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// Rain 
// Story: Forgive, Forget and Fall in Love 
// by raunbiw 
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Rainbow Dash cheered up at the clouds after scoring the final and winning goal as the rain began to fall. Her soccer teammates gathered around her and grasped her in a big hug as the audience went ballistic. It would have lasted longer but the water began to come in buckets and soon the bleachers were empty and the team was running toward the school. Rainbow Dash followed. 
A little bit later and Rainbow Dash was walking her girlfriend home, she was still wearing her jersey considering there was no real reason to change if she’d be out in the rain again. The storm eased up and was reduced to a light sprinkle. The silence and circumstance brought Rainbow Dash to a queasy smile. 
After the Wondercolt soccer finals last year, the rain poured down and the streetlights around were blurry like substitute stars for the cloudy, dark sky but there you were in the distance, getting soaked by the minute anyway. Even though I had just changed into clean clothes, I ran toward you and met your lips and your eyes and your skin and your hat. We let go and– 
“What are you thinking about?” Rainbow Dash didn’t respond right away as her hand was squeezed and the memory faded, leaving a sour taste on the back of her tongue. A few more steps with nothing but the sound of droplets on leaves and squelching of soggy sneakers. Fluttershy, spoke again. “Unless it’s… private. I don’t want to pry, of course.” Fluttershy looked up at her girlfriend and smiled. 
 Rainbow Dash stayed silent for a few more moments before meeting Fluttershy’s eyes. “Just you” She lied with a cocky smile. Fluttershy’s widened and Rainbow’s smile went genuine. She liked seeing Fluttershy happy, she liked Fluttershy.
They walked for a bit longer, Rainbow Dash was glad they were getting closer to Fluttershy’s house because then she would be able to go home and think. There’d been tons more thinking since it happened a few months ago. Thinking and guilt. 
“You did really well at the game today.” Rainbow Dash turned her head to look at her. 
“I would have said something sooner, but I figured you wanted to get out of the rain” Rainbow Dash loved the rain. “Pretty pointless though since we’re stuck in it anyway…” Fluttershy whispered. Rainbow Dash shrugged. 
–We let go and you yelled at me how awesome I was with, “That footwork was as fine as you when you’re blushin’!” I’d have said I knew if I wasn’t indeed blushing, only you, Applejack, could get that out of me. Luckily you didn’t get to see it because you pulled me in for a squeeze. The rain was pounding hard in my eyes but it was okay because I already knew what you looked like and you sure were fine. We were screaming and laughing and kissing in the rain and I was happy. 
“You’re right, and thanks! That final goal was pretty awesome.” Fluttershy nodded quickly and squeezed Rainbow Dash’s hand again. That was the end of it.
“Y'all are all amazin’ but Dash, you carried that game.” I yelled at you a thank you and we pulled away for real this time. I ended up spending the night at your house but only after wearing your clothes, drinking your cider, watching a dumb movie and winding down. You had congratulated me before, that was our third soccer season together, that time felt different though. Better. 
 Just another block, then Fluttershy’s house, then goodbye. The rain did most of the talking. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring an umbrella, I hope you don’t catch a cold.”  A small voice piped up, Rainbow Dash shook her head. 
“It’s not your fault, Fluttershy. I didn’t bring one either.” Fluttershy insisted anyway. “But you were stressed about the game, I should have remembered, so I–” 
“It’s not your fault, Fluttershy.” Snapped Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy went quiet and looked away from her who felt instant regret, Fluttershy had done nothing wrong. Fluttershy was being Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was being stupid. It all was stupid. 
“I’m sorry I snapped, that was stupid.” Fluttershy squeezed her hand to say that it was okay and she understood, she always understood. That’s what made her so perfect but so frustrating at the same time because sometimes, just sometimes, Rainbow Dash wanted to be yelled at because sometimes, just sometimes, she deserved it. Rainbow Dash squeezed her hand back.
“Take the bus home please, I don’t want you getting sick.” Rainbow Dash nodded, even though she wasn’t going to. She loved the rain. 
“Only if you want to of course…” Rainbow Dash nodded again and they were at their destination. Fluttershy led the way up to the porch, then the door before opening it and pulling Rainbow Dash into a hug. Her hugs were gentle. Rainbow Dash liked that about her. 
Fluttershy whispered to be safe into her ear, making her smile. Rainbow Dash kissed her on the cheek before beginning to walk down the stairs. 
“No promises!” She called back, starting to jog. Before Fluttershy could respond, she was out of earshot. Rainbow Dash stopped the jog as soon as she turned the corner. She was starting to like lone rain walks, there could only be one reason why.
I was sitting across from you at a beach diner, I had never been a neat eater but you never minded. We were going to go surfing but it started to rain. It was slow at first and I’d thought it’d stay that way but then it went fast and heavy. Unfortunately, the waves usually got choppy and unsafe during bad weather and I knew you wouldn’t let me do it like that. It started with the tapping sounds on the roof, then we looked out the window to see the downpour and people running for shelter. I slurped a sip of my milkshake. 
“Well, Hay. Now what?” You said, I watched you slouch back in your chair as I took a moment to swallow. “Wanna just…” I paused for another sip. “Walk?” You snorted before sitting up again.
“You, Rainbow Dash, impatient as a kid waitin’ in line at a theme park, want to go on a walk?” I shrugged, gulping the last sip. “It’s raining, could be fun.” I said, still gnawing on the straw. I knew it’d be fun, I loved Applejack and I loved the rain. “Fine, but if you get bored, I get five dollars.” I smiled through the straw. “And if I don’t get bored, you’re buying me ice cream!” 
We paid and left the diner, leaving a good tip. The moment we got outside we started to get soaked, thin t-shirts and all. I loved it. 
Rainbow Dash turned the corner, feeling uncomfortable. She had some fond memories with Applejack, they had been dating for almost two years. Was it such a crime to think about them? Did Applejack think about them? Did Applejack think about her? If not, then that would be pathetic. Was she only thinking about them or was she craving them? She didn’t have any memories to ponder with Fluttershy yet because they had been dating for under two weeks. Yes she had some from their friendship beforehand but those didn’t compare… Should they compare? She liked Fluttershy though. Fluttershy was great, but why did she want more?
We stumbled into an ice cream parlour, laughing. I won, it was a fun walk. We dripped water on the floor all throughout our stroll to the counter. I didn’t stop chanting that I beat you until you flicked water from your wet hand into my eyes. I shut them to rub it out, once I opened them, a nice old lady was ready to take my order. 
“Peanut butter and praline crunch in a waffle cone, please.” She smiled at me. “That’ll be $6.50.” I grinned at Applejack as she went to pull out a bill and some coins. I won. 
Thinking about Applejack made Rainbow Dash’s Stomach churn, despite how amazing the shallow memories of them were, Rainbow Dash was crumbling and her mind was constantly racing. Applejack was before. They were before. 
I watched you walk inside as I sat on the cold, wet grass alone. I was getting drenched by the second. I knew even then that I shouldn't have done that. I thought that maybe I could have gotten better and maybe I was wrong to begin with. There was always a way through. How did I forget that? I knew I was never going to let go, I was too devoted. Too loyal. I messed up. I regretted it already at that point. I yelled at the clouds and you didn’t hear me, you were already gone. I hoped you were crying too. 
Fluttershy was now.