Edited October 29th, 2012: Fixed some spelling mistakes. Thanks coandco!
Rainbow's hoof hovered in front of the door to the Heartstrings residence. She recognized the flowers that grew on the windowsill, as well as the colors of the walls. None of them had changed a single bit from when she visited so many years ago, when Rainbow had first moved to Ponyville, still fresh-faced out of Cloudsdale. Her ego was a bit tamed after leaving the home she had known for so long, and she had sought to find an outing for her homesickness.
Pegasi books were the first things she thought of. Though the pegasi race was thought of as a mostly agile and athletic race, it was common knowledge that years of pegasi excellence were only achieved thanks to the tireless efforts of Cloudsdale scholars. It was considered a great honor to hold a position of pegasi magical theory, but many elected instead to follow a simpler life.
Ponies like Rainbow Dash, who adored the more practical sides of pegasi magic.
She grimaced as thoughts ran through her head. Why would Lyra be so willing to accept her even after so long? What of Bonbon, Lyra's roommate? How would she react to the fact that Rainbow had stood up her friend on a simple reading date? What was Lyra's relationship with Bonbon? When did Lyra even meet Bonbon? Rainbow was absolutely certain that Lyra was lived alone before. Or was Bonbon actually...?
"Gah! No, no, no! That's none of my business!" Rainbow Dash folded her hooves in front of her chest and sat down in front of the door, admiring the lone cloud above Ponyville. 'Why is this so hard for me?'
The sound of a doorknob rattle startled Rainbow, who got to her hooves and turned around just in time to see Lyra standing in the doorway.
"Oh my, you actually showed up! And a bit early, too!"
"Showed up? Were you expecting something else, Lyra?" Rainbow couldn't help but be a bit insulted.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry, Rainbow. I just thought since you're Ponyville's head weather pony, and an Element of Harmony, you'd be a bit busier."
Rainbow rubbed the back of her head. "Oh. I didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry. It's just... well... you know how I am and all that. I'm the awesome Rainbow Dash, Equestria's fastest flier!" She puffed out her chest with bravado.
"I can definitely see why you didn't want anypony finding out! Come on inside, I've got some tea waiting! I know you don't usually drink it, but I do remember you always liked the chamomile."
Lyra moved aside as Rainbow entered, the door closing behind her. Rainbow wasn't sure what she was expecting when she stepped inside. The night before showered her with dreams about a multitude of home interiors, each one drastically different from the next, but the reality was far more mundane.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Lyra sighed. She took a spot on the far side of the living room table,
"Totally." Rainbow took the chair on the other side. "Smells kind of funky in here."
Lyra giggled. "Oh, that's just Bonbon's cooking. Her chocolates are really popular in Canterlot, but she doesn't think it's enough. She'll experiment late into the night, and then I wake up and find the kitchen splattered in chocolate. Good thing I keep my lyre upstairs!"
"So, um... how did you meet Bonbon?" Rainbow fidgeted with her hooves, unsure if this was too personal a question.
"Oh, that! It's actually a rather funny story. You see, I was checking the newest harmonics book a few months ago, and I accidentally bumped into Bonbon when she was looking for the newest edition of Equestrian Chef. And, well, that's how it happened."
"Didn't she have her own house here?"
Lyra shook her head. "Actually, when she first showed up at the Summer Sun Celebration, she was visiting Berry Punch. After everything that happened here, she decided she wanted to move here. Bonbon was staying with Berry Punch until I ran into her."
"Uh huh." The book on the table was Gray Telescope, an introspective story that Dash had thought about reading several times. "Oh, it's this book, huh? I've been trying to get around to reading it, but I didn't really have the time."
"Oh? What were you busy doing?"
Rainbow's cheeks reddened. "I was busy reading encyclopedias."
Lyra's lilting laugh carried through her abode, exacerbating Dash's embarrassment. "You really have changed, haven't you? I remember you used to be so shy about reading when we started our little book club. Although, I remember a certain pony was—"
"Shh!" Rainbow put a hoof over Lyra's mouth. "I think she's still on to me. She's lessened up a bit and stopped observing me at the odd hours, but she still keeps an eye out for me. Last time I said her name I could have sworn she was just around the corner."
"Come on, Rainbow. You don't honestly think she's still at it, after all this time?" Lyra opened her book to the foreword, levitating the book up to eye level.
Rainbow copied her, opening up her own copy of the book. "I don't know why she hasn't asked you yet. I mean, why me of all ponies? You have just as many books as I do!"
"Perhaps she considers it strange and wonderful that a pegasi actually takes interest in literature outside of Cloudsdale's main academia?"
"It can't be that rare, can it? You say that as if pegasi only read pegasi books, or something."
"Actually, Equestrian survey studies have indicated that in the past five years—"
"Let's just read, Lyra. Please." Rainbow put on an exhausted smile. "The past few days have been pretty crazy, and I'd like to just read some more."
"How'd he do that?"
"How'd he do what?" Lyra peeked over the top over her book.
"This! 'Trotson Gray took this opportunity to stock up on Bar None's choice cider. He wasn't sure if it would be needed, but his premonition gave him the sense that it would be needed.' This sentence is so confusing! I can't imagine how it made it into the Canterlot Times' bestseller list!" Rainbow took a sip of her lukewarm tea, dropping her book onto the table. "Sometimes I think I could write a better book."
"Now, Rainbow. Let's not get uppity about this, although I do have to agree with you." Lyra closed her book as well.
The pegasus landed on the nearby couch with a huff. "I guess reading too much Daring Do has raised my standards. The book is pretty acclaimed, after all; it'd only make sense for the author to keep up standards, especially when it's so popular." She turned over on the couch and stared at the ceiling. "Sometimes I think I'm getting too caught up with books. Maybe I should just slow down a bit, regain my old habits."
"Of course. I certainly don't spend all my time reading, since I also have to practice with my lyre. Ponyville's musicians are teaming up with Canterlot's this year in the annual philharmonic ball, and we're going to crush Manehatten's orchestra this year!" She smiled evilly as she shoved her hooves skyward. "Well, at least I hope we do. We didn't do so well last year because Octavia got sick."
"I like reading books, but sometimes it gets... really tiresome. It's like eating too much, or drinking too much apple cider."
"Oh, I agree. All pursuits in life are better when taken in moderation..." Lyra grinned. "Unless it happens to be for the Young Flyers' Competition, of course."
"Aw, hayseed. You heard about that too?" Rainbow retreated into the pillow she was hugging.
"A sonic rainboom isn't common gossip, Rainbow Dash. Everypony in Ponyville could see it, although many didn't suspect it was you. I certainly had an idea about who pulled it off, though." Lyra turned her eyes to a picture sitting on the mantel. Within it was a rather enthusiastic Lyra with a hoof around a sheepishly grinning Rainbow Dash.
"I remember when we took that picture. It was a few weeks after I first moved here, right? It was so hard for Fluttershy to get around town, and then I ran into you at the library." Rainbow trotted over and picked up the picture, smiling slightly. "You know, before I came to Ponyville I thought I would never have unicorn or earth pony friends. I thought I'd be up in the skies all the time, flying through the streets of Cloudsdale. I'm really glad I came down here though, and not just because of the cider."
"All that's in the past now, Rainbow. Now, Twilight tells me you wanted to read a certain humor book?" The thud of Pegasi Recipes and Other Non Sequiturs caused Rainbow to turn around, glee on her face.
"Boy, do I! I only left off on page five, and this one's the biggest compilation yet!"
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with raucous laughter and gleeful giggling as Lyra and Rainbow Dash sat together on the couch, enjoying the best the Pegasi Parody Parade could offer. Gray Telescope was thrown completely out the window, though not in the literal sense, in lieu of lighter material from Lyra's decently-sized library.
Rainbow's concerns were assuaged after Lyra did a bit of explaining regarding Bonbon—the earth pony was just a friend and roommate, nothing more, although when Rainbow tried to articulate the question across in a series of nervous stutters, Lyra broke out laughing when she finally pieced together the question.
After several games of hoof wrestling, in which Rainbow easily triumphed, the two ponies elected to slow down and laze the rest of the day away, occasionally dropping a comment to the other about the quaint nature of Ponyville in comparison from their cities of origin, as Lyra had moved long ago from Canterlot.
"I gotta say, Lyra. I could totally see us doing this like, every week or something. Or maybe every other week, don't want to run through all the books. Does Bonbon read much?"
"Well, not as much as I do, but a little bit. She usually goes for the sappy romance novels. Berry Punch likes to read the monthly winery magazines to keep on top of the latest trends and flavors, but other than that I'm not sure if she reads at all. The Canterlotians are usually too busy practicing to get any real time to read, which was part of the reason I left. I still keep in contact with them, but it's not like it used to be."
"I guess everypony's pretty busy this time of year." Rainbow looked past the flowers on Lyra's windowsill, watching the sun bathe the horizon in orange as it set. "I guess I should probably get going, too. What book do you wanna read next? I guess we could pull something from the bestsellers' list, but I like to go for the obscure stuff. That is, uh, not because I don't like the mainstream stuff, hehe."
"I'm sure I'll find something by then, Rainbow. It's been nice catching up with you!"
Rainbow Dash waved a lazy hoof as she trotted out into the brisk evening air. Pinkie and Applejack didn't seem to mind Rainbow's tenacity in reading, the two even going as far as borrowing a few baking and farming books, respectively. The pegasus regretted the loss of her encyclopedia collection, but she knew that moving it to the library was a wise choice—clouds really were not ideal for laying books on since they had a tendency to fall through, even with enchantments.
She decided to wind down her day with a nice assortment of vegetables—obtained hastily just as many stalls closed—and a nice bottle of apple cider, left chilled in the fridge for several days. Before Rainbow went back, though, she decided to take a walk through the Ponyville park to reflect a bit.
She idly sat at a pond's edge as the sun dipped below the horizon. Although she never wanted for Twilight or anypony to find out about her reading, she had to admit that the string of events that came afterwards was not so bad. Lyra was one of the first friends Rainbow had in Ponyville other than Fluttershy, and it was thanks to Lyra's recommendation that she got onto the weather team.
All because they had met in the library. Of course, back then it wasn't run by Twilight, but by a stallion who had to relocate his occupation to Canterlot. Rainbow distinctly remembered that the stallion was employed by the Royal Court... was the stallion recalled to give Twilight the position of librarian?
Dash nearly had the inclination to hit herself with a hoof right then. She was not a particularly clever mare in most cases, and often resorted to her temper to lead things through. Such ideas, like Twilight's appointment or Lyra's relationship with Bonbon were, to her, a rather disloyal thing to think. She should have faith in her friends, shouldn't she? It could merely be a coincidence, and in all cases wasn't really much of her business.
The pegasus sighed as she pondered her entire life. Books had always played a role, from since she was a filly learning about the great Commander Hurricane, to the end of flight school, in which she barely scraped by. It was always books around her in some shape or form, and she never thought about it too much. Rainbow's brow furrowed over remembrance. Fluttershy was a very erudite pony in school due to her shy nature, and she regretted not joining her foalhood friend. It could have meant better grades in flight school, and it also could have meant more bonding time with Fluttershy.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash."
Dash's ears perked up and turned towards the source of the voice, which Dash recognized all too well. "Cheerilee."
"I couldn't help but notice you weren't in the skies today." Cheerilee wore a smug grin that put Rainbow in a state of unease.
"Uh, yeah. Busy doing some weather stuff for the office! You know, paperwork and all that." Rainbow turned and maintained eye contact with the earth pony. "What are you doing out here? Everypony's probably eating dinner right now, which is something I should also be doing." Rainbow shrugged her shoulders to adjust her saddlebags.
"On the contrary, Rainbow Dash. I finally have you!" Cheerilee moved forward, closing the distance between the two. "I know what you were doing today, you sneaky pegasus. You were reading, weren't you?"
"Uh, yeah? Paperwork and stuff?" Sweat dropped down Rainbow's brow. She was quite close to being caught by this mare of all mares—the one who single-hoofedly ended her early preoccupation with books!
"No, Rainbow Dash. You were reading literature. Literature! Don't get coy with me, mare. I saw all the books Twilight hauled into her library. You know, some still have your name on them."
'Crud.' Rainbow knew the jig was up. "Yeah, alright, fine. I'm reading again, okay? What do you want from me? Are you going to force me to do your terrible reading sessions again? I only read for fun, Cheerilee, not for that literary analysis stuff you always do! I'm not a teacher, dang it! Why can't you just leave me alone?!"
Cheerilee stood speechless, watching as Rainbow dash tempered her breathing. "O-oh my. I'm very sorry, Rainbow Dash. I didn't realize I was so overbearing last time... or, even now, actually." She chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry. I was actually wondering if you wanted to join me for some reading tomorrow, then? N-not that you have to, of course. I was a bit manic back then, since the education office was on my hooves."
Rainbow blinked. "Yeah, sure," she blurted out.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow at one," Cheerilee noted. "Oh, and you don't have to bring anything. I'm just starting the Daring Do series myself, and I know how much you like it. Good night!"
Rainbow simply watched Cheerilee disappear among the streets and clamor of Ponyville, taking in everything that just happened. She read some books with Twilight, reestablished her relationship with Lyra, and now she was going to read books with Cheerilee, who was basically borderline stalking the weather pony simply because she liked to read books.
Today was a weird day.