City of Beginnings

Convenience store coffee. Perhaps the worst part of any stakeout, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t exactly one to complain… or at least not out loud. She watched as the steaming black liquid filled the little styrofoam, tore open a couple sugars and added them to the mix. Once finished, she popped a to-go lid onto the coffee and carried it to the counter, grabbing a package of peanuts and a small stack of magazines as she did.

The clerk rang up her items, a tad bored, and not even commenting on the fact that a woman in a trench coat and fedora had tossed a handful of cash onto the counter. Dash was used to the odd comment on her particularly stereotypical P.I. wardrobe, sometimes she even looked forward to it. Dash was never one to miss an opportunity to cast a little snark at civilians. Rainbow smirked to herself. 'Guess anyone who works the late shift is hard to impress.’

Stake outs were par for the course for a private eye like Rainbow Dash and despite the fact that most of the time they were mind numbingly boring, they were pretty effective at getting the job done. No matter what the course of action was to be, she always made sure to catch her perp. Though she did prefer a straight up fight to sitting in the shadows, A habit that had always earned the ire of her mentor, Firefly. Now, even with Firefly gone, Dash still tried to live up to her rules - emphasis on tried. Then again, even trying to follow the rules set Dash apart from Firefly’s… other student.

That had always been a troublesome line of thought. Dash exhaled heavily as she exited the store, the little bell tinkling above her head as she went. Back out into the night of the city, just as always. It was one of those nights where the moon was hidden by clouds, the city alit only with the street lamps.

Rainbow fumbled around in her pocket, trying to juggle her purchases while she attempted to extricate the set of keys to a battered old pick-up truck. Rainbow never really bothered with owning a car. In the city, who needed that kind of headache? No to mention paying for things like insurance and gas and whatever. Nope, whenever Rainbow needed a car she asked her friend Applejack. AJ made frequent trips out into the country, and never minded letting Dash borrow the old truck that she’d been driving since she was old enough to know how.

Finally managing to get the key into the door, Rainbow stepped up into the old truck and tossed her supplies (minus the coffee) into the passenger seat. She closed the door, which made a heavy thunk, and took a sip of her coffee.

“Ugh…” She remarked to herself with a shudder, “Ah well, caffeine is caffeine.”

This evening’s case was straight-forward enough. Missing girl, worried single parent, daughter had fallen in with a rough crowd. Rainbow had heard the same story over and over when she was working as an apprentice for Firefly. Even better, though, this kind of case was usually very easy for her. Finding a suspect was all about getting in their heads, asking the questions of “Why Not?” and where they would be. She knew that this had to be an amateur runaway, and that she would screw up eventually. Then, she could catch them.

Sipping her coffee again, Dash looked about the streets. Nothing. There probably wouldn’t be any signs of the girl and her “friends” for at least an hour or so. But she would be prepared. Nor would she see her coming. Being a P.I. did have that perk, after all.

Looking to distract herself from the monotony of simply staring at the street, She thumbed through the first of her stack of magazines. It was just the typical entertainment drivel. Such and such starlet marrying some random guy, popstar falls in love with a back up dancer, and some scumbag hotshot cheated on his wife. Rainbow tossed the magazine onto the floor of the truck. Maybe Applejack could use it to wipe the mud off of her boots.

Rainbow then reached to the next magazine, not expecting much difference, but hoping there could at least be something to peak her interest. She’d kill for any rumors on the new Daring Doo movie, or at least settle for one article that wasn’t utter crap. However, when Rainbow’s cerise gaze drifted over the cover, she felt her breath hitch in her throat.

On the cover of the magazine was a stunningly beautiful woman with long pink hair falling down her shoulders and framing her face. Since it was an article-driven magazine, clearly an article about the woman was featured. What was most captivating was not only the woman’s shy, frightened expression, but her eyes. Even though they were obviously digitally enhanced, there was something so striking about them. They were teal, seeming to be shining with genuine nervousness. Like the woman was afraid of being photographed. It wasn’t like a model to look scared.

Even so, everything about her was beautiful. Creamy pale skin contrasting her light pink hair, pouty lips, and what seemed to be a petite frame despite that only her head and shoulders were visible. With the highlighted text advertising the cover feature, the text read:

Fluttershy: The Tell-All Article of her Modeling Debut!

Eagerly, Rainbow flipped through the magazine to the advertised interview, her vigil all but forgotten in the wake of the stunning woman’s sudden debut into Dash’s world. Rainbow was greeted with another full page photo which heralded the start of the promised interview. Here she was again, this gorgeous pink haired beauty, looking shy and scared and yet… so alluring. In this shot Fluttershy was positioned  on a bed, the angle of the camera looking down at her as she hid behind the long locks of her hair, those teal eye shining in between the strands, like the light of the sun shining through a treetop canopy.

Covered only in a opaque pearlescent nightie, Rainbow was treated to a much more generous view of Fluttershy’s form. She was a bit curvier than the average model, but it only served to make her seem more human, more real. Rainbow already felt as though she could just slip inside that magazine photo with her, lay down on that plush bed… kiss those sweet lips…

Okay, it was often that a lustful urge arose when she lay eyes on a beautiful woman she found attractive. A good part of her weeks were spent indulging in this sort of activity if available to do so. Rainbow just about brushed it off, yet, she couldn’t stop staring at the photo spread. There was something so amazingly alluring about Fluttershy. Something she couldn’t place, but couldn’t ignore.

Her eyes drifted over to the interview. Fluttershy, it appeared, was something of an unexpected and overnight success. Her responses to the interviewers question were always measured and demure. More often than not, Dash could practically feel through the page Fluttershy’s soft and gentle nature.

Talk Through: So, what would you say your goal is as a model?

**Fluttershy:* Oh, I never gave that very much thought. I didn’t even really think it was possible… (Giggles nervously) Well, I guess I hope to bring more awareness to animal rights. Especially since many shelters in this city alone need support.*

Talk Through: You would consider yourself an animal rights activist?

**Fluttershy:* Yes! Absolutely. It was how I started. I worked for a pet store, and they wanted me to pose for some advertising photos for their campaign. I agreed to it, and it seemed to get a lot of attention. I didn’t expect to become a model because of it, though. However, I’m so grateful that it managed to get a lot more pets adopted from the store.*

Rainbow found herself smiling as she read these words. So many models always seemed to have some cause or another that they were trying to raise awareness for (and more often than not only trying to raise the public’s awareness of themselves in turn), but Fluttershy seemed genuinely sincere in her efforts. That gave Rainbow a moment of pause. It was pretty much her job to see through people’s bullshit, to spot the fakers and liars, but here was this model who’s very picture denoted sincerity. No false expression in word or deed… Rainbow could definitely find herself in love with someone like that.

Once more, Rainbow paused. That was new. Granted, she’d entertained the idea of actually meeting a woman and falling in love with her eventually. But it wasn’t something that crossed her mind with any woman she spent time with. Let alone a woman she never met or knew before. Where had that come from? Anytime her attraction to women was brought to mind, it was usually related to carnal desires. But this? Everlasting love?

Snorting to herself, she closed the magazine, then replaced it onto the seat, but kept it face up.

She turned her attention back to the darkened street. Hot girl in a magazine notwithstanding, she did have a job to do. Drinking down the rest of her now tepid coffee, she mentally ran through the details of her assignment in, well, more detail.

A single father, a ragged looking guy with purple hair that had become shot through with flecks of grey who worked day and night at a crappy job, came into her office. Her office… That would take some getting used to… Firefly had only just passed a few months ago, and Rainbow was still getting used to being on her own, but that wasn’t exactly relevant to the case at hand. Single dad comes into the office, worried out of his mind. His daughter hadn’t been home in a few days. It wasn’t that unusual for her to stay the night at a friends, but she would always send him a text or email or something to let her dad know what she was up to, even if she did so begrudgingly. Rainbow knew the poor sap couldn’t pay her much, but she couldn’t turn him down. He kinda reminded her of her own father after all…

All Rainbow had been given was a name and photo of the teenage daughter she was supposed to be tracking down. She had short purple hair, trimmed into a punkish, short, choppy number, and slightly dull lilac colored eyes. Rainbow could tell from the look she was giving the camera that this chick had a bit of an attitude, but Rainbow knew her type all too well. She was tough on the outside, but that was only to mask her own insecurities. She also knew that a girl like this probably also had a sort of eager energy to her, quick to want to please others, to make the kind of friends who would be with her through thick and thin. Rainbow sighed. There was no shortage of people in this world who would take advantage of a girl like that. This girl, Scootaloo is what her dad had named her, she was in for way more trouble than she bargained for.

Nonetheless, Rainbow had a feeling this could work. She could definitely plant a seed inside of Scootaloo’s mind to guide her on a better route. To hopefully help her understand that she deserved better than this. Considering her own past troubles, Rainbow knew it could help drive the point home. Someone so young learning from somebody who had been there and done that surely would knock some sense into her. Of course it wouldn’t be easy, Scootaloo did seem like the stubborn type that was hard to sway.

But Rainbow knew it was better than not bothering at all. She was not going to just let Scootaloo go scot-free and not learn something from this. Whatever would happen, hopefully she wouldn’t be looking for her again. Not like this.

Still nothing, it seemed. Rainbow took her binoculars and peered through them, getting a better view of the street further down. A few people walking, grown adults with shopping bags. Nothing suspicious. She sighed, lowering them to her lap.

A small sound was heard near the truck. Within her peripheral vision, she saw movement. Some people were walking by on the sidewalk. Given their heights, it was safe to assume that they were teenagers. Rainbow scanned each of teens, her expert gaze zeroing in on any details that may line up with the target of her search.

“Bingo,” She said to herself, her voice cutting through the quiet of the trucks interior. There she stood, hanging back a little ways from the group, Dash’s target: the errant Scootaloo.

Rainbow exited the truck’s cab, managing to muffle the heavy thunk of the door as best she could. Better to not startle or put Scootaloo on edge. The last thing Rainbow wanted was to have to take off running after her mark. Not that she couldn’t run her down if need be, Rainbow personally liked to think her instincts weren’t the only things about her that were quick as a shot, but chasing a teenage girl through the streets of Manehatten sounding much more exhausting than thrilling.

Falling into step behind the pack of teens, Rainbow did a quick visual once over of her target. Scootaloo’s tastes did seem to run towards the punk side of things. She was wearing torn jeans, a denim jacket decorated with metal studs and patches advertising various band or concerts sewn into it, and the kind of boots that served no real purpose other than to look cool and be way too heavy to do much in.

Rainbow snorted to herself. Scootaloo looked more or less like she had in high school. An angry kid who liked angry music and didn’t mind going to the rough side of town for a concert. Pissed at a mom who wasn’t there, pissed at a world that didn’t give a crap, not to mention all the jerks who looked down on her for…

Rainbow took a deep breath and puffed it out as a drawn out sigh. She was beginning to project much more than she should have, and could feel that old, impotent rage swirling up again into the base of her skull. She wasn’t a kid anymore, she had gotten her act together, learned that being pissed at the world was no reason to turn your back on it. These weren’t easy lessons, but they had made Dash into the woman she was today, a woman that she liked being. Now all she had to do was convince this girl of those same lessons.

“Hey kid,” She called out to Scootaloo who paused and turned. This was the crucial moment, one wrong word and her mark could bolt. “Got a sec? I need to talk to you.”

“Fuck off,” Scootaloo said, turning away.

“Shit,” Dash swore under her breath, deciding that if she wasn’t going to get anywhere being indirect she might as well be straightforward.

“Scootaloo,” Rainbow said, falling into place next to the violet haired young woman, “We need to talk.”

The use of her name seemed to catch Scootaloo off guard and she stopped and stared at Rainbow, while her so called “friends” just continued on their way down the street.

“How do you know my name?” Scootaloo said, giving Dash a critical look. “What’s all this about…Who are you?”

“Your dad sent me,” Rainbow said, taking a calculated risk.

Something between anger, guilt, and concern flashed across Scootaloo’s face. Finally she set her jaw in something she must have thought looked like a defiant look and said, “What of it?”

“He just wanted me to talk to you,” Rainbow said, trying to appear friendly but finding herself a little annoyed at the girl. ‘Tell me I wasn’t this much of a brat when I was a kid...’ “How about this, you hear me out, I’ll buy you dinner. Deal?”

Scootaloo tried to look tough, but a rumble of hunger from her stomach undercut her tough girl act. “Fine,” She said, finally. “Whatever.”

Relieved to have gotten through to her in some manner, Rainbow relaxed slightly. She turned around, directing them back to the truck. This part may have been slightly easy, but it was going to be the talk later on that would be the test. While she’d done this many a time with the suspects and victims she had located; there was still the fact that only they could control their next actions. Would her words make a difference? Would it help? It was always hard to say, but she could very well see the kind of people they were while doing so.

Looking down at Scootaloo, Rainbow could see in her body language that she was indeed very guarded. That was understandable, this kind of teenage girl often would feel that way about herself and others. Opening up was a very vulnerable thing to do, especially for herself. It was nice though, this would be an interesting conversation.

Upon reaching the truck, Rainbow opened the passenger door and cleared off the seat for her, “Here you go, get in.”

Scootaloo stared at the truck with a scrutinizing frown, but then wordlessly climbed up into the cab. She sat herself on the seat, closing the door and then buckled her seatbelt. In doing so, Rainbow got in on the driver’s side, promptly fishing out the keys.

Glancing over at the pile of magazines sitting between them, Scootaloo’s eyes caught the cover of the one on top, “You seriously read that?”

Feeling a strange protective instinct, Rainbow fought back the urge to lash out at Scootaloo for being so dismissive. How could she look at that cover and not just melt a little? How could she insult Fluttershy like that? ‘Woah Dash, you read one article and looked at some pictures, you didn’t freakin’ marry her. Quit being a hot head.’

“You take what you can get on a stakeout,” Rainbow finally replied, in a slightly grumbling tone.

Scootaloo looked at her, then at the magazine, “...She’s pretty, though.”

“You can say that again,” Rainbow said, giving Scootaloo a little smirk, ‘Okay so maybe the kid does have good taste.’

Pretty soon, Rainbow was driving along toward the location of her favourite diner. Neither of them said anything, but it did look like Scootaloo was easing up a bit. She seemed less tense, even less angry than earlier. At least this would be a good foothold into their inevitable talk, even if there was still a way’s to go before Scootaloo would be more at ease with her.

Pulling up to a small diner, Rainbow parked the truck and got out. Scootaloo followed suit and hopped out of the truck.

“Skyline Diner,” Rainbow said, motioning to the diner’s slightly rusted marquee. “Best place in Manehatten to get some grub if you don’t want to pay too much and you like good tasting food.”

“...I guess so,” Scootaloo shrugged with nonchalance, “I’ve been here before.”

“Well, good,” Rainbow replied as she ushered her inside, “That means you won’t take forever staring at the menu.”

Scootaloo shrugged again, following along without much fuss. They sat in a booth next to the window, across from one another. In doing so, a waitress came over to them, looking pleasant, but clearly tired. At least until she lay her eyes on Rainbow Dash, to which she chuckled.

“Well hey there, Dash. Lemme guess, same old order, or are you gonna spice it up?” She teased.

“You know me, I’m a creature of habit,” Rainbow said, to the waitress, enjoying the comfortable banter. Turning to Scootaloo she add, “Know what you want, kid?”

“I guess I’ll have a burger,” Scootaloo replied.

The waitress chuckled, “New case, Dash?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny that statement,” Rainbow said in a tone of mock seriousness, though adding a little wink.

“Great, I’ll be right back,” the waitress said, and walked off toward another table.

Scootaloo exhaled, looking down at her hands, anywhere but at Rainbow. Clearly, this entire ordeal must have had an effect on her. Whether good or bad, time would tell. But now was not the time to bring it all out, not just yet. For someone like her, there was a process of easing her into the conversation and making her feel at home. To treat her like a person, not as some headcase or a child. Rainbow removed her hat, placing it aside and running a hand through her scruffy multicoloured hair.

Just before she could speak, it was Scootaloo who surprisingly broke the silence.

“So who are you, anyway?” Scootaloo said, her voice unreadable, “Why’d my Dad talk to you? You an undercover cop?”

Rainbow gave a little snort of laughter, “What you think this hair looks regulation? Nah, I’m definitely not a cop, and generally not their biggest fan either. I’m a private detective, and your dad hired me to find you. Not drag you back to him or anything like that. Just to find you so he could know you were okay.”

“I’m fine!” Scootaloo said stubbornly, “I’m just sick of my Dad trying to hold me down all the time! Ever since Mom died, he’s practically suffocating me, okay? I just wanted to get away for a while!”

“I can understand that,” Rainbow said earnestly, “Look not to bore you with my sob story or anything, but let’s just say I’ve been where you’ve been, yeah? All that anger, all that energy, and that need to just get away and find someplace where no one recognizes you, or asks you how you’re doing or any of that crap. I’ve been there, and I’m not going to tell you it’s wrong either. You’re at an age now where you can think for yourself, and you’re strong enough to do things for yourself too. Feels good doesn’t it?”

“Of course it does! I can just be free!” Scootaloo exclaimed, wide-eyed, “At home it’s always ‘Don’t do this!’ or ‘Don’t do that!’, rules rules rules and more rules! Dad never listens to me when I try to tell him I just want to get out more. He’s afraid I’ll get kidnapped even if I just walk out the front door!”

“I’ll let you in on a couple of secrets, Scoots,” Rainbow said, leaning over the table a bit. “First off, all those rules? They’re gonna all evaporate before you know it. Couple years and you’ll be on your own, have your own place, and then no one can tell you what to do or when to do it. I bet you like the sound of that, huh?”

“Well, yeah! Of course I do!” Scootaloo said, as if it were the most obvious thing, “But I’m so sick of waiting for that! My friends and I just want to be grown up! Being a kid sucks!”

“Tell me about it,” Rainbow said chuckling a little before suddenly growing a bit more intense, her voice becoming more even and measure, and less playful. “Here’s the second secret I’m gonna let you in on: your dad isn’t wrong to worry about you. I track down kids every day that go missing or get themselves into trouble. Sometimes I can help, sometimes…. sometimes I can’t. I’m not saying this just to make you feel scared, or because I think you should always listen to your dad. I’m telling you this because it’s the truth. I can tell that you’re like me, you’re sick of hearing people say explain their rules with ‘because I say so.’

“That’s why I’m telling you the truth, because you deserve it. Your so called friends that you’ve been hanging with? They don’t know the truth. They ignore it, pretend it doesn’t exist, and try and make you believe it too. You seem like a smart kid - tough too, I’d wager - but that doesn’t mean you’re invincible. You don’t want to follow the rules, I’m not gonna stop you and trust me not every rule needs to be followed, but my advice to you is this: never forget that every action has a consequence, and always remember the truth of things.”

This now had Scootaloo looking at her with wide eyes. She didn’t respond, for whatever reason. It was hard to tell what she was thinking of, aside from the possible factor that she was taking this all in. Even when the waitress placed down their food, Scootaloo barely acknowledged it.

Eventually, the young teenager exhaled, biting her lip, “I… I seriously don’t even know what to do anymore, now.”

“That’s a good start,” Rainbow said, lifting a french fry to her lips and crunching down on it. “Sometimes times knowing exactly what to do can get you all messed up. If you believe there’s only one right way to do things, you can’t really ever think of alternatives. The world has more than enough fanatic as it is. Right now you got a home, food, and a bed. That’s a good start for now. Keep thinking about your life, figure out what you want to do, and then go for it.”

Quietly, Scootaloo ate at her burger. But rather than looking away or downward, she was actually looking toward Rainbow. Completely, as if truly listening. It was all Rainbow could hope for at this point. The last thing she wanted was for Scootaloo to get into more trouble than now. Yet, right now, she could see it. Scootaloo was clearly thinking this over, even realizing something.

“Well… okay. I guess… I’ll go home,” Scootaloo managed, “But no way Dad is gonna give me more freedom now…”

“When I took on your case I told him that if you came home he should probably start treating you like an adult, because I’m not going to track you down twice,” Rainbow said, her lips turning up in one of her trademark smirks, “I don’t know if he’ll give you more freedom, but I think he’ll start treating you with a little more respect.”

“....You really think so?” Scootaloo said hopefully, taking another bite of her burger.

“I do,” Rainbow said, digging into her own sandwich at last. “Oh yeah. One last piece of advice: try to be a good person. When bad things happen to good people, other people think it’s a tragedy. When bad things happen to bad people, well, other people just say that that person deserved what they got.”

“...I guess you’re right…” Scootaloo agreed with a small sigh, “...I’m sorry I made you track me down. You probably have better things to do.”

“Nah, not really. Kind of been a bit of a slow week,” Rainbow said between bites. “Besides, helping out people like you is one of the better parts of my job. I had a… well I guess I’d call her a friend, though I suppose mentor works too. She reached out to me when I was in a rough place. Told me pretty much what I told you. That I don’t have to follow all the rules, but I shouldn’t be a fool either. She took me in, helped me shape up. I know if she was still around she’d be talking to you instead of me.”

Scootaloo finished her burger, looking all around her again, “I guess…. I just… now I miss my friends. My… real friends…”

“Good. You should,” Rainbow said, but she wasn’t scolding Scootaloo, more just stating a fact. “Real friendships are tough to find. Make ‘em last.”

“Yeah…” Scootaloo murmured, looking down with shame.

The waitress came back again, giving them both a smile, “Can I bring you girls anything else?”

Scootaloo shook her head, “No… I should go. My dad’s house is just down the block, I can walk from here.”

“Get home safe kid,” Rainbow said giving her a wave as Scootaloo rose to her feet.

Nodding, Scootaloo got off her seat and started to head toward the door. The waitress came behind her, gently touching her shoulder.

“Hey, kid, what’d you think of Dash, huh?” She asked with a curious smile.

Scootaloo cast a look back at Rainbow, her scruffy hair, cocksure smirk, devil-may-care attitude, and most of all that intensity she had been able to conjure on a moment’s notice. “I think… I think I want to be her.”

This made the waitress laugh, ruffling Scootaloo’s hair, “I hear you, kiddo.”

Meanwhile, back at the table, Rainbow was enjoying her meal. She really felt like she had earned it, and that made it taste all the better. Jobs like this one weren’t particularly tough, but they really were rewarding. She hated jobs that were all about spying on people or finding proof of infidelity (not that she didn’t take those jobs to pay the rent when she needed to) and  helping put a troubled kid on a better path was a tough feeling to top.

Rainbow sighed happily and closed her eyes as she chewed the final bite of her meal. That was when she heard it. A voice like honeyed silk, sweeter and smoother than anything she could have imagined…. and it was ordering a hamburger.

The woman to whom it belonged was seated directly behind Rainbow in the neighboring booth, so that the two women were back to back. Rainbow considered turning her head, finding out just who this woman was, sweeping her off her feet, and maybe even whisking her back to her apartment… but then Dash came back to her senses. She was done with her food, she had plans to meet up with the gang from the Rock Farm for drinks later, there was no real reason to bug whoever this woman was.

Still, that voice was beautiful.

Rainbow picked up her hat, tossed some cash from her jacket pocket onto the table and exited the booth. Unable to help herself, she said in an offhand way as she was leaving, “Cute voice you got there.”

“...Thank you…” the woman replied after a moment from behind large sunglasses and a wig.

But Rainbow didn’t hear it, because she was already gone.

“Look at you go. You’re really learning,” the woman behind the desk within the shadowed office turned around in her chair. She smiled and chuckled, gesturing for Rainbow to come closer, “I should have expected you to solve it a different way, kid.”

The woman stood, coming into the light. Firefly chuckled again, patting Rainbow’s shoulder affectionately.

“Course you remembered my golden rule about alternatives, right?”

“Uh… Whatever works, works?” Rainbow said, not quite remembering the rule offhand. Firefly had something like a million rules, and Dash was no where close to remembering them all.

This made Firefly laugh, “Not quite. But I think you understand. You’ve come a long way, Dash. Ever since that incident, you’ve proven yourself tenfold. And considering before, that’s saying something.”

“That’s a compliment right? I always sucked at math,” Rainbow joked, though she knew that it had been.

“Then you try doing it until you’re good at it,” Firefly winked at her, “So, how about it? You ready for the next case?”

“Like you need to ask!” Rainbow said, bursting with excitement. “Do we get to kick someone’s ass this time? Maybe save a damsel in distress or recover some missing jewels?”

“Read the case file and find out,” Firefly smirked, picking up a folder off her desk and handing it to her.

Rainbow excitedly snatched up the case file, though after only a moment’s reading her face began to fall. “A runaway? Crap. This means we’re gonna have to go on stakeout aren’t we? Soooooo boring….”

Once more, Firefly laughed, “Dash… let me tell you something. Of course we’re going to get the boring cases. We always do. But that’s part of our job, we have to take the good with the less exciting. Trust me, you’ll understand one day. You can take my word for it.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Rainbow scoffed, unable to even think of a world where tracking down someone’s runaway kid could ever count as fun.

“Dammit Firefly,” Rainbow grumbled to herself, a smile still on her lips as she droved Applejack’s truck in the direction of the Rock Farm. “Can’t stop saying I told you so even when you’re dead.”

Rainbow pulled up to a red light where she caught sight of a billboard perched atop a building just a head of her. There were workers plastering a new billboard over the old one. Rainbow almost didn’t spare it a second look until she caught sight of the long bubblegum locks of the featured model.

Fluttershy.

Rainbow didn’t realize how long she’d been staring at it until the car behind her honked impatiently. As Rainbow drove on she began to catch more glimpses of those teal eyes and pink hair. Bus stops, bill boards, taxis and even on the side of a bus or two, all of them had been adorned with Fluttershy’s image.

It felt as if the very image of Fluttershy was haunting her.

Snorting a little, Rainbow shook her head as she soon pulled up to the bar. That was silly to think, especially considering that every new thing that got popular went this way. Overexposed on every kind of advertising imaginable before the next sliced bread came along. She chuckled, grabbing the magazine from earlier and getting out of the cab of the truck.

Right across the street, along a clothing store, yet another image of Fluttershy was plastered on the wall next to the shop. On top of that, it was huge. Practically taking up the length from the ground to the window. It was an especially beautiful photo that featured the model sitting on a white floor, decked out in a gorgeous sky blue dress, and nervously smiling toward the camera.

‘Yep, that woman is haunting me,’ Rainbow mused. Tearing her eyes away from the advertisement with some difficulty,  Rainbow then proceeded into the Rock Farm.

Spying Applejack, the Rock farms ever-present bouncer, Rainbow tossed her the keys. “Hey AJ, catch.”

“How’d the ol’ gal perform?” Applejack drawled, catching the keys deftly.

“Nothing fell off,” Rainbow replied, cracking a grin, “You ever think of getting a new ride?”

“Ah happen to like ol’ Matilda,” Applejack said, looking mildly scandalized, “She’s got me through more’n my share of journeys.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t say a word against her again,” Rainbow said with a little, snicker. “... who the hell name’s their car ‘Matilda’ anyway.”

“Ah can name my car whatever ah please,” Applejack said, tipping her hat down over her eyes, “Now you run along, ah think Pinkie’s waiting for you by the bar. Excited ta hear all the details of your case, no doubt.”

Rainbow stuck her tongue out at her playfully, then walked off along the bar. The warm, but exciting atmosphere of the place was very inviting, even with the uncertainty of the theme. She grinned toward Rarity, who was serving up a table, and waved at her. Rarity waved in return, giving a nod of acknowledgement.

When reaching the bar, Rainbow took a seat at one of the stools, removing her hat and placing it down. Already she could feel herself relax, practically tasting the delicious cider she was about to have.

Sure enough, Pinkie Pie came right over to her, grinning jovially, “Hello hello, Dashie! I was wondering when you’d show up!”

“Like I’d miss the opportunity to grab a cold cider after a job well done,” Rainbow said, removing her hat and running a hand through her multicolored hair.

Without even missing a beat, let alone moving from where she stood, Pinkie placed a mug of apple cider right in front of her. She grinned more, picking up a glass and drying it with a towel, winking at her, “Soooo, how’d it all gosies, Dashie?”

“It all went perfect,” Rainbow said, sipping her cider gratefully, “Ah, damn that’s good cider. Yeah, like I said, perfect. You know the deal, lost kid found, inspired and sent on their way. Just another day in the fabulous life of Rainbow Dash, private eye.”

“Sweet! Now that’s a good day for you, Dashie!” Pinkie winked, giggling, “Bet you’re really going to celebrate!”

“Oh, you know it,” Rainbow said, taking a large swig of her cider.

Pinkie went down the bar, then turned on the overhead television. She popped back up again, all ready with a refill of apple cider, while an entertainment newscast was playing.

Rainbow graciously accepted the refill. Pinkie was pretty much the best bartender Rainbow had ever met. She was always able to anticipate to anticipate her customers needs. Rainbow liked to joke that Pinkie must have had some kind of sixth sense.

Rainbow’s eyes drifted up to the TV, where an entertainment reporter was doing a piece on none other than Fluttershy. Picture after picture of Fluttershy flashed on the screen as the reporter described her meteoric rise to stardom.

A smile curled Dash’s lips as she watched the images of Fluttershy continue to dance across the TV. It was a moment before Rainbow realized that she must have been watching for upwards of fifteen minutes without so much as sipping her cider.

Naturally, Pinkie noticed and grinned, “Oooooh! That’s Fluttershy! I’ve seen her around for a while, she’s so cute! I don’t think I’ve seen a model who’s cute!”

Before Rainbow could respond, the segment cut to an interview with Fluttershy on a popular talk show. Surprisingly, not quite just for her modeling, but her latest act in animal rights activism. She had donated a large sum of money to an animal rights shelter in the city, which was now leading to a big renovation of the building.

The talk show host was asking, “So how’d it make you feel, just walking in there and seeing all that reno work going on because of it?”

Fluttershy looked around for a moment, then smiled brightly, “Well… I knew it needed an upgrade for a long time, now. I had always donated some money, but it was never truly enough. I’m glad I could finally donate a lot more… It makes my job more worth it.”

“She’s so kind I almost can’t believe it,” Rainbow murmured as she drank more of her cider. She could feel the alcohol playing at the edges of her mind, loosening her tongue.

“Isn’t she?” Pinkie giggled, refilling her drink again, “No wonder she does all those animal product ads!”

“Haven’t too many of those yet,” Rainbow said, “Read an interview though, and she has ads all over the storefronts around here.”

Just then Applejack dropped a stack of magazines onto the bar top, “Hey Dash, I don’t mind ya borrowing Matilda for the evening, just clean her up afterward, got it?”

“Yeah yeah, got it,” Rainbow said, waving her away. She stared at the stack of magazines, the one with Fluttershy, right on top. She had been planning to toss the lot of them when she had finished the case… but now she couldn’t imagine throwing away the magazine with Fluttershy’s image gracing the cover. It felt kinda special, somehow.

“Awww, that’s a pretty picture of her!” Pinkie exclaimed, taking the particular magazine and perusing the cover, “She’s such a cutie!”

“Yeah, I mean, If you’re into the whole… hot-model-with-legs-for-days-and-the-kind-of-eyes you-could-drown-in... type…” Rainbow, unable to keep the small reflexive smile from her lips.

Pinkie looked at her, then laughed a bit, “Oooh, you find her a hottie, Dashie? Ooh! I think somebody’s got a crushie!”

“What? No. You have a crush… shut up…” Rainbow said, pouting like a middle schooler having their first crush exposed.

“Mm-hmm, you’d be right!” Pinkie gave a smile, “She’s soooo cute! I especially loved her swimsuit edition she did this past summer! Oooh, mama!”

“Wait what swimsuit edition? Where can I get it? Do you still have it?” Rainbow said speaking so fast she nearly tripped over her words. She had hardly noticed that she was now actively leaning over the bar, peering straight into Pinkie’s eyes.

“It was from July, buuuuut… I might still have it,” Pinkie looked back into her eyes, unblinking.

“Do you think I could um, borrow it?” Rainbow said, a pink blush slowly creeping across her cheeks.

“You can, but why?” Pinkie tilted her head, smiling, “I thought you didn’t like her!”

“For… um… research! Yeah, I mean, she could be a client someday… I need to know everything about her just in case-” Rainbow sighed, realizing just how impossible her excuses were becoming, “Okay, okay, I like her. I want her. I’d carry her over the threshold to my crappy little apartment and make sweet sweet love to her.”

“Awwww!” Pinkie cooed, giggling, “That’s so adorable, Dashie!” She ducked down behind the bar, rifling through her bag, and then popped back up again, “Here you go!” She slid over a July issue of a summer beach fun magazine.

“Holy crapping crap…” Rainbow muttered as she took the issue in her hands. Fluttershy looked as graceful as ever on the cover. She was wearing a bikini that could turn heads so fast it could cause whiplash, and Rainbow was certainly falling under her spell once again. Every one of Fluttershy’s delightful curves was on display, but as usual Rainbow kept coming back to her eyes. Those sweet, beautiful, sincere eyes… Rainbow just loved to get lost in them.

Leaning over the bar, Pinkie placed her head in her hands, “Really sexy, isn’t she, Dashie?”

“That’s the understatement of the year,” Rainbow said in a dreamy tone as she flipped through the pages of the magazine.

“You’re so cute, Dashie! You’ve got a crushie!” Pinkie cooed, “It’s super sweet! She seems like such a nice lady! You might get along with her!”

“That’d be nice, wouldn’t?” Rainbow said, reaching for another sip of her cider. “But what’re the odds of that actually happening? Not good, that’s what they are…”

Pinkie patted her head, “Hey, you never know! Like you said, she could need your help some day!”

“Yeah, that’ll be my little fantasy then,” Rainbow said, cracking a bit of a smile. “She walks into my office, and says ‘Rainbow, you have to help me,’ or something like that. Who knows maybe it’ll come true.”

“You do that, Dashie~!” Pinkie winked at her, “You can charm her, then she’ll be all over you for sure!”

“I’ll drink to that,” Rainbow said lifting her glass.

“Mm-hmm!” Pinkie raised her water bottle, tapping it against Rainbow’s glass and drinking from it, “Whatever you say, Dashie~”

Setting down her cider glass, empty once more, Rainbow leaned back a bit on her stool and cast her eyes down at her careworn yet well loved trench coat. “It’s probably just a fun little pipe dream… She’d never actually go for a lowlife gumshoe like me. It’s fun to dream, but that’s all it ever be, a fun little dream.”

“Awww, now don’t say that!” Pinkie pouted, “Why wouldn’t she want to go for you? You’re fantastical! Awesometacular!”

“For a private eye, yeah, I’m a badass in size ten boots, but she’s a model…” Rainbow said with a little shrug. “That’s a different class of lady…”

“Oh, but you have that charming smile and soooo much skills! She’d be impressed!” Pinkie nudged her arm playfully.

“Yeah maybe for a night or two,” Rainbow said, staring into her empty glass. “But I… If I were with her I’d want more than that. I won’t just want to shack up with her for a night, I think I’d… I think I’d marry that woman if I had the chance.”

Pinkie blinked, wide-eyed. She stared at Rainbow for a good ten seconds, before giggling and grinning all the more, “Oooohh! Dashie, that’s sooooo sweet! You never say that about any woman you like! Wow! Flutters sure must be special for you to think that!”

“She is… she’s beautiful… amazing… sexy… smart and sweet,” Rainbow sighed, now seeming a bit more content, “She’s the complete package. I’d totally walk down the aisle with…” Suddenly, as if finally realizing what she had been saying, her face went beet red. “Oh man… Hey Pinks, could you not tell anyone about...uh… any of this.”

Nodding, Pinkie winked at her, “Okay, Dashie! Oh, but don’t worry! It’s so sweet of you to say these things! I think Flutters is super duper lucky to have caught your eye!”

“Yeah well, you can tell her that if you ever meet her,” Rainbow said, settling into something of a bittersweet mood. She could feel a deep longing sort of crush for Fluttershy, but it was tempered by the sad thought that she would probably never even see Fluttershy in person.

“Okay!” Pinkie smiled, holding out the cider bottle, “Want more?”

“Hmmm…” Rainbow looked down at one of her hands, confirmed that she could see five fingers and not ten, and then replied, “Yeah, I’m good for another.”

“Great!” Pinkie poured her some more cider, “Trust me Dashie, you’ll find a way! Things have a funny way of working out, after all! Just look at Applejackie and Rarity!”

“That’s true,” Rainbow said casting a glance back towards the door of the restaurant where Rarity was taking time between waiting tables to hang off of Applejack’s arm and nuzzle into her shoulder. “I don’t think I would have ever thought that would happen when I first met them.”

“Exactly!” Pinkie nodded, taking a glass and drying it with a towel, “So don’t give up, Dashie! I think one day, you’re gonna be super lucky and meet the lady of your dreams!”

“Thanks, Pinks. You keep being optimistic enough for the both of us, and things might just work out,” Rainbow said, tipping back more cider.

Several hours and ciders later, Rainbow had made her way back to her basement apartment. She had stripped out of her clothes and was now laying beneath her sheets, a small bedside lamp lighting the otherwise dim room.

“Beautiful, beautiful woman,” Rainbow muttered as she poured over that first magazine with Fluttershy’s image. She could almost imagine her laying next to her in bed. Her pink hair spilling over the pillow, her beautiful teal eyes looking up at her… a slight smile on those perfect pink lips.

Rainbow sank down into the covers, her head nestled into her pillow with the magazine laying on the pillow next to her. She just wanted to have it close… wanted her eyes to be the last thing she saw when she went to sleep… and the first thing she would see when she woke up.

Rainbow took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she closed her eyes. It wouldn’t be long before the dream world would take hold…

~X~

When Rainbow came into her office, spying the sight of the beautiful woman sitting there on her desk. Fluttershy gazed her with a sweet smile, crossing one leg over the other, leaning forward ever slightly. Adorned in a yellow summer dress, coupled with a trench coat, she looked absolutely sexy, yet cute.

“Hello, Rainbow…” Fluttershy said sultrily, giving her bedroom eyes, “You have a new case to work on…”

“Oh and what might that be?” Rainbow replied, somehow within the logic of the dream not surprised to see the beautiful woman sitting atop her desk.

“Mm-hmm. It’s a very important case, Dash. Something you need to investigate right away,” Fluttershy purred, beckoning her with one finger.

Rainbow moved closer to the stunningly gorgeous model. Closer still until she could hear the soft inhale and exhale of her breath, which was of course accompanied by a tantalizing swell and fall of Fluttershy’s generous bosom. Even through the curtain of the dream, Rainbow could feel the all too real physiological response to such an enticing sight.

“Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll be sure to give your case a thorough investigation~” Rainbow purred.

“That’s great, and awesome… Because your new case… is about finding my most pleasured spot…” Fluttershy purred, reaching over and placing her hands on her shoulders, “I need your help finding it, Dash… And only you can help me.”

Rainbow leaned in and planted a steady stream of smoldering kisses along the creamy, pale skin of the model’s neck, “Mmmm… I’ll take the case~”

Soft moans came from Fluttershy as she angled her head accordingly, nuzzling Rainbow’s air, “Yay… I’ll be sure to compensate you for your trouble…”

“I could only ever ask for one thing from you,” Rainbow whispered, her warm breath pouring over Fluttershy’s earlobe in a way that sent shivers down the model’s spine.

“And what’s that?” Fluttershy murmured, bringing one hand up to course through Rainbow’s colourful strands.

“That you allow me to love you deeply and forever,” Rainbow said in a passionate whisper as her hands caressed down Fluttershy’s side to rest upon her hips.

Gazing at her with a loving, sweet smile, Fluttershy brought her hands to her face, “Oh, Rainbow… That’s all I could ever want… Just as I will love you now and forever. We’re meant to be, and this will be forever, my love…”

“Forever,” Rainbow repeated, enjoying everything about the word as she brought her lips to Fluttershy’s in a passion filled kiss.

Within the realm of her dream, the action was returned whole-heartedly, as if it were truly felt. Truly happening. Fluttershy’s kiss, touch, warmth, felt as real as it could be.

If only it were.

In the months to come Rainbow would have many dreams like this. Dreams so real they could barely be called dreams. Rainbow occasionally caught herself believing that they might be visions, that they showed her some sort of rosy future instead of the gritty, tough days she lived now... But fate has a funny way of making its will know, and not always in the ways in which one dreams.