Rainbow Dash flew off to Ponyville, wasting little to no time landing in front of Twilight's castle. A twinge of fear coursed through her as she gulped for breath, trying to remain calm.

Rainbow tried to steady the pace of her rapid breathing as she trotted up the stairs leading to the massive front door. She tried telling herself that she must have worked up a sweat while on the way over here, but something in the back of her mind told her that wasn’t the reason. Giving a slow exhalation to steady her nerves, she lifted a hoof to knock. Here goes nothing.

“Yeah?” The door opened to reveal a none-to-pleased Spike as he stood there with his arms crossed, his claws of his right hand drumming a rhythm over his left arm. Maybe somepony hadn’t had their coffee yet this morning?

Most ponies might be nervous about an impatient dragon answering the front door. Rainbow Dash was not most ponies. “Hiya, Spike! Is this a bad time?” Rainbow Dash was sure to spritz a little extra cockiness on her grin. “It could be better.” Despite his acerbic tone, Spike stepped aside, allowing Rainbow to step past him into the castle. As soon as Rainbow placed her hoof on the castle’s crystal tiles, her ear twitched at the sound of frantic mutterings coming from the East Wing.

Spike gave an exasperated huff. “Follow me.”

Rainbow looked around perplexed, noticing stacks of boxes and books, in addition to other odds and ends heaped up in disorganized piles along the corridor. Suddenly she grimaced in realization. “Last Sunday of the month?”

“Yup.” Spike replied sardonically as he shuffled further into the castle until he arrived at the doors to the library. “Don’t know what a dragon has to do to get a nap around here.” Spike rolled his eyes to make his point.

A grin popped back up on her face as Rainbow finally caught a view of her closest friend. “Hey Twilight! Organizing day, huh?”

Twilight grinned as she set down the book she was holding in her magic. “How’d you guess?” She rolled her eyes.

“Hay! Give me at least some credit here. You have to be pretty observant to manage the weather team! Observant, loyal, and fast! What more could you want?”

“Uh. Want for what?”

“Never mind!” Rainbow Dash shook her head suddenly. By the way, I still have that latest copy of Daring Do!” She pulled the book from her saddlebags. “I tell you, she just keeps getting better with each book! I can't wait for the next one.”

“Oh, hello there Rainbow Dash. I'm glad you are enjoying it so much. But, didn't you borrow that a few days ago? You must have really enjoyed it to read it so quickly. Is there any other books you might be interested in? You know, hold you over until the next Daring Do book?” questioned Twilight Sparkle softly. The purple alicorn always had time for her friends, but she couldn't help but notice how often Rainbow Dash seemed to be stopping by to borrow books. It couldn't just be a coincidence. She simply shrugged her shoulders, deciding not to question it that much. After all, Rainbow Dash really seemed to finally be enjoying reading.

“Nah, Daring Do books are the only books for me. All that other stuff is totally dull.” Rainbow waved her wingtips, furrowing her nose a bit up in the air, almost looking totally disinterested in anything that wasn't Daring Do. However, her eyes were certainly focused on the majesty in front of her. The cyan Pegasus licked her lips at the sight in front of her.

“Are you hungry, Rainbow? I could have Spike whip us up something. I'm sure you're exhausted. Why don't you stay for awhile.” suggested Twilight clapping her front forehooves together.

Rainbow Dash's eyes darted from side to side, almost as if avoiding the question. She was hungry alright, but not for what Twilight was thinking.

“Um...” she paused stuttering a bit. Damn it she should say something. She had sworn she had finally mustered up enough nerve to actually tell Twilight how she felt, but what if she responded negatively. What if she only wanted to be friends? She'd be crushed, and she wasn't sure she could recover from such an outcome, so she was nervous. Her hooves shivered a bit as she stood, rubbing a forehoof across her mane, fidgeting a bit, trying not to stand still.

“Thank you for the offer Twilight, I really appreciate it, but I was just hoping I could borrow another Daring Do book. That is if you don't mind.” spoke Rainbow Dash, tapping her forehoof against the floor in front of her. Books....yeah, she was here for books, not here for the amazing purple alicorn with the stars on her flank. Nope, she was here to read, and admire the sights while she read the way Twilight's body swayed from side to side. Simply indulging in the pleasure when she turned around so that her rump was in plain view. Oh, she could easily get addicted to this sight. It was hard to keep herself composed, and not just lunge forward and seize the opportunity that Twilight had no idea she was giving her.

“Which one would you like this time?” questioned Twilight Sparkle, scanning her somewhat emptied shelves for her collection of Daring Do books. Of course they were organized by release date, from oldest to newest. She knew Rainbow Dash had read all of them multiple times, and it wasn't surprising she often wanted to borrow them. However, it did seem a bit odd, how often she came over just to borrow a book. Even if it was Daring Do. There was just something puzzling about it, but she couldn't quite put her tongue on what it was.

Rainbow Dash tilted her head slightly to the left, a puzzled expression on her violet hues, almost as if debating on which one she wanted to read most. Then she tilted her head to the right, however, it wasn't the books she was gawking over.

“Hmm....you know how about I borrow all of them? You know refresh my knowledge on the series as a whole.” she spoke in a determined, almost soft spoken tone.

“Of course.” smiled Twilight Sparkle softly, she illuminated her horn, and each book began to float down from where they were sitting on the shelves into Rainbow Dash's hooves. There was quite a good amount of reading there, she'd be busy for at least a few weeks. Though, admittedly it was kind of nice having her visit so often. Often, Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. There hadn't really been any need of her lately, and as much as she enjoyed Spike's company, it just wasn't the same.

“Thanks, Twilight you're the best.” smirked Rainbow Dash, before dashing off back to her home of cloudsdale. She knew she had her work cut out for her, it wasn't going to be easy to surprise someone as intelligent and cunning as that special purple alicorn. She swiftly made her landing in front of her door to her home on the clouds, smiling. A big wide beam crossing her muzzle as she opened the door with her wingtips, holding the books closely to her chest, and neatly putting them on her bed, in order of oldest to newest.

“Hmm....” she mumbled aloud. “Now how am I going to come up with an adventure that is just as awesome and special as she is?” questioned Rainbow Dash, rubbing her forehoof against her chin. Every book of the Daring Do series was simply awesome in story telling and keeping her on the edge of her seat. The adventure she wanted to plan for Twilight had to be just as good, if not even better. This was going to be tough, but they didn't call her Rainbow Dash for nothing. There was no way she was backing out now. She had been planning this for weeks, thankfully Twilight Sparkle didn't seem to catch on to her plans.

*******8

“Spike, is it just me or is Rainbow visiting us a lot more frequently lately?” questioned Twilight.

“Seems normal to me.” Spike shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“Hmm....” began Twilight, placing a hoof under her chin. There was something off, but she couldn’t quite put her hoof on what it was.

Spike simply shook his head, almost dismissing her concern. “She really likes Daring Do, it's not like we're not used to odd behavior from her.”

“She really has been coming by an awful lot lately.” Twilight was thinking out loud, trying to put the pieces together, while pacing back and forth. She needed her notes! Of course that's what she was missing. She hurried to grab a quill and paper, and began to write down the things she knew. Rainbow Dash loved Daring Do books, and often would reread them, but she had borrowed each book of the series, over the course of two weeks. Then she had requested to borrow them all today. It seemed relatively normal. She probably was just overthinking things. Nothing seemed to really stand out to her so far. She had to address Rainbow Dash directly, confront her about it. However, if she pressured her, and her words came off negatively, she knew Dash wouldn't respond well. She had to really think about what to say.

“So she likes Daring Do books.” shrugged Spike, simply not understanding why Twilight was concerned about the matter at all. This was actually pretty normal, all things considered.

“It's more than that, I just know there's something more...but what?” questioned Twilight Sparkle. She decided rather quickly she'd take a break from thinking about it for now, and head over to Sugarcube corner. She herself had really worked up quite the appetite.

“Are you coming Spike?” questioned Twilight, hunkering her forehooves down a bit, to allow Spike to jump up on her back.

Spike didn't hesitate at all to get out of the castle, specially for food, and cupcakes nonetheless. The only thing that would make it better would be if Rarity just happened to be there. He knew he didn't stand a chance, but a dragon could dream.

Twilight Sparkle smiled softly, and once Spike was situated on her back comfortably, she pressed on her forehooves slightly and dashed out the door. The sun beaming down onto the two of them. It was always nice to get out of the castle, even if just for a day. Often she stayed, hoping the map might call her, or simply researching more about the elements of harmony, or simply reorganizing her library. She couldn't deny she did enjoy the thrill of an adventure. It was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with the Daring Do series, and was also why she recommended it to Rainbow Dash. Twilight smiled softly, she was glad to see Rainbow embracing a love of reading. It was good for her.

********8

“Hmm...” muttered Rainbow Dash rubbing her forehoof under her chin, as she paced back and forth in front of the Daring Do collection. Mumbling under her breath, so low no pony would hear her. “None of it is good enough. I mean sure, Daring Do stories are amazing, but Twilight has read these all before, if I use any of this it might seem repetitive, or worse....boring. I can't possibly bore the pony of my dreams! Ugh...this is so frustrating.” she let out a soft sigh, tapping her forehoof back onto the ground once more, standing in place. She had to think.

Think, Rainbow Think. What would be the best way of showing Twilight just how much she cared without being sappy or mushy, and especially not “dull”. She stared at the Daring Do books and tried to recall all the amazing things about each and every little detail. Ugh...thinking wasn't her strong suit. No, that was more Twilight's talent. She was a mare of action. Wait! That was it. A big wide grin spreading across her cheeks. Her violet hues gleamed with a certain sparkle within them. She didn't need any books or any special plans to give Twilight the adventure of her life. All she needed was the two of them, and an unexplored place of Equestria. She considered talking Daring Do into the whole thing, but Daring wasn't much of a pony to socialize with other ponies. It might just be best to make this as epic as she could. Now all she had to do was get a good night's rest, and go see Twilight Sparkle in the morning.

She had been through quite a bit today already. She cleared the books off of her bed, carefully stacking them in a nice pile beside her bed. One of these days she was going to own the entire collection herself. She pulled back the covers with her lips, and eased her way into her bed, sighing softly to herself. Already imagining how wonderful it would be, shifting off to a deep slumber, beginning to snore. Tomorrow would be here before she knew it, and this time she'd finally tell Twilight the truth of how she felt. After all, Twilight Sparkle deserved the best, and it wasn't right of her to keep her feeling a secret any longer.

Author's Note

I realize it's been awhile since I've really done anything serious. A simple lesson was just a silly little thing, so I'm hoping you will all enjoy this story, and my return to the keyboard. Updates to A Derpy Princess will be slower, but I promise I will still finish it for you guys.