//------------------------------// // Clouds // Story: Rainbooms and Romance // by Kodeake //------------------------------// Clouds Rainbow sighed heavily and hung her head a little lower. She felt the tears streaming down her face even now. The rainbow bangs hiding her puffy red eyes from the world did little to hide her feelings from herself. She was Rainbow Dash, why was she hiding on top of a cloud far outside of Ponyville crying her eyes out? It happened yesterday; surly she should have gotten over it by now? But no matter how brave she was or how cool she pretended to be, some things simply couldn’t be hidden by denial. Some things like grief. It was all Fluttershy’s fault, if Fluttershy had never convinced her to get that stupid pet tortoise she wouldn’t have to deal with this. “No, it’s not Fluttershy’s fault…” Rainbow chided herself for even thinking that. If anypony was to blame it was her and her alone. It was her own fault, after all; she should have taken better care of him. A sudden light flashed from behind her. She groaned inwardly, she didn’t need this right now. She really didn’t need it from Twilight. Twilight allowed herself a momentary smile of victory as she found the cyan pegasus she had been searching for in front of her. After taking a second to ensure her cloud-walking spell held, she approached slowly. “How’d you find me?” Rainbow asked, barely keeping the waver out of her voice as she continued to stare forward at the rolling green hills just outside of Ponyville. “I am your marefriend. I know where you like to go to be alone,” Twilight answered simply, halting her approach a few steps behind Rainbow. “Now are you gonna talk to me or keep running?” Rainbow snorted, “I’m not running. I never run from anything.” “Then what are you doing?” Twilight asked, sitting back on her haunches. “I’m… I just…” Rainbow sighed, “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she admitted sadly, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re running,” Twilight insisted again. “I’M NOT RUN-” Rainbow turned to yell at Twilight, but was cut off as Twilight wrapped her in a hug. She felt the urge to pull away, to insist again and again that she was fine, maybe until she believed it herself. But even if she believed it, Twilight wouldn’t, Twilight could always tell when something was wrong, even if Rainbow didn’t. After a second of internal debate, she practically melted into the embrace, throwing her own forelegs around Twilight’s neck and burying her face in Twilight’s soft lavender coat. For her part, Twilight simply held her tighter, running a gentle and caring hoof through her messy yet beautiful rainbow mane. The last remnants of a dam that Rainbow had crumbled in that instant, the tears coming faster and harder then anytime before. She held Twilight tight as her body quaked and shook, her sobs filling the air around them. Through it all Twilight held her close, whispering words of comfort in her ear, never once stopping or slowling her gently caressing hoof. After what felt like hours, Rainbow’s sobs turned to quiet whimpers of sadness. “Why?” Rainbow whispered sadly, rubbing her damp cheek into Twilight’s even damper coat. “It was his time, Dashie, there’s nothing you could have done,” Twilight answered, silently cursing herself for not being able to think of anything better. For a time Rainbow was silent, before sniffling loudly and clearing her throat. “Did I ever tell you why I never went home to nap?” Rainbow asked, relaxing her grip on Twilight as her tears slowly slowed to a stop. Twilight shook her head. “It was because I didn’t want to go home. It’s silly, really, but until him… I didn’t like going home. I was always alone when I was at home. You had Spike, AJ and Rarity had their sisters, Fluttershy had her animals. Pinkie had the Cake’s. I had nopony. I went home, and there was nopony to greet me, nopony to make me feel better after a bad day, nopony to congratulate me when I did a trick I had been practicing for weeks.” As Rainbow spoke Twilight felt her gut ball up in her stomach. She never knew how lonely the seemingly invincible pegasus had been. None of them had. “Then I got him, and it all went away. He was always there, smiling at me when I got home. He made sure I was never alone after a bad day, and he was always there to celebrate when I did a trick... now he’s gone,” Rainbow finished with a sigh as another lone tear trailed down her face. “You’re one of the strongest ponies I know, Rainbow. You’ll get through this, and I’ll be there to help you. I’ll be there to congratulate you after a trick. I’ll be there to make sure you’re not alone after a bad day. I’ll always be there for you, Dashie, you know that,” Twilight comforted gently, choosing each word carefully. Rainbow squeezed her a bit tighter. “I know. I just need some time to accept that he’s gone. I’ll be fine.” Rainbow sniffed loudly before pulling back from Twilight, looking up into her eyes. “Thanks, Twi, I… don’t think I’d be able to do it without you. I love you.” “I love you too Dashie. Never forget that,” Twilight assured with a small smile, drawing Rainbow back in for one last embrace, kissing her on the lips before pulling back. “Now let’s go home,” She offered, standing on the cloud and offering a hoof to Rainbow, who graciously took it and stoop up. “You were right Twi,” Rainbow said as she fluffed out her wings. “About what?” Twilight asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. “I was running, but not anymore.”