What the heart needs
“What do you mean with ‘you’re leaving’?” Rainbow Dash asked while she was close to tears.
“Come on, are you really this slow? I’m leaving you.” a blue Pegasus pony with orange mane coldly said. He didn’t care that his words broke the mare’s heart. After all he already had some other mares in other towns although they didn’t know about each other.
“Why? All I said was that I want to wait until our first time.”
Your first time maybe he thought with a dirty smile before he turned around. He looked back at Rainbow Dash with his cold eyes. “It’s not my fault that you want a life-long relationship. I’m not as stupid as you, searching for a life-partner. All I want is some fun and nothing more” Cloudburst arrogantly said. “You’re not cool enough for me. You’re just a cheesy and pathetic cry-baby” he coldly said before he left Rainbow Dash’s cloud castle and her life.
All he left behind was Rainbow Dash who cried in sadness and despair. Cloudburst had been her first love, the first pony she had been in a relationship but now he was gone. Her heart was broken.
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Two days had passed since Cloudburst had left Rainbow Dash. Most of the time she had just lied on her bed and had cried into her pillows while she had thought of all the happy memories that had been long over. She hadn’t flown for two days now and she had even put off her work as a member of the weather ponies.
A cheesy and pathetic cry-baby; those distasteful words played in her head over and over, each time breaking her heart a little more. She had looked at the photo of her and Cloudburst. The glass was broken after she had thrown the picture against the wall, only for her to take it again in her hooves, reflecting on what she had done.
Her friends had been worried because of her. None of them knew what had happened to her and she didn’t want to tell them either. However they had somehow convinced her to come out of her house. They were now sitting together at Sweet Apple Acres. Although Rainbow Dash was pshysically there her mind was somewhere else. She was neither listening to the words of her friends nor had she touched her apple cider yet.
What had gone wrong? Where had she made a mistake? She didn’t know. The whole relationship with Cloudburst had gone well. They had competitions, they had kissed and had cuddled and they had fun together. All in all they had been happy. Since Rainbow never had a relationship before she hadn’t wanted to make any mistakes. That had also been the reason why she had preferred to wait until she sleeps with him.
Although she usually hated waiting this special case had been important to her and it still was. She had wanted to wait for the perfect moment, something special. However Cloudburst hadn’t wanted to wait and then so he left her. Was it possible that he had just wanted to sleep with her? ‘No, he loved me’ she thought. She didn’t want to think bad of him but she couldn’t avoid the feeling that he had never truly loved her and that he had just wanted to sleep with her.
“Are you alright, Rainbow?” a voice asked and pulled her out of her thoughts. Rainbow looked up and realized that all of her friends were looking at her with concerned looks.
“Yeah, I’m fine” Dash said with a forced smile.
“Ah ya sure, sugarcube? Ya don’t look so.”
“I said I’m fine!” Rainbow Dash almost barked at Applejack, earning surprised and shocked looks from her friend. None of them had ever seen their Pegasus friend like this not even Fluttershy even though she knew Rainbow the longest out of all of them. The shy pony sank deeper under the table.
Rainbow Dash took her cider and drank it. However the joy she usually felt when she drank the sweet and almost magic tasting cider was missing. Every drop of the cider tasted bitter.
“There isn’t a reason to be rude” Rarity said, immediately regretting her words when the Pegasus pony banged her mug on the table, sending a bit of its content on the table. Fluttershy let out a squeak and was now completely hiding under the table.
“Are you finished” Rainbow angrily shouted at Rarity.
“We are just worried, Rainbow” Twilight desperately tried to calm the situation but it didn’t go as well as she had hoped.
“I don’t have any time for this stupid nonsense” Without another word or a look at her friends Rainbow Dash took off.
“What in tarnation was that?” Applejack asked while Twilight and Rarity tried to calm down Fluttershy.
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After the disaster at Sweet Apple Acres the whole situation with Rainbow Dash had only become worse. With every day she had become more and more testy and her friends had gotten all hooves full to save Rainbow’s reputation. None of them knew why her friend was acting this odd but as good friends they tried everything to help her.
Together Applejack and Fluttershy desperately tried to find out what had happened to Rainbow and after a whole week they finally found a pony that knew the reason. The pony didn’t know any details but they had enough information to help Rainbow.
Together Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight and Pinkie searched for Rainbow. It wasn’t very hard to find her since they all knew Rainbow’s favorite places. Soon the five friends found a little, dark cloud with a rainbow tail visible. Usually Rainbow Dash preferred white clouds to nap on them but it wasn’t a secret that she took black clouds when she was sad or depressed.
After a last determined look to each other the friends went closer to the cloud. “Rainbow darling, we need to talk” Rarity said loud enough for the Pegasus pony to hear.
“What do you want?” A little movement of the rainbow tail was the only reaction. It seemed as if Dash didn’t have any intention to fly down or look at her friends.
“We know what happened between you and Cloudburst and…” before Twilight had a chance to continue she was interrupted by a raging Rainbow Dash.
“YOU SPIED ON ME?!” Rainbow angry shouted, her anger almost explode. “Who the hay gave you the right to interfere in other pony’s private life?”
“We are your friends and we are trying to help you.”
“Oh, yeah? I can’t remember asking you for help.” With every second Rainbow Dash became angrier and angrier.
“Friends are to help each other when they need them” Twilight said.
“I don’t need any of you.”
“Yes, ya do, sugarcube. It ain’t good fer ya to hide yur feelings.”
“Don’t you have some apples to buck, Applejerk?” Rainbow said annoyed not even caring that she was hurting her friend. “You all are making me sick! I don’t want to see any of you ever again.” Without another word Rainbow turned around and took off.
“…Rainbow.” Applejack murmured.
When Rainbow Dash had turned around Applejack got a look into Rainbow’s eyes. Although she saw Rainbow’s face for only a second she was speechless from what she saw. The usually strong and proud Rainbow Dash had tears in her eyes. In all her life Applejack had never seen Rainbow Dash cry. It’s true that there had been moments when Rainbow was sad or couldn’t hide some tears like the time when Applejack had ran away but this time it was different. Applejack had the bad feeling that more had happened between her and Cloudburst than Cloudburst leaving her.
“How dare she?” Rarity began but was interrupted by Applejack’s hoof to her mouth.
“It’s ok, Rarity.” Applejack said and realized that she was the only one who saw Rainbow crying.
“No it’s not. In the last few days Rainbow Dash had been an even worse jerk than her old friend Gilda.” Rarity said angrily.
“I know but I’m sure you would also act different if your coltfriend left you.” Applejack said, ignoring the fact that Rarity still didn’t have a coltfriend. “Moreover I fear that more had happened than Cloudburst just leaving Rainbow.”
The five friends looked at the sky where a small point slowly disappeared.
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Once again Rainbow Dash was lying on her soft cloud bed with her favorite Wonderbolts plushie in her hooves. It was already after sunset and her room was dark. She couldn’t cry anymore neither she could sleep. She was just lying on her bed and listening to the sound of her clock.
*tick tock tick tock*
She didn’t know what had happened today. Her friends had just tried to help her and she had been downright vile to them. Since Cloudburst had left her she wasn’t the same pony anymore. She had been mean to her friends, she hadn’t worked and the worst part she hadn’t had any flying sessions. Hay, she had even sat before her favorite cider and she didn’t like it. What had happened to the strong pony she had been before Cloudburst?
Who I am kidding, she thought after a felt eternity. No stallion will ever truly love me and after today I don’t even have my friends anymore. She felt like she was about to cry but there were no tears left. I'm all alone.
She knew that her friends had only tried to help her but she just couldn’t accept it. It was just too embarrassing to her. How could she ever tell them that she had never slept with a stallion? That she the pony that always acted proud and cool was waiting for her true love. She could easily have ten stallions on each hoof but she was waiting for the perfect one. Only Fluttershy knew Rainbow’s sentimental side she hid all the time before everypony else. However after today she couldn’t talk to Fluttershy anymore.
For almost two months she had been in a relationship with Cloudburst. She had loved him with all her heart and she had thought that he had been the perfect stallion. However he had just played with her and had broken her heart.
If Rainbow Dash would have told her friends what had happened and why Cloudburst had left her they would have laughed at her, made fun of her. They would have called her a cheesy, pathetic cry-baby just like he had.
Rainbow thought about her options. She could apologize for the way she acted but she wasn’t sure if her friends would talk to her anymore. She even thought about flying away to start a new life somewhere else but her loyalty kept her from it. Although she had lost her friends today she still was the Element of Loyalty. If the Elements of Harmony would be needed someday she would be there.
Annoyed and angry with herself Rainbow Dash stood up. She needed to do something but she couldn’t think of anything. Even if her friends wouldn’t listen to her anymore she would apologize for what happened but it was already too late. Moreover she didn’t feel like flying right now. Without anything to do Rainbow just walked in her cloud home. Then she found a flyer Applejack had given her some weeks ago. It was a flyer of a bar called Eternal Dragon.
Although Rainbow Dash disliked alcohol she felt like having a drink anyway. Maybe it would help her to forget about Cloudburst. Luckily the bar was located outside of Ponyville so the chance to run into her friends was very slim and it was very likely that Applejack was already asleep. After Rainbow took some bits with her she left her home to check out this bar.
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Several minutes later Rainbow Dash landed on a clearing outside of Ponyville. She could hear music and followed it. Soon she found the big building with a large sign. Eternal Dragon was written in golden letters and a big green dragon was also on the sign. Unlike the dragons she had seen before this one was very long almost like a snake. In one of its claws the dragon held something like a golden ball with five orange stars on it. There were also six more of these balls on the sign each of them with a different number of stars from one to seven.
Rainbow went closer to the bar where a unicorn mare was standing next to the entrance. When she saw Rainbow Dash she smiled and with a friendly voice she said “Welcome to the Eternal Dragon where your greatest wish will come true.”
Some bits later Dash entered the big building and found herself in a surprisingly modern room. She could see many ponies and she even saw some familiar faces. On one table she could see a green unicorn mare together with pale cream earth pony mare. Next to an old piano she could see a group of ponies she had also seen at the Grand Galloping Gala. Rainbow especially recognized the gray earth pony mare. According to the unicorn from the entrance the music that was played changed every day.
After she searched for a free seat Rainbow found one at the bar counter. The current song had just ended when Rainbow sat down. When she read the list of beverages she couldn’t believe how many different drinks they had. Since she hadn’t any real experience with alcoholic drinks she ordered an appletini. After all she was here thanks to Applejack and the drink also had apple cider in it.
When she got her appletini it wasn’t what she expected. The cocktail was in an odd glass and the liquid was green. Rainbow only knew alcohol-free apple cider so she thought that the alcohol had turned the drink green. When she tasted it her tummy suddenly felt oddly warm. I think I like this drink. she thought when the next song started.
I think about the things we lost,
And I think about the things we had,
It’s funny, but as long as I had you,
Then, I guess, it wasn’t so bad.
The song was sung by a green Pegasus mare with blue mane and tail. She was wearing a beautiful red dress while she was holding a microphone.
Now, we’re running out of time,
And dancing all the while,
The engine sure went empty,
And I think I’m smelling fire.
The melody of the song was sad and somehow Rainbow Dash could stop to listen to the song while she sipped on her appletini. Somehow she felt a connection between this song and herself. It was almost as if this mare was singing about Rainbow’s life.
I gave ya love, ya gave me fire.
I took ya in, ya took me higher.
If I wasn’t what you wanted,
then tell me what it was…
I asked myself the same thing again and again. Rainbow Dash thought when she heard the next part of the song. She had given Cloudburst everything but he had just played with her feelings. The only things that were left from their relationship were memories, some gifts and a broken picture.
Lost yourself, in yesterday,
Forgot, about, tomorrow,
Now there's, not another, minute left,
To beg, or steal, or borrow.
He had destroyed her life. All the love she had given him was paid with his cold hard eyes and his arrogant attitude. Cloudburst had called her a cheesy and pathetic cry-baby but instead of forgetting him Rainbow wanted him back. During the last days she realized that it was most likely that he had never truly loved her.
Or love me I gave to you,
all that I believe,
Now I’m standing here, without a clue.
Can’t ya tell me what it is ya need?
She had met him after she had won another flying competition. Unlike the Best Young Flyers competition this had only been a little competition and it hadn’t been hard to win it. Cloudburst had been one of the competitors and he had been the only one who had been a challenge for Rainbow Dash. He had been very nice and friendly and after less than a week they had been a couple. For her it had been love at first sight and for two months they had been a happy couple. This relationship had been one of the most special things in her life and she had wanted it to be perfect.
However now she knew what Cloudburst had really been after. It hadn’t been love for him and now Rainbow was sure she had just been one of many mares for him. How many hearts had he already broken and how many will be break after somepony will realize that he wasn’t the nice and friendly stallion he seemed to be?
I gave ya love, ya gave me fire.
I took ya in, ya took me higher.
If I wasn’t what you wanted,
then tell, me what it was….
She had fought Nightmare Moon and Discord but despite their corruption Cloudburst was even worse. He was a villain that wasn’t a threat for all of Equestria but to the heart of mares. It had taken more than a week for Dash to realize this but she still couldn’t forget him. It doesn’t matter who he was or what he had done because she had truly loved him.
He was the reason for her broken heart and he was also the reason Rainbow Dash had been angry with her friends. He had come into her happy life and after he had left her life had been destroyed. She wasn’t sure if her friends would ever forgive her but she would try everything to get back their friendship someday.
Rainbow had just finished her third appletini when she saw a Pegasus stallion walking toward her. He had a chocolate brown coat and a straw yellow mane and tail.
“No thanks. I don’t have any interest in you” Rainbow coldly said when the stallion was next to her.
“I neither have any interest in you but sadly this is the only free place.” he just responded before he ordered a drink.
The rest of the night was more or less uninteresting for Rainbow. She ordered two more appletinis and listened to the songs of the mare. Much to her annoyance the stallion was also there all the time. Each time when they accidentally look at each other it was a look of hate. Rainbow couldn’t explain why but somehow she felt better when she focused all her hate on this pony.
She was sure she would never see him again when she left the Eternal Dragon after another hour. Despite the alcoholic drinks she had. She still could fly with almost no problems. As soon as she was at home she just fell onto her bed and for the first time in days she slept like a baby without any thought about Cloudburst.
**********************************************************************************
Ok Rainbow, you can do this Rainbow Dash tried to cheer herself up. All you have to do is to go in and apologize.
For some minutes Rainbow was standing in front of Ponyville’s library and Twilight’s home. She had spied on her friends until they were all gathered in the same place. Dash hoped that this would be the best way to apologize for the way she acted but she was still standing in front the door. She reached her hoof to knock on the door but then she stopped.
What’s wrong with me? This isn’t the first time I apologize for something. Usually she would have just knocked on the door and she would have told them that she was sorry for the way she had acted. However she couldn’t move and even worse her hooves were trembling. It seemed as if she had lost her self-confidence. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn’t knock on the door.
With a sigh Rainbow let her head hung. If she had really lost her self-confidence what was left of her? How could she become a Wonderbolt when she couldn’t even knock on a door? After a last unsuccessful try Rainbow Dash took off.
She didn’t know that just in time her friends left the library. Although they were still able to see her friend leaving they hadn’t a chance to call her back.
**********************************************************************************
On the same day Rainbow was once again at the Eternal Dragon with another appletini. Just like the day before the bar was full of ponies. This night a white unicorn mare with sunglasses was responsible for the music. She looked like a DJ and Rainbow liked her music.
She was listening to the music when suddenly somepony came toward her. It was the same stallion she had seen last night and by his annoyed look he also remembered her.
“You again? Don’t you have a home” he said not hiding his annoyance.
“I have a home but I don’t have any time to talk with idiots” Rainbow responded when he sat next to her.
With the stallion’s appearance the night was ruined for Rainbow Dash but she didn’t leave the bar. She wouldn’t leave this bar because of a loser like him.
For the next couple of hours they just sat next to each other and drank their cocktails without a word. Again they looked at each other with hate when they accidentally looked at each other.
The same situation repeated on the next night and on the following night. Every night when Rainbow visited the bar it was only a matter of time until the stallion appeared. Each time he took the place next to Rainbow Dash and every night they drank their cocktails and looked at each other with hate. Although she wouldn’t admit it Rainbow Dash got used to it and with every night she liked this ritual a bit more. Moreover it seemed as if the stallion also liked this ritual because every night he took the place next to her even if there were more free places.
During the day she did her job as a weather pony while she tried to avoid her friends, which was very hard because Pinkie tried everything to talk with her. Although she tried more than once to apologize she just couldn’t face her friends and always hid when she saw them. She didn’t know how or why but her self-confidence was still missing and she didn’t know how she could get it back. However during the night she played the ritual with the stallion. For almost a week this had been Rainbow’s life until it all changed one night.
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It started like all the nights before. Half an hour after she had arrived at the bar the Pegasus pony arrived and took the place next to her. They silently sat next to each other and drank their cocktails. One hour passed without any changes of their nightly ritual.
“You never told me your name” Dash said after some time. She was surprised when she realized what she had just said. Maybe she had one or two appletinis too much but on the other hoof it was hard to hate somepony if you don’t even know his name.
“I’m Coconut” the stallion said, not looking at Rainbow Dash.
“What a stupid name” she responded with a giggle. “Coconut” she repeated and was doing her best to make the name sound as stupid as possible. She used a deeper and almost stupid voice while she laughed.
“I’m sure your name is even worse” Coconut angrily said.
“Oh yeah? I’m Rainbow Dash” she said. She already expected the name the bullies had used during fly school, Rainbow Crash.
“Lucky you.” Rainbow wasn’t sure if this was a compliment or if he was just too stupid to change Dash into Crash. “At least I’m sure you can’t even beat a chicken in a race” he added.
“Just for your information, I won the last Best Young Flyers competition” Rainbow said proud and made a heroic pose.
“You? In history maybe” Coconut said and earned an annoyed look from the mare. “Somepony like you would never be able to win the Best Young Flyers competition.”
“Well, my crown and the trophy are telling a different story” was her annoyed response.
“I’m sure you just bought some fakes, loser”
“What did you call me?”
“I said loser” he repeated.
The two ponies were now standing face to face. Nopony calls me a loser and gets away with it. Rainbow thought angrily. She had faced many unfriendly creatures like the three Pegasus bullies, Trixie and her ex-best friend Gilda. However this pony had just gone too far.
“I hate you” Rainbow growled angry.
“I hate you even more” was his response.
“I hate your stupid cutie mark” Dash said while she pointed with one of her hooves at his flank where a small island with a palm was.
“…and I hate your ugly mane.”
“Jerk!”
“Featherbrain!”
For some time Rainbow Dash and Coconut looked at each other with nothing but hate in their eyes. If this would have been a cartoon then everypony else would have been able to see thunderbolts between the eyes of the two ponies. Suddenly and without a warning the two ponies fall into each other’s forelegs for a kiss. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what just happened. Although she hated this unsympathetic pony just like he hated her they were kissing.
It was true that her coltfriend had left her with the meanest words anypony had ever said to her and it was also true that she was lonely. Moreover she had also lost her friends and although she still had her pet Tank he just couldn’t replace her friends. Maybe there had slowly developed something more than hate between her and Coconut but she doubted it. Instead Rainbow took the easiest explanation; she just had one or two drinks too much and now she was drunk.
When somepony was clearing its throat the two ponies broke their kiss. With blank faces Rainbow Dash and Coconut realized that the music had stopped and that everypony was looking at them. To escape the awkward silence both Pegasus ponies quickly moved back to their own seats, blushing in embarrassment.
“That’s your fault” Dash whispered after the music finally continued and the other ponies ignored them again.
“My fault? You kissed me” Coconut angrily whispered back.
“Idiot”
“Slowpoke”
For the rest of the night the two ponies ignored each other. Soon they left the bar and flew back to their own houses without another word. They didn’t need any words because they both knew that they would meet each other tomorrow night.
Some seats away but still within hearing sat a very familiar farmpony with a cowpony hat. She had seen the whole scene between her friend and the male Pegasus pony. When she had seen the argument she had almost stood up to end it but then without a warning the two ponies had kissed. Applejack ordered a last alcohol-free cocktail with a grin on her face. It seemed as if something good was about to happen to Rainbow although the Pegasus pony didn’t realize it yet.
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A loud noise filled the air around Rainbow’s cloud home and some birds were flying away. The cyan Pegasus pony was standing in the centre of her home and in front of her was a big moving box with many different items in it. There were letters, pictures, new sunglasses and some CDs. Of course Rainbow had no intention to move away but nevertheless she knew what she had to do. In her hooves she was holding the picture of her and Cloudburst, the glass was still broken. With a smile she threw the picture into the moving box where the glass now completely shattered.
She took the moving box in her hooves and flew out of her house. After she reached a certain place at the ground she placed the moving box next to some bags. Everything she had ever gotten from Cloudburst and all of her memories about her time with him were now at the place where they belonged. Without another look back Rainbow Dash flew away and left the moving box with all the other garbage of Ponyville.
It was odd to Rainbow Dash. Almost two weeks ago she had regretted that she had broken the glass of the picture of her and Cloudburst and now she had just thrown everything away and she felt good. Rainbow couldn’t explain why but it seemed as if she had finally returned to the proud and strong mare she had been before Cloudburst. No, that wasn’t true, she had changed. Step by step she had become stronger then she had ever been and even her self-confidence had returned.
It was a mystery to her but for the first time after Cloudburst had left her she was able to smile. She flew higher and faster and she loved it. She felt alive and all the sadness had finally disappeared as if Cloudburst had never existed. Dash couldn’t explain why but she was happy. A warm feeling was in her chest and if she wouldn’t know it better she would have sworn that thousands of butterflies were flying in her belly.
She flew for almost three hours and it was the best flying session she had in months. This new feeling of happiness was awesome and it almost felt like the feeling when she had won the Best Young Flyers competition. It seemed as if everything was perfect.
No, not everything Rainbow Dash corrected herself. I still have one thing to do.
She turned around and flew back to Ponyville. There was something even more important than a flying session and although she was still a bit afraid she knew what she had to do. Luckily she hadn’t had to search too long because soon she found what she was searching for. The five ponies were gathered outside of Sugar Cube Corner and it seemed as if they still hadn’t seen her.
It’s now or never. She thought. After she took a deep breath Rainbow flew to her friends and landed before them. When her friends heard the Pegasus pony landing they turned around. Rainbow couldn’t say what they were thinking but before they had any chance to say something Rainbow broke the silence.
“I know that you probably won’t talk to me anymore after the way I acted.” She began. So far so good, I guess. She thought. Dash knew that she had really messed up this time but she wouldn’t give up.
“You tried to help me and I acted like the worst kind of a bully. I just wanted to say that I’m very sorry and I hope that you’ll someday be able to forgive me.” After she finished she expected that the others would ask her to leave or something similar. How could they ever forgive her for what she had done?
“Oh Rainbow Dash, what are you talking about? Why should we not want to talk to you anymore? We are your friends.”
“You mean you’re not mad with me?” Rainbow said with a surprised look on her face. This was the last thing she had expected to hear.
“Of course not, you silly filly” Pinkie said in her typical Pinkie Pie way, a big smile on her face.
“We all knew that it had been a hard time for ya but Ah guess ya feelin’ better, don’t ya? “ There was something in Applejack’s look Rainbow Dash couldn’t figure out.
“Yeah, I guess all I needed was some time.”
“We missed you Rainbow” her friends said in unity before they had a group hug. All the fears that she had lost her friends were gone. She felt foolish that she had ever thought that her friends would hate her.
“I missed you, too” Dash said with tears in her eyes. She truly had the best friends a pony could ever have.
“We are planning a slumber party tonight. You’ll come too, won’t you?” Twilight said with a beaming smile that made it almost impossible to say no, no matter what she would ask.
“Sounds like fun. I would love to come but…” Rainbow started before she hesitated.
She had finally been able to overcome the break up with Cloudburst and she had her friends back but there was still something. She didn’t know why but she had to think about Coconut. He was unfriendly, stupid and a jerk but still she couldn’t forget him. Somehow she had gotten used to this things and the nightly ritual they had. In addition she had an odd feeling she couldn’t explain when she thought of him. There was no other choice but to meet him again. She just had to solve this mystery.
“Well, there is something I have to find out” Rainbow finally said. Just like expected she saw the disappointed faces of her friends. “I’m sorry girls but I promise that the next slumber party will be at my house. I’m sure Twilight can use her ‘walk on clouds’ spell again so you won’t fall through my floor.” The happy face of her friends was the perfect answer for Rainbow.
“I see you tomorrow. Have fun.” Rainbow said before she took off. Life couldn’t get any better. She had overcome Cloudburst and her friends had never been mad at her. However there was still the odd feeling she had and tonight she would figure out why she had it.
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Rainbow Dash was already at the Eternal Dragon and was waiting for Coconut. Unlike all the night before she had ordered an alcohol-free fruit cocktail. If she would meet Coconut again she didn’t want the alcohol to mess everything up. Rainbow tasted the cocktail she had ordered and was surprised. The sweet taste of strawberries, a pineapple slice and a little umbrella decoration made this the best cocktail she had drunk so far.
Just like all the nights before Coconut arrived within an hour after Rainbow Dash and again he took the place next to Rainbow Dash. Without the influence of alcohol Rainbow Dash had to admit that he was quite handsome for a jerk. After some time had passed Rainbow decided to start what she had planned.
“Where do you come from? I’ve never seen you around here” she started. After last night she wasn’t sure if he would answer her but luckily she wasn’t disappointed.
“I moved from Manehatten to Ponyville two weeks ago.”
“Why? From what I heard Manehatten should be a nice place.”
“It is but…” Coconut made a break and it seemed as if he was searching for the right words. “Well, let’s say I needed something new” he finally said.
“…something new” Rainbow slowly repeated. “I know exactly what you mean.” For some minutes the two ponies were silently sitting next to each other until Rainbow Dash again broke the silence. “Before I forget it, I wanted to apologize.”
This took Coconut by surprise and he looked at Rainbow. “For what” he asked.
“Well, for the whole thing with the insults and everything else. My coltfriend had left me some weeks ago and I was angry. I just needed a way to come to terms with the end of my relationship with him.” Rainbow Dash looked at Coconut who was listening. “When we met I had used you to focus my anger and my hate on you.” Coconut quickly looked away before he sheepishly laughed with a blush on his face.
“Have I said something funny” Rainbow said confused.
“No it’s just…” he started before he turned back to her. “Well, to be completely honest I did the same thing with you.”
“So your marefriend left you?”
“Actually it’s a bit more complicated.” Coconut said. He turned back to his cocktail and sipped on it before he continued. “I left her” he said quietly.
“Now I’m confused. If you left here why were you angry?” It didn’t make any sense. Was he a jerk like Cloudburst after all?
“I really loved her and she was my first real marefriend.” There was a deep sadness in his voice and Rainbow saw that he was speaking the truth. “We wanted our first night to be something special but she had other plans.”
“Your first night? My, my and I thought ponies like Princess Celestia are rare.”
“Very funny”
“Sorry. So what happened?”
“Well, she loved to use different beds when I was doing my job as a weather pony.” he said with a hurt voice.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that.” Rainbow said, feeling stupid for making a joke earlier. “It must been very hard for you when you found out the truth”
“Yes, it was. I did everything to make her happy and she betrayed me.” Rainbow could hardly believe that Coconut had suffered a similar fate than she. Although she didn’t know if Cloudburst had cheated on her she knew that it wasn’t love what he had been after. Even more surprising was what Coconut said when he continued.
“However now I think it was for the best. It showed me that she wasn’t the marefriend I’m waiting for.”
The mare he is waiting for she thought. When she had first met him he had been an unfriendly jerk in her eyes but now she saw him with different eyes. Rainbow was sure that everything he had said was the truth and she realized that he was a nice and friendly stallion.
“So, you were a weather pony in Manehatten” she asked after some time. With a grin she added “I thought only good flyers could become members of the weather ponies.
Coconut didn’t know what Dash was after but he played along. “I’m a very good flyer. I could easily beat you in a race” he responded with a challenging grin.
Gotcha! she thought. “Prove it” she said while she was keeping her grin.
“Whenever you want.”
“How about tomorrow before lunch?” Rainbow suggested. “I just hope you like to eat dust.”
“I’ll answer that question after I beat you “Coconut said before both ponies hoof-bumped. For a while both Pegasi just looked at each other.
“…but you won’t kiss me again, will you? I don’t mean that it wasn’t good I just meant that…” His face started to blush heavily “Forget what I said”
Rainbow Dash giggled when she saw his blushing face. He was cuter than she thought. “Don’t worry; I won’t kiss you again.” With a wink she added “At least not today.” When his face blushed even more Rainbow Dash couldn’t hide a laugh anymore. Unable to resist Rainbow’s cute laughter Coconut also began to laugh.
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Three weeks had passed and Rainbow Dash couldn’t be happier. The time she had spent with Coconut was like a dream. Despite the first impression she had had when she had met him she quickly learned how he truly was.
He was a friendly and nice pony and quickly she and Coconut had become good friends. Gradually they had developed a special friendship and after two weeks they had had their first date. It had been something very special and both ponies loved every second of the time they had spent on their first date. The first date quickly followed a second and a third date and soon Rainbow Dash and Coconut had become a couple.
Coconut was a very romantic stallion and Rainbow loved the attention he gave her. Coconut on the other hoof loved that Rainbow was a strong and confident mare. However what they both loved was the loyalty in their relationship. None of them would ever cheat on the other and that gave them both a good feeling. Neither Rainbow Dash nor Coconut had ever been happier and although they still waited for the more private parts of their relationship they had quickly become one of Ponyville’s perfect couples. Rainbow had soon introduced Coconut to her friends and they really liked him and even accepted him to be a member of their little pony gang.
Today was another beautiful day and Rainbow was about to have a romantic date with Coconut. Her life had become a beautiful, never-ending dream.
When Rainbow Dash found the latest newspaper on her doormat she couldn’t hide a grin. An article in the newspaper about a certain blue Pegasus pony that was beaten up by a group of angry mares made her day absolutely perfect. Cloudburst had finally gotten what he deserved. She thought about the slogan of the Eternal Dragon and she realized that her greatest wish had actually come true. Thanks to the Eternal Dragon she had finally found the stallion she had been waiting on for so long, Coconut.
That would make a good letter to the princess Rainbow thought. After she took a quill in her mouth she started to write:
“Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned that there is only a small line between hate and love. It is possible that the pony you love the most is actually the pony that will break your heart while the pony you hate the most might be the pony you will love more than anypony else.
Moreover I learned that sometimes it’s a bad idea to jump the gun on some things. Real friends won’t be mad at you if you will wait for the right moment and ponies who will be mad at you aren’t real friends. It might be hard if they break up and you might feel lonely. However in some cases this is the best for you because sometimes you just need to wait for the right time…”
With a warm smile she looked at Coconut who was now standing next to her before she kissed him.
“..or the right pony.
Your faithful subject
Rainbow Dash”
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Author’s note
Happy Easter to you all^^
I hope you liked this little one-shot story. It was fun to write it and now that I finally finished this fanfic I’ll continue to work on my main fanfic Rainbow in the sky which is also here on fimfiction.
Maybe some of you have recognized the song I used in this story. If you don’t know the song, it’s called “All of me” and was played during the episode Walkabout of Babylon 5. I really like that song and I thought it would be fitting for Rainbow’s situation in this story.
I also want to thank Scully for pre-reading and fixing this fanfic.