//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Loneliness Reborn // by Alexander-Crossover //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Dash’s flight back to Ponyville was passed in blissful recollection. The three months at the Wonderbolts’ special training camp had been everything she’d expected and more; not only had she learned several of the Wonderbolts’ tricks and how they went about their daily practise and training sessions but she had also gotten to know the co-captains Spitfire and Soarin’ on a rather personal level. The first time Rainbow Dash had been with them she’d only had a day and she’d been too overwhelmed by being able to spend time with them that she hadn’t gotten to know them all that well; the next time she’d “hung out” with them had been at the Grand Galloping Gala, the less said about how that night went the better. “Just keep up your training and maybe drop a couple pounds and you’ll definitely have a shot at joining us.” Spitfire’s parting words were still fresh in Dash’s memory. Rainbow Dash glanced back at her tummy and chuckled slightly, OK maybe she had eaten a bit too much because of nerves and the increased level of activity compared to her normal daily routine but a few rounds of the Wonderbolts’ training sessions would fix that. That would have to wait for later, Rainbow Dash was sore and she was really missing Pinkie Pie. The cyan Pegasus made a brief stopover at her house to drop off her saddlebags before she took off for Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow Dash was grinning as she flew onwards, three months ago Pinkie had given her the surprise of a lifetime and now it was Dash’s turn, albeit maybe not as great a surprise as the three months of training with the Wonderbolts but that didn’t mean she couldn’t go all out in her own way. It was the middle of the evening by the time Rainbow arrived at Sugar Cube Corner; it was late enough that the bakery was closed so Rainbow bypassed the front door and flew straight up to Pinkie’s window. Pinkie was lying on her bed with her back to the window and humming a happy tune to herself. Seeing Pinkie’s rump made it hard for Dash to avoid busting through the window, or even the wall, to get to her but one thing the Pegasus had learned at the camp was self-control. After all formation flying couldn’t work if one of the performers was flying off on their own. Dash carefully pushed the window open, it was always unlocked just for her, and slipped in with a stealth that would have been unheard of for her even three months ago. Pinkie seemed lost in her own music as Dash carefully glided over to her bed and suddenly landed with her legs surrounding the pink earth pony. “Surprise Pinkie Pie,” Dash’s sultry whisper caused Pinkie to spin around and a giant grin to emerge on her face. “Dashie!” Pinkie’s forelegs shot up and wrapped around the Pegasus’ neck, pulling Dash down so Pinkie could pepper her face with small kisses, “I missed you so so much!” the party pony managed to say in-between her kisses. “I can see that Pinks,” Dash managed to put a hoof up to slow the excited pink pony’s kisses long enough for her to speak, “I really missed you too.” “So, didjya have fun?” Pinkie asked, eager to know if her gift had been good. “It was awesome!” Dash exclaimed, “I got to hang with Spitfire and learn all their tricks and…” Pinkie giggled as Dash continued to gush about her experience. “I’m so happy to hear that Dashie,” Pinkie pulled Rainbow Dash in for a deep kiss, “But I’m happy your home, even if you go off to join the Wonderbolts soon.” Dash’s face turned down a bit and she was about to apologize when Pinkie put a hoof over her mouth: “It’s alright, we’ll just have to enjoy our time while we have it,” the earth pony’s voice had turned seductive as she pulled Dash in closer, one of her forelegs trailing down Dash’s body while she gave her a deeper kiss. Dash’s throat rumbled as she kissed back but suddenly she gasped as Pinkie’s touch reached her sensitive spot. Pinkie smiled and pressed in harder eliciting moan from her lover: “P-Pinkie, where did you leaaarn…” “I asked Rarity for some advice and borrowed some of her books,” Pinkie answered, her voice somehow becoming sexier as she spoke, “There’s a lot of fun stuff I’ve learned that we should really try.” Dash bit her lower lip, Pinkie had never really done anything like this before, and she loved it! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Morning found the two lovers curled up together, sweaty and satisfied. Pinkie’s normally curly hair was greatly disheveled and messy and lay at odder angles than normal; Dash’s hair on the other hand didn’t look much different, of course the Pegasus’ rainbow mane was never combed or tidy by any means. Pinkie was the first to awaken, yawning then snuggling into Dash’s mane while she was still asleep. Dash didn’t awaken for another hour but Pinkie wouldn’t complain about that; when Dash finally stirred she found the pink pony’s messy mane in her face. Smiling, Dash shook her friend to rouse her. “Morning Dashie,” Pinkie’s voice was slightly muffled by Dash’s hair, an effect that caused Dash to chuckle. “Heheh, sleep well?” “Mmmyes,” Pinkie’s face was still buried in the Pegasus’ rainbow mane. “Not that we really slept much,” Dash snickered and then sighed before continuing: “I hate to leave this early Pinks, but I used up all the vacation time I saved up from the weather team to use your present so I really have to get going,” Dash sounded apologetic “Aww!” Pinkie pouted as she finally pulled her face out of Dash’s mane, “I understand Dashie.” “Thanks Pinks,” Rainbow Dash finally pulled herself from Pinkie’s embrace and walked to the window, turning to watch Pinkie getting out of bed and flipping her head up causing her once messy mane to instantly reshape itself into its normal stack of curls. “How does she do that?” Rainbow Dash asked herself as she flapped her wings and took off. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The next month in Ponyville just flew by for everypony. Dash’s return to the weather team was greeted with great enthusiasm as some of the new recruits were a bit poorly trained; Dash’s time at the training camp had taught her some new rather aggressive yet effective drilling techniques that she used to quickly whip the new recruits into working order. At the end of every day Rainbow Dash would always speed home to check her mail and every day during the month she was disappointed that there was no letter from the Wonderbolts. Dash knew that she was probably rushing things but after what Spitfire had said to her she couldn’t resist, not to mention she was having trouble dropping the extra weight she’d gained but so far she was just as fast as ever but she found herself unwilling to try a sonic rainboom during her training, always stopping before getting up to the needed speed and just going in for a landing. After one such incident, Rainbow Dash stopped to stare at the after-effects in the air, the clouds that had split as she flew downwards and where the slowly came back together where she slowed down. “What is wrong with me?” Dash asked aloud. No Pony was there to listen to her so she continued to speak aloud: “I pulled off a sonic rainboom without even trying back at the camp, now I can’t even get up to full speed.” Rainbow Dash began pacing as she mulled over the facts in her head, thinking up some excuse, any excuse for her lack of performance lately. “Maybe it’s the air pressure, yeah must be, I got used to the thinner air up there so I keep slowing down yeah…” Rainbow Dash looked up from her thoughts and spotted Pinkie, hopping along with a brown bag in her mouth. Dash smiled; “Well at least now I can get my mind off that for a while,” she spoke aloud as she glided low over the ground towards Pinkie calling out to her: “Hey Pinks, what’s in the bag?” Pinkie turned and waved: “Oh hi Dashie! It’s a surprise but not for now.” How Pinkie could speak around the bag was yet another thing Dash would never get. Dash landed in front of Pinkie and stared at the bag: “What kind of surprise.” “Silly-Filly,” Pinkie patted Dash’s head, “If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise!” Dash laughed: “Heh, you’ve got me there Pinkie, so are you free right now?” “Yup, I just need to get this back home and I’ll be right back!” Pinkie answered turning to head off. “Alright, I’ll meet you outside Sugarcube corner!” Dash called turning to fly home: “I just gotta go check my mail!” “Okie-Dokie-Lokie!” Pinkie called back as Dash took off, slower than usual but she didn’t care as long as she could hang with Pinkie Pie for the rest of the day. Rainbow Dash landed back at home and pushed the door open, checking for her mail on the floor where it dropped through the letter slot. Dash paused, there was a single letter lying on the floor, a blue envelope sealed by a winged lightning bolt. “No way…” Dash picked up the letter carefully with her foreleg, as though she was afraid that it would disintegrate if she handled it too roughly. The Pegasus tenderly tore the flap off and pulled out the letter, her eyes growing wider as she read. Miss Rainbow Dash I’m really happy to tell you that because of your spectacular performance at our special training camp and the skills and adaptation you displayed has earned you a special seed into the next Wonderbolts tryouts, knowing you I’m sure you know when that is. You will bypass all but the final formation flying exam and if you pass you’ll be in. Personally I don’t think any pony has a chance against you, look forwards to seeing you here. Have fun: Spitfire The letter fell from Dash’s hooves: “No way…” Her voice was total disbelief that rapidly escalated: “No way! NO WAY! I’M IN YAHOO!” Dash’s shouts caused several passing birds to stumble in their flights. “I’M IN I’VE MADE IT!” Dash was actually dancing in place as she re-read the letter to make sure she wasn’t mis-reading it, spotting some extra lines at the end. P.S.: Almost forgot, go see your doctor and get a full physical then bring the forms with you. It’s just a safety issue, we need all prospective Wonderbolts to be in good health confirmed by a doctor. Rainbow Dash sighed, she really didn’t like going to the doctor but it would be quick and it was mostly a formality. Dash checked her calendar and sure enough the next tryouts were marked and were only one week away. She had to start preparing, sure maybe it was a bit presumptuous to start packing to move but Spitfire had practically told her that she was in and… Pinkie. Rainbow Dash stopped her train of thought: “Oh right, Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash had been so caught up in her revelry that she had almost forgotten that Pinkie was expecting her at Sugarcube Corner. Sighing, the Pegasus tucked the letter into a drawer where she wouldn’t forget it: “Guess I have to tell her, but not today, today we’ll just have fun and enjoy what we have while we have it, like Pinkie said.” Rainbow Dash headed for the door and took off to Sugarcube corner. No need to worry anypony today, she’d tell them all in a few days once she got ready to resign from the weather patrol and was all packed; she’d leave the doctor’s visit for the end. Pinkie Pie was hopping excitedly in place as she waited for Rainbow Dash to arrive; the pink pony’s saddlebags clanked with several cans of frosting, silly string sprayers and a number of other things that had uses that were known only to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie easily spotted the rainbow haired Pegasus flying towards her and waved: “Hi Dashie!” Rainbow Dash slowed her descent and came in for a much softer landing than she normally did, barely upsetting the dirt when she landed; if Pinkie took any notice she made no comment but continued smiling. “Hiya Pinks, you ready to go pranking?” Dash asked her marefriend. “You bet Dashie, wait till you see my frosting cannon!” Pinkie began hopping excitedly away. “Frosting cannon?” Dash asked, “I’m not sure if I want to know what that does.” “Oh don’t be silly Dashie it’s going to be the bestest thing ever! Now come on!” Pinkie darted back to the Pegasus and grabbed her hoof, dragging her along so they could start their fun. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Pinkie bounced back into her room at the end of the day, covered in blue white and yellow frosting and having left colored hoofprints everywhere behind her. Rainbow Dash followed Pinkie into her room, having cleaned herself off in a cloud on the way over. “Think Lily, Rose and Daisy will ever forgive us?” Rainbow Dash asked sounding uncharacteristically concerned for the after effect of their pranks “Don’t worry so much Dashie,” Pinkie replied, her voice not losing any of her bubbly tone, “Frosting coated flowers should be big sellers for them.” Dash grinned and walked over to Pinkie before licking some of the frosting off her back. “I think I prefer a frosting coated Pinkie Pie,” Dash said, her voice turning seductive. Pinkie giggled as Dash’s tongue ran along her back, removing the frosting as it went. The pink pony turned to Rainbow Dash as she swallowed the frosting and giggled: “Dashie you have frosting on your nose.” Rainbow Dash crossed her eyes, spotting the blob of yellow frosting on her nose but before she could remove it Pinkie darted forwards and kissed her on the nose, sucking up the frosting blob in the process. Dash grinned and kissed Pinkie back as she scraped some frosting off Pinkie’s head with a hoof then once they pulled back Dash smeared it across both of their faces which induced a series of licks and kisses as they cleaned each other. Pinkie joined in and used her tail to spread a bunch of the frosting over Dash’s back, licking and nuzzling the sweet substance off. This exchange continued for a full half hour as the two mares gradually cleaned each other off. Finally Rainbow Dash put a hoof out: “Hey Pinkie, this is fun and all but maybe we should clean off so our fur isn’t so sticky.” Pinkie gave Dash a funny sideways look but then grinned: “Okie-dokie-lokie!” and an instant later Pinkie had vanished into the bathroom and started filling the tub. Rainbow Dash just shook her head as she followed her marefriend, watching as she dumped a bunch of bubble bath into the tub causing a burst of pink bubbles to fill the room and sticking to Pinkie’s face like a thin moustache and top hat. Once Pinkie got a look at herself in the mirror she adopted a mock-serious expression and stroked a hoof along one of her bubble bath “whiskers”: “Hmm yes quite,” she said, her voice becoming deep and a mocking seriously as her expression. A moment later both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie burst out laughing: “Pinkie Pie you are so random,” Dash gave the pink pony a quick kiss, “and that’s why I love ya.” “Yay!” Pinkie grabbed Dash in a tight hug and jumped with her into the tub, thankfully not splashing too much of the water over the sides. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash’s giggles mixed with the sounds of splashing and scrubbing as the two lovers scrubbed the remains of the frosting out of each other’s fur, manes and tails. Once they were relatively clean Dash leaned back at the edge of the tub letting the warm water relax her muscles, which were often sore both because of her job and her Wonderbolts training. Pinkie looked at Rainbow Dash for a moment and then giggled: “I think you’ve been putting on weight Dashie,” she pointed at the almost unnoticeable bulge on the Pegasus’ tummy. Rainbow Dash glared at Pinkie and replied with a pretend-mean tone: “"Look who's talking Pinks, you eat so many sweets it's a wonder you haven't blown up like one of your party balloons." Pinkie gasped in mock horror: “Why are you so mean Dashie?” she asked, moving closer to the Pegasus. “Who’s being mean?” Dash asked, feigning ignorance, “You do own a pig nose that you wear.” “Take it back,” Pinkie growled pretending to sound angry. “Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it Piggy Pie?” Dash asked while grinning back at her. “Since I’m such a pig I’m gonna eat you!” Pinkie took a deep breath and vanished below the surface; a moment later Dash gasped as Pinkie began to “eat”. This was how Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash flirted, fake insults, pretend fighting, then ending with one of them taking some “revenge” on the other that they would both enjoy. A few minutes later Pinkie had surfaced and was leaning back next to Dash in the tub with their forelegs wrapped around each other. Rainbow Dash had finished panting and decided to ask something that was on her mind: “Hey Pinks, how do you hold your breath for so long?” Pinkie giggled before replying: “I just take a deeeeep breath and hold it, plus when you’re changing diapers you have to get used to not breathing for a while.” “I guess that makes sense,” Dash agreed, smiling at her marefriend, “You’ll be a good mother someday Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash blinked, what had compelled her to say that? “Maybe,” Pinkie didn’t seem to think Dash’s question was odd, “Mr. and Ms. Cake said the same thing to me.” “Well they’re right,” Dash answered, “Now let’s get out of here before we turn into raisins.” “Okie dokie lokie,” Pinkie’s agreement was delivered in a slower and more relaxed voice than normal as she and Rainbow Dash climbed out of the tub, drained it, and then proceeded to dry themselves off. Downstairs, Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake were helping their parents clean up the bakery, mainly wiping up the frosting footprints that Pinkie Pie had left through the place when she returned home that day, Pumpkin starting at the entrance to the house and Pound starting at the top of the stairs leading into Pinkie’s apartment. The twins eventually met in the kitchen rather painfully hitting their heads together as they both raced to clean up the last footprint. “Watch where you’re going,” Pound Cake was rubbing his head as he looked up at his sister, “I don’t want your horn going through my head. “Sorry but you should look where you’re going too,” Pumpkin shot back moving to scrub the last hoofprint. Pound just gave his sister a look before their mother came over to settle things: “Now now children, you both need to be careful, and at least no pony was hurt right?” “Yes mommy,” both twins answered. While they were putting the cleaning supplies away Pound Cake asked his parents something: “Mommy, Daddy, why does Miss Rainbow Dash spend so much time with Pinkie Pie?” Carrot Cake chuckled: “That’s simple Pound, because they’re in love.” “Just like Daddy and me,” Cup Cake gave her husband a nuzzle. Pound Cake made a grossed out face but Pumpkin spoke up: “But they’re both mares.” “There’s nothing wrong with mares liking other mares that way,” Cup Cake’s voice was as cheerful as ever, “And the same goes for stallions too.” “Why are they in love?” Pound Cake’s question was more about why anypony would be in love. But because Pinkie was undoubtedly busy with Dash, Cup Cake ushered her children into the living room: “Well that’s actually a long story dearies, would you like to hear how Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash fell in love.” “Yes!” Pumpkin was eager to hear this story. Pound Cake made no reply but decided to just go along with it. “Alright, now this all happened before you two were born,” Cup Cake began. Carrot Cake sat nearby, his wife was always the better storyteller so he just listened as she continued: “Pinkie Pie had been in love with Rainbow Dash for a long time but she was afraid to tell her and every month when Daddy and I went out of town to do big shopping for Sugarcube Corner Pinkie would throw a big party where she would pretend to confess her feelings to Rainbow Dash.” “Pretend?” Pound Cake sounded confused. “Yes, Pound Cake, pretend,” Cup Cake decided not to chide her son for interrupting this time, “She was so nervous that she never invited Rainbow Dash to the parties, so she would set everything up then yell out as loud as she could ‘I LOVE YOU RAINBOW DASH!’ and then would cry and tear everything apart. Of course neither of us ever knew what was going on because Pinkie had everything cleaned up before we got home. “Then one day, Pinkie finally got up the nerve to tell Rainbow Dash how she felt.” “And Rainbow felt the same way?” Pumpkin asked hopefully. “I’m afraid not, or at least Rainbow Dash didn’t say so,” Carrot Cake interceded. “Rainbow Dash was so shocked that she just ran away from Pinkie and the poor dear was crushed. Pinkie was so crushed that she just ran away too, and then,” Cup Cake’s voice took on a darker tone, “The most dangerous storm that Ponyville had ever known began…” ----------------------------------------------------------------- Upstairs, Rainbow Dash wasn’t able to sleep but Pinkie had fallen asleep practically as soon as she got into bed. Rainbow Dash smiled at her marefriend, most ponies assumed that she was a loud and obnoxious sleeper yet Pinkie was oddly tranquil and quiet when sleeping, she didn’t even snore. Dash could just make out some of the conversation downstairs, smiling as the story of her and Pinkie’s love unfolded for the Cake twins. Despite the danger and bad memories that event had brought up Rainbow Dash didn’t regret the outcome, yes she had wished for a while that she had just returned Pinkie’s feelings right away but Pinkie always told her: “Don’t be such a silly filly Dashie, we made it through and fell in love, that’s all that matters.” And Rainbow Dash had to concede that Pinkie was right. Rainbow Dash’s expression became somber as she did her best to fall asleep; in a week she would have to leave Pinkie behind if she wanted to fulfill her dream. Part of Dash, a big part, didn’t want to leave her but Pinkie had told the Pegasus that if she was accepted into the Wonderbolts then she should go, even if it meant she would constantly be on tour, only keeping in contact through letters and postcards. But they were still young mares and Rainbow Dash didn’t have to be a Wonderbolt forever. She could retire in a decade or two and come home to spend the rest of her life with Pinkie. Yeah that was how it should go. Rainbow Dash snuggled down with Pinkie, she would worry about this stuff later because right now she was tired. ----------------------------------------------------------------- “Hi, how’s the ghostie holding up?” “Oh, the ghostie left, said something about wanting to live again.” “Live again, but that silly ghostie’s a ghost. How can a ghost live?” “With your body, but I can’t feel that ghostie, is something wrong with it?” “I don’t know, I haven’t felt any different. Maybe if that ghostie is in me then I just need to wait longer. Oh I know, I’ll go see Doctor Cardiac, he can tell me if I’m pregnant!” “Yipee, we’re going to be a mommy!”