The Stone Complex

Today was a good day, Rainbow Dash decided.

A very good day, by pegasus standards. By anypony's standards she thought. Today was a sunny day, a few clouds here and there to rest on. Perfect for napping, with the soft fluffy clouds, the warm sun, the tweeting of birds…

Nothing could mess up today. It was perfect.

Rainbow Dash yawned happily, and kneaded her hooves into the soft cloud below her. She lied down with a smile and nestled her head into the cloud. Her rainbow mane fell over her neck nicely and she relaxed her muscles. This was a well needed rest after her work day yesterday. Perfect days don’t just show up like this. She needs to make them, with the help of the weather team of course.

Her job came with advantages however. Such as the ability to look for the softest cloud, and tell Blossomforth to put it over Sugarcube Corner. Such was the perfect spot for sleeping. The smell of cupcakes mixed with the giggling of fillies made the place joyful and upbeat.

Not to mention Pinkie Pie lived there.

The distinct ‘boing!’ of Pinkie Pie’s jumping resounded in the air. Rainbow Dash smiled against the cloud bed and stretched her wings, standing up and flicking her tail.

“Dashie~!” Pinkie’s squeaky voice called, her pink mane bounced about her pink face. Rainbow thought her mane fit her wonderfully, as the curls framed her smiling face and bright blue eyes perfectly.

“Yeah, Pinks?” Rainbow replied, smiling from her cloud. “‘Sup?”

“I didn’t know you were off work today, silly filly!”

Rainbow giggled. She liked to surprise Pinkie. “I wanted to surprise you, Pinks.”

Pinkie gasped and bounced up and down repeatedly.

“That’s a great surprise!!!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Get down here right now, Dashie!”

Rainbow hopped off her cloud perch and followed the happy pink pony.

It was a great day, Rainbow Dash decided.

Pinkie was amazing, as always. She invited Rainbow to bake cupcakes with her, and the two spent the day making cupcakes and other treats. They would take breaks the eat the sweets, and spend well-deserved time together. The two were always so busy they barely ever had time to just talk. Cupcake batter ended up on Pinkie’s nose more than once, and Rainbow happily licked it off. She began to suspect that Pinkie did that on purpose.

She didn’t have time to ponder that thought. She had to meet AJ and Rarity for a picnic.

She wasn’t very excited for that. She loved spending time with her best friends, but AJ and Rarity could get a bit too involved with her and Pinkie’s love life. They wanted the best for Pinkie, and of course Rainbow herself, but they often pried too deep to make sure the two were working well together.

Did she have the surprise for them.

Next week was her and Pinkie’s 5 year Anniversary. It was time to pop the question, and she couldn’t wait for her friends’ reactions.

Rarity was dressed in… Something. Rainbow couldn’t remember the word. It was some sort of dress? It had a fancy word, but she couldn’t remember it.

AJ was normal, her brown cowboy hat and tied up mane. Rainbow immediately noticed Rarity’s wedding ring. She had been to Rarity’s wedding to Maud, and if things went the way she wanted them to, Rarity would be her sister-in-law.

She sat down with a smirk and wrapped her tail around herself.

“Well Rainbow,” Applejack began. She giggled at Rainbow’s cockier than usual expression. “You seem mighty proud a’ something right there.”

Rarity nodded in agreement, “Yes darling, what is it?” She grimaced softly and looked away, “Not that we aren’t used to your… well… prideful personality… but you seem different I suppose.”

Rainbow nodded and fluttered her wings.

“You bet I am!” She exclaimed, “I am gonna make the best decision of my life!”

“Did the Wonderbolts ask you to join them?”

“Not yet but-”

“Spitfire ask to train ya?”

“Nah-”

“Are you by chance entering a new race?”

“Next month-”

“Are ya-”

“Oh shut up!” Rainbow shouted slamming her hoof against the grass and huffing.

Rarity and Applejack recoiled in surprise and gulped. They looked at each other in unison and shrugged. They soon looked back to Rainbow, who had her face in one hoof.

“I’m gonna propose to Pinkie, dear Celestia…” Rainbow groaned. Applejack and Rarity gasped and giggled like school-girls. Rainbow wanted to just leave already.

“Oh we’re so happy for you, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity exclaimed. She was clapping her hooves and blushing lightly.

Applejack nodded and clapped as well.

It all seemed… Strange. Rainbow was expecting excitement, but this seemed a bit too much excitement. She didn’t understand why they were so worked up. It was just a marriage. Well… Not just a marriage. She was going to marry her best friend and soulmate, and she wanted the proposal to be perfect.

“Ah can’t believe ya went all the way to the Northern border!” Applejack exclaimed, happily giggling.

Northern what-now?

“Uh… What?” Rainbow asked.

Rarity and Applejack stopped laughing and looked at Rainbow in confusion.

“You mean… You didn’t uh…” Rarity began. She looked nervous, and sweat beaded on her forehead in embarrassment. “You didn’t find the pairing rock?”

“The pairing… what?”

Applejack pinned her ears back.

“Uh… Ya see Rainbow, Pinkie’s family has a tradition that when a pony wants to marry, they either have their potential wife or husband get approval from the pairing stone, or they ask the pairing stone for a spouse.” AJ explained with a frown.

“So I have to…”

“Yes.” Rarity answered.

Rainbow sighed and stood up. She groaned and stretched her wings, preparing to leave with a huff.

“That’s a load of garbage. I’ll just go to Pinkie’s rock farm and get her parents’ blessings!” She shouted, taking off towards her home to pack. “You’ll see!”

Rarity and Applejack looked at each other with dread.

“How long until she…”

“Ah give it 3 days.”