Scootaloo awoke in the midst of the night. The illumination from Rainbow’s bedside lamp made her eyes hurt. She sat up and blinked twice and waited for her eyes to adjust. Taking a glance around the bedroom, the filly noticed the cyan pegasus adjacent to her in bed. Rainbow was sleeping soundlessly and Scootaloo noticed her chest rise and fall with each breath.

The small pegasus rubbed at her eyes with her hoof and yawned. She knew it was still nighttime as the abutting room, the kitchen, had no luminosity. Scootaloo gazed around Rainbow’s bedroom, noticing the many posters of The Wonderbolts and even a few of Rainbow herself. Seeing the latter ones made the crusader chortle.

The filly knew it was too early in the crepuscular hours to stay awake. She planned to return to sleep momentarily. Before heading back to slumber, she shimmied her body away from the pillows and leaned over the duvet. Reaching out her hoof, she pulled the handle of the nightstand. With a small creaking noise, the piece of furniture opened. Scootaloo paused and turned towards the mare. Rainbow was still asleep and the younger pony exhaled in relief.

Scootaloo snatched the bangle that she put inside hours ago and bedecked it around her hoof. With bated breath, she pushed the drawer closed, emitting another discordant creak from the nightstand. The vivacious pegasus gyrated towards the middle of the bed.

Spotting the dozing weathermare, Scootaloo reached out with her bangled hoof and lovingly rubbed Rainbow’s mane. She watched the snoozing speedster absentmindedly kick out a hoof and mewl.

“You’re the best thing that happened to me, Rainbow. I don’t think I could put my feelings and love for you in words.”`

Scootaloo spoke to the sleeping weatherpony while admiringly continuing to stroke the prismatic-maned pegasus’s coiffure.

Rainbow Dash kept unconsciously kicking out her hoof. Scootaloo observed the spectacle and smiled. As she stared fondly at Dash, the orange crusader craned her neck and head downwards before softly pecking the tomboy pegasus on the cheek. The sensation made Rainbow release a gentle titter.

“I know we’ve got an age difference between us, Rainbow Dash, but I don’t care. You complete me and are my other half. I’ll always have epitomized endearment for you, babe.”

She kissed Rainbow’s cheek again. This time, the mare snored, having moved deeper into her sleep cycle. Scootaloo chortled at the display.

“Talk to you in the morning, Dashie.”

With that, Scootaloo removed her hoof from Rainbow’s mane and hastily clicked off the lamp on the speedster’s nightstand. Immediately following, the room was plunged into darkness. Following the audible snores, the irrepressible pegasus made her way back to the center of the kip. She wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash’s neck, using her bangled one to hold the fast flier’s nape. Scootaloo’s eyes began to close as languor overtook her body.

Rainbow began to quiver and Scootaloo peeked an eye open. She gently rubbed her bangled hoof alongside the ends of Rainbow’s mane. The orange pegasus did the same motion on the back of Dash’s neck. Yawning, Scootaloo silently hoped her marefriend would become inert. The speedster seemed to relax and Scootaloo tightly shut her eye. Within three minutes, the young pony was snoozing next to her lover.

Hours later, Rainbow Dash awoke. The glimmering sunbeams from Celestia’s sun shimmered through Rainbow’s Cloudominium. The speedster yawned loudly and stretched her hooves upwards to prepare for her day. She released a groan while stretching.

Dash attempted to crack her neck but frowned when she felt pressure on it. RD looked toward the direction and noticed Scootaloo staring at her. The filly wore a jocund smile. Scootaloo was holding the area around her neck and cuddling her.

“Morning Dash! You slept a while. I woke up earlier in the night, fell back asleep, and awoke a second time. That was hours ago. Hope you don’t mind that I already helped myself to some breakfast.”

Scootaloo playfully stuck her tongue out towards the speedster.

Rainbow rubbed her under-eyes and gave the filly a cheerful grin.

“Hey, Scoots! Nah, I don’t mind. Sorry if I kept you waiting. Guess I drank lots of cider last night and it conked me out longer than expected.”

The small orange pegasus released her embrace of the older mare and gleefully hopped off the bed. She zipped around the room with plenty of buoyant energy.

Rainbow watched the high-spirited demeanor and smirked at the mien Scootaloo exhibited. She yawned again, though more loudly and longer. She smacked her lips together when finished and hurriedly grabbed the glass of water on her nightstand and gulped it down in a few seconds.

The speedster placed the glass back down and regarded the younger pony with a stare. Scootaloo continued to zealously run around Rainbow’s bedroom with plenty of pep.

“Hey, Scoots?”

The filly halted and turned her attention to her idol. “Yes, Rainbow Dash?”

“Today is the last day we’ll have together for a while. Remember, I’m heading to the academy early tomorrow.”

Scootaloo’s ears lowered from the poignant dejection, but she tried to sound chipper.

“I didn’t forget, Dash. Like I said earlier, you’ll definitely be missed, but you’re following your dream. I support it!”

Rainbow flashed the filly an appreciative smile and got out of bed. Her cyan hooves gaited towards her girlfriend. When Dash reached her, she tightly embraced her lover and nuzzled her amorously on her cheek.

“We should have some fun today, Squirt. Not so much the kinky stuff we’ve been doing, though. Playing with you so frequently has me feeling bushed.”

As if her body wanted to accentuate that claim, Rainbow yawned a third time before rubbing under both of her eyes.

“See? I need a break today, babe.”

Scootaloo nodded and replied. “No sweat! But since we’re not gonna have fun today, you’ll get twofold whenever you get back.”

Rainbow gently caressed the young pony’s chin, sliding her hoof affectionately downwards. She tenderly pushed the filly’s jaw upwards and lowered her muzzle to meet Scootaloo’s. The two lovers shared a feverish kiss. Dash wrapped a hoof around her fillyfriend’s back, pulling her closer while they canoodled.

The crusader smooched back lasciviously. Her hooves grasped at Rainbow’s chest fur and Scootaloo clutched it tightly, kissing her marefriend with libidinous vigor.

Both ponies were lost in their shared intertwined snogging. The two lovers smacked lips, licked and suckled each other’s tongues and repeatedly kissed.

Rainbow was the first to pull away and she took a gasping respire, desperate to get air back in her lungs. Blushing, she gazed at her lover with an intense fervid desire.

Scootaloo took a few breaths herself and looked at Rainbow. She suddenly gasped and raised her hoof, pointing earnestly at the mare.

“What’s up, Squirt? You seem startled about something.”

“Dash! Your mane! It’s…”

Rainbow cocked her head sideways in confusion. She decided to see for herself and sauntered out of the bedroom, through the kitchen, and into her exercise room. The speedster ambled closer to the mirror adorning the wall of her home gym. Her muzzle opened in shock and she suppressed a yelp.

Her eyes stared at her reflection and she reached her hoof upwards to touch a few strands of her rainbow mane. Only, her mane was no longer kaleidoscopic. The red, orange, and yellow portion of her multicolored mane had faded. It wasn’t gray, but the vibrant colors had dimmed substantially.

Rainbow Dash gawked incredulously at the sight before her. She felt her usual self. Nothing was off. Good health and diet. This was an unprecedented spectacle. She blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes to ensure she wasn’t hallucinating. Her reflection stared back at her and matched her agape mandible.

“What in Equestria?!”

Dash studied herself another minute before hypothesizing that her colors had faded from lack of energy. Playing frequently with her new fillyfriend had become taxing, although enjoyable.

She about-faced and ambled back to where Scootaloo stood in her bedroom. Upon reaching her, Dash shrugged and playfully socked her lover in the shoulder.

“No biggie. That’s what mane dye is for. I still feel like my awesome self. Nothing for me to get worried about.”

Scoots gave the mare a supportive smile and paraphrased what Dash just uttered.

“Yeah! I still see the same awesome pegasus I’ve known for so long. Some dye and you’ll restore your mane to the cool way it’s always been!”

Dash chortled and nuzzled her lover again before gently kissing her cheek.

“So, you up to have some fun? I was thinking we could play some sports today. Exercise and all that stuff.”

“Not my ideal idea of fun, Dash. But anything we do together is special.” Scootaloo said while buzzing her wings.

Rainbow chuckled and hugged the filly tightly.

“Quit it, Squirt. You’re turning me into a big softie with your adorable praise.”

Scootaloo shot the speedster a wink and guffawed.

“Ponyvillians can perceive you as the tough, brash, fearless pegasus you purport to be. While that’s true, I know the real you, Rainbow Dash.”

The filly placed a hoof on Rainbow’s cheek and then booped her snoot.

“A precious loyal pet who loves when I-”

Rainbow quickly cut off the dialogue by locking lips with her girlfriend. The kiss lasted only three seconds before she pulled back.

“Alright, I get it, Scoots. We both know exactly what you instill in me.”

Scootaloo stuck her tongue out jovially and responded.

“You love it.”

Rainbow squealed with discomfiture and shuffled her hooves. A large crimson blush flushed the brash pegasus.

“You should eat breakfast before we play together, Dashie.”

The cyan pony nodded in agreement and perambulated to her kitchen. Scootaloo followed her.

Dash peeled two bananas and quickly gulped them down. She poured herself a cup of cider and chugged the tankard. Wiping a hoof on her muzzle, she flicked the remnants of the liquid off her lips. Rainbow tossed the mug in the sink and returned the container of cider to the fridge. The banana peels were chomped by Rainbow’s teeth and discarded in the garbage can.

“Ready!”

Scootaloo giggled at the quick demeanor of the speedster and playfully rolled her eyes from the comportment.

“Let’s start off light, Scoots. Wing-ups! I do them every morning to stay in peak athletic shape. Think you can keep up with my prowess?”

“Doubt it! Though us pegasi get tested on our wingpower once a week during recess. It’s usually a wing-ups exercise. I’ll give it my best!”

Scootaloo answered with buoyant excitement and hopped around the older pony. Dash laughed at the filly’s blithe.

“Follow me to my gym, Squirt.”

Scootaloo obliged and both ponies exited the kitchen and headed towards the workout room. They stood a few meters apart and slowly lowered themselves on their bellies. Rainbow and Scootaloo extended their wings and unfurled them from their sides. Both placed their appendages on the floor and squinted at each other.

“Three. Two. One.” Rainbow said.

“Go!” Scootaloo responded.

Rainbow Dash was flabbergasted. Scootaloo had performed more wing-ups than she could muster. Scootaloo was giddy and hopping around ebulliently from having won the competition.

“I win! I win! Wow, Rainbow Dash. For somepony who’s big into this exercise stuff, I’m surprised you dropped before I did.”

Dash released a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of her neck. Her brow furrowed before she responded to the younger pony.

“Guess I’m too concerned about my fading mane colors. My head wasn’t in the game.”

“Even still. Your body collapsed after only forty. I quit voluntarily at sixty, but I feel energetic enough. I bet I could’ve gotten to a hundred!”

Scootaloo squeed excitedly and her eyes shimmered while staring at Rainbow. Dash looked away in opprobrium. She frowned as Scootaloo gloated.

How could I lose?

Dash was compelled to best her lover and get even so she suggested a new exercise.

“Scoots, you know what the planking position is?”

The purple-maned pegasus shook her head horizontally, signifying she had no idea. Rainbow demonstrated the posture, placing two forelegs in front of her and lifting herself up.

“You use the foreleg muscles to hold your weight. It may look easy, but it’s very straining on the body.”

She lowered herself to a prone position and rested her head on her hoof.

Scootaloo mirrored the example Rainbow showed her and the speedster nodded.

“Just like that, Squirt. We’ll go until one of us can’t hold out.”

Remembering her earlier victory over her idol, Scootaloo squinted with determination and cracked her neck, eager to get started.

“You’re on!”

Both ponies put two forelegs in front of them and stared at each other.

“Three. Two. One.” Rainbow stated.

“Go!” Scootaloo shouted.

Concomitantly, both pegasi lifted their body weight and the competition had begun. Rainbow glanced at Scootaloo and grinned cheekily. The filly reciprocated.

“I’ve held this for ten minutes before, Scoots.”

“Only ten? Guess I’ll go for twenty.” Scootaloo replied lazily.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at the filly’s cockiness, but appreciated the challenge. She chuckled at her confidence.

They stared with fiery resolve. Each wanted the satisfaction of winning this battle of willpower. Rainbow locked eyes with her fillyfriend and Scootaloo gazed back at her.

“Hey, Dashie?”

“Yeah, Scoots?”

“I love you.”

The words filled Rainbow’s heart with warmth and doting passion for the crusader. Her muzzle formed a chipper smile and she beamed at her girlfriend.

“I love you too, Scootaloo. But you’re not gonna distract me with sappiness. You’re going down!”

“You bet I am. After you fall first, that is.”

By the eight minute mark, the pegasi were struggling. Both ponies grit their teeth as their forehooves shook. Gravity worked against the willpower, but neither faltered.

A minute later, Rainbow almost fell, but she pressed down firmly with her forehooves and arched her back lower, still keeping the proper position.

“It’s okay to give up, Rainbow Dash. Your body is tired. Don’t fight it. Fall and rest a bit.” Scootaloo teased, though her body convulsed too.

Rainbow grit her teeth in mild vexation. Scootaloo was really pushing her buttons this morning and Dash was resolved to win.

“Never. But I’ll give up after you stop planking. Once you quit, I’ll follow. Go ahead and let go, Scoots.”

The filly’s body quivered with unstable movements. She huffed in annoyance and shook her head.

“Not happening, Dashie. This was what you wanted to do. I’d hate to quit and let down my hero.”

Rainbow squinted at her fillyfriend and puffed her cheeks out. The wordage Scootaloo used was definitely intentional and insinuating.

Thirteen minutes in and the pair of pegasi profusely perspired. Penchant per pony’s palpable physical prowess.

Rainbow’s face was red. The brash speedster desperately kept the resolve to emerge victorious. She glanced at Scootaloo and saw the filly was in anguish. The orange pegasus shook with tremendous jitter and the weathermare could tell she was in pain.

“Scoots! Just drop!”

The filly gasped greedily and felt her lungs burn from the fresh oxygen. Half a minute transpired before she squeaked a response.

“Lead by example, Dash.”

It was fifteen minutes in now and Rainbow was extremely impressed with Scootaloo’s physical ability. Her own body burned and she was in supreme distress.

With a yelp, Rainbow collapsed. Her body refused to stay in position another second. The pegasus crashed to her gym floor and quickly extended her legs, desperate to soothe her aching muscles and joints.

She glanced up at Scootaloo who coyly winked before dropping her posture too. The orange pony matched Rainbow’s movements to alleviate her own pain.

“That’s two wins for me, Dash. Guess you’re not as tough as you think, huh?” Scootaloo teased.

Rainbow stared incredulously at the lively pony. She inhaled greedily, gulping down muzzlefulls of oxygen. One of her forehooves tenderly massaged the other. When the aforementioned hoof was free from pain, she focused on the other forehoof. Scootaloo followed suit.

After some silence, Scootaloo broke it and asked in a jestful manner, “Best of five?”

“Damn right! I need to save face after you got lucky twice!”

“Got lucky?” Scootaloo repeated.

Rainbow snorted and crossed her hooves. She was feeling humiliated.

This is bogus! Losing once was bad enough. But twice? What the hay is happening to me?

“Luck has nothing to do with it, Rainbow Dash. It’s simple. I’m just better than you. No shame in admitting inferiority. I mean, I didn't even know what this 'planking' thing was, and I still kicked your plot at it."

Scootaloo teased her marefriend again, sliding her tongue from her muzzle. Dash huffed and quickly challenged the crusader to a new competition.

“Best of five! Challenge accepted. I’ll show you how awesome I am, Squirt!”

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait! Here's a chapter and more will be coming soon! :)