Celestia's sun was high in the sky, just a bit past one o' clock. It cast its healthy, golden rays of light down upon Ponyville, which gratefully accepted the sun's gift, drinking in the warmth and light.
The residents of Ponyville went about their days in the perfect sun, seizing the perfect day, and living it to its fullest. And no one did so more enthusiastically than Rainbow Dash.
She soared through the air like a jet fighter, absorbing the breeze and delighting at the scenery of Ponyville zipping past in a colorful whir of colors below her; browns, yellows, reds and an assortment of of others gradually gave way to a plain of primarily green.
It seemed as if she had flown past the bounds of the town and into a field.
Rainbow reared up and was just about to dash back across town, just to see if she could break her previous record-fifteen seconds to be exact-when a new color aside from the greens caught her eye. Purple. A light lavender.
Rainbow's brow furrowed in curiosity as she inspected the source further. Her suspicions were confirmed: it was Twilight. But what was that egg-head doing out in the old pastures?
Rainbow quickly felt a certain heat rise to her cheeks, but dispelled it just as quickly. Now was not the time.
Rainbow was just about to bolt down but was once again halted, this time by Twilight's stance. Her head hung low and her shoulders slumped as she plopped down under a tree.
Once more, Rainbow's brow furrowed, this time in a mixture of both curiosity and concern.
So, instead of darting down and possibly startling the recently-crowned Princess, Rainbow Dash reservedly flittered down and lightly touched down, the green grass below her bending down under her weight.
If Twilight noticed her, she showed no signs of acknowledgment.
Brow still furrowed, Rainbow plodded over and stood over Twilight who had her back against the tree as she sat slumped against the tree. Rainbow's shadow cast over the purple mare's body, but still Twilight showed no signs of acknowledgment.
"Twilight? What's the matter? Eh?"
Twilight only sighed and mumbled under her breath. She then closer her eyes and leaned her skull back into the wood of the heavy tree.
The heat returned to Rainbow. There they were, just the two of them, alone... Rainbow shook her head and concentrated on their conversation.
"What's that?" she forced.
Rainbow waited, but, receiving no answer this time, she sat down next to her and remained silent for a few minutes.
Finally, Rainbow spoke, saying, "'Twi... Ya know I'm not good with words, but...if somethin's botherin' ya I'd really like to help."
Twilight remained silent for almost as long as Rainbow had, but then spoke, her words barely reaching Rainbow's ear.
"It's...there's nothing that you can do."
Rainbow snorted. "Oh really?"
Twilight was silent again.
"...Twilight... Even if I can't help...just know that I'm here for ya. And so is everyone else."
Rainbow could see Twilight's eyes move a bit as she pondered Rainbow's words.
"...well...?"
A small smile slowly crept its way across Twilight's face an up her muzzle. Rainbow smiled too, although her's was much wider.
Then Twilight did something that surprised Rainbow: she darted over and trapped Rainbow in a tight hug.
Rainbow's hooves raised up in surprise, but eventually draped over Twilight's back.
"Thank you," Twilight said, barely audible.
"You're welcome."
Rainbow Dash looked up and saw that the sun was slowly approached the horizon. Had they really been out there that long?
"So... You ready to tell me what's wrong?"
Twilight huffed a bit, muzzle still buried in Rainbow's chest, but she eventually said, "It's just... This whole Princess thing is really hard... I mean, I expected it to be, but... I... I don't think I'm doing a good job." Twilight quivered pathetically as she whimpered, and Rainbow shushed her.
Rainbow chuckled as she absent-mindedly stroked Twilight's mane.
"Well, no disasters so far, so it seems like you've been doing alright."
Rainbow felt Twilight tense up a bit at her statement, but relax again.
"'Twi...you're a great pony. I'm sure you'll do a great job. It's only been like, what, two days since your coronation?"
"Three."
"Yeah, whatever. My point is that you haven't had much time. Sure you'll make a few mistakes here and there, but Celestia and Luna will always be there to help you back up. And so will we. The girls and I, I mean."
Rainbow chuckled a bit again and said, "You know...today's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
"...Yeah...I suppose it is."
Rainbow let her head rest upon Twilight's as she got a bit more comfortable.
"You're a rad pony, even if you are an egg-head." Rainbow whispered as she gazed lovingly down at Twilight.
Rainbow's body vibrated as Twilight chuckled.
"Awww, thanks Rainbow."
The two sat there, leaning against one another as the horizon was just starting to turn into the colors of the sunset.
Rainbow felt a burning in her chest slowly itch her way up and she shivered. The pegasus sat, pondering her next action. Could now be a good time as any? Would there ever be a better time?
Rainbow drew in a breath. It was now or never.
"Twilight? Are you doing anything tomorrow night?"
"Hm? Oh, I can't say that I am... Why can't we do something now, there's still a few hours of daylight. left..."
"No I meant..."
Rainbow struggled with her words.
"...different things."
"Like what?"
"Like... Like... Like maaaayyybbbeee dinner, or... A movie or.... Some...thing..."
Rainbow Dash felt a sweat begin to develop.
Twilight snorted, amused, and said, "Rainbow, it sounds like you're..."
Wait...could she be? Twilight thought.
Rainbow shook her head. Twilight, for all of her smarts, could still be so dense.
Twilight felt her head move up as Rainbow took a deep, determined breath.
"Yes, Twilight, it's exactly what is sounds like. Twilight, I...have a... thing for you. I like you, and... And I am asking you out on a date."
Twilight froze, her eyes wide open. She was.
The Princess felt a deep heat rise to her cheeks as Rainbow Dash haltingly began to speak again.
"Well...now that that's out there...hehe... In....the open... Waddaya say?"
Rainbow, who had grown used to the weight of Twilight's head on her chest, jolted when it suddenly vanished. The flash of bright, purple light didn't help either.
Twilight was gone. Rainbow couldn't help but a feel a bit...empty inside.
Spike, who was taking a nap on the staircase of the library during the absence of Twilight, was jolted awake as a flash of light attacked him through his eyelids.
"Woaaahh...!"
The young dragon shook his head and opened his eyes just in time to dodge his friend and sister. Her entire face was bright red, her eyes were scrunched shut, and tears flowed freely.
Spike rolled out of her way and twirled back around just in time to see the door to Twilight's room slam.
"What the...?"
It took, ages, but Rainbow eventually steeled herself again and went to go apologize. By this time the night was rapidly approaching, and it grew chilly.
Rainbow, despite herself, decided to forgo flight and marched up the street to Ponyville's library, determination in her heart.
She marched right up to the door and knocked three times.
The first was heavy, loud, the second, average, and the third barely audible.
Spike opened the door with a skeptical and somewhat bored look heavy on his features.
"Here for Twilight?"
"Um...yeah..."
"Upstairs," Spike said flatly as he jammed a thumb in the appropriate direction.
Rainbow watched Spike as he whirled around on one foot and walked away, entering the kitchen and leaving her alone.
"Oh what have I done?" Rainbow quietly asked herself as she looked at the ground and shook her head in self-reprimand.
But Rainbow Dash, ever brave as she was, hardened her face in determination once more and she shut the door the front door. One more, Rainbow began to march, this time up towards Twilight's room.
When she finally reached the door, the three knocks were eerily similar to those of the first door.
Silence.
"...Twilight?"
More silence.
Rainbow was about to crack open the door when it was ripped open by a magical aura. The same magic snatched Rainbow Dash from her spot outside of Twilight's room and brought her inside, discarding her roughly on the floor. The door behind her slammed and Rainbow, still on the floor, winced.
The nervous pegasus looked up and saw Twilight's face. The Princesses's eyes were red and puffy from tears, and the flush, though slightly less hot, was still there.
"Oh, Twilight, I... I had no idea...I'm so sorry, please forgive me!"
Rainbow braced herself, but Twilight only looked at Rainbow a bit more, pain still evident in her face.
Rainbow felt a stab of guilt as Twilight looked away.
"No...No I should be the one who's sorry. And I am."
Rainbow frowned. "What? No, no, I was being stupid, I put you in a spot like that and freaked you out. I dunno what came over me..."
Silence. Rainbow Dash, despite the situation she was in, was becoming tired of it.
"Look, it's alright if you just wanna be friends, still, I'm totally coo-"
"No. It's...it's not you." Twilight looked back, a small smile on her face. The tears had stopped.
"Well then what's wrong?"
"I...I need to get something off my chest too...I...I've had a crush on you too, Rainbow. Ever since I first met you."
The cerulean pegasus only lay there, gaping from the rug on the floor. Suddenly, she smiled and exclaimed, "That's great! We can-"
"No."
Rainbow slumped.
"What's wrong, then?"
"Well...I...I'm a Princess now...I shouldn't get these feelings... And besides... I'm not..."
"Not... What...?"
"In...trested in mares..."
Rainbow had to chuckle.
"Neither am I, 'Twi. But I don't like the mare, I like Twilight. I fell in love with a beautiful, awesome, smart and friendly pony who just happened to be in a mare's body."
Twilight looked at the ground, her now unkempt mane blocking Rainbow's view.
After a while of thought, Twilight said, "...You...you really mean that?"
Rainbow finally got up from the ground and swept herself over to Twilight. She reached over with a hoof and grasped Twilight's chin. Gently, she guided Twilight's gaze to her's.
"Every word of it."
It's now or never.
Rainbow closer her eyes and brought her open muzzle forward. At first, Twilight resisted, but she eventually relaxed and returned the kiss. It lasted for what seemed like ages, but Rainbow didn't mind it one bit.
Eventually, the kiss was broken and the two stared deep into each other's eyes.
"So...dinner tomorrow?"
Twilight blushed again and brought a hoof to her mouth as she giggled.
"Of course."
