August 20th

Sky on Earth Stadium was a sight to behold. Known as the “Colossal Casa”, the open-air sporting complex was famous for its imposing size. No expense was spared on the largest stadium in Equestria, as the combination of lights, skyboxes, and jumbo screens made the place look like both a tribute to, and a parody of, excess.

To many, however, it seemed fitting, as the stadium was built as a venue for performances by the biggest stars, in particular the Wonderbolts. Solid gold statues of some of their most famous members flanked the front gates to the stadium entrance, their eyes made of diamonds.

It was a stadium fit for a king.

However, Rainbow Dash was too annoyed and pissed to care about that at the moment.

‘One side!’ and ‘Fuck off!’ were just a couple of colorful phrases Rainbow used when shoving aside ponies in the densely packed crowd. The air was hot that evening, and that combined large density of impatient ponies made for a rather unpleasant experience for Dash.

Nevertheless, she pursued on, hoping to find Twilight.

She didn’t answer my last letter, so I can only guess she’s here, right?

It occurred to Rainbow Dash that she probably should have asked Twilight in a previous letter where she might be found in the stadium. Surely, one of the princess’s royal fuck-buddies shouldn’t have to shove her way through a crowd of peasants, right?

Well, as it turned out, finding where she needed to go proved to be remarkably easy.

Across the crowd, Princess Celestia’s unmistakable mane rose into view, several heads taller than the average pony milling about. Rainbow smirked, flying up over her, bowing respectfully.

Just then, two royal guards apprehended her by her forelegs and wings. Dash’s eyes widened as she found herself trying kick herself free.

“HEY! GET OFFA ME!” It was to no avail, as the well-toned guards merely fortified themselves and grasped harder onto her. A crowd soon formed around the scene with cries of ‘she tried to attack the princess!’ and ‘what a scoop!’ being heard among the clamour. Cameras were flashing.

Stupid guards! How bogus can this get?

“GUARDS! STAND DOWN!”

Just like that, the entire crowd recoiled and became absolutely silent. Never before had Equestrians of this generation heard Princess Celestia use her royal Canterlot voice. Needless to say, the whiplash from the usually cold, distant Celestia to what they all had just witnessed was something else.

Rainbow Dash stared slack-jawed as Celestia approached her. She looked around and saw that everypony, guards included, had backed away from the two of them. Dash gulped as she looked up to the imposing princess.

“Uh, heh-heh... hey, Princess.”

Celestia smiled warmly. “Why, Rainbow Dash, such a pleasure to see you this evening. As I’m to understand, you’ll be joining us in the skybox.”

Dash grinned nervously. “Uh, yeah! You know, if that’s fine with you and everything.”

Celestia chuckled. “Nothing would make me more delighted. I know for a fact that Twilight is expecting you eagerly.”

Rainbow’s heart raced when she heard her mention Twilight. She stood up tall, beaming, and replied, “Awesome! Where’s that skybox?”

“Right this way.” Celestia pointed her head to a stairwell that had been draped in a royal carpet. She ascended with Dash following her.

Envious murmurs could be heard from the crowd and Dash turned her head to see that there was a mob of paparazzi trying to follow her and Celestia, only to be stopped by the royal guards.

Smirking, Rainbow Dash blew a celebratory raspberry at the blocked crowd, and then turned to follow Celestia up the stairs.

Who knew all I had to do to get ahead in life was to screw a princess?

Rainbow Dash and Princess Celestia stepped into the skybox. The large windows overlooking the field and sky took up an entire wall of the long and luxurious room, stocked with comfy-looking chairs, a full bar complete with bartender, two catering trays, the captain of the royal guard, and three princesses. Twilight turned as the door closed behind them, and in a blur had her hooves wrapped around Rainbow’s neck. “There you are!”

“Hey, Twi! What’s up?” Rainbow kissed Twilight’s cheek as she hugged her marefriend around the waist. She looked up to see Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor staring at them.

Rainbow Dash let go of Twilight as she cleared her throat. “Uh, hey, everypony!”

Cadence giggled as Shining Armor and Luna simply nodded.

Twilight stepped back and turned to face the three, clearing her throat. She grinned awkwardly at her older brother and stepped next to Rainbow. “Shining, you’ve met Rainbow Dash before.”

Shining Armor’s mouth warred between a frown and a smile, his eyebrows trying to both be knit and relaxed at the same time. The combination wasn’t very readable, but Rainbow thought the closest expression it came to was ‘constipated.’ He shuffled his hooves momentarily and extended one towards Rainbow Dash. “It’s nice to see you again,” he said in a measured and formal tone.

Dash bumped hooves with him. “Yo, how goes it?”

Cadence giggled again as she approached the two. “It goes very well, Rainbow Dash. How have you been?”

Dash shrugged and cooly quipped, “Eh. Can’t complain. Not much to write home about, you know?”

Shining snorted loudly. “Nothing to write home about? Whenever Twily gets a letter from you or Applejack, she goes off into her own little world. What the hell are you even writing in them that the gets her all flustered?”

Twilight cleared her throat loudly and glared at him. “Girlfriend stuff,” she said flatly. “I’d guess it’s kind of like wife stuff.” She looked pointedly at Cadence and raised an eyebrow.

Cadence placed a hoof on her husband’s shoulder. “Now now, baby. It’s not really your business now, is it?”

Shining rolled his eyes and sighed. “If you say so. I just think it’s just a tad bit strange that seemingly out of nowhere, my sister is dating two mares.”

Dash shrugged. “We’re freaks. Whaddya gonna do?”

Twilight rubbed her forehead with a hoof, but couldn’t help chuckling. “Thank you, Rainbow.” She sighed and fixed her glare back on Shining. “You’ve known my sexuality for how long now?”

He paused, darting his eyes around the room. “Well…”

“I like Rainbow, Shining. And Applejack. We’re not sure what this is, either, but we want to find out.”

As Shining looked away and started grumbling, Cadence ran her hoof up and down his back in soothing strokes. A small frown creased her muzzle and she asked Twilight, “Have you read that book I gave you yet?”

Twilight groaned. “I never have time to read anymore!” She stamped her hoof. Cadence smiled thinly, but didn’t say anything else.

“I would not be so wary of the Captain’s concern, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna approached the group gracefully. “An older sibling is quite prone to acting irrationally in concern for their kin.”

The group turned as they heard Celestia snort from the bar, waiting for the bartender to finish mixing a drink. “Yes, Lulu, I was acting completely irrational sending you to the moon. I mean, it’s not like you were doing anything heinous, no no. All were you doing was trying to bring about eternal night, and thus, kill all life in Equestria.”

“And I have explained to you, sister, that I didn’t really think that part through.”

“And I have explained to you, Luna, that you really need to learn some damn science.”

Rainbow Dash couldn’t contain herself as she fell over laughing. Eventually, she grabbed on to Twilight to pull herself up. Draped over her, she whispered, “Are they always like this?”

“You have no idea,” she whispered back. “It gets worse at night when Princess Celestia’s tired and short.” She looked back across the room and saw her brother had moved off to one of the large windows, looking over the field with a sullen expression. “...I’m going to go talk to Shining really quick.” Rainbow fumbled off of her back and she gave her marefriend a brief nuzzle before cantering to the window.

Seeing that Twilight had Shining preoccupied, Rainbow Dash decided to take the opportunity to talk to Cadence, who was standing alone on the other end of the windows. She stepped up to her and said, “So, uh... how’s Twilight been on this tour and stuff?”

Cadence turned to face her. “This really isn’t her thing, I’m afraid to say. All the fancy parties, the paparazzi, and the boring meet and greets really take their toll on her.”

Rainbow soured in expression, but looked up when she noticed Cadence’s hoof on her shoulder. “It seems like the only time she gets happy or excited anymore is when she gets a letter from one of her friends.” Cadence leaned in and whispered, “She giggles and swoons like a schoolfilly with yours. What is your secret?”

Rainbow Dash blushed and gave a shrug. “I’m just that good?”

Cadence giggled. “Makes sense. Just so you know, Rainbow Dash, I don’t doubt your worth as Twilight’s special somepony for a second.” Cadence’s horn glowed. “I could sense her heartbeat when you entered the room. She’s completely crazy about you.”

Dash’s eyes widened. “You can tell something like that?!”

“Well, they don’t call me the Princess of Love for nothing.”

“I thought you were the Crystal Princess now.”

Cadence snorted. “I’m a lot of things, shut up.”

Dash grinned and shoved Cadence’s shoulder. “You shut up.”

“No you.”

“No you!”

The two proceeded to enter a shoving contest that ended with them giggling like a pair of schoolfillies.

The show was spectacular, of course. Despite rejecting the offer to join them, Rainbow Dash was still mesmerized as ever by the Wonderbolts, bouncing up and down in her seat as the group performed their amazing aerial acrobatics.

Twilight found herself being shaken violently by Dash. “Did you see that?! Spitfire looked like she was barreling to her death! It’s like the time I saved them and Rarity with the Sonic Rainboom, and I grabbed them just before we hit the ground! It’s amazing!” Rainbow’s grin was face-breakingly wide.

Twilight giggled at Rainbow’s enthusiasm and pressed into her marefriend’s side. Growing a pair of wings had given her a much more concrete appreciation for flying as a skill and an artform, but seeing the reaction it held in the brazen mare allowed her to capture a small piece of the sense of wonder Rainbow felt. As the show went on, she unfurled a wing and pulled Rainbow close.

“I must say, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia said. “For somepony so enthusiastic about the Wonderbolts, it strikes me as a bit odd that you would turn down the opportunity to join them in such a fashion as Twilight has described.”

“Yeah, what gives with that?” Shining commented. “Now you say you wanna teach kids or something?”

Rainbow stood up. “Oh, that, uh... well, you know, things change and stuff.” She turned to Twilight and leaned in close. “And you learn that some things are more important than fame, right?” Dash kissed Twilight’s cheek, feeling its warmth.

A collective ‘D’aww’ echoed through the room as Luna nodded with approval. “Huzzah, Rainbow Dash!” She stood and raised her cosmarepolitan. “I give my regards to the lovely couple, and to their noble cowpony who could not be with us.”

Everypony raised their glasses and gave their cheers. As that settled, Celestia leaned close to Rainbow Dash. “I’ll make sure to help you and Twilight begin preparations for setting up a school once you two return to Ponyville. I shall be there for you every step of the way.Teaching is no easy task, as I’m sure you’ve come to learn.”

Rainbow sighed. “Yeah, tell me about it. This last week’s been pretty rough on me. Would you believe I actually made a colt cry?”

Twilight turned an ear at the statement and sighed, standing up and nuzzling Rainbow’s neck. “I’m sorry that happened, and that I didn’t have time to write you back before we got here. From what you said, it wasn’t really anything you did wrong, though.”

Rainbow shrugged. “Still. It sucks when your first crush is smashed like that, and it double sucks that I had to be that crush.” She sighed. “I finally talked to Bee Sting yesterday, and he seemed... okay. He seemed ‘okay’ today too, and I figure he’s just gonna be more ‘okay’ until some other filly catches his eye. That’s the best I can hope for, right?”

Twilight smiled wanly. “I think it’s just part of growing up, and it sounds like you did everything you could for him.”

Rainbow looked into Twilight’s eyes and couldn’t help but smile. She quickly leaned in and gave her a sensuous kiss. When they departed she whispered, “Thanks. I needed that.”

“Always.”

As the two stared lovingly into each other, the rest of the room was in dead silence, broken only by Shining Armor’s cough. Twilight and Dash broke from their moment and looked to the others, who were fiddling with their hooves, trying to look away.

Rainbow blushed as she forced a chuckle. “Um... yeah, we tend to tune other ponies out.”

Shining scoffed as he muttered, “That’s an understatement.” Only to be punched in the shoulder by Cadence.

“What my husband means is that we really shouldn’t have been there for such a private moment.”

Rainbow waved her hoof. “Nah, you’re good. Besides...” Rainbow wrapped a foreleg around Twilight’s waist, getting a squeak out of her. “I like to show the world what I got.”

The princesses giggled as Shining simply rubbed the bridge of his muzzle and murmured “Oh, brother.”

“In any case,” Celestia stated as she stood. “It would appear as though the show has ended, which means that the time has come for us to make a royal appearance at the VIP party. Rainbow Dash, I assume you’d care to join us?”

Rainbow’s eyes widened as she hopped in place. “Pass up the chance to see the Wonderbolts again? Fuck that shit, lesgo!”

Celestia chuckled as Twilight massaged her forehead and giggled. “I’d say that’s a yes. Well then, shall we?”

And thus, the group exited the skybox to perform royal duties.

Unlike the Grand Galloping Gala, the VIP party had significantly less ponies. However, Rainbow Dash decided this time around to keep a respectful distance from the Wonderbolts, instead of trying to force their attention. In lieu of that, she decided to partake in the buffet table as Twilight and the others were busy making nice with a bunch of stuffy investors and dignitaries.

They’ve got hay steak wrapped in hay bacon! The legends were true!

As she was stuffing her mouth full of her personal Holy Grail, Dash felt somepony tap her shoulder.

She turned to see it was none other than the Wonderbolts captain, out of her usual team attire.

“Spiffrre!” Dash swallowed her food. “Spitfire! Hey, how have you been? Great show tonight, by the way. It’s like you guys are getting more and more awesome every time I see you!”

“Where. Were you?” Spitfire’s voice was rather stern.

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow. “Huh?”

“You didn’t show up, Rainbow Dash! We sent you the letter, and you didn’t show up! What happened?”

“Ohhhh...” Rainbow’s eyes widened as she finally understood her. “That, well, I kinda... burnt the letter.”

Spitfire didn’t say anything for a while but inhaled deeply through her nose. Finally she asked, “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“What’s up?” Spitfire responded. “At HQ, we know you as the pegasus that has spent her whole life trying to be us. We found it admirable as all get out. So pardon me if I’m beyond confused why you just decide to not take the offer to join when it’s dangling in front of you!”

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. “That offer came at kind of a weird time in my life. I’ve been having some relationship shakeups and... long story short, I decided the Wonderbolts weren’t what was best for me.”

Spitfire rubbed her head in disbelief. “I just... you, Rainbow Dash, just up and decided the Wonderbolts weren’t the best thing for you. Wow. What exactly happened there?”

Rainbow threw up her forelegs. “Things! I dunno. Look, it’s nothing personal against you guys, I just went through some things and one day, I just started to think that I wasn’t meant to fly with you guys. It doesn’t mean that you’re still not awesome.”

Spitfire cocked an eyebrow. “Let me ask you: In what span of time did you go from ‘I’m gonna be captain of the Wonderbolts’ to ‘No to the Wonderbolts’?”

Rainbow thought back to where all the drama with AJ and Twilight began, and where it ended with her burning the letter.

“Um... like, three days.”

Spitfire rubbed her forehead. “So you’re telling me that you made a complete overhaul in your life after a three day funk?”

Dash got defensive. “A lot of stuff happened! I learned some things.”

Spitfire shook her head. “... I can’t help you, Rainbow Dash. I really saw something in you. I guess I don’t know what I was thinking. Good luck in whatever you do, I guess.”

As Spitfire turned and walked away, Dash called out to her. “Hey! HEY! COME BACK HERE!” It was to no avail, as Spitfire had disappeared into the crowd of VIPs. Rainbow Dash was left alone at the buffet table with her thoughts.

She’s crazy, right? I mean, I didn’t just throw everything away. I’ve got AJ, I’ve got Twilight! I’ve got the school! I’ve got all I need!

Rainbow wiped beads of sweat from her brow as her stomach churned, which she was confident wasn’t the doing of the greasy steak. She gulped.

But what if she’s right?

To Be Continued

Author's Note

Another story for The Mailbox, written in collaboration with Jake R. Confusing if you're not following, etc. etc.