Rarity was halfway between sleep and consciousness, she could feel the warm sun heating her coat, she could see the brightness through her eyelids.

It was a cold morning, freezing even. The mare pulled her two layers of duvet's over her neck and snuggled into the warm embrace of her bed. She felt the bed shake as the pony lying behind her readjusted.
The mare felt a foreleg drape around her lower belly from behind. It grabbed her by the haunch and pulled her backside to the belly of the pony wielding it.

"Hmm." Rarity hummed at the feeling. She gave her hips a little wiggle, pushing her bum further into the pony's belly.

The pony gave a yawn. "Mornin', Rare." It was the same voice as always, raspy but gentle. "You're feeling playful today." Rarity giggled at the statement.

"Say's you, darling. Can't keep your hooves to yourself?" The unicorn said as the pony readjusted their position as big spoon.

The pony hummed and parted the unicorns mane with their muzzle to plant a kiss on the back of Rarity's neck. "I can't help myself."

For a few minutes, the two ponies lay there, holding each other, keeping each other warm with their collective body temperature. But soon enough Rarity's thoughts caught up.

It's a pillow.

The smile the unicorn had been wearing fell, she moved her hoof down to reach the stranger's. The white mare grasped it, squeezing it to make sure it was real. It was, she could feel the nail and the ankle joint of the limb.

"You okay, Rare?" The pony said as they gently stoked Rarity's belly fur from behind with calming grace.

It's a dream.

"Yes darling."

I just have to keep my eyes ope-

Rarity's eyes snapped open out of instinct.

And just like that, the pony was gone.

The pony.

Rarity knew who the pony was. Of course she knew.

Rarity stared at the wall, no longer did the warm sunlight filter through her window, now the only light that came through was white and dreary, filtered by the thick cloud layer of winter. A pillow pressed up against her back. It was just a dream.

Rarity didn't feel anything, not sadness or anger. She felt nothing.

The mare closed her eyes, and tried to get back to sleep. Trying to get back to the dream. Trying to get back to Rainbow Dash.

* * * * * *

A few rooms down the hall, Rainbow Dash was having her own troubles. Something was tickling her nose.
The pegasus tried to ignore it and snuggled up closer to herself to fend off the cold, nipping air of the winter morning. The air outside the blanket was so cold it stung.

The tickling was getting worse.

Without looking, Rainbow wiped a hoof over her muzzle, trying to dislodge whatever it was that was tickling her. It didn't work, the tickling had only gotten worse.

If you were to put your ear up to the door of Sweetie Belles room, you might be able to make out the faint 'Chu' sound that came from within.

Rainbow sneezed. The tickling was still there.

The mare groggily opened an eye to get a look at whatever it was. The very end of her own tail was right in her face.

She swished her tail out of the way, making sure the end of it was tucked underneath the duvet. She had curled up and wrapped her tail around herself, like a foal would sleep against her mother's bosom, resulting in her tail being right in her face.

I need a tail cut.

Rainbow blew her fringe out of her face, it had been hanging past her muzzle.

Mane is messed up, too.

...

Maybe Rarity can sheer me.

Rainbow closed her eyes, once more. She was going to sleep in today.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0~

Blue October stood in front of a house in Fillydelphia. The house was of modern design, nobody could call it small, you couldn't call it large either. It was just a house.

She wasn't alone, Rainbow Dash stood next to her, waiting for Blue to compose herself. The two filly's had sat for two hours on the train to get here, but the long train ride had done nothing to quell Toby's nerves.

The house belonged to Blue Octobers parents, it was also where the young mare had lived before moving to Cloudsdale.

"You ready?" Rainbow asked, her voice the only sound audible aside from the whipping wind.

"No." Toby responded. "I'm never gonna be ready." Toby looked to the house, her stomach was trying to turn itself over within her and her breathing was erratic and heavy. All the possible outcomes of the following scenario had gone through Toby's head a million times over.

Sadly, few of those ended well.

"Alright." Toby took a deep breath. "Like a band-aid."

Rainbow shot her girlfriend a supportive smile. The two mares trotted up to the door of the domicile and with a light touch, Toby knocked thrice.

The two mares could hear hoof steps from inside, before long, the door swung open and revealed the face of another blue mare. She was the spitting image of Toby, just older. Toby always saw her mother as a mirror into the future.

"Oh hi, Blue." The older mare stepped aside to let them in. "and friend." The mare eyed Rainbow.

Dash smiled politely. "Rainbow Dash, it's a pleasure Mrs. Wind."

"Windy is fine." The mare responded automatically, she was oddly unnerving to Rainbow Dash. Something about her was.. off. "Tea?" Asked August Wind as she trotted ahead to the kitchen.

"Uh, no thanks, mom." Toby responded, August shot a questioning look to Rainbow.

"I'm fine, thanks." Rainbow responded. Dash figured out what was odd about her, she hadn't seen an expression from the mare yet, her face was completely neutral.

"What brings you home, Blue? Did your rental bond fall through?" The joke came out almost condescendingly as the mare lay down on the couch in the living room, taking up almost all the chair's space.

"Oh no, nothing like that, I was in town, I thought I would stop by." Toby lied, the trip had been for this specific purpose. "Where's dad?"

"Work." The older mare said unenthusiastically.

"Dad works Saturdays now?" Blue Raised an eyebrow. She was equal parts relieved as she was worried to hear her father wasn't home, It meant having to come out to one less potentially angry parent, however, it also meant that her mother was the one to explain it to her father; which would of course be biased.

"Yes." Responded the older mare. Rainbow was getting a bad vibe from August Wind, her one syllable responses were off-putting and quite frankly rude. It made her feel as though Windy had better things to do than talk to her own daughter.

"Mom, look. I need to tell you something important." Toby had enough of small talk, she needed to get this done.

Like a bandaid.

August looked on, her face still neutral. "Well. Go on, then."

Dash was starting to get fed up with the mare's rudeness ,she was no longer smiling.

Toby took a deep breath. "Mom, I'm a lesbian, Rainbow Dash is my girlfriend and if you don't like it, that's tough." Toby said with a stern tone.

Toby could feel her heart pumping. August Wind looked on between the two, her face finally showing an emotion. Half parts confusion and anger, like she had just been told a really bad joke. Rainbow looked to Toby, her own expression slightly worried, Toby however looked like she had seen a ghost.

August Wind spoke up.

"You're gay." Her voice was laced with confusion, neither Toby nor Dash took that as a good sign.

"Yes." Toby stuck to her strict, assured attitude. Another silence followed.

"You're a dyke." The words dripped off Windy's tongue like venom.

Rainbows eyes went wide. Toby took a deep breath to calm herself. "No," Toby said the word slowly, trying to keep her cool. "I'm a lesbian and I would very much appreciate it if you didn't use that word."

August sated into Blue's eyes, a scowl had formed on her features. "I didn't raise a dyke, Blue October."

Rainbow couldn't believe what was happening, how casually Windy threw the insult around. Blue was starting to get visibly upset, Rainbow unfurled a wing and draped it around her girlfriend. Truth be told the gesture was as much for Blue's comfort as it was her own.

"Don't you dare!" August Wind's gaze leveled at Dash. "Not in my house!"

"Beg pardon?" Rainbow's eyes widened in surprise, she had no intention of removing her wing from her girlfriend's back, however.

"You've done this haven't you!" August voice was rising considerably as she barked at Dash. Toby was clearly having trouble processing what was happening.

Everything is falling apart!

"What?" Rainbow was completely lost at the accusation.

"You're the one who turned my daughter into some degenerate, mare munching slut!" August spat the words at Dash, her wings unfurling in anger, she was outright yelling now. Rainbows wings mimicked the action as Toby's jaw dropped and a tear slipped free from her eye.

"Don't you fucking dare." Rainbow warned, the chromatic mare was more than willing to square up to the August should the situation come to blows.

"Or what?" August fought back.

"Shut the fuck up!" Blue October screamed, shutting them both down.

August Wind stopped at Toby's outburst, her head swiveling to meet her daughters gaze. The older mare sat up at her highest extension, her face a stern seethe. "Get out."

As Rainbow stood to leave she could feel a fluttering in her chest, as if she were going to cry, truth be told she was close to it. Her biggest fear had come true, even if not for her but for Toby, it was still very upsetting.

Without another word Toby and Dash left the house, Dash shooting Windy a sharp scowl. August Wind slumped into her chair as she heard the front door slam, blowing out a long sigh. For a time she sat there, no sound in the room aside from the ticking of clock. Her face was neutral once more.

She sat for a time, wondering if what she had done was the right thing. Wondering if how she acted was appropriate. Eventually she came to a conclusion.

I didn't raise a dyke.

* * * * * *

Rainbow and Blue October stepped outside, with an almighty crack Toby thumped a hind hoof against the hard wood door, slamming it shut.

And then everything as quiet.

Thwap.

The sound of a single teardrop slapping against cobblestone cut through the silence. Rainbow looked over to her Filly friend. Understandably, Toby was crying.

Poor Toby.

"Blue." Rainbow said gently, turning her front to the blue mare. Without another word Dash wrapped a foreleg around the mare, gently Toby returned the gesture, pushing her head into Dash's breast. The two young mares dropped into a sitting position outside the door.
Blue October cried into Rainbow Dash's chest.

Before long Rainbow found herself crying into the older mare's mane.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0~

"I'm going to go for a walk to Fluttershy's house. See if her animals are okay. Again." Stated Rarity as she wrapped a scarf around her neck. Her morning had been spent finished her own cable knit sweater. As Rainbow's sweater was a cool beige, Rarity had opted for the lightest tint of baby blue, to highlight her eyes. It did just that. "Would you like to come?"

"Ughh," Rainbow moaned. "I'd love to but It's too cold and my sweater isn't dry.

Rarity looked at Rainbow with a critical eye, the mare sat in front of the fire, a book in her hooves. "Follow me, darling." Rarity turned and trotted toward the staircase, Rainbows legs creaked and popped as she rose to follow.

Rarity led Dash to her room, throwing open her double door - walk in closet. The mare walked ahead and stuck her face into a row of shelves, Rainbow felt her eyes wander, the blue mare sucked in a sharp breath.

Is it warm in this closet?

"You're skinnier than me," Rarity spun around, "I honestly don't know why I still have this, It hasn't fit me in years, not to mention, the style is a bit dated, but it's warm." Rarity handed Dash a blue hoodie, it wasn't nearly as stylish as her cable knit sweater, but it was good quality, even if it was one of the rare, store bought items of clothing Rarity owned.

Rainbow slid the light blue jumper over herself, flicking back the hood and pulling her mane out of the neck, letting it hang out the top of the jumper. It didn't have wing holes, but it was warm.

"The hood suits you, Rainbow." Rarity smiled as Rainbow buried her muzzle in the neck of the jumper, breathing in.

Smells like Rarity.

"Rarity, we're like the same size." It wasn't true, Rainbow was lean with almost no body fat, Rarity had a very thin layer coating her body, accentuating her curves, not to mention the unicorn was a few inches taller than Dash. Rainbow Dash was, in her own words, 'petite', but being small helped for stunt flying.

"More or less, but if something is going to fit, it may as well fit perfectly. Now come along." The two mares trotted down the stairs, and out the door of Carousel Boutique. The pair trotted down the road toward whitetail woods.

"I didn't pick you for a girl who wears hoodie's, Rarity." Rainbow shivered as the icy wind stung her face.

"Oh I'm not, not anymore, no!" Rarity laughed, an embarrassed blush could be seen coloring her cheeks, though most would mistake it for the cold.

"What?" Rainbow asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Oh, nothing Rainbow Dash, we all go through weird phases when we're young." Rarity smiled, images flooded her head of a younger self wearing too much eyeliner, piercings lining her ears and a blue Hoodie draped over her body.

Rainbow thought to her own past. "Not me."

The unicorn chuckled at that. "Likely story."

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0~

The train ride home was done mostly in silence. Blue October hadn't said much to each other after they had left August Winds home, instead they composed themselves and walked to the train station. The train pulled into the Ponyville station on time, a few travellers slowly walked off, weary from the long ride. The last two ponies to exit were Blue October and Rainbow Dash.

Wordlessly the two ponies leapt into the air, angling themselves toward Rainbows home. The flight was short and silent, the only sound was the whipping afternoon wind and the beat of wings. Rainbow and Toby set down on the cloud floor outside Rainbows home, the former began unlocking the door when she heard wings beats from behind her.

"I'm gonna go." Toby said, no longer were her eyes red or her cheeks wet, but she still looked awful.

Rainbow Turned to face the mare, a worried look on her face. "You don't want to come in?"

Toby sheepishly rubbed a foreleg. "N-no, I'm just gonna," The mare paused, looking up at Cloudsdale. "I'm just gonna go."

"Toby." Rainbows stomach dropped, she didn't want her girlfriend to be alone after the day she had, Rainbow was worried about her and what was worse, she didn't know how to say it. "Please."

It was all she could think to say.

"N-no, Dash I-." Toby paused to think. "I think I just need to be alone for a while."

Rainbow face fell.

"I'll talk to you soon, okay." With that, Toby turned and flew away toward Cloudsdale, leaving Rainbow Dash alone. She stood for a moment, watching her girlfriend go before pushing open the front door and walking inside.

She threw her house key onto a table that sat near the door and trotted through to her living area. Flopping down on her second-hand couch, the young mare let out a weary sigh. As she lay there, Rainbow had only one thing going through her mind.

Poor Toby.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0~

"Alright people, show me what you got!" Said Twilight to her friends. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and spike all handed over their clipboards, displaying exactly how many signatures they had gathered in their time here. Twilight did a quick count, marking tallies on a piece of scrap paper.

The group stood in an office, that office belonged to the mayor of Vanhoover, the light brown, moustached stallion sat across from where Twilight and her friends were standing. Joining them was the owner of the condemned Intercelestial.

"Three hundred and seven." Announced Twilight, a certain pride in her voice. Her friends and the owner of the Intercelestial beamed at the news.

The mayor of Vanhoover seemed to mull that over. He gave a sigh. "Cut key, old friend." He started, his voice was deep and of a thick prench accent. "I believe zis belongs to you." The stallion riffled through a drawer in his desk, and fished out a ring of keys. The ring also had a tag made from aluminium that displayed the words 'The Grand Intercelestial Hotel'.

The stallion hoofed over the key ring. As soon as the keys made contact with the elderly stallions hooves, the cutie marks of four ponies glowed and pulsed before returning to normal. The mayor watched this display and continued. "Construction must start within the month and finish within eighteen, otherwise ze Interzelestial will be put back up for demolition." He stated, matter of factly.

All eyes in the room turned to Cut Key, there was a tear rolling down his face. "Oh thank you ponies!" His aged voice was raspy. "You've saved my hotel." He reached up with a fore hoof to wipe his eye, Pinkie Pie produced a box of tissues out of thin air, offering him one.
The stallion took one and dabbed at his eyes. "How can I ever repay you all?"

Applejack opened her mouth to list off a few things, but was cut off by Twilight.

"Don't you worry about that, Cut Key. We're happy to help!"

The stallion trotted up to the alicorn and wrapped a hoof around her neck in a gentle hug. Twilight sheepishly accepted. Before long, things had wrapped up and the mayor reminded them that he had other appointments to attend to.

The group of ponies - and dragon - walked out the massive revolving door of the city council headquarters and said their goodbye's to Cut Key, who trotted off saying something about telling his wife the good news, a huge grin on his face.

"Twilight," Fluttershy spoke up from somewhere behind the group. "Can we go home now?"

Applejack, Spike and Pinkie laughed at that. They had been in Vanhoover for almost an entire week and everybody was keen to get back to Ponyville. Twilight mulled the question over, she looked to the setting sun behind the buildings, the day was winding down and the streets were emptying before the night truly fell.

"I guess we could go home now. If we do, we'll get back to Ponyville at about eleven."

Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Well I don't mind if you guys want to go home now," Twilight said as she adjusted her scarf. "I can always sleep on the train, after all."
Twilight looked back at her friends, they all looked exhausted, even Pinkie Pie looked slightly deflated.

"Or we can just get some rest and leave tomorrow." Twilight tried.

"I like that idea better."

"I don't care either way."

"Yeah, let's do that."

"Whatever you want to do, Twilight."

Three ponies and a dragon answered at the same time, the answer was obvious to Twilight now.

"Okay, one more night." She concluded.

* * * * * *

"Is he in there?" Asked the white unicorn, she was watching her friend stick her head down an animal's burrow.

"Yeah." Rainbow Dash called back. She pulled her head out of the burrow, Rarity could swear she saw a hint of moisture in Rainbows eyes. "Sleep well, bud. I'll come get you on winter wrap up."

"Why was Tank at Fluttershy's anyway?" Rarity asked.

Rainbow feigned disinterest as an excuse to look away, wiping her eyes. "Tortoises aren't meant to live in the clouds." She put simply.

"Oh."

The two began a slow walk back to Fluttershy's cottage. Not all the animals had gone into proper hibernation as Rarity suspected, a whole family of hedgehogs decided Fluttershy's bed was the perfect spot to spend their winter; resulting in Rarity having to float them into a nearby vacant burrow. Rainbow also took the field trip as an opportunity to check up on her Tortoise. She hadn't seen him since their last play date, and now she wouldn't see him for three months.

The only sound between the two ponies was the snow crunching underneath Rarity's boots and Rainbows unshielded hooves, that is until the blue mare broke that silence. "That sweater looks good on you."

Rarity turned and smiled at Rainbow Dash, flashing a few of her flawless teeth. "Thank you Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow softly smiled back before turning her focus back to the road ahead. Rarity thought about the interaction.

What did she mean by that?

Probably nothing, She just telling me I look good. She's not flirting.

Rarity's face fell a little, she cast a glance beside her, to look at Rainbow Dash.

Is crushing on Rainbow like this even a good idea?

What would I do if she was flirting?

The unicorn's train of thought was interrupted by an angry squeaking, Looking down, Rarity discovered she had almost stepped on Angel as she was lost in her reverie.

"Oh sorry, Angel." Rarity apologized. "Did you help your bear friend to his cave?"

The rabbit squeaked some more before dashing off along the trail toward Fluttershy's cottage. The alabaster mare interpreted that as a yes. "Good."

"How can you understand him?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh I can't. Not really." Rarity explained. "Not like Fluttershy can anyway, but I'm pretty sure that was a 'yes'. If not I think we would have found a fully grown brow bear by now."

"Good point."

For a moment nobody spoke, the two mares continued their slow, lazy walk. Rarity's thought returning to her.

What would I do?

I would flirt back, naturally. When opportunity knocks, Rarity.

But do I really want to take that opportunity? With Rainbow Dash of all ponies?

Images of the two ponies floated through Rarity's head. They were wrapped up in blankets on Rarity's lounge, Rainbow sat behind Rarity, her wings wrapped around Rarity's midsection, her primary's tickling the unicorns belly.
The unicorn didn't need to think any further.

Yes.

Yes I do.

She glanced to her side again, the two mares were crossing the bridge in front of Fluttershy's home now and Rainbow Dash's eyes were straight ahead.

Rarity was determined to have those beautiful eyes on her by day's end.

* * * * * *

"When do you think they're gonna get back?" Rainbow asked as the two ponies walked through the front door a carousel boutique, shaking the cold free of their coats.

"Should be soon, darling." Rarity responded, She had made sure to go through the door first, putting a slight swing into her gait. "If they were planning on being any longer they would've sent us a letter." Said the white mare as she kicked off her snow boots at the door, Rainbow just gave her hooves a hard tap on the balcony before walking in, dislodging all the snow.

Rainbow hopped up onto the couch, pulling the hoodie over her head and resting it on the arm of the chair. The unicorn had other plans.
Rarity waltzed between the couch and the fireplace, directing all of Rainbows attention toward her. The unicorn was looking away, but she could tell Rainbow was looking, and if she wasn't, she was about to be. With a spark of her horn Rarity sent a bolt of pure magic into the fireplace, setting the half burned logs from the previous fire ablaze.

She lay on her side, stretched out in front of Rainbow facing toward the fire to give Rainbows eyes some privacy. He hind legs lay over one another, it gave her perfectly round rump the shape of a soft love heart. The sweater she wore ended just before the unicorns haunches, only to make them stand out more.

With a slow motion, Rarity slid one leg over the other, pretending to get comfortable. The action relaxed the muscle that made up the majority of Rarity's behind, making her bottom look even more rounded. The angle prevented Rainbow from seeing anything that could be considered private.

Rainbow couldn't see the sly smile that was on Rarity's face.

And the pegasus' eyes were most certainly on Rarity.

Sweet Luna.

Dash couldn't tear her eyes off Rarity's rump.

Is she trying to make me lose my mind?

Stop looking at her ass. She's your friend!

Rainbow ignored the thought, looking at the work of art in front of her made that easy. Dirtier thoughts found their way in before long.

Sweet Luna, I would bury my face so-

Rainbow stopped herself.

She's your friend. Stop.

Dash watched as Rarity again adjusted ever so slightly, she could hear the fibers of Rarity's coat running against one another. The pegasus fought hard to pry her eyes away from the sight.

Maybe she is trying to make me lose my mind.

Rainbow gave a silent laugh at the Idea.

Nah.

...

But what if..?

Rainbow looked away.

"Rainbow, darling." Rarity whipped her head around, her eyes were half lidded, somewhere between sultry and boredom. She didn't catch Rainbow eyes on her as she was hoping, but she did see the vague blush on the mare's cheeks. The unicorn knew she had been looking.

"Wha-?" Rainbow was caught off guard, that was too close. Rarity smiled as Rainbow practically confirmed her suspicions.

"Would you like a cup of tea? Or Coffee?" Rarity said as she stood from in front of the fire.

"Uh yeah sure, coffee sounds great." Rainbow responded nonchalantly, or at least attempted to, her voice held an ever so subtle waver. Rarity smiled and walked past the couch. Walking past Rainbow, she made sure to brush one of Rainbows legs with her tail. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the pegasus tense up slightly.

The smile that graced Rarity's facial features morphed into something devilish.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0~

Three days.

It had been three day's since Rainbow Dash had seen hide or hair of Toby, yesterday the mare had flown all the way to the other side of Cloudsdale to see her. The small house that Blue called home was empty.

Rainbow lay on her belly in the middle of her living room floor, flicking through a magazine to take her mind of her girlfriend and her whereabouts. It didn't help at all.

I should've taken her home.

I Should've made sure she was okay.

...

She wasn't okay, of course she wasn't okay.

I'm a terrible girlfriend.

The thoughts no longer made Rainbow sad or angry as they would have three days ago, now they just made her feel empty. Time had done nothing to stop the thoughts from entering her mind, just as frequent now as they had been three days ago.

I hope she knows I'm a terrible girlfrie-

Thump! Thump!

Rainbows ears swivelled at the noise of hooves on her front door.

That might be Toby!

Rainbow jumped up and ran to the door throwing it open, before her stood Blue October.

"Toby!" Rainbow exclaimed as she lunged forward, wrapping her legs around the mare. After a moment, Toby lifted a hoof and gently rubbed the younger mare's back with gentle strokes. "Where have you been? I've missed you."

Toby didn't say anything, Rainbow noticed. "Toby?"

"Dash." Toby's voice was raspy, Rainbow noticed her eyes were red also. She had been crying. "Can I come in."

Rainbow gently brushed the blue mare's mane out of her face. "You don't have to ask to come in."

Dash ushered her inside, immediately Rainbow noticed how thick the air was with tension. This was the first time they had talked in three days. Dash wasn't going to let this be awkward. "Toby, What's wrong."

Blue October let out a long sigh. "I think we need to talk, Dash."

Rainbow froze up. She knew what those words meant. Everybody knew what those words meant.

"About what?" Rainbows voice was monotonous and sterile.

"Dash." Toby was fighting the urge to cry, her face contorted as she attempted to keep her composure. "I-I think we need a break for a while."

Rainbows stomach dropped as her back legs gave out on her, her bottom hitting the cloud floor with a 'pomf'. Her mouth hung open in shock.

Maybe she just wants a few days. Its okay.

Its okay.

Rainbow found her voice.

"How long?" Rainbows voice was more raspy than usual, she was fighting it.

"I don't know." Toby responded, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Is it because I yelled at your mom?" Rainbow dragged a hoof across her face to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall. "I'm sorry Toby, I didn't-"

"No."

"Why then?" Rainbow sniffed, hurt clear through her tone.

"I just need some time alone."

The air was cold around Rainbow Dash, the silence buzzed in her ears as if she had been slapped.

"Toby," Rainbow began. "I can't begin to imagine what you're going through." Tears streaked down Rainbows cheeks in dark rivulets. "But I can help you get through it."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Toby finished, tears rolling down her own cheeks now.

"Why Toby?" Rainbow pleaded. "I can help."

"I booked myself for therapy." The words that left Toby's mouth did nothing but confuse Rainbow Dash. The younger mare's eyes narrowed in confusion, she had her suspicions. It took a moment before Rainbow asked.

"What kind of therapy?" Rainbows tone had turned quiet and cautious.

Toby sniffed and wiped her nose on her foreleg. She really didn't want to say, but it was Dash. Dash deserved to know.

"Toby." Rainbow pressed.

"Homosexual conversion therapy." Rainbow's eyes widened at the admission.

"Toby!" Rainbow felt a tear slip free at the admission. "Wh-!?"

"I don't want to be gay anymore, Dash!" Toby's shouted.

And there it was. Rainbow felt like Toby had rolled her over and stomped on her chest.

She doesn't want to be gay anymore?

The pain in Rainbows chest worsened as the silence returned.

"Blue-" Rainbow tried.

"My mom hate's me!" Blue Octobers voice broke, cracking at the statement. "My dad probably does too!"

"But I love you!" Rainbow challenged, finally getting a word in.

Toby looked at her hooves. "I love you to, Dash."

"Then fuck your parents! If they can't accept you for who you are, how you were born, fuck 'em! You don't need them!" Rainbow panted in her last ditch effort to try and speak sense into Toby.

"I'm sorry Dash." Toby turned. "I'm just gonna go." Toby turned and started a slow walk toward Rainbow Dash's front door. Rainbow watched as she left, her front legs giving out in much the same way her hind legs had, dropping her chest to the floor.

Toby walked outside and with a gentle click, the door shut. The pain in Rainbow's chest worsened, like somebody had cut her open and filled her chest cavity with angry wasps. Her breathing had become heavy, she thought she was going to vomit.

Rainbow Dash laid her head on the cold floor and wrapped her forelimbs around her face, and with a long wail, Rainbow began to cry.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0~

"Hold still, dammit!" Rarity shouted as Rainbow squirmed.

"You're taking too much off!" Rainbow complained.

"Honestly Rainbow Dash, two inches is not too much. It will look lovely, I promise." Rarity spoke softer now as she telekinetically held up a lock of Rainbow's mane, snipping off the split ends with a pair of razor sharp scissors.

"I dont want it to look 'lovely'," Rainbow imitated Rarity's voice on the word. "I want it to look cool, like it always does."

"It will look the same Rainbow, shorter but not noticeably. Relax will you." Rarity continued her work. "I never pegged you for a mare to care so much about her mane."

"I don't. I just don't want to have to care for it either. If you make it too nice, I'll have to look after it."

"Oh hush." At that the two ponies returned to quiet. The only sound in the boutique was the snipping of the scissors in Rarity's telekinetic grasp. The two mares were in Rarity's bedroom, Rainbow sat on a stool in front of the unicorn's duchess, looking into the mirror, Rarity stood behind her, gently clipping away the split ends of Rainbows mane.

"You really do have a beautiful mane, Rainbow Dash. I do wish you would style it every now and then."

Rarity wondered how Rainbow would take the compliment. She had said it to the mare before, more than once, but now. Rarity knew Rainbows secret, Rainbow knew hers, they were compatible in that sense; Rarity wondered if now Rainbow would see it as just a regular compliment, or as something more.

Silence hung over them for a few seconds.

"Thanks." Rainbows voice was quiet, like she was speaking to the floor. The unicorn could tell from her tone that Rainbow didn't quite know how to take the compliment. The white mare's eyebrows furrowed in thought.

Don't play that game, Rainbow Dash. Roll with the compliment.

Maybe I have to make things clearer..

"I really think you would suit a short mane, Rainbow." Rarity smiled as she ran a hoof through Rainbows mane. She didn't need to physically touch her mane, what with her telekinesis, but she wanted to. She very gently Ran her hoof down the length of Rainbow's mane, giving it a small twirl when she reached the, now, not so split ends.

Rainbow looked at Rarity's reflection in the mirror, wondering why Rarity was playing with her mane. "Maybe one day."

The scissors snipped away the last few split ends of Rainbows mane. Rarity set the tool down on the desk. "I think it would look cute."

Rarity's gut knotted as the words left her mouth; she didn't let her nerves show on her face however.

Dash didn't know how to react to that, her mind momentarily went blank.

Uh oh.

What does that mean.

Is she telling me she thinks im cute? Or saying that she thinks I would be cute with a short mane? Or both?

Oh Luna, I think Rarity is trying to tune me.

What if I am Rarity's type?

"Maybe someday." Rainbow played it off as if she hadn't noticed the potentially flirtatious implications of the remark. She didn't know what else to do.

The white mare turned and sat down on Rainbows tail, pinning it to the ground to stop the mare from making things difficult for her. Using her telekinesis, she grabbed the scissors off the desk and began to work on the chromatic mare's tail, cutting off the split ends and neatening it up.

Rainbow didn't see this coming, she had asked Rarity to trim her mane and tail, but now she felt odd about it. She needed to say something, the two had gone quiet again.

"Would you ever cut your mane short?" Rainbow asked, trying to make non-awkward conversation.

Rarity seemed to mull that over as she snipped away. "Maybe." The truth was Rarity would never part with her coiffure, she would no doubted cry if she cut it short, but she didn't want to dissuade Rainbow from the style, so she lied. After all, Rainbow Dash would look cute with a short mane, Rarity reasoned. "I think I could make it work."

Dash seemed to contemplate that.

It didn't take long for Rarity to finish Rainbows tail, it was a relatively small amount of hair in comparison to the mare's mane. She stood and turned. "What do you think, darling." Rarity said.

Rainbow looked back and swished her tail about a few times. "It looks great, thank you Rarity."

"Any time, darlin-" Rarity was cut off by her horn. Against her will It crackled and sparked, her eyes widened before a plume of green fire shot out of it. In a flash a scroll appeared and dropped to the floor.

"Holy crap." Rainbow exclaimed as she dashed over to the scroll lying on the ground. "I didn't know you could get spike mail."

Rarity was touching her horn in minor panic, making sure it was okay. "I didn't know either! I thought only princess Celestia was able to get them, then again if she can get them I suppose any unico...."

Rarity trailed off, rubbing her chin as Dash unrolled the letter. "It's from Twilight." Dash stated, she read on. "She says that they will be back sometime tomorrow."

"Oh." Said Rarity, a hint of something in her tone, a sort of vague dysphoria. "Have you figured out for sure where you want to stay?"

Rainbow had already decided what she wanted to do, but if Rarity was going to continue her suspiciously flirtatious behavior, Rainbow didn't know if it was wise to stay. She could always move out later if need be, she mused. "I guess I'll stay here if that's okay with you."

"Of course, darling. That would be delightful." Rarity's demeanor brightened at once.

Rainbow's eyes returned to the page. "She also says she hopes we have had good luck in trying to solve our problem. What problem?" Rainbow asked.

"The map, Rainbow." Rarity said as she began lifting hair clippings off the carpet and levitating it into a waste bin. Rainbow's mouth made a little 'o' in realization.

"But nothing has gone wrong." Rainbow scratched her head. "I thought that maybe Fluttershy's animals would get up to something but.." Rainbow trailed off in thought.

"Nothing has gone wrong?" Rarity quirked an eyebrow. "Rainbow you got kicked out of your home."

"Oh yeah." Rainbow said. "I forgot about that."

"What do you mean you forgot about that!?" Rarity asked. "How do you forget about something like that?"

"I dunno." Rainbow thought. "I guess you're just really good at making me feel at home, Rarity." Rainbow stood and trotted toward the door, placing the note from Twilight on the desk as she walked past. "Thanks for the haircut, Rarity. It's perfect." Without another word, Rainbow trotted out into the hallway and down the stairs.

Rarity stared at the door in vague bewilderment. Rainbow had either ignored or completely missed how very sweet she had just been. The unicorn swore she could feel a throbbing in her chest and she certainly couldn't keep the smile off her face.

Rainbow walked down the stairs and sat in her usual spot next to the fire. She flicked open a book she had found on the shelf in Rarity's room after asking the mare if she had any more books to read. The horror novel in her hooves was so far all talking, Rainbow wasn't focusing on it too much. Her thoughts were what drew her attention.

She said I have a beautiful mane.

Then she played with my mane.

And then she called me cute...

Rainbow came to a conclusion.

Rarity is tuning me...

She thought back to earlier that day. When they had gotten home from Fluttershy's and Rarity was laying in front of the fire.

She was totally showing off her butt!

The chromatic mare groaned.

What do I do!?

Nothing. You do nothing. Ignore it.

I shouldn't have told her I'm gay...

Rainbow didn't want to listen to the thoughts, but she knew they were right. If she ended up flirting back, before long they would be kissing, and kissing leads to relationships. And that would be problematic.

I can't go out with her. I would have to tell the others, beside her being an element..

Rarity chose that moment to sit down next to Rainbow Dash. She was closer than usual, to the point where their sides were almost touching. Rainbow didn't notice when the white mare had pulled the same tactic the day prior, but she was certainly noticing it now.

"Do you like Stallion king, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked, a smile on her lips.

Dash looked to the beautiful mare next to her, a sad look in her eyes.

She's so perfect.

The white unicorn laid her head on her hooves and looked to Rainbow, clearly interested in what she had to say.

And I can never have her.

"Never heard of him." Rainbow responded.

Author's Note

This chapter made me feel like an asshole, it was designed to right hook you right in the feelings; come out of nowhere and make you hate me. The next one will be cheerier, cheerier of course with a melancholic undertone, as is most of my chapters.

Tbh I would have preferred to break RD and Toby up over two chapters, I should've started it in the last chapter and had them actually break up in this one, drawn it out a bit more. As such im not exactly happy with the way this chapter turned out but we cant always get things perfectly how we want them. It was necessary to have the two broken up in this chapter for what happens in the next one (Like seriously, shit gets real).

My recent chapters have been rather melancholic if not outright sad, if you go back to the beginning of this story you'll find that the chapters were cheery with sad moments. Nowadays my chapters are sad with the rare happy moment. I s'pose this is how I've written the problem for this story, I've made the problem atmospheric as well as I have actually fleshed it out.

Is that a good thing? Fuck knows...

On that note, if you haven't figured out why Rainbow doesn't want to date Rarity (or any of the elements for that matter) already, you'll find out next chapter. There is a teeny tiny bit of foreshadowing regarding one of the few reasons (and there is more than one reason), and alot for one of the other reasons, but I'm not going to specify and give them away to you.

Either way, you'll find out next chapter.

Speaking of the next chapter; I know I say this every chapter and that's: "the next chapter is gonna be fuckin' hectic bruv", but this time it's for real. Shit gets real this next chapter (If per chance you also didn't figure that out after reading this one) but yeah man.

Shits gonna get hectic.

Again thank you for all the support of this story, all your comments and all your likes bring a genuine smile to my face. I love you guys!

PS: Did you like the term "Mare Muncher"? I thought it is as equally clever as it is fucking horrible. You expected me to say fillyfooler? Is it 2011 already? Lets switch it up a bit, eh?