Change of Heart
05
"Wake up, silly!" Rainbow Dash's scratchy and inviting voice effectively shattered Twilight's dream. Rainbow laughed. "It's already 10 o'clock!" Twilight slowly rolled over to face Rainbow. They were inches apart; Twilight could feel Rainbow's hot breath on the side of her face. Rainbow cocked her head and smiled. She pulled Twilight out of bed gently with her newly healed wings. Twilight knew why she was so perky and excited.
Rainbow had asked her to watch this year's annual Wonderbolts Derby with her. Twilight of course, acknowledging Rainbow's feelings, said yes. Rainbow had somehow procured two VIP Box passes weeks ago for today’s show, up at the highest tier of the Cloudiseum. She was beaming with enthusiasm; she spent an hour talking about Wonderbolts history and their members' individual backgrounds and stories.
"Oh, right," Dash remembered. "You never told me - what happened that night? All I remember was Spitfire bringing me back here before I fainted."
"Spitfire said you Sonic Rainboomed into a patch of clouds. I healed you right up with my magic later that night," she said with an edge of pride. "Are you feeling better?"
Dash grinned an affirmative. "Yes," she said, drawing closer to the unicorn, nuzzling her. Twilight took note of Dash's scent. It was very reminiscent of water, but mostly, the cooling breeze of fresh air. Twilight gently nuzzled back in a romantic gesture, unconsciously flattering Rainbow.
"Shall we?" Rainbow suggested, gesturing towards the door as she took Twilight's hoof. Twilight felt the heat rising to her face, looking away. She turned back to face Rainbow, put on a triumphant smile, and nodded in the same manner. She had just woken up five minutes ago, but she was already jolted awake and ready.
Rainbow propped her up on her back and gave Twilight a reassuring wink. In a matter of seconds, Rainbow stayed true to her name, dashing through the open door as she and Twilight soared into the morning sky.
-
"Rarity, look!" Fluttershy pointed up towards the sky and the two ponies that soared through it. They had just got done with their weekly meeting at the spa. Fluttershy squinted her eyes, attempting to get a better look without the morning sun beaming into her vision. "It's Rainbow Dash and Twilight!"
"WHAAAT?!" Rarity yelled in excitement. The rest of their friend circle hadn't seen Rainbow or Twilight in two days, due to the incident that left Rainbow bed-ridden. The other day, they chose to spend alone. "Show me!" she yelled. "Show me, show me, SHOW ME!"
Fluttershy hovered above the ground a couple feet, and blocked the sunlight for Rarity as she pointed in their direction once more. "They're cute," Fluttershy added with a blush.
-
Twilight felt the excruciating wind currents caress her mane as she and Rainbow zipped past the fluffy, white clouds on their way to Canterlot.
As they soared above Canterlot, Rainbow decided to do some laps around the city while Twilight pointed out all of her old surroundings, such as the old library, Celestia's school where she learned magic, and other interesting things of that sort. Rainbow nodded, smiled, and asked follow-up questions in a friendly, calm, light-mannered voice despite the moderately high speeds they peaked out at.
She leaned in closer to Rainbow, their cheeks almost touching. Her strange heartbeat kicked in even harder than it was before. "Rainbow," she started, clinging to her tighter. "What's it like to fly?"
"Huh?" Rainbow asked, raising her head to meet Twilight's fluorescent purple eyes. Her heart skipped a beat or two. "Um... It's exciting," she explained. "It makes me feel great, and my worries melt away. It's just simply amazing."
"Oh, that sounds-"
"Kind of like when I'm with you." The heat immediately rose to Twilight's face, staining her cheeks a burning bright crimson. She embraced Rainbow closer, and rested her neck on Rainbow's shoulder, bringing their faces inches away. No one has ever said something like that to Twilight. No one. Not even her brother or Cadence made her feel like this. Her heart was beating so fast and strong, she wouldn't be surprised if they could hear it over the slicing wind. She couldn't help but smile.
-
"Hey, it's Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire shouted over the roar of the crowd, pointing a hoof at Rainbow and Twilight in the VIP box. Soarin' turned to look.
"That one pony that saved my apple pie at the Gala?" Soarin' asked excitedly.
"Yeah, that's the one!" Spitfire said. "She Rainboomed into some clouds the other day. She was out cold in pretty rough shape - I brought her back to her friend."
"...Soarin'?" Spitfire looked behind her and to her sides, not seeing the blue colt.
"Spitfire! Showtime, let's go!" Fleetfoot called across the stage, lined up with all of the other Wonderbolts. Spitfire nodded as she trotted over.
-
“I think it’s starting now,” Rainbow said excitedly with a huge smile on her face. She pointed towards a gap in the Cloudiseum, and seconds later Spitfire, Soarin’, and Rapidfire burst through, leaving their trail of signature lighting clouds. They separated as they soared upwards, decorating the afternoon sky with what resembled a three-leaf clover out of thunderclouds. Fleetfoot and the other two followed soon after, searing through the gaps in the clover outline and strafing back around for another display.
“Wow, they’re amazing,” Twilight marveled, having this been her first real performance she’s seen by the Wonderbolts. Rainbow nodded as she watched in pure ecstasy as the professional flight acrobatics did what they do best. Twilight looked over at her. She really did look happy, looking up at her idols in admiration. Just seeing the sight of Rainbow so blissful made Twilight’s own heart flutter. She smiled.
-
Spitfire looked over her shoulder at Soarin’, who nodded an affirmative to begin the final trick of the performance. On Spitfire’s mark, their group rushed to meet in the middle, and began their spiraling ascent. The trick left a smoke carving reminiscent of a tornado. The three spiraled out to the sides from where they began, as Fleetfoot’s team did an identical descent, erasing and mirroring the smoke left by Spitfire’s team.
With each member of the team on their respective side of the stadium, they began another gradual ascent as they all soared up to a high point in the coliseum, and sparked their signature firework display as they retired to seating level. The crowd was roaring. She lived for these moments. Spitfire looked around, and saw Rainbow Dash and her friend in their VIP box, cheering. Spitfire winked at them, and gestured for the two to meet the team backstage. She saw Rainbow Dash tap her friend on the shoulder, and they started down their section on their way backstage.
They were there even before the team returned. Rainbow Dash’s friend was still panting. She assumed Rainbow Dash had picked her up and flew her here at the fastest speed she could get, while keeping subsonic. Spitfire quietly chuckled at the idea.
“Spitfire! Hey!” Rainbow exclaimed as she walked over, carrying Twilight who was still on her back. “Hey, listen – thanks for helping me out the other day.” Rainbow smiled sheepishly.
“No problem kid,” Spitfire assured. “It was nothing; I might as well have returned the favor when you saved our lives,” she said with a wink, waving a hoof at the rest of her team. Rainbow casually laughed.
“Oh right,” Spitfire continued. “Who’s your friend?”
Rainbow nodded at Twilight, and she slid off her back, still gasping from the short flight across the Cloudiseum. “I-I’m Twilight Sparkle,” she gasped. Spitfire shook her hoof.
“Thanks for taking care of Dash here,” she said with a gentle smile. Twilight simply smiled back in response, as she was still tired out from the exhilarating sprint.
“Spitfire! A reporter wants to see you!” Soarin’ called out from the back of the stage. Spitfire looked back at Rainbow Dash and Twilight.
“Guess that’s my cue to go,” she said. “See you later, Dash and Twilight.” She turned around and waved, as she trotted over to see the rest of the team.
-
Twilight held on tight as Rainbow swirled and looped through the starry night sky that Princess Luna was ever so kind to display to them. Rainbow laughed as she playfully teased Twilight with fake turbulence and air tricks. Twilight couldn’t help but fail at her attempts at getting mad at Rainbow for ‘scaring her’. She knew it was all in good fun.
But tonight was the night. She desperately wanted to confirm or break her suspicions of Rainbow’s… love for her. There couldn’t have been any other explanation for the unspoken conversion of Rainbow’s usual untamed, independent mannerism to a kind, sweet, loving Rainbow Dash. What else could it possibly be? Twilight ran over all of the other possibilities in her thoughts. It could just be getting those VIP box tickets… Or maybe, she perfected her Sonic Rainboom? She has been crashing with it a lot recently.
She would find out tonight soon enough.
-
Rainbow carefully descended, with Twilight sound asleep on her back. She had flown gently and slowly about halfway back to Ponyville, when she noticed Twilight looked tired, and proposed that she took a nap. She touched down, light as a feather, and walked into the house. The subtle moonlight flowed through the windows and submersed the living room in a beautiful light. She slowly walked upstairs, careful to not wake Twilight up. She hadn’t even bothered to turn on the lights, she knew her house well enough to navigate through it and brush her teeth in complete darkness.
She flickered on a dim light in her room, and tenderly laid Twilight down on her bed and wrapped her in a blanket. She walked around to get on her side of the bed, when she noticed Twilight had woken up. She yawned; unaware that she was now safe and sound in Rainbow’s bed. Immediately, she remembered her task for the night. Her eyes jolted open. She cut straight to the chase.
"Rainbow Dash. What's been going on lately? You've been acting differently."
Rainbow looked at her expectantly, taken aback by the sudden question. "What do you-" She was cut off.
"You know what I mean," Twilight said with an edge of compassion somewhere in her words.
Rainbow had crawled onto her bed, so that they were both sitting on her bed facing towards each other, in a cross-legged fashion. Rainbow pawed at her left hoof nervously. "Okay." Twilight looked at her expectantly.
"T-Twilight."
"Y-Yes..?"
"I..." She lost her voice and trailed off. "I... Twilight... I love you."
Twilight was taken back. She was met with a blend of emotions. Happiness, uncertainty, excitement, and horror. Well, her suspicions were definitely true. Rainbow had something deeper for Twilight. No, not friendship. Love. That's what Rarity called it. That's what Rainbow called it. Love. The highest level of affection two ponies can share. The word that binds them together, possibly for life. Twilight had a newfound change of heart. She realized her feelings for the rainbow-maned pony sitting across from her. She knew she was trembling as much as Rainbow.
Twilight would feel guilty without leaving Rainbow with some sort of reciprocation. Their friendship had grown too far to let her down, even in the slightest. She reached out and clasped Rainbow's left hoof with both of hers.
"I-I'm not sure what to say, Rainbow..." She whispered, barely audible. "But thank you." Twilight slowly drew Rainbow into a long embrace, and they collapsed back onto the pillows, legs wrapped around each other, hugging in repose. Twilight wrapped them in the blanket with her magic. They closed their eyes and smiled. Rainbow felt the faint pressing of a certain somepony's lips on her cheek before the devoid unconsciousness captured her.