Three Seasons

Chapters

Working Together
Hard Head, Soft Heart
A Chance of Clouds
End of the Season
Act 2, Season 2, Practice Date
A Tour
Wish Come True
A Bad Idea
Fragile Wings
Hearts and Wings
School Rumor
Flying into a Tree
Fighting for Love
Together, Still Broken
Bruised Heart
Therapeutic Stargazing
Gameday
Act 3, Post Season 2, Surpise Engagement
Meant For Each Other?
Act 1, Season 1, Your Hero, Rainbow Dash.
Caregiver's Cottage

Working Together

It was an unlucky day for Dash at the Speedsters' next game. The worst play happened late in the game on third down while they were trailing. A shuffle pass to Dash, who found she had Derpy as an open blocker.

'Aw yeah, time to take this one to the house.' Dash thought racing forward for what she believed would be an easy score. She was shocked when she got slammed down from her side at the line of scrimmage. 'What?! But there was no pony there! Except . . .' Dash was in disbelief when she looked up to see it had been Derpy who had tackled her. "Derpy! What the hay?!"

"Oh, sorry Rainbow. I didn't know it was you." Derpy apologized offering her a hoof up.

"Really?! Will next time I have the ball, do me a huge favor and block on the other side of the field!" Dash shouted furiously, knocking her hoof aside.

"Will do!" Derpy said eagerly with a smile, seemingly ignorant about Dash's anger toward her.

"So stupid." Dash muttered under her breath frustrated as she marched to the sideline to make way for the punting unit.

* * *

"It's ridiculous is what it is! We're doing all we can and the rest of the team is basically against us. We had this nice little winning streak going on. We could be unstoppable, and then boom! You remember the rest of your team sucks." Dash complained fed up after the game in the locker room.

"Next time Derpy or anypony else gets in your way just knock 'em down. Put them in their place." Gilda suggested which got a laugh out of Dash.

"Next game, we'll get back on track." Dash said confidently and she got up from the bench.

"Yeah, let's bail. I'm tired of talking about these losers." Gilda got up and joined Dash as they exited the locker room and into the main halls. "Hey look, it's your mare friend again." Gilda teased, pointing out Rarity who was waiting a little ways away.

"Aw great. Gilda, you mind going on without me?" Dash asked wanting to avoid being embarrassed in front of her.

"Ha, alright then, catch you later Dash." Gilda flew away as Dash trotted up to Rarity.

"There you are darling. I was looking for you and they said I would find you here. I just had to thank you for the tickets and these passes. It was quite the game you played today." Rarity said cheerfully.

"Yeah right, I lost. Thanks to a completely useless team." Dash rolled her eyes.

"Pardon me?" Rarity was taken aback by Dash acting so different from last week.

"You saw the game right? I put in all this effort and the rest of the team does nothing. They make winning so difficult."

"That's not true. They were out there trying their best every single play."

"Please, I got tackled by my own teammate, it would've been better if it were just me and Gilda out there." Dash scoffed.

"Against eleven defenders?" Rarity asked pointing out the obvious flaw in her logic.

" . . . well, no. I would want the rest of the team there." Dash admitted.

"You may be the best player on the team, but Rainbow dear, you need the support of your team just as they need yours." Rarity told her.

"I- . . ." Dash realized she had been an awful teammate. Her team always encouraged her and cheered her on. All she ever gave back were insults or she would ignore them. "Aw Celestia, Rarity how did you get so hoofball smart?" Dash deflated.

"I really don't understand that much about the game, but I can see the pony you really are with how you treated me. That's the pony you need to be for them too." Rarity smiled, putting a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

Dash looked up to her and returned the smile. "Thanks for the advice. Though why try to help me with the matter in the first place?"

"Because we are friends." Rarity answered.

"We're friends?" Dash asked confused that she felt that way after meeting her only once before.

Rarity shook her head at Dash's unintentional rudeness. "Well I like to think so, I do enjoy spending time with you."

"You seem cool too. Besides taking an interest in hoofball, what else do you do?" Dash asked curiously.

"Oh, I'm all about fashion. In fact, I could sew you a dress if you'd like. It's the least I could do to repay you for your kindness." Rarity got excited as she thought about what Dash would look good in.

"Please don't. No offense to your crafting skills, but I'm not the dress type of mare."

"Oh . . . I understand." Rarity became disappointed at the news. "I could make you anything else if you'd like."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again for the advice. I'm sure it'll help things out a lot." Dash said trying to cheer her up.

"Oh, I'm sure it will. I'll see it too since my father got season tickets to go with those passes you gave us."

They shared a smile at that. Dash gave her a little awkward hug before they parted ways on that high note.

* * *

The next game was a wild success for the Junior Speedsters. Any play when Dash didn't get the ball she still helped out in the play by throwing blocks and distracting defenders with deep or crossing routes that pulled in extra defenders that feared giving up yet another big play to the star player. At the game's end Dash formed a group huddle with her team that Gilda wordlessly refused to join.

"Killer game guys. Misty Dawn, I didn't see a single defender get past you. Derpy, great job staying involved in every play. You keep getting open like that Sunbeam and our passing game will be unstoppable." Dash praised, turning to each one as she named them.

"Aw thanks, Rainbow, but it's nothing compared to your playing." Sunbeam said with a goofy smile.

"Yeah Dash, with you out there not only are we certain to make the playoffs, but we're going to be championship bound for sure!" Misty Dawn exclaimed and they all cheered in agreement, even at a distance Gilda could be spotted smirking at that.

"Alright team, I'd love to stay and celebrate, but I gotta go do something real quick. See you all at next practice!" Dash called out as she quickly fetched a poster from the bench on the sideline, before scanning the crowd the had largely already made for the exits. Finding her target who hadn't left her seat yet, Dash flew over and landed in a seat directly one row ahead of her. She took a seat in it facing backward as to see her. "Sup?" Dash greeted coolly.

"Oh, why hello there Rainbow. We were just talking about you. Seems like you really took my advice to heart, am I right?" Rarity asked, pleasantly surprised at Dash's sudden appearance.

"Yep. Say, you still willing to sew me something?" Dash inquired, getting straight to business.

"But of course." Rarity nodded.

"Could you make me one of these?" Dash showed Rarity the poster which she, in turn, took into her magic.

"A Wonderbolts' flight suit?" Rarity made an educated guess seeing as it was a Wonderbolt poster.

Dash nodded hoping that she could, and would, do it.

"Very well . . . I shall see what I can do." Rarity said confidently as she gave the poster back. Even though she had never made a flight suit before, she would try her best for Dash's sake.

"Aw, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Dash hugged her tightly.

"Just be sure to stop by my house so I can get your measurements." Rarity said hugging Dash in return, while Hondo snapped out of the shock that his daughter had befriended and helped such a talented hoofball player.

* * *

'Well, this is quite the place.' Dash thought as she waited outside Rarity's house after knocking. It was quite sizeable and had a nice little pond in the back. Still, it all fit in just fine in the quaint little town of Ponyville. Dash began to worry she had the wrong house.

"Oh, why hello Rainbow Dash. I'm Cookie Crumbles, Rarity's mother. Come on in. Rarity's up in her room." Cookie greeted upon opening the door.

"R-right, thank you." Dash nervously stepped inside. Looking around, Dash found the layout and decorations somewhat odd. It was a mix of fancy and homey that somehow worked out to feel welcoming. She didn't think that Rarity came from a rich family, seeing as neither Hondo nor Cookie dressed or acted like it. Only Rarity did.

"Up the stairs and it the first door on your right." Cookie directed her.

Dash nodded and hovered gently up the stairs. 'Why am I nervous? Is it because I don't what she's going to need me to do or because I'm going to see her again?' The second thought struck her as odd, for why would she be nervous about seeing a friend again?

"Rarity! Your friend Dashie is here!" Cookie called out.

'Dashie?' Dash paused at the top of the stairs to questioned the nickname in her head. The sound of a door opening caught her attention and she turned to see Rarity stepping out from her room.

"Rainbow Dash! What wonderful timing. I have everything ready to start working. Come on in darling." Rarity waved a hoof eagerly.

"Okay." Dash mumbled, but hurried forward, excited to get started. Once inside the room, Dash froze in awe. From floor to ceiling, Rarity's bedroom was a mess of fashion; fabrics on the floor, spools of thread on dressers, and pictures, cutouts, and drawings of dresses of all sorts covered the walls. "You sure do love fashion." Dash whistled, impressed by both the devotion and the mess.

"Yes, I do. I dream to one day be the top fashion designer in Cantorlot. Ah-hmm. Sorry about the mess by the way. I didn't know when you'd be over today and I hadn't gotten around to tidying up yet. Oh well, I'm glad you're here now. Shall we get started?" Rarity asked pulling out her tape measure as well as a quill and notepad with her magic.

"Oh . . . uh, sure I guess." Dash answered unsure of what she should do.

"Stand still now." Rarity said extending the tape measure starting at Dash's neck. "Wings in please." She added.

Dash moved wings about a little guessing at what Rarity wanted.

"Fold your wings closed." Rarity clarified guiding her wings into position.

'Duh, of course.' Dash told herself how stupid she was in her head. After a moment she noticed Rarity scribbling something down on her notepad and turned to try and read it.

"I'm not finished yet Dashie. Keep holding still, I'll let you know when I'm done."

"Dashie?" Dash got to ask aloud this time.

"Oh, uh . . . it's a nickname my mother gave you after I told her about you." Rarity blushed at her slip of the tongue. "You don't mind it do you?" Rarity asked as she went back to taking measurements.

"N-no, it's cool." Dash fumbled with her words, finding it awkward to have somepony moving about her body, seemingly inspecting and judging her by her looks. "So is your family rich or something?" Dash asked to distract herself from it.

Rarity smacked Dash's shoulder.

"Ow."

"What a question to ask a mare. Don't you have any manner?" Rarity asked indigently.

"Sorry! I was just curious. You have such a nice place." Dash apologized, shaking off the hit that hadn't really hurt.

"Thank you, and if you must know my father was a professional hoofball player. He's retired now, spends most of his time traveling with mother. Though that has slowed down since they had Sweetie Belle." Rarity informed her as she carried on her work.

"Really? Who did he play for?" Dash asked.

"The Manehatten Magic. He was their center."

"So both our dad's played hoofball."

"Oh? Who did your father play for?" Rarity asked intrigued.

"The . . . uh, . . . Speedsters." Dash muttered bashfully.

"The school team?" Rarity asked confused.

"No, that's the Junior Speedsters. The Speedsters are Cloudsdale's minor league team." Dash corrected.

"Did he go to a . . . a. Oh my, How do I put it?" Rarity pondered.

"No, he never made it to the majors. Not for lack of trying though." Dash answered the question she was trying to ask.

"Oh, well there's no shame in that." Rarity said walking over to a dresser and setting her quill and notepad down.

"No, there isn't. I think it's pretty cool." Dash agreed, happy that she wasn't being made fun of for her father never going pro for once.

"You can move now, by the way, I finished." Rarity said measuring out the fabric. "You know, we should get our dads together to talk about their playing days.

"Yeah, I'm sure my dad will love that." Dash flew over to hover over her shoulder.

Rarity glanced back to find her right there. "So, you are a big Wonderbolts fan?" She asked what was obvious.

"The biggest! And one day I'm going to be the greatest Wonderbolt ever!" Dash boasted, twisting and doing loops in flight around the room.

Rarity watched her. "I'm sure you will be, you are quite the flyer."

Dash paused at that. "You really think so? I-I mean I train super hard, no one at flight school is as good as me." Dash said returning to her smug mood.

"Yes, well it'll be a while before I'll need you to try it on, I doubt I'll finish it today. So if you don't want to stay I'll understand." Rarity informed her.

"Aw, really? . . . I don't really have anything else to do. So I could chill with you if that's alright." Dash leaned against the dresser she was working at.

"I wouldn't mind the company." Rarity tried to focus on her work but could feel Dash's stare and returned it.

"What?" Dash asked when she stopped working.

"Darling, a little space please." Rarity requested.

"Right, sorry." Dash flew back and settled onto Rarity's bed, tucking her hooves under herself. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you." Rarity said turning back to the task at hoof.

They chatted a while longer, but after that Dash watched her work in silence as they simply enjoyed each other's company. As evening came Rarity turned her sewing machine off and stifled a yawn. 'I think it's coming along well. You can come over to look if you want, then we should head downstairs as supper should be ready soon." A snore was the only reply she got. Turning around she saw Dash had curled up and fallen asleep. 'She looks so cute, though I could do without the snoring.' She thought trotting over to her bed. She gently places a hoof on Dash's shoulder. "Rainbow, wake up." She spoke softly, not wanting to startle her awake.

"Uh, Rarity?" Was amongst the grumbled mess that came from Dash's mouth as she shifted a little.

Rarity leaned in closer. "Wake up dear, dinner will be ready soon."

Dash lifted her head at this. "Aw, what? I fell asleep? Sorry about that Rares." She stood, stretching out.

"Don't worry about it Dashie. Let's go eat." Rarity led the way to the dining room. With good timing, they arrived to everything just being set, with an extra plate out for Dash next to Rarity's. They both took a seat and Rarity glanced over at Dash, who was stuffing her face and made a face of somewhat disgust at Dash's lack of manners.

"Now Rarity, don't be like that. The poor dear is clearly starving, and with my cooking, how could she possibly help herself?" Cookie mused as she cut up Sweetie Belle's food.

"So how is that dress coming along?" Hondo asked.

If's mah weft woot!" Dash quickly objected with a mouth full of food.

"It's a flight suit, is what she's trying to say. Rainbow isn't much of a fan of . . . fashion." Rarity said with an annoyed sigh. "And I made quite the progress, but there's still a ways to go."

"Oh, so Rainbow, are you going to be leaving soon? Cause you are more than welcome to stay the night don't cha know." Cookie invited.

Dash swallowed her mouth full. "I would, but I got plans for the night. Would it be cool if I stopped by tomorrow?"

Rarity listened to a long pause before looking up to see all eyes were on her. "Yes, of course. I should be finishing it up tomorrow anyways. So you can try it on then." Rarity nodded.

After eating, Dash thanked Cookie for the food and said goodbye to Rarity and her family before leaving to catch Gilda at a bar called Junkers'.

* * *

Rarity welcomed Dash into her house early into the next afternoon. "Oh, come along Rainbow, I just finished your flight suit and you must try it on!" Rarity announced happily. She hurried up the stairs and closed the door with her magic after Dash entered.

"All right!" Dash raced over Rarity's head and into Rarity's bedroom.

What Rarity heard next was a delighted shriek. As she entered the room Dash was spinning about midair with flight suit in hoof.

"Oh my gosh! It looks just like a real Wonderbolts' flight suit!" Dash squealed.

"Go on darling, put it on." Rarity encouraged with an amused smile.

Dash paused looking over the suit. "Oh . . . uh." Placing her hind legs in their sleeves, Dash struggled on what to do next.

"Allow me. Hooves in." Rarity said propping the suit up in her magic. Dash nodded and slipped her front hooves into place.
Rarity pulled the suit up into place and zipped it up. "There, how does it feel?" Rarity asked.

"Kind of tight." Dash complained.

"It's a flight suit Dashie, of course, it's tight. Does it still have any give?" As she asked this, she grabbed a pinch of the elastic at Dash's flank. She pulled it away and released it, letting it snap back.

"Yeow!" Dash let out along with a sharp gasp.

"Flanks are fine. . ." Rarity muttered to herself, checking other spots the same way. Leaving Dash to bite her lip so she would cry out again. "It all checks out. Now for the mask." Rarity said gabbing the hood and pulling it over Dash's face.

"Hey, what?!" Dash struggled about, twisting her head as her vision was covered.

"Huh, hold still a moment, I almost . . . got it!" Rarity snapped the mask into place and fixed Dash's mane. "There, take a look." Rarity stepped aside so Dash could see the mirror.

Dash gasped in shock this time. She walked up to the mirror. "I-I . . . look just like a Wonderbolt." For the first time, Dash didn't have to close her eyes to see herself flying as a Wonderbolt. It was as if she really was one. As she stood frozen in a dream, her eyes watered.

From behind, Rarity saw this in the reflection of the mirror. "R-rainbow? Are you okay? Do you like it?" She asked concerned.

Dash snapped out of it, blinking as she wiped a hoof across her eyes. "Yeah, it's . . . really awesome. Thank you Rarity." For once Dash sounded down to earth and heartfelt. She turned back to Rarity with a smile. "I owe you one."

"Nonsense. I made that to repay you. How could you owe me?" Rarity said waving the thought off.

"Come on now, I'm serious. Anything at all, I'll do it. Just name it." Dash said determined,

"Are you sure?" Dash nodded in response to her question. "Well . . . could you help me with a dress?" Rarity asked.

"Huh? How could I do that?" Dash asked lost.

"I've never made a dress that accounted for a pegasus's wings before and I want to make sure it looks and feels alright. Would you be willing to model in it for me?" Rarity requested.

"What?! I- . . ." Dash looked down at the flight suit she was wearing. 'She did this for me, surely I can model one stupid dress for her. So long as no pony else sees me in it.' "Fine. No big deal." Dash shrugged, relaxing.

"Oh, thank you Dashie!" Rarity lit up. "Now let's get you out of that. There are a few adjustments I'd like to make to the mask anyhow." She continued, pulling the mask back and unzipping the suit for Dash, an act that causes Dash to blush. Not that Rarity caught it as she moved on to her walk-in closet.

Taking a breath to remove the feeling that had run over her at Rarity's touch, Dash then pulled her flight suit down and stepped out of it. She did a sloppy job of folding it and set it aside.

"I think I know just the dress. Ah, this one!" Rarity came trotting out with a long white dress.

"Aw, really Rarity? Isn't that a bit much?" Dash complained. There wasn't anything in particular that she didn't like about it, Rarity could've pulled out any dress and Dash would've said the same thing.

"Nonsense. Here, I'll help you into it." Once more Rarity held the outfit, while Dash slipped into it.

Once in it, Dash looked back to discover something was clearly off. "Uh, Rarity? I thought this was about getting wing holes right. This dress is backless." Dash pointed out as Rarity put a hairclip into her mane.

"Well, I wanted to see you in this first. What do you think?" Rarity asked pulling the mirror in front of Dash.

"I look ridiculous." Dash stated flatly. She wasn't happy that Rarity had pulled a fast one on her.

"What's wrong with it?" Rarity asked frowning. 'Such a simple, sleek, and elegant dress. She should love it. She looks great in it after all.'

"Me! I look stupid." Dash looked away from her reflection.

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked just as puzzled as before.

"There's nothing wrong with your dress, it's perfect. It's me. I'm bringing it all down."

"What are you talking about?! You're beautiful."

"Pft, uh no. Have you seen me? I'm not beautiful. I'm . . ." Dash looked back into the mirror and shook her head. 'I don't know dresses, but I know it looks good. Not on me though, everything about me is wrong.' Wrong, that seemed like the correct word to say, but Rarity spoke up first.

"Dashie, you look stunning." Rarity said gently. "You know what? Take that dress off." Rarity demanded firmly. She removed the hair clip from Dash's mane.

Confused at Rarity's sudden change of mood, Dash obeyed and took the dress off. She thought for a moment she was about to be kicked out, but Rarity instead pointed to the mirror.

"What do you see?" Rarity asked.

"Uh, me?" Dash pointed out the obvious.

"You know what I see?" Rarity asked, stepping between Dash and the mirror. "I see a stunningly beautiful mare. Why I wish I had a mane as gorgeous as yours." Rarity said putting a hoof under Dash's chin.

"I-huh. . ." Dash bit her lip and blushed heavily. She turned away in an attempt to hide this. She liked to hear Rarity's praises and wanted to hear more of it. "Are there any other dresses you want me to model for you or something?" Dash grumbled, not knowing how to address the compliment.

"Oh, but of course! I have some real beauties that'll show off that inner shine of yours." Rarity giggled excitedly, trotting back into the closet.

* * *

Author's Note

A lot of addons in the chapter to improve understanding of characters feelings and flow of story. Honestly it's been so long since I wrote the start of this that it almost feels brand new. Also I'll add author's notes at the end of each chapter like I did for my fullmetal alchemist fanfics me and my sister did on fanfiction.net. They'll have some behind the writing scenes facts and what not.

Hard Head, Soft Heart

It had been a long day of dressing Rainbow up, and it had left her room in quite the mess, but that was a worry for another day. For today, right now, Rarity was watching the Junior Speedsters play. She sat properly while wearing a headscarf and fashionable sunglasses. The only thing missing was Rainbow Dash, whom Rarity hadn't seen head or tail of all game. Not on the field nor on the sideline. The Speedsters were suffering for it too. Rarity was losing all interest in the game. She wasn't into hoofball like her father was, but she would find herself getting into it when Rainbow was on the field making plays. "I'm going to take a walk." Rarity told her father, getting up. She couldn't stand watching Dash's team struggle and was worried about Dash's whereabouts. As she was walking down one of the back hallways, she rounded the corner to find Dash sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. She was in uniform but her helmet was tossed across to the other side of the hall. Her face was buried in her hooves. "Rainbow? Are you okay?" Rarity asked crouching down next to her.

"I'm fine. It's just . . . I missed last practice so coach won't let me play today. It's so dumb!" Dash vented.

"Well, practice is important. Why did you skip it?" Rarity asked curiously.

". . ." Dash wouldn't dare answer that, but Rarity realized why after giving it a moment of thought.

"Oh Dashie, it wasn't yesterday, was it? I'm so sorry! I kept you busy and-"

"No, no, no. I won't have you blaming yourself. This is all on me. Ha, how bad is the score anyways?" Dash asked to get Rarity's mind off the blame game.

"It's . . . not so bad. They could get back into it." Rarity said with a wince, not believing her own words.

"Ah, oh well. Nothing I can do. This sucks." Dash wallowed.

"Care to watch the rest of the game with me?" Rarity asked offering a hoof. Watching a bad game with a friend would no doubt make it bearable.

"No thanks. The urge to join the game would be too great. I'd rather stay here." Dash said looking down.

A moment later there was a soft thud as Rarity plopped down next to her and removed her sunglasses. Dash turned to see her smiling. "Here." Rarity put the sunglasses on Dash. "Very cool." Rarity commented and they both shared a laugh.

* * *

"One missed practice and he benches you for the whole game. We got our flanks kicked across the field because I had no pony to throw it to. I was busting my tail out there, and for what? Another stinkin' loss. Coach Star is the worst. I wish we could replace him." Gilda said crossly as Dash rested on the cloud they laid on.

"Hey, relax. I'm not a fan of the guy myself, but next week it's back to our winning ways."

"Ha! Yeah." Gilda fist-bumped Dash's hoof. "You know, if coach let me call the shots on the field we'd be unstoppable." Gilda lamented with a longing sigh as she laid flat on her back.

"You'd just pass the ball to me every time." Dash said with a chuckle.

"Hey, I'd mix it up. Sometimes I would keep it, but like I said unstoppable." Gilda defended jokingly.

"Sounds like a plan . . . coach"

Gilda laughed at that. "So you didn't tell me, why did you miss practice?"

"Oh . . . pft, duh. I'm already awesome. Why would I need to practice?" Dash lied with a scoff, well half lied in her mind.

"True. Just don't go missing any more. Playing without you sucks." Gilda said seriously.

"I got you." Dash nodded.

* * *

It was a bright and sunny day, perfect for the following hoofball game for the Speedsters, and it was a second matchup against the Cold Fronts.

"Alright Speedsters, I want you to push our last game against these guys out of your heads. We've grown as a team since then. We can win this." Coach Shooting Star told his team, pacing back and forth before them.

"Yeah, besides if we win this one we'll be the first team to clinch a playoff spot. So let's kick some flank!" Dash shouted raising a hoof into the air.

"Nicely put Dash." Gilda smirked leaning back as the rest of the team cheered in agreement before taking off for the field. Coach Star stared after them and sighed. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of a playoff spot though.

The first quarter was going the Cold Fronts' way, but the Speedsters stayed in it. The Cold Fronts' defense was as good and hard-hitting as last game. Dash found herself helping throw blocks quite more than she had in any other game. More often than not it was Derpy who was struggling with her match-up. After one of her missed blocks, Dash was in a position to chip the rusher, stumbling him and giving Gilda the time to pass it to Dash who was left open for a short gain.

"Sorry Rainbow Dash, he keeps outplaying me." Derpy apologized as they got set for the next play.

"It's all good. Together, we outplay him." Dash said, patting Derpy on the back. Smiling, Derpy took her position for the snap. At the snap, it was a run play to Nimble, so Dash rushed in to help block. Once more it was Derpy struggling with the same colt. He was starting to break away and reach for Nimble when Dash smacked into him, allowing Nimble to pick up a few yards.

"Dang it, stop helping that stupid thing!" The colt spat, pushing the two of them away at the end of the play.

"Hey! You wanna try saying that sh-" Dash started, stepping toward him only to be stopped by Derpy.

"It's fine Rainbow. When we get upset, sometimes we say things we don't mean." Derpy spoke with a grain. "And thanks for the help."

"No problem, Derpy. I'm always here for ya." Dash said turning her attention away from the colt and hoof bumping Derpy with a grin in return.

As it turned out the colt was certainly more than mad. The following play had Dash set as the if all else fails screen pass. So at the snap Dash turned to watch Gilda, but something else caught her eye and it was brutal. The same colt had lifted Derpy up into the air and then he slammed her into the turf. Instead of going after Gilda, he kept Derpy pinned to the ground, his facemask bobbed against hers as if he was jawing off at her. "Hey! Get off of her!" Dash shouted racing over as Gilda threw the ball downfield. Dash shoved the colt off of Derpy. "Get out of here!" She shouted at him.

"Whatever." He grumbled, trotted away as the play had ended in an incomplete pass.

"Here Derpy." Dash offered her a hoof to help her up, but she just laid there . . . crying.

"I don't want to play anymore." Derpy sobbed quietly, avoiding her gaze.

Dash felt rage creeping over herself. Derpy was always so positive, she seemed to never let anything get her down. She was nothing if not sweet and kind. Dash had never seen her like this and it filled her with anger toward her tormentor. She stomped after the colt, leaving Derpy behind. "WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?!" Dash yelled furious as she pulled her helmet off.

The colt turned to face Dash. "You want the truth? I told that stupid piece of trash that her mere existence is a mistake and that I own her both on and-"

Dash let him go no farther and interrupted him by pushing his helmet up so that her free hoof could sock him in the face. The sucker punch knocked him to the ground and his helmet off. Dash leaped on top of him and started waling away at his head. The one shot he got in on Dash didn't faze her or the assault. It ended only as teammates pulled them apart and to the sidelines.

"Rainbow Dash! What in the hay were you thinking?" Coach Star demanded to know.

"Did you see what he was doing out there?" Dash shouted questioningly as her eye began to swell from the hit she had taken.

"It doesn't matter! What you did was unacceptable, now get head for the lockers." Star angrily pointed the way.

"What?! Are you seriously kicking me from the game?" Dash asked in disbelief.

"I don't have to, the officials are." Star said standing firm.

"This is such bull!" Dash threw her helmet away as hard as she could before flying to the locker room. She muttered to herself mad about what had happened and how it turned out as she undressed. While she was just putting away the last of her uniform she heard an unexpected voice.

"Rainbow? Are you in here?"

"Dash took a breath and closed her locker before responding. "I'm over here Rares." Dash took a seat and hung her head, not wanting to face whatever Rarity had to say.

"So what do you have to say for yourself?" Rarity asked turning the corner.

Dash sighed defeated. 'Guess there is no hiding from her.' Dash looked up to her and watched her face switch from disapproval to worry.

"Dashie!" Rarity gasped in shock and rushed to her side. "Are you alright? Why would you start a fight?" Rarity asked examining Dash's face.

"Its- uh . . . I'm fine. I don't even feel it, besides that jerk deserved it." Dash said crossing her arms.

"And how's that?" Rarity asked, wincing as she took a closer look at Dash's black eye.

"He made Derpy cry!"

"Well that's certainly uncalled for, but I don't believe that justifies your actions." Rarity said taking a seat next to her. While upset with her, she knew she needed to be comforted.

"Derpy never cries. You could call her dumb to her face and she'd take it as a compliment. Not that I've ever done that. . . If you had heard the horrible things he said. . ." Dash trailed off softly, hating to think about it.

"That doesn't mean things had to get physical."

"Ahg! I thought you wanted me to be supportive of my team. I wasn't about to let him bully Derpy! Now I'm kicked from playing today." Dash put her face into her hooves.

"Rainbow you meant well, but you went about it wrong. Oh dear, how do I put it? You want to beat somepony fair and square right?" Rarity asked.

"Right. It's the only way to prove I'm truly the best."

"Well hitting your opponent's face isn't exactly fair now is it?" Rarity put it simply.

"Ha, yeah I guess you're right." Dash laughed at how easily Rarity made her see how wrong she had been. "How would you like to be a coach?"

"I'd rather be a cheerleader." Rarity mused.

"I'd be down for that, but I get it Rarity. No more dirty playing for me."

"Good to hear." Rarity gave her a hug. "Now if you want me to get my make-up kit I could probably cover that black eye up." Rarity offered.

"No, no make-up for me. Not when modeling for you and not for hoofball." Dash laid out plainly.

"Very well, I better leave before halftime." Rarity said looking about the locker room.

"Hey, I'll join you. I ain't got much else to do." Dash said standing up as she did.

"No offense darling, but you smell horrible. Shower first before joining me please." Rarity requested.

"Right . . . catch you later." Dash said turning to the showers.

"My seat is c14. See you there." Rarity said trotting away.

Dash rush to get her shower started. 'See you there.' Rarity's voice replayed in her mind as she thought about how her flanks swayed as she trotted away. She let out a pleased hum and smile as the shower water plastered her mane to her face. A familiar feeling began to wash over her and she quickly shook it away. 'Why do I keep thinking about her like that? I'm no filly fooler.' Dash told herself thinking back to the teasing and bullying she had gotten over the term. Dash hurried through her shower and got out. Right as she was done drying off, the rest of the Junior Speedsters came trotting in.

Gilda went straight to Dash. "What were you thinking? How could you get yourself kicked from the game over Derpy of all ponies?" She complained furiously.

"Hey, hey, hey. I wasn't about to let those losers think we're a bunch of cry babies. Besides, did you see me lay him out?" Dash bragged with a sly smirk.

"True. That was pretty sweet. It's just that now the game is going to be a lot harder to win without you in it." Gilda sighed exasperatedly.

"Yeah, I can see that. Too bad your not good enough to replace me." Dash joked to lighten the mood.

"Oh, I could. The problem is that there's no pony who could possibly replace me." Gilda corrected according to her own beliefs.

"Yeah, sure." Dash rolled her eyes. "I gotta fly. Best of luck in the game." Dash added with a hoof bump before flying off to meet up with Rarity, leaving Gilda with a questioning look on her face.

* * *

Dash laid in Rarity's bed while pressing an icepack to her eye. With her uncovered eye, she watched Rarity work on a new dress. Once Dash had caught up to her at the stadium they only watched a little of the game. Rarity wanted Dash to treat her injury and Dash didn't want to watch her team struggle. So they did what was starting to become a regular thing, they went to Rarity's house.

Rarity was humming a cheerful tune as she measured out a piece of fabric. They both let out a sigh. Rarity turned to Dash with a curious expression.

"What's up?" Dash spoke first, sitting up and setting her icepack aside for the moment. While her own sigh had been content, Rarity's sounded more frustrated.

"Oh, it's just . . . I'm making this dress for a client, but . . . well what they want doesn't look quite right." Rarity admitted.

"Well, does your client like it?" Dash inquired.

"I hope so. I'm making it exactly how she wanted. It's just . . . I don't like it." Rarity shared her thoughts as she looked over the dress.

"So? It's not for you. It's for some other mare. She long as she likes it, that's all that matters." Dash reasoned.

"Yes, I see what you mean, but I love making dresses and I want them all to look objectively good. This . . . doesn't." Rarity defended her view.

"Pft, and I want to score a touchdown on every catch I make, but that ain't happening. As long as I get the ball and I do a good job, that's all that matters. Plus I will still get my scores from time to time. I'm happy enough to get the chance to prove myself out there." Dash explained then waited for Rarity's response but found she was staring forward in silence. "What is it?" Dash asked puzzled.

"You're so right. Even if I don't like every dress I make I still did a great job making it. And it'll make me the bits to make dresses I'm more passionate about. All in all, I'm doing something I enjoy. Oh, thank your words of wisdom Dashie. You are such a sweetheart." Rarity trotted over and hugged Dash.

"Uh, ha. Sure. No problem. Anytime." Dash rubbed the back of her head. She was happy Rarity got a lesson out of it that Dash hadn't realized was even there.

"Now I'm feeling inspired to finish this job as well." Rarity said moving back to the dress, bobbing joyfully as she worked.

Dash settled back down, putting her icepack back over her eye, and watched Rarity's hips sway with an easy smile.

* * *

Dash glided into the Junior Speedsters' stadium bright and early for the first practice after the previous game. From the look of it she had beaten all of her teammates there, the only other pony there was Shooting Star. 'Ah, this is just what I need to get all those weird thoughts about Rarity out of my head.' "Yo, coach! Looks like I'm the first one here. Want me to run some laps or should we just chill?" Dash asked excited to get started as she landed in front of Star.

"Oh, Dash. You're early for once. Which is a good thing I suppose. I have some news for you." Star said sounding unsure of what to say next.

"What is it? Am I up for MVP, or are you just glad to have your best player back?" Dash asked with a smug smirk.

"Well . . . that's just it. I don't. The league handed down a one game suspension on you. You're not playing this week." Star broke the bad news.

"What?! Why?!"Dash exclaimed in shock.

"Why? For that fight, you got in last week obviously. Do you realize how serious that was? He went to the hospital. You're lucky it was only for one game." Star scolded her.

Dash shrank back. "oh, I- . . . uh, I didn't mean to do that. Is he okay?" Dash asked ashamed.

"He's fine. It was a quick patch-up job, but as it stands, you can't practice with us until next week either." Star informed her.

Dash hung her head and turned away. She paused a moment to process this information and how it made her feel, angry. She stomped her hoof a couple of times before kicking a bench and flying away without another word.

Star sighed and shook his head as he watched Dash fly away.

* * *

Dash let out a breath as she stared at the front door of Rarity's house. 'I told myself I wouldn't come here, but I want to talk to somepony and Gilda would end up giving me flak for missing another game.' Dash thought somberly. All she wanted was comfort from a friend. Dash knocked on the door and this time it was Rarity who answered the door.

"Dashie! . . . You look so dejected. Are you alright? Come on in, I have tea set and we can talk about it." Rarity ushered Dash into the kitchen, where she poured her a cup of tea before they both took a seat.

"Thanks." Dash muttered looking at her tea and electing to lay her chin on the table.

Rarity could see the depressed look in Dash's eyes. "Rainbow please, talk to me. What's bothering you?" Rarity pleaded, reaching a hoof out toward her.

"You ever feel completely useless?" Dash asked.

"What makes you say such a thing?" Rarity countered confused.

"I feel like I'm letting my team down. Like I'm worthless and can't do anything right, even when I'm trying my best." Dash admitted.

"Dashie, I don't think that and I doubt your team thinks that either. You're amazing, you have so much talent, and you're such a caring pony." Rarity told her tenderly.

Dash smiled and lifted her head up. "You really think so?"

"I know so." Rarity confirmed, placing a supportive hoof atop one of Dash's.

A familiar feeling crept over Dash. One she had been trying to avoid, that only Rarity made her feel, that she wants to stop yet always craves more. Dash casually pulled her hoof away. "Do you have any dresses you need help with?" She asked softly while looking away.

"You mean with modeling?" Rarity questioned to which Dash nodded. "I may have a few if you would like to do that."

"Sure, I don't mind." Dash said casually as she got up and trotted toward Rarity's room. 'Hopefully, she'll call me beautiful again.' Dash's heart filled with excitement at the thought as Rarity followed closely behind, tea in magic floating alongside her.

* * *

Rarity noticed over the next several days that Dash came over every day. So shortly after Dash come over on this day and had gotten settled, taking a seat on her bed, she asked her about it. "Rainbow, you've certainly been spending a lot of time here as of late. Is something going on?"

"Why'd ya say that? You don't like my company?" Dash asked, faking a hurt expression.

"No, it's just that you have a game tomorrow, and well, I would think you'd have practice."

"Oh." Dash realized she had made a mistake coming over every day.

"Oh?"

Dash bit her lip then, figuring she had been caught, she decided to come clean. "I . . . got suspended from this week's game."

"What?! You didn't skip another practice to see me again did you?" Rarity accused.

"No, it's . . . because of last week's fight. Additional punishment for that." Dash said meekly.

"Oh . . . well that's fitting." Rarity nodded.

"What? No, it's not. I already learned my lesson from that!" Dash exclaimed, surprised she wasn't taking her side.

Rarity sighed. "Rainbow, I was there, watching that play- that fight. It was . . ." She paused, remembering what she had seen. "To know that you could do that to another pony was horrifying to learn like that, and honestly . . . " She looked away, not wanting to face Dash for the harsh truth. "It scares me. So yes, the punishment fits to make sure you never think to do such a terrible thing agai-." She turned back to Dash and cut herself off at the sight of Dash wiping away tears as more were getting ready to fall.

"I-I didn't realize you felt that way about it . . . about . . . me." Dash said shaking from the pain in her chest.

"Oh, Dashie. I don't hate you. It's just that you tend to let your emotions get the better of you." Rarity offered a change of tone, seeing that she was taking it so hard. She thought it was a bit of an overreaction from the rainbow maned mare, but it pained her to see it nonetheless.

Dash took a breath to steady herself. "I should go." She announced getting up.

"What? Rainbow, please. I didn't mean to-" Rarity rushed to her side.

"No." Dash interrupted her. "I've just been hiding by coming here. Besides, there's something else I need to do." And with those words Dash left, leaving a stunned Rarity standing alone in her room.

* * *

"Looks like I have myself a lunch buddy." Bow Hothoof, Rainbow's dad, said to her as she joined him at the table while he was eating lunch. "You seem a little down Ace, what's wrong?" Bow asked, calling her by the nickname he had for her.

Dash rested her head on the table and sighed. "Dad . . . I need your advice. I got this problem with this pony. . . " Dash started.

"You're not getting into fights again, are you?" Bow questioned with a raised brow.

"No. You see, this pony . . . is well . . . I lov- really like spending time with em'. They really make me happy, but . . . when the tiniest things go wrong between us, it hurts soooo much. What's wrong with me?" Dash asked, looking to her dad.

"Well, tell me a little more about what you mean." Bow requested.

"This pony, being with her is like . . . better than flying through the open skies. She makes my heart twist, and pound and ache." Dash let out a heavy sigh. "I'm in love aren't I?"

"Yep, pretty deeply too by the sound of it." Bow nodded as Dash deflated. He then smirked. "So it's a mare then. What's her name?" He asked intrigued.

"I- . . ." Dash froze then realized she had said she a couple of times. She groaned and her head went back to the table to hide her embarrassment. "Dad, please. Just- just tell me . . . what do I do?" Dash pleaded.

"Not until I get the name of the mare that stole my aerial ace's heart." Bow said stubbornly.

" . . . Rarity." Dash confessed while her hoof traced tiny hearts on the table. 'This is so lame.'

"Hmm, isn't that fashion unicorn you bought up a couple of times before? Well, my advice would be to wait till it's just the two of you, or all of your focus is on each other and it's a special moment. Something beautiful that brings you closer and then tell her how you feel and give her a kiss. Like pure magic . . ." Bow finished and leaned back in his chair, looking off into nothing as if lost in his own head.

Dash thought over her father's words and images filled her head of winning a championship as well as MVP, one hoof she held the trophy up in victory, her other hoof held Rarity's hoof. She would turn and lock lips with her as the crowd roared in applause. "Yeah . . . That's a great idea dad, thanks. And . . . please don't tell anypony else we had this conversation. " Dash said and sped off to her room with a giant grin.

"No problem!" Bow called after her with a wave as he snapped back to reality. He turned his attention back to his lunch once more.

Author's Note

Bullying scenes are the core reason for the teen rating. They do get darker. So fair warning. Also I wrote Dash's parents before the show introduced them, so they are more oc than ooc. Hoofball seasons are based off of old single player rocket league seasons I played. That's a handful of fun facts for ya. ;)

A Chance of Clouds

Rarity ran a hoof across the fabric of a dress she was supposed to be working on, yet she felt far too down to bring herself to do so. 'Poor Dashie. I really hurt her. I was too harsh on her. I can't believe I let her leave in tears, some friend I am.' Rarity thought with a longing sigh. She looked to her bed, more specifically, the spot on which Dash would usually sit. A sadness crept up Rarity's body, cutting deeper than it already had. Of course, she felt no inspiration, Dash had been the one to fill her with so much of it as of late. Now she felt guilty and her heart . . . empty. She magically lifted a framed picture from her bedside nightstand. It was the picture Dash had signed for her the first time they had met. 'My . . .' She thought looking into the photo of Dash's eyes. 'Usually, only colts make me feel this way. I've got a little mare crush on Rainbow.' Rarity took a little humor out of the realization. 'Maybe it's for the best that I haven't seen her in a while, gives me time to get over these silly feelings.' But as she put the picture down she thought back to how Dash hadn't visited since her walk out and that she had no-showed her suspension game. Rarity had waited outside the locker room, pacing and checking inside every so often until finally Nimble told her Dash wasn't there at halftime. It had been a hard game to watch as the game ended in the Speedsters' third straight loss.

Rarity stared out the window of her room while flicking her ears once in awhile. She hoped to catch a glimpse of Dash trotting up to the door or to hear her mother inform her of Dashie's arrival. Only the sound of rain starting to fall greeted her, washing away her hopes. 'Oh, I must've upset her so. She's probably never going to come to see me again.' The idea of it was almost enough to make her cry. 'No. Such a silly thought. I'll see Rainbow at her next game and set things right then.' She told herself firmly.

* * *

"Woohoo! What a game!" Dash cheered as she burst through the doors into the locker room.

"Heck yeah, we creamed them!" Gilda seconded with an arm around Dash.

"And you know what that means, right?" Dash asked excitedly.

"Playoffs!" They said together with a hoof bump before heading to their lockers to store their uniforms.

"Yo Dash, your unicorn friend is waiting for you outside!" Nimble called out.

Dash paused as this news caused Gilda to cast her an annoyed glare. "Ha, I'm sure this will only take a second." Dash said nervously. She knew Gilda wanted to keep on celebrating, and honestly, she would rather do that than face Rarity who may be still upset with her. She slipped through the door and into the hall and saw Rarity standing not too far off. She had her head turned away and Dash couldn't help but admire her beauty as she turned toward her.

"Hello there Rainbow." Rarity greeted politely as she trotted up to her.

"Hey." Dash said simply.

"Congratulations on your playoff berth." She offered a kind smile.

"Thanks." Dash said with no change of tone.

Rarity flicked her mane with a hoof, feeling awkward. "Look, Rainbow, about our last talk . . . I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you in any way." She said facing bring up the elephant in the room.

Rainbow let out a sigh. "It's fine Rares. It's like you said, I let my emotions get the better of me." There was a long pause as they both waited for the other to move past the issue. Having enough of the awkward silence, Dash turned back to the door. "If that's all you had to say."

"Rainbow, wait . . ." Rarity spoke up quickly, "would . . . you like to come over tomorrow? You wouldn't have to try on any dresses. We could just talk about hoofball, if you like." Rarity said holding back the pleading that raged inside her.

Dash looked back at her. "Sure, I'd like that." Dash said with a smile before continuing into the locker room, leaving Rarity standing alone in the halls.

A big grin crossed Rarity's lips as she hurried away in a joyful prance.

* * *

As usual, Rarity woke up early the next morning, yet today was different. For she was expecting a special guest and with no set time for the visit, Rarity wanted to be ready as soon as possible. A quick shower helped make extra time spent doing her mane and make-up. She picked out the perfect jewelry to match the look, but no dress for she didn't want to overdo it. Afterward, it was breakfast with her dad to go back over their hoofball talk from last night and learn more. Once she felt like she had a good understanding of the game and its lingo, she went on to read an old hoofball magazine her father loaned her while she waited for Dash to arrive. When she finished it she moved on to a fashion magazine. She grew bored of it and went upstairs to her room. She glanced at the clock. 'This is right around when she usually comes over.' She thought, perking herself up. Rarity hummed a happy tune as she trotted over to an early stage, work in progress dress. 'I could turn this into something for Rainbow.' She looked over at her stacks of fabrics, thinking what type and color to use. 'No, no. I don't want to get myself too busy with work . . . but I could tidy this place up a little bit.' Rarity went about organizing, picking up, and cleaning the little messes around her room. While she worked, fantasies of what she and Dash would do played out in her head, of them talking and laughing. She even allowed herself to daydream about them sharing a kiss. 'my, I've never tried to charm a mare before . . . we could probably do more than kiss, but of course I have to keep it classy.' Rarity couldn't help but giggle at such dirty thoughts. As she entertained such ideas while cleaning to pass the time she glimpsed at her window and noticed the sun would start to set soon. 'But. . . is Rainbow not coming over? Is she still mad at me?' Rarity thought suddenly depressed, but then came a knock at the front door. 'Could it be? Did I barely miss seeing her fly to the door?' Listening carefully she heard her mother confirm it.

"Dashie! We've been expecting ya. Rarity's been waiting for ya upstairs. Don't get too comfy, dinner will be on the table in a little bit."

"Alright, cool." Was Dash's reply.

When Dash appeared in the bedroom doorway she stopped to see Rarity staring at her from her spot next to the window. "Hey, sorry 'bout being late. Had a late night with the team, so I kinda slept in." Dash said, her eyes still looking tired.

"It's perfectly fine darling, you're here now. And of course, you had to go celebrate with your team, it was quite the win."

Dash nodded and eyed Rarity's get up. "Say, you aren't going out anywhere are you?"

Rarity put a hoof to her pearl necklace. "Oh no. I just wanted to look nice. What do you think?" She asked with a little pose and batting her eyelashes.

Dash shied her gaze away for a moment. "Yeah, you look great. I didn't know you had pierced ears thou'."

"Oh yes. I did them not so long ago.' Rarity flicked an ear to flash the opal gem in the light. "I could pierce yours sometime if you'd like." Rarity offered.

"Sounds rad. I'm totally down for that." Dash agreed, thinking how cool she'd look and then about how plain she looked now. "Should I have dressed up as well? Cause I don't really do that."

Rarity laugh. "I can give you a makeover you know."

"I'll pass." Dash said managing a smile.

"Come on, it'll be fun. We could do a sleepover." Rarity added hopefully.

"A sleepover? I'm game, but no makeovers." Dash declared.

"Very well." Rarity smiled amused.

A short time later they went down for dinner. After stuffing herself with all she could eat, Dash went on to give Rarity and her family her insight of the plays in yesterday's win.

As Rarity politely ate she couldn't help but notice Dash looked and acted much more energetic than she had before. This made her smile as she listened to Dash's tale.

Once Dash had finished with her recap she leaned back in her chair. "I sure am beat. So where am I sleeping?" Dash asked looking to Rarity.

"Right. Rainbow is sleeping over tonight if that's all right?" Rarity checked with her parents who nodded seeing that it was late. "In my room." Rarity said to answer Dash's question.

Rarity helped clear the table and after Dash thanked her parents Rarity led her upstairs and into her room.

"So what, I get the floor or something?" Dash asked to clarify.

"Don't be silly, you can join me in my bed."

"Oh." Dash froze.

"Is that alright?" Rarity asked looking back with what Dash could swear was a sly, suggestive smile.

". . . Th - that's fine. I don't mind." Dash stuttered and swallowed.

"Better than the floor?" Rarity joked with a giggle as she removed her makeup.

"Right, but I'm used to cloud floors. Can basically sleep anywhere." Dash shrugged.

"Oh . . . what's it like? Sleeping on a cloud I mean. It sounds simply divine." Rarity asked intrigued.

"It's hard to explain. Let's just say there's a reason they say it's like sleeping on a cloud."

"I wish I could experience that." Rarity said wistfully, carefully slipping under the sheets.

Dash reached a hoof out to pull the sheets back.

"Stop! Get in the bed without messing up the sheets like I did." Rarity objected quickly.

Dash thought for a second. "Or better yet." She flew up and then gently glided down, slipping the sheets smoothly. "How's that?" She asked resting her head in her hoof.

"Yes. . . very nice." Rarity blushed. 'I'm really in bed with her!' She thought excitedly. She took a breath to calm herself. 'We're just sleeping, that's all.' She told herself as she magically lifted and brought her sleeping mask toward herself. "Goodnight Rainbow." She said pleasantly.

"Night Rares." Dash smiled before making herself comfortable.

Rarity slipped the mask on, turned off the lights, and did the same. Right as she was falling asleep a loud snore snapped her back awake. Rarity lifted her mask and turned to Dash as she snored once more. 'Oh no, this won't do. Not at all.' Rarity debated in her head what her course of action should be when suddenly Dash rolled over, curling up close to Rarity with a hoof going across Rarity's body and her muzzle buried into her mane. Rarity held her breath as she blushed out of embarrassment. 'Please don't be awake.' Rarity didn't hear Dash's snoring anymore, but she could feel Dash's steady and soft breath upon her shoulder. 'She still asleep.' She noted relaxing a little. Having Dash this close to her and holding still, Rarity could see Dash was a rather small mare. She already knew this from Dash modeling for her, but it hadn't fully hit her until now.

Dash nuzzled against her and her lips formed a slight smile.

Rarity couldn't help but smile at how cute Dash looked. So she relaxed, settling down, and rested her head against Dash's, and soon fell asleep herself.

* * *

Rarity blinked her eyes open and set up with a yawn. 'Oh right, Dash is-.' Rarity looked to see her bed empty of anypony else and a quick glance around told her the same was true of her room. Before she could wonder what had happened, she spied a note left on her nightstand. Picking it up in her magic, she read the two words on it,come outside. Rarity hopped out of bed and trotted over to her dresser and caught a glimpse of her bed mane in her mirror. 'I look simply horrid, but Dashie is waiting for me . . . A quick fix will have to do.' She pulled out a scrunchie and put her mane into a messy bun. She frowned when she checked herself out in the mirror once more. 'This better be good Rainbow. I would never step a hoof outside looking like this.' She thought trotting out the bedroom door.

Once outside Rarity spotted Dash doing the oddest thing, patting down a cloud that was on the ground. "Rainbow, what are you doing?" She asked trotting over to her.

"Oh, hey Rares. You know how you wanted to know what it felt like to sleep on a cloud? Well, I can help you stand on one at least." Dash said looking up at her.

Rarity froze, staring at her.

"Here." Dash laid down and put her arms around the cloud, holding it together and in place. "Go ahead." Dash added nodding to her.

Slowly and carefully Rarity placed a hoof over the cloud. She looked at Dash questioningly, and she nodded her to go on. Timidly she placed her hoof on the cloud. Her hoof sunk in a little, pushing the cloud away, but as it was being held in place some of the cloud remained trapped under her. For Rarity the feeling was impossible to describe, but she loved it. Rarity placed her other hoof onto it and she began to kneed the cloud as if it were dough. She was having so much fun with it that she didn't notice Dash straining to hold the cloud together and in place. 'Simply divine.' Rarity marveled as she pressed down with more of her weight, which proved to be too much for Dash to hold back as the cloud exploded away in all directions. "Oops." Rarity uttered in shock.

"Ow." Dash muttered under her breath before standing and shaking what remained of the cloud off. "Sorry about that Rares. I couldn't hold it." Dash apologized rubbing her own shoulder.

Rarity didn't react at first, but then suddenly embraced Dash. "Aw, thank you so much Dashie! I can't believe you did that for me. And I can't believe I just destroyed your cloud." Rarity said then broke out into laughter.

"Ha, it was nothing really. Any pegasus could've done it." Dash said while putting a hoof around her in return.

Rarity pulled back just enough to end the hug. "But you did it for me, as a surprise. That's what makes it special. It was wonderful, thank you." Rarity inched closer to Dash.

Dash felt a change in the mood, a certain feeling filled her stomach. Dash gulped, as Rarity's muzzle got closer and her eyes half-lidded. 'No way . . . She's gonna kiss me!' In a panic at the sudden realization, Dash blushed heavily and fought her mixed feelings of want and fear as her mind raced endlessly. In a flash, she darted up into the sky. "Hey, you know I'm pretty good when it comes to clouds, check it out!" As Dash zoomed off into the sky, a stunned Rarity was left to sit on the grass alone.

Sadden, she watched as the mare she loved flew about as thoughts of what just had, and hadn't, happened filled her head.

* * *

"Yo Dash, you lost in there?" Gilda asked knocking on Dash's head.

Dash blinked herself out of her mind and back to the Junior Speedsters' locker room. "Sorry G, guess I'm not fully here."

"You're telling me. Where's your head at? We should be creaming these guys like the team before. So what's up with you? It's not like you to be missing plays out there." Gilda questioned, crossing her arms.

"Some stupid stuff, I don't even know why I'm letting it bother me so much." Dash shrugged. 'Probably cause I blew such a perfect chance to share my feelings with Rarity. She must clearly like me too, but . . .' Worries filled Dash's head.

"Well get your head in the game. No more losses on our way to the championship, right?" Gilda patted Dash's shoulder encouragingly.

"Right." Dash nodded firmly. She reminded herself that while hoofball was a chance to show off her skills and prove herself, it was also her escape. Nothing else mattered when she played and it made her feel like she was really somepony amazing. She felt her spirits lift at this. It was how Rarity could make her feel. 'That must be why I'm so . . . bothered by that sleepover.' Just remembering waking up to Rarity in her hooves made the blue pegasus feel flustered. She hit her head a few times with a hoof. 'This is dumb. I'm not having a fashion-obsessed mare throwing me off my game!' Dash told herself as she stood up. "Let's go out there and kick some flank!" Dash roared.

"That's more like it!" Gilda shouted in approval.

* * *

Rarity had deemed that it would be best to let Dash make the first move if their relationship should advance to something more. While Dash still visited her at a steady pace of once a week, they remained friendly with no hints of anything more. As the season rolled on Rarity always congratulated Dash for the Junior Speedsters' accomplishments; from getting the top seed in the playoffs, to finishing the season without another loss. Less time with Dash made her feel lonely and she brunt her returned free time to promote and work on her dresses.

Right now she sat in her room with a small smile. She was watching Dash bounce up and down on her bed.

"Ha, ha! This time next week it'll be the most important game of my life!" Dash laughed joyfully.

"Doesn't that make you nervous?" Rarity asked raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Are you kidding me?" Dash did a spinning flip off of the bed and landed cleanly in front of Rarity. "I've been preparing for this game for a long time. Well the championship game, but this one will be a good warm-up."

"You know it's not a guaranteed thing." Rarity objected.

"Come on Rares, are you doubting me? I'm impossibly fly and super awesome. That championship trophy is practically all mine." Dash said getting close to Rarity with a cocky grin.

"ugh, Rainbow . . ." Rarity pushed her away. "You've worked to make it this far. Don't throw it all away by thinking you've already won." She warned.

"Hey, hey, hey. Relax, I got this. I'm the star on the team and come gameday I'mma shine."

"Hmph." Rarity turned away annoyed.

"What?" Dash asked confused. This was the opposite of what she expected, Rarity fawning over her, not rejecting her.

Rarity sighed. "You're letting this get to your head."

"What do you expect? I carried my team here. You saw those three games without me, the Speedsters loss." Dash argued.

"I know, it's just . . . I want you to win just as much as you do and I'm worried you're not taking this seriously enough." Rarity admitted softly.

"I'm sorry Rares. I'm just having fun cause I'm so excited. This is so big for me and I'm not going to mess it up. I'm going out there with my A game like I always do. You believe in that." Dash told her, hugging her with one hoof.

Rarity saw the determination in her eyes and nodded in satisfaction at her answer.

Author's Note

My greatest pride in this story is finally giving something back to the brony fandom. I've enjoyed so much from it that it's a joy to add my simple little ship fic to it. Highest hopes are to remain positive in likes and comments. Would also love to see this story make it on EQD.

End of the Season

Dash sat in the locker room in her hoofball gear. She took a breath as her hooves rubbed against each other nervously. 'Today is the day. My day.' Dash told herself. She glanced over at Gilda, who sat nearby steadfast. Gilda turned her head to her and smiled cooly with confidence. Dash faked the same look. 'All my hard work is for nothing, all my team's work is for nothing if we don't win this.' Dash's shoulder's felt heavy and she felt like throwing up, but she hid it will.

"Rainbow Dash! You've got a visitor. Make it quick please." Coach Star called out.

Finding the callout odd at first Dash then realized it could only be one pony. Dash hurried to the door and into the hall. Rarity stood in before her in a Junior Speedsters' jersey. "What are you wearing?" Dash almost laughed not believing Rarity was wearing something so not her style as she would probably put it.

"it's who am I wearing. It's Dash. I could see it is becoming very popular here in Cloudsdale and I'm not one to miss out on a fashion trend. So . . . what do you think?" Rarity turned, showing off that the jersey indeed a Dash jersey with her name and number on it.

"Huh, well . . . I look good on you." Dash guessed was the appropriate answer, but couldn't help but show a cheeky smile.

Rarity froze, blushing. "Y-yes, well . . ." She stuttered then got back on track. "Dashie . . . I just wanted to let you know that you can do this. You and the rest of the Speedsters are going to win this. I believe in you."

"Thanks, Rarity. I know we'll win. This one's for you." Dash promised. Relief washed over her to know Rarity had faith in her.

"Oh? Well then, I'll see you after the game, and we can celebrate." Rarity said with a suggestive tone. She couldn't help but flirt a bit.

"Can't wait." Dash swallowed.

"Yes, me too. See you after the game."

"See ya." Dash watched Rarity's sway as she walked away. 'I gotta win this game.' She told herself.

* * *

It was slow going in the first half for the Speedsters. Dash and the rest of the offense spent most of their time watching from the bench. Largely thanks to short drives all ending in punts. Their opponents, the Earthquakes, were managing on the offensive end, putting up two touchdowns. It wasn't till late in the second quarter when the Junior Speedsters had their first good drive that was capped off with a short pass to a wide-open Dash in the endzone.

"Woo! We're still in this!" Dash cheered, racing over to Gilda for a celebratory hug.

"Our turn to take this game over now!" Gilda shouted over the cheers in return.

There wasn't enough time left on the clock for a response by the Earthquakes and the Speedsters went into halftime down seven but with the momentum on their side. The home team fans had their hopes up. They, Rarity included, let out a small breath of relief.

Spirits raised, the Speedsters went out to start the third quarter with high energy. A second good drive was stopped short for a field goal. The Earthquakes took a long drive down for a field goal of their own. Not to be discouraged, the Speedsters took the following possession aggressively. A pass from Gilda to Sunbeam was going big, he had taken it down to the redzone, suddenly turned disastrous. A big hit on Sunbeam knocked the ball out of his grasp. Dash was too far away to make a play on it and could only watch helplessly as an Earthquake defender fell on top of it. And while the Earthquakes failed to capitalize on the turnover, Dash had another painful scene unfold on their following possession. This time it was right in front of her. On a pass down the sideline to her, a safety jumped the route and intercepted the ball right before it reached her.

'Unbelievable!' Dash smacked the ground in frustration after the play was over and then headed for the sideline.

Their defense, with some big plays by Misty Dawn, stopped the Earthquakes from advancing the ball any. Now with a long way to get to the endzone and down seven, the clock had also become quite the issue as well. The bad news was that it was slow going and the minutes ticked off the clock.

Dash wiped the sweat away that was from both wear and stress. Pressed with little over a minute on the game clock, she had just made a catch that set them up in the redzone. Coming off a timeout they got set for the next play. A quick pass to Sunbeam, who got nowhere with it.

Gilda gave a nod to Dash in the next huddle. "Let's go for it." She said as quietly as she could while still being heard over the crowd.

Dash nodded sternly. At the snap, Dash raced for the endzone with a defender right on her. The ball still came her way but was a laser that soared overhead and out of reach. 'Buck!' Dash hurried back to the huddle.

"Fake to Nimble, who cuts a slant route to the right, pass to him." Gilda called it.

The play was a bust and the following huddle was short. Everyone goes endzone with only Nimble staying back at the first down marker. Dash knew chances were that the ball was going to come her way. Fourth down on a do-or-die play? It had to be her. At the snap Dash sped to the endzone and cut across it once inside before checking back for the pass . . .

* * *

"Oh no." Rarity gasped as Gilda never even got to make a play, taking a sack right before she could chuck it. Her eyes darted back to Dash who seemed frozen in place in the endzone, her and the crowd both stunned at the outcome.

"Such a shame." Hondo muttered as the Earthquakes' offense got set in victory formation.

"Poor Dashie . . . She must feel awful." Rarity said mostly to herself as she watched Dash head, not for the sideline but rather straight for the locker room. As she disappeared into the tunnel 'boos' filled the stadium as a knee down brought the game to a close. "I have to go check on her!" Rarity jumped from her seat and raced toward the halls.

"Okay! I'll be waiting by the main exit!" Hondo called after her.

Rarity spared no time getting to the locker room. She had broken a sweat when she turned the corner and came to a sudden halt when she caught a glimpse of Dash out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't by the locker room, but further down the hall where it was cloud-only. She was already out of uniform and clearly headed for the back exits. "Rainbow, wait!" Rarity cried out and Dash stopped a moment later. "Are you okay?" She asked just loud enough for her to hear. There was a long pause before Dash turned around. Rarity watched painfully as Dash broke down before her.

Her eyes flooded with tears, overflowing down her cheeks as she flew back to Rarity and threw her arms around her. She sobbed heavily into her shoulder.

Rarity was taken aback at first. She was in disbelief before she relaxed, putting her hoof around Dash in return and stroking her mane comfortingly. "Shhh . . . it's alright. Just let it all out." Rarity told her softly.

A minute or so passed before Dash spoke in a cracking voice. "I'm sorry Rarity. So sorry. I-I let you down. I let everypony down. I- . . ." Rainbow squeezed Rarity into a tight hug, unable to go on.

"Rainbow . . . you didn't let me down or anypony else." Rarity pushed Dash back a little to look her in the eye. "Dashie . . . I- . . . I love you, and anyone game won't change that." Dash didn't seem to react much to this and began to shrink back into Rarity's embrace just to have Rarity place a hoof on her cheek to keep their eye contact. "Nothing is going to change that." Rarity told her, tearing up herself.

Rainbow managed a smile. "Thank you." Dash whispered, holding her close.

Rarity nuzzled Dash. "Dash, I have to get going, but would you like to come with me?" Rarity asked pulling out of the hug.

"Uh . . . nah. I better go back and face the team." Dash said rubbing the back of her head embarrassed.

"Oh, okay. Don't be a stranger, okay? See you, darling." Rarity kissed Dash's cheek before walking away.

Dash took a moment to let that sink in before she returned to the locker room, where coach Star was trying to lift the mood as the team mourned their season.

* * *

The next day at school Dash was walking through the halls between classes. Her mind filled with thoughts about how horrible the game had gone. Not only had it been in awful loss where they had always been trailing the whole game, but after the game Rarity had told her she loved her. 'Like love loves me?' To think how badly she had wanted to hear her say those words. . . but it had all been wrong. 'I was supposed to win, be triumphant. Not a crying loser. I would rather pretend it had never happened.' Lost in thought as she rounded a corner, she bumped into the last two ponies she wanted to see; Hoops and Dumbbell.

"Nice going Rainbow Crash!" Hoops laughed insultingly and push Dash away.

"Yeah, you and your griffin marefriend blew it for us. Choking when it really counts like you always do." Dumbbell imitated the act of choking.

"Good thing we're keeping the basketball team on top!" Hoops added in.

They didn't let Dash reply as they bumped past her to go on their way. Dash scrawled, glaring after them. 'I'll show them. Next year will be different. This season is over and as far as I'm concerned, season two starts now.'

Author's Note

Edited in Dash's thoughts while she in the halls to show why she lacked a response to Rarity's admission of feelings for her. A short chapter, but it marks the end of the first season and with it the first act. The stage is set for a lot to happen. Hope you all enjoy!

Act 2, Season 2, Practice Date

"Oh, why hello Dashie. Come on in. Rarity's up in her room." Cookie greeted Dash at the door.

"Cool, but I actually want to see Hondo first. Is he home?" Dash asked going far enough inside so that Cookie could close the door.

"Hondo? yes, he's outback." Cookie said wondering why Dash wanted to talk to her husband.

Dash nodded her thanks before finding her way to the deck out back, where Hondo sat drinking a cider. "Hey." Dash spoke up to get his attention.

"Hmm? Ah, Rainbow Dash. You seem to be doing well. Are you waiting for Rarity?" He asked turning to her.

'Always straight to Rarity . . . well that's always been the reason I come over.' Dash shook her head. "Actually . . . I wanted to know if you would be interested in coaching me over the off-season." Dash asked hopefully.

"What about coach Star? Shouldn't you be asking him?" Hondo asked surprised.

"I did. He can't. He's not allowed to hold practices until the official off-season. Plus you were a pro player. That experience is what I want to learn from. If anypony can help me be the best it's you. Please?" Dash explained with a plea.

"But you're already so good. Not to mention I was a center. I don't know much about receiving." Hondo told her doubtfully.

"But I want to be better, and you know how the pros train. Could you at least give it a try? Pretty please?" Dash pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

"Very well." Hondo conceded.

"Yes!" Dash jumped for joy.

"But take a week off to rest that body of yours first, then we'll start, okay? Also, ya got a friend waiting behind ya." Hondo informed her, pointing.

Turning back to the door Dash saw Rarity standing there with a sad look on her face due to Dash not even saying hi to her before talking to her father. "Hey, Rares. What's up?" Dash asked to play it off.

"Rainbow . . . if this is about losing-"

"Rarity, this is about being the best. I'm good, but I can always do better. I want records and awards. My name in the lights. You can relate to that, can't you?" Dash asked her with determination burning in her eyes.

Rarity bit her lip then nodded. "I do have similar dreams."

"I know that. Me and hoofball right now are you and fashion. Obviously, I didn't take the loss well, but I'm looking to the future. Besides with me practicing here all the time, we can hang out even more." Dash said with a grin.

"Well . . . I can't argue with that." Rarity smiled, understanding Dash's reasons. She also liked the sound of that last part.

* * *

"Hey, Rainbow Dash!" Derpy raced over to Dash outside of school as she was leaving.

Rainbow Dash waited for her to catch up before turning to her. "What's up Derpy?"

Excited, Derpy's eyes took a moment to properly set on Dash once she settled down next to her. "The team's having a party to celebrate how well we did this season this weekend. It's gonna be at Misty Dawn's place. You coming?" Derpy asked happily.

"Nah, I got practice on the weekend." Dash declined.

"Practice? Do we have practice this weekend? I didn't know this. Do you think everypony else does? Why would they throw a party when we have practice?" Derpy asked with increasing panic.

"No, only I do Derpy." Dash said rolling her eyes. "I got a retired professional hoofball player that's gonna train me." Dash bragged.

Derpy perked up at this. "Oooh, that's so cool. Who is it?"

"Oh . . . uh, Hondo Flanks. He was-"

"Hondo Flanks?! Star center for the Manehatten Magic. He won two championships with them . . . or was it three?" Derpy paused to ponder.

'Wait, he actually was a big-time player?' Dash thought surprised. "Y-yeah, that's him."

"Oh wow. Dash, you have got to introduce me to him, please?" Derpy begged.

"Uh, sure, I guess. You can tag along with me to practice." Dash figured she could chill with Rarity while Derpy talked with Hondo.

"Yay! . . . But wait, what about the party?" Derpy asked concerned.

"Pft, what about it? Why even party when we lost?" Dash said dismissing the thought.

"But we did so well in the regular season. We did so well as a team, we wanted to celebrate how far we made it. Even if we lost in the playoff round. And you have to be there Rainbow. It won't be much of a party without you there. You put in so much time and effort and supported us all. Can't you take the day off for us?" Derpy looked pleadingly in two different directions.

"What about meeting Hondo?" Dash asked almost completely convinced.

Derpy seemed conflicted for a second. "Oh! You can invite him to the party too!" Derpy suggested, clapped her hooves cheerfully.

'Or I'll just move practice to another day.' Dash thought of the more realistic option. "Sure Derpy, I'll be at the party." Dash said with a sigh.

"Yay! See you there Rainbow!" Derpy said waving as she took off.

* * *

"So, you have a party with your team?" Rarity asked intrigued by what she had overheard from the talk Dash had just had with her father, who hadn't minded moving practice since he had never even set an exact day or time.

"Yeah, I wasn't much of a fan of the idea at first, but . . . well I guess my team really grew on me." Dash said with a smile from her seat on Rarity's bed.

Rarity didn't catch the smile as she was busily searching through her closet. "What kind of event is it going to be? Casual? I have a summer gown I think you'll like." She asked shuffling through clothes.

"But it's fall, almost winter really. And I don't really want to wear anything." Dash pointed out a little clueless.

"What am I supposed to wear then?" Rarity asked stepping out of the closet to face Dash.

"Rarity, . . . it's a team event. Sooo . . ." Dash trailed off awkwardly.

"Oh, I see. That's fine." Rarity sounded down despite her words. She trotted over sat down next to Dash. "You know Rainbow, we should really go out sometime. It's nice having you come over so much, but all we ever do is hang out in my room. It's kind of dull for me. I could show you some of the places around Ponyville. It'll be a nice excuse for me to dress up. Plus we could go out, instead of eating with my parents. Like a real date." Rarity placed a hoof on top of one of Dash's.

'Date.' The word echoed in Dash's head as she looked down at Rarity's hoof on her own and became painfully aware of how close she was to her. In a flash, Dash was on her hooves. "Oh, wow . . . ha, ha . . . I uh, I don't know about that." Dash fumbled with her words as she was overwhelmed with different feelings. She tried to find the right words to say. Maybe the time was right? No, she had ruined it, but now what? Dash bit her lip and her eyes darted around about in some wild search for an answer when out of nowhere Rarity giggled. Surprised, Dash turned back to her.

"Dashie, you are so silly. I meant as friends. Like a mares night out." Rarity played off with a smile that masked the sadness she felt. 'I told myself not to make a move, to let Dash go first . . . but I thought things had changed after that last game. I told her . . . I told her how I felt. She should know . . . which means . . . she just wants to be friends.'

"Oh, pft, of course. Duh." Dash said relieved. "Sure, yeah. We can do that." She added.

"Wonderful." Rarity managed to not choke on the word. The only sign of her heartbreak was a slight tremble she had. 'It's fine. We're very good friends, best friends . . . I'm happy with this.' She told herself.

"Next time I come over we can go out then . . . around Ponyville I mean." Dash threw in with a nervous chuckle.

"Sounds like a plan." Rarity nodded in agreement.

"Actually, if you want, you could show me around town a little bit today." Dash offered.

"Oh . . . no, I couldn't . . . I have this mare coming over soon to look at some dresses. In fact, I need to start getting everything ready." With a sigh Rarity got up and walked back to her closet to look at nothing in particular, it had been a lie after all.

"Oh, well . . . I guess I should go then. I'll see you later. Can't wait for that tour."

Rarity heard her say. "Yes, me either." She said allowing a single tear to fall.

* * *

'I'm starting to think my dad's advice stinks.' Dash thought as she landed in front of Misty Dawn's house. Dash knew the truth though, as much as she didn't want to admit it, what stopped her from confessing her feelings to Rarity was the worry of what other ponies would say and think about her. That and the fact that she was so embarrassed and shy about it. 'That doesn't make me a bad pony, does it?' She asked herself, knocking on the door. Her answer was how bad she felt about rejecting Rarity's advances. 'Not that she was coming on to me, she said so herself.'

Suddenly the door opened. "Rainbow Dash! So glad you're here. Come on in." Misty Dawn greeted her excitedly. "Hey guys, our guest of honor has arrived!" She called out into the house.

As Dash trotted in she was in awe at the cheers and greetings she received from her fellow teammates.

"How's it going Dash?" Twister asked hovering just overhead.

"Hey Rainbow!" Sunbeam greeted giving her a slight hug.

"Ha-hey everyone." Dash stammered a little overwhelmed.

"So happy to have you here. My party would have been a bust without you." Misty Dawn said happily giving her a hug as well.

"Really?" Dash asked in disbelief.

"Of course Rainbow, this is a party for how we did and well . . . without you, last season would've been an average one at best." Misty Dawn answered.

It was just the stroke of ego Dash liked. "Yeah, I'm pretty awesome." Dash said with a cocky grin to the cheers she got in response.

"Whoo!"

Dash heard Gilda's voice from a room over. "Aw cool, Gilda is here too?"

"Oh . . . yeah. She's in the living room, on the couch." Misty said with a sigh.

"Thanks . . . to all of you." Dash said before heading to the living room. She found Gilda right where Misty said she'd be, stretched out on the couch with a bottle of cider.

"Hey, Dash. 'Bout time you showed up. Party's been pretty lame. I was about to bail." Gilda said sitting up.

"I don't know about that. Doesn't seem too bad to me . . . Plus you know how much of a sucker I am for cider." Dash said with a big smile before spotting said cider. She hurried to it and grabbed herself a bottle.

"Ha, yeah." Gilda chuckled.

"Yo Dash!" Sunbeam flew in and landed next to her. "I heard you got a practice set with a retired player from the Manehatten Magic. Is that true?" He asked.

"Oh, uh . . . yeah. Who told you?" Dash wondered

"Derpy did."

"Ha! Are you kidding me Dash? You're really going to waste your free time working?" Gilda laughed.

"Hey, I want to be the best. So, yes, I am going to keep working . . . very hard. I'll still leave some free time for myself thou." Dash added, raising her bottle before downing its contents.

"Yeah! I'm with Dash on this! Speaking of which, could I join you at your practices?" Sunbeam asked timidly.

"Ugh, whatever. As I said, I'm leaving. I'll catch you later Dash, and try not to drink too much." Gilda said getting up.

"I won't!" Dash called after her as she left, meanwhile she grabbed a second bottle. She turned to find Sunbeam staring at her. "Oh yeah, right. Uh . . . sure you can tag along I guess." Dash approved.

"Yes! I can't wait!" Sunbeam hugged her again.

'Gee, sure is a touchy kind of colt. Guess it's because we're both receivers and he looks up to me.' Dash politely pushed him off. "Just don't think you'll get as good as me."

"Oh, I plan to be even better." Sunbeam playfully challenged.

Dash smirked at that. She always enjoyed a good competition.

* * *

At their first practice, Rainbow Dash and Sunbeam were ready to give their all, but the third pony that joined them had a different focus.

"Tee-he-he. It's really you!" Derpy giggled, speaking to Hondo."Hondo Flanks, four-time all-star and two-time champion center for the Manehatten Magic!" Derpy continued, bouncing excitedly in place.

"That's me. And you are?" Hondo asked with a grin. It wasn't too often that he got recognized for his playing days.

"Derpy. Derpy Hooves. It's so great to meet you. You had such an amazing eight-year career. Like in the . . ."

Dash stopped listening and shared a glance with Sunbeam. Shrugging, they sat off to the side to wait for them to finish their chat . . . which seemed to be dragging on.

"Remind me to never bring Derpy along again." Dash muttered under her breath after so long.

"Aw, come on. She's having fun." Sunbeam said as Derpy flapped her wings excitedly while Hondo seemed lost in recalling a play.

"Yeah, well I was hoping for some tips and a workout." Dash sighed annoyed at this point.

"Hey." Sunbeam smirked and elbowed Dash. "Fifteen laps around the pond, how's that sound? Bet you can't beat me."

"A race against me? You're on." Dash accepted and in a flash, they both took off.

Dash turned out to be so glad Sunbeam had come along. After doing their race, they worked on their routes together. While they did that, Dash noticed Hondo had worked with Derpy with her transition from snapping the ball to blocking. So everypony had still gotten a workout in. So while Dash hadn't gotten any time with Hondo herself, she was still happy with how practice had gone.

As it was, it was getting late and they were all resting. Derpy sat on the back porch, still chatting with Hondo. Dash was sitting lakeside with Sunbeam. Both of them relaxing with their back hooves in the water.

"Hey, thanks for tagging along. Things may not have turned out the way I had expected, but . . . I still had fun. You should come along next time as well." Dash said splashing the water softly.

"Really? I'd like that. You should take Derpy again too. She really enjoyed herself too." Sunbeam commented, watching Dash.

Rainbow glanced over at Derpy, who was much calmer than before, still, she looked like she was having fun as Hondo was telling her something. "Yeah, she deserves it." 'Ponies always give her a hard time. She should have some happier moments.' Dash thought, her gaze shifting over to Sunbeam. He was staring right at her. "What's up?" Dash asked, wondering what was that odd look in his eyes.

"Oh, I was just thinking, we make a good duo, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, next year we'll be unstoppable." Dash agreed.

"Well . . . I'm happy it's you. We are a great team you and I." Sunbeam said nervously.

"Yeah . . . you said that already." Dash gave her mane an impatient flick.

"Right . . . well, what I'm trying to say is . . . I love you." Sunbeam said scooting closer to her.

'What?' Dash thought frozen. She cracked her mouth open to speak, but no words came to her.

Sunbeam took this as an invitation and leaned in, kissing her.

Dash was stunned, this was her first kiss and it felt . . . blissful. 'This is how Sunbeam feels about me? Wow. Does this mean we're together now? No more being called a fillyfooler? That we're dating? Date . . . oh shoot! My date with Rarity! I said it'd be the next time I came over, also it's not a date, we're just friends.'

"Rainbow?" Sunbeam asked, snapping Dash back to reality.

When had the kiss ended? Dash didn't know, but she jumped to her hooves. "Thanks, Sunbeam, I- . . . have to go." She sped off, leaving Sunbeam to wonder if that had been a good or bad reaction from her. Dash raced to the door just to find Rarity stepping out with a tray of drinks. "Hey, Rarity." Dash said quickly.

"Rainbow." Rarity said curtly, muzzle raised indignantly, not even looking toward her.

"You're mad at me, aren't you?" Dash guessed at what should've been obvious.

Rarity saw both Derpy and her father look over having overheard that. She set the tray down in between the two before turning back to Dash. "Yes, I am." She stated in a hushed tone so that only Dash would hear her.

"Look, Rarity-" Dash started softly just to be cut off by Rarity pulling her inside. Rarity closed the door behind them before looking to Dash for an explanation. "Look, Rarity-" Dash was cut off once more by Rarity, this time pushing her away gently.

"Sorry darling, but you're all sweaty and smell awful." She explained with a snort to clear the stench from her lungs.

"Look, Rarity, I realize I kinda lied to you about going out with you, but I can make it up to you. Tomorrow morning I'll come over and . . . you can pick out a dress for me to wear." Dash said with the last part under her breath.

"And you'll wear it around town with me?"

"Yes."

"Deal." Rarity agreed. While it hadn't sounded like much, she could tell it pained Dash to offer it, yet she did it for her. Which she thought was sweet, so Rarity took the apology. She rather not be mad at Dash anyways.

"Cool. I'll see you then." Dash said with a relieved smile.

"Oh, and don't worry Dashie, I'll pick out a dress you'll like and look good in." Rarity assured her with a wink.

"I hope so." Dash said with some worry. As Rainbow went outside she passed Hondo who was on his way inside. They said their quick goodbyes and Dash found her alone face to face with Sunbeam. "Oh, hey. Where's Derpy?" She asked glancing around. Her heart pounding as she had no clue as to what to say or do.

"She left. Said she had to go home." Sunbeam informed her.

"Okay." Dash wished she had something else to follow that up with for a long awkward silence followed instead.

"Could . . . I fly you home?" Sunbeam offered.

Dash saw no harm in it so she nodded.

Author's Note

Sunbeam's crush on Rainbow was not originally planned. I thought of it after writing the party at Misty Dawn's and saw it added a lot to happen later on. It was a choice I love/hate but in the end it tied too many things together to remove so I look at all the good that came from it.

Season 2 was easily my muse season. Most ideas for the story were thought of while writing it. I wrote it with more ease than any other season. I went from, maybe a hundred page story, to this is gonna be over three hundred pages. I hope y'all will enjoy it as much as I did.

A Tour

Rarity had just finished breakfast when there was a knock at the front door. 'It couldn't be. This early?' Rarity hurried to the door, full of hope. Opening the door to see an exhausted and sleepy-looking Rainbow Dash.

"Sup?" Dash greeted, her eyes blinked slowly and out of sync. Her mane was a mess and her fur was matted on top of it all.

"Oh my, darling you look absolutely dreadful. Did you get any sleep?" Rarity asked taken aback by her appearance. Dash had never been one for making herself presentable, but this was a whole new level of that.

"Not much. Cloudsdale is a moving city, so I had to get up early to make sure you were still in flying range. Didn't even have time to shower."

And just like that, a stench most foul assaulted Rarity's nose.

"Hey, is that pancakes I smell? You got any left? Cause I'm starvin'!" Dash said perking up a bit. She stepped inside and was suddenly grabbed by Rarity. "Whoa! Hey, what's up?!" Dash asked, finding herself being dragged along.

"You are taking a shower. We are not going to be going around town with you looking . . . or smelling, like that." Rarity declared, tossing Dash into the bathroom. "You may have pancakes afterward." She added, closing the door after her.

"Fair enough." She heard Dash's reply.

Rarity let out a breath before inhaling some fresh air. 'Right, there's no leftover pancakes. So I better go make some more.' Dash would be so grateful, she could picture it in her mind. Dash would get out of the shower all wet, her mane straighten out lying flat against her head covering half her face. Her visible eye half-lidded, giving her a suggestive look as she stepped toward her, as the steam from her shower followed in her wake.

"Need to go or are you just waiting on Dashie?" Cookie Crumble's voice snapped Rarity out of her daydream turn fantasy.

"Oh, no. I was . . . just thinking. Silly me. Rarity laughed, embarrassed. "By the way, could you help me make some pancakes?' She added.

"Oh? Wanna make something special for your marefriend huh?" Cookie asked smiling.

"Rainbow and I are just good friends." Rarity corrected, hoping she was only being teased.

"Well, alright. Let's get cooking, shall we?" Cookie led her daughter down to the kitchen to get things started.

Rarity felt anxious as she set the table for Rainbow Dash and herself. She wasn't the best cook, and even with her mother's help, the pancakes had come out a little misshapen. She had decorated them with various berries and top them with whip cream. While her mother had praised her effort, Rarity couldn't push the creeping feeling of failure. She felt a hair in her mane fray out of place. She quickly smoothed it back right as Rainbow trotted into the room.

"Aw, sweet! Looks good." Dash flew to her seat and wasted no time scoffing down the pancakes.

"Thank you." Rarity said relaxing. She took a seat herself to start eating her much smaller helping.

"Mah, hank-" Dash started while chewing.

"Dash! Don't talk with your mouth full, it's rude." Rarity stated, fixing her with a glare.

Dash took a moment to finish chewing then swallowed before speaking. "Sorry, but as I was saying, it should be I thanking you. These pancakes are awesome!"

"You're welcome." Rarity couldn't hold back a grin as she carefully cut her lone pancake. She had already eaten after all, yet wanted the reason to sit with Dash without it seeming weird. So Rarity mainly watched Dash speed through pancake after pancake as she daintily ate her own. She didn't strike up a conversation since Dash always had her mouth full and she didn't want her to stop since she must've been starving at the rate she was going.

Licking her plate clean once she was done Dash looked up to Rarity. "So . . . time to get dressed then?"

"Go ahead and head on up to my room darling. I'll be there once I'm finished." Rarity said with a nod and Dash flew off. Once she was done with her own plate, Rarity cleaned the dishes before heading upstairs. Upon entering her room she was greeted by a sight she was not quite sure how to react to. "Oh my-, Rainbow, I didn't mean to- . . . I didn't know you were . . . uh . . ." Rarity fiddled with her words as she covered her face with a hoof.

"Wow, way to make me feel self-conscious about my preening Rares." Dash said, feeling embarrassed by her reaction.

"Oh, is that, uh . . . normal to do in front of other ponies?" Rarity asked curiously, putting her hoof down to see Dash was just sitting there now. 'And on my bed too . . . is that gross?' She wondered to herself.

"It's not like it's intimate. It's like washing your hooves." Dash explained.

"Oh, my apologies. I've never seen a pegasus do that before. So I didn't know." Rarity said with an understanding nod.

"Well, it's important to clean out dirt, straighten out, and pluck out bad feathers." Dash explained further.

"But you do that with your mouth?" Rarity questioned with a shutter as she sat down next to her on the bed.

"I'm not too much of a fan of it, and should be doing it more than I already do, but I got used to it. Been preening myself ever since my dad taught me how to. Kind of miss my little filly days when one of my parents would preen me." Dash chuckled. She stretched her wing back out to resume where she left off, but Rarity gently took the wing into her own hooves.

Rarity started examining the wing, looking for said faults Dash had mentioned. "How do you tell if a feather is too damaged?" She inquired.

"There's a couple I already pulled next to you." Dash said, waiting for her to let go so she could carry on.

"So, you prefer it when somepony else preens you?" Rarity asked, plucking out a broken feather which caused Dash to jump up at the unexpected pain.

"Yeah." She answered, settling back down.

"So why not have somepony else do it?"

"Well, it's not like I'd like a stranger do it."

"You have teammates, no? They're all pegasi." Rarity inquired. Seeing no more bad feathers, she started sifting through the rest and removing debris with her magic while one hoof held her wing in place and the other smoothed the rustled feathers back into place with careful, soft strokes.

"It's not something that . . . I mean . . . I-. . . preening another pony is only something you do when you're close." Dash hinted at, embarrassed.

"Oh." Rarity paused a second, then carried on. "Why do they have to be close?" She asked a little lost at the idea.

"Well . . . you preen with your mouth." Dash stated simply.

"I'm using my magic, not that it matters, right? We're . . . close." Rarity said the last word softly.

The realization hit Dash that Rarity was in fact preening her. She had been relaxing, but now she started to tense up. "Well, uhhh . . ." Dash's words turned into a relieved sigh as Rarity's hoof massaged the base of her wing. "Yes, right there." Dash said melting into the covers as Rarity repeated the action.

Rarity had to scooch over a bit as Dash laid down with her wings at full spread. For a small mare, she could take up a lot of space. Yet Rarity smiled down at her lovingly as she continued to message with one hoof and started preening Dash's other wing her magic and free hoof.

"This is nice." Dash understated the feeling of calmness that filled her.

"Is that so? We should go to the spa today. My hooves are nothing compared to theirs'." Rarity suggested as she turned her focus to just preening her, though she kept one hoof gently on her back.

Dash felt the urge to argue that. The fact that it was Rarity doing it was half the joy of it, but Dash lacked the nerve to dare say such a thing. She turned her head to look back at Rarity and made eye contact with her. The look in her eyes spoke of the mood that was now filling the room. Dash quickly hid her face as she blushed.

"Are you alright darling?" Rarity asked, leaning in.

"I-uh . . . yeah. Just, be careful with the wing please."

". . . Of course." Rarity said with obvious disappointment. She removed her hoof from Dash's back. She finished preening Dash's wing with work-like efficiency. Rarity then hopped off the bed and trotted over to the closet. "Now, I ended up making a new dress for today. I think you'll enjoy it." She said pulling a small red dress with a copper trim that sparkled slightly in the light.

Dash got up and went over to her. "Looks cool . . . but uh, maybe it's a bit flashy?" Dash said concerned yet trying to remain positive.

"Nonsense! Here." Rarity helped Dash into it. The dress was backless, leaving Dash's wings free. The gap ended shortly before her cutie mark. The dress was short though and came to an end three inches from the base of her tail. "Very nice." Rarity commented straightening out the dress at its ends. "What do you think?" She asked Dash, taking a moment to check out Dash's flank in the dress.

Dash looked in the mirror. 'Is Rarity- . . .' But as the thought began Rarity's attention moved to making sure the rest of the dress was in order. "Well, I . . . I'm not an expert on fashion . . ." Dash said biting her lip as she checked herself out, pushing her earlier thought away.

"I just want your opinion Dashie. Come on, you've done this a hundred times for me before." Rarity egged her on.

'Yeah, but you don't always agree with what I say about it.' Dash kept to herself before fulfilling her request. "I like that it's short, giving me the freedom to move, especially with my wings free." She gave her wings a little flutter.

"I thought you'd like that. Plus it looks so sleek and attractive on you. I had made a little jacket to go with it, to try and make it look 'cool', but it would cover your wings some. So if you want to pass on it. . ." Rarity trailed off looking at Dash as she paused outside of the closet.

"Might as well try it on since you put the work into it." Dash said while the word attractive replayed in her head on repeat.

Rarity pulled out a smokey gray jacket. "Here." And even though Dash didn't need any help getting it on, Rarity still gave it.

The jacket was worn hung open, it covered her arms and most of her wings, so no flying. Dash still thought it looked cool. "Pretty rad, Rares." Dash nodded approvingly.

Rarity smiled. 'Rad, whatever it means, is a positive word.' "You want to keep the jacket then?" She asked and Dash nodded. "One last thing then." Rarity went up to Dash's side and brought over a maneband with her magic. She put Dash's mane into a high ponytail. "There. Sporty, yet cute." Rarity commented.

Dash checked out her mane-do. "Hey, now I'm really digging this look." She waved her ponytail to and fro.

"You know darling, with a little make-up I could make the look complete." Rarity eyed Dash pleadingly.

"Uh . . . no thanks. It's perfect the way it is. Besides, I want to get going." Dash declined.

"Very well, I'll need to get dressed as well obviously. If you would please wait outside . . ." Rarity motioned a hoof toward the door.

'Why?' Dash wondered but rolled with it anyway. When she turned to leave, she spotted her discarded feathers from her preening sitting in a rather neat pile on Rarity's bed. 'Better clean that up for her.' Dash figured Rarity would find them gross. So she scooped them up in her mouth and trotted out of the room to dispose of them. After dropping them in the trash, Dash took a seat on the couch in the living room to wait for Rarity. She figured Cookie Crumbles, who was sitting next to her, would help pass the time.

"Aw, look at you Dashie dearie. Rarity fixed you up quite well. Very pretty." Cookie opened, complimenting her.

"Thank you." Dash replied bashfully. She wasn't used to being called words like pretty or beautiful and such.

"Better enjoy yourself, wasn't too long ago I was just like you. Going out on the town with my friends. That's how I met Hondo. Now I get my satisfaction from getting little Sweetie to go to bed." Cookie said with an expression that told her that's what she'd just done. She then looked about before turning to Dash. "So where is Rarity?"

"Oh, She's getting dressed upstairs." Dash answered.

"Oh, you poor dear." Cookie said with a sorrowful look.

"Huh?" Dash stared at her genially confused.

"Rarity always takes her time. I think she likes to keep her dates waiting. So I've entertained a few of her poor dates before. Usually, they're colts thou'. Then again, she could just be nervous. Wouldn't surprise me with the way she talks about you. You could be a while."

"What? N-no . . . I'm sure she'll be down here any minute." Dash said not knowing how to handle what Cookie told her.

"I'll put some tea on . . . just in case." Cookie said with a knowing laugh as she headed for the kitchen.

* * *

Rarity did some final touches on her eyeliner before checking the time. 'Almost an hour?! Where did the time go? . . . At least I look perfect. Surely I'll blow Dash away in this.' Rarity looked over her short black dress. It covered more than Dash's did, but had a revealing v-neck to show off her puffed-up chest fur. She also dawned matching heels and a ponytail of her own that curled a bit more than usual. 'Not quite in style, but I make it work. Oh! Before I forget. . .' Rarity trotted over to her bed but found the feathers she had been looking for were gone. She didn't really have time to wonder about that though, she had made dash wait long enough as it was.

Leaving her room and going downstairs, her mother spotted her, and with a sly smile called back to Dash. "Dashie Dearie, she's ready for you! And have fun." She added to Rarity before continuing toward the kitchen with two empty teacups.

Rarity could've sworn her mother was implying something suggestive by that, which made her smile. 'Just a kiss is all I'm asking for.' She wished when suddenly Dash rounded the corner.

"There you are! What . . . took . . . you. . ." Dash stared at her stunned, mouth agape. "You look . . . amazing." Dash managed to breathe out the final word.

"Sorry about that darling, but you can't rush perfection." Rarity said with a smirk at Dash's reaction. "So, shall we be off then?" She asked and Dash slowly nodded. Rarity giggled softly before leading her outside. "Rainbow, before we begin the tour, I was wondering if you did anything with those feathers I left on my bed?" She asked cautiously.

Dash had regained her composure by now, yet still had her eyes glued to Rarity. Her question had made her raise an eyebrow though. "Yeah, I threw them out. You weren't going to keep them were you?" Dash joked.

"Wha-what?! No! I mean . . . just one. That's not weird is it?" Rarity blushed at being found out.

". . . No, but you coulda just asked. I would've given you a good one." Dash said craning her head back. She plucked a feather out from what was exposed of her wing with a wince then hold it out toward Rarity. "Here." She said through the feather.

This caused Rarity to pause. "Oh . . ." She almost took it with her magic when she decided to lean in and take it with her mouth.

Dash blushed at this, having their lips so close together. For a second she wondered why Rarity stayed so close when she realized she herself hadn't let go of the feather yet and did so immediately.

Rarity placed the feather so that it stuck out from the neckline of her dress. "Thank you." She said slyly, looking away.

"No problem." Dash said quietly. "So where to first?" She spoke up suddenly, after a moment.

"Hmm . . . Sugarcube Corner seems like a good place to start."

* * *

"Heya there Rarity! Who's that you got with you?" Pinkie asked as Rarity and Rainbow Dash walked in. Pinkie then gasped as she hopped over the counter. "Is she new in town? This calls for a party!" Pinkie pulled a party cannon from thin air and fired it off in front of them, causing the two to flinch as confetti rained down on them.

"No, Dashie is just visiting. I'm showing her around town." Rarity answered, not too pleased looking. She and Dash's look did not call for a coat of confetti.

"Well, that still calls for a Ponyville welcome!" Pinkie claimed excitedly. Before them, the party cannon was replaced with her welcome wagon. "Welcome, welcome, welcome! . . ." Pinkie stared to sing, placing a party hat upon Dash's head as she danced about. At the end of her song, the wagon's horns blasted cake batter and confetti spilled from its oven. "Whoops! Did I mix the two up again?" Pinkie wondered aloud, giggling at the further mess that covered Dash.

Rarity was even more annoyed at her hard work being ruined.

Dash was more of a good sport about it, laughing as she licked some of the cake batter from her own face. "That's quite the show you put on there- . . .uh. . . " Dash started but realized she didn't know the pink pony's name.

"Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie exclaimed, pushing the wagon away and plopping down a fan that blew all of the cake batter and confetti out of the story.

Not questioning it, Rarity was just happy their manes and dresses were spotless once more.

"So Dashie, what brings you to Ponyville?" Pinkie pie asked.

"I'm just hanging out with my friend." Dash nodded to Rarity, amused by Pinkie's wackiness.

"You mean your two friends!" Pinkie corrected, giving Dash a quick hug.

"Yeah, you seem like a cool pony." Dash agreed.

"Yay! So what can I get for my two friends?" Pinkie asked, bouncing back behind the counter. "We've got everything from angel cake to zeppoles!" She announced, proudly waving a hoof toward the displays.

Rarity and Dash rooted over, taking a look at all the different sweets and treats. "I'll take a box of bonbons." Rarity said pointing.

"Why would I put Bon Bon in a box?" Pinkie asked curiously, looking toward a cream coated mare with a blue and pink mane.

"These bonbons, Pinkie." Rarity pointed once more, not sure if Pinkie was making a joke or not, but was humored nonetheless.

"Okey dokey lokey, I'll have that for you lickity split." In a flash, she had the order boxed up and tied with a ribbon. "That'll be twelve bits please, aaand . . ." Pinkie slid over to Dash who was eyeing a cupcake. "A cupcake for my new friend. The first ones are always free." She whispered, grabbing said cupcake and holding it out to her.

"Thanks, Pinkie." Dash took it and licked her lips.

"No problem. Just don't be a stranger, okay? Though how could you, we're friends." Pinkie snorted and laughed.

"See you later Pinkie." Rarity and Dash said farewell before leaving.

* * *

"Sooo, wait . . . is her name Mayor Mare or is her title, Mayor Mare?" Dash asked confused as they walked away from town hall.

"Well . . . I always thought Mare was her last name and Mayor was her title, but I guess I don't really know for sure." Rarity pondered, coming to a stop.

Dash looked around and a certain sign caught her eye. "What's up with this place?" She asked, pointing it out.

Rarity looked up then smiled knowingly. "Quills and Sofas? Yes, the name gets everypony at first, but he has the finest of both. I heard a rumor that it was meant to be quilts and sofas, but an ink smudge led to a shipping error. Such a silly story, true or made up."

"Ha, that is pretty funny." Dash looked to Rarity for what was next, and to admire her beauty as well.

"Oh! Just up ahead, around the corner, is the spa. I go there regularly with Fluttershy. She's a good friend of mine. Her name suits her. I have never-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Fluttershy?! She lives here?" Dash interrupted, shocked.

"Y-yes. She does. In a cottage at the edge of the forest. You know her?" Rarity asked caught off guard by this.

"Yeah. Me and Flutters go way back. We were best buds at flight camp. We should go see her!" Dash suggested excitedly.

"Oh, but of course! I'm sure she'll be so happy to see you again. We could have lunch all together so you two can catch up." Rarity agreed.

"Sounds good, I am starving as well." Dash said clapping her hooves together, and following as Rarity led the way.

Author's Note

Interesting point, I started shipping Rarity and Dash after rewatching Rarity Investigates week after week when the episode would play before the new episode. Now Rarity and Rainbow Dash have always been my favorite two characters. So I loved having a new episode teaming them up. However, it disappointed me that they were at odds until the end of the episode. so each time I rewatched it, I voiced over it to have them instead, love each other more and more each rewatch. I then wrote a couple of short ship fics before trying to write one that I could make as long as possible. And here I am.

Wish Come True

"I wonder if she missed me? It's been some years. I bet she's over it." Dash wondered aloud as they waited outside Fluttershy's door. Just then, the door slowly swung open.

"Hello there, Rarity. Such a lovely surprise to see you. And you brought- . . ." Fluttershy's soft-spoken voice froze when her eyes landed on Dash. Her eyes watered up and she jumped forward, embracing Dash. "Rainbow Dash! It's really you! I've missed you so much. It's- it's been so long!" Fluttershy sobbed into her shoulder.

Dash was taken aback a moment before she put a hoof around her in return. "Yeah, it's me Flutters." Dash waited for Fluttershy to end the hug before speaking again. "It's nice to finally see you again. I always wondered what you were up to." Saying that made Dash realize something and she quickly checked it. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? Three butterflies? What'd you get that for?" Dash asked, straining to look at Fluttershy's cutie mark.

"Oh! I-uh, my special talent is to communicate with animals." She answered, ducking her head timidly.

"Aw, what?! That's so freakin' radical! So you can talk to them and like, you understand each other?" Dash asked pumped.

Fluttershy nodded. "C-come on in. We have a lot to catch up on."

"Yeah, we do!" Dash stumbled a bit as she attempted to fly inside, forgetting about her jacket for a second. She then hurried inside on hoof, embarrassed.

Rarity followed behind, pausing a moment to smile at Fluttershy and wipe a tear away from her eye from watching the two friends' reunion.

Fluttershy quickly wiped away what remained of her own tears before smiling back. "Thank you." She said softly.

"For what?" Rarity asked, not fully understanding.

"Reuniting me with my first friend." Fluttershy said, still hushed.

That made it hit Rarity, Fluttershy had told her before that she had had only one friend before coming to Ponyville and that they had been inseparable. She had never told her who that pony was til now. Her stunned gaze drifted to Dash who was standing inside looking around.

"By Celestia, Flutters. You some crazy catmare or something? All this stuff for animals." Dash said oblivious to their conversation.

"Oh, well I try to help as many as I can, and when one wants to stay . . . how could I say no?" Fluttershy explained, petting the head of a rabbit that had hopped over to her.

"It's a sweet place you got, but uh . . . how do you get by?" Dash asked taking a seat on her couch.

"I take care of everyponys' pets in town when needed. I also sell them pet food and medicine for their little critters." Fluttershy took a seat next to Dash. A little songbird flew over and landed on Fluttershy's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek.

'So awesome.' Dash thought. "So you're doing really well, even though you dropped out of flight camp."

"Yes, I make enough to support my critter friends and I. Though . . . I am a weak flyer."

"But you found your special talent, that's what's up. Speaking of which . . ." Dash jumped up and showed off her own cutie mark. "Check this bad boy out!"

Rarity rolled her eyes at the sight of one of her friends putting her butt in front of the other's face. The things Dash would do sometimes.

"Oh, I was just racing . . . and pulled off a sonic rainboom!"

"Wow." Fluttershy said both politely and impressed.

"What's a rainboom?" Rarity asked lost.

"It's what happens when I break the sound barrier. A huge rainbow explodes outwards from behind me." Dash said with a cocky smile.

"That sounds amazing! I would love to see that!" Rarity exclaimed, fascinated by the idea.

"Heh, I'll show you it sometime." Dash said with a little nervous laugh. Rarity gave Dash a questioning look that she avoided.

"So Rainbow, how have you been??" Fluttershy asked.

"Great! Didn't you hear? I led the Junior Speedsters to the best record of the year and into the playoffs!" Dash boasted proudly.

"Sorry, no. I hadn't, but I don't really follow sports anyways . . . isn't the season still going?" Fluttershy questioned, thinking about it.

". . .Not for us, the speedsters I mean. We lost in the first round." Dash said visibly sinking.

"I'm sorry to hear that . . ." Fluttershy thought for a moment for a change of subject. "So what brought you over to my place?"

"Rarity mentioned your name and suggested we hang out over lunch." Dash said perking back up.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly go out. I don't have anything to wear and you both are dressed up, but I could make something for us all. How's cucumber sandwiches and tea sound?" Fluttershy offered.

"Good." Dash agreed and Rarity nodded.

The three of them swapped stories about how they all knew each other; Fluttershy and Dash from flight camp, Rarity met Fluttershy when she had been looking for feathers for a hat, and of course Rarity and Rainbow shared their own story. There wasn't enough time left in the day for all their catching up for it was getting late and Fluttershy had to tend to her animals. So she bided her two friends farewell.

"Whoa! Today has been the best! Thanks for the tour Rarity, I had a blast!" Dash said gleefully as they walked away from Fluttershy's cottage.

Rarity looked to see that the sun would start setting soon. "Well Rainbow, there is one more spot I want to show you." Rarity said, hoping this plan of hers would fulfill her one wish for their date.

"Sure thing. Lead the way." Dash agreed cheerfully.

It wasn't that long of a walk till they reached a hilltop that was dotted with trees. Rarity walked up to a tree and took a seat under it.

"Are we taking a break?" Dash questioned puzzled as she trotted up to her.

"No. This is what I wanted to show you, look." Rarity waved a hoof at the view that overlooked Ponyville and all of its surroundings, as well as the coming sunset. "This is my favorite spot to go to when I want to relax or need inspiration. Here, have a seat." Rarity patted the ground next to herself.

Dash stared out at the view for a moment before stepping forward and taking a seat. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was up and it made her feel uneasy.

Rarity smiled as she stared out at the landscape. 'Now-' Her thought was ended as soon as it began when she felt Dash nudge her. She glanced over at her to see Dash fidgeting about. "Something troubling you darling?" Rarity shared her confusion aloud.

"Yeah-, I mean no . . . it's just that I'm so used to flying all the time, so it feels weird having my wings covered all day long. You mind if I stretch them real quick?" Dash requested. Flying always put her mind at ease and all this being earthbound was driving her nuts as well.

"Go ahead. It'll be a few minutes till sunset." Rarity nodded.

"Cool, here." Dash pulled her jacket off and put it over Rarity's shoulders. "You don't like it when I set your clothes on the floor, so I bet the ground is a no-go as well." With that, Dash took to the sky with a single flap of her wings.

Rarity nuzzled the jacket, enjoying its warmth and appreciating Dash's kind act. Her eyes switched over to watching Dash twist through the sky.

After a few twists, while gaining height, Dash did a couple of loops. Dash took a moment to close her eyes as she soared through the skies. She felt so free as the air hit her face and passed over her feathers. Her dress held her back some through, and it made her come to a hover as she could feel it slipping. She muttered her annoyance as she corrected her dress when she heard clapping.

"Bravo! Excellent flying skills!" Rarity cheered from below.

"Thanks, but that was nothing. Check this out!" Dash smirked as she ran through a routine of sharp turns and tight loops. A showy pattern that was all about pulling off rapid short tricks in a confined airspace. At the end of it, she was fixing her dress once more. "Any request?" Dash asked as she got set to go again.

"Uh . . . oh! Do a rainboom!" Rarity requested excitedly.

". . . uh, I can't really break the sound barrier in a dress." Dash pointed out as an excuse.

Rarity saw her logic in that, having seen her struggle with the dress already. "How about sky-writing?" Rarity asked.

'How is she naming everything I can't do?' Dash thought. "I could do some cloud sculpting?"

"Even better!"

"What would you like?" Dash asked relieved

"A heart please." Rarity said with an innocent smile.

'Easy.' Dash thought. Spotting the closest cloud, Dash zoomed over to it and brought it back over. In a few passes, she made a perfect heart. "Ta-da! Anything else?" Dash offered, showing off her completed work.

Rarity took a second to admire it. "A flower."

At her words, Dash went to work. "One minute . . ." It took a bit of effort, but Dash was able to morph the cloud into the shape of a flower, even if a petal or two were a little wonky. "Anything else?" Dash asked ready to go again.

"No, no. The sun's starting to set. Come watch it with me." Rarity declined, seeing that the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon.

"Alright." Dash rolled her eyes. She'd rather keep flying, but for Rarity's sake she landed and laid down next to her. Dash's front legs stretched out in front of her as her back legs curled up at her side. It was a beautiful view, but for Dash, it got boring fast. She found it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open and soon a yawn escaped her. 'Come on Dash, don't fall asleep on her now. Just rest your eyes for a sec.' She told herself, resting her head on her hooves.

Rarity was feeling somewhat wary herself, her eyes half-lidded as she watched the last few rays of sunlight fade away. She looked to Dash to see how she was doing. 'Is she asleep?' A snore from Dash answered that question for her. 'Of course she's tired, it's been a very long day for her. Can't have her fly home this worn out. She'll have to sleep over. I'll let her have a quick little nap first though.' Rarity scooted closer to Dash, pressing herself gently against her. Like before, Dash stopped snoring. 'I wonder if this only works with me?' She thought amused, watching Dash sleep. 'She's so cute. I love you, Dashie.' Rarity softly kissed the top of Dash's head. She looked to the first appearing stars and sent a silent thanks for letting her get the kiss she wished for. While not what she was expecting, it was still nice. She turned back to Dash . . . who was staring back at her.

"Did you just kiss my forehead?" Dash asked.

Rarity's heart sank, then went full-on panic. "What?! I thought you were asleep. I mean it wasn't like I didn't want you to know or anything. I was . . .uh-" 'Oh no, she's going to think I'm some sort of creep and hate me!' She thought freaking out.

"Rarity!" Dash shouted sharply, snapping her out of it. Their eyes met and for a moment all was quiet and then Dash's lips locked onto Rarity's.

Rarity couldn't believe it at first. She thought she was dreaming. Finally, this was happening. In returning the kiss, she could feel all the energy and emotion Dash was putting into it until she pulled away from it.

"I love you Rarity." Dash spoke softly.

Rarity smiled and embraced her. "I love you too." She told her, fighting back tears.

Dash nuzzled her tenderly before they stood up.

"Come on, let's go home. My parents must be worried with how late it is." Rarity took Dash's hoof, making her invitation to come with her obvious.

Dash readily followed her, having no interest in flying home away. The whole walk back Rarity leaned against Dash affectionately.

"There you two are. Did you both have fun today?" Cookie greeted them upon their return.

"It was everything I could have asked for." Rarity said dreamily, hugging Dash and rubbing her cheek against her's.

Dash nodded, blushing in embarrassment.

"That's good to hear. Are you all hungry? I could whip something up for ya real quick." Cookie offered.

Rarity looked to Dash to answer first.

"N-no. I'm just tired." Dash stuttered, feeling awkward having Rarity all over her. It wasn't something she was used to.

"Yes, it's been a long day, so Dash is going to sleep over again, and we were going to head straight to bed." Rarity told her mother.

"Alright, just give me a holler if you need anything." Cookie let them know.

"We will." Rarity said cheerfully in a sing-song voice as she went up the stairs with Dash trailing close behind.

Once in her bedroom, the two of them stripped off their dresses. Dash passed her's to Rarity to put away. While she did that she spotted the feather she had given Rarity sitting on the dresser. "So, what are you going to do with my feather?" She asked.

"I was thinking of putting it into a hairpiece, or maybe a hat." Rarity said while she thought what would look good. "That wouldn't be weird, would it?" She asked quickly.

"No, not at all! It'll be like I'm actually helping you make something." Dash said liking the idea.

"Dashie, you help me plenty when you try on dresses for me. It helps me with sizing and seeing how well everything fits and works together." Rarity assured her.

"Yeah, but this will be more personal. An actual piece of me in your work. I could always give you more if need be." Dash said thinking ahead.

"No, that won't be necessary. Your feather will be a one-time, for me only, piece. To remind me of today." She said with a loving smile.

Dash nodded, though Rarity wasn't looking, then proceeded to get into bed. "Rarity? . . ." Dash started once Rarity began to join her in bed.

"Yes?"

"Does tonight . . . change anything?" Dash asked worried that her question was going to seem dumb.

"What do you mean darling?" She asked, settling down so that she and Dash were laying face to face.

"Well . . .we're not going to be all lovely dovey lame, are we?" Dash clarified, dreading the idea of acting like how other couples she'd seen were.

Rarity giggled at such a silly question. "Well that depends, is snuggling lame?" Rarity asked in return, snuggling up into Dash's hooves.

"No." Dash answered softly, holding her.

"How about kissing?" Rarity inquired as she planted little on Dash's reddening cheeks.

"No." Dash repeated.

"Then I think we're safe." Rarity declared and they shared a kiss.

As they did that, there was a knock at the door. "Rarity dearie, it's me. I'm coming in!" Cookie's voice came through the door.

Rarity quickly pulled away from Dash and sat up as the door opened.

"What are you two girls up to?" Cookie asked, stepping into the room.

"We were just getting comfortable." Rarity explained.

Dash turned her head and nodded in agreement.

"Mmm-hmm. Well, would you like a glass of water?" She asked her daughter.

"I'm fine, thank you." Rarity shook her head.

"Glass of water Dashie?" Cookie looked to Dash.

"I'm good." Dash answered quickly.

"Very well. Have a goodnight's sleep you two." Cookie turned out the lights as she trotted out of the room.

Rarity flopped back down. "So embarrassing." She whispered.

Dash snuggled back up to her, holding her like before. "Better?" She asked.

"Yes." Rarity nodded, nuzzling her in thanks before they started to doze off.

Author's Note

Love at last! Another shorter chapter, but long for taking place over one day. This chapter had no scene breaks in it. Other than that . . . I know I've been typing this up pretty slow, but I promise I'll get it all done. Almost typed up 100 pages so far.

A Bad Idea

Dash stood at the edge of a cloud, flexing her wings impatiently. She shot a distasteful look back at flight school. 'Come on guys, school's out, let's leave already. Hate this place. Only thing good about it is hoofball. At least I'm headed for Rarity's place. Can't wait to see her again. It's been a few days since our date.' Dash couldn't help but smile at the memories of that day. A sudden kiss on her cheek made her jump back in surprise. She turned to see Sunbeam hovering just past the cloud she was on. "For Celestia's sake Sunbeam, don't startle me like that!"

"Sorry. Couldn't help myself. Seems like I only ever see you at practice." He said and nuzzled her.

Dash cringed, feeling uncomfortable. 'This isn't okay and needs to stop. I'm with Rarity now. Better break it to him that I'm not interested.' "About that . . . we need to talk." Dash started, gently pushing him away.

"Practice isn't canceled, is it?" Misty Dawn asked, trotting up from behind.

"Huh, what?" Dash spun around, caught off guard by her appearance.

"Sunbeam told me it was cool if I wanted to join and that Derpy didn't have a partner to practice with, so I thought I'd tag along." Misty said, and Dash noticed Derpy was standing alongside Misty.

"Oh, well . . . no, everything's fine." Dash couldn't do it in front of them. 'I'll just have to talk to him privately some other time.'

"Alright, cool. Oh and Dash . . ." Misty Dawn went up close to Dash's ear and spoke softly. "Since when have you two been a couple?"

Dash looked away and blushed. 'Oh great, he must've told the whole team about our kiss, and now everypony thinks we're dating.' Dash couldn't believe her bad luck with this, the timing couldn't have been worse. "I . . . uh, a couple of days ago." Dash felt forced to admit. 'Ah, horsefeathers.'

* * *

Arriving at Rarity's house, they greeted Hondo in the front yard.

Dash started to head toward the house to say a quick hi to Rarity when she was stopped by Sunbeam.

"Hey Rainbow, where you going? Not much room for running routes by the house." He pointed out.

"I, uh . . . was just going to the restroom." Dash said to excuse herself.

"Ok, I'll be waiting." Sunbeam started to lean in and for whatever it was about to be, Dash wasn't about to allow it.

She put a hoof up to stop him. "Hey, let's . . . uh, keep it professional while at practice." Dash told him. 'That'll buy me some time till I break it to him.'

"Right, gotcha." He said with a wink. He trotted a short way away before taking a seat on the ground.

Dash blew out a breath and hurried inside. She quickly found Rarity playing with Sweetie Belle in the living room.

Rarity carefully rolled a ball, with her magic, to her younger sister. Sweetie in turn poked it back to her. "Come on now Sweetie, use your magic." Rarity encouraged, demonstrating.

Sweetie Belle nodded and focused. Straining, she got her horn to glow but ended up smacking the ball away and laughing.

Rarity shook her head with the hint of a smile. "Honestly Sweetie Belle, you try me sometimes." She muttered with a sigh before turning to Dash. "Afternoon Rainbow. Sweetie, say hello to Rainbow Dash." She told her sister.

Sweetie Belle excitedly scrambled up to Dash and spread her hooves out for a hug. "I wuv you, Wainbow Dass." She squeaked.

Dash smiled and hugged her. 'I'm not one to care much about foals, but that was pretty freaking cute.'

"See, I can teach her some things." Rarity said proudly.

"Not that I doubted you, but hey, I was just stopping in to say hi. I got to get back to practice. I'll see you afterward, okay?" Dash said looking at Rarity as she let Sweetie Belle go.

Rarity nodded. "I'll be here with Sweetie."

"Cool. See ya then, you too Sweetie." Dash said and ruffled Sweetie Belle's mane before heading back outside.

* * *

Rarity hummed to herself as she laid out some fabric to measure.

"Hey, Rare." Dash's voice came from behind her.

Rarity turned her head around to see Dash leaning against the doorjamb. "Finished with practice? I was about to get started on a project, so you're welcome to take a seat on my bed and talk as usual." She said smiling at the uselessness of pointing out that last part.

"Actually . . . I was thinking . . ." Dash said trotting toward her.

"Yes?" Rarity egged her on.

"It's been a few days and with the long flights and practice . . . I could use a good preening."Dash said and bit her lip.

"Hmm, very well. Same spot as last time." Rarity approved the idea and hopped onto her bed.

Like a bolt, Dash assumed her position and waited for Rarity to take her place behind her.

"Wing out." Rarity ordered and Dash's right wing obeyed. Rarity carefully took the wing into her hooves and started her work. "So Dashie, when did you realize that you loved me?" She asked curiously.

"Uh . . ." Dash thought back but drew a blank. "I don't really remember, but I can tell you this. From the moment I first saw you I thought you were the prettiest mare I'd ever seen. Too pretty to be waiting in line for my autograph." Dash confessed.

"Awww." Rarity nuzzled Dash's cheek. For a minute a silence came over them as Rarity continued to preen her. "Well? . . . Aren't you going ask me the same thing?" Rarity spoke up.

"Huh? Oh, uh . . . I don't really care actually." Dash said with a shrug, then jumped at a sharp pain. "Ow!"

"Sorry, broken feather." Rarity said with a snide tone and snorted angrily as she set the plucked feather aside.

'Well, I messed that up real fast.' "Go ahead and tell me." Dash said, trying to make it up to her.

"Oh no, as you said, you don't care."

At that, Dash thought better of opening her big mouth again, until Rarity got started on her other wing. "Rarity? Could you . . . do that one thing?" Dash asked nervously.

"That one thing?" Rarity asked confused, halting her efforts.

"Where you massage the base of my wing." Dash explained.

". . . Like this?" Rarity asked, moving a hoof over and rubbed the muscles at the base of her wing.

"Yyyeah." Dash said relaxing instantly.

"You know Dash, You feel so tense, and as I suggested before the spa here in Ponyville will take better care of you than I can."

"Yeah, but the whole point is that it's you doing it." Dash said looking over her shoulder at Rarity with a dream-like look upon her face.

"Aw, Dash that's so sweet of you." Rarity gave her a peck on the lips that Dash returned.

Dash turned around and gave her a more passionate kiss as well and started a hoof on her side as well.

Rarity giggled softly and pushed Dash away in a smooth motion. "Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself? I wasn't done preening you, you know."

"Oh, ah . . . right." Dash turned back, sitting down. "Sorry, a good preening can get a pegasus kinda . . . heated, if you know what I mean." She explained.

Rarity made a puzzled face. "I thought you said there was nothing sensual about preening."

". . . Yeah, I did . . . I lied." Dash admitted simply.

"Rainbow!"

"What? You wouldn't have done it otherwise." Dash defended herself.

"Well, at least I know I'm good at it apparently." Rarity said with a smirk and some pride.

"It's certainly different."

"What do you mean?"

"It's just that I've never seen, let alone had a pony preen with just their hooves before. Not that it's bad, just different." Dash informed her.

"I use my magic as well."

"Ha! Yeah, for my least favorite part, pulling feathers." Dash scoffed.

'It's not like I'm an expert at this, but I guess I could always learn more.' "So what would you recommend?" Rarity inquired.

"You remember how I was preening myself?"

Rarity took a moment to think back and then made a disgusted face at what Dash was suggesting. "Are you serious?! Do you realize how dirty your feathers get? You didn't even shower after practice. You're lucky I'm even preening you now." Rarity said, put off at the thought of using her mouth to preen. 'All that filth.' She shivered.

"Yeah, I know. The only other thing I can think of is being more gentle when pulling feathers." Dash said kicking her hooves out, back and forth, grumpy at the rejection. 'Shoulda saw it coming.'

"Of course." Rarity nodded, making a mental note. She hopped off the bed once finished with Dash's other wing. "Are you going to stay over again tonight?" Rarity asked as Dash examined her wings.

"Uh . . . no. I'm visiting a friend tonight."

"Oh . . ." Rarity started, obviously disappointed. "Do you think we could make sleepovers a regular thing? Like once a week?" She suggested.

Dash paused then looked at Rarity knowingly. Of course, she wanted to snuggle up with her at night, even Dash had to admit it was better than sleeping alone. "Yeah Rare. Sounds cool to me. How's . . . Mondays?"

Rarity looked taken aback. "A school night?"

"Well, games and whatnots are on weekends so . . ." Dash responded. Whatnots being parties, hanging out, as well as official practices once they started back up again.

"But you won't have any games for a while . . . how about Fridays?" Rarity counter-offered.

Dash thought about it. " . . . Deal."

* * *

"Yo Gilda, how's it going?" Dash greeted, flying up to the table her friend was sitting at.

"Not much." Gilda mumbled, sliding Dash a mug of cider as she took a seat across from her.

Dash immediately took a greedy swing from it.

"I heard you and Sunbeam are a thing now." She commented.

Dash almost did a spit take. "Where did you hear that?" She asked.

"From Sunbeam. So it's true?"

"No! . . . Well, I mean . . . it's weird. Hard to explain." Dash said, biting her lip.

"Seems like it should be pretty straightforward. Are you two dating or not?" Gilda pressured.

"You don't get it! After practice, we're just chilling and he comes out and tells me he loves me, before I know it he' kissing me!" Dash blurted out.

"What did you do?" Gilda asked, wanting further explanation.

"I-I think I thanked him and flew off." Dash said planting her face into the table ashamed.

"Did you like it?" The kiss?"

"Yes." Dash grumbled.

"Ha! You're so lame Dash!" Gilda laughed.

"But we're not dating! I'm going to break it to him tomorrow." Dash declared, sitting back up.

"Well hold on a second now. Think about it. This mess you got in could actually be a blessing." Gilda told her, receiving a questioning look in response. "Dumbbell and Hoops will stop calling you a fillyfooler, they might leave you alone altogether." Gilda explained.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought of that before, but . . ." 'What about Rarity?' Dash didn't dare say aloud.

"But what?"

"I can't just use him like that. He's a cool colt and all, that'd be pretty messed up for me to do." Dash excused with that reason instead of her other relationship.

"The beauty of it is that it's a win-win, Dash. He loves you, clearly. So . . . he gets to date you and you don't get bullied. All you have to do is play marefriend for him. Shouldn't be too hard since you like him. Who knows? Maybe he'll grow on you." Gilda nudged Dash with an elbow teasingly.

Dash rolled her eyes and leaned back. 'It makes sense, but what about Rares? Well, I don't love Sunbeam so it wouldn't really be cheating. And he wouldn't try anything at practice because I cleared that up with him already. And the rest of our time spent together is spent up on clouds, Rarity wouldn't find out about it. This . . . might actually be a good plan.' Dash nodded slowly. "Maybe. . ." She said, still thinking about it.

"Come on Dash, what's the harm? He already thinks you're dating. Might as well roll with it for the time being. If you don't like then you can break up with him." Gilda pushed her idea more, and to Dash she was right.

She might as well try it and bail whenever she wanted to. "Alright, but no making fun of me for having a coltfriend. Otherwise it kind of defeats the whole purpose." Dash agreed.

* * *

"I have to say, I never saw you falling for a pony like Rarity, Rainbow . . . no offense." Fluttershy quickly, yet still soft-spoken, apologized to Rarity as she set some tea down for the three of them.

"Oh, none taken. It's easy to imagine Rainbow with somepony more . . ." Rarity paused to make sure she'd get the wording right.

"Radical and cool?" Dash finished for her.

"Hey! I'm cool!" Rarity argued with a pose.

"Pft. More like radiant and . . . cute." Dash claimed, earning a squeezing hug from Rarity. Dash shook her head with an amused little smirk. 'I swear love is making me so lame.'

"Well, I think you two make a cute couple." Fluttershy declared. "Though Rainbow, you always told me you weren't into mares. Was that just because of Dumbbell's and Hoops's teasing?"

"What?! Dashie, you have bullies?" Rarity asked shocked.

'Oh no. Why'd ya have to bring that up Fluttershy?' Dash face-hoofed. "Had bullies, they don't bother me anymore." Dash lied.

"Hmph! The nerve of some ponies, to mock a pony for her sexual orientation." Rarity said angered by the notion.

"Oh yes, they were the worst. At flight camp, they would pick on me for everything. Luckily I had Rainbow there for me. She'd always stand up for me and encourage me. We were inseparable." Fluttershy said reminiscing.

"Oh, that's my Dashie." Rarity squeezed Dash once more, this time holding the embrace.

Dash blushed while failing to look unaffected by the hug.

"I would definitely say that without Rainbow Dash, I wouldn't be the pony I am today." Fluttershy said with a grateful look to Dash, whose blush deepened as she avoided eye contact.

"It was nothing."

* * *

"You know Dash, that was very brave of you to stand up to those bullies, not just for yourself, but for Fluttershy too." Rarity stated as she removed her make-up at her dresser.

Dash looked annoyed to have this subject brought up again. "It's not like Fluttershy ever did anything to deserve it. She always minded her own business." Dash said resting her chin on top of her hooves from her spot on Rarity's bed.

"Oh, like you ever did anything to deserve it." Rarity scoffed.

"Actually, me and them kind of did it to each other. Not only was I younger than most others there, but they also didn't like the fact that I was a mare either. It started with some dumb remark about colts being better and so I pushed myself to compete against them at almost everything. And I would win too when they weren't cheating or playing unfair." Dash finished with a huff.

"As far as I'm concerned, that only makes them worse. You don't see them anymore, do you?" Rarity asked, getting up and moving over to take a seat next to her.

"No." Dash lied with a bitterness under her breath.

"No pony else bullies you, do they?" Rarity asked as she summoned a brush over to brush Dash's mane.

"No." Dash said louder and more bitterly, causing Rarity to drop the brush which clanked onto the floor.

"You know Rainbow, those bullies-" Rarity started gently only to be cut off by Dash jumping to her hooves.

"Enough about bullies already! It's all past now and it's stupid anyway!" Dash took a breath and hung her head. ". . . I just don't want to talk about it, okay?" She said softly to make up for her outburst.

Nothing happened for a moment and then, feeling Dash's hidden pain, Rarity pulled Dash into a comforting hug. 'Poor Dashie . . . you were there for Fluttershy, but no one was there for you. . . ' Rarity realized.

Dash put a hoof around Rarity in return. Both of them shed tears that were secretly wiped away.

* * *

"So Dash, you got your date tonight huh?" Gilda asked, leaning against some lockers as Dash was putting stuff away, with some effort, in her locker.

'Come on dang it. Fit so I can leave already.' Dash thought then glanced at Gilda with a glare that reminded her of her no-making-fun-of-me-for-dating promise. "Yeah. All this stuff I got going on is keeping me busy. I'm so glad school's ending." Dash answered.

"Hopefully he doesn't bore you to death." Gilda said checking her talons for any dirt and flicking it off.

"Nah, he's pretty cool. We were friends before hoof, so it's always fun. We do the same stuff we basically always have . . . just a bit more intimate." 'Which usually feels pretty weird.' Dash thought. For her, acting like she had romantic feelings for Sunbeam was difficult. She certainly was no actress.

"He's growing on you, huh? Guess that means you'll have no time for me." Gilda said, faking being hurt. She was no actress either.

"Hey, we're still down for tomorrow? Games at your place, right?" Dash asked for confirmation.

Gilda nodded. "Yeah, see ya then." Gilda waved her goodbye and made her exit.

Dash struggled a bit more before finally shoving her locker shut. Turning away, she came face to face with Dumbbell, Hoops was right behind him.

"hey there, Rainbow Crash. Why are you seeing a colt? Aren't mares your kind of thing? He's not even a griffon." Dumbbell stuck his tongue out in disgust at the idea.

"Yeah, bad enough you're a fillyfooler, but you can't stick to your own kind till now?" Hoops added with a mocking laugh.

"Why don't you do us a favor and stay with just the chickenhead. We don't want whatever disease you two have spreading around." Dumbbell gave Dash a hard shove that made her stumble backward.

"Buck you!" Dash yelled raising a hoof, but then bit her bit. 'I can't get into another fight, Rarity would be so disappointed in me . . . but the-' Dash was snapped back into reality by Dumbbell slamming her against the lockers.

"You raise a hoof at me? You need to learn a lesson in pain, Crash." He threatened.

"Let me go, featherbrain!" Dash spat angrily, figuring a fight was inevitable at this point.

"Nah, I think-." Dumbbell started raising his own hoof while keeping her pinned.

"I think you should let her go." Sunbeam cut in, hooking Dumbbell's hoof in his own.

Dumbell turned to him. "Why don't you mind your own business?" He snapped.

"Cause she's my marefriend." Sunbeam stated obviously. "Now let her go . . . unless you want us to really get started." Sunbeam threatened with a nod to Dash, who smirked.

Dumbbell looked at each of them, sure he had Hoops on his side, but with the odds suddenly evening out he didn't like his chances in a fair fight. "Pfft, whatever." Dumbbell let Dash go and bitterly started trotting away with Hoops. "You better watch yourself Crash, your special somepony won't always be there to save your flank you know."

Dash and Sunbeam glared after them until they were out of view around the corner. "Are you okay?" Sunbeam asked looking to Dash with worry.

"Duh. Thanks for the help . . . though I could've handled that myself." Dash said for her pride's sake.

"True, but I thought I'd save you a few scrapes and bruises." He half-joked and stepped closer to her.

Dash suddenly felt uncomfortable, unsure of what to do next. 'Do I thank him? No, I just did that. Well, what then? He's supposed to be your coltfriend.' She told herself and in a panic, she clumsily kissed his cheek with enough momentum that it pushed his head away as she planted it. Dash turned away after that, thoroughly embarrassed with herself. To her surprise though, he put a wing around her shoulders.

"So I take it you're ready for our date then?" He asked.

Dash faced him and saw his kind smile. "Y-yeah. Your place right?" Dash stammered. 'Why is it so difficult to be romantic with him when he does it so effortlessly?'

"Oh shoot! That's right. My parents have company over. Is your place alright?" Sunbeam asked with sudden realization.

"Oh, my place . . . " 'What would my parents think? Wait, I could tell them it's just a teammate hanging out. It's sorta true.' "That works just fine."

* * *

"You know, we don't get much time together . . ." Sunbeam began as he and Rainbow landed in front of her house.

"What are you talking about? We hang out at practice and we go to school together. So . . ." Dash trailed off after cutting in.

"I mean like tonight. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, this is our first date, but for all the other time we spend together it's never close, but I was thinking we could walk together between classes and I could fly you home." Sunbeam suggested.

"Ummm, sure . . . I guess you could do that." Dash said after a moment of hesitation. 'I don't think this is much of a date. Just chilling at my place talking about tricks and hoofball.' Dash thought as she led him inside.

"Hey! What's up kiddo? I got hayburgers in the fridge if you want one." Dash's dad, Bow Hothoof, greeted as they trotted in. "Oh hey, you brought a teammate home with ya? Well, there's one for you in there too if you want." He added to Sunbeam.

"Thank you, Bow. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Your daughter is quite a skilled flyer. She's also pretty tough, but she's got a sweet side as well." Sunbeam greeted her dad with a hoofshake, he smiled back at Dash who was stuck staring at the questioning gaze her father was giving her.

'What does he think about all this...?' Dash worried.

". . . Yep, that's my little Wonderbolt alright. Why don't ya help yourself to a hayburger . . . Dash will join you in a minute." Bow said and Sunbeam nodded, trotting out of the room. "So . . . what happened with that unicorn mare? You really seemed to like her." Bow asked his daughter.

"Shhh! No, I'm still seeing Rarity . . . it's just this is complicated." Dash tried to explain.

"Ah, well . . . just be sure to have fun." Bow nodded toward the kitchen.

Dash held her ground for a moment, bewildered by that response, but then decided to catch up to Sunbeam.

"Cause when you play with fire . . . you're gonna get burned." Bow muttered to himself as he stared after her.

Author's Note

At first, parts with Dash's parents were wrote with them as OCs as they hadn't been introduced in the show yet. Most changes were made because of that, were just name changes to be show accurate. So they may be OOC at times, even if there's only one episode to work off of.

Fragile Wings

As school let out, Dash found a lot of free time she gained being used right back up. Sunbeam always wanted to hang out, which Dash struggled to balance avoiding and going. Of course, Rarity wanted more time with her as well. Even though she didn't push Dash for it, Dash felt Rarity was upset about their lack of time together or maybe it was just herself feeling that way.

As the weeks rolled by, practice was also seeing more and more of the Junoir Speedsters coming over to Hondo's place to be coached by him. Having Sunbeam and Rarity at the same place was worrisome for Dash at first, but as it turned out neither showed any interest in talking to the other. And for the usually short times Rarity watched them, she quietly stayed back . . . with a few cheers for Dash sometimes, but she was never around for the few times Sunbeam flirted with Dash.

Everything was going pretty smooth but with school out, she never ran into Dumbbell or Hoops. So the whole point of dating Sunbeam seemed voided. The only thing that kept it going was the fear that dumping him would just invite the teasing to return next school year, which was all too quickly approaching. Besides that, she didn't want to hurt his feelings. He was her friend, and she didn't know how she'd word it. So Dash decided not to worry about it, everything was going fine, and it was just about to get even better.

"Alright everypony, it's getting late, so let's wrap this up." Hondo announced, ending the current practice.

The group of pegasi would normally start saying their goodbyes and their flights home, but this time with hushed whispers they went up to Hondo. "Hey, coach?" Misty Dawn started, coach was kind of a force of habit to call him that stuck.

"Yes?" Hondo asked, curious about what was going on.

"We've had a lot of fun having you coach us . . ." She carried on.

"You're so good at it and you treat us so nicely." Derpy spoke up, getting murmurs of agreement.

"And well . . . WE WANT YOU TO BE OUR COACH!" Misty blurted out.

"Yeah! The Speedsters even have an opening. We only have a head coach, and you are so much better than him." Sunbeam added.

Hondo's gaze swept across the team in surprise. He saw that they were all in agreement over the matter. "Wow. You know I've had a wonderful time overseeing you all practice. Giving you all tips and advice along the way . . . it's been nice to get back into goofball, a reminder of my playing days . . . Not to get all your hopes up . . . I'd like to, but I'll have to talk it over with my family first and see where it goes from there." Hondo told them, which was enough to get them all excited.

Dash quickly said her goodbyes to the rest of the team before she hurried inside after Hondo. "So? So, are you gonna do it?" Dash asked pumped.

"I already told you Dash that I'll have to talk it over with Cookie first."

"About what?" Cookie asked walking into the room. The little commotion attracted Rarity into the room as well.

"The Junior Speedsters want me to be their coach." Hondo informed his beloved wife.

"Oh? Aren't you already? You have Dashie's team tearing up our yard every week, don't cha know." Cookie joked.

"They want to make it official and coach their actual games." Hondo said, straightening out the issue.

Rarity perked up. "Oh, oh, father! What a splendid idea! You absolutely must do it!" She pranced excitedly in place.

"Yeah, it'll be so awesome! You know you want to!" Dash added in, hovering above Rarity.

"Hush you two! You only want him to say yes so you get more time together!" Cookie scolded them teasingly.

Dash and Rarity both had a mix of shame and embarrassment on their faces.

"But she is right, you do want this. I can see it in your eyes. Every time that team comes over there's a light in them. A light I haven't seen since your playing days. I've missed that light as much as you've missed hoofball." Cookie said, putting a hoof to his chin and staring into his eyes.

Hondo sighed lovingly. "You're right, but what about all that traveling we've been planning?"

"It can wait. I'm much too busy with Sweetie Belle as it is anyways." Cookie said with a little laugh.

"Fair point . . . alright, I'll do it. I'll send the school a letter tomorrow." Hondo's words made Rarity and Dash look at each other excitedly.

Dash hugged her from above. Rarity returned it the only she really could, by putting a hoof on her's and nuzzling her cheek.

* * *

While Rarity wanted to celebrate the prospect of spending the upcoming season with Dash, they both needed a shower. She let Dash go first as to not have her sweaty rump stinking up her room. A plus was that Dash was fast, so Rarity got her turn after a short wait. Not wanting to keep Dash waiting long in return, Rarity hurried through her routine. Once she had her mane straight and coat dried, she trotted back into her room. She was surprised to find Dash laid out on her bed . . . enjoying a book. Getting closer, Rarity made out the book's cover and title; How to preen your colt.. 'There's no way I just left that out. I-. . .' Rarity noticed the bedside dresser drawer it was kept in was open. 'She went through my stuff!' Rarity's face reddened with anger. "Rainbow Dash . . ." She warned through gritted teeth.

"Hey, Rares. This is quite the book you got here. You get this for me? I don't know about this one though, I don't have one of those." Dash said, turning the book around so Rarity could see the page she was on. On one side were descriptive how-to paragraphs, but of course, Dash was pointing to the lewd picture involving a mare straddling a colt.

Rarity's face turned a deeper shade of red as embarrassment mixed with her building rage. Magic enveloped the book, closing it and lifting it away.

"Awww, I didn't even get to show you page forty-two, I really liked tha-" THWACK! Dash was shut up by the book smacking onto the top of her head. "OW!"

"How dare you go through my possessions without my permission! And then you go and-and . . . do that." Rarity huffed.

Dash rubbed the top of her head. "To be fair I stopped once I saw that book. I didn't even look in your diary which was right beneath it." THWACK! "Alright, alright, I get it! I'm sorry! I was just messing with you. I didn't mean to upset you." Dash apologized.

Rarity let out a breath, calming herself. The book floated back into its drawer to be hidden elsewhere, along with her diary, later. "Well, it wasn't funny. In fact, it was quite inappropriate." Rarity stated, composing herself.

"But did you get that to try stuff on me? I mean why, your colt?" Dash asked wondering.

"I couldn't find one on mares and didn't think that it mattered. Sorry that somepony can't be clear about what preening is." Rarity said, blaming Dash without naming her.

"Hey, as I had said, it can get intimate. It doesn't have to be . . . that, but it can. It could also be nothing special, just cleaning feathers." Dash stared at Rarity, who avoided her gaze. There was a short silence, then the real question came to Dash. ". . . Were you planning on trying any of the stuff in it?" Dash asked curiously.

Rarity's cheeks flushed once more in red. "Certainly nothing like you'd shown me, but . . . I've found a few good tips and advice here and there. . ." She admitted.

"Ooh, care to show me?" Dash asked intrigued.

Rarity thought for a minute, then gained a sly evil smile. "No. You can't behave herself when left alone, so I defiantly won't be rewarding you now."

"Aw, what?! Come on Rares, I told you I was just playin'." Dash said surprised by her refusal.

"Hmph!" Rarity turned her head away, showing Dash's words were not what she was looking for.

"Okay, okay! How about . . . I do something for you in return?" Dash offered. She really wanted to see what Rarity had in store for her.

"I'm listening . . ." Rarity trained an eye on her.

"I'll-uh . . . I could . . ." Dash bit her lip trying to think fast.

Rarity shook her head but waited to see what she would come up with.

"How about I take you out for lunch tomorrow?" Dash offered, knowing that going out to town was something Rarity wanted. By the look Rarity gave her though, it wasn't quite enough. "My treat?" Dash added.

"Deal. Come on then." Rarity hopped onto the bed.

Dash readily sat in her usual spot and extended her wings outward.

Rarity sat behind her and took a breath. She let it go as she placed a hoof on Dash's wing. 'Here it goes, just got to remember what the book said and it'll be fine.' Biting her lip, she leaned forward and hesitated.

A moment passed and Dash wondered what was up when suddenly she felt Rarity's mouth grasp around the top edge of her wing. Her teeth gently worked her feathers and every now and then she would run her tongue across her fur, smoothing it neatly down.

Rarity only did this for a small space before pulling away. "Is that alright?" She asked Dash, who seemed zoned out with flushed cheeks.

"Huh? Uh, yeah. Please, continue." Dash nodded, watching her return to preening her. 'By Celestia, she's good at this!' She thought to herself.

Rarity hoped dash was enjoying her efforts. As she moved from one wing to the next, the specks of dirt she picked up grew in amount and were driving her nuts. As gross as she found it, she pushed on for Dash. 'If I ever do this again I'm getting some water to swish in my mouth.' Rarity thought before she finally finished. "There. All done." Rarity announced, trying not to make a face at the taste in her mouth.

"What?!" Dash's eyes darted open as she looked back at Rarity, her face as flushed as ever. "No way! You just did the top edges, keep going!" Dash demanded anxiously.

All that got was a taken aback look from Rarity.

"Please?" Dash pleaded, kneading the bedsheets impatiently.

"Very well." Rarity gave in with a sigh. "But I'm doing it the way I'm used to the rest of the way." She added putting her hooves to Dash's wing.

A short way in Dash spoke up again. "Do the back thing."

That didn't make much sense, yet Rarity hazard a guess. She placed a hoof at the base of her wing and rubbed it. "You mean this?" She asked and Dash quickly nodded. While she thought Dash was acting odd, she carried on with the preening like it was business as usual. Finishing one wing, she glanced up at Dash's face. She appeared to be sweating and was biting her lip. "Are you okay darling?" Rarity asked concerned.

"I-huuaaaaa-." Dash broke off into a heated moan and quickly covered her mouth to stop it.

The two of them stared at each other in surprise.

Rarity was speechless and was further caught off guard when Dash spun around and tackled her down onto the bed. She found herself being smothered in kisses, starting at her neck and hurting upward. It tickled her and she let out a little giggle before Dash's lips shakily found her's in a passionate kiss. That along with Dash's hoof running through her mane had a single thought racing through her head as the kiss continued. 'Worth it! Worth it!' She wrapped her own hooves around Dash, holding her close.

Rarity had no clue how long they were at it when there was a knock at the door. She quickly pushed Dash somewhat off of her and summoned a pillow toward herself.

"Hey you two, dinner's ready." Hondo said, poking his head inside the room.

Poomf! The pillow smacked into Rainbow's face. "Oh right, dinner! I completely forgot. Sorry, Dash and I got caught up in a pillow fight." Rarity used as an excuse.

"No problem, just don't be long coming down." Hondo smiled before heading back down.

"To be continued?" Dash asked with a pant as she caught her breath.

Rarity playfully gave her a second hit with the pillow. "Please, we got a little carried away there, don't you think?" She got up and levitated a brush over to quick fix her mane.

". . . Maybe a little." Dash agreed, though not fully meaning it.

* * *

"And just let me . . ." Rarity adjusted Dash's chest padding in the hall outside of the locker room. It seemed to continue to be their meet-up place for home, or in this case, away games. It was the Junior Speedsters' season opener and Rarity wanted Dash to look her best.

"Hurry up, we'll be taking the field soon." Dash sighed annoyed. She dreaded the idea of having a teammate popping a head out and seeing this. Especially Sunbeam, with who Dash was guiltily still faking a relationship.

"And . . ." Rarity straightened her jersey then licked a hoof before running it across Dash's bangs to keep stray hairs in line. "Done." Rarity finished, taking a step back.

"Thanks." Dash said more for her stopping than anything else. She picked up her helmet to put it on.

"Wait!" Rarity exclaimed.

"What now?" Dash sighing once more.

"Good luck." Rarity kissed her cheek. "Or break a leg, should I say." She corrected with a giggle.

Dash smiled as she put on her helmet. "You better hurry to your seat so you don't miss anything. Are you sure you don't want to sit sideline? I'm sure nopony would mind having the coach's daughter there." Dash added.

Indeed, the school was all too eager to hire a retired pro player. Hondo was actually their head coach now, pushing Shooting Star down to the assistant coach. Which seemed to work out better, as when the school practices had started back up again Hondo knew all the players far better than Star did.

"Oh no, I couldn't. Sitting in a crowd of sweaty players sounds awful. I can barely stand it when it's just you." Rarity teased with a loving smile.

"Fair enough." 'It's probably for the better anyway. Keeps the distance between Sunbeam and Rares.' The thought made her want to kick herself. "See you after the game!" Dash turned back to the locker room.

"I'll be watching!" Rarity gleefully exclaimed as she trotted away as well.

* * *

Rainbow licked her lips before putting in her mouthpiece. She raced over to her spot and readied for the snap. The crowd roared for its defense, but Dash could picture Rarity cheering for her somewhere in there. She glanced at her defender and saw he was a rather large earth pony. 'Ha, he may be strong, but he'll never be able to keep up with me.' Dash smiled, figuring this was going to be an easy game.

At the snap Dash charged forward. She tried to sidestep her defender but found he stepped quickly into her way and gave her a shove to the side. Dash spun and stumbled before regaining her balance. 'Dang it. How cheap is that?' Dash checked to see how the play was developing and watched the ball leave Gilda's talons and head towards her area. It was thrown well ahead of her and she tried to get it, but with all her momentum loss after the early contact, the ball just whizzed past her outstretched hoof and out of bounds. She looked for a flag on the play, but the contact had been within five from scrimmage, fair game.

And so that's how it went, play after play. Dash struggled throughout the first quarter, only managing a couple of catches for less than ten yards total. It was a frustratingly slow start and it put her in a sour mood as she sat at the end of the bench while the speedsters were on defense.

"Rainbow . . ." Hondo approached her. "What's going on? You have mismatched protection. Why aren't you taking advantage of it?" He asked.

"Well, I'm trying. He's tougher than he looks." Dash said bitterly.

"That's because you're playing right into his hooves. You're faster and he's negating that with strength, but you are also more agile. So don't go right at him. Go on cross routes, stutter step, or even spin move him if you have to. Just don't let him get a hoof on you." Hondo advised her, giving her an encouraging pat on the back.

"Okay." Dash nodded. She thought it made sense and was willing to try anything to have a better game.

And it worked. Dash started making bigger plays, forcing a safety to help cover her. That opened the field up for everypony else as well, but it was Dash who made a big screen catch and run to the endzone to tie the game before halftime. Starting the third quarter, Dash was ready to do more damage.

On the first snap of the drive for the Speedsters, Dash took off on a slant route toward midfield. Her coverage tried to head her off, but she had gained a quick step ahead of him and earned an early pass from Gilda. She started to turn upfield, wings extended to flap for an extra boost of speed when suddenly there was a hefty weight on one of her wings. It stopped her in her tracks.

Dash's hooves flew out from under her as her wing was pulled back against her momentum. A loud pop left her body as she hit the ground. She found herself forced into a roll as her wing now twisted, only ending with a crack and her wing going limp.

Lying still, Dash started to collect herself. 'What happened?' She could hear the crowd in some sort of uproar. Dash tried to stand when suddenly a sharp pain ripped through her. A raising burning sensation came from her wing on top of a worse pain Dash couldn't even describe, having never felt anything as intense as this before. She tried to fold her wing in, but it remained limp and shot more pain into her. Dash cried out, her hooves flailing out to attempt to escape this torture, but the panic and pain made her hooves fail her as she flopped back onto the ground. She cried out again as everything she did only made it keep hurting more.

"Rainbow! Rainbow!!" Sunbeam slid in on his knees and helped her take her helmet off. He tossed it aside and put one hoof to her cheek and the other to her shoulder, turning her to face him. "Look at me. Calm down." He said not very calm himself, his face full of panic and worry.

"It-it hurts so much. Why does it hurt so much?" Dash asked and realized she was crying.

"Shh, shh. Just . . . try to relax and don't think about it." Sunbeam answered.

"I can't move my wing . . . how bad is it?" Dash tried to glance at her wing but Sunbeam held her down.

"It's fine. It's . . . you don't need to see it." He lied and Dash could tell he was. It was bad.

Her mind raced with thoughts. 'Is this it? Will I ever be able to fly again? No more hoofball, no Wonderbolts, no more tricks . . .' Everything started spinning as the pain and the idea of her world falling apart was too much for her to handle. Dash heard a voice say something about her going into shock. 'What about Rarity? Will, I ever see her again. Would she even love a flightless pegasus?' Dash saw a horn glow in the haze of her vision before she started to blackout. "Rare- . . . it-" Was all she could get out before it was complete darkness.

* * *

It had been quite a game. The Speedsters had been struggling but had come back. Rarity had enjoyed the first half and the second half felt like it would be better, and then it happened. Rarity watched Dash turn upfield, her wings spread wide, and then her opponent bit down on her wing in a desperate attempt to stop her. He pulled back with such force he fell over into a roll, never letting go of his hold until the only thing in his mouth was a bunch of feathers. Dash was left laying on the ground, her wing twisted backward.

Rarity gasped in shock, putting a hoof to her mouth. 'Oh no.' It only got worse as Dash started to get up only to collapse with a cry of pain Rarity could barely make out over the murmuring crowd.

Rarity covered her ears and shut her eyes, shaking her head repeatedly. 'No, no, no. This can't be happening! Please let this be some horrible nightmare.' Opening her eyes to check, she saw a gross amount of feathers, Dash's feathers, blowing across the field in the breeze. Her eyes darted back to Dash who now had a medical team by her, putting her on a stretcher.

'I have to go see her!' Rarity quickly realized, getting up from her seat. She had to know exactly what shape Dash was in, just how bad her injuries were. Racing through the halls Rarity wasted no time, going straight through the locker room. As soon as she burst through the exit toward the field, two colts raced past pulling a cart that in the back carried Dash's motionless body.

"Rainbow!" Rarity called out hoping for any kind of response but got none as the cart continued out of sight around a bend. Rarity hurried after it and caught up just as they had finished loading up Dash onto a better equipped medical wagon. "please, wait! You must let me go with her!" Rarity pleaded, coming to a stop before it.

"Sorry miss, family only." Replied a nurse on board, leaving Rarity to watch helplessly as the wagon left.

Tears flowed freely from her eyes. "Dashie . . ."

Author's Note

Rarity's book on preening was easily a fav of mine. I find it so sweet and funny. Dash's wing injury was definitely a severe change of pace to follow. The season has a lot happen in it from all the ideas I kept coming up with to help flow between major plot points and flesh things out to keep things interesting. Little details I came up with here even help spawn more for me to write later in the story.

Hearts and Wings

Dash's eyes fluttered open and she found herself in a hospital room with walls and ceiling made of clouds. 'What?' She thought for a moment when everything started coming back to her.

"Hey, hey! She's awake!" Sunbeam announced excitedly.

Dash glanced at him and saw he was holding her hoof and grinning at her. Turning her head she saw her parents standing near the end of her bed. They both offered her a smile. She suddenly realized she needed to find something out. She tried flexing her injured wing but found it was pointless as it turned out her wing was in a sling that held it in place, and the attempt left her with stinging pain. "Ow." Dash took a breath. "So how bad is it?" She asked dreading the answer.

"Broken bone at the end of your wing, which is . . .bald. Other than that you're a little scraped up, but will make a full recovery." Bow informed her.

"You could be flying again in a little over a week. Just be sure to take an easy, okay?" Windy added.

"Wait, bald?" Dash asked confused.

"Yeah, he pulled out pretty much all of your feathers where he bit you." Sunbeam answered.

"That's what happened?! He bit me?! That's so messed up!" Dash said angrily in disbelief.

"The fifteen yards we got on the penalty helped us though." Sunbeam told her earning him a glare from Bow.

"Did we win?" Dash asked curiously. Bow shook his head and rolled his eyes at that.

"No. It was close . . . but we lost." Sunbeam let her know. "But the important thing is that you're okay." He added.

That tone along with the look in his eyes, so caring, made her notice he was still holding her hoof. And then came a kiss to her forehead. 'Jeez, in front of both my parents. What is mom going to say about this? At least Rares isn't here for this.' Although Dash would rather have Rarity here kissing her instead of Sunbeam. It was too bad she was in a cloud room . . . why was that anyway? 'We were playing against an Earthpony school at an away game no less.' "Where are we?" Dash asked looking to her father.

"Oh-"

"Those incompetent idiots at the first hospital felt uncomfortable about resetting your wing, honestly I don't think they knew how to, and transferred you here to Cloudsdale." Windy answered, cutting her husband off.

"Oh yeah, it was pretty crazy. Your wing was so severely dislocated it was basically backward. Made me sick just to look at it. Tartarus, my wing hurts thinking about it." Sunbeam said with a shiver going down his spine.

"Ugh . . ." Dash could picture it. She probably would've found it cool to see but to herself? Having been through it, she wouldn't wish this one anypony. 'Maybe Hoops and Dumbbell.' Dash rested her head back down, feeling tired and still in pain.

"Sunbeam, why don't you let Rainbow get some rest. You'll see her again soon. She should be released by tomorrow morning at the latest." Windy spoke up.

"Alright, see you later Dash!" He said with a playful salute.

"Bye." Dash forced out, watching him leave. She felt her bed shift and looked to see her mother had taken a seat at her side.

"So Rainbow dear, we give you a lot freedom to do what you want, but we still care about you. So we want to know what's going on between you, Rarity, and Sunbeam." She said softly.

Dash started to blush, embarrassed. "Aw, come on mom. I don't want to talk about that."

"Dash, if you're feeling confused about certain feelings . . ." Her mother started.

"No!" Dash's blush deepened.

"You're not trying to start a thing with all three of you, are you?"

"No! Celestia no! Please, just stop!" Dash shouted, her face a shade of bright red.

"Very well, but if you are confused about anything, you can come to us about anything. You may be exploring your sexuality and learning about yourself, but we're right here to help you."

Dash wished she had died on the field as her mother closed the conversation with a kiss to her forehead and a loving stroke of her mane.

***

Dash got out of the hospital the following morning. Not wanting the injury to hold her back from seeing Rarity or missing next week's game, Dash was quick to get to work at figuring out how far back it set her. It hurt to move her wing and flight proved difficult, impossible really, for her first day out. She pushed herself to carry on and worked it without overdoing it.

No flight at least meant no flight school, so Dash could focus on getting better. On her third day off Dash managed a shakey flight that was hard to maintain. It took extra effort with her injured wing to get off the ground, but she could glide fairly easily and she decided that was enough to make a trip to Rarity's. She wanted to make sure she knew she was doing alright.

While the flight wasn't that long, by the time she landed before her destination her wing was aching like crazy. Dash tucked it back into its sling before knocking on the door.

Cookie answered it. "Oh, Dashie dearie! You're here. You should go straight to Rarity's room. She'll be so excited to see you." She said waving her inside.

"Of course." Dash trotted up the stairs and found Rarity's door cracked open. Making her way in she saw Rarity lying on her bed, petting a white cat that was curled up next to her. "Since when did you have a cat?" Dash asked.

"Rainbow Dash!" She shouted excitedly, launching herself from her bed, startling her cat away. Rarity tackled Dash to the ground and affectionately nuzzled her cheek. "I missed you so much! It was horrible. After seeing you like that and- and . . . we went to the hospital after the game, but found out you had been transferred to Cloudsdale. They said they were worried about how bad your wing was, that you might never fly again. I thought I would never see you again!" Rarity said going from cheerful to woeful suddenly as she continued her nuzzling.

"Why? Because I couldn't fly?" Rainbow asked, wincing at the weight on her wing from being tackled onto her back.

"Yes! Please Dash, please! Promise me you'll never leave me no matter what!" Rarity stopped her nuzzling to tearfully look in her eyes.

Dash could hear the seriousness in her tone and simply smiled at her. "What a silly thought. Rares, without my flight the only thing in life I'd care about is you." Dash booped her nose. "I would find a way to you no matter what." She added.

Rarity gave her a kiss, rewarding her for such a sweet answer. "Really?"

"Yes . . . Now could you please let me up? You're crushing my wing." Dash had to say unable to bear it any longer.

"Oh, right." Rarity hurried her off to one side, then helped Dash up. Using that to get a close look at Dash's wing, which she realized was in a sling. "Dashie? Are you able to fly?" She asked concerned.

"Huh? Yeah. How'd you think I got here?" Dash asked then realized she was looking to the sling. "Oh! You wanna see it? Check it out." Dash pulled the sling aside and extended her wing out to show it off.

At first, it looked fine to Rarity, but her eye grew wide when her sight reached the tip of Dash's wing. The tip was in a small splint over bare skin that was freshly healed. From the tip to about six inches in Dash had no feathers whatsoever. "Oh Dashie, that's so . . ."

"Wicked? Yeah, I know."Dash said with a smirk Rarity couldn't understand.

"Uh . . ." Rarity didn't quite know how to respond to that. 'Moving on.' "Does it hurt?"

Dash sort of shrugged. "Not as much as you'd think. It's nothing I can't handle." Dash said to look tough and reassure her she was fine. She took a moment to slip her wing back into its sling. Turning back to Rarity she saw she instead looked upset again. "What? I told you, it's nothing really." Dash said thinking she was upset over how bad it looked.

"This is my fault." Rarity confessed her feelings.

"What?!" Dash exclaimed bewildered.

"I told you to break a leg. This is my fault."

Dash went expressionless. 'What?' "Rarity . . . That doesn't even make sense. One, I broke my wing."

"Still . . ."

"Two, that wasn't even the worst of my injuries. It's like nothing. And three, it's just an expression, it doesn't mean any of this stuff is your fault." Dash put her good wing around her and took a seat with her on the bed. "And to tell you the truth . . ." Dash carried on, pausing to look Rarity in the eye. "You're acting kinda stupid."

Rarity punched Dash in the shoulder.

"Ow." Dash rubbed her shoulder while Rarity glared at her. Shortly after they both burst into laughter.

"I guess you're right. It was a bit of a ridiculous thought." Rarity admitted, whipping fresh tears away. "I'm sorry. It's just that I've been beside myself these past few days. I was an utter mess not knowing how you were. Just look at my mane!" Rarity pointed as she snuggled up to her.

Dash noticed that Rarity's mane wasn't as well kept as usual, but still not as messy as her own.

"The only thing that's been keeping me together is Opalescence. She's my cat. Fluttershy gave her to me to keep me company. She's been my only comfort." 'Besides treats from Sugarcube Corner.' Rarity kept to herself. She glanced around. "Where is she anyway?"

Dash decided to help look a bit. Looking down she spotted Opal poking her head out from under the bed, right beneath her hooves.

Opal hissed and swiped at her with her claws.

"Hey!" Dash retreated further back onto the bed.

"Opal, darling, don't be like that. This is Rainbow Dash. The pony I've been telling you all about." Rarity scolded, picking Opal up and petting her. "Go on Rainbow, say hello." Rarity beckoned her closer.

"Uh . . . Okay . . . " Dash scooted back next to Rarity. "Hey there . . . Opal." Dash carefully reached a hoof out. She hesitated and Opal started her hoof down. Opal bore her teeth, about to hiss when Dash petted her. Dash let out a relieved sigh as Opal started to purr. Opal moved over to Dash's lap and Dash made a series of faces as Opal's claws flexed into her as she got comfortable before lying down.

"Aw, see? She likes you." Rarity gave Dash a kiss on the cheek as she sat there, getting over her new pain. "So Dashie, are you going to stay the night?" Rarity asked, leaning on her, resting her head upon her shoulder.

Dash could've sworn there was a hint of suggestiveness in her voice. "Well . . . practice is tomorrow. So I guess I'll stay the night and hitch a ride with you and your dad in the morning." Dash answered with a slight blush.

"Wait, surely you must be joking. Rainbow, with your injuries you should be resting." 'Preferably with me in bed.' Rarity noted to herself, yet was shocked by Dash's words.

"Come on Rares, hoofball is easy. I could play it on three hooves let alone one winged." Rainbow scoffed at her worry.

"Rainbow! . . . " Rarity let it go with a sigh. "Just . . . be careful, okay?" Rarity requested, squeezing her love.

"I will." Dash nuzzled her in return.

***

"Hey Dash, glad you could make it." Gilda said, patting Dash on the back as they sat down on the bench at the start of the Junior Speedsters' second game.

"Ha! Like I'd miss it! The only annoying thing was getting the doctor to clear me. That and this dang brace he made me wear." Dash replied. The brace was sturdier than her sling had been and held it in place better. A downside was how stiff it felt against her and it was noticeably heavier than her sling. They were both factors that she wasn't used to, and it ended up showing in her play throughout the game. One wing just didn't give her the boost she was used to.

While she was doing better than her last game, she struggled to make any breakout plays. Yet having Dash on the field lifted her team's sports and everypony else pushed harder in a long back and forth one team taking the lead just to have the other tie it up. In the end, the tie was broken by a field goal by the opposing team.

"Buck! Two losses to open the season? I thought we were better than last year!" Dash commented angrily as she stormed about the locker room, getting sympathetic looks in response from a few teammates as they were all upset over the loss.

"Dash! Why don't you go cool off for a moment in the hall, okay?" Hondo suggested, with a nod of his head and a wink.

'Oh right, Rarity! She must be waiting for me by now.' Dash rushed out into the hallway.

"There you are. You know it's not polite to keep a lady waiting." Rarity teased, getting up from where she sat on the floor against the wall.

"Pft. Says the one who always makes me wait." Dash countered annoyed.

Rarity smiled sweetly at her. "Come on Dashie, I know you're upset about the game. You never take losses very well, but luckily for you, I know just what will cheer you up."

***

Dash trotted along behind Rarity, still feeling quite sour about how the game went. She was wondering what Rarity had in mind though. They had returned to Ponyville just to leave it again, but then Dash recognized where they were. 'This is the hill where we shared our first kiss. I hope this means she brought me up here to make out. That would lift my mood quite a bit.' Dash smirked at the corner of her mouth.

Rarity took a relaxed seat on the ground near the tree and Dash wordlessly sat next to her. "Dashie, you know what I do when I have a bad day?" Rarity asked.

Dash inched closer to her. "What's that?" She asked in return, ready for the fun to begin.

"Well, besides going to the spa, I like to think about the future." Rarity answered.

Dash frowned. "This isn't another one of those there's always next game speeches, is it?" She asked disappointed at the realization that there wasn't going to be any making out.

"No, I was thinking much further down the line. Say . . . five years or so." Rarity corrected, looking to the star-filled night sky. She glanced at Dash and saw she looked lost at the idea. "Like I'm a world-renown dressmaker with boutiques across Equestria; Canterlot, Manehatten, PonyVille of course, and maybe with some help I'll have one in Cloudsdale." She hinted, winking at Dash.

"Yeah, and I'm a first-class flyer. . . with the Wonderbolts, no, I'm the captain of the Wonderbolts, and I hold most every flying record there is." Dash described, perking up at the thoughts of how awesome she'd be.

"We'd have a nice fancy, roomy place here in Ponyville." Rarity daydreamed aloud.

"Ponyville? Why would I leave Cloudsdale?"

"I couldn't live with you there, now could I?" Rarity pointed out.

"No . . . So we live together?" Dash questioned.

"Of course. It's what married couples do. Wouldn't you want to get married at some point?"

As much as the question caught her off guard, she got her answer from staring into Rarity's eyes as it filled her heart. "Y-yeah. I'd like that." Dash stammered, not used to the feelings that overwhelmed her.

"And we'll have a foal . . . two foals, so-"

"Wait? What?! Foals? How exactly are we going to do that when . . . you know. . ."

Rarity rolled her eyes at Dash's outburst. "We could adopt them. A little pegasus colt for you to teach to fly and rough house with, though I would make sure he knew his manners. I would want a unicorn mare. She'd be my sweet little angel, and you'd make sure she could stand up for herself."

'That . . . actually sounds really nice.' Dash thought, but she had her doubts. "I don't know Rares . . . me . . . and foals? I don't know if I'd be any good at that."

"Nonsense! You'd make a wonderful mother. You're so sweet and caring." Rarity objected without missing a beat.

Dash blushed. "You really think so?" She asked, idly kicking at the dirt in front of her.

"Yes . . . I know so." Rarity said cuddling up to Dash.

"You're too good for me. You know that? You're just . . . perfect." Dash said holding her tightly. Dash sighed relaxing as they stared at the stars above Ponyville. "Thanks for cheering me up."

"No problem darling. You know . . . maybe I'd like to have three or even four foals." Rarity thought aloud.

Dash snorted in disbelief yet shook her head in amusement.

***

After having such a good season last year, even with its disappointing ending, and now having a poor start Dash didn't appreciate the school and even the city, being quick to call them losers. Luckily for her over the next two weeks, she got support from Rarity off the field and Sunbeam on the field. With that and help from her team, they were able to even their record at two wins and two losses. By the time the Speedsters' fifth game was nearing Dash no longer needed her sling and her splint was off as well. Her feathers had also mostly grown back. So Dash was excited to have a game where she could really show off her stuff for once this season.

Her healthy return did not disappoint. Dash had a huge game with three scores, and while he didn't get the yards Dash did, Sunbeam had two touchdowns himself. The game wasn't even close as the Junoir Speedsters won in a blowout.

Dash was quick in the locker room to change out of uniform and get out to the hallway to see Rarity. Only, she wasn't there. 'Dang it. Was so fast I beat Rarity here.' Dash kicked a hoof annoyed. She leaned against the wall to wait.

It wasn't long when the door to the locker room opened and Dash glanced back to see Sunbeam stepping out.

"There you are. You were so quick I didn't get a chance to celebrate with you." He greeted, trotting up to her.

"Yeah, I did leave in a hurry didn't I? But hey, that was some game huh? Gilda was even pumped about it." Dash said turning toward him.

"You were awesome, and your wing is looking good too." Sunbeam commented, getting closer to her.

"it's not quite one hundred percent, but at least I can work it again. Say, you had a pretty good game too."

"Thanks, but it wasn't your level of good. Guess I need more practice with you." Sunbeam hinted, leaning in closer to her.

"Y-yeah." Dash blushed then realized he was going in for a kiss. 'Let's try to not make this awkward for once.' Dash told herself and met him halfway for a short kiss.

"Love you."

"Love you too." Dash smiled. 'There, much easier. Thanks to all that time with Rarity.'

"See ya back inside. Hey Rarity."

Dash froze at his words. 'No way.' Sunbeam did a short wave, looking past Dash. Dash turned around, following his gaze to see Rarity standing at the start of the hallway. Both of them looked stunned and stood motionless, and after a dull thud of the door as Sunbeam went back inside, they were left in silence. Finally, Dash couldn't take it and spoke up. "H-hey there Rares. Uh . . . how long were you standing there?" Dash asked hesitantly.

Rarity slowly shook her head. "I-I can't . . . you- . . . why?" Rarity's mind was spinning. Had her eyes deceived her? Had she heard them wrong? No, she couldn't lie to herself. What had just unfolded in front of her brought her whole world crashing down. Her vision blurred with tears as Dash flew up to her.

"No, no, no. It's not what it looks like. This is just a misunderstanding. It's confusing, but I can explain. You see-" Dash was cut off midsentence by Rarity's hoof jabbing her in the chest.

"You're absolutely unbelievable!" Rarity shouted in a shaky voice. "You're actually trying to hide this from me still . . . with more lies."Rarity felt her heart twist agonizingly.

"No, Rarity, you don't get it-" Once more, Rarity's hoof hit her, this time with enough force it made her wince.

"No! You don't get it! I don't want to hear any more of your lies! I can't believe everything you've told me . . ." All their time together raced through her mind as it came to her that it had all been a lie. "My father warned me that you seemed close to Sunbeam, but I didn't listen. I thought you were better than-than this! When did this all start?!" Rarity demanded to know so she could find out if her father had really seen something.

Dash thought for a second. "Shortly before we started dating." She answered, hoping this was her chance to explain everything.

Rarity blinked. "So you're not even cheating on me. . ."

Rainbow sighed in relief at that.

"You're cheating on him!" Rarity accused, shaking her head.

"Rarity, please listen! I don't love Sunbeam!"

"Do you think I'm stupid? I heard you both, and I'm done listening to you." Rarity spun away angrily, her tail swatting Dash's face.

"Rarity!" Dash flew after her as she trotted away.

"Leave me alone! I never want to see you again!" Rarity screamed at her, unable to hold back her tears anymore.

Dash fell back to her hooves as Rarity's words made it clear what damage had been done. All words escaped her as she watched Rarity race away. 'What have I done? I messed up real bad.' Dash hoped that she could fix what she had done.

Author's Note

Took longer than it should have, but the new chapter is out. Dash's secret is out as well. low points are being reached. The irony is that a bout with depression is what slowed me down for about a week. (I'm all good now) I also took up roleplaying online with is taking up time usually saved for typing up the story. The next chapter should still come out faster than this one did though.

School Rumor

Author's Note

Tried getting this out before taking a break for the holiday, but here it is right after. What am I doing up here instead of the bottom? Figured I owed a warning for light suicidal themes. Nothing I think is too bad. but for those who don't want to read it I believe are owed the heads up to turn away. skipping may leave you lost and talk of suicidal thoughts will return. so you know, dead dove don't eat. otherwise, I hope you all enjoy it. Much love <3

School Rumor

"Hey, there sport. What's gotten you all down in the dumps? You won today, didn't you? Come to think of it, don't you usually spend game nights at your marefriend's place? Is that what's got you feeling low?" Hothoof asked his daughter who had a miserable look on her face as she rested her head on the table. He sat down next to her with a drink at his side.

Dash sighed, wiping her eyes to make sure they were dry. "Yeah . . . I didn't know if I should go over or not. You see . . . I really messed it up, dad." Dash went face down into the table and groaned.

"What happened?" Bow asked, relaxing in his chair.

"Rarity saw me kiss Sunbeam." Dash said into the table. It wasn't easy to understand her, but Bow was used to it enough that he could.

"That was bound to happen sooner or later." He stated simply.

"It really hurt her. She . . . she said she never wanted to see me again."

"Yep. That sounds about right."

"You're not helping you know." Dash grumbled, turning her head on its side to see her dad sipping at his drink.

"Well, how would you feel if you caught Rarity kissing some colt?"

". . . yeah, but she didn't know why I was." Dash defended herself.

"Does that matter? Rainbow, I don't know why you thought dating two ponies at the same time was a good idea. You lost Rarity, so live with having just Sunbeam." Bow laid it out firmly to his daughter.

"But I don't want Sunbeam! I love Rarity!" Dash blurted out, clearly upset.

Bow sighed. "Then you'll have to make it up to her. And for Celestia's sake, dump Sunbeam and date only her."

"How do I make it up to her?" Dash asked for advice on the matter.

"Well, for starters, you can apologize to her. And don't go empty hooved. Get her flowers or something." Bow answered, thinking about it.

"And then . . . ?" Dash urged him on.

"It'll be up to her to forgive you. You'll want to give her a few days to cool off though." He noted.

"A few days?! I can't wait that long!"Dash cried out. ". . . What if she thinks I don't care?" Dash added calmer.

"Trust me, wait a few days, a week even. Going over too soon will just have her unleash her fury upon you." 'Though that may happen no matter what.' He thought to himself.

Dash sighed, giving in to the idea. "Okay . . . can I borrow some bits for the flowers?"

***

It was the afternoon the day after Rarity had caught Rainbow cheating on her, and it was tearing Rarity apart. She had hardly ever left her bedroom. She was currently curled up in sheets of her bed, petting Opal as she held her autographed picture of Rainbow in the magic. A part of her wanted to throw it away, the other wanted to hold it close to her chest. 'Oh Dashie, how could you do this to me?' Her dry red eyes managed to make a single teardrop that fell onto the picture.

'I really thought we were going to have a future together.' Memories of their first date rushed through her mind, along with everything from their talk about their future together. It pained her to think that it all just wasn't enough for Dash, that she would throw it all away.

'That's right. This isn't my fault. Dash is the one who was too blind to see how good she had it.' Rarity told herself, tossing the picture aside as she perked up, only to sink back down at the thought of all the effort she'd put into the relationship. She also knew that deep down she really still loved Rainbow Dash and it would take time to get over her.

Suddenly a hushed yet all familiar voice of Rainbow Dash tickled her ear. 'Oh please my heart, aren't I suffering enough? I can't handle any more pain.' But Dash's voice came again . . . followed by her mother's. 'That's not in my head.' Rarity turned to her open bedroom window. That was where the noise was coming from. 'Rainbow Dash . . . is here?' Rarity hurried to her window and poked her head out. She saw Dash sitting by the door waiting. Her tail was whipping side to side frantically, but most noticeably was how worried Dash looked as she bit her lip and was glancing around. Rarity ducked her head back inside to keep herself from being stopped. 'Why is she here?' Heart racing and head-spinning Rarity felt like she was about to faint.

Just then, there was a knock at her door. Collecting herself and clearing her throat, Rarity responded. "Come in."

The door opened and her mother stepped inside with a bouquet of roses. "Rainbow is here. She wants to see you. I told her you were busy and she insisted on me making sure you got these." Cookie passed the roses with her magic.

'Flowers? Does she think flowers are going to make things okay? How absurd!' Rarity passed the bouquet back to her mother. "Give them back to her. And I'm not interested in seeing her." Rarity turned away, hopping back onto her bed.

"Honey, she made the effort to come down here . . . the least you can do is tell her yourself." Cookie said gently.

"No . . . I couldn't bear to face her." Rarity explained, hanging her head.

"Very well. I"ll see her off then." Cookie said, making her exit.

A moment passed where it was just her and Opal in the quiet room. 'Oh Opal, what do I do?" She asked silently as she petted her cat.

"Hey Rares . . ."

Rarity jumped, spooked, then spun around to see Rainbow Dash in her window.

"What did ya do with the flowers?" Dash asked glancing around the room.

Rarity was caught off guard by Dash's appearance, especially how she looked now. She looked so calm compared to before, she was looking at her, waiting for a response, like nothing was wrong. It made her feel so outraged. "I refused them. I don't want your stupid roses."

Dash was taken aback by that.

"Did you really think some flowers and an apology would make everything okay?" Rarity added angrily.

"I-uh . . . I'm just trying to get things back to normal." Dash admitted awkwardly from being called out.

"Well, you can't! You ruined it! And we are through!" Rarity yelled.

"Wha-what?" Dash stammered, tearing up as she was at a loss for words.

"How dense are you? Some flowers and petty words aren't going to fix this. Nothing is. I hate you!" Rarity snapped, shoving Dash off and out of her window.

"I-." Dash started shocked but was cut off by the window slamming shut.

Rarity turned away and let out a breath. 'Please let this be the end of it.'

***

Dash was lying on a lone cloud on the edge of Cloudsdale. She moped as she stared down at the last rays of the setting sun. 'I can't believe Rarity said all that. She hates me? Does she mean that? I deserve it. I shouldn't have gotten with Sunbeam in the first place. But I can't give up on setting things right, on making it up to Rarity. I just wish I knew how.' For once Dash cursed her lack of knowledge on romance.

"Yo, Dash! What's up?" Gilda called out from above her. "I hardly see you outside of goofball anymore since you've been seeing Sunbeam. Are you free? Cause we should totally go get a couple of ciders." Gilda said coming down and landing beside her.

"No, sorry Gilda. I'm not in the mood." Dash said softly, sighing.

"For cider?" Gilda looked to see that Dash looked pretty miserable. "Dang, you must be feeling really down. Something happen at school? Was it Dumb and Hoops? Don't tell me you got suspended for something."

"No, none of that." Dash answered her mind elsewhere.

"Does this have to do with that whole Sunbeam thing?" Dash met that question with a silence that Gilda took as a yes. "Dear Celestia! Dash, you're not . . ." Gilda made a face that begged Dash not to make her say it, but Dash remained silent. "pregnant." Gilda finished.

Dash shook her head and put a hoof to her face. It was so off it almost made her laugh. "No! Sunbeam and I never did anything like that." Dash informed her annoyed.

"Really? I mean, even if you don't love him doesn't mean you can't have some fun with him. I'm getting off point, what is bothering you then?" Gilda asked, taking a seat beside her.

Dash looked away. "I . . . fell in love." She mumbled.

"What?! With Sunbeam?" Gilda asked shocked, but not sure if this was really bad news.

"No! With Rarity!" Dash corrected.

". . . Who?"

"Rarity! Coach's gorgeous white unicorn daughter."

At that Gilda was taken aback. "A mare?! You mean . . ."

"Yes, I know. All this time avoiding the name fillyfooler and I do this. But I didn't know I liked mares, not until I saw her. It doesn't even matter cause she found out about Sunbeam and now she hates me!" Dash confessed.

"Wow . . . you sure messed that up."

"Me?! You're the one that came up with this whole Sunbeam plan!" Dash accused, turning to her in anger.

"Yeah, but I didn't know about this mare of yours. So don't try to blame this on me. This is your fault." Gilda pointed out.

'She-she's right. Celestia, I'm an idoit. To ever believe dating Sunbeam and Rarity at the same time would ever work out for me. All I did was make my life worst.' Dash laid her head down in defeat. "Sorry, Gilda. I didn't mean to blame you. You were always the smart one." Dash said as depressed as ever.

"Aw, now . . . I'm not mad at you. If you change your mind about the cider, we can chill at my place." Gilda offered.

"No, it's fine. I'm going to head home and get some sleep. Maybe next time." Dash said as an excuse for them to part ways. She could tell Gilda wanted to cheer her up, but Dash just wanted to be left alone.

"Alright, catch you later."

"Yeah, sure." With those parting words, they each headed home.

***

As days passed, Dash continuously stopped by Rarity's house every day, just to have Cookie or Hondo turn her away. Rarity's window was always shut with the curtains closed, so Dash never even caught a glimpse of her love. It tore her heart apart and made her heartache all the worse. She wanted to see her so badly, but the failed attempts made it seem like an impossible feat.

Gameday came and Dash pushed herself to take her mind off of Rarity. It didn't work as well as Dash would've liked. 'This is my first game without her watching.' She thought, wiping a tear away. She sat by herself on the sideline after a scoring drive, or at least she had been as now Sunbeam sat down next to her.

"Hey Rainbow, what's going on? You've seemed upset all game. You just got an amazing touchdown, and we're up. Usual you'd be all pumped and excited. So what's troubling you?" He asked, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

That made Dash shiver. "Nothing . . . I-I just got a lot on my mind."

"Come on Rainbow, somethings clearly up. I mean Coach Hondo isn't even talking to you. Which is weird, I thought you two were friends."

Dash put her hooves to her face as he pressed the issue, unwittingly hurting her more.

"As your coltfriend I want to help you, but you have to talk to me first." Sunbeam started snuggling up to her just to have Dash jump to her hooves.

"Stop it! Listen, Sunbeam, I don't love you. I never had. I got caught up in this crazy moment with the worst timing. I started a relationship with another pony right after we had and I didn't have the nerve to break it to you, and now that other pony hates me and avoids me and that's why I'm upset!" Dash confused, tearing up. "I'm sorry for leading you on as long as I did. Things got carried away and I never meant for it to turn out like this way. You're a cool friend, but . . ." Dash trailed off, turning her head away from Sunbeam, unable to face him.

"Wow." He started, clearly stunned by this revelation. ". . . I-I don't know what to say. All this time, you were lying to me?"

Dash could hardly stand it as she fought back tears. it was all she could do to manage a nod for him. And when she looked, she saw him dragging his hooves as he trotted back toward the rest of the team. 'Dang it Dash, your timing is the worst. At a game, really? Now Sunbeam hates me too, and so will the rest of the team when he tells them.' Dash cursed herself.

Suddenly she wanted an escape from her escape. Dash flew to the locker room to change and leave.

***

Rainbow Dash spent the next day contemplating over everything she'd done and what she had left, that night she found herself back on her lonely cloud. and as she laid on it she could picture it in her head, diving over the edge, holding her wings closed as she hurdled toward the ground. No more pain. No more tears. It was such a nice thought in her pained soul.

Dash stood and started leaning forward. Just as she began to fall she closed her eyes and even smiled in relief. As she felt the wind whip by her cheeks and through her mane, doubts came to her. 'What if I can win Rarity back? What if my teammates, my friends, don't hate me? My dreams of being a Wonderbolt? This would crush my parents' hearts.'

Dash opened her eyes and found her wings were already spread as she was soaring through the sky. 'What am I doing? I'm such a coward. To allow myself to sink this low and try to take the easy way out.'

***

Dash had one thing going for her the next day at school, and that was that the day was half over. 'yay. I'm so excited to go to bed and cry myself to sleep again.' She thought sarcastically to herself as she sulked down the hall between classes.

"Hey look! It's Crash."

'Oh no.' Dash fretted, pausing at the sound of Dumbbell's voice, dreading what he had to say.

"Aw geez Crash, why do you look so sad?" Dumbbell started with fake sympathy. "Did coach Hondo break up with you?"

Dash was lost at that. There were at least a hundred different things he or Hoops could've said that would've destroyed her already broken spirit. Instead, he says that nonsense? Dash was so caught off by it She didn't even have a response to it.

"Too bad, I bet you liked taking orders from him after practices. I always took you for a fillyfooler. Guess you were so desperate you switched to old colts."

"Ha! Yeah, how pathetic." Hoops seconded Dumbbell's remark.

Dash shook her head. "what the- . . . What are you even talking about?" Dash had to ask.

"Uh, your little affair with your coach, Hondo. Whole school is talking about it. I knew that fling with Sunbeam was a facade." Dumbbell declared to Dash's bewilderment.

"Where did you hear that from?" Dash wondered aloud.

"Word has it, it's from Sunbeam himself." Hoops answered this time for once.

At that Dash pushed past them, ignoring their snide remarks. What was impossible to ignore were all the now painfully obvious side glances everypony was casting her way as she passed them by, and how they would start whispering to each other. Dash didn't have to hear them to know what they were talking about. She hurried onward, trying to shut them out in vein. She closed her eyes, wishing this was all some sort of nightmare, and ran into someone. Opening her eyes she saw brown feathers, looking up she saw Gilda's worried expression.

"I guess you heard huh? It's not true is it?"

"Gilda, what?! Don't tell me you believe this rumor." Dash stomped her hoof, angered that her friend wasn't standing by her.

"Well, the way the team put it sounded true." Gilda shrugged.

"Well, it's not! Now excuse me." Dash pushed past the griffin and rounding the corner she spotted Sunbeam heading toward his next class. Dash raced up to him and pulled him aside.

"What's the big idea Sunbeam? I break up with you and you start spreading lies about me?!" Dash accused outraged.

"What? No! I mean . . . with how everything was, what you told me and how coach was treating you, I guessed that might be it. I was talking about it with the rest of the team after you had left the game. We agreed it kinda made sense but, didn't really believe it. I didn't mean for it to spread around like it did." Sunbeam explained.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Dash put a hoof to her face and sighed. "Sunbeam . . . I'm sorry. I'm a terrible friend. You clearly had real feelings for me that I exploited for my own gain and the way I broke it to you . . . I-" Dash closed her eyes as she spoke, wondering how many more apologizes she was going to have to do when Sunbeam interrupted her.

"Dash listen. I realized I kind of obsessed over you, and that made me blind to the obvious. You didn't love me. I think deep down I knew that from the start. Your acting certainly needs work." Sunbeam managed a smile at the teasing joke.

Dash was left speechless at this.

"What I'm trying to say is that I'm willing to forgive and forget, for the sake of the team. Also, I could still learn a few things from you at practice as it is."

Dash was stunned. 'It was that easy . . . he forgave me just like that.' A part of her was saddened that it hadn't worked out like that with Rarity. The other part was grateful she was finally able to get a good outcome from this. She hugged Sunbeam tightly. "Thank you." She said relieved at the thought that things were turning around for her.

Sunbeam patted her shoulder and then the bell rang. "We better get to class. We can talk more at practice, okay?" Sunbeam offered.

"Okay!" Dash called out, hurrying to her own class.

***

Dash's raised spirit didn't last long as the next day the rumor about her and Hondo being lovers had gotten worse, as did the teasing she got for it. It gave her a sinking feeling that this was leading to something very bad, like her getting kicked out of school or Hondo getting fired.

The following day at practice turned out to be the deciding moment. Dash came flying down onto the field late and both Sunbeam and Misty Dawn ran up to her.

"Dash! There you are!" Sunbeam shouted out, stopping before her.

"You better get to the locker room quick. The principal and coach are waiting on you. It's about that rumor that's been going around." Misty explained.

"What?!" 'This is it. My fears are coming true.' Dash thought in panic as she flew for the locker room as fast as possible. She burst through the doors and came to a halt.

Sure enough, there was Principal Smokey Trail and across from her was Hondo, but next to him was a surprise. To Dash, it was a heartstopper.

Rarity sat facing Smokey Trail. Her frizzy mane hid her expression.

"Ah, Miss Dash, there you are. Come in, take a seat." Principal Trail greeted, waving a hoof toward an open chair next to Hondo.

Dash didn't acknowledge her as she flew to her seat. Her eyes never left Rarity. From this new angle, while leaning forward, Dash could see Rarity's tired eyes that lacked make-up. Not that Rarity's run-down state registered to Dash's mind. All she saw was her beautiful Rarity who she had missed so much and had feared she would never see again.

"I assume you know why I called you in today." Trail spoke, still looking to Rainbow.

"Uhhh . . . yeah." Dash was slow to answer as she pulled her gaze from Rarity.

"Coach Flanks and Miss Rarity already told me their side of the story. So let's hear yours. If it matches up, then that'll settle the matter and be the end of it. Otherwise . . . well, we'll just have to hear what you say and move from there." As Trail spoke, Dash kept glancing toward Rarity.

'Why won't she look at me?' Dash thought as Rarity's eyes stayed forward.

"Miss Dash?" Trail snapped Dash's attention back to her.

"Oh . . . um . . ." 'No, I can't. I can't tell this tale with Rarity right there . . . she'd hate me more, but I must, to clear Hondo's name. I'll just keep it vague with no details.' Dash took a heavy breath. "I was seeing Rarity when I also started a relationship with Sunbeam, and well . . . Rarity found out and . . . we broke up. She was mad at me of course and started avoiding me. I think Hondo-, Coach Hondo, did too. To avoid the awkwardness. Me and Coach Hondo were never in any kind of relationship, not a romantic one anyway." Dash finished relieved. 'That wasn't so bad.' She looked to Rarity who had her head turned away now.

"Well, it sounds like typical school mare drama to me. Since your stories match up, I believe you all. No pony will get punished over silly school rumors. Though, Coach Flanks, do try to stay clear of such drama in the future." Principal Trail smiled with a knowing nod to Hondo.

"Heh, that's what I was trying to do. Thank you, Miss Trail." The two of them shook hooves and continued talking, but Dash zoned it out to watch Rarity.

She was just sitting there with a hoof to her face. Whatever she was doing, Dash couldn't see. Suddenly she stood and trotted from the room.

Dash quickly followed after her out of the room. Rarity was ahead of her down the hall and Dash was about to catch up to her when a hoof touched her shoulder. She looked back to see Hondo. "Coach?" Dash asked anxious to move along to meet up with Rarity.

"Rainbow, I'm sorry for having ignored you lately. You hurt my daughter pretty badly, and that made me mad at you, but I should've pushed those feelings aside when on the field. All of this would've never happened if I had. Thank you for clearing my name." Hondo patted her on the back.

"You're welcome. I was just doing the right thing. Now, if you would excuse me. . ." Dash quickly turned away.

"Rainbow wait!"

Rainbow Dash froze at his call. "What?" She groaned impatiently, turning around once more.

Rainbow . . . she's not ready. I don't think you're a bad mare, but Rarity . . . she's been devastated by this whole break up. She hardly sleeps and barely eats, and as of late she thinks the worst of you. She thought you had spread that rumor at school to get me fired."

"But that's not true!" Dash objected.

"I know, but Rarity's . . . angry with you, for good reason, and it's because of that that you should give her space. Going to her now will only have her lashing out at you." Hondo explained, though he also felt that he didn't want the pony who had broken his daughter's heart near her again, he also saw the same pain that haunted Rarity's eyes in Dash's. If not worse so. So he felt conflicted on the matter.

"Okay . . ." Dash answered dejectedly as they walked together back toward the field. 'I want to explain everything to Rarity, to make this up to her somehow, to be there for her, care for her and comfort her. To know she's hurting so much . . . and yet I'm to do nothing?' It didn't make sense to Dash. She wondered if it was because she didn't want it to make sense because she wanted nothing more than to be by Rarity's side.

Flying into a Tree

Dash was just trotting down the hall after class at school when a familiar talon was placed upon her shoulder.

"Dash! What's up?" Gilda greeted, doing a flip over Dash and landing in front of her. "Feels like it's been forever. You look like you are doing better."

"Yeah, I know. I've been feeling great." Dash smiled.

"Took you long enough to get over that whole love thing. It was making you so lame. Plus now that you're done with that Sunbeam thing, you got your free time back, so we can hang out again."

"Wasn't the whole Sunbeam thing your idea?" Dash asked with a hint of resentment.

"Hey now. I get that wasn't my best idea, but how was I supposed to know you were seeing what's-her-face-"

"Rarity."

"Right, whatever. So to be fair, you didn't tell me some important info, but it didn't work out with her and we both were in the wrong. so let's call it even." Gilda said holding a clenched claw out, looking for a hoof bump for confirmation.

Dash hesitated. 'Should I correct her?'

/// "My Dashie is so sweet and helpful, modeling dresses for me." Rarity told Gilda with a wave of her hoof toward a dolled-up Rainbow Dash.

Gilda snickered and then bust out laughing. ///

Dash hoof bumped her. "Fair enough."

"Hey, speaking of the whole hanging out thing, you down to get some ciders?" Gilda asked.

"Buck yeah! Let's go!"

***

Dash came lazily flying down to the entrance of the Junior Speedsters' stadium. Upon landing, Dash saw Gilda leaning against the wall near the door. "Yo Gilda, what's up?" Dash asked finding it odd she was waiting outside.

"Dash! Check it out!" Gilda held out a newspaper she had been holding.

"Junior Speedsters playoff-bound, championship hopes." Dash read the headline aloud. The picture was of Gilda throwing a slant pass to Dash. "So we made the school paper. So what? We do that from time to time." Dash said looking back up at her.

Gilda smirked and tapped the top of the page with a talon. The Cloudsdale Journal-Constitution, it read.

"No Way! The city paper?!" Dash snatched it away to skim it over. "This is awesome!"

"Right? All of Cloudsdale is talking about us." Gilda agreed.

"I can't believe we got the front page of the sports section! That's the only section anypony reads."

"Should be enough to hype you up for tonight's game. I'm telling you Dash, this is our year."

***

If the Junior Speedsters were feeling it come game time, then so were their opponents. The game was a long series of back and forth scoring with no side being able to pull away with a lead they could keep. It wasn't anything that made Dash nervous. It looked to come down to exactly what she could hope for. While the Speedsters were down only a point, they had the ball with only enough time left on the clock for one last drive downfield. She preferred to have close games end with the ball in her hooves rather than sitting on the sidelines watching, hoping the defense holds steady. They were much better of an offensive team as it was.

And so steadily they worked their way down to the twenty-yard line with some clutch catches by Dash helping them along. Time was running short on them though and after a short gain pass to Sunbeam and a run by Nimble that went nowhere, Hondo made the call, a sneaky go for it all pass to Dash in the endzone. Just what Dash and Gilda liked to hear. At the snap, Dash pulled a quick stop and go route that made some space between her and the coverage. Nearing the goalline, she looked back for the pass and ended up spotting Gilda scrabbling from her collapsing pocket of protection.

'Change of plans.' She knew what Gilda was looking for was a quick short pass. So Dash turned back, if they couldn't score then at least they could get a first down. Dash was fast approaching the first-down marker when Gilda spotted her and chucked it her way. 'It's too short!' Dash realized that to catch it she would have to go on the inside of the first down marker, or did she? Pausing at the marker, Dash stretched out for it, reaching as far as she could. Right as the ball reached her outstretched hooves, she paid the price for stopping as a defender smacked the ball away as he ran into her. Dash was quick to get back up to her hooves as she looked for a flag on the play, but there was none. Dash shook her head and went to the bench to sit as the field goal unit took the field. 'whatever, a win's a win.' Dash thought as Gilda took a seat next to her.

"Dash, what's wrong with you? Why'd you stop and reach for it?"

"Cause your pass sucked." Dash said flatly then laughed after a moment, Gilda did so as well.

"Doesn't really matter. We still got this." Gilda said turning to watch as the players got set for the attempt. It all seemed to go smoothly, but right as the kick was made, whistles were blowing.

Dash groaned. "What now?" She stood as she waited for the call.

"Before the snap, timeout, defense." The referee announced.

"Ha! Trying to ice the kicker on this short of a kick? Like that will work. Twister will just make it again." Gilda scoffed.

"Duh, but hey, you do stupid things when you are desperate." Dash agreed.

The play was reset. Derpy snapped it and the ball soared.

"Noooo!"

"What the f-" Gilda and Dash both said as the ball went over the holder's head and Twister hurried to pick it up. He tried running it forward but was quickly brought down.

"Unbelievable . . . we lost>" Dash muttered under her breath.

"This sucks, what a way to end such a long winning streak." Gilda commented as the defense took the field.

Dash noticed Derpy was the last one off the field. Her head hung low as she said something to Twister who angrily retorted. The rest of the bench seemed to ignore her so she headed further back.

Dash wordlessly left Gilda's side and trotted over to Derpy. Derpy saw her approaching and spoke up first.

"I'm sorry Rainbow. I just don't know what went wrong. I did the same thing as last time and it just flew on me. I'm sorry I ruined it for you . . . and let everypony down." Derpy sniffled, rubbing an eye.

"Well . . . then I'm sorry too. If I had made that catch it would've been a first down and there would've been no pressure on you. Besides who knows, maybe we can still get a turnover and win this. If you want, you can watch the rest of the game with me." Dash offered.

Derpy smiled. "Okay."

As they took a seat, Dash noticed Hondo looking toward them. He gave her a smile and nodded before turning his attention back to the game.

"Rainbow?" Derpy spoke up, snapping Dash's attention back to her.

"Yeah?"

"Is Twister and everypony else mad at me?" Derpy asked worriedly.

"Nah. They're just upset about this loss.'

"So we are gonna lose?" Derpy asked saddened.

Dash watched the other team take a knee and the clock start its final countdown. "Yeah . . . yeah we are."

***

Rarity bit her lip as she paced the hall. 'Why did they have to lose? It's been forever since their last loss, and how it happened. Dash is probably furious.' Rarity took a breath and composed herself. 'The important thing is to calm comfort her. It wasn't that important of a game anyways and-' Rarity was snapped out of her thought at the sound of the door to the locker room closing. She turned and was surprised to see Dash didn't seem upset at all.

Dash looked surprised back at her. "Hey."

"Hey."

They stared at each other in silence.

'This is awkward . . . why is it awkward?' Dash wondered.

"So . . . you seem fine." Rarity finally said.

"Huh? Uh . . . yeah." Dash responded confused.

"I'm sorry darling, it's just that I thought you'd be upset after losing." Rarity explained.

"Oh, well yeah, that sucks and all, but I do have some good news." Dash trotted up to her. "I've been wanting to show you this as soon as I found out. Check it out." Dash presented a newspaper from under her wing.

Rarity took it in her magic and immediately noticed the picture. "Oh, well I'll be. I guess I'm dating a celebrity." Rarity said flashing Dash a sly smile, before reading over the article.

"Yeah, I'm becoming quite the big shot." Dash said smugly.

Rarity lifted her gaze from the newspaper. "Oh? Does this mean I won't be paying for our dates anymore?"

Dash frowned. "Ouch. Way to bring a pony back down to Earth."

"Somepony has to keep you from flying into the sun darling." Rarity said with a smug smile of her own.

Dash kicked a hoof at the ground. "I could get a job. Work part-time to earn some bits for our dates." Dash suggested.

Rarity shifted from smug to reassuring at a moment's notice. "Rainbow Dash . . . I didn't mean it like that. I'm fine with paying for you when we go out. You don't have to earn my love. I already love you silly." Rarity passed the newspaper back to her and kissed her cheek. "Besides, you already do so much. If you got a job you'd never have any time to come down to Ponyville and see me." She added.

"True, but just you wait. Once I'm a Wonderbolt, I'll be picking up the tab." Dash said folding the paper under her wing.

***

Rainbow Dash was feeling pretty chipper as she went through her locker the next day at school.

"Well, well. If it isn't Rainbow Crash, or should I say Rainbow Choke." Dumbbell started, suddenly leaning against the locker next to her's. Hoops was close behind. "You did it last year and you're doing it again now. you make your way onto the front page of the paper and suddenly the pressure is too much for you to take."

"Excuse me?" Dash slammed her locker shut. "That loss was hardly my fault."

"Sure it wasn't Ms.bobble." Dumbbell laughed as Hoops did a mock act of bobbling a ball. "And don't think I didn't hear about you sitting with that retard after she blew the game. Guess losers naturally stick together."

That struck a nerve with Dash. "You take that back." Dash angrily grumbled.

"Why? You have a hard time facing facts?" Dumbbell further challenged her.

Dash got in his face. "Derpy is not retarded! The only loser and retard here are standing in front of me!" Dash shouted, jabbing him in the chest with a hoof.

Dumbbell smacked her hoof away. "Strong words Crash. You gonna back them up with anything?" He used his size to loom over her threateningly.

"Ha! You think I'm scared of you?!" Dash exclaimed with a laugh, staring him down with icy daggers in her eyes.

"Is that so?" Dumbbell stepped back and raised a hoof.

Out of nowhere, Sunbeam landed before them and pushed Dumbbell away. "I don't think you want things to go down that way." He stepped between Dumbbell and Dash, challenging him with his own size.

Dumbbell put his hoof down. "Excuse me? Wow. How sad are you? The reject, still coming to defend his maiden? Didn't you hear? She's coach's."

That made Dash pop her head up over Sunbeam's shoulder to glare at Dumbbell.
"You sure you want to fight in front of your marefriend?" Sunbeam asked pointing past him.

Questioningly, Dumbbell looked over his shoulder to see Hoops. Dash burst out laughing at his expense. "Whatever! I've had enough dealing with you two idiots." Dumbbell snorted and with a nod, trotted away with Hoops.

Dash got over her laughter and looked at Sunbeam. "He kinda has a point there. Why come to my defense? Not that I needed it." Dash asked.

"Oh . . . Well . . . That's what friends do right? It's not like I'm about to let a fellow teammate get beat up. You good?" He asked offering her a hoof.

". . . Yeah, I'm good." Dash said, hoofbumping him. The bell for class rang before Dash had a chance to say anything else.

"I'll catch you later, okay?" Sunbeam said as he started to fly down the hall.

"Sure thing." Dash mumbled.

She had hoped that would be the last she would have to deal with Dumbbell for a while, but it wasn't to be. Before class the next day outside of school, Dumbbell confronted her once more.

"Well Crash, I think we have some unfinished business to settle. How about a competition to settle things?" He asked.

"Ha! What, you need me to beat you in another race?" Dash scoffed.

"No, I was thinking more along the lines of . . ." Dumbbell sucker-punched Dash off of her hooves. " . . .this." He finished as he rapidly punched Dash in the face.

Rainbow put her hooves up to protect herself and kicked out blindly with her hind hooves. A kick landed and with an 'oof' the hits stopped coming. Dash hurried to stand up just to find Dumbbell charging back toward her. She tried to stand her ground, but Dumbbell threw all his weight behind his tackle, unlike before he made sure to pin her down this time. Dash struggled in vain to free herself.

"Ha! Looks like it's time to face the facts Crash, you're nothing. Look at yourself. You can't do anything right. So let's hear you admit. Say it. Say 'you're nothing'." Dumbbell demanded, firmly holding her down.

"You're nothing." Dash said with a smirk.

"Don't act smart!" He shouted obviously ticked off, but then he shrugged it off. "You asked for it." Keeping her in place, he raised a hoof.

Dash winced and waited for its impact.

"Ow, ow, ow! Let go!"

Dash heard Dumbbell cry as his weight was lifted from her. She scrambled to get back up and saw Dumbbell face down in a hoof pin by Gilda.

"Apologize!" Gilda commanded, twisting his hoof painfully.

"Ow! I'm sorry! Please, let me go!" He sniffled.

As Gilda let him go, Dash couldn't help but be impressed by how quickly Gilda had turned the tables on her tormentor . . . and how small it made her feel. 'Why can't I do that?'

"Yo Dash, you alright?" Gilda asked.

"Yeah . . . I'm fine." Dash said looking down. 'He's right. I am nothing. No matter what I do I always mess things up; with school, hoofball, friends, . . . and even Rarity. I suck.' Dash fought back tears.

"You sure about that? Looks like you're bleeding a bit there." Gilda took Dash's chin and turned her head to inspect her face.

Dash smacked her talon away. "I said I'm fine!" She snapped, pulling her head away she caught a glimpse of a drop of blood fall. It hit her just how much her face hurt. 'Perfect, just perfect.' Dash thought bitterly.

"Hey! I'm sorry you got your butt kicked, but don't go taking it out on me. I'm just trying to help." Gilda said sharply and lightly shoved Dash.

Dash sighed. "I know . . . it just . . . I'm better than him right?" Dash asked sadly.

"Duh, at least twenty times better."

"Then why can't I beat him?" Dash cried out and a long silence befell upon them. All there was to be heard were Dash's soft sobs.

"Look Dash . . . I gotta get to class . . . you make sure to stop by the nurse's office, okay?" Gilda told her gently. She waited a minute for a response and upon getting none she flew away.

Rainbow didn't blame her. She wasn't good when it came to emotional feelings either.

***

The next day was practice and Dash was still feeling down from yesterday. She was hoping practice would cheer her up, plus it'd be a chance to improve herself. Though she didn't want anypony seeing her injuries so she figured she'd sneak into practice a little late, with everypony already started hopefully nopony would notice her. So with helmet underwing, Dash trotted out onto the field like it was any other day. She glanced around for Sunbeam and unfortunately for her, she caught Hondo's gaze instead.

'Oh no.' Dash tried rooting off.

"Rainbow! Rainbow Dash!" He called out to her and Dash paused with a sigh. "There you are. Running later than usual? I thought you weren't going to show for a second there." Hondo said with a laugh as he trotted up to her.

"No, I'm here. Wouldn't want to get suspended from another game." Dash said halfway turning to him.

"Are you wearing sunglasses? You know you can't wear those during practice. It's not safe."

"Right." Dash pulled her glasses off and quickly put her helmet on.

"If you're looking for Sunbeam he's over there."

Dash turned to see where he was pointing and started heading that way.

"Hold on!"

Dash froze and realized the jig was up. 'At least I have a backup plan.'

"Turn around and take your helmet off." Hondo told her.

Trotting back to him with her head down, Dash pulled her helmet off and slowly raised her head back up.

"Rainbow . . . what happened to you?" He questioned concerned.

"Nothing . . . I just flew into a tree." Dash excused herself.

"Dash . . ." Hondo said sternly, knowing she was lying.

"Yeah, I know. Pretty silly of me, but you know when you're not paying attention it can happen to the best of us, even me. Yep, I sure learned my lesson." Dash forced the most honest smile she could manage.

"Go sit on the bench." He ordered her and then turned away. "Coach Star!" He called out.

'What does he want Star for?' Dash wondered as she headed toward the bench. Taking a seat, she found herself just watching practice instead of being a part of it. 'And here I thought that having my marefriend's dad as my coach was gonna be cool.' Dash sighed annoyed as she set her helmet and glasses aside. She got bored of watching her teammates practice without her. She yawned and rested her head in her hoof. 'Man, this sucks.'

"Dash, raise your head." Said Hondo a few minutes later. Doing so, Dash saw principal Smokey Trail was next to him.

"Oh my . . . what happened?" Smokey asked her.

"I think it's fairly clear what happened here." Hondo told Smokey, but she kept her focus on Dash.

"Yeah, I flew into a tree. Don't see why anypony is trying to make a big deal out of it." Dash said, leaning back nonchalantly.

"Is that so? Are you sure that's what happened?" Smokey questioned.

"Yep. Super embarrassing, but that's what happened." Dash nodded.

Principal Trail sighed defeated and looked to Hondo.

"You can't be serious! She is clearly lying! Somepony obviously beat her up." Hondo turned to Dash. "Rainbow please, you aren't in trouble. We're trying to help you . . . Is this about Derpy? Was it somepony else on the team that did this to you?"

That was hard for Dash to take and she dropped the act, but only for a moment. " . . . No, I told you already . . . it was a tree. I flew into a tree."

"Look, Coach Hondo, I know it's hard to take. It never gets easier for me. Pegasi can be so prideful and no pony will talk. You can't help somepony who doesn't want to be helped." Smokey told him sadly.

". . . Very well. I see that now. If you could excuse us." Hondo said.

"Of course." Smokey nodded and took a few steps away before flying off.

"Rainbow Dash, that answer may work here, but it won't work with Rarity." He warned her.

'Aw shoot.' Dash swallowed worried.

***

Author's Note

A bit on the shorter side, I decided to post this as is rather than lose out on the decent cut-off point. saves everyone the hassle of having to wait even later. sorry for the wait, been busy. Hope you all enjoy it. Much love. <3 /D

Fighting for Love

'Aw Celestia, what am I going to say? I have to go see her. It's not like I can avoid her . . . well maybe I could until I'm all healed up. No, she must be so upset as it is.' Dash sighed and quietly opened the door out to the hall. She saw Rarity sitting on the floor, a bundle of flowers tied into a bouquet by a ribbon in her hooves. She held a single flower in her magic, she was slowly picking off the petals one by one. Dash tried to stay silent as she exited the locker room, but the door clicked rather loudly as it closed.

Setting the flower aside, Rarity suddenly looked over and jumped to her hooves, and ran up to Dash. "Rainbow! You had me so worried!" Rarity hugged Dash before pulling away and looking over Dash's face. It had had time to start the first stages of healing, but she could see the bruises across her face, the black eye, scraped creek, and slipt lip. "What happened to you?" She asked teary-eyed.

"You- uh . . . didn't hear that I flew into a tree?" Dash couldn't help but try the poor excuse.

"This isn't a joke Rainbow Dash! When things like this happen you have to be honest with me!" Rarity shouted angrily then took a breath to compose herself. "Because I care about you."

"Alright, alright, quiet down. Look . . ." Dash looked back toward the locker room door, seeing no pony around she took Rarity's hoof. "Follow me." Dash was almost dragging Rarity along as she hurried down the hall before stopping in front of a door.

"Why'd you lead me-"

"Shh!" Dash shushed her and made sure they were alone before opening the door, pushing Rarity inside, then joining her.

Looking around the small cramped room, Rarity only saw cleaning supplies. "A janitor's closet? Why are we here?" She asked curiously, yet also somewhat disgusted at the state of disarray the room was in.

"Because what I have to say is really hard to admit and is for your ears only, okay?" Dash told her, looking her dead in the eye and with her hooves on her shoulders.

"I swear Rainbow, I won't tell a single soul. Even if Celestia herself asked me." Rarity assured her with a nod.

Dash took a breath and let it go along with any doubts she had about telling her marefriend. "I-I'm being bullied at school. He insulted Derpy so I stood up to him and well . . ." Dash pointed to her own face.

"Aw, Rainbow . . . There's no shame in that."

"That's not all Rares . . . There's - There's something else you should know."

That caught Rarity off guard. 'There's more?'

"Me being bullied is the reason I cheated on you." Dash admitted softly.

". . . What?" Rarity said in disbelief.

"I know it's dumb, but Dumbbell and Hoops were always picking on me for liking mares, so I figured they'd leave me alone if I got a coltfriend. It was one of my dumbest ideas, and I can't believe I thought it'd actually work. I'm so sorry." Dash apologized deeply ashamed.

". . . Really?" Rarity asked and Dash nodded. "Oh thank Celestia." Rarity sighed relieved.

"Huh?" Dash was taken aback by such an unexpected response.

"Darling, you have no idea how much I've been beating myself up over our breakup. I thought you had cheated on me because I had done something wrong. I thought I wasn't pretty enough, loving enough, or maybe I wasn't giving you enough space. It's such a relief to hear you say that."

"Oh no, Rarity . . . it could never be your fault, You are so perfect in every way. I have no idea what I did to deserve a mare like you, but I try my best to be in your eyes what you are in mine."

"Awww . . ." Rarity was going to carry on when Dash cut her off with a kiss that she eagerly returned. "I love you." She said softly.

Dash stared lovingly into her eyes. "I love you t- ow!" Dash grabbed her shoulder after Rarity had punched it.

"You're right, it was dumb, just an outright moronic reason to cheat on me! All you had to do was talk to me . . . I might have been okay with you being in a pretend relationship . . . maybe. You know . . . if we couldn't figure out a better plan." Rarity said with fading confidence.

". . . " Dash started snickering before full-on laughing.

Rarity blushed furiously. "I-I . . . stop it! It was the first thing that popped into my mind! I didn't mean it and would never agree to such a setup."

"ha, ha, ha! Oh please Rarity, stop! Ha! I can't take it. You are too much." Dash hugged her to show her she was just playing with her.

Rarity continued to blush through it, looking annoyed (and cute Dash noted to herself). She blew out a breath. "I guess we need to work on our communication. Especially you." Rarity said, pulling away from her. "You need to stop keeping secrets from me. All of this could've been easily avoided. So is there anything else you're not telling me?"

" . . ."

"Rainbow Dash!"

"What? It's . . . not a big deal."

"Rainbow . . ."

"It's stupid."

"Tell me Rainbow Dash, or so help me I'll-"

"I miss you calling me Dashie!" Rainbow confessed in a rush. "Told you it was stupid." She muttered.

"You- you do? I thought you didn't like being called that so I stopped." Rarity told her in surprise.

"Yeah, but . . . it was okay when you called me that." Dash spoke softly.

Rarity blinked as she let that sink in. Her face suddenly lit up with a mischievous smirk. "Aw, does my Dashie enjoy her cutesy nickname?" Rarity teased, leaning into her.

"Ugh, please forget I said anything." Dash rolled her eyes and glanced away. She still had a smile though.

"Now, can we please exit this dusty closet?" Rarity asked, impatient to leave the room.

"Oh yeah, sure." Dash opened the door and backed out, clearing the way for Rarity.

"We better get going, don't want to be-"

"Late! ohmygosh! Imma be so late! Catch you later." Dash waved, flying off.

"Wait! What about your flowers?" Rarity called out, holding said flowers up with her magic.

"Hold on to them for now! I'll take them after the game!"

***

Dash bobbed the bouquet to and fro before holding it close to herself in Rarity's room.

"Do they make you feel any better?" Rarity asked, referring to the flowers.

Dash thought for a moment about not only yet another loss but the limited playtime she'd seen as well. Hondo was worried her injuries may affect her play, so any small error brought her out for a play or two. "No." Dash said then set them aside. She felt Rarity give her a kiss on her cheek.

"How about that?"

Dash couldn't help but crack a smile. "A little bit."

Rarity climbed up onto her bed and snuggled up to Dash. "Hmm, you know what I think will cheer you up? A good preening." She suggested, a whisper into the pegasus's ear.

Dash immediately perked up. "Really?"

Rarity nodded and slid over into place behind her as she sat up. Dash spread her wings out for her and Rarity examined them. "Oh my . . . I've never seen your feathers in such poor shape."

"Yeah, I'm not too surprised. I've kinda been neglecting their care. I just haven't been in the mood to preen myself in a while." Dash finished with a tired sigh as she thought back on her troubles.

Rarity sensed this and eased her tension by starting her preening. With her loving care, Rarity could feel Rainbow relaxing more and more at each touch. "You want to share with me what's bothering you?"

". . ." Dash opened her mouth to speak but froze as she debated in her mind what to say. Rarity's careful preening coaxed it out of her. "I . . . feel like a failure."

Rarity paused. "I'm sorry, what? Why would you feel like a failure?"

"Come on Rares, isn't it obvious? Losing those goofball games, losing that fight, and . . . losing you. It just seems like I can't do anything right." Dash's ears dropped.

"Dashie . . . it's not like you can win every game, the Speedsters still have the best record in the league and you're playoff-bound. Besides, you didn't lose me, I'm right here. And . . ." Rarity kissed her neck to which Dash gasped in surprise at. This was quickly followed by Rarity using her magic to pluck a damaged feather. The sudden sharp pain melded with the pleasure and Dash moaned in response. "You know how I feel about fighting." Rarity said, blowing a little air into Dash's ear.

A shiver ran down her spine. "Dear Celestia . . ." Dash muttered. "Where did you learn that?"

Rarity had to giggle at that. "From that How to Preen Your Colt book, of course, where else?"

"That book is a mare's best friend."

"I'm sure most mares say that about it, except because they're using its tips . . ." 'much like myself.' "not having its advice used on them." Rarity commented amusedly. She kissed Dash's neck once more as she removed another feather.

Dash stifled the incoming moan and, to Rarity's surprise, pulled her neck away from her lips. "What would you want me to do then?"

"Huh?" Rarity asked puzzled yet she carried on preening her.

"If I'm not allowed to fight then, what should I do?" Dash clarified.

"Avoid them?"

"We go to school together."

"Right, obviously . . . have you tried talking it out?"

"There's nothing to talk out, they just hate me. Only things they say to me are insults."

"Hmm . . ." Now Rarity paused, thinking of an option Dash couldn't reject. ". . . how about flying away?" Rarity suggested extra sweetly knowing that getting Dash to agree to this one was going to be a long shot.

"As in if they wanna fight, I just fly away?"

"Correct. You are faster than them, right?

"sure. It'll be easy. I just need to know if my tail should be between my legs when I do so. I am flying, not running." Dash responded sarcastically.

"Rainbow please, it's either that or going to a teacher. Have you tried that?" Rarity said annoyed.

"No, and I don't know which of those two options is worse. Either way, I look like a coward. I have an image to uphold." Dash said indignantly.

"Right . . ." There was a silent pause as a mirror floated in front of Dash's face in Rarity's magic. "Is this the image you're upholding? Because I don't like it." Rarity turned the mirror so Dash saw Rarity's face instead of her own so she could see how much it pained her to see her injured. "Please Rainbow, just fly away, to safety or a teacher. Don't let them do this to you."

"Rarity. . ." Dash sighed heavily. Seeing Rarity's pleading face was something hard to say no to. "I'm sorry, but I can't Rares. If I let them Break my spirit so easily, then I let them win. It would only prove right to them I'm not as good as them and never was. I have to fight them to show I belong." As much as she meant that last part, she didn't mean to say it out loud. She knew Rarity wouldn't like it, but it was true.

Rarity slowly lowered the mirror before gently setting it aside. "I see . . . this is obviously very important to you, but I can't allow you to get hurt or even suspended for fighting, so I'll be talking to my father about this."

"Uh, what?! Come on Rares, I told you all this in confidence, besides it's not like he can do anything about it." Dash complained.

"I could convince him to bench you if I find out you've been fighting again."

"Rarity! You wouldn't dare!" Dash exclaimed in disbelief. "Playoffs are coming up, what if that's the next game when the fight happens? We'll lose for sure if I don't play!" Dash stood, her mind raced at the nightmare that would be.

"Well . . . then don't fight. Who cares what other ponies will think. If they think less of you, they are fools away. I won't think any less of you." Rarity said caringly.

"Yeah? Well, it's not about what they think or what you think."

Rarity was taken aback by such harsh words.

"It's about what I think about myself. I'm a fighter Rarity. I don't give up when challenged. No matter how difficult or impossible the feat. Even when no one says I can win. I have to give my all to prove I'm not some weak little mare who should stay grounded and leave flying to the big ponies. If I can't face a couple of dumb bullies . . ." Dash teared up, bowing her head in defeat as she so far couldn't do just that. "Maybe I'm not any special after all."

"I think you can win."

Dash looked back at Rarity, surprised to hear her say that.

"I'm sorry Rainbow. I didn't know it was that serious. I thought you were making a big deal about a petty fight, but this is clearly very important to you and for a good reason. And for that, I'll stand by your side on this." Rarity said, hopping off of the bed to get next to Dash and lean against her side.

"You mean that?"

"Mhm." Rarity nodded and nuzzled Dash's cheek. "Now, I believe we have a preening to finish." She added and Dash smiled as they returned to her bed.

***

It had been a long day for Dash, practice had just wrapped up with most everypony leaving. So Dash was understandably a little worn out, yet she stayed behind with Misty Dawn for Hondo had told her he had extra training planned today. Dash wondered why it was just her and Misty Dawn. It was an odd match-up, their positions were highly unlikely to face each other in an actual game. All she could do was guess at the reasons while she sipped from a cup of water.

"Alright Dash, you ready?" Hondo's voice snapped her attention toward him and she nodded.

"Sure thing coach . . . but, uh . . . what am I ready for exactly?" She asked curiously.

"Rarity told me about your bully problem."

Dash alerted at this seeming act of betrayal by Rarity.

"We talked it over and decided on a course of action that Mistydawn kindly agreed to help with." Hondo said with a nod toward Misty Dawn.

Dash blinked, lost in thought for a moment. "So wait . . . by training, you meant . . ."

"Sparring with Misty Dawn. Nothing too rough, I don't want either of you to get hurt." Hondo explained.

Dash glanced over at Misty Dawn. A pretty and outgoing mare, it was easy to overlook her size and power. 'Her build is similar to Dumbbell's.'

"You ready?" Mistydawn licked her lips as she took a stance at the ready to pounce at Dash.

Dash smirked, liking her eagerness as she herself got set. "Ha, to win." Dash answered smugly and they both launched themselves at each other. Dash was quicker on the jump, but it only earned her a slam onto her back as Misty Dawn pinned her down. Not wanting to hurt her with kicks, Dash instead tried pushing Mistydawn off with a push that gradually grew in pressure but remained fruitless. "Wow, that was different from the real thing." Dash commented sarcastically as she gave up.

"That's because you went straight at her . . . think of it like hoofball." Hondo hinted at a previous lesson.

Dash's eyes lit up as she recalled it. "Reset?" She requested and Mistydawn immediately let her up as they retook their places.

"And . . . go!" Hondo called out.

'A larger, stronger opponent means I have speed and agility on them.' When Misty Dawn charged at her, Dash dodged around her. 'Ha! It worked!' Dash quickly turned back toward Misty, who had also turned. 'Whoa!' Dash dodged away again from a heavy swing from Misty's hoof, and again, and again, Dash kept on the defensive. 'It's better, but still . . . I'll never win if I don't ever go on the attack. Sooner or later she'll get me.' Dash tried to ponder her predicament but was too preoccupied with avoiding Misty Dawn's relentless attacks. "Uh, any advice . . . here coach? . . . This is like running away . . . only I'm . . . going in circles!" Dash called out between each effort to avoid Misty's blows.

"After each swing, she's wide open for only a brief moment! While you're going around her, throw in a quick jab or two!"

So Dash tried just that, on Misty's next swing Dash jumped and flew over her, landing what was little more than a pat upon her head and a rough poke to her lower back. 'Buck yeah! That's more like it!' Dash smiled as it carried on like that. Misty Dawn missing and then she'd land a blow or two in return, sometimes in her quickness, harder than she'd meant to. But to make up for those hits she'd tone it way down next time, unlike Mistydawn who tried harder and harder to land a single blow. Dash enjoyed her making it a challenge, preparing her for the real deal. That is until after landing a couple of jabs Dash turned back toward Misty, ready for another pass, and saw her standing with a tremble and panting heavily. For a second Dash thought she was exhausted from trying so hard, but then she saw it, the glare, steady and burning into her. It wasn't anger at failure, it was hate, pure hatred at an enemy she wanted to hurt. It shocked Dash to see such a look in the eyes of a pony she thought of as a good friend. "uh . . . maybe we should take five. . ." Dash suggested awkwardly, stepping back some before turning away.

"Good job out there Rainbow. You turned that around a lot faster than I expected!" Hondo patted her on the back as she returned to the sideline.

Dash simply nodded at his praise as she carried on to the bench and sat down perplexed. 'I don't get it, why would she look at me like that? Did I hit her too hard? That I was winning so easily?' Dash wondered sadly.

"Hey." Came a soft, apologetic voice.

Dash looked up to see Misty Dawn still breathing heavily, offering her a drink with an awkward smile. Dash accepted it wordlessly.

"Sorry about back there. Guess I lost my cool for a second there." Misty rubbed the back of her head ashamed.

Dash took a moment for them to catch their breath before replying. "Yeah, what was that about?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm . . . " Misty Dawn sat down and sighed dejectedly. "jealous."

"Jealous? Of what?" Dash asked stunned.

"Of you! Come on Rainbow, I try so hard in goofball, and yet you and Gilda are the only ones anypony talks about. And-and . . ." Misty Dawn sobbed a bit, failing to fight back tears. "You got Sunbeam. I tried to be cool about it and move on, but it's so hard when he's always around. Oh, I love him so much. But whenever he talks it's always about how awesome you are. How Rainbow can do everything and is the best at it too." Misty sighed, letting go of the that was building back up. "And he's right too. Didn't take you long at all to learn how to best me in a fight. I just wanted one hit on that smug face of yours."

'Yikes.' "Well, when it comes to me and Sunbeam it's not like we're dating anymore. We broke up a while ago. How have you not known that?" Dash asked wondering how she could be so oblivious.

"Of course I've known! Not like that changes anything for Sunbeam. He still thinks the world of you . . . It's like he doesn't even know I exist." Misty Dawn wiped some tears away.

"Misty Dawn . . . I had no idea, but jealous of me? Please, if anything I'm jealous of you. My parents are so overwhelming I barely spend any time at home. Your parents let you throw that party at your place and left you alone the whole time. Not to mention you're not getting bullied or beat up like me. That's the reason we're sparring in the first place. Look . . .I'll point Sunbeam your way and if you want, I'll let you take one free shot." Dash jokingly offered, pointing to her own cheek.

Misty Dawn stifled a chuckle and playfully punched Dash's shoulder. "Stop it." She laughed. "Though I guess you're right. Sometimes it seems like you're getting all the attention, but it's not always a good thing. We still cool?"

"Yeah, we're still cool." They shared a hoof bump that shifted into a hug.

Author's Note

Having Rarity avoid calling Rainbow, 'Dashie' was harder to do for the setup than I thought it'd be. was the payout worth it? I thought it was cute. Misty Dawn was a character I definitely wanted to do more with. So her being a sparring partner and a love interest for that poor soul Sunbeam was a perfect two birds with one stone moment. The problem with having OCs return after a long absence? I forget how their names go. Misty Dawn/Mistydawn and Sunbeam/Sun Beam. so annoyed with myself for doing that. oh well, I tried my best to straighten that out here. hope you all enjoy it!

Together, Still Broken

Author's Note

Warning! light talk of past suicide attempts, talk of past depression.

A deeper dive into Dash's woes. Sorry for the wait. I feel like this is the slowest updating story. Hope it was worth the wait. Much love to all readers! <3

Together, Still Broken

"All right, nice win everypony! We matched our record for wins we had last year and with one last game to go we'll be better." Dash high-hooved some teammates on her way to her locker from the showers.

"Hang on there Rainbow, while that may be true, this last regular game season game isn't important to us. We've clinched the highest seed in the playoffs already. We don't exactly need to win it." Hondo explained.

Dash did a quick job of drying her mane before replying. "Uh, yeah we do if we want to do better than last year." Dash tossed her towel into her locker and gave her mane a simple flick to style it the way she liked.

"The playoffs were the problem last year."

"True, but ending the season on a high note would keep sports high going into the playoffs." At that several teammates nodded and murmured their agreement.

"Look, I just don't want you all hanging your hopes too high on an unimportant game, because you're risking more on a loss than you'll gain from a win." Hondo gave a stern look across the room then smiled cheekily. "We'll still give beating that record a go of course." He added, setting off delighted cheers.

"Pretty exciting stuff, huh? This is totally our year, I can feel it." Sunbeam said playfully bumping into Dash who had her head in her locker.

"You know it." Dash answered, pausing to look at a hidden-away picture of Rarity before closing her locker.

"So hey, I know you like to split after games but I figured we could go out and celebrate?" He asked nervously.

In her quick thinking for an excuse not to go, Dash realized this was an excellent chance to push him toward Misty Dawn. 'And to do it so soon, cool.' "Hey, yeah . . . that does sound like an awesome idea." Sunbeam's face lit up at that response. "And I know just the pony to join us." Dash added to his disappointment and puzzlement. Dash trotted over to Misty Dawn. "Say, Misty, want to tag along with us? We're going out to celebrate."

"Can't, I'm busy tonight." Misty Dawn responded surprisingly coldly as she didn't bother to look up as she was busily going through her locker.

"Ahem! Are you sure about that?" Dash elbowed her roughly to get her attention.

Misty Dawn looked up to see Dash nodding toward the side where Sunbeam stood. "Oh, Oh!" Misty Dawn realized what she was trying to do now, yet her reaction was unexpected to Dash when she frowned. "I'm sorry, but I really can't. My family is having friends over and I'm supposed to be there as soon as I'm done here." She explained.

"That's ok. I guess it's just you and me then." Sunbeam answered all the more happier as he put a hoof around Dash.

'Oh no, what have I gotten myself into? He'll think of this as a date. I need a way out! Why do my plans always do this? ugh, if only Rarity were- that's it! Rarity will know what to do!' "Ha, ha, actually there's still one pony that'll be joining us as well." Dash said and headed out into the hallway. Sure enough, Rarity was waiting there. Her greeting smile turned into a look of confusion. Dash heard Sunbeam following right behind her. 'This can't look good to her.' Dash worried and raced up to Rarity then spoke softly into her ear. "Help, I messed up and he's tagging along."

Rarity stared forward for a moment then threw Dash way off with her solution. Her lips were on her's in a fiery kiss.

Dash was at a loss as to Rarity's reasoning for this and soon lost herself in the kiss as well. She had no idea how long it had lasted. It seemed to go on, yet ended as quickly as it had started, leaving Dash with a goofy smile. 'That was nice.'

"Of course darling, I don't mind him accompanying us."

'Wait, what?' That snapped Dash out of dreamland to see Rarity with a smug grin while she was staring down at Sunbeam, who shied away from it while showing how awkward he felt. "Rarity . . ." Dash muttered angrily yet gently prodded Rarity in the side, upset that she had used the moment to satisfy her own means.

"Sorry." Rarity whispered, not sounding sorry at all. She faked an apologetic expression and nuzzled her cheek with her own.

"Uh . . . you know what Dash? . . . I'm actually busy tonight too. I got . . . plans." With that poor excuse, Sunbeam took off toward the exit.

"No, wait!" Dash called out to no avail. She stomped her hoof angrily and shot Rarity a glare that made the unicorn recoil away before she took off after Sunbeam. 'A good thing I always win our races.' Dash thought to herself, bitting down on his tail right before he reached the main exit. They both landed down and Dash spat out his tail. "Sunbeam, wait, let me-"

"No! No . . . just leave me alone. I really want to move on from us, but . . . I still love you." Sunbeam interrupted her to admit.

"I know."

"And- wait, what? Really?" Sunbeam asked surprised.

"Dude, if you were trying to hide it, you did a poor job." Dash said not revealing she herself had to be told this information.

"Oh . . . yeah. I guess you're right, but still . . . seeing you with coach's daughter . . . I felt so jealous and I can't be around that. It makes me want to be in her place . . . but I guess that's never gonna happen is it?" He asked defeatedly.

"Who knows what would've happened if we dated before Rarity came into my life. we could've had something serious. You're not a bad guy, it's just I love Rarity with all my heart. She gives me more than I could ever expect from love. It's not like you failed. It's just that Rarity is a better fit for me. She and I complete each other. I know there's a mare out there that loves you as much as I do Rarity and knowing you, you're going to make her really happy."

". . . Thanks, Rainbow, that means a lot." Sunbeam smiled.

"You and I will always be friends. I got your back if you ever need me. In fact, if you still want to join us . . .?" Dash extended the offer.

"No thanks. It looks like you two have some talking to do." Sunbeam said looking past her.

Dash looked back to see Rarity standing a ways back and looking ashamed.

"I'll leave you two be." Sunbeam chuckled as he turned to leave.

"Hey wait!" Dash turned her head back to him. "You do know who I was talking about, right?" She questioned.

"Huh?"

"The mare."

"That loves me? I thought you meant that as 'there are plenty of fish in the sea' type thing." Sunbeam said cluelessly.

Dash shook her head and whispered to him. "Misty, you feather brain."

"Misty?! As in Misty Dawn?!"

Dash nodded amused by his sock.

"Are you sure?"

Another nod. "I'll just leave you to process that. See ya around." Dash left him slack-jawed as she trotted over to Rarity. "So what do you have to say for yourself?" She asked her marefriend.

"I'm sorry Rainbow. I got protective of our relationship when I saw Sunbeam and I saw a chance to . . ." Rarity bit her lip, thinking of the proper way to word it.

"show I belonged to you?" Dash offered an answer in annoyance.

"What? No . . . That's such an unbecoming way to word it. . ." Rarity trailed off anxiously.

"Unbelievable, Rarity I told you I don't love him and never have. It's not a competition., because he can't win nor you lose. All you're doing is hurting his feelings. He's my friend and teammate so I'm not going to stand for it. You said you were okay with us still being friends, so was that true or not?"

It was not a side of Dash that Rarity liked to see, especially not when it was aimed at her. Yet this was all her own fault, so she accepted the brunt of it. "No . . . you're right. I was trying to make a moot point that was against my own previous word. Should I apologize to him?" Rarity asked, looking to Sunbeam who was paused right at the exit, clearly eavesdropping.

"No, I think he gets it." Dash said seeing this as well. "Besides, I'll have to talk to him more later to smooth everything out. Till then I think we should all head home." Dash finished.

"Wait, won't you be coming with me?" Rarity asked puzzled yet worried.

"No, I suddenly don't feel like it tonight." Dash said bitterly, turning away to the exit and leaving Rarity quite upset.

***

Dash sat in the locker room and blew out a heavy sigh. What a difficult week it had been. She hadn't seen Rarity since their argument last week, this included not bothering to see her before or after practice as well. The whole team seemed to have personal business on their minds as the Junior Speedsters had a rough finish to the regular season with a bad loss leaving them matching their record for last season. Add on the fact that things seemed awkward between her and Sunbeam again made for Dash to be in a rather somber mood. The only thing that had lifted her spirits had been the extra time she'd spent with Gilda, though it hadn't gotten Rarity off her mind. But as Dash sat there Sunbeam passing by caught her attention. She watched as he trotted over to Misty Dawn.

"Hey."

They greeted each other simply.

"You gonna be throwing another end-of-the-season party this year?" He asked.

"Well, we still have the playoffs, but yeah. This is my last year, so it'll be nice to get the team together one last time." Misty informed him.

"Sounds nice . . . I'll miss you."

". . . I'll miss you too."

There was a shared silence as they both stared off away from each other.

"Do you want to grab a cider or something . . . just you and me?" Sunbeam asked.

"I have plans for the rest of the day . . . guess I'll have to blow them off." Misty Dawn replied with a sly smile as Sunbeam went from disappointed to elated.

Dash smiled. 'Nice, I guess that takes care of that. Now-'

"Rainbow!" Hondo's voice startled Dash as she quickly turned to him.

"Yes sir?"

"At ease." Hondo laughed, giving her a playful nudge. "I was just wondering if you were going to be seeing Rarity, cause if not we'll be leaving."

"No, yeah, I was just about to go see her right now." Dash answered and hurried to do so. She was excited to see her again. Upon opening the door, Dash was greeted by the sight of Rarity sitting politely at the end of the hall with her tail curled around her hooves. Even though she was clearly feeling down with her ears flopped low, Dash still thought she was cute and pretty sitting like that.

Rarity huffed out a sigh. "Are we leaving then?" Obviously by not looking she had thought Dash was Hondo.

"Sure, back to your place?" Dash asked with sly suggestiveness.

"Rainbow!" Rarity excitedly jumped to her hooves and Dash raced up to her and they embraced each other.

"By Celestia, I missed you so much!" Dash confessed as she held her tightly.

"I missed you too! I'm so sorry about how I treated Sunbeam. I was being such a jealous idiot." Rarity apologized, aggressively nuzzling Dash.

"We are never doing that again. I couldn't stand being away from you for so long. I had the worst week because I couldn't get you out of my head." Dash said breaking up the hug with a kiss on her forehead.

"I must admit I was having similar problems. It seems whenever we fight my inspiration for new designs dies." Rarity said with a shy blush.

Dash frowned at that. "Oh no. That doesn't mean you'll be too busy for me to stay over does it?" She worried.

"Oh, no, no, no, no. I have all the time to spend with you over the weekend. You'll stay the weekend right?" Rarity asked with her own worry.

"Of course." Dash brushed off her worry.

"Good . . . cause there was this one dress that I did make and I want you to try it on. And by the look of your feathers, you're in need of a good preening. Your mane could use a good brushing as well. Oh! And my mother picked up this special dinner . . ."

Dash smiled as she trotted alongside Rarity, listening to her growing plans stack up as she rambled on. It was a welcomed and exciting distraction for her stressed mind.

***

Rarity was laying in the grass as she watched Dash come down for a landing. It was a breezy day with a lazy feeling to it. Dash plopped down and laid down next to her. "You didn't do many tricks or a Sonic Rainboom." Rarity commented.

"Yeah, well . . . I wasn't feeling up to it today." Dash said not caring to come up with an actual excuse.

"Are you okay?"

"just tired."

"You didn't sleep well last night. You usually fall asleep before me but I could sense you were still awake while I was. Something is troubling you." Rarity determined.

". . ." Dash bit her lip, fearing her answer would make her sound stupid.

Rarity shifted over to where she straddled Dash's hips and placed her hooves on either side of her shoulders. She leaned her head forward, causing her mane to fall and create a curtain around Dash's head. They locked eyes, Rarity's so full of love that it overwhelmed Dash. "Tell me Dashie. I want to help." Rarity said smoothly.

Dash blushed from being in such a position in public, even if nopony was around. biting her lip, she turned her head away to the shorter side of Rarity's mane so she could still see the outside world. 'There really is no harm in telling her.' Dash glanced back at her. "I-. . . I'm scared this year will turn out like last year." She confessed.

Rarity cocked her head looking confused by Dash's lack of context.

Seeing this, Dash clarified her meaning. "With hoofball, everything is going the same as last year; same record, same seed, and same first-round bye. All that is missing is the loss in the first playoff game, which I fear is bound to happen."

Rarity lifted her head, thinking for a moment. She gave her mane a flick to get it out of her face before replying. "Rainbow, if you lose it doesn't matter, nopony will think less of you."

"I will! And so will the Wonderbolts." Dash followed with muttering.

Rarity blinked. "The Wonderbolts? Dashie you are certainly the best flyer I have ever seen by far. They will be more interested in that than your goofball record."

". . . Yeah, but I want to pad my resume. Show them I'm a flawless flyer. I don't want anything to ruin my chances at being a Wonderbolt. I don't have a backup plan, being a Wonderbolt is all I want!"

". . ."

"Please don't say I need a backup plan. I hear that-"

Rarity put a hoof to her lips and hushed her. "I wasn't going to. Rainbow, what do you think I'd do for a living if I didn't make dresses?"

Dash thought for a second before shrugging. "I don't know." She answered not understanding the point of the question.

"I don't know either. So no matter what, even if I have to scrape Bits just to get by every day for the rest of my life, I'm going to make dresses. I know you have that same determination. No matter what, you'll be a Wonderbolt." Rarity said with a kind smile.

Dash was speechless and felt a little teary-eyed. It was nice to hear that sort of belief in her, from somepony other than her parents. she leaned upward, propping herself up with her hooves, and gave Rarity a soft kiss. "Thanks . . . for saying that . . . I still want to win though."

Rarity smiled humored by Dash. "Of course you do. Just think about it as another regular game and have fun, no pressure. If you do as well as you normally do you'll win."

"Yeah . . . I guess once again you're right. You always are." Dash then gained a cheeky smile. "Wise old Rarity." Dash barely finished speaking when Rarity hit her in the side.

"I'm not old. I am a beautiful, young mare in her prime." Rarity corrected vainly.

"In your prime already?"

"And will be for a long time." Rarity added, seeing where she was going with that.

"That's what they all say." Dash teased.

"Rainbow Dash! I swear! Sometimes you try me." Rarity huffed half humored."Speaking of which, I just remembered something. When I kissed you in front of Sunbeam, he looked so shocked, which I thought was odd. Do you have any explanation?" Rarity asked accusingly.

'uh-oh.' Dash swallowed. "Maybe because I never told him we were dating?" Dash offered innocently.

"Excuse me? You never told your ex we are dating?" Rarity questioned angrily.

"One, he's not my ex. I told you already I never loved him.-"

"Yet you dated him nonetheless." Rarity cut her off with a sharpness to her voice.

"I used him Rarity. Which was the worse thing I've ever done."

"I guess cheating on me is a close second?"

"Let me up. I thought we were over this." Dash said crossly.

"Clearly not since you can't tell your old coltfriend about us. And no, not until you explain why." Rarity said firmly, sitting on her.

Dash wiggled herself to see if she could free herself, but she couldn't without using more force on Rarity than she was willing to use. "Fine, it was because I was afraid my friends would think less of me for dating you. That they'd think I wanted to be all proper and wear dresses and make-up, and no more roughhousing . . . and that they would make fun of me because of it."

"You . . . you were ashamed of being with me?" Rarity said slack-jawed.

". . . Makes it sound worse than how I worded it, but . . . yeah, I was." Dash said apologetically.

Rarity stood and stepped to one side, allowing Dash to get to her hooves.

Dash could see how stunned and hurt Rarity was by this revelation, so she tried to offer some words of comfort. "Like I said, I was ashamed, but now that Gilda and Sunbeam know and neither of those friendships changed, I realized I was being silly."

At that last word, Rarity turned a teary-eyed glare on Dash. "Yes, how silly of you to be ashamed of me. You- you . . . Why don't you just go home? I don't want to see you anymore!" She shouted the last part before running off crying.

"Rarity wait! I didn't mean it like that!" Dash called out flying a short way after her and ended up letting her go. Dash hit herself in the head repeatedly. 'Stupid, stupid! Why did I open my stupid mouth, say stupid things, and be such a stupid pony?'

***

Dash didn't know if it had been luck or Rarity granting her a chance to redeem herself. When she arrived at Rarity's place shortly after she had run off, Dash found Rarity's bedroom window open. Resting her forehooves on the frame, Dash remained hovering outside while poking her head inside. She heard Rarity sobbing before she saw her curled up facing away from her in bed. "Hey. You want me to parade around town singing my love for you aloud for everypony to hear? Better yet I could do it around Cloudsdale. Though that will take a few minutes longer. Or I could do both?" Dash offered.

Rarity was silent, no more sobbing so at least she was putting in the effort to listen to her.

"You can hit me if you want . . . as much as you want."

Still no reply.

Dash pulled herself in, sitting across the windowsill and resting her back against the frame. She stared out at the beautiful day and sighed. "You hate me, that's fair. I hate myself too. Seems like flying is all I'm good at." Dash started in a monotone. "You know when we broke up I tried so hard to amend what I'd done. I told the truth to Sunbeam. Heh, did such a poor job handling that, that all my friends stopped talking to me. So there I was, I had lost you and for all, I'd known I was friendless. I realized I destroyed something I didn't know I had . . . happiness." Dash told her, sounding void of it now. "You know what I did next?" She asked not looking to see if Rarity was listening, but at this point, she had her full attention. "I tried to kill myself." Dash didn't quite know how she felt admitting that. It had been something she was sure she would take to her grave. There was some relief, a hint of sadness and regret, but mostly worry about what Rarity would think.

"Dashie . . ."

Rarity's soft voice sounded surprisingly close and Dash turned to find her right next to her. Rarity basically pulled her from the window when she hugged her. Dash reached a hoof out and comfortingly stroked her cheek.

"I only wanted you to say you respected what I do and who I am, But . . . I mean . . . I had no idea."

"Rarity, of course, I respect what you do. You make awesome clothes and work so hard at it, but my worry is that ponies who don't know you will think you're just an uptight diva and think the same of me for being with you. Also, I wish you said that sooner before I told you that last thing." Dash said pulling away and facehooving.

"No, Rainbow, that was good because this is serious. Was this a one-time thing? Do you have problems with depression?" Rarity questioned her, staying close to her.

". . . When it comes to depression . . . I really never have had any since I met you."

"Awww . . ." Rarity nuzzled her affectionately. "But you didn't answer my other question."

". . . To be completely honest, I've thought about it numerous times, but I only ever attempted to do it . . . three times. It was never serious though."

"Yes, it was! Dash, have you ever told anypony about this problem?" Rarity was much more panicked about Dash's nonchalant attitude to all this than she would've been otherwise.

"No."

"What about your parents?"

"Celestia, no. They are- . . . difficult enough to deal with as it is." Dash changed her wording last second, not wanting to talk about her relationship with her parents.

"Well if you are ever feeling depressed again you tell me, okay?"

"Rarity, it's not-"

"Rainbow . . ." Rarity cut off Dash trying to play it off as nothing with a stern tone.

". . . Fine. I promise I'll tell you." Dash sighed with a roll of her eyes.

"You better . . . and Dashie?" Rarity put her hooves on Dash's shoulders.

". . ."

"I love you." Rarity said with another nuzzle as she pulled her in close.

"I love you too." Dash nuzzled her in return.

Bruised Heart

Dash was trotting through the hall between classes that following Monday. She already had enough to be annoyed based on that alone, add to that the fact that Rarity had been so clingy after her confession and Dash was more than ready to spend a relaxing night by herself. 'She's gotten as bad as Sunbeam had been.'

"Misty!" As if on queue Sunbeam flew by and into Misty Dawn, embracing her.

Dash caught Misty Dawn's eye and in turn, Misty blushed and covered it with a hoof. She then turned her attention to Sunbeam to grant him a kiss on the cheek. 'I am glad it worked out for them.' Dash smiled and carried on. Seeing that made her think maybe Rarity's overwhelming affection wasn't so bad, even if it wasn't for the reason she wanted.

"Hey Crash, where are you going in such a hurry?" At Dumbbell's sudden appearance, Dash jumped back in surprise.

For a moment Dash wondered if she had been that lost in thought before she realized he had rounded the corner just ahead.

"what's the matter? The sight of a pony with real talent got you awe-struck?" Dumbbell mocked her with a smirk.

Dash rolled her eyes and went to go around him just to have him step into her way.

"Not even going to say hi? How rude of you."

"What? You just waited in the hallway to harass me, pretty sad if you ask me. You should try getting a life." Dash insulted him with a cocky grin while kicking herself on the inside for opening her mouth. 'Damn it Dash, you're trying to avoid fights, remember?' She cursed herself.

"Ha! That's rich hearing that from a mare pretending to have one. Right Hoops?"

"Yeah." It startled Dash to hear Hoops beside her when she had no clue he was there. She could only turn her head toward him before he sucker-punched her in the gut.

Rainbow's legs betrayed her as they buckled. Her lungs emptied of air as she fought to regain control of her own body. 'Come on, don't fall down. Get up! I've trained for this! Hurry up!' Dash forced herself to stand back up, right when she did Dumbbell threw her up against the wall and he hit her in the gut with a powerful blow. She hadn't recovered fully from the last hit, so she crumpled to the ground immediately and started wheezing. Realizing it was a lost cause she changed her pained, straining efforts to minimizing the damage. Folding her wings in tightly, she rolled so that her back was against the corner of the wall and floor so that her wings were completely covered. Her forehooves covered her chest as she buried her head into them. Her hindlegs covered her stomach to bring any more strikes there to an end. Only her sides remained open and naturally, that's where the kicks started to land. Dash could only wait it out as she caught her breath. It wasn't long before they did stop.

"I don't know how many times I have to remind you where your place is, but I'll gladly keep doing it till you go down to the ground where you belong." Dumbbell said and spat on her mane to exclamation his point. "Oh, and I can't wait to watch you choke in the playoffs again." He added before trotting away with Hoops.

Dash let her hooves drop down and just laid there a moment, watching fellow students ignoring her as they passed, one who had been watching now carried on looking bored. 'How can they ignore a pony in need of help? . . .Because they don't want to end up like me.' Dash answered her own question a little hopefully since the only other option she could think of was that they didn't care. Dash stood up and grimaced as a sharp pain shot through her ribs. 'That's definitely gonna bruise.' Dash limped through her first few steps as she adjusted to the continuing pain. A down feeling set upon her, a familiar one that's haunting she had long grown used to. 'Maybe I should pay Rarity a visit tonight, no doubt it'll make me feel better.' Dash thought thinking about what Rarity had told her to do if she felt depressed.

***

A soft tapping woke Rarity up from her sleep. She tiredly rubbed her eyes and glanced at her clock to see she'd only been asleep for about half an hour at best. 'What even was that noise?' She wondered, no longer hearing it. The tapping returned louder this time and Rarity was able to pinpoint its source as coming from outside her window. 'It couldn't be . . . no, it must be a bird or something.' Rarity lit her bedside candle, deciding it was best to investigate this mystery. The noise had stopped once again as she got out of bed. Undeterred, she carried on to the window anyway. Opening the curtains, she saw her original suspicion had been correct. Rarity quickly pushed the window open. "Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here so late? And on a school night no less?" Rarity asked curiously to the blue pegasus hovering right outside.

"Can I come in Rares? It's been a . . . rough day for me." Dash spoke softly.

Now typically she would've scolded Dash for ignoring her question and asking her own, but Rarity could tell Dash did this not out of rudeness but because of something important. She could sense the pain emitting from her marefriend. So she stepped to the side. "Yes, of course . . . what's troubling you?" She added as Dash flew in and landed.

"I-. . . Can . . . can we just cuddle in bed for a minute? School seemed to last so long and I'm tired." Dash said awkwardly, avoiding eye contact as well.

"Uh . . . sure, anything you need darling." Rarity could tell Dash needed at least a minute before she talked about it, and now she knew it was school related. Rarity was surprised that as soon as she had laid down Rainbow immediately snuggled up against her. 'What could've driven her to come over?' She wondered, putting a comforting hoof around Dash's shoulders, and using her magic she pulled the covers neatly over the two of them. It wasn't long before Rarity heard Dash make an odd sound. 'she fell asleep already? Wait, she doesn't snore when we are cuddling.' Rarity thought and also felt Dash shaking. Now she realized Dash was sobbing. "Oh! Rainbow . . ." Rarity sat up a little and started stroking Rainbow's mane caringly. "Shhh. . . it's okay. Just let it all out." Rarity said in a hushed loving voice after a moment Dash's only response was more crying. 'Poor Rainbow, whatever happened must've been horrible.' Rarity feared what it could've been as she had seen Dash severely beaten before and she had seemed unaffected by it. Even in the low light Dash appeared unharmed. 'Maybe it was all verbal . . . whatever it was if I get my hooves on whoever did this to my Dashie I'll make them pay.' Rarity thought bitterly and kissed Dash's forehead in her continuingly ineffective efforts to soothe her. The bedroom door opening suddenly stole Rarity's attention.

"Dearie, are you doing okay? I- oh. . ." Cookie Crumble paused as she caught sight of Rainbow Dash crying. She shared a glance with her daughter. "I'll be right back." She said backing out of the doorway. Sure enough, it was only a minute before her return, and she brought with her a tray of cookies with two glasses of warm milk. She set the tray down at the end of the bed. "Is there anything else I can get her?" Cookie asked Rarity who carried on stroking Rainbow's mane as she cried into her neck.

"I think she needs a little time." Rarity answered with a little nuzzle to Rainbow.

"All right. I'll be in my room if you need me." Cookie left once more.

Shortly after her departure Dash sniffled a few times and raised her head. She wiped her eyes and Rarity took the chance to offer her a tissue, which she accepted. "Thank you." Dash muttered then blew her nose.

"Here. . ." Rarity used her magic to pull the tray of sweets up to them. "Help yourself." She gave Dash a little space yet stayed somewhat close to her.

Dash meekly took a cookie and dipped it into the milk before taking a bite. It seemingly perked her up a bit as she ate the rest of it rather quickly and then reached for another.

"So what was that all about?" Rarity asked as Dash dunked her second cookie.

Dash ever so slowly raised the cookie to her lips and paused just before she took a bite as she thought of a response. "Sorry, I- . . . it just . . . everything kind of built up and I've been holding it in for a while now. I thought seeing you would ease that pressure but I ended up opening up the floodgates. Sorry about that." Dash spoke softly and nibbled at her cookie.

"No need to apologize darling. It's a good thing to have a little cry every now and then. You can't just bottle up your emotions. I'm right here for yo-" Rarity reached a hoof out and placed it on Dash's side just to have her violently jerk away from her touch. "Dashie . . ." Rarity whined, hurt that her beloved had had such a surprisingly negative response to her affection.

"No, no, no. I didn't mean it like that! It's only that . . . my sides are sore . . . from . . . from getting beat up." Dash murmured at the end.

"Again? But what about all that training?" Rarity said still off guard.

"It was just one afternoon, not that any amount of training would've changed anything when Dumbbell and Hoops don't fight fair." Dash sighed deciding she had to admit some fault in the matter. "I had it coming this time as it was. Told myself to fly away but I had to smart-mouth him."

"No!" Rarity's sharp objection startled Dash. "It doesn't matter what you said to him, it doesn't justify him hitting you. I don't ever want to hear you blame yourself for being bullied again. You don't deserve to be treated like that, by them or by yourself."

"I- . . ." Dash almost stammered as she momentarily became lost for words. She didn't expect Rarity to respond in such a way. So she said the only words on her mind. "Thank you." She cuddled up to Rarity.

"I love you Dashie." Rarity said and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too, Rares." Dash reached a hoof over and grabbed another cookie. "I also love these cookies." She added with a soft chuckle.

***

When Rarity woke up the following morning to find herself snuggling her pillow instead of Rainbow in fact, there was no sign of Rainbow Dash in her room whatsoever. Though while looking around her room she spotted the tray of now crumbs and empty glasses sitting on her dresser with a note left on it. Getting out of bed and trotting over, Rarity plucked it off and read it.

~Had to go to school, didn't want to bother you any more than I already had. Sorry about that. See you after next practice, Love R.D.~

Rarity set the note back down and did her mane before heading downstairs to have a word with her parents. 'I'll see what they say about the possibilities of getting you help, Dashie.' She told herself determinedly.

***

Rainbow was going through a few post-workout stretches after practice when Derpy approached her.

"Excuse me, Rainbow Dash, could I ask you something?"

Dash did a mild eye roll as she thought, 'you just did', but knew Derpy got enough smart mouthing from everypony else, not that it seemed to bother her any. "Sure Derpy, fire away."

"I was wondering . . . I heard how you hooked up Sunbeam and MistyDawn and I was wondering if you could . . ." Derpy's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as her eyes went extra derp.

"Hook you up with somepony?! Derpy that was a one-time thing. I'm not trying to-"

"Please Rainbow! Do this one favor for me. I want to tell him so badly, but I keep getting too nervous. All I want you to do is tell him I like him." Derpy pleaded desperately.

Dash sighed. "Fine. Who is it?" She scanned the field ready to spot whomever she named, she figured it was somepony on the team and she wanted to get to them before they left.

"It's . . . Hondo Flanks."

At those words, Rainbow deadpanned back to Derpy. "Coach?"

Derpy nodded.

"You do realize he's married and has two daughters, right?" Dash asked, wondering if Derpy had lost her mind.

"I know, but he's so nice to me and he has so many interesting stories. Oh, and he's handsome." Derpy said staring over at Hondo in a dreamlike state.

"Well that's obviously not gonna work, so . . . let's find you somepony else." Dash said, thinking quickly as she saw that Hondo was talking to Misty Dawn, which meant they were waiting on her for sparring. "Huh, let me think . . ." Dash, antsy, halfheartedly tried to buy time as she realized she was drawing a blank. "Twister!"

". . . I don't think he likes me very much." Derpy responded confused.

"Nonsense. He's right over there, go talk to him."

"O-okay." Rainbow heard Derpy stutter as she hurried away toward Hondo and Misty Dawn.

***

"Dashie, are you alright?!" Rarity asked hurrying over as Dash stepped out of the locker room.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." She replied reassuringly, albeit with a nasally voice as both of her nostrils were plugged up with tissues and taped over. Hondo had decided to teach Dash some new moves and much like last time, Dash learned quickly. And in her cockiness ended up catching a buck straight to the muzzle. "You should've heard Misty Dawn apologizing to me, she only stopped when I congratulated her on getting that hit on my face in that she wanted. That was worth a good laugh . . . what's up with that?" Dash asked pointing to the plushie on Rarity's back. A welcome change of subject seeing that Rarity failed to see any humor in the accident.

Rarity used her magic to pull the plushie off and hold it between them. "Just a little something I made for you. Do you like her?" Rarity asked with a gleeful smile.

Dash took the Rarity lookalike plush with her wing and looked it over.

"I realized you had nothing to remind you of me at home, well besides a couple of dresses, but I know how you are about that . . . but I know how you are about that . . . and well this is something you could snuggle or sleep with if you want." Rarity added trying to provoke the thankful response she was expecting.

Dash had been smiling at first but then suddenly frowned. "Rarity, are you really doing this right now?"

Rarity stepped back both surprised and offended. "Excuse me? Rainbow Dash, I put a lot of time and effort into that . . . what difference does it make for what time I give it to you?!" She huffed.

"It's more like 'where', Rarity. If I get seen with this here I'll never hear the end of it. My bullying will only get worse." Dash spoke in a hushed voice.

"All right then, give her back to me." Rarity stated like it was a matter of fact.

"No!" Dash pulled the plush in close to herself. "I mean I already have it and it's late enough that I don't think anypony is still around." Dash explained flustered.

"And?"

"Thank you." Dash said quickly and gave Rarity a peak on the cheek. "I'm not sleeping with it though." Dash added wanting to make that clear, even if Rarity didn't believe her for a second.

"Mhmm. Well, how about me? Will you be sleeping with me tonight?" Rarity wondered.

Dash smirked. "That depends on how you mean that . . . ow." That got her a sharp elbow to her leg.

"Sleeping only." Rarity made clear.

"I was joking. In reality, I can't. It's a school night and . . . last time I was dead tired at school . . . I may have napped through one or two classes." Dash admitted.

"Speaking of-"

"No. We are not talking about that night. It never happened." Dash cut off sternly.

"Rainbow-"

"No! Don't 'Rainbow' me. That night didn't happen, end of story." Dash stomped a hoof to exclamation her point.

". . . Fine, but do me a favor Rainbow, and talk to somepony about it. Like your parents." Rarity pleaded softly and once again was surprised by Dash's reaction.

"My parents?! Ha! They are the last ponies I'd tell!" Dash bit her tongue after that outburst, realizing her mistake.

"What? Why?" Came the obvious question from Rarity.

"Me and my parents don't really . . ." Dash paused to think of a way to put it and found herself annoyed with her own mouth breathing. 'It'll be hard enough to explain this injury to them.' ". . .get along. We don't see eye to eye on a lot and- . . . well I prefer to spend as little time around them as possible." She finished, not wanting to ramble on about it.

"Rainbow . . ." Rarity bit her lip, not wanting to believe it. "Are your parents abusive?"

"What? No . . . well . . . not in a traditional sense, maybe. If you count it." Rainbow rubbed her chin thinking about it only to flinch her hoof away from her sore muzzle.

"Rainbow! I'm serious, are they?" Rarity desperately asked her emotions a mess.

Rainbow sighed. "Fine, no. Just super annoying and nosey. I barely get a second alone at home, it's why I'm away from home so much."

"Yeah, I could see that. My parents can be that way too. That's why I spend so much time in my room." Rarity nodded relating.

"Oh no. I know your parents. Trust me, if you ever met mine, ha, mine are a million times worse." Dash laughed at Rarity's comparison.

"Hmm, good point. I'd like to meet your parents." Rarity stated, realizing she'd never had the pleasure.

"Pft, uh what?" Dash fumbled her words, modified by how terrible that idea sounded for herself.

"You've met my parents, my goodness, you work closely with my dad. So I'd like to meet yours. Get to know them and see what they think of me. Wouldn't you want to know that as well?"

Dash rolled her eyes at that. "Trust me, they'll love you."

"Well, then there's no reason for you to worry, right?" Rarity added an affectionate nuzzle to help win her over.

Dash sighed knowing that she still had her reasons for worry as well as the fact that Rarity wouldn't take no for an answer. "Fine. I'll talk to them about setting up a date."

Rarity gasped. "Ideaaa!" Rarity said with a sing-song voice. "Hearts and Hooves day! Your parents can come over for a double- or triple date of sorts. So our parents can meet as well. It works out so well since I can't very well visit Cloudsdale, and it could be your gift to me. Hearts and Hooves day may be a while away but that will leave me plenty of time to make new dresses for the two of us. I have been working on some things I could use for them."

With that, any backdoor way out of the meeting was dead before Dash could think of one. She knew as soon as she told her parents the plan they'd agree wholeheartedly. She couldn't really be upset though with how happy Rarity was about it. So she smiled a bit as well. "Sounds good, except I'm getting you a real gift for Hearts and Hooves day."

Author's Note

Not much to say this time around. Hope you all enjoy! Much love!

Therapeutic Stargazing

Author's Note

Warning for bullying that leads to fear of death.

Stargazer is named after an Aviators' album. As a huge fan of his music, I had to sneak in a reference somewhere.

Tomorrow is my birthday! I hope you all enjoy the chapter!

Therapeutic Stargazing

Dash checked herself out in the mirror, seeing that her injuries were healing nicely. 'Just in time for me to get more.' She humored herself as it was the Junior Speedsters' bye week, so it would be practice today instead of a game. She glanced around her bathroom bored as she thought of what to do till it was a close enough time to leave. She had planned to sleep in, but her parents had woken her up early for whatever reason. At least now they were busy talking with some visitor.

"Dashie! Could you come down here please?"

Dash rolled her eyes at her mother's call. 'Go figure.' Annoyed, Dash trotted on downstairs and into the living room. "What is it?" She asked, not hiding her annoyance. She ended up locking eyes with the visiting stallion. He was on the younger side, wore glasses, and looked very professional.

"Rainbow Dash, this is Doctor Stargazer. We would like for you to talk to him." Windy Whistle said.

"Uh . . . Why? Is something going on?" Rainbow was stuck between thinking her parents were trying to hook her up or somepony was seriously ill. Neither of which she believed.

"Miss Dash, I've talked with your parents and they, along with others, say that you are depressed." Stargazer opened with.

"Oh . . . you're that kind of doctor." Dash rolled her eyes. 'I was worried for no reason.' "Look, sorry your time was wasted, but I'm not depressed." Dash readily turned away about to leave.

"Rainbow, Please . . ."

"Just sit down and talk to him for ten minutes." Her mother and father pleaded.

"It's not just your family that's worried about you. There's also a Miss . . ." Stargazer flipped through his notes. ". . .Rarity, and-"

As he listed more names Dash didn't listen. She was too lost in her head at Rarity's name. 'I guess talking to him won't be so bad. I'll give it a shot, for Rarity.' "Fine, but only ten minutes." Dash said suddenly, interrupting him. "And can we go to my room for some privacy?"

"Sure, of course. Lead the way."

Once they reached her room Dash laid out comfortably on her bed and watched Stargazer awkwardly look for a seat before he settled for sitting down in her beanbag chair. She was surprised at how he held his professional posture in the seat. "So is it just Stargazer, or . . ." Dash broke the ice with.

"Just Stargazer." He nodded. "And what would you like me to call you?"

"Definitely not Miss. Just Dash, Rainbow, or R.D. are all fine."

"Alright. Rainbow, are you ready to get down to the root of the problem?"

Dash stared at him for a moment before she realized he was seriously asking for permission to do his job. "Sure, whatever you think said problem is." Dash answered, rolling her eyes as she stared up at the ceiling.

"Well, that poses a great question Rainbow. What made you attempt to end your own life?"

That question hit Dash hard and she sat up to look at Stargazer surprised. 'How does he know that? The only pony who knows that besides me . . . Rarity.' Dash felt too much of a mix of emotions to avoid the question. "A lot of things . . . one thing, really."

"That narrows it down. Let's work from there. What's that one thing?"

"How worthless I am." Dash replied staring blankly into nothingness.

"And what makes you believe that?"

"Me, my own actions. How I sabotage my own relationships and get no better at hoofball. Others tell me I am as well." Dash listed off.

"Who tells you that?"

". . . Bullies." She said with a sigh after a brief pause.

"And you take their word for it? You don't care for any of their other opinions, do you?"

"No, but-"

Stargazer set his notepad down. "They are bullies for a reason. They don't want you happy. Your parents, Rarity, and friends still stand happily by your side and even I can tell from your record that you are an incredible hoofball player, but you know all of this. So what's causing this doubt is more of a core problem. Tell me more about these bullies. What do they do?"

Dash nodded slowly at what he said, it made sense, he was right about it all so far. Maybe Dumbbell and Hoops were the source of her depression. Subconsciously she pulled her Rarity plush from next to her pillow and into her lap. "Well, they do what bullies do, call me names, beat me up . . . the do whatever to make me feel terrible." Dash said shrugging it off.

"The bullying doesn't bother you?" He questioned her tone with surprise.

"No, of course, I hate it . . . but better me than somepony else."

That had been a first for Stargazer to hear. "What makes you say that? Did a friend of yours get bullied?"

Dash nodded. "This . . . this one time changed everything."

~First Year of Flight Camp~

Fluttershy had found a quiet little hideaway spot away from everypony else to eat her lunch. She hummed a happy little tone as she pulled a dandelion sandwich from her saddlebag. No sooner was it in hoof that another hoof swung in and knocked it out onto the cloud she sat on.

"Oops, sorry." Dumbbell said sarcastically and stomped on the sandwich as an extra insult.

"It's- . . . it's okay. I don't mind." Fluttershy muttered softly, keeping her eyes low.

"You don't, huh? How about if I help myself to what you have left?" Hoops kicked up her saddlebag and dug around inside it.

"No, I . . . sharing." Fluttershy's whimpering was so bad those three words were the only words anypony could make out.

"Aw, that's cute. Is that a new bag?" Dumbbell smirked as Hoops fished out some carrot sticks and munched on them.

Fluttershy only trembled as she couldn't seem to shrink into herself anymore.

"Maybe this one should join the other over the cloud's edge." He added devilishly.

"NO! Pl-please don't . . ." Fluttershy started to cry.

"That's enough! Leave her alone!" Dash sped in, bumped Hoops aside, and snatched Fluttershy's saddlebag back.

"No need to be rude Crash, we're just enjoying lunch. Care to join us?" Dumbbell asked innocently.

"Yeah, I got a hoof sandwich for ya right here!" Dash shook a hoof angrily at him after tossing Fluttershy her bag back. Only she appeared to notice Fluttershy fly away upwards at her slow pace.

"Bring it!" Dumbbell challenged.

Dash rushed forward in a blink and struck Dumbbell in his face. He took it like a champ and was able to throw Dash into a headlock and onto the cloud surface. "Get ofh-" Dash tried to protest but found her mouth overstuffed as Dumbbell shoved Fluttershy's crushed sandwich into her mouth. It was annoying and gross at first, but when trying to spit it out she was met with him shoving it further. It caused her to start choking. Coughing and gagging, Dash tapped his hoof trying to alert him to this. With no success, she turned her gaze to Hoops who started laughing at her.

"Ha! Little Crash is so scared she's crying!" Hoops pointed mockingly as he laughed.

"This should show you who the better pony is. You should stick to your age group and do filly things instead of competing against us." Dumbbell warned her, holding her in place.

Dash flailed about what little she could in a desperate attempt to free herself as panic overwhelmed her from her lungs begging for air.

"Come on Crash, if you really wanna breath then eat it."

Seeing no other option, Dash bit down only to learn the hard way that had made no difference. The bitten-off piece was too big to swallow, there was no room to chew, and Dumbbell's hoof blocked its only other way out. Dash felt her body giving up, her struggling and squirming limbs slowed to a stop and her vision started to blur and fade to black. It hit her that she might not wake up from this when suddenly Dumbbell let her go. She had no clue what instinct or bodily function decided to take action, but the first thing she did was throw up. It may have saved her life, but her next two deep inhales drew the bile back down the wrong pipe, thus beginning a painful cycle of coughing, gagging, and gasping. Her struggle to regain her regular breath was slowly won as a soothing hoof rubbed her back. Lying there with harsh raspy breaths, Dash looked up to see it was Fluttershy. She looked concerned yet was muted by the sight of Rainbow's condition. "Where did you go?" Dash was barely able to ask.

"I-I was hovering right above. I saw everything. A-are you okay?"

That made Dash feel a mix of embarrassment that Fluttershy had seen her as such a low point, and anger. Dash forced her hooves to stand, albeit shakily. "You just hovered there and watched?! You didn't get help or help me yourself! Thanks a lot, Flutters. Some friend you turned out to be." Dash spat and pushed her away.

The following day Dash was using her free time to fly through an obstacle course to burn off steam, but she grew frustrated after a couple of tries where she'd finish quickly but with several clips of her wing into hoops and poles at tight turns. 'Come on Dash, you're better than that. get out of your own head.' She scolded herself and flew off to the side to sit for a breather.

"Hey Crash, you hungry for seconds?"

Dash jumped to her hooves and faced Dumbbell. 'Of course, he would wait till I was tired.' "Leave me alone Dumb, I'm not in the mood to fight today." She shot back.

"Good. Neither am I." Dumbbell nodded and Dash found herself grabbed from behind and thrown down. Hoops had her pinned down. "So Crash . . . what are you hungry for today?" Dumbbell asked, looking around for something foul to force-feed her.

"Leave her alone! . . . Please."

All three of them turned their heads to Fluttershy in surprise at her words.

Dumbbell smirked. "Change of plans." He muttered. "Yeah, no problem." He said to Fluttershy, trotting up to her.

"No! Fluttershy, run!" Dash cried out, desperately trying to free herself. Yet Fluttershy timidly held her ground.

"No need for that . . . we're all being friends here." He put a hoof around Fluttershy as he spoke.

". . .Th-then let Rainbow Dash up . . . If you don't mind." Fluttershy added toward Hoops.

"That's an idea . . . How about this?" Dumbell leveled Fluttershy with a sucker punch and started beating her while she was down.

"NO! Please stop! Leave her alone!" Dash cried, unable to do anything other than watch as Fluttershy screamed.

~~~

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and let it go.

Stargazer passed her a box of tissues.

"Thanks." Dash sniffled, taking one and then using it to blow her nose.

"It must've been hard to have been forced to watch your friend get beat up trying to stand up for you." Stargazer said taking note of how brutal Dash's bully experiences had been.

"All because of what I had said to her . . . She was so bloodied . . . I carried her in my hooves sobbing, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry' over and over again. She went home for a week . . . her parents almost didn't send her back. Not that I would've blamed them. Turned out the only reason they did was because she kept begging to see me, her only friend, again. Some friend I turned out to be." Dash hung her head low.

"How did your relationship with Fluttershy turn out?"

"We were inseparable. The closest of best friends and I protected her after that fight. We made flight camp one of the best times of our lives. She never finished flight camp and moved down to Ponyville, at such a young age it surprised me and I lost contact with her up until Rarity reintroduced us not so long ago." Dash smiled softly at the happier memories.

"You and Fluttershy are still friends then. I'd like to hear more about you and her if you'd like."

"Yeah, sure . . . When we first met . . ." Dash carried on detailing her friendship with Fluttershy, going far beyond the ten minutes she had agreed to.

***

Rarity figured it was a good day. The Junior Speedsters' practice went as smoothly as usual and Rainbow's sparring with Misty Dawn had been relatively tame and laid back. So when Rainbow came out of the locker room looking ticked off, Rarity was caught off guard. "Dashie?" Rarity asked confused by what could possibly be wrong. Dash ignored her and trotted on toward the stadium seating, further throwing Rarity off. "Dashie?" Rarity repeated.

"My parents hired a therapist for me." Dash said, grumpily carrying on.

Rarity could tell by her tone that wasn't quite the problem though. "Well, I-" Rarity started as they exited the tunnel and into the seating area.

"And he knew about my suicide attempt. Something I had only told you, in confidence mind you." Dash said crossly, taking a seat in the nearest row, leaving a seat open for Rarity to sit next to her.

Rarity stood stunned for a moment. She hadn't considered that nopony else knew, but it didn't matter anyways. "I had to Rainbow. I was so worried about you, I had trouble sleeping at night. I wanted to help you, so I told my dad who told your parents. So if you really wanna be mad then . . ." Rarity took a deep breath, overwhelmed by frustration at how Dash was turning another caring gesture into a fight.

"Part of me wants to . . . but I understand why you had and hearing that . . . thank you." Dash admitted somberly.

"And?" Rarity asked, now sitting next to her.

"And I have another appointment scheduled with Dr.Stargazer next week after the semifinals." Dash answered knowing what information she was seeking.

Rarity smiled and cuddled up to Dash. "I love you Dashie."

***

'It's just another game', advice Dash took to heart and so it was. Gilda picked the defense apart with Dash and Sunbeam getting open all game. It was hardly a close game with their opponents only making it a two-score game late. The Speedsters took the celebration of their earned trip to the championship from the field to the locker room. So it was no surprise that it took Rainbow a few minutes longer than usual to come out to see Rarity. Though when she did, she burst through the door and performed an excited flip.

"Whoo!" Dash flew into Rarity's hooves, lifting her up into the air in an embrace.

"Rainbow!" Rarity gasped holding on tightly to her, mostly out of fear.

Dash gave her a big kiss before setting her down. "You were right Rarity. You said to play like any other game, and I did, and we won!"

"I saw darling! You did amazing." Rarity nuzzled her and she looked past her to the surprising sight of her grinning father. 'Oh right, as coach this victory is as much his as hers.' She realized.

"We were wondering if you wanted to join us?" Hondo asked.

"Oh, um . . . no thank you. I'll join the party at home after you clean up. What is that? Cider?" Rarity inquired, patting the stickiness Dash had spread to her chest fur.

"Well yeah, We're having a ball Rarity. Come on, join us." Dash pleaded with big eyes.

"I'm sorry darling, but I'm afraid it's not my type of ball. You enjoy yourself, I'll catch you at home." She encouraged her and kissed her cheek.

***

"So this is your idea of a ball?" Dash asked with a hint of annoyance.

Rarity was brushing Dash's rainbow mane in her room at her dresser. "No. My idea of a ball would be a big room with classical music, cute colts- . . . to be jealous of us two." Rarity added correcting her slip-up.

"Nice save." Dash complemented her effort.

Rarity cleared her throat, embarrassed. "But most importantly, dancing. Oh! We should do that for Hearts and Hooves day. Let's go dancing." Rarity bounced excitedly at her own recommendation.

"Maybe." Dash shrugged.

"Maybe?" Rarity questioned the response that had taken her aback as she set the brush down. "You're not backing out are you? You told your parents about it, right?"

"No, I'm not backing out. I told them and of course, they are super excited to meet you." Dash kicked a hoof out lazily.

"Oh, I'll have to put extra effort into our dresses. I want to make a good impression." Rarity clapped her hooves together, nervously brainstorming.

"You don't have to do that, I don't need a special dress . . . besides, when it comes to my parents, like me, they'll love you no matter what."

"Awww . . ." Rarity smiled sweetly.

"Just promise you won't be overwhelmed by their . . . enthusiasm, I guess you could call it.'

"They're doing an awe-inspiring job raising you, so I imagine I'll get along with them." Rarity reassured her.

'I hope so.' Dash kept to herself though she cracked a smile at Rarity's words.

"What better way to celebrate than with a preening?" Rarity asked trotting over to her bed.

"Really?" Dash perked up excitedly.

Rarity looked back with a sly smile and nodded.

Gameday

It was just past noon on championship gameday and while both teams were on the field, the stands were empty for the game wasn't till nightfall. Players were warming up for the challenge ahead. It was a rematch of the Junior Speedsters versus the Earthquakes. All may have looked calm, but there was an edge to the air as if these two teams were long-time rivals when really it was because of just two ponies; Rainbow Dash and Peachfuzz. Peachfuzz had been the colt that had dislocated Dash's wing the last time these two played against each other.

Rainbow tossed a ball she'd just caught back to Gilda and took the break she had, since the next few passes would be to other receivers, to glance over at Rarity who was spending this pregame on the Speedsters' sideline.

Rarity immediately smiled and waved. A sudden commotion caught both of their attention, with Rarity looking past Dash.

"Hey! Back off and get back over to your side!" Gilda yelled, running over to the source of the issue.

Dash watched her past her and finally turned to see several teammates crowding around a single Earthquake player and it was quickly drawing every player from both teams over. Dash raced over to find out what was going on before a brawl broke out.

"Listen, I just want to talk to her." She heard a voice as she pushed her way forward.

"She's not interested! So get out of here before I snap your wing off!" Dash made it in time to see Gilda holding Peachfuzz back by prodding him in the chest with a single talon. The griffin's threat made the crowd surge forward ready to start throwing blows.

"Whoa, whoa, hold up!" Dash threw herself between the two and toward Peachfuzz. "Here I am. Say what you have to say." She glared at him and tried not to be intimidated by his size with how close they were. Though if either of them were nervous, it was Peachfuzz.

"Hey . . . look . . . I never got the chance to tell you before . . . about how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt you. Not like that, and- I wasn't thinking about it. I just did it and . . . I was frustrated and mad at myself. I know that's no excuse, but I feel horrible about what happened. I-"

"Hey." Dash interrupted his bumbling apology and offered a hoof. "Don't sweat it. I'm fine now and I'll be leaving your flank in the dust like last time." She said smugly.

Peachfuzz laughed and hoof-bumped her. "Yeah, well if I remember right, we won that game." He joined in the lighthearted trash-talk.

Tension easing, the crowd dispersed back to their halves of the field. Rarity and the coaches alike breathed sighs of relief for the avoided brawl.

***

Back in her seat in the stands, Rarity watched the two teams duke it out.

Early in the game, it showed that the Earthquakes had a better defense. It made up for their inability to match their opponent's offense. It also helped them set the pace, but they could only slow down the high-powered Speedsters' offense, who kept on their heels, tying the game time and time again. The Earthquakes took a lead into halftime just to have the Speedsters erase it at the start of the next half. What looked to be a long back-and-forth game finally got an off-set score when a Speedsters' turnover lead to a touchdown that got replied to with a field goal.

Now the Speedsters were down four and the following two possessions led to field goals by both teams. Entering the late game, the Earthquakes had both the lead still and the ball. They used it to eat the clock up. The strategy worked out for them as it hit three minutes to go with them inside the twenty, posed to score again.

Rarity knew this was bad news and left her seat and went into the tunnel, toward the locker room.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was keeping the offense's spirits high. Even after the Earthquakes took it in for a touchdown, making it an eleven-point deficit to overcome. "We need two scores in two minutes? Psh, we've done that before. If anything, that's too much time on the clock." Dash waved a hoof dismissingly at the high stakes, bright lights, and huge crowd. Dash loved the pressure and so long as there was a chance, she wasn't giving up hope. Teammates roared and nodded in agreement.

"Rainbow Dash!"

Dash turned, surprised to see Rarity race up to her. "Rarity?" She asked puzzled, but then realized what she must've shown up for. "Look, I get it, Rarity. It's just a game, don't worry a-"

Rarity put a hoof to her lips to silence her, then removed it and kissed her. "You can do this. I believe in you." Her voice was almost too soft to make out over the crowd.

Dash stood in stunned silence for a second, not believing Rarity had done such a thing, but then she smiled and nodded. Dash flew over to where Hondo was getting the special team together for the kickoff return plan. "Coach! I want to return this one." She volunteered as she hovered over the huddle.

Hondo looked at her and thought for a moment before nodding. "Right, Nimble, you field it and pitch it back to Rainbow. Rainbow, you get a running start, and don't look back. Keep it clean and get us good field position. Go, go, go!" Hondo waved them off and they rushed onto the field and got set.

Standing in the endzone, Dash could time the kickoff from the crowd noise alone. She paid no mind to the bodies racing toward her and instead kept her eye on the ball as it soared through the air, ever closing in on her. Dash aligned herself behind Nimble.

Nimble made the catch at the edge of the endzone and began running it forward to allow Dash to get her running start. At right about the fifteen-yard line, she pitched the ball back to her.

With the ball now under hoof, Dash veered to the side leaving several defenders who'd approached Nimble out of position to make a play on her. Not everypony was fooled though and saw the pitch coming, but her speed helped her dodge the first two effortlessly. With blockers helping, Dash folded her wings making herself as small as possible and shooting through a gap in the crowd of clashing ponies. On the other side, Dash found open space. More than she needed. It was a pleasant surprise. One she dared not waste and in seconds she was crossing the goalline to the roar of the crowd.

Dash gave the ball a toss in the stands and moments later was swarmed by excited teammates. Dash tried to lead them off the field then saw Hondo waving the offense on. It made sense to go for two here. The touchdown made it a five-point game, two points here would mean a field goal would tie it. So she split off to join the huddle.

"Alright guys, nice play Dash, let's spread it wide and keep our options open." Gilda broke the huddle with a nod that Dash knew was aimed toward her. She was her favorite target so chances were she'd get this pass.

After a quick lineup, Dash was mismatched with Peachfuzz and the ball was snapped before it could be corrected. Dash took a slant route to the inside, the same route that with this match-up she'd gotten her wing dislocated on. This time she caught the ball at the goalline and went in untouched. The celebration was short as they raced to the sideline for the plan for the upcoming onside kick.

Hondo and Star were talking quickly while pointing to each other's clipboards. "Receivers, you're on our overload side." Star called out looking up.

"Everypony else will be our usual kicking team, minus our smaller bodies. Biggest will join our overload side." Hondo added, getting all the info out quickly so everypony could get a minute to rest.

It was used by most to get a drink of water before taking the field and getting set early. Their relaxed stance went ridged when the referee blow the whistle for the play clock to start. Opposing players stared each other down as bodies swayed, ready to take off.

Twister glanced down both sides of his line and gave a nod to both, the overloaded side last, before starting his trot up for the kick. They weren't afraid of giving it away, it was obvious which side the kick was going toward. Twister's kick gave it a hard bounce into the ground which sent the ball high into the air.

Dash's eyes followed it, keeping in mind the ten yards it needed to travel before she could touch it. Not that it was something to worry about as it was clear the ball would travel that before it hit the ground again. She stutter-stepped as she got into position to catch it. An Earthquake player was right on her ready to fight for it. A blur in front of Dash made her hesitate and not jump for it.

Turned out the blur had been Sunbeam leaping in to make a play on the ball. He collided with the other player and neither of them got the ball which deflected straight into Dash's hooves.

Grabbing it tightly, Dash made a move downfield but was quickly swarmed and taken down. It felt like forever before the officials dug her out of the pile of players and granted the Speedsters possession. Barely on her hooves again Dash was swarmed once more, this time by congratulating teammates. Slaps on the back and helmet along with some celebratory words followed Dash all the way to the sideline.

"Great job Rainbow! Go take a breather. I'll put you back in in a couple of plays." Hondo said warmly and pointed her toward Rarity.

Dash gave him a nod then trotted up to Rarity and took off her helmet. She got an embrace and a peck on the cheek from her love.

"That was simply amazing darling. That return and recovery . . . I don't know what to say." Rarity smiled at her at a loss for words.

"Well, it was somewhat luck, at least on the onside kick. Guess that makes you my good luck charm." Dash booped Rarity's nose with her own and Rarity giggled amused. Their attention turned toward the game. they watched three plays; an incomplete pass, a run by Nimble for four yards, and then on third down Sunbeam caught one with a decent run downfield before going out of bounds. Now set for a long field goal with a new set of downs and a minute left to play left on the clock, Dash was sent back out into the huddle.

"Alright, we got a little under a minute and two timeouts, so we have some time to play with. Coach says we're playing it safe. Make sure we at least get the tie, but he's not opposed to taking a shot downfield, so Dash, go deep. Everyone else keep me covered and stay open just in case." Gilda gave the plan and broke the huddle.

At the snap Dash darted forward, stutter-stepped with a little turn as if for a quick pass before breaking away with some space down along the sideline. Dash checked back to see Gilda had to chuck it early to avoid oncoming pressure. judging its trajectory the pass would be short of the endzone but it would put them inside the five. Dash's real concern was about the safety coming across the field to make a play. She didn't so much fear a pick as she did taking two hits on the catch.

Sure enough, Dash took a big hit after the catch from the safety and it pushed her back into the other defender. She found herself sandwiched between the two and forced standing up with her back to the goal. She tried to push herself backward with her hind hooves with little success. So in an extra attempt to free herself, she twisted sideways. She popped out of the pin so fast she had no time to react and ended up flat on her back. She could hardly hear the referee's whistle over the sudden roar of the audience. Looking to her side, Dash saw her upper half had crossed the goal line.

Rainbow thumped the ball down in the end zone and scrambled to her hooves, racing for the sideline. She knew exactly how she wanted to celebrate. She pulled off her helmet and tossed it aside.

Rarity cheered and clapped her hooves, joyfully watching Dash outpace her teammates. Her grin faded as Dash kept coming right at her, not slowing down. She looked around hoping to spot something else that was grabbing Dash's attention. Realizing it was her she was after, Rarity could only take a hesitant step back before Rainbow embraced her. Her momentum swung them around before Rarity lost her balance, falling onto her back with Rainbow's lips upon her's.

They got a short moment to smile at each other before Dash was pulled away and lifted up by her teammates who carried their hero away.

After the extra point, there were still forty seconds left on the clock. So Rarity feared there would be a response by the other team, but the Earthquakes couldn't do anything with their possession. The field was stormed by the fans as the game clock expired and the Junior Speedsters were champions.

Author's Note

Another short chapter, but I hope I was able to set an exciting and fun-to-read game for people who both know and don't know how football works.

This chapter brings the end of the current act as a lot happens between seasons two and three, and I didn't want the acts to get too large compared to other acts.

I have the acts in the first place to show how I came up with the story. Coming up with major points I wanted to happen first. (Each act is one major plot point) medium points to help connect the larger points, and finally small details to bring the medium points closer together and turn it into an actual story that makes sense.

Act 3, Post Season 2, Surpise Engagement

Rarity sighed longingly as she worked on a new dress. She hadn't seen Rainbow since last night's championship game. She had watched her party with teammates and accept her game MVP trophy, but in all the excitement she had lost track of her and hadn't gotten the chance to talk with her. Their last one-on-one had been the celebratory kiss. The thought was enough to make her blush at all those eyes and cameras that must've been on them. 'I wanted her whole team to know about us, now her whole school knows if not all of Cloudsdale.' Rarity cocked her head to the side trying to focus on the dress and not Rainbow. It wasn't to be as a telltale tapping from said pony on her window alerted her. Far from being bothered by it, Rarity scurried over to the window and opened it.

Rainbow flew in, squeezing past her and holding out her MVP trophy proudly. "Woo!"

"Yes, it's very nice. It's my first time seeing it up close." Rarity put a hoof to its base and inspected it. "And I can think of no more deserving pony than you." Rarity smiled, lifting her gaze to Rainbow affectionately.

"yeah, but I couldn't have done it without you." Dash shrugged it off.

"Oh hush." Rarity dismissed the claim with a wave of a hoof.

"I mean it. I was so used to you saying it's okay for me to fail or come up short, to lose, but for you to believe in me against all odds . . . it meant the world to me. I tried that much harder, because of you, for you." Dash nuzzled her.

"Awww, stop it." Rarity blushed and then rubbed her shoulder out of shame. "I don't mean to come across as a downer. I just want you to know I'll support you even if you lose, but I also believe in you, always. How could I not? Rainbow, you are an incredible flier, the best I've ever seen. Now I know that may not mean much coming from a pony like me, but everypony I talk to agrees, including my father. As long as you're flying, you'll succeed. I know you'll not only be a Wonderbolt but the best one ever."

"You mean that?"

"Of course. I only won't tell you that because you let it get in your pretty little head too much." Rarity teased playfully and gave her a quick little peck on her cheek.

"Hey, I can't help it if I'm just that good." Dash shrugged with the smuggest of looks upon her face and Rarity elbowed her for it.

"Did you come here just to brag?"

"No. I also came because I felt like our celebration got cut short." With a little smirk, Dash leaned in and kissed her, which Rarity allowed for a moment before gently pushing her away.

"True, though it would've been nice if you'd told me about that ahead of time. I wasn't ready for that at all." She half-heartedly complained with an overexaggerated pout.

"Yeah, my bad. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. I wanted to reward you for standing on the sideline. I know with all those sweaty players that it wasn't easy for you."

"Nonsense. It was for you. So it was nothing, my little Dashie."

Dash shook her head slightly at her extended nickname before sharing another kiss.

***

"You've opened up and told me quite a bit these last two sessions." Stargazer said closing his notepad as their current meeting was wrapping up.

"Yeah . . . feels good to get some of this stuff off my chest and talk to somepony about it." Dash replied, sitting up while holding her Rarity plush close.

"Do you tell Rarity any of these things?" He asked.

"One or two things and not in great detail. One of those things I told her is the reason we are here now."

"True, but that turned out to be a good thing. Why not tell her some of your troubles that led to you attempting said thing?"

"Because I don't want her to think less of me for it. I talk and act up a big game, and I know that's my own fault, but . . ." Dash sighed deflatingly and stared down at her plush. "If you met Rarity and knew how perfect she is in every way . . . It's like we don't even belong together." She finished, feeling low.

"You seem to hold her to an absurdly high standard, but if correct then one would think she'd accept and love you still. I'll tell you what Rainbow, I'm giving you an assignment. With school out of the way, I want you to spend a week straight with Rarity. Is that possible?"

"Y-yeah." Dash stuttered bewildered by this. This seemed an odd request that clearly had more to it.

"And I want you to try to talk about flaws, especially your own."

"Okay." Dash agreed though she didn't like the idea.

"All right then, I hope to hear how it went the week following it. Stargazer nodded his goodbye and left.

Dash left her room shortly after and tracked down her mother.

"Rainbow, how did it go with Stargazer?" Windy Whistles asked her daughter eagerly.

"Fine. Mom . . . there's uh, something I wanted to ask you." Dash told her wanting to get to the point but was feeling bashful about it.

"Of course my lil' speedster. What is it?" Windy trotted over to her.

Rarity wants to go dancing on Hearts and Hooves day, and . . . I was wondering if you could . . . show me . . . howtodance." Dash quickly spilled the last words out, relieved to no longer be holding it in.

"Aw, of course, I will, but wouldn't you rather your father show you?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure Rarity would want me to lead so . . ." Dash trailed off, her point being made.

"Right, do you want to go ahead and get started now then?"

Dash nodded.

***

Dash felt a sense of relief to be over not just dance lessons with her mother, but school as well. She was excited about all the time she'd get to spend with Rarity. Starting today as she trotted up to Rarity's place. Before she could knock on the door though, it opened.

"I'll see you later . . . oh, hello Rainbow." Hondo froze when he noticed her as he stepped outside.

"Hey coach, what's up?" Rainbow asked curiously at his tone. He seemed nervous.

"I was just headed to the school for a meeting." He informed her.

"What"! Is there a team meeting today?" Dash panicked.

Hondo eased his pose and chuckled. "No, no. This is more of a staff meeting, about coming back next year."

"Oh? Well, I hope it goes well. It won't be the same without you, besides we have to go for the repeat next year." Dash mused.

"Yeah . . . you and Rarity enjoy yourselves. Make sure you behave yourself, okay?"

"Yes sir." Dash answered respectfully as Hondo gave her mane a tussle.

"I should be back by evening." He called back as he trotted away.

"I'll most likely still be here." Dash said heading inside. She quickly ran into Rarity. "Hey, is something up with your dad?" Dash wasted no time expressing her concern.

"You noticed it too? I don't know what it is. He's been like that all morning. I think it has to do with this meeting." Rarity shared her concern as well.

"Well, we'll see how he is once he gets back and ask him about it then. I do have some good news." Dash changed the tone to an excited one.

"What may that be?" Rarity smiled, welcoming the change.

"What do you think about me spending the week of Hearts and Hooves day here?" Dash grinned gleefully.

"The whole week? Yes! Why that would be wonderful darling." Rarity hugged her excitedly. "That totally makes up for this bad news I found out. No pony is hosting a dance for Hearts and Hooves day." Rarity whined with a pout.

"What?" Rainbow Dash was taken aback at the news. It wasn't that the embarrassment she had gone through dancing with her mom had been for nothing, but, though she hated to admit it, she had been looking forward to dancing with Rarity. It saddened her to hear this. ". . . Oh well, I guess if push comes to shove, we'll just have the dance here." Dash decided.

Rarity gasped in surprise at her statement. "Aw, Rainbow. That is very sweet of you . . ." At a loss for what else to say, Rarity nuzzled her, appreciating her.

Dinner brought more good news as it turned out Hondo seemed very happy with how the meeting had gone, saying he would be back for next season.

***

An all too familiar tapping at her window made Rarity look up from her second final lookover of the dress that had long been done and she knew was perfect. She rolled her eyes as she trotted over to the window and opened it. "You're late." Rarity stated annoyed.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I had some stuff I had to take care of around town for tomorrow and it took longer than I expected. Is this my dress?" Dash asked, flying in and seeing the dress on display.

"Yes, it is. And you better not be late for our lunch tomorrow." 'Leave it to Rainbow Dash to save Hearts and Hooves day to the last second. I'll reserve any judgment till I see how she does.' Rarity held onto hope her Dashie would blow her away. "Do you like it?" She asked watching Dash fly around the dress, checking it out.

"It's good . . . I like it. Kinda surprised you went with pink, knowing I'm not big on it." Dash said landing and turning to Rarity.

"Well it's rose pink, you'll be so cute in it, but if you don't like it . . ."

"No, no, no. I never said I don't like it. You make it work. I love it, honestly." Dash smiled, carefully pulling the dress off its mannequin.

"Good." Rarity went up to her and lent her a helping hoof. "Are you excited for tomorrow?" Rarity had to ask. Her own excitement getting the better of her.

"Yep. I got everything all set on my end. I got high hopes that this whole week is gonna be awesome." Dash nuzzled her and gave her a peck on the cheek. She held her new dress folded up to her chest. "I'll see you tomorrow at noon."

"You're not staying longer?" Rarity asked both surprised and disappointed. "You just got here. Aren't you tired from flying over?"

"Nah, I've been around town for the past two hours or so, so I've recovered and I'm ready to go. I'll be back bright and early tomorrow and then it'll be you and me all week. Besides, I'm afraid that if I stay I might end up spending the night." Dash explained amused.

Rarity smiled at her, clearly liking the idea.

"No." Dash answered her unspoken question.

"I wouldn't complain."

"Come on Rare, I want to, but . . ."

"But?"

Dash pondered, not really having a reason not to. "I would, but my parents-"

"Oh, oh course. They wouldn't know and are expecting you back. I'm sorry for pressuring you." Rarity said quickly as she felt guilty. "You go ahead and get going. I'll see you tomorrow. You better not be late." She kissed her and trotted with her over to the window.

". . . Yeah, sure." Dash muttered, regretting being against the idea of staying the night at all. "See ya." She managed a smile and flew out the window, looking back to see Rarity waving as she watched her go.

***

Dash paused before Rarity's house and glanced down at her dress to make sure it looked alright. She didn't want Rarity fretting over anything, especially anything that was within her control. She was going to make this the best Hearts and Hooves day ever.

"Here dearie." Windy Whistles put a hoof to her daughter's mane to adjust it, but Dash swung away from her touch.

"Stop! It's fine. You've worked enough on it, thank you." Dash quickened her pace to avoid being bothered any further.

"Are you excited?" Her father asked as Dash knocked on the door.

"No . . . I see her all the time. I think it's you two that are excited." Dash said rolling her eyes.

"True, we hear so much about her, and you ne-" Bow Hothoof was interrupted by the door opening.

"Rainbow! Don't you look lovely. And these are your parents?" Cookie Crumble asked.

"Yeah, thanks." Dash blushed as she looked down in embarrassment.

"Rarity's upstairs getting ready, could you go catch her while we get acquainted?" Cookie offered, knowing where Dash wanted to be.

"I will, thank you." Dash brightened up and headed up the stairs. She paused outside her bedroom door knowing Rarity didn't like her barging in. "Rarity, we're here. You ready?" Dash asked knocking.

"Yes . . .No." Came Rarity's nervous-sounding reply.

Dash tapped a hoof and sighed wondering if that permitted her entry. 'Might as well figure out what's going on.' Dash thought and entered to find Rarity checking herself out in the mirror.

"It's not too much, is it? Does it look good?" Rarity smoothed out the edges of her cerulean blue dress. It matched the manepiece behind her ear, which was comprised of a couple of flowers and a feather.

Rainbow Dash smiled. "I can't think of a time that you didn't look good."

"Always the little charmer, aren't you? But seriously, do you like the manepiece? I told you I'd make one with that feather of yours. It took me a while to finally do it, but . . . it's not weird, is it?" Rarity couldn't help but ask as her worrying got the better of her.

"No, it's not. I told you that before. Pegasi wear each other's feathers all the time. You look amazing. Now as much as I would love to stand here and admire you, we gotta head downstairs before my parents flock up here." Dash took her hoof and led her to the door.

"Wait, wait! I totally forgot yesterday." Rarity quickly summoned over a pair of stockings and held them out to Dash with her magic.

Dash just stared at them for a moment before sighing and putting them on.

"Aw, you look so adorable. I absolutely love your mane by the way. Who styled it?"

"My mom, and never call me adorable again . . . What?" Dash asked seeing Rarity looking awestruck toward her.

"You're wearing make-up."

That made Dash's blush show through her blush. she both loved that Rarity noticed her efforts to look good for her, but hated being made aware of the feeling of it on her again. "Let's go." She grumbled while holding the door open for her.

"Did you do that for me? That is so sweet of you. I hope this means you'll let me do it for you in the future." Rarity said hopefully.

"Rarity, please . . ." Rainbow said antsy, clearly wanting to move on from it.

"You look fabulous." Rarity kissed her cheek as she passed her, going out into the hallway.

"Thank you." Dash muttered, closing the door behind her as she followed her out.

As soon as Rarity reached the stairs she was greeted by the flash of a camera, and a second one once Dash caught up behind her.

"Oh my goodness, look at her. She's as gorgeous as Rainbow said." Rarity overheard the mare she figured was Rainbow's mother say.

"See her dress? You think she made that one as well? She really is talented."

'And that must be her father.' She thought at his reply. She smiled warmly at them and was about to introduce herself when another flash from their camera temporarily blinded her.

"Aw, look at the two of them, so cute."

She heard Dash's mother say.

"Oh, my dear sweet Celestia. Bowhot, do you see this?"

Rarity blinked her eyes as her vision came back. She saw the two of them looking at one of the pictures they'd just taken.

"Is that . . ." They looked up to Rarity in disbelief

Rarity glanced back at Dash in confusion but she only shrugged at a loss for what was going on. A delighted shriek from Windy Whistles made them both jump as it startled them.

"My goodness Rainbow, this is the best surprise ever!"

"So proud of you kiddo, I knew this one was a keeper." Bowhot hugged his daughter.

"Uh, what?" Dash asked, hardly able to breathe.

"Oh, you have to tell me, did she just ask you, or have you been for some time?" Windy asked, squeezing Rarity's cheeks.

"Been what? What's going on?" Rarity asked, wondering what all the fuss was about.

"Yes, what is this all about?" Hondo asked as he and cookie both joined in the confusion.

"All right! Stop! Stop!" Dash pushed her father off and went to Rarity's aid, gently nudging her mother away as well. "Rarity . . . it's your manepiece. Sorry I didn't notice earlier, but . . . pegasi wear one another's feathers behind their left ear to show off their engagement." Dash explained.

"Or marriage." Bowhot quickly added.

"Oh . . . Oh my . . . no. Rainbow and I aren't engaged." Rarity corrected them, blushing as she removed her manepiece.

"Right . . . you didn't know. Just a silly misunderstanding. Pardon us." Windy forced a smile, though it was apparent that she and Bowhot were both disappointed.

Dash cleared her throat to break the awkward silence. "Mom, dad, this is Rarity. Rarity, this is my mom, Windy Whistles and my dad, Bowhot Hoof."

"Our little Rainbow has told us so much about you." Bowhot said shaking her hoof.

"Yes, and what a darling ballgown you have on. Did you make that? I simply must get a couple of dresses from you." Windy hugged her and inspected her dress, looking her up and down.

"But of course! It would be a pleasure. Anything you want, just let me know and I'll make it for you. It's the least I could do for you." Rarity said with a smile.

"How much are they? Not that price will be an issue."

"Oh, I couldn't charge you anything." Rarity dismissed her question.

"Nonsense, I insist." Windy returned the gesture.

"Could you grant me giving you a discount?"

"I'll agree to that. A family discount. You two may not be engaged, yet, but we still consider you family." Windy gave her a hug and a sweet smile.

"Aw, th-that's very sweet of you to say." Rarity stuttered, touched by her words.

"Come on Rarity. There'll be plenty of time for talk of dresses when we get back. Here." Dash stepped in and offered her a bundle of roses.

"Thank you." Rarity accepted the gift, overwhelmed by all the kindness. "Let me just put these up in my room, then we can go." Rarity excused herself and returned to her room. She set her manepiece on her dresser and put the roses into a vase she had at the ready for this reason. She turned to fetch some water for them and was given a little start when she discovered Rainbow hovering right in front of her. "I didn't realize you'd followed me." She pardoned herself. "Thank you again for the roses." She smiled warmly to which Dash simply nodded in return. Rarity hummed a happy tune as she returned with a pitcher of water and poured it into the vase. She set the pitcher down and turned to Dash. "I'm ready when you are darling."

"Don't forget this." Dash swooped in close and picked up the manepiece.

"Oh, no. I don't want ponies to think we're married." Rarity regrated the words as soon as they left her lips as they sounded harsh.

Luckily, Dash didn't take it as such. "Nonsense. Just wear it behind your other ear. Here . . ." Dash went ahead and put it there for her. "As you always say about accessories going with dresses; time, effort, perfection."

"I don't think that's quite how I word it, but . . ." Rarity looked in the mirror and took off the manepiece once more. "I suppose you are right." Rarity put it back on so that now it was at the right angle and placement.

"Alright, lunch awaits, my treat!" Dash grinned gleefully.

Author's Note

Setting up for more to happen early on but giving lots of fun afterward! This chapter is easily a favorite of mine. I hope you all love it too <3

Meant For Each Other?

"The Ponyville cafe and I got whatever I wanted. You know how to treat a lady. Quite the move up from the usual." Rarity commented cheerfully as she trotted alongside Rainbow. Part of her was very curious as to where their next stop was.

"Yeah, well, I did extra work around the house and saved up for today. I knew you wouldn't accept on having hayburgers for today. Speaking of which, should we be making a secondary stop before our next stop?"

Rarity shook her head puzzled as to what she meant by that.

"Cool, because check it out." Dash pointed out with her wing to Sugarcube Corner. A banner hung across the front of it read, 'Sugarcube Corner's first ever annual, one time only, Hearts and Hooves' day dance.' All those words plus the colorful hearts made for one cramped banner.

Rarity inheld sharply. They're hosting a dance?! Why didn't Pinkie tell me?!" She couldn't believe it. She wasn't mad at Pinkie, rather she was excited Rainbow and she would get their dance.

"Let's go." Dash smirked and tried to lead the way once more but Rarity ended up doing so in her enthusiasm. Inside they found quite a few couples milling about, enjoying different sweets.

"Pinkie! Why didn't you tell me about this? . . . What is 'annual one time only'?" Rarity asked as she went straight to her friend at the counter.

"Oh, well when I told the Cakes about it, they said we'd try it out and if it did well enough we'll do it again next year." Pinkie explained as she readied an order and placed it in front of Rarity right as she finished speaking. "There you go."

"Rainbow?" Rarity looked over her shoulder at her.

"I ordered in advance." Dash said with a cheeky smile.

"Assorted chocolates and . . ." Pinkie told her as she opened the smaller of the two boxes.

"Bon-bons?" At seeing this, it earned another turn back from Rarity.

"I remember things." Dash nodded with an air of cockiness.

"You are just so sweet." Rarity gave her a hug and kiss before turning back to Pinkie. "So when does the dance start?"

"Well, now it can since you are here. Rainbow told me during planning that you two should have the first dance." Pinkie used her tail to start a record player.

'Planning?' "Rainbow . . . was all this your idea?" Rarity asked connecting the now obvious dots.

"Guilty as charged. Pretty awesome, right?" Rainbow asked, offering her a hoof to start the dance. While she had been expecting a close dance, she hadn't expected Rarity to bury her face into her chest in an embrace. She was taken aback for a moment until she heard a muffled sob. "aw, come on now Rares . . . I get that I am the best, but- oof." Dash was stroking Rarity's mane soothingly when she got a sharp jab to the side.

"Shut up." Rarity laughed, pulling away and wiping her tears away. "You are making me ruin my make-up."

"So about that dance, we can still be first." Dash reoffered her hoof.

Rarity smiled and accepted it this time. She quickly found herself swept up by Rainbow's moves. "Oh my. Dashie, how have you not taken me dancing sooner? You're so good." She said pleasantly surprised.

"Thanks, but I only just recently learned how to. At least like this. Now if there's a club here in Ponyville . . ."

"Not that I know of, but if I hear anything I'll let you know." Rarity answered amused.

***

Rainbow Dash and Rarity were all giggles as they walked away from Sugarcube Corner.

"Thank you so much for tonight Dashie. This has been the best Hearts and Hooves day ever." Rarity nuzzled Rainbow who was carrying her bag of sweets for her.

"That's because your date is the best . . . second only to you of course."

"Nice save. You're always quick with those."

"I try. Say, before we head back, do we need to make another stop somewhere?" Dash asked pausing.

". . . As much as I'd like this date to never end, we should head home. Seeing the time, we don't want to be late for dinner. And honestly, I can't wait to talk to your parents more. They really seem lovely. Your mother seems to know her fashion, so between us there is hope for you yet." Rarity teased.

"Ha ha." Dash laughed sarcastically.

"Looking trendy and beautiful is no joke. Just you wait, I'll teach you a thing or two." Rarity told her, her trot turning into a strut.

There was a short silence as Dash hovered along in her wake. "What did you do on your other Hearts and Hooves dates?" Dash spoke up.

"Huh? Well, the usual things." Rarity answered, wondering why Dash would ask such a question.

"Flowers and chocolate?"

"And dinner or lunch. Come on now Dashie, you don't want to hear about past dates of mine."

"I mean, just want to know how much better ours was by comparison." Dash made up an excuse.

"By far. Trust me when I say it's not even close. I'm not saying all the others were bad. I've always had the pick of the bunch when it comes to dates. Though you probably beat the colts off with a stick yourself . . ." Rarity quickly added.

". . . Yeah." Dash took forever to reply, not realizing Rarity was waiting for one. From the look she received in response, Dash figured her tone hadn't quite sold her response.

"This one date that had been pretty bad was this one handsome, athletic pegasus colt."

"Like me?" Dash couldn't help asking.

"Heavens no. Those three things are the only things you two have in common. I can't believe I had been into him. He was so full of himself and rude. Everything had to be about him."

'Why does it sound like she could be talking about me?' Dash worried.

"He was so dense. The only date I could say was as bad as that one was this young colt. He had been so sweet at first. He took me to this play that was in town and it had been lovely. This would've been the second-best date, behind only ours. It had been his and my first date, but at the end of the date, he felt like he was entitled to a kiss. He was so insistent about it, it creeped me out. Needless to say, there was no kiss or second date."

"What about me? Do I get a kiss?" Dash asked looping over in flight and coming to a stop right in front of her.

Rarity shook her head in humored disbelief at her joke yet gave her a short little kiss anyway. "So how about you? What was your worst Hearts and Hooves date?" Rarity asked, trotting onwards.

'Great. Now, do I tell her the truth that I've never been on a Hearts and Hooves date, which is why I asked about her past ones, or tell her about the closest experience to a date I had?' Dash didn't want to leave her waiting for an answer again so she made her choice quickly. "There was this one colt at flight camp. I thought he was cute and he knew it." Dash came to a stop and her pause made Rarity halt as well and turn back.

Rarity was taken aback by how lost in a flashback Dash appeared to be.

"He asked me out and had it all planned out. Talked me into buying my own flowers and paying for lunch and then had me confess my feelings in front of his friends."

"Dashie . . ."

"Then he laughed and told everypony how gullible I had been on the date and how stupid I was for thinking he liked me."

"That's horrible!" Rarity exclaimed in disbelief at how a pony could be so awful.

"It's fine Rares-"

"No, it's not! Rainbow, you are smart, kind, and beautiful. He's just- just a . . ."

"Rarity, I mean it's fine as in this was a while ago and it doesn't bother me anymore . . . Thank you though." Dash smiled.

"Oh . . . No problem darling." Rarity blushed at her overreaction. "I love you."

"I love you too."

***

"That sounds like a lovely time. Did you both have fun?" Cookie asked after Dash and Rarity had filled them in on how the afternoon went at dinner.

"A blast!" Dash said cheerfully and Rarity nodded in agreement.

"So what did Rarity get you?" Bowhot asked interested.

"Now honey, she doesn't have to tell us." Windy said to help cover if they didn't want to say.

"Rarity hasn't given me anything yet. She's been doing such a great job keeping me on my hooftips. I'm honestly so excited to see what it is. Knowing Rarity, it's going to be awesome." Dash smiled and looked at Rarity lovingly.

To Rarity, it felt more burning though, as if both their parents were staring at her expectingly as reality set in. 'Rainbow Dash is a mare . . . and like any mare on Hearts and Hooves day, she's expecting to be treated like royalty and be showered with gifts and love. That's up to me. That's why she kept asking if we needed to make any stops. She thought I had a surprise planned, something planned. She did so much for me and I completely forgot her. I got to think of something quick.' "I'll be right back." Rarity said unknowingly interrupting the ongoing conversation as she excused herself and made a beeline for her room.

Rainbow looked at everypony else and saw that Hondo and Cookie knew something was up as well as she did. "I'll go check on her. Should only take a second." She excused herself and followed after her calmly. "Hey, Rarity . . ." Rainbow said through her door and knocked, seeing that it was closed.

"Just a minute darling!" Rarity sang from inside, followed by muffled shuffling.

"Rarity . . . I know you didn't get me anything."

"What?! No!"

"It's cool Rarity. I-" Dash shook her head and opened the door, trotting in before continuing. "I'm not mad or anything . . . What is that?" Dash couldn't help asking, pointing to the little pink ribbon tied around Rarity's neck. "Were you going to give yourself to me as a gift?"

Dash's question made Rarity's white cheeks blush furiously red. "N-no. I mean when you say it aloud like that . . . I was thinking I could preen you." Rarity fumbled with her words flustered.

"You mean like page forty-two?" Dash perked up excitedly.

"Wha . . .?" RArity trailed off puzzled.

"How To Preen Your Coltfriend?" Dash hinted.

Rarity thought for a second longer before making a face. "No! . . . I mean it's not like I wouldn't- or don't want-" Rarity stomped a hoof, upset over how flustered she was. "Both of our parents are here, if they walked in on us doing that, I would just die." She said hushed.

"You were never a risk taker. No fun . . ." Dash teased with a snicker before deflating at the realization. "So just a regular preening?"

"Well . . . yes. Is that not okay?" Rarity asked not seeing a problem.

"It's fine . . . just not very special or romantic." Dash voiced her disappointment.

"Oh? Well, I can make it somewhat special and romantic . . . and certainly memorable." Rarity said suggestively.

". . . Alright, but let's head back and finish dinner before the search party arrives."

***

"There . . . did I miss any other spots?" Rarity asked in a seductive voice, a hoof gently brushing the feathers she'd touched upon by request. She kissed the nape of Dash's neck before nibbling on her ear playfully.

"-uh . . . best Hearts and Hooves day ever." Dash moaned, fully enjoying the treatment as she was laid out on Rarity's bed.

"Good. Now, I'm going to change and get ready for bed." Rarity got up and picked up Dash's dress, which she'd already removed for her while preening her, and trotted over to her closet to take off her own dress.

Dash stayed laid as she was, relaxing as she watched Rarity undress for a little bit before speaking up. "Hey, Rarity?"

"Yes?"

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you. It's been on my since our date and dinner . . . most all day really. You know how my parents thought we were engaged?" Dash asked, sitting up.

"Yes, that was quite silly of them>" Rarity giggled a bit as she hung the dresses up. She moved over to her dresser and started to remove her makeup.

". . . Was it though?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean . . . it's not that silly to think that we're engaged. We've been dating awhile and we get along so well . . ." Dash shuffled a bit as she thought of a better way to put it. "What would you say if I proposed to you right now? What would your answer be?"

Rarity froze, going wide-eyed. 'Why is she bringing this up? Does she want to get married? Is she going to propose if I say yes?'

"It's not like I'm asking right now, but if I were . . ." Dash added.

'See? I'm overthinking it. Or is she just saying that? I have to say something, I can't leave her hanging.' Thinking quickly, Rarity made her choice. "No . . . I would say no." Looking in the mirror Rarity watched Rainbow deflate at her words.

"Oh . . .Why?" Dash asked dejectedly.

". . . Well, you don't have a ring, do you?"

"No." Dash answered with disappointed understanding.

"And it would have to be a nice ring. Something worthy for me, what you believe I deserve."

"That would be a pretty expensive ring."

"Which brings me to my next point. We still need to focus on our careers." 'It'll take her a long time to save up the bits for a ring.' Rarity thought relieved to have the pressure off her.

"What . . . what if I don't become a Wonderbolt?" Dash forced herself to ask the question she feared.

"Don't be silly Dashie, you'll be a Wonderbolt." Rarity smiled amused.

"But what if I don't . . . for whatever reason."

Rarity turned, looking concerned. "Dashie . . . is something going on?" She asked trotting over as she slipped on a silk nightgown.

"No . . . I just wanted to know . . . stupid questions I guess." Dash explained, clearly upset.

'Good job Rarity. You forgot your marefriend on Hearts and Hooves day and then you make it up to her and then immediately go and ruin it again.' Rarity scolded herself, feeling awful. She tried to think of a way to lift Dash's spirits once more. "Well, we could be engaged to be engaged." She suggested, taking a seat next to her.

"You mean that?" Dash looked to her excitedly, then questioningly. "Is that even a thing?"

"Sure, it'll be our thing. And when the time comes we can actually be engaged."

"That sounds . . . awesome!" Dash put a hoof around her and squeezed her. "Ha. How do you expect me to sleep now when we just took a huge step in our relationship? I knew this week was going to be the best ever!" She kissed Rarity's cheek and jumped back before settling in under the sheets.

'Huge?' Rarity thought stunned. 'It's not huge. It's just sentimental.' The relief she'd gotten from ridding the engagement worries was gone. 'Why does she want to move things forward so bad?' Lost in thought, Rarity slid back and under the covers more slowly. Dash snuggled up against her as soon as she was settled as well.

***

"Rarity, wake up!"

The sound of her name jolted her awake. Sitting up straight, she saw the sun shining through her window.

"Morning sleepy head! Get up, breakfast is ready! I didn't want to wake you sooner cause I figured you had as much trouble falling asleep as I did. Just so excited!" Dash fluttered from the room, leaving Rarity to freshen up as she saw fit.

Her words had rung true to Rarity, only for her it wasn't excitement that had kept her awake, but dread. 'How can she be so ready for marriage? So certain?' As much as she was fretting over it, she knew she had no time to do so as everypony was waiting on her. She quickly brushed her bed mane away and sprayed on some perfume before scampering downstairs and joining Dash and her own awaiting parents. Dash's parents had left last night. RArity dug right into her waffles, hoping no pony would ask, let alone think, anything was wrong. It must not have worked, as when she looked up to her parents they were both looking at her questioningly. She turned her gaze to Dash and realized it was because of her.

Rainbow was bouncing in her seat looking super gleeful. "Should I tell them?"

"Uh . . ." Rarity tried to think of a reason to keep her quiet. Part of her hoped it was not about the engagement so she could stay silent as she drew a blank on excuses anyway.

"We're engaged!" Dash jumped up and hovered in the air. She hugged Rarity from behind and nuzzled her.

"To be engaged." Rarity added quickly.

"Engaged . . . to be engaged." Cookie repeated puzzled.

"Congratulations." Hondo put on a smile. "When did you . . . decide that? Last night?" He asked.

Dash nodded her head against Rarity's cheek. "We haven't talked about it yet, but I'm hoping we'll be married by this time next year."

RArity stiffened at her words.

"Oh really? Are you going to help her with the planning?" Cookie brightened, thinking she was coming to understand this better.

"It all seems more like Rarity's thing. Not that I'd leave her hanging on it. Any help she wants, I'll provide." Dash answered and kissed Rarity's cheek.

"So, you're just waiting on a ring then?" Cookie asked to see if she had everything straight.

"Yeah. Just you wait, it's going to be the most spectacular ring you've ever seen." Rainbow bragged, unable to see Rarity's growing discomfort.

Her parents could see it tough, and Rarity could see they knew. So she cleared her throat. "Let's finish eating so we can talk about it Dashie."

The rest of the meal was awkward for Rarity and joyous for Rainbow. Once they were done eating, Rarity sent Dash to wait in her room, telling her that she was going to help her mother with the dishes.

"So . . . What's going on?" Cookie asked in a hushed tone as she washed.

"Ugh, so after completely forgetting to get Dashie anything yesterday, and her being such a sweetheart by forgiving me, she started asking about us being married and . . . it was so out of nowhere. I told her I wouldn't marry her. In hindsight, of course, that upset her, but I mean-!" Rarity stopped herself when her voice raised so she could go back to speaking softly. "I don't know if I really want to marry her. I love her and we talk about it occasionally, but I don't think we're that serious and since then our relationship has had its ups and downs. Marriage is the furthest thing from my mind right now." Rarity explained as she dried and stacked dishes. `

"And this engaged to be engaged thing?"

"I had to do something to cheer her up. I thought she was going to cry. After what she had told me earlier about a previous date and my excuses for rejecting her hypothetical proposal doing nothing, I came up with what I thought was a cute harmless thing for us and she treats it like the next big step in our relationship. I'm at a loss as to what to do."

"Well, it sounds rather obvious. You always wanted Dashie to be more straightforward with you. And if you're worried about hurting her, keeping the truth from her is only setting her up for a bigger fall. you better tell her before she goes and buys a ring." Cookie told her, finishing with her dishes.

"I know. I only-"

"Rarity! There's somepony at the door for you!" Her father's call interrupted her.

Curious as to who it could be, she left the conversation at that, and a couple of dishes behind, and went to the door.

"Rarity! How are you doing?" A pegasus mare greeted her with a hug.

"Moonshine, what brings you here? I'm doing fine, how are you?" She returned the hug to her long-time commissioner and friend.

"I'm doing great! I had the best day yesterday. You know what Yellow Jacket did? . . . He proposed!" Moonshine announced elated.

"He did?! No. Don't your parents hate him? What did you say?"

"Yes! Yes! Oh, it's such a relief to finally tell somepony. It's true, my parents will probably never accept us being together, but I truly love him so. Another reason I just had to tell you first is because we're eloping."

"Oh my." Rarity was surprised her friend was taking such a bold action.

"And I want you to make the dress." Moonshine pointed a wingtip at Rarity, who was too left in a speechless stupor to be honored by such a task. "I don't really have any clear design in mind, so I'm leaving that open to you. I know whatever you make will be fabulous. The only thing I'm concerned about is getting married, the sooner the better. Oh dear, pardon me. I didn't mean to sound as if I were rushing you. You have plenty of time. We still have planning to do and other things to get done. So no worries on your end . . ." Moonshine kicked a hoof at the ground guiltily as she bit her lip for a moment. "You will still hurry with this, please? I've never asked anything unfair of you before, we've always had an easy time finding fair agreements. It doesn't change how awful I am to request such a thing. I'll do anything to make it up to you. Bits won't be a problem, I'll pay you-" Moonshine held her tongue at Rarity shaking her head.

"Moonshine, please . . . You are right. All of our past dealings have been very straightforward. So I will get started on your gown right away and charge you no extra fee for the rush job. You have enough to focus on for your big day. Allow me to ease your burden a little so you can enjoy yourself, and Yellow Jacket." Rarity said with a smile.

"Oh thank you so much Rarity! I can't possibly thank you enough! If you need help with anything at all, you let me know." Moonshine hugged her with an appreciative nuzzle.

"Don't worry about it, darling. I'll try my best to have it done in a week. You're more than welcome to stop by whenever to check on my progress and how it looks."

"A week?! Rarity, you are a miracle worker. I'll see you later today or tomorrow. I have a couple more friends to see. Catch you then, bye!" Moonshine waved goodbye and hurried away.

"Bye!" Rarity headed back inside and up to her room. She found Dash sitting surprisingly properly on her bed, she was staring downward as if reading something. 'I swear if she got into my diary . . .' Trotting up to her angrily, she was stunned to find her looking through her sketchbook. The very thing she was after to get started on Moonshine's dress. "Rainbow!" Rarity used her magic to snatch her sketchbook away from her. "Honestly, how many times do I have to tell you to stop going through my things?! At this point it makes me believe you do it just to tick me off." Rarity spun away and took a seat at her dresser and started flipping through her sketchbook.

"It's not my fault you hide so much good stuff in here. Looking through that, I couldn't tell the difference between it and a fashion magazine." Dash complimented as she hopped off of the bed and followed in her wake.

"That means a lot coming from a pony who's never opened a fashion magazine." Rarity shot back sarcastically as she scanned the pages.

"Ouch, touchie! Why the attitude?"

"Because you keep going through my things against my wishes and knowing how much I hate that!"

"I'm sorry . . . I didn't mess with any of the pages." Dash added to her apology, figuring that's why she was searching through the book.

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to get to." Rarity levitated a quill as she found the pare she was looking for. She had sketched out some wedding dresses before for fun, so she decided going back there and adjusting them into something fitting for Moonshine was a good place to start.

"Aw, come on Rares. I said sorry. No need to be like that. I didn't mean any harm by it."

"This has nothing to do with your behavior. In fact, it has to do with some rather exciting news. You ready to hear it?" Rarity turned to face her, lifting her mood.

"Sure." Dash smiled happy to see she was no longer mad.

"I got a job making a friend a wedding dress!" Rarity squealed. "My first one and I have a week to do it. It'll be a lot of-"

"A week?! Rarity, it's supposed to be our week together. Are you really going to spend it on a dress instead?" Rainbow asked shocked.

"Rainbow, it's not like we were going to spend every second together anyway. And this isn't any dress, it's a wedding dress. Plus it's not like you have to leave, you can watch or chat. I'm not going to be working on this all day. I'll take breaks." Rarity listed her counters, upset Dash wasn't happy for her. She turned back to her book and picked up her quill once more. She started drawing out her improvements. She only got so far when a continuing breeze kept blowing on her quill and, more annoyingly, the paper. She glanced back and saw Rainbow hovering right behind her. "Do you mind?"

"Sorry." Dash landed.

Rarity tried to carry on where she had left off but she couldn't shake the feeling of Dash watching her right over her shoulder. "A little space please?"

"Right."

She heard Dash fly back to her bed and for the next minute or so, noisily settle down. Rarity sighed and got back to work.

"What are some things you like about me?" Dash interrupted her.

Rarity thought for a moment before responding. "Didn't we have this conversation already?"

". . . Oops. Yeah, we did."

Rarity could hear Dash's embarrassment.

"What are some things you don't like about yourself?"

"Excuse me?!" Rarity spun around.

"I'm just curious!" Dash put her hooves up innocently to gesture that she meant to harm. "Here, I'll start with things I don't like about myself." She offered, thinking fast. 'Stargazer has to be messing with me trying to get me to ask Rarity that. I did it, so I might as well see it through.' "Let's see, uh . . . I act without thinking and . . . I can be pretty bad at communicating with others . . . you included. Your turn." Dash said breathing out relieved.

"Easily bored, obnoxious, can't seem to take a hint, and somehow both energetic and lazy at the same time." Rarity listed off staring at her sketch, trying to focus on it. A few seconds later she realized her mistake.

"I meant you name your own flaws." Dash said sadly.

"I'm sorry Dashie, but I'm trying to work and you're . . . How about you go outside and work off some of that extra energy and I can get some work done, then we can do something together." Rarity offered as she felt bad.

"Okay. Sure thing." Dash tried to sound chipper but was still feeling down as she flew out the window.

Author's Note

sorry for the longer wait. work drained me a lot emotionally. But now taking a break from working, I'm typing again every day. Hope a longer chapter makes up for it. I wasn't sure where to cut it off. Glad to be back typing and I hope you all enjoy. much love. /D

Act 1, Season 1, Your Hero, Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash stood at the ready, her hoofball helmet in hoof and uniform on. Next to her were her teammates; Derpy, Gilda, Sunbeam, Twister, Misty Dawn, and Nimble. There were others of course, but Dash hadn't cared to learn their names yet.

"Are you all ready for our first game of the season?" Coach Shooting Star asked standing before them as the loudspeakers sounded out from the field outside.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts, please welcome our Junior Speedsters!" That was their cue.

"Aw, yeah!" Dash hoofbumped Gilda before throwing her helmet on and racing out onto the field. She stopped at about midfield and looked around the stadium stands in shock.

"Pft, weak. Almost no one showed up, lame." Gilda scoffed at all the empty seats.

"oh well, I guess they'll all miss out on my awesomeness." Dash shrugged it off with a cocky smirk, before gliding over to the sideline to join up with her team.

"Alright team, since we are starting with the ball, who would like to return the kickoff?" Coach Star asked.

"Oh, oh, oh! Me, coach! Let me show everypony what I got!" Dash volunteered, bouncing about in place. Gilda rolled her eyes.

"Alright Dash. Just remember that there's no shame in taking a knee. In fact, sometimes it's the smart thing to do." Star approved with a nod.

Dash nodded back and flew out into position. She had practiced this. Standing far back, she watched the ball carefully once it was kicked. Getting a running start, Dash caught it in stride and returned it back within the other team's forty-yard line before being forced out of bounds. "Dang it, I was so close to breaking free." Dash complained, once in the huddle. "Gilda, get me the ball again and I'll score no problem."

"Yeah right, Dash. You know coach makes the calls. Go to is Nimble on a break out slant pass." Gilda announced, pointing the play out on the play sheet worn around her wrist. With a clap, she broke the huddle.

"Aw, lame." Dash muttered to herself.

Nimble picked up seven on the play. next was a quick pass to Sunbeam for two, then a keep by Gilda gained nothing.

"Fourth and one?! But I didn't even get the ball again!" Dash exclaimed, throwing her hooves up in frustration.

"Yeah, and I didn't get any blocks out there. So hold the snap from Derpy, so Twister can kick it." Gilda told heading for the sideline.

Dash grumbled to herself as she took a knee and waited for the snap. 'Can't believe we're settling for a field goal after that run back. . . wait a second, I'm about to get the ball.' Dash thought with a smirk. Upon getting the snap, Dash darted forward and gained a good six yards. "Aw, yeah! Did you see that one Gilda?" Dash exclaimed, hoof bumping the griffin who had come back out onto the field.

"Nice one Dash." She congratulated her.

Just then, Dash felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around she saw Misty Dawn. "What's up?" Dash asked.

"Coach is pulling you. Says he needs a word with you." Misty said softly.

"Uh . . . okay." Dash shrugged to Gilda and flew over to the bench expecting praise. "You see that coach? Pretty sweet, huh?"

"No, it wasn't. That wasn't the play I called." Star said disapprovingly.

"Nah, it was even better." Dash waved a hoof dismissively at his scolding.

"Only because it worked. You got lucky Dash, but since you can't follow orders you can stay on the bench for the rest of the game." Star told her, turning his back on her and his attention back to the game.

"what?! But that's not fair! I wa-. . ." Dash trailed off, her frustration making her unable to justify her actions.

"Sorry Dash, that's just that way it is. Maybe you'll learn something watching from the sidelines." Star said coldly,
without looking back to her.

* * *

"Can you believe it Gilda?! He made me sit out most of my first game, and I was doing so good!" Dash complained as they flew away from flight school after the game.

"Well Dash, as lame as it is, coach calls the shots. And without you on the field we got our flanks kicked. I mean who else am I suppose to give the ball to? So you gotta do me a favor and do as Coach Idiot says so we two can show 'em what we got. We might even get a win if you stay on the field." Gilda countered.

"Fair enough, I gotcha." Dash agreed with a small sigh before giving her a playful bump with her shoulder. "See you at the next game!" Dash said with a smile before racing off.

* * *

Dash played the next game by coach's calls, and while she may have gotten a lot more time on the field and handled the ball more, the team still went on to lose.

"Ugh, we were so close. Why doesn't coach let you give me the ball more? We'd run away with these games!" Dash exclaimed before drooping her head down in defeat, as she and Gilda flew alongside each other.

"Yeah, but what can we do about it?" Gilda said, not seeming to show that she cared at all.

"Anything, Gilda! I can't stand all this losing! There must be something we can do!" Dash begged her to come up with something.

Gilda rolled her eyes, then an idea struck her. "I got it, Dash. I need you to do one thing and I will get us winning."

"What?" Dash asked, suddenly filled with both excitement and hope.

". . . Get open." Gilda said simply, keeping her own side of the plan a secret for the time being.

* * *

It was an idea Dash could easily get her head around and shortly after kickoff at their third game of the season, Gilda passed on the call. "Quick go pass to Sunbeam. Get open." She added with a glance and nod to Dash, who nodded back. On the snap Dash went for a stop and go route, leaving her defender in the dust. Turning her head to check the play, she saw the ball sailing toward her. Keeping her stride she caught it and ran down along the sideline and into the end zone.

"Wooo!" Dash flew back to Gilda, who met her halfway, and hoof bumped her. "Alright, our first touchdown and it was awesome!" Dash celebrated.

"Your first anyway. my second." Gilda corrected, having gotten a passing touchdown to Sunbeam the previous game.

"Pft, just you wait, I'll pass you in scores yet." Dash laughed with Gilda as they returned to the sideline.

"Gilda, what was that pass? I told you it was a go route to Sunbeam." Couch Star questioned.

"He was covered, so I checked to Dash who was wide open. Sure paid off, huh?" Gilda smirked, nudging Star with a shoulder. She knew he couldn't argue against that.

"Uh, well . . . good job." Star swallowed and smiled.

* * *

"Ha! Did you hear him? G-good job." Dash said, mockingly of Star after the game in the locker room as the Speedsters celebrated their first win of the season.

"We sure showed them what we are capable of. Let's keep it up." Gilda replied happily.

"You sure did rock it out there Rainbow. Way to go on your two scores." Derpy butted in with a smile to Dash.

"Thanks, Derpy, you didn't do bad yourself." Dash said not turning away from Gilda, but Derpy seemed happy with the so-called compliment.

"Alright, team!" Coach Star called out as he entered the room. "With our first win comes our first game ball, and with great decision making I have to give this ball to . . . Gilda." Coach Star announced, tossing the ball to Gilda. The team cheered for Gilda including Dash, who looked a bit sour at Star's choice.

"Relax Dash, I'm sure you'll get your own next game." Gilda encouraged after pulling her aside.

Dash smiled and nodded in agreement.

* * *

"We stand at two and two team, that's a nice little turnaround. A win today won't be easy, but if we pull this off we'll be above five hundred. Here's our cue." Shooting Star declared as the loudspeakers announced them.

"And their opponents . . . the Junior Speedsters!" The speakers boomed out.

The Speedsters had played with steadily improving attendance, but this team managed to get a packed house and they were far more energized. Their boos were deafening as the Speedsters headed to their sideline.

" The Cold Fronts . . . name sounded dumb the moment I heard it." Gilda shouted over the noise to Dash, who looked around her in awe.

'One day, I'll have a stadium full of fans of me.' She was thinking instead of listening.

"Yo! Equestria to Dash? We're on." Gilda waved her talons in Dash's face, snapping her out of her daydream.

"Right, let's do this!"

* *

From kickoff, it was clear that this was a completely different game than any other they had played before. The first time Dash was tackled she was thrown to the ground harder than she had been in her enter life. It added fuel to her effort, but the game was a lost cause.

"That sucked." Dash groaned in pain as she pressed ice to her leg.

"I got more ice here." Coach Star called out, handing icepacks out. "I also want to say that I'm proud of you all. It ain't easy playing with crowd noise, especially against such a strong opponent, but you gave it your all and it was close in the end." He added.

"Not even, too many errors for us to ever have had a chance." Gilda huffed.

"Sorry Gilda, my bad." Derpy apologized, not missing the glare shot from the griffin.

"Now, now, I'll have no one being singled out, we all could've done better, let's take this as a learning experience." Star cut in sharply.

"Yes, coach." The team responded as one through their aches and pains.

"Hey, Gilda?" Dash whispered, taking a seat next to her.

"Yeah?"

"Obviously we need to find more creative ways for you to get the ball to me. Cause it's basically just you and me out there. Whatever we can think of we got to try it." Dash said in a hushed voice.

Gilda nodded and pulled out the playbook for them to review.

* * *

It took a couple of games, but Dash finally found herself getting the ball half the time. She quickly became the Junior Speedsters' biggest producer of yards and scores per game. Leading them to the start of a winning streak. Dash's hype grew as focus and attention turned sharply and wildly toward her. For the first time all year, the Junior Speedsters' stadium was packed with long-time fans and new alike.

"Fillies and gentle colts, please give a warm welcome to your Jr. Speedsters!" The announcer's voices boomed.

Hondo stood with the rest of the crowd from the wood-covered seats for nonpegasi viewers. "Yeaaah!" He cheered. "Oh! Look Rare, there she is. Ahead of them." He pointed, nudging his daughter.

Peering forward through her shades, Rarity spotted the pony her father had been talking so much about as of late. "Oh, I really like that rainbow mane of hers. So beautiful and unique suits her name quite well. Shame it's so unkempt. Do you think it's natural or dyed?" She pondered aloud.

"Who cares? She's so skilled. Watch closely, we're witnessing history." Hondo said, taking his seat.

Rarity knew her father knew all there is to know about hoofball from his playing years, but never had she heard him speak so highly of a player not from his playing days as he did about Dash. So as boring and confusing as she found the sport to be she kept an eye on her.

Rarity quickly became a fan of Dash as she watched her zip across the field; dodging tackles, extending plays, gaining yards in chunks, and scoring a couple of touchdowns as well. Rarity couldn't help but cheer along with her father. When the game clock expired, Rarity jumped to her hooves and clapped excitedly for the Speedsters' win. "Amazing, simply amazing! What an absolutely terrific performance!" She exclaimed.

"Never thought I'd see the day you'd get so excited about hoofball." Hondo commented.

Rarity froze, suddenly aware of herself, and sat back down. "yes, well . . . it was a good game." She admitted. She couldn't help feeling silly for thinking hoofball a meaningless sport for ruffians for so long when she had enjoyed this game so much. Her complaints about having to come here with her father were now fully voided in her mind.

"That Rainbow Dash sure can put on a show. Say, she's going to be signing autographs soon. Why don't you and I go get one, eh?" Hondo suggested.

"Yes, we shall." Rarity smiled and nodded politely. She was eager to extend the surprising fun trip with her father.

* * *

As they were trotting down a hallway, Hondo stopped in front of the restrooms. "I'm going to use the gentlecolts' room. Could you go on ahead and save us a spot in line?" He asked, and at her nod entered the restroom.

Rarity soon found the building layout confusing and was feeling unsure of where to go and lost. Asking for a point in the right direction led her to where she needed to go and got herself a spot in line. As the line moved forward Rarity noticed that while almost all of the Junior Speedsters were there to sign stuff, everypony was getting signatures from just Dash and Gilda. The two stars chatted between each other as their teammates sat looking bored . . . well except for Derpy, who looked happy just to be there.

As Rarity got closer to the front, she began to wonder what was taking her father so long to get back, and soon enough she was about to be next. 'I can't possibly do this without dad, he would be so disappointed to have missed out.' So with that thought, she stepped out of line and off to one side.

Dash took notice of this and kept shooting her glances as she signed miscellaneous objects for fans. She couldn't help it, the stylish mare looked so out of place. "What's up with that mare over there?" Dash whispered to Gilda, who looked over at the unicorn in question.

"Who knows, looks like she's nervous. Probably too shy to meet the two big shots." Gilda smirked, sighing an autograph for a young filly.

"Guess so." Dash snorted and carried on, paying her no more attention until the line was gone and the only pony that was left in the room beside the Speedsters was the lonesome mare. Rainbow gave Gilda a questioning look, unsure what to do, before speaking up to the unicorn that was apparently lost in thought. "Yo! You want something signed?"

"Oh. . . uh, y-yes. Of course." Rarity stammered. 'Surely it's better to get something signed without him than it is to get nothing at all.' She decided, trotting over to Dash. "Hi." She said awkwardly, unsure what to say or do. It was not a situation she was familiar with being in.

"Hi, so what do you want me to sign?" Dash asked, twirling a pen in hoof before tossing its end into her lips.

"Oh, well . . ." Rarity realized that her father hadn't told her what they were getting signed and that she didn't have anything on her. "I . . . don't honestly have anything on me." She admitted embarrassed.

"It's cool. I got you covered." Dash produced a picture of herself from under the table. She signed it, Your hero, Rainbow Dash. "There You go." Dash pushed the picture over to her.

"You want me to sign it as well?" Gilda asked, spinning her quill.

"Oh, I don't know. It would seem out of place on a picture of just Rainbow Dash." Rarity answered, unsure if her father wanted her signature as well, but not wanting to appear rude at the same time.

"Pft, whatever. Yo Dash, catch you at Junker's later?" Gilda asked, standing up.

"Sure." Dash agreed and watched her leave along with the rest of the team. She turned back to find Rarity was standing in front of her, with the picture held in her magic. She was looking at it wistfully. "Something up?" Dash asked curiously.

"Oh, it's just that I was hoping my father would get to meet you, but something seems to be holding him up. He's quite the fan of you." Rarity confessed her thoughts.

"Oh? Well, I would hate to disappoint a fan. You should introduce me to him." Dash offered and with a flap of her wings she was over the table and next to Rarity.

"Really? You would do that?" Rarity asked beside herself.

"Sure." Dash nodded and found herself being hugged.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Rarity exclaimed, then noticed Dash's look of mixed surprise and discomfort. She took a step back. "Ahem . . . pardon me." She apologized.

"Ha, no problem. Lead on." Dash chuckled and wave a wing forward.

"Yes, of course." Rarity led Dash back over to the restrooms. "Well, this is where we had parted ways." Rarity said to Dash in the now empty halls.

"Huh." Dash flew into the colts' room.

"Dash, wait!" Rarity called out.

"What? Mares aren't allowed in the colts room? Doesn't really matter, no pony is in here." Dash flew back out and couldn't help but smile at the huffy face the unicorn was making. "What's your dad's name anyway." Dash quickly put out there to change the mood.

"Hondo and mine is Rarity by the way." Rarity said the edge of a sharp tone.

"Hey, hey. My bad. I'm trying to help you out here honest. It's a pleasure to meet you Rarity." Dash gave her a little curtsy while hovering.

Rarity smiled at that, amused. "And I thank you for that, and it is a pleasure to meet you as well." Rarity replied with a much more graceful curtsy.

"Come on, let's go find Hondo." Dash picked a way to go and flew on ahead.

"I don't think he went that way." Rarity quickly interjected, only taking a few steps after her.

"Why not?" Dash questioned, turning back to see Rarity standing at the edge of the wood flooring, right before changing over to cloud. She was making the added point of touching her hoof to the cloud, which passed right through it. "Oh, right." Dash flew back to her. "Actually, if he can only walk on covered floors, we didn't pass him, and he's not here . . . then there is only one place he can be." Dash realized and led Rarity to the stadium exits.

Rarity looked to Dash uncertainly as they trotted outside. "I hardly think he would've left without-"

Hondo cut her off with a hug. "Rarity, dear, there you are! Sorry if I worried ya there. I got lost and ended up out here, and I wasn't allowed back in." Hondo greeted his daughter.

"I tell you guys to lighten up." Dash told one of the security guards, elbowing him.

"You never tell us that." He responded. "In fact, you've never spoken to us at all." He muttered annoyed.

"Sure I did. I tell everypony that." Dash said drifting past as she glided in a laid-back pose.

"Is that Rainbow Dash?" Hondo whispered to Rarity as he let her go.

"Why yes, Miss Dash here was kind enough to help me find you." Rarity informed him.

"Miss Dash? Ew. Jut call me Dash, please." Dash commented landing near Rarity.

"Wow, am I just speechless. Thank you kindly for helping reunite me and my daughter. Also, it was such a show you put on out there. Some of the best hoofball I've ever seen." Hondo expressed his gratitude and admiration.

"Ha, thanks. Tell you what, you two stay here. I have a special surprise for you." Dash said smiling excitedly and flying back inside.

Rarity showed took this time to show her father the autograph. "I didn't have anything, but she had this picture. Do you like it?"

"It's nice." Hondo chuckled, seemingly amused by it.

"Here you go." Dash reappeared as fast as she had left. "Two all-access passes, good for the rest of the season. So no more getting lost." She teased handing the passes. They weren't hers to give away per se, but they weren't locked up either. they were in the hooves of fans and not collecting dust, so as far as Dash cared it was okay. "And two tickets to next week's game." Dash passed those out next, that was something players were allowed to do.

"My luck sure has turned fast. How great is this! What do you say Rarity, want to watch another game with your old stallion?" Hondo asked.

Now Rarity would normally be quick to pass on such an offer, but the day had been so fun and she couldn't stand refusing Dash's offer after her kind treatment. "I would love to see Rainbow Dash in action some more." Rarity nodded approvingly.

"I won't disappoint!" Dash exclaimed. With a wave, she took off flying. 'My first big fans. I gotta impress them next week. They may not be the fan club I expected, but . . . I like them.' Dash couldn't help but smile at the thought of that mare. 'Rarity.'

Author's Note

At long last, this story has been far too long in the making. I never would have thought I was going to write over 400 pages. At around page 30 I thought to myself, 'man am I really still working on this Raridash fic?' An odd mix of a hobby, a passion project, and something to just pass the time. At times I wanted to drop this story and start a new one, yet another Raridash fic set in a AU or something more original. Sometimes I wanted to drop it because . . . I feared it wasn't good, that over the years it took me to write this silly story my writing ability late story made my early story look weak and rushed. Which may be true, but I rather not rework the opening. I want to start something new. I am so happy to have finished this story. All I have to do is type it up, yes it was all written old fashion style (pencil and paper). I can't dedicate this story to any one person, but rather every single person that told me to keep it up. That they believed in me. Be they a friend, a coworker, or even those who saw some guy sitting in a loud bar, sipping on a cider, off to to one side just writing of all things. They saw that and would come up to me and tell me that they respected that, that I had talent, and that they thought that was the coolest. This one goes out to you guys and girls. Love you all <3 /D Hope you all enjoy it and that it was would the wait. I'll try not to be lazy about getting the next chapter out. ;p

Caregiver's Cottage

Rarity sighed depressed. She pushed her pillow away from herself as she got out of bed. As much as she wished and pretended the pillow was her Dashie, it wasn't. It wasn't warm, nor had feathers that occasionally tickled her. It lacked soft fur to nuzzle, warm breath on her neck, and hooves to hold her in return.

Rarity shook her head and rubbed her shoulder. 'I'm so tired of feeling like this. Why can't I get over her? Why is she the only thing I can think about?' Rarity looked around her room and sighed. 'I've been holed up in here since breaking up with Dash. Maybe if I get a change of scenery it'll help.' Rarity went over to her dresser. She brushed her mane and did her make-up. If she was going to go out, she was going to look her best.

After her best efforts though, her tired eyes still showed despite the make-up. Rarity donned a pair of shades to cover them up. Not liking the way her mane sat she tied on a headscarf and placed a bonnet on top of that. Nodding approvingly to her reflection in the mirror, she was off.

Rarity trotted about Ponyville, taking in its beauty and going to her favorite spots . . . none had their desired effect, they had the opposite in fact. Everywhere she went sparked memories of Rainbow Dash. 'This is pointless. I can't stop thinking about her. I have all this pent-up emotion. Pent-up . . . That's it! I need somepony to vent to. That should help, and I know just the pony to talk to.' Rarity thought, changing course.

***

Fluttershy petted her little young Angel bunny. She had just finished feeding him when there was a knock at her front door. "Oh? Who could that be?" Fluttershy wondered aloud, moving toward the door. She smiled when she opened it. "Rainbow Dash! What a pleasant surprise." Fluttershy greeted her excitedly, but then she frowned seeing how down Dash appeared to be. "What's wrong?"

"Fluttershy, could you put on some tea? I . . . I need to talk to you."

Just by the sound of her voice Fluttershy knew this was a heavy burden on Dash's mind that she wanted to talk about. "Of course. Come in, have a seat." Fluttershy nodded and flew to the kitchen. Hurrying, she fumbled about as she got her kettle set and started. When she returned to the den she found Dash sitting on her couch with a blanket wrapped around her. She was sadly watching the different animals in the room going about their lives.

"Sorry I couldn't stop by sooner . . . and at a happier time. It's been uh . . . strange for me for a while now." Dash sighed sadly. "I just want to get some things off of my chest." She admitted.

"Of course Rainbow. It's fine. Go ahead and tell me what's troubling you . . . when you're ready to." Fluttershy encouraged softly as she sat down next to Dash.

"you see, I was busy because . . . I was . . . seeing somepony." She confessed.

"You mean dating?" Fluttershy asked and Dash nodded. "Who was it?"

"it . . . was . . . Rarity." Dash said with a heavy breath. "And I ruined it. Fluttershy, I cheated on her like an idiot."

Fluttershy gasped surprised. "Rainbow Dash! How could you?!"

"I know! It was this whole complicated matter and- and it's all my fault . . . but I want to make it up to her, but I can't. She wants nothing to do with me and I don't blame her. Even if she did hear me out it wouldn't matter. I have no clue what I'd say, how I could apologize to her. I spent all morning sitting in a tree near her house thinking of the perfect words to say and nothing seemed right . . . and now I'm afraid . . . afraid I can't fix things with Rarity. That she's going to hate me forever and that this pain in my heart will never go away." Dash cried, turning away to wipe her tears away.

"Oh Rainbow, I'm sure Rarity won't hate you forever, but what you did . . . she's going to need time, and then it'll be up to her to forgive you. You're going to have to wait for her to come to you."Fluttershy put a comforting hoof on Dash's shoulder.

"But I live in Cloudsdale! The only time she could ever see me is at the Junior Speedsters' field, two days out of the week, and only at certain times! What if she wants to see me on a day she can't and has second thoughts the following day?" Dash asked hopelessly.

"Rainbow, if she truly loves you, then Rarity will find her way to you no matter what."

"Even if you're right, none of it would matter if it weren't for me. I'm the only one to blame for my actions. I just wish I could fix it myself. That's all I want . . . but I can't!" Dash cried frustrated. She laid down on the couch and covered more of herself with the blanket that was around her.

Fluttershy bit her lip as she thought of a good reply when the kettle's whistle caught her attention. "I'll be right back." She let Dash know softly as she flew to the stove with a pondering hoof upon her chin. 'Poor Rainbow. She's really beating herself up over this. Maybe I should talk to Rarity myself on behalf of Rainbow. That could help.' Fluttershy decided as she poured two cups of tea, set them on a tray, and then carefully flew back to the den. "You'll just have to be patient, Rarity will come around." She reassured Dash, setting the tray down. She picked up a cup for Dash and turned toward her. It broke the animal caregiver's heart to see the defeated and depressed look on Dash's face as tears flowed from her usually unshakable friend.

"Why? Why does it have to be like this?" Dash muttered to herself.

"Oh Rainbow, I-." Fluttershy began just to be interrupted by a knock at the door. 'Who could that be?' "Uh, excuse me for a moment." Fluttershy said to Dash who seemed too lost in her emotions to pay her any attention. Fluttershy gently flew to the door and cracked it open."Umm, nows not really a-." Fluttershy started and ended up being talked over.

"Oh, Fluttershy darling, I've had the worst past couple of weeks." Rarity said, pulling the door more open and trotting inside.

"Uh, Rarity, you should know that-" Fluttershy tried to warn her that Dash was in the room While Rarity hang her hat upon her coat rack and pulled her scarf down.

"Could you put some tea on and I'll . . ." Rarity's talking over trailed off this time as she spotted the tea was already set, and then her eyes met Dash's, who looked shocked before she suddenly looked away. It struck Rarity how sad Dash looked. It was hard to believe that she had hoped Dash felt miserable, but now that she saw it was true herself she felt pity for her, not only that but she also felt bad. 'Maybe I've been too hard on her.'

Fluttershy put a hoof on her shoulder. "Rarity, you two should talk . . . and please, take an easy on her. I know she's in the wrong here, but she's beaten herself up over this so much . . . I don't think she can handle much more." Fluttershy's voice was barely a whisper.

Without replying, Rarity trotted to the couch. She lifted her sunglasses so that they rested up near her horn, she then sat next to Rainbow.

Rainbow looked up at her. She rubbed her tears away to see Rarity calmly staring forward.

"well? You wanted a chance to explain yourself, so let's hear it." Rarity said, turning her gaze toward Dash.

"I- I'm an idiot." Dash said looking away.

"That's a good start." Rarity nodded in agreement.

Dash sat up. "I could tell you any excuse I have for what I did, but I can't excuse it. What I did hurt you and everypony else around me. You hate me now and rightfully so. I hate myself too." Dash choked up and wiped away fresh tears before continuing with newfound desperate determination. "But I don't want to lose what we had. I never felt this way about another pony. I've never had a pony actually make me feel beautiful, that helped me expand on my dreams. That future you talked about? Where we get married and adopt foals. I want that. I can't the fact it's all my fault that it's at risk. I don't deserve a pony like you nor will I find another like you. Rarity . . . I don't want to lose you." Dash finished, bowing her head down, tears dripping from her muzzle onto her hooves. There was a long pause and Dash felt a hoof upon her shoulder.

"Rainbow . . ."

Dash looked up to see Rarity teary-eyed.

"I-I love you." At those words Rarity had Dash throwing her hooves around her, embracing her. "But you can't do this to me again." Rarity hugged her in return.

"I won't. I won't." Rainbow squeezed her tighter.

Rarity pushed her away slightly. "I mean it Rainbow. No more chances after this. I catch you with another mare or colt it's over." She warned seriously.

"I swear Rarity, never again. You're the one for me and I'm never going to take that for granted again." Dash told her and Rarity smiled sweetly in return. Dash leaned in a bit and Rarity met her halfway as they shared a kiss.

"Awww." Fluttershy squeed softly, causing both Rainbow and Rarity to jump as they were both suddenly reminded as to where they were.

The two of them shared a blush.

***

Dash was ripe with anticipation. Today was her first sleepover at Rarity's since before their break-up. Everything was going to go great, she just knew it. She had even gotten a gift for Rarity. It balanced on her back neatly as Dash landed and knocked at the door. Hondo answered it. "Hey, coach." Dash greeted.

"Rainbow. You better treat her right this time. Don't go breaking her heart a second time." Hondo said staring her down.

Dash swallowed. "Wouldn't dream of it. This time it's me and her forever." Dash said sure of it.

"Sounds good. You better mean it." Hondo stepped aside.

Dash nodded and flew inside. She landed before Rarity's door, seeing that it was closed. Excitedly, she knocked at the door.

"Just a minute!" Called Rarity from inside.

'I wonder if she has anything special in mind for today.' Dash thought as she tapped a hoof on the floor as she waited.

"Come in!" Rarity's voice came again only a moment later.

Dash opened the door and her cheeks flushed red at the sight before her. Rarity was lying, somewhat curled up, on the end of her bed. Her usually spiraled to perfection mane was straightened out and it covered one of her eyes. White fur was covered in a pink hue from the see-through robe, with a fuzzy trim, the mare wore.

Rarity smiled, enjoying the reaction she got from the pegasus that stood frozen in the doorway.

"H-hey." Dash managed to get the word out of her throat. Rarity patted the spot next to her and stifled a giggle. Rainbow trotted over and took a seat next to her, carefully shifting the box from her back to her lap.

Seeing the box, Rarity perked up, especially at the sight of the ribbon tied around it. "Oh! Is that for me?" She asked sitting up.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Here." Dash said handing it over. "I got it at Sugarcube Corner, it's your favorite." Dash added as Rarity unwrapped it.

"Aw Rainbow, how did you know that . . . bonbons?" Rarity frowned disappointedly.

"They're not your favorite, are they? I guess I just assumed they were." Dash groaned and face hoofed. 'Way to go Dash, you ruined it already.' Dash scolded herself.

"Assorted chocolates are my favorite. What made you think bonbons were?" Rarity asked curiously.

"It's what you got on our date." Dash's answer brought the memory flooding back to her.

'She remembered that? That's so sweet of her." Rarity leaned over and kissed Dash's cheek, causing her to blush once again. "That's alright. Bonbons are my second favorite."

"Heh, I'll keep that in mind." Dash glanced back at Rarity's workstation. "So what's up? Usually, every time I come over you're always working." Dash asked.

"Yes, well I fell a little behind in my work for a while and did a lot of catching up on it all day. So I wanted to spend the evening with all my attention on you . . . besides, there's . . . something I wanted to talk to you about." Rarity finished nervously.

"What about?" Dash asked with a raised eyebrow.

"How's everything going for you at school?"

"Oh . . . that. uh, yeah . . . things are going great." Dash lied, rubbing a hoof through her own mane as her eyes looked away from Rarity. School was never a favorite subject for Dash and after recent events, she found the thought of it awkward.

Rarity put a hoof on top of Dash's that was on the bed. "Rainbow, please, I want to talk about this. You told me yourself that you had hurt everypony around you. I want to give you some support with that." Rarity said comfortingly.

"Oh . . . well I mean most of that was from that rumor with your dad and me. That's blown over for the most part. The only thing is . . ." Dash trailed off unsure if she wanted to bring it up.

"Go on." Rarity scooted closer to her.

"Its . . . Sunbeam." As Dash feared that alone was enough to make Rarity pull away, but only just enough so that she could no longer feel her against herself. Dash sighed. "Rarity, I like him . . . as a friend. He's cool and we have a lot in common, but I don't love him. I never did. So . . ." Dash looked away, staring into nothingness.

"What?" Rarity asked, half dreading the answer.

"Why did he forgive me so quickly, so easily, when I haven't even forgiven myself."

"Oh Rainbow . . . why are you always so hard on yourself? This is a good thing." Rarity assured her.

"It is?" Dash said surprised, turning back toward her.

"Well . . . yes." Rarity sighed. "Rainbow, I can't exactly expect you to stay away from him. you are teammates after all. You train together so much . . . I honestly don't like it, but you two should be friends. I'll trust you with him."

Dash was at a loss for words. For one she was grateful, but she could tell how much it pained Rarity to say that. "Rares . . . I'm going to make this work. I'm going to be the best marefriend you could ask for." Dash said confidently, firmly believing in her own words.

"Now that, I like to hear." Rarity gave Dash another kiss, this time on the lips.

***

After another win, one would think Dash would be excited or at least relax. Instead, she found her nerves getting the better of her. After changing out of her uniform in the locker room, she stared at the door, the exit to the hallway. The place Rarity had caught her cheating, was it no longer their meet-up spot? Shakily, she pushed the door open and stepped out.

"Rainbow! Haven't I told you it's rude to keep a lady waiting?" Rarity greeted her immediately with a smile.

Dash let out a relieved breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "To be fair, I can think of a couple times you kept me waiting." Dash replied trotting up to her.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Rarity joked.

Dash chuckled and gave her a short nuzzle. "For a second there I was worried you weren't going to be here." Dash confessed.

"Yes . . . I can understand why you would worry about that. I had had my own doubts as well." Rarity said grimly before perking back up. "But we're past that now, right?"

"Right." Dash agreed happily.

"Besides, I wanted to know if you wanted to stay over tonight. Last night was . . . the first goodnight's rest I had had in a while." Rarity offered.

"Yeah, it was for me too. So yeah, of course, I'll come over tonight." Dash accepted readily. "Oh! And tomorrow morning I'll finally start making good on my promise to start taking you out more." Dash added excitedly.

"Oh, I don't know Rainbow. Tomorrow? I already told you I have so much work to catch up on." Rarity said thinking about it.

"Aw, come on Rares, one quick walk around town won't take long, pleeease?" Dash pleaded, snuggling up to her.

"Oh alright. Like I can say no to that. Very well. I'll see you again shortly." Rarity excused herself with a peak on Dash's cheek before leaving.

***

Rarity could see how Dash was so active, she slept so much. While Rarity had showered, done her make-up, and eaten breakfast, Dash was just waking up as Rarity returned to her room. Sure this was something she was used to, but Dash had promised to go in the morning, and that was quickly fading away. "Rainbow, darling, please hurry. I'd like to go get going soon." Rarity said, taking a moment to check herself out in her mirror.

"Alright, alright." Dash stretched and yawned. She rolled out of ber and landed on her hooves. She stretched out more with a shake to wake herself up fully. "Okay. Let's go." Dash said standing up straight.

"Wha- what? Don't you want to eat first or freshen up a bit?" Rarity asked surprised.

"Nah, I'm fine. come on, let's go!" Rainbow got set to fly off ahead when Rarity stepped in front of her.

"Not so fast! Your mane is a mess."

Dash's expression went from confused to annoyed as Rarity levitated a brush over and ran it through her mane a few times. "Good?"

"Yes." Rarity said with a nod and Dash took off flying out of the room.

With a smile, Rarity shook her head and followed after her, albeit at a much slower pace. She caught up with the pegasus just outside the front door where she was waiting for her.

"I thought it was you who told me it's rude to keep a lady waiting. Dash teased.

"Yes, and so is rushing ahead of your date." Rarity retorted with a smirk.

"Guess I'm pretty rude, huh?" Dash said with a laugh.

"We'll work on it." At that, they trotted forward together. "So where did you want to go? Just around town? Or maybe we could stop by Sugarcube Corner and say hi to Pinkie Pie, she-"

"Aw, you know what? I always wanted to check out that pond!" Dash interrupted Rarity excitedly.

Rarity blinked in stunned disbelief. ". . . you mean the one in the backyard?" Dash answered her question by turning sharply and flying toward the said pond." Rarity sighed and hurried after her.

DAsh dived into the water and immediately resurfaced, shaking her wet mane out of her face.

'So much for brushing it.' Rarity lamented, taking a seat near the water's edge and wrapping her tail neatly around her hooves. "You know, that wasn't much of a walk." She commented.

"Going for a walk was just a suggestion. Swimming seems like more fun. Come on, join in, the water feels so nice and cool." Dash said swimming over to her.

"Certainly not! I spent quite some time on this make-up and I - RAINBOWDASHDON'TYOUDARE!" Rarity shrieked seeing Dash raise her hooves and wings high up.

DAsh smacked them down into the water, creating a large splash.

Rarity put a hoof up, which proved to be a pathetic shield against the coming wave. She let out a sharp gasp at the sudden cold feeling of being soaked.

"Ha! Guess there's no reason to not jump in now." Dash chuckled.

Rarity glared at her and her horn glowed. Dash looked at her questioningly, then around her, trying to figure out what she was doing with her magic. Rarity smiled amused as Dash finally looked up and Rarity released the water she had been holding over Dash's head.

Dash winched as it splashed onto her face. "Is that the best you got?" Dash asked challengingly, shaking the water off. Suddenly she was hit with a much larger splash. "haha!" Dash heard Rarity's laugh and glanced over to her side to see Rarity splashing her with her hooves. Dash couldn't help but laugh as she splashed Rarity in return.

"You better apologize Dash!" Rarity demanded with a splash.

"If that's the best you can do then no way!" Dash retorted, splashing her right back.

"Is that so? Well, there is something I am better at." Rarity declared.

Dash paused. "what's that?"

Moving forward, Rarity embraced Dash and kissed her passionately.

Stunned by it, Dash could barely react before Rarity broke the kiss.

"Apologize and I might do that again." Rarity hinted suggestively.

"I'm sorry." Dash said quickly.

"For?"

". . . I don't even know." Dash answered, still mesmerized from the kiss.

Rarity shook her head amused. 'Good enough.' She figured and kissed Dash once more.

Author's Note

a little late thanks to internet issues, but I'm back. Back like these two lovebirds are. I couldn't keep them apart for too long. things are looking up once more! will the trend continue? or are more rough waters ahead? just wait to find out. (or for future readers click 'next chapter') Enjoy!