Chapter 5: A Dashing Welcome
The door opened, revealing Rainbow Dash. Her mane was slightly but noticeably disheveled. She looked surprised to see another pegasus at her door step, let alone one dressed in a military uniform. After a brief moment of surprise and confusion, the mare recognized the stallion, and smiled.
"Well if it isn't Hotshot himself!" cried Rainbow happily.
'Why does she always use that?' thought Shadow, as he grinned awkwardly in an attempt to hide his frustration.
"Um… Dash, ixnay on the hotsay," Shadow muttered.
Rainbow Dash confusedly asked, "What? I don't…"
"It's not important," Shadow said, finishing Dash before she could continue, "How've you been?"
Dash frowned at the obvious change of subject, but replied, "Fine, fine."
A short, awkward silence followed, as Shadow fidgeted about.
"Wanna come inside?" Dash asked finally, stepping to the side and indicating to walk in.
Shadow accepted reluctantly, and walked inside. The front hall was a large room, with equally large columns adorning either side. A staircase ahead led upstairs and banked left part way up. All things considered, Shadow was surprised. He didn't take Dash for a clean freak, especially with her rather unique personality. The room was spotless, aside from a pile of books and various oddities that lay at the bottom of the stairs.
"Sorry, it's a little messy," Rainbow remarked, with a slight giggle as she flew over to the pile of books, "I was carrying these when you knocked, it start-… was unexpected."
Shadow again was surprised, as he watched Dash begin to gingerly scoop up the books and replace them on various shelves. He would not have pegged her as an avid reader, let alone an occasional reader.
"No worries. You should see my bunk back at November," chuckled Shadow, moving over to her and helping place some of the books back where they belonged, "it's the definition of messy."
As Dash placed the final few books on the shelves, she took great care to straighten her mane.
"November?" she said, as she looked back at Shadow.
"Oh," Shadow said, in a sudden realization, "November Air Force base. It's where I've been station for the past eight months."
Dash landed with a slight flourish in front of Shadow, peering about to check for further misplaced items or books. She indicated for Shadow to follow, and the two entered a small living room, with several pillows about the room. Storm noted that Rainbow Dash was much less excited than his previous encounters with her. On the other hand, she seemed tense, which could indicate her restraining her excitement.
As they sat down, Dash asked Shadow, "So how did it go with Canterlot?"
Shadow sighed slightly, and began to tell the happenings in Canterlot, again. After concluding the story, Storm glanced out the window, and noticed it was mid-late afternoon.
Before he could say anything, Rainbow Dash fired off another question, "So what are you doing in Ponyville?"
"I'm on temporary leave," Shadow answered, "and I thought, where better to spend it than here. I have nowhere to go home to."
"What about Cloudsdale? I'm surprised you didn't head home…" Dash quickly asked again.
"I don't really have a home, per say," Shadow replied slowly, beginning to get uncomfortable.
Dash pried once more, "What about your family? Friends?"
"Well I don't really know any friends that live in Cloudsdale, and my family… it's a long story... the short story is no."
More awkward silence followed. The semi-melancholy tone that lied underneath Shadow's answer was quite obvious. Shadow lowered his head, and stared down at the tile in front of him.
"Are you gonna elaborate or keep me guessing?" Dash questioned, lowering her head so it could be seen within his field of view.
"It's nothing. I…" Storm trailed off.
"Its fine, your secret is safe with me," reassured Dash, puffing her chest out slightly.
Looking down at the floor, Storm muttered, "Look it's… it's not important. It'll just ruin the mood."
"Alright then…"
