We're back in Ponyville on a bright, sunny day in the Golden Oaks Library. Twilight asks for Rainbow Dash to pick up some books for her in Clousdale. Rainbow is considering the flight and ends up talking longer with Twilight.
"Oh come on Twilight, do I really have to do it?"
"Please Rainbow Dash. I need those books badly, besides there's something in it for you." Twilight knew exactly what would get Dash to agree to do the errand.
"And what's that? And don't suggest me getting as many books as I want for the year."Rainbow knew how much of an egghead Twilight was and thought about what the egghead would say next.
" Oh I don't know. How about I put in a good word for you to join the Wonderbolts the next time I see the Princess?" Twilight knew the answer to that question.
"Oh my gosh! You would do that for me if I just flew over to Cloudsdale and picked up some books! I can do it! You've got yourself a deal!" Rainbow flew over to her and gave her a death squeezing hug.
"No problem Rainbow," Twilight gasped for air," Just let me go and I'll get the list of books I need you to get."
"Oops, sorry Twi." Rainbow blushed.
{ ~^~ }
After Rainbow took the list, went home to get her saddle bags and she was off to the skies to her hometown. She was thinking of how much time this would take because it was cutting into her stunt practice time and most of her naps.Dash practiced some stunts in the air, but her saddle bags were in the way. She decided not to do anymore, which frustrated her, and continue on with the rest of the trip. To which she was surprised to see, everyone in Cloudsdale was doing something outside in the perfect sunny weather.
Rainbow had finally reached her destination and landed next to the Cloudsdale library. Dash walked inside and gave the list of books she needed for Twilight and gave it to the librarian. She quickly scanned the list and headed toward the back room. She came back with the books 15 seconds later and tossed them in the saddle bag. Rainbow thanked the librarian and was on her way. Dash was backing up to gain speed to take off, but three stallions quickly closed the gap and she stopped with force.
"Well if it isn't Rainbow Cra- Dash, sorry. Kinda hard to call you your real name."
Rainbow knew the ponies all too well." Hey Dumbbell, Hoops, Score. What's up?"she said with her loose attitude.
Dumbbell was surprised how good she looked, but found his voice, "Nothin' much. Anyways, watcha doin' in Cloudsdale. I thought you only hung out in Ponyville."
"Had to get some books for Twilight. Probably fly around and hang out here the rest of the day."
Just then Hoops decided to join the conversation,"Why don't you hang out with us. It's been a while since the competition, so maybe we could fly around a bit and chill."
"And we're really sorry for picking on you in flight school. We acted like jerks and I'm really sorry." Dumbbell had butted in.
"It's okay! Really it is. You've already apologized so I forgave you already."Dash said too quickly.
"So do you wanna take the offer?"
Dash was all sorts of skeptical of the offer and thought about it."I guess so. I don't have to head for Ponyville for a few hours so,sure. Just let me put these books away and we can go."
When she was done putting the books away she took to the skies with her new friends. Especially Dumbbell. She never told anyone about her crush on him.
Dumbbell. Rainbow Dash always liked him even though he used to pick on her but she didn't care. She only cared when the harsh remarks were aimed at Fluttershy because she could never stand up for herself. Rainbow acted like she didn't care for the bully, but on the inside, she liked him.
Little did she know the feeling was mutual.
{~^~}
The four ponies took to the skies and did some stunts and raced a couple times. Rainbow Dash was comfortable with being around them because they were just having fun. Dumbbell liked seeing Rainbow Dash with a smile on her face. Her beautiful magenta eyes, exotic rainbow mane, soft cyan coat, and tomboy attitude. Score and Dash were doing arial tricks when Dumbbell was shoved back to a far cloud by Hoops.
"OUCH! What was that for!?" Dumbbell said grumpily
Hoops just chuckled and answered his question."Dude don't you like Rainbow Dash? You could hook up with her ya know. I'm sure she's not with anypony."
Dumbbell blushed at the mentioning of his crush."No I don't like her! She's just cool to hang out with!"
"You're in denial. I know you like her brony. I've seen the way you look at the picture of you and Dash at the competition. The way you stare at her flank." He wagged his eyebrows at him for effect."She likes you, too, ya know. Trust me, I know when a mare likes a stallion."
Dumbbell considered his words and blushed even harder."Oh Celestia, I know when you're telling the truth, and this is one of those times. I can't believe she likes me though! What should I do? What do I say? Does she like me a lot or a -" Hoops' hoof interrupted him.
"Don't worry about it she likes you enough. All you gotta do is-" Hoops stopped short in spite of the deafening scream from where Score and Rainbow Dash was at.
The two stallions flew over there as fast as they could and saw Rainbow Dash lying on a cloud clutching her wing while Score was trying to help her out. Apparently, Score and Dash were having a race and when they started, Dash crashed into some object by her wing, making her fall onto the cloud and bleed. Rainbow Dash knew it was broken because of the pain and was bleeding. A lot.
Without hesitation, Dumbbell rushed to her side. When she started blacking out she saw a face of worry on Dumbbell. He hoisted her up on his back and quickly flew to the hospital, not saying a word to his bronies. Dash was whisked away by the nurses to control all the blood loss. Dumbbell looked in horror at how badly her wing was broken and all of the blood covering it. He looked at her face before they took her away. It was pale and she had her eyes closed. It was a heartbreaking scene to see her this way and started pacing in the waiting room, where Hoops and Score met with him.
{~^~}
It was a hours since Dumbbell last saw Dash. He was worried she might not recover from the injury she suffered and might not end up how he feels about her. Hoops and Score tried to calm his nerves, but it was no use and started to hyperventilate.
"Why hasn't she come out of there!? It's been two hours already, she should've been out by now!" Dumbbell was angry, yet worried at the same time.
"Just chill out brony, she'll probably be fine. Judging from her injury it would take a few hours to stop the bleeding, put the bone together, wrap it up, and wake up on her own." Hoops tried to comfort him with his words but it didn't work.
"CHILL OUT!? IM FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!?"
A nurse then came out after Dumbbell's loud outburst.
"Rainbow Dash?" The nurse had said.
Dumbbell quickly went up to the nurse with his two bronies following him. He didn't know what she would say and expected the worst. Possible scenarios started playing in his head. He shook them off and asked the nurse if Dash was okay.
"She'll be fine; her wing is broken, but we fixed it, and Miss Dash will need to recover for at least three weeks."
"Can I see her. She's awake, right?"
"Ahem." Dumbbell turned around and saw his companions with irritated expressions.
"Sorry," He blushed,"Can we see her?"
"Yes, but be very gentle with her she just woke up from the treatment."
{~^~}
The stallions were lead by the nurse hallway after hallway until she stopped in front of a door. She stepped to the inside of the room and talked to the mare inside of the room. The door was closed, so all they heard was a muffled conversation. The muffles stopped and the nurse opened the door. She told them they could all come in just to be sensitive and quiet. Before they knew it Dash was sitting up looking at all of the stallions, but her eyes landed on Dumbbell and managed to smile through the pain in her wing.
Rainbow had made a hoof gesture for them to come closer to her. She told them they could sit on the bed with her, since her small form took about a quarter of the bed. The first to plop on her bed was Hoops and made her jump up a little. Score decided to lie on the small couch by the bed. As for Dumbbell he sat on the bed next to Dash's form. They both blushed and Hoops started talking.
" So Dash, how ya feelin'?"
Rainbow was hesitant to answer his question,"I've been better on days that I haven't broken my wing." Everyone had to laugh at that. She was glad that she was back to her old ways; cracking jokes and being awesome.
"Anyways, thank you for waiting for me to be okay. You wouldn't believe how much pain I was in. If I was in a pain contest, I would win immediately." They chuckled and smiled at her. Hours passed while they were making jokes, playing board games, and talking. Hoops said he needed to talk with Score about something. When they were walking out of the room he winked at Dumbbell and left. Rainbow Dash and Dumbbell were all alone.
"I wanted to say thanks for taking me to the hospital. The doctor said that if I arrived later I wouldn't have made it, because of all the bleeding." After she said that, she started to tear up. She lied down so Dumbbell wouldn't see her cry.
Dumbbell saw the tears form in her eyes and lied down with her, while draping his wing over her back.
"Don't worry. All that matters is that you're alive and with me, so I can protect you." Realizing what he just said, his eyes widened and blushed so hard, the tips of his ears were red.
Rainbow looked at him with the same blush and smiled.
"There's something I wanna tell ya, but I was too afraid to, but now looks like the perfect time."
"I need to tell you something first," Rainbow gave a nod of approval for him to continue."Ever since flight school I've had a huge crush on you. I only picked on you because of that and I'm really sorry I acted like a jerk. The first time I saw you since the competition, I couldn't believe how awesome and pretty you looked. Truthfully, I was fighting back a wingboner." Dash just giggled at his words." It was a good thing we took flight, otherwise my wings would've broken off. Anyways, I've always thought you were awesome and, cool, and-" Dumbbell stopped because he found himself locking lips with Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow was taken aback by his words. Nopony had ever said any kind words to her besides her parents or her friends, but she never expected hearing those words from her crush. They kissed each other for the longest time. When they pulled apart the smiled and blushed at each pony. The nurse then came in and said she was free to leave the hospital. While she was checking out at the front desk, Dumbbell was nudged by Hoops with Score on his side.
"Did you talk to her?" Hoops had asked.
"Yea I did and then she kissed me and we talked." He blushed at what he said.
"Nice brony. Hope it all goes well with you and Dash." Rainbow walked over to her special somepony and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
Score and Hoops just snickered at Dumbbell." You gotta do that now Dashie." Dumbbell said annoyed.
"Of course Billy! You're just too sweet to be away from!" She giggled and nuzzled him as he blushed to a dark shade of red and kissed her fully on the lips. He was happy to see his Dashie alive and by his side to protect her. Dumbbell was the luckiest stallion in the world to have a mare as awesome and beautiful as Rainbow Dash.
