Feathers Are in Style

Chapters

A Casual Dress
Snowfall and Questions
Below and Above
On Pinions and Needles
Sentimentality
Indifference
Just Say It
Would You?
Tomorrow
Side by Side
The Only Thing That Matters

A Casual Dress

The cloud exploded from the impact with Rainbow Dash's hooves. The pegasus shot through the fluffy mass, obliterating what little remained. The cloud banks nearby shuddered from the shockwave. Any ponies that might look up would see Rainbow ripping through the overcast sky, leaving the afternoon sun to shine through.

She climbed out of the clouds before diving back in, carving another swath through her sky. With a flick of her wings, Rainbow Dash circled around a mountain. Rocks and dirt zipped past the tips of her outstretched feathers. Finishing her turn, she delivered oblivion to a few more clouds before climbing high in the sky to admire her work.

Below her, the last remaining clouds of autumn swirled and churned in the air currents she left behind. Rainbow took a deep breath of the cool air. It was the simple things that made life good sometimes.

She turned and made a slow glide down towards the edge of town. Her home, the multilevel cloud house, loomed up to greet her. Rainbow's hooves touched down on her front porch, scattering a few flecks of loose cloud. Stretching her body back and forth, she shook out her wings, feeling her blood flow subside. She took a few steps towards the door before she noticed a few letters protruding from her mailbox.

She reached into the box and fished around within until she was confident she had extracted its contents. She raised the pile to her face, not bothering to close the little door.

"Junk." Rainbow tossed an envelope into the recycling bin she left next to the box for just this purpose. "Junk. Bills. Junk. Ju-huh?" The last envelope in her hooves looked like boring social stuff she never bothered with, except for the note written on the back, signed with Spitfire's cutie mark.

Sorry, Crash, but this is newbie duty. Enjoy the start at least, will you?

She turned it over. Newbie duty? she thought.What's that supposed to mean?

The envelope had a return address of the Central Weather Bureau in Cloudsdale and had a sticker and extra postage over the address to forward it to Rainbow.

She took the letter inside, dropped it on her living room table, and opened it up. A note fell out.

Dear Captain Spitfire,

Please send one of the Wonderbolts for our winter workshop as per usual.

Yours truly,
Golden Goose

Rainbow pulled out the actual letter.

Hey, new weather ponies! It's the end of fall, and you know what that means. That's right: winter's starting. But with cold weather and cold snow comes cold winds and harsh conditions. That's why you're required to come to this year's Winter Weather Wariness Workshop. Here, you'll be taught all about safe flying in snowy conditions, handling the colder clouds, and staying warm when you're out in the field.

The class starts at 6 PM this Saturday, but you can come half an hour early for the meet and greet with a member of the Wonderbolts.

Casual suit or dress is mandatory.

Rainbow's mind flashed back to a memory she wished she'd forgotten. A corny name, wasting a Saturday night, spending over an hour listening to the lecturer droning, and remembering nothing of the lesson afterwards. The only highlight had been meeting a Wonderbolt, High Winds, before the lecture.

Oh. Ah crud. Actually...

Rainbow pictured herself surrounded by a throng of young fans, fawning over her just as she worshipped High Winds. Oh man, that is going to be so sweet! she thought. In her mind she posed dramatically, did flips in the air, and signed autographs for all and sundry. In reality her wings fluttered at the idea.

She picked up the letter again and read it over. The last line caught her eye.Casual dress?

Rainbow set the letter down and scratched her head.

What in the world is a casual dress?

Rainbow had an idea of who would know. She left her house and hopped off the edge of the cloud.

Rainbow Dash tossed open the window of Carousel Boutique and let herself in. The room was as clean as Rarity ever kept it. Some half-formed dresses awaited finishing on other cloth ponies around the room. Rows of thread sat on a little shelf above her sewing machine, which itself had a bolt of cloth awaiting its turn under the needle. Rainbow's target was inside, levitating some scissors, needles, and thread around some cloth draped on a mannequin.

"Would it kill you to use the door, Rainbow?" Rarity said without looking up.

Rainbow landed and made her way towards Rarity, being careful not to step on any important-looking scraps of fabric. Then again, she hadn't the faintest idea what was important and what wasn't.

"I dunno,” Rainbow replied. She paused, formulating her next question: “Hey, Rarity, what's a casual dress?"

Rarity's eyes didn't leave her work. "It’s an outfit that one wears at a particularly minor social function, when she is meeting a pony for whom social status is not particularly relevant, or when she is relaxing in her home."

Rainbow tilted her head. "I thought that was called your birthday suit."

Rarity looked up and turned to her. "If you weren't going to be serious, why did you ask me?"

"Sorry, I just got this thing in Cloudsdale on Saturday. They want me to wear a casual dress, but my closet only has those fancy dresses you made for me."

Rarity shuddered, though Rainbow couldn't imagine why. She took a breath, then replied, "I can certainly squeeze one into my schedule. I already have your measurements on file, so you can come back on Saturday to pick it up."

Rainbow hovered up to give Rarity a quick hug around her neck. "Thanks, Rarity. You're the best!"

"It's what I do, Rainbow." Rarity nodded.

Rainbow hopped up onto the windowsill. "But make sure it's cool," she added before she flew out.

Right on time, Rainbow Dash arrived outside Cloudsdale's Weather Bureau, a large white structure dotted with windows. A pair of thin colorful waterfalls streamed down the front, and if Rainbow's memory served her, there was one big one in the back.

She checked her dress, turning her head around to see the translucent purple fabric draped across her back. She twitched her back a few times. The dress looked like it was on straight, so Rainbow walked in the door. A small sign posted indicated the way to the Winter Whatever.

After walking down a few hallways she found the auditorium. Rainbow slipped past a hooffull of young adults milling around in the hall. Within the auditorium, she found a yellow pegasus stallion with a white mane waiting for her.

The stallion looked up and tossed his mane. "You must be Rainbow Dash, the Wonderbolt Spitfire sent for today."

"That's right. Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash, at your service." Rainbow stood up straight, opened her wings and struck a pose with her hoof raised.

"Golden Goose, charmed." He looked her over. "But I must inquire. Why have you come wearing a dress?"

Rainbow relaxed again. "Uh, the letter said to wear a casual dress."

"Oh my, that missive is meant for the attendees. The Wonderbolt representative appears in uniform."

Rainbow's hoof met her face. Of course.

He added, "However, I must add that you do look stunning in your dress."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, thanks."

Golden Goose looked past Rainbow and towards the door, where several faces poked through, each jostling for position. "Come in, come in," Golden called, waving to the crowd.

"Yeah, hey," Rainbow said. "Come on in and meet the newest Wonderbolt."

The younger ponies crowded around her. Rainbow set to signing autographs, talking about how awesome the Wonderbolts were, and by extension how awesome she was. She swam in the attention. It was the most enjoyable part of her week.

Suddenly, Golden Goose announced, "Please get to your seats; the presentation is about to begin."

Rainbow set an adoring young fan down. "Already?"

"It has been half an hour, Miss Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow glared at the clock on the wall. She knew it had only been five minutes. The clock was lying; Golden Goose had set it ahead while she wasn't looking. Rainbow grumbled and hovered her way to a back corner.

She leaned into the corner. Behind the desk in the front of the room, Golden Goose set into a droning lecture about safety.

"Good afternoon, young ponies. I am Golden Goose, and I would like to welcome you to the Winter Weather Wariness Workshop. We have a lot to discuss, so I would like to start with the dangers of icing. Icing is a hazard for any pegasus, and learning to control your body heat is key to blah blah nopony cares..."

Everypony knows this, she thought, stifling a groan. Scootaloo knows this. Fluttershy knows this. She paused. Pound Cake knows this. Rainbow had no idea how anypony could talk about nothing for that long, but Golden Goose gave a thorough demonstration.

"You should do your best to angle your feathers et cetera et cetera..."

She glanced over the crowd. A quarter of the present were dressed much fancier than she'd consider casual. A third of them weren't dressed at all. All of them looked like they were as bored as Rainbow. Several heads had already made contact with the desks. Half-covered eyes drifted off of sloppy notes.

Rainbow turned her attention to her dress. The thin purple fabric started between her wings and extended back to cover her rump and her tail. An opaque yellow band near her knees separated the top of the dress from the bottom, a translucent blue filtering her view of her hind legs. Another yellow band hooked in front of her wings to keep the outfit secure. A final strip of yellow ran around her neck, with a gold clasp holding the two halves together on her throat.

"And even the staunchest weatherpony needs to ensure that they wear blah blah I love to talk."

The hem was very even, each stitch exactly the same length and in a perfect line. Rainbow supposed that Rarity's sewing machine had created this particular section, but her craftsmareship was still exquisite.

Princesses ascended, empires rose and fell, ponykind was destroyed and remade. Further eons passed before Golden finished his lecture and the room emptied like a dam breaking.

Rainbow's bid for freedom was interrupted by Golden Goose. "If I could have a moment, Miss Rainbow Dash."

"What's up?" You already took an hour of my life I'll never get back.

Golden straightened himself up. "I'm not sure if you're aware, but I help organize the Winter's Dawn Festival in Canterlot every year. It's not a very popular event, I must admit, but we would be honored to have you attend nevertheless." He pulled a small card off of the nearby desk and gave it to Rainbow.

Rainbow read it: 'Invitation to the Winter's Dawn Festival for Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash and date, at 4 PM on Winter Eve.'

She lowered the card. "Date? And uh, you had that printed before you knew I'd be the one showing up here?"

Golden smiled. "I know how Spitfire thinks. As for a date, if you do not have a coltfriend, I would be happy to fill the position."

Rainbow backed up a step, then pushed herself forward. "As a matter of fact, I do have a coltfriend and he is awesome and I will be there with him."

Golden pursed his lips and his cheek creased to the side. "I see. I look forwards to meeting him."

Rainbow snorted and walked out.

Creep.

"Ugh. Why did I tell him I had a coltfriend? I should have just said no." Rainbow clapped her wings against her sides in frustration.

Rarity lay on her couch, inspecting her hooves. "It would have been best to, but if you declined to show now, it would hurt your reputation as a Wonderbolt. What's done is done, I'm afraid."

Rainbow paced back and forth. "Where am I going to find a stallion willing to go to Canterlot with me in"—she stopped to do some mental math—"two days? Should I just wander the streets of Ponyville asking every stallion I see?" She groaned. "I'm not even into stallions!"

A file wrapped in a blue glow removed some loose fragments from Rarity's right forehoof. "If a stallion would not be to your liking, perhaps you should take a mare instead."

Rainbow turned to face Rarity. "That's the same problem with a different gender!"

Rarity bent her body to one side and extended her right hind leg forward, then got to work with the file. "I certainly can't imagine where you might find a mare skilled in social situations willing to visit Canterlot."

Rainbow paused. "Wait, you? You'd do that for me?"

"That was my implication, yes. You'd save face, I'd have an opportunity to make a few new connections"—Rarity looked up at Rainbow—"and somepony would be there to ensure that you don't act out of place and damage your image in proper society."

"And all I gotta do is tell them you're my marefriend." Rainbow looked down in thought for a moment. "I think I can swing that. You're good at that romance stuff, so we can get a good strategy going."

Rarity smirked. "You make it sound like this is a contest."

"Oh, that's even better." Rainbow stamped the floor. "You and me versus a bunch of snooty Canterlot ponies."

That got a chuckle. "I must admit, a spot of deception sounds exciting. If anypony asks afterward, we can simply say that our relationship did not work out."

Rainbow took to a hover. "I can't believe I was mad about this whole thing. Thanks a ton, Rarity." She pumped her hoof. "This is going to be awesome!"

In several days' time, the sun over Canterlot made its way towards its last setting of the season. Rainbow Dash and Rarity approached the cast iron archway, which had several silver flowers attached to it. Ahead lay a green clearing and a gathering of dressed-up ponies, primarily unicorns.

Rainbow had on a navy blue and gold item laced with clouds. She'd found it buried in her closet and it ironed out well enough. Rarity wore a dark purple dress that Rainbow was sure she'd never seen before. Rarity had her normal amount of social makeup on; Rainbow had never worn makeup before and wasn't about to start.

As the two walked under the arch, Rarity murmured, "Remember, Rainbow, we are marefriends, and you must act like we are a couple."

Rainbow nodded. "Got it."

"Ah, Miss Rainbow Dash, it is a pleasure to see you here." Golden Goose had spotted them and approached the couple with a grin. "I see you've brought your, uh..." His smile faded into a slight frown. "I believe that you said you were bringing a coltfriend?"

“What?” Rainbow shifted closer to Rarity. “My babe Rarity is my marefriend.” Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow could see her stiffen up. “I don’t know what made you think I was bringing a colt.”

Golden's face scrunched up. He looked back and forth across the floor, and his mouth moved slightly. Rainbow rather enjoyed watching it. He breathed in, then out through his nose.

Rarity cleared her throat. “Indeed, Rainbow Dash here is my dear marefriend. I suppose you simply must have misheard her. My apologies for any confusion, Mister…?”

"Golden Goose."

"Of course." Rarity turned away, beckoning Rainbow to follow. They proceeded into a grassy area. A massive brown tent, edged with loops of red and orange fabric, stood over a significant section of the lawn. Similar, smaller tents dotted various corners outside it.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Rarity turned to Rainbow.

"BABE?" Rarity whispered with a volume that Rainbow didn't think was possible. "You had every term of endearment in the world and you chose babe?"

Rainbow grimaced. "Uh, sorry, it just kinda slipped out there."

"Too many ponies heard it to change it now." Rarity let a long breath out through her nose. "We will just have to make do. But do be more careful with your word choice in the future, Rainbow. For my part, I think I will refer to you as 'dearie' for the evening."

"Sure thing, babe." Rainbow pretended to ignore Rarity's eye twitch and looked towards the large canopy tent. "Oh sweet, there's a buffet. I'm gonna get some grub."

Rarity positioned herself between Rainbow and the tent. "We are marefriends, and marefriends do things together. This is a social gathering, and I fully intend to socialize." She flicked her head towards a pair of fancy-looking unicorns before setting off towards them. Rainbow rolled her eyes and followed.

"Sparkling River! Emerald Gleam!" Rarity called towards the two. "It has been far too long since we have talked. How are you two doing these days? We absolutely must catch up...."

After entirely too much socializing and pretending to be classy, dinner finally arrived. Rarity carefully selected an assortment of fruits and small flowers. Rainbow just loaded her plate with whatever looked good.

Rarity brushed some dirt off of a seat with a piece of cloth before shaking it off, then motioned Rainbow to sit. Rainbow plonked her plate on the small, round table and sat down. Rarity repeated her cleaning on the opposite side of the table and gently set herself down.

"So, dearie," Rarity started, "how has your evening been so far?"

"Boring." Rainbow stuffed a third of an apple in her mouth.

"I must admit, this has not been as productive of a gathering as I had hoped." She leaned in to speak quieter. "Many of these ponies are not terribly significant."

Rainbow swallowed. "Compared to us, you mean."

Rarity sat back. "Well, I don't mean to brag, but I have rubbed elbows with all four princesses, as well as sold dresses to much of Canterlot's high society. I daresay these ponies are benefiting from meeting me more than the other way around. But we are still marefriends, and we should eat appropriately."

"And how do marefriends eat?"

A chunk of pineapple gained a blue aura and hovered towards Rainbow's mouth. "Open up," Rarity commanded. Rainbow obliged and felt it sink into her tongue. The tart, sugary juices spread through her mouth. At least the food's all right, she thought.

Rainbow chewed her food and stabbed a grape with her fork, then swallowed. "I feel like a foal in a high chair." She offered the grape to Rarity, who ate it off the fork.

"It's romantic," Rarity said after she finished.

Rainbow glanced at Rarity's plate. "If you say so. Want the melon?"

They fed each other several more bites before returning to feeding themselves. Despite the difference in portions, Rarity finished only a short time before Rainbow did.

Rainbow Dash licked her lips. "Not bad."

"It was a very simple selection. Hardly any preparation, just ingredients tossed onto platters." Rarity harrumphed. "But we had fun feeding each other, didn't we? However, since we're still here, we might as well keep up being marefriends."

Rainbow suppressed a sigh. "And what are we doing this time?"

"Lovingly gazing into each other's eyes, of course. It's a typical activity among couples." Rarity leaned slightly in, setting her forehooves up on the table and nestling her chin on her knees. Rainbow copied the pose and looked into Rarity's eyes.

They gazed in silence for a few moments.

Rarity's brow lowered. "For goodness' sake, Rainbow, this isn't a staring contest. At least try to look like you're enjoying being in your marefriend's company."

Rainbow let her mind wander. The first day of winter was the next day, so the Ponyville weather team had its work cut out for it. She'd be back in town a little after noon to check up on progress. If all else failed, Rainbow could certainly arrange the snow clouds herself. She just didn't want to.

Her train of thought was interrupted by a voice. "Oh, I just have to say how cute you two look together!"

Rainbow and Rarity both turned their attention to the unicorn who had approached while they were busy with each other. She was pinkish-purple with a blue mane. Rainbow remembered her from earlier in the day. Half of her name was Ribbon. The other half escaped Rainbow.

"Why thank you," Rarity replied with a smile. "I'm very close to my dear Rainbow Dash, you see."

"How long have you been seeing each other, if I might ask?" Ribbon said.

"Two weeks," Rainbow said at the same time that Rarity said, "a month."

"Two months," Rainbow corrected. "But we're super affectionate and we kiss, like, all the time." She waved her hoof for emphasis.

Rarity's face dropped. What? Rainbow thought. Oh. Oh crud.

"Yes well," Rarity quickly added. "My marefriend and I do indulge in some affectionate gestures from time to time.” There was an awkward silence. "If you would be so kind as to give us a little privacy?"

"Of course!" The Ribbon pony turned and left.

Rainbow grimaced and swallowed the lump in her throat. She looked to Rarity, who was avoiding her gaze for the moment.

"There's nothing for it now," Rarity said, looking back towards her. "You told them that we're kissing and... we must... keep up appearances for anypony else who may be watching." She reluctantly leaned forward.

Rainbow moved to meet her across the table. Rainbow flashed an apologetic look. Rarity returned an annoyed one.

Their eyes closed and their lips met.

Ten seconds later, they parted.

Rarity quickly straightened herself up. "Well, that was that." She pulled out her cloth and wiped Rainbow's mouth clean of stray lipstick, before retrieving a small mirror and a tube from some other pocket in her dress and patching the gaps on her own lips.

Rainbow wiped her mouth off with her foreleg. "Yeah, how about we don't do that again."

Rarity stood up and cleared her throat. "I believe we've had enough socializing for today. Let's head to the hotel, shall we?"

Rainbow Dash and Rarity approached the front desk of the hotel, luggage in tow. It was a smaller hotel, only a few minutes' walk from the Festival's venue. It had a simple white decor, with sections of wood here and there. Rainbow was sure that Rarity would have no end of criticism if she asked.

"Welcome to the West Canterlot Inn," the concierge said. "How may I help you?"

"Give us two rooms, will ya?" Rainbow said.

Rarity interjected, "What my dear marefriend meant to say was that we would like a small room with a bed big enough for two." She retrieved a pile of coins from wherever she kept things in that dress of hers. "Keep the change, dear."

The concierge hesitated. "Of course. Your room is number three-oh-five, just up the stairs to your left." He took the coins and levitated a key to Rarity.

Rarity made her way up the stairs. Rainbow opted to fly, carrying their large suitcase. "Why do we need the same room?" she asked.

"Because there might be ponies who recognize us staying here as well, and I will not be spending tomorrow answering questions about the state of our relationship."

The two reached their room, clad in the same white and wooden decor as the rest of the hotel. A queen-sized bed dominated the center of the room. The window offered a clear view of the side of Canterlot Mountain, but little else.

"Honeymoon Suite this ain't." Rainbow turned her head to pull open her dress, flicking her legs to dislodge the fabric from her body. A hem tugged on her feathers as it passed her wing.

Rarity magically gathered the pieces that Rainbow left, as well as her own as she disrobed. "I had asked for a small room, but I must admit this is somewhat smaller than I expected."

Silence filled the room. "Okay," Rainbow said, "we gotta talk about it."

Rarity finished delicately placing the dresses into the suitcase. "Talk about what, Rainbow?"

"The kiss." Rainbow shook her head to restore her mane to its usual self.

"I don't know what there is to say. I wouldn't have had to put my mouth against yours if you hadn't shot it off."

Rainbow rubbed her tail to smooth it down again. "At least I know what your tongue tastes like now." She scraped her tongue against her teeth.

Rarity nodded in that manner-of-fact way. "You opened your mouth."

"You tried to push your tongue through it!" Rainbow tossed up her forehooves.

"It’s how marefriends kiss, Rainbow. Have you never been kissed before?"

"Not like that!" Rainbow Dash raised her voice, then lowered it again. "Actually, that was my first kiss ever."

Rarity covered her gasp with a hoof. "Oh, Rainbow. I had no idea. If I had known, I would have tried to come up with something. A reason for us to avoid it."

Rainbow walked through the bathroom doorway. "Well you didn't. So congratulations." She hit the door with her rump to close it behind her.

Rainbow's shower that night was much shorter than she normally preferred. Afterward, Rarity passed Rainbow without a word on her way into the bathroom. Some time later, Rarity left the bathroom again, her mane and tail wrapped in the hotel's towels. Rainbow had since curled up on the floor.

Rarity set to rubbing her mane dry. "What are you doing?"

Rainbow swiveled an ear in her direction, not bothering to look. "What's it look like? Getting some sleep."

"And what is wrong with the bed?"

Rainbow opened an eye to see Rarity without her makeup on, with white eyelids and no lashes. "There's one bed and two of us. And I know it'll be a sunny day in Tartarus before you let yourself sleep on the floor, so here I am." She closed her eye again.

"Don't be ridiculous. The bed is large enough for both of us." Rarity returned a towel to its rack. "We might not be marefriends, but I am perfectly willing to share a bed rather than leave you to sleep on a cold floor with no blanket."

"Whatever." Rainbow stood and climbed into the bed, pulling the sheets over herself. Rarity removed her last towel, patted her tail a few times, then joined Rainbow.

With a flick of magic, the room's lights went out.

"You're warm," she said in the dark, feeling Rarity’s back against hers, subtly shifting as they breathed.

"Most ponies are, Rainbow. Goodnight!"

Rainbow lay still for a minute. She wiggled back and forth in an attempt to get comfortable against the unfamiliar warmth, which solicited a grunt from its owner. Rainbow took a deep breath, let it out, and let herself fall asleep.

Snowfall and Questions

The morning light entered Rainbow Dash's eyes and eventually filtered its way into her brain. It took a few more moments for her to remember where she was and why, but she pulled herself upright when the previous night’s memories came back to her.

"I see you're awake. Good morning, Rainbow." Rarity had already styled her mane and tail, as well as applied her makeup and eyelashes. She was currently unpacking a scarf from their luggage.

Rainbow replied with a drawn-out yawn. She rolled out of bed and stretched her body forwards and backwards, then followed up by taking her wings through their full range of motion. She rolled her head around and shook out her remaining stiffness.

"Morning," she managed. Rainbow noticed an unfamiliar tingling in her nose. She wrinkled her snout and snorted a few times. "Aw geez, I think I'm coming down with something."

Rarity scowled. "So considerate of you to tell me of an impending illness after we share a bed."

Rainbow rubbed her snout. "I felt fine last night. There's just this weird tingling in my nose."

Rarity straightened up. "Ah. That must be the spell I cast."

"You used magic on me in my sleep?!" She backed up a step. "What did you do?"

"Don't be so dramatic, Rainbow." Rarity selected a thick-looking hat. "It was a nothing more than a simple anti-snoring spell." She paused. "It comes in very useful when my mother visits. And when sharing a bed with a certain pegasus, I've discovered. Now that you're awake, the effect will fade in a few minutes."

Rarity levitated the hat and a heavy dress to Rainbow, who put them on. Rarity donned her own winter outfit and the two left the hotel room with their luggage to check out.

Outside, the two stepped into the winter morning. A thick layer of snow crunched beneath their hooves. More snow drifted from the sky, settling upon their backs.

As they left hoofprints behind them, Rainbow looked around at the snow covering the tops of the trees. Canterlot always had a very skilled weather team. Rainbow couldn't help but admit they did a good job starting winter overnight. Flyers hung off of the sides of buildings and banners stretched above the road, all advertising activities and events for the new cold season.

Rainbow noticed that a thin layer of snow had gathered on top of her wings. She eyed Rarity, who walked obliviously next to her. Rainbow carefully extended her wing, to let the snow on it accumulate just a little more. Then she flicked her wing sending a white spray towards Rarity.

Rarity jumped at the impact and turned to face Rainbow, who walked backwards past her. "Relax, babe, it's just a little snow."

Rarity smirked and kicked some back. Rainbow flinched, but still ended up with bits of snow on her face. She brushed it off with a wing and flicked it away.

"What's wrong, dearie? It's just a little snow."

Rainbow put on her determined look, but Rarity interrupted, "Compose yourself, dearie. We're here."

Rainbow turned forward again to find herself at the same archway from the day before. The yard had turned white, and the tents sagged under the weight of the snow, sheltering the ponies below. Heading under the tent to join the other ponies and brushing themselves off, the pair found that breakfast had already been laid out. Rainbow grabbed three plate-sized waffles and enough maple syrup to drown a manticore. Rarity picked out a warm muffin and two slices of banana bread, with just a hint of butter.

They sat facing each other at a table near the one they'd had dinner at the previous evening.

"Shall we?" Smiling, Rarity used her knife and fork to cut out a section of waffle and raised it to Rainbow's lips.

"As long as we don't have to kiss again." Rainbow smiled and ate the piece off of Rarity's fork.

The two ate in silence. After they finished their breakfast, they sat for several minutes, watching the snow fall together.

Rainbow looked across the table. "Hey, Rarity?"

"Yes, dearie?" Rarity turned to her.

Rainbow leaned in and glanced from side to side. "Let's ditch this place," she whispered.

Rarity's smile dropped. "It would be terrible form to leave a social gathering before it ends. Even if there is little more to be gained by staying."

"I saw a flyer on the way here. They're having dog sledding over on the mountain." Rainbow tossed her head towards the peak.

A hint of uncertainty joined Rarity's expression, her eyes scanning the area.

"They have carrot dogs."

Rainbow smiled. Rarity bit her lip and looked down.

"And cinnamon-sugar pastry puffs," Rainbow sing-songed.

Rarity glanced from side to side. "We'll need to find a reason to leave early." She paused for a moment. "I know just the thing!"

A blob of blue magic jumped from Rarity's horn to Rainbow's snout. A familiar, uncomfortable sensation returned to her nose.

Rarity stood up. "Oh my, dearie, are you all right?" she asked much louder than she needed to. She motioned with her hoof for Rainbow to follow and made her way to Golden Goose.

"My apologies, Golden Goose, but I believe my marefriend is catching a dreadful cold." She gestured towards Rainbow, who was busy trying to blow the spell out of her nose. "I absolutely must tend to my dearie's health, you understand."

Golden Goose nodded. "But of course. I hope you feel better soon, Miss Rainbow Dash."

"Yeah, me too. Let's go somewhere comfier." Rainbow sniffled a few times.

As soon as they were out of sight of the festival, they broke into a trot. "Good thinking, babe," Rainbow said.

"You don't have to call me that anymore, Rainbow." Rarity brushed some snow out of her mane.

"I just had to get one more in." Rainbow lagged behind her, then scooped up a hooffull of snow. "Hey, Rarity, you missed a spot!"

Rarity only made it half a step through her confused turn before the snowball struck her shoulder.

She finished her turn. "Rainbow Dash, that is hardly appropriate—" a second snowball interrupted her.

"You gonna take that, Rarity?" Rainbow danced from leg to leg.

Rarity's horn illuminated. "Oh, it is on." Several chunks of snow rose from the ground.

Rainbow hopped backward from the first snowball sent her way and took to the air to dodge the second. "Gotta work on your aim, Rarity!" She grabbed a hunk from a nearby roof and threw it at Rarity. Rarity jumped out of the way and sent one back. Rainbow raised her foreleg to block the shot. A few more snowballs passed between them before Rarity landed a hit on Rainbow's belly.

"Oof!" She rubbed the stinging impact site. "Oh, you're in for it now!" She scooped up a wad in her forehooves, flew up with it, then tossed it into the air. She spun in place, smacking the falling snow towards Rarity with a powerful wing. After another spin of follow-through, she looked down to see Rarity sprawled out on the snowy ground.

"Oh geez." Rainbow darted down and pulled Rarity to her feet. "You okay?"

"I'm quite all right," Rarity said. "I was just surprised, is all."

Rainbow brushed Rarity off with her wing. "Sorry about that. Applejack can take the winged snow slap a lot better than that."

"No harm done. Let’s just take a break and make our way to the dog sledding."

Five ponies perched their sleds at the edge of a flat section on the side of Canterlot Mountain. Each climbed into the rear of their sled and sat a small dog at the fore. The ponies lowered their goggles onto their faces before doing the same to their canine companions. Below them, the slope was littered with bare trees, rocks, stumps, and the occasional fallen log.

In the stands, Rarity swallowed her bite of pastry puff. "I think the Welsh corgi's going to take this one. It has a clear path down the mountain, with only a stump here and there to avoid."

"No way," Rainbow answered. "The rat terrier totally has this. That's the face of a champion."

"On your marks," the announcer yelled. "Get set! Go!"

"Awoooo!" Rainbow howled with the crowd. Next to her, she could hear Rarity howling along.

The sleds weaved down the mountain, their drivers yipping and barking the whole way. Rainbow and Rarity hooted and hollered, cheering their dogs on.

"Come on, Rachel!"

An unfortunate beagle caught a mostly-buried rock and found itself launched from its vehicle. It rolled to a stop in the snow and shook itself off.

"No, weave left, Danny!"

The remaining sleds zipped over the finish line. "And the winners are..." the announcer called. "Martin and Honeycomb Swan!"

The crowd cheered.

"The Shiba Inu?!" Rarity screeched.

"I thought that entry was a joke!" Rainbow shouted.

Rarity sighed. "That's dog sledding, I suppose."

"Think we got time for the next race?" Rainbow finished the carrot dog she'd been holding.

Rarity looked up towards the sun. "I'm afraid we don't. We'll have to make our way to the station if we want to catch the train back to Ponyville."

"Aw, bummer. Let's get going then." Rainbow turned to leave, then looked back. "Wanna feed me the rest of that puff?"

Rarity gazed into Rainbow's eyes and took a bite.

The train car swayed as it made its way down the track. Below, the rhythmic click-clack of the wheels reminded its occupants of its progress. Inside, a pegasus and a unicorn sat side by side on an upholstered seat.

"Can't say I enjoyed yesterday very much," Rainbow Dash said, "but we had some fun today, right?"

Rarity hummed her agreement. "It was good to get away from the shop for a little while, even if I didn't meet with the kind of ponies I was hoping for."

"Thanks a ton for coming with me, Rarity. I don't know what I would have done without you. Even if it got kind of weird sometimes." Rainbow went quiet, her lips remembering the feeling of Rarity's tongue between them.

"Well, that's behind us now. We're not marefriends any more, after all." Rarity looked out the window.

Rainbow gave her best dramatic gasp. "You're breaking up with me?"

"Rainbow, we weren't actually together."

"So what we had was all a big lie?"

Rarity smirked. "It just wasn't working between us."

Rainbow got off the seat, dropped to the ground, and clutched at Rarity's hooves. "I can change, babe! You know I can!"

"It's not you, dearie, it's me." Rarity placed her hoof on Rainbow's forehead and pushed her away.

Rainbow climbed back onto the seat next to Rarity, suppressing a laugh. "Come on, Rarity, give me one more chance."

"I think we should just be friends." She covered her mouth. Her body rocked slightly.

Rainbow burst into laughter. "Then I never"—she paused to get some air—"want to see your face ever again!"

"I'll be glad to see you leave!" Rarity joined her friend’s mirth.

"You're an awful kisser!" Rainbow draped herself across Rarity, unable to control herself. The pair laughed all the way back to Ponyville.

Two days later, snow clouds filled the sky over Ponyville, slowly letting their contents drift towards the ground. Above them, Rainbow Dash relaxed atop her house, laying on her back and catching what afternoon sun there was to be had while the temperature was still tolerable.

Her mind drifted to the snowball fight. That was fun, she thought. She remembered how they hooted and howled at the dog sled races. Awoo. Ha ha.

She remembered all that silliness with the feeding and the eye gazing.

And the kiss.

Rainbow paused. Well, it wasn't that bad, now that I think about it. A smile found its way onto Rainbow's lips. I shouldn't have been that mad about it. It'll make a great story if I ever need to embarrass her. What am I thinking? I can't do that to her. She's too nice for that. I don't want to see that pretty face look upset.

She froze. What was that? She shifted around. Rarity puts a lot of effort into her appearance. It's only natural that she look attractive. Rainbow nodded, satisfied at her explanation, then turned her attention back to sunning herself.

After a moment, another thought crossed her mind. I should find another reason to hang out with Rarity. Followed by, Spending more time with her would be so awesome.

Rainbow bopped herself in the head with her hoof a few times. Come on, Rainbow, what's gotten into you? The way you're talking, you'd think you had a crush on her or something.

She sat bolt upright.

"Oh crud," Rainbow said out loud. "Oh crud oh crud oh crud."

Rainbow rolled onto her feet and paced back and forth on her roof. "Okay, calm down. So you have a crush. That's... that's normal, right?" She took a breath and let it out. "There's an easy way to take care of this. All I have to do is... oh geez, what do I do?

"I got it. I'll go to Rarity and I'll say...

"I'll tell her that...

"I'll say that I have an amazing idea! The two of us should...

"Oh geez. Alright. I can do this. All I have to do is—whoa!" Rainbow stumbled into the hole she'd worn into the top of her house. Her wings sent her aloft.

After patching up her roof, she flew a few slow laps around her house in an attempt to clear her head.

"I can't do this. I need help. Yeah, that's it. I'll ask for help." She took another deep breath. "Who can help?” She stopped and hovered in mid-air as she weighed her options. “Okay, I got it."

She turned and dove below the clouds.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Rainbow reached up and knocked on the wooden door. "One moment please," Fluttershy’s voice called from the other side.

A moment later, the door opened. "Oh, hello Rainbow," Fluttershy said. "I wasn't expecting any company. Was there something you needed?"

Rainbow glanced around. "Fluttershy, I got a problem, and I need your help."

"Oh dear. I'll try to do whatever I can." Fluttershy backed up to let Rainbow inside, then shut the door behind them. She moved towards the kitchen. "Should I put the tea on?"

She always made tea when Rainbow had to talk things through with her. Not that Rainbow minded the soothing heat, especially in the winter.

"I'm not sure. Let me explain. You see, I have this friend..." Rainbow paused. "You know what, forget it. It's me. There's this pony I have a crush on, and I don't know what to do."

"Oh, I see." Fluttershy stopped, turned back to her, and raised her hoof to her chin. "While my animals sometimes come to me for that kind of advice, I've never been asked by a pony before. Pony romance is so... complicated." She stared down at her hooves. "I don't think I can help you there. I'm sorry, Rainbow."

Rainbow stood up. "It's cool, Fluttershy. I'll ask somepony else."

"I think you should ask Rarity," Fluttershy chimed, trotting to the door and opening it. "She knows a lot about romance."

Rainbow let out a sigh. "Yeah. Thanks." She opened her wings and flew off into the gentle snowfall.

Rainbow coasted above the town, mentally tallying her remaining friends. A farmhouse caught her eye. Might as well.

She swooped down, landed at the door, and gave it a knock. Soon after, Applejack opened it.

"Howdy, Rainbow. Come on in." Applejack let her inside. "What brings you around in this weather?"

Brushing her snow off, Rainbow replied, "I need help. There's a pony I have a crush on and I don't know what to do about it."

"Ah. Well, I'm not sure what you expect me to say, Rainbow." Applejack looked into her fireplace. "Granny Smith always said that two logs in a hearth burn brighter than one. Maybe you should stoke the flames a bit."

Rainbow had no idea what that was supposed to mean. "Uh, yeah, I'll think about doing that. Thanks."

"No problem." Applejack opened her front door again. "And if you have any other questions, I hear Rarity's good at that lovey-dovey stuff. I bet she can be a heap of help."

Rainbow grunted. "Sure thing, Applejack." She took off a little harder than she had to.

"So Fluttershy doesn't know, and Applejack doesn't know. And if I ask Twilight she'll just drop an encyclopedia on me. So please tell me you know something about crushes."

Pinkie Pie dug around in the supplies in the back room of Sugarcube Corner. It was bad enough that Fluttershy and Applejack knew she had a crush; she didn't need every pony who wanted a warm loaf of bread knowing too. Rainbow wasn't sure she was even paying attention, but her options had grown limited.

Pinkie Pie turned her head back at Rainbow and scratched her chin. Then she scratched her ear. Then she scratched her chin again. "I think you should ask Rarity. She knows everything about everything about romance!"

"Why does everypony keep telling me to talk to Rarity?!" Rainbow tossed up her hooves.

"Because she's good at—oooooh." Pinkie returned a knowing smile.

Rainbow grimaced. "Uh, yeah. I uh, have a crush on Rarity."

"I know just what to do." Pinkie closed her eyes and nodded. "I think you should ask Rarity."

Rainbow's eye twitched. "What did I just say?"

"No no no no. I think you should ask Rarity." Pinkie walked up to Rainbow and prodded her chest.

"You mean... just ask her to be my marefriend? Or I know! I'll find another social gathering and tell Rarity she needs to pretend to be my marefriend again. Then I can—" Rainbow found a pink hoof in her mouth.

"No! Ask her!" Pinkie withdrew her hoof.

"I... I can't." Rainbow looked away.

"Sure you can!" Pinkie sprang up and bounced to the far corner of the small room. "All you have to do is walk up to her"—she trotted towards Rainbow—"and say 'Hey, Rarity! I think you're super cool and awesome and stuff. Do you wanna go out with me?'" Pinkie tilted her head, smiled, and batted her eyelashes.

Rainbow leaned back slightly. "Just like that? Would that work?"

Pinkie leaned in. "Yepperoni!"

"Yeah." Rainbow stood up. She staggered towards the back door, mind swimming. "I think I'll ask Rarity."

Rainbow Dash stood outside the door. The snow was coming down harder, but she didn't notice. She took a breath and let it out, watching the white puffs briefly appear around her mouth. She took another, then raised her hoof and rapped on the door.

"Just a minute!" a familiar voice called from the other side.

Rainbow steeled herself before the door opened to reveal Rarity. "Rainbow! Come in, come in. What brings you here? And through the door, no less?"

Rainbow took a few steps inside.

"Uh uh!" Rarity interjected. She pointed at the floor. Rainbow looked down to see her hooves covered in snow. A few stray chunks of dirt fell onto the clean carpet. She hurried back a few steps and wiped herself off on the doormat, accompanied by some mental cursing.

As Rainbow's cleaned hooves stepped their way farther inside, Rarity asked, "Now, how can I help you?" She turned to face her.

Rainbow's heart pounded in her chest.

"Is something the matter, Rainbow?"

"Rarity." Rainbow managed to get out one word.

"Yes?" Concern grew on her face.

"Do you remember when we were in Canterlot. And we pretended to be... to be marefriends?" Rainbow did her best to steady herself.

Rarity brightened up. "Oh, yes. That was a fun little vacation. Why do you ask?"

"I want to do that again." Rainbow forced herself to maintain eye contact.

Rainbow could see the confusion in Rarity's eyes. "You... want to return to Canterlot?"

"I want to be your marefriend!" Rainbow forced out, quite a bit faster than she wanted to. "For real this time!"

Silence briefly filled the room. "I'm... sorry, what was that?"

Rainbow took a deep breath. "I said, I want to be your marefriend. Your real marefriend."

"Ah. I see."

Silence again.

"So, you're asking me out on a date."

"Yeah, that's it! I want to go out with you." Rainbow felt ever so slightly better.

Rarity looked Rainbow over. "I see you didn't bring me any flowers." Rainbow winced. "Or any kind of gift. Or wear a nice outfit. Or brush your mane or tail. Or put on any makeup. Or do anything at all to make yourself more appealing."

All Rainbow could think to say was, "Yes?"

"I, ah... admire... your honesty with yourself, I suppose." Rarity looked down, pursing her lips.

Rainbow’s heart threatened to jump out of her chest in the following silence.

Finally, Rarity made eye contact and spoke again. "What place and time did you have in mind?"

Rainbow grinned nervously. "I... haven't thought about that yet."

"I see." Rarity paused. "There's a fine restaurant that opened last week that I've been wanting to go to, called the Silver Horseshoe. It's on the south edge of town. I shall make a reservation for us there. How does tomorrow night at seven o'clock sound?"

"Yeah! That sounds awesome!" Rainbow hopped into the air. "Thanks a ton."

"I'll see you then, Rainbow."

Rainbow Dash turned, flew to the door, and let herself out into the cold air.

When she got home, she threw herself onto the bed and let out a massive sigh.

There we go. I have a date with Rarity. I should be jumping for joy. But why do I just feel relieved?

Below and Above

Rainbow landed on the cold white path just outside the restaurant, whose fresh coat of paint made it stand out against the older buildings of the edge of town. Its windows glowed with pale white light through the dark snowy evening. The large shiny horseshoe around the front door hinted that Rainbow had found the right place.

As she approached, a well-dressed unicorn stallion emerged. "Good evening, madam, and welcome to the Silver Horseshoe. Do you have a reservation?"

Rainbow looked past him, trying to spot her date inside. "Uh yeah, Rainbow Dash. I'm with Rarity."

The doorpony levitated a clipboard to his face. "I see, here you are." He looked down his nose at her. "However, formal attire is required in the Silver Horseshoe. I must ask that you dress appropriately."

"Appropriately?" Rainbow shifted back slightly. "What's appropriately?"

"Mares must wear a dress to be admitted entry." He motioned to a sign, all but invisible in the dark.

"A dress? Why in Equestria do I need a dress?" Rainbow's ears flicked back.

His tone was much too calm for how she felt. "We are a fine dining establishment. And we have a dress code. I cannot let you in without a dress."

"Come on, I have a date here! I don't have time to get a dress!" She took a step forwards, but the doorpony stepped in her way.

"If you are not going to dress appropriately, I’m afraid I must ask you to leave."

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth and scowled at him. "I'm going to remember this."

She looked up and launched herself into the sky, more than strongly enough to leave a spray of snow behind her. The air split ahead of the fastest pony in Equestria in her race across town. Rainbow ignored the snow stinging at her eyes. She had a pony to date, and Rarity was more important than comfort.

She zipped in through her bedroom window and slammed her hooves into the floor hard enough for her entire house to sway. Rainbow ripped open her closet door and frantically scattered its contents, looking for whatever was quickest to put on. She came across a purple and blue outfit with a yellow stripe: the casual dress.

Rainbow threw it on her back and quickly closed its clasps around her neck and the bases of her wings. She turned and leapt out the window again.

As she accelerated back toward the Silver Horseshoe, she felt the wind tearing at her outfit. She silently cursed the dress for not being designed for high-speed flight and slowed herself to keep it from ripping off of her body or being torn to shreds by the air stream.

After a longer flight than she'd wanted, Rainbow passed over the restaurant's roof, flipped over, and dropped straight down in front of its door, landing with another burst of snow.

The doorpony peeked out of the building.

Rainbow resumed her scowl. "Look, I'm wearing a dress. Now are you going to let me in or not?"

He pursed his lips at her outfit, then stepped aside. "Right this way, madam."

Rainbow walked past with a snort, making only a token effort to wipe her hooves. She found the restaurant nearly empty with only five other customers inside. Finding Rarity among them was trivial.

She walked to the booth and dropped herself onto the seat across from her date.

Rarity's eyebrows lowered. "You're late." Her horn illuminated and Rainbow's dress straightened out. Chunks of snow fell off of Rainbow's outfit, landing on her seat. A few more bits fell from her face and dripped on the table.

"It's not my fault," Rainbow grumbled. "That stupid doorpony wouldn't let me in without a dumb dress."

Rarity took a breath. "Let us just get on with our date, Rainbow."

Rainbow wiped her face off with the napkin and browsed her menu while Rarity looked over her own. She'd never heard of most of the things on it.

A waiter soon arrived. "Have you decided on your order?"

Rarity lowered her menu. "Yes, I will have the penne al pomodoro fresco, a side of Caesar salad, and a glass of grape juice."

Rainbow stared at her menu. "I'll uh, take the eggplant alla parmigiana." It took her a moment to fully pronounce it. "And some cucumber salad and apple juice."

"Very good, madams." He took their menus and left.

Rarity looked across the table at Rainbow. "So, Rainbow," she started, "tell me about yourself."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Rarity? We've known each other for years. I don't think there's anything you don't already know about me."

"We are on a date, Rainbow," she explained. "We should tell each other about ourselves."

"Oh." Rainbow scratched the back of her head. "Can you go first? Just so I know what I should talk about?"

"Fair enough. I am Rarity, a fashion designer who lives here in Ponyville. My main store is Carousel Boutique, although I have opened stores in Canterlot and Manehattan. I design and sew dresses for all levels of society..."

As Rarity talked, Rainbow found it very difficult to listen to things she already knew. Instead she turned her attention to the pony saying them. Rarity was so animated talking about her passions, and Rainbow could tell she enjoyed the self-promotion. She was so enjoyable to look at, from the way she moved her head to how her shoulders shifted when she changed topics.

"...and what about you?" The line snapped Rainbow back to reality.

"Oh, right. Um, my name's Rainbow Dash. I'm a Wonderbolt, and I've started performing with the team, which is pretty awesome." She paused to think. "I'm the only pony alive who can do a Sonic Rainboom, which you've seen once or twice. Uh, I helped save the world a few times, which is good. Even though you helped with all that, too."

Silence. Rarity's patient expression didn't change.

"I like to race? I mean, zooming around feels great and winning is so awesome." Another pause. "Uh... I enjoy reading sometimes. Daring Do books, mostly. Um..."

The waiter returned with their salads and drinks. Rainbow breathed an internal sigh of relief. She took a bite of her cucumber slices. They were a little watery. Ahead, Rarity ate her salad without complaint.

Rainbow couldn't figure out where she was supposed to look while she ate. Outside, the snow fell hard on the road. She settled her attention on the salad. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rarity's attention turn her way from time to time.

Setting her fork on the last remaining leaves of her salad, Rainbow looked across the table. "Rarity, I'm sorry. You know I'm not good with this stuff and—"

Rarity raised her hoof. "Ah ah. I understand that you're unused to dating. But I promised myself I'd give you a chance, and I am."

Rainbow hadn't completely blown things yet. Her heart beat just a little bit faster at the thought.

The waiter returned to the table. "Enjoy your meal," he said, setting a plate in front of each of them.

"Thank you, dear," Rarity replied.

"Sweet, thanks," Rainbow added.

Rarity looked back to Rainbow. "It's funny. Most ponies on dates put on their best attire, or act more proper, or try to make themselves look better. You, however, have been your normal self all evening."

Rainbow lifted a fork. It might have been the proper one. "Is that bad?"

"It's interesting." Rarity smiled.

Rainbow looked at her plate, then to Rarity's. She reached her fork across the table to Rarity's plate and skewered a noodle-looking thing. "We do this part now, right?"

"Hm. That typically isn't done on the first date. But I appreciate the thought." Rarity opened her mouth, and Rainbow guided the pasta in. Rarity then took up a fork in her magic and fed herself.

Rainbow's fork picked up a slice of eggplant covered with what looked like cheese and tomato sauce. She took a bite and chewed it back and forth. The eggplant was slightly mushy like the cucumbers had been, and she could barely taste the sauce. Again, Rarity didn't complain. Rainbow looked down at the plate. Maybe I just don't get fine dining.

After they had eaten most of their meal, Rarity set down her fork. "I think we should try looking into each other's eyes."

Rainbow returned her next bite to her plate. "Didn't we do that in Canterlot?"

"Yes, but we were only pretending. This time, I think we should really look." Rarity shifted herself forward.

"What am I looking for?" Rainbow moved a bit closer.

"We'll think about everything we like about each other while looking into each other's eyes. I think this will help us decide how we truly feel." Her gaze met Rainbow's.

Rainbow took a breath and focused on Rarity's deep blue eyes. She then turned her thoughts to what lay behind them.

All right, she's passionate about her work. She can appreciate a nice victory, like when she wins one of those fashion competitions. She loves to have fun, I know that. Hm. Oh, she can take a bunch of fabric and turn it into this really pretty dress. I bet I could go grab a bunch of whatever from the fabric store and she'd make it into something sweet. And she puts so much effort into how she looks. I could never do that.

Rainbow noticed a smile flash across Rarity's face.

What was that? What's she thinking about me? What is there to think about me? Well, if she smiled it had to have been something nice, right? Back on topic, Rainbow. Rarity's a great pony, and I still want to be her marefriend. If she's even willing anymore. But being with her like this is pretty sweet even if it is getting kind of weird.

Rarity hummed, but it was a nice hum, in Rainbow's opinion. Or her wishful thinking.

She shifted back again. Rainbow let out her breath and leaned back.

"There," Rarity said. "I think that helped."

"Uh, yeah. Me too." Rainbow had no idea what to think.

Rarity picked up her fork again and resumed eating. Rainbow looked closely. It might have been her imagination, but Rarity looked like she was sitting up a little straighter and had just a bit of a smile on her face.

When the check came, Rainbow found a few coins stashed away in the pocket of her dress and tossed them on the table. Rarity added some more and stood up. Way to not cover the bill on your date, Rainbow.

Rainbow got to her feet and looked out the window. "Really coming down out there. I didn't think I asked the team for that much snow. I'd feel better if I saw you home."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Rarity replied, and the two made their way to the door.

The walk to the Boutique was slow and cold but otherwise uneventful. They arrived at the front door and found shelter under its overhang.

Rainbow used her wing to dust the snow off of Rarity's back before she shook off her own. "So."

"Yes?" Rarity's face was hard to see in the dim moonlight filtering through the clouds.

Rainbow steadied herself. "Is there going to be a second date?"

For a moment, only the faint sound of the breeze was audible. Then, Rarity took a breath and slowly let it out. Rainbow felt her heart pounding against her ribs. "I think..." came the slow reply. Silence again. "I would be willing to date you again."

Rainbow's heart felt like it was going to leap through her spine. "Really?!"

Rarity chuckled. "Really. Seeing as I chose the venue for our first date, it is only fair you decide the second."

Rainbow thought for a moment. She smirked. "Anywhere I want?"

"Anywhere you want, I suppose." Rarity sounded substantially less confident than she had five seconds earlier.

"Then my place."

She could see Rarity recoil. "Your house?"

"You said anywhere. I want the date at my house. Next Friday, fifteen minutes before sundown. Don't be late."

"Rainbow, I cannot fly to your house." She could hear the annoyance in Rarity's voice.

Rainbow waved a hoof. "Get a balloon. Have Twilight cast that cloudwalk spell on you. Oh, and no outfit."

Rarity blew a breath out through her nose strong enough to be visible in the cold. "I shall see you there, I suppose."

"Awesome."

Rainbow took to the sky. This was the best idea she'd ever had.

"This is the worst idea I've ever had! Why did I tell her to come to my house?"

Rainbow paced back and forth on her front porch, glancing at the sun.

"She isn't going to come. She's going to say that was so stupid. She won't want to date me anymore. What was I thinking?!"

A section of snow cloud lifted and parted to reveal the top of a rising hot air balloon, soon followed by its occupant.

"This had better be worth it," Rarity grumbled.

Rainbow felt lighter at the sight, and she trotted towards the balloon, which had settled itself on a particularly flat cloud. "Come on, it's almost sunset." For some reason, she felt a bead of sweat form on her forehead despite the chill.

"Just a moment." Rarity looked out at the clouds. "Could you stand a little closer? I asked Twilight to teach me the cloudwalking spell, and I'd like to have you nearby in case I didn't cast it right."

Rainbow offered a hoof, which Rarity took as she pulled herself over the edge of the basket. Rarity gingerly set one hoof on the cloud. It sank an inch, but held her weight. "Ha ha!" Rarity laughed as she let her remaining hooves hit the surface.

"Nice," Rainbow commented. "Let's get to the roof."

"The roof." Rarity's face was flat.

"Yeah, come on. Sun's almost down."

Rainbow led Rarity inside.

Rarity sounded surprised. "Oh, it's much nicer in here. I was wondering how you managed to stay warm in the winter."

"Clouds keep the heat in. And weather powers, you know?"

They went up some stairs and exited into the cold above Rainbow's house. Up there was the blanket that Rainbow tossed on top of a small mound of clouds she'd leveled off an hour earlier. The soft surface held a plate and a thermos.

Rarity examined the plate. "Cucumber sandwiches and..." She took a sniff. "Is that hot cocoa?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yup."

"This is hardly the kind of food to impress a date with."

"Well,"—Rainbow walked in front of Rarity—"I figure, if I can have a date on top of my house with hot cocoa and sandwiches, and you still want to be my marefriend, we got something special."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "And if I reject you because of this?"

Rainbow stood tall, raised her head, and looked out over the thick bank of clouds below. "I'm going to cry for a week."

She heard a snort behind her, but Rarity had composed herself by the time Rainbow turned back around.

Rainbow laid herself down in front of the blanket and patted the cloud next to her. Rarity walked over and sat next to her. Directly ahead, the sun touched the horizon.

Rarity shivered and leaned against Rainbow. Rainbow felt the warmth of her date's body against hers. She felt her breathe.

"There's no wind," Rainbow pointed out. "It's not bad if you don't move. It's also not bad if I get this out." She reached around the table and retrieved a long red scarf. Carefully, she wrapped it around them both.

Rarity shifted a little. "That does help take the edge off."

"And of course, one more thing I know that'll warm you up."

Rainbow stretched out her right wing and laid it across Rarity's back. The tips of her feathers reached around her date. She flexed those feathers inwards, using her powerful muscles to hold Rarity tight against her.

"Ooh," Rarity cooed. "I never noticed how soft your wings were." She shifted again under the wing. "It's very warm, too. It feels like a thick blanket. Your whole coat feels soft, yet your muscles are so firm underneath."

Rainbow felt warm, too. "Thanks."

"In fact, I don't think I ever want to crawl out from under here." She hummed her contentment.

Rainbow reached over and grabbed a sandwich. "At least have something to eat. I made these myself." She took a bite. It was a better cucumber than that restaurant had, at least.

Rarity took a sandwich in her magic and ate as well, which she followed up with a drink from the thermos.

They shared their meal in silence as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars appeared one by one.

Rainbow felt Rarity's chest move under her wing as she breathed. I wish I knew what she was thinking right now. She's so hard to figure out sometimes.

Rarity snuggled up. "I don't think I'll ever understand you, Rainbow."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Rainbow loosened her wing's grip slightly.

"You're brash and impulsive. Then you sit quietly with me. You needed me to guide you through a romantic date. Then you take me here and do this." She hummed again.

Rarity went on, "I've never seen you raise a hoof for your appearance, but you're so lovely to look at. The colors in your mane and tail blend so well into each other, and I can get lost in those beautiful rose eyes of yours. How do you do it?"

Rainbow chuckled. "I can't exactly change my eye color, Rarity."

"Oh I know." She took a breath through her nose. "You even smell nice."

Rainbow had never thought about how she smelled. She couldn't help taking a few whiffs. Her nose picked up a scent of lavender. She had no idea how Rarity could notice whatever Rainbow smelled like past that perfume.

Rainbow held Rarity tight with her wing again and sighed her relaxation. They gazed out in silence at the distant mountains, poking into the star-filled sky above.

They finished the sandwiches and cocoa together.

Rainbow shivered. "Okay, now it is getting cold, and my other wing isn't enough of a blanket for me." She opened and closed it for emphasis.

"I suppose," Rarity said after a short moment.

Rainbow withdrew her wing from Rarity's back. She could feel Rarity shiver. Rainbow unwrapped the scarf and got to her feet. She led Rarity back down to her front door where the balloon back to the surface waited.

They stood next to the basket in silence for a moment before Rainbow broke it. "So... how was it?"

"It was very lovely, Rainbow. I'm surprised." Rarity smiled at her.

"It's been two dates." Rainbow felt her heart pounding again. "So I gotta ask. Do you want to be my marefriend?"

Rarity looked up. "Hmm." She put her hoof to her chin. "You brought me to your house outside in the cold, fed me cucumber sandwiches, and didn't even let me dress myself up." She looked Rainbow in the eye.

"Then you showed me a side of you I never imagined existed. Yes, I will be your marefriend." Rarity approached her. "And just to make it official, there is of course what affectionate marefriends do."

"We did that in Canterlot, remember?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "That hardly counted."

Their lips met and their eyes closed. Rainbow relaxed, taking in the sensation of her marefriend's mouth against hers. They soon parted again and looked into each other's eyes.

"There," Rarity said. "Now you've had your first real kiss. So, dearie, what should we do for our third date?"

Rainbow pondered. "I dunno about the whole dating thing. Can we just, like, have fun together?"

Rarity smiled. "I suppose we could. As long as I can still take you to fancy restaurants every so often."

"You know what? I don't care as long as you're there, too."

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment. Rarity took a breath, then started prancing in place. "I have a marefriend!" She laughed.

"Oh are we celebrating now? I was waiting for you to go because I am ready to burst!" She opened her wings and pounded her forehooves into the cloud.

"Dearie, marefriends shouldn't hide their feelings from each other." Rarity was smiling much bigger than her language suggested.

Rainbow replied by launching herself into the sky. She looped and spun, whooping and hollering the whole way. She didn't care how cold the air was or how sloppy her tricks were. Rarity was her marefriend.

She fluttered back to the ground to find Rarity sitting and rocking with laughter.

"Come on, I was excited." Rainbow landed next to her.

Rarity wiped a tear from her eye. "Of course, dearie." She climbed into the balloon's basket. "I'll let you know if I come up with another date plan."

Rainbow gave the balloon a slight push to dislodge it from the cloud it was perched on. "Sure thing, babe."

Rarity cleared her throat. "I only let you call me that in Canterlot because it was too late to call me anything else. I would prefer that you call me as 'darling', or 'honey', or perhaps 'sweetheart'."

"You got it, babe." A wingbeat sent the balloon drifting away and back towards town.

On Pinions and Needles

Rainbow Dash stood at her living room table, forehooves propped on the wooden surface. Ahead of her lay a map of Ponyville, covered by little white cloud-shaped pieces of wood. The day before Winter Wrap Up was always tricky, as Rainbow had to coordinate the massive weather cleanup and decide which clouds had to stay and which would go.

Normally, Rainbow would never bother with micromanaging like that, but Applejack had made it a point in years past to be picky about the sun coverage on the farm. It was tolerable until she started counting errors. Rainbow hadn't had a "zero" yet, but that didn't stop her from trying.

A knock on the door interrupted her planning session. Jumping up, Rainbow hovered over and pulled it open to find her marefriend. One of the last cold breezes of winter blew past them, but the sight of Rarity was enough to warm her up again.

"Hey, babe. What's up?" Despite how obvious it was how Rarity had gotten there, Rainbow still felt the need to glance past her at the hot air balloon.

"Rainbow, dearie," Rarity replied with a nod and a smile, "I was just in the mood for a little together time, you see."

Rainbow stepped back. "Sure thing, babe. I was just doing a little weather planning."

Rarity turned away. "Perhaps we can spend our time outside?"

A few steps took Rainbow out her door. "In the cold? Oookay."

"And one of these days I will have you stop calling me 'babe'." Rarity walked to the edge of the porch, sat down, and patted the cloud beside her.

Shivering, Rainbow flew over and joined her marefriend. "So what did you want to do?"

Rarity leaned into Rainbow's side and closed her eyes. Rainbow rolled hers, opened her right wing, and wrapped it around her. In response, Rarity wiggled herself against Rainbow and happily murmured something unintelligible.

Another cold breeze blew past. Rainbow spread the feathers of her right wingtip to shield Rarity from the chill, then patted her with them. She shielded herself with her free wing the best she could, but the cold made it through her coat regardless.

Rainbow consoled herself with the thought that Rarity was happy. But a feeling ate away at the back of her mind, something she had to confirm.

"Hey, Rarity?" Rainbow looked at her.

"Hmm?" Rarity nestled against her.

"Are you..." It felt wrong to ask. "Are you only dating me for this? I mean, for my wings?" Rainbow flexed her wing for emphasis. "For my body?"

Rarity opened her eyes and looked at her. "Of course not, dearie. That's just a nice bonus. But you're very pretty, and your wings are wonderfully soft. Ooh they're so nice to snuggle up beneath." She closed her eyes again and leaned herself against the underside of Rainbow's wing. Rainbow couldn't help but press back against the weight, eliciting contented cooing. Despite her misgivings, she felt better.

Feeling self conscious, Rainbow brushed her free wing against her stomach before putting it to the side of her face. Her feathers felt the same as they had her whole life. She supposed her wing felt soft.

"But I did want to ask a favor of you," Rarity said, "before I got distracted."

"Huh? Oh, sure thing, babe. What is it?"

Rarity stretched out her forelegs, digging a pair of furrows into the cloud. "I have an order for a set of costumes for a play, and I'd like you to help me make them."

Cocking her head, Rainbow loosened her grip as she half-turned to face her. "Me? I don't know how to sew. Can't you ask Fluttershy, or Twilight, or... okay not Applejack or Pinkie."

She heard a chuckle next to her. "Funny you should mention her. Pinkie Pie has been an amazing help these past months. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that she knows so much about ponies, but I've gone to her so many times since we've started dating. It seems like she always knows just what to do."

Rarity paused. "Well, usually. A few of her suggestions haven't gone to plan. But asking you to help me sew was her idea. She insisted that the two of us do it together."

"Was using me as a blanket her idea, too?" Rainbow flexed her wing again.

"No, I just enjoy how it feels." Rarity sighed. "She says she's jealous, though. Do me another favor, dearie, and don't start dating her. I don't think she'd be able to take how snuggly you are."

Rainbow smiled. "You shouldn't listen too closely to Pinkie. I want to be your marefriend, not hers." Another cold breeze brought a shiver out of her. "So Pinkie thinks I should sew?"

Rarity prodded her nose at a stray feather. "I know you don't know much about sewing, but I would like to finish the costumes quickly, and you are very fast."

"You know it."

"I must finish my preparations though." Rarity stood up and groaned. "It's a large order, and I'll have my hooves full with Winter Wrap Up tomorrow as well. The day after will be quite good to start "

Rainbow fluffed her wings out and folded them at her sides. She stretched the rest of her body and made her way back towards her front door.

"Sounds good to me, babe. I got some stuff I still gotta plan out for tomorrow."

Within her house, Rainbow returned her attention to the weather plans. She pushed a cloud to Applejack's west field and doodled a sun on a patch of flowers.

Outside the window, she saw Rarity climbing into the balloon.

Rainbow drew a sunbeam over Carousel Boutique.

The sun approached the western horizon, heralding the end of spring's first day. Rainbow floated through the sky, double-checking the weather team's patterns. Although some stratus clouds were slightly out of place, Equestria's greatest weatherpony made sure they didn't stay there very long.

Satisfied with her carefully planned springtime weather, Rainbow's attention turned to the ground. In the distance, she spotted Fluttershy and her furry friends. She tilted her body in that direction and swooped down.

Rainbow landed just in front of her. "Hey, Fluttershy."

Two robins flew away from Fluttershy's outstretched foreleg. "Hello, Rainbow," Fluttershy said. "Wonderful job as always clearing out the sky."

"Thanks, uh..." Rainbow bit her lip, stalling. "I need your help with something."

"Of course," Fluttershy responded. She turned to the bear at her side and whispered into its ear. It nodded and lumbered away as Fluttershy turned to address Rainbow. "What do you need?".

Rainbow took a breath, then stepped forward. "Lemme see your wing."

"O-oh. All right." Slowly, Fluttershy's left wing unfolded. One blue hoof met the spread of yellow feathers, and another stroked along their top. Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow noticed a nervous glance. The wing twitched in response to a gentle squeeze. Its muscles paled in comparison to Rainbow's, but Fluttershy's feathers felt similar in texture.

Rainbow frowned and let go. “What's so special about wings?” she quietly said to herself.

Fluttershy's face dropped. "I'm sorry, is there something wrong with my wing?"

"No, nothing's wrong with it. I just... lemme think." Rainbow sat down. Not too long after, the bear returned for some short conversation with Fluttershy. It was something about fish and snowdrifts blocking a cave, but it was boring enough to tune out after a few words. She waited for them to finish talking.

"All right," Rainbow said without getting up. "Can you sit next to me?"

Hesitant, Fluttershy walked over and sat at Rainbow's side. "Okay."

"Put your wing around me." Rainbow's own wings twitched.

Fluttershy paused. A few seconds later, Rainbow felt a warm wing lay itself across her back. She closed her eyes, trying to take in the sensation. It was a wing, nothing more.

"Can you, I don't know, try to wrap it around me? Really hold me." She shook her head a little, trying to think of how to duplicate how Rarity must have felt.

"I'm not sure this is really appropriate, Rainbow." Fluttershy's wingtip made its way over Rainbow's folded wing.

Racking her brain, Rainbow tried to pinpoint what was different. It might have been her own wing in the way. No matter how she tried to unfold it, the wing stubbornly remained pinned between them. She mentally tried to work out the geometry needed for their sides to meet, to little avail. Rainbow leaned in towards Fluttershy, who tensed up and shifted away.

"Rainbow?" It wasn't Fluttershy's voice. "Fluttershy? What are you two doing?"

Following the voice, Rainbow looked over to see Rarity on the road. She carried a wicker basket filled with birds' nests in her magical grip.

Fluttershy sprang to her feet. Rarity raised an eyebrow and looked at Rainbow.

Rainbow stood up and shifted her wings. "Hey, babe."

"Am I interrupting anything... personal?"

Rainbow's mind took a moment to process what Rarity meant. "Oh, that. You like being under my wing so much,"—she opened and closed her right wing—"I was trying to work out what the big deal is."

Rarity opened and closed her mouth. Then she smiled, laughed softly, and looked down with a slight shake of her head. "And did you?"

"Sorry, babe. I don't see it."

"I don't think you will with Fluttershy." Rarity walked up to Rainbow's side and stroked her wing. "It's these wings in particular that have that effect on me." She looked at Fluttershy. "No offense, dear."

"None taken!" Fluttershy squeaked.

Turning to her, Rarity delivered her cargo. "Here's the last batch of nests, dear. I hope they're to your satisfaction."

With a small start, Fluttershy brought her eyes to the basket before placing it on her back. "Oh yes. They look lovely. Thank you," she said somewhat faster than normal.

"I'll be off then. I still have a horrid amount of work to do." She looked to her marefriend. "Remember our date, dearie," she called.

"Tomorrow, babe! I'll be there." Rainbow waved her off.

Once Rarity had left, Fluttershy put her hoof to her chest and exhaled hard. "For a moment there I thought I was going to make you two—I mean, I had my wing around you and everything... you two almost..."

Suddenly, Fluttershy spun to face Rainbow, opened her wings, and shoved her hoof into Rainbow's front.

"Don't you ever do that again!"

Rainbow fluttered to a stop outside the Boutique's upper window. She pulled it open and let herself in. Within, her marefriend was busy sorting through a very large collection of multicolored fabrics.

"Hey, babe." Rainbow's hooves met the floor. She looked around at the array of mannequins clad in draped fabrics. "This is uh, kind of a lot."

Rarity's attention, as well as her magic, was focused on the mannequin in front of her. "Yes, but I've always wanted to make these costumes, so I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity now. Citizen Canine is an absolute masterpiece of theatre, after all."

Rainbow searched her memory. "I've heard it's pretty good, but I've never seen it."

"Did you know that Canine was played by a stallion for years?" Rarity turned to Rainbow. "It completely undermines the message of the play if you ask me. Fortunately, this particular production casts him properly." She turned back to her work. "But I've never sewed for a diamond dog before, so this will be quite the challenge."

The room's door opened, and Spike entered, his arms full of spools.

"Hey Rarity," he said, "I got the extra thread you wanted."

The spools of thread took on a blue sheen, and they hovered their way onto a nearby shelf. "Thank you, Spikey-wikey!" Rarity called, turning to him.

Spike looked at Rarity. Then he looked at Rainbow. Rainbow looked back. She swallowed.

He balled his hands into fists and left the room.

"Spike!" With a passing glance at Rarity, Rainbow hurried after him.

Once she turned into the hallway, Spike turned around and raised his fists.

Rainbow took a step back. "What the?"

"You think I won't fight for her? Put 'em up." Spike shook his fists, his face twisted into the best scowl he could muster.

Rainbow looked down at him. "I'm not going to fight you. Besides, you know I'd win."

Sighing, Spike dropped his arms to his sides. "I know."

"Spike..." In the following silence, phrases floated through Rainbow's head. Words she had thought up to tell him when this moment came: apologies, sympathies, explanations. But standing in front of him, none of them felt right to say.

"I'll uh," she started. "I'll see you around, all right?"

"Yeah," Spike replied, looking down.

With a wince crossing her face, Rainbow turned away and re-entered the room where Rarity had a few mannequins dressed.

Rarity looked up and intercepted Rainbow. "How is he?" she asked.

Rainbow shook her head. "I don't know."

A white hoof propped Rainbow's chin up. "I'll talk to him later." Rarity flashed a smile, which Rainbow returned.

"Thanks." Her eyes went to Rarity's sewing machine. "So what do I have to do?"

With an air of focus, Rarity led her over to the mysterious purple device. The words "Everstitch PX" had been inlaid across it in a fancy gold font.

A blue aura brought a stretch of rough black fabric over and set the end under the machine's needle. "Here," Rarity said, "you can start by sewing this seam."

Rainbow took a seat at the nearby stool, staring at the fabric in question. "Uh-huh."

Rarity leaned in over her shoulder and pointed her hoof. "It's not that hard, dearie. Simply turn the fabric to follow the line along the pins here. Press the hoof pedal on the floor to get it started. I know you can do it." She gave Rainbow a quick kiss on the cheek and went back to her mannequin.

Still confused on where to even start, Rainbow looked down to the pedal on the floor next to her hind hoof, then to the body of the very fancy and pricey-looking machine that Rarity certainly cared a great deal about. Then she looked at the fragile-looking needle and the cotton beneath. She swallowed.

She gingerly set her hoof on the pedal and gave it a hesitant push. Immediately, the needle skewered the cotton and came back up. "Yes, dearie, just like that," Rarity's voice said. Rainbow pressed her hoof gently on the pedal again. The needle resumed its path through the cotton.

Rainbow carefully turned the fabric to keep the stitching straight. Feeling bolder, she pressed the pedal harder and the machine accelerated. The corners of her mouth tugged upwards. She had to be fast and precise, just the way she liked it. Within seconds, she was running the machine as quickly as it could go. Her wings twitched and fluttered against her sides.

Her minor thrill turned to panic as she realized the fabric was quickly running out. "Uh—" was all she could say before the needle went off the end. By the time she took her hoof off the pedal, a mass of thread had formed in front of her.

Hoofsteps approached. "Rainbow, dearie, you need to put it in reverse for a few inches to finish the seam."

A pair of hovering scissors snipped away at the thread. Wide-eyed, Rainbow stared at the mess. "There's a reverse?"

She could see Rarity smile out of the corner of her eye. Part of the machine's case popped open, revealing a set of arcane machinery, all decorated by even more tangled thread. A disapproving hum entered Rainbow's ears. Quickly, she tried to think of something to distract her marefriend.

"So, Rarity, your parents were nice last week." It would have to do.

"Hm? Oh, yes, Mom and Dad took quite the liking to you. I imagined that you'd get along well." Already her voice sounded more pleasant.

Memories flashed through Rainbow's mind. "That one-on-one hoofball with your dad was awesome."

Bits of thread untangled themselves from the machine. "Yes, you have a very impressive tackle. I'm sure Dad was thankful for the snowbank there."

Rainbow chuckled. "Don't forget Sweetie Belle. She was practically cheering for me."

"I imagine getting most of her information about you through Scootaloo helped with her impression." The tips of the floating scissors surgically cut a knot out among important-looking wiring. "I can only hope your mother and father think as highly of me."

"Hah. Get ready to be The Greatest Marefriend of All Time."

Rarity, having extracted the last of the thread, closed the machine's cover. "You sound rather confident of that."

Rainbow glanced over to see the collection of knots deposit themselves into the trash. "Of course. You're the pony I picked to date. They'll throw roses at you."

A new section of thread emerged from the sewing machine's spool and wove itself through the machinery in an indecipherable pattern. More fabric entered Rainbow's field of view and situated itself under the needle. "I'll look forwards to that," Rarity replied.

Rainbow set her forehoof on the cloth and felt for the pedal with her hind hoof. "There's going to be a ticker tape parade through Cloudsdale with the two of us riding in a carriage. They'll stretch banners across the street: 'Congratulations to the greatest couple ever,' they'll say."

"I get your point."

Smiling, Rainbow started the machine up again. "And you'll get theirs soon. I can't wait; it'll be incredible." She turned her attention back to her sewing.

Rarity held up the clothing that Rainbow had previously worked. "Hm, this isn't bad for a beginner."

"Thanks, babe." Rainbow sped the sewing machine up a little as Rarity returned to her mannequin.

When the new stitching reached the end of the fabric, Rainbow hit a promising-looking button. The machine reversed several inches before she stopped it. Rainbow's wings popped open. "Ha ha!"

Victory was hers.

A sparse crowd of ponies sat on the grassy hillside beneath the stars. Some were dressed, others not, but all eyes were on the theatre below. On stage, several ponies and one diamond dog acted out a classic beneath the spotlights. At the top of the hill, Rainbow Dash's wing held Rarity close.

No matter how much she tried to pay attention to the show, Rainbow's thoughts kept straying back to the costume on stage. Her heart swelled with pride. Rainbow wanted to shout her accomplishments to the whole audience, but she doubted that Rarity would appreciate the gesture.

"Thank you so much for helping me, dearie," Rarity said. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

Rainbow looked over at her. "Hey, no problem, babe. I did what I could."

Rarity looked back. "I assume you've never sewn a stitch in your life before then."

"I never was into that stuff." She stretched her wings. "It was kinda fun, though."

"And you jumped right into it and gave it everything you had. That, Rainbow, is why I like you. You never do anything halfway and you never give up, even if it's something you don't want to do." Rarity snuggled up. "That and your wings."

Rainbow chuckled, feeling the warmth of Rarity's body against her own. "Thanks, babe."

Author's Note

This was originally a different and much shorter chapter. If you'd like to see the deleted scene, have a look over here.

Sentimentality

Rainbow Dash stirred in the bed before her eyes drifted open. The first thing she saw was the view out the window. Scattered clouds floated above the green landscape. Flowers here and there reached towards the sun. Birdsong floated in the window, their singers celebrating the early springtime. A thought drifted into Rainbow's mind that Fluttershy might have taught them those tunes before it drifted out again.

The familiar tingling in her nose reminded her with whom she'd spent the night. Slowly, she pulled the velvet red blanket off herself and rolled out of bed. With a deep, loud yawn, Rainbow stretched herself out. A few shakes of her head dislodged some mental cobwebs. Rainbow smacked her lips and scratched her belly. Some stamping of her hooves on the blue carpet got her blood flowing.

Rarity entered through her bedroom's doorway. "Dearie, I could hear that yawn from across the house."

"Mornin', babe." Rainbow yawned again.

"Yes, like that. I assume you slept well?"

Rainbow stretched again. "Like a fresh stratocumulus." Noticing the confusion on her marefriend's face, she added, "Uh yeah, really nice."

Rarity moved to a shelf and looked over some rolls of fabric. "I thought so, considering the difficulty I had getting out of your grip when I woke up."

"You know,"—Rainbow smiled—"with all the sleeping over I've been doing, maybe I should just move in with you."

"I had considered the possibility." She moved to face a bolt of satin and scratched her chin.

Rainbow's smile was replaced by surprise. "Really? I was just joking around. I mean, I'm not saying I don't want to, I guess I haven't really thought about it."

"Like you said, we've spent enough nights together over the past few months. It is only natural that we live together." Rarity pulled out the roll and ran her hoof over it.

Rainbow looked at the fabric, too, though she didn't understand why that one was significant. "Well, you can't live in my house. Since you can't fly, you know."

"And I have the Boutique to attend to. You would have to live here." She levitated the bolt to a half-dressed mannequin and stepped back to examine the addition.

"I'd have to put my stuff in the guest bedroom, I guess." Rainbow didn't see anything special about the fabric and the mannequin. How Rarity could decide what combinations of fabrics and colors were better than others was lost on her. Rainbow supposed that it was just one of those things about Rarity.

Rarity frowned and returned the bolt to its place on the shelf. "I need to keep that room available for when Sweetie Belle or my parents come over." She looked across the purple walls of the bedroom. "Some of your favorite belongings can be in here, of course. Hmm. Reconciling our living preferences is not going to be easy."

Rainbow walked past Rarity, partially to give her a pat on the back with her wing, but primarily following the scent of warm bread wafting in through the door. "I know you like a challenge, babe. You'll pull it off—Is that breakfast?"

"I was waiting for you to wake up before we ate." She made her way downstairs.

Taking flight and rounding a corner, Rainbow saw Sweetie Belle at the table with a grin on her face. She froze and dropped to the ground, blood running cold.

"Relax, dearie," Rarity said, "I cooked our breakfast today."

Rainbow let out a breath. "Oh, thank Celestia. I forgot she was staying over tonight and when I saw her with the food... whew." She patted her chest a few times and walked to the table. A nearby fork let Rainbow skewer a pancake.

Rarity took a piece of her own. "The storefront will have to be clear of your personal items. It has to keep up appearances as a proper business, after all." She applied a dab of syrup and took a bite.

"'Kay," Rainbow said through her mouthful.

"What are you talking about?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Did Rainbow run out of room in her house? Because I have some room in mine."

"Sweetie Belle," Rarity answered, "Rainbow Dash is considering moving in and living with me from now on. We just have to work some details out."

"Yeah, like the change of address forms at the post office." Rainbow retrieved another pancake.

Sweetie Belle turned to Rainbow. "So when I come visit you'll be here too?"

"When I'm not out doing stuff, sure." She motioned with her wing towards the window.

"Then I can stay overnight sometime!" Sweetie said. "We can try on Rarity's dresses, and go camping in the backyard, and have singing contests!"

Rainbow's eyes widened ever so slightly. "I'll think about it, Sweetie," was the best reply she could come up with. Rarity stifled a laugh.

Sweetie's eyes brimmed with anticipation before turning quizzical. "So what'll happen to your old house?"

Rainbow thought for a moment. "I guess it'll just sort of..."—she made a vague motion with her hooves—"blow away."

"Really?" Rarity interjected. "That'll be such a dreadful shame."

"Huh?" Rainbow looked over at her. "Pegasi make their own cloud houses, so it's not like I can sell it for anything. And there's no point in keeping the place around if I'm not going to live in it."

"Oh, I suppose." Rarity's face gained a wistful look. "I'm just going to miss visiting, that's all. We had our second date there, remember? We sat on top of those clouds and cuddled while the sun set?"

Rainbow saw the sunset in her mind. Her wing remembered the feeling of Rarity snuggled beneath, munching on a sandwich. She nodded. "Yeah, but now we can see each other all the time. And there'll always be clouds to sit on."

Humming in thought, Rarity returned to her breakfast. Her sister and her marefriend followed suit.

After they finished eating, Rarity spoke up. "Oh! Sweetie Belle, you should get going or you're going to be late for school." A saddlebag hovered from the counter onto her sister's back.

"Aww okay. I'll see you this afternoon! Bye, Rarity!" She waved and scampered through the door. "Bye, Rainbow!"

As soon as Sweetie Belle closed the door, Rainbow flew to a high spot on the wall. "Okay, I'm thinking we get Applejack to put a shelf in right here, and I stick some of my trophies on it."

"I thought I said you weren't going to have any of your effects visible in the Boutique." Rarity walked underneath her. "While your achievements are certainly admirable, this is still a dress shop, and I must ensure I present it to my customers as such."

Rainbow motioned along the wall. "No no, see, if they're this high up, they won't be able to tell they're mine. I'll mix in a couple of the ones you got from all those fashion shows, and it'll look like this place won every award in Equestria."

Rarity clicked her tongue. "I'm not sure that trophies of pegasi flying would convince my patrons."

"We can put those in the back." Rainbow's hoof poked the spot on the imaginary shelf.

"And I do get pegasus customers. They'd be able to see the awards up close."

"They'll understand. I'm sure every fancy business does it." Rainbow nodded.

Rarity turned away. "I don't recall seeing anywhere displaying awards for other businesses." She paused. "Then again, I've never examined them very closely."

"Exactly!" Rainbow crossed her forehooves.

Rarity's ears perked forward. "I'll think about it."

Rainbow descended slightly. "We can stick a bookshelf in the bedroom and load it up with my Daring Do collection, no problem." She looked towards the hallway.

"And place some of your less subtle trophies atop it."

"You mean the big ones. That works for me. I like looking at the big ones, anyways." She grinned.

Rarity couldn't help but crack a smile. A newspaper awaited her back at the table. Rainbow floated down behind her.

Rarity's eyes crossed over an article. "Oh, they're repairing Town Hall again."

"That place is a lightning rod, I swear." Visions of yet another round of carrying building materials crossed Rainbow's mind. Her muscles felt sore at the thought.

Rarity gasped. "Oh no!"

Rainbow looked to the page. "Huh? What happened?"

"The Silver Horseshoe went out of business!"

Rainbow landed. "Finally."

Rarity lowered her newspaper. "I beg your pardon?"

"What? That place was awful." Rainbow walked to the other side of the table.

"Awful?" Rarity stood up.

Rainbow looked at her. "Come on, there was hardly ever anypony in that place. It's a wonder it took this long to run out of money."

Rarity's voice grew louder. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"I don't know; it's pretty hard to forget how bad the food tasted, Rarity." She certainly couldn't.

"It was where we had our first date!" The dishes on the table clinked as Rarity pressed her front against it. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Our first date would have meant just as much at the Hayburger to me." Rainbow leaned a little across the table herself.

Rarity sputtered. "Th-th-the Hayburger?!" She made a few more unintelligible noises. "The Hayburger would have been an awful place to make that memory!"

A beat of her wings brought Rainbow into the air, forehooves propped on the wooden surface. "You mean a memory of edible food!"

Rarity placed her own hooves up. "And here I thought you'd finally appreciated the finer things in life!"

Rainbow was nearly in her face. "Pig slop is not fine!"

"Pig—! The Silver Horseshoe was the first taste of proper dining that Ponyville's ever had!" Rarity shouted back.

"And I'll be happy to never have another bite!"

"You... you uncultured oaf!"

"Stuck-up snob!"

"Crass simpleton!"

"Self-centered prick!" Rainbow turned and flew towards the door.

"And where do you think you're going?" Rarity stomped after her.

"Somewhere I don't have to listen to you! In fact, I think I'm keeping my house!"

Rainbow opened the door and shot into the sky.

Indifference

"...and then Rarity goes and starts talking about how much she cares about that stupid restaurant."

Fluttershy nodded. The array of animals around her nodded, too.

"I mean, the place was always deserted, so it's not just me that thought it sucked. And what kind of place needs mares to wear dresses? I've been to fancy restaurants in Canterlot that didn't tell me to wear a dress."

More nodding. Rainbow glanced around while she collected her thoughts. Birds of all colors perched on the clotheslines strung across the room. Several foxes had made the hearth in front of the fireplace their seat. A bear cub peered around Fluttershy's back.

"And it was just so... over-fancy. I couldn't pronounce half the menu. And the whole menu tasted terrible! The food was all mushy, too." Rainbow looked at her friend.

Fluttershy took a sip of tea and nodded.

"I don't know who owned that dumb restaurant, but they must have had the business sense of a brick. Actually, a brick knows how to be part of a decent building."

"I never went there. It always sounded too high-society to me," Fluttershy added.

"Exactly!" Rainbow stomped a hoof. "What was a place like that doing in Ponyville? It was begging to go bankrupt. But apparently this was the most important place in the world to Rarity."

Fluttershy took another sip. "It does sound like she was more attached to it than she should have been."

Rainbow let out a breath and smiled. "I knew you'd understand, Fluttershy."

She moved in for a hug, which Fluttershy returned. "I hope you two work things out, though." Her animals murmured their agreement.

Rainbow released her friend. "Oh, we'll be fine once she figures this out herself. I just have to wait this little drama episode of hers out."

Fluttershy looked away and her smile wavered for just an instant before it returned. "Yes, I guess you do."

"Thanks for listening, Fluttershy." Rainbow made for the door. "I feel better already." She took to the sky.

"Come back if you need me!" Fluttershy called after her.

Rainbow Dash had herself well-buried in Daring Do and the Hippogriff's Eye when she heard a voice calling her name below her house. She set down the book and flew to the edge of her patio to see a familiar pink shape below.

"Rainbow Dash! Hey, Rainbow!"

Rainbow landed on the edge, lay on her stomach, and peered over. "Pinkie Pie? What's up?"

"Rarity came to talk to me. Actually I went to talk to her. Actually I ran her over while she was being mad in town, but we talked about what happened." Pinkie's neck craned up to look at Rainbow.

"Awesome! And?" A wave of relief washed of Rainbow. Finally, Rarity had come to her senses.

Pinkie's look turned sour. "And she told me you were a big meanie-pants who doesn't like nice food!"

Rainbow reeled back. "What?"

"She also said you don't like nice dates. Or nice ponies. Or nice anything."

"I... Well, tell her that..." Rainbow thought for a moment. She shouted down, "Actually I don't care what you tell her!" She stood up, opened her wings, and leaned forward. "If you're not going to tell me she's sorry, I don't want to hear it!"

Rainbow turned and flew back inside.

A day passed. Rainbow lay on her bed, scouring her book, trying to push thoughts of Rarity from her mind. She visualized Daring Do trudging through the wastes of the Frozen North, and not Rarity yelling in her face. Then for the third time that day, Daring Do put a bag over her head to avoid looking directly at the Hippogriff's Eye. And Rainbow certainly didn't want a bag over her head that would make her not see Rarity snarling at her. A knock on the door interrupted her thorough reading.

She opened it to find Pinkie Pie hanging from a set of balloons.

"Rainbow, Rarity wants to know if you like nice things yet. Do you like nice things?"

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth. "Go away!"

Pinkie raised a hoof. "But..."

Rainbow reared up, opened her wings, and flapped them hard enough to send Pinkie spiraling into the distance with a call of, "Rainbooooow!"

Confident that Pinkie would be okay, Rainbow returned to the bed.

Three pages in her book passed before there was another knock on the door.

She looked up. "Pinkie Pie, I swear to Celestia, if that's you again I'm dropping you in the lake!" Rainbow stomped her way to the door and flung it open. But instead of a pink pony outside, she found a purple one.

"Rainbow?" Twilight Sparkle asked, worry tinging her voice. "What's going on between you and Rarity?"

"Don't you already know?" With a snort, Rainbow turned around and walked back towards her room.

Twilight followed her. "I want to hear it from you. Rarity's already told me her side of the story."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Great, her little tale is already in your head, so you get to come here and tell me how wrong I am."

"Tell me what happened, Rainbow," Twilight said in that Princess of Friendship voice of hers.

Rainbow entered her bedroom and turned to face her. "We got in a fight because she thinks a terrible restaurant shutting down is some world-ending tragedy."

"She told me you had your first date there, and that meant something to her." Twilight looked into Rainbow's eyes. "She thinks you don't care."

Rainbow turned away. "Don't care? She thinks I don't care?" She raised her voice at the room. "Do you really think I would be this mad if I didn't care?"

Behind her, she heard Twilight reply, "I know your first date meant a lot to you two."

Rainbow spun around. "How can you know that? How can you possibly know how much that date meant to us? You weren't there!"

Twilight closed her eyes and put on that little smile she always wore when she was winning a debate. "You're right, Rainbow. I wasn't there. But I know somepony who was." She opened her eyes again. "And you need to talk to her."

Rainbow hated it when she did that. She turned her head to the side. "I don't want to."

Twilight's tone turned to annoyance. "Do you plan on avoiding Rarity forever?"

"I just might."

Twilight's brow dropped. "The only way you two are going to resolve this is by talking to each other. And you are going to talk to each other."

Rainbow waved a wing. "Sheesh, fine, I'll talk to her if it'll make you shut up. But I'm only doing it once. And she'd better say she's sorry."

"Then follow me." Twilight led Rainbow out of her house and over Ponyville.

Rainbow and Twilight landed near the edge of town. From where she stood, she could see a familiar building, now stripped of its signage. Visible through its blank windows were only unadorned walls, bits of scrap metal, sawhorses, and the odd bucket.

Between them and the building Rarity sat with her back to the pair. She was slumped over on the curb with her ears drooped back. Rarity's coat didn't display the sheen it always did when she brushed it straight. Her mane, while not a complete mess, was certainly not how she normally wore it in public.

Rainbow looked around, but Twilight had already flown away. She grumbled, took a breath, and stepped forwards. As she approached, Rarity sighed. For some reason, Rainbow found herself having trouble keeping her anger up.

She sat next to Rarity and glanced over.

"What do you want?" Rarity asked without looking.

"Twilight showed up at my house, started lecturing, and the next thing I know I'm sitting here."

Rarity replied, "That must be why she insisted that I come back here."

Rainbow smiled for a second. "You know how Twilight gets."

There was half a minute of silence. The reply Rainbow expected didn't come. She shifted her weight a little. Rainbow decided she had to say it herself. "I just... I don't get it." She turned to Rarity. "Why was this place so important to you?"

Rarity looked up at the empty structure. "This is where we had our first date. This is where I really gazed into those... beautiful eyes of yours and thought about you that way. This is where I first seriously considered that I might want to be your marefriend. Our whole relationship began right here."

"But," Rainbow started, "that could have happened anywhere. We didn't need a fancy restaurant to do all that."

"It didn't happen anywhere," Rarity said, still looking at the building. "It happened here." She sighed. "I know you didn't like the Silver Horseshoe."

That surprised Rainbow. "Then what's the big problem?"

"I thought that you'd feel something about the place where we formed all those memories. And how it's gone now. Just like how you're going to be destroying your house once you move in."

Rainbow took a breath. "Rarity, the place never mattered to me. The food never mattered to me. The only thing that mattered to me was you. I only enjoyed our date because it was with you. The only reason I could stand to set hoof in there is because I knew you were inside."

She went on, "I... guess I can see why this place mattered to you so much. But to me? I don't care. I don't care where we date. I don't care where we hang out. I don't care where we live. As long as it's all with you. It's just..." She searched for words. "Nothing else really matters to me. Being with you means so much that everything else feels... pointless."

Rainbow steeled herself. She reached out, placed her hoof under Rarity's chin, and turned her head to face her own. Rainbow looked into Rarity's eyes. "Rarity... I love you."

A sharp intake of air accompanied Rarity's widening eyes.

Rainbow kept up eye contact. "Rarity, I said I love you."

Only the passing breeze made a sound.

"Come on, Rarity, don't leave me hanging." Rainbow forced a small smile.

"I-I love you too, Rainbow."

Rainbow lowered her hoof and let out a deep breath. "Whew. You had me worried there, babe. For a moment I thought you were going to—"

Her mouth found itself blocked by Rarity's. After an all too short time, it was freed again.

Rainbow smirked. "Hey, look on the bright side. You got to make one more memory here, right?"

"That I did." She smiled.

Rarity paused.

"And I must admit... the food here was not terribly high quality."

Rainbow Dash pushed the cardboard box closed. She unrolled the packing tape across the top, trying not to get a feather stuck in it this time. With a grunt, she picked up the box, carried it through her now-mostly-empty living room, and glided down to the ground below her old house.

Haphazardly, Rainbow set the box down on top of the pile of others she'd placed that day and turned to fly back up. A "Hey!" behind her interrupted Rainbow's ascent.

She turned to see Spike holding a book. Rainbow turned to land in front of him.

Silence filled the air for a moment too long. "Hey. What's up?" she asked.

He held the book out with one arm. "Twilight told me to give you this," he started with a tone that implied he did not entirely enjoy the interaction. "'For future reference,' she said."

Rainbow glanced from his face to the book's cover. On it was a picture of two ponies with their backs to each other over a dark blue background and a title in white: Different Similarities: Coming to Understand Your Partner Using Good Horse Sense.

A scowl crossed Rainbow face. "Gee," she told the book, "thanks, Twilight. Really appreciate it."

"Where do you want it?" Spike asked.

Rainbow's gaze briefly landed on a nearby lake before returning to Spike. "Just put it on a box." She waved a wing behind her. With firm steps, Spike walked past her, deposited the book, and walked away without another word.

Rainbow watched him shrink into the distance. She looked from him to the ground in front of her hooves and back.

"Spike, wait!" Her wings made catching up quick work. She landed next to him and walked alongside.

"What now?" He still faced ahead.

"Uh, thanks for the book." It wasn't Spike's fault he had to give her that dumb thing, she supposed.

"Yeah, sure."

Rainbow could see the fists at Spike's side. She thought for a moment, not breaking her stride. "Hey, how about I get you a cupcake over at Sugarcube Corner?"

Spike stopped in his tracks. With a much nicer expression than he'd worn so far, he looked into Rainbow's eyes. "Really?"

A smile pushed its way onto Rainbow's lips. "My treat."

Spike's brow dropped a bit. "Okay, but I'm still mad at you." Before Rainbow could respond, he turned and scampered towards the store.

Her smile faltered and she sighed through her nose. It wouldn't be as simple as buying him off, she supposed.

"Heya, Spike! Heya, Rainbow!" Pinkie Pie called over the counter. "What can I get you two?"

Little claws pressed themselves against the glass. "I'll have a Volcanic Inferno cupcake with the crushed fire rubies sprinkled on top, extra hot!"

The thought of tasting that thing again made Rainbow's tongue burn. "I'm cool, thanks," she added. "Put it on my tab."

With an "Okie dokie!" Pinkie disappeared behind the counter. Seconds later, she reappeared with Spike's order. "There you go." She pushed the cupcake into Spike's waiting claws before looking between him and Rainbow with a smile.

Rainbow found her way to a table in a corner and Spike sat down across from her. With a chomp of his teeth, he took a chunk out of the cupcake, followed up with a lick of his lips.

"How is it?" Rainbow asked.

Spike had lifted the cupcake halfway to his mouth again. He set it down and dropped his hands to the table. "Just say it."

"Say what?"

He looked her in the eye. "That this is about Rarity."

Rainbow grimaced. "Uh..."

"Why her? Why you? Why any of this?" He banged his hands on the table, nearly knocking the cupcake over.

The gazes of more than a few ponies landed on Rainbow. She glanced between them. "How about we go for a walk?" Not waiting for an answer, Rainbow stood and made for the door.

Outside, she glanced behind her to see that Spike had thankfully followed, cupcake in his hands. Rainbow mentally searched for something to say.

Instead, Spike started the conversation for her. "I don't know what she sees in you. You're not anything alike."

Eyes widening, Rainbow stopped in her tracks long enough for Spike to pass her. "Hey wait a second, we got lots in common," she said, hurrying to catch up.

Spike kept talking, "But that doesn't stop her. Whenever we're talking about something and she's about to mention you, she stops and changes the subject. I know what she's doing; she's trying to spare my feelings. But it only makes things worse."

A pause passed long enough for Spike to take a bite of a cupcake. "Have you seen the way she lights up when you enter the room? She never looked like that for me. And you! What would somepony like you see in her?"

Rainbow's pace faltered. "Well, first of all, she's really—"

The remains of the cupcake aided in Spike's gesturing. "And what can Rarity possibly see in somepony like you?"

That elicited a grunt. "Okay, can I talk yet?"

A glare was her only answer.

Rainbow took a breath to steady herself. "Look. I can't tell you exactly why I love her, much less the other way around. All I know is that seeing her happy makes my day. And when she's upset..." Rainbow sighed. "There's not a stunt or trophy in Equestria that'll make me feel better."

Spike kicked the dirt. "Yeah, right. You're all so snuggly with that wing thing you do and your agreeing on everything all the time."

Memories of the Silver Horseshoe flashed through Rainbow's mind. "Now that isn't true. How do I put this... There's a lot we don't see eye to eye on. Some little stuff and some pretty big." She looked down. "But I try my best to listen. Or I should." Her voice dropped nearly to a whisper. "Geez, Rarity, it meant a lot, didn't it?"

"Huh?" Spike's gaze caught her attention.

"Nothing." She spotted a familiar shape coming her way. "Oh, hey!"

"Rainbow, dearie, there you are." Rarity glanced at Spike for just an instant before clearing her throat. "I've been having a talk with Twilight about some... recent events."

"Ugh." Shoving the rest of the cupcake into his mouth, Spike turned and walked away.

Moving to Rarity's side, all Rainbow could think to say was, "I tried."

Rarity watched him go. "The poor thing. I've tried to explain, but he just won't listen. He'll understand some day."

A wing laid itself across Rarity's back. "I hope so." Rainbow bumped into her. "Can't say I blame him," she added with a smile. "So what'd you talk to Twilight about?"

"Do you see that park over there?" A nod of Rarity's head directed Rainbow's attention.

In the center of town stood several lush oak trees, surrounded by grass. A small group of foals ran around their trunks, playing a game of tag. Benches around the perimeter provided seating for the parents looking on. There was something familiar about it, but Rainbow couldn't quite place what.

Rarity answered the silent question: "That is where Twilight's treehouse used to be."

The wing across Rarity's back went limp. "Oh. Oh geez. I almost forgot about that."

"It rather puts the Silver Horseshoe and your home into perspective." Rarity's head tilted towards Rainbow.

One young colt tagged another. "No kidding," Rainbow added.

"They are just places, after all." A sigh. "Nothing there that can't be replaced. Or brought closer." The warmth of Rarity's body pressed against Rainbow. "Except for the fond memories. But nothing can take those away."

"I am going to miss my house. A little." Ahead of the pair, an argument erupted among the foals. From what Rainbow could pick out, the dispute centered around the legality of the tag-back rule.

Rarity chuckled. "I still have the chance to visit it one more time. I'll help you pack."

Rainbow Dash and her marefriend left the foals to their devices. "Sure thing, babe."

Just Say It

"Dearie, it's time to get up." Rarity's melodic voice wafted past Rainbow's ears.

"I don't know where you're going to get that much maple syrup, babe," Rainbow mumbled, "but you're going to do great. Those hippos don't stand a chance."

"Rainbow, wake up!"

"Guh?" The memory of her dream faded away. "What time is it?" The lack of light filtering through her eyelids suggested that it was way too early to open them.

"It is time to leave. I've let you sleep in long enough." The direction of her voice suggested that Rarity was standing by the side of the bed, and the tone suggested that she'd been awake much longer than Rainbow had.

Rainbow rolled over. "Is your cutie mark flashing? 'Cause mine isn't." She didn't know whether it was or not, but it would buy her a few more seconds in bed.

Annoyance filled Rarity's voice. "We are not being summoned by the map, we are going on vacation like I've been telling you all week. And the train leaves in fifteen minutes so you need to get up."

"Go ahead and get on the train then. I'll catch up." Her wings twitched.

She heard the sound of pacing hoofsteps. "Do you even know where we're going?"

"Fashion show?"

Rarity sighed. "We are taking a vacation to the Crystal Fields and you are coming with me on the train so we can be on it together because I love you." She took a breath. "And then you'll see the sunset over the crystals because I'm taking the time to do something I know you'll enjoy because I love you."

Groaning, Rainbow rolled over in the bed enough times to fall out of it, then pushed herself into a standing position. Finally, she opened her eyes to see Rarity smiling at her like she hadn't just been upset at Rainbow's laziness.

"Wonderful!" Rarity pranced towards the door. "Come on, dearie. I know how much you don't like being late."

With half-lidded eyes, Rainbow watched the top of the sun peek over the landscape, which passed by the window. Every so often, the train car hit some bump in the tracks, which jostled her just enough to prevent her from being comfortable. The faint musty smell of the seat cushion mixed with the lavender scent of the mare next to her.

Both tired and thoroughly bored, Rainbow turned away from the window and laid her head down across Rarity's forehooves, closing her eyes.

When she opened them again, she looked up to see Rarity smiling down at her. The sun outside brightly lit the interior of the train car.

"Have I ever told you how cute you are when you're sleeping?" Rarity's hoof stroked Rainbow's mane.

Rainbow sat up and stretched her wings. "Yes."

"Because the way your mouth twitches sometimes can be so adorable."

"Uh-huh." Rainbow rolled her head from side to side. "So where are we going again?"

"The Crystal Fields. It's a collection of shimmering spires that stick up out of the ground and I hear it is absolutely lovely." Rarity looked up like she always did when her imagination got going. "But ponies say that when the sun sets there on the autumnal equinox today there is a cascade of colors everywhere! I bet it will do nothing short of completely wow you."

"Sure, I'll take that bet." She shook a few stray strands of hair from her tail.

"I... what?" Rarity's eyebrows raised.

Rainbow looked her in the eye. "That I'm going to say 'wow' when I see it. What do you want if you win?"

A smirk appeared on Rarity's lips. "I see. How about..." She looked away for a second. "I know just the thing! I have the most adorable little maid outfit that a client ordered then changed her mind on. You'll have to do the chores tomorrow in it the whole day. And the makeup and jewelry that goes with it, of course."

Rainbow's expression dropped for a second before she set her eyebrow again. "All right. And when I win, you're going through the whole Wonderbolt daily training routine. Running laps, sprints, pushups, crunches, um, not the wingups, but everything else we do every morning. And no breaks to do your mane or tail. Deal?" She stuck out her hoof.

Smiling, Rarity met Rainbow's hoof with her own. "Deal."

Rainbow smiled back and turned to the window. "This is going to be awesome."

The sun had just passed its highest point in the sky when the couple reached the edge of the cliffside. Behind them sat the modest hotel they'd just checked into. Ahead and below, dozens of translucent white crystal spires reached vertically towards the clouds above.

Rarity made her way towards the wooden stairway built into the cliffside. Rainbow hopped over and hovered a few feet to Rarity's side.

Her attention turned to the collection of massive crystals and the hues they shone onto the barren ground. The brown dirt lit up with the multicolored arcs projected onto them. "I don't know, babe, this isn't really wow-worthy." She paused. "And that doesn't count."

Carefully placing her hooves on each step, Rarity spared a glance in Rainbow's direction. "I am not so petty as to claim victory on a technicality. The real show is at sunset, and you will say it then. In the meantime, I would like to get a closer look at these crystals."

Soon, they reached the ground. Rarity walked among the massive crystals, stopping every so often to climb on the small mound of dirt surrounding each and gaze through.

Rainbow hovered low, drifting around the crystal formation, watching Rarity and the other tourists wander around.

"These are quite lovely," Rarity said. The faint colors filtering through the crystals played across her coat, moving as she did.

Rainbow couldn't help but stare. "No kidding."

Looking back at her, Rarity added, "In fact, I've come up with a wonderful design based on these." She looked to the lowering sun, then at the dust that had accumulated on her legs. "Hm, we should really get back to the hotel room and wash up before sunset." She made her way towards the stairs.

Once Rarity had made it halfway up, Rainbow shouted, "That the best you got, babe? You'll never make it through training going that slow! Come on, work that body!"

"I am going as fast as I can, dearie," Rarity replied.

"Not Wonderbolt fast! Move those legs!" Rainbow pranced in the air.

Rarity growled, "I am going to parade you through the town square."

"You mean you'll be doing those pushups there."

"I will sew gems into your feathers." Rarity gritted her teeth and climbed a little faster.

Rainbow lay on her back on the hotel room's bed. Looking to her right, she saw Rarity's shadow through the bathroom doorway. Looking to her left, she saw the sun sinking towards the horizon.

Looking back towards the bathroom, she said, "Rarity, babe. What's the holdup?"

"I need to make myself presentable. I got quite dirty looking at the crystals and I must wash up," Rarity's voice replied.

Rainbow's view returned to the ceiling. "How long does it take to wash your legs off?"

"Long enough to get them clean."

Rainbow looked back to the window. "You know you can't see the crystals from here." She looked closer. "Actually, I can see one."

Time passed with only the sound of whatever Rarity was doing in the bathroom.

Looking up, Rainbow said, "This is some great paintwork on the ceiling. Wow, I'd better put that outfit on now."

More time passed.

Rainbow looked out the window. "Hey, I'm going to head to Canterlot and tell Princess Celestia not to lower the sun yet."

Rarity emerged from the bathroom. "Be serious. Now let's go before we miss it."

Rainbow and Rarity sat near the cliffside, overlooking the field. Ahead of them, a few pegasi put the finishing touches on the cloud formation. There were other tourists around, but Rainbow didn't care about them. The only pony that mattered was nestled under her right wing. A few flickers of color below accompanied the sunlight.

"You know," Rainbow said, "this is kind of nice."

"It's about to get better." Rarity wiggled her body slightly. Rainbow smiled at the sensation.

The edge of the sun touched the horizon. The light shining through the most distant crystal shone into its neighbors. Slowly at first, then faster as the sun aligned just right, the light shone from crystal to crystal. Each sent its own colors into the others, reflecting around like a hall of mirrors. The filtered sunlight found its way out of the shimmering collection and to their beveled peaks, shooting into the sky and painting the clouds all the colors of the rainbow.

As the sun moved, the slight changes in its angle were amplified into enormous changes in the colored chaos. The brilliant patterns above moved and shifted like the sky had become an immense kaleidoscope.

Rarity gasped. "It's beautiful."

As more of the sun sank below the horizon, the patterns dimmed.

"You got that right," Rainbow added. "Wow, that was really something. I'm gla—"

She clapped her hooves over her mouth and froze. Only moving her head as much as she had to, she turned her eyes to look at Rarity.

Rarity's face had become home to a very slowly widening grin.

"You uh..." Rainbow searched for words behind her hooves. "I mean, um... have I ever told you how much I love you?"

By this point, Rarity's smile was outshining the sun. "Yes you have."

"Because I love you, like, a whole lot." Rainbow used her wing to press Rarity against her side.

She could hear the enjoyment in Rarity's voice. "Town square, dearie," she cooed.

The blood drained from Rainbow's face. "You know, I wasn't serious about all that stuff I said." At the moment, she couldn't remember what exactly she had said. "That... that was a joke."

"It was hilarious." Rarity leaned into Rainbow's body. The sun disappeared below the horizon, bringing the light show to an end.

Rarity sighed, then stood up. "We should get going if we want to check out in time to make the train back home." She walked towards the hotel.

Reluctantly, Rainbow stood up to follow her.

Rarity turned her head back at Rainbow. "Come on. You have a long day tomorrow... dearie."

Rainbow could only whimper in response.

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every outfit is chic, unique, and magnifique! How can I help you two?" Rarity's voice echoed upstairs. The response was too quiet to hear.

"Of course!" Rarity replied. "Just one moment. Rainbow, dearie? Can you come down here and fetch something from the top shelf?" she called up.

Rainbow spit out her feather duster and set it down on the small table. "No!" she shouted down the stairwell.

"My apologies," Rarity told the customers. "This will only take a moment. A deal is a deal, Rainbow. I need your help and you have to give it."

Rainbow tugged at a frill in her skirt. "You said nopony has to see me in this! I'm not coming down!"

"I said that I wasn't going to parade you through town. I never said that nopony was going to see you," Rarity's voice said.

With a stamp of her hoof, Rainbow yelled, "I'm not coming!"

"In that case, you can take care of the ring in the tub instead!" Rarity yelled back.

"What?!" Rainbow reeled back. "That ring's impenetrable! You said I didn't have to scrub it!"

Rarity sounded upset. "Either scrub the ring or come down here and help! And don't get that outfit dirty!"

Gritting her teeth, Rainbow growled, "You're lucky I love you so much!" She turned and stomped towards the bathroom.

"I love you too, dearie!" Rarity sang.

Would You?

The snows of early winter drifted from the night sky. Below, two marefriends left their hoofprints side by side in the snow, leading to the door of their home.

Rarity magically pulled the door to Carousel Boutique open and stepped inside. "That was a lovely date, dearie."

Rainbow Dash followed her in, closing the door behind them. "Yeah, and it had good chow, too. We gotta go back there sometime." Rainbow's wings swept the snow off of Rarity before she shook herself off. She then pulled off a section of her dress and held it out for her marefriend to take.

As soon as her final garment was off, Rainbow yelled, "Race you to the shower!" She took off and flew a well-practiced path through the storefront, up the stairs, along the hallway, through the bedroom, and into the bathroom, landing in the shower stall.

A few minutes later, she walked out past Rarity. "All yours, babe."

Rainbow occupied herself with a book from a nearby shelf while Rarity bathed. Once she heard the shower shut off, she set her reading material down next to the Best Young Flyers' Competition trophy on top of the shelf.

"Hey." She looked towards the door. "Happy anniversary, babe. A whole year since we started dating. Can you believe it?"

Rarity walked out of the bathroom with her mane and tail wrapped in towels, which she magically set to rubbing dry. "I wonder what next year will bring."

Rainbow hopped into bed. "More of all this awesome, I hope."

A towel set returned itself to the bathroom. If Rainbow knew Rarity, it had neatly organized itself back on the racks out of sight. Rarity set herself into bed, placing her back to Rainbow's stomach. Rainbow wrapped her legs around her marefriend. Rarity pulled the sheets over the two and a flicker of magic on her horn sent the room into darkness.

Rainbow took a deep breath and let out a contented sigh at the sensation of Rarity's body heat against her.

"Dearie?" Rarity asked in the dark.

"Yeah?" Rainbow replied to the back of her head.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately."

"About what?"

"About settling down. Starting a family."

Rainbow adjusted her gentle grip. "A family? You mean having a foal? There's kind of a problem there."

She could feel Rarity shift as well. "Well, we could always adopt. Or I understand there are magical means. It might be my biological clock ticking, I suppose."

"Mine must be broken. Like, I've never really thought about becoming a mother." She motioned the best she could under the covers. "I mean, try to imagine it. Me, a mom? Trying to take care of a foal and stuff? Not to mention working that around everything else, like the Wonderbolts."

"I've been putting a lot of thought into the idea, is all. A young pony for us to raise together." Rarity paused. "I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? We haven't even talked about marriage. I love you, Rainbow. And you love me, right?"

"Of course I love you, Rarity. More than anything else." Kept silent was the thought: Married. Do you take this mare to be your wife. Forever and ever. No changing your mind, ever, no matter what. Till death do you part. Rainbow tensed up. Her eyes darted around in the dark.

Rarity then said, "Then if I asked you to marry me, would you?"

Rainbow half sat up. "Wait a second. That's it? Of all the things I expected from you, Rarity, proposing to me in bed was at the bottom of the list."

Rarity half-turned her head towards her. "I am not asking if you will marry me. I am asking if you would, if I were to propose."

"Oh." Rainbow lay herself back down again and worked her leg under Rarity to resume their cuddle. "Well..." Wedding dresses, rings, and 'I do's swam through her mind. She couldn't find an answer.

"It's okay, dearie," Rarity answered for her. "It's a big decision, so there's no need to rush things. Good night, Rainbow."

"Yeah, good night." Rainbow lay in the dark holding the pony she might marry, lost in thought.

Rainbow Dash knocked on the door. The afternoon sun hung in the sky while she waited for a response. Soon it opened and a familiar face appeared.

She didn't bother waiting to be greeted. "Fluttershy. I need your help."

Like she had so many times before, Fluttershy let Rainbow in. Rainbow wiped the snow off of her hooves and hustled into the center of the cottage.

"I gotta talk to you. It's about Rarity again." Rainbow looked Fluttershy in the face. "But you can't tell anypony!" She pointed her hoof at the animals that hadn't gone to hibernate for the winter. "None of you, either!"

"We won't tell a soul. Did you have another fight?" Fluttershy shrunk a little and looked down.

"Worse. She wants to marry me."

Fluttershy immediately perked back up and opened her wings. "Oh that's wonderful! What did you tell her?"

"I didn't know what to tell her! I didn't tell her anything! It's been three days now and I don't know if I want to marry her or not!" Rainbow paced back and forth.

"She asked you to marry her and you didn't answer? Oh dear." Fluttershy's wings dropped.

"No no, she didn't ask me to marry her." She stopped to address her. "She asked if I would marry her."

Fluttershy looked confused. "I'm not sure I understand the difference, but I'll do what I can to help. I'll put some tea on." She left to her kitchen for a few minutes before returning. "While we're waiting, tell me how you feel about marrying her."

Rainbow resumed her pacing. "Marriage is like, this huge thing, with a big ceremony and wedding dresses and... it's not even the ceremony part of the whole thing. I can wear a dress, walk down an aisle, and kiss her just fine. But it's everything after that. I mean, we've been dating for a year and I love her to pieces. But there's a year, and there's forever. Do I want to do this for my whole life? I got a whole lot ahead of me, you know? I feel like a little filly being told she has to choose her cutie mark." She sat down and stared at Fluttershy, searching her face for answers. "This is all so... grown-up."

"I can imagine this is very hard for you to decide. Let me get the tea." Fluttershy left again and came back carrying a platter in her mouth with a kettle and two cups. She placed a cup in front of each of them and filled them with the steaming hot liquid. "Here. This should help you calm down."

Rainbow picked up her cup and breathed the vapors in. The scent of blueberries and strawberries filled her nose. A sip brought on a fruity taste to match.

"Now," Fluttershy said, "I certainly can't decide for you. But I have a technique I use when an animal asks me about becoming another's mate. I'm not sure how well I can change it for ponies, but I can give it a try."

"Sure," Rainbow replied. "If it'll help me work this out."

Fluttershy took a sip of her own. "All right. Close your eyes and relax."

Rainbow let her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

"Okay," Fluttershy's voice came through the darkness. "I want you to imagine yourself spending time with Rarity. Maybe um, doing your chores."

Rainbow found herself smiling.

"Or maybe you're sharing a nice meal. Or snuggling up together in the same bed. Or um, letting her make a dress for you. Or her being there at one of your shows."

There was silence as Rainbow's imagination roamed. After a moment, she cracked open an eye, but a quick "Keep them closed, please," from Fluttershy shut it again.

"Okay, once you've done all that, I want you to imagine being by yourself. Doing those chores alone."

The corner of Rainbow's mouth tugged down.

"Or eating by yourself. Or sleeping in a bed and she isn't there, and won't ever be there, because you're not with her."

Rainbow's eye twitched.

"Or um, flying in a show and she's not in the audience."

Rainbow's eyes popped open and she set down her cup hard enough to spill it. "Okay, I've had about enough of this," she growled.

She expected Fluttershy to shrink away or apologize for upsetting her. Instead, Fluttershy took a sip and smiled bigger.

Rainbow paused in her confusion, then laughed. "All right, all right. I get it." She took a deep breath and gazed at the ceiling. "That's how it is, huh?" An idea struck her.

"Fluttershy, can you do me a really huge favor?"

A week later, Rainbow looked herself over in the bedroom mirror. She shook herself out, trying to dislodge her nervousness. She looked at her neck, where she'd draped a red and orange scarf and tucked it in snug. She checked the top of her head and adjusted her purple beanie. She held a second blue hat and scarf under one foreleg.

All right. No backing down now. Rainbow took a breath. Here goes nothing.

She bolted through the air out of the bedroom, grabbing a sled she'd left in the hallway. She stopped in the Boutique storefront, where Rarity was hard at work on a dress.

"Hey Rarity we're going sledding!" she shouted.

Before Rarity had a chance to react, Rainbow bumped the front door open and flew out.

Rainbow hovered ten feet in the air outside, her breath coming out in puffs in the cold winter air. It took only a few seconds for Rarity to emerge after her.

"Rainbow, dearie, I'd love to, but I am very busy with—" she was interrupted by Rainbow tossing the second beanie and scarf down to her.

"Come on come on come on!" She flitted in the general direction of the outskirts of town.

Rarity put on her beanie and scarf. "Really, I don't see why it's so important that we go sledding right now."

Rainbow flew backwards, leading Rarity away from the Boutique. "Because! I cleared the sky out and everything!" She waved at the cloudless sky above her. "Now come on!"

She flew just quickly enough that Rarity had to keep her pace up to match her. Before long, they found themselves at the top of a steep hill.

Rainbow threw the sled down onto the snowy top, then sat her rump in front. She took the thick rope attached to its bow into her forehooves.

Rarity reluctantly climbed on behind her. "Dearie, I'm not sure this is very safe." Stretching into the distance ahead lay several rocks, snowdrifts, and an array of stumps and bare trees.

"What?" Rainbow looked back. "I dodge worse stuff than this every day. Hang on tight, babe!"

She shifted her weight forward and the sled began to move. As it accelerated, Rainbow could feel Rarity wrap her forelegs around her chest.

A lean to the left avoided a collision with a stray stump, followed by a tilt right to dodge a rock. Rainbow felt the exhilaration of the cold air rushing past her face. There was always something special about speed without wings, especially shared with the mare she loved at her back.

An outcropping caught her eye. She leaned over to route her way there. Rainbow heard a shout behind her as the sled sailed off the edge. Her wings sprang open, held straight out. She grabbed the edges of the sled with all four of her hooves, and she felt Rarity's hind legs scrabbling for purchase across her body.

The wind whistled while they glided over the obstacles of the slope. Rainbow felt her marefriend hanging on for dear life. The ground rushed up at them. Just before impact, Rainbow beat her wings to slow the fall to a gentle landing, and gravity continued pulling the vehicle down the slope.

Eventually they reached the base of the mountain, and the sled's inertia was exhausted. Rainbow hopped off and turned around. "That was pretty sweet, right?"

Rarity breathed heavily with her hoof to her chest. "Is that what it's like to be you all the time?" She took a few more breaths.

"Hay yeah!" She struck a pose. "Thanks to this body, I can do that all I want! And we're doing it again!"

She used her wings to hop over, then grabbed the sled's rope in her mouth. She hovered just over the ground, and beat her wings to propel the sled and the pony sitting atop it up the hill.

"Rainbow, while your body is very impressive and I am quite fond of it, I'm not sure I have it in this body to repeat that."

"Just one more time, babe. I promise," Rainbow said through the rope.

Rarity made an uncertain noise. They quickly reached the top of the hill again and Rainbow seated herself back on the front of the sled. Rarity gripped her harder than she did on the previous run.

"I swear we went up that hill faster than we went down it," Rarity commented.

Rainbow grinned. "Oh, really?" She opened her wings.

"Rainbow Dash, don't you dare—" she'd never finish the sentence.

The sled spewed a plume of snow behind it as it streaked down the hillside, Rarity screaming the whole way. Finely-honed reflexes made avoiding obstacles trivial as Equestria's fastest pegasus and its temporarily fastest unicorn set Ponyville's downhill sledding speed record.

After an all-too-short trip, they reached the base of the hill again. Friction would not stop the sled this time. A large snowdrift rushed to meet them, and pegasus, unicorn, and sled alike became personally acquainted with it.

Rainbow flailed around in the white fluff for a few moments before finding her way to the surface. By the time she'd freed herself, her marefriend was already progressing with clearing the snow off of her body. Rarity's beanie was nowhere to be seen.

Rainbow watched her for a moment, then piped up. "Hey, babe." She waited half a second, then grinned. "You missed a spot."

A snowball impacted Rarity's flank before she had a chance to respond. Rarity turned to face Rainbow.

Rainbow hovered just off the ground and tossed a snowball from hoof to hoof. "C'mon, babe. Show me what you got."

Rarity looked at her. "What has gotten into you today, Rainbow?"

The reply sailed through the air and narrowly missed Rarity's face.

"Oh, you're in for it now, Rainbow." Rarity's horn lit up and some snow clumps hovered into the air next to her. A snowball flung itself towards Rainbow, who caught it with her cheek.

Rainbow rubbed her face. "All right, it's go time."

Snow flew back and forth between them. After several misses and a few hits, Rainbow called down, "You're lucky I love you so much, babe, or you'd be feeling my winged snow slap right about now."

"Is that right, dearie? Is my Rainbow Dash growing so soft she won't try to win anymore?" Rarity smirked at her.

"Okay, you asked for it." Rainbow scooped up a foreleg full of snow from the snowbank next to her. Rarity set her stance wide and lowered her head. A few spins and a smack launched the white mass towards her. After one more spin of follow-through, she inspected her work.

Rarity was not there. "Huh?" Rainbow asked. "Where did you—"

She felt a grip on both of her rear hooves and a yank downwards. Rainbow Dash found herself swinging down in a wide arc that ended, face-first, in the snowbank.

Rainbow sat up, still half-buried, and shook the snow off of her face. "All right, babe," she said, "I know when I'm beaten. Good job." A purple beanie levitated its way onto her head.

Rarity looked entirely too proud of herself. "Yes. It was a good job."

Rainbow finished climbing out of the snow. "What do you say"—she shook the rest of the snow off of her body—"we hit the spa? Get inside where it's warm."

"The spa?" Rarity looked surprised. "It's been a long time since you've wanted to go."

"Yup." She dug around for the sled. "I think I need a massage after all that."

Two marefriends entered the Ponyville Day Spa. Rainbow shivered at the feel of the warm air hitting her skin. The two spa workers approached.

"Ah, Rarity! It is always nice to see you again!" Aloe said. Or maybe it was Lotus. Rainbow could never remember which was which.

"Likewise," Rarity replied. "My dear Rainbow here would like a massage, and of course, I'd like to join her."

"You are in luck today!" the other spa pony chimed. "Two arctic foxes have volunteered to help with those!"

Two white fuzzy faces poked around the corner of the doorway farther in. Rainbow made eye contact before they vanished again.

"Oh," Rarity said. "What a lovely coincidence. I've had some excellent massages from foxes in the past."

"I haven't," Rainbow added, "but if they're that good, then I'm going to be glad I came."

They made their way into the back, and Rainbow lay herself face-down on the massage table, with Rarity on the table next to her. A fox climbed up and got to work.

Little white paws, careful to keep their claws retracted, put weight up and down Rainbow's back and across her wings. Her body melted under their treatment, carefully guided by Aloe and Lotus, who stood nearby. She was certainly glad she came. I need to ask Fluttershy for favors more often.

"It's been so long since I've had a fox massage, I'd forgotten how they feel," Rarity cooed.

"Gotta tell the Wonderbolts to get some," was the only reply Rainbow's mind could assemble. "Spitfire'll make me flight lead."

After a lengthy session of paws walking across their bodies, Rainbow Dash and Rarity left the spa, thoroughly grateful for the treatment. Outside, the sun had moved most of the way to the western horizon.

"Rainbow dearie," Rarity said, "I think that more than made up for your little stunt with the sled and the snowballs."

"Mmm." Rainbow remembered herself. "Wait a second, we're not done yet! How about you and me go for a walk through the Whitetail Woods? Just the two of us, chilling out alone."

Rarity looked back towards town. "I'm not sure I have the time, but I have the feeling you're not going to take no for an answer."

Rainbow hovered in front of her. "You got it, babe."

Suspicion came to Rarity's face. "But this had better not be another excuse to hit me with a snowball."

"No snowballs. Pinkie Promise." Rainbow did the motion the best she could remember. "Cross my heart et cetera."

Rarity smiled. "Then lead the way, dearie."

The pair walked in the silence of the Whitetail Wood together. Ahead of them stretched the white path between bare trees. Behind them were only two sets of deep hoofprints. And between them was a feeling Rainbow could barely describe.

Rainbow savored the experience, alone with the pony she loved. She could feel her wingtip brushing Rarity's flank as they moved, a constant reminder of her presence. This is it, she thought. This is exactly what I want. Her mind paused for a second. I hope I didn't go too far with the sled and the snowballs. I mean, she got that awesome massage, right? She said it was okay. It was okay.

The thick snow muffled any noise either made, save only the crunching beneath their hooves. Motion ahead of them caught their eyes. Both ponies looked to see a pair of snow buntings landing on the branch ahead. One of the white birds opened a brown wing and wrapped it around his mate, who snuggled up under him. Rainbow responded by laying a blue wing across Rarity's back and pulling her closer. Rarity giggled and gently butted her head against Rainbow's.

After they passed, Rainbow turned her head to see both birds looking back at her. She winked and the pair flew away.

The two soon came to a clearing at the top of a hill. A single bare tree stood just off to the side. Ahead, the town of Ponyville lay under a blanket of snow, with the empty sky above and the sun just turning a shade of orange.

But just ahead, on the very top of the hill, lay a white and blue blanket. On the far side stood a simple wooden table, with a thermos and a plate of cucumber sandwiches.

Rarity smirked. "So this is why you wanted to go on that walk."

"Well, I figure since my old house is gone, this is the next best thing, right?"

Rarity stepped onto the blanket to examine the sandwiches. Rainbow looked to her side at the tree. Just then, a squirrel ran out onto a branch. It gave her a quick salute, turned, and skittered back down the tree and out of sight.

Rainbow walked up and sat at Rarity's side, putting her wing around her in a maneuver that she'd performed countless times before. Rarity snuggled herself up under Rainbow's soft warm embrace.

"This is quite lovely," Rarity said after several sandwiches and most of the hot cocoa had been consumed. "I hope we get to do this for a long time."

Rainbow chose to hum in contentment as her reply. Yeah, we will. She sighed. The sun's almost down. Let's do this.

"Rarity." Rainbow unwrapped her wing, stood up, and walked in front of her. "When I met you way back when I moved to Ponyville, I assumed you were this snobby wanna-be Canterlot unicorn who didn't care about anything but her own success. But when I really got to know you, I discovered the gentle, caring, and, well, generous pony you really are. And when I dragged you to that silly festival thing in Canterlot and you cheerfully pretended to be my marefriend, I realized that I wanted to be with you for real."

Rarity watched her in silence, her eyes moving ever so slightly. Her lips twitched to one side to match the almost-imperceptible tilt of her head.

Rainbow continued, "Spending this past year with you, you've shown me the most beautiful and amazing things Equestria has to offer. I've seen passion and determination and love and everything else wonderful that I want to be a part of. You've made me want to be a pony worthy of your love. And I'm going to do everything I can to be that pony. In fact, I know I've never wanted anything more in my life than to spend the rest of it with you."

She reached out with her wing, scooped up a small box hidden at the base of the tree, and with a motion she had practiced a dozen times, passed it to her hoof and opened it.

Rainbow looked her marefriend in the eyes. "Rarity, will you marry me?"

Rarity gasped and raised her hooves to her mouth. Her body rocked with her deep breaths. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Y... yes. Yes," Rarity choked out.

Rainbow shot forward and wrapped her forelegs around Rarity, setting her head on the base of her neck, nuzzling her nose under Rarity's scarf. She immediately felt the gesture returned. Despite her planning, Rainbow couldn't help but tear up a little herself.

They separated and Rainbow held her box up again. "Let's at least put these on." She sniffled.

Rainbow carefully removed an earring from the box. She reached up towards Rarity's left ear and, after a few attempts, threaded its post through her piercing. Feeling around behind it, she managed to get the earring nut on and secure.

Once Rainbow backed away again, Rarity's magic took up a second earring and floated it out of sight to her left. She felt the clip latch onto the edge of her ear. Rainbow looked at Rarity's face and let herself soak in the view.

Standing ahead of her was the mare who just agreed to marry her, with a cloud and lightning bolt hanging from her ear. Rainbow saw Rarity sniffle again. Her makeup had run slightly, but Rainbow didn't care how Rarity looked. All that mattered was that they were together. All the while, Rainbow was a little glad she never wore makeup herself.

"Hey," Rainbow finally said. "How's it look?" Even if she couldn't see it, she could feel the weight of the three blue diamonds hanging from her ear.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Rarity answered.

Rainbow grinned. "Yeah I know that, but how's the earring?"

Rarity snorted, then started laughing. Rainbow cracked up herself and leapt forwards into her, knocking Rarity over into the snow. The two rolled around until Rainbow was on her back. Rarity stood over her, her face silhouetted against the darkening sky. Rarity's earring, Rainbow Dash's own cutie mark, swung on her ear.

She leaned her head down, offering a kiss which Rainbow gladly took. Rainbow kept her eyes open this time, focused on that earring, hardly believing that her symbol was on Rarity's face, that Rarity's symbol was on hers.

They parted again. Rainbow smiled up at Rarity.

"It's getting cold," Rarity said.

"I don't care." Rainbow opened her wings a few inches against the snow she was embedded in.

"If we're going to be spending the rest of our lives together, it wouldn't do to freeze to death now." Rarity stepped away to give Rainbow room to stand.

Rainbow rolled over and got to her feet, instinctively shaking herself off. "There's no arguing with that."

Rarity faced back towards down. "And I suppose we should remove our earrings before we head back to town."

"What? Why?" Rainbow was flabbergasted.

"Because I do not want to risk being seen with them and word getting around before we are ready to announce our engagement. Our friends should hear from us, not the local rumor mill." Rarity's magic gripped her own ear and slipped Rainbow's cutie mark out. She reattached it to the inside of her scarf.

Rainbow reluctantly reached up and unclipped her earring. She held Rarity's cutie mark in her hoof for a moment before clipping it inside her own scarf.

Rarity went on, "We can put them back in once we get home. There's nopony coming over tonight, after all." She walked down the hill towards Ponyville.

Rainbow flew after her. "Sweet. I'm going to spend tonight checking out my earring in the mirror."

Tomorrow

Rainbow Dash sat on the floor of Carousel Boutique's storefront with her back against the wall, trying not to look as excited as she felt. Rarity sat next to her, the very image of calm. Both ponies wore a sweatshirt with the hoods up over their heads. Just in front of them sat Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack, with Fluttershy a few feet behind. Spike stood in the corner at the far end of the room.

Rainbow spoke up. "We have a really big announcement."

Behind the trio, Rainbow could see Fluttershy grinning from ear to ear behind her hooves.

"A very important one, at that," Rarity added.

"Must be a hoot if it got you to wear that, Rarity," Applejack commented. Pinkie nodded vigorously.

Twilight spoke up, "I'm sure it's important if they called us here to tell us."

Rarity rubbed at her shirt. "Indeed, it is related to our current choice of... outfit."

Fluttershy vibrated like she was threatening to explode.

"Well, out with it, you two," Applejack said.

Rainbow looked over at Rarity. "All right, babe. One, two, three!"

She reached up and whipped back her hood as Rarity did the same behind her. Their earrings glinted in the light.

"We're getting married!" they shouted together.

Twilight gasped. "That's wonderful!"

Applejack stomped her hooves. "Well congrat—"

Fluttershy cheered, flew straight up, and hit the ceiling with a loud bonk. She floated back down and smiled sheepishly at the couple, rubbing her head.

Pinkie Pie took a deep breath, pulled three party horns from her mane, put them all in her mouth, and emptied her sizable lungs through them. Then a large banner that Rainbow hadn't noticed earlier unfurled across the ceiling, scattering streamers and confetti across the room. The text "Congratulations on your engagement!" was written in purple and blue across it, with the couple's cutie marks at either end.

Rarity glanced at Rainbow, who shrugged in response. Fluttershy looked just as confused.

Before she had any more time to consider, Rainbow found a pink foreleg around her neck and Pinkie's head between Rarity's and her own. Pinkie squealed and pushed Rainbow's and Rarity's heads together.

"Eee I can't believe you're marrying each other! You two are so in love it's adorable!"

Rainbow set her forehooves against Pinkie's ribcage. "Yes, Pinkie." She gave a push to no avail. "I'm in love with her." She pushed again. "That's why we're getting married."

Pinkie released them, leaving the pair stumbling. "When's the wedding? Is it going to be at Town Hall? Can we come? Will there be cake? Dancing? A DJ?"

"Pinkie," Twilight admonished. "It takes a long time to plan a wedding and they've only been engaged for..." She looked to Rarity.

"I dunno," Rainbow answered for her. "Twelve hours?"

"Twelve hours," Twilight continued. "They wouldn't have anything set in stone this early."

"Well, I do have somewhere in mind," Rainbow said. "I know this cliffside in Fillydelphia, lots of grass. Awesome view of the ocean and when the sun sets over the mountains, the lighting is awesome." She motioned towards Rarity. "She wants to see it first, but I know she'll love it. Oh yeah, there's the one other thing we gotta get out of the way early. You got this one, babe?"

Rarity stepped forward. "Twilight, seeing as you are a princess, I assume you could officiate our ceremony, and we'd be delighted if you would."

"Me?" Twilight turned red. "I mean, I'd be honored to. I'll have to read up on the exact procedure, but of course I'll marry you." She paused. "To each other."

"Awesome!" Pinkie called. Upbeat music played from a record player that Rainbow knew wasn't there fifteen seconds earlier.

Rarity grabbed Rainbow's hoof and pulled her to the center of the room. For several minutes the two danced together. Sometimes face to face, sometimes side by side with Rainbow's wing over Rarity's back.

Once Rarity got tired, Rainbow split off and pulled Fluttershy aside.

"Hey, thanks a ton for helping me out," she told her.

"It wasn't any problem at all, Rainbow. I'm glad we could help," Fluttershy replied.

Rainbow shook her head. "Not just the proposal. I mean everything you've done for me over the past year."

"You're very welcome, Rainbow." Fluttershy smiled.

She looked Fluttershy in the eyes. "I gotta ask one more thing, though."

"Whatever you need, I'll give it a try."

"I want you to be my best mare at the wedding."

"Oh!" She looked away. "I-I don't know if I can."

Rainbow bumped her with a wing. "Come on, Fluttershy. Would I ask you if I thought you couldn't do it?"

Fluttershy's smile returned. "You're right. I'll do it."

"Thanks, Fluttershy. You're the best."

Rainbow's gaze landed on a dim corner of the room. Spike had been so quiet, she had completely forgotten that he was there, sitting in the corner with his knees to his chest and his head low. She slowly walked over, partially to give her time to think of what to say and partially to delay the inevitable.

She sat next to him and said the best introduction she was able to think of: "Hey."

He didn't move. "Congratulations," he growled.

Thanking him didn't feel like the appropriate response. Instead, Rainbow asked, "Are you okay?"

He looked up at her, his eyes landing on her earring. "I lost. You won." He looked back at the ground. "I should have figured. You always win."

"Spike." Rainbow searched for words. "She's not... I mean, I didn't..." She took a moment to think. "I mean, love isn't a competition. You don't win a pony, you know? I didn't get this"—she tapped her earring—"in a race or because I figured out some love spell or something."

"I know. I was just..." Spike paused. "Part of me was always hoping... wishing that..."

Rainbow finished his thought: "That we'd break up?"

Spike's claws dug into his legs. "It's an awful wish. She'd be so upset if you left her. You're the reason she's happy now. It's just... so..."

Glancing at Spike's hands, Rainbow saw they'd formed into fists. "You want to hit me?"

Spike started. "Huh?" He looked up at her.

"You've been mad at me forever now. I get it if you want to hit me. I'd want to hit me." Rainbow opened her wing to show him her ribcage. "I won't do anything back. It's kind of sensitive though so if you could—oof." She winced at the impact. "You pack quite a punch for such a little dragon, you know that?"

For the first time that night, a faint smile showed on Spike's face. "You know I held back."

Rainbow let her wing drape itself over Spike. "What, you think I can't take a hit? I've been smacked around by, like, huge monsters and stuff." Taunting him into hitting her harder didn't seem like the best idea in the circumstances. Neither did letting on how much it stung.

After a moment, Spike ran the backside of his hand across Rainbow's feathers. "You're a lot softer than Twilight is."

"I keep telling her to use the wing shampoo but she never listens." Rainbow smiled.

Spike turned his head. Rainbow followed his line of sight to Rarity, who had started talking to Pinkie Pie. "You're going to make sure she's happy, right?" he asked.

"That's the plan."

"You better."

They sat in silence for a moment. Spike stood up. "I need to tidy up the castle. And do some thinking. I'll see you around." He turned to leave.

Folding her wings, Rainbow got to her feet as well. "All right. If you need to talk some more, gimme a holler."

Rainbow returned to Rarity. Pinkie looked as enthusiastic as ever over whatever the discussion was. Pinkie bounced away as Rainbow approached.

She took a breath to clear her mind. "I think we made progress, babe."

"That's good to hear," Rarity said. "I've been making a few arrangements for the wedding in the meantime."

Rainbow nodded. "Can you imagine? Me walking down the aisle next to Dad in a wedding dress, you in your suit at the altar watching me." She closed her eyes and smiled at the mental image.

"Oh," Rarity said, causing Rainbow to open her eyes and look at her again. "I assumed that I would be wearing the dress with my father and you would be at the altar in a suit."

Rainbow got annoyed. "I want to wear the dress. Why can't I wear a dress?"

Rarity spoke slower as she thought. "It's a matter of, ah, levels of... sophistication. I am a proper lady and you are... you."

Rainbow opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again and patted Rarity on the back with her wing. "You know what? We'll work something out."

The music filling the room stopped, and a slower song played. Rarity smiled and walked backwards towards the middle of the room again. Rainbow followed. Rarity placed her head against the side of Rainbow's neck, and her partner repeated the motion.

Rarity moved back and forth, her hooves landing in time with the music. Rainbow moved along with her, even if her own hooves had substantially less rhythm. She smiled all the same at the feel of Rarity's coat and the warmth of her body against her face.

Rainbow thought only of the moment, not caring how she looked in front of the rest of her friends. Only one thing mattered to her right then, and she had it. She would have it forever.

The song was much too short, and when it ended, Rainbow stepped backwards and planted a kiss on Rarity's lips. Rainbow smiled at her, but Rarity's smile looked just a little uncertain.

"What's on your mind, babe?" Rainbow asked.

Rarity glanced at the others. "Can we talk in private, Rainbow? Outside?"

"Sure thing." Rainbow turned her head towards the other ponies. "Don't mind us, girls. We'll be right back."

Rarity walked outside into the chill, closely followed by Rainbow. Small white flakes drifted down from the clouds above. One landed on Rainbow's snout and she looked up.

She gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry, babe. Had to make up for yesterday being clear." Rainbow thought for a moment. "Is this about the dress? Because I can wear a suit if it means that much to you."

Rarity walked in the general direction away from downtown. "No, I just wanted to talk about the future."

Rainbow trotted to catch up. "Hey, I'm always down for some future talk with my fiancée. What's up?"

"I feel like... sometimes this all feels like a dream." Rarity stopped to touch her earring.

"I hope I don't wake up then," Rainbow replied. "No nap is worth losing this."

Rarity resumed walking. "We'll be married in a few months."

Rainbow got a little spring in her step at the thought.

Rarity went on, "The next day, we're going to wake up next to each other. And then... things are going to be just like they are now, won't they? We'll be wives instead of marefriends, and that's it. There's nothing really left."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." She situated herself at Rarity's side. "Being your wife forever sounds pretty sweet to me. Besides, it's only a matter of time until there's some other threat to Equestria we all gotta fight to decide the fate of all ponykind. That'll keep things interesting."

"That's true." Rarity walked in silence. "But there is one very special thing that'll be there for Equestria's next apocalypse."

Rainbow was sure she knew, but she couldn't resist. "And what's that?"

Rarity stopped and Rainbow turned to face her. "You, of course." She raised a snow-covered hoof and bopped Rainbow in the nose.

Rainbow smiled. "We've been together for all the other ones, babe."

"Yes, but we haven't been together." Rarity resumed her walk. "We'll be fighting with a connection we've never had before."

Rainbow walked up at her side again. "It's going to be awesome being heroic with you from now on."

They walked for a few minutes together in silence.

Rarity finally spoke again. "Since I was a little filly, I'd always thought of myself as the hopeless romantic. You were the brash pony who always did whatever she wanted, no matter how anypony else felt. But then this whole relationship happened. You asked me for that first date. You said you loved me first. You asked me to marry you, even after you were so uncertain of the prospect."

"It just felt right," was all Rainbow could think to reply with.

"After all this time, Rainbow." Rarity shook her head. "You're still a mystery to me."

Rainbow pranced forward. "We'll have the rest of our lives to figure each other out, babe."

Side by Side

Rainbow Dash felt the grass tickling the edges of her hooves. On her left stood her father, and Scootaloo on her right. Across the row of seats beside her, she could see the mare she was due to marry. Rarity's father and little sister were at her sides. The entire seating area formed a triangle, narrowing to four seats at its point, the center two of which were occupied by Rainbow's and Rarity's mothers, who were excitedly discussing something Rainbow couldn't make out. Just ahead of them, the altar awaited.

Ahead, Princess Twilight Sparkle walked to the altar, along with the couple's attendants. On Rainbow's side, Fluttershy and Applejack. On Rarity's, Pinkie Pie and Spike. Above, the morning sky was empty and the winds were calm.

Scootaloo spoke up. "Rainbow, what if I drop the ring?"

Rainbow gave Scootaloo a noogie. "You won't, squirt. I trust you."

Twilight loudly cleared her throat. "Are you ready to begin our final rehearsal before the ceremony this afternoon?"

"Ready!" Rainbow heard Rarity say across the seats, with similar noises from her father and Sweetie Belle.

"Woo!" Rainbow's mother cheered.

"All set!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Let's go!" Rainbow added.

Her dad sniffled. "My little filly's growing up."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. Then in her head, she saw herself in the perfect dress that she had picked out. Its white body started at the center of her back and hung down to just below her belly, then extended backwards to cover her rump, though it had a slot to fit her tail through. Golden laurels under her wings provided a bit of color. Then two strips of white fabric would cross at the front of her torso and attach to the main segment of the dress. Another pair of gold laurels would sit ahead of her ears, leaving just enough room for her engagement earring. And of course her veil would hang in front of her face.

She imagined Rarity in whatever elaborate outfit she'd have made for herself, then told herself that the real thing would be better than anything she'd be able to come up with.

Twilight announced, "First, the ring bearers will come up to the altar. Then once the music starts, the brides will march forward."

"You got this, squirt," Rainbow told Scootaloo.

Scootaloo nodded, then walked forward. Between her outstretched wings lay a soft pillow, with the wooden wedding ring on top. The real thing was safe in one of the hotel's storerooms, waiting to be presented that afternoon.

At the altar, Fluttershy turned to the birds perched atop the archway. Rainbow couldn't hear her at that distance, but she assumed Fluttershy was counting them off. Scootaloo was a third of the way up when the march started. Rainbow and her father walked forward. Rainbow knew she was supposed to keep her eyes ahead, but she couldn't resist sneaking a peek. To her right across the empty seats, Rarity and her father marched along. Ahead of them, Sweetie Belle walked forward levitating a pillow.

Scootaloo inserted herself in line between Fluttershy and Applejack. Sweetie Belle seated herself between Pinkie Pie and Spike. As the tune ended, Rainbow Dash and Rarity reached the altar and their fathers filled the two remaining empty seats in the front row.

Rainbow smiled at Rarity and Rarity smiled back. The ocean waves crashed against the cliff below.

Twilight consulted a book hovering ahead of her. "Once you arrive, I will explain that we've gathered here to witness your union. I will then explain to you both your duties as a married couples, and the importance of your vows. Then, I will ask Rainbow if she takes Rarity as her wife."

"Heck yeah I do!" Rainbow answered.

Rarity's smile faltered. "I hope you will be a little more formal for our actual wedding."

"No promises, babe."

Twilight cleared her throat and continued, "Then I will ask Rarity the same."

Rarity put on a soft smile and looked Rainbow in the eyes. "I do."

"Then, Rainbow first, you will read the vows that you have written and given to me." Two small cards levitated out of Twilight's book before she returned them. A memory flashed through Rainbow's mind: a vision of herself, Fluttershy, and piles of crumpled paper.

"Next," Twilight said, "I will ask the ring bearers to come forward, and for you to give them your earrings." The fillies and mares did so. Going to need that back, squirt, Rainbow thought. At least one more time.

"Then Rarity will set her wedding band on Rainbow's left wing." Rarity's magic took a wooden band from Sweetie Belle's. Rainbow opened her wing. The two halves of the band set themselves around the base of the wing and snapped closed. Rainbow imagined it to be fine jewelry. She closed her wing, feeling the sensation of the wood against her body.

A brief breeze jostled her feathers.

"And Rainbow will set her ring on Rarity's horn." Rainbow reached her hoof out to the wooden ring, carefully lifting it from Scootaloo's pillow. Rarity lowered her head and Rainbow set the wooden band around her horn. Rarity raised her head to look Rainbow in the eye again.

"After the band and ring is placed," Twilight continued, "I will ask the audience if they approve of their bond." From the single occupied row of seats, two whoops and a bawl answered. Rainbow snorted, but only a little.

"Finally, I will pronounce you married and say you may kiss."

Rarity and Rainbow both moved forward into their kiss. Rainbow heard Twilight's voice, "You know, you don't have to kiss until the actual ceremony."

The couple separated. "I'm well aware," Rarity said.

Twilight finished, "I would then send you and your fathers down Rarity's aisle, along with my well-wishes."

Rainbow and Rarity walked down her aisle. Both stallions stood and walked at their daughters' sides. The two fillies walked at their tails.

When they reached the end, Rainbow turned to Scootaloo. "Great job, squirt. Do it again just like that."

Scootaloo blushed. "Thanks, Rainbow." She held up the pillow with her earring. Rainbow detached the band around her wing and set it on the pillow before retrieving the earring with Rarity's cutie mark on it and clipping it again to her ear. Next to her, Rarity did the same with Sweetie Belle.

Rainbow heard sobbing on her right. "My Dashie's becoming a mare..."

She opened her wing into her father's side. "Dad, you big crybaby. Save it for the real thing."

The wind blew again, in a gust this time. One of the chairs fell over.

Rainbow snorted. "Hey, what's going on? I told them to give us a calm day today."

"Rainbow, dearie," Rarity said. "It's just a bit of wind. The weather team knows how important today is, and I'm sure they have things under control. We both promised to accept that things might not go exactly to plan, remember?"

Rainbow grumbled under her breath. "Yeah, I remember. But I still don't have to like it."

Rainbow and Rarity sat across from each other at the table, each with a plate of lunch ahead of them. Around them, their families, friends, and many of the ponies of Ponyville shared their meals. On one side nearby, the hotel held their supplies and provided temporary lodging. On the other, the archway and triangle of seats foretold their impending wedding.

For her part, Rainbow found trouble finding room in her stomach for food with all the butterflies doing dances inside her. From the look of Rarity's plate, the feeling was mutual.

"How you feeling, babe?" Rainbow ventured.

"It's nothing. I'm just a little nervous. What if Sweetie Belle's magic gives out while she's carrying the band? What if I misspeak my vows? What if you don't like the band I had made, or my dress? I put a week into that dress!"

Rainbow smiled. "Babe, you know that stuff doesn't matter to me. I'll love the band and I'll love your dress, no matter how they look. And Sweetie Belle's real good at magic. She'll hold it just fine."

"I know all that, but I'm having a hard time convincing my anxieties. What can you possibly be nervous about?"

Rainbow looked down. "I'm afraid you might not like my dress."

Rarity laughed. Rainbow's cheeks got warm. She tried to explain: "Like you said, your dress is something you put your heart and soul into creating. Mine is something I found in a shop."

Rarity reached her hoof across the table and Rainbow took it. "And I remember you talking about your troubles picking it out. Didn't it take you nearly a month before you found one you liked?"

"Yeah." Rainbow smiled. "I just hope you'll like it."

"I'm going to love it, Rainbow. I promise." She smiled back.

A powerful gust of wind blew past the two. Several ponies shouted as many tables flipped over, sending meals to the grass. Rainbow instinctively hunkered down and she could see Rarity wince. The wind soon subsided.

"That's it." Rainbow stood and opened her wings.

"Rainbow..."

"No. We are not having that during the ceremony. I am getting some answers."

She took off into the sky, leaving the other ponies below. Her eyes darted around town until she spotted a group of pegasi milling around above the marketplace. Rainbow zoomed over.

Rainbow stopped in midair at the edge of the group. The weatherponies turned to face her.

"Hey, what gives?" Rainbow demanded.

A red pegasus started, "Uh, can we help—?"

"Yeah I don't know if any of you heard, but I'm getting married today and I was told there would be no wind. Now I got tables blowing over and I want an explanation."

A white pegasus hovered her way to the front. "Miss Rainbow Dash." Rainbow knew this one. She was Cirrus Frost, the head of the Fillydelphia weather team. She'd also guaranteed calm weather.

Rainbow scowled at her.

Cirrus went on, "We're investigating some reports of wild weather, but I'm confident we'll have it under control before your wedding."

Rainbow's hoof slowly found her face. "Wild weather? Today?" She looked back up and scanned the horizon.

A mass of dark clouds over the ocean caught her attention. That has to be it. Oh geez that looks bad.

A moment later, a pair of pegasus weather scouts arrived from in the wild weather's direction.

"It's bad," one of them panted. "Real bad. Real big. Real powerful."

Rainbow looked from pony to pony in shock. "But we can deflect it, right?"

The other scout shook his head. "There isn't enough wingpower in Fillydelphia to move that thing."

Rainbow's thoughts whirred in a panic. "How about we break—" More than it'd take it deflect it. "We can ask the unicorns to—" They'd be inexperienced and working against each other, and still not be enough. "Can... can we... put together some kind of..." Not big enough. Not in the time we have.

The bulk of the southeastern horizon was already black.

"This... this can't be happening." She choked up.

"We need to warn the town," Cirrus barked. She pointed among her team. "You and you, cover the west. You, get the commercial district. You, the farm. And Rainbow." Rainbow could see the regret in her eyes. "You should be the one to tell your party."

Rainbow nodded. She had her duty. "Yeah. I'm on it."

She took a breath and flew back to where the ponies were resetting the scattered furniture. She landed in front of her would-be bride and took her forehooves in her own.

Rainbow blinked out her tears and with a wavering voice, told her, "Rarity. I am so, so sorry."

Rarity just looked confused, but there was no time. The edge of the storm had almost reached them.

She flew into the air and raised her voice. "Listen up, everypony! There's a massive storm coming in and we need to get inside right now!"

Sounds of confusion emanated below. The wind picked up.

"I said move it!"

The gusting wind forced Rainbow to land. The sky opened up and rain blew onto her back. She searched for Rarity and pushed her along towards the hotel. "Come on, we gotta get inside."

The ponies crowded through the double doors of the hotel lobby, chased by the stinging rain. Rainbow was the last inside.

The Only Thing That Matters

The party huddled in the center of the lobby. The sound of the howling wind reverberated throughout. Every gust splattered more rain against the windows. Only the dim light of the hotel's meagre fireplaces provided any illumination.

Rainbow Dash drove her hoof into a support column. This isn't fair! She punched it again. This was going to be the happiest day of my life! And again. It'll be months before we can get everypony back together! And again. I was going to wear that dress! And see Rarity in hers! And tell her how much I love her! And swear to be with her forever! She was going to be my wife! This isn't fair this isn't fair THIS ISN'T FAIR!

She panted through gritted teeth, her hoof tingling from the impacts. She leaned her forehead against the column. "This isn't fair," she whispered. The wind gusted outside.

Rainbow turned around and slumped against the column, placing her face in her hooves.

She didn't know how long she had sat there before she heard the sound of approaching hoofsteps, which stopped just in front of her. Rainbow lowered her hooves just enough to look up and see a beautiful white shape standing over her.

Rarity's makeup left thick lines below her eyes. "You've been crying," she said.

Rainbow sniffled and wiped the moisture from her cheeks. "No I haven't."

Rarity lay on her stomach just in front of her. A white hoof pushed its way under Rainbow's chin and lifted her head. Rainbow couldn't help but make eye contact with the pony she loved.

"I once met a mare," Rarity said, "who told me that the only thing that ever mattered to her was that she was with the pony she loved. She said that it didn't matter where or how, only whom."

Rainbow looked at her cutie mark, still hanging from Rarity's ear. "She sounds like a pretty cool pony."

"And she's with her love right now, isn't she?"

"Yeah. She is." Rainbow raised her head a little.

"No storm is going to change how we feel about each other. Whether we call each other marefriend, fiancée, or wife, we're still together. And we have everything we need right here." When Rarity smiled like that, Rainbow could never be upset.

Rarity extended her hoof and Rainbow laid hers across it.

Outside, the wind howled.

Rarity stood up. "We do have everything we need right here. Let's do it." She got that determined smile on her face.

"Do what?"

"Get married. Everypony's here. Let's have the ceremony here, right now." She stood tall.

Rainbow pushed herself up onto shaky hooves. "You're right," she said softly. Then louder, "You're right. We do have everything we need. But we need to get everything in place."

Rarity looked to the rest of the crowd. "I'll tell Twilight. She'll get everypony organized. Go talk to Fluttershy and Pinkie and have them get our things ready. You can use the west bathroom to clean yourself up and get dressed."

"All right, babe. I'll see you at the altar." Rainbow smiled.

She moved out, searching the assembled ponies for signs of pink. Rainbow ran past Pinkie Pie, tossing a "follow me" behind her. She soon located Fluttershy in a corner.

"Rainbow!" Fluttershy said. "I'm so sorry about—"

Rainbow cut her off. "Yeah yeah whatever. The wedding's on."

Fluttershy lept to her hooves. "What?"

"Go get Applejack, Scootaloo, our dresses, and the ring and meet me in the west bathroom. Pinkie,"—of course Pinkie had followed her—"get Rarity's stuff. She'll probably be in the other bathroom."

The building shuddered in the wind.

Rainbow wiped her face off with a paper towel. Outside, Twilight's muffled voice made announcements and gave orders. She looked at her mane in the mirror. What a mess. She rubbed her hooves through it in an attempt to make herself look presentable. She twisted around and rubbed her tail down, flicking it back and forth several times.

Once her mane and tail were somewhat acceptable, she turned her attention to her wings. Her feathers splayed every which way. Guided by the instincts held by every pegasus, she put her mouth to her wing and sorted each individual feather out. She opened and closed her wings in front of the mirror and reorganized her feathers until she was satisfied with what she saw.

She let out a breath and looked in the mirror again. Rainbow saw Rarity's cutie mark swinging from her ear. She looked into her own eyes, the rose eyes that Rarity always spoke so highly of. Rainbow never could work out what was so special about them. She could only guess that her eyes looked better through Rarity's.

At the moment her eyes reflected worry. She turned the faucet on and splashed some water on her face before wiping it off again.

The door swung open behind her. Fluttershy, Scootaloo, and Applejack entered. Applejack had her own dress draped on her back. Fluttershy held hers, Scootaloo's, and Rainbow's. Scootaloo's back held the pillow with the real wedding ring, a golden band lined with strips of blue topaz, yellow citrine, and red rubies.

Fluttershy looked more upset than usual. She hesitated, then said, "Um, Rainbow? There's uh, been a problem."

"What? What happened?"

"Um..." she hesitated. "I'm sorry..."

Applejack stepped forwards. "One of the upstairs windows blew in. The rain poured through the ducts and drenched Rarity's storage room. Her dress is completely ruined. Pinkie's and Sweetie Belle's too. Even Spike's little suit ain't nothing but a pile of wet rags no more. Don't even ask about the bouquet."

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy repeated.

Rainbow looked back in the mirror. "How'd Rarity take it?"

"Pinkie went to tell her," Applejack's reflection said. "I wasn't brave enough to follow."

Rainbow closed her eyes, rubbed her face, thought for a moment, and took a breath. "All right. Put the dresses back."

"Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked.

She looked back up at her reflection. "If Rarity's not wearing a dress, I'm not either. Put them back."

"All right, Rainbow." Applejack took the dresses from Fluttershy and left the room.

Fluttershy spoke up. "And there's one more thing."

Rainbow could only sigh. "What is it?"

"I don't think any of the bird choir made it inside. They would have fled when the storm rolled in, so I'm sure they've found somewhere safe." Fluttershy looked a bit hopeful.

Rainbow couldn't even feel upset anymore. "We'll make do."

A minute passed before Applejack poked her head in. "Fluttershy, it's time for us to get in place."

"Oh, yes." Fluttershy hurried towards the door. "I'll see you there, Rainbow."

Once Fluttershy was gone, Scootaloo approached Rainbow. "Are you nervous?"

She returned an empty laugh. "The wedding's already a mess. What's left to worry about?"

"What if I drop the ring and we lose it in the dark?"

Rainbow tousled her mane. "I already said you won't, squirt. You did great in the rehearsals. Come on, I believe in you."

A short time later, her father poked his head in the door. "Rainbow. Scootaloo. It's time."

Rainbow took a deep breath and patted Scootaloo on the back with her wing before setting the pillow down there. "All right, squirt. Let's have a wedding."

Rainbow stood in the lobby, wearing no dress. She saw that the crowd had arranged themselves roughly into a triangle. The collective light spells of the reception's unicorns illuminated the room, in addition to the bright light emitted from the alicorn ahead. Next to the princess stood Rainbow's and Rarity's bridesmaids and bridesdragon. Of the procession, only Twilight was wearing anything.

Twilight's voice echoed through the room. "Ladies and gentlecolts, I present to you Rarity and Rainbow Dash!"

Scootaloo walked forwards. Rainbow counted in her head. One, two, three—

Next to her, her father loudly hummed the wedding march and stepped forwards. Rainbow hurried to keep pace, then smiled and hummed along. A pegasus in the audience joined in and before they were a third of the way there, the entire hall was humming along.

At about the halfway point, the music faltered as Rainbow realized she didn't remember how the middle went. She kept walking regardless. As she reached Twilight and the makeshift altar made from a speech podium, the hummed music swelled and came to a halt. Her and Rarity's fathers stood at the front of the audience next to their mothers.

Rainbow looked into Rarity's eyes. Twilight looked between them, then raised her book and read from it to the audience. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Rarity and Rainbow Dash. It is before you here, and before all of Equestria, that they will be joined."

The wind outside intensified for a moment.

Twilight looked again to the couple. "Rarity, Rainbow Dash. The bond you are about to make is a sacred pledge to each other. When you speak your vows, do so with all seriousness, and with all joy, for they are your commitment to each other, bound forever in the magic of love.

"Rainbow Dash, do you take Rarity to be your wedded wife, in the presence of all assembled here? Will you make your continuing love for her forever a part of your life? Will you stay with her, in sickness and in health, in prosperity or poverty, for as long as you both shall live?"

On the side of her mouth away from the audience, Rainbow flashed a smirk, then paused for just a fraction of a second. "I do."

Twilight turned to Rarity. "Rarity, do you take Rainbow Dash to be your wedded wife, with the same pledge I just spoke to her?"

Rarity smiled. It might have been Rainbow's imagination, but she thought she saw relief.

"I do."

The two little cards floated out of Twilight's book and each hovered ahead of one of the brides. Rainbow glanced at hers, just to be sure Twilight hadn't gotten them backwards. "Then Rainbow Dash, please read your vow to Rarity."

Rainbow took a breath. "I love you, Rarity. I love you like I've never loved any pony before. I take you to be my wife, and I swear that I will have you and hold you. In good times and bad, whether it be bright sun or, hah, driving rain. As long as my heart beats, it will beat for you, now and forever."

Twilight turned to Rarity. "Rarity, please read your vow to Rainbow Dash."

Rarity looked down to read. "My dear Rainbow Dash, you are the only color in my world. I take you to be my wife, and I will show my love for you every day. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart. I will follow your dreams as I follow my own. For as long as I have the power, I will do everything in it to preserve our love."

Twilight took the cards back. "Ring bearers, step forwards."

Scootaloo advanced to Rainbow's side, pillow and ring perched on her back. Ahead of her, Sweetie Belle stood next to Rarity. Rainbow noticed that Sweetie's pillow was dripping.

"Rainbow Dash, Rarity, remove your earrings."

Rainbow reached up and detached Rarity's cutie mark from her ear, then gently set it on the pillow. See ya, she thought. She looked back up at Rarity, who had done the same.

"Please place your wedding bands upon each other."

Rainbow opened her left wing. Rarity's magic gripped a silver band lined with sapphires. It floated onto the base of Rainbow's wing and clamped shut around it. The band felt cold and slightly damp. Rarity lowered her head. Rainbow then delicately took the ring from Scootaloo's pillow and placed it around Rarity's horn. Rainbow resumed her eye contact with the most beautiful pony in Equestria.

Twilight called out to the audience, "Assembled ponies, who here approves of the union of these two mares?"

The crowd raised their voices in assent. Outside, the winds gusted stronger than ever.

Twilight stood up straight and spoke loudly. "Then in my power vested in me as a Princess of Equestria, I declare these two ponies wives! You may now kiss."

Rainbow moved into the kiss a little quicker than she was planning to, but their lips met all the same. She held the kiss, feeling Rarity's lips upon hers, burning the memory into her mind.

After all too short of a time, she felt Rarity disengage and had to back away herself. Rainbow took a breath to steady herself. She saw that look in Rarity's eyes that she made whenever she was trying not to cry.

Twilight spoke one more time. "Ladies and Gentlecolts, I present to you Misses Rarity and Misses Rainbow Dash! May their union be long and joyous!"

The crowd cheered. Rainbow stepped forwards and Rarity turned. The two walked side by side up the aisle. Rainbow tried to keep her eyes straight ahead and ignore the spots in her eyes from the bright camera flashes in the dim light.

The newlywed couple reached the end of the aisle and kept walking, leaving the reception behind. Unsure of where exactly to turn, Rainbow guided Rarity down a promising-looking corridor.

After they'd left earshot of the congregation, Rarity asked, "Rainbow, where are we going?"

Rainbow held her head high. "To the rest of our lives, babe!"

They proceeded several more yards down the hall.

Rarity turned. "I'm serious, Rainbow. There won't be a carriage in this weather. Where are we going?"

Rainbow stopped. "I have no idea."

She motioned to the wall and sat against it. Rarity sat herself down at her side. Rainbow opened her right wing and wrapped it around her wife.

"Well," Rainbow said, "this wasn't what I was expecting when I woke up this morning."

Rarity leaned into her. "I think today went wonderfully."

"Yeah, check it out. We're wives now." Rainbow admired her wedding band. "I wish I could have seen your dress, though. I bet you would have looked amazing."

Rarity sighed wistfully. "It was going to be wonderful. However, Pinkie told me that yours is intact, and I still want to see you in it."

"Sure thing. But I gotta warn you, it's pretty simple."

She set her head back against the wall and listened to the wind and the rain outside. She felt Rarity breathe under her wing. For just a moment, the only thing in Equestria was the only thing that ever mattered.

Rainbow looked at Rarity. "Do you think they're wondering where we went?"

"Hm. I'd imagine so."

Rainbow stood up, stretched herself out, then led the way back to the reception.

"Come on, babe. I bet Pinkie's got a sweet party started."