkie surveyed the kitchen before poking her head into the living room and spotting the missing pegasus splayed out on the sofa. Turning away hurriedly the pink pony blushed deeper and tried to shake off the feeling she had, "Oh, hi Dashie... you okay? I mean, of course... you're okay... never mind... uh... How about dinner...?"
Dash had never seen Pinkie so flustered before. She found the entire display, adorable. Smiling brightly at the pink pony, Dash nodded vigorously. "Sure Pink's. Dinner sounds great!" She was completely captivated by the entire scene. Unable to control her actions, she was running on pure emotion.
Pinkie was taken aback by Dash's excited response and swallowed thickly, "O-Okay... What would you like?"
"Whatever you want to make. I bet it will be awesome!" Dash gave Pinkie a small, secret smile.
Gulping, Pinkie stepped back clumsily and hit the wall with her flank. Looking first at her rump and then back at the pegasus, the pink pony smiled weakly, "... Uh... heh well, okay... I'll make you the bestest most tastiest meal you've ever had EVER!" Being overwhelmed by the look Dash was giving her, Pinkie darted out of sight and into the kitchen. So... what was that...?
Chuckling in amusement, Dash's smile turned gentle and, dare I say, loving. She had become lost in the emotions that she had been so desperately pushing back only a while ago. She watched the flustered pink pony rush around the kitchen. Noticing how she seemed to mutter to herself whenever she forgot something important to the meal, like the pan to cook it with.
Picking up the pan Pinkie did talk to herself, but it wasn't about forgetting the pan, "If... If I can't do that stuff, why can she...? She tells me not to 'cause it's dangerous, but then she does that..." She places the pan down on the stove top and sighs heavily into it, "What's so dangerous about feelings anyway...?"
Realising just what she was doing, Dash shook her head violently in an attempt to rid herself of the thoughts growing in her mind. Tearing her eyes away from the pink mare, she snuggled deeper into the couch. Reminding herself that she needed to keep Pinkie away, her ears fell flat against her head and her mood rapidly dropped.
Pinkie busied herself in the kitchen, preparing the meal for the night and keeping those creeping feelings out of her pink head. She made chili, soup, and spaghetti all from the recipes she'd learned by herself, after she discovered parties. She had molded them into perfection and needed no recipe books or directions to make them; she had them drilled into her head.
Unfortunately, being the pink pony that she was she couldn't shake the feelings she had off and kept coming back to them. "No Pinkie, she doesn't feel that way... and neither should I... She's just being nice... A good friend..." She looked down at the finished chili and remembered when Dash had been so keen to try it straight from the spoon. She smiled lightly and turned the element off to wait for the rest of the dinner to be juuust right.
Dash, being inpatient, trotted into the kitchen and peered at the food. "Is it ready yet Pinkie?" She moved closer, accidentally brushing her tail against Pinkie's flank. She was so focused on the food she didn't even notice, even when the pink mare tensed up beside her.
"D-Dashie...? D... Don't do that..." She looked up into magenta-colored eyes of Dash and saw her silent apology. She sighed and glanced back at the stove top, "... They're almost ready... Do you want the chili right now? It's cooled off enough..." Pinkie managed to smile at the pegasus and inwardly chuckled to herself at how she tried so hard to get the temperature for the chili right.
Feeling mildly embarrassed, Dash shrugged. "I suppose...You know you don't have to make my favorite all the time Pink's. You can make whatever you want, it won't bother me."
"I... I know... but it just makes you look so happy... you deserve to be happy all the time..." She smiled across at the pegasus and filled the bowl with the chili before freezing with the spoon, "Do... Do you wanna...?"
Without thinking, Dash gently pulled Pinkie's hoof toward her. She carefully slid the spoon in her mouth and slowly pulled the chili off the spoon with a satisfied moan. "It's good Pink's. You make really good chili..."
"Th...Thanks Dashie... The other stuff should be ready, so I'll get it all set up for you... You can just... sit at the table while I do all the kitchenie stuff..." Pinkie giggled and grabbed the spaghetti pot in her hooves, carefully scooping out the noodles into the bowl.
She then took the sauce from the back element and drizzled it over the spaghetti. She did the same thing twice and moved onto the soup, using a soup ladle to remove the contents of the pot into the bowls.
Nodding with a job well done, Pinkie turned to find that the pegasus was still watching her carefully maneuver around the small space, "Oh, Dashie... Here you go... Dinner is served." She smiled pleasantly at Dash and waited for her to take the bowls.
A strong appreciative feeling washed over Dash. Carefully taking the bowls, she nuzzled Pinkie's cheek affectionately and pulled away quickly once she realized what she was doing. "I...uh.. Thanks Pinkie." Flushing brightly, she carefully carried the bowls to the table and settled into her seat.
Pinkie felt as if her face caught on fire. Determination set firmly within her as she marched straight up to Dash. "Dash...I know you said it was too dangerous for me to know, but...I want-no...I DESERVE to know. Please! Tell me why I can't know your feelings! Why are you acting this way!"
Dash leaned back in her chair as far as she could. Pinkie's stare was hard and unwavering. Her hooves rested on the armrests of the chair, leaving Rainbow trapped. Turning her head away from Pinkie, Dash muttered out an answer.
Straining her ears, Pinkie leaned closer to Dash, "What was that?"
Jerking back to face Pinkie with a pained expression covering her face, Dash ground out irritatedly, "Because I think I LOVE you!"
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.