Lorio's chest tightened as he withdrew his hoof from Rainbow's eyes. He could tell by the light shade of red the replaced her usual light-blue visage that there was no misunderstandings this time. The two awkwardly sat in silence, neither attempting to make eye contact. Clouds slowly drifted overhead as the two pegasi attempted to sort out their feelings.
"Umm," Rainbow started, breaking the silence, "Ya know, nopopny ever told me they loved me in that way before." Her cheeks were still rosy as she gazed down at the could she sat upon.
'W-Well?" he stammered, eagerly awaiting her response.
"Well...I think it's sweet of you, I really do, but—" She stopped.
The stallion's heart dropped, "But...?"
Rainbow took a deep breath, "But I just don't see you that way," she finished.
The dreads that fashioned Lorio's mane shifted forward at the lowering of his head, covering his expression of despair. "Oh..I see..." His voice cracked a bit. He fought with all his might trying to hold back his tears.
"You're a really nice guy, seriously, but I live a pretty fast life and I just don't think you'd be able to keep up with me." She tried her best to justify her reasons, but it was apparent that Lorio's heart had already been broken.
He turned to her, and conjured up his best fake smile, "I understand."
She placed a hoof on his shoulder and gently kissed him on the cheek, "I'm sorry," she said as she took off from the cloud, leaving the stallion alone.
Lorio brought his attention to the rainbow streaks she left behind her, the light from the moon giving them a radiant glow. The glow soon became blurred by the tears that reached the rim of his eyes. He brought a hoof to the place on his cheek Rainbow kissed and felt a warm tear trail over it. The heart-broken pegasus continued staring until the streaks were no longer visible, and his only company was the moon.
The door to Lorio's house flung open, startling Rito who had been sleeping on his couch. "Dude, where were you? Do you know what time it is?"
"I was..." he hesitated, recalling the events that took place on the cloud, "I was talking to Rainbow Dash."
Rito gasped in excitement and rushed to his friend, closed the door behind him, and shoved him over to the couch he was resting on. "Don't keep me waiting man, how'd it go?" he anxiously asked.
Lorio sighed and averted his eyes from his friend.
Rito noticed the trail of dried tears on the stallions cheeks accompanied by the redness surrounding his pupils, "Oh...I'm sorry man." he wrapped a hoof around his shoulders in comfort.
He forced another smile out of himself, "It's ok, at least she didn't punch me in the face," he joked.
"So what exactly happened?" Rito asked.
"To make a long story short, I can't keep up with her."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rito scratched his head in confusion.
"I guess it means she's attracted to fast stallions." He slouched into the couch in a depressed manner.
Rito scratched his chin, "Well when it comes to speed you aren't really—" He turned to notice his friend's familiar "not now" face. "Uhh...nevermind," he chuckled.
"Anyways, that's the end of that. I can move on with my life now at least."
His friend jumped from his seat, "Whoa whoa whoa. Just like that? All you have to do is get faster! Dude, I can totally help you out."
"No, that's alright." He rose from his seat, smiled, and placed a hoof on his friend's shoulder. "I finally got my answer and that's enough for me."
Rito sighed and lowered, "No, you can't."
"Hm?"
"Dude, ever since the day I met you you've only done things halfheartedly and were too timid and scared to try any harder. Trying to win Rainbow's heart is the only thing you've ever done with passion, and what kind of friend would I be to let you give up on that?"
Lorio withdrew his hoof from his pal's shoulder, his facial expression warping into that of sadness, "I know that, but what am I supposed to do? I'm just not her type," he argued.
A huge smile came over Rito's face, "Well all you have to do is become faster right? In that case I can help you out."
Lorio raised an eyebrow, "How are you planning to do that? I was only a few numbers ahead of Fluttershy when we we're moving the water to Cloudsdale, and if you didn't notice you're a unicorn. How are you gonna help a pegasus get faster?"
"Don't even worry about," Rito disregarded his friend's points, "I've got it all worked out. You see..." Rito went on to explain his plan to his friend. Lorio's eyes widening as he unraveled his plan further. They both took turns speaking and with each return of words, Lorio became more and more shocked.
At the end of the explanation Lorio stood in silence for a while, deep in thought. "That could work but..." he took a deep breath, "...but I don't know if I can wait the long or even if she will."
"At this point what do you have to lose? She already rejected you so just think of this as you going out with a fight."
"Sounds like a lot of work but if it gives me another chance with Rainbow then I'm all for it!" Lorio threw a balled hoof in the air, filled with passion and excitement for his and Rito's plan.
"That's the spirit!" He threw a hoof in the air along with his friend, "Well, I think I'll be heading home; I'm pretty tired." he yawned.
Lorio checked the clock hanging on his wall, "Whoa, I should probably hit the hay as well." he agreed. "Goodnight man."
"Night." Rito and his friend bumped hooves and waved goodbye as he trotted out the door, closing it behind him.
The door slammed shut and Lorio made his way to his room. He threw himself onto his bed and tossed and turn until he found a comfortable position. He found himself staring directly out the window straight at the moon before dozing off.
BUM BUM BUM
Lorio's eyes half opened, the mysterious sounds breaking his sleep.
BUM BUM BUM
The sounds came louder the second time. The sleepy pegasus rose from his slumber to silence the annoying sound. "The door?" he questioned.
BUM BUM BUM
"I'm coming!" he yelled as he approached the door. He slowly opened the door not surprised to see his cap-wearing friend standing in the entrance with some luggage. "Why are you here so early?" he asked.
"Dude, it's the middle of the day, you were supposed to be ready by now." Rito retorted.
Lorio threw his eyes in the direction of the clock on his wall, "What?!" he shrieked in disbelief, "Aw man just give me a few minutes!" Lorio dashed up to his room, pulled out a brown suitcase, and began furiously throwing anything he could find into the suitcase. "Ok, that should be enough." He stared at the small mountain of objects atop the even smaller suitcase. He began to force the case close just barely able to flip the latch over the opening. Jetting back downstairs with his luggage in hand, he smiled at his friend.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Ready," Lorio confirmed. He turned and locked the door behind him. "Let's go." They both started walking down the street.
"Just so you know," Rito started, "This isn't going to be a walk in the park. In fact, he may even be harder on you because I'm the one asking."
"Yeah, I got it." Lorio answered his friend but his mind was focused on his surroundings. All the ponies trotting about, the buildings, and the sky.
Rito noticed his friend's wandering mind and could guess what he was weighing so heavily on his thoughts. He firmly smacked him on the back, "Cheer up! We'll be back!" he assured his friend.
Lorio almost lost his balance from his friend's assault before catching himself and turning to Rito. "Yeah, I know, I just wish I could say goodbye to Rainbow Dash before I leave."
"Well why don't you? She's right over there." Rito pointed a hoof down the road where Rainbow was standing just outside Sugarcube Corner.
"Rainbow!" He dashed towards her at full speed. Rainbow noticed him running towards her and was backing up a bit as he was getting closer but not slowing down. He noticed he was just a few feet from her before he finally tried to stop himself completely, causing him to stumble and slide to her hooves.
"Umm...Lorio?" she quizzically inquired.
He sprang to his feet, "Uh...I-I," he stuttered, "I-I..."
Rainbow stared at him with a confused look.
He closed his eyes, remembering last night and Rito's plan. He opened his eyes and stared back into hers, causing Rainbow to blush a bit. "Just wait for me okay?"
"W-Wha—" Rainbow was cut off by the feeling of Lorio's lips on her cheeks.
Lorio took off leaving Rainbow standing in front of the candy-made house, face a deep red and her hoof on her cheek.
Lorio made it back to his friend, blushing and panting heavily.
"Well shall we go?" Rito asked.
The corner of the brown pegasus' mouth spread from one red cheek to the other, "Yup!"
With no hesitation they both started further down the road past a sign that read, "You are now leaving Ponyville."