YouTube Reading by untamedwaters.

It's not easy being a child living with the knowledge that your mommy is never going to get to watch you grow up. But this was a young Rainbow Dash's reality. Despite her mother's cancer, Dash's family had still been a very happy trio of ponies. But all fairytales must end.

Rainbow Dash's father has come to terms with the approaching departure of the mare whom he called his 'angel'. When the time had finally come for her to say goodbye, would Rainbow Dash be able to accept that her mother will die?

"Mommy's going back to Heaven." It was such a comforting thought to Dash, but she didn't want her mother to go.

(Side-story to What's Really the Most Important, to shed light on what happened to Rainbow's mother. This is technically a prequel, since it takes place a good... 18 years beforehand!

Cover Art originally by TheToughestFighter

http://derpibooru.org/17853

http://thetoughestfighter.deviantart.com/ )

After dating Twilight Sparkle for a few months; Rainbow Dash could have never guessed that the benevolent princess of friendship, almighty element of magic and multiple times savior of Equestria... Has no idea how to take care of her own wings.

Featured: 7/24/16
Audio reading by ScarlettBlade.
Edited by: Infinite Affection

Now with its own sequel! (http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62215/Hybrid-Rainbow.)

Rainbow Dash is one of the seldom few Ponies who know she's a lesbian and due to painful memories dating back to her time in High School, she plans on keeping it that way, bottling up emotions deep inside her. Unfortunately, mating season has started today and tonight's the big night: Her Wonderbolts initiation party! What is she going to do? Will she continue to keep all these turbulent feelings inside her like she has every other year? Will she be able to keep her cool in front of her idols, if not her hero, Spitfire? Will she seek help from her friends in this time of need? Will she have the courage to finally come out of the closet? And will she be able to conquer her fear of feelings and explore the eldritch, terrifying vistas of this terrible ancient power called love?

Read inside and find out!

RATING WARNING: There is no explicit sexual activity in this story. However, the dialogue gets remarkably suggestive at certain points. Viewer discretion is advised. Read it, it's funny.

Cover art by moi.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack have cherished the years gone by at one another’s side, but beneath the wear of time, the fuel that is love can turn to ash and smother the flames they hold dear.

Beyond the smoke rising from the cinders, they face an uncertain future. Now, they must come to terms with the harsh truth that, sometimes, love alone isn't enough to keep a marriage burning bright.

Historian’s Note:
Spectrum of Gray occurs about fifteen years after Princess Twilight Sparkle’s ascension.

Cast: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle & Granny Smith

Entry into the AppleDash "Second Chances" Contest.

Cover Design by Novel Idea
Sweet Apple Acres Background by bronyb34r
Sweet Apple Acres Barn by Jeatz-Axl
Small Cloudiminium: Customized from Screenshot by Novel Idea

Header Designs
Twilight Sparkle Cutie Mark by Intbrony 
Applejack Cutie Mark by BlackGryph0n
Rainbow Dash Cutie Mark by BlackGryph0n
Granny Smith Cutie Mark by The Smiling Pony

Beta Reader & Editor Credits
Ebon Quill: Audio Director & Quest Designer on The Manehattan Project
Little Tinker: Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Beltorn: Commenter-at-Large on FimFiction
Cursori: Reader of Many a Pony Word

Special Guest Beta Readers & Editors
Monochromatic - Patron Saint of RariTwi
Oroboro - Expert in Emotional Devastation
Crystal Wishes - One Who Understood
Swan Song - Specialist of Sass and Snark
Corejo - Synopsis Nitpicker Brainstormer

Word Count: 18,000 words
Version: 2.3

When everyone else turns out to be too busy to do it, Spike volunteers to babysit Princess Flurry Heart for the day. He does his job all right for the most part, but things begin to shake up a bit when Sweetie Belle stops by and insists she help Spike take care of the baby. After some hesitation, Spike relents and decides to let Sweetie Belle help him. The day goes on and Spike and Sweetie Belle babysit Flurry Heart together, almost like their own little family.

Cover Art by Silcy, Commissioned by me.

Special thanks to Silcy and my proofreaders.

Rainbow Dash had always acted rough and tough, and that's how she liked it. Always the strongest in the group, fitting in perfectly with the colts and stallions. Until a Wonderbolt named Soarin came along and turned that all upside down.

Rainbow Dash means the world to Scootaloo, who wants nothing more than to spend every day with her surrogate sister, learning from the best and being awesome together. Yet all that is about to end, possibly forever, and Scootaloo knows there's nothing she can do about it.

The only thing left to do is say goodbye... but that's proving far harder than she ever imagined.

Preread and edited by Mercury Gilado, Absolution and Vergathos. Thanks a ton, guys!

Cover art commissioned from DANMAKUMAN.

Now featured on Equestria Daily.

Dash has one simple question for Pinkie, 'Why does she smile all the time?', but can she accept the answer?

"Who knew three words could be so powerful? Who knew a simple phrase could send my heart racing and my mind so confused and afraid that I lose the ability to speak? I mean, I’m a tough mare, so hard to crack I’d probably break you if you tried, so why is it that you could do it so easily?"

A short one-shot in which Rainbow Dash is told the three words that break her tough exterior.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash have met several times before, but that's where the relationship ends. When the two ponies try to change that, each in very different ways, things don't exactly go as planned.

Story takes place right after season 4
Other tag due to the five character tag limit