Chapter Fourteen: Progress?

"I really don't see how it is that hard to believe. I'm sure lots of ponies never have."

"Yeah, but most of those ponies are still in grade school." Bonbon giggled.

"It's not like I never thought about it, it's just not something that's all that important to me." This wasn't a topic Rainbow Dash was used to giving any serious thought.

"Wow, I didn't think she seriously meant that you NEVER had a special somepony. Is there a reason?"

"I just told you, it's just not that important to me."

"Wow, I can't imagine what that would be like."

Dash sighed, "Can we change the subject? I get teased about it enough as is."

"Oh I'm sorry Dash. I'm not teasing you. I just meant that, well, it's kind of a strange concept to me." Bonbon thought for a moment. With a sly grin she said, "Hey, I have an idea. You are single, I'm recently single… see where I'm headed with this?"

"Sorry Bonbon, I'm not interested. Besides, aren't you trying to get Lyra back? Pretty sure that would be counter productive."

"Yeah, I know…" Bonbon looked down at her hooves. The walk to the library was much longer than she remembered. "I guess I'm just hoping I won't have to be alone."

"Is that why you stayed with Zecora last night? What were you two really doing?"

"I already told you Dash."

"No you didn't. I'm not stupid Bonbon. Like I said, if it was personal you don't have to tell me, but I don't appreciate being lied to." Dash stared ahead. They were approaching Ponyville, the dirt path slowly growing wider as they drew nearer.

"Fine. Yes, it was personal. I don't want to talk about it." Bonbon sighed, she had thought she was in the clear, apparently she had to be more careful around Dash.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Dash noticed a dark blur approaching quickly from the direction of the Everfree forest. After just few seconds she could make out a pony shape, a dark grey pegasus stallion, flying quickly in their direction.

As Thunderlane got closer he slowed his pace. Calling out he said, "Hey Rainbow Dash! Cloud Kicker just told me that there was another rockslide. I know you're off duty now, but none of us know what to do. We're supposed to report this right?" He flicked his wings forwards as he landed in front of the duo, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

"You mean to tell me that nopony on duty knows what to do?" Dash asked, incredulously.

Thunderlane shook his head.

With a sigh, Dash continued, "Well, I suppose this explains a few things. What you do is, when somepony witnesses a disaster, they first report it to the shift leader…"

Thunderlane nodded. He sat on his hindquarters, his head cocked, listening intently.

"…the shift leader will show you how to put it in the daily report. In the mean time, whoever saw it happen reports to town hall immediately." Rainbow Dash squinted. "You got all that?"

"Uh-Huh." Thunderlane nodded, "So Cloud Kicker told me, I put it in the report and send her to town hall with the daily report?"

"No, she tells you and you send her IMMEDIATELY to town hall. At the end of the shift you get her account of the incident and put it in the daily report." Dash rubbed her temples. "Wait, why are you leading the day shift? On second thought, why are you even working the day shift? You are supposed to be on the evening shift this month."

"It's day shift's weekend at training camp in Cloudsdale." Thunderlane stood-up. "Me, Cloud Kicker, Flitter and Sassaflash are the only ones on duty right now."

"Oh, I forgot about that. Don't worry, I'll come by before shift change and show you how to do the report. Make sure Cloud Kicker reports to town hall A.S.A.P.!" Dash said, slightly embarrassed. Since she had been promoted to weather coordinator she didn't have much interaction with the regular teams. Her day to day routine was basically to set up the weather in the morning and be on call if something unexpected happened.

"Okay, I think I got it now." Thunderlane said, nodding again. He turned to leave before catching sight of Bonbon. "Oh hey Bonbon, good ta see you! If you would, tell Lyra that Rumble got an A+ in math on his report card, it's all thanks to her tutoring!" He flashed a wide grin and took off.

Rainbow Dash and Bonbon resumed walking. Bonbon's gaze cast at her hooves, Dash's fixed straight ahead.

"I didn't know that Lyra tutors foals. Is that why she is taking those classes, to be a teacher?" Dash had met Bonbon and Lyra through Fluttershy shortly before Twilight moved to town, they were always fairly social ponies, but Dash rarely talked to them outside of Pinkie's parties.

"Yeah, she loves foals. We talked a couple of times about adopting one of our own." Bonbon leaned against Dash as they walked.

Dash stopped abruptly. "Bonbon, I told you I'm not interested, please stop leaning on me like that."

Bonbon pulled away. "I'm sorry Dash. It's just… I'm really lonely right now, and I feel like I can talk to you." She shifted nervously on her hooves, a light blush touching her cheeks. "Are you sure you wouldn't, maybe, like to go to dinner with me? It doesn't have to be anything serious."

The two began walking again. Dash's voice wavered as she spoke, "I dunno Bonbon, it doesn't seem right. I don't want you to be lonely and all, but think of Lyra. You two have all this history together. She is probably just waiting for an apology."

Dash's pace slowed, she began dragging her hooves. "Besides… I'm not really into mares."

Bonbon nudged Dash's shoulder, a playful smile across her muzzle. "Lyra made it pretty clear that we are through, would I really be respecting her by not accepting that? And if you have never had a special somepony, how do you know that you don't like mares? Maybe stallions are the whole reason romance doesn't appeal to you and you just never realized."

Dash stopped. Bonbon was making a lot of sense. The thought never occurred to her. Maybe it wasn't romance itself that didn't appeal to her, perhaps it was how she had constructed it in her mind. She never questioned her preferences, stallions just seemed like the only option. "Well, when you put it like that… I dunno."

"What's the worst that could happen? I'm not asking you to marry me, we don't even have to call it a date. Just two friends having dinner." Turning around so they were face to face, Bonbon nuzzled Dash's neck. Sinking into the soft fur, she noted the contrast as she pressed into Rainbow Dash's toned muscles.

Dash's face was pressed into Bonbon's mane, the scent seemingly filling her world. She smelled of cotton candy and strawberries, the same scents that surrounded her candy store. She closed her eyes. "You promise it's just dinner? If you and Lyra make up tomorrow, I don't want to be the source of any tension between you two."

"I promise, just a friendly dinner. I'll be on my best behavior. No funny stuff." Bonbon bounced in place, her nose scrunched, her elated smile seemed to cross into her whole being.

"Okay…" Dash said, uncertainly. Still apprehensive, she began to smile. "For now though, we still need to get to Twilight's place."

The two began walking again, a little slower. After a moment, Bonbon once again leaned against Rainbow Dash's side.

Dash did not object.