Chasing Rainbows

Chapters

I Can't Help Who I Am
Out of the Frying Pan
His Only Friend
Chasing Rainbows
Epilogue: All's Well That Ends Well
Reshelving Day

I Can't Help Who I Am

Chasing Rainbows
by Gallifrey

Chapter Two
I Can't Help Who I Am

A miserable and dejected pegasus trudged aimlessly around, head bowed, not in the mood to fly for the first time in his life.
He felt empty, devoid of purpose; everything he had ever hoped for had fallen down around his ears, and he felt as though a storm was raging inside and he had no outlet. He sighed and considered his options.

I can't go to Dusk, not now. Perhaps I could go see Applejack? He always has good advice when I'm in trouble. Yeah, I'll go and visit him.

With a small flicker of hope, Rainbow Blitz turned around and trotted in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

Blitz stuck his tongue out in disgust when he saw all the blossoming, bright pink trees.

"Well, good afternoon there, Master Blitz!" called out Macareina from a field to his left, "I guess pink's not your colour huh?"

"Nah, not really," said Blitz, "Is Applejack around?"

"Eyyyup, he's in the south fields."

"Okay, thanks!"

"No problem, Rainbow, y'all take care now!"

"You too!"

Blitz walked past the barn house, scattering chickens before him and made his way into the south fields. He searched for the cowpony amongst the groves of apple trees, but there was no sign of him anywhere, no sound of trees being kicked nor sight of orange coat.

Urgh, stupid trees! He thought as he prepared to take off and scout around for Applejack. He spread his wings and flapped into the air, only to be halted by his tail.

"What the-"

Applejack had Rainbow's tail in his mouth, to prevent him flying off.

"Got'cha!" said the earth pony through a mouthful of hair. He spat it out and Rainbow fluttered to the ground.

"Were you following me the whole time?" he asked.

"Yup!"

"I was looking for you."

"That's a thing, what brings ya up here?"

Where to start?

"Well... I-" he stammered.

"Blitz, are you alright?" asked Applejack. Now that he looked closely at the pegasus, he seemed very tense, and definitely lacked his usual energy.

Something bad has happened.

"No, I'm not alright."

"Has something happened?"

"I think it's more a case that something hasn't happened, to be honest. I was round Dusk's like usual, and I told him- I told him I like him."

Applejack stood in stunned silence; he seemed to have frozen. Blitz waited for a response but none seemed to be forthcoming.

"AJ, dude, you alright?"

Applejack responded by taking a step back.

"Beg pardon," he said flatly. It wasn't a question.

"I just told you: I told him I like him."

"You mean you like like him?"

"What did I just say?" said Blitz, wondering why he was being so slow on the uptake.

"Ah guess he said no? Wow, ah never thought you'd be a colt cuddler."

Blitz began to laugh at Applejack's joke. The pegasus looked at the earth pony and immediately realised it wasn't a joke.

"No seriously, ah never expected you to be one of them. I've seen you with the ladies, was all that lies? Ah thought you were better than this."

"Lies? What are you on about? Of course it wasn't lies!"

"Then what? You're making no sense! Are you normal or not?"

The question struck Blitz as though Applejack had just kicked him. Yet again, he felt the hole in his heart widen.

I can't take much more of this shit today.

"What kind of question is that?" he asked calmly, but his voice was shaking slightly.

"Are you a normal pony- a straight pony- or are you just another one of them?"

"You're pushing my buttons here, AJ," Blitz spat, his temper rising dangerously.

"You still haven't answered my question," said Applejack impassively.

"You want the truth?"

"Er, yeah?"

"On your head, " he breathed. "I'm bisexual."

"Ah, I see, so you're one of them confused ones who don't know what's right."

"No. I know who I am, AJ."

"Nah, you're confused- you don't know what you want. If anything you're just greedy."

"What the fuck, AJ? I can't help who I am! I came up here to get some help and advice!"

"Well you came to the wrong place! Ah'm not gonna start sympathising with ponies like you!"

Blitz's anger, which had been barely contained during the whole conversation, was coming to a boil.

"AJ, what's got into you?"

"What's got into me? Ah'm not the one lusting after other stallions!"

"And what the fuck is wrong with that, AJ? " He yelled, walking up to Applejack until their faces were an inch apart, spittle flying from his mouth in his rage. "Fucking tell me!"

"It's unnatural and disgusting!" he roared back. "Ah never would've believed one of my former best friends would be one of them!"

"Oh, I see how it is," hissed Blitz through clenched teeth, every word dripping with venom, "I don't know who you are, but you are not the Applejack I know." He turned around, wings flaring, preparing to take off. "Fuck you."

"Yeah, bet you'd like to do that wouldn't ya?" he snarled.

Blitz turned around; there was nothing he wanted more than to smack Applejack in the face right there and then. He struggled with himself for a moment, and with one last glare, he shot off into the sky, leaving a trail of colour in his wake.

One may endure a world full of demons for the sake of an angel...

The words crossed Dusk's mind with a whisper from a book read long ago. Time dragged on, it was now early evening. Dusk had been sitting in the same position for half an hour now, letting the silence envelop him as he tried to gather his mind together. A single silver tear fell from his eyes as he clenched them shut. He opened them and finally stood up, legs feeling like they were made of metal. He made his weary way back to the sofa and looked at the two cups of hot chocolate, now as cold as Dusk felt inside. The two books were lying on the floor, where they had been cast aside during their play wrestle, where it had all gone wrong. He picked up the books and opened a page.

"A mare and stallion..." he murmured, as he read the sensual fiction, "That's what it usually is... what is needed to create life... but does that necessarily make it the only option?"

Dusk's intelligent mind kicked into action, and he began thinking about the issue. And when Dusk Shine starts thinking, well, anything can happen.

"Gay ponies, a minority in this society, how exactly are they treated?" Dusk asked himself. "It's just such a weird concept though! Especially Blitz, who apparently likes both, how does that work? Is it a choice? What should I do?"

Matters like this were usually of no importance to him: he spent most of his time studying the sciences, not the people.

"Well, it's no use asking these questions if I'm not going to try and find the answer; I've just reorganised the entire library, it's time to hit the books!"

In the following half hour, he ran around the library, picking out every book that seemed relevant: Pony Sexuality Through the Ages seemed like a good start, The Classical Origins of Modern Homophobia was another promising looking tome. Along with factual books, Dusk picked out some more 'intense' fictional books, featuring both heterosexual and homosexual love.

Dusk eventually retired to his room, dragging thirty or so books and a sandwich with his magic. There was a clink as he locked his door to ensure no disturbances from Spines whenever she returned. He took up position at his desk and began to read.

"How very interesting," he murmured, as he read a passage on sexual attitudes in the Dark Ages before Solaris and Artemis arrived in the world. Dusk took a quill and began to whisper as he wrote down:
In my ongoing studies into pony sexuality, it seems to me that the further one goes back in history, the more intolerant ponies were towards the idea of homosexuality; one particularly barbaric text even suggests that homosexuals be put to death. I may not yet fully understand the concept of being gay, but even so, being put to death is a sickeningly strong sentence for a 'crime' that has no victims whatsoever.
"This is all very interesting," he said, putting down his quill. "Why I haven't looked into this before I don't know."

You're talking to yourself again, Dusk, he thought.

"Oh, I always have done, what does it matter? It helps me to think straight."

He started reading on how attitudes changed dramatically when Solaris and Artemis took the throne of Equestria.

After the Royal Princes arrived, Dusk continued in his writing, incidences of stonings, beatings, and general physical abuse dropped dramatically. Resentment, however, was still rife in the population. The laws of the land were changed so that homosexuality was no longer illegal, but that did not seem to stem the torrents of verbal abuse homosexuals still had to endure. A gay couple could at least now walk down a street together, but not without drawing a lot of attention and having vicious insults thrown at them. It was not ideal, but it was a start. In recent years, the Gay Rights Movement, aided by the Princes, has progressed well, and in all major cities in Equestria, gay ponies are not discriminated against in the slightest. The same can't quite be said of smaller towns, 'out in the sticks.'

"Oh great, so I live in 'the sticks' according to this book," said Dusk, shutting it. "Well, I can conclude that times definitely seemed to have changed for the better. Gay ponies certainly don't harm anypony else, so treating it like a crime baffles me, I never knew that they used to actually be killed..."

Dusk took a bite of his previously forgotten sandwich.

"Well, that's the history all looked at, so now I've got to try and understand it!"

It was at this point he spun in his chair and picked up the fiction books.

"Let's read a bit more of Don't Let the Fire Die. For educational purposes, of course."

Yeah, like you don't want to, said Dusk's inner monologue as he picked up and flicked to page seventy eight.

He read, and his cheeks became tinted pink at the suggestive texts; he felt arousal stirring deep inside him, so he shifted his position and set the book down before he became too excited.

"That's quite enough of that."

He chose instead a book called Honeyed Words, which was centred around two stallions.

"Well, let's give it a go."

He flicked through the pages, until he arrived at an intimate scene. He took a deep, open-minded breath, and began reading.

"Well, it's different, I'll give it that. Oh, it's getting all touchy feely. Why does the library even have books this explic-"

He stopped as he read a segment where the main characters shared a passionate kiss.

"Why, it's just the same as a mare and stallion..." he whispered.

He continued and the story hotted up, and to his great shock and befuddlement, so did Dusk, he felt the stirring inside him again, albeit much fainter, more subdued. Closing the book, he put it down rather quickly, knocking his quill to the floor. He took a steadying breath.

"What? Th-that makes no sense. How did that... what," he blathered.

He picked up his quill and continued.

Research into erotic literature reveals some very surprising results. Whether by fluke or not, the story between two stallions succeeded in its intentions, even if only slightly. I feel almost alarmed, but how does that make me any better than the ponies who condemn it? But I know I am straight, I have never once found a stallion attractive.

He put his quill down as a little voice in his head said:

You know that's a lie.

"No. It's not."

Yes it is, can you honestly say that you've never caught yourself checking out another stallion?

Dusk faltered in his conversation with himself.

"That only happens when I zone out, and you know how your eyes wander when you zone out."

If you say so...

Dusk continued writing.
I can't tell what's going on, but the world suddenly seems to be conspiring against me, and not just the world, even myself. I just don't know what to do anymore, nor am I even certain about who I am.

He banged his head against the desk in frustration.

"I need advice, I need guidance," he muttered, taking a fresh piece of parchment from his drawer. "I need the Prince." He began to scribble:

Dear Prince Solaris,

I know this is an unusual request from me, but could you please possibly visit me at my home as soon as is convenient for you? I wouldn't ask, but I'm making all sorts of strange discoveries about myself, and I can't be sure if they're genuine because they make no sense to me. You've guided me well since I was a foal, so you are a natural choice for assistance.

Your faithful student,
Dusk Shine

The words were scruffier than usual, and the language not quite as professional, but Dusk was in a rush.

"Spi-!"

He was about to call out Spines, but stopped. Not only was she not in, but he would prefer no-one know that he was requesting the Prince to come and visit. He sighed and looked at the letter.

"I'm going to have to teleport you, aren't I?"

Steeling himself for the massive amounts of energy it required, Dusk snapped his eyes shut and his horn began to crackle with a powerful white magical aura. After a few seconds building up the energy, he released it and the parchment disappeared with a pop.

"Now all we can do is wait, and read," he said quietly, picking up another book and continuing his studies.

Out of the Frying Pan

Chasing Rainbows
by Gallifrey

Chapter Three
Out of the Frying Pan

Who is next in line to make me feel like shit? Blitz wondered, landing hard in the centre of Ponyville. It was twilight, and Blitz wandered with no sense of direction or purpose. The wise option would be for him to go home and rest, but the prospect of lying awake in his bed, brooding over the day's events, was not an appealing one for the pegasus. He was teetering on the edge of a breakdown as it was.

I need a drink... or five.

He plodded over to the only public house he was aware of in Ponyville: The Red Griffon. It was a small pub, and quite old. Rainbow pulled open the creaking wooden door and entered.
The place was dimly lit and smelled musty; Blitz didn't often come here, preferring the bars Cloudsdale had to offer, but he was in no mood for loud obnoxious music tonight.

"What will it be?" asked a gruff white stallion as he took a seat at the end of the bar, in a dark corner.

"Firewhiskey, on the rocks."

"Coming right up."

Blitz bowed his head until it gently rested on the counter, he sighed deeply.

"Two bits."

"Here," said Blitz, handing him three.

"Gee, thanks!"

"Don't mention it," Blitz deadpanned.

The bartender walked away and Rainbow closed his eyes, the weight of the events that had occurred today kept threatening to overwhelm him. Terrible truths kept rattling around inside him.

He will never love you.
You made Dusk upset.
He wanted you to get out.
AJ hates you.
He's disgusted with who you are.
He'll never talk to you again.
He betrayed you when you needed him.

The yawning chasm in Rainbow's heart harboured all these destructive thoughts, and used them as fuel to make the poor pegasus feel even worse.

He took his drink and downed it in one, crunching the ice in his mouth as he did so. The cold fluid slid down his throat, burning it, and came to rest in his stomach. Instead of feeling cold, it warmed him up nicely.

That's exactly what I needed.

"Barkeep! Another please!"

Five shots later, Blitz was comfortably tipsy; the alcohol had all but suppressed the storm that had been raging inside him.

"I think that's enough for me," he said to the bartender, picking up his last shot of whiskey, "thanks dude."

The bartender nodded and Blitz stood up to leave.

"Hey!" shouted a familiar voice from across the room. Blitz slowly turned around and felt the warmth leave him immediately. Applejack was at a table with two of his friends.

"What do you want?" Blitz snarled.

"Nothin', just wonderin' what someone like you is doing in a place like this."

"Why? Is it a crime for me to be in here?"

"It should be. And what's with the whiskey? Shouldn't you be drinking a pina colada or something?"

"AJ, what are you on about?" asked one of Applejack's friends.

"Ah'm on about this guy being... one of them. By the way, Blitz, this is Goldrush and Dark Hoof."

"Oh he's one o' dem homosexuals, is he?" said Goldrush, face darkening. "Well, we all know what happens if one of their type thinks he can come in here, don't we?"

"Sure do," said Dark Hoof, standing up.

"Er, guys?" said both Applejack and Blitz at once.

"So, thought that just because you have a more manly drink we'd go easy on ya, huh?"

"I'm not even gay!" said Blitz, taking a step backwards.

"He's bisexual," said Applejack rolling his eyes, and taking a swig of his cider, "because that makes it all better."

The sheer indifference in Applejack's voice triggered something inside Blitz. Something had snapped inside him, broken.

There's no point holding back anymore.

"All of this, because I love one of my friends, AJ!" bellowed Blitz, not caring who heard, walking recklessly forward. "Is it worth it? All of this pain over who I am?!"

"If you weren't queer, there wouldn't be no problem," replied Applejack levelly, but standing up. "You're the one who's causing all of this."

"I've never heard such bullshit!" he shouted, astounded how anyone could be so stupid. "I just wanted to make Dusk happy! And he said no, which I suppose is- is fair enough. I came to you for support, and you turned your back on me when I needed you the most. You just spat on me and ground me into the fucking dust!" He was on the brink of tears. Applejack's face looked troubled. "Tell me how any of that is MY FUCKING FAULT?!" His voice cracked, and so did his head, as Goldrush aimed a blow at him.

Blitz stumbled to his side, and fell to the ground. He got up, looking shocked.

"What was that for?"

"What do you think, faggot?"

Goldrush tried to punch him again, but Blitz dodged. Unfortunately he didn't see Dark Hoof, and he got hit hard on the neck.

Blitz snarled in pain.

"You want to do this the hard way? We'll do this the hard way!"

He pounced and landed a punch on Goldrush's nose, then he dived and kicked Dark Hoof in the sides. The bartender was yelling for them to stop, but they didn't take any notice; the brawl continued, each taking and giving out nasty hits. Everyone, that is, except Applejack, who seemed conflicted.

"G-guys, stop," he said as he watched Blitz get hit hard on the muzzle, giving him a nosebleed, and he felt both satisfaction and pity at the same time. He didn't know what to do.

Rainbow Blitz put up a brave fight, but ultimately he was outnumbered two to one. They threw him hard onto the cold stone floor, and he yelped in pain as his head hit it.

"Give it up, girly boy, you're finished."

Blitz looked at them fearfully.

"Stop!" said Applejack again.

"What?" said three confused voices.

"Stop... let him go. I think he's learnt his lesson. I hope he's learnt his lesson."

"But AJ-"

"Stop."

"Urgh, come on Rush, let's get outta here, away from this scum."

Dark Hoof spat on Blitz's face before he left. The blue pegasus simply didn't care anymore, he just lay there, wheezing weakly as Applejack approached, expression neutral.

"Blitz, please tell me you're not still gonna be like this."

Rainbow chuckled feebly.

"You really think this is a choice don't you?"

"It is Blitz, you just can't see th-"

"No! You can't see it," he hissed. "I can't change who I am any more than I can change my coat or my wings. I can only hope you learn that one day."

"I-"

"I'm leaving. I'd had enough when Dusk rejected me, add all this on top- I-I just can't take any more."

He pulled himself to his battered and bruised hooves.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know, but anywhere away from ponies like you would be great."

"Whatever, see you around."

Blitz left without another word, slamming the door behind him.

Dusk Shine was leaning over a very dry and ancient tome, head in hoof and snoozing lightly. His mouth was hanging open, and drool slowly dripped over the manuscript, which at least made it less dry.

"Mmmrh, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he mumbled in his sleep. "I need time to think."

There was a knock at his bedroom door and he jerked awake, head slipping out of hoof, right cheek smacking the drooly page.

"Eww, that's disgusting! Just a minute!" he said blearily, getting to his hooves and trotting to the door.

He opened the door to see the benevolent face of Prince Solaris smiling down at him.

"Ah, good evening, Prince Solaris," said Dusk, becoming acutely aware of his untidy mane and damp cheek.

"Good evening my star student- Would you like a few minutes to 'freshen up'?" asked the Prince, giving him the once over.

"Yes please," said Dusk sheepishly, gesturing for Solaris to enter. "I won't be long," he said, closing his bathroom door.

The Prince chuckled and walked over to Dusk's writing desk. Seeing the small puddle of saliva, he laughed again, but reading some of the words behind it caused his brow to furrow. He looked at some of the other books.

"Pony Sexuality Through the Ages?" he muttered, "Oh Dusk, what have you been getting yourself into now?" He cast his gaze over a few others. "Don't Let the Fire Die? Honeyed Dreams? Both personal favourites of mine, it's good to see my student has good taste."

The door opened and Dusk emerged, mane straightened out and face clean. He saw the Prince looking over the books and he stopped dead.

"Prince Solaris, I can explain!"

"Please do," he said, "If you were using it for other reasons than intended, I am curious to know."

"Yes, well," said Dusk, heat rising to his face. "I-"

"Is this what you were writing to me about?" asked the Prince, stepping in to save Dusk the embarrassment of explaining himself. "From what I can gather, you seem to be experiencing some sort of crisis of identity?"

Dusk looked at the floor and nodded, unable to look the alicorn in the eye.

"Yes," he murmured.

"Concerning your sexuality?"

"Yes."

Solaris considered his student for a moment.

"Come, take a seat," he said, drawing up Dusk's desk chair and pushing it forwards so that Dusk fell into it. The Prince conjured another one out of the air with his magic. "Dusk, I have been your mentor ever since you were a foal, so I think it's fair to say I know you very well." He surveyed the unicorn with a penetrating stare. "And I can tell that something big has happened recently. You've never delved into these subjects before, and you seem very enthusiastic if those books are anything to go by!"

Dusk's cheeks turned pink.

"But that's all by the by," he continued, "what has happened? You don't have to tell me, but I feel that it would be in your best interests to share it with someone."

"I suppose I should... it's about Rainbow Blitz."

"Rainbow Blitz? What has that trouble maker been doing now?"

"He told me he liked me."

"Oh, I see... hmmm, and what was your response?"

"No, of course: I'm straight."

"But are you sure about that?"

"Increasingly no," he admitted, "if you'd asked me yesterday I would've said yes, but since this all began... I'm beginning to wonder."

"Do you ever remember sneaking a look at my rear end when you thought I wasn't looking?"

"What?" said Dusk, genuinely confused. "No, I don't."

"Interesting, because I certainly do. Perhaps you are in denial? It's quite a common occurrence you know: ponies, subdued by society, feel like they cannot be who they truly are for fear of retribution. Perhaps this is what's happening with you... I knew I should've given you more sex ed... Oh well. Dusk, I would love to help you more but this is something you must discover for yourself, if there is indeed anything to discover. It is your responsibility. By all means write to me if anything goes wrong, and also write to me if you discover a new lesson on either friendship or love, or maybe both."

"Thank you, I shall. Would you like anything before you go?"

"A ginger biscuit would be nice, then I must be off."

The Prince's visit had given Dusk a lot to think about, on top of the plethora of other things he already had to think about. Forging on with his studying, he read into psychology and began to lose track of time, and eventually concentration. As the night wore on, Dusk found himself slumping in his seat, and having to read sentences several times before he absorbed their meaning.

"This is so irritating!" he grumbled, reading a paragraph for the fourth time.

At last, it came to a point where Dusk had to admit defeat: he had burnt himself out for the day.

"Okay, I think that's enough for today."

He leaned back in his chair until he felt a satisfying sensation as his spine cracked. Standing up, he yawned and plodded across the dimly lit room to his bathroom. Turning on the shower, he climbed in, eyes unfocused as hot steam rose up around him. His mind may be exhausted, but that didn't stop thoughts bouncing around as he cleansed himself. Shower time was always important to Dusk, it was where he liked to do his deep and meaningful thinking. He threw his head back and the hot water splashed over his face.

What if Solaris is right? What if I am bisexual? Or even gay?
No, I know I'm not gay, I definitely do find mares attractive. Applejack's sister was always kinda cute...
Whoa boy, you're getting distracted, what about stallions? Are any of them attractive? Ooh, let's do an experiment!

He rallied through a list of his friends and picked out the few that came to mind.

Well, if I'm gonna have to do this... there's Butterscotch?

He felt weird just thinking it.

I mean he's ever so kind and caring, I imagine he would be a good coltfriend to have-

"By Solaris was I really just thinking that?"

He paused to gather his thoughts, water cascading over him before ploughing on.

There's also Elusive. There always would be, the mares go mad for him- he's sexy by anyone's standards. I can't imagine him being a good coltfriend though for some reason.
And finally there's...

"Rainbow Blitz."

Well, you get what you see with him: he's brash, he's in your face, he's strong, ambitious, talented. Quite the looker too, I suppose... and most importantly he's loyal. Oh so very loyal, he'd probably stick with me until the end...

Dusk gave his head a shake. He'd been in the shower for over fifteen minutes. He got out and dried himself off.
Getting into bed, he was still belting out new and exotic thoughts about stallions. His head hit the pillows, and he immediately fell asleep, his waking consciousness passing the torch of imagination to his dreams.

His Only Friend

Chasing Rainbows
by Gallifrey

Chapter Four
His Only Friend

"So you think that Blitz has a crush on Dusk?" asked a wide eyed Butterscotch, leaning forward in his armchair. They were in Berry's living room, eating cupcakes and drinking hot chocolate.

"Yeah!" said Berry excitedly, "I think that's what a pineapple tasting hoof means, that there's romantic tension between friends!"

"Aww, they'd be so cute together," said the pegasus happily.

"I agree, I'm gonna help them get together!"

"Do you think that's wise? I've heard it's better to let these things take their course."

"Aw come on, a little push here and there can't hurt."

"I dunno," he said, tracing his hoof in small circles.

"Eh, you do whatever you want Butters, do you want anything more to eat?"

"Oh, no thank you Berry. I really need to get back home to tell you the truth, Angelina will be grumpy if I don't make her a supper; you understand how it goes."

"Not really, but it sounds super important!"

They walked to the front door together.

"Thank you again for everything." said Butterscotch gently, "Keep me updated on how Dusk and Blitz get on won't you?"

"Okie dokie lokie, see ya later!"

He waved Butterscotch goodbye as he flew away.

Berry turned and was closing his door, when he heard an anguished cry and the clatter of bins falling over.

"Oh my? What's that?" he asked himself, going out to investigate.

Rainbow Blitz staggered around town, mildly drunk, and badly bruised. He was sick of everything. This day had been the worst of his life, hooves down. He had been rejected, betrayed, and beaten up, by simple virtue of who he was, and all had happened in the space of ten hours.
He was a broken stallion. He had lost everything he cared about so fast: his friends, his love interest, himself... he simply didn't care about anything anymore.
Slumping to the floor in a dark, narrow street next to some bins, he put his head in his hooves, curling up into a foetal position to protect himself from the cruel world; but that didn't keep the demons out of his own mind, or the pain out of his heart. It built and built until it reached an unbearable peak.

"Fuck everything!" he yelled, springing up and giving the bins a powerful kick with his hind legs, sending them flying. That, it turned out, was the last of the strength Blitz possessed, and he collapsed to the cold, damp ground, not for the first time that evening.
Silence descended, punctuated only by Blitz's ragged breathing, and then hoofsteps.

"Hello?"

Blitz remained silent. The hoofsteps drew closer.

"Is anypony down here?"

Hang on, thought Rainbow hazily.

"Berry," he croaked.

"Hello? Who is it?"

Berry cautiously approached the knocked over bins, it was difficult to see in the low light.

"Berry."

"Blitz, is that you?" he asked, pushing debris aside so as to get a good look at the downed stallion.

"Berry."

"Sweet Solaris, what happened to you?" Berry exclaimed, an uncharacteristic stab of fear colouring his voice as he looked at the beaten up pegasus.

"Help me," he pleaded.

Trying not to panic, Berry knelt down beside him.

"Hold tight Blitzy, this might hurt for a second."

He swooped underneath Blitz and rose with the speedster pegasus balanced precariously on his back. Berry wobbled his way back to his home. He tripped on the threshold as he entered, and pretty much fell up the stairs before he laid the pegasus gently on the bed. With a flick of a light switch, Berry's room was bathed in a warm golden glow.
The pink pony took a closer look at Blitz: he was in a bad way, bruises and cuts everywhere, dried blood smattered on his face, his eyes shut tight and body tense. Yet these outward injuries were nothing compared to the damage done inside the poor pegasus.

"Berry," he murmured, opening an eye and seeing the concerned face of Bubble Berry floating in and out of focus. "Dirty," he said slowly.

"Hang on! I know what to do for that! Be back in a minute!"

Blitz just lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. It was an unusual ceiling; it was plastered with pictures of all of Berry's friends. He saw himself in a fair number of them. There was even one of him, Dusk, and Applejack at a party together, all laughing jovially with their hooves round each other's shoulders.

Never again.

He tore his eyes away from it and Berry returned, with a soapy bowl and a cloth.

"This'll clean you right up!" he said cheerfully, sitting on the bed with him.

Blitz lay in a catatonic state, letting Berry tend to him. He cleaned all the blood and grime from the pegasus' coat, and apparently thought personal space was irrelevant, flanks and tummy were no exception from Berry's scouring mission.

"All better! That stuff should've healed the little cuts and scratches too. "

Blitz raised a hoof and looked at it. All minor injuries were indeed healed, big cuts and bruises remained however.

"Dirty," he repeated bleakly.

"No no no! Blitz, I just made you all squeaky clean!"

"Not outside... in here." He placed a weary hoof over his heart. "Applejack's right, I'm a disgrace."

"Applejack? Disgrace? What? How did you get like this anyway?"

So many questions... Can I trust him? How can I trust anyone anymore?

The earth pony took Blitz by surprise by holding one of Rainbow's hooves in his own.

"Blitzy, whatever has happened, you know that you can trust me," he said as though he had read the pegasus' mind.

Rainbow looked desperately into the electric blue eyes of his only friend. The only friend who hadn't betrayed him or cast him aside. His only friend in an unforgiving world.

"Oh Berry, they spat on me!" he wailed, not being able to rein in his emotions any longer, tears finally breaking the banks, and beginning to stream down his face. "They beat me up and spat on me!"

Ashamed of himself, and sobbing, he turned over and threw his face into a pillow.

Berry was in shock: he'd never seen his friend cry before, and was appalled that he had been treated that badly by anyone. He placed a tentative hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, but the pegasus shook him off.

"Who did this?!"

He didn't answer immediately.

"It w-was Applejack and two of his friends," came a muffled sob.

Berry couldn't believe it.

"AJ? AJ beat you?"

"Not exactly. He was worse."

"Worse than being beat up?"

"He betrayed me, insulted me, and made me feel like shit... and maybe I am..."

"Betrayed, insulted- I feel like there's some very important information being left out here."

Blitz steeled himself, preparing to have his heart broken by another friend turned enemy.

"I-I told Dusk- I told Dusk I like him... I'm bi."

"Oh! Now it all makes sense! Oh, that's terrible!"

"Y-you don't think I'm scum?" asked Blitz, getting up to look at Berry, cheek fur matted with tears.

"Why in Equestria would I think that?"

"Look what's happened! All because I went and told him! Why do I have to be like this? Why do I have to be different?"

"Don't you dare!" yelled Berry, face suddenly mere inches from the blue stallion's face.

This was so unexpected, Blitz was stunned into silence. Berry had both his forehooves planted firmly on the pegasus' shoulders.

"Don't you dare let them get to you like that!" he said fiercely.

"But-"

"No buts! This is who you are, and be proud of it! Why do you care what they think?"

"I-"

"Why do you care?" he demanded.

"I, um-"

"Exactly! You shouldn't! Let them be meany hatey ponies. You know you're in the right, there's nothing wrong with who you are Blitz: you are a good, kind hearted stallion who deserves happiness."

"So why am I so miserable?"

"Hey, it isn't over yet, but we'll sort this out, I promise. I'll even Berry promise, alright?"

Blitz felt tears welling up in his eyes again, but this time they were tears of gratitude.

"A-Alright."

"Now c'mere," said Berry gently, holding his hooves open, knowing that a big hug would do him good.

Blitz shuffled up the bed so he could hug his friend; it was a moment of bonding as they fell into each other's hooves. Berry slowly rocked back and forth, stroking Blitz's scratchy mane as he wept the rest of his pain out. The warm embrace was like sucking poison from a wound for the pegasus; and for the first time in longer than he cared to remember, he felt truly safe, secure, and loved.

"Thank you," Blitz whispered shakily, "you're such a good friend, Berry."

"I try," whispered Berry, grasping him tighter and closing his eyes, a single shimmering tear falling from his eyelashes into Rainbow's mane.

Once Blitz had calmed down, he broke the hug, and was surprised to see Berry wiping his eyes.

"You got me all crying too! How d'you feel?"

"Not great," Blitz said honestly, "but a lot better than I was, I'll give you that."

"Good. Well, not good, but sorta good- are you hungry?"

Now that Berry mentioned it, he felt famished.

"Actually, I could do with something to eat," he admitted, giving a weak grin, tummy rumbling right on cue.

"Okie dokie, just rest here, and I'll cook something up for you!" said Berry brightly.

"If that's okay, yes please. But please don't make it too-"

Berry had already left.

"Sweet," he finished lamely.

Blitz sighed and rolled over to his side, looking out of the window.
The window clearly possessed a sense of irony, because it offered an unobstructed view of Dusk's library.
Rainbow wondered what the unicorn was up to, a soft golden light was emanating from his bedroom, while the rest of the windows were shrouded in darkness.

Probably reading, or clopping, or both, knowing him...

He gave his head a little shake; thinking of Dusk just made him feel hollow inside. He got up, limping across the room and drawing the curtains. Flopping back onto the bed he snuggled under the blankets and just lay there, in a tangle of fabric and pegasus. Every time he moved his body ached, so he remained motionless, mind blank. He lost track of time, he lost track of everything.
After somewhere between five minutes and eternity, Berry returned, effortlessly balancing a tray on his head. He had heard Blitz's request after all and cooked him some steaming hot leek and potato soup, with a side of copiously buttered bread.

"Eat up, it'll make you feel better," he said quietly, nuzzling him, gently easing Rainbow out of his stupor.

Blitz pulled himself up as Berry placed the tray in front of him. He knew Berry was an accomplished chef but didn't think he was this good. The creamy soup warmed that dull aching void inside him, easily feeling ten times better.

Perhaps some of that emptiness was an empty stomach, he reflected as he wolfed down the rest of it.

Berry sat by the window, behind the curtains, looking out into the night while Blitz ate. Dusk's lights were all off now; the pink pony sighed and looked up to the heavens. Clouds were being gathered by the weather ponies who worked night shifts.

Looks like rain.

"Blitz?" he asked, pulling the curtain out of the way.

"Yeff?" Blitz's mouth was fit to bursting. He swallowed painfully. "Yes?"

Berry giggled.

"Would you like to stay here tonight? You're not really in a state to fly and it looks like rain."

"I'd like that," he replied, secretly wanting to be near a friend tonight.

"Cool, you can sleep in my bed and I'll sleep on the floor! It'll be like a slumber party!"

"I can't ask you to sleep on the floor Berry," he protested, "it's cold."

"No no no silly! I have an inflatable bed!" he said enthusiastically, pulling a bright pink deflated mattress out of nowhere. Berry inhaled, and expanded like a balloon as he drew an enormous breath. He put his mouth on the mattress and blew it up in a single go.

"Well, that was weird," concluded Blitz, finishing off the rest of the soup in one slurp.

Berry disappeared and reappeared a few seconds later, dragging blankets into the bedroom.

"You all done Blitz?"

"Yeah," he replied, wiping his mouth with a hoof and setting the tray on a bedside table.

"Okie doke!" Berry bubbled, switching off the lights and diving into his bed. "Goodnight Blitzy."

"G'night Berry," he yawned, much needed sleep creeping up on him. "And thanks."

"Hey, what are friends for?"

"Yeah," said Blitz, feeling warm inside, the first smile for a long while cast upon his features as he fell sound asleep.

Chasing Rainbows

Chasing Rainbows
by Gallifrey

Chapter Five
Chasing Rainbows

Dusk tossed and turned in his sleep, his subconscious gleefully presenting him with nightmares, taunting him, accusing him. His face screwed up in pain, the heartbroken face of his speedy pegasus friend kept rising, unbidden, into the forefront of his mind.

I'm sorry!

You're sorry? said the voice of Rainbow.

Oh Blitz, please don't go, I don't know what to do.

See you around.

The sound of the door shutting echoed horribly in his head.

Now he hates you, well done Dusk, snarled his nightmare.

What other choice did I have?

You could've discussed it with him. There was so much that was left unsaid, unanswered, unresolved.

I'm sorry.

You're sorry?

And so the cycle continued, over and over, until he jerked awake, bathed in cold sweat.

"Ew! Ewwww!"

He turned his quilt over to the non sweaty side and tried to get back to sleep, listening to the methodical ticking of his clock. He tried lying on his back, his sides, his belly, under the blankets, on top of the blankets, but to no avail, the clock kept him awake with its unceasing ticking. He was awake now, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Cursing, he sat up, looking at the offending timepiece.

Quarter to eight, he mused. Quarter to eight.

Dusk was being uncharacteristically immobile: he always awoke early and usually greeted the day with open hooves, but now he felt lacklustre and drained.

Please just let me go back to bed, he pleaded to his own brain. I feel awful.

His brain gave him a resounding no when all he succeeded in was waking up a little more.

"Fine," he grumbled, crawling out of bed. He punctured the silence with a yawn as he slouched across his room to open his curtains. The world greeted him with a damp, grey and rainy scene.

"What an appropriately beautiful day," he muttered, looking at the ominous rain clouds with foreboding. "Great, just great."

He turned around and saw the pile of books that lay patiently at his writing desk.

I know what I must do.

He began tidying up, putting each and every book back in its home.
He looked outside again and the rain was lashing down, the drops having races as they dripped down the glass.

Will it even work in the rain? Oh I'm sure it'll be fine, I'll just give it a bit more oomph than usual.

He made his way downstairs, determination etched upon his face.

Rainbow Blitz awoke after just a few short hours of disturbed sleep. He could see the faintest glow behind the curtains.

It's probably about half six.

He shifted his position and immediately cringed.

Of all places, why here?! Think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts!

After he had 'calmed down' he felt it safe to withdraw the covers and sneak quietly out of bed and across the room, past Berry, who was snoozing silently on the floor.
Upon reaching the living room, he found a scrap piece of paper and a battered quill.

Berry, he scrawled, thank you so much for helping me out and being there for me. And thanks for letting me stay too; I owe ya one. Don't worry about me, I've gone home and will be in touch with you soon, I just need some time alone right now.

See you soon,
Blitz

He snuck back upstairs and placed the scrap on Berry's bed, then he crept back out.
Once outside, Blitz looked to the sky.

"What an appropriately beautiful day," he grumbled.

As if in spite, the first heavy drops of rain began to fall, catching him right on the snout.

"Great, just great."

He unfurled his wings, gearing them into action, and shot into the sky.

This was a stupid idea, he concluded, beating his heavy wings.

With every flap they became increasingly waterlogged and they were burning in protest.

Not much further, he reassured his poor wings.

Soaked to the skin, and frozen to the bone, he persevered in the relentless rain. All was dark and grey, he was currently racing through a thunderhead; usually considered to be a move of pure insanity, but Blitz didn't much care anymore.
There was a blinding flash and a deafening explosion of sound as a bolt of lightning seared through the air. In a moment of terror, Blitz's heart leapt into his mouth.

This was a really stupid idea.

He was just beginning to wonder whether he'd make it out of the storm alive, or at least unbarbecued, when he saw his home gradually emerge from the sheets of driving rain. Putting on one final burst of speed, he made a beeline for the fluffy white island isolated in an angry sea of grey.

"Finally!"

Blitz landed hard, cloud absorbing the impact like a giant pillow. He made a break to his door and as good as dove into his hallway, dripping water everywhere.
It was times like this Blitz was glad his house was made of cloud, which soaked up the puddles he was making like blotting paper. He traipsed into his living room and inspected his reflection in a mirror.

"Looking good, dude," he said, observing the hair that was clinging to his sodden fur, and tilting his head to see if the slight bags under his eyes looked any better at different angles.

"No wonder Dusk turned me down if I look this bad sometimes," he said giving a half hearted chuckle. "Urgh, I need a lie down."

He clambered up his stairs and collapsed on his bed, burying his face. He lay like that for a time, until he became oxygen deprived and flipped over, staring through his ceiling into the void. Time dragged on, and Rainbow fell into a semi conscious daze, neither awake nor asleep, just staring upwards, into nothing.

Tap tap.

The bedroom was silent but for the relentless drumming of rain against the windows, accompanied by the occasional rumble of thunder.

Tap tap.

Blitz sighed.

Stupid rain, he thought, slowly returning to reality.

Tap tap.

That's not rain.

Tap tap tap tap.

"That's my door. But I never get visitors!"

Dusk glanced at the kitchen clock on his way out of the house. Eight o'clock.

Right, let's do this.

He trotted quietly into his back garden to the shed, where he kept his hot air balloon. With his magic he held it up and ignited the flame with a roar.
Dusk cringed at the noise and hoped he wasn't irritating anypony in the vicinity.
He hopped in as it began to rise and soon he was floating into the stormy sky.

Sweet Solaris, what am I doing? He asked himself as a gust of wind caused the basket to sway.

With his misgivings building and building, rain blowing in his face, basket rocking and thunder rumbling, the only reasonable course of action was to throw himself on the floor and put his hooves over his head.

I'm gonna die! He panicked, peaking through his forelegs You're an idiot, you know what happens ponies fly in thunderstorms!

There was a brilliant flash and a reverberating crack of thunder. Dusk's pupils shrank to pinpricks and he cowered in fear.

N-not far now- I think... he thought, stuttering even in his own mind.

Dusk put two trembling hooves on the edge of the wicker basket and pulled himself up. He scanned his surroundings, looking for some sign of his destination.

"Aha!" he cried triumphantly, spotting the fluffy white cloud house loom into view.

With his magic, he steered the balloon and landed gently outside Blitz's home, tethering it to the pegasus' letter box with the hope that it would be enough.
Butterflies suddenly erupted in his tummy as he approached the door and knocked gently.
He waited patiently for an answer, shifting his weight on his hooves, but none seemed to be forthcoming, so he knocked again.

The tension winding up inside the unicorn was growing, begging for release.

Will he hate me? Will he ask me to leave like I did him? Will it be awkward? Is he even in?

He knocked for a third time. He was getting progressively wetter the longer he stood there, his purple bangs hanging limp on his head and neck.

Once more for luck.

He knocked four times. There was a distant rumble of thunder. A sleepy and disgruntled pegasus opened the door. Blitz looked up and his expression immediately transformed to one of surprise.

"Dusk..." he said quietly.

"G-good morning Rainbow," he stammered, nerves getting the best of him, though he supposed it could seem like it was the cold.

"Hey," said Rainbow, scratching the back of his head, "what brings you up here?"

"I think we both know the answer to that," he said quietly, looking at the floor. "May I come in? I'm cold and wet."

"I noticed," said Blitz, who couldn't suppress a grin. "Come inside, I've got towels you can use."

"Thank you thank you thank you! You have no idea how horrible it is out there," said the unicorn, looking around curiously, he'd never been in a cloud house before.

"Oh, I think I do," Blitz said simply as he lead Dusk up his stairway.

"Oh?" His gaze stayed on Dusk, "you've been flying today?"

"Yes, actually," said Blitz, procuring some fluffy white towels from his fluffy white bathroom. "I flew home this morning."

"You flew home? From where?" asked Dusk, drying himself.

Blitz walked him into his bedroom, he wanted to lie down again.
Dusk followed him, and his first impression was how unusually tidy it seemed to be. The unicorn had always imagined that Rainbow was not a tidy nor organised pony, and although the latter was true, the former seemed otherwise. It was almost like his own room, except from the smell of freshly fallen rain and Blitz's own natural smell.

"From Berry's," he explained, flopping on his bed, keeping eye contact with Dusk.

"You were round Berry's then?"

"Yup."

"What were you doing there?" asked the unicorn puzzledly, it wasn't a threat.

"Well, um, nothing," said Blitz quickly, not wanting to tell Dusk the terrible truth of what had happened in the pub.

Dusk narrowed his eyes, he knew Blitz was hiding something, but he couldn't put his hoof on it, so he began jumping to conclusions.

He was at Berry's, and Blitz is bi, so maybe...

He was surprised by the sudden surge of jealousy that rose inside him.

What's happening to me?

"You were never a good liar Blitz," he said coolly.

The speedster pegasus exhaled deeply.

"Do you really wanna know?"

"Why? Is it something bad?"

"Do you wanna know?"

"Blitz, I-"

"Do ya?"

"Yes, I do!"

"You'll want to take a seat then," he sighed, sitting up and patting the bed.

"Blitz, has something happened between you and Berry?"

Blitz snorted.

"No! No, this is between me and AJ."

"AJ? What's he got to do with any of this?"

"A surprising amount," said Blitz darkly as he began recounting yesterday's events, taking note of how Dusk's eyes grew wider and wider the further he progressed.

"And then Berry found me in an alley, so he took me to his house and took care of me."

"I'm so sorry, Blitz! What Applejack did to you was despicable and unacceptable! I swear to Solaris I'm gonna go down there soon and give him a piece of my mind; I've been reading up on this stuff you know!"

Blitz couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh Dusk, that's one of the things I like about you, you have to research anything you don't understand don't you?"

"Yes, I do," the unicorn replied matter of factly, blushing slightly. "Doesn't it drive you insane, not knowing or understanding?"

"Eh, it doesn't bother me that much, I think it's just you dude. Anyway, what did you discover?"

"Well, I um-" Dusk's mind formed a rapid and hasty plan in the blink of an eye. "Um, come with me and I'll show you," he said vaguely, getting up and gesturing to the door.

"What? Where are we going?"

"I'm not sure to be honest. Wherever fate carries us."

Confused but intrigued, Blitz ventured outside with the unicorn to his hot air balloon, the rain had all but stopped now, and the air was calm.

"Would you like to go for a ride?" asked Dusk kindly, as he began untying the rope.

"I have wings, but yeah, I'd love to."

Dusk untied the great purple balloon and jumped in, ascending high into the sky.

"So, what are we doing?" asked Blitz as they entered the clouds, tiny water droplets condensed on everything.

"You'll see," said Dusk, noticing the sparkling condensation even on Blitz's eyelashes.

They burst through the clouds and into bright, welcoming sunshine; both stallion's jaws dropped at the sight they beheld.
Above the cloud line, dotted about, were small cumulus clouds, which were still raining lightly, but from these clouds spilled the most majestic rainbows the pair had ever seen, multiple arcs of spectral light shone all around them in a display of great beauty and form.

"Wow," said Dusk, finally breaking the stunned silence, "I did not expect that!"

Rainbow only stared at it, until his eyes drifted down to what in his opinion was even more beautiful, the humble, bookish unicorn stood before him.

"Dusk, will you tell me what we're doing here now, there's gotta be a reason."

Dusk tore his eyes from the scenery and sighed lightly, looking at the floor of the basket.

"Well, where to begin?"

Rainbow remained silent, patiently awaiting Dusk's answer.
Dusk took a deep steadying breath.

"After you left yesterday afternoon, I felt awful. I hated sending you away but I simply couldn't cope, and for that, I apologise." Blitz only nodded curtly, so Dusk continued. "I simply didn't understand how being gay or bi or whatever actually worked, so I did research."

"Of course you did," said Blitz with a small smile.

"I learnt about historical attitudes to homosexuality and I must say, I was appalled. Such acts of violence simply because of a lack of understanding and lack of desire to even try to understand make me feel physically sick with anger. Now you know why I always have a sort of base instinct to learn and comprehend?"

Rainbow nodded thoughtfully.

"Is that why I got so much shit off Applejack?"

"Exactly why."

"Interesting... That's not the end of it though is it?"

"Not by a long way, after learning the history, I attempted to understand it."

"And?"

"And I- I became conflicted," Dusk said sheepishly.

"What do you mean?" asked Blitz, brows furrowing.

"I mean, I read some more of Don't Let the Fire Die, and well, it was rather exciting."

Blitz made a gesture with a hoof that said 'of course.'

"But then, I decided to have a read of Honeyed Dreams-"

"I love that one!"

"Yes, well, I had a little read of that, and to be honest... I kinda like it."

Blitz's ears perked up at these words.

"What did you say?"

"I sort of liked it."

"Sooo... you're bi too now?"

"I'm still not sure, it's very difficult. All my life I've been straight, or, I thought I was... I don't know what's happening. Things are coming to light that I thought was irrelevant, like catching myself looking at other stallions, or apparently checking out the Prince himself when I lived in Canterlot!"

"Dusk..."

"I don't know who I am any more!" he fretted.

"Dusk."

"The Prince said I need to figure this out for myself, but I don't know how to!"

Blitz placed a hoof on the unicorn's mouth to shut him up.

"I think I know a way."

And without further ado, his pressed his lips to Dusk's.

Dusk's mind, which had been racing at a million miles an hour a second ago, now shut down entirely, drawing a blank as Rainbow kissed him, floating amongst the clouds, drifting through the skies, chasing rainbows. He stood frozen, unable to move a muscle, but eventually he tentatively returned the kiss as best he could.
Rainbow drew a hoof slowly through Dusk's mane, a move that the unicorn found surprisingly comforting and pleasurable.
Blitz pulled his head back, breaking the embrace.

"So, how was that?"

Dusk looked blankly at him for a second.

"That was... I- I liked it."

"There we go then, you're bi," said Blitz happily.

"I guess I am," said Dusk, still digesting the information.

"I do have one question, was that your first kiss?"

"Yes," Dusk whispered, cheeks going pink.

"You- you don't mind that I just kissed you do you?" he asked, fear replacing his euphoria.

"Not at all, Rainbow."

"Okay, that's cool."

"I do have one question though."

"Yes?" asked Rainbow fretfully.

"Can... can you do that again?"

Blitz's eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

"With pleasure!"

"Of all the things I expected to happen today, this was actually the last," said Rainbow Blitz contentedly.

The hot air balloon was descending, and Blitz had a Dusk Shine lying lazily against him, a small smile creasing his face as Blitz gently stroked his mane.
Eventually, the balloon came to land in Dusk's back garden with a bit of a bump.

"Are you hungry?" asked the unicorn, as he folded up the now deflated balloon.

"I thought you'd never ask," said Blitz, belly growling in affirmation.

"I'll take you out to dinner then, my treat, as an apology."

Blitz chuckled.

"Dusk, you have nothing to apologise for; though I have no issues with you paying," he said sticking his tongue out.

They trotted down Ponyville high street together, looking around.

"Where would you like to go?" asked Dusk.

"Um, not sure. I kinda want to say hi to Berry, so would it be okay to just grab a sandwich then get something from Sugar Cube Corner?"

"Yeah sure, if nothing else, it's easier on my bit balance," he joked, approaching a sandwich stall.

Munching on cheese salad sandwiches, the couple sauntered into Sugar Cube Corner.

"Goooood morning you two!" squealed Berry, bouncing up and down upon their arrival. "What can I do for ya?"

Jolted by a sudden burst of elation and generosity, Blitz decided to take charge.

"Berry, I'd like two Super Duper Berry Bubble Spectaculars please."

"Woooh, what's the special occasion?"

"Roll 'em up and we'll let you know!"

"Okie dokie lokie!"

Berry bounced off behind the counter, getting to work, and Dusk and Blitz took their seats at a table by the window.
Dusk turned his head and watched ponies go about their daily business outside. Blitz looked at Dusk, the unicorn seemed far more thoughtful than the situation called for.

"You alright Dusk?" he asked casually.

"I guess so," he replied, eyes following a certain blue grey pegasus as he went about his morning deliveries; his eyes then met Blitz's. "It's all just happened so fast, I-I feel almost lost."

Blitz's eyes widened. He hadn't considered Dusk's position at all. It was an easy choice for himself, he'd had feelings for the unicorn for years, and naturally had leapt at the chance to express those feelings. But for Dusk it was very different. For Dusk this was a monumental turn in his life, perhaps even on par with being told he was Solaris' personal student. Not only had Dusk just shared his first kiss with a pony, it was with a male pony, which the unicorn hadn't consciously considered before, both of which were life defining moments, and both had happened at the same time.

"Dusk, I'm sorry if you feel rushed by this," he said, leaning forwards, "I didn't think."

"No, it's not that," he said quietly. Blitz gave him a skeptical look. "Okay, maybe it is," he said, folding, with a small grin.

"Is there anything I can do?" asked Rainbow holding out a hoof.

"You talk like it's your fault," commented Dusk.

"It is though isn't it? I'm the one who started this all off," he said, ears flattening.

"Did you ask for me to visit you in my balloon this morning?"

"Good point, but still, can I do anything?"

"Not really... Unless you don't mind me taking the reins?"

"Not at all," he said ears perking back up.

"Do you promise?"

"I promise. Anyway, you don't mind Berry knowing do ya?"

Dusk looked over to the opposite side of the room, where Berry was busily preparing their food.

"No, I don't mind. I trust Berry."

"Trust him? What's that got to with it?"

"Well, think about it. Applejack isn't exactly happy with you at the moment is he?"

"That's one way of putting it."

"So he'll think the same of me won't he?"

"Oh shit yeah..."

"I'd rather keep this quiet for now, not because I'm ashamed of you or anything, but because I don't want to lose a friend."

"He's no friend," said the pegasus darkly.

The mood was suddenly brightened by the arrival of Berry, carrying two enormous glass bowls, each chocked full with ice cream from a whole pantheon of flavours. Lashings of chocolate and strawberry sauce were strewn over the ice cream, and to finish it off, crunchy wafers were jammed hither and thither on the top.

"Oh wow, this looks amazing, Berry!" said Blitz, all but drooling over the dessert before him.

"I know right?" he said, pulling up a chair and joining them. "So what's the special occasion?"

He looked at them, eyes glowing, already suspecting the answer.

"Come on Berry, you know why," teased Blitz.

"Has somepony got together with another somepony?" he asked with barely contained glee.

"Well duh," said Blitz flatly.

"Eeeee!" burst Berry, "I knew it! Oh I'm so happy for you both! My Berry sense was going haywire this morning, I tasted like all sorts of flavours, and only a doozy would do that!"

"Huh," commented Dusk, who still found the Berry sense an irritation.

"Now Berry," said Blitz seriously, "do you promise not to tell anypony? The last thing we need right now is AJ or any other dickhead to know about this right now."

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

"Awesome, now go and get a muffin or something and join us!"

After the little improv celebration, Dusk and Blitz were back to wandering Ponyville's streets together.

"Hey," said Dusk, breaking the contented silence that had fallen between them.

"Yeah?"

"D'you wanna come the library, to read together? We never finished that book yesterday did we?"

"An invitation by my coltfriend to read sexy books at his house? I am there!"

Dusk lead the way to the library, Blitz trotting eagerly at his side.

"Do you want something to drink?" asked Dusk kindly, after they had settled down in the tree house.

"Lemonade please, if you have any."

"I think I do, I'll find out."

Dusk walked to the kitchen and Blitz made himself comfortable on the unicorn's sofa, sinking into it. He closed his eyes and to a second to reflect on the roller coaster of emotions he had been through recently, not just his either, Dusk's feelings too.

"Ah, we do have some!" came Dusk's voice.

"Great!"

Yeah, it's been crazy alright, very crazy.

"Here you are," said the unicorn as he reentered the room.

"Thanks, Dusk."

The purple stallion joined him on the sofa, snuggling up to Blitz and nuzzling him affectionately.

"Where were we anyway?" asked Dusk, levitating the books over.

"Somewhere near the middle I think."

"Eh, we'll find it."

Once they had found their place, they began reading in synchrony, occasionally commenting or discussing certain points together. The times in between the talking were filled with calm serenity.
Blitz turned a page and started sniggering uncontrollably.

"What is it?" asked Dusk curiously.

Blitz said nothing but showed Dusk the page he was reading, still laughing. The unicorn's eyes widened as they scanned the page.

"Oh my..." said Dusk softly. "They're certainly amorous aren't they?"

"You can say that again!"

"Sweet Solaris, what's she doing?!" exclaimed the unicorn, "that can't be enjoyable."

"Oh it will be for him," snorted Blitz.

"This book's worse than I thought, why did Solaris put this in the library?"

"You know what he's like."

"What he's like?" asked Dusk, drawing a blank.

"Dusk, you seriously need to open your eyes sometimes."

"What?" asked the confused unicorn.

Blitz just looked at him in sympathy.

"You're so cute when you're clueless."

"That's a good thing right?"

"You tell me," said Blitz, putting down the book and pressing his lips to Dusk's.

The bookish stallion was taken by surprise, but was more than happy to return it. Blitz manoeuvred himself so that he was bearing down on the unicorn, kissing him passionately. Both of them lost themselves to the embrace, the real world melted around them, and Dusk felt himself melting under Blitz in the heat of the moment.

Knock knock.

As soon it had started, it was over. Rainbow broke the kiss, visibly irritated that they had been interrupted by whoever was knocking at the door.

"I wonder who it is?" grunted Dusk, extraditing himself from underneath Blitz.

Grumbling about poor timing and how 'typical' it was, Blitz got up.

"I won't be a minute," said Dusk to the pegasus as he left the room.

Blitz picked up the book and continued reading, but it slipped straight out of his hooves when he heard a southern twang float into the room from the door.

"Howdy, Dusk. How are y'all today?"

"Oh shit," muttered the pegasus, swiftly crossing the room to hide in a small broom cupboard. He deftly closed the door and nestled himself between a mop and some old rags.

"Oh, good afternoon AJ!" said Dusk brightly, "is there anything I can do for you?"

"It's more a case of is there anything I can do fer you? May ah come in?"

"Of course! Make yourself at home."

Through the tiny slats in the door, Blitz could see Applejack enter the room. A surge of anger pulsed through him, but he didn't move. Dusk followed, and he was wearing the most convincing fake smile he'd ever seen.

"Would you like a drink?" asked the unicorn politely, sitting in his armchair while Applejack took the sofa.

"Nah ah'm good thanks. Now, tell me, are y'all okay Dusk?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

"Because o' what happened yesterday. It must've been shocking for ya."

"I must say, I didn't expect it," said the unicorn honestly.

"Ah don't think any of us did sugar cube. He always seemed like a ladies man to me," said Applejack, shaking his head.

"Well, he still is, isn't he?"

Though he better not be while I'm with him, he thought.

"Of course he isn't! He's gay isn't he?"

"No, actually, h-he's bisex-"

"Confused then, whatever," said Applejack, waving a hoof.

Dusk sighed.

"He's not confused, AJ."

"And how d'ya know that?"

"Being bi is a thing you know."

"No it ain't."

"Yes, it is," he said firmly.

"Then how come they dun' know who to choose then?"

Dusk took a moment to ponder upon the extreme stupidity of this question.

"That's the definition," he said slowly, with the air of telling a foal that one plus one equals two, "a pony who is sexually attracted to both genders."

"Whatever, it's still not normal."

"Maybe not, in the literal sense of it deviating from the norm. But how is that in any way wrong?"

"You tell him Dusk," whispered Blitz from his hiding place.

"I just hate the thought of it."

"Right, I can work with this; what's your opinion on lesbians?"

"Oh, they're hot. "

"Are you actually being serious," Dusk deadpanned.

"What?"

"There are few things in this world that make me angry AJ, but double standards are one of them," he said dangerously.

"Lesbians are fine, I like them."

Dusk suddenly stood up, eyes now burning with anger.

"Okay. I was hoping we could talk this out with reason and logic, alas."

"And what's that supposed ta mean? You calling me stupid?"

"If this is gonna be your attitude, then yes! Yes I am! You are so incredibly dense and narrow minded that you actually believe the shit that's spewing out of your mouth!"

"Is it a crime to not like them?"

"No it's not, in the same way it's not a crime to dislike cider. But openly attacking ponies? Verbally and or physically? Directly or indirectly harming them because of who they are? Then it becomes a crime AJ, and I for one will not stand for it! Imagine if ponies ganged up on you just because you liked cider!"
Applejack suddenly looked very uneasy.
"Oh look, someone is beginning to see the big picture," Dusk growled.
The farmpony was looking anywhere but Dusk's eyes.
"Don't like homosexuality, AJ? If that's your opinion, fine, you can keep it," he hissed through clenched teeth, "But you keep it to yourself, and stop trying to force your harmful views on a harmless lifestyle choice. Perhaps now you realise that YOU are and always have been the problem, and YOU have caused direct harm to one of our friends. You betrayed him, you allowed him to be beaten up and worst of all, you broke his heart, just because he didn't conform to what you judge to be 'right.' Now that, that is sick."

"I-"

"Get out of my house," Dusk spat.

"But-"

"I said GET OUT!"

Applejack was about to argue, but decided not to as Dusk's eyes flashed.

He made for the door, and Blitz stuck his head out of the cupboard.
Applejack turned his head around, his face mottled with conflict, anguish, anger, and the traces of regret.

"What?" asked Blitz coldly.

"What's he doing here?"

"He's my coltfriend and is allowed round whenever he wants," said Dusk, as Blitz joined him at his side.

"Coltfrie-"

"Yup, and there's nothing you can do about it," said Dusk smugly, giving Blitz a swift kiss on the lips.

"So both of yers are like that now are ya?"

"If you're even thinking of trying to fight us, you're even more stupid than I imagined, and believe me, I don't think very much of you right now. And so help me if I didn't report you to the Prince, you're damn lucky I haven't already. Now, I'll say it again, get out of my house."

With one last desperate look, Applejack turned tail, and ran.
Blitz was stunned.

"Wow. You're sexy when you're mad."

"Oh shut up," said Dusk playfully, nudging the pegasus with a hoof.

Blitz spent the rest of the day at the library with Dusk, where they read, talked, and played games together.
It was late in the evening, and they were playing a game of snakes and ladders.

"Oh for pony's sake!" exclaimed Blitz as he landed on a snake for the third turn in a row. Dusk grinned with barely concealed amusement.

"You're just happy because I thrashed you at monopony and guess hoof."

"Well, it's nice for me to be winning for a change. I just need a four now," he said, shaking the die in a small cup. "And would you look at that," he said gloatingly as the four small dots stood resolutely upwards. "I win."

Rainbow pouted and knocked his counter over.

"Didn't wanna play anyway," he grumbled.

"Play nice," teased Dusk.

"I do! You wanna see me play rough?"

"I dunno," said the unicorn, lowering his eyelids suggestively, "maybe I do."

"What, really?" asked a surprised pegasus.

"Perhaps, though not now, it's much too early for that sort of stuff."

"You're right... When?" he asked, wings beginning to unfurl.

"Simmer down you, all in good time."

"Heh, sorry."

"No worries," he said, yawning widely.

"Naw, is it past Dusky's bedtime?"

The unicorn looked at the clock on the wall.

"As a matter of fact, it is," he said sleepily; Blitz just rolled his eyes.

"Okay, let's put you to bed."

As Dusk brushed his teeth, Blitz lay on the bed and was marvelling on how anypony could possibly go bed at nine o'clock in the evening. He shook his head and took in his surroundings. He had rarely been in Dusk's bedroom before, and never for this long. The first thing that struck Blitz was of course books. Books here, there, and everywhere. Second was parchment and quills. Third was the noticeable lack of Dusk Shine himself.

Come on dude, hurry up.

As if Dusk had read the pegasus' mind, the bathroom door opened to reaveal a purple stallion with a damp and tousled mane, steam spilling out behind him.

"Wow... you look great!"

"Thanks," said Dusk, blushing. The unicorn's horn then started glowing and Blitz was lifted up into the air.

"Hey!" Blitz protested, "What are you doing?"

"You can have a shower too, I'm not letting you in my bed if you're all sweaty."

"But I'm not! I'm actually not!" he said indignantly, sniffing his fur.

"Be that as it may, it's the principle, Blitz; now go have a shower."

"But I don't wanna!" he whined, flailing his limbs futilely in the air.

Dusk flew him into the bathroom, and shut the door.

Blitz tried opening the door, but it was locked.

"Aw c'mon Dusk!" he said, pawing at the door, to no avail. "Urgh, fine!"

He stomped grumpily to the shower and stepped inside.

Now how the hell do you work this thing?

As was always the case, if Rainbow tried to operate a shower that wasn't his own, he may as well have been in the dark.
He experimentally turned a knob, nothing happened. He turned another one, again, no effect.

"Dusk!" he called, still scrutinising the mysterious buttons and knobs in front if him. "How does this thing work?"

A magenta aura glowed around a big button with 'on/off' written on it.

"Oh... I'm so stupid," he mumbled, hitting the button. A blast of scalding water jetted out of the shower head, catching him on his flank.

"AARRGHH! Fuck!" he yelped, jumping out of the way and banging into the wall.

He fumbled at a knob that he hoped was the temperature control. He spun it counterclockwise, breathing a sigh of relief as the temperature came down, then began to swear and curse again as the water turned ice cold.
Meanwhile, Dusk was lying in his bed, grinning like an idiot as he heard a continuous string of profanities emenate from the bathroom. Eventually, the unicorn took pity and magically adjusted the controls to a more pleasant heat.
He picked up a book and began reading it, patiently waiting for Rainbow to finish.

Oh come on, it doesn't take this long to have a wash.

At last, Blitz emerged from the bathroom, wings ruffled and hair messy.

"What took you so long?" asked Dusk.

"Have you ever tried to wash wings before? It's a pain!" he said, sitting at the end of the bed and beginning to preen his powerful blue wings.
Dusk watched, fascinated, as Blitz expertly rearranged each feather with pinpoint precision. He'd never seen a pegasus perform this intimate act before.

"It's weird," said Dusk, more to himself than to Blitz.

"What is?" asked Blitz, mouth full of feathers.

"You doing that, you're so delicate, it's weird.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" teased the pegasus.

"You know exactly what it means," replied Dusk, sticking his tongue out.

"Oh yeah? Would a namby pamby pegasus do this?"

In a split second, Blitz had gone from the end of the bed, to being on top of Dusk, pinning him down.

"Okay, I didn't expect that," said the breathless unicorn from underneath him.

"Damn straight, the element of surprise, gotta keep it nice and sharp."

Dusk just rolled his eyes.

"Oh the things I could do to you right now," the pegasus continued slyly, voice dropping to a deeper, more sultry tone as he traced a hoof slowly over Dusk's chest.

"R-Rainbow," said Dusk nervously, "that all sounds very exciting, but you promised me-"

"I remember, I was just messin' with ya," said Blitz honestly.

"So you remember that I have the reins then?"

"Yeah, I- whoa!"

He was magically flipped over so that Dusk was now on top of him.

"Hey, no fair!"

"Shhhh," whispered Dusk as he pressed his lips to Blitz's.
Blitz's eyes fluttered shut and his wings fluttered outward.
"Let's see how well you straightened those wings," said Dusk slyly, running a hoof slowly and deliberately along the wing, from the base to the tip of his largest primary feather.

Pegasus wings were very sensitive appendages, they had to be to monitor tiny air currents as they flew. As such, there was a dense network of nerve endings running through each wing, and Dusk used this knowledge to his advantage, making the pegasus putty in his hooves.
Blitz shuddered and his eyes flew open as Dusk applied pressure to the very base of his left wing.
Eventually, the pegasus broke the kiss and simply looked into the kind and loving face of his coltfriend. Feeling a strong surge of happiness, he threw his hooves over the unicorn, bringing him into a crushing hug.

"Whoa!"

"I'm so happy to be here with you, here and now."

"Jeez, Blitz, when did you get so sappy?"

"I mean it."

"I know you do," said Dusk, leaning back and booping him on the snout. "I'm really happy too."

Dusk then dived under the covers, patting next to him in clear invitation. Like Blitz needed one. He followed suit, spending a few minutes getting comfy under the blankets.
Once he was cosy, he reached out with a tentative hoof to find Dusk, who reached back to hold it; then Dusk started scooting back, until his back was pressed against Rainbow's belly. Blitz could feel Dusk's heart beat astride his own, smell the sweet scent of his purple mane, and hear his slow, soft breathing.

"Goodnight, Dusk," Blitz whispered, leaning forward to kiss the purple unicorn on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Rainbow," he murmured back, returning it.

Blitz extended his hooves over the unicorn, hugging him close.
And there they lay, together, taking quiet comfort and joy in each other's company, as they drifted slowly and soundly, to sleep.

The End

Epilogue: All's Well That Ends Well

Chasing Rainbows
by Gallifrey

Epilogue
All's Well That Ends Well

My faithful student,

It has been a few months since we last corresponded, how fairs your delightful relationship with your pegasus friend, Rainbow Blitz? Still going strong I hope? If you need any advice, you know I'm always here, I perhaps know you better than anypony in the kingdom after all and have had past experience in these matters.

Your mentor and friend,
Solaris

Dusk read the letter slowly and drearily. It was early in the morning and had been rudely awoken by Spines poking him in the rump. After several false starts, Dusk eventually sat up and accepted the royal letter that was being presented to him. After reading the words, he gave his sleep addled brain a minute to digest the information.

"Experience in these matters? But that makes him sound like he's..." His mouth formed a perfect O as realisation dawned upon him. "Well, that's... to be expected really, thinking about it. I'll write back later."

He fell out of bed and stretched his limbs, his bones cracked and he hummed in satisfaction.

Along with falling out of bed he veritably fell down the stairs. His eyes glanced to his front door and he deviated from his date with destiny that was the fridge, to retrieve that day's copy of Equestria Daily. Upon picking it up, he saw there was another piece of mail awaiting his attention.

"But I never get other mail through that door," he said curiously, picking up the letter and trotting to his kitchen.
He took a few apples and some lettuce out of his fridge and sat himself in his living room, opening the letter as he munched on his breakfast. He unfurled it, flattening it out against his legs, it was written in a rather untidy scrawl, and at times was difficult for Dusk to read.

Dusk

This letter shouldn't ever have had to be written, but I ask of you to meet with me outside the town hall at midday today. I will explain everything when I see you.

Dusk turned the paper over, looking for any more information but that was all there was to it. Eyes furrowed, he chomped on his apple.

"Spines!" he called. "We're gonna have to do some serious rescheduling today!"

After miraculously managing to squeeze in most of his day's activities into five hours, he left his house, on his way to the town hall to meet with his mystery letter sender. He meandered his way through the bustling streets of Ponyville and arrived at the town hall with five minutes to spare. As he drew closer he saw a very familiar somepony.

"Blitz!" he cried happily, running up to him "it was you?" He suddenly felt fearful, the letter didn't have very promising tones if it were Blitz who had wrote it.

"Hey Dusky!" he said, nuzzling his coltfriend affectionately. "What are you talking about? Did you get one too? I thought you got drunk last night or something and wrote it to me. I was a little worried."

"Nope, wasn't me."

"Then who?"

"I think that might be our answer," said the unicorn, looking over the unicorn's shoulder. Blitz turned, and his eyes fell upon the last pony he expected to see. Applejack.

Ever since Dusk and Blitz got together and the conflict with Applejack just over five months previous, neither party had seen eye to eye with each other. Dusk was civil with the farm pony but rarely spoke to him anymore, whereas Blitz refused to speak to him at all. But now that all seemed about to change.

"Afternoon, Dusk- Blitz," he said, nodding curtly to each of them.

"What do you want?" Blitz growled.

Applejack paused, considering his words carefully.

"There's something ah want to talk about with y'all, if that's okay?"

Dusk nodded but Blitz was too busy glaring to answer. The unicorn nudged him lightly and Blitz turned his head, getting a blast of Dusk's best 'please?' eyes.

"Okay," he sighed.

"'Kay, Dusk, would it be alright for ya to teleport us to mah house? Ah don't wanna talk about this walkin' and I'm sure y'all don't wanna have an awkward walk back." He looked sheepish.

Dusk nodded again and his horn blazed; the next moment, they were outside the farmhouse of Sweet Apple Acres.

"What do you think this is about?" whispered Blitz as Applejack lead the way into the house.

"I'm not sure but a certain thought springs to mind..."

"Is there anything ah can get you?" he asked politely, opening a kitchen cupboard.

"Please stop this," said Blitz abruptly, "it's freakin' me out."

"What is?" asked a confused earth pony.

"This being nice business, it's weird."

"I'm not a bad pony, Blitz," he said, not quite meeting Blitz's eye and shutting the cupboard.

"Yeah, tell that to the scar I have on the back of my head, or even better, the scars inside," he snarled, unconsciously rubbing the back of his head where it had struck the floor when he was being beaten up.

Applejack closed his eyes slowly and sighed wearily.

"Ah got ya some biscuits, ah know you like biscuits, the both o' yers, please, take a seat, and ah'll explain."

He motioned to his living room, and they sat down in the squashy chairs it provided.
There was a moment of silence and Applejack took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking at the floor.

"What?" asked Blitz, not hearing him.

"Ah'm sorry," he said a little louder, looking him in the eye.

"What?" asked Blitz, now in disbelief.

"Ah'm sorry for what ah did to you, to both of yers. I-I've been a terrible friend, no, just a terrible pony, and I really regret everything I said and did to you both."

"Woah woah, what's brought this about?" asked Dusk, speaking directly to Applejack for the first time.

"Mah sister," said the cowpony evasively.

"What did she do, beat some sense into you?" said Blitz shortly.

"No, more of a uh, coming out..."

"What," both the unicorn and the pegasus deadpanned at the same time, meeting each others eyes and both blushing.

"But she-" began Dusk.

"Is so hot," concluded Blitz bluntly, vocalising what Dusk was thinking.

Dusk and Blitz we both well aware that they both thought Applejack's sister was very attractive.

"But does being a lesbian make her more hot or not?" questioned Blitz.

"Hmmm, lemme factor in the variables-"

"Do you quite mind?" asked Applejack, nose wrinkled.

"Ahem, sorry AJ," said Dusk, looking down.

"Thank you. As I was meaning to say, yes, she has come out as a lesbian, and that put the whole family on its head to tell the truth, grandpa nearly had a heart attack, and I didn't believe it mahself, it's been hard, but we have adjusted to it."

"What are you talking about? You were beyond reason when we tried to explain it to you," said Blitz. "You also had no issue with lesbians."

"Yeah, well, it's different when it's family ain't it? I finally decided to take a leaf out of Dusk's book, quite literally in fact; I started reading some books on the subject, add that with livin' with one, and well, you started to make sense. I was particularly shocked when she told me she'd been hiding this away for years an' years, living in fear with what ah and my grandpa would think of it. That cut me deep, that's when ah finally realised what ah had been doing, not just to her, but to you too. Ah may be straight, but ah think I understand y'all a lot better now."

"So you understand it's not a choice now?"

Applejack nodded.

"And that we don't deserve to be victimised?"

Nod.

"And that we are not hurting anyone with this lifestyle?"

"Aye. I still find the thought of two stallions a lil' weird, but I don't hate you no more, you're right, s'none o' my business."

"So," said Dusk, "how long have has it been since this rather spectacular u-turn?"

"'S'been a few weeks now, but it's taken me this long ter pony up and apologise to be honest. Ah really am sorry guys, I don't expect ya to forgive me, but at least you know ah'm sorry. I made a grave mistake, and feared I'd lost two good friends because of it."

Applejack looked up and met Dusk's gaze. The unicorn searched the bright green eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and regret. Dusk didn't say anything, he merely stood up and reared onto his hind legs, opening his hooves as an invitation to hug. The earth pony reciprocated, and they embraced each other.

"I'm sorry," the earth pony whispered, a single tear falling down his face, "I'm so sorry."

Dusk responded by hugging tighter.
Blitz looked on, still maintaining a faint air of skepticism.

"Come on Blitz," coaxed Dusk.

"I've suffered so much at his hooves" the pegasus said bluntly.

"But he's sorry."

"Yeah, I know, but... oh c'mere you idiot," he folded, all but jumping on Applejack. The trio fell to the floor, laughing. Applejack's sister walked into the room after hearing the commotion.

"You too now, AJ?" she teased in her southern drawl.

"No way, no how! But ah do have two of mah good friends back again, so call me gay if you wanna, j-jus' not in that way."

Blitz and Dusk fell about laughing, and the earth pony joined them heartily.

Dusk and Blitz were relaxing together in the late summer evening's warmth. Dusk's balcony faced westwards, which made it perfect for basking in the setting Sun's gentle rays.
Blitz spread one of his wings over Dusk's back and nuzzled him affectionately.

"You better write that letter," Blitz said, "the Sun's setting, you don't wanna be tardy now do you?" he teased.

"You're right, and shut up," he said, playfully batting him on the snout.

He levitated a scroll, quill and ink over.

Dear Prince Solaris,

Our relationship is as wonderful as it's ever been. Blitz is planning to sell his house so he can live with me! It's so exciting.
Anyway, today, we all learnt an important lesson in friendship, Applejack especially.
Today we learnt that if you take a little time to understand and learn about another pony's differences, you might surprise yourself in what you discover, and understanding is the first step towards enlightenment and acceptance.
If we all took a little time to see the world from another's opinion and put ourselves in their hooves, the world would undoubtedly be a better place for everyone.
I hope you are well.

Your faithful student,
Dusk Shine

"Add me too! Tell the Prince I said hi."

P.S Rainbow Blitz says hello.

"Thanks, you gonna send it now?"

Dusk looked up at his coltfriend. He looked simply gorgeous in the ruddy light of the setting Sun. The unicorn looked into his caring magenta eyes that were shot through with gold.

"I... I think it can wait," said Dusk huskily, his eyes half lidded. Blitz felt his heart beat step up a gear as the unicorn leaned towards him. Both stallions hummed as they pressed their lips together, and they sank into a deep and loving kiss under the dying light of the Sun, by the time they broke apart, the pale summer stars were starting to peak out from the abyss.

"I love you," murmured Blitz, stroking Dusk's purple bangs out of his eyes.

"I love you too," Dusk whispered. "With all my heart."

The End

Reshelving Day

Chasing Rainbows
by Gallifrey
Edited by Reevsie and Alex

Chapter One
Reshelving Day

A single, lonely cloud drifted lazily over Ponyville.
The morning springtime Sun shone down brightly over the town, basking it in its warmth. The trees were beginning to bloom their bright pink blossom, Applejack's orchards looked more like a vast swathe of cotton candy than a grove of trees, Butterscotch's animals were as active as ever, the birds singing their sweet tunes on the breeze and animals building nests and dens, Bubble Berry was selling plenty of ice cream at Sugar Cube Corner, and Elusive was designing a whole new fashion line for spring. The annual Winter Wrap Up was last week, and since then, the town's pegasi had been celebrating with back to back clear skies. Well, almost clear skies.

What the hell is that? Thought a certain blue pegasus from high, high above.

From his vantage point, some twelve thousand feet above the town, Rainbow Blitz could see next to all. He saw a small white smudge down below where lesser mortals dwelled.

If that's what I think it is...

He glided serenely to his right, looking down as he angled himself up, he fluttered around a bit, finding the precise position he desired.

"Let's fly," he whispered, and with that, he dived. Accelerating like a rocket, he shot towards the offending cloud spoiling his flawless sky. Blood coursed through his veins, fuelling his powerful flight muscles. He stretched himself to the edge of his prodigious ability, all the while getting faster and faster. The air streaming over his powder blue wings swelled to a roar around him and he started feeling a familiar sensation of resistance building up at the tips of his hooves, white hot sparks flickering around them.

Here we go!

There was a moment of eerie dead silence, followed by a mighty explosion as Blitz broke the sound barrier, a brilliant spectral ring of light burst into existence, expanding from the epicentre of pure coolness that was Rainbow Blitz.

Aw, yeah, I'm awesome! Maybe too awesome...

He flew through the cloud, dissolving it instantly, and now he could see the library that was hurtling toward him at roughly eight hundred miles an hour...

All the curtains were drawn, the sign on the door dictated a clear message, 'CLOSED.' and all dragons had been temporarily relocated. All was dark inside the library, except for a few flickering candles.

"No distractions," murmured a purple stallion, walking around the room, lighting more candles as he did so. "Today is too important."

Dusk Shine took up his position in the middle of the library floor, levitated all the books off the shelves, and let them fall to the ground.

"It's reshelving day!"

As one, they all rose again into orderly floating lines.

"Eternal," he muttered, looking at the first book, "you belong in 'inspirational stories.' Legend of the Silver Arrow, you go in 'fantasy,' The Tail of Draig, you go in 'poorly written.' Spellcasting Advan-

CRASH!

"Rainbow Blitz!"

"What?" asked the pegasus, who was upside down against a wall, covered in books.

"What? You crashed into my home. Again. I'm just glad you crashed when they were already on the floor I suppose."

"Yeah, well, I..." he said looking around as if to confirm this was indeed the library, "yeah, I guess I did. I was doing another trick and it didn't quite work..."

In truth, Blitz had intentionally set this up... again. He had aligned himself to fly through the cloud and straight into the library. As to his reasoning behind the apparent madness, he wanted to see Dusk Shine. Dear Solaris all he wanted to do was see Dusk Shine again. Ever since he had first met the introverted, bookish purple stallion two years ago, Blitz had always harboured a soft spot for him. That soft spot evolved into a crush as they shared adventures and experiences together over time, and recently it had blossomed into a full blown attraction.
Rainbow loved spending time with him, and the two had become extremely good friends, bonding particularly well when they had reading sessions together.
Nopony else knew that Blitz was bisexual, though he had known himself for about five years now. Some ponies certainly had suspected he might be on numerous occasions, but nobody knew for definite.
Rainbow's eyes were fixed on Dusk as he walked around the library, picking up books. The pegasus looked at his lips, they were moving, but Blitz wasn't listening, he was too entranced by the purple unicorn's form and physique. Dusk turned around to pick some books up, that's when Rainbow saw it.

Aw yeah, that's the stuff, he thought, pupils shrinking to pinpricks at that glorious purple plot.

His imagination started running away from him as he drifted farther and farther from reality.

"Blitz? Hey Blitzy, come back to me here," said Dusk, waving a hoof in front of his face.

"Huh?"

"One minute you were fine, then I turn around and your eyes had all glazed over, did you hurt your head in the crash?" he asked, looking concernedly into his friend's magenta eyes.

"Y-yeah! Just a little bit," said Blitz, thinking fast. He rubbed his head. "Oooh, yeah, that totally hurts. Owww..."

"I know a spell for headaches and migranes," said Dusk enthusiastically, "may I try it on you? I've been looking for a test subject."

"Test subject?" asked Blitz worriedly.

"Oh don't worry, it's completely harmless!"

"If you say so..."

All this just to avoid telling him... thought Blitz grumpily as Dusk's horn glowed with magic. His vision warped and he could taste strawberries, then it was gone.

"Did it work?" asked Dusk apprehensively.

"Yeah! I feel one hundred percent better!"

"Oh good! I'm glad to have helped."

"Yeah, thanks. Um, Dusky?"

"Mmmhmm?" said the unicorn, putting books back on the shelves.

"You know we haven't had a reading session together in a while?"

"You mean since Saturday?" Dusk chuckled.

"Yeah, you don't mind if we have another one today do you?"

"Of course not! I have a free afternoon today anyway, and I love them!"

"Awesome! Three sound good?"

"Three sounds perfect."

"Sweet, see ya later dude!"

And with that he sped out of a window, leaving a lingering rainbow trail as well as a happily humming Dusk Shine in his wake.

Oh yeah, you totally nailed that Blitz, you smooth talker.

He was zipping through the air over town, spinning around, looping loops, and diving spectacular dives, often all at the same time.

Not smooth enough to just tell him though are ya? Said an unpleasant little voice at the back of his head.

His flying suddenly lost all momentum and he slowed to a stop and hovered in the air, wrestling with his subconscious.

No. No, I'm not... and I'm not proud of it either...

Blitz found it almost funny. He never backed down from a challenge, he always charged at it with full force until he triumphed, be it performing, helping a friend out, or otherwise.

So why can't I tell one stupid stallion how I feel?

If there had been a wall nearby, he would have banged his head against it in frustration, he had to make do with face-hoofing instead.

It's not even difficult you dolt, he admonished himself. Just tell him! What's the worst that could happen? He says no. And then you get the fuck over it and move on.

So why am I still afraid?

He shook his head, as if in denial, to clear his thoughts.

Ugh, I can't think about this stuff on an empty stomach.

He looked down and zoomed to the ground, landing somewhat harder than he intended. He stumbled, and after a quick glance around to confirm nopony saw, he picked himself up and prowled the streets, looking for somewhere to eat.
His hooves lead him to Sugar Cube Corner.

"S'good enough for me."

A bell tinkled merrily as Blitz entered. The shop was fairly quiet, with just a few ponies dotted here and there. Blitz recognised a certain yellow stallion quietly enjoying a cup of tea a ways off.

"Hey, Scotch!" he called out.

He wished he hadn't. The poor pegasus started violently, diving under his table and knocking it over in the process, smashing his teapot all over the floor. Rainbow sighed and trudged over.

"Oh dear, oh my, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he said to nopony in particular, just uttering a stream of apologies to anyone who would listen.

"Gee, um, sorry Butterscotch, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Oh no, it's not your fault Rainbow, I shouldn't be such a scaredy pony. What's Berry gonna say about this?!"

"I'll tell ya what I'm gonna say!" burst out Bubble Berry from behind Butterscotch, causing the yellow stallion to fall over again in surprise.
"Oops, sorry Butter, anyway, it's no big deal you know, it was an accident."

"You should ask Dusk to strengthen up your teapots Berry," Blitz joked, pawing at the fragments of ceramic with a hoof.

"That's a good idea Blitzy!" Berry bubbled. "I normally just ask him to fix them for me but stopping them breaking at all is twice as better!"

"Yeah, I guess it was a good idea wasn't it?" said Blitz proudly.

"Sure was, is there anything I can get you?"

"In fact, there is. Could I have five blueberry doughnuts, a vanilla muffin and a chocolate milkshake please? Oh, and a pot of tea for Scotch."

"Okie dokie lokie! Woweee that's a lot, Blitz, what's the occasion?"

"Let's just say in gonna need it for later."

"Oh? You goin' somewhere?"

"No, but I'll need it."

"Hmmm," he said, considering Blitz carefully for a moment, then licking his left forehoof for no apparent reason. "Hmmm," he said again. He nodded to himself and meandered off, in the general direction of the shop counter.

Rainbow felt confused by Berry's strange behaviour, but shrugged it off. He looked down to see Butterscotch struggling to right the table, so he helped the shy pegasus pick it up and tidy the surrounding area.

"I never asked, how are you Rainbow?" asked Butterscotch as they took their seats. "I haven't seen you since last week."

"I'm good, I'm good," said Blitz, stretching his back. "How are you? Been up to much?"

The cyan stallion slumped back into his seat.

"I'm good too, Rainbow, thank you. I've been rather busy after Winter Wrap Up; I've been helping my friends build their homes, I've also been taking the annual census for each species, it's a lot of work." he yawned quietly. "Yes, a lot of work. What about you?"

"Just keeping the skies clear, being awesome, you know how it goes. I'm going Dusk's this afternoon to read with him."

"Is that a euphemism?" asked Butterscotch giggling.

Rainbow looked shocked. He never expected Butterscotch to say something like that. The yellow pegasus looked equally surprised and his cheeks turned red.

"I er- No! It's not! We just like to read together!"
And reading actually is all we do together...

"I'm sorry Rainbow, it's just that you go there at least three times a week, and it's always just you two, surely you can forgive me for wondering?"

"Of course I can, Scotch. Hell, I'd find it suspicious too!"

The yellow pegasus visibly sighed when it was clear he hadn't accidentally insulted his friend.

"Wheeee!" squealed Berry, falling from the air out of nowhere, bearing their orders. How he managed to do so they never found out.

"So that's tea for Butters, and milkshake and a lot of food for Blitz."

"Thanks Berry, how much do I owe ya?"

"It's on the house!"

"Berry, I can't do that," Butterscotch protested.

"Nuh uh, you are two really great friends, I insist!"

"That's good enough for me!" said Rainbow, wolfing down his doughnuts and milkshake; he left the muffin.

"Why are you leaving the muffin?" asked Butterscotch curiously.

"Oh this? I'm, um, saving it for later."

He never was a good liar, Butterscotch thought, watching Blitz look around shiftily.

Berry accompanied them to the door once they'd finished.

"Thanks for the free stuff Berry!" said Blitz happily. "I owe ya one!"

"Any time, Blitzy!"

"Yes thank you," agreed Butterscotch.

"I gotta be off to Dusk's, I'll catch you two later, see ya!"

And with that he sped off.

"Berry?"

"Mmmhmm?"

"I'm not the only one who's noticed that Blitz has been acting odd lately am I?"

"Nope, I've noticed too. Though I dunno what it is, my Berry sense gives me a hoof that tastes of pineapple, but I don't know what that means! D'you wanna come round mine and we can try and work it out?"

"I'm busy all day, but I can come round this evening if that's okay?"

"Awesome sauce, yeah that's fine."

"Okay, see you later!"

"Byeeeee!"

Knock knock knock knock.

"Hello?" Rainbow called, looking at the big 'CLOSED' sign on Dusk Shine's front door with puzzlement. He tried looking in through the windows, around the house but they were all curtained up. He fluttered to the ground and was about to knock again when the door opened.

"Ah, good afternoon, Blitz!" he said cheerfully, welcoming the pegasus into his home.

"Hey Dusky, why were all your curtains drawn? Were you cracking one off or something?"

Dusk blushed a deep red.

"Heh, n-no I wasn't," he said, looking at anything other than Rainbow. "I was reshelving my library, remember?"

"Huh? Oh yeah! Totally didn't forget that."

"You featherbrain!" said Dusk, laughing.

"You don't have to tell me that," said Blitz, joining in. "Did you finish?"

"Literally a minute ago, now, please don't crash here any time soon?" he implored, giving his best puppy dog eyes.

How can I disagree with that face?

"I promise."

"Yay! Also, what's in the bag?" he asked.

"Oh, this bag? It's for you."

"For me? Ooh, what is it?"

Blitz handed him the bag and Dusk levitated the vanilla muffin from inside it.

"Aw, thanks Rainbow! How did you know these were my favourite?"

"You mentioned it a few weeks ago"

"I did? Perhaps your memory isn't all that bad after all," he chuckled, "Now what do you want to read?"

"I chose last week, you can choose."

"Well... I kinda wanna read this, only if you want to of course," he said meekly, holding up a book called Don't Let the Fire Die.

"What's it about?"

"Well, ah, it's... how to describe it? It's more adult fiction."

"So not a kid's book?"

"Not at all. It has mature content."

"So... not a kid's book?"

"Oh for pony's sake- there's clop scenes!"

"Oh really?" he said, interest piqued all of a sudden.

Dusk rolled his eyes.

Mention sex and he's immediately interested, typical, thought Dusk, inwardly grinning.

"Is it fairly early in?" asked Blitz hopefully.

"I don't know, shall we find out?"

Dusk and Rainbow were sitting together on a large, comfy sofa, the unicorn was leaning against the pegasus' side. Blitz felt his mane tickling his sides. Dusk snorted while taking a drink of cocoa, and he giggled.

"Whoa pony boy, be careful with that!" said a semi-alarmed Blitz, looking at the scalding liquid that was threatening to spill. "Did you just read the bit where she pats his ass before his tennis tournament?"

"How did you know?"

"Call me psychic. Nah, I thought it was pretty funny as well."

They both chuckled and continued reading.

"When do you think he'll get her?" asked Rainbow.

"I haven't the slightest idea Blitz, I have no experience in these matters."

"Urgh, I know," he said, turning a page, "I really need to get you laid."

"Hmmm," said Dusk, the double implication sailing over his head.

A few minutes of silence and then:

"Oh yeah, here we go," said Rainbow, eyes twinkling.

"Clop?"

"Hell yeah."

"...What page?"

"Er, seventy six."

"I'm on seventy four, I'll be there in a minute."

"Seventy four?" He flicked back. "You mean where he's flirting like a motherbucker with her?"

"Oh, was that what he was doing?"

"Dusk. You're hopeless," said Blitz, playfully punching him with a hoof.

"Am not," he said, returning it.

"You can't even see flirting when it's right under your nose!"

He grabbed one of Dusk's hooves.

"Well, I suppose not," he admitted, pushing both of the pegasus' forehooves down. "Doesn't mean I never will though."

"Perhaps you're right, then again, perhaps I'm right."

They descended into play wrestling with each other, laughing all the while. Rainbow's mind went into overdrive, all this physical contact, it sent his heart pounding. He made the most of these short precious seconds, the only time he thought he'd ever spend this intimately with the purple unicorn. It was bitter-sweet for him, he was grateful to be doing this, but disappointed at how unfairly short it had to be. As soon as it had started, it was all over.
They lay on the floor together, panting and breaking out into laughter. Blitz looked at his wings and his rapid heartbeat suddenly stopped dead, they were flared out in an unmistakeable-

"Wingboner?" asked Dusk curiously sitting up, looking at his wings of betrayal.

"I- um- I-It's from the book," said Blitz, sitting up too.

Dusk's eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure? You don't seem very sure."

He said this completely neutrally, and Blitz couldn't quite tell whether he knew the truth or not.

It's time to bite the bullet, Blitz.

He took a deep, shuddering breath, heart racing yet again

"N-no, you're right it's not- the book."

"You don't need to be embarrassed Blitz, embarrassment isn't very 'you.' It's perfectly natural, just be glad there's no other... physiological changes."

Blitz took a swift glance between his legs and was very thankful that he wasn't on show.

"You haven't got a mare on your mind have you? Is it Applejack's sister? She's such a pretty girl..."

"No!" Blitz shouted abruptly, disliking Dusk's admiration for Applejack's sister, no matter how hot she was. "No. It's not a mare, quite the opposite in fact..."

"A stallion?" asked Dusk quietly.

A painful lump formed in Rainbow's throat as he nodded. Dusk's face turned from a look of curiosity to one of shock.

"Y-you're gay, Blitz?"

He shook his head.

"Wait, I'm confused."

"Bisexual," he croaked finally.

"Sooo..."

"I like guys and girls you dolt," he snapped. He was tense, and stressed right now. "Sorry."

"No it's just, I didn't really expect you to be..."

For such a clever guy, he can be so stupid.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you always seemed so tough, manly, athletic, always flirting with the girls and stuff you know. More so than me... it's just me, my books and my friends, mares scare me a bit to tell the truth," he said, looking down and pawing the ground.

"I don't blame ya."

"But I still find them attractive."

"So do I!"

"I know but it's..."

"What Dusk? It's what?" he demanded.

"I dunno... it's all a lot to take in. You never said who the stallion was."

Though now he had a strong suspicion of who it might be.

"Well it's- um..." Blitz faltered.

"It's me isn't it?" murmured Dusk.

Blitz closed his eyes and slowly nodded. When there was nothing but dead silence, he opened his eyes to see a Dusk Shine who looked like he simply didn't know what to do. Rainbow felt his heart sink like lead, and a cold, empty feeling spread from where it once was. His throat tightened painfully.

"I guess," he began, each word requiring a lot of effort. "I guess you're not feeling the same way then?" He gave a hollow laugh.

"No, no I'm not."

Dusk looked at the pegasus intently, and Rainbow got the impression that the unicorn was searching for some small detail about him. He was just relieved that Dusk showed absolutely no signs of revulsion or anger, which was the worst case scenario; he merely seemed confused, as though he was trying to understand something that was almost beyond his reach. He also appeared shocked at the bombshell that had been dropped, and last but not least, was that curiosity? It was the kind of curious glint Dusk got when he saw something he could study and investigate.

"Why?" Dusk asked simply, while dealing with the turmoil of emotions churning inside him.

"Why what?" asked Blitz sharply. He was in no mood for vague questions right now.

"Why... me?"

"Do you really wanna know?"

"Yes, I do."

Blitz looked desperately around the room, in a vain hope that somepony would come and save him, or that this was all a horrible dream. His gaze finally lay upon Dusk. His mouth, that so often burst into the smile that Rainbow loved so dearly, was now an impassive line. He looked into his eyes, those beautiful purple eyes...

"Well, where to begin?"

Dusk remained silent, patiently awaiting Rainbow's answer.
Rainbow took a deep steadying breath.

If I'm gonna get all gushy and emotional, let's get it over with quickly.

"I suppose, mainly, it's who you are, Dusk. Everything about you. Your cleverness is quite a turn on you know, not just for me either, but for a lot of mares in town. I really don't think you realise how attractive you are. You're the sweetest, most endearing pony I've ever met. You're very kind and caring, you'll always find time to help me out if I have a problem, and it's not like you can afford to waste time like that with a life as busy as yours. I don't know how you do it. Also, you know, looking physically attractive helps too, and in all honesty, I've never met a more handsome stallion... All I want is-" Blitz choked up in his outpouring. He extended his forehooves and tentatively took one of the unicorn's and gently held it. "All I want is to make you happy Dusk," he managed to force out. "That's all I've wanted ever since I laid eyes on you."

Blitz felt the hollow emptiness inside him become a lot more painful as Dusk pulled his hoof out of his grasp.

"Blitz... I-I need some time alone..."

"You want me to just leave after all that?" said Blitz, flaring up again. "That wasn't even scratching the surface Dusk!"

"Be that as it may, I just can't take any more of this today. Please, just go."

Rainbow didn't think it was possible to feel more hurt than he did, and was instantly proved wrong.

"If that's how you want to be," he said, dragging leaden hooves to the door, voice devoid of emotion, becoming a flat monotone.

"Blitz," said Dusk quietly, as the pegasus reached for the door. He paused with a hoof on the door and slowly turned to look at the unicorn. "I'm sorry," Dusk whispered.

"You're sorry? You have no idea. See you around."

And with that, Rainbow left, shutting the door somewhat harder than he would usually have done. He left behind a deafening silence in the library. A silence only broken by Dusk Shine as he began to sniffle.