A Rainbow in the Dark

by FeignedSincerity

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Comedy, Romance
Length: 24487

Rainbow Dash has a fear that nopony knows about, but that's about to change.

Twilight and her friends have been sent on a trip to Trottingham to oversee preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. On said trip, Twilight Sparkle will learn something interesting about Rainbow Dash, who will learn a few things about Twilight in return. Emotions fly, and every time something seems to go right, it turns around and goes quite wrong. The true question here is, will they have time for the Celebration?

Rainbow Sparkle fic with potential for other pairings later. A commentary on the awkward beginnings of a relationship and learning about each other. Based loosely on experience, sans ponies and trains.

Published 2012-10-10 20:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-17 16:46:22 UTC

1. A Cry Out for Magic

The ride to Trottingham was a long one, but fortunately the Friendship Express proved a convenient mode of transportation. Even still, the ride would take a full two days, nights included. Twilight Sparkle sat alone in her private car with her journal and a glass of warm cider.

‘Dear Twilight,

Today, Princess Celestia sent you on a trip to Trottingham to check up on holiday preparations. Being her personal protege, you have been assigned to oversee the ordeal of celebrating the Summer Sun in this years location. Fortunately, she also granted you five guests, plus one dragon of course! I feel so lucky to have all of my closest friends with me on this trip, and I’m sure you will too remembering it! You are, after all, me.

Sincerely, Yourself’

Formatting her entries in this way made it fun to go back and read them later. It was like opening a letter from somepony, but it was still yourself. Giggling girlishly, Twilight pushed the purple bound tome of a journal under her meticulously fluffed pillow. This was a rather pampered trip, for each of the six girls were given their own sleeper car. Being friends with a princess will get you the nicest things.

It was nearly time to sleep, and Twilight took the final sip of her cider. It soothed her body, warming each and every inch as it flowed down to her stomach. Letting out a relaxed sigh, she blew out her candle and closed her eyes. Finally, it was time to sleep.

But shortly after Twilight laid her head down to rest, the sound of her door sliding open could be heard on the other end of the car. This, followed by timid hooves padding into her room, brought her eyes wide open.

“Who’s there?” she demanded, not sure who it could be. Who could it be though? The only other passengers on this particular train were her friends. “Are you ok?”

Her unexpected guest’s breathing was heavy, scared in a way. A small squeak echoed through the small sleeper car, signaling Twilight to exactly who it was. Fluttershy of course, something must have happened.

“Fluttershy? Are you alright?” Twilight began, sitting up on her bed. “Did something happen?”

What came into her view though betrayed everything she thought she knew about her friends. Sure enough, who came into view was a pegasus, but not the one that Twilight had expected. There stood Rainbow Dash, holding her blanket in her mouth as if it was keeping her alive. Her hooves shook and her jaw trembled in what could be nothing but fear.

“Oh... Rainbow? Um... Ok now I know something is wrong.” Twilight stood from her bed and placed a hoof on her friends shoulder. “What’s going on?”

Rainbow’s face turned a bright pink as she looked over towards the window. “I just... I was cold...”

Twilight narrowed her eyes knowingly, as if to bore into Rainbows head for the truth. “Rainbow Dash, you have your blanket right there, what’s really going on?”

“I t-told you I w-was c-c-cold and I m-mean it!” Rainbow replied in her most insistent voice, which was more embarrassed than anything else.

“Fine then,” Twilight snarked, knowing just how to get to the heart of the matter. Her horn lit up and levitated her blanket towards the ‘cold’ pegasus. “Have my blanket, I’m quite warm in here. You should be fine to go back to sleep now.”

“No!” Rainbow cried, sounding desperate. “I mean... I was wondering if I could stay in here with you tonight...”

Taken slightly aback, Twilight levitated her blanket back to the bed. With a shake of her head, reality came right back. “Sure Rainbow, but you’re going to need to tell me exactly what’s going on. This isn’t like you.”

The prismatic mare scowled, but a bump on the track sent her quickly to hide under her hooves on the floor. “I’m just cold! N-nothing more to it!”

“Dash...” Twilight stared blankly at Rainbow and raised an eyebrow. “Look, I’m smart enough to know when something is going on. Either tell me, or you can take my blanket back to your room.”

Just then, another bump caused the door, which Rainbow had left open, to slam shut. This time, Rainbow jumped and wrapped her hooves around the purple student’s neck. Her face buried itself safely in Twilight’s coat.

No matter if Rainbow wanted to tell or not, Twilight knew she needed a friend. She wrapped a hoof around the shivering pegasus, only to have her expectation dashed even more so. Rainbow was crying.

“Oh my goodness...” Twilight muttered, just barely loud enough for Rainbow to hear. “Rainbow Dash you’re afraid of the dark.”

“Go ahead, laugh,” Rainbow sobbed, vibrating from shear terror. “I don’t care, I just can’t be alone...”

At this, Twilight was shocked. “I’d never laugh at you for being afraid of something! Of course you can stay with me tonight.” She placed a comforting hoof on top of Rainbow’s head, smoothing out her mane as it caressed down her neck. She did this multiple times until her normally tough friend stopped shivering. “Come here, it’s going to be ok.”

“Thank you...” Rainbow whispered, her voice still quivering. Twilight laid back on her bed once again, guiding Rainbow to join her. Once they were both under the cover, Twilight wrapped both fore-hooves around Rainbow and pulled her in tight.

“I’ll protect you, just try to sleep.” Continuing to run her hoof through the multicolored mane, Twilight reveled in how incredibly soft the pegasus was.

“I’m not tired... I just-” Rainbow explained, until the train passed into a tunnel. All light from the moon was officially snuffed out and all was pitch black. She let out a terrified squeal and wrapped her hooves around Twilight’s body. Her shivers overtook her once more as she snuggled up as close to her guardian as possible. “And d-don’t get any w-weird ideas...”

“Shhh, I’ve got you, it’s ok,” Twilight assured, feeling almost exhilarated. It was an odd feeling for the situation for sure, but something about Rainbow Dash in this state was absolutely adorable to her. That, and the smell of her mane made Twilight shudder. As a sign of ‘support’, Twilight nuzzled Rainbow lightly.

That seemed to do the trick, as Rainbow’s shaking stopped dead in it’s tracks. She rubbed her cheek against Twilight’s chest, feeling the comfort of one of her best friends shielding her from the creatures of the night. Of course, the warmth of her breast was a pleasant surprise. Never had she imagined that the bookish unicorn would be so comfortable.

“You’re really warm...” Rainbow whispered, sub-consciously curling her lips into a small smile. Her eyes closed as she let herself be absorbed in the moment. She felt safe, warm, happy... It was all very foreign in context to where she was.

And so a few more minutes passed, and with time more bumps would mar the path that they traveled. Each time sent a shiver through Rainbow’s spine, but each one was suppressed by Twilight’s loving nuzzle. After each, Rainbow would insist that she was just cold, and each time Twilight would only laugh and play along. It was truly serene, the feeling of that closeness, the feeling of protecting another pony. Twilight knew there was nothing to endanger her friend, but it was all about being there for her. Or was that all?

‘Is that all?’ Twilight thought to herself. Something about it made her feel unsure. She held Rainbow Dash in her arms, away from her fears, and it felt so right.

“Dash?” she whispered, checking to see if her bundle was still awake. All that came back however was a low sigh from Rainbow’s throat. Surely she was asleep, as that noise was one that a fully aware Rainbow would never allow anypony to hear. It sounded like the sort of noise that a school filly would make, as if taking a nap on her significant other’s lap. Most of all, it sent butterflies through Twilight’s belly.

“Goodnight Dash...” Twilight said, placing a kiss on the cyan pegasus’s forehead. Satisfied that Rainbow was asleep, she allowed herself to drift away as well.

2. No Sign of the Morning Comin'

The morning came as a surprising delight to Twilight. She still felt a rather large, unfamiliar bundle in her bed, snuggled up close to her chest. As certain as her near-photographic memory, the image she portrayed was the same. It was a prismatically maned pegasus, her cyan coat blending into Twilights lavender as the two cuddled. Rainbow hadn’t awoken yet.

“Wake up sleepy head,” Twilight whispered into her friends ear, using the gentlest tone she could muster. “The darkness is gone.”

Rainbow yawned, letting out another adorable sigh that once again stirred the lightness in Twilight’s innards. Blinking her eyes open a few times, she groaned. “Yo Twi... What’s up?”

“Nothing Rainbow,” Twilight responded, a smile slowly engulfing her reddening cheeks. “Just making sure you’re ok.”

Almost as if a switch were flipped, Rainbow shoved both hooves away from her and knocked herself out of the bed. Hitting the floor with a solid thump, she sat upright, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. “Whoa, ok Twi, I know we’re close but slow down there!” Her tone was clearly in jest, but more so shocked. It was apparent to her that perhaps things were working a little faster than she intended.

Twilight just sat there, still engulfed in her blankets, and the smile on her face dissipated. “Rainbow... I just...” Her heart began to sink, realizing that it would likely just be a one night thing.

The look on Twilight’s face did register to Rainbow Dash of course. Her face became worried, rather than her sarcastic scowl. “Hey, I didn’t mean to... What’s wrong?”

“Nothing...” Twilight muttered, low enough to just barely be audible. “I’m sorry...”

Rainbow’s heart skipped a beat, finally realizing what was going on. Twilight was really upset, a factor that Rainbow hadn’t accounted for. She made her way back over to the bed, and let herself fall back onto the mattress, producing a satisfied sigh. “Lay back Twi, I know you want to talk.”

This was the second time Twilight was completely shocked by Rainbow’s actions. First she had shown complete vulnerability, and now she was being sensitive and supportive. Very odd indeed. Twilight took the offer and fell back next to the winged mare.

“You,” She began, stopping to inhale one of the biggest breaths she thought she could. What she had to say was very important. “Are the most adorable pony I’ve ever known.” Her face turned beet red as she scrambled to explain. “I mean in a normal sort of friendly way! Like, you’re totally adorable and stuff! Hehe-”

A sky blue hoof covered Twilight’s mouth before she could say any more, and Rainbow closed her eyes, smiling. “Twilight... It’s early... Nopony’s up yet. It’s just us.” Twilight slowly lifted Rainbow’s hoof from her mouth.

“You shouldn’t have come in last night. You should have gone to somepony else. You should have...” She searched for words, but they all disappeared as soon as they sounded right. “I don’t know... You’re just so-”

Again, she’s stopped mid sentence by Rainbow, but this time in a different way. She felt cracked, and yet soft lips press against her cheek. They were un-cared for, dry, and yet inviting. Her heart stopped.

“Consider that a thank you for last night,” Rainbow explained, still keeping her eyes closed and her smile wide. She had her answer. “I know what’s wrong Twilight. And for the record, Rainbow Dash doesn’t make mistakes. I came to the right room last night.”

Still completely stunned, Twilight felt her heart beating faster. “S-seriously? You... You’re-”

“For pete’s sake Twilight, stop over thinking everything!” Dash lifted herself by her elbows, twisted her core to loom over Twilight, and gave her an exasperated look. “I swear, I’m showing you a side that I would never show to anypony else, what do you think is going on?” It was true, she would never show this vulnerability to anypony, and Twilight thought that she was included in that list.

“Why did you come to me last night...” Twilight uttered, staring pleadingly into Dash’s eyes.

Rainbow only sighed and continued to match Twilight’s gaze. “Because I knew you’d be cool with it. I knew you wouldn’t make a big deal of it if you knew it was genuine, and I feel safe with y...” She stopped, letting that final word trail out of existence. “Would this make more sense to you if I wrote it down?” Her tone became frustrated just then, showing more of the normal Rainbow that everypony knew.

Twilight could only find the nerve to nod, the rest of her thoughts focused on memorizing the shine in Rainbow Dash’s eyes. Clearly frustrated, Dash lowered herself quickly to press her lips on Twilight’s. Twilight’s eyes widened, but slowly closed to forget everything around them. Almost too quick, Rainbow retracted from the kiss and flopped back on her back.

“I don’t know why I bother...” She got up and began to walk towards the door. “I’ve been looking for this opportunity for so long and you don’t even get it. I’ll just sleep on Fluttershy’s floor tonight.”

“NO!” Twilight yelled, finally gripping reality again. “Don’t go!”

“Twi...” Rainbow responded, now out of words herself.

“I mean... I want you to come back tonight...” Twilight gulped, pushing down the last of her regrets and got out of bed. “I want you to stay the night with me again. Please.”

“Twilight...” Again, the only thing that Rainbow Dash could think was Twilight’s name. It was then that she realized, Twilight did get it, she was just a huge dork about it.

Twilight took another step towards her friend, desperation lining her voice. “I didn’t want to freak you out! Last night you made me feel amazing, like I’ve never felt before. I was scared that it was too fast or... Oh buck it.” Abandoning all reservation, Twilight wrapped a hoof behind Rainbow’s head and pulled her in for a kiss. This one was longer, passionate, and full of feeling. Rainbow could feel Twilight’s tongue caress her lips as they stood there together. Once the moment is ended, the two stared into each others eyes, both lost for words. Finally, a bump on the track brought the two back to their senses.

Rainbow was the first to speak up. “If you tell anypony I’m afraid of the dark, it’s off,” she laughed, but it was still obvious that she meant it. Either way, her cheeks were accented by a pink blush, and looked down at her hooves nervously. Twilight smiled brightly.

“And one more thing.”

“Yes Rainbow?”

“Can you... Can you come to my room tonight?” Rainbow’s voice dropped to a near whisper, almost mimicking Fluttershy.

Twilight understood exactly why, and it only made her find the pegasus more adorable. “Of course Dash, I won’t make you walk through the dark alone again.” She placed a short peck on Rainbow’s lips again and began to walk towards the door. “Now let’s go see who else is up. I don’t know about you, but I could use some breakfast!”

The dining car, which was located just between Applejack and Rarity’s rooms, was vacant save for one half conscious pink pony. Pinkie Pie had fallen asleep at the table, which Twilight assumed meant she had been waiting for the others for quite some time. There were a few thing set out, a couple of plates of pancakes and waffles, some juices and fruits, and it was all untouched. Hearing the two walk in, Pinkie opened her eyes and was at full alertness within seconds.

“Oh boy oh boy you’re awake! I was waiting all night because I was thinking about how scrumptious breakfast would be, and now we can finally eat! And why are you coming in from that side Rainbow Dash?” This caused both of the secret cuddle buddies to freeze. Neither thought about that aspect of it all, especially since Twilight didn’t know where all of them were located on the train.

“She was just returning my blanket!” Twilight spouted, hoping it sounded convincing.

“Why’d she borrow your blanket?”

“I was cold Pinkie, that’s what blankets are for.”

“But why didn’t you come to me? My room is right next to yours!” Again, Twilight froze, trying to piece this together. “Twilight sleeps on the complete opposite end of the train dummy, you didn’t have to go all the way to her!”

This was enough to make Twilight start thinking. “Yeah Rainbow, I’m sure you didn’t have to cross the entire train to get a blanket.” Her eyes narrowed in interrogation. The pupils in Rainbow’s eyes shrunk to the size of bits as her forehead began to sweat.

“I knew Twilight didn’t need hers, and her blankets are really comfy!” Then, as if trying to rewind her tongue, Rainbow smacked a hoof to her head. “I mean, they look really comfy! I wouldn’t know. Er, that is I would now having borrowed them, but I didn’t before!”

“Okie dokie lokie! But next time, feel free to use mine! It smells like frosting!” Pinkie offered, singing those last few words enticingly. The door behind them opened and Applejack walked in. Her eyes were weighed down by tired bags, showing just how much sleep she got.

“Mornin’ y’all, hope you slept better’n I did.” she yawned. The tired famer took a seat at the table next to Pinkie and rested her chin on the table cloth. “I don’t rightly know what was goin’ on last night but I swear I heard somepony walkin’ on top a the train.”

Twlight’s eyes twitched, the corner of her mouth tugging upwards to try and smile. ‘Well that’s great Rainbow, now everypony will know. Opportunity my flank.’

“More like stomping on the train! It sounded like a buffalo was stampeding, and during my beauty sleep! The nerve.” Rarity walked into the dining car and plopped down next to Applejack. She also seemed rather tired.

“Oh, I get it now! That was you wasn’t it Rainbow?” Pinkie beamed, happy to have solved the rather easy mystery. “You didn’t want to wake us up so you went over the train instead of through the train! Silly Dashie!”

“You’re kidding right?” Twilight said flatly, struggling to justify any of this. “I mean, haha, yeah. Silly Dashie.” Her voice was laced with poison as she walked past the blushing pegasus to sit at the table. On her way by, she muttered “My room after breakfast” and went to take a seat.

“Now what in tarnation were you doin’ climbin’ over the train in the middle a the night?” Applejack demanded, a hint of worry in her tone. “Ain’t that a mite dangerous?”

“And at that time of night, for Celestia’s sake!” Rarity added.

“She was borrowing a blanket from Twilight!” Pinkie chimed in, hoping it would make as much sense to the others as it did to her. Rainbow began to drag her hooves towards the table and took a seat next to Twilight.

“Uh-huh, borrowin’ a blanket. Why in Equestria would you risk fallin’ to yer own death just for a blanket that you could get from any a us on the way? Twilight is on the opposite side a the train from you sugar cube.”

Finally, Rainbow broke from her crushing embarrassment and retaliated. “Because if I woke any of you up you’d just yell at me! And besides, I know Twilight doesn’t sleep much so I figured she’d still be up!”

Twilight was surprised that Rainbow came up with a pretty convincing argument.

“I was still up! I totally would have given you my-”

“I’ll keep that in mind Pinkie. Can we just eat?” Dash stuffed a pancake in her mouth to hopefully end the convesation. Then, Fluttershy and Spike came in to complete the group. Fluttershy took her seat next to Rainbow, and Spike weaseled his way next to Rarity. Applejack raised an eyebrow, but decided to keep her mouth shut.

“Why is everypony so tense? Should I leave?” Fluttershy asked, bowing her head so her nose was hidden by the table.

“Just tired darling, don’t think anything of it.” Rarity popped a strawberry into her mouth and chewed delicately. She threw a confused glance at Twilight, who only shrugged and shook her head.

The rest of breakfast continued in this fashion, not a whole lot of talking but a lot of looks. It was incredibly uncomfortable, but especially so for Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. After everypony was finished, they all eagerly got up from the table.

“I have to go do some studying, I’ll be in my room if anypony needs me,” Twilight spoke up, breaking the silence. “But by the looks of it you all might want to get some more sleep.”

“Oh yes, I’m still quite exhausted. I will be sleeping, do not wake me up,” Rarity agreed, shooting a death glare at Rainbow Dash. “Again.”

“I won’t! Besides, I gotta wash my...” Where was she even going with that? She had nothing that she needed to, or wanted to, wash. “Boots! I need to wash my boots!”

“Not to be rude or nothin’, but you ain’t wearin’ boots.” Applejack at this point was only humoring the reddening athlete, knowing full well that something was going on.

“Says you! I don’t need anypony telling me what I am, and am not wearing!” Realization hit that that sounded incredibly stupid, and Rainbow took off towards her room. The others followed suit, except for Fluttershy who followed Rainbow.

“Rainbow Dash, is something wrong?” she asked in a therapeutic tone. “You seem off.”

“I’m fine Shy...”

“You’re not acting like yourself.”

“I’m acting more like me then ever before! This is me we’re talking about Shy, good old Rainbow Dash!”

“If you say so...” Fluttershy gave up, understanding that she wouldn’t get anything out of her long time friend.

Rainbow reached the door connecting to her car, but instead of walking all the way through she stopped at the hitch. Closing the door behind her, she rose up slowly, making sure not to get hit by something overhead. She was now outside the train, hovering carefully over the top. At a much steadier pace, and much more quietly then last night, Rainbow Dash made her way towards Twilight’s car on the other side of the train. Upon reaching it, she opened the door and stepped in, only to be met by an angry glare.

“What the hay were you thinking?!” Twilight began, clearly furious with Rainbow’s action. “You were waiting for this opportunity? What kind of opportunity is being separated by an entire train full of our gossipy friends?!”

“Look, I was getting impatient. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?” Rainbow took a step towards the perturbed genius. “It’s been like... Well it’s been a long time!”

“Then why did you never just come to the library? We could cuddle with a book, I could make us muffins,” Twilight fumed. “I mean come on, you’re a world class flyer! It’s hardly cool for the best young flyer in Equestria to tip toe around her feelings!”

“You don’t get what cool means do you Twilight?” Dash scoffed, somewhat put off. “That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you! Spilling my heart out over a book is undeniably, undoubtably, uncool.”

“Well neither is climbing over a train!”

“The reason I was coming to see you, and what I was hoping for, were both incredibly lame. I had to do something awesome to counteract it and I figured climbing over a train was pretty sweet.”

“And that brings me to my next point!” Twilight’s face took on a tint of worry, turning her angry stare to one more befitting of a lecture. “You could have gotten hurt!”

“But I didn’t-”

“Just... Just stop...” Twilight covered her face with her hooves, trying to eliminate her newest migraine. Rainbow’s hooves carried her towards the frustrated unicorn against her own will, and sat down next to her.

“Why are you focusing on that?” Rainbow asked, hoping to get Twilight to think of something romantically rather than logically.

“What else would I focus on?”

“Maybe that I faced my fear just to be with you...” she mentioned, her voice cracking slightly. “I thought maybe that would mean something to you...”

Twilight at that moment felt very silly. She wasn’t mad, she was actually far from it. She was happy that Dash had come to see her, and now that she thought about it, she was being pretty selfish about the whole ordeal.

“It does mean something to me Dash,” Twilight assured, placing a hoof on Rainbow’s back. “But just understand... I didn’t know I felt this way until last night. It’s a little overwhelming and the idea of our friends knowing, which I’m pretty sure at least one of them does, is a little stressful right now. I just learned that you, the toughest pegasus in Cloudsdale, is afraid of the dark. I just saw you vulnerable for the first time, and that was weird enough as is. Now I find out that I’m falling in love with you and it’s all just so illogical...”

“Screw logic, be awesome for once!” Rainbow exclaimed, stomping a hoof on the floor. “I can admit that I was being stupid! See? I just admitted that I’m wrong! How’s that for logic? I let you touch my hoof this morning! Logic? Hay no, it just happened!”

“I’m not calling it off Rainbow,” Twilight explained. Her mind was still not made up, but she was going to figure it out one way or another. “You just have to promise me something...”

“Anything!” Rainbow eagerly offered.

“I mean it. Pinkie Promise.” Rainbow crossed her heart, fluttered her wings and placed a hoof over one of her eyes. “Just give me time... I want to spend tonight with you... I want to spend every night holding you, stroking your mane, your soft coat, your everything...” A small tear formed in Twilight’s eye, but her smile betrayed that sentiment. “Hearing our friends come so close to piecing it all together just made me realize that I’ve never been in love before... It’s a little scary. The chaos of it all... Love is truly chaos...”

Rainbow placed a hoof over her heart, showing how serious she was. Though, it was also to try and slow it down before it bursted. She had never been referred to like that before, and it was exhilarating. “I’ll buy us as much time as you need Twilight Sparkle. Speedster’s honor.”

Hearing the foolhardy pegasus act so seriously made Twilight feel leagues better. If it weren’t Rainbow Dash, she might have been worried, but she knew Rainbow wouldn’t let her down. Loyalty was one of the few things she really excelled at.

“By the way, all of the others went back to sleep.” Rainbow continued. “So if you wanted to... You know...”

Twilight bolted up with a terrified face. “Rainbow no! I’m not even close to ready for that!”

“That’s not what I meant Twi! Am I really going to have to say it?”

Both ponies sat together, faces both racing to see which one could blush more. It was obvious that Rainbow was embarrassed by what she was thinking, ‘but it’s not... that?’ Twilight thought.

“I guess I was wondering, you know if it was cool with you or whatever, if we could... Cuddle?” That last word was almost lost under her breathing, but Rainbow managed to say it.

“You... You want to cuddle? I mean, that’s pretty-”

“Uncool, whatever, nopony’s ever held me like that before and I liked it.” Rainbow hovered over to the bed and sat down, folding her arms. Her lips pouted, clearly giving in. “I’m a dork, whatever, are you gonna hold me or not?”

Twilight could only think to giggle, as she plod her way to the bed as well. “Well I could never turn down a once in a lifetime opportunity to hold the one and only Rainbow Dash!” She folded the blanket back to allow for the two secret lovers to cover up, and jumped in. Rainbow let out a surprised yelp as a surprisingly heavy unicorn landed on her.

Twilight wrapped both hooves behind Rainbow’s head and locked her in a kiss. Their lips pressed together and both pairs of eyes closed in unison. They both got a full taste of the other for the first time, letting their tongues dance together. Rainbow produced a satisfied moan while Twilight rubbed a hoof along the base of her wings.

“Hey Twilight! I’ve got some more directions from the-” Spike walked into the room, and froze as soon as he saw what was going on. The two also froze, still locked together. “Ok, well find me when you’re done.” He stood there at the door, almost gawking at the scene.

“Go away Spike.” Twilight scolded, not in the mood to deal with him. She was only in the mood to deal with Rainbow Dash.

“Yep, on it, consider it done.”

“NOW!” A pillow flew at his head as Twilight practically screamed at him. Rainbow dove under the blanket. Soon, they heard the door slam and they look into each others eyes.

“I guess you probably wanna stop huh?” Dash asked, her expression could only be described as heart broken.

“It’s Spike, if he says anything I’ll have him castrated.”

Rainbow felt her chest explode, her heart trying to leap from her chest and cling to Twilight. Hearing her actually be forceful and commanding was attractive beyond belief.

“Now where were we?”

“The part where I die of a heart attack.”

“Really? Are you ok? I read about this before, and I think I can help-”

“Shut up.” Rainbow giggled, feeling more in love than she had ever imagined possible for her, and buried her face in Twilight’s chest. They once again found themselves holding each other, and drifting far off to sleep.

3. Do Your Demons Ever Let You Go?

As unplanned naps go, this one lasted a little too long. The two were awoken by a sharp knock at the door, followed by a voice.

“Hey Twi, think you might wanna take a break from your books’n join us for some vittles?” came the incredibly memorable country accent. The light coming in through the window suggested that it was rather late in the day, around time for dinner to be sure.

Rainbow let out a labored yawn and wrapped both hooves around Twilight’s arm. She was acting as the little spoon, and naturally didn’t want to get up. “Just a few more minutes...”

“Rainbow we need to get up. We slept too long!” Twilight yanked her hoof away and sat up, causing Rainbow to roll over onto her back.

“Come on Twilight, it’s only like, probably 4 or something. What’s another 10 minutes, or maybe an hour?”

“I’ll tell you what!” Twilight’s horn fired up and teleported both of them to the middle of the floor. “My entire sleep schedule is going to be completely thrown off! I can’t risk offsetting my entire calender, that’s 4 months of planning completely down the drain!”

The frazzled pegasus stood up and brushed off her legs. “We’re gonna have to work on that if we’re gonna be together.”

“Work on what, being prepared?” Twilight asked with a worried frown. “Because I am always prepared. Always!”

“That’s cool and all Twilight, but being prepared is pretty dumb if you can’t enjoy it.” She had a point, and Twilight had to admit it. Having your life planned months in advance was nice, but it sure was stressful to keep up.

“I’ll work on relaxing if you work on thinking things through a little more,” Twilight retaliated. “Like, I don’t know, climbing over a train-”

“Which I do all the time, just fine-”

“At night when you’re too afraid to stand up straight-”

“Because...” She was stumped. Rainbow had to admit defeat in this case. A match of words and wits was a lost cause against the princess’s personal protege. “Because shut up.”

“Speaking of which,” Twilight reminded while levitating a brush over to herself to begin fixing her mane. “Didn’t you ‘go to bed’? Now correct me if I’m wrong but the others are going to expect you from the other side this time.”

“No sweat, I’ll just fly over again. I’ll be there in 10 seconds flat!”

“And that’s what worries me.” Twilight placed the brush back over at her mirror and turned to face Rainbow. “Which is why I thought of a backup plan!”

Rainbow scratched at her head in confusion. “Wait, when did you think of a backup plan?”

“This morning,” Twilight laughed, patting Rainbow on the head. “Just before we finished eating.”

“Ok, now I know that’s a load of bull!”

“Nope, not at all.” The unicorn began making her bed while she explained. “Once I realized that the others were suspicious, I thought about how this encounter would go. I accounted for the likelihood of Spike walking in on us, hence why I wasn’t too worried about it, and thus I could add him as a possible accomplice. I also knew that Applejack, who to my newfound knowledge is sleeping between myself and the dining car, is the most suspicious.” Rainbow’s jaw was slowly finding it’s way to the floor, completely flabbergasted. And then it kept going. “I knew you would fly overhead to get here after breakfast, and so I also calculated the retained *ahem* awesomeness of a single action. Given the short proximity of time intervals, I have determined that 3 times in the area of 24 hours is at least 84% less cool than the first time, making it pretty lame in retrospect. Therefore, you have absolutely no reason to make the trip again, preventing any potential disasters, and making me feel a whole lot better.”

Rainbow quickly gathered her brains from the floor and tried to make any sense of this. “Fine, what’s the plan?”

“That’s the good part! SPIKE!” The purple dragon came in quietly, hoping not to be in trouble. “Good, you heard me. Now that I know you were eavesdropping I can skip the briefing. There’s an unusually shaped tree 10 minutes down the track from her on the West side of the train. You’re going to draw everyponies attention to it when it passes, giving us a window of about 30 seconds to get you in, though we can safely assume that can be cut in half due to Pinkie Pie’s short attention span. That gives you at least 10 seconds, flat or not, to appear from the other side of the diner. If all goes as planned we should be free of excess suspicion.”

Both the dragon and the pegasus were dumbfounded. Spike nervously backed away and out of the car. It was all Rainbow could to do stay upright.

“You’re gonna have to tell me how you did all of that...”

“Well, when I said I had to study after breakfast, I wasn’t lying. Fluttershy distracted you just enough for me to memorize the next 400 miles of the map. We began cuddling around 10, and given your impressively accurate assumption that it was about 4 now, that means we were asleep for approximately 6 hours. given the speed we’re going at, around 40 miles per hour, that would indicate our current location to be 240 miles further than last I checked, and the tree I mentioned to Spike is at mile 250, meaning it would take another 15 minutes to reach that spot.”

“But you told him 10 minutes...” Rainbow’s head was beginning to hurt.

“Yes, I did, because I know how Spike thinks. He’ll begin counting that 10 minutes as soon as he reaches the dining car, which would only take about a minute, but given that Rarity is up and about, I accounted for an extra 4 minutes of mingling.” Looking rather proud of herself, Twilight teleported behind Rainbow and wrapped her hooves around the almost brain-dead athlete. “Speaking of mingling, we’re going to need to get out there soon!”

To Twilight Sparkle’s delight, and Rainbow Dash’s disbelief, the plan went off without a hitch. Exactly at the given time, Spike made a big deal about some tree out the window. The others begrudgingly joined him, only to look in disbelief that he bothered to point it out. During that time, Rainbow opened the door and dashed to the other side, barely making a sound. She then joined the others as Pinkie, 5 seconds later, turned her attention to Twilight. Rainbow felt her brain begin to melt, and her heart beat a little faster.

“Oh there you are Twilight! I was worried you were going to forget to eat again! We all missed you and Dashie at lunch, but I guess cuddle time is important too!” Twilight’s eye twitched in fear that her flawless plan had been spoiled by the unpredictable party pony.

“Pinkie, if I was with Twilight, then why did we come from different sides of the room?” Rainbow sat at the table, and then the rest actually noticed that she was in fact already there.

“Hmm, I suppose you’re right. Hey, I’m sure books are pretty comfy!” The pink mare bounced her way to the table and slammed herself onto the bench next to Dash. “My mistake, sorry Dashie!”

An annoyed sigh could be heard from the window. “A’right, I’m gonna put mah hoof down right now. Twi, Dash, we all know-MMF” Applejack’s mouth was instantly sealed with a large pineapple to silence her. Twilight’s horn lost it’s glow as she made her way to the table.

“You know what’s really good? Food. Food is delicious!” She lifted an apple from the basket and took a large bite out of it, chewing the fruit thoughtfully. Her plan had worked, and that’s all that mattered.

This time, Rarity spoke up. After sitting at the table and organizing a plate with fruits and toppings, she had had just about enough. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of darling, we’re not going to judge you if-”

CLONK

Rarity slid off of her plate and onto the floor. Her face was covered in a raspberry cream that was originally meant for an assortment of berries. Twilight took another bite of her apple.

“Man, this apple is good! I’m so glad I can just enjoy this apple!” Her left ear drooped to cover part of her eye and her mane began to unravel itself.

“Hehe, it looks like Rarity just got... CREAMED!” Pinkie Pie rolled onto the floor in laughter. Twilight joined her in laughter, though her mental stability was slipping quite obviously. Rainbow began to wilt in her seat, realizing that she would be sleeping with that later in the night. She honestly feared for her safety.

“Oh... Oh my...” Fluttershy backed herself into a corner and laid there, waiting for everything to stop. That is, until Twilight encased her in a pocket of magic and pulled her to the table.

“Hey Fluttershy! Hey pal! My favorite little unassuming pegasus. You like apples right? Try the apples!” Twilight held an apple up to her face. This was too much for Rainbow, and she quickly bolted for the other room. This sent a shock to Twilight’s head and snapped her back in control. “Rainbow? Hey Rainbow! Come back!” She yelled towards the open door as she chased after her friend.

“P’too!” Applejack finally worked the pineapple out of her mouth and was free to speak. “I can understand bein’ nervous but this is just plain ridiculous.”

“I’m sorry!” Twilight exclaimed to Rainbow, who sat on her bed with her blanket wrapped around her.

“I’m not mad Twilight,” she returned. “You just scare me sometimes.”

“And that’s why I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you!” The unstable unicorn felt as though she was running in circles, but Rainbow seemed a lot calmer than when she ran.

“I know you didn’t. Twilight I know you’re nervous about this but I’m pretty sure they already know.” Rainbow removed the blanket from her shoulders and laid back. “Rarity even began to say that they wouldn’t judge us. Come on, loosen up.”

“It’s not about that!” The reply she got wasn’t what she had expected, but there it was. Twilight took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to take Rainbow’s advice. “I formulated that plan carefully. Everything was right. Everything should have worked, but it didn’t! I slept through an entire day that I could have used to study, I’m still tired which I guess makes sense but it really doesn’t, and on top of all that, my head hurts. My love life is 100% more existent then it was yesterday, but you’re about the only thing on this train keeping me sane!”

“Aren’t I the reason this is all happening?”

“Don’t remind me...” Twilight fell to the floor and covered her face in her hooves. “I haven’t done any planning and we’ll be in Trottingham tomorrow afternoon...”

Rainbow pat her mattress a few times, indicating for Twilight to come join her, but she didn’t come. “Is there anything I can do?”

“I need my journal...”

“What was that?”

“My journal. I’ll be right back!” Twilight disappeared from existence for about 2 minutes. Rainbow began getting impatient when Twilight reappeared, in the exact same spot, but this time with a thick purple book. “My journal!”

“And that’s going to calm you down?”

“Always does! I just need to write something in it and I’m sure everything will be alright!” Twilight levitated a pen from behind her ear and opened the book to the first empty page.

‘Dear Twilight,

Last night Rainbow Dash and I cuddled. It was awesome, and it made me feel really good about myself. I’m falling in love with her, but I’m really nervous about our friends finding out because they’ll think it’s weird. Also, I kind of went crazy and knocked Rarity unconscious on a plate of fruit. Princess Celestia would be proud of you

Sincerely,
Twilight Spackle’

“...”

“Twilight, you don’t look very relaxed.” Rainbow had made her way behind Twilight and read as she wrote. It was a little strange. “You even spelled your name wrong.”

“That didn’t work nearly as well as I thought it would...” Twilight threw the journal across the room. “How did I let this happen? Celestia is going to hate me, probably shun me from her life, and then burn down the library to forget I ever existed!”

A single cyan hoof found it’s way to a lonely lavender one. “Would it make you feel better if... Well... If I wrote to you in your journal?”

“What?” Twilight jerked upright and shot Rainbow a confused stare. “Why would you write in my journal?”

“Well you formatted it like a letter, I guess I could write you a letter,” Rainbow offered. “And knowing you it would probably make you feel better having an entry for tonight. It just wouldn’t be, you know... You.”

To her surprise, Twilight sparkle’s eyes lit up. “You would write? For me?”

“Yeah Twi, I’d write for you.” Rainbow got up and made her way to the journal. Opening to the same page as the last entry, she scribbled it out and began to write. She obviously wasn’t used to writing, as her pen strokes were all erratic and jagged, but she wrote anyway. Twilight watched as her un-scholarly object of affection wrote, finding herself entranced in the rough sound of pen on paper. “Here.”

The journal slid towards the day dreaming unicorn, and stopped when it hit her on the hoof. She looked down, and saw the rest of the page was filled with some of the worst hoof-writing she had ever seen.

‘Dear Twilight

Youre really cool and stuff. Like, when I fly I get all happy and feel cool, and you make me feel like that, but while I’m not flying. You’re really cute when you do nerd stuff, even though it is nerd stuff, and your crazy plans are pretty sweet sometimes. Also, Rarity had it coming. Now stop being sad or whatever and kiss me because I like it when you do that.

Whatever sincerely means,
RD’

Silence. Twilight read over the note again, and again, and again. After the fourth read she could recite the entire thing from memory. After the fifth read, she cracked. Her mouth fought her to turn up into a smile, her nerves erased and completely replaced by a belly full of laughter. Eventually, she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“BAHAHAHA! This... This is the worst letter-I mean this is so sweet of you Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow slouched and crossed her arms. “You serious? I tried to be all mushy and stuff, I thought it would-MMmmg... mmmmm...” In her perturbed state, she didn’t notice Twilight teleporting behind her. From there, she pulled Rainbow to face her and engaged her in the very kiss that was requested. Rainbow replaced her surprise and dejection with desire, leaning into the kiss and enjoying every second of it. Their lips worked together, opening and closing, brushing against each other forcefully in a passionate display of young love. Twilight could swear she tasted a morning mist on Rainbow’s tongue, entangling with it between the two physically involved mares. Then to noponies surprise, the door opened. This time it was Rarity.

“Twilight Sparkle you ruined my hair, gave me a black eye, and broke a plate!” Her expression was nothing short of furious. “Now you’re going to-oh my goodness I was completely wrong about everything...”

The two love birds froze again, wondering how that could be such a common occurrence at this point. Twilight backed away from Rainbow, seemingly calm considering the situation. “Really? Really? BUCKING REALLY?! Is sleeping the only way to get any alone time?” Her mane began taking on the hue of fire as the heat in the room began to rise.

Rarity looked down at the floor. "Eh, well I don't know about that... Spike's been rather glued to your door... All day... Knowing this I guess I'm not surprised."

"I WILL ERASE HIM FROM HISTORY!"

“Whoa, calm down girl, I’ll handle this.” Rainbow walked towards Rarity, placing a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder on her way by. Twilight cools down, wondering just how Rainbow would handle it. “Yo Rarity, I’m trying to mack on this fine piece of egghead over here, I’ll explain later. Now if you don’t mind, I’mma score pretty soon. Kinda cramping my style.”

Rarity and Twilight share a look, and then both look back at Rainbow. “Uhuh... I guess I can go do my hair again... Why yes look at the time! Hehe, hair time! Sp-Spike!” Frantically, Rarity opened the door and stumbled out.

“You’re gonna score huh?”

“Sorry, I’ve learned that the best way to get rid of Rarity is just overload her with rudeness.” Rainbow returned to Twilight’s side. Of course, the purple pony was lost in thought now.

“Just out of curiosity, since it’s been bothering me since this morning...” Twilight began with a curious expression. “If you wanted all of this, why did you freak out when you woke up in my arms?”

“Oh that? Yeah I guess that was kind of weird wasn’t it.” Rainbow lifted herself into the air and carried herself over to the bed. “To be honest, I was just shocked that everything worked out so easily, and so fast.”

“Worked out?” Twilight approached the bed but didn’t get on it. “Like, you were planning this? You aren’t afraid of the dark, are you?”

“I am,” Rainbow corrected, showing a bit of humility in those two words. “Do you think I’m that good at acting? I’m terrified of the dark, just ask Fluttershy. But I’ll admit I did plan to make my first move on this trip.”

Twilight noticed a light feeling in her stomach at this admission. Something about it was strangely... arousing to her. “You? You planned this all out? When?”

“When I found out about the trip...”

“That was a month ago.” Twilight’s mind, being far more adept than Rainbow’s, was able to immediately comprehend the situation. “You planned this out a month ago?”

“Yeah, totally did,” Rainbow laughed, patting a hoof on the bed. “Kinda like something you’d do isn’t it? Now I know you’re tired, just get in this bed and stop thinking. Seriously, you’re brain kind of freaks me out sometimes.”

“Well the same goes for your recklessness.” Twilight crawled into bed, noting how incredibly fluffy Rainbow’s pillow was.

“Cloud. Comfy isn’t it?” Two hooves beat against the pillow to let out a white puff. She then buried her face into Twilight’s breast. “Though unicorn is a pretty close second I guess.”

“Don’t lie to me, I’m nowhere as soft as a cloud.” Twilight wrapped her hooves around the curled up pegasus.

“You’d be surprised, Twilight. You’d be surprised.”

4. Feel it Floating in the Air

Routine. This was becoming very, very routine for Twilight, and that only proved to make it more comfortable. ‘It must be morning’ she thought, opening her eyes to look at the rising sun. Too bad the sun isn’t what she saw.

It was still pitch black. That didn’t deter her at all though, as she got right out of bed and picked up her journal from the floor. A yawn escaped her tired throat as Rainbow stirred in the bed.

“Twilight...?” she asked groggily. “Where ya goin’?”

“It’s study time. I do that every morning.”

Rainbow’s eyes opened, much in the same fashion that Twilight’s had, but her reaction was far different. Seeing that her vision looked identical to the inside of her eye lids, her panic knob cranked all the way up.

“Twilight! Where are you? Where’d you go?” She grabbed the pillow and curled up tight with it. Twilight could almost hear her shivers vibrating the bed where it stood.

“Calm down Rainbow, I’m right here.” She searched the floor with her hoof to find her pen, which clattered across the floor when it made contact with the prying limb. The clatter was matched in racket by a terrified scream from the other side of the room. “Rainbow, you ok?”

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh,” Rainbow repeated over and over, trying to will the darkness away. Her breathing was becoming sporadic, labored, even a little painful. “Twilight... *wheeze* wh-where are... *huff* y-you...”

“Rainbow? Are you hyperventilating? Oh my goodness you’re hyperventilating!” Realization struck just then that it wasn’t in fact morning, and was in fact closer to midnight. Twilight immediately dropped the book and rushed to the bed, climbing in and wrapping her arms around the mortified wreck of a pegasus. “I forgot, I’m so sorry, please just breath! I’ve got you.”

“Please don’t leave me again Twilight! For the love of Celestia don’t let it get me...” Rainbow’s shaking lessened a little, being absorbed by the stable hooves of Twilight.

“Let what get you?” Twilight had an idea of what she meant, but her inquiring mind wanted to know.

“It. I dunno, that?” Rainbow snapped a hoof at lightening speed to point at nothing in particular, but it did connect with Twilight’s jaw on the way. Twilight reeled back, tumbling off of the bed. “OHMYGOSHWHEREDIDYOUGODIDITGETYOU?”

“No I’m fine... Ow...” Twilight rubbed her jaw, feeling the joint pop a little. Dash sure had some power to her punch. “I’m right here, I’ll be right there.” Finding her way to the bed, a little dazed, she found the bed empty. “Dash?”

A cold drop of... something dropped from the ceiling and landed on Twilight’s nose. She reached her tongue up and tasted it. Salty. Dash was on the ceiling, and she was crying.

“It can’t fly. It can’t fly. It can’t fly.” Rainbow recited to herself from above. Twilight looked up despite her inability to see and laughed to herself. Of course, she kept it to herself as to not offend Rainbow.

“Rainbow, I’m right here, you can come down,”

“Nope!”

A bump on the track causes the pen to clatter again.

“NOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPE!”

Twilight sighed, not entirely knowing what to do in this situation. “Dash, whatever it is, it’s not in here. Come down and I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

“Not until I can see the bed. It can’t fly... Twilight can it fly?” Rainbow’s breathing could be heard from the next car over if Pinkie was awake.

Being the logical, fact driven pony that she was, Twilight gave the best answer she could think of. “What, the darkness? Well Princess Luna is essentially the night, and she can fly... So, yes I suppose it can fly.”

“IT CAN FLY?” Rainbow screamed, fighting between terror and tiredness to not pass out. “It’s not as fast as me. I can fly away. It won’t catch me! I can fly and it won’t find me!”

Twilight grunted in frustration, trying to come up with a solution. At last she decided that the best option would be to simply play along. With a sigh, she focused everything she could into her horn, illuminating it. Eventually the glow from her magic enveloped the entire room, creating a day-light illusion. “I’ll hold it back. Get in bed.”

Without skipping a beat, Rainbow kicked off from the tin ceiling and embedded herself in the mattress. Twilight walked over to the bed, secured herself in it, wrapped her hooves around Dash, and powered down her spell.

“It’s back.” Rainbow whispered, probably to not be heard by the darkness.

“It is, but I won’t let it touch you. Go back to sleep.”

“But it’ll get... me...”

“It won’t get you Rainbow, I’m right here to-”

Twilight is cut off by a rather loud snore by Rainbow.

“You’re lucky you’re adorable...”

Rainbow let out a feeble yawn. Her throat hurt a little, as if she’d been screaming all night. The thought is dismissed, and she turned over to place a good morning kiss on Twilight’s lips.

“Morning Twili,” she greeted, to which Twilight opened her eyes.

“Twili? Did you just call me Twili?”

“Yeah, I thought it would sound cute,” Twilight gave her a mixed look of tired and disturbed. “I’m, uh, not very good at the whole cute thing...”

“You slept well I see.” Twilight asked while making it very clear that she was not a morning person.

“Yeah, I slept like a log!”

“I heard...” She cocked her jaw a little to get a kink out of it, but found the task to be rather difficult. “I also felt...”

“Whoa, Twilight, what happened to your face?” Rainbow bolted to a sitting position and stared at a very large bruise. The bottom half of Twilight’s face was swollen, though not terribly, but her chin sported a large black spot.

“You happened to my face,” Twilight reminded, wondering if Rainbow was being sarcastic or if she really didn’t remember.

“What? I did that?”

She didn’t remember. “Yeah, you freaked out when I got out of bed last night and punched me in the jaw. How do you not remember that?”

“After I realized you weren’t in the bed, I kind of blacked out. I don’t remember what happened.” Rainbow hugged her pillow, hiding her face behind it. “I’m uh... I’m really sorry about that.”

“It’s fine Dash... I can cover it up with a spell.” Twilight sat up and sent a tendril of lavender magic to engulf her jaw. Slowly, the offending wound was subdued, and eventually gone altogether. “It still hurts, but at least nopony will notice.”

Rainbow dropped the pillow and wrapped her hooves around Twilight's body. "I just wanted to thank you again for being so cool about all of this. What you did last night was awesome."

"I thought you didn't remember last night..." Twilight returned the hug, but mostly to prevent herself from falling back to sleep.

"Well, yeah, but I remember everything after you turned the lights on." Rainbow backed away from the hug and held Twilight up by the shoulders. She also planted a kiss on Twilight's horn, earning a small flickering glow. "Your magic saved the day again."

Twilight blushed, not being one to enjoy much praise. Also, the kiss on her horn felt kind of funny. "You're awful affectionate this morning Rainbow, what's up with that?"

"I dunno, just feel really good." Rainbow catches Twilight's angry glare and frowns. "Right, sorry..."

"You know what? It's fine. I'm not even mad." Twilight got up from the bed and readjusted her eyes to the bright light shining through the window. "Because we'll be in Trottingham this afternoon and all of this awkwardness can end!"

"End?" Rainbow slumped over, recollecting her pillow. "Like... end end?"

"Oh no, not like that Dash. We'll just have more room to get comfortable. This train is making my head hurt." Twilight knocked a hoof against her temple to try and kick a bad migraine, but it only proved to make it worse. "We just have to focus on the celebration, and then..." Her false calm began to slip back into the anxiety that really consumed her mind. "The celebration! Rainbow I haven't done any preparations for the celebration and we'll be there in... What time is it?"

"9"

"In 3 hours!" Twilight frantically gathered her journal and flipped through the pages, as if the answer lied within. "I lost track of time! Oh, I knew I should have started working when I woke up last night! This is bad. This is very bad! I need at least 7 hours to make all of my preparations and I don't even have half that!"

"Twilight, calm down, what do you even need to do?" Rainbow joined her frantic other half on the floor, cocking her head to the side in confusion. "I doubt you'll find much in your journal."

"I need to make a list," Twilight spouted, as if it was obvious. "And then I need to make a checklist, and then I need to cross reference both so that they coincide and can be efficiently followed in tandem! And then I need to document both lists in one file which can be accessed by any party involved, which would only be me and Spike. I have to study the layout of the city, and I need to learn the names, I have to do so much! I have to Rainbow!"

Rainbow carefully closed the journal and sighed, chuckling lightly. "Or, you could not do any of that. If I were you, I'd just wing it."

"And that's why the princess put me in charge! She knew I would do it, but I didn't do it! And now she's gonna-"

"She's not going to do anything crazy Twilight," Rainbow reminded. "When was the last time she actually punished you?"

"Well... Never as bad as I assume," Twilight recalled, feeling a little foolish. "But there's a first time for everything!"

"Dude, this is Princess Celestia we're talking about! She's chill with pretty much everything!" Rainbow laughed and patted Twilight on the head. "Come on, loosen up, I'll bet you 20 bits that the princess planned this whole thing!"

Twilight raised an eyebrow as her eyes narrowed. "You think she would do that?"

"She would totally do that."

"You're on! But I'm not betting bits." Twilight lifted her journal as she proceeded to the door.

"Fine, what's the bet?" Rainbow smiled, always loving a good bet.

"If I win, and Celestia proves to you that she did not plan for this whole trip to go this way, you have to study with me for a whole week." Twilight provided a smug smile, pressing a hoof against the door.

"And if I win then you don't get to read for a whole week," Rainbow scoffed, knowing that would get under Twilight's skin. Twilight's eye twitched. "You have to come out and play with me, and your books have to stay on the shelves."

"But I have to study!"

"No buts, it's that or 20 bits." Rainbow crossed her arms and stood her ground.

"Fine, but I know I'm going to win anyway so I'm not worried!" Twilight opened the door and took a step. "Now we need to pack. I'll meet you back here in an hour?"

"Sounds good Twilight." Rainbow gave her a happy smile as she walked out of the room. Once she was gone, the love-struck pegasus let her backside fall to the floor. "And she's not even stressed anymore. Classic misdirection. Rainbow 1, Twilight 0. I am so winning this relationship."

"You know you can talk to us, right Twi?" Applejack suggested, watching the purple unicorn stuff vast quantities of parchment into a saddle bag.

"Of course I know that Applejack," Twilight dismissed, only half paying attention. "But I don't have anything I need to talk about."

"You are aware that we all know, right?" Twilight stopped for a second, and then continued packing as if she hadn't heard anything. "Come on Twi! We're your friends! It'd be better'n breakin' Rarity's face and threatenin' to murder Spike!"

Finally acknowledging her quaint guest, Twilight snapped her saddlebag shut with a lot of magical force and dropped it on the floor. "And I suppose you know exactly what's going on, don't you?"

"Well I'd be a right fool to ignore the signs! We ain't seen a lick a either of you 'cept for that miserable excuse for a meal we all 'shared'." Applejack stomped towards Twilight angrily, ready to just explode at any given moment. "And you call me stubborn! I haven't seen a worse case a nerves since Big Macintosh thought he ran over Winona with a plow!"

"Well I'm sorry Applejack, but I don't think you understand. This isn't about Rainbow and myself, and this certainly doesn't concern you!"

"Well Ah never!" Applejack pushed the saddle bag out of the way to stand hoof to hoof with Twilight. "You're clearly upset over somethin', and the last time you got like this the entire town tried burnin' itself down for a doll! Mah brother ain't let anypony touch that thing since he got it! And you're trying to tell me it ain't none a my business?"

Twilight had to back up a little. Applejack was big, at least bigger than her. The country pony stared down at her like a lion stalking it's prey. "I don't see why you're so upset about this Applejack. I'll figure this out, just give it time."

"WE DON'T GOT TIME!"

A heavy knock is heard from the back entrance to Twilight's room, followed by a matured, yet regal voice.

"Will you two keep it down? We are trying to sleep!"

The two look at each other sheepishly. "Sorry!" they apologized in unison. The argument continued in whispers.

"All Ah'm sayin' is that if you don't stop actin' like a scared barn-cat soon you're really gonna stick your hoof in your mouth." She placed a gentle hoof on Twilight's cheek, earning a painful wince. "Thought so, you're hurt."

"I'm not hurt Applejack, and how would you even know that?"

"Ah work on a farm Twi, Ah've seen enough injuries to know when your jaw's hangin' loose. What happened?" Twilight averted her gaze, blushing quite obviously. The color of her face where the bruise used to be was a darker color than the rest of her blush.

"I don't want to talk about it Applejack..."

Applejack gasped, connecting what seemed to be the case in her head. "Did... Did Rainbow do that to you?"

Twilight caught herself nodding slowly, but quickly changed to shake out an insistent 'NO'. She didn't know what to do now. To explain, she'd either have to let Applejack think that Rainbow was abusive, or tell her that Rainbow was afraid of the dark. Either way, it would involve explaining the relationship and that was not an option.

"I fell off my bed... On a book..." she explained, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"A'right, now I'm really worried sugar cube. If she's pushin' you around then you need to tell somepony." Applejack gave a supportive look, to which Twilight just face-hoofed.

"AAAUUUG! Please, nothing is going on! Rainbow is certainly not 'pushin' me around'," Twilight assured, mimicking Applejack's accent rather insultingly. "Please, I just need to pack, and then prepare... Just... I'll explain everything tomorrow, I promise. I just need to get organized."

Applejack doffed her stetson and backed off, indicating her intent to leave. "Ah'll trust your judgement Twi, but Ah ain't lettin' you beat yourself up over somethin' that Ah'm sure ain't a big deal."

"Thank you... I just need time to think right now."

Applejack carefully closed the door behind her, joining the rest of their friends in the lobby car. Once there, she sat at the table with a deck of cards on it.

"So? How'd it go?" Rarity asked, picking up the cards and shuffling it.

"Well if they ain't sleepin' together then Ah'm a parakeet's accountant." Applejack rested her elbow on the table, and held her tired head in her hoof. "But she ain't talkin' none. You think somepony might wanna check on Rainbow? She's been in her room awful long and she only brought a pillow and a blanket."

Rarity placed the cards, expertly shuffled and straightened, on the table and stood up. "Oh I suppose you're right Applejack. Perhaps I shall go have words with her."

Rainbow remained laying on her bed, resting her eyes for a bit. She didn't have much to pack, so she spent her time sleeping and dreaming, waiting for Twilight to come back.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Ah, that must be her." Rainbow bolted up and skipped over to the door. If anypony was watching, she would never do that, but she was in a rather light and fluffy mood today. To her chagrin, Rarity stepped in once the door was opened.

"Good morning darling, I must say this room smells a bit musty." Rarity trotted over to the window and slid it open a crack. "One must air out their room once in a while!"

"Rarity, what are you doing?" Rainbow floated over to the window and closed it back up. "Aren't you packing?"

"Oh I packed last night. After you so rudely expelled me from here, I had not else to do but pack my things." She re-opened the window, wider this time, and turned her nose up. "Honestly Rainbow, how can you allow your room to smell like sweat at all times?"

Trying to pull the window closed again, Rainbow had to give up without realizing that Rarity had locked it open. "Because I like the heat! And besides, we're getting off the train soon anyway. Now I'm expecting someone soon so you should probably go."

"Oh who, Twilight?" Rarity sat down on the bed and smiled wryly. "I'm sure she won't mind me being here, after all you were just going to study, were you not?"

"Buck no I wasn't gonna study!" Rainbow defended, but that only left one other option.

"Then tell me Rainbow, what is it that you were going to do, hmmm?"

"Pack?" Rainbow looked around the room until she noticed the pen on the floor. "This! She forgot her pen!"

Rarity laughed out loud, knowing that she had Rainbow cornered. "And what, might I ask you, is her pen doing in your room if you weren't studying?"

"Nothing! She dropped it when she...! Aw horse-feathers..." Rainbow lowered her snout to create a rather pathetic looking defeat. "I guess you already know, why am I even arguing?"

"It's quite alright Rainbow Dash, I just have one question." Rainbow lifted her eyes to see Rarity getting comfortable. "What's it like?"

"Huh?"

"How was it? I must know!" Her tone mimicked a gossipy school-filly, eager to hear of a friend's love life. "You're in love Rainbow, I can see it in your eyes. I would like to think I have a good eye for romance."

Rainbow had to think for a second. Clearly Rarity already knew, but how much should she tell? "Well what do you want to hear?"

"EVERYTHING!" Rarity placed her cheeks in her hooves and her eyes sparkled with fantasies. "I noticed that Twilight was in control, meaning that you're the mare in the relationship! Oh I never would have guessed but it's just too cute! Now tell, me how does it feel?"

"Uh... That's not really how it works Rarity... We're kind of both the mare, since we're both mares..." Rainbow wasn't sure whether to be insulted or embarrassed. In certain situation, she had to admit Twilight was in control. "And I don't understand what you mean. How does what feel?"

"Being in love! The butterflies in your stomach, the late night rendezvous, oh the romance of it all!" Rarity rolled over onto her back and hugged Rainbow's pillow. "Why, I've only ever been in love, truly in love once. It was the best weekend of my life..."

"I guess it does feel pretty cool..." Rainbow shifted her eyes nervously, wondering when Twilight would come back. 'Oh no, Twilight!' she thought, realizing that she wasn't doing a very good job of keeping their secret.

"Just cool? Oh Rainbow, even you must have something to call it other than cool." Rarity stood and rushed over to face Rainbow directly. "How about exhilarating? Life-changing? Absolutely the best thing ever? It must be more than just... cool."

The blushing pegasus looked away, completely ashamed of how much her eyes would tell. It was so much more than just cool. "I guess it's kind of... Yeah all of those things I guess..."

"Oh Rainbow I'm so happy for you two! When we get back home, I want to know all of the details. We can go to the spa, we can talk! Oh I'm just so excited! A chance to have girl talk with Rainbow Dash? You have just made this trip, what is it that you say? 30% cooler?" Rarity continued on, walking half way through the door. Of course then she remembered what she was really there for. "Rainbow dear... You really shouldn't hide it from everypony..."

"I have to... Twilight will leave me if I tell..."

"Now that's silly, I'm sure she wouldn't go and do that! Why, if I wasn't afraid she'd attempt to gouge out my other eye I'd go over there myself and tell her it was all ok!" Rarity winced slightly remembering her currently hidden shiner.

"You're not mad about that?"

"Oh I'm absolutely livid about the encounter! It wasn't your fault though, and to be honest she scares me. I have half a mind to clock her a good one right on the jaw!" She caught herself in the downward spiral towards anger, and recomposed herself. "If I were a more violent pony that is. Oh, and be a dear and tell her to lay off of Spike, he simply doesn't deserve that sort of abuse!"

"Yeah, I guess he doesn't... I'll let her know." Rainbow smiled, sincerely for once, and Rarity walked out of the car. "Well I guess that could have gone worse... Now where is she anyway?"

To Rainbow's surprise, the train came to a full stop. The city of Trottingham could be seen through the window, inviting her to come out.

"Whoa, has it really been that long? Huh, I wonder what happened to Twilight..."

"Saddle bag, check! Journal, Check! Spike cowering behind the door? Oh now what's gotten into you?" Twilight stepped towards the door that led out towards the platform. Spike was doing his best to not be seen by the emotionally disturbed unicorn.

"N-nothing's gotten into me T-Twilight," Spike re-assured his parent figure. "Just a little cold, that's all."

'That sounds familiar...' Twilight thought as she mentally checked off everything. "Well then, everything is accounted for!" She took a step into the station and sighed in relief. 'Now I can just organize this celebration, relax with Rainbow and...' Her thoughts trailed off, leaving her head blank for a moment. "Rainbow!" She dropped her things on the ground and ran back into the train. She forgot something very important.

5. Left On Your Own

"Rainbow!" Twilight yelled out, though she really didn't need to. Rainbow was just entering the lobby car with an overstuffed saddle bag on her back. A corner of her blanket peeked out from the satchel.

"I'm right here Twilight," Rainbow laughed, though her laugh was not her typical jovial sort. It was almost mocking. "I was just coming to find you."

"I'm so sorry! I forgot! Applejack was talking to me and I just forgot you were waiting and-" She got cut off by a simple kiss, as Rainbow made her way to the exit.

"Don't worry about it, I understand." Her mouth coiled into a smirk, looking away from Twilight.

"Wait... You're not mad?" Twilight asked, a little baffled. After her attitude today and then forgetting about her, she thought Rainbow would be at least a little angry.

"Nope, not mad. Come on, we need to get off the train."

Twilight searched her mind for the appropriate reaction. She was confused for one, but also a little worried. 'She's hiding something...' she thought, quickly recollecting herself and following closely behind.

The platform was busy, bustling with ponies getting off of the trains in other terminals. Friends reunited, families welcomed their visitors, and tourists marveled at the sight that was Trottingham. It was a magnificent view for sure, something more cultured then most are used to. Twilight disregarded it however, for she was a Canterlot pony born and raised. Her friends though, they were another story.

"Oh isn't it just marvelous? For this weekend, we shall live like princesses!" Rarity did a little twirl where she stood, trying to contain her excitement. Fluttershy shrunk a little, daunted by the size of it all.

"It's all so... Big..." she muttered, but Rainbow placed a hoof around her shoulder.

"Nothing to fear pal, this is the big city! Stick with us and you won't get hurt!"

"But what if I get lost? What if one of us gets lost and we can't find each other?" Fluttershy gave a brief shiver and squinted to try and expel the thought. "That would be just awful."

"And that's why I've devised a buddy system!" Twilight exclaimed, gaining the attention of the others. "Since it's a new city and we aren't familiar with the layout, it only makes sense. When any of us needs to leave the group for any reason, make sure to bring somepony with you."

Applejack laughed off the idea, taking a step towards the city. "Ah think Ah can find my way around just fine Twi. Ah reckon Ah'll have this place memorized in no time a-t'all!"

"Well I think it's a wonderful idea!" A large white hoof made itself present just before Applejack. "Wouldn't want anypony getting lost!"

The entire group knelt to the floor, except of course for Twilight Sparkle. "Princess Celestia!" She ran forward and gave the princess a big hug. "I didn't know you'd be here to greet us!"

"But of course Twilight, I was on the train." The six friends give each other puzzled glances. Twilight heard something to her left and craned her neck to check. Sure enough it was Luna pulling a pile of bags out on the next terminal.

"You took the train? Why didn't you tell me?"

"We wished for thou and thine friends to enjoy the time together." Luna had made her way over, leaving most of her luggage with the attendants.

"Though I regret to say that my little sister did a little bit of snooping." Twilight felt her entire body seize up. "I believe she even yelled at you this morning? I'm very sorry for her, and I'm sure she is too."

'How much does she know?' Twilight pondered, trying to bring her self back to life. "So you, uh, you were watching us?"

"We only wished to make sure thine trip was a success!" Luna gave a motherly smile, but it looked more like a cannibalistic grin.

"And you were the one who yelled at me an' Twi?" Applejack inquired. "Well shoot, Ah thought that voice sounded mighty recognizable!"

Twilight worked at relaxing her body little by little so as to not look like a statue. "But Princess Luna, why are you here? Aren't you needed in Canterlot?"

"We have control over the night sky in all places Twilight Sparkle! Our place is wherever the moon may shine!" She then dropped her regal tone and explained further. "I would also hate to miss the celebration of my own defeat..."

Celestia motioned a hoof towards the exit of the station and smiled warmly, succeeding far more than Luna. "Shall we? I'd love to show you all where you will be staying! I've made sure to reserve a nice suite for the six of you to share."

"So like one big slumber party? WHOOPEE!" Pinkie Pie exploded from her kneeling stance with a fanfare of confetti. Her head now adorned with a party hat and her back covered in colorful streamers, she bounced happily towards the open streets.

The group began walking, looking every which direction to take in the sights of a new place. The buildings and residents were all so different than they were used to. Twilight stayed up front with Celestia and Luna, while Rainbow Dash followed close behind her.

"I have so much I need to tell you about Princess! It's been too long." Twilight beamed, forgetting about most of her former stress.

"And I have much to tell you my most promising student. But first, I think it would be important to take some time for your friends." Her tone was as happy and motherly as ever, but something in it hinted at being commanding.

"I spend plenty of time with them Princess, and I never get to see you."

"Oh? How was the train ride? Did you have fun?" Again that slight hint in her voice suggested almost too much. Twilight blushed, wishing she could actually claim to have spent time with anypony other than Rainbow Dash.

"Well actually Princess..." She hesitated, wishing it was easier to talk about. "I was hoping maybe I could talk to you about something... In private..."

Celestia's smile was finally graced with pure happiness, nothing underlying. "But of course Twilight. After dinner we can speak, just you and I. Until then, you have some preparations to make!"

"That's the other thing..."

"I know, and it's alright." Celestia looked down at her student and gave a wink. "You'll have plenty of time in the room."

Rainbow Dash could hardly hear any of what they were talking about, but was surprised to find the princess of the night walking next to her.

In the lowest, most discrete volume that Luna could muster, she struck a conversation with the nervous pegasus. "You have taken a liking to my sister's protege, hast thou not?"

"I... Huh?" Rainbow Dash had to think about it, deciding whether or not she had just heard that from the younger alicorn. "Wait... So you totally were involved weren't you?"

"I cannot claim such a thing Rainbow Dash. Though I have been encouraged by my sister to try and speak with you, try to get to know you better," Luna explained, being as inviting as she could. "We- I know that you are afraid of me, you do not have to pretend."

The pegasus narrowed her eyes and scowled. "Now who said I was afraid of you? I'm not afraid of anything!"

"We are the night young Rainbow Dash, I know." She let out a disappointed sigh. "We can feel the eyes of any who gaze upon my stars. We also... I shall wish you to never repeat this... See all that transpires under my moon..."

"So you know-"

"Everything." Luna smiled again, this time managing a more passable excuse. "And it's ok. Also, we have arrived."

The sizable group halted before a large tower of a building. It stretched twelve stories into the sky, and the doors were adorned with golden handles. Rarity nearly fainted.

"You mean we are to stay here?" Her jaw couldn't fall any lower, taking in every inch of the expertly shined windows. "I- And we- Ooooh." She slowly collapsed to the ground, only to be caught by Spike.

"Your room is at the very top. It comes with a living space, three bed rooms, and everything else you would ever need to be comfortable!" Princess Celestia held the door open to let them all in. The carpets were elegant, the decor bragged a level of culture that not even Rarity could have imagined. Rarity found a way to faint even more.

"I don't know what to say Princess... This is incredible! We are all very thankful!" Twilight gave a polite bow, but Celestia only laughed.

"Oh there's no need to thank me young one, I want my primary planner to feel welcome!" Celestia approached the check in counter, everypony dropping to their knees in respect as she passed, and received a set of keys without question. "Come my pupils, I shall show you to your room."

The elevator service was slow, and the contraption itself was cramped. Four brawny pegasi pulled a protected box up through a narrow shaft, stopping when the opening showed the very top floor. The hall way was very empty, very few doors adorning the walls. Celestia again took the lead, beckoning for her company to follow.

"You six are to stay in this room." She stopped at the third room into the hallway with the number '1203' emblazoned in gold. "My sister and I will be staying in room 1204, so if you need anything we will be right next door!"

A gilded key levitated to the lock and twisted, opening the door to reveal a grotto of luxury and pampering. Rarity fainted a third time, which proved too much for Spike's back as they both tumbled to the floor. Pinkie did a cartwheel through the door, ending with a near perfect spin-flip directly onto the couch.

"It bounces you guys! The couch is bouncy! WEEEEE!" She continued to do flips, spins, and odd grabs off of the cushions that rebounded to her weight each time she lost contact. The remaining four watched, up and down, as Pinkie came closer and closer to the ceiling.

"I apologize we could not get a separate room for each of you, but it just would not be realistic." Celestia began making her way towards her own room, allowing the group of friends to get settled in. "Oh! I almost forgot. Twilight, there are a few maps and census listings in your room. I decided to give you a head start." She gave a wink and officially left for her own suite.

Once all of the luggage had been dragged in, some more delicately than others, the affair of rooming was to be addressed.

"If I am to share a room with anyone, it will simply have to be Fluttershy." Rarity began carrying a small box towards one of the rooms. The room on the right had a note on it, indicating it to be for Twilight. The other two were fair game.

"Me? Oh, well I wouldn't want to put anypony else out if they wanted to..." Fluttershy scraped a hoof at the carpet, wishing she hadn't been the first pick.

"You are quiet and won't disturb me during my beauty sleep," Rarity explained, pushing her door open. "It's decided, Fluttershy will be rooming with me."

Pinkie launched off of the couch and landed on Applejack's back. "Then that leaves me and you as roomies! Oh this will be fun-a-rific! I've always wanted to get to know a little about Applejack!"

"Not to burst your bubble Pinkie Pie but we ain't the only ones left."

"Well I figured that Twilight and Dashie would room together so that they'd have plenty of time to f-"

Applejack shoved her hoof in Pinkie's mouth as fast as she could, clearing her throat. "Ah'd love to room with you Pinkie Pie!"

Twilight and Rainbow both shared a glance, turning beet red. "Well uh... Yeah I guess if I have to room with the egghead I don't mind..." Rainbow backed towards the room set aside for Twilight while dragging her saddle bag across the floor. "I'm just gonna go unpack."

"Good idea! I need to get started on some work." Twilight likewise pulled her bag into her room, a few pieces of paper falling out through the barely closed sides.

Pinkie and Applejack were alone, and Applejack bucked her rear up to knock Pinkie off of her back. "Pinkie, sometimes Ah wonder about you..."

"You're jea-lous!" Pinkie sang as she landed on a single hoof, showing off her fancy hoof-work.

"Jealous? Ah ain't jealous!" Applejack corrected, beginning to lose hope in this vacation. "What in tarnation do you think Ah'm even jealous of?"

The pink mare walked backwards, though in the style of walking forward. She moon walked to the door, kicking it open with a hind leg. "You're jealous," she began, producing a wide brimmed hat and placing it on her head. "Cause I got swag." She disappeared into the room, leaving the farmer alone.

"This weekend is gonna be a nightmare... Might as well unpack..." With her ears flipped down in anger, Applejack begrudgingly pulled her hooves towards the door to her doom. A loud crash from within only confirmed her fears. "Celestia help me..."

"This is so awesome!" Rainbow proclaimed while falling back on the mattress. "Our own room! Now we don't have to sneak around and we can spend as much time together as we want!"

"Yes, awesome, have you seen my pen?" Twilight dug a hoof through her pack to find the utensil, but nothing came of it.

Rainbow stifled a snicker and rolled over on the bed. "Nope, not since last night!"

"I need it to write some things down. Are there any others in this place?"

"I don't think so." Rainbow answered, shooting a quick glance at her saddle bag to make sure it was closed.

"UUUGH! I need to get started on my list. Rainbow, do you think you could check out in the living room?" Twilight began checking under each piece of paper, and then placing them all down precisely where they were.

"I dunno Twilight, I'm pretty sure there aren't any."

Twilight turned and gave Rainbow her best puppy dog eyes. "Pretty please?"

Rainbow's heart melted, and she got up from her comfortable spot. "Alright, alright, I'll look. Now stop being so cute it's not fair." She walked over to the desk to give the pleading unicorn a soft kiss, pulling her in longingly. After contact was broken, Rainbow ruffled her mane and walked out the door.

The living room was empty, other than Fluttershy who was sleeping on the couch.

"Yo Shy, what are you doing out here?"

With a soft yawn, Fluttershy opened her eyes and smiled at her friend. "Oh just taking a nap, Rarity suggested that I vacated the room while she decorated."

"Well that's dumb." Rainbow retaliated, making her way to the dining table to check. "Hey do you know if there are any pens here?"

"Not out here, but Rarity has one in our room," Fluttershy recalled, hoping to be able to help her friend. "You can have it if you-"

"Keep it." Rainbow double checked a few spots around the suite to make sure it was pen free and let out a relieved sigh. "If you find any more, take them. Hide all of the pens that you find."

"But why would you want me to hide the pens?" Fluttershy raised her head from the couch cushion and looked inquisitively at Rainbow.

"It's kind of a game I'm playing with Twilight." The playful pegasus sat on the floor to speak with Fluttershy. "She forgot about me this morning in the train, so instead of being mad I thought I'd just play keep away. Her pen is in my bag."

Fluttershy sat up all the way and gave Rainbow a somewhat disapproving stare. "Isn't that a little mean? She needs to do her work Rainbow, that's the reason we're all here."

Rainbow's ears flattened, but she held her ground defiantly. "Well she promised me she'd come back and see me before we got here, and she never did."

"I know you're feeling a lot of mixed emotions right now Rainbow Dash, but I'm sure you could talk to her about it. Hiding things from her just doesn't seem like the right thing to do." Rainbow was taken aback, not expecting all of that from the demure pegasus that usually held her tongue.

"Mixed emotions? Who said I had emotions? Come on Shy, that's just silly."

"I've known you longer than the others Rainbow Dash, I can tell when you're hiding something, and it's not just a pen." Fluttershy stood up off the couch and sat to face Rainbow directly. "I'm not going to ask about the dynamics of your relationship, but keeping things from her will only make it worse."

"Yeah I guess you're right..." Everything she said was true, and Rainbow Dash had to admit that Fluttershy had this way of knowing just what to say to her. "I'll give her the pen back..." She started towards her room again, but had just one more thing on her mind. "Shy... How many of you know?"

"We all know Rainbow, but I promise I won't say anything to Twilight." Fluttershy gave an assuring smile. "I'm here for you if you ever need to talk. For now I just wanted to give you some advice."

"Didn't you already give me some advice?"

"Oh, well, yes, but this is more important."

"What is it then?"

"Take it slow." Fluttershy provided a worried look. "Don't you think you're jumping into this a little fast? None of us knew there was anything between you two until it suddenly happened on the train... I just don't want you or Twilight to get hurt."

"I've got this Fluttershy. If there's anypony who can handle a little speed, it's me. Thanks for the talk though, glad to know you're cool with this." Rainbow made her way to the door and opened it. She gave a thankful smile to her friend just before closing it.

"Oh Rainbow Dash... Please be careful." Fluttershy stared out the window to watch a flock of birds fly overhead. "Your heart is more fragile than you might think..."

The room was a mess. Papers were thrown all over and charts were hanging from the bed frame. The only thing that remained untouched was Rainbow Dash's saddle bag.

"I know I had a pen! I used it on the train! Think Twilight, think... Where was the last place I used my pen..." Twilight paced back and forth in the room, matting down the soft carpet where her hooves trailed over and over. "The last place I-"

"I'm back." Rainbow closed the door and made her way over to her bag. "There aren't any pens out there. Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"

"I don't have time Rainbow Dash, I need to find my pen so I can work!"

"It won't take long Twilight, please." Rainbow begged, wanting to finally get some things out in the open.

"I'm sorry Rainbow, but this is important!"

"And I'm not?" She didn't mean to say it, but it came out. That was, after all, how she felt. "I have your stupid pen, now will you just sit down and talk to me?"

Twilight felt her heart stop as she once again recognized what she was doing. She dropped the parchment that she had been searching under and made her way over to the perturbed mare on the bed.

"I can talk..." She lowered her nose, feeling ashamed of herself. "What did you need to talk to me about?"

"Are you sure you're ok with all of this?" Rainbow set her eyes on an odd colored spot on the wall. She wasn't at all the foolhardy dare-devil anymore, she was a concerned mare-friend.

"Of course I am!" Twilight placed her hoof over Rainbow's, hoping it would ease the tension. "What makes you think I'm not?"

"You're not acting like yourself. Ever since I came into your room a couple nights ago, you've been acting kind of crazy." Rainbow broke her sight from the wall and looked into Twilight's eyes. "And I'm just worried that you don't want to be with me. Like you're just doing this so you don't have to be wrong..."

Twilight felt a knot in her throat form. She felt like a monster to say the least. "Rainbow... I do want to be with you... I'm just...Why didn't you say something?"

"Because I was scared..." They both sat in silence, pondering how to continue. Rainbow was the first to break the silence. "I don't do well with losing and... Well, I don't want to lose you..."

"But Rainbow, you aren't losing me! Why would you say that?" Twilight placed another hoof on Rainbow's and held it to her heart. "You've done nothing but make me happy!"

Rainbow retracted her hoof and folded her forelegs on her lap. "But you're not happy. I know you're not happy and I know why you're not happy."

Twilight tried to reply but it just didn't happen. Rainbow continued.

"It was unexpected. You hadn't planned for this. Your schedule is completely blown because of me." She blinked back a tear and leaned back on her elbows. "If not for me, this whole vacation would be going great. We'd all be out there playing games and laughing, but I ruined all of it."

"You didn't ruin anything!" Twilight noticed the pain in Rainbow's eyes and laid back. "Come here, it'll be ok. I promise."

"Pinkie Promise?"

"Don't do this to me Rainbow Dash..." Twilight closed her eyes, hesitant to commit to a Pinkie Promise. This was a big uncertainty and she was afraid that it would be a promise she couldn't keep.

"Please." Rainbow was on the verge of full on sobbing. "Just Pinkie Promise me that..."

"That what?" Twilight was even more so afraid of what she had to promise to.

"That you won't break my heart..." There was that silence again. Twilight felt her mind racing, trying to solve the problem as logically as it could. Just then, however, she let her heart make it's own decision.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly..." She gulped, trying to force out that last phrase. "Stick a cupcake... in my eye..."

Rainbow Dash let out a relieved sigh and fell back, curling up into Twilight's side. "Thanks Twilight... It means a lot." She reached her nose up as much as she could, nuzzling Twilight's neck. Twilight blushed, feeling strangely good about making that leap in spontaneity.

"Where's my pen?" Rainbow let out a giggle and flicked Twilight's ear.

"You kidding me?"

"Where's my pen Rainbow Dash?"

"Fine, it's in my saddle bag."

"Thanks." Twilight placed a kiss on top of Rainbow's head and tried to get up, but was held down by the pegasus attached to her.

"Oh, you're not getting it that easy!" Rolling on top, Rainbow pinned the studious mare to the bed. "You're gonna have to get to it first!"

Ever the strategist, Twilight swept her hind legs to the back of Rainbow's knees, forcing her off of her balance. The aggressive pegasus collapsed on top of Twilight as she wrapped her hooves behind Rainbow's neck. Rainbow had been forced into a kiss.

Twilight pulled her in passionately, rolling over to secure her place on top. Rainbow closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness of the encounter. Of course Twilight cut it short and peeled herself off the bed. "And you said it wouldn't be easy."

"Hey! Not cool!" Rainbow protested, but smiled anyway. For now, her fears had been calmed.

6. It Always Brings Me Down

The chirping of the birds filled the calm winds with music. Twilight walked alongside the princess, taking in the scenery of the park. Children played in the open field, laughing and chasing each other all for the fun of it.

"Thank you for coming with me princess. I didn't get a whole lot done in the room." Twilight lowered her head a degree to show a level of apology only a failed student could muster.

"Do not worry about it my student, I'm happy to take a walk with you." Celestia kept her face forward, offering slight nods to her subjects as they passed by. "And I believe you had something else on your mind, correct?"

"Yes, I must admit that my mind has not been on task since the night that we left." Twilight gave a courteous smile to a young colt who waved to the regal looking pair. "A lot happened on that train."

Stopping at a bench, Celestia indicated a rather lanky looking stallion tending to a shrubbery in the distance. "But first, you have a job to do! That's Bushy Greens, he is in charge of decoration."

"Right... I'lll be right back!" Twilight trotted off to greet the agriculturally minded pony, leaving Celestia by herself at the wooden seat.

She watched the two converse, reveling in the progress that her student had made. It was only two years ago that she had been so socially inept that even talking to Pinkie Pie was difficult for her. A warm smile found it's way to Celestia's face as the memories flowed in. The serenity of the park provided a perfect atmosphere for reminiscing. 'Look at her, smiling and enjoying herself.' Celestia remarked to herself silently. Twilight's face was alight, glowing as if she had stumbled upon true happiness. 'She sure seems happier then last we spoke... Perhaps it is the anonymity of a stranger that comforts her.

"I'm back!" Twilight returned, her face now supporting it's regular, half smile.

"You looked to be at peace Twilight, why do you seem so estranged now?" Celestia asked in a worried tone.

"I don't know... Maybe that can be solved with what I wanted to talk to you about." Twilight suggested. Celestia continued in the direction of the street and laughed in a motherly fashion.

"I would like to make a guess though Twilight. Would you happen to be in love?" Twilight hesitated to follow, but forced her hooves forward to join her mentor.

"How did you..." she began, resisting the urge to just throw her feelings at the all powerful being next to her.

"You act nervous and reserved around your friends," Celestia pointed out, waving a friendly hoof towards a small family sitting outside of a cafe. "And yet with Mr. Greens you looked as happy as I've ever seen you. You're afraid of the ones you love while you glow at any chance of being unknown. I know the symptoms Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight nearly tripped over a slightly protruding stone in the road. Fighting to regain her balance, she tried to recall if she really had been that comfortable with a stranger. "I suppose you're right princess... But there's more to it."

"Then please explain. I'm here to listen."

"The problem is how it happened..." Twilight had finally found her equilibrium and walked at a level pace again. "It kind of just... Happened. One moment I was perfectly happy being alone, and then sh-uh... they walked in and it just... Happened."

"And this happened on the train?" Celestia inquired. "You do not have to mince words for my sake child, you have nothing to fear."

"Rainbow Dash..." Twilight spat out, not really having a sentence to follow her outburst.

"Ah yes, the colorful young athlete! How is she?" Celestia turned to approach a bakery wedged between two larger office buildings.

"She's good... She's more than good! She's-" The day dreaming unicorn had to rewire her brain to answer correctly. "I mean, she is doing well."

A bell rang to indicate a new customer. A dark red pony with a white mane popped up from searching under the counter.

"Welcome!" he beamed, giving his most welcoming smile.

"Twilight, this is Red Velvet. He will be catering the celebration! Please, forget I'm here." Celestia found her way to a small table in the dining room, sitting to look out the window at the bustling streets.

"But Princess-" Twilight realized what Celestia was trying to prove, and continued on to converse with the baker. "Ok... Well, hello! I am Twilight Sparkle, and I am here to make sure everything is going well for the Summer Sun Celebration."

The street outside was rough, giving the appearance of age and experience. Celestia watched through the window as ponies passed, displacing the dirt between the stones with every step. She barely heard a few bits of banter between residents over the conversation taking place behind her. 'Twilight and Rainbow. I must admit it is rather cute...'

"Princess, I'm ready!"

"Oh, but of course Twilight!" Celestia stood and gave an appreciative smile to Red. "Did you notice it?"

"Notice what?"

"Your smile?" Celestia's own smile grew in size as she saw the happiness in her student's eyes.

"My what? Oh..." Twilight blushed a deep red and looked away sheepishly. "Yeah I guess I did..."

"You are happy my student, so what is it that bothers you?" Celestia gave one last wave to the proprietor of the bakery before pressing through the doors.

"Well that's the thing... I don't know why, but it just doesn't seem right." Twilight shivered as the cold stone met with her delicate hooves. "It feels like something is missing."

Celestia ceased walking to place a hoof on the tip of Twilight's horn. "Your mind is adept Twilight Sparkle." She then moved her hoof down to Twilight chest. "Your heart is inexperienced and frail. Do you think that you're perhaps allowing your heart to assume control a little too quickly?"

"I believe you're right... But I don't know how to stop it." Twilight fought a tear back into it's gland and looked up at her teacher. "It's like I have no control over it! Is that how love is supposed to work?"

Celestia placed her hoof under Twilight's chin and lifted her muzzle to achieve a direct gaze. "You still have much to learn my pupil. Love is a whole different kind of magic than you're used to."

"If it's magic, then why can't I control it?" Twilight pleaded. The answer seemed to constantly allude her.

Celestia simply sighed and continued onward. "You misunderstand Twilight. It is not a magic that one can summon from their horn. Only Princess Cadence has ever been able to perform such a spell. You need to hone your emotions just as you had to hone your mental prowess."

"But Rainbow Dash seems to be much more comfortable with this than me. I don't understand, she can barely focus on one of my lectures, let alone something like this!" Twilight furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of it all. Her hooves once again betrayed her desires and kept moving on.

"Rainbow Dash is much more physically and emotionally minded than you Twilight. While you excel in logic and mental feats, she is far more in tune with her own feelings," The princess reminded her student, hoping to teach her something valuable. "And in that case, you must remember that you are dealing with not only your heart, but that of another. It is a delicate issue which sometimes cannot be solved with logic and control. That will only lead to a broken heart."

'That you won't break my heart...

...Stick a cupcake in my eye.'

The memory from earlier that evening flooded in. Her promise. She was on the fast track to breaking that promise if she didn't do something, but her mind and her heart just did not want to cooperate. "How do I fix this?"

"What ever do you mean Twilight?" Celestia asked knowingly.

"Do I stay with her? Do I end it before she gets hurt? What do I do?"

"I'm afraid I cannot give you that answer," Celestia replied, looking forward to a music store in the distance. "That is a decision you must make on your own. Perhaps that is a conversation you need to have with her."

The two continued walking. Celestia could just barely see in her peripherals that Twilight was deep in thought. 'Make the right decision Twilight Sparkle. For her sake, and for your own.' The sun was beginning to set, leaving the pair to make preparations under the pastel colors of the young night sky.

"How was your walk?" Rainbow asked, waking up from her nap. She had taken it upon herself to keep the bed warm while Twilight was out on business. It was nearly dark out, the sky sporting a deep blue that provided just enough light to see. The moon was crawling sluggishly to the opposite horizon.

"It was good." Twilight picked up her quill, already tipped with ink, and prepared to begin with her note taking.

"What did you talk about?" Rainbow draped her hind legs over the mattress, her wings hanging limp behind her.

"Stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

Twilight placed the pen back down, allowing the ink to drip onto the hoof-crafted desk. "We talked about you..."

Rainbow withdrew her wings, folding them onto her back as she perked up at that statement. "You talked about me? Like, what about me?"

"I guess I should say we talked about us." Twilight hid her face in her hooves on the desk. This was not a conversation she wanted to have. "About you and I."

"What about you and I?"

Not wanting to explain, Twilight picked up her quill to try and distract her mind. "About our feelings, that kind of thing."

"Twilight, you're starting to worry me." Rainbow stood from the bed and moved in towards the nervous unicorn. "Talk to me."

"About how I don't know what I'm doing..." Rainbow's heart sank, fearing that this could be the end.

"What about it don't you know?"

"Everything..." Twilight gently placed the quill in it's spot once more and slammed her head against the desk. "I'm happy with you, but I'm miserable when I try to talk to any of our friends. My heart is making decisions for me that I can't control!"

"Oh, is that all?" Rainbow wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and wrapped her hooves around Twilight. "You're over-thinking it again."

Twilight felt her mind calm down a little, enjoying the embrace of her companion. "Maybe I am... But I don't know how to stop."

"Just relax," Rainbow suggested, tightening her hold. "Don't let that huge nerd brain of yours control you. Just allow yourself to feel."

Twilight could feel Rainbow's heartbeat pressed tightly against her back. It was soothing, synchronizing with her own. Rather than replying, she focused everything that she could on her body. She let each nerve experience the closeness of her friend, rather than trying to justify their situation. She could feel every strand of Rainbow's blue coat tickling against her skin, tangling with her own lavender fur. The sensation was like nothing she could remember. Finally, that tear that threatened to spill out won the struggle. It was followed by an entire army.

"Are you crying?" Rainbow asked, feeling a stream of tears as Twilight buried her face in her arms. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going to hurt you if we let this continue..." Twilight sobbed, holding onto Rainbow's hooves for dear life.

"I'm willing to take that chance Twi," Rainbow retorted as she rested her head on the back of Twilight's. "And besides, you made a promise. You couldn't hurt me if you tried!"

Twilight's tears doubled, her sobs growing in volume until they could almost be heard from the living room. "I'm just afraid I can't keep my promise Rainbow! I don't want to hurt you but I know I will!"

"I'm a big girl Twilight," Rainbow whispered, trying to be comforting. "I can take it. The fact that you were willing to make that promise means more to me than you could imagine..."

The paper underneath the emotional pair had become damp, spotted with tears and blotched with dripping ink. The fibers of the parchment were only a few drops of blood away from a teen drama.

Twilight wiped her nose on her hoof and sat up. Her sobbing had subsided, but the tears still ran free. "Oh Celestia I'm a mess. I'm sorry..."

"It's ok Twilight, just calm down." Rainbow placed a kiss on the back of Twilight's head and remained attached from behind.

"I need to..." Twilight tried to say, working around her protesting throat. Every word threatened to choke her, tightening the knot in her gut. "I need to finish up my notes..." Her mind slowly began to switch over to work mode, shutting out all emotion to focus on what needed to be done.

"Don't you think you should take a break? Come on, we can go spend time with the others! Maybe if you finally talk to them about it you can just be happy again."

"No... I can't..." Twilight dried off her eyes with an already ruined sheet of paper and tossed it towards the waste basket in the corner. "They won't understand... I just need to work..."

Rainbow loosened her hold and backed off a little, producing a tired sigh. "They already know Twilight... And from what I can tell they seem pretty cool with it. They just want to help..."

"They don't know... Nopony knows but me and you."

"And Celestia, and Luna, and..."

"Luna knows?"

Rainbow lost all contact with Twilight as she hovered gently above the carpet. Her wings fluttered impatiently as she accepted that this was a lost cause for now. "I'm sorry. Do your work, and try to relax. I'll be here when you're done."

"Thank you..."

Rainbow watched with scrutiny as Twilight began writing. It was something that never truly interested her, but still absorbed her anxiety. It was taking strangely long for Twilight to commit to making any marks on the paper, but Dash assumed it was just part of her note taking process. Finally, a single line was drawn upon the page.

"It's crooked," Rainbow remarked, pointing out the odd angle that the line sat at. "Isn't it supposed to be straight?"

Twilight gave a disgruntled groan, flicking the paper onto the floor. "Please Rainbow, I need to concentrate."

"Hey Twilight," the impatient pegasus prodded at the studious unicorn with a hoof, flapping her wings slowly to secure a place above the ground. "I'm bored."

The sound of those wings, going up and down, displaced the air quite audibly. Each flap grated at Twilight's ear drums, getting louder and louder.

"Perhaps you could see what the others are doing?" Twilight suggested. 'Now is not the time Rainbow...' She gritted her teeth, wishing to end that awful flapping. Her magical grip tightened, earning a sharp creak from the quill in her grasp.

"Can you come with me?" Rainbow folded fore legs across her chest, allowing her wings to lower her hooves to barely touch the carpet.

"I'm sorry Rainbow, but I have to work. I'll be out shortly." The pen lowered slowly, almost ready to attempt at writing once more. The tears once again fought to jump out onto the pages of her notes, but she blinked them away.

"Right, sorry," Rainbow planted all four hooves on the floor and folded her wings to her side. "I'll just go see who's out in the living room."

"You do that." The pen found it's way to the page, making progress a little bit at a time. 'I just need to concentrate...'

SLAM

"RAINBOW!" An angered yell could be heard from the now closed door, following the door slamming behind Rainbow Dash. She let her eyes roam around the room, seeing who all was out and about. Rarity sat on the couch, knitting a scarf with her magic, while Spike watched the needles weave in and out. Applejack sat at a table across from Pinkie Pie, a checkered board in between the two covered in carved wooden figures.

'Keep it together Rainbow Dash. Just don't think about it and have a good time with your friends.' Her imagination struggled to remind her of the slippery slope that her love life was standing on.

"Checkmate! How's that for strategery!" Applejack gave Pinkie a smug grin, beckoning her to make a move.

"Jokes on you Apples! Full house!" Pinkie revealed her hooves, which were hidden under the table, to show a full house. She slammed the cards on the board and knocked all of the pieces out of place.

"That ain't how you play chess Pinkie!" Applejack slammed her own hooves on the table in protest, sending the pieces even farther from their positions.

Pinkie pulled out another hand, this one a royal flush. "Fine then! I found your cumulus so ha!"

Applejack couldn't decide if she should be mad or just annoyed. Regardless, she flipped the table over, sending the board and the pieces scattering on the floor. Then she noticed Rainbow Dash.

"Now there's a pony who can play a good, normal game." Pinkie poked her head out from under the table and giggled.

"Oh can't you find a quiet hobby? Honestly, the sound of your arguing is making my head spin." Rarity levitated a newly finished scarf over to the perturbed farmer and wrapped it around her neck. "There, nice and toasty! And stylish to boot."

Applejack scraped the soft neck warmer off of her body in a hurry, stomping it to the floor. Rarity huffed, insulted by the gesture. "As Ah was gonna say, I ain't seen much a you since we left Ponyville. Well Ah reckon you've got plenty you'd like to talk about! You know, since we're such good friends an all."

"Are you jealous?" Rainbow scoffed, walking past to pick the table up off of the floor.

"This again? Now who's been tellin' y'all Ah'm jealous? Jealous a what?"

Rarity salvaged her scarf from the floor, floating it over to herself and dusting it off. "Well, Rainbow has confided in me, and I suppose now you want in."

"Wait, y'all talked to Rarity about it but you won't say nothin' to me?"

'Give her time...' Rainbow thought, trying to hold her tongue. She sighed heavily, righting the table on it's legs and began collecting chess pieces. "I haven't said anything to anypony."

"Except me," Rarity corrected.

"And Fluttershy!" Pinkie re-corrected.

"How..." Rainbow dropped a hoof full of pawns, creating a racket of clattering. "How did you even know that?"

Pinkie's voice replied from over Dash's shoulder, eerily close. "Because I know all."

Rainbow shot into the air, letting out a startled gasp.

"Just kidding! I heard you through the door!" Rainbow released the breath that she had accidentally held and slowly resumed her stance on the ground.

"If you heard me, then why didn't Applejack?" She began feeling a little cornered, but that was old hat at this point.

"Because Applejack doesn't eaves drop!" The pink pony walked over to assist in the containment of Applejack's mess.

"Well at least you're honest." Rainbow flung her front hooves dramatically, spraying wooden figures in a wide arc in front of her. "Does everyone know? Seriously, who doesn't know so I can tell them!"

Applejack gave a sympathetic frown, and motioned for the exasperated pegasus to join her by the couch. "It's alright sugar cube, just take a breather and let it all out. We ain't gonna judge you for it."

"No, you know what? No!" Rainbow stubbornly protested, turning her back on her friends. 'I have to get out of here before I say something I shouldn't...' She explained to herself. "I've had enough of this therapy stuff, I'm totally fine. If this is what I'm going to get from you guys, then I'm going out."

"You ain't goin' nowhere Dash! What would your mare-friend say if you didn't follow her buddy rule?" Applejack stomped a hoof, getting fed up with all of this tension.

"She didn't mean me!" The desperate blue mare made a dash for the door, only to be blocked by a strong orange hoof. "Let me out!"

"Nothin' doin' Rainbow."

Magenta eyes scanned for another way out. 'Aha! The balcony!'

With a prismatic blur, Rainbow charged for the open balcony door, only to once again be shut down. Pinkie slammed the glass sliding door shut. "DE-NIED!" she yelled, stopping Rainbow dead in her tracks. Except that's not what happened.

The glass shattered, showering Rainbow with prickly crystals as she tumbled through the newly permanent opening. The balcony didn't prove much resistance either, as she bounced off of the floor and directly over the short railing.

"Did you see her? She went all KASPLOW through the door!" Pinkie fell to the floor, rolling over in laughter.

"Pinkie are out of your mind?!" Rarity threw her needles across the room, rushing to the balcony to see if Rainbow was alright. Applejack joined her, as she watched the disoriented pegasus plummet.

A few passers by gathered, watching in panic as a cyan form fell, flailing and screaming, towards the stone road below. In the suite, a door nearly came off of it's frame.

"What was that?!" Twilight shouted, fearing that she knew exactly what just happened.

"Rainbow!" Spike replied from Rarity's back. "She fell off the balcony!"

"RAINBOW!" Without giving it a second though, Twilight charged through her friends and vaulted over the railing. Pointing her horn downward, she dove towards Rainbow Dash.

That glass shattered. Rainbow felt as if she had been blasted with sand, only it would have to be sand made of razor blades. The hard surface of the balcony reverberated through her shoulder as she felt a pop, rebounding her form off of the suddenly inviting ground. 'No no no please no' she repeated to herself, watching almost in slow motion a the rail came closer and closer. And then it passed under her, giving way to the loathsome cobblestones below.

That moment lasted forever. It seemed to her Rainbow Dash almost comical, as she imagined herself floating there for seconds before dropping. Unfortunately, she didn't have that luxury. The wind swept through her coat, blowing the vapors right off of her sweating skin. It felt cool, liberating, like flying. Unlike flying, she couldn't control her wings.

The initial impact with the door had knocked her sense loose just enough to lose all semblance of balance. Each wing fought to force a stop, but her momentum mixed with the uncontrolled spinning made it impossible. They simply flapped hopelessly, letting the breeze waft through each feather. Again, she noticed, it felt much like a leisurely fly.

The sizable outcrop from that top story window began to shrink. Rainbow watched when she could as her salvation escaped from above. A few faces could be seen looking down, presumably her friends. "HELP!" she screamed, desperate for anypony to catch her. Being a pegasus, she felt ashamed. 'Come on wings, fly!' She struggled to regain any control over her body.

'Is this it?' Rainbow thought, seeing the distance closing each time her line of sight permitted. Her eyes stung, but not from the blowing gusts that she was so used to. Rather, her eyes were being drowned in tears. She felt hopeless, like she never had before. Even in the dark, she knew deep down that she was safe. This was different. This was real. "Good... Goodbye..." She whispered, shutting her eyes tight, not wishing to see it happen.

Then a familiar sensation came about. It was a powerful aura, like of an especially adept unicorn. Rainbow Dash allowed one eye to open to see a friendly face. It was a determined face, focusing harder than ever before.

"Twi... Twilight?"

"I've got you!" Twilight shouted, calculating how much time she had to complete her spell.

"Twilight... I..." Rainbow felt as if she were dreaming. This particular situation reminded her of a section from one of her Daring Do novels. "I love-"

7. A Lie, You And I

Fluttershy ran out of her room and to the balcony, joining her friends just in time to watch the outcome of a disaster. Time slowed, as the pair closed in on the solid stones of the street below. A collective gasp escaped from the gathering crowd, many of them turning their heads away. They all assumed the worst. But then, a desperate scream escaped from the falling duo as a bright flash of light blinded eveypony in the area.

"Oh no! What happened?" Fluttershy peaked out from under her hooves, which she used to cover her watering eyes.

The other three peaked over the rail of the balcony, trying to make out the scene through the dissipating purple glow.

"-you! Huh?" Rainbow checked her hooves as she felt the solid surface of the balcony on her back. "Wait, what just..."

"RAINBOW!" Pinkie Pie leaped on top of the disoriented pegasus and gave her the biggest hug she could summon. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to almost get you killed!"

"Oh goodness... Don't do that again, I nearly had a heart attack!" Rarity scolded, though she was happy to see her friend safe.

Applejack wasn't so jovial however. "Uh, where's Twilight?" The others stopped their celebrating and thought for a second. Indeed, Twilight Sparkle was nowhere to be seen. At least, not on the balcony. Applejack looked back over the rail to confirm what they all hoped was not the case. There, on the street below, laid Twilight, her hooves splayed in different directions.

"Oh no! Oh my goodness is she..?" Fluttershy hid her eyes back under her hooves. The thought of it was just too much to bear.

"What? Twilight?!" Rainbow jumped to her hooves, though her shoulder still hurt, and leaned over the balcony. Hot tears streamed down her face as she tensed her hind legs to prepare to launch. "I'm going down! I need to make sure she's ok!"

"NO!" Pinkie yelled, leaping up with her arms open like a shark's jaws. Rainbow jumped, going right over the grabby pink pony and stopping a few feet over the floor. It took a second to right her wings, still a little off from the fall. To her friends' protests, she dove. This time, she had full control, and was able to stop just before impact.

"Twilight! Why did you..." Rainbow lost her words to the lump consuming her throat. The crowd gathered closer, chattering about the incident that they all just witnessed. Many a heart broke as they watched Rainbow Dash physically wilt over the purple unicorn, who stayed limp on the street.

A slight stir sent a glimmer of hope to Rainbow's thoughts. It was only a momentary muscle spasm, but it was something.

"Twilight! Twilight get up!" Rainbow shouted at the purple lump. "Come on Twi! You promised!"

'You promised...'

Twilight's eye lid twitched, as if it were trying to open.

'I promised'

"I'm a doctor!" somepony shouted from the audience, though nopony actually stepped out. Those who were not wiping tears from their cheeks groaned, though they all expected somepony to say it.

Rainbow propped the near lifeless lavender pony against herself and wept into her shoulder. Her wings couldn't seem to decide whether they wanted to fly or retract, still working out a few kinks. "Don't go! Don't do this to me!"

A firm hoof pulled on Rainbow Dash's shoulders, pealing her from Twilight's body.

"She lives!" Luna exclaimed excitedly after placing her ear to Twilight's chest.

Princess Celestia held Rainbow back as she struggled to get back to her savior. "It will be alright Rainbow! Luna will make sure that she is well, I'm going to need you to come with me and explain what just happened."

Rainbow swallowed her fears and watched as Luna gathered the unicorn into her hooves, taking off into the night. Reaching a hoof towards the slowly disappearing form, Rainbow fell to the cold stones. Her heart gave out, leaving her a blubbering mess.

Up on the balcony, Applejack removed her hat and placed it respectfully over her heart. Fluttershy and Rarity held each other for support and sobbed loudly. Pinkie's mane deflated and she dragged her hooves back into the living room.

"This is all my fault..." the depressed party animal lamented. "I should have just let her go..."

"Don't take this all on your own Pinkie." Applejack walked over and paced her hat on Pinkie's head. "I s'pose we're all to blame for this. Darn it we should a just let her be!"

A loud thump on the balcony beckoned all of their attention, as Princess Celestia landed upon the solid concrete platform. Rainbow Dash laid sobbing on her back. "Take Rainbow Dash to her room, I would like to have a word with you four.

The fear in their eyes told everything. Rarity and Fluttershy helped Rainbow down, who could barely stand up. They gently guided the pegasus into her room and helped her into bed. Once the two returned, Celestia began.

"I would like to know exactly what happened to cause this!" Her tone was different than normal. Her calm was replaced by a deadly seriousness that could send a royal guard cowering.

Of the four, Applejack summoned up her courage and spoke. "We were only tryin' to help. Rainbow seemed mighty troubled and Ah just wanted to get to the bottom of it!"

"Then how did she come to fall off of the balcony?"

"She tried to run your majesty." Applejack continued, speaking for her nerve stricken friends. "Pinkie and Ah tried to stop her and..."

"I closed the door and she flew through it and she lost her balance and then she fell off of the balcony!" spouted a distressed Pinkie Pie. "And now Twilight's dead and I'm never going to smile again!"

"Dead? Oh no my subjects, Twilight is not dead." All four pairs of eyes brightened a little at this bit of news, but they still shivered in guilt. "But she might have been if my sister had not caught her in time. You're all lucky that Luna was watching."

"T-T-Twilight's al-live..?" Fluttershy squeaked, securing her wings tightly to her side for a false sense of protection.

"Yes, she's alive. Luna was securing the moon on it's course from her balcony when she heard screaming." Celestia shifted her eyes to look out the broken glass door. "Though she could not drop the moon, and to keep it steady takes almost all of her magic. She was able to soften the impact but that is all..."

"Thank Celest... Thank you that she's alright." Rarity finally broke from her fright and made her voice heard.

"Now back to business. Why would she run if you were only trying to help her?" Celestia returned her stare to the group, earning a collective flinch.

"I fear that we weren't much help..." Rarity kicked a hoof at the carpet and looked away. "I believe it might be more accurate to say we were pestering her."

"Is that so? And what have you learned from this?"

"That begging for information ain't the right way to go about helpin' a friend..." Applejack looked down at her hooves in shame.

"Or eavesdropping..." Pinkie added.

"Or prying into her personal life..." Rarity concluded. The three of them looked over at Fluttershy expectantly.

"What? Oh no! I did't do any of that! I just gave her some advice!" The pastel yellow pegasus backed away as if being attacked.

"I understand that your hearts were in the right place my little ponies," Celestia sighed and let her mouth turn up into a slight smile. "I'm relieved to know that you've at least learned something from this. I fear that Twilight will not be able to attend the celebration in the morning. You are to spend the night with her, so I regret to inform you that you will not be attending either. Consider this your punishment." She began towards the door to Rainbow Dash's room with her regular smile in place. "Now I have one more pegasus to speak with. Please, proceed to the hospital as soon as you can."

The four nodded in understanding, and began collecting what they would need for the night. Celestia opened the door to the dark bed room. It smelled of old parchment and ink, with a slight hint of under-wing sweat. It stung at the nostrils, but it wasn't the worst thing Celestia's ever smelled by a long shot.

"Rainbow Dash?" Celestia checked. Her request was met by a short burst of sobs.

"I'm here..." Rainbow replied after gaining control of her thoughts.

"Rainbow Dash, may I come in?"

"Of course... Come in..."

Celestia stepped in and sent a flicker of magic to light a candle on the desk. "It's dark in here child, you should not subject yourself to such torment."

"I was hoping that it would just take me..." Rainbow poked her head out from under her blanket. Her eyes were puffy and red, the fur on her face all matted down from her tears and running nose.

"Do not say such things Rainbow Dash! I know that you're upset, but there is no need to wish that upon yourself!" Celestia took a stance by the bed, giving Rainbow a supportive look. "You have much to live for."

"But Twilight..." Rainbow wiped a hoof across her nose and choked out another short sob. "Twilight's gone... I love her and she's gone!"

"Oh where do you ponies get this idea? Twilight is not gone!" Celestia chuckled a little as Rainbow looked up, hopeful. "You were there, my sister told you she was alive! She's being taken to the hospital."

"I have to go see her!" Rainbow shouted, bolting up from the bed and preparing to zoom out through the door. Her tail, however, is caught by soft yellow aura. She is slowly pulled back down to the bed.

"You will, but first I need to apologize." Celestia sat on the mattress next to Rainbow Dash and folded a wing over her shoulder. "I fear that all of this could have been avoided."

Rainbow felt the large wing envelop her, calming her entire body. "What do you mean?"

"I'm ashamed to say that I had a hoof in bringing the two of you together."

Rainbow's mind went blank for a split second. "You mean... You were behind this? How?"

"Well, Luna had told me of your secret feelings for my student," Celestia explained. "She also indicated to me that you were afraid of the dark." She closed her eyes and pointed her nose down, showing just how sorry she was about the ordeal. "So I directed my sister to darken the night sky for those two nights. I knew that if the stars were not out, you would do something rash in fear... It was wrong of me to do..."

"But I had been planning for this since you told us about the trip! This was my idea!" Rainbow fought, confused about how her plans could have been just another part of a bigger plot.

"And who was it that got you all private cars?"

Rainbow again had to search for a thought, wondering if she should feel thankful, or just like she had been used. "Why would you do that?"

"You are both young. Twilight needed something in her life other than her studies, and quite frankly she needed to open her heart to the idea. She has done plenty of research on love, yes, but she had yet to try her hand at romance." The princess laughed a little thinking about it. "And Luna expressed to me that you were showing regressive behavior. Hiding your feelings and letting them rot is very detrimental to a pony's health!"

"But... Why are you telling me? I never would have known..."

"Because I, like your friends, feel bad about all of this. I never expected it to explode like it did." Celestia admitted. "I suppose I should leave this love business to Cadence. I've never been much good at it."

Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes, trying to relieve the stinging and the puffyness. "Why did she jump?"

Celestia had to think for a second. Her smile became soft, a look of true happiness in her eyes. "If I know my student, then she wouldn't do that for just anypony. She had to know she wouldn't be able to save both of you."

"She did?"

"I'd think so. The calculations she would have to do to pull off a rescue at that speed would be very taxing on the mind. Her mental prowess is impressive, but that would take concentration that only years far beyond her own could provide."

"Then why did she jump?" Rainbow pleaded. "If she knew she would be hurt, then why did she do it?!"

"You'll have to ask her," Celestia offered, standing to exit the room. "But my guess, Rainbow Dash, is that she loves you." The large white alicorn vacated the room, leaving Rainbow Dash alone.

'Is it already morning?'

"Hey, she's waking up!"

'Where am I...'

"Twilight!"

'Am I...'

Twilight's eyes opened a sliver to see the blurry outlines of 5 ponies. She tried to move her right hoof to reach out to them, but it didn't move.

"Well I'll be, she's comin' around!" The country accent was unmistakable. Surely these were her friends.

"What..." Twilight attempted to ask, feeling the words come out painfully. Her chest felt restricted, like it had caved in on itself. "What... happened?"

"You were awesome! That's what!" The energetic tone could be none other than Pinkie Pie. "You saved Dashie's life!"

"Rainow... Rainbow!" Twilight attempted to sit up, but her back protested painfully. "Where is she? Did she make it?!"

"I'm right here," Rainbow giggled, the tears audible in her voice. "I'm fine."

"Oh... Good..." The injured purple unicorn opened her eyes all the way to see a clear image of her friends. "What time is it?"

"7:30" Rainbow Dash replied.

"The celebration!" Twilight once again tried to lift her body, but it worked just as well as last time. "I have to be there!"

Rarity opened a curtain to let in some light. "I'm afraid we've missed it darling, and you are in no condition to go anywhere. The doctor said that you are to stay in bed until tomorrow, when you shall be transported to the train."

"You won't be able to walk for another month..." Fluttershy added with an apologetic tone.

"How bad..." Twilight inquired, trying to estimate how much of her body was out of commission.

"3 legs."

"7 ribs."

"Fractured skull."

"Oh..." Twilight tried to focus on her horn, which only caused a headache. "I guess that explains why I can't move."

"My goodness, you're lucky to be alive, let alone mobile!" Rarity reminded. "We weren't expecting you awake until tonight. The doctor said you had a mild concussion."

"Which means none a that fancy magic for a while, y'hear?" Applejack added.

"I'm just relieved that you're alive..." Rainbow whispered, feeling quite embarrassed about crying in front of all of her friends. "If it weren't for you... I could have died..."

"Speaking of which..." Twilight interrupted. "How did I live?"

"Princess Luna saved you at the last minute!" Fluttershy explained with a gentle smile. "Though she could only slow you down a little bit before you hit the ground." Her smile disappeared. "I was so scared..."

Twilight's left fore hoof, the only one that wasn't broken, felt a familiar pressure. Rainbow was holding onto it tightly, squeezing it when Fluttershy mentioned the impact. Applejack noticed the tears building up behind Rainbow's eyes.

"Well Ah'm sure Rainbow would like to thank Twilight in private." She indicated for the other three to follow and started towards the exit.

"Oh! Right!" Pinkie Pie agreed, nearly teleporting to Applejack's side. "You two need to profess your love for each other before the end of the vacation!"

"PINKIE PIE!" came five angry voices. Pinkie giggled and bounced towards the door.

"Totally not sorry!"

The four ponies made their way out of the room, as Rainbow looked down at Twilight with a look of joy and worry.

"Twilight..." She began. What she had to say was much harder to summon the nerve for when her life wasn't at stake. "Twilight I-"

"I know..." Twilight interrupted, letting her head lay back on the pillow and closing her eyes. "I heard you the first time..." Her mouth curled into as much of a smile as she could muster.

"Why did you do it?" Twilight opened one eye questioningly. "Why did you jump after me? You knew you wouldn't make it didn't you?!"

"I did..." Twilight let out a labored breath and took in another.

"Then why did you save me?" Rainbow demanded.

Twilight released her breath again, feeling her chest rise around the ruins of her rib cage. "Because you mean a lot to me Rainbow Dash..."

"Do you mean..." A glimmer shone in Rainbow's irises.

"You mean a lot..." Twilight stopped the love-struck pegasus with an apologetic seriousness in her voice. "I'm sorry..."

Rainbow held that lavender hoof to her chest and produced a surprised moan. A tear propped itself in the corner of her eye, and her wings hang limp. "Why are you sorry?"

"Because I promised..." Twilight held her eyes shut tight, locking her emotions into her cracked skull.

"So this is... It?" The tear in Rainbow's eye multiplied. "Is this the end?"

"No..."

Rainbow Dash tilted her head in confusion. "Then what is it?"

"This is the start... This is the start of something new." Twilight explained. "I'm not ready... And neither are you..."

"No kidding..." The two let the air grow silent. The sun peaked in through the window and illuminated Twilight's face. Rainbow marveled at how beautiful she was.

"But..." Twilight continued finally, determined to set this all right. "I'm willing to try again... When I'm better..." Her breathing progressed to a horrible agony. She coughed, the air passing through her windpipe sounded like rusty nails rattling in her lungs. Her voice had been strained too much.

"You promise?" Rainbow gripped that hoof as tight as she could, not wanting it to leave, never wanting to let go.

Twilight attempted to speak, but again all that came out was a fit of coughing. Each one sounded worse than the last. Regardless, she guided Rainbows hooves over to her chest and crossed her heart.

"Th... Thank you..." Rainbow let go of that hoof, and as if it were the pin to a grenade it unleashed the floodgates. Quickly turning, she disappeared from the room without another word.

'I'm sorry...' Twilight thought, trying to gain control of her breathing again. Her hoof had been left to hang, and it landed on the bedside table. More specifically, it landed on a softly bound book. Doing her best to grip it, she lifted the heavy thing over to her line of vision. It was her journal.

'Why's this here?' her mind demanded. Reality decided not to answer however, and rather she just opened to the last page she remembered.

Strangely, the page wasn't empty. In fact, the next few pages were filled. Each page had a new entry, and each with a different hoof writing.

'Dear Twi,

I know I've never been much for fancy reading and learning like you, but I figured that I could try and get a smile out of you. Rainbow told us about your journal, hope you don't mind me writing in it. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize for how I've acted. I guess it was pretty obvious that you weren't comfortable with all of this, and I had no right to push you like I did. Anyhow, I hope you feel better real soon, because we all need you. You're the best friend a pony could ask for, and I mean that with every leaf in Sweet Apple Acres.

Your friend,
Applejack'

The hoof writing was uniform, though clearly inexperienced. It reminded Twilight of somepony who only ever wrote to keep stock of something. She did her best to smile, but every muscle in her face hurt. The page turned to show a much more elegant writing. The letters curled around each other, looking more like a painting than a letter.

'To my dearest Twilight Sparkle

All I can think to say is that I feel honored to have somepony like you as a friend. Seeing you in this dreadful state is just awful, and I promise to treat you to a day at the spa once you're back on your hooves. Do not let me forget. I also wanted to say that you and Rainbow Dash make the cutest couple that I have ever seen. I truly hope that things between the two of you work out. Remember that if you need anything, and I mean absolutely anything, that I will be happy to assist you.
Get better soon darling.

Sincerely,
Rarity'

There it was, that smile that so wanted to overtake her face. Her cheeks burned as she smiled uncontrollably, her jaw beginning to throb. The page turned once again to reveal a horror show of chicken scratch. It was all written as if in a hurry, like there was too much to say and it all had to be said right then and there.

'Twilight Twilight Twilight Twilight!

Hi! When I heard you weren't dead I was all like COOL and stuff because you're ok and I felt so bad that I made Rainbow fall out of that window but then you saved her and it was soooo COOL. You're totally like the best pony that ever lived! Anyway, you should totally stop being so embarased about your feelings for Rainbow Dash because she loves you and I know you probably love her too so seriously tell her! I'll even throw you a big party when we get home because you deserve it and then we can all be all like DAWWWW because you and Rainbow are adorable. What kind of cake do you like anyway? I know that you like cake, because honestly who doesn't like cake but serisouly I don't know your favorite type of cake and that makes me sad. I guess asking you in your journal isn't going to get me anywhere, silly Pinkie! See, I can talk in first person too!

You'll never guess who wrote this!'

Twilight laughed between breaths, reading that mess of randomness. Of course it was Pinkie Pie, who failed to realize that she mentioned her own name in the letter. Oh well, what can one expect from her? The most surprising thing about it was the accuracy of her spelling, save for one or two words. Twilight turned the page again to a very delicate message. This one was more elegant, like Rarity's, but it was softer and more inviting.

'To Twilight,

I'm not very good at writing letters, but thank you for looking after Rainbow Dash. She really needs somepony in her life to make sure she's alright. I've seen the look in her eye when she's around you, and it reminds me of our days in flight camp. But don't feel obligated to do anything you're not ready for of course. I understand that love can be difficult. All I can say is that I'm glad that I know such a brave pony like you. I'll make sure to get you better nice and quick.

Fondest Regards
Fluttershy.'

'All of these...' Twilight thought, trying to piece it together. They all made her smile, but something about them was tugging on her heart.

'I promised...'. That pesky memory surfaced again. 'I promised and I have to keep it...'

The page turned. A blue feather was pressed in between the pages.

Twilight Sparkle,

I'm going to try to write this the right way. I'm not good at this so please don't laugh at me about it again. I can't thank you enough for saving me. You could have let me fall and you would have been fine. Instead you jumped and caught me, and I owe you my life. I don't know what lies ahead for us but I'm willing to see where this leads. You make me smile Twilight, but like, really smile. Like, when I'm with you I just feel happy, like my life is complete, which I've never felt before. I can't wait for you to get better so that you can come outside with me and play! Oh, I should mention, I talked to Princess Celestia. I totally won the bet! She was behind it after all! But you know what? That's not important. I don't care if you want to study anyway, or whatever. You've given me something that some stupid game never could. Anyway, I want you to have this feather. I know it's not a big deal, since I have a bunch of them, but I didn't have anything else to give you. I'm gonna wrap this up before I start crying again.

All my love,
Rainbow Dash.'

Twilight closed the journal, letting it rest on bandaged body. The weight that it provided didn't really bother her at the moment. In fact, the only thing she could really feel was the soft feather that had floated down to her side. Almost subconsciously, she lifted the feather with her magic over to her now empty hoof. The purple aura flickered out, letting it float gently down onto her heart.

The smile came back to Twilight's face as she held the feather tight to her chest. Her mind slowly drifted into nothingness as her eyes invited her to fall asleep.

"I promised..."

The crippled mess that was Twilight laid there still. Her mouth coiled into a peaceful smile, and she was out for the day.