Author's Note

Operation: Phone Number of the Color Wheel...

Intermission VII - Jain Benefactor & The Rainbow Factory... Kinda

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FRIENDSHIP GAMES EVENT

"Huh... so this is what a crush feels like..."

Jain gazed out the window at a girl sitting at a two-person table from the restaurant he worked at for part-time. He continued to wipe the counters of multiple tables, but he struggled to take his eyes off her.

It was Rainbow Dash.

For whatever reason, she'd taken a seat there ten minutes ago. Back when he handed out his last order. He was perplexed as to why she'd come to Queen Dairy's and just sit there. Sometimes she'd just scroll her phone and sometimes she'd be texting. He'd been wanting to simply go outside and talk to her, but his job wasn't finished, and he was hesitant after realizing something.

Jain liked Rainbow Dash. Much more than a friend would.

In the past, he'd simply not talk to a girl that said something to him, but this was different. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to walk out that door, order her some ice cream, and listen to her for hours. But he was too afraid.

Yet no matter how much he told himself he couldn't, he kept staring. Jain had known Rainbow Dash from around the school, however, something snapped when he saw her in action. It happened every time he talked to her.

But now, it was different. It was as if her very presence made his heart pound. He'd never felt like this with a girl in his life. Sure, the girls on the sites he visited got him done, but Rainbow Dash was more than just appearance.

Her blue skin, her magenta eyes, her sly smirk, her strikingly gorgeous hair, and even her somewhat raspy voice. Jain had heard uncountable voices from girls, but they always sounded so ordinary. The same types of voices you'd hear on TV shows or movies.

But hers? It was like something he'd never heard. He'd heard her before, of course, but the words didn't simply fade into nothingness when they were directed toward him.

Not to mention her athletic and tomboy-like behavior. Jain was aware girls were all into different things, but he'd yet to see a girl as athletic as her. She made the athletic boys back at his school look like a joke. And he'd seen it as well.

Seeing as they shared the same gym class, events would take longer because it would always end in a one on one match between the two. Unless it was football or they were playing for fun, there wasn't a day that went by when he wouldn't find himself panting after class while she acted like it was another day at the office.

Sometimes he wondered if Rainbow Dash was secretly a boy, especially considering she was rather flat. But whenever she turned around, he'd immediately remembered exactly what she was packing.

"Jain!" A voice called, and Jain turned away from the window towards the voice who called.

It was his manager, Rapid Gust. Or as Jain referred to him: Mr. Gust. If he was gonna have a job in a world of happy-go-lucky technicolored ignoramuses, he was going to at least have a sense of traditional life wherever he could. And calling his boss Rapid Gust would be hilariously absurd.

As for Rapid Gust, he had orange skin, circular glasses, blue hair brushed to the side, and a simple black suit with a blue tie. As if anyone gave a shit about some corner store eatery.

Jain dropped the sponge on the table, "Uh, yes Mr. Gust?"

"That young lady out there has been sitting for a while now and hasn't ordered anything. Bulky-"

Who the hell names their child Bulky?

"-went out there earlier to ask, and she said she was waiting on something. Go on out there-"

No, seriously. Who the hell names their child Bulky? Why does this place not have any normal names? Does anyone not find that shit unusual? Is that just how Equis is?"

"-and ask her what she'd like. If she doesn't order this time, tell her to scram! I need tables for customers, not highschoolers looking for a place to relax because they live in an awful household!"

Jain glanced over at both sides of the restaurant, "But Mr. Gust, only a third of this place is actually-"

"Don't say it, just do it."

Jain dropped his finger and brought his hands behind his back. If there was one thing Jain hated about work, it's that his boss resembled Flash Sentry at a much older age. He sometimes wondered if Rapid Gust was Flash’s father.

Picking up the sponge before returning it to the sink, Jain replied. "Okay, Mr. Gust. I'll take care of it."

Rapid Gust folded his arms sternly, "That's what I thought."

He returned to his office in the back of the restaurant and Jain approached the door. Despite being initially afraid, Jain was delighted he'd get another chance to talk to the miraculous rainbow-headed athlete.

He took a deep breath before pushing open the door and approaching Rainbow Dash's table. Before speaking, Rainbow Dash laid her eyes on him and raised an eyebrow.

"W-Wait, Jain? You work here?"

"Uh... yeah."

Rainbow Dash shut her phone off, "Sweet! Now I can get a discount!"

"Uh, you want a discount for food that isn't higher than twenty dollars? You don't have that kind of money?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "Obviously I do, but there's nothing bad at paying a little less for anything. Besides, I'm not ordering for myself."

"Oh, well uh, what would you... Wait, what?"

"What?"

"You said you weren't ordering for yourself."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Who else would you be ordering for?"

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms, "Well, I've been waiting on Fluttershy this entire time, but she must've gotten so wrapped up in helping those animals at the shelter. I'll never understand why she's always around or about them."

Jain took a seat in the chair, "You were waiting on Fluttershy? Why were you waiting on her?"

"Flutters and I normally go to restaurants once every month just to catch up with each other. Of all the girls, I've known Fluttershy the longest."

"Uh-huh... So, where is she?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged, "I don't know! I-I've been texting her this entire time asking where she's been and-"

Interrupting Rainbow Dash, a notification popped up on her phone. Rainbow Dash lifted it to read the notification it clearly and groaned in frustration before flipping her phone onto the table.

Jain tilted his head, "So..."

"Fluttershy said she couldn't make it today because one of her birds has a tummy ache. I get that she's interested in them, but she doesn't need to center all of her downtime around them!"

"Is it normal for her to do that?"

"Miserably."

Jain folded his arms and leaned back. "So, I have a question."

"What?"

"What's up with Applejack and Rarity? Are they a thing, or...?"

Rainbow Dash snickered, "Oh, you mean that thing Sunset said when she blew her top? No, they're not dating. Rarity just likes to mess with Applejack because she finds her the most unique of us all."

Jain laid a hand flat, "Seriously?"

"Seriously. Rarity's into boys. She claims she's constantly on the prowl for the perfect gentlemen who knows how to treat a lady. But if you ask me, I think she messes with AJ because she's the closest thing Rarity has to a gentleman."

"What do ya mean?"

"AJ's always acting kind and honest to us like normal, but Rarity seems to see it some other way. I'm guessing because despite AJ being a girl, she's closer to a strong and kind gentleman than most students in our school."

"Deadass?"

"Yep! In fact, Applejack and Rarity have known each other much longer similar to how Flutters and I have known each other longer. AJ, even now, has always treated Rarity like a princess... kinda.

"AJ's well aware that Rarity loves being treated like a princess, but I don't think she's aware just how much Rarity craves that treatment. When it comes to AJ being AJ, she knows what matters and what's important. So she'll push us and Rarity out of the way."

"But that only makes Rarity crave it more."

"Now you're getting it. AJ's always acted like Rarity's special hero or knight whenever she was needed. Especially as kids. Rarity loved playing Pretend with Applejack because she was always so oblivious to Rarity's true intentions and feelings. Applejack just thought they were playing, but Rarity was living out her fantasies."

"How do you know all this? This sounds like something a narrator would explain to a reader."

Rainbow Dash leaned back, "Well, Rarity likes to go to the spa with Fluttershy, and it's usually there where they unwind. And since Fluttershy wasn't aware it was all a secret, she'd told me about all of it."

"Oh... huh. So, what'll happen when Applejack figures it out?"

"If you ask me, I don't think she will. And if she ever does, she'll probably be like ninety-years-old."

"Ninety? The fuck, why?"

"Well, Applejack is still oblivious to Rarity at times. Not as much as she used to, but we've all seen it before. Did you know Applejack picks up and drops off Rarity to and from school every day?"

"Again, deadass?"

"A hundred percent! Applejack always says she's just being kind since Rarity has issues in the morning, but it's virtually every morning. You'd think after waking up late a couple dozen times, you'd get it together at some point."

Jain held a fist over his mouth, "Holy shit, Applejack doesn't notice?"

"She still doesn't! Rarity has been in her pick-up so many times, it's started to smell like her! And Applejack hasn't noticed! Even wondering if it smells better!"

"You're shitting me."

"Not even close. Rarity also likes using Applejack for her designs to see if they work or not on an actual human. Applejack always leaves at four in the evening on normal school days to help Rarity out. And when she isn't dressing Applejack up, she watches her work on Sweet Apple Acres on Saturdays and Sundays.

"Rarity just loves messing with Applejack and taking advantage of her. In a good way, obviously. It just seems to make her day having her farmer friend act the way she does and do the things she does."

"You know, that sounds a lot like Rarity is into Applejack. Are you sure she's into men?"

Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin, "Y'know, now that I say it all out loud, I think she does have a crush on poor innocent Applejack. I'd never thought of it, honestly. Actually, doesn't Rarity always start their daily bickering? Do you think she-"

"Likes bickering with AJ? I wouldn't be surprised, honestly. She always sounded like she was bickering just to talk to Applejack. Like she enjoyed it more than she should've. But Noah once told me that when you guys were at a diner for Valentine's Day that Rarity was leaning towards Applejack and that AJ was moaning."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously. From the sound of it, it seemed like Rarity was-"

"Touching her? Maybe, but that sounds hard to believe. Rarity would have to have Applejack wrapped around her finger to get Applejack to believe it was a friendly thing to do."

"I mean... doesn't she?"

"Probably."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as she analyzed Jain. "So, what's your deal?"

"The hell do you mean?"

"I thought you were supposed to tell me to leave, yet you're just listening to me ramble about Rarity and Applejack's relationship. Is there something at work here? Hm?"

Jain raised his finger to speak before lowering it. He took a glance at Rainbow Dash and a lightbulb went off in his head. "Well, if I'm being honest, I was gonna ask you for help about a girl that'd I'd been thinking of for some time now."

Rainbow Dash sat up straight and felt something inside her break, but she didn't know what. "Whoa, well now! Jainy's getting his funk on with the ladies!"

"Don't ever say that. Again. Ever."

Rainbow Dash giggled, "Whatever, what is it you need? Wanna get to know her so you can score big time?"

Jain smirked, "Well, if anything, she's quite excited to get it on herself. As a matter of fact, she's also quite enthusiastic about the topic. Why? No idea, but damn, does it turn a nigga on."

Rainbow Dash felt something of a blush begin to form upon her face, but she shook it off. "Uh-huh, and what else?"

"Well, she's attractive, adorable, and her hair is gorgeous. Whatever it is she does with it works phenomenally! Not to mention her personality, she's also fierce and brave. She once told me she'd do anything to protect her friends."

"Go on."

"She's pretty cocky too, but she does it so well. It gets me thinking just how cocky she'll be when I'm done with her."

The blush returned, "Jeez, someone's eager for a lil something-something."

"That's not even half of it. This girl could rival even you in terms of athleticism. I spend forever trying to beat her in phys ed, yet she just walks off like it's nothing! Like it was just another day in the office!"

"Rivaling even me?"

"Without a doubt! Her eyes are the colors of beautiful rubies, and her speech just gets something going inside me. Like I could listen to her ramble with her cocky attitude and raspy voice for hours! Sometimes I wonder if she'll ever stop!"

"Oh wow," Rainbow Dash replied as the blush reddened.

"She's so astonishing on an astronomical level, but I just wish I could be with her legitimately. Sometimes I daydream of her lips against mine and how wonderful it'd feel.

"So do you know how to reel her in?"

Rainbow Dash stuttered, "I-I, uh... um, how about this."

Rainbow Dash wiped her forehead before standing up. She pulled out a crumpled homework sheet from her back pocket, drew a pen from her other back pocket, and scribbled numbers on the piece of paper in a corner.
She tore the corner off and handed it to Jain, "This is my phone number. I gotta head home before it gets too late, so we can talk about this when I get home. Not to mention, you know, other times when you might need me."

Jain smiled and grabbed the paper gently as she handed it to him. He stood up, "A'ight then. I hope you have some tactics and what not because I'm dying to get with her."

"Don't worry about a thing. I'll make sure you have her begging at your knees for you."

"You think she'll beg?"

"W-Well, I... I-I can only guess, y' know?"

Jain shoved the paper in his pocket, "Guess so. See you some other time, Dash?"

Rainbow Dash smirked, "Without a doubt."

With that, Rainbow Dash turned on her heels and began home. Jain enjoyed her on the walk away more than he should've. He'd imagine his friends would be hooting and hollering behind him.

As Rainbow Dash turned the corner, he promptly took a seat on the table and chuckled. He pulled out her phone number along with his phone as he added her as a contact.

"Guess Applejack isn't the only one oblivious..."