Sleepless Nights

by Goatmeal

Fight or Flight

Chapter 4: Fight or Flight

Applejack deposited the last basket of apples for the night by the barn, preparing them to be sold tomorrow in the market. It was dark out, the only source of light coming from the lantern set upon the house’s porch. Walking toward the house to clean up and get a good night’s sleep, she heard a thud from behind her. Looking back, she saw the source of the noise.

“Somethin’ wrong, Rainbow?”

Rainbow looked deeply troubled. Scratching the back of her neck, she replied, “Yeah. I kinda need to talk.” It was clear she didn’t want to.

Applejack took note of it. “Well, I’d be glad to help. We are friends, after all.” Applejack walked over to the wagon to get an apple, having missed dinner. Taking a bite she said, “You can tell me, you know. I won’t judge.”

Rainbow closed her eyes. “Twilight kissed me.”

Applejack choked on her apple. She coughed and spluttered, then said, “Well, that’s… that sure is somethin’.” She thought for a moment. “Anythin’ else?”

Having gotten the hard part out of the way, Rainbow said with a little more comfort, “Well, she also asked me out.”

Applejack waited for the rest. When nothing else came, she asked, “And?”

Rainbow looked confused. “And what?”

“What did you say?”

“What? No, of course!” Rainbow said as though it were obvious.

Applejack felt a slight pity for Twilight. “Of course? Why?”

“Well…” She stopped. She was at a loss for words. “Well, she’s… my friend.” She mumbled inaudibly afterward, but Applejack caught the word “mare”.

Applejack looked at Rainbow, who shrunk down and looked away in shame. The farmpony said angrily, “And what does that have to do with her feelin’s?”

“What?”

“Did it not cross your mind for one second that Twilight has feelin’s? How did she react when you said 'no'?”

Rainbow bowed her head, the feeling of guilt growing. “She started crying. That’s when I left.”

Applejack paused. She couldn’t believe her ears. Furious, she yelled, “Gosh darn it, Rainbow! You are the Element of Loyalty! How could you leave Twilight like that? When she needed somepony more than ever!”

“I… I just don’t know what to do!” Rainbow choked, tears coming to her eyes for multiple reasons. She shrunk down to the grass in despair, holding her hooves over her head to hide her tears.

Applejack felt her anger subside a little. “Listen, Rainbow. Twilight’s your friend. You have to go back and set things straight. Just try and imagine how she must feel right now.” She gave the pegasus an encouraging smile.

For a while, there was no response. Rainbow stood up, wiping the tears away. She spread her wings, ready to take off. Applejack smiled again, proud of the pegasus. She wanted to know something, though. “Rainbow, you didn’t say why you said ‘no’.”

“So?” she said in a constricted voice.

“Do you like her back?”

Rainbow responded coldly, “I need some time to think,” and took off. Applejack’s smile disappeared, disappointed. Shaking her head, she trotted back to the house.

- - -

Once again, Rainbow sat upon a high cloud above Ponyville, head bowed and eyes closed. She was angry, both at Applejack and at herself. How could she do that? I was the one who needed Applejack’s help, but she was only thinking about Twilight’s feelings. She moaned in sorrow as these thoughts wheeled in her head.

She remembered Applejack’s last question to her. “Do you like her back?” As much as she wanted to right then, she couldn’t bring herself to say ‘no’. Every time she tried, she remembered the moments they spent together in front of the fireplace. She had felt something then. She had felt warm, but not from the fire. From inside.

Then Twilight had to go and kiss me like that, she thought bitterly. Shame returned to her. Then I had to go and hurt her like that…

She opened her eyes, looking at the town before her. She remembered something she thought just yesterday.

I’d never leave Twilight hangin’, either.

Knowing what she must do, she took off from the cloud, heading for the library.

She just needed to answer one question before she got there.

- - -

Twilight sat cross-legged in front of the fire, head bowed and tears falling freely. The sleepover book lay ignored behind her. She couldn’t stop relaying the events that transpired inside her head. She had opened up to Rainbow, and had been rejected. Now she won’t even want to be my friend anymore, she thought, feeling more lonely than ever before.

Shaking slightly, she got up. She walked over to the staircase to go to her bedroom, deciding that she might as well go to bed, though knowing full well that sleep would not greet her tonight.

She heard a knock on the door from behind her. She felt her stomach drop. No, please no.

“Twilight?” Rainbow’s voice came muffled from the other side of the door. “Are you in there?”

Twilight considered ignoring it, but decided not to. She wanted to set things straight. Walking over and opening the door, she started, “Listen, Rainbow. I’m sorry. It was-”

Rainbow leaned in and kissed her, silencing her at once. Twilight’s eyes widened, though she didn’t pull back. She leaned in, glad with all her heart that she was kissing the pegasus, although the glee was mixed with confusion.

Rainbow pulled back, looking at Twilight sadly. “No, Twilight. It’s me who should be apologizing. I should’ve been more considerate of your feelings.” She looked down. “I still want to be your friend. Can you ever forgive me?”

Twilight smiled. “Of course I forgive you, Rainbow. We’re friends.” She paused, causing Rainbow to look up. “But what about the kiss?”

Rainbow blushed deeply, scratching the back of her neck. “Do you suppose the offer’s still open?”

Twilight kissed her again, quickly this time. She smiled warmly at the mare standing before her. “Of course, Rainbow.”

Comments

[Goatmeal]

Well, it's here. Sorry for the wait, everypony. I hope you all like it, because I am not continuing this any further. Though I did enjoy writing with all of you, it's not my cup of tea. Thank you all for the support and encouragement, and thank you all for all you do to make FIMFiction such a nice place.

Many thanks to FIMFiction and its wonderful community, who inspired me to write in the first place,
warlord487

[Goatmeal]

1122393 Thank you.

[Hellpony]

You didn't use the version I edited for you.

[Goatmeal]

1122408 Actually I did. I had changed some things I saw out of it, though. Your edits are still there, just mixed with new ones of mine.

[Platinum2094]

Great job on the final chapter.
Sad to end it so soon
Although it was fun while it lasted

[Agent Everfree]

seem a bit short to be fully honest what there is good but i dont know maybe im thinking of an epiloge or something
because the build up was strong and the middle was fun and this is the ending but thats just me

[KlutzJellyfish]

Wait I didn't read this chapter yet 'cuz I'm scaared :I

[KlutzJellyfish]

up no tis rocks :D

[Goatmeal]

1489142 Thanks, glad you liked it.

[Cheer]

You coulda got more out of the situations themselves but pretty good otherwise I would say.

[Goatmeal]

1973420>>1973484 This takes place before Lesson Zero.
Yeah, this is somewhat of an amateur story. Just a quick standard run-through of a TwiDash. I had written it because I read so much TwiDash I wanted to take a little part. Anyway, glad you liked it.

[Goatmeal]

Ooh, just broke a hundred favorites. Glad you guys liked it.

[MidnightBlaze16]

Rushed...but then look who's talking
Apart from that great ending.

[LurkingToRead]

Nope, too short. You can’t imply that Rainbow felt insulted by the implication she was gay and then not address that. You can’t not explain why/how Rainbow changed her mind. Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but either way, you need to account for Rainbow’s about-face.