Love's Hydration
Chapter VII | Lazy Afternoons
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Lazy Afternoons
Rainbow Dash decided to fly in the warm weather and winds instead of taking the offered train to Ponyville. Moving helped Rainbow think. Things could never be worked out in her mind if she was standing still. But when she started to walk or fly, that's when she would start thinking. When everything would begin to slowly sort itself out.
That promotion. The whole academy was hers to instruct. The highest office labelled with her name. Ponies waiting outside her door to be punished, rewarded, or informed. Passing ponies would stop to salute Rainbow. She'd chew the rumps of troublemakers and stunt devils.
I wonder if all that chewing will taste like irony.
Your dream coming true wasn't as depicted in the books. There's no explosion of light or an escalation of excitement. Your stomach swirled, maybe. Something was proven; you had done well. Now the world trusted you to do more work.
But the buzzing of fantasy was still there. Rainbow still wanted to be something. The drive to push others to their best. To be thrown into a whirlwind of problems and come through better than ever. To become a new icon that served as the fuel for the next generation. Thinking like that caused the edges of her hooves to fuzz in a melting sensation.
Oh, shut up! Just let yourself have this one.
Rainbow couldn't repress the shaking or the laughter. She exploded. Laughing and twirling in the air. Cheering random sounds with shouts of her name. She'd done it. Captain of the Wonderbolts. The best flier in all of the world.
"Who's the best? I'm the best!" Rainbow twirled a loop, leaving a halo of a rainbow trail. Who'd be the first she would share the news with? "Ya-ha! The girls! We'll get together and crash a place like the good ol' days!"
Rainbow had been grinding work so long that the idea of partying seemed foreign. Having her friends together for drinks seemed like heaven on land. Rainbow needed it. Too long, she'd been alone, breathing for the sake of oxygen. Now was time to burn cyan in the night. To dance with the girls, throw herself at some boys, and…
Spike.
Rainbow flew straight. Dipping beneath the clouds, she saw the rooftops of Ponyville below. Silhouettes of ponies strolled the streets. It was late afternoon. Most were done with work. Able to spend time together or alone. At peace. Enjoying the calm summer.
He can come too! Everyone together again! The girls can check back in with the dork. He's cleaned up his act since Twilight. Yeah! Everything should work out for the best.
Worry crept.
Just have to make sure AJ doesn't make a pass at him.
Everyone partying. Even if they were missing a friend… it seemed like all of them together again, drinking and having fun, seemed like another dream come true. One that mattered a bit more than some promotion. Funny to think that, despite pushing her whole life to be the best, it was the friends made on the side that count the most.
Who are you going to break the news to first?
Rainbow settled into a glide. Her hooves angled for landing. Sailing over the roofs, she let the momentum carry her onto the street. There was a right of Cityhall.
You've shared good news with the girls before. But it never hit the same. Why the hell do I want to tell Spike so much? Is it because you banged him? No. He saw underneath me. But then all of the girls have seen underneath me. Why does he matter more? Because he helped me back onto my hooves?
Rainbow neared the ground. Grass brushed her hooves. Her wings tucked in as she touched the ground and smoothly transitioned into walking. Dying sunlight awash the town.
Why the hell are you thinking so much? Aren't you supposed to be Rainbow Dash? Just tell whoever you run into first.
Rainbow wandered around as ponies passed ponies by. She nodded and smiled and even signed a photograph. Fans gawked, but previous acquaintances offered a friendly smile. It felt better not wearing the hood. Seeing the faces of others, feeling the fullness of the wind.
"Hiya, Dashie!" Something cold licked across Rainbow's spine and bounced her forward. Whipping into a turn revealed Pinkie Pie with a feather set between her teeth. She turned and spat it out. "Are you in a super-duper good mood today? Because my ears flicked away from each other, TWICE! Then my tail spun and—YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, RIGHT?!"
She's the first. Break the word.
"That…" Rainbow's eyes flicked away. "…Spike is back in town. And we, uh, s-should throw him a party?"
Pinkie seemed confused. Her head tilted, and her eyes narrowed. Something blossomed behind her face. A discovery that then sparked a smile on the party mare. "Ah-ha! Hmhm! That has to be it! That big ol' bag of grumpy scales is back! And we will need to make sure we throw a party so uber-fanTASTIC that he will never want to leave."
Pinkie whirled away. "I better get planning. Later Dashie!" She was a good distance away before shouting her last request. "Let me know it's time for the second party!"
Pinkie whirled on the spot. "I better get planning! Later Dashie! Let me know when it's time for a second party!"
"You got it!" Rainbow waved after the disappearing mare. She chuckled while dropping the foreleg. Those final words clicked. "Wait! Second party? Why would I…"
Realization dawned.
Smarter then you let on, aren't ya, pinks?
If Pinkie could see Rainbow was lying… her friend could see it.
Oh, screw it.
Just tell the dragon your dream came true…
…and that you wanna be swallowed in his arms.
Rainbow flew around town with the direct purpose of finding the dragon. She cursed herself for being weak and needy but, simultaneously, could do nothing to help it. It was a stab at her ego to be so wanting of another. That she needed to be consoled and warmed by his words and arms.
She'd asked around town. Finally, a trio of mares laughed at the request. Rainbow had questioned if there was a scary dragon around. Each of the girls laughed before one said a stud was by the pond. There'd been a betting pool on the first brave enough to speak to him.
"You stand the best chance, sugar," one said. "Fifty bits for the first able to take a ride on that. Sweet Dreep tried speaking to him. But she shied away at the last second." She looked at the others. "Do you think they're all still by the pond?"
Stupid mares. Rainbow had given thanks and blasted into the sky. You're not supposed to be into dragons.
The flight to the lake was short. Short because Rainbow's wings flew faster than the legal limit. Already setting a good image, aren't you, Captain Dash?
Rainbow's wings flared against the winds as they stopped her speed. Hovering before the emerald hills around the pond, she saw an oak tree on the biggest one. Beneath the tree, inside its shadow, the dragon laid back across the grass, arms crossed behind his head.
Rainbow's heart soared. Lazy prick. Laying outside and doing nothing. How did you get so lucky with life? Spike didn't have a job or tasks. No dream to achieve. Not a greatness to chase after. He'd finished his chores, and now laid outside, content to enjoy the day.
Or be fucking someone if they let him.
Rainbow winced. What if that's how she caught him? Laying back with a mare mounted on his hips, held at her waist, pumped on his cock to the desired speed, those lovely sensations aided by the softness of the grass, the warmth in the air, and the gentleness of sunlight. Causally fucking not to climax quickly—but to enjoy the slow process.
And the mare Rainbow imagined was herself. She wasn't the kind of mare that was used. That someone else rocked her world. It was supposed to be the reverse! She chewed her lips, blushing, and looked away.
But Rainbow, trying to fight it all, couldn't help but love the idea.
Her eyes went to the other side of the hill, down at its base, where a winding dirt path laid. Mares gathered to watch him. Some dared to step forward—others backed away. Whispering among themselves.
Face it, Dash.
You're not the only mare on the market.
Would he treat them as he did her? Would his over-the-top compliments be used to woo them as they were to woo Rainbow Dash? Rainbow worried and recoiled, suddenly unsure if what they had was special. If he could replicate that with others, then was their connection unique in the slightest?
What if that's the way he wants it? Rainbow heard her voice, but something else spoke using it. Make you feel better before sending you to someone better. How long can you last against a dragon forced to hold back? Maybe this is the only way he can be happy. Being able to fuck a new mare every night might be the only thing that works for him.
Rainbow shook her head. Fuck that. And dove forward.
The dragon was an unknown. Despite their closeness and his sweetness, Rainbow wasn't outright sure of him. He was still a threat. That, in more ways than one, he could hurt her. She would keep up her guard.
Rainbow dropped. Her hooves struck the ground, knees bending to absorb the landing. She towered beside the sleeping dragon. Glaring at the collection of mares, she found that, instead of being threatened, they were elated, glowing faces and moving lips, the starting of rumors.
Rainbow Dash. Warning off potential partners from the dragon. How would that gossip turn out?
Geeze. Rainbow slumped after the crowd was gone. This is your time to shine, Rarity. Where are you?
"Afternoon."
Rainbow twitched. Her hooves twirled on the warm grass. She checked the dragon with an eye cracked open. It was the first time she stood over him. Though his back swallowed a patch of land.
He's talking to you.
"…yo," Rainbow slowly opened.
"Were you looking for me?"
"Uh." Don't lie. It doesn't help. Trust him enough for the truth. "Y-yeah."
Spike smiled. "And why's that?"
Oh, shit.
"Y-Your dinner with Twilight!" Rainbow began to sweat as her memory saved her with a fast one. "Was wondering, y'know, how that went."
One of his eyes narrowed on her existence.
Her heart beat faster.
"I survived." He adjusted on the grass. "We caught up.. I walked her home. Then talked some more in the library." His eyes wandered to the sky. "She still cares for me." His head shook. "Can't tell you why." Then his gaze returned to Rainbow. "Is that all you wanted?"
What's it going to be? Tell him that you wanted to find him? Or talk about the promotion?
"Did Twilight tell you what happened?"
"That I owe her dinner every week?" Spike asked. "Rarity left me some bits. But at this rate? I'll have to reopen the boutique."
Rainbow fluffed with a smile. "That actually sounds kinda rad!"
"Could be." Spike shrugged against the grass. "Twilight was supposed to tell me something?"
"N-No! It's just… I uh… y-y'know.. I got it." Rainbow blinked. Her face was surprised after all that stuttering. Even she was confused about what she was talking about. Hope came with telling him the truth. That he would embrace and love her. Fear arose in anything else happening. Or more teasing. "The promotion. It looks like I'm going to be Captain of the Wonderbolts."
Spike laughed happily. He rose to his shadow passing over the mare. Rainbow didn't even wait for open arms. She charged inside his embrace. Her coat melted into his scales. Large arms took hold of her existence. Wrapped and hugged and held.
"I'm proud of you, Rainbow Dash." Simple words. Anyone could have said them. But in hearing them from Spike? It made Rainbow the happiest girl in the world. His hold was its own reward. His sweet whispers fluffed her ears. "You did it. Your dream came true. How do you feel?"
Rainbow snuggled across his chest and rested her muzzle on his shoulder, a nuzzle across the smooth scales, mane covering her face. It didn't matter how the world saw it. Spike's darkened expression seemed surprised by the affection.
But Rainbow couldn't, and wouldn't, take it back.
"I'm feeling good," Rainbow confessed with a smile. "And it's because of you. If you hadn't shaken me up again… I don't know what I would be feeling right now." She laid all of her weight into him, feeling slinky. "And you were right. I already have a new dream I'm chasing after. Everything worked itself out."
She felt his smirk.
"Thatta girl."
A gooey smile infected Rainbow with a radical blush. She covered this by speaking quickly. "I want to flare the fire of others' spirits," Rainbow confided, able to be mocked for her vague feelings and dreams. Or have it twisted in some way to reveal some horribleness about her.
But Rainbow needed to share her feelings. To have them heard and accepted. It mattered a lot to her. More so that it was the dragon she spoke to. "I want to help them find their dreams. That thing that causes them to flare up and chase after. To be able to help them on that path. Make them the best they could ever hope to be."
His claw found her neck, brushing through her mane, the tips of his talons stroking through the hair, scratching the coat and skin beneath. Rainbow sighed blissfully in being touched and pampered. Little actions that infused love and care; that denied doubt from creeping into her skull.
"I want to inspire others." Rainbow felt safe enough to continue. "I used to hate ponies looking up to me. Not when I wasn't standing for something. But now… I want them to look at me whenever they need help. To help them burn a little hotter or for a little longer. That if they keep on… that things usually work themselves out."
Rainbow chuckled. "Funny how that works. I wanted ponies to look up to me to see how awesome I was. Now? I want to be a symbol that propels them further."
Spike couldn't help but laugh. "Well… it's like what they say: the older you become, the wiser you get."
"I'll end you."
Rainbow, instead of murder, snuggled into a dragon, a fluffy covering to his torso, not an inch separating them, an embrace held without an end in mind.
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