7 Days in Heaven

This is no dream. You understand that right away. It is real- you can feel the gentle breeze on your skin. You can smell the pines. Hear the whistle of the whippoorwills. This is real. This is about to happen. The day you've been waiting so long for is about to begin.

~

Dash asked to meet you out on the patio. It's nice out- cool, but not chilly. You've been out here for about fifteen minutes now. The butterflies in your stomach have been running rampant. This is it- what you came for. All those nights you've lied awake dreaming, praying that Dash would give you a chance. And here it is. You hear the door behind you slide open, and you turn to look.

"Wow." It comes out as a sort of gasp. You don't know what else to say. It's Dash- well, something like her. But you haven't seen her like this since... well, ever, really. Her hair- normally flying willy nilly behind her- is pulled back in a ponytail. She wears a long, flowing blue dress. She walks a little funny, and you realize she's wearing heels. You feel a bout of giggles coming on, but you do your best to suppress them. You finally manage to choke out, "I thought you hated dresses."

"I do," admits Dash, "but this is a special occasion." She gives you a smile, but it... it doesn't seem right. You know what a real Dash smile looks like. Proud, beaming like a lighthouse in the dark. This one seems forced. Not awkward- sort of formal. As if it were out of necessity, rather then pleasure. Maybe you're looking into it too much... you just need to relax.

"So, where do you want to go?" you ask.

"I was thinking we could down to the river," Dash says, pointing into the forest.

"Oh, you mean where I went with Applejack?" you inquire. A strange look passes across her face.

"I... I didn't know that's where you two went." She pauses, fidgeting around. "Well, that doesn't matter. Yeah, where... where you and Applejack went." She walks past you, not looking you in the face. You follow her into the forest. You walk through in silence- carefully sidestepping fallen trees, making sure to avoid muddy patches. When you arrive, you see that a blanket has been placed out. Dash gently sets herself down, and you follow suit. You two face each other. You try to say something- anything- but you realize, with growing horror, that nothing is coming to you.

"So, your week has been good?" Dash finally asks. You release a long held nervous breath.

"Yeah, real good. It's been nice catching up with everybody. I haven't seen most of them since high school," you say.

"Right. Yeah, it must be real nice catching up with all the girls," Dash mutters. You raise an eyebrow.

"Are you okay Dash?" you ask.

"Who me?" Dash points to herself. "Oh yeah, fine. Never better. I mean, this is our day together. The whole reason I invited you up to the cabin... to spend time with me..." Dash trails off.

"So, um, what have you been doing this week?" you ask.

"Not much. We wanted to make sure you and the other girls had some time alone, so we would just do silly little things. We went bowling one day. Went to the movies another. Went shopping a few times- I wasn't super into that, but there isn't much else to do around here," she says with a shrug.

"You know, you didn't have to do that. I wouldn't have minded the rest of the girls sticking around- it wouldn't have been a big deal," you say.

"Well... well, we just didn't want to interrupt," Dash grunts. She crosses her arms in front of her.

"Interrupt what? We weren't doing anything-" you stop, and take a long look at her. "Wait a minute, what do you think happened?" That creeping feeling of horror returns. "You don't think I've been-"

"What you've been doing with the other girls is none of my business," growls Dash. "To be honest, I'd just rather not hear about it."

"But there's nothing to hear about!" you shout. You take a deep breath, and try to think rationally. "Dash, me and the other girls are friends."

"Friends. Right. So friends draw each other naked, do they?" Dash asks. You feel your heart drop into your stomach.

"She... she told you about that?" you murmur.

"She didn't have to. You left the picture out in the open," Dash says. You give yourself a mental slap on the forehead. How could you have been that stupid? Of course she would see it if you just left it lying in the middle of... of...

"Wait, what were you doing in my room?" you ask accusingly. Dash looks like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Nothing! You just, you know, may have left the door open, and I don't know, maybe I looked in," she finishes lamely.

"Well, it was an art thing. There wasn't anything sexual about that- me and Rarity are just friends," you say.

"Right, right, just friends. You know, maybe I'll just start walking around naked from now on. That's not weird- we're friends, right?" Dash says. Now you're starting to get irritated.

"You know, why do you even care?" you ask. "Why is who I fool around with any of your business?"

"Aha!" Dash shouts. "So you have been fooling around with the other girls!"

"Well, I mean... not really..." you say.

"Not really? NOT REALLY? What the hell does that mean!" Dash yells.

"I..." you have to be honest. "I kissed some of them."

"SOME OF THEM!" Dash looks furious. "You mean you've been fooling around with more than one! I mean, I thought that maybe... maybe Rarity, or Applejack, but... how many? How many did you kiss?"

"Oh God," you whisper. Dash's anger begins to melt. Now she just looks crestfallen. "I... I guess all of them. Except Pinkie, because, you know..."

"Really? I'm surprised a stud like you didn't manage to turn her straight," she hisses.

"Come on Dash, it was just kissing! It didn't mean anything! I didn't do anything else-" Fluttershy. Shit.

"No, go on. Might as well finish the lie," she says.

"You never answered my question Dash. Why do you care? We're... we're not going out, or anything," you say.

"Well, that's for damn sure," she says, standing up. "You know, I don't know why I agreed to this. I knew this would happen. Knew you would just go back to your old ways. I thought maybe, just maybe, you only wanted friendship from the other girls. But of course, I was wrong. I should have known I'd be disappointed- again." Dash begins to walk away. You run to her.

"Dash, wait! Please!" you grab her shoulder. She rips your hand off, and slaps you- hard.

"Don't touch me, you pig," she spits. She walks away, leaving you holding your cheek. As her figure fades into the dark, you realize you've never been more alone in your life.

~

Big. That's the one word that seems to have pervaded your thoughts since you first came here. High school is just so big. Not the school itself- although the endlessly stretching halls do give you a knot of worry in your stomach when you think about getting lost in them. It's the students as well. The older ones- the juniors, and seniors- seem to tower over you, like leering giants. The teachers seem larger then life as well. They're so much different than the ones you had in elementary and middle school. You remember how your other teachers held your hand. How they made sure you did every assignment. How silly little things you did would earn a quick, but soft handed reprimand. How they seemed so open, so caring. But these teachers are aloof, distant. They drone on at their chalkboards, handing out worksheets and doling out homework like automatons. And if you stepped out of line, punishment was quick and harsh. Detention, or suspension. The thought of the worst punishment of all- expulsion- sends chills down your spine. The mental picture of your parents shaking their heads sadly, wondering where they went wrong- but that won't happen. You're a fine, upstanding student. You're not like the other kids. They all seem so carefree. They make snide remarks, pass notes, even cut class. Don't they care at all about their future? You feel like you should hate them, even try to avoid them. But you envy them. You wish, just once, one of them would come and sit with you at the cafeteria. But they never do.

So you sit, alone, chewing your hastily prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You have your notebook set out in front of you. It's only the third week of school, but you seem to have an enormous amount of homework. They seem to expect so much of you...

"Hi," chirrups someone. You continue to count figures in your head. "Umm... hello? Is anyone in there?" Your concentration is broken by a sudden swift tapping on your head. You almost choke on your sandwich. You whirl around. It's... it's a girl. You recognize her from one of your classes. She is tall for a girl of fourteen or fifteen. She wears a long, carefully ironed blue dress. She would be just another normal girl, fading into the scenery if it weren't for one thing- her hair. It's a rainbow of colors. You've never seen anything like it. "Why are you sitting alone?" she asks. You look around, just to make sure she couldn't be talking to anyone else.

"Oh, I don't know... I just, um... well..." you have no real answer. You just eat alone because it's easier that way. No one can punch you or make fun of you if you sit away from them.

"No one should eat alone," the girl says matter-of-factly. She sits down next to you, and pulls a brown paper bag out of her backpack. She pulls out an apple, and a thermos. "My name is Dash, by the way." She sticks out her hand. You take it, and shake it gently. You get the absurd notion that of you grab her too hard, she might break.

"I like your dress," you mutter. She scowls.

"Well I hate it. My mom makes me wear these stupid frilly things," she growls. "I just want to wear what I normally do- a T-shirt and some shorts, or something- but my mom says I have to look presentable to my teachers." You imagine her in shorts and a T-shirt... bare legs, maybe a little bit of exposed midriff. You feel yourself blushing. You hate that about yourself. You try to hide your face, but Dash notices. "Aww, are you blushing? That's so cute," she squeals. She pinches your cheek in a friendly sort of way. You're a little embarrassed, but it's not an entirely bad thing. "Say, what are you doing after school?"

"Well... nothing, I guess," you say.

"My mom can't pick me up for a while- she has to work late a lot- so do you wanna go down to the fields and play some soccer?" Dash suggests.

"Won't that mess up your dress?" you ask.

"Screw the dress!" she shouts. She receives several odd looks, and she giggles. You realize, with a little start, that she blushes just like you.

~

No. No, this will not happen. You want this too bad. You run after her, as fast as your legs can carry you.

"Dash!" you scream. "Dash, please don't go!" You continue to run through the forest, ignoring the branches and pricker bushes pulling and scratching you.

"Dash- oof!" You trip on something, and go crashing into some underbrush. You land on your arm- hard. You gasp in pain, and clutch at yourself. You flex it a few times- it doesn't feel broken. You let out a sigh, stand up, and dust yourself off. This whole chasing after a girl thing is a lot less glamourous then it looks like in the movies. You follow after her- carefully this time. You finally get out of the forest, run up to the cabin, and burst in.

"Dash! Dash, are you in here!" No answer. You walk over to the couch, and collapse onto it. You hold your head in your hands. You can feel the tears coming on. You're not sure if they're out of sadness or anger. All you know is that you would give anything to have her back.

"Oh, you poor dear." You jump a foot in the air. It's Rarity.

"Rarity? What... what are you doing here?" you ask.

"I was afraid this would happen. Can I sit?" She points next to you. To be honest, you don't really feel like talking to anybody. But you decide to be polite, and you nod yes. Rarity smiles, and plops down next to you. "She was jealous, wasn't she?" You wish she wouldn't talk about Dash like that- in that condescending tone.

"She didn't like that I kissed the other girls, if that's what you mean," you say. She nods sagely.

"I could tell something was bugging her. I told her she should have talked to you about it, but no. She just doesn't have experience in matters of the heart," Rarity says.

"I understand why she's upset though. I was a little callous. I came up here to spend time with her, but I got wrapped up in... in everything," you say.

"Well, we warned Dash that might happen at the beginning of the trip. We told her that we could find another time to see you, but she insisted." Rarity scoffs. "Silly little girl, to put you through a thing like that." You raise an eyebrow.

"Put me through what?" you ask.

"Well, isn't it obvious dear? She must have been testing you." You shake your head. That doesn't sound like Dash.

"No, she wouldn't do that. I... I'm not sure what exactly she thinks. I have an idea, but I'm not sure. And you know what? I need to go talk to her." You stand up. Rarity grabs you by the arm, and pulls you back down to the couch.

"Are... are you sure you want to do that?" she whispers.

"Of course I am!" you say.

"I'm just saying... is she really what you want? I mean, what if you've just... just built her up in your head? Is she really that perfect? I mean, think about it- maybe you two were meant to be just friends." She begins rubbing your arm. "Besides, you have someone perfectly willing right here." She looks into your eyes.

"Rarity... I appreciate it, but..."

"But what?" She pulls you closer to her.

"No." You push her away. She lowers her head, and her breath hitches. "Where's Dash?"

"In her room," Rarity whispers.

"It's not you Rarity. Someday, you're going to make somebody very happy. But Dash is who I want." Rarity gives a wet chuckle.

"I know. But it doesn't mean a girl can't try." She smiles at you as tears roll down her cheeks. "You better get her though. I won't forgive you if you let her slip through your fingers."

"I won't. I promise." You pull Rarity to you, and embrace her briefly. Then you bounce up, and run up the stairs. You're going to get Dash- you know you will.

~

You've never been to a place like this before. For the first time in your life, you can really see the stars. No smog, no streetlights- just the pure, shining night sky. It's amazing.

"Oh, you're here!" shouts someone from behind you. You whirl around- it's Dash.

"This place is amazing," you say to her.

"I know. I come here all the time." She runs up to you, and grabs your hand. You almost gasp in surprise. "Here, let me show you where I like to go." She leads you up a few rolling hills, and through some grassy fields. Ever since you met Dash a few months ago, it's been like this. You've never had a friend who's as adventurous as she is. Every day is truly something new, something unique. You find yourself thinking about her all the time- and you cherish every moment you spend with her. She leads you up a particularly tall hill. Your legs burn with exertion, but Dash seems to have no trouble at all. When you finally reach the top, she lets go of your hand. She gently lowers herself onto the ground, and stretches back. She puts her hands behind her head, and stares contentedly up at the sky. "Well? Get on down here," she says with a smile. You follow her lead, and stretch out on the hill. When you see the sky from this new view, your jaw drops.

"Wow," you whisper. It's truly unlike anything you've ever seen.

"It's like you can see the whole universe, right?" Dash says. You nod.

"I don't have any place like this out where I live. I live near the city- but here in Ponyville, it's beautiful," you say.

"Yeah, Ponyville is pretty cool. Although it's kind of a weird name for a place- there must have been a lot of horses out here, or something," Dash says. "You know, looking up here makes me wish I could fly. Just jump up, and soar into the night sky."

"Yeah, that would be pretty cool," you agree.

"I mean- well, this is hard to explain. I feel like I almost belong up there, somehow. Like, in another world, I spend all day up there. Just soaring through the clouds- flying through tornadoes, and rainbows. That would be amazing," she whispers.

"I'm sure you'll get up there someday." You roll over, and face her. "Maybe you can be a pilot. Maybe even an astronaut."

"Oh man, I couldn't even imagine the look on my moms face if I told her I wanted to be an astronaut. She wants me to be, like a secretary or something," Dash laughs.

"A secretary? Nah, you're better then that. You can be anything you want to be," you say.

"Heh. Maybe you should be a guidance councilor," Dash says with a grin.

"I think I want to be an artist. I've always liked painting, you know? I feel like it's the only thing I'm good at," you admit.

"You paint?" Dash asks. "I didn't know... you should show me one of your paintings sometime."

"Umm..." you rub your hands together nervously. "I guess I could show you a painting or two later."

"That'd be awesome!" squeals Rainbow Dash. She rolls over, and gives you a hug. The air goes out of you immediately. You've never been hugged by a girl before- well, unless you count family members. But this is the first time you've ever been hugged by a real girl... you give her a brief squeeze back. She rolls back over, and you two stare pensively at the sky. "I will go up there someday. I don't know how, and I don't know when... but someday."

"I know you will Dash," you say with a smile. "I'm glad I met you. I... well, I've never had a friend like you before."

"What can I say? I am pretty awesome." You two share a chuckle.

~

You run up the stairs, and through the hallways of the cabin. You try to remember if Dash ever showed you her room... you don't think so. You start opening doors at random. God, this place is so big! How many rooms can a stupid cabin have? As you open what seems to be the thousandth door, you see her. She sits on the edge of her bed, tears streaming down her eyes. Her ponytail has been let go, and her hair spills over her shoulders. She looks up as you open the door.

"You e-ever heard of kn-knocking?" she asks, her voice shaking.

"I'm sorry, but I had to talk to you," you say.

"There's nothing to talk about," she says. "I don't want to see you."

"I can't accept that." You walk in, and close the door behind you. "We've been friends for too long. I'm not just going to let all that go over... over a stupid little tiff."

"A stupid little t-tiff? Is that what you c-call this?" Dash sniffs. You look around. Her room is smaller then you would have expected. It is painted light blue. A few posters of sports teams hang on the walls. You notice- with a combined feeling of astonishment and absurd gratitude-that she has framed and hung up several of your paintings. You pull up a chair from a nearby desk, and sit down. "This is a lot more then just a little tiff. I'm really hurt."

"I'm sorry I hurt you. You know I wouldn't ever do anything to make you feel like this on purpose," you say.

"Well that's just great. Thanks, that makes me feel all better. You are the healer of all wounds," she says. You sigh.

"I don't understand. If... if you wanted it to be just the two of us, why did you invite all the other girls up?" you ask.

"That's not what happened," she says.

"Well, how did it go? Help me understand," you say. She wipes some tears from her eyes.

"All right. Well, it all started with Twilight. She always asked me about you, and one day I just said, 'why don't you ever call him and ask?' And then she told me that you never really contacted her after high school. That really shocked the crap out of me, considering how close you guys were. I started talking to some of the other girls, and they told me the same thing- you never tried to find them after high school. So I decided we should get everyone together again. I knew you had some... previous experience with some of the girls. But I didn't think it would get to me. But I was wrong. It has been bothering me," she finishes.

"Alright. Well, just so you know, I didn't have any previous experience with anybody but Fluttershy," you say.

"Come on, don't lie just to make me feel better," Dash says.

"I'm not lying. And even with Fluttershy, it was just a one time thing, and we didn't..." you let her fill in the rest.

"But... but you spent so much time with those other girls. I figured that something had to be going on," Dash says.

"Well, you were wrong. I guess I just have a tendency to hang out with girls more then guys. But it was never more then friendship," you say.

"Huh." Dash's sadness starts to fade. "I should have guessed. You spend so much time with me, and never made a move. I didn't consider that it might have been the same way with the other girls. You're just so charming and all," she says with a chuckle. She gives you a little punch on the arm. "So what's the deal?"

"What... what deal?" you ask.

"Why didn't you ever hit on any of the girls?" She frowns. "Are you gay?"

"No! No, I mean, I'm not. I'm straight. Definitely straight," you say.

"Well then... what's the deal?" You don't know what to say. That you were never confident enough to do so. That you were afraid of rejection. That... that they weren't Dash.

"I don't know, I just didn't," you say with a shrug. Dash shrugs back.

"Okay. Ah, this whole thing was stupid. I'm sorry I got so worked up. It's just... you're my best friend, you know? And I don't want to lose you," she says. Best... friends? Well, what did you expect? That she would confess her undying love to you? Don't be silly. She walks up to you, and gives you a hug. "You want to try this whole thing again? Take two?"

"I'd like that a lot," you say.

~

It's late at night- real late at night- and you're drunk. Once again, Dash dragged you out to some party with a bunch of people you didn't know. You just stood in the back, drinking beer after beer. You had no idea just how much you had drank until you tried to walk to the bathroom. You were barely able to stumble in there, and you smashed your knees against the toilet seat when you were zipping up. You managed to stumble back into the party, and let Dash know that you were heading out. It was a long walk to get there, and now you have to do it drunk and alone. You're scared, and scuffed up from falling down over and over again. You're not sure how far away your house is, but you pray that it isn't much further. You manage to walk straight for a little while, but a crack in the road sends you tumbling down again. You put your hands in front of your face, but the rest of your body hits the ground hard. You gasp in pain and anger. As you slowly lift yourself back up, a bright light fills your vision. It's headlights- a car is coming towards you. You recognize it almost immediately. It's painted just like her hair- all the colors of the rainbow. She stops next to you, and rolls down the window.

"Need a lift?" Dash asks, with a sly grin.

"Dash? You shouldn't be driving, you're drunk," you say, doing your best not to slur your words.

"Some of us know how to handle our liquor," Dash says with a little sigh. She gets out of the car, and leads you over to the opposite side. She opens the door for you, and you manage to wiggle inside. You try to get the seatbelt, but after the third attempt Dash rolls her eyes and does it for you. You give a sheepish little giggle, and Dash pats your head. "What would you do without me?"

"I think I'd about die, miss Dashie," you say. Dash closes your door, walks over to the other side, and gets in. She starts the car up, and you two go on your way. "I wish you'd stop dragging me out to these silly parties. I don't have any fun," you say.

"That's because you're a stick in the mud," Dash says, shaking her head. "You have to loosen up a little man..." she trails off, and looks at you. "I have an idea." She pulls of the main road, into the parking lot of a local grocery store. She parks in the back, and turns off the car. She gives you a strange look.

"What... what's up?" you ask.

"You ever get high?" she asks. You feel something do backflips in your stomach.

"You mean like... weed?" you whisper.

"No, like paint thinner. Yes, weed," she chuckles.

"No. No, I wouldn't even know how to get it," you say.

"Well, do you wanna?" she asks. Maybe it's because you're drunk, and feeling a little reckless. Maybe it's because you think she's disappointed in you for not having more fun at the party. Or maybe it's the way she's grinning at you. Whatever the reason, you're willing to try it.

"Yeah. Yeah, let's do it," you say quietly.

"That a boy!" she shouts enthusiastically. She opens the glove compartment, and rummages around for a second. She pulls out a bag full of what looks like self-rolled cigarettes. She opens it, and pulls one out. She puts the rest back in the compartment, and pulls a lighter out of her pocket. She leans back in her seat, and lights it. Almost immediately, a strange, earthy smell fills the car. It's a little unpleasant, but not too terrible. "You want to take the first hit?" she asks, her grin getting wider and more mischievous.

"Sure," you manage to choke out.

"Don't slobber all over it," she says, and hands it to you. You place it in your mouth, and tentatively inhale. Your lungs feel like they're on fire. You start coughing, and Dash starts giggling. "Don't worry, everyone does that their first time," she says, taking the joint from you. She relights it, and takes a hit. She doesn't cough at all- you realize she's done this a few times. You pass it back and forth for a while, smoking in silence. At first, you feel nothing. A few minutes pass, and you start to notice a definite change. You don't know how to put it, exactly. You feel... looser. Colors seem brighter. You wave your hand in front of your face. It seems slower then it should be.

"This is fucking crazy," you say. Dash nearly chokes.

"Oh my God man! You just said the F-word! I don't think I've ever heard you say that before," she says.

"Yeah, well... fuck it. Who am I trying to impress," you say with a shrug.

"You are something else," she says. You finish the joint, and sit in the car. You've never felt like this before. The world just seems... right. You look at Dash, and something goes off in your head.

"Get out of the car," you say. Dash gives you a confused look, but you don't bother to explain yourself. You open your door, and manage to roll out. Dash follows suit. You both stumble towards each other. When you find her, you grab her hands. "I want to dance with you," you whisper to her. You put one of your hands on her hips, and another on the small of her back. You lead her into the light of a street lamp, and together, you sway drunkenly to music that is only in your heads.

"I feel like I'm flying," she says.

"So do I," you whisper. You cling to her for dear life, and she doesn't let you fall. You let everything else fade. The only thing left is you and Dash. Together. She pulls away, and grabs your shirt.

"Kiss me," she pleads. You oblige. It is a kiss you will never forget. It is different then all of your other kisses. You take her in completely, feeling the sweetness of her lips. You've wanted this more then anything. But...

"We have to stop," you say. Dash shakes her head.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she asks.

"We... we need to get out heads together. I want this, you know? But... but I want to be in the right place," you say. Dash backs away from you.

"Yeah... yeah, I understand," she says. She takes your hand, and leads you to the car. You drive back home in silence.

~

"Yeah, I remember that night," Dash says. "God, you were so drunk. It was a lucky break that I caught you. I wasn't going home for a while, but then that Blueblood guy started hitting on me. I swear, I don't know what Rarity ever saw in him." Dash finishes her glass of wine, and makes eye contact with you. "That was a really nice dinner. I didn't know you could cook."

"Neither did I," you admit. On a whim, you decided to whip up something for you and Dash. It wasn't anything complicated- just some pasta and some bread- but it turned out surprisingly good. You finally feel content with Dash. This is the first time since you've get here that you feel completely at peace. No worries, no stress- just you and Dash. "You know, that was the only time I ever got high. It was... an experience."

"Yeah, I don't do it often, but it is nice occasionally," Dash says. "That was a nice night."

"Yeah. Especially the kiss," you muse. You give Dash a look that suggests your joking, and you hope she gets the message.

"You know, I still remember that kiss. For a guy that doesn't do a lot of smooching, you were pretty good," she says with a smirk.

"What can I say? I'm a regular Romeo," you chuckle. Dash smiles back, but again, something doesn't seem right. You sigh, and shake your head. You really have no idea what to do anymore.

"Are you okay?" Dash asks.

"I don't know. Not really," you admit. "I feel like shit. I can't believe I barely even talked to you before today. I should have said something, but the whole situation was so..."

"Weird?" Dash finishes for you.

"Weird," you agree.

"Yeah. Maybe we should have spent a little time together first, then hung out with the girls," Dash says.

"What, you'd really want to spend a whole week with boring old me?" you ask. Dash looks hurt.

"Don't put yourself down like that. You're a really nice guy. I'm glad you're my friend," Dash says.

"Friend... yeah," you mutter. You start to clean up the plates.

"Do... do you ever wish we would have had more nights like that one?" Dash asks hesistantly. You stop what you're doing immediatly.

"Well..." you trail off. Well what? Well, I've actutally wished that almost continuously for the past two years, but I never really said anything. Jokes on me, right? Yeah, that would be smooth. You take a breath, and speak honestly. "Yes, I do. Sometimes I regret not exploring that part of our relationship."

"So... so do I," Dash says slowly. You both stare at each other. You feel it coming to your lips. You want to stop it- every bone in your body is screaming at you not to do it. But you feel it coming to your lips.

"Dash..."

She takes you in. You take her in. Time stops, for one moment.

"I love you."

You said it. You did it. You walk over to Dash, and take her by the hands. You walk her outside the kitchen, out to the patio. The sun is just starting to go down. You look her in the eyes, and she just stares at you in stuneed silence. "Until now, I... I could never put it into words... what I felt for you. Even from the start, I don't think I saw you as just a friend. But I had to push you away, because..." You stop, the words catching in your throat. "Because I never thought I was good enough for you." You feel the tears begin to fall, and you can't stop them. All this time, you've done nothing but help others... put them before you. And this is why. You've never been more afraid in your life. You stand here, exposed, before the one person that you realize you really and truly love. Dash stares at you, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks as well. You steady yourself, and continue. "But now I understand that I am. It took something amazing to make me realize it, but it's true. I love you Dash. And I know I deserve to feel that way now." The moment of truth. The one thing you thought you would never say to her. "Do you... love me?" She looks at you, no expression on her face. You hear your heart beat, and feel every molecule of yourself. You wait for what seems like an eternity. And then... she smiles.

"Of course I do, you big dummy." She draws you close, and you kiss. It's different from the kisses you've shared with the other girls. This one seems somehow desperate- as if it had been waiting forever to come to fruition. You kiss each other for what feels like an eternity. You finally know what it's like. After all these years... all this time... you finally have Dash, completely. "You want to take me upstairs?" she whispers in your ears. You've never wanted anything more.

~

What is this? The past? The present? Future? Maybe it's all of those things, or none. It doesn't matter. It's just you and Dash, sharing what you've wanted to share for so long. You two enter her room, and she closes the door behind you. It's a little dark- none of the lights in the room are on- but that's okay. She walks up to you, and the kisses begin again. You feel your knees almost buckle. She said you were good at it, but Dash- well, you didn't even know you could do what Dash is doing. You tear apart. She unbuttons your shirt, slowly. You feel a little embarrased, but Dash doesn't seem to care. She takes it off, and feels your chest.

"No six pack," you mutter.

"I love you just the way you are," Dash says. You shudder- it's the first time you've ever heard Dash say she loves you. It makes you feel better then you've ever felt in your entire life. She kisses you again. "Well?" she asks.

"What?" you answer.

"Your turn," Dash giggles. Duh. You let out a little laugh, and give yourself a faux slap on the head.

"How silly of me," you say. You reach behind her, and grab the zipper at the top of her dress. You pull it down, and Dash carefully steps out of it.

"Finally out of that stupid dress," Dash says. You want to answer, but you can't. "See something you like?" Dash asks with a sly smile. She's dressed in black, frilly underwear. It doesn't leave much to the imagination. "I'll take that as a yes," Dash says, pulling you close. You notice that she's wearing some sort of perfume. It reminds you of fields- of staring up at the stars. Of dancing drunkenly in the moonlight. Dash reaches down to your belt, and fumbles with it. "How do you get this thing?" Dash mutters. You help her out, and together you pull your belt off and throw it aside. Dash goes for your zipper, and slowly pulls it down. You feel yourself starting to get hard. This is the first time you and Dash have been this close. You can see the sweat glistening on her skin... you gasp. Dash is caressing you- slowly, carefully.

"Jesus," you mutter. She lets go, and you let your pants fall casually to the ground. Dash gasps, then busts out laughing. "Oh shit, what's the problem?" you sigh.

"Look at your boxers!" Dash gasps. You look down, and groan. It's your novelty Fat Albert boxers.

"I forgot I was wearing these," you say. Dash calms down, and shakes her head.

"Oh man. You are just something else," she giggles. She pulls you close, and you start kissing again. Your hands naturally glide up her back, until you feel the silk of her bra. You find the snaps, and carefully undo them. Her bra falls to the ground, and you look at her. They're perfect- not to big, but not exactly small either. Perfectly perky- wonderful. You grab them, and Dash lets out a little moan. You roll your fingers over her nipples, and her moan intensifies. You give her a sly grin, bend down, and lift her up. She gasps in surprise, but then gives a nod of approval. You walk her over to the bed, and carefully set her down. You kiss the nape of her neck, then slowly work your way down. You kiss her chest, then the top of her breast. You move your mouth down, until it covers her nipple. You lick it slowly, tentatively. Dash gives a little spasm. You move to the other one, and give it the same treatment. "Some kind of Romeo," Dash mutters dreamily. Your kisses go further down... down to her stomach. Down to her hips. She grips the bed, holding on for dear life. You grab the top of her panties, and she lifts her legs. You slide her off, and see her- really see her- for the first time. She is clean shaven, perfect. Her womanhood is different then Fluttershy's- the lips are less prominent. You see she looks a little embarrassed.

"You're beautiful," you say. She gives you a little smile. You keep kissing her, continuing down, until you reach the most honest part of her. You remember what Fluttershy showed you that long time ago. You gently rub her clitoris, and she nearly jumps off the bed. You continue, and her body contorts in pleasure.

"Oh man, oh man," she says over and over again. You keep going, and she moves into your fingers. You feel her start to get wet, and you feel a surge of something primal. You stop rubbing her, and pull yourself on top of her. You kiss her deeply, and you feel her pull your boxers down. You kick them off. You two look into each others eyes.

"Are you ready?" you whisper.

"Yeah. Just... just be gentle," she whispers back.

"As gentle as you want," you say, caressing her gently. You part her legs, and push yourself against her. You both let out groans of anticipation. You enter her- slowly. She gives a hiss of pain and surprise, and you go slower. You finally push yourself in as far as you can go, and for a while you stay like that- both of you enjoying this strange, powerful feeling.

"Start moving now," Dash says. You pull out, and slowly put yourself back in. She follows you, and this time it feels more natural. You keep going, and establish a rhythm. The pain seems to have all but faded from Dash, and a new feeling seems to overtake her. She closes her eyes, and her breath starts hitching. You move faster, and she moves with you. You feel her dig her fingernails into your shoulders, and you cry out with the combination of pain and pleasure.

"Dash, I'm gonna-"

"Just do it," she says, overtaking you. "I'm close, I'll do it with you." You feel yourself building to a climax, and she grips you even tighter. It comes quick, and strong. You both let out moans of pleasure- and then it's over. Just like that. You move yourself out of her, and lie next to her.

"Wow. That was..." you trail off.

"What can I say? I am pretty awesome," Dash says.

~

You lie there next to each other. For the first time in your life, you feel truly fulfilled. Truly happy. You kept your promise to yourself. Your first time would be with a girl you loved. And the only girl you've ever really loved is Dash.

"Goodnight, Rainbow." She turns to you.

"You know I hate that name," she says with a scowl.

"I don't know... Rainbow Dash. It sounds beautiful to me," you say. She gently strokes your cheek, and smiles.

"Maybe you're right." She snuggles up against you, and the two of you drift off to sleep.

~
Epilogue- One Year Later

"Come on, we're gonna be late!" shouts Dash. You jam the rest of your clothes in the suitcase, and pull it shut. You race down the stairs, and find Dash waiting for you. "Took you long enough," she says.

"I love you to sweetie," you reply, and give her a peck on the cheek. "I can't wait- this trip is going to be awesome."

"I can't believe your professors gave you the week off- they've been working you to the bone," Dash says, rubbing your shoulders.

"I know, I know. You should have seen Mr. Kunz's face- when I told him I had to push the gallery opening back, I thought he was gonna kill me," you say.

"Well, if it goes half as well as your first, you have nothing to worry about," Dash says.

"Well I wouldn't miss this for the world. The cabin means so much," you say.

"Yeah. If we hadn't gone to the cabin... well, things would be a lot different," Dash says.

"A lot worse," you say, and pull her close to you. You kiss her- it still holds the same feeling it did a year ago. You hear a car horn- you grab your suitcase, grab Dash's hand, and race outside. Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity all wave at you from a shiny, hot pink car.

"That car has to be yours Pinkie," you say, shaking your head.

"Of course it is silly!" she giggles. "Are you guys all packed?"

"Yup!" Dash says, motioning to the suitcases.

"Awesome. Applejack and Fluttershy are going to meet us there. They got a ride with Mac," says Pinkie.

"It took them long enough to get together. Fluttershy and Mac have been making googly eyes at each other for almost a year now," says Rarity.

"Well, you know Fluttershy. She isn't exactly assertive," says Twilight. If only she knew... You and Dash toss your suitcases in the trunk, and squeeze in the car. Pinkie starts it up, and you race off.

"So..." mutters Pinkie.

"So... what?" you ask.

"Oh, don't be like that. You know what," says Twilight.

"No, I don't know what-"

"He got the deal!" Dash shouts, cutting you off. The other girls whoop, and you put your head in your hands.

"It's not even that big of a thing. I'm just doing some art for a magazine," you say.

"But it's a start. With that, and the gallery opening, you're getting your name out there," says Twilight.

"I can't believe I'm friends with a famous artist," says Rarity.

"I'm not famous," you say.

"Yet!" shouts Pinkie.

"And did you hear Dash got her pilots license?" you say.

"Yup, and I only crashed the plane once," Dash says. The rest of the girls laugh, and you give Dash a little nudge. "Man, this is going to be so much fun!" squeals Dash. You reach to your pocket, and feel the velvet case.

"Yeah- this week is going to be great," you say. As the car rides off towards the cabin, you realize you've never been happier.