//------------------------------//
// Catching Up 
// Story: A Respite 
// by Night_Prism 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 2


A cloud, molded in the shape of a grandfather clock chimed twice, a quiet bell-tone that reverberated around the expanse of a peculiar sky house. The interior was in a state of disarray; papers scattered across the floor as if the office had grown limbs that stretched through the structure's expanse. The house was empty, save for myself, who at time was found fast asleep. Fast asleep, that was, until I was disturbed by a sharp rap from the front door.

"Who, in the good name of Celestia, has the nerve to call at this hour," I grumbled, sliding out of bed.

Groggily shaking my head, I stumbled down the stairs, still disoriented from sleep, and trotted over to the door throwing it open, making no attempt to conceal my irritability at the visitor.

Or so I would have been irritated, had it been anyone else on my doorstep than an old friend. Her face was turned down away from me, concealed by a mess of techni-colored mane, like his own, more disheveled than he had ever seen it before.

"Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here this late?"

And then she raised her head, and her visit became that much more obvious to me; her eyes glistened and swam with tears, edged by the reddening puffiness that told me she'd already been crying for some time.

"I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have woken you up for this. I'll... I'll go."

She turned to leave, but that was as far as I let her. "Like hay you are, get your flank inside, now," I said, grabbing her hoof, leading her through the doorway and into the living room. 

That was about as far as she made it, collapsing on the couch as the tears got the best of her, streaming in lines down her face. I started towards her, then hesitated for a moment, remembering how badly the last time had... ah the hay with it. Her sobs became muffled as I wrapped my legs around her, and she buried her head in my chest.

"Dash... I don't know what happened, but I'm here for you. I know, it's not okay right now. But we're gonna make it soon, okay? You hear me?"

I kept the rambling up for a while, the encouraging words that she had once used for me so long ago. And slowly, her crying slowed, and soon stopped. I paused while she spoke.

"I'm.. I'm sorry Specs. I got caught up with everything, and it's just too much for me right now. I know, I haven't talked to you much since flight school and that dance and..."

"Shhh. Hey. It's all good. Don’t worry about that. I know, you've been busy with your own life now. But you've always been welcome here, no matter what. That's not ever gonna change."

She broke down again at my words, but not as badly as before.

"Specs, I don't know what I'd do without you. I can't talk to my other friends, not about this. They'd... they'd hate me, judge me. But I mean, how could they understand? They don't even know... yet..."

"Dash, you're still not making sense to me yet. Nothing new, I know," I said, eliciting a half-hearted chuckle from her. "Let's get you off to bed, it's late enough as it is. We'll talk this over in the morning, okay?"

I helped her off the couch beside me and walked her up the stairs to the guest bedroom, on the opposite side of the hall from my own room. It took me a minute, but I dug out the spare blankets and hastily set them up on the bed. Meanwhile, Dash stood by the door, quiet. I moved to help her into the bed, and she turned over to one side, already restless. I paused by the door on my way out, but then she spoke.

"Specs?"

"Yea, Dash?"

"I... I feel silly for asking this. But... part of my problem? I'm lonely... I feel like nopony will ever want me.... Nopony ever has, but..."

"Don't even believe that for a second." My voice abruptly cut her off. "You're many things, including my best friend, and you're lying to yourself if you say nopony's ever wanted you."

I find myself suddenly thankful for the darkness to cover my feelings accompanying the revelation, but what could I say? It'd been true ever since that dance back in flight school.

"Specs? After all this time?"

"Yes." I turned towards the door, slightly embarrassed and moved to walk out.

"Specs."

The sound of my nickname once again stops me, my hoof on the doorknob.

"Dash?"

"I... I don't want to be alone tonight. Not after today. Please, don't leave me here... tonight?"

My world stops for a moment, as the gravity of what she said hit me. But me... I couldn't have said no to her if I wanted to in the first place. I sigh, and then spoke.

"I never could leave you, Dash, and I suppose I certainly can't tonight."

I walked back to the bed, and she scooted over to the right side, shifting the covers as I lift myself in, settling down. I turned to face her, and find her own eyes looking back into my own. The brilliant, beautiful magenta eyes that caught my heart so long ago, searching for something, lost amidst a sea of confusion. A lone pair of gems shore amidst the darkness.

Tentatively, I reached my arm out and wrapped it around her in a loose hug, and she snuggled closer in response.

"Dash?"

"..yes?" 

"Are you sure you're okay with this tonight? I mean, it's been a while and..."

"I need you tonight."

Those words reassure, yet terrify me. They're invigorating, yet so heartbreaking at the same time. Ah, but the hay with it; I get one night that my heart thought it was never going to have. Call it my guilty pleasure if you will, but for tonight, all that matters is Dash, and just as importantly, what she means to me.

"Goodnight Dash."

She leaned her head forward, resting on my chest; I can only pray she doesn't feel my nervous heartbeat that beats all the more strongly as she murmured back.

"Goodnight, Spectrum."