Romancing Rainbow

You sigh to yourself and throw another glance out over the pool area. Never did you think this job could ever be so boring. The summer is in full bloom and the heat is most definitely on. Why is nothing happening here, by your quaint little pool?

Of course, it is not your pool per say, you simply work security. Security? Hah, more like child-watcher. Many days have been spent with hours of your fist embedded in one cheek. Elbow tasting the wood of your elevated chair.

The throne of misery, you call it. At least in your own head. You wonder and have rather colourful theories of why things are as they are. Your boss isn't a bad person by any stretch of obvious appearances but you are sure otherwise. Why else would people be avoiding this place like the plague?

You keep the pool area neat and clean to professional standards. You even have a good idea of how the bathrooms and lockers are kept. Yet you have nothing to do all day but to sit and stare at nothing. Sure, it's pay but the boredom gnaws ever at your mind.

Your eyes scan the entrance droopily. Nothing, yet again. No, wait. There is someone finally here. A girl of vibrant pale blue comes striding through the empty gates. Her jagged, rainbow-coloured mane holds together surprisingly well in the hot breeze. She trots with purpose and swagger alike. She does not even seem to notice that the rest of the place is empty.

Her presence draws your gaze more than any other visitor has so far. You know already that your entire day is saved. She notices your eyes on her and gives a nod as she passes. You do your best to look casual and nod back. You follow her every step as she quickly closes in on the locker-rooms.

You wait in a certain anticipation for her to exit from changing. You have to do your best to keep your cool as her presence is furthered by a very interesting choice of bikini. She stretches her graceful wings as she walks past you with the same swagger as before. She throws a quick glance over her shoulder before diving into the crystal-clear pool water. You swallow hard and imagine how much of a fool you must look trying to keep your cool.

She stays under water for quite some time, taking long, strong strokes. She breaches the surface almost halfway through the length of the pool. It it not a small pool. You cheer inside once again, not only is this day saved, it just became infinitely more interesting.

She swims quick, she swims graceful. She takes all kinds of different strokes. You are particularly fond of how she backstrokes. It does not take long before you are entirely enthralled by her motions. You simply have to do your best not to drool as you sit, relaxed, watching her every motion.

She takes lap after lap around the pool. You are simply extremely impressed by her stamina and determination. She stays underwater for very lengthy amounts of time. Nothing seems to stop her. You are deep in admiring thought when you finally notice she isn't surfacing.

You straighten up, jump down from your high spot and bound over to the pool. You dive in without hesitation and stroke through the water with long motions. You grasp her twitching frame and drag her upwards with a certain ease. No matter her thrashing. Although you haven't done this too many times, you do it right.

You manage to get her up on the edge, surprisingly enough without scraping or bumping her. You follow out of the water quickly. She is sputtering, coughing up water. You hold her and put her on her side so she can get the water out. Her thrashing soon softens, as does her coughing. Her head lies still in your lap and her eyes dart around for a moment before falling on your face.

She goes stiff, blinking wildly as a soft blush burns on her face. She scrambles to regain her posture. She nearly falls over as she sits up and you reach out to steady her.

“Are you okay?”

You search her eyes with yours but she looks to the side.

“You saved me...”

She sounds thoroughly embarrassed. Is it a bother for her to be saved from such a dire situation?

You smile awkwardly.

“Just doing my job.”

She is looking better already. She finally lets her eyes meet yours.

“Uh... What's your name?”

You focus fully on her as she speaks again, your smile now a bit less awkward.

“I'm Anonymous, call me Anon.”

She nods slowly a few times in silence before speaking more.

“I'm Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow... Of course. You have heard the name and you could have guessed. You were, however, way too preoccupied just watching her.

You stand up and offer a hand to help her up as well.

“So... What happened?”

She looks at your hand for a short while, then hoists herself off the ground without your help. You shrug it off and continue speaking instead.

“I mean, you were really ripping it up in there... Perhaps you pushed too hard...?”

Rainbow takes a step and looks away from you with the same blush as before. She takes a deep breath to steady herself before speaking.

“I... I got a really bad cramp.”

You are about to say something when she looks at you, finally not trying to hide her blush. She stands turned to you now. She looks up into your eyes as she repeats the words from earlier.

“You saved me... Thanks, Anon.”

You give her a smile.

“No worries, Rainbow Dash.”

Both of you stand around in silence for a moment, it quickly gets awkward.

“So, uh, I guess you are done with swimming for today, I mean...”

You look over to the pool as if it has something to comment. Naturally, it does not. Rainbow lets out a short chuckle.

“Yeah, I'm gonna have to look over my style, that whole ordeal was... Embarrassing.”

You chuckle as well, almost by reflex. A bright idea goes up for you.

“Hey, uh, this place isn't exactly hopping and I haven't had my lunch, what'd you say to joining me for some?”

Rainbow looks at you in disbelief for a moment. Then she shrugs and smiles.

“Yeah, sure, I could eat.”

You nod a few times and look around.

“I know a great place, just gonna get my stuff.”

You move with a certain spring in your step but as you return, Rainbow is already tapping her hoof waiting for you. Apparently you aren't fast enough. She already has her things but she did not bother to switch out of her swimwear. She simply pulled on a top and wrapped a towel around her hind quarters.

She says nothing about her own impatience and gives you a little grin. You take the cue and lead on. It isn't far. Nothing is. This town is small and sleepy but comfortable. Well, right now it is not entirely comfortable, the summer breeze is murder. You feel yourself dry up as you walk. The little experience in the water will soon be forgotten. Then again, looking to Rainbow Dash, she does not even seem worse for wear already.

Perhaps she is putting on a brave face, perhaps she is as tough as she likes to appear. You doubt it, not maliciously but doubt none the less. The thought strikes you as adorable. You walk on clouds for quite some time before Rainbow interrupts your rampant train of thought.

“Hey, Anon... Don't tell anyone about... The thing that happened, okay?”

She sounds sincerely bothered, almost afraid. You look to her with a sly smile as you answer.

“Don't worry, Rainbow Dash, your legendary awesome is safe with me.”

Your cheesy line washes the insecure look right off Rainbow's face and replaces it with a wicked grin. She takes a deep breath and is about to answer as you take the opportunity to interrupt her for once.

“We're here, Pony Carly's Hay Burger Emporium.”

Rainbow looks up to the weather-worn sign before you two. She scoffs lightly and then gives you the same kind of wicked grin.

“Good choice, I can definitely get my burger on.”

You try your best to play it cool and waltz over to open the door for her. She follows closely and gives you a certain look when you hold open the door. Gentlemanly actions don't seem to hit home, or is it a silent appreciation?

You make a few mental notes and follow her inside. The place isn't even nearly half-full, where is everyone on this scorching day? The thought dissipates quickly as you are more intrigued by Rainbow ordering, quick and decisive. You have a hard time not sounding like a stammering fool as you read off the menu you've read countless times before. A few good choices for your human digestive system but you had gotten used to it. A vegetarian diet had worked wonders for your physique and mind alike once you got over the initial bumps.

The pony restaurants had an incredibly wide selection of dishes. Even with the few choices you could stomach, you could vary a salad against the next enough to not go into some manner of meat-desired frenzy. You glance over to Rainbow as she impatiently waits for her food. Hayburgers strangely enough take some time to cook. A few moments in silence and you are both served at nearly the same time.

Swapping grins, you both turn and saunter over to the first available table. Rainbow sits down casually but doesn't do anything to keep up appearances as she eyes her food like a hungry predator. You cannot help but to stop and just watch her as she digs in. You pick at your salad absent-minded as your eyes follow her every movement. She pretty much annihilates her burger for the first few mouthfuls, then looks up to you with a quizzical look.

“Don't like your salad, Anon?”

Her words take you completely off guard. Probably because you were completely lost in just watching her eat. Like a creep. You chuckle nervously.

“No, I'm... I mean, it's fine.”

You eat a bite quickly, trying to prove your point. She simply glares at you with a smart smile. She then shrugs it off as quickly as she zoned in on you not eating. She goes back to her burger and you pick at your salad slowly.

She is a messy eater, still, she remains just as enchanting as when you first saw her. This little moment is pretty much magical to you. You don't know much about her but you do know you would like to make this a common occurrence in your life. For the first time since your arrival in this strange land, you have found someone you'd like to try dating.

You eat slowly, lost in thought for a moment more. She is nearly finished and you aren't even halfway. She looks at you again, the same smart smile creeping across her beautiful face.

“Something on your mind, lifesaver?”

She puts mocking pressure on the last word. You snap to and meet her smile with one of your own.

“I'm gonna be bold and just say it...”

You pause and definitely not for dramatic effect.

“... I'd like to get to know you.”

Rainbow blinks, her smile gone. Although, it does not stay away for long. She bursts into laughter.

“Very gentlemanly of you, Anon.”

She tilts her head to the side and eyes you with her radiant gaze.

“I thought that didn't even need to be said, you already asking me out for a date an all.”

It is your turn to blink and look confused for a moment. A date? This? Does she simply not understand what a date is or does she have strange standards?

It matters not. You gather yourself enough to smile for her.

“I, uh... I meant like... proper dating, dinner and a movie type stuff.”

You hear yourself sound like an idiot. Thankfully, she does not seem to notice, or at least not react badly. She leans onto the table with an almost manic grin on her face.

“Proper, hm? Oh knight in shining armour, where shall we dine then?”

She is mocking you. Terribly so, but it feels good. Oh so good.

Your brain is firing quickly and you do your best to keep composure. You have no clue how the dating game goes with ponies. Sure, you are doing pretty good so far. You are already planning far too far ahead in your mind. You take a ragged breath to stabilize yourself.

“Oh please, I'm just a guy in swimming trunks.”

You pause, this time actually for some kind of effect. She eyes you intently.

“I'll treat you to whatever you want, just let me know where you wanna go.”

Rainbow's smart smile creeps back onto her face. She isn't done mocking you yet.

“Deep pockets, hm, Mr. Swimming trunks?”

You are enjoying her joker's attitude and wonder briefly if her mocking will get old or if she moderates it well. You look forward to finding out.

“Anyway, no need for a suit or anything, I don't roll that way. Let's just go to Happy Joe's, down a few ciders and slob out with some greasy fries.”

She raises a brow and keeps the smart smile as she examines your reaction. You are read like an open book. You are loving every second of this and she knows it.

You breathe in deep while nodding. Looking more like an idiot than you ever did, at least to yourself. She wallows in your slightly shy honesty and seems to be enjoying this just as much as you. She shuffles her stuff about on the tray and suddenly stands up.

“Here's how it goes, oh saviour.”

A wicked grin follows, you wait expectantly to hear the coming words.

“I'm gonna go home and hang out for a few hours. Girl's gotta have her time, you know.”

She leans on the table with a sly grin and gets rather close to your face. Her large, beautiful magenta eyes fixed intently on you.

“Just meet me outside Happy Joe's around eight, you know where it is, right?”

You nod and swallow at the same time, easy enough. You have been through most of the dive joints and miscellaneous hangout spots. Happy Joe's is one of the better ones. A bit peculiar but definitely acceptable.

She flashes you another wicked grin and then turns to stalk off. Leaving you speechless and lost in thought yet again. You watch her leave without even trying to say something to her. Your eyes follow her every movement until she lifts off and zips out of sight. You look down into your hardly-touched salad and blow some air out through sealed lips. Then you nod for yourself. The day improved indeed.

You walk around in a certain daze for quite some time. Dragging your feet with your head in the clouds. It feels like a dream and you are clinging on to it, afraid to wake up. Home, shower, clean yourself up. You dress casually and flop down on your couch.

The walls of your small, two-room house seem to close in as time crawls by impossibly slow. You find yourself glaring at one of the empty walls, daydreaming, your leg vibrating and your fingers drumming mindlessly. You jerk into a standing, your entire body nearly shaking. You take a deep breath, clench your fists and look to the door. Fresh air, you need it.

Staggering outside, you breathe in deep through your nose. You look up to the summer sky. Golden hues have begun to creep into the scenery and the air is sweet with flowers. The brutal heat of the day lingers but have begun to subside. You begin your stroll through the town extremely slowly. Trying to waste time with a wandering mind, you soon find yourself in front of Happy Joe's place. How did you get here so fast?

You shake your head in a last vain attempt to clear your head. A deep breath. What time is it anyway? Half past seven-ish. Not too bad. You stick around outside for a while, waiting, looking around and looking really out of place. As usual. Ponies that pass or go in give you long glances but nothing compared to when you were new around here.

You've almost come to like the attention. Although, tonight you crave the attention of one particular pony only. A particular pegasus who is getting more and more late.

The clock ticks on, not a big deal as she did say “around” eight. You move inside and order some cider. Two drinks later and the clock is more like “around” nine. You stand with your back against the bar and swirl some foam around in the bottom of your tankard. Beginning to believe you have been stood up, your heart sinks.

Only to flutter up and soar high as you see your date enter the now slightly crowded place. She commands the same amount of presence as when you first saw her. She is wearing a thin white top and ripped-up jeans, not much more. She looks around the place, greets a few ponies, hoofbumps some, hugs others. Finally, her eyes fall on you and you notice a certain flare in her eyes.

She hurries over, first looking very much like she is going to apologize, then slaps your shoulder lightly. She steps up really close next to you with her back against the counter and leans on it in a similar fashion you did before she entered.

“What, you haven't ordered a drink for me yet?”

She looks up to you with sharp devilry in her eyes. You are putty in her hooves. You have to resist, at least for now.

“Oh, I did, around eight.”

You give her a casual smile, then turn around to order more. As well as gather yourself with a deep breath. The barkeep is pouring cider like there is no tomorrow. It is not long before you and Rainbow tap the edges of your flagons together. You sip slowly while watching her throw her head back along with her drink.

She slams the empty container down on the bar-top. Then she focuses back on you, licking her lips briefly.

“Oh, don't gimme that look, I know I'm awesome... Besides, I need to catch up, hm?”

She pokes you in the chest and then flags down the frantic barkeep for another drink. You do your best to play it cool while taking another sip. She waits impatiently for the barkeep and then turns, grasps your arm and pulls you away from the counter.

“Right, what now?”

You hear the words slip out of you. Rainbow just flashes a wicked grin as she pulls you further into the tavern. You cross through the fairly dense crowd, apparently searching for a table or the likes. You get closer and closer to the back end of the place. The music is a bit louder but oddly enough, the crowd isn't as dense as by the bar. Little cliques of ponies have their spots. After Rainbow exchanges some words and smiles with a pair of ponies in a tiny sofa, you find yourself crammed into that very sofa.

Rainbow is close to you yet again, very close. This time sitting down. She does not seem to mind this time either. Perhaps it was her intention. Perhaps it isn't even on her mind. She is apparently more distracted by the rhythmic howling of guitars over the loudspeakers. She is bobbing a bit up and down in her seat while drinking her cider slowly.

You take a great mouthful and then put your drink down on the convenient low table in front of you two. You look to her, trying to think of what to say. At least she's excited. Your brain feels like it's going to explode. You stare at her, almost panicked. Then she suddenly turns and speaks.

“So, what did you wanna know about me, Anon the lifeguard?”

Your brain switches from overdrive to complete void. You just stare at her while her soft expression creeps into a grin.

“Yeah, I have that effect...”

You nod twice and desperately reach for your drink. As if a sip of the masterfully crafted cider could jump-start your brain. Before you have the slightest chance to reboot, she takes command of the conversation again.

“Well, I have to say I'm interested that you asked me out... I mean, it was a bit rash and strange in that situation... But I think I'd have done the same...”

She narrows her eyes a little and leans in closer.

“... Not because you saved me, just... There's something about you, I mean, beside the obvious.”

She nudges your arm with a prodding hoof, trailing down to your hand.

You carefully touch her hoof with your fingers and you lock eyes for a moment. You think you see the hint of a blush start across her face. She quickly pulls her hoof back and buries her face in her flagon. She drinks deep and you are finally done gathering your thoughts.

“I like the way you carry yourself, graceful in all elements, on the ground, in the air... In the water...”

She swallows hard and then laughs, perhaps a bit too loud.

“Yeah, well, I apparently need some training in the last one.”

You chuckle very shortly, an awkward, croaking sound. She smirks and raises a brow while drinking down the rest of her cider.

“Well, I'm getting another, you want some, clusterhead?”

You nod, begin to drink but stop as she nimbly removes herself from the tight spot beside you to stand up. You tip your drink to her as she gives you a wicked grin before pushing off through the crowd.

You sit looking around at the ponies around you, meeting gazes with a few of them who are looking at you. You feel like a fool, yet, you feel like things are going well. She did say she was... Attracted to you? Right? Right?

Still lost in thought when she comes back, you have managed to down your third cider. You look up with a sunny smile as she strides in between the small tables. Her step has a certain extra spring and her tight flank sways with her movements. You have a hard time not thinking really, really intense sexual thoughts about the sky-blue pegasus.

You do your best to dispel the muddled thoughts in your brain. Have to pull something out of the mess to start a conversation. Have to ask interesting questions. You didn't just ask her here to satisfy your urges. Although, it's been long, so long. Ever since you got to the land of the ponies...

Your thoughts trail off, you snap back to attention as Rainbow squeezes into the sofa, just as close to you as before.

“You aren't a very talkative date, Anon.”

She says with a smile while handing you the tankard of cider she just pressed through the crowd to get. You smile awkwardly and accept it. It is your turn to attempt to hide a blush. You mutter a few words in a fairly desperate attempt to say anything at all.

“Sorry, I'm a bit stumped from the heat today...”

Rainbow tilts her head to the side as she looks at you. Then she shrugs, drinks and speaks with a smile.

“I did say to knock back a few drinks and eat greasy food, being the lead in talking wasn't part of the deal.”

She doesn't even ridicule you. She keeps her good humour though. Tankard against tankard, you drink together and you start to feel your mind get even fuzzier by the sip. Almost four down and you have forgotten how large these cups are, even for the ponies' small size.

“Hey, I know.”

Rainbow suddenly perks up after a short moment of more awkward silence. She looks to you with some new devilry in her eyes. You look back at her as she puts her drink down. Her grin is so sharp it could cut glass.

“Let's dance.”

You just blink at her, you begin to protest but she is having none of it. She takes your hands in her hooves and stands up, pulling you with.

“I... Don't...”

She chuckles as she pulls you away from the sofa and between the tables.

“I don't either, Anon you silly, just shake it like no one's watching!”

You find yourself amongst a small sea of ponies on some manner of probably improvised dancefloor. The music is very varied but not all too bouncy. There has even been a few powerballads since you got here. It does not seem to stop anyone from dancing. Rainbow is right, too. No one is watching. Well, perhaps a bit, as your freakish stature is hard to miss amongst the equines.

You feel the warm surge of alcohol in your system and the radiant presence of Rainbow Dash as she starts moving in some odd, jerking dance. She remains so close to you. Her very presence makes your head spin, even more so than the drink. You are pulled into the motions and before you know it, you are dancing too. Awkward, sure, dumb-looking, yes, but it feels good. Oh so good.

The song ends, another is segwayed in by the musical mix. No shouting DJ, no attempt at crowd-pleasing. Happy Joe just has a pleasant mix playing. The next song has you moving again. Then, as you are feeling like you are about to collapse, a spirited, if a bit cheesy, piano tune chimes in. It is the start of another powerballad. Rainbow slows down her movements to a fluid, sensual wagging of her flanks and brushes up against you. You almost instinctively put your arms around her. You look down to her much smaller shape. Your eyes lock for a long moment.

Your movements match up. Slow-dancing isn't really that hard. Her small shape against you feels even better like this. You have no idea if it's simply lust that bubbles in you, but this feels like love.

• To be continued