Breaking Barriers

Chapters

2. Good News Everyone!
3. To My Number One Fan
4. Confessions of a Ponyville Veterinarian
5. Firefly
6. Fast vs Furious
7. Mac Gets Country
8. It Ain't What It Looks Like!
9. Signing Bonus
10. Money Talks
12. Deflation
13. Best Laid Plans
14. Penance
15. Memory of a Memory
16. The Name Game
17. A Little Concussed
18. Showtime
19. Cracking the Whip
20. Brother-Teacher Conference
21. Preparation
22. All The Right Moves
23. Show Stopper
25. Plus One
26. The Awakening of Rainbow Part 1
27. The Awakening of Rainbow Part 2
Epilogue—The Road Ahead
Horizons
11. Weight Problem
24. For Whom The Wedding Bell Tolls

2. Good News Everyone!

Chapter 2- Good News Everyone!

"Pinkie! Guess what?" Rainbow exclaimed excitedly, as she hovered over the earth pony opening the sweets shop.

"The princesses have decided to make pie the official party pastry, thus making cake obsolete and forever changing the face of parties as we know them!” Pinkie gasped, “Oh Rainbow, that's horrible! I love cake! Does it include cupcakes? I'll need to work on my pies. Maybe I can make a cake pie? A cake inside a pie? What about a cake within a cake?"

"Uh... no," Rainbow answered slowly, redirecting the often rambling train of thought of her pastry making friend. "I got invited to the Wonderbolt tryouts!"

Pinkie instantly recognized how huge this news was, and reacted appropriately.

"Really?! That's awesome Dashie! Hang on, I'll be right back with the party cannon!" Pinkie started.

"No time! I have to tell Rarity and Twilight before work!" she said as she zipped off to Rarity's boutique. The town below her was just waking up as she dove into her bedroom window, crashing loudly into her mannequins and startling the fashionista nearly to death.

"For heaven's sake Rainbow Dash, there's such a thing as knocking, you know!" Rarity spat indignantly, having been roused from a dead sleep by her friends intrusion.

"No time for doors Rarity! I got invited to Wonderbolt tryouts!" she squealed happily.

Even though it was far too early for the well groomed unicorn to express the kind of emotion the situation warranted, she still managed a sincere congrats before throwing her sheets back over her head as Rainbow left to go inform Twilight of the good news.

The pegasus rocketed through town, entering the library through Twilight’s bedroom window, which she’d wisely learned to keep open in case Rainbow ever dropped by. Gracefully fluttering through her window, she noticed both Spike and Twilight still asleep. Smiling deviously, Dash hovered over Twilight's sleeping form, gently lowering herself over her until she was astride Twilight on her bed. Rainbow leaned in close, really close to Twilight, staring her dead in the eye, waiting for her to wake up and holding back laughter at how she'd react to her.

After a moment, Dash got bored and decided to expedite matters with a quiet cough. A pair of lavender eyes flickered open beneath her, blinking blearily before focusing on her face. Twilight yelped in surprise and scrambled backwards, and promptly fell out of bed to the sound of Dash's laughter.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?" Twilight snarled, embarrassed she'd reacted just the way Rainbow wanted her to.

"I dunno... I just know it's funny..." she gasped between breaths, before hearing Twilight threaten to start locking her windows again.

"Okay, I'm sorry Twilight, its just that I got a really important letter today!"

Rainbow jumped off Twilights bed as she began to make it using her magic. "What about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that the Wonderbolts want me to try out for the team!"

Twilight's eyes lit up. "That's great Rainbow! I'm proud of you!"

"Me too!" she added cockily.

"You two want to take girl time somewhere else?" A tired voice moaned from his woven basket.

Twilight sighed, "C'mon, cranky pants gets upset when he doesn't get a full eight." They exited to the main room of the library so as not to disturb any more sleeping assistants.

"So is it a tryout just for you, or is it a group of ponies trying for a spot?" Twilight asked, putting on some breakfast tea.

"I dunno, the letter didn't say. All I know is I have a shot, and I'm gonna take it!"

"I'm glad you're so confident Rainbow, can we come watch you tryout?" she asked, echoing Applejack's sentiment.

Rainbow swallowed nervously, "I'm not sure if it's open to the public, but I'll let you guys know if it is."

"Oh. Well that's fine, we know you'll do great even if we can't be there for you personally."

Rainbow blushed. She may not have shown her mushy side to her friends, but she was certainly glad she had them. She loved them all, and they supported her in everything she did.

"Yeah, I know you guys are rooting for me." She smiled back as Twilight rooted around in her cupboard for her kettle.

"The tea will be ready in a few minutes, if you can stay." Twilight said, turning to her.

"Nah, I gotta get to work. Raincheck?"

Twilight nodded with a smile. "Sure. See ya Rainbow!"

"Later Twilight!"

Rainbow cruised along the rooftops on her way to work before she spotted a group of fillies walking to school, a certain orange filly with a purple mane stuck out like a sore hoof between her white and off-yellow friends. Dash descended quietly upon the helpless girls, circling them like an eagle circles the fields in which it hunts. Locking onto her target, she began a dive straight out of the sun, so even if they did spot her, they wouldn't see who it is until it's too late.

"Nah uh, there's no way a pony like Rarity beat up six changelings! I bet Rainbow beat up like, twenty!"

"Yes huh! My sister used her magic and took them all on! I bet she even saved Rainbow Dash!" Sweetie Belle shot back.

"Now, you two need ta calm down. Ain't nopony kicked more flank than Applejack anyhow."

As the three devolved into a shouting match, Applebloom noticed Scootaloo's shadow getting bigger.

"Uh, Scoots...?" she pointed a hoof towards her ever enlarging shadow before the frightened filly looked toward the source, the outline of some winged beast heading straight towards her.

She let out a terrified scream as the three of them took off towards the schoolhouse.

"The hawk is back! Don't let it eat me!" she cried, flapping her wings in a vain attempt to fly.

Try as she might, Scootaloo couldn't outrun the creature, as it wrapped its cold, scaly hooves around—

Hooves? Scootaloo thought, not feeling the talons of a bird of prey gripping her tightly. Instead she noticed a set of cyan hooves wrapped firmly around her belly.

"You worry too much kid! Hawks don't eat ponies!" Rainbow assured her, though Scootaloo had been harassed by such a bird that seemed to mistake her for another kind of flightless animal.

"Thats what you think!" she shouted back happily, as Rainbow flew her the rest of the way to school.

"Guess what squirt?" Dash posed, dropping Scootaloo out in front of the schoolhouse where a few other pony parents were leaving their children.

"What?" she asked, beaming. Rainbows quick ride having, without a doubt, made her morning.

"I'm gonna be a Wonderbolt!"

"You are?!" the young filly gasped. "That's incredible Rainbow! I want to be a Wonderbolt one day too!"

Dash smiled, mussing her purple mane before responding. "I know kid, and you will be one day. Just as soon as you start getting those wings of yours to cooperate."

"I practice one hundred flaps every night like you said, forwards and backwards!"

"Stay with it Scoots, you'll be flying in no time."

"I know! I hope I start soon!" she said happily as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle caught up to her, the bell signaling the start of the school day ringing loudly above them.

"All right, get to school squirts, and don't give Cheerilee too much of a headache today." She smiled as they ran in. Only then did Dash realize her little playtime with her number one fan had made her late for work! If she flew as fast as she could, she still might make it in time. Her rainbow contrail flowing behind her, she burst into the weather team HQ without a minute to spare, though she was quite tired from the flight.

"I'm not late... Am I?" she panted as her supervisor came out of his office. An older brown stallion with a faded blond mane, his cutie mark was a cloud with the sun obscured by it.

He glanced at the clock: 9 am, and not a minute more.

"Technically," he grunted. "How was your vacation?" he asked, this being her first day back at work since her and Mac's little adventure.

"Interesting," she answered.

"You know, one day you will be late, and when you are, I'll be waiting," he added in a most unamused tone. Rainbow didn't blame him for being such a jerk. If she were his age, and stuck as the supervisor of a small town weather team, she'd hate life too!

Dash always knew she was destined for bigger and better, and being the element of loyalty was just another thing that helped prove this to herself, and helped give her such unwavering confidence in the face of adversity.

"Well I hope you brought a book, 'cause I haven't been late since I started!" she answered confidently, having caught her breath.

"Whatever. Here's your sector and forecast, get to work." He slapped a page of instructions on the floor before her and stomped back to his office.

Rainbow took the sheet and began splitting up the work between her subordinates, leaving what was left for herself.

After an easy days work, she set out to do the one thing she'd had on her mind all day: practice. She would fly until her wings fell out from above her, she'd go to bed tired, and wake up sore, only if it meant she could finally reach her lofty goal of flying glory.

Near her house was plenty of open sky, but she much preferred the airspace over Sweet Apple Acres. Especially after Mac had covered for her when AJ asked whether or not she had lost any cattle. Since he took the blame for the lost cattle, he was technically correct in saying Rainbow didn't lose any cattle. The best kind of correct.

Mac was usually in a far field, but AJ could usually be found near the house or the barn during the afternoon, and was always glad to watch her practice and tell her what she thought of her moves. As she flew over, she saw neither hide nor hair of Big Mac or Applejack.

Huh, maybe they went into town or something, she thought, circling the farm. She began her session behind the setting sun, pulling every maneuver, turn, twist and roll as sharply and efficiently as she could. Stunt flying was about precision, and no one was more precise when it came to flying, than Rainbow Dash. Though the twilight hours cooled the air, Dash was still sweaty by the time she decided to call it quits; well into the night.

As she flew away, she recalled never having seen Mac or AJ return home. It was unusual for them to be out later than sundown, but they were adults, and they could take care of themselves.

Rainbow's wings ached, but she was satisfied with the work she had put in today. As she soared to her house, she couldn't wait to feel the warm shower water wash away the sweat and dirt of the day.

She landed softly on her porch and entered her darkened house. After lighting her bedroom and bathroom, she quickly fetched a grey raincloud from the cabinet below the sink and lit the small gas flame that heated the water within the cloud. As she got ready to clean up, she closed the door out of habit, even though she lived only with a tortoise.

After a few minutes, Rainbow allowed the cloud to begin raining its hot water as she stepped into the shower.

There's the place, he thought, sneaking up toward the floating cloud house, he paused directly beneath it and looked around. He didn't need to be seen. That would jeopardize the mission. He reached into his bag and retrieved a rope ladder with a grappling hook on the end, except this hook was made from the same packed clouds as Rainbow's house, allowing it to safely hook onto the clouds and support a pegasi or non-pegasus using a lightness potion. He took the rope and twirled it a few times to build up momentum before hooking it into the foundation of the house on the first try.

He quickly climbed to the houses porch and peered inside. Everything seemed dark, and it looked like nopony was home. He pushed open the door softly before seeing light from under the bedroom door.

She is home. Dang. Oh well, at least I can still surprise her! he thought going silently down the hallway and pushing the door open. She was taking a shower, the steam was pouring out of the cracked bathroom door. He crept silently into her room, choosing a perfect place to lie in wait for his unsuspecting prey. He crawled on top of the bed and waited patiently for her to emerge, his trap set.

Rainbow always felt better after a nice hot shower. Plus she loved the way her new shampoo smelled. She turned off the cloud and ripped the curtains aside with one foreleg, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her flank and torso, and one around her mane. She opened the door and nearly screamed in surprise. A fresh from the fields Big Macintosh laid, pin-up style on her bed. The scene was almost too much.

"Howdy."

Rainbow laughed nearly to the point of tears. She knew Mac was doing this for her, and made sure not to laugh at him for too much longer. Ordinarily, he was quite good at romantic gestures that didn't come off as cheesy, but every now and then, he'd do something like this.

"Hey there cowcolt," she said after regaining her composure.

"Ah thought Ah'd surprise ya after Ah saw ya this mornin'. Ah know we haven't had a lot of time ta see each other..." he began, he was no stranger to the fact that Rainbow wanted to do a little more than kiss. In fact, he'd be lying if he said he hadn't felt the same way, but his daily chores had to be done, and by the time they were, either she was asleep, or he was too tired to do anything but sleep for the next days work. "Ah got Applejack ta watch the farm for the whole night," he said smiling back at her.

Rainbow bit her bottom lip slightly, returning a much more seductive smile. "Really?"

"Eeyup. Its just me and you tonight. Ah was gonna surprise ya, but the fella at the potion shop had to brew another batch of the lightness potion Ah need not ta fall out of your house. It took all day, but Ah went straight into town as soon as my chores were done," he explained as Dash threw the towel on her head over him.

"So wait a second, you mean you went from being at the farm, into town, and then back here?"

"Eeyup," he answered confidently.

"And the first thing you do when you get here is lay your grossness on my bed?" she accused, realizing how dirty he was upon closer inspection.

Mac turned to her calmly and took off his yoke, leaning it against the bed frame. "Eeyup. What are you gonna do about it?" he asked in a fake serious tone.

Rainbow grinned. She loved it when he did this. Dash threw her last towel over Mac's head and turned her rear towards him. He pulled his head from underneath the towel in time to see her staring back at him playfully.

"You aren't staying in my bed like that. You need a shower, so come on." Rainbow beckoned, inviting him into the bathroom as he got off the bed, strode slowly next to her, and shut the door behind him.

3. To My Number One Fan

Chapter 3- To My Number One Fan

Rainbow had no trouble sleeping last night. It could have been due to a lessening of her anxiety concerning the Wonderbolts… or it could have been because of the extra, yet long awaited “exercise” between her and Mac. Twice in the shower, and one more time on her bed. It was everything she had hoped their first intimate night to be, certainly worth the wait in her mind.

Dash was exhausted, but in a good way. Sure she was a bit sore from her training yesterday, but she knew if she wanted to be a Wonderbolt, she would need to work through the stiffness and the sore muscles. She rolled over, facing Mac as one of his forelegs was still casually wrapped around her. She knew she could probably spare a few more minutes of comfort. She dug her cheek into his chest and began to drift back to sleep before a knock at her door denied her any additional rest.

Oh come on, Derpy! Your daughter's birthday can't be today and yesterday! she thought, grudgingly removing herself from her warm bed, assuming the mailmare had a delivery of some kind that couldn't be left in her mailbox.

Flinging the door open with an unamused glare, she found Fluttershy waiting outside. Her expression instantly softened, replaced by a curiosity for the nature of the visit.

"Fluttershy? What's up?" she yawned, inviting her in.

They sat down on the couch in her living room as Rainbow fought to keep her eyes open.

"Well, I thought about what you said yesterday, and I decided I'm going to go for it," she said with as much pride in herself as she could muster.

Rainbow smiled, she loved to see her foalhood friend happy, especially since she Dash couldn't recall a time when Fluttershy even had a coltfriend. In fact, she was probably still a virgin! Still, Rainbow was glad to see her buddy taking charge of her romantic life.

"That's awesome Fluttershy! Ready to tell me who the lucky stallion is yet?" Rainbow asked, shifting on the couch to a more comfortable position.

"Uhm... I was thinking I'd wait till I knew how he felt before I named any names," she admitted.

A stirring from her room reminded Dash that their conversation had roused a sleeping stallion, ready to head back to the farm to start his chores. Macintosh wandered down the long hallway into the living room where he had heard the voices of other mares.

"Mornin' Ms. Fluttershy," he said cordially, his yoke already on and ready to be hitched to a plow.

The timid pegasus' cheeks flushed bright red as AJ's brother turned to the half asleep Rainbow on the cloud couch beside her.

"Ya'll want anythin' for breakfast?" he asked.

"Uhm... no thanks, I have to get going!" Fluttershy said quickly before fleeing the house as though she'd just seen a manticore.

After a brief silence, Rainbow asked "What do you think that was about?"

"Couldn't tell ya," Mac said, turning back to the kitchen.

Fluttershy zipped back to her cottage faster than she had ever flown before. She was certainly not expecting to see her crush at Rainbow's house so early! She had gone early to avoid any other ponies.

I wonder what he was doing there so early? she thought naively. Maybe she still owed them some bits for the windows?

Still, she would make Rainbow proud, and tell Mac just how she felt! She just needed some time to compose herself for such a big announcement, even if it was to one pony. It just may take a week. Or two.

Rainbow had that day off, thankfully. More time for her to practice, and sharpen her routine. Mac had left to start on his chores, but mentioned he would stop back by to watch her practice. A full twelve hour session left her quite hungry, with only a short lunch break to tide her over. Macintosh appeared below her house as she settled near him, but not before executing a perfect stall into a double roll.

"Lookin' good, Dashie," Mac teased.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, "I better not catch that name come out of your mouth again."

"Pinkie Pie came by the farm today. Needed more apples for Sugar Cube Corner." He grinned, "She stayed and had a little chat about some nicknames she has for her friends."

"You heard what I said. I better not hear Dashie come across those lips again," she threatened.

"Oh yeah? Or what?"

Rainbow grinned, she knew exactly what kind of ransom would stop Mac in his tracks. "See this?" she asked, waving a foreleg over herself.

"It's off limits if I hear that name again."

Mac smiled, "Fair 'nuff, no need to get drastic. So what have you been workin' on?"

"Check it out!" she called taking flight and starting her routine.

Macintosh watched as the object of his affection danced gracefully on the winds. Back in Prairieville, he wasn't sure what exactly attracted him to her in the first place, but as time went on, he thought he realized why he felt the way he did about her. It was her unbridled passion for the air. It was similar to how he felt about the farm. He was proud of it, and it was his life, just as flying was Rainbow's.

He loved the way her eyes shined like Luna's full moon when she was in the sky. He wished he could fly with her, to soar among the clouds like she did, right beside her. However, he knew his limitations as an earth pony. He'd give the very strength his father bestowed upon him to be in Rainbow's element, to fly with her, and be with her always, be it in the heavens, or on the earth.

Once she finished her routine, she landed next to him softly. "Well?" she panted. "Whaddya think?"

"Ah think the Wonderbolts won't know what hit them," he assured her.

Rainbow stepped closer to him, nuzzling his chest. Even though he was still sweaty from the fields, she didn't mind. In fact, that was one of the things she liked about him. He wasn't afraid to get his hooves dirty.

"Well, ya still got a few weeks ta train. Think you can improve what you got so far?" Mac asked, returning her affection.

"If you think it's perfect now, wait till I make the squad," she shot back confidently.

"You know... Applejack probably wouldn't wonder where I am for another... hour or so." He smiled deviously.

"Is that right?" Rainbow asked, taking his hint. "Well, the house is right there... and you're still dirty from the fields aren't ya?"

"Eeyup. And Ah still got some of that special juice that lets me visit your house without fallin' through th' floor."

"Well, I suppose I could let you shower up at my place... but I'm running low on rainclouds, so we'll have to share."

Mac smiled, "It wasn't a problem last time."

As if on queue, Rainbow's stomach growled loudly, ruining the moment entirely, much to Mac's amusement.

"I'm gonna need you to take care of that."

"Now Ah gotta feed ya too?"

Dash grinned. "Eeyup."

The two weeks seemed to pass too quickly for Rainbow. Every day she practiced, and every day drew her nearer to the start of tryouts. Her form was perfect, her moves were precise, Dash could think of nothing else she could improve upon! She was the fastest flier in Equestria, after all. The only pegasus ever to attempt and perform a sonic rainboom. What did she have to worry about?

Still, the lump in her throat didn't care how confident she acted, it refused to retreat. The rest of her friends gathered outside Sugarcube Corner, just after her good luck party. It turned out the tryouts were invite only. Apparently the Wonderbolts had more than their share of secrets to their performances. Dash had even heard the new recruits have to sign contracts pledging not to reveal any and all secret techniques or maneuvers under penalty of death. Some of that was probably exaggeration, but still, they clearly meant business.

"We know you'll come back a Wonderbolt, Sugarcube!" Applejack chimed happily.

Rainbow blushed. Sure, she loved unending praise as much as the next pegasus (false, loved it more), but she had heard everything they were saying a million times before.

"Yeah," she agreed, "I'm sorry you guys couldn't come with, but I'm glad you could all see me off."

"We wouldn't miss it Dashie! Just wait until you try your victory cake! Who do you think would taste better as a cake, Spitfire or Soarin?" Pinkie asked, bouncing happily around the group.

"Surprise me," Dash answered.

After a brief silence, Twilight spoke up "Well, good luck Rainbow! When will you be coming back?"

"I'll be back late tomorrow night." she replied, "The tryouts last a week, starting at five a.m. and ending at seven."

"Five a.m.? My word, with the commute to Cloudsdale, that doesn't leave you much time for anything else," Rarity commented, knowing if anypony valued sleep as much as she did, it was Rainbow.

"Yeah, but it's cool, I didn't have any more vacation days, so I just quit my job," she answered with the same inflection one would use to respond to a 'hello' on the street.

"You what?!" they gasped in unison.

Rainbow cast them a look of confusion. "What's the big deal? I won't need to buck clouds anymore when I'm a Wonderbolt!"

The rest of her friends didn't want to rain on her confidence parade, but...

"Well... have ya ever considered what you'd do if... fer some reason... ya... uh... didn't make it?" Applejack asked quietly, trying to get her sometimes single minded pal to see the other side of the coin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dash shot back indignantly.

"Rainbow, she didn't mean it like that, it's just... it probably would have been a better idea to wait until you knew you made the team to quit your job," Twilight explained, stepping towards her.

Rainbow's confidence bordered on arrogance as she assured her friends she knew what she was doing. The sun began to set on what could have been Dash's final day in Ponyville as a non-Wonderbolt. She hugged every one of her friends goodbye, as she would be out of town before any of them (save Applejack) would be awake. A quick flight back to her place put her back on the porch, collecting the mail that had been delivered on time that day.

Just more junk mail and bills, though a silver lining in the daily mail, her newest issue of Stunt Flyers Monthly had arrived.

Spitfire and Soarin stared confidently back at her from the cover, both mid flight in their uniforms with the rest of the Wonderbolts flying in formation behind them. The header screamed: The Wonderbolts are ready for new recruits! Do YOU have what it takes to rule the skies?

Rainbow smiled, flicking between the deep green eyes of Soarin, the captain of squad one, and the fiery intensity of Spitfire's amber orbs, the captain of squad alpha. Why they chose the designations that way, she hadn't the slightest, but would be sure to ask them the next morning.

Stepping inside her darkened house, she noticed something was amiss. The blanket she usually kept on the couch was now on the floor, as if someone, or something had been sleeping on it. A soft rustle from her bedroom drew her attention. Her ears were now standing straight out, sensitive to any out of place noise. Slowly, she began to walk towards her room, swearing if Macintosh was trying to surprise her again, he'd have to do better than this!

Rainbow paused right outside her bedroom door, listening intently to any sounds coming from beyond. She heard nothing for a minute, then flung her door open, an accusing hoof pointed at where she believed the intruder to be.

"Gotcha ya big red... Scootaloo?"

The orange filly nearly jumped out of her skin when her hero had burst through the door. Rainbow had walked in on her seated in front of the mirror, in a black leather coat Dash recognized as her old Junior Speedsters jacket.

"OhmygoshI'msosorryRainbowIdidn'tmeanto—"

"Slow down squirt," Rainbow said calmly, trotting over to her bed and laying on it. Her calm tone put the young filly at ease, relived to not be in trouble with her idol.

"Do your parents* know you're here?"

Scootaloo looked away in shame, "Not exactly... they think I'm with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle at the clubhouse..."

Lying to your folks to go hang with somepony your parents didn't want you around... she's more like me than I thought.

Rainbow knew Scootaloo's folks didn't exactly like her. Despite having saved the entire kingdom on more than one occasion, and even personally rescued their daughter from a few harrowing situations, some ponies just couldn't be reasoned with, no matter how many times you save their sorry flanks, indirectly or otherwise.

"So what are you doing here?"

"I heard you were leaving for Wonderbolts tryouts tomorrow. I just wanted to tell you good luck, but you weren't home and your door was unlocked. I wanted to tell you at your party, but my parents wouldn't let me go," Scootaloo lamented. She supposed they meant well, but their overprotectiveness got old rather quickly.

Rainbow smiled warmly from her bed, turning over on her side to face the young filly still clad in her jacket, propping her head up on her hoof.

"Thanks Scoots, that means a lot." Annoying as she could be sometimes, deep down, Rainbow was glad to have somepony who had confidence in her abilities, even when she wasn't so sure.

"Wait a second, you can't fly yet!" Dash recalled, "How did you even make it up here?"

Scootaloo shot her a confused stare, "You know you have a rope ladder hanging off your house, right?"

"Ah, right. I see you like my old jacket."

Scootaloo quickly removed it, forgetting she had been posing in the mirror with it before she was surprised.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to go through your stuff, I just saw it in your closet and-"

"It's okay, kid, I'm not mad at you," Dash assured, hovering over to her, and putting it back over her shoulders.

"It looks good on you," Rainbow complimented as they looked at each other in the mirror.

"You think so?"

"Eeyup." It appeared as though Mac's mannerisms were beginning to rub off on her. More than a little embarrassed at letting that slip, she decided somepony else might make better use of her old jacket than it would collecting dust in her closet.

"I want you to have it."

Scootaloo gasped, turning to face Dash. "You... you mean it?"

"I sure do. The Junior Speedsters was the first squad I ever tried out for."

"You made the team on your first try?"

"That's right, and when you go to flight school, you'll have the same chance!" Dash added.

Scootaloo's expression dropped significantly. It appeared as though Rainbow had struck a nerve.

"What's the matter?" Dash asked in a motherly tone.

"Well... my parents aren't sure if they can afford to send me to flight school in Cloudsdale."

Rainbow was horrified. How could Scootaloo call herself a pegasus without having at least attempted flight school?

"You... can't afford it?" Dash started, "But they provide everything for you, what... how could you not..."

Tears began to well in the once bright eyes of the young pegasus. Rainbow ceased questioning her immediately and instead set about improving her mood.

"Hey now, there's no crying in this cloud house," she whispered comfortingly, drawing Scootaloo in for a hug.

"If your folks can't afford to send you to learn to fly the right way, then I'll teach you."

The teary eyed filly's mood shifted in an instant. "You will?!"

"You bet, as soon as you're old enough, we'll start."

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Rainbow!" she shouted, going in for another hug.

"No problem kid, but I need to get you home so I can get some rest," Dash said, walking her to her front door and stepping outside into the crisp night air.

"Hop on, I'll give you a lift." she said kneeling in front of her.

"Everypony at school is gonna be so jealous of my new jacket!" Scootaloo chirped happily, hopping onto Rainbow's back.

Rainbow smiled, making sure her cargo was secure before taking off into the sky.

A short trip over Ponyville brought her to the few neighborhoods the small town had.

"Um... Rainbow?" Scootaloo asked, "Do you think you could drop me off a few blocks away, so my folks will think I was where I said I would be?"

"Sure kid, I'll cover for ya," she responded, landing a few houses away from where she was told Scootaloo lived.

"Thanks for the jacket! I'm never taking it off!"

Dash grinned as her number one fan bid her goodbye and took off down the street to her house.

Rainbow flew back to her home, entering quickly and staring longingly at her bed.

Not yet, she thought going to her nightstand and preparing for a ritual she performed before every contest, or competion, whenever she faced a challenge. She did it before she tried out for the Junior Speedsters, and before the Best Young Fliers competition. Now she would do it before the Wonderbolts tryouts. She removed from the nightstand a worn, gold locket on a thin chain. Dash set it on the bed, rubbing a hoof across its weathered surface.

"Hey Dad... tomorrow's the big day." She smiled, as though it was going to say something back to her. Pressing the small latch on the side, the locket opened to reveal a small photograph. Inside was a tall, deep blue pegasus stallion with a steel mane, a foreleg around a beautiful mare with a cyan coat and magenta mane and rose colored eyes. Her mother lived in Cloudsdale, but her father... he had died when she was just a filly. It was an accident; nopony was to blame. No pegasi would ever willingly enter a thunderstorm, but as an instructor at the flight school, he was responsible for his students, even the foolhardiest among them.

One had flown into a developing thunderstorm on a dare, and so it was her father, the only one brave or foolish enough to go in after him. Unfortunately, neither made it out alive.

Why?! Dash would cry, nights after her fathers passing. Why couldn't Cloudy's dad have gone in to get him! It was his stupid kid's fault my dad is dead!

Tears began to flow down her face as she recalled the nights she and her mother would cry, holding each other until morning. Her father supported her in everything she did, and even took her to her first Wonderbolts show. He knew how much this meant to her, and she always made it a point to talk to him before a big event.

"I know you'll be right beside me," she whimpered, glad nopony was here to see her at her most vulnerable. She flipped the locket over, revealing an inscription, in a language Rainbow wasn't entirely certain her father didn't just make up.

Illegitimi non carborundum

Nonsense... she thought, feeling the raised letters of the inscription. Still, a longing in her heart demanded to know what it said. Unfortunately, not even the learn'd Twilight Sparkle and her library treehouse could decode it. The language, as well as its creators seemed to be lost to time.

Rainbow lay herself onto her bed, draping the locket around her neck, resting it on her heart, simply to feel closer to her father.

"I'll make you proud, dad. I swear..." she yawned, tears finally drying as she fell into an easy sleep.

4. Confessions of a Ponyville Veterinarian

Chapter 4- Confessions of a Ponyville Veterinarian

Macintosh waited beneath the floating home of his marefriend in the pre-dawn air. In fact, it was still dark when he arrived, but he knew Rainbow would be getting ready to leave for her tryouts soon. He hadn't had a chance to attend her good luck party, but he still wanted to make sure he saw her before she left. He tucked his thick legs beneath him as he waited patiently on the grass, his coat collecting the dew off the blades.

Soon after, he heard Rainbow's front door close, spying her multicolored mane from the ground.

"Rainbow!" he called to her as she fluttered down to him.

"Hey, Big!" she said happily, Mac standing to greet her. "Came to see me off, huh?"

"Eeyup."

She smiled and nuzzled him gently, which he returned.

"Are ya nervous?"

Rainbow shot him a skeptical look. "Are you kidding? This is me we're talking about here."

Mac chuckled. If she wasn't as confident as she looked, she was an expert at concealing it.

"Ah know, Ah just wanted ta make sure."

"Thanks for the concern Mac, but I'll be fine."

He smiled. Her mane was wet from the shower, clinging tightly around her face and neck as her eyes somehow shone with excitement, even in the darkness. She leaned up, rearing back on her hind legs, raising herself to Mac's height and planting a deep kiss on his lips. It would be probably be the last time she would have time to see him once tryouts began, as she'd be gone all day, and back late at night.

After a bit of tongue wrestling, they broke the kiss, and she settled back onto her hooves. Dash noticed Mac was wearing a saddlebag, with a certain familiar doll haphazardly stuffed inside.

"I see I have some competition," Rainbow chuckled.

Mac pushed the doll deeper into the bag and secured the flap.

"Nothin' for you ta worry about."

She shook her head, laughing. "I better get going. Don’t try anything while I’m away."

Macintosh poked her in the ribs. “Jealous, are ya?”

Both shared a quiet chuckle. “Go on,” he finally said. “We’ll be waiting to hear from ya.” They hugged one last time before Rainbow took off toward the capital of the old Pegasi Empire.

Mac watched her go, his mind now shifted back towards his work: specifically the fact that he had already done most of it, leaving him time for an errand he had been meaning to run for a few weeks now.

Leaving the field behind, he set off toward a small cottage at the edge of the Everfree forest.

Fluttershy stirred from her slumber. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up in bed, surveying her room warily. She could have sworn she heard a knock at the door. The stray beams of the rising sun shone through her curtains as her songbird friends began to serenade the morning.

Thinking the knocks were just her imagination, she laid her head back down on her pillow, attempting to will her morning wings away.

Another knock confirmed her earlier suspicions as she sat up and looked toward the door.

"Who could that be at this hour?" she wondered aloud, throwing the blankets off herself and putting on her robe to conceal her embarrassing wing situation. Thinking it to be a Ponyville resident with a squirrel problem or having found an injured animal, she opened the door, only to reveal a large red stallion nearly blocking out the sun with his form.

Fluttershy's cheeks lit afire as she recognized the stallion before her.

"Mornin' Ms. Fluttershy," Big Macintosh said cordially. "Sorry Ah came by so early, but Ah figured you'd be able to do me a favor... if ya didn't mind." he fidgeted sheepishly.

"Oh... of course not. P-Please, come in," she stuttered, stepping back from the door to give Mac room to enter.

He had been to Fluttershy's house before, taking some of the cattle or pigs to her when they got sick. It was a working relationship, but he still found himself enjoying her company whenever he would visit. He used to have a bit of a crush on her, and Twilight as well, but with his work taking up most of his time, wistful thinking was all that ever came of his feelings. Until the cattle drive with Rainbow, anyway.

Sure, it seemed like he was attracted to quite a few of his sister's friends, but how could anypony blame him? He was the most eligible bachelor in town. It may have been a small, hole-in-the-wall town, but a town nonetheless.

"So... uhm, what was it you needed, Macintosh?" she asked timidly, taking a seat on her couch, fidgeting nervously with her mane.

"Well, Ah heard that you were pretty good with a needle and thread, and Ah didn't want ta bother Ms. Rarity for a favor."

"Oh. Yes, Rarity has been busy filling orders lately," she answered, blushing at his compliment.

"Anyway, Ah'd like ya to fix up my friend here," he said, producing Smarty Pants from his bag. Fluttershy recognized it as Twilight's doll from the time she went... a bit off balance, let's say.

"Twilight's doll?" she asked, taking it and placing it on her kitchen table. "Where did you get this?"

"Ah... it's a bit embarrassing," he began, unsure of whether or not he should reveal his original plan.

"Oh, you don't have to worry, your secret's safe with me," she assured, heading up stairs to retrieve her small sewing kit.

Macintosh knew that if anypony had tight lips, it was her. Well, Ah suppose there's no harm in it.

"It was originally just an excuse to talk to somepony," he said softly, as hope began to rise in Fluttershy's heart.

She smiled to herself from upstairs. "Really?"

Her heart was in her throat as she convinced herself that this was the perfect opportunity to tell Mac how she felt about him.

"Eeyup. Ah'm looking to give Twilight her doll back, Ah don't think she knows Ah have it."

"Uh huh," she added, "Mac, do you remember when I came by Rainbow's early in the morning, a few weeks ago?"

"Eeyup." He nodded, taking a seat on the couch she had been sitting on.

"Well, I went to her to get a little... confidence, to tell you something that's been on my mind f-for a while," she began faltering, as huge red flags began to raise in Mac's mind. He knew where this was going, and he was not happy about the answer he was about to give. He didn't want to hurt her, she was the sweetest pony around, and he couldn't stand to hurt somepony's feelings on purpose, but...

"What is it?" he asked cautiously, praying that maybe she just had an unusual favor to ask of him, and not what he was thinking she was about to lay on him.

"I... uhm... I..." she stammered nervously. Her tongue seemed to tie itself into knots as she reminded herself of what Rainbow had said. She deserved a pony like Mac, and there was still a shot (in her mind) that he could feel the same way!

C'mon Fluttershy! You don't want to wonder what could have been, do you?

She looked Mac straight in the eye and came out with her feelings.

"I like you, Mac, as... more than just a friend," she said, that one sentence seeming to take an eternity to leave her lips.

Oh no. Mac sighed internally, Let her down easy.

Macintosh blushed, looking away from her as he scratched his neck nervously, trying to hide how uncomfortable he felt.

"Ah... Uh..." he glanced back at her. It was clear, her heart was in his hooves. He would try his hardest not to break it.

"Here's the thing, Ah'm... kind of already seeing somepony," he said softly, but no matter how much sugar he tried to coat his rejection, it was clear that the timid pegasus was deeply embarrassed and humiliated.

"It's not that Ah don't think you aren't pretty or anything. You are! Ah actually had a crush on you for quite a while!" he admitted, trying to say anything to keep Fluttershy from hating him completely.

She was speechless. She had put her heart on the line, only to have it returned. The room began to blur slightly, and she scrubbed at her eyes, only to find her cheeks wet.

"Ah'm sorry Fluttershy..." Macintosh said softly, out of things to say to try and comfort her. The awkwardness of their silence was overwhelming.

"No... it's okay... I had my s-shot," she said, lip trembling as she blinked a hard flush of tears from her eyes.

Mac sighed, he felt guilty as sin, though he truthfully had no reason to be. He had told her the truth! Unfortunately, as is often the case, the truth hurts.

Ah don't think Ah've ever felt more uncomfortable.

"Who is it?" Fluttershy asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

Ah stand corrected.

"Uhm... it's..." he paused. Rainbow and Mac hadn't told anypony about their relationship. He suspected AJ knew something was up, but she kept her mouth shut, knowing it wasn't her place to go spreading her brother's or her friend's personal life around town. Still, if she was hurt now, he imagined she'd be crushed if she knew it was her best friend and confidant he was seeing. Still, he wasn't a liar, and wasn't about to become one now.

"Rainbow Dash," he answered softly, nearly cringing in anticipation of her response.

She was silent. The tears had even managed to stop. After another awkward moment, Mac decided it was best if he took his leave.

"Well, Ah'm gonna get goin'. Thanks again for fixing Twilight's doll for me," he said weakly.

"You're welcome. I'll have it done by tomorrow," she said in an emotionless tone as she fluttered quickly upstairs and shut her bedroom door, leaving Mac downstairs.

From beyond her door, Mac could hear sobbing.

Well now look what you did... he thought as he left Fluttershy's cottage.

He sighed heavily as he walked back toward the farm. It wasn't his fault he and Rainbow were an item! Why should he feel guilty about that?

Still, his guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders like so many familiar barrels of apple cider. He decided then and there that he would do something to make it up to Fluttershy. Though what that something would be, he hadn't the slightest. As he walked, he realized who might be able to tell him how to make her smile again.

Twilight.

Fluttershy's tears soaked into her pillow, wetting her mane as Angel hopped up onto her bed, trying to make her feel better.

Betrayal, anguish, loneliness, all types of feelings swarmed in her heart as she felt like doing nothing but crying. She rolled over onto her side, facing angel as he flicked the tears away from her eyes.

"How could Rainbow d-do this to m-me?" she sobbed to her pet rabbit. "I thought she was my friend."

Angel gave her a deadpan stare and folded his arms.

"I guess I should have told her I had a crush on Big Macintosh..." she admitted. The only pony that knew about her little crush was Twilight, and that was only because she had accidentally told her.

Angel held up a picture from her nightstand, one of Rainbow Dash and herself when they were fillies at flight school, shortly after they got their cutie marks.

She took it from Angel and held it close. She wasn't mad at Rainbow; how could she be? Mac liked her, and she like Mac, plain and simple. Still, she couldn't help but cry, wondering when it would be her turn to find somepony who loved her, and wanted to be with her, take her out to nice dinners, and romantic sunset picnics. When she was a model, she had all kinds of suitors come calling, but most were only interested in her because of her fame. As soon as she removed herself from the limelight, the flowers and letters stopped, and soon she was back to being the town veterinarian.

Fluttershy took Angel in her forelegs and nuzzled him close, silently crying as she fell back into a early morning slumber.

Mac knocked on the door at the base of the tree Twilight called home. After a few moments, Spike answered the door.

"Hey, Big Mac!" he answered happily, wearing his pink frilly apron. "Need a book?"

"Nope," he answered, "Ah'm looking for Twilight. Is she around?"

Spike stepped aside to let him in. "She's in her room, I'll go get her," he said hopping up the stairs to her bedroom.

Mac sat down on her couch as Twilight came down the stairs. "Hello, Mac! Something I can help you with?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah, Ah just came from Fluttershy's cottage."

Twilight thought that was a touch odd to be brought up unprovoked, but decided to keep probing.

"Okay..." she said, unsure of where this was going before she remembered her timid friend's crush.

"Well, she told me she's had a crush on me for some time," he said, in a tone a stallion being told he was wanted by a mare as pretty as Fluttershy shouldn't have used. She deduced exactly what had happened.

"You... don't like her that way?" she asked, honestly feeling the two of them would be cute together.

"It's not that, Ah think she's a beautiful mare, and she deserves somepony special... just not me," he answered, a touch of guilt still in his voice. Twilight poured herself a cup of tea before sitting down on the couch beside him.

"If you don't mind my asking... why not you?"

Twice in two hours? Well Rainbow, looks like we won't be a secret for much longer...

Mac sighed before answering. "Because... uh... Rainbow and Ah are kind of... with each other."

Twilight's eyes lit up as she sipped her tea, always happy to hear about a friend finding a special somepony.

"But that's not why Ah stopped by," he added quickly. "Ah wanted to know if you knew any way Ah could make it up to her. Ah let her down as softly as Ah could... but she still seemed pretty upset," he admitted.

"Well, she is a bit more sensitive to her feelings than most," Twilight said, taking another sip of tea. "But I do know of a way you could get on better terms with her," she said happily. "The chicken coop in her yard is on its last leg, she could certainly used a repair-stallion's assistance to fix it up. That, and I suggest you bring her some chocolate."

The first part made sense, but the second part seemed a bit off.

"Ah get the chicken coop, but why the chocolate?" he asked.

Twilight laughed, thinking surely Mac of all ponies would know the way to mend a mare's broken heart.

"C'mon Mac, she's a mare isn't she? There's no problem in this world that can't be made better through chocolate," she explained.

"Ah, right, Ah knew that," he grinned, getting up to head back to the farm.

"Thank ya kindly for the help Ms. Twilight," he said striding towards the door before pausing. "If ya don't mind my askin', how did you come ta know so much about mares? You don't have a big sister you've never told us about, do ya?"

Twilight rolled her eyes, "No, I happen to be a mare, in case you forgot," she growled indignantly. She may have been a bookworm, but that didn't mean she enjoyed being viewed as ambiguous by a member of the opposite sex.

"Well, that explains it... Ah appreciate the help Twilight. Have a good one."

Twilight's expression softened, knowing he meant well. "You too Mac, good luck."

5. Firefly

Chapter 5-Firefly

Rainbow made great time to Cloudsdale thanks to a considerably strong tailwind on the way there. Arriving early, she still had another hour before she had to report to the Cloudesium. Adjusting her heading, she flew towards a familiar neighborhood. A quaint home caught her eye at the corner of the street below her. Dash landed softly on the porch she recognized from her fillyhood. She had spent many an afternoon playing with her Wonderbolt dolls while her Mom and Dad sat sipping hot cider, watching their daughter pretend to be one of her idols.

Rainbow smiled. She knew after her father passed, the stress of trying to provide for and raise her was tough on her mother. She did what she could, but she could only do so much. While she was working, Rainbow was raised by a whole parade of neighbors and caregivers that either volunteered to watch her, or had been hired to. There was however, a good reason her mother was always busy. She was, and still is the sharpest mind in the field of Quantum Mechanics in all of Equestria.

Rainbow knocked loudly on the door, waiting for a response, knowing that her mother -like her- was a sound sleeper. After a few moments, she heard shuffling from the hallway beyond the doorframe before it opened to reveal a slightly older mare, a few streaks of grey in her otherwise brilliant magenta mane, held tightly together in a bun with a quill.

The elder mare's eyes lit up as she embraced her daughter for the first time in a long while. Rainbow noticed she was still wearing her lab coat, the name Wave Function inscribed elegantly on the breast.

"Hey, Mom," she sighed.

"Come in, come in!" she said happily, allowing her daughter into the house she grew up in. It was no Canterlot Castle, but it was where Dash spent her formative years, every square inch seeming to hold some memory of days gone by. "It's been too long Rainbow, why don't you visit more often?" she asked in a flat tone. That was her mother all right.

"Sorry Ma, I haven't really had a lot of time..." she said turning to face her with a smile spreading across her lips. "Because I've been training to become a Wonderbolt! The tryouts are in an hour!" she said happily, as her mothers expression dropped slightly. Her lack of enthusiasm brought Rainbow down as well.

"What?" she asked, her mother looking her in the eye.

"Isn't stunt flying a bit... dangerous?"

Rainbow's eyes sharpened into a glare. She couldn't believe she was about to have this conversation again.

"It's what I was born to do, Mom!" she protested.

"What about your job at the weather center in Ponyville?"

"I quit that noise. I won't need to buck clouds if I'm a Wonderbolt!" she snapped, tired of having to explain her reasoning, first to her friends, and now to her own mother. "I came here because I thought you'd support me for once!"

Her mother sighed. Rainbow got her temper from her father, and it was certainly showing. "Rainbow, I want you to be happy," she assured her, "I... just don't want anything to happen to you," she whispered sadly.

Dash knew that had to have been what this was about. She felt like a total idiot for not seeing it before. Her mother had already lost the love of her life, and now she risked losing her only daughter? How would she have felt if she was in her Mom's position?

Rainbow's glare softened realizing the nature of her mother's worry. "Mom, nothing is going to happen to me, I promise," she swore.

"Your father said the same thing," she added quietly.

Rainbow hugged her mother before deciding it was time for her to take her leave.

"Mom, I promise, when I become a Wonderbolt, you're going to wonder why you ever doubted me," she whispered confidently during the embrace. That was another trait she inherited from her father.

"I know you'll make me proud, sweetheart."

With that, Rainbow bid her teary eyed mother goodbye as she headed toward the Cloudesium, noticing other pegasi flocking towards it as well. It seemed there would be quite a few others competing for a spot. Her heart began to beat faster, as the nerves she was able to suppress so well earlier came roaring back to life. She landed in the center of the arena to find all manner of pegasus, both stallion and mare stretching and warming up their wings, though the Wonderbolts were nowhere to be found. Rainbow took the time to stretch, though she was still nervous about what the day would bring.

She was confident in her abilities, but confidence would only carry her so far. She knew her moves were perfect, and her style, flawless. All that mattered now, was performing it the way she'd practiced. After a few minutes, She noticed a gold and blue streak arc across the sky before landing in the center of the arena. Dash's heart skipped a beat. They were here!

"Alright, as you all know, my name is Spitfire, and this is my co-captain Soarin. If you don't know who we are, you probably won't last very long," she stated plainly, neither her nor Soarin in their uniforms.

"Listen for your name, and let me hear you when it's called," she said as Soarin set a clipboard on the ground in front of her. She began calling out the forty or so names of everypony there, Rainbow waiting anxiously for her name to be called.

"Dash, Rainbow?"

"Here!" she called happily, Spitfire looking up from her list and recognizing those eyes and that mane anywhere. "Glad you could join us, kid." Rainbow blushed, her acknowledgment from Spitfire even earning her a few glares from her competitors.

After roll call, Soarin stepped up and addressed the recruits.

"Now then, as you are no doubt aware, there are both stallions and mares here today. That's because we have separate teams for the tryouts. Squad one is my squad. I need all stallions to stand to my left." The males in the group shifted as instructed, leaving only the pegasi females in front of Spitfire.

"Now then ladies," she began as Soarin took his twenty recruits to the other side of the arena to begin the tryouts. "You're with me. One thing I can assure you, is that this will not be easy, nor will it be fun," she said, pacing back and forth in front of the still kneeling mares. "But I didn't promise you a rose garden!" she shouted, startling nearly everypony in the group.

Surveying the group with her fiery amber eyes, Spitfire continued to pace and talk. "There are twenty of you here. In one hour, there will only be ten."

"At the western edge of the city, there is a platform we've set up with twenty pound stones waiting for you. You are to fly there, grab a weight, and bring it back here. The first ten mares to do this will move on, and become that much closer to becoming one of us. The others, train harder, and better luck next time," Spitfire finished, commanding her recruits to stand.

"On your mark, get set, go!" she shouted as the mares took flight towards their target. Rainbow began taking an early lead, her nerves finally settling as she realized she was still the fastest flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale. Setting her eyes forward, a light pink blur zipped by her, knocking into her wings and costing her both speed and altitude.

She focused a glare on whatever just knocked into her only to realize it was another pegasus! She had been... overtaken! Rainbow couldn't believe it. She was the fastest! There was no way this girl was quicker than she was, she had to be cheating somehow!

Rainbow pushed herself, gaining air on her passer. The mysterious newcomer kicked her wings into high gear with a cocky grin flashed in her direction before leaving a contrail of fire behind her that Rainbow had to work around if she didn't want her wings singed.

"Impossible!" Dash said approaching the mach threshold.

All right. If it's a fight you want... she thought, knowing exactly how to put this newcomer in her place. Before she could attempt her signature move, her rival began to slow down, allowing Rainbow to pass as she grinned arrogantly down at her before coming to the horrifying realization that she had slowed down because the platform Spitfire had mentioned was right below them! Rainbow tried to slow herself down, but found she was going to overshoot the platform by a wide margin. Flaring her wings, and turning sharply, she felt her wing muscles begin to seize up.

No! Not now! she panicked, eventually coming out of the sharp turn still able to stay aloft. A sigh of relief and she was on the platform with a few other mares, trying to secure their weights and head back to the stadium. After clutching her stone to her chest, she continued flying as fast as her wings could carry her, her rival nowhere to be found. Rainbow ended up passing three or four others before crossing the finish line, praying her lapse in judgement hadn't cost her a shot at her dream.

Looking up at the scoreboard, she noticed her name next to the number five.

Fifth place? she thought, disheartened. She had qualified, but she had to know who in the hay had just beaten her in her element.

At the top of the scoreboard, the name Firefly rose above the others.

"Hoped you liked my flank, you'll be seeing a lot of it." A voice from behind her jeered. Dash whipped around angrily to see the light pink pegasus with a blue mane and two blue lightning bolts adorning her flank. "I honestly thought the 'fastest flier in Equestria' would have been a bit quicker..."

Rainbow gritted her teeth. Taking a swing at her would certainly cost her a shot at her dream, so she settled on her words.

"I don't know who you think you are, but I am the fastest, and I will, make the Wonderbolts, while you get sent home crying to your mama."

Firefly grinned. She had gotten under her skin, just as she had hoped. "That's not what the scoreboard says," she shot back, her smug tone nearly enough to push Dash over the edge. This was her dream, her moment! She'd be damned if she let some punk take that away from her.

"Wait till the next heat," Dash hissed. "I will destroy you."

The smug grin remained on Firefly's face. "We'll see about that, grandma."

"Grandma?! You mother—"

"Rainbow!" Spitfire called form behind her. "Is there a problem here?" She shot one last glare at her rival before turning to face Spitfire.

"No, ma'am."

"I thought not. Competition is one thing, but fighting will get you both booted out of her so fast it'll make your head spin!" Spitfire barked. "Now both of you get back with the rest of the group, we're only just getting started."

The rest of the day went by smoothly, as there were only elimination heats at the start of practice. Once you had safely secured your spot, the rest was all about what you could bring to the table as a Wonderbolt. By the time it was over, the sun had set, and everypony still there was exhausted. After the final exercise, they took a knee around Spitfire, all of them sweaty, smelly, and beat.

"Alright ladies, that was not a bad first day. I want to see all of you back here at the same time tomorrow. Yes, you will be sore, and yes, you will be tired when you get here," Spitfire explained, "But if you want it bad enough, you'll come back. There are ten of you girls left. There are two spots open on my squad. Take a look around. Everypony else is vying for your spot. Keep that in mind," she warned, "You're dismissed."

After the others began to leave, Rainbow found Spitfire reviewing the notes she'd written on her recruits as Soarin dismissed the stallions for the evening.

"Hey Spitfire! Tough practice today huh?" Rainbow panted happily.

"Yep," she answered, not looking up from her clipboard.

Rainbow expected a bit more response from her, seeing as how they had known each other before this encounter. "Yeah, so any word on who you like for the squad?"

Spitfire pulled herself from her notes and gave Rainbow a deadpan stare. "Listen Dash, I know we're friends and all, but during tryouts, I'm not going to give you any special treatment just because I know you. I'm gonna treat you just like the others," she said flatly.

"Oh, I didn't want anything like that!" Dash assured her, a blush coming over her cheeks. "I just wanted to know if a certain sonic something would increase my chances?"

"Look Dash, I know you're fast, and you're a great flier, but what you did in the past doesn't count for jack here. You have to prove yourself in front of Soarin and I, just like everypony else who's ever worn the winged bolt, understand?"

Rainbow sighed, "Yeah, I know. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Now beat it, and get some rest for tomorrow," she said, shooing her away so she could finish her notes as Soarin brought his over.

By the time Dash had made it back to Ponyville, it was near midnight. To her surprise, she found a certain stallion asleep on her porch. She landed next to her door as Mac stirred, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, but giving her the same smile she'd fallen for back in Prairieville. It still wasn't enough to erase the humiliation and embarrassment of coming in fifth place.

"How was your first day?" he asked earnestly.

"I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled, entering her house and closing the door, leaving Mac outside on the porch. He knew when something was up. He'd have to have been blind to miss those signs. He got to his hooves, and tested the door, noting she had left it unlocked.

Ah suppose if she truly didn't want ta talk about it, she'd have locked the door, he reasoned, softly pushing the door open and following her inside. He stood in the entrance to her bedroom, noticing her on her bed, covers tightly over her and facing the wall. One thing he had learned about mares was that when they 'didn't want to talk' about something, that was code for: Make me talk about it because I'm not going to unless you show you care.

Macintosh stepped softly next to her bed, assuming she had somehow not made the cut.

"Ah know there ain't much Ah can say ta make up for you not bein' a Wonderbolt..." he whispered in his most comforting tone.

"I made the cut, Mac," she groaned, not moving from her balled up position beneath her blankets.

His mood lightened, but he was still somewhat confused as to what could have her acting this way. "That's great Rainbow! Ah knew you would!" he congratulated, taking a seat on her bed. "So what's the matter?"

Dash sighed, finally turning to face him. "I came in fifth during the first heat. Fifth!" she snapped, still somewhat shocked about it herself. "I haven't lost a race since I was a filly!"

Mac smiled, "Is that all?"

He certainly didn't mean to belittle her problems, but unfortunately that was exactly the way it sounded to her.

"Is that all?!" she repeated back angrily. "I knew you wouldn't get it. You're just an earth pony," she growled, rolling back over to face the wall, clutching the locket she had left on her bed that morning.

The words stung, but he knew if there was one thing Rainbow wasn't good at handling, it was defeat. She wasn't mad at him, just upset at herself. He knew she'd never admit that.

"You've still got the rest of the tryouts to win your other races, don't ya?"

"Yeah..." she admitted, her mood softening as she realized Mac wasn't going to get in a shouting match with her. Which was really the only way she knew how to handle the emotions she was feeling. "It's this new girl, she was faster than me somehow," she admitted. "She had to have been cheating or something, her acceleration was unreal!" she said rolling onto her back and looking towards the stallion still seated on the edge of her bed.

"You really think she was cheating?" Mac asked, skeptical of her claim.

"No... but I'm the fastest there is! I just don't get how she can accelerate to her top speed that quickly!" she said angrily.

"Well, you still have tomorrow. Just 'cause she beat you in one race don't mean she's better than you," he said comfortingly, sliding down on her bed to lay beside her.

"Ah cleaned myself up before coming over this time," he joked, as she put a hoof over his.

"Thanks, I washed up at my Mom's place," she said, putting the locket back into her nightstand, her tired wings demanding she get some rest.

"What was that?" Mac asked.

Rainbow realized he was referring to the locket, and had to decide whether or not she wanted to go into detail about its significance.

"It was my Dad's, he died when I was a filly. It's just a picture of him and my Mom," she said retrieving it and allowing Mac to examine it. He could certainly relate to holding onto a physical reminder of a lost loved one. Looking over it, he realized there was something inscribed on the back.

"What's this?"

Rainbow shrugged as she snuggled closer to him.

"I dunno, not even Twilight could figure it out," she admitted.

He gave her back the locket and settled in for the night with her.

"Don't you have chores or something tomorrow?" she yawned.

"Eeyup. Ah won't be able to see ya every night, but Ah got done earlier than Ah expected today. Don't think Ah'll make it a habit, though. Ah'm gettin' tired of climbin' that ladder," he whispered back to her.

She leaned her head next to his and gave him a kiss. "Goodnight Mac, thanks for surprising me. I needed it."

He smiled, wrapping her securely in his forelegs and drifting off into an easy slumber.

6. Fast vs Furious

Chapter 6-Fast vs Furious

Rainbow woke before the sun, ready to show that Firefly who the best flier in Equestria was. After all, Rainbow was the only pegasus in recorded history to fly so fast she made her friends go through puberty simultaneously from three cities away!

Mac had rolled over in his sleep, his broad back nearly blocking out the sun shining through her window. She yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she got to her hooves and headed into her bathroom to shower. Her wings were certainly sore from yesterday, but it was as she had expected. Morning wings aside, the hot water soothed and relaxed her aching appendages, readying them for another hard day of agility drills and maneuvering.

Rolling over, Mac felt he was alone in Rainbow's bed. Cracking his eyelids, he noticed a light shining from beneath the bathroom door. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and settled his hooves on her cloudy floor before realizing they sank right through the soft material. Scrambling to get a hold of something, he grabbed onto the footboard of her bed, half of his torso dangling from her house. Apparently this batch of lightness potion lacked the potency of the others he had bought. He'd certainly have a word with shopkeeper about this later.

"Rainbow!" he called frantically before losing his grip on the bed and falling through the floor completely, the only thing saving him from crashing to the ground being the rope ladder he had managed to tangle himself up in that still hung from her house.

She ain't gonna be too happy 'bout th' hole in the floor... he thought as he hung upside down, the rope having tangled in his hind legs as he swayed in the gentle morning breeze.

After she had showered, Dash stepped out of her bathroom, and right into the hole Mac had made. Luckily, Mac was in a position beneath the house to catch her in his forelegs as she realized what had happened.

"You forgot to take the rest of the potion before you went to bed last night, didn't you?" she asked flatly, as they both hung upside down from underneath her house. Macintosh couldn't help but laugh.

"Eeyup. This batch was 'sposed ta last till noon today."

Rainbow smiled. It was kind of funny.

"So, ya think ya could help me down?" Mac asked, "The blood's startin' ta pool in my head."

Rainbow turned to the even more red than usual stallion, and smirked. “I dunno. I can think of a few reasons to keep you here.”

Macintosh gave her a deadpan look, or at least as much as he could muster hanging upside down a hundred feet in the air. “Please don’t joke about that.”

Dash sighed. “Spoilsport. You’re just lucky I can fly.”

A few moments later, they were both safely on the ground, and untangled from the ladder.

"Good luck at tryouts today," he said, cricking his neck from side to side. "Don't let that Firefly get to ya."

She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Don't worry, I'll be alright," she smiled, taking off towards Cloudsdale in the pre-dawn darkness, as Mac set off to the farm to gather his tool belt. He knew of a certain shy pegasus whose chicken coop needed some attention.

Upon arrival at the farm, he found Applejack waiting for him on the porch with Winona. "Well hey there, Romeo," she teased, having just finished up her chores, the sweat on her brow glistening in the light of the lantern on their porch. "How's Rainbow?"

Mac blushed. He knew his sister was proud she had been indirectly responsible for their relationship, but it still got somewhat tiresome to be reminded of it every time he would return from visiting her.

"She's fine," he answered. "Ya know, it probably wouldn't hurt you to have a special somepony either."

Applejacks cheeks immediately lit a blazing red. "Ah don't need none 'a that mess," she replied quickly, petting Winona nervously.

"C'mon Applejack," he said, passing her as he walked toward the barn, "No mare is an island."

"Don't you worry about me, Macintosh," she called as he disappeared around the corner.

He had no time for his sister's nonsense today. In fact, he had half a mind to sic Applebloom and her friends on her romantic life, like they'd done with him. A smile cracked his lips at the thought, though he'd never do that to his sister... without good reason, anyway.

Rooting around in the barn for his tools, he quickly located his belt, but none of the items supposed to be populating it. "Applebloom!" he called into the upper loft of the barn. "What'd ya do with my tools?" It was bad enough he would have to deal with the potential awkwardness of being around Fluttershy after their little 'moment' a while back, and now he had to track down his stuff.

"Ah didn't touch yer tools!" she called back, none too happy about being accused.

"Well Ah know Granny Smith ain't touched 'em, and Applejack ain't touched 'em!" he replied, "So who does that leave?"

"Ah don't know nothin' 'bout your tools! Ah'm going ta school now!" his little sister added, trotting down the ramp to the loft with her saddlebags.

"Bye Macintosh!" she chimed, giving him a peck on the cheek before leaving to meet her friends on their usual walk to school.

Typical, Mac thought, scouring the barn for his tools, knowing that if Applebloom and her friends got their hooves on them, there was no telling where they might have ended up. After a half hour of digging through hay piles and investigating the most unlikely of places, he finally found what he needed.

"Where ya headin' lookin' like that?" Applejack asked, entering the barn just as he was leaving. She began loading the apple preserves into her cart for a day of sales in the town square.

"I have it on good authority that Ms. Fluttershy's chicken coop could use some attention."

Applejack nodded, stopping her work and trotting back his way. "If your headin' that way, take her these apple fritters. Ah made 'em after she fixed Daisy Jo up after her spell of hay fever," she set a basket at his hooves as he took the handle in his mouth.

"Ahright" he managed, setting off toward the edge of the Everfree forest. It wasn't chocolate, as Twilight advised, but it was food.

The trail wasn't a long walk, but long enough to give him ample time to consider how uncomfortable the next few hours might be. The smell of the warm baked goods temporarily took his mind off of Fluttershy and onto how hungry he was. He'd forgotten to eat breakfast, and now his stomach was quick to punish him with a sharp rumble.

He pressed on, knowing he had a job to do. Macintosh kept his steady pace, noting the heat of the sun burning the morning fog and dew away. In the sunlight shown a small, earthy cottage. He noticed a canary yellow form out front, standing at the entrance to the chicken coop he'd be repairing.

She noticed him as well, blushing as he'd expect, but thankful she didn't turn tail and run.

"H-hello Mac, I've had Twilight's doll ready for some time, I was wondering when you were coming for it."

Mac smiled, setting the sweet smelling pastries down at her hooves. "These are from Applejack and I, for healin' Daisy Jo."

"They smell delicious," Fluttershy gasped as she inhaled, giving the basket to Angel to put inside the house.

"The doll isn't th' only reason Ah'm here," he said, taking a look at her coop. "Ah understand your hen house could use some repairs?"

"Oh my, yes, the hens have been very worried about their eggs," she said as they both took a look inside. "Just last week, Josephine lost two eggs to a hole in the floor."

"Well, we can't have that," he added, sizing up the job at hoof. "Ah'd be happy ta fix it up for ya."

Fluttershy blushed, thanking Mac for his generous offer. Her father had built it for her when she first moved in, but it had since fallen into disrepair without the proper upkeep.

"Thank you, Macintosh. I'll get Twilight's doll for you," she said, fluttering into her house while Macintosh began his repairs.

After five minutes, she returned with the item, but decided she didn't want to interrupt Mac while he was working. She laid in the grass, Angel next to her with the doll between her forelegs. She didn't have too much to do today, so there was no reason she couldn't relax a bit and enjoy Mac's company, even though he was just as quiet as she.

After a few hours, the coop looked nothing like it had before. The roof had been fixed, the holes mended, and the legs stabilized. All in all, Mac was pleased with the result, as was Fluttershy.

"Thank you so much Big Macintosh," she said in her usual soft tone, bringing with her two plates from inside with the food he had brought on them.

"Angel and I couldn't possibly eat all these ourselves," she admitted, giving Mac a welcome sight since he had smelled them on the way over.

"Thank ya kindly Ms. Fluttershy."

"Mac, you don't have to call me Ms... unless you just want to..."

"Sorry," he grinned, taking a bite of his only breakfast.

Mac sat Smarty Pants on his back, strapped securely to his tool belt before Fluttershy shattered his hope to avoid any awkward topics of conversation.

"Mac, can I uhm... ask you something?" she began, her voice nearly ending in a whisper, even though there were no others around.

"Sure," he answered, somewhat reassured that there was nothing more awkward than what happened last time.

Well, nothin' could possibly be more uncomfortable than a confession of love, and that's already happened. At least Ah don't have to worry about anything like that, he thought.

"Why do you like Rainbow Dash?"

Mac sighed. Caught completely off guard, he took another bite of his apple fritter to buy himself some time to think.

"Ah... uh..." he shifted nervously on his hooves. The breaking of his normally cool and stoic demeanor taking Fluttershy a bit by surprise.

His mind raced trying to nail down a particular reason he had fallen for the brash young stunt flier in the first place.

Horseapples! Rainbow would kill me if she knew it was takin' me this long ta say somethin'! he thought, panic rising as he knew he'd have to say something. He knew one of the reasons he was attracted to her in the first place was her passion for doing what she loved... but was that it? An infatuation with an attitude, rather than the mare behind it? He banished the thought before managing an answer.

"Ah... Ah don't know," he whispered, almost too quiet for her to catch. The look on his face suggested he'd had quite the epiphany. "Ah just know Ah do," he completed quickly, so as not to give Fluttershy the wrong idea.

"Uhm... okay," she stuttered, expecting a more precise response. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you I'm... uhm... happy for you." she admitted, shying away from his gaze behind her mane.

"Thanks, Fluttershy." Mac nodded, departing as his thoughts were occupied by only one question.

Why couldn't Ah think of anythin'?

His hooves continued, one after the other absentmindedly ahead of him as he made his way home. So distracted by his conscience, he failed to notice his littlest sister calling for him, being trailed by her two friends. On another cutie mark crusade, no doubt.

"Big Mac!" Applebloom shouted, skidding to a halt in front of her brother. "We need your acetylene torch ta get our cutie marks!" she panted, her companions catching up to her and echoing her request. The dirt on their coats and bruises suggested they'd spent most of their morning crusading. It looked like Scootaloo needed to start wearing a helmet, a sizable purple whelp above her bright eyes.

Even though they promised to be careful with it, Mac had to put the breaks on their brilliant plan.

"But Rarity let us use her scissors on our last crusade!"

"Scissors and torches ain't in the same league, missy," he answered calmly, managing to push the rather shaking thoughts from his head.

Advising his sibling to try to earn a more flame retardant cutie mark, her friends hopped on the back of Scootaloo's scooter, waving goodbye to him before taking off down the dirt road.

Mac smiled. Though his sister and her friends caused trouble most of the time, he still enjoyed helping them crusade. When it didn't involve property damage or poisoning him and their teacher. He returned to the barn to find Applejack napping on a hay bail, her hat resting over her eyes. A sprig of wheat poked out from beneath it as her soft snores assured Mac she wasn't just resting.

He returned his tool belt to its proper place on the wall, casting a glance back at his sleeping eldest sister. A glint of metal peeked out from beneath AJ's makeshift bedding. It was his torch. It appeared the crusaders had come to Applejack first, then pled their case to him after she shut them down. He reached for Twilight's doll, carrying it in his mouth as he silently stepped away from the farm towards the studious young mare's home.

First elimination heat of the day. Bring it. Rainbow began her stretches, keeping a sharp eye out for her new rival. She'd put that punk in her place today, she was certain of that.

Maybe she didn't have the stones to show up today. Probably crying in bed about how much her wings hurt— her inner monologue abruptly ended when an all too familiar voice spoke up behind her.

"Well, if it isn't grandma. Joints aren't too stiff to fly, are they?" Firefly sneered. Rainbow casually turned around, a glare across her normally confident features.

"I hope you're ready for the flank kicking I'm about to put on you," Rainbow growled, stepping closer to her. "I'm going to run you into the ground!"

Firefly smiled, "Yeah, I bet you will."

Rainbow shot her a confused stare before Spitfire and Soarin ordered the remaining recruits to fall in for roll call.

After splitting themselves up between genders, Spitfire announced the rules of the first heat. "Of the ten of you left yesterday, I see you all returned to continue towards your goal. While admirable, know that half of you will be going home today in the next few minutes." she warned gravely, Rainbow and Firefly catching each other's eyes from across the group.

"This heat is simple. No weights, nothing but pure speed. The first five to reach the outer layers of Cloudsdale will move on. Take your marks! Get set! Go!"

Rainbow and Firefly took off to an early lead, one that they would hold for the rest of the race. Firefly was neck and neck with Dash, though she was only letting her believe she was as fast. Rainbow pushed herself as she began to pull away from her rival. Glancing back, she noticed Firefly begin to slowly catch up to her.

No way! She can't be that fast!

Dash had only one option. Time to show these amateurs what the title 'Best Young Flier' meant. She pushed herself toward the mach threshold, the familiar air cone forming around her. She gave a cursory glance behind her, sure that there would be nothing to her rear but empty sky. Instead, Firefly was no more than a few seconds behind her, a mach cone of her own forming around her as she gained on Rainbow.

I'm not losing to you! Dash thought, ready to perform a sonic rainboom to hold her lead if necessary. It wasn't cheating, but it certainly wasn't fair. Before she had a chance to perform her signature move, Firefly pulled along side her. Rainbow shot a glare at her, before noticing she had a smile on her face, seeming to mouth the words 'goodbye' as she threw her shoulder into Rainbow's ribs, nearly knocking the wind out of her. The impact shook her, but didn't knock her out of the race. In fact, Rainbow had never felt more furious at that moment than she had in her entire life.

Firefly had gained about ten feet on her as the checkered flag became visible in the distance where Spitfire and Soarin waited.

"I'll kill you!" Rainbow roared, nearing sonic rainboom velocity as she slammed her shoulder as hard as she could into Firefly's side, the audible exhale bringing a grin of sadistic pleasure to Dash's lips as the both fell from the sky. On their way down, they both fought with each other, biting and throwing hooves like two drunks brawling in the street as they tumbled towards the city below.

Tangled in each other, they fell just across the finish line, both potentially tying for first place while the other pegasi crossed the line. Neither heard Spitfire's angry swears as they continued their scuffle on the ground, Rainbow eventually finding her way on top of Firefly, a foreleg raised to deliver a crushing punch before another hoof stopped her.

"Break it up! Now!" Spitfire demanded, yanking Rainbow off of Firefly while Soarin dragged her away from Dash.

"Soarin, continue the tryouts with my group." Spitfire snapped, a fury in her eyes the likes of which Rainbow had never seen. "You two," she paused, allowing the two would be brawlers to realize just how much trouble they were in. "Come with me. Now."

"But she tried to knock me out of the race!" Rainbow pled, as Firefly cut in.

"You saw her attack me! She was just mad she wasn't as fast as—"

"Both of you shut the buck up!" Spitfire growled, leading them away from the group before demanding they both take a seat.

"Fighting? Are you two still foals?"

Neither answered, both studying their hooves in shame.

"Spitfire, you have to believe me! I was going to win, and she hit me in the ribs!" Dash said again, Firefly following her claim with one of her own.

"She told me she was going to run me into the ground before the race! I thought Rainbow Dash had more respect for the Wonderbolts than to try and win by cheating!"

"That's a lie and you know it!" Dash shouted back, anger rising in the pit of her stomach.

"What did I tell you two about fighting?" Spitfire growled, restoring order. "If you two weren't the best mares we've got in this recruiting class, you'd have been out on your asses five minutes ago!"

"It wasn't my fault! Spitfire, you've got to believe me!" Rainbow repeated, praying any clout their working relationship had would help Spitfire realize she was telling the truth.

"All I saw was you attacking Firefly, Dash," she answered, to which Firefly grinned.

"But, if you say that's what happened, I'll overlook this whole incident. On one condition."

"Name it," Dash added.

"If I even think you two are having problems, I'll make sure you never have anything to do with the Wonderbolts again." Both jaws nearly hit the floor.

"Do I make myself clear?" Spitfire whispered gravely.

"Yes ma'am," they responded in unison.

"Now both of you get back over there, and remember; one slip up like this again, and you're both out."

7. Mac Gets Country

Chapter 7-Mac Gets Country

Mac's hoof thumped heartily on Twilight's door.

"Hello Macintosh, I was just- Smarty Pants?" she gasped, seeing the doll atop his back. Her magic enveloped it as she remarked on its condition.

"It looks like she's had some work done!" Twilight added happily.

"Ah got her fixed up for ya. Fluttershy's a miracle worker with a needle and thread."

Twilight threw her forelegs around Mac's broad shoulders, taking him a bit by surprise.

"Thank you so much, Mac!" she chimed, as he slowly returned the hug. "I tore the library apart looking for her! I was a mess when I thought I'd lost her for good."

Mac followed her inside as she continued to thank him. She carried her doll up to her room while he waited below.

"How do you think Rainbow's doing at tryouts?" Twilight called from upstairs.

"Good Ah hope, but we'll know soon enough," he replied, taking a seat on her couch. "Twilight, you wouldn't happen ta know anythin' about Rainbow's locket, would ya?"

"You mean the one with the gibberish written on it?" she replied flatly, her frustration at her inability to crack the language clear in her tone.

"That'd be it."

"We tried Mac. Heck, I tried for two nights straight trying to just figure out what language it was written in!"

"No luck?"

"None, whatsoever," she added coming down the stairs. "You want to try and translate it for her eh?" she smiled.

"Well, Ah thought, with your help Ah might have a better shot at it than just goin' it alone," he admitted, Twilight blushing at his compliment.

"Well, I do hate leaving a project unfinished... okay! Let's do it!" Twilight said happily, clapping her hooves together, the familiar rush of impending knowledge pumping through her veins. "I've got a couple of new linguistic books from the library in Canterlot I didn't have last time." she added, gathering the proper books from their shelves.

"Any idea how long this might take us?" Mac asked, not quite sure what he was getting into.

"I can't say. Maybe a few hours, maybe a few days!" she sang, her tone by itself speaking volumes about how excited she was to research a mysterious language. "But there's no reason you can't come back tomorrow, is there?"

"Ah suppose not..."

After a chewing out from Spitfire, Rainbow was simply glad to make it out of the second day of tryouts with a shot to join the team. Tomorrow was the final day, the last day of stress before the Wonderbolts made their decision. As Dash made her way back to her house, she noticed an orange filly trotting along slowly down a deserted road near her home.

Circling, she fluttered next to her, startling the nervous filly as she turned to her idol. Her bright smile tried to hide the puffy-ness in her eyes.

"What are you doing out this late, squirt?" Rainbow asked, draping a wing around her number one fan.

"I... I'm..." the tears that seemed so close before came rushing back, as the young pegasus knew she was out of lies to tell Dash about her parents.

"I ran away," she whimpered, trying her best to wipe away the tears, so as not to cry in front of her hero.

"Why?" Rainbow asked softly, drawing her in close with her wing.

"Because..." she sniffed, "My dad hates me."

Rainbow smiled. Sometimes she enjoyed helping Scootaloo with simple problems. "Your dad doesn't hate you," Dash assured her. "C'mon, what'd he do? Ground you? Take away your scooter?" she prodded, trying to get a smile from her little companion.

Scootaloo turned to face Dash, the light from the streetlamp they were under illuminating the filly's face, showing a nasty bruise above her right eye. The air left Rainbow's lungs in one sharp exhale, followed by a gasp.

"Your... your dad, did that to you?"

Scootaloo didn't answer, she simply broke down, crying as hard as Rainbow had ever heard any adult pony weep. She buried her running nose into Dash's chest as she hugged the little filly as tightly as she could. As soon as it had come, the sorrow and guilt Rainbow had been feeling was replaced by a searing anger at the thought of somepony putting their hooves on Scootaloo like that.

Dash broke the hug, "Get on, kid," she commanded, motioning toward her back.

"Where are we going?" she asked, once she climbed aboard.

"Back to your house. I'm going to have a few words with your father," Rainbow growled before ripping into the sky, careful not to go too fast.

"Rainbow please! You don't have ta do that!" Scootaloo pleaded over the rushing winds, "I just wait for him to sleep before I head back home!"

"You shouldn't have to do that at all!" Rainbow called back, seeing her house and fighting the urge to simply crash through the window and start beating on the first pony she saw.

Dash landed in the yard and Scootaloo hopped off, pulling Rainbow's tail in a vain attempt to stop her as she strode toward the door.

"Please Rainbow! You don't have to do this!"

"Hush Scoots, it's for your own good," Dash whispered harshly as she knocked on the door. After some shouting inside the house, a gruff, older looking earth stallion answered the door. His mane was unkempt, and green with streaks of grey in it. The stubble around his mouth suggested he wasn't much for hygiene, and on top of that, Rainbow could smell cider on his breath.

"You this filly's father?" she demanded, as the stallion looked through half lidded eyes toward Scootaloo, who was now trembling in fear behind Rainbow.

"How'd you get out of your room?" he growled, not even answering Rainbow's original question. "Just wait till I get you back in that house, girl!" he said taking a step towards her before being blocked by Dash.

"Keep your filthy hooves off her!" she snarled, getting close to his face. "How dare you call yourself a stallion when you lay your hooves on your own daughter like that!"

He grunted out a laugh as he shoved Rainbow off the porch, sending her sliding onto the ground on her back. The force of the impact making her smack her head on the ground, leaving a sizable bump. "She ain't my daughter!" she heard him say.

Rainbow shook it off in time to see him toss Scootaloo back into the house, slamming the door shut behind him.

Dash feared for her friend's safety, but knew there was nothing she could do about it. She did however, know someone who might be able to. In record time, Rainbow made it to Sweet Apple Acres to find Macintosh sitting on the front porch of his country home, half asleep.

"Mac! I gotta problem!" she shouted, skidding to a halt in front of him.

"What is it?" he asked, getting up from his seat, sensing her panic. He noticed the bruises from Rainbow's scuffle with Firefly, and immediately stepped toward her.

"I found Scootaloo walking by herself on my way home. She told me she ran away, and I asked why, and she said because her dad hits her!" she spat, nearly in one breath.

"So I tried to confront him, right? And I went over there, and he was drunk, and I confronted him, and he pushed me off the porch and—"

"Let me see if Ah have this right," he interrupted, holding a hoof in the air to silence her. "He hit his foal, then put his hooves on you?"

Rainbow nodded, "It didn't hurt or anything, but—"

Mac walked past her, heading to the barn without a word.

"Mac? Where are you going?" she called after him.

He didn't answer as she fluttered off the porch behind him as he entered the barn. "Mac! Answer me!"

"Ah'm just gonna ta talk to him," he said, eyeing his wall of farm implements carefully before retrieving a machete and scabbard with a shoulder sling.

"Why do you need a machete to talk to someone?" she asked, panic flowering in her chest, to which Mac calmly replied:

"Ah'm just gonna talk to him."

Mac strode out of the barn and toward town, Rainbow attempting to stop him the whole way. "Mac! There's a thing called prison, you know!"

"Ah'm not going ta prison, Ah'm just gonna talk to him," he assured her, as she put her forelegs on his chest and dug in with her hind legs in an attempt to stop his stride. He merely pushed her along in front of him, dirt gathering beneath her hooves as she slid.

Within the hour, they were in front of Scootaloo's house, all the lights having gone out since Dash's last visit. Mac pounded hard on the door, its old hinges nearly giving way behind the force. Muffled obscenities from beyond the door grew closer as Rainbow begged Mac not to do anything stupid one last time.

"Please Mac, I'm not visiting you in jail!" she snapped harshly.

"Don't worry, you're technically my accomplice, so you'll get locked up with me," he replied, smiling down at her.

"What?!"

The door opened, and Mac looked at the pudgy stallion before him, then back to Rainbow.

"This him?" he asked calmly.

"Yeah," Rainbow sighed, resigned to her fate as an accomplice to whatever revenge Mac was planning. She'd never seen Mac really upset, but supposed she was about to.

“Oh, you’re back, are you?” the stallion sneered. “What, you think some hired muscle’s gonna intimidate me? I’ve got friends, you know, and at one word from me, they’ll-Ack!"

Mac wrapped both forelegs around his neck, lifting him up, and over his head before slamming him into the dirt of his front yard on his back. The oxygen in his lungs exited in a rush of air, cutting his tirade short. The much larger Big Macintosh stood over him, drawing his machete from its scabbard with a sickening metal hiss.

"Now," he growled "Listen to me as hard as you fucking can. If Ah ever, hear anythin' about you putting your hooves on another filly or mare again, Ah'm gonna come back here, and take one of yours with me," he swore, dragging the blade across the pudgy earth stallion's ankle menacingly. "Understand?"

A low moan escaped the drunken stallion's mouth. Macintosh grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him down again, rage burning in his eyes. “Understand?” he yelled.

Scootaloo’s father whimpered, nodding so quickly that his head was a blur. Macintosh withdrew, sheathing the machete, letting him scramble to his hooves and flee to the house. “Ah’m glad we understand each other.”

He waited until the door slammed closed, then turned to Dash, smiling. "See? Ah told ya Ah was just gonna talk to him," he said happily, as if he didn't just threaten to amputate another ponies limb. "Sometimes all bullies need is the fear of Celestia put back in 'em," he added, motioning for her to join him on his walk back to the farm.

"So, how was practice?"

Rainbow woke up a few hours before tryouts, unable to sleep. Unlike the last two nights, in which sleep came easy. It seemed her nerves were dead set on making sure the last day of tryouts would be as nerve wracking as possible. Her locket sat on her bed as she paced back and forth in front of it.

Her stomach was turning as she walked, her mind racing with all sorts of terrible possibilities she had managed to suppress for the past two days. Dash had never recalled feeling this nervous before; in fact, the butterflies in her stomach soon grew into hornets as she rushed to her bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before vomiting.

As she panted over the rim, she made sure she wasn't going to puke again before moving to the sink and washing her face. As she examined herself in the mirror, she prayed these were just her nerves, and not her coming down with something on the final and arguably most important day of the tryouts. She put a hoof to her forehead. Not a fever, but still a little warm for her liking.

Not today, she thought confidently, trying to push the nervousness out of her system.

She propped her forelegs on the counter, staring at her reflection in her bathroom mirror. She hadn't had the perfect night, but she seemed too tired, even to sleep. The nausea had vanished as quickly as it had come, but the butterflies refused to abandon her stomach.

She continued pacing around her room, checking the clock as the minutes seemed to drag by, one by one. Her eyes scanned the room, bouncing from her signed photo of Spitfire, to her locket, then back to the clock. It was almost time to leave. She stepped onto her porch and breathed deep the cool morning fog. The acidic taste stuck to her tongue, even though she brushed her teeth a few seconds ago. Her nerves were all over the place today. She tried to focus on the task at hoof, but terrifying visions of failure bombarded her mind's eye as she flew. She could hear the grating voice of Firefly as she mocked her for not making the cut.

Dash's eyes narrowed. She'd be damned if she let that punk steal her thunder.

In the blink of an eye, Cloudsdale appeared on the horizon, the lights of the Cloudesium shining brightly in the pre-dawn sky.

Her heart began to race the closer she got to the ancient structure.

This is it. Today is the day you prove to the world you belong with the best!

She landed softly, catching a glimpse of her rival as she landed to stretch. They exchanged glares as Spitfire and Soarin showed up right on time.

"Okay ladies, there are only five of you left," Spitfire said, stepping towards her group, "That being the case, there will be no elimination heat today." Some of the mares smiled with relief. Rainbow and Firefly weren't as receptive, having been denied a chance to go head to head again.

"This is the last day of training. If you've been holding back, now's the time to step up," she warned, beginning the drills.

Macintosh finished his chores earlier than usual that day, knowing he had somewhere to be that morning. After a quick wash up, he set off toward the library he had grown somewhat accustomed to, seeing as how he had spent many hours with Twilight trying to figure out the message on the back of Rainbow's locket. He had just made it back to his house when he had to deal with Rainbow's little 'problem'.

He had asked Twilight to keep their project a secret. He grinned as he imagined the smile on Rainbow's face and the shine in her eyes after learning he had translated her locket for her. She'd be happy, he just knew it. He came upon the treehouse, raising his hoof to knock before a canary yellow pegasus opened the door, both of the quiet ponies startling each other.

"Oh! Hello Big Macintosh," she said timidly.

"Howdy Ms. Fluttershy," he responded cordially, "How's the coop holding up?"

"It's doing well, you did a great job," she added sincerely.

"Well, it was no trouble at all. It was the least Ah could do for all you've done for our livestock."

Fluttershy blushed as she took a few steps to clear the doorway, Twilight appearing from within her home.

"Hi Mac! Ready to pick up where we left off last night?" she asked happily.

"You bet!" he answered, ready to finally solve the puzzle of his marefriend's most sacred item. Fluttershy looked to Mac, then back to Twilight before taking her leave.

"Thank you for the books Twilight. Bye!" she nodded, acknowledging both ponies.

Mac and Twilight entered the library as Fluttershy set off back toward her cottage.

Big Mac sure has been going to Twilight's a lot... Fluttershy thought as she took her books on bird migration back to her woodsy home. I'm sure it's nothing, he said he likes Rainbow! He's too honest to cheat on anypony. Still...

She shook the thought from her head. Yes, it was strange that Mac had been spending that much time with Twilight while Rainbow was away at tryouts, but there was nopony more honest than the brother of the element of honesty, right?

Fluttershy, you're being silly! she thought, though she knew Rainbow Dash would tell her about any suspicious things her coltfriend was doing while she was away, if she ever got one.

Still, she had seen him leaving Twilight's late last night while she had been running a late night errand to buy Angel more of his favorite rabbit food.

I'm sure it's nothing scandalous.

Try though she might to push the thoughts from her head, she couldn't stand the thought of her best friend Rainbow Dash being hurt by somepony. I'll just ask her if Mac has a reason for seeing Twilight while she's been away. I'm sure he's under her instruction anyway.

"I spent most of last night looking up ancient and dead languages after you left," Twilight began as Mac took a seat on her couch. "And I finally think I've figured out the language!" she chimed happily, clapping her hooves together as she prepared herself to reveal the mysterious script.

"And? What'd ya find out?"

"It's a derivative of Latin, a language that died out a long time ago, in fact, it used to be the language all royal business was conducted in 500 years ago, until it was decreed that the language of royalty should also be the language of the ponies," she explained.

"All we have to do is compare those letters with our language, and we'll have this thing translated by tonight at the latest!"

"Sounds good," Mac answered, almost all of Twilight's research going in one ear and out of the other.

"Alright ladies, I know this was a tough practice, but I've seen all I need to make my decision. We will be contacting all of you within the next two weeks, so check your mailbox daily," Spitfire instructed. "Only two of you will be getting in. The other three, I want to see you next year, better than you were before, understand?"

"Yes ma'am!" they answered enthusiastically, tired though they certainly were.

"You're dismissed."

Rainbow didn't hang around to talk trash or try and get any names out of Spitfire. She was truly exhausted, and unsure whether she'd even be able to make it back to Ponyville.

Deciding it better to sleep in her old room at her mothers house than crash on the way back to her own, she made the quick flight to her familiar home. Her mother greeted her in her bathrobe and welcomed her daughter inside, offering her some of the dinner she'd just put away. Rainbow heartily obliged and nearly ate everything in the house before sauntering off to her foalhood bedroom.

After a kiss goodnight, Rainbow found herself on her back, staring at an all too familiar ceiling. Wonderbolts posters adorned nearly every square inch of the walls, while the stuffed animals she played with as a kid sat in a small pile in the corner. Her mother no doubt came in after she moved out to organize.

She felt terrible about leaving her mother alone in Cloudsdale like this. After her father died, filly Rainbow had promised her mother that she'd never leave her alone like daddy had. It seemed that was a promise she couldn't keep, and it ate at her conscience whenever she thought about it. Rainbow tossed to her right, beneath the Wonderbolt blanket she'd slept under every night as a filly.

Sweet Celestia, I hope I made the Wonderbolts, she thought, knowing that if she didn't, there would be no weather job to fall back on. In fact, she didn't even have a plan for what she would do if she didn't make it.

The next few days would be the most stressful as she would wait by her mailbox every morning for Derpy to bring her what she had prayed for every night since she could fly.

Her eyelids growing heavy, she began to drift off into a well-deserved slumber, only semi-confident that she would be wearing the winged bolt by next week.

8. It Ain't What It Looks Like!

Chapter 8- It Ain't What It Looks Like!

Twilight groaned. It was already midnight, and they'd only translated half of the inscription! Academic frustration wasn't usually something she had to deal with, as she picked up on most sciences rather quickly. She glanced toward her couch where Macintosh was slumped over with a book across his lap and not a conscious thought in his head. Twilight didn't want to wake him, so she removed the book from his lap (lest he stain it with any more drool) and gently wrapped a blanket around him. She kept the treehouse as cool as possible. It was better for studying that way.

Twilight found herself staring a bit longer than usual at her friend's significant stallion. He was certainly handsome, and with moral fiber to boot. It was a wonder he had managed to stay single for so long! Still, though a tinge of jealousy she may have felt, she was genuinely happy for Rainbow. She knew if anypony needed somepony to keep her naturally brash attitude in check, it was her.

She glanced back to Mac and sighed. When would a special somepony translate an inscription on an old piece of jewelry for her? Perhaps that was a bit specific, but the library certainly got lonely after Spike had gone to bed. The usual energy she had for studious activities quickly disappeared as her thoughts drifted to her shortcomings as a mare. Twilight looked at the clock, realizing it was getting rather late. She blew out the candles lighting the living room, leaving Mac on the couch as she ascended her staircase to the loft.

I guess I could wake up and translate the rest... she thought as she flopped onto her bed. Another night of sharing it with her usual companion; nothing. She had been sent to Ponyville to make friends, but what about the feelings that lay beyond friendship? When would it be her time to discover those? It seemed to be all around her, everywhere she looked there were pony couples eating, having fun, or just enjoying the fact that they'd found each other. Twilight buried her face in her pillow, the usual spot where she stored her tears.

One day Twilight... just keep holding out hope, she assured herself, though this assurance did nothing to stop a few tears from trickling off her cheeks and into her soft pillow.

One day...

After breakfast with her mom, Rainbow was ready to head back to Ponyville. Her mother stopped her at the front door.

"Rainbow, I know I haven't been very supportive of you lately, and I wanted to tell you, that whether you make the cut or you don't, that I'm proud of you, my little bluebird." she whispered sincerely. Rainbow ordinarily hated the nickname her mother had for her when she was a filly, but considering the context, she knew better than to complain. She smiled warmly back at her mother before giving her a hug.

"Thanks, Mom. It means a lot," she answered softly.

"Your father is proud of you too."

Rainbow sniffed back what looked like a tear, though she'd never admit if it had been.

"I know. I love you Mom, I'll let you know as soon as I find out."

A grimace from Rainbow interrupted her moment with her mother, followed by a sour taste rising in her throat from her stomach.

Her mother recognized the color draining from her daughter's face.

"Rainbow, are you feeling okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

A small burp escaped Dash's lips as she tried in vain to settle her stomach. She had felt fine at breakfast, but now it was as though she had drank a whole gallon of sour milk.

"Ah... I think I just need to lay down for a second," she moaned, putting a hoof to her forehead. Her mother led her to the couch as she wrapped her in a blanket.

"Are you sure you're okay sweetheart?"

"Mom... I'm fine, I just—" Rainbow ended her own sentence with a rather obscene belch, before she realized what was about to happen. Her eyes darted frantically around the room before running to the kitchen and holding her head over a trash can as she released the breakfast she had just eaten rather violently.

After a few dry heaves, her stomach spasms calmed down, and she removed her head from above the fowl smelling receptacle. She spit a few times into the trash can before her mother gave her a glass of water to rinse her mouth out. Wave lifted her daughter's prismatic mane, putting a motherly hoof on her forehead.

"You don't feel hot..."

"I know... I think I've got a stomach bug or something... it couldn't have come at a worse time, but I usually get better in an hour or so," Dash explained, rinsing her mouth thoroughly before spitting into the sink.

"Please take care of yourself sweetie, I know you don't like doctors, but medicine might help you feel better."

"Thanks Mom, I'll keep that in mind."

With that, Rainbow set off toward Ponyville, ready to spend time with the one bright spot she knew would never disappoint. First however, she figured she'd pay her old flight school pal a visit, it'd been almost a week since she'd seen her, and Dash was certain she'd want to hear all about how she had done at the tryouts.

While visiting Fluttershy, she tipped her off to what Mac had been up to while she'd been gone. Apparently, he'd been spending considerable time at Twilight's while she was away. At first, she thought nothing of it, but as she let the idea fester, she became increasingly unsure of Mac's true intentions. After all, he had held on to Twilight's doll to 'start a conversation' with her, so she knew he at least thought she was attractive...

No! He's AJ's brother! His sister alone would whip him if she found out he was two-timing me! she thought as she flew over to Twilight's to see what exactly the two of them had been doing while she was gone.

It was early, but the sun was already up, so she figured Twilight would at least be puttering around the library looking for her morning tea. Too tired from tryouts to use her usual entrance method, she knocked on the door, waiting impatiently for a purple unicorn to answer it.

Mac's ears perked up as a knocking stirred him from his sprawled out position on Twilight's couch. The blanket had been wadded up on the floor during the night, Macintosh coming to the startling realization that he had fallen asleep at Twilight's! The sun was already shining through the windows, indicating he was very late on his morning chores. AJ wouldn't let him hear the end of it if she ended up having to do his chores and her own.

He scrambled off the couch, heading to answer the door and head back to Sweet Apple Acres when he discovered the identity of the caller to be none other than Rainbow. She was less than happy to see him answering Twilight's door.

"Rainbow! A-ah didn't expect ta see you here," he said nervously as she eyed him with suspicion.

"And I didn't expect to see you here either!" she shot back, "What are you doing here this early?"

"Ah... uhm..." he didn't want to spoil the surprise, but at the same time, he didn't want her to think anything indecent had gone on.

"Ah came over ta work on somethin' with Twilight, and it was gettin' pretty late, so Ah just spent the night over here."

"Fluttershy told me this isn't the first time you've been here while I was at tryouts," she added, her features sharpening into a glare as she began to connect the dots, whether they were there to be connected or not.

"Ah, well she's right, Ah've been here a few times before—"

"You what?!"

"Rainbow, please let me explain. It ain't what you think, Ah was workin' on a surprise for you!" he pled, seeing her expression morph slowly between anger and betrayal.

"Really? What surprise?" she asked, regaining a bit of her lost calm.

"Ah... it's not ready yet."

That was the last straw. She had never felt this angry at him before. It was certainly an alien feeling, but she couldn't help but allow it to express itself in the form of a harsh glare and a few cold responses.

"So let me see if I have this right," Dash began, "You've been over here, multiple times, all while I was out of town for a 'surprise' for me?" she knew lies when they were told to her. Or at least, she thought she did.

"Ah know it sounds suspicious, but yeah," he answered, thinking surely honesty would be the best solution for her suspicion.

She didn't answer, Dash merely held a glare as she took off toward her house, leaving Mac calling for her to come back.

You know he would never lie to you, her conscience nagged.

She knew it was right, but the painful thought that Mac could have had relations with one of her best friends kept itself at the forefront of her mind.

Then why am I flying away?

"Dang. Well, Ah suppose Ah'd better come clean before this gets outta hoof," he said walking back into the library where he found Twilight happily bounding down the stairs with a slip of paper in her magic.

"Guess what I did last night, Mac!" she chimed happily, giving him the paper.

He read the words below the gibberish they had tried so hard to crack.

"You figured it out! Twilight, Ah knew if anypony could, it'd be you!" he said thankfully.

"That's right!" she beamed pridefully, "Who was at the door?" she asked, having heard the commotion from her room.

"Actually, it was Rainbow. She thinks we've been seeing each other behind her back."

Twilight laughed heartily at the assertion on the outside, but on the inside...

"You should tell her what you've been working on," she suggested, putting her teapot on the stove. "There's no way she could stay mad at you."

"Ah'm headed that way now, hopefully she'll still listen to me," he added as he took his leave, stuffing the paper into his saddlebag and galloping towards Rainbow's house.

He arrived to find the rope ladder he had been using rolled up on her porch.

Ah guess she's pretty upset, he thought, calling her name from the ground below.

After no response, he tried again.

"C'mon Rainbow, Ah didn't do anything wrong! You know Ah'd never do somethin' like that to you!" he pled, only to have a rock miss his head by a few inches from above.

"Will you please just let me explain myself?" he asked, staring idly at the base of her house, hoping for an answer besides another rock.

Nothin'. Well, this is my last shot... he removed the piece of paper and wrapped it snugly around the rock, walking around to the side of Rainbow's house to her bedroom window. With a hard toss, the rock shattered the glass, startling the occupant.

At first, Rainbow was furious. He makes time for another mare behind her back, and then has the gall to break one of her windows? He'd have gotten a smack in the face for this one if Dash hadn't noticed the paper around the outside of the same stone she had thrown at him to go away.

Rainbow unfurled the paper and glanced at the two lines written on it. One phrase she recognized, but the other... she couldn't believe it. She and Twilight had spent days trying to decipher it, and yet here it was, translated!

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

How oddly appropriate. Realizing this must have been the surprise he had mentioned, she quickly trotted to her porch.

Macintosh waited for a response, but got none. As he was about to turn back to his farm, he heard the rope ladder unfurl from her lofty home, granting him access.

He smiled, quickly scaling the ladder to where a teary eyed Rainbow waited for him.

"Mac... I'm... I..." she whimpered, at the mercy of her emotions.

He gave her the smile she had come to find such comfort in as he hugged her.

"Ah know you didn't mean it," he whispered as she tried to dry her tears. "You didn't think Ah'd ever cheat on you, did ya?"

"No... I mean... I did, but... I don't know why, I just..." she began crying, the tears now freely flowing. Mac had certainly never seen her like this before. In fact, he was fairly certain nopony alive had. Still, it was his duty as her coltfriend to comfort her in her time of need, even if she had been throwing rocks at his head a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry Mac..."

He was certain he'd only heard those words once coming from her before, and it took nearly being killed and or imprisoned to get it out of her. "It's alright," he assured, "Ah know you're stressed from all this Wonderbolt trainin', it's probably worn on your nerves a bit."

Rainbow gave a smile through her tears as they began to dry up. "I've been all over the place lately... one second I'm pissed off for no reason, and the next minute I'm crying like a school filly," she lamented, noting how the stress of such intense training had been taking a toll on her normally stable moods.

"Well, you've never had to push yourself like this before, have ya?" he asked.

"No... you're right Mac, I'm just glad tryouts are over," she sighed, stepping towards her door, "I've got something to thank you for solving the mystery of my locket... it's inside." She smiled, beckoning him to follow.

Mac ears perked up. He would usually only get gifts on his birthday, and even then, most of the time it was new work equipment, or something that the farm needed, not so much him. A childlike smile crossed Macs lips as he followed her.

"Inside huh? Is it a new yoke?" he asked, his signature article of apparel meant the world to him, though it was showing its age after being worked for such a long time.

Rainbow shot her stallion a deadpan stare. "No Mac, think about it." She grinned, flicking her tail almost unnoticeably in anticipation of him connecting the rather obvious dots.

"Oh. Oh..." he answered, realizing where she was going with this. With a devilish smirk, he followed her inside for a little private time.

Rainbow rolled off from atop Mac, gasping for breath and basking in the afterglow of their afternoon delight. She could hear him catching his breath as well, laying next to her on her bed.

"Twice... in one afternoon... Ah guess you weren't kidding about th' mood swings, not that Ah'm complainin'."

Rainbow smiled, glad to have somepony to distract her from constantly worrying about whether or not she made the Wonderbolts.

"This whole week has just been so crazy," she admitted, still catching her breath and waiting for her wings to relax.

"Well, Ah'm just glad Ah could help ya relieve some of your stress..." he answered, rolling onto his side and kissing her softly, eliciting a giggle from behind her occupied lips.

"Me too. As much as I'd love a round three, don't you have farm work or something to do?" she asked as she broke the kiss.

Mac's eyes shot wide in horror. In his haste to reconcile Rainbow's irrational assumptions, he'd forgotten all about his chores!

"Sweet Celestia!" he groaned, rolling out of her bed and throwing on his yoke. "See ya Rainbow, come by th' farm for supper if ya don't feel like makin' anythin'!" he called over his shoulder, sliding out of sight down the rope ladder.

Rainbow took a deep breath, her wings finally folding neatly by her sides. Her stomach began to rumble as she felt the overwhelming urge to eat the odd combination of a dandelion sandwich and some ice cream.

Mac galloped through the gates of the farm to find a rather upset Applejack waiting for him.

"Just where in the hay have you been?" she demanded, sweat dripping from her brow, hooves and coat dirtied from a hard day in the fields.

"Ah'm sorry Applejack, Ah fell asleep at Twilight's, then Rainbow saw me and, it's a long story."

The look of anger still held on his sister's face as he stepped towards her.

"Ah'll do all your chores tomorrow, and mine. Okay?" he promised, as she scoffed at his offer, though accepted it.

"You've been with Rainbow this whole time?"

Mac's cheeks ran red involuntarily, "Yeah."

"Must be nice..." she grumbled under her breath, turning to head inside and wash up.

"Is there somethin' you want ta tell me, Applejack?" Mac knew when his little sister had something on her mind.

Ordinarily, she'd have said no and moved on, but something compelled her to reveal her feelings. She paused on the porch, before turning around to face him.

"Ah'm not tryin' ta be a stick in th' mud, but the farm needs you. Ah can't plow the fields like you can, it'd take me all week what it takes you a day to get done!" she snapped, still upset she had tried and failed to accomplish Mac's chores, even though she was voted most valuable pony. She was certainly a strong mare, but she couldn't hold a candle to Mac's raw power.

"Rainbow needed me too. Ah can be there for both, Ah just need ta manage my time better," he reasoned, "Besides, ain't you the one that insisted Ah take Rainbow on that drive?"

"Yeah, I just wanted you ta find a nice mare ta take up your down time, not replace us!" she snapped, instantly realizing she may have let her mouth wander a bit too far.

"...Is that what this is about?" Mac asked, somewhat stunned by her quick retort.

Applejack sighed, "No, Ah didn't mean that, but the farm is all we have Mac. If we don't get the fields plowed and planted in time to give 'em enough sunlight ta mature, we ain't gonna have a farm next year!"

"What? How do you know that, Ah ain't even done the quarterly profit margins yet!"

"It don't take a genius ta figure out we're runnin' out of money Mac! The cattle sale only got us enough to get through the winter! We still ain't made repairs ta the barn, or removed the dead apple trees from the southern fields! We barely had enough ta fix the windows Rainbow broke!"

Mac sighed. If there was ever anything that caused undue stress in his household, it was money. Something they never seemed to be able to get enough of.

"Don't worry, the fields will get plowed, and we'll sell all our apples, just like we always have," he assured her, but if there was one thing he knew his sister had plenty of, it was fight.

"Ah'm just tryin' ta plan for the worst. If we have ta start sellin' off land, we'll lose th' farm!"

"L-lose th' farm?" A soft voice from behind the two of them stammered.

Both looked back in shock as Applebloom stood behind them, having just returned from school to find them arguing.

"We're gonna lose the farm?" the filly repeated, on the verge of tears.

"No, we ain't losing a thing, silly filly. Mac and Ah were just arguin' about nothin'. Go inside and start on your homework. Mac'll be up in a minute ta check it for ya," Applejack insisted in the most comforting tone she could manage.

"B-but y'all just said—"

"Applebloom," Mac added sternly. "Go on, now."

She trotted past them and into the house where Granny Smith greeted her from inside, leaving Mac and AJ standing alone.

"We can talk about this later, Ah'm gonna get ready for supper," Applejack sighed as Mac followed her back into their farmhouse.

Macintosh ran a hoof through his mane as he sighed. Pulling those trees up would take weeks, and if he was doing that, then that meant nopony was plowing the fields. He'd need to hire some help, but he already knew their budget wouldn't allow it. It seemed he'd have to work himself to death to barely break even.

He cast a gaze over his orchards as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. His father worked these same fields with him when he was just a colt. He'd taken on a super-pony workload, and it still wasn't enough. He'd have to devote all his time to the farm, leaving very little time for anypony else, especially a certain pegasus.

He took a seat on the porch, leaning back against the house, trying to figure out how he could still work the farm, and have time for Rainbow. Unfortunately he wasn't coming up with anything. A shadow of doubt crossed his mind, but only for a moment.

What if Rainbow and I just aren't meant to be?

Try as he might to exile the thought, it persisted. First the inability to name something he liked about her in front of Fluttershy, and now this? He cared for Rainbow, more than he had ever remembered caring for any other pony that wasn't a part of his immediate family. He'd even been thinking about using the 'L' word to describe his feelings for her. However, the question still remained. Was it love? Or just infatuation? A simple lust that would run its course, and leave him alone again, just like the other mares he'd been with?

He couldn't be sure, but he knew he could not allow his ancestors legacy to be sold off to the highest bidder while there was still breath in his body. For all intents and purposes, he was the head of the family. Sure, Granny Smith was the elder, but she didn't really have much to do with the farm in her old age. She mostly cooked and looked after Applebloom when he or AJ weren't around.

Mac noticed the moon was out during the daytime, wondering why Princess Luna would allow such a seemingly odd occurrence when he got an idea. Equestria was the richest nation in the known world! Surely the princesses would be able to loan his family the money to hire extra hooves to remove the dead trees and ease some of the burden on himself and his sister! After all, she was one of the Elements of Harmony, and had saved the kingdom more times than he could remember.

Surely they'd be sympathetic to his plight?

That settles it, he thought, heading inside as the smell of Granny Smith's dinner beckoned him. He'd have to run it by AJ first, but he didn't see why she'd have any reason not to want to save the farm.

At the table, after they thanked Celestia for their meal, a knock at the door caused Mac to excuse himself.

"Howdy, Rainbow." He smiled, noting she seemed to be in a much better (and stable) mood.

"Hey, Mac, I haven't really had a chance to get to the store since tryouts and all, so I thought I'd take you up on your dinner offer. I'm not too late am I?" she asked hopefully.

"Not at all, we just sat down," he added, inviting her in as she greeted the rest of the Apple clan.

Applejack got up and hugged her friend, eager to hear how her tryouts had gone as Mac fixed her a plate from in the kitchen.

"How d'ya think you did?" AJ asked, sipping her Applewine while Rainbow debated bringing up her new rival.

"I think I did pretty good. There were five of us, and they can only accept two girls, so, hooves crossed," Rainbow answered hopefully.

"Those are pretty good odds, especially for a great flier like you, Rainbow!" Applebloom added happily.

"Thanks kid, how's Scootaloo doing?" Dash asked, seemingly out of nowhere, drawing Mac's attention as he returned with her plate.

"Uhm... she's fine. She likes ta crusade with us a lot more than usual though, it's like she don't want ta go home or somethin'," she responded innocently, as Mac and Rainbow exchanged nervous glances.

Mac sat down next to Rainbow as they began eating, before she nudged his leg beneath the table. She leaned in and whispered to him, while appearing to reach for the napkin she had dropped.

"Is your machete still in the barn?"

I'm sorry this was late, I had a bit of a miscommunication between my pre-reader and I. I thought I'd sent him this chapter, and it turns out I didn't. Anyway, if you're in the mood for a tragedy with what I've been told is a great ending, perhaps you'd like to give this oneshot I wrote a read? Eternal Lament.

9. Signing Bonus

Chapter 9- Signing Bonus

"Yeah, but there ain't no need for that," he whispered back to her. "We'll talk about that after supper," he insisted, taking a sip of his drink before the eldest Apple addressed Rainbow.

"Now Rainbow, Ah understand you and my boy are courtin'?" The elder Apple asked.

"Yes ma'am," Rainbow blushed, casting a slight glare at AJ, knowing exactly how Granny Smith had come across such information.

"That's good, Ah remember courtin' stallions when I was just a young'un like yourself," she sighed nostalgically before continuing, "Are you and Macintosh bein' safe in th' bedroom?" she asked out of nowhere, nearly causing Mac to spit out his mouthful of apple cider, and Rainbow to blush brighter than he'd ever seen.

"Granny!" Applejack interjected, taken completely aback by her forwardness.

"Safe? From what? Is your bedroom dangerous?" Applebloom asked, only to be shushed by her older sister.

"Head upstairs for a minute please Applebloom, the adults need ta discuss somethin'," Mac insisted.

"Ah'm a big pony! Ah want ta know what you're supposed ta be safe from! What if there's somethin' gonna attack me in my bedroom?" the little filly protested.

"Applebloom, Ah'll tell you later, now please go upstairs," Mac requested sternly, though in a soft tone, so as not to come off as condescending to his littlest sister. Begrudgingly, Applebloom excused herself and headed upstairs.

"Well, Granny, Ah'd rather not have this discussion at dinner," Mac began, Or ever again he thought, before the eldest Apple cut in again.

"That's alright, just make sure we don't end up with foals we can't support runnin' around," she completed as everyone left at the table felt extremely uncomfortable. Mercifully, Granny Smith changed the subject. "Rainbow, you aren't like the other girls Macintosh has brought over, you seem ta have a good head about ya."

Rainbow glared at Mac as he blushed in embarrassment.

"Other girls?" she growled.

"Ah was just wastin' time with them until Ah met you," he whispered smoothly, defusing a potentially dangerous situation.

"Anyway, Applejack, ya know we're strapped for money at the moment, and as much as Ah'd like ta believe Ah could do all the hard work the farm needs doin', there is only one of me," Mac began. "With that in mind, Ah wanted ta go to Canterlot ta ask the princesses for a loan ta hire extra help ta get us through this season."

His idea was met almost immediately with resistance from the most likely source.

"We've worked this farm for years by ourselves Macintosh! We don't need no help from nopony!" Applejack snapped in outrage.

"Applejack, it would take me weeks ta remove the dead trees alone! And if Ah'm doin' that, then who's plowin' the fields?"

"Ah could plow them dang fields if it came down ta that!" she responded as Rainbow and Granny simply watched the siblings argue.

"Applejack, Ah know you could, but by the time you do, it'll be winter," Mac replied, not meaning to set off his sister's prideful nature, but doing it all the same.

"You sayin' Ah cain't?" she hissed, pounding her forelegs on the table.

"Applejack, calm down," Granny demanded, AJ's respect for her grandmother silencing her dissent.

"You know darn well you and Macintosh work yourselves ta death takin' care a this farm. If the princesses see fit ta give us a helping hoof, it would be disrespectful not to accept," she completed, dabbing her chin with her napkin.

"There ain't no shame in accepting help Applejack, you learned that after ya nearly destroyed the town thinkin' you could help everypony," Mac added, his sister slowly coming to grips with the reality of the situation.

"Ah suppose you're right," she sighed. Mac and Rainbow excused themselves to the porch to talk about a small pegasus filly whose safety had been on their minds since Applebloom had spoken of her.

"You need ta talk to Scootaloo and make sure her stepdad ain't been harassin' her anymore," Mac said in a hushed tone, the night settling in over the orchards.

"Yeah, I'm sure I can catch her after school tomorrow," she yawned, "I'm gonna head back. Thanks for dinner."

Rainbow gave him a quick kiss and took off into Luna's brilliant night sky.

Upon her arrival back home, she found an envelope with a winged lightning bolt slid beneath her front door.

Rainbow's heart seemed to stop. This was it. Behind that envelope was the note that would determine if all of her hard work, the dream she'd held since she was but a filly, would pay off. She almost didn't want to open it. She bit her lip as she held it with nervous hooves. Opening it, she flipped open the letter and was surprised to see it only had two words written on it.

Go outside? she thought, turning back to her still open door, to find Spitfire on her porch.

"Spitfire?" she asked in shock. She hadn't even heard her approach! How on earth had she managed to sneak up on her?

"Hey Dash," she said cooly, not averting her gaze from the brilliant night sky.

"S-so did I make it?" Rainbow asked nervously.

Spitfire smiled, turning to her. A devilish grin crossed her lips as she seemed to look past Rainbow toward somepony behind her. "Do it," she demanded, as a black bag was shoved over Rainbow's head and her hooves and wings bound together before she knew what was going on.

"What the heck is this?!" she cried beneath the black bag covering her face. She felt hooves on her as she was shoved into the back of a chariot and felt it take off.

"Where are you taking me?!" she demanded as her demands were met with hostility.

"Will somepony shut her up?" She recognized that voice. It was Spitfire! What had she gotten herself into? Her mask was lifted briefly to gag her and then replaced. In the instant her vision was restored, she had seen four other ponies in ski masks holding her captive. For the first time in her life, Rainbow was terrified. Was this really happening? It had to be a trick! Perhaps the Changelings had returned to capture the elements of Harmony one by one to try and retake Equestria!

She felt every bump of turbulence along the way to wherever she was being taken. Thoughts of what waited for her at the end of the journey bounced around in her head as she tried to maintain her composure. In the silence of the ride, she could hear what sounded like another voice muffled by a gag of some sort near her, though she had no idea who it belonged to. It seemed she wasn't the only pony to get kidnapped tonight.

After an indeterminate amount of time, she felt the carriage stop, nearly causing her to tumble onto the floorboards.

"Let's move."

That one sounded like Soarin, but she had no way of knowing. She felt hooves underneath her forelegs lift her and drag her out of the carriage and along the ground as Rainbow fought the whole way, though every appendage that might have aided in her escape had been bound.

She felt the material collecting beneath her limp back legs gather as she was dragged to wherever they were taking her. Dash recognized the feeling; she was being dragged across clouds! At least she knew she had to be somewhere in Cloudsdale.

Soon, she felt the ponies dragging her along stop. The creaking of metal greeted her ears as she was forcefully tossed on her flank a few feet forward before hearing an old iron door slam and lock behind her.

Still with her bonds and mask on, she set out to free her forelegs from the ropes tying them. After about five minutes of trying, Dash freed her forelegs, ripping her mask off and removing the gag. Looking around, she saw what appeared to be a windowless dungeon. A single torch by the lone door to this Celestia forsaken place provided enough light for Rainbow to notice she was in a jail cell. Another figure in a black mask was in a separate cell beside hers, it too was struggling to remove its bonds. Reaching a hoof through the bars, Dash helped the stranger remove her mask before realizing whom she had just aided.

"Firefly?" she nearly hissed in disgust, withdrawing her hoof as if she would have bitten it off.

"Who's there? Oh, it's you," she sneered after removing her gag and turning to face her.

"They come... they come for everypony, you know..." a near whisper drew both mares attention to the cell at the far end of the room. The voice was aged and worn, as though it belonged to an elderly stallion. In fact, it did. An old, emaciated and frail looking pegasus stallion sat in the corner of his cell, gently rocking back and forth in the fetal position, muttering to himself.

"You two... the bell tolls for thee," he whispered, his discolored red and blue eyes shifting between Dash and Firefly. "I've seen all. All the sacrifices before you, they come. The robed ones, to devour your soul..." Still, the old pony rocked back and forth, muttering more incoherent babel.

"Who are you? What is this place?" Firefly demanded.

"You will not escape the chamber... nopony escapes the chamber..." he whispered, before being thrown into a fit of insane laughter, the likes of which chilled both pegasi to the bone as a new wave of fear washed over them, though neither would admit it.

Before they could question the lunatic pony further, two ponies in black robes opened the door to the dungeon, where a bright red light blasted through, temporarily blinding everyone in the formerly dark prison.

The robed ponies did not speak. One simply pointed a hoof at the old stallion, causing him to plead and beg for his life.

"Please! Take one of them! Not I! Not I, I beg you!" Rainbow and Firefly watched in terrified paralysis as they opened his cell door, and dragged him by his hind legs out of the dungeon as he screamed and begged for mercy until his cries slowly faded away.

Rainbow swallowed nervously. What in the hay had she gotten herself into?

"Look, I know we both hate each other and everything, but if we're gonna make it out of here alive, we need to work together," Dash explained, turning to Firefly.

"Ha! I'd rather die than help you," she spat. Rainbow couldn't believe her ears. What on earth is wrong with this mare?

"Are you serious? What is your problem with me?" Dash demanded, fed up with being loathed for no reason.

Firefly resisted at first, but figured since they were both probably going to die, she might as well get it off her chest.

"Your father was a flight instructor, wasn't he?" she began, as Dash's mouth opened in astonishment.

"Yeah, he was. How did you—"

"I'm not finished. He was supposed to keep his students safe, but he sucked pretty hard at that, didn't he?" she growled, as Rainbow noticed a glint of sorrow in the normally angry young mare's eyes.

"Don't you dare talk about my father that way!" she snapped, bringing herself as close to Firefly as the bars would allow.

"I know he did, because he let one of his students fly into a thunderstorm when he wasn't paying attention like he should have been!" she egged on, tears forming in her ice blue eyes.

"You son of a—" Dash stopped mid syllable. She realized why Firefly knew all this, and why she was beginning to get emotional when explaining it. "You're Cloudy's little sister, aren't you?"

"Yeah, and when I got my invite to the Wonderbolt tryouts, I knew I'd be able to fulfill the dream my big brother had of becoming one before your incompetent father took it from him!"

"It was your idiot brother's fault! What kind of moron flies into a thunderstorm?" Dash snapped back. Had iron bars not been separating the two of them, they'd have torn each other apart by now.

"He was just a foal! Your dad should have-have..." Firefly's rock solid demeanor began to crumble as she thought of her brother. "Your dad took my best friend away from me," she sniffed through gritted teeth, "He was supposed to save him and he failed!"

"Your brother was the one who killed my dad by being an idiot! I had to grow up without a father because of him!" Dash nearly screamed, tears beginning to fall from her fiery eyes as well.

They glared at each other, the silence in the dungeon filling their ears as they vented years of pent up anger and resentment towards an event that neither had anything to do with, nor had any control over.

"Then I guess we'll both die angry," Dash muttered, turning her back to Firefly so she wouldn't see her tears.

Before another response could be formed, the dungeon door swung open, revealing the robed ponies once more, only this time, their robes were now stained with smears of red. A hoof pointed to Rainbow as two of them advanced on her. With her hindlegs and wings still bound, she tried to resist, but found it impossible as she was dragged outside the dungeon, where another mask was placed over her head. She was lead down a maze of twisting corridors until she was thrust to her knees, the light of torches gently shining through the dark fabric of the mask as it was removed.

Before her stood two robed figures behind a large desk, the skull of a pony placed on the desk before them. A large, curved blade sat behind the skull. Before Rainbow could say a word, the robed ponies spoke.

"Rainbow Dash, your wings have been chosen to be sacrificed to the Great Spirit as an offering, in thanks for the gift of flight she had seen fit to bestow upon the pegasi race. It is the highest honor we can bestow. Do you accept?" It was Soarin's voice, that she knew. Had this been what the tryouts were all about? Seeking a suitable sacrifice? Had she been played so thoroughly?

"No!" she shouted, the tears from her argument with Firefly still blurring her vision.

The robed ponies behind the desk faced each other and muttered between themselves before turning back to her. "Very well, if you will not give your wings, then we will take them."

Before she could react, she felt multiple hooves hold her down, forcing her onto her belly as she flapped her wings madly in an attempt to escape. She heard the metal hiss of the knife being drawn from the table as she screamed and shouted in protest, trying to resist but finding the weight of the other ponies to be just too much.

The knife passed in front of her face, the tip gently dragged down her neck and back, stopping where her wings were still bound. Rainbow cringed, gritting her teeth and awaiting the cold steel she knew was just moments away from cutting through her most tender of flesh, when the torches were suddenly extinguished. Darkness was all her eyes could see as she felt the other ponies remove themselves from atop her. A blast of light soon blinded her as her eyes adjusted, normal lighting having been restored. Had she been rescued in the nick of time?

A robed pony stepped in front of her, and flicked the hood off of her head.

"Gotcha," Spitfire smiled, as the rest of the mysterious robed ponies removed their hoods and began laughing.

"Just what in the hay is going on here?!" Dash demanded as Spitfire untied her.

"You didn't think we were going to cut your wings off, did you?" Soarin asked, still holding back a grin.

A prank. An elaborate, perfectly executed prank. The relief Dash had been feeling was itself enough to cause her to laugh with them.

"But the cells... and the crazy old pony... how in the-"

"We usually pick a pony to be the crazy one, this time Rapidfire drew the short straw. I swear he could have been an actor if not for how good he was at flying," Spitfire explained, motioning to the 'crazy old pony' they had seen in the cells earlier as he wiped the makeup from his face and removed the contact lenses. "We usually get the male recruits first, but this time we switched it up a bit."

"You do this for everypony that tries out?" Rainbow asked.

"Nope, just the ones who make the squad. Congratulations Rainbow, you're a Wonderbolt."

Rainbow's breath left her lungs and refused to return as she grinned from ear to ear.

"R-Really?" she managed to squeak.

"That's right! Now follow Soarin, we've got to get set up for Firefly."

Rainbow's expression dropped slightly. "She made the cut too, huh?"

"That's right. You two are part of a team now, and I expect you to work together without any problems. Can I count on that?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good."

Soarin led Rainbow to his office. It wasn't huge, but it still had a pretty good view. His various awards and magazine covers adorned the walls around his desk as Dash took a seat in front of it. She was still somewhat awestruck to be sitting in the office of the first stallion she ever remembered having a crush on as a filly.

"Sorry if you got a little freaked out over that whole thing," he said, digging into one of his desk drawers and finding the papers he was looking for. "It's an initiation tradition, we all had to go through it."

"No, it's cool. I can appreciate a good prank," she smiled, feeling her cheeks run redder than usual.

Soarin smiled at her. She had seen that smile staring back at her from many a magazine cover, but they simply didn't do it justice. She felt as though she could look at it forever. Her stomach butterflies came roaring back to life as he slid a packet of papers toward her.

"This is your contract, it's a ten year deal, with at minimum four product tie-ins, mall openings, celebrity appearances, per month during the off-season as well as any hazardous duty waivers or accidental death or dismemberment clauses," he explained, though he might as well have been speaking another language to her as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Just sign and date here, here, here, initial here, and sign, date, and hoofprint here," he added, pointing out where she needed to make her mark. Taking the quill in her mouth, she began filling out the paperwork. She stopped at the last page, where the words 'signing bonus' caught her eye.

"What's this about a signing bonus?"

"In addition to our 300,000 bits a year salary, you get a signing bonus to keep you financially solvent until we start getting our show pay, which can range from 100,000 bits a show to 500,000, depending on the venue, whether or not it sold out, you know, that kind of stuff."

Rainbow followed the dotted line over to the amount of her signing bonus.

"Two point one? What's that mean?"

"Two point one million," Soarin answered, casually taking a sip of his coffee as though he didn't just mention Dash would be a millionaire upon completion of this contract.

Dash's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"T-two point one million bits?"

Soarin flashed her that same handsome smile. "If you could see the look on your face," he commented, "I live for this kind of thing."

Dash took a look back down at the contract. "This isn't another prank is it?"

"Nope, just sign that last line, and put your hoofprint on that bad boy, and you'll be swimming in bits," he answered, taking another sip from his coffee.

With a shaky mouth, Dash sighed her name, though it was probably unrecognizable to anypony but her.

"Congratulations Rainbow Dash, you're the newest —and best looking, if you don't mind my saying so— addition to the Wonderbolts."

She had just made over two million bits in ten seconds, and her fillyhood hero/crush just called her cute. Today was a great day.

"Now, as soon as they're done with Firefly, we have another little tradition we like to participate in around here," Soarin smiled, getting up from his chair and motioning her to follow.

"Another one?" Dash asked nervously.

"Trust me, you'll like this one."

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!" Rainbow chugged her sixth or seventh hard cider as the other Wonderbolts cheered the rookies on. The other tradition they had mentioned was the team taking the rookies out to dinner, and then getting them absolutely obliterated at one of the nicest night spots in all of Cloudsdale. The cover charge alone was 1,000 bits, but it was all on the Wonderbolt's tab.

Rainbow had won four out of five head to head chug-offs against the other rookies, even beating Firefly, whose differences they had set aside for now.

"Oh *hic* yeah... who else wans a piece of th' c-champ?" Dash slurred, looking around at the table of her new co-workers.

"Soarin does!" Fleetfoot shouted, as Soarin blushed a bit, drinking his beer to keep from having to respond. They were all quite drunk, but the good times were rolling, and Rainbow was still in disbelief that she'd finally landed her dream job, and was now flushed to the gills with bits!

"Sorry Soarin, I'm..." she paused. There was no reason she had to tell them she had a coltfriend. It wasn't like she was going to do anything to screw up what she had with Mac, but these were hard partying, single and free mares and stallions; the rockstars of the pegasi race! She had to fit in, right?

"I'm going to need another drink before I do anything with you!" she added flirtatiously, much to the laughter of their teammates.

After nearly a full night of drinking, Rainbow threw herself into the back of a cab with Soarin, who was paying the fare for her.

"C'mon... let me get the c-*hic* cab fare," Rainbow hiccuped.

"No, rookies don't pay on their first night, that's the rule," Soarin answered, just as drunk.

"Oh you and your rules..." she said, having laid her head on Soarin's lap to try and get some sleep in the brief ride back to her house. Before long they were both passed out in the back of the cab as the driver woke them as they arrived at Rainbow's cloud home.

"Rook, wake up."

Soarin shook her gently as she raised her head from his lap.

"Huh?"

"We're at your place," he said as he opened the door for her and she stumbled out onto her porch face first. She was certainly lucky clouds were so soft.

"Keep it running, I'll be right back," the slightly more sober Soarin said as he hopped out of the cab to help Rainbow to her door, only to find a red earth stallion walking towards her.

"Rainbow, where have you been?" Mac asked, concern evident in his voice as she tried to pull herself together.

"Take it easy, she's been with us... hey don't I know you?" Soarin answered.

Mac turned and shot a cold stare at him. "Who is us?" he demanded.

"The Wonderbolts. Tonight was her initiation. You her roommate or somethin' guy? Oh wait! You're Afflejacks brother! Dude, your sister's pie is amazing. Her apple pie, not her...well you know. I bet it's pretty good to though..."

Mac growled, none too happy about being accosted by a strange drunk male falling out of a cab with his equally drunk marefriend. "Ah'm her coltfriend, and you can git!"

"Ha! Coltfriend. I've heard that one before!" Soarin slurred, getting back into the cab.

"What was that?!" Mac demanded, though by the time he turned, the cab had taken off.

"Mac! Just the s-stallion I wanted to see!" she said happily, planting a sloppy tongue kiss on his lips as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck for support. He led her inside her house as she continued her drunken ramblings.

"You know... I once knew a guy... you look like him... we herded cattle together this one time, and we lost them all! Wait that was you!" she laughed, putting a hoof to her face as Mac laid her down in her bed. "What are you..." she paused to yawn, "Doin' here anyway?"

"Well, Ah was bringin' ya some food, since Ah knew the store'd be closed after you left the farm, but you've been gone all night! Ah figured you'd be back soon, so Ah decided ta wait on ya. Ah didn't think you'd take as long as ya did."

"Yeah... sorry about that, I kinda got kidnapped, but everything is fine now that you're here!" she said, rolling onto her stomach and raising her flank in the air, waving her tail provocatively at Mac.

"Do me," she demanded.

"Uhm... Ah don't think repetitive motion is such a good idea in your condition," he reasoned, not wanting to have to clean up any messes.

"Mac, you're my coltfriend! You're 'sposed to do me when I want to be done!" she whined, not moving from her position, even wagging her flank at him. Mac sighed, he supposed he could oblige her, not that she'd ever have to twist his hoof into this sort of thing.

"Fine, just let me—" he was interrupted by the sound of Rainbow snoring loudly. Chuckling to himself, he pushed her flank back down and covered her in her blankets, kissing his totally hammered girlfriend goodnight as he left her home to head back to his own.

10. Money Talks

Chapter 10- Money Talks

Rainbow awoke the next morning with the worst headache she had ever experienced. Her mouth was as dry as the desert she and Mac had crossed a few months back. The little bit of light entering her home felt to her like the sun itself was in her bedroom. She pulled her blankets over her head and tried to remember what in Celestia's name happened last night.

She recalled the ritual, what Firefly had told her, and having an excellent dinner. After that, however, her memory was blank. Dash rolled onto her side, seeing a few blonde hairs on her pillow.

"Was Mac here?" she muttered to herself as she forced her tired legs out of bed and over to the bathroom. She was a mess. Her mane was ragged, her eyes were bloodshot, and a general malaise had settled over her during the night and refused to leave her alone. She poured herself a tall glass of water and eagerly alleviated her dry throat. After a few more glasses, she remembered that she had made the cut! Rainbow Dash was a Wonderbolt!

The remembrance of this fact brought a mile wide smile to her still parched lips. On top of that, she remembered that she was now two point one million bits richer than when she woke up yesterday. The feeling was almost unreal. She, the former weather manager of Ponyville, now a multi-millionaire, and a Wonderbolt! Dash subdued her upset stomach, grabbed her checkbook and flew straight to the bank.

She knew it would be open, as she'd slept till about noon. Once arriving, she approached the teller. Dash couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she asked him to check her account balance. Since it was a small town, he was generally the colt she gave her paychecks to. It had never been much, but it was enough to get by.

"Hey Blank, how's it going?" she greeted, barely containing her excitement.

"Good until you showed up," he teased with a smile, "what can I do for ya?"

"I just need you to check my account balance."

"Okay..." he said, rummaging through the bank cards in his desk.

"Oh, you've got a deposit from last night!" he said, assuming she had signed up for direct deposit. "And it is for..." he trailed, locating the proper paperwork.

"T-two point one million bits?" he seemed as shocked as she'd hoped.

"That... can't be right," he whispered to himself.

"Oh, it is," she corrected. "I joined the Wonderbolts, and that's my signing bonus."

Check looked at her with wide eyes. "Seriously?"

"Where else would I have gotten that kind of money?" she asked.

"I... uhm... organized crime?"

"Haha, very funny," she added sarcastically. "Just give me 100,000 of it, will ya?"

Check snapped out of his daze and nodded, fetching his manager to gain access to the vault in which the large amounts of currency were kept.

A very cartoonish sack of bills came out of the vault, and was given to Rainbow. She took the sack in her mouth and thanked the teller for his time. Stuffing as many bills as she could into her saddle bags, she flew back to her house. Upon arrival, she trotted to her bed and dumped all the money out on her sheets, and simply stared at it. Celestia, Luna, and Starswirl the Bearded's faces stared back at her from the mound of currency.

With a girlish squeal she jumped onto the pile, sending different denominations flying about her bedroom. "I can't believe it!" she shouted to no one in particular, making a 'money angel' on her bed. She wracked her brain trying to think of what to do with the money first. After a bit of thinking, she realized there was a certain filly that could use a bit of cheering up. She grabbed 1,000 bits and shoved it into her saddle bag before taking off toward the schoolhouse. By this time, school had just let out as Rainbow landed on the playground. Spying Scootaloo, she trotted up behind her and took her up in a surprise hug.

"Hi, Rainbow!" she giggled happily as Dash set her on her back.

"I'm gonna have to borrow Scootaloo for the afternoon, girls."

"But we were gonna get our cutie marks in ornamental horticulture today!" Applebloom complained.

Rainbow didn't want to separate the trio and leave the other two fillies with nothing to do all afternoon. Then she remembered she was loaded. Rainbow reached into her saddlebag and retrieved the smallest bill she had on her.

"Here, take this to Sugarcube corner and buy as much stuff as you want." Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in shock. That was more money than she got in three weeks allowance!

"This is fifty bits! Are you sur-" Applebloom stuffed her hoof in Sweetie's mouth.

"A'course she's sure! Thanks Rainbow!"

"Don't mention it kid, now go have fun."

The two fillies scampered off into town as Scootaloo asked where they were going.

"It's a surprise!" Dash replied, taking off into the air with her filly buddy holding on tightly around her neck. Within minutes, they were at the police station.

"This is my surprise?" she asked hopping off her back.

"Well... kind of." Dash's voice took on an unfamiliar air of seriousness. "Scootaloo, I need you to be honest with me," she pled, kneeling down to her level. "Has your stepdad kept his hooves off you?"

The orange filly's eyes darted from left to right as if looking to escape, but she knew there was nowhere to run.

"He... uhm... he takes it out on Mom now..."

A fire rose in Rainbow the likes of which she felt the first time she found out about that scumbag hurting an innocent filly. This time, it was time to take permanent action.

"C'mon, we're going to make sure he never touches you again," she added sternly, opening the door to the police station.

Soon after, a gruff unicorn detective specializing in foal abuse cases was asking Scootaloo to describe what exactly happened. Within minutes, they had a case, and had called her mother to the station. She was a lithe pegasus, with a lighter orange coat color than that of her daughter, and a powder blue mane. She was quiet, reserved, and seemed as though a strong gust of wind could easily blow her away.

"Are you this filly's mother?" the detective asked as she came into the interrogation room where Rainbow and Scootaloo were waiting.

"Yes, I am."

"Your name, ma'am?"

"Featherlight."

"Is this your husband?" the detective showed her the folder and mugshot they had on file for habitual domestic violence offenders.

Her mother's chin began quivering as she muttered her answer. "Yes."

"Are you aware he has been physically abusing your daughter?"

She collapsed onto a chair and began to sob, as Scootaloo ran to her. She pulled her daughter into a deep hug as they both cried together. "Y-yes... he wasn't always like this... he used to be so kind and caring..."

Rainbow looked to the detective as he closed the file and took a sip of his coffee. "So what are you going to do about him?"

"This is his third strike. He'll be going away for a long time," he said as he opened the door to allow them exit. Scootaloo and her mother sat in the lobby while a unit was dispatched to their house to arrest their abuser.

Rainbow smirked. Perhaps there was still justice in this world. "What was your name, detective?"

He grinned as he held the door for her, "Axel Foaley."

Rainbow met with Scootaloo's mother out in the lobby while one of the other police officers took Scootaloo to the ice cream locker.

"Featherlight, why stay with him for so long?" Rainbow asked, knowing she had to have known what was going on.

"I..." she sighed. She'd never had to come up with a good reason before now. "I couldn't support Scootaloo after her father died—I couldn't work with my wing injury, so we needed another to help support us. Scootaloo hated me for a long time for how quickly I had to bring another stallion into her life." Rainbow could tell this wasn't an easy story for her to recall.

"When I first met him, he was sober, honest, and he loved both of us, but somewhere along the line, he changed. Without his income, we'll lose the house... now that he's in jail, I don't know what we're going to do."

"Nopony should have to live in fear, you made the right choice," Rainbow assured, placing a hoof on her knee in support. "How much is your house worth?"

Featherlight looked up at Rainbow's confident smirk. "Uhm... probably around 80,000 bits... why?"

Rainbow removed her checkbook from her bag and grabbed a quill from the front desk. Up until this point, the only thing she'd ever written checks for was her rent. She couldn't contain her smile as she finished filling it out.

"Take this, but don't tell Scootaloo I gave it to you."

Featherlight took the check, and gasped.

"That's 100,000 bits. It should be enough to get you guys through for a while, at least until you can find a job that doesn't involve your wings."

Scootaloo's mother was speechless. She barely knew this mare, and yet here she was giving her more money than she'd ever had before!

"I... I can't take this, I barely know you," she whimpered.

"Knowing me has nothing to do with this. After all this little filly has gone through, don't you think she deserves to go to sleep at night not having to worry about whether or not she'll have a roof over her head tomorrow?" Rainbow was careful to control her words. She was glad Scootaloo's mother had finally testified, even though it took her forcing the hoof of the law to do it.

Rainbow was equally angry at Featherlight for allowing any of this to happen in the first place. She knew the stallion she married was dirt, but she let him live in Scootaloo's father's house and abuse them both! Dash didn't know who Scoots' father was, but she was sure he was spinning in his grave for her allowing this to happen.

Featherlight broke down completely, holding her hooves over her eyes as she sobbed. "I made my own daughter suffer just to keep a roof over our heads. What other choice did I have?"

"How about call the cops?" Dash answered, letting her anger slip out a bit in her tone.

"I've been such a terrible mother, no wonder she loves you so much..."

A hoof on Featherlight's shoulder brought her teary eyes to Rainbow's. "You made a mistake," Dash whispered, "It happens. All you can do now is move on, and try to earn back Scootaloo's respect."

She nodded, trying to dry her tears with her hooves.

"Why... why don't you want Scootaloo to know you gave this to us?"

Rainbow smiled. This part was easy. "I lost my dad too. When a filly only has one parent, she needs to be able to believe in her, and know that no matter what, Mom will take care of her. She doesn't believe that now, but if you love her, you'll prove it."

Featherlight pulled her into a hug Dash was more than willing to return as an orange filly with a bit of ice cream smeared on her muzzle and not a trace of tears trotted back to her mother and her hero.

"Mom, they have more ice cream here than I've ever seen before!"

She noticed her mother was still a bit teary eyed. "How come you're still crying?"

"No reason sweetie," she sighed, glancing to Rainbow, who gave her a wink. "But I've got some good news for you. I'm going to sign you up for flight school next year."

Scootaloo's eyes lit up. "Really?" she shouted happily, "You mean it?"

"Yes sweetie, I do."

After a touching hug, Detective Foaley approached them in the waiting area.

"Your husband has just been picked up, and he's on his way here. You two can head home now."

"Thank you detective," Featherlight replied "And thank you Rainbow."

Dash smiled, glad to have finally gotten her number one fan's home life stabilized. "Just remember our secret."

Scootaloo and her mother set off toward home, while Rainbow checked the time. It was only three in the afternoon! There was still fun to be had and money to be spent!

Dash stepped out of the police station, breathing in the fresh air of the warm spring day. The weather ponies seemed to be getting along just fine without her. Things were finally starting to go her way! She hadn't been subject to random bouts of nausea for quite a while, and as she was quick to remind herself for what had to be the eighth time that day; she was a millionaire!

A glance toward the mayor's office, and a fiery mane stuck out like a sore hoof as she descended the steps of Ponyville city hall.

"Spitfire!" Rainbow called, fluttering over to her new captain, "What are you doing here, don't you live in Manehattan?"

"Hey Dash," she answered coolly, "I just had to come by to get the permits for our first pre-season show."

"You mean it's here?"

"That's right, but I'm glad I caught you," she began, making her way to the final step, "we still need a physical on file for you. If you've got time, head over to the hospital and tell 'em what you're there for, and they should speed you right along."

Rainbow swallowed, a lump growing in her throat, "Physicals don't require... uhm... shots, do they?"

Spitfire was a bit taken aback by her nervousness, "Not usually." Her eyes narrowed a bit as she searched Dash's expression, "Why?"

"No reason!" Rainbow answered quickly. Dash saluted her captain and assured her she'd have it done before the day was through.

Spitfire smiled, "That's what I like to hear. Our first practice is a week from today in the Cloudesium. Get flying."

Dash made the short flight across town to the hospital and walked into the waiting room, past some sick and injured ponies and toward the front desk where Nurse Redheart sat.

"Evening Rainbow!" the nurse called cheerfully. "You don't look sick, what brings you by?"

"The Wonderbolts need me to get a physical, you guys have the time? I've got a lot of other stuff to do today."

"Oh I read the announcement in the newspaper! Congratulations on making the team!"

Rainbow blushed, but only by reflex. She loved the attention, and would have been shouting it from the rooftops the moment she had made the team, if she hadn't been so drunk.

"The doctor can see you now, head right through that door and enter the second room on your left," she instructed, as Rainbow did as she was told.

Okay, second room on the left... she thought as she opened the door and stepped into the exam room. Nothing but a bench with the crinkly paper, a stool, and a few charts and medical instruments decorated the room. The orange biohazard box made her shiver as she visualized its contents.

Within moments, the door opened again, and the striking young doctor that had healed her wing strode into the room. "Ah, Ms. Dash, good to see you again. You've been avoiding trees, I hope?" he teased, looking over her chart.

"Very funny doc, I'm just here for a physical. I'm a Wonderbolt now, you know," she added, beaming.

"Yes, yes, the whole town saw the announcement," he replied flatly. "Now then, only a few tests, and you'll be on your way."

After a blood pressure, reflex, lung capacity and wing strength test, the doctor levitated a small cup towards her.

"I think you know what to do with this," he said expectantly, preparing to leave the room.

"Uhm, fill me in doc."

"Oh, I won't be doing the filling, that's your job," he added, still halfway out the door.

"Come again?"

"Pee in the cup, Ms. Dash, and knock when you're finished."

Dash was shocked, "Gross! You some kind of freak or something?"

A deadpan stare put Rainbow in her place.

"I was just kidding, geez, learn to take a joke, doc," she muttered as he mouthed 'thank you' before shutting the door.

After her deed was done, the doctor took her sample down to the lab for analysis.

About ten minutes passed before he re-entered the room with a few papers. "Alright Ms. Dash, your kidneys are functioning normally, you don't show any signs of diabetes, and you're negative for any performance enhancing substances, but there is one thing that may interest you," he said, looking over his glasses at his patient sitting on the rolling stool, idly swaying back and forth.

"And that is?" Dash asked.

"Congratulations!" he smiled, clapping his hooves together happily "Oh, I love this part of the job,"

"Uh, thanks, but you said you already knew I was a Wonderbolt," Rainbow replied slowly, still unsure of what he was talking about.

"Oh no, not that," he explained, "You're pregnant!"

Dash's jaw hung slack for only a moment, before she began laughing, "Oh doc! You really had me going there! Sorry about the crack about you not having a sense of humor earlier, you totally nailed me!" she howled, clutching her sides.

She looked through her squinted eyes to see an expression of seriousness on his face.

"Why—why aren't you laughing? You got me pretty good!"

"It isn't a joke, you're really pregnant."

"Sure I am, and you fight crime in your spare time," she giggled.

Reluctantly, he showed her the chart he was holding, "See this?"

"Yeah," she said, catching her breath,

"And see how this is two lines, instead of one?" he asked, pointing to a small strip of paper taped to her file.

"So what?"

He grabbed the stool, and stopped her swaying, turning him to face her. "You. Are. Pregnant."

His tone, combined with the evidence he'd shown her let Dash know he wasn't kidding around. Her breathing became faster as she began to feel a panic rise in the back of her head.

"P—Pregnant?"

"Yes."

"I am?"

"You are."

Her breathing picked up as she began to hyperventilate. The world around her lost its color before fading to black.

Rainbow came to with her doctor standing over her, waving smelling salts under her nose as she knocked them away.

"Glad to see you back with us," he commented, giving the salts back to a nurse as Dash propped herself up onto her elbows.

"What happened?" she asked, rubbing the back of her head.

"Well, you found out you were pregnant, and fainted."

"Fainted? Rainbow Dash doesn't faint, I must have just passed out," she huffed, before she caught a very important word in the doctor's sentence. "Did you say pregnant?"

The doctor flew a pillow flew beneath Rainbow's head in case she decided to faint—err, pass out again.

"Yes, you are indeed Ms. Dash, or should I say, Mrs. Dash?"

Rainbow's jaw hung slack for a second time, "No, you shouldn't! How in Celestia's name can I be pregnant?"

"Well, I don't think I have to explain that part, do I?"

Rainbow blushed, she knew she and Mac had been intimate more times than she could count, and he didn't exactly let her know when he was about to... go.

"Have you been keeping track of your heat cycle?"

"My what?"

"Well, that might be why you're pregnant. Your heat cycle is the certain period of a month or two—depending on the mare—when they are most likely to conceive, if a stallion's... element, were to be introduced to her."

"So... Oh dear sweet Celestia, this can't be happening," Dash mumbled.

"I'm afraid it is, but there is nothing to be afraid of, I assure you, it is a natural part of life."

"But not my life! I'm not ready for foals! I can barely stand more than a whole day with Scootaloo! And she loves me!" Rainbow balked, putting a hoof on her forehead. "How am I supposed to fly with the Wonderbolts when I'm fat?!"

"Relax Ms. Dash, you'll still be able to fly for at least four months. After that, I must insist you limit your flying to normal speeds and maneuvers."

Dash was somewhat pale as she faced the doctor, getting to her hooves. "How far along am I?"

"Not far, I'd say just inside of a month. There was also quite a bit of alcohol in your system, so you'll need to knock that off."

Rainbow swallowed what little saliva she had. "W—will you tell Spitfire?"

"Oh no, patient-doctor confidentiality is a sacred bond! I could however, sell this news to the tabloids and make a small fortune..."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"And you said I didn't have a sense of humor," he grinned.

"That's not funny!"

He smiled, "To you, maybe. Now, you're free to go, I'm sure you've got some news for a certain stallion."

Rainbow left the hospital in a daze. She flew straight back to her house, her mind and expression, blank. Upon arrival, she looked at the pile of money still spread out on her bed. Gently, she sat on her bed and laid on her back, staring up at her cloudy ceiling. Slowly, she looked down at her flat, taut belly.

She rubbed her hooves across it, and began to cry.

12. Deflation

Chapter 12- Deflation

"Alright, nothing to see here ponies!" Rainbow barked, clearing out the crowd and pushing her way to Twilight's mailbox. Taking the rope tethering Mac to land in her mouth, she strode into the treehouse.

"Howdy miss Twilight," Mac said, bumping his head on the top of the doorframe, "Rainbow! Watch where you're pullin' me!"

"C'mon, don't pretend your head can't take it," Rainbow teased, pulling him down to ground level before taking a seat on his back.

"So, uhm... how come this is happenin' to me?"

Twilight looked to Spike, "Can you get me the potions book please?"

"Unabridged, or..." Her glare answered his question for him. "Right," he said before setting off to the appropriate shelf.

"Well, if I had to guess, you've been taking that lightness potion a lot haven't you?"

"Eeyup."

"That may be the culprit, but let me check and make sure," she said as Spike handed her the book on potion abuse symptoms. Flipping through the first few chapters, she landed on the right page. "Here we are."

"Overexposure to a poorly crafted lightness potion, such as the variety needed for earth or unicorn ponies to walk on clouds can lead to symptoms such as autonomous nipple syndrome, achey breaky heart, hungry hungry hipbones, rocky mountain oysterism, wandering eyebrows, but in most cases, extreme lightness."

"What in the... just what in tarnation is rocky mountain oysterism?" Mac asked, his mouth falling open. The shopkeeper certainly hadn't warned him about any of those side effects.

"I think it's best if I don't tell you," Twilight added flatly, closing the book and giving it back to Spike. "Now, unfortunately, the only thing that cures your condition is time. It could be anywhere from four to twenty four hours before you won't float away."

"Four ta twenty four hours? How'm Ah supposed to do my chores if Ah don't weight nothin'?"

"Don't worry Mac, I'll ride you while you work," Rainbow laughed, earning a blush from Twilight and Macintosh. "Not like that! Geez you guys are pervs." she huffed, folding her forelegs across her chest from atop her mount.

"What I would suggest," Twilight said, walking to a desk drawer and opening it with her magic, "is to tie weights onto your yoke until you think you're cured, and to stop drinking lightness potion." She retrieved from the drawer a set of ankle weights normally used for exercise. "Until you get back to the farm, these may help you keep your hooves on the ground. My parents bought them for me, but I never use them."

"I'll say," Spike muttered from across the room, flinching at Twilight's glare.

Mac slipped the four weights around his massive hooves. They barely fit, and were hot pink, but other than that, they seemed to be working. Rainbow cautiously slid down Mac's flanks and onto her hooves, keeping her forelegs pressed against his back, releasing her weight little by little until she settled on all fours.

"Well Ah'll be! Twilight, you're the smartest darn pony in town!" Mac grinned, taking a few cautious steps around the room.

Twilight blushed, "It's no big deal," she giggled softly. "But if you're going to keep visiting Rainbow, you should just use an enchanted item, not potions," she said, retrieving an old costume jewelry necklace that went with one of the many gowns Rarity had made for her. She cast a spell, causing the large turquoise medallion to glow. "There, now as long as you wear this, you can walk on clouds." she smiled proudly.

"Thanks Twilight, Ah'm gonna head back to the farm and help Granny get started on supper," he said heading towards the door before Rainbow called to him.

"Don't make dinner, we're going out tonight."

Mac stopped, turning around slowly. "We are?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you at the farm in a few. Now kick rocks, I need to talk to Twilight for a second."

Mac shrugged. He loved Granny's home cooking, but would never turn down a night out with his Rainbow.

After he left, Twilight could guess what Dash wanted to talk about.

"Still no idea how you're going to tell Mac about this huh?" she said, rubbing her belly.

"Well, I was thinking at dinner, but I want you guys to be there too, so I don't have to repeat myself five times."

Twilight's eyes lit up. She very rarely got to eat out, and when she did, she was restricted to places that also served dragon food. "I'd love to! Just let me check my funds and I'll—"

Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively, "Don't worry about money, everypony is on me."

Twilight was a bit shocked, "Rainbow, I know you're a Wonderbolt now and all, but are you sure you want to pay for seven meals?"

"I got a two million bit signing bonus, I think I can handle it," Dash replied smugly.

Her friend's eyes widened a bit. "T-two million?"

"Yeah," she said, rubbing her foreleg against her chest nonchalantly, "This place need any work done? I've been looking for ways to spend it besides on myself."

"Not that I know of..." Twilight began, though temptation soon crept its way into her mind. "But... the new editions of the Encyclopedia Equestria came out last week, and I don't have near enough bits to—"

"Done. Anything else?"

"No, nothing!" Twilight said, just before another thought came to her, "Well, my mattress is a bit stiff..."

"Got it, and a mattress straight from Cloudsdale. I'll pick you guys up for dinner at eight, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, Rainbow!"

"No prob," she said, turning to leave Twilight's through a window. "Oh, do you think you could have Spike send some letters out to the rest of the girls about tonight?"

"I'd be happy to!" Spike called from his seat on the steps. "So how long have you been pregnant?" he asked, draining the color on Dash's face.

"Spike! What have I told you about eavesdropping?" Twilight snapped.

"I wasn't eavesdropping, I was standing here the whole time!"

"You can't breathe a word of this to anypony, get it?" Rainbow said.

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed, I Pinkie Pie promise." he said, motioning with his claw around his mouth.

Rainbow sighed. "It's just as well, the sooner he finds out, the sooner this can stop being some kind of secret."

With a pump of her wings, she exited the library, leaving a few feathers in her wake. As she flew, she couldn't help but think of the huge announcement she had in store for Mac. Her worry quickly intensified as the red barn of Sweet Apple Acres appeared over the horizon. Rainbow swallowed the lump in her throat as she sped closer to the farm.

Landing softly on the porch, she steeled herself against the reactions that could be waiting for her once she'd delivered the news. She'd gone over every single outcome in her head, from the most likely to the farfetched. Even as she pulled on the door and let herself in, her mind raced with the different possibilities and consequences of her actions, or lack thereof.

What if Granny Smith disowns Mac for getting me pregnant without us being married? What if she forces us to get married, or worse, makes me become an apple farmer!

Before she knew it, she was standing in the living room. Mercifully, none of the Apples seemed to be home. Hearing hoofsteps above her, she decided to check upstairs for AJ or Macintosh. She knew Granny Smith didn't do much stair climbing anymore, and they'd never leave Apple Bloom home alone.

Heading up the steps, she noticed the door to Macintosh's bedroom closed, shadows from beneath it moved under the door. As she approached cautiously, Mac stuck his head out.

"Howdy, Rainbow, it's a little early for supper ain't it?" he asked, figuring she was here to pick him up already.

"Yeah, I'm not here for that," she said, avoiding eye contact and shuffling toward him nervously.

Mac raised a curious eyebrow. "Then what are ya—Oh, Ah get it," he replied with the best sultry grin he could muster.

"Granny and Applejack took Apple Bloom ta Rarity's ta get a costume for the school play this weekend, they won't be back for a few hours..." he said, motioning toward the simple bed with a flannel sheet in the corner. Rainbow's nervousness morphed into anger. Is that all he thinks about?

"Is that all I am to you? Just some pegasus you can call on when you want a piece?" she growled.

"Woah now, you're the one usually initiatin' this kinda thing, Ah just thought Ah'd do it for a change," he said defensively.

"Yeah well that's all we ever do when you come over anyway, we never just talk or anything!" she snapped. She was getting really upset, and even she wasn't sure what brought this on. Perhaps she was just looking for an argument so she wouldn't have to tell Mac the truth about her soon to be extending belly.

"We do just talk, but us 'just talking' always leads to... you know."

"Don't be such a foal Mac, just say it! Sex! It leads to sex!" she shouted. Mac looked around nervously, as if somepony would hear them, even though he knew full well the house was empty. He was sharper than he was given credit, realizing that this wasn't the normal Rainbow he'd fallen for.

"Why are you yelling?"

"Because...!" she began, faltering after her initial word. "Because I've got something I need to tell you."

Mac's expression softened, drawing a hoof around her shoulder, her led her to his bed, both of them taking a seat on the edge.

"What is it?" he asked earnestly, though Rainbow still couldn't look him in the eyes.

C'mon Rainbow, he deserves to know! Remember what Twilight said?

Dash took a deep breath, and finally met his gaze with her own. He took her hooves in his own and whispered, "You can tell me."

"I..." Rainbow sighed, "I... have Wonderbolts practice in a few days, so I'm gonna be gone for a while. I was just worried you'd... I don't know, find somepony else."

You coward.

Mac smiled, before kissing her forehead gently. "You think Ah'd find somepony else just cause you'd be gone for a few weeks?"

"I know it's stupid, but, I just heard that long distance relationships don't usually work, and I... just didn't want it to happen to us." she lied. She was quite thankful she was better at lying than AJ.

"You know Ah'd never let that happen. Ah love you, Rainbow," he whispered, pulling her into a hug.

Those words should have meant the world to her. They should have told her that he would never betray her trust, and always be there for her whether she was a Wonderbolt, or a simple weather manager. Instead, they stung her heart like angry hornets. He was honest with her, and she willingly lied to him. She didn't deserve a stallion like him.

"I love you too, Mac."

She stood from his hug, wiping her eyes with her hoof. "I'm gonna go get ready for dinner, the girls are coming with us, so we'll be riding to Canterlot in a limo."

"A limo? To Canterlot?" he asked surprised.

"Yeah, I got a two million bit signing bonus to the Wonderbolts. I'm kinda rich," she added nonchalantly.

"Y-you are?"

"Yeah. Be ready by eight, okay?" she added, giving him a quick kiss on the lips before leaving, her smile hiding the shame she felt for having chickened out of telling Mac her news.

The hours flew by as Rainbow sat alone in her room with Tank, thinking about her earlier cowardice. Sitting against her headboard with her knees to her chest, she slowly rubbed her eyes. There was no reason for her to be afraid of Mac's reaction. He even said he loved her! If that wasn't proof of his devotion, nothing—in her mind—was.

She glanced to her right, Tank slowly making his way toward her from the other side of her bed. "I bet you've never had this problem," she sighed, Tank simply giving her his ever-present smile. "Yeah, I figured."

Dash looked to the clock. It was nearly eight. She had already arranged the ride, and it would be at her place in a few minutes. A knock at the door let her know it was time. She put on a brave face, determined not to let her own shortcomings ruin what may be one of the few nights out she gets with her friends and stallion.

After setting out food and water for Tank, she climbed into the stretch chariot, a team of four buff pegasi stallions pulled the car, while one drove from the front. The interior was lavish. Two bottles of chilled champagne, a small snack bar, even two chandeliers managed to fit hanging from the roof, while not taking up too much space.

The driver was smooth, Rainbow not even noticing they had been moving until the cab stopped at Sweet Apple Acres. Though she tried, Rainbow had been far too pre-occupied with the events of hours before to appreciate all that her newfound wealth could buy her. The door opened, as Macintosh climbed inside.

"Wow..." he gasped, having never seen anything this opulent before. "Rainbow, this must've cost a fortune!" he said, Applejack sliding in behind him.

"Lordy, this must be how the princesses travel!" she said in much the same manner as her brother.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice huh?" Dash chuckled at her friends reactions. "I may not see you guys all that often when I'm practicing, so I thought we could all go out together before things get busy."

After AJ and Big Mac, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity all climbed in at their respective stops, and expressed similar sentiments.

"Now Rainbow, where exactly are we eating?" Rarity asked, pouring herself a glass of champaign.

"I dunno, some place Spitfire recommended, La jument ele-something."

Rarity gasped, her eyes widening, "La Jument Elegante? Oh I'm criminally underdressed for such a place! I heard you had to have reservations months in advance to even get a table!"

"Nah, they save a whole section for Wonderbolts and their guests, I just had to tell them I was coming and how many ponies I was bringing." Dash replied, looking somewhat bored by the whole ordeal. Twilight sensed there was something wrong with her, but couldn't place her hoof on what. She knew Rainbow loved to eat, and this restaurant had never received a bad review. It was even rumored that the princesses themselves ordered take-away from this restaurant, exclusively, and had done so for the last five hundred years.

As they arrived, Twilight stowed her misgivings as the door to the limo opened via the doorpony.

With the opening of the door, a flood of camera flashes filled the cab. One by one, the Elements of Harmony filed out, assaulted by the flashbulbs of the paparazzi. Most of them hid their eyes from the blinding light, with the exception of Rarity.

She nearly had to be dragged into the building as the marble in the opulent restaurant lobby shone brightly beneath the massive chandelier hanging below a mural depicting the two princesses during the moment of creation.

Soft violin music filled the air as Rainbow and Mac approached the front desk. "Reservation for Rainbow Dash."

"Ah, oui madame, ze Wonderbolt section iz zis way," the maitre d' said, his thick fancy accent and pencil thin mustache leading the way. The Elements and Mac followed him to a private corner, where none other than Spitfire and Soarin sat, enjoying a few drinks. In such a high-society environment, they looked just as out of place as the unclothed ponies entering the section.

After they had all taken a seat at their table, each took a look at the menu. Except Rarity, who continued to prattle on about the decor, and how she couldn't believe they had let them in without the proper attire.

"This place is fancy, Ah feel like Ah'm wastin' a fortune just breathin' this air," Macintosh whispered, earning a giggle from Rainbow.

"Yeah, this isn't really my kind of place, but Spitfire said the food was amazing here," she replied as their waiter approached the large round table with a bottle of wine.

"Madames and Monsieur, a vintage bottle of Chateau de Stallion from 1671," he said, floating the bottle in front of him, presenting it to the table.

"Thanks, but we didn't order any wine," Rainbow said.

"Yes Madame, it is compliments of the lovely Miss Spitfire," he explained, motioning a hoof to the table where Spitfire and Soarin were sitting. Rainbow's captain gave a wave, as did her companion.

"Oh, uh... thanks."

The waiter went around, filling each wine glass with a bit of the expensive liquid, before Rainbow waved him off. "None for me, thanks."

"Very well madame, may I bring you something else from the cellar?"

"A water would be great."

With a curt nod, the waiter departed, leaving the wine to chill in a bucket beside the table.

"My goodness Rainbow, this wine is exquisite!" Rarity gasped, taking her first sip.

"Ah dunno, it ain't no apple cider, that's for sure." Applejack replied, grimacing after she took her first sip.

"Ah gotta go with Applejack on this'n," Mac agreed.

"Yeah, just look at all these ponies. All dressed up and proper. Why would anypony wanna eat someplace that's so... stiff?" Rainbow asked, earning shrugs from everypony but Rarity.

"Some ponies just prefer class over stuffing their faces at a buffet." Rarity added snidely.

Ordinarily, Rainbow would have been up for a fight, arguing with Rarity was one of the most fun things Rainbow could do on a rainy day. Now, however, an overwhelming sense of apathy kept her from calling all this high society junk stupid. She simply slouched back against her chair, resting her hoof against her cheek.

"Yeah, I guess," Rainbow replied. This seemed more shocking to her friends than the free bottle of thousand bit wine.

"Uh... Rainbow, are you feeling okay?" Twilight asked, muscling down another sip of her wine. "Don't you want to tell Rarity how wrong she is, or... anything?"

"Nah," she yawned, looking down at the perfect whiteness of her empty plate.

"So Rook, you too good for wine?" A voice from behind her said. Turning in her high backed chair, she saw Spitfire and Soarin had wandered over from their table.

"Oh, uhm... it's not that, I'm just..." she knew she had to think of a good reason why she wasn't drinking. "I'm still recovering from the initiation party." she smiled, her cheeks flushing a bit as she lied to her boss.

"Ah, yeah they can be a bit intense," Spitfire replied, casting a glance at Fluttershy. "Hey, aren't you that supermodel?"

"Oh! Uhm... no, I used to be a model, but that was before I... uhm... quit."

Spitfire raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You, quit being a supermodel?" she asked, before stomping a hoof on the floor. "Wait a sec, I remember you now! We were at Photo's after-party, and you said you'd never tasted tequila before! Remember how much fun you had?"

All eyes were on Fluttershy as she shrank behind her curtain of pink hair, her cheeks a furious red.

"Uhm... not really, I'd rather not... talk about it."

Spitfire chuckled, "I don't blame you, I've never seen anypony swing from a chandelier like that!"

"Oh dear..." Fluttershy put her hoof to her forehead in shame as Spitfire got the hint.

Soarin, however, remembered a different pony. "Applejack, I have gone too long without tasting some of that sweet pie of yours." he grinned devilishly, as Applejack blushed about as much as Fluttershy.

"Shucks, you know where ta find it. Ah'm always out there on the farm," she said softly, meeting his eyes briefly.

"Well I think I'm a bit overdue for some... Apple."

Big Macintosh cleared his throat rather loudly. Soarin took the hint.

"Good to see you too Mac," Soarin said, stepping away from Applejack. "I'm sure we'll all see each other through Rook. The first show of the season is in Ponyville, you know. We'll be sure you all get good seats."

"Okay, we'll see you guys later. Rainbow, the first practice is next week at five a.m. in Cloudsdale. Don't be late!" Spitfire said as she and Soarin left the restaurant.

The waiter reappeared and took their orders, and in no time at all, their food was brought out. Everypony at the table agreed it was far and away, the best food they had ever tasted. Amazing couldn't begin to describe it. As the euphoria of the meal wound down, Twilight had become acutely aware of an announcement Rainbow was failing to make.

"So Rainbow, is there a special occasion we're here celebrating?" she politely hinted.

Rainbow sighed. "Nope. Just here because I might not get to see you guys very often once the season starts."

Twilight's polite smile deflated. "So there's no life changing event you want to let us in on?" she persisted.

"Nope," she replied flatly, taking another bite of her sauteed squash.

Twilight surrendered, somewhat surprised by her friend's hesitance to say what Twilight thought they had confirmed she would.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," Rainbow said, getting up from the table.

"Me too!" Twilight echoed, standing up from her chair and following her friend.

Once they had entered the bathroom, Rainbow stared her down. "So go ahead. Tell me how I should tell all our friends how Mac knocked me up," she snapped bitterly.

"Rainbow, I didn't come in here to berate you, I just thought you wanted us all to know."

Dash sighed, propping her forelegs on the marble countertop in the bathroom and looking at herself in the mirror.

"I do want you all to know... I'm just not sure if I want Mac to know."

Twilight was more than a bit surprised by this admission.

"So you want your friends to know, but not the father of the foal?"

"I knew you wouldn't understand, you aren't the one with a thing growing inside you," Rainbow lamented, still staring into her own reflection.

"It's not a thing, it's a foal. Yours and Mac's foal. Why on Earth would you not want him to know?"

"Because!" Rainbow snapped, hating the fact that they were having this conversation for a second time. "I'm afraid of what he'll say."

"Afraid? What do you think he's going to say?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know... that's the scary part."

"Rainbow," Twilight began, but soon realized she was out of explanations. Truly, she had no idea what being in Rainbow's horseshoes would be like. "Okay, do what you think is best. I won't tell anypony, I promise."

Dash scoffed, "You know, part of me wished you'd just force me to tell everypony."

"I can't force you to do anything. If you're not strong or brave enough to tell your friends, then there's nothing I can do about it." Twilight smiled, leaving the bathroom and knowing her last ditch effort of back-hoofedly calling Rainbow a coward might just work.

She returned to the table, followed shortly by Rainbow. The check came, and without incident, Rainbow paid it and left. Twilight was quite sour during the limo ride home, a queue Pinkie was quick to pick up on.

"What's the matter Twilight? That fancy food give you indigestion?"

"No Pinkie," she cast a glare at Rainbow, who cast one right back. "Something else did."

"Oh! Was it those hard rolls? I didn't think they looked very good."

The limo dropped off everypony at their house before taking Mac and Applejack home. Rainbow decided this was her stop, and disembarked with the Apples.

Sensing something was amiss, Mac told AJ to go inside without him.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked astutely, his ankle weights still safely securing him to the ground.

"It's... I have something I need to tell you. I was supposed to do it at dinner, in front of everypony, but... I chickened out."

Mac eyebrows furrowed in concern. Rainbow was usually the most open and honest mare he knew besides his sister. "Okay, do you want to tell me now?"

"Yeah," she sighed. Rainbow's heart was pounding in her chest as she began to sweat. She looked into his sharp green eyes, the moon reflected brightly in them, illuminating the freckled face and messy mane she'd fallen for in the first place.

"Mac," she began, cutting her eyes away from him. It seemed looking him in the eyes made it that much harder.

"I... I'm..."

Say it Rainbow! Twilight is right, he deserves to know! Just one more word!

"Pregnant."

Mac's eyebrows raised slightly, as though he'd just seen a ghost.

"Pregnant, like... with a foal?"

"No, with an alien!" Rainbow snapped. Sometimes her beau could be a bit thick.

His shock soon morphed into a grin, his teeth shining against the moonlight.

"That's great, Rainbow!" he shouted, hugging her tightly as tears of relief streamed down her face and onto his shoulders.

"Ah can't believe it, Ah'm... Ah'm gonna be a Daddy!" he cried happily, swinging the mother of his foal around as he stood on his hind legs. "Now we can get married! Oh, Granny and Applejack are gonna be so happy when they hear the news!"

Rainbow pulled herself away from Mac's embrace. "M-married?"

"Well, yeah! You think Ah'd not marry you after you're havin' my foal?"

Rainbow's eyes darted from her hooves to Mac's face. Something about that word made her uneasy.

"Ah know this is just a formality by this point, but, Rainbow Dash, will you marry me?"

Rainbow looked at the kneeling stallion before her. Was this what she wanted? Was he, what she wanted?

She didn't have an answer for any of those questions, and that scared her more than any thunderstorm or hurricane ever could.

"I... I, have to go!" she stammered, taking flight back to her house, leaving a dumbstruck Macintosh in her wake.

"Rainbow?" he called weakly. He got to his hooves, and went inside the house. Applejack had already turned in, and the living room was dark. He held back his feelings until he reached his bedroom door. Hurrying inside, he removed his yoke, laid down on his bed, and did something he hadn't done since his parents passing many years ago.

He cried.

13. Best Laid Plans

Chapter 13-Best Laid Plans

Rainbow's mother woke with a start. A knock on her door at three a.m. was certainly out of the ordinary. Another series of knocks hurried her as she put on her bathrobe and strode towards the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

She opened the door, expecting to give the lashing of a lifetime to some unfortunate salespony or drunken wanderer. Instead, her daughter stood at her door in tears.

"M-mom?"

She blinked, a bit stunned to see her at this time of night.

"Sweetheart, what's the matter?" she asked, pulling her daughter into a hug as Rainbow began to break down. She let her inside and led her to the couch. As they both sat, she let Dash cry. A mother knew when she was needed to listen, and when she was needed to speak.

She stroked her back as she wept. After a few minutes, she decided to speak up.

"Rainbow, do you want to tell me what's got you so upset?"

Dash sniffed her tears up as she tried to dry her eyes. "Mom, how did you know you wanted to marry dad?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Wave smiled fondly, recalling the mental image of her father. She reached for a picture she kept on a small end table by the couch. It was taken on their honeymoon to the Mareibbean.

"Well, there were a lot of things. Your father was... different from any other stallion I'd ever met. He represented everything I loved about the world, and then some. He was loyal, funny, hard working... and there was just something about him. I tried to put my hoof on it for years, but I just couldn't," she explained.

Rainbow glanced over, a few tears still clouding her vision.

"The thought of him with anypony else just... put a weight in my stomach. One day he asked me to marry him and I couldn't think of any response but 'yes'."

Wave smiled down at the image of her husband before setting it back on the end table.

"Mom... you remember Mac, right?"

"Yes," she recalled, before putting two and two together. "Oh sweetie, he didn't break up with you did he?"

Rainbow scoffed. "No, he did the opposite. He asked me to marry him."

Wave gasped. Since Rainbow was born she had dreamed of her daughter finding the pony meant for her. Every parent dreamed of their daughter looking radiant on their wedding day. Unfortunately, it seemed her daughter wasn't on the same page.

"And what did you tell him?"

Rainbow inhaled sharply, steeling herself against her coming admittance. "I didn't say anything... I ran."

"Oh sweetheart, you just left him?" she asked, pulling her into a hug, a few sobs escaping Dash's clenched jaw.

"It wasn't an easy choice!" she snapped, pushing her away. "He just sprung it on me because..." Rainbow took a deep breath. "Because I told him... I was pregnant."

Wave reserved her reaction. "I know this is probably a difficult time for you, and if you don't want to talk about it right now, you don't have to."

Rainbow nodded, standing from the couch and heading to her old room. Wave followed her to her door.

"Mom, thanks for letting me stay here."

"Do you think I'd turn away my little girl?"

Rainbow smiled as she hopped into her blankets. Her mother followed and sat on the edge of her bed. She stroked a hoof through her daughter's mane as Rainbow simply rested and thought about everything the day had brought.

"It's not that I don't love Mac, but being stuck with somepony for the rest of forever? That's so..."

"Scary?" Wave completed.

"Yeah."

Wave nodded. "It's not a decision to take lightly. If it were just the two of you, I would tell you to spend some time apart to think about each other," she suggested softly. "But, it isn't just the two of you. It's the three of you, and raising a foal by yourself is hard work. It's a full time job, on top of your full time job."

Rainbow groaned, rolling over. "Yeah, I remember what that was like."

Her mother sighed, drawing a hoof across Dash's back. "Rainbow, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you like you wanted me to, but I had to work twice as hard without your father to keep our heads above water!"

Dash turned, glancing at her mother apologetically. "I know. It's not your fault. You're a great mom. I just worry that I won't be as good as you are even with Mac."

Wave leaned in close to Rainbow's ear. "As long as you keep what's best for your foal in the forefront of your mind, you'll be a wonderful mother."

Rainbow rolled back over, looking into her mother's rose-colored eyes. "You think so?"

"Yes, my little bluebird, I do," she replied, kissing her daughter softly on her forehead.

"Will you please stop calling me that?"

Her mother rose from her seat on the side of the bed, preparing to turn back in for the night.

"Never. Goodnight, Rainbow," Wave whispered, pulling the door adorned with Wonderbolts posters closed. "Oh, and dear?" she paused.

"Yeah?"

"Try not to keep Macintosh out in the cold for too long, okay?"

That was a reminder she could have done without.

Like I don't have enough to worry about...

"Okay, goodnight."

Applejack awoke bright and early the next morning, ready to begin her routine of chores. It could get a bit dull, but she found contentment in the repetition of the day's labors. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and tossed her flannel sheets to her hooves. Grabbing her hat, she quickly fixed her hair and headed down stairs, expecting to smell whatever Mac had whipped up for breakfast.

As she descended the stairs, she noticed Mac sitting at the table, his broad back to her. "Howdy, Romeo," she teased, walking past him to the kitchen. She glanced around, noticing no dishes were dirty, and the stove hadn't even been turned on. She turned back to Mac, noticing the empty glass bottle on the table. Three 'X's covered the label. She connected the dots rather quickly.

"You skippin' breakfast this mornin'?" she asked softly. She'd never seen Mac drink before sundown before.

He shifted, acknowledging her words with a flick of his ear.

"Nope, got it right here," he said, placing a full bottle of amber liquid with the same three 'X's across the label onto the table in front of him. Applejack strode across to face him, a confrontational glare across her features.

"Just what in tarnation do you think you're doin'?"

Mac held up the bottle and bit the cork, pulling it out with a loud pop before pausing to glance into his sister's eyes. He spit the cork across the table and defiantly took a gulp.

"What business is it a yours?" he mumbled. He set the bottle back down, focusing his bloodshot eyes on his sister.

Applejack controlled her anger. She knew yelling and waking up the rest of the house wasn't going to do any good for anypony.

"You're my brother, that's what business! Just what in the hell were you gonna tell Applebloom if she came down here and saw you like this?"

A scowl crossed her brother's lips. "The truth. That she'll think she'll love somepony one day, and they'll take all the happiness and joy she feels when she's around them, and crush it right in front of her."

Applejack could hardly believe her ears. Her brother was drunk at sunrise! Ignoring what was obviously the booze talking, she continued to try and get to the bottom of his situation.

"What about your chores?"

"Fuck 'em," he burped, taking another defiant swig before Applejack reached across the table and smacked the bottle away, sending it shattering on the floor.

"Ah don't know what's gotten into you Macintosh, but you better get yourself cleaned up. Ah ain't havin' no drunks livin' in this house!" Applejack growled. Mac returned her glare, standing from the table. He towered over his sister, and with a single hoof, slid the entire heavy oak dining room table across the room, slamming it into the wall with a loud clatter. Applejack held her ground. Mac broke his glare and walked past her and back up the stairs.

Applejack fought the urge to chase him up the stairs and continue yelling at him. She knew trying to get anything out of him when he was like this would be useless. She'd wait until he was sober this afternoon before talking to him.

The noise of their dispute woke Applebloom, who tenderly peaked her head down from above the stairs.

"What was all that racket?" she asked, yawning.

Applejack sighed. "Nothin', sugarcube. Mac and I were just... havin' and argument is all." She moved into the kitchen to sweep up the broken glass and mop up the liquor. "Stay up there for right now, there's glass down here."

"Ah saw Macintosh headin' to his room. Is he sick? He looked real bad."

Applejack stopped sweeping and dumped a pan full of shards in the trash. "Yeah, he is."

Applejack finished her chores with the help of her little sister, who was more than happy to attempt earning her cutie mark via the day's labors.

As Applebloom and Applejack pushed the last bushel of apples into the barn, Applebloom noticed the work normally done by her brother sat unfinished.

"Ain't we gonna do Mac's chores on account'a him bein' sick?"

"No ma'am. He brought this on himself," she replied, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"He brought bein' sick on himself? How'd he do that?" she asked, hoping to discover a fool proof way of skipping school.

Applejack paused. "Uh... sorta. He must caught somethin' from somepony. Now don't you worry about him, Ah'm gonna make sure he's all better by tomorrow."

"Can Ah help ya make him feel better? Maybe Ah can get my cutie mark in—"

"No!" Applejack snapped, startling the excitement from Applebloom's eyes. "Ah mean, ya can't help because you could catch what he's got."

"Oh," she sighed. Applebloom paused before raising an eyebrow. "Wait a second, couldn't you catch what he's got too?"

"Listen, your brother's not feelin' well and he'll be better by tomorrow. Right now, the best thing for him is rest, and to not be disturbed. Understand?"

"Yeah," Applebloom replied, defeated.

"Come on now, Sugarcube, no reason to feel down. Tell ya what, while Ah finish up the chores, why don't you round up your friends and go crusadin'? No reason to let a good Saturday go to waste!" Applejack reminded her, mussing her mane as her little sister began to perk up.

"Really? Thanks Applejack!" Applebloom scurried off down the dirt trail toward town, eager to begin another day in their seemingly endless quest for their cutie marks. This left her plenty of time to deal with Macintosh. Back when they were foals, Granny Smith took care of any disciplinary measures that needed meeting out. However, once Macintosh had matured enough to become the head of the household, he and Applejack began to raise Applebloom as best they could. Now that Big Mac had a problem, Applejack wasn't sure how to go about fixing it by herself.

She knew her brother was no problem drinker. Up until now the only thing that upset him was sleeping in late and missing his early start on his chores. Something must have really shaken him to have him acting like this. Applejack could feel it.

She only had to feed the chickens before heading inside to deal with her brother. As she strapped the bag full of chicken scratch onto her back, she contemplated what she would say to Mac. Thinking back to last night, she figured it had to have something to do with Rainbow Dash. After all, the two of them stayed on the porch while she went inside and readied herself for bed. From that point until morning, something had come between them, but Applejack was hard pressed to figure out what.

What on earth could drive 'em apart like that? she thought, idly watching the chickens file out of their house and began scratching and pecking at the dirt. Try as she might, the only thing she could think that happened was the worst case scenario. However, Rainbow just breaking it off with Mac out of the blue didn't make sense. Why now? Why right then?

She absently scratched the ground with a hoof, recalling that her pal Rainbow wasn't exactly renowned for her logical and sensible decision making. Before long, the chickens had eaten their fill, and Applejack headed toward the farmhouse. The creaky steps denied her the element of surprise, though Mac's loud snoring assured her she wouldn't need it.

Coming to his door, his thunderous snoring was almost too much to stand. She pushed the door open rather loudly. Startling a grunt out of him, he blearily rolled over to face the intruder. Realizing the mistake he had made all night and most of that morning, he rolled back over, ears flat against his head.

"Don't you go back ta sleep Macintosh! We got things to discuss," Applejack hissed through gritted teeth.

"Ah ain't in a talkin' mood," he replied, not bothering to turn away from the wall.

"You're never in a talkin' mood." She strode over to Mac's bedside. "Now, Ah'm your sister dammit and Ah want ta know what's got your tail in a twist!" she insisted.

Mac rolled over and worked his jaw, before falling silent again. He figured Applejack was more hurt than angry at him. "Applejack..." he sighed, "Ah asked Rainbow to marry me last night," he said quickly, nearly spitting out the words.

Her mouth fell open. "You did what?" Applejack blinked, letting his revelation sink in for a moment before regaining her wits. "Have you lost your mind? You've only been datin' for a few months!"

"Well Ah didn't say it 'cause Ah was plannin' on it!" he snapped back defensively.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "What d'ya mean you weren't 'plannin' on it'?"

Macintosh avoided her steely gaze. "She told me last night that she was pregnant."

Applejack was dumbstruck. If her mouth weren't already open, it would have been on the floor. After a pause that seemed to last a lifetime, she spoke, "You mean to tell me you got one of my best friends... pregnant?"

"Eeyup," he sighed.

"Are you a Celestia damned moron?!" she shouted, nearly shaking the house. "Why in the hell didn't you use protection?"

"Ah... Ah don't know. It just never came up." he shrugged sheepishly.

"You were too busy thinkin' with the wrong head, Mac!"

He winced at the yelling, and the fact that his sister was doing it concerning such a normally taboo topic in the Apple house. Applejack's harsh expression dropped as she had a rather disconcerting realization.

"Ah suppose Rainbow turned you down?"

Macintosh sat up in his bed, his lower back against the pillows. "Not exactly, but she didn't say 'yes', either," he explained, his shoulders drooping and expression falling seemingly with each word. "She just sorta... left."

As upset as she felt for Rainbow Dash doing this to her brother, she couldn't hope to try and empathize with what somepony as brash as Rainbow was going through.

"She'll come around," she assured, taking a step towards his bedroom door. "You know you're gonna have twice as much work tomorrow, don't ya?"

Mac nodded, feeling as though more work was exactly what he needed to keep his mind off of his heartache.

"Alright, well get yourself cleaned up. If Applebloom asks, you had a twenty-four hour flu."

Rainbow woke to the smell of hot breakfast, the scent alone nearly lifting her from bed. She rubbed her eyes and tossed the Wonderbolts bedspread aside as she stretched her wings. After a yawn, she wearily trotted toward the kitchen.

"Hello Rainbow, did you sleep well?" Wave asked cheerily, sipping her morning coffee at the table.

"Yeah," Dash replied, taking a seat, a hint of resentment in her tone for her mother being so chipper while she was still an emotional wreck. Rainbow could guess why. Every mother wants to be a grandmother.

Wave folded the morning's paper neatly on the table after she had read it. "I'll be at work until five this afternoon, but you're welcome to anything in the fridge."

Rainbow looked at the plate of eggs and daisies before her, feeling her appetite vanish.

"Thanks, mom... I think I'm just gonna—" A burp cut her off as she felt a familiar and hated nausea rising in her stomach. Wave recognized that face instantly and moved the kitchen trash can in front of her daughter in the nick of time.

After a few heaves and watery eyes, it was over as quickly as it'd come. "I'm sick of this bucking kid already!" Rainbow snapped, washing out her mouth and settling at the table once more.

Wave stroked her daughters back as she sat, hunched at the table, wings drooping and mane frazzled.

"When I was pregnant with you, I was doing this almost every day for the first few months. Consider yourself lucky, sweetheart." Rainbow shot a quick glare at her before staring back down at the food still waiting on her. "You need to eat as much as you can. Your baby needs it."

Rainbow set a hoof on her forehead and began to cry, her mother pulling her into a hug. "Rainbow, what's the matter?"

After a few sobs, Dash wiped her eyes, and steadied her voice. "Wonderbolts practice starts in a few days. How am I supposed to be competitive if I'm puking every five minutes?" she asked sharply.

Wave looked at her daughter with a bit of concern. "You mean you haven't told them you're pregnant?"

Rainbow looked at her as though she was dumb. "Duh! What if they kick me off the squad, or make me return their money?"

"Will they?" Wave asked.

"I don't know! I didn't read the contract and I don't have a copy of it!" she snapped, getting irritated at her mother being unhelpful by asking obvious questions.

"Employers don't like being kept in the dark about their employees' health, Rainbow. You won't be able to do your tricks in a few months, don't you think they should be made aware of that?"

"But what if they fire me?" Dash pled, annoyed her mother still didn't see her concern.

"Most jobs allow mares maternity leave. I couldn't imagine why a group of stunt fliers wouldn't," she assured her, all the while continuing to gently stroke her daughter's back. "Now, I have to get to work or I'll get fired. See you this afternoon, sweetie."

Rainbow sighed. "Bye mom..."

Forcing herself to eat, she finished the eggs and flowers, but found herself still hungry. Searching through the kitchen, she glumly scanned the cupboards, finding an apple. Its bright red skin reminded her of a certain stallion she'd left heartbroken. She was scared of facing the Wonderbolts, but terrified of facing Macintosh again. She hadn't said she wouldn't marry him, but she didn't say she would, either. Any other answer besides an enthusiastic 'yes' may as well have been a thinly veiled 'no'.

Taking a bite out of it, she flopped back down at the kitchen table, mentally admonishing herself for chickening out the night before.

Why didn't I just say yes?

14. Penance

Chapter 14-Penance

Rainbow lay sprawled out across her mother's couch. Her eyelids sagged as she glanced at the clock. All she'd done all day was eat and nap. Not unusual, but these activities were usually done in between rigorous practice sessions. There was still sunlight, and she knew she had to keep in shape to be competitive once training began. She forced herself from the couch and shook out the cramps in her wings. She brought them in front of her, preening the delicate feathers gently. It wasn't her favorite activity, but it was necessary for world class stunt flying. Afterwards, she opened the front door and inhaled the cool air of Cloudsdale. Something about the air at this altitude just seemed fresher than the air at ground level.

She took a running start before leaping into the sky. She had only spent a few days out of practice, but her muscle memory needed to be completely re-formed. She practiced her rolls, turns, dives and climbs, even daring to perform a new trick or two. As always, flying settled Rainbow's worried mind. She knew that she would eventually have to face Mac and explain herself, but for now she simply flew higher, as if altitude would separate her from her earthly troubles. No matter how high she flew, there was one growing problem she couldn't escape. She found an abandoned cloud and sat, catching her breath while watching the earth ponies below go about their business. Reclining on the billowy cushion, she idly ran her hoof across her belly, swearing she could feel it starting to swell.

Rainbow rubbed her eyes and moaned.

How did I let myself get sucked into this? she wondered. Wonderbolt practice was a few days away, and she knew she'd never be able to perform with the black cloud of her conscience hanging over her head. She rolled over, casting a squinty gaze toward the setting sun. The orange beams of light cut through the other clouds, offering a bit more daytime before moonrise.

Rainbow took a deep breath. She'd have to tell Mac something. She didn't know what she was going to say, nor how she would say it. However, the longer she let him dwell on their last encounter, the harder it would be to regain his affection. Rainbow had to act, and she had to act tonight. She pushed the cloud out from under her and spread her wings, gliding back to her mother's house just as she arrived from work.

"Hello, Rainbow!" her mother called. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, settling in front of her mother on the porch. "Listen, I think I'm gonna head home and talk to Mac."

Wave smiled draping a wing over her daughter's withers. "Good luck, dear. Whatever you decide, I will support you."

Dash nuzzled her mother and received a peck on the cheek before readying herself for takeoff.

"Thanks, Mom."

With that, Rainbow set off into the twilight, headed toward Ponyville's most famous apple orchard.

Mac had just finished all of his chores, including the work he'd missed yesterday. His day in bed allowed him time to think about his predicament. He was never usually the type to let his personal life interfere with his farm work, but as Mac had been told, love makes one do crazy things.

Dragging his plow the last few feet into the barn, he unhitched himself and breathed a sigh of relief. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he blew out the lanterns in the barn and locked it up for the night. The moon was just rising over the mountains when Mac decided to take a stroll along the grounds, one destination in mind.

He counted the rows of apple trees, making sure to turn between the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth row. As he walked, he thought about the memories he'd made these past months with Rainbow. They'd nearly gotten poisoned, blown up, and arrested, and that was only their first date! Or, what Macintosh considered their first date. Rainbow wasn't like the other mares he'd courted. She didn't care about nice restaurants or fancy nights out or expensive gifts. All she cared about was time spent with him. He kicked himself for asking a free-spirit like her to marry him so soon. He sighed as he picked his head up and looked toward the moon. He was almost there now, just a few more paces.

Just because you're the father of her foal don't mean she'd want to marry an ol' goat like you.

Macintosh finally came to his destination. An apple tree set in between the rows, though much bigger than those surrounding it. Two granite slabs rested in the shadow of its branches. He often found himself here when he needed space to work out a problem. Mostly, it wasn't his problem, but somepony else's. He sat on his haunches in front of the silent monoliths.

"Ma, Pa," he whispered, staring longingly into the headstones. "It's been a while since Ah've come ta visit, Ah know."

His ability to speak began to falter. He began pulling the weeds that had begun to grow haphazardly around the graves. When his parents had passed, the Apples were out at the site almost every day, maintaining it and placing flowers and other sentimental items for the deceased. As the years wore on, they soon stopped visiting daily, then weekly, then once a month, then on the anniversary of their death, and then, they simply found themselves too busy. After a thorough weed pulling, Mac took his seat before them.

"Ah dunno if y'all can hear me, but Ah've got a problem," he sighed, the beams of moonlight illuminating the clearing in which he sat. "Ah wish y'all were still here. This is the kinda thing a son should be askin' his Ma and Pa about..."

Mac threw off his yoke, rubbing his eyes with a hoof. Sometimes being the pillar of a whole family is tough on a pony so young. Where was Mac to go when he had a problem? When everypony in his family looked to him for strength, how could he afford even a moment's weakness?

"See, there's this mare..."

It was dark by the time Rainbow arrived in Ponyville. Her heart was in her throat as she flew, hoping she could just talk to Mac, and not have to go through Applejack.

Above the farm, she noticed the dull red hue of Mac's coat in the moonlight. He walked into the groves, and she was quick to follow. Quietly, she hovered from tree to tree, hoping he'd come to his destination so she could talk to him without being interrupted.

As she tailed him, a lone apple tree much larger than the others stuck out in between the rows. Below this tree sat two granite slabs, leaning with age against the very earth that anchored them. Rainbow sighed softly. The location wasn't going to make it easier. Settling on a nearby tree branch, she heard him begin speaking. From her vantage, she could barely make out his words, but his tone said more than he ever could. For the first time, she was hearing a clear worry, an uncertainty and loneliness she thought she'd never catch from him. Though she wanted to swoop down to him, she felt a bit more listening might just save her some time, and maybe some embarrassment.

"... Then I asked her to marry me and, well... she ran off," Mac concluded, looking up from his hooves to the silent headstones before him, as though expecting a reply. He broke his stare and scoffed, realizing how stupid he felt for airing his problems to two chunks of rock.

"Ah don't know why Ah did this. It ain't like you can hear me any better here than anywhere else..." he sighed. Running a hoof through his mane, he reclined onto his back, casting his gaze skyward to the brilliant stars above his inheritance. He closed his eyes, trying to visualize what his parents would have to say on the subject, but found it quite difficult.

The fluttering of wings drew his attention away from his thoughts. Mac opened his eyes to see a familiar face standing over him. He scrambled to his elbows as Rainbow took a step back.

Neither said a word as they caught each other's gaze. The silence was worse than all the morning sickness in the world, and Rainbow knew she'd have to be the one to break it. She exhaled slowly.

"H-hey Big..."

He pulled himself onto his haunches. "Howdy," he said flatly. Rainbow supposed she deserved that, but didn't let it deter her from her mission.

"Mind if I sit?" she asked. Being this cautious was certainly something new, but she couldn't afford to mess this up. Not just for her sake, but for her foal's sake as well.

"G'head," he grunted.

Rainbow took a seat next to him, both facing the headstones of the deceased Apples.

"Mac, I know I messed up when I ran off the night before." She exhaled. "It's not that I don't want to be with you, and have this foal, it's just... marriage. It's so final, you know?"

Macintosh stared into the trunk of the tree shading them from the moonlight. Rainbow's ears flattened as she shifted nervously on her haunches. "You know, I came here without knowing what I was going to say to you. I figured the words would just come out, and fix all this." She sighed, running a hoof through her mane. "I'm just now realizing that they aren't."

She turned to look at him, the sinking feeling of failure settling in her chest as Mac's stoic response only fueled the fire. "I'm sorry for running from you Mac, I just don't want to lose you because I was afraid..."

Mac exhaled sharply, casting a glance toward Dash. "We ain't got ta get married if you don't want to," he whispered.

Rainbow withdrew slightly. "You mean, you don't want to marry me anymore?"

He shook his head. "No, it ain't like that. 'Course Ah'd marry you. When Ah asked you, Ah thought it was because that's what a stallion's supposed to do. Especially to a mare whose havin' his foal."

Rainbow inched closer. "Then... what made you change your mind?"

Mac smiled for the first time in a day and a half. "The mornin' after you left, I sat at our kitchen table, and got 'bout as drunk as a stallion can get," he recalled, keeping an eye on Rainbow as he smiled. "And durin' that time, when I was about to pass out in my bed, I thought about you. I thought about all the memories we'd already made and the reasons I wanted to be with you in the first place."

Rainbow gulped, unsure of whether or not this story would end well for her.

"And?" she said weakly.

"Did you know Fluttershy had a crush on me?" he asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Really? Oh," she whispered, realizing the stallion Fluttershy had a crush on had to have been Macintosh. She couldn't believe she didn't make that connection earlier.

"Yeah, she told me when Ah was fixin' her chicken coop," he continued, staring back at his parents headstones. "She asked me what it was about you that Ah liked."

Rainbow was on the edge of her seat. Ordinarily she'd just demand Mac get on with it, but sensitivity here was crucial.

"What'd you tell her?" Rainbow asked, eyes shining with concern, though Mac hardly acknowledged her.

"Ah couldn't think of anythin'. Not one reason in particular as to why Ah found myself cravin' your company," he sighed. He could have sworn he heard Rainbow's heart break. A sniffle and a hoof wiping away her tears let him know he'd best get on with the rest of his story before she decided she'd heard enough.

"So, what?" she choked behind her soft sobs. "You liked me for no reason?" she asked, a bit of venom coming into her voice.

"Eenope. While I was in bed yesterday, Ah told ya Ah was thinkin' about the same thing Fluttershy had asked me," he replied, finally turning to face his crying marefriend. "You know what Ah realized?"

"What?" Rainbow answered softly, expecting either joy or soul crushing sadness within the next few seconds.

"Ah realized Ah'd rather fight with you for the rest of my life, than make love to anypony else."

Dash's bottom lip began to quiver as she covered her face with a hoof. She prided herself on her toughness, and to just cry like a school-filly—in front of Macintosh no less—was quite the blow to her ego.

"Ah realized that bein' married isn't what mattered. Bein' with you is what mattered. If you don't want to get married, then we ain't got to. All Ah want is for you to be happy," he finished as Rainbow screwed her eyes shut, flushing a fresh line of tears down her cheeks.

"Mac, I'm sorry I ran out on you like that... I do want to be with you, and I want you to help me raise our kid," she whispered, a shiver running down her spine as Mac embraced her unexpectedly. They held each other for what felt like hours below the old apple tree. Rainbow buried her nose into Mac's chest, taking in a scent she wasn't sure she'd ever smell again until a few moments ago.

"I love you, Mac."

He smiled, planting a kiss on her forehead and squeezing her close. "Ah love you too, Rainbow."

Moments passed like the cool summer's breeze as the two ponies basked in the joy of their reconciliation.

"So... I guess these are your parents, huh?" Rainbow asked.

"Eeyup. That's Ma and Pa. We usually take better care of their site, but we've been pretty busy as of late..." he sighed.

"It's okay, I haven't been to my Dad's spot since he died," she said flippantly.

"Ah'm sorry to hear that Rainbow." He reclined on his back as Rainbow followed suit. His foreleg wrapped around her shoulders, she leaned into him, recalling from the train ride from Prairieville how good of a pillow he was.

"It's no big deal..." she whispered.

"How come you ain't visited him?"

"It's not like he cares whether I do or not," Rainbow scoffed. "He's dead."

"You seemed to like that locket he left ya."

"That's... that's different."

Mac turned, digging her muzzle out of his chest. "How's it different?"

"It... It just is, okay?" she snapped. Wisely, Mac dropped the subject, content to simply have his marefriend back in his company.

"Alright then," he exhaled. "It's gonna get chilly out here in a bit, we might want to make our way back."

Mac sat up and stretched his legs as Rainbow flexed and loosened up her wings.

"You're welcome to sleep here if ya don't want to fly back."

Rainbow yawned, considering her options. "What time is it?"

Mac looked to the moon, "Ain't past midnight yet."

Dash grinned, grabbing Mac's yoke and putting it on herself. "Geez, this thing is heavier than it looks!" She strained, lifting her neck only to have it flop back down. Mac removed his signature article of clothing and placed it over his shoulders. Rainbow fluttered onto Mac's back and settled in, her forelegs around his neck.

"I guess I could be persuaded into crashing here tonight," she said quietly. "If you're lucky, there may not be much crashing going on."

Fortunately for Macintosh, there was quite a bit of crashing to be had. His bed was just big enough for the both of them, without having to pile on top of one another. Though he had every right to be asleep by now, Mac couldn't let go of what Rainbow had said earlier.

It's not like he cares whether I do or not, he's dead.

How could she be so callous about her own father? The difference in the attitudes between her parents and his own was shocking enough to warrant a question.

"Hey," he whispered, getting a nudge and a 'hmm' from Rainbow.

"If ya don't mind my askin', how come you've never visited your father?"

She rolled an eye free and glared at him before burying her face back into his chest. "I thought I told you not to worry about that?"

Mac didn't continue, simply settling in for a good night's rest before Rainbow spoke up again.

"Because... it's just, I'm kind of..." she sighed, struggling to nail down a reason. A moment more of silence passed before she continued, as if being persuaded to.

"The day he died, we got into a fight. It was over something stupid. I was getting ready for school, and that day was show and tell. He told me he'd let me use his locket he'd been given by his great great grandfather that had fought in the Lunar war," she explained, taking a calming breath as she recalled her most hated memory. She hated herself for what she'd done, and how insensitive she was to her own father.

"I told him I didn't want to take a stupid old locket, I wanted some cool war medals, or to take one of my Wonderbolts dolls." Mac felt her get closer to him, her forelegs wrapping ever tighter around his torso as she continued.

"I'll never forget the hurt look on his face. I was just a dumb foal, I didn't even realize how important it was to him. He left it on the kitchen table, and told me I could take it if I changed my mind." Oddly enough, he noted Rainbow's composure was actually holding together.

"I told him I wouldn't, and I'd rather take one of my Wonderbolts dolls. That was the last thing I said to him. I didn't even tell him I loved him." Mac felt her lips trembling against his coat as she tried to calm herself. "All he wanted to do was show me something special from his side of the family, and I threw it back in his face."

Mac worked his jaw, trying to think of an appropriate response, but found silence to be more than enough. He hated the fact that Rainbow had to hide such a painful memory. Mac deplored the feeling of helplessness he was saddled with. He knew nothing he could say would change the past, or take away Dash's guilt or shame. All he could do was hold her, and stroke her mane while she vented her years of bottled up hatred for herself and the events that led to her father leaving her and her mother.

A sob from his side and the moisture of Rainbow's tears on his coat broke the silence. "I didn't even get to say goodbye..." she whimpered.

Mac rolled over, holding Rainbow close to him, making sure she felt safe and extending to her the same caring he'd extend to a family member. "You could still say it,"

Rainbow wiped her eyes. "How?"

"Well, what if you went to where he is and said goodbye? Would that make you feel better?" he asked.

"Uhm... I guess, but do you think you could, uh, go with me?" She looked into his eyes, a rare sense of vulnerability shining through her tears. She was looking to him for support, for help. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. The moment that assured him that she was as serious about the two of them as he had been all this time.

"Of course Ah will."

15. Memory of a Memory

Chapter 15-Memory of a Memory

By the time Rainbow's eyes had fluttered open, she was alone in Mac's bed. She squinted at the light of the rising sun slicing through the half-drawn curtains, pulling the heavy flannel blanket over her head. Content with the newfound darkness, she attempted to drift back to sleep, only to be roused by her one weakness.

Food.

Its siren song wafted up the stairs, through the thick blanket and straight up her nose.

Damn those Apples and their amazing cooking, she thought, rolling out of bed and stretching her legs and wings. Arching her back like a cat waking from a nap, she let out a massive yawn. The soft popping of her back and joints continued as she took a few steps towards the door.

Once in the hall, the smell of baked apples and cinnamon mixed with the light scent of haycakes being fried on an iron skillet—soaked in lots of butter. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she was now eating for two. Every day she looked down at her belly, expecting to see the first sign of her bump, only to find the same lithe build as before.

Trotting carefully down the stairs, she greeted Applebloom and Granny Smith as they sat at the table. Granny Smith sipped her morning coffee and read the paper with her comically-sized reading glasses, while Applebloom colored happily beside a half-eaten stack of haycakes.

"Mornin' Rainbow!" the energetic filly said cheerfully. Truly it was a miracle of youth to be that enthusiastic that early in the morning.

"Hey kiddo, what're you up to?" Dash asked, reaching the bottom of the stairs.

"Ms. Cheerilee wanted us to draw and color a picture of somepony special to us, and Ah'm drawin' my family and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!" she replied, holding up the partly-colored drawings of a large pony (Mac), a mare with a hat (Applejack), a pony with a shawl (Granny Smith), and two fillies her size (Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo). Next to the big pony, she noticed a shorter pony with wings and a bit of a pot belly.

"Who's this?" Rainbow asked.

"That's you, silly!" said Applebloom cheerfully. "Scootaloo is so jealous that you're gonna be my sister-in-law!" She smiled, setting the drawing back down in front of her and taking a crayon in her mouth to continue coloring.

"I don't think my belly's that big!" she complained light-heartedly.

"Well it ain't now, but it will be soon! Ah heard y'all talkin' after you took Applejack and Mac out to that fancy supper," she mumbled, her words muffled by the crayon between her teeth.

Rainbow cast a glance at Granny Smith, who nodded knowingly.

The old Rainbow Dash would have vehemently denied such allegations. The old Rainbow Dash would have been upset that a filly had been eavesdropping on her personal life.

The new Rainbow Dash figured everypony in town would know about her, Macintosh, and their 'situation' eventually. In fact, she felt somewhat honored that Applebloom was already considering her part of her family, even though the idea of marriage still frightened her.

"That's a great drawing, you'll get an 'A' for sure." Rainbow smiled, rubbing behind Applebloom's ears before taking a seat and helping herself to the remainder of the breakfast.

After the inhalation of a dozen haycakes and all the baked apples on the table, Rainbow noticed Granny Smith's pleased smile. Before she could question it, Applebloom bid them both goodbye and headed off to school, leaving the Apple elder and Rainbow in the kitchen.

"It's good to see you feedin' my great-grandbaby well."

Coming from anypony else, this would have seemed like a back-hoofed insult, but Dash knew she meant well. Rainbow would have to have a serious talk about loose lips in this family, but decided that would not be appropriate after nearly breaking the heart of the only patriarch the Apples had left.

"Yeah, I'm not just eating for me anymore."

Granny nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "Mac tells me you've got quite th' day planned," she added, settling back in her chair.

Geez Mac, anything you didn't tell her?

"Yeah," she replied softly, not having put much thought into what would go on after Mac had done his chores for the day.

"Plannin' to say goodbye, are ya?"

Rainbow nodded, glancing back up at the elder Apple as she continued to sip her coffee stoically.

"Ah'll tell ya what Ah told my grandfoals: goodbyes don't mean a thing."

Dash raised an eyebrow. "What? How could goodbyes not mean anything?"

Granny smiled, setting her coffee mug down on the table.

"Macintosh and Applejack were in your position when my son and his wife passed," she began. "They went to school just like any other day, only to come home to news Ah wouldn't wish on anypony. They didn't get to say their goodbyes, 'cept at their funerals."

Rainbow scoffed. "At least they got to say them."

"You know how they felt after they said 'em? After all was said and done?"

Dash shrugged.

"Just as bad as before. Th' pain, th' sorrow, it didn't go away, it stayed right where it was. Right in their hearts."

Rainbow worked her jaw, trying to figure out why Granny Smith would be telling her all this. Before she could sort it out, she continued.

"Ya see, sayin' goodbye doesn't mean anything, because the way th' time ended ain't important. Th' time spent is what's important. Healin' wounds of th' heart ain't gonna come from outside, it's gotta come from in here," said Granny, tapping a hoof on her frail chest.

After a moment's pause, Rainbow spoke. "So, you're telling me I shouldn't go see my Dad?"

"Heavens no! You need closure, dearie. But don't expect seein' where he lay to fix the ache in your heart. You're the only one who can fix that."

Granny finished her coffee and slowly rose from her chair, taking her plate to the sink and offering to take Rainbow's.

"No, I'll get it," Dash said, still trying to absorb the wisdom of the elderly mare hobbling around the kitchen.

Dash excused herself from the table, taking a step outside to get some fresh air. She had nearly stuffed herself with food, hoping that it would be enough for the foal. She knew she couldn't eat like that and expect to be competitive at practice—which was a day away.

It was going to take true grit and determination to secure her spot before she had to stop flying. On that note, she began to worry. She sat on her haunches on the front porch, the cool morning breeze swaying through the trees and ruffling her feathers.

Oh Celestia, what am I going to tell Spitfire?

She bit her bottom lip softly. Surely there was maternity leave for something like that. The leave of absence was what worried her the most. Dash simply couldn't stand the thought of not being able to practice for eight whole months! She'd go insane just imagining it!

She took a deep breath and sighed. At least she'd have Mac to help her through it. Eleven months was a long time to have something growing inside you and eating half your food. Rainbow looked toward the fields, scanning for any sign of Applejack or her brother, but seeing none. It was still pretty early in the morning, and she knew Mac wouldn't be done with his work until at least the afternoon. Figuring she could do with a nap on her familiar cloud bedding, she spread her wings and gave a few strong pumps, steadily lifting her into the air.

It took a bit more strength than usual, but then again, she had just eaten way more than she was used to in a single sitting. Once at altitude, she closed her eyes, letting the wind whip through her mane and the fresh air only the pegasi had the privilege of breathing fill her lungs. Something about the air at ground level just seemed less clean. There was dust, pollen, animal dander, pony dander, all kinds of impurities that mixed together and masked the wonderful smell of pure atmosphere.

Her home popped up over the horizon, rope ladder still dangling lazily from her porch. As she approached, she noticed the mailmare had left her quite a few letters. She landed softly on her porch near the pile, careful to not blow them away. Dash scooped the letters up in one hoof and opened her door. Closing it with her hind leg, she flopped down on her incredibly comfortable couch and set the letters on her chest, going through each one.

Bill... junk... junk...

A small postcard with all sorts of baby stuff decorating it stuck out from the drably colored hues of the other envelopes. Rainbow examined it, noting it came from the Ponyville hospital, more specifically, the doctor she had seen for her physical. Flipping it over, the postcard revealed she had an appointment for a checkup for herself and her foal next week. While she was a little miffed they'd already set up the appointment without her knowledge or consent, she figured she could get a few answers out of the doctor while she was there.

Her mother may have been a scientist, but theoretical physics and medicine were entirely different fields. She was honestly surprised Pinkie hadn't tried to throw a party of some kind for her. In fact, she recalled that she and Twilight had left on a bit of a sour note the last time they were together. Rainbow laid on her couch, trying in vain to fall asleep, but the nagging guilt of not announcing her big news to her friends like she told Twilight she would kept her awake.

Alright, alright! I'll apologize! Stupid conscience... she thought, rolling off the couch and leaving the mail in a heap on her living room floor.

Twilight had just finished an early lunch. She and Spike were preparing for a trip into town for Spike's annual checkup at the hospital. A dragon specialist flew in from Canterlot to make sure her number one assistant was on track to grow into a healthy beast in a few hundred years.

"Spike, are you ready to go?" Twilight called from the table, levitating her dishes into the sink. Spike came down the steps, a spring in his step as he hopped down every other one. He loved visiting Dr. Toboggan; he always gave him the tastiest gems for being a good patient.

"Yeah, ready when you are," he said happily.

"Don't think you're going to fill up on gems at the doctor's office," she warned, as she donned her saddlebags. "Did you clean your scales?"

"Yes," he moaned. He knew the interminable questions weren't far behind.

"And brush your fangs?"

"Yes, I trimmed my claws, washed my spines and filed down my tail point," he deadpanned. "Can we go now?"

Twilight smiled contently. It wasn't too long ago that she had to hover over him to make sure he was actually doing everything he said he was. "Yes, we don't want to keep Dr. Toboggan waiting."

Spike hopped on Twilight's back as she opened her front door, only to inhale a startled breath.

"Rainbow? What are you doing here?"

Dash glanced into Twilight's eyes before casting them back down at her hooves. "I came to apologize."

Twilight was floored. She'd just heard a word she swore wasn't in Rainbow's vocabulary. "For what?" she stammered.

"Well... I told you I was going to do something, and I didn't do it," Dash clarified.

Twilight looked at Rainbow quizzically. "What are you..." she began before recalling their last outing. "Oh, you mean the dinner?"

Dash simply nodded.

Much to her surprise, Twilight smiled. "Well, it's okay. You'll tell the others when you're ready."

"That's the thing... Applejack already knows, and I was wondering if you could do me a favor and let the rest of the girls know..." She sighed, hating to ask Twilight to try and add something to her meticulously planned schedule.

Instead of the polite decline she was expecting, she received enthusiastic approval. "You... you want me to tell the girls?" She grinned, the stars in her eyes betraying her excitement to be a part of one of the biggest events of her friend's life.

"Yeah, I've got Wonderbolts practice starting up tomorrow, and I didn't think I'd have the time to—"

Twilight waved a hoof dismissively. "Say no more! Consider the girls informed!"

An easy grin tugged at Rainbow's lips. "Really? You don't mind?"

"Of course not!" Twilight insisted. "I just hope you're ready for the party Pinkie's going to throw for you. She'll probably invite the whole town!"

Dash chuckled. "Well, they were going to find out sooner or later."

Noticing her bags, Rainbow asked the obvious question, "You guys going somewhere?"

"Yeah, we've got a doctors appointment," she replied. "Spike's annual checkup. The first one since he lost all his baby fangs!" Twilight added in a maternal tone, much to Spike's embarrassment.

"Can we just go, please?" he insisted, not wanting to be subjected to any other comments from his surrogate mother.

"Alright, alright, keep your scales on, mister," she said, turning around to him.

"I'll let you guys get going," Rainbow answered, taking a step back, knowing Twilight would probably teleport.

"Thanks," Twilight said. "Have fun at practice!" she added, charging her teleportation spell.

"Thanks, see you guys later!"

With that, Rainbow took to the air before Twilight had a chance to singe her feathers with magic.

Back at her floating home, her couch was calling her name. Sinking into it on her back, she once again found herself asleep. Her dreams bounced back and forth between the glory of her Wonderbolts career and the unfamiliar territory of foal raising. Restlessly, she slept—tossing and turning before a deep voice roused her from the chaos in her head.

"Rainbow?"

She woke with a start. Her racing heart was quickly calmed by the green eyes of Mac as he stood over her, nudging her awake with a foreleg.

"Hm... five more minutes..." she joked, rolling over with a smile. Truthfully, she was a mix of excited and nervous about their plans today.

"C'mon now," Mac insisted as she rubbed her eyes with a hoof, yawning.

"Alright, alright," she groaned, rising from the couch and stretching out.

"Ah got us a cab. It's outside," Mac said, the enchanted talisman Twilight had given him working perfectly to keep him from sinking through her house. He would certainly need it where they were going. Rainbow usually wouldn't dream of using any mode of transit besides her trusty wings. However, lifting Mac was quite impossible, and an earth pony couldn't exactly reach Cloudsdale on hoof.

"Hang on a sec," she said, rushing quickly into her room to grab her locket, throwing it around her neck and leading Mac out the door.

Rainbow piled in, sliding over as Mac entered the coach. A team of four pegasi pulled it, not unlike the limo Rainbow had rented for dinner the other night.

The ride over was mostly silent, Dash finding herself in an unusual place: deep in thought. She recalled the times she'd spent with her father, faint though they may have been. Even though her mother had pictures of him up in her home, she'd often times have trouble picturing his face or hearing his voice. Especially his voice. Only in her dreams did she ever hear what she believed to be his voice, but even then, it was just the memory of a memory.

As the cab rose higher into the sky, Rainbow kept facing the window. An unexplainable nervousness began to settle over her. She knew such emotions were silly at best and unwarranted at worst. She explained to herself that she was simply going to visit her father's grave. Ponies do that all the time! There would probably be other ponies doing the same while she was there!

There was nothing to be nervous about, yet the feeling refused to retreat. As she further contemplated, her mind came alive with questions. What would she do? Just stare at it? What did ponies normally do when they did something like this? She figured Mac might have experience, but decided it might be in poor taste to ask what a pony with a dead parent was supposed to do at a gravesite.

A hoof resting against her own startled her out of her thoughts.

"You feelin' okay?" Mac asked, clearly noticing how nervous she must have looked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She was a better liar than Applejack, but not by much.

"Nervous?" he asked.

Dash glanced over to him, a gentle smile helping to coax down her anxiety. His inherent calm and tranquil exterior were but one of many reasons she adored the big stallion more than she ever let on. "Kinda."

"It'll be okay. There ain't much to be nervous about," he assured her.

"I know," she sighed, hating how her mind simply wouldn't let herself banish the nerves rumbling around in her stomach. Plucking up her courage, she looked to Mac, her eyes alone communicating the fear she would only ever let him, and nopony else see. In a way, Mac was honored she'd allow him to get so close to her emotionally. "I just... what am I supposed to do? Talk to a chunk of rock? He can't hear me there any better than her could hear me here!" she said in annoyance.

"Ah can't tell you what ta do. Everypony does what they feel they should," he replied softly. "That's all you can do; what you feel is right."

If there was one thing she didn't like about Mac, it was how cryptic and vague his answers to questions like this could be. She wanted him to tell her exactly what needed to be done for her to find closure. Yet, just like her mother, he didn't have a straight answer. Being indirect annoyed her more than anything, and it seemed that the older she got, the less clear the choices in her life became.

"Great..." she moaned, turning her head back out the cab window as they crossed the outskirts of the pegasi capitol. The cab slowed to a halt outside a layer of fluffy white clouds on the edge of the city. Mac paid the fare before looking to Rainbow, whose eyes remained trained on the window, as though she were a goldfish looking out with cautious curiosity at the world outside the protective bowl of the cab.

"Ready?" he asked gently.

"Yeah."

They stepped out. The cab pulled away, leaving them standing before the simple cloud gates of the pegasi cemetery. Walking up to a large display near the gate, Rainbow traced her hoof along the raised letters until she found her father's name.

Row A, section four.

Dash looked over the rolling cloud layer kept in immaculate condition by the skykeepers. A few pegasi here or there were placing flowers, or simply reflecting on days gone by—as she soon would be. Mac stepped up beside her, close enough to let her know he was there for her, yet at enough distance to tell her this was something she needed to come to grips with by herself.

Together, they walked into the cemetery, slowly taking in the row after row of similar looking markers, made from a special stone light enough to float on clouds.

"It's kind of funny," she began, perking up Mac's ears. "There isn't anypony actually buried here, like there would be at an earth pony or unicorn cemetery."

"Why's that?" he asked, genuinely interested.

"Pegasi burials are different. We don't belong in the ground."

She sighed, the remorse of not visiting her father's memorial marker weighing heavily on her heart. "They're called sky burials. Once a pegasus dies, they're put on a cloud, carried up to the jet stream, and let go. The winds that we feel since the day we learn to fly take us out over the ocean before the cloud evaporates."

Though it was a rather grim topic, Mac could appreciate the beauty in such a meaningful gesture for the deceased. The earth was tied to the earth ponies, why wouldn't the sky connect the pegasi?

"So Ah take it they did the same with your Paw?"

"Yeah." she sighed as they came to the appropriate row. Rainbow's legs were on auto-pilot as she continually strode toward her father's marker, her eyes glued to the clouds on which she tread.

Mac followed her up until a few paces away. He figured if she'd never come here, there may be some things she wanted to get off her chest, and figured she probably didn't need him breathing down her neck during that time.

Rainbow took a few steps forward, stopping once the words inscribed became readable.

Lightning Dash

Beloved Husband, Father, and Son

Born April 12 1245 D.C.

Ascended August 28 1277 D.C.

Up until this point, Dash had held her feelings in check quite well. Her father was a pleasant, yet distant memory, unable to evoke any real emotions until she read the words on his monument.

Mac heard her sniff up tears as she took a few more tentative steps forward before falling to her haunches before the uncaring stone, a pose he knew all too well.

"Well, here I am," she muttered, unsure of what exactly was supposed to go on. His marker was well-kept—she figured her mother was responsible. She had always asked if Rainbow would have liked to go with her when she was still under her roof, but she refused every time. To come here, was to admit he was truly gone. It was to admit that fate was a cruel and heartless mistress that would rip a father from a foal when she needed him the most. She put it off, bottling her sadness and her anger until this very moment. Twenty years of anguish flowed through her all at once, causing her forelegs to falter, leaving her to fall to her belly as she cried.

Mac stepped toward her, knowing that she needed him now more than ever. He settled next to her as she buried her head in her hooves. His very presence enough to remind her that she was not alone in the pain of losing a parent too soon.

He let her sob, he let her vent all of the pent up emotions waiting to finally free themselves from the bondage Rainbow's strong and brash outward appearance had forced them into. After a few minutes, she raised her head to look once again at the marker, unchanged in the face of her pain.

A large hoof rubbed her back as she let the tears flow silently, cursing herself for allowing such an out of character emotional display. In front of Macintosh, no less.

His gentle caress did little to calm her as she looked down at her tear-stained hooves. "I guess this was what I'm supposed to do, huh?"

Mac remained silent, merely shuffling closer on his belly to rest his head over her own.

A few silent moments passed before Rainbow spoke again. " Do you think..." she began, choking on her sobs before regaining her tongue. "... he'd be proud of me?"

To Mac, this was an absurd question. Yet, he knew why she had asked it. She knew the answer already. She knew that any father would be proud of their daughter becoming a Wonderbolt, becoming what they dreamed of being, even as a filly. He knew all she wanted was to hear the answer from him. To hear another voice outside her family validate her needs and wants. He knew this, and would make sure she did too.

"Of course he would, Rainbow," he whispered. "I'm sure he's proud of you."

That seemed to have the opposite effect of what he'd hoped for. She wept even harder than before, burying her nose in his strong chest as he kept a hoof around her withers, staring into the marker as if it were his own father's.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, Dad..." He heard her whisper into his coat.

They rested there for uncountable minutes as Mac allowed her to gather herself.

Once she began to try and dry her eyes, she looked up at him.

"Granny Smith told me before we came here that goodbyes were meaningless," Rainbow said.

"She told Applejack and Ah the same thing," he replied.

Rainbow stood up and stepped toward the tombstone, running a hoof across its surprisingly rough edges before placing her forehead against it and kissing it. She turned back to Mac and walked back to him, nuzzling beneath his chin. "I feel a little better but, I think she was right," she whispered.

"She usually is," Mac said softly.

"Thanks for being here with me."

"You're welcome, Rainbow."

She brought a hoof to her face and dried her eyes, finally managing to stop the tears from flowing. The locket around her neck swung pendulously as she took it in a hoof. She stared at the inscription that had inspired her these many years, despite not knowing what it meant most of the time.

For the first time since she left Twilight's house, she smiled. Her father had managed to influence her all these years, without physically being there to guide her. Secure in this knowledge, she kept her smile and glanced up at Mac.

"How about we get something to eat?" she suggested, "the baby's starving."

16. The Name Game

Chapter 16-The Name Game

Mac and Rainbow sat behind empty plates at the first diner they had come across. Rainbow wasn't as hungry as she'd thought, though she managed to put down most of her meal. Mac on the other hoof had no such trouble. He idly stared at his marefriend as she picked at the last few bites on her plate.

"Well, now how do ya feel?" Mac asked, slumping back in his booth.

Rainbow shrugged. "Better, I guess..."

Mac nodded, resting a hoof on his chin as he waited for the check. "Better than before, at least?"

"Yeah," she replied. Rainbow pushed her plate away just as the waitress came by with their bill. Macintosh reached for it, only to have his hoof pushed away. "I got this."

He smiled, "Ya sure? Just 'cause you're rich and famous now don't mean ya have ta pay for everythin'."

"Yeah, I'm sure. You guys need your money for the farm." She placed the currency on the table and glanced at him. "Speaking of, how's it holding up?"

It was Mac's turn to shrug. They were doing okay, but one bad harvest would have dire consequences for his family. After all, they had to sell a good amount of cattle just to pay for the windows Rainbow had broken.

Even though Applejack and Big Macintosh were a team, Mac had always felt the need to take responsibility for anything that ended up going wrong or not working out on the farm. He knew his sister would be fuming if she found out he thought the farm was more his responsibility than hers. They both worked hard every day, but the heavy lifting, the field plowing, the tree planting were all done by him, and him alone. The hardest labor was the kind he took the most pride in. Only he was capable of doing such work, and the feeling that would well in his chest after seeing the result of a hard day's labor was second only to getting all the apples out of a tree in a single buck.

As Rainbow waited for his answer, he considered his options. He could lie to her, say the farm was just dandy and be done with it for now. Or, he could confess the farm's financial hardships in detail, and pray his marefriend wouldn't mind fronting the money to get the repairs and equipment they needed to keep the orchard from going under. He found neither option very palatable. He wasn't a liar, but at the same time, Rainbow was very clearly the breadwinner in their relationship, and though it would seem silly and sexist to most, Mac's identity as a male found itself under siege by Rainbow's exorbitant salary. The stallion was supposed to pay for the mare, fight for her honor, and defend her if necessary.

Mac realized some of those ideas may have been a bit dated for the modern, 'liberated' mare, but wrong or not, those were the only standards he had to measure himself against. So far he was barely meeting one out of three. What would happen when their foal is born? Would he be the one at home changing diapers while Rainbow was off earning money on tour?

Though he wasn't as strict on gender roles as his folks might have been, the idea instilled in him that he should be the one providing still nagged at his conscience, especially when Rainbow paid for things like this.

"It's... it's going well."

Rainbow narrowed her eyes at him from across the table. "Horseapples," she replied. Was she really that good at reading him?

"Sorry?" he said, a bit confused.

"Don't lie to me, Macintosh!" Dash snapped. Apparently she was that good.

His ears folded back as he scratched his mane with a hoof. "Well, Ah..." he began, but faltered in his attempt to cover himself. "Alright, so we ain't great, but it could be worse..."

"Worse?"

"Well, if this season's crops were to fail... then, yeah."

Rainbow sat back against her booth. "Where'd the money from last season go?" she asked.

Mac didn't want to get into the specifics of their finances, but decided she deserved to know their state if she was going to be a part of the Apple clan.

"Back into the farm. A lot of our equipment is on its last leg. My plow is about the only thing that works reliably anymore."

Rainbow worked her jaw as if to speak, but remained silent. Her eyes shifted down to their plates as she put a hoof to her belly. "How much do you think it would cost to do everything that needs doing?"

Mac knew where she was going and decided to nip her offer in the bud. "Ah don't know, but you ain't payin' for it."

Rainbow cut her eyes. "Since when do you tell me what I can and can't do?"

"My farm ain't a charity case," Mac insisted. "Things are just tighter right now than usual."

Dash sat silent, examining the stallion across from her. "What if you woke up one day and there just happened to be new equipment in the barn?"

"Ah'd say whoever put it there would need to take it back," he replied sternly, only pushing Rainbow further to consider covering the costs. "Besides, if it came down to it, Ah'd just get one a them loans from the bank."

Rainbow flopped both hooves onto the table, "Mac, those things are a scam! You'll be paying it back for years!"

"It'd be better than takin' a hoofout," he grunted.

"It's not a hoofout!" Rainbow snapped. "It's me helping my coltfriend and his family when they need it!"

A brief wince of disgust fell across Mac's face. "Ah don't want ta talk about this anymore," he replied.

Rainbow glared at him. Normally, Rainbow would keep pushing, especially if she knew she was right. If she had been arguing with anypony else, she'd keep on until her opponent relented. With Mac, however, she was a bit more sensitive.

Mac knew he'd gotten off lucky with just a glare, but suspected this wasn't the end of this argument.

Putting the diner behind them, they ended up back at Rainbow's house for the remainder of the evening. Dash was busily studying the thick binder of maneuvers and standards the Wonderbolts had mailed her. The note accompanying stated they wanted the entire book memorized by first practice. First practice meaning tomorrow morning.

Mac sat stretched out on the couch, flipping through a back-issue of Stunt Fliers Monthly while Rainbow sat on the floor, the binder at her hooves with her mane tied into a... well, ponytail.

Her eyes darted back and forth over the glossy pages, studying drawing after drawing of tightly timed twists and turns. Mac flicked an ear in her direction, followed by an eye.

"You ready?" he asked.

A few moments of silence followed before she looked up. "Yeah. Just start with the show routines. I've got the warm-ups down." She gave Mac the binder and he set it across his chest after laying down his magazine.

"Alright, from the beginning," he said before yawning.

Rainbow stood up, closed her eyes and stretched out her wings. "Okay, and... go!" she said to herself as she visualized the routine she would soon fly.

"First move," Mac announced.

"Half-twist with a full roll," she replied calmly, setting her wings in the proper position.

"Good, next move?" he continued.

"Double loop in sync with my wingpony, then split," she answered confidently, earning a hum of approval from Mac.

"Good, here comes the hard part," he warned, glancing to her as she scrunched her face in thought about the upcoming series of moves.

"Okay... three full screws, a vertical ascent, level off, straight and level at heading... three zero two?" she asked, peeking one eye open and looking to Mac.

He grimaced. "Three two zero."

"Damnit!" She slammed her hooves on the cloudy flooring of her house, sending bits of it into the air. "I can't believe I put this off for so long!"

"Well, there wasn't much you could do about our... circumstances," Mac reasoned, about to send the book back her way.

"Not yet, tell me what's after three two zero."

Mac took back the binder and squinted at the pages. "Formation flight join-up, star pattern, star pattern, grand finale," he read.

Dash sighed, rubbing her eyes with a hoof. "Gah, what time is it?"

"Nearly Luna's hour," he said, looking at the clock.

Rainbow moaned as if someone were torturing her. "I'll get a little bit more done before I leave tomorrow."

"Turnin' in?" he asked as Rainbow nodded in reply.

"Alright then, it's 'bout time for me to be headin' back," he said groggily. Had Rainbow not wanted his help studying, he'd have very well been asleep on her couch.

Mac stood up and stretched his powerful legs before trotting over to Dash. He nuzzled her gently and kissed her goodnight.

"You'll do great tomorrow, Ah just know it," he whispered.

"Yeah, listen..." she began, gently pulling away from her stallion to look him in the eyes. "Do you think you could... uhm... hang around tonight?"

Mac could read the look in her eyes; what kind of significant other would he be if he couldn't? It asked him to stay with her, but really, it was as though she was begging wordlessly. He knew this mare, and knew she would never beg for anything. Not admittedly, anyway.

Whatever the reason, Mac felt happy to know that he was wanted for more than what was on the outside. "Well, Ah suppose Ah could have another night in that cloud bed of yours." He grinned.

Rainbow returned his smile, though with a touch more blush. She exhaled softly and said, "Good."

He followed her to the same messy, cloud covered mass with blankets strewn about over it. Mac climbed in first, and Rainbow hovered over him, slowly descending and taking her place beside him. He drew the blankets over them and settled in for the night. He knew Rainbow would be up about the time he woke to do his chores on the farm. He figured Applejack wouldn't mind him being a few minutes late.

After getting comfortable, Rainbow and Mac settled in to their claimed bedroom identities: the little spoon and the big spoon, respectively.

This night was chillier than most, denoted by Mac bringing the foreleg he usually kept tucked around Rainbow beneath the blankets.

"Hey, Mac?" she whispered.

"Hmm?" he mumbled.

"I may have to return the money the Wonderbolts gave me." Rainbow waited tensely for a reaction. A surprised yelp, an annoyed grunt, anything! The suspense was killing her! "Mac!" she snapped with an elbow to his chest.

"What?" he snorted, stirring awake. "What're you talkin' about?"

"Well, my contract was for ten years, not nine years and two months!" she exclaimed. "What if they throw me out for getting knocked up?" she asked bluntly.

Mac sat up on his elbows, looking at his marefriend in the moonlight. "Look, you're not only a Wonderbolt, but an Element of Harmony. Could you imagine the bad press the Wonderbolts would get if they kicked out a pregnant member just for being pregnant?"

Thinking about it from his perspective began to set her mind at ease. Besides, she could still fly now. The Wonderbolts didn't need to know until the foal's safety was at stake, and that was another few months away. "Yeah... I guess I just get a little worked up sometimes," she admitted. More often, she was finding herself saying things to Mac she wouldn't dare say to another pony—not even one of her best friends.

"Ah know, Twilight." Mac teased, immediately making Rainbow snap around to face him.

"Hey! I've never hypnotized all of town over a friendship report!"

"I wouldn't put it past ya," he replied, earning an elbow from Rainbow.

"That's not funny!"

"Listen here, you're gonna be fine," he assured her, "you're gonna fly 'til ya can't anymore, and once the foal's here, you can get back on the team."

Rainbow nodded. Mac had laid out what sounded like the perfect plan, though her mind was still restless. "Yeah, I guess so..."

Trying to push the intrusive thoughts from her mind, she forced her eyes closed and tried to catch some sleep before her first practice.

Until Mac decided he had something to say about it.

"Speakin' of the foal, have ya thought about a name?"

"Nah, not really." Rainbow yawned. "Isn't it a bit early for that?"

"Prior planning prevents poor performance," he quipped. Rainbow rolled over to face the half lidded green eyes that seemed bright, even in the darkness.

"And you just called me Twilight?" she teased.

Mac ignored her question, removing his forelegs from the blanket and wrapping them around Dash's back—careful to avoid her wings. "Seriously, have you?"

Rainbow scrunched her face in thought, trying to come up with a list of possible names. She hadn't considered any since she found out she was pregnant. "Uh... not really."

Mac chuckled, getting an immediate rise out of Rainbow. "And I suppose you have?" she snapped back.

"Well, there's always Macintosh Jr.," he suggested.

Rainbow laughed, to Mac's disappointment.

Maybe the next one... he thought.

"Okay then smarty pants, let's hear one of yours," he whispered kissing Rainbow briefly to stop her laughing.

"Hm... I was thinking... Uhm... Zap!"

Mac raised an eyebrow. "Zap? You want our foal's name to be Zap Apple?"

"Yeah! It has a good ring to it, and if he's gonna be a pegasus, he'll need a fast sounding name!" she insisted.

"Uh huh..." Mac hummed. "And if she ain't a pegasus?"

Rainbow leveled her eyes at him. "Trust me, nothing's coming out of me that doesn't have wings," she said. "But, if it was another type of pony, I wouldn't love it any less or whatever."

Mac wrapped his foreleg around her and settled in for the night. "Don't forget about your doctors appointment day after tomorrow."

"Yeah, how could I forget," she moaned, burying her face into her cloudy pillow. "I just love letting a strange stallion put his ice cold hooves all over me."

"You want me to go with you?" Mac asked, raising up from the pillow.

"Ah..." she began, wondering whether or not Mac's presence would make her more or less comfortable. "If you want to, you can."

Mac could recognize leading statements from a mile away. Living in a house with all females certainly had its positives. He knew the phrase 'if you want to' in actuality, meant 'if you don't come, I'm going to be upset.' Luckily, Mac was as sharp as he was large.

"Ah'll come up there with ya," he whispered. "Ah'll make sure the doctor stays professional," he said teasingly.

Rainbow smiled. "And what if I want the doctor to get unprofessional? After all, it's every mare's dream to marry a doctor," she chuckled.

"Well Ah wouldn't be worried about what Ah'd do," he warned. "Ah'd be worried about what Applejack would do to ya."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "You're right. I guess it's cool if you hang around."

"That's what Ah thought." He grinned, kissing her on the forehead before putting his forelegs back beneath the blankets. "Now, get some sleep. You've got a busy day tomorrow."

17. A Little Concussed

Chapter 17- A Little Concussed

Rainbow rubbed the sleep still itching her eyes as she flew from her house. Mac had already gone back to the farm, but not before wishing her good luck for the third time that morning. As she flew, she recited her moves in her head, determined to get everything right the first time. Rainbow felt as though she needed a break-out moment to wow Spitfire, and every practice brought a new opportunity.

As she approached the cloudesium, an unpleasant thought she'd managed to ignore the past few days came rushing to the forefront of her mind: Firefly was still a Wonderbolt.

While there was nothing she could really do about it, the fact still irritated her. After all, she was willing to cheat to win! Although, Rainbow could count the times she'd... bent the rules in order to win a contest.

Still, she swallowed her nerves and landed on the cloudy floor of the huge and empty arena. Various red and white stripped balloons floated calmly in the morning breeze—a training aid to help the fliers get their routines down faster.

Rainbow began stretching as she watched the other Wonderbolts show up one by one. Luckily, she'd made sure she arrived early to get her warm-ups in and make sure she knew her section of their routine. After she was stretched out, she noticed the entire team had assembled. Spitfire called them to gather around, and the rest of the squad took a knee in front of her.

"Alright, girls, this is the first practice for some of you, and as such you'll be expected to pay attention, make mistakes, and learn from them," she said, looking over her recruits. "You'll go home today bruised and tired. If you don't then you didn't work hard enough!" She stomped a hoof. "Now let's get started."

As the practice wore on, Rainbow discovered that her wingpony for the routine was none other than Firefly. After exchanging glares, they took their starting positions.

"Long time no see, cheater," Rainbow hissed.

Firefly smiled. "All is fair in love and Wonderbolts tryouts. Besides, I'm sure that mouth-breather beau of yours was there to console you after I won."

Willpower alone kept Rainbow from attacking Firefly right then and there. "At least I've got somepony who can stand to be around me for more than a few minutes," she began. At that moment, a uncharacteristically evil thought crept into Rainbow's head. Her conscience warned her uttering the next phrase was not just mean, but downright awful. However, her anger would not be persuaded. "No wonder your brother flew into a thunderstorm. If I were related to you, I'd have done the same thing!"

As soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them. She glanced over at her rival, expecting to see seething hatred or possibly a hoof heading towards her head. Instead, she saw the face of a young filly that had just been devastated by the most hurtful comment she'd ever heard. In an instant, the hardened walls Firefly had built up began to crack.

"Ready!" Spitfire's voice echoed around the stadium.

Rainbow heard a sniffle coming from beside her. The clouds beneath Firefly's hooves began to darken with drops of moisture rolling off her nose.

"Set!"

Rainbow felt terrible. She hadn't meant to hurt her that badly! She just wanted to defend herself, and she was certainly fed up with Firefly's attitude.

"Listen, I didn't—"

"Go!"

They took off before Rainbow had a chance to apologize. Pushing her comment to the back of her mind, she began her routine. Her turns were perfect, her rolls were sharp, and her climbs and descents were crisp. Everything seemed to be going perfectly, until her stunt with her wingpony. The idea was that she and Firefly would fly towards each other and avoid collision at the last second.

Firefly didn't pull up.

Rainbow's head was killing her. Her eyes cracked open, allowing a bright, white light to flood her eyes. She hissed and closed her eyes again, only to hear a familiar voice.

"Look who's awake!" Pinkie squealed happily as Rainbow's eyes adjusted to the light.

"Ugh... sweet Celestia, what happened?" she moaned, rubbing her head.

"You took my speech at the beginning of practice a bit too seriously, Rook," Spitfire said, walking beside her bed. Her friends and coltfriend were gathered around her hospital bed. As her company came into focus, she smiled. She certainly was lucky to have friends that cared enough about her to drop what they were doing and visit her after another in a seemingly endless line of hospital visits.

"Sorry, I don't remember much," Rainbow mumbled.

Spitfire gave a small chuckle. "You and Firefly had quite the spill up there. You were lucky Soarin and I were around to catch the two of you."

"Oh..." Dash said, recalling the events leading up to her collision.

"Where is she? Where's my little bluebird?" Dash heard an unmistakable voice ask frantically from somewhere down the corridor.

Oh boy...

A moment later, her mother burst through the door, concern flashing across her face as she hurried to her daughter's bedside.

"Sorry, Rook. It's protocol to contact your next of kin after any accident requiring hospitalization," Spitfire whispered as she stepped aside. Wave filled the gap she left and hugged her daughter tightly.

"Mom, I'm fine!" Dash protested, her cheeks turning the color of her coltfriend.

"You are now that momma's here!" she sang, finally removing herself from Rainbow. It was only after she pulled herself away that Twilight got a good look at Dash's mother.

"You—you're Wave Function, the head of the theoretical physics department at Canterlot University!" she stammered in girlish excitement.

"Oh!" Wave said, surprised. "It's always nice to meet someone who admires my work."

"Admires?" Twilight repeated, "Your dissertation on the formation of galaxies in the universal structure sparked my interest in astrophysics!" After taming the stars in her eyes, Twilight turned to Rainbow. "How could you not tell me your mother is Wave Function?"

Rainbow sighed. "Because two eggheads in my life would have been unbearable," she muttered.

After a few more minutes of visiting, the doctor entered the room, declaring visiting hours to be over. Spitfire was the last to leave, requesting a prognosis on Dash's condition from a nurse outside her room.

"She'll be back to her old self in a few days. We'd like to monitor her overnight to make sure she doesn't have a concussion, but both pegasi should be back on your squad within the week," she said, looking over the chart from the foot of Rainbow's bed. "With Rainbow, we'll also need to make sure the foal was unharmed during the impact."

Spitfire's ears perked up and her head tilted slightly. "I'm sorry, I must have had some crazy in my ear, because it sounded like you said Rainbow is carrying a foal."

The nurse looked at her and shuffled her papers nervously. "Yes, well that's all the time we have for visiting today!" she said urgently, turning on her heel and heading back to her station.

Spitfire cast one last scrutinizing gaze into Dash's room before leaving.

Rainbow tried to get some rest—but having taken an involuntary five hour nap—sleep wasn't coming as easily as she'd hoped. As she lay in the darkness, she began to hear a faint sobbing. She was fairly certain she was alone in her room, though the noise seemed to be coming from behind a curtain to her left.

Dash figured either a horrible ghost or another pony was behind that curtain, and as she reached her hoof out to rip it back, she prayed it was the latter.

Instead of a wailing banshee, she found Firefly with a bandage wrapped around her head, a bright red spot beginning to seep through the sterile white linens.

"Firefly?" Rainbow asked in a moment of surprise. "Why the heck did you hit me?!" she snapped, regaining her wits.

"I forgot the routine," she replied weakly.

"Horseapples, you did!" Rainbow growled, "why didn't you pull up, you could have killed us both!"

Firefly threw up her hooves and sighed. She knew she wasn't going to get anywhere by denying what she did while she was stuck in the room with the victim of her actions.

"Because... of what you said to me," she managed to utter, no longer the scornful mare Rainbow had first met. Now just a lonely filly laid up in a dingy hospital room.

"Listen... I went too far, I had no right to say that—"

"You're damn right you didn't!"

"Well, what was I supposed to do?" Rainbow shot back. "Sit there and let you insult me?"

Neither said a word as Firefly attempted in vain to wipe away her tears.

"You're lucky," she mumbled.

"What?"

"I said, 'you're lucky'."

Rainbow blinked before turning on her bedside lamp. "Why?"

Firefly turned toward her, her blue mane sticking out in tufts against the bandages. "You think I didn't notice how many ponies came to see you when they found out you'd been hurt?"

Rainbow looked around her nightstand. It was covered in tokens of her friends affections. From cupcakes to slices of apple pie, all the way to an advanced copy of Daring Do and the Royal Ruby. She looked back over to Firefly and noticed her table was bare: not even a 'get well soon' card.

"What? Are you saying you don't have friends?"

"Friends, family, the love of a stallion, I don't have any of those things!" she spat bitterly. "I've been on my own since my brother died, and I've done fine for myself, even made the Wonderbolts, but... sometimes you need to talk to somepony, and when nopony is there, it just..."

"Hurts?" Rainbow completed.

Firefly looked her rival in the eyes. "Yeah."

Another moment of silence entered the room before Rainbow shattered it with the one question she still couldn't answer. "But, why have you been such a jerk to me? I've never done anything to you!"

Firefly's expression seemed to drop even further than it had already. "You were my biggest competition. For years I'd read about how brave and loyal you were in all the newspapers, and how you had the same dream I did," she explained rather calmly. "Once I knew for sure I'd have to go up against you, I knew I'd have to do anything to get under your skin, anything to give myself the edge I'd need to win, because I knew I could never beat you in a one-on-one."

She glanced toward Rainbow, expecting to see a judgmental glare or a smug smile. Instead, she saw sympathy.

"Listen, I don't know what you've had to go through to get here, but you don't know what I went through either. So why don't we agree to start over, and put all our bad feelings behind us?"

Firefly looked at her former rival fondly, extending a hoof to 'bump-on-it.' To her shock, Rainbow pushed her hoof away and leaned over her bedrail and hugged her. After the initial shock, she returned the embrace.

"Sorry, just something my Pop and I used to do when he would make deals with me when I was a filly. We'd hug on it," Rainbow said, breaking the hug and laughing nervously. "I guess it's kinda lame looking back on it..."

"No. It's awesome," Firefly replied.

"You think?"

"Yeah. I could only dream of getting a hug from my father. He wanted a son more than anything, and when my brother was born, he was over the moon. He never got over losing him. Neither did Mom. It was like I just didn't exist."

Rainbow frowned as Firefly recounted the journey that brought her here. In an instant, however, she shifted gears.

"If you don't mind... could you tell me about your father?" Firefly asked. Perhaps there was more to this mare than Rainbow had first thought.

"Sure, but only if you tell me about your brother afterwards, okay?"

They talked quietly for hours into the night, recalling what memories they had of their lost loved ones. As the evening wore on, they soon began laughing with each other, and discovering the interests they both shared. Around two in the morning, Rainbow was fading fast. She felt she had time for one more question that had been bugging her since their accident.

"Hey, kid, how'd you know Mac was my coltfriend?"

"I saw you at the cemetery. I figured you wouldn't be related to an earth pony." Firefly yawned, shifting beneath her blankets as she settled into the lumpy mattress. "Congratulations, by the way."

Rainbow rolled over in the darkness. "For what?"

"Getting pregnant. I could hear the doctor talking about it with Spitfire outside our room. If I'd known I could have hurt your foal by being stupid, I would have never—"

"Don't worry about it. There was no way you could have known," Dash said, though now she was getting a bit worried about her foal's wellbeing.

"Anyway, I hope Spitfire doesn't fire you."

Rainbow gulped. She may as well have gotten the word 'pregnant' tattooed on her forehead.

"Yeah, me too."

The next day, Firefly was taken to have her brain scanned while the doctor came in to perform Rainbow's first checkup on her foal's development.

"Okay, Ms. Rainbow, just take a deep breath for me, and relax." The doctor put his cold stethoscope on various parts of Rainbow's body, listening intently, but for what, she hadn't the slightest clue. After a brief physical exam, he turned his attention to Dash's still un-bumped belly.

"Now, there won't be much to see on this magic ultrasound, but it should give us a good indication of how far along you are," he said, washing his horn at the sink while he readied the spell. He squirted a bit of extremely cold magic conducting jelly onto her stomach and spread it around before casting. A single beam of light shot from his horn onto Dash's belly. On a white screen, a blurry black and white image began to come into focus as the doctor guided his magic beam around her womb.

"Ah! There we are!" the doctor said, locating a small beating mass in the center of a collection of dark blobs. "It's already got a nice, steady heartbeat."

Rainbow stared wide-eyed at the screen, amazed at the first sign that she and Mac were meant to be together. She regretted he wasn't there to see it, but there was always the next visit.

"T-that's my foal?" Rainbow stammered.

"That's right! It's not much to look at now, but in a few months it'll be quite the heavyweight," the doctor laughed.

"When will I know if it's a boy or girl? Or if it's a pegasi or not?" she asked urgently.

"Not for another few months, I'm afraid. However, you may want to consider going on hiatus as far as your Wonderbolts training is concerned."

Rainbow's jaw nearly dropped. She hadn't even performed in her first show yet! "What? Why?" she demanded.

"This collision was pretty nasty; you were fortunate to make it out with only minor injuries," he began, turning off his magical ultrasound spell. "Had she hit you directly in the stomach, I'm afraid this ultrasound might have been a bit... depressing."

Rainbow blinked. "So, you think I should quit until the foal is born?"

"If collisions like this are a regular occurrence, it would needlessly endanger the health of your foal," he added sincerely.

Rainbow sat back on her pillows. "Thanks, doc, you've given me a lot to think about."

"No trouble at all, Ms. Rainbow! We'll schedule your next checkup for the same time next month. Hopefully, next time, you'll arrive under your own power."

Once Rainbow was released from the hospital, she flew back to her house. The doctor had ordered her to stay grounded while she recovered. Upon Rainbow's protest, he offered a compromise: either stay grounded, or wear a large hoofball helmet he had lying around his office for whatever reason.

She chose her dignity. As she made her way back home, she noticed a note taped to her door bearing the Wonderbolts letterhead.

See me ASAP.

-Capt. Spitfire

Rainbow swallowed. If Spitfire had talked to the doctor, then she knew Dash was being released today. It looked like she had no choice but to face the music. Taking a deep breath, Dash lifted off to Cloudsdale.

18. Showtime

Chapter 18 - Showtime

Rainbow's heart pounded in her throat as she flew. Within the next hour, she would either still be a Wonderbolt, or owe them two million bits—an eighth of which she'd already spent. Cloudsdale appeared on the horizon, sending a jolt of fear down her spine. Mac assured her they wouldn't bring the hammer down, but his flank wasn't on the line.

She landed outside the Cloudesium, looking forlornly at the Wonderbolts administrative building. Spitfire's office was only a few paces away, though it might as well have been on top of a mountain. Rainbow swallowed her fear and began trotting towards the building. As she entered, the portraits of all former and current Wonderbolts seemed to follow her down the hallway. Old, faded photographs of the founding members soon became more recent additions to the prestigious group, up until she came upon the last two pictures of herself and Firefly.

A vibrant smile beamed back at the pony considering her fate. Rainbow had been overjoyed when the picture was taken. She was only given a few moments to reflect on her brief time as a Wonderbolt before Spitfire's office door swung open, an unamused captain standing in the doorway.

"In," Spitfire commanded. "Now."

This was it. Rainbow gulped and walked in, standing before Spitfire's desk at attention. They weren't exactly a military organization trained for combat, but they had a chain of command that must be obeyed.

Spitfire shut her door and strode behind her desk, taking a seat and glaring at Rainbow for what felt like hours before finally speaking.

"So, did you think I wouldn't find out?" she hissed. "Or is endangering the lives of the unborn a hobby of yours?"

"Permission to speak freely, Ma'am," Rainbow replied calmly.

"Permission denied!" Spitfire snapped, pounding her forelegs on her desk, shaking the various pictures and mementos she kept atop it. "At what point does a mare say to herself that her job is more important than the safety of her foal?" Spitfire asked, though Rainbow knew better than to answer.

"Do you even realize the shit storm your little accident could have caused? Hundreds of years of tradition, not a single death in all that time, and you almost fucked it up!"

Rainbow stood silently, wondering if she would even get a chance to defend herself.

"What do you propose we do about this?" she asked, reclining back in her chair, still scrutinizing Rainbow with her venomous gaze.

A few moments passed before Spitfire shouted at her to answer, "This is the part where you talk!"

"I... I don't deserve to be a Wonderbolt," Rainbow whimpered.

"While that may be true, it doesn't answer my question," she said, leaning forward on her desk. "What would you do if you were me?"

Rainbow bit her bottom lip to the point of drawing blood to keep herself composed, though it was somewhat difficult when everything you've worked for your entire life is slipping away right in front of you.

"Fire me..." she whispered.

"Speak up!"

"Fire me!" Rainbow snapped back, unable to hold back the few tears that managed to fall.

Spitfire nodded contently, resuming her reclined position. "I agree," she replied calmly. She let her words sink in for a few seconds before continuing, "But I won't be firing you."

Rainbow looked through her tears to her captain in confusion. "Y-you won't?"

"No. But rest assured, what you did was a safety violation, and there will be consequences."

Rainbow relaxed a bit, only to have Spitfire remind her that she was not given permission to assume parade rest.

"Now, you want to tell me your problem with Firefly?"

Rainbow took a deep breath before she began, "Ever since tryouts she's been trying to get to me. She told me I was her biggest competition. The fights, the arguments—everything comes from her trying to get under my skin. At least, that's what she told me in the hospital."

"And what about this recent accident?"

Rainbow sighed. "I was tired of hearing her talk trash about me and my family, so I said something I shouldn't have. I tried to apologize, but by the time I realized what I'd said, the routine had started. That's all I remember from before the accident."

"And after?" Spitfire asked, folding her forelegs.

"We kinda, made up. It turns out she doesn't really have anypony to look after her, and hasn't for a long time. My friends came and saw me when they heard I'd been hurt. They gave me balloons, cards, food, you name it. But she... she didn't get anything. Nopony had come to see her, not even her parents. She had nothing, and all I did was make her feel worse."

Having to repeat her actions out loud allowed them to sink in to Rainbow's already tired mind. She felt physically ill after recalling the way she'd treated Firefly, though at the time, it was not without warrant. A small belch allowed Rainbow to cast a knowing glance at Spitfire, who swiftly grabbed the trash can from beside her desk and held it out in front of her as Rainbow released a torrent of half digested hospital food into the bin.

After a few seconds, the heaves stopped and Rainbow wiped her mouth with a hoof.

"Sorry... that kinda just happens sometimes," she said with cheeks as red as the setting sun.

Spitfire smiled, setting Dash a bit more at ease. She set the foul smelling trash can outside her office and allowed Rainbow to sit, the tension in the room seeming to break somewhat.

"I know the feeling. When I was pregnant with BeeBop, I was never more than a few feet from a trash can," Spitfire recalled blissfully, to the shock of Rainbow Dash.

"Wait, you mean you have a foal?"

Spitfire turned a hoof-made, heart shaped picture frame around to show Dash. In the photo, Spitfire, and Soarin held a small seafoam green filly with a two-toned orange-blonde mane between them. Rainbow could hardly believe her eyes.

"Is that... Soarin? You mean you two are—"

"Were,” she corrected. “We were married for about eight years after she was born. We had our differences, and we tried to stay together for her, but it just didn't work out. He gets her every other weekend, though we've both managed to stay on good terms."

"So, were you pregnant while you were a Wonderbolt?"

"No, after she was born Soarin convinced me to try out. The Captain at the time liked what he saw, and the rest is history." Her weak grin morphed into a frown. "Now, as for your punishment..."

Rainbow gulped loudly. "The doctor informs me that he wants you out of the stunt flying business until your foal is born, and he is a medical professional—"

"Captain, I'm begging you, at least let me have one show before you bench me! I've worked too hard to give up because of a bump on the head!"

"Did you not hear everything I just said about foal endangerment?" Spitfire growled.

"Please, Captain, Firefly and I made up; it won't happen again. She didn't know I was pregnant!" Spitfire's eyes widened.

"Are you telling me she hit you on purpose?"

Rainbow froze. Had she just inadvertently gotten Firefly fired? "Uh... well, I mean, I said some pretty messed up things to her—"

"I don't care if you said her mother sucks Discord’s tail in Tartarus! Purposeful endangerment of another team member is grounds for immediate expulsion, maybe even jail time considering your condition!" The outrage was apparent as Rainbow tried desperately to explain.

"Spitfire, the Wonderbolts are all she has! Please don't take this from her, she's just a kid!"

Spitfire sighed heavily. "Rules are rules, Rainbow."

Rainbow stood in front of Spitfire and looked directly into her fiery orange orbs. "Please, don't cut Firefly! She didn't mean to hurt my foal, we were just being immature! Please, Captain," she pled. A week ago she'd have never thought she'd be fighting tooth and hoof for Firefly's job.

Spitfire sat back in her chair with an exasperated sigh, rubbing her eyes with a hoof. "Listen, the rules were broken. There has to be punishment."

Silence entered the office before Rainbow made a suggestion. "Make me train her to take my spot when I'm too pregnant to perform."

Spitfire arched an eyebrow. "How is that a punishment, exactly?"

"If she or I screw up for any reason, I'll quit the team myself."

Spitfire pondered her suggestion before nodding. "Fine, but remember: one screw up, one cross word, if one of you even blinks the wrong way, you're gone—voiding your contract. You'll owe us about two and a half million bits. Understand?"

"Yes Ma'am." Rainbow saluted.

"And I suppose you'll still be wanting to perform in our upcoming Ponyville premier?"

Rainbow's eyes lit up with hope. "All I want is one shot. I promise you won't regret it!"

"Okay, but you'll only have one move, and it'll be the finale. I'm not taking any more chances with you and... I don't suppose you've picked a name yet?"

"Actually, we have. Zap."

Spitfire smiled before uncrossing her forelegs. "Okay then. You can close the show, but until then, I want you stuck to Firefly like glue every practice, understand?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

"Good, you're dismissed. Firefly should be outside. Send her in on your way out."

Rainbow stepped outside to find Firefly gazing reverently at her own Wonderbolts photo. "Hey, she wants to see you."

Firefly jumped before facing Rainbow. "Okay... she didn't fire you, did she?"

"No." Rainbow smiled. "But she kinda knows what you did wasn't an accident, so you might be getting a couple extra workouts for the next few practices."

Firefly frowned before facing the door to Spitfire's office as though she was about to march to the gallows.

"I hope you've got your flank-kissing saddle on," Rainbow said as she strode towards the door. "Good luck in there, Fly."

The pink pegasus gulped before entering the office and shutting the door. Rainbow could hear Spitfire's muffled shouts as she left the building.

I hope she takes it easy on her...

Darkness had fallen over the Cloudesium as Spitfire worked into the night filling out the accident report, her lone desk lamp illuminating her tired features. A gentle knock on her doorway drew her nose from her paperwork.

“It’s a little late for red tape, isn’t it?” Soarin asked, their daughter sitting happily on his back.

“You don’t know the half of it,” she sighed, setting her quill down and reclining in her chair while Soarin set their daughter down to play on the floor with her stuffed animals.

“Play quietly, sweetie. Mommy and Daddy have to talk about work,” Soarin instructed.

“Okay, Daddy,” she chimed obediently.

“That’s my girl,” he said before taking the seat opposite Spitfire’s desk.

“Don’t you think you were a little harsh on Rook?”

“How would you know?” she asked incredulously.

“My office is next to yours and the walls are paper thin,” he replied.

Spitfire exhaled. “Well what was I supposed to do? She lied to me!”

Soarin raised an eyebrow. “I don’t recall you ever asking if she was pregnant.”

“It’s the sin of omission, Soarin!” she snapped.

“Take it easy, I know she messed up,” he replied calmly. “You aren’t really gonna fire her anyway.”

She glared at her ex-husband, but knew he had a point. “Yeah, so?”

“Any particular reason?” he asked, picking up his daughter and setting her on his lap.

“Well, I don’t want to be down a crewmember this close to the opening show, and to be honest... she reminds me of myself.”

Soarin snorted. “Celestia help us.”

"That was wonderful! Thank you for inviting me," Wave said, sliding the empty plate away from her as she sat with Mac and Granny at the Apple family dinner table.

"It's the least we could do. Ah can't believe it took this long for us ta meet," Mac replied.

"Yes, my daughter isn't exactly quick about introducing to others in her life." Wave sighed, "However, I trust her judgement, and it seems she's made a good choice."

Mac blushed as Granny Smith patted her grandson on the back. "We learn 'em right down here," she said with pride.

"Yes, there is a certain charm to life in the country."

Granny nodded. "Ponyville's always been a fine place ta raise a foal."

"I hope so. Rainbow will be coming along soon enough. Have you decided on a name?"

"Rainbow seems ta like Zap, and ta be honest it's kind of grown on me," Mac answered, settling back against his chair. "If it's a boy, that is. Ah think Ah'm gonna pick the name if it's a girl. I was thinkin' Gala, after my mother."

"Sounds beautiful," Wave whispered as she sipped a cup of hot dessert cider. A knock at the door drew Mac from the table.

"Ah'll get it," he said with a grunt. "It's probably Applejack back from pickin' up Apple Bloom from school."

Mac opened the door to reveal a somewhat flustered Twilight.

"Oh! Hello, Big Macintosh. I was just in the area with my quantum mechanics textbooks, and thought I'd stop by and... uhm..."

Mac sighed. He knew why she was here. "C'mon inside. Wave is in the dinin' room."

Twilight let out a fangirl-ish squeal before hugging Mac and hurrying inside.

Rainbow's mother and Twilight went on for hours about all kinds of obscure theoretical particles or some such—Mac couldn't make head or tail of it. The farm’s finances was about as far into mathematics as he'd cared to venture. His workload was rather light that day, so he took this opportunity to take a well deserved nap on the couch.

The sounds of Twilight and Wave's voices faded as he drifted off, only to be roused by the opening of the front door. Mac cracked his eyelids, revealing Applejack and his younger sister coming through the screen door. As he stirred, he noticed the glum expression on Apple Bloom’s face.

"What's the matter, darlin'? Bad day at school?"

His littlest sister walked toward him on the couch. In a swift motion, he swept her up in one of his massive hooves and set her on his broad chest. Apple Bloom hugged her brother and buried her face in his coat. "Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are out sick, and Ah had to be Diamond Tiara's partner for a project 'cause Silver Spoon was sick too, and all she did the whole time was be mean to me and Ah hate her!" the angry filly said in one breath.

"Now you know we don't say we hate sompony in this house."

"But Ah do hate her! She's always mean, no matter how much we try ta ignore her or be nice to her!"

Mac stroked her mane as she gently rose and fell with his breaths.

"Ah don't know how Filthy's foal fell so far from th’ tree," Granny Smith said from her rocker. "Ah got half a mind ta tan her hide myself,"

"Have ya tried talkin' ta Ms. Cheerilee about it?" Mac asked, wrapping his little sister in a hug.

"No, Ah don't want to be a tattletale..."

"Tell ya what. Ah'll go see Ms. Cheerilee tomorrow and talk to her, and if that don't work, Ah'll take Granny with me ta talk to her father about the way she's been actin' towards ya."

Apple Bloom raised her head from Mac's soft red coat. "Ya will?"

"Eeyup."

"Thanks, Macintosh!" she said, her mood improving dramatically as she gave her brother another hug before bounding off his chest.

Wave witnessed the whole scene. If she had any doubts about Mac's ability to raise a foal, they were swiftly laid to rest. Confident her daughter had made the right choice, Wave turned her attention back to Twilights incessant ramblings about the formation of stars.

By the time Rainbow made it home, it was already dark. She removed the note pinned to her door and collected her mail for the day. Only after she had come into her house and sat down on her couch did she realize that she had saved not just her job, but Firefly's as well. On top of that, she'd nearly lost her foal. That realization really didn't sink in until now, even as she was in the hospital.

As she sat on the couch, she began to imagine if Firefly had aimed just a few inches lower. How could she face Mac? How would she have the strength to tell him the one thing that made him happier than she'd ever seen him, was gone forever?

She shuddered in horror as she tried in vain to push such thoughts from her mind. She stood from the couch and retreated to her bedroom, her soft cloud bed a welcome change from the lumpy hospital mattress. As she stared at the ceiling she had studied so many times before, a hoof found its way across her belly once again. This time however, she could swear there was a little bulge.

At that moment, an overwhelming sadness washed over her. The sheer terror of the idea of losing her foal shook her to her core. How could she have been so reckless? What would she tell Mac's family? That she killed their child by foolishly not telling Spitfire that she had another passenger? Even though none of these events came to pass, the very idea was causing her eyes to well up. She hadn't even been pregnant for three months and she'd already almost killed her foal! How could she even hope to raise a foal outside her body if she can barely keep one alive inside her?

Cursing the mood swings of pregnancy, Rainbow's tears soaked into her pillow as she drifted off to sleep.

19. Cracking the Whip

Chapter 19- Cracking the Whip

Rainbow fell into a fitful sleep for only a few hours. After her brief cry, her mood swung to the opposite end of the spectrum yet again. She had one thing on her mind, and one thing only.

Mac.

She had to find Mac, and find him now. It was already ten thirty at night, but she would not be denied. Simply flying through the floor of her home, she nearly created a sonic rainboom on her way to their farm. She knew better than to use the front door, opting to fly to Mac's window. Without hesitation, she knocked on it, already feeling her wings beginning to lose their flexibility.

"Rainbow? What are you doin' out here, sugarcube?" The color drained from Dash's face.

"Oh! Uhm... sorry. I was looking for Mac's window," she admitted. The color returned to her cheeks a furious red.

Applejack sighed. She knew exactly why she was here, though she hated thinking about it. "Next window over. Keep it down, ya hear?"

"Thanks!" Rainbow moved over and practically flung the window open, startling Mac out of a dead sleep.

He sat up in bed as he focused on the pegasus hovering just above him. "Rainbow? What're you do—"

He didn't have time to complete his sentence before she landed on his lap and kissed him, pushing him onto his back.

"No more talking," she whispered heavily.

There weren't many things Mac would willingly wake up out of a dead sleep to do. Dash was one of those things.

Mac held Rainbow close as his panting matched her own. Though he certainly wasn't upset, he was curious as to what led to this midnight ride.

"So... any particular reason... you decided ta bust in here like you own the place?" he asked, his breathing beginning to return to its normal pace.

"Like... I need... a reason..." she gasped, lifting herself onto her elbows as she relaxed on Mac's broad chest. She kissed the end of his nose and laid her head over his heart, finding comfort in its steady beat.

"Where ya been all day? The doctor said he was gonna let you out today, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of ya 'till now."

Rainbow slid off Mac's chest to his side, keeping his foreleg securely around her. "I had to talk to Spitfire. She found out I was pregnant."

Mac raised an eyebrow. "How'd she figure that out? You're still a few months from showin'."

"The doctor must have told her," she sighed.

Mac snickered. "So much for doctor-patient confidentiality, huh?"

"Yeah, but it's no big deal. She'd have found out eventually."

"Ah suppose she didn't fire ya then?" he asked.

"Nope," she replied, raising her head to meet Mac's lips.

"Ah told ya she wouldn't."

"Enjoy being right while it lasts," she countered.

After a few seconds of silence, Mac spoke. "You got practice tomorrow?"

"Every day this week," she moaned, digging her cheek into the soft fur of his chest. "I have to coach Firefly as punishment to take my spot once I can't fly."

Mac's ears perked up at the mention of the mare who'd caused his fillyfriend so much trouble. "She still givin' ya a hard time?"

Rainbow chuckled. "Actually, we talked it out in the hospital. Turns out she's had a pretty rough life."

"S'that right?"

"Yeah, it's a long story, but we're cool now." As Dash lay in the comfort of Mac's embrace, she remembered how much better Firefly felt after talking to somepony about her brother—something she was sure she'd probably never done to anypony outside her family. She turned her head towards him, idly rubbing his belly with a hoof before speaking. "So, what were your parents like?"

"Hm?" Mac replied wearily.

"Your folks. What were they like?"

Mac was genuinely surprised to hear her ask, though if she wanted to know, he'd be more than happy to tell her about them.

"Well, Maw died givin' birth ta Apple Bloom. Paw was heartbroken after that. He kept on with his daily routine, but Ah could tell he was lost without her. Ah tried to be the best son Ah could for him, but in the end, it didn't matter." Mac sighed, casting a glance outside to the orchards bathed in the silver light of the moon. "He was out in the fields durin' a storm one night, came in soaked and chilled to the bone. He caught pneumonia out there. The doctors did what they could for him, but his will ta live just wasn't there anymore."

Rainbow was speechless. She could feel water welling in her eyes, even though Mac was just as calm as ever in his recollection. "Mac... I'm so sorry..."

He raised her head to face him with a hoof. "Hey now, ain't no reason for you to cry. Ah made peace with their passin' a long time ago."

"It's not that... it's just not fair that you and Applejack and Apple Bloom had to grow up without your Mom and Dad."

Mac nodded. "Ah S'pose it's not, but Ah wouldn't be the stallion you know and love if that hadn't happened." He smiled at her. "Who knows, Ah might be some learned professor in Canterlot if Ah hadn't had to work the farm!" he joked, though Rainbow simply stared at him blankly.

"Okay, well, I asked what they were like, not how they died," she reminded him, sniffling and wiping away the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "I didn't come here to get depressed," she teased.

"Alright, well... Maw was always cookin' somethin'. She loved seein' her family well fed. My Paw and Granny had been through hard times before we were born, so they appreciated it like nothin' else," he began, a smile tugging at his lips as he recalled what none besides Granny and possibly Applejack could remember. "Paw was always out in the fields, workin' hard day in and day out. Once Ah was old enough to help buck apples, Ah was out there with him."

Rainbow giggled. "Sounds like fun."

"Oh, it was. Helpin' Paw was all Ah ever wanted to do. Ah wanted to be just like him when Ah grew up. He told me Ah would be, 'cause Ah had natural earth pony strength. Ah guess he was right." Rainbow shifted, bringing her wings beneath the blanket as an early winter chill began to set in. Although the Apple family home was sturdy, there were a few drafts that managed to sneak in every now and then. "What brought that up?" Mac asked.

"Well, you never talk about them, and I've never really felt comfortable asking Applejack about them," she explained.

"Okay then, Ah want to know about your Paw."

Rainbow lifted her head from his chest. "I can't tell you much about my Paw," she mocked, imitating Mac's drawl. "But I guess I could tell you a bit about my Dad."

"Alright then, what was he like?"

Rainbow snuggled against him, closing her eyes as she tried to recall her early memories. "Well, other than being awesome, he was always the good guy. I guess that wasn't really fair to my Mom, but that was just the way he was. He never yelled at me, and only got mad when I did something really stupid," she paused. "Whenever my Mom would punish me, or make me go to bed without dessert, he'd wait 'till she went to sleep and bring me a small piece of cake or a little bit of ice cream."

"No wonder you turned out the way you did," Mac laughed, earning a playful bite from Rainbow.

"Shut up. Anyway, he took me to my first Wonderbolts show."

"So Ah guess it's his fault you became a millionaire and landed your dream job?" Mac teased.

"I guess you could say that."

Another silence entered the room before it became Mac's turn to rouse Rainbow from almost falling asleep. "Oh, Ah been meanin' ta ask how your first checkup went."

Rainbow threw a foreleg across Mac's chest and sighed. She was ready to go to sleep ten minutes ago. "It was fine. Doc said the foal was coming along, or whatever."

Mac stroked her mane idly as he tried to stave off the guilt of missing the mother of his foal's first doctor visit. "Did you get one of them... what're they called..." he mumbled, scratching his mane with his free hoof. "Magic ultrasounds?"

Rainbow smiled, turning to look into the green eyes she hoped her foal would inherit. "Yeah, I saw it. Sucks you couldn't be there, but he kinda just did it."

Mac nodded absent-mindedly. "Ah guess there'll be others..." he sighed.

"I've already got another one scheduled for the first of next month," she said, giving him a quick, reassuring peck on the lips before laying back down.

"Did ya see it?" he asked softly.

"See what? The foal?"

"Yeah, ain't that what ultrasounds are for?"

Rainbow yawned. "Yeah, it was just a blurry, black and white blob with a heartbeat."

Mac pulled her closer. "But it's our blurry blob," he reminded her. "Did he say whether it was a boy or a girl?"

"Too soon to tell," she replied, her yawns growing more frequent.

"Ya think maybe... Ah could pick the name for the foal if it's a girl?" he asked quietly.

Rainbow grinned. Even with his reputation as the strongest pony in town, he was still just as soft-spoken and gentle with her as if he'd been born with bones as frail as Granny Smith's. "Yeah, I guess that would be okay. What did you have in mind?"

"Ah was thinkin' Gala."

"After your Mom—oh, I mean Maw?" She chuckled.

"Yeah."

"Sounds good to me. Can I go to bed now?" she moaned.

Mac kissed her forehead and pulled the blankets over the two of them. "Ah guess. G'night Rainbow."

As Rainbow drifted off, Mac knew she wasn't the only one with a big day planned tomorrow.

Rainbow arrived at the Cloudesium in time to see Firefly warming up with the rest of the squad. She was by no means late, but she was under Spitfire's orders to take it easy. Not that she was going to listen, but she felt the need to at least humor her captain for a little while.

"How'd you sleep, kid?" Dash asked, beginning her own stretches.

"Fine." Firefly smiled. "Better once I got off that lumpy hospital mattress."

"I bet. I got your routine here," Rainbow said, producing a few pieces of paper from her saddlebag. "Before today is over, you're gonna blow Spitfire away."

Firefly rose from her stretches and slid her goggles over her eyes. "Ready when you are, chief."

Mac had just finished breakfast after completing his morning chores. With winter setting in, there wasn't much farm work to do until the pumpkin harvest in a week or two. Granny Smith sat in her rocker, knitting socks for Apple Bloom as she usually did. Nothing warmed the hooves like the sweaters and leg warmers she knitted herself. Ordinarily, he wouldn't dare interrupt, but today he had a special request. One that Granny had been waiting for since the day she'd heard Mac's cries echo from the upstairs bedroom after he was born.

"Granny, Ah think it's time you gave me Maw's ring."

The elderly mare set her needles down on her lap and looked up at her first born grandson. "Ah always knew this day'd come," she said softly, her worn features beaming with pride. "C'mon now child, help me hunt fer it." Granny set her needles on the coffee table and made her way upstairs as Mac followed closely behind her.

In no time at all, they stood by Granny Smith's dresser. An ornate jewelry box sat atop it, along with old photographs of friends and family long since departed. With a shaking hoof, she opened the lid, revealing a few pieces of real jewelry intermixed with costume gems. Beneath it all was a small box, which Granny carefully removed. She looked at it one more time before giving it to Mac. "Your father saved up a year's worth of sales ta buy this for your mother."

Mac opened it, revealing a diamond earring with a ruby apple the size of an acorn, adorned with an emerald leaf. It was the ring his father had used to propose to his mother, and now he would do the same for his future wife. Granny closed the box with a hoof, looking into her grandson's eyes. "Make sure she knows how much this means to ya."

"Yes ma'am," he answered.

Now that he had the ring, he needed to plan the perfect proposal. For this, he could think of no other demigod to aid him than the Princesses themselves. However, he was sure they were quite busy in Canterlot, doing the sorts of things princesses must do to keep a country running smoothly. This assumption had brought him to the door of the Golden Oak library. He knocked on the door, expecting Spike, but finding Twilight.

"Hello, Big Mac," she said cordially, inviting him inside. "Need a book, or did Rainbow send you to bug me about the next Daring Do release?" she chuckled.

"Nope, Ah'm actually wondering if Spike was around. Ah gotta send a letter to the Princess," he explained, stepping inside as Twilight shut the door.

"Really?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "What about? If you don't mind my asking," she added quickly, a blush coming over her cheeks.

Mac checked her windows, making sure a certain pegasus wasn't eavesdropping, as she had been known to do on occasion. "Well, Ah'm gonna propose ta Rainbow with this," he said, retrieving the small box from beneath his yoke. Holding it in one hoof, he opened it with the other. The gems shone brightly, even in the modest light of the library.

Twilight gasped. "Oh, Macintosh... it's beautiful!" He closed the box, stowing it back beneath his yoke.

"It was my mother's. My Paw used it ta ask her ta marry him. Ah'm gonna do the same."

Twilight smiled gently. "That's so sweet, Mac."

Mac blushed slightly, though nopony but himself knew it. "Thank ya kindly. Now, about Spike?"

"Oh, right! He's upstairs," she replied sheepishly, trotting up the steps to fetch her assistant.

"Hey, Big Mac!" Spike said, sliding down the bannister much to Twilight's annoyance. "Need a letter sent? I'm your dragon."

"Yeah, Ah know she'll be at the opening Wonderbolts show, so Ah wanted ta ask a favor of her," he replied.

"Okay then," Spike said, grabbing a quill and scroll. "Ready when you are."

"Good practice today, Fly," Rainbow panted, having kept up with her student every inch of the way.

"You weren't so bad yourself... for an old mare..." Firefly teased.

"Watch yourself, kid. I'll be back in my spot soon enough." Dash gave a playful punch to her shoulder as they regrouped by the water cooler.

"Alright, gather round ladies," Spitfire commanded as the squad took a knee in front of her. "The show is in one week, and, as you know, our opener sets the tone for the rest of the season. Based on pre-order ticket sales, this'll be the biggest we've ever had. All three princesses will be there, as well as about half the kingdom, and that's not counting tickets bought the day of." The team gasped and murmured before she settled them. "That means we all stand to make bank off this show, but everything has to be perfect. I don't want to see a single feather out of place. Get me?"

"Yes, Ma'am," they replied in unison.

"Good. Rainbow Dash, I want to see you for a second. The rest of you, go home and study your routine, then get some rest for tomorrow." Rainbow hoof-bumped Firefly and stood to meet Spitfire.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yeah, here's your routine for the opener," Spitfire said, handing her a single sheet of paper.

"That's... that's it?" Dash asked.

"I already told you I'm not taking any risks with you and your little passenger. You should be thanking Celestia I even let you have that," she growled.

Rainbow regained herself and saluted. "Yes, ma'am! Thank you, ma'am."

"That's what I thought. You're dismissed."

"And, off it goes!" Spike said, just as his last bit of fire enveloped the scroll he'd just completed for Mac.

"Ah appreciate it, Spike."

"No problem, Big Mac. I bet Rainbow will flip when the time comes!" he said excitedly.

"Ah hope so."

"Well, now that all that's taken care off, are you two hungry? It's just about lunch time." Twilight called from the kitchen, boiling a pot of water for Spike to come and make his famous daisy soup.

"Ah'll have ta take a raincheck, Twilight. Ah gotta see a mare about a filly at school. Thanks again for sendin' my letter, Spike," Mac replied, walking toward the door as Twilight opened it for him. Mac took a deep breath, ready to take on the full day ahead of him.

20. Brother-Teacher Conference

Chapter 20- Brother-Teacher Conference

Mac's next stop rose in the distance as he crested a hill he recalled walking many times since he was a colt. The schoolhouse drew nearer, Mac's heavy hooves kicking up bits of dust as he trotted down the well-worn dirt road. Many times he remembered nervously taking this route on his way to a test or the occasional teasing from his classmates. Although Mac was easily the top stallion in town in terms of strength, he hadn't always been that way.

In school, he had been one of the first colts to get one of many growth spurts that come with the transformation into an adult stallion. Back then, he more resembled Snails than himself. Long, lanky legs, seemingly large ears and freckles to boot. He was often the subject of bullying, and him being naturally quiet didn't help his case. He very nearly ended up hating school, if not for the one day he'd finally decided he'd had enough.

He didn't remember the day too well, even though it was one that changed his life for the better. He hardly even remembered his bully's name. Something having to do with hammers or construction if he remembered right. Anyway, one day he'd come to school, and his usual round of teasing had begun. As usual, he ignored him. He was good at that. In fact, had he not already gotten his cutie mark, he was almost certain ignoring assholes would be his special talent—though he wasn't really sure what that cutie mark might look like.

Mac recalled what set him off. He had just taken a science test he was fairly certain he hadn't done well on, and overall was just having a miserable day. At lunch, he normally sat with Cheerilee, the only mare in his class who actually seemed like she wanted to talk to him. Looking back on it, he was pretty blind not to see her crush, but he was just a naïve colt back then.

His mother had made him his favorite lunch, as she always did whenever he had a big test. Even if he didn't do so hot on the test, he at least had something to look forward to. And on that day, this was the only bright spot. He reached his normal picnic table, glad to see that Cheerilee was waiting for him with her lunch. She smiled, and he returned a rare grin as he trotted over.

He sat next to her and retrieved his lunch from his saddlebag, setting it out and idly discussing how he thought he did on the test. Before he'd even taken a bite of his sandwich, his bully's voice caught his attention. He was standing right beside him, demanding his lunch. The odd thing was, he was smaller than Mac. Stockier, certainly, but not nearly as tall.

Mac replied with a softspoken 'no' as he usually did, but this did not deter his tormentor. As Mac raised his food to his mouth, the bully snatched it out of his hoof, and took a bite. After chewing it briefly, he spat it back out and threw it to the ground, going on to insult his mother's cooking ability. Cheerilee placed a hoof on young Mac's shoulder, though he quickly swatted it away.

Before Mac even realized what he was doing, he'd leapt from the table, slamming his bully into the ground. With careful precision, he lifted a hoof high and slammed it into the colt’s face. And again. And again. After the third hit or so, a tooth (or two) went flying out of his opponent's mouth.

Had he not been pulled off by his teacher's magic, he'd surely be sitting in prison right now. The other colt ended up being hospitalized and Mac got in serious trouble.

Truth was, he didn't care about what the school administrators did to him. He'd been more afraid of what his father had in store. He wasn't afraid of giving out a good whipping, which usually kept Mac from getting out of line. The rest of the day was a blur, but the walk home with his father had stuck with him to this day. He'd asked if his father was mad at him after he'd explained the circumstances.

Much to his surprise, he hadn't been. In fact, he'd been proud of him. He'd stood up for himself and that lesson was one his father couldn't simply teach him: it had to be done on his own. That day, his father even took him out for ice cream, though his mother was less than happy when he explained it to her. It didn't matter, however; his father was in his corner. Although being suspended the rest of the year did delay his graduation, his mother eventually got over it.

The other colt never showed his face at school again. Mac never learned what happened to him. In fact, he felt guilty for what he'd done, but that was just his nature. As he would learn later, most bullies simply took out whatever pain they felt at home on others. Perhaps his bully's father made fun of him the way he made fun of Mac? Maybe his mother had left them both, or worse? It took the rest of the year for his remorse to subside, but his memory of that event would stick with him for the rest of his life. He didn't like to fight, but when a line of his is crossed, there could only be one outcome. Mac told himself he'd never fight again, and for the most part, he'd kept that promise.

Before he knew it, he'd reached the schoolhouse. Rousing himself from his thoughts, he knocked on the door, hoping to catch Ms. Cheerilee before she left for the day. In a moment, the magenta mare he was looking for answered the door.

"Hello, Macintosh! What brings you by?"

"Well, Ah just came by hopin' to talk about Apple Bloom."

Cheerilee smiled. "Of course! I need to take a break from grading essays anyway," she sighed, stepping inside and allowing him in.

Mac followed her to the classroom where the simple wooden desks he remembered so well sat empty, along with the cubbyholes in the back of the room. Cheerilee's desk was a mess of papers and pencils, ink jars and writing quills. "Sorry there isn't a lot of seating besides the desks in here," she said, flopping down in the chair behind her desk.

"That's alright, Ah can stand."

"Apple Bloom's a very bright young mare,” Cheerilee remarked. “You should be proud of her. However, I think she could definitely spend a bit more time studying than trying to get her cutie mark." She looked down, rifling through a drawer for the filly’s test papers.

"Ah know that's the truth, but Ah'm not here to talk about her grades," he said as she straightened up in her seat. "Ah'm here because another filly seems ta be givin' her and her friends a hard time."

Cheerilee raised an eyebrow. To her knowledge, all her pupils got along fine. She was very careful to ensure a positive learning environment, and was very strict about any put-downs or bullying. "Really?

"That's the thing, she doesn't want to be a 'tattletale'," he explained.

Cheerilee sighed, placing a hoof to her forehead. "That's one thing I'll never understand. How is somepony supposed to correct a problem if the problem is never reported?"

"Couldn't tell ya. Ah just know that she's got the same temper my sister and Ah have, and Ah'd hate ta see her get in trouble because of it."

She leaned forward on her desk. "So would I. So, who is it?" Her inquisitor's stare all but assured him she would deal with this problem personally.

"Seems t'be Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon," he admitted. "They like ta tease her and her friends because they ain't got their cutie marks yet."

Cheerilee sat back in her chair. "Diamond Tiara? Isn't her family friends with yours?"

"Yeah, Granny can remember foal-sitting Diamond's Paw when he was little."

After a brief silence, Cheerilee rubbed her eyes. "I guess I've got one more conference before today is over," she moaned. "This is my punishment for coming to work on a Saturday..."

Mac couldn't help but smile. "Don't work yourself too hard now. If ya ever want a nip or two of cider, c'mon by the farm."

Cheerilee returned his grin. "I'll need it after today. Anything else you wanted to tell me?"

Mac shook his head. "That was it. Have a good one."

"You too, Macintosh."

Mac took his leave, knowing that his next stop involved paying a visit to a certain filly. After all, the day of the Wonderbolts show would also be their six month anniversary, and he'd make sure it would be one she would remember.

As Rainbow flew home, she thought about the routine she was assigned. It was one move: a sonic rainboom at the end of the show. It was almost too predictable, but it was all she was going to get until she had this foal. Her flight home was plagued with thoughts of herself watching the other Wonderbolts perform her dream while she just waited on a cloud to perform the one thing everypony in the kingdom knew she could already do.

A heavy sigh left her lips as she glided onto her porch; the rainbow waterfall and high cloud columns that had impressed many visitors barely fazed her anymore. However, she wouldn't trade her house for the anything. She'd practically made it herself. Most pegasi outside the wealthy had to create their homes almost from scratch, and she was no different. Either that, or rent one, but there was no pride in renting a cloud house. As she thought more about it, she realized that, eventually, she and Mac would have to live together. He couldn't very well leave the farm to fend for itself, but there was no way he could expect her to just leave her house behind.

She opened her door and went straight for the couch, stretching out contently and ready to take a nap right then and there before her stomach decided to remind her that something was siphoning off half her food. With a groan, she forced herself off the couch and into the kitchen. Scanning her cabinets and refrigerator, she found she wasn't hungry for anything she had, even though she had just stocked up on anything she (or the foal) could have wanted.

"Screw it, I'll just go get a pizza," she said to herself, leaving the kitchen. Foals like pizza, right? Well, mine sure will, she thought to herself as she flew through her ceiling and into town.

"... so anyway, Rainbow is pregnant with Mac's foal."

Rarity squealed with joy upon hearing the news. "That is simply wonderful! Oh, of all of us, who would have thought that Rainbow 'I've-never-done-anything-remotely-feminine-or-ladylike' Dash would be the first of us to settle down!"

Twilight nodded. "It is pretty unexpected, but I'm happy for her, and she seems happy too."

Rarity trotted gleefully to her supply closet, gathering a multitude of fabric sheets and clothing accessories. "I'll have to design a maternity line for her. She'll be the most fashionable mare in Ponyville by the time I'm finished!" she sang. "Well, besides myself, of course."

"Well, try not to go overboard, you know how she feels about fashion and... things like that," Twilight cautioned.

"Not to worry, Twilight, she won't have to stand for a single measurement," Rarity said confidently "I've saved all of your measurements from the first time we all went to the gala." After spreading out fabric and sketches on her bed, she slid a large rack out of her closet. "Now, am I to assume the wedding will be coming up?"

Twilight examined the rack, noting each wedding dress had a tag with each of her friend's names on them. Including Sweetie Belle and her friends—in both mare and filly sizes!

"Uh, why are our names on all these dresses?"

Rarity laughed. "Because I've made them for when you all find your soulmate, of course!"

Twilight took a step back, smiling at Rarity. "Oh, of course! How silly of me..."

"Now then, I'll need Rainbow to come in as soon as possible so we can start planning the wedding. When do you think she'll be available?"

"Uh... I'm not sure. She said she'd be pretty busy with the Wonderbolts for a while."

Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. "Say no more, I'll make some preliminary decisions and show them to her when she's got the time. Oh! I almost forgot, we simply must throw her a foal shower!"

Twilight blinked. She had little knowledge of foal showers, but was somewhat sure they were thrown closer to the due date. "Isn't it a little early for something like that?"

Rarity laughed off her concern. "It's never too early to start planning, my dear!"

"Actually, Pinkie may have already started on that one. As soon as I mentioned it, she grabbed her party canon and disappeared."

"Ah, well, no matter. I'm sure we can work out the details later," said Rarity as she continued comparing patterns and colors of fabric.

"Well, I'll leave you to it, then. I've still got to inform Fluttershy," Twilight replied, politely bidding her friend goodbye and stepping outside before teleporting so as to not leave scorch marks on Rarity's carpet. Again.

She appeared a few yards away from Fluttershy's cottage, though the owner was nowhere to be found. Usually, Fluttershy could be found tending to her animals in the yard or collecting berries and vegetation for herself and Angel. Speaking of the devil rabbit, Twilight spotted him sitting outside the door of the cottage with a pile of carrots next to him. He was content to munch on them, though seeing him without Fluttershy around was a bit worrisome.

"Angel? What are you doing out here?" Twilight asked. With his trademark deadpan stare, the rabbit gestured, making a circle with his fingers and inserting his other index finger into the circle.

Twilight, not familiar with Angel's methods of communication, simply nodded before taking a peek through a wood knot hole in Fluttershy's door. As she rose onto her hind legs, she heard a muffled stallion's voice from inside the cottage. Her ears flattened as she hesitated. The voice seemed to have a country twang to it, followed by a flurry of soft giggles that could only have been Fluttershy's.

Twilight steeled herself as her ears pointed forward. She peered inside her house, only to gasp in shock. Quickly, she withdrew with blush on her face to rival the apples of her friend's orchard. Beside her, Angel folded his arms and shot her an 'I-told-you-so' look. Before she had time to process what she'd just witnessed, she heard hoofsteps coming closer to the door.

She'd been spotted!

Rainbow returned home with her pizza. It was a battle of will not to simply eat the whole thing the moment she'd picked it up. Once she returned home, she realized her next issue of Stunt Flyers Monthly had arrived. She picked it up and nearly dropped the pizza box through the floor of her house. The header read: First Look at Newest Wonderbolts. Dash could hardly believe her eyes as candid photos of herself with Mac at the cemetery were plastered all over the front page, sharing the spread with shots of Firefly outside what appeared to be a ramshackle apartment complex. Beneath the header, smaller print read: Personal tragedies, interracial romance and humble beginnings as new Wonderbolts deal with newfound fame.

Rainbow was furious. Was she being stalked by cameraponies twenty-four seven? How did they even have the right to print her picture without her permission? Rainbow checked all her windows, making sure no hovering paparazzi were snapping pictures of her outrage. Dash set her pizza on her kitchen table and grabbed a slice, though now she was eating out of anger, not hunger. After opening the magazine, her morbid curiosity wouldn't let her rest until she'd read what was written about her. After finding the article, she began scanning it, keen to spot any embellishments or outright lies.

To her relief, most of the article seemed to be pure speculation, and there was no mention of her and Firefly's training accident, or of herself being pregnant. "Bucking vultures," she said with her mouth full, glaring down at the rest of the article concerning her Wingpony Firefly.

After she'd eaten her fill, she began to wonder what the future held for her and her new family. After all, if they were able to get pictures of her during one of her most vulnerable moments, how long until they found out she was pregnant? How long until a picture of her foal would be sold to the highest bidder? The very thought infuriated her to no end. She closed the pizza box and flew straight to Cloudsdale, intent on grilling Spitfire on how any of this was even legal.

She burst through the Wonderbolt's administrative building, the magazine clutched beneath her wing. She hoped she'd be able to catch Spitfire while she was still at work.

"Come in," Spitfire called in response to Dash's knocking. Lifting her head from her paperwork, she sat back in her chair.

"Something wrong, Rook?"

"You bet your flank there's something wrong!" Rainbow slapped the magazine down on her desk. Spitfire smiled, covering her mouth with a hoof. "What the hell is this about?!"

"Looks like you made the cover," she replied dryly.

"No shit! How can they put me on the cover of a magazine without asking me?!" Rainbow snapped. Spitfire chuckled. This happened to every rookie.

"Because you're a public figure now. You have to play by different rules."

"Like what? Never having privacy again?"

Spitfire raised both eyebrows before leaning forward to look at the cover. "It's not a bad shot. I've certainly seen worse."

Rainbow could hardly believe what she was hearing. How could Spitfire be so nonchalant about all of this?

"They took this at my fathers grave! How is this even legal?!" she demanded.

Spitfire reclined in her chair. "Because, as long as it's used as part of a 'news' story, they can use whatever picture their photographers can get."

"How is any of this news?" she asked, slamming her hoof on the cover.

Spitfire smiled. "That's a great question. Tell you what, I'm tired of paperwork, how 'bout we get a drink? I'll explain a few things about being a celebrity so you won't have to find out the hard way."

Spitfire led Rainbow to an exclusive restaurant, with a cover price simply to get in the door. It was expensive, sure, but it also kept the gawkers and paparazzi at bay. They sat in a booth as Spitfire ordered her favorite wine, while Rainbow was content with a soda.

"So, now can you tell me why Mac being my coltfriend is considered 'news' to these ponies?" Rainbow asked impatiently.

"For the same reason my divorce with Soarin was news," she replied bitterly, taking a swig of her drink. "Ponies live vicariously through celebrities. They want to know that we're just like them, whether that's actually the case or not."

Rainbow sat back, still not satisfied with that answer, though she suspected it was the truth. "So, you're saying I'll never have a moment to myself again?"

"No, you will. You'll just appreciate them a lot more." Spitfire sighed, staring longingly into her wine glass. "This job... it's great and all, but if you aren't careful, it'll eat you alive."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Spitfire scoffed. Sometimes rookies just had a thick head. "It means, don't lose sight of why you wanted this in the first place. Now then," she said, shifting gears. "You hungry? The quiche here is amazing."

Rainbow paused. "Well, I just had some pizza... but I guess I could go for a snack."

"A foal'll do that to ya." Spitfire grinned gently.

"You're buyin', right?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, but next time it's on you."

21. Preparation

Chapter 21- Preparation

"You sure this is somethin' she'll want?" Mac teased.

"Heck yeah!" Scootaloo replied happily, hovering above Mac's head. "She's been trying to teach me to fly for years! She'd probably be all like, 'Oh my gosh, Squirt! You can fly!' and I'll be all, 'Yeah, thanks to you and your lessons!' then she'll be all—"

"Ah think Ah get it, Scootaloo, thank ya," Mac said as Scootaloo's mother re-entered the living room with a pot of hot tea. "Thank ya again for the snacks and such, ma'am." He nodded.

"It's no problem at all," Featherlight answered, setting the cups down between Macintosh and herself as Scootaloo fluttered around the room. "It's the least I could do after Rainbow spent so much of her free time keeping Scootaloo from killing herself on that scooter of hers." Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "You know dear, your wings need just as much rest as they do exercise."

Scootaloo lowered herself back to the floor as Mac smiled. "Ah understand you started flight school a month or so ago?"

"You bet I did! My instructor said I was a natural!" Scootaloo said proudly.

"That's good ta hear. Rainbow always told me you'd be flyin' one day." Mac paused, recalling the reason for his visit in the first place. "Now, Ah understand Rainbow likes playin' music on her record player, but Ah can't for the life of me remember what kind a music it is she likes," he remarked, taking a bite of the hoof-sandwiches Featherlight had prepared. "Ah just know it ain't country-western."

"Well, she likes a lot of stuff. Probably too much to fit on a list... Oh! What if I went with you to the record store?" Scootaloo suggested happily. "I could help you find some records she'd like!"

Mac thought for a moment. "Well, Ah suppose it would be better than me tryin' to remember which ones she would want." Mac turned to her mother. "You wouldn't mind if Ah borrowed her, would ya?"

"Not at all. It'll be good to get Scoots out of the house so I can do some cleaning."

Scootaloo and Mac set out down the sidewalk to the suburban record store. As they walked, Scootaloo couldn't help but lament Apple Bloom's good fortune at having her idol becoming a part of her family. "Apple Bloom's so lucky!"

"How's that?" Mac asked.

"She gets to be Rainbow's sister-in-law! That's so cool! I wish I'd had an older brother for Rainbow to fall in love with..."

Mac wasn't sure whether to be flattered or offended, so he went with neither. "Well, Ah suppose you're right about Apple Bloom bein' lucky," he replied. "Scootaloo, if ya don't mind my askin', where's your father?"

"In jail!" she chimed with a smile.

"No, not him. Ah mean your real father."

"Oh..." The light in the normally rambunctious filly's eyes faded somewhat. Mac nearly withdrew his question before she spoke up. "Mom says he left before I was born. She said he was a military pony, and it was his job to protect the princess."

It didn't take long for Mac to figure out what had happened. Though there hadn't been a serious conflict facing Equestria in over one thousand years, assassination attempts on the monarchs were not unheard of. "She said that's why he had to leave, 'cause he had to do his job," she added, maintaining her irreverent tone, as though her real father would come back any day now. "Here we are!"

Mac looked at the sign above the shop.

"Vinyl Scratch Records," he read aloud. Once inside, a racket that was most definitely not country music attacked Mac's ears. He flattened them instinctively as he followed Scootaloo into the aisles. The store's walls had been plastered with posters of bands he'd never heard of, and most certainly would never want to hear of by the looks of them. The other ponies in the store seemed to be too zoned out to even know what they were listening to, much less where they were. How Rainbow could stand going inside this place was beyond him.

Scootaloo hovered amongst the record jackets, scanning row by row until she came upon a few she'd recalled Rainbow mentioning she enjoyed.

"You should get this one, this one, and... this one!" she said, flinging the records over her shoulder as Mac did his best to catch them. The images on the covers were decidedly not something he could see himself listening to. Must be a pegasi thing, he thought.

"That should be good for now," Scootaloo said, turning back to Macintosh.

"Alright then, let's head to the register."

A unicorn with a shaggy black mane over his eyes and an electric guitar cutie mark rang them up as Mac laid the appropriate amount of bits on the counter.

"Sweet taste in tunes," he commented, levitating Mac's purchases back to him.

"Oh, they ain't for me, partner. Have a good'n," he said as he and Scootaloo left the store, Mac finally returned his ears to their normal position. "Thanks for helpin' me pick these, Scootaloo. Ah'd have never figured it out on my own without spoilin' the surprise."

"No problem, Big Mac!" she said happily.

"Let's g'head and get you home," he replied, starting back down the sidewalk. "Oh, and Rainbow want's ya ta keep the fifth open. Seems she got you and your mother special tickets to the openin' Wonderbolt show."

Scootaloo buzzed her wings excitedly as she hovered in front of him. "Really?! Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she shouted, hugging Mac's muzzle with all four legs. He gently shook her off as they approached her street.

"You're mighty welcome, but it's Rainbow ya should be thankin'. Your friends'll be there too." Mac put a hoof to his chin. "She arranged for a private section for all of y'all, if I remember right."

"Wow! That's aweso—wait. All of y'all? Aren't you gonna be there?"

Mac nodded. "Eeyup. But Ah'll be busy till the very end of the show."

"Busy? With what?" Scootaloo demanded. "Rainbow is gonna be pretty upset if you miss her first show!"

"Don't worry, Ah'll still see it. Just not from where y'all are," he replied, stopping in front of Scootaloo's house. "Thank's again for the help, and tell your Ma I said goodbye."

Twilight's heart was in her throat as she heard the hoofsteps approaching the door. Thinking quickly, she sprang to her hooves and pretended as though she was about to knock, her foreleg raised in anticipation of somepony answering the door. As soon as it swung open, she sheepishly greeted the owner of the cottage.

"Oh! Hi, Fluttershy!" She smiled. Except it wasn't Fluttershy that answered the door. It was a different, off-yellow pony. One wearing a stetson and vest, his calm green eyes seeming to bore right through her. Twilight's ears drooped, though she managed to keep her jaw off the floor.

"I see you were expectin' Ms. Fluttershy?"

"Braeburn? What are you doing here?"

"Well, I got a letter a day or so ago from Ms. Fluttershy askin' how I've been since y'all solved the dispute between the buffalo herd and our town. I didn't have any more harvestin' to do, so I figured I'd stop by and see her on the way to cousin Mac's farm."

It took Twilight a second or two to process what he'd revealed. While she gawked, Fluttershy strode up behind him.

"Hello, Twilight," she said softly.

Regaining her wit, Twilight blushed as before. "H-hi. Listen, I didn't mean to interrupt—"

Braeburn waved a hoof. "Nonsense, there was nothin' indecent goin' on, I can assure you." He looked to Fluttershy, now just as embarrassed as Twilight. "In fact, I was fixin' to ask Ms. Fluttershy if she wouldn't mind accompanyin' me to the Apple house for supper this evenin'." If Braeburn was one thing, he was quite the smooth operator.

"Uhm... I'd love to," she replied, fluttering her wings in excitement before settling them at her sides.

"Well then, it's a date." Braeburn tipped his hat to both Twilight and Fluttershy as he began to take his leave.

"Wait!" Twilight called, halting his departure. "While I've got you here, there's something you should know."

Braeburn turned back to face the mares he'd just left, a gentle breeze swaying his blonde mane from beneath his hat. "And that would be?"

"Remember Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked.

"The brash one with the mane?" He nodded. "I seem to recall."

"Right. Well, she's pregnant." Fluttershy gasped, covering her mouth with a hoof, though Braeburn didn't seem to grasp why this was important.

"Okay... any reason I had to know this?"

Twilight put a hoof to her forehead for not considering that Mac hadn't told his cousin about his marefriend. "Oh! Because it's Mac's foal."

Braeburn cracked a smile before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Princesses have mercy!" he laughed. "Old Mac went and got himself in big trouble this time!" He caught his breath after a few good chuckles, straightening his hat to address the two mares. "Well, I'm certainly proud of him! I'll have ta tease him a bit at supper. Y'all have a pleasant afternoon," he said, tipping his hat once again and departing down the trail to the apple farm, briefly laughing to himself until he was out of sight.

After he left, Twilight turned back to Fluttershy, whose embarrassment still had not subsided. "So, you and Braeburn, huh?"

"Uhm... yeah..." Fluttershy mewed, as though it was a bad thing she'd found a love interest.

Twilight smiled. "Well, I'm happy for you, Fluttershy."

Her cheeks began to return to their normal color. "Thanks Twilight. I guess I better get ready for dinner."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "It's only five."

"I have to feed all the animals before I can eat," she replied. "You're welcome to stay if you want..."

"Oh, no, thanks," said Twilight. "Spike's probably wondering where I am. Goodbye, Fluttershy!"

Twilight decided to forgo teleportation so she could have some time to herself on her walk home. First Rainbow, now Fluttershy... who's next? she wondered glumly, keeping her eyes on the road. While Twilight rarely forgot why she had been sent to Ponyville, she would be lying to herself if she didn't admit she often wondered about feelings that lay beyond friendship. It seemed like all around her, everypony was making meaningful connections with other ponies. Everypony except her.

Try though she might, Twilight was still very much petrified by the thought of rejection. The very idea of putting herself out like that only to be denied was the stuff of her nightmares. No matter how many books or articles she read about the easiest and best ways to approach a potential 'more-than-friend' (as she liked to call them), they all had one thing in common. Confidence was a must.

Twilight chuckled to herself as she thought about how absurd her situation seemed. She could confidently take on Discord, Nightmare Moon, Dragons, Hydras, even Cerberus himself. Yet, the thought of initiating conversation with another pony with the end goal being a date was simply terrifying. How could she live a full life being surrounded by nothing but books? Sure, she had Spike, but he would eventually grow up, and need to start his own life's journey.

Twilight certainly didn't want to end up a barren old spinster with a collection of owls, but without the confidence to put herself out, she feared that's all that fate had in store for her.

Twilight sighed as she came upon her doorstep, using her magic to open the door. The library was quiet. Spike must have gone to Rarity's or out looking for gems. She shut the door and trotted to the couch, flopping down on her back as she stared blankly at the ceiling. With a flash of her horn, she levitated a spell book towards her, and began another pointless search for a confidence enhancing spell.

"... well, I answered your question, now I've got one for you, Rook," Spitfire said, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.

"Shoot," Rainbow replied with her mouth full.

"Your purple friend with the horn, she seems familiar."

"Yeah, she's only saved Equestria like, four times last year alone," Rainbow said, not bothering to look up from the food she was busy devouring.

"Right, well, what's her story?"

Rainbow glanced up at her instructor, expecting a blush, but seeing the ever-stern expression Spitfire normally wore. "Uh... well, she runs the library in Ponyville, she's the princess' personal student or something... she's kind of a nerd." Rainbow shrugged, reclining in her seat once she'd emptied her plate.

Spitfire smiled, but Rainbow would have missed it if she'd blinked. "Uh huh. Tell ya what, Rook. Here's the V.I.P. tickets you wanted, but I couldn't get them all. The others will come in tomorrow, but I think I can save you some time by delivering them myself." Spitfire slid an envelope across the table towards Rainbow. Examining the tickets, Dash noticed a set for all of her friends except Twilight and Spike. It didn't take long for her to connect the dots.

"Oh, sounds like somepony's got a—" Spitfire's harsh gaze closed Dash's mouth before she could finish her sentence. "—Never mind. Thanks for the tickets, Captain," Rainbow said sincerely.

"That's what I thought," Spitfire answered. "Now get out of here and get some rest. Firefly's turns and descents are still sloppy. I want them pristine by close of business tomorrow. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," Rainbow replied.

"Good. Now beat it."

Rainbow returned home, wondering how her cloud home would fare hovering over the windswept fields of Sweet Apple Acres, should it come to that. She supposed she could have it lowered to ground level, if she didn't mind having a house made of fog.

Just as she entered her bedroom, the creaking of the rope ladder Macintosh used to reach her house greeted her ears. She turned around in time to see her handsome red stallion sauntering into her living room, his saddlebags bulging with his recent purchases.

"Hey Mac," she yawned, laying on her bed as he entered her bedroom.

"Howdy darlin'," he replied, removing his bags and placing them on the bed beside her. She rolled over to examine them.

"What's with the bags?" she asked.

"You forget what day it is?" Mac teased, undoing the clasp and allowing the record jackets to spill out onto her bed.

"Poison the Trough, Parkway Trot, A Mare To Remember?" Rainbow gasped. "You even got the ones with the bonus tracks!"

Mac smiled. He loved seeing Rainbow happy. Rainbow's joy faded a bit as she looked to her calendar on the wall. "Oh crap! It's our sixth month anniversary already?" she moaned, having completely forgotten.

"Eeyup," Mac sighed.

Dash had to think quickly. Macintosh had more than likely gone into alien territory to even get those records, so she'd have to do something for him that she may not necessarily enjoy. "I guess we're gonna have to go out then, huh?" she asked. Mac shook his head.

"We ain't got to," he insisted.

"Horse-apples. You pick the place, and we're there," Rainbow replied, putting a hoof around Mac's broad shoulders and pulling him onto the bed with her.

"Hm..." Mac scratched his mane while Rainbow waited for his decision.

"There's a place in town where Applejack and Ah would take Apple Bloom and Granny when we didn't feel like cookin' supper. They make a mighty fine dandelion casserole."

"Then that's where we're going," she said, giving him a peck on the nose. "But we can't be out all night, I've got practice tomorrow."

Mac smiled. "Don't worry granny, Ah'll have ya home before ten."

Rainbow shoved a hoof into his chest as she rose from the bed to head into the bathroom. "It's a good thing you're cute, you know that?"

"Ah've heard it before," he said calmly, earning a flying manebrush from the bathroom as Rainbow brushed her teeth.

He's getting better at the jokes. I must be rubbing off on him, she thought.

After a brief moment to rinse away the day's dirt, she was ready to go. Following Mac down the ladder, they set off towards Ponyville. As they walked, Rainbow voiced her earlier thoughts involving her house.

"So, I was thinking about what I'm gonna do with my place after the foal is born."

Mac flicked an ear in her direction. "Mhm."

"Yeah well, I built it myself, ya know," she mumbled

"So Ah've heard. Ya did a pretty good job."

She smiled. "Yeah. I was guessing I could just drag it over the farm."

"Well, that's one thing you could do. Ah can't really just leave the farm to Applejack," he said. "Ah know Ah might have to sometimes once Zap is born, but Ah don't think Ah'll have to put out any fires if Ah miss a day or so ta spend with our little one."

"I don't think a few days of paying somepony to work your farm would put a dent in my bank account," Rainbow chuckled.

"It ain't a matter of money, and you know it," he chided.

Dash rolled her eyes. "I know that. But what are you gonna do if I decide to?" she teased.

"Ah'll... uh..."

She put a hoof over his mouth. "Save it. This is the place, right?" Rainbow asked. Mac had gotten so preoccupied with their money argument, he'd failed to notice they'd arrived at the Hay Barrel Country Kitchen. Rainbow raised an eyebrow. If the rustic old sign was any indication, there'd be old farm tools mounted on the walls, and obese ponies shoveling fried foods and biscuits into their mouths as fast as the waitress could bring them out.

Mac opened the door for her and she stepped inside, expecting the worst. Much to her surprise, the dining room was sparsely populated, and the smell of fried foods and comfort food did more for her than she realized. Over the past couple of days, fancy food and expensive takeout had been her staples. Very rarely did she get a chance to eat at Mac's house, and she was certainly in a mood for a change of pace.

Her stomach rumbled loudly as they approached the stand where a young mare waited to seat them. They sat down and ordered their food as Dash took in their surroundings. "Other than the fact that this place looks like the inside of your barn, it smells pretty good in here."

"This's been one of Apple Bloom's favorite restaurants since she was a filly," he recalled. "She likes the mac and cheese."

Dash stared at him blankly. Was that a joke or not? "Well, I hope the fried okra is just as good." Rainbow had been doing well to cut out fatty foods from her diet, but she certainly didn't mind cheating just this once. Besides, it wasn't as though she had a choice; nearly everything on the menu was fried in some way! Sometimes even double-fried.

As their waitress brought their food, she couldn't help but ask if Rainbow was the Rainbow Dash. As though there were other ponies with a mane like hers.

After a quick autograph (that she was more than happy to give), she started to notice ponies gathering at the window near their table.

"You alright?" Mac asked, noticing her distraction.

Dash groaned. "It's these jerks at the window!" she snapped, signaling her waitress. "Is there any way you could close those curtains?"

"Sorry ma'am, the curtains are sewn open; we can't close them."

Dash slumped back in her chair. "Great..."

"Can Ah go ahead and get a box for the two of us?" Dash looked at their plates. Neither had eaten very much, and she knew for a fact Mac could put away almost as much as she could.

"You not hungry or something?" she asked.

"Naw, Ah just figured you might want ta go someplace more private."

"Listen, I'll have to get used to fans following me around eventually. I'll just ignore them until we're done."

Mac leaned over in his seat, glancing out of the window directly behind her. "Ah think that may be easier said than done." He pointed a hoof towards the crowd that had formed. Dash turned around in time to be blinded by camera flashes.

"Can we hurry it up with the boxes!" Rainbow growled. After paying their tab, they took a deep breath before exiting the restaurant and heading straight into the sea of flashbulbs. Rainbow knew they wouldn't be able to walk out of this. Thinking quickly, she hailed a cab and shoved Mac into the back before climbing in herself.

"Where to, miss?" the driver asked from the front of the coach.

"Sweet Apple Acres." She sighed. It was their first anniversary, and they barely had any time to celebrate it without Rainbow's fame getting in the way.

The ride back was silent as the smell of their still hot food filled the cabin. It was all Mac could do to keep from continuing to dine right then and there. After all, nosy cameraponies were no reason to let his food get cold, right? Sensing his marefriend's mood, he wisely decided against it. The cab came to a halt outside the familiar farmhouse as the two filed out.

After paying the cabbie, they found themselves bathed in the moonlight of high moon. "Ah know you're still hungry," Mac whispered. Dash nodded; he knew her well.

"I just can't believe we can't even eat dinner in town by ourselves anymore," Dash lamented.

"C'mon, Ah know a good spot not too far from here where we can finish eatin'." She smiled and followed him up a small hill near their farmhouse overlooking the orchards. The grass made a welcome seat as they set what was left of their food between each other, and hungrily finished what they'd started. Once they'd emptied their doggie bags, they laid next to each other underneath the stars.

"Ya know, after my chores the other day, Ah had time ta borrow a book from Twilight Ah thought you might like."

Rainbow turned to face him, rolling onto her side. "The next Daring Do isn't due out for months."

"Oh it wasn't for you to read. It was for me to read, about you," he clarified, her rosy eyes shining in confusion. She'd only been a Wonderbolt less than a year! Somepony had already written a book about her?

"About me?"

"Well, not you specifically. About pegasi. And how their wings can get sore," he replied. "and what to do in case that happens," he whispered suggestively, his voice taking on more of a low growl than a whisper. Rainbow bit her bottom lip slightly.

"Really? What'd you learn?"

Mac smiled. That was exactly what he'd been waiting for. "Lay on your stomach and Ah'll show ya."

Dash complied, rolling onto her belly as Mac stood up. "Okay, now stretch your wings out for me." She did as she was told, showing Macintosh her impressive wingspan. She couldn't deny a lingering soreness ever since she'd started training intensely. She heard the grass rustle beneath Mac's massive hooves as they took positions on either side of her. Falling to his knees, he kept most of his weight off her back as he sat down, ready to put what her learned into practice on her most delicate appendages.

"Ready?" he asked softly.

"Mhmm..." she replied, more than willing to spend some intimate time with Mac after a long day of practice.

"Alright, well, first thing ya have ta do is start at the joint. It said ya gotta really dig in there to get the knots out." Dash felt Mac's hooves begin to rub small circles where her wings joined her shoulder blades. For being as big and calloused as they were, she found them incredibly soft. Rainbow let out a small groan as he began working deeper into her back. Her feathers began to flex to their limit, the tips of her primaries standing straight out from her body. "How's that so far?" His voice nearly startled her. He'd leaned in close to her ear as he worked, giving it a playful nibble before returning upright.

"Amazing..." she moaned. Mac smiled. He lived for making her happy.

"Then it said, ya have ta move outward, but slowly." He began to drag his hooves over the interior of her wings, eliciting a sharp inhale as he began caressing an extremely sensitive spot.

"Oh, Mac..." she hissed softly. She'd never allowed anypony to get this close to her wings before, and she was truly sorry she hadn't. He simply smiled above her, continuing to push his way outward as he worked out the knots in her wings.

"Then, ya work the outside edges, but ya have to be careful, cause the leading edge is the most sensitive." As if to accentuate that word, he lightly drug his rough hoof across both leading edges at once. Mac could only recall hearing Rainbow make a noise like that after... well, during their intimacy was more like it, but he knew how sensitive pegasus wings could be, thanks to that book he'd checked out.

"Looks like Ah found your spot, huh?" Rainbow couldn't take another second. Not that she didn't appreciate Mac going through the trouble of learning her kind's anatomy, but he'd started a fire that could only be put out by one thing.

"Stand up a second," she commanded, her faculties now back under her control. Instinctively, Mac raised his hind legs. She took advantage of the freedom and pushed him over, assuming a seat on top of him as he lay on his back. Against the background of the night sky, Rainbow was easily the prettiest mare he'd ever seen. With her wings at full mast, Mac could hardly process the vision of beauty sitting on top of him against the backdrop of a million luminous stars. "So, you think you can just get me all worked up by reading some book and not pay the price, eh?" She smirked, leaning down as she put all of her weight on his belly. A firm love bite at the nape of his neck drew a deep chuckle. He knew he might have to explain the mark in the morning, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

"Or was that your plan all along?" she asked, raising her head after a few more bites to his ears and neck, peppered with a few kisses.

"Oh, no, ya caught me," he answered, returning her smile.

"You know, you aren't the only one who knows how to give a massage," said Dash, rubbing his chest with both forelegs. "Remember that one I gave you on the cattle drive?"

"Ah do."

"Of course you do." She leaned back down to give him a few more pecks. "You were putty in my hooves."

"Somepony's awfully confident about that," he teased.

Rainbow chuckled. "Well, it's not just sore rattlesnake bites I can massage. I can do legs... forelegs... flanks... a few other places..." The sinful smile on her face was enough to drive Mac as wild as he'd driven Rainbow only minutes before. He loved how sexy she could be for him when she wanted to be.

"Ah don't seem ta recall. Ah think Ah need a demonstration."

Even in the heat of the moment, Mac kept his cool. That was one of the things that drew her to him in the first place. His level-headed nature balanced her hot-headedness perfectly.

"I think we can figure something out..."

22. All The Right Moves

Chapter 22- All The Right Moves

"Not a bad anniversary present..." Rainbow whispered as she and Mac laid beneath the starry night.

"That ain't all of it," he replied. Dash raised her head from his chest.

"Sorry, Romeo, I don't have time for a round two." Rainbow stood, fluttering her wings.

"Well, that's good," Mac said, joining her. "'Cause part two ain't tonight." He shook the bits of grass out of his mane.

Rainbow squared herself to him. "What do you mean 'ain't tonight?'"

"Just what it sounds like."

"So when is it?" she demanded.

"You let me worry about that," he insisted. They began their trek back to the farmhouse in the chilly evening air. "So, you gonna head home or you wanna sleep here tonight?"

Though her house was closer to Cloudsdale by at least a ten minute flight, she decided to sleep at the farm since she'd just spent most of her energy earlier. "I guess I can stay." She smirked and nudged his shoulder. "If you're gonna beg me like that..."

Mac smiled. "Me? Beg? Ah think you know me better than that."

"I could make it happen if I wanted to, cowpony." Mac knew arguing this point was useless. Part of what made him able to tolerate Rainbow's competitiveness was knowing when to let something go. The walk back to the farm was quiet, save for the chirping of the crickets in the woods. It would be winter soon, and the serenade of the insects would soon be conspicuously absent from the crisp night air.

The silence was pleasant. Though Rainbow hated being kept in the dark about the rest of Mac's anniversary present, she managed to stow her anxiety for the time being and simply enjoy his company. Since beginning to date Mac, she found herself walking a lot more than usual. As a result, her hooves were often worn out after what many would consider a short walk.

"Careful when ya get inside, Apple Bloom's got school in the mornin'." Mac whispered as they arrived at his front porch, a single lantern hanging from a post left outside so he wouldn't trip in the dark.

Soon after, they found themselves beneath the heavy flannel blankets of Mac's bed. After a brief adjustment to make sure Rainbow was comfortable, he began to doze off. "So," she whispered, "when are you gonna tell me about the other part of my present?"

"Never," Mac grunted, pulling Rainbow into a tighter hug. "Now go to sleep."

"I'll figure it out eventually, you know," Rainbow replied, folding her forelegs. "I could just get it out of Applejack. She's a terrible liar, and I know where she's ticklish."

"You'll figure it out when it happens," Mac said. His answers weren't helping abate her curiosity. "And talkin' ta AJ won't do ya any good. She don't know nothin' about it." Mac took a bit of her mane in his mouth and tugged at it playfully. "Gimme your hoof."

Rainbow turned to him as though he'd just made an obscene request in public. "What? No way!"

"You didn't think Ah saw how you were practically hoverin' by the time we got to the front porch?" Mac asked flatly. "I know your hooves hurt, now give 'em here."

Rainbow hesitated. She may have been picky about who touched her wings, but nopony touched her hooves. She didn't even let professionals like the spa ponies near them. Rainbow re-crossed her forelegs and drew her hind legs close to her body. "N-no... they're fine."

Mac rolled his eyes, only safe because Rainbow was facing away from him. "Alright, you ain't got to if ya don't want to," he mumbled. "Ah just thought Ah could put the other things Ah learned in that book ta use. It said pegasus hooves are a lot more sensitive ta hard ground than other ponies'."

Rainbow hated Mac's ability to guilt trip her. He wasn't just good at it; he was great. That dismayed tone in his voice seemed to claw at her very soul. Like her fear of needles, her hoof-touching phobia was just one of her quirks. Not caused by a traumatic childhood event or some kind of bizarre shaming, it was simply the way she'd always been.

"If I give you one, will you promise to never bring this up again?" she whispered.

"Ah promise," he replied, confident that soon, he would be able to try out what he learned in the pegasi massage book he'd borrowed from Twilight, he could do more to help her relax before her shows and practices.

Begrudgingly, Rainbow uncurled and threw a foreleg over Mac's broad chest. It was getting late, but there was still time for Mac to prove Rainbow had nothing to fear by letting him touch her hooves.

Rainbow turned to face Mac, though her eyes were screwed shut. He couldn't help but smile at her apprehension. "Darlin', Ah'm not gonna cut it off."

"Just get it over with!" she snapped, keeping her eyes closed. Mac could count the things Rainbow was afraid of on both hooves. Though her fears were few in number, they were certainly high in intensity—like everything else about her.

"Ah will, but Ah'm gonna need you to relax first."

"I am relaxed!" She tensed.

"You're wound tighter than the hay loft winch," Mac deadpanned. "Take a breath for me."

Rainbow inhaled through gritted teeth, before trying to exhale as slowly as she could manage. Mac noticed her tension loosen a bit, and began to knead her tender hoof gently. After a few moments, her ears perked up from their flat position against her head. "See? Ain't s'bad, is it?"

Dash snorted. "You earth ponies and your hoof fetishes..." Mac smiled. She could certainly be quite the comedian when she wanted to be.

"What? Ah'm not allowed ta think my marefriend's hooves are as sexy as the rest of her?" Rainbow pushed her nose against Mac's, giving him a quick peck on the lips before returning to her pillow.

"No. It's weird."

Mac shook his head, a few chuckles bouncing around his darkened bedroom. He diligently continued his work before setting her hoof back atop her chest. "Better?" Mac asked, knowing full well the answer. Rainbow had to admit, for a stallion with massive hooves, he knew how to be gentle with them. Dash looked toward the blanket.

"Maybe..."

He smiled. "Ah thought so. Lemme see the other one."

Rainbow nearly backed herself off the side of the bed. "Hey, one was the deal!"

"I'm altering the deal. Pray Ah don't alter it further." Dash could see his goofy grin through the moonlight shining through his window. She had already let him have one hoof, she supposed one more wouldn't hurt.

"Sweet Celestia, you're such a nerd," she sighed. "Fine. But I'm going to bed after this!"

"Okay, okay," Mac replied, carefully taking his marefriend's other front hoof in his own. Rainbow closed her eyes, softly this time, letting him work his magic. "Oh, Ah'm gonna be in Canterlot 'til your show."

Rainbow's eyes shot open. "What for?" she demanded.

"Nonya."

"What?"

"Nonyabidness." His smart mouth earned a shove from the hoof he was massaging. "It's all part of your anniversary present; you'll just have to survive a few days without me."

Rainbow huffed, extending her hoof so Mac could continue. Like it or not, she couldn't deny how good it felt.

"I think I'll manage," she muttered.

"It'll all be worth it, trust me."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Remember what happened the last time I trusted you?" she asked, answering before Mac could form a response. "You got me thrown in jail."

"But it was in jail with me. Better than being in jail alone, right?" he smiled.

"Shut up, Mac," she teased, closing her eyes once more.

Before Mac knew it, soft snoring echoed from the other side of the bed. He set her hoof against her side as he settled his own over it. Just before he closed his eyes to rest, he took one last look at Rainbow in the moonlight. The mother of his foal's mane spread haphazardly behind her, the blues, greens and purples of her stray hairs painting a wonderful background to the face he'd fallen in love with. She was an Element of Harmony, a savior of the kingdom many times over, a Wonderbolt, and, in at least ten months time, an amazing mother.

The last thought crossing his mind that night was how truly lucky he was to have found her.

The Next Afternoon...

Twilight hadn't had a very busy day. In fact, it had been quite some time since she experienced what could be considered a 'full day' of work. The library was very low-maintenance, and the only time it required a bit of labor was 're-shelving' day. A 'holiday' Twilight made up herself to occupy her time. She had just prepared an early dinner when a knock drew her to the door. A new cookbook had just arrived, and Twilight had been waiting for an occasion to prepare a hearty stew for the breezy weather, which already had the bite of a winter wind, even in the early fall.

Spike was absent, having gone to a sleepover with the Cutie Mark Crusaders at Rarity's boutique. Though it wasn't a regular occurrence, Twilight enjoyed letting Spike play with others close to his maturity level. He was almost as old as Twilight, though mentally, he was still a young dragon on par with Sweetie Belle and her pals.

Twilight opened the door to reveal a head of fiery orange hair, streaked back as though the mare sporting it was in a constant wind tunnel. The dazzling amber eyes below it portrayed a calculated coolness, while the perfectly pressed uniform—complete with a tie and chest full of ribbons confirmed the authority of Spitfire, Wonderbolt Captain.

"Hello, Spitfire!" Twilight smiled. "What brings you by?"

"I came by to give you something Rook—I mean, Rainbow Dash wanted you and your dragon friend to have. Mind if I come in?"

"Of course not," Twilight replied, stepping aside and closing the door behind Spitfire.

Without breaking a sweat, she strode inside, admiring the studious atmosphere Twilight had worked to cultivate, though it seemed she was the only one to reap the benefits. "Not a lot of traffic today?" she asked.

"Not today, or ever, really." Twilight sighed. It seemed a passion for books was something not many in her town shared. "Only when a new bestseller comes out do I get any real business."

Spitfire nodded, sniffing the air, the smell of Twilight's culinary creation reviving her appetite. Twilight interrupted her aromatic enjoyment. "So, about that thing Rainbow wanted Spike and I to have?"

"Oh!" Spitfire blushed a bit. "Right." She produced two tickets to the royal box seats from the pocket of her uniform. Twilight gasped as she took them in her magic.

"Box passes?" She was positively beaming at this point, something Spitfire didn't mind in the slightest. "These are right next to the Princesses!"

"Yeah, they took some getting, but Rook is a good kid." Spitfire nearly yelped in surprise as Twilight crushed her into an unexpected hug. Just as quickly as it had come, the normally reserved unicorn backed off, a blush now coming over her own cheeks.

"S-Sorry, about that..."

Spitfire straightened her tie. "No worries. I was actually thinking about grabbing a book while I was here." Twilight perked up. Spitfire could certainly get used to seeing her smile like that. Then again, she had other ways of making her grin. Her wings fluttered slightly as she shoved her dirty thoughts away for the time being.

"Really? What subject were you interested in?" she asked, heading toward her towering shelves, magic at the ready to retrieve books from even the loftiest perch.

"Honestly, whatever book you used to make that amazing smell." Twilight turned to face her. Nopony had ever complimented her cooking before.

"It's actually one of my favorites," she replied, glancing into the kitchen. "You know, I made way more than I can eat myself, and Spike's at a sleep-over... would you like to join me for a bowl of that 'amazing smell'?"

Spitfire smiled. Perhaps this mare wasn't as oblivious as she had been led to believe. "That would be great."

The train ride to Canterlot was boring, to put it simply. Mac had tried to sleep the whole way, but found the solid night's rest he'd gotten the evening before keeping him awake. He'd hired Caramel to take over his chores while he was away. The plowing was finished, so a smaller stallion could replace for a few days. Applejack had questioned him about why he was leaving, but he knew better than to tell her.

Rainbow was right, Applejack was a terrible liar, and if she knew, Dash would get the truth out of her eventually. It pained him, but keeping his sister in the dark was his best choice. Granny Smith was arguably the only one who knew why Mac was headed to the capital, but he knew her lips were sealed.

The Canterlot train station was filled with important-looking ponies and dignitaries of varying races. Never had Mac been more self-conscious about his un-fancy appearance, though he kept his emotions to himself, as usual. He stepped off the train to find two royal guards approaching him, their armor making them look identical.

"Macintosh Apple?"

He nodded.

"We've arranged transit to the palace. Please, follow us." Mac did as instructed and followed the guards to a chariot pulled by two pegasi stallions. The flight was brief, but fun. Macintosh always enjoyed being up high. As a colt, he had watched his pegasi classmates learn to use their magnificent wings, all the while growing green with envy. An earth pony's gift was strength, though he'd trade every muscle in his body for a chance to fly, especially alongside his Rainbow Dash. Even though he was able to walk among the clouds via the amulet Twilight enchanted for him, without wings, he knew he would be forever a ground-pounder while his marefriend hovered above him.

Once the chariot had touched down, both Celestia and Luna waited for him at the front door of the castle. Mac stepped off the chariot and bowed, holding his position of respect until they addressed him.

"Rise, gentle Macintosh," Luna said.

"Your appeal has touched our hearts, and we have decided to grant your request," Celestia added, smiling gently at her subject.

"It's an honor, Your Majesties." He rose from his bow, though he dared not gaze upon royalty directly. This was a custom only practiced in the most rural and superstitious of towns, though Mac was not as accustomed to dealings with royalty as, say, his sister or his soon-to-be bride.

"Do not cast your gaze aside," Luna demanded. "Look upon us, as the guidance we shall bestow upon thee shall not be without challenge."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Mac looked to them as they met him with a smile. They were much less intimidating to a simple country stallion this way.

"Your love for Rainbow Dash has moved us, and we shall make your proposal of marriage one she will not soon forget," Celestia motioned for him to follow them. "Come, we will show you to your living quarters, and we will begin your training at first light tomorrow."

Mac bowed again, making sure to follow his princesses closely. The castle was quite large and easy to get lost inside.

They arrived at an ornately carved door with two guards posted beside it. They presented their arms as the royals walked past, instilling Mac with a sense of patriotism not felt since the last Guard's Day parade in Ponyville.

"You shall make your bed here. We trust this is to your liking?" Luna asked as Macintosh took in the room in all its splendor. More gold leaf and marble was used in the columns supporting this room than he'd ever seen in his entire life. He felt as though he was wasting a fortune just breathing the air inside it.

"I-It is," he fumbled. "Thank you, Your Majesties."

"Think nothing of it, Macintosh," Celestia assured him. "Dinner will be served promptly at the seventh bell. Should we expect you at the royal table?"

He balked. "Oh, uhm... Ah wouldn't want ta—" A curt nod from Princess Luna reassured him. "Say anythin' other than of course Ah will." He bowed again, eliciting a giggle from both princesses. Celestia took her leave, though Luna stayed to express one last sentiment.

"Rainbow Dash is certainly fortunate to have landed such a... handsome stallion."

Mac was sure his blush was obvious, even through his coat. After all, it's not every day that a deity hits on you. "Y-yes Princess, Ah suppose she is..."

Luna put a hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle. "Please, you may call us Luna."

23. Show Stopper

Chapter 23- Show Stopper

Grimacing, Macintosh raised his left hind hoof and slammed in into his right ankle, hoping the stab of pain might help to keep him awake. Instead, all it did was rattle the silverware and attract the bemused attention of the two princesses at opposite heads of the table.

"Tired, Macintosh?" Celestia asked.

"You could say that, Your Majesty," Mac said, fighting to maintain some semblance of dignity in the presence of his monarchs.

"We have ridden Macintosh rather harshly this week, We must admit," Luna mused, dabbing her lips with napkin. "But he will be a better stallion for it."

Mac blushed, smiling down at his salad. "It's been tough, but I know Rainbow will appreciate it."

"Indeed she will," Luna mused, taking a sip of her wine. "We cannot wait to see the look on her face."

"Thanks for helping Beebop with her math, Twilight," Spitfire said, loosening the tie of her uniform as she took a seat on Twilight's couch.

"Oh, it's no problem at all," Twilight insisted, fetching a few basic math workbooks. She laid them out in front of the couch where Spitfire lay. A shy filly doing her best to hide beneath her mother's wing waited for Twilight to address her. "Just as long as little miss Beebop decides I won't bite," Twilight continued, smiling warmly at the filly. A gentle nudge from her mother, and Beebop fluttered out of her embrace and onto a cushion next to Twilight. The young mare looked nervously at Twilight before turning her soulful eyes back to her mother.

Spitfire waved a wing towards her. "Go on, sweetie, Momma's gonna sit right here while you practice math, okay?" Beebop hesitated, before nodding and turning back to her new teacher.

"Okay then, let's get started. My name is Twilight Sparkle." Beebop withdrew, her tiny wings trying in vain to cover her eyes.

"... I'm Beebop..." she whispered softly.

Twilight smiled. "Nice to meet you, Beebop." Twilight flipped open what looked like a coloring book with a few simple math problems on each page. "Now, would you like to show me which of these you know how to solve?" Beebop's ears flattened worriedly as she looked back at her mother.

Spitfire nodded patiently as she picked up a crayon and began working a few of the easier problems. "You know, Rainbow mentioned you home schooled your foal," Twilight commented.

A smirk crept over Spifire's face. "Yeah, Rook likes to talk."

"I can see why. I wouldn't want cameraponies chasing my foals around either," Twilight said, looking up from her pupil. "But why bring her to me?"

Spitfire's eyes bounced between her daughter and her tutor. "Uh... Rook said you were the best in Equestria," she stumbled, fidgeting on the couch. "I can make it worth your while."

Twilight waved her hoof. "No, no, money is not a problem. The princess gives me more than I need to keep the library going." She refocused on her student and began helping her work through the more difficult problems. Spitfire sat back on the couch and watched the two of them hard at work. It was usually Soarin's job to help their daughter on weeknights, but Spitfire had specifically requested a weeknight with her daughter.

"Soarin's supposed to take care of this kind of thing, but he only does it sometimes," Spitfire added. "Stallions for ya."

Twilight scoffed before praising Beebop on a problem well done. "I guess."

"You... guess?" Spitfire raised an eyebrow.

"W-well... I haven't really ever been in a relationship, per se..."

"Oh!" Spitfire replied. "Um, I mean, it's a lot of work if you're not prepared for it..." She looked down at her hooves and sighed. "Even more if you rush into it..."

Twilight pretended not to catch Spitfire's mumbling, but she was well-aware of her marital troubles. All of Equestria was, in fact. Though she was apparently still on good terms with Soarin, Twilight couldn't help but think what could come between a mare and stallion that already had a foal of their own. Twilight turned her attention back to the task at hoof. With Spike spending more time with Apple Bloom and her friends, she didn't mind the company.

Still, something about Spitfire's visits struck her as a bit... odd.

The final full day of practice before the show had left Rainbow more than ready to flop down on her cloudy bed and sleep until showtime. As Dash filed into the locker room behind Soarin and Firefly, her tail flicked anxiously from side to side. The show was only a day away! Dash was careful to never let her nerves get the better of her, though there was little she could do to suppress the butterflies in her stomach.

Her practice flight suit felt as though it had been painted on as she began to peel it off. They were washed daily, but were filthy after even a single day's use. Rainbow's mind hadn't exactly been dedicated to practice lately. Mostly, she'd been preoccupied with what Mac could be up to for five days in Canterlot. Despite having practice, she had half a mind to see what he was up to herself.

"Rook, what's your problem?" Soarin's gruff tone snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, nothin's wrong," she replied quickly. "Just excited for the show."

The snap of a towel on her cutie mark echoed through the locker room as she yelped. "Eckshited, or shcared?" Firefly teased, twirling the towel between her teeth.

"I'm not scared!" she snapped, emphasizing her point with a crack in Firefly's direction with her own towel.

"Stop with the grab-ass, ladies." Nearly everypony jumped to attention as Spitfire appeared from the hallway. "Soarin, I need to see you in the office."

He smiled as he threw his practice uniform in the clothes bin. "Sure, just let me—"

"Now." Silence blanketed the locker room as Spitfire retreated, followed closely by her ex-husband.

"Pfft, Soarin's good looking and all but you'd think she'd give somepony else a shot," Firefly commented, getting a few chuckles out of Rainbow.

"Yeah, or you'd at least think she'd wait for him to shower before going for a ride." They both shared a laugh as they trotted towards the showers where some of the other Wonderbolts were already rinsing off the day's dirt. Rainbow twisted the brass valve, praying she wouldn't be doused with ice water or scalded with heat. The plumbing in the Cloudesium was spotty at best. A temperate stream of water soothed her as she allowed her tired muscles to relax before committing to the chore of washing herself.

"Seriously, you ready for this show or what?" Firefly asked, already lathering shampoo into her mane. Rainbow grunted. Her part in the show had shrunk considerably since Spitfire had found out she was pregnant. Now, only four months into her term, she was regulated to a simple closing at the end of the show. One Sonic Rainboom, if possible. Yes, if possible was also included in her orders. Nopony knew what effect supersonic flight might have on a developing foal, or even if the added weight would allow her to perform one in the first place.

"Yeah, not like I have anything tough to do..." Firefly could only imagine how much it must have hurt to have your challenging-yet-rewarding routine replaced with something a flight school student could do. Well, minus the Rainboom.

"C'mon, just 'cause your routine is easy, doesn't mean it isn't worth doing!" Firefly said, trying to cheer her up. "Besides, it'd be a shame if Captain Spitfire got wind of you not taking your duties seriously..."

Rainbow glared at her before washing off the suds she had built up. "Chill out, will ya? I'll nail my routine, don't worry." Firefly smiled.

"You better hope so. Spitfire is gonna eat you for lunch if you don't!"

Dash snorted dismissively. "You just make sure you know your stuff. Spitfire put me in charge of making sure you don't mess up, remember?"

Firefly smiled. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get preened so we can go home."

Macintosh tossed and turned in his sleep. He was lucky to get this much. His nerves had kept him awake all night in anticipation of the next day. It was the day one of the most important ponies in his life was going to debut to the world the talent she'd worked to improve tirelessly for years. Though she'd complained a few times about her role in the opening show being cut back, she certainly lit up every time she spoke of it.

He dreamt he was sitting in the audience of a Wonderbolt show, watching Rainbow Dash zoom over him performing tricks and stunts the likes of which he didn't think possible. His cheers were just one of thousands as he craned his neck to the skies above. In an instant, the other spectators disappeared. Their cheers vanished and Mac was left alone, staring at an empty sky.

"She is quite the catch, Macintosh." Mac nearly jumped out of his coat at the sound of Luna's voice practically in his ear. He turned in the direction of the voice as a disembodied smile hovered beside him, before eyes, ears, a head, muzzle and mane appeared, followed by the rest of her body.

"P-princess Luna? What are you doin' here?"

"We walk through dreams by night."

Mac raised an eyebrow. "This's a dream?"

Luna giggled. "Oh yes. Most do not realize they are in dreams even as the truly bizarre takes place around them."

"So, Ah'm not really here?" he asked.

"No, you are asleep inside the palace," she assured him. "We are in our night chamber, though I'm simply taking respite to deliver a message."

"A message?"

Luna nodded. "What do you know of the legends surrounding the alicorns, Macintosh?" she asked.

Mac thought for a moment. It was a topic only briefly covered by his schoolteacher. "Well... Ah know they're fair, an' wise, an' got some powerful magic in 'em." Luna smiled.

"Indeed, but we harbor a lesser known ability. Are you familiar with foresight, Macintosh?"

Mac paused. "You mean like, bein' able to see the future?"

"No, not quite," Luna replied behind a soft smile. "We cannot foretell future events exactly as they will unfold, but we can get an idea of how certain actions will affect the parties involved, be that outcome beneficial or harmful."

Mac looked back up to the sky he'd been watching, which had now turned into a vibrant sea of stars. "So Ah take it you've come ta tell me somethin' about my plan?"

Luna shook her head, starry mane waving gracefully in an unfelt breeze. "Not about your plan. About your life."

"M-my life?" Mac gulped.

"Fear not, gentle Macintosh," she said calmly. "The life I foresee for you and Rainbow Dash is a happy one." Mac sighed in relief. Ethereal bad news from a demigod was the last thing he needed weighing on his mind before he enacted his crazy scheme. "However." Mac's heart froze in his chest. He turned his attention back to his dreamworld companion. "Your happiness will not be so easily given."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Nay, it shan't be given at all," she whispered gravely. "You must be willing to take it—to fight for it, for her, and for your foal. Nothing less than this commitment can We accept from you, if you desire to marry an Element of Harmony," Luna demanded.

"Are you sayin' somethin' bad's gonna happen to one of us?" Mac asked darkly.

"We cannot say for certain, but know this. If you are not willing to fight for your mare if the time came, then I cannot allow you to wed such a vital part of this kingdom's deterrence against aggression."

Mac wrinkled his nose indignantly, before recalling such a face. He was still in the company of royalty, after all. "So, all that my sister and her friends are to you is safety?"

"They are vital to keeping all of ponykind free, but make no mistake, We do not take such ponies for granted. We are not at liberty to speak on such topics, but suffice to say there will be a major shift in the royal house in the coming months," she explained. "It will be a very fragile time for the diarchy, and so it is imperative that the Element bearers all harbor no ill feelings towards any of the ponies they are charged with protecting. Do you understand now, why We had to make sure you were committed to Rainbow Dash?"

Mac nodded. "Ah do. Don't worry, Your Highness, Ah'll make sure nothin' bad happens to me, Rainbow, or our foal." Luna rose from her seat and tilted her head towards him, her horn gently resting on his forehead.

"See that you do not."

With a bright flash from Luna's horn, Mac awoke with a start inside the room the princesses had given him. As he caught his breath, he glanced toward the heavy curtains blocking the large window beside the bed. Shafts of light beamed through the ornately sewn columns of fabric as Mac looked at the grandfather clock at the end of the hall. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and clumsily stretched his knees. He was used to getting up early, but not the comfort of a pegasus down bed and pillows. They were hard to part with, he had to admit.

He looked toward his yoke hanging on a post of the bed. He hadn't worn it since he arrived. Princess Luna insisted on his leaving it behind, and he could guess why. Mac stepped out of the bedroom and into the well-lit living area where the delicious smell of hot breakfast wafted into his nose. He closed his eyes, savoring it before resolving to find its source. Following his muzzle, he ended up near the door. He looked through the peephole and saw something sitting just outside his door. He slowly opened the door and stuck his head into the hallway.

"Hello?" he called, before taking a look down at what was unmistakably meant for him. A silver dome with a small vase of flowers sat expectantly by his hooves. He gently picked it up and returned to his room, closing the door with a hind leg. He set the silver tray down on his massive dining table, now certain something delicious was waiting for him beneath the dome. His reflection grinning in the polished metal, he removed the lid as a bit of magic dissipated from the food. He had read some fancy restaurants used magic to keep food from getting cold from sitting around too long. He couldn't imagine the castle being any different.

Even the flowers were tasty as he plucked the last pedal from the stem. Though, in retrospect, they were probably more for decorating than for eating. After such a filling meal, he knew he either needed a back forty to plow, or he'd be asleep in that wonderful bed again. However, today was the big day, the reason he'd trained the past week. As he sat back in his chair, he noticed a small square of paper beneath the corner of his plate. Flipping it over, he realized it was a note from the princesses.

Dear Macintosh,

In the armoire, you will find the clothing you will need for today. We've already let Captain Spitfire know of our arrangement, and she will point you in the right direction once you arrive at the show grounds. We'll be watching! Good luck!

-Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence

With a renewed sense of purpose, Mac opened the armoire and removed the apparel and a can of body paint. With a lump in his throat, he began to ready himself for his once-in-a-lifetime chance to propose to Rainbow.

The crowds had gathered early that afternoon, ready to watch the first show of the Wonderbolt's season in the sleepy hamlet of Ponyville. The fallow fields outside of town served as a welcome seat for both pegasi and ground-bound ponies. The arena and performance boundaries were still being set up as Rainbow passed through security. She quickly changed into her uniform and milled about with the other Wonderbolts as they mingled with celebrities and those who had managed to secure backstage passes to the pre-show event.

She chatted with Firefly for a bit, only to take a seat by herself as she tried to calm her jittery nerves. "Rainbow Dash, there you are!" Rarity's voice lifted her head from the clouds as she walked toward her friends.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming!" she exchanged hugs as the muffled noise of the sound system outside rumbled backstage.

"We wouldn't dare miss your first show!" Rarity insisted. Rainbow sighed, a smile plastered over her features. "Darling, is something the matter?"

Rainbow was certainly grateful her five best friends were there to support her. She looked around them. "Nothing... it's just, you guys haven't seen Mac, have you?" Each of her friends shook their head.

"I bet he'll show up," Spike answered, smiling smugly.

"A'course he will!" Applejack assured her. "If my brother said he was gonna do somethin' he's gonna do it." Applejack tipped her hat. "Besides, you wouldn't be the only one lookin' for his hide if he decided ta blow this off."

Dash smiled, but she had fully expected Mac to actually use the backstage pass she'd gotten for him to wish her luck, or at the very least come see her before the show.

"His seat is next to yours," she whispered to Applejack. "You better let me know if he doesn't show."

Applejack grinned. "Don't you worry, sugarcube."

"Ladies and Gentlecolts, colts and fillies, welcome to the Wonderbolt season opener!" The announcers booming voice echoed through the open expanse of field. Cheers rumbled through the air as countless fans waited impatiently for their favorite Wonderbolts to show. "And now, presiding over the evening's events, the princesses themselves!" The crowd cheered again as three alicorns took their seats next to the Elements of Harmony in the royal box. After a brief wave to their subjects, the sun began to sink and the artificial lights dimmed.

"Now, for the first time this season, allow me to introduce the newest members of the Wonderbolts flying team! First up, the two new stallions: Con Trail and Jet Lag!" Two stallions flew up from behind the crowd and landed on a cloud platform in the center of the arena. "And our two newest mares: Firefly and Rainbow Dash!"

Dash and Firefly flew out together, hooves held as they landed on the cloud next to their male counterparts and waved to their fans.

After a brief moment in the spotlight, the rookies flew to their starting positions. "Now, without further delay, it is my pleasure to introduce... the fabulous, Wonderbolts!" Strobe and laser lights burst forth from the pyrotechnic pony's horns as the stunt team began their routine. Dash waited impatiently for her moment of glory, all while keeping an eye on Firefly's moves.

Before she knew it, the minutes had passed, and the time for her stunt had arrived.

Okay, just a straight shot across the field, with a Rainboom in the middle, she thought, sliding her goggles into place. Let's do it.

Rainbow leapt off her cloud and built up speed as she plummeted towards the ground. She had plenty of room to build up enough momentum, the real test was: would she be able to? Dash hadn't flown this fast since Cadence's wedding, and she was still not near fast enough for a rainboom. C'mon Dash, the whole team is counting on you! Push it! Her ears folded back and her wings drew in by her sides as her airspeed continued to increase, the familiar cone beginning to form around her. She was nearing the arena, and knew she would have only one chance to pull this off and prove to Spitfire she belonged on the team, pregnant or not.

As she reached the edge of the speed of sound, she glanced down at the royal box to see all of her friends watching with wide eyes, except for the one she truly wanted to see her perform. Mac's seat was still empty, and she was the closing act. The realization shattered her concentration, and she passed over the crowd as a sky blue blur, nothing more.

Dash clenched her eyes shut and gritted her teeth. That two timing mudpony! He promised me he'd be here! she seethed to herself as she took a wide turn, doubling back towards the arena. The announcer's voice had already begun echoing through the open fields, a sign the show was ending. Rainbow opened her eyes, a new sense of fury washing over her as she forced herself faster. These ponies paid for a Sonic Rainboom, and that's what they're gonna get!

The cone formed around her again as she pushed herself harder than she ever had before. For a brief second, she thought about the foal still in her belly. The terrifying thoughts of hurting her foal paled in comparison to a public failure. Fueled by her anger at Mac, and being sidelined by Spitfire, she gave her wings one final push before casting her radiant stunt across the sky, to the cheers of the crowd below. Dash pulled up, letting her speed bleed off until she hovered in the air before falling back down to Earth.

Rainbow landed next to the other Wonderbolts on the cloudy stage, the aftereffects of her stunt still hanging on the horizon.

"I almost thought you weren't gonna make it," Firefly whispered from her right.

"You... wish," Dash panted in reply.

"Ladies and Gentlecolts, this year's Wonderbolt flight team!" the announcer boomed, the spotlight shining on Princess Celestia to close the show.

"My little ponies, this has been a wonderful evening with all of you, and a special congratulations to the four newest Wonderbolts," Celestia said, her regal features exuding calm. "But before we go, I'm afraid there is still one thing that must be taken care of." The gathered masses muttered amongst themselves, wondering what this mysterious event might be. "Rainbow Dash, Soarin Nimbus, will you please step forward."

The other Wonderbolts left the cloud, leaving only the two pegasi before their ruler. "With pleasure, Your Majesty!" Another spotlight shone behind Celestia, where the gasp from the crowd could have given away the owner. Soarin stood behind the princesses, smiling down at Rainbow and the would-be Soarin.

"It seems we have an impostor in our midst," Celestia added, catching Soarin's smile as Dash took a step away from the pony next to her. He looked toward her, his goggles hiding his eyes and his uniform hiding anything else that might identify him. His snout, ears and wings were blue, as was his tail.

"Who the heck are you?" Rainbow asked, raising her goggles to get a better look at him. Slowly, the mystery pony removed his goggles, a pair of shining green eyes stared back at her. Rainbow's heart nearly stopped. He unzipped the hood of the uniform and shook out a decidedly dirty blonde mane as he tucked his wings in by his side.

The tip of his muzzle had been painted to match Soarin's, as well as his ears and wings.

"M-mac?" she stammered.

"Eeyup."

Dash blinked, still unsure if what she was seeing was true. "But, how do you have wings?"

"Ah wanted my proposal ta be memorable, and the Princesses agreed." He turned to face her completely. "So they helped me out with some temporary wings. Princess Celestia told me she wanted to practice giving ponies wings, but she wouldn't say what for."

Dash closed her mouth, putting a hoof to her forehead while she tried to process what had just been dumped in her lap. "But, you—you flew Soarin's whole routine? With wings you got, what, five days ago?"

Mac shook his head. "Nah, I swapped places with him after his stunts were all done, so Ah could do this." He scooped up a bit of cloud material and blew across it, the cloudstuff wafting away to reveal a small box that fit in his hoof. It was a jewelry box.

"Do what?" she asked nervously, though she already knew what he had in mind.

"Ask you somethin'," he replied, keeping his cool in front of roughly fifteen thousand ponies and the country's royalty.

"You mean, this is why you were in Canterlot? You went through all of this trouble, just to set this up?" she squeaked, sounding more like Fluttershy than her usual self.

"Eeyup." He sat down on his haunches, still holding the box in his hoof. He brought his eyes up to hers, light rings around her eyes from the pressure of her goggles. Her mane was frazzled and sweaty, her tail was bunched in knots, but he didn't care. There was no way she would ever look unpresentable to him. Mac took a deep breath, his nerves showing for the first time that evening. "Rainbow Dash." He opened the box, the light from the spotlight shining through the ruby, emerald and diamonds set in his mother's wedding earring. The reflection in Rainbow's eyes shined even brighter, accented by the moisture threatening to spill from the corners. "Will you marry me?"

The silence was absolute. Not even the nocturnal animals dared breathe until Rainbow spoke. In a moment that seemed to take hours, Dash looked at the hopeful face of the stallion before her, then back to the family heirloom he was holding out to her. She'd never made an easier decision.

"Yes."

25. Plus One

Chapter 25- Plus One

Rainbow sat in front of the mirror in Applejack's room. She'd borrowed it from her country pal only for the day. But today was no ordinary afternoon. The reflection staring back at Rainbow wore a simplistic, yet elegant, white dress. Rarity's original design had been much more frilly and ornate, the overzealous fashion designer only toning down the garment after Dash had insisted.

Her veil sat on the dresser next to her. Today was the big day. The day she and Rarity—and occasionally Macintosh—had spent planning. So far, everything had gone perfectly. Her friends, co-workers, family, and even the Princesses themselves, gathered on a hilltop outside, waiting patiently for the bride to appear. Her groom also waited in his room, surely just as nervous as she felt. Rainbow rested a foreleg on her now swollen belly. It had been no easy task to carry her son this far. Between the terrible bouts of morning sickness, swollen hooves, and insane mood swings, it was a miracle that she'd survived to reach this day.

Her due date was still around two months away, but the closer the date became, the more raw her feelings toward motherhood grew. Would she be ready? Would the pain of foaling be too much for her to handle? She supposed she didn't have a choice now.

A knock at the door drew her attention away from her reflection. "Rainbow Dash?"

"Come in," she said hoarsely. She had spent much of the day crying, for one reason or another. Thankfully, she managed to keep such embarrassing moments private. Her mother peeked through the door, stepping inside and beaming with pride.

"Oh, you look so lovely, my little bluebird," she whispered. "I remember when your father and I got married..." she said wistfully.

Rainbow sighed. "Yeah... it sucks he's not here."

"I'm sure he'd be just as happy as I am if he were," Wave replied, hugging her daughter from behind. She took the locket Rainbow wore and brought it up to eye level. "I suppose he's with us in spirit." She smiled.

Dash tucked the locket back into her dress. "I think so." Wave hugged her daughter once more before turning to leave the room.

"Are you nervous, dear?" she asked.

"Kind of."

Her mother smiled. "You should see Macintosh. He's sweating bullets."

Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle. "I'd actually pay good bits to see Mac that way."

"Don't worry, you will in a few minutes." Wave opened the door. "Congratulations, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mom."

As she heard her mother step downstairs, she heard another hurried set of hoofsteps beat upstairs. Rarity burst through the door. "Rainbow, are you ready? Macintosh is already before Celestia."

Dash took a deep breath before looking at herself in the mirror, gaining one last glimmer of confidence before her big event. "Yeah, let's go."

Rarity levitated the veil atop Rainbow's head, shifting it this way and that. "Hm... it just... doesn't want to sit straight!" she snapped her ear twitching angrily. This event was arguably just as important for Rarity as it was for Rainbow and Mac.

She flung the veil to the ground in defeat. "Oh well, veils are last season anyway." Dash snorted. It made no difference to her. She followed Rarity down the steps of the Apple farmhouse. The wedding party had already made their entrance, and Mac stood nervously in his father's touched-up suit while Princess Celestia waited patiently in front of him.

At Rarity's nod, the members of the string quartet began to play. The ponies in attendance stood from their chairs and turned, awaiting the bride's arrival. The Cutie Mark Crusaders reprised their roles, joyfully scattering flower petals on the aisle between the friends and family. A considerable number of seats had been brought in for Mac's side of the family alone, leaving one section a bit fuller than the other.

Rainbow's heart thumped in her ears as she took step after cautious step, careful not to tread on her dress, but at the same time, keeping her eyes focused on her destination. Mac stood with a thin smile across his lips. Before she knew it, she had reached his side. The guests took their seats as Princess Celestia began the ceremony.

"My faithful subjects, we gather here, under the light of the sun, to celebrate the union of the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash, daughter of Lightning Dash, and Macintosh Apple, son of Red Apple." Rainbow quickly glanced over her shoulder at the empty space behind her then to her fiance. They shared a look before turning their attention to Celestia.

"As all here know, love is certainly something to be celebrated, clung to, cherished, and admired. Even if the love is expressed a bit... prematurely." Celestia smiled. "It is on this most joyous of days that I am proud to consecrate your bond. What I have joined together, let no pony tear asunder." She paused. The bride and groom turned to face each other.

"No veil?" Mac whispered.

"No veil," Dash replied.

"Rainbow Dash, Macintosh Apple, I am to understand you've written your own vows?" They nodded, not breaking the gaze into each other's eyes. "Then please, recite them before us."

Mac raised a hoof and took one of Rainbow's, glancing at the earring dangling from beneath her styled mane. He took a deep breath and calmly stared back into her eyes.

"Rainbow Dash, when I'd first heard of you, I wasn’t sure what to make of ya. For a long while, you were just my sister's competitive friend. When I'd ask her about you, she'd tell me you were one of the most free ponies she'd ever met. She thought for sure that, if not for your friends, you'd never stay in one town for too long. To be honest, I couldn't see myself with a pony like that. I have roots here that I just couldn't leave behind.

“When I was a colt, I would dream of flyin', high in the air like the pegasi did. I only wanted to for a moment, just to know how it felt. Then, I met you. I got to know you. I fell in love with you. The moment we first kissed, you sent me flyin'. You lift me higher than I ever hope to fly, with or without wings. You lift me higher than the tallest mountains, and you're stronger than the most driving rain. I mean this when I say it: there’s nopony I'd rather get old beside than you." Mac finished his mostly off-the-cuff speech and paused, noticing the tears in Dash's eyes. He'd pay for making her cry at her wedding, he just knew it. "I love you."

With Mac finished, Rainbow sniffed, determined to get through her vows and kicking herself for not going first.

"Macintosh... pegasi aren't very tough. All our stuff is made of clouds, and we hardly spend any time on the ground. Earth ponies are built to be strong, and I've never met anypony stronger than you. If you were anypony else, I'd feel weak by comparison. But I don't. When I'm with you, I'm stronger than ever. You make me strong, Mac. You give me hope where I have none, and you give me strength where I'm weakest. Whenever I'm feeling scared and alone, you're always there, no matter how much I may snap at you. Even when I scream at you that I just want to be left alone, you know me well enough to know I don't mean it. You know me well enough to sit and listen to my biggest hopes and my greatest fears. You know me well enough to know how much I love you."

Celestia nodded, ignoring the few errant sniffles coming from the gathered witnesses. "Macintosh Apple, do you take this mare to be your wife, for better and for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer?"

Mac looked deeply into her still damp eyes, and, without a moment's hesitation, said, "Ah do."

"And do you, Rainbow Dash, take this stallion to be your husband, for better for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer?"

She sniffed up her tears before smiling back at him. "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me by... myself, I hereby pronounce you stallion and wife. You may kiss the bride."

A gentle leaning forward pressed their lips together only briefly. Of the many times they'd kissed, Rainbow found none more meaningful than this one. Princess Luna raised her horn to the heavens and three shooting stars, bright enough to be seen even during the day, arced across the sky.

Celestia raised her head proudly. "Ladies and gentlecolts, it is my honor to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Macintosh Apple!"

The guests cheered as the two ponies walked down the aisle together as husband and wife for the first time.

Rarity dabbed a hoofkerchief around her eyes, careful not to allow her makeup to run. "I still can't believe Rainbow Dash of all ponies would be the first of us to the altar." She sighed, a smile coming to her lips as she realized her wedding plan had gone off flawlessly.

"Now then," Celestia said as the crowd quieted down. "To the reception!"

Mac and Rainbow shared their first dance, which did not last the length of the whole song. Pregnant mares aren't much for dancing. Mac gladly sat next to his bride.

"You know you're gonna pay for making me cry in front of my co-workers, right?" Dash whispered as the rest of the guests crowded the dance floor.

"That's a risk Ah'm willin' to take," Mac replied, continuing to munch on his catered meal. With Rainbow's considerable wealth, no expense had been spared on arguably her favorite part of weddings: food.

"Also, I put farm equipment on our registry. You'll be getting new plows and junk whether you like it or not."

Mac smiled, turning to his bride. "Ah guess ya got me over a barrel then, don't ya?"

"Eeyup," Dash mocked in her best 'Macintosh' accent.

"Well, Ah guess Ah'll have to wait to use them until after our honeymoon, huh?"

Dash's ears perked up. "Honeymoon?"

"Eeyup. You know, the thing we do after the weddin'?"

Her eyes lit with excitement. "Where're we goin'?" she asked with her mouth full of salad.

"Th' Mareianna islands. Ah hear there's a mighty fine resort there. All inclusive, includin' drinks." Mac put a hoof over hers. "Don't worry, Ah'll drink enough for both of us."

"So, what, are we just gonna lay on a beach for a few days?"

"Well, we can lay on it, or we could do... other stuff on it."

Rainbow bit her bottom lip and glanced at her husband. "Oh, I get it."

Before Dash could come up with an appropriate innuendo, the tinkling of a fork on glass silenced the dull roar of the guests. Applejack had stood in front of everypony, a glass of champagne waiting beside her as she spoke. "Ladies and gentlecolts, when my brother Mac first told me he'd fallen for my pal Rainbow, Ah had ta make sure Apple Bloom hadn't slipped poison in his mornin' coffee again." The crowd rumbled with subdued laughter. "But, once Ah was sure he was actin' of his own accord, at first Ah thought Ah was losin' a brother, only ta realize that Ah'm gainin' a sister. Congratulations, you two!" The audience agreed and gave the toast. Rainbow settled for sparkling cider in her glass, but she didn't mind.

After the toast, Applejack went back to her table, seated beside Soarin, with Twilight next to Spitfire, both Wonderbolts wearing their class 'A' uniforms.

As Spike and the CMCs ran by the table toward the dance floor, Rainbow managed to pull the young dragon aside for a moment. "Hey, what's Twi's story with Spitfire?"

Spike glanced back toward the two mares, laughing and occasionally staring blissfully at each other. "It took Twilight a while to realize why Spitfire kept coming to the library, especially when she lives in Cloudsdale most of the time," he began. "But eventually, after their third date, Twilight figured it out. They've been seeing each other ever since. I usually get to go see a movie when they want some alone time, so it works out great for me!"

"Three dates?" Rainbow repeated. "That sounds like Twilight alright... Thanks, Spike, go have fun."

Mac turned to Dash, having heard their conversation. "So, Ms. Twilight likes the mares, does she?"

"Looks like it. They're kinda cute together," Dash admitted. "Though I never would have guessed Spitfire would be... Looking back on it though—"

She was cut off by a hug from behind. Rainbow turned to see Firefly with her date slightly behind her.

"Hey, kid! Glad you could make it!" Dash said, standing from her seat to properly hug her. "Who's your friend?"

Firefly turned and punched the stallion playfully. He kept himself hidden behind a rather shaggy mane. "Just some guy from my hometown. He's not really good around celebs." Her eyes traced the outline of her wedding dress around her belly. "So, when's your little passenger gonna be ready to make its entrance?"

Rainbow smiled. At least Firefly had the decency to ask about it before assuming every pregnant mare wants their stomach rubbed like they're some sort of crystal ball. "He's getting there. Just a few more months and I'll finally be able to get this bun out of my oven." Dash sighed. "And then, I'll be back in top form!"

"You better be!" Firefly teased. "'Cause if not, I'm taking your spot."

"Good luck," she laughed.

As the reception died down, Mac and Rainbow thanked everypony for coming and eventually headed back to Mac's room. Not as glamorous as the honeymoon suite they'd occupy in a few hours, but Rainbow didn't mind. "So, when are you gonna move my house over here?" she asked.

"Probably once we get back from the islands. Our cab's comin' ta pick us up first thing in th' mornin'."

Rainbow's ears perked up at the mention of a cab. "A cab? Do you not see these wings?"

Mac climbed onto the bed with Rainbow, dragging a hoof across her belly gently. "You think Ah'd let my pregnant wife fly a thousand miles while I ride in a cab?"

"A thousand miles, huh?" Dash replied.

"Well, maybe not that many, but it's a long way from little ol' Ponyville."

Rainbow looked to the record player she'd brought from her house. A stack of mostly her music but some of Mac's sat beside it. "Put some music on for me."

Mac got off the bed, sifting through a stack of country music.

"My music," she said. Mac's expression fell as he turned to the other stack. "One day you'll like it, Mac."

"Ah don't think so. Ah'm not much for all that yellin' and screamin'."

"That's not all they do, ya know. You just have to have an ear for it," Rainbow explained defensively. "I didn't like it when Fluttershy first showed it to me."

"Ah still can't believe Fluttershy of all ponies listens to this," Mac commented, picking out an album and showing it to her. Dash nodded as he removed the vinyl from its jacket. He set the record spinning and placed the needle. The scratchy noises of the phonograph trumpeted through the bell of the music player before the guitar set in.

I hate this town,

It's so washed up,

and all my friends,

don't give a bu-uck

"Yeah, this sounds like great lyric writin' here," Mac said sarcastically.

"What? Just because it's not 'Ah done lost mah dang ol' dog again'?" she mocked.

Mac stifled a laugh. One of his favorite songs happened to be about that very subject. "Eeyup. But Ah'm sure..." He picked up a record that had been laying near the bed and squinted at the song list on the back. "Briefcase Full of Guts is a fine song."

Rainbow glared at Mac for a half second before cracking a smile. "Buck you." She kissed him on the nose as he kept a hoof on her belly.

"Ah think Ah felt him kick. He's gonna be a strong one. Ah can tell."

"Strong, and a pegasus. Best of both worlds," Rainbow replied with a smile.

A month after the honeymoon...

Mac sat on the couch in the living room of Rainbow's house, now relocated behind the farmhouse. The ever present amulet Twilight had made for him hung limply around his neck as he read the newspaper, waiting for Rainbow to get back from whatever errands she insisted on running. He'd already drawn a hot soaking tub for her hooves when she got back, as he predicted she'd probably be in a sour mood upon return. With the due date drawing nearer, the paparazzi had stepped up their efforts to hound her in public.

The cloudy front door of Rainbow's house flung open, revealing a frazzled and upset Rainbow Dash. "You just sit here on my couch reading while I'm out buying groceries for us and the foal?!" she snapped. He'd offered to go with her. Heck, he'd even offered to do it for her. Though now was not the time to bring up facts and he knew it.

"Ah'm sorry, darlin’," he said with as much sincerity as he could muster. He'd learned to fake it well these past few months.

"And I guess it's all better now, isn't it?" she growled, slamming the door and dropping the groceries filling her saddlebags onto the floor. "I've been doing all the work carrying this thing, and you just sit here and do nothing all day!" Another falsity, but he knew better than to call her on it.

"Ah drew ya a tub in the bedroom," he said calmly.

"You better have!" she stormed down the hall and back into their bedroom, but not before slamming that door as well. Mac went back to reading his newspaper and waited a few seconds before starting a countdown in his head. Three... two... one...

He heard the door open, and Rainbow trotting out of her room, though a lot less angrily, from the way it sounded. He set the paper down and looked up. Tears were welling in Rainbow's eyes as she fought to keep herself from breaking down completely.

"I... I saw what you did for me..." she began, referring to the hoof tub. Mac slid over on the couch so she could join him. She plopped beside him and threw her forelegs around his shoulders. "I'm so sorry Mac!" she sobbed. "I've been such a bitch! You don't deserve to have to put up with me!"

"Hush now, Rainbow," he comforted. "Ah wouldn't dream of puttin' up with anypony but you." He rubbed a hoof across her back soothingly.

"You're gonna be such a good daddy, Mac," she whispered, drying her tears and composing herself.

And now for the third phase... he thought. Rainbow's moods came in a predictable pattern.

No more than five minutes had passed before Rainbow began planting small kisses along his neck and jawline as he tried to read. "Somethin' Ah can do for you, sugarcube?" he asked, setting the newspaper on the coffee table.

"I can think of a few things..." she replied seductively, her tail flicking anxiously behind her. Mac had to admit, her mood swings did have their benefits. He recalled what the brochure he'd gotten from the doctor said. It also said that sex during the last month of the term could induce early labor, but Rainbow didn't exactly take no for an answer.

"You remember the doctor said it might make Zap get here a little earlier than usual, right?" Rainbow put a hoof under his jaw and pulled his face close to hers.

"Either you are gonna rut me, or I'm gonna rut you. What's it gonna be?"

Mac couldn't argue. "Okay then, let's go to th—"

"No time for bedrooms." Rainbow pushed Mac onto his back and straddled him.

"Can we at least close the windows?" Mac asked in an unusually shaky tone.

"Ugh..." Rainbow groaned, flying to every window in the living room and drawing the curtains before resuming her dominant position. "Now, where were we?"

After the throes of passion subsided, Rainbow noticed her couch had gotten unusually... moist. As soon as she noticed it, a painful shock raced through her loins. It was the shock she'd been both hoping for and dreading at the same time. Her cries alarmed Mac as he sat up from the couch.

"What's the matter?" he asked, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Mac... I think it's time."

26. The Awakening of Rainbow Part 1

Chapter 26- The Awakening of Rainbow Part 1

"A-are you sure?" Mac stuttered. "Right now?"

"Yes, Mac, right now!" Dash snapped. Mac threw a window open and shouted toward the farmhouse. Fortunately, Applejack had been sipping a bit of apple whiskey on the porch before turning in for the night.

"Applejack, get a cab!"

"What for?" she hollered back.

"Rainbow's havin' the foal!"

Applejack dropped her glass and rushed inside. Mac spun around, looking frantically for the bags he'd already packed for this very event. "Where're the bags? Are you breathin' okay? How are you—"

"Mac," Rainbow said calmly. "The bags are in the bedroom. Now take a breath, and help me to the front yard." Mac inhaled deeply, grabbing the supplies and making sure Rainbow was able to flutter down safely. By the time Mac made it outside, the cab had already pulled up. There was only room for two ponies if Rainbow was laying down in the back. Applejack promised to catch the next cab to the hospital after she spread the word to their friends.

He sat in the back with Rainbow as she braced for the painful contractions coming in greater succession. The cab pulled down the dirt road as Mac took her hoof. "You feelin' okay?"

Rainbow leveled her eyes. "I'm having your foal."

"Our foal," he added. She couldn't help but smile.

A few more minutes passed as the countryside flew past the windows of the cab. She turned to him. His anxious expression as he faced out of the passenger window unsettled her a bit. Rainbow wanted to let him know she was nervous. She wanted to tell him she was scared, but mostly she wanted to hear him say everything was going to be fine.

Quickly she reminded herself that he was probably just as nervous as she was. Dash held her tongue. After all the times he had been strong for her, surely she could muscle through this. After all, they'd be at the hospital soon, and she'd be taken care of by highly trained medical professionals. At eleven o'clock at night.

Dash gulped. Mac looked as though he could cut the commute time simply by wishing hard enough for the hospital to appear. He stole a glance toward her, faking a confident smile. She knew his normal smile, and this one had a thin veneer of uncertainty. Still, she smiled back at him. She could feel every bump the wheels of the carriage hit as they bounced down the ruts in the dirt road into Ponyville proper.

"Why couldn't I have just flown to the hospital?" she complained.

"Doctor said not ta strain yourself," Mac replied.

"I've been hauling this foal around for eleven months!"

"Ah'd rather be safe than sorry, Rainbow."

Dash rolled her eyes and set her head down on her hooves. Through the almost two years she'd been seeing Mac, he hadn't changed much, if at all. Still cautious, still thinking things through, and still planning whenever possible. He was stability to her impulsiveness, the calm to her storm.

To outside observers, most would think the methodical stallion and the brash young pegasus would be a terrible match. Dash had been one of them, at one point, and she had no doubt Mac had been as well.

However, for all the 'boringness'—as Rainbow put it, something about him was very comforting. There was a security she felt with him that she'd only ever felt as a filly, safe at home in her bed, beneath her Wonderbolts blanket. Even though they had their tough times and arguments, they never lasted very long.

Rainbow was usually one to hold grudges. Once, she'd even avoided the farm for a whole week after a particularly heated argument with Applejack over whether wings or mouths were better suited for tool use. That was before she'd gotten to know her older brother.

The roads in the center of town were a bit smoother than the one leading to Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow silently thanked Celestia as she hissed through her teeth. Another bolt of pain shot through her midsection. Mac followed with a hoof gently on her own. "We're almost there, darlin'." He looked toward the driver of the cab. "Can't them stallions go any faster?" he shouted over the rattle of the wheels. He turned back to Rainbow before the cabbie could answer.

Rainbow took a deep breath as the pain began to fade. If she'd counted correctly, it'd be a while yet before another painful spasm. Thankfully, she glanced out the window in time to see the bold, red letters over the entrance to the emergency room pass overhead.

"Alright, we're here," Mac said, hopping out of the cab, keeping the door propped open. "Ah'm gonna be right back with the nurses." Before Dash could answer, Mac had disappeared into the hospital.

Hours seemed to pass while she waited in the back of the cab. In the time it took Mac to get the nurses, another painful contraction wracked her midsection. "Mac, if I have my foal in the back of a cab I'm going to kill you!" she shouted, though Mac was still nowhere to be found.

Rainbow shut her eyes and gritted her teeth, determined to make it through this painful event one episode at a time. Once she opened her eyes again, she noticed Mac behind a team of three nurses that all looked suspiciously alike pushing a gurney out to the cab. Mac gave her his hoof and helped her out of the cab. The nurses set her onto the gurney and pushed it into the hospital, Mac careful to never leave her side.

As they flew down the hallway, Dash spoke her piece. "Mac, I'm scared," she whispered. Over the noise of the squeaky wheels and nurses shouting for someone to call the doctor. Mac turned to her, this time with the smile she loved. The one she knew.

"Ah know darlin', but you'll be okay," he assured her. "Before ya know it, Zap'll be here."

He took her hoof in his own briefly before the nurses pushing the gurney turned into the delivery room. Mac was stopped outside the door as the head nurse insisted he wear sterile scrubs and a cap over his mane. Dash looked up at the white lights of the ceiling. As the pain faded, she felt a hoof on her own. In no time at all, Mac was beside Rainbow once more. The doctor burst through the door—looking no worse for wear considering the late hour—and started ordering the nurses to start various intravenous drugs and fluids. Before long, Rainbow's tension and worry melted into placated happiness that could only come from a epidural induced euphoria.

"How're you feelin' now, sugarcube?" Mac asked, stroking her mane reassuringly.

"I feel... amazing," she mumbled, stretching the syllables of her words. She giggled at herself before smiling at Mac. "Is that what my voice sounds like?" she asked, "All scratchy like that?"

Mac couldn't help but laugh. "You remember your breathin' techniques and such?"

Rainbow showed him with a few short breaths in the staccato pattern. "Eeyup," she drawled, imitating Mac's beloved phrase.

The doctor set Dash on her side as he examined her hindquarters. "Hm... it'll be a few more hours yet before the hard part comes. I'll be back to check on you," he said, turning toward the door. "In the meantime, you've got quite the crowd gathered in the waiting room."

Dash groaned in annoyance. "Ugh, if it's those damn cameraponies, so help me—"

"Ah think he means your friends, Rainbow." It took her a moment to process his words.

"Oh!" Dash blushed at her confusion. "Sorry, these meds are pretty strong."

The minutes seemed to drag on as Mac entertained his wife's silly questions and awkward comments. With all the reading he'd done on the subject of foaling, he expected the process to be... well, faster. Only the occasional strong contraction caused Rainbow any actual discomfort, and even then it was only mild. Before he knew it, three hours had gone by, and the doctor returned.

"Okay Rainbow, let's see what we've got going on downstairs..." He lifted the blue sheet covering Rainbow's hindquarters and only needed a quick glance. "Rainbow, are you ready to start pushing?"

Dash looked at the doctor from over her swollen belly. "I guess..."

"Good, when the next contraction comes, we'll need you to push as hard as you can, okay?" The nurses from before filed into the room, their presence filling Dash with an unexpected sense of dread. Everything was suddenly serious, and the tone in the room shifted from irreverence to tension.

"Mac, I'm..." Rainbow began, drawing his attention. Without a word, he leaned in, knowing she wouldn't want the staff to hear the rest of her thought. "Scared."

He nuzzled her mane and tried to comfort her, but they were both charting unknown territory and she knew it. "Everything's gonna be alright Rainbow, I promise."

"You promise?"

"Ah promise."

By the end of that hour, the sun would soon peek over the horizon. The epidural's effects had more or less worn off, and a peircing cry of pain echoed through the room with every contraction. "Mac... I can't... I can't do it!" she panted, tears already staining her cheeks as she gripped Mac's hoof.

"Yes you can, Rainbow, you've been doin' great so far!" Mac assured her.

"You're not the one trying to pass a watermelon!" she screamed, gritting her teeth as another contraction wracked her body with pain.

"We're almost there Rainbow, keep pushing!" The doctor cried as the nurses tried to cool Dash down with wet cloths and ice packs. "It won't be long now!"

Dash could have flown in one hundred endurance races and still, nothing would have prepared her for this. The monitors and machines she'd been hooked to began increasing as her heart rate climbed. She tried to push with all her might, but as she did, a numbness began creeping into her limbs, working its way to her very core. "M-mac..." she whispered before the monitors began wailing. Every head in the delivery room turned to Rainbow's crashing heart rate. The sounds of the delivery room were fading, undifferentiated, almost as if she were listening underwater. Before she knew it, her color vision had faded, and then the world around her went dark.

"Get me the crash cart and a scalpel!" a muffled voice shouted as she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Rainbow!"

Dash's eyes shot open as she sprung forward in bed, bolting upright and startling the red stallion asleep in the chair at her bedside. Rainbow gasped for breath as though she'd just come up for air after a long dive underwater. She could feel the cold sweat breaking over her forehead as her eyes darted from one side of the room to the other.

"Whoa, take it easy, Rainbow," Mac said, putting his hoof on her chest gently as he nudged her to lean back against her bed.

"Mac?" She glanced over at him, and then ripped the blankets covering her midsection away. The bulky stomach she'd gotten used to was gone, replaced by the firm abdomen of a world-class flying champion. A bolt of panic shot through her heart as she remembered being in the delivery room. "Mac, where's Zap? Is he okay?" she asked quickly.

Mac's brow furrowed in confusion as he sat back in the chair beside Rainbow's bed. "Well, that depends. Who is Zap?" Rainbow fought the urge to slap him. If this was supposed to be a joke, it was not funny.

"Who is Zap?" Rainbow repeated angrily. "He's our foal, Mac! The one you brought me to Ponyville Hospital to deliver!" she shouted. Mac's eyes widened at her straightforward accusation.

"Oh, well, uh, the doctors said ya might have some trouble after ya wake up, but they told me Ah should try and explain it to ya if Ah was the only one here when ya did."

Rainbow was speechless. What on earth is he talking about?

As she began to take in the hospital room, she noticed it wasn't like the rooms in Ponyville Hospital. In fact, she was certain she'd never been in a room like this before. "Mac... explain what?"

Mac scooted his chair closer to her bedside. He showed her the small bandage on her left foreleg. "Ya got bit by a really poisonous snake while you were in that tree after our little spat. You've been out cold for... the better part of two days."

Rainbow could hardly process his words. Her mouth hung open like a fish flailing around on land.

"But, the good news is, Ah talked to the sheriff, and they found the rustlers that stole our cattle! Got the money back and everything!" Mac smiled, as though that news was supposed to snap her out of the world shattering revelation he'd just dropped in her lap.

"The sheriff... what was his name?" Rainbow mumbled, still in complete disbelief.

"Uh... Ah think it was... Copper Badge, but I wouldn't swear to it... Ah've been eatin' nothin' but hospital food for a day waitin' on you to wake up." Mac raised himself from the chair. "Ah'm gonna go let the nurses know you're awake, then we can head back ta Ponyville."

Once Mac had left the room, Dash flopped back down against her pillows. How? This can't be happening!

Everything had felt so real. She had distinct memories of the day she made the Wonderbolts, the night she spurned Mac's offer of marriage, the day they actually got married. All of that had to be real. She could still see the guests at the wedding, the doctor telling her to push! It all had to have happened, and she recalled the events in vivid detail.

Rainbow raised her left foreleg, looking at the bandages around it. Taking the edge in her teeth, she ripped them from her wound, the stinging sensation just as real as anything she'd felt in her memories. Beneath the bandages were two small, discolored pinholes.

Dash put both hooves over her eyes, and cried.

27. The Awakening of Rainbow Part 2

Chapter 27- The Awakening of Rainbow Part 2

The nurses opened the door to find Rainbow staring blankly at the ceiling. Dash allowed them to check her vital signs and perform whatever procedures they needed to release her from the hospital. In short order, they declared her healthy and sent her on her way with Mac by her side. The train ride back to Ponyville was nothing like the one she remembered. Occasionally, she'd look over to Mac in the seat opposite her. He'd smile at her, but it was that fake smile he'd given her on the cab ride to the hospital.

Rainbow didn't have it in her to confront Mac with all she knew had gone on between them. This was all so real, but she knew her memories were as well. She found herself questioning which reality was the one she belonged in. She knew she'd married Mac. She knew he'd given her a foal, and she knew she had been in Ponyville hospital a scant few hours ago to deliver it!

Before she knew it, the train had screeched to a halt at Ponyville station. Applejack was there to greet them as they disembarked.

"Well howdy, you two! Ah understand y'all had a few encounters with some legless critters out on the range?" she asked jokingly, though laughter was the farthest thing from Rainbow's mind.

"Eeyup, we had a few encounters, but we both ended up savin' each other's hides," Mac replied, nudging Rainbow playfully.

She was barely there. In her heart, Rainbow couldn't shake the feeling that everything she'd experienced had been real. It had to have been! "Y-yeah... I guess we did..." she mumbled.

"RD, you feelin' okay?" Applejack raised an eyebrow.

She drew her gaze from her hooves to her best friend's emerald eyes. Should she pour her soul out now? In public? Or would they just think she's crazy? Dash decided to hold her tongue. Mac gave the sack of bits they'd earned to Applejack as she took a peek into the pile of coins.

"Welp, even though you lost the cattle, ya did get the money, so Ah suppose you're off the hook for the windows, Rainbow," Applejack said happily.

"Yeah..." she muttered.

"You sure you're feelin' okay?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow put on a normal face and tried her best to fake sincerity. "Yeah! I'm fine, just tired," she lied. "I... I just need some rest," she added through a nervous laugh. "See you guys later!"

Without another word, she took off toward her house, nearly flying to Sweet Apple Acres before realizing her floating home was still in its old spot above the meadows outside Ponyville. She reached her porch in record time. Instantly, she noticed no Wonderbolts acceptance letter waiting for her, no new Stunt Fliers Monthly announcing the open slots for fresh Wonderbolts, and most importantly, no rope ladder hanging from the side of her house.

Dash opened her front door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of old takeout boxes and general slovenliness greeting her as she entered. This was old Rainbow's life. Old Rainbow's living room. This was not the mare she had become. In her heart, she knew something was not right, and she would prove it. Rainbow darted to her room and retrieved her father's locket. She flipped it over, rubbing a hoof across the inscription.

"Don't let the bastards grind you down," she said to herself. "Don't worry Dad, I won't."

Rainbow rocketed off her porch and towards Twilight's house. There just had to be a way to remind her friends of everything she knew had happened between them. In no time, Dash found herself crashing through Twilight's window, startling both her and Spike.

"Rainbow!" she gasped, re-stacking the books she'd knocked over in fright. "I guess you're feeling better?"

Dash ignored her question, brushing herself off and fluttering her wings before folding them neatly. Without saying a word, Rainbow removed her locket and held it out to Twilight.

"Haven't we been through this once already?"

Rainbow fought the urge to scream 'duh!' in Twilight's face. "Yeah, you and my husband translated it for me as a gift!" Dash spat. Twilight recoiled at her outburst.

"Uh... Spike, would you mind going outside for a moment?" With a silent nod, Spike made himself scarce. "Rainbow, you know you don't have a husband, right?"

Rainbow closed her eyes, teeth gritted as she sucked in a deep breath through her teeth. "Yes. I. Do." Dash opened her eyes, her wings fluttering in frustration. "Mac is my husband, and you were at my wedding!" She stomped her hooves in anger. "Look at this!" She thrust the locket into Twilight's hooves.

She looked down at the locket in her hoof. The inscription shone back at her. "Rainbow... I don't know what this says. Please, you just need rest; the doctor said you'd feel better after you got some sleep."

Rainbow snatched the locket and threw it around her neck. "Twilight, I don't need any—" she paused. "How would you know what the doctor said?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "It's just good advice, Rainbow. You can use my bed, if you want." Something about her tone didn't sit right with her. "I'm sure you'll feel better after you take a nap."

Rainbow shook her head. "No, screw that, and screw your naps! I'm going to see Mac!" Before Twilight could get another word in, Dash left through the same window she'd entered.

Mac, I gotta find Mac!

She tore through the skies as the apple orchards popped over the horizon. Rainbow streamlined herself, pushing her top speed ever faster before slamming into the dirt in front of their farmhouse.

"For Pete's sake, Rainbow!" Applejack shouted. The impact of her landing had knocked the mug of cider from her grasp. "You tryin' ta bust our windows again?"

Dash strode out of her crater no worse for wear. "Where's Mac? I need to talk to him."

Applejack stepped off her porch. "Hold on there, partner, he told me about your delusions and such," she said shaking a hoof between them. "If you're still on this whole 'Mac's my husband' kick, ya need ta get over it." Rainbow stared at her in disbelief, even though by this point she should have expected such a response. Instead of arguing, she decided to play their doubt to her advantage.

"It's not about that... it's just... I never really thanked him for dragging me across the desert." Rainbow shuffled her hooves and blushed. It seemed she was a better actress than she thought.

"Oh! Well that's mighty decent of ya Rainbow, Ah'm sure he'd love ta hear that," Applejack replied, her tone shifting dramatically. "He's in the barn, but uh, before ya do that..." She adjusted the brim of her hat and a shadow fell across her face. "Ya look mighty tired; maybe you'd feel better after ya took a nap."

Dash took a step back. "No, I'm okay... maybe after," Dash said. Without another word, Rainbow took off toward the barn, determined to confront Mac with everything she knew. Even if Mac refuted her every claim, she craved closure. Even though everything around her told her she was crazy, a voice in the back of her mind would not let what she knew in her heart to be true die.

She landed near the barn doors. The musty scent of hay and stored farm equipment greeted her, as did a stallion just finishing up his chores. "Oh, hello, Rainbow," Mac said. He seemed nervous. He glanced at her before turning back to organizing his tools. "Ah guess you're feelin' a bit better?"

Rainbow took a deep breath. "Mac. There's something I need to say to you."

Mac's ears flicked toward her, though he kept himself facing away. "Uh... alright then, but if this is about—"

"Just shut up for a second, Mac!" Wow, I never thought I'd have to say that sentence and mean it. Mac turned toward her as she held her ground in the sunlight outside the barn. "After you hear me out, you can call me crazy or whatever it is you want to do, just... will you listen to me?"

Mac's expression softened. With a deep thump, he fell to his haunches in front of Rainbow. "Okay, what is it you want ta tell me?"

Rainbow steeled herself, looking into the same emerald eyes she'd lost herself in on their wedding day. "Mac, I know you think I'm crazy, but I swear, you and I are married. I carried your foal for eleven months, I sat on the bench after becoming a Wonderbolt just to make sure nothing bad happened to our son! His name is Zap, Macintosh. Zap Apple. He's your son, and you promised me when you took me into the delivery room that nothing bad was going to happen!"

Mac maintained his silence. Rainbow knew that if she was truly stuck in this world as she seemed to be, then his answer would be as predictable as the sunrise. "I love you Mac, and you love me. At least... you used to." Tears began to swell in the corners of her eyes as she pleaded wordlessly for him to somehow recover the memories only she seemed to posses.

"Rainbow... Ah don't know how else ta tell you this, but all of that was in your head. None of those things have ever happened. Ah mean... Ah suppose Ah'm flattered you think Ah'd make a good husband, but Ah don't think Ah'm ready to be tied down."

Dash worked her mouth in disbelief. Of course he was ready to be tied down! He proposed to her! Twice!

"Besides Rainbow, no offense or nothin', but Ah got dreams and aspirations that'd be just ruined if I had to become a father. And... do ya really think you're the motherin' type?"

The very question stung her heart like angry hornets. How could he say that? He was the one who convinced her she'd be a great mother! It was from him that she had gained the confidence to know that she'd be one of the best moms in all of Equestria! Something was not right about this Macintosh.

"Of course I am! How can you even say that?" Rainbow growled, more hurt than angry.

"Well, you're a Wonderbolt, are you really gonna give up the dream you've had since you were a filly just to raise a child? Or will you travel with the team, doin' shows all over the world, globetrottin' from place to place in between the wild parties and big payouts? What matters more to you, your ego, or Zap?"

Rainbow stood in stunned silence. This whole conversation was taking a weird turn, though she couldn't deny a place in her heart still beat for the glory to be earned as a Wonderbolt. "I-I can do both!"

"Can you? You can barely take care of a tortoise, and you think you've got what it takes to raise a foal?" Mac replied, his sharp gaze never lifting from her as she avoided his eyes. "You'll be just like your mother. Zap'll fall to me to raise, and you know Ah'll do it because he's my son. And as he grows up, you'll miss the first time he walks on a cloud, the first time he sees Cloudsdale. And who knows, maybe when you do finally get tired of livin' the selfish life you think you deserve, he won't even call you momma, because he won't recognize you."

Dash gritted her teeth. The hurt was long gone, replaced by a furious burning in her heart. "You son of a bitch. I'd give up everything for you and Zap!" she snarled, charging Macintosh as he kept his seat. Rainbow raised a hoof and closed her eyes, intending to strike Mac across the jaw. As her hoof launched forward, the contact she expected never came. She found herself off balance as she opened her eyes.

Mac had vanished! She whipped her head around, searching for him. "Mac? Mac!" she shouted, but no response came. It seemed as though she would be stuck in a world ripped away from the one where she'd found true happiness. She grabbed her locket and yanked it, shattering the gold chain as she threw it to the ground in anger.

As it hit the stone floor of the barn, it popped open. Rainbow gasped. Inside the locket, instead of the picture of herself and her father, a picture of herself and Macintosh on their wedding day sat in its place. She scooped up the shattered piece of jewelry and cradled it as her vision began to blur.

"What... what does this mean?" she asked aloud.

"It means that thou hast finally given up all doubt about the path thou hast chosen."

Rainbow looked up from her hooves and saw Princess Luna standing before the barn doors. Night had fallen, and the light of her silver moon shone brightly behind her as the ruler of the night shone with a nearly blinding aura. "P-princess Luna?" Dash stammered. "Does that mean... this is just a dream?"

"It is a construct of thy mind, yes. But thy struggle? It was very real indeed," she replied, stepping closer.

"So... you put me under? While I was having my foal?!" Dash shouted, relief being replaced by outrage. "Do you even know how reckless that is? What if something happened to Zap?!"

Princess Luna stepped beside her and sat on the loose hay littering the floor. "No, my dear Rainbow Dash, it was not We who brought you here. Time and again, however, thou hast proven yourself as steadfast as the Element you bear. A great and evil tide is rising, one that will test not only thee, but thy husband, thy friends, and indeed, my sister and I."

"So... none of this is real, right? I'm still at the hospital in Ponyville?"

Luna smiled, her ethereal mane billowing in an unfelt wind. "Yes, my dear. When the signs around thee all pointed down a false path, thou listened to thy heart and chose the true way home. Had thou slept at anytime during this ordeal, thou might never have woken up." Rainbow felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from her heart. It was a joy only rivaled by her acceptance into the Wonderbolts, or the day she married Mac.

Rainbow put a hoof to her chin, her tears now dry on her cheeks. "So that's why everyone wanted me to take a nap..." Dash got to her hooves as the princess followed suit. "But, how do I get out of here? I want to see Zap and Mac!"

Princess Luna trotted to the barn doors, standing between them as she looked over her shoulder. "Thou must go to sleep."

"But you just told me not to!" Rainbow shot back, running for the barn doors, though they seemed to stay the same distance away no matter how fast she ran.

"Rainbow Dash, how can one wake from a dream if they are not asleep?" With that, she slammed the barn doors closed, and Rainbow's world faded into darkness once more.

"...your eyes. Did you hear that?"

Someone was speaking, but she had no idea who the voice belonged to. It was far too muffled for her to recognize. Her legs tingled as the numbness in her limbs slowly receded. A warmth filled the void where the coldness had resided. She could feel her lungs pulling in air, the touch of the blanket over her body, and somepony... holding her hoof. She felt her eyelids twitch before cracking slightly. White light poured into her sensitive retinas, and she shut them tightly. It was then she realized that the voice belonged to Mac.

"He's a pegasus. Ah know you wanted to wait until we had him to find out, but he was flappin' them wings just as soon as he took his first breath."

Something odd about his tone... was he... crying? Macintosh Apple? The very idea unnerved her. She moved her hoof as she opened her eyes. Mac was holding it in both hooves, his muzzle against her hoof as he lifted his head. "R-rainbow?"

Dash couldn't say a word, but the joy on Mac's face said more than she ever could. He stood from his chair at her bedside and threw his forelegs around her as she returned the hug. "Ah'm so glad you're okay," he whispered.

"I'm just happy to be back." She could feel Mac chuckle as he pulled back from the hug.

"Didja go somewhere?" he asked, wiping his eyes as his tears dried up.

"I don't wanna talk about it. Now, where's my kid?" Rainbow asked impatiently.

Mac settled back on his hooves. "Hang on, Ah'll get him." Dash watched as her husband hurried out the door and into the hallway, nearly knocking over an orderly carrying dinner trays. Rainbow grinned as she looked out of her window. It was dark, a crescent moon hung brightly in the sky.

Rainbow couldn't help but smile to herself. After all, she'd seen what her life could have been like. She came face to face with the voice in her head still tying her to her brash, unimpeded ambition and triumphed over it.

The opening door of her hospital room drew her gaze away from the window. Mac pushed a small cart inside the hospital room followed by a nurse and a whole assembly of her friends and family. It was a bit overwhelming to see everyone at once, though Rainbow couldn't help but smile.

Mac silently pushed the cart next to her bed. Inside, an electric yellow colt wrapped tightly in swaddling clothes with holes for his wings lay asleep. Rainbow put a hoof across her foal's cheek and stroked it softly. The colt yawned, eyes fluttering open before attempting to eat his mother's hoof.

Her friends and family crowded around her as Rainbow felt a few tears slip past her usually well-trained eyes. For once, she didn't mind crying in front of her friends. "He's got my appetite."

The rest of the visit carried on into the early morning. Mothers, grandmothers, and even great-grandmothers all had their chance to get a look at the newly arrived 'future Wonderbolt'—as Rainbow had taken to calling him. Rainbow was in the hospital for a few more days with Mac by her side. While there, she entertained friends, co-workers, and even a visit from royalty.

On the day of her discharge, quite a large encampment of paparazzi had gathered outside the hospital. "Looks like we're gonna have to fly the gauntlet to get to the cab..." Rainbow moaned, staring out of her window at the camerponies below, just itching to be the first one to sell their photo of a celebrity child.

"Actually, I called in a favor to take care of that," Mac said, opening the window of her hospital room and whistling loudly. A chariot pulled by Luna's night guard hustled around the corner and hovered next to her room on the third floor.

"And how did you get Princess Luna to let you borrow her night guard?" Rainbow asked incredulously.

"She just likes me Ah guess." Mac smiled.

"You're getting better with the jokes," Dash admitted as Mac helped her into the chariot while she carried Zap in a foal-carrying saddlebag.

"Ready to go home, Rainbow?" Mac asked. She gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"More than ever."

Epilogue—The Road Ahead

Epilogue

Mac pulled his plow effortlessly through the southern fields as the heat of the afternoon finally broke. He was careful not to strain himself too much, so as not to disturb the cargo on his back. A butterscotch pegasus colt with a three-toned mane slept on his father's broad shoulders, his tiny hooves dangling limply off of Mac's muscular frame. The little guy seemed to sleep lightly, but Macintosh figured he would most likely be able to gallop at full speed and still not wake him. He'd inherited his love of sleep from his mother. Little Zap's coat had darkened since they’d brought him home from the hospital six years ago. With Rainbow away on stints with the Wonderbolts six months out of the year, most of the parental duties had fallen to Mac.

In a few more weeks, Rainbow would be home again, and his family would be whole once more. He hated how her work took her from them for such lengths, but he knew it was necessary. The income she provided was more than he could ever hope the farm would earn.

Wary of the cargo snoring softly on his back, Mac made his way to the farmhouse carefully, spotting his pregnant sister Applejack and his now lanky sister Apple Bloom sitting idly on the porch. His steps drew their attention as he headed up to the porch.

"Long day?" Applejack whispered, a jeweled, winged lightning bolt earring studded with diamonds dangling from her ear.

"Eeyup, he held out as long as he could." Mac smiled. "How was y'alls day?"

"Good," Apple Bloom replied. "We made a mint today in town."

Mac nodded. "Well, let me put him ta bed, and I'll join ya for a nip or two of cider." He stepped off the porch and trotted back to Rainbow's house, at ground level, and still hovering a few feet behind the Apple farmhouse. Opening the door, he noticed a pile of mail waiting for him on the floor. He scooted the mail toward the couch and slid his son onto the cushions. Little Zap's eyes fluttered open as he yawned.

"Dad?"

"Howdy, sleepy head," Mac said softly. Zap rubbed his eyes and sat up on the couch.

"I fell asleep again, huh?"

"Eeyup. Ya almost made it through a whole day," he replied, sifting through the day's mail. A letter with Wonderbolts letterhead drew his attention as his son began to drift off on the couch. "We got a letter from Momma, Zap!"

His son perked up immediately. "Really?" He got to his hooves and fluttered his little wings, raising him a few inches off the couch.

"Eeyup. Ah suppose we could read it before Ah tuck you in." Mac grinned, mussing his son's mane and talking a seat on the couch. Zap crawled into his father's lap and got comfortable as Mac opened the letter. "Okay, ya ready?"

Zap nodded frantically, only coming to a halt after his father rested a hoof on his head. Mac unfolded the letter and held it out in front of both of them.

"Alright," Mac said, clearing his throat and focusing on the much-improved writing in the letter.

"Dear Mac, I can't tell you how much I've missed you and your—" He stopped abruptly, shuffling the first few pages of the letter behind the others. "Sorry, Zap, Ah think those first pages are meant for Daddy." As he scanned the letters, he found the first mention of his son's name. "Ah, here we go.

"Zap, I miss you so much! I bought a ton of cool stuff for you to play with, and I can't wait to see you so I can give ‘em too you. Ms. Spitfire and Uncle Soarin are both excited to see you too. Hopefully you and Apple Bloom have been getting along, and I better not hear from Daddy that you've misbehaved while I've been gone. I hope you've been doing good in school and not giving Ms. Cheerilee too much of a headache. I've been counting down the days until we can all go to the lake like we did last summer, and maybe after that Daddy and I can finally take you up to Cloudsdale, where all the pegasi are from! I love and miss you so much Zap, and before you know it, I'll be back with you, and we'll be able to do all the awesome things you've written to me about. Be good and eat everything your father cooks for you so you can get big and strong like him.

I love you, my little lightning bug!"

Mac couldn't help but smile as he lowered the letter. He glanced down at his son and noticed him beginning to sniff and wipe his eyes. "Hey now, partner, what's the matter?"

"I miss Mommy!" he replied quickly, sounding indignant that his father even had to ask.

"C'mon now, Zap, she'll be home in a few weeks," Mac reasoned.

"But she's just gonna leave again!"

Mac sat back on the couch, hugging his son in his forelegs as he did. He couldn't deny that was more than likely the case. Having Rainbow leave for stints like this was the way it had always been. Mac hated seeing how it affected his son almost as much as he hated having his sister sub in for Rainbow, mother-wise. Not that Applejack wasn't a good helper, but he knew it should be Rainbow helping him raise their son, not his sister. Now that Applejack would have her own foal to raise soon, he knew more of the work would shift to him. Mac had no idea how he was going to divide his time between the farm and his son without neglecting one.

"Ah know, son. Ah don't like it any more than you do."

"Then why don't you make her stop?" he asked, drying his tears. Mac looked down into his son's green eyes and sighed.

"She has to do it for work, Zap. Her leavin' is what lets us afford all the nice things we have. Not everypony in Equestria can afford the life we live. Some ponies can't even afford to eat." Mac was well aware dumping the problems of the world into his young son's lap may not have been the wisest idea, considering the many questions sure to follow, but as they say, ‘toothpaste can’t go back into the tube.'

"There are?"

"Yes, some ponies don't have what we have."

Zap paused to consider what it would be like not to have the three meals he sometimes barely touched or just pushed around his plate. "Does somepony help them? They don't starve, do they?"

Mac smiled, patting his son's head before answering. "Yes, there are ponies that help them. Your mother and I give some of the bits we don't need to the ponies that give them food."

"You do?"

"Eeyup."

"Do they ever say thanks?" Zap asked, tilting his head.

"They don't need to. We do it because everypony should have somethin' ta eat." Mac set his son on his neck and stood up off the couch. "Now, Ah think it's past a certain colt's bedtime."

"Oh, can we write back to Momma before I go to bed?"

Mac stopped in the hallway on the way to Zap's room. "Ah dunno. The sun's already down, and when it's asleep, little colts should be too."

Zap hung from one side of Mac's neck. "C'mon, Dad, pleeeeeease? I promise I'll go to bed as soon as we're done!"

Mac thought for a moment, if only to build suspense. "Alright, Ah suppose we could just this once."

"Yay!" Zap fluttered off his father's back and scurried to the table where a quill and a few spare scrolls sat. He took the quill eagerly in his mouth, ready to show his Mom how good his writing had become since he last wrote her.

"Tell ya what, Zap. Why don't you just tell me what it is ya want to say, and Ah'll write it down for ya." With a look of dejection, Zap slid over in the chair and set the quill down as his father picked it up.

"Dear Mommy, I got your letter! Daddy read it to me, and I really miss you! I hope your stunt flying is going well. I'm really excited to see you again so you can give me the stuff you got for me and so we can go on those fun trips we go on when you're home. School is going okay, but it's boring. Recess is my favorite time, but I think I told you that in the last letter. Daddy is making me go to bed, so I can't tell you much more, except that I love you and I want you to come home and stop leaving me and Daddy by ourselves. All the other colts have Mommies that pick them up from school, and I want them to see how great mine is! Say hello to Ms. Spitfire and Uncle Soarin for me!

Goodnight Mom! Zap Apple."

Rainbow set the letter down on the table in her hotel room as she sniffed up her tears. She rubbed her eyes as she stared at the parchment. Next to it was a bottle of champagne, compliments of the hotel. She opened the bottle, letting the cork fly unobstructed to a far corner of her room. Two flutes sat next to the bottle, but she didn't bother with them. She wasn't sure whether the hotel was mocking her or if it was just an oversight by the staff.

Dash took a swig of the bottle and sighed. This was her sixth tour. She'd earned her place as a Wonderbolt and was secure in her position behind Spitfire as lead mare, with Firefly constantly pushing herself to surpass her. She loved it, but then again, she lived for competition. At least, she used to. Now, all she found herself thinking about was how much she was missing by not being with Mac to raise their foal. She'd already missed Zap's first hover and his first time playing in the clouds. She hated herself for it. She wanted to quit and go live the simple life on the Apple farm with her son and his Dad, but she still had another four years in her contract.

Dash snorted to herself as she took another drink from the bottle. She would have never believed that in six years time she'd be seriously longing for an end to her seemingly endless show tours and performances. Flying was in her blood, a passion of hers rivaled only by besting somepony in direct competition. Eventually, performing the same routine, day in and day out, felt less and less like flying and more like work. She still loved the cheering of the crowd, the stream of foals willing to wait hours for her autograph, and the look on their face when she give it to them, but that was hardly worth being away from what she loved most, her friends and family.

A knock at her door drew Dash from her thoughts. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror to make sure her eyes weren't puffy. She strode to the door and expected a fan, but instead found Spitfire, with the champagne from her room.

"Captain." She nodded, stepping aside.

"Afternoon, Rainbow," Spitfire said, walking toward the table where Dash's open bottle and letter lay. "I came to talk to you about your future as a Wonderbolt." This seemed to be the talk she had been dreading, yet simultaneously waiting her whole life for. The press had predicted it, she had known it was coming, and probably every one of her co-workers did too. Spitfire was planning on offering her the Captain's spot. She and Soarin were due to retire after this year, and everypony knew the spot had to get passed on. "But first, why don't we have a drink. Unless you've already beaten me to it?" She smiled. Rainbow sat in the chair opposite Spitfire and took her bottle as another cork shot into a darkened corner of the room.

"So, how's Twilight?" Dash asked.

"She's fine. You'd think growing wings would change a pony," she replied.

Rainbow chuckled after taking another drink. "Not her. As manic as she can be, she's pretty grounded." By now, Dash and Spitfire had seen enough of each other outside the workplace that a comfortable familiarity had risen between them, but only behind closed doors. "So, any wedding bells in the air?"

Spitfire snorted. "No. I did the whole 'marriage' thing once. Besides, breaking up is a lot easier than getting a divorce," she lamented.

"How's Beebop?"

"Fine, though she's become a real pain in the flank lately. Teenagers, I guess."

"Heh, Apple Bloom is going through the same thing, apparently. All the sudden, she cares about colts instead of having fun with her friends." Dash took another chug of her bubbly and wiped her mouth with her foreleg. "AJ's havin' enough trouble trying not to lock Apple Bloom in her room until she's an adult."

Spitfire smiled. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Would you believe Beebop told me I embarrass her the other day? I'm friggin' captain of Equestria's elite flying team, and I'm 'embarrassing,' somehow."

Rainbow whinnied sharply. "I believe it. I bet if the princesses had daughters, they'd be embarrassed of them." Her captain's mood lightened a bit.

"How is the new Mrs. Soarin, by the way?"

"She's fine. Foal's about three months away."

Spitfire nodded, matching a drink. "Beebop seems to like her." She set the bottle down on the table and sat up straight. "Now, about earlier..."

Rainbow's ears snapped to attention. "Listen, Captain, before you offer me your spot, I just wanted to let you know I was really thinking... about quitting. I just... I've already missed so much of Zap's life, I don't know if I could stand to miss another four years."

Spitfire raised an eyebrow before leaning back in her chair. "I know."

"It's just that—wait, what?"

"I know you've been letting our tours get to you. I see it in your routines." Spitfire leaned forward, resting her forelegs on the table. "Which is why I'm offering you Director of Operations at the Wonderbolt training camp in Cloudsdale. You can spend the four years you have left there, closer to home."

Rainbow's jaw fell open. "Are... for real?"

"Yes, Dash, for real. But, this would mean my next choice for Captain would be Firefly. Is that something you can live with?"

She nodded gratefully. "Yes, absolutely! I've trained that kid for six years. If she's not ready now, she'll never be."

Spitfire sat back, a reserved smile across her lips. "Good. Also, the venue for our last show backed out, so it's been cancelled. We're headed home tomorrow."

The school bell tolled loudly overhead as the large doors released all the fillies and colts from the confines of the schoolhouse. Zap walked at his usual pace down the steps, his saddlebag weighing heavily on his back, filled with books that only seemed to get heavier as the day went on. After he made it into the courtyard, he scanned the faces in the crowd trying to pick out his aunt Applejack. As he looked, he heard a familiar voice call his name. He could have sworn it came from above him! As he craned his neck, he saw a rainbow trail zip by before Dash landed gracefully in front of him in her Wonderbolts uniform. He could hardly believe his eyes.

"Mom? What are you doing home?" he squeaked as the other children silently gawked at the celebrity in their midst.

"I was tired of missing you." She smiled, nuzzling him before bending down. "Hop on, and let's go surprise Daddy!" Without a moments hesitation, he climbed onto his mother's back and took off into the heavens towards Sweet Apple Acres. As they flew, Rainbow couldn't hold in her special surprise for her son any longer.

"Hey, Zap, remember how I told you I had all kinds of surprises for you from my tour?"

"Yeah," he replied over the winds.

"Well, there's one I didn't tell you about." She found a fluffy nimbus cloud and stopped on it, letting her son slide down her back and onto his haunches.

"Really? What is it?" he asked excitedly.

Rainbow looked into her son's eyes that resembled her husbands so perfectly, his multi-hued mane that had taken after hers, and his wings that would soon grow into the glorious appendages that would carry him aloft on his own. She couldn't wait to see his reaction.

"Do you remember how badly you wished I would never have to leave you and Daddy alone again?"

He nodded.

"Well guess what, my little lightning bug?" She smiled, nearly getting misty eyes herself.

"What?" he answered softly, a growing inkling shining in his eyes.

"I don't have to anymore."

It took a moment for her words to sink in, but once they had, Zap's smile grew from ear to ear. "Really?!"

"That's right!" In a flash, Zap was hugging his mother as tightly as his little forelegs could grip her. They held each other for a few seconds before breaking the embrace, Rainbow kissing her son lightly on the forehead.

"Do you really mean it, Mommy?"

"Of course I do, kiddo."

"I'm so happy you're staying with us from now on," he whispered, reclaiming his spot in her back.

"Me too. I love you, Zap. I'm not going to leave you again."

"I love you too, Mommy."

The dripping, dingy cells of the Wasteland Territories Correctional facility echoed with the sound of the guard's hoofsteps as he made his rounds. Each prisoner was here for a different reason, but all were considered risks to pony kind. He looked into each of the cells, making sure each prisoner obeyed the rules of their confinement. No movement without permission. No talking. No looking at guards. They didn’t so much as sneeze without the express consent of the staff or face punishment. So far, everyone checked out. It was not just ponies housed here, but griffons, zebra, saddle arabians—there was even a legend of a dragon being housed in the basement, but he'd never seen it.

As he returned to the gate from which his patrol began, another guard approached him. Unusual, considering his shift change wasn't for another two hours. "We got a visitor," he said in a low, gruff tone. Only the toughest guards were hired to guard the toughest criminals.

"Who for?" he asked.

"06435"

The guard handed him the order signed by the warden himself. 06435 was serving a twenty-five year sentence for embezzlement. Rather harsh, considering the crime, but tacked onto that was a felony charge of endangering the well-being of the nation of Equestria, a crime second only to treason itself. He gave the paper back to his comrade and unlocked the iron door, allowing both of them to walk down the narrow corridor. They arrived at 06435's cell and opened the slot known as the ‘food hole’. Usually, there were two criminals to a cell, but 06435 was a special case. He used to have a cellmate, but after he died, he did not allow anyone else, not even the toughest criminals, to share his space. The guards had given up trying to force a cellmate on him, so they just confined him to solitary.

"Assume the position!" the larger guard shouted.

The figure inside the windowless cell responded with a curt 'Yes, sir,' and presented his forelegs out of the food slot. They shackled them tightly before opening the iron door. Once inside, the guards secured his hind legs and checked the tightness of the anti-magic ring on his horn.

"You've got a visitor."

06435 said nothing, his cold eyes simply glaring ahead, as if straight through the guards themselves. The beams of sunlight shooting through the windows of the building as he walked down the hallway hurt his eyes, but he didn’t flinch. He simply kept walking, one hoof in front of the other, through a maze of iron barred doors and secure checkpoints. Once through the onion-like layers of security, he finally arrived at the visitors center. It was just as dilapidated as the rest of the prison, but unlike the rest of the prison, hardly ever used. Those imprisoned here usually didn't have family or had been disowned by them. These were the worst of the worst.

06435 sat in the booth, across from a unicorn stallion with a black mane and piercing green eyes. "Who are you?" he asked calmly. Though it had been years since he had any normal social interaction, he spoke as though he'd only been locked up yesterday.

"Who I am is not important," the stranger said, glancing towards the guards, making sure they were not listening in on their conversation. "All you need to know is that I work for a very powerful individual, one who has taken an interest in your plight."

06435 fought the urge to scoff. "What could anypony like you possibly know about what I've been through in this Celestia-forsaken hell hole?"

"I know that you want revenge. Revenge for the life stolen from you, and revenge for the death of your brother—"

"My brother is not dead!" 06435 roared, attracting the guards attention before the stranger assured them everything was under control.

"My apologies, of course he isn't." The stranger shifted in his seat. "Like I was saying, I know you want revenge, and my employer can give it to you. She has the tools, and the means. All she needs is someone with the drive to act."

06435 raised an eyebrow. "Continue."

"Should you accept this offer, once the guard passes your cell on his fifth patrol, you are to draw a triangle inside a circle on the floor of your cell and stand within its bounds. Once you do that, you will be free. Follow the moon, your instincts will guide you to my employer."

06435 rubbed a shackled hoof across his chin. "And if I refuse?"

The stranger stood from his chair, coldly analyzing the prisoner before him. "You stay here and rot."

Horizons

1. Horizons

Breaking Barriers

By: Bronius Maximus

Edited By: FanNotANerd

Chapter 1- Horizons

Dash tossed to her right. It was still dark outside. She wouldn't have to be at work for another three hours, yet she was eager to get into the sky. Something about knowing she could be a Wonderbolt a month from now made her crave time in the air like a field craves the rain in a drought. Even when she found herself walking Tank, she oftentimes leapt into the sky while the slow tortoise ambled along on the ground.

Not that her weather job was anything to worry about. It was the one thing she was almost certain she could do blindfolded. She was so good at it now, that she often wondered how it could even be considered work. The weather patterns were never too complex: partially cloudy, cloudy with rain, cloudy without, or clear.

And snow.

Right, and snow. Anyway, dawn was still an hour off, but she wasn't going to get anymore sleep. With a sigh, she rolled out of bed and went to the kitchen, glumly scanning the cupboards for something to eat. In truth, she wasn't that hungry, but she knew if she skipped breakfast, she'd be dead tired by lunch.

Forget it, I'll just go for a fly real quick and come back to eat something.

Her thirst for the sky had kept her awake nearly all night, and now finally she would satiate it. It had teased her while she lay in bed, taunting her with the radiance of Luna's stars and galaxies. It called to her the way the farm calls to Applejack, or the way knowledge calls to Twilight. She wanted it, she needed it, and now she'd ravish it for the millionth time.

She opened the door, stretching her wings in anticipation of flying in the cool morning air – and jumped when instead of the dark sky, she saw a pair of off-kilter yellow eyes. One focused on her, the other on the top of her right ear. Rainbow’s yelp of surprise gave way to a smile as she recognized everypony’s favorite mailmare. Looked like she was getting a head start today. Either that, or she’d misread the clock.

"Hiya Rainbow!" the grey pegasus chirped happily.

"Hey Der-...Ditzy. Kinda early today aren't ya?" Dash asked, careful not to call her by the wrong name*. No sane pony's parents would ever curse their foal with a name like Derpy.

"Yeah, it's my daughter's birthday today, but I couldn't get the day off, so I'm getting my work done early to spend the day with her!"

Dash smiled, realizing how tough it must be to raise a foal on your own. Even through her work she made time for her daughter. Rainbow found herself wishing her own mother had done more of the same.

"Anyway, I brought you a letter!" she added happily, digging through her bag and soon reappearing with a single envelope with the Wonderbolts logo on the front.

Rainbow nearly had a heart attack.

The Wonderbolts never sent out correspondence letters; they only answered after you've written to them 26 consecutive times about how much you would bring to the team.

She took the letter and stared at it, as if it were too precious to open. Ditzy bid her goodbye and went on her route, though Dash barely acknowledged her departure. She had forgotten all about her pre-dawn flight and sat down on her front steps, the envelope still unopened in front of her.

What could it say? Congrats Rainbow, you're awesome enough to be a Wonderbolt! Buck yea! But what if it's like, yeah, sonic rainbooms are cool and all, but they're not Wonderbolts cool, you know?

During her inner monologue, she had forgotten that she could simply open the letter, and put her fears and fantasies to rest.

With nervous hooves she opened the letter, carefully scanning the words, each line nearing the purpose of the letter sent chills down her spine before she got to the most important lines:

...To extend to you an invitation to the Wonderbolts training camp for tryouts...

Rainbow stared at the letter in disbelief. Sure, the sonic rainboom at the royal wedding, which the Wonderbolts had actually been conscious for, was bound to raise some eyebrows. And, during a quick conversation at the reception, Soarin had hinted heavily that they were thinking of doing some recruiting. She’d never really believed it could happen. Now, with the letter in her hooves, a grin forced itself across her lips and stretched into a wide smile. That still wasn't enough, as her jubilation escaped in a loud shout for joy.

She put the letter back inside and stretched her wings briefly before jumping from her cloud home and into the crisp dawn air. She couldn't believe it. She finally had the chance to become a Wonderbolt!

She skimmed the treetops, the wide smile still plastered across her face. She wanted to shout it from the rooftops! Everypony had to know. However, telling everyone town cryer style this early would probably be somewhat frowned upon since everypony was most likely still asleep.

Then she remembered a certain earth pony family that made a habit of being awake at ungodly hours. In her zeal, Rainbow turned sharply, too sharply. A stray wind gust twisted her already tense wing out of place, resulting in an immediate descent into a rather stiff pine tree.

Most would consider hitting every branch on the way down an accomplishment, but Rainbow saw it simply as a boring, if painful, regularity. Once the world stopped spinning, Rainbow shook her head, tentatively rotating her sore wing. There were no twinges or alarming pops, so it seemed there wasn’t any damage.

Working the pain away, and spitting out a mouthful of bark, she took off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

A short, yet controlled flight through the still dawn air ended with Rainbow spotting the outline of a certain red stallion pulling a plow. She grinned, flying towards him, sure he hadn't noticed her above him. Gently, she lowered her hover until Mac felt four light hooves resting on his broad back. Her added weight didn't even break his stride.

"Hey Big," she cooed, lowering her lips to his cheek.

They'd been together for over four months, though they haven't really had time to 'go public' with their relationship, mainly because they didn't go to restaurants or any usual date spots; that wasn't Rainbow's style. She just liked being with him, no matter what they did. In a way, this was a good thing, since the farm took up the bulk of his time. When he was able to get away, he was usually too worn out to do much. It led to a lot of cuddle time, but not much else, and Rainbow was... getting antsy, let's say, to express her feelings for Mac physically.

"Hey Rainbow. You're up early," he said, still a bit red from her display of affection. He'd had mares before her, but something about her was different. Unlike the others, the novelty wasn't wearing off. In fact, every day he spent with her, only left him wanting to spend more.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Remember how I met Soarin again at Shining Armor's wedding?" she asked, still traveling slowly across the field on his back.

"Eeyup, you mentioned it."

He would have accompanied her as her plus one, but with AJ already attending, the farm couldn't mind itself. Still, it was just as well with him, he wasn't much for formal events anyway.

"Well, remember how I said he told me about the tryouts that were coming up?"

"Eeyup."

"Well guess what I got in the mail today!" Rainbow squealed, almost unable to contain her excitement.

Mac stopped pulling the plow and turned his head to her with a smile, expecting good news by her tone alone.

"They want me to try out for the Wonderbolts!" she nearly shouted, her wings flared proudly, still standing atop his back.

"That's great Rainbow! Ah knew they couldn't do without you!"

"I know! I always knew this would happen!" she crowed, throwing her forelegs around Mac's neck, hugging him tightly and giving him one more kiss on the cheek.

"Where's AJ?" she asked once she released him.

The stallion jerked his head toward the center of the property. "She's in th' barn."

Rainbow stood from Mac's back and took flight, leaving him to continue his chores. She landed near the open barn doors as she spied Applejack and Applebloom jarring various apple preserves, no doubt in an attempt to earn a related cutie mark.

"Howdy Rainbow!" Applejack called, taking a break and trusting Applebloom to safely continue the work.

"What in the hay are you doin' up so early?" she asked, taking off her hat and wiping the sweat from her brow.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Dash said breathlessly. “You’ll never believe this. I got an invitation to the Wonderbolts’ training camp!”

"That's amazing Rainbow!"

"I know!" she gushed, hopping happily on her hooves.

"Ah'm happy for ya! When's the tryouts?"

"In two weeks!"

"We'll be sure to hire some help ta watch the farm so we can watch you!"

Dash's excitement began to fade, "Uh...you guys want to watch me?"

"Of course we do! Ah'm sure the other girls'll want ta be there ta support ya too! This is your dream, remember?" AJ teased with a playful hoof to the shoulder.

"Yeah... it didn't say whether or not it was open to the public," Dash began softly. "But even if it isn't, I know you guys would be there if you could!" she added, trying to salvage Applejack's sentiment.

"Well, Ah suppose that's okay. We know you'll blow them away!" AJ answered

"Wow, you're gonna be a Wonderbolt?" Applebloom said, having just joined the conversation.

"You better believe it, kid!"

"Scotaloo's gonna blow a gasket!"

Dash smiled. She knew her number one fan would be over the moon to hear her news. She still had so many ponies to tell! Rainbow didn’t get a chance to lament over that fact, however; her stomach chose the brief silence as a perfect opportunity to growl.

"We still got some breakfast left if you're hungry," Applejack said, knowing she didn't even have to ask if Rainbow was going to take her up on the offer.

Dash nodded before the earth pony had even finished. “Thanks!” she said, before spreading her wings and zipping out of the barn. The wake of her passing nearly blew Applejack’s hat off her head.

Applejack chuckled to herself as she watched the pegasus go. That was certainly the most energetic she’d ever seen her in the morning.

Rainbow stumbled out of Applejack’s kitchen, half-regretting that extra serving of apple pancakes, while at the same time wishing there had been more.

Who else would be awake to hear her news? After a moment, a perfectly obvious answer occurred to her.

Fluttershy! She's always up early taking care of her animals!

Rainbow flew out of an open window in Applejack's kitchen, despite Granny Smith's shouts of protest, and out towards the edge of the Everfree forest.

It turned out that Rainbow’s pegasus friend was in a similar situation. She hadn’t been able to sleep that night either, although for completely different reasons.

Over the last few months, she’d been learning quite a bit about being more assertive, and standing up for herself. But the situation she was finding herself so nervous about had nothing to do with that. Unfortunately, this scenario was much more frightening. There was way more on the line than just having somepony else speak for her.

The cottage suddenly shook as something slammed into her bottom floor, sending a burst of adrenaline through the pegasus’ veins. She bit back a squeal of terror and poked her head over the edge of the loft, half-expecting a timber wolf, or a manticore, or even a—

Oh. It was just Rainbow Dash.

"Fluttershy!" Dash called, shaking the leaves from her mane. "You'll never guess what happened today!"

Though it was early, the timid pegasus was already wide awake, fluttering down to Rainbow's level.

"What happened?"

“I got a letter from the Wonderbolts!” Dash squealed. “Can you believe it? They want me to come to their training camp!”

"Wow, that's great Rainbow!" Fluttershy congratulated. She was happy for her oldest friend, but was glad to see her for another reason.

If anypony could give her some help with her problem, it would be Dash. She was never afraid to say what she thought!

"I know!" Dash smiled, "So what're you doing up so early?"

"Oh, uhm... I couldn't sleep," she admitted.

"Me neither, you got animals to take care of or something?"

"Oh no, I..." What was she doing? She knew she could tell Rainbow anything, and she was most likely to know what to do in such a situation.

Fluttershy sighed. "Rainbow, have you ever... uhm... wanted to tell somepony something, but were too afraid of how they'd react to do it?"

Rainbow had known her long enough to realize when she had a crush. She cut right to the chase.

"Who is he?" she smiled.

Fluttershy blushed madly. She wasn't ready to admit that.

"I uhm... I don't really..."

Rainbow's sharp grin softened, recalling how hard things like this were for her soft spoken pal.

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me," she said comfortingly, "So you're afraid to tell this guy you like him, huh?" she deduced.

Fluttershy stayed silent, yet nodded.

"You're an amazing mare Fluttershy, and whoever he is, he'd be lucky to have you around!"

Rainbow took a step toward her friend, putting a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

"Don't let how he'll react keep you from telling this guy how you feel. Sure, he might not return your feelings, but there is just as much chance he could like you too!"

Fluttershy smiled, thanking Celestia she had a friend like Rainbow to help her improve herself.

"Thanks Rainbow! I'm really happy you get a chance to be a Wonderbolt, I know how much it means to you."

Dash grinned after a hug from her friend as she headed towards the door. After all, the day had just started, and she had more friends to inform of the good news!

"Thanks Fluttershy. See ya!"

Fluttershy closed her door and went to the kitchen to feed Angel, thinking about Rainbow's advice.

Rainbow is right. I should just tell him the next time I see him! As long as nopony else is around... that is... No! The next time you see Big Macintosh, you're going to tell him how you feel, and that's that!

*Regardless of whichever name you choose to address our wall-eyed muffin queen, I think we can all agree there is no way any sane, loving pony parents would name their daughter Derpy. Although Ditzy isn't much better... But Faust has decreed that either name is acceptable.

11. Weight Problem

Chapter 11- Weight Problem

Mac strained against his yoke, the sweat beading down his neck as his veins bulged in concentrated strength. This was the biggest dead tree in the southeast field, and it was putting up quite a fight. Ordinarily, he could just buck the tree down, but pulling out an entire tree was a lot easier than trying to remove a stump. It was hard work, probably the hardest job he ever had to do.

Plowing was simple, unless he hit a rock. Applebucking didn't even seem like work, and pulling the apple cart into town might as well have been a leisurely stroll.

Mac stopped pulling and glanced over his shoulder. The roots were beginning to budge, but it was barely noticeable. He exhaled sharply before turning back around, his old yoke pressing into his shoulders as he continued to give it everything he had. Sure, he could pull a house, but a house wasn't rooted ten feet into the ground.

A tree this size usually only took a few tugs, but this one was certainly being stubborn.

"Hey Mac, how's the tree clearin' comin'?" AJ's voice stopped him in the middle of his effort as he unclenched his eyes.

"How's it look like it's comin'?" he grunted, taking a sip from a small canteen of water he had slung over his shoulder. This tree was getting on his nerves.

"No need ta get snippy, Ah was just askin'," she shot back.

Applejack looked to the many smaller dead trees around him. "How come you're startin' with the toughest tree first?"

"Makes the work get easier as I go, instead of harder," he replied, setting himself for another attempt. He planted his massive hooves in the dirt, and tightened the chains around his yoke. He was damn near ready to give this tree everything he had to uproot it.

With one final tug, he felt the stubborn roots give way, and heard the dirt rip from the ground as he took a few steps forward to avoid having the tree land on him.

"Mind tellin' me where you went for six hours after supper last night?" AJ asked sternly, as Mac unhitched himself from the chains wrapped around the now felled tree.

"Ah was at Rainbow's, and she wasn't there, so Ah waited on her ta get back," he explained, taking a break to finish all the water he had on him. "It was pretty late before she got home, 'cause she—" Mac stopped himself. It wasn't exactly his place to go spreading her good news around. Then again, he had read the announcement in the Ponyville Gazette, so he figured AJ must have as well.

"'Cause she what?"

"She made it into the Wonderbolts," he smiled, unable to hide his happiness for his marefriend.

His sister's eyes sparkled at the news. Apparently, she hadn't read the morning paper.

"She did? Well hot damn! Ah bet she was thrilled when she finally got home!"

Mac shifted his eyes away from her, "She was somethin'," he muttered.

"C'mon back to the barn Mac, lunch is ready," she said, looking behind him to the fruits of his labor, "You've earned it."

He followed his sister into the farm house, more than willing to chow down, and grab some food for his no doubt hungry marefriend as well.

After lunch and finishing his afternoon chores, Mac decided to pay Rainbow a visit. He remembered how drunk she'd been the night before, and how well she did with hangovers, so he figured she could use some food and apple juice. Packing the items in his saddlebag, he departed, but not before readying another batch of the potion he needed not to fall through Rainbow's house. This was a fresh batch, and he was honestly starting to get used to the taste.

It usually took about the time needed to walk to her house for the lightness potion to kick in. He hoped she'd been drinking a lot of water since last night, but it was already almost four, so he figured she'd at least be conscious by now.

Once he had arrived, he waited for the tingle in his legs to signal it was safe to ascend to Rainbow's house.

No sooner had he set his hoof on the first rung of the ladder did he feel himself begin float skywards. Mac clutched the ladder between his forelegs as he continued to climb like a balloon set free on the breeze.

"Rainbow!" he shouted, praying she was home. Who knows how far he would have floated it he'd let go. He certainly didn't want the dubious honor of being the first pony in space. "Rainbow, help!"

It had only been a few minutes after she began to sink into the depths of self pity when Rainbow could have sworn she heard Mac calling her name. Playing it off as nothing, she stared back down at her belly. How could she have let this happen? She was Rainbow Dash! Always in control, always the master of her own destiny, but this! This was a cosmic curveball she should have seen coming. She and Mac had never once thought about the consequences of their bedroom antics. She knew there was a chance, but figured as long as he 'pulled out' she wouldn't end up like this.

She could have kicked herself for being so careless. Her fears immediately turned to her new employers. She hadn't had time to read the entire contract, and even if she had, she was no lawyer. What if they fired her, or worse, made her give back the money, some of which she already spent! There was no way she could ask Scootaloo's mother for that money back! She'd simply have to work it off. On a normal pony's salary, that would probably only take...

Fifty years, if I don't eat, and sell my house. she guessed, though she was no mathematics whiz.

Rainbow's ears perked up. There it was again! She knew somepony was calling her name, and whoever it was would soon feel the wrath of pregnant Rainbow Dash.

She made her way to her front door, ready to hurl some anger somepony's way, when she noticed Mac's predicament.

Her rage fading and her lips curling into a slight smile, she had to know; "How did you get up there?"

The very situation erased some of the turmoil she'd been wrestling with earlier. Drying her tears with a hoof, she contemplated what she was going to tell Mac about her 'news'.

"Ah took too much of that lightness potion! You're just gonna have ta visit the farm from now on!" he called with a hoof to his mouth, not daring to let go of the rope ladder with his other hoof.

"How's the view from up there?" she teased, unable to resist having a bit of fun at his expense.

"Will you please just take me ta Ms. Twilight's so she can fix this?" he insisted.

"You'd like to go see Twilight, wouldn't you?" she replied in an accusatory tone.

"Ah told you what Ah was doin' with her, now are you gonna help me or not?"

"I was just kidding, geez, keep your yoke on..." Rainbow mumbled, trotting to the base of the rope ladder and untying it from her house, gripping it firmly between her teeth.

"Hang on!" she managed with a mouthful of rope. Dash took off into the sky dragging Mac behind her, made her way to Twilight's treehouse. On the way, she recalled she'd always wanted to take Mac flying with her, though she knew she'd never be able to lift him on her own. This wasn't exactly how she would have wanted it, but it was close enough.

Her balloon coltfriend floating behind her, she finally made it to Twilight's. Upon landing, she pulled him down to the ground and sat on his back, momentarily keeping him grounded while she secured one end of the rope around his foreleg and the other around Twilight's mailbox.

"I'll be back in a second with Twilight," she told him, dismounting as he began to rise back into the sky like a big red party balloon.

"Why don't you just sit on my back and let me come in?" he complained, reaching his full height and drifting slightly in the afternoon breeze.

"Because. I'll be right back, I promise," she insisted, barging through Twilight's door without so much as a knock.

"Well just come right in, Rainbow!" Twilight snapped sarcastically, Dash having nearly knocked her over on her way in.

"Twilight... there's something I need to talk to you about," Rainbow whispered nervously. Twilight could tell by her shifting hooves and lack of eye contact that this must have been something huge.

"Okay, what is it?" she asked, forgetting her rude entry and striding toward the couch in her living room.

Dash glanced at Spike, idly sorting the day's library returns. "Uhm... I kinda need to talk to you, alone."

Twilight saw what she was getting at and removed her flank from the cushions, "Spike's still got some work to do, but we can head upstairs if you want," she suggested.

Rainbow nodded, forgetting all about Mac outside, focused on the growing problem in her belly. The two mares trotted up stairs and shut Twilight's bedroom door.

"Okay Rainbow, what's going on?" she asked curiously, her inquisitive nature now piqued by Dash's general evasiveness.

"Well... I... uhm..." Rainbow's eyes darted around the room nervously. C'mon Rainbow, don't be such a coward! If anypony would know what to do in this situation it's an egghead like Twilight! Now pony up and tell her you're pregnant! she scolded herself.

Twilight raised an eyebrow as she took a seat on her bed, still waiting on an answer.

"I'm... pregnant," she mumbled softly, Twilight still unsure of what she said.

"What was that? You're gonna have to speak up Rainbow, I couldn't—"

"I said," she roared, only to soften the next two words considerably, "I'm pregnant."

As Dash expected, her friend was silent. Her jaw opened slightly, just as hers had when she'd first heard the news.

"You... are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! I went to the doctor and everything! Twilight, my life is ruined!" she moaned, throwing herself over Twilight's bed in a very Rarity-esque fashion.

"Uh... I..." the studious unicorn shook her head and regained her wits. "Rainbow, your life isn't ruined, you should be happy!"

Rainbow's mood went from pitiful to angry in the time it took for her friend to say the word 'happy'.

"Happy? Happy?!" she growled, "You think this thing inside me keeping me from flying with the Wonderbolts should make me happy?"

Rainbow hopped off the bed and began pacing around the room, continuing to give Twilight a verbal lashing. "You think I'm ready to raise a foal? I hate foals! I can barely stand Scootaloo, and she isn't even my kid!"

"Rainbow, keep your voice down or the whole town is going to know!" Twilight hushed from her bed, standing to confront her irritated friend.

"I don't care! This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me! And..." she began, her anger fading back into sadness as she stopped her brisk pacing. "And... it's my fault. I'm such an idiot!" she admonished herself, tears beginning to cloud her ruby eyes. Twilight walked softly over to her, embracing her friend with a gentle hug.

"Rainbow, it doesn't matter whose fault it is, what matters is that it happened," she explained in the most gentle tone she could manage, though consoling a pregnant mare was certainly new territory for her. "You've got two options. Mares can give it up, or, you can have this foal, and give it the life you think it deserves."

Rainbow didn't think she could bring herself to end a life on purpose, but she did have other concerns. "But... but what if I'm a bad mother?" she whimpered, her true anxieties finally coming out after just a bit of coaxing. Twilight idly stroked her prismatic mane to try and calm her friend as she continued.

"You won't be a bad mother Rainbow," she replied softly, "If the princess herself trusts you with the element of loyalty, then I'd trust you with a foal. Do you think Scootaloo thinks so highly of you by accident?"

Dash could probably explain that particular example, but chose not to undermine Twilight's first and hopefully last attempt at sympathy for her.

"No... I guess not," she squeaked.

"See? Now, am I to assume that Mac is the father of this foal?"

"Y-yeah."

"Does he know?"

"Not exactly..."

"Well then you need to tell him. He has a right to know about this, Rainbow."

Dash sighed. She knew he did, and it was a jerk move not going to him right away, but she had bigger problems. "I know... but it's the mare's job to keep track of her heat cycle, and I didn't even know what that was until the doctor told me about it!"

Twilight looked a bit shocked. When Princess Celestia had given her 'the talk', she'd learned most everything she needed to from the books supplied. "So, your mom never... uhm... you know, told you about... stuff?"

"My mom was always uncomfortable with it, so she gave me a book on the subject. I don't think I have to tell you how interested I was in reading when I was a filly," Rainbow explained, "I just kind of figured it out as I went."

Twilight shuddered at the idea, but continued nonetheless. "Well what's done is done, why haven't you told Mac yet?"

"Because! It's the mare's job to make sure she doesn't have sex during her heat cycle, and I screwed that up! What if he hates me for letting myself get pregnant?"

Twilight stood Rainbow up on her hooves, whisking her to the bed to alleviate her flanks, which were fast falling asleep on the hardwood floor.

"Mac? Hate you? Are you sure we're talking about the same stallion?" she replied skeptically.

"Well... what if he's not ready for foals either? What then?"

Twilight patted Rainbow's head in an almost condescending manner as she answered, "If anypony in town is prepared to be a father, it's Big Mac. You just need to tell him, and you'll see." she finished happily.

"Okay, you're right," Rainbow admitted, running a hoof through her mane. "I'll just tell him...eventually," she mumbled.

I just need to think up a way to do it gently.

"Great! And Rainbow, whatever you and Mac decide to do with the foal, I'm happy for you," Twilight smiled. Rainbow threw her forelegs around her studious pal and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Thanks for listening, Twilight. Oh! There's something else I came by for," she added, hopping off her bed and into her usual hover.

"Really? The new Daring Do books are still on backorder, so I'm not sure when they'll—"

"No, not that, it's outside," Rainbow interrupted, fluttering down the stairs as Twilight followed close behind.

Rainbow Dash opened her front door and the two ponies stared up at the still floating Big Macintosh. A small crowd had gathered around him, wondering how the town's resident heavyweight was managing to float gracefully on the breeze.

"It's about time!" he shouted from the end of his tether. "Will one of y'all please get me down from here!"

Rainbow glanced over at the still slack jawed Twilight.

"Any chance you know how to fix this?"

24. For Whom The Wedding Bell Tolls

Chapter 24- For Whom The Wedding Bell Tolls

The eruption of cheers was deafening as Mac rose from his haunches and embraced Rainbow, planting a kiss on her lips in front of more ponies than he'd ever seen in one place. Confetti cannons fired the moment after she spoke the word every ear in the crowd wanted to hear, courtesy of Pinkie's private arsenal.

As Dash broke away from the kiss to the blizzard of confetti around her, she had to ask: "You set all this up, too?"

Mac still held her close as he gave their surroundings a cursory glance before looking back toward his fiance's lips and nose smudged with blue body paint. "The cannons were actually Pinkie's idea."

Rainbow chuckled. "And what if I'd said ‘no’?"

"You'd have had to deal with her," Mac replied. Dash shuddered at the thought.

"Well, how long are those wings good for?" she asked.

"Just ‘til sunrise."

Dash spread her wings and took Mac's hoof. "Then come fly with me."

Mac spread his and with one flap, he was in the sky next to his fiance. They flew up and out of the stadium, Rainbow searching for a nice cloud to stop on. A sturdy cumulus appeared on the horizon as she glanced beside her. Never in all her life would she have thought Mac would subject himself to altering his physical being for her. Not that she'd asked him to, but the lengths he was willing to go for her brought a flutter to her heart unlike any she'd ever felt.

She thought for sure his bulky body was far too heavy for flight, but amazingly enough, his moderately sized wings seemed to be holding him aloft just fine, if a bit slow for her tastes. Talking over the rushing wind would have been pointless, so she settled on a smile as she raced ahead and landed on the cloud away from the arena. Mac joined her, landing clumsily on his chest. Five days of training had done wonders, but he was no flying prodigy.

Rainbow helped him up as they both sat on the squishy surface of the cloud, looking back toward the illuminated field they'd just left. A few fireworks rumbled in the distance, and Rainbow supposed the rest of the Wonderbolts were going out to celebrate the success of their first show of the season. Dash didn't mind missing the party, given the circumstances. Besides, being the only sober pony when everypony around you is drinking was not her idea of a good time.

"So you swapped places with Soarin, huh?"

"Eeyup." Mac ruffled his wings, trying to find a way to fold them that felt natural.

"How'd you manage that?"

Mac laughed. "Ah told him Ah wouldn't run him off the farm if he came around lookin' ta court my sister."

"What is it with you Apples and pegasi?" she asked teasingly.

"Couldn't tell ya. I hear Braeburn has taken a healthy interest in Ms. Fluttershy."

"Two members of your family liking wings is a coincidence." Dash rolled her head towards him. "Three is a fetish."

"You might be right."

Silence fell over both of them for a time before Rainbow spoke. "Let me see that earring again."

Mac dug into a pocket sewn into his Wonderbolt uniform, giving her the small red box. She opened it, the luster of the gems shining just as brilliantly in the light of the moon as they did beneath the stadium lights.

"Where'd you get this?"

"Ah spent fifty-thousand of your bits on it." Rainbow rolled her eyes and playfully shoved Mac's shoulder. "It was my mother's, actually," he explained. "My Paw proposed to her with it. Ah know it ain't as flashy as some of the engagement rings out there..."

Rainbow closed the box. Her ears hadn't been pierced in a while, but she'd make an appointment tomorrow if it meant she could wear something that meant so much to him. "It never had to be." Dash stretched a wing over Mac's broad shoulders as he scooted closer to her on the cloud. The distant rumble of the fireworks faded as the stadium lights turned off one by one, leaving only the moon and stars to illuminate the two of them.

Folding her wings beside her, Rainbow leaned back onto the cloud, staring up at the blanket of stars spanning the night sky. Mac followed suit, his hooves behind his head as he relaxed. "When's your next checkup?" he asked. "Ah think Ah'm startin' ta see the bump."

"Liar. It’s not for another week," she yawned. "You want to come with me this time?"

"That was my plan," he answered.

Another moment of silence draped over them like a layer of fog across a lake. Once again, Rainbow would be the one to break it. "Do you think Luna put every one of those stars up there?"

Mac shrugged. "That's what the legends say."

"You think they're true?"

"Dunno. She helped give me wings, I couldn't imagine why she couldn't make a million little points of light if she wanted to." Mac quickly caught her yawn. "Given any thought to our weddin'?" he asked. Rainbow was unsure whether he was joking or serious.

"Geez Mac, we've been engaged for all of thirty minutes," Dash teased.

"Ah know, Ah just figured every mare's thought about it once or twice," he said defensively.

"Not mares that grew up with something to prove," Rainbow lamented. She'd never been much for typical filly activities and fantasies. "I was too busy showing the boys how much better I was than them when I was a filly. Or trying to, anyway." Mac turned his head to see Dash's half-lidded eyes.

"Not once?" he asked incredulously.

"Not that I can remember," said Rainbow. "I guess we could just use the castle like Shining and Cadence did."

"Minus the changelings, Ah hope."

"Definitely."

Dash didn't let another pause interrupt the conversation before moving on to a topic she'd been tossing around in her head for a while. "What are we gonna do about my house?"

Mac rolled onto his side, facing her. "Whaddya mean?"

"I know you can't just leave the farm, but I can't just let my house fall apart, either. I built it with my own two hooves."

Mac put a hoof to his chin for a moment. "Why not just move it over the farm?" he suggested. "As long as you practice your rainbooms and such over the fields and away from our windows, Ah think that'd work out fine." Mac returned to his reclined position before speaking again. "Speakin' of houses, ya mind if I sleep at your house tonight? Braeburn's probably getting tired of the couch in our livin' room."

Rainbow hummed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that's just a convenient excuse to get your new fiance into bed."

Mac scoffed. "Like Ah need an excuse."

Rainbow shoved his shoulder before folding her forelegs back across her chest. "I guess that'd be okay. I don't have practice tomorrow, so you can make me breakfast."

"Ah suppose Ah should feel honored, your majesty?"

"Eeyup," she imitated. She had been thinking of surprising Mac with the new farm equipment he insisted he didn't want. His actions tonight may have just bought him a brand new plow and apple cart. "Well, I guess now you get to wait on my anniversary present," she yawned.

Mac replied only with a thoughtful "Mhm." Dash raised herself onto her elbows.

"That's it? Just 'mhm'?"

"Eeyup."

"You don't even want to try and make me tell you what it is?"

"Nah." Rainbow studied him for a few more seconds before settling back down on her back.

"You're no fun."

"Well, Ah'll be dipped!" Braeburn said, entering the farmhouse behind his cousins Applejack and Apple Bloom. "Ah'd have never guessed Mac had it in him ta do somethin' like that!"

Applejack snickered, Apple Bloom asleep on her back. "Well, Mac may not be much for showboatin', but Ah suppose RD is rubbing off on him."

Braeburn smiled. "Well, Ah suppose that's true." Applejack rolled her eyes as she headed upstairs to put her little sister to bed.

"Ah don't know if Mac'll be coming home tonight, so you could probably get away with using his bed if you're tired of the couch," she said in a hushed tone from the top of the steps.

He removed his hat and vest, laying them carefully across the back of the couch. "Ah think Ah might take you up on that."

Braeburn climbed the creaky steps to Mac's bedroom, slowly opening the door and poking his head inside, as though he expected Mac to be there. He trotted inside and shut the door, careful not to let it slam. The moonlight through his cousin’s flannel curtains cast a silver glow across the simple wooden desk and bed frame. A few farming magazines and an advanced calculus textbook sat on his desk, as well as a framed picture of himself and Rainbow Dash.

He picked it up, holding it in the moonlight for a better look. The two of them were smudged with dirt, Dash's lips pressed against Mac's cheek as he smiled toward the camera. Braeburn flipped the photograph over, revealing Fall Harvest Festival written on the back. He chuckled to himself, recalling playing with Mac on the farm as a colt, and the times when both of them thought fillies to be gross and covered in cooties. If our eight-year-old selves could see us now, he thought, setting the picture back where he'd found it.

Glancing back to the bed, he threw the blanket back with a hoof, climbing onto the mattress. He still had two days left in Ponyville, and hadn't got his chance to properly tease Mac about getting his girlfriend—fiance, rather—pregnant. As he lay on Mac's firm pillow, he harkened back to the days of their youth. He had always figured Mac would be the first one to settle down, especially after his parents had died. Though he was still the same colt he had been after their passing, he was always more reserved. He remembered him crying at his mother's funeral, but only silent tears, no sobbing. By the time his father passed, Braeburn was certain Mac didn't shed a tear.

Braeburn figured it was because Mac felt like he had to show strength for the rest of his family, not because he didn't love his father. Looking back on his life compared to Mac's, he was relatively fortunate. His father and mother were still around for him to talk to, should he ever need it, and he inherited a farm that had already been established as a staple of the Appaloosan and Dodge Junction economy.

Mac, on the other hoof, had to figure out how to run a farm by himself rather quickly. In fact, his cousin was a rather brilliant marketer, assuring business partners that the farm's quality would not suffer now that it was under new management. Once Applejack came of age, she began to help out, but for many years, it was just Macintosh running the show with what little help Granny Smith could offer.

He supposed having his foalhood cut short was partly responsible for Mac's normally stoic demeanor, but he couldn't be blamed for it. Besides, now that he was engaged, he'd have to deal with another enormously daunting task, one far overshadowing the complexities of running a farm: planning a wedding. Closing his eyes, Braeburn couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Mac having to choose between alabaster, eggshell, and ivory colored napkins for the reception. Now that his cousin had taken the plunge, however, he felt what some might call jealousy swell in his chest. Perhaps it was time for him to start looking for a mare to make an honest stallion out of him?

He remembered the day before, and his visit to that cute pegasus' cottage near the woods. She'd said he was welcome back for tea anytime he wanted. Personally, he hated tea, but, considering the company, he figured he could manage to muscle down a cup.

Maybe I'll give Ms. Fluttershy a call tomorrow...

Rainbow Dash sat beside Mac in the waiting room of the Ponyville hospital, idly flipping through a magazine. Mac had never liked hospitals, and neither had Rainbow. If her last visit was any indication, a few quick tests, an ultrasound, and she'd be out of there in time for lunch. Even though it was only a few hours after breakfast, she was already feeling the pangs of hunger.

"Dash, Rainbow?" The nurse called from behind her desk. Mac's gentle nudge drew her from a rather bland article.

"That's us," he whispered.

They followed the nurse back to the exam rooms as she led them to an available spot. "The doctor will be with you momentarily." she said, motioning them inside. Mac had a seat on a chair near the wall while Rainbow climbed onto the exam table and laid on her side.

"Nervous?" he asked.

"Not really. Last time it was a breeze," she replied casually. "You excited to see the foal?"

Mac smiled. "Yeah."

Before they could continue, the door opened to reveal the same unicorn doctor that had given Rainbow the news and performed her first exam. "Good morning, Rainbow," he said cordially. "Ah, and this must be the sire."

"Eeyup. Macintosh Apple." Doctor Stable extended a hoof.

"Doctor Stable." He bumped his hoof and turned back to Rainbow. "Well, now that introductions are out of the way, let's get down to it, shall we?"

The usual battery of tests began, Rainbow performing them routinely.

“Okay Ms. Dash, time for your ultrasound,” he said, retrieving the tube of jelly from a cabinet.

“Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for!” Rainbow squeaked happily, shivering slightly as Doctor Stable smeared the cold gel across a small section of her belly. Mac stood from his chair and moved closer to Rainbow. The doctor cast the ultrasound spell, a multitude of black and grey blobs projecting in front of them.

“Okay, let’s find the foal...” Doctor Stable said, searching Rainbow’s stomach for his target. After a few moments, a small, pulsating blob appeared in front of them. Mac couldn’t help but beam, pride swelling in his chest as he got his first look at his unborn foal.

“T-that’s him?” he stammered.

“Him or her,” the doctor replied.

“See?” Rainbow whispered. “I told you it wasn’t much to look at.”

“Well, not yet,” Mac reasoned. “But it’s ours.” He took her hoof gently and smiled at her, Doctor Stable quietly dropping the spell and washing his hooves.

Afterwards, Doctor Stable turned back to Mac.

"Mr. Apple, might I see you outside for a moment?" Mac was a bit surprised, but nodded as he rose from the chair, following the doctor outside.

"Somethin' the matter, Doctor?" he asked, a hint of worry in his tone.

"No, nothing really, but it is my duty as a physician to explain some of what you can expect in the coming months as far as your marefriend's behavior is concerned." Mac raised an eyebrow, but allowed the doctor to continue. "Now then, fairly soon, Rainbow's moods will seem a bit more... irrational. These mood swings are perfectly normal and, unfortunately, are something you must take in stride, as she won't be able to mitigate them."

"Actually, she's my fiance now," he corrected.

"Congratulations! Now, in addition to mood swings, it's important you let her get exercise, but not too much," he explained. "Here, this pamphlet will explain most of what you need to know about supporting her." He levitated a full color brochure out of his lab coat.

So, You've Ruined Your Life: A Stallion's Guide To Pregnant Mares, Mac read in surprise to himself.

"Just a bit of humor," Doctor Stable added. "And that brings me to the other reason I called you out here. I understand Rainbow Dash is deathly afraid of needles?"

Mac chuckled, stowing the pamphlet. "That's an understatement."

"Yes, I figured as much. Unfortunately for her, she needs a series of vaccinations to help ensure the foal is brought to term."

"Okay... Ah think Ah see where this is goin', but don't you have orderlies or somethin' for this kind of thing?"

Doctor Stable shook his head. "We've had to let some go due to budget constraints. All I'll need you to do is distract her while I cast my holding spell. I find phobic patients don't lose their cool as much if they don't have time to think about what is happening."

Mac sighed. "Ah suppose, if it's what's best for the foal..."

"I assure you, it is."

Mac followed the doctor back into the room to find a bored Rainbow Dash still waiting on the table. "About time," she mumbled. "What'd you do out there?"

Mac glanced at the doctor, who'd begun carefully unwrapping the needle from its packaging and using his magic to draw the vaccine into the syringe. "Oh, he just went over some stuff Ah can do for ya once you start showin' and such. Told me Ah should let you eat whatever ya want when you start cravin' things."

Dash chuckled. "Like I'd need your permission to eat what I want."

"Right..." Mac mumbled, Rainbow starting to turn toward the doctor before realizing she was paralyzed.

"Hey! What gives?" she demanded as Mac took a step back, regret etched across his face.

"You'll only feel a brief pinch, Rainbow," Doctor Stable said, rubbing a spot in her foreleg with a piece of gauze soaked in alcohol. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks as she set eyes on the needle floating in the doctor's magic.

"No! Nononono!" Dash struggled valiantly against Doctor Stable's magic, but couldn't break free. She shot an accusing glare at her husband-to-be. "You set me up!"

"Darlin', he said it's what's best for the foal," Mac reasoned, though Rainbow was having none of it. Her love of the foal was far outweighed by her phobia of needles. He stepped forward, placing a hoof over her eyes. "He said it don't hurt as much if ya don't look."

"Easy for you to say!" she snarled, still struggling. She let her mind wander in the dark, just knowing the incredible pain of a needle pushing into her skin, intruding into one of her veins was only moments away.

"There we are, just two more," Doctor Stable said, keeping his patient immobile while retrieving a fresh needle.

"Two more?!" she shouted. "Mac, I'll kill you for this!"

Mac rolled his eyes. "The sooner you can get this done, the better, Doc."

"Just a moment, we're almost done..."

Outside the hospital, Rainbow sat on the bench facing away from Mac, a pout across her lips and her forelegs folded.

"C'mon, Rainbow, it wasn't that bad." She cut her eyes at him briefly before staring off into the other direction as she had been. Mac got off his bench and went to sit next to her. She promptly scooted as far away from him as possible while still sitting on the same bench. He figured she'd be upset with him. After all, phobias aren't generally characterized by rational thought. Mac put his hoof to his chin for a moment. "What if we go to that Neighponese restaurant on Market Street you like s'much for lunch?"

Rainbow cut her eyes back to him again. A few seconds of silence were broken by her rumbling stomach. "Is that the one where they give you peas in those little shells for an appetizer?" she asked.

"Eeyup." Mac nodded.

After a few more seconds, Dash let out a defeated whinny. "Fine, but this isn't over." They got off the bench and headed into town, though Rainbow was careful to keep Mac at wing’s length. She still needed to convey how upset she was, after all.

As they sat in front of the hot hibachi, Rainbow turned to Mac. "Sorry about earlier."

Mac smiled, rubbing her foreleg with his own. "It's alright. Ah know how ya feel about needles."

"You still didn't have to distract me, though," she huffed.

The chef poured oil on the hot grill, sending fire roaring upwards as the other ponies at their hibachi 'ooh'd’ and 'ahh’d'.

"C'mon, you mean you'd have just let him give you three shots in a row?" Mac asked.

Rainbow sat quietly for a moment, eyes transfixed on the vegetables being stir fried in front of them. "Maybe."

"Well, if it's any consolation, Ah'm sorry."

Rainbow sighed. Now that she'd had something to eat, the absurdness of her actions at the hospital were beginning to register. "It's not your fault... I just hate needles."

They ate silently as Rainbow devoured her plate of food, Mac taking a much more moderate approach, while wondering how it was that ponies in Neighppon managed to use chopsticks with hooves. Rainbow had them between the surprisingly dexterous feathers of her wing tips, feeding herself as though she'd been raised using them. Mac opted for the simpler method of eating mouth-first. Not uncommon or considered rude for earth ponies.

Once they'd finished, Mac brought up something that had been on his mind since last night. "So, given any thought to plannin' the wedding?"

Dash nodded. "Actually, Rarity already told me she'd help. I'm thinking of leaving most of it to her. I think she's favoring the farm for the venue, though."

Mac grinned at the idea of being married at the same place as his parents. "Ah know Granny and Applejack wouldn't mind playin' host."

"Yeah, she actually wants me to meet her at her shop after hours to go over some stuff." Dash sighed, as though it were a chore. "I want to keep it simple, but I doubt that'll end up happening."

"Just remind her that it’s your wedding." he suggested.

"She means well. Rarity just gets a little... carried away sometimes."

After lunch, she and Mac stood outside. Rainbow had managed to sign a few autographs before realizing she needed to leave before a crowd gathered. Her new fame was certainly becoming more and more of a burden. The fact that she’d managed to get a quiet lunch with Mac actually surprised her.

"I better go before the cameraponies get here," she moaned.

"Alright then," Mac agreed, giving her a quick kiss goodbye on the nose. "It's about time for Apple Bloom to get outta school anyway. Figure Ah'll go pick her up." He smiled at her. "Good luck with Rarity."

"Thanks," she said sarcastically, returning his peck before taking off.

Mac trotted to the schoolhouse and sat down on a picnic table just outside the front door. The clock above the school still had a few minutes until the bell tolled. He retrieved the pamphlet Doctor Stable had given him and began to look over it. On the cover was an illustration of a very pregnant looking mare yelling at a stallion. He supposed this was an indication of what was to come. Opening it, he found the writer of this information pulled no punches. The sections were broken down into months.

For the first few months, you may hardly notice a difference in your marefriend at all! She may eat some odd combinations, or perhaps suffer a bout or two of morning sickness, but otherwise, she's still the mare you fell in love with. Or, at least, liked enough to rut without asking whether or not she was in estrus, he read to himself.

That sounds about right, he thought.

Moving on, he came upon the next section, depicting a mare crying on a bed with a noticeable belly, but not one that was obviously a foal. It could just as easily have been from lack of exercise.

Once your mare has started to show, she'll most likely become conscious of this fact. This will lead to any eye contact with her belly being met with angry accusations about how you no longer think she's pretty, or that you think she's fat. These accusations will come whether you said anything remotely of the sort or not (and if you did, shame on you!). This is normal, and the best thing you can do in this situation is to assure her you still think she's the prettiest mare in all of Equestria, regardless of whether or not she believes you. This mood may be swiftly followed by tears and uncontrollable sobbing while bemoaning the fact that she feels she's not ready to raise a foal of her own, and/or an insatiable need for... intimate contact with you. In the case of the latter, it is best to satiate these needs as soon as possible, or risk bodily harm. As was stated before, all mood swings are completely normal and not under her control. As the sire of the foal, you would do well to remember this.

"Hey, Big Macintosh! Whatcha readin'?" Mac nearly dropped the pamphlet as he hurried to store it beneath his yoke. Apple Bloom and her friends stood before him. How had he missed the bell?

"Uh... nothin'. Y'all have a good day at school?"

"We sure did!" Apple Bloom replied as Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded in agreement. "We did arts and crafts today, and Ah made a bird feeder for our yard!" She held out a pine cone covered in peanut butter and birdseed with pride.

"That's a mighty fine bird feeder, sugarcube." Mac smiled. "Ah bet all kinds a birds'll want ta eat from it."

"Sweetie Belle!" a voice Mac recognized called from a distance. Rarity came trotting up the street, her designer saddlebags bouncing merrily as she did. "Come now, time for us to take Scootaloo home so we can start on your homework."

The filly's expression dropped sharply. "Aw, I have to do homework now?"

"Yes, I simply won't have time to help you tonight. Rainbow Dash is coming over to plan her wedding." She looked over to Macintosh. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank ya kindly for helpin' Rainbow figure all this out," he replied.

Rarity waved a hoof. "I wouldn't dream of anything less! Your wedding will be the envy of every mare in Equestria, I assure you." Her smile instilled a confidence Mac had not experienced when talking about it with Rainbow. He had to admit, if there was one mare he trusted with this sort of thing, it was Rarity. "Come along now, dears." She hurried Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle away down the street as they bid goodbye to Apple Bloom.

"So, is Rainbow Dash gonna be my sister?" Apple Bloom asked as they set off toward the farm.

"Sister-in-law, but eeyup."

"Neat! Scootaloo is gonna be so jealous!"

Mac chuckled to himself.

"So when she has the foal, that'll make me an aunt, right?"

He nodded. "Eeyup, you'll be aunt Apple Bloom."

Her face lit up as she began to hop around big Mac in a Pinkie Pie manner. "Ah can't wait ta teach her about all the stuff Ah learned in school! Maybe Ah can help her get her cutie mark!" she sang.

"Hold your horses there, little miss. We don't know if it's a filly or a colt yet," Mac cautioned. Apple Bloom stopped bouncing.

"Well when will ya find out?"

"In a few months," he replied as they came upon their family farm. "Go'n inside and start your homework. Ah'll be up ta take a look at it when you're done."

His little sister headed inside while he decided to take a seat on the front porch. Though he was far from lazy, every now and again, he'd enjoy a nice sit on the steps of his home, admiring the fields of his father before him. Fields he and his sister worked hard to maintain.

As he sat, he noticed another pony coming down the path leading to the edge of the Everfree forest. A brown hat and vest let him know Braeburn must have been on his way back from visiting a certain pegasus. He also recalled that his cousin hadn't had a chance to tease him about settling down. With a deep breath and an unbreakable smile, he readied himself.

“Well hey there, stud,” Braeburn teased. “Ah hear you and Ms. Rainbow Dash have been mighty busy as of late.” He tipped his hat upwards, a smarmy smile across his lips.

“Ah don’t see how that’s any of your business,” he replied frankly.

“Relax, Twilight told me about your... conception.” Mac rolled his eyes.

“Of all the ponies ta be the one to gossip,” he began.

“Oh no, she didn’t do it on purpose. Think she just let it slip while Ah was at Ms. Fluttershy’s.”

Mac waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Really? Well Ah don’t see where you get off takin’ shots at me when you’re tryin’ ta make time with one of my fiance’s best friends,” Mac countered.

“Well for starters, we’ve only just met, and she ain’t pregnant.”

Mac raised an eyebrow. “Yet.”

“Oh, you hush with that kinda talk, Mac!” Braeburn chided. “Just because I enjoyed takin’ a mare home in Appleloosa don’t mean I intended to lay with her.”

“That’s funny, that seemed to be the case every time Ah was there.”

Braeburn exhaled through his smile. If there was one thing Mac knew how to do, it was counter any argument. He simply knew him too well. “Anyway, how’d your visit with the doctor go?”

“Fine. Saw my foal in the ultrasound,” Mac said proudly. “He’s gonna be strong, like his daddy. Ah can tell already.”

Braeburn chuckled. “If anythin’ he’ll inherit that big head of yours. Celestia help Rainbow to pass him.”

“Very funny,” Mac spat. “Why don’t we go see if Fluttershy would like to know about the time after the Appleoosan spring festival where you took home a mare, and her st—”

“Okay, okay!” Braeburn relented. “No need ta get drastic. Ah told you Ah was drunk...”

“Right. C’mon and help me move the bags a seed into the barn before Ah start rememberin’ other stuff from your sordid past,” Mac laughed.

Later that night, Mac lay awake after reclaiming his bed. Recalling his unfinished pamphlet, he reached an hoof to his yoke on his bedpost and lit the lantern in his room. Unfolding it, he reached the final months of gestation and continued where he left off.

Once your mare has fully progressed, her mood swings will increase in frequency and severity until foaling. It is wise to simply give her what she wants and get out of the way. Additionally, her hooves will begin swelling from the extra weight (especially if she is a pegasus) she has to carry around, and as such, an especially thoughtful thing you may consider to keep yourself from being berated at every turn for not doing any of the work while she carries the foal, is to draw a tub of hot water for her hooves to soak in in the evenings. Also, the closer she gets to delivery, the more hormones will flood her system, meaning your flesh must be willing often times more than the spirit is able.

Mac’s eyes reached the bottom of the pamphlet, where the words: What To Expect During Foaling: A Guide To The Unimaginable Horror sat above a modest paragraph.

Foaling is a difficult time for any mare, and as such, will be a difficult time for you as well. Assuming you’re not squeamish, you’ll be with her during the act. If you are not present, then may Celestia herself have mercy on your soul. Unlike the foaling process depicted in most movies on the big screen, it is neither glamorous, or fun to watch. You must look on as one of the favorite areas of your mare is torn asunder by the seed you planted in her womb. She will flatulate, urinate, and defecate in front of you, and up to six total strangers. Most importantly, it will be all your fault. She will be quick to remind you of this in a variety of colorful ways. If Celestia favors you, the doctor will give her an epidural before hoof, neutralizing most of the pain. If not, prepare for profanity and a hoof-crushing grip as she works harder than she ever has in her life. However, once that foal is born, and stands on its own for the first time, you’ll realize your broken hoof and ringing ears were absolutely worth it. And Celestia willing, so will your mare.

Mac set the pamphlet down on his nightstand, eyes wide in shock at the implications of the last paragraph. Perhaps he had been spoiled a bit by movies. He certainly had boundless patience. Especially for the mare he loved. But of course he had it now. What about for eight more months? What about when Rainbow was wishing she’d never met him while she struggled to deliver their foal?

No, Ah don’t care what some booklet says. Ah love Rainbow, and no amount of spittin’ and cussin’ at me is gonna change that, he thought. He rolled over onto his side and faced his wall.

For the first time in months, he couldn’t sleep.