//-------------------------------------------------------// Rainbow Rambles -by bats- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 Rainbow Dash frowned. Twilight’s blush deepened and her eyes widened. She started to stammer a little before Rainbow cut her off. “I can’t say I’ve ever thought of you that way.” Twilight’s ears drooped and she looked at the rug on the floor, her eyes feeling hot and over-bright. Before she could speak again, the cyan Pegasus continued, “I’m not saying no, so don’t get all mushy, Twi’. Let me explain.” Twilight glanced back up, her expression slightly more composed, although a small current of confusion was now running through her features. Her breathing relaxed a little. “I say I never thought of you that way because apparently my gaydar’s a little off and I didn’t think you were into mares.” Rainbow’s smile turned into a smirk. “Sorry for making an assumption like that Twi’.” The lavender unicorn’s blush deepened a little, causing Rainbow’s smirk to grow. She continued, “I just always thought of you as a really good friend or a sister.” Twilight started to droop again before Rainbow interjected, “Hey I still haven’t said no. I’m just layin’ down my thoughts right now.” “I thought of you like a friend who wasn’t into mares, so I didn’t really think about the possibility. I’ve been ‘round the block when it comes to straight mares, and I know from experience how uncomfortable it can be to get feelings for somepony whose brain is hardwired against the idea. It’s pretty uncomfortable, for both sides. Totally uncool. It’s been my policy since flight school to avoid making things awkward with straight mares.” Rainbow dash grinned and ran a hoof through her mane. Twilight nodded gently and slowly, a little surprised at Rainbow’s effortless confidence talking about these sorts of things. She knew the Pegasus was more outgoing than herself, but this whole situation left her stammering and blushing like a school filly. She mentally cursed her own introverted nature. She had no idea where Dash was going yet, but the assurances had calmed her nerves enough for her to just sit and listen. Rainbow stood up and paced a little, her grin fading as she became somewhat lost in contemplation. After a little while, she turned to face her friend and continued, “Even though I haven’t thought about it, here’s what I know. I know you’re smart. I know you’re funny. I know that we can talk about lots of different stuff and don’t get bored around each other. I know you’re awesome at magic and you’re not a big show-off about it like me.” Rainbow’s smile took on a sense of self-deprecation. Invisible strands tugged at the corners of Twilight’s mouth, pulling her into a ghost of a smile. “I also know that you’re pretty smokin’ hot.” Twilight’s cheeks darkened considerably. She stammered out, “B-but, I thought you said you hadn’t-“ Rainbow cut her off again, smirking at Twilight’s tomato-red face. “I meant I hadn’t thought of you romantically. I’m not made of stone, Twi’. It’s not like I only check out mares I know are interested. I knew within five minutes of meeting you that I was physically attracted to you.” Twilight’s head reeled at the revelation. The room felt too warm all of a sudden. As her mind raced, Rainbow burst out laughing and collapsed on the floor, clutching her chest and waving her hind hooves in the air. “I’m sorry!” she wheezed, “It’s just-your FACE!” She got herself under control wiping the tears of mirth from her eyes, sitting up. She caught the look the unicorn was giving her and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, I know you’re not exactly comfortable talkin’ about all this, Twi’. I’m not trying to make you feel bad.” Twilight’s withering glare softened, changing to a look of thought before a soft blush kissed her cheeks once more. She asked Rainbow softly, “You really think I’m pretty?” “Course I do, Twi’. There isn’t a pony in Ponyville who’d think you weren’t pretty.” Twilight’s blush deepened again and she smiled abashedly at the compliment. Rainbow smiled and stood back up, slowly trotting closer to the lavender mare. “My point is, all those things I know would be the same sorta stuff I’d be trying to find out on a first date anyway. I might not have thought about it before but I know we’re compatible. I’d have to be stupid to not say yes to a date.” Twilight’s eyes widened and a quivering smile graced her lips. “I-I…I’m glad, Rainbow,” she stammered out, shaking a little from the rush of relief. She got herself a little more under control and cleared her throat. “So, uh…” Rainbow smiled broadly. “How about we go for a coffee? Things go well maybe we can do dinner, too.” Twilight blinked. “Now?” “Sure,” Rainbow said over her shoulder, cantering towards the door. She shot Twilight a sly look, “don’t know where you’d get the idea that I’d want to go slowly.” Twilight’s face went crimson, and Rainbow barked laughter. “That’s not what I meant! Get your mind out of the gutter, Twi’!” Twilight coughed and started giggling. Her nervousness was melting away and being replaced by elation. Her horn glowed purple as she levitated a saddle bag around her neck and she headed towards the door. “Okay, Rainbow. I’d love a coffee.” Rainbow smiled and said, “Oh good, you can string more than four words together. Here I thought I was gonna hafta do all the talking.” Twilight giggled and shoulder-checked Rainbow playfully. The two headed down the street towards downtown Ponyville and a coffee shop. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png “I must say, I’m rather impressed by you. I’ve been trying to sort out how I felt for weeks now, and you were so articulate without even trying.” Rainbow grinned at Twilight’s words. The two sat at a small table outside a café, Twilight nursing a small cappuccino while Rainbow practically guzzled a large, sugary affair loaded with flavored syrups. The two had chatted idly about a range of topics, including Twilight’s latest studies which Rainbow only understood half of, Rainbow’s latest moves she was perfecting which Twilight barely followed at all, the newest Daring Do which they both had devoured in a day, and the latest goings on in and around Ponyville. There were some early jitters, but their conversation quickly transformed into easy-going and any lapses were comfortable and devoid of awkward embarrassment. It was a while before the conversation had shifted back to the fact that they were indeed on a date. “Hey, I know you’re way smarter than me about a lot of stuff, but lemme guess,” Rainbow raised an eyebrow, “this is your first date huh?” Appraising Twilight’s reaction, Rainbow nodded and answered her own question. “Thought so. Hey, don’t be embarrassed, when I first met you, you weren’t really interested in regular friends, let alone romance. You’re just outta your comfort zone. Plus, you’re so quiet and…uh….Twilighty.” She finished lamely. Twilight giggled. “The word you’re looking for is ‘introverted,’ and I guess you’re right. I was always so busy studying back in Canterlot that I didn’t really have time for friends. I didn’t really think about dating at all. I guess I thought it was something other ponies did.” Rainbow gulped down some more of her hot, coffee-flavored milkshake. “So how come you never told anypony here you were into mares? You couldn’tve thought any of the gang would disapprove. I mean, I was already out to them before you moved in and I came out to you less than a month after we became friends.” Twilight paused and frowned a little, not out of annoyance but from self-reflection. “I, uh, didn’t really know I was into mares until I realized I’d developed feelings for you. I guess I just hadn’t thought about it.” Rainbow raised an eyebrow quizzically. “So are you into stallions normally? That would explain my gaydar mess-up.” Twilight chuckled. “I guess so, but to be honest I didn’t really think about stallions either. I haven’t really had feelings for anypony before.” She smiled at Dash, sipping at the dregs of her espresso cup. Her cyan date nodded a little in thought. She was happy that Twilight had loosened up and was talking more freely as their date had gone on, but was surprised that someone so prone to Twilightyness, err, introversion, had such a vague understanding of her own feelings. She felt a little out of her sorts thinking about it. Or maybe it was the way Twilight’s mane caught glints of the sun, shining deep blue flecks to dazzle her eyes that was making her feel lightheaded. She blushed a little. To her pleasant surprise, the date was going better than she had expected. She had been honest with Twilight at the start; she had not contemplated the two of them as a couple. But as they sat and talked she was taken off-guard by how natural everything felt. She listened as Twilight related a story about a fillyhood crush she had on a colt a year ahead of her, all the while paying slightly more attention to the way the lavender mare’s eyes danced through the recollection. ‘Gosh, she’s pretty,’ Rainbow thought. At the conclusion of her story, Twilight glanced at Rainbow. She rested her cheek on one hoof, idly running her other around the edge of her coffee cup. Her eyelids drooped down in a look of absolute contentment and a large, wobbly smile was plastered on her face. She was looking back at Twilight, but she seemed glazed over, like she wasn’t really taking anything in. Rainbow breathed deeply and let out a soft sigh. Twilight giggled. “Rainbow, you okay?” Rainbow snapped out of her reverie. She sat up straight, her eyes flying all the way open. The sudden jerk of the motion knocked her mostly empty coffee cup over. Twilight giggled again as a red stain spread across the cyan mare’s face, dyeing her cheeks a soft purple. “What? Oh!” Her blush deepened and she coughed nervously. “I’m fine! Just zoned out for a minute.” Twilight continued to giggle a little. ‘Smooth, Dash…’ They finished their coffees and walked back to the library. The afternoon sun was starting to swing low, casting a haze of orange across the sky. Rainbow had lapsed into silence, a small smile across her face. She kept glancing at the lavender angel walking next to her and quickly looking away. Not paying attention, her hoof caught on a rock and she pin wheeled to keep from face planting in the dirt. Twilight was gracious enough not to laugh, but had a hard time stifling her giggles as Rainbow blushed yet again and laughed nervously. Twilight turned to her as they reached the door, her expression growing a little shy once again. “So, do you want to come back inside?” Rainbow seemed to come out of the haze that had settled around her head the previous half hour and she looked up into the sky distractedly. “Actually, I need to go think for a little while.” Twilight’s face fell. “Oh… So no dinner then?” She ran her hoof through her hair and looked away. Rainbow flinched guiltily then quickly grinned. “Hey, I don’t mean it like that. That went well. Honestly, it went better than I was expecting.” Twilight’s face brightened, but was marked with some confusion. Rainbow continued, “I’ve just gotta clear my head some. I’ll be back in a little while and we can go to dinner, kay?” Twilight smiled, still looking a little confused. “Okay, Rainbow.” Her face went a little red and she looked nervous again, before quickly stepping forward and pecking Rainbow on the cheek. Losing her nerve she turned around and went inside quickly, quipping “See you in a bit,” over her shoulder. Rainbow’s eyes widened a little and she absent-mindedly raised a hoof to her cheek, feeling the raised heat of her blush. Despite herself, a dopey grin bloomed across her face. “See you in a bit, Twilight,” she quietly stated to no one in particular, her voice cracking more than she expected. Her blush deepened and she quickly took off, spreading her wings and turning through the air in lazy circles. She spotted a nicely sized cloud to plop down on and think. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png ‘Okay, Rainbow. What was that all about?’ She replayed the date in her head. Despite her modestly sizable experience in the world of dating, she was kind of at a loss. ‘Why’d I keep stumbling all over myself? I feel like a school filly again!’ She sighed, remembering the way Twilight looked across the little café table from her. She felt her face grow hot, which made her jump back to her train of thought. ‘Why am I blushing so much? I never blush!’ She flopped over from lying in the cloud on her belly onto her back. “Arrgh! Why am I being so uncool right now?!” She cried out loud. Snorting in frustration, her mind shifted to past relationships. While it was true she had done a fair share of dating, both in Ponyville and back in flight school it all seemed so incidental. She’d held a couple of marefriends here and there for a while, but they had hardly gone beyond the early dating phase. Most of them seemed to end in apathy rather than heart-break, now that she thought about it. ‘Is it just that I’ve never dated anyone that meant anything to me?’ She tried to wrap her head around that thought. ‘Does Twilight mean that much to me? I mean she’s my friend, but..’ She played through the last two years since Twilight had come to Ponyville. A rapid-fire of images played through her head. Twilight looking wind-blown after their first muddy, rainy, windy meeting. The deep connection she felt to Twilight and all of her friends when the elements of harmony were activated. Her look of exasperation whenever Rainbow careened into the library from a failed stunt. Conversation after conversation, sleep overs and picnics, laughter and hardship. Image after image played through her head as she tried to make sense of it all. ‘Okay, so I’ve grown close to Twilight. She’s one of my best friends in the world. Of course she means something to me.’ Rainbow sat up, frowning slightly. More images played through. A soft glance, a gentle smile, the slight sway of a flank. Heat rose in her cheeks. ‘Am I lying to myself?’ Frustration rose and Rainbow kicked off the cloud, spinning lazy circles through the sky. The late afternoon air cooled her face and tousled her mane. She thought about her recent dating experience, or rather her lack thereof. Since Twilight arrived, she hadn't gone out with anyone. As she thought about it, she remembered turning a couple of mares down. She remembered telling herself at the time that it was because she was so busy training, but she started to question the validity of that excuse. All this thinking was getting to her. She was a pony of action! So, what action did she want to take? She turned through the air, flipping into some gentle barrel rolls. She quickly sped up, putting slightly more effort into her flying, zigging and zagging through the air at breakneck speeds. She closed her eyes and tried to lose herself in flying for a little while. “SoIwaswonderingifyouwantedtogotothedancewithme?” Rainbow squeaked, glancing around the room rapidly, her eyes alighting on the object of her affection for scant seconds before leaping anywhere else, as if worried looking would cause her eyes to catch fire. The light peach filly’s face grew pink and she started looking around rapidly, too. “I-I’m sorry Dash,” Cloudy Moon said slowly, “but I’m not into mares.” She paused awkwardly. Rainbow’s face fell. Cloudy gained control of her eyes and looked at Rainbow. She was clearly embarrassed, but Rainbow could see sadness in her expression, too. “I really am sorry, Rainbow. You’re a really nice pony.” Her nerve broke and she hurried away at a canter. Rainbow looked down at the cloudy floor, her face burning and her eyes misted with tears she willed herself to not release. Rainbow slowed down her flight to a soft glide. The memory lead to others from that year at flight school. Cloudy Moon was one of her few friends at Flight School aside from Gilda and Fluttershy. After the embarrassing failure, the two of them avoided each other. As time marched on, they became strangers. That was a catalyst moment, Dash thought. After that, she scolded herself if she thought about straight ponies she knew and rarely initiated anything, preferring to be asked so she’d be absolutely sure the pony in question was interested in her. ‘But that’s not all, is it?’ Rainbow thought, 'Friends became taboo. I didn’t want to drift apart from anypony like I did with Cloudy.’ She re-alighted on the cloud she had taken off from, still deep in thought. Her attention turned back to Twilight. She felt like she was coming out of a fog as new memories paraded through her head. Dozens of glances quickly halted, fleeting thoughts pushed away subconsciously, fluttering butterflies ignored. Everything snapped into place. She smiled sheepishly to herself before flying back towards the library through the slowly setting sunlight, her whole body lighter than she ever remembered it being. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png Twilight turned towards the door after three tentative knocks. She levitated a bookmark into place before standing from her desk and heading over to answer. She was greeted by a subdued but smiling Rainbow Dash. “Hey, Twi’. Mind if I come in before we go to dinner? I think I have some stuff to say before we go.” Twilight’s brows knotted together anxiously, but she stood aside to let the Pegasus through. Rainbow floated over to the couch and sat on all fours. She smiled in a kind of tired way and motioned Twilight over to join her. The lavender unicorn headed over with some uncertainty, sitting next to Rainbow. She smiled uncertainly. “Everything okay, Rainbow?” The cyan mare inhaled deeply. “I kinda realized something about myself at the coffee place today,” she began, slowly picking up speed as she got her thoughts in order, “when I was a filly in flight school, I asked out a friend of mine out who was straight, and the two of us drifted apart from the embarrassment. Since then, I’ve had kinda a hang-up about friends. I think I may’ve had a hang-up with everypony who was interested in me, too, in case things didn’t work out and I’d lose another friend like that. I act all cool and confident about dating, but I think the longest relationship I’ve had was for a month or two.” She shuffled nervously in her seat, pulling at her mane with a hoof. “I’ve been lying to myself, so I lied to you too, Twi’, I just didn’t realize it.” She bit her lip, mulling things over. Twilight was very still, not sure where the conversation was going. She opened her mouth to say something in the conversation pause before thinking better of it. After a moment, Rainbow continued, “when I agreed to the date I thought we’d have a good time and maybe go out a few more times, but then it’d fizzle like the others and we’d just go back to bein’ friends like most’ve my other relationships have done.” She looked up from the ground and straight at Twilight, conviction burning in her eyes. “But at the coffee place some of the stuff I’ve been hiding from myself sorta bubbled over. I do have feelings for you, Twilight. You’re this awesome, wonderful pony that’s been there for me all the time. I didn’t let myself think about it, because you’re a friend I don’t ever wanna lose, even after you said you had feelings for me.” Rainbow paused again. Twilight’s heart was soaring. “What I guess I’m getting at is I’m scared, Twi’. I don’t ever wanna lose our friendship ‘cause it means too much to me. But I don’t wanna just be friends either. I don’t know what to do, I just keep thin-” Rainbow’s speech was interrupted by Twilight's lips. Her magenta eyes went wide before fluttering closed and she leaned into the kiss. The two pony’s lips parted and their tongues danced together, little jolts of electricity running up and down Rainbow’s spine. She reached out to the lavender mare and wrapped her hooves around her waist, pulling their bodies closer together. Fireworks went off in Rainbow’s head, obliterating her doubts. After what seemed to be ages, the two parted, breathing heavily. Rainbow’s eyes fluttered open to stare into the purple depths of Twilight’s eyes which twinkled with warmth and reflected her own longing. Clearing her throat, Rainbow managed to only pant out “Wow…” Twilight smiled affectionately at the cyan mare. Mirth on her voice, she said, “you think too much, Rainbow.” The two mares stood and walked towards the door. The first of many dinners together awaited. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png Author’s notes: This is my first fanfiction piece in over a decade. I just got the urge to write it randomly, and I liked the idea of a bold, suave RD discovering she’s not quite as on top of this whole romance thing as she thought. I left this as incomplete because in all honesty this was quite a bit of fun to write and I might get the urge to keep going later. If anyone has any critiques, please share; I’ve got some dragon-thick skin so feel free to shred. After all, this IS a fluff piece, can’t get too worked up about it. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 “SURPRISE!” Pinkie fired the party cannon with a tug. In a bang and a wheeze, streamers and confetti settled over the library’s main hall and liberally coated both Twilight and Rainbow. Their faces shared twin reactions of confusion and surprise. In tandem they both opened their mouths to speak and were both immediately cut off by the party hats strapped onto their heads by a pink, bouncing blur. Twilight and Rainbow were seated at the former’s desk, a forgotten book laying in front of them. They watched the rest of their friends file into the library behind the bouncing pink mare. Turning to one another, they looked pleadingly, attempting to find an answer to this situation. Finding no apparent answers, they turned back to the gathered group. “Uhh…What’s going on?” Twilight studied the scene before her. Her friends all beamed at her, each carrying snacks or party favors as they approached the desk. Pinkie Pie disappeared in a blur, quickly hanging up a banner over the door that wasn’t quite finished unfurling before she was directly in front of the two again. Pinkie swept the two into a bone crushing hug as she screamed, “happy one month anniversary, Twilight and Rainbow!” Released from the pink pony’s suffocating hold, their looks of confusion deepened. “How’d you know we were dating, Pinkie?” Rainbow ran a hoof through her mane absent-mindedly. “Oh that’s easy!” Pinkie flitted through the room, setting trays of snacks down, hanging up banners, and taking carefully aimed shots of the party cannon as she chattered. Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack sat on their haunches on the other side of Twilight’s desk, knowing it would be impossible to interrupt the flow of the rant. “A month ago, my nose twitched, then my hoof itched, then my tummy rumbled, and I sneezed, and that meant that somepony I knew was going on a date! It took me a little while to find out who, because the tummy rumble and sneeze were awfully close together, and if it happened the other way around it meant somepony was getting a colonoscopy.” Rainbow and Twilight both blinked. Applejack thought that if she didn’t know any better, the two were mirroring each other on purpose. “So I did some snooping and found out it was you two! And that meant I had to throw you a SURPRISE PARTY!” The library had been completely transformed in a seeming matter of seconds. Banners stating “Rainbow Dash + Twilight Sparkle” hung suspended from light fixtures and bookcases. A large mural was tacked up over a window, depicting the two mares snuggling with a large red heart hanging over them, the likeness haphazard and somewhat questionable. Nonetheless it was endearing. At the end of Pinkie’s tirade the three others took their cue. “Ah, shucks. You two are so darn cute together, couldn’ta happened to a better set ah ponies,” Applejack beamed, shaking both of their hooves vigorously. While they each had a hoof occupied, Rarity leaned over the desk and hugged them both, managing to entangle Applejack’s forehooves in the embrace. “Oh girls, this is simply splendid! You must share all the juicy details of how you got together!” Fluttershy smiled sweetly, hiding behind her mane. “I’m uhm... so happy for both of you... if you don’t mind me saying, that is...” She lowered her head further, obscuring all of her features behind waves of pink. Neither Rainbow nor Twilight were quite sure how to react. One minute they had been enjoying reading together alone while Spike was off on a sleepover in the Cutie Mark Crusader’s treehouse and suddenly they were the guests of honor for a party celebrating an anniversary they hadn’t even noticed. Her brain fast as ever, Twilight managed to regain a shred of composure first. “Uhh…Thanks you guys. I’m glad everypony is happy for us.” She tried to put on a grin, but the awkwardness of the situation was a bit too stifling for it to appear as anything other than strained. “Yeah,” Rainbow confirmed. She didn’t bother trying to smile, still all too confused as to how Pinkie managed to figure it out, leaving her quizzical look in place. “Ah shucks, we done made the two uncomfortable,” Applejack stated, not looking sorry about it at all. “Maybe if you two ponies had told us the news beforehoof, ya’ll wouldn’ta been surprised.” The two shared a quick glance before looking away, both running a hoof through their manes guiltily. Twilight cleared her throat. “We, uh, weren’t keeping it a secret. We just started seeing each other.” Rainbow, having been thoroughly thrown off her game by the transpired events struggled to find and reassert her brash confidence. “Yeah,” she started, “it’s not like we’re getting married or anything.” As the words left her sky blue lips, she knew it was quite possibly the exact wrong thing to say. She and Twilight both slouched down and turned red. Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy all had the grace to not say anything, but Pinkie Pie was soon rolling on the ground howling. “You. Two. Are. So. CUTE.” She wheezed between gales of laughter, forehooves clutching her sides. The laughter proved contagious, and soon all six ponies were giggling uncontrollably. The atmosphere considerably brightened, Rainbow grinned slyly at Twilight, standing up and flaring her wings. “Alright, let’s get this party started!” https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png The fireplace hissed and spat, throwing a soft glare on the otherwise un-illuminated room. Six ponies were bundled up in sleeping bags around the fire, all tired from partying but not quite ready for sleep. Twilight and Rainbow were huddled up next to each other in a double-sized bag, while the other four were more evenly spread out in individual ones. Every face had a contented smile. After a long while of enjoying the warmth and color of the fire, Applejack’s smile faltered a little. She broke the silence that had settled over the room. “So, why didn’t ya’ll tell us you were an item?” Hearing the question, Fluttershy and Rarity turned towards the two expectantly, while Pinkie seemed to be trying to make shadow puppets against the wall with her sleeping bag. There was a pause as the two got their bearings. “Well…” Rainbow’s face scrunched in contemplation. She looked up, as if expecting a prompt to be written out on the ceiling. “It wasn’t ‘cause we thought you wouldn’t approve or anything.” She looked back at her friends, having found her train of thought. “I mean, I’ve been out to you guys for years. I don’t think either me or Twilight thought anypony was prejudiced.” “Twilight or I,” Twilight corrected, whispering quietly so it would only reach Rainbow’s ear. Rainbow grinned and managed with great effort to keep herself from rolling her eyes. “Really, it’s just that we haven’t been seeing each other for all that long. I mean, we just started dating. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad everypony approves, it’s just still so new. Help me out here, Twi’.” She turned to her lavender partner, a small look of pleading on her face. “I think that’s a pretty apt summation, Rainbow,” Twilight stated matter-of-factly. She addressed the others. “I told Rainbow I had feelings for her, and after thinking about it Rainbow said she had feelings for me. Since then we’ve gone on a few dates and spent time together. It just didn’t seem like a big thing that needed sharing. At least, not yet.” Applejack and Rarity seemed perfectly happy with the answer, Rarity’s mind going into a flight of fancy as she daydreamed about the romantic moment when the two had confessed their feelings, which she was certain took place on a snow-capped mountain top, or perhaps during a rainstorm. Pinkie, who knew more than she was letting on about the inner workings of ponies hearts, already knew why and continued amusing herself with the bag. Fluttershy on the otherhoof looked at rainbow with her brow knotted in confusion. “Um..” the buttery yellow Pegasus interjected, “that’s a rather different attitude than you’ve had before, Rainbow.” She flinched a little. “I mean, if you don’t mind me saying so.” “What do you mean, Fluttershy?” Twilight leaned forward a little, a slightly puzzled expression evident in her eyes. To Rainbow’s credit, she looked puzzled as well rather than guilty. “Um, what I mean to say is that..” She looked around the room, but didn’t find any methods of escape that would be less embarrassing than this conversation, so she pressed on, “In flight school Rainbow was always rather…boastful about her love life.” Fluttershy’s gaze dropped. Twilight glanced at Rainbow with an eyebrow cocked and a wry grin. “Boastful, you say? Did she put notches in her bed post or something?” Rainbow flushed and chuckled nervously. Fluttershy looked terrified. “Oh, no! I meant, she was—eep—” Fluttershy’s nerve seemed to break and she lowered her head to the floor. “I’m sorry, Rainbow! Forget I said anything,” she pleaded. Rainbow smiled at Fluttershy, “don’t worry, ‘Shy, I’m fine! Truth is I don’t really remember being boastful about anything, so it would be nice to know what you mean.” Regaining her composure some, although still looking rather terrified, Fluttershy continued. “It’s just, I remember every time you got a date with somepony you’d always brag about it.” Rainbow put a hoof to her chin, frowning in recollection. “…I guess I did.” “Well, what changed, darling?” Rarity asked. Rainbow’s frown deepened. “I guess it’s because Twilight’s more important to me.” Twilight smiled and wrapped a hoof around Rainbow. The cyan Pegasus leaned into Twilight. Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity looked between each other, finding a lack of understanding. “I don’ get it.” Applejack stated flatly. Before Rainbow could say anything, Pinkie rolled over in her bag to join the conversation and interrupted, “It’s simple, silly! Dashie was only dating ponies she wasn’t really interested in because she didn’t wanna lose any friends if things didn’t work out!” Applejack seemed more confused. “Dat true, Rainbow?” Rainbow’s jaw was slack. “Pinkie, how did--?” “MARSHMALLOWS!” Pinkie cried out over Rainbow’s question. “We’re all warm and toasty by the fire already, we should be toasting MARSHMALLOWS!” Before anyone could blink, Pinkie bounced out of the room to scrounge up a bag of marshmallows and six sticks, although no one had brought any, Twilight was sure there weren’t any in the library beforehoof, and they were absolutely certain that no one heard the door open. When she returned, the conversation had shifted. “Go on, sugarcube. Rainbow told us why she didn’t, but how come you didn’t? Heck, Rainbow came out to you years ago, why’d you keep it a secret from us?” Pinkie half listened in as she set to work prepping the marshmallows, already knowing Twilight’s answer as well. A blush crept up on Twilight’s face as Applejack was speaking and she turned to Rainbow for help. Rainbow, who was quite done being on the spot simply looked back expectantly. Twilight cleared her throat and looked back at the gathered mares. “Well, to be honest I hadn’t really thought about my own sexuality very much. Before I came out to Ponyville I was such a recluse. I knew I was physically attracted to stallions, but I hadn’t really thought about mares, so as far as I knew I was straight until I started fantasizing about Rainb—” Her jaw snapped shut as she realized what she’d just said. Rainbow barked laughter and fell over on her back, the shared sleeping bag undulating like a caterpillar as she frantically waved her hooves. The blooming color on Twilight’s face was so gradual a casual observer might have mistaken it for asphyxiation. Mostly regaining control of herself Rainbow sat up and leered mischievously at Twilight, their noses almost touching, “Fantasized about me? You are so gonna haveta spill that later.” Twilight flushed darker and seemed to have a small coughing fit. “Anyway,” she said after a moment, a look on her face that clearly threatened horrible violence on the first pony to make mention of that slip again, “after we started dating Rainbow encouraged me to be a bit more introspective concerning my sexuality.” Applejack snickered. “Certainly she didn’t use that same phrasin,’ did she Twi’?” Rainbow puffed out her chest. “Hey, I know what introspective means, it means ‘Twilighty.’” Applejack stared at Rainbow, somewhat mystified, but could not actually find anything incorrect about her comment. “So as I was saying,” Twilight continued a little too vehemently. She was mollified that the Freudian Slip had been abandoned, but was growing impatient being ignored. “I read a few books on the subject and figured out I was a four on the Kinsey scale of pony sexuality.” She closed her eyes and gave a quick nod as she finished her statement, convinced that she had cleared up everything on the matter. When she opened her eyes again, she found three sets of identical, confused expressions glancing back at her. She also noticed a growing mountain of marshmallows waiting to be toasted as Pinkie worked. “Pinkie, aren’t you going a little overboard?” Pinkie Pie grinned triumphantly. “I’m gonna stick three dozen together and make a SUPER marshmallow!” Rarity arched a stylish eyebrow. “Pardon me darling, but what exactly is the Kinney scale, and what on Equestria does a four mean?” Twilight turned her attention back to Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Rainbow Dash looked rather bored, having asked the same question weeks ago, and been less than enthralled by the answer. Twilight had the air about her as if she were answering an oral exam. “The Kinsey scale is a tool for measuring a pony’s sexuality. It goes from zero to six, where zero is completely straight, and six is completely gay. Most ponies are somewhere between ones and fives. So being a four means I’d identify as either bisexual, with a slight preference for mares, or homosexual with a significant attraction to stallions. I believe the former is true for me.” Clearly there was something about this that the three found unfathomable, but they seemed satisfied with the answer. Pinkie Pie stuffed a stick or three containing a marshmallow on the end into each of their hooves. “Marshmallows now!” She shouted. The six gathered closer to the fire, toasting their marshmallows. All conversation lulled to a stop, the group simply enjoying each other’s company. Soon, they all settled down to drift off to sleep. Everypony was content, except Rainbow Dash. She couldn’t put a hoof on it exactly, but she knew something was bothering her. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png Twilight was settled on a blanket, books, quills, and parchment in front of her, while Rainbow flew overhead practicing maneuvers. It had swiftly fallen into tradition for her to meet up with Rainbow after her weather duties to watch her practice while Twilight studied. Both mares referred to this activity as shared homework time, although neither one really thought of their tasks as homework. Twilight was only half watching as poured over a text on magical theory, but she could tell Rainbow’s heart wasn’t really in her moves. After half an hour of half attempted corkscrews and barrel rolls, and several dives far too slow to be considered challenging, Rainbow alighted gently next to Twilight and sighed in frustration. Twilight levitated a bookmark into her tome and snapped it shut. “What’s bothering you Rainbow?” Rainbow sighed again, looking cross. “Beats me. Something about last night’s buggin’ me. I can’t figure out what, though.” She sat on her haunches in a huff, blowing her bangs out her eyes with a strong snort. Twilight stood up and put a hoof on her marefriend’s shoulder. “They did kind of put us on the spot. Were you not ready for our relationship to go so public?” “No, that’s not it,” Rainbow answered without hesitation. “I knew they’d be happy for us and it’s not like I wanted to keep it a secret or something. Heck, that party was a blast.” A bit of Rainbow’s frustration evaporated under the reflected memories of the sleep over, but was soon replaced by confusion. Her voice had a hint of defeat. “I haven’t a clue what it is.” Twilight’s brows knit together in concern. She ran her hoof through rainbow’s colorful mane. Rainbow leaned into the administration, closing her eyes and releasing some of her tension with a sigh. Twilight smiled and repositioned herself beyond Rainbow, gently digging both forehooves into the Pegasus’ shoulders and working them in circles. Rainbow sighed again and slumped forward from the massage. “If it wasn’t them surprising us, was it something someone said? Fluttershy did sort of put you on the spot asking about bragging when you were a filly.” “Maybe,” Rainbow started slowly. She took her time considering, partially distracted by the knots in her neck releasing. “But Pinkie was right about why.” She chuckled low. “Pinkie Pie. How on Equestria does she know these things?” “Just Pinkie being Pinkie,” Twilight answered matter-of-factly. “But just because you know why, doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t bothering you. Are you worried about how you’ve changed and what it could mean for our relationship?” Rainbow sat up some. Twilight’s hooves moved further up her neck, temporarily banishing her thoughts to some deep recess. Her eyes fluttered closed and she breathed a contented moan. Twilight giggled a little. Regaining her senses bit by bit Rainbow eventually answered. “I don’t think I’m all that worried about you and me—” Rainbow paused, gathering her thoughts, “—at least not from being more serious about it than I used to be. I think that’s a good thing, really. Y’know, once upon a time this’d be right around the point where I’d start losing interest in a mare and we’d start thinking about going our separate ways. I don’t feel like that at all, now. I just wanna keep going forward with you.” Twilight smiled and laid a soft kiss on the top of Rainbow’s head. “I’d like to take that journey with you..” “I think I’m more worried about what else my past was hiding from me, and how it might mess with us. Ugh, I wish I was more introspective.” Twilight grinned and tousled Rainbow’s mane, taking a seat next to her and wrapping a hoof around her middle. Rainbow returned the gesture and pulled Twilight close. She gave Twilight a wide grin that slowly faded and she turned her head towards the sky. She spoke slowly to Twilight, but Twilight got the sense she was also addressing herself. “…are we moving too fast? Too slow? I don’t know how to gauge this.” “I don’t know, either,” Twilight answered, a rueful smile pulling at her lips. “I don’t know how to set a pace here, or what that pace should even be. I do know that this last month has been…” “Awesome?” Rainbow supplied with a smirk. “Yeah,” Twilight agreed, returning Rainbow’s smile. “It’s been awesome. And if you need time to figure out what’s going on in that pretty head of yours, I’d love to be there to help you through it.” Rainbow leaned her head onto Twilight’s shoulder, a large portion of her stress melting away. “Thanks, Twi’. You’re totally the best a mare could ask for.” She turned her head and caught Twilight’s muzzle in a kiss. Twilight leaned into Rainbow and returned the affection, the kiss growing deeper as their lips both parted. Hooves wrapped around each other’s necks they both laid back on the blanket, lost in their partner for a while. After a while they parted, their faces flushed and panting slightly. They had both shared and stolen many kisses over the last month, but this one edged the closest into make-out territory. After a while, Rainbow said, “maybe we’ve been going to slow.” Twilight giggled and playfully hit Rainbow in the shoulder with a hoof. “Come on, let’s head back to the library.” The two stood and trotted slowly back towards the large tree, side by side. Twilight was smiling softly, but Rainbow seemed lost in thought. After a short distance, she spoke. “Thanks for putting up with me.” “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Twilight gave the Pegasus a warm smile. “I think there’s something wrong with me, Twilight.” The rainbow maned pegasus paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “You make me really happy, and I feel like that should be enough, but I don’t know half of what I’m thinking or feeling most the time, it sorta makes me feel like I’m making you wait on me...” Twilight stopped and gently pulled the cyan mare around to look her in the eye, hooves on both sides of her partner’s face. “That’s not true, Rainbow! You’re one of the most wonderful, sweet, and loyal ponies in all of Equestria, and I’ve never felt like I was waiting for you...” Her face was stern and her eyes held only the barest of scolding qualities. She dropped her forehooves and stood up more straightly to further address her marefriend. “When I said I’d be there to help you through it I meant it. I’ll help you. We can work on whatever’s bothering you together.” Rainbow looked down sheepishly, straining with concentrated effort to keep her threatening tears from falling. “Thank you, Twilight. You really are the best marefriend somepony could ask for.” She stood on her hindhooves and pulled Twilight into a hug. Twilight returned it gently, running a consoling hoof through the Pegasus’ wind-swept mane. After a while they returned to walking back to the library, their steps imperceptibly closer together than when they first started back. As they approached the tree, they shouted a greeting to Spike, freshly returned from his sleepover. The evening progressed comfortably. The two shared a delicious dinner prepared by Spike and stayed up late reading. When Rainbow stifled a yawn and started to head out, Twilight asked if she wanted to stay the night. When the two were settling down, Twilight timidly made Rainbow the offer to sleep next to her. Rainbow held the lavender mare close to her chest, smelling her intoxicating hair as they both started to drift off. The warmth and closeness of spooning her best friend felt undeniably right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off and that something was her. Twilight’s words played back through her head and a sense of warmth and comfort drifted over her. Rainbow felt transcendent, as if everything in her life had been leading up to this point. She drowsily thought that perhaps Twilight was right and she did think too much. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png Author’s Note: So I’ve decided to go ahead with this. Not sure where exactly it will end up, but for right now we’re just gonna explore the baggage that these two ponies bring to the table. I’ve already said this in a comment, but I’d like to say it again here: Thanks for the very kind words; this is truly the nicest fandom I've ever encountered and it's rather nice to be a part of it. My life's been kinda terrible for a while now and it was so good to find something that could make me smile again. And if I can make others smile with silly little fanfics about ponies, I know I can keep my own smile going. Author: He was very helpful! An exchange: Bats: did I really repeat that phrasing twice in a row? Doc: yes you did. Bats: Man, I thought I was just smoking cigarettes at the time. O_o. There, better? PS we should leave this in for the readers. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 Rainbow sat at Twilight’s desk in the library while Twilight lounged on the couch reading. The quill, gripped sideways in the pegasus’ mouth, worked its way across the pages of the book in slow, careful movements. The sensation of writing like this was difficult to overcome at first, but Rainbow had gradually gotten used to it. She wrote diligently, stopping only to dip the feather into its pot of ink or for the mare to straighten out any developing kinks in her neck. On one of these neck stretches, she glanced over at her marefriend. Twilight’s position had shifted from the dignified ball she’d been in when she started reading; four legs tucked underneath with her tail wrapped around. She was now half off the couch, her head and shoulders on the floor with her flank on the edge of the cushions and her hindlegs akimbo in the air. Her book floated with magic half a foot in front of her eyes. Rainbow barely suppressed a laugh. Speaking carefully around the quill, Rainbow said, “That’s a good look for you, Twi’.” Twilight spasmed at the sudden comment, her flank slipping off the couch and thumping to the floor. She stood up quickly, and hastily straightened her mane and coat. She cleared her throat a few times, in an attempt to dismiss her embarrassment. She regained her composure quickly, smiling as the faint haze of red faded from her cheeks. “How’s the writing going, Rainbow?” Rainbow set the quill down in the ink pot and licked her dry lips before responding, “It’s okay, I guess.” Twilight walked around the couch to the other side of the desk. “Is it helping at all?” Rainbow sighed, giving the page she was working on a sour look. “…I don’t know. At first I didn’t think keeping a journal would help me figure any of this out. But after I started, it got easier’n easier so I thought it might.” Her brow furrowed in contemplation, as she rifled through the couple dozen filled pages at the front, more to confirm their existence than to garner any content. Letting the pages settle back to the most recent entry, she rested both forehooves on the desk, stooping down. “But now that I’ve gotten down some of my thoughts and stories, it feels like I haven’t answered any questions.” Twilight smiled and took one of Rainbow’s hooves in her own. “Well, you did say you were having trouble making sense of your own thoughts, so at least you had the chance to straighten some of those thoughts out.” “You’re right,” Rainbow replied, her brows still together and her voice reluctant. “But I’m not even sure what this jumble has to do with anything.” She used her free hoof to prod the book before resting her chin on it. “All I’ve learned is my head’s about as messy as my house is.” Twilight chuckled and patted Rainbow’s hoof. “It’s okay. The point of doing this is to get you thinking about these things more critically. It should make it easier for you to really get to the heart of the matter.” Rainbow sighed deeply. “I’m ready to get to the heart of the matter now. I just don’t know where to start.” She glared at the book. It was at the start a nuisance, then a friend, and had recently morphed into an enigma. She snapped it shut. She shook her head slowly and looked up at the lavender mare who was patiently holding her hoof and smiling warmly. Her brow unknit itself and she smiled back. To Twilight she looked happy, but also a little lost. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I’m sure you’re just about sick to death of me running around in circles.” Twilight began to tell her mare that it was okay, but Rainbow cut her off. “Let’s get out of here for a little while. I’ve got an idea of something to do.” Twilight nodded, happy to see Rainbow’s eyes brighten as she spoke. “Alright,” she said and levitated her book back onto a shelf. Rainbow stood and cantered over to the door, looking over her shoulder back at the unicorn. Twilight caught a look of amusement in Rainbow’s face and raised an eyebrow. Rainbow’s grin widened. “You’ll see,” she quipped cryptically. They exited the tree and Twilight turned her back on the sky blue mare so she could lock up. As soon as the key had finished turning in the lock, Rainbow grabbed her in her forehooves and took off into the sky. Twilight’s cry quickly resolved itself into joyful laughter. Twilight cast the cloud-walking spell on herself and indicated she was ready to be put down. Rainbow lowered her onto the puffy, white platform hovering over Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow alighted next to her and pulled a picnic basket out of a lump in the cloud with her teeth. “So you planned this, did you?” Twilight laughed, still flushed with exhilaration from the flight. Rainbow set the basket back down, sat on her haunches, and gave a single nod with a self-satisfied grunt. Twilight opened the basket and floated a couple of cucumber sandwiches out before sitting down next to the sky blue mare. From their vantage point they had a clear view all the way to the Everfree Forest which sparkled dazzlingly in the midday sun. They ate in silence, letting the view speak for itself. The two washed down their sandwiches with some Sweet Apple Acres’ cider that Rainbow had managed to save through extreme acts of willpower. The cloud had kept the cider chilled to the touch, condensation sticking to each glass in fat droplets. Twilight exhaled appreciatively after a long draught and smacked her lips. Rainbow giggled and bumped her mare in the shoulder. The unicorn rolled her eyes and bumped back. Her horn faintly glowing, Twilight levitated another pair of sandwiches from the basket and Rainbow deftly caught hers and wolfed it down in much the same way as the first. Twilight chewed slowly, savoring both the taste and the growing anticipation on the pegasus’ face. Eventually, Twilight was done and Rainbow pulled a few choice books of Twilight’s from the basket and they read together. They settled on the latest in a fantasy series Twilight had gushed over and eventually got Rainbow to try out. They laid back against the cloud and Twilight floated the book in front of them. They took turns reading sections aloud, Rainbow always changing her voice for different speaking parts and making Twilight giggle so much she’d miss whole paragraphs and pester her marefriend into repeating them. After reading a few chapters and getting to a good stopping point, Rainbow coaxed the unicorn onto her back and flew around their cloud, performing some of her slower maneuvers and eliciting shrieks of amused terror to rival any amusement park. The laughter never left Twilight’s voice as they somersaulted, cartwheeled, and looped through the air. The afternoon waned towards early evening, giving the sky a haze of orange, and they settled back on the cloud and sat close. Twilight leaned into Rainbow and rested her head on her marefriend’s shoulder. Rainbow rested her head on Twilight’s and wrapped a gossamer wing around the unicorn’s middle. They sat together and listened to the breeze. After a long, comfortable moment, Twilight broke the silence. “This is beautiful, Rainbow.” Twilight nuzzled Rainbow’s neck. Rainbow chuckled and hugged Twilight closer with her wing. The studious mare gave a giggle before speaking once more “Thanks for bringing me up here. What was the occasion, or were you just being spontaneous?” “That hurts, Twi’. Assuming I can’t do something nice for my marefriend without a reason.” Her warm voice and the soft nuzzle delivered to Twilight’s head betraying her statement. “Actually, it was something from the journaling.” “Oh, really? You didn’t make it sound like it was helping at all before.” Rainbow shook her head a little, willing herself to not dwell on her frustrations at the moment. “Not anything like that. What happened is I started digging up dates and names to try and make some sense of my past marefriends.” She shifted her position, standing up straight and looking at the lavender mare directly. She cleared her throat and did a passable impression of Twilight when she was delivering a lecture. “As of today, the two of us have been dating for three months and four days, making this the longest relationship I’ve ever been in.” She slouched back down and grinned at Twilight. Twilight blinked slowly, her face a little slack with surprise. “Really? It doesn’t feel like we’ve really been together that long.…” She stopped herself and winced, checking Rainbow’s face for signs that she’d hurt the mare’s feelings. She was surprised again to find Rainbow smiling wider. “Exactly what I was thinkin’.” Twilight’s confusion grew as the pegasus hugged her. Rainbow continued, speaking softly, “The time’s flown by and I’ve been so happy being with you. I’ve never gotten bored. I wake up every day wanting to know you better, see your face, make you smile.” She pulled back from the hug, holding Twilight’s shoulders with her hooves and gave her an appraising look. “It’s never stopped feeling like we just started on a big adventure.” Twilight’s smile was almost as bright as the setting sun. “…You’re right, Rainbow. It feels just like we’re on an adventure. I’m happy we can share that adventure together, and I’m happy to help you every step of it.” Her eyes dropped to her hooves, and she began idly kneading a lump of cloud. “I wish I could help you more, though. You know I haven’t really dated anypony else before, Rainbow. If I had more experience, maybe I’d know how to help you get through this.” Rainbow crouched down and nuzzled Twilight’s chin, bringing her gaze up so their eyes locked. “It’s okay, Twilight. I know you’re trying to work through stuff, too. I can see you stressin’ about a lot of things, even when you try to hide it.” Twilight stared back, searching Rainbow’s eyes for frustration or annoyance and being surprised to find none. “Really? I thought that maybe you’d be upset. That you’d think I didn’t want this.” She dropped her gaze again. Her marefriend’s understanding look gave her the courage to voice doubts that had been plaguing her mind. “I really want us, Rainbow, but I’m confused about a lot of things. I know I like mares, but I also know I like stallions, too. And I don’t know how those desires work, or how they might manifest themselves later. And I’m scared of moving too fast, or too slow, or ruining things.” She sighed, partially in relief from giving her demons voice. “I love the way things are right now and part of me doesn’t want anything to change, but I know things always do and I don’t know how to control it, and—” A soft blue hoof cut her off. “It really is okay. Those are fears everypony has, and I’ve got a share of ‘em, too. You said we’d work on what’s bothering me together, and there’s no reason we can’t work on what’s bothering the both of us together.” They shared a smile. “This big adventure’s gotta take teamwork.” Twilight stood and hugged her mare earnestly. “You’re the best marefriend a pony could ask for, Rainbow Dash.” The Pegasus returned the hug. “That’s my line.” They settled back down to watch Celestia’s sun finish its journey over the horizon. Twilight smirked. “So how on Equestria did you know the exact length, to the day, of past relationships?” Rainbow grinned sheepishly. “I, uh, kinda found an old little black book of mine.” A light blush colored her cheeks and Twilight laughed. “Just how many marefriends have you had to keep one of those?” Rainbow coughed and pretended not to hear the question. The sun finished its descent, casting brilliant bands of gold and burgundy across the sky. Twilight wished wistfully that Rainbow had also packed a dinner. Rainbow tugged a second hidden basket from the cloud and Twilight nearly fell down to the apple orchard laughing. After a dinner of Spike’s famous roasted eggplant, Rainbow flew them back to the tree, taking several detours through the moonlight. Back on the ground, slightly punch-drunk from the flight, flushed, and glowing from the day with her marefriend, Twilight invited Rainbow to stay the night. Although still early evening, she led Rainbow directly to her bedroom. When Twilight invited the mare to sleep in her bed, something that had become the usual tradition whenever she stayed the night, Rainbow could see in her eyes she wasn’t talking about sleeping. Glad that Spike had moved into one of the spare rooms a few weeks previously, the two crept under the sheets together and into each other’s burning embrace. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png As the morning sun streamed through the window in Twilight’s bedroom, the two lovers woke entangled. “Hey,” Rainbow said, her voice rough and cracking more than usual from sleep. She pulled Twilight closer to her chest, placing a series of kisses on the unicorn’s head. Twilight blinked the sand from her eyes and smiled. She snuggled into the embrace, her forehooves scrunched together against the mare’s cyan chest. She ran a hoof in slow circles through Rainbow’s coat. “Hey, yourself.” She stretched out her back, freeing her hooves to snake around Rainbow’s neck. In a swift motion she rolled onto her marefriend, pinning the pegasus to the bed. Rainbow chuckled and pulled Twilight’s head closer. The two shared a slow, invigorating kiss. “Last night was wonderful, Rainbow.” Rainbow flashed a cocky smirk. “I am the most awesome pony in Ponyville, Twi’.” Twilight giggled and nibbled on Rainbow’s ear. “I suppose so,” she whispered. Rainbow shuddered at the touch and ran her hooves through Twilight’s tangled mane. A soft groan escaped through her muzzle as a lavender hoof ran under a wing. The two remained in bed through breakfast time and after a couple showers they found themselves sprawled on the couch, wrapped in each other’s limbs. Rainbow grumbled. “I don’t wanna move, but I have to huh?” She looked to her marefriend, hoping she’d have a good excuse for staying in. Twilight smiled at Rainbow while playing with her multi-colored mane. “Probably. Anything on your plate today?” The pegasus sighed, knowing no reprieve was in sight. “Not much. Got some clouds to clear out comin’ in from the Everfree, and I told Pinkie Pie I’d taste test a new recipe or two.” She stretched, not wanting to get up but knowing she’d need to. “Sounds fun. I’ve got some organizing to do in the library, and Princess Celestia asked me to look over a piece of magical research that’s about to be published in Canterlot.” Rainbow finally roused herself and stood. “So I’ll see you for homework time?” Rainbow gave Twilight a lingering goodbye kiss. “Wouldn’t miss it.” She gave her mare a smile and headed out the door, taking off for the edge of the forest. With Rainbow gone, Twilight lounged on the couch, her thoughts blissful and scattered. After a few minutes of reveling in her emotional euphoria she managed to drag herself to her hooves and get to work. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png Rainbow found her sky-clearing duties went faster than normal. She wasn’t sure if it was simply the distraction of her memories or if she actually was physically lighter to match her spirit. Cloud Kicker would have been more pleased with her expediency if not for the constant bragging. “Oh, yeah! Who’s the fastest pony in Equestria? Rainbow Dash, that’s who!” Rainbow bucked the final cloud apart and puffed out her chest. She crossed her hooves behind her head and hovered in the air, flipping her mane out of her face and smirking. Cloud Kicker rolled her eyes. “Rainbow Dash, everypony knows you can work quickly if you want to,” Cloud snapped, putting extra emphasis on the last two words. Rainbow’s eyes snapped open and she smiled sheepishly at the pastel purple pegasus. “I guess I was layin’ it on a little thick huh?” she chuckled. “Ya think?” Rainbow scratched her head with a hoof and smiled bashfully. “I’ll tone it down, Cloud. I’m just in a good mood.” She somersaulted once and hovered closer to Cloud Kicker, offering a hoof. “Forgive me? It’s hard to be this awesome and not talk about it.” An eye-roll and a headshake later, Cloud Kicker took the offered hoof. “It’s alright, we’re done for the day anyway. Honestly, Dash, you need to get that swollen head looked at.” Rainbow chuckled as the two turned to fly back toward’s downtown Ponyville. “Off to spend more time with that mare of yours?” Rainbow grinned. “I gotta go over to Sugarcube Corner first, but after that yep.” She puffed out her chest and puffed a hot breath on her hoof, polishing it in her coat. Cloud rolled her eyes. “Rainbow Dash, Don Juan extraordinaire.” “That’s me! Catch ya later, Cloud.” She turned towards the bakery and took off in a blur. Cloud Kicker huffed and continued on her way at a sedated pace. As she flew towards Sugarcube Corner, something was nagging Rainbow. ‘Hrm,’ she thought, ‘I was kinda being a jerk to Cloud back there, wasn’t I? I wonder wh—’ Rainbow’s rumination was interrupted as she entered the shop only to have a bucket of water fall on her head. She glared wetly at the pink pony collapsed on the ground howling with laughter. “Really, Pinkie? The water bucket? You need some newer pranks.” Still giggling the earth pony bounded to her hooves and over to Rainbow. “Ooh, got any ideas? Fluttershy’s on the way to taste test, too!” Rainbow’s glare vanished and an evil grin spread across her face. “Got any catapults?” “Do I?!?!” A few minutes later, Fluttershy opened the shop’s door. The tinkling of the welcome bell was muffled by the sound of a piece of twine pulling taught and snapping. A large blob of cream cheese frosting flew through the air and splattered across the yellow mare’s face and mane. Pinkie and Rainbow collapsed in hysterics. Fluttershy’s bewilderment cracked and she joined in, giggling softly. After getting cleaned up, the two pegasi sampled a handful of experimental treats. The pumpkin treacle needed some work, but the chimicherrywhatevers were finally edible. Pinkie’s take on a dessert Reuben left the two puzzled and slightly sick. After several glasses of water and some vigorous tooth brushing, they tried the final treat and both mares agreed her sour cream cupcakes were sure to be best sellers. After saying goodbye to Pinkie, Rainbow wanted to stretch her wings so she floated just above and to the right of Fluttershy as they traveled together to the latter’s cottage. “So how are things going with you and Twilight? If uh... If it’s okay that I ask…” Fluttershy smiled nervously. “Things are awesome, ‘Shy.” Rainbow’s expression shifted from cocky to pensive. Fluttershy was one of her oldest friends and she was used to sharing her problems with the yellow mare. After a brief consideration, she decided to be honest. She flipped over to fly upside-down, “Well, things between the two of us are awesome, anyway. I’m havin’ my own problems.” “Oh?” Fluttershy gave her a look full of concern. Rainbow smiled inwardly at her friend’s immediate and heartfelt compassion. “Before Twi’ and I started dating, I never really had a relationship that didn’t fizzle out really soon. It kinda goes back to when you reminded me about how much I bragged about dating back in Flight School, and what Pinkie said about not wanting to lose friends. I’ve gotten over a little of it. I’m takin’ this relationship seriously. But I’m worried I’m gonna start pushing her away without meaning to. Or that there’re other hang-ups I don’t know about. I’m afraid I’m gonna mess this up ‘cause I can’t figure myself out.” Fluttershy listened to her friend intently. Rainbow’s speech unsettled her. “Y—you’ve changed, Rainbow. If uh, you don’t mind me saying so…” She lowered her head, skittish. Rainbow’s expression grew puzzled, but there was no anger in her expression. When she spoke, her voice carried a hint of hopefulness. “Whaddya mean?” Fluttershy cleared her throat, pushing her nerves as far back as they would go so she could say what she needed to. “It’s not all the time, but when you aren’t around a bunch of ponies you act more like when I first met you.” She paused, steeling herself to go on. “I remember when we were fillies in Flight School. You were always athletic and competitive, but you were really soft-spoken and modest, too. Then one day you started, uh…bragging a lot. It was really sudden.” She flushed and looked like she was worried Rainbow would strike her. Rainbow put a hoof to her chin as she flew, her eyes far away. “I don’t remember any of that. Do you remember what was goin’ on at the time?” Fluttershy swallowed and got her emotions back in check. “It was a long time ago, Rainbow. I…I think it was around the time you had a falling out with that peach-colored mare. Gosh, I can’t remember her name. She had a red mane, and you two used to be close friends…” Fluttershy frowned, trying to remember the name when Rainbow beat her to it. “Cloudy Moon?” Rainbow had stopped dead in the air, drifting a few paces behind the light yellow pegasus. Shock and recognition were clear in her eyes. Fluttershy paused and turned around, trotting back to meet the sky blue mare. “That’s right,” she said softly, “Is everything okay, Rainbow?” Rainbow shook her head and set a determined expression on her face, her eyes searching. “Do you know if I changed before or after Cloudy and I fell out?” Fluttershy paused to consider, intimidated by Rainbow’s piercing look. “I’m, uh, I’m not sure. I think it happened right around the same time, though.” Rainbow’s head reeled. She shook her head forcefully before turning to face the library. She quickly spouted, “Thanks, ‘Shy,” before disappearing in a rainbow-colored blur. Fluttershy looked on, mystified. Rainbow flew into the library through an open window, landing at a gallop and rushing through the rooms. She found Twilight pouring over some scrolls at her desk, taking notes. “Twilight!” she half shouted, her face a mix of shock and understanding. “Rainbow! Is everything alright?!” She hurried around her desk and grasped Rainbow’s shoulders in her hooves, searching her face for signs of catastrophe. Feeling a bit guilty from causing such a fearful reaction, Rainbow took a deep breath to calm down. “Everything’s fine. I was just having a conversation with Fluttershy and I realized something.” She smiled and angled her head towards the floor, looking up at Twilight with contrition. Twilight released her marefriend and took a few breaths as well, letting the sudden rush of adrenaline and fear work its way out of her system. “Oh…Okay…” She breathed in again and out slowly, finding her center. “What did you realize?” Rainbow took another breath. “I told you about Cloudy Moon, right? Well Fluttershy told me that before I asked her out and we drifted apart I used to not be so arrogant.” Twilight chuckled. “Fluttershy called you arrogant?” “Not directly, no.” Rainbow grinned briefly, before looking at a wall, not really seeing it. “But that’s what she meant. And that’s what I am…” She paused. Twilight’s eyes had widened a little. She hadn’t expected such a flat acceptance. Rainbow turned her head back to address Twilight directly. “But, she said that I used to not be. And she said that since we’ve started dating it goes away sometimes.” Twilight blinked. Her mind worked quickly as always and pieced together a tapestry of events from the previous months. She was close, too close to have seen it without guidance, but it was clear as day. Rainbow’s bravado and boasting vanished when the two were alone, or with small groups of their friends, but rebounded sharply around others. It was like she was two different ponies. Twilight’s head spun from the revelation, less from the content than the fact that she had been unaware. “…I can’t believe I didn’t notice.” “So it’s true, isn’t it?” Rainbow looked into Twilight’s eyes, pleading for confirmation. Twilight regathered her thoughts. “…Yes. I don’t know if it’s because of Cloudy, but your bragging—” “My arrogance.” Rainbow cut across Twilight’s statement with finality. Twilight sighed and nodded. “Your arrogance, then, does go away when you’re with just me, or just a few friends. You still boast a little, but it’s self-deprecating. With others, you’re serious.” Rainbow was lost in thought. She nodded somberly. After a long pause, she began again. “Well, this doesn’t change a lot, but I know a little bit more about myself now. I got a new angle to look at my past from. And it gives me something to work for.” She turned from Twilight and shuffled to the window, looking out. “I got a good look at myself today, and I don’t think I wanna be this pony anymore.” Twilight frowned and her brow knotted with concern. She moved next to her lover and put a hoof on her shoulder. “I don’t want you to change. I like who you are, Rainbow.” Rainbow looked back at the lavender unicorn and gave her a tired smile. “I like who I am when I’m around you, too, Twilight. I wanna be this pony all the time.” Twilight smiled and pulled her mare into a warm embrace. The two stood at the window hugging for a long while. “I’ll help you do that, every step of the way.” Twilight whispered. Rainbow’s smile and grasp both deepened. “Thanks, Twi’.” Eventually the two separated. After a moment of just looking upon her marefriend with affection, Rainbow asked, “So how’s this thing for the Princess goin’?” Twilight looked away and her brows once again knit together with worry. “Well…I think I might have to go back to Canterlot for a few months.” Rainbow blinked. https://camo.derpicdn.net/7d9cac508a49a7824b4550f65163771ea0b606ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi111.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn155%2Fbatsofchaos%2Fbatspagebreak_zps51285c5e.png Author’s note: And that’s a wrap for chapter three. Now with added feature: a plot! A big thanks for the warm reception this has received so far, and I hope everyone continues to enjoy it. A shout out to my editors, Doctor Strangelove and Echriedz even though Doc threatened me with bodily harm if I thanked him again. He does MMA; I should probably take those threats seriously. Also, there’s an open invitation for any writers out there to expand Rainbow and Twilight’s first time into a clopfic with my full permission. DO IT. <