Good Girl Rainbow

Spike whistled to himself while he worked. For the young dragon the last two days had been strange to say the least. The last time he’d seen his best friend in the world, Twilight Sparkle, he’d been given a claw-full of letters to take to Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity. That in and of itself wasn’t unusual, what was unusual was two things: first and foremost the way in which he’d been given the letters. Rather than Twilight levitating them to him, like she normally would, the alicorn had teleported them from the other side of a locked door. The second was the instruction that they should be delivered personally, not through his flame.

He would have questioned more, if not for Twilight telling him that she needed to be left alone for a while and that he was to spend the next two days helping Rarity with whatever she needed afterwards. Needless to say, that got him moving.

After all, you should never look a gift pony in the mouth.

So Spike grabbed the letters and ran to each of his friends, one at a time, and dropped a letter into each of their hooves. The dragon didn’t even stick around to see what was in the letter, or what they had to say about its contents, that is until he reached Rarity’s. He did see her reaction to that letter.

What was in it left both of them shocked. It was an apology letter, written by Rainbow Dash, and they both suspected dictated by Twilight, detailing the ‘prank’ that Dash had Twilight play on Rarity. They were both surprised to learn that Twilight had been the one that placed the itching powder in Rarity’s dress.

Spike had managed to stop her from barging right over to have words with Twilight, stating that whatever she was doing was super important and that she couldn’t be bothered for at least two days. When that didn’t work, Spike offered to go on a gem hunt with her all day.

That did work.

Overall the dragon would say that the last two days were rather great. He’d enjoyed himself so much that he barely noticed when Twilight guided Rainbow downstairs and into the kitchen.

Spike kept whistling as he flipped the freshly made pancakes onto a plate and walked over to Twilight and Rainbow. “Hi Rainbow, nice leash,” Spike said, dropping two pancakes into her bowl on the floor. “Hey Twilight, nice tattoos,” Spike said as he made to give her two pancakes as well.

Smash!

Spke dropped the plate he’d been holding, causing Twilight’s normal pancakes and his gem encrusted pancake to fall onto the floor. “Collar? Tattoos? Mane? What—” The dragon darted to Rainbow, grabbing the leash and investigating it the same way Rarity might over a new type of silk. He then roughly examined Rainbow’s tattoos and piercings.

It was that action that snapped Rainbow back to reality. “Spike, get off me!” Rainbow shouted, pushing the dragon away from her with slightly more force than she had intended.

“Rainbow be nice!” Twilight admonished.

Spike wasn’t done, he dashed over to Twilight, inspecting the changes his best friend had undergone, including the tattoo on her chest. “I… I… What… I… What—”

The dragon fainted.

“Maybe ripping the bandaid off was the wrong move,” Twilight said as she levitated Spike up in the air and gingerly placed him on a nearby chair.

Rainbow facehooved. “I could’a told you that’d happen, Twi.”

“Well it’s a little late to speak up now, Rainbow,” Twilight replied as she levitated over some water and started to mist it on the dragon’s face. “C’mon Spike, come back to us,” she cooed.

“Wah… what happened? I thought… I thought I remembered you… Oh, that was real,” Spike said upon the return of his consciousness, his eyes taking in the sight of his best friend, mother figure, and current Princess of Equestria looking like a punk teenager. Not able to focus on that for more than a few seconds his eyes darted to Rainbow. That scene was just as unbelievable, Spike’s eyes darted from her piercings, color, leash, mane-cut, and the portions of the tattoo he could see.

“You’re not really Twilight and Rainbow, are you! You’re changelings doing a crappy imitation of them! You can’t fool me!” Spike yelled as he tackled Twilight to the ground.

“Ahh, Spike, it’s me!”

“Hey, get off her!”

Spike was ripped off the Twilight-changeling when Rainbow bit down on his tail and yanked him off. “You won’t get away with this!” he yelled as he pulled his tail free from Rainbow’s mouth and went to run out into Ponyville. “I’ll get the others to stop you!”

The little dragon ran right into a purple forcefield. “Spike, I’m not a changeling!” Twilight yelled as she pulled herself to her hooves, her horn radiating magical energy.

“Yes you are, you both are! Twilight would never get a tattoo, and Rainbow would never let herself be led around on a leash!”

“Hey, I’m not… well…” Rainbow looked down and for the first time truly noticed the leash. “I mean, I… ummm…” her head shot up, seeing the anger and fear on the dragon’s face. “It’s not what it looks like, Spike. It’s the result of a bet, that’s all.”

“A bet?” Spike paused at that.

“Yeah, just a bet.” Rainbow replied, uncertainty bleeding from her, but unwilling to back off this train of thought due to the acceptance Spike seemed to demonstrate.

“So due to a bet, you two got matching tattoos, piercings, and you’re leading Rainbow around on a leash?”

“Umm… yeah, kinda,” Twilight said as she let the dragon go. She sat down on her flank and wrapped her tail around her. Rainbow walked up and sat next to Twilight, providing whatever support she could.

“I’m assuming this has something to do with the letters you had me deliver?”

“Yeah, that was part of the bet. Twilight bet me I couldn’t be good for the day. But I said that was stupid and bet that she couldn’t be bad for the day. That’s kinda what lead into the pranks, and piercings, and tattoos, and se—”

Twilight closed Rainbow’s mouth with her magic before she could finish that word. “And I won, so Rainbow had to pay up. The letters were an apology for certain actions that occurred because of it.”

Spike walked over and investigated the changes, physically, with no regard for personal space. He examined the tattoo Twilight now wore, her collar, and the ear piercings. It was the last one that caused Twilight to react. “Ow, that’s still sore.” She mentally berated herself for forgetting to numb the area with her magic again.

“I don’t know about this Twilight. I think you took it too far. I mean what are your parents and Celestia going to say when they see this? What about the rest of our friends?”

“I can make my own choices, Spike. But it’s not like they have to know right away. I’ll tell them, but in time.” Rainbow’s ears perked up at the hint of uncertainty she heard in Twilight’s voice.

Spike shook his head and turned his attention to Rainbow. The two locked eyes and silence filled the room for several pregnant moments until, at last, Spike broke it by bursting into laughter.

Anger took hold in Rainbow as she ran up and started poking Spike in the sides. “Hey, what’s so funny‽”

“You… have… to be… Twilight's pet! The great Rainbow Dash, a pet!”

“Now Spike, I taught you better than that! It’s not nice to laugh at ponies!” Twilight admonished.

“Sorry, sorry,” Spike said as Twilight lifted him upside down with her magic by his tail. “It’s just really funny though.”

“How would you like it if somepony made fun of you for your crush on Rarity?” Twilight asked.

Spike’s laughter died in his throat. “Wait, you’d do that?”

“No, not me, I meant if somepony else laughed at you like that. Especially if it was one of your friends?”

The dragon rubbed the side of his arm. “I’d hate it.”

“So why do you think it’s appropriate to laugh at Rainbow like that?” Twilight asked as she put him down on the ground.

Dejected, Spike looked down at the ground, crestfallen. “I’m sorry Rainbow, I didn’t mean to laugh at you like that. I know you’re just doing this because of the bet and all, if anything it’s honorable that you’re living up to your side, especially when it involves this.”

Twilight looked hopefully at Rainbow, unsure what her reaction to all of that would be.

In the span of a few seconds, Rainbow went from anger, to embarrassment, to fear, to rage, and in the end, settled on a hint of pride. The laughter cut deep, deeper than she could remember in a long-long time. But hearing those words reaffirmed all the things she’d been telling herself. Still, her voice trembled as she spoke, “No worries, Spike. I take my bets seriously.”

Twilight let out a breath she wasn’t aware she’d been holding, a sense of relief permeating the mare, that is until Spike asked her, “Why would you want Rainbow to be your pet anyway?”

It was Twilight's turn to be tongue-tied. “Well… I umm…”

“It’s not… it’s not because you’re trying to replace me or anything?” Spike asked.

Twilight’s heart dropped in her chest. “Spike, we’ve been over this with Owlowiscious. I’d never replace you. And you’re not a pet, you’re more like my baby brother.”

Spike’s relief was palpable. “I know I just…”

Twilight hugged him. “You never have to worry about that.”

“Then why?”

Thinking quickly, Twilight answered, “It’s part of the bet we had. Rainbow had me act bad for a while, and let me see what that’s like; so I wanted to return the favor, just in a different way.”

“Oh… okay. But for… for how long?”

“How long what?” Twilight asked.

“How long will she have to behave like that?” Spike asked, generally curious.

“Until she says she’s done,” Twilight replied. Leaving unsaid that ‘saying she’s done’ would be welching.

“Oh, okay.”

Twilight nuzzle him softly. “Why don’t you go read your comics, I’ll take care of breakfast.”

“Alright,” Spike said as he darted off to his room.

For the second time that morning Twilight let off a deep breath of relief. “That… could have gone better.”

“You’re telling me,” Rainbow said as she walked up to the table, her bowl in her mouth.

“And that was the easy one, wait until we have to face the others,” Twilight said as she watched Rainbow. “And you know full well that pets don’t eat at the table, Rainbow.”

Rainbow glared at her but lowered the bowl back to the floor. “Fine,” she grumbled as she started to eat.

Twilight watched, noting that Rainbow’s objection was muted. She celebrated inside and made a mental note to check that box off of her checklist the next time she had a chance as she went to clean up the broken plate Spike had dropped.

This is going great! I was so worried she’d stop, but she’s coming around to accept it! Just like the book said she would! Twilight thought as she finished cleaning the mess. Afterwards she made sure to rub up against Rainbow, stating, “I’m so proud of you, Rainbow. You’re doing great.”

Despite herself, Rainbow couldn’t help but smile as she ate. Twilight noticed several small, tell-tell signs that Rainbow was starting to feel better. The alicorn cooked her own breakfast and sat down at the table to eat.

Rainbow finished first. Without thought she picked up the bowl and took it to the sink. Twilight smiled as she did so. Noting that Rainbow had said nothing about the leash the entire time. It’d been an incremental process, their meals as important in establishing their new dynamic as anything else, but over the past two days she’d gotten Rainbow to eat from a dog bowl, to eating on the floor, and now with a leash on.

As Twilight finished her own meal, she took the next leap. “So, Rainbow. You ready to go on a walk?”

“A what‽”

“A walk,” Twilight said matter-of-factly. “It’s important for a master to take her pet on walks, that way she gets her exercise and stays in shape.”

Rainbow’s jaw was agape as Twilight lifted her leash and started to drag her out the door. “Oh no-no-no-no-no,” Rainbow protested. “I’m not going outside on a leash while you walk me around town.”

Twilight turned her head to face Rainbow, a frown on her face. “You mean like you led me around town two days ago?”

“That was… but… I…”

Twilight smiled. “Relax, I’m not going to lead you around town on a leash.” Not yet anyway, she thought. “We’re just going out back, around the castle. I doubt anypony will even see you today. Plus I have something special planned just for you. I think you’re going to love it.”

Crestfallen, but curious, Rainbow found her limbs starting to work again as she asked, “What’s that?”

“I’ll tell you about it on the way,” Twilight replied as she picked back up the leash and started to walk Rainbow out the door.

Rainbow nervously followed. Her steps heavy and eyes darting around as soon as they left the castle. Twilight smiled as she saw Rainbow’s wings shot up to cover her face. “You know, just because you can’t see anypony else doesn’t mean they can’t see you.”

“Yeah, but it means I won’t have to see the looks they give me,” Rainbow replied, practically blindfolded being lead around on a leash.

The leash lead her right into a pair of lips. She uncovered her eyes to see Twilight sitting directly in front of her, kissing her by surprise. “There’s no one around, Featherbrain. Relax, I want this to be fun for you too.”

“How is this supposed to be fun?” Rainbow asked, doubt and curiosity warring for dominice in her mind.

“Trust me,” Twilight replied as she started to lead Rainbow around back.

“Sure thing,” Rainbow said in a voice that said she did anything but.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You know I did a lot of reading on this. They say you should challenge your pets, driving them to their limits with different obstacles that not only increase their speed, but cognitive functions as well. Obstacle courses are great for this, that’s why most pet shows have them.”

“So you’re going to run me through a dog obstacle course?” Rainbow asked in disbelief.

“Something like that,” Twilight replied with a chipper voice.

“And this is supposed to be fun?”

“Trust me, Rainbow,” Twilight replied. “Although I am going to demand a lot from you, I think you can handle it.”

“Oh please, Twilight. I can defeat some dumb obstacle course.”

“We’ll see about that,” Twilight said as they arrived at the top of a hill. “I think this is a good spot.”

As Twilight powered her horn, concentrating on whatever spell she was working on, Rainbow took a look around. Sparklebutt was right, I haven’t seen a single pony anywhere nearby. And this is a good hill. Heh, I bet she’s going to make some dumb challenge down the hill, probably make me run through tires and jump through hoops. How demeaning, I’m Rainbow Dash! I can handle so much more than she’d ever give me! I can—

“And that’s it,” Twilight said, a small amount of sweat dripping from her brow.

“What is? You didn’t do anything,” Rainbow replied, glancing around down the hill.

“Not down there, up there,” Twilight replied, smiling.

Rainbow glanced up, her mouth agape at what she saw.

It was indeed an obstacle course. But it wouldn’t have fit into any pet show. It’d have been something more fitting in a Wonderbolt’s training facility. Rainbow saw loops, tunnels, and monkey bars just to name a few. All designed out of clouds to be fully utilized by a pegasus.

“You… you made this for me?” Rainbow asked, not able to take her eyes from what she was looking at. It was simply massive with too many details to take in.

“Of course. I knew a normal obstacle course wouldn’t challenge you, so I stayed up and sought ways to combine professional courses with pet courses. I must say there’s a lot of similarities between them. It’s kind of shocking nopony ever thought to put them together before,” Twilight said as she unleashed Rainbow, both metaphorically and literally. “Now go, have fun. But no sonic rainbooms. Otherwise you’ll blow it all away.”

Rainbow kissed Twilight on the side of the muzzle before flying off, a look of pure adulation on her face. Twilight smiled in return. She watched as Rainbow flew up to her newly made obstacle course.

Rainbow smiled as she felt the cool air blow over her. The wind and moisture made the soreness from her fresh piercings and tattoos practically disappear. She found herself loving this all that much more as she truly got to flex her stuff for the first time since she went into the tattoo parlor.

As soon as Rainbow crossed the start, Twilight created a stopwatch with her magic and activated it. She watched as Rainbow cleared obstacle after obstacle far faster than she’d expected for her first time. I gotta remember to add more mentally challenging ones next time. Rainbow perceives almost everything without realizing it while she flies, maybe I can play more into that?

Rainbow was bursting with pride as she flew up and around the final obstacles. “Oh yeah! That was a blast!” she started an endzone dance, celebrating her victory.

“Five seconds too slow, Rainbow!” Twilight shouted, ending her dance.

“Wait, what‽” Rainbow asked as she flew down to Twilight. “What do you mean five seconds too slow?”

Twilight smiled and levitated the stopwatch she’d created over. “You did it in fifteen point three seconds. Are you telling me the great Rainbow Dash can’t complete that course in less than ten seconds?”

“Ten seconds flat,” Rainbow replied as she zoomed back to the course, a rainbow contrail in her wake.

“That’s my pet,” Twilight said with a smile as she restarted the timer.

After ten minutes Rainbow found herself hating that timer. Every time she’d end the course Twilight would yell out “Thirteen point six,” or “Eleven point two!” After thirty minutes Rainbow was dead tired but her best time had been ten point four. Twilight flew up to her and offered her some water. “You done?”

“Not… even… close…” Rainbow replied back, taking the water and gulping it down.

“You sure? I mean if you can’t do it you can’t do it. There’s always tomorrow.”

“When it comes to challenges, Rainbow Dash doesn’t do tomorrows,” Rainbow replied. “Once more. I’m gonna give it everything I can.”

“You might say you have the… perseverance to keep going,” Twilight said, smiling.

Rainbow’s head shot up to glare at Twilight, but found herself doing something rather unexpected instead. She smiled. “Yeah, that… perse… perseverance.”

“I know you can do it, Rainbow. I believe in you,” Twilight replied as she kissed Rainbow again.

Rainbow found herself smiling at that. She readied herself, flexed her wings, and said, “Give me a countdown.”

“Three… two… one… go!” Twilight shouted. The princess never took her eyes off of Rainbow. She didn’t glace away once, not even to look at the stopwatch. She watched as Rainbow zoomed past every obstacle, traveling purely on instinct. Each moment perfectly calculated to provide maximum thrust and lift while setting herself up for the optimal position for the next obstacle.

“And… time!” Twilight shouted as Rainbow crossed the finish line.

“How… how fast was that?” Rainbow asked while trying to catch her breath.

Twilight levitated the stopwatch and examined it. “Ten… point… zero.”

“Ahh, yeah!” Rainbow shouted in joy before hugging Twilight for all her worth.

Twilight returned the hug. “I’m so proud of you, Rainbow.” The two held that hug for several moments, only releasing when Twilight said, “Let’s get back inside. I think you could use another bath.”

Rainbow felt her muscles protest at the thought of further movement, but she forced herself to land on her hooves. “Sure thing.”

Twilight levitated the leash up to Rainbow. To her delight the pegasus didn’t even flinch, rather Rainbow simply raised her chin to give Twilight easier access to her collar. Clipping it on, the two walked side by side back into the castle.

Rainbow rolled over on her back. Everything, every iota of her body was sore, either from physical exhaustion or pleasurable exhaustion. “That… was a great time.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Twilight replied as she finished washing and drying off her hooves. “Sleep well, I’ll come get you when it’s dinner time.”

Upside down, Rainbow let her head fall backwards on Twilight bed. “Hey Twilight.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks, that was fun. Think we can go for another walk later tonight?”

“Sure thing, you sure you want to though? It’s going to be tougher tomorrow,” Twilight stated.

“Looking forward to it,” Rainbow replied as she let her eyes close and her dreams take her.

Twilight grinned as she left the room, several books magically levitating behind her. This is going great! I have some work to do, but I think we’ll both like what comes next. Sweet dreams my pet.