//------------------------------//
// Pine Cones 
// Story: The Colours of Dusk 
// by Gallifrey 
//------------------------------//


The Colours of Dusk
by Gallifrey

Chapter Twelve
Pine Cones


Rainbow Blitz once again found himself standing at Dusk's front door, and once again he found his insides tying themselves into shoelaces. Steeling what little resolve he had, he knocked on the door and waited for an agonisingly long ten seconds.
The door opened and a puzzled looking Dusk looked out into the twilight. Blitz immediately noticed the slender cut on his face.

"Blitz? Is everything alright? It's nearly ten o'clock!"

Blitz didn't trust himself to talk, and instead shook his head as he entered. Dusk frowned at his friend's odd behaviour and shut the door behind him.

"Would you like some water?" Dusk offered, half out of manners, half to diffuse the silence that had fallen around them.

"Please," said Blitz, with some effort.

On the plus side, Blitz found it pleasant to be indoors where it was nice and warm; a chill had rapidly descended as he was walking. And it appeared that Spike had been put to bed, which was another bonus. He wasn't sure where Dawn was but she didn't seem to be downstairs.
Dusk, with a slight limp, walked over and handed him a glass of cold water. He looked Blitz over critically.

"Come," said Dusk, warmly, guiding Blitz into his living room and plopping him down on his sofa. "I can tell something's up," he said, sitting down next to him and shutting the door. "Is it something I can help with?"

Blitz raised a shaking glass to his lips and drank. This was officially the worst idea Applejack had ever had. He wanted to ask what was really going on between him and Dawn, but this was going to be bad enough without making it worse.

"Not exactly."

Dusk was bewildered. He opened his mouth but Blitz spoke again.

"I'm sorry," he said. It was two simple words, but Dusk had never heard Rainbow Blitz sound as sincere as he did then.

"Oh? Oh, it's fine!" said Dusk jovially as everything fell nicely into place. "I'm sure you had your reasons."

"I... what?"

"For leaving the other day," said Dusk.

"Oh," said Blitz wretchedly, "it's not that. I-It's about your balloon."

Dusk frowned politely for a second, then he felt an icecube slip into his stomach. No, it can't have been. Can it?
Blitz meanwhile felt a glacier sink through his body as Dusk's face aligned itself into one of disbelief.

"No," said Dusk flatly, standing up. "Y-You can't have!"

Blitz winced, bit his lip hard, and then nodded.

Dusk opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Blitz, arguably his best friend had almost killed them all. Something didn't quite compute in his brain, refusing to believe it. He felt shock, he felt disbelief, but most of all, he felt betrayal beginning to course through his veins, followed swiftly by its friend anger.

"I can't believe this!" he said. "You almost killed us! The Everfree could have caught fire! That balloon was a gift from my parents for getting into Celestia's school! What were you thinking!"

Dusk was shouting now. Blitz had never seen him lose his temper like this before, and found himself backing away. It was scary; it was like being viciously bitten by a loyal dog, and it hurt all the more for it. It became even more scary when he remembered how accomplished Dusk was with magic, he was weak and defenceless.
Unfortunately, when Blitz felt threatened, the only defence he knew was a good offence.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Blitz protested, "I didn't burst it on purpose!"

"Oh, I guess that makes it all okay then?" said Dusk, his sarcasm lashing at Blitz like a spitting viper. "As long as it was an accident, it doesn't matter that we could have died!"

Blitz fell to his haunches, desperately trying to rein in his own temper.

"Dear Princess Celestia," snarled Dusk, pacing up and down, dictating to thin air. "Today I learned that one of my friends almost burned the Everfree down and nearly killed me at the same time! I mean, you never think do you? You're so... so reckless! I'm surrounded by idiots!"

Blitz knew Dusk was only saying these things in the heat of the moment, that he was still shaken from the ordeal and that he wasn't himself, but that didn't stop it from wounding his heart, and neither did it stop him gritting his teeth.

"I didn't mean it," he said as civilly as he could, while his world crumbled around him.

"Right, okay, you didn't mean it," said Dusk. "Would you be saying these things if Spike had died? Or me?! Look me in the eye and say it," he demanded.

"'I just wish he'd leave me alone sometimes, you know?!'" burst Blitz suddenly, not being able to hold it back any longer. "'He just does my head in half the time.' What the fuck was that about?! I thought we were friends!"

Dusk stopped pacing and looked Blitz straight in the face.

"We were talking about my brother," he said, his voice dripping with saturated animosity. "Please tell me that wasn't what made you angry, for pony's sake, I thought better of you."

Blitz winced. The sheer disappointment in Dusk's voice was worse than anything so far.

"Dusk, I–"

"Look, today's been bad enough already without making it worse. Just... leave," said Dusk quietly. "I need some time to think."

"But–"

"Just go."

Dusk collapsed into a chair and stared unblinkingly at the floor. Blitz was torn, he wanted to hold the beautiful stallion and show him how sorry he was. Instead, he sniffed and motioned towards the door.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he opened it.

"I know," returned Dusk wearily, speaking into his hooves. There was no warmth in his voice.

With much pain and turmoil, Blitz forced himself to the door, and out into the night, not noticing the sheepish looking white mare who had been eavesdropping.
















One should never underestimate,
The power that language imparts,
Sticks and stones may break your bones,
But words can break hearts.



















Out in the darkness, a lost sheep walked with nowhere to go, for even his home seemed alien and unwelcoming. He considered taking up Derpy's generous offer and going to see her, but it was late. So through the night he walked, his mind punishing him for his foolishness, as minds tend to do.
The Moon hung low in the sky, dancing its celestial dance. Once or twice, Blitz felt as though someone was watching him; he half hoped it was Dusk, running out into the night to make amends with him, but no-one seemed to be there. Climbing a small hill on the edge of Ponyville, Blitz flopped down onto the soft grass at its crest and stared blindly into infinity.
That was the worst idea ever, he concluded after about a second's thought. He knew that was going to happen, he knew Dusk would get rightfully angry, so why did it still hurt him so? And why did Dusk seem even more cut up about it than he did?

Maybe I should just... give up, he thought, finally allowing himself to entertain the idea. I've gone and fucked everything up so much, there's no chance anymore.

He rolled over onto his belly, and found that he was looking at four, dark blue hooves. He looked up to see the smiling face of Princess Luna.

"Uh, hey," said Blitz, caught off-guard.

"There are many reasons a pony walks in the night," Luna began, as she helped Blitz to his hooves. "The desire for solitude, the search for a muse, the serenity of the night. ...the quaffing of too much alcohol..." She sniffed. "What brings a handsome stallion such as you out on a night such as this?"

Blitz didn't want to answer that, even to a Princess of Equestria; he snorted and turned his head away.
Luna looked piteously down at him. A thousand years on the Moon had given her the ability to notice loneliness at forty paces, and right now she could feel the heartache emanating from him as keenly as a tree can feel sunlight.

"Ah, that is another reason," she said sadly.

"What?" asked Blitz shortly. He wished Luna would leave him alone.

"Does it need saying?"

"Why are you here?" Blitz snapped, as Luna's words struck too close to home.

Luna didn't answer immediately, instead she looked up as a shimmering purple and gold shooting star fell out of the sky. Blitz followed her gaze and instantly wished he hadn't, the colours reminding him of Dusk.
Luna extended a feathered wing and gently patted Rainbow. He jumped at the initial contact, but soon he found it to be as comforting and as secure as a mother's hug. Blitz looked up again to see a sky blue shooting star fall from grace. Luna's grip tightened slightly.

"I understand your pain," she said, the weight of millennia heavy in her voice. "And I know it always looks hopeless. But I want you to do one thing for me."

"What?"

"Don't give up."

"Yeah, well, that's easier said than done," growled Blitz.

He looked at Luna, as if daring her to get angry at his rudeness. Luna merely smiled wanly and ran a hoof through his mane.

"There is always hope for those with the eyes to see it."

Bemused, Blitz watched as Luna faded back into the shadows.

"Wait! I–"

"Good luck, Rainbow Blitz," she called.

Then Blitz woke up.

He was still on the hill, he was still lying on the grass, now sparkling with dew. He still felt terrible, but he heard the dawn chorus as the eastern sky was paled with butter yellow light. Whispers of cloud were scattered around, dyed pink in the oncoming sunlight. 
Rubbing his neck, Blitz sat up, groaning like a ship in a thunderstorm. He made to stand, joints cracking in a most satisfying manner. Boy that felt good. Falling to his haunches, he extended his wings and began preening them. That felt even better! Perhaps today didn't have to suck, he thought brightly, despite its unusual start, it couldn't be worse than yesterday at least.
With that optimistic thought in mind, he flexed his wings and took off into the early morning sky.





"Perhaps I shouldn't have been so harsh," said Dusk uncertainly as he played with his toast. "I feel awful."

"We all say things we regret when angry," said Dawn consolingly, spreading marmalade on her own slice of toast.

"I still don't know how my voice carried that far, I did shut the door."

"Well, you were shouting rather loudly," said Dawn, shifting in her seat. It wasn't untrue, he was, but she had also been listening intently at the foot of the stairs out of sheer curiosity. She felt now was the time to do something. The situation between Dusk and Blitz was about as bad as it could be, so she no longer held any reservations about possibly making it worse. "You should go and talk to him," she suggested.

Dusk snorted.

"I know Blitz, anyone who tries to talk to him today is a dead colt walking."

"Something tells me this isn't a normal situation though," she said carefully.

"Whatever gives you that impression?" asked Dusk, frowning.

"Just a hunch," said Dawn quickly, wishing she hadn't said anything.

"Maybe I should at least try... I'm sure we both want to make amends."

"Yes, you should never leave a fight unresolved," said Dawn encouragingly.

"But how do I talk to him? My balloon's ruined, so I can't go to his home... I'll have to ask Butterscotch to go and get him for me. Urgh, I hope this will be worth it... and I hope he doesn't tear Butterscotch's head off."





Rainbow Blitz meanwhile had no intention of returning home. Despite having been out and about for over twenty-four hours, he felt compelled to visit the old bridge in the park. It was nice and peaceful there, it let him think.
He reared up and slumped over the warped barrier, staring down into the brown water and blocking out the world around him. Any attempts from passers by to bid him good morning were ignored, not out of any contempt, Blitz just couldn't be bothered to acknowledge them.
Blitz lost his grip on the rope of time as it began to slip past him, hours turned to minutes and his surrounding became fast-paced blurs upon the arena of the world.

"I'm sorry," mumbled Blitz, pressing his head into his hooves.

"Me too," said a sheepish voice from his side.

Blitz's heart lurched painfully in his chest. He turned to see the anxious face of Dusk Shine looking at him with apprehension.

"W-What are you doing here?" Blitz stammered.

"I was on my way to Butterscotch's, but by sheer luck, I found you here."

A silence as awkward as a tap dancing turtle descended upon them both.

"Look–" they both began.

"No, you go first–"

"I didn't mean to–"

They grinned in embarrassment.

The old pine tree above them scrutinised them intently. A whisper of a zephyr caressed its wizened branches, causing two large pine cones to drop, landing squarely on both their heads, instantly banishing all tension.

"What the hay?" exclaimed Blitz, picking it up and rubbing his head. He glanced at Dusk and smiled. "Hey, d'ya wanna play poohsticks?"

Dusk picked up his cone. He looked up and frowned suspiciously. That seemed like too much of a coincidence... almost as if there was some omnipresent and omnipotent being watching over them and controlling their every action... and then, he forgot.

"Sure."

They both leaned over, pine cones in hoof. Dusk blew a bit of mane out of his face.

"Ready?" said Blitz. "Three, two, one, go!"

Two splashes and a scramble of hooves later, they were both leaning over the other side of the bridge, it's structure groaning ominously.

"Uh, who won?" asked Blitz, scratching his head.

The two pine cones came out from under the bridge at exactly the same time, mocking them with their synchronisation.  

"Maybe we both won?" offered Dusk.

Blitz considered this. There was something about sharing victory that rubbed him the wrong way, but for Dusk, he'd make a special exception.

"Yeah, why not," he said, chuckling softly.

They looked at each other, purple and magenta eyes in the morning light. Words had failed them already, and so they threw themselves at one another, into a tight hug.
In an instant, Blitz felt all his pain and angst drain away like poison drawn from a wound. He buried his face into Dusk's soft mane and breathed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I knew you meant it," whispered Dusk, his voice shaky, "because you never apologise." They both laughed. "And I'm sorry too."

Dusk sniffed, feeling his eyes well up slightly. He withdrew and ran a hoof over his face.

"Come on man, don't get all emotional on me," said Blitz.

"Sorry, it's just... it was a dumb old balloon and I acted like I cared more about it than I cared about you. You're my best friend... and I certainly didn't act like a good one."

Blitz felt his heart melt looking into those shining lavender eyes.

"Hey," he said, his voice radiating kindness. "You cared about the safety of Spike and... Dawn... and yourself. That's three against one, I don't blame ya, buddy."

"I-I care a lot about you too..." mumbled Dusk, sniffing again.

Blitz's insides squirmed a little at those words.

"Huh... I guess it's only to be expected when you know Ponyville's most amazing resident!"

There's the Blitz I know, thought Dusk happily. Proud, confident, and a little deluded.
"Stop being such a high horse," he said jokingly.

"Hey, shut up," said Blitz, playfully punching Dusk in the shoulder.





Dusk reflected later that afternoon, that all in all, it went rather well. He had invited Blitz to his house for another reading session after they'd made up, which both ponies were enjoying more than they let on. They had the house to themselves seeing as Dawn had gone to visit Elusive to get measured, and Spike wanted to play with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. 
Today, Dusk and Blitz read out on the balcony, lazing around in the hot sun, sprawled the decking reading a whodunit comedy novel about a City Watch. Needless to say they were both enjoying it thoroughly.
A funny thing about hot lazy weather is that personal boundaries become more lax, it's just one of those universal rules. Dusk motioned to turn a page, and Blitz started laughing. This would normally not be an issue, but when your head is propped up on his belly, it suddenly becomes a very shaky experience.

"Wh-What di-did you j-just read?" asked Dusk as best he could.

"I am Death, not taxes," Blitz recited, "I only turn up once."

"You're all the way back there?" exclaimed Dusk, flicking back about thirty pages.

"Leave me alone, I'm a slow reader," defended Blitz. "You probably didn't even find it funny because you don't even pay taxes!"

"I can't help it if Celestia exempts me from paying her back what she pays me in the first place," said Dusk.

"You're a lucky bastard," Blitz teased, sticking out his tongue.

Dusk rolled his eyes and hauled himself to his hooves.

"I'm gonna go grab a drink, it'll let you catch up a bit. You want anything?"

"I'll have whatever you're having dude," said Blitz, waving a hoof.

Dusk closed the glass balcony door behind him, out of the corner of his eye, the pegasus watched Dusk's rump as he walked away. This morning he'd woken up as a wreck, now he had Dusk's head lying on his chest as he read! It's funny how things turn out.
A bee buzzed around his head and landed on Blitz's snout. Instinctively, he started and tried to swat it away with a hoof. It buzzed angrily. With a yelp he scrambled to his hooves and flew up above the balcony to avoid the potentially painful insect, only to see it flying around, as if looking for him. Eventually it gave up and flew away.

"The most sucky thing about summer," he grumbled as he touched back down and snatched up his book. "Damn insects everywhere. It's even worse when flying, when they get in your mouth, urgh."

He settled back down, looking cautiously around for any ninja bugs. He breathed deeply and resumed his reading. He managed to read all of one line before being interrupted again, but by a much more pleasant arrival.

"I got you lemonade, is that alright?" asked Dusk tentatively, proffering a tall glass of ice cold sugary goodness.

"Aw, sweet! Thanks!" said Blitz eagerly, taking the glass and gulping half of it in one.

Ice cubes rattled in the glass as Dusk took a sip of his own. He retook his position, lying comfortably on his back, using Blitz's belly as a pillow. The purple stallion could feel Blitz's heartbeat, which seemed unnaturally fast, but he shrugged it off and continued his reading, which was broken periodically whenever Blitz sniggered. The warm, hazy atmosphere began to take its effect on the young unicorn, his eyelids as heavy as neutron stars as he struggled to stay awake.

"Ohh, not... not this again," he mumbled, before slipping off into a light doze, book flopping to his side.

Blitz looked down upon the slumbering stallion and sighed internally. What he wouldn't give to be able to kiss his forehead as he dozed... alas. With a small grimace, he returned to his book.

Still, this is nice, thought Blitz drowsily. The slow and steady breathing of his companion was acting like a sleep-inducing metronome on both his heart and mind. Nice to have some peace. He closed his eyes in contentment, savouring these few precious moments with Dusk. He gave the unicorn's mane a slow stroke with his hoof, and joined him in the world of dreams.





Dusk's eyes fluttered to find a Rainbow Blitz tangled in his hooves. In their sleep, the two stallions had shifted, and now they face to face, hind hooves muddled together. The stallion was still slumbering at his side, his snoring coming like a rumble of distant thunder. Dusk turned his gaze up to the pristine blue sky. The Sun had moved quite a bit since he last looked at it, and they had been cast into the cool shade of the Library's canopy. Turning back to the matter at hoof, Dusk tried to slowly extract himself, doing his utmost to not awaken his friend. Blitz snorted, the cadence of his breathing faltering as he snorted awake.

"Wassat?!" he said stupidly.

"Heya," said Dusk, rubbing his eyes. "Looks like we did it again. I blame the weather."

"Heh, yeah," said Blitz, stretching his muscles and sighing happily. "I'll tell ya one thing; doing nothing sure makes you hungry," he said with a sideways glance at Dusk.

"Blitz," said Dusk, folding his forehooves, "would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Aw, thanks Dusk," said Blitz, beaming widely.





"So, ah, what did you want to talk to me about?" asked Dawn Star with a measure of apprehension.

"I just want to sort a few things out," said Blitz levelly, from a chair against the dresser. "I think we can both agree this has got totally out of hoof."

They were in Dawn's bedroom, having left Dusk and Spike behind in the dining room with two big distracting bowls of strawberry ice cream.

"I don't think anyone's going to deny that..." said Dawn softly, shifting slightly on her bed. "Except maybe Dusk, he still doesn't understand the implications of this."

"The what?"

"He doesn't understand what it all means."

"I-I knew that, I was just testin'."

Dawn raised a skeptical eyebrow. She opened he mouth to speak but Blitz interrupted.

"Are you fucking Dusk?" he asked bluntly. Boom! he thought. A simple question with a simple yes or no answer. No messing around anymore.

"What?! No!" she stammered. A light of realisation dawned in her eyes. "Is that what this is all about? You think I'm messing around with him?"

"N-No," lied the stallion, suddenly feeling extremely foolish. "But what was this thing about him being on top of you in the spa?"

"Oh goddess, I knew that would come back to haunt me... that was an ill-timed accident, I swear to you. We tumbled and ended up in that position when Elusive stumbled upon us."

"And you going to the dance with him?"

"As friends," said Dawn bluntly. "When he asked, no-one else seemed prepared to ask him, and the poor guy's never had anyone to go with before, so I thought I'd accompany him, as thanks for his gracious hospitality."

Blitz nodded thoughtfully, but still didn't seem completely convinced. Dawn sighed and looked down at her hooves.

"You needn't worry about me liking Dusk," she said in a barely audible voice.

"Why?"

"Because, to be honest, I'm much much fonder of Elusive..."

"'Lucy?!" said Blitz, blanching. "He has to get all the mares doesn't he?!"

"But... wait, I thought you were gay," said Dawn, puzzled.

"I am! But it still feels unfair to me!"

Dawn began laughing, she couldn't help herself. The look of indignation on Blitz's face at Elusive's supposed success was priceless. 

"What's so funny?" asked Blitz, feeling his lips curl into a smile as well. Her laugh was contagious. "Stop it!" he said, chuckling.

Dawn tried to force herself to stop, and with a struggle, she won out. She took a few breaths.

"Blitz, can I be blunt with you for a second?"

The pegasus narrowed his eyes.

"Depends what you're going to say," he said carefully.

"I... I would consider letting Dusk know how you feel. I think you both deserve each other, and it's horrible watching you both suffer in the way you have been."

"Wh-What? Since when have you cared about helping us get together?" said Blitz with a lace of accusation.

Dawn looked as uncomfortable as a balloon surrounded by porcupines.

"Since I first suspected your feelings towards him," she began, "I decided to not get involved, I have a habit of poking my nose into things that don't concern me and I usually make it worse, so I didn't do anything. But this one got worse all by itself," she said with a mirthless laugh. "I didn't mean to walk in on you the other day when you were reading, I'm sorry about that and how it ended up. And I actually stumbled upon you both sleeping earlier today but I managed to sneak away without waking you. I must say you both look so cute together."

"R-Really?" said Blitz, feeling horrified as his cheeks began to warm up.

"Yes, I think so anyway," said Dawn briskly. "But I would at least let him know, I bet you're probably scared he'll reject you?"

"It's not that," said Blitz, trying to put his feelings into words. "I think he might be angry or, or scared of me or something–"

"Sorry, but that's just stupid."

"Hey!" exclaimed an affronted Blitz, but Dawn waved him down.

"Look, you should know him better than I; do you really think he'll be angry because you tell him?"

"...no," said Blitz begrudgingly.

"Look, if you're scared–"

"I'm not scared!"

"Okay," said Dawn, backtracking. "If you want, I could tell him for you?"

Blitz looked at her, the fog of complacency dissipating to let Blitz see her as if for the first time. This was an offer he hadn't even considered before.

"I uh... m-maybe not. I think I should let him know myself, but– thanks."

"Not a problem," said Dawn brightly. "But at least you can be happy knowing I'm not about to 'steal' him or whatever from you!" She started laughing again.

"Yeah," said Blitz glumly, feeling like an idiot again. "Boy was I stupid."

"Hey," said Dawn kindly, "have you ever been in love?" 

"No, but I think I am."

"Awful, ain't it?"