Dawn's new day.

“Oh darling~. You look simply stunning.” Rarity gushed as she adjusted the dress Rainbow Dash was modeling and helping her finish for a client of similar size. The filly in question had finally gotten her cutie mark so was having a Cuteceañera.

“Thanks. Can I take this off now?” Rainbow blushed and ruffled her wings. She was smart enough not to mess with the dress after getting yelled at by the fashionista the first time, even if she did kinda like her filly friend’s commanding tone she wasn’t going to mess up her work.

Rarity sighed. “Yes, Dash you can take it off now.”

“Sweet.” Rarity blushed as she watched Rainbow wiggle out of the dress before using a touch of magic to help her filly friend out. Rarity was still struggling to find more common ground with the pegasus and clearly fashion wasn’t going to be it. “So hey don’t tell anypony I was in a dress. K?”

“Of course not Dash.” She tittered and shook her head as she hung the dress up.

Just before Dash left, hoof on the shop’s front door, she quietly asked. “So, did I really look good in it?”

“What was that darling?” Rarity’s ears perked up and swiveled in Dashe’s direction but she purposefully continued focusing on cleaning up. Perhaps there’s hope for some common ground between us after-all? Rarity thought to herself.

“The dress? Did I really look good in it?” Rainbow asked with some more confidence in her voice, looking over her withers at Rarity.

Rarity set down her supplies, looked towards Rainbow, and genuinely complemented. “Like a Rainbow princess.”

“Hu.” Dash quickly came back, gave Rarity a peck on the cheek, then rushed out the door wondering if Dawn and the others might also like seeing her in a dress.

Rarity sat for a moment and rubbed her cheek before getting back to her work. Or she would have if there wasn’t a knock on the door. laughing to herself she called out. “Forget something Rainbow?” She was startled by finding the mailmare outside her door instead. “Oh! hello Derpy.”

“Mail!” Derpy happily smiled while holding out a few letters and magazines. She quickly flew off before Rarity could even respond after she grabbed it all with her magic.

It took Rarity a moment to recover then she chuckled to herself again and made a mental note that she still needed to get a new mailbox while sorting through the pile. “Oh. It looks like Dawn sent a letter and so did Twilight and Trixie.” Dawn’s was addressed just to her while the other was addressed to the Ponyville portion of their herd. She decided to wait on opening anything until she finished her work.

“So you just flew off?” Applejack asked her prismatic friend who had just finished explaining her interaction with Rarity as they worked. Rainbow had ran into Applejack as she was packing up the Apple’s market stand for the day and decided to help pack up while talking to AJ.

“What else could I do? I made it so awkward.” Rainbow huffed as she lifted another empty basket into the cart.

“I’m still surprised y’all are in a herd with somepony like her.” Applejack didn’t dislike Rarity herself just the prissy attitude she often projected. It reminded her too much of her time in Manehatten.

Rainbow shrugged. “I like Flutters, Rarity likes her too, and we all like Dawn. That’s just how herding works out sometimes. Right?”

Both fillies listened to enough gossip and advice from the mares around the market to have a good grasp on how relationships and herds worked. Not to mention the advice from their own families.

“Can’t fault your logic.” Applejack hooked herself up to the cart just as Rainbow helped her load the last basket. “As long as everypony is happy.” Applejack began pulling the cart but it felt that it was heavier than normal after a good day of sales. Looking back she found Rainbow riding in the back and glared at her. “Rainbow you got four perfectly good legs and a set of wings. I don’t need the extra weight after a long day helping out my family at market.” She had spent the day helping her dam who had gone on ahead to start dinner.

“Fine.” Rainbow huffed and flapped out of the cart to hover beside Aj as they got moving through town. Most of the other shops in the market were also closing up for the day and ponies were heading home. As they reached the farm Rainbow noticed a familiar filly walking in the same direction and rushed to catch up to her.

“Hey Flutters what are you doing out here?” Rainbow casually asked but it was still enough of a surprise that Fluttershy dropped her supplies with an “eep!”

“Sorry shy let me help ya.” Rainbow quickly picked everything up as Applejack caught up.

“Oh, hello Dashie. Hello Applejack.” Fluttershy eventually replied when her heart calmed down. “I’m just here to check on the Apple’s chickens. Some weren’t feeling so great after winter.” She sadly answered with her ears pinned back.

“Did mom finally call you out? Some of them weren’t looking so great.” Applejack asked as they all got walking again.

Fluttershy nodded. “Yes Dr. Fauna and I have been quite busy this year with after winter colds. It looks like Winter Wrap up didn’t go quite as smoothly this year.”

“Wonder why?” Rainbow hovered lazily between them. She hadn’t expected an answer but got one anyway.

“It’s because the pony who normally made the schedule retired.” Forest Breeze flew down from above the trees to greet the group, giving her daughter a loving nuzzle and a friendly one to the other two. “Thanks again for coming out so late Fluttershy.”

“Oh, it’s no problem Mrs. Breeze. I can’t ignore sick animals.” Fluttershy said with a touch of pride.

“It doesn’t hurt it’s our colt friend’s family you’re helping out either, right?” Dash joked causing Fluttershy to blush. Applejack just rolled her eyes and continued on towards the barn to drop off the wagon.

“Now if only another filly had that same attitude.” Forest ruffled Rainbows mane. The two had become closer as they spent more time together. Forest had begun directly mentoring Dash while preforming weather work or when Dash helped watch Scootaloo.

“Hey watch the mane.” Forest was surprised by the fillies outburst but noticed it was freshly brushed. Fluttershy just giggled.

“My bad. Anyway sorry for keeping you both. Fluttershy when you’re all done feel free to stay for dinner. You too Dash.” Forest gave them each another friendly nuzzle before heading into the house.

“So, need a hoof?” Dash offered as they trotted towards the chicken coop.

“Do you think they got our letter yet?” Twilight nervously tapped her hooves together as she and Trixie hung out in her room at the castle. Moon Dancer had just left for the evening so they were taking a break from studying.

Trixie looked over the edge of the comic book she was reading to Spike. The young drake happily resting between her forehooves. “Sparkle, even if they did it will probably be a day or two before they can reply. Pegasus post is fast but not that fast.”

“Why’s mom so nervous?” Spike looked up at Trixie, confused.

“Because she wrote a very awkward letter to our friends in Ponyville and is having second thoughts.” Trixie joked while nuzzling the top of Spike’s head. He didn’t quite understand but it was a good enough answer.

“Am not! I’m just nervous about the reply.” Twilight stomped a hoof then went back to fidgeting.

Trixie sighed and went over to comfort her. “Twilight no use getting worked up. Do your breathing exercises.” Twilight complied and took a few deep breaths.

“Thanks Trixie.” Twilight gave her a nuzzle as she noticed Spike ignoring them and trying to read the discarded comic.

“Any time Sparkle. Now where is Dawn? While I love seeing you I was hoping to see our colt as well.” She puffed up her cheeks. School was becoming harder to keep up with, which was leaving less time for all of them to just get together. It didn’t help that both Dawn and Twilight had extra Saturday lessons with the Princess.

“He had an extended lesson today with the princess. Something about politics.” Twilight shuddered. She may have loved learning but that was one subject even she didn’t enjoy.

“Are we done yet? I wanted to see Trixie before she got sent back to the dorms for the night.” I huffed and flopped my head down on the desk. I didn’t often complain but learning about politics was testing my patience. I had no idea just how complicated the Equestrian government was. Sure it wasn’t the worst system imaginable, but since Equestria was a monarchy it meant every major government project or request went through Canterlot Castle, often including Celestia’s direct oversight. No wonder she hardly ever gets time off. She must have been hardly sleeping during the past two years while teaching classes .

“Lucky for us it’s the weekend meaning I have given permission for Trixie to stay the night here at the castle. In Twilight’s room of course.” Celestia gave me a smile. She had been smiling ever more often since going public with Imago. The two often held court together as well as practically everything else.

“What, she can’t stay in my room?” The question had probably come off as more sexual than intended considering I really did just want a cuddle buddy.

“I’m not even going to answer that young colt. Now then why don’t we get back to learning about how I handle infrastructure requests.” Celestia happily got back to writing on the blackboard which her tail swishing. It’s wonderful to have another royal foal to teach this all to. So we can eventually pawn off a bit more work right?Maybe?

I’m definitely not letting Luna retire with her sister. Twilight and I definitely don’t deserve getting thrown into this mess until we’re at leas a hundred. I decided I may as well start paying attention once Celestia began lecturing again. I may hate politics but I have to admit that it’s still useful information. If only it wasn’t so boring.