//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Confronting Rainbow Dash // Story: TwiMacVerse Part 2: Love is a Many Splendid Pile of Crazy // by ThatBronyWithTheClipOns //------------------------------// Bookworm went back to his hotel room, packed his bags, and headed to the train station. Rainbow Dash noticed him while perched on a cloud, and flew down to talk to him. “Hey bookie,” said Rainbow Dash. “What’s with the suitcases?” “I have to head back to Manehattan,” said Bookworm. “My publisher insisted so I can show him some of my new material.” “Oh,” said Rainbow Dash with a disappointed look. “I see. Well, when do you think you’ll be back?” “I’m not sure if I’m coming back, Rainbow Dash,” said Bookworm. “What,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “But…why!?” “Rainbow Dash…” began Bookworm, but clearly struggling. “How do you feel about me?” “You’re an awesome stallion,” she said. “I have a great time hanging out with you.” “But am I more than just that,” he asked. “Am I just some friend? Or do you think of me in a more romantic sense?” “Why would you ask that,” she asked. “We’ve been out on dates, we’ve made out constantly. Are you upset that we haven’t gone any further?” “I don’t care about that aspect,” he said. “But, you’ve given me no guarantee that you really care for me, or you’re just using me for a good time.” “What,” she exclaimed. “How the hell can you say that!?” “You’ve never even said how you really feel about me, Dash,” he exclaimed. “Oh sure you say I’m a cool stallion, but not whether you have any feelings for me in the romantic sense. I’ve been involved with fillies who do plenty of making out, but they never wanted an actual relationship.” “Why should I have to say how I really feel,” she asked. “Shouldn’t it be obvious!?” “You just don’t want to admit your feelings because you won’t think you’re cool,” he exclaimed. “Then you do know,” she exclaimed. “Knowing and hearing aren’t the same thing, Rainbow Dash,” he exclaimed. “You’re one to talk,” she yelled. “Sure, you’ve called me beautiful and said all the romantic junk. But I aint ever hear you say anything about how you really feel!” “So you want to know how I feel,” he yelled. “Damn straight I do,” she yelled back. “You really sure,” he kept yelling. “Just bucking say it already,” she screamed as loud as she could. “Fine,” he yelled. “I love you Rainbow Dash! More than I ever thought I could love somepony! You’re who I think about before I go to bed, and when I wake up! You‘re who I want to spend every moment of my life with! How‘s that for how I really feel!?” Rainbow Dash went totally wide eyed from this remark. Her heart start beating like mad, which shocked her considering she wasn’t even flying. Nopony had ever confessed feelings like this before; she couldn’t recall a pony ever even saying they liked her, let alone loved her! She shook her head a moment, regained her composure, and commented. “Well, that’s cool,” she said, trying to act as if it was just a casual conversation. “That’s cool…That’s cool!?” he exclaimed. “I just bared my heart to you, and you say that’s cool!? That’s it! I can’t take this anymore! I can’t stay here, if all I get is ‘That’s cool!’” “But…” Rainbow Dash began to say. “No,” Bookworm interrupted. “Goodbye Rainbow Dash. I’m going home.” Bookworm continued to walk towards the train station, his head and ears now slumped. Rainbow Dash was beginning to tear up some, but her pride wouldn’t let him see it. Instead she decided to just yell back at him. “Fine! Go on,” she yelled. “Who needs ya!? I can find plenty of stallions! I’m the top flyer in Equestria after all! Plenty of stallions would love to go out with me! You’re just some silly egghead!” Bookworm ignored her remarks; he knew they were lies, but they still hurt. But he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing the hurt by responding back to them. Instead, he just kept on walking to the train station. Rainbow Dash starting hitting herself on the head with her hooves, ran off to nearby cloud, and started crying her eyes out. She couldn’t believe how stupid she had just been. Pinkie Pie was hopping about, when she heard her pegasus friend crying. “Rainbow Dash,” yelled Pinkie Pie. “What’s going on!? Why are you crying!?” Rainbow Dash wiped away some of her tears, sniffled some, and flew down to talk to Pinkie Pie. “I bucked up big time, Pinkie,” said Rainbow Dash, trying to hold back her tears. “What happened,” asked Pinkie Pie. “Bookworm….Bookworm told me loved me,” said Rainbow Dash, still sniffling some. “But all I said was ‘that’s cool’ and he stormed off. He’s going back to Manehattan and says he’s not coming back!” “Oh no,” gasped Pinkie Pie. “That’s super awful! Poor Bookworm!” “What,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “What do you mean, Poor Bookworm!?” “He told you how he felt and all you said was ‘that’s cool,’” said Pinkie Pie. Nopony wants to hear that! I thought you loved him too?” “Whatever gave you that idea,” asked Rainbow Dash. “Common sense, duh,” said Pinkie Pie. “You’re always so happy when talking about him. And I can tell when you’re just thinking about him based on how you smile. It’s your special Bookworm smile!” “Oh man you’re right,” cried Rainbow Dash. “I tried being so cool around him, like I didn’t care! And now he’s gone!” “So go after him,” said Pinkie. “After everything I said,” said Rainbow Dash. “No way! I can’t! I just can’t!” “But Rainbow…” began Pinkie Pie. But Pinkie didn’t get to finish her sentence, as Rainbow Dash sped off as fast as she could to get back to her house. She didn’t want to see any other pony at the moment. “Oh no, Rainbow Dash is sad now,” said Pinkie Pie. “I should get some help…but I don’t think she’d want me telling anypony about what happened…but we didn’t make a pinkie promise…but then again, these are circumstances where a pinkie promise is probably self explanatory…I guess I should just let her be for a while…I need to learn to just let ponies have some space and let them sort things out on their own. I’m sure she’ll be back on her hooves in no time!” Despite her own pep talk, Pinkie Pie couldn’t help but sense Rainbow Dash’s depression wasn’t going to last a mere few days. But she also knew that Rainbow Dash would prefer some space right now. It was hugely conflicting for the Element of Laughter, because she wanted to make sure everypony was happy and smiling. She let out a big sigh, then began frowning. It wasn’t the kind of sadness, that would deflate her mane and tail, but she still felt bad she couldn’t help her good friend at the moment. Just then, Twilight Sparkle was walking by, when she noticed Pinkie Pie in a bit of a funk. “What’s wrong, Pinkie,” asked Twilight. “Oh, Twilight, I don’t think I can really say,” said Pinkie. “Let’s just say I have a friend who messed up big time, and now thinks she can’t fix it make it better and she won’t let me help her feel better. And now I’m feeling really sad for not being able to help, and I just wish I had some way of feeling happy again!” Twilight didn’t quite get everything Pinkie was saying; but it was clear she was sad. She knew a way to cheer her up, but it meant having to reveal the big news about her and Big Macintosh. But Twilight couldn’t stand to see Pinkie sad. “What if I told you that a party is needed,” Twilight asked Pinkie. “A party for what,” asked Pinkie Pie. “Big Macintosh and I are engaged,” said Twilight. “We hadn’t told everypony yet to just have some time for each other. But I think now is a good time to celebrate. What do you think?” Pinkie Pie began to grin hugely, eyes twinkling, and jumping highly in the air cheering loudly. “Yahoo,” yelled Pinkie Pie. “Oh my gosh an engagement part! I haven’t gotten to throw one of those in like forever! I’m so happy for you Twilight! I’ll start preparing right now and sending out invitations to everypony in Ponyville!” “Before you go, Pinkie,” said Twilight. “Let’s throw the party when Big Mac and I have an actual date set for the wedding. But you can still prepare for everything.” “Okie dokie lokie,” said Pinkie Pie. “We can have a pre engagement party that will lead up to the actual engagement part! The pre engagement can just be something small with some friends and family! And then we can have the actual engagement party with ever pony in Ponyville!” “I suppose that works,” said Twilight. “Great,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, who then sped off in a pink blur. Twilight was now alone. “Big Macintosh isn’t going to be super excited about this,” thought Twilight. “But I couldn’t stand to see Pinkie sad like that. And I’m sure Rainbow Dash will explain eventually how she messed things up with Bookworm.”