Rainbow Dash has a secret that she's kept to herself for years. Not even Fluttershy knows. So what will happen when Twilight finds out?
Rainbow Dash has a secret. Not even Fluttershy knows about this one.
Her secret could ruin her reputation as a cool and awesome mare. But, one day, Twilight Sparkle somehow figures it out. What happens when she does? Will she become 20% LESS cooler?
Rainbow Dash entered the Golden Oaks Library full of anticipation. Today was the big day. "Daring Do and the Kingdom of The Crystal Ponies" was finally going to be available today! It was going to be awesome. She could just imagine the swoops and soars of the tan pegasus as she defeating the evil Dr. Spalhoof and allowed the crystal alien ponies to return to their own world.
"Rainbow!" exclaimed Twilight as she stepped downstairs from the upper area of the tree. "I assume you're here for the new Daring Do?"
"You bet I am!" said Dash energetically. "I also can't wait to see Cadence's reaction to this!" No doubt she was going to be slightly ticked at the fact that A.K. Yearling portrayed her subjects as aliens. Suddenly realizing that Twilight had hesitated on the stairs, and was figiting nervously, she paused.
'Awwww, she looks kind of cute when she's like that!' Rainbow couldn't help but allow a light blush to creep onto her muzzle. "What is it Twi?" she asked. Twilight crossed her front hooves and avoided Rainbow's eye contact.
"Well, um, you see, Dash," she rubbed the back of her head. "Somepony already checked out the new book." The lavender alicorn looked at Rainbow, unsure of how she would take it.
"Oh." Rainbow said simply. Her gaze became downcast, and she turned towards the door. "T- that's fine, Twilight." She knew the library wasn't just hers. This was bound to happen at some point. Just as she was about to fly out the door, she heard Twilight call out "Wait!"
Rainbow turned around. "Why, why don't you read something else?" asked Twilight. At Dash's confused gaze, she backtracked. "I mean, have you ever tried Aristrotle?" She levitated an extremely thick book over as she approached Dash. "I know it looks intimidating, but it's really not that bad!" Suddenly, the alicorn's eyes lit up. "We could have a sleepover!" she cried excitedly. "We could stay up late into the night reading!"
Rainbow Dash gazed uncertainty at the tome. Finally, her "loyal" side won. "Sure Twi, let me just go and grab a few things." With that, she flew out the door. "Be back here at eight!" called Twilight after her.
Rainbow was freaking out. She was supposed to be back at Twilight's in twenty minutes. She had all of her stuff ready, and was ready to leave, but her nerves were getting the best of her.
Rainbow had a mega-huge crush on Twilight.
'I'm gonna be sleeping with her!' she panicked. "Would it be rude to sleep in a different room as her?" she asked Tank. Of course, he didn't reply. She figured it would, so she decided against it. Besides, on the bright side, maybe she'll leave the lights on.
Finally, nerves on overdrive, Rainbow headed to the Golden Oaks Library. She knocked. Why did she knock? Nopony ever knocked. So why did she knock?
The door opened, and Spike greeted her. "Hey, Rainbow!" he said, gesturing her inside. "I was just heading off to Sweet Apple Acres! The crusaders are having a sleepover there!"
"Cool," said Dash absently. "Where's Twilight?"
"Right here." Twilight stepped out into the main room, and Rainbow nearly peed on the floor in front of her. The lavender pony's mane was down, flowing freely around her neck, and her tail wasn't brushed.
Twilight paused, and looked at the conspicuous blush flowing through Rainbow's face. "Uh, you okay, Dash?"
"Swell," came the moaned reply of Rainbow, as she fought to keep her blush under control. She walked over to her friend and sat down on the cushions next to her.
"Alright Rainbow, let's read!"
3 Hours later, Twilight finally closed the massive book. "Well," she said through a yawn. "I think that's enough for tonight. It's already 11." Rainbow nervously got off of the pillows, and followed Twilight as she headed upstairs. They got ready for bed, and eventually, they were ready for bed. Twilight crawled into her bed, while Rainbow laid out her sleeping bag on the cushions she brought up from downstairs.
"Goodnight Rainbow Dash," said Twilight as she flicked off the light by her bed with her magic. "Goodnight Twi," replied Dash, who left the lamp by her sleeping bag on. Slowly, the pegasus drifted off to sleep.
Twilight on the other hand, was a bit annoyed. Why didn't Rainbow turn off her light! It was driving her crazy. Finally realizing that the cyan mare had drifted off to sleep without turning it off, she chucked mildly to herself and turned off Rainbow's lamp with her magic. The bedroom plunged into darkness, and Twilight went to sleep.
Dash woke up a few hours later in a panic. Why was it so dark! She knew that she had left the light on before she went to bed. Ohhhhh noooo... it was so dark. So so very dark. She shivered in her bag, whimpering to herself. Suddenly, a creak came from elsewhere in the tree.
Twilight woke up to the sudden screams of Rainbow Dash as she latched herself onto Twilight. "Rainbow!" cried the alicorn, not fully understanding what the hay was going on at the moment. She managed to pry Rainbow off of her with her magic, and placed her on the bed opposite of her. "What's going on?" she asked angrily, flicking on the lamp.
Upon the room flooding with light, Rainbow relaxed slightly, but still wore a nervous look, and pawed at the bed sheets in an embarrassed manner. "Rainbow?" Twilight demanded an answer.
"Nothing... I'm sorry," replied Dash quietly as she stepped off of the bed and slowly trotted back to her sleeping bag. Annoyed, Twilight turned out the light. Then, she head the frightened whimper from the other side of the room. Then, it all clicked into place.
"Oh my gosh!" She flicked the lamp back on. "Rainbow Dash, are you afraid of the dark?"
Rainbow's heart pounded in her chest. "N-no..." she mumbled. "T-that's, that's stupid!" Twilight just cocked an ear apprehensively, and complied with an "Alright then." She turned out the light again as Rainbow got settled in her sleeping bag, yet she stayed in an upright position.
A few moments later, as a test, she made the broom in the hallway fall over with her magic. As the semi-lough "THWAK" came from the doorway, Rainbow shrieked and bolted under Twilight's bed. Convinced her theory was correct, Twilight turned the lights back on, and levitated Rainbow out from under the bed, placing her cowering form gently next to her.
"Rainbow, it's okay to be afraid of something," she reassured the mortified mare, as she gently rubbed a hoof along her spine. "There's nothing to be ashamed of!" Dash finally rose and sat up on the bed. "You probably think I'm a loser now, don't you..."
Twilight pulled her friend into a hug. "Of course I don't!" she said forcefully. "I just think you need to open up to somepony about things like this."
Rainbow's heart soared as she felt Twilight embrace her. Shaking with half fear, half anticipation, she finally voiced a question she'd had since the beginning of the night. "T-twi... can I, um, sleep with you here?"
Smiling warmly, Twilight nodded, and allowed Rainbow to crawl under the sheets with her. After the pegasus was settled, Twilight wrapped her legs around her, and carefully wrapped Rainbow up in her wing. Dash nuzzled her face into the alicorn's soft chest, burying her muzzle in Twilight's scent.
Slowly, the pair drifted off to sleep, with Rainbow loving Twilight even more, and with Twilight quickly discovering her affection towards the cyan pegasus in return.
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.
