(Please note: this chapter has been re-written. I suggest you read that version.)
"When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?" - Anonymous
Rarity stepped back inside the Boutique, closing the door gently. The sun had set, and Luna’s moon crept along the sky, bathing Ponyville in a soft light. Rarity lost herself in thought. Her smile faded away, realizing the importance of the recent revelations.
“Rainbow Dash admitted her feelings to me.. and I lied to her.. I said I couldn’t say ‘I love you’.. right to her beautiful face. Why would I lie to her like that? I’ve been wanting to work up the nerve to say that to her for months.. and I turn her down?”
The harsh reality struck Rarity’s heart. She turned Rainbow Dash down because she, herself, wasn’t ready to confess her own feelings toward the pegasus.
“I had an opportunity, and I decline it due to my own fear? I’m a coward.”
Rarity paced the Boutique, criticizing herself for being fearful.
“Maybe I could talk to Rainbow Dash..? Maybe I could.. no, no, she’d probably be upset for my appearance so early after I..”
Rarity remembered Dash’s last words before she left.
“I am, Rarity. You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’. You’re independent, and I like that. You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.”
“You’re independent, and I like that.”
Those specific words replayed in her head.
“No, I’m not independent. I need you, Rainbow Dash..”
“You don’t give into pressure. And I’m glad you didn’t say ‘yes’ just because you felt you’d disappoint me.”
“I do give into pressure.. I gave into myself.. I turned you down.. my trepidation got the better of me..”
“You turned me down without an apology. No ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘will you forgive me’.”
This part stabbed Rarity’s heart. Rainbow Dash meant this sincerely, a way to ease Rarity’s guilt; but to Rarity, it was a blow she couldn’t shake off.
“I turned her down without an apology..”
A tear came to her eye.
“I was heartless enough to not apologise for my own mistake?”
She was sobbing loudly at this point.
“I need to fix this.”
With these final thoughts, she ran out of the Boutique, heading towards Dash’s cloud home.
Dash had just settled down, taking in the events that had happened.
“Well, I guess I can’t blame her. I mean, why would she like me? I’m not some glamorous prince, or a charming stallion. I should have guessed Rarity wouldn’t be into mares.”
Rainbow Dash sighed.
“I hope we’ll still be friends.. maybe we’ll both just forget this ever happened?”
This thought soothed Rainbow Dash. She knew they both could never entirely forget the events of tonight, but she hoped that they could be put behind them.
“Maybe I should just head to bed. I’ve got weather patrol tomorrow, after all. Don’t want to be tired and distracted when I need to be kicking clouds.”
She had just headed up to bed when she heard a faint voice coming from seemingly below her. She looked out of a window.
“Hello..?”
Staring back up at her were the most beautiful and enchanting eyes Rainbow Dash had ever seen.
“Rarity..? What are you doing here? It’s late.”
Rarity didn’t seem to notice the hour until Dash had pointed it out. Rarity beckoned for Dash to come down. Rainbow nodded quietly, moving down to the door and hastily, but quietly, gliding down to the ground.
Rarity was panting. She had galloped from the Boutique to Rainbow Dash’s home. She stood there, wordless, until she caught her breath.
“What do you need, Rari--”
Dash was cut off by Rarity, who began to talk a thousand words a minute.
“Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry for what I did at the Boutique. I let fear get the best of me, and I made a stupid, STUPID, mistake. I said no, right in your face; your divine face. I turned down the best mare a pony could ask for, all because I was afraid of myself. The truth is, Rainbow Dash.. I love you.”
Rarity embraced the pegasus, crying on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what to think. This was all out of character for Rarity. Dash was used to her being strong, graceful, and sophisticated. This all seemed out of place. Nevertheless, Dash was fond of this sensitive side to her. She hugged the unicorn back tightly, comforting her to the best of her abilities.
“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash.. I’m so, so sorry..”
Dash pulled away enough to look into Rarity’s now watery eyes.
“Rarity, what are you sorry for? There’s nothing to be sorry about. You said you were afraid, but you just stood up to your fears and told me what you felt. That’s the bravest thing I’ve seen someone do.”
Rainbow Dash smiled warmly at Rarity, who was still giving small sobs as she looked back into the pegasus’ eyes. Rarity seemed to calm down slightly, but her eyes unlocked from the pegasus’. She looked at the ground, and spoke, a slight sob escaping in between words.
“I’m sorry for being so dramatic about this.. but I just couldn’t stand it when I thought about what I said.”
Dash continued to look at the unicorn, a more serious expression taking her face.
“Rarity, like I said, there is nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I should be the one to be sorry..”
Dash frowned, a sad tone entering her voice.
“After all, I’m the one who put you on the spot..”
Rarity, now recovered from her crying, looked back up at Rainbow Dash.
“Rainbow.. I would have never said anything to you if you hadn’t done that. It was that push that let me get my feelings out. And I thank you for that.”
Rarity nuzzled Dash slightly, and Dash looked up.
“Thanks,” Dash said softly.
Dash looked at Rarity, a slight concern in her expression.
“We still have something to do, though..”
“What is that?” Rarity spoke, looking back up at the cyan pony.
“How are we going to break this to our friends?”
Rarity seemed less concerned about the issue.
“Well, we have all been ever so understanding of each other, no matter what we did, have we not? I think they’ll understand us.”
Dash nodded, taking comfort in Rarity’s words.
Rarity and Dash both yawned, realizing how tired they were.
“Dear me; I’m exhausted.”
“Yeah, me too. I think today has been more tiring than when I flew that marathon.”
Rarity smiled slightly as she laid down, curling up in the grass. She closed her eyes, peace taking over her body. Rainbow Dash walked over to Rarity, lying down next to her on the grass. The moon now hung high in the sky. Stars filled the night with their glistening light. The crisp grass smelled ambrosial. Everything was quiet as the crickets sung their soft lilt.
Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, smiling, as she lied her head down on the grass.