//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eight - Loss 
// Story: Two Eyes, One Heart 
// by Tropical Applejack 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash woke up the morning following the good news feeling refreshed and ready to greet the day. Today, Pinkie Pie would be released from the hospital, and she was recovered! The pegasus tossed the covers off her cloud bed and bolted for the door. She decided that she wouldn't stop until she got to Sugarcube Corner; that was where Pinkie would be for sure. The breeze gave her the assurance that everything was fine. Was that the truth, though? After all, the weather was what brought Pinkie's downfall in the first place.

The cyan mare glided down through the marketplace, only slowing herself once or twice to steer around the cart vendors. Once she saw the bakery was within a hundred foot radius of her, she planted her hooves into the ground - a move that would cause most pegasi to stumble and fall flat on their face. Not Rainbow Dash, though; she was trained in doing that. She skidded with perfect balance to a dead stop. The marketplace was bustling that morning with several ponies whose names were unknown to her, yet their talents were perfectly described by what they sold and the images on their flanks. Rainbow stood by the door to Sugarcube Corner and waited.

And waited.

Minutes felt like years as the sun moved ever slightly across the eastern side of the sky, warming the skin of those in its light. That same light crept slowly over Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash, the cart vendors, and the plain. Dash watched while it did this. She was bored; she wanted to see Pinkie again already! And as her eyes met the edge between the horizon and the plains, she saw her. She saw her love rising up with that pink, poofy mane she loved seeing so much. That small curve of pink seemed to bounce with each small step. That was strange to see Pinkie walking as opposed to bouncing like she normally does... maybe the earth pony was trying to sneak up on Rainbow Dash but to no avail. 

Rainbow shook away the small wave of uneasiness as Applejack appeared by Pinkie's side, gently holding onto the party pony's hoof in an effort to lead her forward. The group of friends didn't often do that without actual reason, but Rainbow Dash did hear once that they were cousins. Yeah! That was the reason, right?

The two ponies rose up from the horizon and made their way steadily over to the bakery. Pinkie wasn't smiling.

"She just hasn't seen me yet," Rainbow thought, "She'll smile when she does. Come on, Pinks."

They passed many vendors. If the sellers were wearing hats, they quickly removed them and bowed to Pinkie and only put their caps back on when she was out of range. Applejack spotted Rainbow Dash and gave her a look of regret, softly shaking her head. They came within speaking distance, only feet away, and stopped. AJ patted Pinkie on the back. "Hey, Pinkie? Rainbow's right here," Applejack said softly. Rainbow Dash tilted her head; Pinkie was already looking right at her.

Then the rainbow-maned pegasus saw the film over her lover's eyes. Her heart dropped into her innards and kept her in disbelief as Pinkie moved her head around. "Dashie? Where are you?"

Rainbow's world was broken in that moment. There was no way. She must have been faking it. "Pink- Pinkie..?" she stuttered. Pinkie leaned forward and hugged Rainbow Dash tightly. Rainbow obviously hugged back, but she could feel the tears coming. "You're... blind?"

Pinkie Pie started to cry at the same time as Rainbow. "Surprise."

"How could this happen?" Rainbow sobbed, but she already knew the answer to that question. "I'm so sorry, Pinkie.... I could've stopped this. If I had just helped march you through that damn storm-"

"Dashie," Pinkie whispered into Dash's ear, "it's okay. I chose to go to the meadow the second time."

"It ain't either of yer faults," AJ cut in. "Nopony decides where lightning strikes, so neither of ya are to blame. C'mon, partner, let's get y'all inside so that we can talk."

* * *
From that point to the end of the day, Pinkie and Dash spent their time discussing what they'd do. All the while, they were squeezing each other in some way. AJ was simply set to be her guide because she was the closest-living relative recognized by the hospital. She was entrusted with helping Pinkie around with her daily routine until she could get it down herself using the vibrations around her and memory. Perhaps that wouldn't be that hard; there were only so many things one could do as a baker. The real problem came at night.

The first night was the worst. Pinkie had no idea where she was in the dream or what was happening, but she could feel something attacking her. Cuts and scrapes and bruises and even burns could be felt sprouting up all over her body, and she was powerless to stop what was doing this. No matter how hard she tried to shake the things in the dark away, they latched onto her.

Luna took no more than a minute to arrive in the desperate Pie's dream, but that minute felt like hours upon hours for the one under assault. In quick action, the princess of the night cast away the shadowy beings and put one hoof around mare - attempting to comfort her. Pinkie, however, thought it was another attack and began to punch, buck, and bite at whatever it was. Only the soothing sound of Luna's voice stopped her. "It's okay, Pinkie Pie. It's me... Luna." Princess Luna took one look into Pinkie's faded eyes and shook her head. "Oh dear... you cannot see, can you?"

Pinkie sniffed up tears as she shook her own head, confirming what Luna had asked.

"These beings will not leave you alone easily. Please, allow me to link your dream with another."

"Dashie!" Pinkie begged. "I wanna be with Dashie!"

"Of course."

The rest of that horrible night consisted of Rainbow Dash getting the biggest mental exercise of her life dragging dark creatures from Pinkie and beating them into small puffs of smoke. Every night for the next two weeks was the same way. Pinkie's dream would be linked with Dash's; Rainbow would spend the night fighting what monsters came, and Pinkie would thank Rainbow Dash the following day.

The days themselves were much different. Pinkie had to cope with her blindness during everything. Her good memory helped to keep her from misplacing things and locations in the bakery, but there was still the occasional slip where she'd accidentally put pepper into the cookies instead of salt. Often, she was excused for this action, and she was thankful for this... but she still felt slightly down when she made silly mistakes such as that.

On a warm Sunday, when the day was warm and when the air was reinvigorating, Rainbow Dash offered to take Pinkie Pie to the park. There was something for her to see. Well... at least know.

* * *