TwiDash Prompt Collabby TwiDashCollabsChaptersFireplace - batsStormcloud - Shellsh0ckerHorizon - batsBubbles - CalmNQuietMolt - CynicalChaos - Cedric InuzukaMadness - batsTrees - CynicalCoffee - SomeponyTheVectorerChocolate - Cedric InuzukaSkies - CalmNQuietWater - CynicalMemories - Subsolar DriftRevolution - Lambda462Spiders - FluttershyFur-everFish - SomeponyTheVectorerNorthern Lights - CalmNQuietSecrecy - CplHendersonDenial - Subsolar DriftFalling - CynicalSunrise - CalmNQuietMoonlight - Incredible BlunderboltPrank - CynicalStone - batsBeach - Incredible BlunderboltUnrequited - Subsolar DriftRumors - CynicalCrush - Tavi n ScratchRejection - Tavi n ScratchBorrowed - Stryker12324Nightmare - CynicalConfession - Subsolar DriftSpiral - CynicalCountdown - batsSleep - The Mysterious NMunchies - Incredible BlunderboltCinnamon - Subsolar DriftDistance - CalmNQuietBlanket - The Mysterious NBirthday - CynicalMiss - ankyoTour - CynicalNew - CynicalJade - FluttershyFur-everOwl - CynicalSharing - The Mysterious NTag - CynicalNormal - CalmNQuietProtest - CynicalMercy - Lambda462Basement - Liquidfirest0rmClouds - CynicalSilver - HoovesMcCoyMercury - CalmNQuietPills - CynicalSelfish - ShikiliciousAwkwardness - TiaCRegrowth - TimaeusThunder - Adda le BlueFear - Incredible BlunderboltMisinformed - TimaeusShenanigans - KodeakeMiracle - The DJ Rainbow DashFunk - Formerly CommittedBoundaries - KodeakeHurry - Formerly CommittedFire - AuramaneMusic - ThakForgotten - LiquidFirest0rmPlaytime - JetstreamGWRockin' - JondorHooficure - Liquidfirest0rmCandles - Formerly CommittedSacrifice - Nebula StarCold - Liquidfirest0rmHappiness - TheMusicalBoy93Changeling - Incredible BlunderboltAnxiety - Formerly CommittedSickly - Nebula StarMisunderstanding - CalmNQuietDelay - VertormCider - JondorBookmark - CalmNQuietBreathmint - BronyWriter186Snowfall - Subsolar DriftCooking - batsWrestling - CynicalExpectations - Subsolar DriftWaiting - OrphiusOlyandraUpdraft - CynicalMakeovers - CynicalStumped - batsNibbles - CynicalTragedy - Incredible BlunderboltReflection - Tavi n ScratchOverpower - batsQuills - Subsolar DriftCookies - Subsolar DriftJournalists - Incredible BlunderboltHeist - CynicalStatic - Incredible BlunderboltHomework - GAPDashieSixty Minutes - Incredible BlunderboltBurnout - CalmNQuietWonderbolt - CynicalSwimming - Ginger PonyPotion - Tavi n ScratchBits - CynicalComplicated - CynicalSalt - The Mysterious NApplejack - TimaeusImprobable - DragonLadyRoyal Dinner - Siglo de OroPackage - CynicalAlarm - Adda le BlueSoliloquy - Liquidfirest0rmNightmare - Nebula StarSunshine - RatsenkioWicked - LoyalAlmonds - Formerly CommittedFireplace - batsThe pegasus had not moved an inch in four hours. That wasn’t entirely true; the rhythmic rise and fall of her sky blue, trim and muscled chest offered its own breed of hypnosis. The slow bellowing of breaths a metronome keeping time for a musician that wasn’t present. She would also occasionally dip her head down to the mighty tome propped up in front of her, catching a creamy page of paper on the end of her snout. A sharp flick of her neck and it would finish turning just as her head resumed its original position. And calling her still would have been a terrible lie if you caught her eyes. Glimmering pools of magenta reflected merry yellows from the fireplace and danced across the page in a race Twilight knew all too well. A soft pulse of magic fluttered the unicorn’s own text to the next page, but her attention remained drawn to the statuesque Rainbow Dash laying carelessly on the pillows next to her, legs tucked underneath and colorful tail circling halfway around her body. Twilight’s mouth didn’t know if it was smiling with glowing affection or frowning with concern. She cleared her throat. “Hey, Rainbow Dash?” The blue mare started, her gaze flicking rapidly from printed words to purple face. “Hmn?” “You okay?” Violet eyes drew together under knit brow. “I know that book’s interesting; it’s one of my favorites, but wouldn’t you rather be…I don’t know…doing something else?” Rainbow’s eyes returned to the book, her expression far away, lost in the story unfolding in front of her mind’s eye. She spoke distantly, her tone distracted, but carrying no hint of annoyance. “I’m curled up with an’ adventure next to the best pony in Equestria. What else would I wanna be doing?” A downy wing unfurled from her barrel, crossing over Twilight’s back. With unexpected strength and sudden speed, the feathery limb gripped and pulled the unicorn forcefully into Rainbow Dash’s side. The coat to coat contact brought immediate heat to Twilight’s frame far beyond the crackling blaze of the fire. Twilight expelled a lingering sigh of comfort and leaned into the pegasus, resting her head into a soft, warm shoulder. Her eyes returned to her book and began scanning the page. “What else indeed,” she murmured. Stormcloud - Shellsh0ckerThe sky was deep gray, like slate. Water fell in sheets, promising instant saturation for any creature unfortunate or unwise enough to be outside. Lightning would occasionally rend the sky asunder, bringing with it a deep rumble—or sometimes a sharp crack—of thunder, momentarily overwhelming the soft, continuous hiss of rainfall. Twilight Sparkle could perhaps be forgiven for mistaking the knock on her door as another byproduct of the rapid expansion of air caused by a sudden electrical discharge. When the sharp rap-rap-rap came a second time, though, she quickly realized three things: First: there had been no recent lightning strikes which would have caused any thunder. Second: thunder, as mentioned earlier, was characterized by a deep rumble or a sharp crack. Neither of those sounds were all that similar to rap-rap-rap. Third: rap-rap-rap was, in fact, remarkably similar to the sound of a hoof repeatedly striking the door of the library in which she lived. Quickly hopping down off the couch (and silently grumbling at the loss of a comfortable reading position which she knew she’d never be able to perfectly recreate) she trotted to the door, opening it to be greeted by a very familiar, if unusually wet, face. “He- Hey T-T-T-Twi,” Rainbow Dash managed to shiver out. “Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed, ushering her friend in. Her horn lit up and several towels came flying out of the bathroom and down the stairs to wrap themselves around Rainbow’s drenched form. “What were you doing out there? Harmony, you look like you’re freezing! Come over here, I’ll stoke the fire and heat up some tea.” Twilight guided Rainbow in front of the fireplace and had her sit down, discarding the soaked towels and trading them for thick blankets. Thanking Celestia that it was late autumn and she’d had a fire going already, she tossed a couple of extra logs onto the low flame and blew on the red-hot embers, expertly coaxing the dying fire into a healthy blaze. Finally, she cast a mild warming spell on her half-full teapot and floated a cup out of the kitchen for Rainbow. “Here. Drink,” she commanded, setting the cup down in front of the shivering pile of blankets that was Rainbow Dash. “On second thought, let me help. You’re shaking so bad you’d probably spill most of it.” The cup floated up to where Dash’s snout poked out of the blanket pile, allowing her to take a shaky sip. “Harmony, Rainbow, you’re in bad shape. OK, I’m coming in there.” “H-h-h-huh?” was as far as Rainbow Dash got before the blankets opened up and a warm body settled next to hers. Twilight let out a little gasp as she snuggled up to her friend, wrapping the blankets around them both as she did so. “Dash, you’re like ice. Come on, wrap your wing around me. The more surface area in contact, the better.” It took all of Rainbow’s willpower to force her wing to unclamp from her side and wrap around Twilight’s back. “Good,” Twilight said, lifting the cup so her friend could take another sip of tea. “Now, what were you doing out there?” “S-s-standard p-procedure,” Dash stuttered. “S-somepony has to m-monitor s-s-storms to m-make sure they d-don’t get out of c-c-c-control or anyth-th-thing. W-we take shifts. M-m-mine just end-ded.” “Sure, but we’ve had storms before. You never came to the library soaked to the bone any of those times.” “F-f-forgot my s-storm g-gear this time. Th-th-thought I c-could t-tough it out-t-t.” “You featherbrain! Hypothermia isn’t some joke, Dash!” Twilight threw a foreleg around her friend’s neck, drawing her close as if to reassure herself Rainbow was still there. Nuzzling her under the jawline, Twilight whispered, “You . . . you could’ve died out there, Rainbow.” “I . . .” Rainbow hadn’t thought it was that serious. A little rain never hurt anypony, right? “Please, Dash, just . . . don’t take a risk like that again, alright?” Even with her teeth chattering, Rainbow managed a snicker at that. “Uh, T-twi? Th-think about who y-you’re t-talking to, here.” “What do you . . . oh, right.” Twilight blushed a bit. “OK, maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say. But . . . I worry about you, Rainbow. Seeing you like this . . . I don’t want to lose you to some stupid accident. Can you at least promise you’ll think before doing something like this again? For my sake?” Rainbow ducked her head, embarrassed by Twilight’s sincerity. “S-s-sorry, Twi. G-g-guess that w-was p-pretty boneheaded of m-me, huh?” She gave Twilight a reassuring, if shaky, nuzzle. “Alr-r-right. P-promise I w-won’t just try to t-tough it out n-next time. F-for your s-sake.” “Good,” Twilight said. “Now, come on, finish your tea.” She floated the cup to Rainbow’s lips, allowing her to drain it. “Hey, would you like to read? I just started a new series I think you’ll like.” “S-sure. B-but, um, c-could you m-maybe read out l-loud? I d-don’t think I c-can focus th-th-through the sh-shivering.” “Sure, Rainbow.” Twilight cuddled closer, floating her book over as she did so. “Alright, here we go. ‘Ash fell from the sky...’” Twilight was only halfway through the first chapter when she heard the soft snoring that indicated Rainbow was asleep. Smiling, she marked her place and set the book down before enclosing the fire in an airtight bubble, extinguishing it. Nestling her head next to Rainbow’s, she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to claim her. Outside, rain fell, lightning struck, thunder rumbled, and the sky was deep gray, like slate. Horizon - batsTilting through the roaring wind, wings spread wide to catch and shape the currents with practiced perfection, Rainbow Dash let out an elated cry. Blue hooves tucked in close to her body, she spiraled through the wind. With each rotation she tightened the spin, angling her wings and legs to corkscrew faster and faster as she sailed through puffs of white, obliterating clouds to wispy shreds. When the sky was clear, her limbs flew wide and she hovered. Hundreds of feet in the air above Ponyville, the town’s landmarks were reduced to vague smudges of reds and browns amidst the field of green. The daredevil grinned at her handiwork, slowly regarding the empty sky. Empty save for one cloud, floating serenely above the large tree far below her. Smile still on her lips, she tucked her wings in close and dove. Feet from the cloud, she flared out and settled next to the purple mare reclining with a book. She smirked, rue coloring her tone. “I don’t remember you having a book when I brought you up here.” Twilight snapped the book shut, a small blush forming high on her cheeks. “Well, I knew you’d be a few minutes, and the sky light was open…” The pegasus chuckled and buried herself in puffy white. Blue hooves shot out of the cloud and encircled Twilight’s middle. Rainbow Dash popped out, dragging the unicorn onto her lap. Twilight squeaked in surprise before being arrested by uncontrollable giggles. Twisting sideways, she wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck and pulled her into a flurry of kisses. Grinning foolishly, she stroked multicolored mane and said, “This was a great idea, Rainbow.” “Just wait for the good part.” The couple settled back on their cloudy perch and watched Celestia’s sun move across the sky. As it dipped below the horizon, painting the sky a watercolor of pinks, oranges, reds, and purples. Leaning into Twilight’s shoulder, Rainbow whispered, “Wanna know why this is my favorite time of day?” The unicorn shook her head slowly, a stream of snickers vibrating her chest. “Only if you wanna know why my favorite time of day is right after it rains.” They held each other close, hours passing as the sun finished its descent and Luna’s moon took its place. Bubbles - CalmNQuietRainbow Dash focused her eyes on the target in front of her as she puckered her lips together. Gently easing her breath out slowly, she filled the pink expanse with her heat until it swelled to near bursting. Twilight gasped in surprise and squirmed uncomfortably. A few seconds later, Rainbow Dash sunk her teeth down. Pop. She sucked in the bubble-gum and winked at Twilight. “And that’s how you blow a bubble. I’m the champion bubble blower in Ponyville after all.” Twilight nodded dumbly. “Wow, that was a huge one Rainbow. Why didn’t you show me this before? Think of all the research opportunities I’ve missed out on!” Rainbow Dash arched her eyebrow at Twilight. “Research?” She snickered and leaned her head back onto her hooves. “You don’t have to do research to know I’m the best.” “No, no, no. That’s not what I mean. I mean on how to optimally get the largest bubble before it pops. I’ve tried blowing bubbles every since I was a little filly.” Twilight looked down with a blush. “I wasn’t very good at it.” A comforting blue wing wrapped around Twilight and pulled her in. “Relax Twilight. Not everyone can start out awesome at bubbles like me. Besides, even I’ve had a lot of practice. I’ll even teach you!” “Really?” “Yep. It’s actually really simple. It’s all about breaths, lips, and tongue. You work it just right, you’ll have awesome bubbles in no time.” Rainbow handed Twilight a piece of gum. “I know you want mine, but it’s best to start with a fresh piece. Plus... if you really want a taste.” “Rainbow Dash! I’m trying to learn here!” “Heh, can’t blame a mare for trying. You’re cute.” Twilight blushed and popped a piece of gum into to her mouth. She worked her saliva into the sweet and chewy substance until it was soft and pliable. “Mmm.... okay. I think I’m ready. What do I do?” “Well first, you need to form your lips like this.” Rainbow demonstrated. “Then you just form the gum around your lips while holding it place with your teeth and press forward with your tongue to soften it a little.” Rainbow winked at Twilight, “Then, you just blow... Nice and slow until it fills up.” Twilight swallowed slowly. “I think I got it.” “You were always a smart one.” Rainbow winked. “You going to show me now?” “Uhm... not yet...” Twilight blushed more. “I need to do something first.” Twilight went in for a taste. Better than bubbles. Definitely. Molt - Cynical“Rainbow Dash?” Someone was calling her… it was a voice she knew, yes, but she couldn’t quite remember where she’d heard it before. Maybe she’d realise who it was after another nap. “Rainbow, are you alright?” There was that voice again, trying to interrupt her nap further than it had already. She attempted to open her eyes, yet failed miserably… she’d get to it after her nap. But still… she felt like she should really recognise that voice. Meh, probably better to sleep on it. “Rainbow Dash!” The sudden change in volume startled her enough to raise her head groggily and look around sleepily, yawning, “Morning Twi’.” That was who the voice belonged to, her friend, Twilight Sparkle. She looked around as Twilight started saying things to her… probably something she wouldn’t understand. Speaking of things she wouldn’t understand… why was she currently sprawled on the floor of the library, one wing trapped under her, with Twilight standing over her… “What… happened?” she asked, her brain sluggish as she tried to ask the question, cutting Twilight off from her rambling. “That’s what I’ve been trying to ask you… you crashed in here a few minutes ago, at least, I assume you crashed… I was upstairs tending to Spike when I heard a crash and came down here to find you… what happened?” Rainbow groaned, her eyes shutting against the bright light of the sun, pouring in through the broken window above her. ‘What had happened?’ She’d been practising a new stunt, she could remember that much, she’d been experimenting with water and cloud properties, trying to keep a sphere of water held up within her own whirlwind. It’d needed 800 wingpower to lift Ponyville reservoir, so it followed that 16.5 wingpower would be enough to lift a smaller amount. Not that she’d ever admit to anyone she’d been using that physiky stuff for her flying… that sounded too much like an egghead’s thing to be doing. But… she could remember doing it, succeeding in lifting a sphere of water from a bucket, and holding it in mid-air. She’d not done anything overly amazing with it though… not yet anyway. Then what… she’d flown back to Ponyville from where she’d been practising, in high spirits and her ego soaring higher. And then… what? She’d planned on coming back to Ponyville, maybe flying over to Twilight’s and celebrating with her… she deserved that at least. Then she’d maybe finally pick up the courage to… Oh yeah, that was why she’d flown towards Twilights… “Are you ok Rainbow? You’re looking a little flushed…” Ah… Maybe it would be better to contemplate that when she was alone and when she hadn’t just mucked up a landing through Twilight Sparkle’s home, destroying her window in the process. She shot to her hooves, wincing as the wing beneath her flexed, a few feathers skewed out of place. Damn… she’d need to get rid of them later. “No, no, I’m fine, just… fine, yeah.” She said, emphasizing her point by nodding furiously, hoping to dissuade the curious unicorn from asking any more questions, her blush slowly rising as she realised just how badly she’d mucked this one up. “Well-it-was-nice-seeing-you, gotta-go, bye!” she said within the space of a breath, turning and preparing to take off, flapping her wings and hissing as the twisted feathers rotated uselessly. “Are you alright Rainbow?” Twilight asked, probably hearing Rainbows hushed hiss and spotting some of the more noticeable gaps within her wings. Screw letting the molting process take care of things, Rainbow leant her head into the damaged wing, yanking out a mouthful of feathers with a pained gasp, luckily for her, they were all concentrated in one spot, meaning she only had to do that once. It might mean that she’d have a hard time flying home… but she didn’t call herself Equestria’s greatest flier for nothing. Dumping the feathery bundle from her mouth onto the floor, she stretched both wings and flew out the smashed window above, trying to hide her burning face from Twilight as she fled towards her house. Leaving Twilight stood there, gazing after Rainbow with a worried expression on her face. Twilight sighed, she tried to be a pillar of support for her friends, but that only helped if they were willing to seek said support. She looked around, her horn lighting up as the shattered glass gathered itself into a pile, on the floor. Lifting it carefully, she moved it over to a box next to her lab station. She’d been meaning to experiment on the properties of glass anyway. Next to face the magic was the current absence of a window, it was still early noon but it was unlikely that she’d find time to go and order a replacement today, Spike had come down with the flu and she needed to take care of him. She sighed again; it looked like the wooden boards she’d bought after the last incident with Applejack, a tree and her window, would be used once again. Next there was the bundle of sky blue feathers on her floor, picking them up in her magic, she separated each of them from one another, until she held four feathers in the air. Three of them were bent with one of them having snapped at the base completely. The fourth though, was intact. Twilight placed the three broken feathers in a box next to the glass, twirling the fourth around in her magic carefully. She’d wanted to study pegasus feathers for a long time, sadly pegasi were notorious for hiding and secreting away all their feathers. But… here she had a perfect specimen, a feather, unbroken and fresh from a young pegasus… But she didn’t want to experiment on the feather… This feather was unique; a feather dropped from Rainbow Dash… how many ponies could say they had one of those? No. She’d keep this feather for herself, to facilitate her shameful secret. She never knew, maybe Rainbow would actually give her a feather one day. Chaos - Cedric InuzukaIt was the beginning of the night, the lights of the library was off and the only resident was sleeping. Twilight Sparkle had gone to bed early, because tomorrow, she had a date with a blue pegasus. Oh, how long she waited for a date with the strong and handsome Wonderbolt, but thank to one of her best friends, who played matchmaker between them, she will meet the Wonderbolt at the restaurant for lunch. She was slowly falling asleep, dreaming about what could happen tomorrow when... BOUM The tree that served as her house began to tremble with such power that she was projetted out of her bed. "What is it ? An earthquake ?" With worry in her voice, she asked to no one since Spike was in Canterlot, helping the princess. After a while and because the purple unicorn thought she heard a noise coming from downstairs, she moved toward him but not before she pick a chandelier with her magic, ready to throw it if the noise proved to be a thief or worse. Thankfully, for her but more for her unexpected guest, she didn't have to throw it. When she arrived on the ground floor, the only thing she saw was her books,her dear books she had to spend all the afternoon to arrange alphabetically and re-cover many of them. They were spread all over the floor, not a single one were on a shelf. But what struck her the most was a light blue wing emerging from a mountain of books. Without thinking, without wondering how a freaking wing was in her house, she used her magic to remove the mountain and found a familiar pony beneath. After a little checking, she saw the pegasus was bleeding from her head but with a spell she saw it's wasn't a major injury so she started to slowly shake the blue pegasus. "Rainbow...Rainbow...Wake up...You're bleeding, I have to treat your wound." It was after the third shake that the pegasus finally open a eye and saw the worry face of Twilight Sparkle. "Hey Twi', what's up ?" She asked while she tried, with difficulty, to stand up. "What's up? It's all you have to say ?" She answered, furry in her eyes. "Erh... Yeah." Rainbow recoiled slowly but the purple unicorn was merciless when you attacked her dear books and in an instant she was muzzle to muzzle with her, maybe not for long, friend. "Care to explain why the library is in a worse state than Discord could have done." Rainbow loudly gulped and answered. "Actually yes, I have a reason, Soarin' send you a letter." The mention of her date calmed Twilight. "Strange, What Does he wants ?" Then she started to worry. "Oh no, maybe he cancelled our date." her eyes began to gather water, but a gentle wing took her. "Don't worry Twi', I'm sure he only wrote how beautiful you are and how he can't wait for tomorrow." If Twilight wasn't hugging her friend she could have see a single tear flowed along the cheek of the blue pegasus, another one Rainbow Dash devote to Twilight Sparkle. "Thank you Rainbow, you really are the best."She released her friend and with a smile she opened the letter for read it, the more she read the more her smile grew. "You were right, he wrote exactly what you were saying, but he has something to do before, so he will be a little late for the date, only fifteen minutes maximum." She chuckled a little. " you, the pegasi, write really very bad. You and Soarin' have nearly the same writing, I can't differentiate it." Rainbow blushed a little and forced a laugh. "Hehe, yeah..." Then after a while " I will leave you alone, after all you need your beauty sleep." She said the last part with the voice imitation of Rarity. Twilight played along and answered. "Please darling, I'm fabulous."She finished putting her hoof in her mane. The two mares laughed together and after some small talk Rainbow flew back to her home. 'Oh Twi', I'm already sorry for what I will do tomorrow' Madness - batsTwilight swallowed thickly. Ears folded back on her head and eyes wide, she watched the colorful streak move across the sky. Dipping and swirling, the rainbow tied knots, folded bows, and swirled spirals across the gentle blue canvas. She must be going crazy. The blur rocketed upwards, its path straightening. The unicorn’s eyes followed raptly. Her book lay forgotten by the railing of her balcony and the ice in her lemonade had bled away from cubes to chips. Her studies, her very important studies had been put on hold by this enchanting display. Try as she might, she couldn’t look away. Crazy was the only answer. There was no other reason she’d been so captivated by her daredevil friend. Why her pulse jumped and her stomach flipped when the pegasus was near. She was losing her mind, that was all there was to it. The streak hit the zenith of its climb and in a gentle arc began to fall. Twilight held her breath as the speed of descent grew faster and faster. A thunder crack rent the air as waves of color exploded outwards. The blurry rainbow grew bold and vibrant, hanging sharp and dazzling in the sky. Rainbow Dash weaved through the wind on hairpin turns, carving brilliant lines in airspace. Twilight’s held breath left in a gasp as the shockwave hit her, blowing her mane away from her face as she leaned halfway off the balcony. The sky held the shape of a six pointed star, drawn in light. A wobbly smile graced her lips. She felt her heartbeat thunder in her ears and wetness on her cheeks from tears she hadn’t realized were there. So she was insane. Maybe she and Rainbow Dash could be crazy together. Trees - CynicalTrees… trees… there was something about trees that Rainbow Dash just hated. It wasn’t that they made for good napping points, no, she quite enjoyed that fact. Was it that Applejack seemed to always shake her out of them? No… not quite. While it was annoying, it was bearable. She groaned… Oh yeah… that was why, they always seemed to pop up whenever she was practicing stunts near the ground… Stupid trees. Groaning, Rainbow raised her head and looked around. Thankfully, she knew this tree pretty well. Maybe not to the point of Fluttershy’s ability to talk to the plants… but she had a pretty good passing acquaintanceship with this particular tree. There was the impact she’d made last week, oh, and if you looked closely enough, you could see the area where she first impacted it… somewhere inside the other areas she’d done the same thing. She got to her hooves, breathing heavily at the simple action. Folding her wings in caused her to wince, immediately extending them again and glancing down at the area which hurt the most. It looked like yet another cracked rib… thankfully it was none of the ones which were already cracked, but all the same… it looked like a trip to the hospital was going to be in order… again. It was then that the door in front of Rainbow opened suddenly, a silhouette could be made out against the crackling fire in the library. “Rainbow Dash? What are you doing awake at this hour?” the silhouette asked groggily, glancing towards the starry sky above. “Hey Twi…” Rainbow replied, “Nothing much… just practicing my stunts again…” she said, trying to hide the pained inhalations from the unicorn in front of her. She was cool, cool ponies didn’t show pain, they were protected by the power of awesome or something… Not that it mattered, Twilight stepped forwards towards Rainbow, “Are you ok Rainbow?” she asked, concerned at her friend’s well-being. “Yeah… I’m fine.” Came her answer, pained gasp and all. “Hmm… well assuming that you’ve been practicing some of your more dangerous stunts again, added with the light available, that would mean that you were only able to see the library at the last moment, so you were practicing something involving sharp turns… again meaning that you crashed into the library with a lot of momentum behind you. And if we look at where you crashed… that looks like…” the studious unicorn paused, then gasped. “Dash… have you cracked your ribs again?” Rainbow closed her mouth, long-since accepting the somewhat unbelievable conclusions that the unicorn could draw from practically nothing. She nodded her head automatically, causing the unicorn in front of her to sigh. “Come on then, I can help you this time. I finally took the liberty of studying how to heal broken bones after the last ten times you’ve managed this.” Twilight turned, going into the doorway and waiting on the other side, giving Dash an expectant look. Rainbow sighed, following her in and whispering to her as she passed, “Thanks Twilight” as the door shut behind her. Coffee - SomeponyTheVectorerTwilight stirred, a small groan emanating from her lips as she was pulled from the land of dreams. She cuddled closer to the pony resting beside her, groggily she noted the warmth, the familiar scent of atmosphere, the feel of the fabric resting on her face... fabric? Reluctantly she opened her eyes to see that the object she had assumed was Rainbow Dash, was in fact, Rainbow Dash's pillow. Not a bad replacement, she remarked, but she wondered where the plucky Pegasus could have gone off to. It's not often that she was up before Twilight. After a quick stretch, followed by her ritualistic hair brushing session, she made her way down the stairs, a small tune on her lips when she was met with the sight of Rainbow Dash engrossed in the latest Daring Do novel. Twilight coughed, noting Rainbow's bleary eyes as she visibly jumped at the small noise, and turned to face her. Rainbow promptly returned her attention to the book at her hooves. "Morning Rainbow," Twilight offered, receiving only a grunt in reply. "Have you been up all night?" she asked, noting the empty mugs strewn about the table. Rainbow nodded. "Is that the new Daring Do?" another nod. "How is it?" "Oh my gosh Twilight it's so awesome so far I mean the last book was good but this one is like awesomeriffic or something Daring is so awesome like there's this time when she's about to discover the secret treasure of the Azteca's and she's attacked by zombie ponies Twilight! Zombie. Ponies! Oh my gosh and the curse of the treasure is like so cool I mean the ability to live forever without needing to eat or drink or even breathe is sweet and means they can fight forever but Daring is too awesome to let that stop her so she traps them in a massive hole where they'll never get out and-" Twilight blinked, she wasn't expecting exposition this intense, this early in the morning. She didn't appreciate the spoilers, either, so she waited for Rainbow to catch a breath before speaking again. "But... I thought we were going to read this one together," trying to mask the disappointment in her voice. Rainbow's ears flopped back, "Sorry Twi. I tried to wait, I really did, but I just couldn't sleep. I promised myself that I'd only read the first page, but I just couldn't stop there, so the first chapter, and I started getting tired, but I couldn't go to sleep yet, not when Daring-" Rainbow realized what she had said before. "Oh horse-apples, I'm so sorry Twi, I didn't mean to spoil it all for ya. It was just so good, and I had to get some coffee so I wouldn't miss what happened next, and I got carried away and... and..." Twilight winced sympathetically when Rainbow's face slammed into the open book, her ears pricking at the faint sound of Rainbow's snoring. She smiled as she picked her marefriend up with her magic, a splash of disdain marked her features when she saw the small puddle of drool on the book. She passed Spike on the stairs while on her way back to her bedroom, who offered a groggy hello. She settled Rainbow into her bed, and after a moment of consideration, crawled in after her. The library doesn't open until later on Sunday's anyway. She snuggled in next to the snoozing Pegasus, relaxing to the sound of Rainbow's steady breathing, who twitched, and draped a wing over the Unicorn. As she was about to let sleep take her, her eyes shot open to a loud cry originating from the kitchen. "WHAT THE FEATHER HAPPENED IN HERE?!" Chocolate - Cedric InuzukaHearts and Hooves Day, the day of the lover. In ancient time a mare would offer a box of chocolate to the stallion of her dreams and in return he will offer white chocolate, exactly day to day, one month later, if and only if he returned her feelings. But as time continues its relentless race forward, things change. First it was the forbidden love between different pony species who wasn't so bad after all even if a war nearly broke out between the pegasi and the unicorns,in the end we had the first wedding of a pegasus stallion and a unicorn mare, something more common in our time. Then time resumed his race while we are three hundred years after the first wedding of two different pony's species and the young land of Equestria is going to have a wake up call concerning love and romance between pony. Because the unthinkable happened, the own blood of Commander Hurricane, his grand and many more grand later daughter fall in love with the blood of Clover the Clever, but it wasn't a stallion. They were forced to hide their love for fear that the old hatreds between pegasus and unicorns resume. They couldn't not listen to their hearts and it was a beautiful spring morning when they went to see a young princess named Celestia, the newly ruler of Equestria. The princess listened to their plea and against the advice of her advisors, she married the two mares, it was the fourteenth day of February. And now it isn't uncommon to see two mares together. What might think these two mares ? When a blue pegasus was knocking at the library door, a chocolate box in her saddle and a rose in her muzzle. And what would they say ? When a purple unicorn opened the door and after the pegasus gave her the rose and the chocolate, she kissed her lover in front of the library. they would probably shout 'get a room'. Skies - CalmNQuietIt was beautiful today. The streaks of red, oranges, and yellows painted the skies with a brilliance few could deny. Twilight carefully navigated up the well-trodden dirt path to the apex of the hill. Their hill. The evening breeze tickled against her coat and washed away the lingering heat from the day. The softness of the grass soothed her backside as she settled upon it and turned her head to the west. Glimmering purple irises looked to the skies. A diligent watch for a diligent cause. Normally, she would bring a book. But lately, she found her thoughts to be far more enthralling than words found in the pages of some musty book buried in her library. She could see it with perfect clarity. It was awesome. A prismatic stream soared through the sky and challenged the exquisiteness of a sunset thousands of years in the making. But, it wasn’t the elegance or color which attracted her the most. It was the fact, she knew, it was just for her. And, as she watched the colors unfold in magnitudes her mind could scarce comprehend, it would climax. The sky would shatter with innumerable colors of every hue. Just for her. How was that Twilight? She’d smile and wrap her hooves around the cocksure pegasus. She didn’t need to say anything. They understood each other beyond simple words. Words were a hindrance anyways. Action spoke far louder. The goggles would be pushed back and their lips would meet. Her hooves would pull against the uniform until the the fabric slipped away and settled at their hooves. The colors intermingled in her vision with the vibrant feeling all across her body in way only Rainbow Dash could do. Oh captain~ She’d gasp out into the night. And her captain would respond. Peppering her neck with kisses until neither of them could stand it any longer. Twilight opened her eyes and scanned the night sky. The colors had long since faded and the blackness surrounded her. The darkness didn’t frighten her because she was not alone. She leaned to the side and nuzzled her companion. “You were wonderful Rainbow Dash.” She trailed her hoof across the worn stone with a tenderness reserved only for those closest to her heart. Turning, she graced it with one final lingering kiss. Her hooves found purchase against the grass and she turned down the hill--disappearing into the night. Water - Cynical“Why did I agree to this again?” “Because you were guilty about crashing into my lab equipment for the third time today, now hold still, you’re scaring the fish.” Twilight Sparkle stood at the edge of the lake, a notepad and pen held within her magic as she looked towards the centre. More specifically, she looked towards where a rope had been suspended by the aid of a tree, and to the Pegasus that was dipping her hooves into the middle of the lake, holding onto the rope to stop herself from sinking. Silence reigned for a few more minutes, with Twilight taking the occasional note here and there. But Rainbow Dash’s patience was wearing thin… “Why am I doing this Twilight?” she asked, exasperation heavy in her voice. “Hmm?” came the reply, “Oh, it’s because I’ve read this book on the amazing marine diversity in the Ponyville lake and I needed somepony to attract them all to one place.” Rainbow Dash shifted nervously, gripping the rope slightly tighter than before, “Umm… what species are we talking about here?” she asked, scanning the lake intently now to look for anything out of the ordinary. “Oh you know, the usual… cod, haddock, carp, mini-sharks.” Rainbow felt a cold shiver echo down her spine at the last name, “You did just say… sharks right?” she asked, looking over at Twilight with a worried expression. Twilight met it with an enthusiastic smile, “Yeah, really tricky to research though, you have to use a live pony as bait to conduct any useful evidence.” Not two seconds later, there was a whoosh, a splash, and a shuddering pony on the river bank, scanning the water with paranoia as her companion cracked up, laughing hysterically while Rainbow regained her bearings. Rainbow looked around for another moment, realising that she’d been had. She stalked over to Twilight and prodded her with a hoof as she lay snorting on the ground. “Not cool Twi.” “Not cool.” Memories - Subsolar DriftI struggled against the ropes holding me down, trying my hardest to avoid Twilight’s horn as it came closer to my head. My eyes widened as the magic flowed through me. It tore through my mind and broke something there. I gasped as memories flooded over me. Suddenly I remembered setting eyes on the most beautiful mare I’d ever seen. I remembered being so flustered I sounded like an idiot. I remembered turning down an offer from a flight team because it would mean not seeing her again. I remembered trying to find a way to go to the Grand Galloping Gala with her. I remembered hearing her cheer me on as I flew in the Best Young Flyers Competition. I remembered crashing into her library countless times just as an excuse to see her. I remembered her smile, always there to cheer me up. I remembered her embrace warm and comforting. I remembered her eyes, so bright and curious, eager to see the world. I remembered her voice, so beautiful and hypnotizing. I remembered her laugh, something I would do anything to hear. I remembered that I wouldn’t ever leave Ponyville hanging because that would leave her hanging. I remembered the most important thing in the world. I remembered that I loved Twilight Sparkle. Discord’s hold over me broke and I stood straight up, looking into the eyes of the most amazing mare in the world. I finally worked up the nerve. I kissed Twilight Sparkle. Revolution - Lambda462"Ponyville citizens, be aware you are required to be inside at nightfall. Failure to comply with this regulation shall be met with severe punishment by the Lunar guard.” Speakers all over Ponyville transmitted the same messages over and over, reminding its citizens of the new rules that came with the sudden change in government with a metallic-sounding voice. Blindly trotting through the streets, Rainbow Dash scowled, angry at the Lunar guard. First they had taken away the skies by not allowing her to fly above a hundred meters and now she had to be inside before nightfall. It was getting crazier and crazier. At least there were no battles here… Rumor was it that there were still ponies who dared to oppose Queen Luna after her swift revolt. Most ponies were afraid what might happen to them if they dared to say anything negative about their new leader… The way Celestia had been dealt with was still fresh in everypony’s memories. Dash and her friends still opposed Luna’s new regime and, more importantly, were still loyal to Celestia. But even Twilight had agreed it would be better to keep quiet for now, their biggest priority being each other’s safety. She was suddenly snapped out of her reverie by a gruff, male voice. “CITIZEN! This is a restricted area! What is your business here?” Rainbow cursed under her breath; Without noticing she had trotted right into one of the new restricted industrial areas of the formerly small town. Panicking slightly, she began stammering. “I-Uhm, ju-“ “As I expected, you were up to no good. You will be taken into custody, citizen.” Before Dash could say anything, the unicorn guard unceremoniously picked her up with his magic, causing Rainbow to float in the air helplessly. “Hey! You can’t just do this!” The guard laughed sarcastically. “Yes I can.” Rainbow Dash tried struggling against the magical field for a moment longer, even though she knew it was helpless: These guards were trained exceptionally well, leaving her no possible way to escape. Just beginning to wonder what was going to happen to her now, there was a bright, purple blast, blinding Rainbow temporarily. She felt herself fall to the ground, thankfully landing on all fours. When her eyesight slowly returned to her, the guard lay unconscious on the cold, stone ground, and Twilight Sparkle was glaring at him, standing a few meters away. After a second, she quickly galloped towards Rainbow. “Rainbow, are you alright?!” she asked, sounding quite concerned. “Y-yeah… Thanks Twi…” The other replied, looking from the Guard to Twilight and back. The situation began to dawn upon her more and more; they were in deep trouble. Death penalty was the punishment for attacking a guard. “You shouldn’t have done that, though. They’ll be looking for both of us now! Dammit Twilight…” She said, her voice growing louder. The purple unicorn looked genuinely hurt at this, softly muttering “I was just trying to help” Regretting snapping at the unicorn already, Rainbow quickly walked up to the unicorn, speaking softly. “That’s alright, I still appreciate it… I don’t know what they might have done to me.” Silence fell between them for a second, after which Dash continued. “We’ll make it out of this mess. Together.” Spiders - FluttershyFur-ever"Ahhh!" Rainbow Dash jumped back from the Daring Do and flew upwards as fast as she could to get away. Hearing the noise, Twilight ran into the room. "Rainbow Dash? Why are you--oh." she said, spotting the spider crawling on the book. "I know you're afraid of them, Dash, but they aren't going to hurt you, you know." "You sure?" "I may not be Applejack, but I am almost as honest." "I trust you, Twi." The pegasus pony fluttered down. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash wrapped eachother in a tight embrace. "I trust you too, Rainbow. I trust you too." Fish - SomeponyTheVectorerThe sky-blue pegasus stood stock still, soothing water from the gently running stream cooling her from the hooves up, a cooling summer breeze gently blew her prismatic mane from her eyes. She paid it no mind, for she's been stalking her prey now for the past fifteen minutes, eyes following as her target was lazily drifting in small arcs around her hooves, waiting for the opportunity to strike. It's not common knowledge, but pegasi are able to eat and digest fish, in fact, it's taught as a survival tool during flight camp, should a pegasus find him or herself lost at sea or in environments with little to no vegetation, though it's not known for its taste. Rainbow Dash was neither in a situation where survival tactics needed to be employed, nor did she particularly enjoy the taste of fish, hay, she didn't need to catch them for Fluttershy, however she loved a challenge, and what greater challenge could there be of catching something which had a mind of its own? So here she was, waiting, watching, calculating, anticipating, and even if she wouldn't admit to such an 'egghead' ability, studying the fish, a fairly sized rainbow trout, coincidentally, her wings twitching slightly, she had barely moved them since she started, a state which they weren't all that used to; Rainbow wanted nothing more to stretch her wings, but any sudden movements, or making her presence more known may scare her prey off, and she didn't want to do this for another fifteen minutes. Suddenly, as the fish circled around a particularly large pebble, she struck, relying on her more avian instincts to guide her mouth to her target- only to come back with a mouth full of dirt. Desperately, she spat out the contents of her mouth, sputtering a panicked "No!" as she struck again, and again, each attempt getting wilder as the trout easily evaded her attempts. Panting as she came up for breath, she searched wildly for target, spotting it and shooting it a glare while it... blew her an underwater raspberry? "That's it!" she cried, leaping towards the fish. She collided with the ground, finally closing her jaws over the slimy, flailing creature. "Awr Yerh. Hry Twrr! Er got irt!" she triumphantly called with a mouth full of fish so fresh, it was still alive and struggling. Twilight Sparkle was less than amused. "Rainbow Dash! Spit that out immediately! I don't want tthe taste of fish in my mouth for the rest of the afternoon," the lavender unicorn called back from the Picnic blanket she had been laying on, the entire afternoon. Oh, Dash thought dejectedly as she spat the fish back into the river with a small 'ptoo' sound. Oh! Northern Lights - CalmNQuietRainbow pressed into Twilight’s backside as she intertwined her hooves around the mare’s soft underbelly. “How is that? Comfortable? Do you want a different position?” Twilight breathed out slowly, as if taking it all in, before responding. “No... it feels great. Any position would work with you.” She arched her neck back and nuzzled the her head against Rainbow’s neck lovingly. “Thank you for this. I don’t think any other pony could do this for me.” “No problem, Twi! You know I love fun things.” She playfully bit the ear of the pony beneath her. Twilight squealed and squirmed in Rainbow’s grasp. “Stop that! You’re going to break my concentration.” She looked upward at the color lights dancing across the sky from the Crystal Empire. “Take me, Rainbow, up to the love-radiation from the Crystal Heart.” “On it!” Rainbow flared her wings dramatically and thrust them back hard. A few quick strokes later they were riding together high in the sky. Rainbow loved doing this with Twilight. On the ground, they were often evenly matched. But here, in the sky, this was her domain and Twilight needed her. As she approached the wavy leylines of power in the sky she slowed to a halt. “Are you ready Twi? I’m going to go in now.” “Thank you again, Rainbow. Just let me prepare myself.” Twilight focused her magic until she could sense every little bit of energy around her. It was absolutely fascinating and enthralling to feel this much love radiating through the atmosphere. “I’m ready...” She whispered out. Her mind focused on feeling every single sensation. Rainbow couldn’t wait any longer. She dived into the nearest stream of blue and pink and let the power wash over them. Twilight gasped loudly as it bombarded her body. Her horn spasmed and her body quivered under the sudden onslaught. “Oh Dashie! It’s incredible! Can you feel it?” “Yeah! It’s awesome!” Whoever said magical research was boring had never done it with Twilight Sparkle. Secrecy - CplHendersonTwilight walked through the summer streets, gentle sunlight warming the evening sky. As amazing as the sky was, with all of its pinks, yellows and oranges, her mind was buzzing around who was waiting for her at home. A smile grew across her face as she imagined how she would spend the time that night. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Rarity asked, oblivious. She was walking with her, the two having visited Fluttershy together earlier in the day. Rarity peered at Twilight’s face. “What’s gotten you so happy, Twilight?” “What? Oh, um,” Twilight stammered, trying to think up an excuse, “I was just looking at Ponyville. With this sunset, the sky really is beautiful.” “Isn’t it?” Rarity said thoughtfully. She sighed. “It’s a shame that ponies don’t enjoy sights like this more often. Always bottled up in their homes, never simply enjoying nature.” Twilight giggled. “Well, those two certainly look like they’re enjoying the sun,” she said, pointing at a mare and a colt sitting on a park bench, staring at each other intently. Rarity smiled. “I’d say they’re more focused on one another then on the setting.” She let out a rueful sigh. “Oh, how I wish I had somepony to spend time like that with.” She looked curiously at Twilight. “How about you, Twilight? Do you have your eye on somepony?” Twilight started slightly, which Rarity picked up instantly on. “You do?” She squealed in a very unladylike manner, “Oh, do tell me who it is! Who is the lucky colt?” “No, no! I don’t like anypony!” Twilight said defensively. Rarity winked. “Of course, Twilight, of course,” she said. She shook her head and smiled. “Well, we best be off our separate ways. I’ll see you tomorrow, Twilight.” “See you, Rarity. I’m just going to stop by that new candy store on my way home. Spike would love some.” Twilight turned to leave, but Rarity stopped her with a single hoof. “You don’t want to go there, Twilight.” She said seriously. Twilight was surprised. “Why not?” She replied, wondering what could possibly be so bad. Rarity leaned close into Twilight’s face. “I heard that the owner of that store is a... fillyfooler.” Rarity said, whispering the last word. Leaning back out, she turned and started to walk away. “Well, see you, Twilight!” She called out in a final greeting, leaving behind a conflicted unicorn. As Twilight continued her walk, this time on her own, her thoughts turned to the mare waiting for her at home. As much as she loved all of her friends, she knew that she could never tell them about her relationship. They simply wouldn’t accept it. Twilight opened her door and stepped into the library, where she was immediately greeted by Rainbow Dash. “Hey, Twilight!” She said, her smile carrying a hidden meaning, “I was wondering if you could help me study for my Weather Manager’s exam?” “Sure,” Twilight returned the smile. She lay down next to Rainbow. “Spike is away tonight. We have the whole library to ourselves.” Rainbow laughed, wrapping her wing around Twilight’s body. “We’ll have to hold off on that, egghead. I do need to study for this exam.” Twilight smiled and snuggled in, levitating the book in front of her. She sighed. It didn’t matter what her friends, or the rest of the world, thought. She had Rainbow Dash, and that was enough. Denial - Subsolar DriftThe world fell out from underneath me. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t think. My gut clenched in fear. I needed to breath. I looked around in terror, anywhere but towards the mare standing in front of me. I searched for any avenue of escape. “Well?” Rainbow Dash asked again, her voice wavering with uncertainty. “Will you be my marefriend Twilight?” Suddenly the last few weeks finally came into perfect clarity. All the time Dah had spent with me, all the times she’d asked me to go to lunch with her, and how touchy-feely with me. She’d been going on dates with me. I felt sick to my stomach. “Twilight, you okay?” Rainbow raised her eyebrow looking at me carefully. I forced myself to speak but the only thing that came out was a soft, “No.” “What?” Rainbow looked taken aback. “What’s wrong?” “No, I’m sorry. I can’t go out with you.” All traces of a smile vanished from Rainbows face. She looked dumbstruck, as if unable to process the words I’d spoken. At last, she spoke. “Why not?” Swallowing, I worked up the courage to to answer. “Well,to be perfectly honest? I’m not a fillyfooler.” Her face went from disappointment to confusion in an instant. “Then why have you been going out with me on dates?” With a frown, I answered. “I didn’t know they were dates, I thought we were just friends spending time together. I’d never go on a date with a mare.” I regretted my last words the instant I spoke them, wishing I could take them back. “Never?” Rainbow questioned, surprised. “You’d never even give it a chance?” “No, I couldn’t. It’s just wrong. Mares aren’t supposed to be with other mares. It’s just unnatural.” The anger was apparent in Rainbow’s eyes, along with the shock of hearing this from her friend. I felt guilty, but I stood by what I said. It was what I believed. “Oh, so because I’m a fillyfooler, I’m wrong?! I didn’t realize that love depended only on gender. I’m sorry, I’ll just leave you alone so I don’t disgust you.” With that, Rainbow was gone in a multihued storm. “Rainbow, I never said that!” I tried to shout after her, but she either didn’t hear or didn’t want to hear it. With a sigh, I turned around and went back into her library. I knew that being a fillyfooler was wrong, but yet still I felt horrible. There was something else there too. Disappointment? Why was I disappointed? Feeling absolutely terrible, I went to my room and crawled into bed, tears streaming down my face. One last thought went through my head before I slept. Rainbow Dash shouldn’t cry. She’s too beautiful when she’s happy. No one should make her cry. Falling - CynicalTwilight was falling. There was no other word for it, she constantly seemed to go downwards within the spiral of darkness. Except that falling was a silly word for it, there was no true up or down. She could have simply been flying forwards for the sake of argument. But there was just… something about this that spoke of falling to her subconscious mind. It was unexplainable, which irked Twilight immensely. But the thing that irked her even more, was the apparent disregard for time and space in this spiral of darkness. There was no indication that she fell closer to the ground, or for any significant length of time for that matter. It was just falling. Constant falling. Until she looked to her side, and saw her partner within the darkness of the spiral. She smiled at her companion, and her companion smiled back. Twilight turned within the air and embraced her, holding on tightly as the world shifted slightly. So that they were flying through the seven shades of the rainbow. Sunrise - CalmNQuietTwilight’s hooves thudded against the ground at a rapid pace. The thick grass muffled her hoof-falls and threatened to steal her grip. Panting heavily, she turned her head back to tighten the straps on her saddlebag. It would be a tremendous loss if she lost its precious contents now. She glanced to the horizon. How much time did they have left? She momentarily dimmed the magical headlamp strapped above her horn to get a better gauge of the level of ambient light. The first trickles of morning light teased at the horizon. This was bad. “Rainbow! We’re running out of time.” She struggled to keep pace as she yelled into the dawn. “Sunrise is coming. If we don’t make it to the compound--” “I know!” The reply was harsh and heated. “Just run!” Focusing on the tail in front of her, she put forth an extra burst of speed. She wasn’t going to die out here. And, she wasn’t going to let the ponies depending on these herbs to die. They crested over the last set of hills together just as yellow started to fill the sky. The faint light gleamed across the metal structure in the distance. The paved concrete which extended several hundred feet from the tall walls held back the encroaching wilderness. It also represented the safe zone they desperately needed to be within. She allowed herself a sigh of relief. They were going to make it. Lustrous reds, oranges and yellows painted the canvas above as her hooves clacked onto the reinforced concrete. She smiled at her good fortune. Snap. Crash. Her back hoof shot sharp needles of pain up her leg and she collapsed at the edge of the threshold. In a panic, she looked back and found her leg bleeding. An early riser latched onto to her flesh and sucked away viciously. She screamed in agony as the blood seeped from her body. In a flash, Rainbow was beside her. A sharp pair of jaws shredded the green vine and splattered its owner with crimson. “Common Twi, just a little further.” Twilight strained to her hooves, but collapsed several feet into the safe zone. Her fluids oozed from the open wound and the tranquilizing chemicals in the jaws of the plant robbed her of her senses. Rainbow glanced at the compound and back at the mass of green slowly coming to life with the early light. “Damnit Twi... I can’t just leave you here.” She cursed inwardly and looked at the wound. She needed something to staunch the wound. Lifting her wing, she buried her muzzle in the soft down feathers at the base and tore them from their sockets. She fought back the pain and pressed the fluff against the wound. It would have to do for now. She lowered her body and slid the unmoving body of her partner onto her back and painfully crossed the last hundred feet to the compound door. She slammed her hoof against it. “Let us in! Twilight’s been hurt! She needs a detox now!” The doors swung open and Rainbow trudged inside. She dropped Twilight carefully on the waiting stretcher and kissed the forehead of the feverish unicorn. “It’s okay Twi. You’re going to be okay.” Beautiful colors graced the land as the compound was sealed away from the overgrown environment outside. The dawn of a new day. Moonlight - Incredible BlunderboltPrincess Luna inhaled the sweet, cool air of the night as she soared through the air and basked in the glow of her sky. If there was one thing that she was proudest of in her whole life, it was the idea of moonlight; it was not as harsh as her sister's sun, nor was it as beneficial, but little else could compare in the sense of sheer natural beauty. Her moon was full tonight, and it cast its light wondrously upon the landscape. Luna loved to drift across the Equestrian skylines on these most gorgeous of nights—something she'd found herself doing much more often than before she... left. In the air beside her, Princess Celestia was wore a frown as she beat her wings. "It's not that she can't take care of herself," she said, a touch of anxiety breaching her carefully constructed mask of confidence. "Far from it, it's just that she's so I to flying; I can't help but worry..." "You should not, sister," Luna assured her, smiling in hopes that she might alleviate some of her sister's stress she that she too, could enjoy their flight. "Today is simply her first day as a princess, it is only natural for her to want to explore." "But the skies..." Celestia countered, biting her lip. "The guards said their search turned up nothing. She's never flown before today—" "And you know she won't take and needless chances," the Night Princess finished. "Twilight is a very sensible young mare, and I'm sure she's fine." That seemed to do the trick. Celestia's jagged wingbeats slowed down to a more controlled tempo. "Besides," she added for increased effect, "isn't her friend Rainbow Dash with her? I'm sure the skies show Twilight no danger with her around." Celestia sighed, and the sisters came to rest on a soft patch of cumulus. "You're right—I'm sure she'll be fine." When her sister didn't respond, Celestia looked up at her. "What are you looking at?" Smiling gently, Luna gestured with a hoof at an even smaller cloud drifting below them. Cuddled up in the moonlight, laid a pegasus and a slightly larger alicorn in a shimmering tiara. Their tails were entwined, muzzles almost touching. Both were breathing deeply and facing the western horizon, where the sun had set just hours ago. "Oh, I'm more than sure," Luna said, stifling a giggle. Prank - CynicalTwilight Sparkle moved about her silent house, a sandwich held within her magic. It was gone midnight and the unicorn had been up late, experimenting on the workings of pegasus magic. But now she’d finished for the night. She’d rolled her experiment notes into a scroll and stored them within her safe where she kept her most cherished research. Now she’d finally be able to get some sleep, if her partner allowed it that is. She blushed, starting up the stairs and finishing her sandwich. It was taking some… getting used to, that was for certain. But at least Twilight could easily say that it’d never been boring around the place. Far from it. With a barely suppressed smile at her memories, Twilight opened the door into her bedroom and was immediately splattered with something viscous and dark. Before she’d even had a chance to open her mouth, that was followed by a sudden cascade of snowy feathers and a Rainbow Dash shortly after, who promptly secured a rubber beak onto Twilight’s muzzle and stood back, admiring her work. Twilight stayed stock still, just in case there was anything else coming, but loosened up as Dash lost her cool and collapsed onto the floor into a fit of raucous laughter. Twilight’s eyebrow twitched. “Oh hello Rainbow Dash… nice to see you too.” I said cooly, my voice echoing oddly through the ‘beak’. The giggles paused for a moment as Rainbow looked up at me, then came back full force as she lost it again. Twilight sighed. So much for a nice peaceful evening. She left Dash to her laughter, heading towards the bathroom with weary acceptance. She paused, looking towards the large mirror that stretched across the tiles. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly at her own appearance, no wonder Rainbow had broken down like that. Shaking her head slightly, she prepared herself for the arduous task of washing off the gunk in the shower. Like she’d said. Far from boring. Stone - batsA soft blue hoof ran slowly over the carved stone surface of the grave marker. A heavy sigh escaped her snout, head and ears drooping as her eyes scanned the words over and over in a mantra. Her raised limb ran in circles over the stone, as much an assurance of its continued existence than anything else. Twin pools of magenta regarded the dried remains of rose wreaths littering the base of the marker. She cupped a dry petal between her forehooves. In fits and starts, Rainbow Dash began to speak. “…Hi. It’s me again. I’m…I’m sorry I haven’t been by in a while. It’s…it’s hard to come out here. You understand, right? “… “Yeah, I don’t, either. You deserve better’n that. I miss you. I miss you, and coming out to see you like this just reminds me you’re gone. It’s enough of a reminder when I can’t see you at my shows in the stands. “It’s not fair this happened. There was so much we never said. So many things we never got to do. Everypony says time makes it easier, but they’re wrong. Every time somethin’ happens that I’d want you there for where you can’t just hurts more. So many memories we can’t share… “I’m no good at this sorta stuff. You know that. I’m sorry. I’m sorry an’ I love you. I never said that enough to you when you could hear it. I hope you can hear it now.” “I’m sure he can.” A purple hoof settled across Rainbow’s shoulders, drawing her close. She leaned into Twilight’s neck, nuzzling gratefully. Rainbow Dash’s voice rose in energy, gaining strength from the unicorn’s presence. “This is that mare I was tellin’ you about. We’ve been seein’ each other for a while now and…and that’s why I came to see you today. I…I asked her to marry me an’ she said yes. I don’t know the last time I’ve been so happy.” She nuzzled Twilight again, gripping the hoof around her neck with one of her own. “She means the world to me and I know you’d love her too. You two are a lot alike in some ways. Always tryin’ to get me to slow down and think things through first. Boring, right?” She smiled fondly at the gray stone. “She’s exactly the sorta pony you always wanted me to end up with. You’d be proud’a me. I…I wish you could be there for the day.” The unicorn’s grip tightened as Rainbow wiped her eyes with a hoof. “I guess you will be in some way. You might not be able to give me away, but you’ll be there with me in my thoughts. I’ll never forget you.” She ran her hoof over the gravestone once more before standing and wrapping a wing around Twilight. “I’ll try to come around a little more, okay? I love you, Dad.” Twilight kissed her fiancée on the cheek as they turned, cantering off through the cemetery. Beach - Incredible BlunderboltThe ocean rocked their little vessel with choppy waves and ripping winds. Planes roared above them, their engines only adding to the cacophonous roars of the ships and other, amphibious, vehicles. In one such contraption were five young women in camouflage uniforms, crowded around a large piece of parchment. "Okay!" said their aptly-named leader, Sergeant Rainbow Dash, her multi-hued hair billowing in the wind. "Remember the mission: securing the package is the most important part of this whole thing and Celestia's asked for us personally to do the job!" The boat lurched, and the gang was forced to regain their balance. "That means everything else is secondary!" she added, eyeing her blonde friend. Applejack nodded solemnly, rubbing a picture of a young, red-haired girl with her thumb. "Division A is taking the left flank, Division B's got the right!" Dash shouted as the wind picked up. “Where does that leave us?” asked the tallest one present, brushing a lock of amethyst hair out of her eyes. “We’re going straight up the middle,” the sergeant answered boldly. “Divisions A and B are going to try to make a funnel for us to fight through, but it’s all we’ve got to work with.” “Great.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Send us into the fire again please, Princess!” Dash nodded, folded up the map and placed it in her breast pocket. She looked around at her team with pride as the whistle blew and a voice came through her radio. “T minus thirty seconds to shore.” In the corner of their tiny vessel, Corporal Pinkie Pie sat with her bright pink hair tucked under a camouflage cover and counted her rifle cartridges with a toothy grin. “I hope changelings like beach parties," she said manically. As they drew closer to their destination, loud pings could be heard amongst the cries of desperate fighting. Dash grabbed her rifle off its mount and stood up. “Everybody ready?” Nobody answered audibly, but each of them grabbed their weapons and fell in behind her. “Good,” she said, pleased. The boat jerked as it hit the earth. Slowly but steadily, the bow began to drop, revealing the scene ahead. In the distance stood a tall, black, spiky structure that could be very well have been described as a fairy-tale castle from the nightmare realm. In its tallest tower lay their objective, just past the miles of barbed wire, explosive mines, sand pits and hundreds of soldiers. Bullets whizzed through the air, creating small explosions of sand on the beach before them as men and women on both sides fell to the ground, bleeding and crying. Rainbow Dash stepped up onto the platform and gazed up at the tower. “Hang in there Twi,” she said to herself, checking the safety on her rifle. “We’re comin’ for ya.” Unrequited - Subsolar DriftDear Journal, Love is a funny thing, isn’t it? For most of our lives we have no clue what love is, only hearing of it in romance stories and from our parents. We spend much of our lives trying to find someone to fall in love with, searching for a piece of something truly special just for ourselves. Looking for that one pony who will love us in return. And sometimes when we fall in love, we still don’t get it. We don’t get that love returned to us. We can love someone who will never love us back. That pain, love given but not returned is excruciating. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Is love worth it? It’s hard to say. From everything I’ve felt, no it isn’t. The pain far outlasts the pleasure. Yet, I still yearn for that love everyday. It’s like a never ending torture device. Even though I want to stop I can’t. I need to find a way out, before it destroys me. I will escape. Love will not hurt me any more. Rumors - CynicalIt was quiet in the library, the two ponies snuggled on the floor in front of the crackling fire paid no heed to the rain outside, nor to where they knew Luna’s moon to be beneath the cloud cover. Rainbow Dash had her wing laid across Twilight’s back lazily, providing an extra layer of warmth, while Twilight herself had pressed herself into Rainbow, keeping as much contact between the two as she could. “Twilight?” The named pony stirred against her, looking up at Dash after a moment. “Hmm?” “I talked to my boss, Spitfire, after work today.” “That’s good.” Came the drowsy reply. Rainbow sighed, shifting her wing slightly, and immediately it was as if someone had turned on a switch. Twilight blinked and looked at Rainbow with sudden wakefulness, “Sorry, what did she want?” “She wanted to say that she was, well, happy for me.” “Aren’t you happy Rainbow? I don’t quite get what’s wrong.” Rainbow looked into the fire, speaking up after another moment, “Sorry, of course I’m happy. I guess that I’m just not used to ponies ruminating on my private life.” She continued to look into the fire, then looked away into the eyes of the pony who was nuzzling her. “Let them say what they say, we know the truth right?” Rainbow Dash chuckled softly, returning the nuzzle and replacing her wing around Twilight again. “We know the truth.” She echoed, resting her head atop Twilight’s own and looking into the fire again. Crush - Tavi n Scratch“See ya later Twi,” I said as I reached out for the door of the library. My hoof made contact, but I was reluctant to push through, something was holding me back. “Bye Rainbow, talk to you tomorrow.” And there it was. The simple joy of hearing that beautiful voice brought a smile to my face. I was so stubborn before, denying myself what I knew to be true. I mean Rainbow Dash, the coolest pegasus in all of Equestria, a filly-fooler? At first it didn’t seem to add up, but once I let go it all made so much more sense. Twilight is the most amazing unicorn ever, she’s gorgeous, smart, kind and everything I ever think I could need in a partner. I could actually picture it all in my head, living my life with her. Waking up in the morning and the first thing I see is her face and the first thing I here is her voice. That would be bliss. I was just ignorant before, now I don’t see how I could be happy without Twilight. Just spending the day a the library was amazing. Laying down with her in a little nook, poring over all these wondrous tomes of knowledge, burning away the daylight discussing whatever. “The what” was unimportant, “the who” is what mattered. This beautiful pony whom I could easily see in a wedding gown, speaking her vows to me. I’ve had crushes before but this was something special. I heard footsteps behind me. “You okay Dash?” “I’m fine, actually, I’m great. Can I ask you something?” Rejection - Tavi n ScratchI’m fine, I mean, it’s not the end of the world or anything. I’m Rainbow Dash for Pete’s sake. I’ve done just fine on my own for my entire life all on my own. I don’t need anyone else, I am independent. I don’t need a special somepony, and I most certainly don’t need Twilight. Who am I kidding? I am just sad. I can tell myself whatever I want, I want Twilight but Twilight doesn’t want me. The greatest pegasus in all of Equestria in isn’t good enough for her. Now that I think about it, that really makes sense. There is no one in this world as amazing as Twilight, and she deserves someone equally as great. I’d say that I fit the bill. but apparently she doesn’t think so. That’s really all that matters I guess. I may think I’m great, but it doesn’t matter unless Twilight thinks so, and if she did then I wouldn’t be here, lying in my bed, skulking. I was so certain. I had it all planned out. Show up early at the library and help her with anything she asked for. I took her to Sugarcube corner for breakfast, I even payed for her food. I took her to a movie. We got lunch at the cafe. She and I went on a walk. I was planning on taking her to a very special place. Behind Fluttershy’s cottage was a meadow, a beautiful field of lavender. At one edge of the meadow was a weeping willow, I go there all the time, it’s breathtaking. But then my world came crashing down. She inquired as to why I was being so nice, I casually replied something about friends being nice to one another. Then she stopped dead in her tracks and asked if it was possibly anything more than friendship. I confessed, I spilled it all out. I was hoping she’d understand and maybe even share these feelings. Then she crushed me, crushed my soul. I’ll always remember her rejection. “I’m not looking for a relationship right now, and if I was I’d look for a stallion. You’re great and all, but I don’t want to risk our friendship.” She doesn’t get it, how can I be friends with somepony who I love so much, and yet she only feels friendship. I’ll always want more, and someday that will tear us apart. It seems selfish, but that’s who I am. I mean I’m fine, but who am I kidding? Borrowed - Stryker12324"So... I was just wondering if I could borrow them for a while." "Of course you can! I'm so glad you're trying this out with her." "Yeah, I kinda am, too." "I mean, ever since you two started reading together, you've been such good influences for each other." "Yup. We started reading more than just Daring Do. Fantasy, mystery... even romance, although that took a while." "That must have been a struggle." "It took a bit of convincing, yeah." "Well, I'm glad of it. You two have been getting closer because of it." "Yeah... That we have." "And may I say... you two make such a cute couple!" "Heh... thanks..." "You're welcome. Now just wait right here. I'll go and get them." "Alright..." "Here they are." "Wow, these look great!" "I've actually had these for a long time. So they're a bit old..." "That's okay, Fluttershy. These are perfect." "I'm glad. So you two are going to do it today?" "Tonight, actually. She said she's been waiting for the right time, and said tonight was it." "That sounds lovely." "I know. Really, she tries to act all tough, but underneath, she's just a sweetheart." "Yes, she is." "Well, thanks again, Fluttershy." "No problem, Twilight. I hope those goggles fit. Enjoy flying with Rainbow." "Oh, I will. Rainbow said she's been preparing the sky for tonight, so I'm really looking forward to it..." Nightmare - CynicalRainbow Dash laid next to Twilight, a foreleg wrapped around her as she tossed and turned in her sleep, grunting every now and then. She felt so… helpless. Give her a Dragon and she’d buck it in the face ten times over. If it threatened her friends, she’d beat it to a pulp to protect them. If it dared to threaten Twilight Sparkle, she’d damn well try to launch it to the moon. But she couldn’t help her now… Not in her dreams. They’d started a week or two ago. It really wasn’t surprising that Twilight could have bad dreams, if not worse than her friends. She’d been through hell and back once… literally, and Rainbow suspected that there was yet more she refused to share. They’d asked Princess Luna to help, yet she’d revealed that Twilight Sparkles dreams, and all elements of harmony, were no-longer under her domain. She’d have to fight them herself. But she didn’t have to sit next to Twilight every night before bed and coax her to her nightmares. She didn’t have to lay there next to her as she tossed and turned, mumbling at horrors Rainbow herself could only dream of. She didn’t have to feel the guilt every morning as Twilight woke and vowed not to sleep that night, even as she made plans to make her do so. Yet she could not be mad at the Princess for something which she could not do… no matter how hard she tried. She just had to wrap her hooves around her marefriend and hold her tight, protecting her against the unspeakable horrors of the night. Confession - Subsolar DriftDear Princess Celestia, I’m sorry. There is no more to say besides that. I’m sorry. I have let you down. You always taught me to be good, true, and honest. I tried to follow you in the light, but a darkness came over me and I sinned. I cannot bear to see you again knowing I’ve let you down in such a way. I am supposed to be your most faithful, but I have fallen into shadow. Even as I write this I tremble with the power of my affliction. It is only through thoughts of you and what you have taught me that I have the strength to write these words and do what I must. I must be punished for I looked unto another mare in lust. A dark spirt has come over me and infected my mind. Do not blame the mare for she is oblivious to my plight. The conflict is my own for I have brought these spirits to myself and my soul feels as if it is tearing itself apart. My punishment as the part of me that is good and true pits itself against the darkness that has blossomed inside me since I have left your side. My actions now are a necessity to ensure my soul stays in the light. Forgive me my crimes, for I am not of sound mind. Let the light guide my soul forever. Twilight Sparkle. Spiral - CynicalTo Twilight, it was the epiphany of all that was wrong in her life at the moment. The endless and monotonous line, closing inwards towards a foregone conclusion. Maybe… maybe she’d hoped for this too much? Maybe she’d meant what she’d said? It didn’t matter. She’d taken her temper out on Dash, and now she was paying the consequences. One wrong move, and her life had ground into a standstill, a singular point. All that she had to do now, was lift the pen from the paper. Except… no, she’d remembered what it felt like for her, for everyone you love to abandon you and leave you alone. She’d never wish that on anyone. Not even her worst enemy. No, she’d fix this before she closed the book. Even if it did become worse, she’d try to simply reinstate everything to before they started their relationship. As the best of friends. Who knew what could happen though? As she stared off into the distance, her quill, Rainbow Dash’s feather, re-traced the spiral she’d drawn on the paper. From a singular eventuality, into the horizon. Countdown - bats“Ten! Nine! Eight!” The bustling town square was filled with rumbling hooves as the excited chant bellowed from every lung, bouncing around the buildings in a cacophonous din. The flashes of light above the town hall filled the sky with numbers, leading the countdown in the chill winter air. Rainbow pulled her light purple scarf, a Hearth’s Warming gift from Twilight, closer around her neck as she shouted. “Seven! Six! Five!” Twilight watched the puffs of her breath hang white in front of her muzzle as she yelled. A shiver raced up her spine, half from the cold and half from the infectious cheer hanging in the air. A sky blue wing unfurled and wrapped around her back as a warm blanket. “Four! Three! Two!” The unicorn nuzzled her marefriend’s neck in gratitude. Rainbow Dash’s voice dropped in volume as she turned, locking eyes with Twilight. Magenta and violet, catching glints of reds and golds from the firework numerals, gazed deeply. The crowd fell away and transformed into a muted roar surrounding the pair. They moved closer, brushing sides. The frigid ends of their coats instantly thawed under the shared heat they passed back and forth, their muzzles drifting closer as they strengthlessly mouthed the final digits. “One! Happy new year!” Purple and blue lips met on the final count. A second wing unfurled as they turned to face each other, encircling Twilight’s back as she raised her forehooves. Purple limbs slid around blue shoulders, pulling Rainbow to her chest. Their mouths opened simultaneously, an impassioned quest for more warmth and contact. Twilight could taste hot chocolate on her mare’s breath. As the chant shifted to shapeless shouts and well-wishes, Rainbow Dash swept her hooves around Twilight’s back and flared her wings. With three swift flaps, she lifted them both into the air. They hovered above the crowd, oblivious to the few whistling cat-calls aimed at their embrace. Twilight traced her hooves gently through tousled mane, focusing on the fluttering beat of Rainbow’s heart pressed up against her chest. Two pairs of eyes slid half open as they parted, seamlessly resuming their enchanted stare. They panted breathlessly, steaming vapor puffs wisping off their parted muzzles. Twilight continued stroking greens, blues, and purples. Rainbow Dash offered Twilight a tiny smile; one only she ever got to see that was devoid of her standard bravado. “Happy new year, Twi’.” She leaned forward and pecked the unicorn on the lips. “I love you.” “I love you, Rainbow.” She returned the brief kiss with one of her own, a foreleg drifting back to cup the blue mare’s face. “Happy new year.” A chorus of ‘awws’ erupted below them. The daredevil cast a glance at the gathered ponies making moony eyes up at the pair and rolled her eyes. Smirking, she beat her wings rapidly. The couple soared through the winter night. Luna’s moon continued its trek across the sky as the year fully came to a close. It was a time of new beginnings. Sleep - The Mysterious NNot many ponies thought much about sleep, it was simply a part of daily life, or a routine. Lay down in the evening, and rise in the morning with the sun. You could say that there was no such thing as a sleep expert. Twilight said the closest thing was Princess Luna, who helped facilitate sweet dreams for all of Equestria. Too bad it wasn't true. Rainbow Dash hated sleeping. If she wasn't training, or hanging out with her friends, then she was asleep. So much time was wasted, lost while she lay blissfully unaware. It was a curse really. Having been born with a form of narcolepsy, she couldn't help it. Suffering from minor EDS, or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, she'd quickly learned that fighting her body's urges was not a good idea. Looking like a zombie, and falling asleep at the most inopportune times were not good for her life expectancy. So thus she was forced to take daily naps. Sometimes on a cloud, other times in a tree; much to Applejack's annoyance. The worst part was that her stubborn pride kept her from telling everypony about her condition. If she was going to make it into the 'Bolts, then she had to be perfect. No weaknesses, nothing that the other competitors could use to get a wing up on her. But Rainbow Dash was reaching the end of the line. She couldn't do this anymore, it wasn't fair to her, her friends or anypony else. It was especially unfair to Twilight. So that's how she found herself sitting in the library, explaining her condition. Twilight took it well, mentioning she'd had her suspicions. Rainbow was thankful for that. So they worked out a plan, she was welcome to come to the library and get the sleep she needed. That's what she was doing right now, curled up in Twilight's embrace. Her marefriend's lavender hooves wrapped around Rainbow's midsection, breath tickling her nape. The warmth she felt coming off the unicorn was simply amazing. As she lay there, slowly drifting asleep, one thought remained. For once in her life, Rainbow really didn't mind her condition. If it meant Twilight was with her, then maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all... Munchies - Incredible BlunderboltRustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... Twilight lay shaking in her bed, eyes closed tight, pretending that the ominous noises coming from downstairs weren't there. She'd awoken about an hour ago to the sound of muffled thumps around where she judged the kitchen to be, and had grown steadily more concerned as the sounds persisted through the minutes. The noises were soft and light, but careless and disrespectful—like somepony who didn't want to be heard, but didn't particularly care what they broke, either. Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... At first, Twilight had thought that Spike had simply gotten hungry in the middle of the night, and had decided to go downstairs for a little snack, but soon remembered that Spike was spending the night at Rarity's after he'd helped her search for sapphires earlier. It couldn't be Owowliscious—her pet was almost certainly still out hunting for is breakfast. The noises were most certainly not of Twilight's making, so that left only one option: A...a... Twilight gulped and pulled the sheets over her head, still very much shaking. A break-in! Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... Twilight had read about break-ins. Heck, she'd studied Equestrian Law under the very mare who'd written it! She knew the reasons that they happened—poor ponies often needed money or food to simply survive—and that, statistically speaking, one in four houses in Equestria would be burgled per year, but she'd never expected that such a thing would happen to her! Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... Twilight bit her lip and blinked back a few nervous tears. Stay calm, Twilight! she reassured herself. Just stay calm and let them take what they want! Criminals generally don't turn violent unless they're put into situations where they feel threatened. Just stay where you are, and stay calm! A shadow darted across her room, and she nearly screamed before she realized that it was just coming from the bough of an outside tree in the moonlight. Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... The noises died down for a moment before the sound of something smashing the floor echoed up the stairs. "Aw, shoot!" came a voice that was definitely not Twilight's. Thump, thump, thump... Twilight's heart stopped as she realized that the rustling had died down, only to be replaced by the sounds of hoofsteps coming up the stairs! Suppressing a squeal of sheer terror, Twilight tunneled herself deeper into her bed and wished that her brother were there to help her. Shining Armor would certainly have never allowed somepony to scare his sister and ransack her house! Thump, thump, thump... The hoofsteps drew ever closer, and soon, Twilight could hear them just outside her door. They stopped just outside and, for a moment, everything went deathly quiet. Twilight bit her lip and hoped that the intruder would continue on down the hallway and raid her storage room instead. Then, the door knob clicked. Slowly, the door opened. A figure stepped inside her room, dragging a long cylinder behind it. The burglar was a bit short, Twilight realized, and rather small looking, but way too wide to be anything that she could recognize. Certainly, if she had to, she could defend herself against such a criminal, but hopefully it wouldn't come to that. Twilight covered her mouth with her hooves as the trespasser's eyes fell upon her bed. Gradually, the shadow neared her, breathing heavily. As it got closer, the figure reached out to her lantern and flicked the flint fire-starter, flooding the room with light, and revealing the one face that Twilight had never expected to see on the pony who'd made her experience such terror. "Heya, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash said cheerfully, a few sandy-colored seeds dropped from her muzzle to the floor. "Your snack-tube was empty, so I thought I'd fill it up for you, but, uh..." She held up Twilight's prized bird-feeder, now smashed beyond repair, and blushed. "By the way," she said, rubbing the back of her neck. "You're outta that awesome seed..." Twilight grit her teeth and fought the urge to scream out every indignity in the Equestrian language—and several known only to griffons—at Rainbow Dash's infuriating antics. Then, she noticed something. Uh, oh... Dash's wings twitched. "So, uh, you lonely in that bed or what?" she asked, tossing the now-useless bird-feeder to the side and giving Twilight a wink. Cinnamon - Subsolar DriftRainbow Dash landed in front of Sugarcube Corner wiping the sweat from her brow. She was grimy and dirty, having just gotten back from a week long flight, but she smiled nonetheless as she walked into the store. “Hello and welcome to Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie began, crouching behind the counter looking for something. Having found what she was looking for, she raised her head gasped in surprise when she saw who it was. “Dashie!” She cried leaping over the counter and tackling the pegasus in a bone-crushing hug. “You’re back!” She paused for a second to sniff. “And you smell!” “Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash choked. “I can’t breath.” “Well of course you can’t when you smell that bad! You should really take a shower.” Pinkie let go of Dash who took a big lungful of air and began to cough. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll go take a shower in a minute. First off, will you do me a huge favor?” Pinkie’s eyes widened at this, and she began to jump up and down in joy. “Ooo! What flavor? Vanilla? Chocolate? Sherbert? Strawberry? Blueberry? Cotton Candy? Hay bacon? Bubble Gum? Orange? App-” “Favor, not flavor Pinkie.” “Ohh! I see! So what can I do ya for, Dashie?” She said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Dash groaned and facehoofed, but reached for her saddlebags and very carefully pulled out a small tin. She placed it on the counter and removed the lid, causing Pinkie to gasp. “I-is that what I think it is?!” Pinkie whispered, her voice trembling. “You bet it is!” Rainbow smirked, striking a cocky pose. Dash frowned when Pinkie was so transfixed with the contents of the tin that she’d missed the pegasus’ pose. Luckily she saw what was about to happen. Pinkie dived towards the tin, trying desperately to get to the insides, but Dash was faster. With a flick of her wings, she was in front of the pink pony and blocked her way. “No Pinkie! It isn’t for you.” “Awww, but Dashie--” Pinkie pleaded, her eyes starting to water. “No, I’m not falling for it. This is really important. I need you to do something for me.” Leaning forward, she whispered something in Pinkie’s ear, making the earth pony’s jaw drop. “No. Way.” She said when she’d picked her jaw up from the floor. Rainbow just smirked and nodded. Pinkie’s face became very serious. “What do you need me to do.” Rainbow muttered some instructions to Pinkie, gave her the tin, and proceeded up the stairs to take a shower. Half an hour later (Rainbow Dash really, really, likes her showers), Rainbow descended the stairs, wings wide spread to air dry. “Pinkie!” She called towards the kitchen. “You done yet?” The doors swung open and out came the pink mare carrying a small package. She passed it off to Dash and wished her good luck. With a quick goodbye, Dash went on her way and Pinkie watched longing as she left. Dash could barely contain her excitement as she made her way to the library where a certain unicorn awaited her. She stood outside the door for a moment, steadying her nerves, and knocked. “Coming!” Came a familiar voice from inside the tree, accompanied by the sound of a book closing. Moments later the door opened to Twilight Sparkle. “Hey Sparkle, I’m back!” said Dash with a grin, getting swept into her second hug of the day, though this one was much more enjoyable. “Welcome home Rainbow! How was your trip?” Twilight asked, walking inside with Dash. “It was fine, I missed you though.” Dash nuzzled her marefriend. “I got you something too!” “Oh Dash,” Twilight said with a blush. “You didn’t have to.” “Well I know how much you love foreign foods, so I got Pinkie to make some with a recipe I got.” Dash took out the package and opened it revealing a cake. “It’s called coffee cake, and it’s delicious. You have it with tea, so you should boil up two cups so we can have a slice together.” The two mares quickly made the tea, cut the cake, and sat down on the couch next to each other. With a smile, Twilight levitated her fork, got a little piece of the cake, and tried it. “Mmmm! That’s delicious.” She said, swallowing and quickly getting another bite. “What’s in it?” “It’s a cake with some nuts, sugar, a bit of coffee, and the special ingredient, Caymare Island cinnamon!” At that, Twilight spat the cake out of her mouth and threw her plate away, quickly draining her tea. Coughing and wincing from the heat, she grimaced. “What’s wrong?” Dash cried in shock. “Rainbow Dash you idiot! I’m horribly allergic to cinnamon!” Distance - CalmNQuietTwilight slipped into the booth and picked up the phone. She took a deep breath and whispered out very gently: “Hey Dashie...” A pause. “H—Hey Twi.” The voice was scratchy and unclear, but it was definitely the voice of her marefriend. She smiled ever so slightly at the sound of the familiar voice. “How are you doing? Are you getting enough rest?” “I’m doing fine, Twi. Really. Plenty of fluids and rest. You don’t have to worry about me.” Her brow furrowed as the she picked up the distinctive sound of coughing at the other end of the line. “Are you sure you’re okay? That coughing doesn’t sound very good at all.” “Don’t worry, Twi. A little cough isn’t going to keep me down. I need to get going now. I’ll talk to you next week okay?” She started to protest. “But, we just started talking...” “I know, but I can’t stay up any longer. I love you, Twi. Take good care of yourself.” “I will. I love you Dashie.” She sighed and hung the phone up. She pressed her hooves against the glass of the booth as the tears welled in her eyes. “Damn it... I miss you so much.” She looked at her reflection and wiped the tears from her eyes. I promised to be strong. We’ll make it through this. After one last glance at the glass with a smile, she pulled herself out of the well-worn chair and headed home. The next week, she returned promptly at the same time and entered the glass booth once more. She ran her hoof over the familiar phone and picked it up. As expected, Rainbow was waiting for her. “Hey Twi. I thought I’d wait for you this time.” Twilight giggled and smiled at her reflection in the glass. “That’s sweet of you Dashie. I brought the latest copy of Daring Doo. I don’t know if you can get books, but at least I can read it for you.” “Wow... That’s, that’s awesome. I’d love to have you read it to me. Just let me get comfortable.” “Okay. Let me know when you’re ready.” Twilight opened the book and laid it out on the table in front of her. She closed her eyes serenely and waited. Her eyes shot open in a panic as she heard a loud crash over the phone. “Dashie? Dashie! Are you okay?” No answer. “Dashie! Answer me!” She pounded frantically against the booth to vent her simultaneous fear and frustration. “T...Twi...” The weak voice barely registered in Twilight’s mind. “I’m going to need a raincheck on Daring Doo.” Rainbow’s shallow breaths interrupted every word and was accompanied by violent bouts of coughing. “Twi... I love you...” “Dashie!” She slammed her hoof into the table helplessly as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you! Don’t—” Before Twilight could finish, she was pulled out of the booth by the attendants. She flailed wildly in protest for a few minutes before finally giving in. A few days later, a letter arrived for Twilight. She ripped it open and read it frantically. After the first few sentences, she dropped the letter and galloped out the door. She was gone before the letter touched the ground. She barged into the room with the glass booth and kicked open the door to the left. The loud protests of the attendants fell on deaf ears. She closed the distance between Rainbow and herself and sealed their lips in a deep kiss. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she held her marefriend tightly in her hooves. After a tense few minutes she pulled away and looked at Rainbow blearily. “Don’t... ever scare me like that again. I love you so much.” “I love you too, Twi.” That afternoon, Rainbow Dash checked out of Ponyville Hospital after a full recovery. Blanket - The Mysterious NShining Armor searched the house in a frantic panic. Twilight had started to cry... and with their parents away on business and Cadence unavailable, the task of taking care of the young Sparkle fell to him. Nothing seemed to satisfy the rambunctious filly. Not her favorite books, not any food. Not even her prized doll, Mr. Smartypants could calm her down. Rummaging through the closet once more Shining spied something in the corner of a shelf. It was a blanket, one of many colors, all arranged in the pattern of a rainbow. With no idea how it got there, or where it was from, he quickly decided to try the blanket. Shining plucked it down from the high shelf with a wobbly wave of his horn, only to have the blanket fall on him. His magic had manifested, but the future royal guard still had a long ways to go before he had a firm grasp on his abilities. He blinked from underneath the covering, and quickly pulled it off and folded it once more. Hiding it he made his way back over to his sister. Twilight was still waiting, thankfully no longer crying as loudly. Instead her face held a look of curiosity at her brother's approach. Shining slowly made his way closer, but quickly sped up as he noticed the distinctive curl of a crying fit coming on. When Twilight cried, she always seemed to curl her mouth in peculiar way. "I've got something for you..." he cooed, pulling the blanket off his back. Her head tilted, curiosity etched on her features. What was the colorful object Shining held? With a barely audible rustle, the blanket was spread and slowly cascaded over the young purple filly. Twilight immediately rustled underneath the blanket, her mane disheveled from the small amount of static. With utmost care, Shining spread out the blanket properly on the little filly. The young Twilight Sparkle was entranced with the large covering, so many colors. There were blues, and reds and purples. Her favorite though, was a bright cyan. She curled up, feeling completely safe underneath her rainbow covering. The softness was comparable to the downy feathers of a pegasus' wing. "Goodnight Twiley." murmured Shining. Already the little filly was asleep, looking as content as a bookworm in a library. Little did either of them know that this wouldn't be the last time a rainbow comforted Twilight in her life... Birthday - CynicalThe celebrations lasted most of the day, Pinkie Pie’s trademark exuberance in full flow as the party continued… and continued… and continued further into the night until the library was littered with discarded rubbish and a rather large number of bottles, the banner was still miraculously intact, albeit slightly worse for wear, and still sported the proclamation Happy 20th Birthday Twilight Sparkle!!! And now the only ponies remaining in the front room were Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight, Pinkie Pie having left some time ago to track down a missing peanut. The state of the remaining friends was another matter though, Applejack was slouched back against the sofa, snoozing quietly while Rarity had abandoned all ladylike behaviour and had crashed on the floor, asleep to the world. Fluttershy was slightly better, she was awake at the very least, but her gaze was far from steady, the normally-quiet pegasus having tried one or two of the bottles littering the floor. That left Rainbow and Twilight, sitting behind the sofa, away from the unfocused gaze of the tipsy Fluttershy behind them. “So, what did you think of the party?” Rainbow asked, glancing towards Twilight, sat next to her with her head leant on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Hmm?” asked the groggy Birthday Mare, turning her head to look up at Rainbow, “I think so, yeah.” She replied, smiling up at her companion. “You still haven’t gotten my gift yet you know?” Rainbow said, smiling down at Twilight. “I literally can’t wait.” Twilight replied in a flat voice before breaking down into giggles a moment later, “What is it?” she asked when she regained control of her voice. Surprisingly, Rainbow stood up from beneath Twilight, “Come on.” She said, “I want to show you something.” And with that, she stooped to help bring Twilight to her hooves, then led the way to the nearest doorway and the cool night beyond. They stood beneath the starry sky, cleared as a special occasion for today, the moon hanging perfectly above them under the midnight skies. Twilight glanced to her guide with puzzlement, to which Rainbow simply smiled and replied, “You’ll see.” Once they were a bit away to the library, Rainbow turned, and said, “Hop on.” “Wait… you want me to hop on… you?” Twilight asked, somewhat mollified. Rainbow snorted, “No, I want you to hop on Pinkie obviously, come on, or do I have to carry you?” she asked, her smile belying her sarcastic tone. Twilight quirked her head slightly, taking a step back, “Now Rainbow…” she began, but even as she said so, she saw Dash’s grin as she replied, “Too late.” Dash lunged at Twilight enveloping her into a powerful embrace and shooting up into the sky, trailing the unicorn’s screams behind her. Eventually, Rainbow stopped, hovering and holding the shaking Twilight in her hooves, “We’re here.” She replied smugly, “You might want to put on that cloud walking spell.” Rainbow called down to Twilight as she drew level with a sparse cloud bank. Twilight’s horn flashed once before becoming inert once more, Rainbow took that as her cue to drop Twilight gently onto the cloud and alight next to her, carefully ignoring the withering glare Twilight was sending her way. “So, what do you think of the view?” she asked nonchalantly, watching Twilight’s expression out the corner of her eyes. Twilight sighed and lifted her eyes from Dash, looking around at their scenery. Silence. “Wow.” Miss - ankyoRainbow Dash stepped out of the shower, shaking most of the water from her fur, and drying the rest off with a towel from the stack of clean towels that had been provided. With a careless flick of her hoof, she threw the wet towel into the hamper. One of the event coordinators poked his head in, “Miss Dash, the press conference begins in five minutes, if you could please hurry.” “Yeah, yeah,” she said, unable to hide the slight growl of annoyance that crept into her voice. This was more than enough to send the stallion scurrying with his figurative tail between his legs. Yanking the door of her locker open with slightly more force than was necessary, she grunted when it rebounded and smacked her in the face. Biting back a curse, she gently grabbed the solitary fixture of the locker, a thin silver chain looped through a simple gold ring, in her teeth and with a deft flick of her head slipped it around her neck. Trotting out of the locker room, she made it to her place at the press conference with plenty of time—a full 6 seconds—to spare. “Glad to see you could make it,” the captain said dryly. “Hey, since when have I let you down?” He grinned, “Well, there was that one ti—” She shot a glare at him. This only had the effect of widening his grin. “Anyway, we probably ought to go in,” he said, indicating the frantically motioning coordinator. The press conference proceeded normally, with the captain fielding all the questions. Captain Slipstream had attained his position around the same time that Rainbow Dash had joined the Wonderbolts. While most ponies had assumed that Soarin’ would be next in line for captaincy, he had decided to follow Spitfire into retirement. Overall, she reflected, that was probably better...unlike Spitfire, I don’t really hold any hero-worship for him. “...and now, the pony that you’ve all been waiting to talk to. My new lieutenant, Rainbow Dash!” he exclaimed with a flourish. “Miss Dash! What does it feel like to now be a lieutenant?” “Uh, well, it’s pretty coo–” she started, with a slight tone of annoyance. “Miss Dash! How long did y–” started one reporter before being cut off by another. “Miss Dash! Is it true what they said in the Foal Free Press? That you aren’t actually a daredevil!” “How did you even get your hands on that? It’s been at least 5 years since that article cam–” The cavalcade of questions continued for at least five minutes before the pegasus finally reached her breaking point. “Miss Dash!” “That’s enough!” Rainbow Dash yelled, slamming her hooves onto the table. The din of the reporters was immediately silenced. “It’s Mrs. Dash,” she stated positively icy tone, “Or can you not recognize a wedding band when you see it? Now if you do not have any more questions...” she stated in a tone that indicated that whether or not they wanted to ask more questions, they would not be allowed to do so. Luckily for the reporters, they decided that discretion was the better part of valor and withdrew. She threw a disgusted look at her superior, who was currently rolling around on the floor in paroxysms of laughter. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone scare them so much,” he managed through the chuckles. “Har-de-har-har.” she said, rolling her eyes. “Absolutely hilarious.” “Speaking of your wife, where is Twilight?” he asked, concern coloring his voice, “I would’ve thought she would be at your first performance after being promoted...” “She had an interview for a grant she was trying to get,” she waved a hoof dismissively, “she said that she would cancel the interview to come watch, but I told her she didn’t need to. Besides,” she added with a somewhat less than innocent smile, “a private celebration for my promotion is much more fun.” Tour - CynicalThe cloud-house slowly appeared, coming closer and closer as a large hot air balloon rose to meet it. Its lone occupant was currently talking to her companion, flying by her own wings alongside it. “So remind me again why you never showed any of the girls around here?” The pegasus rubbed her head somewhat bashfully, pushing a lock of rainbow-coloured hair over her eyes in the process. “Well, you know I’ve always been eager for the attention?” she replied sheepishly. Twilight Sparkle nodded and Rainbow Dash continued, “Well, getting away from the world is nice too… I just like having a place which no-pony else really knows about if you get me.” Twilight nodded again as Rainbow started guiding the balloon forwards towards her house by a small rope hanging over the side, “I suppose so, so why are you showing me around then?” Twilight replied, a hoof around one of the supports as Rainbow propelled them onwards, closer and closer towards the house. Rainbow said something unintelligible around the rope in her mouth and sped up slightly, letting go of the rope when they were almost at the house, “I guess because, well, what with everything going on lately and that…” Twilight winced, “Well, I thought you might like to borrow a bit of haven too, I know the library isn’t exactly isolated.” Twilight smiled faintly at Rainbow, the events from a week ago still raw in her memory, “Thanks Rainbow… I don’t really know what to say.” She said, choking up slightly before taking a deep breath and hopping out the balloon onto the clouds below, cloud-walking spell already firmly in place. “So, are you going to give me the tour?” she asked, looking back at Rainbow, only now alighting on the cloud next to her. The effect was instantaneous, Rainbow smiled brightly at Twilight before taking her hoof and all-but dragging her to the door, pushing it open and bringing Twilight along for the ride as she sped into her house, the door slamming shut behind her as it rebounded off the wall. New - CynicalIt was before the crack of dawn in Ponyville, just as it was for most of Equestria. The streets were empty, the doors were closed and ponies laid in bed, sleeping the remnants of the night away. Yet some ponies refused sleep, rushing around their rooms, fixing up telescopes and binoculars, all working tirelessly to prepare the delicate equipment for this, the first solar eclipse in a millennium, to happen at five minutes past five in the morning. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle were not rushing around and setting up their own stargazing equipment, Rainbow’s own kit consisting of little more than a spyglass she used for detecting rogue Pinkie Pies. Twilight on the other hand, did have her own kit, but Rainbow had flat-out refused to carry it for her after getting a look at it. All several tonnes of glass, steel, aluminium and notepaper. Instead they sat against a tree, out in a field a few miles out of town, gazing with their eyes alone as the two spheres drew steadily nearer to each other. “Remind me why there hasn’t been one of these ecliptical thingies for a thousand years again?” Rainbow asked. “It’s an eclipse, and mainly because it was incredibly hard to keep the moon and the sun going in two completely different orbits around the Earth,” Twilight started, “and also because Celestia never liked to look at the moon while her Sun was in the sky, I suppose it brought back some bad memories.” They sat there watching the sun silently as it began its journey behind the moon. Twilight shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew across the field, the shadows already visible as they made their way across the landscape. Rainbow looked to her side as Twilight shivered, unfurling a wing and slipping it around Twilight before drawing it tight, causing Twilight to glance down in surprise before relaxing against Rainbow with a muted “Thanks.” Rainbow smiled, resting her own head atop Twilights, keeping an eye on the eclipse as the sun disappeared completely behind the moon. And that’s where they stayed, watching the sun emerge again, framing the new moon in their minds as they sat together, neither willing to break the embrace. Jade - FluttershyFur-everRainbow Dash sat in the jewelry store and pondered about what to give Twilight for her birthday. She was about to leave when a beautiful jade necklace caught her eyes. Rainbow grabbed it and practically threw it onto the counter, asking how many bits it was. Her face fell. Twenty bits. She was two bits short. Quickly Dash spotted Rarity and Pinkie Pie outside. Dash zoomed outside. "Oh, hiya Dashie," Pinkie exclaims at the sight of Rainbow. "Hi Pinkie. Hi Rares. I need two bits, I'm just a tiny bit short of the price for Twi's gift." Pinkie immediately hands over a bit. "Sorry, just one." Suddenly, Rarity levitates three bits into Dash's hoof. "Here darling, take them all. That's enough to buy the gift and then go get something to eat later." she said, pointing at Rainbow's growling stomach. Rarity's suspicions were right. Dash was so busy looking for the gift she had forgotten lunch. "Thanks, Rarity." she says, zooming back into the store and paying for the necklace. Dash smiles as she walks to the local restaurant and orders herself some food. Later that afternoon, a certain lavender unicorn hugs her friend. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash! I had been eyeing this necklace for ages, but I never had enough money! How did you do...." Twilight gives Dash a knowing smile as she hears Pinkie exclaiming, "I helped! Me and Rarity helped!" Owl - Cynical“Say Twi?” “Mmmm?” “Where does Owlicious go after he finishes up here?” Twilight paused in her eternal writing, turning towards Rainbow Dash, sat behind her and looking at her owl’s perch. “I’m… not sure really, I’ve never exactly followed him, I just assumed that he went into the forest somewhere to sleep or to hunt, why’d you ask?” “Just thinking…” Rainbow replied distractedly, still staring at the perch, the book in front of her long-forgotten. Twilight shrugged and turned back to her studies, dipping her quill into the inkpot again and resuming her scratchy writing. “Twi?” “Yes Rainbow?” “Fancy finding out?” Sharing - The Mysterious NTwilight Sparkle was shivering cold. 'Where had it all gone wrong,' she wondered. Two days ago she'd received a letter from Princess Celestia, informing her that a large quantity of changelings had been spotted near the still relatively new Crystal Empire. Gathering her friends she'd quickly set off for the Empire to investigate. Of course what they hadn't expected was an ambush. Said surprise ended up with the train derailed and the group scattered. Twilight had the fortune of waking up next to Rainbow Dash, glad she wasn't alone. She gently shook the unconscious pegasus awake, checking for injuries. Thankfully she had only found superficial cuts. Rainbow groaned, “Ugh my head, feels like I got hit by a train... oh.” Looking around she noticed the debris. “What happened?” “I don't know. One second I hear loud stomps, next thing I know is I'm waking up next to you.” The unicorn explained, thankful to be alive. Twilight was not without her own injuries, the largest a cut right on her brow. “I'm not going to lie Rainbow, we're in really bad shape. Most of our supplies are ruined, our friends are scattered and night is setting in. It's already cold, we need to find some shelter and quick!” Both of them searched through the wreckage, coming up with only a single tattered sleeping bag and some other miscellaneous items. “We need to find shelter, and get a fire going.” Twilight repeated, her teeth chattering. At least the cold was helping the blood to coagulate. “I can fly up and look for the rest-” Rainbow was cut off by Twilight biting her tail, keeping her grounded. “No. P-please do-don't leave me alone... I-I'm scared Rainbow.” Twilight cried, still in shock from the crash and the unknown surroundings. Rainbow's determination softened and she fluttered down. “Fine. First thing tomorrow morning though, we're looking for them. Alright?” A nod from Twilight and they looked around. Twilight, having regained some confidence spoke up, “We can sleep in one of the more intact train cars. That one should be good.” She pointed to a relatively intact coach. They quickly trotted over, looking over the metal box. Most of the roof was sheared off, but the windows and doors were fine. Darkness had now fully set in, a flickering fire the only source of light. Twilight had cleaned up the inside of the train car, ensuring they wouldn't injure themselves further. The sleeping bag lay unfurled, near the fire. “We're going to have to... share.” Twilight mentioned, light blush staining her cheeks. While they'd been going out for a few weeks now, they had yet to sleep in the same bed, or in this case sack. “It'll be okay Twilight. I promise.” Rainbow mentioned, before crawling in the bag. Twilight wiggled in after her, Rainbow wrapping her hooves around Twilight to comfort the distraught unicorn. The librarian melted into Rainbow's embrace, squirming closer. No matter what would happen tomorrow, for now she felt safe in the shared embrace of Rainbow Dash, her fearless protector... Tag - CynicalThere was an enormous crash as the window gave way, spreading millions of tiny fragments into the building along with Rainbow Dash, out of control as she plummeted into the library along with most of the window. Then she stopped in mid-air, surrounded by a purple aura as she was lowered gently towards the glittering ground. As she drew nearer, the glass directly beneath her started rolling away, fleeing from her as she landed on the floor of the library before stopping, surrounding her in a circle. Twilight Sparkle sighed, closing the book in front of her and turning around to face the disturbance in what had been a very engrossing book. “Afternoon Rainbow, third time today right?” she asked, an almost bored-like tone to her voice as she surveyed the damage. Rainbow herself looked fine, slightly dizzy but fine nonetheless, then there was the window. The Same window, now resting in pieces on the floor with Rainbow in the middle, looking around sheepishly. “Um… sorry?” Rainbow offered, her smile hopeful. Twilight sighed, she couldn’t stay mad at her really… well she could, but that wasn’t going to repair the window. “Fine… I suppose there’s no use in me saying not to do it again?” Rainbow shook her head, her smile transformed into a grin. “None at all.” She vocalised. Twilight snorted, a small smile barely hidden as she gathered her magic and focussed on the floor in front of her. All around Rainbow, the glass which had laid still moments before started rising. Then one by one, they all started rolling into collections in mid-air. Rainbow stopped paying attention. She’d seen it twice already today, first she’d gather the glass, then she’d melt it, then she’d press it back into the hole where the window had once been and hey presto, new window. Not really that interesting. “Anyway, Twi?” “Yes Rainbow?” Twilight replied, still focussing on the clouds of glass Rainbow knew to be just above her head. “Guess what I found?” she asked in a sing-song voice, subconsciously pressing her wing to her side to make sure the package was still there. “Hmm?” Twilight enquired, looking over at her friend as the cloud of glass started spinning, glowing a light red. Rainbow leant her head into the crook of her wing and brought forth a book, the cover depicting a neon star inside a circle with the words ‘The Restaurant at the End of the Universe’ raised up from the book and Twilight knew that on the bottom of the cover somewhere, the author would read ‘Douglas Adams’. Twilight’s eyes widened and she dove at Rainbow, all but snatching the book from her with her hooves, running one down the cover reverently, “But this looks like the first edition, Rainbow, where did you find this?” she asked, amazed. Rainbow smiled at Twilight, “Found it in one of those antique bookshops you’re always telling us about, you like it then?” Twilight nodded emphatically, “I love it, but how much did you have to pay for this? It must have cost you a hoof and a leg.” Rainbow’s smile faltered slightly before reinstating itself, Twilight was right, it had been an amazingly large sum to get that one book, but the smile on Twilight’s face made it worth it, “Don’t worry about it, like I said, it’s a gift.” A moment later the scent of coconut filled her nostrils as Twilight engulfed her in a hug. Rainbow awkwardly tried to return it, patting Twilight on the back until she drew away. “Thanks Rainbow” Twilight said, smiling widely at her friend, “I’ll get straight to it after I finish fixing the win… dow.” Rainbow followed Twilights gaze to the ceiling at the glob of molten glass that had attached itself there when Twilight had ran forwards to claim the book. Her work done, Rainbow turned around and flapped her wings once or twice, “Well nice seeing you again Twilight, sorry about the window… again.” She said before giving her wings a mighty flap and zooming towards the still-empty window pane. Or at least she would have been zooming towards it if Twilight hadn’t caught her tail within her magic and yanked her down again. “You think I’m going to let you go so you can inevitably smash my window again?” Twilight asked incredulously, out of Rainbows field of view. “You might have done?” Rainbow said hopefully. She heard Twilight chuckle and saw a few boards start floating over to the missing window, already boarding it up. “No, my windows are safer while you’re here, come on, let’s read that book.” Normal - CalmNQuietTwilight woke up to the morning Summer sun streaming in through her windows and a rather unwieldy blue forehoof draped across her face. She groaned and turned until she could snuggle against the warm plumage of the pony she shared her bed with. The pony protested her actions with a groan. “Nng... Twi, that tickles. Stop it.” She stretched out her forehoof and wrapped it around Rainbow—unwilling to let go. “Mm... but you’re so comfy, Dashie.” She giggled as the feathers tickled her stomach and squirmed away with a pout. “You’re no fun,” she complained with a touch of mischief. “Twi... I was plenty of fun last night. I just need another hour. You’re even starting to wear me out.” Rainbow rolled over as she spoke. She opened her eyes just a little—squinting at the sudden infusion of light into her vision. Twilight giggled at the sight of Rainbow squinting and leaned in for a playful kiss. This evolved into a longer kiss which grew in depth and passion until Twilight rolled on top. They peppered one another with kisses for as long as they could before collapsing against one another in a panting heap. After a lengthy shower together, Twilight proceeded with her scheduled tasks for the day and Rainbow dashed off, late to work again, to handle her weather duties. They met up at lunch and traded stories, though it was mostly Rainbow talking. Apparently, she lucked out because the cloud delivery wasn’t scheduled until later in the day. Twilight smiled inwardly, the cloud delivery was always late on Fridays, so she tended to coax Rainbow for a little morning fun on Fridays as a result. By the time the afternoon rolled around, Rainbow was done with weather work. She joined Twilight in the library and quietly read the latest adventure series she had taken a liking to. An hour in, Twilight joined her on the sofa with a book of her own and they shared in the mutual joys of reading and relaxing together. In the evening, Spike returned back from gem hunting with the remainder of his haul: a single blue sapphire. He declared the trip a tasty success, ignoring the knowing grins of Twilight and Rainbow, and set to work cooking up dinner. Dinner was delicious and the evening concluded with a few board games. Rainbow won all of them, as was expected. Sharing yawns, Rainbow and Twilight headed back to bed. Not particularly tired from the activities of the day, but they gladly leaned against one another up the stairs to their shared bedroom. Rainbow stretched and hopped into bed. “Pretty normal day today wasn’t it, Twi?”, she remarked casually. Twilight joined her in the bed with a smile. “Yeah, it’s nice not have to fight some crazy monster or save the world for once. Though, I’ve grown kind of the fond of the excitement it provides from time to time.” Rainbow grinned and rolled on top of Twilight. “How about I make things a little exciting tonight?” “I’d love that Rainbow,” Twilight responded with a saucy grin in return. And, Rainbow was true to her word. A perfectly normal day with a perfect finish. Protest - Cynical“No, nuh-uh, anything but that.” Twilight just smiled a grin and advanced slowly upon the retreating Rainbow Dash, matching her step for step with her evil grin. “I’m serious Twilight, anything, you can do anything, anything but that,” Rainbow said, looking behind her at the oncoming wall every few paces and gulping at how close it was. Her tormentor finally spoke, “I think it’s an acceptable remuneration for your antics with the socks, now I think it’s my turn,” she replied, grinning widely and continuing her advance. Rainbow gulped, looking behind her again just as she met the wall. “Oh ponyfeathers,” She muttered, turning back to face Twilight as she pounced upon Rainbow, holding her still beneath her. “I suppose begging for mercy is out of the question?” Rainbow asked hopefully, laid flat below Twilight. “Completely,” came the reply as Twilight lifted a single blue feather, twirling it within her magic and slowly lowering it towards Rainbow’s chest, giving no quarter as the pegasus squirmed beneath her. But just as the feather was about to begin its treacherous deed, it stopped, barely a hoof above Rainbow’s chest as Twilight’s grin widened further. “No… I seem to remember somewhere else that could use some experimentation.” It took Rainbow all of two seconds to realise what her captor was planning, “no, please, I beg you!” she cried out, writhing and trying to throw Twilight off balance, yet she to no effect, both of their eyes following the feather as it closed in on the defenceless target. Peals of laughter echoed up and down the library as the pegasus within Twilight’s domain broke down, howling helplessly as the torture continued. Rainbow attempted to withdraw away from the wretched instrument of torture, finding moments later that Twilight was a lot stronger than she looked as another guffaw wrenched its way up her throat. All as Twilight swished the feather back and forth about the tip of Rainbow’s hoof. Mercy - Lambda462An ominous, dark layer of clouds was spread out over Ponyville on a cold spring evening. Rain was pouring from them, a thunderclap being heard every now and again, adding to the gloom present with such clouds. The usually lively streets where abandoned – everypony huddled inside, away from the rain and the wind, foals cowering at each thunderclap. Near the edge of town stood the Golden Oak library, casting a jagged shadow with each flash of lightning, the tree still mostly barren after the long winter. Only one of many windows was illuminated, higher up in the tree, probably near the bedroom. All of this was normal. However, the many cries that echoed from within the building were not. “AaaAAhahaha, stop it!” was shouted by a mare with a high pitched, slightly raspy voice. There came another scream from the tormented pony inside, cutting through the air. Inside the room, lavender hooves were assaulting celeste blue wings, prodding, stroking and poking them relentlessly. A feather was being levitated as well, doing the same thing under a nose of the same colour as the wings. This all combined caused the owner of the wings - a light cerulean pegasus by the name of Rainbow Dash - to giggle uncontrollably. “Ehehehe, Twi, serious-Aha!-, stop it!” the pegasus brought out in between giggles with some trouble, tears of laughter already formed in her eyes. When the unicorn tickling her didn’t stop, she added “Please my lady, have mercy!” Basement - Liquidfirest0rmRainbow Dash stood outside the door of the Golden Oaks library, dressed in her Daring Do outfit. Twilight had suggested the idea that they dress up together for Nightmare Night, and when she suggested a Daring Do theme, Rainbow had immediately jumped on the idea. She raised her hoof and knocked on the door for the third time, surprised at the lack of response from either of the library’s occupants. Growing impatient, she tried the doorknob and found it unlocked. Upon entering, she noticed that all the lights in the library were off, save a glow emanating from the crack under the basement door. “Twi? Spike? You guys here?” She called out as she headed over to the door. Pressing her ear up to the door, she could barely make out muffled noised coming from the other side. A smirk appeared on her muzzle as her mind worked. “Trying to prank the Dash, eh?” She muttered to herself. She opened the door as quietly as possible, a slight creak coming from the hinges causing her to freeze, listening intently to see if she had been given away. After hearing nothing after a few moments, she continued to sneak down the stairs. As she went further down, the light from the lone lantern at the top of the stairs grew dimmer and dimmer forcing her to squint to see anything when she reached the bottom. Her ears perked up as she heard a muffled voice coming through the darkness. Closing her eyes, she strained her hearing, trying to make out the voice. “Oh, will nopony save me?” Her eyes snapped open, that was Twilight’s voice! Her heart raced as she searched for the direction the voice was coming from. She carefully made her way through the dim basement and found her way to another doorway with light coming from beyond. “Somepony save me!” Came Twilight’s voice again. Pushing the door open, she saw Twilight strapped to a table, leather straps holding each of her legs in place. She was dressed in a costume that resembled the museum curator from the Daring Do books. She had to admit to herself that Twilight looked good in the outfit, a slight blush coming to her cheeks as she thought of different things they could do with it. Twilight’s head turned as she heard the door open. “Daring! You've come for me!” She exclaimed in an over-dramatic tone as Rainbow entered the room. Before Rainbow could say anything, Twilight’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Look out!” She exclaimed. Rainbow quickly turned around, seeing two poorly made puppet monsters being held aloft by a faint purple glow. Her smirk returned and she decided to play along. “I’ll save you!” She shouted as leapt at one of the monsters. After a short battle which she inevitably won, she made her way over to where Twilight was being held ‘captive’ and undid the restraints. Twilight immediately jumped up and hugged her. “My hero!” She announced before pulling Rainbow into a passionate kiss. Twilight pulled away, looking at her with lidded eyes. “Now for your reward.” She said, going in for another kiss. Her horn lit up, and the door swung shut behind them. Clouds - CynicalThe sky was silent, the clouds so high above that they appeared as mere wisps from far down below on the ground. Twilight didn’t come out here very often anymore but it still served its purpose, it was still her last safe haven. The field around her was far away from Ponyville, along the other side of the Everfree. She sighed, lying back against the tree, hiding in the shade. It’d just be her luck for Rainbow Dash to see her like this; she was the only one who would even have a chance of finding this place. Twilight had made sure of that. If she looked into the sky, towards the Everfree forest, she could almost kid herself that she saw a small speck of cerulean against the sky, looping and twisting through the air without a care in the world. She let out another sigh, sending her gaze directly skywards to the clouds far, far above. She trusted Rainbow to know when to give her some space, but surely there was no better space than the sky? It was the odd times like this where she wished she’d been born with wings rather than magic. Flying away would have been so much easier. Silver - HoovesMcCoyA sharp scream shattered the morning birdsong symphony around Golden Oaks Library. Twilight leapt from her bed, sprinted down the stairs, and slid to a halt at the bottom. Anything that could make her wife scream like that had to be a serious threat. She pricked up her ears, pinpointing the sound. Twilight burst through the bathroom door. Her horn pulsed with power; her blue, grey, and violet mane frazzled by pillows and pegasus drool. She would have struck fear into the heart of even a battle-hardened royal guard, but the sole occupant of the bathroom merely turned and pointed a hoof at her rainbow-striped forelock. "Have you seen my mane lately Twily? Why didn't you tell me about this? How long has it been there?" Letting the magic drain from her horn, Twilight took a moment to clear the morning gunk from her eyes. She summoned her glasses--which appeared on her nose with a quiet popping sound--and examined her lover's mane more closely. "I'm not sure what you're talking about Dash. I don't see anything wrong." "Besides the giant patch of grey you mean? The beginning of the end of my coolness?" On closer inspection there were a trio of silver hairs near the edge of her orange streak. Twilight wrapped a leg around her wife and pulled her in for a hug. "Oh Dash, I've had grey hairs for years now and nopony has even noticed. It's nothing to worry about." "You've got that sexy librarian thing going on. You make it look good." Dash's leer faded back into a frown. "But 'Rainbow' is my name. Pretty soon I'm gonna have to change it to Dull Dash. I'm not as fast as I used to be either. 'Grey Slowpoke' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" "I can conceal them with an illusion spell if you like, but I think they make you look dignified. You of all ponies could stand to have a little more dignity you know." Rainbow looked up hopefully. "You really think I'd look good with grey hair, Twi?" "You always look good, weren't you just telling me that yesterday?" Twilight gave Dash an even more smoldering leer than she'd received. "I'm getting old enough now that I'd rather be with a distinguished flight school professor anyway, not some show-pony." At this Dash looked back into the mirror. She puffed out her chest and made what she presumably thought was a serious face. Twilight concentrated for a moment and temporarily turned Rainbow's entire mane to varying stripes of greys and silvers. Both mares admired her sleek--and undeniably more distinguished--features. She did look good. "And if you're serious about the name change, might I suggest 'Quicksilver'?" Mercury - CalmNQuietA crisp spring breeze gusted in through the open window and ruffled Rainbow awake. Snapped to consciousness, she pulled her head off of the covers of the bed with a start. A cursory glance outside revealed a dimming sky hearkening in the evening. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out but the moist patch of blanket from her drool implied at least a few hours of restless slumber. The other occupant in bed, Twilight, breathed shallowly while buried under several warm layers. Her cheeks reddened from an unnatural heat and her forehead speckled with droplets of sweat. Wordlessly, Rainbow scooped up the lukewarm towel resting in the bedside bowl and dabbed away the signs of fatigue, but the condition remained. The cool towel elicited a quiet gasp from Twilight and the unicorn briefly opened up her eyes. Rainbow smiled just a little and moved her hoof away to return the towel to the bowl. A slight whine of discontent filled her ears and she returned her hoof. Soft. Twilight’s cheek nuzzled against her hoof ever so slightly, her reddened cheeks blushing further. “T—Thanks Dashie...” The words came slow and strained, each syllable punctuated with a pained pause which Rainbow quietly endured. For Twilight, but mostly for herself. “Heh, anytime, Twi. You did the same for me when I caught the ponyflu a couple months back.” “This isn’t the ponyflu, though...” Rainbow shook her head. She could never get over how silly Twilight was sometimes. Even in times like these, the little details still mattered to Twilight. It always put her in the most difficult of positions, since, she never knew how to respond afterward. “Yeah, that’s true.” A passable response at best. Not wanting to dwell on her lame response, she moved on to the next step of a routine established by days of practice. Fetching a nearby thermometer from the nightstand and she gently eased it into Twilight’s mouth. The viscous red fluid pooled in the base slowly rose up the marked tube. Her smile fading from her face as the red liquid rose higher and higher. Twilight nuzzled Rainbow’s hoof once more, oblivious to the escalating value of her condition. The nuzzling gradually gave way to quiet gasping breaths as the red liquid came to a rest. “One-Oh-Six.” Rainbow breathed out quietly and tugged the thermometer from Twilight’s mouth. In the back of Rainbow’s mind, something nagged her about the temperature, it just seemed a little off. Like another one of those little details Twilight would insist upon explaining. “Dashie...” Rainbow looked to Twilight and found the unicorn on the verge of tears. The moisture budding at the corner of her eyes. Even odder, Twilight sported the happiest smile she’d ever seen. “I...I do, Dashie...” A spark of realization filled Rainbow’s face, and she couldn’t help but smile a little herself. She leaned down and wrapped her hooves around Twilght’s neck in a hug. She held Twilight until the dream passed, a happy dream she would fulfill in the not distant future. Pills - CynicalRainbow Dash groaned, wincing as she stretched her wing and she felt her under-used muscles protest against her. It was yet another pitfall of her frequent visits to the hospital and even more crashes. All of a sudden, she heard a small click from her wing and the pain flooded in moments later, causing her to grit her teeth and hiss loudly, trying to hop away from the pain somehow. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow,” she hissed under her breath, trying to manoeuvre her frantic hopping towards the bathroom and associated medicine cabinet. Closing her eyes against the pain, she somehow managed to find her way onto the tiled floor of the bathroom. She grimaced in triumph before turning around and managing to whap her head against the cabinet. “Ow…” she groaned, attempting to raise a hoof up to massage her sore head before another bolt of pain shot through her side and she quickly lowered it. A single eye cracked itself open and began its search for the cabinet in the blindingly bright white room. She stepped forwards and nosed open the culprit of her banging head, trying to focus on the brightly coloured bottles inside. The colours blurred and span, making reading the labels impossible, so she simply reached inside the cabinet as far as she could and brought her head back. The bottles span in the air before clattering to the floor and smashing themselves open, spilling their contents all across the bathroom floor. A loud ‘bang’ echoed up through the house, resonating in her eardrums and making her wince, sinking down to the floor and groaning loudly as somepony shouted into the house, making her ears ring. She groaned in reply, covering her ears and eyes with her hooves and simply laying her stomach flat against the pill-ridden floor. Everything hurt so much… The muffled cry of a pony reached through her defences and set her ears humming again. Some force surrounded her hooves and tried to pry them away from her eyes and ears but she resisted, shaking her head side-to-side pitifully as her assailant tried to play her like a puppet only to stop a moment later. She felt the force disappear from around her forehooves and move around her midriff, lifting her up into the air and around the house. She groaned pitifully as another bolt rocked its way through her. After some time, she was placed carefully onto something which felt very much like a mattress and someone scurried off seconds later. She tentatively opened her eyes and thanked Luna that the pony had thought to turn the lights off in the room. The dim moonlight shone through the curtains, too slight to cause her harm, and revealing her surroundings. She was interrupted from her musings when the sound of the pony climbing the stairs two at a time reached her ears which no-longer hummed. Twilight Sparkle burst through the door, shutting it behind her and pausing. Rainbow thought that she could just make out the outline of a glass suspended in mid-air. Twilight approached Rainbow, smiling benevolently at her and proffering the glass and two small pills. Rainbow immediately swallowed the pills dry, only pausing to take a gulp of the water when she felt the pair catch against her dry throat. “I thought I told you to stay laid down.” Twilight accused, still smiling as Rainbow bit her lip. Twilight chuckled, “Try to get some sleep Rainbow, that’s the best medicine for you at the moment.” Selfish - Shikilicious„Rainbow Dash!” Rarity, appalled by the other mare’s rude action, gasped. “I really don’t understand what you are thinking!” She added panting, underpinned her statement with a dramatic gesture and threw a despising glance at the blue pegasus. “What?” Rainbow replied with wide opened, inquiringly eyes and a surprised expression on her face while she swallowed down the delicious chocolate cookie. As she didn’t receive a response from the still in shock panting unicorn for several seconds, she directed her view at Twilight and gave her marefriend, in search for help, a not just confused, but also slightly abashed look because she obviously did something wrong once again. “Don’t take it too hard Rarity, she didn’t mean it bad or anything,” Twilight said with tranquil voice and took a sip from her tea. “It’s absolutely fine, I also don’t really mind at all,” she complemented with a wide smile on her snout in hope that her words would calm the upset chaperone down. They didn’t. “No, it absolutely is not!” Rarity wheezed and angrily beat the table with one of her hooves, making both other mares wince in reaction. “It is, in fact, indisputably inexcusable to do something like that,” she explained using a dominant tone and sat down again. “I- I’m sorry. Really sorry... for whatever I did.” Rainbow Dash gulped, some sweat ran down her forehead. She wanted to add more words of excuse, however got cut off by Rarity just the second she opened her mouth to do so. “This is not the issue at all Rainbow Dash.” Rarity, still puffing heavily in commotion, took a sip from her tea as well and a few seconds to calm down and even her breath again. As her heart had finally stopped pounding wildly, she earnestly looked at Dash and continued. “The real problem is that you don’t even know what you did wrong,” she said gently, in hope that the pegasus would recap her doings and understand the matter of cause. However, Dash didn’t. “But… how am I supposed to understand what I did wrong when you don’t tell me?” Rainbow Dash asked, also in hope that Twilight would eventually jump in and explain it to her before Rarity would get caught up herself and snap again. Unfortunately, Twilight didn’t. “Okay Rainbow, I’ll tell you what you did wrong, for the very last time.” Rarity put a hoof on Dash’s shoulder, trying to stay as calm as possible as the thoughts about blue mare’s horrendous faux-pas crossed her mind again. “Not asking me if I want the last of the cookies is certainly not nice, but still excusable,” Rarity explained slightly upset, with even voice. “But not asking Twilight, your own marefriend, is-“ she couldn’t even find a matching phrase to describe the level of her outrage. All of a sudden, Rarity started heavily panting and her eyes twitched in agitation once again, giving the other two mares the impression that she would start hyperventilating and fall from her chair the very next second. Just the moment Rarity was about to scream in exasperation, she felt Twilight’s hoof being gently placed on her shoulder. “Don’t worry Rarity, Rainbow has a very good reason for what she did,” Twilight explained, removed her hoof from the baffled unicorn’s shoulder and approached the blue pegasus. Before Rainbow Dash could notice, Twilight has engaged her in a very affectionate kiss and pressed her tongue deep in her marefriend’s mouth. They wildly let their tongues play with each other and as their lips parted after around half a minute, Twilight directed her view at Rarity again. “You see, the cookies taste much better this way,” she kittenishly said and licked over her lips. Rarity, at the pure thought that both of them were invited to a royal dinner at Canterlot Castle the next day, dramatically fainted. Awkwardness - TiaC"They're bowing again." "Mwuguuh?" Rainbow Dash blinked open an eye from the castle's library's couch. "Wa' is it Twi?" "I thought that we were past everypony deferring to me all the time, but in the market today, half the stalls wouldn't even let me pay." Twilight was beginning to pace. Rainbow looked at her marefriend and judged that this was not a problem that would go away if she tried to go back to sleep. She sat up, hoping to head off the full freak-out. "So what's the problem Twi?" the Daring Do she had been reading slid of her chest, only to be caught by a wing and placed next to her. Twilight turned to her. "It's this stupid title! The castle seems to have reminded everypony that I'm a Princess, and they're back to treating me differently." she stamped a hoof. "It's Highness this and Highness that and I can do no wrong. I made an obvious mistake talking to Lyra today and she didn't even point it out. Everyone knows that Beethooven's 3rd String Quartet was in D major, not C major!" "So you're upset that now that you're royalty, everyone treats you like royalty?" Dash yawned. "Well, when you put it like that I guess I should have expected this. I wish they would at least use my name; I don't like being called 'Your Highness' all the time." Twilight switched to a silly voice to show her dislike of the title. "It makes it feel like they only see the crown instead of me." Dash nodded "That does sound annoying Twi, don't know what to tell you." she put a hoof to her chin for a few seconds before an idea came to her. She quickly swooped over to Twilight's writing desk and grabbed a quill. She quickly scribbled something down and darted over to show Twilight. Twilight looked down at the paper and read: By Royal Decree of Princess Twilight Sparkle: I hereby state my intent to change my formal title. If my subjects wish to address me by a formal title, they may call me "Your Royal Twi-ness" "See, this way they will still use your name as part of your title!" Rainbow looked very proud of herself. "What do you think Twi, am I good, or am I good." "pffft" "What was that Twi?" Rainbow had missed her friend's response while boasting. "HAHAHAHAHA" Twilight collapsed laughing. "So is that a no then?" Twilight managed to stand long enough to draw Rainbow into a hug "Thanks, I needed that." she said through chuckles. "Anytime, Your Royal Twi-" Rainbow started to respond before Twilight silenced her with a glare and a kiss. "What am I going to do with you?" Regrowth - Timaeus“Quit laughing already, will ya?” Rainbow yelled, wincing at the higher-pitched and even more scratchy quality to her voice. She flapped her tiny wings, only to fall head-over-hoof and land with a muffled thump on the sofa. Letting out a groan, she scrambled to her hooves and glared at Twilight, who was not-so-subtly hiding her giggles behind a hoof. Rainbow pouted and crossed her now-miniature forelegs over her chest with a small huff, sending Twilight deeper into her giggle fit. “I-I’m sorry,” Twilight said between giggles. A wide, mirthful grin had spread over her face. “It’s not funny!” “No, it’s not really, but...” Twilight managed to regain her composure long enough to trot over to Rainbow. Rainbow glared up at Twilight, who now towered over her. “You’re just so adorable!” “I’m not adorable!” Rainbow protested, struggling to get out of an all-consuming embrace Twilight wrapped her up in. She broke free of Twilight’s hooves and landed with her wings spread and her chest puffed out. “Will you just fix this? Please?” “Okay, okay.” Twilight raised her hooves placatingly before walking over to her desk. “I’m sure there’s a reversal spell in here somewhere.” Stumbling over her own hooves, Rainbow clumsily made her way over to Twilight and sat down in front of her expectantly. “Good!” She inspected her wings while Twilight read. Were they ever really this small when she was a foal? She groaned and pouted again. “How’d you even do this, Twi?” “I don’t know,” Twilight said, looking over her desk at the now-filly-sized Rainbow and smiling. “The spell was supposed to help with reducing the stress in your wing muscles, not shrink you down to a foal.” “Yeah, well, it did. And now I’m stuck like this.” Rainbow hung her head. Thoughts of what Applejack or Pinkie or anypony would say if they saw her like this filled her mind. She swallowed thickly. “You can fix this, right?” Twilight’s face softened and she trotted around her desk to Rainbow before wrapping her wing around her. “Of course I can.” Rainbow took comfort in the warmth of Twilight’s wing as Twilight levitated a book from her desk over to her. “And I think I found just the spell for it.” “You did?” Rainbow asked, her face instantly brightening. “Yes, I think so.” Twilight nodded her head and her horn started to glow. “A ‘regrowth’ spell that should do the trick.” “Then what’re you waiting for?” Rainbow sprung away from Twilight. “Get me back to normal already!” “Alright.” Twilight shook her head, a playful smile playing across her face. “Okay, now this might tingle a bit...” A few seconds later followed by a blinding flash of light, Rainbow did indeed feel a tingling sensation as it felt like her entire body was being stretched out. She blinked open her eyes and was met with the sight of a smiling Twilight Sparkle standing at eye-level. Rainbow extended her wings, and grinned when she saw that they were restored to their normal, fully-grown length. “Aww, yeah!” Rainbow cheered before flapping into the air. “This is more I like it!” She landed next to Twilight and blew a tuft of orange mane out of her face. “I have way too much awesome for that little foal body.” “Maybe...” Twilight leaned in and captured Rainbow’s lips in a quick kiss. “As cute as the foal you was, I think I prefer this Rainbow Dash. Kissing a foal would have just been weird.” Rainbow huffed but drew herself closer to Twilight. “I wasn’t cute, alright? I was radical.” “I don’t know.” Twilight grinned impishly and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow’s neck. “You looked pretty adorable. And you know what?” She darted in and pecked Rainbow on the cheek. “You still are.” Thunder - Adda le BlueIt wasn't even two o'clock in the morning when the library was hit by a train. Twilight shrieked as she heaved herself upright. Her horn glowed bright as she brought into being a sphere of magenta energy around the entire bed. She turned to face her wife with wild eyes. "What's ha--" Rainbow Dash wasn't there. Twilight's heart leaped into her stomach. "Rainbow?!" She could barely hear herself over the roar of the engine below, the vibrations that shook the library so violently her teeth buzzed against each other. She lurched to her hooves, wincing at the electric touch of the shuddering wood below them, and galloped toward the stairs. It stopped as suddenly as it came; the echoes rang out into the distance. Fearing the worst, Twilight took the stairs one at a time, as quickly and as carefully as she could on trembling hooves. "R-Rainbow?" she called. Down below, somepony cleared their throat. "Y-" Muttering echoed up the stairs. Two voices? Three? "Hey, Twi." "Oh, thank the stars!" Twilight threw herself down the rest of the stairs and rounded the doorway to see Rainbow Dash... standing in the center of the room, a bright orange, pointy-looking electric guitar slung over her shoulder. Her mane was a mess, her eyes were wide, and her grin was sheepish enough for three ponies. Behind her stood a familiar set of speakers and a turntable; Twilight could see the top of a striped blue mane and a spangled purple hat peeking out from behind it. Rainbow shifted uneasily as Twilight tried to pick her chin up off of the floor. "So..." "Are you kidding me, Rainbow Dash?!" The hat disappeared behind the turntable. Rainbow's eyes widened. "Whoa, calm down!" she said softly. "Let's just calm..." "I don't think she's gonna calm down, Dash," Vinyl advised her. Rainbow glanced over her shoulder at her, then back to the mare who held her heart in her hooves and was capable of crushing it if she made the wrong move. "...Down?" "I told you I was exhausted!" she snarled, her hoofsteps loud as bombs. "I told you I was going to get some sleep, finally!" "A-a-and you did," Rainbow said quickly. "That's good, right?" Twilight growled like a feral dog. "'Cause you've been working so hard lately and, and, and you really need to get some sleep!" "Yes, Rainbow Dash, that's right," she said softly. "So could you please explain to me why you're making a racket louder than the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra right beneath my bed?" Her anger shook the guitar's strings enough to cause feedback. "We were just gonna jam a little! I didn't know it was gonna be so loud." "That was reeeally loud," Vinyl half-shouted helpfully. "Vinyl forgot to turn it down after her show." "I forgot!" she agreed with a grin. "I'm a big jerk!" "Vinyl is a jerk," a fourth voice added primly. "I did nothing wrong." Vinyl threw her shoulder into Trixie's, nearly sending them both to the floor. "Don't make me plug that big mouth of yours..." Trixie beamed up at her. "It wouldn't be the first time," she said slyly. "Girls!" The three froze in horror. Twilight's chest heaved with fury barely held in check. "I don't care whose fault it is," she said sharply. "No more music tonight!" Rainbow clutched the guitar to her chest. "Aww, Twi..." "No more! It's time to go home, girls." Rainbow took a step back, putting herself between Twilight and the turntable. "Look, Twi. Vinyl and Trixie need a place to crash. They're only gonna be in town for one night and I said they could sleep here." Twilight's eye twitched. "Fine," she said finally. "I won't turn them away, but that's all they'll be doing, okay?" She rounded on the other two and threw a hoof toward the guest bedroom. "Sleeping!" Vinyl smirked. "Or, we could--" Trixie plugged that big mouth of hers with a hoof. "Certainly. Good night, Sparkle!" she sang; she jerked Vinyl to her hooves and dragged her along in her wake. Twilight watched them go until the door slammed behind them, leaving their muffled words to her imagination. "Now, as for you, Rainbow Dash..." Rainbow wilted. "Okay, I know you're mad, but hear me out. We've got a good thing going here!" "Good enough that it's worth waking me up at two in the morning?" "Y-- N--" She glanced down at the guitar with a nervous frown. "Look, Vinyl and I were jamming and she says I'm really good! Just listen to this!" She slapped her pastern against the strings and strummed the guitar. Twilight caught the strings in her magic before they could wake the neighborhood once more. "Really, Rainbow Dash?" she said blandly. Rainbow stared at her for a brief moment before realization dawned. "Oh, right." She reached behind her and turned the speakers down to a reasonable level. "Get ready to feel the thunder!" Twilight facehoofed. Rainbow's pastern fell against the strings once more, holding them steady as she struck them with her hoof. Out came a sound like a crocodile being stepped on by a marching band; a roar of crunchy, heavy noise. Her hoof chugged along like the train Twilight had heard crashing through the library earlier, plucking out a slow and scattered riff on the first few strings. All the while Rainbow stared at her with eyes wide and smile wider, basking in the roar of the guitar. "Aren't you supposed to use your other hoof too?" Twilight shouted over it. Rainbow frowned with a hint of a blush. "I'm getting there!" she scowled. She continued the same riff, but used her left hoof to bend the strings here and there, adding the bare minimum of variety to the music. "Heavy, huh?" she said, her smile returning. "Um..." Twilight cocked her head. "Yes?" "Yeah!" she whooped, lost in her own music. "Yeah, feel that? That's the thunder!" "That's the thunder?" she smirked. "Not impressed?" She gave the strings one last bend and slid her hooves together to meet in the middle. "Well, here comes the lightning!" The guitar squealed, making Twilight cringe away, as she slammed the tip of her hoof against the fretboard. Her hooftips tapped fiercely against it, abusing the thinnest and highest string, two frets apart. They danced down the neck of the instrument, across the strings, tapping out a staccato rhythm of highs and lows that hit the mares like a barrage of sonic missiles. Finally she slammed her left hoof down across the fretboard, sent her right across the strings as hard as she could, and gave Twilight a wink before another warmer chord rang out to finish it off. Rainbow smiled and panted, her muzzle set in a look of satisfaction Twilight knew well. "What do you think?" Twilight stared. "Sweet guitar, right? It's got seven strings!" she crowed. "That makes it awesome." Rainbow Dash had grown so much in the last decade... but she still had a lot of growing to do. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight said softly. The firm set of Twi's jaw knocked Rainbow's ears flat. "Oh," she mumbled. Her shoulders began to tighten. "...Sorry?" "I love you." Her eyes softened as she tried to force a smile. Rainbow sighed with relief. "I love you more, egghea--" "But some days you make me want to throttle you." She turned and stomped away, shaking her head as she walked. "I'm going back to bed. Leave that thing downstairs if you're coming." Rainbow watched her turn up the staircase, torn between her two loves -- awesome things and awesome wife. "Was it good?" she asked uncertainly. Twilight didn't turn her head as she called back to her. "Ask me again when can you actually play music!" Fear - Incredible BlunderboltIt all started with a single drop. Just a little blue drop on the floor under Rainbow's belly. She probably wouldn't have even noticed it if Rarity hadn't pointed it out as she made to leave the library. "You'll regret that Rainbow," she'd said, viscously rubbing at her mane with a dark stained towel. "Nopony slips dye into my shampoo! And look out for that paint there by your hoof." She'd been about to call Rarity out on not understanding the intricacies of Nightmare Night pranks when she paused. "Paint?" She and Twilight hadn't painted anything since they'd moved Spike out of their room. Her eyes drifted down to the floor where, sure enough, a little wet dot of blue--almost indistiguishable from the sky-blue color of her coat--lay like it had every right in the world to be there. "I have to get back to the boutique and was this mess out of my mane," Rarity huffed as she opened the door. She cast Rainbow a firey look. "I trust now you're finished with me and it's somepony else's turn in the barrel?" Rainbow tore her eyes from the dot and nodded Rarity's way. "Yeah, yeah," she said, waving her off. "It's cool, I forgive you for yelling." Rarity spluttered and looked at her, aghast. "F-f-forgive?! Why, I never--" "Have fun, Rarity!" Dash said offhandedly. She turned her eyes back to the paint dot. ...Dots... Where did those other two come from? Her eyes drifted to the ceiling and surveyed the wood for any signs of a leak or wet paint. She found neither. Just wooden planks and tree branches. What the... "Hey, Twi? Is Spike on a painting kick again?" When Rainbow didn't get an answer from the stairs, she checked the clock and rolled her eyes. Right. Six thirty is subatomic physics time... She knew better than to interrupt her marefriend in the middle of a study session, so she shrugged decided to clean up the mess and have a talk with Spike when he got home from Apple Bloom's treehouse. Without sparing a moment, she left for the kitchen to grab a towel. Who knew how long those flecks of paint had been sitting there? If they dried, she was sure Twilight would freak about how it messed up the color of the floor. She'd even probably demand the whole thing be repainted just to alleviate her own stress. When she reached the kitchen, Dash grabbed a hoof towel out of the sink and, whistling, turned around to make for the lobby again. Then, she saw it. A whole trail of it, to be exact. "Okay!" she said indignantly, "Just what the heck is goin' on here?!" It was everywhere! Little blue dots littered the entire floor from where she was standing, all the way to the door that Rarity'd just left through. She hadn't done any painting at all, so it sure as heck wasn't her, and if it wasn't her then who the heck was it? With a frustrated huff, Dash bent down and set about sopping up the dots with her towel. Or tried to, at least. It seemed that the harder she pressed, the bluer the floor became, and the bluer the floor became, the harder she pressed. Eventually, through grunts and groans, she'd managed to do nothing but work herself up. A bead of sweat rolled off her forehead, and she raised her fetlock to wipe it off, flicking the wetness off her leg. A splattering sound rang through the air to her left as a bunch of little wet drops hit the pots she'd left in the dish strainer the night before. Rainbow's jaw dropped. Those weren't sweat drops. Last time she'd checked, sweat drops were clear, not red--and most certainly not blue or yellow! A chill ran down her spine as she checked her hoof. There wasn't any coloring on it at all. "What the heck..." She gave her leg a practice shake, and watched with wide eyes as a glob of blue pulled itself out of her hoof and lobbed itself into the air, landing with a mighty sploosh onto the floor. Rainbow's heart skipped a beat, and her chest suddenly felt about a thousand times colder. Twilight had told her about this once. How ponies--good ponies who never did anything wrong!--would sometimes melt down into puddles without any explanation. It had happened to that Unicorn of the West pony from Twilight's magic book, and now it was happening to her! Rainbow's breathing quickened sharpened. Her pulse quickened, even as tears filled her eyes, she watched a big drop of orange fall from her mane. They weren't just little drops anymore! At this rate, she'd be a pony puddle in just a few minutes! She didn't want to melt! She wanted to be a pony! She had to do something! She had to think of someth-- Twilight! She'd know what to do! Twilight always had the answer! She could fix this! She had to! And, Rainbow begrudgingly admitted as she scrambled for the stairs, screaming for her marefriend, on the off chance that she couldn't stop this, at least she'd get to say goodbye to the pony she cared about most in the world. Rainbow lept to the stairs and spun around the rail without missing a motion. Walking was getting difficult, she noticed, as her legs began to shake. They were tired now, but she powered on through. She couldn't give up! She couldn't just melt like this! She reached up for the rail but, to her horror, found she couldn't reach it anymore! The stairs looked more like small platforms and reached her knees now! "Twilight!" she screamed desperately as more blue and magenta tears flowed down her face, joining the drops of what used to be her body on the steps and riding the current of fluids down the stairs. "Twilight! Help!" There were just a few stairs left! If she could make it up them, the run to Twilight's room should only take a few seconds. She noted, as her tail finished dripping off her flank, that a few seconds might be all she had left. "Twilight!" Rainbow heaved and hollered as she climbed the stairs. Each step was agony--a small mountain that she wasn't sure she'd ever manage to climb. The stairs were up to her mid-chest now, and growing rapidly. There was only one left, but she didn't know if she'd be able to make it. Her heart pounded in her chest as she flapped her wings for every ounce of strength they were worth. They didn't carry her very high, but the slight boost was enough for her to set her forehooves on the top of the floor and allow her to pull herself up. A sickening squishing, squelching sound ripped through her ears as her right wing dropped a glob of blue and vanished from her side. Any other time, she would have considered the loss of her flight as the worst thing imaginable, but right now, all she wanted to do was get down the hall and find her marefriend. "Twilight!" She raced down the hall, stumbling and staggering into the walls as her legs worked to keep her going forward. "Twili~ight!" A sob tore its way out of her chest. She couldn't see anymore! The world was black! This was it! She was going to--A sharp pain blasted her nose as she slammed headfirst into a large wooden object. Twilight's door! With a monumental effort, she pulled herself back and slammed her forehead against the door again. "Twilight!" she sobbed, "Open the door! I'm dying out here!" She reared on her back hooves with what little strength she had left, and placed her forehooves on the door. She didn't have to have her sight to know she wasn't even close to the knob. Then, the world gave way, and she fell... "Rainbow? What's wrong? Why are your eyes closed?" Huh? Her eyes weren't closed! They'd melted out! She was blind! She was--clenchin her eyes shut? She took a deep breath, relaxed her face and, sure enough, there was Twilight standing over her. "Twilight!" she shrieked, wings flaring as she scrambled over to her and wrapped her forelegs around one of Twilight's fetlocks. "Help! I'm melting just like that unicorn from your book! I'm gonna--" Wait a minute... Didn't my wing fall off? Rainbow blinked and checked her side. Sure enough, her wing was gone. But I can still feel it... "You're melting?" "Yes!" Rainbow screamed. "I'm--I--" Then, she saw it. Off in the corner, right where she bet Twilight knew she'd see it. Standard Illusions for Non-Standard Uses: A Beginner's Guide to Magical Pranking. "Are you sure? You look fine to me." Rainbow's jaw dropped. She felt so used. Twilight just... She'd... "Maybe now you realize just how unfun your Nightmare Night pranks can be," a high-class voice chimed in from behind her. Rainbow rolled over and saw Rarity in the doorway with the smuggiest of smug grins she'd ever seen. But she'd been so sure... Twilight had told her! She thought she was going to... to... "Die!" Rainbow screamed as tears continued to flow down her cheeks. She glared at her friend, and shot a nasty look at Twilight. "I thought I was dying!" She jumped to her hooves and shivered as she watched the illusion fall. It had all felt so real... "That wasn't funny!" Her face was hot. Her hearbeat thundered in her ears. "I came up here to say goodbye, dammit!" Rarity's smile faded a bit, and she cast Twilight a worried glance. "Rainbow..." Twilight whispered. She reached out with a hoof. "I'm so sorry... I didn't think... It was only supposed to be a joke..." "Just a prank, darling..." Rarity echoed softly. "We only wanted to give you a little fright, not..." "Well you definitely made a job of it!" Rainbow yelled. Her legs were shaking. Her lip quivered. A warm foreleg draped itself over her shoulders. "We went way to far, Rainbow," Twilight said. She pulled her close and held her tight. Rainbow squeezed her with all her might, burrowing her head into her neck. "I was so scared, Twilight..." she said through her quivers. "I promise, I won't ever prank anypony ever again. Just don't---" "Nonsense," Rarity interjected, placing a comforting hoof on Dash's shoulder. "We were in the wrong, darling. A simple pie would have been sufficient, but I wanted to go big, and..." "We're sorry, Rainbow," Twilight said gently, pulling the pegasus's face out of her shoulder and looking deep into her eyes. "How about we go out for dinner to make it up to you? My treat." "Mine as well," Rarity chimed in. "Wherever you wish to go, Darling. Money is no object." Rainbow nodded jerkily and let a final shiver run down her spine. "S-Sure," she said. "I guess it w-was kinda funny..." Twilight shook her head. "It wasn't. It was mean, and I promise we won't do it again. Okay?" This time, Rainbow's nod was a bit easier, and she pulled herself back into Twilight's embrace, thankful she could still be in it. If anything, she'd at least learned to appreciate her marefriend for what she was. "Okay," she answered. "But I'm totally getting you back for this..." Misinformed - TimaeusTwilight’s lips left Rainbow’s with a small pecking sound. Smiling from ear to ear, Twilight fell back into her seat, a dreamy look on her face. She felt elated, there was no other way to describe it. After weeks of planning, beating around the bush, and working up the courage to ask Rainbow Dash to dinner, they had finally shared their first—of hopefully many—kisses. Her stomach doing somersaults, Twilight blinked through the haze of euphoria that clouded her eyes and looked to Rainbow, expecting to see a similar drunken smile on her face. Twilight was sure her cheeks must have been glowing red when she stared into Rainbow’s cerise eyes, looking to see the same spark of excitement and anticipation that Twilight hoped shined in her own eyes. It came as a great shock for Twilight when she was met with an aghast Rainbow Dash. Her smile faltered when Rainbow looked down in horror at Twilight’s lips with a slack jaw and an expression of horror drawn over her features. “Wh-what the hay was that?!” Twilight’s blood ran cold and drained from her formerly blushing cheeks. “I-I...” Twilight sputtered, her heart falling to her stomach. “A-a kiss?” she asked quietly. “The hay did you kiss me for?!” Rainbow shook her head, a pink hue showing through her fur. She looked at Twilight in disbelief before shaking her head again and staring resolutely at her half-eaten dinner. “Um...” Twilight fidgeted with her hooves. “Y-you mean you’re not... we’re not...” Her gaze drifted down to the tablecloth as she scrunched shut her suddenly burning eyes. “We’re not what?” Steeling herself, Twilight inhaled deeply and dared herself to meet Rainbow’s gaze. The blank look on her face managed to make Twilight exhale and deflate. “S-so... this isn’t a date?” “A date?!” Rainbow’s eyes widened and she gaped at Twilight, making the alicorn look down in shame. “I— But— what made you think this was a date?” “Um...” Twilight gestured to the candlelit dinner set before them, idly noting how the dim light from the candles managed to make Rainbow’s eyes glow like a pair of rubies. “Yeah, but this is just a dinner!” Rainbow said, a note of panic in her voice. “No romantic junk or anything! Just two friends having a totally friendly dinner...” She bit her lip and her ears pinned against her skull. “...Right?” “B-but I did everything the book said!” Twilight protested weakly. Her mind raced. Where did she go wrong? A flash of her horn later, and Twilight was flipping through red-covered book. “A-all the signs were there! I thought I did everything right!” “Book? Signs?” Rainbow asked feebly. “What are you talkin’ about, Twi?” “Us!” Twilight snapped the book shut and looked desperately at Rainbow. “I thought that you... Ugh!” Twilight groaned and rubbed her face roughly. “You mean you really don’t have any feelings for me?” Rainbow’s gaze wandered, seeming to want to look at everything except Twilight. “I... dunno,” she said lamely. “But what about all those nights we spent cuddled up in front of the fireplace?” “Th-those were just reading nights!” Rainbow wrung her hooves and her wings twitched by her sides. “We’ve been doing that since forever.” Twilight’s heart fell in time with her head. “Y-you put your wing over me...” “You were shivering,” Rainbow said immediately. “Like I would let my best friend freeze.” “We’ve spent the last few days together...” Twilight swallowed thickly and blinked the forming tears from her eyes. Her head hit the table with a small thump and she held back a sniffle. “I’ve had a couple extra shifts, and we just kinda hung out, I guess.” Twilight heard Rainbow’s chair squeak as it was pushed across the kitchen floor. Not a few seconds later she felt a hoof tentatively grip her shoulder. “Twilight?” “I got you a bouquet of roses,” Twilight said more to the floor than to Rainbow. “And when I asked you to dinner, I thought—” she clicked her jaw shut. “Nevermind.” There was a pregnant moment of silence, leaving both mares to their thoughts. “Yeah...” Rainbow mumbled slowly, a dawning realization growing in her voice. “You did....” “And when you said I was one of the most important ponies in your life, I thought that you...” Twilight let out something between a sob and a snarl and pushed her chair back. “I-I’m sorry, I was wrong,” she said without looking at Rainbow. “I should go.” Before Twilight could turn to leave she felt a strong pair of forelegs grab her by the shoulders, spin her around, and pull her into a tight embrace. Twilight’s eyes snapped open, freezing in Rainbow’s hooves. It was only when she felt a pair of wings wrap around her back that she let herself return the hug, burying her head in the crook of Rainbow’s neck. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I?” Rainbow sighed into Twilight’s neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Rainbow pulled away from Twilight, her eyes flicking around the room. Finally, they settled back on Twilight, who brushed away a lingering tear from her eye as a sheepish smile formed on Rainbow’s face. “So... I don’t suppose we could, y’know, try this again?” Shenanigans - KodeakePinkie barely suppressed her chuckles as she crouched down low amongst the twisted branches and waving leaves of a bush. Every time one of her giggles escaped the hoof covering her mouth, an quick and decisive “shush” was uttered in her direction from a bush right next to her own. “Sorry Dashie,” Pinkie whispered, quickly clasping her hooves back over her mouth before she could start laughing. When she regained control, she once again lowered her hooves. “I think is one of the best pranks yet. Do we have a target yet?” The bush next to Pinkie's shook. “Nah, the only pony close enough is Twilight, and I am not pranking Twilight.” “Awww, don't wanna anger your marefriend?” Pinkie taunted in a hushed, sing-song voice. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “You don't understand, Pinkie. Now that we are together, it's dangerous for me to prank her unless I want to start a full-on war. I think I may have rubbed off on her too much.” Pinkie gave her most exaggerated pout, even if it was hidden by the leaves of her bush. “C'mon Dashie! What trouble can one little prank cause?” “A lot.” Rainbow shuddered as she remembered the last prank she'd pulled on Twilight, and in turn the pranks that had been pulled on her. “Dashieeeeeee,” Pinkie whined. “Please? I haven't pranked Twilight in so long...” “I said no Pinkie, we'll just have to- Pinkie?” Rainbow paused, watching as Pinkie reached down and brought a small hose to her lips. “Pinkie don't you dare, she's gonna-” Pinkie took in a deep breath and blew through the hose. The air rushed through it to its destination; a small whistle set between the roots of a nearby tree. The whistle, specially carved to make a specific kind of noise, sang its song – that of an injured bird. Rainbow Dash bit her lip, looking out of the bush to see fi Twilight took the bait. To her horror, the unicorn stood from the bench she'd been reading on and tilted her head towards the tree. Breathing a sigh of relief when she didn't actually move, Rainbow shot a glare at Pinkie's bush. “She didn't take it. I'm telling you Pinkie, you have no idea-” Without waiting for another warning Pinkie blew on the hose once again, long and low. This time Twilight took the bait and came marching over tot he tree with a concerned frown stretched across her muzzle. Rainbow's eyes widened in fear. “Pinkie no, please.” “C'mon, Dashie,” Pinkie whispered as Twilight got into position beneath the tree. “Live a little.” Then she bit on a length of rope hidden behind the tree and pulled. In a moment of slow-motion horror, stretched out for seemingly eternity, Rainbow watched as a bucket nestled safely within the branches of the tree came tumbling from its perched, dumping its contents onto the purple unicorn beneath it. A fine, red-tinted powder poured out, coating Twilight from head to hoof. A beat of Rainbow's heart thrummed through her ears, and then the powder took affect. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight screeched as she fell onto her side, hooves desperately working across her skin and scratching at everything the itching powder had touched. Writhing about in the dirt beneath he tree, Twilight did her best to still her head for long enough to shoot a glare directly into Rainbow's hiding spot before losing focus and rubbing her neck desperately against the rough ground. Eve as all the possibilities for Twilight's revenge raced through her mind, Rainbow couldn't help but snicker at her marefriend. Suddenly,t he unicorn jumped up onto her hooves, trembling as her entire body continued to burn with an insatiable itch. Without thinking she made a mad dash for the only source of relief within range; the fountain in the middle of the park, currently surrounded by multiple groups of ponies. With a mighty splash Twilight dove into the shallow waters, rolling around in the fountain and struggling to wash the itching powder out of her coat and mane. Rainbow Dash fell backwards out of her bush, laughing hysterically as Pinkie did the same. “See!” Pinkie prompted through her laughter. “Told you it was worth it!” Unable to respond, Rainbow just kept laughing, knowing it wouldn't be long until she was on the receiving end of a prank. Staring up at the sun, Rainbow's laughter died in her throat as a silhouette leaned over her face and blocked out the sky. “Hello, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight muttered darkly, mane and coat dripping and the remaining traces of itching powder making her rub at her forelegs. “I take it you've had fun today.” Rainbow swallowed nervously. “It was Pinkie's idea?” Twilight raised a single eyebrow. “Funny, I haven't seen Pinkie Pie anywhere.” Face falling, Rainbow turned to the side and, sure enough, Pinkie had vanished. “No way... she's seriously gonna let me take the fall for this?” She muttered to herself, mentally noting to prank the party mare good for this little betrayal. Leaning down, Twilight placed a single kiss on Rainbow's cheek before placing her muzzle right next to the pegasus's ear. “Be prepared, Rainbow Dash.” With those final, ominous words, Twilight lit her horn and teleported away with a flash. Over the course of the following week, Rainbow found herself literal bathing in itching powder, tarred and feathered, covered in a green slime she didn't want to know the origin of, and every time she was somewhere very public. Not even her usual napping grounds were safe from her marefriend's vengeance, armed with a cloud walking enchantment and nearly limitless teleportation, Twilight was nearly inescapable. Twilight would occasionally find herself on the receiving end of a prank – Rainbow's conscience would not let her humiliation go unpunished – but they were rare and nothing like the level Twilight's pranks were on. Eventually, after finding her favourite napping cloud filled with cake batter rather than water and enchanted to rain upwards, Rainbow came stumbling through the front door of the library, exhausted and looking more like a batter-monster than a pony. “That's it!” She cried, flopping to the floor and spattering batter everywhere. “I'm done. I give; you win.” From somewhere within the library, a voice echoed. “Are you sure? You are the one who started this.” “I'm done, Twi,” Rainbow insisted. “Besides, it was Pinkie, not me.” “Oh I know,” Twilight's voice echoed. “And she'll get what she deserves soon enough. But you... I think one more good prank is in order. Accept it, and you'll be cleared of any transgressions.” Rainbow sighed. “Can I at least shower first? This batter's starting to dry...” Twilight's voice giggled wearily as a magical flash cleaned Rainbow's coat. “Ready?” “Hit me.” Hit her Twilight did. In an instant a thick, warm liquid flowed down over her head, rapidly coating her body and a small area of the floor beneath her. Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut, but a familiar scent made her open them even as the dark brown liquid continued to cover her. “Wait... this is...” she stuck her tongue out, taking a small dollop of the stuff and tasting it. “Chocolate?” Twilight giggled again, finally walking to the front room of the library where Rainbow could see her. “Three.... two.... one... yep! Chocolate.” Her eyes narrowed. “Solidifies fast, doesn't it?” Rainbow quirked and eyebrow, taking a step forward once the shower had stopped, only to realize the chocolate had indeed solidified, and had encased her hooves, along with the rest of her body. From head to hoof, she was now a life-size, chocolate pony. Licking her lips eagerly, Twilight sauntered forward, circling her entrapped marefriend. “I felt like having some chocolate today. So... where should I start?” “Uhh...” Rainbow's cheeks lit up a scarlet blush beneath their chocolate coating. “Up here?” Twilight asked herself, nibbling some chocolate off the tip of Rainbow's ear. “Or maybe... somewhere else...? Miracle - The DJ Rainbow DashIt stared her down. Every single aspect of it seemed to beckon her, draw her in and clutch her tightly like a sweet smelling pheromone. The sleek, voluptuous curves were quite pronounced, sliding down and meeting to a point. In a way it was able to envelope itself within her mind, as if she was becoming high off its essence. For most ponies, this would describe a special someone. In Twilight's skewed world, it described a math equation. With a quill held in her hoof, she checked her work for the umpteenth time, going over each part with a fine toothed comb. Despite her cautiousness, there was still something wrong with what she wrote, and she was well aware of it. Yet as hard as she looked, even with an eye as critical as hers, she couldn't figure it out. For the 10th time that day, a poor quill gave it's life for the cause. "Grrr... stupid Starswirl the Bearded. Stupid equation," she grumbled, rubbing her temple as a headache began to mount, "Did he really have to go through all this to make an equation for..." CRASH She looked up and turned to her front door. What once was a beautiful wood carved masterpiece now had bore the scars of battle, as if it was a shield on the front lines of the last Equestrian Civil War. Instead it was just the outline of a pegasus. "Come in Rainbow Dash." The door finally gave way, splitting in two, and revealing Rainbow. She stood there wearing the poorest look of innocence anypony could possible conjure up, and Twilight just rolled her eyes before turning towards her desk. "Hey Twi! I was doing some new tricks, but I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to grab some lunch." The cold chill of silence greeted her. "Uh Twi? Your ears are on right?" She began poking Twilight's head. "If you're wondering, I can hear you, and yes my ears are on because you can't turn them off," she replied flatly. "Woah, sorry. Didn't know you were getting down and dirty with, um, the math books today?" Rainbow focused in on whatever mixture of numbers and letters decided to vomit on Twilight's book. "Say, that is a math equation right?" Twilight nodded. "It's a unsolved Starswirl the Bearded equation on the speed that magic travels in a vacuum. I found it when I was reading one of his older books, when it mentioned nopony ever solved it. So I decided to give it a shot." "Well it doesn't look like you've solved it." Dash backed up at the deathly glare she was given. "Guess not huh?" Twilight huffed and threw her hooves in the air. "I've tried to solve it for the past 3 days now! But I keep getting parts of it wrong, and then other parts of it are wrong, and then other parts of those parts are wrong and..." She was stopped by a hoof in her muzzle. "Twilight, 2 plus 2 is four right?" Rainbow nearly started laughing at the dumbfounded expression Twilight gave her. "I'm serious though, it says right here, two plus two is five, which using my brilliant addition skills, is wrong." "You're joking." "Nope. Look where my hoof is." Twilight obliged, focusing on the near microscopic arithmetic in the vastness of the entire equation. Sure enough, Dash's word held true, and some say Twilight's eyes grew three sizes that day. Rainbow chuckled. "I'll see ya later Twilight, have fun with that." She flew out the empty doorframe, just as Twilight began to scribble like mad. Rainbow Dash put her hooves up, sinking into her soft, fluffy couch as she prepared her body for a well deserved nap. Her recent tricks had taxed every single fiber of her body, and the thought of doing anything just didn't click with her right now. "By Celestia! It's a Miracle!" Her eyes flipped open as she recognized Twilight's voice, remembering that it had been 3 days since she had seen the alicorn. She assumed Twilight was busy doing her equation, and prior experience told her not to interrupt her. But Twilight didn't live near her at all. ...And that voice was unmistakable. "3... 2... 1..." CRASH! Rainbow could only snicker at the alicorn indent that just appeared in her front door. Funk - Formerly CommittedRainbow walked into the library and immediately crinkled her nose in disgust. The entire library was filled with a putrid stench. She make the mistake of breathing in through her nose and instantly gagged as her eyes filled with water. The fumes stabbed at her eyes. “Uh...Twilight?” she choked out. It hurt to breath let alone speak. In a blur of purple, Twilight shot through the door leading to the kitchen and slammed it behind her. She braced herself against the door, panting heavily. She looked as if she had just pulled an all-nighter. Hair frayed and bloodshot eyes--most likely from the stench. “Rainbow! You’re early, I wasn’t expecting you for another hour!” she said between breaths, giving the biggest forced smile she could muster. “I finished early and--” she cut herself off gagging on the stench that permeated the air. “Twi’, what is that funky smell?” “Smell? What smell?” She grinned trying to find something for her eyes to settle on other than Rainbow. “Seriously? It smells like somepony filled one of Fluttershy’s chicken coops with rotten eggs and old cabbage.” She wafted a hoof in front of her in a futile attempt to purge her nose. “I, uh...I-I…” Sighing, she slid along the door to the floor in defeat. “I was trying to make you dinner, and wanted to surprise you.” She stared at down at her hooves, hoping her bangs covered her shame. Rainbow chewed at her lower lip. She wanted to laugh. She needed to laugh. However, she knew taking in another breath of the funk that filled the library would most likely cause her to lose her lunch. She also knew that it would hurt Twilight’s feelings. Despite how horrible it turned out, her wanting to make Rainbow dinner was kind of awesome. She forced her eyes shut regaining her composure, allowing herself to take in as deep of a breath as her stomach would allow. “Tell you what Twi’. We’ll throw out whatever funk is in the kitchen, open all the doors and windows, and then we’ll go out. Hayburger sound good?” Twilight looked up with a sad smile and nodded. “As long as I get to pay.” Boundaries - Kodeake“Your side,” Rainbow proclaimed loudly, pointing her hoof to one side of a bright yellow line of tape on the floor. “My side,” she said, taking a step back on the opposite side. “Fine,” Twilight humphed, sticking her nose up in the air. “You stay over there as long as you like. I'm not giving in.” Spike sighed, one claw held delicately against his forehead and a roll of yellow tape in the other. “Really?” “Yes!” Both Rainbow Dash and Twilight snapped, giving him a quick glare. Their eyes met for just a second, sparks flying, before the both turned resolutely away. “And I thought I was supposed to be the immature one,” Spike grumbled, shaking his head and walking away from the two defiant mares. “You two have fun down here; I'm going to bed.” Neither mare answered his call as he climbed the stairs to the second floor of Golden Oaks library. Peaking an eye open, Twilight smirked. “Good night, Rainbow,” she called, trotting away from the dividing line and hopping onto the couch, the upper floor having been declared out of bounds after much arguing. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “You forget I can sleep on anything; a couch isn't going to win this battle. On the other hoof, a fridge just might,” she snickered, motioning to the kitchen behind her. Twilight peaked over the arm of the couch, raising an eyebrow. “Neither of us are allowed to cross the line, right?” “Not until you admit I was right,” Rainbow corrected smugly. “As if,” Twilight scoffed, “I'm just making sure I'm not breaking any rules when I do... this.” On cue, Twilight's horn glowed a gentle purple light, as did the refrigerator, and she magically opened it, pulling out a jug of apple juice. “Hey!” Rainbow barked, glaring daggers at the unicorn remotely pouring herself a glass of juice. “That's cheating!” Twilight faked a thoughtful pose. “Is it?” She pondered. “The way I see it, you said that neither of us could cross the line. As you can clearly see, I'm not crossing the line.” “That's cheating and you know it,” Rainbow growled, her steely gaze challenging Twilight's smug smile. Twilight just shrugged as her glass of apple juice floated across the room into her hooves. “You should have made the rules more clear.” “You know what? Fine. Two can play at that game!” Rainbow ran off into the kitchen, coming abck a few seconds with a glass of water. Taking it in her wing, she splashed the water across the line into Twilight's face. “Rainbow!” Twilight screeched as she was drenched in cold water. “Not crossing the line,” Rainbow taunted with a cocky grin. Twilight opened her jaw to retort, but let it close as she humphed and turned away, lying across the couch with her back to Rainbow. Unbeknownst to the pegasus, Twilight's horn was once again glowing with magic as another glass filled itself with water in the kitchen, floating over and dumping itself on Rainbow's head. “Not crossing the line~” Twilight sang without even turning back Whipping the bangs out of her face, Rainbow set her face into a determined snarl “That's it,” she growled, stomping over the yellow line of tape on the floor. “Just admit I was right and this will all be over.” “Hey!” Twilight cried, jumping of the couch and pointing an accusing hoof at Rainbow. “You're not allowed to cross the line!” “Oh, you mean like this?” She asked as another hoof planted itself on Twilight's side. “Yes!” “Too bad,” Rainbow snorted as she crossed over entirely. “What are you going to do now, huh?” Lighting her horn, Twilight enveloped Rainbow in her magical glow and teleported rainbow back onto her own side. “That,” Twilight deadpanned. “Oh, it's on now,” Rainbow declared, her wings flying out from her sides as she took off running, flapping her wings and launching into the air, soaring over the line. Twilight once again charged a teleport, but before she could get it off Rainbow slammed into her chest, dragging the unicorn kicking and screaming into the air. “Rainbow!” Twilight shrieked as they came to a hover near the room of the library. “Put me down!” “Nu-huh, not until you admit I was right.” “Never!” Twilight declared defiantly, dangling dangerously over the dining room. Rainbow let her grip on Twilight loosen just enough that she started sliding down. “Alright alright!” Twilight cried, legs kicking as though trying to swim. “You were right!” “About...?” Rainbow prompted, tightening her hold just enough so Twilight wouldn't slip any lower. “It's pronounced February, not Febyuary! Now put me down!” Rainbow complied, setting Twilight on the floor. “See, was that so hard?” Twilight glared at her, before turning away indignantly and marching up the stairs. “I'm going to bed.” “I'll be up in-” “You're sleeping on the couch.” Hurry - Formerly Committed“Come on, Scoots! We gotta hurry!” Rainbow Dash glanced back at a struggling Scootaloo. Rainbow could tell she was on her last legs. She was proud that Scootaloo even made it this far. Flying from Ponyville to Canterlot and then back was no easy feat, even for Rainbow. “I know. I’m--I’m going as fas--as I can,” Scootaloo shouted back between pants. Come on Scootaloo, focus on breathing. In. And out. Just like Rainbow taught you. She pushed through the pain, ignoring the screams from her exhausted wings. Her still being airborne was a true statement to her determination. Whether it was her refusal to give up, or her not wanting to get in trouble was completely different matter. No more than a few hours ago they had been back at the library sitting quietly, reading. Or so they would claim. Maybe they shouldn’t have been building towers with books. Maybe they shouldn’t have had a ginormous pillow fight in the middle of the library. Or maybe they crossed the line with pegasus-limbo. Regardless, tables were bumped and unicorn statues were broken. So while Spike stayed behind and cleaned up feathers, Rainbow and Scootaloo took off to the only store that still had said statue. All before Twilight got back from her trip seeing the Princess. Who was due back on the next train into Ponyville, which they had yet to pass on their return journey. “Rain--Rainbow!” Scootaloo called out. She could feel herself slowly losing altitude. She tried futilely to stop her descent, but she was destined to go down.This was it. She wasn’t gonna make it. Twilight was going to get home, see the broken statue, and ground her--and possibly Rainbow, until she moved out. She felt a pair of hooves wrap around her barrell. “Don’t worry, squirt. I gotcha. We’re in the home-stretch and I can see the train pullin’ in.” Scootaloo closed her eyes, and let her body fall limp in Rainbow’s embrace giving her muscles the rest they demanded. Cracking an eye open, she tempted a glance towards Ponyville and true to Rainbow’s word she could see the last puffs of smoke coming from the train as it slowed in its approach into the station. Scootaloo either dozed off or passed out from exhaustion, because the next thing she knew she was being set down right in front of the library. Luckily it was only her wings that were pushed to exhaustion and she charged through the door just a few steps in front of Rainbow. Spike who had been pacing back and forth for the past hour jumped at the sudden slamming of the door. “Thank Celestia, you guys are back! I thought I heard the train come in,” he said sighing in relief. “You did. Twi’s probably right behind us!” Rainbow Dash flipped open her saddlebag and using two hooves and both wings to steady it, lifted the statue up and onto the table. In a flash of blue she flew upstairs, threw her bags down and zipped back down. Side-by-side they stared at the door and waited. Forty-five seconds later a somewhat confused Twilight walked in. “Why did somepony leave the door--” She stopped and looked suspiciously at Rainbow Dash, flanked on both sides by Scootaloo and Spike. All wearing a huge grin. She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Aww, you guys didn’t have to greet me at the door. I was only gone for the day.” “Well we missed you. Right, guys?” exclaimed Rainbow through her forced smile. The other two nodded quickly, their smiles never wavering. Twilight stared at each of them in turn. They would swear she was looking into their very souls. Twilight knew something was off. She just didn’t know what. She slowly moved toward the guilty trio, her gaze never leaving them. And then she saw it. She knew what they were hiding. In a blur of purple, Twilight ran over to Scootaloo and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. “Rainbow! How many times have I told you...Stop pushing Scootaloo so hard when you two practice. She looks exhausted,” she said glaring daggers at Rainbow. It took Rainbow Dash a whole second to realize what had just happened. “Oh--OH! Yeah...sorry. You know us. We just...love flying. Right, Scoots?” Rainbow’s smile never left her. “Yeah! Sorry, I uh...yeah. Sorry.” Scootaloo hugged Twilight back. Did they just really get away, scot free? She almost felt bad for how easy it had been. Almost. “Well, I hope you aren’t too tired Rainbow. I was hoping you would massage my back. You would not believe how rough it is to travel all the way to Canterlot and back in one day.” “...Nope.” “Not a clue.” “But, first things first.,” she said as she lifted her saddlebag off her back with her magic. However, Twilight who was still hugging Scootaloo wasn’t paying attention. Her bag bumped the table. Time move slow. (I had to, and I’m not sorry) Three pairs of eyes looked on in horror, as the unicorn statue wibbled and wobbled, hoping it wouldn’t fall down. Their luck had run out. They watched as the statue lost its balance an tipped over. They looked on in shock, Rainbow holding out a hoof in a futile attempt to stop it, as it bounced half-way off the table sending it spinning on its collision course with the floor. A single tear fell away from Scootaloo’s eye as the unicorn statue, that had just cost her a month’s allowance, shattered into what seemed to be millions of pieces. No one moved. Three sets of eyes all turned towards Twilight, waiting for they fury to come. The first to notice something wrong was Scootaloo. She was still being held on to by the unicorn and could feel her body shaking. At first, she thought she was having some sort of seizure. A mental breakdown after the lose of her beloved statue. But then...she heard it. Laughter. Twilight threw her head back and laughed. The other three thought she had just lost her mind. Poor Scootaloo. Already in the mares clutches, she was obviously going to be the first sacrificed. But then a miracle happened. She released her hostage and continued her laughter. No one dared to move yet, and they stayed completely still until Twilight finally had control of her faculties. “Oops,” she smiled sheepishly wiping a tear from her eye. “Sorry, I’ll clean that up in a minute.” The three looked at each other, blinked, and looked back at Twilight as she made her way up the stairs. “Honestly, that thing was kind of hideous.” Fire - AuramaneRainbow Dash stared into the crackling flames of Twilight's fireplace, shivering beneath a pile of blankets, and groaned impatiently. "Come on Twilight, how long are you gonna keep me in here? I said I wouldn't do it again." "Rainbow, you're staying in here until the storm stops. Honestly, you're the weather manager, you should know your own schedule by now," said Twilight, walking in from the kitchen, two daisy sandwiches floating beside her. Rainbow pulled the blankets more tightly around herself and grumbled something about eggheads. Twilight continued, oblivious to Rainbow's annoyance, "Besides, whose idea was it to have a swim in the middle of Winter?" "Hey, Applejack did it too. She challenged me to a race," said Rainbow defensively. Twilight rolled her eyes and set down one of the sandwiches next to Rainbow beforelying herself down nest to her. "Yes, and I'm sure Apple Bloom is taking great care of her trying to get her nursing cutie mark. I could have left you with them instead." Rainbow grimaced and grudgingly took the food in her hooves and took a bite out of it. "Still cold," she grumbled, her mouth filled with half chewed food. Twilight sighed and stood up again, throwing more wood into the fireplace with her magic as she walked over to Rainbow. She stopped next to her and lifted the blankets up slightly. Rainbow shivered again at the sudden drop rush of cold air. As she turned to look at Twilight, she suddenly felt something—or someone—warm and soft pressing against her side. "Twilight, what're you doing?" "You said you were cold, and I don't have any more blankets," she mumbled. Rainbow grinned and opened her mouth, about to say something. Before she could start, however, Twilight cut her off. "Rainbow, if you make a joke right now, I will throw you into the fire. I'm just trying to keep you warm, that's it." "Well you're no fun," she groused, putting on a playful pout. "Just... Try to warm up, and we don't have to talk about this." She pinned her ears down on her head. "At least don't tell Rarity, she'll get completely the wrong idea." Rainbow Dash snorted, and looked back towards the fire. "Fine. I'll be all warm and dry pretty soon anyway." Twilight didn't answer, she just lay her head down on her hooves and stared into the dancing flames Music - Thak“Geez, Egghead, you really suck at this, you know?” There is a saying in Equestria regarding the potential lethality of certain facial expressions, whereby one pony wishes the sheer intensity of said expressions had, for the briefest of moments, a marked physical impact on the recipient. Twilight considered (that is to say, decided against without further study) to provide enough magical energy to remove the questionable conjunction from said idiom. However, she had been strictly counseled on her disregard of physics and the disasters that followed when she involved magic to influence the physical world solely to correct what is, or was, exclusively a matter of personal embarrassment. This did not stop her from utilizing the more figurative aspects of the phrase in question, and with years of practice born of necessity in corralling her three unruly protégés with scarcely a sound, Twilight glared at the cyan Pegasus floating in the air before her with as much intensity as she could muster. Mind! That is not to say that fair Rainbow’s observation lacked merit ; indeed, Twilight herself had, quite succinctly, stated Rainbow’s rather churlish thought mere minutes before, as her primary objection to engaging in such an activity in the first place. Still, Twilight had agreed to practice with her fiancé so as not to cause too much embarrassment at their wedding some three months hence. Thus she found herself in one of the more Spartan rooms in the fortress that was her new home, the meager furniture pushed aside, and a fresh layer of pine planks quickly secured to the crystal floor. The speed with which such a floor had been both procured and installed simultaneously fascinated and infuriated the Princess; on one hoof, the sheer economy of movement shown by her friends (specifically that of the Apple family) brought to mind a burning desire to see exactly how much of the country’s failing infrastructure could be brought in line with modern standards should such ponies be in charge of overseeing the task. On the other hoof, with the dance floor now completely secured, as well as a sound system mysteriously brought in by another Apple family member (though it had yet to be conclusively determined, once and for all, whether or not Pinkie Pie was indeed a distant relative of the Apples), Twilight found her list of logical arguments against participating in what would most assuredly be, at least as far as recent memory was concerned, her most embarrassing moment to date dwindling rather rapidly. “Ahem. I believe what Rainbow is trying to say, Darling, is that perhaps this isn’t the right music for you? I think we should try something a little less esoteric. While DJ-Pon3’s music is perfectly acceptable in most nightclubs, there’s nothing like a classic for a first dance, yes? Aha! Here it is! A nice, simple waltz should do.” “Rarity…,” moaned Rainbow. “Waltzes are boring!” “Nonsense! The waltz is, by far, one of the most romantic and timeless dances of all time. The poise! The sophistication! The joie de vive coming from two lovers floating inches above the dance floor, lost in each other’s embrace as they breathlessly dance the night away! Their eyes lock, and for the briefest moment time stops as their love bursts forth in a sea of emotion; a crashing wave that sweeps them away from all of pony kind in unbridled passion!” “Wow…” whispered Rainbow Dash. “But Rarity isn’t the waltz hard? I have a difficult time with the simple moves Rainbow showed me. Can’t we just rock back and forth for a few seconds and call it good?” asked Twilight. “Certainly not! This is going to be a Royal wedding! Everypony who’s anypony will be certain to attend, and I will not let my friends simply ‘rock back and forth’ like a pair of fillies at their first dance!” cried Rarity. “Whoa there Sugarcube!” said Applejack, coming up the stairs. “What’s all this fussin’ about? I thought we agreed you’d simmer down, and not get so worked up over everything.” “You’re right, Darling. It’s just that Twilight is having doubts about learning how to waltz, and I guess I got a little carried away.” “Y’don’t know how to waltz? I thought you grew up in Canterlot?” asked Applejack, eyes narrowing. “I did! It’s not like I don’t know what it is,” explained Twilight. “I’ve just never had an opportunity to practice with anypony.” “Lookee here, Sugarcube. Ain’t nothin’ to it. You can count to three, right?” “Obviously,” said Twilight. “And you trust Dash, right?” asked Applejack. “Of course!” said Twilight. “Then there’s nothin’ to it.Follow her lead, and let the music move you.” “Thanks, Applejack. I feel a lot better about this. Want to give it a shot, Rainbow?” asked Twilight. “Sure! And don’t worry. I won’t let you down,” said Rainbow “Never,” said Twilight, smiling as the music began to fill the room. Forgotten - LiquidFirest0rmTwilight merrily trotted back towards her home in the Ponyville library. Books and different parts of her current research project floated along behind her, held within her magical grasp. She had been out far longer than she had thought she would have been, as she noticed that all the lamps were already lit and there was scarcely a pony to be seen. Looking up into the sky she saw the moon just now starting its way across the sky. A chilly wind blew through the town, ruffling her fur and feathers. She shivered at the change in temperature, and promptly increased her speed to get out of the cold faster. As she approached her tree home, however, she noticed that the downstairs light was on. Normally this would mean that Spike was still awake, but he was at a sleepover with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, so it couldn’t have been him. Nervousness crept up inside of her, and she decided against using the front door. Instead she teleported up onto the balcony outside of her bedroom. Carefully setting her things down, she carefully opened the window that led into her loft. Her ears were at attention, swiveling around, trying to pick up on any sounds that somepony had broken into her home. At the same time, she looked around, noticing that nothing looked disturbed. A sudden slam from further into the library caused her to jump, almost willing her to fly back out of the library and go find a guardpony to come help. After a few moments of silence, however, she regained some of her wit and moved closer to her bedroom door. Placing an ear against the smooth wood, she listened intently for any more sounds coming from the other side. Hearing nothing, she carefully opened the door, just enough to see through the crack. The other side of the door looked just as undisturbed as her bedroom. Pulling the door open a bit further, she noticed that the only sounds she could hear was the crackling of the fire inside the fireplace. Creeping towards the edge of the staircase, she finally got a look at the main room of her home. Expecting to see the worst, her mood was instantly lifted by the heartwarming sight that she saw. Her marefriend, Rainbow Dash, was asleep on the couch by the fireplace. A daring do book, which she assumed had once been held, had made its way to the floor and now lay there half open against the couch. A light snoring sound made its way to Twilight’s ears, confirming that the pegasus mare was indeed asleep. As she made her way closer, she noticed some things on the table that didn’t belong to her. Taking a better look, she saw a bouquet of flowers and a card laying there, her name written on the front of the envelope in Rainbow’s bad mouthwriting. Opening the envelope with her magic, she pulled the card out and began reading it. Tears worked their way into her eyes as she set the card back down on the table. She let herself openly sob a couple of times as she just stared at the simple card. A sound from beside her caused her to turn her head, seeing Rainbow get up off the couch. She stretched for a moment, before making her way over to where Twilight was now sitting. When she got within arms reach, Twilight pounced on her, crushing her in a hug as she openly started crying. “Oh, R-Rainbow! I’m s-sorry! I- I-” She gave up trying to talk and settled for crying into her marefriend’s shoulder. She was suddenly surprised when she felt a hoof gently stroking the back of her head. “Hey, hey. Shh. Twi, it’s ok.” Rainbow tried to sooth her, holding her tight and stroking the back of her head gently. She would have wrapped her wings around her as well, just for good measure, but they were currently pinned beneath Twilight’s forelegs. “I’m such a bad marefriend.” Twilight muttered into Rainbow’s coat. “Hey, no you’re not.” Rainbow said, giving her a gentle squeeze. Twilight push herself back out of Rainbow’s embrace. “How can you say that? I forgot about our anniversary!” This caused Rainbow to smirk. “Thats ok, that just means you get to make it up to me.” She said, leaning in and kissing Twilight. Twilight’s eyes widened at the implications of Rainbow’s statement before they slowly closed as she went along with it. Playtime - JetstreamGWSquealing, fillyish giggles rent the air of the normally placid Golden Oaks Library. Along with them came the sound of tiny, stomping hooves as a pint sized Unicorn and Pegasus chased one another around the library’s loft. “You’ll never get me, Twi! You’re too slow!” Rainbow Dash shrieked as she galloped headlong through the room, narrowly avoiding obstacles at every turn. Gasping between laughs, Twilight lowered her head and galloped even harder, yelling, “Yuh huh! I will too! You’ll see!” Using her superior knowledge of the living space’s layout, Twilight slowly closed the gap between Rainbow Dash and her, until a final lunge gave her a faceful of Dash’s tail… And nothing else, as Dash flapped her little wings and shot into the air. “Toldja! Too slow!” Rainbow crowed as she did a little circle in midair. “Hey!” Twilight shouted, “No fair flying!” “It ain’t against the rules!” “It should be!” “Nuh uh!” “Uh huh!” “Nuh uh times infinity!” Stomping a hoof, Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash and fumed for a moment. Then her eyes widened and she grinned, cantering over to her writing desk and climbing up on her chair. Giving her mightiest filly leap, Twilight managed to grab the edge of a nearby bookshelf and climb slowly to the top. “Now I’m higher, so I’m winning!” Baffled, Rainbow Dash tilted her head to one side before frowning. “What? Nuh uh, that isn’t the rules!” Putting her forehooves on her hips, Rainbow flew closer to the shelf to properly give Twilight a piece of her mind… giving Twilight the precise opportunity she was waiting for. With a shrill, primal cry of “Gotcha!” Twilight lunged forward right off the bookshelf, hooves swinging wildly and grasping only air as Rainbow dodged with little effort. Seeing her triumph turn to ashes before her eyes, Twilight could only cry out as she hit the floor with a muffled thud, scraping one of her fetlocks in the process. Biting her lower lip, Dash wrapped her forelegs around herself, then cackled like a loon. “Pfftahahahaha! Oh man! The look on your face was priceless, Twi!” Meanwhile, Twilight struggled herself into a sitting position and clutched her fetlock to her chest for a moment. “Ow…” she said with a sniffle, rubbing the sore spot. After a few seconds her lip started to quiver and she burst into tears. Rainbow Dash’s laughter cut off after a moment as she heard Twilight’s wails below her and she gasped, zipping to the ground. Wrapping her arms around Twilight, Dash held her close and rocked back and forth. “Sorry Twilight,” she said as she nuzzled into Twilight’s mane. “I didn’t mean to.” After a few minutes, Twilight’s tears abated and she hiccoughed, squeezing back. “S’okay… It wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t’a jumped like that.” Giggling, Twilight rested her chin on Rainbow’s shoulder. “I didn’t think we’d be this much like real foals.” “I don’t care,” Rainbow Dash replied. “This is the awesomest spell ever.” Leaning back, Rainbow looked Twilight in the eyes and said, “so you wanna do something else now?” Twilight’s face scrunched up as she thought about it, then she grinned, shoving Rainbow on her back and pinning her down. “Nope,” Twilight said as she wrapped Dash in an even tighter hug than before. “I think it’s nap time!” “Hey!” Rainbow cried as she fell back, trapped. “But I’m not sleepy! Twilight!” After a few seconds of struggle, Rainbow frowned as Twilight nestled into her neck, quickly beginning to snore. “Twiiiiii,” she whined as she let her limbs flop at her sides. With a huff, Rainbow rolled her eyes and shifted her weight under her captor. Resigned to her fate, Rainbow Dash wrapped her arms around Twilight and snuggled up, eyelids drooping closed. Minutes later a second set of snores joined in on Twilight’s quickly building crescendo of slumber. Rockin' - JondorBzzzzzzt Bzzzzzzt Twilight’s ear flicked at the buzzing noise ringing against the crystal bookshelf—it certainly had been a while since she’d heard that sound. Her human friends were growing up and settling into the sort of busy lives that the people in that dimension typically led, after all. The glowing and buzzing book floated down to eye level, held in Twilight’s magical grasp. She flicked through the pages to find the newest message, hoping that it was just another piece of correspondence, or possibly an invitation for a social call, rather than some manner of world-ending crisis. Hey Twi, Need you to come through the portal ASAP. It’s important. As she read the note, her conclusions were anything but concrete. On the one hand—her brain was already thinking in human terms again—Rainbow Dash had always made the greatest effort to see her whenever she came to visit, and yet always seemed to be holding something back about the direction she was taking her life. This kind of terse message was just the sort of thing she’d expect out of Rainbow. Either of them, really. But on the other hand—Twilight was already up and moving to the side room where the portal was kept safe and secure—if the world-ending crisis was bad enough, she might not have had time to write anything more. As she slammed the book in place with her hooves, Twilight conjured a scroll and quill with a burst of magic, scribbled a hasty note, and vanished it again with a pop. Gone through the portal, might be trouble, please tell the girls. In the back of her mind, Twilight imagined she could hear deep rumble of Spike’s belch, even though she knew he was miles away, probably in his new cave. As the vortex of the portal swirled around her, the thought finally passed through her mind that if there really was trouble, Rainbow wouldn’t have taken the time to draw her cutie mark—or whatever humans called their symbols. Her palm crashed into her forehead as she flailed her legs and tried not to fall. “There you are, darling. We have to hurry and get going. I’m afraid that someone’s lack of planning left us with very little time.” Twilight blinked, looking at her friend in the growing twilight. “Rarity? I was expecting Rainbow Dash.” “And you shall see her, but we have to get moving quickly.” Rarity had already circled around Twilight and was propelling her bodily toward her sleek purple sports car parked near by. One frantic car trip later, Twilight and Rarity stood together in the front row of the large amphitheater, staring up at the empty—but soon not to be—stage. The crowd whooped and cheered deafeningly behind them as the band they were in attendance to see strutted out onto the stage. Twilight only recognized one member of the band—it was hard not to in her skin-tight, rainbow-striped outfit—but the cheers that began to erupt from her throat were louder than any others in the crowd. During all of her visits and all of the catching up she did with all of her human friends, never once had any of them mentioned Rainbow Dash continuing her impromptu musical career. As the band started in on the cold opening of their set, Rainbow caught Twilight’s eye and gave her a wink. The momentary fluttering Twilight felt in her stomach was quickly drowned out by an updated rendition of ‘Rainbow Rocks’ blasting out of the booming loudspeakers. During the entire concert, Twilight caught Rainbow’s eye at least once, sometimes two or three times during each and every song. Even though a small part of her couldn’t help wondering why Rainbow had kept this a secret, the rest of her couldn’t help cheering until she thought she might lose her voice. “Encore Encore Encore!” Twilight joined in the cheering of the crowd, trying their best to coax the band back for one final song. Applause erupted as Rainbow poked her head back out through the curtain and the rest of the band followed. “What do you say guys?” Rainbow addressed the band, but her voice came loud and clear through the sound system. “I mean it wouldn’t be right to leave without playing ‘Awesome as I Wanna to Be’. Twilight couldn’t help a wry smile from curling her lips at the memory of Rainbow playing an early version of the song far too exuberantly during the incident with the Sirens and being tackled by Sunset Shimmer. Nothing of the sort would be happening tonight—no danger lurked, and Rainbow was completely in her element. She’d even added some new verses. Keep on rising, I just don’t have time to stop Get there even if it’s lonely at the top Can’t skimp for a minute on my loyalty Gotta be awesome to play for royalty Throughout the entire final verse, Rainbow locked eyes with her, and Twilight blushed. The butterflies in her stomach didn’t let up until the band had departed and she felt Rarity poking her in the shoulder. Her friend wore an almost unnerving grin. “Come on, let’s go put these backstage passes to good use.” After some polite words to the security crew and some weaving through cramped corridors, Rarity left Twilight in front of a dressing room adorned with a tri-colored lightning bolt while she went off to chat with some of the other members of the band. Twilight hesitated before she finally knocked softly. “Come on in!” The voice was a bit more raspy than she remembered, but that was probably normal after so much singing. “Hey, Twi!” Rainbow waved her over, patting the sofa where she sat as Twilight cautiously opened the door. Twilight gave a little wave and sauntered over, her heart beating hard. She couldn’t look away from Rainbow’s shining eyes. A tingle ran up her spine as she sat down and Rainbow immediately hugged her. Her own arms hugged back out of pure instinct. A long moment of silence passed between them before Twilight finally found her voice. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you were still a musician? And a famous one at that.” Rainbow pulled back to look Twilight in the eye, her smile slipping a little. “I said it in the song. I had to be awesome enough first.” She clasped Twilight’s hand, her smile returning. “It just took me a while to be as awesome as I needed to be.” Twilight blushed. “You didn’t have to do that for me. I’m not that special.” “Of course you are,” Rainbow retorted. “You’re a princess. You’re special, which means I gotta be special if I want—” She broke off. Her lips flexed as if trying to find the right words, but nothing came. Instead, Rainbow lifted Twilight’s hand to her lips and gently kissed it, a light blush coloring her cheeks. “—yeah,” she finished. The somersault that her stomach pulled when she’d first run into Flash was nothing compared to the feeling in her gut right now. All of her visits to the human world flashed through her mind as she tried to process what was happening. Except for the very rare times when she wasn’t around, Twilight could clearly recall Rainbow’s shining eyes from each and every one, and she suddenly wondered how she’d never spotted the attraction before now. Twilight lifted Rainbow’s chin with her free hand and gazed into her raspberry eyes, quivering with anticipation. She had an unusual method of seduction, but Twilight couldn’t deny that it was working. Hooficure - Liquidfirest0rm“NO!” Rainbow Dash screamed, her hooves latched firmly to the doorway of her marefriend’s bedroom. “Come… on… Rainbow!” Twilight grunted out, struggling to pull her rainbow colored marefriend from the doorway with her telekinesis. “No, Twilight! You know I don’t like other ponies touching my hooves!” She was beginning to lose her grip on the doorway and she was starting to panic. “I… touch them… all… the time!” Twilight argued back, still attempting to dislodge Rainbow from her doorway. “That’s because you’re special!” Her muscles were beginning to burn under the strain. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to hold out against Twilight’s magic for much longer. Twilight growled in anger, releasing her telekinetic hold on her marefriend. It was like trying to knock down a brick wall with her head, and was starting to feel like it as well. She had been straining herself against Rainbow so much, that she was starting to build up a headache, even with her new alicorn levels of power. This led her to the thought that Rainbow was part earth pony to be able to fight against that much power. “Fine! If you don’t want to go, then don’t!” Rainbow let out a sigh of relief, wiping some of the sweat off of her brow. “But,” This caused her to snap her head around, looking the glaring alicorn in the eyes. “Until you decide which you can tolerate more, you aren’t touching me there ever again. As a matter of fact, you won’t be touching me at all until you get it done!” She stomped into her room and slammed the door in Rainbow’s face. A small click could be heard as the door was locked followed by a light pink shimmer as a ward was placed on the door. Rainbow sat there, looking as if she would start crying at any second. In truth she felt like she wanted to. She looked down at her hooves, a multitude of chips could be seen in the hard surfaces. She knocked gently on the door, the ward shimmering around where she had touched. “Twilight?” She called out. When she received no answer she hung her head, a few tears making their way down her muzzle to drip on the floor. She honestly couldn’t remember why she had this stupid fear of hers, and now it was going to cost her her marefriend. No! I am not going to let something this… petty come between us! Rainbow straightened up, a determined look in her eyes as she wiped away the tears that still remained in her eyes. I’m Rainbow Dash! I can handle anything! With her mind set, and her determination strong, she turned and made her way out of Twilight’s home. Twilight watched the whole thing happen from behind her door. The spell she had cast on the door was not to keep Rainbow out, but to let Twilight see through it. She didn’t know where Rainbow had gone, but she knew that she’d be back. She wasn’t truly mad at Rainbow, but when the mare wanted to be stubborn, Twilight had to get like this to get her point across. Climbing up on her bed, she gently sat down, her nether regions still protesting after their escapade last night. Twilight cast a numbing spell on herself, and sighed in relief as she relaxed into her covers. Chipped hooves had no place near such sensitive areas. A knocking at her door roused Twilight from a sleep she hadn’t even realized she had fallen into. Letting out a yawn, and rubbing her eyes with a fetlock, she opened the door. On the other side sat an apologetic looking Rainbow Dash. In her forearms, she cradled a bouquet of Twilight’s favorite flowers and a box of chocolates. “You know that’s not-” Twilight froze mid rant. Her eyes were locked onto Rainbow’s forelegs. The items she was holding wasn’t what caused her to stop, it was the mental reset that had occurred when her brain had fully processed the image in front of her. Her gaze wouldn’t move from the hooves of her marefriend, what she was seeing couldn’t possibly exist. Where there had once been many chips and sharp edges, now was a smooth surface, polished to a sheen. She glanced up at Rainbow’s face for a moment, to make sure the pony sitting in front of her was indeed Rainbow Dash, before looking back down again. As her brain finally came back online, only one made itself present. Rainbow Dash gotten a hooficure. “Um… Twi?” Rainbow asked nervously, her marefriend’s silence was starting to make her uneasy. “I did-” The rest of her sentence died in her throat as she was unceremoniously tackled by the purple alicorn of friendship. Her lips were currently engaged elsewhere and she didn’t care about what she had been going to say. She only cared that she had her Twilight back, and she wouldn’t let a stupid thing like a hooficure get in between them any more. Even if they did have to sedate her for it. Candles - Formerly CommittedTwo pairs of eyes stared at Twilight’s home. What was left of it anyway. The fire had been mostly contained by now and the immediate threat of the entire castle burning down was gone. The outside structure of the castle seemed unaffected, save for a few scorch marks here and there. The inside, Twilight didn’t want to think about what inside looked like. Smoke poured out of every orifice, blotching out the moon in the once clear sky. Fireponies ran this way and that. Inside and out, checking for any remaining hot spots or hidden fires. Ignoring the two mares huddled under a fire blanket, a protective wing wrapped around each other. After insuring that the two were unharmed, and that no one else was inside they quickly began unrolling hoses to combat the fire. Twilight and Rainbow sat in silence, neither of them daring to speak, not wanting to confirm what had just happened. So they sat, with an unfocused stare, not wanting to see Twilight’s home in ruin, and yet not being able to look away. Completely oblivious to the outside world they didn’t even notice their friends quickly approaching. “Twilight! Rainbow! Are ya’ll alright?” Applejack called out as the four mares skidded to a halt in front of Twilight and Rainbow. Neither Rainbow nor Twilight made any indication that they were aware of the other girls’ presence. They simply sat there. The four looked between each other with concern. “Oh--Oh my...I think they’re in shock. What do you think happened?” “Oh! Oh! Maybe the Flim Flam brothers came back and saw Twilight’s super awesome castle and got super jealous so they came up with this eeevil plan to try and swindle Twilight out of her castle but Twilight was way too smart for them so they decided if they can’t have it no one can and burned it to the ground!--” Pinkie paused, taking a huge gulp of air ”--that or fire ants.” Pinkie’s spiel left everyone, who wasn’t her, now in shock. Even some of the fireponies stopped to gawk at the ranting pink pony. Pinkie just smiled unknowing or uncaring about the stares she was now receiving. “Pinkie…What in tarnation…?” Rarity had been silent the entire time, save for a few hectic screams when Pinkie Pie first woke her up and she saw the smoke coming from the castle. He mind playing out every possible scenario as to how this could have happened. “Twilight, dear. This...this wouldn’t have anything to do with those scented candles I loaned you earlier this evening would it?” She had asked innocently, almost as an afterthought. Rainbow and Twilight blinked. In unison their heads swiveled to look at Rarity, both faces scarlet. The quickly looked away, briefly glancing at each other, and suddenly found the ground extremely fascinating. No one had anything else to say. Sacrifice - Nebula Star"You'll have to let me train her," Twilight told Rainbow as they entered the library together. "She'll have to learn to use her Pegasus magic consciously and then practice until she can do so automatically." "Hey, that's cool Twi. If it means getting Scoots flying, I'll gladly let you take over her training for now." Rainbow said with a shrug. "I'd do just about anything to get Scoots in the air." Twilight gave her a smile. "I know you would," she said, but then her smile faded. "Rainbow, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about concerning Pegasus magic actually." Rainbow glanced at her. "What do you mean?" She sighed, worried about how Rainbow would take it. "When I said I know a lot more than I did about Pegasus magic... that may have been a bit of an understatement. I inherited all of Achlys's knowledge about Pegasus magic." "Really?" Twilight nodded. "I have all of Achlys's knowledge on all kinds of magic." "Wait, then does that mean you can do that tornado thing by just waving your wing?" Rainbow asked sounding excited. Twilight rolled her eyes and with a gentle wave of one wing, she created a tiny whirlwind, just enough to ruffle Rainbow's feathers. "That's so Awesome! Can you teach me how to do that!?" She laughed. "Yes, I can if you want, but Rainbow, there's something else... I... Among the rest of what Achlys knew about Pegasus magic, she knew how to push Pegasus magic to its limit." "What do you mean?" Twilight sighed. "I mean that, while I'm not sure if I'm in good enough condition physically, I know how to use my magic to fly faster and more agilely than just about anypony alive... maybe even you." Rainbow just stared at her a moment, blinking. "Are you serious?" Reluctantly Twilight nodded. Rainbow just stared at her a moment more then turned away from her. "Achlys claimed she was faster than me..." Rainbow said softly. "Does this mean that you're able to do Rainbooms?" Twilight swallowed nervously. She knew how much it meant to Rainbow, being the best flyer in Equestria, but at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to lie to her. "Possibly," she admitted, "I won't know for certain if I'm physically up to it until I go out and do a few trials, but, well... Part of Achlys's knowledge includes how to use Pegasus magic to control super-sonic flight." "Then Achlys could do Rainbooms? She wasn't bluffing?" "The legend had to have come from somewhere..." Twilight said softly, and Rainbow's shoulders slumped. She looked so dejected; Twilight couldn't stand seeing Rainbow like that. "Rainbow... I know how much it means to you, being the best. I... I just won't try. I'll fly like I normally do. I won't..." She was silenced by a hoof against her snout and she looked up to see Rainbow smiling back at her. "Twi, I won't let you do that for me," she said softly. "I know that you'll want to see what you're capable of, if only for your egg-head science." "But, Rainbow..." "If it turns out you can outfly me, it just gives me something to shoot for. After all, what's the point of being the best if you know the competition was holding back?" Twilight looked up at her, tears coming to her eyes. "I don't want to take this away from you," she whispered. "Twi, you are the one pony I wouldn't mind being beaten by." Rainbow said with a sincere smile. "Besides, it would be nice to have somepony to train with that can actually keep up with me. And we don't know yet if you can outfly me." She grinned. "You're not exactly the most athletic mare out there." Twilight smiled hesitantly. "You're really alright with this?" Stepping forward, Rainbow pulled Twilight into a hug. "Yes, Twi, I'm really alright with this. I don't want you holding back on account of me." Twilight hesistated a moment then slowly returned the hug. "What do you say we go out flying tomorrow, and let's see what you can do." Rainbow said with a grin as she Released Twilight. Twilight slowly smiled and nodded. "Just the two of us?" "Well yeah, unless you know somepony else who could keep up." Twilight laughed. "Probably not... I think I'd like that." Rainbow nodded. "I'll come get you around ten. Then we could get some lunch after we've worked up an appetite." "Alright." Rainbow smiled. "Well, I probably should get going for now, I wasn't expecting the whole thing with Apple Bloom and Scoots, and I've still got some weather work to take care of. I'll see you tomorrow Twi," she said, heading for the door. Twilight nodded. "Bye, Rainbow," she called even as Rainbow took off. Rainbow flew quickly up to a secluded cloud and landed. Taking a deep breath, she let it out. She hadn't wanted Twilight to see how much it really hurt her to hear that she might not be the best anymore. They weren't sure, of course, they wouldn't know until tomorrow if Twilight was physically able to make full use of her Pegasus magic, but still, the possibility was there. She'd worked for so long and hard to get to the level she was at. True she had a natural talent, but talent would only take you so far. The rest was hard work... and now Twilight had just inherited knowledge that could let her surpass Rainbow. Sure she had literally died to gain that knowledge... but Rainbow couldn't help but feel a little jealous. But she'd been honest when she said Twilight was the one pony she wouldn't mind being beaten by. Taking a deep breath she resolved not to be upset if it turned out Twilight could outfly her tomorrow. After all, she cared about Twilight more than being the best. She smiled thinking of Twilight. Maybe soon she'd have the courage to tell the alicorn her true feelings. Maybe even tomorrow... Cold - Liquidfirest0rmTwilight Sparkle paced around the main room of the Golden Oaks library. Occasionally she would glance up at the clock on the wall, her wings twitching in agitation every time she did so. Spike had passed out almost twenty minutes ago, after spending almost as much time trying to calm her down. She stopped her pacing, glancing up at the clock again with a growl of frustration. “This is ridiculous! It’s been over an hour, she should have been back by now! I’m going to go look for her.” she said to no one in particular. Rainbow Dash, being the weather manager for Ponyville, had been out helping to set up the big winter storm. Due to some kind of issue in the weather factory in Cloudsdale, they were almost a week behind schedule for the start of the snowy season. They had to make this storm pretty big to get the weather schedule back on track, and given the howling of the wind outside, it was going to do it’s job. Rainbow had told her that it shouldn’t take them more than an hour to get things started. Twilight had planned for two after factoring in all the different issues that the weather team could possibly have run into, including having them all happen. The problem is, it had now passed the two hour mark and Twilight was now on the verge of a panic attack. She knew that snow storms weren’t as dangerous as the thunderstorms Rainbow put together on a regular basis, but they did come with their own dangers. Cold winds and the snow itself could mix together and create ice on her feathers, causing her to crash. The winds themselves were bad enough to keep any normal pegasus grounded. Twilight put on her boots and scarf, casting a warming spell on herself to keep out the chill of the wind. Once she had everything on, she quickly strode over to the door to begin the search for her marefriend. At least she would have if she wouldn’t have almost gotten hit by the door as the wind nearly blew it off its hinges, the handle leaving a crack in the wall. Twilight didn’t care about all this, however, as she slowly pushed her way against the wind, using her magic to shut the door behind her. The wind blew hard against her, threatening to push her over and whipping her mane and tail violently. She could barely see through the thick snowfall, not being able to see more than a few feet in front of her. The wind stinging her eyes caused them to water, reducing her visibility further. “Rainbow!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. She started walking in a random direction. Her panic induced search didn’t even have a planned route of locations Rainbow could have gone to. She simply wandered the empty streets, screaming Rainbow’s name every few steps. Somewhere near the fountain, which she could only tell what it was by the distinct shape of the statue in the center, she tripped over something that was concealed by the snow. She muttered several curses as she stood up, using her magic to brush the snow out of her coat. Keeping her horn lit, she turned around to find out what she had tripped over, so she could blast the offending object to Tartarus. When she looked down, her breath froze in more than one way. She had managed to roll the object out of the snow when she tripped over it, the rainbow hairs that were now billowing in the wind letting her know that she had found what she was looking for. Without thinking, she grabbed Rainbow in her magic and teleported both of them back to the library. They appeared with a flash in the middle of the room, Twilight called out for Spike as soon as she had materialized. She had told him to bring her every blanket they owned. Once she had given him the instructions, she moved Rainbow over beside the fireplace, throwing a couple of extra logs onto the fire and using her magic to instantly set them ablaze. Now that she was sure that there was enough heat, she turned her attention to the still unconscious Rainbow Dash. Too scared to touch her, for fear of the worst, she stared at her chest for a few moments to see if she was breathing or not. When she saw that her chest rose and fell, if only just slightly, she moved in and gave her a full body hug. She instantly jumped back as soon as she made contact with the blue pegasus. Rainbow Dash was freezing! Her first thought was to use the warming spell that she had used on herself earlier. She caught herself right before she was about to cast the spell, if she warmed her up too quickly, she could cause more harm than good. “Spike! Where are those blankets!” she yelled impatiently, dancing on her hooves, wishing the little dragon would hurry. “Right here!” Spike called down from the top of the stairs where he had a huge pile of blankets. Twilight used her magic and pulled the blankets over to Rainbow, almost knocking Spike down the stairs. She unfolded the blankets and began layering them over Rainbow, gently using her hooves to rub her through the material. She had read somewhere that it would help to stimulate the blood flow. Once she had layered all of the blankets onto her marefriend, she touched her forehead with a hoof, jerking it back at the feeling of cold. This isn’t working! She’s not warming up fast enough! Think, think, think, think, think! Come on Twilight! Think! You can’t lose her! Another idea suddenly popped into her head. It was something she had read that they taught to ponies who would be going on expeditions in extremely cold areas. Laying down behind Rainbow on the floor, she used her magic to pick up all of the blankets, levitating them into the air. Stretching out her legs and both of her wings, she took a couple of deep breaths to prepare herself. She reached out with her magic and grabbed Rainbow, taking another breath, she braced herself, pulling the rainbow mare into her body, wrapping her legs and wings around her, before letting the blankets fall back on top of them. It took only a couple of moments for her to begin shivering hard enough for her teeth to chatter. Closing her eyes, she tightened her grip on the mare, recasting the warming spell on herself in an attempt to stave off the cold that she was absorbing from Rainbow. Her teeth slowly stopped chattering as the spell warmed her, she could still feel the cold coming off of Rainbow, but it was less intense now. Several hours later she was awoken from her exhaustion induced slumber; the mare in her arms was finally stirring. “Twi?” Rainbow asked, her voice barely audible in their dark sanctuary underneath the pile of blankets. “I’m here Rainbow. I’ve got you.” “So. Cold.” Rainbow said, before going silent again. “I know, Rainbow. I know.” she gently kissed the back of her head, tightening her embrace and recasting the warming spell on herself to give her as much heat as she could. Happiness - TheMusicalBoy93Rainbow Dash had always thought speed was what made her happy. For all her life, she had wanted to test the limits, break the boundaries, and achieve the impossible. She always loved swooping through the skies, performing incredible aerobatics the likes of which nopony had ever seen before. Dips and dives and loops and twirls were only the warm up manoeuvres to her. But freefall dives from one thousand feet over a rocky gorge, or loop-de-loops through flaming hoops, those were the tricks and stunts she lived for. Yes, in her mind, flying was the only thing in the whole wide world that would ever make Rainbow Dash happy. But now, standing here, looking out at the sorrowful faces of her fellow ponies while she retold the tales of her closest friend… she realised she was wrong. It was never the swoops, or the dives, or even the sonic rainboom that gave her happiness. No, in recent years, Rainbow Dash had come to realise what it was that made her truly happy when she performed these feats. And it wasn't the crowds of ponies who loved and adored her while she zoomed across the sky with reckless abandon. It wasn’t the thunderous applause she received when she completed her displays. Nor was it the rush of endorphins and adrenaline she got from riding the fine line between awesomeness and near-suicidal-recklessness. What made her happy… was seeing the look of adoration on her face when she returned to the ground in one piece. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle had been in a happy relationship for two years now, and Rainbow had felt happiness like she had never expected. But it was only now that she realised it. Now, while she read from a sheet of paper she had Spike scribe for her, with the clear glass box in front of her, holding her lover just within reach, but tauntingly inaccessible behind a glass wall did she understand what truly made her happy all along. The Pegasus’ eyes watered as she told the precession before her how wonderful Twilight was; as a pony, as a friend… and as a wife. She thought to herself how she hated those nobles for having sneered at the Princess of Friendship. How she loathed them for besmirching her beautiful name at every turn and, in the end, how they had ended her life in cold blood. The prismatic pony looked out to the front row of the spectators, and her eyes settled immediately on Pinkie Pie, who was cradling a bundle of linen, and smiled as a curious little purple snout peered over the robes, her violet eyes glittering in the light and her rainbow coloured mane falling across one eye as the one final gift Twilight left her made her presence known. Rainbow smiled at her daughter and blew her a kiss before finishing her goodbyes and returning to her baby, holding the tiny bundle close as she made a silent promise to her beloved. I love you, Twilight. And Rainbowrise will never know sorrow, for as long as I live. I’ll be with you one day, Twilight. Always. And we’ll live happily ever after, just like you wanted us to. Author's Note This will start being updated weekly-ish, provided that a prompt has been written Changeling - Incredible Blunderbolt"What kind of question is that?" Rainbow's cheeks gained a rosy sheen that was almost invisible in the moonlight. She looked down at the covers and watched her hooves play with a corner of her pillow. "N-nothing. Never mind. I-it was dumb." "I don't think it was, Rainbow," I said, sitting up. I reached out with my magic and lighting the wick of my bedside candle. "'What if I was a changeling?' That's a pretty serious question. Why would you ask it?" "I-I don't know!" she said, groaning and covering her eyes with her hooves. "You ask those kinda questions sometimes. 'What if I wasn't a Princess?' 'What if you never met me?' 'What if I'd said no when you'd asked me out?' I just thought..." Rainbow's voice trailed off as she rolled over. Her orange bangs covered her eyes when she plopped her chin back down on her pillow and let out a sigh. "I dunno, okay?" She spoke softly--almost like she'd regretted asking the question in the first place. I breathed out and leaned back against the headboard. "No, it's fine. I was just wondering why you'd ask something like--" "Just forget it, okay?" she snapped. My ears flicked back at the harshness of her tone. "It's nothing." I bit my lip and stayed quiet. Rainbow could get rather defensive when she opened up unless she was approached a certain way. I'd clearly already messed up, so I decided to give her some time to cool off. If that extra time gave me a few moments to think, then all the better. "Changelings change their forms to match those of somepony's lover so that they can feed on that pony's affection," I said, softly. "They honestly lead a rather sad existence. They are individuals who are unable to be unique in their own right. Their original forms are almost identical, yet their only other option is to steal the visage of somepony else." I watched Rainbow carefully as I spoke. She didn't move much, but the occasional flick of her tail betrayed her feigned disinterest in what I was saying. "So," I concluded, rubbing my hoof on her shoulder, "what you're really asking is whether or not I'd still love you for who you are, right?" When she didn't answer me, I knew I'd struck home. There's no way my little toughie would ever admit a worry that "pathetic," as she'd no-doubt describe it. Still, I couldn't help but smile when her ears turned to face me. I slid down beside her and wrapped my foreleg around her before draping my wing over her back. It wasn't something I was used to--usually, Rainbow demanded to be the big spoon--but the change wasn't unwelcome. I'd gladly be there to comfort her as the world fell apart if she let me. "And, if that's the case," I whispered, "I want you to know that if you were a changeling, I'd shower you in love every day until you grew fat and lazy." I nuzzled her neck and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "And if you were a griffon, I'd go hunting with you every day until your talons fell off." I brushed her bangs to the side and smiled into her glistening eyes. "And if you were a dragon or a diamond dog, I'd find you a gemstone so large, you wouldn't know what to do with it. "But you're a pegasus, Rainbow," I whispered. "And I'll fly next to you until the day we both fall out of the sky." A smile broke out on Rainbow's face as I finished. She sniffled and buried her muzzle into my neck. The cold wetness of tears stained my coat and made me shiver a little, but I pulled her in closer with my hoof and held her tight--but not nearly as tightly as she was gripping me. "Thank you, Twi." Author's Note This will be updated weekly-ish. Provided a prompt has been written. Oh and if you didn't already know the TwiDash Group has a contest going on. Check out the post here by what has to be one of the sexiest group admins ever. Anxiety - Formerly CommittedRainbow Dash glanced back up at the clock hanging over the waiting room. It had only been three minutes since the last time she had looked. She looked toward the double doors that led to the rest of the hospital. Nothing. She resumed her pacing, making a circuit around the chairs that filled the room. It had been over an hour since she had been whisked out of the room and into the hall. Something about complications, and then a nurse escorted her to the waiting room. Her friends, who were already waiting, swarmed her buzzing with questions. She filled them in with what little information she had, and set to her routine of pacing, glancing up at the clock, then the door, then back to pacing. Rainbow’s friends had long given up trying to calm the nervous pegasus, and had nestled in to watch her pace nervously around the waiting room. Fluttershy was doing her best to stay awake; a head propped up with a hoof, every so often her head bobbing down before shooting back up. Pinkie had thrown out subtlety and was currently sprawled across two chairs with her mouth hanging open, dead to the world. Applejack and Rarity sat shoulder to shoulder their heads resting gently against each other, using each other as makeshift pillows. The bang of the double-doors sent five mares jumping into the air, and a pink mare to the floor. Six heads turned towards the noise to see a doctor scanning the room. Rainbow knew this doctor. He was Twilight’s doctor. They made eye contact, and the doctor gave the briefest of smiles before making his way over toward the group. That was all the information Rainbow needed and shot past the doctor, through the swinging doors. Her wings beating furiously she scanned the room numbers as she flew down the hallway. 106, 107, 108...There! She flared her wings, but her momentum was too great and she came to a crashing halt straight into a medicine cart. Not sparing any more time to make sure she was uninjured or to help clean up, she shot through the door that she knew led to Twilight. Rainbow froze before the door even closed. Twilight was propped up in bed. Her eyes were closed, and had a tired, yet content, smile on her face. Her mane looked like she just gotten out of a wind tunnel. It was the most beautiful thing Rainbow had ever seen. Rainbow looked lower and saw a tiny face peeking out from the bundle of blankets Twilight was holding in her hooves. Make that the second most beautiful thing. Sickly - Nebula StarRainbow Dash winced and tried not to stumble or spill the tray she carried on her back as the entire castle shook. It was only thanks to her wings that she managed to keep the tray steady. That was a big one… she thought and hurried on her way, a little worried about what she’d find at her destination. Two more tremors shook the castle by the time she got there. Hesitantly, she pushed the door open to Twilight’s bedroom. “Is it safe to come in?” A groan came from the direction of the bed. “Probably not.” “I’ll just have to stay on guard then,” Rainbow told her with a slight grin, and stepped in. The room was a disaster, despite most of her possessions having been removed from the room as soon as she’d realized what she was coming down with. Scorch marks covered the walls, two of which were still smoldering. The carpet was shredded and the drapes were in tatters. There was also a giant orange were there should have been a large dresser, and one of the bed posts sported a bushy mustache near the top. “I brought you some hot soup,” Rainbow told her as she trotted over to the bedside. A corner of the bed’s comforter was blackened and smoking. “Thanks, Rainbow,” Twilight said with a weak smile. She didn't look much better than her room. Her mane was a mess, hairs sticking out, every which way; some, like her horn, appeared to have been burnt at the ends. Her eyes were bloodshot and appeared glossed over, and her snout looked sore and slightly swollen. Even her coat seemed faded and was matted in places after days in bed. “I’m just glad I can help,” Rainbow said, sliding the tray off her back onto the bedside table that had so far escaped the carnage. “That smells goo… uh… ah... Ah…!” Rainbow realized what was about to happen and leaped back as Twilight scrunched up her snout, trying in vain to stop the inevitable. “…CHOO!” A wave of magic erupted from her horn as she sneezed, slamming Rainbow into the wall and shaking the castle. Years of stunt practice allowed her to recover quickly from the impact, and it was a good thing too. After the initial blast, Twilight flopped back in the bed, too dizzy to even sit up as lightning sparked from her horn, evidence of a powerful magic charge that would have to be released faster than Twilight could control. Spells began leaping at random from the alicorn’s horn. Most would be harmless enough as Twilight didn't know a lot of combat magic, but there were a few that could cause some damage. Rainbow ducked one spell then threw herself into the air as another struck the ground where she’d just been. Two more spells were coming her way and she twisted her wings, throwing herself into a roll, dodging the beams of unknown magic only to find a third that she hadn't seen headed straight for her. There was nothing she could do, the spell hit her and with a bright flash, she fell to the floor. “Rainbow!” Twilight cried, having seen Rainbow take the hit. Silence descended over the room as the last of the out of control magic dissipated. “Rainbow?” Twilight repeated, almost a whimper, unable to see her past the edge of the bed and afraid to lift her head and look. “I’m alright.” Rainbow answered finally and with a slight groan, stood up. Something did feel off though. “At least I think I am…” Twilight’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth in shock. Then she laughed. “What?” Rainbow asked, looking herself over to see what was so funny. She found out when she looked over her shoulder. In place of her normal wings were two translucent butterfly wings with a rainbow of colors matching her mane and tail. “Heh, well that’s new…” “I’m sorry, Rainbow.” Twilight said, smiling apologetically. “Don’t worry about it, Twi,” Rainbow told her with a shrug. “But, your wings…” “They’ll go back to normal when the spell wears off right?” She nodded. “Yes, but…” “Then don’t worry about it, I can handle being a butterfly pony for a few days.” Twilight smiled sadly. “You shouldn't be risking yourself like this. I’ll be alright…” “I’m not about to let you suffer alone,” she said firmly as she sat by the side of the bed and picked up the bowl of soup from the miraculously lucky table that had once again escaped harm. “But you could get hurt!” “Hey, you stuck by my side the entire time when I had the feather flu. I wouldn't be much of a marefriend if I didn't do the same.” “The feather flu doesn't cause traumatic discharges that could take off a pony’s head.” Twilight replied in a flat tone. Rainbow just shrugged. “Only if they hit you.” “But…” “Twi, shut up and eat your soup,” Rainbow told her, holding out a spoonful of the hot broth and vegetables. Twilight just smiled sadly and accepted the food, knowing all too well that she was too weak to feed herself, but worried all the same that Rainbow could get hurt. It was clear though that the pegasus wasn't going to leave her, no matter the danger. And as Rainbow again fed her, nursing her through her illness as she had been for the past three days, Twilight couldn't help but wonder how she’d come to deserve such a devoted marefriend. Misunderstanding - CalmNQuietCLACK! On instinct, Twilight’s ears folded back and she winced at the echo of hoof against crystal reverberating through her home. She briefly considered a sound-dampening spell, but realized she didn’t have one in her repertoire. Not that it would help. Across from her, Rainbow Dash glowered with such intensity anything short of a full-energy-matter shield would be useless. Perhaps, she could be diplomatic about this. “Please, Rainbow, calm down.” This was statistically a poor thing to say given the situation. If only she could think properly in Rainbow’s presence, she might’ve responded with something a little less likely to catastrophically fail. And fail it did. Rainbow’s frown drew up so far, Twilight was unsure if it was still a frown or just a massive overdose of Pinkie’s Powerful Pucker-Up Powder. But given the nearly instantaneous response of: “I am calm! Don’t I look calm?” indicated her suspicions were correct. Another stomp, followed by a snort. Rainbow nearly growled and spread her wings. “Do you know what I’ve been through? I got up early. Early, Twilight! Do you know how hard that is for me?” Twilight nodded dumbly, not quite sure where this was going. “That’s right! Me, Rainbow, master napper, fastest cloud-pusher in Equestria, got up early to go to work. Skipped my hay-waffles, my hay-bacon strips, my Wonderbolts approved high-octane power juice, just so I could get to the library right when it opened.” “You did!” Twilight responded, perhaps a little loudly, all the shouting seemed to be affecting her. Or maybe it was the glisten of energy she could see in Rainbow’s eyes. “Then, I flew right to you. My best friend, the princess egghead of books, the very pony who got me into Daring Do in the first place, and you tell me I can’t check it out?” Rainbow’s forehooves crashed against the crystal floor once more. “You said it was on reserve for me!” “It is!” Twilight shouted, her voice straining to match the boundless energy which seemed to radiate from every one of Rainbow’s jerky motions. The countless muscles delightfully tensing and relaxing with each punctuated word beneath that beautiful blue coat. “Then where is it! Why can’t I have it?” Rainbow demanded, her mane tossing back. Specks of sweat launched themselves from her forehead, glistened through the air, and landed on a visibly panting Twilight Sparkle. “It...it’s Wednesday.” Twilight gasped out, her wings spread ajar—twitching and struggling to stay folded in a neatly coordinated fashion. “So?” Rainbow leaned forward, her eyes piercing into Twilight’s own, demanding, seeking, desiring... “Thursday.” Twilight croaked out, her senses surrounded by Rainbow’s presence. “It comes out on Thursday...” She sucked in a deep breath and watched as the world around her melted. The fiery pink hues of Rainbow’s eyes softened, Rainbow’s cheeks darkened, and those taunt muscles relaxed. They shared their closeness for but a moment longer before Rainbow drew back. “Oh.” Twilight nodded, catching her breath. They stared at each other for a moment, the sudden defusal leaving both a little unsure of what to do. Twilight reached into the vast depths of her mind for a solution. The obvious answer was always there. “Book...” Twilight stammered, “I mean, do you want to read the last book. You know to get pumped for the new one tomorrow.” Rainbow turned back and looked at the door and then back to Twilight. “Because, uhm...” Twilight shifted uncomfortably, “well, not many ponies come in this early in the morning. And we haven’t really read together in a while.” Rainbow opened her mouth, paused, and wondered what else she might be doing. A small smile grew on her lips. “Alright, it’s the least I can do after blowing up like that.” “It’s okay Rainbow, we can all get excited for a good book. I should know.” Twilight’s horn lit and she retrieved a copy of the latest Daring Do hidden safely beneath the counter and trotted to Rainbow’s side. “Always prepared, huh Twilight?” Rainbow grinned. “Always.” Twilight grinned back. Author's Note Next Prompt: Delay Delay - VertormA strong breeze rolled through the dark streets of Ponyville, carrying the detritus of fall along with it. Only a few ponies were outside to feel the stinging chill that the wind brought, the ones who did tightening up their scarves and further buttoning up their jackets. All except Rainbow Dash, that is. The cold bite of the wind affected her all the same, but she had not thought ahead to bring a winter jacket; she wasn’t even supposed to be out this late. She grimaced and pulled her head closer to her torso as the wind pulled at her mane and fur, both of her eyes closed. After a few moments, the force died down and her mane returned to its normal frazzled look. She opened her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s really almost midnight …?” she said, her voice unable the hide the hurt she felt. Rainbow sighed, thinking back to the letter that she had left open next to her unwashed dishes in her sink. Twilight had explained that it was finally time, she was gonna come home. After an entire year of being abroad, her trip was coming to an end. The note had included a copy of Twilight’s train ticket home, the arrival date scheduled for nine pm that very day. However, that had been a week ago. “Maybe tomorrow,” Rainbow whispered to herself as she pried her frozen body from the metal bench she had been waiting on. She cast one last look at the train station’s unloading dock, fully aware that the train hadn’t arrived in the minute that she hadn’t been looking. Besides, she’d have heard it anyways. She stretched her body, popping her joints as her wings opened up. As she lifted into the air and prepared to fly home, she made a promise to nopony in particular. “Don’t worry, Twi. I’ll be back again tomorrow, eight PM. I swear, I will be here when you finally return home.” Little did she know that a second letter related to Twilight’s arrival had been placed in her mailbox that very night. Author's Note Next prompt: Almonds Cider - Jondor“Gimme a cider, AJ.” Rainbow Dash grumbled as she plopped down on a stool in front of the drinks table. Her eyes remained fixed on a couple several tables away. “S’customary to say ‘please,’ sugarcube.” Applejack replied, sliding a mug of cider across the table nevertheless. Rainbow mumbled her thanks into her drink as she tipped it up and took a long pull. She slammed the still half-full mug down with a scowl. “Real cider, AJ. Not the foal’s stuff.” Applejack arched an eyebrow. “You sure, Rainbow? Remember what happened to ya at the last Summer Sun Celebration.” Rainbow waved a hoof behind her at the couple that had commanded her attention. “Take a look over there and tell me I don’t need a real cider.” Applejack didn’t even bother to look. “Alright, sugarcube, but just one.” She downed the rest of Rainbow’s first mug herself and refilled it from a red-banded barrel behind the table, attaching a similar red ring to the rim of the mug. “I still say you're overreacting.” Rainbow choked in the middle of her first sip, coughing and spluttering as she glared at Applejack. “How would you react if one of your best friends was dating...YOU!” The crowd parted just enough for the pair at the drinks table to clearly see Twilight Sparkle sitting with one large wing wrapped around another, nearly identical Rainbow Dash. The only visible differences being a slightly longer mane and the black-and-white ball she carried around with her. “I’d be happy for ‘em, sugarcube.” Applejack said, letting out a deep sigh. “I just don’t get it.” Rainbow grumbled, sipping her cider as she watched the pair of them. “Did she have the hots for me and this is her way of getting back at me for being taken?” “I doubt it, sugarcube.” Applejack rounded the drinks table and sat down next to Rainbow with her own red-rimmed mug of cider. “Y’all might look alike over here, but deep down yer two different ponies, er people. So stop frettin’ so much an’ just be happy that your friend and princess found herself a sweetheart.” Rainbow snorted, watching the pair of them nuzzling over the rim of her cider mug. “I’m trying, okay, but she’s ruining my rep by getting all mushy and kissy-faced.” Applejack chuckled. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. You an’ Rarity might try it yerselves sometime.” As Applejack continued giggling and Rainbow spluttered into her drink, they watched as Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom trotted up to Twilight and her Rainbow. Scootaloo’s tail flicked as she tried to speak and the other two had to keep her from turning to run, but she eventually said whatever it was she had to say, finishing with her small front hooves resting on the ball by Rainbow’s side. “There, see?” Applejack poked Rainbow as the pair of them watched the other Rainbow ruffle Scootaloo’s mane and then stand and trot over to an empty section of the field with the CMC, Twilight, and her ball in tow. “I don’t think your ‘rep’ is in trouble at all.” Rainbow blinked, setting her mug down as she watched ‘herself’ talking to Scootaloo and the others while twirling the ball on the tip of a hoof. Applejack nudged her. “Why don’t y’all go join ‘em. Looks like they’re fixing to learn a new game, an’ I bet it’d be more fun with even teams.” Rainbow nodded slowly as she got up and trotted toward the group. Author's Note Next Prompt: Bookmark Bookmark - CalmNQuiet“That’s strange...” Twilight trailed off as she rotated the book mid-air with her magic, peering at the tightly packed pages protected perfectly by a hardcover shell. Thinking back, she distinctly remembered setting a bookmark within these pages the previous afternoon after a joint-reading session with Rainbow. Glancing to the side, she queried Rainbow with her standard inquisitive look of possible suspicion but received no further confirmation other than a small shrug and a smile. Accepting the loss, she settled down on a cushion and opened the book in front of her. Nudging it a little to the right with her magic, she waited for Rainbow to get comfortable on the cushion next to her. “So.” Twilight paused and considered a very small possibility in the back of her mind. Her bookmarks only seemed to disappear when Rainbow Dash was reading with her, not that any pony else read with her, but the pattern was there. “Since the bookmark is missing, again.” Twilight paused for emphasis, and noted the the sudden tensing of the pony next to her. “Where should we start reading again? From the beginning?” “Yeah! Let’s read it from the beginning!” Rainbow chipped in immediately. “Or,” Twilight floated a small notepad over. “We could just start from the chapter I jotted down the last time you were here, since so many of my bookmarks have been disappearing.” “Oh.” Rainbow’s volume dropped noticeably, her apparent enthusiasm quenched by the cold harsh reality of organizational note taking. A long pause swirled between them. Twilight glanced over to Rainbow, but Rainbow was looking away, her ears flopped down against her skull. Clearly, the pegasus was uncomfortable in the sudden swelling of silence. Scooting a little closer to Rainbow, Twilight opened the book slowly to the chapter they left off at last time. “You know, Rainbow. You don’t have to leave when we’re done reading.” “Really?” Rainbow’s ears perked up as she turned to face Twilight. “Of course. After all, you’ve stayed later all the other times my bookmark has gone missing and we ended up reading a little more than usual. How about you stay for dinner afterwards? Spike always makes too much food anyways.” “That’d be awesome!” Rainbow grinned ear to ear. Twilight’s heart thumped hard in her chest. A happy sensation of a suspicion confirmed. Author's Note Next Prompt: Breathmint Breathmint - BronyWriter186One day in Ponyville, the newly announced couple Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, are going to the Ponyville orphanage to adopt a foal together. “So Dashie should we get a young colt or a filly?” Twilight asked RD. “I was thinking a filly would be the better choice. Since we already are raising Spike in a sense,” RD answered. “If you think that’s the best choice then a filly we will get, but would it be a better idea to get a colt since we already know what to expect?” Twilight questioned. “You do have point. But let’s decide when we get there?” RD answered. After They Got to the Orphanage “Welcome you two! Are you here to adopt a foal?” the headmistress asked. “Yes, we are,” Twilight answered. “So, do you have any preferences?” the headmistress asked. “We would prefer a pegasus. As for colt or filly it does matter to us,” RD answered. “Well we don’t have many pegasi but I can lead you to them all,” the headmistress answered. “Would you like to see the colts or fillies first?” “Fillies,” Twilight answered. “Fine,” RD mumbled under her breath. Twilight glared at her. “Come this way,” the headmistress instructed. After They Got to the Pegasus Fillies. “So, is there any that you think you want?” The headmistress asked. “What about this one Twi?” RD asked Twilight, while pointing toward a young filly with her hoof. “She is cute,” Twilight answered. “What is your name little filly?” Twilight asked the young filly. “Peppermint Swirl,” Peppermint Swirl mumbled in a shy tone. “Don’t be scared, you know what, you remind me of a friend of mine named Fluttershy,” Twilight said gently. Peppermint Swirl perked up curiously, obviously showing some interest. “What do you think Dashie, do you want to adopt her?” Twilight asked “Yes,” RD answered quickly. “We would like to adopt Peppermint Swirl,” Twilight said to the headmistress. After they returned to The Castle of Friendship “Well this is your new home,” Twilight said to Peppermint gently. “Could a call you mom?” Peppermint asked Twilight. “If it is what you want you can call both of us mom,” RD said to Peppermint Swirl. “Okay!” Peppermint said, cheerfully. “Hey mom, do you know when I’ll get my cutie mark?” Peppermint asked Twilight. “Can’t say for sure, but I do know some young fillies a little older then you who may be able to help you, but don’t you want to see your bedroom first?” Twilight answered, in a motherly tone. “Yeah!” Peppermint screamed. “I still can’t believe my new mom is Princess, though.” After Twilight showed Peppermint her new bedroom. “So, I remember you say I reminded you of someone can I meet her?” Peppermint asked Twilight. “Sure, but first do you want to meet your brother?” Twilight questioned. “Do you mean Spike? We are already friends, we met one day while I was at SugarCube Corner selling some mints to Pinkie Pie for Gummy,” Peppermint answered. “Is that Peppermint Swirl that I hear?” a male voice asked from within the room next door. Only a minute or two later Spike came into the room to investigate his suspicions. “It is you Peppermint, I didn’t you would be my new sister,” Spike said, happily. “Spike, it sure has been awhile, hasn’t it?” Peppermint said. The Next Day at The CMC Clubhouse “So, Peppermint Swirl, do have any hobbies that can keep you busy from time to time?” Sweetie Belle asked. Peppermint thought for a good three minutes before mentioning her “job” selling mints to Pinkie Pie for her alligator Gummy. “Well, is there anything else?” Scootaloo asked Peppermint Swirl. “Not that I can think of,” Peppermint said calmly. 30 minutes later “Have yah maybe thought that your talent is making mints?” Applebloom suggested. “Yeah, but I always thought that multiple ponies couldn’t have the same-,” Peppermint stated, before noticing that all 3 ponies in front of her all had the exact same talent. “Lots of ponies share similar talents Peppermint Swirl, but it isn’t usually the exact same,” Sweetie “The Dictionary” Belle answered. “Okay, so do you think I should try to make more mints or what?” Peppermint asked confused. “It’s usually not that easy but it’s a start,” Scootaloo answered. “Okay,” Peppermint said, cheerfully. Five minutes later “I can’t believe that my special talent was right under my nose!” Peppermint exclaimed, in udder joy. “It usually is but we never see until we have outside help,” Sweetie Belle said. Peppermint bounced away like Pinkie Pie usually does when she’s planning a party. Ten minutes later at The Castle of Friendship “Mom guess what!” Peppermint screamed. “What Peppermint?” RD and Twilight both asked. “Look I got my cutie mark,” Peppermint exclaimed. “Congratulations, sweetie!” RD and Twilight congratulated. “See it’s a spiral of peppermint swirls with a lime mint swirl in the middle,” Peppermint said. The End Author's Note Huh, this thing is still alive apparently. Next prompt: Internet Snowfall - Subsolar DriftThe fire crackled in the hearth, heat filling the library, keeping the cold and snow outside. The lights were dark, the room only lit by the flickering flames. A small way from the fire, a plush window bench lies, covered in pillows and blankets. Surrounded by the warmth from the fire and the pillows, two mares laid together, side by side with one’s wing draped over the other. The two gazed up into the falling snow and the stars above. One’s head laid on the shoulder of the other, careful to not stab her marefriend with the horn on her head. The hours passed as the two of them laid there in peaceful silence, reveling in each other’s presence. A gasp escaped one as in the darkness of night, the aurora came into view coloring the snow the mares favorite shades as it fell. A white rainbow twirled through the air highlighted with starlight. A chuckle escaped the pegasus as she pulled the unicorn closer. A blush crossed the unicorn’s face as she looked into the eyes of her lover. Her eyes closed as they kissed, filling each other with warmth. They broke the kiss and pulled closer to each other and looked once more towards the sky. “It’s beautiful.” “Not nearly so much as you.” The mares laid there, content, until they each fell asleep in the other’s embrace. The unicorn mumbled something in her sleep, and the pegasus mumbled back in her own dream. Smiling in her sleep the unicorn curled closer to the pegasus, and together they dreamed of a kaleidoscope of hues, both by the others side. Deep in love under the snowfall. Cooking - bats“Oh, Twilight, it’s terrible!” “What is it, Rainbow?” “It was a massacre. I’ve never seen anything so awful. It’s like Discord and Chrysalis had a foal and it was possessed by Nightmare Moon, and then Foalcord Moonsalis decided it wanted to show off like Trixie except with breakin’ stuff!” “Rainbow…so many things were wrong with what you just said my head hurts. But later for that, what happened? And where?” “In the kitchen!” “…” “Isn’t it terrible?” “Rainbow Dash…Wha…What the—how did—whe—?” “An’ you thought I was over-reacting!” “This is a pot of water, Rainbow. Why is it on fire? How is it on fire? It’s still full of water; water isn’t flammable!” “I know, right?” “And, and, why is there a can of beans on the ceiling? How is it on the ceiling; it doesn’t even look open! And what the heck is this over here—are these daisies battered in fondue?! …Rainbow Dash, did you make this mess?” “…” “…” “…The kitchen can’t contain my awesomeness?” “…” “Er, uh, uhm…I love you, Twi’.” “…I love you too, you moron. Ugh, so I’ll forgive you on one condition.” “Oh yeah?” “Tell me how you got the water to catch on fire.” “Uh…pegasus magic?” “…That’s a better excuse than Pinkie Sense, I guess.” “Rockin’! Wanna go make-out?” “…Yes. Hold on a sec. HEY SPIKE!” Wrestling - Cynical“No.” “What did you say?” “I said no.” The ponies passing by the library shot a confused glance at the building as a pair of voices inside steadily rose. “For the last time Rainbow, I don’t care if you’re the best damn flier in the whole Universe, you’re still living under my roof and you have to follow my rules!” “And when I don’t want to have my live dictated to me by some obsessive unicorn with a tendency to blow up at the sight of one measly unwashed dish?” One of the voices inside let out an explosive sigh, trying to contain her simmering anger, “It’s not just the dishes Rainbow… it’s the complete lack of disorganisation for crying out loud. How are you supposed to live your life when you have no checklist or rules or anything to keep you in check? More importantly, how am I meant to keep track of my studies when you keep interrupting them incessantly?” A pause. “Rainbow… oh, sorry, I didn’t-“ “Is that all I am to you then? A distraction?” “Rainbow, I didn’t mean-“ “Sorry for distracting you then, I’ll just go and remove myself so you can get your ‘important’ work done shall I?” The venom in the voice was unmistakable. “Rainbow, I’m-“ “Save it, I’ll talk to you in the morning, maybe.” And with that, a prismatic-maned pegasus slammed open the door to the library and flew off into the night. Expectations - Subsolar DriftTwilight Sparkle, once one of the most talented unicorns in the world, now an alicorn princess with incredible power. She was renowned worldwide for her level head and compassionate heart. Everypony loved her. Rainbow Dash, captain of the Wonderbolts, the only living pony to have every done a Sonic Rainboom, and the mare who captured the heart of a princess. She was renowned worldwide for her dedication and masterful flight. Everypony admired her. In a far corner of the royal library inside the Canterlot castle, a young filly sat dejectedly with a book in her hooves. She let out a sigh as she fluttered her small wings and looked out the window. She couldn’t yet fly even though every other pegasus her age could. She crossed her eyes and looked up at the her rather small horn. Every other unicorn her age was already in complete control of their magic and learning more and more spells. Aurora, the daughter of Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, began to cry. “Aurora?” Came a voice from a ways down the shelves. Aurora sat bolt upright and quickly wiped away her tears with a hoof. The voice came again. “Aurora is that you?” Twilight Sparkle galloped to her daughter’s side, a worried look in her eyes. “Are you alright?” “Y-yeah, of course! I’m just reading.” Aurora tried to stop her voice from wavering as she spoke, trying to not to give anything away. “Aurora, you know you can talk to me anytime right? Being your mother is my job first, even before being a princess.” Twilight rested a wing over her daughter, drawing her closer. Aurora was quiet for a minute, finally sighing before she spoke. “I just feel like I’m a huge let down for you and Dash. I can’t fly, I can barely use magic, I’m just a failure.” Twilight stared at her daughter. “I’m so sorry.” She whispered. “I never really thought about all the expectations that would be placed on you. I want you to know that we are so proud of you. You are in no way a let down, even if you can’t fly or do magic very well, we still love you.” “I know mom, I just want to be good at magic or flying. I want to follow in your guys’ hoofsteps.” She sniffed once more and leaned into her mother. “Hey, don’t give up hope. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ll be great at both one day. I bet it’s just because your a little slow to grow. After all, how many other alicorn foals are there?” “You’re right!” Exclaimed Aurora, giving her mother a huge hug. “Feeling better?” Twilight smiled. “Yeah, Thanks mom, you’re the best.” The mother and daughter embraced. “Not nearly as great as you! Now what were you reading?” The two ponies stayed there for a while, leaving all of their problem behind for a time while Twilight read to her daughter. Waiting - OrphiusOlyandraTick, tock, tick tock... There was nothing to be nervous about. Right? I mean, I was the coolest thing in Ponyvil- No, the world! Who was it the fans chanted for at each Wonderbolt Rally? Who was the sole master of the Sonic Rainboom? Who else in the whole wide world of history decimated the last speed record? Rainbow Dash that's who! I was cool, I was awesome, I was radical and that was a scientifically proven fact. Trust me, I've got a certificate framed up in my bedroom wall signed by Princess Celestia herself. Okay, maybe that last was a line, but still! There was no way in Tartarus any pony would ever think about turning down a piece of flank as hot as this one right here. Winner of the Hottest Mare in Equestria three times running by a mile, not to mention my total domination in all polls, as well as all the fanfillies lining up for a piece of me, and I was most certainly the most desired pony ever. Tick, tock, tic... There was absolutely zero doubt in my mind she would say yes. I mean, we all knew she was into mares despite her completely inability to find a date and I was the hottest mare. And coolest, can't believe I almost forgot coolest. So it was QUD right? Or was it QAD? QED? Something like that, I dunno. Some egghead thing she always says when she proves a point. Whatever. The point was she was going to say yes and that was that. ...k, to... Hey wait, was that a new vase she got? Yeah, I think it was. Heh, it was way better than that old thing of hers with the flower pattern and cracks running everywhere. I swear, she had to fix that thing about three times a week thanks to me and Spike. Yeah, those were the days. Maybe I should go visit AJ afterwards and see what she's been up to lately. Oh, and to rub in her face that I totally got the hottest mare in Equestria to be my wife. ...ck... "Yes." My heart froze as I stared at her, unable to comprehend what it was she just said. "Yes!" I suddenly found myself on the floor, with a very ecstatic mare on top of me. Sure, it wasn't our normal deal, but buck, I wasn't about to start complaining. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" We just lay there, hooves around each other with dopy smiles on our faces. There was no need to talk, to break the silence for it was so perfect. Everything just felt so surreal, so crazy, as though it was straight from one of those cheesy romance novels Rarity loves so much. "D-Dashie? Are you crying?" "Of course I am." I nuzzled her tenderly. "You just made me the happiest mare alive." Updraft - Cynical“Yes everything’s going to be just fine!” Was the last thing I said before I passed over something beneath me… It felt warm, which meant that it was only hot air, but hot air rises… meaning that I’d just hit my first updraft, with no idea on how to deal with it. I had just enough time to draw in one hesitant breath before my left wing twisted behind me, rolling my over and sending me into an irreversible barrel roll. How on Earth was I supposed to reverse this, I just kept rolling and going… slightly… downwards… “Oh horseapples.” I muttered from within the mini-tornado as the land began to replace the sky. I hated landings. Bracing myself for the inevitable impact with the ground, I almost didn’t notice when a quiet whooshing sound passed me by. That was when I impacted. Except the impact didn’t make any sense… I should have still been at least 100 hooves into the air by now, gravity shouldn’t have affected me that fast, even if I was adding to my momentum slightly. Added to the fact that there didn’t seem to be any pain… A gasp from behind me finally forced me to open my eyes. “Rainbow Dash?” The named pegasus behind me smiled. “As if I’d let you fall.” Makeovers - Cynical“Come On Rainbow!” “No, I don’t care, I’m not going.” “It’s only one afternoon trip to the spa with our friends.” “I’m still not going, there’s no way, no, way, I’m going to be caught in some stupid spa after last time.” Twilight sighed, she’d expected that she’d have some difficulty persuading Rainbow to come along with her. “Which is why Rarity took the liberty of hiring out the private section of the spa this time.” “Still don’t care, I have to practise my flying if I’m ever going to get into the Wonderbolts.” A frustrated groan caused Rainbow to look over the side of her cloud at the unicorn below her, now with a hoof firmly attached to her face. “You alright there Twi’?” “Fine… just fine. You know what, I’m not even being sarcastic here, I’ll just rescind my own invitation, I’ve some tomes that I needed to finish anyway.” The hoof lowered from Twilights’ face as she turned around and started her way back to the library. Not five paces later though, her path was blocked by Rainbow. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, just because I said I didn’t want to go doesn’t stop you from going, I know you like that stuff. It’s just me that doesn’t.” Twilight shook her head slightly, angling her head towards the ground, “No, it’s fine, I just thought, no. Nevermind.” Rainbow quirked her head at Twilight, “You thought…?” Twilight mumbled something, far too quiet for Rainbow to hear. “What?” Rainbow asked, “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.” “I thought you’d make it a bit more bearable…” she muttered in reply, her gaze now fixed on the floor as her face flushed red. She stayed like that for a few seconds, then gasped, her head shooting up as something feathery laid itself across her back. A glance to her side revealed Rainbow, smiling encouragingly at her. “Let’s go back to the library shall we? There’s a new book you keep telling me about.” “Maybe we could read it together.” Stumped - batsClack, clack, clack, clack. Twilight glanced up from her desk, absent-mindedly rolling the piece of parchment up and setting the quill back in an inkwell with her magic. Rainbow Dash’s hooffalls were heavy on the stairs; slow and deliberate steps taken grudgingly. Her rose colored eyes were clouded with deep thought under the unkempt reds, oranges, and yellows of her mane. She reached the landing and paused, her vision slowly coming into focus on Twilight’s worried gaze. The blue mare regarded her blankly for a moment before her mouth opened; a subdued tone of voice punctuated by cracks from disuse. “Hey.” Twilight smiled wanly, her reply gentle and infused with kindness. “Hi, Rainbow.” She stood from her writing desk and cantered over to Rainbow Dash, but was unable to bring herself closer than five or six feet. “How are you feeling?” The pegasus stiffened; a rolling wave of tension running from snout to tail across her frame. In jerking motions her head turned to regard her sides. She looked at her wings. Sky blue limbs powered by honed musculature and constant practice, the most powerful wings in Equestria, were no more. Stumps jutted from her barrel on either side, criss-crossed with darkened scar tissue shiny and hairless. Her head snapped around to face forward again, a pained determination forcing her expression to be neutral. “I’m fine.” Her voice cracked again. The break expanded past her voice to her mask, tears edging their way from the corners of her eyes. A look of shame flashed over Rainbow’s face as she sunk to her haunches, violent shudders cascading down her shoulders. The spell of caution over Twilight broke and she galloped the remaining distance to wrap her hooves around her broken lover. “I’m here, Rainbow,” she whispered, hot tears running down her shoulder as she held the pegasus close. “They took everything from me, Twilight,” she sobbed, wrapping her hooves around Twilight’s middle and holding her in a desperate, iron grip. “What’m I supposed to do now?” Wetness running down her cheeks, Twilight stroked colorful mane soothingly. “We’ll figure something out. Together.” “You’re all I have now, Twi’,” Rainbow rubbed her eyes into Twilight’s chest, “I’m useless now. That’s not fair to you. You deserve better’n a cripple.” Twilight’s grip tightened, vehemence entering her voice. “I love you, Rainbow. Wings or no wings. You’ll find your place again. I promise.” “Where do I even look?” Rainbow asked miserably. Twilight didn’t have an answer. She held her lover while they both cried. Nibbles - CynicalThe creature advanced slowly upon her prey, the pegasus in front of her, hopelessly ignorant of it as it continued to creep slowly towards her, its eyes fixed upon a point just above Rainbow Dash’s neck. Closer and closer it crept, its target now clear as the creature grew nearer and nearer. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash yawned, throwing her legs skywards as she stretched, leaning her head back to an encore of small cracking and creaking noises, causing the creature to freeze completely. The pegasus opened her sleepy eyes and looked straight at the creature. “Mor- Morning Twi’.” She said, yawning. The creature sighed, standing up. “Hey Dash.” The creature, now revealed to be Twilight Sparkle, looked at Rainbow, who’d rolled herself onto her front and had tilted her head, scrutinising her. “Say Twi’, why are you wearing my super-awesome Spy suit?” Twilight glanced at herself, the catsuit she’d borrowed from Dash still covering her frame. “Research purposes…” she offered lamely, hoping that her infamous sociability would deter any more questions. Her eyes flitted back to her previous target again, then back into the face of Dash as the other pony shrugged and closed her eyes again, resting her head on her hooves. “Well alright… just give it back when you’re done, mkay?” “Sure.” Twilight’s eyes moved back slowly, drawn to the point from earlier as her hooves started silently forwards again. She was almost there… She could do this… Her head was inches away… Then Dash twisted beneath her, two hooves enveloping her in a hug as Rainbow brought her head up and started… Nibbling on Twilights… ear? Her eyes widened for a moment, having expected her target to have been somewhat more… mouthy. Her eyes flicked over to Twilight, scanning her expression, which had become decidedly more relaxed as Dash continued to knead the ear between her teeth. She followed Twilights’… surprisingly static gaze towards her own ear. Rainbow let go of Twilights’ ear, chuckling softly. “Almost egghead… almost.” Tragedy - Incredible BlunderboltWhat a great friend you turned out to be... The room was silent except for the occasional sniffle or melancholic snort. Rainbow Dash sat at the front, nearest to the large, ornate container except for a few openly weeping ponies. Her normally wild and unkempt mane was neatly brushed and freshly washed; it flowed over her head and drooped over her face, covering her watery eyes. She was dressed in a simple set of lavender colored steel armor, decorated with stars—the only suit of its kind, and it was soon to be destroyed. It's all your fault, you know. You insisted on having the job. One of the crying stallions at the front approached her, tears still flowing down his cheeks. He took a deep breath and removed his ceremonial helmet before sitting down beside her. You said you could handle it... "I know how you must feel," he said after a moment, looking at the box. "Oh, really?" Dash squeaked venomously. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stared into the Guard Captain's eyes with unbridled rage. "I'm sure you lost the pony you lo—were best friends with on the first day you were charged with protecting her!" You said you could keep her safe... Shining Armor bit his lip. "You can't blame yourself, Dash. This is a sad day, but nopony could have stopped him; nopony expected it..." "She did!" Dash sobbed, waving at the casket. "She did, and nopony believed her! And he... he..." You said you would trust her... "I don't care if he pays!" Dash cried, burrowing her face into the Captain's protective shoulder. "I just want my Twilight back." And now she's gone forever, all thanks to you. Reflection - Tavi n ScratchI stared into the beautiful eyes, the reflection in the mirror that wasn’t my own. It was her mirror image, I hadn’t seen her in a year. It’s felt like much longer than that, time just likes to drag I guess. Lonely days spent with my books, and even they were not a suitable substitute for the company of my special somepony. She Certainly looked the same. In fact she looked just like she did the last time I saw her, well last time she was healthy. It made no sense, I was just looking into the bedroom mirror when instead of myself I saw a familiar and beautiful face. I began to inspect deeply, making sure it was actually her. Her cyan coat glowed with a bright and adventurous gleam, ready to streak across the sky. Her eyes were the same healthy shade of magenta, a glint in them was very noticeable, that competitive spark that drove her to be the very best, to never give up. Her mane was a beautiful palette of colors, a bit raggedy from the air speed. It was definitely her. I was in shock, it made no sense for her to be here, but it’s what I saw. I thought to myself, count my blessings, don’t question a gift. A smile crossed each of our mouths, I could feel a distant happiness coming near. I blinked, and when I looked into the mirror again I just saw a very sad unicorn. Overpower - batsHooves thundered a rapid percussion along the worn dirt roads, racing through the outset of Ponyville. A heard of ponies raced across the landscape, leaves a rich spectrum of reds, yellows, and browns falling gently from the trees in their wake. Towards the front of the group, Rainbow Dash and Twilight galloped shoulder to shoulder. Rainbow’s voice was measured and even, her words spaced between controlled breaths. “Doin’ alright, Twi’?” The unicorn’s breathing was more labored and unsteady, but her tone was bright and upbeat. “Yeah. Piece a’ cake.” “If you need to slow down, just let me know; we’re doin’ this together.” Twilight nodded as she galloped, shooting Rainbow Dash a slightly strained smile. The procession weaved through the forest for the remainder of the afternoon. Positions were swapped among the ponies, but the blue and purple pair remained side by side. Leaves cascading around them, they made their way slowly to the finish line. “Whew!” Rainbow Dash breathed, “That was a work-out!” Gulping in deep breaths, she settled down next to Twilight, resting a hoof on her back. “You make it through okay?” Twilight turned a bleary eye to the pegasus, her legs wobbly despite already sitting. “I’m sorry,” she struggled out between gasps, “You could’ve won, Rainbow. I slowed you down.” “How’d I call it a win if you weren’t there, Twi’? AJ won, so what?” A wing unfurled and pulled Twilight in close. “You’re not disappointed?” “I’ve had enough feelin’ down about not winning stuff that isn’t important, Twi’. This was for fun and that’s what I had. I’d trade comin’ in first in a race by myself for comin’ in second with the mare of my dreams any day.” The grip of her wing tightened. “I love you, Twi’.” Sudden strength swam through Twilight’s body. She leapt and tackled the blue mare to the ground, forcefully pressing their muzzles together. Rainbow flailed in surprise, but found herself well and truly pinned. After a moment, her brain caught up with her body and she stopped fighting. A few catcalls snapped Twilight to her senses and she sat back sheepishly, coughing into a hoof. Rainbow sat up, directing a glare at the few ponies giggling and whistling lewdly. Blushing, Twilight whispered, “I don’t know what came over me.” Wrapping a hoof and wing back around the unicorn’s side, Rainbow Dash leaned in close. “Well whatever it was, you better do it again later.” Twilight’s face darkened further. Quills - Subsolar Drift“Happy birthday Twi!” I pulled out the carefully hoofwrapped gift I had made, hoping she’d like it. She gave me a thankful smile and used her magic to tear off the wrapping. A smooth wooden box met her gaze, our cutie marks painstakingly carved into the top. “Rainbow, its great!” I smiled at my marefriend, loving her enthusiasm even when I knew it wasn’t what she was expecting. “Go on, open it.” She lifted the latch with her magic and opened the lid. A set of blue feathers met her eyes. Slowly, she picked one up in her magic and let out a slight gasp. The father was made into an high quality quill. “I know you’ve needed some more quills ever since Quills and Sofas shut down, so I’ve been collecting my feathers for a while. I took them to a big quill store in Manehattan and they made them into these quills.” “Oh, Rainbow! You didn’t have to do this. I can just order my quills.” Giving her a hug, I chuckled. “But are the quills you order enchanted to last longer and resist damage.” “What?!” Her horn lit as she brought the quill closer to her to examine it. She cast a quick spell and the quill shimmered a rainbow of colors. “Rainbow how did you do this? It’s amazing!” “Well, while I was in Manhattan I saw a unicorn who was doing enchantments for ponies, so I went ahead and asked if she could do it for me.” Giving me a huge smile, Twilight brought herself up to me and kissed me. Breaking free from my mouth, she said, “Thank you so much, this is the best gift I’ve ever gotten!” “Plus it’ll give you something to remember me by while I’m on tour. You will write to me right?” “Of course!” She exclaimed, surprised I’d even think she wouldn’t. “Now come on, lets spend our last night for quite a while together.” With that, we both went upstairs to bed. Cookies - Subsolar DriftIt was a cool fall afternoon when the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking wafted through the library. Upstairs, Twilight Sparkle was wrapped in a blanket, reading the latest Daring Doo, and starting to get hungary. When she smelled the cookies, her stomach growled, breaking her focus on the book. She stood and stretched, taking a minute to bask in the wonderful smell before heading downstairs to find the cookies which were producing the wonderful aroma. Entering the kitchen, Twilight stopped dead in her tracks. A battlefield of batter, flour, eggs, and sugar met her gaze. In the center of it all sat her marefriend, eyes closed sniffing the heavenly aroma in the air while covered in the ingredients she had been using. Hearing the gasp from Twilight, Rainbow’s eyes shot open in shock and fear. She turned slowly to the unicorn and smiled guiltily. Twilight walked slowly towards her while purveying the mess. She stopped just in from of Dash and looked down on her. She leaned in, bringing her face close to Dash. Dash cringed in fear, wary of the wrath of her lover. Twilight opened her mouth, only to lick a bit of batter of Dash’s nose. With a chuckle, she sat down next to her surprised marefriend and smelled the air. Dash laughed and pulled Twilight next to her and there they both sat waiting for the sweet treat to exit the oven. Journalists - Incredible BlunderboltIt was dark under Fluttershy's deck, that was for sure. And dusty. And webby. And kinda creepy... Nah, it wasn't scary. Not really. Anyway, I inched my way closer to the voices above, making sure to keep my notepad from touching the damp dirt. When I finally reached the perfect spot to listen, a laid down low and placed the journal before me for quick note-taking. Snickering, I pulled out my pencil and perked up my ears. "I don't know, 'Shy..." Rainbow Dash's awesome voice was completely unmistakable, even through the wood of the porch. "I don't really think I'm ready for that..." I smiled a really big smile. I'd followed Rainbow Dash all the way from school in hopes that she'd do something extremely awesome that I could totally write for the Foal Free Press but, so far, she'd given me absolutely nothing to work with! No rainbooms. No life-saving. No super-awesome tricks or totally crazy crashes! Looks like I've finally got something worth reporting! "...nothing... afraid of... -ash," came an incredibly quiet answer. I had to strain myself just to make out the words. Stifling a giggle, I began to jot down what I could make out. Actually, Rainbow Dash was afraid of something? That was ridiculous—nopony was going to believe me. I'd just have to keep listening, I decided, and find something else to report! "But you know her! If she doesn't see something coming from a mile away, she totally flips!" Who the hay were they talking about, anyway? "...still tell... truth. Twi... to know! It's better...find out herself." "Ugh," I groaned, rolling my eyes. Maybe there wasn't anything to report here—just stupid, boring grown-up talk. Seriously, how could they not be falling asleep right now? "I know, but... I just don't know..." "Just remember... here... no matter what." That's it! I'm outta here! I picked up my journal and turned around to the hole in the fence. This has officially gotten more boring than math class! I popped out from under the porch and entered the daytime world. I breathed in a really deep breath and looked at the sky. In a tree to my right, I heard a soft chirping noise. Baby birds! I hoof-pumped excitedly. That'd be perfect for an article! I looked up at the nest, high in the tree, then at my less-than-awesome wings. Now, how do I get up there? Heist - CynicalThe midnight burglar crept through the house, leaving no hoofprints in her wake. She’d slipped the window and made her way across the front room, climbed the stairs and navigated the landing, now all that was left was the dragons’ lair itself, literally. Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom. The burglar twisted the handle and opened the door, the well-oiled hinges staying silent as the thief slipped through, closing the door to behind her. The burglar allowed herself a sigh of relief before looking around the room for her prize. Was it a collection of quills, all lined up against one another in size order? Nope. Was it the dragon, curled up with a fat ruby in his claw? Fat chance. Or was it what the purple unicorn herself was clutching to her chest in her sleep? Bingo. Now all she had to do… was get it. Nothing that hard, right? The thief looked around the room for something, running her eyes over every little detail in the room, looking for something to help her. Aha, that would do it. The thief crept up alongside the bed, being careful of the squeaky floor and the sleeping unicorn within, and proceeded to pick up the object on the bedside table, grunting slightly at the weight. Another moment later, the thief had balanced the object on one hoof, already planning out the next stage in the theft. She made her way around the bed, coming to the side which Twilight faced with the treasure within her hooves. The thief sighed again. Surely this part would be as simple as they made it out in the adventure books dotted around this very library? Just a simple switcharoo? Or something… Well, thinking about it wasn’t going to get the thief anywhere, so after another calculating stare, the thief got to work, slowly sliding the tome within her hooves, into the unsuspecting embrace of the unicorn below. And the book that the unicorn had held, closer and closer to the thief’s own reach. Closer… Closer… Nearly there… And yes! The thief’s face broke into a smile at her achievement, clutching her treasure to her chest tightly before stowing the treasure on her back and making her way out the silent room again. Unbeknownst to the thief, the unicorn in the room smiled to herself. “Completely predictable Dash.” Static - Incredible BlunderboltThe only light in the room came from the fireplace, just like always. Twilight hummed contentedly as she dug her way deep under my wing, just like always. I ran a hoof down her mane, tracing her beautiful locks down her neck; they were silky and smooth, just like always. Three... Two... One... Twilight craned her head up and pecked me on the cheek, just like always; it was soft and sweet, just like always. Tonight, though, her expression was different. Instead of her usual look of love and compassion, she wore a frown on her face. “Dashie?” she whispered gently, her eyes shimmering. “Are you okay?” I frowned and looked at the fireplace. “I'm fine,” I said. “I'm perfect, actually. Everything's perfect...” A lavender hoof settled on my cheek and steered my gaze back to its owner. “Then what's wrong?” she asked. My ears drooped. “I'm sorry, Twi,” I muttered, “ I didn't mean to ruin our night...” “You haven't ruined anything,” she said with a half-smile, rubbing her hoof deeper into my cheek. “Now tell me what's wrong.” I sighed. “It's just...” I stumbled for words—there was no real way to say it other than the blunt way. “I'm bored.” Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “You're bored?” “Yeah,” I grumbled, looking down at the floor. “Don't you ever feel like we kinda do the same thing over and over?” Lavender eyes narrowed. “So what, you're bored with me?” “No!” I said quickly, tightening my hold on her before she could stomp off. “I just... I feel like we're just going through the motions, y'know? I mean, what did we do last night? And the night before? And the night before that?” Twilight's jaw fell. “I... you're right...” I bit my lip. Was this it? I didn't want it to be. I thought we were happy, but maybe we just weren't supposed to be together. Even after all the effort I'd put into getting her to go out with me, two months later, we were boring. Maybe she was going to just give up, and that would be that. I hoped she didn't. “I-I don't wanna—“ Suddenly, I was pushed to the ground and my vision was filled my lavender. My lips were sealed by hers and she pinned my forelegs to the floor. “Wh-what're you doing?” I panted when she broke the kiss. Standing tall over me, Twilight smirked, her eyes sparkling in the firelight. “Shaking things up a bit...” Homework - GAPDashieDear Princess Celestia, While it's natural to be proud of the things that you do well, I've learned that it's also easy to take that pride too far. It took the actions of one Mare Do Well to realize that Rainbow Dash stared at the parchment under the flickering light of a lone candle, her quill hanging poised in the air as she wrestled with her own thoughts. Sighing, she glanced at the wastebasket, where her first attempt lay in a crumpled ball. Rainbow let her head hit the desk with a resounding thump. "Dash?" A violet figure sat up in bed, squinting across the room through sleep-bleared eyes. "What are you doing up?" Rainbow didn't move. The bed squeaked softly as Twilight arose, joining Dash at the desk. Her eyes softened as they fell upon the half-finished report. "Rainbow... do you... want to talk about it?" Dash kept her head down while she considered her response. No matter how deeply she dug, she couldn't seem to find a single shred of remorse... only hurt. "Why?" Twilight blinked. "What?" "Why'd you feel the need to go behind my back like that? Why didn't you girls just talk to me about this? I... I would've understood." Twilight flinched. She reached for Dash, who flinched away from her touch. "Rainbow Dash, I... you were out of control." The argument fell flat even in her own ears. Rainbow nodded, her eyes squeezed shut. "I know that. Still... why couldn't you have just trusted me?" Twilight opened her mouth, immediately closing it again. "You're right, Dash," she murmured at last. "You weren't the only one that made a mistake." A ravenous smile abruptly crossed her face, and she leaned down to Rainbow's ear. "I promise I'll make it up to you," she purred, running a silken hoof along the base of Dash's stiffening wings. Rainbow let out a shuddering breath, smirking up at the unicorn. "Point taken. Just let me finish this real quick." Two hours later, the pair were sound asleep, locked in an embrace of mutual forgiveness. Dear Princess Celestia, While it's natural to be proud of the things that you do well, I've learned that it's also easy to take that pride too far. It took the actions of one Mare Do Well to realize that, which actually turned out to be the work of all five of my friends. I admit, it hurt to learn that my best friends decided to scheme and plot rather than come to me directly. But that's the great thing about friendship... it stands strong in spite of mistakes. Loyal always, Rainbow Dash Sixty Minutes - Incredible BlunderboltI bit my lip as I finished my thirty-second lap around the waiting room. Groaning, I steered my head back to the spot on the wall that had garnered most of my attention for most of my time here. The clock read nine forty-two. Fifty-five minutes. Almost an hour. It had been almost an hour since they'd taken her into that room—the one with screams of blood-curdling agony ripping through the walls. They wouldn't let me in with her. "Too many unknowns," they'd said. "We've never dealt with this kind of circumstance. We need all the space we can get." After that, they locked me out here. Alone. To wait... Celestia had said that it would be dangerous—maybe too dangerous. Nopony had ever done it before, but Twilight wanted to, and by Luna, she set her mind to it and Celestia helped her out. Now, I could hear her screams echo down the halls, each one sent shivers down my spine. Hang in there, Twi. It's gonna be okay... Fifty-seven minutes... The screaming stopped. A doctor in a white coat opened the door. "Miss Dash?" he said, peering around the room. "Over here," I answered. The doctor motioned me closer. "Now," he said softly, "It's not exactly pretty in there... Try not to cause any undue stress." I nodded and pushed my way passed him. On the other side of the door lay Twilight, white bed-sheets covering her figure. I stepped inside and walked over to the side of her bed. "Hey, Twi," I whispered, "How ya doin'?" Her tired eyes drifted up to meet my own. The amethyst orbs said it all: pain. Lots of it. And peace... A quiet kind of tranquility drifted around in there too. In her embrace, a little bundle wailed. Twilight pushed a scrap of blanket off the face of a deep indigo pegasus. The foal cried and cried and cried. And so did I— At minute sixty... Burnout - CalmNQuietRainbow Dash collapsed backwards onto her flared wings — panting hard. She reached up with a trembling hoof and wiped the sweat off her forehead. Crossing her legs, she rested her hooves behind her head with a satisfied smile. Today started out perfect. She got plenty of rest and opened up the morning with a delicious breakfast of fresh juice. Avoiding heavy food in the morning was her secret to beginning every day with a bang right out of bed. A shower usually followed, it was important to wash all the sweat off from her early morning workout lest she suffer through endless provocative stares. Refreshed from the shower, she set off to do the duties planned for the day. More cloud pushing. She didn’t always enjoy cloud pushing. But now, shoving her body against the soft cushiony surface and sliding those round clouds all over the place was bliss. She didn’t know why she enjoyed it so much, but she figured it because of her brightened outlook on life. Even lunch was better these days! Normally, she’d just casually scarf down her meal. Now, she took the time to enjoy it. She buried her muzzle into her hot meal and savored every little bit. Twilight couldn’t really cook, but it didn’t stop Twilight from giving her the best lunch she could procure every single day. Rainbow Dash loved it. The afternoons were reserved for showing off the latest tricks to Twilight. She demonstrated her super corkscrew spin and Twilight would gasp in delight. The Double-Fly-By always enchanted her marefriend and left her stunned. And of course, every so often she finished with her trademark Rainboom, splattering the colors all over. By the time night rolled around she was pretty tired and wanted nothing more than to eat and get to bed. She snapped back to reality and snuggled up next to Twilight with a grin. “Burned out yet?” Twilight panted heavily, her mane a mess, her fur completely matted and messy. “Nnn...can’t move.” Rainbow Dash laughed and kissed Twilight on the nose. “I guess I win.” Twilight groaned and pushed over the first copy of the latest Daring Doo to Rainbow before falling asleep. Wonderbolt - CynicalShe’d finally made it! The Wonderbolts, her lifelong dream was within her reach. Her dream had finally started coming to life when she’d received a summons to Spitfire’s office at the Wonderbolt training centre. She’d been going there for a year now and as far as she could see, she’d been going from strength to strength, her moves were the fastest, the most elegant, and after the first time, she’d hardly broken anything around the course… Much. When Spitfire invited her in with a smile, Rainbow had wondered what was going on, Spitfire NEVER smiled at a recruit whilst they were in her office, it was unheard of. It was when she’d sat Rainbow down and poured her a whiskey that she’d started to suspect something, and if that wasn’t enough, then the question came. “Why do you think you should be a Wonderbolt?” Even now, as she whispered the revered question, she couldn’t help but shiver in anticipation. But even then… She hadn’t answered until she’d thought things through, and even the answer she’d given was a simple one. ‘It’s my dream.’ That was when Spitfire had smiled widely at her, and passed her an envelope. An envelope with a lightning bolt seal on the back. She was graduating with full honours and a position within the Wonderbolts. And if that wasn’t enough, she’d told her marefriend, Twilight Sparkle about it, and she’d smiled wider than Spitfire had done, and hugged Rainbow tightly. All she'd told Rainbow between the happy cuddles, was this. “I’m happy for you.” Swimming - Ginger PonyFrom the centre of the lake, Rainbow Dash looked over towards the bank, admiring the actions of a rather attractive purple mare who was nervously pacing around the waters edge, placing a tentative hoof on the surface, only to pull it away with a small, cute yelp. "...come on Twi! Its not that hard you know. Its just like walking! Only on water!" "But like ive kept saying, Rainbow," Twilight spoke over the waters surface, "I've never learned to swim properly before" She gazed downwards, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. "Well," Rainbow responded, "Youre not taking the easy way, so the hard way it is!" As she said it, she launched herself off of the surface, and flew directly towards Twilight, who failed to react in time before a multicoloured blur swept her off her feet, and towards the body of water. "Rainbow! Agh, put me ugh-" The lake cut Twilight's pleas sort, as the light blue form above her released its grip from around her waist. Water rushed over her head and into her nose, causing her it instinctively panic. She kicked out with her hooves, trying to run away, and... It worked. Her head broke through to air, sending a cascade of dropplets around her. "how did I... What the...?" Twilight asked incohirently as she scanned the area for Rainbow. She looked across the water and towards the bank, even up into the sky; but she didnt look down. Rainbow was a few feet under the surface, her chest facing up, and her body away from Twi's, so her head lurked just under the others. She pushed her forehooves towards a rather suprised Twilight, her hooves wrapping around her neck, and pulled the mares head under to meet her own. She brought the mare into a passionate embrace, causing Twilight to instantly relax as Rainbow's tounge pushed past Twi's lips. She could get used to swimming, Twilight thought. Potion - Tavi n ScratchThe sweet vapors twisted their way through my mind, it smelled like Ponyville after rain and fresh parchment. A clever ruse if I do say so myself. This potion is a tricky brew, making itself appealing to anyone exposed to the smell, giving of an aroma that the mind perceives to be the most pleasant, when in actuality it smells like a simple flower. The entire process was mesmerizing, and highly illegal. Long ago, the brewing of love potions was outlawed, I can see why. Administer a love potion to anyone and you’ll have them wrapped around your hoof, one could easily topple a nation, overthrow a government, or make away with the most valuable items in pony history. But of course that’s not what I’m intending to do. I’m trying to not just stimulate obsession, I want to create love from nothing, true love. Well not really nothing, there is already an established friendship, I just need to make it more. I’m still surprised that I was able to take rejection in stride, that I kept a level head and showed no disappointment. Now that I think about it, I don’t believe I showed any emotions. It was really pitiful, everything I felt for her, and none of the feeling was returned. But that matters little. Rainbow Dash, you will be mine. Bits - CynicalIt was a house in the country. Far from the cities and the lights and the noise. The house belonged to two ponies, they’d bought it when they were young and lived there since. Within the house the timeline was laid out in odds and ends, bits and bobs. Upon the mantle in the main room, just above the fireplace, there rested a picture of the two of them, many years ago and some before that, the day of their wedding. As if that wasn’t enough happy memories for them, the rest of the shelf was crammed with pictures, all framed and kept smudge-free, all enchanted to repel dust. From left to right, there was the earliest, a picture of six mares, all smiling and laughing and having fun together, then four of the ponies disappeared from the rest. A picture, taken on the seaside by a passer-by, another on the highest peak of Canterlot Spires, one more of one, then the other. Their travels were scattered within the house, an antique pot from Eastern Equestria, a thank you present from the Zebras, but none of those could match the memorabilia, and they were dwarfed by the books, yet both were nothing against the albums and even they could never match the memories. The kitchen, the scorch mark where one of them had set the pan on fire, the bigger mark where the other had tried to put it out. The study, a writing desk of neat piles and ordered pots, with a quill of sky blue. The library where they had both unwound and the bedroom where they’d both been loved. Now finally the garden, their lasting possession, ‘Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash’ ‘Together Forever’ Complicated - CynicalTwilight watched at Rainbow twisted and spun in the air, performing complex knots, spirals and rolls, the likes of which made Twilight’s stomach turn, even from down here. How Rainbow could even keep her lunch inside her, let alone know which way was up by the end of her routine, was beyond Twilight. Yet, there was a certain simplicity to her flight, everything was clean and smooth, not one unnecessary flap was taken and everything was upon her own wings. If Twilight was honest, she was slightly envious of Dash, able to soar without a care in the world in the simple sky. Maybe she’d work on that wing spell again, the one that she’d used on Rarity so long ago. She’d have to modify it extensively, the wings would need strengthening, they’d need substantiality, maybe she’d even change the wings themselves, to pegasi wings perhaps… Twilight wore a small smile as she thought through the spell, it would be complicated, maybe, but it would eventually allow her the simplicity of the sky. Salt - The Mysterious NGentle waves lapped upon a beach, Celestia's sun shining with it's usual radiance as ponies pranced and played on the beach. Sand castles were built and demolished, and fillies were buried, only their smiling heads poking out. While a bit older than most of the ponies around her, Twilight Sparkle found herself in very much the same situation. That is to say buried up to her neck in sand. Rainbow Dash stood nearby, shovel clutched in her mouth, admiring her handiwork. Twilight had a silly grin on her face, turns out taking a vacation wasn't such a bad thing after all. Spending time with Rainbow made it all the better. With a pop she teleported out of her sandy prison, still covered in sand. She shook herself, trying in vain to dislodge all the annoying gritty particles that stuck stubbornly to her coat. Rainbow cracked up more, dropping the shovel into the sand. "You'll never get rid of them all that way, come on in, the water is great!" She beckoned, flying up and then cannon balling into the ocean water with a mighty splash. Getting a running start, Twilight chased after her marefriend. Her progress slowed as she met resistance from the waves coming in. Rainbow lazily paddled, watching her marefriend come closer and closer. A particularly large wave came in, upending Rainbow Dash, much to Twilight's amusement. The unicorn burst into her own laughter at the pegasus' misfortune, only to befall the same fate. Rainbow sputtered, trying to get the foul tasting water out of her mouth. Twilight noticing this asked, concern her most prominent tone, "What's wrong Rainbow!? Are you alright?" "Y-yeah. I'm fine Twi." replied the pegasus, wincing. She'd crashed earlier, slightly scraping herself. The shallow cuts now stung, annoying the pegasus to no end. A look from Twilight caused her to reconsider, "Well, the scrapes from the earlier... mishap are kinda acting up." "This is salt water, that's why they're stinging." The unicorn explained, picking up her cyan companion in her magic. With a flash they found themselves on the beach, still dripping wet. Reaching out with her magic she picked up their towels, wrapping her own cyan one around herself and the lavender one Rainbow used found itself on the pegasus' shoulders as well. "Come on back to the hotel, take a shower and wash away all the saltiness..." The unicorn beckoned. Leaning close she whispered right into Rainbow's ear, "And then nurse Twilight will kiss all the pain away." Rainbow's grin at that moment would make even Pinkie jealous... Applejack - TimaeusApplejack grumbled to herself as she slowly walked up to the old family barn. Mere minutes ago Apple Bloom had come running into her room and ducked under her bed, crying her eyes out. When Applejack was able to coax the filly from her hiding place and calm her down some, all she could get out of her was something along the lines of ‘monster,’ ‘strange noises,’ and ‘in the barn.’ Apparently her sister was looking for some tools for another crusade with her friends tomorrow. Knowing Apple Bloom, Applejack was fairly certain she just knocked over a few pieces of scrap metal and it startled to poor little filly, but she was adamant something was in the barn that shouldn’t be there. She was also adamant that Applejack go investigate. What kind of big sister would she be if she ignored the cries for help from her own blood? Applejack sighed as she opened the old, faded barn door with a slow, ominous creak. With an irritated look she glanced over the barn and as expected saw nothing hiding in the stalls or bales of hay. She was just about to leave when she picked up the faintest sound of movement from behind her. She blood froze in her veins as she slowly turned her head. Nothing. Something fishy was going on here, and it warranted further investigation. Applejack moved to the back of the barn, where she was confident the sound came from, and after a little looking saw something lying by an old supply crate. It would have been easily missed by anypony not looking for it. She picked up the small object to discover that she had found…a book? What was that doing in here? It almost looked like one of Twilight’s…but what would Twilight be doing sneaking around her barn? She moved her gaze to the right and saw something else that caught her eye, a single sky blue feather lying on the ground. There was only one pegasus in all of Ponyville with feathers like those. Applejack should know, she constantly found said pegasus napping in her trees almost on a daily basis. So Twilight and Rainbow Dash were hiding out in her barn and must have accidentally scared Apple Bloom. Applejack scratched her neck with a hoof as she deduced the meaning behind all of this. Those two had been dating for the last couple of months, but what would they have been doing in her…oh. … OH. Meanwhile, up above in the rafters two ponies watched in fear as Applejack pieced the puzzle together. “Think she’ll catch us?” a unicorn whispered to her pegasus partner-in-crime. “Nah, there’s no way she’ll…” “I swear if I find y’all having a roll through the hay IN MY BARN I’ll keelhaul the both of ya!” “We should run,” the pegasus concluded as she saw literal steam coming out of the earth pony’s ears, “Like right now.” Improbable - DragonLady"I love you," Rainbow Dash told Twilight, "You're my sweet munchkins, my app- twilight pie, my radiant, beautiful, stunning, cool marefriend. I love you more than anything in the world." Twilight's reply was a bemused look. Sure, they were in bed together, with Twilight on top of Rainbow. They were all alone, with just each other - but Rainbow was never this sappy. It was completely ridiculous on every level. "You're my sexy-wexy libraian, my hot mistress, my radical mare in the bedroom, you're my coolest of cool ponies. Twi, you're even cooler than me and I love you so much." Rainbow continued, then she reached up and brought Twilight into a sloppy kiss. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight began sternly. "Yes, my cuddly-wuddly, cutie-wutie, nerdy-werdy mare?" Rainbow replied obliviously. She smiled at Twi, batting her eyelids like Rarity when she wants to seduce a stallion. "How much have you had to drink tonight?" "My hot, sexy, buckable-" "Answer me, Rainbow," Twilight interrupted. "You're such a spoily-woily sport," Rainbow whined. Upon seeing Twilight's face, Rainbow quickly replied. "One, two, three, four... Four drinks!" she said triumphantly. "Only four?" Twilight inquired. "That I remember, miss uptighty-whity Twilighty." Twilight just sighed. She disentangled herself from Rainbow Dash and lay her down in the bed with her. "Go to sleep, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash moaned and rolled over. Twilight settled into bed with a happy smile. Who knew Rainbow Dash was a lightweight, and a cuddly, sappy drunk? Royal Dinner - Siglo de Oro"OH MY GOSH! I'M LATE!" yelled a cyan pegasus mare as she flew towards the royal palace in Canterlot. She was invited to a private dinner with Equestria's newest princess; Twilight Sparkle. As always, she was so busy with her flying maneuvers that she completely forgot the time. She promised six o'clock and it was seven. "I hope she won't be upset" thought Dash, as she feared the worst. Even after Twilight became princess, they both continued their secret love affair with each other. Dash thought back at how a simple act of impulse turned into something...more. She quickly shook herself out of those thoughts as she saw the large palace in front of her. She immediately spotted a balcony, and on it, was the love of her life; Twilight Sparkle. "About time you made it here for the royal dinner Rainbow." Twilight smugly stated. "Sorry about that." nervously grinned the pegasus. "I was practicing my flying" "Typical." the princess rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Well, get inside, the food is getting cold" she stated before she walked inside. The pegasus nervously followed her marefriend, she took a few quick glances at the purple unicorn's butt while she followed her. "Oh, and to make up for your tardiness, we will wait an hour after eating before any 'fun time' starts," the princess turned around to face the pegasus. "understood?" "Oh come on! No fair!" "Want to make it two?" Dash just gave a defeated sigh. "Understood your highness." grudgingly stated the defeated pegasus. "Great, now sit down and enjoy your one-on-one royal dinner with your marefriend." she led Dash inside and sat her down in her seat. Twilight was about to sit at her seat, but was quickly pulled into a deep kiss from the pegasus. "What the buck Dash?!" Twilight broke the kiss in shock. "You said nothing about kissing." Dash exclaimed in playfully "Well...no I didn't..." Twilight seductively smiled before she resumed her kiss. Although it wouldn't be long before Twilight would forget her ruling, dinner completely untouched. Package - CynicalRainbow Dash tapped her hoof against the desk in front of her and the pony across from her squirmed. He had learnt very quickly that she was not a very patient pony, yet there was nothing he could do. Yes, he’d acknowledged that the mail usually took three-to-five working days to arrive from Canterlot to Ponyville, and that yes, she’d placed her order exactly five working days ago. Sadly, she hadn’t been as pleased when he’d told her that the package was not – against all previous information – actually here yet. As a matter of fact, none of the packages due for arrival today were. They were still waiting for todays’ mail to arrive. “So…” Rainbow Dash said, breaking him from his reverie, “When do you usually get the mail?” “Around 9, usually,” he replied, glancing at the clock, which had apparently decided that the world could live without 9 AM for one day and was already making significant headway towards 10. “Maybe you could come back later?” he asked hopefully, well aware that she was driving a slight dent into his desk with her constant tapping. “Can’t do,” she said, shaking her head and continuing to tap – tap, tap, tap – against the desk. “Well, how about-“ – tap, tap, tap. He groaned through his teeth. “Listen,” he said, trying not to sound angry, “Could you please stop that incessant tapping?” Rainbow stopped tapping and gave him a dead stare. “How about this,” she replied, “I’ll stop tapping when the mail arrives.” He met her glare and winced as he heard the tapping start up again, this time to a tune he was unfamiliar with – if such a tune could exist anyway. He forced himself to breathe in and out as she continued tapping with no apparent rhythm or rhyme. There was a buzz that cut through the air and someone spoke over the intercom: “Mail’s here.” After another three minutes and twelve seconds, he’d rooted through all the mail bags in order to find that dratted mare’s one package. Now that it was in front of her, she smiled at him and left the post office, humming another unfamiliar tune to herself. Rainbow Dash glanced at the package on her back again and smiled to herself. “I wonder if Twilight’s awake yet…” Alarm - Adda le Blue"You up, Twilight?" Spike called through the door. He'd learned not to walk in without permission when Rainbow Dash was staying over; any assistant would after having to dodge two thrown almanacs. She'd awoken just before his first knock, as usual. Part of her felt as though she was still dreaming. Her mind was full of cotton, her limbs were heavy, and her entire body was warm. Hot, even. Sweltering. And why couldn't she move? Slowly she turned her head to see a rainbow of color on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash was still snoring away, her wind-chapped lips just barely parted and vibrating slightly with each breath. Her eyelashes twitched as Twilight made an effort to twist her body. Twi had gotten used to the weight of her wing - more than used to it - but this was something new: Rainbow Dash had somehow managed to pull herself on top of her in the night. Twilight lifted the wing with her free foreleg. Rainbow's head on her shoulder blocked much of the view, but her forehooves were wrapped around Twi's barrel and their hindlegs were tangled. Twi could feel the weight of Rainbow's hips upon her thigh, She tried to shift that leg to move Rainbow to a more manageable position, but it didn't respond; it must have fallen asleep as soundly as Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow," Twi whispered softly. She pushed the wing upward with her free forehoof. "Wake up, honey." The wing pushed back. "Rrn," Rainbow protested cutely. She hugged Twilight tighter to her chest. Her heart beat slowly in this perfect moment. "Fi' more minutes?" "But Rainbow Dash, I have a lot of work to do today," Twi argued. The prospect didn't seem as tantalizing as it usually did. "First I have to organize the overnight returns and... well, you know by now how much work goes into opening the library, and after that there's a certain spell..." A delicate snore cut her off. Twilight sighed patiently, but her patience couldn't last. "Get off of me, Rainbow Dash," she complained. Rainbow smiled in her sleep. "Love you too." Twilight opened her mouth to repeat herself, but the words failed her. She looked down at Rainbow Dash; she was still smiling, still snoring, and still as wonderful as ever. After a moment Twilight pulled the door open with her magic to see Spike standing diligently in the hall. "Five more minutes, Spike," she whispered. He smiled, shrugged, and wandered off. Twilight buried her free hoof in Rainbow's mane and held her close. She breathed a sigh and let the time measure itself out in Rainbow's heartbeat. In no time at all Spike's head appeared around the door. "That's five min--" Rainbow reached for an almanac. Soliloquy - Liquidfirest0rm"Alright, Twilight, you can do this. Just go up there and ask her." Twilight told herself as she placed below Rainbow's cloud home. "You can't just blurt it out like that!" "Why not? The best way to get a direct answer is with a direct answer." She nodded smugly. "Yeah, in a classroom. This calls for finesse! You have to lead into it." "But that will take too long, and she'll probably get bored and run off!" "She'll probably run off if you just go up there and ask directly too." She sat down with a dejected sigh. "Why is this so hard?" She said looking up at the cloud above her. "Because good things are worth the effort it takes to get them." “Well, she’s definitely worth the effort.” She said with a small smile. “So how are we going to do this? Direct questioning is out as well as a long conversation leading into it. What else is there?” “Leave a note on her door!” “No, that would take too long to get an answer back.” She pondered this conundrum silently for a few minutes. Suddenly she sprang to her hooves, wings flared out wide. “That’s perfect!” She exclaimed and took off into the sky. She flew the short distance up to Rainbow’s cloud home. Landing on the fluffy surface, it took a couple of seconds to catch her balance, still not being used to standing on clouds. Once she had settled, she strolled up to the front door and knocked, a look of confidence on her face. She’d thought of the perfect plan, there was no way she could fail now. After a moment or two, the cloud door opened, revealing a sleepy looking pegasus, still rubbing one of her eyes. The sight caused all of her plans to fall apart, her thoughts jumping ship, leaving her to face this alone. She stood there with her mouth open and a blank expression on her face. “Oh hey, Twi.” She paused to let out an enormous yawn. “What brings you up here.” She finished, scratching her head. Twilight continued to stare at her for a few minutes before her mouth started working of it’s own accord. “Rainbow Dash, would you go out with me?” Nightmare - Nebula Star"TWILIGHT!" The familiar voice calling her name made Twilight snap her head up despite the protests of her battered body. No! Don't! she thought seeing Rainbow Dash speeding toward her through the shattered windows of the throne room. Chrysalis had heard the cry as well and smirked as she turned toward the windows, a wicked glint in her eyes. Desperately, Twilight struggled against the hold of the two changelings that restrained her. She couldn't watch another friend die, not her, not Rainbow! Nearly a week in captivity, a week of being starved and tortured, had taken its tole, however. Try as she might, she couldn't break free of the changelings' hold on her. She watched in terror as Rainbow drew closer. Their eyes met, and in that moment Twilight's eyes begged her to save herself, to, just this once, leave her behind. It was something Rainbow could not do. And it was already too late. Chrysalis stepped in front of the window, the two snakes coiled around her raising their heads to watch the approaching pegasus. Then the gem on the white snake's head glowed brightly as Chrysalis's horn glowed with the same golden light. A beam shot out, faster than any spell Twilight had ever seen. Rainbow was hit in the center of her chest. The impact reversed her momentum, throwing her back away from the castle, smoke trailing from her body and her wings whipping limply in the wind behind her; already unconscious or worse. "RAINBOW!" Twilight cried, lacerating her already raw throat as she watched her friend fall past the edge of Canterlot, plummeting into the valley below. "Twi, Twi! Wake up!" Twilight's eyes shot open. Somepony had their hooves around her. For a moment she struggled against her captor. "Twi! It's okay! It's me!" The voice was familiar. Twilight froze and looked up. In the dim light of the air ship's cabin she could just make out locks of red yellow and orange hair above rose colored eyes that looked back into hers with love and concern. Without a word, Twilight threw her hooves around Rainbow, and clung to her, burying her face against Rainbow's neck. She trembled as Rainbow held her, gently stroking her mane. "It's alright, Twi; you're safe," Rainbow whispered softly. "I'm here." Twilight couldn't stop trembling, however. She could clearly feel the scare on Rainbow's chest, reminding her all too well, that her nightmare had been far more than just a dream. Sunshine - RatsenkioHi, my name is Rainbow Dash. I believe. It’s been so long since I came here, or so I think. I can’t really remember. it’s been a few years or minutes maybe, I haven’t been paying attention. So I’m here, in this big sky. If you can call it that. The only thing I know for certain is that the sun comes and goes, and when it goes, I decided to call it night, everything goes dark and a little scary, but I’m not alone, I have my guardian. It’s a big round thing like the sun, but less bright. I call it the moon. But that’s not the point. The point is that when the sun comes back sometimes a new pony appears, but they quickly go away. I try to call them and ask if they know where we are. But they don't hear me. They rush to go away to some place. Maybe I should follow them to get some answers. But I can’t or rather I don’t want to. I feel that I must wait here for something to happen. And so I do. One day a pony appeared. It was a purple unicorn. I felt that I should know her. At least I think it was a she, the sunshine was blinding me, but something within me told me so, like if I knew it from the start. but I don’t remember her right away. She came to me, her eyes a lovely shade of violet, and her mane a dark blue with two stripes, one pink and another a purple darker than her coat. She kind of smelled like lavender. “Rainbow, I’m here!” she said to me as she hugged me tightly. How could I ever forget her? “I’m glad you took your time, Twi.” I responded extracting myself from the hug enough to see her face covered in tears, my own not faring any better. I didn't have much time to see her face, as she kissed me a few seconds later. My eyes closing as I forgot everything but her. Wicked - LoyalPonyville lay behind the two of them, one a pegasi, the other a newly-ascended princess. Over the rushing sound of wind ripping through the air, Twilight could barely hear Rainbow Dash's hollered instructions. Still, they carried to her, borne on that wondrously tomcoltish voice that nopony else could mistake as anyone other than the brash pegasus. "Remember to keep your eyes focused on the horizon! Tuck your forelegs and don't forget to flex the anterior ligaments! Just like we practiced, Twi!" "Right!" Twilight hollered back, setting her sights on the distant horizon, gritting her teeth in preparation. "Just like you practiced, Twilight." A brief memory of the past few months spent training with Rainbow Dash came to her, borne on the gossamer wings of nostalgia and more than a few ciders. 'Can't get distracted by her flank just yet.' Twilight grimaced as some other not entirely unwanted memories resurfaced. Pushing those to the back of her mind, Twilight flapped harder, gaining speed until the wind drowned out even Dash's shouted encouragements. Slowly, Twilight banked to her left, tilting until the world seemed to slide sideways, the pit of her stomach dropping down to say hello to her tail. She kept tilting, focusing on the horizon. Her wings adjusting to carry her downward momentum through the roll and back up again. For a brief moment, the world was right again, and then it slid back into the bizarre as she entered another upside-down spin. And another. And another! It felt like her bones were rattling insider her coat, and the horizon became harder and harder to focus on. Vertigo set in, but Twilight saw it out. She had practiced this dozens of times over, with Rainbow Dash right there to see her through it all. ’I have to do it. I have to finish this; for Rainbow Dash!’ The world snapped into clarity as Twilight pulled out of the aerial maneuver, her heart soaring just as high as she and her lover; high into that wild blue sky that stretched on forever above them. "TWILIGHT!" Dash jetted up along side her, wrapping their hooves together in a midair hug. "That was your first aerial trick! You were so cool! That... that was WICKED!" Twilight frowned at her. "How can a barrel roll be malevolent?" Dash just face-hoofed. Almonds - Formerly Committed“We have to break up.” “I’m sorry?” Twilight said looking up from her book. “We have to break up,” Rainbow said again matter-of-factly. Twilight squinted in confusion. Where was this coming from? As far as she knew the couple were doing great, in fact Twilight couldn’t be happier. “Okay, and where exactly is this coming from?” Rather than saying something, Rainbow smiled thinly and merely pointed. Twilight followed to where the hoof pointed just to the right of her to a bowl of almonds. This only raised further questions for Twilight. “. . . Almonds?” “Yup.” “What do almonds have to do with anything?” “You eat them.” “And?” “They’re gross!” “So? You don’t taste them when I eat them!” “Yes, Twilight, I do. You shove those disgusting things into your mouth, and then you shove your tongue down my throat. It’s gross!” Twilight blinked. “So, what, instead of saying ‘Hey, Twilight, could you rinse your mouth out before you kiss me,’ we’re just gonna break up?” “Or you can do the rinsing thing, I guess,” Rainbow shrugged noncommittally. Twilight groaned. She honestly wondered how she was always able to put up with this. “Next time just say that.” Rainbow shrugged, again. “Oh, and I got the mail for you,” she said putting a few envelopes next to the bowl of almonds. Rolling her eyes, Twilight lifted the first letter from the stack with her magic and began to read it after opening it. It was from her parents . . . “Hey, Rainbow, you’re free this weekend, right?” “Pretty sure, what’s up?” “My parents are coming to town this weekend. It would be a good time for them to officially meet you.” “. . .” “. . . Rainbow?” “We have to break up.” Author's Note Next prompt: Cider
Fireplace - batsThe pegasus had not moved an inch in four hours. That wasn’t entirely true; the rhythmic rise and fall of her sky blue, trim and muscled chest offered its own breed of hypnosis. The slow bellowing of breaths a metronome keeping time for a musician that wasn’t present. She would also occasionally dip her head down to the mighty tome propped up in front of her, catching a creamy page of paper on the end of her snout. A sharp flick of her neck and it would finish turning just as her head resumed its original position. And calling her still would have been a terrible lie if you caught her eyes. Glimmering pools of magenta reflected merry yellows from the fireplace and danced across the page in a race Twilight knew all too well. A soft pulse of magic fluttered the unicorn’s own text to the next page, but her attention remained drawn to the statuesque Rainbow Dash laying carelessly on the pillows next to her, legs tucked underneath and colorful tail circling halfway around her body. Twilight’s mouth didn’t know if it was smiling with glowing affection or frowning with concern. She cleared her throat. “Hey, Rainbow Dash?” The blue mare started, her gaze flicking rapidly from printed words to purple face. “Hmn?” “You okay?” Violet eyes drew together under knit brow. “I know that book’s interesting; it’s one of my favorites, but wouldn’t you rather be…I don’t know…doing something else?” Rainbow’s eyes returned to the book, her expression far away, lost in the story unfolding in front of her mind’s eye. She spoke distantly, her tone distracted, but carrying no hint of annoyance. “I’m curled up with an’ adventure next to the best pony in Equestria. What else would I wanna be doing?” A downy wing unfurled from her barrel, crossing over Twilight’s back. With unexpected strength and sudden speed, the feathery limb gripped and pulled the unicorn forcefully into Rainbow Dash’s side. The coat to coat contact brought immediate heat to Twilight’s frame far beyond the crackling blaze of the fire. Twilight expelled a lingering sigh of comfort and leaned into the pegasus, resting her head into a soft, warm shoulder. Her eyes returned to her book and began scanning the page. “What else indeed,” she murmured.
Stormcloud - Shellsh0ckerThe sky was deep gray, like slate. Water fell in sheets, promising instant saturation for any creature unfortunate or unwise enough to be outside. Lightning would occasionally rend the sky asunder, bringing with it a deep rumble—or sometimes a sharp crack—of thunder, momentarily overwhelming the soft, continuous hiss of rainfall. Twilight Sparkle could perhaps be forgiven for mistaking the knock on her door as another byproduct of the rapid expansion of air caused by a sudden electrical discharge. When the sharp rap-rap-rap came a second time, though, she quickly realized three things: First: there had been no recent lightning strikes which would have caused any thunder. Second: thunder, as mentioned earlier, was characterized by a deep rumble or a sharp crack. Neither of those sounds were all that similar to rap-rap-rap. Third: rap-rap-rap was, in fact, remarkably similar to the sound of a hoof repeatedly striking the door of the library in which she lived. Quickly hopping down off the couch (and silently grumbling at the loss of a comfortable reading position which she knew she’d never be able to perfectly recreate) she trotted to the door, opening it to be greeted by a very familiar, if unusually wet, face. “He- Hey T-T-T-Twi,” Rainbow Dash managed to shiver out. “Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed, ushering her friend in. Her horn lit up and several towels came flying out of the bathroom and down the stairs to wrap themselves around Rainbow’s drenched form. “What were you doing out there? Harmony, you look like you’re freezing! Come over here, I’ll stoke the fire and heat up some tea.” Twilight guided Rainbow in front of the fireplace and had her sit down, discarding the soaked towels and trading them for thick blankets. Thanking Celestia that it was late autumn and she’d had a fire going already, she tossed a couple of extra logs onto the low flame and blew on the red-hot embers, expertly coaxing the dying fire into a healthy blaze. Finally, she cast a mild warming spell on her half-full teapot and floated a cup out of the kitchen for Rainbow. “Here. Drink,” she commanded, setting the cup down in front of the shivering pile of blankets that was Rainbow Dash. “On second thought, let me help. You’re shaking so bad you’d probably spill most of it.” The cup floated up to where Dash’s snout poked out of the blanket pile, allowing her to take a shaky sip. “Harmony, Rainbow, you’re in bad shape. OK, I’m coming in there.” “H-h-h-huh?” was as far as Rainbow Dash got before the blankets opened up and a warm body settled next to hers. Twilight let out a little gasp as she snuggled up to her friend, wrapping the blankets around them both as she did so. “Dash, you’re like ice. Come on, wrap your wing around me. The more surface area in contact, the better.” It took all of Rainbow’s willpower to force her wing to unclamp from her side and wrap around Twilight’s back. “Good,” Twilight said, lifting the cup so her friend could take another sip of tea. “Now, what were you doing out there?” “S-s-standard p-procedure,” Dash stuttered. “S-somepony has to m-monitor s-s-storms to m-make sure they d-don’t get out of c-c-c-control or anyth-th-thing. W-we take shifts. M-m-mine just end-ded.” “Sure, but we’ve had storms before. You never came to the library soaked to the bone any of those times.” “F-f-forgot my s-storm g-gear this time. Th-th-thought I c-could t-tough it out-t-t.” “You featherbrain! Hypothermia isn’t some joke, Dash!” Twilight threw a foreleg around her friend’s neck, drawing her close as if to reassure herself Rainbow was still there. Nuzzling her under the jawline, Twilight whispered, “You . . . you could’ve died out there, Rainbow.” “I . . .” Rainbow hadn’t thought it was that serious. A little rain never hurt anypony, right? “Please, Dash, just . . . don’t take a risk like that again, alright?” Even with her teeth chattering, Rainbow managed a snicker at that. “Uh, T-twi? Th-think about who y-you’re t-talking to, here.” “What do you . . . oh, right.” Twilight blushed a bit. “OK, maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say. But . . . I worry about you, Rainbow. Seeing you like this . . . I don’t want to lose you to some stupid accident. Can you at least promise you’ll think before doing something like this again? For my sake?” Rainbow ducked her head, embarrassed by Twilight’s sincerity. “S-s-sorry, Twi. G-g-guess that w-was p-pretty boneheaded of m-me, huh?” She gave Twilight a reassuring, if shaky, nuzzle. “Alr-r-right. P-promise I w-won’t just try to t-tough it out n-next time. F-for your s-sake.” “Good,” Twilight said. “Now, come on, finish your tea.” She floated the cup to Rainbow’s lips, allowing her to drain it. “Hey, would you like to read? I just started a new series I think you’ll like.” “S-sure. B-but, um, c-could you m-maybe read out l-loud? I d-don’t think I c-can focus th-th-through the sh-shivering.” “Sure, Rainbow.” Twilight cuddled closer, floating her book over as she did so. “Alright, here we go. ‘Ash fell from the sky...’” Twilight was only halfway through the first chapter when she heard the soft snoring that indicated Rainbow was asleep. Smiling, she marked her place and set the book down before enclosing the fire in an airtight bubble, extinguishing it. Nestling her head next to Rainbow’s, she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to claim her. Outside, rain fell, lightning struck, thunder rumbled, and the sky was deep gray, like slate.
Horizon - batsTilting through the roaring wind, wings spread wide to catch and shape the currents with practiced perfection, Rainbow Dash let out an elated cry. Blue hooves tucked in close to her body, she spiraled through the wind. With each rotation she tightened the spin, angling her wings and legs to corkscrew faster and faster as she sailed through puffs of white, obliterating clouds to wispy shreds. When the sky was clear, her limbs flew wide and she hovered. Hundreds of feet in the air above Ponyville, the town’s landmarks were reduced to vague smudges of reds and browns amidst the field of green. The daredevil grinned at her handiwork, slowly regarding the empty sky. Empty save for one cloud, floating serenely above the large tree far below her. Smile still on her lips, she tucked her wings in close and dove. Feet from the cloud, she flared out and settled next to the purple mare reclining with a book. She smirked, rue coloring her tone. “I don’t remember you having a book when I brought you up here.” Twilight snapped the book shut, a small blush forming high on her cheeks. “Well, I knew you’d be a few minutes, and the sky light was open…” The pegasus chuckled and buried herself in puffy white. Blue hooves shot out of the cloud and encircled Twilight’s middle. Rainbow Dash popped out, dragging the unicorn onto her lap. Twilight squeaked in surprise before being arrested by uncontrollable giggles. Twisting sideways, she wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck and pulled her into a flurry of kisses. Grinning foolishly, she stroked multicolored mane and said, “This was a great idea, Rainbow.” “Just wait for the good part.” The couple settled back on their cloudy perch and watched Celestia’s sun move across the sky. As it dipped below the horizon, painting the sky a watercolor of pinks, oranges, reds, and purples. Leaning into Twilight’s shoulder, Rainbow whispered, “Wanna know why this is my favorite time of day?” The unicorn shook her head slowly, a stream of snickers vibrating her chest. “Only if you wanna know why my favorite time of day is right after it rains.” They held each other close, hours passing as the sun finished its descent and Luna’s moon took its place.
Bubbles - CalmNQuietRainbow Dash focused her eyes on the target in front of her as she puckered her lips together. Gently easing her breath out slowly, she filled the pink expanse with her heat until it swelled to near bursting. Twilight gasped in surprise and squirmed uncomfortably. A few seconds later, Rainbow Dash sunk her teeth down. Pop. She sucked in the bubble-gum and winked at Twilight. “And that’s how you blow a bubble. I’m the champion bubble blower in Ponyville after all.” Twilight nodded dumbly. “Wow, that was a huge one Rainbow. Why didn’t you show me this before? Think of all the research opportunities I’ve missed out on!” Rainbow Dash arched her eyebrow at Twilight. “Research?” She snickered and leaned her head back onto her hooves. “You don’t have to do research to know I’m the best.” “No, no, no. That’s not what I mean. I mean on how to optimally get the largest bubble before it pops. I’ve tried blowing bubbles every since I was a little filly.” Twilight looked down with a blush. “I wasn’t very good at it.” A comforting blue wing wrapped around Twilight and pulled her in. “Relax Twilight. Not everyone can start out awesome at bubbles like me. Besides, even I’ve had a lot of practice. I’ll even teach you!” “Really?” “Yep. It’s actually really simple. It’s all about breaths, lips, and tongue. You work it just right, you’ll have awesome bubbles in no time.” Rainbow handed Twilight a piece of gum. “I know you want mine, but it’s best to start with a fresh piece. Plus... if you really want a taste.” “Rainbow Dash! I’m trying to learn here!” “Heh, can’t blame a mare for trying. You’re cute.” Twilight blushed and popped a piece of gum into to her mouth. She worked her saliva into the sweet and chewy substance until it was soft and pliable. “Mmm.... okay. I think I’m ready. What do I do?” “Well first, you need to form your lips like this.” Rainbow demonstrated. “Then you just form the gum around your lips while holding it place with your teeth and press forward with your tongue to soften it a little.” Rainbow winked at Twilight, “Then, you just blow... Nice and slow until it fills up.” Twilight swallowed slowly. “I think I got it.” “You were always a smart one.” Rainbow winked. “You going to show me now?” “Uhm... not yet...” Twilight blushed more. “I need to do something first.” Twilight went in for a taste. Better than bubbles. Definitely.
Molt - Cynical“Rainbow Dash?” Someone was calling her… it was a voice she knew, yes, but she couldn’t quite remember where she’d heard it before. Maybe she’d realise who it was after another nap. “Rainbow, are you alright?” There was that voice again, trying to interrupt her nap further than it had already. She attempted to open her eyes, yet failed miserably… she’d get to it after her nap. But still… she felt like she should really recognise that voice. Meh, probably better to sleep on it. “Rainbow Dash!” The sudden change in volume startled her enough to raise her head groggily and look around sleepily, yawning, “Morning Twi’.” That was who the voice belonged to, her friend, Twilight Sparkle. She looked around as Twilight started saying things to her… probably something she wouldn’t understand. Speaking of things she wouldn’t understand… why was she currently sprawled on the floor of the library, one wing trapped under her, with Twilight standing over her… “What… happened?” she asked, her brain sluggish as she tried to ask the question, cutting Twilight off from her rambling. “That’s what I’ve been trying to ask you… you crashed in here a few minutes ago, at least, I assume you crashed… I was upstairs tending to Spike when I heard a crash and came down here to find you… what happened?” Rainbow groaned, her eyes shutting against the bright light of the sun, pouring in through the broken window above her. ‘What had happened?’ She’d been practising a new stunt, she could remember that much, she’d been experimenting with water and cloud properties, trying to keep a sphere of water held up within her own whirlwind. It’d needed 800 wingpower to lift Ponyville reservoir, so it followed that 16.5 wingpower would be enough to lift a smaller amount. Not that she’d ever admit to anyone she’d been using that physiky stuff for her flying… that sounded too much like an egghead’s thing to be doing. But… she could remember doing it, succeeding in lifting a sphere of water from a bucket, and holding it in mid-air. She’d not done anything overly amazing with it though… not yet anyway. Then what… she’d flown back to Ponyville from where she’d been practising, in high spirits and her ego soaring higher. And then… what? She’d planned on coming back to Ponyville, maybe flying over to Twilight’s and celebrating with her… she deserved that at least. Then she’d maybe finally pick up the courage to… Oh yeah, that was why she’d flown towards Twilights… “Are you ok Rainbow? You’re looking a little flushed…” Ah… Maybe it would be better to contemplate that when she was alone and when she hadn’t just mucked up a landing through Twilight Sparkle’s home, destroying her window in the process. She shot to her hooves, wincing as the wing beneath her flexed, a few feathers skewed out of place. Damn… she’d need to get rid of them later. “No, no, I’m fine, just… fine, yeah.” She said, emphasizing her point by nodding furiously, hoping to dissuade the curious unicorn from asking any more questions, her blush slowly rising as she realised just how badly she’d mucked this one up. “Well-it-was-nice-seeing-you, gotta-go, bye!” she said within the space of a breath, turning and preparing to take off, flapping her wings and hissing as the twisted feathers rotated uselessly. “Are you alright Rainbow?” Twilight asked, probably hearing Rainbows hushed hiss and spotting some of the more noticeable gaps within her wings. Screw letting the molting process take care of things, Rainbow leant her head into the damaged wing, yanking out a mouthful of feathers with a pained gasp, luckily for her, they were all concentrated in one spot, meaning she only had to do that once. It might mean that she’d have a hard time flying home… but she didn’t call herself Equestria’s greatest flier for nothing. Dumping the feathery bundle from her mouth onto the floor, she stretched both wings and flew out the smashed window above, trying to hide her burning face from Twilight as she fled towards her house. Leaving Twilight stood there, gazing after Rainbow with a worried expression on her face. Twilight sighed, she tried to be a pillar of support for her friends, but that only helped if they were willing to seek said support. She looked around, her horn lighting up as the shattered glass gathered itself into a pile, on the floor. Lifting it carefully, she moved it over to a box next to her lab station. She’d been meaning to experiment on the properties of glass anyway. Next to face the magic was the current absence of a window, it was still early noon but it was unlikely that she’d find time to go and order a replacement today, Spike had come down with the flu and she needed to take care of him. She sighed again; it looked like the wooden boards she’d bought after the last incident with Applejack, a tree and her window, would be used once again. Next there was the bundle of sky blue feathers on her floor, picking them up in her magic, she separated each of them from one another, until she held four feathers in the air. Three of them were bent with one of them having snapped at the base completely. The fourth though, was intact. Twilight placed the three broken feathers in a box next to the glass, twirling the fourth around in her magic carefully. She’d wanted to study pegasus feathers for a long time, sadly pegasi were notorious for hiding and secreting away all their feathers. But… here she had a perfect specimen, a feather, unbroken and fresh from a young pegasus… But she didn’t want to experiment on the feather… This feather was unique; a feather dropped from Rainbow Dash… how many ponies could say they had one of those? No. She’d keep this feather for herself, to facilitate her shameful secret. She never knew, maybe Rainbow would actually give her a feather one day.
Chaos - Cedric InuzukaIt was the beginning of the night, the lights of the library was off and the only resident was sleeping. Twilight Sparkle had gone to bed early, because tomorrow, she had a date with a blue pegasus. Oh, how long she waited for a date with the strong and handsome Wonderbolt, but thank to one of her best friends, who played matchmaker between them, she will meet the Wonderbolt at the restaurant for lunch. She was slowly falling asleep, dreaming about what could happen tomorrow when... BOUM The tree that served as her house began to tremble with such power that she was projetted out of her bed. "What is it ? An earthquake ?" With worry in her voice, she asked to no one since Spike was in Canterlot, helping the princess. After a while and because the purple unicorn thought she heard a noise coming from downstairs, she moved toward him but not before she pick a chandelier with her magic, ready to throw it if the noise proved to be a thief or worse. Thankfully, for her but more for her unexpected guest, she didn't have to throw it. When she arrived on the ground floor, the only thing she saw was her books,her dear books she had to spend all the afternoon to arrange alphabetically and re-cover many of them. They were spread all over the floor, not a single one were on a shelf. But what struck her the most was a light blue wing emerging from a mountain of books. Without thinking, without wondering how a freaking wing was in her house, she used her magic to remove the mountain and found a familiar pony beneath. After a little checking, she saw the pegasus was bleeding from her head but with a spell she saw it's wasn't a major injury so she started to slowly shake the blue pegasus. "Rainbow...Rainbow...Wake up...You're bleeding, I have to treat your wound." It was after the third shake that the pegasus finally open a eye and saw the worry face of Twilight Sparkle. "Hey Twi', what's up ?" She asked while she tried, with difficulty, to stand up. "What's up? It's all you have to say ?" She answered, furry in her eyes. "Erh... Yeah." Rainbow recoiled slowly but the purple unicorn was merciless when you attacked her dear books and in an instant she was muzzle to muzzle with her, maybe not for long, friend. "Care to explain why the library is in a worse state than Discord could have done." Rainbow loudly gulped and answered. "Actually yes, I have a reason, Soarin' send you a letter." The mention of her date calmed Twilight. "Strange, What Does he wants ?" Then she started to worry. "Oh no, maybe he cancelled our date." her eyes began to gather water, but a gentle wing took her. "Don't worry Twi', I'm sure he only wrote how beautiful you are and how he can't wait for tomorrow." If Twilight wasn't hugging her friend she could have see a single tear flowed along the cheek of the blue pegasus, another one Rainbow Dash devote to Twilight Sparkle. "Thank you Rainbow, you really are the best."She released her friend and with a smile she opened the letter for read it, the more she read the more her smile grew. "You were right, he wrote exactly what you were saying, but he has something to do before, so he will be a little late for the date, only fifteen minutes maximum." She chuckled a little. " you, the pegasi, write really very bad. You and Soarin' have nearly the same writing, I can't differentiate it." Rainbow blushed a little and forced a laugh. "Hehe, yeah..." Then after a while " I will leave you alone, after all you need your beauty sleep." She said the last part with the voice imitation of Rarity. Twilight played along and answered. "Please darling, I'm fabulous."She finished putting her hoof in her mane. The two mares laughed together and after some small talk Rainbow flew back to her home. 'Oh Twi', I'm already sorry for what I will do tomorrow'
Madness - batsTwilight swallowed thickly. Ears folded back on her head and eyes wide, she watched the colorful streak move across the sky. Dipping and swirling, the rainbow tied knots, folded bows, and swirled spirals across the gentle blue canvas. She must be going crazy. The blur rocketed upwards, its path straightening. The unicorn’s eyes followed raptly. Her book lay forgotten by the railing of her balcony and the ice in her lemonade had bled away from cubes to chips. Her studies, her very important studies had been put on hold by this enchanting display. Try as she might, she couldn’t look away. Crazy was the only answer. There was no other reason she’d been so captivated by her daredevil friend. Why her pulse jumped and her stomach flipped when the pegasus was near. She was losing her mind, that was all there was to it. The streak hit the zenith of its climb and in a gentle arc began to fall. Twilight held her breath as the speed of descent grew faster and faster. A thunder crack rent the air as waves of color exploded outwards. The blurry rainbow grew bold and vibrant, hanging sharp and dazzling in the sky. Rainbow Dash weaved through the wind on hairpin turns, carving brilliant lines in airspace. Twilight’s held breath left in a gasp as the shockwave hit her, blowing her mane away from her face as she leaned halfway off the balcony. The sky held the shape of a six pointed star, drawn in light. A wobbly smile graced her lips. She felt her heartbeat thunder in her ears and wetness on her cheeks from tears she hadn’t realized were there. So she was insane. Maybe she and Rainbow Dash could be crazy together.
Trees - CynicalTrees… trees… there was something about trees that Rainbow Dash just hated. It wasn’t that they made for good napping points, no, she quite enjoyed that fact. Was it that Applejack seemed to always shake her out of them? No… not quite. While it was annoying, it was bearable. She groaned… Oh yeah… that was why, they always seemed to pop up whenever she was practicing stunts near the ground… Stupid trees. Groaning, Rainbow raised her head and looked around. Thankfully, she knew this tree pretty well. Maybe not to the point of Fluttershy’s ability to talk to the plants… but she had a pretty good passing acquaintanceship with this particular tree. There was the impact she’d made last week, oh, and if you looked closely enough, you could see the area where she first impacted it… somewhere inside the other areas she’d done the same thing. She got to her hooves, breathing heavily at the simple action. Folding her wings in caused her to wince, immediately extending them again and glancing down at the area which hurt the most. It looked like yet another cracked rib… thankfully it was none of the ones which were already cracked, but all the same… it looked like a trip to the hospital was going to be in order… again. It was then that the door in front of Rainbow opened suddenly, a silhouette could be made out against the crackling fire in the library. “Rainbow Dash? What are you doing awake at this hour?” the silhouette asked groggily, glancing towards the starry sky above. “Hey Twi…” Rainbow replied, “Nothing much… just practicing my stunts again…” she said, trying to hide the pained inhalations from the unicorn in front of her. She was cool, cool ponies didn’t show pain, they were protected by the power of awesome or something… Not that it mattered, Twilight stepped forwards towards Rainbow, “Are you ok Rainbow?” she asked, concerned at her friend’s well-being. “Yeah… I’m fine.” Came her answer, pained gasp and all. “Hmm… well assuming that you’ve been practicing some of your more dangerous stunts again, added with the light available, that would mean that you were only able to see the library at the last moment, so you were practicing something involving sharp turns… again meaning that you crashed into the library with a lot of momentum behind you. And if we look at where you crashed… that looks like…” the studious unicorn paused, then gasped. “Dash… have you cracked your ribs again?” Rainbow closed her mouth, long-since accepting the somewhat unbelievable conclusions that the unicorn could draw from practically nothing. She nodded her head automatically, causing the unicorn in front of her to sigh. “Come on then, I can help you this time. I finally took the liberty of studying how to heal broken bones after the last ten times you’ve managed this.” Twilight turned, going into the doorway and waiting on the other side, giving Dash an expectant look. Rainbow sighed, following her in and whispering to her as she passed, “Thanks Twilight” as the door shut behind her.
Coffee - SomeponyTheVectorerTwilight stirred, a small groan emanating from her lips as she was pulled from the land of dreams. She cuddled closer to the pony resting beside her, groggily she noted the warmth, the familiar scent of atmosphere, the feel of the fabric resting on her face... fabric? Reluctantly she opened her eyes to see that the object she had assumed was Rainbow Dash, was in fact, Rainbow Dash's pillow. Not a bad replacement, she remarked, but she wondered where the plucky Pegasus could have gone off to. It's not often that she was up before Twilight. After a quick stretch, followed by her ritualistic hair brushing session, she made her way down the stairs, a small tune on her lips when she was met with the sight of Rainbow Dash engrossed in the latest Daring Do novel. Twilight coughed, noting Rainbow's bleary eyes as she visibly jumped at the small noise, and turned to face her. Rainbow promptly returned her attention to the book at her hooves. "Morning Rainbow," Twilight offered, receiving only a grunt in reply. "Have you been up all night?" she asked, noting the empty mugs strewn about the table. Rainbow nodded. "Is that the new Daring Do?" another nod. "How is it?" "Oh my gosh Twilight it's so awesome so far I mean the last book was good but this one is like awesomeriffic or something Daring is so awesome like there's this time when she's about to discover the secret treasure of the Azteca's and she's attacked by zombie ponies Twilight! Zombie. Ponies! Oh my gosh and the curse of the treasure is like so cool I mean the ability to live forever without needing to eat or drink or even breathe is sweet and means they can fight forever but Daring is too awesome to let that stop her so she traps them in a massive hole where they'll never get out and-" Twilight blinked, she wasn't expecting exposition this intense, this early in the morning. She didn't appreciate the spoilers, either, so she waited for Rainbow to catch a breath before speaking again. "But... I thought we were going to read this one together," trying to mask the disappointment in her voice. Rainbow's ears flopped back, "Sorry Twi. I tried to wait, I really did, but I just couldn't sleep. I promised myself that I'd only read the first page, but I just couldn't stop there, so the first chapter, and I started getting tired, but I couldn't go to sleep yet, not when Daring-" Rainbow realized what she had said before. "Oh horse-apples, I'm so sorry Twi, I didn't mean to spoil it all for ya. It was just so good, and I had to get some coffee so I wouldn't miss what happened next, and I got carried away and... and..." Twilight winced sympathetically when Rainbow's face slammed into the open book, her ears pricking at the faint sound of Rainbow's snoring. She smiled as she picked her marefriend up with her magic, a splash of disdain marked her features when she saw the small puddle of drool on the book. She passed Spike on the stairs while on her way back to her bedroom, who offered a groggy hello. She settled Rainbow into her bed, and after a moment of consideration, crawled in after her. The library doesn't open until later on Sunday's anyway. She snuggled in next to the snoozing Pegasus, relaxing to the sound of Rainbow's steady breathing, who twitched, and draped a wing over the Unicorn. As she was about to let sleep take her, her eyes shot open to a loud cry originating from the kitchen. "WHAT THE FEATHER HAPPENED IN HERE?!"
Chocolate - Cedric InuzukaHearts and Hooves Day, the day of the lover. In ancient time a mare would offer a box of chocolate to the stallion of her dreams and in return he will offer white chocolate, exactly day to day, one month later, if and only if he returned her feelings. But as time continues its relentless race forward, things change. First it was the forbidden love between different pony species who wasn't so bad after all even if a war nearly broke out between the pegasi and the unicorns,in the end we had the first wedding of a pegasus stallion and a unicorn mare, something more common in our time. Then time resumed his race while we are three hundred years after the first wedding of two different pony's species and the young land of Equestria is going to have a wake up call concerning love and romance between pony. Because the unthinkable happened, the own blood of Commander Hurricane, his grand and many more grand later daughter fall in love with the blood of Clover the Clever, but it wasn't a stallion. They were forced to hide their love for fear that the old hatreds between pegasus and unicorns resume. They couldn't not listen to their hearts and it was a beautiful spring morning when they went to see a young princess named Celestia, the newly ruler of Equestria. The princess listened to their plea and against the advice of her advisors, she married the two mares, it was the fourteenth day of February. And now it isn't uncommon to see two mares together. What might think these two mares ? When a blue pegasus was knocking at the library door, a chocolate box in her saddle and a rose in her muzzle. And what would they say ? When a purple unicorn opened the door and after the pegasus gave her the rose and the chocolate, she kissed her lover in front of the library. they would probably shout 'get a room'.
Skies - CalmNQuietIt was beautiful today. The streaks of red, oranges, and yellows painted the skies with a brilliance few could deny. Twilight carefully navigated up the well-trodden dirt path to the apex of the hill. Their hill. The evening breeze tickled against her coat and washed away the lingering heat from the day. The softness of the grass soothed her backside as she settled upon it and turned her head to the west. Glimmering purple irises looked to the skies. A diligent watch for a diligent cause. Normally, she would bring a book. But lately, she found her thoughts to be far more enthralling than words found in the pages of some musty book buried in her library. She could see it with perfect clarity. It was awesome. A prismatic stream soared through the sky and challenged the exquisiteness of a sunset thousands of years in the making. But, it wasn’t the elegance or color which attracted her the most. It was the fact, she knew, it was just for her. And, as she watched the colors unfold in magnitudes her mind could scarce comprehend, it would climax. The sky would shatter with innumerable colors of every hue. Just for her. How was that Twilight? She’d smile and wrap her hooves around the cocksure pegasus. She didn’t need to say anything. They understood each other beyond simple words. Words were a hindrance anyways. Action spoke far louder. The goggles would be pushed back and their lips would meet. Her hooves would pull against the uniform until the the fabric slipped away and settled at their hooves. The colors intermingled in her vision with the vibrant feeling all across her body in way only Rainbow Dash could do. Oh captain~ She’d gasp out into the night. And her captain would respond. Peppering her neck with kisses until neither of them could stand it any longer. Twilight opened her eyes and scanned the night sky. The colors had long since faded and the blackness surrounded her. The darkness didn’t frighten her because she was not alone. She leaned to the side and nuzzled her companion. “You were wonderful Rainbow Dash.” She trailed her hoof across the worn stone with a tenderness reserved only for those closest to her heart. Turning, she graced it with one final lingering kiss. Her hooves found purchase against the grass and she turned down the hill--disappearing into the night.
Water - Cynical“Why did I agree to this again?” “Because you were guilty about crashing into my lab equipment for the third time today, now hold still, you’re scaring the fish.” Twilight Sparkle stood at the edge of the lake, a notepad and pen held within her magic as she looked towards the centre. More specifically, she looked towards where a rope had been suspended by the aid of a tree, and to the Pegasus that was dipping her hooves into the middle of the lake, holding onto the rope to stop herself from sinking. Silence reigned for a few more minutes, with Twilight taking the occasional note here and there. But Rainbow Dash’s patience was wearing thin… “Why am I doing this Twilight?” she asked, exasperation heavy in her voice. “Hmm?” came the reply, “Oh, it’s because I’ve read this book on the amazing marine diversity in the Ponyville lake and I needed somepony to attract them all to one place.” Rainbow Dash shifted nervously, gripping the rope slightly tighter than before, “Umm… what species are we talking about here?” she asked, scanning the lake intently now to look for anything out of the ordinary. “Oh you know, the usual… cod, haddock, carp, mini-sharks.” Rainbow felt a cold shiver echo down her spine at the last name, “You did just say… sharks right?” she asked, looking over at Twilight with a worried expression. Twilight met it with an enthusiastic smile, “Yeah, really tricky to research though, you have to use a live pony as bait to conduct any useful evidence.” Not two seconds later, there was a whoosh, a splash, and a shuddering pony on the river bank, scanning the water with paranoia as her companion cracked up, laughing hysterically while Rainbow regained her bearings. Rainbow looked around for another moment, realising that she’d been had. She stalked over to Twilight and prodded her with a hoof as she lay snorting on the ground. “Not cool Twi.” “Not cool.”
Memories - Subsolar DriftI struggled against the ropes holding me down, trying my hardest to avoid Twilight’s horn as it came closer to my head. My eyes widened as the magic flowed through me. It tore through my mind and broke something there. I gasped as memories flooded over me. Suddenly I remembered setting eyes on the most beautiful mare I’d ever seen. I remembered being so flustered I sounded like an idiot. I remembered turning down an offer from a flight team because it would mean not seeing her again. I remembered trying to find a way to go to the Grand Galloping Gala with her. I remembered hearing her cheer me on as I flew in the Best Young Flyers Competition. I remembered crashing into her library countless times just as an excuse to see her. I remembered her smile, always there to cheer me up. I remembered her embrace warm and comforting. I remembered her eyes, so bright and curious, eager to see the world. I remembered her voice, so beautiful and hypnotizing. I remembered her laugh, something I would do anything to hear. I remembered that I wouldn’t ever leave Ponyville hanging because that would leave her hanging. I remembered the most important thing in the world. I remembered that I loved Twilight Sparkle. Discord’s hold over me broke and I stood straight up, looking into the eyes of the most amazing mare in the world. I finally worked up the nerve. I kissed Twilight Sparkle.
Revolution - Lambda462"Ponyville citizens, be aware you are required to be inside at nightfall. Failure to comply with this regulation shall be met with severe punishment by the Lunar guard.” Speakers all over Ponyville transmitted the same messages over and over, reminding its citizens of the new rules that came with the sudden change in government with a metallic-sounding voice. Blindly trotting through the streets, Rainbow Dash scowled, angry at the Lunar guard. First they had taken away the skies by not allowing her to fly above a hundred meters and now she had to be inside before nightfall. It was getting crazier and crazier. At least there were no battles here… Rumor was it that there were still ponies who dared to oppose Queen Luna after her swift revolt. Most ponies were afraid what might happen to them if they dared to say anything negative about their new leader… The way Celestia had been dealt with was still fresh in everypony’s memories. Dash and her friends still opposed Luna’s new regime and, more importantly, were still loyal to Celestia. But even Twilight had agreed it would be better to keep quiet for now, their biggest priority being each other’s safety. She was suddenly snapped out of her reverie by a gruff, male voice. “CITIZEN! This is a restricted area! What is your business here?” Rainbow cursed under her breath; Without noticing she had trotted right into one of the new restricted industrial areas of the formerly small town. Panicking slightly, she began stammering. “I-Uhm, ju-“ “As I expected, you were up to no good. You will be taken into custody, citizen.” Before Dash could say anything, the unicorn guard unceremoniously picked her up with his magic, causing Rainbow to float in the air helplessly. “Hey! You can’t just do this!” The guard laughed sarcastically. “Yes I can.” Rainbow Dash tried struggling against the magical field for a moment longer, even though she knew it was helpless: These guards were trained exceptionally well, leaving her no possible way to escape. Just beginning to wonder what was going to happen to her now, there was a bright, purple blast, blinding Rainbow temporarily. She felt herself fall to the ground, thankfully landing on all fours. When her eyesight slowly returned to her, the guard lay unconscious on the cold, stone ground, and Twilight Sparkle was glaring at him, standing a few meters away. After a second, she quickly galloped towards Rainbow. “Rainbow, are you alright?!” she asked, sounding quite concerned. “Y-yeah… Thanks Twi…” The other replied, looking from the Guard to Twilight and back. The situation began to dawn upon her more and more; they were in deep trouble. Death penalty was the punishment for attacking a guard. “You shouldn’t have done that, though. They’ll be looking for both of us now! Dammit Twilight…” She said, her voice growing louder. The purple unicorn looked genuinely hurt at this, softly muttering “I was just trying to help” Regretting snapping at the unicorn already, Rainbow quickly walked up to the unicorn, speaking softly. “That’s alright, I still appreciate it… I don’t know what they might have done to me.” Silence fell between them for a second, after which Dash continued. “We’ll make it out of this mess. Together.”
Spiders - FluttershyFur-ever"Ahhh!" Rainbow Dash jumped back from the Daring Do and flew upwards as fast as she could to get away. Hearing the noise, Twilight ran into the room. "Rainbow Dash? Why are you--oh." she said, spotting the spider crawling on the book. "I know you're afraid of them, Dash, but they aren't going to hurt you, you know." "You sure?" "I may not be Applejack, but I am almost as honest." "I trust you, Twi." The pegasus pony fluttered down. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash wrapped eachother in a tight embrace. "I trust you too, Rainbow. I trust you too."
Fish - SomeponyTheVectorerThe sky-blue pegasus stood stock still, soothing water from the gently running stream cooling her from the hooves up, a cooling summer breeze gently blew her prismatic mane from her eyes. She paid it no mind, for she's been stalking her prey now for the past fifteen minutes, eyes following as her target was lazily drifting in small arcs around her hooves, waiting for the opportunity to strike. It's not common knowledge, but pegasi are able to eat and digest fish, in fact, it's taught as a survival tool during flight camp, should a pegasus find him or herself lost at sea or in environments with little to no vegetation, though it's not known for its taste. Rainbow Dash was neither in a situation where survival tactics needed to be employed, nor did she particularly enjoy the taste of fish, hay, she didn't need to catch them for Fluttershy, however she loved a challenge, and what greater challenge could there be of catching something which had a mind of its own? So here she was, waiting, watching, calculating, anticipating, and even if she wouldn't admit to such an 'egghead' ability, studying the fish, a fairly sized rainbow trout, coincidentally, her wings twitching slightly, she had barely moved them since she started, a state which they weren't all that used to; Rainbow wanted nothing more to stretch her wings, but any sudden movements, or making her presence more known may scare her prey off, and she didn't want to do this for another fifteen minutes. Suddenly, as the fish circled around a particularly large pebble, she struck, relying on her more avian instincts to guide her mouth to her target- only to come back with a mouth full of dirt. Desperately, she spat out the contents of her mouth, sputtering a panicked "No!" as she struck again, and again, each attempt getting wilder as the trout easily evaded her attempts. Panting as she came up for breath, she searched wildly for target, spotting it and shooting it a glare while it... blew her an underwater raspberry? "That's it!" she cried, leaping towards the fish. She collided with the ground, finally closing her jaws over the slimy, flailing creature. "Awr Yerh. Hry Twrr! Er got irt!" she triumphantly called with a mouth full of fish so fresh, it was still alive and struggling. Twilight Sparkle was less than amused. "Rainbow Dash! Spit that out immediately! I don't want tthe taste of fish in my mouth for the rest of the afternoon," the lavender unicorn called back from the Picnic blanket she had been laying on, the entire afternoon. Oh, Dash thought dejectedly as she spat the fish back into the river with a small 'ptoo' sound. Oh!
Northern Lights - CalmNQuietRainbow pressed into Twilight’s backside as she intertwined her hooves around the mare’s soft underbelly. “How is that? Comfortable? Do you want a different position?” Twilight breathed out slowly, as if taking it all in, before responding. “No... it feels great. Any position would work with you.” She arched her neck back and nuzzled the her head against Rainbow’s neck lovingly. “Thank you for this. I don’t think any other pony could do this for me.” “No problem, Twi! You know I love fun things.” She playfully bit the ear of the pony beneath her. Twilight squealed and squirmed in Rainbow’s grasp. “Stop that! You’re going to break my concentration.” She looked upward at the color lights dancing across the sky from the Crystal Empire. “Take me, Rainbow, up to the love-radiation from the Crystal Heart.” “On it!” Rainbow flared her wings dramatically and thrust them back hard. A few quick strokes later they were riding together high in the sky. Rainbow loved doing this with Twilight. On the ground, they were often evenly matched. But here, in the sky, this was her domain and Twilight needed her. As she approached the wavy leylines of power in the sky she slowed to a halt. “Are you ready Twi? I’m going to go in now.” “Thank you again, Rainbow. Just let me prepare myself.” Twilight focused her magic until she could sense every little bit of energy around her. It was absolutely fascinating and enthralling to feel this much love radiating through the atmosphere. “I’m ready...” She whispered out. Her mind focused on feeling every single sensation. Rainbow couldn’t wait any longer. She dived into the nearest stream of blue and pink and let the power wash over them. Twilight gasped loudly as it bombarded her body. Her horn spasmed and her body quivered under the sudden onslaught. “Oh Dashie! It’s incredible! Can you feel it?” “Yeah! It’s awesome!” Whoever said magical research was boring had never done it with Twilight Sparkle.
Secrecy - CplHendersonTwilight walked through the summer streets, gentle sunlight warming the evening sky. As amazing as the sky was, with all of its pinks, yellows and oranges, her mind was buzzing around who was waiting for her at home. A smile grew across her face as she imagined how she would spend the time that night. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Rarity asked, oblivious. She was walking with her, the two having visited Fluttershy together earlier in the day. Rarity peered at Twilight’s face. “What’s gotten you so happy, Twilight?” “What? Oh, um,” Twilight stammered, trying to think up an excuse, “I was just looking at Ponyville. With this sunset, the sky really is beautiful.” “Isn’t it?” Rarity said thoughtfully. She sighed. “It’s a shame that ponies don’t enjoy sights like this more often. Always bottled up in their homes, never simply enjoying nature.” Twilight giggled. “Well, those two certainly look like they’re enjoying the sun,” she said, pointing at a mare and a colt sitting on a park bench, staring at each other intently. Rarity smiled. “I’d say they’re more focused on one another then on the setting.” She let out a rueful sigh. “Oh, how I wish I had somepony to spend time like that with.” She looked curiously at Twilight. “How about you, Twilight? Do you have your eye on somepony?” Twilight started slightly, which Rarity picked up instantly on. “You do?” She squealed in a very unladylike manner, “Oh, do tell me who it is! Who is the lucky colt?” “No, no! I don’t like anypony!” Twilight said defensively. Rarity winked. “Of course, Twilight, of course,” she said. She shook her head and smiled. “Well, we best be off our separate ways. I’ll see you tomorrow, Twilight.” “See you, Rarity. I’m just going to stop by that new candy store on my way home. Spike would love some.” Twilight turned to leave, but Rarity stopped her with a single hoof. “You don’t want to go there, Twilight.” She said seriously. Twilight was surprised. “Why not?” She replied, wondering what could possibly be so bad. Rarity leaned close into Twilight’s face. “I heard that the owner of that store is a... fillyfooler.” Rarity said, whispering the last word. Leaning back out, she turned and started to walk away. “Well, see you, Twilight!” She called out in a final greeting, leaving behind a conflicted unicorn. As Twilight continued her walk, this time on her own, her thoughts turned to the mare waiting for her at home. As much as she loved all of her friends, she knew that she could never tell them about her relationship. They simply wouldn’t accept it. Twilight opened her door and stepped into the library, where she was immediately greeted by Rainbow Dash. “Hey, Twilight!” She said, her smile carrying a hidden meaning, “I was wondering if you could help me study for my Weather Manager’s exam?” “Sure,” Twilight returned the smile. She lay down next to Rainbow. “Spike is away tonight. We have the whole library to ourselves.” Rainbow laughed, wrapping her wing around Twilight’s body. “We’ll have to hold off on that, egghead. I do need to study for this exam.” Twilight smiled and snuggled in, levitating the book in front of her. She sighed. It didn’t matter what her friends, or the rest of the world, thought. She had Rainbow Dash, and that was enough.
Denial - Subsolar DriftThe world fell out from underneath me. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t think. My gut clenched in fear. I needed to breath. I looked around in terror, anywhere but towards the mare standing in front of me. I searched for any avenue of escape. “Well?” Rainbow Dash asked again, her voice wavering with uncertainty. “Will you be my marefriend Twilight?” Suddenly the last few weeks finally came into perfect clarity. All the time Dah had spent with me, all the times she’d asked me to go to lunch with her, and how touchy-feely with me. She’d been going on dates with me. I felt sick to my stomach. “Twilight, you okay?” Rainbow raised her eyebrow looking at me carefully. I forced myself to speak but the only thing that came out was a soft, “No.” “What?” Rainbow looked taken aback. “What’s wrong?” “No, I’m sorry. I can’t go out with you.” All traces of a smile vanished from Rainbows face. She looked dumbstruck, as if unable to process the words I’d spoken. At last, she spoke. “Why not?” Swallowing, I worked up the courage to to answer. “Well,to be perfectly honest? I’m not a fillyfooler.” Her face went from disappointment to confusion in an instant. “Then why have you been going out with me on dates?” With a frown, I answered. “I didn’t know they were dates, I thought we were just friends spending time together. I’d never go on a date with a mare.” I regretted my last words the instant I spoke them, wishing I could take them back. “Never?” Rainbow questioned, surprised. “You’d never even give it a chance?” “No, I couldn’t. It’s just wrong. Mares aren’t supposed to be with other mares. It’s just unnatural.” The anger was apparent in Rainbow’s eyes, along with the shock of hearing this from her friend. I felt guilty, but I stood by what I said. It was what I believed. “Oh, so because I’m a fillyfooler, I’m wrong?! I didn’t realize that love depended only on gender. I’m sorry, I’ll just leave you alone so I don’t disgust you.” With that, Rainbow was gone in a multihued storm. “Rainbow, I never said that!” I tried to shout after her, but she either didn’t hear or didn’t want to hear it. With a sigh, I turned around and went back into her library. I knew that being a fillyfooler was wrong, but yet still I felt horrible. There was something else there too. Disappointment? Why was I disappointed? Feeling absolutely terrible, I went to my room and crawled into bed, tears streaming down my face. One last thought went through my head before I slept. Rainbow Dash shouldn’t cry. She’s too beautiful when she’s happy. No one should make her cry.
Falling - CynicalTwilight was falling. There was no other word for it, she constantly seemed to go downwards within the spiral of darkness. Except that falling was a silly word for it, there was no true up or down. She could have simply been flying forwards for the sake of argument. But there was just… something about this that spoke of falling to her subconscious mind. It was unexplainable, which irked Twilight immensely. But the thing that irked her even more, was the apparent disregard for time and space in this spiral of darkness. There was no indication that she fell closer to the ground, or for any significant length of time for that matter. It was just falling. Constant falling. Until she looked to her side, and saw her partner within the darkness of the spiral. She smiled at her companion, and her companion smiled back. Twilight turned within the air and embraced her, holding on tightly as the world shifted slightly. So that they were flying through the seven shades of the rainbow.
Sunrise - CalmNQuietTwilight’s hooves thudded against the ground at a rapid pace. The thick grass muffled her hoof-falls and threatened to steal her grip. Panting heavily, she turned her head back to tighten the straps on her saddlebag. It would be a tremendous loss if she lost its precious contents now. She glanced to the horizon. How much time did they have left? She momentarily dimmed the magical headlamp strapped above her horn to get a better gauge of the level of ambient light. The first trickles of morning light teased at the horizon. This was bad. “Rainbow! We’re running out of time.” She struggled to keep pace as she yelled into the dawn. “Sunrise is coming. If we don’t make it to the compound--” “I know!” The reply was harsh and heated. “Just run!” Focusing on the tail in front of her, she put forth an extra burst of speed. She wasn’t going to die out here. And, she wasn’t going to let the ponies depending on these herbs to die. They crested over the last set of hills together just as yellow started to fill the sky. The faint light gleamed across the metal structure in the distance. The paved concrete which extended several hundred feet from the tall walls held back the encroaching wilderness. It also represented the safe zone they desperately needed to be within. She allowed herself a sigh of relief. They were going to make it. Lustrous reds, oranges and yellows painted the canvas above as her hooves clacked onto the reinforced concrete. She smiled at her good fortune. Snap. Crash. Her back hoof shot sharp needles of pain up her leg and she collapsed at the edge of the threshold. In a panic, she looked back and found her leg bleeding. An early riser latched onto to her flesh and sucked away viciously. She screamed in agony as the blood seeped from her body. In a flash, Rainbow was beside her. A sharp pair of jaws shredded the green vine and splattered its owner with crimson. “Common Twi, just a little further.” Twilight strained to her hooves, but collapsed several feet into the safe zone. Her fluids oozed from the open wound and the tranquilizing chemicals in the jaws of the plant robbed her of her senses. Rainbow glanced at the compound and back at the mass of green slowly coming to life with the early light. “Damnit Twi... I can’t just leave you here.” She cursed inwardly and looked at the wound. She needed something to staunch the wound. Lifting her wing, she buried her muzzle in the soft down feathers at the base and tore them from their sockets. She fought back the pain and pressed the fluff against the wound. It would have to do for now. She lowered her body and slid the unmoving body of her partner onto her back and painfully crossed the last hundred feet to the compound door. She slammed her hoof against it. “Let us in! Twilight’s been hurt! She needs a detox now!” The doors swung open and Rainbow trudged inside. She dropped Twilight carefully on the waiting stretcher and kissed the forehead of the feverish unicorn. “It’s okay Twi. You’re going to be okay.” Beautiful colors graced the land as the compound was sealed away from the overgrown environment outside. The dawn of a new day.
Moonlight - Incredible BlunderboltPrincess Luna inhaled the sweet, cool air of the night as she soared through the air and basked in the glow of her sky. If there was one thing that she was proudest of in her whole life, it was the idea of moonlight; it was not as harsh as her sister's sun, nor was it as beneficial, but little else could compare in the sense of sheer natural beauty. Her moon was full tonight, and it cast its light wondrously upon the landscape. Luna loved to drift across the Equestrian skylines on these most gorgeous of nights—something she'd found herself doing much more often than before she... left. In the air beside her, Princess Celestia was wore a frown as she beat her wings. "It's not that she can't take care of herself," she said, a touch of anxiety breaching her carefully constructed mask of confidence. "Far from it, it's just that she's so I to flying; I can't help but worry..." "You should not, sister," Luna assured her, smiling in hopes that she might alleviate some of her sister's stress she that she too, could enjoy their flight. "Today is simply her first day as a princess, it is only natural for her to want to explore." "But the skies..." Celestia countered, biting her lip. "The guards said their search turned up nothing. She's never flown before today—" "And you know she won't take and needless chances," the Night Princess finished. "Twilight is a very sensible young mare, and I'm sure she's fine." That seemed to do the trick. Celestia's jagged wingbeats slowed down to a more controlled tempo. "Besides," she added for increased effect, "isn't her friend Rainbow Dash with her? I'm sure the skies show Twilight no danger with her around." Celestia sighed, and the sisters came to rest on a soft patch of cumulus. "You're right—I'm sure she'll be fine." When her sister didn't respond, Celestia looked up at her. "What are you looking at?" Smiling gently, Luna gestured with a hoof at an even smaller cloud drifting below them. Cuddled up in the moonlight, laid a pegasus and a slightly larger alicorn in a shimmering tiara. Their tails were entwined, muzzles almost touching. Both were breathing deeply and facing the western horizon, where the sun had set just hours ago. "Oh, I'm more than sure," Luna said, stifling a giggle.
Prank - CynicalTwilight Sparkle moved about her silent house, a sandwich held within her magic. It was gone midnight and the unicorn had been up late, experimenting on the workings of pegasus magic. But now she’d finished for the night. She’d rolled her experiment notes into a scroll and stored them within her safe where she kept her most cherished research. Now she’d finally be able to get some sleep, if her partner allowed it that is. She blushed, starting up the stairs and finishing her sandwich. It was taking some… getting used to, that was for certain. But at least Twilight could easily say that it’d never been boring around the place. Far from it. With a barely suppressed smile at her memories, Twilight opened the door into her bedroom and was immediately splattered with something viscous and dark. Before she’d even had a chance to open her mouth, that was followed by a sudden cascade of snowy feathers and a Rainbow Dash shortly after, who promptly secured a rubber beak onto Twilight’s muzzle and stood back, admiring her work. Twilight stayed stock still, just in case there was anything else coming, but loosened up as Dash lost her cool and collapsed onto the floor into a fit of raucous laughter. Twilight’s eyebrow twitched. “Oh hello Rainbow Dash… nice to see you too.” I said cooly, my voice echoing oddly through the ‘beak’. The giggles paused for a moment as Rainbow looked up at me, then came back full force as she lost it again. Twilight sighed. So much for a nice peaceful evening. She left Dash to her laughter, heading towards the bathroom with weary acceptance. She paused, looking towards the large mirror that stretched across the tiles. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly at her own appearance, no wonder Rainbow had broken down like that. Shaking her head slightly, she prepared herself for the arduous task of washing off the gunk in the shower. Like she’d said. Far from boring.
Stone - batsA soft blue hoof ran slowly over the carved stone surface of the grave marker. A heavy sigh escaped her snout, head and ears drooping as her eyes scanned the words over and over in a mantra. Her raised limb ran in circles over the stone, as much an assurance of its continued existence than anything else. Twin pools of magenta regarded the dried remains of rose wreaths littering the base of the marker. She cupped a dry petal between her forehooves. In fits and starts, Rainbow Dash began to speak. “…Hi. It’s me again. I’m…I’m sorry I haven’t been by in a while. It’s…it’s hard to come out here. You understand, right? “… “Yeah, I don’t, either. You deserve better’n that. I miss you. I miss you, and coming out to see you like this just reminds me you’re gone. It’s enough of a reminder when I can’t see you at my shows in the stands. “It’s not fair this happened. There was so much we never said. So many things we never got to do. Everypony says time makes it easier, but they’re wrong. Every time somethin’ happens that I’d want you there for where you can’t just hurts more. So many memories we can’t share… “I’m no good at this sorta stuff. You know that. I’m sorry. I’m sorry an’ I love you. I never said that enough to you when you could hear it. I hope you can hear it now.” “I’m sure he can.” A purple hoof settled across Rainbow’s shoulders, drawing her close. She leaned into Twilight’s neck, nuzzling gratefully. Rainbow Dash’s voice rose in energy, gaining strength from the unicorn’s presence. “This is that mare I was tellin’ you about. We’ve been seein’ each other for a while now and…and that’s why I came to see you today. I…I asked her to marry me an’ she said yes. I don’t know the last time I’ve been so happy.” She nuzzled Twilight again, gripping the hoof around her neck with one of her own. “She means the world to me and I know you’d love her too. You two are a lot alike in some ways. Always tryin’ to get me to slow down and think things through first. Boring, right?” She smiled fondly at the gray stone. “She’s exactly the sorta pony you always wanted me to end up with. You’d be proud’a me. I…I wish you could be there for the day.” The unicorn’s grip tightened as Rainbow wiped her eyes with a hoof. “I guess you will be in some way. You might not be able to give me away, but you’ll be there with me in my thoughts. I’ll never forget you.” She ran her hoof over the gravestone once more before standing and wrapping a wing around Twilight. “I’ll try to come around a little more, okay? I love you, Dad.” Twilight kissed her fiancée on the cheek as they turned, cantering off through the cemetery.
Beach - Incredible BlunderboltThe ocean rocked their little vessel with choppy waves and ripping winds. Planes roared above them, their engines only adding to the cacophonous roars of the ships and other, amphibious, vehicles. In one such contraption were five young women in camouflage uniforms, crowded around a large piece of parchment. "Okay!" said their aptly-named leader, Sergeant Rainbow Dash, her multi-hued hair billowing in the wind. "Remember the mission: securing the package is the most important part of this whole thing and Celestia's asked for us personally to do the job!" The boat lurched, and the gang was forced to regain their balance. "That means everything else is secondary!" she added, eyeing her blonde friend. Applejack nodded solemnly, rubbing a picture of a young, red-haired girl with her thumb. "Division A is taking the left flank, Division B's got the right!" Dash shouted as the wind picked up. “Where does that leave us?” asked the tallest one present, brushing a lock of amethyst hair out of her eyes. “We’re going straight up the middle,” the sergeant answered boldly. “Divisions A and B are going to try to make a funnel for us to fight through, but it’s all we’ve got to work with.” “Great.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Send us into the fire again please, Princess!” Dash nodded, folded up the map and placed it in her breast pocket. She looked around at her team with pride as the whistle blew and a voice came through her radio. “T minus thirty seconds to shore.” In the corner of their tiny vessel, Corporal Pinkie Pie sat with her bright pink hair tucked under a camouflage cover and counted her rifle cartridges with a toothy grin. “I hope changelings like beach parties," she said manically. As they drew closer to their destination, loud pings could be heard amongst the cries of desperate fighting. Dash grabbed her rifle off its mount and stood up. “Everybody ready?” Nobody answered audibly, but each of them grabbed their weapons and fell in behind her. “Good,” she said, pleased. The boat jerked as it hit the earth. Slowly but steadily, the bow began to drop, revealing the scene ahead. In the distance stood a tall, black, spiky structure that could be very well have been described as a fairy-tale castle from the nightmare realm. In its tallest tower lay their objective, just past the miles of barbed wire, explosive mines, sand pits and hundreds of soldiers. Bullets whizzed through the air, creating small explosions of sand on the beach before them as men and women on both sides fell to the ground, bleeding and crying. Rainbow Dash stepped up onto the platform and gazed up at the tower. “Hang in there Twi,” she said to herself, checking the safety on her rifle. “We’re comin’ for ya.”
Unrequited - Subsolar DriftDear Journal, Love is a funny thing, isn’t it? For most of our lives we have no clue what love is, only hearing of it in romance stories and from our parents. We spend much of our lives trying to find someone to fall in love with, searching for a piece of something truly special just for ourselves. Looking for that one pony who will love us in return. And sometimes when we fall in love, we still don’t get it. We don’t get that love returned to us. We can love someone who will never love us back. That pain, love given but not returned is excruciating. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Is love worth it? It’s hard to say. From everything I’ve felt, no it isn’t. The pain far outlasts the pleasure. Yet, I still yearn for that love everyday. It’s like a never ending torture device. Even though I want to stop I can’t. I need to find a way out, before it destroys me. I will escape. Love will not hurt me any more.
Rumors - CynicalIt was quiet in the library, the two ponies snuggled on the floor in front of the crackling fire paid no heed to the rain outside, nor to where they knew Luna’s moon to be beneath the cloud cover. Rainbow Dash had her wing laid across Twilight’s back lazily, providing an extra layer of warmth, while Twilight herself had pressed herself into Rainbow, keeping as much contact between the two as she could. “Twilight?” The named pony stirred against her, looking up at Dash after a moment. “Hmm?” “I talked to my boss, Spitfire, after work today.” “That’s good.” Came the drowsy reply. Rainbow sighed, shifting her wing slightly, and immediately it was as if someone had turned on a switch. Twilight blinked and looked at Rainbow with sudden wakefulness, “Sorry, what did she want?” “She wanted to say that she was, well, happy for me.” “Aren’t you happy Rainbow? I don’t quite get what’s wrong.” Rainbow looked into the fire, speaking up after another moment, “Sorry, of course I’m happy. I guess that I’m just not used to ponies ruminating on my private life.” She continued to look into the fire, then looked away into the eyes of the pony who was nuzzling her. “Let them say what they say, we know the truth right?” Rainbow Dash chuckled softly, returning the nuzzle and replacing her wing around Twilight again. “We know the truth.” She echoed, resting her head atop Twilight’s own and looking into the fire again.
Crush - Tavi n Scratch“See ya later Twi,” I said as I reached out for the door of the library. My hoof made contact, but I was reluctant to push through, something was holding me back. “Bye Rainbow, talk to you tomorrow.” And there it was. The simple joy of hearing that beautiful voice brought a smile to my face. I was so stubborn before, denying myself what I knew to be true. I mean Rainbow Dash, the coolest pegasus in all of Equestria, a filly-fooler? At first it didn’t seem to add up, but once I let go it all made so much more sense. Twilight is the most amazing unicorn ever, she’s gorgeous, smart, kind and everything I ever think I could need in a partner. I could actually picture it all in my head, living my life with her. Waking up in the morning and the first thing I see is her face and the first thing I here is her voice. That would be bliss. I was just ignorant before, now I don’t see how I could be happy without Twilight. Just spending the day a the library was amazing. Laying down with her in a little nook, poring over all these wondrous tomes of knowledge, burning away the daylight discussing whatever. “The what” was unimportant, “the who” is what mattered. This beautiful pony whom I could easily see in a wedding gown, speaking her vows to me. I’ve had crushes before but this was something special. I heard footsteps behind me. “You okay Dash?” “I’m fine, actually, I’m great. Can I ask you something?”
Rejection - Tavi n ScratchI’m fine, I mean, it’s not the end of the world or anything. I’m Rainbow Dash for Pete’s sake. I’ve done just fine on my own for my entire life all on my own. I don’t need anyone else, I am independent. I don’t need a special somepony, and I most certainly don’t need Twilight. Who am I kidding? I am just sad. I can tell myself whatever I want, I want Twilight but Twilight doesn’t want me. The greatest pegasus in all of Equestria in isn’t good enough for her. Now that I think about it, that really makes sense. There is no one in this world as amazing as Twilight, and she deserves someone equally as great. I’d say that I fit the bill. but apparently she doesn’t think so. That’s really all that matters I guess. I may think I’m great, but it doesn’t matter unless Twilight thinks so, and if she did then I wouldn’t be here, lying in my bed, skulking. I was so certain. I had it all planned out. Show up early at the library and help her with anything she asked for. I took her to Sugarcube corner for breakfast, I even payed for her food. I took her to a movie. We got lunch at the cafe. She and I went on a walk. I was planning on taking her to a very special place. Behind Fluttershy’s cottage was a meadow, a beautiful field of lavender. At one edge of the meadow was a weeping willow, I go there all the time, it’s breathtaking. But then my world came crashing down. She inquired as to why I was being so nice, I casually replied something about friends being nice to one another. Then she stopped dead in her tracks and asked if it was possibly anything more than friendship. I confessed, I spilled it all out. I was hoping she’d understand and maybe even share these feelings. Then she crushed me, crushed my soul. I’ll always remember her rejection. “I’m not looking for a relationship right now, and if I was I’d look for a stallion. You’re great and all, but I don’t want to risk our friendship.” She doesn’t get it, how can I be friends with somepony who I love so much, and yet she only feels friendship. I’ll always want more, and someday that will tear us apart. It seems selfish, but that’s who I am. I mean I’m fine, but who am I kidding?
Borrowed - Stryker12324"So... I was just wondering if I could borrow them for a while." "Of course you can! I'm so glad you're trying this out with her." "Yeah, I kinda am, too." "I mean, ever since you two started reading together, you've been such good influences for each other." "Yup. We started reading more than just Daring Do. Fantasy, mystery... even romance, although that took a while." "That must have been a struggle." "It took a bit of convincing, yeah." "Well, I'm glad of it. You two have been getting closer because of it." "Yeah... That we have." "And may I say... you two make such a cute couple!" "Heh... thanks..." "You're welcome. Now just wait right here. I'll go and get them." "Alright..." "Here they are." "Wow, these look great!" "I've actually had these for a long time. So they're a bit old..." "That's okay, Fluttershy. These are perfect." "I'm glad. So you two are going to do it today?" "Tonight, actually. She said she's been waiting for the right time, and said tonight was it." "That sounds lovely." "I know. Really, she tries to act all tough, but underneath, she's just a sweetheart." "Yes, she is." "Well, thanks again, Fluttershy." "No problem, Twilight. I hope those goggles fit. Enjoy flying with Rainbow." "Oh, I will. Rainbow said she's been preparing the sky for tonight, so I'm really looking forward to it..."
Nightmare - CynicalRainbow Dash laid next to Twilight, a foreleg wrapped around her as she tossed and turned in her sleep, grunting every now and then. She felt so… helpless. Give her a Dragon and she’d buck it in the face ten times over. If it threatened her friends, she’d beat it to a pulp to protect them. If it dared to threaten Twilight Sparkle, she’d damn well try to launch it to the moon. But she couldn’t help her now… Not in her dreams. They’d started a week or two ago. It really wasn’t surprising that Twilight could have bad dreams, if not worse than her friends. She’d been through hell and back once… literally, and Rainbow suspected that there was yet more she refused to share. They’d asked Princess Luna to help, yet she’d revealed that Twilight Sparkles dreams, and all elements of harmony, were no-longer under her domain. She’d have to fight them herself. But she didn’t have to sit next to Twilight every night before bed and coax her to her nightmares. She didn’t have to lay there next to her as she tossed and turned, mumbling at horrors Rainbow herself could only dream of. She didn’t have to feel the guilt every morning as Twilight woke and vowed not to sleep that night, even as she made plans to make her do so. Yet she could not be mad at the Princess for something which she could not do… no matter how hard she tried. She just had to wrap her hooves around her marefriend and hold her tight, protecting her against the unspeakable horrors of the night.
Confession - Subsolar DriftDear Princess Celestia, I’m sorry. There is no more to say besides that. I’m sorry. I have let you down. You always taught me to be good, true, and honest. I tried to follow you in the light, but a darkness came over me and I sinned. I cannot bear to see you again knowing I’ve let you down in such a way. I am supposed to be your most faithful, but I have fallen into shadow. Even as I write this I tremble with the power of my affliction. It is only through thoughts of you and what you have taught me that I have the strength to write these words and do what I must. I must be punished for I looked unto another mare in lust. A dark spirt has come over me and infected my mind. Do not blame the mare for she is oblivious to my plight. The conflict is my own for I have brought these spirits to myself and my soul feels as if it is tearing itself apart. My punishment as the part of me that is good and true pits itself against the darkness that has blossomed inside me since I have left your side. My actions now are a necessity to ensure my soul stays in the light. Forgive me my crimes, for I am not of sound mind. Let the light guide my soul forever. Twilight Sparkle.
Spiral - CynicalTo Twilight, it was the epiphany of all that was wrong in her life at the moment. The endless and monotonous line, closing inwards towards a foregone conclusion. Maybe… maybe she’d hoped for this too much? Maybe she’d meant what she’d said? It didn’t matter. She’d taken her temper out on Dash, and now she was paying the consequences. One wrong move, and her life had ground into a standstill, a singular point. All that she had to do now, was lift the pen from the paper. Except… no, she’d remembered what it felt like for her, for everyone you love to abandon you and leave you alone. She’d never wish that on anyone. Not even her worst enemy. No, she’d fix this before she closed the book. Even if it did become worse, she’d try to simply reinstate everything to before they started their relationship. As the best of friends. Who knew what could happen though? As she stared off into the distance, her quill, Rainbow Dash’s feather, re-traced the spiral she’d drawn on the paper. From a singular eventuality, into the horizon.
Countdown - bats“Ten! Nine! Eight!” The bustling town square was filled with rumbling hooves as the excited chant bellowed from every lung, bouncing around the buildings in a cacophonous din. The flashes of light above the town hall filled the sky with numbers, leading the countdown in the chill winter air. Rainbow pulled her light purple scarf, a Hearth’s Warming gift from Twilight, closer around her neck as she shouted. “Seven! Six! Five!” Twilight watched the puffs of her breath hang white in front of her muzzle as she yelled. A shiver raced up her spine, half from the cold and half from the infectious cheer hanging in the air. A sky blue wing unfurled and wrapped around her back as a warm blanket. “Four! Three! Two!” The unicorn nuzzled her marefriend’s neck in gratitude. Rainbow Dash’s voice dropped in volume as she turned, locking eyes with Twilight. Magenta and violet, catching glints of reds and golds from the firework numerals, gazed deeply. The crowd fell away and transformed into a muted roar surrounding the pair. They moved closer, brushing sides. The frigid ends of their coats instantly thawed under the shared heat they passed back and forth, their muzzles drifting closer as they strengthlessly mouthed the final digits. “One! Happy new year!” Purple and blue lips met on the final count. A second wing unfurled as they turned to face each other, encircling Twilight’s back as she raised her forehooves. Purple limbs slid around blue shoulders, pulling Rainbow to her chest. Their mouths opened simultaneously, an impassioned quest for more warmth and contact. Twilight could taste hot chocolate on her mare’s breath. As the chant shifted to shapeless shouts and well-wishes, Rainbow Dash swept her hooves around Twilight’s back and flared her wings. With three swift flaps, she lifted them both into the air. They hovered above the crowd, oblivious to the few whistling cat-calls aimed at their embrace. Twilight traced her hooves gently through tousled mane, focusing on the fluttering beat of Rainbow’s heart pressed up against her chest. Two pairs of eyes slid half open as they parted, seamlessly resuming their enchanted stare. They panted breathlessly, steaming vapor puffs wisping off their parted muzzles. Twilight continued stroking greens, blues, and purples. Rainbow Dash offered Twilight a tiny smile; one only she ever got to see that was devoid of her standard bravado. “Happy new year, Twi’.” She leaned forward and pecked the unicorn on the lips. “I love you.” “I love you, Rainbow.” She returned the brief kiss with one of her own, a foreleg drifting back to cup the blue mare’s face. “Happy new year.” A chorus of ‘awws’ erupted below them. The daredevil cast a glance at the gathered ponies making moony eyes up at the pair and rolled her eyes. Smirking, she beat her wings rapidly. The couple soared through the winter night. Luna’s moon continued its trek across the sky as the year fully came to a close. It was a time of new beginnings.
Sleep - The Mysterious NNot many ponies thought much about sleep, it was simply a part of daily life, or a routine. Lay down in the evening, and rise in the morning with the sun. You could say that there was no such thing as a sleep expert. Twilight said the closest thing was Princess Luna, who helped facilitate sweet dreams for all of Equestria. Too bad it wasn't true. Rainbow Dash hated sleeping. If she wasn't training, or hanging out with her friends, then she was asleep. So much time was wasted, lost while she lay blissfully unaware. It was a curse really. Having been born with a form of narcolepsy, she couldn't help it. Suffering from minor EDS, or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, she'd quickly learned that fighting her body's urges was not a good idea. Looking like a zombie, and falling asleep at the most inopportune times were not good for her life expectancy. So thus she was forced to take daily naps. Sometimes on a cloud, other times in a tree; much to Applejack's annoyance. The worst part was that her stubborn pride kept her from telling everypony about her condition. If she was going to make it into the 'Bolts, then she had to be perfect. No weaknesses, nothing that the other competitors could use to get a wing up on her. But Rainbow Dash was reaching the end of the line. She couldn't do this anymore, it wasn't fair to her, her friends or anypony else. It was especially unfair to Twilight. So that's how she found herself sitting in the library, explaining her condition. Twilight took it well, mentioning she'd had her suspicions. Rainbow was thankful for that. So they worked out a plan, she was welcome to come to the library and get the sleep she needed. That's what she was doing right now, curled up in Twilight's embrace. Her marefriend's lavender hooves wrapped around Rainbow's midsection, breath tickling her nape. The warmth she felt coming off the unicorn was simply amazing. As she lay there, slowly drifting asleep, one thought remained. For once in her life, Rainbow really didn't mind her condition. If it meant Twilight was with her, then maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all...
Munchies - Incredible BlunderboltRustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... Twilight lay shaking in her bed, eyes closed tight, pretending that the ominous noises coming from downstairs weren't there. She'd awoken about an hour ago to the sound of muffled thumps around where she judged the kitchen to be, and had grown steadily more concerned as the sounds persisted through the minutes. The noises were soft and light, but careless and disrespectful—like somepony who didn't want to be heard, but didn't particularly care what they broke, either. Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... At first, Twilight had thought that Spike had simply gotten hungry in the middle of the night, and had decided to go downstairs for a little snack, but soon remembered that Spike was spending the night at Rarity's after he'd helped her search for sapphires earlier. It couldn't be Owowliscious—her pet was almost certainly still out hunting for is breakfast. The noises were most certainly not of Twilight's making, so that left only one option: A...a... Twilight gulped and pulled the sheets over her head, still very much shaking. A break-in! Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... Twilight had read about break-ins. Heck, she'd studied Equestrian Law under the very mare who'd written it! She knew the reasons that they happened—poor ponies often needed money or food to simply survive—and that, statistically speaking, one in four houses in Equestria would be burgled per year, but she'd never expected that such a thing would happen to her! Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... Twilight bit her lip and blinked back a few nervous tears. Stay calm, Twilight! she reassured herself. Just stay calm and let them take what they want! Criminals generally don't turn violent unless they're put into situations where they feel threatened. Just stay where you are, and stay calm! A shadow darted across her room, and she nearly screamed before she realized that it was just coming from the bough of an outside tree in the moonlight. Rustle rustle rustle... Crunch crunch crunch... The noises died down for a moment before the sound of something smashing the floor echoed up the stairs. "Aw, shoot!" came a voice that was definitely not Twilight's. Thump, thump, thump... Twilight's heart stopped as she realized that the rustling had died down, only to be replaced by the sounds of hoofsteps coming up the stairs! Suppressing a squeal of sheer terror, Twilight tunneled herself deeper into her bed and wished that her brother were there to help her. Shining Armor would certainly have never allowed somepony to scare his sister and ransack her house! Thump, thump, thump... The hoofsteps drew ever closer, and soon, Twilight could hear them just outside her door. They stopped just outside and, for a moment, everything went deathly quiet. Twilight bit her lip and hoped that the intruder would continue on down the hallway and raid her storage room instead. Then, the door knob clicked. Slowly, the door opened. A figure stepped inside her room, dragging a long cylinder behind it. The burglar was a bit short, Twilight realized, and rather small looking, but way too wide to be anything that she could recognize. Certainly, if she had to, she could defend herself against such a criminal, but hopefully it wouldn't come to that. Twilight covered her mouth with her hooves as the trespasser's eyes fell upon her bed. Gradually, the shadow neared her, breathing heavily. As it got closer, the figure reached out to her lantern and flicked the flint fire-starter, flooding the room with light, and revealing the one face that Twilight had never expected to see on the pony who'd made her experience such terror. "Heya, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash said cheerfully, a few sandy-colored seeds dropped from her muzzle to the floor. "Your snack-tube was empty, so I thought I'd fill it up for you, but, uh..." She held up Twilight's prized bird-feeder, now smashed beyond repair, and blushed. "By the way," she said, rubbing the back of her neck. "You're outta that awesome seed..." Twilight grit her teeth and fought the urge to scream out every indignity in the Equestrian language—and several known only to griffons—at Rainbow Dash's infuriating antics. Then, she noticed something. Uh, oh... Dash's wings twitched. "So, uh, you lonely in that bed or what?" she asked, tossing the now-useless bird-feeder to the side and giving Twilight a wink.
Cinnamon - Subsolar DriftRainbow Dash landed in front of Sugarcube Corner wiping the sweat from her brow. She was grimy and dirty, having just gotten back from a week long flight, but she smiled nonetheless as she walked into the store. “Hello and welcome to Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie began, crouching behind the counter looking for something. Having found what she was looking for, she raised her head gasped in surprise when she saw who it was. “Dashie!” She cried leaping over the counter and tackling the pegasus in a bone-crushing hug. “You’re back!” She paused for a second to sniff. “And you smell!” “Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash choked. “I can’t breath.” “Well of course you can’t when you smell that bad! You should really take a shower.” Pinkie let go of Dash who took a big lungful of air and began to cough. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll go take a shower in a minute. First off, will you do me a huge favor?” Pinkie’s eyes widened at this, and she began to jump up and down in joy. “Ooo! What flavor? Vanilla? Chocolate? Sherbert? Strawberry? Blueberry? Cotton Candy? Hay bacon? Bubble Gum? Orange? App-” “Favor, not flavor Pinkie.” “Ohh! I see! So what can I do ya for, Dashie?” She said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Dash groaned and facehoofed, but reached for her saddlebags and very carefully pulled out a small tin. She placed it on the counter and removed the lid, causing Pinkie to gasp. “I-is that what I think it is?!” Pinkie whispered, her voice trembling. “You bet it is!” Rainbow smirked, striking a cocky pose. Dash frowned when Pinkie was so transfixed with the contents of the tin that she’d missed the pegasus’ pose. Luckily she saw what was about to happen. Pinkie dived towards the tin, trying desperately to get to the insides, but Dash was faster. With a flick of her wings, she was in front of the pink pony and blocked her way. “No Pinkie! It isn’t for you.” “Awww, but Dashie--” Pinkie pleaded, her eyes starting to water. “No, I’m not falling for it. This is really important. I need you to do something for me.” Leaning forward, she whispered something in Pinkie’s ear, making the earth pony’s jaw drop. “No. Way.” She said when she’d picked her jaw up from the floor. Rainbow just smirked and nodded. Pinkie’s face became very serious. “What do you need me to do.” Rainbow muttered some instructions to Pinkie, gave her the tin, and proceeded up the stairs to take a shower. Half an hour later (Rainbow Dash really, really, likes her showers), Rainbow descended the stairs, wings wide spread to air dry. “Pinkie!” She called towards the kitchen. “You done yet?” The doors swung open and out came the pink mare carrying a small package. She passed it off to Dash and wished her good luck. With a quick goodbye, Dash went on her way and Pinkie watched longing as she left. Dash could barely contain her excitement as she made her way to the library where a certain unicorn awaited her. She stood outside the door for a moment, steadying her nerves, and knocked. “Coming!” Came a familiar voice from inside the tree, accompanied by the sound of a book closing. Moments later the door opened to Twilight Sparkle. “Hey Sparkle, I’m back!” said Dash with a grin, getting swept into her second hug of the day, though this one was much more enjoyable. “Welcome home Rainbow! How was your trip?” Twilight asked, walking inside with Dash. “It was fine, I missed you though.” Dash nuzzled her marefriend. “I got you something too!” “Oh Dash,” Twilight said with a blush. “You didn’t have to.” “Well I know how much you love foreign foods, so I got Pinkie to make some with a recipe I got.” Dash took out the package and opened it revealing a cake. “It’s called coffee cake, and it’s delicious. You have it with tea, so you should boil up two cups so we can have a slice together.” The two mares quickly made the tea, cut the cake, and sat down on the couch next to each other. With a smile, Twilight levitated her fork, got a little piece of the cake, and tried it. “Mmmm! That’s delicious.” She said, swallowing and quickly getting another bite. “What’s in it?” “It’s a cake with some nuts, sugar, a bit of coffee, and the special ingredient, Caymare Island cinnamon!” At that, Twilight spat the cake out of her mouth and threw her plate away, quickly draining her tea. Coughing and wincing from the heat, she grimaced. “What’s wrong?” Dash cried in shock. “Rainbow Dash you idiot! I’m horribly allergic to cinnamon!”
Distance - CalmNQuietTwilight slipped into the booth and picked up the phone. She took a deep breath and whispered out very gently: “Hey Dashie...” A pause. “H—Hey Twi.” The voice was scratchy and unclear, but it was definitely the voice of her marefriend. She smiled ever so slightly at the sound of the familiar voice. “How are you doing? Are you getting enough rest?” “I’m doing fine, Twi. Really. Plenty of fluids and rest. You don’t have to worry about me.” Her brow furrowed as the she picked up the distinctive sound of coughing at the other end of the line. “Are you sure you’re okay? That coughing doesn’t sound very good at all.” “Don’t worry, Twi. A little cough isn’t going to keep me down. I need to get going now. I’ll talk to you next week okay?” She started to protest. “But, we just started talking...” “I know, but I can’t stay up any longer. I love you, Twi. Take good care of yourself.” “I will. I love you Dashie.” She sighed and hung the phone up. She pressed her hooves against the glass of the booth as the tears welled in her eyes. “Damn it... I miss you so much.” She looked at her reflection and wiped the tears from her eyes. I promised to be strong. We’ll make it through this. After one last glance at the glass with a smile, she pulled herself out of the well-worn chair and headed home. The next week, she returned promptly at the same time and entered the glass booth once more. She ran her hoof over the familiar phone and picked it up. As expected, Rainbow was waiting for her. “Hey Twi. I thought I’d wait for you this time.” Twilight giggled and smiled at her reflection in the glass. “That’s sweet of you Dashie. I brought the latest copy of Daring Doo. I don’t know if you can get books, but at least I can read it for you.” “Wow... That’s, that’s awesome. I’d love to have you read it to me. Just let me get comfortable.” “Okay. Let me know when you’re ready.” Twilight opened the book and laid it out on the table in front of her. She closed her eyes serenely and waited. Her eyes shot open in a panic as she heard a loud crash over the phone. “Dashie? Dashie! Are you okay?” No answer. “Dashie! Answer me!” She pounded frantically against the booth to vent her simultaneous fear and frustration. “T...Twi...” The weak voice barely registered in Twilight’s mind. “I’m going to need a raincheck on Daring Doo.” Rainbow’s shallow breaths interrupted every word and was accompanied by violent bouts of coughing. “Twi... I love you...” “Dashie!” She slammed her hoof into the table helplessly as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you! Don’t—” Before Twilight could finish, she was pulled out of the booth by the attendants. She flailed wildly in protest for a few minutes before finally giving in. A few days later, a letter arrived for Twilight. She ripped it open and read it frantically. After the first few sentences, she dropped the letter and galloped out the door. She was gone before the letter touched the ground. She barged into the room with the glass booth and kicked open the door to the left. The loud protests of the attendants fell on deaf ears. She closed the distance between Rainbow and herself and sealed their lips in a deep kiss. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she held her marefriend tightly in her hooves. After a tense few minutes she pulled away and looked at Rainbow blearily. “Don’t... ever scare me like that again. I love you so much.” “I love you too, Twi.” That afternoon, Rainbow Dash checked out of Ponyville Hospital after a full recovery.
Blanket - The Mysterious NShining Armor searched the house in a frantic panic. Twilight had started to cry... and with their parents away on business and Cadence unavailable, the task of taking care of the young Sparkle fell to him. Nothing seemed to satisfy the rambunctious filly. Not her favorite books, not any food. Not even her prized doll, Mr. Smartypants could calm her down. Rummaging through the closet once more Shining spied something in the corner of a shelf. It was a blanket, one of many colors, all arranged in the pattern of a rainbow. With no idea how it got there, or where it was from, he quickly decided to try the blanket. Shining plucked it down from the high shelf with a wobbly wave of his horn, only to have the blanket fall on him. His magic had manifested, but the future royal guard still had a long ways to go before he had a firm grasp on his abilities. He blinked from underneath the covering, and quickly pulled it off and folded it once more. Hiding it he made his way back over to his sister. Twilight was still waiting, thankfully no longer crying as loudly. Instead her face held a look of curiosity at her brother's approach. Shining slowly made his way closer, but quickly sped up as he noticed the distinctive curl of a crying fit coming on. When Twilight cried, she always seemed to curl her mouth in peculiar way. "I've got something for you..." he cooed, pulling the blanket off his back. Her head tilted, curiosity etched on her features. What was the colorful object Shining held? With a barely audible rustle, the blanket was spread and slowly cascaded over the young purple filly. Twilight immediately rustled underneath the blanket, her mane disheveled from the small amount of static. With utmost care, Shining spread out the blanket properly on the little filly. The young Twilight Sparkle was entranced with the large covering, so many colors. There were blues, and reds and purples. Her favorite though, was a bright cyan. She curled up, feeling completely safe underneath her rainbow covering. The softness was comparable to the downy feathers of a pegasus' wing. "Goodnight Twiley." murmured Shining. Already the little filly was asleep, looking as content as a bookworm in a library. Little did either of them know that this wouldn't be the last time a rainbow comforted Twilight in her life...
Birthday - CynicalThe celebrations lasted most of the day, Pinkie Pie’s trademark exuberance in full flow as the party continued… and continued… and continued further into the night until the library was littered with discarded rubbish and a rather large number of bottles, the banner was still miraculously intact, albeit slightly worse for wear, and still sported the proclamation Happy 20th Birthday Twilight Sparkle!!! And now the only ponies remaining in the front room were Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight, Pinkie Pie having left some time ago to track down a missing peanut. The state of the remaining friends was another matter though, Applejack was slouched back against the sofa, snoozing quietly while Rarity had abandoned all ladylike behaviour and had crashed on the floor, asleep to the world. Fluttershy was slightly better, she was awake at the very least, but her gaze was far from steady, the normally-quiet pegasus having tried one or two of the bottles littering the floor. That left Rainbow and Twilight, sitting behind the sofa, away from the unfocused gaze of the tipsy Fluttershy behind them. “So, what did you think of the party?” Rainbow asked, glancing towards Twilight, sat next to her with her head leant on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Hmm?” asked the groggy Birthday Mare, turning her head to look up at Rainbow, “I think so, yeah.” She replied, smiling up at her companion. “You still haven’t gotten my gift yet you know?” Rainbow said, smiling down at Twilight. “I literally can’t wait.” Twilight replied in a flat voice before breaking down into giggles a moment later, “What is it?” she asked when she regained control of her voice. Surprisingly, Rainbow stood up from beneath Twilight, “Come on.” She said, “I want to show you something.” And with that, she stooped to help bring Twilight to her hooves, then led the way to the nearest doorway and the cool night beyond. They stood beneath the starry sky, cleared as a special occasion for today, the moon hanging perfectly above them under the midnight skies. Twilight glanced to her guide with puzzlement, to which Rainbow simply smiled and replied, “You’ll see.” Once they were a bit away to the library, Rainbow turned, and said, “Hop on.” “Wait… you want me to hop on… you?” Twilight asked, somewhat mollified. Rainbow snorted, “No, I want you to hop on Pinkie obviously, come on, or do I have to carry you?” she asked, her smile belying her sarcastic tone. Twilight quirked her head slightly, taking a step back, “Now Rainbow…” she began, but even as she said so, she saw Dash’s grin as she replied, “Too late.” Dash lunged at Twilight enveloping her into a powerful embrace and shooting up into the sky, trailing the unicorn’s screams behind her. Eventually, Rainbow stopped, hovering and holding the shaking Twilight in her hooves, “We’re here.” She replied smugly, “You might want to put on that cloud walking spell.” Rainbow called down to Twilight as she drew level with a sparse cloud bank. Twilight’s horn flashed once before becoming inert once more, Rainbow took that as her cue to drop Twilight gently onto the cloud and alight next to her, carefully ignoring the withering glare Twilight was sending her way. “So, what do you think of the view?” she asked nonchalantly, watching Twilight’s expression out the corner of her eyes. Twilight sighed and lifted her eyes from Dash, looking around at their scenery. Silence. “Wow.”
Miss - ankyoRainbow Dash stepped out of the shower, shaking most of the water from her fur, and drying the rest off with a towel from the stack of clean towels that had been provided. With a careless flick of her hoof, she threw the wet towel into the hamper. One of the event coordinators poked his head in, “Miss Dash, the press conference begins in five minutes, if you could please hurry.” “Yeah, yeah,” she said, unable to hide the slight growl of annoyance that crept into her voice. This was more than enough to send the stallion scurrying with his figurative tail between his legs. Yanking the door of her locker open with slightly more force than was necessary, she grunted when it rebounded and smacked her in the face. Biting back a curse, she gently grabbed the solitary fixture of the locker, a thin silver chain looped through a simple gold ring, in her teeth and with a deft flick of her head slipped it around her neck. Trotting out of the locker room, she made it to her place at the press conference with plenty of time—a full 6 seconds—to spare. “Glad to see you could make it,” the captain said dryly. “Hey, since when have I let you down?” He grinned, “Well, there was that one ti—” She shot a glare at him. This only had the effect of widening his grin. “Anyway, we probably ought to go in,” he said, indicating the frantically motioning coordinator. The press conference proceeded normally, with the captain fielding all the questions. Captain Slipstream had attained his position around the same time that Rainbow Dash had joined the Wonderbolts. While most ponies had assumed that Soarin’ would be next in line for captaincy, he had decided to follow Spitfire into retirement. Overall, she reflected, that was probably better...unlike Spitfire, I don’t really hold any hero-worship for him. “...and now, the pony that you’ve all been waiting to talk to. My new lieutenant, Rainbow Dash!” he exclaimed with a flourish. “Miss Dash! What does it feel like to now be a lieutenant?” “Uh, well, it’s pretty coo–” she started, with a slight tone of annoyance. “Miss Dash! How long did y–” started one reporter before being cut off by another. “Miss Dash! Is it true what they said in the Foal Free Press? That you aren’t actually a daredevil!” “How did you even get your hands on that? It’s been at least 5 years since that article cam–” The cavalcade of questions continued for at least five minutes before the pegasus finally reached her breaking point. “Miss Dash!” “That’s enough!” Rainbow Dash yelled, slamming her hooves onto the table. The din of the reporters was immediately silenced. “It’s Mrs. Dash,” she stated positively icy tone, “Or can you not recognize a wedding band when you see it? Now if you do not have any more questions...” she stated in a tone that indicated that whether or not they wanted to ask more questions, they would not be allowed to do so. Luckily for the reporters, they decided that discretion was the better part of valor and withdrew. She threw a disgusted look at her superior, who was currently rolling around on the floor in paroxysms of laughter. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone scare them so much,” he managed through the chuckles. “Har-de-har-har.” she said, rolling her eyes. “Absolutely hilarious.” “Speaking of your wife, where is Twilight?” he asked, concern coloring his voice, “I would’ve thought she would be at your first performance after being promoted...” “She had an interview for a grant she was trying to get,” she waved a hoof dismissively, “she said that she would cancel the interview to come watch, but I told her she didn’t need to. Besides,” she added with a somewhat less than innocent smile, “a private celebration for my promotion is much more fun.”
Tour - CynicalThe cloud-house slowly appeared, coming closer and closer as a large hot air balloon rose to meet it. Its lone occupant was currently talking to her companion, flying by her own wings alongside it. “So remind me again why you never showed any of the girls around here?” The pegasus rubbed her head somewhat bashfully, pushing a lock of rainbow-coloured hair over her eyes in the process. “Well, you know I’ve always been eager for the attention?” she replied sheepishly. Twilight Sparkle nodded and Rainbow Dash continued, “Well, getting away from the world is nice too… I just like having a place which no-pony else really knows about if you get me.” Twilight nodded again as Rainbow started guiding the balloon forwards towards her house by a small rope hanging over the side, “I suppose so, so why are you showing me around then?” Twilight replied, a hoof around one of the supports as Rainbow propelled them onwards, closer and closer towards the house. Rainbow said something unintelligible around the rope in her mouth and sped up slightly, letting go of the rope when they were almost at the house, “I guess because, well, what with everything going on lately and that…” Twilight winced, “Well, I thought you might like to borrow a bit of haven too, I know the library isn’t exactly isolated.” Twilight smiled faintly at Rainbow, the events from a week ago still raw in her memory, “Thanks Rainbow… I don’t really know what to say.” She said, choking up slightly before taking a deep breath and hopping out the balloon onto the clouds below, cloud-walking spell already firmly in place. “So, are you going to give me the tour?” she asked, looking back at Rainbow, only now alighting on the cloud next to her. The effect was instantaneous, Rainbow smiled brightly at Twilight before taking her hoof and all-but dragging her to the door, pushing it open and bringing Twilight along for the ride as she sped into her house, the door slamming shut behind her as it rebounded off the wall.
New - CynicalIt was before the crack of dawn in Ponyville, just as it was for most of Equestria. The streets were empty, the doors were closed and ponies laid in bed, sleeping the remnants of the night away. Yet some ponies refused sleep, rushing around their rooms, fixing up telescopes and binoculars, all working tirelessly to prepare the delicate equipment for this, the first solar eclipse in a millennium, to happen at five minutes past five in the morning. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle were not rushing around and setting up their own stargazing equipment, Rainbow’s own kit consisting of little more than a spyglass she used for detecting rogue Pinkie Pies. Twilight on the other hand, did have her own kit, but Rainbow had flat-out refused to carry it for her after getting a look at it. All several tonnes of glass, steel, aluminium and notepaper. Instead they sat against a tree, out in a field a few miles out of town, gazing with their eyes alone as the two spheres drew steadily nearer to each other. “Remind me why there hasn’t been one of these ecliptical thingies for a thousand years again?” Rainbow asked. “It’s an eclipse, and mainly because it was incredibly hard to keep the moon and the sun going in two completely different orbits around the Earth,” Twilight started, “and also because Celestia never liked to look at the moon while her Sun was in the sky, I suppose it brought back some bad memories.” They sat there watching the sun silently as it began its journey behind the moon. Twilight shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew across the field, the shadows already visible as they made their way across the landscape. Rainbow looked to her side as Twilight shivered, unfurling a wing and slipping it around Twilight before drawing it tight, causing Twilight to glance down in surprise before relaxing against Rainbow with a muted “Thanks.” Rainbow smiled, resting her own head atop Twilights, keeping an eye on the eclipse as the sun disappeared completely behind the moon. And that’s where they stayed, watching the sun emerge again, framing the new moon in their minds as they sat together, neither willing to break the embrace.
Jade - FluttershyFur-everRainbow Dash sat in the jewelry store and pondered about what to give Twilight for her birthday. She was about to leave when a beautiful jade necklace caught her eyes. Rainbow grabbed it and practically threw it onto the counter, asking how many bits it was. Her face fell. Twenty bits. She was two bits short. Quickly Dash spotted Rarity and Pinkie Pie outside. Dash zoomed outside. "Oh, hiya Dashie," Pinkie exclaims at the sight of Rainbow. "Hi Pinkie. Hi Rares. I need two bits, I'm just a tiny bit short of the price for Twi's gift." Pinkie immediately hands over a bit. "Sorry, just one." Suddenly, Rarity levitates three bits into Dash's hoof. "Here darling, take them all. That's enough to buy the gift and then go get something to eat later." she said, pointing at Rainbow's growling stomach. Rarity's suspicions were right. Dash was so busy looking for the gift she had forgotten lunch. "Thanks, Rarity." she says, zooming back into the store and paying for the necklace. Dash smiles as she walks to the local restaurant and orders herself some food. Later that afternoon, a certain lavender unicorn hugs her friend. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash! I had been eyeing this necklace for ages, but I never had enough money! How did you do...." Twilight gives Dash a knowing smile as she hears Pinkie exclaiming, "I helped! Me and Rarity helped!"
Owl - Cynical“Say Twi?” “Mmmm?” “Where does Owlicious go after he finishes up here?” Twilight paused in her eternal writing, turning towards Rainbow Dash, sat behind her and looking at her owl’s perch. “I’m… not sure really, I’ve never exactly followed him, I just assumed that he went into the forest somewhere to sleep or to hunt, why’d you ask?” “Just thinking…” Rainbow replied distractedly, still staring at the perch, the book in front of her long-forgotten. Twilight shrugged and turned back to her studies, dipping her quill into the inkpot again and resuming her scratchy writing. “Twi?” “Yes Rainbow?” “Fancy finding out?”
Sharing - The Mysterious NTwilight Sparkle was shivering cold. 'Where had it all gone wrong,' she wondered. Two days ago she'd received a letter from Princess Celestia, informing her that a large quantity of changelings had been spotted near the still relatively new Crystal Empire. Gathering her friends she'd quickly set off for the Empire to investigate. Of course what they hadn't expected was an ambush. Said surprise ended up with the train derailed and the group scattered. Twilight had the fortune of waking up next to Rainbow Dash, glad she wasn't alone. She gently shook the unconscious pegasus awake, checking for injuries. Thankfully she had only found superficial cuts. Rainbow groaned, “Ugh my head, feels like I got hit by a train... oh.” Looking around she noticed the debris. “What happened?” “I don't know. One second I hear loud stomps, next thing I know is I'm waking up next to you.” The unicorn explained, thankful to be alive. Twilight was not without her own injuries, the largest a cut right on her brow. “I'm not going to lie Rainbow, we're in really bad shape. Most of our supplies are ruined, our friends are scattered and night is setting in. It's already cold, we need to find some shelter and quick!” Both of them searched through the wreckage, coming up with only a single tattered sleeping bag and some other miscellaneous items. “We need to find shelter, and get a fire going.” Twilight repeated, her teeth chattering. At least the cold was helping the blood to coagulate. “I can fly up and look for the rest-” Rainbow was cut off by Twilight biting her tail, keeping her grounded. “No. P-please do-don't leave me alone... I-I'm scared Rainbow.” Twilight cried, still in shock from the crash and the unknown surroundings. Rainbow's determination softened and she fluttered down. “Fine. First thing tomorrow morning though, we're looking for them. Alright?” A nod from Twilight and they looked around. Twilight, having regained some confidence spoke up, “We can sleep in one of the more intact train cars. That one should be good.” She pointed to a relatively intact coach. They quickly trotted over, looking over the metal box. Most of the roof was sheared off, but the windows and doors were fine. Darkness had now fully set in, a flickering fire the only source of light. Twilight had cleaned up the inside of the train car, ensuring they wouldn't injure themselves further. The sleeping bag lay unfurled, near the fire. “We're going to have to... share.” Twilight mentioned, light blush staining her cheeks. While they'd been going out for a few weeks now, they had yet to sleep in the same bed, or in this case sack. “It'll be okay Twilight. I promise.” Rainbow mentioned, before crawling in the bag. Twilight wiggled in after her, Rainbow wrapping her hooves around Twilight to comfort the distraught unicorn. The librarian melted into Rainbow's embrace, squirming closer. No matter what would happen tomorrow, for now she felt safe in the shared embrace of Rainbow Dash, her fearless protector...
Tag - CynicalThere was an enormous crash as the window gave way, spreading millions of tiny fragments into the building along with Rainbow Dash, out of control as she plummeted into the library along with most of the window. Then she stopped in mid-air, surrounded by a purple aura as she was lowered gently towards the glittering ground. As she drew nearer, the glass directly beneath her started rolling away, fleeing from her as she landed on the floor of the library before stopping, surrounding her in a circle. Twilight Sparkle sighed, closing the book in front of her and turning around to face the disturbance in what had been a very engrossing book. “Afternoon Rainbow, third time today right?” she asked, an almost bored-like tone to her voice as she surveyed the damage. Rainbow herself looked fine, slightly dizzy but fine nonetheless, then there was the window. The Same window, now resting in pieces on the floor with Rainbow in the middle, looking around sheepishly. “Um… sorry?” Rainbow offered, her smile hopeful. Twilight sighed, she couldn’t stay mad at her really… well she could, but that wasn’t going to repair the window. “Fine… I suppose there’s no use in me saying not to do it again?” Rainbow shook her head, her smile transformed into a grin. “None at all.” She vocalised. Twilight snorted, a small smile barely hidden as she gathered her magic and focussed on the floor in front of her. All around Rainbow, the glass which had laid still moments before started rising. Then one by one, they all started rolling into collections in mid-air. Rainbow stopped paying attention. She’d seen it twice already today, first she’d gather the glass, then she’d melt it, then she’d press it back into the hole where the window had once been and hey presto, new window. Not really that interesting. “Anyway, Twi?” “Yes Rainbow?” Twilight replied, still focussing on the clouds of glass Rainbow knew to be just above her head. “Guess what I found?” she asked in a sing-song voice, subconsciously pressing her wing to her side to make sure the package was still there. “Hmm?” Twilight enquired, looking over at her friend as the cloud of glass started spinning, glowing a light red. Rainbow leant her head into the crook of her wing and brought forth a book, the cover depicting a neon star inside a circle with the words ‘The Restaurant at the End of the Universe’ raised up from the book and Twilight knew that on the bottom of the cover somewhere, the author would read ‘Douglas Adams’. Twilight’s eyes widened and she dove at Rainbow, all but snatching the book from her with her hooves, running one down the cover reverently, “But this looks like the first edition, Rainbow, where did you find this?” she asked, amazed. Rainbow smiled at Twilight, “Found it in one of those antique bookshops you’re always telling us about, you like it then?” Twilight nodded emphatically, “I love it, but how much did you have to pay for this? It must have cost you a hoof and a leg.” Rainbow’s smile faltered slightly before reinstating itself, Twilight was right, it had been an amazingly large sum to get that one book, but the smile on Twilight’s face made it worth it, “Don’t worry about it, like I said, it’s a gift.” A moment later the scent of coconut filled her nostrils as Twilight engulfed her in a hug. Rainbow awkwardly tried to return it, patting Twilight on the back until she drew away. “Thanks Rainbow” Twilight said, smiling widely at her friend, “I’ll get straight to it after I finish fixing the win… dow.” Rainbow followed Twilights gaze to the ceiling at the glob of molten glass that had attached itself there when Twilight had ran forwards to claim the book. Her work done, Rainbow turned around and flapped her wings once or twice, “Well nice seeing you again Twilight, sorry about the window… again.” She said before giving her wings a mighty flap and zooming towards the still-empty window pane. Or at least she would have been zooming towards it if Twilight hadn’t caught her tail within her magic and yanked her down again. “You think I’m going to let you go so you can inevitably smash my window again?” Twilight asked incredulously, out of Rainbows field of view. “You might have done?” Rainbow said hopefully. She heard Twilight chuckle and saw a few boards start floating over to the missing window, already boarding it up. “No, my windows are safer while you’re here, come on, let’s read that book.”
Normal - CalmNQuietTwilight woke up to the morning Summer sun streaming in through her windows and a rather unwieldy blue forehoof draped across her face. She groaned and turned until she could snuggle against the warm plumage of the pony she shared her bed with. The pony protested her actions with a groan. “Nng... Twi, that tickles. Stop it.” She stretched out her forehoof and wrapped it around Rainbow—unwilling to let go. “Mm... but you’re so comfy, Dashie.” She giggled as the feathers tickled her stomach and squirmed away with a pout. “You’re no fun,” she complained with a touch of mischief. “Twi... I was plenty of fun last night. I just need another hour. You’re even starting to wear me out.” Rainbow rolled over as she spoke. She opened her eyes just a little—squinting at the sudden infusion of light into her vision. Twilight giggled at the sight of Rainbow squinting and leaned in for a playful kiss. This evolved into a longer kiss which grew in depth and passion until Twilight rolled on top. They peppered one another with kisses for as long as they could before collapsing against one another in a panting heap. After a lengthy shower together, Twilight proceeded with her scheduled tasks for the day and Rainbow dashed off, late to work again, to handle her weather duties. They met up at lunch and traded stories, though it was mostly Rainbow talking. Apparently, she lucked out because the cloud delivery wasn’t scheduled until later in the day. Twilight smiled inwardly, the cloud delivery was always late on Fridays, so she tended to coax Rainbow for a little morning fun on Fridays as a result. By the time the afternoon rolled around, Rainbow was done with weather work. She joined Twilight in the library and quietly read the latest adventure series she had taken a liking to. An hour in, Twilight joined her on the sofa with a book of her own and they shared in the mutual joys of reading and relaxing together. In the evening, Spike returned back from gem hunting with the remainder of his haul: a single blue sapphire. He declared the trip a tasty success, ignoring the knowing grins of Twilight and Rainbow, and set to work cooking up dinner. Dinner was delicious and the evening concluded with a few board games. Rainbow won all of them, as was expected. Sharing yawns, Rainbow and Twilight headed back to bed. Not particularly tired from the activities of the day, but they gladly leaned against one another up the stairs to their shared bedroom. Rainbow stretched and hopped into bed. “Pretty normal day today wasn’t it, Twi?”, she remarked casually. Twilight joined her in the bed with a smile. “Yeah, it’s nice not have to fight some crazy monster or save the world for once. Though, I’ve grown kind of the fond of the excitement it provides from time to time.” Rainbow grinned and rolled on top of Twilight. “How about I make things a little exciting tonight?” “I’d love that Rainbow,” Twilight responded with a saucy grin in return. And, Rainbow was true to her word. A perfectly normal day with a perfect finish.
Protest - Cynical“No, nuh-uh, anything but that.” Twilight just smiled a grin and advanced slowly upon the retreating Rainbow Dash, matching her step for step with her evil grin. “I’m serious Twilight, anything, you can do anything, anything but that,” Rainbow said, looking behind her at the oncoming wall every few paces and gulping at how close it was. Her tormentor finally spoke, “I think it’s an acceptable remuneration for your antics with the socks, now I think it’s my turn,” she replied, grinning widely and continuing her advance. Rainbow gulped, looking behind her again just as she met the wall. “Oh ponyfeathers,” She muttered, turning back to face Twilight as she pounced upon Rainbow, holding her still beneath her. “I suppose begging for mercy is out of the question?” Rainbow asked hopefully, laid flat below Twilight. “Completely,” came the reply as Twilight lifted a single blue feather, twirling it within her magic and slowly lowering it towards Rainbow’s chest, giving no quarter as the pegasus squirmed beneath her. But just as the feather was about to begin its treacherous deed, it stopped, barely a hoof above Rainbow’s chest as Twilight’s grin widened further. “No… I seem to remember somewhere else that could use some experimentation.” It took Rainbow all of two seconds to realise what her captor was planning, “no, please, I beg you!” she cried out, writhing and trying to throw Twilight off balance, yet she to no effect, both of their eyes following the feather as it closed in on the defenceless target. Peals of laughter echoed up and down the library as the pegasus within Twilight’s domain broke down, howling helplessly as the torture continued. Rainbow attempted to withdraw away from the wretched instrument of torture, finding moments later that Twilight was a lot stronger than she looked as another guffaw wrenched its way up her throat. All as Twilight swished the feather back and forth about the tip of Rainbow’s hoof.
Mercy - Lambda462An ominous, dark layer of clouds was spread out over Ponyville on a cold spring evening. Rain was pouring from them, a thunderclap being heard every now and again, adding to the gloom present with such clouds. The usually lively streets where abandoned – everypony huddled inside, away from the rain and the wind, foals cowering at each thunderclap. Near the edge of town stood the Golden Oak library, casting a jagged shadow with each flash of lightning, the tree still mostly barren after the long winter. Only one of many windows was illuminated, higher up in the tree, probably near the bedroom. All of this was normal. However, the many cries that echoed from within the building were not. “AaaAAhahaha, stop it!” was shouted by a mare with a high pitched, slightly raspy voice. There came another scream from the tormented pony inside, cutting through the air. Inside the room, lavender hooves were assaulting celeste blue wings, prodding, stroking and poking them relentlessly. A feather was being levitated as well, doing the same thing under a nose of the same colour as the wings. This all combined caused the owner of the wings - a light cerulean pegasus by the name of Rainbow Dash - to giggle uncontrollably. “Ehehehe, Twi, serious-Aha!-, stop it!” the pegasus brought out in between giggles with some trouble, tears of laughter already formed in her eyes. When the unicorn tickling her didn’t stop, she added “Please my lady, have mercy!”
Basement - Liquidfirest0rmRainbow Dash stood outside the door of the Golden Oaks library, dressed in her Daring Do outfit. Twilight had suggested the idea that they dress up together for Nightmare Night, and when she suggested a Daring Do theme, Rainbow had immediately jumped on the idea. She raised her hoof and knocked on the door for the third time, surprised at the lack of response from either of the library’s occupants. Growing impatient, she tried the doorknob and found it unlocked. Upon entering, she noticed that all the lights in the library were off, save a glow emanating from the crack under the basement door. “Twi? Spike? You guys here?” She called out as she headed over to the door. Pressing her ear up to the door, she could barely make out muffled noised coming from the other side. A smirk appeared on her muzzle as her mind worked. “Trying to prank the Dash, eh?” She muttered to herself. She opened the door as quietly as possible, a slight creak coming from the hinges causing her to freeze, listening intently to see if she had been given away. After hearing nothing after a few moments, she continued to sneak down the stairs. As she went further down, the light from the lone lantern at the top of the stairs grew dimmer and dimmer forcing her to squint to see anything when she reached the bottom. Her ears perked up as she heard a muffled voice coming through the darkness. Closing her eyes, she strained her hearing, trying to make out the voice. “Oh, will nopony save me?” Her eyes snapped open, that was Twilight’s voice! Her heart raced as she searched for the direction the voice was coming from. She carefully made her way through the dim basement and found her way to another doorway with light coming from beyond. “Somepony save me!” Came Twilight’s voice again. Pushing the door open, she saw Twilight strapped to a table, leather straps holding each of her legs in place. She was dressed in a costume that resembled the museum curator from the Daring Do books. She had to admit to herself that Twilight looked good in the outfit, a slight blush coming to her cheeks as she thought of different things they could do with it. Twilight’s head turned as she heard the door open. “Daring! You've come for me!” She exclaimed in an over-dramatic tone as Rainbow entered the room. Before Rainbow could say anything, Twilight’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Look out!” She exclaimed. Rainbow quickly turned around, seeing two poorly made puppet monsters being held aloft by a faint purple glow. Her smirk returned and she decided to play along. “I’ll save you!” She shouted as leapt at one of the monsters. After a short battle which she inevitably won, she made her way over to where Twilight was being held ‘captive’ and undid the restraints. Twilight immediately jumped up and hugged her. “My hero!” She announced before pulling Rainbow into a passionate kiss. Twilight pulled away, looking at her with lidded eyes. “Now for your reward.” She said, going in for another kiss. Her horn lit up, and the door swung shut behind them.
Clouds - CynicalThe sky was silent, the clouds so high above that they appeared as mere wisps from far down below on the ground. Twilight didn’t come out here very often anymore but it still served its purpose, it was still her last safe haven. The field around her was far away from Ponyville, along the other side of the Everfree. She sighed, lying back against the tree, hiding in the shade. It’d just be her luck for Rainbow Dash to see her like this; she was the only one who would even have a chance of finding this place. Twilight had made sure of that. If she looked into the sky, towards the Everfree forest, she could almost kid herself that she saw a small speck of cerulean against the sky, looping and twisting through the air without a care in the world. She let out another sigh, sending her gaze directly skywards to the clouds far, far above. She trusted Rainbow to know when to give her some space, but surely there was no better space than the sky? It was the odd times like this where she wished she’d been born with wings rather than magic. Flying away would have been so much easier.
Silver - HoovesMcCoyA sharp scream shattered the morning birdsong symphony around Golden Oaks Library. Twilight leapt from her bed, sprinted down the stairs, and slid to a halt at the bottom. Anything that could make her wife scream like that had to be a serious threat. She pricked up her ears, pinpointing the sound. Twilight burst through the bathroom door. Her horn pulsed with power; her blue, grey, and violet mane frazzled by pillows and pegasus drool. She would have struck fear into the heart of even a battle-hardened royal guard, but the sole occupant of the bathroom merely turned and pointed a hoof at her rainbow-striped forelock. "Have you seen my mane lately Twily? Why didn't you tell me about this? How long has it been there?" Letting the magic drain from her horn, Twilight took a moment to clear the morning gunk from her eyes. She summoned her glasses--which appeared on her nose with a quiet popping sound--and examined her lover's mane more closely. "I'm not sure what you're talking about Dash. I don't see anything wrong." "Besides the giant patch of grey you mean? The beginning of the end of my coolness?" On closer inspection there were a trio of silver hairs near the edge of her orange streak. Twilight wrapped a leg around her wife and pulled her in for a hug. "Oh Dash, I've had grey hairs for years now and nopony has even noticed. It's nothing to worry about." "You've got that sexy librarian thing going on. You make it look good." Dash's leer faded back into a frown. "But 'Rainbow' is my name. Pretty soon I'm gonna have to change it to Dull Dash. I'm not as fast as I used to be either. 'Grey Slowpoke' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" "I can conceal them with an illusion spell if you like, but I think they make you look dignified. You of all ponies could stand to have a little more dignity you know." Rainbow looked up hopefully. "You really think I'd look good with grey hair, Twi?" "You always look good, weren't you just telling me that yesterday?" Twilight gave Dash an even more smoldering leer than she'd received. "I'm getting old enough now that I'd rather be with a distinguished flight school professor anyway, not some show-pony." At this Dash looked back into the mirror. She puffed out her chest and made what she presumably thought was a serious face. Twilight concentrated for a moment and temporarily turned Rainbow's entire mane to varying stripes of greys and silvers. Both mares admired her sleek--and undeniably more distinguished--features. She did look good. "And if you're serious about the name change, might I suggest 'Quicksilver'?"
Mercury - CalmNQuietA crisp spring breeze gusted in through the open window and ruffled Rainbow awake. Snapped to consciousness, she pulled her head off of the covers of the bed with a start. A cursory glance outside revealed a dimming sky hearkening in the evening. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out but the moist patch of blanket from her drool implied at least a few hours of restless slumber. The other occupant in bed, Twilight, breathed shallowly while buried under several warm layers. Her cheeks reddened from an unnatural heat and her forehead speckled with droplets of sweat. Wordlessly, Rainbow scooped up the lukewarm towel resting in the bedside bowl and dabbed away the signs of fatigue, but the condition remained. The cool towel elicited a quiet gasp from Twilight and the unicorn briefly opened up her eyes. Rainbow smiled just a little and moved her hoof away to return the towel to the bowl. A slight whine of discontent filled her ears and she returned her hoof. Soft. Twilight’s cheek nuzzled against her hoof ever so slightly, her reddened cheeks blushing further. “T—Thanks Dashie...” The words came slow and strained, each syllable punctuated with a pained pause which Rainbow quietly endured. For Twilight, but mostly for herself. “Heh, anytime, Twi. You did the same for me when I caught the ponyflu a couple months back.” “This isn’t the ponyflu, though...” Rainbow shook her head. She could never get over how silly Twilight was sometimes. Even in times like these, the little details still mattered to Twilight. It always put her in the most difficult of positions, since, she never knew how to respond afterward. “Yeah, that’s true.” A passable response at best. Not wanting to dwell on her lame response, she moved on to the next step of a routine established by days of practice. Fetching a nearby thermometer from the nightstand and she gently eased it into Twilight’s mouth. The viscous red fluid pooled in the base slowly rose up the marked tube. Her smile fading from her face as the red liquid rose higher and higher. Twilight nuzzled Rainbow’s hoof once more, oblivious to the escalating value of her condition. The nuzzling gradually gave way to quiet gasping breaths as the red liquid came to a rest. “One-Oh-Six.” Rainbow breathed out quietly and tugged the thermometer from Twilight’s mouth. In the back of Rainbow’s mind, something nagged her about the temperature, it just seemed a little off. Like another one of those little details Twilight would insist upon explaining. “Dashie...” Rainbow looked to Twilight and found the unicorn on the verge of tears. The moisture budding at the corner of her eyes. Even odder, Twilight sported the happiest smile she’d ever seen. “I...I do, Dashie...” A spark of realization filled Rainbow’s face, and she couldn’t help but smile a little herself. She leaned down and wrapped her hooves around Twilght’s neck in a hug. She held Twilight until the dream passed, a happy dream she would fulfill in the not distant future.
Pills - CynicalRainbow Dash groaned, wincing as she stretched her wing and she felt her under-used muscles protest against her. It was yet another pitfall of her frequent visits to the hospital and even more crashes. All of a sudden, she heard a small click from her wing and the pain flooded in moments later, causing her to grit her teeth and hiss loudly, trying to hop away from the pain somehow. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow,” she hissed under her breath, trying to manoeuvre her frantic hopping towards the bathroom and associated medicine cabinet. Closing her eyes against the pain, she somehow managed to find her way onto the tiled floor of the bathroom. She grimaced in triumph before turning around and managing to whap her head against the cabinet. “Ow…” she groaned, attempting to raise a hoof up to massage her sore head before another bolt of pain shot through her side and she quickly lowered it. A single eye cracked itself open and began its search for the cabinet in the blindingly bright white room. She stepped forwards and nosed open the culprit of her banging head, trying to focus on the brightly coloured bottles inside. The colours blurred and span, making reading the labels impossible, so she simply reached inside the cabinet as far as she could and brought her head back. The bottles span in the air before clattering to the floor and smashing themselves open, spilling their contents all across the bathroom floor. A loud ‘bang’ echoed up through the house, resonating in her eardrums and making her wince, sinking down to the floor and groaning loudly as somepony shouted into the house, making her ears ring. She groaned in reply, covering her ears and eyes with her hooves and simply laying her stomach flat against the pill-ridden floor. Everything hurt so much… The muffled cry of a pony reached through her defences and set her ears humming again. Some force surrounded her hooves and tried to pry them away from her eyes and ears but she resisted, shaking her head side-to-side pitifully as her assailant tried to play her like a puppet only to stop a moment later. She felt the force disappear from around her forehooves and move around her midriff, lifting her up into the air and around the house. She groaned pitifully as another bolt rocked its way through her. After some time, she was placed carefully onto something which felt very much like a mattress and someone scurried off seconds later. She tentatively opened her eyes and thanked Luna that the pony had thought to turn the lights off in the room. The dim moonlight shone through the curtains, too slight to cause her harm, and revealing her surroundings. She was interrupted from her musings when the sound of the pony climbing the stairs two at a time reached her ears which no-longer hummed. Twilight Sparkle burst through the door, shutting it behind her and pausing. Rainbow thought that she could just make out the outline of a glass suspended in mid-air. Twilight approached Rainbow, smiling benevolently at her and proffering the glass and two small pills. Rainbow immediately swallowed the pills dry, only pausing to take a gulp of the water when she felt the pair catch against her dry throat. “I thought I told you to stay laid down.” Twilight accused, still smiling as Rainbow bit her lip. Twilight chuckled, “Try to get some sleep Rainbow, that’s the best medicine for you at the moment.”
Selfish - Shikilicious„Rainbow Dash!” Rarity, appalled by the other mare’s rude action, gasped. “I really don’t understand what you are thinking!” She added panting, underpinned her statement with a dramatic gesture and threw a despising glance at the blue pegasus. “What?” Rainbow replied with wide opened, inquiringly eyes and a surprised expression on her face while she swallowed down the delicious chocolate cookie. As she didn’t receive a response from the still in shock panting unicorn for several seconds, she directed her view at Twilight and gave her marefriend, in search for help, a not just confused, but also slightly abashed look because she obviously did something wrong once again. “Don’t take it too hard Rarity, she didn’t mean it bad or anything,” Twilight said with tranquil voice and took a sip from her tea. “It’s absolutely fine, I also don’t really mind at all,” she complemented with a wide smile on her snout in hope that her words would calm the upset chaperone down. They didn’t. “No, it absolutely is not!” Rarity wheezed and angrily beat the table with one of her hooves, making both other mares wince in reaction. “It is, in fact, indisputably inexcusable to do something like that,” she explained using a dominant tone and sat down again. “I- I’m sorry. Really sorry... for whatever I did.” Rainbow Dash gulped, some sweat ran down her forehead. She wanted to add more words of excuse, however got cut off by Rarity just the second she opened her mouth to do so. “This is not the issue at all Rainbow Dash.” Rarity, still puffing heavily in commotion, took a sip from her tea as well and a few seconds to calm down and even her breath again. As her heart had finally stopped pounding wildly, she earnestly looked at Dash and continued. “The real problem is that you don’t even know what you did wrong,” she said gently, in hope that the pegasus would recap her doings and understand the matter of cause. However, Dash didn’t. “But… how am I supposed to understand what I did wrong when you don’t tell me?” Rainbow Dash asked, also in hope that Twilight would eventually jump in and explain it to her before Rarity would get caught up herself and snap again. Unfortunately, Twilight didn’t. “Okay Rainbow, I’ll tell you what you did wrong, for the very last time.” Rarity put a hoof on Dash’s shoulder, trying to stay as calm as possible as the thoughts about blue mare’s horrendous faux-pas crossed her mind again. “Not asking me if I want the last of the cookies is certainly not nice, but still excusable,” Rarity explained slightly upset, with even voice. “But not asking Twilight, your own marefriend, is-“ she couldn’t even find a matching phrase to describe the level of her outrage. All of a sudden, Rarity started heavily panting and her eyes twitched in agitation once again, giving the other two mares the impression that she would start hyperventilating and fall from her chair the very next second. Just the moment Rarity was about to scream in exasperation, she felt Twilight’s hoof being gently placed on her shoulder. “Don’t worry Rarity, Rainbow has a very good reason for what she did,” Twilight explained, removed her hoof from the baffled unicorn’s shoulder and approached the blue pegasus. Before Rainbow Dash could notice, Twilight has engaged her in a very affectionate kiss and pressed her tongue deep in her marefriend’s mouth. They wildly let their tongues play with each other and as their lips parted after around half a minute, Twilight directed her view at Rarity again. “You see, the cookies taste much better this way,” she kittenishly said and licked over her lips. Rarity, at the pure thought that both of them were invited to a royal dinner at Canterlot Castle the next day, dramatically fainted.
Awkwardness - TiaC"They're bowing again." "Mwuguuh?" Rainbow Dash blinked open an eye from the castle's library's couch. "Wa' is it Twi?" "I thought that we were past everypony deferring to me all the time, but in the market today, half the stalls wouldn't even let me pay." Twilight was beginning to pace. Rainbow looked at her marefriend and judged that this was not a problem that would go away if she tried to go back to sleep. She sat up, hoping to head off the full freak-out. "So what's the problem Twi?" the Daring Do she had been reading slid of her chest, only to be caught by a wing and placed next to her. Twilight turned to her. "It's this stupid title! The castle seems to have reminded everypony that I'm a Princess, and they're back to treating me differently." she stamped a hoof. "It's Highness this and Highness that and I can do no wrong. I made an obvious mistake talking to Lyra today and she didn't even point it out. Everyone knows that Beethooven's 3rd String Quartet was in D major, not C major!" "So you're upset that now that you're royalty, everyone treats you like royalty?" Dash yawned. "Well, when you put it like that I guess I should have expected this. I wish they would at least use my name; I don't like being called 'Your Highness' all the time." Twilight switched to a silly voice to show her dislike of the title. "It makes it feel like they only see the crown instead of me." Dash nodded "That does sound annoying Twi, don't know what to tell you." she put a hoof to her chin for a few seconds before an idea came to her. She quickly swooped over to Twilight's writing desk and grabbed a quill. She quickly scribbled something down and darted over to show Twilight. Twilight looked down at the paper and read: By Royal Decree of Princess Twilight Sparkle: I hereby state my intent to change my formal title. If my subjects wish to address me by a formal title, they may call me "Your Royal Twi-ness" "See, this way they will still use your name as part of your title!" Rainbow looked very proud of herself. "What do you think Twi, am I good, or am I good." "pffft" "What was that Twi?" Rainbow had missed her friend's response while boasting. "HAHAHAHAHA" Twilight collapsed laughing. "So is that a no then?" Twilight managed to stand long enough to draw Rainbow into a hug "Thanks, I needed that." she said through chuckles. "Anytime, Your Royal Twi-" Rainbow started to respond before Twilight silenced her with a glare and a kiss. "What am I going to do with you?"
Regrowth - Timaeus“Quit laughing already, will ya?” Rainbow yelled, wincing at the higher-pitched and even more scratchy quality to her voice. She flapped her tiny wings, only to fall head-over-hoof and land with a muffled thump on the sofa. Letting out a groan, she scrambled to her hooves and glared at Twilight, who was not-so-subtly hiding her giggles behind a hoof. Rainbow pouted and crossed her now-miniature forelegs over her chest with a small huff, sending Twilight deeper into her giggle fit. “I-I’m sorry,” Twilight said between giggles. A wide, mirthful grin had spread over her face. “It’s not funny!” “No, it’s not really, but...” Twilight managed to regain her composure long enough to trot over to Rainbow. Rainbow glared up at Twilight, who now towered over her. “You’re just so adorable!” “I’m not adorable!” Rainbow protested, struggling to get out of an all-consuming embrace Twilight wrapped her up in. She broke free of Twilight’s hooves and landed with her wings spread and her chest puffed out. “Will you just fix this? Please?” “Okay, okay.” Twilight raised her hooves placatingly before walking over to her desk. “I’m sure there’s a reversal spell in here somewhere.” Stumbling over her own hooves, Rainbow clumsily made her way over to Twilight and sat down in front of her expectantly. “Good!” She inspected her wings while Twilight read. Were they ever really this small when she was a foal? She groaned and pouted again. “How’d you even do this, Twi?” “I don’t know,” Twilight said, looking over her desk at the now-filly-sized Rainbow and smiling. “The spell was supposed to help with reducing the stress in your wing muscles, not shrink you down to a foal.” “Yeah, well, it did. And now I’m stuck like this.” Rainbow hung her head. Thoughts of what Applejack or Pinkie or anypony would say if they saw her like this filled her mind. She swallowed thickly. “You can fix this, right?” Twilight’s face softened and she trotted around her desk to Rainbow before wrapping her wing around her. “Of course I can.” Rainbow took comfort in the warmth of Twilight’s wing as Twilight levitated a book from her desk over to her. “And I think I found just the spell for it.” “You did?” Rainbow asked, her face instantly brightening. “Yes, I think so.” Twilight nodded her head and her horn started to glow. “A ‘regrowth’ spell that should do the trick.” “Then what’re you waiting for?” Rainbow sprung away from Twilight. “Get me back to normal already!” “Alright.” Twilight shook her head, a playful smile playing across her face. “Okay, now this might tingle a bit...” A few seconds later followed by a blinding flash of light, Rainbow did indeed feel a tingling sensation as it felt like her entire body was being stretched out. She blinked open her eyes and was met with the sight of a smiling Twilight Sparkle standing at eye-level. Rainbow extended her wings, and grinned when she saw that they were restored to their normal, fully-grown length. “Aww, yeah!” Rainbow cheered before flapping into the air. “This is more I like it!” She landed next to Twilight and blew a tuft of orange mane out of her face. “I have way too much awesome for that little foal body.” “Maybe...” Twilight leaned in and captured Rainbow’s lips in a quick kiss. “As cute as the foal you was, I think I prefer this Rainbow Dash. Kissing a foal would have just been weird.” Rainbow huffed but drew herself closer to Twilight. “I wasn’t cute, alright? I was radical.” “I don’t know.” Twilight grinned impishly and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow’s neck. “You looked pretty adorable. And you know what?” She darted in and pecked Rainbow on the cheek. “You still are.”
Thunder - Adda le BlueIt wasn't even two o'clock in the morning when the library was hit by a train. Twilight shrieked as she heaved herself upright. Her horn glowed bright as she brought into being a sphere of magenta energy around the entire bed. She turned to face her wife with wild eyes. "What's ha--" Rainbow Dash wasn't there. Twilight's heart leaped into her stomach. "Rainbow?!" She could barely hear herself over the roar of the engine below, the vibrations that shook the library so violently her teeth buzzed against each other. She lurched to her hooves, wincing at the electric touch of the shuddering wood below them, and galloped toward the stairs. It stopped as suddenly as it came; the echoes rang out into the distance. Fearing the worst, Twilight took the stairs one at a time, as quickly and as carefully as she could on trembling hooves. "R-Rainbow?" she called. Down below, somepony cleared their throat. "Y-" Muttering echoed up the stairs. Two voices? Three? "Hey, Twi." "Oh, thank the stars!" Twilight threw herself down the rest of the stairs and rounded the doorway to see Rainbow Dash... standing in the center of the room, a bright orange, pointy-looking electric guitar slung over her shoulder. Her mane was a mess, her eyes were wide, and her grin was sheepish enough for three ponies. Behind her stood a familiar set of speakers and a turntable; Twilight could see the top of a striped blue mane and a spangled purple hat peeking out from behind it. Rainbow shifted uneasily as Twilight tried to pick her chin up off of the floor. "So..." "Are you kidding me, Rainbow Dash?!" The hat disappeared behind the turntable. Rainbow's eyes widened. "Whoa, calm down!" she said softly. "Let's just calm..." "I don't think she's gonna calm down, Dash," Vinyl advised her. Rainbow glanced over her shoulder at her, then back to the mare who held her heart in her hooves and was capable of crushing it if she made the wrong move. "...Down?" "I told you I was exhausted!" she snarled, her hoofsteps loud as bombs. "I told you I was going to get some sleep, finally!" "A-a-and you did," Rainbow said quickly. "That's good, right?" Twilight growled like a feral dog. "'Cause you've been working so hard lately and, and, and you really need to get some sleep!" "Yes, Rainbow Dash, that's right," she said softly. "So could you please explain to me why you're making a racket louder than the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra right beneath my bed?" Her anger shook the guitar's strings enough to cause feedback. "We were just gonna jam a little! I didn't know it was gonna be so loud." "That was reeeally loud," Vinyl half-shouted helpfully. "Vinyl forgot to turn it down after her show." "I forgot!" she agreed with a grin. "I'm a big jerk!" "Vinyl is a jerk," a fourth voice added primly. "I did nothing wrong." Vinyl threw her shoulder into Trixie's, nearly sending them both to the floor. "Don't make me plug that big mouth of yours..." Trixie beamed up at her. "It wouldn't be the first time," she said slyly. "Girls!" The three froze in horror. Twilight's chest heaved with fury barely held in check. "I don't care whose fault it is," she said sharply. "No more music tonight!" Rainbow clutched the guitar to her chest. "Aww, Twi..." "No more! It's time to go home, girls." Rainbow took a step back, putting herself between Twilight and the turntable. "Look, Twi. Vinyl and Trixie need a place to crash. They're only gonna be in town for one night and I said they could sleep here." Twilight's eye twitched. "Fine," she said finally. "I won't turn them away, but that's all they'll be doing, okay?" She rounded on the other two and threw a hoof toward the guest bedroom. "Sleeping!" Vinyl smirked. "Or, we could--" Trixie plugged that big mouth of hers with a hoof. "Certainly. Good night, Sparkle!" she sang; she jerked Vinyl to her hooves and dragged her along in her wake. Twilight watched them go until the door slammed behind them, leaving their muffled words to her imagination. "Now, as for you, Rainbow Dash..." Rainbow wilted. "Okay, I know you're mad, but hear me out. We've got a good thing going here!" "Good enough that it's worth waking me up at two in the morning?" "Y-- N--" She glanced down at the guitar with a nervous frown. "Look, Vinyl and I were jamming and she says I'm really good! Just listen to this!" She slapped her pastern against the strings and strummed the guitar. Twilight caught the strings in her magic before they could wake the neighborhood once more. "Really, Rainbow Dash?" she said blandly. Rainbow stared at her for a brief moment before realization dawned. "Oh, right." She reached behind her and turned the speakers down to a reasonable level. "Get ready to feel the thunder!" Twilight facehoofed. Rainbow's pastern fell against the strings once more, holding them steady as she struck them with her hoof. Out came a sound like a crocodile being stepped on by a marching band; a roar of crunchy, heavy noise. Her hoof chugged along like the train Twilight had heard crashing through the library earlier, plucking out a slow and scattered riff on the first few strings. All the while Rainbow stared at her with eyes wide and smile wider, basking in the roar of the guitar. "Aren't you supposed to use your other hoof too?" Twilight shouted over it. Rainbow frowned with a hint of a blush. "I'm getting there!" she scowled. She continued the same riff, but used her left hoof to bend the strings here and there, adding the bare minimum of variety to the music. "Heavy, huh?" she said, her smile returning. "Um..." Twilight cocked her head. "Yes?" "Yeah!" she whooped, lost in her own music. "Yeah, feel that? That's the thunder!" "That's the thunder?" she smirked. "Not impressed?" She gave the strings one last bend and slid her hooves together to meet in the middle. "Well, here comes the lightning!" The guitar squealed, making Twilight cringe away, as she slammed the tip of her hoof against the fretboard. Her hooftips tapped fiercely against it, abusing the thinnest and highest string, two frets apart. They danced down the neck of the instrument, across the strings, tapping out a staccato rhythm of highs and lows that hit the mares like a barrage of sonic missiles. Finally she slammed her left hoof down across the fretboard, sent her right across the strings as hard as she could, and gave Twilight a wink before another warmer chord rang out to finish it off. Rainbow smiled and panted, her muzzle set in a look of satisfaction Twilight knew well. "What do you think?" Twilight stared. "Sweet guitar, right? It's got seven strings!" she crowed. "That makes it awesome." Rainbow Dash had grown so much in the last decade... but she still had a lot of growing to do. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight said softly. The firm set of Twi's jaw knocked Rainbow's ears flat. "Oh," she mumbled. Her shoulders began to tighten. "...Sorry?" "I love you." Her eyes softened as she tried to force a smile. Rainbow sighed with relief. "I love you more, egghea--" "But some days you make me want to throttle you." She turned and stomped away, shaking her head as she walked. "I'm going back to bed. Leave that thing downstairs if you're coming." Rainbow watched her turn up the staircase, torn between her two loves -- awesome things and awesome wife. "Was it good?" she asked uncertainly. Twilight didn't turn her head as she called back to her. "Ask me again when can you actually play music!"
Fear - Incredible BlunderboltIt all started with a single drop. Just a little blue drop on the floor under Rainbow's belly. She probably wouldn't have even noticed it if Rarity hadn't pointed it out as she made to leave the library. "You'll regret that Rainbow," she'd said, viscously rubbing at her mane with a dark stained towel. "Nopony slips dye into my shampoo! And look out for that paint there by your hoof." She'd been about to call Rarity out on not understanding the intricacies of Nightmare Night pranks when she paused. "Paint?" She and Twilight hadn't painted anything since they'd moved Spike out of their room. Her eyes drifted down to the floor where, sure enough, a little wet dot of blue--almost indistiguishable from the sky-blue color of her coat--lay like it had every right in the world to be there. "I have to get back to the boutique and was this mess out of my mane," Rarity huffed as she opened the door. She cast Rainbow a firey look. "I trust now you're finished with me and it's somepony else's turn in the barrel?" Rainbow tore her eyes from the dot and nodded Rarity's way. "Yeah, yeah," she said, waving her off. "It's cool, I forgive you for yelling." Rarity spluttered and looked at her, aghast. "F-f-forgive?! Why, I never--" "Have fun, Rarity!" Dash said offhandedly. She turned her eyes back to the paint dot. ...Dots... Where did those other two come from? Her eyes drifted to the ceiling and surveyed the wood for any signs of a leak or wet paint. She found neither. Just wooden planks and tree branches. What the... "Hey, Twi? Is Spike on a painting kick again?" When Rainbow didn't get an answer from the stairs, she checked the clock and rolled her eyes. Right. Six thirty is subatomic physics time... She knew better than to interrupt her marefriend in the middle of a study session, so she shrugged decided to clean up the mess and have a talk with Spike when he got home from Apple Bloom's treehouse. Without sparing a moment, she left for the kitchen to grab a towel. Who knew how long those flecks of paint had been sitting there? If they dried, she was sure Twilight would freak about how it messed up the color of the floor. She'd even probably demand the whole thing be repainted just to alleviate her own stress. When she reached the kitchen, Dash grabbed a hoof towel out of the sink and, whistling, turned around to make for the lobby again. Then, she saw it. A whole trail of it, to be exact. "Okay!" she said indignantly, "Just what the heck is goin' on here?!" It was everywhere! Little blue dots littered the entire floor from where she was standing, all the way to the door that Rarity'd just left through. She hadn't done any painting at all, so it sure as heck wasn't her, and if it wasn't her then who the heck was it? With a frustrated huff, Dash bent down and set about sopping up the dots with her towel. Or tried to, at least. It seemed that the harder she pressed, the bluer the floor became, and the bluer the floor became, the harder she pressed. Eventually, through grunts and groans, she'd managed to do nothing but work herself up. A bead of sweat rolled off her forehead, and she raised her fetlock to wipe it off, flicking the wetness off her leg. A splattering sound rang through the air to her left as a bunch of little wet drops hit the pots she'd left in the dish strainer the night before. Rainbow's jaw dropped. Those weren't sweat drops. Last time she'd checked, sweat drops were clear, not red--and most certainly not blue or yellow! A chill ran down her spine as she checked her hoof. There wasn't any coloring on it at all. "What the heck..." She gave her leg a practice shake, and watched with wide eyes as a glob of blue pulled itself out of her hoof and lobbed itself into the air, landing with a mighty sploosh onto the floor. Rainbow's heart skipped a beat, and her chest suddenly felt about a thousand times colder. Twilight had told her about this once. How ponies--good ponies who never did anything wrong!--would sometimes melt down into puddles without any explanation. It had happened to that Unicorn of the West pony from Twilight's magic book, and now it was happening to her! Rainbow's breathing quickened sharpened. Her pulse quickened, even as tears filled her eyes, she watched a big drop of orange fall from her mane. They weren't just little drops anymore! At this rate, she'd be a pony puddle in just a few minutes! She didn't want to melt! She wanted to be a pony! She had to do something! She had to think of someth-- Twilight! She'd know what to do! Twilight always had the answer! She could fix this! She had to! And, Rainbow begrudgingly admitted as she scrambled for the stairs, screaming for her marefriend, on the off chance that she couldn't stop this, at least she'd get to say goodbye to the pony she cared about most in the world. Rainbow lept to the stairs and spun around the rail without missing a motion. Walking was getting difficult, she noticed, as her legs began to shake. They were tired now, but she powered on through. She couldn't give up! She couldn't just melt like this! She reached up for the rail but, to her horror, found she couldn't reach it anymore! The stairs looked more like small platforms and reached her knees now! "Twilight!" she screamed desperately as more blue and magenta tears flowed down her face, joining the drops of what used to be her body on the steps and riding the current of fluids down the stairs. "Twilight! Help!" There were just a few stairs left! If she could make it up them, the run to Twilight's room should only take a few seconds. She noted, as her tail finished dripping off her flank, that a few seconds might be all she had left. "Twilight!" Rainbow heaved and hollered as she climbed the stairs. Each step was agony--a small mountain that she wasn't sure she'd ever manage to climb. The stairs were up to her mid-chest now, and growing rapidly. There was only one left, but she didn't know if she'd be able to make it. Her heart pounded in her chest as she flapped her wings for every ounce of strength they were worth. They didn't carry her very high, but the slight boost was enough for her to set her forehooves on the top of the floor and allow her to pull herself up. A sickening squishing, squelching sound ripped through her ears as her right wing dropped a glob of blue and vanished from her side. Any other time, she would have considered the loss of her flight as the worst thing imaginable, but right now, all she wanted to do was get down the hall and find her marefriend. "Twilight!" She raced down the hall, stumbling and staggering into the walls as her legs worked to keep her going forward. "Twili~ight!" A sob tore its way out of her chest. She couldn't see anymore! The world was black! This was it! She was going to--A sharp pain blasted her nose as she slammed headfirst into a large wooden object. Twilight's door! With a monumental effort, she pulled herself back and slammed her forehead against the door again. "Twilight!" she sobbed, "Open the door! I'm dying out here!" She reared on her back hooves with what little strength she had left, and placed her forehooves on the door. She didn't have to have her sight to know she wasn't even close to the knob. Then, the world gave way, and she fell... "Rainbow? What's wrong? Why are your eyes closed?" Huh? Her eyes weren't closed! They'd melted out! She was blind! She was--clenchin her eyes shut? She took a deep breath, relaxed her face and, sure enough, there was Twilight standing over her. "Twilight!" she shrieked, wings flaring as she scrambled over to her and wrapped her forelegs around one of Twilight's fetlocks. "Help! I'm melting just like that unicorn from your book! I'm gonna--" Wait a minute... Didn't my wing fall off? Rainbow blinked and checked her side. Sure enough, her wing was gone. But I can still feel it... "You're melting?" "Yes!" Rainbow screamed. "I'm--I--" Then, she saw it. Off in the corner, right where she bet Twilight knew she'd see it. Standard Illusions for Non-Standard Uses: A Beginner's Guide to Magical Pranking. "Are you sure? You look fine to me." Rainbow's jaw dropped. She felt so used. Twilight just... She'd... "Maybe now you realize just how unfun your Nightmare Night pranks can be," a high-class voice chimed in from behind her. Rainbow rolled over and saw Rarity in the doorway with the smuggiest of smug grins she'd ever seen. But she'd been so sure... Twilight had told her! She thought she was going to... to... "Die!" Rainbow screamed as tears continued to flow down her cheeks. She glared at her friend, and shot a nasty look at Twilight. "I thought I was dying!" She jumped to her hooves and shivered as she watched the illusion fall. It had all felt so real... "That wasn't funny!" Her face was hot. Her hearbeat thundered in her ears. "I came up here to say goodbye, dammit!" Rarity's smile faded a bit, and she cast Twilight a worried glance. "Rainbow..." Twilight whispered. She reached out with a hoof. "I'm so sorry... I didn't think... It was only supposed to be a joke..." "Just a prank, darling..." Rarity echoed softly. "We only wanted to give you a little fright, not..." "Well you definitely made a job of it!" Rainbow yelled. Her legs were shaking. Her lip quivered. A warm foreleg draped itself over her shoulders. "We went way to far, Rainbow," Twilight said. She pulled her close and held her tight. Rainbow squeezed her with all her might, burrowing her head into her neck. "I was so scared, Twilight..." she said through her quivers. "I promise, I won't ever prank anypony ever again. Just don't---" "Nonsense," Rarity interjected, placing a comforting hoof on Dash's shoulder. "We were in the wrong, darling. A simple pie would have been sufficient, but I wanted to go big, and..." "We're sorry, Rainbow," Twilight said gently, pulling the pegasus's face out of her shoulder and looking deep into her eyes. "How about we go out for dinner to make it up to you? My treat." "Mine as well," Rarity chimed in. "Wherever you wish to go, Darling. Money is no object." Rainbow nodded jerkily and let a final shiver run down her spine. "S-Sure," she said. "I guess it w-was kinda funny..." Twilight shook her head. "It wasn't. It was mean, and I promise we won't do it again. Okay?" This time, Rainbow's nod was a bit easier, and she pulled herself back into Twilight's embrace, thankful she could still be in it. If anything, she'd at least learned to appreciate her marefriend for what she was. "Okay," she answered. "But I'm totally getting you back for this..."
Misinformed - TimaeusTwilight’s lips left Rainbow’s with a small pecking sound. Smiling from ear to ear, Twilight fell back into her seat, a dreamy look on her face. She felt elated, there was no other way to describe it. After weeks of planning, beating around the bush, and working up the courage to ask Rainbow Dash to dinner, they had finally shared their first—of hopefully many—kisses. Her stomach doing somersaults, Twilight blinked through the haze of euphoria that clouded her eyes and looked to Rainbow, expecting to see a similar drunken smile on her face. Twilight was sure her cheeks must have been glowing red when she stared into Rainbow’s cerise eyes, looking to see the same spark of excitement and anticipation that Twilight hoped shined in her own eyes. It came as a great shock for Twilight when she was met with an aghast Rainbow Dash. Her smile faltered when Rainbow looked down in horror at Twilight’s lips with a slack jaw and an expression of horror drawn over her features. “Wh-what the hay was that?!” Twilight’s blood ran cold and drained from her formerly blushing cheeks. “I-I...” Twilight sputtered, her heart falling to her stomach. “A-a kiss?” she asked quietly. “The hay did you kiss me for?!” Rainbow shook her head, a pink hue showing through her fur. She looked at Twilight in disbelief before shaking her head again and staring resolutely at her half-eaten dinner. “Um...” Twilight fidgeted with her hooves. “Y-you mean you’re not... we’re not...” Her gaze drifted down to the tablecloth as she scrunched shut her suddenly burning eyes. “We’re not what?” Steeling herself, Twilight inhaled deeply and dared herself to meet Rainbow’s gaze. The blank look on her face managed to make Twilight exhale and deflate. “S-so... this isn’t a date?” “A date?!” Rainbow’s eyes widened and she gaped at Twilight, making the alicorn look down in shame. “I— But— what made you think this was a date?” “Um...” Twilight gestured to the candlelit dinner set before them, idly noting how the dim light from the candles managed to make Rainbow’s eyes glow like a pair of rubies. “Yeah, but this is just a dinner!” Rainbow said, a note of panic in her voice. “No romantic junk or anything! Just two friends having a totally friendly dinner...” She bit her lip and her ears pinned against her skull. “...Right?” “B-but I did everything the book said!” Twilight protested weakly. Her mind raced. Where did she go wrong? A flash of her horn later, and Twilight was flipping through red-covered book. “A-all the signs were there! I thought I did everything right!” “Book? Signs?” Rainbow asked feebly. “What are you talkin’ about, Twi?” “Us!” Twilight snapped the book shut and looked desperately at Rainbow. “I thought that you... Ugh!” Twilight groaned and rubbed her face roughly. “You mean you really don’t have any feelings for me?” Rainbow’s gaze wandered, seeming to want to look at everything except Twilight. “I... dunno,” she said lamely. “But what about all those nights we spent cuddled up in front of the fireplace?” “Th-those were just reading nights!” Rainbow wrung her hooves and her wings twitched by her sides. “We’ve been doing that since forever.” Twilight’s heart fell in time with her head. “Y-you put your wing over me...” “You were shivering,” Rainbow said immediately. “Like I would let my best friend freeze.” “We’ve spent the last few days together...” Twilight swallowed thickly and blinked the forming tears from her eyes. Her head hit the table with a small thump and she held back a sniffle. “I’ve had a couple extra shifts, and we just kinda hung out, I guess.” Twilight heard Rainbow’s chair squeak as it was pushed across the kitchen floor. Not a few seconds later she felt a hoof tentatively grip her shoulder. “Twilight?” “I got you a bouquet of roses,” Twilight said more to the floor than to Rainbow. “And when I asked you to dinner, I thought—” she clicked her jaw shut. “Nevermind.” There was a pregnant moment of silence, leaving both mares to their thoughts. “Yeah...” Rainbow mumbled slowly, a dawning realization growing in her voice. “You did....” “And when you said I was one of the most important ponies in your life, I thought that you...” Twilight let out something between a sob and a snarl and pushed her chair back. “I-I’m sorry, I was wrong,” she said without looking at Rainbow. “I should go.” Before Twilight could turn to leave she felt a strong pair of forelegs grab her by the shoulders, spin her around, and pull her into a tight embrace. Twilight’s eyes snapped open, freezing in Rainbow’s hooves. It was only when she felt a pair of wings wrap around her back that she let herself return the hug, burying her head in the crook of Rainbow’s neck. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I?” Rainbow sighed into Twilight’s neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Rainbow pulled away from Twilight, her eyes flicking around the room. Finally, they settled back on Twilight, who brushed away a lingering tear from her eye as a sheepish smile formed on Rainbow’s face. “So... I don’t suppose we could, y’know, try this again?”
Shenanigans - KodeakePinkie barely suppressed her chuckles as she crouched down low amongst the twisted branches and waving leaves of a bush. Every time one of her giggles escaped the hoof covering her mouth, an quick and decisive “shush” was uttered in her direction from a bush right next to her own. “Sorry Dashie,” Pinkie whispered, quickly clasping her hooves back over her mouth before she could start laughing. When she regained control, she once again lowered her hooves. “I think is one of the best pranks yet. Do we have a target yet?” The bush next to Pinkie's shook. “Nah, the only pony close enough is Twilight, and I am not pranking Twilight.” “Awww, don't wanna anger your marefriend?” Pinkie taunted in a hushed, sing-song voice. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “You don't understand, Pinkie. Now that we are together, it's dangerous for me to prank her unless I want to start a full-on war. I think I may have rubbed off on her too much.” Pinkie gave her most exaggerated pout, even if it was hidden by the leaves of her bush. “C'mon Dashie! What trouble can one little prank cause?” “A lot.” Rainbow shuddered as she remembered the last prank she'd pulled on Twilight, and in turn the pranks that had been pulled on her. “Dashieeeeeee,” Pinkie whined. “Please? I haven't pranked Twilight in so long...” “I said no Pinkie, we'll just have to- Pinkie?” Rainbow paused, watching as Pinkie reached down and brought a small hose to her lips. “Pinkie don't you dare, she's gonna-” Pinkie took in a deep breath and blew through the hose. The air rushed through it to its destination; a small whistle set between the roots of a nearby tree. The whistle, specially carved to make a specific kind of noise, sang its song – that of an injured bird. Rainbow Dash bit her lip, looking out of the bush to see fi Twilight took the bait. To her horror, the unicorn stood from the bench she'd been reading on and tilted her head towards the tree. Breathing a sigh of relief when she didn't actually move, Rainbow shot a glare at Pinkie's bush. “She didn't take it. I'm telling you Pinkie, you have no idea-” Without waiting for another warning Pinkie blew on the hose once again, long and low. This time Twilight took the bait and came marching over tot he tree with a concerned frown stretched across her muzzle. Rainbow's eyes widened in fear. “Pinkie no, please.” “C'mon, Dashie,” Pinkie whispered as Twilight got into position beneath the tree. “Live a little.” Then she bit on a length of rope hidden behind the tree and pulled. In a moment of slow-motion horror, stretched out for seemingly eternity, Rainbow watched as a bucket nestled safely within the branches of the tree came tumbling from its perched, dumping its contents onto the purple unicorn beneath it. A fine, red-tinted powder poured out, coating Twilight from head to hoof. A beat of Rainbow's heart thrummed through her ears, and then the powder took affect. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight screeched as she fell onto her side, hooves desperately working across her skin and scratching at everything the itching powder had touched. Writhing about in the dirt beneath he tree, Twilight did her best to still her head for long enough to shoot a glare directly into Rainbow's hiding spot before losing focus and rubbing her neck desperately against the rough ground. Eve as all the possibilities for Twilight's revenge raced through her mind, Rainbow couldn't help but snicker at her marefriend. Suddenly,t he unicorn jumped up onto her hooves, trembling as her entire body continued to burn with an insatiable itch. Without thinking she made a mad dash for the only source of relief within range; the fountain in the middle of the park, currently surrounded by multiple groups of ponies. With a mighty splash Twilight dove into the shallow waters, rolling around in the fountain and struggling to wash the itching powder out of her coat and mane. Rainbow Dash fell backwards out of her bush, laughing hysterically as Pinkie did the same. “See!” Pinkie prompted through her laughter. “Told you it was worth it!” Unable to respond, Rainbow just kept laughing, knowing it wouldn't be long until she was on the receiving end of a prank. Staring up at the sun, Rainbow's laughter died in her throat as a silhouette leaned over her face and blocked out the sky. “Hello, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight muttered darkly, mane and coat dripping and the remaining traces of itching powder making her rub at her forelegs. “I take it you've had fun today.” Rainbow swallowed nervously. “It was Pinkie's idea?” Twilight raised a single eyebrow. “Funny, I haven't seen Pinkie Pie anywhere.” Face falling, Rainbow turned to the side and, sure enough, Pinkie had vanished. “No way... she's seriously gonna let me take the fall for this?” She muttered to herself, mentally noting to prank the party mare good for this little betrayal. Leaning down, Twilight placed a single kiss on Rainbow's cheek before placing her muzzle right next to the pegasus's ear. “Be prepared, Rainbow Dash.” With those final, ominous words, Twilight lit her horn and teleported away with a flash. Over the course of the following week, Rainbow found herself literal bathing in itching powder, tarred and feathered, covered in a green slime she didn't want to know the origin of, and every time she was somewhere very public. Not even her usual napping grounds were safe from her marefriend's vengeance, armed with a cloud walking enchantment and nearly limitless teleportation, Twilight was nearly inescapable. Twilight would occasionally find herself on the receiving end of a prank – Rainbow's conscience would not let her humiliation go unpunished – but they were rare and nothing like the level Twilight's pranks were on. Eventually, after finding her favourite napping cloud filled with cake batter rather than water and enchanted to rain upwards, Rainbow came stumbling through the front door of the library, exhausted and looking more like a batter-monster than a pony. “That's it!” She cried, flopping to the floor and spattering batter everywhere. “I'm done. I give; you win.” From somewhere within the library, a voice echoed. “Are you sure? You are the one who started this.” “I'm done, Twi,” Rainbow insisted. “Besides, it was Pinkie, not me.” “Oh I know,” Twilight's voice echoed. “And she'll get what she deserves soon enough. But you... I think one more good prank is in order. Accept it, and you'll be cleared of any transgressions.” Rainbow sighed. “Can I at least shower first? This batter's starting to dry...” Twilight's voice giggled wearily as a magical flash cleaned Rainbow's coat. “Ready?” “Hit me.” Hit her Twilight did. In an instant a thick, warm liquid flowed down over her head, rapidly coating her body and a small area of the floor beneath her. Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut, but a familiar scent made her open them even as the dark brown liquid continued to cover her. “Wait... this is...” she stuck her tongue out, taking a small dollop of the stuff and tasting it. “Chocolate?” Twilight giggled again, finally walking to the front room of the library where Rainbow could see her. “Three.... two.... one... yep! Chocolate.” Her eyes narrowed. “Solidifies fast, doesn't it?” Rainbow quirked and eyebrow, taking a step forward once the shower had stopped, only to realize the chocolate had indeed solidified, and had encased her hooves, along with the rest of her body. From head to hoof, she was now a life-size, chocolate pony. Licking her lips eagerly, Twilight sauntered forward, circling her entrapped marefriend. “I felt like having some chocolate today. So... where should I start?” “Uhh...” Rainbow's cheeks lit up a scarlet blush beneath their chocolate coating. “Up here?” Twilight asked herself, nibbling some chocolate off the tip of Rainbow's ear. “Or maybe... somewhere else...?
Miracle - The DJ Rainbow DashIt stared her down. Every single aspect of it seemed to beckon her, draw her in and clutch her tightly like a sweet smelling pheromone. The sleek, voluptuous curves were quite pronounced, sliding down and meeting to a point. In a way it was able to envelope itself within her mind, as if she was becoming high off its essence. For most ponies, this would describe a special someone. In Twilight's skewed world, it described a math equation. With a quill held in her hoof, she checked her work for the umpteenth time, going over each part with a fine toothed comb. Despite her cautiousness, there was still something wrong with what she wrote, and she was well aware of it. Yet as hard as she looked, even with an eye as critical as hers, she couldn't figure it out. For the 10th time that day, a poor quill gave it's life for the cause. "Grrr... stupid Starswirl the Bearded. Stupid equation," she grumbled, rubbing her temple as a headache began to mount, "Did he really have to go through all this to make an equation for..." CRASH She looked up and turned to her front door. What once was a beautiful wood carved masterpiece now had bore the scars of battle, as if it was a shield on the front lines of the last Equestrian Civil War. Instead it was just the outline of a pegasus. "Come in Rainbow Dash." The door finally gave way, splitting in two, and revealing Rainbow. She stood there wearing the poorest look of innocence anypony could possible conjure up, and Twilight just rolled her eyes before turning towards her desk. "Hey Twi! I was doing some new tricks, but I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to grab some lunch." The cold chill of silence greeted her. "Uh Twi? Your ears are on right?" She began poking Twilight's head. "If you're wondering, I can hear you, and yes my ears are on because you can't turn them off," she replied flatly. "Woah, sorry. Didn't know you were getting down and dirty with, um, the math books today?" Rainbow focused in on whatever mixture of numbers and letters decided to vomit on Twilight's book. "Say, that is a math equation right?" Twilight nodded. "It's a unsolved Starswirl the Bearded equation on the speed that magic travels in a vacuum. I found it when I was reading one of his older books, when it mentioned nopony ever solved it. So I decided to give it a shot." "Well it doesn't look like you've solved it." Dash backed up at the deathly glare she was given. "Guess not huh?" Twilight huffed and threw her hooves in the air. "I've tried to solve it for the past 3 days now! But I keep getting parts of it wrong, and then other parts of it are wrong, and then other parts of those parts are wrong and..." She was stopped by a hoof in her muzzle. "Twilight, 2 plus 2 is four right?" Rainbow nearly started laughing at the dumbfounded expression Twilight gave her. "I'm serious though, it says right here, two plus two is five, which using my brilliant addition skills, is wrong." "You're joking." "Nope. Look where my hoof is." Twilight obliged, focusing on the near microscopic arithmetic in the vastness of the entire equation. Sure enough, Dash's word held true, and some say Twilight's eyes grew three sizes that day. Rainbow chuckled. "I'll see ya later Twilight, have fun with that." She flew out the empty doorframe, just as Twilight began to scribble like mad. Rainbow Dash put her hooves up, sinking into her soft, fluffy couch as she prepared her body for a well deserved nap. Her recent tricks had taxed every single fiber of her body, and the thought of doing anything just didn't click with her right now. "By Celestia! It's a Miracle!" Her eyes flipped open as she recognized Twilight's voice, remembering that it had been 3 days since she had seen the alicorn. She assumed Twilight was busy doing her equation, and prior experience told her not to interrupt her. But Twilight didn't live near her at all. ...And that voice was unmistakable. "3... 2... 1..." CRASH! Rainbow could only snicker at the alicorn indent that just appeared in her front door.
Funk - Formerly CommittedRainbow walked into the library and immediately crinkled her nose in disgust. The entire library was filled with a putrid stench. She make the mistake of breathing in through her nose and instantly gagged as her eyes filled with water. The fumes stabbed at her eyes. “Uh...Twilight?” she choked out. It hurt to breath let alone speak. In a blur of purple, Twilight shot through the door leading to the kitchen and slammed it behind her. She braced herself against the door, panting heavily. She looked as if she had just pulled an all-nighter. Hair frayed and bloodshot eyes--most likely from the stench. “Rainbow! You’re early, I wasn’t expecting you for another hour!” she said between breaths, giving the biggest forced smile she could muster. “I finished early and--” she cut herself off gagging on the stench that permeated the air. “Twi’, what is that funky smell?” “Smell? What smell?” She grinned trying to find something for her eyes to settle on other than Rainbow. “Seriously? It smells like somepony filled one of Fluttershy’s chicken coops with rotten eggs and old cabbage.” She wafted a hoof in front of her in a futile attempt to purge her nose. “I, uh...I-I…” Sighing, she slid along the door to the floor in defeat. “I was trying to make you dinner, and wanted to surprise you.” She stared at down at her hooves, hoping her bangs covered her shame. Rainbow chewed at her lower lip. She wanted to laugh. She needed to laugh. However, she knew taking in another breath of the funk that filled the library would most likely cause her to lose her lunch. She also knew that it would hurt Twilight’s feelings. Despite how horrible it turned out, her wanting to make Rainbow dinner was kind of awesome. She forced her eyes shut regaining her composure, allowing herself to take in as deep of a breath as her stomach would allow. “Tell you what Twi’. We’ll throw out whatever funk is in the kitchen, open all the doors and windows, and then we’ll go out. Hayburger sound good?” Twilight looked up with a sad smile and nodded. “As long as I get to pay.”
Boundaries - Kodeake“Your side,” Rainbow proclaimed loudly, pointing her hoof to one side of a bright yellow line of tape on the floor. “My side,” she said, taking a step back on the opposite side. “Fine,” Twilight humphed, sticking her nose up in the air. “You stay over there as long as you like. I'm not giving in.” Spike sighed, one claw held delicately against his forehead and a roll of yellow tape in the other. “Really?” “Yes!” Both Rainbow Dash and Twilight snapped, giving him a quick glare. Their eyes met for just a second, sparks flying, before the both turned resolutely away. “And I thought I was supposed to be the immature one,” Spike grumbled, shaking his head and walking away from the two defiant mares. “You two have fun down here; I'm going to bed.” Neither mare answered his call as he climbed the stairs to the second floor of Golden Oaks library. Peaking an eye open, Twilight smirked. “Good night, Rainbow,” she called, trotting away from the dividing line and hopping onto the couch, the upper floor having been declared out of bounds after much arguing. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “You forget I can sleep on anything; a couch isn't going to win this battle. On the other hoof, a fridge just might,” she snickered, motioning to the kitchen behind her. Twilight peaked over the arm of the couch, raising an eyebrow. “Neither of us are allowed to cross the line, right?” “Not until you admit I was right,” Rainbow corrected smugly. “As if,” Twilight scoffed, “I'm just making sure I'm not breaking any rules when I do... this.” On cue, Twilight's horn glowed a gentle purple light, as did the refrigerator, and she magically opened it, pulling out a jug of apple juice. “Hey!” Rainbow barked, glaring daggers at the unicorn remotely pouring herself a glass of juice. “That's cheating!” Twilight faked a thoughtful pose. “Is it?” She pondered. “The way I see it, you said that neither of us could cross the line. As you can clearly see, I'm not crossing the line.” “That's cheating and you know it,” Rainbow growled, her steely gaze challenging Twilight's smug smile. Twilight just shrugged as her glass of apple juice floated across the room into her hooves. “You should have made the rules more clear.” “You know what? Fine. Two can play at that game!” Rainbow ran off into the kitchen, coming abck a few seconds with a glass of water. Taking it in her wing, she splashed the water across the line into Twilight's face. “Rainbow!” Twilight screeched as she was drenched in cold water. “Not crossing the line,” Rainbow taunted with a cocky grin. Twilight opened her jaw to retort, but let it close as she humphed and turned away, lying across the couch with her back to Rainbow. Unbeknownst to the pegasus, Twilight's horn was once again glowing with magic as another glass filled itself with water in the kitchen, floating over and dumping itself on Rainbow's head. “Not crossing the line~” Twilight sang without even turning back Whipping the bangs out of her face, Rainbow set her face into a determined snarl “That's it,” she growled, stomping over the yellow line of tape on the floor. “Just admit I was right and this will all be over.” “Hey!” Twilight cried, jumping of the couch and pointing an accusing hoof at Rainbow. “You're not allowed to cross the line!” “Oh, you mean like this?” She asked as another hoof planted itself on Twilight's side. “Yes!” “Too bad,” Rainbow snorted as she crossed over entirely. “What are you going to do now, huh?” Lighting her horn, Twilight enveloped Rainbow in her magical glow and teleported rainbow back onto her own side. “That,” Twilight deadpanned. “Oh, it's on now,” Rainbow declared, her wings flying out from her sides as she took off running, flapping her wings and launching into the air, soaring over the line. Twilight once again charged a teleport, but before she could get it off Rainbow slammed into her chest, dragging the unicorn kicking and screaming into the air. “Rainbow!” Twilight shrieked as they came to a hover near the room of the library. “Put me down!” “Nu-huh, not until you admit I was right.” “Never!” Twilight declared defiantly, dangling dangerously over the dining room. Rainbow let her grip on Twilight loosen just enough that she started sliding down. “Alright alright!” Twilight cried, legs kicking as though trying to swim. “You were right!” “About...?” Rainbow prompted, tightening her hold just enough so Twilight wouldn't slip any lower. “It's pronounced February, not Febyuary! Now put me down!” Rainbow complied, setting Twilight on the floor. “See, was that so hard?” Twilight glared at her, before turning away indignantly and marching up the stairs. “I'm going to bed.” “I'll be up in-” “You're sleeping on the couch.”
Hurry - Formerly Committed“Come on, Scoots! We gotta hurry!” Rainbow Dash glanced back at a struggling Scootaloo. Rainbow could tell she was on her last legs. She was proud that Scootaloo even made it this far. Flying from Ponyville to Canterlot and then back was no easy feat, even for Rainbow. “I know. I’m--I’m going as fas--as I can,” Scootaloo shouted back between pants. Come on Scootaloo, focus on breathing. In. And out. Just like Rainbow taught you. She pushed through the pain, ignoring the screams from her exhausted wings. Her still being airborne was a true statement to her determination. Whether it was her refusal to give up, or her not wanting to get in trouble was completely different matter. No more than a few hours ago they had been back at the library sitting quietly, reading. Or so they would claim. Maybe they shouldn’t have been building towers with books. Maybe they shouldn’t have had a ginormous pillow fight in the middle of the library. Or maybe they crossed the line with pegasus-limbo. Regardless, tables were bumped and unicorn statues were broken. So while Spike stayed behind and cleaned up feathers, Rainbow and Scootaloo took off to the only store that still had said statue. All before Twilight got back from her trip seeing the Princess. Who was due back on the next train into Ponyville, which they had yet to pass on their return journey. “Rain--Rainbow!” Scootaloo called out. She could feel herself slowly losing altitude. She tried futilely to stop her descent, but she was destined to go down.This was it. She wasn’t gonna make it. Twilight was going to get home, see the broken statue, and ground her--and possibly Rainbow, until she moved out. She felt a pair of hooves wrap around her barrell. “Don’t worry, squirt. I gotcha. We’re in the home-stretch and I can see the train pullin’ in.” Scootaloo closed her eyes, and let her body fall limp in Rainbow’s embrace giving her muscles the rest they demanded. Cracking an eye open, she tempted a glance towards Ponyville and true to Rainbow’s word she could see the last puffs of smoke coming from the train as it slowed in its approach into the station. Scootaloo either dozed off or passed out from exhaustion, because the next thing she knew she was being set down right in front of the library. Luckily it was only her wings that were pushed to exhaustion and she charged through the door just a few steps in front of Rainbow. Spike who had been pacing back and forth for the past hour jumped at the sudden slamming of the door. “Thank Celestia, you guys are back! I thought I heard the train come in,” he said sighing in relief. “You did. Twi’s probably right behind us!” Rainbow Dash flipped open her saddlebag and using two hooves and both wings to steady it, lifted the statue up and onto the table. In a flash of blue she flew upstairs, threw her bags down and zipped back down. Side-by-side they stared at the door and waited. Forty-five seconds later a somewhat confused Twilight walked in. “Why did somepony leave the door--” She stopped and looked suspiciously at Rainbow Dash, flanked on both sides by Scootaloo and Spike. All wearing a huge grin. She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Aww, you guys didn’t have to greet me at the door. I was only gone for the day.” “Well we missed you. Right, guys?” exclaimed Rainbow through her forced smile. The other two nodded quickly, their smiles never wavering. Twilight stared at each of them in turn. They would swear she was looking into their very souls. Twilight knew something was off. She just didn’t know what. She slowly moved toward the guilty trio, her gaze never leaving them. And then she saw it. She knew what they were hiding. In a blur of purple, Twilight ran over to Scootaloo and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. “Rainbow! How many times have I told you...Stop pushing Scootaloo so hard when you two practice. She looks exhausted,” she said glaring daggers at Rainbow. It took Rainbow Dash a whole second to realize what had just happened. “Oh--OH! Yeah...sorry. You know us. We just...love flying. Right, Scoots?” Rainbow’s smile never left her. “Yeah! Sorry, I uh...yeah. Sorry.” Scootaloo hugged Twilight back. Did they just really get away, scot free? She almost felt bad for how easy it had been. Almost. “Well, I hope you aren’t too tired Rainbow. I was hoping you would massage my back. You would not believe how rough it is to travel all the way to Canterlot and back in one day.” “...Nope.” “Not a clue.” “But, first things first.,” she said as she lifted her saddlebag off her back with her magic. However, Twilight who was still hugging Scootaloo wasn’t paying attention. Her bag bumped the table. Time move slow. (I had to, and I’m not sorry) Three pairs of eyes looked on in horror, as the unicorn statue wibbled and wobbled, hoping it wouldn’t fall down. Their luck had run out. They watched as the statue lost its balance an tipped over. They looked on in shock, Rainbow holding out a hoof in a futile attempt to stop it, as it bounced half-way off the table sending it spinning on its collision course with the floor. A single tear fell away from Scootaloo’s eye as the unicorn statue, that had just cost her a month’s allowance, shattered into what seemed to be millions of pieces. No one moved. Three sets of eyes all turned towards Twilight, waiting for they fury to come. The first to notice something wrong was Scootaloo. She was still being held on to by the unicorn and could feel her body shaking. At first, she thought she was having some sort of seizure. A mental breakdown after the lose of her beloved statue. But then...she heard it. Laughter. Twilight threw her head back and laughed. The other three thought she had just lost her mind. Poor Scootaloo. Already in the mares clutches, she was obviously going to be the first sacrificed. But then a miracle happened. She released her hostage and continued her laughter. No one dared to move yet, and they stayed completely still until Twilight finally had control of her faculties. “Oops,” she smiled sheepishly wiping a tear from her eye. “Sorry, I’ll clean that up in a minute.” The three looked at each other, blinked, and looked back at Twilight as she made her way up the stairs. “Honestly, that thing was kind of hideous.”
Fire - AuramaneRainbow Dash stared into the crackling flames of Twilight's fireplace, shivering beneath a pile of blankets, and groaned impatiently. "Come on Twilight, how long are you gonna keep me in here? I said I wouldn't do it again." "Rainbow, you're staying in here until the storm stops. Honestly, you're the weather manager, you should know your own schedule by now," said Twilight, walking in from the kitchen, two daisy sandwiches floating beside her. Rainbow pulled the blankets more tightly around herself and grumbled something about eggheads. Twilight continued, oblivious to Rainbow's annoyance, "Besides, whose idea was it to have a swim in the middle of Winter?" "Hey, Applejack did it too. She challenged me to a race," said Rainbow defensively. Twilight rolled her eyes and set down one of the sandwiches next to Rainbow beforelying herself down nest to her. "Yes, and I'm sure Apple Bloom is taking great care of her trying to get her nursing cutie mark. I could have left you with them instead." Rainbow grimaced and grudgingly took the food in her hooves and took a bite out of it. "Still cold," she grumbled, her mouth filled with half chewed food. Twilight sighed and stood up again, throwing more wood into the fireplace with her magic as she walked over to Rainbow. She stopped next to her and lifted the blankets up slightly. Rainbow shivered again at the sudden drop rush of cold air. As she turned to look at Twilight, she suddenly felt something—or someone—warm and soft pressing against her side. "Twilight, what're you doing?" "You said you were cold, and I don't have any more blankets," she mumbled. Rainbow grinned and opened her mouth, about to say something. Before she could start, however, Twilight cut her off. "Rainbow, if you make a joke right now, I will throw you into the fire. I'm just trying to keep you warm, that's it." "Well you're no fun," she groused, putting on a playful pout. "Just... Try to warm up, and we don't have to talk about this." She pinned her ears down on her head. "At least don't tell Rarity, she'll get completely the wrong idea." Rainbow Dash snorted, and looked back towards the fire. "Fine. I'll be all warm and dry pretty soon anyway." Twilight didn't answer, she just lay her head down on her hooves and stared into the dancing flames
Music - Thak“Geez, Egghead, you really suck at this, you know?” There is a saying in Equestria regarding the potential lethality of certain facial expressions, whereby one pony wishes the sheer intensity of said expressions had, for the briefest of moments, a marked physical impact on the recipient. Twilight considered (that is to say, decided against without further study) to provide enough magical energy to remove the questionable conjunction from said idiom. However, she had been strictly counseled on her disregard of physics and the disasters that followed when she involved magic to influence the physical world solely to correct what is, or was, exclusively a matter of personal embarrassment. This did not stop her from utilizing the more figurative aspects of the phrase in question, and with years of practice born of necessity in corralling her three unruly protégés with scarcely a sound, Twilight glared at the cyan Pegasus floating in the air before her with as much intensity as she could muster. Mind! That is not to say that fair Rainbow’s observation lacked merit ; indeed, Twilight herself had, quite succinctly, stated Rainbow’s rather churlish thought mere minutes before, as her primary objection to engaging in such an activity in the first place. Still, Twilight had agreed to practice with her fiancé so as not to cause too much embarrassment at their wedding some three months hence. Thus she found herself in one of the more Spartan rooms in the fortress that was her new home, the meager furniture pushed aside, and a fresh layer of pine planks quickly secured to the crystal floor. The speed with which such a floor had been both procured and installed simultaneously fascinated and infuriated the Princess; on one hoof, the sheer economy of movement shown by her friends (specifically that of the Apple family) brought to mind a burning desire to see exactly how much of the country’s failing infrastructure could be brought in line with modern standards should such ponies be in charge of overseeing the task. On the other hoof, with the dance floor now completely secured, as well as a sound system mysteriously brought in by another Apple family member (though it had yet to be conclusively determined, once and for all, whether or not Pinkie Pie was indeed a distant relative of the Apples), Twilight found her list of logical arguments against participating in what would most assuredly be, at least as far as recent memory was concerned, her most embarrassing moment to date dwindling rather rapidly. “Ahem. I believe what Rainbow is trying to say, Darling, is that perhaps this isn’t the right music for you? I think we should try something a little less esoteric. While DJ-Pon3’s music is perfectly acceptable in most nightclubs, there’s nothing like a classic for a first dance, yes? Aha! Here it is! A nice, simple waltz should do.” “Rarity…,” moaned Rainbow. “Waltzes are boring!” “Nonsense! The waltz is, by far, one of the most romantic and timeless dances of all time. The poise! The sophistication! The joie de vive coming from two lovers floating inches above the dance floor, lost in each other’s embrace as they breathlessly dance the night away! Their eyes lock, and for the briefest moment time stops as their love bursts forth in a sea of emotion; a crashing wave that sweeps them away from all of pony kind in unbridled passion!” “Wow…” whispered Rainbow Dash. “But Rarity isn’t the waltz hard? I have a difficult time with the simple moves Rainbow showed me. Can’t we just rock back and forth for a few seconds and call it good?” asked Twilight. “Certainly not! This is going to be a Royal wedding! Everypony who’s anypony will be certain to attend, and I will not let my friends simply ‘rock back and forth’ like a pair of fillies at their first dance!” cried Rarity. “Whoa there Sugarcube!” said Applejack, coming up the stairs. “What’s all this fussin’ about? I thought we agreed you’d simmer down, and not get so worked up over everything.” “You’re right, Darling. It’s just that Twilight is having doubts about learning how to waltz, and I guess I got a little carried away.” “Y’don’t know how to waltz? I thought you grew up in Canterlot?” asked Applejack, eyes narrowing. “I did! It’s not like I don’t know what it is,” explained Twilight. “I’ve just never had an opportunity to practice with anypony.” “Lookee here, Sugarcube. Ain’t nothin’ to it. You can count to three, right?” “Obviously,” said Twilight. “And you trust Dash, right?” asked Applejack. “Of course!” said Twilight. “Then there’s nothin’ to it.Follow her lead, and let the music move you.” “Thanks, Applejack. I feel a lot better about this. Want to give it a shot, Rainbow?” asked Twilight. “Sure! And don’t worry. I won’t let you down,” said Rainbow “Never,” said Twilight, smiling as the music began to fill the room.
Forgotten - LiquidFirest0rmTwilight merrily trotted back towards her home in the Ponyville library. Books and different parts of her current research project floated along behind her, held within her magical grasp. She had been out far longer than she had thought she would have been, as she noticed that all the lamps were already lit and there was scarcely a pony to be seen. Looking up into the sky she saw the moon just now starting its way across the sky. A chilly wind blew through the town, ruffling her fur and feathers. She shivered at the change in temperature, and promptly increased her speed to get out of the cold faster. As she approached her tree home, however, she noticed that the downstairs light was on. Normally this would mean that Spike was still awake, but he was at a sleepover with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, so it couldn’t have been him. Nervousness crept up inside of her, and she decided against using the front door. Instead she teleported up onto the balcony outside of her bedroom. Carefully setting her things down, she carefully opened the window that led into her loft. Her ears were at attention, swiveling around, trying to pick up on any sounds that somepony had broken into her home. At the same time, she looked around, noticing that nothing looked disturbed. A sudden slam from further into the library caused her to jump, almost willing her to fly back out of the library and go find a guardpony to come help. After a few moments of silence, however, she regained some of her wit and moved closer to her bedroom door. Placing an ear against the smooth wood, she listened intently for any more sounds coming from the other side. Hearing nothing, she carefully opened the door, just enough to see through the crack. The other side of the door looked just as undisturbed as her bedroom. Pulling the door open a bit further, she noticed that the only sounds she could hear was the crackling of the fire inside the fireplace. Creeping towards the edge of the staircase, she finally got a look at the main room of her home. Expecting to see the worst, her mood was instantly lifted by the heartwarming sight that she saw. Her marefriend, Rainbow Dash, was asleep on the couch by the fireplace. A daring do book, which she assumed had once been held, had made its way to the floor and now lay there half open against the couch. A light snoring sound made its way to Twilight’s ears, confirming that the pegasus mare was indeed asleep. As she made her way closer, she noticed some things on the table that didn’t belong to her. Taking a better look, she saw a bouquet of flowers and a card laying there, her name written on the front of the envelope in Rainbow’s bad mouthwriting. Opening the envelope with her magic, she pulled the card out and began reading it. Tears worked their way into her eyes as she set the card back down on the table. She let herself openly sob a couple of times as she just stared at the simple card. A sound from beside her caused her to turn her head, seeing Rainbow get up off the couch. She stretched for a moment, before making her way over to where Twilight was now sitting. When she got within arms reach, Twilight pounced on her, crushing her in a hug as she openly started crying. “Oh, R-Rainbow! I’m s-sorry! I- I-” She gave up trying to talk and settled for crying into her marefriend’s shoulder. She was suddenly surprised when she felt a hoof gently stroking the back of her head. “Hey, hey. Shh. Twi, it’s ok.” Rainbow tried to sooth her, holding her tight and stroking the back of her head gently. She would have wrapped her wings around her as well, just for good measure, but they were currently pinned beneath Twilight’s forelegs. “I’m such a bad marefriend.” Twilight muttered into Rainbow’s coat. “Hey, no you’re not.” Rainbow said, giving her a gentle squeeze. Twilight push herself back out of Rainbow’s embrace. “How can you say that? I forgot about our anniversary!” This caused Rainbow to smirk. “Thats ok, that just means you get to make it up to me.” She said, leaning in and kissing Twilight. Twilight’s eyes widened at the implications of Rainbow’s statement before they slowly closed as she went along with it.
Playtime - JetstreamGWSquealing, fillyish giggles rent the air of the normally placid Golden Oaks Library. Along with them came the sound of tiny, stomping hooves as a pint sized Unicorn and Pegasus chased one another around the library’s loft. “You’ll never get me, Twi! You’re too slow!” Rainbow Dash shrieked as she galloped headlong through the room, narrowly avoiding obstacles at every turn. Gasping between laughs, Twilight lowered her head and galloped even harder, yelling, “Yuh huh! I will too! You’ll see!” Using her superior knowledge of the living space’s layout, Twilight slowly closed the gap between Rainbow Dash and her, until a final lunge gave her a faceful of Dash’s tail… And nothing else, as Dash flapped her little wings and shot into the air. “Toldja! Too slow!” Rainbow crowed as she did a little circle in midair. “Hey!” Twilight shouted, “No fair flying!” “It ain’t against the rules!” “It should be!” “Nuh uh!” “Uh huh!” “Nuh uh times infinity!” Stomping a hoof, Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash and fumed for a moment. Then her eyes widened and she grinned, cantering over to her writing desk and climbing up on her chair. Giving her mightiest filly leap, Twilight managed to grab the edge of a nearby bookshelf and climb slowly to the top. “Now I’m higher, so I’m winning!” Baffled, Rainbow Dash tilted her head to one side before frowning. “What? Nuh uh, that isn’t the rules!” Putting her forehooves on her hips, Rainbow flew closer to the shelf to properly give Twilight a piece of her mind… giving Twilight the precise opportunity she was waiting for. With a shrill, primal cry of “Gotcha!” Twilight lunged forward right off the bookshelf, hooves swinging wildly and grasping only air as Rainbow dodged with little effort. Seeing her triumph turn to ashes before her eyes, Twilight could only cry out as she hit the floor with a muffled thud, scraping one of her fetlocks in the process. Biting her lower lip, Dash wrapped her forelegs around herself, then cackled like a loon. “Pfftahahahaha! Oh man! The look on your face was priceless, Twi!” Meanwhile, Twilight struggled herself into a sitting position and clutched her fetlock to her chest for a moment. “Ow…” she said with a sniffle, rubbing the sore spot. After a few seconds her lip started to quiver and she burst into tears. Rainbow Dash’s laughter cut off after a moment as she heard Twilight’s wails below her and she gasped, zipping to the ground. Wrapping her arms around Twilight, Dash held her close and rocked back and forth. “Sorry Twilight,” she said as she nuzzled into Twilight’s mane. “I didn’t mean to.” After a few minutes, Twilight’s tears abated and she hiccoughed, squeezing back. “S’okay… It wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t’a jumped like that.” Giggling, Twilight rested her chin on Rainbow’s shoulder. “I didn’t think we’d be this much like real foals.” “I don’t care,” Rainbow Dash replied. “This is the awesomest spell ever.” Leaning back, Rainbow looked Twilight in the eyes and said, “so you wanna do something else now?” Twilight’s face scrunched up as she thought about it, then she grinned, shoving Rainbow on her back and pinning her down. “Nope,” Twilight said as she wrapped Dash in an even tighter hug than before. “I think it’s nap time!” “Hey!” Rainbow cried as she fell back, trapped. “But I’m not sleepy! Twilight!” After a few seconds of struggle, Rainbow frowned as Twilight nestled into her neck, quickly beginning to snore. “Twiiiiii,” she whined as she let her limbs flop at her sides. With a huff, Rainbow rolled her eyes and shifted her weight under her captor. Resigned to her fate, Rainbow Dash wrapped her arms around Twilight and snuggled up, eyelids drooping closed. Minutes later a second set of snores joined in on Twilight’s quickly building crescendo of slumber.
Rockin' - JondorBzzzzzzt Bzzzzzzt Twilight’s ear flicked at the buzzing noise ringing against the crystal bookshelf—it certainly had been a while since she’d heard that sound. Her human friends were growing up and settling into the sort of busy lives that the people in that dimension typically led, after all. The glowing and buzzing book floated down to eye level, held in Twilight’s magical grasp. She flicked through the pages to find the newest message, hoping that it was just another piece of correspondence, or possibly an invitation for a social call, rather than some manner of world-ending crisis. Hey Twi, Need you to come through the portal ASAP. It’s important. As she read the note, her conclusions were anything but concrete. On the one hand—her brain was already thinking in human terms again—Rainbow Dash had always made the greatest effort to see her whenever she came to visit, and yet always seemed to be holding something back about the direction she was taking her life. This kind of terse message was just the sort of thing she’d expect out of Rainbow. Either of them, really. But on the other hand—Twilight was already up and moving to the side room where the portal was kept safe and secure—if the world-ending crisis was bad enough, she might not have had time to write anything more. As she slammed the book in place with her hooves, Twilight conjured a scroll and quill with a burst of magic, scribbled a hasty note, and vanished it again with a pop. Gone through the portal, might be trouble, please tell the girls. In the back of her mind, Twilight imagined she could hear deep rumble of Spike’s belch, even though she knew he was miles away, probably in his new cave. As the vortex of the portal swirled around her, the thought finally passed through her mind that if there really was trouble, Rainbow wouldn’t have taken the time to draw her cutie mark—or whatever humans called their symbols. Her palm crashed into her forehead as she flailed her legs and tried not to fall. “There you are, darling. We have to hurry and get going. I’m afraid that someone’s lack of planning left us with very little time.” Twilight blinked, looking at her friend in the growing twilight. “Rarity? I was expecting Rainbow Dash.” “And you shall see her, but we have to get moving quickly.” Rarity had already circled around Twilight and was propelling her bodily toward her sleek purple sports car parked near by. One frantic car trip later, Twilight and Rarity stood together in the front row of the large amphitheater, staring up at the empty—but soon not to be—stage. The crowd whooped and cheered deafeningly behind them as the band they were in attendance to see strutted out onto the stage. Twilight only recognized one member of the band—it was hard not to in her skin-tight, rainbow-striped outfit—but the cheers that began to erupt from her throat were louder than any others in the crowd. During all of her visits and all of the catching up she did with all of her human friends, never once had any of them mentioned Rainbow Dash continuing her impromptu musical career. As the band started in on the cold opening of their set, Rainbow caught Twilight’s eye and gave her a wink. The momentary fluttering Twilight felt in her stomach was quickly drowned out by an updated rendition of ‘Rainbow Rocks’ blasting out of the booming loudspeakers. During the entire concert, Twilight caught Rainbow’s eye at least once, sometimes two or three times during each and every song. Even though a small part of her couldn’t help wondering why Rainbow had kept this a secret, the rest of her couldn’t help cheering until she thought she might lose her voice. “Encore Encore Encore!” Twilight joined in the cheering of the crowd, trying their best to coax the band back for one final song. Applause erupted as Rainbow poked her head back out through the curtain and the rest of the band followed. “What do you say guys?” Rainbow addressed the band, but her voice came loud and clear through the sound system. “I mean it wouldn’t be right to leave without playing ‘Awesome as I Wanna to Be’. Twilight couldn’t help a wry smile from curling her lips at the memory of Rainbow playing an early version of the song far too exuberantly during the incident with the Sirens and being tackled by Sunset Shimmer. Nothing of the sort would be happening tonight—no danger lurked, and Rainbow was completely in her element. She’d even added some new verses. Keep on rising, I just don’t have time to stop Get there even if it’s lonely at the top Can’t skimp for a minute on my loyalty Gotta be awesome to play for royalty Throughout the entire final verse, Rainbow locked eyes with her, and Twilight blushed. The butterflies in her stomach didn’t let up until the band had departed and she felt Rarity poking her in the shoulder. Her friend wore an almost unnerving grin. “Come on, let’s go put these backstage passes to good use.” After some polite words to the security crew and some weaving through cramped corridors, Rarity left Twilight in front of a dressing room adorned with a tri-colored lightning bolt while she went off to chat with some of the other members of the band. Twilight hesitated before she finally knocked softly. “Come on in!” The voice was a bit more raspy than she remembered, but that was probably normal after so much singing. “Hey, Twi!” Rainbow waved her over, patting the sofa where she sat as Twilight cautiously opened the door. Twilight gave a little wave and sauntered over, her heart beating hard. She couldn’t look away from Rainbow’s shining eyes. A tingle ran up her spine as she sat down and Rainbow immediately hugged her. Her own arms hugged back out of pure instinct. A long moment of silence passed between them before Twilight finally found her voice. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you were still a musician? And a famous one at that.” Rainbow pulled back to look Twilight in the eye, her smile slipping a little. “I said it in the song. I had to be awesome enough first.” She clasped Twilight’s hand, her smile returning. “It just took me a while to be as awesome as I needed to be.” Twilight blushed. “You didn’t have to do that for me. I’m not that special.” “Of course you are,” Rainbow retorted. “You’re a princess. You’re special, which means I gotta be special if I want—” She broke off. Her lips flexed as if trying to find the right words, but nothing came. Instead, Rainbow lifted Twilight’s hand to her lips and gently kissed it, a light blush coloring her cheeks. “—yeah,” she finished. The somersault that her stomach pulled when she’d first run into Flash was nothing compared to the feeling in her gut right now. All of her visits to the human world flashed through her mind as she tried to process what was happening. Except for the very rare times when she wasn’t around, Twilight could clearly recall Rainbow’s shining eyes from each and every one, and she suddenly wondered how she’d never spotted the attraction before now. Twilight lifted Rainbow’s chin with her free hand and gazed into her raspberry eyes, quivering with anticipation. She had an unusual method of seduction, but Twilight couldn’t deny that it was working.
Hooficure - Liquidfirest0rm“NO!” Rainbow Dash screamed, her hooves latched firmly to the doorway of her marefriend’s bedroom. “Come… on… Rainbow!” Twilight grunted out, struggling to pull her rainbow colored marefriend from the doorway with her telekinesis. “No, Twilight! You know I don’t like other ponies touching my hooves!” She was beginning to lose her grip on the doorway and she was starting to panic. “I… touch them… all… the time!” Twilight argued back, still attempting to dislodge Rainbow from her doorway. “That’s because you’re special!” Her muscles were beginning to burn under the strain. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to hold out against Twilight’s magic for much longer. Twilight growled in anger, releasing her telekinetic hold on her marefriend. It was like trying to knock down a brick wall with her head, and was starting to feel like it as well. She had been straining herself against Rainbow so much, that she was starting to build up a headache, even with her new alicorn levels of power. This led her to the thought that Rainbow was part earth pony to be able to fight against that much power. “Fine! If you don’t want to go, then don’t!” Rainbow let out a sigh of relief, wiping some of the sweat off of her brow. “But,” This caused her to snap her head around, looking the glaring alicorn in the eyes. “Until you decide which you can tolerate more, you aren’t touching me there ever again. As a matter of fact, you won’t be touching me at all until you get it done!” She stomped into her room and slammed the door in Rainbow’s face. A small click could be heard as the door was locked followed by a light pink shimmer as a ward was placed on the door. Rainbow sat there, looking as if she would start crying at any second. In truth she felt like she wanted to. She looked down at her hooves, a multitude of chips could be seen in the hard surfaces. She knocked gently on the door, the ward shimmering around where she had touched. “Twilight?” She called out. When she received no answer she hung her head, a few tears making their way down her muzzle to drip on the floor. She honestly couldn’t remember why she had this stupid fear of hers, and now it was going to cost her her marefriend. No! I am not going to let something this… petty come between us! Rainbow straightened up, a determined look in her eyes as she wiped away the tears that still remained in her eyes. I’m Rainbow Dash! I can handle anything! With her mind set, and her determination strong, she turned and made her way out of Twilight’s home. Twilight watched the whole thing happen from behind her door. The spell she had cast on the door was not to keep Rainbow out, but to let Twilight see through it. She didn’t know where Rainbow had gone, but she knew that she’d be back. She wasn’t truly mad at Rainbow, but when the mare wanted to be stubborn, Twilight had to get like this to get her point across. Climbing up on her bed, she gently sat down, her nether regions still protesting after their escapade last night. Twilight cast a numbing spell on herself, and sighed in relief as she relaxed into her covers. Chipped hooves had no place near such sensitive areas. A knocking at her door roused Twilight from a sleep she hadn’t even realized she had fallen into. Letting out a yawn, and rubbing her eyes with a fetlock, she opened the door. On the other side sat an apologetic looking Rainbow Dash. In her forearms, she cradled a bouquet of Twilight’s favorite flowers and a box of chocolates. “You know that’s not-” Twilight froze mid rant. Her eyes were locked onto Rainbow’s forelegs. The items she was holding wasn’t what caused her to stop, it was the mental reset that had occurred when her brain had fully processed the image in front of her. Her gaze wouldn’t move from the hooves of her marefriend, what she was seeing couldn’t possibly exist. Where there had once been many chips and sharp edges, now was a smooth surface, polished to a sheen. She glanced up at Rainbow’s face for a moment, to make sure the pony sitting in front of her was indeed Rainbow Dash, before looking back down again. As her brain finally came back online, only one made itself present. Rainbow Dash gotten a hooficure. “Um… Twi?” Rainbow asked nervously, her marefriend’s silence was starting to make her uneasy. “I did-” The rest of her sentence died in her throat as she was unceremoniously tackled by the purple alicorn of friendship. Her lips were currently engaged elsewhere and she didn’t care about what she had been going to say. She only cared that she had her Twilight back, and she wouldn’t let a stupid thing like a hooficure get in between them any more. Even if they did have to sedate her for it.
Candles - Formerly CommittedTwo pairs of eyes stared at Twilight’s home. What was left of it anyway. The fire had been mostly contained by now and the immediate threat of the entire castle burning down was gone. The outside structure of the castle seemed unaffected, save for a few scorch marks here and there. The inside, Twilight didn’t want to think about what inside looked like. Smoke poured out of every orifice, blotching out the moon in the once clear sky. Fireponies ran this way and that. Inside and out, checking for any remaining hot spots or hidden fires. Ignoring the two mares huddled under a fire blanket, a protective wing wrapped around each other. After insuring that the two were unharmed, and that no one else was inside they quickly began unrolling hoses to combat the fire. Twilight and Rainbow sat in silence, neither of them daring to speak, not wanting to confirm what had just happened. So they sat, with an unfocused stare, not wanting to see Twilight’s home in ruin, and yet not being able to look away. Completely oblivious to the outside world they didn’t even notice their friends quickly approaching. “Twilight! Rainbow! Are ya’ll alright?” Applejack called out as the four mares skidded to a halt in front of Twilight and Rainbow. Neither Rainbow nor Twilight made any indication that they were aware of the other girls’ presence. They simply sat there. The four looked between each other with concern. “Oh--Oh my...I think they’re in shock. What do you think happened?” “Oh! Oh! Maybe the Flim Flam brothers came back and saw Twilight’s super awesome castle and got super jealous so they came up with this eeevil plan to try and swindle Twilight out of her castle but Twilight was way too smart for them so they decided if they can’t have it no one can and burned it to the ground!--” Pinkie paused, taking a huge gulp of air ”--that or fire ants.” Pinkie’s spiel left everyone, who wasn’t her, now in shock. Even some of the fireponies stopped to gawk at the ranting pink pony. Pinkie just smiled unknowing or uncaring about the stares she was now receiving. “Pinkie…What in tarnation…?” Rarity had been silent the entire time, save for a few hectic screams when Pinkie Pie first woke her up and she saw the smoke coming from the castle. He mind playing out every possible scenario as to how this could have happened. “Twilight, dear. This...this wouldn’t have anything to do with those scented candles I loaned you earlier this evening would it?” She had asked innocently, almost as an afterthought. Rainbow and Twilight blinked. In unison their heads swiveled to look at Rarity, both faces scarlet. The quickly looked away, briefly glancing at each other, and suddenly found the ground extremely fascinating. No one had anything else to say.
Sacrifice - Nebula Star"You'll have to let me train her," Twilight told Rainbow as they entered the library together. "She'll have to learn to use her Pegasus magic consciously and then practice until she can do so automatically." "Hey, that's cool Twi. If it means getting Scoots flying, I'll gladly let you take over her training for now." Rainbow said with a shrug. "I'd do just about anything to get Scoots in the air." Twilight gave her a smile. "I know you would," she said, but then her smile faded. "Rainbow, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about concerning Pegasus magic actually." Rainbow glanced at her. "What do you mean?" She sighed, worried about how Rainbow would take it. "When I said I know a lot more than I did about Pegasus magic... that may have been a bit of an understatement. I inherited all of Achlys's knowledge about Pegasus magic." "Really?" Twilight nodded. "I have all of Achlys's knowledge on all kinds of magic." "Wait, then does that mean you can do that tornado thing by just waving your wing?" Rainbow asked sounding excited. Twilight rolled her eyes and with a gentle wave of one wing, she created a tiny whirlwind, just enough to ruffle Rainbow's feathers. "That's so Awesome! Can you teach me how to do that!?" She laughed. "Yes, I can if you want, but Rainbow, there's something else... I... Among the rest of what Achlys knew about Pegasus magic, she knew how to push Pegasus magic to its limit." "What do you mean?" Twilight sighed. "I mean that, while I'm not sure if I'm in good enough condition physically, I know how to use my magic to fly faster and more agilely than just about anypony alive... maybe even you." Rainbow just stared at her a moment, blinking. "Are you serious?" Reluctantly Twilight nodded. Rainbow just stared at her a moment more then turned away from her. "Achlys claimed she was faster than me..." Rainbow said softly. "Does this mean that you're able to do Rainbooms?" Twilight swallowed nervously. She knew how much it meant to Rainbow, being the best flyer in Equestria, but at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to lie to her. "Possibly," she admitted, "I won't know for certain if I'm physically up to it until I go out and do a few trials, but, well... Part of Achlys's knowledge includes how to use Pegasus magic to control super-sonic flight." "Then Achlys could do Rainbooms? She wasn't bluffing?" "The legend had to have come from somewhere..." Twilight said softly, and Rainbow's shoulders slumped. She looked so dejected; Twilight couldn't stand seeing Rainbow like that. "Rainbow... I know how much it means to you, being the best. I... I just won't try. I'll fly like I normally do. I won't..." She was silenced by a hoof against her snout and she looked up to see Rainbow smiling back at her. "Twi, I won't let you do that for me," she said softly. "I know that you'll want to see what you're capable of, if only for your egg-head science." "But, Rainbow..." "If it turns out you can outfly me, it just gives me something to shoot for. After all, what's the point of being the best if you know the competition was holding back?" Twilight looked up at her, tears coming to her eyes. "I don't want to take this away from you," she whispered. "Twi, you are the one pony I wouldn't mind being beaten by." Rainbow said with a sincere smile. "Besides, it would be nice to have somepony to train with that can actually keep up with me. And we don't know yet if you can outfly me." She grinned. "You're not exactly the most athletic mare out there." Twilight smiled hesitantly. "You're really alright with this?" Stepping forward, Rainbow pulled Twilight into a hug. "Yes, Twi, I'm really alright with this. I don't want you holding back on account of me." Twilight hesistated a moment then slowly returned the hug. "What do you say we go out flying tomorrow, and let's see what you can do." Rainbow said with a grin as she Released Twilight. Twilight slowly smiled and nodded. "Just the two of us?" "Well yeah, unless you know somepony else who could keep up." Twilight laughed. "Probably not... I think I'd like that." Rainbow nodded. "I'll come get you around ten. Then we could get some lunch after we've worked up an appetite." "Alright." Rainbow smiled. "Well, I probably should get going for now, I wasn't expecting the whole thing with Apple Bloom and Scoots, and I've still got some weather work to take care of. I'll see you tomorrow Twi," she said, heading for the door. Twilight nodded. "Bye, Rainbow," she called even as Rainbow took off. Rainbow flew quickly up to a secluded cloud and landed. Taking a deep breath, she let it out. She hadn't wanted Twilight to see how much it really hurt her to hear that she might not be the best anymore. They weren't sure, of course, they wouldn't know until tomorrow if Twilight was physically able to make full use of her Pegasus magic, but still, the possibility was there. She'd worked for so long and hard to get to the level she was at. True she had a natural talent, but talent would only take you so far. The rest was hard work... and now Twilight had just inherited knowledge that could let her surpass Rainbow. Sure she had literally died to gain that knowledge... but Rainbow couldn't help but feel a little jealous. But she'd been honest when she said Twilight was the one pony she wouldn't mind being beaten by. Taking a deep breath she resolved not to be upset if it turned out Twilight could outfly her tomorrow. After all, she cared about Twilight more than being the best. She smiled thinking of Twilight. Maybe soon she'd have the courage to tell the alicorn her true feelings. Maybe even tomorrow...
Cold - Liquidfirest0rmTwilight Sparkle paced around the main room of the Golden Oaks library. Occasionally she would glance up at the clock on the wall, her wings twitching in agitation every time she did so. Spike had passed out almost twenty minutes ago, after spending almost as much time trying to calm her down. She stopped her pacing, glancing up at the clock again with a growl of frustration. “This is ridiculous! It’s been over an hour, she should have been back by now! I’m going to go look for her.” she said to no one in particular. Rainbow Dash, being the weather manager for Ponyville, had been out helping to set up the big winter storm. Due to some kind of issue in the weather factory in Cloudsdale, they were almost a week behind schedule for the start of the snowy season. They had to make this storm pretty big to get the weather schedule back on track, and given the howling of the wind outside, it was going to do it’s job. Rainbow had told her that it shouldn’t take them more than an hour to get things started. Twilight had planned for two after factoring in all the different issues that the weather team could possibly have run into, including having them all happen. The problem is, it had now passed the two hour mark and Twilight was now on the verge of a panic attack. She knew that snow storms weren’t as dangerous as the thunderstorms Rainbow put together on a regular basis, but they did come with their own dangers. Cold winds and the snow itself could mix together and create ice on her feathers, causing her to crash. The winds themselves were bad enough to keep any normal pegasus grounded. Twilight put on her boots and scarf, casting a warming spell on herself to keep out the chill of the wind. Once she had everything on, she quickly strode over to the door to begin the search for her marefriend. At least she would have if she wouldn’t have almost gotten hit by the door as the wind nearly blew it off its hinges, the handle leaving a crack in the wall. Twilight didn’t care about all this, however, as she slowly pushed her way against the wind, using her magic to shut the door behind her. The wind blew hard against her, threatening to push her over and whipping her mane and tail violently. She could barely see through the thick snowfall, not being able to see more than a few feet in front of her. The wind stinging her eyes caused them to water, reducing her visibility further. “Rainbow!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. She started walking in a random direction. Her panic induced search didn’t even have a planned route of locations Rainbow could have gone to. She simply wandered the empty streets, screaming Rainbow’s name every few steps. Somewhere near the fountain, which she could only tell what it was by the distinct shape of the statue in the center, she tripped over something that was concealed by the snow. She muttered several curses as she stood up, using her magic to brush the snow out of her coat. Keeping her horn lit, she turned around to find out what she had tripped over, so she could blast the offending object to Tartarus. When she looked down, her breath froze in more than one way. She had managed to roll the object out of the snow when she tripped over it, the rainbow hairs that were now billowing in the wind letting her know that she had found what she was looking for. Without thinking, she grabbed Rainbow in her magic and teleported both of them back to the library. They appeared with a flash in the middle of the room, Twilight called out for Spike as soon as she had materialized. She had told him to bring her every blanket they owned. Once she had given him the instructions, she moved Rainbow over beside the fireplace, throwing a couple of extra logs onto the fire and using her magic to instantly set them ablaze. Now that she was sure that there was enough heat, she turned her attention to the still unconscious Rainbow Dash. Too scared to touch her, for fear of the worst, she stared at her chest for a few moments to see if she was breathing or not. When she saw that her chest rose and fell, if only just slightly, she moved in and gave her a full body hug. She instantly jumped back as soon as she made contact with the blue pegasus. Rainbow Dash was freezing! Her first thought was to use the warming spell that she had used on herself earlier. She caught herself right before she was about to cast the spell, if she warmed her up too quickly, she could cause more harm than good. “Spike! Where are those blankets!” she yelled impatiently, dancing on her hooves, wishing the little dragon would hurry. “Right here!” Spike called down from the top of the stairs where he had a huge pile of blankets. Twilight used her magic and pulled the blankets over to Rainbow, almost knocking Spike down the stairs. She unfolded the blankets and began layering them over Rainbow, gently using her hooves to rub her through the material. She had read somewhere that it would help to stimulate the blood flow. Once she had layered all of the blankets onto her marefriend, she touched her forehead with a hoof, jerking it back at the feeling of cold. This isn’t working! She’s not warming up fast enough! Think, think, think, think, think! Come on Twilight! Think! You can’t lose her! Another idea suddenly popped into her head. It was something she had read that they taught to ponies who would be going on expeditions in extremely cold areas. Laying down behind Rainbow on the floor, she used her magic to pick up all of the blankets, levitating them into the air. Stretching out her legs and both of her wings, she took a couple of deep breaths to prepare herself. She reached out with her magic and grabbed Rainbow, taking another breath, she braced herself, pulling the rainbow mare into her body, wrapping her legs and wings around her, before letting the blankets fall back on top of them. It took only a couple of moments for her to begin shivering hard enough for her teeth to chatter. Closing her eyes, she tightened her grip on the mare, recasting the warming spell on herself in an attempt to stave off the cold that she was absorbing from Rainbow. Her teeth slowly stopped chattering as the spell warmed her, she could still feel the cold coming off of Rainbow, but it was less intense now. Several hours later she was awoken from her exhaustion induced slumber; the mare in her arms was finally stirring. “Twi?” Rainbow asked, her voice barely audible in their dark sanctuary underneath the pile of blankets. “I’m here Rainbow. I’ve got you.” “So. Cold.” Rainbow said, before going silent again. “I know, Rainbow. I know.” she gently kissed the back of her head, tightening her embrace and recasting the warming spell on herself to give her as much heat as she could.
Happiness - TheMusicalBoy93Rainbow Dash had always thought speed was what made her happy. For all her life, she had wanted to test the limits, break the boundaries, and achieve the impossible. She always loved swooping through the skies, performing incredible aerobatics the likes of which nopony had ever seen before. Dips and dives and loops and twirls were only the warm up manoeuvres to her. But freefall dives from one thousand feet over a rocky gorge, or loop-de-loops through flaming hoops, those were the tricks and stunts she lived for. Yes, in her mind, flying was the only thing in the whole wide world that would ever make Rainbow Dash happy. But now, standing here, looking out at the sorrowful faces of her fellow ponies while she retold the tales of her closest friend… she realised she was wrong. It was never the swoops, or the dives, or even the sonic rainboom that gave her happiness. No, in recent years, Rainbow Dash had come to realise what it was that made her truly happy when she performed these feats. And it wasn't the crowds of ponies who loved and adored her while she zoomed across the sky with reckless abandon. It wasn’t the thunderous applause she received when she completed her displays. Nor was it the rush of endorphins and adrenaline she got from riding the fine line between awesomeness and near-suicidal-recklessness. What made her happy… was seeing the look of adoration on her face when she returned to the ground in one piece. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle had been in a happy relationship for two years now, and Rainbow had felt happiness like she had never expected. But it was only now that she realised it. Now, while she read from a sheet of paper she had Spike scribe for her, with the clear glass box in front of her, holding her lover just within reach, but tauntingly inaccessible behind a glass wall did she understand what truly made her happy all along. The Pegasus’ eyes watered as she told the precession before her how wonderful Twilight was; as a pony, as a friend… and as a wife. She thought to herself how she hated those nobles for having sneered at the Princess of Friendship. How she loathed them for besmirching her beautiful name at every turn and, in the end, how they had ended her life in cold blood. The prismatic pony looked out to the front row of the spectators, and her eyes settled immediately on Pinkie Pie, who was cradling a bundle of linen, and smiled as a curious little purple snout peered over the robes, her violet eyes glittering in the light and her rainbow coloured mane falling across one eye as the one final gift Twilight left her made her presence known. Rainbow smiled at her daughter and blew her a kiss before finishing her goodbyes and returning to her baby, holding the tiny bundle close as she made a silent promise to her beloved. I love you, Twilight. And Rainbowrise will never know sorrow, for as long as I live. I’ll be with you one day, Twilight. Always. And we’ll live happily ever after, just like you wanted us to. Author's Note This will start being updated weekly-ish, provided that a prompt has been written
Changeling - Incredible Blunderbolt"What kind of question is that?" Rainbow's cheeks gained a rosy sheen that was almost invisible in the moonlight. She looked down at the covers and watched her hooves play with a corner of her pillow. "N-nothing. Never mind. I-it was dumb." "I don't think it was, Rainbow," I said, sitting up. I reached out with my magic and lighting the wick of my bedside candle. "'What if I was a changeling?' That's a pretty serious question. Why would you ask it?" "I-I don't know!" she said, groaning and covering her eyes with her hooves. "You ask those kinda questions sometimes. 'What if I wasn't a Princess?' 'What if you never met me?' 'What if I'd said no when you'd asked me out?' I just thought..." Rainbow's voice trailed off as she rolled over. Her orange bangs covered her eyes when she plopped her chin back down on her pillow and let out a sigh. "I dunno, okay?" She spoke softly--almost like she'd regretted asking the question in the first place. I breathed out and leaned back against the headboard. "No, it's fine. I was just wondering why you'd ask something like--" "Just forget it, okay?" she snapped. My ears flicked back at the harshness of her tone. "It's nothing." I bit my lip and stayed quiet. Rainbow could get rather defensive when she opened up unless she was approached a certain way. I'd clearly already messed up, so I decided to give her some time to cool off. If that extra time gave me a few moments to think, then all the better. "Changelings change their forms to match those of somepony's lover so that they can feed on that pony's affection," I said, softly. "They honestly lead a rather sad existence. They are individuals who are unable to be unique in their own right. Their original forms are almost identical, yet their only other option is to steal the visage of somepony else." I watched Rainbow carefully as I spoke. She didn't move much, but the occasional flick of her tail betrayed her feigned disinterest in what I was saying. "So," I concluded, rubbing my hoof on her shoulder, "what you're really asking is whether or not I'd still love you for who you are, right?" When she didn't answer me, I knew I'd struck home. There's no way my little toughie would ever admit a worry that "pathetic," as she'd no-doubt describe it. Still, I couldn't help but smile when her ears turned to face me. I slid down beside her and wrapped my foreleg around her before draping my wing over her back. It wasn't something I was used to--usually, Rainbow demanded to be the big spoon--but the change wasn't unwelcome. I'd gladly be there to comfort her as the world fell apart if she let me. "And, if that's the case," I whispered, "I want you to know that if you were a changeling, I'd shower you in love every day until you grew fat and lazy." I nuzzled her neck and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "And if you were a griffon, I'd go hunting with you every day until your talons fell off." I brushed her bangs to the side and smiled into her glistening eyes. "And if you were a dragon or a diamond dog, I'd find you a gemstone so large, you wouldn't know what to do with it. "But you're a pegasus, Rainbow," I whispered. "And I'll fly next to you until the day we both fall out of the sky." A smile broke out on Rainbow's face as I finished. She sniffled and buried her muzzle into my neck. The cold wetness of tears stained my coat and made me shiver a little, but I pulled her in closer with my hoof and held her tight--but not nearly as tightly as she was gripping me. "Thank you, Twi." Author's Note This will be updated weekly-ish. Provided a prompt has been written. Oh and if you didn't already know the TwiDash Group has a contest going on. Check out the post here by what has to be one of the sexiest group admins ever.
Anxiety - Formerly CommittedRainbow Dash glanced back up at the clock hanging over the waiting room. It had only been three minutes since the last time she had looked. She looked toward the double doors that led to the rest of the hospital. Nothing. She resumed her pacing, making a circuit around the chairs that filled the room. It had been over an hour since she had been whisked out of the room and into the hall. Something about complications, and then a nurse escorted her to the waiting room. Her friends, who were already waiting, swarmed her buzzing with questions. She filled them in with what little information she had, and set to her routine of pacing, glancing up at the clock, then the door, then back to pacing. Rainbow’s friends had long given up trying to calm the nervous pegasus, and had nestled in to watch her pace nervously around the waiting room. Fluttershy was doing her best to stay awake; a head propped up with a hoof, every so often her head bobbing down before shooting back up. Pinkie had thrown out subtlety and was currently sprawled across two chairs with her mouth hanging open, dead to the world. Applejack and Rarity sat shoulder to shoulder their heads resting gently against each other, using each other as makeshift pillows. The bang of the double-doors sent five mares jumping into the air, and a pink mare to the floor. Six heads turned towards the noise to see a doctor scanning the room. Rainbow knew this doctor. He was Twilight’s doctor. They made eye contact, and the doctor gave the briefest of smiles before making his way over toward the group. That was all the information Rainbow needed and shot past the doctor, through the swinging doors. Her wings beating furiously she scanned the room numbers as she flew down the hallway. 106, 107, 108...There! She flared her wings, but her momentum was too great and she came to a crashing halt straight into a medicine cart. Not sparing any more time to make sure she was uninjured or to help clean up, she shot through the door that she knew led to Twilight. Rainbow froze before the door even closed. Twilight was propped up in bed. Her eyes were closed, and had a tired, yet content, smile on her face. Her mane looked like she just gotten out of a wind tunnel. It was the most beautiful thing Rainbow had ever seen. Rainbow looked lower and saw a tiny face peeking out from the bundle of blankets Twilight was holding in her hooves. Make that the second most beautiful thing.
Sickly - Nebula StarRainbow Dash winced and tried not to stumble or spill the tray she carried on her back as the entire castle shook. It was only thanks to her wings that she managed to keep the tray steady. That was a big one… she thought and hurried on her way, a little worried about what she’d find at her destination. Two more tremors shook the castle by the time she got there. Hesitantly, she pushed the door open to Twilight’s bedroom. “Is it safe to come in?” A groan came from the direction of the bed. “Probably not.” “I’ll just have to stay on guard then,” Rainbow told her with a slight grin, and stepped in. The room was a disaster, despite most of her possessions having been removed from the room as soon as she’d realized what she was coming down with. Scorch marks covered the walls, two of which were still smoldering. The carpet was shredded and the drapes were in tatters. There was also a giant orange were there should have been a large dresser, and one of the bed posts sported a bushy mustache near the top. “I brought you some hot soup,” Rainbow told her as she trotted over to the bedside. A corner of the bed’s comforter was blackened and smoking. “Thanks, Rainbow,” Twilight said with a weak smile. She didn't look much better than her room. Her mane was a mess, hairs sticking out, every which way; some, like her horn, appeared to have been burnt at the ends. Her eyes were bloodshot and appeared glossed over, and her snout looked sore and slightly swollen. Even her coat seemed faded and was matted in places after days in bed. “I’m just glad I can help,” Rainbow said, sliding the tray off her back onto the bedside table that had so far escaped the carnage. “That smells goo… uh… ah... Ah…!” Rainbow realized what was about to happen and leaped back as Twilight scrunched up her snout, trying in vain to stop the inevitable. “…CHOO!” A wave of magic erupted from her horn as she sneezed, slamming Rainbow into the wall and shaking the castle. Years of stunt practice allowed her to recover quickly from the impact, and it was a good thing too. After the initial blast, Twilight flopped back in the bed, too dizzy to even sit up as lightning sparked from her horn, evidence of a powerful magic charge that would have to be released faster than Twilight could control. Spells began leaping at random from the alicorn’s horn. Most would be harmless enough as Twilight didn't know a lot of combat magic, but there were a few that could cause some damage. Rainbow ducked one spell then threw herself into the air as another struck the ground where she’d just been. Two more spells were coming her way and she twisted her wings, throwing herself into a roll, dodging the beams of unknown magic only to find a third that she hadn't seen headed straight for her. There was nothing she could do, the spell hit her and with a bright flash, she fell to the floor. “Rainbow!” Twilight cried, having seen Rainbow take the hit. Silence descended over the room as the last of the out of control magic dissipated. “Rainbow?” Twilight repeated, almost a whimper, unable to see her past the edge of the bed and afraid to lift her head and look. “I’m alright.” Rainbow answered finally and with a slight groan, stood up. Something did feel off though. “At least I think I am…” Twilight’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth in shock. Then she laughed. “What?” Rainbow asked, looking herself over to see what was so funny. She found out when she looked over her shoulder. In place of her normal wings were two translucent butterfly wings with a rainbow of colors matching her mane and tail. “Heh, well that’s new…” “I’m sorry, Rainbow.” Twilight said, smiling apologetically. “Don’t worry about it, Twi,” Rainbow told her with a shrug. “But, your wings…” “They’ll go back to normal when the spell wears off right?” She nodded. “Yes, but…” “Then don’t worry about it, I can handle being a butterfly pony for a few days.” Twilight smiled sadly. “You shouldn't be risking yourself like this. I’ll be alright…” “I’m not about to let you suffer alone,” she said firmly as she sat by the side of the bed and picked up the bowl of soup from the miraculously lucky table that had once again escaped harm. “But you could get hurt!” “Hey, you stuck by my side the entire time when I had the feather flu. I wouldn't be much of a marefriend if I didn't do the same.” “The feather flu doesn't cause traumatic discharges that could take off a pony’s head.” Twilight replied in a flat tone. Rainbow just shrugged. “Only if they hit you.” “But…” “Twi, shut up and eat your soup,” Rainbow told her, holding out a spoonful of the hot broth and vegetables. Twilight just smiled sadly and accepted the food, knowing all too well that she was too weak to feed herself, but worried all the same that Rainbow could get hurt. It was clear though that the pegasus wasn't going to leave her, no matter the danger. And as Rainbow again fed her, nursing her through her illness as she had been for the past three days, Twilight couldn't help but wonder how she’d come to deserve such a devoted marefriend.
Misunderstanding - CalmNQuietCLACK! On instinct, Twilight’s ears folded back and she winced at the echo of hoof against crystal reverberating through her home. She briefly considered a sound-dampening spell, but realized she didn’t have one in her repertoire. Not that it would help. Across from her, Rainbow Dash glowered with such intensity anything short of a full-energy-matter shield would be useless. Perhaps, she could be diplomatic about this. “Please, Rainbow, calm down.” This was statistically a poor thing to say given the situation. If only she could think properly in Rainbow’s presence, she might’ve responded with something a little less likely to catastrophically fail. And fail it did. Rainbow’s frown drew up so far, Twilight was unsure if it was still a frown or just a massive overdose of Pinkie’s Powerful Pucker-Up Powder. But given the nearly instantaneous response of: “I am calm! Don’t I look calm?” indicated her suspicions were correct. Another stomp, followed by a snort. Rainbow nearly growled and spread her wings. “Do you know what I’ve been through? I got up early. Early, Twilight! Do you know how hard that is for me?” Twilight nodded dumbly, not quite sure where this was going. “That’s right! Me, Rainbow, master napper, fastest cloud-pusher in Equestria, got up early to go to work. Skipped my hay-waffles, my hay-bacon strips, my Wonderbolts approved high-octane power juice, just so I could get to the library right when it opened.” “You did!” Twilight responded, perhaps a little loudly, all the shouting seemed to be affecting her. Or maybe it was the glisten of energy she could see in Rainbow’s eyes. “Then, I flew right to you. My best friend, the princess egghead of books, the very pony who got me into Daring Do in the first place, and you tell me I can’t check it out?” Rainbow’s forehooves crashed against the crystal floor once more. “You said it was on reserve for me!” “It is!” Twilight shouted, her voice straining to match the boundless energy which seemed to radiate from every one of Rainbow’s jerky motions. The countless muscles delightfully tensing and relaxing with each punctuated word beneath that beautiful blue coat. “Then where is it! Why can’t I have it?” Rainbow demanded, her mane tossing back. Specks of sweat launched themselves from her forehead, glistened through the air, and landed on a visibly panting Twilight Sparkle. “It...it’s Wednesday.” Twilight gasped out, her wings spread ajar—twitching and struggling to stay folded in a neatly coordinated fashion. “So?” Rainbow leaned forward, her eyes piercing into Twilight’s own, demanding, seeking, desiring... “Thursday.” Twilight croaked out, her senses surrounded by Rainbow’s presence. “It comes out on Thursday...” She sucked in a deep breath and watched as the world around her melted. The fiery pink hues of Rainbow’s eyes softened, Rainbow’s cheeks darkened, and those taunt muscles relaxed. They shared their closeness for but a moment longer before Rainbow drew back. “Oh.” Twilight nodded, catching her breath. They stared at each other for a moment, the sudden defusal leaving both a little unsure of what to do. Twilight reached into the vast depths of her mind for a solution. The obvious answer was always there. “Book...” Twilight stammered, “I mean, do you want to read the last book. You know to get pumped for the new one tomorrow.” Rainbow turned back and looked at the door and then back to Twilight. “Because, uhm...” Twilight shifted uncomfortably, “well, not many ponies come in this early in the morning. And we haven’t really read together in a while.” Rainbow opened her mouth, paused, and wondered what else she might be doing. A small smile grew on her lips. “Alright, it’s the least I can do after blowing up like that.” “It’s okay Rainbow, we can all get excited for a good book. I should know.” Twilight’s horn lit and she retrieved a copy of the latest Daring Do hidden safely beneath the counter and trotted to Rainbow’s side. “Always prepared, huh Twilight?” Rainbow grinned. “Always.” Twilight grinned back. Author's Note Next Prompt: Delay
Delay - VertormA strong breeze rolled through the dark streets of Ponyville, carrying the detritus of fall along with it. Only a few ponies were outside to feel the stinging chill that the wind brought, the ones who did tightening up their scarves and further buttoning up their jackets. All except Rainbow Dash, that is. The cold bite of the wind affected her all the same, but she had not thought ahead to bring a winter jacket; she wasn’t even supposed to be out this late. She grimaced and pulled her head closer to her torso as the wind pulled at her mane and fur, both of her eyes closed. After a few moments, the force died down and her mane returned to its normal frazzled look. She opened her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s really almost midnight …?” she said, her voice unable the hide the hurt she felt. Rainbow sighed, thinking back to the letter that she had left open next to her unwashed dishes in her sink. Twilight had explained that it was finally time, she was gonna come home. After an entire year of being abroad, her trip was coming to an end. The note had included a copy of Twilight’s train ticket home, the arrival date scheduled for nine pm that very day. However, that had been a week ago. “Maybe tomorrow,” Rainbow whispered to herself as she pried her frozen body from the metal bench she had been waiting on. She cast one last look at the train station’s unloading dock, fully aware that the train hadn’t arrived in the minute that she hadn’t been looking. Besides, she’d have heard it anyways. She stretched her body, popping her joints as her wings opened up. As she lifted into the air and prepared to fly home, she made a promise to nopony in particular. “Don’t worry, Twi. I’ll be back again tomorrow, eight PM. I swear, I will be here when you finally return home.” Little did she know that a second letter related to Twilight’s arrival had been placed in her mailbox that very night. Author's Note Next prompt: Almonds
Cider - Jondor“Gimme a cider, AJ.” Rainbow Dash grumbled as she plopped down on a stool in front of the drinks table. Her eyes remained fixed on a couple several tables away. “S’customary to say ‘please,’ sugarcube.” Applejack replied, sliding a mug of cider across the table nevertheless. Rainbow mumbled her thanks into her drink as she tipped it up and took a long pull. She slammed the still half-full mug down with a scowl. “Real cider, AJ. Not the foal’s stuff.” Applejack arched an eyebrow. “You sure, Rainbow? Remember what happened to ya at the last Summer Sun Celebration.” Rainbow waved a hoof behind her at the couple that had commanded her attention. “Take a look over there and tell me I don’t need a real cider.” Applejack didn’t even bother to look. “Alright, sugarcube, but just one.” She downed the rest of Rainbow’s first mug herself and refilled it from a red-banded barrel behind the table, attaching a similar red ring to the rim of the mug. “I still say you're overreacting.” Rainbow choked in the middle of her first sip, coughing and spluttering as she glared at Applejack. “How would you react if one of your best friends was dating...YOU!” The crowd parted just enough for the pair at the drinks table to clearly see Twilight Sparkle sitting with one large wing wrapped around another, nearly identical Rainbow Dash. The only visible differences being a slightly longer mane and the black-and-white ball she carried around with her. “I’d be happy for ‘em, sugarcube.” Applejack said, letting out a deep sigh. “I just don’t get it.” Rainbow grumbled, sipping her cider as she watched the pair of them. “Did she have the hots for me and this is her way of getting back at me for being taken?” “I doubt it, sugarcube.” Applejack rounded the drinks table and sat down next to Rainbow with her own red-rimmed mug of cider. “Y’all might look alike over here, but deep down yer two different ponies, er people. So stop frettin’ so much an’ just be happy that your friend and princess found herself a sweetheart.” Rainbow snorted, watching the pair of them nuzzling over the rim of her cider mug. “I’m trying, okay, but she’s ruining my rep by getting all mushy and kissy-faced.” Applejack chuckled. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. You an’ Rarity might try it yerselves sometime.” As Applejack continued giggling and Rainbow spluttered into her drink, they watched as Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom trotted up to Twilight and her Rainbow. Scootaloo’s tail flicked as she tried to speak and the other two had to keep her from turning to run, but she eventually said whatever it was she had to say, finishing with her small front hooves resting on the ball by Rainbow’s side. “There, see?” Applejack poked Rainbow as the pair of them watched the other Rainbow ruffle Scootaloo’s mane and then stand and trot over to an empty section of the field with the CMC, Twilight, and her ball in tow. “I don’t think your ‘rep’ is in trouble at all.” Rainbow blinked, setting her mug down as she watched ‘herself’ talking to Scootaloo and the others while twirling the ball on the tip of a hoof. Applejack nudged her. “Why don’t y’all go join ‘em. Looks like they’re fixing to learn a new game, an’ I bet it’d be more fun with even teams.” Rainbow nodded slowly as she got up and trotted toward the group. Author's Note Next Prompt: Bookmark
Bookmark - CalmNQuiet“That’s strange...” Twilight trailed off as she rotated the book mid-air with her magic, peering at the tightly packed pages protected perfectly by a hardcover shell. Thinking back, she distinctly remembered setting a bookmark within these pages the previous afternoon after a joint-reading session with Rainbow. Glancing to the side, she queried Rainbow with her standard inquisitive look of possible suspicion but received no further confirmation other than a small shrug and a smile. Accepting the loss, she settled down on a cushion and opened the book in front of her. Nudging it a little to the right with her magic, she waited for Rainbow to get comfortable on the cushion next to her. “So.” Twilight paused and considered a very small possibility in the back of her mind. Her bookmarks only seemed to disappear when Rainbow Dash was reading with her, not that any pony else read with her, but the pattern was there. “Since the bookmark is missing, again.” Twilight paused for emphasis, and noted the the sudden tensing of the pony next to her. “Where should we start reading again? From the beginning?” “Yeah! Let’s read it from the beginning!” Rainbow chipped in immediately. “Or,” Twilight floated a small notepad over. “We could just start from the chapter I jotted down the last time you were here, since so many of my bookmarks have been disappearing.” “Oh.” Rainbow’s volume dropped noticeably, her apparent enthusiasm quenched by the cold harsh reality of organizational note taking. A long pause swirled between them. Twilight glanced over to Rainbow, but Rainbow was looking away, her ears flopped down against her skull. Clearly, the pegasus was uncomfortable in the sudden swelling of silence. Scooting a little closer to Rainbow, Twilight opened the book slowly to the chapter they left off at last time. “You know, Rainbow. You don’t have to leave when we’re done reading.” “Really?” Rainbow’s ears perked up as she turned to face Twilight. “Of course. After all, you’ve stayed later all the other times my bookmark has gone missing and we ended up reading a little more than usual. How about you stay for dinner afterwards? Spike always makes too much food anyways.” “That’d be awesome!” Rainbow grinned ear to ear. Twilight’s heart thumped hard in her chest. A happy sensation of a suspicion confirmed. Author's Note Next Prompt: Breathmint
Breathmint - BronyWriter186One day in Ponyville, the newly announced couple Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, are going to the Ponyville orphanage to adopt a foal together. “So Dashie should we get a young colt or a filly?” Twilight asked RD. “I was thinking a filly would be the better choice. Since we already are raising Spike in a sense,” RD answered. “If you think that’s the best choice then a filly we will get, but would it be a better idea to get a colt since we already know what to expect?” Twilight questioned. “You do have point. But let’s decide when we get there?” RD answered. After They Got to the Orphanage “Welcome you two! Are you here to adopt a foal?” the headmistress asked. “Yes, we are,” Twilight answered. “So, do you have any preferences?” the headmistress asked. “We would prefer a pegasus. As for colt or filly it does matter to us,” RD answered. “Well we don’t have many pegasi but I can lead you to them all,” the headmistress answered. “Would you like to see the colts or fillies first?” “Fillies,” Twilight answered. “Fine,” RD mumbled under her breath. Twilight glared at her. “Come this way,” the headmistress instructed. After They Got to the Pegasus Fillies. “So, is there any that you think you want?” The headmistress asked. “What about this one Twi?” RD asked Twilight, while pointing toward a young filly with her hoof. “She is cute,” Twilight answered. “What is your name little filly?” Twilight asked the young filly. “Peppermint Swirl,” Peppermint Swirl mumbled in a shy tone. “Don’t be scared, you know what, you remind me of a friend of mine named Fluttershy,” Twilight said gently. Peppermint Swirl perked up curiously, obviously showing some interest. “What do you think Dashie, do you want to adopt her?” Twilight asked “Yes,” RD answered quickly. “We would like to adopt Peppermint Swirl,” Twilight said to the headmistress. After they returned to The Castle of Friendship “Well this is your new home,” Twilight said to Peppermint gently. “Could a call you mom?” Peppermint asked Twilight. “If it is what you want you can call both of us mom,” RD said to Peppermint Swirl. “Okay!” Peppermint said, cheerfully. “Hey mom, do you know when I’ll get my cutie mark?” Peppermint asked Twilight. “Can’t say for sure, but I do know some young fillies a little older then you who may be able to help you, but don’t you want to see your bedroom first?” Twilight answered, in a motherly tone. “Yeah!” Peppermint screamed. “I still can’t believe my new mom is Princess, though.” After Twilight showed Peppermint her new bedroom. “So, I remember you say I reminded you of someone can I meet her?” Peppermint asked Twilight. “Sure, but first do you want to meet your brother?” Twilight questioned. “Do you mean Spike? We are already friends, we met one day while I was at SugarCube Corner selling some mints to Pinkie Pie for Gummy,” Peppermint answered. “Is that Peppermint Swirl that I hear?” a male voice asked from within the room next door. Only a minute or two later Spike came into the room to investigate his suspicions. “It is you Peppermint, I didn’t you would be my new sister,” Spike said, happily. “Spike, it sure has been awhile, hasn’t it?” Peppermint said. The Next Day at The CMC Clubhouse “So, Peppermint Swirl, do have any hobbies that can keep you busy from time to time?” Sweetie Belle asked. Peppermint thought for a good three minutes before mentioning her “job” selling mints to Pinkie Pie for her alligator Gummy. “Well, is there anything else?” Scootaloo asked Peppermint Swirl. “Not that I can think of,” Peppermint said calmly. 30 minutes later “Have yah maybe thought that your talent is making mints?” Applebloom suggested. “Yeah, but I always thought that multiple ponies couldn’t have the same-,” Peppermint stated, before noticing that all 3 ponies in front of her all had the exact same talent. “Lots of ponies share similar talents Peppermint Swirl, but it isn’t usually the exact same,” Sweetie “The Dictionary” Belle answered. “Okay, so do you think I should try to make more mints or what?” Peppermint asked confused. “It’s usually not that easy but it’s a start,” Scootaloo answered. “Okay,” Peppermint said, cheerfully. Five minutes later “I can’t believe that my special talent was right under my nose!” Peppermint exclaimed, in udder joy. “It usually is but we never see until we have outside help,” Sweetie Belle said. Peppermint bounced away like Pinkie Pie usually does when she’s planning a party. Ten minutes later at The Castle of Friendship “Mom guess what!” Peppermint screamed. “What Peppermint?” RD and Twilight both asked. “Look I got my cutie mark,” Peppermint exclaimed. “Congratulations, sweetie!” RD and Twilight congratulated. “See it’s a spiral of peppermint swirls with a lime mint swirl in the middle,” Peppermint said. The End Author's Note Huh, this thing is still alive apparently. Next prompt: Internet
Snowfall - Subsolar DriftThe fire crackled in the hearth, heat filling the library, keeping the cold and snow outside. The lights were dark, the room only lit by the flickering flames. A small way from the fire, a plush window bench lies, covered in pillows and blankets. Surrounded by the warmth from the fire and the pillows, two mares laid together, side by side with one’s wing draped over the other. The two gazed up into the falling snow and the stars above. One’s head laid on the shoulder of the other, careful to not stab her marefriend with the horn on her head. The hours passed as the two of them laid there in peaceful silence, reveling in each other’s presence. A gasp escaped one as in the darkness of night, the aurora came into view coloring the snow the mares favorite shades as it fell. A white rainbow twirled through the air highlighted with starlight. A chuckle escaped the pegasus as she pulled the unicorn closer. A blush crossed the unicorn’s face as she looked into the eyes of her lover. Her eyes closed as they kissed, filling each other with warmth. They broke the kiss and pulled closer to each other and looked once more towards the sky. “It’s beautiful.” “Not nearly so much as you.” The mares laid there, content, until they each fell asleep in the other’s embrace. The unicorn mumbled something in her sleep, and the pegasus mumbled back in her own dream. Smiling in her sleep the unicorn curled closer to the pegasus, and together they dreamed of a kaleidoscope of hues, both by the others side. Deep in love under the snowfall.
Cooking - bats“Oh, Twilight, it’s terrible!” “What is it, Rainbow?” “It was a massacre. I’ve never seen anything so awful. It’s like Discord and Chrysalis had a foal and it was possessed by Nightmare Moon, and then Foalcord Moonsalis decided it wanted to show off like Trixie except with breakin’ stuff!” “Rainbow…so many things were wrong with what you just said my head hurts. But later for that, what happened? And where?” “In the kitchen!” “…” “Isn’t it terrible?” “Rainbow Dash…Wha…What the—how did—whe—?” “An’ you thought I was over-reacting!” “This is a pot of water, Rainbow. Why is it on fire? How is it on fire? It’s still full of water; water isn’t flammable!” “I know, right?” “And, and, why is there a can of beans on the ceiling? How is it on the ceiling; it doesn’t even look open! And what the heck is this over here—are these daisies battered in fondue?! …Rainbow Dash, did you make this mess?” “…” “…” “…The kitchen can’t contain my awesomeness?” “…” “Er, uh, uhm…I love you, Twi’.” “…I love you too, you moron. Ugh, so I’ll forgive you on one condition.” “Oh yeah?” “Tell me how you got the water to catch on fire.” “Uh…pegasus magic?” “…That’s a better excuse than Pinkie Sense, I guess.” “Rockin’! Wanna go make-out?” “…Yes. Hold on a sec. HEY SPIKE!”
Wrestling - Cynical“No.” “What did you say?” “I said no.” The ponies passing by the library shot a confused glance at the building as a pair of voices inside steadily rose. “For the last time Rainbow, I don’t care if you’re the best damn flier in the whole Universe, you’re still living under my roof and you have to follow my rules!” “And when I don’t want to have my live dictated to me by some obsessive unicorn with a tendency to blow up at the sight of one measly unwashed dish?” One of the voices inside let out an explosive sigh, trying to contain her simmering anger, “It’s not just the dishes Rainbow… it’s the complete lack of disorganisation for crying out loud. How are you supposed to live your life when you have no checklist or rules or anything to keep you in check? More importantly, how am I meant to keep track of my studies when you keep interrupting them incessantly?” A pause. “Rainbow… oh, sorry, I didn’t-“ “Is that all I am to you then? A distraction?” “Rainbow, I didn’t mean-“ “Sorry for distracting you then, I’ll just go and remove myself so you can get your ‘important’ work done shall I?” The venom in the voice was unmistakable. “Rainbow, I’m-“ “Save it, I’ll talk to you in the morning, maybe.” And with that, a prismatic-maned pegasus slammed open the door to the library and flew off into the night.
Expectations - Subsolar DriftTwilight Sparkle, once one of the most talented unicorns in the world, now an alicorn princess with incredible power. She was renowned worldwide for her level head and compassionate heart. Everypony loved her. Rainbow Dash, captain of the Wonderbolts, the only living pony to have every done a Sonic Rainboom, and the mare who captured the heart of a princess. She was renowned worldwide for her dedication and masterful flight. Everypony admired her. In a far corner of the royal library inside the Canterlot castle, a young filly sat dejectedly with a book in her hooves. She let out a sigh as she fluttered her small wings and looked out the window. She couldn’t yet fly even though every other pegasus her age could. She crossed her eyes and looked up at the her rather small horn. Every other unicorn her age was already in complete control of their magic and learning more and more spells. Aurora, the daughter of Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, began to cry. “Aurora?” Came a voice from a ways down the shelves. Aurora sat bolt upright and quickly wiped away her tears with a hoof. The voice came again. “Aurora is that you?” Twilight Sparkle galloped to her daughter’s side, a worried look in her eyes. “Are you alright?” “Y-yeah, of course! I’m just reading.” Aurora tried to stop her voice from wavering as she spoke, trying to not to give anything away. “Aurora, you know you can talk to me anytime right? Being your mother is my job first, even before being a princess.” Twilight rested a wing over her daughter, drawing her closer. Aurora was quiet for a minute, finally sighing before she spoke. “I just feel like I’m a huge let down for you and Dash. I can’t fly, I can barely use magic, I’m just a failure.” Twilight stared at her daughter. “I’m so sorry.” She whispered. “I never really thought about all the expectations that would be placed on you. I want you to know that we are so proud of you. You are in no way a let down, even if you can’t fly or do magic very well, we still love you.” “I know mom, I just want to be good at magic or flying. I want to follow in your guys’ hoofsteps.” She sniffed once more and leaned into her mother. “Hey, don’t give up hope. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ll be great at both one day. I bet it’s just because your a little slow to grow. After all, how many other alicorn foals are there?” “You’re right!” Exclaimed Aurora, giving her mother a huge hug. “Feeling better?” Twilight smiled. “Yeah, Thanks mom, you’re the best.” The mother and daughter embraced. “Not nearly as great as you! Now what were you reading?” The two ponies stayed there for a while, leaving all of their problem behind for a time while Twilight read to her daughter.
Waiting - OrphiusOlyandraTick, tock, tick tock... There was nothing to be nervous about. Right? I mean, I was the coolest thing in Ponyvil- No, the world! Who was it the fans chanted for at each Wonderbolt Rally? Who was the sole master of the Sonic Rainboom? Who else in the whole wide world of history decimated the last speed record? Rainbow Dash that's who! I was cool, I was awesome, I was radical and that was a scientifically proven fact. Trust me, I've got a certificate framed up in my bedroom wall signed by Princess Celestia herself. Okay, maybe that last was a line, but still! There was no way in Tartarus any pony would ever think about turning down a piece of flank as hot as this one right here. Winner of the Hottest Mare in Equestria three times running by a mile, not to mention my total domination in all polls, as well as all the fanfillies lining up for a piece of me, and I was most certainly the most desired pony ever. Tick, tock, tic... There was absolutely zero doubt in my mind she would say yes. I mean, we all knew she was into mares despite her completely inability to find a date and I was the hottest mare. And coolest, can't believe I almost forgot coolest. So it was QUD right? Or was it QAD? QED? Something like that, I dunno. Some egghead thing she always says when she proves a point. Whatever. The point was she was going to say yes and that was that. ...k, to... Hey wait, was that a new vase she got? Yeah, I think it was. Heh, it was way better than that old thing of hers with the flower pattern and cracks running everywhere. I swear, she had to fix that thing about three times a week thanks to me and Spike. Yeah, those were the days. Maybe I should go visit AJ afterwards and see what she's been up to lately. Oh, and to rub in her face that I totally got the hottest mare in Equestria to be my wife. ...ck... "Yes." My heart froze as I stared at her, unable to comprehend what it was she just said. "Yes!" I suddenly found myself on the floor, with a very ecstatic mare on top of me. Sure, it wasn't our normal deal, but buck, I wasn't about to start complaining. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" We just lay there, hooves around each other with dopy smiles on our faces. There was no need to talk, to break the silence for it was so perfect. Everything just felt so surreal, so crazy, as though it was straight from one of those cheesy romance novels Rarity loves so much. "D-Dashie? Are you crying?" "Of course I am." I nuzzled her tenderly. "You just made me the happiest mare alive."
Updraft - Cynical“Yes everything’s going to be just fine!” Was the last thing I said before I passed over something beneath me… It felt warm, which meant that it was only hot air, but hot air rises… meaning that I’d just hit my first updraft, with no idea on how to deal with it. I had just enough time to draw in one hesitant breath before my left wing twisted behind me, rolling my over and sending me into an irreversible barrel roll. How on Earth was I supposed to reverse this, I just kept rolling and going… slightly… downwards… “Oh horseapples.” I muttered from within the mini-tornado as the land began to replace the sky. I hated landings. Bracing myself for the inevitable impact with the ground, I almost didn’t notice when a quiet whooshing sound passed me by. That was when I impacted. Except the impact didn’t make any sense… I should have still been at least 100 hooves into the air by now, gravity shouldn’t have affected me that fast, even if I was adding to my momentum slightly. Added to the fact that there didn’t seem to be any pain… A gasp from behind me finally forced me to open my eyes. “Rainbow Dash?” The named pegasus behind me smiled. “As if I’d let you fall.”
Makeovers - Cynical“Come On Rainbow!” “No, I don’t care, I’m not going.” “It’s only one afternoon trip to the spa with our friends.” “I’m still not going, there’s no way, no, way, I’m going to be caught in some stupid spa after last time.” Twilight sighed, she’d expected that she’d have some difficulty persuading Rainbow to come along with her. “Which is why Rarity took the liberty of hiring out the private section of the spa this time.” “Still don’t care, I have to practise my flying if I’m ever going to get into the Wonderbolts.” A frustrated groan caused Rainbow to look over the side of her cloud at the unicorn below her, now with a hoof firmly attached to her face. “You alright there Twi’?” “Fine… just fine. You know what, I’m not even being sarcastic here, I’ll just rescind my own invitation, I’ve some tomes that I needed to finish anyway.” The hoof lowered from Twilights’ face as she turned around and started her way back to the library. Not five paces later though, her path was blocked by Rainbow. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, just because I said I didn’t want to go doesn’t stop you from going, I know you like that stuff. It’s just me that doesn’t.” Twilight shook her head slightly, angling her head towards the ground, “No, it’s fine, I just thought, no. Nevermind.” Rainbow quirked her head at Twilight, “You thought…?” Twilight mumbled something, far too quiet for Rainbow to hear. “What?” Rainbow asked, “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.” “I thought you’d make it a bit more bearable…” she muttered in reply, her gaze now fixed on the floor as her face flushed red. She stayed like that for a few seconds, then gasped, her head shooting up as something feathery laid itself across her back. A glance to her side revealed Rainbow, smiling encouragingly at her. “Let’s go back to the library shall we? There’s a new book you keep telling me about.” “Maybe we could read it together.”
Stumped - batsClack, clack, clack, clack. Twilight glanced up from her desk, absent-mindedly rolling the piece of parchment up and setting the quill back in an inkwell with her magic. Rainbow Dash’s hooffalls were heavy on the stairs; slow and deliberate steps taken grudgingly. Her rose colored eyes were clouded with deep thought under the unkempt reds, oranges, and yellows of her mane. She reached the landing and paused, her vision slowly coming into focus on Twilight’s worried gaze. The blue mare regarded her blankly for a moment before her mouth opened; a subdued tone of voice punctuated by cracks from disuse. “Hey.” Twilight smiled wanly, her reply gentle and infused with kindness. “Hi, Rainbow.” She stood from her writing desk and cantered over to Rainbow Dash, but was unable to bring herself closer than five or six feet. “How are you feeling?” The pegasus stiffened; a rolling wave of tension running from snout to tail across her frame. In jerking motions her head turned to regard her sides. She looked at her wings. Sky blue limbs powered by honed musculature and constant practice, the most powerful wings in Equestria, were no more. Stumps jutted from her barrel on either side, criss-crossed with darkened scar tissue shiny and hairless. Her head snapped around to face forward again, a pained determination forcing her expression to be neutral. “I’m fine.” Her voice cracked again. The break expanded past her voice to her mask, tears edging their way from the corners of her eyes. A look of shame flashed over Rainbow’s face as she sunk to her haunches, violent shudders cascading down her shoulders. The spell of caution over Twilight broke and she galloped the remaining distance to wrap her hooves around her broken lover. “I’m here, Rainbow,” she whispered, hot tears running down her shoulder as she held the pegasus close. “They took everything from me, Twilight,” she sobbed, wrapping her hooves around Twilight’s middle and holding her in a desperate, iron grip. “What’m I supposed to do now?” Wetness running down her cheeks, Twilight stroked colorful mane soothingly. “We’ll figure something out. Together.” “You’re all I have now, Twi’,” Rainbow rubbed her eyes into Twilight’s chest, “I’m useless now. That’s not fair to you. You deserve better’n a cripple.” Twilight’s grip tightened, vehemence entering her voice. “I love you, Rainbow. Wings or no wings. You’ll find your place again. I promise.” “Where do I even look?” Rainbow asked miserably. Twilight didn’t have an answer. She held her lover while they both cried.
Nibbles - CynicalThe creature advanced slowly upon her prey, the pegasus in front of her, hopelessly ignorant of it as it continued to creep slowly towards her, its eyes fixed upon a point just above Rainbow Dash’s neck. Closer and closer it crept, its target now clear as the creature grew nearer and nearer. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash yawned, throwing her legs skywards as she stretched, leaning her head back to an encore of small cracking and creaking noises, causing the creature to freeze completely. The pegasus opened her sleepy eyes and looked straight at the creature. “Mor- Morning Twi’.” She said, yawning. The creature sighed, standing up. “Hey Dash.” The creature, now revealed to be Twilight Sparkle, looked at Rainbow, who’d rolled herself onto her front and had tilted her head, scrutinising her. “Say Twi’, why are you wearing my super-awesome Spy suit?” Twilight glanced at herself, the catsuit she’d borrowed from Dash still covering her frame. “Research purposes…” she offered lamely, hoping that her infamous sociability would deter any more questions. Her eyes flitted back to her previous target again, then back into the face of Dash as the other pony shrugged and closed her eyes again, resting her head on her hooves. “Well alright… just give it back when you’re done, mkay?” “Sure.” Twilight’s eyes moved back slowly, drawn to the point from earlier as her hooves started silently forwards again. She was almost there… She could do this… Her head was inches away… Then Dash twisted beneath her, two hooves enveloping her in a hug as Rainbow brought her head up and started… Nibbling on Twilights… ear? Her eyes widened for a moment, having expected her target to have been somewhat more… mouthy. Her eyes flicked over to Twilight, scanning her expression, which had become decidedly more relaxed as Dash continued to knead the ear between her teeth. She followed Twilights’… surprisingly static gaze towards her own ear. Rainbow let go of Twilights’ ear, chuckling softly. “Almost egghead… almost.”
Tragedy - Incredible BlunderboltWhat a great friend you turned out to be... The room was silent except for the occasional sniffle or melancholic snort. Rainbow Dash sat at the front, nearest to the large, ornate container except for a few openly weeping ponies. Her normally wild and unkempt mane was neatly brushed and freshly washed; it flowed over her head and drooped over her face, covering her watery eyes. She was dressed in a simple set of lavender colored steel armor, decorated with stars—the only suit of its kind, and it was soon to be destroyed. It's all your fault, you know. You insisted on having the job. One of the crying stallions at the front approached her, tears still flowing down his cheeks. He took a deep breath and removed his ceremonial helmet before sitting down beside her. You said you could handle it... "I know how you must feel," he said after a moment, looking at the box. "Oh, really?" Dash squeaked venomously. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stared into the Guard Captain's eyes with unbridled rage. "I'm sure you lost the pony you lo—were best friends with on the first day you were charged with protecting her!" You said you could keep her safe... Shining Armor bit his lip. "You can't blame yourself, Dash. This is a sad day, but nopony could have stopped him; nopony expected it..." "She did!" Dash sobbed, waving at the casket. "She did, and nopony believed her! And he... he..." You said you would trust her... "I don't care if he pays!" Dash cried, burrowing her face into the Captain's protective shoulder. "I just want my Twilight back." And now she's gone forever, all thanks to you.
Reflection - Tavi n ScratchI stared into the beautiful eyes, the reflection in the mirror that wasn’t my own. It was her mirror image, I hadn’t seen her in a year. It’s felt like much longer than that, time just likes to drag I guess. Lonely days spent with my books, and even they were not a suitable substitute for the company of my special somepony. She Certainly looked the same. In fact she looked just like she did the last time I saw her, well last time she was healthy. It made no sense, I was just looking into the bedroom mirror when instead of myself I saw a familiar and beautiful face. I began to inspect deeply, making sure it was actually her. Her cyan coat glowed with a bright and adventurous gleam, ready to streak across the sky. Her eyes were the same healthy shade of magenta, a glint in them was very noticeable, that competitive spark that drove her to be the very best, to never give up. Her mane was a beautiful palette of colors, a bit raggedy from the air speed. It was definitely her. I was in shock, it made no sense for her to be here, but it’s what I saw. I thought to myself, count my blessings, don’t question a gift. A smile crossed each of our mouths, I could feel a distant happiness coming near. I blinked, and when I looked into the mirror again I just saw a very sad unicorn.
Overpower - batsHooves thundered a rapid percussion along the worn dirt roads, racing through the outset of Ponyville. A heard of ponies raced across the landscape, leaves a rich spectrum of reds, yellows, and browns falling gently from the trees in their wake. Towards the front of the group, Rainbow Dash and Twilight galloped shoulder to shoulder. Rainbow’s voice was measured and even, her words spaced between controlled breaths. “Doin’ alright, Twi’?” The unicorn’s breathing was more labored and unsteady, but her tone was bright and upbeat. “Yeah. Piece a’ cake.” “If you need to slow down, just let me know; we’re doin’ this together.” Twilight nodded as she galloped, shooting Rainbow Dash a slightly strained smile. The procession weaved through the forest for the remainder of the afternoon. Positions were swapped among the ponies, but the blue and purple pair remained side by side. Leaves cascading around them, they made their way slowly to the finish line. “Whew!” Rainbow Dash breathed, “That was a work-out!” Gulping in deep breaths, she settled down next to Twilight, resting a hoof on her back. “You make it through okay?” Twilight turned a bleary eye to the pegasus, her legs wobbly despite already sitting. “I’m sorry,” she struggled out between gasps, “You could’ve won, Rainbow. I slowed you down.” “How’d I call it a win if you weren’t there, Twi’? AJ won, so what?” A wing unfurled and pulled Twilight in close. “You’re not disappointed?” “I’ve had enough feelin’ down about not winning stuff that isn’t important, Twi’. This was for fun and that’s what I had. I’d trade comin’ in first in a race by myself for comin’ in second with the mare of my dreams any day.” The grip of her wing tightened. “I love you, Twi’.” Sudden strength swam through Twilight’s body. She leapt and tackled the blue mare to the ground, forcefully pressing their muzzles together. Rainbow flailed in surprise, but found herself well and truly pinned. After a moment, her brain caught up with her body and she stopped fighting. A few catcalls snapped Twilight to her senses and she sat back sheepishly, coughing into a hoof. Rainbow sat up, directing a glare at the few ponies giggling and whistling lewdly. Blushing, Twilight whispered, “I don’t know what came over me.” Wrapping a hoof and wing back around the unicorn’s side, Rainbow Dash leaned in close. “Well whatever it was, you better do it again later.” Twilight’s face darkened further.
Quills - Subsolar Drift“Happy birthday Twi!” I pulled out the carefully hoofwrapped gift I had made, hoping she’d like it. She gave me a thankful smile and used her magic to tear off the wrapping. A smooth wooden box met her gaze, our cutie marks painstakingly carved into the top. “Rainbow, its great!” I smiled at my marefriend, loving her enthusiasm even when I knew it wasn’t what she was expecting. “Go on, open it.” She lifted the latch with her magic and opened the lid. A set of blue feathers met her eyes. Slowly, she picked one up in her magic and let out a slight gasp. The father was made into an high quality quill. “I know you’ve needed some more quills ever since Quills and Sofas shut down, so I’ve been collecting my feathers for a while. I took them to a big quill store in Manehattan and they made them into these quills.” “Oh, Rainbow! You didn’t have to do this. I can just order my quills.” Giving her a hug, I chuckled. “But are the quills you order enchanted to last longer and resist damage.” “What?!” Her horn lit as she brought the quill closer to her to examine it. She cast a quick spell and the quill shimmered a rainbow of colors. “Rainbow how did you do this? It’s amazing!” “Well, while I was in Manhattan I saw a unicorn who was doing enchantments for ponies, so I went ahead and asked if she could do it for me.” Giving me a huge smile, Twilight brought herself up to me and kissed me. Breaking free from my mouth, she said, “Thank you so much, this is the best gift I’ve ever gotten!” “Plus it’ll give you something to remember me by while I’m on tour. You will write to me right?” “Of course!” She exclaimed, surprised I’d even think she wouldn’t. “Now come on, lets spend our last night for quite a while together.” With that, we both went upstairs to bed.
Cookies - Subsolar DriftIt was a cool fall afternoon when the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking wafted through the library. Upstairs, Twilight Sparkle was wrapped in a blanket, reading the latest Daring Doo, and starting to get hungary. When she smelled the cookies, her stomach growled, breaking her focus on the book. She stood and stretched, taking a minute to bask in the wonderful smell before heading downstairs to find the cookies which were producing the wonderful aroma. Entering the kitchen, Twilight stopped dead in her tracks. A battlefield of batter, flour, eggs, and sugar met her gaze. In the center of it all sat her marefriend, eyes closed sniffing the heavenly aroma in the air while covered in the ingredients she had been using. Hearing the gasp from Twilight, Rainbow’s eyes shot open in shock and fear. She turned slowly to the unicorn and smiled guiltily. Twilight walked slowly towards her while purveying the mess. She stopped just in from of Dash and looked down on her. She leaned in, bringing her face close to Dash. Dash cringed in fear, wary of the wrath of her lover. Twilight opened her mouth, only to lick a bit of batter of Dash’s nose. With a chuckle, she sat down next to her surprised marefriend and smelled the air. Dash laughed and pulled Twilight next to her and there they both sat waiting for the sweet treat to exit the oven.
Journalists - Incredible BlunderboltIt was dark under Fluttershy's deck, that was for sure. And dusty. And webby. And kinda creepy... Nah, it wasn't scary. Not really. Anyway, I inched my way closer to the voices above, making sure to keep my notepad from touching the damp dirt. When I finally reached the perfect spot to listen, a laid down low and placed the journal before me for quick note-taking. Snickering, I pulled out my pencil and perked up my ears. "I don't know, 'Shy..." Rainbow Dash's awesome voice was completely unmistakable, even through the wood of the porch. "I don't really think I'm ready for that..." I smiled a really big smile. I'd followed Rainbow Dash all the way from school in hopes that she'd do something extremely awesome that I could totally write for the Foal Free Press but, so far, she'd given me absolutely nothing to work with! No rainbooms. No life-saving. No super-awesome tricks or totally crazy crashes! Looks like I've finally got something worth reporting! "...nothing... afraid of... -ash," came an incredibly quiet answer. I had to strain myself just to make out the words. Stifling a giggle, I began to jot down what I could make out. Actually, Rainbow Dash was afraid of something? That was ridiculous—nopony was going to believe me. I'd just have to keep listening, I decided, and find something else to report! "But you know her! If she doesn't see something coming from a mile away, she totally flips!" Who the hay were they talking about, anyway? "...still tell... truth. Twi... to know! It's better...find out herself." "Ugh," I groaned, rolling my eyes. Maybe there wasn't anything to report here—just stupid, boring grown-up talk. Seriously, how could they not be falling asleep right now? "I know, but... I just don't know..." "Just remember... here... no matter what." That's it! I'm outta here! I picked up my journal and turned around to the hole in the fence. This has officially gotten more boring than math class! I popped out from under the porch and entered the daytime world. I breathed in a really deep breath and looked at the sky. In a tree to my right, I heard a soft chirping noise. Baby birds! I hoof-pumped excitedly. That'd be perfect for an article! I looked up at the nest, high in the tree, then at my less-than-awesome wings. Now, how do I get up there?
Heist - CynicalThe midnight burglar crept through the house, leaving no hoofprints in her wake. She’d slipped the window and made her way across the front room, climbed the stairs and navigated the landing, now all that was left was the dragons’ lair itself, literally. Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom. The burglar twisted the handle and opened the door, the well-oiled hinges staying silent as the thief slipped through, closing the door to behind her. The burglar allowed herself a sigh of relief before looking around the room for her prize. Was it a collection of quills, all lined up against one another in size order? Nope. Was it the dragon, curled up with a fat ruby in his claw? Fat chance. Or was it what the purple unicorn herself was clutching to her chest in her sleep? Bingo. Now all she had to do… was get it. Nothing that hard, right? The thief looked around the room for something, running her eyes over every little detail in the room, looking for something to help her. Aha, that would do it. The thief crept up alongside the bed, being careful of the squeaky floor and the sleeping unicorn within, and proceeded to pick up the object on the bedside table, grunting slightly at the weight. Another moment later, the thief had balanced the object on one hoof, already planning out the next stage in the theft. She made her way around the bed, coming to the side which Twilight faced with the treasure within her hooves. The thief sighed again. Surely this part would be as simple as they made it out in the adventure books dotted around this very library? Just a simple switcharoo? Or something… Well, thinking about it wasn’t going to get the thief anywhere, so after another calculating stare, the thief got to work, slowly sliding the tome within her hooves, into the unsuspecting embrace of the unicorn below. And the book that the unicorn had held, closer and closer to the thief’s own reach. Closer… Closer… Nearly there… And yes! The thief’s face broke into a smile at her achievement, clutching her treasure to her chest tightly before stowing the treasure on her back and making her way out the silent room again. Unbeknownst to the thief, the unicorn in the room smiled to herself. “Completely predictable Dash.”
Static - Incredible BlunderboltThe only light in the room came from the fireplace, just like always. Twilight hummed contentedly as she dug her way deep under my wing, just like always. I ran a hoof down her mane, tracing her beautiful locks down her neck; they were silky and smooth, just like always. Three... Two... One... Twilight craned her head up and pecked me on the cheek, just like always; it was soft and sweet, just like always. Tonight, though, her expression was different. Instead of her usual look of love and compassion, she wore a frown on her face. “Dashie?” she whispered gently, her eyes shimmering. “Are you okay?” I frowned and looked at the fireplace. “I'm fine,” I said. “I'm perfect, actually. Everything's perfect...” A lavender hoof settled on my cheek and steered my gaze back to its owner. “Then what's wrong?” she asked. My ears drooped. “I'm sorry, Twi,” I muttered, “ I didn't mean to ruin our night...” “You haven't ruined anything,” she said with a half-smile, rubbing her hoof deeper into my cheek. “Now tell me what's wrong.” I sighed. “It's just...” I stumbled for words—there was no real way to say it other than the blunt way. “I'm bored.” Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “You're bored?” “Yeah,” I grumbled, looking down at the floor. “Don't you ever feel like we kinda do the same thing over and over?” Lavender eyes narrowed. “So what, you're bored with me?” “No!” I said quickly, tightening my hold on her before she could stomp off. “I just... I feel like we're just going through the motions, y'know? I mean, what did we do last night? And the night before? And the night before that?” Twilight's jaw fell. “I... you're right...” I bit my lip. Was this it? I didn't want it to be. I thought we were happy, but maybe we just weren't supposed to be together. Even after all the effort I'd put into getting her to go out with me, two months later, we were boring. Maybe she was going to just give up, and that would be that. I hoped she didn't. “I-I don't wanna—“ Suddenly, I was pushed to the ground and my vision was filled my lavender. My lips were sealed by hers and she pinned my forelegs to the floor. “Wh-what're you doing?” I panted when she broke the kiss. Standing tall over me, Twilight smirked, her eyes sparkling in the firelight. “Shaking things up a bit...”
Homework - GAPDashieDear Princess Celestia, While it's natural to be proud of the things that you do well, I've learned that it's also easy to take that pride too far. It took the actions of one Mare Do Well to realize that Rainbow Dash stared at the parchment under the flickering light of a lone candle, her quill hanging poised in the air as she wrestled with her own thoughts. Sighing, she glanced at the wastebasket, where her first attempt lay in a crumpled ball. Rainbow let her head hit the desk with a resounding thump. "Dash?" A violet figure sat up in bed, squinting across the room through sleep-bleared eyes. "What are you doing up?" Rainbow didn't move. The bed squeaked softly as Twilight arose, joining Dash at the desk. Her eyes softened as they fell upon the half-finished report. "Rainbow... do you... want to talk about it?" Dash kept her head down while she considered her response. No matter how deeply she dug, she couldn't seem to find a single shred of remorse... only hurt. "Why?" Twilight blinked. "What?" "Why'd you feel the need to go behind my back like that? Why didn't you girls just talk to me about this? I... I would've understood." Twilight flinched. She reached for Dash, who flinched away from her touch. "Rainbow Dash, I... you were out of control." The argument fell flat even in her own ears. Rainbow nodded, her eyes squeezed shut. "I know that. Still... why couldn't you have just trusted me?" Twilight opened her mouth, immediately closing it again. "You're right, Dash," she murmured at last. "You weren't the only one that made a mistake." A ravenous smile abruptly crossed her face, and she leaned down to Rainbow's ear. "I promise I'll make it up to you," she purred, running a silken hoof along the base of Dash's stiffening wings. Rainbow let out a shuddering breath, smirking up at the unicorn. "Point taken. Just let me finish this real quick." Two hours later, the pair were sound asleep, locked in an embrace of mutual forgiveness. Dear Princess Celestia, While it's natural to be proud of the things that you do well, I've learned that it's also easy to take that pride too far. It took the actions of one Mare Do Well to realize that, which actually turned out to be the work of all five of my friends. I admit, it hurt to learn that my best friends decided to scheme and plot rather than come to me directly. But that's the great thing about friendship... it stands strong in spite of mistakes. Loyal always, Rainbow Dash
Sixty Minutes - Incredible BlunderboltI bit my lip as I finished my thirty-second lap around the waiting room. Groaning, I steered my head back to the spot on the wall that had garnered most of my attention for most of my time here. The clock read nine forty-two. Fifty-five minutes. Almost an hour. It had been almost an hour since they'd taken her into that room—the one with screams of blood-curdling agony ripping through the walls. They wouldn't let me in with her. "Too many unknowns," they'd said. "We've never dealt with this kind of circumstance. We need all the space we can get." After that, they locked me out here. Alone. To wait... Celestia had said that it would be dangerous—maybe too dangerous. Nopony had ever done it before, but Twilight wanted to, and by Luna, she set her mind to it and Celestia helped her out. Now, I could hear her screams echo down the halls, each one sent shivers down my spine. Hang in there, Twi. It's gonna be okay... Fifty-seven minutes... The screaming stopped. A doctor in a white coat opened the door. "Miss Dash?" he said, peering around the room. "Over here," I answered. The doctor motioned me closer. "Now," he said softly, "It's not exactly pretty in there... Try not to cause any undue stress." I nodded and pushed my way passed him. On the other side of the door lay Twilight, white bed-sheets covering her figure. I stepped inside and walked over to the side of her bed. "Hey, Twi," I whispered, "How ya doin'?" Her tired eyes drifted up to meet my own. The amethyst orbs said it all: pain. Lots of it. And peace... A quiet kind of tranquility drifted around in there too. In her embrace, a little bundle wailed. Twilight pushed a scrap of blanket off the face of a deep indigo pegasus. The foal cried and cried and cried. And so did I— At minute sixty...
Burnout - CalmNQuietRainbow Dash collapsed backwards onto her flared wings — panting hard. She reached up with a trembling hoof and wiped the sweat off her forehead. Crossing her legs, she rested her hooves behind her head with a satisfied smile. Today started out perfect. She got plenty of rest and opened up the morning with a delicious breakfast of fresh juice. Avoiding heavy food in the morning was her secret to beginning every day with a bang right out of bed. A shower usually followed, it was important to wash all the sweat off from her early morning workout lest she suffer through endless provocative stares. Refreshed from the shower, she set off to do the duties planned for the day. More cloud pushing. She didn’t always enjoy cloud pushing. But now, shoving her body against the soft cushiony surface and sliding those round clouds all over the place was bliss. She didn’t know why she enjoyed it so much, but she figured it because of her brightened outlook on life. Even lunch was better these days! Normally, she’d just casually scarf down her meal. Now, she took the time to enjoy it. She buried her muzzle into her hot meal and savored every little bit. Twilight couldn’t really cook, but it didn’t stop Twilight from giving her the best lunch she could procure every single day. Rainbow Dash loved it. The afternoons were reserved for showing off the latest tricks to Twilight. She demonstrated her super corkscrew spin and Twilight would gasp in delight. The Double-Fly-By always enchanted her marefriend and left her stunned. And of course, every so often she finished with her trademark Rainboom, splattering the colors all over. By the time night rolled around she was pretty tired and wanted nothing more than to eat and get to bed. She snapped back to reality and snuggled up next to Twilight with a grin. “Burned out yet?” Twilight panted heavily, her mane a mess, her fur completely matted and messy. “Nnn...can’t move.” Rainbow Dash laughed and kissed Twilight on the nose. “I guess I win.” Twilight groaned and pushed over the first copy of the latest Daring Doo to Rainbow before falling asleep.
Wonderbolt - CynicalShe’d finally made it! The Wonderbolts, her lifelong dream was within her reach. Her dream had finally started coming to life when she’d received a summons to Spitfire’s office at the Wonderbolt training centre. She’d been going there for a year now and as far as she could see, she’d been going from strength to strength, her moves were the fastest, the most elegant, and after the first time, she’d hardly broken anything around the course… Much. When Spitfire invited her in with a smile, Rainbow had wondered what was going on, Spitfire NEVER smiled at a recruit whilst they were in her office, it was unheard of. It was when she’d sat Rainbow down and poured her a whiskey that she’d started to suspect something, and if that wasn’t enough, then the question came. “Why do you think you should be a Wonderbolt?” Even now, as she whispered the revered question, she couldn’t help but shiver in anticipation. But even then… She hadn’t answered until she’d thought things through, and even the answer she’d given was a simple one. ‘It’s my dream.’ That was when Spitfire had smiled widely at her, and passed her an envelope. An envelope with a lightning bolt seal on the back. She was graduating with full honours and a position within the Wonderbolts. And if that wasn’t enough, she’d told her marefriend, Twilight Sparkle about it, and she’d smiled wider than Spitfire had done, and hugged Rainbow tightly. All she'd told Rainbow between the happy cuddles, was this. “I’m happy for you.”
Swimming - Ginger PonyFrom the centre of the lake, Rainbow Dash looked over towards the bank, admiring the actions of a rather attractive purple mare who was nervously pacing around the waters edge, placing a tentative hoof on the surface, only to pull it away with a small, cute yelp. "...come on Twi! Its not that hard you know. Its just like walking! Only on water!" "But like ive kept saying, Rainbow," Twilight spoke over the waters surface, "I've never learned to swim properly before" She gazed downwards, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. "Well," Rainbow responded, "Youre not taking the easy way, so the hard way it is!" As she said it, she launched herself off of the surface, and flew directly towards Twilight, who failed to react in time before a multicoloured blur swept her off her feet, and towards the body of water. "Rainbow! Agh, put me ugh-" The lake cut Twilight's pleas sort, as the light blue form above her released its grip from around her waist. Water rushed over her head and into her nose, causing her it instinctively panic. She kicked out with her hooves, trying to run away, and... It worked. Her head broke through to air, sending a cascade of dropplets around her. "how did I... What the...?" Twilight asked incohirently as she scanned the area for Rainbow. She looked across the water and towards the bank, even up into the sky; but she didnt look down. Rainbow was a few feet under the surface, her chest facing up, and her body away from Twi's, so her head lurked just under the others. She pushed her forehooves towards a rather suprised Twilight, her hooves wrapping around her neck, and pulled the mares head under to meet her own. She brought the mare into a passionate embrace, causing Twilight to instantly relax as Rainbow's tounge pushed past Twi's lips. She could get used to swimming, Twilight thought.
Potion - Tavi n ScratchThe sweet vapors twisted their way through my mind, it smelled like Ponyville after rain and fresh parchment. A clever ruse if I do say so myself. This potion is a tricky brew, making itself appealing to anyone exposed to the smell, giving of an aroma that the mind perceives to be the most pleasant, when in actuality it smells like a simple flower. The entire process was mesmerizing, and highly illegal. Long ago, the brewing of love potions was outlawed, I can see why. Administer a love potion to anyone and you’ll have them wrapped around your hoof, one could easily topple a nation, overthrow a government, or make away with the most valuable items in pony history. But of course that’s not what I’m intending to do. I’m trying to not just stimulate obsession, I want to create love from nothing, true love. Well not really nothing, there is already an established friendship, I just need to make it more. I’m still surprised that I was able to take rejection in stride, that I kept a level head and showed no disappointment. Now that I think about it, I don’t believe I showed any emotions. It was really pitiful, everything I felt for her, and none of the feeling was returned. But that matters little. Rainbow Dash, you will be mine.
Bits - CynicalIt was a house in the country. Far from the cities and the lights and the noise. The house belonged to two ponies, they’d bought it when they were young and lived there since. Within the house the timeline was laid out in odds and ends, bits and bobs. Upon the mantle in the main room, just above the fireplace, there rested a picture of the two of them, many years ago and some before that, the day of their wedding. As if that wasn’t enough happy memories for them, the rest of the shelf was crammed with pictures, all framed and kept smudge-free, all enchanted to repel dust. From left to right, there was the earliest, a picture of six mares, all smiling and laughing and having fun together, then four of the ponies disappeared from the rest. A picture, taken on the seaside by a passer-by, another on the highest peak of Canterlot Spires, one more of one, then the other. Their travels were scattered within the house, an antique pot from Eastern Equestria, a thank you present from the Zebras, but none of those could match the memorabilia, and they were dwarfed by the books, yet both were nothing against the albums and even they could never match the memories. The kitchen, the scorch mark where one of them had set the pan on fire, the bigger mark where the other had tried to put it out. The study, a writing desk of neat piles and ordered pots, with a quill of sky blue. The library where they had both unwound and the bedroom where they’d both been loved. Now finally the garden, their lasting possession, ‘Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash’ ‘Together Forever’
Complicated - CynicalTwilight watched at Rainbow twisted and spun in the air, performing complex knots, spirals and rolls, the likes of which made Twilight’s stomach turn, even from down here. How Rainbow could even keep her lunch inside her, let alone know which way was up by the end of her routine, was beyond Twilight. Yet, there was a certain simplicity to her flight, everything was clean and smooth, not one unnecessary flap was taken and everything was upon her own wings. If Twilight was honest, she was slightly envious of Dash, able to soar without a care in the world in the simple sky. Maybe she’d work on that wing spell again, the one that she’d used on Rarity so long ago. She’d have to modify it extensively, the wings would need strengthening, they’d need substantiality, maybe she’d even change the wings themselves, to pegasi wings perhaps… Twilight wore a small smile as she thought through the spell, it would be complicated, maybe, but it would eventually allow her the simplicity of the sky.
Salt - The Mysterious NGentle waves lapped upon a beach, Celestia's sun shining with it's usual radiance as ponies pranced and played on the beach. Sand castles were built and demolished, and fillies were buried, only their smiling heads poking out. While a bit older than most of the ponies around her, Twilight Sparkle found herself in very much the same situation. That is to say buried up to her neck in sand. Rainbow Dash stood nearby, shovel clutched in her mouth, admiring her handiwork. Twilight had a silly grin on her face, turns out taking a vacation wasn't such a bad thing after all. Spending time with Rainbow made it all the better. With a pop she teleported out of her sandy prison, still covered in sand. She shook herself, trying in vain to dislodge all the annoying gritty particles that stuck stubbornly to her coat. Rainbow cracked up more, dropping the shovel into the sand. "You'll never get rid of them all that way, come on in, the water is great!" She beckoned, flying up and then cannon balling into the ocean water with a mighty splash. Getting a running start, Twilight chased after her marefriend. Her progress slowed as she met resistance from the waves coming in. Rainbow lazily paddled, watching her marefriend come closer and closer. A particularly large wave came in, upending Rainbow Dash, much to Twilight's amusement. The unicorn burst into her own laughter at the pegasus' misfortune, only to befall the same fate. Rainbow sputtered, trying to get the foul tasting water out of her mouth. Twilight noticing this asked, concern her most prominent tone, "What's wrong Rainbow!? Are you alright?" "Y-yeah. I'm fine Twi." replied the pegasus, wincing. She'd crashed earlier, slightly scraping herself. The shallow cuts now stung, annoying the pegasus to no end. A look from Twilight caused her to reconsider, "Well, the scrapes from the earlier... mishap are kinda acting up." "This is salt water, that's why they're stinging." The unicorn explained, picking up her cyan companion in her magic. With a flash they found themselves on the beach, still dripping wet. Reaching out with her magic she picked up their towels, wrapping her own cyan one around herself and the lavender one Rainbow used found itself on the pegasus' shoulders as well. "Come on back to the hotel, take a shower and wash away all the saltiness..." The unicorn beckoned. Leaning close she whispered right into Rainbow's ear, "And then nurse Twilight will kiss all the pain away." Rainbow's grin at that moment would make even Pinkie jealous...
Applejack - TimaeusApplejack grumbled to herself as she slowly walked up to the old family barn. Mere minutes ago Apple Bloom had come running into her room and ducked under her bed, crying her eyes out. When Applejack was able to coax the filly from her hiding place and calm her down some, all she could get out of her was something along the lines of ‘monster,’ ‘strange noises,’ and ‘in the barn.’ Apparently her sister was looking for some tools for another crusade with her friends tomorrow. Knowing Apple Bloom, Applejack was fairly certain she just knocked over a few pieces of scrap metal and it startled to poor little filly, but she was adamant something was in the barn that shouldn’t be there. She was also adamant that Applejack go investigate. What kind of big sister would she be if she ignored the cries for help from her own blood? Applejack sighed as she opened the old, faded barn door with a slow, ominous creak. With an irritated look she glanced over the barn and as expected saw nothing hiding in the stalls or bales of hay. She was just about to leave when she picked up the faintest sound of movement from behind her. She blood froze in her veins as she slowly turned her head. Nothing. Something fishy was going on here, and it warranted further investigation. Applejack moved to the back of the barn, where she was confident the sound came from, and after a little looking saw something lying by an old supply crate. It would have been easily missed by anypony not looking for it. She picked up the small object to discover that she had found…a book? What was that doing in here? It almost looked like one of Twilight’s…but what would Twilight be doing sneaking around her barn? She moved her gaze to the right and saw something else that caught her eye, a single sky blue feather lying on the ground. There was only one pegasus in all of Ponyville with feathers like those. Applejack should know, she constantly found said pegasus napping in her trees almost on a daily basis. So Twilight and Rainbow Dash were hiding out in her barn and must have accidentally scared Apple Bloom. Applejack scratched her neck with a hoof as she deduced the meaning behind all of this. Those two had been dating for the last couple of months, but what would they have been doing in her…oh. … OH. Meanwhile, up above in the rafters two ponies watched in fear as Applejack pieced the puzzle together. “Think she’ll catch us?” a unicorn whispered to her pegasus partner-in-crime. “Nah, there’s no way she’ll…” “I swear if I find y’all having a roll through the hay IN MY BARN I’ll keelhaul the both of ya!” “We should run,” the pegasus concluded as she saw literal steam coming out of the earth pony’s ears, “Like right now.”
Improbable - DragonLady"I love you," Rainbow Dash told Twilight, "You're my sweet munchkins, my app- twilight pie, my radiant, beautiful, stunning, cool marefriend. I love you more than anything in the world." Twilight's reply was a bemused look. Sure, they were in bed together, with Twilight on top of Rainbow. They were all alone, with just each other - but Rainbow was never this sappy. It was completely ridiculous on every level. "You're my sexy-wexy libraian, my hot mistress, my radical mare in the bedroom, you're my coolest of cool ponies. Twi, you're even cooler than me and I love you so much." Rainbow continued, then she reached up and brought Twilight into a sloppy kiss. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight began sternly. "Yes, my cuddly-wuddly, cutie-wutie, nerdy-werdy mare?" Rainbow replied obliviously. She smiled at Twi, batting her eyelids like Rarity when she wants to seduce a stallion. "How much have you had to drink tonight?" "My hot, sexy, buckable-" "Answer me, Rainbow," Twilight interrupted. "You're such a spoily-woily sport," Rainbow whined. Upon seeing Twilight's face, Rainbow quickly replied. "One, two, three, four... Four drinks!" she said triumphantly. "Only four?" Twilight inquired. "That I remember, miss uptighty-whity Twilighty." Twilight just sighed. She disentangled herself from Rainbow Dash and lay her down in the bed with her. "Go to sleep, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash moaned and rolled over. Twilight settled into bed with a happy smile. Who knew Rainbow Dash was a lightweight, and a cuddly, sappy drunk?
Royal Dinner - Siglo de Oro"OH MY GOSH! I'M LATE!" yelled a cyan pegasus mare as she flew towards the royal palace in Canterlot. She was invited to a private dinner with Equestria's newest princess; Twilight Sparkle. As always, she was so busy with her flying maneuvers that she completely forgot the time. She promised six o'clock and it was seven. "I hope she won't be upset" thought Dash, as she feared the worst. Even after Twilight became princess, they both continued their secret love affair with each other. Dash thought back at how a simple act of impulse turned into something...more. She quickly shook herself out of those thoughts as she saw the large palace in front of her. She immediately spotted a balcony, and on it, was the love of her life; Twilight Sparkle. "About time you made it here for the royal dinner Rainbow." Twilight smugly stated. "Sorry about that." nervously grinned the pegasus. "I was practicing my flying" "Typical." the princess rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Well, get inside, the food is getting cold" she stated before she walked inside. The pegasus nervously followed her marefriend, she took a few quick glances at the purple unicorn's butt while she followed her. "Oh, and to make up for your tardiness, we will wait an hour after eating before any 'fun time' starts," the princess turned around to face the pegasus. "understood?" "Oh come on! No fair!" "Want to make it two?" Dash just gave a defeated sigh. "Understood your highness." grudgingly stated the defeated pegasus. "Great, now sit down and enjoy your one-on-one royal dinner with your marefriend." she led Dash inside and sat her down in her seat. Twilight was about to sit at her seat, but was quickly pulled into a deep kiss from the pegasus. "What the buck Dash?!" Twilight broke the kiss in shock. "You said nothing about kissing." Dash exclaimed in playfully "Well...no I didn't..." Twilight seductively smiled before she resumed her kiss. Although it wouldn't be long before Twilight would forget her ruling, dinner completely untouched.
Package - CynicalRainbow Dash tapped her hoof against the desk in front of her and the pony across from her squirmed. He had learnt very quickly that she was not a very patient pony, yet there was nothing he could do. Yes, he’d acknowledged that the mail usually took three-to-five working days to arrive from Canterlot to Ponyville, and that yes, she’d placed her order exactly five working days ago. Sadly, she hadn’t been as pleased when he’d told her that the package was not – against all previous information – actually here yet. As a matter of fact, none of the packages due for arrival today were. They were still waiting for todays’ mail to arrive. “So…” Rainbow Dash said, breaking him from his reverie, “When do you usually get the mail?” “Around 9, usually,” he replied, glancing at the clock, which had apparently decided that the world could live without 9 AM for one day and was already making significant headway towards 10. “Maybe you could come back later?” he asked hopefully, well aware that she was driving a slight dent into his desk with her constant tapping. “Can’t do,” she said, shaking her head and continuing to tap – tap, tap, tap – against the desk. “Well, how about-“ – tap, tap, tap. He groaned through his teeth. “Listen,” he said, trying not to sound angry, “Could you please stop that incessant tapping?” Rainbow stopped tapping and gave him a dead stare. “How about this,” she replied, “I’ll stop tapping when the mail arrives.” He met her glare and winced as he heard the tapping start up again, this time to a tune he was unfamiliar with – if such a tune could exist anyway. He forced himself to breathe in and out as she continued tapping with no apparent rhythm or rhyme. There was a buzz that cut through the air and someone spoke over the intercom: “Mail’s here.” After another three minutes and twelve seconds, he’d rooted through all the mail bags in order to find that dratted mare’s one package. Now that it was in front of her, she smiled at him and left the post office, humming another unfamiliar tune to herself. Rainbow Dash glanced at the package on her back again and smiled to herself. “I wonder if Twilight’s awake yet…”
Alarm - Adda le Blue"You up, Twilight?" Spike called through the door. He'd learned not to walk in without permission when Rainbow Dash was staying over; any assistant would after having to dodge two thrown almanacs. She'd awoken just before his first knock, as usual. Part of her felt as though she was still dreaming. Her mind was full of cotton, her limbs were heavy, and her entire body was warm. Hot, even. Sweltering. And why couldn't she move? Slowly she turned her head to see a rainbow of color on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash was still snoring away, her wind-chapped lips just barely parted and vibrating slightly with each breath. Her eyelashes twitched as Twilight made an effort to twist her body. Twi had gotten used to the weight of her wing - more than used to it - but this was something new: Rainbow Dash had somehow managed to pull herself on top of her in the night. Twilight lifted the wing with her free foreleg. Rainbow's head on her shoulder blocked much of the view, but her forehooves were wrapped around Twi's barrel and their hindlegs were tangled. Twi could feel the weight of Rainbow's hips upon her thigh, She tried to shift that leg to move Rainbow to a more manageable position, but it didn't respond; it must have fallen asleep as soundly as Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow," Twi whispered softly. She pushed the wing upward with her free forehoof. "Wake up, honey." The wing pushed back. "Rrn," Rainbow protested cutely. She hugged Twilight tighter to her chest. Her heart beat slowly in this perfect moment. "Fi' more minutes?" "But Rainbow Dash, I have a lot of work to do today," Twi argued. The prospect didn't seem as tantalizing as it usually did. "First I have to organize the overnight returns and... well, you know by now how much work goes into opening the library, and after that there's a certain spell..." A delicate snore cut her off. Twilight sighed patiently, but her patience couldn't last. "Get off of me, Rainbow Dash," she complained. Rainbow smiled in her sleep. "Love you too." Twilight opened her mouth to repeat herself, but the words failed her. She looked down at Rainbow Dash; she was still smiling, still snoring, and still as wonderful as ever. After a moment Twilight pulled the door open with her magic to see Spike standing diligently in the hall. "Five more minutes, Spike," she whispered. He smiled, shrugged, and wandered off. Twilight buried her free hoof in Rainbow's mane and held her close. She breathed a sigh and let the time measure itself out in Rainbow's heartbeat. In no time at all Spike's head appeared around the door. "That's five min--" Rainbow reached for an almanac.
Soliloquy - Liquidfirest0rm"Alright, Twilight, you can do this. Just go up there and ask her." Twilight told herself as she placed below Rainbow's cloud home. "You can't just blurt it out like that!" "Why not? The best way to get a direct answer is with a direct answer." She nodded smugly. "Yeah, in a classroom. This calls for finesse! You have to lead into it." "But that will take too long, and she'll probably get bored and run off!" "She'll probably run off if you just go up there and ask directly too." She sat down with a dejected sigh. "Why is this so hard?" She said looking up at the cloud above her. "Because good things are worth the effort it takes to get them." “Well, she’s definitely worth the effort.” She said with a small smile. “So how are we going to do this? Direct questioning is out as well as a long conversation leading into it. What else is there?” “Leave a note on her door!” “No, that would take too long to get an answer back.” She pondered this conundrum silently for a few minutes. Suddenly she sprang to her hooves, wings flared out wide. “That’s perfect!” She exclaimed and took off into the sky. She flew the short distance up to Rainbow’s cloud home. Landing on the fluffy surface, it took a couple of seconds to catch her balance, still not being used to standing on clouds. Once she had settled, she strolled up to the front door and knocked, a look of confidence on her face. She’d thought of the perfect plan, there was no way she could fail now. After a moment or two, the cloud door opened, revealing a sleepy looking pegasus, still rubbing one of her eyes. The sight caused all of her plans to fall apart, her thoughts jumping ship, leaving her to face this alone. She stood there with her mouth open and a blank expression on her face. “Oh hey, Twi.” She paused to let out an enormous yawn. “What brings you up here.” She finished, scratching her head. Twilight continued to stare at her for a few minutes before her mouth started working of it’s own accord. “Rainbow Dash, would you go out with me?”
Nightmare - Nebula Star"TWILIGHT!" The familiar voice calling her name made Twilight snap her head up despite the protests of her battered body. No! Don't! she thought seeing Rainbow Dash speeding toward her through the shattered windows of the throne room. Chrysalis had heard the cry as well and smirked as she turned toward the windows, a wicked glint in her eyes. Desperately, Twilight struggled against the hold of the two changelings that restrained her. She couldn't watch another friend die, not her, not Rainbow! Nearly a week in captivity, a week of being starved and tortured, had taken its tole, however. Try as she might, she couldn't break free of the changelings' hold on her. She watched in terror as Rainbow drew closer. Their eyes met, and in that moment Twilight's eyes begged her to save herself, to, just this once, leave her behind. It was something Rainbow could not do. And it was already too late. Chrysalis stepped in front of the window, the two snakes coiled around her raising their heads to watch the approaching pegasus. Then the gem on the white snake's head glowed brightly as Chrysalis's horn glowed with the same golden light. A beam shot out, faster than any spell Twilight had ever seen. Rainbow was hit in the center of her chest. The impact reversed her momentum, throwing her back away from the castle, smoke trailing from her body and her wings whipping limply in the wind behind her; already unconscious or worse. "RAINBOW!" Twilight cried, lacerating her already raw throat as she watched her friend fall past the edge of Canterlot, plummeting into the valley below. "Twi, Twi! Wake up!" Twilight's eyes shot open. Somepony had their hooves around her. For a moment she struggled against her captor. "Twi! It's okay! It's me!" The voice was familiar. Twilight froze and looked up. In the dim light of the air ship's cabin she could just make out locks of red yellow and orange hair above rose colored eyes that looked back into hers with love and concern. Without a word, Twilight threw her hooves around Rainbow, and clung to her, burying her face against Rainbow's neck. She trembled as Rainbow held her, gently stroking her mane. "It's alright, Twi; you're safe," Rainbow whispered softly. "I'm here." Twilight couldn't stop trembling, however. She could clearly feel the scare on Rainbow's chest, reminding her all too well, that her nightmare had been far more than just a dream.
Sunshine - RatsenkioHi, my name is Rainbow Dash. I believe. It’s been so long since I came here, or so I think. I can’t really remember. it’s been a few years or minutes maybe, I haven’t been paying attention. So I’m here, in this big sky. If you can call it that. The only thing I know for certain is that the sun comes and goes, and when it goes, I decided to call it night, everything goes dark and a little scary, but I’m not alone, I have my guardian. It’s a big round thing like the sun, but less bright. I call it the moon. But that’s not the point. The point is that when the sun comes back sometimes a new pony appears, but they quickly go away. I try to call them and ask if they know where we are. But they don't hear me. They rush to go away to some place. Maybe I should follow them to get some answers. But I can’t or rather I don’t want to. I feel that I must wait here for something to happen. And so I do. One day a pony appeared. It was a purple unicorn. I felt that I should know her. At least I think it was a she, the sunshine was blinding me, but something within me told me so, like if I knew it from the start. but I don’t remember her right away. She came to me, her eyes a lovely shade of violet, and her mane a dark blue with two stripes, one pink and another a purple darker than her coat. She kind of smelled like lavender. “Rainbow, I’m here!” she said to me as she hugged me tightly. How could I ever forget her? “I’m glad you took your time, Twi.” I responded extracting myself from the hug enough to see her face covered in tears, my own not faring any better. I didn't have much time to see her face, as she kissed me a few seconds later. My eyes closing as I forgot everything but her.
Wicked - LoyalPonyville lay behind the two of them, one a pegasi, the other a newly-ascended princess. Over the rushing sound of wind ripping through the air, Twilight could barely hear Rainbow Dash's hollered instructions. Still, they carried to her, borne on that wondrously tomcoltish voice that nopony else could mistake as anyone other than the brash pegasus. "Remember to keep your eyes focused on the horizon! Tuck your forelegs and don't forget to flex the anterior ligaments! Just like we practiced, Twi!" "Right!" Twilight hollered back, setting her sights on the distant horizon, gritting her teeth in preparation. "Just like you practiced, Twilight." A brief memory of the past few months spent training with Rainbow Dash came to her, borne on the gossamer wings of nostalgia and more than a few ciders. 'Can't get distracted by her flank just yet.' Twilight grimaced as some other not entirely unwanted memories resurfaced. Pushing those to the back of her mind, Twilight flapped harder, gaining speed until the wind drowned out even Dash's shouted encouragements. Slowly, Twilight banked to her left, tilting until the world seemed to slide sideways, the pit of her stomach dropping down to say hello to her tail. She kept tilting, focusing on the horizon. Her wings adjusting to carry her downward momentum through the roll and back up again. For a brief moment, the world was right again, and then it slid back into the bizarre as she entered another upside-down spin. And another. And another! It felt like her bones were rattling insider her coat, and the horizon became harder and harder to focus on. Vertigo set in, but Twilight saw it out. She had practiced this dozens of times over, with Rainbow Dash right there to see her through it all. ’I have to do it. I have to finish this; for Rainbow Dash!’ The world snapped into clarity as Twilight pulled out of the aerial maneuver, her heart soaring just as high as she and her lover; high into that wild blue sky that stretched on forever above them. "TWILIGHT!" Dash jetted up along side her, wrapping their hooves together in a midair hug. "That was your first aerial trick! You were so cool! That... that was WICKED!" Twilight frowned at her. "How can a barrel roll be malevolent?" Dash just face-hoofed.
Almonds - Formerly Committed“We have to break up.” “I’m sorry?” Twilight said looking up from her book. “We have to break up,” Rainbow said again matter-of-factly. Twilight squinted in confusion. Where was this coming from? As far as she knew the couple were doing great, in fact Twilight couldn’t be happier. “Okay, and where exactly is this coming from?” Rather than saying something, Rainbow smiled thinly and merely pointed. Twilight followed to where the hoof pointed just to the right of her to a bowl of almonds. This only raised further questions for Twilight. “. . . Almonds?” “Yup.” “What do almonds have to do with anything?” “You eat them.” “And?” “They’re gross!” “So? You don’t taste them when I eat them!” “Yes, Twilight, I do. You shove those disgusting things into your mouth, and then you shove your tongue down my throat. It’s gross!” Twilight blinked. “So, what, instead of saying ‘Hey, Twilight, could you rinse your mouth out before you kiss me,’ we’re just gonna break up?” “Or you can do the rinsing thing, I guess,” Rainbow shrugged noncommittally. Twilight groaned. She honestly wondered how she was always able to put up with this. “Next time just say that.” Rainbow shrugged, again. “Oh, and I got the mail for you,” she said putting a few envelopes next to the bowl of almonds. Rolling her eyes, Twilight lifted the first letter from the stack with her magic and began to read it after opening it. It was from her parents . . . “Hey, Rainbow, you’re free this weekend, right?” “Pretty sure, what’s up?” “My parents are coming to town this weekend. It would be a good time for them to officially meet you.” “. . .” “. . . Rainbow?” “We have to break up.” Author's Note Next prompt: Cider
