//------------------------------//
// Cold Rejection 
// Story: Finding Hope 
// by Sir Alexander Wolfgang 
//------------------------------//

	For the next few weeks, everything seemed okay. The insults tossed at Dash meant less, and less to her, and she knew that, even if they did, there was not six, but seven people she could depend on to love her. Her friends would love her for who she was, Frozen Fire reminded her of that.
Things felt complicated at first, but they grew together. Dash would skip cloud duty, just to be with Fire. They would spend the day at SugarCube Corner with Pinkie, or even go to Sweet Apple Acres, and see Applejack. But more often than anything else, they raced. They were both speed demons by birth, so naturally they would compete. One could barely tell the difference between them, because of their coats. But this was not for the average citizens amusement. It was dimply to be together. To be with the pony who, Dash realized, saved her life, not once, but twice. And in the same day. Rainbow Dash owed her everything.
Of course, no body knew of their relationship but them. All that Dashie's friends knew, was that Frozen Fire was a good friend of hers. But they simply didn't know how far that friendship extended. They didn't know of the kisses, and nuzzles they stole when no one was looking. They hadn't the slightest clue, much to Fire's annoyance. Tensions ran higher, and higher. 




The two pegasi sped through the sky, cutting, and shattering clouds,  greeted with a moist refreshment from each. Air wipped at their hair, and held their fur pinned to their bodies. Dash was lagging behind, but she was gaining speed, fast. Her eyes watered, and it felt like the bones in her wings would rip from them any second now. She soldiered on, approaching from Frozen's flank, then soaring over her. She dropped just in front of her marefriend, letting her tail splash into her face. 
Frozen Fire faltered from this, what she did not expect. She slowed, slightly, then veered right trying to get around Dash. Her eyes watered, her head felt light. Though her vision was blurry, and slightly blocked by Dash's right wing, she could see their predetermined finish line, a mountain that jutted up from the earth, a cave having been burrowed through it. She winced, gaining speed, but Dash would not let up.
They zoomed through the cave, and out the other side. If you were watching, you'd think it was tie, but if you were Dash, you knew you had won.

Dash hovered, "Aww, yeah, still got it," she boasted, flexing her forelegs. She was confident, but clearly winded.

"Yeah, maybe, but I def', gave you a run for your money," Frozen smiled, breathing even heavier than Dash.

Dash flew slyly, deceiving Frozen Fire's vision, then reappearing right in front of her face, and delivered a quick peck on the lips. Dash smiled, sweetly, for once. She didn't know what it was, but something about Frozen Fire made her feel simply loving. Gave her feelings she didn't know she was capable of having. Like all she wanted to do was hold the other mare close, and never let go. She din't even feel that way about her friends.




Time would find them at SugarCube Corner, sipping milkshakes, and talking. They were the only ones here, at the moment. Pinkie had her hooves full, for once, and was in the kitchen, likely baking something she would force the two pegasi to taste-test for her. They didn't mind though. As long as they were together. 

Frozen Fire grazed her hoof across her glass, peeking up at Rainbow. "So, have you told your friends?"

Dash had been holding her milkshake above her head, humorously, and crudely letting it drain down her gullet. She brought it down, wiping away some of the some of the sweet, vanilla, shake. "About what?" She looked at Fire, clearly oblivious.

"Wha-about us, Dash," Fire looked almost hurt, "We're dating now, don't you think you should tell your friends?"

"O-oh, that. I-I don't think I'm ready, for that kind of- well that," Rainbow Dash stuttered, then continued her sloppy shake guzzling.

Frozen Fire sighed. "When are you going to be ready?" She said, sternly.

Dash stopped her slurping entirely, leaving a bit on the tip of her nose. "I-I don't really know. I mean, how would they take it?"

"They're your friends, Dash, they don't care who you love."

Dash sighed. "Yeah, you're right, but that doesn't make things any easier. I mean, it's like admitting to them that I'm exactly what everyone's been calling me, and it's hard for me to, ya' know-"

Frozen Fire held a hoof up to stop Dash from speaking, and did just that. "Yeah, Dash. I understand." She did not say it kindly, but as if she were exhausted. Like she couldn't take much more of this. "I'll see you tomorrow, 'kay?"

"I thought you were spending the night, tonight?" Dash felt selfish for asking, but she simply wanted to be closer to the pony. And getting intimate seemed like the best way to go about that. Especially since they had been seeing each other for some time now, and not so much as slept in the same bed as each other. Rainbow simply wanted to be closer.

"I know, Dashie, I'm sorry. I-I'm just tired, okay? Maybe tomorrow night." Fire stood up slowly, and neandered to the door. Before leaving she turned and gave Dash a curt wave with her hoof.

Rainbow Dash waved back, not knowing what to think. She slumped down in her seat. 

Pinkie walked around the counter, then zipped to Dash, startling the pegasus. Pinkie giggled. "Scared ya' Dashie?"

Rainbow Dash gathered herself, "N-no, no, I uh. No." 

"Hehe, sure Dash," she wiped the melted milkshake from the other mare's nose. "So, where'd your friend go?" Pinkie's nose almost touched Dash's. 

"Uh, home."

"Aww, I wanted her to stay. I cooked up some really good cookies I wanted you guys to try!"

Dash did like cookies. "Well, Pinks, I'm still here. I can try 'em."

"Yeah, I know, stay right there, 'kay?" Pinkie turned, speeding away as fast as she came, over the counter, and into the kitchen. Dash relaxed in her seat, when Pinkie startled her yet again, this time holding a tray of delicious looking cookies. 

Dash indulged. Instantly, her woes ceased troubling her.




Frozen Fire flew, not stopping for anything. Tears fell, and wind howled. She looked at the sun. It was just now starting to set, but the clouds had begun to block out much of the sunlight. They were gray. Rain again?, she thought. Her wings picked her up, bringing her closer, and closer to her house. Deep down. she knew what this evening would behold. A night of self loathing, and general feelings of that nature. She would cry. She would go to sleep that night, holding a pillow close to her, as if to substitute someone that loved her. She tried to fill her head with positive thoughts, but it was increasingly difficult. It was hard to feel positive when you felt like someone was only toying with your emotions.
She, finally, arrived at the dingie, single room, shack, that lied well out of town, and in the hills to the north, she called a home. It was raining now. She opened the door, and took it all in. On the walls, racing posters were pinned. The tacks used to hold them in place were used conservatively, usually only two were used to hold one up. As a result, the ends often curled. Where the walls did not hold posters of The Wonderbolts, or some other obscure flight team, they held medals, and other things that were a record of Fire's history. On a shelf, next to her refrigerator, were trophies that acted in the same way. These things were dear to her. But she still tried to ignore their existence. 
She considered reading, or distracting herself in some other way. She could not. She sighed, slumping into her bed. Tears welled up in her eyes. It felt like Dash was the last hope she had of finally finding someone, but that last hope was rejecting her. Her hooves found her second pillow, the one much larger than the one in which she laid her head. She pulled it close, snuggling it deeply, before pulling the quilt her mother had made for her up, to cover them both. She slowly drifted into sleep, balling her eyes out.