//------------------------------// // Prolouge // Story: What have I done? // by St Jimmy //------------------------------// It was raining. The pegasi were going to make a rainbow out of it later, but for now, it was just rain. Twilight was crying,and who could blame her? Her mare-friend, whom she had loved for many more years than she cared to admit, was gone. And not just left ponyville gone, gone gone, dead gone. "It just ain't gonna be the same without her," said Applejack, in a tone very few ponies ever got to hear. She couldn't believe it, Rainbow Dash, dead, it just didn't seem right, it didn't seem logical. "No, it won't," replied Rarity " but we'll manage, somehow," Twilight read the headstone for a third time, Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, loved by her friends, respected by her peers. "She never did become a Wonderbolt, like she always wanted," said Fluttershy, in her signature, whispery tone. If only she could have been there, if only she could have done something. Even if just ease here mare-friends pain. "No, she didn't, replied a very saddened Pinkie Pie "she was almost there too, I was planning a party for when she got in. I was going *sniff* to bake the cake on Saturday," Pinkie broke out into a soft sob. "C'mon Pinkie, what'n the hay happened to all yer optimism?" asked Applejack in a comforting tone. "It's gone *sob*, just like my *sob* best friend," Twilight continued to cry, her head cradled in her hooves, as her shoulders shook in sync with the stutters in her sorrowful moaning. What would she do without her Rainbow? How could she live without her cyan-furred, rainbow-maned mare-friend. She'd have to do something, the last thing Rainbow Dash would want is for her mare-friend to take her own life. "Twilight?" asked Fluttershy "are you alright?" she didn't answer, and Fluttershy would have been surprised if she did. They were all upset, to say the least, Rainbow Dash was a great friend, but she could only imagined how Twilight felt right now. Fluttershy didn't have a mare-friend, or a colt-friend, she'd always preferred the company of animals to other ponies. After a few more minutes, Applejack left with Pinkie Pie, who was still very depressed. A few minutes later, Rarity left too, quite obviously holding back tears, leaving Fluttershy and Twilight. After a long while, Twilight broke the silence. "I just feel like I could have done something," "We all do," replied Fluttershy "but it was an accident, even if you had been there you couldn't have stopped it," "but I could have stopped her from being so reckless," Fluttershy was taken aback by this, but she still tried to comfort her friend "Don't be ridiculous Twilight, we are talking about Rainbow Dash after all, she would have just said 'don't worry Twi' i can totally handle this'" said Fluttershy doing her best Rainbow Dash impression, but Twilight didn't seem to notice, she was too absorbed in her own thoughts. "C'mon Twilight, you always laugh at my Rainbow Dash impression," said Fluttershy, trying to cheer up the purple unicorn. "Not this time Fluttershy," said Twilight, her tone saddening. Then she started to cry again, silent tears, but not invisible ones. There was another long moment of silence, this time broken by Fluttershy. "Twilight," the unicorn looked up at her friend, her eyes and cheeks red from the tears "Are you going to be alright?" Twilight turned back to the headstone, and thought for a few seconds. "I don't know," she replied, sorrow still tinging her voice. "Well, you can always come visit my cottage if you need someone to talk to," "Thanks Fluttershy," and then she left too, leaving Twilight to mull through her own thoughts. A few minutes later, the rain started to die down, and the clouds were pulled back to reveal a beautiful rainbow. but that wasn't going to cheer up Twilight Sparkle, not today. All it did was spark memories of her rainbow maned mare-friend. _________________________________________________________________________________________ It was late. Rainbow Dash loved practicing at night, it made the rainbow colored streaks in the sky look so much cooler. and although her friends agreed with her, nopony was very keen on being up at 11:00 at night to watch. Tonight was different, Twilight had to log the star positions at midnight tonight, so she was happy to be there to watch the pegasus run through her routine. She ended with one of her signature Sonic Rainbooms, and carefully landed, eliciting furious hoof-clapping from Twilight. "That was awesome Rainbow Dash!" the pegasus smiled and took a bow. Thank you, Thank you," she replied. She put her hoof to the back of her head. "Ya know Twi', it was really nice of you to be here to watch me practice," "It's no big deal," said Twilight "I was going to be up anyways, it was the least I could do," Rainbow dash smiled again "Thanks Twilight, you're a great friend," Twilight froze mid-step, her hoof hovering in the air. "Friend...yeah...," "Is something wrong?" asked Rainbow. "No, nonono, nothing's wrong," answered Twilight, hastily. "Well... okay then, see ya!" "Wait!" shouted Twilight. Rainbow paused, "Yes?" "We've been friends for a long time now, and I was thinking...maybe you'd like to...you know, go out sometime?" At first, Rainbow was surprised, it certainly showed on her face, and then she blushed, and returned her hoof to the back of her head. "Well...I uh...," she continued to blush, and her face became more and more red, "Gee... I...Wow...," "It's okay if you say no, I understand," "No, it's not that, it's just, i didn't expect that at all...," "Oh, okay...wait, was that a yes?," inquired Twilight, hopefully. "Yes," said Rainbow, both blushing and smiling. Twilight smiled, dove forward, and wrapped her hooves around the cyan pegasus, after about a second of surprise, Rainbow returned the hug. Twilight pulled back a bit, and just stared into Rainbow's magenta eyes. After another second or two, Twilight pressed her lips against Rainbow's. Again, Rainbow was surprised, and again she blushed, but then she returned Twilight's kiss. the two of them held that for a few seconds, and then the y just stared at each other for a while. "So...how about 8:00 tomorrow?" asked Rainbow Dash, breaking the silence. "I'm available, we could meet right here," "Sounds good! See ya then!" ___________________________________________________________________________________________ "Oh Rainbow, what am I supposed to do without you? I never loved any other mare, and I doubt I ever will," said Twilight, tears running down her face. "How can I live without you?" and then, it hit her. I won't have to. She stood up quickly and sprinted back to the library.