The Stallion and the Mare

What's so special about him, anyways? Rainbow Dash thinks to herself as she and her friends trot back to town. I mean, what makes him any different than any other inventor, he's just -

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack shouts, breaking her train of thoughts.

"What?" Rainbow Dash replies annoyed.

"Are you alrigh'?" she asks her multi-colored friend, "I tried to get yer attention, like five times, and you didn't say anythin'."

"I'm fine," Rainbow Dash says unconvincingly, "There's nothing wrong with me."

"All the same, darling," Rarity says, "You can't deny the fact that you've changed a bit since we met John. You barely spoke a word at his humble abode, and when you did, it was to utter that rather rude question of yours."

"I didn't think it was rude," Rainbow Dash says defensively, "Like he said, it was a fair question."

"Oh, please, Rainbow," Rarity says, "You said it like you were - wait a minute. . ." she suddenly stops in her tracks and searches her mane for something. "OH DEAR!" she exclaims, a little more dramatically than necessary, "I'VE LOST MY. . ." before Rarity can finish her statement, a blue streak appears from above them and soars towards them, crashing into Rainbow Dash. when the dust clears, the ponies realize that it was John who fell from the sky, sporting a pair of strange-looking goggles.

"Hey! What gives?" Rainbow Dash shouts from beneath John.

"Oh, sorry Rainbow Dash," John says apologetically, then chuckles a little, "I guess you could call this payback!" He cuts his laughter short, however, as the blue pegasus shoots him a glare that would make the devil cringe, "Well, um, I-I saw this on one of my work benches and thought it belonged to one of you, since I don't wear them myself," he says and holds his hoof out to reveal a crystal brooch with a diamond at its center.

"Ooh! Thank you sooo much, darling!" Rarity squeals with delight, "I simply don't know what I would do without it."

"You're welcome," John replies, "I would have come in smoother, but I'm still getting used to these wings, considering I just finished them a few weeks ago."

The ponies thank John for his efforts as he flies back to his home. "He is such a sweet, caring stallion," Rarity says dreamily, "How can you question somepony based on that, Rainbow Dash?" she asks, but receives no reply, "Rainbow Dash? Where did she go?"

Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, is already a mile away from the group, thinking about her place in all of this. He won't take my friends away, she keeps telling herself, he won't take my friends away. . .

* * * *

The day after they visited his shop, Rainbow Dash sits in a cloud just outside John's house, waiting for signs of movement. Sure enough, she spots John exit the shop with Shiloh and his cart in tow; using her cloud as cover, Rainbow Dash stealthily follows him into town. No sooner had he entered town, however, when three little fillies wearing red capes plow right into him.

"Oh, sorry sir!" the orange filly apologizes, "We didn't see you there."

"That's alright, young ones," John says, "You should be more careful in the future, though."

"We will," the red-maned filly responds, "Say, aren't you John Darkblaze, the inventor? My sister's told me all about you!"

John chuckles, "Why, yes I am! And you are . . ?"

"Oh, sorry, um," the filly says, "I'm Apple Bloom, and this here's Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo," she points towards her friends.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you all," John says politely.

"Oooh, is that your cat?" Sweetie Belle asks, spotting Shiloh in John's cart.

"Yes, this is Shiloh," John says as Shiloh jumps down from the cart to greet the fillies.

"Aw, he's so sweet," Scootaloo coos as she pets Shiloh gently on the head.

"So, what are you three ding running about with those capes?" John asks.

"Well, we're . . . the CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" Apple Bloom begins, followed by her friends at the chorus, "We're trying to find our purpose in life by getting our cutie marks!" she continues.

Rainbow Dash listens intently as the conversation continues, sneering to herself at John's politeness. She watches the ponies so closely that she does not realize when Fluttershy lands softly on her cloud.

"Hello Rainbow Dash!" she greets warmly.

"Gah!" the blue pegasus exclaims, startled, "Oh, hey Fluttershy."

"What are you doing?" Fluttershy asks curiously, "I thought you'd be helping out with preparations for the Running of the Leaves tomorrow."

"Huh? Oh, um," Rainbow Dash stammers, "Um, n-nothing, I'm not doing anything." The yellow pegasus peers over her friend's shoulder and sees John talking to the CMC.

"Why are you watching-" Fluttershy begins but suddenly stops, a disappointed look slowly spreading across her face, "Rainbow Dash! You're not spying on John because of what happened yesterday, are you?! Because he apologized to you!"

"What? No, i-it isn't," Rainbow Dash hesitates, looking away from an unconvincing Fluttershy.

"Come on, Rainbow, what is it that you have against John?" the yellow pegasus asks, "We've known each other since flight school, so I know when something's bothering you."

Rainbow Dash sighs, "It's just, well," she begins, "I've never seen anypony act that nicely and politely all for no reason. I think he's hiding something from everypony."

Fluttershy gasps, "How can you say such a thing? He doesn't seem like he has anything to hide."

"That's what he wants us to think," Rainbow Dash says quietly so nopony can eavesdrop, "Trust me, I've known ponies who wear two faces, where on the outside, it's all happy joy-joy, but on the inside is something dark that takes advantage of those around. Also, an Earth pony who wants to fly - there's something suspicious about that."

Fluttershy just stares, not sure what to make of her friend's accusation, "Well, I don't know about that, but I think you might be over-reacting about all this," she says, which earns her a snort from the blue pegasus. "Just, hear me out - if you'd just spend some time getting to know him, I'm sure you'll see that his intentions are genuine."

Rainbow Dash considers this for a minute, then a sly grin creeps across her face, "You know what, you're right Fluttershy," she says.

"R-Really?" Fluttershy asks.

"Of course! I'll spend some time talking to him; see what I can find out," she says, the grin still plastered on her face, "Thanks, Fluttershy!" she says as she zooms away, leaving her yellow friend very confused.