Trying To Be Cool

by Closer-To-The-Sun


Chapter 1: I Confess

With a saddlebag on her back, Rainbow Dash was soaring over Ponyville. With only a few clouds in the sky, she certainly was enjoying the flight. Celestia’s sun was starting to sink in the distance and the chill of the evening was starting to set in. The change in temperature felt good on the blue pegasus’s coat, causing her to shiver with each beat of her wings as she was coming in for a landing. Looking at the building in front of her, she gave a small smirk. Just a short time ago, she would have laughed at the thought of her wanting to visit the library to read. And yet, here Rainbow was with a bag full of recently read books, ready to be returned.

Raising her hoof up, she knocked loudly on the wooden door.

“Come on in!” a female voice called out.

Opening the door to the library, Dash saw a purple unicorn seated on the couch in the center of the main room with an open book. It was none other than her good friend Twilight Sparkle.

“Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash! What brings you to the library?” the unicorn warmly smiled.

Trotting up to the table in front of the couch, Rainbow set down her saddlebag. The bag opened up and four books slipped out, “Done with these. I was hoping I could get something a bit more….edgier.”

A concerned smile appeared on Twilight’s face, “I really do love how you have taken up reading, Rainbow Dash, really I do. But you don’t have to be so rough with the books.” The unicorn got up off her seat and looked at the books on the table. She organized them quickly with her magic. Bringing a notebook out of seemingly nowhere, she began to scribble something on the parchment.

“Sorry,” Dash apologized as she took her saddlebag back, “just didn’t have that good of a read this time, ya know?”

Twilight opened up one of the books and started to write down the information about the book, “The Great Galloway by F. Scott Freiberger….checked back in….I guess I can understand. You like books with a storyline that suit you and your tastes, right?”

“Yeah, something like that,” Rainbow commented as she began to look amongst the shelves of books.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Halter Lee….” Twilight wrote down the next book’s title and author into her notebook, “I’m a little surprised you read through these books. The Great Galloway is known for being mostly about high society ponies and how they live their lives.”

“You want my opinion? That book was about nothing but spoiled, rich ponies acting like colts and fillies in school,” Rainbow expressed her bitterness about the book.

That comment caused Twilight to giggle as she continued processing the books, “Hehe, that’s what I said when I first read it, but there are more layers to it. The Oats Of Wrath by John Steinbuck….” She read aloud the next book she inputted.

“Now, that book was good. A lot of heavy stuff in that book. A lot like the stuff Spike recommended to me,” Dash commented as she continued her search amongst eh bookshelves.

“And lastly, Catcher In The Hay by J. D. Haflinger,” Twilight finished writing the books as checked in before turning her attention to the pegasus. “By the way Rainbow, have you told Spike how you feel?”

Still staring at the wall of books before her, Dash was silent. The only apparent movement she made was her head slumping downward.

“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked again.

The pegasus mumbled quietly, “Is he here right now?”

“No, he’s running some errands for me right now.”

Not moving, she replied, “No….I’m….I’m too scared to say anything.”

Twilight scoffed a little in surprised, “Really? You’re scared?”

In one, fluid motion, Rainbow Dash turned to look at Twilight, “Yes, I’m scared!” she admitted, “I confess, I’m too scared to do or say anything because….who knows what he might think of me….”

“You’re scared of what he might think of you?”

Dash trotted up to the table, “Yeah, I’m scared he might think I’m not cool or something.”

“Is it really that big of a deal?” Twilight raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Of course it is!” Rainbow exclaimed, “It’s like if ponies didn’t think you were smart….or whatever!”

“That’s….not how that works for me. Anyway, I’m sure he won’t care either way, Rainbow,” the purple mare explained, “He’s a really sweet dragon and I’m sure he feels the same way about you.”

“Really?” the pegasus looked up at Twilight.

She nodded, “Uh-huh. He told me about how the two of you went to grab lunch as friends. Spike said he was really happy that you saw him as an equal. He also really thinks you are a very spectacular pony. The both of you share a lot of interests when it comes to a lot of things, especially literature.”

An expression of relief flooded onto Rainbow Dash’s face, “Well, I guess that’s good, but I’m still scared to act on my feelings.” Her voice showcased her anxiety.

“That, my dear Rainbow Dash, is something I cannot help you with,” Twilight gave a comforting smile to her friend, “However, I can help you with some books to help fit your taste. How about a Shetland King novel about seven young ponies who are being followed by a nightmarish creature that morphs into each of their own fears?”

“Now that sounds like a good book to me!”