Fall Down
by Present Perfect
XIV
"Twilight, how could you even think to say such a thing?"
At Rarity's words, Twilight stopped, mouth open and hoof raised. The last things she'd said echoed in her mind, and she realized, even before she saw the tears in Rainbow Dash's eyes, just what it was she'd done.
She fled the library.
It was her home, had nearly been their home. But what she had said could not be taken back. Home was no place she deserved right now. She flew all the way to Sweet Apple Acres, the one place in Ponyville she could think of furthest from her friends.
She ran through the gate, past Big Macintosh, who was bucking apples in the early afternoon sunlight, and into the western fields. The border of the Everfree Forest was in sight when her legs gave out and she collapsed to the soft loam, weeping.
The sky had begun to bronze when a familiar raspy voice behind her said, "Not very Princess-y behavior."
Twilight dragged a forelock across her eyes and looked up, blinking, at Rainbow Dash, framed by the sunset.
"Rainbow, I'm..."
Rainbow held out a hoof as she alighted on the ground, and Twilight trailed off.
"Twilight."
Twilight winced at the flatness of her name.
"I told you that in confidence." Despite the redness around her eyes, Rainbow was calm, and her voice did not waver in the slightest. "You had no right to bring that up around our friends."
"I--"
Rainbow shook her head. "I want you to understand what you did." She moved closer to Twilight, pointing behind herself. "That was not something you could have done to me if we hadn't been in a relationship this long. You abused my trust, and you took advantage of my feelings for you."
Twilight lowered her head, not even trying to hold back the tears. She covered her face with a wing and croaked, "So it's over, then?"
There was a pause before Rainbow answered. Twilight peeked at her through her feathers. She seemed pensive.
"Maybe." Emotion had crept back into Rainbow's voice and she was pawing at the ground. "Somepony once told me words can be forgiven, but not forgotten, so I dunno. I'll have to think about it. You probably should too."
Shame weighed in Twilight's stomach, anchoring her to the field. "I can't imagine you'd ever want to talk to me again."
Rainbow blinked. "What? No!" She gave Twilight a lopsided smile. "I was just talking about our relationship. Dating I mean. I'm not going anywhere."
Twilight's wing dropped and she stood. "What? But you just said--"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You've known me for how long? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" She looked Twilight square on, placid yet intense. "Words can be forgiven. Twilight, I don't care if we're dating or lovers or married, or nothing at all. Fact is, I was your friend first, and I'll always be your friend. This..." She waved her hooves. "This junk is worth ending a romance maybe, but not a friendship."
Twilight wiped at her eyes again, and she couldn't help but smile. "You mean it?"
"Course I do."
Rainbow's smile was a cool breeze across Twilight's brow. She wanted to leap up and hug her, but the reality of what had brought them to this place popped any building effervescence.
"You're right. I have a lot to think about," Twilight said, looking to Dash's hooves.
Rainbow Dash turned slightly and spread her wings. "Yeah. Me too, like I said. But just remember, Twilight..."
Looking up, Twilight caught the wind blowing Dash's mane back. It was wild and vibrant, just like the mare who bore it. If she could have, Twilight would have fallen in love with her all over again, right there.
"Friendship's the most important thing. And as long as we're friends, I'll be there for you."
And then she was gone.