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Soul Retrieval 9-13 (WIP) by Klaifferon

By Pwcca999
Created: 2023-04-29 11:07:49
Updated: 2023-04-29 11:28:25
Expiry: Never
anonnsfwrainbow dash

  1. 1.
    Copied from: https://pastebin.com/8LX1XckF
  2. 2.
    Story by Klaifferon
  3. 3.
    Chapter 9: For you're a Creature of the Wind
  4. 4.
     
  5. 5.
    >....it was amazing
  6. 6.
    >your dreams that night are filled with colours, free of all material limitations
  7. 7.
    >a world existing in an instant, being made by your opened mind
  8. 8.
    >but when the time comes, it's starting to fade again
  9. 9.
    >knowing you'll have to take a leap into the material reality again, like stepping into a worm hole that consumes you whole only to spit you out elsewhere
  10. 10.
    >but you're doing so without any kind of fear
  11. 11.
    >after all, - even though this reality might not be so easy to live in, the life there is the same sweet when you're sharing it with someone dear to you
  12. 12.
    >and the second when you're starting to feel your own body again, all of the dream's journey's slipping away from your mind, almost in an instant
  13. 13.
    >then your eyes open, watching Dash waking up at the very same time
  14. 14.
    >smiling at the first sight of you, filling your heart with warm feeling right from the start of the day
  15. 15.
    "Hello, beautiful..." you whisper, not taking your eyes off her
  16. 16.
    >"Hey there Nonny...."
  17. 17.
    >your smiles are just queitly getting bigger upon glancing at each other, recalling yesterday
  18. 18.
    >just seeing her breathe is filling you with joy...
  19. 19.
    >but you've been silent for quite a while now
  20. 20.
    >"....Is it just me or is it still quite dark outside?" she eventualy breaks the stillness with a whisper
  21. 21.
    "It must be early... looks like we haven't slept really long. Or went to sleep pretty soon."
  22. 22.
    >"Yeah,.. wanna stay in bed? At least till sunrise..."
  23. 23.
    "I wouldn't dare,... suggesting not to." you grin, nuzzling her face
  24. 24.
    >by "bed" was of course meant the matress next to radiator from which you didn't move since yesterday
  25. 25.
    >hardly moved at all since you fell asleep, there's still a sock on one of Dash's hooves, you're also holding each other the very same way and-...
  26. 26.
    >"...
  27. 27.
    >"Anon? I can still feel you inside me right now... kinda like a plug." the mare in your arms giggles
  28. 28.
    "I... didn't realize that uptil now..."
  29. 29.
    >"Neither did I."
  30. 30.
    "Yeah that's kinda uh,...."
  31. 31.
    >"...nice?"
  32. 32.
    >an amused snicker unwillingly escapes your nostrils
  33. 33.
    "So... Ready to do that again?"
  34. 34.
    >"Absolutely, come on." she smirks, wriggling her butt softly
  35. 35.
    "I was joking here though." you're still chuckling over her serious expression "....I mean,.. you aren't really serious right now, are you?"
  36. 36.
    >"Am I? I can't really tell myself, but- oh my!.."
  37. 37.
    >in the meanwhile your body has already sent an impulse to direct blood to it's lower part again, making you regain your erection that's slowly expanding inside of her
  38. 38.
    "Sorry.." you're grinning very awkwardly, about to pull out
  39. 39.
    >"Hey-hey, looks like it's been decided, doesn't it?" Dash chuckles, softly lowering her hips to penetrate herself a little more onto you instead
  40. 40.
    "...You're a one horny devil, you know that? And here I thought I got myself an angel."
  41. 41.
    >"I can do both." she's biting her lip while you're softly pushing against her, till you're all the way in "Oh!"
  42. 42.
    >even if there wasn't a feeling of pleasure accompanying this, seeing her enjoying herself like that is enough of a reason to continue
  43. 43.
    >though... it's nowhere comparable to yesterday
  44. 44.
    >maybe it was the atmosphere, the candles, the foreplay....
  45. 45.
    >the things around that made it so grand,...- the romance
  46. 46.
    >but it isn't a reason to quit right now
  47. 47.
    >it may be a lesser experience in comparison, but you'll at least try to enjoy it to the maximum of it's potential
  48. 48.
    >and of course, to make it fun for Rainbow
  49. 49.
    >"....What are you thinking about?" she suddenly asks you in the middle of it, making you slow down
  50. 50.
    >she did notice you "not really being there" for a few seconds, having your face still right in front of her's
  51. 51.
    "....I was just thinking-"
  52. 52.
    >"It isn't the same is it?" she cuts you off, finishing what you'd be struggling to say "I noticed it too."
  53. 53.
    "...Yeah.. "
  54. 54.
    >for a few seconds, you're both quiet, even completely stopped with the thrusts
  55. 55.
    >until you smile and reach towards her, bending your neck to kiss her snoot
  56. 56.
    "...Does it matter though?"
  57. 57.
    >"..I guess not." Dash smirks humbly "...I love you, you know that?"
  58. 58.
    "I love you too... Wanted to tell you before we fell asleep, but I forgot."
  59. 59.
    >"Well it's good to be reminded now." she grins amusedly "So we're finishing this?"
  60. 60.
    "'Course we are." you laugh, hugging her body and kissing her once more before you'll start pumping again
  61. 61.
    >it's just lips on lips, but it feels righteous enough for this situation
  62. 62.
    >maybe even more fitting than using tongues
  63. 63.
    >and it might have been the kiss or that short talk you had, but it's starting to feel a little closer to yesterday's high
  64. 64.
    >not literaly, but...
  65. 65.
    >your mental connection, or tuning might have been one of the missing elements
  66. 66.
    >but hey,.. you're pretty tuned on each other right now
  67. 67.
    >there's an exstasy, coming in waves trough your bodies, circling trough both of you with each thrust, each movement
  68. 68.
    >Dash is still mostly laying on top of you, but she's helping you with her pelvis, while your hands are fondling her body, running up her back and down her buttocks - occasionaly pushing her down for a deeper penetration
  69. 69.
    >funnily though, she seems to have lesser stamina than a human, since it might be less than 10 minutes and she's already getting restless in an upcoming orgasm
  70. 70.
    >you can see "that expression" in her face, saw it three times before
  71. 71.
    >her forehead is softly wrinkling in tension of her more and more unstable bliss
  72. 72.
    >and her otherwise occasional moans are getting more often and are coming in girlier tones
  73. 73.
    >oh and you love seeing her like this
  74. 74.
    >though, she might not be the only one reaching their limit
  75. 75.
    >you could have a little rest or something, but this is meant to be a quickie
  76. 76.
    >had a plentyyy of fun yesterday
  77. 77.
    >so you give into the slowly upcoming eruption of energy in your body
  78. 78.
    >and when the colorful creature in your arms tenses up, yelping a desperate cry of pleasure she can't hold onto any longer...
  79. 79.
    >you're right in the same position, feeling the sensation so hard it's making your hands push her rump all the way down as your seed is making it's way trough her cervix, filling her uterus even further..!
  80. 80.
    ...
  81. 81.
    >and then stillness
  82. 82.
    >with a deep inhale, that you're both keeping in for a few seconds, the riptide of colliding energies is getting calmer again
  83. 83.
    >and with an exhausted exhale, you're "back" into the world
  84. 84.
    >gazing at her simpering face, into those lively eyes
  85. 85.
    >"...That sure was fun." Dash reaches closer to shortly kiss you
  86. 86.
    "A good way to start the day off..." you chuckle, kissing her back
  87. 87.
    >and for a few seconds, you're just gazing at each other with smiles on your faces
  88. 88.
    >never thought that just watching someone up close like that can be so mesmerizing
  89. 89.
    >....and not awkward at all, if that "someone" is the same fascinated with you
  90. 90.
    >is this what love does?
  91. 91.
    >the thought makes you snicker for some reason
  92. 92.
    >"...Come on, what's funny?" Dash grins
  93. 93.
    "Can't you tell?" you're grinning even wider
  94. 94.
    >"Yeah... I know, if somepony saw us just now, they'd probably laugh."
  95. 95.
    "Isn't that great though?"
  96. 96.
    >this time it's her, letting out an amused snicker
  97. 97.
    >"I guess it is...."
  98. 98.
    >and as she softly raises her head, her colourful mane gets illuminated a faint ray of the rising sun
  99. 99.
    >didn't even notice your room has been progressively getting brighter and brigther past few minutes
  100. 100.
    >and it's about now that you've remembered what you've told each other about staying in bed
  101. 101.
    "...So,... we said till the sunrise. But do you feel like getting up yet?"
  102. 102.
    >"I don't,.. but I will. Cuz I really gotta pee,.. and I should definitely clean myself up from the mess we made." she grins pervily and indicates that she'd stand up
  103. 103.
    "Fair enough..." you grin back and let go of her with your hands, pulling away the blanket
  104. 104.
    >and after you pull out, Dash's hoof springs towards her crotch, to cover it and prevent anything from spilling out of her while she's on her way to the bathroom
  105. 105.
    >and she looks pretty funny, doing her best to keep a dignified face while stumbling on three, away from the pillow nest
  106. 106.
    >"....What?" Dash notices you snickering
  107. 107.
    "I didn't say anything. Do go on." you chuckle
  108. 108.
    >for which you've received a proud head toss, which made it even funnier, but you're doing your best not to laugh until she's all the way in the bathroom
  109. 109.
    >...
  110. 110.
    >when she's behind the door, you stand up as well and glance at your boxers, wondering whether you should put them on or just go naked
  111. 111.
    ....
  112. 112.
    >.......know what though?
  113. 113.
    >we ain't wearing shorts from now on
  114. 114.
    >we're adopting pony customs
  115. 115.
    >......at home that is,.... it's not like you'll walk outside naked
  116. 116.
    >but it's about time you faced your fear of nudity
  117. 117.
    >so you're following right after her, just the way you are
  118. 118.
    >upon entering the bathroom, you can hear her peeing on the toilet behind a curtain, so you start brushing your teeth in the meanwhile
  119. 119.
    >very soon though, can hear a flushing sound and she's stepping out again
  120. 120.
    >it still feels a little funny, standing there naked, given the only time she saw you like this was yesterday's morning
  121. 121.
    >...even while making love, you've only seen each other's faces, not your genitals
  122. 122.
    >but she isn't mentioning it
  123. 123.
    >all she does is to instinctively glance at you bare crotch, before casualy shifting her focus back up on your face
  124. 124.
    >"...I was thinking,... how about we have a completely NON-sexual shower session together?" she smiles innocently
  125. 125.
    >so you quickly spit out the toothpaste in the sink before replying
  126. 126.
    "Hey, that sounds interesting..." a snicker escapes your nostrils "How did you come up with that?"
  127. 127.
    >"I dunno, I was just thinking I never showered with you."
  128. 128.
    "Well there's a first time to everything. I'd love to." you're grinning "......Just gotta pee before that. "
  129. 129.
    >"Cool!" her wings twitch very softly "I'll wait here. ...brush my teeth as well."
  130. 130.
    >with a last smile given to each other, you switch your places, - her heading to the sink and you, behind the curtain to do your thing
  131. 131.
    >and while you're waiting for your bladder to empty, your mind's wandering...
  132. 132.
    >you've been just a little scared of being casualy naked around her, but you're quickly starting to like it
  133. 133.
    >in a way that you have nothing to hide in front of each other, it feels even more intimate
  134. 134.
    >...almost magicaly
  135. 135.
    >totally missed this in your life
  136. 136.
    ...
  137. 137.
    >when you're done peeing, you step out again, just about the time Dash's finished with the teethbrushing
  138. 138.
    >only a second before she spits out the toothpaste, giving you little simper
  139. 139.
    >"Ready?"
  140. 140.
    "Yup, let's go." you're grabbing some towels to hang them onto a hook, next to the shower
  141. 141.
    >one that you've accidentaly ripped out and then fixed later on
  142. 142.
    >...funny memories
  143. 143.
    >"Think it'll fit us both though?" the mare chuckles in front of the glass box you're about to enter
  144. 144.
    "Of course, it's bigger from the inside..! ...Except it isn't... But it does look smaller from the outside, if that helps." you grin back
  145. 145.
    >"We'll see, in the worst scenario I'll just kick you out." she smirks teasingly before stepping inside first
  146. 146.
    >with you, right after her
  147. 147.
    ....
  148. 148.
    "...Oh well, what do you know? It is a little pent up here..." you're turning around, trying not to flash your testicles right in her face "...want me out?"
  149. 149.
    >"No way, the close contact was the point of this." Dash laughs, sitting down and patting the place next to her
  150. 150.
    "Was it huh?" you sit, leaning your back against the wall
  151. 151.
    >"Yea... It's cozy." she's playfuly biting on her lip for a second, before she reaches up turn to the water on, letting the shower rain over both of you
  152. 152.
    >oh fuck, the electricity
  153. 153.
    "Wait!! It's- ...It's warm?"
  154. 154.
    >"Do you think I wouldn't check before a proposition like this?" Dash grins
  155. 155.
    "Oh yeah... Well I completely forgot about the electricity uptil now..."
  156. 156.
    >"That's because you're a dummy human." she giggles "But to tell you the truth,.... I forgot too. It was a lucky coincidence they fixed it in the meanwhile."
  157. 157.
    "...You know coincidences don't happen?"
  158. 158.
    >"Maybe, but shut up now and relax." Dash's grinning, leaning her head onto your shoulder and closing her eyes with a tender smile
  159. 159.
    "Can't you say it nicely?" you're amusedly wrapping your arm around her, leaning your own head onto her's before closing your eyes as well
  160. 160.
    >...can hear her snicker
  161. 161.
    >"Okay... I love you,.. but shut up."
  162. 162.
    "Good enough..." you cuddle her body a little closer to you, amusedly snickering back
  163. 163.
    >and for a moment, you're sitting there with eyes closed, just taking in the warm moisture from the water, raining softly all over you
  164. 164.
    >until...
  165. 165.
    "....Dash, you know what?" you speak without opening your eyes
  166. 166.
    >"What is it?" she isn't moving an inch either
  167. 167.
    "I'm gonna sell this house."
  168. 168.
    >"What, because the small shower corner is too small?" a sincere snort escapes the pony nostrils
  169. 169.
    "No... Not because of the shower." you shortly laugh with her "...But I had enough of the city. I want to move on from it's gray chapter..... I want to see trees and grass when I look out of the window!... Not a dead end of a street....
  170. 170.
    >"So.... you'll be moving out?" her head raises up from your shoulder, searching in your eyes whether you're serious right now
  171. 171.
    "We both will be...." you nuzzle her muzzle first, then smile a little awkwardly "........That is, if you're willing to go with me of course... I mean, if you still wanted to find your own place, I couldn't possibly force you to-"
  172. 172.
    >"Of course I'll go with you Anon! This is amazing, I love you!" she cuts you off in excitement "...Do you have something in mind already?"
  173. 173.
    "Nothing solid." you're exhaling trough your nose in relief "I've literaly decided just now. But as I said: I'd like something close to nature. It'll probably be a bit more modest than this house... If I wanna fit the budget, it's gotta be something older, with things to repair etc..."
  174. 174.
    >"That's no problem! I'll help you with the repairing! I can't wait!"
  175. 175.
    "Me too!" you softly squeeze her in your arms in excitement "...I think I might even go and put this house for sale right after we're finished showering. ...What do you say?"
  176. 176.
    >"Awesome! And I'll take some photos for you from the air!"
  177. 177.
    "That would be great." you chuckle, petting her soaked mane, still smiling "Just wait to be a little dry for it, wouldn't want you to catch a cold."
  178. 178.
    >"I'm made of stone, Anon." Dash laughs, flexing a pose and donning her trademark grin "No cold can take on me!"
  179. 179.
    "No doubt about that!" you smirk and reach for the shower gel with shampoo "...But we gotta get to the actual showering before it."
  180. 180.
    >"Sure thing! Do you want me to wash your mane as well?"
  181. 181.
    "Only if I get to wash yours..." you're about to pour some shampoo into her opened hoof as well as in your hand
  182. 182.
    >"Alright! Let's get to it!"
  183. 183.
    >soon your limbs are entwined as you're simoultaneously trying to reach towards each others head
  184. 184.
    >and there's also a foam in your eyes, so you're even blind while doing you're working
  185. 185.
    >but being it easy isn't the point of it
  186. 186.
    >the point is to make it fun
  187. 187.
    >and oh, fun you're having
  188. 188.
    "Ouch, that's my eye!" you laugh when she accidentaly pokes you
  189. 189.
    >"Well I didn't complain when you've stuck a finger in my ear either. You can take it!" Dash's chuckling back
  190. 190.
    "That was because you pushed my hand!"
  191. 191.
    >...but eventualy, you've found a rhytm under which you can work
  192. 192.
    >wouldn't be the two of you if you didn't
  193. 193.
    >"...Okay. I think it's good now." Dash grins "Can we have some water here?"
  194. 194.
    "Already working on it." you're blindly reaching towards the shower tap
  195. 195.
    >and the next second, the foam is getting washed away from your faces, letting you open your eyes to glance at each other once again
  196. 196.
    "Do we continue with the rest this way?"
  197. 197.
    >"Do you need to ask?" she grins with a bottle of shower gel already between her teeth, squeezing some of it in her opened hoofs
  198. 198.
    "Hell naw you don't." you laugh as you're about to start working on her chest fluff
  199. 199.
    >then her shoulders and belly, while Dash's doing the same to you
  200. 200.
    >by now you're pretty tuned and synchronized that your limbs aren't getting in each other's way too
  201. 201.
    >the fact you can see this time might be helping too, but it's still going almost surprisingly smoothly
  202. 202.
    >you're occasionaly met with her eyes, exchanging quiet grins before you'll concentrate on her body again
  203. 203.
    >to wash each other's back, you have to turn around of course, one by one
  204. 204.
    >she has an easy job with you, since you don't have wings, but it will take you some time to provide for her
  205. 205.
    >though, you're enjoying gently going trough her beautiful feathers, so you can study their growing pattern, softly rinsing them with water afterwards and getting rid of the old ones
  206. 206.
    >"....You know I can't remember the last time I had somepony else to preen my feathers.." Dash's glancing over her shoulder with a coy simper
  207. 207.
    "Do ponies do that to each other?"
  208. 208.
    >"Only when they're really close..."
  209. 209.
    "So who was the last lucky pony..?"
  210. 210.
    >"...My mom." she chuckles "It's been years..."
  211. 211.
    "...Never let a stallion too close to you?" you chuckle back
  212. 212.
    >"Oh, I'd rather not talk about this...." Dash smirks "...You know I'm not good with colts."
  213. 213.
    "You're good with me."
  214. 214.
    >"You aren't a colt though."
  215. 215.
    "But I can be your stallion."
  216. 216.
    >".....Well you definitely were yesterday."
  217. 217.
    "Aren't I now?"
  218. 218.
    >"Tsk, okay." she snickers amusedly "You're my stallion anytime."
  219. 219.
    "Nice." you laugh, leaving a simper on your face as you thoroughly go on with preening and cleaning her feathers
  220. 220.
    >when you're done, the mare turns around and it's time to wash the lower parts of your bodies
  221. 221.
    "....So, we're doing this too?"
  222. 222.
    >"Of course! Isn't this where we both need it the most?"
  223. 223.
    "Yeah,.. was just thinking about how you mentioned a non sexual shower though..."
  224. 224.
    >"It will be, as long as you won't turn it into one. That's what you get from walking clothed all the time."
  225. 225.
    "Ee-..alright,. Let's get to it then!"
  226. 226.
    >and you reach your hand towards her
  227. 227.
    >but she pushes it away to the side
  228. 228.
    >"Me first."
  229. 229.
    "That's what I was trying to do."
  230. 230.
    >"No I mean-.. you know well how I mean it, don't try to confuse me." Dash's grinning "...Lean back and gimme some space."
  231. 231.
    "Okay..." you're doing what she's told you
  232. 232.
    >soon there are soap covered hoofs all around your crotch and legs, rubbing bubbles over your skin...
  233. 233.
    >and you're struggling to keep the dirty thoughts away
  234. 234.
    >failing miserably, of course, letting Dash witness your raising erection
  235. 235.
    >and as much as you're trying to justify it in your mind that this is "normal", it still is embarassing, making your cheeks blush
  236. 236.
    >but Rainbow just chuckles, continuing almost as if nothing
  237. 237.
    >though, before she's finished, her hooves run up and down your member, giving you a few intentional strokes with a rising smirk on her face
  238. 238.
    >"Okay! Your turn." the feeling suddenly stops, just about when it was starting to feel good
  239. 239.
    >you're somewhat snapped from what was happening just now, taking you a few seconds before taking the iniciative
  240. 240.
    >why is she such a tease now?
  241. 241.
    "...Ya, on it." you grin, already devising a revenge plan "...Could you stand up though? How am I supposed to wash your butt when you're sitting on it?"
  242. 242.
    >"Sure..." Dash smirks, turning herself around and flashing her rump directly in your face
  243. 243.
    >so you squeeze some shampoo in your hands and put them on her flanks, massaging it in with circular motions
  244. 244.
    >God, this is impossible to keep it non-lewd when you're basicaly just fondling her buttcheeks
  245. 245.
    >but it's getting a little easier when you move over to her legs, sliding all the way down to her hoofs...
  246. 246.
    >oh wait, -you just remembered something
  247. 247.
    >you're picking one of her legs up, pretending you're only gonna soap it up
  248. 248.
    >but then move your fingers over to her frog, massaging it with both of your thumbs
  249. 249.
    >it takes less than two seconds before her leg starts twitching in your hands
  250. 250.
    >"A-Anon, what are you doing? Stop..!"
  251. 251.
    "Why? I'm just washing your legs, aren't I?"
  252. 252.
    >"B-but I told you that I'm -hnng!"
  253. 253.
    >it's when her leg twitches hard enough to slip from your fingers, almost kicking your chest
  254. 254.
    "Whoa, okay..." you laugh as she's suddenly panting like she's just ran a marathon or went trough some shock
  255. 255.
    >"..Do not, do that, okay?"
  256. 256.
    "Come on, I thought we're past anything embarassing..?"
  257. 257.
    >"We are... but I'm really really ashamed of this and I don't like it."
  258. 258.
    "Ashamed?"
  259. 259.
    >"It's so perverted....
  260. 260.
    "Well maybe a little..." your hands start wrapping around her leg again
  261. 261.
    >"Anon you have no idea how annoying can this be in the most inappropriatte of situations. I absolutely HATE my rear hooves for this, understand?"
  262. 262.
    "I-.... I guess I do understand. Sorry Dash." you completely let go of her, somewhat losing your smile
  263. 263.
    >....
  264. 264.
    >"...I'm not upset with you Anon though,... I didn't mean it that way."
  265. 265.
    "I know. But,. even though I understand why, it just saddens me a little, to think you'd still hate a part of yourself. ..... Because I love you, with everything that comes with it. ...I wish you could too."
  266. 266.
    >that must have struck her a little, since she's left speechless for a good 20 seconds
  267. 267.
    >considering your face is at max forearm's lenght away from her delicate parts, this moment feels completely the opposite of lewd
  268. 268.
    >"I-... I'll try..." Rainbow sniffles eventualy
  269. 269.
    >and when she looks over her shoulder at you, her eyes are even a little watery
  270. 270.
    >not as if she was crying, but there was definitely some strong emotion
  271. 271.
    >so you lovingly hug her leg and lean your head into her flank while smiling back at her
  272. 272.
    >"...I know Anon I can be annoying sometimes or even bossy, but I really love you... you know that, do you..."
  273. 273.
    "Of course I do." you're still smiling
  274. 274.
    .....
  275. 275.
    >and you're quiet for some time, just taking in the moment
  276. 276.
    >until it feels like it's time to move on
  277. 277.
    "So, shall we finish this? The washing I mean."
  278. 278.
    >"Um, sure!" Dash grins now again, as you're about to start working on her second leg
  279. 279.
    >this time you're avoiding to touch her frog there, because you're respecting her decision in this
  280. 280.
    >...and hope she'll find her peace eventualy
  281. 281.
    >but then there's one last place you haven't paid attention to yet
  282. 282.
    >none other than her peach and ponut, even though partly covered in bubbles from her already washed tail,.. you're still gonna give her a good scrubbing there
  283. 283.
    >and you aren't seeing her face while rubbing your hand over the surface of her labia, or her butthole, but you don't need it to know that she's now feeling pretty much the same way as you did, when she was teasing you like that
  284. 284.
    >of course, your slippery hand also makes it's way to her small teats, fondling her there thorougly
  285. 285.
    >but when you hear her breaths getting a little heavier..
  286. 286.
    "Okay! Guess I'm done here too!... Ready for the water?"
  287. 287.
    >"Uh? I mean, yup! Totally! Rain it down." Dash grins, sitting back to the wall where the shower sprays over both of you
  288. 288.
    "I gotta say, it was a pretty good idea to try this together. It was fun,.. and not just because of the last part."
  289. 289.
    >"I'm full of good ideas." the pegasus chuckles before leaning in a little closer to kiss you "...Wanna do that again sometime?"
  290. 290.
    "At least once a month." you smirk back
  291. 291.
    >"Sounds good to me..."
  292. 292.
    >and you're about to kiss again..-
  293. 293.
    >but you're interrupted by your stomach gurgling
  294. 294.
    >and Dash's too, shortly after
  295. 295.
    "......"
  296. 296.
    >"...."
  297. 297.
    "Guess we should get some breakfast huh?"
  298. 298.
    >"Yeah..." the she chuckles "I mean,... we haven't eaten anything since,..."
  299. 299.
    "Since yesterday breakfast. If you don't count that ginger tea."
  300. 300.
    >"Wow,.. It didn't even feel that long."
  301. 301.
    "I know. But what do you know? Heard occasional fasting is really healthy."
  302. 302.
    >"That's true! But speaking of food, I can't wait to munch on something right now."
  303. 303.
    "Let's go then." you smirk before getting yourself up to turn the water off
  304. 304.
    >outside of the glass box, you quickly dry yourself, then help her, and you're both on your way to the kitchen
  305. 305.
    "......So what will it be today?"
  306. 306.
    >"I dunno, it's your turn to choose, remember?" Dash's slapping your bare butt with her wing before trotting away to her favourite kitchen spot, which is a heating kettle "...What kind of tea you want?"
  307. 307.
    "Uhh, green?"
  308. 308.
    >"Oops, we ran out."
  309. 309.
    "Then something herbal? Anything goes, just not the ginger one again."
  310. 310.
    >"Ginger one is only for special occasions like yesterday, duh." she snickers "How about.... ooooh, a nettle one! That's pretty green too."
  311. 311.
    "Perfect." you look away from the fridge you're rummaging trough, to give the mare a grin
  312. 312.
    >"So and did you pick us the breakfast too?"
  313. 313.
    "I'm trying...... How about... I dunno, a sandwich? I can't think of anything creative right now."
  314. 314.
    >"A sandwich will do."
  315. 315.
    "Cool. I've bought this chilli spread, we can spice it up with it."
  316. 316.
    >"Do you really need to have everything spicy?" Dash's chuckling while the water is slowly getting to boil
  317. 317.
    "Well,.. I don't HAVE to,. I just-"
  318. 318.
    >"I'm just messing with you, let's dump that chilli in there!" she interrupts your defense with a grin, switching the place in front of the fridge as you're walking away with the chilli cheese spread, bread and cucumber to the kitchen counter
  319. 319.
    >"Forgot about tomatoes!"
  320. 320.
    "Wha-"
  321. 321.
    >upon turning around, there's a tomato flying straight at you, bouncing off your chest, luckily to be caugh in your hands
  322. 322.
    >and another one
  323. 323.
    >one that you've managed to catch before it even hit you
  324. 324.
    "Okay then." you laugh, putting the veggies next to the cucumber to slice it later "Anything else I should watch out for?"
  325. 325.
    >"Nah,.. or maybe a bell pepper?"
  326. 326.
    "Throw it here."
  327. 327.
    >with a smirk on her face, it's already flying your way
  328. 328.
    "Thanks."
  329. 329.
    >"You're quite welcome."
  330. 330.
    >then Dash proceeds to pour the water into the cups and join you by the kitchen counter
  331. 331.
    >you're still slicing the veggies, so she spreads the cheese on the bread in the meanwhile
  332. 332.
    >and before you know it, there's a handful of tasty looking sandwiches in front of you
  333. 333.
    >ones you've brought to the table straight away, sitting there together
  334. 334.
    >"Enjoy Nonny." Dash smirks, not exactly letting you know from her expression whether she meant the diminutive of your name as a tease-mockery or if she's honestly so fond of you right now
  335. 335.
    >probably a mixture of both
  336. 336.
    "Enjoy Rainbow." you smirk back and have a first bite "....Or could it be just...'Bow?"
  337. 337.
    >....
  338. 338.
    >her eyes seriously move from the plate at you again, but she's still snickering
  339. 339.
    >"No."
  340. 340.
    "How about "Rainie? That sounds cute, doesn't it?" a grin is forming on your face already
  341. 341.
    >"If you absolutely have to, you can call me Dashie, alright? Nopony ever tried to call me Rainie."
  342. 342.
    "Good thing I'm not a pony."
  343. 343.
    >"...Didn't you said you were my stallion just before?" her own grin has now aquired about 200% more shiteatingness than yours just a while ago
  344. 344.
    >so you raise a finger, about to say something to make a point
  345. 345.
    ...
  346. 346.
    >but then fold your hand back again
  347. 347.
    "....Okay, good one. You got me here."
  348. 348.
    >which makes her victoriously chuckle
  349. 349.
    >at first, that is
  350. 350.
    >"....Honestly, call me however you want Anon, as long as it makes you happy." she laughs "I love you, you fool."
  351. 351.
    "Alright, Em-"
  352. 352.
    >"BUT NOT EMPRESS OKAY."
  353. 353.
    >that actualy made you snicker and snort so hard, a bit of food almost flew trough your nostrils back out
  354. 354.
    "Okay..." you wheeze helplessly at Dash's serious face
  355. 355.
    >but soon she's laughing with you
  356. 356.
    >and for half a minute or so, you're just exchanging looks and grins, riding on a chuckle train before you're calm enough to start eating again
  357. 357.
    >...
  358. 358.
    ....
  359. 359.
    >"....So and uhh, should I take the photos of the house with your phone?" Dash asks when she's almost finished her breakfast, sipping her tea
  360. 360.
    "Yup. I don't really have anything else to photograph it with anyway." you have a sip of your own cup ".....Can you do that with your hooves though?"
  361. 361.
    >"You're supposed to just touch it, aren't you?"
  362. 362.
    "Yes, the circle in the middle, specificaly."
  363. 363.
    >"Then it's easy." a bold expression is decorating her face, before she stuffs her cheeks with the last bite of a sandwich, speaking with a mouthful "But to make it appear on your computer, - that I'll leave up to you."
  364. 364.
    "That's easy too, -like when I was showing you how the folders work, it's basicaly the same. You'll just grab it and put it somewhere else." you're finishing your food in the similiar manner
  365. 365.
    >in the meanwhile Dash gulps her morsel
  366. 366.
    >"...Really?"
  367. 367.
    "Of course. I'll let you try that on your own. But I'll be watching if you get stuck."
  368. 368.
    >"Ha! I'm sure I can do it even with my eyes closed then!" she's grinning , up to the challenge
  369. 369.
    >since you're pretty much finished with the breakfast, just a little tea standing at the bottom of your cups, you're off to bring your phone and open the camera
  370. 370.
    >first taking a few quick photos of the inside before you'll be giving it to her
  371. 371.
    >it's pretty tidy in here, except the matress from yesterday, but you can quickly dispose of that
  372. 372.
    >and you're checking the photos, which all look pretty professional, except on one there's a a bit of Dash's colourful tail and her hoof sticking out of the side
  373. 373.
    >but that's okay, you won't be taking the photo again just because of that
  374. 374.
    >now it's time to show the phone to her
  375. 375.
    "You'll just touch this circle and it's done. If you want to change what it focuses on, then touch the thing on the screen."
  376. 376.
    >Dash sits on her rump, taking the piece of electronic in her front hooves and pointing it at you
  377. 377.
    >*click* *click* *click* *click* *click*
  378. 378.
    >"Like this?"
  379. 379.
    "Lemme see."
  380. 380.
    >there are 5 photos of you, all of them on which you look like drunk
  381. 381.
    "Yeah, exactly like this." you're laughing as you're going trough them "You just don't have to hold it this long, it starts a sequence. ...Or actualy,.... it doesn't really matter at least we'll have more photos to work with."
  382. 382.
    >"Okay, I'm on it!" she dons her trademark grin, posing shortly for you before she rushes out the front door
  383. 383.
    >she's not completely dry by now though, like 75% percent, but you didn't exactly had time to tell her
  384. 384.
    >it's not as if she'd really listen to you anyway
  385. 385.
    >and while she's gone, you boot the notebook, glancing from the desk, out a window in the direction of a fallen lamp
  386. 386.
    >it's still laying on the ground, but the powerlines are fixed
  387. 387.
    >guess the thing will stay there another month until someone fixes that too
  388. 388.
    >not as if you'd care
  389. 389.
    >anyway, it's time to find some house selling websites, e-bazaars, agencies or basicaly anything that can help you with your moving quest
  390. 390.
    >and soon, Dash is back with your phone her mouth
  391. 391.
    "Hey, how did it go?" you're taking it from her
  392. 392.
    >there's a bit of her saliva on the screen, so you wipe it into curtains nearby since you're still naked
  393. 393.
    >"I m-might have overerestimated my d-d-dryness." the pone sits on the ground, rubbing her hooves together to gain some heat and clenching them to her chest
  394. 394.
    "Just a moment then."
  395. 395.
    >before she has time to realize, you've grabbed a blanket and threw it over her
  396. 396.
    >and when her head confusedly pokes out of it, you roll the rest around her body, picking her up like a giant, tucked baby
  397. 397.
    >"WHoa!"
  398. 398.
    "Said you were cold, didn't you?" you're smirking while walking with her in your arms to the desk with your notebook
  399. 399.
    >"I was but-"
  400. 400.
    "Then let your stallion warm you up!"
  401. 401.
    >"Okay..." she laughs, switching to her cuddly mode in a matter of seconds
  402. 402.
    >and you're grateful to have the priviledge of being able experience this softer, girlier side of her
  403. 403.
    >so much you sneakily take a quick selfie with her on your lap, while she's busy trying to stick her hoof out of her cocoon to reach for the mouse
  404. 404.
    >soon you're comfy and set for computer magicks
  405. 405.
    "Anyway,.. let's start with opening "My computer" as usual."
  406. 406.
    >it takes some time to get it done, even with her eyes open, -opposed to what she claimed, but it's not as if you are in a hurry
  407. 407.
    >you're extremely patient with her and even enjoying it
  408. 408.
    >it's fun, seeing your alien girl learning about earthly technology
  409. 409.
    >and once all the photos from your phone are moved to your computer's storage, you can go trough them
  410. 410.
    >there's plenty of the airborne ones Dash took, so you pick only a handful of good ones, then those of interior and delete the rest
  411. 411.
    >but you're definitely keeping ALL the photos of each other though
  412. 412.
    >there are four from the noodle stop, the five she took of you just now, and then there's finally the very last one, one that even you haven't seen yet
  413. 413.
    "Look here!" you're laughing "A big, pony burrito. And that puppy expression!"
  414. 414.
    >"What?! ...When in the hay did you take it?" she's cringing at the sight of it "Aww, this is terrible, is this how I look right now?"
  415. 415.
    "Yup and it's making you hella cute bby." you laugh
  416. 416.
    >"Come on Anon, delete it." Dash pouts, unintentionaly making herself look even cuter
  417. 417.
    >funny, you expected a threat instead
  418. 418.
    "Sorry Dashie, but this only geting deleted over my dead body." you chuckle
  419. 419.
    >"But you can count on your body being dead, if you show it to anyone. Understand?" she grins
  420. 420.
    >yup, there goes the threat
  421. 421.
    "Deal." you snort, bumping your fist with her "... But anyway, let's get to sellin' houses!"
  422. 422.
    >so first, you read together some tips regarding the topic, register at few agencies, then write together a text with selling info and paste it all along with the pictures on every e-bazaar you know
  423. 423.
    >being at the internet, sometimes you have a little pause from work to check some funny or curious videos together in between posting and writing
  424. 424.
    >...
  425. 425.
    >and that is how you're spending the whole morning and forenoon
  426. 426.
    >the time flies quicky
  427. 427.
    >and you've also found an idea for today's lunch
  428. 428.
    >baked sliced potatoes with onion, garlic, tofu and cheese in caserolle, with basil dough poured over it
  429. 429.
    >and it tasted great, was really quick to make AND there's so much of it, you can have tomorrow as well
  430. 430.
    >after lunch, you're going for a little stroll to buy some stuff in the nearest supermarket and more importanly, to catch some oxygen
  431. 431.
    ......
  432. 432.
    >"....So, how long do think it will take until it sells?" Dash's asking you just outside the house, after a short moment of silence
  433. 433.
    "I have no idea, frankly. We could be lucky and have a serious buyer tomorrow,... or it could be half a year."
  434. 434.
    >"We'll see I guess."
  435. 435.
    "Yeah. ...But we could start looking for a new house already."
  436. 436.
    >"So and do you have any idea where to start with?"
  437. 437.
    "I really wouldn't mind something near the mountains back there. ...But not too close to Droplet Steve, because he's a tourist attraction, there are many less crowded places in that area."
  438. 438.
    >"I'd like that too... Far away from all of this." she smiles, shortly stretching her wings, then glancing up into the sky hopefuly
  439. 439.
    ".....Well, as much as I hate to say, it shouldn't be TOO far away from some city. I gotta work somewhere. And we need someplace to buy food too."
  440. 440.
    >"Aw, hay, I forgot about that. I mean,.. I could fly with food from somewhere. Or even fly you to work..."
  441. 441.
    "That could be possible in summer, but it would be insane in winter. Especialy up there where it's even colder."
  442. 442.
    >"Yeah, you're right..." Dash frowns, thinking "...But if it'll be somewhere close to some village or a tiny city, I could start working there too! Maybe help out on a farm of some kind! ....Or rather something that would put my wings to use, I dunno,.. how about being a courier!?"
  443. 443.
    "As long as you can imagine it..."
  444. 444.
    >"...then it's possible." she grins "...I could use having some actual work."
  445. 445.
    "Courier work would be a great job for you. Maybe there's some small, local service that won't ask too many questions about you."
  446. 446.
    >"Or they could hire YOU while I'd be the one doing it."
  447. 447.
    "We might as well end up working together if we're lucky." you laugh
  448. 448.
    >"Yeah, that would be the best!"
  449. 449.
    "...But let's not get too far ahead. Could be something completely different."
  450. 450.
    >"As long as we'll be happy, anything goes.." she smiles, but then as if she got a little lost in her thoughts, staring blankly into the ground she's walking "...........I just kind of wonder if-......."
  451. 451.
    "...What is it? Something's troubling you?"
  452. 452.
    >"I don't know,.. But I almost forgot I should be looking for other ponies here. And if I actualy found them, it would twist all our plans upside down. A lot of things could change,..." Dash frowns now
  453. 453.
    >....oh yeah, almost forgot about that too, over the high you're in for last two days
  454. 454.
    >but before you'd say anything-
  455. 455.
    >"...though, even if things really changed, we wouldn't let it separate us,... right?"
  456. 456.
    "Of course." you smile "Not as long as you or me have anything to say about it..."
  457. 457.
    .....
  458. 458.
    >soon you're arriving to a local supermarket, entering the crowded building
  459. 459.
    >"So, what do we need?"
  460. 460.
    "Definitely some fruit. All we have left, is like three apples and some lemons."
  461. 461.
    >"I'll pick something." Dash snatches the shopping cart from you with a grin on her face and she's pushing it herself
  462. 462.
    "How about the pineapple you mentioned yesterday? Oh! Or a coconut! Haven't had that in a long time." you're yelling at the mare you're so in love with, before she vanishes in the fruit aisle up ahead
  463. 463.
    >"On it!"
  464. 464.
    >and she's gone, for a while
  465. 465.
    >in the meanwhile, you're picking some vegetables: a few more tomatoes, cucumber, salad, onions, garlic,.. wait not garlic you have enough of that
  466. 466.
    >then you're following her to the fruit aisle
  467. 467.
    >but as you're about to turn around the corner with your hasty steps-
  468. 468.
    "Ooof."
  469. 469.
    >there's a Rainbow's shopping cart crashing directly into you
  470. 470.
    >making you drop all the vegetables, straight into it
  471. 471.
    >"Ha! There you are! Sorry, though..." she chuckles "You okay?"
  472. 472.
    "Sure, totally meant to do that." you're grinning, checking what did she pick in the meanwhile
  473. 473.
    >there's the pineapple, one coconut, a few tangerines and some seedless grapes
  474. 474.
    "Tangerines eh?" your grin gets a little wider
  475. 475.
    >"Yup." she's grinning back, turning the cart around "What next?"
  476. 476.
    "We used up all tofu, so maybe some of that. ..Some seitan as well?"
  477. 477.
    >"Okay let's gooo." Dash points onwards, pushing the cart like a warmachine into a clash
  478. 478.
    >along the way, you've notice tortila wraps in a discounted price, so you're grabbing them
  479. 479.
    >"What's it gonna be?" Dash's eager to know your plans "Will we be having tortilas tomorrow?"
  480. 480.
    "Close." you're adding a can of black beans into the cart, smirking "Burritos."
  481. 481.
    >"....Is that because-?"
  482. 482.
    "Yes it's exactly because of that photo earlier." you laugh "And I'll go to work right after lunch, so we won't be farting in front of each other."
  483. 483.
    >"Hey, that's actualy pretty clever..." Dash laughs back with sincere amusement before teasingly poking you "But you can't escape it forever though. Even pegasi fart."
  484. 484.
    "What, no way! I don't beleive a word of it!" you're snickering "Everyone knows that girls don't fart, especialy the magical pony ones."
  485. 485.
    >"I'm gonna have to let you down on this one." she grins
  486. 486.
    "Then I'm affraid we gonna have to end this relationship. Bye." you say in serious tone and pretend to walk away
  487. 487.
    >which actualy makes her her cheek twitch, whether you really mean it
  488. 488.
    >but then she snorts real loud, about the time you turn back around
  489. 489.
    "I'd love you even if you smelled like a damn dumpster 24/7." you laugh, slapping her rump when you get back to walk
  490. 490.
    >for which you're given another little snort
  491. 491.
    ...
  492. 492.
    >but as you're passing along a refridgerated meat section, the smile's somewhat fading from her face over the sight of dead animal parts and products behind the glass
  493. 493.
    >it's been over 3 months and she still isn't taking these things too well
  494. 494.
    >hard to blame her, it's you who got numb to it because of the way you were raised
  495. 495.
    >...
  496. 496.
    >then there are milk products
  497. 497.
    "So, do you remember if we have any puddings?" you're attempting to lift her thoughts some different direction
  498. 498.
    >"...I dunno, like one,.... maybe?"
  499. 499.
    "I'll go get some more then. Could you grab some tofu and seitan?"
  500. 500.
    >"I don't know where is it though... Is it somewhere around here?"
  501. 501.
    "Yup, right over there." you point a bit farther
  502. 502.
    >"On it!" she's already enthusticaly pushing the cart it's direction with a new objective on her mind
  503. 503.
    >good job Anon
  504. 504.
    >in the meanwhile, you pick 3 more puddings and 2 joghurts, each different kind for a variety and soon she's back with 3 tofus - two smoked, one with basil and two packages of seitan
  505. 505.
    >"This enough?"
  506. 506.
    "Enough for the whole week!" you laugh "Guess it's pretty much all we need now. We still have sliced cheese, all kinds of spreads, butter... Do you want anything?"
  507. 507.
    >"Me? Nah, I'm fine."
  508. 508.
    "You're sure? Not even something small for the way home?"
  509. 509.
    >"You're sweet enough for me Anon." Dash grins in one of her softer moments, immediately getting a little embarassed over what she just said "...B-but maybe, a donut or something wouldn't hurt."
  510. 510.
    "Then I'll have myself one too." you give her a grin, while already turning your steps towards the pastry aisle "And I think I'll have this banana one. What about you?"
  511. 511.
    >"I'll have... this one!" she's pointing at a pink one with sprinkles
  512. 512.
    "Trully a classic choice." you're smirking
  513. 513.
    >"I wanna compare it with those from Ponyville."
  514. 514.
    "Will that even be a challenge? How could a hoofmade ponyville donut even compare to a supermarket defrozen semifinishes?" you laugh
  515. 515.
    >"I know, I know." Dash laughs as well "...I guess it's just a reason for a little reminiscence...."
  516. 516.
    "In that case,.. I think I'll get us four, instead of two..." you smile, on your way to the cashier
  517. 517.
    >once there, you'd queitly start putting all the stuff on a moving counter
  518. 518.
    >there's some lady in front of you in the line though, and she keeps eyeing behind herself on Rainbow Dash that's helping you with the things
  519. 519.
    >until she curiously asks
  520. 520.
    >>"...Excuse me, but.. how did you teach it to help you like that? That's amazing."
  521. 521.
    >your eyes meet those of a lady asking you, but before you make up a sentence to explain it's not like that at all, Dash is taking the iniciative in your stead
  522. 522.
    >"He actualy learned all of that on his own! Isn't he amazing?" the mare possessively slaps your butt from behind with a laugh
  523. 523.
    >which makes the lady stare at both of you for a little while, either totally buying it or just being in shock over a talking pony
  524. 524.
    >until she turns back around with an awkward, forced smile
  525. 525.
    >>"Oh! I'm sorry I-... nevermind."
  526. 526.
    >at this point, you can't hold your snickers any longer, glancing over at Rainbow
  527. 527.
    "So, I'm amazing, huh?" you burst into laugh
  528. 528.
    >"Oh of course you are!" she rears up to nuzzle your face, laughing as well "Who's a good human?"
  529. 529.
    "That would be me please, thank you for asking." you snicker amusedly "Is there anything else my pony empress might require?"
  530. 530.
    >"Nah, you're free from service for today." Dash chuckles back, letting her front hooves clop back down on the tiled ground
  531. 531.
    >......
  532. 532.
    >"....I didn't go too far with this one didn't I...?" she adds with a little more timid tone a few seconds later
  533. 533.
    "What? Of course not. You saw me laughing, didn't you?" you're grinning back at her
  534. 534.
    >"Yeah, I just thought... nevermind."
  535. 535.
    ".......But to put a crown on it, you could pay at the cashier too."
  536. 536.
    >"Me?.. But I-"
  537. 537.
    "Here's the money. I'll stuff the things in my bag in a meanwhile."
  538. 538.
    >"Uhhh, alrighty then." Rainbow chuckles, taking the wallet you're offering her
  539. 539.
    >and it's about time, since it's your turn at the cash register just now
  540. 540.
    >since the cashier probably saw you two scheming and laughing on your way to her, she isn't as shocked as the lady before
  541. 541.
    >but she's still giving you two funny looks while you're doing your thing
  542. 542.
    >everything goes smoothly though, and soon you're out of the supermarket with a full bag on your back
  543. 543.
    >......
  544. 544.
    >".....Isn't it heavy?" Dash's glancing at the weight you're carrying
  545. 545.
    "Nothing I couldn't handle."
  546. 546.
    >"...We still might switch halfway though."
  547. 547.
    "Come on, let me be the stallion in this relationship!" you laugh "It's the least I can do."
  548. 548.
    >"You don't need to prove your masculity to me." she's grinning back, trotting alonside you "...Lemme do some work too."
  549. 549.
    "...How about we switch halfway home then?" you smirk at her
  550. 550.
    >"Alright, halfway it is."
  551. 551.
    ....
  552. 552.
    "Oh And I almost forgot." you stop now, putting the bag down to take out a paperbag with the donuts, about to hand her the pink one
  553. 553.
    >but before you do, she chomps on it, snatching it straight from your fingers
  554. 554.
    >"Fankf."
  555. 555.
    "My pleasure." you chuckle before having a bite of yours, the banana one "....So, IS it like from Ponyville?"
  556. 556.
    >"Ifs surfisingly notf tfhat bad, ...Honeftly, I donf fhink it's very harf to make a doufnut." she's grinning with the rest of a donut hanging in her mouth "Buf fhere ifn't any pafsion in it."
  557. 557.
    "So, Pinkie was quite passionate about baking, huh?"
  558. 558.
    >"Of courfe! Anf sfhe ftill ifh!.." Dash swallows her last bite so that she can speak clearer "But she's even more passionate about eating the sweets.... She can eat a cake that's half of her size in a matter of seconds. And it just dissapears. As if there was a black hole inside of her."
  559. 559.
    "....Doesn't she even get any fat with an appetite like this?"
  560. 560.
    >"Not a bit." the blue coated mare chuckles for a last time "I told you: Pinkie's a mystery that cannot be solved. Don't even try."
  561. 561.
    "Alright then, I won't." you chuckle while reaching for the other two donuts
  562. 562.
    >this time she waits for you to hand it to her closer before grabbing it
  563. 563.
    >"Thankf agfain."
  564. 564.
    >you nod with a smile and have a bite of yours
  565. 565.
    >and since the supermarket isn't that much far from your house, soon you're finding yourself about halfway home
  566. 566.
    .....
  567. 567.
    >..
  568. 568.
    >"It's time to switch, my stallion." Dash chuckles after a minute or two of silence
  569. 569.
    "You still want to carry it huh? thought you'd forget by now."
  570. 570.
    >"No way I'm gonna watch you crumble under this the whole way." she's donning her trademark grin again "Come on, give it here."
  571. 571.
    "...Alright then." you grin back
  572. 572.
    >but before you'll give it to her, you gotta adjust the straps to fit her body better
  573. 573.
    "Do ponies wear bags like this?" you're asking while helping her put it on
  574. 574.
    >"We usualy wear bags that hang onto sides, so we can reach them better."
  575. 575.
    "That makes sense. Well,.. if it's uncomfortable for you, just lemme take it again."
  576. 576.
    >"Nope, it's fine." she smiles "But come to think, I could fly it back to the house and return to you."
  577. 577.
    "If it's better this way for you..?"
  578. 578.
    >"Well... It's not that far away by now, I'll carry it."
  579. 579.
    "Okay... But do tell me if it's too heavy."
  580. 580.
    >"Suure." she grins, walking on
  581. 581.
    >don't know a lot of girls that would be so persistent on physicaly helping
  582. 582.
    >....don't know a lot of girls overall though
  583. 583.
    >but then again, she's one of a kind
  584. 584.
    >and she's carrying it all the way back home!
  585. 585.
    ...
  586. 586.
    >once there, you get to stuffing everything into a fridge and then return back to your laptop, about to look for some new houses
  587. 587.
    "So, let's see." you're opening some websites again
  588. 588.
    >"Look, this one seems pretty good." Dash immediately finds one that catches her eye
  589. 589.
    "Yeah, it just might be a little bit outta budget." you check the price "...Oh well, the price seems pretty okay too. Just let's see where it lies..."
  590. 590.
    >and upcoming half an hour, you're searching trough the area to find more potentional new homes that fit both the criteria and the budget you're expecting to have
  591. 591.
    "Hey, that's a lot of houses to choose from. Maybe we should check some tips on what to look for, or avoid?"
  592. 592.
    >"If that's a thing?"
  593. 593.
    "Sure it is, just lemme find some article here..." you open some webpages, scrolling trough the text when-
  594. 594.
    >"Oh, wait Anon, put it back..!" Dash stops you with sudden urgence in her voice
  595. 595.
    "What is it?" you laugh "Did we make some serious mistake, according to this?"
  596. 596.
    >"No, on the right? Look, click it!"
  597. 597.
    >on the right, there's a list of other articles on this page
  598. 598.
    >and it only takes you a second to realize what she meant
  599. 599.
    "-Oh...."
  600. 600.
    >the headline says "New stage of house pets, soon to begin.", with a photo of a living equestrian pony right under it
  601. 601.
    >opening it, you found out the article is only a few days old and there's even a concrete date of when the production officialy starts
  602. 602.
    >"There will be an announcement speech in front of the main building from a head of development..." Dash's reading one of the lines out loud for herself "...How far is that place from here?"
  603. 603.
    "Far... Very far actualy. Via bus it would take like... at least four or five days of traveling to get to that town."
  604. 604.
    >"I gotta get there Anon..." she glances straight into your eyes with a steel resolute
  605. 605.
    "....Are you sure about it? What can you even do there all by yourself?"
  606. 606.
    >"I don't know!" her hoof stomps the ground in an overflow of emotions "I don't expect you to understand Anon, I just have this feeling in my guts that-"
  607. 607.
    "I understand, Dash." your hand softly lands on her shoulder, fondly massaging her, but your smile is mixed with bitter, sad feeling
  608. 608.
    >you don't want to part with her at all, not now
  609. 609.
    >but you've promised, that you won't stand in her way, to let pursue her own destiny
  610. 610.
    >".......You do?" the mare's expression calms down surprisedly
  611. 611.
    "Of course." you chin up, glipsing into her eyes "You're right, this is the part where I gotta prove that I won't be your burden."
  612. 612.
    >"...I'll come back Anon. This isn't a goodbye or anything like that, I swear." she climbs with her front hooves on your lap to be closer to your face "It's just...I feel there's something important waiting for me."
  613. 613.
    "I know." you're smiling on the outside, unsure what exactly you're feeling right now, but you need to touch her, to at least gently stroke her sides "....For you, it's the part to prove that you DO care. Just....... please do be careful too.... I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you.."
  614. 614.
    >"I promise I will..."
  615. 615.
    ".....I'll pray for you to stay safe." you're slowly letting go of her while she's sliding down from your lap, back on all four "...And to fulfill, what you're supposed to fulfill there."
  616. 616.
    >"Thank you Anon,.. for beleiving in me."
  617. 617.
    "It's the least I can do." you smile a lot warmer now, and touch her cheeks with your palms, glancing into her eyes "...I know you're strong enough to take on whatever your fate throws at you."
  618. 618.
    >".....I just didn't think the time would come so soon..." her eyes get a little watery
  619. 619.
    >you can tell that she, THE Rainbow Dash, an element of loyalty, Ponyville's greatests flier and asskicker,... is now scared to venture out there and leave your side
  620. 620.
    >but at the same time, there's nothing that can stop her from going
  621. 621.
    "Me neither. ...But I guess it's life's way to keep us from stalling." you smile as positively as you can
  622. 622.
    >"Yeah..."
  623. 623.
    >you're returned more of a faint smile, with a few long seconds of silence before she dons a little more courageous expression, fitting to her brave personality she likes to flash so much
  624. 624.
    >"...... Can you direct me there somehow,.. or show me on the map?"
  625. 625.
    "I can give you my phone with a GPS. It should be the straightest and most accurate way. Also, I can prepare some food for you or something to sleep on maybe?"
  626. 626.
    >"I think I should travel as lightly as possible..."
  627. 627.
    "Well, I can give you some money to buy food instead. But you should have at least a sleeping bag, it's still cold outside at night... and it's not too heavy."
  628. 628.
    >"But,-... well you're probably right about that. A little extra weight is worth in exchange of having where to sleep."
  629. 629.
    "Yeah, and I think it's even waterproof from outside." you'd stand up now, about to go and search for it, but stop instead "...But wait, first I gotta calculate how long should it take for you to get there if you fly."
  630. 630.
    >"Right..."
  631. 631.
    >finding on e-maps how far it actualy is and dividing it by approximate speed at which can Dash fly longer distances, you soon have some results
  632. 632.
    >you had to guess her speed from your experiences and from what she tells you, but even if it was at least half accurate, it's nice to have some kind of plan
  633. 633.
    "So,...if you flew straight, at a normal pace, slept 8 hours at night and had about 2 or 3 hours of stops,.... you could get there easily and even with a time reserve, even if you departed.......... tomorrow afternoon."
  634. 634.
    >"That's lucky... Looks like we'll be having burritos after all." she smiles, trying to look all carefree and enthusiastic, but you can tell it's still worrying her a little
  635. 635.
    "Seems that way." you smile encouragingly back "...I'm really glad we get to spend a few hours more together."
  636. 636.
    >"Me too...... But if I manage to free some ponies there, I'm just not sure how long the way back will take. -And where will we hide.... Maybe I should keep them hidden somewhere safe and just return here alone."
  637. 637.
    "You'll know what to do when the time comes. It's too soon for decisions like that now.... I'll be waiting for as long as you need to take. .....And I can call you occasionaly from some phonebooth..............If you wanted to, that is."
  638. 638.
    >"That would be great...." she smiles again, a little more confident now "Thank you Anon."
  639. 639.
    >you really wish this was it
  640. 640.
    >that you've both made your peace and the challenge was over
  641. 641.
    >but this is just the begginning
  642. 642.
    "...Don't mention it."
  643. 643.
    >"No Anon, I don't mean, just this one thing. -If it weren't for you, I'd likely still be in a cage with a shock collar around my neck or... maybe I'd took my own life just to escape it... I wouldn't be even thinking about looking for others."
  644. 644.
    "Don't think about what could have been, it was supposed to be exactly like this... And I'm glad I could be there for you." your hands reach towards her to lift the pony closer to your body, hugging her
  645. 645.
    >this time you softly kiss her head, while she's leaning with her chin on your shoulder
  646. 646.
    >"it's not a goodbye kiss yet" flies trough your head
  647. 647.
    >when it will be, it'll be a happy one, because there's nothing like permanent goodbyes
  648. 648.
    >can't see directly into her face, but you can feel she's smiling now, happy
  649. 649.
    >the way she's meant to be
  650. 650.
    >maybe she just thought of the same thing
  651. 651.
    >but you don't need to talk any more about the departure now, most of it is set and ready
  652. 652.
    >you're going to have one last peaceful evening together
  653. 653.
    >free of all troubles...
  654. 654.
     
  655. 655.
     
  656. 656.
    Chapter 10: Wild is the Wind
  657. 657.
     
  658. 658.
     
  659. 659.
     
  660. 660.
    >the next morning, you're both waking up on the couch again
  661. 661.
    >it's you who wakes up first, actualy
  662. 662.
    >just like the few days before, you open your eyes to the sight of her calm face
  663. 663.
    >she looks so adorable while she sleeps
  664. 664.
    "How lucky am I to experience this..."
  665. 665.
    >you didn't say it out loud, but it's the first thing that went trough your head
  666. 666.
    >it's crazy how easily you could get used to living like this
  667. 667.
    >...only to give it up just now
  668. 668.
    >....
  669. 669.
    >but not for ever...
  670. 670.
    >it'll be like a blink
  671. 671.
    >and then she'll be back again
  672. 672.
    >so you're savouring the present moment, watching her softly breathe in peaceful rest, while the golden rays of morning sunshine are illuminating her colorful mane from behind
  673. 673.
    >for a few seconds, your mind is completely empty and you're just bathing in the sight without trying to describe what exactly is making you so happy about it
  674. 674.
    >whether it's the light, sense of belonging, the beauty, all of that mixed, or something completely different
  675. 675.
    >but you're trying to hold onto this feeling, whatever it is, and remember it whenever you'll feel lonely again
  676. 676.
    >and then, one day...
  677. 677.
    >you'll see each other again
  678. 678.
    >and it'll be grand, even more than now
  679. 679.
    >yet....
  680. 680.
    >...
  681. 681.
    >...
  682. 682.
    >at this point, as if she felt you're watching her, those magenta eyes slowly start opening
  683. 683.
    >and she's smiling at the first sight of you
  684. 684.
    "Good morning Dashie." you whisper
  685. 685.
    >"Good morning Nonny... I love youuu." she whispers back
  686. 686.
    >"I love you too Sunshine."
  687. 687.
    >"I think you've got a wrong pony." she chuckles softly "..I don't think I can raise the sun."
  688. 688.
    "Maybe, but you're smiling like one." you fondle her cheek "...I can almost see the light sometimes."
  689. 689.
    >"Aww, Anon..."
  690. 690.
    >she cuddles herself closer to you and you wrap your arms around her, nuzzling her back
  691. 691.
    >with your palms, you're fondly stroking her back up and down, under her wings and in between them
  692. 692.
    >then gently massage the wings too, while she's nuzzling herself over your body with happy little moans
  693. 693.
    >...you'll really miss touching her
  694. 694.
    "Such a cute, soft little pone... " you whisper as you're almost done massaging the wings, moving your hands onto her firm haunches "...yet all full of muscles."
  695. 695.
    >"...If you're into that, you should see Applejack's body." Rainbow softly laughs
  696. 696.
    "The only body I want to see, is yours." you grin "...Because it's the home of your soul."
  697. 697.
    >"....And what if it leaves one day?" she smirks, trying to look like she said it randomly
  698. 698.
    "Then I'll be looking forward to the day we'll meet in a different one." you smile "Life is just a game..."
  699. 699.
    >"Yeah... I hope to finish it with the good ending."
  700. 700.
    "...Quantum physics, remember?"
  701. 701.
    >"I do." she chuckles "...but I still have no idea what exactly it means."
  702. 702.
    "We can watch some document before you go."
  703. 703.
    >"I don't feel nerdy today..." she closes her eyes, leaning her head onto yours with a gentle smile decorating her pretty face
  704. 704.
    "And hungry?"
  705. 705.
    >"Hmm, let me think... yeaah, maybe a little bit..... Mmm, can we have something with honey and butter for breakfast?"
  706. 706.
    "Suuure." you grin, scratch her behind her ear and indicate a movement of standing up, about to start making breakfast
  707. 707.
    >"Wait,..." she's holding onto your arm to make you stop, covering both of you under her wing like a tent "...Just a few more seconds,.. please."
  708. 708.
    "Alright,.. we're in no hurry." you chuckle, relaxing again
  709. 709.
    >and you're just quietly laying there together, softly cuddling each other for a few more minutes
  710. 710.
    >then stop even with that, just listening to your synchronized heart beats, feeling the touch of each other's bodies and energies, mixing in calm harmony
  711. 711.
    >at moments like these, you're feeling at peace
  712. 712.
    >a reminder that everything in the world is always as it should be
  713. 713.
    >so that you can be strong in times when it won't seem that way....
  714. 714.
    >at some point, you're both feeling that it's time to move on and get up from bed
  715. 715.
    >you don't need to say anything, it comes somewhat naturaly
  716. 716.
    >so first, you're heading to the bathroom to brush your teeth and wash your face with cold water
  717. 717.
    >squeezing some toothpaste on both yours and Rainbow's brush, then go sit on a toilet for a morning pee
  718. 718.
    >she's going right after you, but by that time you already went to a kitchen counter to slice some rye bread and prepare the spread she mentioned
  719. 719.
    >soon she's joining you, making water for the tea like usual
  720. 720.
    >"....I think we forgot about the green tea yesterday..."
  721. 721.
    "Oh snap, you're right." you snicker "...And it was one of the main reasons we even went there."
  722. 722.
    >"Yeah, so,.. herbal or fruit?"
  723. 723.
    "You're choosing today."
  724. 724.
    >"Right... sooo, let's have a fruit one for a change." she smiles and pours the boiling water in prepared cups with teabags already in
  725. 725.
    >after breakfast, you're spending some time just lazy-ing around, watching some youtube videos and cuddling a little bit more
  726. 726.
    >... since you won't have that for some time
  727. 727.
    >and when you've had enough, it's time to start making the burritos
  728. 728.
    >before anything else, you get rice to boil and then start looking for recipes
  729. 729.
    "Let's see, ..."vegetarian burrito"." you're typing into google
  730. 730.
    >"There, the first one with a picture!" Dash's hastily pointing from behind you
  731. 731.
    "Yeah, sometimes the first choice might be the best one."
  732. 732.
    >and you open it, reading the ingredients
  733. 733.
    "We don't have fresh cilantro, only dry but never mind, also, we gotta substitute limes with lemons aaand,.. guess that's all we don't have."
  734. 734.
    >"I'll prepare some topping for it! We do have sour cream?!"
  735. 735.
    "It should be in the fridge. I'll dice the onions and stuff and start frying."
  736. 736.
    >soon the onions are getting gold, so you add the beans and all the seasoning along with the hot sauce
  737. 737.
    >Dash in the meanwhile, mixes the sourcream with some butter, olive oil, a bit of flour, salt and shreds some cheese into it
  738. 738.
    >the rice is being done while you're both busy and since the tomboy pegasus is first to finish her part, she's the one to mix it with the cilantro and squeeze lemon into it later on
  739. 739.
    >considering she isn't really into cooking, that's quite impressive
  740. 740.
    "Hey, you're quick, lemonhoof!" you laugh, watching how she's stirring the rice while you're just finishing the frying
  741. 741.
    >"Speed is my middle name." she smugly laughs back
  742. 742.
    "......Is it actualy though?"
  743. 743.
    >"No...." she's grinning "Can you imagine it?"
  744. 744.
    "I mean,.. in your world it wouldn't be as strange as here."
  745. 745.
    >"Maybe, but Rainbow Speed Dash? It would be a little over the top. ...Kind of like the wolf called Moon Moon."
  746. 746.
    "Goddammit Speed Dash!" you snicker
  747. 747.
    >to which she snickers back and pauses for a little while, just watching the rice boiling "....Do we put the rice on top of it like in the picture, or mix it all together?"
  748. 748.
    "I don't know if it makes any difference apart from look. But let's pretend we are fancy and put it on top." you finally bring everything necessary on the kitchen counter
  749. 749.
    >"Fancy as hay." Dash is helping, following you there, carrying more stuff
  750. 750.
    "Alright, there's like six of these, that should do about fine." you lay all the wraps next to each other and start putting the beans on top of them
  751. 751.
    >"Yup, and it looks tasty so far." she continues with the rice
  752. 752.
    "You bet. Now for that sweet topping you've made."
  753. 753.
    >"Should I just pour it on top and we wrap it inside?"
  754. 754.
    "Yeah, what else?" you grin
  755. 755.
    >"I though we could dip the whole thing in it... Oh well, guess this works as well." she takes a spoon to spread it
  756. 756.
    "Dip all you want, there's still something left." you're grinning as you're wrapping the burritos right after she's finished with each one
  757. 757.
    >and it's all done!
  758. 758.
    "Ayy, good job." you raise your fist for a bump
  759. 759.
    >"You too." Dash bumps it with her hoof and grins eagerly "Now, let's get to it?"
  760. 760.
    "But of course! Just lemme get the plates."
  761. 761.
    >and you put three burritos on each, then serve it on the table
  762. 762.
    "Enjoy."
  763. 763.
    >"Bon appetit." she smiles before you both get to eating
  764. 764.
    >but it doesn't take long till you speak again, because you really wanna share your thoughts about your common creation
  765. 765.
    "Oh, it's great!" you're announcing after having the first few bites
  766. 766.
    >"I know right? And it's made with passion!"
  767. 767.
    "And love."
  768. 768.
    >"And lemons!" Dash laughs
  769. 769.
    "-The most important part." you're laughing back "....I mean, where would we even BE without lemons?"
  770. 770.
    >"Don't even wanna think about that Anon. That's like the scariest thing so far." she snorts
  771. 771.
    "Oh yeah, thank God for lemons."
  772. 772.
    >"Yeap." the mare's still chuckling over it a little longer than you
  773. 773.
    >but you still wouldn't start eating again before she's finished laughing
  774. 774.
    >....you're mesmerised by watching her glee
  775. 775.
    ...
  776. 776.
    >the first burrito is gone in a snap
  777. 777.
    >but the second one is a bit heavier for a shrunk stomach
  778. 778.
    "Oh, I think I actualy had enough. It's quite filling." you announce after finishing it, looking down on the third one
  779. 779.
    >"...Yeah, me too,..I think I'll take mine with me. Bet it's gonna be delicious even cold."
  780. 780.
    "I bet too. I'll take mine to work. ...and I'll be thinking of you when I whip it out for a snack." you smirk
  781. 781.
    >"Deal. Same here." Dash smirks back, then looks around a little nervously "......How much time do we have?"
  782. 782.
    "I'll be leaving for work in an hour. Though, you could stay here a bit longer if you wanted to. According to our "flight plan" you still have some time reserves."
  783. 783.
    >"What would I do here alone?.. I'll depart at the same time with you." she chuckles "At least I get to see you off."
  784. 784.
    "I appreciate it." you smile and slowly stand up "I should bring that sleeping bag from yesterday."
  785. 785.
    >you also decided to give her a tiny backpack for carrying, with a little more space for some other things she might need
  786. 786.
    >of course, she has to wear it on her chest so that it won't get in the way of her wings
  787. 787.
    "One chestpack coming right up!"
  788. 788.
    >inside is the heavily compressed sleeping bag, a bottle of water and her last burrito, wrapped in a tinfoil
  789. 789.
    "Is it okay like this?" you're asking once you've helped her to try it on again and tightened it a bit, so that she wouldn't lose it
  790. 790.
    >"It's perfect. Lightweight enough and doesn't hinder." she smiles reassuringly before you put it back down because it's too soon yet
  791. 791.
    "Okay...Now, here's my phone." you hand it to her "Do you still remember from yesterday how to work with the navigation?"
  792. 792.
    >"Mostly yes. Buuuut.... I wouldn't mind running trough it again."
  793. 793.
    "Okay then." you sit on the ground right next to her "So, try to make it work and if you'll get lost, I'll give you a hint."
  794. 794.
    >...
  795. 795.
    >she's checking on you after each step, whether she's doing it right, but she manages without any mess up
  796. 796.
    >the only thing that's giving her a hard time is writing on the tiny keaboard, but it's just a matter of a few tries
  797. 797.
    >"Oh well, guess it really is pretty easy, if only the thing was bigger."
  798. 798.
    "Well,.. it is designed for a finger." you shrug your shoulders with a little chuckle and nudge her "...But hey, you're still pretty handy."
  799. 799.
    >"I'm gonna act like I didn't hear that." she snickers over your stupid joke "...... How do I pick up a call though?"
  800. 800.
    "You just swipe from center to the right. There will be a green icon when it happens. I would call you to show you, but I only have this phone here... You'll know it when you see it."
  801. 801.
    >"Alright, it sounds easy enough. Thanks."
  802. 802.
    "No problem. And the last thing,.. some spare money for the food, I know you're bold enough to buy it on your own." you smile while handing it to her "But it still might be safest to do so on some small, lonely gas stations."
  803. 803.
    >"Alright..." she takes it a bit hesitanly and puts it in her new chestpack "...I'll try to bring back most of it."
  804. 804.
    "That's fine." you smirk "Spend it all, if you feel like it. Might need to buy some food for somepony else too."
  805. 805.
    >"...Thank you Anon." Dash picks up your hand in her hooves, glancing into your eyes "..For everything."
  806. 806.
    "Hey, don't make it feel like we're saying goodbye." you chuckle, reaching to hug her "Come 'ere."
  807. 807.
    >"I know, ..sorry." she chuckles as well, although a bit forcedly "I just want you to know.. And I'll be thinking of you a lot..."
  808. 808.
    "I'll be thinking of you too." you're smiling while letting go of the embrace so you can see her eyes again "But remember to live in the present...."
  809. 809.
    >you aren't sure whether you said for yourself or for her
  810. 810.
    >you both might need it
  811. 811.
    >"I love you Anon."
  812. 812.
    "I love you too Dash~." you're already slowly leaning in for a kiss, until your lips meet
  813. 813.
    >and you're trying to think about nothing else beside this beautiful moment, but in the back of your mind, there's still a disturbing thought, that you might not see her again
  814. 814.
    >so you're kissing her even more eagerly, to banish that thought away, running your fingers trough her mane and fondling her body, hearing the words "I love you." in your mind on and on
  815. 815.
    >until you finally feel peace again and really start concenrating on the softness of the kiss, it's most sublime and gentle impulses
  816. 816.
    >your tongues passionately touching, tasting each other's saliva in tender embrace of your lips
  817. 817.
    >which lasts till your eyes open again, still bumping your nose into her muzzle
  818. 818.
    >and you're smiling, knowing it's all okay
  819. 819.
    >as usualy, there are no words needed for common understanding
  820. 820.
    >you're sharing this moment together, until you eye on the clock that's hanging onto a wall behind her
  821. 821.
    >"... Is it time to go yet?" Dash asks, putting her hoof down from your shoulder
  822. 822.
    "Almost... I should go in like,.. 18 minutes to catch the bus."
  823. 823.
    >"Let's go now then, have a little walk. What do you say?"
  824. 824.
    "Yeah, that sounds nice." you smile agreeably
  825. 825.
    >so you both grab all your things, get dressed and step out of the door
  826. 826.
    >the weather has cleared a lot compared to previous days
  827. 827.
    >it's not completely sunny, sometimes one of many clouds hides it's shine, but it's almost warm - considering it still should be winter a few more days
  828. 828.
    >and there's no snow around too
  829. 829.
    "The spring is gonna be beautiful, won't it?" you exhale and have a deep breath of a fresh air
  830. 830.
    >"I can already tell." she smiles, trying the same "... I'm kind of looking forward to the flight now."
  831. 831.
    "Yeah, you'll have a lovely travel in this weather. And if not, you can fly above the clouds, right?"
  832. 832.
    >"If they aren't too high,.. but I'd like to see the land I'm traveling too."
  833. 833.
    "Fair point." you smirk "Hope you'll enjoy the flight then."
  834. 834.
    >"Too soon for that, we haven't even reached the bus stop." she chuckles "Let's take a longer way there.~"
  835. 835.
    >so you walk around the neighborhood a bit, chatting until you get to the bus stop few minutes before it should arrive
  836. 836.
    >there's a few people from around, waiting for the same bus, so you find your place a tiny bit father away from them to have some intimacy
  837. 837.
    >Rainbow sits down on a sidewalk where it looks pretty clean and you squat down right next to her
  838. 838.
    >most of the things needed to be said were already said, and you honestly don't know what to say if you wanted to force yourself into a talk right now, so you're just sitting there together in silent content
  839. 839.
    "There, it's coming..." you've spot the bus coming from around the corner, and are very slowly standing up as it's arriving
  840. 840.
    >"Guess this is the time we wave bye bye, eh?" the mare by your side stands up as well
  841. 841.
    "Yeah... one more thing." you squat back down again in front of her
  842. 842.
    >put your hands on her cheeks
  843. 843.
    >and kiss her
  844. 844.
    >couldn't help yourself even in front of those people
  845. 845.
    >no tongues, just a very softy, lips on lips
  846. 846.
    >but affectionate and long
  847. 847.
    >like kissing a holy portrait, yet as if the portrait was still your lover
  848. 848.
    >you're feeling like you want to keep this last one "pure" for some reason
  849. 849.
    >and when you open your eyes, your palm gently caresses her right cheek as you're hopefuly smiling "Now it's bye bye. I love you."
  850. 850.
    >"Bye Anon... I love you too." she gently brushes her hoof over your leg before you turn around to the direction of a bus
  851. 851.
    >it doesn't feel like goodbye
  852. 852.
    >because it isn't
  853. 853.
    >...a lot of the people on the bus have been watching you kiss her, but when you've glanced their way, most of them looked away
  854. 854.
    >some are still staring though,..
  855. 855.
    >but you couldn't care less
  856. 856.
    >proudly looking back at your lover, you're standing in the line for a few seconds behind one person that's dividing you from the driver moves on
  857. 857.
    >then continue further inside the bus
  858. 858.
    >and Rainbow's watching you, her hoof touching the cheek you touched her the last time
  859. 859.
    >for a few short seconds, you can see sadness and worry in her eyes
  860. 860.
    >but then she quickly snaps out of it, smiling
  861. 861.
    >with a last wave of her hoof, she takes off like a jet, leaving a rainbow trail behind her for a brief second
  862. 862.
    >the driver shifts a first shift and you're on your way as well
  863. 863.
    >and this is how you've parted....
  864. 864.
    >you aren't feeling sad, you'll see her again eventualy
  865. 865.
    >one way, or another.....
  866. 866.
     
  867. 867.
    Chapter 11: Here to learn
  868. 868.
     
  869. 869.
     
  870. 870.
     
  871. 871.
    >the work is going okay, you're trying not to think about her now that she's on her way and rather focus on what you're doing right now
  872. 872.
    >on your break, you've finished the last burrito
  873. 873.
    >and besides a satified stomach, it also gave you a little reassurence that everything is still as it should be
  874. 874.
    >the rest of your time there flies pretty fast and after work, you've returned back into your, now empty, house
  875. 875.
    >as usual, you have a shower, brush your teeth and,.. after a few nights spent on the couch, you're going to sleep in your own bed again
  876. 876.
    >you're feeling-...
  877. 877.
    >...you aren't really sure how are you feeling
  878. 878.
    >so you at least bring a pillow from the couch that smells like her, hug it and close your eyes
  879. 879.
    >you're falling asleep smiling...
  880. 880.
     
  881. 881.
     
  882. 882.
    >tomorrow, you wake up as you usualy do before you shared the bed with her, entering the kitchen and start making breakfast
  883. 883.
    >but for some reason you've prepared two cups for tea, realizing it only after putting the teabags in them
  884. 884.
    >silly you
  885. 885.
    >..
  886. 886.
    >not sure what to do with the second one, you left it on a kitchen counter for later
  887. 887.
    ....
  888. 888.
    >...should you call her today?
  889. 889.
    >on the other hand, you should give her some space
  890. 890.
    >it's only been one day
  891. 891.
    >and-
  892. 892.
    >you just hope she's doing fine...
  893. 893.
    >...
  894. 894.
    >of course she is, she's very capable
  895. 895.
    >and you feel like you'd know it if she was in trouble
  896. 896.
    >you'd just know
  897. 897.
    >so you'll give her a call tomorrow before going to work, she should be getting close to her destination by that time
  898. 898.
    >today, you'll go for a little walk around the block, spend some time on PC and for lunch, you'll finish the leftover caserolle potatoes
  899. 899.
    >then there's work, just like yesterday
  900. 900.
    >....you're still feeling pretty okay
  901. 901.
    >as long as you aren't thinking about what she's doing right now
  902. 902.
    >you're fully capable of enjoying life on your own, you know that from your past years
  903. 903.
    >but you might have got a little attached...
  904. 904.
    >gotta stop daydreaming and live in the present
  905. 905.
    >most of the time it's working out just fine, just gotta control your mind from slipping
  906. 906.
     
  907. 907.
    >that night you've slept like a log
  908. 908.
     
  909. 909.
     
  910. 910.
    >wednesday morning, you've picked up one of the books that you haven't read yet, but had planned it for some time
  911. 911.
    >spent a whole forenoon with it
  912. 912.
    >for lunch, you made yourself a simple spaghetti with ketchup and scrambled eggs
  913. 913.
    >they were perfectly aldente...
  914. 914.
    >made you chuckle
  915. 915.
    >...
  916. 916.
    >guess it's a good sign
  917. 917.
    >you're setting out a little sooner, so you can find the phone booth before work
  918. 918.
    >the bus is taking you into the city and you're about to step out a few stops earlier because you know there's still an old booth around here
  919. 919.
    >.., if you remember correctly
  920. 920.
    >and it's still there!
  921. 921.
    >so you've put all your coins in it and are hesitanly dialing your own phone number
  922. 922.
    >when it start beeping
  923. 923.
    >and continues
  924. 924.
    >and continues...
  925. 925.
    >and continues even further,..
  926. 926.
    >..until-
  927. 927.
    >"Yes! Hello!? Anon is that you?"
  928. 928.
    "Yes it's me, hi Dash. How's it going, everything fine?" you're smiling into the phone
  929. 929.
    >"Hia Anon! So glad to hear from you! Yes, everything is fine, I'm almost there, according to your phone. I could even see the city from where I am! I mean,.. when I was in the sky, I could. I had to land to pick it up... And how are you?"
  930. 930.
    "I'm doing fine too. The work is alright, started reading a new book..." you chuckle "No replies about the house yet, but I guess it's a bit too soon for that. You never know, though."
  931. 931.
    >"Yeah, maybe when I return it'll be sold already."
  932. 932.
    "But then you'd have to use navigation even on the way back." you laugh "Might give you a new adress, eh? What isn't, can be!"
  933. 933.
    >"I'll be probably using navigation either way." she's laughing as well "I had to fly quite a time above the clouds, because it started to rain father away."
  934. 934.
    "And how did you sleep? Did you find shelter in it?"
  935. 935.
    >"It was fine, I found myself a little cave thingy in a forest. Some big hole where it didn't rain and it was all ok. Snug as a bug."
  936. 936.
    >from a tone of her voice you can tell she's smiling
  937. 937.
    "Glad to hear that." you're smiling as well "And what about the food? You don't sound like you're starving so I presume all is well."
  938. 938.
    >"It is. I've been on two stops to buy something. And even though the cashier was always shocked at first, it always went well, I even had a nice conversation with one! All is okay so far. I just hope I'll know what to do at the event."
  939. 939.
    "I'm sure you will... Have you seen anything interesting on the way? Some nice hills, rivers, panorama?"
  940. 940.
    >"Oh yes I had! A few times, when the weather was nice and I could fly lower. It's actualy pretty sunny here right now."
  941. 941.
    "Oh, here it's glum and misty." you laugh "Good thing I'll be spending it at work."
  942. 942.
    >"Ha! Don't say it inside, they might want to keep you there longer!"
  943. 943.
    "...I wouldn't mind actualy,.. I can talk with people there, focus on things,.. you know."
  944. 944.
    >"I guess,.. a little sense of purpose eh?"
  945. 945.
    "Well, I was avoiding that sentence." you laugh "It's not like that, I just gotta rediscover some of my old hobbies. Or find new ones! Think I might start learning to play guitar or... just download some video games. -Maybe I'll contact some of my old friends too."
  946. 946.
    >"Do that." she chuckles "You shouldn't forget about them completely."
  947. 947.
    "Yeah, you're right about that..." you chuckle as well and go silent for a second
  948. 948.
    >but then glance at the remaining time
  949. 949.
    "...The credit is almost ending now, I should say bye before it runs out."
  950. 950.
    >"-Is it?"
  951. 951.
    "Ten seconds now."
  952. 952.
    >"Oh! Bye bye then Anon! I love youuu!"
  953. 953.
    "Bye Dash, I love you too! -Should I call again friday?"
  954. 954.
    >"Absolutely! I can't w-"
  955. 955.
    >*beep*
  956. 956.
    >...
  957. 957.
    >you put the phone down with a smile
  958. 958.
    >...knew she was doing fine
  959. 959.
    >but it's still nice to hear her voice, knowing she's still out there
  960. 960.
    >and she has a point
  961. 961.
    >you don't have to feel lonely just because you're alone
  962. 962.
    >...and you don't have to be alone either
  963. 963.
    >this week might be an opportunity to contact some of your old friends
  964. 964.
    >and tomorrow, you'll go to that indian restaurant again
  965. 965.
    >make your life interesting by yourself, for yourself
  966. 966.
     
  967. 967.
     
  968. 968.
    >at the work that day, you're opening up a bit more conversations than usual, instead of focusing solely on the labour
  969. 969.
    >you knew the people there are mostly nice, you just didn't speak a lot because it felt like you're missing common interests
  970. 970.
    >but that was only because you didn't bother finding or creating any
  971. 971.
    >so today on a break, you got a bit closer with few other guys working there
  972. 972.
    >and it feels nice, belonging somewhere again...
  973. 973.
    >it's just,... not really it
  974. 974.
    >oh well, but good friends are made over time, not from day to day
  975. 975.
    >you kinda wish you could tell someone close how you feel about things
  976. 976.
    >but uuuh... yeah
  977. 977.
    >so back home, you at least wrote it all down like a diary
  978. 978.
    >it's good enough and it actualy made you feel a lot better
  979. 979.
    >still going to sleep with an extra pillow though
  980. 980.
     
  981. 981.
     
  982. 982.
     
  983. 983.
     
  984. 984.
     
  985. 985.
    >thursday morning, first thing you do, is to write to one of your old pals on facebook, asking if he wants to meet up
  986. 986.
    >>"Sure bro,", he's immediately writting back "actualy, friday night in the pub, what do you say? Bois will be there too, we had it planned for some time. Sorry we didnt invite you, it just felt like you don't care about partying anymore. :P :D"
  987. 987.
    "Not as much as I used to mane :D But I'd like to see you guys again." you replied
  988. 988.
    >got more info about where and when exactly then agreed you'll be there
  989. 989.
    >....actualy spend a bit more time chatting on facebook, catching up, until you realized you should go if you want to make it to the indian restaurant before work
  990. 990.
    >time flies
  991. 991.
    "See ya'll there then."
  992. 992.
    >and you picked yourself up, rushing on the bus stop
  993. 993.
    >>"Good day Anon! This time without your friend?" the friendly monk-looking man behind the counter is asking at the restaurant
  994. 994.
    "Yeah, she's on a little trip. She'll be back." you smile confidently, but then frown a bit at the thought of her "Anyway, how's it going around here?"
  995. 995.
     
  996. 996.
     
  997. 997.
     
  998. 998.
    >>"Oh well, still the same." he smiles warmly "I enjoy my routine, it brings me closer to Krishna. Knowing I have my place here. ...But you seem a little bit... conflicted?"
  999. 999.
    "Nah, that's nothing just an- uuuhh...... I feel a bit like I'm stepping back in life. I-.I used to think I know what's right for me, but now I just,.. don't."
  1000. 1000.
    >>"Then maybe you're just on your way to something better... Just when we think we're lost completely, we miraculously find our way back and get even further. Not every life's lesson is pleasant at first, but when you look back, you'll know it was worth it."
  1001. 1001.
    "But what am I expected to do, to find the way?"
  1002. 1002.
    >"Well, what if you never really lost it?"
  1003. 1003.
    >you actualy had to think a few seconds about what he said, to process something as abstract as this into an actual situation which is your current life
  1004. 1004.
    "You're right, acharya." you smile then heartfeltly "Guess this I what I needed to hear."
  1005. 1005.
    >you've ordered yourself a menu there and left the monk a tip, even trough his protests, and sat down to eat while thinking about what exactly you've just realized
  1006. 1006.
    >to put into words the thoughts which made you feel lighter
  1007. 1007.
    >first, that even the confusion and suffering might be a part of the process and it will only last until you let the pain go
  1008. 1008.
    >and that you're not letting her go with it, when you admit to yourself that she isn't the source of your happiness
  1009. 1009.
    >of course you love her, love her with all your heart
  1010. 1010.
    >but you gotta learn to be happy even when she's distant
  1011. 1011.
    >because just like you've said to yourself once before...
  1012. 1012.
    >there's a little piece of her in your heart, of everyone you love
  1013. 1013.
    >so you've never really parted
  1014. 1014.
    >dot...
  1015. 1015.
     
  1016. 1016.
     
  1017. 1017.
    >you're smiling while going over it again, making yourself memorize the feeling, knowing you wouldn't forget about it either way
  1018. 1018.
    >and after lunch, went to work with a smile on your face
  1019. 1019.
    >that shift, you're talking a lot more with others again
  1020. 1020.
    >but not because you feel like you HAVE to find yourself some friends
  1021. 1021.
    >it's just because you want to, and it feels so liberating to know this
  1022. 1022.
    >suddenly it's a lot easier to live lightly
  1023. 1023.
    >you've also talked to your boss about letting you out sooner tomorrow, so you can catch up with your friends
  1024. 1024.
    >which he allowed without any problems
  1025. 1025.
    >and you keep smiling troughout the whole day, even while falling asleep
  1026. 1026.
    >today was a good day
  1027. 1027.
     
  1028. 1028.
     
  1029. 1029.
     
  1030. 1030.
     
  1031. 1031.
    >and then there's friday coming, the day D
  1032. 1032.
    >cause you're not only going out with your friends, but you're also supposed to be calling Dash again
  1033. 1033.
    >...you're spending some time in the morning with your book and listening to some songs on computer
  1034. 1034.
    >not full of expectations, but rather relaxed about the whole thing that's happening today
  1035. 1035.
    >by chance, you looked up more songs from Kula Shaker, besides their initial album that made them so famous for a little while at the end of 90'
  1036. 1036.
    >some songs seem strangely familiar, even though you've never heard them before
  1037. 1037.
    >you aren't feeling like you need to eat a lot today, so you made youself just some fried noodles with hot sauce for lunch
  1038. 1038.
    >and while eating, a thought comes to your head
  1039. 1039.
    >the ring on your hand
  1040. 1040.
    >....you might leave it home today, you could lose it in the pub after work
  1041. 1041.
    >so you put it safely in a drawer
  1042. 1042.
    >and when the time comes, you're departing for work
  1043. 1043.
    >again, it's some time sooner, because you'll be stopping at the phone booth
  1044. 1044.
    >and you're there, putting some coins in it
  1045. 1045.
    >this time you brought a bit more so you can add them later on
  1046. 1046.
    >so you're dialing the number, and....!
  1047. 1047.
    >...
  1048. 1048.
    ...
  1049. 1049.
    >there's a single beep
  1050. 1050.
    >>"We are sorry, but we can't connect to the dialed number. Please call again later."
  1051. 1051.
    "Huh?" you're trying it again
  1052. 1052.
    >...with the same result
  1053. 1053.
    >and once more just to be sure
  1054. 1054.
    ...
  1055. 1055.
    >oh well...
  1056. 1056.
    >the battery must be empty, right?
  1057. 1057.
    >you're sure it's the battery
  1058. 1058.
    >what else could it be?
  1059. 1059.
    >...why didn't you think of that, to give her the charging cable before she departs?!
  1060. 1060.
    >dammit
  1061. 1061.
    >you bang your fist into the thick glass wall as your mind gets flooded with dark thoughts
  1062. 1062.
    >...
  1063. 1063.
    >but then take a deep breath
  1064. 1064.
    >and exhale
  1065. 1065.
    >...
  1066. 1066.
    >...none of that will solve anything now
  1067. 1067.
    >so you hang up the phone and press "Return coins" button
  1068. 1068.
    >just gotta stay positive
  1069. 1069.
    >only because you can't reach her, doesn't mean anything went wrong
  1070. 1070.
    >you said it to yourself: you know you could feel that...
  1071. 1071.
    >...
  1072. 1072.
    >that's actualy a really calming thought for you now
  1073. 1073.
    >she's fine and she'll show up eventualy
  1074. 1074.
    >one day
  1075. 1075.
    >you dare to take it as a promise
  1076. 1076.
    >so you're keeping your chin up while going to work
  1077. 1077.
    >today, you've got different plans anyway and you're looking forward to the night in the pub
  1078. 1078.
    >not because of the alcohol, but to see your old friends again
  1079. 1079.
    >...
  1080. 1080.
    >fast forward the working day, you're entering the door and spot all of them sitting behind one table
  1081. 1081.
    >>"Eh, look who is there!"
  1082. 1082.
    >>>"Thought you were dead, maan!"
  1083. 1083.
    >>>>"Eeeey,bruh!
  1084. 1084.
    >it's nice to see a familiar collective again, there's four of you now
  1085. 1085.
    >all the black sheep back together
  1086. 1086.
    >so you order yourself a beer and start chatting
  1087. 1087.
    >they want to know what's up with you these days, so you're explaining you've went "almost" straight edge now
  1088. 1088.
    >so naturaly, a follow up question is: what do you even do with your life
  1089. 1089.
    >being partly drunk at the time, you start explaining
  1090. 1090.
    "Lads, just so you know, you can get a lot higher without drugs than with them."
  1091. 1091.
    >that's actualy the most cliché answer you could say, no matter how true it is
  1092. 1092.
    "...Also, found myself a girlfriend."
  1093. 1093.
    >>>>"As if there wasn't a woman in in! Damn them, they always gotta push you out of your hobbies, isn't that right?" laughs the third one
  1094. 1094.
    "This one's different." you're grinning "I stopped with the weed and all the other stuff even before I met her."
  1095. 1095.
    >>"But you ain't gonna let us smoke a fat one without you today, no?" laughs the other
  1096. 1096.
    "Of course not mate." you chucke "Today we're partying."
  1097. 1097.
    >>>"Oh yeah boy. Friday bitches!"
  1098. 1098.
    >later on, a few beers, shots and spliffs after, you're finding out that friday is not the only thing they all gathered
  1099. 1099.
    >one of your friends is going to jail in a month
  1100. 1100.
    >...he sent a cop into the hospital while high on meth
  1101. 1101.
    "Jesus fucking Christ man, you're serious?"
  1102. 1102.
    >>>>"Yeah, one elbow and he's down." he shrughs, almost proud about it "I didn't know he was a cop, he touched my shoulder from behind, I thought it's another one of those gypsies. And you know me."
  1103. 1103.
    "But you're really going to jail for it? How did they find out?"
  1104. 1104.
    >>>"They have him on camera, it was in front of a store."
  1105. 1105.
    "Damn."
  1106. 1106.
    >>>>"But that's why we're all here now! I wanna enjoy freedom as much as I can. And I brought this..."
  1107. 1107.
    >he's showing you a ziplock bag with white crystals inside
  1108. 1108.
    >>>>"Pure shit bruh. It's gonna rip ur fucking head off."
  1109. 1109.
    >you gulp at the sight of it
  1110. 1110.
    >should you...?
  1111. 1111.
    >being drunk already, soon to come into a state of getting tired, it's kinda tempting to have a line and continue having fun until morning
  1112. 1112.
    >sure, you could take it, knowing you'd be fine in a few days
  1113. 1113.
    >but.... do you really need that?
  1114. 1114.
    >deep inside you know that you the answer is "no"
  1115. 1115.
    >do you WANT that, then?
  1116. 1116.
    >...maybe?
  1117. 1117.
    >or not?
  1118. 1118.
    >maybe you've already had your share of "fun" this night
  1119. 1119.
    >desperately trying to prolong it wouldn't make the memories any better
  1120. 1120.
    >if any
  1121. 1121.
    "Sorry man, I'll pass. I think I'm really over that."
  1122. 1122.
    >>>>"Say whaaat?"
  1123. 1123.
    "Really." you chuckle "I don't wanna be a party pooper, but..."
  1124. 1124.
    >>"But you are." laughs other "But hey, at least there'll be more for us."
  1125. 1125.
    >>>"Actualy, I think I won't be having either, guys. I'm kinda affraid of it after the last time. My jaw and throat hurt like really bad, even a whole week after."
  1126. 1126.
    >>>>"So... really?"
  1127. 1127.
    "Yup."
  1128. 1128.
    >>>"Yeah, sorry."
  1129. 1129.
    "...Hope you're not taking it personaly mate."
  1130. 1130.
    >>>>"....Nah. I'll have a big one for the two of you pussies." he chuckles friendlily
  1131. 1131.
    >you've stayed a bit longer together, had a last shot and then let the two do their thing somewhere unseen
  1132. 1132.
    >soon the guys are swirling in place and praising how good shit that is
  1133. 1133.
    >you're kinda happy for them, but don't need to join them
  1134. 1134.
    >they are now on a completely different flow and you're soon getting too slow for them anyways, so you've then decided to part your ways
  1135. 1135.
    >...remember this kind of goodbye moments, from different times, places and perspectives
  1136. 1136.
    >and it's kinda nostalgic
  1137. 1137.
    >they just left, being already in their own worlds and you're continuing further with the other friend who refused
  1138. 1138.
    >chatting along the way and finding out, he had actualy changed a bit too
  1139. 1139.
    >in a way he can't keep it up anymore with others
  1140. 1140.
    >doesn't want to
  1141. 1141.
    >but eventualy, even your ways would part, he's staying in his friend's apartment
  1142. 1142.
    >and you're continuing alone
  1143. 1143.
    >you're tired, still high and drunk
  1144. 1144.
    >but pretty glad
  1145. 1145.
    >you've always enjoyed these lonely walks home, getting sober enough on the way to fall asleep right away
  1146. 1146.
    >and boi, do you sleep heavily...
  1147. 1147.
     
  1148. 1148.
     
  1149. 1149.
     
  1150. 1150.
     
  1151. 1151.
     
  1152. 1152.
    Chapter 12: I'm happy, hope you're happy too
  1153. 1153.
     
  1154. 1154.
    >you woke up few times troughout the morning, gulping some water readied by the bed and falling right back asleep within minutes
  1155. 1155.
    >until you ran out of water, sometime in the afternoon
  1156. 1156.
    >....but at least your head isn't that dizzy anymore and you don't feel like vomiting
  1157. 1157.
    >still, your body is still pretty weak to get up effortlessly
  1158. 1158.
    >or just lazy
  1159. 1159.
    >but your throat is really really dry
  1160. 1160.
    >enough to make you overcome the urge to stay in bed a bit longer and get yourself some water instead
  1161. 1161.
    >and while walking to kitchen, you're thinking about eating something as well
  1162. 1162.
    >because all you ate yesterday night was a fried cheese in a bun
  1163. 1163.
    >after a while of wondering what could fill you without irritating your stomach too much, you ended up munching on some veggies and a plain bread
  1164. 1164.
    >didn't eat a lot, but it was enough to make your body feel better
  1165. 1165.
    >and then you went outside, to catch some fresh air to make your mind feel better too
  1166. 1166.
    >the weather is okay today, compared to yesterday, but it's still not exactly shiny
  1167. 1167.
    >but you don't mind at all
  1168. 1168.
    >the short walk around a block or two made you feel a whole lot better
  1169. 1169.
    >almost like nothing ever happened
  1170. 1170.
    >...emphasizing on the "almost"
  1171. 1171.
    >still, you're able to function normaly, which you probably couldn't by now, if you had a line yesterday
  1172. 1172.
    >you'd be getting home, completely dead and weak
  1173. 1173.
    >and you're kinda happy about it
  1174. 1174.
    >so you turn the PC on and continue in the same playlist you left it before
  1175. 1175.
    >while at it, you're checking the email to see if anyone replied about the house
  1176. 1176.
    >and actualy...
  1177. 1177.
    >there's an email!
  1178. 1178.
    >...nevermind, it's just a spam
  1179. 1179.
    >you've deleted it, leaning back into the chair with hands behind your head
  1180. 1180.
    >realizing you don't have your ring
  1181. 1181.
    >did you...?
  1182. 1182.
    >nah man, you didn't lose it, you put it in the drawer
  1183. 1183.
    >clever you
  1184. 1184.
    >so you stand up, leaving the music playing not too loud and go get it
  1185. 1185.
    >you already have it in your hand, about to put it on when...
  1186. 1186.
    >there's a knock on the door
  1187. 1187.
    >...Rainbow must be back!
  1188. 1188.
    >so you put the ring into your pocket instead and hurry to the door
  1189. 1189.
    >oh man, were you worried when you couldn't reach her on the phone!
  1190. 1190.
    >you're grabbing the handle...
  1191. 1191.
    >and open!
  1192. 1192.
    >yet,..
  1193. 1193.
    >it isn't Rainbow Dash...
  1194. 1194.
    >for a second, it feels as if the time just frozen
  1195. 1195.
    >you're looking at the man you sent to sleep that night, more than two months ago
  1196. 1196.
    >before you could react anyhow, he's hitting you straight in the forehead with an end of a silenced gun
  1197. 1197.
    >you fell on your back and are instintively trying to stand up, but he stomps you down again
  1198. 1198.
    >>"You little fucker. Thought you could hide from me?"
  1199. 1199.
    "I wasn't really hiding to be honest." you attemp to bitterly smile, getting over the initial shock
  1200. 1200.
    >>"I can see that. Posting your house with adress and all, including that thing in a photo." he grins at you, pointing the gun at your head
  1201. 1201.
    >...man, this really doesn't look good
  1202. 1202.
    >is this how actual fear of death feels like?
  1203. 1203.
    >>"Where did you hide her?" he's asking coldly
  1204. 1204.
    "She's gone. F-far away."
  1205. 1205.
    >>"Don't you fucking lie to me! Do you have any idea how much is that thing worth? I was supposed to take care of it and they'll have my fucking head if I won't bring her back. SO WHERE IS IT NOW?"
  1206. 1206.
    >it's scaring you to hear the desperate, trembling tone of your own voice
  1207. 1207.
    "I told you man, she's fucking gone! I let her go. She stayed here for the winter and then she left, searching for home..."
  1208. 1208.
    >>"You fucking, cocky son of a whore!! You broke my jaw, robbed me and even with a gun to your head, you dare lying to me? I'll show you..."
  1209. 1209.
    >and he hits you with the gun again, waiting for you to recover and look at him
  1210. 1210.
    >"...It's in the house somewhere, isn't it?"
  1211. 1211.
    >you're actualy so glad, that you don't have to lie
  1212. 1212.
    >you're a bad liar
  1213. 1213.
    "Look all you want, ...you won't find her here."
  1214. 1214.
    >>"You can bet I'm gonna look." the man takes handcuffs out of his pocket to cuff you while he goes searching trough your house
  1215. 1215.
    >....the calm music is still playing in the background while he's angrily running around, failing to find her
  1216. 1216.
    >...hate to admit it, but you're out of options what to do
  1217. 1217.
    >you're cuffed tightly, can't escape out of it
  1218. 1218.
    >all you can do is watch him scatter all your stuff around and wait
  1219. 1219.
    >but at least you have enough time to sort your thoughts
  1220. 1220.
    >and...
  1221. 1221.
    >now that you're thinking of it, there's no reason at all to be affraid beca-
  1222. 1222.
    >your thoughts get interrupted when the guy had enough and comes back to kick you in the stomach
  1223. 1223.
    >then he uncuffs you, pointing the gun at you
  1224. 1224.
    >>"If you won't tell me the truth, you're no good to me alive. I'll just fucking kill you."
  1225. 1225.
    >your focus shifts away from his angry face on the gun, pointing at your chest
  1226. 1226.
    >and just now it's all making sense...
  1227. 1227.
    >you've played your role in this story, learned your life lessons
  1228. 1228.
    >and she's safe, thanks to you
  1229. 1229.
    >she'll find the way home by herself, freeing others
  1230. 1230.
    >while you can leave this world, knowing you did what you were supposed to
  1231. 1231.
    >and even had the priviledge of experiencing love, reaching far trough dimensions
  1232. 1232.
    >so you look back into the ruffian's angry eyes and calmly smile
  1233. 1233.
    >...all of your previous fear of death has dissolved at the face of it
  1234. 1234.
    "She's gone. That's the only truth. You won't have her."
  1235. 1235.
    >>"...Then you're no good to me."
  1236. 1236.
    >the bullets fly, two of them
  1237. 1237.
    >it's less than a a blink
  1238. 1238.
    >watching the two growing bloodstains on your torso, you're suddenly feeling so weak,..
  1239. 1239.
    >so much you're almost immediately falling down on the ground
  1240. 1240.
    >can't even see the man anymore, just the door slamming behind you
  1241. 1241.
    >and you're laying in the puddle of your own blood
  1242. 1242.
    >in the background, the music is still playing, so you're listening to it while your body is getting even weaker each second
  1243. 1243.
    >can barely move at this point
  1244. 1244.
    "Forever young, that's your promise. Love in a world without end. Travelling for free, strange refugees, weaving our way through the stars..... Through the stars...." you're repeating the lyrics in a whisper
  1245. 1245.
    >and painfully smiling while the song's progressing into a slow guitar solo, playing in your head like a requiem
  1246. 1246.
    >...what a lovely way to die, Anon
  1247. 1247.
    >isn't it wonderful?..
  1248. 1248.
    >...
  1249. 1249.
    >you're feeling ready...
  1250. 1250.
    >and your eyes are slowly closing when the door open again and a ray of sunshine shoots over your closing eyelids
  1251. 1251.
    >and then... you hear her voice
  1252. 1252.
    >crying out your name as loudly as she can
  1253. 1253.
    >so you open your eyes again to see a sillouette of her face in front of yours, so you smile and whisper
  1254. 1254.
    "Dash..."
  1255. 1255.
    >you wish you could raise your hand to touch her cheek, but you're too weak for that
  1256. 1256.
    >she's telling you, begging you, to stay awake, at least that is what you think she's saying
  1257. 1257.
    >so you're trying your best not to fail her, while she's trying to pick you
  1258. 1258.
    >the song's progressing in the meanwhile
  1259. 1259.
    "Space caravan, where are we going? Weaving our way through the stars. I said goodbye, I said love never dies, so farewell. So long, so long, so long...."
  1260. 1260.
    >you're terribly sorry, but you can't keep yourself awake anymore...
  1261. 1261.
    >your vision is fading to black as you're watching the ground shrinking under you
  1262. 1262.
    >you can't hear the music anymore, only the rhytmic flaps of wings and sobs
  1263. 1263.
    >but soon,.. not even that
  1264. 1264.
    >you're finding yourself in pitch black
  1265. 1265.
    ...
  1266. 1266.
    >there's nothing
  1267. 1267.
    >not even "you"
  1268. 1268.
    >as what you'd consider yourself before
  1269. 1269.
    >but then...
  1270. 1270.
    >...
  1271. 1271.
    >you see something
  1272. 1272.
    >you think you're seeing something
  1273. 1273.
    >there's a light somewhere
  1274. 1274.
    >you can move freely and with ease, so you're following it
  1275. 1275.
    >and closer you are, the more beautiful it is
  1276. 1276.
    >is it...?
  1277. 1277.
    >it feels familiar, almost like...
  1278. 1278.
    >...home
  1279. 1279.
    >you feel like you could almost cry out of happiness, merely seeing it
  1280. 1280.
    >and you're about to step into the light
  1281. 1281.
    >but then you stop
  1282. 1282.
    >...and look behind you
  1283. 1283.
    >as if you heard soft, familiar raspy voice, calling your name
  1284. 1284.
    >can you recall who is it?..
  1285. 1285.
    >you know that if you take one more step, there's no going back
  1286. 1286.
    >not to this body
  1287. 1287.
    >.....you could let it rot down there all you want
  1288. 1288.
    >the truth is, it's not your body you don't want to abandon...
  1289. 1289.
    >it's someone else, you don't want to part with yet
  1290. 1290.
    >sure, you could wait for her here and the two of you would meet eventualy
  1291. 1291.
    >it might even feel like a short time
  1292. 1292.
    >but...
  1293. 1293.
    ....
  1294. 1294.
    >you already made your mind, the second you remembered
  1295. 1295.
    >because she's dearer to you than your own comfort
  1296. 1296.
    >so you smile at the light
  1297. 1297.
    "I'm sorry, I know I longed for this... But I won't be going just yet."
  1298. 1298.
    >and as if it smiled warmly back,.. it understands
  1299. 1299.
    >with the last look, you turn around to follow the voice back
  1300. 1300.
    >on your way, you're accompanied by many shining white creatures that are showing you the way, descendinging trough dimensions
  1301. 1301.
    >can't tell how long you've traveled
  1302. 1302.
    >could be second, could be lifetimes because time feels irrelevant here
  1303. 1303.
    >but as you get closer, everything around is starting to feel heavier and more bound
  1304. 1304.
    >until you can hardly see the creatures, which are still there but aren't at the same time
  1305. 1305.
    >and then you see it
  1306. 1306.
    >your own body, lying in a white room with something sky blue curled up next to your legs
  1307. 1307.
    >so you're hovering above it for a second
  1308. 1308.
    >then lay "inside" and become one with the vessel
  1309. 1309.
    .......
  1310. 1310.
    >it's a strange sensation, being able to feel pain again
  1311. 1311.
    >your chest hurts and the whole existance feels so "heavy" compared to the lightness you've experienced
  1312. 1312.
    >powerless like a newborn,.. is this how it feels to be born?
  1313. 1313.
    >...but that experience isn't what you've returned for
  1314. 1314.
    >there's also a warmt, close to your right leg
  1315. 1315.
    >so you slowly open your eyes, because that's about everything you can do right now
  1316. 1316.
    >it's really blurry at first, but you DO recognize one particular colorful smudge..
  1317. 1317.
    >and as your vision clears, you can see Rainbow Dash curled up next to your leg
  1318. 1318.
    >your heart skips a beat at the sight of her, wanting to hug her and kiss her and tell her you love her,. tell her everything but...
  1319. 1319.
    >is she... crying?
  1320. 1320.
    >the room is quiet, only thing you hear are her quiet sobs and a machine beeping right next to you
  1321. 1321.
    >wish you could move to tell her it's all okay, but you can merely smile
  1322. 1322.
    >and she doesn't even see
  1323. 1323.
    >come on Anon, do something to get her attention
  1324. 1324.
    >try to speak
  1325. 1325.
    "D-Dash..." you whisper
  1326. 1326.
    >...
  1327. 1327.
    >well that sounded really quiet and pathetic
  1328. 1328.
    >even using your mouth to speak feels hard like trying to coldstart a diesel engine in winter
  1329. 1329.
    >but she must have heard it, because she freezes and her ear attentively twitches
  1330. 1330.
    >after a silent second, her head starts hesitanly raising in your direction
  1331. 1331.
    >and when your eyes meet, your heart skips a beat again and your fingers twitch
  1332. 1332.
    >at the first sight, she's staring at you in disbeleif for a moment
  1333. 1333.
    >then her pupils widen into big black orbs, leaving those magenta irises only as thin lines while the corners of her mouth rise into a wide, suprised smile
  1334. 1334.
    >as if she wanted to say something, but is left as speechless as you are
  1335. 1335.
    >from that look on her face, it's easy to read the emotions, flooding her mind one by one
  1336. 1336.
    >relief, doubt, shock and hapiness, all of that at once
  1337. 1337.
    >instead of saying anything, she's spontaneously rushing to hug you
  1338. 1338.
    >"Anon! You're back!" she's crying again, this time of joy "I'm so sorry I've almost given up on you! I was worried you might never ever, EVER wake up again!"
  1339. 1339.
    >wish you could hug her back, but you can't really raise your hands all the way up to her
  1340. 1340.
    "...I was almost there, Dash... You wouldn't beleive how beautiful it is." you're whispering and smiling with a few tears of your own, running down your face "...But I couldn't leave you. I love you."
  1341. 1341.
    >"I love you too Anon." she snuffles while nuzzling your wet cheek "And I've missed you..."
  1342. 1342.
    "...But you've been with me the whole time... I've heard your voice where I was."
  1343. 1343.
    >"You have?" Dash surprisedly glances at you
  1344. 1344.
    "Yes, you called me back. Didn't you?"
  1345. 1345.
    >"I-...I'd come everyday to talk to you, pretending you can hear me but-....... t-they- they said a chance of you waking up is lesser and lesser each day... " she wipes a tear from her face and snivels "But I beleived you'd wake up!.. Until..." she's sniveling again "...they said, they consider unplugging you from life support. That was just today..."
  1346. 1346.
    "Wait,..just how long was I gone?"
  1347. 1347.
    >"Over a month...."
  1348. 1348.
    "Over a month?!... Well it certainly felt like a lot less." you chuckle at first, but then notice the sad expression on Rainbow's face, staring into the blanket "...Hey, I'm.... really sorry for taking so long..."
  1349. 1349.
    >"That's fine Anon, you're the last one who should apologize." she forces a smile at first, looking back up at you with those eyes, red from crying
  1350. 1350.
    "No I mean it, I'm really sorry. Can you forgive me?" you're attempting to put your hand on her, but it's still pretty stiff and weak, so you fail again
  1351. 1351.
    >this time Dash noticed it thought, taking the hand between her warm, spongy hooves
  1352. 1352.
    >"What exactly should I be forgiving you? None of that's your fault." she chuckles very faintly and pauses for second "......But do you remember who did it? When I-..."
  1353. 1353.
    >you can feel a cold shiver running trough her over the memory, just from the way she's holding you
  1354. 1354.
    >"..-When I found you like that, there was nobody around."
  1355. 1355.
    "...I think you already have your suspects, don't you?"
  1356. 1356.
    >"......So it was him, looking for me...." she looks guiltily away, her voice slowly fading into whisper with each word "Then it's really,..my fault. I'm so sorry..."
  1357. 1357.
    "What are you saying?! How could that be your fault?"
  1358. 1358.
    >"He was looking for me, not you. If I was there-"
  1359. 1359.
    "If you were there, he'd have you." you interrupt her "...And I'd gladly give my life to save you from that fate."
  1360. 1360.
    >which stirs anger deep inside of her
  1361. 1361.
    >"How can you say that?! That bastard-"
  1362. 1362.
    "-Please...." you're interrupting her yet again "If you want to blame someone, blame me."
  1363. 1363.
    >"But why?" she's looking at you now in total confusion
  1364. 1364.
    "Because I want you to let it go, Dashie. The whole thing."
  1365. 1365.
    >"Let it go? How could something like that can be forgiven? Have you let it go?"
  1366. 1366.
    "I have." you're answering quickly before emotions overtake her completely "The very moment it happened... Life can seem cruel sometimes, but it's all for the best in the end. I just saw that."
  1367. 1367.
    >"And what if he comes back?" she's asking defensively
  1368. 1368.
    "What if he won't?" you smile as sincerely as you can "...Holding on to pain or grudge won't help anything. All I want for you is to be happy. ...But that decision is yours to make."
  1369. 1369.
    >"...So should I just forget about all of this?"
  1370. 1370.
    "You don't have to forget. Just..... let it stay in the past. Like thinking back of old healed wounds when they don't hurt anymore." you keep smiling, looking her straight in the eyes because that's about all you can do "Actualy.... once you get over it, I'd really like to hear your version of the story."
  1371. 1371.
    >and for a moment of intense eye contact, it feels as if you were telepathicaly trying to hug her while something in her resisted, like she was trying to find dishonesty in what you're saying
  1372. 1372.
    >the very same feeling like your first morning together
  1373. 1373.
    >but then her complexion eases up again, realizing she's tilting at windmills
  1374. 1374.
    >the mare looks away in defeat, but second after that she sincerely chuckles with a half smile on her face
  1375. 1375.
    >one that's turned into a full one by the time she's looking back at you
  1376. 1376.
    >"So........ you'd like to hear my version of the story?" she's smirking very softly and it feels like even the air around her suddenly "lightened"
  1377. 1377.
    >you're actualy amazed how easily she managed to process that and you'd really like to tell it to her but instead you just nod
  1378. 1378.
    >you've said enough, now it's her time to speak
  1379. 1379.
    >"So uuh,.. when I found you, I flew you into the hospital here. We're actualy in that one, where they sawed away the splint from my leg."
  1380. 1380.
    "Really?" you sincerely laugh
  1381. 1381.
    >"Yup. It's the only one I knew about." she giggles, then goes a bit more serious again "........ Anyway, so I've brought you inside, blood everywhere and naturaly, everyone rushed to help. I can't tell what was more shocking for them, if you or me, but then they took you inside an operating room and left me waiting there..... It's kinda funny when I think back of it." her hoof partly covers a little chuckle on her face "-Some member of a staff who didn't see me come actualy tried shooing me away like a dog, but the state I was in, I literaly almost jumped at him,... guess what happened though?"
  1382. 1382.
    "What?" you're snickering in anticipation
  1383. 1383.
    >"A nurse happened,.. you remember the grumpy one?"
  1384. 1384.
    "Yup." you nod
  1385. 1385.
    >"She actualy told him to leave me be because she saw me bring you. And later on even vouched for me, so they would let me see you."
  1386. 1386.
    "....Who would have thought huh?.. Guess sometimes it just takes extreme situations for people to show kindness. But it's there."
  1387. 1387.
    >"Yeah. We talked and she's... kinda cool now. ......So and,. when they were done with you, I was told that the bullets didn't hit any vital organs, but you lost a lot of blood. -So much, your brain almost completely run out of oxygen and for a minute they-... lost you." she pauses, as if she got lost in her thoughts for a second "...When your pulse returned, you were still in a coma."
  1388. 1388.
    "So that must have been the period when I was "up there"." you're smiling to yourself, then look back at her ".....And how did you survive troughout the month? I hope you weren't starving... Did you find my wallet?"
  1389. 1389.
    >"Oh well,.." Rainbow softly grins "...I still had some money you gave me before. And I stayed at your house in the meanwhile... Over time, tidied up all the mess left there and cleaned the blood from a floor...." she shudders at the memory of it "That was actualy the most difficult task, not because of the effort, but-....."
  1390. 1390.
    "It's alright Dash, you don't have to go back to that......Thanks by the way. I really appreciate you taking care of the house..."
  1391. 1391.
    >by now, you finaly made your hand move enough to gently brush your fingers over her hoof nearby
  1392. 1392.
    >she smiles when she notices the faint touch
  1393. 1393.
    >"..I kind of had to, I couldn't take watching that scene every time I returned to your house to sleep. So I tried to make it all, just like as it was before..."
  1394. 1394.
    >she hangs her head a little, staring at the hand next to her hoof, then impishly smirks up at your face "Except your fridge,... I uh, kind of emptied that of everything edible over time."
  1395. 1395.
    "Glad you did, we'll have some chores to make us busy." you laugh while trying to make the rest of your arm move a bit more "And at least nothing rot there in the meanwhile."
  1396. 1396.
    >"Yeah." Dash embarassedly runs her hoof trough her mane and continues "Anyway,.. the first day when I returned, there was police around the house, so I didn't even come inside until they were gone for good."
  1397. 1397.
    "I see... Did they solve anything?"
  1398. 1398.
    >"I don't know. I didn't talk to them. I usualy wing it whenever I see one."
  1399. 1399.
    "Right...they would probably cause even more problems anyway." you snicker "And what did you do all the time? Besides putting the house back together..?"
  1400. 1400.
    >"Well, fly. I mean, I had to do something to take my mind of what was happening. I was really worried..."
  1401. 1401.
    >for a second you imagine if your roles were switched and cold sweat runs over your back with the idea of waiting for her whether she wakes up or not
  1402. 1402.
    >",..and staying in place wasn't a good option. That would only let the dark thoughts creep in. So I flew and flew and flew. ...Maybe it wasn't the best measure, you'd probably tell me to try and deal with it if you were there-"
  1403. 1403.
    "I wouldn't." you stop her "I know I couldn't deal with it myself if anything like that happened to you. These things take time.... But maybe... maybe it made you stronger in a way..?"
  1404. 1404.
    >"I don't know... I mean, it was kind of worse day by day, especialy with what they told me. But at some point, I almost thought I made my peace with what's happening,.. until I heard about the unplugging, then I realized, I wasn't ready to give up on you yet, just because they said so."
  1405. 1405.
    "So that's why you were crying there just before..."
  1406. 1406.
    >she slowly and quietly nods
  1407. 1407.
    >"....Because that was when I felt like I've really lost you for good....."
  1408. 1408.
    >her eyes get a bit watery again, unclear whether it's of joy or sadness
  1409. 1409.
    >"...But that was all just in my head." she simpers relievedly
  1410. 1410.
    >and it's literaly visible how each second, the remnats of darkness are leaving her soul
  1411. 1411.
    >each second, as if she grew fairer
  1412. 1412.
    >...you're getting urges to cuddle her when she's smiling so beautifuly, but you can't move well enough for that
  1413. 1413.
    >but you still try your best to make your body move towards her
  1414. 1414.
    >"Hey, hey, careful." she suddenly stops you with her hoof and hugs you herself instead, until the moment slowly passes over "...Don't you hurt yourself now, okay?"
  1415. 1415.
    "...That's alright. I'm pretty sure it's just the same stiffness as with your leg back then. It needs to be exercised."
  1416. 1416.
    >"Well maybe I can help you with that,.. what do you say?"
  1417. 1417.
    "I say you're the best nurse ever." you smirk
  1418. 1418.
    >"Of course I am!" Dash laughs "So what should I do?"
  1419. 1419.
    "Hmm,.... could you slowly help me fold my whole arm and then extend it again? I could do it myself bit by bit, but if you do it for me all the way, it'll be faster."
  1420. 1420.
    >"Like this?" she grabs your arm and slowly starts folding it in the elbow
  1421. 1421.
    "Yeah, exaactly, like this." you're painfuly grinning because it kinda hurts but you want to do this
  1422. 1422.
    >"Are you sure?" your pretty nurse stops anyway
  1423. 1423.
    "Of course. The pain will go away really soon." you force your grin even harder "Please continue."
  1424. 1424.
    >and really, the next movement hurts a lot less and in a few minutes,.. you're able to move the arm on your own to all directions
  1425. 1425.
    "Hey, I think it's fine now. Look." you're raising it to wave your palm in front of her face with a relieved laugh
  1426. 1426.
    >and when you're about to touch her cheek for the first time, the door to the room open, with one of the actual nurses surprisedly standing there
  1427. 1427.
    >>"Oh! Mr. Anon, you're awake? I heard laughing, so I wanted to check if my hearing is working right."
  1428. 1428.
    "Yup, your hearing is excellent." you're grinning back at her "I'm awake and ready. Send me to war."
  1429. 1429.
    >>"..Sorry?"
  1430. 1430.
    "Nothing. Just a joke." you chuckle "It's already like... I don't know, half an hour since I returned from the dead.?"
  1431. 1431.
    >>"But this is great news! The chance of you waking up at this point was pretty small... But the very first thing, you should have called a doctor to check on you."
  1432. 1432.
    "That's fine." you scoff very softly and eye on Rainbow next to you for a split second before showing off your working hand "Look, we're making progress together already."
  1433. 1433.
    >>"Alright,.. but a doctor should still check on you if there isn't anything wrong we didn't notice. There might be some damage on your brain after a coma like that. ...No offense of course."
  1434. 1434.
    "None taken, I think I'm just fine though." you're politely smiling "...But of course, feel free to check on me."
  1435. 1435.
    >>"I'll tell someone to come." smiles the nurse back and closes the door
  1436. 1436.
    "....I see the staff here is already familiar with you eh?" you look back on Dash
  1437. 1437.
    >"They got used." she smirks
  1438. 1438.
    "What did you tell them?"
  1439. 1439.
    >"...I said you're my owner, to play it safe."
  1440. 1440.
    "Really?" you're playfuly poking her with your finger "Wasn't that demeaning for you?"
  1441. 1441.
    >"A bit. But I had more important things on my mind. Such as you. So I didn't have time to dwell on it." the rainbow mare chuckles and moves to your other side to help you with your left arm, smirking "..And it's kind of easier than trying to explain our relationship... I know how long it took us to get over the differences."
  1442. 1442.
    "That's true." you grin, surprised to hear something so practical from her "...Hey do you remember the stares of those people in a waiting line, when we kissed in front of the bus? Right before we parted back then?"
  1443. 1443.
    >"I do." Dash snickers "I wasn't really in the mood to laugh about it until now."
  1444. 1444.
    "Yeah, how about we only laugh at the past from now on. Whaddaya say?"
  1445. 1445.
    >"I say, why not?..." she smiles, fondly gazing at you
  1446. 1446.
    ....
  1447. 1447.
    >...
  1448. 1448.
    >....as if both of you lost the thread of conversation over the sight of each other
  1449. 1449.
    >and you're feeling like this would be THE time to kiss her,.. if you could move any closer to her
  1450. 1450.
    >but she can tell from your eyes and slowly starts leaning in to you
  1451. 1451.
    >so you at least reach your right arm to touch her cheek again before your lips connect and-
  1452. 1452.
    >suddenly the door starts loudly opening
  1453. 1453.
    >the initial click of a handlebar behind Rainbow's back starles her enough to trip over a cable, plugged into the device next to your bed, falling on the ground with a thud
  1454. 1454.
    >one second you were about to get a kiss, and the other,-.. your chosen one's somewhere under the bed and there's a doctor standing in your room
  1455. 1455.
    >it's even the same one you've met once before
  1456. 1456.
    >>"Hello there, Mr. Anon. You really had us worried indeed." he's amusedly smiling, then eyes down on Dash - still confusedly laying down there "...And hello, Rainbow Dash. ...I see you're glad to have your human back."
  1457. 1457.
    "Oh, hello doctor." you're awkwardly smiling while she's picking herself up to sit on a chair nearby
  1458. 1458.
    >"...Hello." the pony's trying to act like nothing, unsure whether the doctor just saw the two of you or not "...I knew he'd make it, by the way."
  1459. 1459.
    >>"I'll likely be repeating our nurse, when I say that I'm really impressed and relieved, seeing you conscious again." smiles the man at you again "First you go trough clinical death only to end up in a coma and then miraculously wake up after a month."
  1460. 1460.
    "What can I say, guess I wasn't ready to go yet." you chuckle
  1461. 1461.
    >>"It certainly looks that way. Your pony wasn't either. She must be very fond of you." he glances at Dash again before continuing "...But to get to work, do you have any questions regarding your stay here?"
  1462. 1462.
    "Hmm. Probably just one. Wait, two. Do they know in my work what happened, and: when can I go back home??"
  1463. 1463.
    >>"About the first one, yes they do and it's taken care of. And the other: ...Well, that's pretty straight question, but I do not know, right now. I'm supposed to check if you're mentally okay. But if you are, we should still keep you here for further observation. Not to mention your wounds still need some time of resting to heal completely."
  1464. 1464.
    "...But I DO can leave if I wish so, can I? No offense to the hospital, I'm grateful you took care of me. But I'm pretty sure I'm mostly fine by now and my wounds can rest home just as good."
  1465. 1465.
    >"True, you can leave whenever you want, but I highly suggest to stay. I wouldn't want to let something unexpected happen after your little "comeback". There might even be issues we can't see yet." he comes a bit closer
  1466. 1466.
    "Thanks for your care doc but mostly because of that miraculous comeback, I'd like to beleive I'm fine." you're confidently smiling "If it isn't absolute necessary to stay, I'd like to leave as soon as I'm able to stand up."
  1467. 1467.
    >>"About that..... You're probably experiencing stiffness in your body because-,.. uhm, excuse me if I say it openmouthly like that, but our nurses likely didn't beleive you'd wake up, so they must have been neglecting regular exercising of your limbs. I'm deeply sorry for our staff and-"
  1468. 1468.
    "That's alright. We are already working on it." you interrupt him and wave your right hand to present it
  1469. 1469.
    >>"...I can at least reserve you hours at rehabilitary, but it won't be sooner than tomorrow."
  1470. 1470.
    "It won't really be necessary." you're still smiling with all your confidence "Tomorrow I'll be fine."
  1471. 1471.
    >>"I guess you really don't like to stay here any longer than you have to." the doctor chuckles "Alright then, I won't be standing in your way. But we should get to your mental check up now."
  1472. 1472.
    >he takes another chair, brings up a tablet and starts asking you some questions regarding what you remember, doing some examinations of your reflexes and other stuff
  1473. 1473.
    >in the meantime, Dash's boredly resting her head on the opposite side of your bed, watching the two of you, probably wishing he would finally leave you alone
  1474. 1474.
    >>"...Oh well, it really seems you might have actualy returned unscathed, Mr. Anon. Glad to see." doctor's announcing when he's done "So, are you really sure you want to leave as soon as you're physicaly able?"
  1475. 1475.
    "Yup." you're nodding
  1476. 1476.
    >>"Okay then. I'll let the staff know to be ready for you."
  1477. 1477.
    "Thank you so much doctor."
  1478. 1478.
    >>"No problem, for the hospital it's less trouble." he chuckles and pauses for a second "...Yeah and I hate to say it, but the visit times are nearly over, so that your friend here should slowly prepare herself to leave... She can visit you again tomorrow."
  1479. 1479.
    "But we-"
  1480. 1480.
    >"We understand." Dash interrups you with a smile "I'll look forward to it."
  1481. 1481.
    >>"See you both later then."
  1482. 1482.
    "Bye doc."
  1483. 1483.
    >"Bye then..."
  1484. 1484.
    >the door shut behind him and you look at the pony again
  1485. 1485.
    >"You know there's a window right next to you, right?" she chuckles with a victorious grin "I can visit anytime I like."
  1486. 1486.
    >and you grin back the same way
  1487. 1487.
    >she was always cunning
  1488. 1488.
    >but she's learning to use it to the full extent
  1489. 1489.
    >"So, up for making you stand up today?"
  1490. 1490.
    "Aye aye ma'am." you laugh while she's moving back to your left side again
  1491. 1491.
    >it's the same drill as with the first hand, your fingers need only a little help since you've been working on them already
  1492. 1492.
    >...but it's really nice to have her with you
  1493. 1493.
    >"...So, and how are the bullet wounds? Do you really think you'll be able to stand up?" she's asking while folding your hand into a fist and back
  1494. 1494.
    "I think I'll walk just fine." you smile "I mean, I haven't moved my torso too much yet, but I beleive it'll be okay. I'm SO looking forward to see the spring outside,.. even if it's a city one."
  1495. 1495.
    >"The grass in front your house is starting to get green, if nothing else." Dash laughs
  1496. 1496.
    "Can't wait to lay in it." you smirk "...I think I might plant there some flowers as well this year."
  1497. 1497.
    >"What kind?" she blows a bit of her mane from her eyes
  1498. 1498.
    "I dunno yet... Not roses, they are too stereotypic... To be honest I don't know a lot of flowers by name."
  1499. 1499.
    >"You can always just give it one when you see it."
  1500. 1500.
    "That's true." you laugh "But there's still time for that. Might even leave it for the new house."
  1501. 1501.
    >"...So the plan still stands?"
  1502. 1502.
    "Of course. Do you think two bullets will put it down so easily?" you're widely grinning at the pony "We're going to see a highland summer."
  1503. 1503.
    >"Now that's something I'm looking forward to." Rainbow grins back, letting go of your hand so you can try out the movement on your own
  1504. 1504.
    >while stretching your fingers, you deeply inhale and glance out of the opened window from which the air is coming, seeing the city outside
  1505. 1505.
    "Yup,... waking up to a fresh breeze and a green flora.... It almost feels like I'm already there."
  1506. 1506.
    >then you look back down on your hand
  1507. 1507.
    >something's missing
  1508. 1508.
    "....I think I've lost your ring Dash,.." you raise your ring finger to look at it, then shift your eyes on her "...sorry about that."
  1509. 1509.
    >"I think you didn't." she laughs "It's in the drawer, right next to you."
  1510. 1510.
    "Is it? How?"
  1511. 1511.
    >"It was in your pocket when I brought you here. And it actualy helped me make the staff beleive me that I "belong" to you."
  1512. 1512.
    "Oh, right...." you chuckle as it starts coming back together "... think I put
  1513. 1513.
    it there just before I opened the door.... And the man didn't bother checking my trackpants?"
  1514. 1514.
    >"Guess not. He must have been in a rush because he didn't even take anything from the house. Just made a lot of mess."
  1515. 1515.
    "Now that's something." you're smirking "....Looks like you get to keep your technical certificate."
  1516. 1516.
    >"Pfft, what would I even DO if we lost it?" she laughs
  1517. 1517.
    "Your market value would most certainly go drasticaly down." you laugh back "But hey, I'd still feel like a milionaire with you by my side, Dash. I love you, you wonderful alien horse."
  1518. 1518.
    >"I know, I love you too, my little mud monkey." the mare's grinning widely
  1519. 1519.
    >....and you might even attempt to kiss each other again if you didn't hear footsteps, closing in to your room
  1520. 1520.
    >so this time you just both attentively turn your heads in the direction of the opening door
  1521. 1521.
    >>"I'm sorry, but the visit times are over for today. You can come again tomorrow." the same nurse as before is announcing
  1522. 1522.
    "Oh well,.. looks like our time is up." you wink at Dash
  1523. 1523.
    >"Yeah,.. well, I'll be seeing you later." she smiles at you and stands up
  1524. 1524.
    "Bye Dash." you're waving at her, walking out on the corridor
  1525. 1525.
    >"Bye Anon." she winks back, right before the nurse shuts the door behind her
  1526. 1526.
    >...
  1527. 1527.
    >and when they're gone, you lean back into the pillow, looking up at the ceiling with a smile
  1528. 1528.
    >since you can move both of your hands now, you relaxedly put them behind your head too
  1529. 1529.
    >and for a minute, you're just enjoying the fact that you're still here
  1530. 1530.
    >it feels.... like everything is as it should be
  1531. 1531.
    >the lower part of your body might still be quite stiff, but it's gonna be easy from now on
  1532. 1532.
    >thinking about it, you put away the blanket to look at your legs and-...
  1533. 1533.
    >MAN
  1534. 1534.
    >there's a urine bag attached onto you, you didn't even realize
  1535. 1535.
    >ew...
  1536. 1536.
    >so you reach to your crotch and put it away with all the tubes and everything
  1537. 1537.
    >you won't be needing it anymore
  1538. 1538.
    >there's a small litter bin right next to you, so you throw it in there
  1539. 1539.
    >then put the blanket back and relax again
  1540. 1540.
    >from now on, life will only get better and better, you're affirming yourself
  1541. 1541.
    >and relaxing for a few minutes more, stretching the fingers on your feet until you hear a flapping of wings behind the opened window...
  1542. 1542.
    >before you even look that way, Rainbow is already stuffing herself inside trough it
  1543. 1543.
    "Long time no see."
  1544. 1544.
    >"Long time indeed." she grins "I hope you're ready for the war you mentioned."
  1545. 1545.
    "Oh I couldn't STAND to dissapoint you, young miss. Put me on a wheelchair and let me serve my duty!" you laugh
  1546. 1546.
    >"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that." she softly punches your shoulder upon walking up to your bed, still grinning "So, let's get to making your legs move?"
  1547. 1547.
    "Aaalright! Seriously, I can't wait to stand up on them again."
  1548. 1548.
    >"Then let's get to it!" Dash grabs the blanket with her mouth and dramaticaly throws it aside "How do we start?"
  1549. 1549.
    "I guess with ankles. Fingers are all good by now."
  1550. 1550.
    >"I see you've done your homework."
  1551. 1551.
    "Yup." you chuckle agreeably
  1552. 1552.
    >"Even got rid of the catherer."
  1553. 1553.
    "...Uhh,.. you knew about that?"
  1554. 1554.
    >"Well, duh."
  1555. 1555.
    "...That's the most demeaning thing my ego experienced so far... Let's not talk about that ever again."
  1556. 1556.
    >"Okay." the mare amusedly chuckles "But let's make you walk now!"
  1557. 1557.
    >and so, after some time spent exercising, you're able to move both of your legs by yourself
  1558. 1558.
    >it's not very elegant, but it's something
  1559. 1559.
    "I think it's good enough now. I'm gonna try it."
  1560. 1560.
    >"Do you want help?"
  1561. 1561.
    "Nah, you've already helped me plenty." you're smiling "Now I gotta stand up for myself."
  1562. 1562.
    >"Will you stop with these when you actualy stand up?" Dash's grinning
  1563. 1563.
    "Maybe..." you chuckle, sliding your legs down the bed
  1564. 1564.
    >then you lift your upper body up, still sitting on the bedside
  1565. 1565.
    >and your feet are finally touching the ground
  1566. 1566.
    >but you're lingering before actualy pushing yourself up
  1567. 1567.
    >"...Are you sure you don't want at least a little help?"
  1568. 1568.
    "I'm gonna at least try first." you smirk and start slowly getting up
  1569. 1569.
    >the body feels pretty clumsy and your chest hurts a little bit, but you're telling yourself it'll get better soon enough
  1570. 1570.
    >just gotta make this for the first time and-...
  1571. 1571.
    >you're standing on your OWN!
  1572. 1572.
    "Yes!" you're laughing
  1573. 1573.
    >but in the overwhelm of joy, your wobbly legs lose balance and you gotta grab the window right next to you
  1574. 1574.
    >Dash's supporting you with her head too
  1575. 1575.
    "...That was close."
  1576. 1576.
    >"But you did it! Soon it'll be like it used to be."
  1577. 1577.
    "I beleive so too." you smile and try walking around a bit, stretching your muscles "....Now I'm really back. There's only one more thing left to do."
  1578. 1578.
    >"What is it?"
  1579. 1579.
    >you carefuly squat down on her level and hug her around her neck
  1580. 1580.
    "...Now I can finally hug you on my own."
  1581. 1581.
    >the fluff on her chest is softly pressing on your almost healed wounds and her mane's gently brushing over your face
  1582. 1582.
    >a few strands are getting into your eyes but you dont mind at all
  1583. 1583.
    >you close them instead, just listening to her pulse, calm and hypnotizingly rhytmic, just like her breaths over your shoulder
  1584. 1584.
    >and you're silently cradling each other for a minute or two, until she softly exhales
  1585. 1585.
    >"I've missed this..."
  1586. 1586.
    "Me too..." you kiss her mane, affectionately stroking her body with your palms "It's so good to be with you again."
  1587. 1587.
    >"..........So, tomorrow, home?" she's asking after a short pause
  1588. 1588.
    "Even if I had to jump out of the window." you're whispering into her fluffy ear
  1589. 1589.
    >"It's a long way down though."
  1590. 1590.
    "Then I'd make a rope."
  1591. 1591.
    >"I would catch you." Dash nuzzles you with her snout
  1592. 1592.
    "I'm sure you would." you smirk, running your fingers trough her mane a bit, before slowly letting go of the hug, but still leaving your hand on her shoulder for a while "...But let's just leave trough the door."
  1593. 1593.
    >"And then a bus?"
  1594. 1594.
    "And then a bus." you laugh while carefully standing up "Not sure if I could hold onto you in flight, unless it was really necessary."
  1595. 1595.
    >but the pressure in your head threw you a bit off balance, so you gotta grab the window again
  1596. 1596.
    >while holding onto it, you glance outside
  1597. 1597.
    >it really IS pretty high
  1598. 1598.
    >and it's also almost evening by now, because it's starting to get dark
  1599. 1599.
    >you yawn at the thought
  1600. 1600.
    >"Sleepy?"
  1601. 1601.
    "...I shouldn't be after my body slept for a month." you're smiling tiredly "But maybe just a bit, yeah."
  1602. 1602.
    >"Should I go then?"
  1603. 1603.
    "Well, I'd appreciate if you stayed a bit longer.... But I won't hold you if you wanna go."
  1604. 1604.
    >"No that's fine. I'll gladly stay." Dash smiles and jumps onto your bed, sitting on it
  1605. 1605.
    "Let's watch the sunset then." you sit right next, throwing your arm around her, leaning head to head
  1606. 1606.
    ....
  1607. 1607.
    >the window is pointed directly at the the red sun, soon to set over the dark city buildings
  1608. 1608.
    >...it's somehow the same magical as if you were watching it dissapearing behind a green hill full of trees
  1609. 1609.
    >and when it's gone completely,.. you glance at Dash next to you
  1610. 1610.
    >looking tired, almost falling asleep as well
  1611. 1611.
    >"Guess it's the time huh?"
  1612. 1612.
    >...you both yawn about the same time, as if confirming
  1613. 1613.
    >sure, she could sleep here with you, but it'll be unnecessary trouble with the hospital staff
  1614. 1614.
    >and at least you'll have something to look forward tomorrow
  1615. 1615.
    "...Thank you for staying with me." you utter while she's standing up, moving to the windown
  1616. 1616.
    >"Me too." she turns around with a smile "...You know what I mean by that."
  1617. 1617.
    >it makes you snicker real soft
  1618. 1618.
    "... So, see you tomorrow?"
  1619. 1619.
    >"Yup, see you tomorrow." Rainbow gives you a smirk, about to jump out
  1620. 1620.
    "-and, Dash?"
  1621. 1621.
    >"Yes?" she stops attentively
  1622. 1622.
    "Safe flight." you tuck yourself in, watching her amusedly smiling now
  1623. 1623.
    >"Thanks... Good night."
  1624. 1624.
    >....and she's gone
  1625. 1625.
    >for a few seconds longer, you're watching the window while enjoying the warm feeling at heart
  1626. 1626.
    >then you make yourself comfortable, closing your eyes
  1627. 1627.
    >Rainbow Dash, you kindred soul...
  1628. 1628.
    ...
  1629. 1629.
     
  1630. 1630.
     
  1631. 1631.
    Chapter 13: Don't you know,
  1632. 1632.
    It's a beautiful new day
  1633. 1633.
     
  1634. 1634.
     
  1635. 1635.
    >the next morning, you're awaken by the indirect sunshine of a rising sun
  1636. 1636.
    >you've slept plenty, but you're staying in the bed anyway, losing yourself in your imagination
  1637. 1637.
    >which is pretty vivid in the morning for an hour or two more
  1638. 1638.
    >but then you're getting pretty hungry
  1639. 1639.
    >your stomach has been empty for quite a time, so it's used to it, but you're still feeling like you'd really appreciate at least a little bite of something
  1640. 1640.
    >...they probably didn't realize you already got rid of your vein drip feeder as well and therefore didn't bring you anything
  1641. 1641.
    >so you carefuly stand up from your bed and have a little stretch, not too much though, because the chest still hurts a bit
  1642. 1642.
    >and you're walking out the door, just in the hospital cloak which's only covering your front part of the body, butt naked
  1643. 1643.
    >kinda hope that Dash will be intuitive enough to bring you some trousers
  1644. 1644.
    >there's a vending machine in the corridor, but you don't have any coins on you
  1645. 1645.
    >but you've also spotted a nurse, so you're walking straight up to her
  1646. 1646.
    "A jolly morning to you miss!" you say in your best fake english accent and tip your invisible top hat "Is there a place to satisfy one's not-so immense hunger after weeks of starvation?"
  1647. 1647.
    >for which you're a given confusion look, as if she's wondering whether you're really mentaly okay after the coma
  1648. 1648.
    >little does she know you're just being silly because you're THAT happy to be alive
  1649. 1649.
    >so you assure her everything is as it should be and explain you just want something to eat, after which she shows you the way to a canteen
  1650. 1650.
    >it's past breakfast time by now, but if you won't linger, maybe you'll still get something...
  1651. 1651.
    >so you're going to get the mentioned "something", which happens to be some fruit and a smoll piece of bread
  1652. 1652.
    >and you're happily bringing it with you, back to your room, to eat it there
  1653. 1653.
    >but in the door, you run into a doctor that was about to routinely check on you
  1654. 1654.
    >yet again, you had to explain your situation that you're against all odds perfectly fine and would like to leave today
  1655. 1655.
    >you'd just like to wait for your "fair inamorata" to pick you up
  1656. 1656.
    >yes, that WAS your exact wording
  1657. 1657.
    >....life feels real fun today, after being so close to death, as if nothing really mattered
  1658. 1658.
    >in a good way, the best one
  1659. 1659.
    >you just couldn't care about anyone's opinion about you or about anything going wrong
  1660. 1660.
    >so what if people think you're crazy?
  1661. 1661.
    >life is all okay now, will be great soon and becomes superior to "even better" in the future
  1662. 1662.
    >you're also thinking a lot both about what you saw while you were out of your body and your reason of postponing your departure of Earth
  1663. 1663.
    >....post-poning, lol
  1664. 1664.
    >because of a pony
  1665. 1665.
    ....
  1666. 1666.
    >anyway, you've spent the forenoon strolling around the hospital or gazing trough the window at the trees, searching for anything green or blooming flowers
  1667. 1667.
    >it's not even high noon when you're walking around your corridor, finally spotting a dainty blue figure on four legs, walking at the end of the room
  1668. 1668.
    >so you widely smile, walking a faster pace in her direction
  1669. 1669.
    >and as you're getting closer, you're seeing she's smiling as well, so you welcomely open your arms too
  1670. 1670.
    >right in front of you, she rears up to hug you back..!
  1671. 1671.
    >and you caught her fall straight into your embrace, affectionately lifting her up a bit, not feeling any pain in the chest while doing it
  1672. 1672.
    >"Anon!" she's happily giggling "Good mood I see?"
  1673. 1673.
    "But of course, my sunshine!" you let go, only holding her left hoof with your right hand and sort of spin her around her axis like a ballerina
  1674. 1674.
    >then step closer as elegantly as you can, grabbing her by the waist with your left hand and press her on yourself
  1675. 1675.
    >"Is this some sort of dance?" the grinning mare glances in your eyes
  1676. 1676.
    "It is, if you'd like it to be." you smile and lean her down, holding her slightly above the ground with your hand
  1677. 1677.
    >you're looking in her sparkly eyes, full of life
  1678. 1678.
    >and she's gorgeous
  1679. 1679.
    >....though, this position actualy hurts a bit
  1680. 1680.
    "...I'd kiss you right now if it weren't for the stinging pain." you stand up straight again, but keep smiling while it's fading away again "We gotta have to dance for real someday!"
  1681. 1681.
    >"When you get a bit better." Dash smirks "Humans have fun dances I see..."
  1682. 1682.
    "I never knew just how fun until I now!" you laugh, fondly nuzzling her with your nose, leaving a little kiss on the tip of her muzzle
  1683. 1683.
    >a chuckling, young nurse walks around just when you're about to fondly kiss the pegasus's lips as well
  1684. 1684.
    >...intead you both stopped moving, only to glimpse at the nurse straight in her in the eyes, noticing the girl passing along the two of you in the last moment
  1685. 1685.
    >Dash's smiling a bit embarassedly, but you're proudly grinning about your horse-gf, even adding a quick "Good day." to make sure you're aware of her
  1686. 1686.
    >the next second, you finish the kiss without any scruples, then glance at Dash like she's the only thing that matters in the whole universe
  1687. 1687.
    >".....You're certainly in a good mood I see." she grins
  1688. 1688.
    "Oh yes, because I'm in love!! I'm in love with life and I'm in love with YOU and I want everyone to know it!" you laugh and spin her around one more time before letting her go to stand on all four again
  1689. 1689.
    >Dash snickers while her front hooves clop on the ground once again, giving you this coquettish look and a wide grin
  1690. 1690.
    >"So, you're ready to go home pretty-boy?" she slams your hip with her's, throwing you sligthly off balance a bit, but not enough to fall
  1691. 1691.
    "I'm home wherever I am, but if you mean our old house, then yes." you grin back and slap her rump with your hand
  1692. 1692.
    >"Ow! Gently..." the mare laughs, softly biting her lip
  1693. 1693.
    "Sorry, I promise I'll only be ever so gentle from now on." you bow down and smirk "...Would you like me to kiss it for you?"
  1694. 1694.
    >"...Hey, maybe later." she smirks back
  1695. 1695.
    "But why not now? I really feel like it."
  1696. 1696.
    >and without hesitation, you move over to her flank, smooching it as if you were alone in the whole hospital "There. Now we're good."
  1697. 1697.
    >"You really are off the chain are you?" Dash turns around to face you again, snickering
  1698. 1698.
    "Off the chain, off the drip feed, off the urine bag, off the bed and SOON,.. off this hospital..!" you stand up with a laugh and point the way outside, about to walk there
  1699. 1699.
    ....
  1700. 1700.
    "...Actualy, I should get my stuff first." you turn around in place, pointing your still raised hand at your door "...I mean, I could just leave it there, and get some new stuff, buuut..."
  1701. 1701.
    >"Buut?" your pretty pegasus laughs
  1702. 1702.
    "I like my old stuff." you smirk, walking towards the room
  1703. 1703.
    >inside, you grab the little of personal items you had, including the ring
  1704. 1704.
    "I presume that's all I have here?"
  1705. 1705.
    >"You should get your wallet on the reception as well, I had to bring it here for your identification, but other than that?" Rainbow looks around, then back on you again "I guess that's all.... Oh..! I should have brought you some pants! You can't walk home like this."
  1706. 1706.
    "Are you catching human habits here, Dashie?" the situation makes you laughs, poking her with your finger"..Also, remember when I talked about visiting anudist beach? Well, this might be only half of the challenge, but I think it might be good enough."
  1707. 1707.
    >"You're gonna walk in that thing all the way home?.." she grins back "Way to go, actualy."
  1708. 1708.
    "We might as well take a bus if there's something hiding in my wallet. Don't want my butcheeks to freeze."
  1709. 1709.
    >"Come on, it's spring out there!" Dash's laughing "It's not gonna be THAT cold!"
  1710. 1710.
    "True, true." you smirk "In that case, onwards to glory!... Or at least to our comfy couch.... Which way is the reception?"
  1711. 1711.
    >"This way is to glory." she's pointing with her hoof, chuckling
  1712. 1712.
    ...
  1713. 1713.
    >you're flamboyantly greeting every hospital personnel on the way
  1714. 1714.
    >also, checked on the doctor from yesterday to say bye
  1715. 1715.
    >and then you're finally stopping at the reception
  1716. 1716.
    >the same nurse you know from a long time ago is sitting inside
  1717. 1717.
    "What a lovely day, innit?" you smile and lean on the counter "I heard you vouched for my dearest friend so she'd get allowed visiting me and I'd like you to know that I'm EVER so grateful for that!"
  1718. 1718.
    >the nurse looks away from her papers onto you and gives you a modest smile, opposing to her usual frown
  1719. 1719.
    >>"That's fine.... Heard you wanna go home already. Soon as your "inamorata" here picks you up." she then chuckles in a slightly mocking manner, looking at Dash
  1720. 1720.
    "That is absolutely right on spot, kind lady!" you assure her that her assumptions are correct "...And that's sort of a reason why I'm here, to let someone know I'm leaving,.. and to beg for the return of my wallet."
  1721. 1721.
    >>"Oh well, I just need you to sign these papers too, if that's what you really want." you're being handed some articles about knowing the dangers of leaving etc... then she turns around to search for the wallet
  1722. 1722.
    >>"When I first met you, I thought you were just an idiot.... I might have not been too far away from the truth but you're actualy kinda a likeable one."
  1723. 1723.
    "Why thank you!" you hand her the signed papers, take the wallet and yet again, tip your invisible top hat "Goodbye, kind lady!"
  1724. 1724.
    >and you're already two steps out of the hospital
  1725. 1725.
    ....
  1726. 1726.
    >"..Inamorata?" Dash's grinning at you in front of the building "What's that even mean?"
  1727. 1727.
    "I'm not quite sure. But I think it's you in my case." you smirk and tousle her mane a bit before continuing in a walk, taking a very deep inhale "...Aaah, how beautiful it feels to breathe a fresh spring air!.... Or am just I too close to you? I can't tell."
  1728. 1728.
    >"You might be overdosing on oxygen." the ozone scented mare laughs
  1729. 1729.
    "Whatever that is, it's lovely! And look there! I bet this bus will take us to our house." you're pointing at a random bus, arriving at the stop in front of the hospital
  1730. 1730.
    >"I have no idea, but we can try."
  1731. 1731.
    "Yeah, let's." you smile and hop into the vehicle
  1732. 1732.
    >inside your wallet, you've found enough coins to buy empty seats for the two of you
  1733. 1733.
    >and the driver seemed a bit confused to see you dressed only in the hospital patient gown, with a blue pony behind you, so he was just staring at you for a second before actualy giving you a bus ticket
  1734. 1734.
    >...but you're honestly kind of enjoying being a clown
  1735. 1735.
    >you've been weird all your life so why as well not embrace it and amplify it?
  1736. 1736.
    >after a few stops, you're seeing the bus really IS taking you in the general direction of your house, but not the exact one
  1737. 1737.
    "Looks like we'll be walking the rest of the way." you nudge Dash at some point before a stop
  1738. 1738.
    >if you continued by the same bus from here, you'd be actualy getting farther away again from your house
  1739. 1739.
    >"It's gonna be great, won't it? The sun is shining, the breeze is soft..." she smirks and eyes down on your crotch, nudging you "....Gonna be a walk in the park."
  1740. 1740.
    "Yeah. At least I'll know properly how you were feeling in the winter." you grin "....Don't you ever get cold down there?"
  1741. 1741.
    >"My tail's helping with that."
  1742. 1742.
    "I already talked about wanting one as well. But I'm gonna repeat myself: I want a tail."
  1743. 1743.
    >"You know it's not always practical."
  1744. 1744.
    "Yeah, but it's soft and you can fidget with it."
  1745. 1745.
    >"You can fidget with mine if you want to." Dash smirks, softly waving it around your bare skin
  1746. 1746.
    "Oh and I will on every occasion!" you laugh, feeling the tail with your hands for a second "...I love it just as much as your mane."
  1747. 1747.
    >"Would you want a mane like that as well?" she pokes you, swishing the away tail from your hands, into your face again
  1748. 1748.
    "Nah, then you couldn't say you're the only six colored hairdo around. I'm fine with my regular hair. But I might grow them long, eh? What do you think?"
  1749. 1749.
    >"I think it might actualy look nice on you..."
  1750. 1750.
    "Hoof on that. I won't cut it until it's under my shoulders." you give her a hand
  1751. 1751.
    >"What then?"
  1752. 1752.
    "God knows. Because I sure as heck do not. We'll see, maybe I keep it." you laugh, shaking her hoof before stepping outta bus
  1753. 1753.
    ....
  1754. 1754.
    >outside, the sun hits you directly in the face, but this time you're smiling straight at it, even though you can barely see anything at all
  1755. 1755.
    >only now you're sorta understanding how could Rainbow stare directly into it so many times before
  1756. 1756.
    >...because she feels like she can
  1757. 1757.
    >you didn't tell her about your realization, just gave her a random appreciative rub on the back
  1758. 1758.
    >and you're walking back home together, absorbing the sun rays, keeping you warm in the otherwise still cold temperature
  1759. 1759.
    >until you see the door to your old house once again
  1760. 1760.
    >....it feels like yesterday that you found yourself laying there in a puddle of your own blood
  1761. 1761.
    >but it feels like a lifetime ago as well...
  1762. 1762.
    >so you smile over the thought now
  1763. 1763.
    "...I see you were pretty thorough with the cleaning. It looks like nothing ever happened here."
  1764. 1764.
    >"I had a lot of time." Dash smirks "Just wait for the inside."
  1765. 1765.
    >so you grab the door handle..
  1766. 1766.
    >realizing it's locked
  1767. 1767.
    >.... tried it twice to make sure
  1768. 1768.
    >but before you even ask:
  1769. 1769.
    >"I left it locked from the inside so that no one would get in, even if they had a key. Give me a minute."
  1770. 1770.
    >and she flies up to the roof, dissapearing inside the attic trough a small window
  1771. 1771.
    >soon, the lock clicks and...
  1772. 1772.
    >"There! Welcome back home!" Dash's happily chirping in the doorframe
  1773. 1773.
    "Thank you Dash..." you smile, taking a first step inside
  1774. 1774.
    >the doormat is gone because it was likely soaked with blood beyond cleaning, but other than that, everything is in it's usual place
  1775. 1775.
    >seems to be even more tidy than ever before
  1776. 1776.
    >considering that tidiness was never really your tomboy pegasus's thing
  1777. 1777.
    ".....Oh wow. I'll be repeating myself, but you really did a good job."
  1778. 1778.
    >"I know right." she smirks
  1779. 1779.
    >locking the door behind you, you're heading straight to your drawer for some shirt and a pair of some comfy loose pants, then join the pone sitting on the couch
  1780. 1780.
    "...I was kind of thinking of heading out for another walk, what do you think?"
  1781. 1781.
    >"..Shouldn't you be resting at least a little bit?"
  1782. 1782.
    "I was resting a looong time." you lean back and pull your legs up on the table as well to get even comfier "But I guess we could rest a bit now. Especialy when there's still so much to talk about!.. I should have asked about your trip earlier. What happened there?"
  1783. 1783.
    >"Oh well... not exactly what I hoped for." Rainbow's head hangs lower
  1784. 1784.
    "Was there any trouble? Was it why I couldn't reach you on the phone?"
  1785. 1785.
    >"No it was just a battery but-..."
  1786. 1786.
    "Daamn, so it's true." you interrupt her and facepalm yourself "I was so worried at the moment it might be something worse, but I wanted to beleive it's just the battery. -So stupid of me to forget about giving you a charger, right?..."
  1787. 1787.
    >"That's fine Anon. I found my way back after all." she leans her head over your shoulder now, glancing at you in a corner of her eye and briefly smiling
  1788. 1788.
    >but you're seeing that something's still troubling her
  1789. 1789.
    "Then what happened? Something at the announcement?..." you scratch her chest fluff in yet another attemp to cheer her up
  1790. 1790.
    >"That's the thing. Nothing happened..." Dash frowns "The man just talked some nonsense about creating entirely new species, all the prices and numbers..." she exhales with a sigh "...But he actualy had another pony in a cage right next to him. I couldn't see her properly from the distance that I was watching from, but she was kinda weird."
  1791. 1791.
    "In what way?"
  1792. 1792.
    >"I'm not sure. There was just something off about her movements. Maybe she was drugged. I-I actualy flew there and attempted to pick the whole cage up, but it was too heavy and they almost caught me. I had to fly away... Didn't even get a closer look."
  1793. 1793.
    "What happened then?"
  1794. 1794.
    >"They hid her, right after that. The thing was cancelled because it was almost over anyway and I just flew back. That's all... I feel like it was all in vain..." Dash keeps sighing
  1795. 1795.
    "It wasn't in vain at all." you gently shake her again to make her look at you "It was a test for both of us and we passed it. Everything happened exactly as it should."
  1796. 1796.
    >"You think? Maybe none of this would have to happen if I just stayed."
  1797. 1797.
    "Whatever happened in the past, we're happily sitting here right now. Aren't we?" you smirk and gently lift her chin with two of your fingers, glancing in her eyes
  1798. 1798.
    >it takes her a little while, but she actualy smiles back
  1799. 1799.
    >even simpering
  1800. 1800.
    >"....Yeah. We are."
  1801. 1801.
    >and for a few seconds, the silence is filling the room
  1802. 1802.
    >the kind of silence in which it doesn't feel awkward to just gaze at each other
  1803. 1803.
    >...or to start leaning in for a kiss
  1804. 1804.
    >one that you've been interupted from three times before
  1805. 1805.
    >but now there's nobody else to disturb the two of you
  1806. 1806.
    >and she's looking so cute right now, it's making your heart tingle
  1807. 1807.
    >almost as if you saw her for the first time in your life again
  1808. 1808.
    >oh how you're going to enjoy this
  1809. 1809.
    >as eager as you might grow each second of not kissing her, you're still taking it slow to gravitate towards her lips
  1810. 1810.
    >....you've got all the time in the universe
  1811. 1811.
    >so you're savouring each little nervous smile, each separate emotion going trough each of you
  1812. 1812.
    >and then your lips finally gently connect
  1813. 1813.
    >the heart, beating in your chest, quickens in an atmospheric climax, only to slow back down the next moment in rapturous feeling, like a heavenly salvation
  1814. 1814.
    >...she's so soft
  1815. 1815.
    >God, she's so soft
  1816. 1816.
    >you've almost forgotten...
  1817. 1817.
    >as if her body was reflecting her own soul, the same soft and innocent in it's core
  1818. 1818.
    >such a delightful being inside out is this pony
  1819. 1819.
    >and you can't get enough
  1820. 1820.
    >but the tender rhytm at which you're carressing and kissing her is staying calm
  1821. 1821.
    >this moment can't possibly be hurried, it needs to be felt trough fully
  1822. 1822.
    >and when your eyes open, they're wet
  1823. 1823.
    ...
  1824. 1824.
    >"...Anon, are you crying.?"
  1825. 1825.
    "Sorry Dashie, I'm-.. I'm just so happy..."
  1826. 1826.
    >"-That's okay..." she smiles, a little tear in the corner of her own eyes "Me too."
  1827. 1827.
    >..it doesn't feel like the right moment to kiss again
  1828. 1828.
    >instead you hug each other, just holding your bodies, feeling the warmth
  1829. 1829.
    >feeling the pulse
  1830. 1830.
    >feeling the love
  1831. 1831.
    >feeling the life going trough your connected bodies -like two sides of infinity
  1832. 1832.
    >....and giggling silly, like two children, or two war survivors
  1833. 1833.
    >so when you eventualy let go, it's as if you've just accomplished something big together
  1834. 1834.
    >and maybe you did
  1835. 1835.
    >whatever it was....
  1836. 1836.
    "What I meant to say before was: Everything in the past was worth this..." you warmly smile while fondling her hoof in your hands
  1837. 1837.
    >to which Dash smiles back
  1838. 1838.
    >silently, but understanding
  1839. 1839.
    ....
  1840. 1840.
    >you giggle again and look away for a split second, noticing your shirt is filled with an unusual amount of short blue hair
  1841. 1841.
    >....she'd only rarely lose her back then
  1842. 1842.
    >a grin arises on your face
  1843. 1843.
    "Hey, I see you're shedding your winter coat, huh?"
  1844. 1844.
    >to which the pony glances down on your clothing as well, embarassedly chuckling
  1845. 1845.
    >"This?.. I uhh,.. Well the winter is almost over and-..."
  1846. 1846.
    >she's looking too adorable when she's blushing
  1847. 1847.
    "At least I'll be carrying a bit of you everywhere I go." you're still grinning, can't help yourself from touching her rosy cheek and shortly kissing her "....... And thinking of that, do you think somebody replied about the house, meanwhile I was gone?"
  1848. 1848.
    >"You think it might...?"
  1849. 1849.
    "I don't know. But I think it might." you laugh "And if not now, then later. ...It just crossed my mind out of nowhere."
  1850. 1850.
    >"Let's see the mail then!" Dash jumps away from the couch in a long jump, using her wings to glide all the way to the PC without actualy bumping them into anything
  1851. 1851.
    >impressed by the piece she just did, you're amusedly following her
  1852. 1852.
    >and when you're there, opening your email, there's a bit of unread mail:
  1853. 1853.
    >some spam, commercial offers etc and between all of that...
  1854. 1854.
    >three mails about your house!
  1855. 1855.
    "Oh well,.. maybe we should get to vaccuuming, because we might be leaving soon!"
  1856. 1856.
    >"Awesome! Come on, open them!!"
  1857. 1857.
    "This one's quite old, but this one is from 4 days ago and the last one was sent literaly today! I have a good feeling about this."
  1858. 1858.
    >"Then let's reply them something! Do we invite them for a visit?"
  1859. 1859.
    "Of course, this one looks pretty serious about it. Let's answer him first..."
  1860. 1860.
    ...
  1861. 1861.
    >and soon you're done with all three emails
  1862. 1862.
    "There, "SEND". And off you go!"
  1863. 1863.
    >"Great! What do we do now?"
  1864. 1864.
    "Don't know about you, but I'm hungryyy." you're moaning like zombie ".....How about we make ourselves something?"
  1865. 1865.
    >"Um, remember how I told you about emptying your fridge?" Dash snickers
  1866. 1866.
    "Oh right. I forgot about it.... But there must be something that YOU've forgotten about. Let's have a look." you stand up, walking to the kitchen
  1867. 1867.
    >"Not much really, but have a look if you want to. I could fly to the market for something." she's still sitting in the computer chair, watching you searching trough the deepest, darkest corners of your kitchen
  1868. 1868.
    "Gimme a sec, I'm preeeetty sure...... ... A-ha!!"
  1869. 1869.
    >there's an old pack of spaghetti in your hand, which you're raising victoriously above your head
  1870. 1870.
    "...Please tell me there's some ketchup in the fridge."
  1871. 1871.
    >"There actualy is!" Dash laughs "Half of the bottle, because I didn't know about the spaghetti."
  1872. 1872.
    "Bingo!" you victoriously raise your fist and open the pack of spaghetti to put it in the pot "And it WILL be aldente. May it be, only with ketchup and nothing else. But it will have the best pasta texture this house has ever witnessed!!"
  1873. 1873.
    >"Okay then pasta wizard, do your magic." she's smirking while you're filling a heating kettle with water to bring it to a boiling point faster
  1874. 1874.
    >you smirk back at her over your shoulder as you press the On button, prepare some salt into the pot and casualy sit down on the ground, leaning your back on the oven
  1875. 1875.
    >Dash's coming to join you in the unusual sitting spot, so you pull the pegasus even closer, throwing your arm around her and kissing her tousled mane
  1876. 1876.
    >so she comfily leans her head onto your shoulder the same way she did so many times before and smiles
  1877. 1877.
    >"...I love you, goofus."
  1878. 1878.
    "I love you, silly." you turn your head at her "...And I know it's sappy, but I want to whisper something stupidly sweet into your ear or give you a proper, uncomfortably long kiss but none of it would be enough to satisfy me... I need to give you the world."
  1879. 1879.
    >"The fact you didn't left it is enough for me Anon." she smiles and smirks "But about that kiss... I wouldn't mind that at all."
  1880. 1880.
    >so you widely grin before putting your hand on her cheek and leaning in with your head
  1881. 1881.
    >and you can see how she's closing her eyes, but as she does,...
  1882. 1882.
    >...you start tickling her instead!
  1883. 1883.
    >on every sensitive spot you know about
  1884. 1884.
    >"Ah-Anon!" she's faling over, laughing and trying to get away from you "This isn't a part of the deal!"
  1885. 1885.
    "It isn't?" you're laughing as well without stopping
  1886. 1886.
    >"No!" the rainbow pony's already squirming on the ground
  1887. 1887.
    "Then how about this?" you suddenly stop and lean above her on all four and passionately place your lips on her neck
  1888. 1888.
    >taking the time to feel the soft skin and fur there while kissing her
  1889. 1889.
    >...with that, her body stops wiggling and she's just queitly giggling, trying to calm herself down
  1890. 1890.
    "One goes here." you smile before moving over to her cheek
  1891. 1891.
    >which you're nuzzling for a little while before smooching it as well
  1892. 1892.
    >"The second here... Aaand."
  1893. 1893.
    >for the third one, you softly nibble your way to her lips, kissing them very very softly at first
  1894. 1894.
    >before hungrily connecting them with yours and progressively sticking your tongue deeper and deeper into her mouth
  1895. 1895.
    >her body is laying almost still, only her hoofs are fondling your body while indulging in the acts of romance, completely surredered to it
  1896. 1896.
    >and just like promised at first, it's taking a long, long time to get enough of each other
  1897. 1897.
    >but you aren't in a hurry at all
  1898. 1898.
    >even while slowly letting go, you're still gently nibbling at each other
  1899. 1899.
    >the skyblue mare's biting her lip and smiling as you're gazing directly into her mesmerizing eyes
  1900. 1900.
    >the colorful mane "spilled" under her on the floor like a rainbow lake or a portal
  1901. 1901.
    >"....You know I both love and hate it when you're playing with me like that." she grins
  1902. 1902.
    "Well I wouldn't be doing it otherwise, would I?" you grin, booping her nose with yours, wanting to kiss her again
  1903. 1903.
    >but about the same time, you hear a click of the heating kettle, anouncing the water is boiling
  1904. 1904.
    >"....Looks like your duty is calling, pasta-man." Dash chuckles, softly indicating with her head "Go on."
  1905. 1905.
    "If you say so,..." you laugh and push yourself off your palms, onto your knees to stand up
  1906. 1906.
    >also offering the pegasus a hand
  1907. 1907.
    >"Rest your wounds." she smirks, not taking it "...You shouldn't be doing any of this yet."
  1908. 1908.
    "Maybe. But I already am." you're grinning over your shoulder while heading to pick up the kettle "I'll be fine, don't worry."
  1909. 1909.
    >"Well I hope you know your limits better than I do..."
  1910. 1910.
    "I'm trying not to know any limits, as of lately." you pour the boiling water into the pot with spaghetti on a gas stove and stir it "...And now, we wait."
  1911. 1911.
    >"...Okay and how exactly do we spend the waiting time?" Dash's friskily brushing herself over your leg like a cat
  1912. 1912.
    "That's a good question with an exciting answer!... I think I'll be staring into this pot, trying the spaghetti every now and then to tell exactly the right time when they're aldente."
  1913. 1913.
    >"...Really though?"
  1914. 1914.
    "Yes, at least for the last minutes of the process. But right now, I'll BE PETTING YOU UNTIL YOUR FUR TURNS YELLOW." you laugh and spring your hands towards her, under her wings to start vigorously scratching her
  1915. 1915.
    >"Come on Anon! I'm not a dog!" she's laughing, but her body's delightedly wriggling on it's own under your touch
  1916. 1916.
    "Oh, trust me, I wouldn't be so passionate about a dog either!" you're laughing as well, kneeling to reach her better, running your hands along her back
  1917. 1917.
    >...speaking of dogs, most of them are reacting funny when they get scratched directly above their tail,.. - making your wonder
  1918. 1918.
    >what does it do with a pony? if anything
  1919. 1919.
    >so you give her some very very thorough scratches above her rump, between her back and tail, giving this place a special attention
  1920. 1920.
    >and in a few seconds, her laughs are fluently changing to what seems to be pleased moans
  1921. 1921.
    >"B-but Anon, that's..." she bites her lip and tightly closes her eyes while you're keeping at it
  1922. 1922.
    >until you notice a drip of a sticky liquid, falling down on the ground between her legs
  1923. 1923.
    >so you immediately stop, pick the drip with your index finger, rubbing it with your thumb to inspect it
  1924. 1924.
    >boi, you know exactly what it is...
  1925. 1925.
    >so your focus shifts back at Dash's face, her cheeks red, but she's grinning
  1926. 1926.
    >"...If literaly anyone else did what you just did, I'd have to kick his teeth in."
  1927. 1927.
    "I'm glad I'm me then..." you grin back, both of your hands on her flanks
  1928. 1928.
    >"...But this still isn't a right time." the mare turns around, softly slapping you with her tail with the movement
  1929. 1929.
    "Shame..." you pick her cheeks in your palms, fondling them with your thumbs "...I was ready to have YOU for lunch instead of the spaghetti."
  1930. 1930.
    >which makes her embarassedly bite her lip and chuckle, contemplating she might have let you continue
  1931. 1931.
    >"....W-were you..?"
  1932. 1932.
    "I might have, but speaking of spaghetti..." you glance away in the direction of a pot with the pasta "We should check if they're aldente yet!"
  1933. 1933.
    >and before she has the time to say anything, you're up and searching for a fork
  1934. 1934.
    >the let down mare rears up next to you, to see inside the pot as well
  1935. 1935.
    >"...I'll remember this."
  1936. 1936.
    >her unusualy pouty face makes you snort and snicker before affectionately cuddling and kissing her face
  1937. 1937.
    "Come on, I give my honest word I'll make it up later. TWICE." you're amusedly glancing into her eyes
  1938. 1938.
    >"...I'll remember that also."
  1939. 1939.
    "Deal." you smirk and return to the pot to fish out two spaghets, one for each of you
  1940. 1940.
    ...
  1941. 1941.
    >"...It's not done yet." Dash announces after nibbling it away from the fork
  1942. 1942.
    "It isn't." you agreeably chuckle "Two minutes more."
  1943. 1943.
    >"Let's keep a watch then?"
  1944. 1944.
    "Sure." your grin and lean above the pot from your side, while she's checking it from the other
  1945. 1945.
    >...
  1946. 1946.
    >"......It's funny how they float away from the center to the sides huh?" the pegasus whispers after a while, almost as if it was some kind of secret
  1947. 1947.
    "Yeah... Pretty cool. And it also might be a sign they're ready."
  1948. 1948.
    >"Let's try another one then." she nudges the fork with her muzzle closer to you
  1949. 1949.
    >so you submerse it into the water, pick a spaghet and raise it up to glance at it first
  1950. 1950.
    >and you're just about to grab one end with your lips, when Dash catches the other one
  1951. 1951.
    >and it's hanging between your mouths like a rope
  1952. 1952.
    "...Now we're just like the two dogs." you chuckle with the spaghet still in your mouth, slowly nibbling on it
  1953. 1953.
    >"What dogs?" the clueless mare grins and slurps herself closer to you
  1954. 1954.
    "You know, the two from the movie who fell in love over a plate of spaghetti." you're getting closer to her, your lips almost connecting
  1955. 1955.
    >"...I don't know those." she laughs, tearing the spaghet in half
  1956. 1956.
    >....and shortly kissing you anyway "How does falling in love over spaghetti work?"
  1957. 1957.
    "Not like this." you laugh "But we were pretty close."
  1958. 1958.
    >"...And are the spaghetti aldente now?" Dash smirks
  1959. 1959.
    "Hmm, I'd say yes. Very much aldente. Let's have em!"
  1960. 1960.
    >and in the next few seconds, you're already serving them in a single big bowl "Now for the ketchup."
  1961. 1961.
    >"I'll go get it!" Dash runs off to the fridge "...It's a hot one."
  1962. 1962.
    "Good, I don't mind spicy pasta." you laugh, taking the bottle from her, pouring some of it over the spaghetti
  1963. 1963.
    >"Add more." the pegasus nudges you, sliding her chair a bit closer to yours
  1964. 1964.
    "Oh maybe you're right,.. just a tiny bit more..."
  1965. 1965.
    >"Hey hey, that's enough!" she laughs "Don't want it too spicy."
  1966. 1966.
    "Yup, this looks good. And now... ♫Stir it up! Little Darling, stir it up♫!" you're singing a first lines of the Bob Marley song, handing Dash two forks
  1967. 1967.
    >for which you're given a confused smirk, so you continue singing the Bob Marley song while she's watching you with her head tilted to the right...
  1968. 1968.
    "♫Come on baby, come on and stir it up! ...Little darling, stir it up♫!"
  1969. 1969.
    >....
  1970. 1970.
    >"....Aaaah I get it! I know that song!!" she laughs eventualy, facehoofing herself before singing along "♫It's been a long long time, since I've got you on my mind♫."
  1971. 1971.
    "♫And now you are here. I say it so clear♫." you run your fingers trough her mane, leaving your hand on the back of her neck
  1972. 1972.
    >"♫To see what we can do, honey, just me and you♫." Dash's softly touching your chest and leaning in as if she was to kiss you
  1973. 1973.
    "♫Come on and stir it up, little darling, stir it up♫." you're gazing directly into her eyes gently start moving your hands in a rhytm
  1974. 1974.
    >"....Um ...I don't know how it continues." your stunning singing partner giggles, breaking the rhytm
  1975. 1975.
    "Me neither." you stop as well ".....Guess we really should stir it and eat it before it gets cold... Will you be my little darling?"
  1976. 1976.
    >"Oh I will a big darling..!" Dash laughs, already on it "Gonna stir it REAL good...... There, enough?"
  1977. 1977.
    "Enough it is." you're grinning, snatching one of the forks from her hoof and clank it with the second one like a beer "Enjoy."
  1978. 1978.
    >"Didn't you mean bon appetit?" the pegasus can't help herself from clanking it back
  1979. 1979.
    "Pardon me, bonno appetitivo." you laugh before grabbing your first forkful of spaghetti
  1980. 1980.
    >"You too." she smirks and buries her fork in the bowl...
  1981. 1981.
    >it might not be anything extraordinary, but it's one of your first foods after the coma and the process of in which you made it together is making it even more special for you
  1982. 1982.
    >....better than a five star restaurant
  1983. 1983.
    >every moment seem to feel special in it's own way now
  1984. 1984.
    >like being drunk on life itself
  1985. 1985.
    >but even though you're enjoying the meal, your stomach has shrunk so much you can only eat less than half of what you usualy could
  1986. 1986.
    ...
  1987. 1987.
    "Alright, I'm done." you lick the fork clean and slam it down on the table
  1988. 1988.
    >"What, you gonna leave me alone in this?" Dash grins with a mouthful, teeth and lips red from ketchup
  1989. 1989.
    "As bad as it sounds... Yes, I'm gonna." you grin back, patting her shoulder "-...But you don't have to finish the bowl, we can throw it away."
  1990. 1990.
    >"That would be a waste, not after the effort." she laughs and continues eating
  1991. 1991.
    "Well, suit yourself." you lean back into the chair with palms on the back of your head and satisfiedly sigh
  1992. 1992.
    >life's good
  1993. 1993.
    >you're watching her stuff herself for a bit longer, until she lays the fork down as well
  1994. 1994.
    >... still leaving a small portion in the bowl
  1995. 1995.
    >"I think I overestimated myself." the mare's rubbing her full belly, slouching back for comfort "This is as far as it goes..."
  1996. 1996.
    "So,.. I'm, sure you're up for the walk now, are you?"
  1997. 1997.
    >"Whaa, right now? Gimme just a few minutes,.. I'm too stuffed."
  1998. 1998.
    "Wish granted." you point a finger gun at her, winking
  1999. 1999.
    >then grab the bowl with the rest to have some more, but you still can't eat it whole, having to leave a little bit there
  2000. 2000.
    >only to throw it away into the toilet
  2001. 2001.
    >Dash's watching you walk to the bathroom
  2002. 2002.
    >"....Oh well, re-heated pasta is awful anyway..."
  2003. 2003.
    ....
  2004. 2004.
    >on your return to the room, she's sprawled out on the couch like a starfish, eyes closed
  2005. 2005.
    >only her chest and belly's moving up and down with her soft breaths
  2006. 2006.
    >so you come sit next to her, watching her with a little smile
  2007. 2007.
    >she doesn't need to open her eyes to know you're there
  2008. 2008.
    >and you put your index finger on her chest, softly dragging and waving it trough her long fluffy fur
  2009. 2009.
    >a soft, quiet smile appears on her face when she feels your touch, but she's not opening her eyes
  2010. 2010.
    >so you continue, tracing her body with your hand like it was an imaginary road over the hills and valleys of her curves
  2011. 2011.
    >until you stop at her calf on the left rear leg to inspect it closer
  2012. 2012.
    >it's bending completely differently than a human one
  2013. 2013.
    >of course, you knew that, but you still wanna know it even better for reasons
  2014. 2014.
    >so you grab it with both of your hands to get a better feel for it
  2015. 2015.
    >and while studying it, you're finding yourself doing her a little massage as well
  2016. 2016.
    >...why not?
  2017. 2017.
    >"...Why are you spoiling me like that?" Dash giggles after a while, slightly raising her head to glance at you
  2018. 2018.
    "Because I love youuuuuu." you whisper, fondly kissing her leg before moving over to the other one
  2019. 2019.
    >"It should be me, taking care of you though... You're the one who just fled from a hospital." she smirks
  2020. 2020.
    "Oh,.. maybe you'll have a chance later on. But it's my turn now." you grin"...Shouldn't have let me find you in such a vulnerable position."
  2021. 2021.
    >"Nuuuuu...." the mare softly laughs, streatching herself a bit
  2022. 2022.
    "Oh yeah. That's the price you pay." you laugh back, grabbing the leg again because it slipped out of your hands "...Now, almost done."
  2023. 2023.
    >"....Is it?"
  2024. 2024.
    "Yup. But I could massage your whole body..."
  2025. 2025.
    >"That sounds very, very tempting... But I promised you the walk, didn't I?.... We can leave the massage for some bad weather day."
  2026. 2026.
    >"Sound good to me." you grin, giving her limb a last thorough rub before standing up "I'll just get my backpack so we can buy some food on the way."
  2027. 2027.
    >"To the supermarket then?"
  2028. 2028.
    "To the supermarket!" you're already marching to your room like soldier
  2029. 2029.
    >in a minute you're back, finally wearing some trousers, shirt, a very thin jacket and the mentioned backpack
  2030. 2030.
    >Dash's poured herself a big glass a water in the meanwhile, drinking about half of in and offering you the rest before you go
  2031. 2031.
    "Why thank you. Gotta stay hydrated." you laugh before finishing it
  2032. 2032.
    >"No probs~. But shouldn't I take the bag instead? Really, you should be resting that torso."
  2033. 2033.
    "Oh well, I didn't think of that... but if you say so." you're about to hand it to her, but then put it on your own back again "...On the way back when it's full."
  2034. 2034.
    >"Okay." the pegasus chuckles over your stubborness
  2035. 2035.
    >....and you're stepping out! Over your porch again and into the sunlight!
  2036. 2036.
    >it's not even a late after noon yet, the weather out there is still beautiful and not a single cloud on the blue sky
  2037. 2037.
    >the contrast between inside of your house and the shining outside is so big you take a note in your head
  2038. 2038.
    >the new house should be brighter than this one
  2039. 2039.
    >...actualy, let's tell Dash too
  2040. 2040.
    "Those windows aren't letting in not even nearly enough light I'd want them to." you complain out loud
  2041. 2041.
    >"I was thinking the same sometimes, my old home in Equestria was always sunlit... Remember the houses we looked at before? I think we should add a new criteria."
  2042. 2042.
    "Yup, it better let ALL the light inside." you grin "... Come to think, didn't you find anything interesting on your flights?"
  2043. 2043.
    >"I wasn't exactly looking. I mean, I found a LOT of houses on amazing places, but I didn't look for any "For sale" signs." she chuckles
  2044. 2044.
    "You're right, guess we'll have better luck on the internet.... And maybe you could check them out from up close if we stumble upon something interesting?"
  2045. 2045.
    >"Don't even need to say twice." Dash smirks
  2046. 2046.
    >so you give her one more grin before wonderingly glancing up at the sky "......... Do you know what day is it? I didn't even check on the computer."
  2047. 2047.
    >"It's tuesday... What, do you want to go to work?" she softly scoffs
  2048. 2048.
    "Absolutely not. I wanna make for our lost time." you grin "...They usualy play hockey here on tuesday."
  2049. 2049.
    >"So we're going to see a hockey match?"
  2050. 2050.
    "I don't know, I don't even like watching sports. It's actualy kinda boring to me... But why not? Let's go see a hockey match."
  2051. 2051.
    >"Just like that?"
  2052. 2052.
    "Yup, and we can just leave if it gets too plain."
  2053. 2053.
    >"Alright, it's not like we have any plans for today." Dash smirks ".....You know what would be real fun though?"
  2054. 2054.
    "Surfing on the clouds?"
  2055. 2055.
    >"I can assure you it is." she laughs "But I was thinking if we had a house on some big hill and a rogalo. We could be flying together, at least on the way down....AND I could fly you up again- HOW COOL IS THAT, HUH?!" her voice keeps raising in excitement over her own thoughts chaining together while speaking
  2056. 2056.
    "That's actualy a superb idea!"
  2057. 2057.
    >"I know!" the excited pegasus is grinning into her hoof "It literaly just flew over my mind right now. ...I'm full of awesome ideas."
  2058. 2058.
    "So we'll be building a rogalo eh?" you tousle her mane
  2059. 2059.
    >"As soon as we move to that new house."
  2060. 2060.
    "Sounds good. I was also thinking of buying a motorbike as well, if I have some spare money."
  2061. 2061.
    >"A motorbike? One of these two wheeled wroom wroom things?"
  2062. 2062.
    "Yeah. A cross one, some 250ccm or bigger. And make it two stroke babyyy. At least 30 kilowatts!"
  2063. 2063.
    >"What does any of that even mean?"
  2064. 2064.
    "Those are engine parameters. That means it's strong-ish..." you smile "One can dream."
  2065. 2065.
    >"Anything is possible." she smiles back "You said it yourself."
  2066. 2066.
    "That's right." you grin "And right now, there's a big possibility we could turn right on that crossroad over there."
  2067. 2067.
    >"How so?"
  2068. 2068.
    "I dunno." you raise your shoulders "We don't have to take the same route to the supermarket as always. Do we?"
  2069. 2069.
    >"Well you've surely been walking there often this past month." Dash giggles
  2070. 2070.
    "I've been taking this same route often past years" you laugh "But I never went this way around because it's longer. But we aren't in a hurry, or are you?"
  2071. 2071.
    >"Me? Never.....-Wait, that was lie. I'm almost always in a hurry." she chuckles after thinking trough what she said "But I'm certainly not in a hurry now..."
  2072. 2072.
    >the newly chosen path is leading you trough different streets than you know and one of them has trees, planted all along the sidewalk
  2073. 2073.
    "Would you look at that, that alone is a good reason to go this way today. Look how they bloom." you smile widely at the white tree closest to you
  2074. 2074.
    >"Yeah, it's.... actualy really pretty." Dash stops to have a good look and a sniff of the air, blowing from their direction "They even smell real nice."
  2075. 2075.
    >so you nod and slowly walk up to the tree, hugging it "Ey boay, how are ya mane?"
  2076. 2076.
    >"Is that a ghetto tree?" the pegasus behind you chuckles
  2077. 2077.
    "Maybe,.. let's call him Lamar."
  2078. 2078.
    >"And what about the next one?"
  2079. 2079.
    "I don't know what do you think?" you turn around, booping her nose
  2080. 2080.
    >"Um,.. Breezy Leaf?"
  2081. 2081.
    "Amazing as always."
  2082. 2082.
    >...and along the whole street, you're making up names for the trees, until you find yourself at the end of it
  2083. 2083.
    >not far for the supermarket now, just a few more turns
  2084. 2084.
    >"...Do you actually remember any of them now?" grins Dash, looking back
  2085. 2085.
    "Some,- sure. ...I think Twinkle-Winkle is unforgettable. If I had a pony child, I'd definitely name him like that."
  2086. 2086.
    >"Poor foal, could you imagine him growing up to be a big stallion with that name?" she laughs laughs
  2087. 2087.
    "Well, at least he would have the best parents." you nudge the blue mare’s side
  2088. 2088.
    >"Yeah...He would..." her head hangs down out of sudden "...But it's not like that would ever happen...."
  2089. 2089.
    "...."
  2090. 2090.
    >thought she said she made peace with this already...
  2091. 2091.
    "...Oh well, that's true but-"
  2092. 2092.
    >"Sorry I just got lost in a thought." Dash wouldn't let you finish, trying to forget it
  2093. 2093.
    >but her mind's not letting her
  2094. 2094.
    >"...............I mean, it's not like I'd even want a foal anytime soon. I'm too young for that, I mean not too young. But I would have to be at least like.... I dunno, thirty-something?" she continues talking to herself but then eyes at you ".......It's really stupid to even think about it anyway,.. isn't it?"
  2095. 2095.
    "Not stupid, just..."
  2096. 2096.
    >"-Pointless."
  2097. 2097.
    >you shrug your shoulders to discreetly agree
  2098. 2098.
    >to which the otherwise chirpy pegasus frowns, blankly staring into the ground she's walking
  2099. 2099.
    >"...."
  2100. 2100.
    "...Hey Dash, I'm really sorry..... I too wish I COULD give you a foal one day, but-"
  2101. 2101.
    >"It's not your fault Anon. I know it was troubling you too before. And it wasn't troubling me until..."
  2102. 2102.
    "..."
  2103. 2103.
    >"...until I could imagine myself as a real mom."
  2104. 2104.
    "So..."
  2105. 2105.
    >...
  2106. 2106.
    >"...But I've made my choice, haven't I? We both did...." she smiles very faintly "I should be happy for what I already have."
  2107. 2107.
    "... But you aren't."
  2108. 2108.
    >"I know... Just why am I like this? I'm horrible person, aren't I?"
  2109. 2109.
    "No. You're absolutely gorgeous." you fondly touch her to make her look at you "Emotions are rarely rational but they can't be ignored, they still have to be felt."
  2110. 2110.
    >"...But what should I do then?"
  2111. 2111.
    "You'll see in time. For now, just don't suppress anything you feel Dash. I know it might-"
  2112. 2112.
    !!!!!!!!!!!*HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK*!!!!!!!!
  2113. 2113.
    >when a bus just flung around, missing your faces by mere inches
  2114. 2114.
    ....
  2115. 2115.
    >frozen in place, you're standing on the side of the road and still processing just how close this was
  2116. 2116.
    >….
  2117. 2117.
    >...until you glance at each other
  2118. 2118.
    >and burst into a massive laugh, not quite sure why
  2119. 2119.
    >guess maybe nothing makes you feel more alive like almost dying
  2120. 2120.
    >the second time in your case
  2121. 2121.
    “Geez Dash, you alright?” you snicker
  2122. 2122.
    >”Never better.” she wheezes "...By Celestia, if we took a single step further, none of this would even matter anymore..!”
  2123. 2123.
    “I know right?!”
  2124. 2124.
    >”I think I get it now Anon. Why would I ever worry about the future?!" she’s still laughing, almost crying of joy and wagging her tail like a dog “I love living and I love you, what else there is to it? Just the presence.”
  2125. 2125.
    >the reaction might seem almost exaggerated, but you know better
  2126. 2126.
    >so you crouch down to hug her, completely understanding
  2127. 2127.
    >you’ve felt this before too, like transmuting sadness into joy
  2128. 2128.
    >and you’re nuzzling and cuddling each other as if this was the first and the last time you’re together
  2129. 2129.
    >surely, for the people around, this might look strange or unfounded
  2130. 2130.
    >but it’s something so strong it can’t be ignored
  2131. 2131.
    ...
  2132. 2132.
    ".….Oh well, what an interesting walk eh?" you’re still grinning while letting go
  2133. 2133.
    >”The most interesting in my life so far.” Dash snickers “..... And we're almost there too."
  2134. 2134.
    "Wha- oh you mean the market, right." you chuckle for the last time "Yup, it's just around the corner. …How about we don’t follow the shopping list, but just grab whatever comes in our way? Wouldn’t that be fun?"
  2135. 2135.
    >"That's amazing idea!" a spark’s shining in her eye "Let's go!"
  2136. 2136.
    >and you race inside the building like two bullets
  2137. 2137.
    >must be looking like you’re both high on something, while chaotically running around, throwing random things into the shopping bag and having a time of your lives doing something so trivial
  2138. 2138.
    >but you’re feeling that this is what life is about, enjoying the silliest of things
  2139. 2139.
    >...it's not even 10 minutes and your bag is full, so you dump it all on the counter’s moving strip
  2140. 2140.
    >"…..What is it even we picked?" Dash spreading the things around to see better
  2141. 2141.
    "Whatever is there, I'm sure we'll make good use of it." you smirk "Look at this, instant fried noodles, a portion for two. A cucumber, a pumpkin jogurt, head massager, green tea-"
  2142. 2142.
    >"-Oh we needed that!"
  2143. 2143.
    "Exactly! What else do we have here?"
  2144. 2144.
    >"Apple concentrate?"
  2145. 2145.
    "Handy!”
  2146. 2146.
    >”And here, incense sticks?"
  2147. 2147.
    "Romantic! Did you pick those?”
  2148. 2148.
    >”Yes! And uhh... there’s small bottle of coca cola..? Are we actually gonna drink that thing?"
  2149. 2149.
    "Welp,.. I know a great gingerbread recipe out of it." you chuckle
  2150. 2150.
    >”….A gingerbread recipe?” Dash snickers, suppressing her snickers “I can’t wait.”
  2151. 2151.
    >before you shortly burst into laugh again
  2152. 2152.
    >”….Anon, I feel really funny, did we just went nuts or something? Is this normal?”
  2153. 2153.
    “Don’t question it, just enjoy it.” you nudge her, realizing it’s your turn at the cashier "-Oh, hello!"
  2154. 2154.
    >...you stuff the things in the bag together, paying with your card, and off you go!
  2155. 2155.
    >”…How much did all of that even cost?”
  2156. 2156.
    “Probably less than I have on my account right now, that’s all we need to know.”
  2157. 2157.
    “Alright.” Dash laughs "And gimme that bag I'll take it, I promised."
  2158. 2158.
    "Okay okay, alright, here you go dragoness." you’re handing it to her with a smirk
  2159. 2159.
    >you’re both seeing the world a little differently now
  2160. 2160.
    >not sure how long will it last, but for the time being there’s nothing but joy of living
  2161. 2161.
    >no fear, no worries, no dissatisfaction, just love and happiness
  2162. 2162.
    >when-
  2163. 2163.
    >"TAG! You're it!" Dash’s laughing, already trotting off
  2164. 2164.
    >no time for second thoughts, you’re running after her
  2165. 2165.
    >under normal circumstances, she'd be way faster than you, but it’s either the bag that’s slowing her down or she’s just taking it easy
  2166. 2166.
    >and so you're soon catching up to her, slapping her flank
  2167. 2167.
    "Tag!"
  2168. 2168.
    >"Hey! I'll get you!" the pegasus’s grinning and going after you
  2169. 2169.
    >and you're chasing each other like children until you're both too exhausted to run
  2170. 2170.
    >left just standing in front of each other in"attack positions" with wide smiles
  2171. 2171.
    >"I win right?" Dash exhaustedly pants
  2172. 2172.
    "Not if I give it to you now!" you clumsily reach out for her like a zombie
  2173. 2173.
    >but she steps back quick enough
  2174. 2174.
    "-Alright, you win."
  2175. 2175.
    >"I'm just messing with you, who cares about winning?" the mare laughs, coming closer to you and lovingly brushing herself over your leg
  2176. 2176.
    >what an unlikely thing to hear from her
  2177. 2177.
    ".…And what if I do?" you laugh back, softly poking her but not running away, just sitting on the sidewalk "Tag, you're it."
  2178. 2178.
    >"Hey…" she's chuckles and pokes you back, leaning herself on your shoulder to rest as well "YOU're so it."
  2179. 2179.
    "Okay I guess I am." you chuckle for the last time, and kiss her forehead “I love you, you pretty thing.”
  2180. 2180.
    >”You’re not so bad yourself.” Dash closes her eyes for a while, nuzzling herself under your shirt
  2181. 2181.
    >and you’re just sitting there or meditating or whatever exactly you’re doing until you feel ready to continue walking again
  2182. 2182.
    >life feels great
  2183. 2183.
    …
  2184. 2184.
    >back home, Dash energetically storms inside the room and flamboyantly throws the bag off her back straight up on the kitchen counter, making a little pose in front of it
  2185. 2185.
    >”Da dah!”
  2186. 2186.
    >.…but at the same time, both of you could hear something cracking inside
  2187. 2187.
    >”Whoops.”
  2188. 2188.
    "...I have a feeling it's gonna be the pumpkin yogurt." you snicker before opening it “.......Well it wasn't a pumpkin yogurt."
  2189. 2189.
    >it’s safely sitting on top of everything, unharmed
  2190. 2190.
    >"Then what was it?" the pegasus rears up next to you, leaning front hooves on the counter to have a better look inside of the bag while you’re putting the things out, one by one
  2191. 2191.
    >"Thank Celestia the incense sticks are in one piece." Dash grins when you laid them on the table "…What is that yellow thing on them though?"
  2192. 2192.
    "Oh yeah,… that must be the surprise we've been waiting for. Can you tell what it is?"
  2193. 2193.
    >so she wipes the little yellow stain from the paper package with a tip of her hoof to smell it
  2194. 2194.
    >"It looks and smells like... mustard?"
  2195. 2195.
    "Yup, it's mustard." you’re just pulling out a cracked plastic cup "Looks like we'll have a bit of cleaning with the rest."
  2196. 2196.
    >"No problem, load it here." the mare’s already standing in front of the sink, so you step closer to her with the backpack
  2197. 2197.
    "Here, the cucumber, easy job. Next, the red pepper, now yellow one." you grin "Aaand, the head massager. The rest seems to be somewhat clean... oh wait, here's a dirty tofu, yup and a cheese."
  2198. 2198.
    >"Is that all?" she laughs
  2199. 2199.
    "I think so.” you grin while putting the clean things in the fridge so that she can wash the dirty ones meanwhile
  2200. 2200.
    >and soon you're both done
  2201. 2201.
    ".…Okay, now we have some things to survive for a few oncoming days."
  2202. 2202.
    >"Yeah, especially the head massager thingy will be extremely vital." Dash picks it up with a grin “Why did you buy that again?”
  2203. 2203.
    >it looks a bit like a wire octopus
  2204. 2204.
    "I saw it once at my friend’s house and thought it's pretty cool." you snatch it from her hooves
  2205. 2205.
    >"Hey give it-" she’s about to jump at you, trying to get it back
  2206. 2206.
    >but she doesn’t, because you’ve already put it to use on her head, gently moving it up and down
  2207. 2207.
    >"Ooooh, I'm literally getting shivers on my back. Don't ever stop…"
  2208. 2208.
    "Neat huh?"
  2209. 2209.
    >"How come you didn’t buy this a long time ago when you know how cool it is?"
  2210. 2210.
    "...I didn't have anybody to use it with." you’re continuing to stroke her with the thing
  2211. 2211.
    >"Can’t you just use it on yourself?"
  2212. 2212.
    "Some things in life are only half the pleasure when you do them by yourself." you smirk and scratch her rump with the massager
  2213. 2213.
    >"Really?.." Dash laughs, snatching it back to try it herself "Huh,...it really is like half the pleasure when you do it yourself."
  2214. 2214.
    "I know right?”
  2215. 2215.
    >"Almost scary how close this is to masturbation." Dash grins, then goes a little bit red over how casually she just blurted it out "I mean,..."
  2216. 2216.
    "Well yeah,.. that’s what I meant."
  2217. 2217.
    >”Oh I,.. didn’t get that before.” the mare chuckles “But regardless of that, how about we move it to the couch? I wanna pleasure your head!”
  2218. 2218.
    ….
  2219. 2219.
    >and as dirty as it may sounded at first, you spent the time there just with cuddles, chatting, listening to music or just laying in silence and appreciating your time together
  2220. 2220.
    >every minute feels really special after what you’ve been through to “find” each other again
  2221. 2221.
    >but it was all worth it
  2222. 2222.
    >...and thanks to how amazing these shared moments feel, it’s like you don’t really even need to go any further
  2223. 2223.
    >at least for now
  2224. 2224.
    >and while you might enjoy teasing each other anyway, there are different plans for today
  2225. 2225.
    >”Hey… what about that hockey match we wanted to go today? Didn’t we miss it?”
  2226. 2226.
    “I dunno, I didn’t even check. But it’s not that late. Wait a sec.” you start getting up from the couch while letting go of the pegasus that’s been lying on top of you
  2227. 2227.
    >"I’m not the waiting kind." she’s playfully pushing you away with her rear hooves like a cat, to make you go faster
  2228. 2228.
    >and she’s right behind you
  2229. 2229.
    "Let's see... We might be a bit late, but we could catch the last third and have a free entrance too. We don't have to see it from the start, do we?"
  2230. 2230.
    >"Just like you planned huh?" the grinning mare pokes you with her hoof
  2231. 2231.
    "Maybe…?" you grin back “Seriously, I probably couldn’t stay there through the whole match. It’s too long for me.”
  2232. 2232.
    >”I’m not saying anything.” she chuckles and slaps your butt “Let’s go then!”
  2233. 2233.
    ….
  2234. 2234.
    >via bus, you’re really arriving about the time when the second third just ended and a pause is just commencing
  2235. 2235.
    >there’s a lot of people standing around the stadion building, smoking, chatting and drinking beer
  2236. 2236.
    >"Seems your fancy mathematics are working just fine."
  2237. 2237.
    “If by “mathematics”, you mean me, hoping we took the right bus, then yes.” you chuckle
  2238. 2238.
    >”We’re here, that’s all that matters.” Dash chuckles back “…let's have a look inside while the seats are empty."
  2239. 2239.
    >and you're already making your way through the crowds, up to the entrance
  2240. 2240.
    >the cabin for selling tickets is empty now, so you just walk right past it and continue inside
  2241. 2241.
    "Do we go all the way up?"
  2242. 2242.
    >"Obviously, do I look like an earth pony to stay at the ground floor?"
  2243. 2243.
    “I was just making sure.” you grin and head over to the stairs, taking you directly to a host fan pit, behind a guest team gate
  2244. 2244.
    "This might be the right place."
  2245. 2245.
    >"Definitely! It's gonna be so fun!"
  2246. 2246.
    >there are no seats, so you have to stand there
  2247. 2247.
    >and soon you're surrounded by the most hardcore/drunk fans, who are slowly starting to get back in their positions for the last third
  2248. 2248.
    >"…What's the status? Which ones are the hosts?"
  2249. 2249.
    "I think the ones on the other side are. And they’re losing 2:3."
  2250. 2250.
    >"They?" she chuckles "Isn’t it “we” now?”
  2251. 2251.
    "I’m not quite sure about picking a side yet.” you snicker "-And look, it's starting, they are entering the field."
  2252. 2252.
    >so the players take their positions
  2253. 2253.
    >and the game is on!
  2254. 2254.
    >one of the most drunk fans with a drum immediately starts shouting some unwitty cheering rhymes into the pit and most of the fans are joining, clapping their hands
  2255. 2255.
    >in a way, it’s starting to remind you why you usually don’t visit places like this
  2256. 2256.
    >it kinda feel like being a spy here, not being able to get so excited about some guys chasing a black dot
  2257. 2257.
    >but today, your lack of enthusiasm isn’t really ruining the experience for you
  2258. 2258.
    >you can observe the others going apemode, but most of all…
  2259. 2259.
    >you’re here with Dash
  2260. 2260.
    >and she seems to be enjoying it
  2261. 2261.
    >”Ha! Look at that dude how he’s trying! Not even clooose!” she’s rearing up to see better because there’s not enough room around for her to fly
  2262. 2262.
    “...Hey, want me to lift you up on my shoulders?”
  2263. 2263.
    >”I dunno, can you even do that in the state you’re in?”
  2264. 2264.
    “One way to find out!” you crouch down, stick your head between her rear legs and stand up again
  2265. 2265.
    >”WHoa! You okay?”
  2266. 2266.
    “You used to be heavier.”
  2267. 2267.
    >”Tsk.” the pegasus grins, adjusting her rump onto your shoulders
  2268. 2268.
    >can kinda feel her private parts rubbing over the back of your neck but this isn’t exactly the right time to concentrate on such things
  2269. 2269.
    >right now you’re wondering if you can really carry her like this till the end of the match
  2270. 2270.
    >we’ll see…
  2271. 2271.
    …
  2272. 2272.
    >at some point you spot a guy walking through the lines and selling beers, so you wave at him to come your way as well
  2273. 2273.
    "YOU WANT A BEER?" you yell at Dash real loud because the fans are getting rowdier and rowdier
  2274. 2274.
    >"I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE. BUT DO I HAVE TO FINISH IT AS WELL?” she’s yelling back
  2275. 2275.
    >so you sign "two" at the guy and hand him the money while Dash on your shoulders takes the two cups for you
  2276. 2276.
    >"CHEERS!" she’s giving you one back
  2277. 2277.
    "CHEERS!"
  2278. 2278.
    >...and the first gulp is actually better than expected
  2279. 2279.
    >haven’t had beer in such a long time
  2280. 2280.
    >but you still probably won’t be thirsting for another, this one feels enough right now
  2281. 2281.
    “HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?”
  2282. 2282.
    >”THE BEER OR THE HOCKEY?!”
  2283. 2283.
    “BOTH I GUESS.”
  2284. 2284.
    >”ITS FUN. AND THE BEER IS NOT THAT BAD. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T ACTUALY TASTE IT."
  2285. 2285.
    >when suddenly all the fans around start cheering even louder than you could think is possible, the drum starts beating and the guy in front of you is pounding on his chest like a gorilla
  2286. 2286.
    >"I THINK THEY SCORED 3:3!"
  2287. 2287.
    “COOL!” you're both clapping as well to contribute to the atmosphere even though you missed it entirely “...MAYBE I MIGHT EVEN PICK A SIDE IN HERE.”
  2288. 2288.
    >”WELL YOU SHOULD PICK THIS ONE, IF WE WANNA LEAVE THIS PLACE WITH ALL OF OUR TEETH.” Dash laughs
  2289. 2289.
    >at this point the completely shitfaced "dirigent" with a drum turns back at the crowd behind him again, yelling even more rhymes
  2290. 2290.
    >until he notices you, just standing there without opening your mouth at all
  2291. 2291.
    >so he throws his hands up in the air “YOU WITH THE BLUE DOG, GIBE OUR TEEHM SOEM LOVE! GIVE US A NEW ONE!”
  2292. 2292.
    >suddenly there’s uncomfortably many eyes pointed your way, expecting you to come up with something
  2293. 2293.
    “Uhh…”
  2294. 2294.
    >but Rainbow sitting on your shoulders, is taking the initiative instead
  2295. 2295.
    >”WE ALREADY WON, SEND THEM BACK HOME!!”
  2296. 2296.
    >and the people, either thinking it was your voice or just too drunk to care about a talking pony, are joining in
  2297. 2297.
    >making even their “leader” satisfied
  2298. 2298.
    “Jeez,…” you snicker to yourself afterwards
  2299. 2299.
    >"..SO YOU'RE HAVING FUN YET?" Dash waves in front of your face, noticing your smile
  2300. 2300.
    “I GUESS I DO!” you laugh “ONLY THANKS TO YOU THOUGH.”
  2301. 2301.
    >”AWW..” she grins, flickering her tail on your back and hooves friskily playing with your hair
  2302. 2302.
    >...when one of the host team players breaks his hockey stick in an attempt to shoot the puck with all his might
  2303. 2303.
    >now that’s finally an interesting moment for you
  2304. 2304.
    >and while all the fans around are mourning the could-have-been-goal, you’re getting all excited
  2305. 2305.
    "YOOO DASH HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?! HOW IT JUST FLINGED AWAY?!”
  2306. 2306.
    >"FINALLY SOME STUFF GETTING BROKEN! RIGHT?"
  2307. 2307.
    "IT LOOKS SO EASY HUH? A SNAP AND-..."
  2308. 2308.
    >"I KNOW RIGHT? I WANT TO TRY THAT AS WELL, CAN'T BE THAT HARD... WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'LL DO WITH THE BROKEN PARTS?"
  2309. 2309.
    "I DUNNO, BUT I WANT THEM." you laugh "HOPE THEY'LL THROW IT AWAY SOMEWHERE WE CAN PICK IT UP."
  2310. 2310.
    >at this point, it's only about 5 minutes until the end, but the game keeps getting stopped because of things which neither of you really understand
  2311. 2311.
    >you nor Dash know the rules well enough
  2312. 2312.
    >but on the other hand, you're almost done with the beer and starting to feel slightly tipsy
  2313. 2313.
    >even getting used to the extra weight on your shoulders or just forgetting about it
  2314. 2314.
    >and your fair inamorata sitting there has been bravely keeping up with you, even though she isn’t really enjoying the taste
  2315. 2315.
    >the alcohol seems to work on her body a bit more than yours, so she’s getting even wilder and really immersed in the game
  2316. 2316.
    >...maybe this is the trick to enjoying the sports, you just gotta be drunk
  2317. 2317.
    >so you finish your beer,..
  2318. 2318.
    >when the host team suddenly strikes another goal, making it 4:3
  2319. 2319.
    >this time you even both saw it
  2320. 2320.
    >"YOOOOOOOO!" your head’s suddenly hugged by her whole body so hard it feels like she’s gonna break your face “HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?!”
  2321. 2321.
    “I DID! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?"
  2322. 2322.
    >"I KNOW RIGHT?! WE DID IT!"
  2323. 2323.
    "WE??"
  2324. 2324.
    >"THEY COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT US!!" the drunk pony’s laughing
  2325. 2325.
    …
  2326. 2326.
    >the match is soon ending with 4:3 for the host team and all the fans around are going crazy, hugging each other and cheering
  2327. 2327.
    >so naturally, you’re given a few hugs as well
  2328. 2328.
    >Dash who’s climbed down at this point too
  2329. 2329.
    >even though the guy hugging you both really reeks of alcohol and cigarettes,
  2330. 2330.
    >but whatever
  2331. 2331.
    >positive energy is positive energy
  2332. 2332.
    …
  2333. 2333.
    "LET'S GO?" you eventually nudge Dash after the crowd has calmed enough to let you pass through
  2334. 2334.
    >"YUP, I'M ALL SET! LET'S GO!" she finishes her beer, taking the cup in her teeth
  2335. 2335.
    >and on the way down, you’re trying to see where they threw the broken hockey sticks
  2336. 2336.
    "...See that bin in the penalty area over there?"
  2337. 2337.
    >"Oh yes, I see it! It's in there, right!!?"
  2338. 2338.
    "Feel like waiting until it clears a bit here so we can slip in there and steal it?"
  2339. 2339.
    >"Waiting? Oh please!" Dash laughs "Watch me and get ready to run."
  2340. 2340.
    >before you say anything, she flew away, maneuvering around the protective net, through the stadium and straight to the bin
  2341. 2341.
    >there she’s snatching the broken pieces before anyone close would even fully process what happened, she’s flying back to you
  2342. 2342.
    >the pieces are thrown into your arms and she’s legging it through the front door "RUUUUN, Let's gooooo!"
  2343. 2343.
    "AAAAH!" you’re running after her with the broken stick, even though you aren't exactly behind followed
  2344. 2344.
    >.…but you're as excited as if you were
  2345. 2345.
    >the blue mare's heading away from the crowds, stopping to catch a breath in an empty dark alley around the corner of the stadium
  2346. 2346.
    >much like the one you've "met" her for the first time
  2347. 2347.
    >"Got 'em!" she laughs excitedly in between huffs when you catch up
  2348. 2348.
    "Hey, sure did! You're a Lara Croft of this hockey temple." you’re panting next to her
  2349. 2349.
    >"I don't know who that is… But I definitely feel it."
  2350. 2350.
    "You mean: feel the alcohol?" you laugh back and poke her
  2351. 2351.
    >"I guess that too, I-." she snickers, burping mid-sentence “Sorry. I forgot what I was gonna say."
  2352. 2352.
    "Heh…”
  2353. 2353.
    >"Oh yeah, I remember!" Dash suddenly rears up to kiss you, pinning you to the wall behind you "There!.. You really taste like beer though. Or is it just me?”
  2354. 2354.
    “It’s definitely both of us.” you chuckle and boop her nose with yours “…How about we buy something to eat, so we can get the taste out of our mouths?”
  2355. 2355.
    >”A blessed idea Sugarboy!”
  2356. 2356.
    “Sugarboy? And you say calling you “Sunshine” was bad?”
  2357. 2357.
    >”Aww, shut up and lemme show my love.” she laughs, giving your face a lick like an animal before she slides back down on all 4 again “…Is the food still a thing?”
  2358. 2358.
    “Of course, just gotta find where to buy it. I’m sure there’ll be some kind of fast food around here.” you look back the stadium’s way where most of the people are still crowding and rub your shoulders because it’s just now that they’re starting to hurt a little from carrying her all that time “Over there!”
  2359. 2359.
    >so,.. hiding the broken hockey stick under your jacket, it’s a way back into the chaos!
  2360. 2360.
    >while walking through, Dash is holding onto you with her teeth so that you won’t lose each other
  2361. 2361.
    >and eventually, you’re finding what you were looking for
  2362. 2362.
    >there are 3 separate windows, selling burgers
  2363. 2363.
    >since you aren't the only hungry ones after the match ended, there's some people ahead of you, but you don't mind waiting
  2364. 2364.
    "Look, they have some vegetarian choices! I was worried it would be all meat. But there’s even multiple cheese to choose from! Eidam, camembert or the blue one?"
  2365. 2365.
    >"I'm tempted by the blue one,.. but I'm also a bit afraid of it."
  2366. 2366.
    "It can't be that bad. I'll have it. My favourite thing in this world is blue as well.”
  2367. 2367.
    >”Come on! Stop with these!” Dash tipsily pushes you and hiccups “You’re gonna make me feel embarrassed...”
  2368. 2368.
    “I was talking about the sky, you’re not from this world, duh..!” you jokingly push her back “…You’re my favourite in the universe.”
  2369. 2369.
    >”…Sheesh, that’s so cheesy it’s sweet.” she grins, brushing herself over your leg and waving her tail between your legs “….And I think I’ll have the blue one as well…”
  2370. 2370.
    …
  2371. 2371.
    >when you're almost at the cashier, you’ve noticed the people in front of you have just ordered a shot of vodka
  2372. 2372.
    >..making you wonder that maybe you'd have one as well, since you had that one beer already
  2373. 2373.
    >...oh and why not?
  2374. 2374.
    >so once it’s your turn, you’re ordering two blue cheese in a bun with extra salad and a shot of vodka
  2375. 2375.
    >and regretting your decision immediately, once you see the 0,04 shot in front of you
  2376. 2376.
    >"…What's a vodka? Is that another alcohol?" Dash rears up next to you, leaning on the counter
  2377. 2377.
    "It is. …To be honest I don't even know why I ordered it."
  2378. 2378.
    >"U-uh, you know why. Don’t lie to me-eh." she laughs "You're just not sure you made the right decision."
  2379. 2379.
    "Well, you see through me." you chuckle while picking it up "Only one way to find out."
  2380. 2380.
    >"Wait, wait! Lemme try that as well!"
  2381. 2381.
    "Really..? -Okay, but careful with that."
  2382. 2382.
    >”Sure, sure.” she grins and picks up the shot, having a little sip of it
  2383. 2383.
    …
  2384. 2384.
    >"Blegh! It burnssss…" her big orange tongue is sticking all the way out of her mouth as she’s trying to clean it with one of her hooves "Seriously, I don't envy you this."
  2385. 2385.
    "I don't look forward to it either." you laugh "But cheers to me."
  2386. 2386.
    >"Cheers."
  2387. 2387.
    >you take deep breath, bottom it, and exhale
  2388. 2388.
    >spirits alone were never your thing, but this vodka is at least "bearable" and doesn’t leave that disgusting feeling in your mouth some cheap ones do
  2389. 2389.
    >"…Doesn't it burn your throat away??" Dash’s watching you not flinching
  2390. 2390.
    >you might be cured from your junkie lifestyle, but you still know how to down a shot
  2391. 2391.
    "..Don't you like it with spicy food?" you grin
  2392. 2392.
    >"That's different!" she laughs "This is like throwing up,.. but backwards!"
  2393. 2393.
    "Well imagine actually throwing this thing up. It’s even worse.” you chuckle "But it's a quick way to get drunk and I wanted to catch up with you."
  2394. 2394.
    >"How thoughtfully nice of you." she smirks
  2395. 2395.
    "I know right? But that's just me. Nice and all."
  2396. 2396.
    >seriously though, not drinking at all for almost three months, then having a beer and a shot
  2397. 2397.
    >it might not be enough to get you shitfaced, but you’re pretty sure you at least just caught up with her tipsiness
  2398. 2398.
    …
  2399. 2399.
    >soon you’re receiving your food, so you’re about to carry the buns somewhere quiet to eat it in peace
  2400. 2400.
    >pretty much the same way as before, except you have both hands full this time while making your way through the people
  2401. 2401.
    >when
  2402. 2402.
    >...never did you think you might see that face here of all places….
  2403. 2403.
    >your stomach suddenly shrinks and your unhealed chest stings when you glance into the eyes of a man who shot you just before
  2404. 2404.
    ”why now..?” -a scared thought flings through your head
  2405. 2405.
    >are you two getting separated again?
  2406. 2406.
    >you don’t wanna leave her, not now
  2407. 2407.
    >was all your doing for nothing?
  2408. 2408.
    >Dash behind you can’t see yet and probably even won’t, when he takes his gun out of his pocket and shoots you dead again,.. disappearing in the crowd of people, except-
  2409. 2409.
    >>”Y-you! S-stay away from me!!! You’re not real!” he stutters
  2410. 2410.
    >and in the next second, when he notices a piece of a rainbow mane sticking out from behind you…
  2411. 2411.
    >not a word more, he’s turning around and running away like possessed
  2412. 2412.
    >>” I don’t want to have anything to do with those magical horses anymore!!” his yell is fading in the noise of a crowding people
  2413. 2413.
    >leaving you standing there, shocked as if someone threw a bucket of cold water over your head
  2414. 2414.
    >”…Huh Anon what just happened there?” Dash is nudging you from behind to either move or tell her more “I didn’t see, was someone yelling?”
  2415. 2415.
    >for a second more, you’re wondering whether you should tell her about it but…
  2416. 2416.
    “I don’t think so Dash… It was probably just a misunderstanding.” you keep going forwards
  2417. 2417.
    >whatever that meant, you don’t really wanna trouble her mind with it

Soul Retrieval 1-9 by Klaifferon

by Pwcca999

Soul Retrieval 9-13 (WIP) by Klaifferon

by Pwcca999