Fillydelphia

The sound of laughter could be heard from one of the carriages on the train as Spitfire and Dash finished another conversation.

“Wait, so Fluttershy actually beat the dragon?” Spitfire asked, shocked.

Rainbow wiped a joyful tear from her eyelid. “Yeah, he was crying like a foal,” she said with another giggle. “If it wasn’t for her though I think we would have destroyed all of Equestria with an angry dragon.”

“Your stories are a lot better than mine Dash, not gonna lie,” Spitfire replied.

Rainbow waved a dismissive hoof towards the Wonderbolt. “They’re alright, but my cutie mark story was the best I think,” she said with a confident tone.

Spitfire chuckled. “Well, it’s probably better than mine anyways.”

Dash changed her expression. “How did you get your cutie mark then?”

Spitfire was about to speak when another voice beat her to Dash’s ears. “The next stop is Fillydelphia, please make sure all your personal belongings are with you before leaving this train!”

Spitfire shrugged. “I’ll tell you at the beach,” she said with a smile as she got up to retrieve her bag.

“The beach?” Rainbow asked quizzically.

Spitfire nodded. “Yep! We’ll go to the hotel first to unpack and then we’ll spend some time in the sun,” she said, winking at her friend. She took the bag down and picked up her fedora hat, which had been lying on the small table between the two ponies. Dash did the same, taking her bag from the rack above before following Spitfire to the end of the carriage as they waited for the train to stop as it slowed down towards the station.

The two pegasi looked out the small door window of the carriage to see the city which was passing by as the train pulled into the station. The views were less exciting than Canterlot or the Crystal Empire, but it gave a relaxing feel seeing the fields and small homes which inhabited the beach area.

Finally the train halted and the conductor opened the doors to the locomotive. Spitfire and Rainbow disembarked from the locomotive and they made their way to the exit of the train station, which was a far cry from the one they’d previously been in. The wooden flooring of the small station would never really stand out as one of the all time great stops, but it was something that Spitfire liked to see as a change of scenery for once. No paparazzi and not a single flying stadium in sight, just what she wanted.

“So, where's the hotel?” Dash asked as they trotted from the steps onto the sandy beach next to the remote train stop. Spitfire didn’t reply for a moment as she looked out onto the vast, open beach which spanned for what seemed like forever, there were a few ponies enjoying themselves as laughter and conversations of all varieties could be heard as the waves crashed in along the shore.

“Well… we could just keep our bags and sit on the beach and talk a little more. Besides, I still need to tell you my cutie mark story,” the mare said, shaking her flank a little at the mare before trotting ahead towards the beach. Dash nodded in response as she turned around to collect her bag when her eyes caught sight of the Wonderbolt’s rump. Dash stared at the perfect curves a little longer before realizing the mare was getting ahead of her. She quickly shook her head before trotting after the mare, trying her best not to let her eyes wander.

Spitfire quickly found a nice location on the beach and set her suitcase on the soft sand, letting it sink into the gravelly texture as she sat down next to it. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she finally let herself relax. She was where she wanted to be now, watching the waves crashing into the shore of a long beach with the sea air brushing past her mane and coat. She smiled as Rainbow sat down next to her, a friend’s presence only making it ten times better.

After a short period of silence where only the crashing of waves from the beach could be heard, Spitfire turned and spoke up. “So, you wanna hear my cutie mark story?” she asked as she looked over to Rainbow.

Dash nodded in reply and Spitfire continued. “Well, to start things off I guess it was rather embarrassing,” she admitted.

The blue pegasus raised an eyebrow. “How could your cutie mark story be embarrassing? I always imagined ya being in some big race where you beat the tail of everypony else.”

Spitfire chuckled. “Well, while I wish that was true, the race I was in at the time wasn’t as glamorous as you might think,” she replied, looking back out onto the beach.

Rainbow let out a small laugh of her own as she took a few moments to reply, “Well, what was it then?”

Spitfire smirked. “At the time I was racing in a trial for the Wonderbolt’s Junior Academy, having just left flight camp. Though I was trying my hardest, I didn’t think I was doing as good as the other mares with me. I only had one real talent, which was time trials. Funnily enough that was the last test of the day. I had to give it my best shot too if I had any chance of getting in though so I was kinda nervous.”

Rainbow watched on in fascination at the mare’s story as Spitfire continued. “I was gearing up to start the trial. I set off pretty well and I think I had the first half of the course nailed when suddenly... I started to wear out. I think it must have just been my body catching up with me. I began slowing down and I tried my best to keep up, but I just couldn’t seem to dig deep enough to do better. Then out of nowhere this weird rainbow thing appeared, like this huge ring or something. I don’t know, but the tailwind that came with it was huge; the force was so strong it pushed me faster than I was going, and with this burst of speed I began digging deeper and managed to find some extra power. Then, before I knew it, I’d crossed the finish line in the fastest time they’d ever seen. I was so ecstatic I won the trial, and when I finally calmed myself down I found this baby on my flank,” Spitfire finished, looking at her rump.

Rainbow’s eyes followed. “I-it’s nice,” she said, eyeing those flanks again feeling a slight tinge on her cheeks form.

Spitfire grinned. “Thanks, yours isn’t that bad either hot shot,” she said teasingly, nudging the pegasus with a wing. Rainbow smiled sheepishly as the silence once again settle in around the mares.

In Rainbow’s mind, her thoughts were now swimming even more than they had been on the train ride. Spitfire was starting to sound as if she was owing her life to Rainbow. Here she was, telling her that if it wasn’t for her she wouldn’t have even made it into the Wonderbolts. She’d also thanked her for saving her life back at the Young Flyers Competition, and even to this day she was still thanking her. Rainbow’s heart swelled with love at this point, but she couldn’t find a way to express herself.

Spitfire looked over again and found her friend in a little more of a dazed state. “You okay Rainbow?”

Rainbow blinked a few times and nodded. “Yeah, I’m cool... it’s just… why are you thanking me so much?”

Spitfire was a little taken aback by the sudden comment. “Well, you’ve just helped me out so much. I mean I definitely trust you with my life, so I think we’re good on that end,” she replied, giggling as Dash joined in with her.

“I know, but it was nothin’,” Rainbow retorted.

Spitfire sighed. “Fine, but I at least owe you all of this in return,” she said with a genuine smile. Meanwhile, in the back of her head, her mind was now churning with thoughts. She wanted so badly just to tell Rainbow her feelings, but she couldn’t gauge Rainbow’s at all. She could tell the mare now had something on her mind too, but that only pushed her nerves a little closer to the limit than they currently were.

Rainbow turned to her friend once again. “You know, it’s getting a little chilly, mind if we just head to the hotel and come back tomorrow?”

Spitfire only nodded in reply, too deep in her thoughts of the mare sitting next to her to hold up any sort of conversation with her. The two pegasi quietly got their bags and made their way off towards the hotel in order to unpack.

Spitfire excitedly trotted over to the hotel which stood proudly in front of the two mares. She turned to Dash as the pegasus galloped over, opening the door they were revealed with a very clean and orderly exterior to what looked like the reception lounge. A large wooden desk was the centerpiece of the hall which had wooden staircases lining the room to the upper floors of the hotel.

Spitfire cantered over to the mare as she spoke up, “I have a reservation booked here,” she announced as the mare seated at the desk looked up and smiled.

“Ah, Miss Spitfire, glad to see you’ve arrived so quickly. Your suite is ready and waiting,” the mare replied happily as she handed Spitfire a room key.

The wonderbolt thanked the receptionist before motioning for Rainbow to follow her. The two mares quickly alighted the staircase on their way to the top of the hotel. Spitfire checked her room key with the signs that were placed throughout the hotel as she quietly spoke to herself the numbers of the room they’d be staying in.

“Number fifty six… fifty eight… sixty five, ah here we are!” Spitfire exclaimed happily placing the key into the lock and turning the key.

Rainbow snickered as she sauntered up to the door with the number six and nine. Spitfire too giggled at the sight as she turned to face Dash, “It’s the best room they had, couldn’t say no to the number could I?”

Rainbow felt a blush come on, but managed to fight back her thoughts as she nodded before trotting in with the mare as she opened the door to the large hotel room. The place was filled with many luxury items as well as a sea view from the living area. Dash’s eyes quickly explored every inch of the hotel as she and Spitfire inspected their accommodation.

“Like it?” Spitfire asked with a knowing smirk as Dash nodded.

“It’s great!” Rainbow replied, “So, what now?” she asked curiously.

Spitfire shrugged, “Dump your stuff in the room and relax, I’m gonna head for a shower,” the mare stated as she took her hat off and placed it on a nearby table. She then gave the mare a wink before heading off to the bathroom.

Rainbow smiled as the mare left and waited for the sound of a closing door before she sighed. This wasn’t just awesome, this was fantasy for the mare. However, she couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation at the beach. How and why would Spitfire be so greatful, a mare of her fame a stature would never usually thank ponies endlessly, but then again she had saved Spitfire’s life. Rainbow sighed again, she knew she wouldn’t have it any other way.

As distant sound of a shower faucet being turned on silently creeped its way through the room, Rainbow trotted over to the nearby sofa in the living area of the home. She sat her flanks down on the plush surface as she let her mind churn. First of all she was ecstatic to be on this trip, but she still hadn’t managed to get why Spitfire had taken her along in the first place, with the constant thank yous mixed in Rainbow began to wonder back to her previous thoughts on the train. She did like Spitfire a heck of a lot, but that wasn’t to say the Wonderbolt had any interest in her...or was it?

The sky blue mare groaned as she flipped onto her side. She couldn’t make her mind up whether just to tell Spitfire about her thoughts and feelings or whether to hold back and not risk ruining the holiday before it even began.

Suddenly however, a pain shot through Rainbows wing as she groaned slightly. She quickly took the weight of her feathers and inspected her wings. She sighed, these where going to need preening.