Quite a Colourful Tickle Toy

by Both Ends Of The Quill

Rating: teen
Tags: Fetish, Random, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Anthro, Applejack, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash
Length: 4483

Rainbow Dash is having a get-together with a few friends, when a game of Truth Or Dare uncovers the mare's deeply rooted lust for laughter. The night is spent finding new ways to tickle their beloved Wonderbolt.

Artwork by the wonderful LiaAqila! Thank you for letting me commission you for this story!
I am aware that the characters are humans in the picture when they are written as anthros, but shhhh, the art is cute and it fits the story.

Feeling lonely and a little bored one day, Rainbow Dash invites Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack over to stay the night. However, as the sun trades places with the moon, hoodies turn into pyjamas, and sobriety turns into tipsiness, silly antics are bound to ensue.

The four ponies find themselves in a game of Truth Or Dare, initiated by Pinkie Pie, of course. But almost as if she had planned it, Pinkie asks Rainbow an oddly specific question when her turn comes around.

"Dashie, do you like being tickled?"

Little does she know that this question will send all four of them down a rabbit hole of discovery, as Dash's affinity for tickling slowly becomes the focal point of the whole night. That Wonderbolt is going to soar far above the clouds, carried on a wave of squeaky laughter induced by her best friends. Turns out Dashie ain't so tough when she's begging for tickles, and the more her delicate body is teased, the more of it she needs.

Published 2023-08-19 01:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-08-19 01:40:00 UTC

Quite a Colourful Tickle Toy

Author's Note

Woo! This one has been a while in the making but was insanely fun to write! I think this might be my favourite story I've written thus far, and it marks the first time that I've gotten original artwork to go with it! I will restate: WOO!

Albums I listened to while writing this story:
“Moonfish Parachutist” by Windsor Airlift

Quite a Colourful Tickle Toy

The Cloudominium had never felt so empty to Rainbow Dash as she lazed around in bed. While she had planned a sleepover of sorts with Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie and Applejack this evening, waiting for that time to come was proving as dull as dishwater. Wonderbolts training had been canceled due to the current drizzles being expected to shift into a rainstorm, the world wasn’t in any need of saving, and worst of all, she had read every Daring Do book five times over already. What was a pony to do on such a lifeless day? At least Twilight and Spike had helped her send the invitations to the other two, as nopony can get a message out faster than him, but the speed of delivery wouldn’t make her friends knock any sooner.

Well... She dragged herself up, opening the closet. Getting myself dressed wouldn’t hurt. It was kind of hard to convince yourself to be active when you hadn’t changed out of boxers all morning. Picking out a hoodie and a pair of shorts, Rainbow Dash placed them on her bed while she went and got a shower, pondering how to prepare for her friends’ arrival. She had already cleaned the place top to bottom, but something was needed, something to liven up the mood a bit. After drying herself off, slipping into her clothes and combing her mane, it hit her.

Alcohol.

Not being an avid drinker, Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure she had any just laying around, let alone anything good, but it was worth a shot (get it?). Poking around in her kitchen cupboards produced quite a few cans of cider she had neglected to drink, herself. Perfect. Of course, they would be in Rainbow’s bedroom for most of the night, so she brought the cans upstairs along with a few snacks. All that was left were the glasses and other lasses to complete the picture.

Soon after Dash got the kit and caboodle layed out in her room, the rain picked up in intensity.
Water was running down her windows before long, the small droplets landing with big impacts against the glass; it was coming down hard. The pegasus frowned slightly, wondering if her friends would be able to make it amidst the downpour.

Nevertheless, a couple minutes later, Twilight Sparkle arrived, her magic shield acting as an umbrella against the rain for all three ponies.

“Twilight flew us up here with her magic, and dried us off, too!” Pinkie Pie blurted before Rainbow could even welcome them inside.

Applejack nodded. “Yeah, and cast a spell so we wouldn't, you know, fall through the clouds.”

A bashful smile spread across Dash’s face: she should have thought of that before now. Or maybe it was the author who fumbled this one, hard to tell. Either way, thank goodness the Princess was there.

“O-oh, thank you so much, Twilight!” Rainbow stuttered. “Come on out of the rain.” She lightened up a bit as her friends smiled at her, with Pinkie Pie leaping ahead of the others to hug her tight.

“Heehee, I missed you, Dashie!”

“Ah! Haha, aww, I missed you too, Pinkie.” Rainbow grinned as she returned the hug tenfold.

Twilight kicked off her (slightly wet) shoes. “Yeah, it’s been way too long since we just hung out like this.” A thunderclap echoed through the house. “Perfect weather for it too.”

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. “Let’s head upstairs, delicious cider awaits us.” She said mischievously, leading the pack to her bedroom.

The evening went by rather quickly and the cider depleted even quicker. When spread out amongst four ponies, it was only enough to make them moderately tipsy, but tipsy Pinkie Pie was still tipsy Pinkie Pie, so of course she was the one to suggest Truth or Dare.

“Oh come onnnn, it’ll be fun!” The pink mare pleaded with her friends.

“Ihihi dunno, Pinkie.” Twilight retorted. “We don’t need to convince each other to do something stupid.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Pfft, don’t be such a buzzkill, Twi! I’ll stop you when you wage war on all Equestria’s quesadillas.”

Twilight frowned at her. “When?”

Pinkie Pie butted in. “Girls, girls, just truuust me on this.”

Twilight shuddered, imagining an army of quesadillas marching towards her in defiance. “I- uh, what? Yeah, sure, we can give it a go.”

“Great! Who should go first?”

The game went about as smoothly as you would have expected, with the strangest dare being Applejack’s insistence on Twilight performing the Pony Polky. Would have been easy if it weren’t for the cider, the poor mare got so dizzy she had to lay on the bed for a good two minutes afterwards, amused by her own drunkenness, nevertheless. It was then Pinkie’s turn, however, and Rainbow Dash was her target.

She locked eyes with the pegasus. “Truth or Dare?”

She pondered a moment. “Truth.”

Pinkie smiled. “Dashie, do you like being tickled?” Her voice dripped with exuberance.

Rainbow was completely taken aback by this. “I... uh, what?” She smiled bashfully.

“Just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question: do you like being tickled?” Pinkie Pie asked casually, not able to observe the absolute chaos firing back and forth in Rainbow Dash’s head. With the reputation of being a tough and athletic member of the Wonderbolts, how could she possibly be truthful here?

The blue-furred pegasus bit her lip and tried to stop her wings from ruffling anxiously, hoping she could weasel her way out of this one. “Uh... pass?”

Twilight snickered. “Not a chance, Dash. You have to be truthful with us, them’s the rules.”

She hung her head to hide the smile that was starting to make itself visible, partially from nervousness, but more so because she was finally being given an opportunity to admit this to somepony. “Y-yes...” Rainbow Dash’s voice was barely above a whisper, chuckling as her tail twitched excitedly behind her.

Pinkie Pie laughed as well, scooching a little closer to her winged friend. “What was that, Dashie?”

That nickname was threatening to melt her in this drunken state. Rainbow slowly raised her head and tried in vain to hold back the now goofy grin. “I d... d-do... sorta like it.” She stared at the bed, unable to meet Pinkie’s gaze. There was a subtle “Aww” from Applejack and Twilight. Only on a night like this could Rainbow Dash have admitted that at all.

“Oh, okay!” Pinkie shuffled back to her original spot, the game swiftly moving on to Applejack’s turn. Rainbow was surprised, as she expected Pinkie would have... well, we’re getting there.

Soon enough, Pinkie Pie’s turn came back around, and she set her sights on RD once again. “Truth or Dare, Rainbow?”

“Are you gonna ask me about... tickling again?”

Pinkie smirked. “I dunno, will I?”

Applejack cut into the conversation. “What’s with all this talk of tickling?” She cocked her eyebrow. “You seem insistent on this, Pinkie.”

“Who, me? Just morbidly curious.” The mare deflected.

Dash didn’t want to take the risk either way. “I’ll go with daaaare...“ Her voice trailed off as she regretted her choice. “...Truth!”

Twilight shook her head. “Ah, ah, ah! You made your choice.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously again. For somepony who was so embarrassed by the mere thought of being tickled, she sure didn’t look too unhappy with where this was going, just a bit embarrassed.

Pinkie’s tail was tapping the bed slowly while she pretended to think. “Well, if you like being tickled, why don’t we find out just how ticklish you are?”

Twilight and Applejack exchanged glances, the former bewildered and the latter amused at how determined Pinkie Pie was to tickle Rainbow Dash.

“W-w-well, I, uh, hehe! I mean...“ Dash’s eyes darted around the room, ears going from erect to droopy while her wings performed another flustered ruffle.

“What is it?” Pinkie moved closer once again. “Too chicken to let us find out how soft you are?” She stroked a finger down the pegasus’ ribcage.

“EEEahaha!” Rainbow Dash recoiled, bringing her right hand up to her chest defensively, but not actually trying to block Pinkie Pie. “O-of course Ihihi’m not scared!” She bit her lip.

Applejack smirked at Rainbow, scooting herself closer too. “Just crazy ticklish, it seems.” She reached out and wiggled her fingers in front of Dash.

Dash’s pupils dilated as she hugged herself, protecting supposed tickle spots. “Th-thahat’s not fair, it’s two against one!”

Pinkie Pie looked back at Twilight. “You’re right, it should be three against one. Twilight?”

The alicorn placed a hand over her mouth, giggling as her confusion became intrigue. “I... think I’ll sit this dare out for now.”

Rainbow Dash was being surrounded by the two other mares, trapped in what was initially just a cuddly conundrum. Applejack half-hugged Dash on her left side, while Pinkie was counting her friend’s ribs up and down on the other, slowly but surely turning her into a giggly mess. “B-buhuhut Twilight! Heeheeheehahaha!” Rainbow Dash laughed lightly and wiggled in their grasps. “Yohohohou’re the only one whohoho can sahahahave meeeeeeheeheehee!” She reached her arm out dramatically before Pinkie dug her fingers under it, causing her to pull it back with a jolt. “EEEK! Hahaha! Pihihinkie!”

Twilight only laughed with her friend, crossing her legs on the bed and watching the show. “Oh, I think you’re in the best hands, Dashie.” The alicorn cooed, adding to the playful atmosphere.

“Noooohohohoho!!” She cried dramatically, letting herself fall back into her friends’ hug.

Applejack snickered at RD’s performance before lifting her arm and tickling under it, her fingers skittering as fast as they could.

“W-wait! Hahahahaha!! Y-y-youhuhuhu cahahaha- EEP!” Rainbow Dash felt Pinkie pick up speed in her other armpit, the combination overwhelming her. “Gihihihirls!! Ihihihihit tihihihicklhlhlhlhlahahahaha!!!” Her squeaky laughter bounced around the room, making her two ticklers eager for more. Luckily, they had a little help on the way.

As the tickling continued, small, purple rings appeared around Rainbow’s wrists, slowly lifting both of her arms straight up in the air. Everything stopped for a moment as all three ponies looked at Twilight, who was acting aloof as ever. “What? I changed my mind. How could I resist?”

“Ohhhohoho gosh.” Rainbow giggled, wiggling around and getting accustomed to her magic cuffs.

The Princess snickered while Pinkie and Applejack pressed their fingers into Rainbow’s pits, not yet moving. “Have fun, Dashie.” Twilight cooed before the two started tickling again, but slower.

Applejack drew little circles and delicately stroked under her arms with enough pressure to elicit soft laughter. Pinkie Pie, on the other hand, was more erratic, scribbling her fingers all around but hardly touching her friend. Combined, these sensations broke through what little toughness Rainbow had left in her, as light teases had the biggest effect on such a strong pegasus.

“Ah!! Eeeheeheehahahahaohohohogahahahahash!” Rainbow Dash wriggled around, bucking her hips a little while her laugh got squeakier. “EEK! Yohuhuhuhuhu gihihirls are toohoohoohoohoo muhuhuhuch!!”

Pinkie Pie laughed. “Awww, is this already too ticklish for our Dashie?” She looked to Applejack.

“Ah recon it might be! We’ve only just started and the cutie is already falling for us.”

“Head over heels!”

“Madly in love with the laughter!”

“Melting into a little-”

“Oh wihihihill you twohohoho shahahahaduhuhup!?!” Rainbow Dash intercepted.

Applejack shrugged. “You got it, partner.” She winked at Pinkie Pie and the two sped up their fingers, skittering up and down Rainbow’s sides and ribs, with Pinkie making sure to count each and every one.

“EEEAHAHAHA! Oh sweeheeheeheeheet Celestiahahahaha!!!” Rainbow jumped and bucked around in her cuffs, toes curling as she began to let loose and let the laughter take her where it wanted.

“Aww, Pinkie, feel how nice her fur is right here!” Applejack teased as she squeezed Rainbow’s side.

Pinkie did the same. “Ooo, yeah! So soft and plush. In fact, all of her feels like that!” She moved up to Dash’s armpit and then back to her ribs, all in quick succession, squeals erupting from Rainbow at a breakneck pace.

“H-hehehehey!! EEK!! Hahaha!! Ihihi am not- AH! SOFT!! EEEAHAHA!! Ahahahahahahaaaaaa!!!” This “tough” Wonderbolt was falling victim to the butterflies fluttering around inside her, heart pounding and body melting at the touch of her best friends, wiggling and kicking her legs like a puppy getting its belly scratched. Rainbow Dash never wanted this euphoria to end.

“Aww, but you are soft, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie responded.

“That’s right, and we’ll play with you... foreeeever.” Applejack whispered directly into Rainbow’s ear.

Rainbow Dash gasped, her dorky smile growing even wider. These teases were too much. “AHAHA!!! Ohohohokay!! I neeheeheeheed a breheheheak!!”

Her ticklers soon eased up, Twilight letting Dash’s arms free of her magic. Immediately, Rainbow Dash laid back on the bed frame, lightly panting and giggling from the lingering tickles she still felt in all her spots.

Pinkie Pie was the first to ask: “How was that?”

Rainbow took a few deep breaths to compose herself and sat up properly. “A-amazing, I haven’t laughed that hard in years.” She smiled awkwardly, not exactly knowing where to go after that. “Wh-who’s turn is it?”

Applejack smirked. “Oh, I think we’re way past that, sugarcube. What do you think, Twilight?”

Though she had sat out for the most part, it seemed the alicorn was coming around to the idea of tickling her blue friend. “Well, I wouldn’t mind hearing her laugh some more.” She shuffled closer to the other three on the bed. “Might even have some ideas of my own.” Twilight winked at Pinkie.

“Oh, yes.” Pinkie giggled. “I’m sure your ideas will be just magical.” She looked back at Rainbow Dash who had her hands between her thighs, ears drooping even farther from being so flustered. If there was just a little less alcohol in her system, maybe she could have resisted this side of herself as it tried to push through. On the other hand, letting her friends see her soft side felt good, really, really good.

“Y-you all want to spend the night t-t-tickling me?”

“Well, duh.” AJ nudged up against her. “Why wouldn’t we want to?”

Twilight used her magic to give Rainbow’s sides a few pokes. “How could we resist such an eager ticklee?”

“Pfff- heeheehee! Wehehe should at l-least gehehet in ouhouhour pajahahahamas first!” Laughed the tickle toy.

Twilight’s magic disbanded as she and the others nabbed their sleepwear from their bags.

“Oh, I get it.” Applejack teased. “You wanna look even cuter.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. “I... no! I j-just want to be comfy!”

“Yeah, riiiight.” Pinkie chortled.

Rainbow couldn’t stifle subsequent giggles, her imagination running wild with ticklish imagery. This night was about to get more intense.

The newfound ticklee dug through her wardrobe, picking out a Wonderbolts themed top and bottom that had been given to her upon her acceptance into the academy. By whom, she couldn’t remember, but they were the softest pajamas she owned, by far. Once everyone else had their turn, she headed to the bathroom to change.

The mare couldn’t resist posing in the mirror. Wow, these looked cute on her. The Wonderbolt logo that covered her cutiemark was one thing, but Rainbow Dash had forgotten that this was a tank-top. That, combined with the light blue colour, was simply beautiful on her. She sighed blissfully. This has got to make me a cute ticklee, especially with my belly showing. Gosh, I hope they take the hint to- She shook her head. That train of thought was going off the rails! She can’t be “cute”, she’s a Wonderbolt for Celestia’s sake! But maybe... maybe that’s okay? She thought.

A knock came at the bathroom door. “You alright, sugarcube? You’ve been in there for quite a while.”

“Wha? Uh, coming!” Rainbow Dash rushed out the door to meet Applejack, who was donning green apple shaded pajamas with smaller red apples dotted all over (because swapping the colours would make it too Christmasy).

“Awwee, now don’t you look adorable?” Applejack giggled.

Rainbow Dash beamed. “Do I?” She froze. “I-I mean, if you say so, AJ.” She put on a straight face and started down the hall back to her room.

Applejack followed behind, smirking to herself. Maybe she’s finally loosening up after all.

Upon her entrance, Pinkie Pie and Twilight greeted their friend with unified sighs of adoration. It’s not like their pajamas weren’t just as cuddle worthy; Twilight sported black PJs, both top and bottom, while Pinkie’s were a pleasant ocean blue. Both outfits were velvety soft, but Rainbow’s felt like a cloud to the touch, fittingly. The blue pegasus averted her gaze with a smile, her tail once again swaying happily. “You, uh... you like it? It’s been a long time since I’ve worn it.”

“I’ve never seen you wear it at all before,” Twilight looked her up and down, “but it is absolutely precious.”

Applejack gave Rainbow a nudge toward the two. “You can say that again.”

Dash giggled at their compliments, her tail picking up speed as she sat on the edge of the bed, a little nervous, but safe and secure in their company.

“Oh, yeah,” Pinkie added, “it IS precious to see such a tough cookie dressed like this. Kinda makes me wanna...“ Her fingers poked at Rainbow’s side again, making her jump right into Twilight’s arms.

“Oh! Haha.” The alicorn wrapped herself around Rainbow Dash and dragged her further onto the bed. “I take it, that's my cue.”

The winged tickle toy was already squeaking and whining as Applejack made her way to the foot of the bed. “You got it, Twilight. I think it’s time this ‘Bolt got a proper ticklin’.” AJ teased as she straddled Dash’s legs, pinning her feet while Twilight’s magic cuffed them together and pulled back on her toes.

“My TOES?!” Rainbow squealed higher than ever before.

“Hehe, of course, sugarcube.” With a single finger on each sole, Dash’s feet were treated to an appetiser of scritches before the main course was to be served.

Pinkie watched as her friend’s arms were magically cuffed above her. “I’m sure you’ll love what I have planned.” She climbed on top of Rainbow, straddling her hips and ruffling her belly fluff. “You’re gonna laugh sooooo much, Dashie!” The mare teased mischievously.

“Ahaha! EEEheeheeheeheehaha!! W-wahahait, th-that’s- hahahaha!!- t-t-too muhuhuch!” Rainbow Dash was wiggling all around, feeling totally helpless to her ticklers as they began toying with some of her softest spots.

Twilight giggled and played with Rainbow’s mane, not quite ready to tease her yet. “Don’t worry, Rainbow, we’ll keep you safe and sound with us alllll night.”

Pinkie dug all ten fingers into Dash’s tummy, scritching gently but firmly. “Heehee, yeah! You’re in the best hands.”

Rainbow didn’t know what to say, she felt only a warm, fuzzy feeling in her chest as Pinkie’s loving eyes made her feel even more at home. That said, the way she was spidering her belly was driving Dash crazy. “PFFF- eeeheeheeheeheehee!! Pinkie! Pihihihihinkieheeheehee!” Her tail was almost tapping the bed in sheer excitement, already emotionally overstimulated by having three friends love on her like this, and she knew it would only get sweeter from here.

Applejack grinned at Dash’s twitching feet. Even with only two fingers, she could feel how soft they were, but there was so much more laughter to get out of them. Tender sensations washed over Rainbow Dash as all of AJ’s fingers hastily stroked her soles and under her toes. The earth pony was careful not to use her nails yet, but Rainbow was so delicate that even without them, the bright blue ticklee was already melting with giggles.

“Ahahahaheeheeheeheeheehee! Pfffheeheeheeheehee- EEEP!! Myhyhy t-tohohoooooooes!” Rainbow Dash couldn’t hold back an anticipatory moan of pleasure, leaning her head back onto Twilight’s chest as she did so.

Their gazes met for a moment and, upon seeing those sparkly eyes, Twilight couldn’t hold back any longer, wrapping her arms around Rainbow and digging into her ribs with divine technique.

There was a gasp, a flutter of the wings and a tap of the tail before the “tough as nails” Wonderbolt erupted into much louder laughter, not expecting the sudden shift into third gear. “GAHAHAhahaha!! Ohohoho, Twihihihihihihi!”

Twilight only squeezed more, both with the hug and with her hands as they squished Dash’s sides.

“AHAHCK! Twihihihiliiiight!! Ahaha!! Ahhhahahaha!!”

That’s when Pinkie’s fingers began scritching up and down Dashie’s delicate belly.

Rainbow Dash would have jumped if it weren’t for the giggle giver on top of her. “Pihihihihinkieeeeeheeheeheehee- hahahahahaha!!! Whyhyhyhyhyhy?!?!”

“You weren’t calling my name; clearly I wasn’t doing enough.”

Applejack ceased her gentle tickles for the time being, turning to Twilight with a smirk. “Hey, Twilight, mind lending me something magical to use over here?”

With a wink and a nod from Twilight, two purple makeup brushes popped into existence next to Dash’s feet.

Applejack did a double take. Twi thought this would be effective? Unconvinced, she dragged them over Rainbow’s soles, and that’s when their magic truly shined.

“A-AH! EEEHEEHEEHAHAHA!” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. She jumped and wiggled in her cuffs, ears flopping, feet twitching, and body convulsing with laughter. “IHIHIHI CAHAHAHA- PFFCCCCEEEHEEHEEEEEEHAHAHAHAHA!! EEEP!!!” Words struggled to escape her mouth. “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAT DIHIHIHI- *hic!* SHEHEHEHEHE GIHIHIHIHIVE YOUHUHUHUHU?!!?”

Twilight looked down at her friend in shock, too. Even she didn’t mean to make the brushes *that* tickly! Hands transitioning from tickles to soft rubs, the purple pony smiled lovingly. “Oh, just brushes infused with ticklish magic and the softness of alicorn wings, no biggie.”

Pinkie did the same to Rainbow’s belly while sneaking a glance back at her feet. She bit her lip and whined slightly, much too quiet to be heard over the laughter, but watching Applejack make those brushes dance made her pine for them, too. She had to ask Twilight for a favour later.

With the responsibilities falling solely on Applejack’s shoulders, she knew she had to up the ante. Each bristle of these brushes was working wonders, but you know, one of the things that make rainbows beautiful is how they arch across the sky, and this rainbow’s arches had been horribly neglected. Hmm...,Applejack thought, I wonder what happens if I…

Dash squealed like a filly, bucked her hips and fell into silent laughter as AJ brushed along the Rainbow’s arch. Tears of joy began down her face and the only sounds coming from Dash were high pitched squeals. The pegasus was sure of it, this was her softest spot, it had to be. Wave after wave of tickles was bringing her to her limit, but the affectionate rubs from Twi and Pinkie let her centre herself.

Applejack turned around locked eyes with Pinkie, silently asking for advice. Pinkie Pie looked at her laughter-crazed friend and nodded. “A liiiittle more.”

Rainbow could just barely hear Pinkie’s words, but she knew what it meant, and she wasn’t sure she could handle it.

“O-okay.” Applejack stuttered, but smiled at their ticklee. “This one’s for you, Dash!” The brushes stroked the mare’s arches just a little faster, but soft bristles plus softer feet equals great reactions.

This was it, as much as Rainbow Dash could take. Their newfound tickle pet went from silence to full on, bellowing laughter, the kind that comes right from the belly or, in Rainbow’s case, right from her singing heart. “PFFEEEEHEEEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! CEHEHEHEHELEHEHEHESTIAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! AHA! EEEEEAHAHAHAHAHABREHEHEHEHEAKE!!!” She howled, shocking Applejack who ceased immediately, but the same couldn’t be said for Pinkie Pie, who kept rubbing her friend’s belly fluff as she leaned in close to her ear.

“Awww, who’s a good tickle pet, Dashie?” She whispered while wiping her eyes.

Dash could hardly muster a response amongst her panting, but with a grin on her face, she looked up and muttered. “I-I-I ahaham...“

“Say it for your other ticklers.” Twilight teased, dissolving her magic and giving Dash a helping push to sit up.

“I-I... I cahahan’t say iiiit!”

A smirk spread across Applejack’s face. “Come on, Dashie, you can do it.”

“I... I’m a t-t-tihihickle pet...”

“A what?” Pinkie prodded.

“A GOOD tihihickle pehehet!”

Applejack lays next to her giggly friend. “Theeeere we go.”

Rainbow Dash flops back down on Twilight’s chest, still panting just a little. “You girls... know how to make a girl happy...“

Pinkie cuddles up to Rainbow too. “Laughter is the best medicine, after all. Not that you needed curing.” She ponders for a moment. “Nah, actually, you did need to be cured.”

Rainbow cocks her eyebrow. “Cured of what?”

“Your shamefulness of wanting to laugh.”

Applejack and Twilight snickered, the latter thinking to herself, What an odd night... never expected this is how it would end either. The Princess let herself lay back on the pillow, taking Pinkie and Rainbow with her. They simply readjusted themselves while Applejack scooched up alongside them.

“Any room for a country girl?”

Rainbow smirked. “Nah, you still smell like hay.”

“Wha- I do not!” Failing to reach over all three of them, AJ wrapped her arms around Dash and Twilight and joined the cuddle pile.

There was a few minutes of silence, safe for the peaceful sounds of contented breathing, before Twilight broke it with a yawn. “Should I turn off the lights, girls?”, she asked. There were unanimous grunts of approval as she reached for the switch on the bedside lamp.

As the group of friends were covered in a blanket of darkness, Rainbow Dash clutched Pinkie Pie for a brief moment. Following a barely audible, “Hm?” from her friend, Dash quietly lamented, “I’ve... always been a little scared of the dark.” No further words were spoken before Rainbow Dash felt Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack hug her tighter, securing the four friends together for the rest of the night.

______________________________________________________________________________

Twilight woke up the earliest, just in time to catch the sunrise. Oh no. She thought, Why do I always wake up earlier than I need to? The Princess turned her head slightly so that Rainbow’s mane blocked some of the sun, shutting her eyes again.

“Psst, Twi! You awake?” Whispered a high-pitched voice.

“Yes, Pinkie, I-” Her sentence was interrupted by a yawn. “...What is it?”

Pinkie Pie did her best to whisper around Rainbow Dash without waking her. “You know those magic brushes you used last night?”

“Yeah?”

“Could you try them on me sometime?”

The Princess stifled a chuckle. “I’ll brush you from mane to toe, Pinkie.”

“Yessss.” She whispered triumphantly, before cuddling in closer to Dash and soon falling back asleep for just a few more hours. Twilight was sure to follow.