Rainbow Dash laid on a cloud high above Sugarcube Corner, but she wasn't relaxing. Her hooves hung over the side as she watched the building intently. Trepidation over confronting Pinkie Pie had stopped her from going inside and demanding to speak to her vibrantly pink friend, and she had decided to wait until the Cakes inevitably left for some errand or another. That had been around lunchtime, and now that the shadows in the street were getting longer, it occurred to Rainbow that they might not have to go out at all today.

Ugh, this is so boring. All I have to do is go down there and talk to her. It's easy. Just tell her to lay off the club stuff. Right now. Rainbow Dash sifted her weight uncomfortably on the cloud. Right now! She leaned a little further over the edge of the cloud. Come on. You've got this. She stood up and spread her wings. Alright, time to do this. She stood still, flapping her wings halfheartedly a few times. This is so stupid, she berated herself, just do it. Do it! Do it! She threw herself off the cloud and glided down in circles before suddenly climbing back up and settled down on the cloud again. After fifteen more minutes of procrastination and internal verbal abuse, she finally pushed open the door and entered.

“Hi, Dashie!” Pinkie greeted from behind the counter while she waved. “I was really hoping you would stop by today! Mr. and Mrs. Cake have gone on a little trip and taken the twins, so I'm all alone today. They let me run the shop while they're gone, though, which is super neat since it means they really trust me to take care of all the chores and make the food and handle all the customers on my own.”

“Seriously!?” Rainbow shouted. Am I really this dumb?

“I know! I almost never get a chance to do everything without them helping and reminding me of stuff, not that I mind since it's really nice to help and give friendly reminders, but I'm actually doing everything on my own, so I can really show them I know how to handle this stuff, which means they might start letting me manage more stuff and maybe if they trust me enough, they'll even let me do the catering, which would be super duper extra fun!”

Rainbow Dash sighed and reminded herself why she was here. “Pinkie, we need to talk-”

“Oh, yeah, that reminds me!” Pinkie exclaimed while she ran off to the back room. Rainbow could hear her continue from the other room. “I was hoping one of my friends would come by today, since I can't just leave without closing shop while I'm out which would be bad for business. Bu~t, I was hoping that you especially would come today since I made...” Pinkie reappeared with a small tray of cupcakes that were frosted pink and sky blue and had rainbow colored sprinkles. “These!” *Giggle* “They're kind of an apology, and I guess you're here because I've been sorta pushy lately.”

Rainbow eyed the cupcakes with suspicion. What if they're poisoned? What if they're not? I'll hurt her feelings if I don't take one. But, what if they're poisoned? She's my friend, and I know she wouldn't do that to me. But, what if they're poisoned? I can't spend the rest of my life worrying if everything Pinkie gives me is poisoned. But, what if they're poisoned!?

“Are you okay, Rainbow? You look kinda...”

“I'm fine! I'm just... not in the mood for sweets. I'm sorry.”

“Aw, that's okay! These actually weren't my idea, anyway.”

“Huh? What do you-?”

“Look, I was being a big, dumb bully. I just wanted you to join the Club because I was afraid of getting in trouble, but that doesn't matter anymore. What's important is that you're one of my very best friends ever, and I want us to get along like we used to. In fact, once Sugarcube Corner closes i~n –” Pinkie checked the clock hanging on the wall. “Wowzers, just another four minutes! Once I close up and everything, I want us to go do something fun. I actually have a really great surprise all planned out. You're not busy, are you?”

That was easy, Dash thought to herself. Too easy. Is she really giving up? She thought about it for a moment longer and made up her mind. Pinkie is, like, my second best friend ever. I'll always be there for her and I know she'll have my flank, too. “Course, I'm not busy. I can't wait to see what you've got planned.” Dash grabbed a cupcake and ate it happily.

“I thought you didn't want any sweets,” Pinkie said with a pseudo-accusative tone.

“I was afraid you were trying to drug me,” Rainbow admitted, hoping Pinkie would take it in stride.

*Giggle* “Oh, Dashie, I wouldn't do that without asking first.” She paused for a moment and rubbed her chin with a hoof. “We~ll, unless I had a really good reason. I would apologize later, though.”

“You haven't ever drugged me, have you?”

“I might have spiked the Tutti-Frutti Sherbet Sugar punch at Shining and Cadence's wedding,” she confessed with a devious grin. “But nothing worse than that.”

The two friends shared the remaining cupcakes and chatted about the events of the last few days while diligently waiting for any last-minute customers. Rainbow Dash helped Pinkie Pie put away supplies and clean the kitchen before they headed out.

“So, where are we going?” Dash wondered aloud.

“It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, silly.” *Giggle* “Don't worry, nothing sexy. Just something to liven up the evening.”

Before long, the two friends came to a tavern: The High Trot. It was a two story building with a large patio protected by an awning. The architecture was old, but robust, made of quality wood that had been worn and repainted numerous times, and hewn in a style reminiscent of the early settlers of Ponyville. The High Trot was originally an inn, but had slowly changed into a bar and then a restaurant. It was nearly dinner time for most ponies and there were quite a few patrons having drinks and eating already.

“You're treating me to dinner? Sweet!”

“Yup! Have you been here before?”

“A couple times. AJ really likes the place and she sells them hard cider.”

“Is it any good?”

“I don't actually know. I usually don't drink. Makes flying kinda difficult if you're more than a little tipsy.”

“I'll remember that before I try to drink and fly, but I meant the restaurant itself. I know Sweet Apple Hard Cider is good.”

But... you don't have wings, Rainbow thought before deciding to let it go. “Yeah the food here is pretty good. Wait, why are you asking me about it? Haven't you ever been?”

“Nope!”

“Then why did you pick this place?”

“'Cause it's the best place to get more than a little tipsy! C'mon!”

Pinkie dragged Rainbow inside before she could protest or question the inane logic any further. Rainbow looked around the restaurant, to her right was the bar, where a few ponies were nursing their drinks and chatting with each other or the bartenders, on her left was a small waiting area where a family was passing time before being seated by one of the waiters or waitresses. When she turned back to her right, Pinkie had already made for the bar. She sat on one of the high stools, her back legs swinging slightly and hooves tapping on the stool and the side of the bar in a bouncy rhythm. She turned to look back at Dash and patted the stool to her left.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and climbed into the seat. “Why are we doing this? I said I don't usually drink.”

“Yep, but you didn't say you never drink. Besides, I'm buying and that sign says it's happy hour, so I'll get two of every drink! If you don't help me drink, you'll have to help carry me home instead!”

*Sigh* “Fine. Can we at least order food first?”

After a plate of black bean and cream cheese enchiladas, some avocado egg rolls and a discussion about the long term sustainability of a magic clown school for unicorns, the girls ordered a veggie platter with ranch dip and started contemplating drinks. “It's kinda silly that you've never had any hard cider, Dashie. I mean, you love cider!”

“Yeah, but I rarely drink. 'Sides, AJ hasn't got a license to sell alcohol outright. She can only sell to places with a license like this one.”

“We~ll, we can buy two for one pints or get a pitcher half off. I'd rather get a couple pints and move on to something more interesting.”

“Hey, you're buying.” The ciders arrived quickly and Rainbow Dash sipped gingerly at hers. “Oh, wow. This is great! It's actually a little more tart than the regular cider.”

“I kinda don't like that,” Pinkie commented as she made a puckered face.

“Haha, it's not that bad, Pinkie. So, if you've never been here before, how did you know it was a good place to get drinks?”

“O~h, a little birdy told me.”

“Fluttershy?”

“No.” *Giggle* “I'm not even sure if she drinks. Maybe it would help her be more social!”

“Well, who was it?”

“Don't you worry about that. I've got some more stuff planned after this. You're just gonna have to wait and see. For right now, let's see who can finish her cider first! Ready?One,two,three,GO!”

Dash almost missed the prompt to chug, but quickly made up for it. She and AJ were both way better at downing cider than Pinkie Pie. Rainbow's mug slammed on the bar top first, and she watched Pinkie gulp a few times before hammering the counter with her tankard as well. Pinkie seemed to lurch forward and Rainbow reached out to catch her only to realize that she was the one falling.

“Whoopsie~♪,” Pinkie sang as she righted Dash back into her seat. “Don't get ♫ti~psy-tu~rvy♪ just yet.”

Rainbow blinked. A pint is more than I thought, I guess. She blinked again and started to feel more coordinated. “Uh, I'm good. Just hit me kinda suddenly.”

“Heeheehee, I hope so. Hang in there for a couple more rounds at least, OK? I'll order something...” Pinkie Pie scanned the drinks menu. “Peppy! Can we get a pair of Dragon's Kisses, please!”

Rainbow and Pinkie watched as one of the unicorns mixing drinks brought over a pair of small glasses and poured a shot of cinnamon whiskey into each. Then he added a splash of absinthe to the glasses, creating a vibrant green swirl in the pale red-orange fluid. Finally each glass was garnished with a dried red chili pepper placed upside down in the glass.

Pinkie nudged Rainbow's side and tittered in her ear. “I think that's the 'tongue!'”

Dash blushed a bit as the glasses were slid over to them. The slightly curled pepper certainly looked like a gnarly dragon tongue. “That's kinda gross.” She looked over at Pinkie who was nibbling on the tip of the pepper.

“Tasty, though, and spicy. Ready to knock 'em back?”

“Can I take out the pepper?”

“Aw, that's like, half the fun.”

“Alright, let's do it!”

Each mare rested a glass on the underside of a hoof and brought it up to their lips. “Ready~, go!”

Rainbow tasted the spicy-sweet cinnamon first, then the sting of alcohol, then the licorice flavor of absinthe. Just as she was about to swallow, the pepper slithered into her mouth. Don't gag! Don't gag! She bit down on the pepper and swallowed her drink. As she brought her head forward again, the taste of the pepper seeds which filled her mouth registered. She spit the pepper back into the glass and began gasping. “Water! Water!”

“AAH, THIS IS SO SPICY!” Pinkie cried. She had evidently eaten the pepper, unaware of the seeds. The bartender took pity on them and brought a pitcher if ice water and two glasses. After downing the water and chewing on the ice for a bit they began laughing at themselves. “I can't believe we ate th' peppers! Heeheehee-” *Snort* “Hahahah!”

“I didn' eat mine! I juss bit it to stop it from slidin' down my throat!”

“Haha, yoo wuss! Eat th' whole thing, Dashie! I dare yoo!”

“No way! I'm no wuss, but I'm notta sadist, either!”

“Yoo mean masochist, silly.”

“I'm notta showboatin' stallion!”

Pinkie stared at Rainbow Dash for a moment before she bust out laughing. “Hahahaheeheeheheh!”

“What!?”

“Nothin', ne'ermind. Hows about one more round an' we call it quits?”

“Wassa matter? Losin' yer nerve?”

“Heehee, Dashie it's not a competishun. I juss don't want yoo to drink too much.”

“You think you can drink mor'n me?”

“Yoo said yoo don't drink!”

“I said, I don' yuz-yu-ah-ly drink!”

Pinkie gave Rainbow a hard look. “Okey-dokie-loki... but yoo better not fall asleep later!”

“Why're we goin' t' thuh park?” Rainbow asked for the... somethingth time.

“Cuz thash what weer s'possed ta do, silly!”

“But why?”

Pinkie began laughing uncontrollably and couldn't manage to say anything coherent until they had actually reached the park. “Haha... huhuh.” *Sigh* “Butt.”

“Wut?”

“Wat-wat, in th' butt!”

I'm too... whatever for this, Rainbow thought to herself through the fog in her head. I feel like there's molasses comin' outta my ears. “Pinkie, thisus lame. Why're we inna park thiss late.”

“Uh. Hang on, I'll show yoo.” Pinkie began running to and fro in wobbly, meandering sprints, looking for something. “Ah-HA! C'mere, Dashie~!”

Rainbow hung her head and ran over to Pinkie, stumbling over a root that she must have seen just before stepping on it. “Hey! Tha'tree tripped me!”

“Heeheehee, tricky trees tripping truly troubled... uhh~” Pinkie's eyes rolled up, then her head tipped back, then she reared up on her hind-legs, before finally flipping onto her back. “Haha, I can't, um. Oh, wait, look. Look, look!” She exclaimed as she remembered what she was doing.

Dash followed her excitable friend's hoof and saw a young couple spread out in the grass under a nearby tree, stargazing. “So?” she asked.

“Thash why weer heer!” Pinkie explained while still laying on her back. “Cuz ov th' loverbirds! There're always loverbirds in th' park in th' evenin's!”

“And?”

“U~m. I'm not shure. Thish made sense earlier. Shomething about going t' the park cuz... hey!”

“Wut?” Rainbow was getting impatient.

“From upshide-down, they look like they're flying o'er the tree, but they're not cuz if they were it'd knock the applesh down and then they'd get hit with applesh.”

“OH!” Duh, that's why we're here! “Pinkie that's a great idea for a prank!”

“Really?”

“C'mon, less clime tha'tree tha'tripped me and I'll zoom over 'em while you hold on and we'll make it rain apples!”

“Wee! Free pony rides!”

After about ten minutes of futilely trying to climb a tree with hooves, while drunk, Rainbow Dash finally wrapped her legs around Pinkie Pie's midsection and lifted them up into the tree, where they awkwardly switched positions, so that Pinkie was on Rainbow's back. “Yay! I pref- prof- pru-ah; I like being on top anyway.”

“Juss don' mess with my wings, okay?”

“Okey-dokie-loki.”

Rainbow threw herself from the tree with all the force her legs could muster. Once her wings were clear of the branches she spread them wide to catch the air and began racing toward the other tree, hoping to just skim the tips of it's tallest branches.

“Fashter, Dashie, fashter!” Pinkie shouted over the wind in their ears. “Yoo're too high,” she insisted and pushed down on the back of Rainbow's head. The pair of them flew headlong into the trees branches, and tumbled down in a noisy, painful, clumsy heap. Pinkie giggled uncontrollably again, occasionally managing to yell, “Again!”

“Did we make it rain apples on 'em?” Rainbow asked pitifully as she raised her head to look around. She couldn't see the couple.

“U~h, nope!” *Giggle* “I don't even shee them. And thish ishn't an apple tree. I think we went th' wrong way.”

“What'd you push me for? I said not to mess with me and anyway, we wanted t' knock the apples outta the tree, not us!”

“But you can't knock applesh down without hittin' th' tree. And, you shaid not to touch yer wingsh. You didn't shay anything about yer head!”

Rainbow rolled Pinkie off of her and stretched her wings. She was just about to fly off and leave Pinkie when she saw a pony in a dark hoodie peek out from the bushes and hiss at Pinkie. “What are you doing? You were supposed to take her on a romantic date not... I don't even know what you're doing!”

“Well, duh. Yoo jusht ashked what I was doing!”

Rainbow Dash crouched low and crept around the far side of the tree. She inched towards the bush as she listened to their conversation.

“Why are you flying into trees? Why did you get so drunk!?”

“Yoo shaid the bar had good drinksh.”

“Yes, I told you to go and get a little tipsy, but- Rainbow Dash, I can see you!”

Rainbow pounced as fast as she could and went terribly wide. She thrust face-first into the bush and began struggling to reach the other side where Pinkie Pie and the mysterious interloper were still talking.

“This is ridiculous,” the dark pony berated. “All you needed to do was try to get her a little uninhibited, put her in the mood, and make your move. Did you give her the cupcakes?”

“Yesh,” Pinkie answered in a huffy tone. “I took her for dinner an' drinksh an' brought her to the park, too. We were having fun!”

Dash stopped struggling against the bush and tried to pull herself back out on her side instead.

“Pinkie, if you want her to come around, you can't just go out and have fun, you need to let her know it's more serious than that.”

“But...”

Rainbow came free of the brambles and leaped over the bush. She landed on the unknown mare and pinned her to the ground. “I've got you now! Whadda ya want from us!?”

“Dashie, stop! She's a friend of mine!”

Rainbow pulled the hood off of the pinned pony. I recognize her, but... “Hey, you're the sex-shop pony! Wait.” Rainbow stepped off of Play Date and turned to Pinkie Pie. “You said tonight didn' have anything t' do with all that sex club craziness. What was all this about?” Rainbow felt herself tearing up and tried to hide it. Why am I so upset? She looked up at the stars in the sky.

“I'm no good at this kinda thing, Dashie, but... isn't it beautiful tonight?”

“What?” Dash looked back down at Pinkie and got right in her face. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“It's what those other ponies came here for!” Pinkie spoke quickly, sounding nervous and excited. “It's what I was trying to say earlier, I just- it's not- That's what this was about!”

What? Rainbow Dash tried to shake the remaining molasses out of her ears. She can't mean-

Pinkie grabbed her face to stop her from shaking her head, and kissed her.

OHMYGOSH. Pinkie, she's- but why? I-I don't... Rainbow closed her eyes and her whole body tensed up. Ah, her tongue. Warm tingling feelings made her head seem even lighter than the drinks had done. Why do I... like this? Rainbow relaxed and leaned into Pinkie, parting her lips a little more and pushing her tongue forward. She smells so sweet, even with the alcohol on her breath. They parted and pulled away from each other. Rainbow opened her eyes and looked into Pinkie's. Is it just the drinks? I don't really feel that drunk anymore.

“P-Pinkie, do you..?”

“I really really like you, Dashie. I didn't know what to do about it, especially since I kinda pushed you away by being so pushy. Play Date came to talk to me about it, and I realized... I just pushed so hard 'cause I wanted to do... those kinda things with you. She told me that I needed to take it slow, which is kinda ironic since you're so fast. I mean, not fast that way, but-”

Rainbow put her hoof over Pinkie's mouth. “Are you saying that you... love me?”

“Ahf mwrly mwuh-” Pinkie started before Rainbow put her hoof down. “Heehee, yeah. I really do, Dashie.”

Rainbow felt herself blush even deeper than before. “I don't know what to say. This is kinda sudden. I've only really been in one serious relationship before. It's been a while.”

“Even if things go kinda sour, or you don't want to try, we'll always be friends. I just really hope you wanna give it a whirl. 'Cause... worst case, it'd be the most fun dysfunctional relationship ever.”

“Haha, put the fun in dysfunctional, right?”

“Mhmm!”

“Um, let me think about it, I guess.”

“OH, COME ON!” a nearby mulberry bush shouted in frustration.

“Was that-” Rainbow started.

“I think Play Date is spying again,” Pinkie interrupted. “I'm pretty sure she's hoping that you'll join the Club if we become marefriends.”

“Seriously?”

“I'm not sure why. I kinda thought she'd be mad about the whole thing. I guess she just doesn't wanna punish anybody. Um..?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we do this again soon? Maybe with a little bit less to drink and we can try to ditch Play Date?”

“Totally.” I better do this before the alcohol completely wears off. “Uh, can I get a... er, goodnight kiss?”

*Giggle* “We won't kiss goodnight 'till one of us gets home, Dashie! That doesn't mean we can't go ahead and do it some more right now, though.” The two of them proceeded to engage in a drawn-out, remorseless public display of affection until they finally made their way back to Sugarcube Corner. “I don't think you should fly home drunk, Rainbow Dash.”

“But if I stay here, you'll take advantage of me.”

“Nope! I Pinkie Promise not to take advantage of you, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Aw,” Dash teased.

“Heehee, it's not taking advantage if you wa~♪nt it.”

“Maybe. Let's try some neck action before we go any lower.”

Across the street, hiding in the shadows, a particularly happy Play Date was congratulating herself. It was only a matter of time until Pinkie's next saucy party, and things would almost certainly sort themselves out then. There was absolutely no way this could possibly backfire.

Author's Note

I am... slightly late. I can't seem to get a handle on this schedule business. I'm going to try and get some sort of a buffer going as some point, to try and help keep these bi-weekly updates on time. It doesn't help that I'm usually working on it until the last minute, either. With that in mind, please point out any technical mistakes or seemingly odd word choice. The simple stuff is just as important as any other feedback.

It occurs to me that it is strange that I'm writing a story with a combination of RariLight and RainbowPie when the only ships from the Main 6 that I actually hold a candle for are RariJack, FlutterDash and Twinkie. Well, those and Twixie and Pixie. But I mean, c'mon. Best Pony, second best, third best.

SO. Question time, my faithful readers. Which ships have a special place in your hearts? Please let me know in the comments. It won't affect the story, unless I put some cameos in Club party scenes, but it's still a good topic for discussion.