Three Seasons

by shakealchemist

A Chance of Clouds

Rarity ran a hoof across the fabric of a dress she was supposed to be working on, yet she felt far too down to bring herself to do so. 'Poor Dashie. I really hurt her. I was too harsh on her. I can't believe I let her leave in tears, some friend I am.' Rarity thought with a longing sigh. She looked to her bed, more specifically, the spot on which Dash would usually sit. A sadness crept up Rarity's body, cutting deeper than it already had. Of course, she felt no inspiration, Dash had been the one to fill her with so much of it as of late. Now she felt guilty and her heart . . . empty. She magically lifted a framed picture from her bedside nightstand. It was the picture Dash had signed for her the first time they had met. 'My . . .' She thought looking into the photo of Dash's eyes. 'Usually, only colts make me feel this way. I've got a little mare crush on Rainbow.' Rarity took a little humor out of the realization. 'Maybe it's for the best that I haven't seen her in a while, gives me time to get over these silly feelings.' But as she put the picture down she thought back to how Dash hadn't visited since her walk out and that she had no-showed her suspension game. Rarity had waited outside the locker room, pacing and checking inside every so often until finally Nimble told her Dash wasn't there at halftime. It had been a hard game to watch as the game ended in the Speedsters' third straight loss.

Rarity stared out the window of her room while flicking her ears once in awhile. She hoped to catch a glimpse of Dash trotting up to the door or to hear her mother inform her of Dashie's arrival. Only the sound of rain starting to fall greeted her, washing away her hopes. 'Oh, I must've upset her so. She's probably never going to come to see me again.' The idea of it was almost enough to make her cry. 'No. Such a silly thought. I'll see Rainbow at her next game and set things right then.' She told herself firmly.

* * *

"Woohoo! What a game!" Dash cheered as she burst through the doors into the locker room.

"Heck yeah, we creamed them!" Gilda seconded with an arm around Dash.

"And you know what that means, right?" Dash asked excitedly.

"Playoffs!" They said together with a hoof bump before heading to their lockers to store their uniforms.

"Yo Dash, your unicorn friend is waiting for you outside!" Nimble called out.

Dash paused as this news caused Gilda to cast her an annoyed glare. "Ha, I'm sure this will only take a second." Dash said nervously. She knew Gilda wanted to keep on celebrating, and honestly, she would rather do that than face Rarity who may be still upset with her. She slipped through the door and into the hall and saw Rarity standing not too far off. She had her head turned away and Dash couldn't help but admire her beauty as she turned toward her.

"Hello there Rainbow." Rarity greeted politely as she trotted up to her.

"Hey." Dash said simply.

"Congratulations on your playoff berth." She offered a kind smile.

"Thanks." Dash said with no change of tone.

Rarity flicked her mane with a hoof, feeling awkward. "Look, Rainbow, about our last talk . . . I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you in any way." She said facing bring up the elephant in the room.

Rainbow let out a sigh. "It's fine Rares. It's like you said, I let my emotions get the better of me." There was a long pause as they both waited for the other to move past the issue. Having enough of the awkward silence, Dash turned back to the door. "If that's all you had to say."

"Rainbow, wait . . ." Rarity spoke up quickly, "would . . . you like to come over tomorrow? You wouldn't have to try on any dresses. We could just talk about hoofball, if you like." Rarity said holding back the pleading that raged inside her.

Dash looked back at her. "Sure, I'd like that." Dash said with a smile before continuing into the locker room, leaving Rarity standing alone in the halls.

A big grin crossed Rarity's lips as she hurried away in a joyful prance.

* * *

As usual, Rarity woke up early the next morning, yet today was different. For she was expecting a special guest and with no set time for the visit, Rarity wanted to be ready as soon as possible. A quick shower helped make extra time spent doing her mane and make-up. She picked out the perfect jewelry to match the look, but no dress for she didn't want to overdo it. Afterward, it was breakfast with her dad to go back over their hoofball talk from last night and learn more. Once she felt like she had a good understanding of the game and its lingo, she went on to read an old hoofball magazine her father loaned her while she waited for Dash to arrive. When she finished it she moved on to a fashion magazine. She grew bored of it and went upstairs to her room. She glanced at the clock. 'This is right around when she usually comes over.' She thought, perking herself up. Rarity hummed a happy tune as she trotted over to an early stage, work in progress dress. 'I could turn this into something for Rainbow.' She looked over at her stacks of fabrics, thinking what type and color to use. 'No, no. I don't want to get myself too busy with work . . . but I could tidy this place up a little bit.' Rarity went about organizing, picking up, and cleaning the little messes around her room. While she worked, fantasies of what she and Dash would do played out in her head, of them talking and laughing. She even allowed herself to daydream about them sharing a kiss. 'my, I've never tried to charm a mare before . . . we could probably do more than kiss, but of course I have to keep it classy.' Rarity couldn't help but giggle at such dirty thoughts. As she entertained such ideas while cleaning to pass the time she glimpsed at her window and noticed the sun would start to set soon. 'But. . . is Rainbow not coming over? Is she still mad at me?' Rarity thought suddenly depressed, but then came a knock at the front door. 'Could it be? Did I barely miss seeing her fly to the door?' Listening carefully she heard her mother confirm it.

"Dashie! We've been expecting ya. Rarity's been waiting for ya upstairs. Don't get too comfy, dinner will be on the table in a little bit."

"Alright, cool." Was Dash's reply.

When Dash appeared in the bedroom doorway she stopped to see Rarity staring at her from her spot next to the window. "Hey, sorry 'bout being late. Had a late night with the team, so I kinda slept in." Dash said, her eyes still looking tired.

"It's perfectly fine darling, you're here now. And of course, you had to go celebrate with your team, it was quite the win."

Dash nodded and eyed Rarity's get up. "Say, you aren't going out anywhere are you?"

Rarity put a hoof to her pearl necklace. "Oh no. I just wanted to look nice. What do you think?" She asked with a little pose and batting her eyelashes.

Dash shied her gaze away for a moment. "Yeah, you look great. I didn't know you had pierced ears thou'."

"Oh yes. I did them not so long ago.' Rarity flicked an ear to flash the opal gem in the light. "I could pierce yours sometime if you'd like." Rarity offered.

"Sounds rad. I'm totally down for that." Dash agreed, thinking how cool she'd look and then about how plain she looked now. "Should I have dressed up as well? Cause I don't really do that."

Rarity laugh. "I can give you a makeover you know."

"I'll pass." Dash said managing a smile.

"Come on, it'll be fun. We could do a sleepover." Rarity added hopefully.

"A sleepover? I'm game, but no makeovers." Dash declared.

"Very well." Rarity smiled amused.

A short time later they went down for dinner. After stuffing herself with all she could eat, Dash went on to give Rarity and her family her insight of the plays in yesterday's win.

As Rarity politely ate she couldn't help but notice Dash looked and acted much more energetic than she had before. This made her smile as she listened to Dash's tale.

Once Dash had finished with her recap she leaned back in her chair. "I sure am beat. So where am I sleeping?" Dash asked looking to Rarity.

"Right. Rainbow is sleeping over tonight if that's all right?" Rarity checked with her parents who nodded seeing that it was late. "In my room." Rarity said to answer Dash's question.

Rarity helped clear the table and after Dash thanked her parents Rarity led her upstairs and into her room.

"So what, I get the floor or something?" Dash asked to clarify.

"Don't be silly, you can join me in my bed."

"Oh." Dash froze.

"Is that alright?" Rarity asked looking back with what Dash could swear was a sly, suggestive smile.

". . . Th - that's fine. I don't mind." Dash stuttered and swallowed.

"Better than the floor?" Rarity joked with a giggle as she removed her makeup.

"Right, but I'm used to cloud floors. Can basically sleep anywhere." Dash shrugged.

"Oh . . . what's it like? Sleeping on a cloud I mean. It sounds simply divine." Rarity asked intrigued.

"It's hard to explain. Let's just say there's a reason they say it's like sleeping on a cloud."

"I wish I could experience that." Rarity said wistfully, carefully slipping under the sheets.

Dash reached a hoof out to pull the sheets back.

"Stop! Get in the bed without messing up the sheets like I did." Rarity objected quickly.

Dash thought for a second. "Or better yet." She flew up and then gently glided down, slipping the sheets smoothly. "How's that?" She asked resting her head in her hoof.

"Yes. . . very nice." Rarity blushed. 'I'm really in bed with her!' She thought excitedly. She took a breath to calm herself. 'We're just sleeping, that's all.' She told herself as she magically lifted and brought her sleeping mask toward herself. "Goodnight Rainbow." She said pleasantly.

"Night Rares." Dash smiled before making herself comfortable.

Rarity slipped the mask on, turned off the lights, and did the same. Right as she was falling asleep a loud snore snapped her back awake. Rarity lifted her mask and turned to Dash as she snored once more. 'Oh no, this won't do. Not at all.' Rarity debated in her head what her course of action should be when suddenly Dash rolled over, curling up close to Rarity with a hoof going across Rarity's body and her muzzle buried into her mane. Rarity held her breath as she blushed out of embarrassment. 'Please don't be awake.' Rarity didn't hear Dash's snoring anymore, but she could feel Dash's steady and soft breath upon her shoulder. 'She still asleep.' She noted relaxing a little. Having Dash this close to her and holding still, Rarity could see Dash was a rather small mare. She already knew this from Dash modeling for her, but it hadn't fully hit her until now.

Dash nuzzled against her and her lips formed a slight smile.

Rarity couldn't help but smile at how cute Dash looked. So she relaxed, settling down, and rested her head against Dash's, and soon fell asleep herself.

* * *

Rarity blinked her eyes open and set up with a yawn. 'Oh right, Dash is-.' Rarity looked to see her bed empty of anypony else and a quick glance around told her the same was true of her room. Before she could wonder what had happened, she spied a note left on her nightstand. Picking it up in her magic, she read the two words on it,come outside. Rarity hopped out of bed and trotted over to her dresser and caught a glimpse of her bed mane in her mirror. 'I look simply horrid, but Dashie is waiting for me . . . A quick fix will have to do.' She pulled out a scrunchie and put her mane into a messy bun. She frowned when she checked herself out in the mirror once more. 'This better be good Rainbow. I would never step a hoof outside looking like this.' She thought trotting out the bedroom door.

Once outside Rarity spotted Dash doing the oddest thing, patting down a cloud that was on the ground. "Rainbow, what are you doing?" She asked trotting over to her.

"Oh, hey Rares. You know how you wanted to know what it felt like to sleep on a cloud? Well, I can help you stand on one at least." Dash said looking up at her.

Rarity froze, staring at her.

"Here." Dash laid down and put her arms around the cloud, holding it together and in place. "Go ahead." Dash added nodding to her.

Slowly and carefully Rarity placed a hoof over the cloud. She looked at Dash questioningly, and she nodded her to go on. Timidly she placed her hoof on the cloud. Her hoof sunk in a little, pushing the cloud away, but as it was being held in place some of the cloud remained trapped under her. For Rarity the feeling was impossible to describe, but she loved it. Rarity placed her other hoof onto it and she began to kneed the cloud as if it were dough. She was having so much fun with it that she didn't notice Dash straining to hold the cloud together and in place. 'Simply divine.' Rarity marveled as she pressed down with more of her weight, which proved to be too much for Dash to hold back as the cloud exploded away in all directions. "Oops." Rarity uttered in shock.

"Ow." Dash muttered under her breath before standing and shaking what remained of the cloud off. "Sorry about that Rares. I couldn't hold it." Dash apologized rubbing her own shoulder.

Rarity didn't react at first, but then suddenly embraced Dash. "Aw, thank you so much Dashie! I can't believe you did that for me. And I can't believe I just destroyed your cloud." Rarity said then broke out into laughter.

"Ha, it was nothing really. Any pegasus could've done it." Dash said while putting a hoof around her in return.

Rarity pulled back just enough to end the hug. "But you did it for me, as a surprise. That's what makes it special. It was wonderful, thank you." Rarity inched closer to Dash.

Dash felt a change in the mood, a certain feeling filled her stomach. Dash gulped, as Rarity's muzzle got closer and her eyes half-lidded. 'No way . . . She's gonna kiss me!' In a panic at the sudden realization, Dash blushed heavily and fought her mixed feelings of want and fear as her mind raced endlessly. In a flash, she darted up into the sky. "Hey, you know I'm pretty good when it comes to clouds, check it out!" As Dash zoomed off into the sky, a stunned Rarity was left to sit on the grass alone.

Sadden, she watched as the mare she loved flew about as thoughts of what just had, and hadn't, happened filled her head.

* * *

"Yo Dash, you lost in there?" Gilda asked knocking on Dash's head.

Dash blinked herself out of her mind and back to the Junior Speedsters' locker room. "Sorry G, guess I'm not fully here."

"You're telling me. Where's your head at? We should be creaming these guys like the team before. So what's up with you? It's not like you to be missing plays out there." Gilda questioned, crossing her arms.

"Some stupid stuff, I don't even know why I'm letting it bother me so much." Dash shrugged. 'Probably cause I blew such a perfect chance to share my feelings with Rarity. She must clearly like me too, but . . .' Worries filled Dash's head.

"Well get your head in the game. No more losses on our way to the championship, right?" Gilda patted Dash's shoulder encouragingly.

"Right." Dash nodded firmly. She reminded herself that while hoofball was a chance to show off her skills and prove herself, it was also her escape. Nothing else mattered when she played and it made her feel like she was really somepony amazing. She felt her spirits lift at this. It was how Rarity could make her feel. 'That must be why I'm so . . . bothered by that sleepover.' Just remembering waking up to Rarity in her hooves made the blue pegasus feel flustered. She hit her head a few times with a hoof. 'This is dumb. I'm not having a fashion-obsessed mare throwing me off my game!' Dash told herself as she stood up. "Let's go out there and kick some flank!" Dash roared.

"That's more like it!" Gilda shouted in approval.

* * *

Rarity had deemed that it would be best to let Dash make the first move if their relationship should advance to something more. While Dash still visited her at a steady pace of once a week, they remained friendly with no hints of anything more. As the season rolled on Rarity always congratulated Dash for the Junior Speedsters' accomplishments; from getting the top seed in the playoffs, to finishing the season without another loss. Less time with Dash made her feel lonely and she brunt her returned free time to promote and work on her dresses.

Right now she sat in her room with a small smile. She was watching Dash bounce up and down on her bed.

"Ha, ha! This time next week it'll be the most important game of my life!" Dash laughed joyfully.

"Doesn't that make you nervous?" Rarity asked raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Are you kidding me?" Dash did a spinning flip off of the bed and landed cleanly in front of Rarity. "I've been preparing for this game for a long time. Well the championship game, but this one will be a good warm-up."

"You know it's not a guaranteed thing." Rarity objected.

"Come on Rares, are you doubting me? I'm impossibly fly and super awesome. That championship trophy is practically all mine." Dash said getting close to Rarity with a cocky grin.

"ugh, Rainbow . . ." Rarity pushed her away. "You've worked to make it this far. Don't throw it all away by thinking you've already won." She warned.

"Hey, hey, hey. Relax, I got this. I'm the star on the team and come gameday I'mma shine."

"Hmph." Rarity turned away annoyed.

"What?" Dash asked confused. This was the opposite of what she expected, Rarity fawning over her, not rejecting her.

Rarity sighed. "You're letting this get to your head."

"What do you expect? I carried my team here. You saw those three games without me, the Speedsters loss." Dash argued.

"I know, it's just . . . I want you to win just as much as you do and I'm worried you're not taking this seriously enough." Rarity admitted softly.

"I'm sorry Rares. I'm just having fun cause I'm so excited. This is so big for me and I'm not going to mess it up. I'm going out there with my A game like I always do. You believe in that." Dash told her, hugging her with one hoof.

Rarity saw the determination in her eyes and nodded in satisfaction at her answer.

Author's Note:

My greatest pride in this story is finally giving something back to the brony fandom. I've enjoyed so much from it that it's a joy to add my simple little ship fic to it. Highest hopes are to remain positive in likes and comments. Would also love to see this story make it on EQD.