Two Eyes, One Heart

by Tropical Applejack

Chapter Nine (Final) - Two Eyes, One Heart

Before leaving the bakery, Dash had made sure that this trip would be unlike the others; it would be clear this time. There'd be no lightning to worsen Pinkie's fate or bring Dash the same. While Pinkie had a job that didn't necessarily demand her sight, Rainbow Dash was not so lucky. Without being able to see, Dash would only be able to swing blindly in the hopes of hitting the clouds. No doubt she'd be fired soon after and also have to give up her dream of being a Wonderbolt. So yes, of course she deemed it necessary to double check and triple check with the weather team. No storms for the next month.

Applejack trusted Rainbow Dash to do just as good a job, if not better, as Pinkie's guide. She had to; after all, Pinkie clearly meant the world to that pegasus. The lovers set off slowly for the meadow. Rainbow took it extra slow. No matter how badly she wanted to get there as fast as possible, she knew she shouldn't do that, so she didn't even try. Instead, Dash let Pinkie have all the time she needed and then some. After an hour and a half of walking cautiously rolled by with small comments like "You'll love it!" and "Oop, watch your step, Pinkie," the big, lone tree in the meadow came into view.

Rainbow Dash tightened her grip on Pinkie's hoof lovingly. "We're almost there. Feel the breeze? That's us... tangled in the wind, Pinkie. We'll find a way forward just like we found this tree again."

"Golly, Dash... I had no idea you could be such a poet."

Dashie's cheeks turned pink. "I'm just trying to keep the spirits up. Thanks for coming out here with me."

Pinkie nodded as they neared the tree's base. Pinkie couldn't feel the breeze the way Dash did. Sure, they loved each other, but how easily could a relationship be held between one who couldn't see and one who could? A blind puppy and an adopting mother? Only one answer was seen in her mind; it wouldn't be easy. She yawned sleepily as Rainbow stopped her before her head hit the trunk.

Rainbow Dash pointed at the tree for a few seconds with her free hoof (The other was still holding onto Pinkie's own front hoof.). She then promptly facehoofed herself for being dumb. Right... she couldn't see. Dash lifted Pinkie's hoof and touched it to the bark. Over the past couple weeks, she'd used her free time to peel all the burned bark away. She went a step further by doing something Pinkie wouldn't expect. Pinkie rubbed her hoof over a heart-like shape and felt the plus sign in the middle of it. She moved her hoof to the left to feel that letter marking Rainbow Dash's name. "R" she searched for, but she didn't find it. Pinkie Pie instead felt a "P" engraved in the tree. She turned her head to the pegasus, who was now eagerly awaiting her reaction like she had done herself a couple weeks ago before all the mayhem. "Dashie?" Pinkie asked. "Did you..?"

"Twilight would be proud to see I put something in alphabetical order for once," Rainbow Dash chuckled. Pinkie moved her hoof to the right of the plus sign. There it was... an engraved "R." But wait... was that slash just the natural bark? Was the heart really depicting "P + P forever?" Pinkie Pie doubted it, but it hurt knowing that she would never know for 100% positive whether Rainbow Dash was lying or not. Her hoof went limp, and she broke down crying. Pinkie's body curled up into a small ball as she shivered like she was in the midst of that awful storm again. Rainbow Dash knelt down to comfort her. The pegasus wrapped her wing over the saddened, pink pony, but there was no indication given that Pinkie even knew she was there.

Somepony tapped Dash's shoulder, grabbing her attention. Rainbow looked up to see Princess Luna towering over her with her head held high and a soft smile on her face. She beckoned for Rainbow Dash to stand up, and the weather pony did so. Luna discreetly whispered something into Rainbow's ear. The ear perked. "Really?" Dash excitedly asked for confirmation, and Luna nodded in response. Rainbow took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and bowed her head down. "Do it."

There was a bright flash seen through her shut eyes. Both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie lost consciousness.

* * *
Pinkie rubbed her head, still in a tizzy from whatever hit her. The party pony's eyelids fluttered opened. Blades of green grass greeted her as she pushed on the ground to stand up.

"Huh?"

She waved a hoof in front of her face to make sure she wasn't just remembering what grass looked like. A flash of pink met her gaze. Pinkie Pie looked around with a smile bigger than any other she'd had in all her life. She could see the plains around her! She could see the heart of the tree in front of her! She could see Rainbow Dash sleeping in the grass and Luna standing next to her! ...That last one sent shivers down her spine. She was just sleeping, wasn't she?

Rainbow let out a loud yawn as she spread her wings out and stretched her body out as she got back on her hooves. A sigh of relief escaped Pinkie's mouth, and she felt happy knowing that Dash hadn't given up her life to give Pinkie her sight back. Instead, Pinkie's jaw hung open when Dash turned to look at her. One of the pegasus's eyes, the right one, had a glossy film over it. Pinkie then put a hoof over the left eye attached to herself. She couldn't see her hoof. Before Pinkie Pie could say anything, Rainbow tackled her lover to the ground and tightly wrapped her hooves around the pink mare. "An eye for an eye," she whispered. Pinkie Pie was free of any doubt that Rainbow did what she did for herself. She did it for the benefit of both of them.

As Luna took her leaving, flying into the sky, Pinkie too could feel the breeze that Dash spoke of. Things still wouldn't be easy (just like they never would be), but now the two of them stood together in the world. In this moment, however, they laid on top of one another next to a single heart. The blue and magenta of their eyes seemed to mix in the same way their love was made in Sugarcube Corner and - soon - here: warm... and perfect.

Author's Note:

Even if this story doesn't have good ratings (and even if it never does), I want you all to know that I thank you for coming this far. You read through a fanfic buried underneath others, and I thank you for that. I also thank all the artists of the wonderful art in this video. You gave me the inspiration I needed and made this possible!

Comments

[Tropical Applejack]

7889299
I'm glad you liked it up until now. Give yourself a pat on the back for giving me the inspiration to finish it tonight! Last chapter is here to stay.

[Prismfire Productions]

*starts crying*

[Crimson Dawn]

An interesting idea and a nice way to have sacrifice without killing a character off A fine choice in the end.

[Tropical Applejack]

7889581
I'm happy that you think that.
I know well enough that a happy ending where her sight returned would be unlikely, and one where Rainbow Dash dies would be overdone, so I kind of went for the middle ground that authors never seem to consider most of the time.

[Dash32]

This was awesome!

[MyLittlePony296]

You think this story will get bad ratings? It was awesome. I love it! PinkieDash forever! This is best story! Yaaaaasss!!!!!!!

[Tropical Applejack]

7901819
I'm glad you liked it! Hopefully you'll like the stories I lay down in the future.

[RoyalBardofCanterlot]

My first story was also PinkieDash. Ah, memories...anyway, great job!

[Tropical Applejack]

7949194
Thank ya very much.

[Silver Inkwell]

Oh my gosh, what did I just read?

This was... amazing, wonderful, incredible, splendid.

I just read it yesterday and I literally wanted to cry my eyes out (but it did make me smile nonetheless).

I mean this was just... wow.

Okay, where do I even begin?

First of all, you go with a weak ship (in my opinion) of PinkieDash, brave choice, and you made it work out surprisingly well.

Second, you make it sad/tragic but with just that tough of joy at the end of the Rainbow, (I just made a pun! Oh My Gosh!) Well Done.

Third, the ending was perfect, there's no need for a sequel, it's just there, good, and done with...

That being said...

I do have few problems with it.

1. The PinkieDash Ship.

Now then first of all, let me make something clear, I DO NOT HATE THIS SHIP. YOU made it work out in the end, but I feel in terms of the Main 6 pairings, this is one of the weakest. I'm not saying that it can't be good (just like your story), I'm just saying it may not be as popular as some others out there (Sunlight, FlutterDash, RariJack, AppleDash, etc.)

But as I said before, this is my own opinion and you still did make the shipping romance work out very well for something so short, well done indeed.

2. The romance felt a bit rushed/forced in certain places. Like the staring into each other's eyes for example.

While science does say that it invokes emotion I don't think that you just stare into a stranger's (or even friends) eyes and say, "Oh hey, I really love them".

(And yes, I know that technically she didn't, it took her like a day or so to admit it)

But even then it could (and maybe should) have taken just a bit longer to feel more natural (I mean if I did feel something for one of my friends I would think there would be a whole lot more arguing with myself, but then again, RD is a mare of action and not words, but if she were nervous or in love then that might not be exactly true anymore.).

3. Wait, two days for their love, seems a bit rushed, doesn't it?

(Yes, I know, this is a ship-fic, but still timing is the most common complaint that I know and have heard of).

But other than that the rest of the story doesn't feel that rushed especially when you consider that RD is a mare of action and probably would want the word to spread out around the town quickly once she was finally ready.

Now I'm mostly nitpicking here, but here's my final total of this story.

9/10
Or
A-

I would definitely recommend this for anyone who's a bit sad (because I was yesterday, and boy, did this thing make me want to write again when I was just not feeling it/inspired).

For a romance, it would be up there (and Slice of Life too)

And since this is my very first PinkieDash story it would definitely be a recommend in that category as well.

That being said, this is my review, good luck with your future stories, and good day, peace out until next time.

[Tropical Applejack]

8032529
Thank you a lot for the lovely and kind comment. It's truly appreciated, and I can't thank you enough for the in-depth review.

Now to address your points.

1. I understand what you are saying, but isn't this just your own bias speaking? In terms of shipping, us writers tend to ship our headcanons, and this is no exception. When discussing whether it is a strong or weak ship, it's all a matter of opinion. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the heaviest implied ships in the show, excluding Bon Bon and Lyra (duh). There are just so many moments where they're portrayed as a couple; you just have to pay attention. I generally, though not all the time, ship characters based on canonical moments in the show as opposed to personality similarities (or differences if you're one of those "opposites attract" people).

2. My implications when writing that part all the way up to her confession was that she always kinda loved Pinkie in a way, but it wasn't very clear to either of them. Their talk in the field, the heart Pinkie drew, and looking into Pinkie's eyes made Dashie see it.

3. Ah, the time situation. The problem with your statements is that, not only is Dash a mare of action, they've always loved each other, even if it was one-sided for the longest time.

Stupid excuse? Maybe. Logical? Yes.

Again, thanks so much for the review!!

[Silver Inkwell]

8032994
Okay, now I feel like this is much better because my problems are answered, thanks.

[Tropical Applejack]

8153948
Thanks for taking time out of your day to read through it! The like is appreciated, and your review just as much!

Happy to see I at least made someone happy.

[Scaramouche]

That bittersweet ending was something I didn’t see coming but thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks for writing such a pleasurable story.

[Scaramouche]

I think I will; it’s teaching me a lot about my own writing as well, which speaks volumes for how strong your writing promotes feeling and care for the characters.

I’ll let you know. If you ever feeling like reading any of my own stuff and comment on it, please feel free. I know the Fallout one isn’t for everyone but I’ll be writing much less grim articles in the future too. I got a few more ideas in the pipeline yet.

If not, I won’t be offended, just know I’m really thankful for the inspiration you have given me to better myself

[Tropical Applejack]

8944179
Did you ever finish reading this story? If so, did you like it?

[FanficReader920]

Cute.