//------------------------------// // Sweet N' Spicy Redux chapter 4 // Story: Sweet N' Spicy // by Shahrazad //------------------------------// Written by: Shahrazad Edited by: Conantheimp Sweet N’ Spicy Redux: Chapter 4 ~~~~~ One week later... “NEXT STOP, PONYVILLE.”  The conductor’s voice boomed down the train car.  Soarin’s heart skipped a beat.  The train wheels screeched and the train slowly halted.  Today is the day, he thought as the Wonderbolts stepped off of the train. There was a blinding wall of flashes from the photo bulbs.  Soarin blinked and idly wondered when he would no longer be surprised by these ambushes.  A veritable wall of photographers blocked the train platform.  Spitfire sighed as she pushed her aviator glasses on to block the light.  She grinned and turned her head to the other Wonderbolts, “Attention Bolts, its time for a race.  Last one to the hotel buys the first round of drinks.” The Wonderbolts took wing with a rush of air.  They didn’t have their flight suits or goggles on but this wasn’t a sanctioned race.  Soarin was in high spirits and was the first one to reach the hotel.  The others weren’t far behind.  The whole race was worth it just to see the look on the photographer’s faces as they darted past.  One of these days, a quick pegasus is going to get his hooves on a camera and we’re going to be in trouble.  Then again, if they can keep up Spitfire might just recruit them on the spot.  Soarin sighed as the rest of the team landed next to him.  Several of the locals stopped to stare at them.  They could get some privacy as soon as they got inside.  The entire team followed Spitfire into the posh lobby... Rainbow Dash was reading the letter telling her which hotel they would be at for the fourth time.  She was seated in an overstuffed chair mostly hidden by faux plants.  She could peer through the fake foliage and see the front doors.  The lobby seemed to eat sound.  There was way too much carpet and all of it was very thick.  Hooves hardly made a sound when they sank into the plush fabric.  A cello was being played in the corner of the lobby by a grey mare with a dark mane.  It set a relaxing tone for everypony present. A white unicorn mare with a shock of neon blue hair sat down next to Dash and leaned in close.  “Uh, hi.”  She breathed out with an uncomfortable smile. Dash leaned away just a bit from this stranger.  She was acting bit too familiar for Dash’s taste and she could detect cider on her breath.  That might explain the violet tinted glasses and the invasion of personal space.  But why was this mare sniffing the air like she was trying to catch a scent?  Maybe I put on too much perfume? Dash thought.  Dash wasn’t one to preen herself too much but she had brushed her hair and wore some of Rarity’s perfume just for this occasion. “You smell really nice.  And I really like your mane.” “Uh, thanks.”  Rainbow Dash normally liked compliments but for things she did, rather than the way she looked.  That was Rarity’s arena. With a tinkle of a bell the front doors to the hotel opened and the Wonderbolts entered.  Dash stood up and so did the white mare next to her.  Dash smiled and that’s when it happened. The mare just leaned over and kissed her.  Gently, but right on the mouth.  She was so shocked her entire body went slack.  There was a soft pop almost inaudible in the lobby.  The Wonderbolts trotted up to the front desk to check in and Fleetfoot spied the two mares.  She nudged Soarin and pointed with a hoof.  Soarin’s expression went from happy at the sight of Rainbow Dash, to confused at the sight of the other mare.  It settled on seething anger.  Dash was still in shock when he stomped off. The mare backed off a step and smiled.  Dash blinked several times, “What the hay!” The unicorn looked at Dash with a quizzical expression over her tinted glasses.  “Uh, that was good for you...right?” Dash’s brow furrowed and her nose scrunched up, “Who the hay are you?!” DJ-Pon3 had a sinking feeling she had made a mistake.  But she couldn’t have made a mistake, how many ponies had a rainbow colored mane and tail?  She shook her head, trying to clear the liquid courage out of it.  She had a few ciders in her to build her confidence up before this moment.  The moment that was going horribly wrong.  “Uh, you mean you aren’t-” She yelped as she was dragged away.  Before she could get more than a few words out she was hauled out of the lobby by the porter and tossed into the street.  The security at the hotel had an extra set of muscles today because of the Wonderbolts.  The concierge was a haughty looking stallion with a waxed moustache and a black tuxedo with tails.  He rapped his hoof against the marble countertop and nodded towards Rainbow Dash, “We don’t like ruffians, pickpockets, or filly foolers in the hotel.  I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.”  By the look of the porter that was marching towards Dash, it wasn’t a request so much as a command. “Hold on there.”  Spitfire held up a hoof.  “It isn’t fair when ponies aren’t given a chance to explain themselves.”  She looked at Dash and tilted her head forward to look at Dash over her aviator glasses.  “And I can’t wait to hear this one.” Moments later... Rainbow Dash’s heart was pounding and she was trotting in place.  The porters were still carrying the Wonderbolt’s luggage from the train station to their rooms.  Spitfire had to order the rest of the team into their rooms so as to give Soarin some privacy.  Fleetfoot was still hanging around when Spitfire knocked on Soarin’s hotel room door.  It wasn’t latched and swung open without a sound.  Rainbow Dash almost galloped inside with Spitfire right behind her. Soarin was sitting on an easy chair staring out the window with an empty glass in one hoof.  An open bottle sat on the nightstand.  Spitfire facehoofed, she hating the paperwork required to approve extra hotel room charges and here Soarin was racking up a charge even before she had set a hoof into her own room.  Dash was next to him with a pleading expression. “What the hay was that all about!  Who was that mare?  How long were you going to wait before you told me you were a filly fooler?”  Soarin stood with a stomp which still didn’t make much sound on the carpet.  His brow was set in a flat line and his eyes bored into her. “I don’t know!  I’ve never seen that mare before in my life.  And I’m NOT a filly fooler, honest!” Fleetfoot had quietly snuck in behind Spitfire and sat down on a chair around the little kitchenette table.  She pulled a fresh bag of popcorn out and sat back to watch the show.  With a deft flick she tossed back a fluffy white piece and caught it in her mouth with a tiny crunch.  She enjoyed the taste and tried again.  She was surprised to find another hoof in her bag of popcorn and looked down to find it attached to a pink pony seated next to her.  The pink one took a hoof full of popcorn and crunched into it. “Who the hay are you?”  Fleetfoot whispered after the initial shock wore off. “Pinkie Pie,” the pink one whispered back without looking away from the drama. “What are you doing here?” “Watching the show, duh.”  She took another hoof full of popcorn. Fleetfoot blinked several times and rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating.  “Where did you come from?” “The refrigerator silly, where else?” “The...the WHAT?”  Fleetfoot made the fatal mistake of speaking too loudly.  Spitfire whirled around. “OUT Fleetfoot, and, uh, whoever you are.” “Awwww”  the two said in stereo.  Fleetfoot sighed and trotted out.  Pinkie Pie sadly opened the refrigerator door and disappeared from sight. Soarin continued as if nothing had happened, “Well you could have fooled me.” “I didn’t wait in the hotel to fight.  I came here to see you and to give you this.”  Rainbow Dash hoofed over her application.  Soarin looked at it but the anger was still in his eyes.  Spitfire walked over and opened her mouth to speak when she saw the form.  She snatched it away from Soarin. “HEY!”  Soarin was too angry to prevent himself from shouting at the colonel. Spitfire scanned the page just to be sure it was what she thought it was.  She carefully folded the application and placed it into her breast pocket.  She then slowly took off her aviator glasses, folded them and placed them in the opposite breast pocket.  She looked at Rainbow Dash.  “Thank you for your application to the Wonderbolts.  I will take it into consideration along with the other applications.  Consider yourself lucky since we don’t normally receive any more applications at this time,” she said crisply. “Who the hay cares about the applications!”  Soarin nearly shouted at Spitfire.  Spitfire looked at Soarin, cool as a cucumber. “You should care, Soarin.  Isn’t it nice that your little mare friend wants to join the Wonderbolts?” Soarin’s anger flickered out to be replaced by confusion.  “Uh, yeah, it is.  I don’t see-” Spitfire cut him off, “And don’t we have rules about this very situation?” Soarin’s dawning realization hit him like a ton of bricks.  No fraternization between Wonderbolts, he could hear Spitfire’s voice in his head repeating the rules to him.  “Oh hay.” “Oh hay is right, Soarin.  This is fine little mess we’ve gotten ourselves into.  But I can see a couple of solutions.”  Spitfire’s gaze held him, her eyes like a pair of ice chips.  Soarin felt like all of heat was being pulled out of him. “Boss, we can fix this.  We could-” “Oh I know exactly what I can do about it.  But I would rather you took care of it.”  Spitfire trotted towards the door.  In case it wasn’t clear enough, Spitfire left Soarin with a parting shot, “If you don’t take care of it Soarin, I WILL.”  She was out the door leaving Rainbow Dash and Soarin alone in the hotel room.  The two looked at each other in the oppressive silence.  Soarin felt as if the walls were closing in on him. Dash just looked between the door and Soarin, “What was that all about.” Soarin’s eyes snapped back to Dash, “Don’t try to change the subject.” ~~~~~ It had been almost an hour.  Fleetfoot and Spitfire were in her hotel suite with stacks of applications sitting between them.  They had exchanged only a few words of greeting.  Spitfire didn’t want to talk and Fleetfoot didn’t want to set her off.  After years of time with her commanding officer Fleetfoot knew when Spitfire was irritated.  Subtle twitches of the brow and ear told Fleetfoot that Spitfire was about to live up to her name at the slightest provocation.  It wasn’t difficult to be quiet.  Not with the racket next door.  They shouted and fought, creating a wild racket.  Spitfire and Fleetfoot could hear parts of the shouting match through the thick walls.  They both wished they were deaf right now. CRASH tinkle-tinkle “Stop lying!” “I’m not lying!” “Then what the hay was that in the lobby?” “I don’t know!” “Just some random filly fooling?” “I said I don’t know!” “Liar!” Kishhh “Don’t call me that!” “You were just waiting to betray me weren’t you!” “How dare you!” “Oh looks like I struck a nerve!” “Do you know who I am!” “Yeah, a filly fooler!” “That does it!  We’re through!” SLAM STOMP STOMP STOMP stomp stomp stomp Spitfire dropped her quill and brought both hooves up to her face.  She rubbed her temples.  For a brief moment she appeared to be very old.  As if the weight of responsibility wore away at her vitality like water dripping on a stone.  Fleetfoot finally spoke, “I guess they’re done.  Do you want me to go in there and get him in here to finish these applications?” “I’ll take care of it.”  Spitfire’s hooves fell to her sides.  She still looked older than she was but as she drew in a breath she regained the dignity that made her the commanding officer.  “But first we need to take a look at this application.  Soarin isn’t allowed to judge this one.  And if she makes it, he isn’t allowed to judge her final exam either.” “That might be a little hard to pull off, won’t the others notice?” “Oh I’ll let him sit in and submit a score.  I’m just going to throw it out.” Fleetfoot snickered, “Lets take a look at the amazing Rainbow Dash.”  She picked up the creased application and used an extra critical eye to appraise it.  She read it twice and sighed.  Damn.  She put a checkmark in one corner and handed it to Spitfire. “Please tell me she’s a one time local derby winner with a wing power of nine point zero.” “Sorry boss,” Fleetfoot said sadly.  “Seven years as a weather pony.  Three of them as the local captain.  Top marks at flight school.  Wing power at sixteen point five.”  Even Spitfire raised an eyebrow at that.  “And I don’t think I have to tell you the rest.  Winner of the best young flyer competition last year and the only pony to perform a sonic rainboom in over three decades.  It’s like the perfect application.” Spitfire’s ears fell, “That’s what I was afraid of.  This would have been so much easier if she wasn’t qualified, or even marginally qualified.  But these other recruits...”  Spitfire sighed and spoke at the paper, “Time for me to face the music.  See you at the academy, Rainbow Dash.”  She put the second check mark on the application and tossed it into a short pile of papers.  Spitfire stood and walked towards the door.  “Keep working, I’ll be back in a minute.” Spitfire took off her aviator glasses even before she entered Soarin’s room.  The door had a pair of hoof prints on the outside.  Somepony had bucked the door closed with considerable force.  The door creaked open slowly.  She walked in and had to fight a nauseating wave of deja vu. The hotel room was a disaster zone.  At least three vases filled with flowers and water had been thrown around against the walls or table, spilling their watery contents.  The two chairs and the bedsheets had been treated much the same way but luckily they were undamaged.  The bottle of cider was now in tiny pieces and scattered across the floor.  Since there wasn’t any cider soaking the carpet Spitfire assumed that Soarin or Dash had consumed the contents.  Considering the state of the room that was going to be the cheapest clean up charge by far.  Soarin himself was lying on the bed with his face buried in the pillow.  He was breathing heavily but otherwise didn’t move. “When I said take care of it, I didn’t mean you had to do it so...”  Spitfire searched for the right word.  “Loudly,” it was a lame way to say it but it got the message across. “You heard?”  His voice was muffled by the pillow but it sounded flat. Spitfire felt it was undignified to be addressing the back of her subordinate’s head but let it go for the moment.  “Most of it, hard to ignore you two when you’re being so loud.  I still need you to finish the applications for this year.  Fleetfoot and I took care of Rainbow Dash’s application.  She’s in.” Soarin’s sigh was audible even through the pillow.  “Somehow I knew that was going to happen.  Well, there’s no mess anymore.  I fixed it for you ma’am.” Yeah you fixed one mess and made another, Spitfire thought to herself.  “Fleetfoot and I will finish the applications and I’ll let you do your part tomorrow.  They have to be filed before the end of next week.” Soarin’s response took Spitfire by surprise, “I’ll be in there in a few minutes.  I just need a moment to myself.  Please ma’am.” The deja vu lifted like morning fog in a fresh wind, “Okay Soarin, take your time.”  She slowly exited the room and closed the door with a soft click. Soarin rolled off the bed and took in the state of the room.  He rubbed his eyes and trotted over to the mini bar again.  He took out another bottle of cider and poured himself a drink.  His hoof shook and he spilled a bit on the dark marble counter.  He took in a deep breath and finished pouring his drink.  He sipped it slowly.  “It’s gonna be alright Soarin,” he quietly told himself.  He took a few minutes to finish his drink and allow his quaking limbs to settle. ~~~~~ “Can we talk about the elephant in the room?” Rarity looked at her friends while she knit her brow. “She’s not an elephant, she’s a pegasus.  And she’s not in the room silly.”  Pinkie Pie was talking, bouncing, and drinking chocolate milk all at the same time.  And apparently doing all three perfectly. It was dark in the Golden Oaks Library.  Spike had already gone to bed.  Twilight enjoyed her little sleepovers, especially when all of her friends could be there.  She almost had to hit Pinkie Pie with a spell to wipe her memory to prevent her from throwing a party.  Dash’ acceptance letter from the Wonderbolts was due to arrive tomorrow.  Or her rejection letter, but they all acted as if she was already in, even as nervous as they were. “I’m sure she’s going to be accepted.  She just has to be.”  Fluttershy spoke up for the first time in over an hour. “That’s not what I’m talking about darling.”  Rarity was sitting comfortably on her red divan.  Spike had dragged it into the library from her boutique after Rarity mentioned in passing how much she liked this piece of furniture.  No amount of persuasion could prevent him from delivering the heavy piece once he started the task.  Rarity didn’t really try too hard.  The task exhausted Spike, so he went to bed early and was out of the way. knock-knock Twilight opened the door, “There you are Rainbow Dash.  We were worried you wouldn’t make it.” “Sorry, I’ve just been a little under the weather.”  Dash looked healthy but worn.  Like a blanket that had been washed too many times, she looked frayed around the edges.  She trotted inside and forced a smile when she saw her friends.  The fireplace was lit, casting long shadows behind the ponies and any pieces of furniture.  The shadows danced across the bookshelves, black and oversized doppelgangers that mimicked their owners.  “Where’s Applejack?” “Right here sugercube.”  Applejack appeared at the door to the kitchen rolling a keg, the golden liquid inside sloshing with each bump.  Applejack set it on a short stand just to the left of the fireplace, half hidden in shadow.  Pinkie Pie was right behind her with a dozen mugs, her tongue hanging out and watering.  “Let’s see if’n this is still good.”  Applejack said as she took a mug from Pinkie Pie and filled it from the keg’s tap.  She took a sip of the frothy beverage and smiled.  She turned to her friends and announced, “Sweet Apple Acre’s special reserve, ya don’t git no more’n this here pony keg.  So enjoy it.” “Sweet!”  Rainbow Dash took a mug and filled it before anypony could stop her.  She didn’t want to miss out on cider again.  She sat in one of the library’s few semi-comfortable chairs.  Most of the library’s chairs were simple, hard wood, but this one had some upholstery.  She watched as Twilight and Rarity filled their mugs as well.  She turned to find Pinkie Pie with a foamy beard and three empty mugs of cider.  How did...? “Um, I would like some cider, if that’s ok with you.” “Course it is sugercube, here ya go.”  There were five chairs set in a semicircle around the fireplace.  Fluttershy hovered above Rainbow Dash near the wall cloaked in shadows.  She sipped her drink quietly and tried not to draw attention to herself. Rainbow Dash set her mug down and zoomed across the library to retrieve another chair.  It wasn’t the comfortable kind, but Dash wasn’t going to allow her oldest and best friend to spend the night standing or flying while the rest of them sat in relative comfort.  She set the chair right next to her own.  “Sit down Fluttershy.  You deserve to take a load off too.” “Oh, um, thank you.”  She sat in the chair and folded her wings.  She wouldn’t look directly at Rainbow Dash.  In fact, none of her friends seemed to be looking at her directly.  Silence settled into the library like an unwelcome guest. “Hey why the long faces?  The Wonderbolts academy isn’t going to be forever.  I’ll still see you.”  Rainbow Dash wasn’t going to leave on a sour note if she could help it. “Well that’s only if you get admitted.  They are a very prestigious institution aren’t they?”  Twilight sipped her cider and was the first to really look Dash in the eye. “You don’t think I’ll get in?  Even after we wrote the perfect application?” “Of course you’ll get in darling.  No pony doubts that.  Do they?”  Rarity scanned the room and every pony nodded their heads.  They all smiled and looked at Dash.  She could feel their eyes on her and for some reason it made her shift in her seat.  She polished off her cider. “Hit me again AJ!”  Dash held out her empty mug with a grin.  Applejack glanced around the room and refilled Dash’s drink. “That’s the last one sugercube.  I’ma cutting ya off.”  She tipped her cowpony hat as a way of apology. “What?  I’ve only had two so far.”  Dash had a silly grin on her face as she said, “What do you think is going to happen?  We’re all going to get drunk and play spin the bottle like a bunch of fillies?” Twilight blushed and looked away.  Fluttershy and Rarity grimaced.  Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves over her mouth barely containing her laughter.  Applejack took her hat off and held it to her chest.  More than anything that action made Dash pay attention.  Applejack only did that when she was going to say something serious.  “Well sugercube, ah...uh...we’re your friends.” “Yes, yes we are.”  Twilight repeated, “No matter what.” “Right, no matter what,” Applejack nodded.  “You understand that?  No matter what.” “Yeah-I get it.”  Rainbow Dash was starting to get annoyed.  She settled for taking another gulp of cider.  “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to insult me?” “No no, we ain’t gonna insult ya Dash.  We jus...need to lay down some boundaries.  That’s all.” “Why?”  Rainbow Dash tilted her head.  She didn’t really like rules but these were her friends.  She was willing to follow rules for them. “Oh for the love of Celestia.”  Rarity spoke up exasperated, “Darling, it’s because of this.”  She held up the most recent tabloid.  Dash and a white unicorn were on the front cover.  Rainbow Dash looked at the front cover and the realization slowly dawned on her. Twilight picked up where Rarity left off, “Rarity showed us the latest article in the Equestrian Sun.  I don’t normally put much stock in them because their articles aren’t...shall we say...scientific.  But it’s hard to argue with a photograph.” Applejack spoke next, “That’s what ah meant by boundaries.  We’re your friends and we like you.  Just not...like you, like you.”  She replaced the cowpony hat on her head and smiled warmly. Pinkie Pie finished the blows to Dash’s ego, “We just wanted you to know that we’re all going to support you.  In fact I support you so much I’m going to throw you a party.  Unless you don’t want me to throw you a party.  That’s how good of a friend you are to me Dash.  I won’t throw you a party if you ask me not to.  But can I?  Please-please-please?”  She was in front of Dash begging, complete with big blue eyes and a quivering lip. “STOP!”  Rainbow Dash had caught up to the flow the of conversation.  Her expression was dumbfounded while her friends spoke but now her brow furrowed.  “I am NOT a filly fooler!  I don’t know who that mare is.  She kissed me, not the other way around.  Honest!  Back me up on this Fluttershy.”  Dash used her wing to push Fluttershy forward. Fluttershy squeaked with all the eyes upon her.  “Um, I think...maybe...it could be true.  But-maybe-not-please-don’t-be-mad-at-me!”  Dash just looked at her dumbstruck. “How can you all think I’m a filly fooler?”  She said quietly with downcast eyes. Fluttershy stepped closer and answered first, “Please don’t be mad Rainbow Dash.  It’s just...”  Her voice caught in her throat.  She just couldn’t bring herself to say it.  Rainbow Dash was her oldest friend. “Look, Dash, it’s simple really.”  Twilight settled into her lecture mode.  Dash looked at her with an explosive mixture of anger, frustration, sadness, and possibly relief at getting a straight answer.  “You just follow certain conventions that most ponies associate with filly foolers.” “Like what?!” “Well, you tend to act a bit tomcoltish sometimes.  And you like to work out a lot.”  Twilight could see Rainbow Dash was chomping at the bit to answer so she paused and let Dash vent her anger. “Right, and every filly fooler acts tomcoltish.  So obviously that makes me a filly fooler.”  Dash’s words oozed with sarcasm.  “You don’t really think I’m a filly fooler just because I do a few wing ups every morning do you?  That fact is, I like working out.  It makes me feel good afterwards and it’s good for you.  Is that a crime?  When was the last time you took a jog egghead?”  Twilight blushed a bit as Dash poked her in the stomach with a hoof.  She didn’t like to admit it but she hadn’t put any time in her schedule for ‘physical education.’  And the paunch she was slowly developing was a testament to her bookish ways.  Pinkie Pie sank in her chair while everypony was looking at Twilight and surreptitiously slipped a pillow over her stomach. Rarity cleared her throat and spoke in a measured tone.  She didn’t want to anger Dash but what they were saying wasn’t going to be nice, “That may be true darling but what about the way you dress yourself?  I almost never see you in makeup and never with any product in your hair.  It’s such a shame too, you have such beautiful hair.”  Rarity figured the compliment would soften the blow, “I rarely hear you talk about something being pretty, it’s always awesome this or cool that.  You don’t hear many mares talk that way.” Rainbow Dash turned to stare at Rarity with her mouth agape.  “What?  You think I’m a filly fooler because I don’t primp my mane?  What about Applejack?  Is she a filly fooler too?”  Dash gestured with a hoof at the farm pony.  Applejack blushed and shook her head in denial.  “And I do have an awesome mane.  Rainbow colored?  Talk about unique, special, in a word: awesome.  I like myself.  More mares should think like me, how can you be happy if you don’t like yourself?  And I do like pretty things.  I just don’t call them pretty out loud.”  Dash sighed and quietly said, “For example, I think your mane is pretty Rarity.” Rarity smiled and flipped her hair at the compliment before she realized the context, “Wait a minute.  Dash are you saying-” “NO, I am NOT saying I want to go on a date with you.  Is it so unusual to give my friend a compliment?  You just said you think I have beautiful hair, does that make you a filly fooler?”  Dash held a small smile when Rarity shook her head.  She was winning, she could see doubts starting to form in her friend’s faces. The element of honesty had to lay down the ‘big one.’  “Ah guess what ya say makes sense Rainbow Dash.  But like Rarity said, what about yer hair?”  Dash titled her head at Applejack quizzically.  “It’s all rainbow colored.  Pretty like, but you know what a rainbow stands for.”  All five of the mares nodded at this. Rainbow Dash face hoofed.  “That’s the worst reason to think I’m a filly fooler ever.  I was born this way for Celestia’s sake.  I didn’t choose a rainbow mane, this isn’t rainbow dye you know.  Like Rarity said, I don’t often put product in my hair.  Does that mean I’m a filly fooler because I have a little rainbow on my cutie mark as well?”  Applejack looked at Dash’s cutie mark.  “I got this for doing a sonic rainboom.  For being a talented flyer.  Flyer, not filly fooler.”  Dash sighed again, “Ok I guess I can see how you might think I’m a filly fooler, but I’m NOT.  I’m telling you I’m not.  Doesn’t that count more than anything?” “Um...I...believe you Rainbow Dash.”  Fluttershy spoke quietly and looked down at her hooves.  In the silence everypony heard her loud and clear for once.  Fluttershy cursed her luck.  A huge toothy grin appeared on Dash’s face as she used a wing to pull Fluttershy close.  The other ponies looked a bit embarrassed, they thought a united front would convince Dash to admit to it and allow them to iron out any problems.  This was not the way they had predicted things would go. “Thanks Fluttershy.”  Dash kept Fluttershy close, like a physical shield against the other pony’s accusations.  “It’s time to for everypony to get some cider and we can all let this blow over, right AJ?”  Applejack couldn't think of a response so she just filled their mugs and passed them around. They all drank in silence for a few minutes.  But it wasn’t long before the cider took effect and they were talking about other things.  Friendlier things, just small talk.  The kind of small talk where it doesn’t matter what is said, only that friends speak to each other and connect only like true friends can.  Except Twilight was curiously quiet and both Twilight and Applejack weren’t drinking too much.  Applejack, because she had to keep refilling every other pony’s mug and Twilight, because she was still fuming over Dash’s comment about her nonexistent physical regiment. As soon as she got the chance Twilight pulled Applejack aside and spoke quietly, “I have a plan...”  She continued to whisper and plot with Applejack for several minutes.  Applejack’s expression was a mixture of curiosity and sheepishness.  Twilight broke away from Applejack and gave her a meaningful look.  Applejack nodded once and approached the group. “Ah’d like ta make a toast.  To Rainbow Dash, the next Wonderbolt!”  Cheers erupted across the room and Dash found herself surrounded by smiles.  And cider.  Lots of cider.  They kept pushing drinks at her, especially Applejack.  It wasn’t long before the keg was almost dry.  Dash wobbled on her hooves and let out a hiccup that shook her frame.  She giggled at a joke only she could hear and collapsed onto her side, her eyes lolling about unfocused. “Oh Dash,”  Fluttershy was beside her friend with a look of concern.  She hadn’t drank half as much cider as the others.  She was still in command of herself and knelt down to hold Dash’s head up.  “Girls, help me,” she pleaded. “Ah’ll help ya.  Let’s get er’ upstairs and into bed.  Ya don’t mind Dash barrowin’ yer bed fer a bit do ya Twi?” Twilight smiled with a devilish grin, “Not at all Applejack.  Why don’t you take her up there and make sure she’s ok.  I think she’s had plenty to drink.”  With Applejack under one front leg and Fluttershy under the other, they dragged Rainbow Dash towards the stairs.  Both hind legs and her tail dragged against the floor uselessly.  Dash giggled again for no apparent reason. When the reached the base of the stairs Dash’s eyes fluttered open but were still unfocused.  She wore the silliest grin on her face.  Applejack leaned in closer and whispered, “Sorry bout callin’ ya a filly fooler Dash.  But ya know we love you no matter what don’t ya?  You can tell ol’ AJ anythang.  Aint that right Fluttershy?”  She smiled while she spoke but kept her gaze intent on Dash for any movement or reaction. “Oh...um...yes,”  Fluttershy nodded.  “I would never hurt my best friend,” Fluttershy smiled as she looked at Dash. “See ya’all can tell us anythang.  Who’s yer favorite pony Dash?” Dash’s hind hooves make little thunks as they bounced over each step.  She smiled but her eyes were still unfocused.  They had reached the top of the stairs when suddenly Dash straightened up and with more coordination and strength than Applejack expected, hugged Fluttershy in an overly friendly way.  Fluttershy squeaked in surprise but held herself and Dash upright.  Dash slurred out, “Thish ish my favrit pony.”  She ran a hoof over Fluttershy’s withers and along one wing.  Applejack just stared with wide eyes and her mouth in a slightly open smile. Fluttershy was far less amused.  She bit her lips together and stood rigid as if bugs were crawling all over her.  Dash giggled again, “I love thish pony right here.”  Then Dash nuzzled up Fluttershy’s neck and planted a wet kiss on her cheek.  Fluttershy had already lost the ability to move, now she had lost the ability to speak as well. “AH HA!”  Twilight was standing right behind them.  Fluttershy’s only change was the blush of embarrassment on her cheeks.  “I knew it.  You saw it right Applejack?” “Ah sure did Twi.”  Rainbow Dash slumped and fell to the floor with a heavy crash.  Her eyes closed and she began to snore softly. “Tell the girls we still have to go through with the plan.  Rainbow Dash is in love with-” “Soarin,” Dash breathed out.  She was still caught in the twilight state between awake and asleep.  Her hooves paddled through the air as if she were scooping water.  Twilight and Applejack’s ears fell as they looked at each other with guilt written on their faces.  Fluttershy regained control of herself and swallowed a lump in her throat.  She sniffed once and wiped her cheek.   “Let’s get Dash into bed.  Tomorrow is her big day.”  Fluttershy said as she picked up Dash one more time and with Applejack’s help got her into bed.