Chapter 1
Yells of 'Come on! I've been waiting all month for this!' assaults your ears as you rushed your way through Ponyville. The very last thing you had expected to do with the one you were following was to be running while the stars were still out, even if the constellations here were seemingly crafted by an expert artisan, she had no interest in them. This one preferred to have her face buried in a cloud rather than enjoy viewing a firmament of any sort, happily dozing away while you took care of matters for her just so she could enjoy it a little more.
Today is different. Every morning, you would usually have to wake Rainbow Dash up for weather duty, after what was at first a gesture of concern became part of your daily routine. Today, she was the one who flew in through a window and shook you awake, ignoring most of your pleas for '5 more minutes', only giving in to the one where you'd get up immediately if she planted a kiss on your face. It was worth it, even if she helped herself to an extra large portion of your refrigerator seemingly as compensation while you got yourself ready. Now, she's flying ahead of you, still urging you onward past the streets while you ran on two legs, likely unaware of just how much the enticing view of her tail was spurring you on.
You two finally reach your destination: The site of the Carnival. It seems Dash's plan has worked, since there was no one else queuing right now. The only problem, of course, is that the Carnival would only open at 10 o'clock, which is about 5 hours from now. Dash seems to have no issue with this, as she pulls a pair of nearby clouds down and fills an inflatable pillow from her bag with one, handing it to you and asking you to wake her up if you come around first. It is difficult not to stay watching her cute snores whiffle that pretty front bit of her rainbow mane , but knowing her you'd need to get all the rest you can, while you can.
Sleeping with Rainbow Dash in public was a little different from the usual, but not entirely unenjoyable if you got to show her off a little. A line of ponies had formed behind you two while you napped, in varying states of disgruntlement that they had woken up early only to be beaten by you two. While you have an urge to laugh right now at their misfortune, you suppress it into a small smirk as you attempt to wake Dash up, knowing that she would want her chance to laugh at them first.
"Huh? Go away, lemmesleep.."
After she shook you awake, she has nerve enough now to stay sleepy. Hmmph. A whispered threat to kiss her and call her your 'Dashie', however, was enough to have her yelling "No! Not here!" as she sprung up and packed away her cloud, drawing the eyes of the same crowd you were threatening to show everything to. You only have to lay back and watch her try to salvage the situation with a few stammers, before she shakes a hoof angrily at you and pouts, glaring. You think of patting her on the head, but that would only really make her feel better if it was still as deserted as the earlier morning. You opt to instead give her some of the drink you packed, and she seems to gradually cool off as she sips down your homemade juice, her glare becoming much softer.
Until the gates open, you two have time enough to hang out, easily setting a good mood for the morning. She rambles on and on about the super cool rides she hears will be there, though in your morning stupor you cannot listen to much, only follow her trapping eyes that she doesn't seem to notice how much attention you are paying to. The gates open after what only seems a minute, depriving you of another chance to listen to her brag of how the rides here wouldn't compare to.. whatever she had probably talked about many times.
She doesn't do it on purpose, you think, how her legs trot in That Way, exhibiting those well-toned muscles of her limbs that you love, which makes it all the more better when you take all the time you can to ogle them while she trots into the fairground happily, taking in the sights around her.
"Ooh! Ooh! We have to get up on that one! And there's a stage show at that tent, and the food's over there, and, and, aaah!"
You let her revel in the sights for a moment as she takes it all in, flitting about as she tries to find some way to express what must be the sheer joy she's feeling right now. You feel mildly smug, confident that you've made her happier before many times, though you've had to tie her wings down for that, preventing her from flying about like this. She hovers, forelegs spread outwards in joy, while you stand under her and look up, taking in the pleasing sight as compensation for your earlier waking. She doesn't notice, and immediately upon her release from her trance grabs you by the hand and, still flying, drags you over to the now rapidly-forming line on her eyed ride.
With Rainbow Dash, waiting was never as painful as it was. Sharing your misery with her in loud complaints, the two of you spend your time in the line trying to make sure everyone knew how displeased you were with the line. You two ignore the occasional glance from the crowd around you, as one waits for the other to finish complaining about how "Man, waiting sucks!", and the other agreeing, before the other once more reiterates how boring this line is. When you two finally reach the end of the line; to Dash and your relief since the wait is finally over; and to the relief of the queue since that obnoxious pegasus and the strange creature with her would finally shut up.
The seats, thankfully, are able to accommodate you, and ponies seem to have less stringent safety measures than you remember, though it's probably due to magic making things easier. She is strapped into the seats next to you, letting you see that cute look of determination and excitement you usually tried to draw out of her. She scrunches up, licks her lips, and rubs her hooves together before pumping them into the air. You take this moment to stick a finger in what looks like her armpit to you, startling her and savouring the mildly irritated scrunch she gives when you act innocent. Just in time to stop her from forcibly lifting your arm and planting a hoof on your own armpit, the safety barrier goes down, pinning you both back to your seats as the ride begins.
The moment of calm right before the ride goes fast, there is a little moment of peace you share with Rainbow, in silence as you two feel the odd comfort of each other's presence. As you go up the slope, some sort of rising tension within you two establish a kind of bond, even if all you feel is her presence, as your vision is focused on the slope before you. At the very top, just one moment before, this reaches its peak, and it's almost as if you can feel each other's thoughts, right before the coaster tips over and finally goes down.
You hear her yell out in some excitement and, seeing no reason to hold back, follow suit. Though you'd like to see the wind blowing through her rainbow mane, you're too focused on your own situation to do much about it. As it turns out, this ride was famous for a reason, though you aren't very sure if those reasons are pleasing to you right now. With every turn and loop, your screams become less of wild joy, and on the occasion you can hear Dash, she seems to mirror your own thoughts. The ride ends up lasting far longer than it should in your minds, and while some other ponies seemed to get off it fine, Dash, who would vastly prefer flying free through the sky than be bound to a track, shudders . You aren't used to the standard they have here in Equestria and do not fare much better, and so have Dash follow you to a bench to recover.
Drained as you two may be, you manage to joke with her as you two rest, spending a remarkable amount of time with no intent to tease each other, only bask in a bit of calm.
"Ahaha, ahahaha.. that was something, wasn't it? Bet you were scared!"
Oh dear, how did she know?
"Yeah, well I heard you yelling like you were all scared and stuff! So, um well.. I mean, it was pretty rough of a ride, so.. yeah, I guess it was expected."
Yeah, maybe. You smirk at her a little, but do little more other than let her think of whatever she wants to say, hoping a little release would make her feel better. She is a very prideful girl, when she needed it you were willing to swallow your own for hers.
"I mean, uh... it was pretty scary for me, too! And I spend all my time flying! How about that, huh? I bet if we scaled how scared we were to this sort of thing, I'd be way more scared than you!"
At the same time, Dash was willing to do the same for you, degrading herself to an extent to admitting she was scared, of all things, just to have you feel a little better. Maybe, you tell her, but you were still more scared anyway.
"Nuh-uh! If we make it fair then I'd be way more scared!"
She makes it into a contest of some kind, competitive sort that she is. Indulging her and yourself quickly wipe away the earlier tensions, and you are both ready for another go around the fairground. Walking around, you find a line for Teacups ("Bo-ring!"), and after passing that on you find a stand for snacks.
"I'm hungry. You know how carnival snacks always taste better when you're actually in there? I don't know how that works, but I bet they have some things in there that-aaah, I don't know! Anyways, what do you want?"
Some popcorn would be good to snack on.
"Sure! Oh, don't worry about it, you helped me prepare the tickets after all. Here!"
She plants a bucket of popcorn into your hands, taking advantage of your helplessness so you can't interfere when she pulls out her own bits to pay for a shared snack. She helps herself to a handful, before inviting you to go ahead and take some for yourself. You content yourself in attempting to convince her to let you feed her, just once, in recompense.
"Hey, isn't this just something you want to do when you say you want to make it up to me?"
Yes.
"Then- nnnggh... oh, fine, but you owe me more now!"
She closes her eyes, opening wide up. Say 'aaah', Dash. Pretty please?
"....ah."
It will do. You pop in a few pieces, then push her lips together a bit to signal that you're done, resisting an urge to play with her just a tiny bit more. She closes, crunching down noisily. clearly enjoying it even with her act. When she opens her eyes, you see a tiny bit of hope in them for more, but it quickly gives way to an apparently frustrated glare. All you can really do is grin and offer her more, though for her to take herself with her hooves.
There is a show on in one of the larger tents, and with food between you, it would make for a good way to while away some time. In any case, all Dash needed to see was 'Flight Show' in the banner to rush in, pulling you by the arm while you tried reading more of the banner. Seats are scarce ,but you manage to miraculously find one near the front, offering a good view of the stage. Dash eyes it with you excitedly, it appears to be the set of some sort of pegasus site, with the architecture familiar to them.
It looks to be a nice, action-packed show, suited to both your tastes. Dash sits by your side, That grin on her face making it difficult to concentrate on very much on how the staff are setting up the props. Ponies are filing in now, so it is difficult to tease her very much without both of you being stared at. No matter how much you teased her about baring everything between you two to everyone, you really wouldn't do anything like that. Her pride is sacred, only willingly given up in exchange for your own.
"Fillies and Gentlecolts! Welcome to-"
There we go. Dash is again brimming with excitement, nudging you just about every moment to point out how "Over there! I bet they're going to fly in through there!" or other point of interest, so that none of you listen to the rambling announcer. The drumroll begins, with you holding down Dash's hooves so the ponies behind her don't get too irritated at her fidgeting.
Music plays, and a single unicorn emerges from the back. He dresses in a suit, and with a wave of his horn, the heavens, represented by hanging props and a screen on top, are cleared. From the higher apertures, a team of pegasi fly in, decorating the cleared skies with clouds and winds, weaving ornament to decorate the firmament. The story goes along about the primordial gods of Equestria, how they blessed the pegasi with a domain of their very own while the Earth Ponies and Unicorns remained land bound. The main character is introduced, a male pegasus who loved his gift of flight more than anything else.
"Hell yeah! Now that's someone I'd like as a hero!"
Dash, be quiet, please.
The story begins with one of his flight patrols, being a guard for the pegasus warlords. While returning, he finds an earth pony mare lost and in need. Being the chivalrous sort, if a little cocky, he helps her to safety and bids her adieu.
"I bet she's going to become important or something!"
Yes, Dash.
The story goes on, as he runs into her through pure chance over the next few days, and soon they find out they have a lot in common, becoming fast friends. This does not last, however, as they spend time together. the two learn much more about each other, ultimately leading to a desire for something more.
"...."
They spend even more time together than ever, exploring aspects of themselves. They go beyond the usual places for their outings, traveling to more exotic locations to experience what they can together. Throughout the scenes, the pegasus laments that he cannot share his domain with the earth mare, while the earth mare laments on how her selfish love is stealing away the freedom the stallion loves.
"...."
At the end, after much hardship, they finally find a place where they can live together. A top of a mountain where the clouds meet the land, where both of them could be at home, and ultimately be with each other. It ends just as they have finished building their new home, a traditional earth pony house, decorated with clouds woven by the pegasus.
After much stamping of hooves in applause, the ponies begin to file out of the tent. Rainbow remains seated, silent, odd for how she usually was. You realise that you have been holding onto her hoof for the entire show, and let it go, though you imagine that there was a bit of resistance. She seems a little drained, is she tired already?
"...Didn't they say it was a flight show? There weren't many stunt flights, were there?"
Though she doesn't turn to look at you, you explain anyway that you saw something about the show having be replaced for the one you just saw.
"Oh, heheheh.. yeah, guess I messed up, huh?"
Not really, it was a pretty nice something you all got to watch anyway. Did she like it?
"I.. well, I guess it was pretty cool. That stallion did some pretty sweet moves."
Did he? You certainly were no expert on flight compared to Rainbow, but he didn't seem to do much.
"Oh, uh.. it was simple stuff, but it was nice. Anyways, where do you want to go next?"
Dash still isn't looking at you.
"W-what? No, I'm not-"
Before she can react, you turn her head around, seeing her pretty magenta eyes slightly bloodshot, the fur around them damp. Looks like she really did enjoy the show after all.
"Y-yeah, so the show was really good, alright? Got a problem with that?"
Not at all. You offer her a handkerchief and a hug, one that she more readily accepts than any other gesture today. Her neck resting on your shoulder, cheek nuzzling yours, rainbow mane flapping over your nose to tease you with that scent... the best part of today's carnival, to be certain.
Having had both your fills, you two decide to leave the now empty tent, seeing if there is anything more to do around.
"Right, sooo, we've been there, that looks boring, and we just did this... wait, that means that there nothing except for the boring stuff left! What now?"
Well, this sucks. Does she have anything else she wants to do today?
"Mmmm... no."
Right. Well, you did get a few of those books in that adventure series she likes a lot, maybe she'd like to come over and read-
"Oooh! Sure! Man, did you read that part where Daring Do does that-"
Yeah, she asked that before, many times.
The day was far from over, even if the morning was. With Dash, you'd never be sure.