//------------------------------// // What's the story? // Story: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash and Time Turner: Give A Little Love // by dramatic_spoon //------------------------------// Ditzy and Time Turner sat at a table, looking over their menus in silence. After few moments, the waitress arrived, a big smile on her face. “Hi there! Ready to order?” “I’ll have the Quinoa burger and garlic hay fries….Wait, make it normal fries,” Time Turner smiled sheepishly, “I still have to work.” “I’ll just have the mushroom salad.” Ditzy replied, folding up her menu. “What dressing?” “Red wine vinegar.” “Alright then!” the waitress’ grin grew, “Anything to drink?” “Water’s fine.” “Same.” “Great!” The waitress trotted off. As the couple watched her leave, Ditzy took a sip of her water. “She’s certainly enthusiastic.” Ditzy replied. “Give her a few months,” Time Turner sighed, “Then it’s all downhill.” “Oh don’t be like that,” Ditzy scolded him. Silence fell on the table again, as the two took sips of their water. “So how do you feel?” Ditzy asked. “About what?” “Rainbow Dash.” Time Turner blinked, “What?” “How do you feel about her?” “Well…” Time Turner trailed off, “She’s nice. I think she needs someone to unwind with. I mean, she has a sort of hectic life and…” “That’s not what I mean.” Ditzy interrupted. “…What, you mean…” Time Turner trailed off, “Oh. Like that.” “Yes, like that.” “…Well… I mean… she’s… umm…” Time Turner continued to fumble over his words, stuttering out babbling nonsense. Ditzy chuckled in response. --- “…So that’s sort of what I figured would be best.” Dash concluded. “….You do know life doesn’t work like one of those ridiculous comic books, right?” Rarity cocked an eyebrow. “…Well, yeah, but…” “But nothing,” Rarity cut her off, “Look, do you really think that would work? You don’t even know if he likes you back. Something too big and flashy is off-putting.” “…So what should I do?” Dash sighed. “For now I think the best idea is to act normal… well, what passes off for normal.” Rarity waved the thought away. “Oh, thanks,” Dash muttered. “I will help you out, it’s the least I can do.” Rarity patted the pegasus on the back, “I honestly expected Twilight to be the first to get a coltfriend, but… that is how life is sometimes.” “…Wait, you had a list?” “More of a general idea of who was most likely to get into a relationship first…” Rarity corrected, “You were fourth, right before Applejack.” “…You thought Fluttershy would get a coltfriend before me?” “Some boys like the shy, quiet types.” “And you had Pinkie before her.” “What can I say?” Rarity smirked, “it’s Pinkie.” --- “Time Turner stop stuttering and eat,” Ditzy sighed as she placed her fork down, “I’m sorry I asked, if you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t.” “…IthinkRainbowDashisamazingbutIdonthinksheevenwouldconsidersomeonelikeme. ImeanIwouldntdatemei-” Ditzy shoved her hoof into Time Turner’s mouth. “Turner. Calm down. Eat. Speak normally. Alright?” The stallion nodded. Ditzy removed her hoof and the stallion quickly shoved half his burger and fries into his mouth, gobbling it down. Ditzy blinked and the rest of the burger and fries vanished. Time Turned swallowed the entire mess with one mighty gulp, and slammed a few bits onto the table. “Needtogetbacktowork,bye!” Ditzy watched as he ran out of the restaurant, nearly knocking over the waiter in the process. The stallion gave the frantic Time Turner a confused look, before trotting over to Ditzy’s table. “Miss? Everything alright?” “For the most part…” Ditzy took another bite of her salad. --- “So that’s the plan,” Rarity opened the back door for Dash, “Stick to it.” “…You really want me to not go drinking with him? It’s sort of like your weekly get togethers with Chaser and Shy.” “It’s for the best.” Rarity patted Dash on the head, “I have a plan.” “…Whatever.” Dash trotted out, mumbling to herself. “This is going to end well,” Dash muttered, completely lost in thought. “I’m turning to Rarity for help, out of all t-” Dash bumped into another pony. “Sorry, sorry…” “It’s alri…” Time Turner trailed off as he realized who it was. “…Hi.” “Um… hi.” Dash responded. The two awkwardly stood there, avoiding each other’s gaze. Suddenly the two made eye contact, freezing the other in place. “Oh look at the time,” Dash broke the silence, “I… uh…” “I need to go back to work,” Time Turner interrupted. “Alright then.” The two awkwardly trotted away from each other, completely silent. Rarity sighed as she closed her curtains and trotted away from the window. “This might be harder than I thought it would be.” She mused, “But a promise is a promise.” The jingle of the bell on the front door brought Rarity out of her thoughts. “Coming!” The mare trotted across her boutique to greet her guest. “Now then, how may I help… oh, hello Ditzy.” “Rarity, I need to talk to you about something,” Ditzy glanced around, “Privately.” “Flip over the sign and follow me,” Rarity turned back to the kitchen, “Do you prefer coffee or tea?” “Coffee is fine.” Ditzy’s wings fluttered: a small burst of wind flipped the sign over. The weather mare continued into the kitchen, where Rarity placed the coffee maker back on. “Had to make another pot. Rainbow Dash was here earlier and…well, she drank all my coffee.” Rarity sighed, mourning the loss of her coffee blend, “It was Saddle Arabian too.” “Isn’t that expensive?” “Indeed. But, clients like to give tokens of their appreciation,” Rarity shrugged, “I have a Neigh Orleans mix, so I put that on.” “Neigh Orleans? Don’t they put chicory in that?” Ditzy asked as she sat at the table. “Mix of chicory and coffee. It’s a bit of an acquired taste, but I didn’t realize how much coffee Rainbow Dash drinks.” Rarity rolled her eyes as Ditzy chuckled. “I know. Fog Gun limited Dash to two cups of coffee in the break room.” “She’s that bad?” Rarity asked as she placed a cup of coffee onto the table. “She’s that bad.” Ditzy took a sip of the coffee, pausing to savor the blend, “This isn’t as bad as they say it is.” “Chicory and Dandelion coffee substitutes have a bad reputation,” Rarity sighed, “I like the flavor though. Anyway, I know this isn’t about coffee, what is on your mind?” Ditzy took another sip of the coffee before placing it back on the table. “Time Turner like Dash.” Rarity paused. After several moments her lips pulled into a tight, amused smirk. “Well that makes my job easier.” Ditzy frowned, “Beg your pardon?” “Why do you think Dash was here earlier?” “…Are you telling me that she likes him?” Ditzy asked, “Does he know?” “Nope.” Ditzy took another sip of coffee, muddled in her thoughts. “So let me get this straight, Dash likes Turner and he likes her.” “Yes.” “And they spend at least two days a week together drinking, to the point where Berry lets them put it on a joint tab.” “They share a tab?” Rarity frowned. “Berry said it was easier to keep it as one,” Ditzy shrugged, “She only does that for Big Macintosh and Cloudchaser.” “…Well anyway,” Rarity continued on, “we need to plan.” “We?” Ditzy cocked an eyebrow. “Yes, ‘we’.” Rarity beamed, “Rainbow Dash came to me for help, Time Turner went to you and then you came to me.” The fashionista dreamily sighed, “We must make this something romantic for the two of them.” Ditzy silently took another sip of coffee as Rarity continued to gush, creating more and more elaborate scenarios. “Rarity, don’t you think you’re being a bit over-dramatic?” “Over dramatic?” Rarity repeated, offended, “there is no such thing when it comes to romance.” “This is Rainbow Dash and Time Turner we’re talking about,” Ditzy emptied her mug, “They don’t do romantic, also can I have more?” “Oh fine,” Rarity rolled her eyes as she took the mug and trotted towards the coffee pot, “What would you suggest then?” “Keep it low. Let them realize that they like each other on their own. Nothing big, nothing fancy, nothing…” “Pinkie-ish?” Rarity placed the mug back in front of Ditzy as she sat back on her chair. “Exactly.” Ditzy paused as she took a sip, “Nothing like Pinkie.” “…Well, you’re not making this fun Ditzy.” “Do you really think they’re going to act like a couple out of a ridiculous romance novel?” Ditzy dramatically brought one hoof to her forehead, “Oh Time Turner!” the mare theatrically declared while trying to mimic Dash’s voice, “I cannot help it anymore, I must have you!” Rarity stifled a smile as Ditzy abruptly stood up, knocking over her chair. The pegasus bent over, her forehooves wrapped around an imaginary pony. “Dash…” she mimicked Time Turner’s voice as she spoke, “I do too.” “Um…” a third voice called out, snapping the two ponies back to reality. Flitter stood in the middle of the display area, watching the two ponies with an uncertain look on her face, “Is this a bad time?” “Oh, no, no…” Rarity stood up, “Your dress is almost ready, and I need you to finish the final measurements.” “It’s washable, right?” “Hoofwashing only.” --- Dash slammed the front door shut. The mare trotted through her house and entered the kitchen. The slight whir of a propeller filled the air as Tank entered the kitchen, an unhappy frown on his face. “Hey Tank. Sorry, I drank too much and couldn’t fly home again.” The tortoise rolled his eyes. “Oh don’t give me that,” Dash grumbled as she pulled out a head of lettuce, “I got a nice fresh head of lettuce for you.” The mare ripped off several leaves from the head and tossed them into a bowl. Tank landed near the bowl and slowly made his way closer. Dash watched as he took a bite of lettuce, slowly chewing. “Tank, what am I going to do?” The tortoise slowly turned to look at Dash, still chewing. “I told Rarity how I feel about Turner and I can’t help but think I’ve made a mistake.” Tank bit off another chunk of lettuce, as Dash continued on, “I mean she was the best choice out of them all, right? Twi’s going to get all egg-headed on me, Shy’s not exactly the best pony to go to for advice, Pinkie… is Pinkie and what’s Applejack going to tell me? It’s not like they know any more than I do, right?” Dash turned to look at Tank as he continued to chew lettuce. “And I can’t turn to Ditzy, she likes him, ri-” Dash’s monologue was interrupted by a knock on the door. The pegasus trotted back towards her door and opened it. “Hi Dash!” Ditzy greeted her, “Got a moment?”