Chapter 21: Return To Town

“So Dash, think you are going to be spending more time here in town or back at your cloud home?” Raising my fist and quickly rapping it along the wooden door we stood in front of, I chuckled lightly, “or will you be spending more time at home with me in my bed?”

Dash for her part remained mostly silent, though the light tint in her cheeks was enough indication that she was starting to blush, as well as the slight narrowing of her eyes. When she looked over towards me, I lowered my hand and turned to look back at her with a small quirk of my lips. She seemed ready to make a cocky remark, but her eyes suddenly shifted into a more of playful glare that I had come to know all too well during our ‘prank war’. It was an interesting change all of a sudden, but her response was more so. “You and your bed sound like a cool choice... why, did you have something in mind?”

Simply what she said was enough for my body to release a physical response, my cheeks suddenly filling with a fire I hadn’t been prepared to hide. I could only smile wider as I moved closer to her by simply shifting my weight, shaking my head in surprise. Dash smiled wider as she puffed her chest out victoriously, her wings flaring slightly more of an attempt to appear bigger. Her head tilted back a bit, and she suddenly appeared haughty and noble somehow all in one.

I remember reading up on this kind of behavior. Gotta say... it fits her pretty damn well...

Opening my mouth to say something was a bit overrated just as the door itself opened, so I closed my jaw and watched as a lavender colored mare appeared in the doorway, a book levitating just off to the side of her head. Her eyes widened momentarily as she smiled up towards me and said, “Hello Dominic, I didn’t think you would be back so soon after I performed that spell.” She turned towards Dash and then proceeded to move forward and wrap her friend in a one hoofed hug, her eyes closing for the moment, “Hello Rainbow Dash, so nice of you to finally visit one of your friends.”

When the two mares separated, Dash was no longer blushing, but she wasn’t exactly looking back at her friend, rather she seemed uncomfortable as she held a hoof up behind her neck while staring at the ground. Her eyes shifted across the ground as she said weakly, “Jeeze Twi, in front of the whole town?”

Twilight laughed softly, before she turned and walked back into the library and said, “As if... please, both of you come in. I can make some tea!”

Just the mention of tea made me shudder as a memory resurfaced, and I dug a marble out of my pocket and looked at it closely. Earlier in the week I had received a letter full of a dozen of these marbles; the exterior is a pastel white, while in a few places the brown core is visible. The letter was from Celestia, and the long story short, was each marble was a tea cup, with the brown core being condensed tea. Her letter informed me that every time she thought about her sister making sweet oral romance with the only human in Equestria resulted in her tea becoming undrinkable.

I’m not sure if I should be afraid of upsetting a love struck Princess, or the sister of said princess that can condense liquid... a feat of magical strength that should be impossible. Liquid just isn’t supposed to be condensed so easily!

Placing the marble back into my pocket, I followed the two mares into the library and then closed the door behind me. Marbles aside, I still had to write Princess Celestia a letter thanking her for breaking the laws of physics or mass conversions. She had to know she single handedly... or hoofedly, broke the laws that govern an entire society over the fact I kissed her sister; or rather the fact her sister kissed me.

“So Dash, how is it having a coltfriend?” Twilights’ voice carried from the kitchen.

Making my way towards the sound of conversation, I heard Dash mumble something too softly for me to hear, other from the single word ‘great’ near the end. I entered the kitchen just as Twilight began to pour tea into three separate cups of tea. Her gaze soon lifted until she was smiling towards me, her eyes sparkling brightly as she asked, “And you Dominic, how is it dating a mare?”

Grinning a bit, I knew she had a few books on dating on her shelves; I had busted her reading one of them on one of my off days when I stopped by. Taking a seat beside Dash, I wrapped an arm around her back as I said, “It is different, but that only makes it all the better.” Giving Dash a quick glance, I found her turning to look back at me. I smirked, something she caught onto quickly as I looked back at Twilight and added, “Did you know Dash likes to make everything into a competition?”

Twilight’s smile fell ever so slightly, before it became more than it was before, “Yes, I do. Her and Applejack made a huge competition out of the Running of the Leaves. Despite all their competitiveness, they both still came in last.”

Feeling my eyes widen, I couldn’t help but feel astonished that not only was she overall as competitive as she was with me, but more for the fact she came last at something. That was actually news to me, and I had to get confirmation for this.

Simply looking at Dash was all the confirmation I needed...

Reaching over and grabbing one of the cups of tea, I took a sip as I mulled over what to ask next, instead, Twilight spoke up and asked, “So Rainbow, why did you stay out of town for so long? Doesn’t that put you further away from Dominic?”

I turned and gauged her reaction to the question, and it came with little surprise how guarded she seemed to become. She was clearly uncomfortable with answering an arduous question like so with such an easy and simple question, so with a purposely heavy settling of my cup on the table to get all their attention, I grinned and made up a partial truth. “Dash here is too cool to be seen acting all romantical. Wrong kind of showing off, you know?”

Twilight giggled as Dash growled at me, though I saw the smile and playfulness to it all too well by now. And despite our current company, she leaned closer and nuzzled into my chest, before she asked, “Dom, can you go get us something to eat?”

“Oh, nonsense, I can cook us something to eat!” Twilight said before I could even respond. Dash’s immediate reaction was to jerk away from my chest with an audible gulp.

Rainbow Dash shot her head towards me with panic in her eyes, and she said with concern and a bit of fear, “Dominic, go get us some food! Twilight will kill us all!” Twilight looked offended, and I gave her an apologetic look before turning a scolding glare towards Dash. Her pleading look didn’t waver as she shuddered, and then said, “She can’t cook Dom... she burned cereal! Cereal!”

“That was only one time!” Twilight whined, and I turned and looked at the clearly distressed Twilight, my jaw working as I tried to figure out how that could even happen. That didn’t stop Twilights purple iris’ from turning towards my own brown and adding, “It wasn’t on purpose, I just wanted to heat it up...”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Dash open her muzzle, but with lighting precision and speed, I lashed my hand out and wrapped my fingers around her muzzle to keep her shushed. Her eyes widened and went cross as she looked at my fingers, and I opened my own mouth... only to close it afterwards. I shook my head briefly to get my thoughts back onto track, and I suggested, “Maybe I should just go get something from Sugercube Corner... maybe a few muffins. Yeah, that sounds about right. Weelll... I will let you girls get caught up...”

Releasing Dash’s muzzle, I stood up and idly reached a hand over and scratched Dash’s head between her ears in a parting gesture. I grinned as I heard Dash coo a bit from the attention, but I quickly turned and made my way towards the exit. I didn’t want to potentially get caught up in an explanation in how Twilight managed to burn cereal...

(Dash’s P.O.V.)

Once I was certain Dominic had indeed left the treehouse, I turned my attention back towards Twilight and found her partly glaring at me. “That was uncalled for, you know...” She whined.

I offered a sheepish smile as I amended, “You know it is true Twi! Besides... I needed to talk with you alone.” My smile fell as did Twilight’s glare, her interest increasing from the change of attitude. I couldn’t help it however, and with my mood falling, I bluntly asked, “Twi... what rumors have been going around town about us... me and Dom? I asked him earlier, but... he acted weird. I trust him, but I know he is hiding something.”

Twilight instantly became nervous, the tell tale of her ears flicking and her lower lip becoming caught between her teeth. I instantly knew that she knew something...

“What, ah... what did he tell you?” She asked after a few moments of silence.

I frowned as I thought about how Dominic, my Dom, had acted as he had told me his lie. With a bit of difficulty, I recited his words... probably not word for word, “He said how everypony was jealous he was dating me... but I know that isn’t everything. What have you heard Twi...?”

Twilight nodded her head, and her features tightened as her eyes searched for something... probably a book with which to find the best answer. “He isn’t far off in those regards Dash.” She trailed off, her eyes saying there was more.

“But...”

She looked pained as she continued, “But they don’t say it like that.” She brought a hoof up and rubbed head. When her hoof set down, she said, “You can understand... many ponies here are... uh, wary of things that are strange. Now that you and him are in part in a relationship... many ponies are hearing and subsequently spreading around the rumor on how the monster brain washed an Element of Harmony.”

The thought of ponies saying that around my Dominic, as if he couldn’t hear what they were saying, it made my fur bristle from righteous anger; and if I ever got my hooves on whoever...

“Is that all he told you Dash?”

Looking up from my furious musing, Twilight was giving me a concerned look. It made me feel worry more than my anger. “Yes... why?”

It was the first time I felt true worry for somepony other than my five best friends in a long time, and the cold feeling that spread through my body did little to help my nerves. Twilight’s muzzle scrunched up as her lips pursed, and she said, “I believe it is worse than either of us know... Dominic has been more, reclusive. Even though his ears are much smaller than a ponies and he can’t move them like we can... I think he has heard worse than that.”

“What do you mean?”

There was a brief pause, before Twilight said uncertainly, “I don’t know...”

...

(Dominic’s P.O.V.)

Pushing the door open into Sugercube Corner, I was hit by a wall of airborne sugar and spice, as well as the taste of fresh baked bread and sugary delights. It brought a smile to my lips. The bell set over the door chimed, alerting my presence to whoever was manning the kitchen at the time. While I made my way towards the counter, I saw a rather excited face pop from the side of the door frame, and with a gasp, Pinkie shouted out in joy, “Dommy!”

When she appeared around the door frame, she bounded towards me with the brightest smile on her muzzle. It took three jumps before she leapt at me, and it was with previous experiences that I was braced for the impact. Her forelegs were latched over my shoulders like fuzzy hooks, and even though I was braced, I still lost my breath and was rocked back a few steps.

She fell back to the floor after a few moments and asked, “What do you want Dommy? The regular...? Or maybe this time you want to try something new?”

Following Pinkie towards the counter, I chuckled a bit before saying, “Actually, I’m here to pick up something for Twi, Dash, and I to snack on. So... the special, and something for Twi too of course.”

“Special order for three coming right up!”

The pink ball of sugar and fuzz disappeared into the kitchen as soon as she was sure of what my order was, leaving me alone in this quiet room. I could hear clanging coming from through the doorway, as well as a few giggles sounding out at random.

There was a shuffling from behind me, and then there was a small prodding near my calf muscle. I pulled my leg away in surprise as I looked behind me and down at the mare or stallion in question, only to feel my heart lurch while my eyes bugged out.

Holy hell... it’s so fucking adorable!

The little pony gazed up at me with large purple eyes, and the tiny wings that adorned its back buzzed a bit. It swallowed from nervousness, and as I turned around in full, it took a step back. I kneeled down to bring me closer to its height, and I asked, “Hello there brave little one. What is your name?”

“I-I’m not little! You’re just big!” She replied almost instantly, her little chest puffing out as she glared up at me. The little outburst did surprise me, but the level of adorableness grew exponentially just from her bravery. It only got me to smile, and seeming to realize just how much bigger I was than her or that I was the strange creature here, she shrunk back and added quieter, “My name is Scootaloo.”

“Well Scootaloo, my name is Dominic.”

She beamed brightly, before she asked, “Is it true, that you know Rainbow Dash!?”

Grinning and giving a small nod to the little filly, I answered back, “Yes I do. In fact, Rainbow Dash is my marefriend.”

Her wings buzzed, and her smile fell as she said in a higher pitch, “No way! That is so cool!” Her smile returned in full force, and she asked, “Do you know where Rainbow Dash is then?”

Nodding, I gave my answer, “Yeah, she is at the Golden Oaks Library right now... I will be going there soon, so if you want to wait, we can both go together.”

Why have I not seen an equine child before!? She is so cute!

Scootaloo had the childish glee and wonder that any human child would have, but was the size of a year old pup. It was like mixing all of the cutest things together and somehow coming out with this. It made me wonder what Dash looked like as a little filly now. I made a mental note to find any childhood photos of her when I could or a chance provided itself with a fresh opportunity.

“Um, sure. I have to tell Pinkie first!”

As the little filly bounded around the counter and disappeared through the kitchen doorway, I leaned against the countertop and waited. Hushed whispers came from the kitchen in short increments, and before long, both Pinkie and Scootaloo came walking out of the kitchen; the former carrying with her a bag with what I knew would be my order. The little tan filly was soon at my side, and I accepted the bag from the pink mare. When her muzzle was free, she smiled widely and jumped up and wrapped her forelegs around my gut. “Congratulations on getting your Dashie back Dommy!”

Chuckling as I pried the bundle of fuzz from my body, I took a step back and spoke, “Thanks Pinkie... and if you could, stop sneaking muffins into my house...”

She giggled as I turned, but as Scootaloo and I began walking away she sang out cheerfully, “No promises!”

Shaking my head as I pushed out into the open air, I sighed as I felt a warm breeze blow across my face, but the little filly at my side spoke up, “So... are you an alien?”

Looking down at the little filly, I saw her gazing up at me with barely concealed suspicion. It brought a smile to my lips and I couldn’t help but think of what I appeared to Dash as. I reached down to scratch at her ear, but she side-stepped my hand and frowned. I couldn’t bite back the chuckle as I straightened back up and continued moving. “An alien, hmm? I wouldn’t call myself that, but I am the only Human here.” Cracking a grin, I glanced purposely at her and said, “If anything, you are an alien to me.”

“I’m not an alien! I’m a filly!” She squeaked out in indignation.

Looking down at the filly, I bit my tongue as I continued to smile widely. She reminded exactly of Dash; cute, brave, and energetic. Her wings may be miniscule, but much like Dash, he wings flared out when agitated.

Why didn’t Dash tell me about this little ball of cuteness earlier? Is this a friends daughter, or maybe a little cousin...?

Her brightly colored eyes store up at me while she herself pouted, and I couldn’t resist asking, “An alien filly?”

She frowned before she reached a hoof out and bumped it against my knee, “You’re the only alien here, I am just a filly! This is Ponyville, not Alienville...”

By all that is holy... too cute...

...

Voices other than Twilights or Rainbows filtered from the kitchen as I shut the door behind Scootaloo and myself. She placed her scooter just to the side of the door and quickly buzzed towards the voices. I followed behind a bit closer, but lagged behind as I heard Rarity squeal happily, before she seemed to shout in the breathy-excited tone, “Oh! For that long? When is the marriage? I already have a dress in mind that would make you look amazing!”

Feeling a cheshire grin spread across my lips, I stepped into the kitchen and made my presence known. My eyes flashed towards Rainbow Dash and saw how bright her cheeks were already. Around the room I saw two additional mares in the room; Rarity and Applejack, plus the two fillies I’ve seen Scootaloo hanging out with before.

My conviction to make a joke about when we would be getting married died on my lips when she looked up and met my gaze. And the fact Applejack was here meant there had already been some ribbing prior to my arrival.

“I’m back. If I had known there was going to be more ponies here, I would have brought more muffins for everyone.” I said, setting the bag down onto the tabletop. Using my fingers I ripped the top of the bag off for easier access.

“Nothin’ to worry about sugarcube.”

Rarity flipped her main from in front of her face dramatically before shooting a winning smile, “Darling, do you think I keep this figure so slim by eating sweets everyday?”

My grin stretched to the side as I thought about it. Well... maybe. You do look like a giant marshmallow! “No... no I don’t.” I said instead.

I looked towards Rainbow and saw her smiling back at me. She knew what I was thinking...

When I looked into the bag however, I saw a note in the bag. I picked it up and looked it over briefly, before looking towards the surprisingly filled bag.

“Dominic, what does the note say?” Twilight asked.

Clearing my throat, I read it out loud, “It’s from Pinkie, ‘Hey...’” clearing my throat once again, I decided not to omit the note, “ ‘Dommy wommy, here are some extra muffins, cookies, cakes, and donuts.’ And that’s it.” I lowered the note and examined the bag once again, and found it was filled much more than I had seen the second time. “How did she get that much into that bag with hooves...? And without crushing any of them?”

The girls around the table each giggled or laughed as they each took something out of the bag, before Twilight shuddered and said, “Don’t question it, trust me...”

I waited, hoping for more of an explanation, but when I didn’t get any, I nodded uneasily as I selected a large dome topped muffin for myself. The little fillies snagged the bag after the adults all grabbed something, and as they ran into the main room, I took a seat as Applejack asked, “So Dominic... you tamed Rainbow Dash here with your fingers. Is this different than what you show at your job?”

There was a hint of suggestion to her voice, and her eyes glinted mischievously. There was a brief ‘hey’ of indignation from Dash, but I was already moving in for the kill. I looked straight into Applejacks gaze and gestured with my hand, “Humans have tamed many creatures, even ones as wild as Dashie over here.” I saw said mare glare at me from the corner of my eye, and I gave her a small smile in turn, before returning my attention to Applejack, “If you’re really so curious, just ask Dash if you can have a try.”

I couldn’t help but laugh when her orange cheeks suddenly adopted a red hue. I wasn’t too surprised when I noticed two others around the table also found themselves blushing... I was surprised however when Fluttershy was one of the two.

Nothing was said after that, as we all sat around the table and munching on our own respective snacks. It was with care that I tore small pieces off my muffin and placed them in my mouth, mindful of my canines around the mares, as I had less than stellar reactions from others at the spa a few times when I smiled a bit too widely.

I blinked once, before I felt a deep chuckle leave my throat, drawing the attention of all the mares at the table. My smile stretched painfully wide as I closed my eyes. I heard Applejack clear her throat before she voiced her question, “What’s so funny Dominic?”

Looking up, I looked at my muffin and asked, “Has Dash ever told any of you of our first interactions that day I arrived?” From the edges of my vision, I watched as the mares all shook their heads, save for Dash. “There were a few things that happened that day... silly, harmless things, but events that I would change if I could.”

“Why would you want to change the past?” Twilight asked.

I looked up towards Dash and purposely and obviously eyed her up and down. Twilight and Rarity, who were sitting on either side of her, noticed the odd behavior, but didn’t say anything about it as I began. “I would only want to change the past with the knowledge I had now. You see, remember mind you,” I glanced at Twilight, “nobody, er, nopony knew what my diet consisted of, and in my ignorance, I made a poorly planned joke at Dashes expense that yielded less than stellar results.”

Dashes eyes widened as her cheeks adopted a reddish hue, but she didn’t make a move to stop me. I turned towards Applejack and flashed her a wide smile, noticing her eyes quickly darting to my upper canines, before I asked, “How would you react if a predator was before you, joking about how he would like to eat you?”

Her large eyes blinked owlishly, before a smile spread across her muzzle as she looked towards Dash and said, “I would buck it into next week, but I ain’t Dash here. Why, did she get scared?”

“I don’t get scared!” Dash responded hotly, though her cheeks were already redder than a kindling fire.

“I wouldn’t say she got scared, but I definitely made her nervous. I had went as far as grabbing and pulling her close as I joked about having her for a personal bar b que.” I looked back towards Twilight and chortled and said, “That was the first time I learned how much of a hard headed attitude she has.” I grabbed and stuffed some more muffin into my mouth and chewed happily, remembering those early days.

“That sounds... scary...” squeaked Fluttershy.

I looked to the timid mare, cuasing her to hide meekly behind her mane with a small squeak. I could only fathom how she would’ve fared if I had done such a thing to her.

“As... interesting as that sounds, why does something like that come to mind?” Twilight asked.

Fondly looking towards Dash, I looked around the table with a soft smile and said, “While it may not seem like it, there is something about sharing good memories that seems to cement a healthy relationship. Plus, having others to tell about the good times I have with Dash also feels good, instead of needing to hide everything to help save face.” I looked across the table towards the glare I was feeling, “Even if some of those memories might not seem like good ones compared to others.”

“Oh!” I looked towards the excited exclamation as Twilight summoned a note pad and quill, “Is this a normal part about human mating rituals?”

There were blushes aplenty around the table after she said that, and yet she remained oblivious to those around her. Rarity was the first to respond however as she muttered about proper lady-like decorum.

“Twilight,” I said, drawing her attention from the writing she was already doing. Once it was clear I had her undivided attention, I continued, “Mating rituals implies that Dash and I have already mated.” I waited a few moments for that to settle, and once it did, she started blushing herself. “Before you start trying to write a new chapter in your book about the Human species... maybe make this one about relationship building.” She nodded and began to scribble the wording at the top of the paper out, before I added, “As to your question... I guess I can say yes? I would assume that would be true here as well for any healthy relationship.”

There was silence for a few moments, before I grinned and added, “But for a later chapter, both in your book, and my relationship with Dash; sex isn’t out of the question.”

The first thing to happen following my statement, was Dash slammed her hoof onto the table as she began to choke on her muffin. Her eyes bulged as she glared at me in both mortification and embarrassment, her cheeks no longer able to darken further... instead now her ears turning scarlet. Secondly, Twilight stabbed her quill through her parchment, her eyes widening as she stared straight at the paper in front of her. Rarity unsurprisingly looked ready to faint, her eyes staring towards me in much the same way as Dash. As I continued to look at the others, Applejack was laughing uproariously, her eyes closed as tears of mirth spilled from the corners of her eyes. As for Fluttershy, the only part of her head visible from the depths of her mane, were the tips of her ears sticking free from her mane.

“What’s goin’ on?”

I looked towards the sound of the voice, and saw three little heads poke from around the doorway. They looked on innocently and completely unaware.

When I turned back to the table, I now had Rarity glaring at me as well. Applejack was still laughing too hard to have noticed the three additional fillies.

Good God I forgot they were here! With that thought, I too began to laugh as loud as Applejack, but not before jumping out of my seat to grab a glass of water for Dash!

Author's Note

Hello, and Welcome to chapter 21 of Rainboom Anomaly! Now, I understand that this chapter has been a long time coming... and I cannot express truly how much I hate myself for dragging this single chapter out for nearly 3 years. Most of this chapter, and I do mean a very large portion of it, has been sitting untouched for this entire wait. And I mean, since the last update. Those many months ago, I had something different planned for this chapter, but everytime I would try to use that idea, I would freeze up, lose any inspiration, and just close the doc and not even bother trying again for weeks. That stretched on for months, and then finally years. These past few years have been tough for me, both IRL, and as a writer. I honestly considered, many times, to quit writing. For the longest time, I no longer had any passion for writing, and that simple fact pained me more than the constant Writers block.

I'm not saying I am back, but I'm also not saying that I will stay away for so long. I will however say that For now, I'm only going to work on this one story until I get all my motivation back, and then I will start working on more of my stories, both here and on Fanfiction.

One final thing... I have quit Skype. IF you wish to connect with me, I will be on Discord. If you don't yet have Discord, I will say this. It takes some getting used to, but after a while, it's much easier than Skype to use. Plus in servers, you can have multiple people chatting at once, and the bigger chats make for an easier monitoring of chat compared to the cramped Skype options. As of yet, I don't have a server made... but I do intend on making one. In the past, I had requests for stories made, ideas tossed my way, and even in a few instances, I made actual friends, but didn't have a way to remain in contact with many of them. So, again, if you have a Discord, please feel free to message me here and I will get my User ID to you as soon as I can.

...It felt good to type again.