//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Notice Me // by GameAct3 //------------------------------//         To Twilight, it felt like hours had passed since Rainbow left the spa with Pinkie. In reality, it had only been about a half an hour. That whole time, she kept thinking and thinking, repeating over and over the same thought. Nothing. Her mind was a total blank. At one side, she’d just came to terms that this “crush” was a real thing, not a fantasy. On the other side, Rainbow’s explanation about who she is left a noticeable imprint. She said that she wasn't a lesbian all that time ago, but she wasn't being serious, just annoyed at the time. This kept Twilight’s mind arguing with itself, that she basically shut down and was just sitting in the hot tub, staring blankly at the ceiling.         That changed as soon as the jets kicked on, shocking life back into the Alicorn. Finding the spa no longer relaxing, Twilight got out, dried off and proceeded to leave the establishment. On her way out, she ran into Rarity and Fluttershy, thanked them again for the invitation but needed to get back to the library. Of course, the two friends were concerned and wanted to ask what was wrong, but the aura and demeanor that Twilight gave off suggested that she'd break down at any moment. After a brief goodbye, and that Rarity would be by later, Twilight headed out. As per her word, Rainbow did pay for both her’s and Twilight’s time. The walk home for Twilight felt more bleak than earlier. Some ponies that she passed by noticed her change in mood from before, but didn't know how to react to a princess who looked depressed. Twilight just kept walking, the world around her was just background noice. That was when an old friend reared it ugly head around. Maybe you should just forget about it.  It spoke in Twilight’s voice, but knew it's name all too well: Doubt. With a friend like it, who’d need enemies. “I don't want to.” She said out loud, though she didn't really care at this point who herd. Oh come now Twilly. Don't you think this whole “You and Rainbow” has gone on long enough? Look at you, it's causing you to stress out. She's even said that she's not looking to date any pony. “It's only been for a couple days. And she said that she doesn't know what she wants right now.” A hint a of anger dripped from those words. Sounds like a rejection to me. Besides, aren't we in the same figurative boat as Rainbow? “I already accepted what I am and what I want.” Really? Then why am I here? You say that you like mares. Even more, you even say that you like Rainbow. But you know, deep down, that you're still just as confused as when you were a filly. Staring at no one in particular, Twilight fixed an angry glare, steam huffed out of her nostrils. “We never talk about that. Ever!” She practically screamed that last part. I’m just trying to make a point. That you don't know what you actually want and that Rainbow may not be the one. There are plenty of seaponies in the ocean. Like that one stallion who does those Everfree Forest tours with his sister. Timber… Spruce is his name I believe. Twilight’s expression turned from anger to disdain. She had met both Timber and his sister, Gloriosa Daisy, a couple of times before. And while she did find him a little attractive, he guy felt more like a tool and tried way too hard to impress her. Only an idiot would fall for a guy like that. Plus his sister felt like she was a bit crazy. “Thanks, but no thanks.” Well, just remember this: how hard do you think it'll be if Rainbow doesn't want to be with you? By the way, tree. BAM!!! Twilight’s vision swirled with double of everything. Tiny Rainbow Dashes flew around her head as she fell over. She moaned as the pain enveloped her skull. And her horn, oh her horn. The most sensitive part of a unicorn’s body. It hurt so much that she almost threw up her lunch. Thankfully, there were ponies around to help her up, and double thankfully that the tree she ran into was the library. At least her internal monologue was over with. Now was the time for the sweet relief of ice and aspirin. --- An hour. Rainbow Dash had been flying all around Sweet Apple Archers for a whole hour trying to find the other half of Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s offspring, Pound Cake. As soon as he reached the apple orchard, it turned into a game of hide in seek. In the air, Rainbow searched through all the clouds that were over the field while Pinkie search the trees on the ground. Normally, Rainbow would have loved to find a nice cloud or sturdy branch to nap on. But the frantic search for the colt was taking forever, and when ever they did find him, he'd zip off and hide somewhere else. To make things more annoying, Pinkie was also turning this into a game, taking twice as long as Dash to find him. After searching about 20 clouds, Rainbow sat on the last cloud to take a sort break. She looked back where she came from and couldn't see her pink friend, suggesting that she was still search about a mile behind. Sitting there, Rainbow started to play with the cloud a bit, doing what some would call a sculpture. Though she'd never admit it, Dash love cloud sculpting as a filly and had a talent for it, though flying always came first. She only sculpted when she was bored and flying or reading wouldn't cheer her up. Rainbow mindlessly worked the sculpture up, shaping and forming it into a life-sized pony. Then added wings to it, though a bit bigger than normal Pegasus wings, and then added a horn to the “head” of the pony. If she was done, the sculpture would have looked like a manikin for a small Alicorn. Dash continued, adding a mane and tail. Finally, a cutie mark on each “flank”. Standing before Dash was a cloud replica of the one and only, Twilight Sparkle. Dash sat there, staring into the blank “eyes” of the sculpture she made, not even questioning why she made it. She knew exactly why she made cloud Twilight, because she wanted to. “Sup, Twilight?” Rainbow said in a horsed voice. When the sculpture didn't respond, Rainbow automatically provided it a voice, “Hi Rainbow Dash. What have you been up to today?” Said Rainbow in a higher pitch voice. “Oh you know. Being awesome, seeing you at the spa, chasing Pound Cake, having a mental breakdown. The usual.” Her eye twitched a bit, “Wow Dash, that’s amazing. You are a great pony.” “Pfft. I'm just being me. Besides, I'm not as great as you are. You're a princess, that is way more cooler than I'll ever be.” “Oh Dash, you're being modest. You know I don't want my title of princess to be this grand thing.” “So why don't you notice me?” “I don't know Dash, maybe you're not doing something right.” “What haven't I done? I've tried so hard to talk to you, but every time, things just end up falling apart.” “Maybe you should just give up. I'm sure that if we were meant to be together, we would have by now.” Rainbow sighed. Maybe this was all for naught. If she and Twilight were meant to be together, then wouldn't they already have that relationship she desperately wanted? “Rainbow Dash!” A voice not by Rainbow or her Twilight impression called out. Dash shook her head out of the crazy state and looked over the cloud to see Pinkie Pie along with Pound Cake sleeping in her hooves. “There you are Dash,” she called up to her, “I found Pound Cake crashed out in a birds nest. Poor thing ran out of juice.” It took a minute for Rainbow to register what was going on. When everything clicked, she sighed that everything was over and flew down to Pinkie. “At least the little squirt is safe now. Time to get him home for an overdue nap, and one for me too.” Rainbow said. The two friends walked back to town. Along the way, Pinkie decided to speak up, “I couldn't help but overhear your ‘conversation’ with yourself.” Rainbow almost tripped and fell over with embarrassment, “How much did you hear?” Her cheeks couldn't get any redder. “Well, I didn't hear much of the first part but I did hear something about giving up pursuing Twilight?” Rainbow sighed, “I know you're trying to help me Pinkie, and I'm truly grateful, but what if this wasn't meant to be? What if I'm just chasing some dream that even Luna couldn't fulfill? It just feels like things just get worse every time I try.” Rainbow expected a scolding or something from Pinkie. Instead, she placed her free hoof on her shoulder and spoke in a soft voice, “I understand,” this really caught Rainbow off guard, “it is hard to find the courage to and follow through with admitting your feelings to the pony of your dreams. And even doesn’t want to, you both have a good friendship that will never break so you'll never lose that. But you'll never know unless you try.” That was certainly unexpected advice, from Pinkie Pie no less. But she was right. Even if Twilight didn't want that kind of relationship, that wouldn't mean the end of everything. Sure the initial pain would hurt at first, but she and Twi would still be friends. And maybe, in time, things would change and they could try again. All in all, Rainbow really had nothing to lose. Feeling her spirit begin to rise, she side hugged her friend, “Thanks Pinkie. That helped a lot.” “Good,” Pinkie said returning the hug, “now say the words.” Dash rolled her eyes, “Please notice me, Twi-Senpi.”