//------------------------------// // Distance [Saddish] (TwiDash) // Story: Breaches of Peace // by CalmNQuiet //------------------------------// Twilight slipped into the booth and picked up the phone. She took a deep breath and whispered out very gently: “Hey Dashie...” A pause. “H—Hey Twi.” The voice was scratchy and unclear, but it was definitely the voice of her marefriend. She smiled ever so slightly at the sound of the familiar voice. “How are you doing? Are you getting enough rest?” “I’m doing fine, Twi. Really. Plenty of fluids and rest. You don’t have to worry about me.” Her brow furrowed as the she picked up the distinctive sound of coughing at the other end of the line. “Are you sure you’re okay? That coughing doesn’t sound very good at all.” “Don’t worry, Twi. A little cough isn’t going to keep me down. I need to get going now. I’ll talk to you next week okay?” She started to protest. “But, we just started talking...” “I know, but I can’t stay up any longer. I love you, Twi. Take good care of yourself.” “I will. I love you Dashie.” She sighed and hung the phone up. She pressed her hooves against the glass of the booth as the tears welled in her eyes. “Damn it... I miss you so much.” She looked at her reflection and wiped the tears from her eyes. I promised to be strong. We’ll make it through this. After one last glance at the glass with a smile, she pulled herself out of the well-worn chair and headed home. * * * The next week, she returned promptly at the same time and entered the glass booth once more. She ran her hoof over the familiar phone and picked it up. As expected, Rainbow was waiting for her. “Hey Twi. I thought I’d wait for you on the line this time.” Twilight giggled and smiled at her reflection in the glass. “That’s sweet of you Dashie. I brought the latest copy of Daring Doo. I don’t know if you can get books, but at least I can read it for you.” “Wow... That’s, that’s awesome. I’d love to have you read it to me. Just let me get comfortable.” “Okay. Let me know when you’re ready.” Twilight opened the book and laid it out on the table in front of her. She closed her eyes serenely and waited. Her eyes shot open in a panic as she heard a loud crash over the phone. “Dashie? Dashie! Are you okay?” No answer. “Dashie! Answer me!” She pounded frantically against the booth to vent her simultaneous fear and frustration. “T...Twi...” The weak voice barely registered in Twilight’s mind. “I’m going to need a raincheck on Daring Doo.” Rainbow’s shallow breaths slowed every word and violent bouts of coughing interrupted each gasp. “Twi... I love you...” “Dashie!” She slammed her hoof into the table helplessly as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you! Don’t—” Before Twilight could finish, she was pulled out of the booth by the attendants. She flailed wildly in protest for a few minutes before finally giving in. * * * A few days later, a letter arrived for Twilight. She ripped it open and read it frantically. After the first few sentences, she dropped the letter and galloped out the door. She was gone before the letter touched the ground. She barged into the room with the glass booth and kicked open the door to the left. The loud protests of the attendants fell on deaf ears. She closed the distance between Rainbow and herself and sealed their lips in a deep kiss. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she held her marefriend tightly in her hooves. After a tense few minutes she pulled away and looked at Rainbow blearily. “Don’t... ever scare me like that again. I love you so much.” “I love you too, Twi.” That afternoon, Rainbow Dash checked out of Ponyville Hospital after a full recovery.