An Autumn Romance

Author's Note: I'm sorry for how long this chapter took to write, I've been quite busy. Thanks to SkypiDashie for helping with the editing. Oh, and if you can go check out Anyone311 on youtube (youtube.com/users/anyone311) Yes, it is a shameless plug for my friend!(Sadly, it isn't pony themed but I promised to put this here.) Enjoy, and keep the recommendations/tips coming!

Chapter 4: Confession...Or Not!

As the sun sunk lower and lower in the western sky, the two ponies made their way out of the library. Rainbow was a little more conscious of the other ponies looking at them this evening. Yesterday, she had been so blinded by her love that she couldn't notice anypony but Twilight. Today was a different story. She noticed all of the ponies looking at them, and it made her nervous. This wasn't a feeling she was used to experiencing and she wasn't sure what to do. With her wing extended around the unicorn it was pretty clear that they were together, so she retracted it while keeping an eye on everypony else.

Twilight, noticing the wing leaving her back, moved more towards the cyan pegasus. She nuzzled Dash's neck lovingly. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, it's just tiring to hold my wing out”, she lied. Anypony else who had been looking at the pair had gone back to their tasks at hand, allowing Dash to breath a sigh of relief.

They walked in silence, enjoying the sunset as the cool autumn air swirled the fallen leaves around their hooves. In what felt like no time at all, they arrived at their destination.

As the two entered, they saw all of their friends standing around the display stage in the boutique. There was a big curtain covering platform, making the room feel smaller.

Once she saw their group together, Dash felt the nervousness set in once again. They couldn't tell them yet. What of someone didn't agree with the two of them being together? This could split up their friendship! She started eying the room, trying to come up with some sort of excuse or distraction.

“Hay everypony!”, Twilight called as they walked up to the stage. “Whats up?”

“Oh good, you two have arrived!”, Rarity said with a smile. “I just HAD to call you all here. I'm about announce my new dress line! I call it, The Changing Season's Collection, a different dress for every month!”

The ponies around the stage applauded as the curtain was pulled back. Twelve forms stood there, each with a different dress that looked both very intricate and extremely delicate. The fillies all gasped at the sight of them, taken aback by the beauty.

“Gosh, these seem a mite expensive.”, AJ stated while looking at the August dress. It's light, airy fabric seemed perfect for her. Formal, yet casual.

“Normally, dresses of this class would be upwards of 1000 bits each!”, Rarity replied while puffing out her chest with pride. “Luckily, I found a great supplier for the fabric. As my gift to you, everypony may pick one for themselves.”

“Oh, umm... that's awfully generous of you.” The timid yellow pegasus was eying the May dress. It was covered in flowers and seemed the perfect suit to her personality.

“Well, I AM the element of generosity, after all!”, Rarity exclaimed. “I just wanted my friends to have something to wear if they ever needed it!”

The room echoed with thanks toward the fashionista, and they were soon discussing the dresses. Fluttershy and Applejack stuck with the dresses they were looking at earlier. Pinkie chose the February dress, only for the fact that it was pink. Dash chose the June dress for the sleek design and vibrant colors. Finally, Twilight chose the July dress. It sparkled and shimmered, with the design on a dark purple background. It fit her name and personality perfectly.

The fillies went off to try on their dresses, giving Rainbow a chance to speak with Twilight. She seemed extremely nervous, and kept looking around to see if anypony was coming back. “Twi, listen. I don't know how I feel about telling everypony at once. What if somepony disagrees with 'us'?! I know this sounds odd coming from me, but can we slow down a bit.”

Twilight took a minute to think about what her partner had said. “Well... I guess we have been moving quite fast.”, She blushed slightly and sighed. “I think they would all be okay with us being together personally. However, if you don't feel like telling them all at once, I can respect that.”

A look of relief washed over Dash's face. “Thank you, Twilight. You know how much you mean to me.” She gave the purple unicorn a quick kiss on the cheek while she nuzzled Dash in return.

Soon after, their friends started to return to the mane room. “Why aren't ya fillies dressed yet?”, AJ asked. She looked amazing in her dress.

“Oh, we were just talking!”, Dash stammered out. The two trotted off to get changed, with Dash breathing yet another sigh of relief. Smooth, she thought to herself.

Once they returned, everypony gathered on the stage as Rarity admired them. “Oh, they are simply WONDEFUL! What do you fillies think?”

“Ah think they're pretty darn nice!” AJ said.

“I reallyreallyreally like mine! It's the best dress ever.”, Pinkie stated, while bouncing around the room.

“They are just perfect, Rarity. Thank you so much.” Twilight was admiring herself in a nearby mirror, checking out how the dress rode on her flanks. “You do always know how to make the right dresses.”

“ Thank you so much, all of you! We should go celebrate, and I can only think of one way to celebrate.” Rarity was smiling, while all of the fillies waited for her idea. “Let's have a night out!”

“I don't know...”, Fluttershy started before she was drowned out by the resounding YES from the other ponies. They all hurried towards the door, unable to wait to show off the new dresses.

• ~ -

The group decided to go to Stable's, a local bar&grill. They were soon seated, discussing what to order and what they wanted to do that night. They sat conversing until the food arrived, Pinkie immediately diving at her plate of nachos.

Dash was seated next to Twilight and Applejack. The two were discussing the Running of the Leaves. Was that all anypony could think of? She picked at her grilled eggplant, not saying much. Then again, there wasn't much to say. She was happy, she was with her friends, but most importantly she was in love. What more did she need. After a few minutes with her thoughts, she noticed a hoof prodding her side. It was Applejack.

“Are ya all right?”, the kind earth pony asked. “You've been kinda quiet. That ain't really like ya at all.”

Dash looked up, first to AJ, then to Twilight, and back to AJ. “Yea,” she said, a big smile across her face. “I'm just fine.”

Applejack returned the smile and went back to chatting with the others, leaving Dash daydreaming again. After what seemed like seconds, she felt another hoof poking her. She looked around to see that the meal was already over, and everypony was waiting outside.

“Hay, are you coming?”, Twilight asked the pegasus. “We heard DJ Pon3 was playing nearby, and we were gonna go see her.”

“Sorry Twi, but I think I'm gonna head home for now.”, Dash looked into her partner's eyes, seeing her happiness she felt reflecting right back at her. She leaned back a bit. “I need to go and relax a bit.”

Twilight gently kissed her fillyfriend. Everypony else was still waiting outside, so there was no worry of being caught. She broke the kiss, and turned to meet up with the others. “I'll see you tomorrow, OK?”

“Sure thing!” Dash replied with a smile.

Once Twilight had trotted out the door, Dash got up to leave. She stepped out into the cool night air and took a deep breath. Her wings slowly unfolded, and she ran to gather speed. The take off was perfect, and in no time at all the cyan pegasus was high over Ponyville.

• ~ -

Dash flew over towards her house, and quietly landed on the roof. She folded her wings and lay on her back. Gazing up at the stars and Luna's beautiful moon hanging high in the sky, there was only one thing to make this moment better. Somepony to share it with.

Maybe I'll bring Twi up here one night, she thought to herself. That filly loves stars, and if she cast that cloud walking spell on herself, she could spend all night up here!

Dash lay there in her beautiful new dress, thinking to herself. She was lost in her dreams, gazing up at the heavens. What a perfect night.