Rainbow Dash was busy practicing for her role as leader of Santa's team throughout the day as Comet was now flying behind her giving her instructions. Rainbow Dash was exhausted at this point sweating and breathing heavy but she had this thing almost down and didn't want to give Comet the satisfaction that she was tired. So the mare gritted her teeth and lead the bucks behind as they pulled the practice sleigh through the snow and halted quickly and quietly. Comet gave a nod of approval as he turned to send the rest of his bucks plopping their rumps onto the snow. He gave a nod and exclaimed, “alright that's enough for now. Each and every one of ya did an excellent job and I think that the ride will go well tonight as long as the repairs are done on the sleigh.”
After they finished their hundredth run they came down with every one of the reindeer were unstrapped from the sleigh and they all began to hobble home. Rainbow Dash was the last to be unstrapped by the comet as he commended her. “You were an excellent leader, I think you'll do well tonight. But there might be some heavy snowstorms tonight and Santa has something he’ll give you later to help with that. For now get something to eat and freshen up.”
Rainbow Dash who was panting with sweat pouring down her face wheezed “ okay sir.” He gave a nod as he himself walked off to the stables for some hay. Rudolph came over to Rainbow Dash with a bright smile and complimented, “I have to say you're probably one of the best fliers I've ever seen but you look exhausted.”
Rainbow still panting wheezed out. “Yeah, well how about we get something to eat because I'm starving.”
Rudolph waved a hoof. “I think I just got the place come on.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged as she followed Rudolph through the snow. Rainbow was exhausted as she wobbled through the snow and as they continued they eventually came to a small quaint log cabin with a stone chimney and a mailbox outside with “Rudolph” spelled in big red letters. Rainbow Dash blinked in surprise. “So, this is where you live?”
Rudolph gave a nod and came over. “Yeah, this is it. My home sweet home.”
They trotted through the snow until they came upon the front door and went through. Inside the cabin, there was a small couch in front of a little fire burning in a heart with a picture of a younger. Rudolph with his father and mother standing together proudly. She continued towards the kitchen and opened the fridge to see just bowls of grass and jars full of Christmas cookies inside. Rainbow then spotted a picture on the picture of Rudolph and a female reindeer kissing each other under a mistletoe on the fridge. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but cooed in a joking manner. “So who's this!”
Rudolph looked over and took the picture and sighed “it's nothing…”
He then threw it across the room and slammed into the couch staring into the fire. Rainbow was a bit stunned that was the first time she ever saw the usually cherry reindeer get upset. The mare took out a bowl of grass and laid it down staring at it with an odd look. She looked over to see Rudolph who was now laying on his couch and staring up at the ceiling with an angry look. Rainbow Dash gulped and with a nervous disposition asked, “so uh is grass all you have?”
Rudolph just waved a hoof and growled, “yeah, sorry there isn't a lot up here.”
Rainbow Dash looked down and sighed looking down at the bowl and gulped, “alright here we go.” The mare slowly bent her head down and cautiously began to chew on the grass the mare squeaked. The mare was astonished at how wonderful the grass tasted. To her reindeer senses, it was like eating a fresh salad to a normal pony. She bent her head down and continued to munch down on the grass. The mare continued for some time nibbling on the glass until the entire bowl was empty. The mare blushed as she turned towards Rudolph who was just staring into the ceiling and asked, “can I have another bowl?”
The buck just waved a hoof and Rainbow Dash shrugged and took another bowl of the tasty grass and began to munch away. After finishing her second bowl. She looked over to see Rudolph still being mopey. Rainbow Dash gave a sigh as she came over and looked down at him. “Hey, I know that face. Rarity had that same look when she found out her crush was a huge jerk.”
Rudolph sighed as he picked up the picture with a cloven hoof as he explained, “yeah that's me and my ex-girlfriend, Clarice. She and I broke up a few months ago.”
Rainbow Dash gave him an angry look as she gave Rudolph a pep talk. “So you think your the only one who has ever gotten your heart broken? it's not that big of a deal.”
Rudolph smirked as he slowly got up. “Thanks, I needed that to be honest...You remind me of her.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged and explained, “I just think silly stuff like that shouldn't keep you down. Anyway, I don't mean to pry but what made you two break up?”
Rudolph took the photo and hung it back on the fridge with a magnet as he explained, “well, I guess it started a year ago. You see before I was a member of Santa's team I was laughed at and bullied by everyone here including Santa due to my red nose. Besides my mother, Clarice is the only one who didn't laugh at me and was my first real friend.”
Rainbow Dash looked down with guilt on her face she knew exactly how it feels to be laughed at by everypony. All the mare could do was whisperer, I'm sorry, I know how you feel.
Rudolph shrugged “well after I saved Christmas and Santa used my nose to get through a blizzard. They cheered me on and treated me like her. Everything seemed fine for a while until Clarice became older and she seemed to think that they're just using me and wanted to leave the north pole.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged and continued, “I don't blame her but I'm guessing you broke up because you wanted to stay?”
Rudolph gave a nod and sighed, “yeah that's about sums up the argument we had. Since then she hooked up with another buck and left the North Pole some time ago.” He sighed again and looked back at the photo with longing. Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on his shoulder. “well, if ya need someone to talk to I'm here for ya.”
Rainbow Dash turned with a smirk. “Well ain't no pony but I'll take you up on that offer.” The buck then looked up at a clock over his fireplace and squeaked, “We need to go! santa probably wants to hear how well you did.”
Rainbow Dash gave a nod. “Right, let's get going I want to get of here ASAP.”
The two reindeers slowly through the front door and headed towards the heart of the north pole. Rudolph turn towards Rainbow and asked, “while we walk can you tell me more about Equestria?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged and explained, “Well, I can't tell you details for security reasons. But I'll tell ya one thing there is way less snow.”
The two reindeer continued to trek through the snow and Rudolph and Rainbow Dash were engrossed in their conversation. The red-nosed reindeer blinked in astonishment as he heard all the adventures of The mane six. “Wow, your adventures sound amazing! I can't believe all the stuff you've done?”
Rainbow Dash waved a hoof and continued, “well, thanks but you did a lot too. I'm happy to hear you somehow forgave your fellow reindeer and learned to work with them.”
Rudolph gave a nod “yeah, well thanks. I hope everything stays that way. Clarice has a point about how they might just be using me for now.”
Before Rainbow Dash could say something the two had reached Santa’s giant stone castle with two elves standing guard at the front doors. One held up a hand and shouted, “Halt! Who goes there!”
Rudolph rolled his eyes and pointed at his nose. “If you couldn't tell I'm Rudolph and this us my friend Rainbow Dash. I believe that Santa is expecting us.”
The two elves whispered amongst each other then one gave a nod and they both parted their spears. “Okay, you are free to enter.”
The two reindeer slowly walked through the front doors with Rainbow Dash looking up around the place like a deer stuck in headlights. The castle was nothing like she even seen before with a giant red carpet rolled down the middle. Wreaths hung below each window down the hall. Bronze reindeer were lain down the hall adorned with plaques of long-dead reindeer who pulled Santa's sleigh. It was tremendous and it made Rainbow Dash just to continue training dumbfounded by how a castle could be decorated in such a manner.
Eventually, the two came upon Rudolph’s statue with a blinking red light popping on and off for its nose. He just grumbled irritably as he quickly walked past it making Rainbow Dash smirk wondering if Clarice was involved. But she kept the question to herself as they quickly came to Santa's office where the big fat guy was busy going over a list mile long scratching names and muttering to himself.
Rudolph hobbled over and saluted as he exclaimed, “Santa sir, Rainbow Dash is ready to lead the team tonight.”
Santa looked up with an astonished look. “Well, I have to say that I'm quite impressed Rainbow Dash you went beyond my expectations. Now, ever since Rudolph saved Christmas some time ago. His nose has become a valuable asset. Now every leader has to wear a shiny nose “
Rainbow shrieked but before she could protest again Santa snapped his glove. Rainbow's nose turned from a dark brown to a rainbow swirl of color flashing out a rainbow colored light. She squeaked in surprise, “stop doing that! Seriously!”
Santa chuckled and continued as if nothing happened “We also need you to regain your strength.” He produced a giant foal bottle with Candy canes printed on the glass. “This is reindeer breast milk specially made for reindeer and I assure you it will make you feel a lot better.” He came over as Rainbow Dash stepped back growling, “don't you dare! I ain't no baby!”
Rudolph blushed as he saw how uncomfortable Rainbow Dash was being. “Hey, Santa how about I drink it first to show her this isn't something new?”
Santa shrugged and replied, “okay if you wish.” He then waddled over with the bottle as Rudolph looks up and pursed his lips. Rainbow Dash watched with astonishment as Santa plucked the bottle into Rudolph's mouth and he began to suckle with his tail sticking up and wagging about. Rainbow Dash placed a hoof over her mouth as she giggled at the cute but embarrassing scene. Rudolph continued suckling until the entire bottle was drained he gave a quick burp as his eyes filled with energy. “Yeah! this is awesome!” He bounded off squeaking as he accidentally landed on his leg wrapped in his cast and squeaked, “oww.”
Rainbow Dash stopped as Santa shook his head.“Now, Rudolph, you be careful I don’t want that leg permanently broken.”
Rudolph looked at the ground with a look of agitation and grumbled, “yeah I'll be more careful Santa.”
He then turned towards them. “Well this milk is special and now I need to refill the bottle. Come on I'll show you our milking room.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged and followed them to the back of the castle with a questionable look on her face. In the back of the castle, there were two giant wooden doors and she squealed seeing many female reindeers being their milk pumped from elves and being processed into bottles on an assembly line. Santa looked over and shrugged, “I know it looks weird but we don't have cows up here ao this really the only way we can get milk.”
Rainbow stomped a hoof and shouted, “are you serious!? Is this why every buck I me is sexist!? you use your mares as milk slaves!”
Rudolph rolled his eyes as he explained, “Please we do have mares help pull Santa's sleigh and even teach other young bucks to fly. But if we didn't do this many young fans would die and this milk does help restore energy for us.”
Santa took a bottle full of breast milk from the assembly line and poured it into the foal bottle. As they left the room with Rainbow Dash watched with a look of dread as Santa held out the bottle as he asked, “Are you going to drink?”
Rainbow sighed as she slowly walked up and pursed her lips. But as the bottle hit her mouth she moaned as the creamy sweet milk hit her mouth and she began to suckle and suckled for quite some time. Rainbow Dash started shaking her tail back and forth at how good it tasted. It was so sweet and creamy it made her mouth water she continued to gulp the milk down her throat until the entire bottle was drained. She then paused seeing the mare was sucking an empty bottle. Rainbow Dash instantly let go as Rudolph slapped her on the back. “Told Ya! now, how do you feel!?”
She leaped and soared through the hall. “That was so awesome! I need to take a dozen bottle back home!”
Santa chuckled, “well I'm glad to hear that, but for now let's go outside with Rudolph he’ll show you how to use your nose.”
Rainbow took Rudolph by the hoof. “Come on let's do it!” He squealed being followed as they both flew out through the front doors.