Rainbow Dash relaxed in the darkness of the tree, only to hear something. She looked up and realized it was Autumn Blaze climbing the outside of the tree and nestling up in its upper branches for the evening. She smiled a bit to herself, she wasn't sure why, but she was fairly certain that the kirin had made a choice. And it wasn't the choice that Rainbow Dash would have strictly preferred.
Rainbow Dash yawned gently as she got up. Rainbow Dash glanced at the door and saw a generous amount of sunlight coming through. She wasn't surprised, she liked to sleep in, and even when not doing it in purpose, she did it. Walking out she saw Autumn Blaze staring out at the forest. Rainbow Dash thought better than being loud but wasn't going to sneak up on her companion. "Good morning." She hesitated for a moment before nodding to herself. "Come to see me off?"
Autumn Blaze turned to look back at Rainbow Dash, smiling and nodded. She got up a moment later and walked over, giving Rainbow Dash a quick nuzzle before backing off, and inclining her head slightly. "Heh, yeah, well I was guessing after you went back up to the tree." Rainbow Dash motioned upwards. "It kind of seemed like you were setting things back to how they were when we first met.
Rainbow Dash looked out at the forest and raised an eyebrow. "I don't' suppose me visiting you all would be an option then? I mean we're really good people, ponies are peaceful." Autumn Blaze shook her head, a sad look in her eyes. Rainbow Dash nodded as she sighed. "Yeah, I mean I'd love to see you more but... I'm not sure I could leave all my other friends for a new adventure. Even with the most beautiful mare I've ever met." Autumn Blaze giggled and raised an eyebrow. "What? This is my last chance to compliment you!"
Autumn Blaze giggled again in appreciation and patted the ground in front of her. Rainbow Dash grinned as that command was rather obvious, walking over and lying down in front of the kirin. Autumn Blaze leaned her head forward and Rainbow Dash waited for what was to happen next. After a few moments, Autumn Blaze pointed at Rainbow Dash then leaned forward again. Rainbow Dash stared for a moment before realizing. "Oh!" She leaned forward as well, pressing her forehead to Autumn Blaze's. Following the kirin's lead by closing her eyes.
What Rainbow Dash couldn't see was Autumn Blaze's antler light up with light as they lie there, eyes closed, foreheads pressed together. After a few minutes, Autumn Blaze pulled back, smiling widely, causing Rainbow Dash to answer with another smile. "Well, that was a pleasant goodbye, I think?" The kirin giggled, but before Rainbow Dash could say anything else Autumn Blaze darted forward and gave her a gentle kiss right on the lips, before jumping back and grinning at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash blinked, completely caught off guard by the act, and slowly getting up she looked at Autumn Blaze quietly for a long moment before inclining her head to the kirin. Autumn Blaze smiled and copied the act, before turning and running off to the forest's edge, jumping up into the low branches of a tree. She turned and looked at Rainbow Dash, waiting. Rainbow Dash nodded to her one last time, before spreading her wings, and shot up into the sky, looking down one last time at the trees where she was sure that she was still being watched from, she rose up into the air further and further.
After Rainbow Dash reached the appropriate height she smiled to herself, she knew she couldn't outrun this melancholy, but she could sure try. And give Autumn Blaze a show at the same time. Taking a deep breath Rainbow Dash dove, gaining speed quickly as she approached the vaunted upper limits of her capabilities. Right before leveling off, she hit the speed that she'd been aiming for, causing the rainbow explosion of color and sound right over the clearing as she achieved her signature move, the sonic rainboom.
She shot off, over the treetops as she leveled off, smiling as she rode the burst of rainbow colors to speed her away from the place that she'd fallen for and had to abandon a beautiful stranger. She couldn't run from her feelings forever, but for now, the exhilaration of flight certainly did distract her from them.
Rainbow Dash sighed as she laid down in her bed back at the Cloudominium. She was technically supposed to be on duty but she had asked for a few days off. And Spitfire, much to Rainbow Dash's surprise had granted it. She suspected Cloud Chaser had something to do with that. Rainbow Dash had been over most of the story with her friend, and Rainbow Dash guessed that she had gone in and pressured Spitfire into accepting Rainbow Dash's request for leave. Or Spitfire was a lot more empathetic than Rainbow Dash gave her commander credit for and could see the melancholy that surrounded Rainbow Dash. She knew she'd get over it, it was a silly thing to get caught up on, but she did still feel some kind of connection to Autumn Blaze, no matter what kind of logic her brain tried to put forth.
Closing her eyes, Rainbow Dash fell asleep quickly, it had been a stressful and tiring day after all. She was half amused and half annoyed as her dream started off with her back in the clearing with the tree. She blinked, frowning as she realized she was aware she was dreaming, she had heard of lucid dreaming but she'd never experienced it. Then she smiled as she heard a voice from behind her. One she'd never heard before, but she knew to whom it belonged instantly. "That wasn't goodbye, Rainbow Dash. We will always find each other, every night, in our dreams."