“Hey there, Dash!”
Surprised, Rainbow turned around with shock when she heard that voice. She recognized it immediately, which made her blood freeze. Of course, sometimes anypony WOULD feel a bit nervous or put off when they run into an ex, but this wasn't the case. They had ended on good terms, didn't they? So what was there to be nervous about?
When she faced Blazing Comet, she found the majestic Pegasus smiling at her pleasantly, carrying saddlebags on her back.
“Oh, uh, hey, Comet!” Rainbow managed a smile. “It's been a while, huh? How's it hanging?”
A light laugh escaped Comet as she regard the cyan mare before responding. “Oh, not bad at all! I'm just on my way to pick up supplies at the market. My aunt is pretty much recovered, so we're going for a family reunion celebration party in Manehattan. How about you, Dash? How are things going for you? Did you just get back?”
“Yeah! I got back yesterday,” Rainbow admitted, managing to relax herself a bit more. “Well, I don't want to bore you with the details, but let's just say that I think it's just what I needed!”
Comet smiled, looking relieved. “Great to know, Dash. I can't stay for too long, since we're leaving later this afternoon, but I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that you're moving along.”
“Thanks! So uh, I'm with Fluttershy now, if that's okay!”
“Sure it is. You don't need my blessing, Dash. Can't say this whole thing wasn't a bit of a blow to the head, but I think our time together was still great.”
A smile overcame Rainbow's countenance, feeling relaxed yet again. “It was, Comet! I'll never forget it, either! But hey, what about you? Getting back together with Moon Dancer?”
“Hey, whoa! Slow down, tiger!” Comet laughed, shaking her head. “No no. As much as I want to, I'm taking my time with this, especially since I'm still living in Ponyville while she's in Manehattan. I don't want to make any rash decisions until I know for sure. We're reconnecting, we've been writing letters and every now and then I manage to go visit her for a weekend. But other than that, we're rekindling our friendship. And I think that's what we need to do before any attempts at courting are made.”
“Ohhh, okay,” the rainbow-maned Pegasus grinned and nodded. “So that's what that is. Well, you better succeed!”
“And why is that?” Comet smirked playfully.
“Because!” Rainbow stuck her tongue out at her. “Anyway, I hate to be a drag too, but I've gotta run. Fluttershy's waiting for me!”
“I won't keep you any longer,” Comet grinned, turning to go. “Oh, and Dash? You take good care of Fluttershy, and make sure she takes care of you, too. Don't let yourself make the same mistakes you did before.”
“Believe me, Comet, I won't,” Rainbow promised. “Same to you! Although you didn't do anything wrong. It was all me.”
“Dash...no. I was not blameless by any means. I really should have confronted you sooner and have even kept the whole marriage thing OUT of it,” Comet admitted, her smile fading, “You fell in love with Fluttershy while we were still together, I know, but that's not your fault.”
“I still held her in my hooves one night! That wasn't appropriate!” Now Rainbow felt the stabs of guilt all over again. “We were spooning!”
“Dash,” Comet turned to her, looking stern. “Enough already. This is just going to get ugly for nothing. Let's just calm down, okay? It's in the past. You're with Fluttershy now, you're moving on with your life and I'm moving on with mine. I don't want to talk about it, all right? We don't have to anymore. Look, I have to go. Have a good day.”
Walking off, Rainbow yet again felt guilty as she looked down at the ground for a moment, and then back at the retreating Pegasus.
“You're right, Comet! I didn't mean to get stupid there. You take care!”
“You take care too, Dash. I'm really happy for you!” Comet called back.
“Me too! Stay awesome, Comet!”
Comet looked at her over her shoulder, smiling for a moment, and then continued on her way. Rainbow Dash sighed with relief, glad that they managed to part on fairly good terms, what with them now in taking steps toward their new lives. She herself with living her life and dating Fluttershy, while Comet took care of her aunt, sister, and would likely attempt to win Moon Dancer's heart.
Hopefully, as time went on, they could still remain friends. That was really all she could ask for.
After having done some exercises in the sky to make up for some lost time on her journey home (where she did very little recreational flying), Rainbow Dash re-entered Fluttershy's cottage yet again. She would normally have gone home and unpacked (she only went back to bring Tank over) and settled back, but she just didn't want to now. Not only did Fluttershy very meekly but not so subtly ask her to stay the night again, but Rainbow just didn't want to leave her side.
When she came inside the still warm and very inviting home, she found Fluttershy sitting on the couch reading a gardening magazine. Many months, or even years ago, this would have bored her and she would have attempted to persuade her to do something else. Something big and exciting. It was amazing how she changed her mind about relaxing, and even reading in general.
Grinning, for the fun of it, she declared, “Honey, I'm home!”
Fluttershy looked at her and laughed, smiling brightly at her in such a special way that Rainbow was not sure she knew the meaning of.
“Welcome back, Rainbow...” Fluttershy responded, going back to her magazine.
Still grinning, the cyan Pegasus crept over to where her beloved sat. She hovered up onto the couch beside her, and immediately snuggled into her. Fluttershy giggled, a little surprised by the gesture, but didn't make an attempt to move or shoo her away.
“Yes?” Fluttershy smiled, looking at her a bit.
“Nothing! Just wanted to be near you, my sunshine,” Rainbow winked, bringing a foreleg around her and nuzzling her cheek.
Giggling, Fluttershy smiled more and went back to reading. “That's sweet, Rainbow, thank you. But it's okay, you don't have to...”
“Believe me, I want to!” Rainbow whispered into her ear, and proceeded to kiss her face. Now she could see why Flutershy didn't want her to leave the bed this morning. There was something so sweetly intoxicating about their closeness!
Then again, as much as she already knew that beforehoof, it still rang true, especially when it was physically happening. Fluttershy smelled beautifully, just as always, and her mane was as soft to the touch as she remembered. Who could blame Rainbow Dash for desiring to get a little amorous with her? Many would think a speed demon Pegasus daredevil like her wouldn't go for that kind of thing, or even being in love in general, but that was silly. A long time ago, she'd have agreed. But today, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Fluttershy giggled, still trying to read, but Rainbow was determined to bring her down. She now brought her foreleg around the creamy yellow pony, snuggling her close and giving her nuzzles. When Fluttershy giggled, still trying to resist, Rainbow started to kiss her face again. This time starting with her muzzle, along her cheek, then the corner of her mouth before kissing her nose.
“Put the magazine down, pretty pony. You're mine. Mr. Magazine doesn't deserve your attention, you know. It can't talk to you or love you like I can,” Rainbow teased playfully, bringing her other hoof around her beloved. “Isn't this what you wanted, Fluttershy? A whole lot of me giving you love?”
The magazine fell to the floor. It was then that Fluttershy gave in and snuggled against the cyan Pegasus, giggling happily. Rainbow smirked, then gently placed her down on the sofa, towering over her with a predatory but loving grin.
“That didn't take long...” Rainbow remarked, quirking a single eyebrow slightly.
“Can't say that you were wrong, anyway,” Fluttershy cooed, and then brought her down into a searing kiss.
Later on, it was party time! Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy showed up at Sugarcube Corner right on time for the party to begin. Just about everypony in town attended, glad to welcome Rainbow back home. For about the first five minutes into the party, there was a lot of the “Welcome back, Rainbow Dash!”, “Did you have a good time?”, “Where did you go to?” and so forth. Rainbow, glad for attention, happily answered all their questions and boasted about things she'd seen and done. Especially excited was Pinkie Pie, who had really missed her friend a lot. A part of the evening was also spent with the two of them planning their next pranking escapade.
Twilight asked things in regards to the places she'd been, for research purposes. Rainbow rolled her eyes but indulged her anyway, giving as much information as she could, so that Twilight would be able to easily seek it all out later with the references she'd have.
Since fall was approaching, Applejack chatted with Rainbow about the upcoming Running of the Leaves. Unlike the last time, they were going to do this in one go, fair and square, with everypony else. And have some fun doing it, of course. They decided to make a bet in order to make it interesting.
Then came an interesting question. Rainbow asked Rarity if they ever figured out the secret ingredient within Pinkie Pie's cupcakes.
“We did,” Rarity said, “It turns out that she adds a pinch of sugar in its natural form. Unprocessed sugar, to be exact.”
“What was the prize?” Rainbow wanted to know, a little put down at having missed out on this.
“A coupon fer a week's worth o' free cupcakes,” Applejack answered for the Unicorn, having overheard the conversation. “It was Rarity who guessed it.”
“Well, as somepony who does enjoy cooking with the delights of fine cuisine, I suppose it was no wonder I eventually figured it out,” Rarity smiled brightly. She giggled, shaking her head, “But I do promise to share them with all of you. I certainly couldn't eat them all by myself.”
“Aw shucks, ya really don't have ta. Ya figured it out an' won tha bet fair an' square!” Applejack told her.
“I know that I don't, darling,” the pure white mare looked to Applejack fondly, “But I want to. Sharing things with my dearest friends is simply joyous!”
Rainbow laughed, grinning widely. “Well, I'm not objecting to that! Count me in on some of those cupcakes!”
“Cupcakes...?” Fluttershy repeated as she came over to them, curious. “Oh...I hope I didn't interrupt.”
“Hey, babe,” Rainbow said saucily, bringing a foreleg around her shoulders. “Nah, you weren't interrupting! We were just talking about the cupcakes Rarity won from Pinkie!”
“Yes indeed, darling!” Rarity winked. She eyed the two for a moment, smiling a bit more. “So, you two are indeed together, I see.”
“We...we are...” Fluttershy blushed, hiding her face in Rainbow's neck.
“Boy howdy! That's amazin'!” Applejack grinned. “Ah'm real happy fer you two. Just y'all take care o' yerselves, ya hear?”
“Piece of cake, AJ!” Rainbow waved her hoof, winking at the two of them. “I love Fluttershy and I'm going to make her the happiest pony in Equestria!”
Fluttershy giggled bashfully, but nuzzled her marefriend appreciatively.
“You had certainly better,” Rarity said firmly.
For a moment, Rainbow had a snappy comeback to make, but could see the seriousness of the situation. Now was not the time to get all jokey. Rarity was certainly being serious. After all, out of the six of them, the Unicorn spent a lot of time with Fluttershy. Not just at the spa, but on social outings or just spending time together at Rarity's boutique, just as two normal friends would. She cared a lot about Fluttershy, so it was understandable that she felt this way when it came to protecting her honour and feelings.
“I will,” Rainbow promised, holding Fluttershy closer. “I'm gonna give my all to this relationship. Fluttershy loves me...” she now looked at her love, smiling brightly, “And I love her.”
“D'awww...shucks...y'all are dang cute,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah just wanted ta wish ya two good luck. Ah have faith in y'all.”
“And I do as well,” Rarity smiled, “I trust you, Rainbow Dash. I know of how much Fluttershy loves you, and I certainly no longer doubt your love for her.”
Rainbow snickered, winking. “Trust me, ladies. If I can't hide it from medical mumbo jumbo...how the hay can I deny it?”
Fluttershy still looked puzzled at that, but decided to let that slide. It was time to just enjoy the party!
All right, everypony. After this will come the EPILOGUE. And then it's DONE. Finally.
Okay, as for their first date, I will still do that. But as its own story, a one-shot. Not for a while, though.
I left this as it is now just so you guys can have fun with filling in the blanks about the party and after it. ;)