Everypony in Ponyville has a way that they like to relax and spend times with friends. For example, Rarity liked to bring the girls along to the spa for a day of pampering. Pinkie Pie threw parties for any reason imaginable. Applejack loved running and playing with Winona, as well as having play dates with the other girls' pets.
Rainbow Dash, however, had a much more relaxed way to blow off steam. She loved to go swimming in the lake just outside Ponyville, and she often brought someone along with her. It just so happened that day that Twilight wanted to come along. The concept of spending a whole day at the lake, swimming and laying out with her best friend made Rainbow Dash very happy, so she was at Twilight's door early the next morning.
The purple unicorn sheepishly opened her door, greeted by the beaming face of her friend. "Rainbow, why are you here already? I told you I had to take care of some studying before we went to the lake."
"I know, but I figured you could maybe use some help or something. I don't know, I'm just really bored and can't wait to get out in the water." Rainbow Dash continued to grin ear to ear. This amused Twilight slightly, and she conceded to leaving early. After all, She had a week before that assignment was due to Princess Celestia. At least that's what Rainbow Dash told her to get her out of the door.
Ponyville's lake was a small body of water situated just outside of town, and was usually completely empty. This was the case that day as the two friends walked up and claimed their spots on the grass. Rainbow Dash wasted no time in dropping her saddle bag and hopping into the refreshingly cool water. Shortly after, the other mare slowly lowered herself into the water, wincing at the sudden cold that enveloped her body.
"C'mon Twi, don't be such a baby!" Rainbow Dash playful remarked as she splashed Twilight with her hoof.
"Oh don't you start today with me missy!" Twilight shot back on the generous splash sent flying towards Rainbow Dash.
They continued splashing each other and swimming around for a short while, and then retreated to the warm shore. They each laid down in one of the chairs sitting on the bank, and it wasn't long before Rainbow Dash was snoozing softly. "I swear. Sometimes I don't get that pegasus," Twilight commented to herself. She had prepared for this happening, and produced a novel from her bag.
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Scootaloo zoomed through Ponyvile on her scooter, using her diminutive wings as propulsion. She would often reach breakneck speeds and attempt to impress the other ponies with tricks and flips. Today was not going too well for her, however. Her best friends were both off having fun in Manehattan and Canterlot, and her idol had told her that she was busy today.
She had thought about maybe going to Sweet Apple Acres and asking Applejack, if she needed any help around the farm, but then quickly thought against doing manual labor. Another idea was to go to Rarity's boutique and help her with whatever she was doing, but Spike was already filling that role when she arrived. The only thing she had managed to get accomplished today was learning from Spike that Rainbow Dash was hanging out at the lake with Twilight Sparkle.
"It's perfect," she said to herself as she shot towards the outskirts of Ponyvile, "I'll show up at the lake, and Rainbow Dash can hang out with her two favorite ponies at the same time. And the best part is, it'll be a surprise!" Her lips coiled into a smile as she thought about the joy she would give Rainbow by surprising her.
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Twilight Sparkle found herself slowly drifting off as the words of her book began to slowly blend together into a near impassible wall of words. "A small nap won't hurt," she said quietly to herself. She laid the book over her eyes to block the sun, and slowly drifted off.
Shortly after that, the pegasus beside began to stir, and slowly came to consciousness. She stretched her limbs and wings together, and looked over at the peaceful form of her best friend. "Poor kid, she must be beat," Rainbow Dash remarked to herself. She adjusted the book covering her face in an attempt to help block out the sun more effectively, but ended up knocking it off altogether.
She wasn't sure how to process the next wave of emotion that overtook her. She began to look at Twilight's incredibly peaceful face, and watch her chest slowly rise and fall with each breath. Her mind began to fully appreciate just how beautiful her best friend was. So much so that she began to worry herself.
"What's your head doin' girl? That's your best friend! Plus, she's not a stallion! She's a mare!" Rainbow Dash struggled audibly but quietly to herself. It was then that she looked back over to Twilight.
She really is beautiful though...
Just as Rainbow Dash was about to cover Twilight's face back up so as not to rouse suspicion, she heard a faint fluttering. It sounded almost like a buzzing, and seemed to be coming from the hill behind the lake. When she finally realized what that sound was, it was too late to do anything.
The orange figure of Scootaloo crested the hill, and sped into the air. She furiously flapped her wings, but was only able to hover for a moment before plummeting into the lake below. As she broke the water surface, a large splash headed directly towards the two relaxing ponies on the other bank.
Twilight was utterly drenched with water, and was immediately awake. "What's the big idea, Rainbow?!" she piped up incredulously.
"It wasn't me Twilight, it was a certain little filly that is slowly swimming towards us," Rainbow Dash returned. As the smaller pony reached the bank, she climbed out of the water with a huge grin on her face.
"Hey guys! What's up?"
"What's up is you just ruined a perfectly good nap. I haven't had a chance to sleep in weeks!" Twilight was still slightly peeved, even though she knew that Scootaloo did not mean to splash her and ruin her nap.
"Oh, right. Well about that, see, I was trying to find something to do today. I went to see if I could help Rarity, and Spike told me you two were out here. I decided I would come surprise you and hopefully go for a little swim with you guys," she was still wearing a grin as wide as her face as she said this. The unicorn began to gather her things into her saddle bag, mumbling under her breath about everything being wet. "I'm really sorry, Twilight."
Twilight looked up from her bag to see the smile on the young filly's face slowly drift into a frown. "I accept your apology, Scootaloo, but I really must get back to the library. I have some important work to get done. Rainbow Dash, I hope we can do this again soon. That was very nice," Twilight shot Rainbow a subtle smile. This made her heart jump for an odd reason, but she brushed this feeling off.
After Twilight left, Rainbow decided to hang out a little bit longer with Scootaloo. At around sunset, she made sure the little filly got home safely, and returned to her cloud in the sky for a sleepless night.
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Rainbow Dash slept fitfully that night. If you could even call it sleep. She tossed and turned all night, visions of her best friend dancing through her mind. How beautiful she was, how peaceful she had looked, that cute look she got when she was angry.
This isn't right. We're both mares. This isn't natural. Come on Dashie, you aren't gay...are you?