//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Rainbow Streaks // by DerpyJr //------------------------------// "She's coming this way!" Lorio, a dark brown pegasus of average size, yelled excitedly as a sky-blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail trotted up the path in his direction. "Geez, calm down man," Rito, his best friend of a dark caramel color, said standing just a few hoofsteps behind him. "It's not like she's coming to see you." "How do I look? Is my mane ok?" he worried, moving his hooves through his dread-locked mane in a clumsy fashion. "Does my breathe smell bad?" he exhaled near his friend's muzzle, much to his friend's displeasure. "Dude, Lorio! I feel sorry for your teeth!" he joked as he held one hoof up to his nose. "Well who asked you?!" he snapped at his friend. "And teeth can't even sme-" "Hey guys!" The blue pegasus' raspy voice interrupted, having finally made her way to the two. "What are you guys up to?" Lorio turned away from his friend and stared at Rainbow Dash, slowly taking in her presence. He gazed into her beautiful, magenta eyes that always managed to send his heart aflutter, before averting his attention to her rainbow mane, more vivid and pure than the whitest light refracting off of the purest water droplets could ever produce. The shy, awkward stallion became completely absorbed by the strong aura of confidence that always surrounded her so completely that he always felt himself just out of her reach. He snapped back into reality before giving her a nervous half smile, "H-Hey Rainbow!" he managed to stutter. "W-We're just hangin'...ya know...ehehe.." his cheeks now a rosy red. Rito stood behind him smiling and waving silently. "W-Where are you headed?" "I'm on my way to drop off a package for Pinkie's party later tonight." She opened one of her wings revealing a rectangular shaped box in brown wrapping labeled with a single stamp. "A party? Is it somepony's birthday?" "No, it's a welcoming party, but I don't know for who though. She didn't even bother to get his name before running off to throw him a party, but you know Pinkie." She rolled her eyes. "But I do know that if Pinkie's the one throwing it it's going to be awesome! Everypony is invited, so you if guys aren't too busy you should stop by." "Oh...I'm not su-" Rito's hoof came over his muzzle silencing him, "We'll be there!" "Alright I'll catch you two later!" She extended her wings fully and, in one powerful thrust, lifted herself from the ground. She waved at the two as she dashed forward, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. The two pegasi stood in the midst of the now thin cloud of dust, staring at the rainbow streaks becoming less and less distinct before Rito looked over at Lorio still staring in the direction Rainbow flew with a longing expression. He could tell his friend has had feelings for Rainbow Dash for some time now but because of his timidness had never been able to properly express them. After a minute or two of silence Rito crept up beside him leaning in close to his ear. "Boo!" "Ah!" He lept into the air and hovered, glaring down at his laughing friend. "What the hay Rito! What did you do that for?!" He balled his hoof into a form of a fist and shook it threateningly at his friend below. "You looked like a lovesick puppy...I did it for the sake of your stallionhood!" he wiped a tear from his eyes still chuckling. "And why did you agree to go to that party? You know I hate big crowds." "Get over it already. You're way too shy dude, and if you think you have a chance with a mare like that with your self-confidence you're sorely mistaken my friend." Rito said, shaking his head in disappointment. "I guess you have a point." Lorio agreed as he hovered in the air bringing his attention back to the direction Rainbow Dash had flown, his longing expression occupying his face yet again. "Tonight..." he said under his breath. "Whazzat?" "Tonight, before Pinkie's party, I'm going to tell her." Rito's eyes widened in disbelief and his facial expression twisted into a mix between confusion and surprise, "You're...you're joking, right? There's no way." Lorio turned his head to his friend, a look of pure determination branded on his face, reassuring what he just said was no joke and he was as serious as could be. "Come on man, this is you we're talking about. The pony who almost wet himself in class because he was too scared to ask the teacher to go to the bathroom!" "I'm not a foal anymore! Besides, I can't keep quiet forever. If I don't tell her sooner or later some other stallion will swoop in and take her and I refuse to let that happen." he gently landed on the ground still holding on to his determined look accompanied by light red cheeks. A hoof came over his shoulder. "Go for it." Rito smile reassuringly to his friend. "Thanks." Lorio returned the smile, the two bumped hooves, and trotted on their way laughing.