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                      Faulty Thinking                      
                      -by ConnVolpe-                       
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                    Manipulative Mares                     
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Manipulative Mares
“Hey, Rainbow.”
You’d called to her from across the market. You’d been in college together, albeit briefly, becoming friends until you messed it up and it had been the 2nd most awkward night of your life. It was last night that had replaced it as the most awkward you'd ever had, giving you regrets to deal with and problems you had to solve, as well as the motivation to fix them. She wouldn't get over this and you’d never gain her trust again if you didn't. You were on thin lines with her anyway. It was your fault she'd stormed off this morning, as for why she did it you didn't know, but with Celestia as your witness, you would finish it.
She glanced over her floating bed, rolling her eyes at the sight of you. “Go away. I’m napping” she jeers. Her fake snoring gives you little time to think before a smirk set across your face as you come up with a comeback almost instantly.
“You’re always napping. You were asleep for half of last night as for the other half, I don’t want to know what was going on.”
It was true, and it looked like it hit her hard. A loud groan almost echoed around the streets, drawing the attention of the sole bystander. She dropped from her cloud in a single fluid motion, taking only a single second before she was in front of you, baring her teeth and growling. She pushes forward, causing you to retreat until your rear hit the wall, a smile plastered on your face all the while.
“I knew you liked to get up close and personal but I didn’t think you’d want to start now, here of all places. Don’t you have a special some pony?”
“Listen you,” she snarls, “I don’t know who you think you are but your wit is going to earn you a one way ticket out of here, if you catch my drift.” She remains on the offensive, pushing until your head reaches the same wall your rear is pressed on. Her magenta eyes showing off the red flush of her cheeks as she remembered what had happened. She was quite cute when she was mad and you were sure that if you pressed her a little more she be adorable, but it was assuming things (or rather not assuming things) like that that had got you in this trouble in the first place.
“Y’know, we’ve had enough cider. Don’t you –HIC- think we should head back?”  
“Hmmm… Nah.”  
“But Applejack, -HIC- what if some pony tries to take advantage of us before we -HIC- get back?”  
“Ah reckon you can handle yourself just fine. Now get.”  
“Applejack, you’re drunk. -HIC- We need to go.”  
“Nah, Ah’m not drunk and ah don't wanna be so let's get”  
"I -HIC- know just the place to crash. But we'll need a plan -HIC-."
“Look what happened isn’t my fault. I was only being respectful of Applejack. She was drunk and I'm not going to take advantage of her when she's like that. You on the other had weren't. So what's up with that?"
“I’m not answering that. I want you to forget what we did and get out of here. I’m not what you think I am; I thought you'd have learnt that when I bucked your ass back to Tartarus.” She turned away without a care, a hint of a blush causing her to retreat to her cloud. Her message had been clear: say anything to anypony and it will be the last thing you do. A threat if you hadn’t heard one before. Your intentions were pure but you weren't going to take advantage of Applejack like that. Not only would it get you a bad reputation but it would also stop you from having any chance with her at any other time.
“Hey, boy.”
But when they stumbled into your room, snuggled up to you in your bed, and began nuzzling you from in front and behind, you almost lost it. If they hadn’t fallen asleep a second or two after snuggling up, you would have broken and quite possibly had the night of your life. Why didn't you act? Dumb morals.
“Ain’t you got ears? Ah want to talk to you.”
Snapping out of your perverse presumptions, you turn to see the mare who’d called to you. A red blush contrasted with the sun-kissed orange of the mare’s coat. You knew her as Applejack, co-owner of Sweet Apple Acres and Element of Honesty as well as the local apple seller. But then again, that’s how most of the town saw her apart from her closest friends. The only time you’d seen and spoke to her aside from buying apples was last night, and it wasn’t the sort of conversation you’d have wanted. It was awkward…
“Sorry, girls. This is a residence, not a hotel. I only have the one bed.”  
“Ah reckon we should share. Eh, Rainbow?”  
“Wha-Huh?”  
“Come on Applejack, let’s go.”  
“Sorry, Dash. I’d help you out if I could but I’ve only got my own bed. I’d hate to have to put one of you on the floor.”  
“It’s fine. Applejack’s a little drunk so I need to get her back. Do you mind if we at least sit for a bit?”  
“Cool. Come in. I was just crashing.”  
“We’ll probably do the same.”  
“Ah wanna do more than crash. How ‘bout some fun, if y’all know what I mean…”  
“AJ! Cut it out!”
“Ah wanted to apologise for last night and this morning. Ah think you got the wrong picture.” She avoided eye contact, brushing the ground with her hoof. All the signs of anxiety and shame. She didn’t want to be having this conversation at all, but her reputation and that of her friend was at stake.
“It’s okay Ms Apple, I can understand what was up. You were drunk. At least you had Dash there to stop you doing something you’d regret. But did you have to come into my room later? It was a little uncomfortable having the two of you sandwiching me.”
“Ah know it was wrong and ah wouldn’t do it if ah weren’t under the influence.” She looked away, embarrassed by your observations, “But ah wanted to ask. What exactly do you think happened last night?” You were a bit taken aback, surely she knew. You wanted to respond instantly but the nature of the question forbade you from doing so. You looked into the mare’s confused eyes and wanted to spill it, but you weren’t sure if she’d take it right.
“You and Dash were making some… noises last night. I didn’t want to disturb you, but then you both came into my room and snuggled up against me. Was it a joke, because-“
She interrupted you with a look of realisation and embarrassment. You realised you were wrong. How could you have been so stupid? Of course they weren’t humouring you! How could you not act upon the two mare’s wishes, especially when they were smiling and giggling and pressing their bodies against you?
“Applejack, I’m so sorry! I didn’t think you were being serious last night. I really should have acted. I really wanted to tell you that you’re beautiful. Please, believe me. I thought it was a joke. You and Dash were giggling all night, you were drunk. Please, I only though it was the alcohol acting yesterday. I’d love a chance to have you and your special somepony over again to make it up to you.”
You were almost grovelling for her acceptance of your apology. It wasn’t your fault! She had to forgive you. You’d been honest with her. Isn’t that what all mares want? You looked into her sparkling green eyes which conveyed the flurry of emotions her immobility didn’t. In only a few seconds you saw flickers of Relief, twinkles of Happiness, and most importantly, a whole lot of Confusion. “Ah’m not sure what to say. Ah think you’re kinda cute too, but ‘special somepony’? Ah don’t have one.”
You blink a couple of times at the implication. She'd just proved Rainbow Dash was what you thought she was so many years ago, only to tell you that it was all a lie. It didn’t seem likely but it was good and bad news for you. She was single and that lit a flashing light in the back of your head that had been absent for a while. Not since Dash shot you down. It’s why you let her bring her friend in last night. The bad news was that you’d sprung this on her in a situation you really shouldn’t have. It was a relief that she was one of only four ponies in the street. The others were napping, sitting on a bench and feeling guilty for telling her his instinctive feelings. You were now as much of a blizzard of emotion as she was and you wanted clarity.
“So Dash isn’t with you…”
Those were the wrong words to start, you face-hoofed immediately, groaning at your own stupidity. You hear a chuckle. It turns into a laugh, and further into a scene of hilarity, a mare rolling about the ground heartily laughing her head off to the expense of your pride and a little bit of your sanity, while you went the same colour as the incoming sunset turns the sky.
“I guess I was wrong then.”
“Ah think you know that” she chuckled, gasping between extended periods of hysterical cracking up, “but ah think we ought to start over. If that was y’all trying to be subtle about getting me and Dash in the same bed, ah can’t wait until you try again.” You smiled through your blush. This was a mare with a sense of humour. Not many of them around. “Ah can guess you want to apologise again but… you went a bit overboard last time. Ah don’t want no misunderstandings again. Just ask if y’all want some answers.”
You look away from the mare and up to the cloud where the cyan mare rolled her eyes once again and rolled over to resume sleeping. You take that as a sign of acceptance, and face the idol mare, standing radiant, and smile. You ask something that’s would cause the light to stop flashing and stay lit.
“What do you say to going out with me sometime soon?”
“Ah’d be happy to.”
"Dash, why are we doing this?”  
“I thought we’d get a place to stay the night. I can't be bothered to leave.”  
“But how?”  
“We make some noise, make it seem like we’re bucking, and then we get into the bed. Simple.”  
“That’s smart. Ah like it!"  
One problem though. We can't fake it. He has to believe that we’re doing it, and I... can't fake it.”  
“Sorry Rainbow. Ah can't do that. Ah’m straight, and ah'd be lying to him in a way.”  
“I'm straight too but if you weren’t such a bad liar, I’d stop asking.”  
“Ah’m not a fillyfooler! How long are ya going to keep it up?”  
“Until *somepony* sees that I am one! I let that idiot believe a lie after I rejected him and I'll be screwed if he finds out I'm not a fillyfooler. ”  
“You have issues with this *somepony* in the next room, Dash?”  
“Well…Kind of.”

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            Inconvenient Infatuation (adapted)             
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Inconvenient Infatuation (adapted)
{{{Sorry about the delay. No ponies until my homework has been completed and I’ve been busy and have been swamped for almost two months. It’s a miracle I got it out now and not later. And yes, this will have a second part.}}}
“So you weren’t drunk?”
You were shocked now the truth had come to light. The two mares you had taken in only a few nights ago had taken advantage of your generous nature; tricking you into letting them stay in your house and, worst of all, they used their feminine abilities to paralyze your rational thought and crept into your bed for the night. Ever since you’d been trying to crack one of the conspirators with every interrogation tactic you knew, which was to say you’d asked politely, done a poor good cop bad cop routine by yourself and finally, given her your irresistible puppy dog eyes. No mare could say no to them. After all, you’d tested it thoroughly on your mother from an early age.
But after the fit of hysterics, which was a known side effect of the eyes, the mare had cracked. If Applejack Apple had blushed more than when she was telling this story, you could have mistaken her for her brother. She was ashamed she’d followed Dash’s plan, and had made her humpteenth apology before you’d mentioned her role in the plan.
“Nope but ah wasn’t sober, neither. Dash took me to her reunion in Trottingham only for it to be rescheduled. We went to the local tavern, doing nothing but whine and drink until the night was over. Dash went overboard, getting a bit tipsy, and ah was takin’ her home.” Applejack smirked throughout the beginning of her explanation, seemingly hiding something from you. You picked up on the subtle hint and began to become curious as she continued. “She was rambling about how some old friend didn’t tell her about it being rescheduled, and that he’d made a bad impression last time off. Said she’d been waiting for that apology, and now this one. It sounds like she cared ‘bout him until he did something wrong.”
You nodded, not taking in as much as you possibly should have after a warning alarm went off in the back of your head. You ignored it, letting Applejack continue her masterful storytelling. “Anyhow, ah led her back a coach, but she told the driver to go to this house she knew of, on the outskirts of Ponyville. It saved me a few bits too. We stopped outside your house, after she was mumbling something ‘bout revenge all the way home. She asked me to act drunk, make innuendos and try to look cute.”
You blushed, realising that she had indeed looked cute that night, as well as trying not to make the painfully obvious innuendo you’d used every time some pony said the word. “She knocked on the door and you told us about it not being a residence. Ah suppose you know what happened next.” You’d smiled at her monologue and continued to ignore the bells that were telling you to change the topic. It was the wrong move. “Ah don’t suppose you could explain that ‘revenge’ thing she was talking about.”
Your eyes snap open, taking away your focus from anything but the conversation. “You do know Dash, don’t you? Ah can’t think why she’d stop at your house for revenge for nothing.” The bells had changed to voices, arguing at what to say next. You could almost see the manifestations on your shoulders.
You can do it. She’s not going to let it go otherwise.  
But what if she misunderstands? If she thinks you hurt Dash?  
She’ll understand. She’s yours now, she has too.  
But maybe she can’t. A little white lie never hurt anypony.  
She’ll pick up on a lie just like you did so you’ve got to tell her the truth.
“Umm…Are you okay? You ain’t listening to me, are you?” You had to say something. You had to tell her the truth. She’ll understand right… won’t she?
“Look Applejack. I do know her and it’s a long story, but don’t misunderstand me. I really wish it had ended better than it did between me and Dash.”
“So y’all were-”
“Yes. We were friends. Good friends...”
“Surely you’re joking?”
“No, I’m serious. After all, the two of us were the only ones without special someponies. And considering we both have a reputation to look out for I figured you’d ask me to prom as your date.” Dash was serious, although her plan was absurd. Go with your pony friend forever to the prom, just because she didn’t want to go alone or not appear at a social gathering.   
It was confusing, ridiculous and… and… perfect. You wouldn’t admit it but you’d had a crush on Rainbow Danger Dash for quite a few years, ever since she helped convinced you to stop acting all mopey and depressed, even if it was by boasting how awesome she was. You loved her for that though, her confidence was inspiring.
But even if you were crushing on her, you’d never shown it voluntarily. You’d strayed to her side and into her personal space a few times before but never close enough to cause discomfort. You hid it well, behind a masquerade of enjoyment and banter to protect both your’s and Dash’s reputations, but mostly Dash’s. She didn’t know you cared for her as more than as a best friend. If she did, she wouldn’t let you fret over her any longer. You weren’t even sure if she preferred stallions or mares either.
“Why do I have to ask you?”
“Do you think it’ll look good if I asked you? No, it makes you look weak and me look like I fancy you. We don’t want that confusion on our hands do we?” Dash smirked, knowing what would end up happening. When she wanted something you had little choice but to give it to her. After all, she’d kick your sore flank in ten seconds flat, or so she’d keep telling you. It seemed silly that the only reason you believed her is because she hospitalized three ponies in a race when she used to live in Cloudsdale, but she still seemed like the mare you’d rather avoid taking that chance on.
You force a smile,
“No. We don’t want ponies to think that I fancy… I mean, you fancy me. That’s absurd.”
Well, normally you’d keep your crush under wraps but due to the situation of taking your dream mare to the place where those who love another find out if it’s right or not, let’s just say it wasn’t the first time you’d choked this week…or this day… or this afternoon. But Dash was oblivious to it all. Poor naïve Rainbow.
“So Rainbow, you want to go to the dance with me this weekend?”
“You’re kidding right? It won’t matter if you ask me if there are no witnesses. You know what nevermind, I've got places to be and minds to blow. Anyhow, see you in a bit.”   
And with that she flew off for the rest of the afternoon, leaving you dumbstruck. That evening you’d meet up and finish the plan, as flawed and simple as it was, to leave one of you sad and the other mad.
“Ah thought you sounded just like Zecora for a moment there. Ah always liked that rhyming thing she does.”

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                       Wild Worries                        
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Wild Worries
gIt’s not a date. It’s not a date. It’s not a date.
You’d waited in the home team’s locker room, awaiting the arrival of your friend and prom date, Rainbow Dash. You kept telling yourself that it wasn’t a date, and that it was only to prevent a dent in both your social images. You may not have been convinced she was looking out for yours as much as she was her own, but you were certain she wouldn’t have asked you if she didn’t think you’d say yes. And after all that, she still had no idea of your crush. Poor naïve Rainbow Dash.   
But nevertheless, she was running late. And that wasn’t helping your confidence at all. You paced up and down the locker room; much like the coach had done for a hoof ball match between you and your rivals, except without all the bruised sweaty ponies. Equestrian Hoofball was a violent sport at that. You’d met Rainbow Dash during the trials, which you’d barely managed to get through, in your second year. She’d gone under the alias Rainbow Blitz and had knocked you on your flank on a soaking, muddy training session. You’d joked about her liking it rough all afternoon as she helped you clean up, giving your peers something to tease you about for a while.
Those magenta eyes sparkling with a slight blush-and-smirk combo as she wiped the mud from behind your ears made you shiver. Your ears were more sensitive than most ponies. It may have been the sensations she’d send through your body that day but you almost asked her then and there if she’d go out with you. How different would it have been if you had? Maybe you’d be smiling right now, rather than standing in the locker room waiting. It didn’t help that you’d drawn a glance from a mare in your make-shift community run dance class set up from prom. Neither of you knew how to dance, but she could be excused due to her… disability.
Every pony except a given few teased her with names. Derpy, Bright Eyes, Ditzy, although she’d taken a shine to the last. You didn’t actually know her name, but you’d talked to her a few times about the dance classes, while you walked back to the dorms. She seemed friendly when she wasn’t causing every pony to fall over or causing a large hole in the floor with Celestia knows what falling from the sky. How did she even lift that piano up there in the first place?
“Hey, um, you!”
You waved to her, but she was on her way over already, cute smile adorning her face. You met her halfway, an awkward smile on yours, and your mind occupied with worry. You must have been showing it because her face turned to an expression of confusion and determination.
“You okay? Anything I can do to help?” She smiled again, hoping to cheer you up. You wanted to say something immediately but the words didn’t come to mind. You groaned instead. She got the message. “You sure? You look troubled. I may not look it but I’m quite a good listener.” You looked directly into her googly eyes and saw something you’d only seen from Rainbow; Genuine interest in your thoughts.
“I suppose… It’s just that Rainbow Dash isn’t here yet and I’m lost without her.”
She looked confused at your words, seemingly focusing on something else entirely. Good listener my plot, you think. You give her look of disappointment. Maybe she hadn’t been interested at all, maybe she’d just wanted to put you in that awkward position that you’d normally been around school. She still looks past you in awe. Wondering what she was fixated on, you turned to see nothing but an empty doorway. You turn back, muttering something, coming almost face to face with the googly eyed mare. “What’cha looking at” she asks, smiling again. She certainly was an odd mare.
“I wanted to see what you were looking at.”
“Well, I was looking at you, silly.” As innocent as she was, you thought she’d caught wind of what had happened and was just breezing past it. It was embarrassing. She had been looking at you; it was just her lazy eye that wasn’t.
“Oh dear Celestia, I’m so sorry! I didn’t think you were paying attention. I really shouldn’t have done that. That must have been so rude. Please, believe me. I thought you were looking past me. You seemed like you weren’t listening. Please, I didn’t mean it.”
You didn’t always over-apologise, but when you did, you almost exploded into tears and begged for forgiveness. Rainbow had burst out laughing when you’d realised she was a mare.
Derpy just giggled. “That’s okay.” Her laugh was a little infectious as you began smiling too. “Hey, look. That mare looks just like Rainbow Dash, except she’s all dressed up and pretty.” You turn in shock to see this mare. You brain hit blank as you turned. It was Rainbow Dash. But in a dress. A tight-looking shape-complementing navy blue dress.   
As she trotted over to you, you notice her hips swaying from side to side. You try to look elsewhere but it’s hypnotic. As soon as she gets within a few yards, you snap back to reality while Derpy whispers something in your ear. “Good luck.” You’ll need it, you think. Derpy walks away, but you remain focused on the mare in front of you.
“Ugh, they really make these close to the flank” Dash groans, turning side on to you, “What do you think?” You stare, you don’t say anything, and you just stare. “Ugh, hello? Rainbow to Air Head.” She knocked on your head, trying to coax you out of your daydream. You recoiled; she hadn’t gone as far as to punch you, but she’s packed some force with the blow. It achieved its intended effect and ‘woke’ you up. You snapped to attention, looking her directly in the eye. As you realised what you were doing, you blushed; your head retreating back into your body. “I’ll take that as a complement” she chuckled, “or are you in to me?” She winked and gestured to the buffet. As she walked over, she swayed her hips even more, seemingly trying to get you to stare again. It almost seemed like she was challenging you to ask her out for real. You galloped up behind her, replaying that thought over in your head. If she was flirting, why not take the chance? It was supposedly meant to be a night for romance.
Before any manifestations appeared on your shoulders, you bump into Rainbow’s flank, not looking where you were going. You look up to apologise and see the problem you’d caused. Rainbow had jolted forward into the stallion in front, starting a chain reaction around the immediate area. Stallions falling into mares, stumbling into couples, and other such chaos caused by a simple bump. As it almost encircles the buffet, it head back towards its maker. You.
Finally, the last reaction happens as a tray of chocolate truffles flies horizontally through the air, on course to hit you in the head. What goes around comes around, eh? You think, side stepping on instinct alone and clamping your jaw around the plate as it hovered past. You gently slow the plate as you twist almost acrobatically to aiming to set it down on the table. You fall short of your mark to come face on with Dash, looking at you with a single eye brow raised. She looked to the tray and blinked. “Don’t mind if I do.” She slid a truffle into her hoof and tossed it into her mouth. “Mmm, chocolate truffle...”
You stand there, awaiting her approval to put the tray down. As she indulges in the chocolate treat, she smiles and looks to you. Swallowing, she chortles and nods for you to rid yourself of the tray. “Nice catch” she says, hitting you again with a hoof, albeit softer and in joking fashion, portraying her wonder. You’d have said thanks but you were almost paralysed by the fact she hadn’t hit you hard. It wasn’t something she’d done before. The hitting thing was always between the two of you; you receiving a lot more than you dished out. But it had always been a firm hit, never as soft as it was just then. It was another thing to ring through your mind that evening. Was Dash taking in the romantic environment, flirting with you? You supposed the night would reveal more.
Author's Note
Happy Hearth's Warming Day...  
This has been a tedious and stressful few months. Hopefully the next one will be out before New Years.  
Don't get your hopes up.
{{{Buck Me. This was meant to be published at 10am GMT.}}}

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                    Regretable Results                     
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Regretable Results
The night had been almost perfect. You’d spent it side by side with your soon-to-be mare friend, and both of you had been happy all night. You hadn’t needed a plan at all, just to be yourself with Dash. She seemed latched to flanking you, seemingly impressed by your actions already. Wanting to impress her even more, you looked around to spy your next feat. You’d already done the typical immature ‘spike the punch’ prank; it was going to be so much better, even if the punch had had the humorous result of a certain grey Pegasus flying upside down as well as involuntary magic hiccups from a few unicorns.
Now, you had your eyes set on finding a quiet place to just sit and chat. This had occupied you for the past few minutes, the remaining couples taking every available space, from on the stair to under the bleachers. “Can’t we just sit outside? It’s way too boring in here with all the sappy nonsense” Rainbow asked, a tone of whining in her voice. She glances to the window and you follow suit. There’s no reason to not go outside, and let what seemed like a clear summer’s night go to waste. But you knew better than to trust Equestrian weather in this town, it was nearly as bad as that in Trottingham, said to be the worst place for weather in the United Kingdoms. Rain, sunshine, storms, any and every type of weather; each scheduled in the space of a few minutes.
Nevertheless, you gave a nod and trotted over to the door, pushing it open and turning with a flourish to hold it open for Rainbow. She smiled, swiping her tail under your nose as she passed. It made you blush, as she took to the air to spot an elevated position, your eyes attempting to not stare. She was bathed in the dim light of the sunset, as she circled above your head. Part of you was saying how lucky you were, another saying how much you were smitten, but in the back of your head, a small idea formed, in hope of spreading and infecting the rest of your body. The tiniest doubt that this was real, that she was actually falling for you. It wasn’t like Rainbow to be so focused on another pony and being in their company.
No, she has to be. This can’t be fake.  
But what if...
“You okay there?” Rainbow hovered above your head, silencing the voices in your head. As the sunlight created a silhouette of her, all negativity and conflict in your head was vanquished by self-confidence. She liked you and you loved her. Your relationship could only progress, right? “Anyway, I found an awesome spot. I’ll give you a lift.” She thrust out her hooves for you to grab. You looked at them and blinked. She wants to fly with me. With a goofy grin, you grabbed hold of the cyan hooves and jumped as she pulled you onto her back. As you landed, she sped off towards a large tree in the middle of the campus. It was higher than any dormitory, reaching the stars. At the top was a platform, used for speeches and announcements. It was sturdy and no pony had fallen off of it yet.
Planting four hooves firmly on the ground, you realised that it was only big enough for the two of you to lay on, with a few inches off space between you. Perfect. You rolled onto your back and relaxed. What you didn’t expect was that she’d ignored the space between you and lay on her back too, a cosy fit to your side. Trying to repress another blush, you looked away from the mare, who was unaware of the close proximity, and towards the moon.
A big round glowing orb, surrounded by smaller glowing orbs. It was beautiful, even if you lacked the power of description to convey that feeling. The night sky had always been your solitude from other ponies. The one place where you could escape stress of life and regain the sanity you may have lost during the day. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, you stare into the darkness that was to be cast over you in a matter of minutes, allowing your mind to be cleared. With free space, new ideas could flow.
On a darker note, those feelings of uncertainty crept back. Was Dash really lying by your side, closer than ever before, sharing the moment with you? Was she harbouring her own feelings for you? You turned to the mare, coming face to face with her. “What’s with the thinking face? There isn’t much to concentrate on up here.” She fluttered her eyelids, hoping to draw the answer out of you. Close to breaking, you sigh. She puts on a face of confusion and rolls onto her side. “Don’t worry. It can’t be that bad. It’s not going to be the end of the world.” She nudges you again with a playful punch.   
There it is again.
“Dash, this night has been perfect.”
“Eh, it’s been alright.” She giggles, and flicks her mane out of her face, revealing those hypnotising yet piercing magenta eyes. You smile, and sigh again. Why is this so difficult? It’s never this awkward in the films. “Look,” she says, “You’re hiding something. What’s this got to do with me, you wouldn’t be hiding it if it didn’t affect me.”
“Well, it’s...it’s just...I wanted to...give you something.”
Oh Celestia, why? You blushed, hiding the fact you’d just messed up your chance at a less awkward confession. “You are so random,” Rainbow laughed, “What are you talking about?” She stretched her spine like she’d always done, her fore-hooves pushing forward while her rear hooves pushed upwards. Regaining four hooves on the ground, she sat down. You followed suit, forgetting the stretch and getting pins-and-needles in your flank as you sat opposite her. You met each other’s gaze for a brief second. You turned away, blushing. “Okay, you’re still hiding something. You wanna do this the hard way. Let’s do this the hard way.” She launched herself at you, grabbing your chest and pushing you off balance to hold you over the edge. Interrogation tactics were probably unnecessary in this situation, but it did something to making you talk.
“W-whoa, don’t drop me.”
“I can’t make any promises. Tell me what you’re hiding.” She was quite cute when she was mad, but since you were almost muzzle to muzzle, you decided to act. You blurted out gibberish, your mouth not formulating the words it was given. “Say that again but slowly.” You gulped and decided to make a bold move.
You thrust yourself towards the mare, lips meeting with no resistance. With that moment, her knees buckled and gave way to your momentum, leaving you to fall on top of her, face to face. As those few milliseconds of falling slowed down in the impulsive and overpowering nature of the action, you had so much going through your head, most of which was the negativity you’d repressed throughout the evening.
Why did I do this? What will she think? How is this going to help? What have I done? Rainbow will never forgive me.
None of it got through. You had landed, chest to chest on top of Rainbow Dash. You gently lifted yourself off of the mare, neglecting to open your eyes until the last second. You see a mixture of emotions that had taken a hold of her. She was surprised, confused, stunned, worried; the list went on but the few emotion you were looking for were absent. Happiness, Truth, Love.
You stepped away from her, careful not to even glance her coat. You walked away to the furthest corner of the platform. The night sky was your only friend this remaining night; much like it had been on so many other occasions. You looked up to moon’s comforting glow and let a tear flow from the corner of your eye. You continued to look beyond, not daring to watch as the mare sighed, looked back to the damaged thing she had left to sulk, and sighed again. She left without a good bye.
A glinting star, all alone in the sky, caught your eye as she disappeared from sight. You fell backwards, onto the once occupied space she had left. You tossed and turned as you let yourself flow out. No amount of stargazing would return your sanity from the events that had just occurred. As you lay, wallowing in self-pity, your coat was dampened by the puddle that had formed from your tears. You finally stopped after a few minutes to lay silent and still, not yet asleep, but not awake either.
By the end of it you’d lost track of time, a few minutes could have past or a few hours. Only the soft sound of wings beating told you that you were still alive. “Hello? Is any pony out there?” You groaned softly, giving the singsong voice something to follow. As you rolled over, you started to black out, groaning again at the inconvenience. You had just enough time to see four grey hooves standing there. “Are you okay? Anything I can do to help?”
Author's Note
That thing about the moon. Yeah, I do that. A lot, actually. But you don't want to know that.
~Happy New Year~ 0:37 - 0:53
[youtube=http://youtu.be/U05fpfU4U-g?t=37s]
(Pony feathers, I keep forgetting to publish.)

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Promenent Problems                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Promenent Problems
*groan*
Ever the actor, you threw everything out of proportion. If any pony had to guess, you were dying and everything you’d ever loved was gone. Although the latter was true, it was no reason to lie still, groaning and refusing the help of the grey pegasus mare that had kindly flown you back to her house. The least you could have said was thanks, but you went with saying nothing, doing nothing and leaving what little brain activity you had left to a minimum.
She’d left you alone, seeing that you needed time rather than anything else. But every so often she’d check on you. You were just laying there nine times out of ten. The tenth time, you were up on your feet, planning to do something apart from moping and mourning. She’d been surprised to see you up but that didn’t affect her obvious cheeriness. “Hiya. What’cha up to?” She had a comforting smile and infectious happiness. It was a shame you were immune.
“Getting up. Can’t stay here forever.”
You tried to chuckle, to laugh away your troubles. It didn’t work, and you collapsed onto your hindquarters with an audible thud. You looked up into the crossed eyes of the mare, who seemed entranced in a staring contest with a photo behind you. You could have thought she wasn’t paying attention but you weren’t making that mistake again. You made one too many in the past few hours.
“Okay then,” she replied, smiling, “Let me know if you want to leave. I’ll escort you home.” With that, she walked off and left you to your own devices. You walked towards a comfy-looking cushion on the floor near a quill and a note pad. You thought of writing her a note and heading off, but that would be too rude. You had to show some acknowledgement of her good deed.
You sat down and leant against the wall it sat next to. You had smirked as you think that maybe you’d have had a better chance with this mare, rather than the one who’d returned your heart to sender. It immediately disappears once that thought is processed. Back to moping, you think at the reasons Rainbow might have actually rejected you. After all, if she couldn’t put up with you, she wouldn’t have stayed around after those blasted hoof ball trials, and become your friend.
With this starting you off, you use the pad to list your pros and cons. First up, cons. You weren’t exactly cool enough for her. Ever since Hearth Warming Eve six years ago, no one had called you cool or awesome or radical. That Jumper will haunt you forever. You were sure Dash had a picture stored for blackmail.
You definitely hadn’t had any romantic situations before your impulsive act. Then again, Dash was never one to be mushy and romantic. To her, it was lame. You understood it wasn’t for every pony, but every pony should be able to get the hint when you scoot closer to her during a film or take care of her when she had a cold, or, at least, when you almost tackle her to the ground in celebration, coming face to face, and have yourself change to the same shade as a cherry. You were getting off-topic, deciding to take a deep breath and gather your thoughts.
Listing a few lesser detailed ideas, you look to your pros. It wasn’t hard to think of a few, let alone many reasons. Fun-loving, can dish out banter, and has a lot of reasons to have banter made about him, fast flier, competitive, doesn’t mind mushy stuff; you were the mare’s dream guy. What in Tartarus was wrong with you? You cursed yourself for making yourself into her dream. She’d told you a few things on one of a few under-the-bleachers booze raids you’d gone on. You’d done it for her, to be with her and most of all, to gain her affection.
“Buck my life.”
“Language!” The shout took you off guard, making you blush like a school filly when you turned to face the Pegasus mare. She was trying to give you a disapproving look but ended up looking as cute as she could have possibly have been. You look to her and sigh. You past her to reach the front door, and open it with a defeated twirl like you’d done only a few hours ago for your love. You turn to see her standing, almost sad to see you go. You smiled at her, with no response. Your head dropped and a genuine guilt overcame you. That was until an idea sprang into your head, almost jolting your head up to the mare.
“Would you accompany me?”
The smile returned to her face, and with a skip, she walked out the door. You shut the door and turned to follow her. Falling into place alongside her, you walked in unison for a while, silent for the most part. Attempting to lighten the mood, you made a joke.
“Isn’t it usually the stallion that walks the mare home?”
She blushed and hit you in the side with a hoof. You stop and look at her. She turns to you with a smile that is replaced with confusion. “Hey, why have you stopped? D-did I do something wrong?” She had a tear ready to leak while thoughts thundered through your head. It was painful to say the least but the first one you comprehend is this. Only Dash has ever done that to you. And to say the least, it made you flustered that a relatively unfamiliar mare had just done the same thing in the same manner. You smiled through the bright red blush shining through your coat and giggle a little. Maybe you should try your chances with this one.
Soon you arrive home, the rest of the journey being enjoyed in conversation. “So what happened with Dash?” It was certainly a blunt question to say the least. You stutter a little, trying to give a response, yet your words come out as gibberish. She persists with the question, standing between you and your cottage door. You take a deep breath and say with the uttermost calm;
“I loved her too much. I stole her first kiss, and worse, I didn’t give her a chance to reply. I turned away and sulked. How pathetic must I have looked?”
The golden googly eyes portray the grey mares feeling without fault; Sympathy. You sighed in relief, breaking eye contact, part of you thinking you’d get a slap. But that part wasn’t gone, when you looked back she was conflicted. She was confused. “You do know about her secret, don’t you? Every pony does. She’s not like us. She’s a...” The Pegasus blushes and mumbles the last word again and again. You press on and get closer for her to whisper the word, for it not to be heard by the public that supposedly knew already.
“…filly fooler.” Your eyes shoot wide and jaw drops with the news. The audible thud given off by your backside as it plummeted to the cobble floor must have told her about your surprise. She giggles at your priceless expression and a smile as your face is frozen. “Heh, you’re funny. I’ll see you around, ugh… what’s your name again?”
You continue to be statue-like, unable to tell her due to a minor case of severe speechlessness. She giggled once again at your expense and cantered off, with a skip in her step. As for you, you were looking for some sort of scapegoat. But there was absolutely no reason you could find for you not to have known.
Still frozen, your eye started to twitch as you walked into your home and headed to find something that could be used for a sudden idea you’d had. Mumbling as you went up the stairs, you took a pillow from your bed to the corner of the room. You leant up against a wall and took a deep breath. It clears your mind and leaves you calm for a moment. What a nice feeling it is, you should try it more often.
You didn’t try to grasp onto the moment, immediately thrusting your head into the pillow you held, screaming as many profanities as came to mind. All that could be made out was;
“Bu-- me, Bu-- me, Bu--. All th-- time and for bu--ing nothing. I sh---d have bu--ing know. Who d---n’t bu--ing know?! Just bu—ing me I suppose. Buuuuuuu-“
Turns out you don’t know as much profanity that you thought...

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Casual Conclusion                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Casual Conclusion
“I suppose I didn’t know her as well as I thought, huh?”
You were staring at the ground, unwilling to let another grown pony see you cry. You were quietly failing to suppress the years-old tears that have been left over from the whole incident. Sobbing and sniffling, you crack a smile as some of the weight on your chest is relieved. Happy to have got it all out, you were eager to see the reaction of your mare friend, Applejack. You looked up, eyes still damp, to gaze upon her.
You think your heart sank a little bit. Not only was she smirking, she was holding back a snicker that could rival that of a hyena. You sigh a little, disappointed in her, and you do your best to show that. That’s what tipped her over the edge. Rolling on the floor, laughing her head off, she wasn’t showing any sympathy. Not in the slightest.
“It’s not that funny, you know. My heart did kind of get broken in that story.”
You gave her half-lidded eyes, and a straight face. Drawing a bit of attention from the hysterical mare, you raised one eyebrow, in a quizzical manner. It did nothing to help your case, causing the mare to begin laughing once again. You wondered if she’d ever run out of breath, as she very rarely inhaled during her moment of frenzy, but you left it up to her for when to stop. Groaning, you just flopped to the floor, lying down to relax. Typically, just as you got comfortable, she released her final chuckle, and took a deep breath.
“Oops, sorry. Ah just didn’t expect that.” Applejack, blushing at her rude display, apologised and moved on as quickly as possible to discuss the story. “Ah’m just wondering. Why did Dash take me to your place for revenge if she dumped you?” AJ, head tilted slightly to the left, just smiled, trying to regain any trust you’d just lost in her.
“I...didn’t apologise. Or even talk to her afterwards. I kind of shunned her.”
Forcing a smile, you remember telling Dash to go away in all sorts of colourful ways, until she never tried again. You’d been slightly upset that she didn’t continue to pester you, but your choice had been made since you’d found out. Applejack just stares on at you, still adorned with a blush and a smirk, but now more than casually interested in what more you had to say. As always, there was more.
“I just ignored her when I saw her.”
Seeing your privacy was going to be invaded anyway, you wanted to see how long you’d hold out before you cracked. A few nights were what it took for AJ to crack, so how long would you last. Maybe two days? A week, perhaps? The stare that Applejack was giving off was the indicator that you wouldn’t even reach a single minute.
“Okay, so maybe I insulted her a little as well...”
The stare wasn’t going away. You stalled a little, but reluctantly continued after a few seconds of silence.
“...and maybe I called her some less-than-couth names...”
Nope, still there. Dear Celestia, that stare is penetrating your soul.
“...involving her being a filly-fooler...”
“You what now?” AJ wasn’t just staring anymore; she had leered forward in an aggressive manner. It was quite intimidating. “What did you say to her?” You stalled, hoping to find a suitable distraction to change the topic. Although, it was bound to come back up eventually, you could have time to prepare a non-insulting non-violent filly-fooler-friendly explanation. If only a certain rainbow-maned pony hadn’t shown up, with ‘perfect’ timing, landing effortlessly by AJ’s side.
“I wouldn’t worry about that. However, I’d be prepare to be worried about what I’m about to do to him.” She advanced with the same flared wings and crazed look in her eye that she’d had the night after you met Applejack. You were going to dance the dance with her once again but you thought better of it. Be the bigger pony. AJ will admire you for it, Dash will get shown up, and joyfully, it will save your flank from a beating.
“Look, I never meant those things. I was hurt. I’m sorry for what I did. I hope we can be friends...”
Rainbow retreated a few steps taken off guard by the out-of-character apology. She blinked a few times, squaring back up to you, to regain some power. She looked slightly fazed, but she’s was going to still have a go.
Or not, as the case may be. She sighed, and her wings drooped. That was not the brash assault you were expecting. She’s changed, like something in her heart has died. She looks up to you with those big magenta eyes, the ones you fell in love with, and wept a single tear. She sniffles and shuffles forward. You didn’t move, paralysed by the vulnerability Rainbow Dash was showing.
So much for the showdown, you think, as you await the mare. She stopped only an inch away from your face, only to rear up. You close your eyes, preparing yourself for the sneak attack she was about to deliver after you let your guard down. You deserved it, and her vulnerability opened you up to that fact. It came as another pleasant surprise when she gently pulled you in for a hug, while she sobbed into your shoulder. You weren’t prepared for that, and were confused at what to do next.
You looked up, past the mare you were embracing, to see AJ lower her hat over her chest, and go glassy eyed. She motioned for you that it was okay to proceed. You didn’t know what she meant until you met a squeeze that choked you a little. It wasn’t painful at all, it was comfortable, and it felt right even. You pulled her in, returning the squeeze, almost tearing up again. You put your head into the rainbow mane of the mare, and started sniffling a little too. She let out a sigh of comfort and so did you.
“It’s all I ever wanted, y’know, just to be friends after what happened,” Dash sobbed into your shoulder, “Just me and you. I didn’t have any friends to hang with, until I met the other elements. Sure, I knew Fluttershy, but she’d moved to Ponyville before I got a chance to say goodbye, with her trouble flying and all. Y’know, I had to give her a piggyback ride for her to get back to Cloudsdale to pick up her stuff she’d left when I found her again.”
Dash chuckled into your shoulder before pushing herself out of the hug and off of you. She looked up into your eyes and the corners of her mouth turned up into a smile. It warmed your heart, and caused you to break out in a smile too.
“I don’t have much to say to that. I can't believe I hurt you like that. Why didn’t you talk to me though? Why wait all this time, with all that’s happened?“
You’d wanted to cry some more but a sudden lack of hydration caused you just to blink. She didn’t even need to think of the answer before she pulled you back in for the hug, even tighter than the last. “That buckin’ rumour.” She began to sob again as you felt instinct take over, and allow you to stroke her mane. “My life was ruined…because of that stupid rumour. I wanted to get back to you but I was worried you wouldn’t b-believe me. I was scared that lost you.”
She gave it an almighty squeeze as she finished that sentence, forcing you to choke a little. You swear you could have heard a rib snap. You were going to say something, if not for the squeak that escaped your lungs. With that, she released you, took a step back and blushed. “Heh, sorry. Didn’t know I was that emotional.” A smile broke onto your lips, despite the paralysis via shock.
“Neither did I.”
The quick witted joke made her laugh, and she hit you softly on the shoulder. That one gesture told you everything was alright now. Well, except one thing. But Rainbow Dash was already off to the start of a conversation. “Y’know, I did realise two things from that rumour,” Leading you on, you raised an eyebrow, the universal symbol for ‘do go on’, “For one, you took that night harder than me…”
“And how so?”
Interested, you wanted to know why she’d made an assumption like that. “Simple, you were teasing me like mad, trying to distance yourself. If I learnt anything, you were doing that to avoid having to confront your feelings for me, as you still do now.” With that, you fell into a few flashbacks of feeling guilty for having teased her so much, you’d felt like you wanted to apologise, just to go back to the way things were. You still want things to return to normal.
“Heh, you zoned out for a second there, I’m guessing you just hit flashback city,” How did she- “I used to do it all the time.” You grinned at little bit, remembering a couple of times she had. But before you zoned out again, she continued. “And second...”
She pounced towards you, and your muzzles meet in mid-air. Your knees buckled, her momentum pushing you over, having her fall on top of you. Time seemed to slow down, the shock of the action bringing about a storm of though, a mix of happy and sad thoughts.
But why? Since when? Why now? What’s wrong with me? Rainbow shouldn’t have forgiven me.
Nought but a groan made it out of your head whilst you landed beneath the mare, your lips still connected to her. Your eyes are larger than the moon, as she continued to lean into the kiss, eyes closed until the very last second. But when they did open, a mixture of emotions could be seen in them; one empowering emotion dominating the others, until it gave way to another more powerful one as she stared into your own eyes. Happiness, then Confusion, next Shock, and lastly, Regret.
She jumped off of your body, wings flared to fly, fully aware that she'd made the same mistake as you had years ago. She began to gallop as readied herself to push off the ground and take off, as tears began to stream from her once again. You had one last thought as she was moments away from beginning her ascent. Don’t go. Your own eyes began to water, as you heard the grunt of her pushing against the floor. Your eyes closed, knowing that you were once again going to witness her leaving without a goodbye. Taking a deep breath, you prepared to cry.
“Ugh...” *thud* “Ow...Get off of me, AJ!” With an odd noise, your eyes open to understand the more-than-curious noises that had just stopped you from beginning to sulk. “I ain’t moving until you stop squirming,” AJ moaned, positioned on top of Dash, “Now, why did ya just try ‘n’ run off like that?” It looked as though Applejack had just tackled and restrained Rainbow before she could get away. Way to go, AJ.
“No reason. Now, get off. I-I have to go somewhere.” Struggling beneath your mare friend, Rainbow lied through her teeth to escape her friend and captor. It hurt you to see her so powerless. Rainbow was always so much better than you.
“AJ, let her go.”
It came to a surprise to all three of you, that you’d just said that. AJ raised a hoof in protest, only for it to sag to her side before she casually shuffled off of the other mare. Rainbow just lay there, looking away from you, burying her face into her side, which was rapidly gaining a wet patch. You approached to sobbing ball of blue pony carefully and cautiously. You want to get her attention, but something else told you what would be better.
Walking around to her front, you lay down on your side next to her, wrapping a hoof around her. To your surprise, AJ did the same around her back, and Dash shifted between the two of you, trying to snuggle in. Now was a better time to say something.
“I’ll guess you still have feelings for me too.”
The first thing that came to mind seemed the best, as she squeeze her head into your chest and took a few deep breathes, before a chuckle could be heard emanating from the blue mass of mare, squeezed between two of her friends. “Ya think?”
It brought about a smile to all three faces and caused you to fall back into thought of whether or not to continue talking. You chose the latter option of pausing for a moment, to stroke her mane as a sign of the comfort and endearment you held for her. She began to rub herself again your hoof, much like a cat would, her tears gradually coming to a stop.
“Y’know, you didn’t exactly tell me what that rumour was.”
Although it broke the mood a bit, it was question that had to be asked, even if you already had an idea of what the answer was. Applejack sighed and giggled as she shuffled into a more comfortable position to listen. Rainbow pushed against your chest a bit, making you roll further onto you back than your side. Her head lying upon your chest, those big eyes open to interpretation, she began to explain. “You know you teased me about being a filly-fooler so much, I didn’t half expect you to either faint or shout at me when I kissed you.”
“Please, I never believed you were a filly-fooler.”
You forced a laugh as any regretting pony would do after such a joke, much to the amusement of the two mares. “Sure you didn’t.” The comment just brought a larger smile to your face. Hopefully, it was all alright now, after that little episode. Closing your eyes, you were joined by Applejack and Rainbow Dash as you let the peace of a otherwise quiet evening flow through you. Now you could relax, with your mare friend and your best friend by your side, all’s well that ends well.
If nothing else, you didn't have to be subtle about trying to get AJ and Dash in the same bed again...
Author's Note
Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!  
That last line might have been too much... :twilightblush: https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/twilightblush.png
I've enjoyed writing this more than most of my other stories.  
For what was meant to be a one-shot, this didn't turn out to bad (in my head).  
But before I ramble, thank you for reading.  
Your support is all I need to write more stories. :heart: https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/heart.png
I suppose I'll try not to leave as many plot-holes (*snigger* plot hole) in the next stories. :raritywink: https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/raritywink.png