Instant Teenager

Chapters

7 years later...
The Summer Sun Celebration
The Wonderbolts
The Nightmares
Valedictorian
Feather Flu
The Wonderbolt's Party - Part 1: The Plan
The Wonderbolt's Party - Part 2: Busted!
Grounded
Soarin and Dash's Date
Partings and Suspiscions
The Kiss
Tensions
The Fundraiser

7 years later...

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she'll never outgrow your heart

-Author Unknown

It's been 7 years since the blind Pegasus learned to fly; Rainbow Dash had been coping with the fact that she was growing with gritted teeth. Cumulus herself had grown accustomed to her origins as well as her blindness, in fact, she had taken her navigation skills to the air. She tracked where she was by the smell of the air and what she heard below her. And not only that, but she was fast! Even faster than Rainbow!

When Rainbow first saw her speeding through the sky at 13, her first instinct was to stop her before she hurt herself! But she then saw how well she was doing, she saw how good she was at knowing when she was about to crash into something and dodging the obstacle.She got around by her other 4 senses and this impressed everypony in Ponyville how she didn't let her blindness stop her from flying. This even impressed the weather patrol and noticed that she was very good with clouds, she was good at sculpting them, placing them and determining them just by the feel of them. On her 16th birthday, she got the question that neither Cue or Rainbow expected.

"Would you like to join the Weather Patrol and take care of the clouds?"

Cumulus was dumbstruck but said yes on the spot when she finally found her voice.

Rainbow couldn't be more proud as a mother, and to think that she was worried about her Little Cue about joining the Weather Patrol when she was just a baby! But now, seeing how far that she's come from the basket and proving that she was able to fly without her mother's help, she was slowly and uneasily letting go of the reins. Rainbow was also very excited to know that Cue's blindness wasn't going to be a hindrance for her in life.

During the next 2 years, trying to fit school with work (she insisted that she continue her education) was a struggle. She was tired most of the time, dozing off as soon as she sat on the couch in the living room for a breather most nights, and not to mention that a lot of times she would come home in tears over the stress that she was under.

When she came home, stressed as can be, Rainbow asked, "Are you sure you can handle this? Because it's not a problem if you can't. I'll totally understand."

She simply took a deep breath, "Yeah, I'm fine. I can do it, I just need to get used to it."

Rainbow was hesitant but said simply, "Alright, just let me know if it becomes too much for you."

Cue nodded, "Okay I will."

On this morning, the morning of the Summer Sun Celebration, Cue is asleep in her bed. Her alarm clock goes off attempting to wake her up, only to be halted by her making it stop and knocking it to the ground. She then went back to sleep, she was asleep for an extra 5 minutes when her mother called up the stairs, "Cue, you'd better not be sleeping! You'll be late for work!"

Cue only groaned and covered her head with her blankets.

"Cue! Now! Or I will get the storm cloud!"

Cue jolted awake, "I'm up!"

'All these years and I'm still afraid of thunderstorms,' she thought to herself.

She remembered her most fearful encounter with a thunderstorm. That time, a bolt of lightning hit a tree, causing it to catch fire, her mother was able to get her out of there quickly; creating the first ever Sonic Rainboom from a takeoff. The whole incident ended with Cue getting a broken leg and burns on her back. She still shuddered at the memory, she remembered the fear in her heart, the pain all over her and the feeling of being strangled by the smoke. She brushed the memory quickly aside as she went down the stairs.

'Well no wonder why I'm still scared of them,' she thought to herself sarcastically.

She came into the kitchen smelling blueberry pancakes. She entered tired eyed, her mane and tail a mess. Rainbow looked at her daughter as Cue yawned and rubbed her eye.

"Wow, it's either a zombie apocalypse or you were up late last night," Rainbow half joked.

"Har, har, har, you're so funny. You know I had a late shift last night."

"I remember, don't worry," Rainbow said understanding and trying not to ask her if she could handle this out of concern. Knowing that Cumulus would give her the same response telling her she could. So instead Rainbow only served Cue her pancakes.

"So, you excited or nervous about this years' Summer Sun Celebration? It's not everyday that the Princesses come to Ponyville," Rainbow stated.

"I'm mostly excited, I've met them before and honestly, I can't wait to perform my welcome aerial act."

Rainbow was honestly worried about her performance. She has learned over the years not to be so overwhelmingly overbearing but, the thing that frightened her was that Cumulus' total wing power now exceeded Rainbow's and she feared that her daughter wasn't going to have the time to react when she locates herself at the last second if she goes to fast. Cumulus was extremely stubborn when she was asked to tone it down.

'Teenagers,' Rainbow thought to herself back then.

Cumulus could navigate herself very well by feel, smell and sound. She'd gotten used to it so it came naturally to her, "As naturally as breathing," Cue put it.

She was becoming more and more independent, Rainbow knew that their time together was ending.

The Summer Sun Celebration

After she ate, Cue headed out to work; which, today, included cloud busting. Today, of course called for clear skies so she couldn't shape them like usual. She didn't mind this that much, she loved her job regardless; she loved the freedom she felt and she loved knowing that she was putting Shiny Bit and Sparkling Gem's money where their mouths were. They constantly antagonized Cue in her youth and told her that she'd never fly as good as her mother. She proved them wrong!

Even though they still teased her and made bitter comments, she just retorted back and kept her head high.

Her aunts and friends were also very proud of her alongside her mother! One day, during her first week, they were cheering her on as she sculpted the clouds into the letters (she had to study foam letters with Twilight for this) that spelled out a marriage proposal between Big Macintosh and Ms. Cheerilee who had been dating two years prior. How did it go? Let's just say that Cumulus was Ms Cheerilee's Mare of Honor and it must be going well because they are now expecting a baby.

Today, however, Cue was going to spell 'Welcome Princess Celestia and Princess Luna' in the sky for her performance. She was a little nervous because of the fact that she was performing for royalty, but she kept herself confident. She would think of her family and friends, mostly her mother. Even though once in a while they figuratively butted heads for one reason or another, they made up later after they cooled down. Things during these fights never got as drastic as their first falling out on the night Rainbow unintentionally kicked Cumulus out of the house. But still, they showed that they cared for each other time and time again.

The Royal Sisters arrived just as soon as the stage set in the center of the town. Cue wasn't lying when she said she wasn't nervous about meeting the princesses again. She was invited to each Gala so as a result she got to see them annually and Celestia granted Cue her sight for an hour each time and Cue couldn't be more grateful to the Princess allowing her to see her mother again. So as a result, she became good friends with the princesses.

Cumulus began to approach them but the guards blocked her way with their wings.

"Who goes there?"

"Cumulus Dash, sir."

"Prove it."

Celestia then spoke, "Ah! Cumulus! How lovely to see you again! Sirs, allow her through."

"Yes your highness."

They opened the wing barricade and allowed her to pass through, "Hello Princess," she said as she climbed the wooden steps.

"Don't forget about me!" said Luna playfully when she reached them.

Cumulus blushed, "Sorry Princess Luna."

"You don't need to be so formal Cumulus," said Luna.

"I know, I'm just being polite."

Celestia grinned, 'I've only seen one other mare like her,' she thought to herself.

"So you have a performance for us?" Luna asked.

"Yes, I hope you enjoy it."

Rainbow then came up and said, "Cue, you're up."

"Oh! Okay, that's me!"

The mayor stepped on the stage beside Cumulus and addressed the crowd, "Ladies and Gentlecolts! I'm sure I speak for everypony when I bid welcome to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

Everyone in the audience cheered as the princesses waved gracefully.

"And now, our very own Cumulus will perform an aerial act for us...Cumulus?"

Cumulus nodded and stepped forward, she then spread her wings and crouched so she could jump and take off at the speed she wanted.

'Alright Cue, you can do this,' she told herself.

She took a deep breath ant leapt up, flapping her wings as fast as she could! Her wings took her upwards at her top wing power speed. As she continued to propel upwards, she caught a chunk of cloud in her arms. Cue then went straight down as she got to work on the 'W.'

As she worked the message, everypony below stared up in awe, they were amazed at her skill while considering he disability. Rainbow Dash herself was a mix between being on edge for her daughter's safety and being proud of her, these emotions fought each other for which would show on her face and pride won. This pride, love and joy she'd been given for these past 18 years had been the most life changing events of her life.

Cue finished the 'A' in Luna's name and she then shot upward like a rocket!

"Big finale Cue! You can do this!" she told herself.

When she reached the appropriate height, she went for a nose dive.

Rainbow watched with crossed hooves, all the training for this performance, all of the advice, sweat, tears, cuts and bruises all led down to this moment, "Come on baby, come on baby, come on baby..." Rainbow chanted to herself.

Cue felt pressure building up at her hooves as she continued downward, she felt the cone of pressure her mom told her about building up around her. She almost got too excited but told herself to stay focused and concentrate. She was then shot forward at a speed that she wouldn't be able to do with just wings and she heard the explosion and the applause! She turned to fly straight over the audience and heard her family cheering - the voice that stood out above all of them was her Mom's.

"A SONIC RAINBOOM! THAT'S MY BABY! THAT'S MY BABY! SHE DID IT!"

Cumulus felt herself glow with pride as she flew over the message in an arch, creating a rainbow over it.

When she landed on the stage, the audience was even louder! She then realized that she was the 2nd Pegasus to master the Sonic Rainboom - the first being her own mother. She then felt a hoof on her shoulder, "I think your performance took the spotlight from us," came Celestia's voice.

"Sorry...I didn't mean..."

"No apologies are necessary Cumulus, it was beautiful," said Luna.

Cumulus smiled with pride, she may have outshined the princesses and she did feel bad for doing that, but she knew that the Princesses didn't mind. It was her way of saying, 'Welcome' and 'It's good to see you again' at the same time.

The Wonderbolts

Cue stayed up the whole night like she did the past 5 years for the Summer Sun Celebration. When she was younger, she wasn't allowed to stay up that late but now that she was old enough, Rainbow was a bit more lenient. She could still be protective and sometimes even embarrassing, but Cue still admired her and considered her a hero. Tonight she was not only getting attention from her family she was getting attention from the town which made her a little uncomfortable. When she was in her Aunt Twilight's library filled with a majority of the town for a party, all she heard was praise.

"Cumulus that was so cool what you did up there!"

"How did you do that Cue? Can you teach me?"

"Like mother like daughter!"

"Hey Cue! Do you think you could teach my son to fly?"

"Cue, if you keep this up, you'll be a Wonderbolt!"

Cumulus felt herself blushing, all she did was do a performance for the Princesses. She saw it as greeting old friends and nothing more, she honestly wished she could go and hide somewhere to get away from all of the attention.

"Okay everypony! Give the mare some space! You've seen a Sonic Rainboom before, now beat it!" her mother commanded. Cue breathed a sigh of relief as the crowd went away and her mother came toward her.

She put an arm over Cue's shoulders, "You okay?"

Cue laughed, "I'm starting to regret doing the thing in the first place."

"No, don't say that! You were great! The Princesses loved it!"

"Thanks Mom, I needed that."

"Good, well...I'm gonna go and mingle, 'kay?"

"'Kay."

Cue decided to go and get something to drink, she asked her Aunt Pinkie when she reached the beverage table.

"You want some punch, soda or cider?"

"Punch, not a fan of soda and I'm not old enough for cider."

"Alright, punch coming up!"

Pinkie scooped the purple liquid into a cup and she handed it to Cue, "Here ya go!"

"Thanks Aunt Pinkie," she responded taking the cup.

"You're welcome!"

Cue took a sip as Pinkie asked, "So how are things going?"

"Okay....I guess."

"Just okay? And you 'guess'? What's going on?"

"It's nothing, it's just...Mom's been having nightmares again....about the wild fire incident."

Ever since Cue left the hospital, on and off, her mother had been having nightmares about the wildfire. Cue was not sure why her mother would be so terrified if in the end of the dream she saves her life. Rainbow never told Cumulus what was going on in these dreams, she didn't want her to be concerned; yes, it was that terrifying.

"Oh, I know that really scared her, I've never seen her that scared before! Well, except for the time she entered the Best Young Flyers Competition and she got stage fright because your Aunt Rarity had a set of butterfly wings and they turned to ashes during her performance and your Mom performed a Sonic Rainboom when she went to save her and the Wonderbolts, your Mom ended up winning and got to hang out with the Wonderbolts."

Cue got really confused when Pinkie went on a (what Cue called) 'Talking Rampage'. But she could have sworn she heard something about hanging with the Wonderbolts, her head was spinning about all the information that was trying to cram itself in her brain. And this is ironic because she's the smartest one in her class, she always got straight A's and has been on the Honor Roll since Kindergarten!

"Okay, let's back track here, did you say my Mom got to hang with the Wonderbolts? THE Wonderbolts?"

"Oh yeah! In fact, your Mom once had a dream to join them!"

'She did?' Cue thought to herself.

"What happened? Why didn't she go for it?"

"You came along! She felt she couldn't juggle you, and being with the Wonderbolts...so she chose you."

'Wow,' Cue thought to herself, 'She really had to make sacrifices for me.'

This only added to her list of why her mother was her hero. Cue then left the table to find her friends, she kept an ear up for them when she heard a shrill voice, "Well, well, well, looks like you ruined your Mom's life when you came!"

"Ah, Diamond Tiara...didn't you learn your lesson with the ice cream?"

"At least I'm not the one who came along and buried my own mother's hopes and dreams."

"My mother made a choice, she couldn't do both so she made a decision."

"It was the wrong decision if you ask me."

"Well then that's YOUR problem isn't it?"

"Yes, you ARE my problem."

Cue felt her blood boiling, but tried to remain calm, "I'm sorry that you feel that way Diamond, I'm sure that way, way, way, WAY deep down that you're a beautiful mare."

Cue then turned to walk away.

Diamond then exploded, "I AM PRETTY!"

Diamond then pulled Cue's tail, causing her to drop her punch, and began attacking her. She punched her in the side of her temple which sent her backwards and made her black out for two seconds,

Diamond then saw her opportunity and began punching her multiple times in the face and gut. The crowd was shocked and tried to break up the fight but everypony that tried to pry Diamond off of Cue was pushed away harshly by Diamond. It was finally broken up when Rainbow airlifted Diamond off of Cue.

"Let me go! My Daddy will hear about this!" she screamed.

"Yeah, yeah, shut your trap, " said Rainbow with an eye roll.

When Diamond was on the ground and was being held back by Applejack and Twilight, Rainbow went to Cue's aid.

"Hun, you okay? What happened?"

"She was saying some things, I said some things back and tried to walk away and...well, you know the rest," she responded as she sat up.

"Come on, let's go home."

"But...the celebration."

"You're in no condition to stay up this late now, that blow to your temple is swelling up."

Rainbow touched it a little and Cue winced, "Yeah, that's what I thought, come on let's go."

And with that, they went home.

The Nightmares

'That's 4 times now that she's gotten in a hoof fight with somepony,' Rainbow thought to herself as she was getting a makeshift ice pack for Cue she then wrapped the washcloth around the ice and said, "I said it once and I'll say it again...of all the messes you get into!"

She flew to Cumulus and pressed it to her temple which made her wince in pain, "For the record, all these incidents all center around Diamond Tiara or her brother's marefriend...none of them are my fault."

"Well...you've got a point there....but still the fighting has to stop, just don't make any snide comments and walk away."

"I'll remember that next time."

Then Rainbow heard a voice call her name below her house, "Ms. Dash! Ms. Dash!"

"Keep that ice pack to your head, I'll be right back," she said.

She went outside and looked over the side of her house to see Filthy Rich.

"Hello Mr. Rich, can I help you?"

"Ms. Dash, can you fly down here? It concerns your daughter."

Rainbow felt a shiver of panic run through her but flew down to the ground.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

The police Sheriff then stepped beside him, Rainbow then felt the panic intensify!

"You're not here to arrest her are you?!"

"No! No! Of course not! She's such a sweet mare and she didn't even start it," said Filthy Rich.

"Then...why..."

The Sheriff then spoke, "We just wanted to know if your daughter wanted to press charges."

If it were Rainbow's decision, she would say yes on the spot, but she didn't know about her daughter.

"We haven't even talked about this yet, I'll get her."

Rainbow then flew up to the house and opened the door, "Cue, can you come out here for a sec?"

"Sure, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing honey, the Sheriff just wants to ask you some questions."

Cue came over to her, "Am I being arrested?"

"No, he just wants to know if you want to press charges against Diamond Tiara."

Cue's eyes widened, "I...um....I'll...be down in a minute."

"Okay."

Rainbow flew down and waited for Cumulus, she was probably thinking it over.

"How is she by the way?" Filthy Rich asked Rainbow Dash.

"She's got a big goose egg on her temple but other than that she got out with a few bruises."

Filthy Rich shook his head in shame as Cumulus came down.

"Okay, I've made a decision," she said as she landed.

Everypony there waited, she took a deep breath, "I would like to press charges, I hope you're not angry with me Mr. Rich..."

"Don't worry about it, Diamond needs to learn her lesson that she cannot behave like this. I just have to close off the family account to her so she can't buy herself out of this."

"Alright, well, we'd better get ready to turn in," said Rainbow, it was 9 at night and they weren't attending the celebration so there wasn't a point in staying up all night.

"I understand, have a good night ladies and feel better Ms Cumulus," said Filthy Rich wholeheartedly.

"Thank you Mr. Rich."

He then turned and left for home, tomorrow he would got to the bank to block his daughter from his account.

Rainbow and Cumulus flew back up to the house and went inside.

"Are you sure you feel comfortable doing this?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, I feel TOTALLY comfortable with pressing charges against somepony else who terrifies me and could do the same thing to me again!"

"So you're freaking out..."

"YES!!! I mean, what if she does it again when she gets out? Not just to me but to somepony else?"

"She'll probably get scared enough that she will actually be nicer."

Cue shook her head, "I'm going to bed."

Rainbow sighed, "Night hun."

"Night."

She went upstairs and closed her door, trying not to let the guilt get to her. She crossed over to her bed and tucked herself in; meanwhile, Diamond was being arrested.

Filthy Rich entered the house with the Sheriff and called Diamond Tiara down from her room.

She came down the giant staircase like a princess, "Yes Daddy?"

She then saw the Sheriff, "Why is HE here?"

The Sheriff then spoke, "Diamond Tiara, you are under arrest for assault and battery."

"What?!"

"Sweetie, this is the only way you'll learn."

"But Daddy, you can bail me out!"

"No, Diamond, I can't...you need to learn that you can't always get your way."

The Sheriff approached her with hoof cuffs and attached them to her as he said, "Diamond Tiara, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if cannot afford one...one will be provided for you in the court of law."

"Daddy, I cannot go to prison!"

Jewel and Shiny Bit then came down the stairs, "Rich! What's going on!"

"Diamond Tiara assaulted Cumulus."

"She did what?!" Jewel exclaimed.

"She attacked me first Mommy!"

"Diamond Tiara she did not and you know it! She's blind first off and she'd never hurt a fly!" Filthy Rich exclaimed.

"Diamond Tiara, how could you do this?!" Jewel exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Mommy," she sobbed, she did not feel sorry for what she did, she felt sorry that she got caught.

"'Sorry' isn't going to cut it missy! You're going to prison!!"

Diamond could only cry as she was escorted out of the house by the Sheriff Shiny Bit was totally silent as the huge doors were closed by the butlers, but he only thought to himself, 'I'm somehow gonna get you back for this Cumulus.'

Meanwhile, back at the Dash house, Rainbow was dreaming her nightmare. She squirmed and cringed as she slept through the nightmare she had every night now, the thing that scared her the most was in this nightmare.

Rainbow was surrounded by flames and smoke, the fire was crackling and roaring and above it, Rainbow heard a familiar voice, "Mommy! Mommy! Help me!"

A giant wall of fire was between them, "Don't worry honey! I'm coming!" Rainbow shouted.

But when she tried to fly over the wall, she realized two very important things: her wings were gone and her hooves were glued to the ground!

"Mommy! Help me!"

"I can't! My wings are gone! And I can't move my hooves!"

"Mommy! It's burning! It HURTS!"

Rainbow felt panic seep through her as she realized what was happening, "No...NO!!"

She then heard the screams that would torture any mother, "MOMMY! IT'S BURNING! PUT IT OUT!!!"

"No...NO NO NO!!! CUMULUS!!"

Rainbow jolted awake with a gasp, the door creaked open and a voice that instantly calmed her down spoke, "Mom? Are you okay?"

It was Cumulus, the sound of her adult voice calmed her down, Rainbow saved her from the fire 7 years ago. She was alive, not dead, she was alive. Relief washed over Rainbow like an ocean wave.

"Oh thank Celestia...I was dreaming."

Cue crossed over to her, "Mom, what is happening in these dreams that's scaring you so much? Is it just re living or something?"

"Cue, hun, it's not your problem."

Cue rolled her eyes, "Mom, what time is it?"

Rainbow looked at the clock on her nightstand, "3:05 AM."

"If I'm waking up at 3:05 AM to make sure you're okay then it IS my problem...come on, what's going on?"

Rainbow took a deep breath, "I dreamt that....that I wasn't able to save you."

Rainbow put her head in her hooves and sobbed, remembering how incompetent she was in the dream. How much of a failure she was, not even trying to save Cumulus, she hated feeling like a failure especially as a mother.

Cumulus wrapped her arms around her mother as she sobbed, this really frightened, "It's okay Mom...I'm okay, I'm alive because of you."

Rainbow looked up at her, "No, you were in that situation because of me...I should've just told you."

"Mom, it wasn't your fault!"

"Yes it was!"

"No, it wasn't! We've been over this! It was Diamond's fault...you would've broke it to me easily. Diamond was...well...being Diamond."

Rainbow nodded, realizing that she was right.

"Just focus on the positive right now, I'm alive...thanks to you."

Rainbow smiled and hugged her daughter, she has always been thankful that she kept the filly in the basket. And what a mare she was turning out to be!

"Do you want me to stay with you?" Cue asked.

"Please?"

Cue tucked herself in next to her mother, Rainbow then took Cue in her arms and petted her mane before she fell asleep with her head resting on top of Cumulus', thankful that she was able to save her back then. Cue fell asleep felling safe in her mother's arms just as she did when she was a filly and was scared at night.

Rainbow herself didn't have another nightmare that night.

Valedictorian

Summer had come to an end, and now, Cue's final year of school had already begun. It was now Fall, almost to Winter, the air was chilling and the leaves had already fallen. Diamond Tiara would be in jail until that Summer so it was an easier ride for Cue, Dandelion and Autumn Leaves.

Today, it was a particularly hard day for Cue, she beat her record of cloud shaping her past record was 50, but today, she beat it by another 50! 100 clouds that day and as soon as she got home she collapsed on the couch and meant to close her eyes for 5 minutes, but it turned into 4 hours. On workdays, she had to wake up at 4 AM and got off of work at 7AM, so she had time for school and that was from noon to 6 then she had to go back to work until 9. So when she get's home, she's burned out. She was woken up by her mother, who let her know that her friends were here to take her to school.

This woke her up, "Oh sweet Celestia!"

She quickly flew up to her room and Rainbow was laughing while Cue was scrambling through her room, trying to find her saddlebags. She felt all over her room but couldn't find them, "Mom! Have you seen my - " she began to call but was interrupted by her Mom's response.

"Under your bed Cue!"

She felt under her bed and there it was, "Oh!"

"Thanks Mom!"

Rainbow shook her head smiling as Cue flew downstairs and past her Mom, "See you at 9!" she said when she got to the door.

"I'll have dinner for ya!"

"Thanks!"

She then left the house to her Mom.

"Hey, ready to go?" Autumn asked when Cue flew down from her house, Autumn's flank now sported an Autumn leaf with an acoustic guitar next to it. After the talent show, he realized that his special talent centered around making music. Though he only enjoyed playing acoustic guitar because he liked simple music inspired by the world around him and he thought, 'What better way to represent nature in your music than the acoustic guitar?'

"Yeah, though I'm a bit exhausted."

"How come?"

"Cloud Shaping took a huge toll on me today."

"Mr. Donkey will understand if you need to take a day or two off...you know that," said Dandelion.

"No, it's fine...really, it's fine. It's just that...this is our last year! Dandy, you're going to Pony University in Fillydelphia next year for college and Autumn's going to Manehattan for his music career. I'm not going to go to college because, well, can you imagine me on a college campus with an escort wherever I go? No thanks!"

"So what's your point?" Autumn asked.

"We don't have that much time left together."

The two friends realized that she was right, their time together was running out.

"Well, now that you put it THAT way..." said Dandelion.

"That's why I want to spend as much time with you guys as possible."

Autumn smiled, he still hadn't gotten over his affections for Cumulus, maybe this could be the year he'd finally tell her his true feelings.

'She's so beautiful,' he thought to himself blushing. He had told Dandelion of his affections toward Cumulus and she promised not to tell, she was the one to poke him in the side to wake him up.

"Ow!"

"Wake up buddy boy!" she said with a knowing grin.

Autumn only glared at her.

"Come on, let's go to the restaurant and get some lunch, and I'm buying," Cue offered.

Cue, Dandelion and Autumn walked together to the local restaurant; once there Cue ordered a Daisy Sandwich, Dandelion a Grilled Cheese and Parsley Sandwich, and Autumn got a Salad with Ranch Dressing. They laughed and talked about the things they got into as kids, things they did over the summer plus what classes Dandelion and Autumn would be taking in college. Then after they had their fill there and when the clock said so, they left for school. The way school works in the small towns of Equestria is that the older students from 13 to 18 (sometimes 19 depending on when they were born) had school in the afternoon and had a different teacher than those in the morning which were the students from 4 to 12. The older student's teacher was, in fact, Cranky Doodle Donkey! He preferred to be called Mr. Donkey and the kids actually got a detention if he was called Mr. Doodle. The only highlight of this class was the blind mare named Cumulus and her two friends who were the only ones out of the entire class who respected him. The rest of the class complained often about him, 'He gives out too much homework!'

'He's so mean!'

'No wonder he's called Cranky!'

They also managed to say things about Cumulus and her friends as well, like calling them 'Teacher's Pets' and other things. Well, Cue showed them when she had trouble with her Statistics lessons and stayed after school for private tutoring and she turned out having the best grade on her final exam last year.

"Being a what you call 'Teacher's Pet' gets your grades up, maybe you should follow an example," she told them.

This quieted them quickly and they never brought it up again, but Cue continued to get straight A's and Rainbow couldn't be more proud.

The three friends entered the all too familiar school house and Cranky lit up when he saw his 3 favorite students, in fact, he had a special announcement for the class that was going to impact Cumulus.

"Alright everypony! Take your seats!"

Everypony obeyed within the course of 1 minute, he then continued, "Okay, well..it seems that this is the last year for a majority of you, some will be going to college, some will be joining the Royal Guard for either Canterlot or the Crystal Empire. But, one of you in this year's graduating class will be in the spotlight, and that is...the Valedictorian."

Sparkling Gem, Cumulus, Dandelion and Autumn's mortal enemy since Kindergarten beamed, thinking it was going to be her. Shiny Bit, Sparkling Gem's coltfriend since 2nd grade was beaming as well, thinking it was going to be him, Autumn and Dandelion looked at them both in disgust.

"Now, as you all know it's tradition that Ponyville's Valedictorian chooses where the graduation ceremony is going to be; this includes the ceremony and the dinner afterwards. So, without further ado...your Valedictorian for this year's graduating class is...Cumulus Dash."

Cue's eyes widened, "Huh...what?"

She heard everypony in the class turn to face her, she heard a lot of them applauding her and these were some of the underclassponies and some of the nicer ponies in her grade but the others were either jealous or Shiny Bit and Sparkling Gem. Cue on the other hoof, was blushing like mad.

"Alright class, let's get to learning shall we? Please get your copies of Twelfth Night by Shakespony and open them to where we left off last time."

Cumulus, still shaking from the big announcement, got her Braille copy of Twelfth Night and opened it to where she marked it. She enjoyed the story so far, though she admitted this to her teacher, she wanted to know what happened next and finished it before the rest of the class did. Cranky didn't mention this to the class out of consideration for her, because he was aware of how some of the other students would treat her. So, he told her to just re-read along with the class and he recommended other titles by Shakespony that he thought she might enjoy, which she finished within the next week. She was undoubtedly a very smart mare, such a shame that she wasn't going to college.

As the 3 friends were about to leave the school house, Cue said, "Wait for me outside..."

They nodded and went outside to wait for her as Cue approached Cranky's desk, where he was grading papers, "Umm..Mr. Donkey?"

He looked up at her over his glasses, "Yes Cumulus? How can I help you?"

"I just wanted to ask...why me?"

"For Valedictorian?"

"Yes, I don't think I'm THAT qualified..."

He took off his glasses with a sigh, "I know this is a giant responsibility for you and you have work and everything, but there are reasons why I chose you...you have been on the Honor Roll since Kindergarten for one, you're a straight A student, and you've shown that you can both work on the clouds and your studies...this is why I believe you can do it."

Cue had to admit, her confidence was boosting up, but she also had to admit, any other classmate would've sufficed. Like Sparkling Gem, even though Cue hated her guts, she had to admit that she was very intelligent and that's what got Cue in gear in the first place, she wanted to show her that she was useful. But by the time Cue had risen to the top of the class, it had become habit.

"But Sparkling Gem..."

"Cumulus...you can do this...I know that this is a tall order. But I know you can find a place for the ceremony and you'll be able to make a speech at the ceremony."

Cue's pupils dilated, a speech?! She felt like she was going to be sick.

"Cumulus, it can't be that much different than you performing in front of royalty at the Summer Sun Celebration."

"But, that was different, if you mess up you can just make it look like it was all part of the act when you're flying."

"Cumulus I wouldn't ask anypony else if I weren't confident you could do this."

She took a deep breath, seeing that she wasn't going to sway him, "Okay...I'll do my best."

"I know you will."

He replaced his glasses and went back to work as Cumulus turned to leave.

When Cue exited the schoolhouse, she was greeted by an exited hug from Dandelion.

"Our own Cue-mew! Valedictorian! Valedictorian for pony's sake!!!" she exclaimed.

"We're so proud of you!" Autumn exclaimed turning it into a group hug.

They then heard the snobbish voice of Sparkling Gem say, "Yeah Cumulus...congrats on Valedictorian."

Cumulus was surprised as Dandelion and Autumn let go.

"Yeah, congrats," said Shiny Bit who was standing next to her.

Cumulus knew them better than that, "Gem, Bit...don't say things you don't mean."

Their smug grins were now gone as the three friends walked past them.

When they were a few yards away, Dandelion asked, "So how are you gonna tell your Mom?"

"I honestly have no clue."

"I know she'll be proud of you," Autumn offered.

"That's not the problem....she'll be talking to me about college and everything."

"Oh..." said Dandelion.

"Look, I'll figure it out but I've gotta fly out of here...gotta work."

As she took off, Dandelion called after her, "Don't burn yourself out!"

"I'll try not to!" she called back.

Dandelion shook her head laughing as she and Autumn left.

"So...what are we gonna do to get you and Cue together? Hm?"

Autumn blushed, "I...uh...what?"

"Autumn, this has been going on since Kindergarten, she can't see your expressions and you've been using that to your advantage long enough. If you don't tell her...I will!"

Autumn's pupils were the size of pinheads as he glared at her, "You wouldn't!"

"I would."

She then got into his face as if to dare him, "And I will! You've just got to tell her yourself and I wont."

"Okay, okay, I'll tell her by the graduation beach party in Las Pegasus."

"Fine, if you don't tell her by then, I will."

She then spit into her hoof and Autumn did the same they then put their hooves together sealing the deal.

Feather Flu

As Cue worked her tail off on the clouds, shaping some and busting some and while working she hatched up a plan to tell her family the news. She would invite them to Sugar Cube Corner for something, ice cream or whatever they wanted tomorrow and she would be buying; but she would tell them then and there when they were a little suspicious. She was excited to have a hoof in helping her class' graduation ceremony happen, but at the same time she knew that her family would pressure her to go to college. Her mother was happy with whatever she chose to do with her life but had sometimes flip flopped on her opinion of her daughter NOT attending, sometimes her Mom was a problem on this subject, but not the REAL one. It was, in fact, her Aunt Twilight that was consistently pressuring her to go. Ever since Cue aced her SAT's and ACT's Twilight's been shoving college pamphlets at her from all directions; and reading them aloud to her. There were pamphlets for Universities in Cloudsdale, Trottingham, Vanhoover, Fillydelphia, Manehattan, and even the hardest one to get into: Canterlot. And this really made Cue uncomfortable, she knew that her Aunt meant well but she did tell her that she didn't need to go because she already had a job that she loved and she didn't want a different one, THAT and what she told Dandelion and Autumn, she found the idea of a new place where she didn't know where to go daunting and that she would need an escort to get where she needs to go embarrassing. But, Twilight ignored this telling her, "You should go! Especially with your accomplishments!"

This accomplishment however, Cue felt, would only add fuel to the fire that was quickly spiraling out of control. But at the same time, she never kept anything secret from her family and planned not to do so anytime soon. But she could hear her Aunt Twilight's voice in her mind once she told them, "Ooh! I'm going to go get some more pamphlets for Colleges! Our Cumulus! OUR CUMULUS! She's definitely College material!"

She had her hoof to her forehead and groaned in the present day as she thought this.

"Okay, just tell them and face the music from Aunt Twilight..." she told herself.

Thunderlane then flew up to her as she busted another cloud, "Cue, your shift's done."

"Oh! It's 9 already?"

"Yeah, I'll take over from here."

"Thanks dude."

He then called to her as she flew away, "See ya on Monday!"

"Later!" she called back as he busted a cloud not far from where she was.

As she flew home, she began to get a headache, she knew she had to get home fast and rest up. Only, as she got closer to home it got worse, she began to fly slower than before and her head was now screaming in pain, not only that but her stomach was now rebelling against her as well. She finally landed on the doorstep and went inside, but before she could head for the couch she heard her mother, "Hey! You're home, there's 5 cheese lasagna for you and..."

She then saw Cue cringing in pain at the mention of food, "Cue? Honey? You alright?"

Cue shook her head, "Mm-mm"

"Get on the couch and I'll get the thermometer."

Cue was about to tell her that she was 18 not 8 when her head said otherwise. She tried to make it to the couch but her pounding headache wouldn't let her concentrate and she bumped into a table, hitting her funny bone in her hind leg. She cursed Tartarus and rubbed the numbing away before she made it to the couch and she didn't just lay on it, she collapsed. Cue then had her hooves to her temples trying to rub out the pain when Rainbow came in.

"First off, I heard that curse."

Cue groaned, she wasn't in the mood for her lecture right now.

"And second, did you go to get your Feather Flu shot last week?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just checking."

She put the thermometer in Cue's mouth and the red mercury went up 101.5, Rainbow took it out to look at the reading, "Are you sure you got it?"

"Yes, Mom! I got the stupid shot!" Cue snapped.

"Hey! Watch it missy!"

Rainbow had a pretty good idea what was going on, when she first came to Ponyville and got her job with the weather team she got her meds and shots so she could stay on the job all year round. The only problem? She was slowly turning into a workaholic and she learned her lesson to not push her body to do things it couldn't and now it was rubbing off on Cue and she was going to have to learn this same lesson. Hoof to forehead Rainbow said "I think I know why this happened..."

"Why?"

"Well, I'm no Doctor but this happened to me once, and I learned THAT lesson the hard way when I caught ponymonia. You see, this happened to you because you're immune system is going down from the stress of working too hard."

Cue groaned, "Not this again!"

"Cue, I'm serious! You're overworking yourself, it's not healthy and you have to ask your boss if you can have different hours as soon as you're better!"

"The only way I can do that is if I switch with somepony else!"

Her head hurt more now as she shouted; her hooves were at her temples again. Rainbow thought for a moment, then an idea came to her, "You can have MY hours!"

"Mom, thanks but no."

"Why? What's wrong with my hours?"

Cue now felt guilty, her Mother was offering to make things easier for her and she was laying there complaining and being a grouch all because of her aches and pains.

"Sorry, Mom...I'm just...in a lot of pain right now and..."

She then felt something rising up her throat, "Uh oh!"

"What?"

"Salmon's comin' back upstream!"

Rainbow quickly got a trash can and held it in front of Cue while she threw up pretty much everything in her stomach. Rainbow petted her mane and massaged her back as she threw up, "Don't hold it back, it'll only make it worse."

"Ugh, things today just went from fantastic to horrible all in one d-" she was interrupted by another puking spell.

"Ssh...talk later, okay?"

Cue continued to spit up bile for two minutes and then stopped, "I think I'm done..."

"You sure?"

"Yeah..."

Cue took deep breaths and soon felt just icky all over, she smelled the sour stench of her throw up and covered her nose so she wouldn't throw up more from smelling it if she had anything left in her stomach. Rainbow took the trash can away, taking the hint and said, "See? This is what happens when you work too much, I mean you're only one pony. You can only do so much, you may be my daughter but that doesn't make you indestructible."

"Mom, it's just the Feather Flu, it'll pass over..."

"Cue, working this much plus with school isn't healthy for you! You'll either have to get different hours, quit your job or quit school."

"Mom!" Cue groaned.

"Cue, make a choice or I'll decide for you and trust me, you're not going to like it."

Cue groaned, "Fine, fine, I'll switch hours! Jeez!"

Rainbow nodded, "Good, now let's get you upstairs."

Rainbow supported her as they went upstairs; once they were at Cue's room, Rainbow followed Cue inside and helped her get into bed.

"And I was planning on buying you and the others ice cream tomorrow..." she groaned.

Rainbow looked confused, "Why?"

"It was going to be a surprise but, out of my graduating class, I got Valedictorian."

Rainbow's eyes widened, "You did?! Cue that's great!"

Rainbow was about to hug her when Cue said, "Mom, cooties...I don't want you catching this."

"Oh...sorry."

Rainbow was smiling inside and out, she was so proud of her.

"But Mom, about Aunt Twilight..."

"I'll keep her from going nuts, YOU just get some much needed sleep. Okay?"

"'Kay, 'night."

"'Night."

Rainbow left and went to her own room to go to bed, Cue was asleep within 5 minutes after she left. But at around midnight, she heard her mother's shriek, "CUMULUS NO!!"

Cue stumbled sickly to her mother's bedroom, "Mom?! Mom! Are you okay?"

She opened the door and she heard her sobbing, "Mom?"

"Cue! Oh thank Celestia!"

Cue knew what that meant, "Nightmare again?"

"Yeah, it's nothing to worry about..."

"Mom, that's the 5th time this week though."

"Cue, just go back to bed."

"No, I'm trying to help you."

"Cue, I don't need help right now."

"Yes you do!"

She said that so loud that it made her head hurt again, "Ow!"

"Cue, just calm down...I'll talk to somepony soon, if you calm down and go to bed I will, I promise!"

"Pinkie Promise!"

Rainbow sighed and did the Pinkie Promise, "Now go back to bed, don't risk getting sicker because of me."

This pacified Cue for now, she'd been told over and over again that she picked up her Mother's stubbornness and sometimes her sassy attitude. She never actually heard her Mom's stubbornness until tonight and it was actually a relief to know that nopony was kidding. She then went down the hall to go back to bed; as she lay there trying to get back to sleep, she thought of what her Aunt Pinkie mentioned back at the Summer Sun Celebration. She mentioned that her Mother had a dream of being a Wonderbolt but gave it up because of her unexpected arrival. This touched her when she first heard it and still thought about it from time to time and it still continued to raise her Mom high on her hero pedestal. Plus, not to mention, a lot of times she considered asking her Mom about this fact but thought it would only upset her so she didn't bother. But still, another thing she was thinking was that her Mother had already given up so much for her, she never once complained saying that she wished she'd given her up in the first place or anything else heartbreaking like that. She loved Cue through thick and thin and she gave up a life long dream of flying with the Wonderbolts for a filly that was put on her doorstep for Celestia knows what reason and didn't even know, Cue then decided to give her Mom something back to show her appreciation for all that she'd done for her. But what could she do?

'Isn't that what Mother's Day is for?' she thought to herself sarcastically.

But Cumulus had no ideas whatsoever and all this thinking was making her headache worse!

'I mean, what were you gonna do? Ask Commander Spitfire to make her a Wonderbolt?'

She snorted a laugh; after a few seconds of lying there, she had an 'ah ha' moment! That's EXACTLY what she would do!

'There's just one problem...how are you gonna keep this from Mom?' she thought to herself.

She groaned, her inner monologue was right, she had such a tight knit family that it would be hard to sneak this past her Mom's muzzle. But, (once again) like her Mom, she was up to the challenge.

The Wonderbolt's Party - Part 1: The Plan

When Cue was better, she went back to her normal routine, her Mom said that she didn't have to switch hours if she didn't want to. She made an agreement that if Cue could at least talk her boss into lessening her hours that she would at least get off of her back about it. Cue would talk to her boss later that afternoon about it because her boss, Ms Lightning Strike, wasn't present in the morning she depended on the supervisors to handle the early morning shifts because she was unpleasant in the early morning hours to the point where she could fire the entire patrol. So, as a result, she was persuaded to come to supervise the afternoon patrol.

After her morning patrol and a couple hours of sleep, she flew next to her friends to the restaurant and got some lunch and while there, she told them her plan of how she was somehow going to get her Mom on the Wonderbolts team.

"But...don't you have to get through the academy..." said Dandelion.

"Yes, and my Mom's already been through it, according to my Aunt Twilight and that was a few months before I came along," said Cue before she took a bite of her oat burger.

"But how in the hay are you going to pull this off?" asked Autumn.

"I have no idea," Cue stated truthfully.

'Why didn't I think this through?' she asked herself.

"You know, the Wonderbolts are here in Ponyville on tour..." said Dandelion.

"Why didn't you say so in the first place Dandie?" asked Autumn.

"You guys didn't ask."

That was Dandelion, with her lovable sarcasm and being the friend that always kept you on your hooves.

"Well, anyways...rumor has it that they're gonna be at this party at the townhouse tonight."

Cue then had a plan, "Perfect! I'll just go to this party and talk to Commander Spitfire about letting my Mom on the team."

"Just one problem...the party starts at, like, 11! There's no way you're Mom is gonna let you out that late with YOUR schedule," Dandelion stated.

Cue considered this and came up with a different plan, one in which involved doing something she hadn't done since she attempted to fly without her mother's supervision, she would have to disobey her Mom.

"Maybe I could sneak out, talk to Spitfire and be back before my Mom even notices I'm gone."

Autumn choked on his Daisy Sandwich and Dandelion hit him on the back to help get it out, once it was, Dandelion spoke, "PLEASE tell me you're joking!"

"What? It's a good plan."

"Except that you're Mom could have a nightmare and notice that you don't come to help her."

"I'm praying that she doesn't, or at least is keeping her promise by at least talking to somepony and they're stopping altogether."

Autumn then spoke while trying to catch his breath, "But...still...if your...Mom...finds out..."

"What my Mom doesn't know won't kill her, but you won't...you know..."

They thought long and hard, either way they would risk losing their friendship with Cue. But, who should they be more wary of? Rainbow who could up and tell Cue not to see them anymore? Or Cue herself who would tell them she never wanted to see them again.

When they didn't respond, Cue got nervous, "Guys...please?"

Dandelion sighed, "We won't tell...we promise."

Autumn didn't respond until Dandelion hit him in the chest, he said while his ribs were in pain "Yeah, you got it."

Cue knew she was treading into dangerous territory and she was both scared and excited at the same time. Scared that she might get caught and excited that her Mom's lifelong goal might be fulfilled.

The rest of the day went on as usual, she talked to her boss about lowering her hours and she said yes.

"I was going to talk to you about that today actually but you seem to be ahead of the curb...as always!"

"Though...why did you want to talk to me about it today?"

"Well, I heard that you got sick and I felt that I was using you for my own selfish agenda and I felt guilty. You have school and family and friends as well. And it just didn't feel right to me for taking that from you."

"Ms. Lightning Strike, you were in the right. You have a business to run. it was my fault for not coming to you when I felt exhausted."

Ms. Lightning Strike just stared at her, "You just might be the new Element of Generosity...."

Cue blushed.

"Well, you're new schedule begins on Monday, do you mind?"

"Not at all!"

"Well, you're only going to be working in the mornings which is only going to be your regular morning hours. And you now have no afternoon hours so you can have some 'you' time."

"That's perfect! And something both me and my Mom can agree on."

"Alright, just do this shift like normal and we'll see you on Monday."

"Thank you Ms. Lightning Strike."

"It's no problem at all Cumulus."

Cue nodded and left to work her shift.

When she got home, she didn't immediately pass out on the couch, instead she passed by her Mom who was getting her dinner set.

"Lightning Strike take it easy on you today?" she asked.

Cue cringed for a second then turned to her Mom, "Yeah, she felt that she wore me out enough."

"Well it's good that you talked to her about it. So, what are your new hours?"

"I have the morning shift like usual, then in the afternoon, I'm all yours."

"Good! You want dinner?"

Cue was trying to get upstairs to wait for her Mom to go to sleep. "No thanks, I'm not hungry."

In truth, she was starving, but she honestly wanted to get upstairs.

"Are you sure? It's pancakes and hash browns, your favorite."

Cue's mouth began to water but she composed herself, "No thanks...I'm good."

"O-kay...heading for bed?"

"Yeah, I'm too tuckered out to think of food."

"Alright well...'night Cue."

"'Night."

Once she was in her room, she closed her door with a sigh of relief. She was stunned at how hard it was to get past her Mom. She then laid in her bed waiting for her Mom to do the same, which she always did a half hour after Cue. After Rainbow was in bed, she was asleep within 5 minutes, Cue knew this by the sound of her snoring.

She then quietly got out of bed, opened her window and flew out. She then closed it, making sure she kept it unlocked for when she came back. After that, she took off towards Ponyville, following the sound of the pounding bass and the techno voice singing:

Try not to turn around, they may just be there,

If you try to run away, you better be scared mare,

Think you can solve your problem by closing your eyes?

you been deceived filly, there's just nothing but lies!

Once Cue was in front of the townhouse, she gulped, hoping her efforts would get her mother on the team. She then went in after taking a deep breath.

The Wonderbolt's Party - Part 2: Busted!

The music was loud, Cue had a hard time trying to find Commander Spitfire amidst all the noise and whatnot. Nopony would answer her question on where she'd find the Commander, she was already in there for ten minutes and on the brink of giving up but finally a familiar voice called her name, "Cumulus? What are you doing here?"

The voice came from Commander Spitfire, she was on a neon blue bean bag chair with an apple martini when she thought she saw a familiar face. She blinked twice to make sure she wasn't seeing things or even worse, drunk. But even in the laser lights and multi colored spotlights, she knew that Cutie Mark anywhere. She then excused herself from the conversation with two fans and approached the blind mare who was obviously looking for somepony. The questions that were going on in her mind while she approached were, 'Why is she here?' 'Who is she looking for?' 'Does Rainbow know she's here?'

"Commander?" Cue called back as soon as she recognized the voice.

"What in the name of Celestia are you doing here, Cue? Does your Mom know you're here?"

"I came here to ask you something and...no."

"She is going to KILL you if she finds out about this!"

"Look, what my Mom doesn't know wont hurt her."

Spitfire sighed and sipped her martini, "Okay, what is it you want to ask me so you can get home before your Mom notices."

"I was wondering if my Mom is still qualified for the Wonderbolts."

Spitfire raised an eyebrow, "This couldn't have waited until after the show tomorrow?"

"I wanted to talk to you about it A.S.A.P! Besides, I would've had to get through bodyguards just to ask you."

"Good point," Spitfire took another sip of her drink and continued, "Yes, she still is qualified, we told her that if she ever changed her mind, to give us a call and we'd enlist her immediately. But what do you want us to do? Talk to her or something?"

"Yes! Exactly! Give her a pep talk...please! I want to give her something back because of all that she's done for me."

Spitfire admired what lengths this mare was going through for her Mother's happiness, "Alright, I'll see what I can do kiddo."

"Thank you so much!"

"Now get on home before your Mom wakes up and I'll keep you out of trouble."

"Yes ma'am."

Spitfire then walked away and Cue was trying to navigate herself to the door but was having trouble do to the size of the crowd of ponies in the building. She felt completely lost when somepony offered her a drink, thinking it was punch, she accepted it. It had a different taste to it but in the end, she liked it. This punch tasted like apples but it had a certain 'kick' to it, this was the only way she could explain it. After that cup was down, she felt like she needed more of it. She asked for another cup of whatever that punch was and it was given to her after the second cup, she began to feel a little loopy, her speech was beginning to slur and she couldn't walk a straight line. But, she didn't care, she downed another 8 cups before she had no realization of what was going on around her. She was soon making slurred jokes with punchlines that made no sense, telling her darkest secrets, and even sloppily dancing in a way that would embarass most. This dancing caught the attention of a stallion who approached her with a wide grin and asked her to dance with him.

"Sure! Y-you big...boy!" Cue giggled.

Just outside the dance floor, Soarin, the most eligable bachelor in the Wonderbolts and the one all the fangirls wanted noticed the crowd of ponies crowded around somepony on the dance floor. He was curious to see what the commotion was all about so he parted his way through the crowd and was shocked to find what he saw! It was Rainbow Dash's daughter Cumulus dancing in a VERY inapropriate fashion with another stallion and everypony else was either laughing or cheereing them on. He had seen her before at the past Galas with her mother and this WASN'T the Cue that he knew, it was apparent that she was drunk he then knew that he needed to intervene before Cue did something that she would regret.

"Alright! That's enough! Break it up!" he shouted.

He managed to split the pair up and shooed the stallion away who, by the disappointed look on his face, had other things in mind besides dancing with her.

"Aww...don't be such a PARTY pooper!" Cue laughed while playfully nudging him.

"Cue? You're not..."

"I'm not having FUN thanks to you!"

"Alright, Cue, I think it's time we got you home."

"Home is where the heart is!" she sang.

Soarin face hoofed, "That's what happens when there are no restrictions of alcohol consumption at these things."

Soarin took her hoof and draped her across his back, "Okay, it's gonna be a bumpy ride Cue...this isn't the first time I've done this."

He then made his way to the door and flew out to Rainbow's house; on the way there, Cue threw up on an unsuspecting bystander who was walking back to his house from the party.

"Hey! What gives?"

"Sorry!" Soarin called down to the bystander, "She's drunk!"

The bystander was then understanding though still upset and went to hose himself off. Once they were at the house, Soarin was a little hesitant to knock on the door because of Rainbow and her possible reaction but he knocked anyway knowing Cue's condition.

Rainbow hadn't gotten up once because of a nightmare, she'd been talking to Twilight about what has been going on and it was a big relief on her. She was now asleep not even thinking about Cue sneaking out and doing the activities she was doing. This would all change when Rainbow heard a knock on the door, Rainbow's eyes shot open and she checked the time. It was currently 1 AM, 'Who would be coming here at this time of night?' she thought to herself.

She got up anyway and went to the door tired eyed, when she opened the door, she thought she was hallucinating! She saw Soarin, the one stallion who she had a crush on since she was 16, (which was the same time he joined the Wonderbolts) with Cumulus draped over his back who looked really sick. She didn't expect this out of Soarin because of the past 3 Galas that she went to.

"Soarin? Why is Cue -"

Soarin interrupted her with a sigh, "Long story short, she was the life of the party, I'll tell you that much."

Rainbow's eyes widened and her pupils now the size of pinheads, "You snuck out! Didn't you?"

Cue answered, "Noooooo, I was going to a party without your permission."

Rainbow face hoofed, "I am very sorry about this Soarin."

"Hey, it's no problem."

"So...what exactly happened for her to get this sick?"

"You REALLY don't want to smell her breath right now."

Rainbow's anger towards Cue rose, "YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING?!?!"

"No, I had punch! And it was good punch!"

Rainbow was now boiling angry and her eye was twitching.

"Are you mad, Mom?" Cue asked.

"Believe me Cumulus, there has never been a time in the past 18 years where I felt like smacking you!"

"Can we save the yelling for when I'm not around and when she's sober?"

Rainbow composed herself and let him bring Cue in.

"Just lay her on the couch and I'll get some coffee started," she said.

"Oh, no thanks."

"It's not for you, it helps with a hangover."

"How do you know that?"

"My grandma used to be an alcoholic and I had to take care of her sometimes."

"I so tired..." Cue groaned.

"Soarin, keep her awake, she might go into cardiac arrest if she goes to sleep."

He nodded, "Come on, Cue, just stay awake."

"I don't wanna."

"Cue, come on, this is all because of you."

Cue only groaned as Rainbow came with a cup of black coffee.

"Here Cue, drink this."

Cue obeyed and clearly didn't like the taste of black coffee.

"Eew!"

"You brought this on yourself you know," Rainbow stated.

Cue hadn't been much of a coffee drinker and she definitely wasn't going to be one now. After 2 hours and numerous cups of coffee, she was coming back to her sober self.

"Ugh, my head is buzzing...."

"You tired?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah...what time is it?"

Rainbow looked at the clock, "3 AM."

"Can I go to bed now?"

"Sure, I'll help you up there."

Rainbow put one of Cue's forelegs around neck and supported her up the stairs to her room. Once there, she laid her on the bed and placed a blanket over her; within a few seconds she was asleep. Rainbow then went back downstairs still incredibly angry with her daughter.

"You okay?" Soarin asked.

Rainbow's head jolted up, she remembered that Soarin was still there and she actually felt herself blushing a little bit out of both awkwardness and her affections toward him. Soarin himself was doing the same, he'd liked Rainbow ever since that first Gala when she'd saved his pie. She was fast! Insanely fast! He also thought she was pretty with her rosy eyes and rainbow mane and to top it off, the way she gave up her dream for a baby that she decided to keep out of her own conscience, that only intensified his affections. They'd talked at the past Galas and at the past 3 he attempted to ask her out, all of which she said no because she felt that she was too busy for a relationship at the moment. He began scratching the back of his head in awkwardness, "Well, this was an interesting way of meeting up again."

"Yeah."

"Look, I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble..."

"It's not a problem, you did the right thing...I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at Cumulus right now more than ever."

"Oh, well...okay. So umm, I'm on tour in Ponyville until next Friday and I was wondering if you'd like to...possibly..."

"Soarin, you know I don't like saying 'no' to you but I've got a lot on my mind right now with Cue getting drunk and making sure she's on a short leash from now on..."

"I get it...sorry."

The truth was that Rainbow was scared of a relationship with him, any other stallion would be fine. But it could risk him losing his job because the Wonderbolts have a strict rule about a member's private love life being in the spotlight. They want the focus to be on the team and the performances, not who's dating who and if this rule is broken the member or members are kicked off the team. She didn't want to risk him losing his job and/or a REALLY emotional break up between them.

"It's okay..."

She said that so awkwardly that Soarin caught it, "Rainbow, there's something else to this isn't there?"

"No there isn't..."

"Yes there is Rainbow. Look I really think you are an amazing mare...I like you, and I can tell that you like me...just tell me why you keep rejecting me."

Rainbow sighed, "Okay, yes...there is something that's holding me back...and it's the rule."

"We don't have to go anywhere public, we can go hang out at each others houses for dinner."

"Isn't there a...you know...risk in that?"

"What kind of risk?"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow as if she were saying, 'Really? You don't know?'

Soarin finally got the hint, "Ah! No! Nono! Nothing like that! I swear!"

Rainbow now knew that Soarin was not going to take 'no' for an answer.

"Alright, one date and if it doesn't go anywhere...then we can go our separate ways. I owe you that much for helping Cue."

"Alright, I'll pick you up at 7 next Friday and we can go over to my house and make some pizza."

"Sounds great."

"See you then."

He then left and Rainbow went back up to check on Cue, she was fast asleep in her bed and still breathing to her intense relief. She then went to her own bed and tried to fall asleep, finding it hard to do so when her mind was full of colliding emotions. But at around 4 AM, she finally did.

Grounded

Cumulus could not believe how much her head hurt! It was a mix between a pound and an ache, she wasn't sure she would be able to stand up and walk a straight line. But somehow she did and went downstairs, she heard her Mom cutting vegetables on a cutting board for breakfast. Cue entered the kitchen and noticed the sound of her Mom's cutting, it sounded like she was angry at somepony. But who was it? All Cue could remember was being at the party and then waking up here.

'Uh oh.'

Cue now knew that her Mom was not happy with her, but how did she get home? She couldn't remember anything from the other night. Did she fly herself home? Did her Mom wake up and realize she was gone? Or did a Wonderbolt bring her home? She vaguely remembered dancing in a provocative way with a stallion. Did she - ? Oh sweet Celestia she hoped she didn't! Her Mother would bury her alive and dance on her grave (not literally!) She felt a wave of panic run through her, if she did, what if she was-

'I'll check later, I'll go to the store and get a test, but right now...face the ticking time bomb in the kitchen.'

She gulped and entered slowly with her head hanging in shame and fear, she was ashamed of what she did and possibly did and she was scared of her Mother's reaction. She just sat down as her Mother continued chopping, not saying a word.

Rainbow had heard her come in and was resisting the urge to yell, no, scream at her for what she did. She thought she would never have to worry about Cue doing something like this, but, now it seems she did now. Words cannot tell you how angry and disappointed she was in her.

'What was she thinking?' she thought to herself.

Cue gulped again and spoke, "Hi...Mom..."

Rainbow still couldn't contain her anger, so she didn't respond to her.

"Mom? Are you mad?"

'Mad? MAD? MAD doesn't even cover it!' she thought to herself.

"Mom?" Cue asked again, getting a little scared now.

Rainbow couldn't take it anymore, she threw the knife into the cutting board making Cue jump at the sound. She was dead, so very, very dead.

"MAD isn't even going to cut how I feel right now Cumulus!!" she yelled as she quickly spun around.

Cumulus shrunk in her seat as Rainbow flew towards her, "I was MAD when you flew without my supervision when you were 11, I was MAD when you punched Sparkling Gem when she wasn't even bothering you or your friends when you were 13....you wanna know how I feel right now? You really want to know? I...am...FURIOUS!!"

Cumulus felt tears pricking her eyes, "I...I just..."

"I know! You think that because your Valedictorian you can do whatever you want! But, NEWS FLASH honey! That's NOT how it works...okay? I NEVER EVER expected this out of you! EVER! What in the name of Celestia were you THINKING?!?!?!"

"I..."

"You know what? I don't wanna HEAR it, in fact, you know what? I don't even wanna LOOK at you right now I'm so angry with you!"

Cumulus was dumbstruck, and was rendered speechless as Rainbow continued.

"I mean it this time, out of all the messes you get into this has to be the WORST!!! I've NEVER been so disappointed in you in my entire LIFE!!! Do you realize what could have happened to you?! You could've overdone it and..." The thought was so frightening, Rainbow couldn't even finish the sentence.

All Cue could do was sit there.

"What do have to say about all this?"

Cue now had tears coming out of her eyes.

Rainbow slammed her hoof on the table, "Answer me!"

Cue took a few deep breaths then spoke, "I...I wanted to talk to Commander Spitfire.."

"About what? What was SO important that you had to sneak out?"

"I...can't...tell you."

"Why? Because you're LYING?!?"

"It's not a LIE I swear!"

"Then tell me what you needed to talk to her about and we can move on!"

"No!"

This shocked both of them, Cue had never, ever just outright told her Mother 'no' when ordered to do something.

"Then I'm going to assume that you're lying and we can move on to the next subject...when did you start drinking?"

"I had one glass and next thing I knew, I was here! I don't remember anything, I swear! Well, except for me dancing with that stallion but..."

"You were WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?"

Whoops. Major whoops.

"Nothing."

"Cue, tell me NOW!"

"Look, it was probably nothing..."

"PROBABLY?!?!? What did you DO?!"

"I'm telling you, I don't remember!"

Rainbow felt her eye twitching, then managed to finally calm herself a little, "Cue, right now, I've got you on 4 charges...1 week for each!"

"A MONTH?!"

"Yes, 1 count on sneaking out, 1 count for lying to me, 1 count for drinking, and 1 count for your inappropriate...I don't even want to think about it...whatever with that stallion."

"But we don't know if anything even HAPPENED!!"

"Oh, but we are GOING to find out!"

Rainbow then went to the pharmacy and picked up a pregnancy test, not daring to explain to the clerk who it was for and under what circumstances. She was too embarrassed, she wasn't even sure if she would tell her friends. She didn't know if anything happened, but if something did, 'Oh Celestia help her if something did,' she thought.

Cue stayed home, contemplating everything her Mom had said, everything she said was like a stab in the heart. She was furious, she was angry, she was disappointed and so on. She never meant for this to happen, but why did it? If only she hadn't taken that drink, if only she found the door quicker, then everything would've been fine and her Mom wouldn't be screaming at her.

When she came home, she had Cue take the test; they then waited for the results. They were in the kitchen and Rainbow held the test in her hoof praying that a blue minus would show up, they waited and with a praise to Celestia, a blue minus came up.

Rainbow sighed with relief and dropped the test onto the table saying to Cue, "You're lucky, it's negative."

Rainbow then placed her head in her hooves as Cue approached her, Rainbow then said, "Go to your room, I don't even want to look at you right now."

Tears pricking her eyes, she flew towards the steps and said, "You wouldn't even let me feathering explain."

"Watch your language!" Rainbow called to her in a warning tone.

"Whatever!" Cue then flew up to her room and closed her door with a slam. She then collapsed on her bed and wept into her pillow, her mother had NEVER said things like that to her before. She was hurt deeply, 'She called me a liar! A LIAR!'

She'd never lied a day in her life, and she wasn't lying now! She wanted to explain but couldn't, she wouldn't have believed her, not that she did now anyway. This incident caused a strain in their relationship and this fight would not soon be forgotten.

Soarin and Dash's Date

The mother and daughter were not on speaking terms for a while, they didn't even say 'Good Morning' or 'Goodnight' to each other, they were now obviously very distant. Rainbow, personally, didn't blame Cue for being mad at her she knew she said some things that she was regretting now. She hated herself for calling her daughter a liar and saying that she didn't want to look at her. Just the memory of saying those things brought her to tears, she knew she hurt her Cumulus badly with her words that were like venom. On the day of her date with Soarin she was considering not going do to her mood at the moment, she felt that she would only be a damper on the entire date. She was pacing and thinking how she was going to tell Soarin that she wasn't going to be going out with him tonight. Would he be angry? Would he see this as an excuse? She was thinking for an hour before she heard a knock on the door and tensed, her long time crush was here, she was going to simply ask if it's possible to postpone the date until she was in a better mood. She took a deep breath and went to answer it. When the door opened, she didn't expect who she saw! It wasn't Soarin, but Commander Spitfire! Rainbow blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"C-Commander Spitfire?"

"Yep! How ya holdin up?"

"G-good I guess...would you like to come in?"

"Sure!"

Rainbow stepped aside and let Spitfire enter, they entered the living room and Spitfire seated herself in one of the armchairs.

"Ehm...can I get you anything?"

"No thanks, I actually came to talk to you."

"About what?"

"You see your daughter-"

Rainbow facehoofed, "I...am...so...SORRY!"

"For what?"

"For her crashing your party and well - the rest."

"I'm the one who didn't think to tell her not to accept any drinks."

"I..."

"Look, back on topic here...your daughter came to talk to me and..."

Rainbow's eyes widened as she gulped, she had called Cue a liar on this! This was the ultimate parenting mistake, one mistake that she probably wouldn't be able to take back."

"Rainbow Dash? You okay?"

Rainbow snapped out of it, "Sorry, can you repeat that?"

"Well, Cue came to talk too me about you joining the Wonderbolts."

"She did?"

"Yeah, she said that you've given up so much for her that she wants to give you something back."

Rainbow suddenly felt the ultimate pang of guilt, 'What have I done?'

"Um...Spitfire, can you excuse me? I have to talk to Cue about something..."

"Sure, no problem."

Rainbow then went upstairs to Cue's room, she opened the door to see her trying to read her physics book. She was trying to study, but she was too depressed to do so, she was under the impression that she and her mother's relationship that they had before was over. She was thinking of the good times they had, like her 5th birthday, she was playing hide and seek with her Mom in the house. She was hiding under the kitchen table trying not to laugh as her Mom walked around trying to find her.

"Where are you?" she sang. "Come out! Come out!"

She laughed a little, "I'm coming to get you!"

Cue couldn't help but giggle but then she heard her mother approach. She quietly squirmed away to hide in the living room behind the couch as Rainbow said, "Come here you little rascal, I'm coming to get you!"

She looked under the table and laughed when she didn't see her there, "Where is my little birthday girl? I'm going to gobble her up when I find her!"

Cue was about to try and switch hiding places and backed out from behind the couch when her Mother saw her, she picked up Cue and pretended to gnaw at her belly turning Cue into a laughing mess! Rainbow then blew into Cue's belly making her laugh harder.

'Is it over?' she thought to herself in the present day.

Her Mother's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Cue?"

"What do you want?" Cue asked sharply.

"Cue, I came to..."

"I'm studying for a physics test I have to take tomorrow."

It was apparent that Cue was still mad at her for not hearing her out, so Rainbow flew over to her desk and closed the book. She did this in a manner that said, 'I really need to talk to you.'

"Cue...Commander Spitfire is downstairs..."

"So you believe me now?"

"Why didn't you just tell me what you wanted to ask her?"

"Would you have believed me?"

"I....well...look, I was mad, and I wasn't thinking. I wasn't thinking about how to handle this situation...you didn't exactly come with a manual."

Cue smiled a little at the joke.

"Why didn't you just ask to go?"

"You would've said 'no.'"

"I...I...okay, yes, I would have but I would've...I don't know how to respond to that."

Rainbow thought for a moment, "Okay, your reasons were good, but this still doesn't excuse the fact that you snuck out and were drinking and doing....you know...with that stallion."

"I know..."

"Okay, I'm willing to cut you a mulligan, since you technically WEREN'T lying to me...I'm going to take 1 week off of your punishment...IF...you promise that this wont happen again."

"I promise."

"Good."

Cue was about to open her book again when Rainbow stopped her, "Listen, you know I'm only doing this because-"

"You love me."

"Yes, Cue...you are very important to me. I mean not a second goes by that I don't think about....the fire."

Cue looked at her sympathetically, "Mom, you shouldn't be worried about that...I'm alive...you got me out of there."

"Cue, I'm a Mom! I'm SUPPOSED to worry! Ever since the day you came to me I've always worried abot you!"

"Mom, you don't need to worry so much, seriously you need a vacation. Speaking of which, what are you gonna tell the Commander?"

Rainbow had honestly not thought about the offer, should she take it? Cue went through great lengths just to ask Spitfire if she was still qualified, but still, she didn't feel comfortable leaving Cue home alone for that long while she was on tour. But still, Cue wasn't a baby anymore and she did have 5 Aunts to look after her and this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. This has been her dream since she was a filly! Why was this so hard? She thought for a moment then went back downstairs with Cue following.

Commander saw them both and said to Cue, "Hey! Haven't seen you in 3000 years!"

Cumulus laughed, "You saw me last week!"

"Oh! Duh! NOW I remember! Yeah, I heard you got yourself in trouble."

"Yeah, but you saved me from having a month grounding."

"Happy to help! But, anyways, Rainbow what do you say to joining?"

Rainbow looked at Cue then back to Spitfire, "When do I start?"

"Really?" Cue asked excitedly.

"Yep!"

"Well, since you have family to look after...we can compromise on a schedule."

"Can it wait? I have a date tonight."

"You have a date?" Cue asked.

"Oh yeah, Soarin was telling me about it. How about tomorrow?"

"Sounds good."

"Alright then, have fun on your date."

"Thanks Commander."

Spitfire then left; once the door shut behind her Cue said, "You...have a date...with Soarin...THE SOARIN?!

"Yeah, he's gonna be here at 7."

"I can't believe you finally said yes to a date with Soarin!!"

"Yeah I did, and it's just one date."

"No, Mom, you need to see where this goes! You're gonna be seeing a LOT of each other now and well...how awkward would that be if you just dropped him after one date?"

"So now you're a dating expert?"

"Dandelion has been with 10 stallions in high school, each one she went on at least 10 dates with to see if it went anywhere. If they make it past 10 good dates, she went on further to 20 to see if it went any further. She also has a 3 strike system, 3 bad dates, he's out and she moves on."

"That's a bit harsh."

"It's just the way she does it."

"What if the stallion breaks up with her first?"

"She does cry for, like, an hour and she moves on, but my point is to at least give Soarin a chance."

Rainbow made an exasperated sigh, "Alright, alright, I'll do it."

"Alright Mom!"

"But don't get your hopes up, with us both being on the Wonderbolts, it might not work."

"Sure, you're just saying that Mom."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Aren't you supposed to be studying?"

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready?"

"What are you saying? I AM ready!"

"Mom, I may be blind, but know you and I both know that you hardly ever do something with your mane."

"Yes I do! I do my mane up for the Grand Galloping Gala!"

"The Gala doesn't count, you kinda have to for that. It's a formal occasion."

"Look, my mane is untamable, it does what it wants to."

"Okay, I'm getting Aunt Rarity."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, it's 6:30 Soarin's gonna be here at 7, there's no time!"

"I'm sure we can convince her!"

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Fine."

"Yay! C'mon!" Cue exclaimed while tugging on Rainbow's hoof, leading her out the door.

Once at Carousel Boutique, Cumulus and Rainbow entered. As they did, they heard the familiar sound of the tiny bell ringing and Rarity saying, "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is-"

"Chic and Magnifique!"

Rarity saw that it was Cumulus and Rainbow Dash, "Oh! Hello girls! Anything I can help you with?"

"Aunt Rarity, we have a problem..."

"And what's that?"

"I have this thing tonight and..."

"Mom, it's not a thing."

Rarity looked confusedly at them.

"Let's just say that there's a stallion involved."

Rarity gasped and grabbed Cue's cheeks, "Autumn FINALLY did it?!"

"Did what?" said Cue's muffled voice.

"Oh, um, never mind."

Rarity let go of Cue's face, feeling a little embarrassed, "But, if you don't have the thing then..."

"I do Rarity!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Oh, well, why didn't you just say so?"

"Because you were too busy giving my daughter a face massage?"

Cue was now rubbing her numb cheeks.

"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry."

"What were you saying about Autumn?" Cumulus asked.

Rainbow was curious about this as well.

"Umm...I...so! What would you like me to do?"

"Well, basically make my Mom's mane look nice for her date."

Rarity thought about what she could do and still please Rainbow, then she got it! She would just braid it! She sat Rainbow down and got to work, she did a magnificent diagonal dutch braid on her with tiny braids in it and tied it off with a clear rubber band and wrapped one of the tiny braids around it and draped the braid over Rainbow's shoulder. She then combed Rainbow's bangs to the side and used hairspray to make them stay in place. She spun Rainbow around in the chair and Rainbow herself was shocked at who she saw! Who was this pony? Was this her? It couldn't be her!

"So what do you think Mom?" Cue asked.

"I look...amazing!"

Rarity beamed.

"Rarity, you are awesome! Once again!"

After they left Carousel Boutique, they went home to wait for Soarin. And by the time they got there it was 6:55 and Cue immediately sat on the couch and had her Mom go upstairs and wait for her cue to come down. Cumulus waited the living room for the next 5 minutes waiting for Soarin to knock. When he finally did, Cue composed herself and went to answer it.

"Hello?" she asked when she opened it.

"Hi Cue, feeling better?"

"Yeah, but grounded for 3 weeks."

"Well that sucks."

"Yeah, but, you wanna come in?"

"Sure, thanks."

He entered and stood behind the couch, "So where's your Mom?"

"She's upstairs, hold on...Mom! Soarin's here!"

That was Rainbow's cue to make her entrance, she took a deep breath and came out of her room and down the stairs. When Soarin saw her, his heart stopped, he blushed beet red and his mind went blank. This was the same Pegasus he asked out?! He never knew she could be this gorgeous!

"Soarin? You okay?" Rainbow asked.

"I..uh...I..I..I..I..."

"Is the hair too much? I can take it down if it's..."

"Nono! It's not that, it's just that you look...fantastic."

Rainbow blushed and went down the stairs and stood in front of him, he then started to sweat a little.

"Nervous?" Rainbow asked.

"A little."

Rainbow laughed a little; they then started to leave when Rainbow turned back to Cue who was about to shut the door, "Are you sure you're gonna be okay on your own?"

"Mom, I'm gonna be fine, I mean...what kind of shenanigans can I get into?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "No drinking, no stallions, no parties, got it?"

"Yeah, I got it! Now go!"

Soarin was hovering not far from the house waiting for Rainbow, she then joined him and they took off. Cue closed the door and hoped for the best.

Once the couple was at Soarin's house, which was out in Cloudsdale, they entered. Rainbow was just as nervous as Soarin, she liked him and was hoping that this would go somewhere because she thought he was really sweet and funny behind the tough Wonderbolts persona. Soarin knew what Rainbow was like behind the 'too cool' persona that she used to put on, she was a dedicated Mother, she was loyal to her friends, family, and her decisions. Ever since Cumulus came into her life, it changed her into a more responsible being, all of her decisions revolved around her daughter and Soarin was determined to become a Father figure for Cue even if the relationship didn't work.

"So, ready to make pizza? In the most literal way possible," Soarin joked.

Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes, "Yeah, so where's the kitchen?"

Soarin led the way, it was through the living room and down a small hallway, "Here we are."

The kitchen was HUGE! Three ovens two sinks and one long island in the middle.

"Are you sure you don't have cooks to make the pizza for us?" Rainbow asked.

"Okay, so I kinda overdid it because I have a big budget, but in my family, we love to cook...it's sort of a thing we do."

"Oh, that's cool!"

"Yeah, that explains the kitchen."

"Kinda does..."

"You wanna have a seat? You'll most likely get lost in all these cupboards."

"Point taken."

She then seated herself in one of the island's chairs as he got out the flour.

"So, where's your family from?"

"Our roots start in Roam, and some of my ancestors came to Manehattan and others went to Cloudsdale. I learned to cook when I was around 6, my grandparents owned a Roaman restaurant there and ownership has been passed down throughout the family."

"Do your parents own it now?"

"Yeah, they saw I wasn't as passionate about it, before I became a Wonderbolt I was a cook there to earn some money to get into the Academy. My parents understood that I was my own pony, that I wanted different things in my life, so they let me go to the Academy and actually threw a big party when I got on the team."

"Wow, your family sounds really nice!"

"They are, they're a bit embarrassing too...especially my older brother, Celestia forbid if he met you."

"What would he do?"

Soarin laughed as he got out the cheese, "He'd tell stories about me in my diaper years and my teen years."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

"Yeah, but I didn't tell you that during my early teen years, I had a mouthful of braces."

Rainbow snickered and covered her mouth with her hoof.

"Yeah, yeah, I know...I was a dork."

Rainbow was trying hard not to laugh, she just could not imagine him with braces, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm done."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"'Cuz, I'll throw flour at you if you're not! No, I'm just kidding."

"Har, har, har..."

He laughed and said, "Alright, I'll mix this together and we'll get started on the dough."

"Cool."

He mixed the flour water and yeast together until it got to a semi doughy texture and assisted Rainbow in kneading it. He stood behind her with his hooves on hers and guided them until he felt she could do it on her own.

"You're doing good!"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, you got it."

She smiled and kept kneading it until Soarin told her to stop and let it rise for a bit, they placed it in a bowl and got to work on the sauce which Soarin did himself. He said that she would have to kill him for that recipe; once the dough was risen, he took it out and showed Rainbow how to toss it.

"It's all in the hooves," he said as he tossed like a pro.

He then handed it to Rainbow who tossed it a little sloppily at first, then she started to get the hang of it.

"I got it!"

"Alright Dash!"

Once it was tossed enough, it was placed on the tray, the sauce, cheese and spinach was spread on it, and was put in the oven for baking. During the entire process, Rainbow was amazed at how easy it was to work with Soarin, she felt something rise up in her chest just looking at him. She didn't know what that feeling was, but it felt nice, she then realized what it was: she was falling in love with him. She smiled, not having a problem with this fact. Soarin was really sweet, funny, honest, he didn't have a problem with her being a single Mom and the colt can cook! How could she not like him?

"So what's your story?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"We've been over my story, what's yours? I mean...before Cumulus?"

"Oh, well...saved Equestria countless times, fangirl trying to get into the Wonderbolts...you know it."

"No family or..."

"Oh...well...my Mom just up and left when I was a few months old and my Dad, he passed away from brain cancer a year before Cumulus came along."

"What was he like...your Dad? I'm sorry for asking it's just...you never mentioned him."

"It's okay, he was...he was a great Dad, though overprotective at times, he was funny, he was fun, caring, and a bit shy too."

"He does sound like a great Dad, you miss him?"

"Everyday."

She had honestly never shared these feelings with anyone before, and she liked how comfortable she felt telling this to Soarin. She took it as a good omen as he took the pizza out of the oven. They ate and talked about pretty much everything, Soarin was happy to find out that Rainbow finally joined the Wonderbolts, Rainbow laughed at some funny moments that happened on the team, Soarin listened and laughed at some funny stories from Cue's diaper years, and Rainbow was shocked to find out that he and Spitfire's alleged relationship was a rumor and that everypony on the team still teases them about it. After the pizza was eaten, they still talked and were enjoying each other's company, until Rainbow saw that it was 10:30 on the clock.

"I'd better get home, I need to make sure Cue didn't break any regulations."

"I get it, would you like me to fly you home?"

"Sure."

They flew back to Ponyville and made it back 5 minutes before 11:00, when they landed on the doorstep, Soarin asked, "So, would you be willing to go on a second date?"

Rainbow thought about what Cue said about giving Soarin a chance and said with a smile, "Yes."

Soarin lit up, as Rainbow was about to open her door, Soarin took her hoof.

"There's one more thing I want to do..."

Rainbow looked at him confusedly, "What?"

He slowly leaned in, closing his eyes and kissed her on the lips. Rainbow's eyes widened in surprise but they slowly closed as she took pleasure in the kiss, when they parted, both were blushing. Soarin looked at her with a bright smile and said, "Good night."

"'Night."

He then took off and Rainbow went inside feeling the same amount of happiness that she had felt when she first saw Cumulus as a baby. She ascended the stairs drunken with the compassionate feelings she felt, she stopped in front of Cue's room and saw her asleep at her desk, her head laying on her crossed arms over her book. Rainbow smiled and went in to wake her up and get her in her real bed.

She shook her slightly, "Cue...honey..."

"Hrrmgeroff?"

She woke up and yawned, "Who is it?"

"It's me...c'mon, get up..."

Rainbow helped her up and guided Cue to her bed, "How was your date Mom?"

"I'll tell you in the morning," Rainbow replied as she layed her daughter down. "Right now, you just get some sleep, you've worked yourself to the bone."

"Okay," Cue whispered as she fell back asleep.

Rainbow then went to her own bedroom, undid her hair, combed it out and went to bed. Though having quite a bit of trouble doing so, she was too aroused from the kiss to sleep. Back at Soarin's house, he was going through the same thing as he layed in his bed.

Partings and Suspiscions

Two weeks later, Rainbow left for Cloudsdale. Throughout those next two weeks, Rainbow made sure to spend every, living, breathing second with Cue and her friends. Though Cue found it embarrassing sometimes, she understood where her Mom was coming from, she was going through separation anxiety. This was the first time that they would be apart for a long period of time, with the exception that Rainbow would be coming home on the weekends so she could spend time with Cue. And Rainbow's newest hesitation of Cue clubbing, drinking and partying showed when she arranged for Twilight to keep tabs on Cumulus during and after her grounding. And at first, Cue moaned and groaned when her Mom first told her this and told her Mom that she learned her lesson, but Rainbow came back with the fact that she just wanted to make sure that there wasn't a repeat performance and Cue backed down. Though Cue understood why she chose Aunt Twilight, she was responsible, she was smart, etc. etc. Cue was mostly worried about the college lecture from her. She face hoofed at the thought of every time Aunt Twilight came below their house to check on her, she'd come with a saddlebag full of college applications for her to fill out. And they'd either fill them out together at the library or she'd give them to Cue to fill out later, which, in truth, Cue would stow away in a bin under her bed with the rest of them. Was her Mother TRYING to torture her? Probably.

When the day came, Cue was actually mostly silent, she was happy for her Mother but she was also going through separation anxiety. Cue was eating her breakfast with a look of gloom on her face; Rainbow noticed this and asked, "Cue...you okay?"

Cue snapped out of it, she couldn't let her Mom know that she was having doubts or else she'd want to quit, "I'm fine...just fine."

"Cue, just tell me. You can tell me anything."

Cue took a deep breath and responded, "I'm just...well...it's...separation anxiety."

Rainbow smiled, "You too huh?"

Cue nodded as she let one tear come out of her eye, Rainbow then wrapped her arms around her, "Look, it's all gonna work out...okay? You wanna know how?"

"How?"

"I raised you, that's why. I taught you everything I know and you have 5 Aunts that are gonna make sure that you stay in line."

This comforted Cue a little as he Mother continued, "Now, listen, there's something I need you to do for me..."

"Yeah?"

"I need you to promise me that if you're in trouble...EVER...that you won't think twice about finding a way to get me. Just send a letter, send Flutters or Derpy to Cloudsdale, whatever and I will fly back here as fast as I can any time of day or night...promise?"

Cue nodded, "I promise."

They then heard a knock on the door, Soarin came to escort her to Cloudsdale, even though Rainbow said numerous times that she knew the way there by herself when Soarin offered. Rainbow went to open it and once Soarin was in view, he greeted her, "Hey Rainbow."

"Hey Soar."

They quickly kissed and Rainbow let him enter, she then led him into the kitchen where Cumulus was. Soarin greeted her with a side hug and said, "Hey there Cutie Pie!"

"Hey Soarin."

Since Soarin started dating her Mom, he'd already came up with a nickname for her which Cue didn't mind all that much. The first time he called her that, she didn't know who he was addressing, she thought he was talking to her Mom. But then he ruffled Cue's hair and said playfully, "I'm talking to YOU kid!"

"Oh!" Cue said with realization.

"You don't mind right? I just think it fits."

"No, I don't mind."

"Okay then Cutie Pie."

Cumulus also just had to laugh at his sense of humor, he told funny jokes and sometimes play teased Cue and he made sure not to say anything offensive. On this day, it was no different, he began with asking, "So how do you fell about having the house to yourself?"

"I'm a little nervous..."

"Don't worry about it, you'll get the hang of it...then you can possibly throw a party...or two..."

Then Rainbow stepped in, "Soarin! I'm trying to keep from doing that...you remember what happened last time."

"Oh right! How could I forget? She got drunk off her flank!"

Cue face hoofed embarrassed, she was now the talk of the school because of her actions 2 weeks ago and even though her friends stuck by her, she was still the victim of Bit and Gem's tormenting. But lately, Cue noticed that Bit was becoming more of the driving force while Gem was always the follower, it was usually Gem who was driving Bit forward. But she put it out of her mind, thinking that it wasn't anything to worry about. That, and their dating life wasn't her business, Cue's crush on Shiny Bit had died down to nothing over the years once she saw that it was never going to happen. Plus the fact that her Mom said that he wasn't for her.

"Do you REALLY want to be with somepony who's related to Diamond Tiara?" she asked.

Remembering how Diamond had ruined her Cute-ceniera, she said, "No."

"Then he's just not for you, but don't worry about it...these kinds of things take time, sometimes a bit unexpectedly."

Back in the present, Rainbow went upstairs to get her saddlebags, which were mostly filled with pictures of her and Cue, her Wonderbolt uniforms and Daring Do books. Cue and Soarin waited at the front door for her to come down and it was now dawning on Cue, she was going to be home alone. She was so nervous about keeping a house in order, but kept herself calm when she told herself that she was the only one she had to take care of, thank Celestia. At least there weren't any other lives she had to look after, like children, she would not be able to handle that situation. Cue then heard her Mom come down the stairs and both mother and daughter was forcing back tears.

Rainbow saw this on her daughter as she went to the door, she then turned to Soarin. He only nodded, he understood what she had to do, Soarin went outside to wait for Rainbow as she said goodbye to Cumulus. Cue heard the door close and felt a hoof holding her face. Rainbow didn't know if she was going to be able to leave Cumulus, her Little Cue, but she knew that she had to. It was going to happen someday, and she thought that this might be good practice for when it DID happen. She might change her mind about college, get married or just decide to move out. Rainbow had been dreading this day of parting, it was going to be hard on both of them, how could she leave her Cumulus? But she had to, for numerous reasons.

"Cue, it's gonna be okay..." was the only thing Rainbow could say to reassure Cumulus and herself.

"I know Mom, it's just..." Cue couldn't hold it in any longer, she hugged her mother and sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you."

Rainbow hugged her back, "I know Cue...I will too..."

Rainbow now began to cry a bit, she knew it was coming and it hurt so much. But she had to put on the bravest voice she could come up with, "Look, I'll be back this weekend, I PROMISE! No matter what the weather Pegasi throw my way, I will come back. Okay?"

Cue sniffed as Rainbow wiped away a tear, "Okay, I...I feel better now."

"That's my big girl."

Rainbow then kissed her forehead, opened the door and left. Rainbow could not believe she was doing this and what she was leaving behind, 'I'm coming back,' she told herself. 'I'm coming back.'

The week went by quickly for Cue, though at first having the house to herself was a little scary. Without her Mom there, it just felt empty, it was like waking up in the morning and expecting to see your loved one only to find that they're gone. But Cue quickly grew used to it because she had the weekend to look forward to, she started counting days, minutes, even hours to the time her Mom would be back when Aunt Twilight came with more College information. Insert exasperated teenage groan here. When Aunt Twilight came to check on her, she just wanted to find a place to hide and pray that she didn't use her cloud walking spell, that plan failed, Aunt Twilight always did that when Cue didn't respond. Cue would then quickly dart up to her room, get out her record player, place her headphones over her ears and start playing the loudest music she owned which was her favorite rock band: Skillet.

Twilight would then look around the house and would hear the tinny music coming from Cue's room; when she saw Cumulus lip syncing the lyrics to the song 'Monster,' she'd tap Cue on the shoulder and Cue would see her and take the headphones off.

"Why didn't you respond?" Twilight would ask.

"Sorry, music was too loud."

Twilight would then roll her eyes and simply say, "Teenagers."

Two weeks went by and Cue was now officially off of her grounding which meant she could go out with her friends again after school. But, on the first day of her ungrounding, things in her role as Valedictorian and her views on her enemies took a very surprising turn. It was a normal weekday for Cue, Fall was gradually turning into Winter. As Cumulus flew, she felt the bite of the chilled air on her coat, it's a good thing she had a warm scarf and hat on or she'd be doomed. She walked to school with her friends, as always; but when they arrived, Cumulus heard an argument taking place between Gem and Bit. They were by the side of the school building which normally would be their 'make out' spot and Cue and the others usually avoided interrupting for obvious reasons. But today, by the words being exchanged between the two, Cumulus felt something towards Gem that she'd never felt before: concern. And it was because of this that she felt she needed to listen in and possibly try to help Gem, she knew that this sounded ridiculous, wanting to help the mare who had made her life Tartarus since Kindergarten. But her Aunt Fluttershy once said, "Even if somepony wasn't all that nice to you, if they're in trouble, you help them as best as you can."

Cumulus stopped by the steps to listen when her efforts were interrupted by her friends, "Cue, you coming?" Autumn asked.

"Yeah, just give me a minute."

Dandelion and Autumn shrugged their shoulders and went inside as Cumulus quietly tracked her way to where the couple was arguing but she made sure that she wouldn't be seen. She felt the building and stopped when she felt the corner of, she was now in earshot of their conversation.

"Bit, I had a family trip, okay? I told you that it was last minute and that's why I couldn't make it!"

"Oh yeah, sure, and while you were at it I guess you took the time to meet somepony new huh?"

"I told you! It was my 10 year old cousin that we were seeing! He just got his cutie mark and he's my favorite cousin! For Celestia's sake Bit! Get a grip!"

"And meanwhile, I was stuck at the restaurant and had no idea where you were!"

"Bit, you are not in control of me, okay? Let's just move on...alright?"

"Whatever."

Cue heard Bit coming her way, she quickly flew upward so he wouldn't see that she was eavesdropping. Once she knew that Bit was out of hearing range, she landed and heard Gem approaching, Cumulus knew that something was going on by the small sniffles Gem was making.

"Gem?"

"What do YOU want Cumulus?"

"Look I'm just trying to help."

"Help with what?"

"Look, I know that you're the type of pony who hates admitting that she needs help. But listen to me, I overheard you and Bit's argument and...I just want to know what's going on so I know that you need the help."

"Well guess what? I don't need your so called 'help!' I'm fine doing this on my own."

"Gem, I - "

"It's none of your business!"

She then walked past her while forcefully nudging Cumulus to the side, meanwhile, Cumulus wondered what was going on between Bit and Gem and how much worse it would become.

The Kiss

Cumulus waited outside of Sugar Cube Corner the two weeks later, she was waiting for Sparkling Gem whom she was hoping to get some information out of so she could help her. She may have done some cruel things in the past, but that didn't mean she deserved this kind of treatment. No stallion should ever lay a hoof on a mare. What worried Cumulus right was the fact that Gem was already 10 minutes late.

"Cumulus, I'm here," Gem's voice said calmly.

Gem was wearing a pair of sunglasses to hide her black eye from everypony else, because that morning, before she left her house, Bit was on her front porch demanding to know where she was going and why. When she refused to tell him, he started to get physical with Gem, her parents were all the way over in Applewood for a social function and didn't know that this kind of thing was happening. He then started shoving her, spitting on her, calling her vulgar names then he punched in the face. Gem could only lay there and cry, 'why me?' she asked herself, 'why is he doing this?'

"Just tell me where you're going, and I'll go."

"S-Sugar Cube C-Corner..." she sobbed.

"That wasn't so hard now was it?"

Gem then released a few more tears, she just couldn't understand why this was happening.

"Oh shut up, you deserved this, you don't obey me...you get it."

Gem snapped back to the present, "Sorry I'm late Cumulus."

"It's no problem Gem, come on, milkshake's on me."

Gem was smiling at how kind Cumulus was being toward her, but she also couldn't help but feel guilty. She felt that she didn't deserve this from Cumulus after all that she'd done and said to her in the past. They entered the shop and sat down in silence, Pinkie then came over and asked for their orders. Cue ordered a Chocolate Fudge Swirl Milkshake while Cue ordered a small caramel sundae. Pinkie wrote that down and left the two to converse, though keeping a close eye on Sparkling Gem, remembering her history with her niece. When Pinkie left, Cumulus began to wonder why Gem was so late, "Hey, Gem?"

"Hm?"

"Can you explain why you were late?" Cue asked gently. "And Gem...I want the truth."

Gem was taken aback, they were diving into this already?

"Cumulus, please don't make me do this..."

"Gem you can tell me-"

"It's not your business Cue!" Gem snapped.

Cumulus flinched back into her seat as Gem suddenly felt a wash of guilt and put her head in her hooves and began sobbing.

Cumulus heard her and placed a hoof on her arm saying, "It's okay, it's okay, I'm gonna find a way to get you out of this."

"Why do you even care? All I've ever done to you was cause harm to you...why are you being nice to me?"

"You may have done terrible things, but nopony deserves what you're going through with Bit."

Cumulus gave Gem a warm smile and it started to calm Gem down a little, "Okay, okay, I'll tell you...I was late because Bit stopped over and...I didn't want to tell him where I was going and...he may have....hit me."

"He WHAT?!" Cue exclaimed.

"He...punched me in the eye and said some things..."

"This has been pounded into my head by my Mom for as long as I remember Gem: 'A stallion should NEVER hit a mare! I'm gonna pound HIM!"

"Cue, no. I don't want you getting into this!"

"Gem, he's a jerk! You need to at least tell your parents!"

"I tried, but they didn't believe me!"

Cumulus was shocked! What parent outright doesn't believe their child when she says she's having these kinds of problems?

"Why don't they believe you?"

"They say I'm trying to get out of this arranged marriage and that I'm seeing another stallion."

Cumulus facehoofed and immediately felt bad for Gem, "Look, if you ever need somepony who at least believes you and will be there for you if things go bad...me and my friends are here."

"You mean...you, your best friend and your coltfriend?" Gem asked with emphasis on the word 'coltfriend.'

Cumulus smiled and blushed, her first date with Autumn was that night; he wouldn't tell her where he was taking her but she liked it that way, she wanted to be surprised. Cumulus then came back to her senses and continued, "Anyways, yes, we're all going to be here for you...including my family."

Gem smiled as their orders came in, "Thank you."

Cue paced back and forth in her bedroom, Autumn was going to be there any minute and she was freaking out. There were worries that had been polluting her mind since Autumn asked if that night would be a good time for their date. Cumulus said 'yes' because she already agreed to go out with him and didn't want to hurt his feelings, but she was worried that their relationship would end up like Bit and Gem's relationship which led to her second worry, if they broke up, their friendship would be ruined. But it was too late to back out now, Cue's hair was already done and she had a pair of earrings in, she felt that she should be excited, not worrying, but how could she not? She then heard three knock on the door, "Come in," she called.

The door opened as Soarin's voice asked, "You ready Cutie Pie? Your Aunt Twilight gave Autumn a Cloud Walking Spell and he's downstairs."

"He is?!" Cumulus panicked, "I can't do this! What if he finds that he doesn't really like me and dumps me?! What if I find I don't really like him and I have to be the dumper instead of the dumpee?!"

Soarin grinned and shook his head as she continued rambling, he let her go on for another minute before he stopped her.

"How do you know all these things will happen?" he asked.

"I don't know....I honestly don't...."

"Cue, you're jumping to the worst because you're nervous...look, I want you to think of this about him for a second: How well do you know him?"

Cumulus pondered for a moment, she's known him ever since the very first day of school, he's very supportive, kind, protective, fun, funny, he loved music and showed through it that he was thoughtful, sensitive and sweet. Thinking of all this calmed Cumulus down, she took a deep breath as all the worry came out of her. Soarin wrapped his wing around her as gently as a leaf; he then pulled her into a warm hug.

"If he lays a hoof on you, let me know," Soarin whispered before kissing her forehead.

"I will Soarin."

Soarin smiled and nuzzled the top of her head.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Autumn was waiting on the couch with Rainbow Dash in a chair across from him and she was giving him death glares that would burn holes in his forehead. He was certainly getting nervous, he could feel his hooves sweating and not just from Cumulus' Mom glaring at him, but what if this didn't work out like he'd hoped? And why was Cue taking so long? Did she change her mind? He then heard Soarin coming down the stairs, once he was in view, Rainbow asked, "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, just a little nervous is all."

'She's nervous too? Oh sweet Celestia, what have I gotten myself into? Why am I even here?

His question was answered when he turned around at the sound of hoofsteps, what he saw was Cumulus, only a more dressed up Cumulus, she wasn't too formal but still casual. She was-pretty! Her appearance took his breath away as his legs started to wobble, and he saw only her, Rainbow and Soarin didn't even exist. He was then wondering what it would be like to kiss her, but held back, he didn't want to rush things.

"So...you ready Cue?"

"Yeah."

Cue walked out to the front porch and flew down to the ground as Autumn climbed the stairs down. Once they were both on solid ground, Autumn then took Cue by the hoof and led her to their destination, which was a lake around sunset and waiting for them on the shore was a wooden boat. Cumulus heard the water and got curious, "Where are you taking me?"

"I may be doing something a tad cheesy for our first date, but I also wanted to be romantic."

Cumulus giggled as Autumn let go of her hoof and stepped in the boat, he reached out to Cue, "Give me your hoof, I'll help you."

Cue took his hoof and followed his instructions to get into the boat and sat down, Autumn climbed to her side and pushed the boat away from the shore. He used the oars to steer them to the center of the lake and weighed the anchor once they were there. He then unpacked their dinner which was a couple of peanut butter and zapapple jam sandwiches and two bottles of apple juice with chocolate cake for dessert. While eating, they laughed and talked and felt the worries about their relationship rise into the clouds and disappear. They cared for each other, and they both decided silently to give this a chance, whether or not it worked out would be decided later.

"I umm...I have something for you..."

Cumulus then heard the sound of him pulling out his acoustic guitar, Cue knew what he was about to do.

"Autumn...just...how many songs have you written for me?"

Autumn thought for a moment, "Around 15, it sounds creepy, I know....but it was my only way of...you know...getting over the fact that you only saw me as a friend."

Cumulus smiled, he really did care for her like that; she felt guilty for never seeing it and possibly hurting his feelings in the process.

Autumn then began to strum his guitar and began singing:

When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise

Well, there's so much they hold

And just like them old stars

I see that you've come so far

To be right where you are

How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space

To do some navigating

I'll be here patiently waiting

To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it

No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily

I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make

Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use

The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake

And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend

For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn

We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in

I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up, I'm still looking up.

Well, I won't give up on us

God knows I'm tough enough

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

He finished to see tears in Cue's eyes, he let his emotions take over as he leaned in to her and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss lasted for who knows how long! Seconds, minutes, hours, but Cumulus didn't care, she was in heaven right now as her heart beat faster for this stallion who she never saw as a potential lover, but now, she wanted to spend all her time with. Their lips parted as they saw each other anew and they leaned in again for another moment of bliss.

Tensions

Now that Cue was dating, Rainbow became ever more than protective towards Cue. She set earlier curfews, wouldn’t let them kiss in the house (or under it), she had to know where they were going, and if she was gone, Cumulus had to tell Aunt Twilight where she was going and who she was going to be there with.

But even if they were on their dates, they weren’t safe from Rainbow Dash. One day, Rainbow was getting rain clouds ready for that afternoon because Ponyville was scheduled for a thunderstorm. Even though she was earning money with the Wonderbolts, she found the work peaceful, and a nice extra set of bits didn’t hurt when she was not on tour.

She was arranging a cloud when she looked down and saw Cumulus flying next to Autumn who was walking beneath her, tails flicking next to each other closer than she liked. The earth pony then said something to Cumulus that Rainbow couldn’t hear, which made her daughter blush red and giggle.

Rainbow Dash, locking into protective mother mode, flew over with a cloud for disguise and began to eavesdropped on their conversation.

“—Autumn, I understand your wariness, but I need to help Gem in any way I can.”

“I know, it’s just….I don’t want you to get hurt. I’ve heard stories about what happened to ponies who get between a couple in that kind of situation.”

“Autumn!….”

He took a step back. “Alright, got it! Calm down, Cueie. I just... I just really care about you.”

Cumulus smiled. “I do too, Auto.”

The cloud Rainbow was hiding behind began to blacken. 'Cueie, Auto!’ Rainbow thought, ‘They're using nicknames now!'

Then, to her horror, Cumulus leaned down to Autumn and locked muzzles with him.

Having possibly popped a blood vessel, Rainbow Dash stood up, and jumped up and down on the cloud making it rain hard on the lip locked couple.

Cumulus shrieked at the sudden jolt of cold water on her coat, while Autumn stood there, dazed and confused as to why the storm was only going on where they were standing. Before Autumn looked up, Rainbow Dash had zoomed away with the cloud faster than the speed of sound.

“Ah! Auto!”

He looked anxiously at his soaked marefriend. “Whoops, sorry, you okay?”

She giggled. “Yeah...I’m good.”

Autumn then saw her wet mane, dripping off water in such an elegant affair that he felt his heart race and a lump form in his throat that he was trying to swallow but it wouldn’t go down. He couldn’t speak and Cue noticed, “Autumn, you alright?”

“What?! I mean... Yeah,” He responded and sounding a bit pubescent.

Cue raise an eyebrow in his direction. “Are you sure?”

Autumn looked around nervously as his mare friend began to hover closer to him. “Yeah, just a bit...you know…”

“No. What?”

“I...I...I..." She flew up right to his muzzle, and despite his fear, all the register in his brain—or rather, a certain area between his legs that was acting up—was her passionate, beautiful, sexy—

"I gotta go!” He then took off home like a Wonderbolt.

Cumulus, dazed as well as confused, thought back on what happened and remembered a familiar sound, the sound of her mother flying away, and wondered if that's why Autumn had run off.

Cue landed on the ground and stomped her hoof. Why would her mother ruin a perfect moment for her? Why was she so protective about when it came to her and Autumn? One thing was for sure, she was going to find out. She immediately took off toward her house, anger boiling higher the closer she got.

At the house, Soarin took note that Rainbow was a little off as soon as she walked in the house, “Rainbow, you okay?”

"Well let’s see, Cue and Autumn have couple nicknames, and then I saw Autumn CHEWING on my daughter’s face! So yeah, I'M JUST DANDY!”

Soarin facehoof. “Rainbow, she’s 18, not 8...just let her grow up and make her own mistakes if that's what you're worried about.”

Rainbow gritted her teeth. “That’s the thing! The mistakes she makes are….”

“Normal," Soarin pointed out, "they are completely normal, Dash, and you know it. You didn’t make those same mistakes at her age?”

Rainbow then remembered, how at 18, she had gone through a phase where she pretended to be Goth for a stallion who was also Goth and she thought was cute. She had worn chains, black makeup and tied and teased her still multicolored hair up so she would fit the part. At first, she seemed to be hitting it off with him until he placed her in the friend zone and went out with another mare.

She was so adamant on being something she wasn’t to get what she wanted and it turned against her. The same mistake Cumulus made at 13, when she was told by Gem at the time that she wasn’t pretty enough for any colt to go out with. In turn, this depressed Cue to the point where she tried to dye her hair like Rainbow’s by herself and it turned into an ugly shade of brownish green.

Rainbow rear flopped on the clouds and she sighed, "Yeah, you're right...”

Soarin chuckled. "Least you don't do anything drastic?" He was meet with no response as Rainbow nervously grinned back. "What did you do?"

Rainbow snapped to attention. "What? Nothing!"

"MOM!"

Soarin beamed. "Looks like we're about to see what, 'nothing,’ is.”

As soon as he finished that sentence, the door swung open and vaporized into thin air. Through what had once been cloud door, stormed in a fuming and soaked Cumulus.

"Spying on my date? Then you make it rain on us!" She raised a hoof at her agap mother. "Don't think I didn't know it was you!"

“You forget how intelligent she is Rainbow,” Soarin said trying to ease the tension.

Rainbow glared at him then turned back to Cue. "Okay... So it might have been me—”

“Why Mom? Why would you do that to me?”

Rainbow held up a hoof. “Hun, let me explain…”

“Did you know that he ran off afterwards? Who knows if he even wants to talk to me again. Thanks… a lot! Thanks for scaring off my first coltfriend!”

Rainbow began to run her hooves through her hair. “I’m sorry for overreacting, Cumulus. I wasn't... Trying to spy on you. I just saw you two kissing and...I thought of you...well…”

Cumuls raised an eyebrow. “Thought of me what?”

Rainbow dash scratched her neck. “Well, with you two being together so much and all…”

Cue’s eyes widened. “You think we’re gonna…”

“YES!" Rainbow Dash blared, causing the whole house to shake. "And I’m being cautious! You could get taken advantage of or end up with a foal and he won’t take responsibility for it or…”

“Is that the kind of stallion you think he is?!”

Struggling for breath, Rainbow said, “Cumulus- ”

“No! You know what? We've been friends for life! He'd never try and take advantage of me. And if I got pregnant, he'd be there for me! Now, hearing that, what do you think of him now? Because if you don’t like it, we’ll do it right in front of you just to show you!!”

As the effect of Cumulus’ words sank in, the room became deathly silence. But before the silence could be broken, Cue flew stairs to her room crying as she slammed the door shut.

“Well, that went well didn’t it?” Rainbow said sarcastically.

Soarin continued to read his paper and shrugged. “She’s a teenager, and she feels that you don’t approve of Autumn.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I do, it’s just the whole hormones thing!”

“If it happens, it happens.” He flew over and placed a hoof on his marefriend. “Just let her make her mistakes and let her grow.”

Rainbow dash moaned and leaned into Soarin. “Okay, okay…”

“Good.” He began to rub her back. "Wanna go out to eat and let her cool down?”

Rainbow Dash blankly said, “Sure.”

Meanwhile, back on the ground. Autumn kept running until he was somewhere within in town. By then, his erection had gone down, and he felt like he could breathe. Though, the more he thought about it, the more he felt silly about it.

'Okay, so I would want to... Do it with her? What stallion wouldn’t with somepony as beautiful as—Well there's her mom of course... Still, would she even want to? And what if she said no or—'

He was cut off as a purple pony ran up beside him.

"Hey, Autumn!" Gem said, speaking very fast. "Mind if I hang around you?"

"Wa—" he said before he saw Bit off a few blocks away glaring at them. "Of course," he said without breaking his glare at the jerk. Which seemed to be enough to get him to back off.

"Thanks," she said with a relieved sigh as she rested her head on his shoulders.

As the situation he had been put into dawned on him, he nervously asked, "You doing okay?" While he had been cautioning Cue on helping Gem, the last thing he was going to do was leave her along if Bit was possibly stalking her.

Gem lifted her head up and nodded. "Mostly and... Ew, why are you all sweaty?"

He crossed his eyes to see his mane was still wet. "Long story. Short version, Rainbow Dash saw Cue and I making out and dumped a cloud on us."

"Oh my," she chuckled. "What, did she think you were also going to buck her?"

Autumn turned his head.

Gem’s eyes widened. "Oh Celestia! Did she see you two about—"

"NO!" He shouted, only to have the block look at him. "Um, I mean..." He scratched his neck.

If he was going to have a talk like this, Gem would have been the last pony he wanted to talk to. On the other hoof, even if Dandelion was around, she would have merely been his second last option.

Gem weakly nodded. “Yeah. Have to cross the park to get home. And it help alot if I didn’t have to go alone.”

Atuam closed his eyes and nodded. “Lead the way.”

Back in the clouds, Cue continued to toss and turn in her bed as every few minutes she would throw her head into something and scream bloody murder.

Why couldn't her mother just let her be. So what if she want to have... Sex with...

After hours of screaming, the full effect of it hit her; Did she even want to have sex with Autumn. At least not right now away. Sure, she had almost done so before, but she was also drunk. If they did it, she'd make sure to remember it... Whenever that would be.

While he never said it out loud, it often crossed her mind that he would eventually give her hints he wanted more. Like when he would run his tail over her hind, nibble her ear, though he hadn't tried anything more, yet.

But what if that changed? What if he did bring it up, and what if she said no? Would he not want to date her anymore? As much as she knew he probably wouldn't do that, she couldn't deny that anything was impossible.

She had to get some air. Either by herself, or hopefully she would hear someone she knew while she headed out. Right now, she just couldn't be here.

With one last stretch out of her bed, she opened her wings and flew off.

Autumn walked in silence with Gem for awhile, not sure what to say. What could he? He just admited that he was thinking about possibly doing it with his marefriend…

He blinked.

No, this was more than any marefriend, this was Cue! …And he was talking about a possible sex life with her to a mare who had bullied him most of his life right after she had gotten out of an abusive relationship, and whom he had urged Cue to be careful with to being with?

Why was he hanging out with Gem again?

"Not much of a talker?" Gem eventually asked. Ending the silence. “So you wanting to take the next step with Cue, or what?”

Autumn started to gasp for breath. “It’s… It’s none of your business!”

Gem lowered her head. “Yeah… it isn’t.”

Autumn blinked. “Oh, Gem, I’m sorry!” He held out a hoof. “Look, I really mean you don’t have to worry about it. I mean, I know—”

Gem glared at him.

“Sorry… You clearly have something to say.”

Gem then lightened up and chuckled. “Well, I can see why Cue likes you so much.”

“Yeah, she really is something.” His eyes dropped as he tilted his head down. “The last thing I’d want to do is ruin...” He then looked up when he heard Gem mumble something. “Something wrong?”

She ran a hoof on her head. “Bear with me, I’ve never done this before.”

Autumn raised an eyebrow and took a little step back. “Um… and that would be?”

Gem gritted her teeth. “Trying to be a nice pony and give helpful advice.”

Autumn sighed. “Oh, that sounds fine.” After he said it, a little bell in his head rang, “Um… should I worry?”

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Cue had just touched down on the ground, when she immediately heard a welcoming voice.

“Hey, Cue!” Dandelion shouted. “What’s up? Aren’t you suppose to be on a date with Autumn?”

“I was,” Cue said as she reached out a hoof to confirm it was her friend. “then my mom had to ruin it.”

She heard Dandelion intake a deep breath. “What? She caught you two having sex or something?”

Cue felt her cheeks flare up as her friend gasped.

“Wait… did you two actually—"

“No!”

Dandelion clicked her tongue. “Well, that’ fine, I guess.” There was a moment of silence. “Wait, did you want to?

Cue found herself stammering. “What?! No, I mean… it’s Autumn and I… I…” she felt on her hunches. “Oh Luna. Mom and I just had a heated chat about this. And now I’m doubting if I’m ready! I mean, what if I’m not! And… what if I’m not, and he breaks up with me—”

She felt Dandelion lift her up. “Two things, one, let’s go some place a little quieter to talk about number two.”

Cue nodded. “Lead the way.”

A pair of bowling pins fell down into another strike as Soarin checked off the score card and complimented, “We should try to talk about you daughter’s love life when we’re on tour and I beat you in one of these matches.”

Rainbow Dash snorted at her coltfriend, “Not helping.” She then took a seat on one of the chairs.

He looked between Rainbow Dash and his bowling ball, and decided to sit down next to her. “Hey,” he said as he started to wrap a hoof around her. “I know you’re angry—”

Rainbow Dash jumped up from her seat. “Who said anything about anger! I’m not upset, and I am not, angry!” she landed down right next to him and pressed her face next to him. “Do I look angry?!” she backed her head off and gave her infamous ‘rage face,’ which hadn’t aged with the rest of her well.

In a bold response, Soarin leaned in and gave his special somepony a deep kiss. Which (to his relief) she decided to kiss him back.

“Okay,” Rainbow said with a dreamy sigh. “Maybe a little—”

Soarin raised an eyebrow. “A little?”

Rainbow Dash blew a piece of mane out of her mane. “Okay… so a lot angry and…” she crossed her arms and threw herself back on the chair. “and I…I” she began to tear up. “I don’t want to be a grandmother yet!” She burst into tears and cried into Soarin’s embrace. “I don’t want her to grow up! And I don’t want her to leave me!”

“Oh… There, there.” He said as he rubbed her back as he glared down a group of finely dressed ponies staring at them. “First off, as much as you’d want her to be your baby forever, you just can’t. I mean, would you want to still be living with your parents right now?” He felt Rainbow shake her head. “Thought so. Second, she’s a smart girl. Even if they—” He felt Rainbow squeeze his neck harder. “Which I’m sure they won’t!” He continued once she loosened her grip, but continued to hold onto him. “But if they do, she’ll use the proper protection and birth control.”

Rainbow sighed and let go of Soarin, “You’re right,” she said as she wiped away a tear. “It’s still hard to believe my little girl is almost all grown up.”

Soarin chuckled. “I know. But you’ll always have me!

She punched him. “Shut up, you hot stud.” They then continued to make out for several more minutes..

“You still alive in there?” Gem asked as she waved a hoof in front of her face. It had been an hour later, and she had just gone into details about all the things mare liked in sex, the importance and best ways to hint without pressuring, and any other thing Gem thought may have been important for the poor colt to know about the opposite gender.

Autumn blinked. “What?”

“We were talking about you wanting to buck Cue, and why that’s making you nervous.”

“Oh… Right.” His eyes derped.

Gem sighed. “So, do you have any questions?”

“Well… Actually, there has been one thing about all this I’ve been worrying about.”

“Oh?”

“Well I...I mean…I” he scratched his neck.

She snapped her hoof. “Come on, I just told you the best positions, I don’t think anything you can ask will be—”

“What if I’m no good enough for her?!” There, he said it. Now he could only watch as Gem made fun of—

Gem started laughing. “If that’s what you’re worried about,” and raise her rear in the air, “you can always give me a test drive.” She winked at him. “No one’s looking.”

Autumn’s eyes widened as he jumped back. “Wh… NO!” He began to walk away when he felt Gem tug on his tail.

“Sorry!” she sighed and rubbed her head. “I didn’t really mean it. But…” she cooed, “I am happy to see Cue has a very Loyal stallion.” She lowered her head. “I bet you would also worship the ground she walks on, and do anything to make her happy, even if you had to put her needs ahead of your own.”

Autumn beamed. “Yeah. I really…” He trailed off and looked at the glooming Gem. “Oh, Gem, Gem, no!” he hesitantly made his way closer to her as he noticed she was on the edge of crying. “Hey, I know Bit was a jerk towards you, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find a stallion who will treat you right.”

Gem turned her back on him. “How would you know?” She sniffled. “After the way I treated you, the only reason you're even talking to me is because it’s what Cue would want you to.”

She had a point there. Though, it wasn’t going to stop him from trying to lift her spirits. “Well, yeah. But… that’s not the pony you are now, right?”

Gem sniffled and turned to face him. “No…”

“Well… If you keep living in the past, and just let him keep hurting you, then you’ll never find your… perfect stallion.”

Gem lowered her eyes. “Is that supposed to be your proud motivation speech?”

He grumbled. “It’s the best you’re going to get out of me, okay? I’m not good at these.”

Gem paused for a moment, then began to burst out laughing. “Autumn, Cue is one lucky mare to have you. So do me a favor,” she placed a hoof on his, “treat her well. Whether you take the next step or not.”

He nodded. “Sure thing.” He was then taken aback when Gem gave him a hug, but soon lightened up and hugged back.

“Also, if you finish first when doing it, I will devote my time to ruining your life.”

Autumn gulped. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Ready to talk?”

As they sat on a park bench, Cue finished up her shake. “I suppose.” She sighed. “Though, I don’t know, I guess I just wonder…”

Dandelion raised an eyebrow. “Wonder what?”

“Well… I….” Cue rubbed the back of her neck, “what if Autumn wants to take things to the next level, and what if I say no?” She slumped into her seat. “But… What if I say no, and what if he doesn’t want to be my coltfriend anymore?”

Dandelion chuckled, and Cue gave her a glance.

“Sorry, sorry! I suppose the whole thing with Gem has really got you on edge.”

Cue kicked the dirt. “Maybe a little.” She shook her head. “But… It’s Autumn, right? But, I…” She felt a hoof touching her own.

“Hey,” Dandelion informed, “first off, that boy’s been in love with you since day one. Ever since he’s laid eyes on you, he’s been smitten. All he ever talked about when he was alone with me was, ‘how beautiful she is, how wonderful she is, will I ever have a chance with her, oh no, she’s falling for that stallion.’ She stuck out her tongue. “He was really adorable.”

Cue chuckled nervously. “Yeah, I still can’t believe I never realized he had a crush on me till he asked me out.”

“Well there—”

“I guess I always thought you two would end up becoming a couple.” There was an audible silence until Cue eyes widened. “Wait… Did you ever—”

“What! No!…” Dandelion bit her lip. “No. Even before you came along, I never really liked him like that…”

Cue raised an eyebrow

“Okay, so maybe there was a brief moment before you. Berfie!” Dandelion placed a hoof on her best friends shoulder. “I knew you were always going to be the one for him. Besides, I have Sound Check right now.” She sighed dreamly. Plus,” she blew a raspberry, “you are so adorable when we’re alone and are smitten by him.”

Cue gave her a friendly punch. “Shut up.”

The two friends laughed like little girls for awhile till Dandelion said, “But seriously, if you're not ready, you could deny him till your married, or even years after you married, and his feelings for you aren’t going to change. And even if it does for some reason, well, then I’ll buck his brains out.”

Feeling better, Cue added. “Thanks, Dandelion.” She sighed. “Though, now I need to face my mother.” She placed her hooves on her forehead. “Oh I acted like a brat in front of her.”

“Oh, honey,” Dandelion patted her back, “sadly, I don’t have any advice for you on that front.”

Cue lowered her eyebrows. “Thank’s a lot, Dandelion.”

Dandelion shrugged her elbows. “Hey, she’s your mom, not my mom. The best you can do is say sorry, and go from there. All I’m good for is telling you how to or not to buck my best friend.”

“Best frie–” Cue’s face burned bright red. “Hey!”

Dandelion burst out laughing as Cue eventually joined along.

Rainbow and Soarin came home to find Cumulus gone, so they figured she’d left to Dandelion’s which was Cue’s normal routine for when she was this upset. Rainbow then went into the living room and eyed the photo books on one of her bookshelves. She sighed and pulled out the one that said ‘Baby years’ on the binding, she opened it to see Cumulus’ first birthday with cake and frosting all over her face while she looked curiously up at Rainbow who was holding the camera.

Rainbow gently brushed her hoof over the picture, remembering how she was squealing and demanding more cake. Rainbow then began to cry a little, she turned her head away from Soarin to hide it.

“Rainbow, you don’t need to hide from me.”

Rainbow then looked at him with tears streaming down her face, she then hugged him tightly as she continued crying.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay.”

“What if she doesn’t come home though because of our fight?”

Soarin peeled her off of him to look at her, “She will.”

He then wiped her tears away as she smiled, she looked at the photo album again, “Would you like to see her pictures?”

Soarin smiled, “I’d love to.”

Rainbow picked it up and took it over to the couch as Soarin followed, she then opened it and began to narrate.

She pointed to a picture of her and Cumulus sopping wet in a small inflatable kiddy pool with Rainbow’s house in the background.

“Her first swim...she was about a year and a half. She wouldn’t go in cuz she was too scared so I had to go in with her.”

“She was sorta timid back then wasn’t she?”

“Very is a better way to describe it she couldn’t ask any of her Aunts for something to eat without feeling like she was being rude.”

“But still, she’s a sweet girl.”

“A bit more daring too…”

Soarin rubbed his chin. “I wonder where she learned THAT from?”

Rainbow gave him a playful nudge and they both laughed.

Rainbow then saw Cue’s first Hearth’s Warming picture where she received a teddy bear that Rainbow had bought from a Wonderbolts fan store. Unknown to everypony else, it was the same bear Cue still slept with to this day. The colorful wrapping paper surrounded her as she squeezed her bear tightly. Rainbow still looked at the image when she asked, “Is this going to change anything for us? If or when she does...do it?”

Soarin wrapped his hoof around her and said, “It won't. You’ll still be mother and daughter, no matter what obstacles come knocking on your door.”

The sound of an open door brought Rainbow Dash out of her daze. When she turned, around, she saw her daughter walking in with a sullen head.

As she entered, Cue momentarily glanced up in the direction of her mother, and Rainbow Dash stared back.

"Hey."

Cue directed her eyes to the floor. "Hey, Mom."

Mother and daughter stood in silence for a moment.

Soarin then got up from the couch, “I’ll be outside, I think you two need to be alone.”

When he walked past Cumulus, he put a hoof on her shoulder and said, “Take it easy on her, please?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I will.”

Soarin went outside with a smile and gently shut the door behind him. Rainbow and Cumulus tried to find the right words to fix what had happened earlier; both came up with it at the same time.

"Mom—."

"Cue—."

They both said at the same time.

Then, before one of them could say anything, Cumulus flew towards her mother, and embraced her in an apologetic hug.

"Sorry I've been such a brat."

Rainbow dash hugged back. "It's alright. I just didn't mean to snap at you. I just—"

"Worry about me?" Cue pulled back to roll her eyes. Soon, they both bursted out laughing.

"Yeah, I'm afraid I do." She then pulled her daughter into a tight hug.

“Maybe a little too much?”

“I know, I know...but the topic of being physical with your coltfriend is something we need to discuss.”

Cumulus moaned. “I thought we had this conversation already.”

“That was before and this is now.”

Cue then sat down beside her and Rainbow took Cue’s hooves in hers.

“Look, I just need to know...do you love him?”

Cue nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you sure he’s the only one you’re going to be with?”

“Yes.”

“Has he ever...hurt you?”

“No!”

“He’s never hit you?”

“No.”

“Has he ever tried to-”

“Mom! This is Autumn Leaves...not Shiny Bit.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Right, right...Now, to talk birth control you have options. Do you want the pill or the shot?”

Cue thought on it for a moment, then answered. “The Pill.”

Rainbow Dash’s gulped. “Are you planning on using any other forms of... protection?”

“I would ask him to use a condom.”

Rainbow let out a sigh. “That’s good.”

Cumulus rolled her eyes. “I think I’m good. Thanks for everything.”

“Cue, just…” she rubbed Cue’s back, “Just don’t shut me out, please. I’m your mother, I still wanna talk to you.”

“I know Mom and I will...I’m just not gonna give you the gory details.”

“And let’s keep it that way,” Rainbow Dash booped Cue’s noise. “How about this, don’t ask, don’t tell. Sound good?”

Grinning, cue nodded.“Yeah.”

“Also,” Rainbow raised a hoof, “don’t jump into it okay? I want you to at least think this over because this is a really big step.”

She thought back on her conversation with dandelion. “I know, Mom, and I will.”

With one last relieved sigh, rainbow said, “Good, let’s go.”

Cue raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

“The doctor, so we can get you a prescription.”

Cumulus smiled, but, hoof in hoof, followed her mother out.

Two weeks later, after having talked it over with Autumn and agreeing that they wanted to take the next step, both were in each others arms as they were making out on Autumn’s couch in his apartment. He shared this apartment with his band mates who were out at the local night club for the evening. But Autumn decided to stay back because this was the date they were finally going to take the next step.

Cumulus thought back onto their early days as Autumn kissed her neck, when all that seemed to matter we're finding their cutie marks. Anything she thought about them just being friends when Autumn had given her comforting words when she felt down, and when they danced at the grand galloping gala went down the drain when he asked her out.

'Oh,' Cue though, 'what a fool I was for not realizing his feelings for me sooner.'

She was brought out her daze, as she felt a hoof slide onto her back.

At the feeling of her body twitch when she thought about taking a move, he quickly pulled his rear leg back and broke off the kiss.

"Sorry... Sorry," he stuttered as he looked down. "To far? I don't... I wouldn’t want to do anything you weren't ready for."

Cue, though unable to actually see him, looked at him as she started to blush. "Oh... It's not that. I mean..." She sighed, knowing this was the moment as she felt his hoof in hers tighten. "I really do love you Autumn, and…”

"It's okay." He cut off with a long sigh.

He then placed a hoof on Cue's face. "If you don't want to do it now, I'm... Okay with it. Be nice, I admit, but... I'd much rather see you happy than myself. If I got to wait, I'll wait forever for you." He then pulled her into a hug as he rested his head on her shoulder. "Trust me, Cue, just being here, with you, in my hooves, is all I ever wanted."

He was meet with a pair of lips on his.

Giggling like mad, she said, "Then let's make this a night to remember."

His eyes widened. "You... You sure? I don't want to press—"

He was silenced by Cue's hooves. "I'm on pills, and I trust you keep a condom around somewhere?"

"Yeah."

"Well go get it, and hurry back. And don't take to long." She kissed him back and then winked, and Autumn hurried off.

A moment later, everything set, he kisses his beautiful mare while she laid there.

"You... You sure—"

"Ask me that one more time, and you can spend the rest of the evening on the bottom."

His eyes widened, then smirked.

"Alright."

She held his hoof. "I'm... I'm just sorry...that I didn't realize your feelings towards me sooner—" this time, she was cut off by a pair of hooves.

"Hey, we're here now. And if you're ready, that's all I care about."

She chuckled like a lovesick fool. "Then make me yours, lover boy."

Autumn saluted. "Yes, ma’am."

With one last deep breath and one last kiss, he raised himself on the couch, and swung a leg over Cue's back.

Hours later, the young ponies, laying on a roughed up couch, holding each other tightly under a blanket as they continued to pant.

"I... I do good?" Autumn asked after their afterglow died down.

Cue chuckled stupidly as she held her lover in her hooves. "You did... Amazing." While she didn't have any other comparison (since her first was a blur), she wouldn't have done it with any other stallion than him. "You're the only pony I could ever want." She let out a yawn.

"Um... Well, Cue, you want to speed the—" he was cut off as he was wrapped tightly by her hooves and wings, which soon was followed by her gentle snores.

Autumn chuckled idiotically as he grabbed a nearby unoccupied pillow to turn the lights off.

Once done, he rolled over so neither of them laid on top of each other, kissed Cue on the forehead, as whispered, "Goodnight, Cumulus."

Meanwhile, outside, a pair of blue eyes glanced at them, before they quietly slipped into the night. All the while, he kept saying to himself as he panted from his own recent releases, "Soon..."

The Fundraiser

Cumulus had sat down in her seat when Dandelion asked, "What was THAT all about?"

"Huh?"

"Cue, why did you hang back?" asked Autumn.

"I'll tell you after class."

Autumn and Dandelion looked at each other briefly, dropping the subject. They knew something was up and honestly, they were a tad scared to know. Mr. Donkey then addressed the class, "Morning students."

"Morning," most of the class grumbled.

He simply ignored their groans and continued, "Now before we get to our lesson, our Valedictorian has a project to put together...Cumulus?"

"Y-yes?" she stammered. 'What was Mr. Donkey getting at?'

"Don't you remember me telling you?"

Cumulus was now officially confused, "Can you refresh my memory please? A lot has been going on lately."

"Of course, Cumulus has to organize a fundraiser to raise enough money for both our Graduation Party in Las Pegasus AND for the location for the ceremony."

'F-f-f-f-fund...raise...er? Me?'

"Um, Mr. Donkey, no disrespect...but I don't think you told me this..."

"Really?"

Cue could only shake her head.

"Oh...well...now you do...um...this has to be put together within the next month. I will be here to assist you if you need it and I'm allowing your family, friends and fellow classmates to help as well since this is such short notice."

Cumulus could breathe a sigh of relief, she had backup.

"Thank you."

Mr. Donkey grinned and turned to begin the lesson, meanwhile, Cue gears were turning for ideas.

Though how she would get the result would not be what she expected.

For the next two weeks, Cue was going crazy trying to set something up for a fundraiser. She was in her room, typing down ideas to present to Mr. Donkey.

"Candy Gram? Maybe...Auntie Pinkie could make some candy and ponies could buy some and write a message to somepony...no, that's more for Hearts and Hooves Day and it's almost Winter Wrap Up."

She took the sheet out of her typewriter, crinkled it into a ball and tossed it aside.

As the two weeks went by, her friends and family noticed how little sleep she'd been getting by the way her mane and tail looked. It looked like she had been working at the wind section of the Weather Factory full time for the past two weeks. They were getting increasingly worried about her especially since she was also saying and or mumbling random fundraiser ideas out loud.

"Popcorn sales...Carnival...Animal Races...Dog Show...Kissing Booth..."

Rainbow Dash heard this as she passed by Cue's room when she was on her weekend break. Cue had told her about the fundraiser and immediately worried and this was the reason. Cue has always had a habit of delving deep into every big challenge thrown at her, whether it be performing for the Princesses, spelling out a proposal, acing all her classes or even setting up a fundraiser, anything you throw her way you can count on the task getting done on time and done perfectly. The only problem is that sleep and sanity isn't part of the deal, she will go crazy to get it done at the expense of her health (Gee, I wonder who she learned THAT from!) which was why Rainbow was both happy and scared for her.

She even dozed off in the middle of class while reciting these ideas, which even surprised Mr. Donkey, 'Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to pile this much on her,' he thought as he was teaching and watching her. She tried her best to be wide awake for both work and school, though she had to work REALLY hard to keep her eyes open and awake.

"Poor Cue," said Dandelion who was watching Cumulus clumsily bust a cloud from below with Autumn by the Ponyville Fountain.

"I know, I wish there was something I could do to help her," Autumn said sympathetically.

Dandelion then got an idea, "Maybe there is!"

"How?"

Dandelion grinned slyly at him and nudged her head towards Cumulus, Autumn knew what she was getting at.

"No! No no no! No way! I'm not doing it!"

"Autumn, it's the only way to help her!"

"I-I can't! I've never asked a mare out before!"

Dandelion rolled her eyes, "That's because you've never tried! I mean it can't be as hard a performing a song!"

Autumn then got a lightbulb moment, "That's it Dandie! You're a genius!!"

Dandelion looked at him confused, "Excuse me? What am I a genius about here?"

"A song! I'll perform a song to ask her out! Mares love that!"

"Autumn I was saying that as a comparison, not for you to take serious-"

"Dandie, this is perfect! You're awesome!"

"Ly.....and you're not going to listen to me are you?"

"Why? What's so wrong with this plan?"

"Because it is THE most cheesiest thing to do in the history of cheesiest ways to ask a mare out!"

"Well, I'll be laughing in your face when it works!"

He then ran home to get his guitar with the hopes that she would snap out of this, come up with an idea, and most importantly: say yes.

Dandelion face hoofed as she watched him leave, "What...an...idiot."

Cumulus went to the restaurant to get herself some coffee, she rarely drank it, but right now she REALLY needed caffeine in her system. When her coffee was finished, she heard a guitar playing and Autumn's voice singing as if he were singing to a certain somepony and to her alone. Imagine her surprise when she heard his voice approaching her! She listened closer to the lyrics:

"Would you go with me? If we roll down streets of fire...would you hold on to me tighter? As the Summer sun got higher? If we roll from town to town and never shut it down."

Autumn was now right in front of her, and only surprise was on Cue's face, 'Wait, is he asking me out?!'

Cue had only considered him a friend but occasionally thought of dating him, but she'd put it out of her mind, thinking of what would happen if they broke up. She had honestly never had the inkling that he had a thing for her, 'How long has he liked me? Oh my gosh! My best friend had a crush on me!'

"Would you go with me? If we were lost in fields of clover? Would we walk even closer? Until the trip was over? And would it be okay, if I didn't know the way?"

Cue was now a smiling and giggling mess as he continued.

"If I gave you my hoof would you take it and make me the happiest colt in the world? If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you girl...Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea let me know if you're really a dream...I love you so...so would you go with me?

Would you go with me? If we rode the clouds together? Could you not look down forever? If you were lighter than a feather? Oh and if I set you free, now would you go with me?

If I gave you my hoof would you take it and make me the happiest colt in the world? If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you girl...Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea let me help me tie up the ends of a dream...I gotta know...would you go with me?

I love you so...so would you go with me?"

He then finished with a small solo on his guitar and looked at a flabberghasted Cumulus, as the rest of his audience applauded.

Cue still wasn't answering.

'Argh! I hate it when Dandelion's right!!' he yelled in his mind.

He then heard a simple, "Yes!"

He looked at Cumulus, "R-really?"

Cumulus, too dazed to speak only nodded.

"Okay, umm...I'll come up with a date then for us to...you know."

Now that his feelings and intentions were out, she found it very cute that he was tripping over himself.

And that's when the idea hit her, "A dance."

"Um, Cue? You okay? Please tell me you're back to normal!"

"No! I mean, it's perfect! Everypony in Ponyville who wants to attend can buy a ticket, and you and your band can play the music!"

Autumn had recently joined a rock band called The Party Crashers as the lead guitarist and singer, the music wasn't his taste but he needed to earn the bits from playing gigs.

Cue then thought it through, "Ugh, that's not gonna work."

"Why?"

"We'd need to pay you."

Autumn didn't want her to suffer through this anymore so he said, "You know what? I'll pull some strings and see if we can do the labor free."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Nothing beats helping out my new marefriend."

Cue felt herself blush, she never thought she'd be blushing for Autumn someday.

Finding the location for the Dance was a cinch, Cue just had to ask Auntie Applejack if they could the barn and she said yes giddy now that the insanity was over. Pinkie Pie and the others helped to decorate, Rainbow even asked to come home early to lend a hoof and she even brought Soarin home with her to help. Cue noticed that Soarin was accompanying her Mom home quite a lot since they'd been dating but didn't go out in public because of the rule, but Cue didn't mind, she liked having Soarin around. Dandelion was helping her latest coltfriend Sound Check to set up the sound for the band, they'd been dating for at least a week now and had been on, so far, 2 good dates. Even Cumulus was wondering how long this one would last.

Meanwhile, her Aunt Twilight was helping Cumulus keep a checklist of the things that needed to be done, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were decorating the ceiling, Applejack was getting the food and refreshments ready, Pinkie was decorating the dance floor and walls with confetti, streamers and balloons, and Rarity was getting the tables and center pieces ready.

'So far, so good,' Cue thought to herself.

The Party Crashers were the setting up their instruments on stage to practice when Sound Check had Dandelion to take a break for a bit, he said that he had it under control from there.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I got it, plus...you've deserved it with all the help you've been giving me."

She grinned and blushed, "Okay, just let me know if you need me."

"You got it."

He kissed her cheek before she left.

As Autumn was setting up, he couldn't but glance occasionally at the beautiful image that was Cumulus. He could not believe that it happened, he was dating her! He was dating HER! The only filly he had a crush on since the very first day of school.

Dandelion put her arm around Cumulus and said, "So, I take it the song went well?"

"It did, it was so sweet, which kinda begs the question...how long has he liked me?"

"Seriously? You never noticed?"

"No, I didn't...is it that bad?"

"Since Preschool."

"Whoa!"

"I know right? Well, I had to nudge him a little this year to get him to ask you out."

Cumulus giggled, "I bet you did."

Rainbow Dash was behind them and heard the whole thing, she looked up at Autumn and he was looking at Cumulus like he had a schoolfilly crush, Rainbow however couldn't believe what she just heard. Cumulus had a coltfriend, maybe it would've been best if she didn't take that offer from the Wonderbolts, then she could've seen this coming and prevented it. On the other hoof, Cumulus risked a lot to get her that position and it would've been giving away an opportunity most pegasi don't even come within 50 miles of getting. The best thing she could do as a Mom was to give her advice.

Rainbow stepped towards the two mares with a half smile, "Hey girls."

"Hey Ms. Dash!"

"Hi Mom."

"Hey Dandelion, do you mind if I take Cumulus out for a minute?"

"Sure, no problem, I'm gonna see if Sound Check needs help any."

Dandelion then walked away towards the stallion.

"I think she might actually stick with this one."

Cumulus then turned around, "So, where are we going?"

"Just going for a fly for a bit."

"But...there's a lot of stuff to do and..."

"They've got it...trust me. I just need to talk to you...alone."

Confused, Cumulus followed the sound of her mother's hoofsteps. They both then took off to the sky, Rainbow didn't say anything for a while which told Cumulus that something was wrong.

"Mom, are you okay?"

Rainbow took a deep breath and said, "We'd better sit first."

She led Cue to a cloud and sat down, with tears in her eyes, she nuzzled Cumulus' hair.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"You're growing..."

Cumulus looked at her with compassion, she knew it was hard for her; knowing the bond they had and it took a LOT for it to be severed at all.

"I...sorta heard you talking to Dandelion and...I just..."

"Mom, we've had this conversation before like...8 years ago."

"Cue, you didn't have a coltfriend 8 years ago."

"Fair enough."

"It's just...even I knew he had those feelings for you."

"You did?"

"It wasn't that hard to notice, it was the way he looked at you all the time, like...he was struggling to get it out but didn't know how to do it. But, I just want you to be careful, being your age and dating...I just don't want you doing anything you're going to regret."

"Mom, if it makes you feel better, I'll get on birth control. Okay?"

This made Rainbow a little more relieved, though in the back of her mind, she hoped she wouldn't have to put it to use.

"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" Cue asked.

"Well, I haven't seen you in a while, how is everything else?"

"Twilight shoved another college pamphlet my way."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Which one have you added to your collection?"

"Vanhoover."

"Sweet Celestia, that's like, what? The third one you've gotten?"

"5th actually."

"Well, maybe I can talk to her..."

"Please?"

Rainbow smiled and hugged Cue, "I'll see what I can do."

The fundraiser took place the day after the last balloon was in place and all the food was prepared. Word got around fast because Rainbow asked Derpy to put flyers for it in Ponyville resident's mailboxes, and it had a surprising turn out, almost all of Ponyville came out including a majority of Mr. Donkey's class. Cue and Dandelion were holding the ticket booth, Cue was daydreaming about the date Autumn might take them on while Dandelion was getting a roll of extra tickets out from underneath them when they heard a familiar voice, "So, you managed to do something right for once huh?"

Dandelion came up with the tickets while Cue snapped out of it and turned her attention to the couple in front of her, "Hello Shiny Bit...Gem."

"It took you long enough to pull this thing together! I still have no idea why Mr. Donkey chose YOU as Valedictorian," said Gem bitterly.

"Because she earned it and didn't ask her butler to do the work for her!" Dandelion snapped.

"If you had one, you'd be doing the same."

"I prefer to do the work myself thank you!"

"Now are you guys gonna buy a ticket or are you just here to make comments all night?" Cumulus asked irritated.

Bit rolled his eyes, "2."

'Would it kill you to say please?' Cue thought to herself.

They paid and took their tickets in to give to Applejack and went inside to the sound of Autumn's guitar solo.

Cue couldn't help but ask, "Do you think they'd catch us if we...oh I don't know...made them disappear?"

"We'd have to be pretty good at hiding the body, both families are crazy rich."

"Good point....what time is it?"

Dandelion looked at her watch, "Eh...6:30, we're done taking tickets!"

"Good, my Aunt Applejack's food is making me hungry."

"Just stay away from the cider Cue."

"Har har har, you're soooo funny!"

"I try."

As they went in, they heard Autumn say into the mic, "Alright everypony, this is a new song called 'Lonely Boy' that I wrote a while back for a certain pony and...well...I'm now dating her."

Cue blushed and thankful he didn't mention her name.

"This one's for you."

He started out with a guitar solo then the rest of the band joined in. He then began singing, "Well I’m so above you, and it’s plain to see, but I came to love you anyway-y so you pulled my heart out and I don’t mind bleedin' any old time you keep me waitin'...waitin', waitin'

Oh whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin', Oh-whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin', I’m a lonely boy...I’m a lonely boy.

Oh whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin'

Well your mama kept you, but your daddy left you and I should’ve done you just the sa-a-a-a-ame

But I came to love you was I born to blee-heed any old time you keep me waitin', waitin', waitin'

Oh whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin', oh-whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin', I’m a lonely boy...I’m a lonely boy

Oh whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin'

Hey!"

He then went into a guitar solo that made the crowd roar and continued.

"Oh whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin', oh-whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin', I’m a lonely boy...I’m a lonely boy

Oh whoa-o-oh, I got a love that keeps me waitin.'"

The song ended as the crowd and Dandelion and Cumulus applauded and Cue could see why he wrote it for her back in the day, but she had to think about that later, she then heard Gem and Bit yelling at each other again.

"Bit, why does it always have to come back to this?"

"C'mon, it'll loosen us both up and stop the fighting."

"Bit, I told you I want to save it for marriage!"

"Our parents pretty much have had that arranged since before we were born Gem! Who cares if we start a little early?"

"Unbelievable! You are just unbelievable!"

"What? What did I say?"

"I swear to Celestia, you have no respect for mares!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"We're done!"

"Oh no, oh no missy, we're done when I SAY we're done."

"Too bad, I just ended it!"

Gem then tried to walk away and that's when Bit grabbed Gem by her mane and began dragging her back to his side. Cue heard her screams and went to her defense.

"Please, please, please Bit...don't! Not here, please!" Gem cried.

"Are we done?" Bit asked harshly.

Gem mumbled an answer.

"I said, are we done?" he asked again with more force.

"No."

"Good," he then let go and she collapsed to the ground.

"Gem? You okay?"

Gem looked and saw that it was Cumulus, words could not describe the amount of surprise on Gem's face.

"I-"

"Look bat, it's just a regular marefriend/coltfriend argument...something YOU wouldn't know about now BEAT IT!"

"Excuse me, but I wasn't addressing you...Gem?"

"I...I'm..."

"She's fine now get outta here!"

That was all Cumulus needed to hear, "Gem, step away from him."

"She doesn't need to listen to you!"

"Gem, it's okay...just come with me."

Gem then got up and walked with Cumulus to get some ice on her head which now felt like somepony took a weedwacker to her hair. Her family saw Gem and asked what happened, Cue knew that Gem probably didn't want that kind of attention so she said that she hit her head and her hair came undone. Applejack then went to get her some ice for her head and Rarity went with her to fix her hair up again. Cumulus couldn't believe what she'd witnessed, Sparkling Gem was in a REALLY bad relationship with Shiny Bit.