As Twilight woke up, she smiled as she noticed that her nose was firmly pressed into Dash's mane. She pushed herself up and gazed down at the pegasus below her. Rainbow's eyes were closed, her mouth hanging open ever so slightly as she lightly snored. Twilight slid off the bed, making her way into her bathroom as quietly as she could.
She showered quickly, washing the smell of alcohol off her coat. As she dried herself, she stepped into the bedroom to find Dash sitting up blearily, her hooves pressing against her head.
“Good morning, Rainbow!” Twilight said, giggling as Dash groaned.
“Ugh… Don't yell at me...” She trailed off as she threw a pillow over her head.
Twilight bit her lip, her horn flaring as her magic encased Rainbow's hung-over form. The glow seeped into her body until it vanished completely. Dash slowly sat up, her eyes wide as she swung her gaze to Twilight. She pressed a hoof to her head and smiled as the pounding in her head slowly vanished.
“Did you... how... what!?” She stammered in confusion, her hooves waving through the air.
Twilight smiled as she turned around and happily trotted down the staircase. Behind her she heard Rainbow follow her down the steps, her hooves clacking against the wood. As Twilight entered the kitchen, she saw Spike sitting at the table with two extra plates of food.
Twilight cocked an eyebrow at the tiny dragon, who simply smiled smugly in her direction.
“Good morning Twi; Dash.” The dragon said, lifting a spoon to his mouth that was loaded with gemstones. “I figured Dash would have stayed the night, so I went ahead and made you both some breakfast!” He said, smiling as he waved a claw at the hay pancakes on the table.
The mares sat down, thanking Spike as they dug into their food. Soon enough, Spike gathered his bowl and walked over to the sink, placing it inside.
“It sure was nice of Spike to make us breakfast!” Rainbow said as she chewed the last few bites of her meal.
“I know. That's why he's my number one assistant!” She said, smiling as dragon walked back into the room, nervously scratching his scales with his claws. “What's wrong, Spike?”
He swallowed loudly, shuffling his fingers together idly. “Um… Will you cast that Mustache spell on me again, Twi?”
Twilight cocked her head at him, a curious grin on her face. “Uh... Why?”
“I have a plan to finally get Rarity to notice me this Hearts and Hooves Day, but I need a mustache!” He said, blushing furiously. Twilight giggled, concentrated her magic, and granted her assistant’s wish.
The baby dragon jumped for joy, his claws clapping together as he hugged Twilight. He turned, his tiny feet scraping across the library as he darted out the doorway. As his purple tail vanished from sight, Rainbow cursed, her cheeks blushing a deep crimson as she lifted herself into the air.
“ Oh, crap, I gotta go! I have uhhh… weather duties! Yeah, weather duties! I’ll see ya later!” She zipped forward and gave Twilight a brief kiss just before she rocketed out of the library. Twilight yelled after her, her ears laid back in disappoint as Dash flew out of the library.
She snorted, her eyes narrow as she glared at the rainbow trail that her marefriend had left behind. She galloped outside, her tail flicking through the rainbow as she looked around town. All around her ponies were walking together, snuggling against their special somepony. Her eyes widened as she realized what day it was.
It was Hearts and Hooves day! How could she forget the most important day for couples? She turned and sprinted back into the library, her horn flaring as she yanked her bedroom door open. She scurried into her bedroom, her magic pulling a small box out of her closet as she smiled. The box opened, revealing a slip of paper, which she cradled like a priceless book.
She scanned over the paper, and with a grin on her face she put the paper back inside the box and slid it into her saddlebag. She trotted down the stairs and went outside. Her ears flattened momentarily as she pondered where to go. She knew Rainbow had probably darted off to get her a present, but she had no idea where to find the pegasus.
She hummed to herself as she trotted through Ponyville, her eyes scanning the clouds above her, which were being attacked by an entire squadron of the weather team. They bucked the clouds, scattering the fluff across the sky until the sky was completely clear of clouds. She frowned, her eyes scanning the sky ponies for a rainbow mane.
She sighed as she slowed to a stop, her eyes drifting to the shops around her. She jumped, biting off a scream as a pink blur slammed into her side.
“Hey Twilight!” Pinkie chirped, a smile on her face as she bounced in place. Twilight glared at her, a smile appearing on her face.
“Hey Pinkie. Have you-” She started to say before Pinkie interrupted her.
“Seen Dashie? Nope! Come on!” She grabbed Twilight's tail and began to drag the stuttering mare down the street. Twilight dug her hooves into the ground, growling as Pinkie dragged her inside the bakery. Twilight growled lowly, her hooves covering her eyes as Pinkie dragged her behind the counter and into the kitchen.
Twilight pulled her tail from Pinkie's teeth, giving the exuberant mare a stare that could peel paint. Pinkie just looked back with an oblivious grin, before darting across the room. She peeked out through the small window in the kitchen door, her eyes wide as she scanned the room.
“Quick, show me the goods!” She ordered, her eyes switching to Twilight for a moment before returning to the window. Twilight arched a brow, her mind drawing a blank.
“The goods?” She opened her saddlebag curiously, scanning the items in her bag before turning to the hyperactive mare. “All I have with me is a book and Dash's present.”
Pinkie trotted over and gazed into the bag dejectedly. Twilight swore she heard the mare mutter something under her breath before she suddenly perked up.
“What did you get her?” Pinkie asked, her mane bouncing as she bounced around Twilight. The unicorn grinned, her horn flaring as she lifted the box out of her bag. She pulled it open and held the contents out for Pinkie to examine. Pinkie's jaw dropped as she looked at Twilight in surprise.
“Oh my god Twi, she's gonna love that!” Pinkie said, her eyes twinkling with glee.
“I hope you're right, Pinkie.” Twilight eyed the box, before slowly sliding it back into her saddlebag. “Do you know where she went, by any chance?”
Pinkie shook her head, her frizzy mane flying in all directions. “I haven't seen her today.” She suddenly froze, a large tremor running up her back and into her mane. “She'll be at the park!” She blurted out, a grin on her face.
Twilight just stared at her for a moment, before shrugging and trotting out of the kitchen. Behind her she could hear pans and pots flying, and suddenly Pinkie was trotting along beside her. She grinned at the mare as they exited the bakery.
The pair trotted through the streets of Ponyville, giggling and chatting as they walked. Twilight snorted, giggling at a joke Pinkie had just told her when the park came into view. She sped up, her hooves pounding the dirt as she raced into the park. She saw ponies of all colors and sizes, but none that matched her Rainbow.
Her ears fell as she glanced back at Pinkie, who was waving at a group of ponies who had just arrived. Twilight couldn't help but frown as she saw Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity trotting towards them. She waved to her friends, still searching for a specific rainbow mare.
Her eyes flew open as a familiar cyan blur shot across the park, diving straight at her. She shrieked as Dash tackled her, scooping the unicorn into the air as they twirled upwards, her hooves holding Twilight tight to her chest. Twilight grinned as Rainbow slowly lowered the pair to the ground below.
“I'm sorry I dashed off this morning, but I had to get your present ready for today!” she said, practically bouncing in place as her wings fluttered ever so slightly. She grinned, tucking her wings into her side as the rest of their friends joined them.
“That was super cool, Rainbow! You think you can scoop me up like that?” Pinkie asked, bouncing around Dash with awe in her eyes. Rainbow shook her head, sighing as she grinned at Pinkie.
“Hold on, Pinkie. Before we do anything else, I want to give my present to Twilight.” Rainbow said, gazing past her friends to the smiling unicorn. Twilight blushed, a warm grin appearing on her face as Rainbow dug into the saddlebag slung over her shoulder.
“Close your eyes!” Rainbow commanded, grinning nervously. Twilight closed her eyes, her smile growing even larger. She heard Rainbow withdraw something from the bag, and she could hear somepony suck in a deep breath. Her smile faltered ever so slightly, and she fought to keep her eyes closed.
“Open them.” Rainbow said after a moment of silence. Twilight opened her eyes, gazing at Rainbow's hoof. A large feather sat atop her hoof, the blue almost perfectly matching that of her fur. Twilight bit back a gasp as she lifted her eyes to Dash's.
“Um… Not tryin' ta interrup or anythin but wha's so special bout a feather?” Applejack asked, her hoof scratching her head as she looked on with confusion.
“That's not just a feather. That's one of Dash's remiges..” Fluttershy whispered, drawing blank stares from Applejack and Pinkie. “It's one of her flight feathers.” She grabbed her mane, pulling it in front of her as she hid behind it. “It's a very special way for pegasi to show that they wanna be with someone for life. Imagine if Rarity gave her horn to someone, or if Pinkie gave away her party cannon!” Fluttershy said, darting back behind her hair as she finished speaking.
Pinkie and Rarity stared at each other in amazement, before Pinkie spoke up.
“Well I have 13 more party cannon's but I understand what you mean.”
“Are you sure you wanna give this to me?” Twilight asked, gazing at Dash with concern.
Dash remained silent, a smile on her face as she studied the mare before her and held the feather out to her. “There are a lot of things I haven't been sure of in my life, but this isn't one of them.”
Twilight smiled, her horn flaring as she levitated the feather to her side. She stepped forward, kissing Dash on the lips as she safely tucked the feather into her saddlebag. Rainbow smiled, melting into the unicorn’s kiss as Twilight broke contact. She stepped back, withdrawing Dash's present with a magenta glow.
She looked at the box self consciously, wondering if it was good enough to give Dash. She bit back her fear and pushed the box forward, smiling as Rainbow settled herself onto her haunches to open the present. Rainbow giggled as Twilight set it in her hooves, quickly pulling the box apart and examining the contents.
“Whoa…” Rainbow looked up at her with wide eyes, tears already forming in the pegasus's eyes.
“What is it?” Rarity asked, craning her neck to try to see the box. Rainbow withdrew a piece of white paper, the golden trim catching the sun's light.
She cleared her throat before reading.
“Dear Miss Dash,
You are cordially invited to fly with the Wonderbolts in our show for the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot in the coming month. After our meeting last month, I spoke with the rest of the Wonderbolts and they have unanimously agreed to allow you to fly with us. If you would like to fly with us, please respond with your measurements so we can have our tailors begin making your honorary Wonderbolt uniform. We will have a schedule sent to you with the days that we will be practicing for the show, and if you so wish to join us, you will need to attend aforementioned practices.
Sincerely,
Spitfire
Rainbow finished, tears of joy sliding down her face as her friends looked on speechlessly. Twilight looked on nervously, chewing on her lip as she shuffled side to side.
“I'm sorry; I know it's not as good as yours but I thought you w-” She stopped as Dash broke into laughter, her body shaking as she collapsed to the ground. Her ears narrowed as Rainbow continued to giggle, her shoulders shaking with the force of her laughter. Slowly Dash stopped laughing, and pulled herself into a sitting position.
“Calm down Twi; I love it!” She said, her eyes sparkling with joy. “It's the best present I've ever gotten! How did you get them to invite me to fly with them?” She asked curiously, cocking her head at Twilight.
Twilight blushed as she smiled. “I didn't do anything. I sent them a letter simply reminding them that you saved them twice already, not to mention all of Canterlot saw your Sonic Rainboom at the Royal Wedding. They sent that letter back before I had to pull any strings.”
Rainbow seemed to smile even larger as she lifted herself into the air, the letter safely tucked inside her saddlebag. She drifted to Twilight's side, snuggling into her shoulder as she landed beside her. The rest of their friends stepped forward, smiles on their face as they sat down in a circle around the couple.
Twilight giggled as she noticed a mustached Spike in the distance, who was nervously watching Rarity, apparently waiting for the mare to head off alone.
Rarity turned, stifling a giggle as he wiggled his eyebrows at her from the other side of the park. She stood, stretching her legs for a moment before she bid her friends farewell and trotted over to Spike, a slight blush on the baby dragon’s face as she approached.
Pinkie giggled at Spike, before standing as well.
“I'm going to have to head back to the bakery, girls. Mr. and Mrs. Cake need my help with the bakery.” She waved goodbye to the rest of her friends before hopping away, quickly vanishing into the town square.
Fluttershy and Applejack remained sitting, snacking on a few apples the farm pony had brought with her.
Rainbow nudged Twilight in the side, causing the mare to glance at her. Rainbow beckoned to the street with her muzzle as she got to her hooves.
“Well AJ, Fluttershy. Rainbow and I are gonna head back to the library and have some dinner.” Twilight said, smiling as Applejack waved her hoof in a 'get going' gesture. Fluttershy waved goodbye, a smile on her face as a familiar white bunny nestled himself in her arms.
The couple turned, their hooves sliding over the fresh grass as they wound their way through Ponyville. Rainbow gazed at Twilight, a smile on her face as she opened her mouth. “You like your gift?” She asked curiously.
“The feather?” Twilight asked. “I really love it Rainbow. I wish I had gotten you a better present, but I’m very glad you like it.” She said, blushing as Rainbow nuzzled her cheek.
“Anything to do with the Wonderbolts is perfect, Twi. They're the most important thing in my life!” She said, her eyes sparkling as she gazed off into the distance.
Twilight snorted as she giggled at her marefriend. “That's not what you told Fluttershy!”
Dash looked down, her face scrunched up in confusion. “When did I tell Fluttershy you were that important...” She cocked her head, gazing at the ground.
Twilight kept walking for a moment, giggling to herself before she realized Rainbow had stopped walking. She turned, studying the mare worryingly for a moment.
“What's wrong, Rainbow?” She asked, her voice full of concern.
"When did I tell Fluttershy that?" She demanded, pointing a hoof at Twilight agitatedly.
Twilight froze, her body going tense as she lowered her gaze to the road before her. "It was... it was before..." She trailed off, flinching as Dash yelled.
"Before what!" She froze, her eyes narrowing at the unicorn. "Before we started dating..." Dash glared at Twilight now, taking an uncertain step backwards. “You spied on me?” Her voice cracked as she stared at Twilight. “You were there when I told Fluttershy how much I loved you... That was you that ripped her door open like that!” She said, anger and pain seeping into her voice.
Twilight sucked in a breath, her heart beating fast as she tried to come up with an excuse.
“Even worse than spying, you heard my deepest feelings for you and avoided me for an entire week!” She said, talking over the stuttering unicorn. Tears were leaking from her eyes as she yelled at Twilight, her face crumbling. “You didn't think about how I felt about you avoiding me, did you? I convinced myself I was imagining things, but I knew it! If that's how you felt, Twilight, than maybe you shouldn't have changed your mind!” She stomped her hoof into the ground, tears falling to the ground below her.
She glared at Twilight who was crying openly now, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to think of a suitable response.
“I wasn't trying to sp-” She started saying, only for Rainbow to cut her off.
“But you did! Instead of coming to me afterwards and explaining yourself, you avoided me! You made me think I had no chance with you and that I was wasting my time, Twilight! I cried a lot that week and all because you were being selfish!” She said, her wings arching as she glared at the unicorn. “I'm out of here!” She yelled, flapping her wings as she rocketed into the air.
“No! Please, Rainbow come back!” She begged, her horn flaring as she tried to grab the pegasus out of the sky. Her horn died down as her spell missed, leaving Twilight standing all alone in the middle of the street, tears streaming down her face as she watched Rainbow Dash fly off into the distance.