//------------------------------//
// Epilogue: Head in the Clouds 
// Story: Take to the Skies 
// by Gallifrey 
//------------------------------//


Take to the Skies

by Gallifrey


Chapter Nine
Head in the Clouds


A warm and sticky day was drawing to its inevitable close over the town of Ponyville. It had been one of the hottest days in living memory, and now most everypony in the kingdom of Equestria was basking in the late evening sunshine that was suffusing the country and its population with a lazy and peaceful air. A certain couple of pegasi were no exception to this evening enjoyment.

"Oh man, I don't know if I've ever been so relaxed," said a sleepy yellow mare, as she rested her head upon her cyan marefriend's belly, snuggling up as she did so.

"Ditto on that, Spits," Rainbow Dash sighed, eyes half lidded, looking at Spitfire's fiery mane, and how soft it looked, she began dragging a slow hoof through it, ruffling it in a pale imitation of a plough turning up a field. She knew the Wonderbolt enjoyed having her mane toyed with. And it showed, because soon after she began, Spitfire sighed contentedly, her breath tingling the short fur of her belly in a most delightful way.

"Hehe, Spits, that tickles!" the rainbow maned mare giggled.

"Huh?" she replied drowsily.

"Your breath tickles," she said, chuckling.

"Oh but you love it so when I tickle you," said Spitfire, an evil glint in her eyes.

"Hey hey! No! No fair!" she yelped as Spitfire descended upon her with an onslaught of tickles. Over the last four months, she had come to learn a lot about Rainbow, and this included all of her ticklish spots, which included her belly, her snout and curiously, to Spitfire at least, her hooves.

"Please! No! Please stop!" Rainbow gasped.

"What do I get in return?" the yellow mare said teasingly.

"That's for me to *snort* know, and you to haha find out."

Spitfire loved it when Rainbow played that game, she stopped her attack on the poor pegasus and patiently sat on her haunches while Rainbow lay flat on her back regaining her breath. She looked out over Equestria, an awe inspiring sight accompanied by the audio of her marefriend's panting in the background. Ponyville was sprawled out almost directly beneath their cloud, as were most of its residents, enjoying the evening as they were. She cast her eyes further afield, to the great mountain that housed the country's capital, Canterlot, that was currently in silhouette, resting in the shadows of the mighty mound of rock and earth. She turned back to Rainbow- or at least where Rainbow was a few seconds ago.
She suddenly felt hooves cover her eyes.

"Guess who?"

"I have no idea," said Spitfire sarcastically

"Nope! It's Rainbow Dash!"

"Ya don't say?"

"Oh shush you, it's reward time."

She felt herself being turned around by Rainbow's strong but gentle hooves, a smile upon her face with warmth to match the evening air. Spitfire knew what was coming, and wasted no time in leaning her head forward to press her lips against the cyan mare's. It never got old for the Wonderbolt, the sensation of kissing the pony she loved most in the world, she liked the feeling even more when tongues were involved, as such was the occasion now, the yellow mare could taste the faintly spicy sweetness that was Rainbow.

"Well, somepony's eager today," said Rainbow, when she eventually broke the kiss.

"What can I say? I haven't seen you all week."

"Yeah, you being on the other side of Equestria for that long sucked."

"Tell me about it. I missed you pony gal."

"I missed you too Spits."

Rainbow looked over Spitfire's withers at Spitfire's golden wings, and inwardly tutted. There were many feathers that were out of position and ruffled. She would put an end to that.
Without saying a word, Rainbow reached over and stroked a wing slowly from base to tip, eliciting a sigh from Spitfire. Without any objections, Spitfire lay down and let Rainbow get to work. Preening amongst pegasi was usually a solitary pursuit, but when performed on another, it is a very intimate and bonding experience. Which was precisely what the two ponies were feeling. Every feather that was snapped back into place by Rainbow's muzzle caused a small wave of pleasure to ripple through Spitfire's body, her relaxed eyes snapped open when she realised she was being unbelievably selfish. She raised her head and turned to face Rainbow's back. The beautiful blue wings unfurled unconsciously on Rainbow's part, who was unaware of Spitfire's actions until she felt a feather be put back into its correct position.

"Thanks Spits."

"Just returning the favour, Dash."

Both ponies continued the mutual preening, the Sun setting over the land, splashing the shy with warm crimson and orange light. Spitfire was now tugging lightly on each of Rainbow's primary feathers, in case any old feathers were due to fall out soon.

"Ooh, that one," gasped Rainbow, "pull it harder."

"You sure? I don't wanna hurt you."

"Yup, sure. Do it."

Spitfire tugged at the biggest feather at the end of her wings, it remained firmly attached to its owner; she pulled a bit harder, and her head snapped back slightly as it came loose.
For Rainbow, it felt amazing, like relief from an itch she never even knew she had. The new feather that was trapped under the old one was now free to grow. She shuddered slightly.

"Your biggest feather as well," said Spitfire sympathetically.

"Why are you saying that like it's a bad thing?"

"Pulling feathers out hurts like buck!"

"What? No it doesn't! It feels great!"

"Really? Hmmmm, maybe it's different for every pegasus, or one of us is the odd one out... Hey," said Spitfire slyly, "if you take pleasure in what gives me pain, does that mean you're into bon-"

"For the last time no!" snapped the cyan mare, as Spitfire rolled around in laughter. "Hey!"
She dove on top of the giggling mare and started play fighting with her. They always loved doing that together, they also loved doing what always came after the fighting. A time after the Sun had bid goodnight to the world and the stars were beginning to appear, they both collapsed on the fluffy cloud, both exhausted, and both victorious, or at least, they both inwardly claimed victory for themselves. They looked at each other, panting, and they shared a gentle kiss together, a heartfelt and tender gesture to one another. Wide smiles broke out upon their faces when they broke apart.

"I love you, Rainbow."

"I love you too, Spits."




The end

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