//------------------------------// // Dash's Secret (20% Cooler Rewrite) // Story: The Secret of The Dash // by ModMCdl //------------------------------// Up high above the general cloud level of Equestria, the nighttime air was cooler, and fresh. Just the way a pegasus liked it. Any self-respecting pegasus would feel right at home, up in the clouds, a slightly stronger breeze drifting through the air. But not Rainbow Dash. The prismatic pegasus was depressed, similar to every night. She trudged up her steps slowly, heading for her bedroom. As customary, she left the lamp next to her bed on, warding away the darkness from the hallway. Crawling under the sheets, Dash wrapped her forelegs around a plush pillow. Feeling especially lonely, the poor cyan mare began to cry softly to herself. It was Hearths Warming Eve, and once again this year, she was alone. The pillow she clutched tightly to her chest was no substitute for another pony; preferably an unexpectedly cute lavender alicorn. Rainbow's heart swelled at the thought of Princess Twilight Sparkle. For months now, she had been secretly holding feelings for the mare. There was just something about the way the sunset sparked in her coat that made Dash shiver. And if she had been caught out in the rain, the way her wet mane cascaded down over her shoulders... it sent Rainbow's mind on an amazing adventure. Rainbow perked up at the thoughts of her friend. But she still felt that all too familiar sense of loneliness of being alone on Hearth's Warming Eve. She had to do something about this, she couldn't stand to be alone again this year. The light bulb next to her bed fizzled out and Dash yelped, jumping out of bed, and shooting outside her window. At least outside, there was light from the moon. And yet, the night air was cold, and Rainbow soon found herself seeking warmth. Looking around, she noticed the giant palace off in the distance, practically radiating warmth from its glowing windows. The pegasus couldn't help but think that it looked extremely inviting. Unconsciously, she began to drift towards Twilight's new home. Not long after, she found herself hovering over the balcony that led to Twilight's personal chamber, more preferably called a bedroom by Rainbow Dash. Unable to help herself, she lightly set down on the crystal, a light tap echoing her arrival. To the cyan mare's surprise, the surface was indeed giving off some heat, so she decided to just curl up out here and sleep. --- Twilight entered her room, and lightly set her crown down on a table by the door. Sighing a tired breath, she slowly trudged over to the bed, and prepared to get the bed ready for her to sleep. It was an obnoxiously large bed, made more to fit two ponies rather than one. Twilight had at first insisted that she could use a smaller bed, but Princess Luna gave it to her anyways, mumbling something about certain princess privileges requiring a slightly larger bed. Finally, with a content sigh, the alicorn lay back, thankful to finally go to sleep after an exceptionally stressful day. However, as soon as she began to drift off, a light tapping noise came from the other end of her room. Twilight sat up, and looked over to her balcony door, thinking that she just hadn't closed it fully, but the double doors were shut and locked. Staying alert for a few more seconds, the Princess gazed around the room. Eventually, after reassuring herself that nothing wrong, she lay back down on her bed. Just as the lavender mare was beginning to doze off, another sound disturbed her. Twilight shot straight up in bed as a muffled sneeze came from her balcony. Trembling slightly with fear, Twilight got out of her bed and walked cautiously towards the balcony doors. Her horn was glowing feverishly, ready to taze whatever was outside waiting for her. Right now, she really wished she hadn't refused Celestia's offer for her own personal guards. The door handles glowed as Twilight's magic took hold of them. Reading herself, she paused for a minute. Then, she swung the doors open, and instantly seized everything on the balcony in her magical grasp. A strangled yelp broke her from her daze, and focused on the objects in front of her. In her grasp was a potted plant, several cushions, and a very surprised looking Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow!" Twilight released everything from her magic, dumping the pegasus with a painful thud. "Sorry sorry sorry!" she cried rushing over to her friend's side. "Are you okay?" Groaning, the prismatic mare stood up shakily, her teeth chattering, and her eyes red and bloodshot. "I'm fine, T- twi. Just n- need a moment t- to-" Twilight picked up the mare in her lavender glow once again. "Come inside Dash. Let's warm you up." The alicorn then proceeded to walk inside, carrying a shivering Rainbow Dash behind her. She placed the cyan form on her bed, drawing the covers up around her, and then summoned an extra quilt from her closet, and laying it on top. Rainbow went to protest, but Twi shushed her. "Shhhhh. It's okay, Rainbow. I'll just go an sleep in the guest room." Twilight turned to leave, but was stopped by the pegasus's wavering voice. "Can you stay? Please?" Looking surprised, the alicorn nodded, and walked over to the edge of the bed, pulling a chair over and sitting. Rainbow Dash looked at her confused, and lifted the sheets up a bit. Blushing, Twilight realized that Dash expected her to get into bed with her. Not knowing what else to do, and wanting to make her friend happy, she lifted the covers with her magic, and climbed in. Then, she turned the light out. Dash emitted a small squeak, and mumbled something unintelligible into the pillow now clutched to her breast. "What was that?" asked Twilight. "C-can you turn the light back on?" asked Rainbow quietly. "Please?" Twilight, confused, turned the light back on, noticing Dash visibly relax. Then, it dawned on her. "You're afraid of the dark," she breathed, almost to herself. Her muzzle beet red, Dash shrunk into the covers, almost trying to hide herself with her pillow. Realizing she had said that aloud, Twilight allowed a faint blush of regret onto her face. "It's alright, Dashie. Everypony is afraid of something." An even deeper blush became visible on the pegasus's face at being called by her Pinkie-approved pet name. Leaning in to whisper in the cyan mare's ear, Twilight added, "I'm actually afraid of..." She gulped. "Quesadillas." Rainbow couldn't help but let out a small giggle at that. Then, Twilight did something that neither of the two ponies saw coming. She reached out, and pulled Rainbow into a comforting hold, placing the pegasus's head in the crook of her neck, and wrapping a soft wing around her. Then, to top it all off, the Princess of Friendship placed a small, soft kiss on Rainbow's forehead. "Twi- Twilight?" began Rainbow. Both ponies were blushing profusely, and Twilight quickly backed away, removing her comforting grasp from Rainbow, and backing away slightly. "S-sorry Rainbow Dash. I- I don't know what came over me," stuttered the lavender mare, not knowing herself where that came from. Rainbow, still confused, blushed and said, "It's alright Twi. I- I actually have something I need to um... confess." She looked up, meeting Twilight's gaze. The lavender mare looked at her, waiting for her to finish. "Twi, I've felt, um, really close to you for a while now, and um, I... what I'm trying to say here is that um..." Rainbow was tripping over the words in her mouth, partially due to nervousness, and also out of not being able to think straight. Luckily, Twilight was not a pony who would let another feel uncomfortable and anxious if she could help it, so she helped Rainbow Dash out a bit. Leaning forward again, she kissed the cyan mare full on the lips. Pulling away, she whispered, "I think I love you too, Dashie." The pegasus melted at those words as Twilight leaned forward again for another kiss. This one was longer, and more intimate, with the two ponies almost suckling on one another's lips. Finally pulling away, Twilight wrapped her legs and wing around Dash once again. She leaned forwards, her lips brushing against the pegasus's ear. "Sleep tight, my love." And the two fell asleep by the light of the lamp, with warm feelings and love filling both of their hearts, on that wonderful Hearths Warming Eve.