//------------------------------// // Rainbow's Friends // Story: Fraternal // by Melody Song //------------------------------// "So that's what happened." Rainbow finished. The two were facing Soarin, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot. All five ponies were seated on the couch. "There'th no way it'th 'jutht a dream'. Princethth Luna would have thtopped it if it wath." "Yeah, but it is weird." Spitfire looked between the two mares. "You said there were ponies talking in the background. Can you remember what they were saying?" "Well...I know one was a stallion, and the other was a mare. They were talking about giving up somepony. The dream ended a little bit after." "You said that your dream form asked who was being taken to the foal Rainbow. What if they were discussing you two?" Soarin asked "I-I don't know...anything is possible, but...I just don't know." Daring sighed. "I thought maybe she just needed more sleep. But maybe it is a memory." Rainbow suggested "Why would you need sleep?" Spitfire asked "Well, it was already pretty late after we'd found this and set up camp." Rainbow said "We can leave if you guys want to sleep." Spitfire suggested. Daring shook her head. "I need to examine this anyway." Daring said, nodding to the Sphere. "You guys don't have to leave, I'm not that tired anyway." Rainbow said, but stifled a yawn. Soarin smiled and leaned forwards to brush his muzzle against hers. "Rainbow, just go sleep, we'll stay if you want us to." Soarin said. Rainbow blushed, and Daring snickered. "I don't want to be rude guys." Rainbow murmured, looking away. Spitfire, who was also grinning, stood up. "You won't be. Maybe we can help Daring." Spitfire suggested "Thanks for the offer, but this is pretty dull work. All I'll be doing is examining it for magical properties. That's why my books usually end when I've found the treasure. No one wants to hear about cataloging the find or anything." Daring replied. Spitfire stepped forward to whisper to her. "I know, but Soarin will stay anyway, so Fleet and I need an excuse to stay to tease Soarin about his crush on Rainbow." Spitfire muttered "Oh, got it." Daring smirked at the mare, then cleared her throat. "Actually, on second thought, I may need some help. There are so many rumors about the Sphere it might take more than one pony to figure out which ones are true." "Well, if you want to stay..." Rainbow shrugged, then yawned. Soarin smiled kindly at the mare. "You want me to carry your saddlebags?" "Thanks Soar." Rainbow blushed as she agreed. Soarin lifted the bags off her back, then followed Rainbow towards her bedroom. The two began talking to each other as they walked. Once their voices died away, Spitfire and Fleetfoot began giggling. "Rainbow Dash and Soarin Skies, sitting in a tree." Spitfire said between laughs. "You two are D-E-A-D!" Soarin called back, which just made them laugh harder. "Firtht cometh love-" Fleetfoot began, raising her voice now that they knew Soarin and Rainbow could hear them. "DON'T SAY IT!" Rainbow shouted. "What are they doing?" Daring thought, confused "-then comes marriage..." Spitfire added "If you finish that rhyme, Celestia help me!" Rainbow yelled "Then comes the baby in the baby carriage!" both cried together, and Daring joined in their laughter, finally understanding the joke. Rainbow and Soarin didn't respond, but they heard a door slam. "Well, that was fun, but we probably just chased them both into Rainbow's room forever." Spitfire said, turning to Daring. "Why didn't you join in?" "I-I haven't heard of that rhyme before." Daring said "What? But foalth thing it all the time, you had to have heard it once." "Actually, I never had much of a childhood. I earned my cutie mark at a young age, so my parents made me go on adventures since I was...maybe ten? That's why there's so many Daring Do books even though I'm only 21. I would just write it to look like I was older in the books." Daring replied, looking away. "Wow. They sound like jerks." Spitfire commented. "Oh, no. I love my parents, they always looked out for me when I was little...until I started going on adventures...then they only cared about the treasure." Daring realized, eyes widening. "They don't sound like real parents. My mom raised me on her own, and she always made time for me. When I became a Wonderbolt I would give her money if she needed it, but she never forced me to." Spitfire said "But my parents...why wouldn't they love their own daughter? It doesn't make sense." Daring said "Lots of parents don't like their kids." Spitfire replied "Maybe they don't like me because I'm a Pegasus." Daring muttered "What doeth that have to do with anything?" Fleetfoot asked "My mom's a Unicorn and my dad's an Earth Pony." Daring explained "I thought maybe they were related to a Pegasus." "But you're not sure?" Spitfire asked "No, I'm not. Why?" "Well, I mean, that sort of thing is possible, but...have you noticed how similar you and Rainbow look?" Spitfire asked "No..." "Well, if you haven't hung out in a while I guess you wouldn't. But...Fleet, might need your help." "They're both adventurouth, and brave, and loyal." Fleetfoot replied. Daring was reminded that Fleetfoot read her books, while Spitfire did not. So of course she would need Fleetfoot's help to make comparisons between the two's personalities. "Right. Your argument earlier pretty much proves you both make similar comebacks. Also, Rainbow didn't see the Sphere fall but she knew it did, she knew that you were in danger of being revealed. It was like she could predict your actions. Even then, you mentioned earlier that you were twenty-one, just like Rainbow." "That is weird." Daring admitted, then remembered something. "But...I think I know why she was able to predict my actions." "Why?" Spitfire and Fleetfoot asked together. Daring flew into the guest room Rainbow had let her use. She had left behind her ancient texts and scrolls, just in case she lost her saddlebags or something. Daring pushed aside document after document, until she found what she was looking for. It explained everything. Daring looked up, eyes shining with fervor. "Let's go get Soarin and Rainbow, then I'll explain."