Author's Note
Representing my first effort at a proper shipfic. Also my first effort at writing from Rainbow Dash's perspective.
Whelp, here goes.
Does not Contain Music
“She who has everything will inevitably want more.”
Rainbow didn’t remember where she first heard the quote. Probably from Twilight – it had that kind of polite know-it-allness that filled the girl’s favorite books. Great wizards who spent their whole lives writing page after page of… stuff. The wisdom of the ages, or whatever.
No idea why she remembered that particular phrase. Maybe just because it sounded super-profound. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
She… lived it. Rainbow Dash had everything. And she wanted more.
Rainbow laughed as she slowed to a glide, coming in low over Ponyville. It sounded so cheesy when she thought about it like that. Like a one-shot villain from that awful Daring Do cartoon.
“Everything” was perspective. For Rainbow, it was the limelight. Ponies calling her name as she flew above, holding babies to kiss and papers to autograph. The attention of important ponies who saw her not as some schmuck cloud-pusher, but one of their own.
And she had it. Her “everything.” Rainbow was an important pony, and best of all, everypony knew it. She was on a first name basis with the Wonderbolts, and had a reserved slot on the team as soon as she finished their – ugh – college. She could fly to Canterlot, say “Yo, pencil me in for tea with Celestia,” and it would happen. There was a freaking statue of her in Cloudsdale. And another in Canterlot, halfway done and made of gold.
Gold. It didn’t get much more awesome than that.
The low glide had carried her to a Ponyville side street. No sooner did her hooves touch the sidewalk than a voice piped out.
“Hey, Rainbow!”
She turned, flashing her custom-patent cocky grin. Didn’t matter that the speaker was just some random guy – he was a precious fan, so he got the full Rainbow Dash treatment.
“Hey, yourself!” she called back cheerfully, mentally fumbling for a name. Brown coat, brown mane… as normal as they come.
Be that as it may, her grin was real as he waved again and went on his way. This was the cool part. Being important was nice and all, but it was the fame that really made it sweet to be her. Whether they were racing buffs, fans of Equestria not being destroyed, or little orange fillies with big dreams, ponies everywhere knew her name. And they knew just how awesome she was.
Nothing – not being important, powerful, or any of that other stuff – could replace the giddy feeling in her breast when Fame walks up and hoofbumps her. When a total stranger greets her by name in the street. When a filly points and says, “Mom, I’m gonna be just like her!”
These days, it happened everywhere. All the time. Rainbow had everything.
And she wanted more.
The bell over the door chimed, and a well-rehearsed voice answered. “Hello, and welcome to Ponyville Hotel. Where pillows are soft, blankets warm, and the apples… oh, hi Miss Dash.”
A pink mare with a blue mane. Rainbow didn’t recognize her either, but still produced her grin. If the girl wasn’t a fan already, a little friendliness would fast win her over.
“Just here to meet someone,” Rainbow said with a wink. “Definitely didn’t blow down my house this time. Nope, not at all.”
The mare laughed. “Well, you’re welcome here any time. Can I get you something to drink?”
Rainbow ordered a lemonade and settled herself at one of the bar tables. No one else here this early in the day, and for once, the solitude suited her just fine. The awesome Rainbow Dash smile… well, it needed a little recharging.
Her lips fell to a nervous smirk, and a breathless chuckle shot out from them.
Recharging? What B.S. Rainbow was scared.
It was her own fault. She was the one who asked for this meeting, and the whole thing circled back to that oh-so-wise quote. Rainbow wanted more – more attention, yeah, but also more challenge! Life had grown too easy for her liking. It rolled out the welcome mat even when she flubbed up. A few weeks back she placed lousy fifth in a Cloudsdale derby, and the winner asked her for an autograph. All, “Golly Miss Dash, I really liked how you saved us all from Discord that one time. Can you please sign this for me?”
Boring, that’s what it was. Praises sung wherever she went, even when she came in freaking fifth. Friends, strangers, even rivals had stopped caring about her win-loss record. She was awesome, they all knew it, and she had never been more bored in her life.
She wanted more. But where could she find more attention when the whole world already loved her? Where lay a fresh challenge when nopony cared if she failed?
The door to the front lobby chimed, changing her nervous mind in an instant. Life is great, don’t change it. Slip out the back door and go back to everything being sweet and easy.
No. Rainbow took a trembling sip of the too-sweet lemonade, forcing her rump to remain in its seat. This is what she wanted. A challenge.
The pink mare’s voice repeated itself through the open doorway. “Hello, and welcome to Ponyville Hotel. Where pillows are soft, blankets warm, and–”
“Yes, yes.” A prim, dour voice lanced the words, sending ice through Rainbow’s veins.
Dash almost had it all. Everypony loved her. Everypony praised her, whether she deserved it or not.
Except for one.
The challenge passed into the bar room, somehow larger and more intimidating beneath the dimmed lights. Brown-sugar hair coved a lithe and muscular frame, giving not an inch to the middle age creeping upon it.
The neat, blonde mane… Rainbow cursed inwardly. She meant to do something with her own mane this morning, but there hadn’t been time to buy a comb.
And the eyes. Sweet Celestia, the eyes. Glistening ice-blue spears, pinning Rainbow in place.
Dash grinned. She actually pulled it off – the confident, “Yeah, I’m awesome,” smile. Maybe victory would follow. The challenge would smile back, and they’d laugh over lemonade and greasy bar food.
The cold eyes only narrowed in response.
Rainbow swallowed hard. Her cocky grin could win over a timberwolf, but not this one.
Not Nagatha Harshwhinny. ‘Miss Harshwhinny’ to Rainbow.
“Actually on time, are we, Miss Dash?” The brown mare’s voice carried an unpleasant accent, creating words caught between a groan and a sneer.
Dash winced as the other drew closer, scowl firmly in its place. The game had just begun, and already it was Harshwhinny 1, Rainbow Dash 0.
…No. The score was way worse than that.
“You’re the coach for the Ponyville flag carriers? Well, it’s nice to see that they’re taking this seriously.”
“Heck, yeah! Serious is my middle–”
“It was sarcasm, you dolt. Try not to be late next time.”
“You know, for a supposedly fast pony, you were quite tardy to the class presentation. And the whistle, right in my ear? What were you thinking?”
Rainbow hated losing. Hated, hated, hated losing. Coaching Cheerilee’s class for the Equestria Games was supposed to be one more ego-stroking victory.
Instead…
“Professionalism, Miss Dash! For heaven’s sake, half the students are playing monkey in the middle, and the other half seem to have wandered off. What, pray tell, are you coaching?”
“Hey Miss Harshwhinny, here’s the travel waivers for the students. It took me three hours, but–”
“Miss Dash, your penmanship is nothing short of illegible! I’ll… I’ll redo them, just… go play, or something.”
“I’ll be honest, Miss Dash: if I was paying your salary, I’d cut it in half. But don’t worry, I’ll speak to the mayor about redressing the issue.”
Okay, so the score was closer to ten to nothing. Even when Dash buckled down and really tried – like giving professional-sounding advice to Scootaloo’s gang, or those dang waivers – Harshwhinny wasn’t impressed. Worse, she was a witch: Rainbow had a lot of screw-ups over her week of employment, and the older mare didn’t let a single one of them slip by without comment.
By the time they got to the Crystal Empire, Rainbow had been ready to chalk up “Operation: Make Harshwhinny a Fan” as one big failure. That was okay – some ponies are just born with a frown, and maybe Harshwhinny was one of them. A cynical, bitter jerk without a funny bone in her body. There was no pleasing a pony like that.
As it happened, though, Miss Harshwhinny wasn’t a pony like that. She had a good side, and it made up for lost time when Scootaloo’s gang took the stage. The frowning, spear-eyed professional disappeared for ten seconds, replaced by a squealing fangirl going gaga over their act.
Raimbow could admit it – she was jealous, and wouldn’t Scootaloo just be weirded out if she learned? Harshwhinny’s iron-cage heart had thrown the gates wide for the squirt, while slamming them in Rainbow’s face.
It boggled the mind: a pony Rainbow couldn’t impress. No, that she failed to impress. She lost.
Except she hadn’t lost yet.
It’s why, on their return to Ponyville, Dash had asked for this last meeting. Why she woke up early – noon, sharp – to arrive on time. Scary, yes – Rainbow was scared of losing, and it could definitely happen. Harshwhinny was unpleasant, exacting, and utterly uncaring of Rainbow’s past deeds or present fame. It was…
Cool.
Maybe not the right word, but Rainbow’s excitement kept pace with her fear as Harshwhinny sat down at the table. Like a race the young flier seemed destined to lose, making it all the more awesome if she comes out and wins. Harshwhinny didn’t wave at her from the streets, and she definitely didn’t ask autographs from fifth-place contenders. If Dash won her esteem, it would mean something.
She had a plan, too. Pretty much the one thing they had in common: professionalism.
Dash was super-professional.
“Hello, Miss Harshwhinny.” Smiling her most professional smile – small, and trembling with concealed fear – Rainbow reached a hoof across the table.
The brown mare blinked, looking quizzically at the proffered limb before habit took over. Setting down a heavy pink purse, Harshwhinny raised her hoof and shook it gently with Rainbow’s.
“Miss Dash,” she offered, hesitation slowing the words. “If, ah, if this is about payment, I must remind you that the mayor agreed to absorb your costs.”
“Not at all,” Rainbow said, her smile widening as Harshwhinny gave a confused tilt of the head.
Now to just wow her with a little more professionalism, and they’ll be besties by sundown. “I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to work with a professional like you. It’s been a great professional time, and I look forward to seeing you at the Equestria Games. I’m sure with a mare as professional as you in charge, they’ll be professionally awesome.”
As the last words came out, Rainbow’s confident, grinning smile gleamed once more. She nailed it. Minutes spent practicing in front of the mirror had paid off.
There sat Harshwhinny, stunned by her professionalism. So stunned that she was… rolling her eyes. And groaning in exactly the same tone as when Rainbow spilled juice on the redone waivers.
“Thank you,” Harshwhinny grumbled in a tone that sounded a lot closer to Go buck yourself. “Was there anything else?”
No smile. No hint of comradery. Rainbow’s grin fell away as her mind scrambled with the indifferent response.
“Uh… no.” A dumb answer, but it was all she could manage. All her rehearsal had gone into those first few lines. Rainbow had counted on just winging it through whatever professional conversation developed from there, but now…
Maybe she should’ve prepared more. Thrown in some professional words, like “adequate” and “acceptable.” But come on, it took her, like, thirty minutes to come up with what she had! She wasn’t made of free time.
“So, you called me to an utterly pointless meeting.” Rainbow’s hard-thought plan died as Harshwhinny unleashed her tongue. “Thereby wasting my time once more. For posterity, I suppose: a last reminder of my time with a ‘hero,’ Stars save us all.”
Rainbow snorted, feeling her temper rise at the jibe. That was it. Plan failed. She lost. Time to accept it, move on, and share the misery.
“Like you’ve got anything going on right now,” Dash's bitter voice shot out before she could contain it. Her friends called this ‘being a sore loser.’ They were right, but damned if it didn’t make her feel better.
“Besides, it’s not like you went out of your way to meet me. We’re at your own freaking hotel!” Defeat lent venom to Dash’s words, and right now she didn’t care. “Why’d you even come back, anyway?”
“Am I unwanted?” Harshwhinny asked, a chill gleam of anger sharpening her gaze.
Rainbow’s softer eyes widened, and she backpedaled immediately. “No, no, no, nothing like that. Just… curious, that’s all. I thought with the flag team decided, your work here was done.”
She breathed a fast sigh of relief as Harshwhinny’s gaze disarmed. Sharing bad moods was a long-standing habit of Rainbow’s, but a fight with the knife-tongued inspector was not a contest she could win. Or survive.
Seemingly content with the excuse, Harshwhinny answered with a shrug. “Just some bureaucracy. With the flag bearers decided, I needed to make sure they had travel waivers for the Games themselves. The work of five minutes. My train leaves tomorrow at nine, and until then, I find myself a tourist.”
“Ouch.” Rainbow winced with unexpected sympathy. Ponyville wasn’t very interesting when… well, nothing interesting was going on. A full day stuck in a country town wasn’t anypony’s idea of fun.
Harshwhinny shrugged again. “It’s not so bad. Quiet town, a new book to pass the time. Besides, Ponyville’s on my route home.”
“So… you’re not going back to the Crystal Empire?” Now it was Dash’s turn to tilt her head. “You know, where the Games are?”
“Yes, I know,” Harshwhinny returned drolly. “But I need to return to the EGO Doom Fortress first and make my report.”
“Wait,” Rainbow said, voice squeaking with surprise. “The what!?”
Harshwhinny gave a sharp “Hm!” through pressed lips. High-pitched enough that it may have been a concealed laugh, though the mare’s face offered no sign of humor. Perhaps just a closed-mouth groan. The squeak that sometimes entered Rainbow’s voice could trigger either from a pony.
Still, maybe she just made Harshwhinny laugh. That was something.
“Equestria Games Organization,” the blonde mare clarified. “Hence, ‘EGO.’ The pun is not lost on me, I assure you.”
“No, the doom fortress!” Dash waved her hoof. “That’s pretty weird, right?”
Harshwhinny sniffed, speaking primly. “No, it is not.”
“It definitely is.”
“Oh, please, Miss Dash.” A new groan escaped Harshwhinny’s lips. “The way doom fortresses are cropping up these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ponyville gets one.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow grinned. “Maybe.”
Of course not, but it wasn’t worth arguing. Besides, it was nice to find out the iron mare had her own weird beliefs.
“Speaking of Ponyville,” Dash said, veering the topic away from any doom fortresses. “It’s what, 3 o’clock? What’re you gonna do for the rest of the day?”
“Take in the sights of Ponyville,” Harshinny replied, deadpan.
A short moment passed, and Rainbow bit. “Like what?”
“Exactly.” Now Harshwhinny did smile, just a tiny bit as she worked the zipper on her purse. “That concluded, I will read.”
The smile was nice, but not the victory Rainbow sought. A two-pointer, at best. Harshwhinny’s smile was for herself, not the nervous pegasus.
The zipper moved, revealing maybe a quarter of a book’s cover art. A rock slab floating on a pool of lava, with straw-colored hooves balanced inches from the red.
Rainbow could fill in the rest, not that she had the presence of mind to. Even the scoreboard was forgotten as she voiced her shock.
“You read Daring Do!?”
Hoofsteps sounded from the lobby, but Harshwhinny was silent. She looked to Rainbow with a frowning bend to the lips, and narrowed eyes. The way one looks at a madpony, or possibly an insect.
Rainbow flushed, realizing that over the course of the shout she had slammed her forehooves to the table and loomed over it. She sat down quickly, stammering. “S-sorry. Just really surprised me.”
Harshwhinny stared for another few seconds, until a welcome distraction called out from the lobby.
“Can you please not shout? Ponies might be sleeping, and we pride ourselves on providing a restful environment here at Ponyville Hotel. Where pillows are soft, blankets warm, and the–”
“Yes, thank you!” the two mares called out together, neatly defusing the tension. The innkeeper retreated, and Harshwhinny picked up the slack.
“I just started, really.” She nudged the book out the rest of the way, displaying the cover in all its Daring glory: The titular hero surfing dangerously on lava, her shadow-faced nemesis waving a staff in the background, and the whole scene capped with a scroll reading, “Daring Do and the Marked Thief of Marapore.” Fifth in the series.
Harshwhinny went on, as if she needed an excuse to like Daring Do. “I saw the first movie on a train cinema. It was… adequate, so I decided to invest in the books. They’ve held my interest so far.”
Rainbow fought down a retort. ‘Adequate,’ hardly covered Daring’s awesomeness, be it books, movies, or even the cartoon.
But Dash had a scoreboard to even out, and a fresh plan for how to do it. “Did you see the second movie?”
“Yes.” Harshwhinny gave a noncommittal shrug, putting the book away. “It was tolerable. And yes, I’ve seen the third.”
“What about the fourth?” A sly grin came to Rainbow’s face as she deployed her trump.
As expected, the sharp blue eyes gleamed with fresh curiosity. Rainbow felt them return to her as Harshwhinny took new interest in the subject.
“Fourth?”
“Just came out yesterday.” Rainbow’s grin widened as the conversation came fully under her control. “So yeah, I haven’t seen it either.”
Nice and casual… “Ponyville Theater is screening it at six. I mean, you could just read instead, but I dunno if your scary doom fortress has a cinema.”
A joke. Harshwhinny did not laugh or smile, but it still scored another point as she shook her head. “EGO can barely maintain running water. And with the Games coming up, it’ll be months before I get another chance.”
She tapped the table, eyes away. “6 o’clock, you say?”
“Eeyup,” Rainbow drawled, an in-joke that sailed over the other’s head. “Though I won’t lie, we gotta get something to eat, first. I haven’t had anything since I got off the train.”
“Me neither,” Harshwhinny said, though she followed it up with a gauging look. “But when did this become a ‘we’ affair?”
“Um…” Rainbow paused, shaken from her complacency. “Just now?”
“No,” Harshwhinny said, her face locked back in its frown. “One more try.”
Rainbow almost shot back at that. Who the heck was this witch to tell the Rainbow Dash, ‘One more try?’ She didn’t need to try! Plenty of mares would throw themselves at the world-saving future Wonderbolt if she sent them a signal. Plenty of stallions, too, but they’d be out of luck.
Her mind backpedaled in the next second, smothering the anger with embarrassment. Typical Dash – completely out of the blue, starts thinking like she’s asking Harshwhinny on a date. It’s just a movie. Movie and dinner.
…Dinner and movie.
Heck, a few mares had thrown themselves at her. Gushing over her fame, begging for affection.
Easy. Boring. Like a trophy without a contest.
Now, with those chill blue eyes upon her… this wasn’t boring. One chance. The final bend in the track. Screw up and you lose. Do it right and you make it to the next lap.
Rainbow’s mouth moved, rolling with the first thing that came to mind. “Wanna get dinner?”
Immediately, the treacherous lips clamped shut. Stupid. Stupid times ten. First off, she didn’t even mention the damn movie. Second, none those three and a half words contained ‘professional,’ or ‘adequate.’ And third, third and most stupidly of all, it was a ‘date’ question. Two Daring Do fans going to a movie do not ask, ‘Wanna get dinner?’ A blushing teenager – or apparently a tongue-tied speedster – do.
Game over, a billion to nothing. All progress goes down the drain as Harshwhinny comes to the wrong, but obvious conclusion that Rainbow is creeping on her. Nothing to do now but pay for the lemonade and–
“Very well, Miss Dash. I suppose you know the restaurants around here better than I.”
The swing of good fortune barely registered. Rainbow had seen so many ups and downs this conversation that she was dizzy, and could only scramble to keep up.
“Wanna just eat here?” She offered lamely. Too much mental space was being taken with the realization that Harshwhinny just accepted an offer that really sounded like a date.
Okay, the way the inspector said it made it sound more like a matter of convenience than anything. But the fact remained: Dash asked her to dinner, and she said yes.
Harshwhinny deployed her ‘disgusted’ groan – lower and moister than the ‘annoyed’ standard – and shook her head. “I’ve had enough of travel food. Take me to a place that has something other than grilled cheese or hayburgers on the menu.”
“Okay, yeah.” Rainbow nodded quickly, anxious to close the conversation before the stern mare changed her mind. “I know a place.”
“Welcome to Hayburger King, home of the original Hayburger. May I take your order?”
Harshwhinny fumed, tapping a hoof irately on the orange plastic counter. “Miss Dash, I specifically said–”
“They have salads!” Rainbow laughed, now fully back in the game.
Tie score. She’d only earned Harshwhinny’s grudging acceptance – not friendship, affection, or even a, “Gosh, Miss Dash, you are awesome!” But it was a long game, and the defense was a killer.
Besides, “grudging acceptance” had to be way further than most ponies got.
Still no idea if Harshwhinny thought this was a date. Still no desire to bring it up.
…Would probably have to. Rainbow had seen how Rarity strung Spike along, and there was no way she’d ever tread that road. If you’ve got no interest in someone, you’ve got to pony up and tell them.
And that’s what she’ll do. She’ll tell Harshwhinny that this is not a date.
Or that it is. Right as soon as Dash decided.
As Harshwhinny stepped over to fill their drinks, Rainbow took advantage to eye the body. Curiosity, more than lechery – she honestly hadn’t tried looking at Harshwhinny as a mare. Always before it was a boss, or a challenge.
Not so intimidating in the sunlight. Harshwhinny’s build almost matched her own: athletic, but in a wiry way rather than a buff one. The brown mare stood the taller of the pair, but that only brought her to the bottom of average height.
As for the age, well, Rainbow had no idea how old Harshwhinny actually was. Somewhere between… thirty and forty-five? It only really showed on the face, where worry-lines and natural softening had made their marks. The rest was as firm as any athlete, from her neck to her...
…Yes, Harshwhinny had a good backside. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it wasn’t, but that purple jacket hugged her rump in just the right way to draw in attention.
Eyes unmoving, Rainbow shamelessly enjoyed the view until the last possible moment. Harshwhinny turned back to the counter, awkwardly hoofing over both drinks at once. By the time she began unzipping her purse, Rainbow had already collected the change.
“How much is mine?”
“My treat.” Dash smirked, putting away her bit bag and hoisting their tray with a wing.
The response was immediate. “Absolutely not, Miss Dash.” A note of protest entered Harshwhinny’s voice, pitching it above her usual grumble.
Rainbow shrugged, setting the food down at a window-seat table. “Don’t sweat it. The whole thing was like, three bits.”
And this may be a date. But of course she didn’t say it.
“It’s not a matter of cost, it’s a matter of principle.” Harshwhinny huffed as she claimed a seat. Her voice… was a little different than the other times Rainbow heard her complain. It lacked the anger that sparked all-too often as she corralled kids and coworkers.
She said something else, and Rainbow missed everything but the tone. There it was again. A touch of wrathless petulance added into the brown mare’s voice. She even had her cheeks puffed out slightly as her lips turned to a childish, blushing frown.
Another first. That little frown made Harshwhinny look… kind of cute.
Rainbow grinned at her companion, feeling a rush of glee as her score pulled ahead by one. “Look, it was my idea, so it’s only fair that I pay for it. That’s what we taught the kids, right? ‘Fair pay?’”
“Fair play,” Harshwhinny corrected icily. Rainbow winced as she went on. “A concept you were to have taught on the train, if you weren’t too busy doing… what, exactly?”
“Saving the self-esteem of a bullied child, who would go on to win the contest. You know, the one with the scooter.” Rainbow smirked again, taking a bite out of her hayburger.
“Engaging in unprofessional nonsense.” The petulant twinge returned to the voice. Harshwhinny arched her nose, smiling. “As usual.”
“Naugh hgold on!” Rainbow snapped back around her food. She chewed quickly, peeved and ready to fight. Not fair, way the heck not fair. Even you were smiling when Scoots jumped through the…
The indignation snuffed like a candle. Rainbow’s eyes shot wide, studying the smug, closed-eyes smile of her adversary.
Harshwhinny. Smiling. Not at her own joke, but Dash’s reaction.
The hayburger slid down without taste. Yes, Harshwhinny was being as crass and unreasonable as ever… so why was she smiling?
Was she… enjoying the conversation?
Sweet Celly, the clever old witch was hamming it up!
Rainbow stared, mind racing with the realization. Harshwhinny’s present obstinance was a bluff, revealed by the blush and smile. A show put on for Rainbow’s benefit. But why? Is this how the grumpy mare loosens up? Is this how she flirts?
Or maybe it was the opposite. Maybe the blush was allergies, and the smile a hidden sneeze. Maybe her opinion of Rainbow was lower than ever, slowly drilling through the rock-bottom it started at. Maybe–
“Do I have something on my face?”
The frozen question brought Rainbow’s eyes into focus, and they quickly snapped away from their ice-blue counterparts.
“Nothing,” Dash mumbled, faking a great interest in her remaining hayfries. She kept the eyes down as she munched, feeling Harshwhinny’s gaze linger. A hot, blue glare, judging its cyan target and finding her wanting.
…‘Hot’ glare? Rainbow blinked and shifted, at once aware of how warm the restaurant had grown. Strange, given that she still felt the air conditioning waft over her feathers.
The answer came within seconds, and was confirmed with a discreet scratch of her too-warm cheeks. She was blushing, and not from embarrassment. Dash didn’t get embarrassed – she got defensive and angry when ponies picked fights with her. She should be sparring with Harshwhinny’s words, not sitting tongue-tied and meek.
A quiet snort came the only sign of Dash’s laugh. A blush without embarrassment… she could do the math. She was attracted, though damned if it made any sense. No offense to Brown-and-Frown over there, but Rainbow could do way, way better. Young mares with hot wings, lithe and sexy in a way the thirty-forty-something could never match. Fly to any city in Equestria and there’d be at least one of them in wait, ready to pounce if Rainbow gave so much as a wink. Easy.
Boring.
Rainbow sneaked a glance upwards. Harshwhinny’s gaze was away, drawing a relieved sigh. The brown-sugar mare stared listlessly out the window, her blue eyes neither hot nor cold. Just… bright. Very pretty, when pointed elsewhere.
Okay, so Harshwhinny could be pretty. And she was a challenge. But really, was that sexy?
Another silent laugh, this one strong enough that Dash felt her head bob.
Apparently, it was very sexy. Rainbow never blushed or mumbled like this for the floozies.
But they weren’t a challenge! Maybe that was the turn-on, here. Rainbow would be the first to admit she loved the thrill of a good matchup, so maybe this one was getting her excited in a new kind of way. Befriending Harshwhinny was proving a lofty goal already. Kissing her would be the biggest win of Dash’s life!
…Maybe not the ‘biggest’ win. Nightmare Moon was bigger. But this was definitely up there with Discord.
“You’re staring again, Miss Dash.” The eyes never moved from their place on the window.
“Sorry,” Dash mumbled, feeling fresh coals in her cheeks as she looked away.
Maybe her feelings were simpler than all that stuff about thrills and excitement. Maybe she just liked being yelled at.
No, no, that was stupid. Rarity, Applejack, all the girls had yelled at her plenty of times. But Dash always just flew away or bit back, smug and superior. Not that she looked down on her friends or anything, but come on, they weren’t Rainbow Dash.
Neither was Harshwhinny, obviously, but Dash’s playbook was out the window. Instead of being annoyed and angered at her failures, Rainbow had grown meek and nervous. Instead of flying away, she was rooted to the chair. The scoreboard had once been so frustrating, but now…
Well, there never was a scoreboard, was there? Points, schmoints, it had always been up to Harshwhinny. Rainbow would remain in her presence or be curtly dismissed at the older mare’s whim. Harshwhinny was
In control.
Rainbow stood at the soda fountain, so very close to that taut, purple-clad rump. Harshwhinny even had her tail lifted to the side, allowing for a perfect view.
A trembling cyan hoof reached out, its owner considering nothing but a removal of the evil jacket. But a sharp ‘tsk’ sounded, and the gaze rose to take in the hot blue eyes. “You may look, Miss Dash, but you may not touch until I give you permission. Only a little longer, if you’re a good girl…”
“Are you always such a space cadet?”
Rainbow blinked, and the real Harshwhinny replaced the fantasy. Dash grinned sheepishly, bringing a hoof up to scratch her mane. “Sorry. Got a lot on my mind.”
Like butts. Butts with a trophy cutie-mark.
“Hmph.” Harshwhinny’s frown deepened, but only for a second. “Well. In your defense, I’m not a terribly interesting conversationalist.”
Dash smiled cheerily, feeling her tide start to come back in. “I think you’re interesting.” Simple, earnest, and the reaction was great. Harshwhinny shuffled and blinked, glancing away from the window just long enough to take in the offered smile. She shuffled again, and resumed her outside stare.
Okay, maybe not a ‘great’ reaction. But given the target, it really was. All the sweeter because she probably couldn’t hear Dash’s heart trying to pummel its way out of her chest.
Exciting. And way the heck scarier than Discord ever was. Flirting not with some screaming fangirl, but freaking Harshwhinny. The fear decayed as Rainbow’s grinning mind rose to the challenge.
In hindsight, ‘Wanna get dinner?’ had been the perfect line. Harshwhinny had to be wondering what Rainbow already knew – this was a date, and it’d be a kickass one. That ambiguity gave Dash the advantage, and she’d milk it for all it was worth. Give the unbalanced mare a bit of the ol’ Rainbow Dash charm, and–
Harshwhinny yawned; a simple act that brought the confident thoughts to a crashing end.
She’s bored! I’m boring her!
“Whelp, we better get moving!” Dash winced as the abrupt shout gave Harshwhinny a start, but she plowed onwards. “We’ve got a twenty minute walk. Don’t want to be late!”
Harshwhinny turned a squinting gaze to Dash, then glanced to her watch. “We have an hour.”
“Yeah, well.” Rainbow grimaced at her own words. Too squeaky, too fast and nervous. Couldn’t help it. “I like to get there early, you know? Avoid the line, pick the best seat.”
The blue eyes widened, bringing themselves back to Rainbow. Hopefully because Harshwhinny was impressed, and not that she saw through the lie.
“Really?” the blonde mare asked dubiously.
“Yep!” Rainbow replied, nerves still speeding her words. “Come on, you know me. Punctuality is my middle name!”
No answer. Harshwhinny just stared, giving time for Rainbow’s brain to catch up with her mouth.
…And recall her many, many late appearances over their brief week of collaboration. Tardies that had given the prim mare more than a few headaches, brought to mind with a bold-faced claim of reliability.
Rainbow closed her eyes and braced. She walked right into that one, and there was nothing to do but endure what would come. A bitter round of insults, or a snide barb of grumpy humor.
A second passed, and the voice came without anger. “Alright, then. Let’s go.”
No rage, no contempt. Rainbow blinked her eyes open to see Harshwhinny already heading for the exit.
The few seconds of hesitation brought an annoyed follow-up, springing Rainbow’s legs into gear. “Let’s go, Miss Dash!”
The short walk to the cinema was a wordless one. Not awkwardly so; at least, not for Rainbow. The silence proved a welcome chance to digest and plan.
Harshwhinny liked her. At least, as much as Harshwhinny could like anything that didn’t ride scooters through hoops. Enough to let Rainbow off the hook after the blunt reminder of her incessant lateness.
It felt like progress. The Harshwhinny of three days past would’ve plucked her feathers for claiming punctuality. She hated liars, a fact grimly established when one of the foal teams had tried to steal another’s ideas. Harshwhinny had gathered the whole school to hear their tongue-lashing, reducing the ten year-old perpetrators to tears. Harsh, but… well, she wasn’t called Softwhinny.
A small, effacing grin crept to Rainbow’s face. And there I was, chasing that tail. I gotta be crazy.
‘Was,’ being the correct word.
The fresh air and quiet were good for Rainbow. Fear and passion had cooled, hardening into more logical thoughts. And the logic told her that romancing Harshwhinny… well, it wasn’t happening. Nothing Rainbow had seen told her the attraction was mutual, save for a moment’s blush that could have been anything. Besides, Harshwhinny will be on a train by this time tomorrow.
No love. No butts. Just two Daring Do fans, checking out the movie together. And that was okay. That was a good enough win.
Maybe Harshwhinny didn’t even see her as a friend. That was okay, too. Harshwhinny had at least accepted Rainbow, with all her quirks and flaws. Rainbow could return the favor.
“Hey, Miss Harshwhinny,” Dash said, quick-stepping to reach the ticket window first. “I got this, too. Call it my, ‘Sorry you got stuck in Ponyville’ present.”
Harshwhinny said nothing, nor did she fix Rainbow with one of her looks. Only after Dash paid for the tickets did she speak, a hair quieter than normal.
“We’re both adults, and you don’t work for me anymore. You may call me ‘Nagatha,’ if you wish.”
“You call me ‘Miss Dash,’” Rainbow noted, pushing open the gaudy striped doors. Immediately, the scent of butter and salt assailed her nose. Her mouth watered, but resistance came easily. Six bits for popcorn… heck, no.
“I appreciate formality.” Harshwhinny shrugged, stepping past the concession booth without a glance. “You, I am quite certain, do not. You have the option; make of it what you will.”
Rainbow grinned. “Cool. Gotta admit, though, ‘Nagatha’ doesn’t really roll off the tongue.”
Harshwhinny… smiled back. A little bit. At Rainbow.
It was cool every time.
A flippant toss of the blonde mane almost hid it as the smile flashed teeth. “Deal with it. I assure you, any effort to shorten the name to ‘Nags’ will result in losing the privilege.”
“Happened before, huh?”
“Why do you think I prefer ‘Harshwhinny?’”
“Fair point!” Rainbow chirped, swiftly dropping the issue as they came to their showroom. Already the bright projector was rolling, advertising concessions to the empty seats.
“Front and center?” Dash asked, pointing to the coveted spot.
“Hurts my eyes.” Harshwhinny began making her way to the higher rows. “But feel free.”
Dash followed her, drawing a second response. “You don’t need to sit with me.”
“Eh.” Rainbow shrugged. “I want to. You’re kind of cool, in your own way.”
“You lie like a mattress.” The cordiality vanished from Harshwhinny’s voice, replaced with familiar ice. “What are you up to, anyway?”
“What do you mean?”
“Here,” Harshwhinny gestured, collapsing angrily into a seat. “With the wicked Miss Harshwhinny. Did you make a bet?”
“What?” Rainbow slapped the air, stubbornly sitting down in the adjacent chair. “No! Look, Nagatha, I…”
No idea what to say. Nothing to do but plow on. “Look, I’m not gonna lie: you’re a hard mare to like. And unless I’m really misreading things, you don’t much like others, either. I didn’t make a bet or anything, I just… I don’t know.”
Couldn’t explain the scoreboard, or the old “everything” quote. Rainbow didn’t fully understand it, herself.
Something else was true, though. She could roll with that. “I admire you, okay? You’re the kind of mare who’d call out Nightmare Moon if you thought she was full of it. You don’t care what a pony used to do, or could do if she bothered to set an alarm. You care about what they do do. And I like that, so… I dunno. I hope we can be friends.”
“‘Friends’… oh, I see.” The anger left Harshwhinny’s voice, but the chill had returned. Rainbow glanced over, seeing her expressionless gaze fixed on the screen.
“See what?” Dash ventured.
Studiously neutral, Harshwhinny explained. “Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. This is an assignment from her, isn’t it? Something about spreading the magic of fellowship, or proving that even ponies like me can make friends?”
“Aw, come on, Nags.” Rainbow snorted, but tensed as she caught herself. “Atha. Nagsatha. Is it really so weird that someone would want to hang out with you?”
“There’s more to it than that.” Not a question, or even an accusation. Just a cool statement of fact as Harshwhinny sent her a sidelong glance.
Rainbow looked away, reluctantly taking her eyes to the screen. Nags was right – there was a lot more to it. The challenge. The scoreboard. Blue eyes and a taut butt. And something else. Something about Harshwhinny that nopony else had, but Rainbow couldn’t even say what it was.
A gentle cough sounded to her left, drawing Rainbow’s attention. Harshwhinny was again looking at her sidelong, and this time it was a comforting gaze. The forced indifference had been discarded, leaving disciplined honesty behind.
“I apologize, Miss Dash.” The words were blunt, with as gentle a voice as Harshwhinny ever gave. “Whatever your motives, I appreciate this.”
Her eyes returned to the screen, mouth grimacing. “Now, I will drop the implied self-pity. In exchange, I must ask: where is everypony?”
The lights dimmed, fading in a few seconds to darkness. Rainbow glanced to her watch – 6 o’clock, sharp. The previews were starting, and they had the theater to themselves.
“The premier was yesterday.” Rainbow shrugged. “Sunday, you know? Most of Ponyville clocks out for the weekend, so those interested probably saw it then. Making today Monday, and seriously, who goes to the movies on a Monday?”
“Besides us, you mean?” Nagatha’s voice was droll, but Rainbow heard the humor in it. She gave a short laugh, sending a grin the other mare’s way.
The previews began, ending their conversation with an onscreen explosion. Rainbow settled back to watch, pleased with their reconciliation. No butts. But friendship was cool, too.
And so were explosions. Like most movie watchers, Rainbow complained to no end about Michael Bray’s works. And like most of them, she kept coming back for more – more witty one-liners, badass weapons, and of course, big red fireballs.
“Sombra’s almost through the door!” a unicorn shouted onscreen, his voice nearly lost as an explosion shook the walls. “Mary Sue, what’s the plan?”
The mentioned batpony grinned, cocking back the hammer on an oversized flintlock. “Plan is, we kick his ass in time for the wedding. Luna’ll never forgive me if I’m late.”
Rainbow chuckled, and Harshwhinny groaned as a final blast ended the preview.
“What drivel,” Nagatha muttered. Rainbow nodded her agreement, mentally taking note of the premier date. Thunderlane was usually willing to pick up shifts… but he was a Bray fan, too, so it might be easier to call in sick.
The next preview caught her attention, if not her interest. Quick and the Furious 37: Quicker, and with Greater Fury. Pretty cool looking, with wonderbolts and shadowbolts dogfighting with exploding javelins. Definitely not something to skip work over, though. More like a ‘watch at home with a snuggle buddy’ kind of movie.
Rainbow glanced to Harshwhinny, but looked away just as quickly. She’s leaving tomorrow, genius.
Her interest waned with the last two trailers. One was a romantic comedy, featuring a bumbling unicorn prince courting a klutzy, working-class pegasus. Yawnsville. Then followed a preview for an animated movie, portraying Nightmare Moon getting reincarnated as an adorable filly. It actually looked interesting, but Rainbow wouldn’t be caught dead watching a cartoon.
Well, unless it was the Daring Do Adventure Hour. Exceptions prove the rule.
She opened her mouth to ask if Harshwhinny had seen the show, but closed it without speaking. Instead… she watched for a moment, taking advantage of Nagatha’s listless stare to the screen.
A nice face. Strong. Vivid eyes. Not ‘pretty’ in the floozy fangirl kind of way, but definitely beautiful.
At least, she was beautiful to Rainbow. Harshwhinny was probably a seven out of ten on an objective scale, but that mysterious something about her raised the candle to Dash's cheeks. Rainbow felt her face blush again, and the nervous fretfulness return.
Yeah, they had become friendly with each other. And yeah, Harshwhinny was leaving tomorrow… but Dash burned all the same.
“She who has everything will inevitably want more.”
So true. Dash had won. Harshwhinny had become a friend.
And Rainbow wanted more.
“Something to say, Miss Dash?” Harshwhinny’s eyes never left the screen, but somehow she caught the stare as easily as before.
“Have you seen the trailers?” Kind of a dumb question, but it changed the subject nicely. Rainbow swallowed her nervousness, hiding it behind a jaunty smile.
“No.” Harshwhinny turned her head, sending Rainbow a curious look. “We’ve covered this: I had no idea there was a fourth movie.”
Right. Rainbow spoke cheerfully, hiding it as she mentally kicked herself. “Maybe for the best. They spoiled, like, a huge plot point in them. It’s really awesome, don’t get me wrong. But still: it’s a big twist, and they just gave it away.”
“The movie differs from the book, then?”
Rainbow nodded. “Oh, yeah. They’re really going in their own direction with–”
Further conversation abruptly ended as a drum roll played, ushering in the title sequence. Within a moment, the screen cast a jungle’s image, and sounds of an ongoing battle shot out from the speakers.
Rainbow faced forwards, not even trying to contain the grin on her face. Awwwwww, yeah.
Finally, after months of waiting after that damned teasing trailer… it was finally here. Movie number four. Dash was in heaven as she watched the running battle between Daring Do and a stranger, the only weapon being a single spear that they hurled back and forth. Improbable and campy? Heck, yeah. Awesome? Also, heck, yeah.
It wasn’t the real Daring, of course. But this actress had starred in the last three movies, and nailed it every time. From the smarmy quips to the grumpy single-mindedness, she became Daring Do. There was no difference in Dash’s mind as the straw-colored mare examined her fallen adversary, finding a jagged lightning bolt tattooed over the cutie mark…
Dash spent the next hour on the edge of her seat. She liked that the movies split off from the books. It kept her guessing as she played the ‘which one of the new faces is the traitor’ game, and followed the clues along with Daring as the mystery unraveled. The evil trailer had spoiled one of the twists, but the movie had plenty more to share. And even her foreknowledge made things tense, with Rainbow unable to warn the titular hero that her foe was far more dangerous than she believed.
Daring thought she was facing the agents of a sleazy collector. Rainbow knew the truth, and it killed her as Daring waved off a friend’s attempt to arm her.
The tension was insane. Hoof-biting. Awesome. Rainbow shivered in her seat and glanced to Harshwhinny. The older mare sat with a neutral frown, but the screen held her rapt attention.
“Here it comes,” Dash whispered, not even getting a blink out of Nags.
Onscreen, Daring and her donkey companion surveyed the empty campsite, confusion evident on their faces.
“Gatling guns, bombs, diamond dog rifles…” The square-jawed friend counted out just half of the things wrong with the site. “It doesn’t make sense. Mr. Scumball never equips his goons this well.”
Daring’s eyes widened, and Dash could see the light bulb go on as she fitted the clues together. “It’s not Scumball.”
“Then who?” The donkey gave a snort. “Red Jenny doesn’t have the cash for something like this. Maybe Sly Cooper, but I don’t think he’d–”
“It’s not them, either. It’s…”
The screen followed Daring’s eyes as it fell upon a red flag, with familiar lightning bolts emblazoned in black.
Rainbow couldn’t resist. She said the words along with Daring, hoping her neighbor wouldn’t mind.
“…Nazis.”
Immediately, the scene exploded into action. Gunfire erupted from the surrounding jungle, driving the pair away as voices in a harsh, angry language called after them.
Maybe thirty seconds later, as the fifth Nazi unicorn went down, Harshwhinny made her opinion known with a grumble that could fell trees.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Rainbow laughed. “Oh, come on. It’s awesome.”
“It’s awful,” Harshwhinny moaned, voice rising with rare indignation. “And they’re not even speaking Germane! They’re just stringing together consonants with a few ‘Achs!’ thrown in. For heaven’s sake, them and the griffons are the most mindlessly overused villains, and it’s all the more heinous because the fourth book’s enemy is good! Now if they just stuck with the plot and–”
“Watch the movie, Nags!” Rainbow cut in, letting the annoyance sharpen her voice. Making a new friend was cool and everything, but interrupting a Daring Do movie was absolutely not.
Fortunately, Harshwhinny obeyed. She clamped up and fixed her eyes ahead, a faint blush visible in the darkness.
She looked cute with a blush, even if it was just an embarrassed one. Dash let her eyes linger before the siren song of gunfire drew her back to the screen.
Soon, though, Rainbow was stifling yawns. The Nazis turned out to be total incompetents, which blew out the tension like a farting balloon. They sprung every trap, fell for every trick, lost every fight… about all they could do was level the massed gunfire that never killed anypony in any movie ever. No threat. No challenge.
Boring.
Harshwhinny grumbled again, groaning indignantly as yet another Nazi was executed by his superior. “You know, my mother’s Germane.”
“Yeah?” Rather than chide the interruption, Rainbow welcomed it. She smirked, relaxed enough to throw out a quip. “That explains the stick up your ass.”
“What was that?” Harshwhinny turned, glaring.
Dash grinned back fearlessly. Maybe it was the dull turn of the movie, but she was feeling a little spunky. “Nothing.”
“I heard you,” Harshwhinny said, glowering with that adorable petulance of hers.
Rainbow’s grin only widened. She bantered with all her friends, and it was fun as heck doing it with Nags.
“Then why’d you ask?”
Harshwhinny sniffed, closing her eyes and bypassing the question. “For your information, she was soft as a pillow with me. Permissive to a fault. As I matured, I found that I want a bit more
Control
in my life.”
Rainbow’s eyes shot wide. The smirk vanished from her face as the C-word came out, and the revelation hit.
That was it. That was the thing about Nags that nopony else had. The hot fantasy that seized Dash in the restaurant did it again. Except this time, it wasn’t a dream that enwrapped her. It was the mare – right here, right now.
‘I want control in my life.’
“Yeah,” Rainbow whispered. “Me too.”
She leaned towards Nagatha, her brain closed tight. Instincts only. It was a moment, and the slightest consideration would kill it. A second of doubt, an opening of those bright blue eyes, and that would have been that.
The connection was clumsy. Their snouts bumped before Rainbow found the lips. Harwhinny’s were thin, pressed tight in surprise as Dash puckered her own against them.
Impishly, Dash gave a quick poke with her tongue. Harshwhinny's lips barred the way, but tasting them brought Dash's eyes open even wider.
They... tasted like brown sugar.
The other mare squirmed away, breaking the contact. Harshwhinny looked back in clear, bright surprise – blue eyes, red blush.
Heady with hormones and adrenaline, Dash went for broke. She leaned in again, grinning fearlessly. Rainbow ‘Danger’ Dash. If worst came to worst, at least her dental insurance was paid up.
Her mouth touched the brown sugar lips.
And they kissed back. Dash trembled, surprised in spite of herself.
It was a chaste kiss, all told. One that Harshwhinny seemed to accept, rather than embrace. Her head remained against the chair, forcing Rainbow to do all the leaning. And her lips remained closed, resisting the shy prodding of Dash’s tongue.
Still… she kissed back. Many seconds later, only the treacherous need to breath drove Dash away. She pulled back only a little, and would have gone for a third kiss had the words not interrupted.
“Miss Dash.” Stern, even by Harshwhinny’s standards. The mare’s cheeks were beet-red, but the glare warned Rainbow away. Cold and flinty as ever.
She made to speak, but Rainbow beat her. “Sorry!”
Dash snapped back into her chair, the drunken courage deserting her in a flood. Nags was pissed. And of course she was! The bragging, unprofessional twerp had been a pain in her flank all week, and now dared to kiss her! Rainbow had no right to do that. She needed permission first, but no, like the entitled moron that she is she just–
“Shivering does not become you, Miss Dash.”
Rainbow blinked, yanking her mind to the present. Credits were rolling across the screen, and Harshwhinny’s eyes lay upon her. The gaze was soft, the eyebrows raised in… worry?
“I am not angry. You just surprised me, and I needed a moment to think.” In the light of the flashing screen, Dash could see the redness lingering on Harshwhinny’s cheeks.
The older mare coughed once, glanced away, and continued. “I, ah… I had been wondering if this was a date.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” Dash laughed breathlessly. “I never really decided.”
“I think you just did.” The words were chiding, but gentle. Harshwhinny leaned forward in her chair, clasped her forehooves, and turned that worried gaze back to Rainbow.
“Miss Dash,” she began, with almost-inaudible hesitation. “I have developed a high enough opinion of you that I will not level baseless accusations. I am willing to believe that you are not acting on a dare, bet, or mean-spirited prank.”
The eyes turned back to the screen. “But what I don’t understand is, ‘why?’ All criticisms aside, Miss Dash: you are an important pony, and a young and attractive one at that. You can hardly be desperate for potential partners, least of all one that is – your words – ‘a hard pony to like.’ I can’t fathom why–”
“Hey c’mon, don’t make me explain myself.” Dash chuckled again, more from nerves than humor. “You know I suck at it.”
But she tried anyway, as much to herself as Nagatha. “Look, I wasn’t blowing smoke when I said I admire you. You’re cute, and I think that you’re… kind of special. I go out with some mare from Manehatten, she’ll say she loves me. But I’ll never really know – does she love me? Or does she love my fame, or my speed? Or the prestige of going out with me, or even just my awesomeness? There’s no way for me to know. But if you say you like me, I can take that to the bank.”
“You have other friends,” Harshwhinny noted. “I’m certain they care for you beyond the trophies.”
Dash blurted her response, grinning with wild embarrassment. “Yeah, but that’s not sexy! Sexy is…”
“You!” she almost yelled, cheeks ablaze. “You’re sexy. You’re dominating, in charge. Controlling. The more I think about it, the more I can’t think of anything else. I want to be yours in the bedroom. I want you to make me impress you. I want my wings tied, and I wantstop laughing!”
She should have been in awe, but Rainbow was too flustered to appreciate the sharp, unlikely laughter coming out of Harshwhinny. The brown mare’s head was thrown back, and only after she had her fill did the twinkling eyes return to Dash.
Nagatha tisked, shaking her head. “You make many assumptions. Not the smallest of which being that my… preferences would match the stereotype of a woman of my temperament. The, ah, ‘D,’ as it were.”
“Yeah, well a girl’s got fantasies!” Dash growled, thoroughly embarrassed. She sighed huskily, tapping her forehead to the seat in front. “I’m sorry, okay? It’s a lot to throw on somepony who’s leaving in the morning. Even if you wanted to… you know, start seeing me, it ain’t happening. Tomorrow you’ll be on a train, and all we’ll have to show for it is a whole heap of ‘why did I bother?’”
She bumped her head to the chair back again, the dull pain doing nothing to cure her angst. Stupid.
Once more, a little harder. Stupid.
And agai–
“Miss Dash!” A brown hoof caught her, cushioning the blow. “Kindly cease this display. I have no use for ponies who wallow in misery when they should be finding a solution.”
“Solution?” Dash turned an irate glance to her companion. “Now you’re just making fun of me.”
“Am not,” Harshwhinny countered primly.
“Are too! There is no solution, ‘cause you’re leaving tomorrow!”
“But not tonight.”
“Nags, I–”
‘But not tonight.’
Rainbow gagged on her words, guessing too late the hint in Nagatha’s. She sent an incredulous gaze to the brown mare, who dodged eye contact for the first time since Dash had met her. The face was dour as ever as it turned to the credits, but a slight tremble ran through its poise. A heat could be seen in her cheeks, though it was probably nothing compared to Dash’s. Rainbow could feel her own blush all the way to her shoulders.
Harshwhinny went on, eyes turned firmly away. “Tonight, yes. The… evening need not end so soon. We might retire to the hotel and… pass a little time together.”
“Grah!” She shook her head hard, seemingly chasing away her nerves. Harshwhinny set the fierce blue eyes upon Rainbow, her stern frown back in its place. “Sweet Celestia, I’m out of practice. Now see here, Miss Dash: given the circumstances we find ourselves in, I am willing to engage in what is called a ‘one night stand,’ which is a poorly-conceived phrase given the fact that it involves a minimum of standing. This is not my usual and don’t dare think that it is, but I will give it a try for you. Do you accept?”
A few seconds passed as Rainbow did her Tank impersonation: stare dumbly, with a growing smile.
This… this is happening. It’s really happening. Holy cow, this is really happ–
“Well?”
“Yes!” Rainbow squeaked, shooting up from her chair. “Yes, yes! Hoo! Wow, I mean… wow!”
Harshwhinny glanced at her watch and rose, the model of dignity. “Contain your enthusiasm.”
Rainbow did not. This was better than after Discord, Nightmare Moon, or any of those other, lesser challenges. She did a quick dance as she reached the aisle, giggling and chattering like a schoolfilly.
Nagatha huffed as the antics went on, even as they left the theater. “Miss Dash, you’re embarrassing yourself...”
“No I’m not!” Dash chirped, hopping giddily on her hooftips.
“…And me by association.” Harshwhinny finished, eyes closed. “Honestly, you’re acting like it’s your first time.”
That arrested Rainbow’s motion, a fact Harshwhinny did not miss. Dash gulped as a blue eye opened, giving her a sidelong look.
“Ah… is this your first time?”
“No!” Rainbow said, too quickly and loud.
Harshwhinny stopped walking. The single eye remained watching, holding Rainbow’s gaze for the few seconds before she gave in.
“Okay, yes.”
The brown-sugar face cracked a smile. The eye above it turned back to the road, content in its victory.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” The smile grew by centimeters as Nagatha resumed her walk. “This will prove… educational, for you.”
A few minutes passed and she stopped again, still blocks from the hotel. Rainbow groaned as Nagatha eyed a storefront window, then opened its door.
“Whoa, Nags!” she called testily. Euphoria turned to impatience, souring her mood. “Can’t you do your shopping tomorrow?”
Nagatha looked back from the doorway, a twinge of the old grumpiness back in place. “No, I cannot.”
“Aw, you’re torturing me!” Dash knew she was whining, but it was worth it. She needed what was coming, and every delay was its own hell.
“C’mon,” she wheedled, pressing her hooves in a begging motion as Nagatha turned to face. “Your train leaves at nine, right? Most stores are open before then. I’ll even help shop, so can we please get a move on? This is a big thing I’m offering, here. Waking up early just to help shop for your trip.”
“Who said this is for the trip?” Harshwhinny asked, deadpan.
“Huh? But what else…”
Rainbow trailed off as her eyes rose, taking in the storefront sign. ‘Bigelow’s Belts, Harnesses, and Leatherworks.’
Leather.
“Buh.” Not a word, but the best Rainbow could do as her mind shut down. A tremble coursed through her body, and the giddy anticipation returned at a headlong rush.
Nagatha’s eyes were closed, her mouth in a faint smile. “I’ll be along shortly. Meet me up by my room.”
“Nags,” Dash managed. “I…”
She got no further. A brown hoof rose, slapping itself over her muzzle. Hard enough to sting, but Dash didn’t care. She watched, transfixed as Harshwhinny opened her eyes.
Nothing, nothing like the eyes of five minutes ago. The ice-blue orbs were open wider than Dash had ever seen, gleaming with manic hunger. They all but glowed, terrifying and arousing her, and holding her helpless to break free. Dash could only stare, chuckling weirdly and wondering just what she had gotten herself into.
“‘Nags,’” Harshwhinny said scornfully, but the strange light remained. “That was one time too many, Miss Dash. The privilege is revoked. From now on, you are to call me Miss Harshwhinny.”
The brown hoof fell from Rainbow’s mouth, carrying with it a thin line of saliva. Harshwhinny closed the door, fixing Dash with her wild eyes until the very last second.
Rainbow was off before the latch closed, trailing a prism streak as she flew to the hotel.
