It was the day after the Starswirl the Bearded Music Festival (finally!) and Sunset Shimmer had already dropped off most of the girls. Rainbow Dash, who lived closest to the rental place, was the last. If she were honest with herself, Sunset had been glad when she realized that was the case. This would be embarrassing enough without the rest of their friends present.
Rainbow Dash had gathered up her things and was exiting the camper. Sunset bit her lip nervously, then abruptly went for it.
"Hey, wait up a second!" Sunset said, heading for the door. She had to dart back briefly to grab the keys. There were real advantages to a motorcycle.
"I'm fine carrying my own things," Rainbow Dash said. "I'm not Rarity," she added with a laugh.
"Oh, no it's not that," Sunset said, "It's... well do you remember how you nearly hit me with that paddle... thing on the first day?"
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said with a wince, "Sorry about that. But hey, you avoided it!"
"Right, that time," Sunset said, "But the first few times around, you hit me with it."
"So you knew when to dodge," Rainbow Dash said.
Sunset nodded. Relive the same day for weeks and you got to know where to be or not be. Which was sort of the issue.
"Well, I want to try a little experiment," Sunset said, "It may sound a little silly but hear me out."
"Ok..." Rainbow Dash replied, not seeing where this was going.
"I want you to do what you were doing the other day," Sunset said, turning around and wincing a bit in anticipation.
"What? I don't want to hit you!... intentionally!" Rainbow Dash said.
"It just stings a little," Sunset said, turning back around, "Twilight would tell you it's due to the large surface area."
Rainbow Dash did not seem convinced. "Alright... but why?"
Sunset paused and thought about that. "I think I should wait and tell you after," she said, "I don't want to bias the experiment."
"You and Twilight," Rainbow Dash muttered, "Alright, but this is under protest."
"It's alright," Sunset set, turning back around.
Rainbow Dash put down some of her things and did her best to remember how she had moved two days earlier.
"Uhhh... Woo hoo! Starswirl Music Fest, Day 1!" Rainbow said awkwardly. She swung around slowly, her paddle lightly tapping Sunset's back. Rainbow Dash looked to see how Sunset was doing.
"How was that?" Rainbow asked.
"Hmmm," Sunset said, lightly rubbing the spot where the paddle had hit, "No, that's not what happened at all. It was harder and lower down. Maybe this won't work, but try to do exactly what you did the other day, alright? Just pretend I'm not here at all."
"Alright..." Rainbow Dash said skeptically, resetting for another go.
"Woo hoo! Starswirl Music Festival, Day 1!" she said again, this time not restraining herself as much.
This time, Sunset Shimmer took a half-step to lean into it, and the paddle struck her square on the bottom.
"Oh! My bad!" Rainbow Dash said at the sound.
"You'll be more careful next time," Sunset Shimmer finished as she rubbed her buttocks.
"That... wasn't what I was gonna say?" Rainbow Dash said.
"Oh, right, force of habit," Sunset Shimmer said with a thoughtful look on her face.
"So, mind telling me what that was all about? You afraid this is another time loop or something?" Rainbow Dash said.
Sunset Shimmer winced, but not from pain. Not that it had been smooth sailing up until now, but now came the REALLY awkward part.
"Thing is, you didn't just hit me the first few days," Sunset Shimmer said, "You hit me 20 times. All but that last day."
"Ouch," Rainbow Dash said with a wince, "I'm really, REALLY sorry about that."
"No, that's not what I'm getting at," Sunset Shimmer said, shaking her head, "That wasn't your fault. I could have dodged after about the third time... but for some reason I didn't."
Now Rainbow Dash was even more confused. "Why not?" she asked.
"I wasn't completely sure myself..." Sunset Shimmer began, unsure quite how to say this, "But... I think it's because I... liked it."
Rainbow Dash's mouth fell open. "Wh-at?!" she said, "You LIKE being hit by a paddle? Wait... is this like... a sex thing?"
"Umm..." Sunset Shimmer blushed, "Maybe? I don't know... Do you umm... want it to be?"
Rainbow Dash's face turned purple in a blush. "Uhh... I... I don't think so? I mean, I've never really thought about romance with... anyone. Seemed like a distraction from what I want to do, you know?"
Sunset Shimmer breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear that," she said, "Because I've been thinking about it for awhile and I don't think it was you specifically. That's... kind of one reason I wanted to ask you specifically about this."
Rainbow Dash looked slightly annoyed. "You don't have to be THAT happy about it," she said. Sunset Shimmer chuckled. A mischievous grin spread over Rainbow Dash's face.
"Say, maybe you should see how you feel if Flash Sentry spanks you?" Rainbow said.
"W...what?" Sunset Shimmer said.
"Oh, or maybe Pinkie Pie is more your thing?" Rainbow Dash teased.
"W... well..." Sunset Shimmer stammered. She took a deep breath and composed yourself. "You aren't going to let me live this down, are you?"
"Not for awhile," Rainbow Dash said with a grin, putting her arm around Sunset's shoulders, "But hey, if you ever DO find that special someone, at least you have some idea what you like now."
"Alright then," Sunset said with a smile, "Just do me a favor and don't tell the others, alright? It's kind of embarrassing."
"No sweat," Rainbow said as she gathered up her things.
Rainbow Dash waved and headed towards her door. Right when she got there, she turned back and said, "And don't think I didn't notice how you changed the subject."
Sunset playfully mimed throwing something at Rainbow Dash as Rainbow laughed and darted into her house.