Cloudsdale Love

“During my first heat,” Rainbow said, “Firestar teased me a bunch of times. Usually pretty subtle stuff. He didn’t actually pick on me, though. He knew I was uncomfortable. No, his teasing was more of the stuff that would seem accidental, but would leave me flustered.”

Firestar

Rainbow and I were hanging out. It’d been a week since she’d gotten her Cutie Mark, and her heat was firing on all pistons. I was the ADHD pony, here, and she fidgeted more than I do when I forget to take my Ritalin, for Celestia’s sake!

Knowing she was extremely uncomfortable with her “condition,” I never gave her a hard time. I had followed her dad’s advice, though; I’d gotten her lunch every other day, for example. Nothing romantic, though. Just a hayburger and fries, or a sandwich. Occasionally, we’d share an apple pie, for dessert.

One time, a major flustering opportunity came, and I took it. I’d accidentally dropped a notebook I’d been carrying. “Oops.” I bent down, making sure that, should she look, Dash could admire my physique. Especially the back part. Oh, it was subtle. I didn’t make it obvious. It would just seem like I was picking the notebook up, rather than also trying to give her a good view.

When I came back up, Rainbow’s face was red. “You okay?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“Y-Yeah.” She replied.

“Okay.”

We started walking. At one point, I felt something hit my rump. I heard Rainbow gasp as I looked back. I caught her tail moving back behind her. Rainbow’s face was bright red. “I-I’m sorry!” She exclaimed. “It-It’s the heat!”

“I know.” I replied, feeling my own face warm up. “Got a bad spike, huh?”

“Y-Yeah. I can’t think straight, when they hit.” She said. “Suddenly, things I’d never even consider… I just do them! My mind goes to the gutter with almost everything I see or hear. I can’t help it!”

“And that’s exactly why you’re completely forgiven.” I said. I smirked. “For now.” I teased.

She smiled seductively. “What, you gonna punish me, big colt?” She asked sultrily. Then, she gasped. Both of us went red.

“Not-Not likely!” I replied, both embarrassed and amused.

We both started chuckling, both amused and venting our embarrassment.

When we finished laughing, she pressed herself up to me. “I’m glad we’re friends, Fire.” She said, nuzzling my neck.

“U-Um… thanks.” I stammered. “Ehm… Rainbow? You’re not the only one feeling a bit awkward, here.”

A gasp, and the air on my side, told me that she’d realized what she was doing.

“But, for the record,” I continued, “I’m glad, too.” We shared a quick smile, and went on with our day.

Rainbow Dash

My heat had finally ended. Yesterday, I hadn’t had any heat-spikes. The month of torture was over, thank Celestia.

I found myself thinking back to the times Firestar and I had hung out. The awkward moments, the great times. But mostly, I about thought Firestar himself.

His endless forgiveness of my heat-induced temptings, his patience, and his complete self-control. He never gave in, even though (and I know this for a fact) some of it definitely aroused him. And, through it all, he never once even considered the idea of hanging out with me less. I was grateful beyond words. He’d kept me from doing anything stupid, even with him, and he’d stuck with me, despite what I’d unintentionally put him through.

I found my thoughts turning to his body. His slim, sexy body. Not too hard, but not too soft, either. Well-toned, strong muscles. Couple all that with his personality? Mmm…

I shook my head. What are you doing, Dash? You’re not in heat anymore, are you? Wait… is it possible…? Do I… Do I like him? No way. I’ve only been a mare for about a month! Is that even possible, so soon? I shrugged, putting away the internal conflict, for now. My dad was hosting a party for me, tonight, in honor of surviving my first heat (and for getting my Cutie Mark). It was more of an excuse to have a friendly get-together, but my dad had hinted that there was a reason only ponies with Cutie Marks went to the last part of it.

I’d gotten a little concerned at that, but dad had just laughed and told me it wasn’t like what I’d inferred.

The party was awesome. Firestar, Gilda (we’d patched things up last year), and even Windfall (who’d changed drastically, for the better, since we’d all met Firestar) showed up. We chatted, lounged around, and basically just had a good time.

If I’d known what was coming, I honestly don’t know if I would have gone. Knowing what eventually came from it, though, I likely would have.

“Okay, everypony!” My dad said loudly, putting all attention on himself. “Party’s over! Grown-ups, head to the kitchen! Everypony else, we’ll see you all tomorrow!”

After saying our “thank you’s” and “goodbye’s,” dad and I got everypony back into the living room.

“Time to mess with the star of the party!” Dad said.

“Wait, what?” I exclaimed.

Thus, the pranks and games began. But the coup d’etat, however, was beyond unexpected; Kiss the New-Grown.

“W-Wait! Wha-What!?!” I exclaimed, as Windfall told me, in private.

She just laughed and unrolled a piece of paper. “All the females have voted. The lucky stallion is…” Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “Firestar!”

“What!?!” I exclaimed, again.

“At some point during the next hour, the two of you have to kiss.” Windfall left to tell Firestar. He had pretty much the same reaction as I did.

Over the next half-hour, the two of us reluctantly avoided each other. But we got outsmarted. The two of us found ourselves alone in the kitchen.

“So…” He began, “how are things?”

“G-Good.” I replied.

“Um… you know, we-we don’t have to… we-we could just, um-”

“Oh, just come here!” I said. I grabbed him, and kissed him, right on the lips.

He stiffened in shock, but then melted into it, as did I. I don’t know for sure, but I’d guess that we stayed lip-locked for a good five-or-so seconds. Our lips brushing together, our forehooves embracing each other. As if we were old lovers. It just felt... right.

When I finally pulled away, I looked him in the eyes, and said “Consider that my thanks, for keeping me out of trouble.”

“Uh… Uh-huh.” He said, still in shock from the kiss.

“Was it good?” Windfall’s voice asked from the doorway.

I whirled around, gasping. Everyone who’d “voted” was clustered around the doorway, smiling. Some of them even started softly clapping.

We were both blushing harder than we’d ever thought possible. Windfall grabbed me, and steered me into a private corner. For some reason, everypony let us keep our privacy.

“Well?” She asked. “Was it?”

“Uh-Well, yeah, but… but that’s not the point, here!” I exclaimed. “You forced us to! And then you spied on us? What were you trying to do?”

“Get two friends that have obviously fallen for each other into an official, romantic relationship.” Windfall stated.

I opened my mouth to reply, but all it did was flap like a fish. I was speechless. Then, a part of her sentence clicked. “W-Wait… are you saying… he likes me?”

Windfall laughed, almost falling to the floor. “Yes!” She exclaimed. “Yes! He likes you! He has since before you got your Cutie Mark!”

I reeled back. “W-What!?! A-Are you sure?”

“Midnight told me.” Windfall said.

Midnight Blackbird. Firestar’s first fillyfriend. Right after he’d gotten his Cutie Mark, they’d gotten together, for about four months. It was a pretty peaceful break-up, and they were still good friends. In fact, if I wasn’t already filling that spot, Midnight would be Firestar’s number-one friend. Nowadays, they considered each other more like siblings than friends. I’d thought the same had been for us, but apparently the type of affection was different. The only reason Midnight wasn’t here was because she was sick. Caring of her, to not spread the sickness to everypony else.

“And I know you like him, too!” Windfall continued.

“What?” I stammered. “Who said that? I only figured-” I clamped my mouth shut, but it was too late.

Windfall just collapsed, laughing too hard to remain standing. “You figured it out this morning? Before the party? When you kissed?”

“R-Right before the party.” I admitted softly, looking down.

Windfall stopped laughing. A hoof tapping my chin made me look up into her caring eyes. “Hey, Rainbow, what’s wrong?” Her voice was soft. “Liking somepony isn’t a bad thing! Especially if they like you back!” She said, countering my answer to her apparently-rhetorical question.

“But…” I trailed off, trying to find some fault with it. “But…” I sighed. “I just don’t know!”

“My advice?” Windfall said. “Wait a few minutes, and then go talk to him. Let him get his thoughts straight, and then the two of you can decide what to do.”

“What if… What if he doesn’t want me?” I asked worriedly.

Windfall just patted my shoulder. “Trust me.” She said. “If he didn’t want you, he wouldn’t have reacted to the kiss like that.”

I think Firestar must’ve hid somewhere, because I couldn’t find him until he came to the door, ready to leave.

“Hey,” I said softly, “can I talk to you for a second? In private?”

“Uh… s-sure.” He replied.

We walked to the corner of the living room. I turned to face him. “That certainly wasn’t how I planned to have my first kiss.” I stated bluntly.

Firestar snorted. “Me neither.” He agreed.

“What? You and Midnight never kissed?”

“Not on purpose.” He replied. “There was that one time where it was dark, and she thought my head was turned to the side, and it wasn’t, but I barely felt it.”

“... Anyways. I… Look, I figured this out a little bit before the party, and Windfall said… she said you liked me?”

Firestar blushed, and looked down. “Y-Yeah.” He said. His hoof pawed at the ground, a little.

“Do you… I-I’m willing to…” I trailed off, trying to get my thoughts straight, so I could form a full sentence. “I-I’m willing to do that again, sometime.” I told him.

His head jerked up, his eyes wide. “W-What?” He exclaimed. “You mean you-”

I hugged him. After he recovered from the surprise, he returned the embrace. “Yes.” I whispered into his ear. The hug got tighter, after that.

We continued the embrace for a few more seconds, and then I walked him to the door.

“So…” He started, “lunch, tomorrow? The usual?”

I smiled. You know me so well. “Sounds absolutely perfect!” I replied softly. “Pick me up, okay?” I gave him a peck on the cheek. “Bye!”

“Bye!”

I watched him walk off, smiling so hard, I was afraid my face was going to fall off. When he turned the corner, he waved. I waved back. Once he left my sight, I turned. And gasped, as I saw my father standing in the doorway, looking at me with a knowing smile.

“I wondered when you two would get together.” He said, bluntly.

“You-What?” I stammered, confused.

“The day you got your Cutie Mark.” He told me. “You let him stay. I saw it right then. That’s also when he told me how he felt about you.”

“How… How long has he liked me?”

“He claims to have figured out his feelings for you only a couple months after he and Midnight broke up.”

“That long ago?” I said, incredulous.

“Yep. Come on, let’s go inside. Then we can talk more about stallions.”