Rainboom Anomaly

(Rainbow Dash’s P.O.V.)

Oh, today is going to be a good day...

I'm not waking up with the sun in my face...

There is hardly a breeze...

And these covers feel absolutely amazing...

Smiling as I rolled onto my side and pulled the blanket up and over my head, I let out a breath as I felt like I was on top of the world. Nothing would stop me today. There wasn’t anything that I would let get in my way on such a perfectly wonderful day. Wait... covers...?

Slowly, I opened my eyes, and instead of the comforting and familiar white background of clouds, I was met with the brown sludge color that accompanied wood. Bringing my gaze closer, I saw I was sleeping on a bed instead of the softest clouds ever conceived, and my head was resting on a pillow that wasn’t my own. Then an icy chill ran down my back and made my breathing get stuck in my throat. I swear to Celestia’s sun and Luna’s moon, if there is a stallion in this bed with me, I am going to buck him so far into the Everfree Forest that he won’t know the difference between a tree and pile of dirt...

Slowly, I looked over my shoulder, anticipating a beat down that was sending my blood into a boiling frenzy...

Only to see nopony but myself was in the bed. What...?

Rolling onto my stomach and getting to my hooves, I looked around the entire room... yet I noticed a few strange things. First, there wasn’t a sign of another pony. Secondly, there wasn’t another sign of a pony living here aside from an empty desk with an unused chair, and this bed. “What in the hay...?”

Turning my head, I looked to the side, but just as I began to try and figure out what happened last night to get me into this strange predicament; it all hit me at once. I remember the bitter sorrow and anger I had felt for most the night that had burned a hole into my chest. Then I remembered Dom...

I felt myself blush heavily as I remembered everything he had said as crystal and clear as if he had said them just moments ago... and then his kiss. If it was possible at all, I felt my cheeks warm up even further as I felt an unspeakable amount of happiness beginning to take hold of my heart. That had been the first and only time he had ever willingly shown me true and unhindered affection... and while I wasn’t AJ, I could tell that he meant it; and that made it twenty percent cooler in my books.

“But... wait... what happened after that...?” Tapping my chin softly, I instinctively stretched my wings out in preparation for a morning flight... until I remembered. “Oh Celestia no... no...”

My wings snapped back to my sides and squeezed tightly against my body as I felt a tremble rack my body. Dropping down to the bed, I covered my head in despair... if my memory was correct, then not only had Dominic made me the happiest mare alive...

I'm going to have to turn in my cool card! And for what? The affection of a stallion...?

Grinding my teeth together, I wanted nothing more to reason that it wasn’t worth it... but for once, I wasn’t sure. On one hoof I didn’t want to be known as the soft-and-easy-to-push-around mare again, yet on the other, something drew me towards Dominic. I couldn’t quite put my hoof on what was the cause... yet I had a feeling it happened when we were still in the hospital.

Why did I have to sleep in his lap of all places!? The girls... no, Applejack and Rarity will never let me live this down!

...

(Dominic’s P.O.V.)

Urgh... what in the hell was that?

While that wasn’t the worst sleep I had ever gotten, it certainly wasn’t the best I had received either. The wake up was probably the worst possible thing, and I couldn’t help but rub the sore spot. Something sharp had literally just jabbed my thigh, and to say it was a pleasant experience would be a lie that anyone would be able to tell. It had felt like a knife tip had just stabbed into my leg and been pulled out right away.

Opening my eyes to look towards the ceiling, I felt something a bit firm inside my pocket as I rubbed my leg. I am fairly certain nothing was in my pockets before I went to sleep...

Wrapping my fingers around a soft and smooth object, I slowly pulled it out of my pocket, and looked at the offending object. It looked like a feather...

A blue feather...

Oh... now I remember where you came from... heh heh...

The grin that was spreading across my lips was a reminder of my payback that had taken place on the train. This blue feather was a reminder of the speed Dash had utilized to keep her embarrassment a secret from her friends...

Might as well get up now that I am awake.

...

Do ponies eat eggs?

Scratching the back of my head as I sat up, I would’ve considered asking Dash if my joke from before hadn’t been so cruel. I may have her trust now, more so than before as she was now my mare, but I didn’t want to spook her or anything. Then again, that brought up another questionable problem.

I know being in a relationship such as boyfriend and girlfriend meant some things were open to discuss or ways to act, yet was her being my mare the same concept? Yet if that was so, I wasn’t fully attuned to how she is as a pony... as another creature that was just as smart as I am, but if she wanted certain things from this relationship; I'm not sure if I will willingly comply. I may have given her a kiss myself, but that was once, and that was on her forehead. If she wants more lip to lip kisses... I'm not entirely too keen on accepting that from our relationship.

Actually... maybe it is time to reevaluate my relationship standings with Rainbow Dash. I am her stallion... heh. She is my mare, and I will just assume that is the same as her being my girlfriend. Our relationship has only been as intimate as passionate kissing, but even standard cheek kissing hasn’t been something done in front of others. So I am so far at the equivalent of a secret school girl based relationship with her. Yet she is a full grown mare, and if our talks have told me of anything, then she already lives alone.

Her attitude is usually prideful and playful, and somewhat flirtasous when we are together and alone. When her emotions take a turn for worse, she seems to lean towards her anger more than her sadness...

So, overall, she seems to view me as more in the boyfriend version for ponies...

Yet for me...?

She is my best and only true friend in this world. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that if I needed help of any kind, then she would help me out. Of course I don’t trust her with a few pieces of knowledge, but I'm sure she wouldn’t hate me if I told her. Maybe be a bit wary once more, but I hope she wouldn’t be much different.

Speak of the devil, that must be her...

Turning around after a brief stretch, I looked towards the stairs and watched a groggy looking Dash step off of the stairs. When she turned towards me, I saw a brief flash of affection run through her gaze, before she stopped moving all together, and I saw her eyes scrutinize my hand closer, and then her eyes widened. Looking down where her eyes were looking at, I noticed the blue feather cradled between my fingers, and when I looked back up, I found a range of emotions playing through her eyes. Most prominent of all though, was a suspicious and curious expression.

“What are you doing with my feather Dominic...?”

Smirking, I held it up as I mock observed it, “Oh, this thing? I picked it up off the train seat yesterday. After you left to remove that flustered look, I saw your feather just sitting there. You know... before your friends had entered the train car?” Flashing a knowing smirk, I saw her eyes narrow a bit before a smirk of her own began to form. I watched as her wings spread out, yet I knew I didn’t need to worry as her wings didn’t appear stiff or anything likely to be arousal, so I let my own smirk remain.

As she jumped into the air, I watched her hover over the back of the couch and land in my lap, and this was when I felt my smirk dropping. She pushed her muzzle closer to my lips as she said, “Thanks for reminding me Dom... now I know how to make you pay...”

She stepped a bit closer as her eyes closed, yet I already knew what was coming, so I moved to grab her shoulders and push her back. Instead, I felt her sit down in my lap and wrap her hooves around my chest and pull me into a hug. This was the reason for me to grow confused... that is until she spoke.

“All your teasing has left me tense... I believe it is time you give me another massage. If you want, you can give me a wing massage too.”

Ooh... uh... she never approached me with the request for a massage like this before...

Hesitantly, I reached up and placed my hand on Dash’s back. I set the feather down beside the couch and on the floor, and when I reached my other hand up, I felt Dash tremble momentarily. Spreading my fingers out and across her back, I ran both my hands out across her soft fur as the start of the massage, and even though this was meant for her, I truly enjoyed the soft texture of her fur. I felt her take in a deep breath through the fabric of my shirt, and as her chest pressed firmer against my own, I closed my eyes as I reached her wings. I wasn’t intending on working on her wings, especially at this angle and position, yet I still felt her wings twitch as if she was anticipating it.

Her breath came out a little faster than I had expected, yet her wings remained at her sides as I rubbed the muscles on her back. Working my way away from the tenser muscles and towards the center of her back, I froze as a sound broke through the silence. My eyes opened as well just as Dash’s hooves tightened around my back, and we waited a few moments, before the sound of knocking came again, and this time, a voice accompanied it.

“Dominic, are you awake yet?”

“Er... Yeah, give me a minute!” I called back, and Dash was instantly alert and worried. The windows were closed, the blinds closed, and best of all, I had a Pegasus in my lap. She wasn’t the only one that was originally worried... yet I seemed to be the only one to notice nothing was in danger of being exposed.

“Oh no, if Rarity discovers I am here, I will never hear the end of it...”

Looking towards Dash as she seemed to be panicking, her eyes were looking everywhere as if to find a way out, yet I stopped that as I firmly placed my hands on her shoulders and held her still. Her eyes were quickly looking at my own, and as soon as they were, she began to calm down, even if it wasn’t by a large margin. I made sure to keep my voice low, calm, and above all else, reassuring, “Dash, just go upstairs, wait until Rarity leaves, and I will come back to finish your massage. Besides, if you want to, you can just fly out of one of the windows...”

She nodded, and as soon as I removed my hands, Rarity called back through the door, “Dominic Dear, if you would please hurry, I do have a tight schedule today...”

Dash looked back towards the door briefly, before she quickly took flight and hurried towards the stairs and quickly went up them. I couldn’t help but shake my head as I stood up and made my way towards the door. I reached over and grabbed an apple from a table top as I continued to make my way towards the door, and once I did reach it, I quickly opened it and saw Rarity standing there with a pair of bags on her back. From the way they drooped, they seemed to be empty. Yet if she really did have a busy schedule, I doubt they were going to stay that way for long.

She smiled as her eyes looked up and at my own as she asked, “Ah, good to see you Dominic, are you ready to go?”

“Go where?” I didn’t make plans to do anywhere last night... did I?

“Why, to the spa of course. Don’t you remember, you asked for a place that you could work at and Fluttershy suggested the perfect place?”

Oh... right...

“Yeah, I had forgotten about that. Before we go though, do you want me to grab you an apple?”

“No, thank you though. If you are ready, let us be on our way.”

Sorry Dash... seems like you will need to wait to get that massage after all...

(Rainbow Dash’s P.O.V.)

As soon as the door clicked, I knew I was alone, and as much as I felt a sort of pride of knowing Dominic was going to get a job himself now, I still felt disappointed. I was looking forward to a back rub as soon as the thought had popped up, and I had just began to enjoy it when he was quite literally, pulled away. Now I was going to have to wait who knows how long for him to get back, and if he wasn’t back soon, then I was going to need to leave to clear the sky today. Tomorrow was scheduled to have a rainstorm occur, but that meant it had to be perfectly sunny today.

Dom... I promise that later today, you will give me that massage... I just wish it was now rather than later...

...

(Dominic’s P.O.V.)

Stepping through the doors and into the spa, I found myself inside a circular lobby that had a few chairs along the wall with a counter across from them. There was a curtain over a doorway that must lead to the adjacent room or hallway, and as soon as the door closed a bell sounded from behind Rarity and I. Before a moment of even waiting, a pair of nearly identical mares were standing in front of us. I say nearly identical, as the only difference between them was their fur color, and the colors of their manes and tails. They looked exactly alike in every other aspect that it was a little disconcerting, but I did my best to keep a smile on my lips as they looked me over.

“The usual miss Rarity?” It was the blue fur pink mane mare that spoke, and I wasn’t able to place the accent, though it did sound a bit exotic.

“No, I actually came to ask if you have a job opening for my friend here. He is new to town, and he has a bit of experience in this kind of thing.”

The Twins as I was just going to call them both looked into my eyes with curious expressions before the one that hadn’t spoken yet asked, “Oh, is that so? We can always use another experienced hoof, or hand in your case. How much experience do you have?”

Not as much as I do with flying weaponry...

“A few hours actually...”

They looked at each other, before the blue fur colored one spoke, “Miss Rarity, can you attest to his experience?”

I looked over and at Rarity, who in turn looked back up at me, before we both looked towards the twins as she said, “I can’t say I do...”

“Well... we can always evaluate his performance then. What is your name...?”

“Dominic. If I may, what are your names?”

“My name is Aloe.”

“And my name is Lotus.”

Alright, blue body is Lotus and pink body is Aloe... God I hope I don’t mix up their names...

It was Aloe that spoke next, “If you would please follow us Dominic...”

“Lotus dear, if you wouldn’t mind, I need to get going... busy day ahead of me.” I looked behind me, but before I was even able to say a thing, Rarity was gone in a flash of light. Teleportation!? I should’ve known magic would have that...

Turning back forward and following the mare in front of me, I couldn’t help but hope that I would be hired. I wasn’t sure what I would need to do, but I'm fairly certain the clients wouldn’t have me do what Dash has already done...

...

The mare that was lying down on the cot in front of me gave a long sigh of relaxation as I worked a particularly large knot out of a spot between her shoulder blades. I had earned the job alright; just the way I had been evaluated had been straight forward, and well, awkward. I had needed to give a brief massage to Lotus, yet I had apparently done so well, she was still in the lounge room sleeping. If it wasn’t for the absurdness of it, I would’ve thought she was mocking me, until Aloe had poked her sister a few times. When she made no move to respond, that was when the surprise was let out.

Who would’ve known I have magic fingers...?

Dammit... it’s like the line never gets shorter...

The first mare I had worked on had been hesitant, but once she left... well, it wasn’t long before mares seemed to begin to come in at a faster rate. The mare in front of me was my sixth customer, and my fingers were beginning to feel fatigued. While I welcomed the pay I knew I was earning, I hadn’t thought it was going to be this taxing. I haven’t even been here for four hours yet, and Aloe was apparently busier than she had been in a while. The baths were filled, the beds were all filled, and a few of the mud baths were in use as well.

Look on the bright side Dom, at least instead of patrolling the skies and maintaining a jet, you are now giving out relaxing massages to those that can’t do it themselves...

Bringing my hands together, I slowly eased off the pressure I was applying, before fully pulling my hands away. Stretching them out a bit, I looked down at the mare as I said, “Ma’am, I'm all finished.”

Not waiting to receive a reply as I was booked for the next client, I turned around looked at the mare lying on the table. She was lying on her back as she held a magazine in front of her, and when she saw me approaching, she quickly lowered the magazine with a smile as I asked, “Hooficure and mud bath?”

“Yes... are you really as good as the other mares say?”

Glancing behind me, I saw the other mare was still lying on the cot, and I shook my head lightly as I looked at Aloe at the next table and said, “We have another sleeper...” I saw the smile already on her muzzle widen a tad wider as she continued to do that hoof hitting massage deal on the mare at her table, and I looked down at the mare in front of me to see her now lying on her side and trying to look around me. I chuckled softly before I said, “Well, I’m only as good as my teachers.” I made sure to nod towards Aloe who briefly glanced up, before I added, “And having fingers helps a tad bit...

This earned me a giggle, and by now, I was holding the file in my hands and one of her fore hooves in one of my hands. I continued to work as she asked, “Every single pony has either seen or heard about you... but what are you?”

“Wow...” looking up towards Aloe, I saw her now actively watching me as well now, before I looked back at the mare who was slightly blushing, “You’re actually the first pony here to ask me that. But I am a human, and if my ears are serving me right, I apparently look like a small Minotaur...”

As soon as I was finished, the mares that were discussing me in the bath stopped. I felt a grin crack through. Looking down at the mare as I moved to her other hoof, I saw her looking up at me with a thoughtful expression, before I myself asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be relaxing instead of asking questions? I can’t see talking as all that relaxing.”

She smiled before she held out one of her hind hooves for me and laid back down on the pillow behind her. Smiling as I shook my head gently, I grabbed her hoof and began to work on it. As I worked, I looked towards the lobby and saw Lotus was up and finally organizing the horde of ponies...

Today is going to be a busy day...

...

(Rainbow Dash’s P.O.V.)

Smiling as I looked over Ponyville, I saw not a single stray cloud in sight. The wind felt great, my wings felt slightly sore from the light exertion but high speed, and the soothing sun made everything perfect. Now, the only thing on my schedule was to relax, and maybe go see how Dominic is doing at his new job.

Since he is my stallion... perhaps I can get a free massage from him while he is at work...

But what if the girls showed up?

Looking towards the distant but general area of the spa, I wouldn’t mind getting a massage now, but if the girls did show up, then I wouldn’t be able to live it down.

I guess I will just wait until after he gets off of work...

...

(Dominic’s P.O.V.)

Looking over towards the wall mounted clock, I saw the minute hand finally land on the highest point it could, and I saw the small hand was over the right number. It was time for me to leave and go home, and I was glad. It had been busy... I had serviced over three dozen mares, and while it wasn’t particularly odd, I hadn’t seen any stallions.

“Hey Aloe, I will be leaving now.”

The pink colored mare looked towards me with a smile before she nodded her head and said, “Very well. Remember, work for you starts at ten.”

Smiling, I nodded briefly as I returned a few clean, dried, and rolled up towels to the rack near the baths. Once that was done, I turned and began to make my way towards the exit when Lotus said, “Dominic, here is your pay for today.”

Stopping, I looked towards Lotus as she grabbed a bag of coins with her mouth and started walking towards me. “I thought I was going to be paid at the end of each week?”

She shook her head as she dropped the bag into my waiting hands, and when she looked up she spoke, “We understand this is your first job, so we thought we would pay you todays pay in advance. I'm certain you don’t have any bits, no?”

Grinning weakly, I shook my head, “No... thanks Lotus...”

She shook her head once more before she nodded her head towards the door, “It is alright Dominic. Have a pleasant day.”

Turning around, I felt my smile turn a bit wider, before I looked up and into the clear sky. Alright... so I have money... I think I can go shopping and fill up the fridge now.

Turning and making my way deeper into town, I looked down into the bag and counted out the bits just so I would know what I was working with. I might not know the prices here in this world, but I didn’t want to attempt to buy something without knowing how much I had to spend least I come up short. That wouldn’t be very slightly, or noteworthy of the ponies to know me as the only human that comes to buy stuff without having enough money.

I wonder if this is enough to make a stew. Of course it will be a vegetable stew rather than what I would normally have... but what can I do? I still don’t know where to get meat without offending or frightening the local residents.

Once I reached what looked to be the center of the town, I saw what appeared to be carts all over the town square with many different items and goods on display. I could even see Applejack, though she was near the end of the stalls and plenty of ponies were between us. My height easily provided me with a good sight over everything, yet it seemed to draw a lot of attention towards me. Yet, as I made my way into fray and towards a stand with potatoes, celery, and a few other greens I could use, I started to notice something. The ponies that were closest to me actually seemed to try and move out of my way faster, and the few who actually locked eyes with me seemed... frightened almost. I would really say they are cautious, but even caution doesn’t warrant anyone to move that fast...

It would seem I do seem a bit more intimidating that I had previously thought... I guess I have been hanging out with only Dash too much lately...

...Not that I mind of course.

Looking over the things I would need, I began to idly think of how long it would take to prepare everything. It shouldn’t take too long, but I was going to need to buy a few things besides just food. Well... day one by myself, shopping day... yayyy...

Yet before I reached the vendor, a pink blur filled my vision and I was forced to stop as a certain pink mare was bouncing in front of me, an extremely large smile over her entire muzzle. Her eyes were actually twinkling as she asked, “Hey Dominic, are ya busy?”

“Actually, I was just going to buy some things before I go home?” I said as I tried to walk around her, yet I was quickly intercepted as she merely hopped to the side and in my path again.

“Silly, you won’t need to do that, you already got everything you need at home!”

“...” Glancing over my shoulder and in the general direction of my home, I looked back at the pink mare and asked, “What do you mean?”

“You should come with me to find out!”

“Uh, Pinkie... what did you do?”

Somehow her smile grew even wider, and she stopped her bouncing long enough to place a hoof on my shoulder and begin to push me back, “Nothing bad, really! Now are you going to go or will I need to get Dash to come and get ya?”

Uh... what does she know?

Deciding it was better to not push so far to see exactly what my thoughts concerned, I turned around and let myself be led off towards my home. If Pinkie Pie did something with it, I would rather see it and be able to fix whatever was wrong rather than wait.