Brad nudged Bella, getting her attention swiftly. "One thing."

"Yeah?" She came stepped over, nose an inch away. "What's up?"

Brad pointed behind himself. "Can we make the rainbow bridge, like this? I can't ride you. We're the same size. That'd be odd."

Bella shrugged her shoulders. "So? I don't mind carrying you."

Brad laughed at that, drawing Bella in for a hug along the way. "You are a treat. But, no, ponies should not be riding other ponies. Is there another way we could summon the rainbow? We should figure it out, so we can do it even if you're not in horse form and I'm not in human form."

"I am not sure. I'd guess that you could." Twilight trotted in a circle, thinking furiously. "We were taught the spell using you being carried across the rainbow as an integral step, but you can both touch the ground now, and you can activate it together." She pointed at both of them, then brought her hooves together. "I think you two working together is more important than one riding the other."

Bella bounced on her hooves, making a sound like she was clapping without hands. "Ooo. Sounds fun. I'd like to try it!" She moved in front of Brad, waving her rump invitingly.

Brad gently swatted her out of the way. "I just said no riding. Alright, let's go outside and try a few things." They went outside to look for a clear spot where nothing would be interrupted or broken by whatever magic might get thrown about.

Bella sidled up beside Brad and pushed on him. "You stand there."

"Okay." He fidgeted his wings a little. "But, maybe, we both run together? Then we jump. Hopefully, we land on the bridge and we're set. Worth a try, right?"

Bella bounced up and down with eagerness to get started. "You think so? If that's how you wanna do it, let's do it!" She dropped down into a low crouch, ready to spring into action.

Twilight inclined her head. "For a guess, it's not a bad one, and fairly harmless. The worst you'll get is some exercise. Alright, on your marks." She looked between them.

"Get set!" RC flew in and landed on their other side. "Go!"

Brad started running, wings beating rapidly to help him gain speed and momentum. His legs powered into the ground, helping propel him faster. Bella matched his speed, pace for pace as the wind whipped around them. Together, they made a powerful jump into the air, rising briefly before gravity caught them both. It was then that the rainbow flickered, lighting up for them. Bella landed solidly upon it, Brad slightly less gracefully as he staggered for balance. Still, they were both on the rainbow, looking pleased with themselves.

Twilight clapped her hooves with a smile. "Fantastic. You two can still summon the bridge then, regardless of which form you happen to be in at the time."

Brad nodded. "Cool." He helped Bella along, encouraging her to hop up and down excitedly, just as she loved to. "Ready to hop over?"

Bella winked and leapt ahead of Brad, calling over her shoulder. "You don't want to get in trouble back at the ranch."

Twilight inclined her head the other way. "She has a point. RC?" But RC was already rushing to cross the bridge with the others. "Hay! Wait!" She galloped after them all. "You'll all need these." With a brief shimmer of her magic, the statue was returned to her possession.

The group, as one, crossed back into the human world. There, Bella rubbed against Brad's side. "Do I need to be a horse now?"

"Well. It'd probably be easier to explain if you're a horse, as compared to suddenly appearing as a random human or a pony." Brad reached over to give Bella's mane a reassuring rub. "We can play with other forms when we visit Equestria."

Bella danced on her hooves in place. She grabbed the statue from Twilight in her mouth. A burst of rainbow magic later, she was her large horse self. She licked over Brad's face.

Brad grabbed her by the cheeks, rubbing gently a moment before he reached for the statue himself. "My turn." With a puff, he returned to his human form. He held it out towards Twilight and RC. "Disguises up."

They both accepted it, each returning to the humanoid forms they had taken earlier, becoming the same colors they had been before. Brad stuffed the statue into his pocket. "Come, Bella. Back home." With the old clicks, he guided Bella like the horse she was.

He knew she was more than that, but they were on Earth. "Thank you, you two. I imagine you'd rather be on your side of the rainbow, but you keep following me." They went down a street, turned at a corner.

RC nodded, skipping along at his side. "Sure, but I want to follow you, my boyfriend." She gripped his arm possessively. "I enjoy it!"

"And I," Twilight began, "want to study the differences." She wriggled her nose. "Also he's all of ours, RC. Don't get possessive."

Brad laughed quietly and shook his head. "Thank you both. We won't take long, assuming I don't get mobbed again. I promise."

Bella lifted her head, sniffing the air. She turned her head and tugged her lead rope to indicate she wanted to go elsewhere. She led them into a parking lot with several trucks and vans parked. Many people milled about. They looked like workers on lunch break.

One of them looked up as Brad and company showed up. "Brad!" He approached with a laugh. "Didn't imagine running into you here, of all the damn random places we could meet." He shoved Brad lightly in greeting.

Brad grunted and stumbled half a step. "Hey yourself." He dusted himself off. "Getting stuff done around here?"

He grunted, gesturing over his shoulder at the vehicles. "Not working, so I'm working, but it's the work I want to do, you know? These guys have various knocks and things in their cars, and I'm taking a look at them." He hiked a thumb. "Plus, these two need some engine work." He slapped the hood of a van affectionately.

Bella's tail twitched. She shifted about awkwardly, wanting to talk, but discovering from a new angle how little horses could do that.

Twilight picked up what Bella was trying to communicate. "What's wrong with them?"

"Them? Oh. Just. You know. Normal things breaking." He shrugged lightly. "Gonna have a bunch of parts ordered. Shouldn't take long."

Bella nosed Twilight lightly. Twilight rubbed over Bella's nose and under her chin, just gently comforting them.

"That reminds me of some jobs I need to do, and some new supplies that I'm supposed to be getting." Brad scritched his beard. "Anyway, I should get Bella in her stall. She's been walking a lot today."

Brad walked around the man, giving a nod as farewell as he got his group going. From there, it was only a few more blocks until they were back on the edge of his property. The sun was setting as they entered.

He led Bella to the stalls first, opening the door to her stall so she could go inside. He did his normal routine of cleaning out the dirt from her hooves and inspecting her. She looked tired, her stance relaxed but unmoving. "You sleep good, okay? I'll be back tomorrow for you, promise."

Bella offered him a sleepy nicker, the most articulate speech she could offer in horse form. Brad brushed her hide gently. Then he pulled the blanket from under her. She got on her stomach so she could lay out flat.

Sure that she was tucked in, Brad headed back to the dorm house and the others. There, Miguel was chatting with the girls. Upon seeing Brad, he brightened and approached. "Hey! You know who came to find me earlier? One of those actors who wanted to ask about horse tricks! It was incredible." He shook Brad lightly. "Somehow they found me, when I didn't have any plans to meet anyone. But I guess I did say they could find me whenever." He scratched his chin, deep in thought.

Brad clapped him on the shoulder. "Good stuff. They still going to rent some horses for that production they were talking about?"

Miguel nodded. "Yes, and I think they will rent mine, so there is that!" He hooked his thumbs on his hips proudly. "It was quite a lucky thing, too, given it would be the first one in a while. She doesn't get rented out very often."

Brad shook his head. "Well, all good news then. They can't have Bella though, before they ask. She's mine. But any of the others they can use if they're paying proper rates." He stroked his beard slowly. "I was going to head to bed though, busy day on all sides of the rainbow.

Miguel's eyes widened. "You went again?! Mi amigo! Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone too."

Brad snorted gently. "Sure, but then who would have talked to those actors? We can't keep vanishing off for hours at a time, at the same time. But, if you can come by tomorrow morning, I'll be happy to go on a quick jaunt with you."

Miguel bowed low, a playful smirk crossing his lips. "If that is a demand, señor, then I will be glad to comply."

Brad laughed, punching him softly on the shoulder. "See you tomorrow then. Bright and early." He pointed at Miguel. "Don't stay up all night partying with the rest of the farmhands."

The two parted as Twilight and RC closed in at Brad's sides. RC pointed back. "So we're headed back tomorrow morning? What about your work?"

"I'm not on the schedule tomorrow morning, and anyway I want to see Miguel as a pony." Brad pushed into his room with a chuckle at the idea. "Which sort do you think he'd be?"

Twilight rubbed her chin slowly. "Hard to say." She tried to picture the man, imagining all sorts of forms. "He's certainly full of energy, a little bit hyperactive perhaps, so perhaps he would be a Pegasus, or possibly even an Earth pony. Pegasi have a wide range of behaviors, so they may cover him." She shrugged. "Not that we have enough evidence that behavior is at all linked."

RC poked at Twilight. "Then we can find out when Miggy tries the statue. Oh, if he brings his horse, they can try too. Find out what breed they'd be."

Brad rubbed his chin slowly. "Interesting, very interesting. My money is on unicorn."

"Why? I'm curious." RC peered at him, but he offered nothing more. "Tease."

They settled in for the night. Twilight curled against him from behind. "Goodnight," she said quietly.

RC hopped in and draped herself along Brad's front, tossing one arm behind his back to grab around to Twilight. "Sweet dreams to you two." She wiggled in place.

"Right," Brad said with a yawn, "see you two in the morning." As odd as life had become, gaining two girlfriends to sleep with was a part he decided was quite firmly on the positive side of things.

Morning came quickly enough. A knock sounded at the door.

Twilight crawled over Brad and to the edge of the bed. She opened it to find Miguel standing there, fully dressed. "Hello, Twilight Sparkle, dear."

He glanced around her to the bed with the other two in it. "You three are very close." His tone was somehow caught between finding it adorable and suggesting far raunchier things. "But Brad said we were heading out early, si?"

Twilight rubbed over her face. "Um, yes." She smiled, despite feeling only mostly awake. "Can you get coffee?"

Miguel smiled broadly, tipping his hat. "Ah, coffee I can manage." He twirled in place and marched off to make that happen. "Get the others awake for me."

Author's Note

Rainbows without riding? Turns out yes.

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