//------------------------------// // Love is in... Bloom? // Story: Open Up Your Heart // by Dream Bolt //------------------------------// “So, Sonic’s offering to spend the day with me?” Rainbow Dash asked the next day. The other ponies were all gathered for the private party in Sugar Cube Corner. “Yep!” the three fillies replied with wide grins. “Aw, sweet!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping her hoof in the air. “Finally, a chance to try out some of my awesome high-speed maneuvering techniques!” “He should be by any minute!” Apple Bloom announced. As if on cue, a blue blur blasted up to Sugar Cube Corner and zipped through the door. “Hey, Dash!” he cried. “And nice to see you girls as well!” “Good to see you again too, Sonic!” Twilight said cheerfully. “So, what brings you here?” “Aw, I just thought I should hang out with my pal Dashie for a day.” Sonic replied casually. “Unless you girls are doing something?” “No! Not at all!” Twilight exclaimed, shaking her head. “You two go and have fun now!” “Alright, sweet!” Rainbow Dash cried, zipping to Sonic’s side. “Hey, Twilight, could you give Sonic a cloud-walking spell? I wanna take him to see Cloudsdale.” “Sure thing, Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed. Her horn flashed, and a bolt of magenta light stuck Sonic. Sonic looked about, then wiggled his foot. “I don’t feel any different.” he stated. “Don’t worry, it’ll work out fine.” Twilight assured him. “I used to use it myself all the time, before I became an alicorn, that is.” She flapped her wings in demonstration. “Well, thanks, Twi!” Sonic said with a wave. “Come on, Dash! I wanna see this cloud city you’ve been telling me about!” “Well, come on! Let’s go!” Rainbow Dash cried. The two of them shot out the door, zooming off together., The Cutie Mark Crusaders winked at one another and gave each other a high hoof. “Well, that was odd.” Applejack stated, raising an eyebrow. “So Sonic jes shows up for no reason, and wants ta hang with Rainbow all day? What’s up with that?” “Oh, darling, it isn’t our business.” Rarity stated demurely. Then she gave a little giggle. “Although he did choose to come over on Hearts-and -Hooves Day!” “Wait.” Applejack said, raising her eyebrows. “Are y’all sayin’ that Sonic and Rainbow Dash… are special someponies? Would that even work?” “Well, ponies have married other races before.” Twilight stated. “ Like some ponies married griffins. That’s how we got hippogriffs. And there have even been pony/ dragon marriages.” “Really?” Rarity and Spike both asked at once, the former looking curious, the latter looking overjoyed. Twilight sighed. “Don’t get me started on that.” “Why not?” Spike asked. Twilight turned towards Spike. “Think about it. Dragon plus equine. Dragon equine. Draconequus.” “Oh.” Spike said quietly. “You mean…?” “Discord hides his origins well, but I have my suspicions about them.” Twilight said cryptically. “Oh darling, do we have to talk about such things?” Rarity asked. “Frankly, I’m more interested in Sonic and Rainbow Dash.” “Now that sounds like chaos.” Dream Bolt put in, munching on his sundae. “More chaotic than your tastes?” Rarity asked. “Strawberry, mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, and birthday-cake flavored ice creams mixed with orange sherbet? And with how many nuts, berries, candies, and Celestia knows what else is mixed in there?” “It’s chaotic harmony.” Dream Bolt replied, taking a bite of his ice cream. Rarity swore that she saw a piece of hay bacon in there. “Anyways, if Sonic and Dash can get along together, good for them. But if you ask me, they’re too alike. A competitive streak from here to the moon, and some rather large egos. That, my friends, is chaos waiting to happen.” “Oh, I don’t know.” Fluttershy put in. “They seem to be getting along together very well. Maybe they respect one another as equals.” Applejack laughed. “Rainbow Dash admittin’ someone’s her equal. If love can do that, no wonder Princess Cadence could beat all those changelings so easy.” “You really think that those two…?” Twilight trailed off, giving a little giggle. “Well, they are perfect for one another.” Scootaloo stated with a grin, trying to press the matter. Rarity gave a dreamy sigh. “Oh, that is sweet. I do so with we could see what’s going on with them now.” “Probably a race.” Dream Bolt replied, taking another bite of his atrocious ice cream. “Sonic and Dashie aren’t much for the mushy stuff. They’re the type who will just be going along, like ordinary friends, and then POW! One day, they get married out of the blue. I don’t necessarily mean to each other, but that’s how I see things working out for their futures.” “And Dream Bolt is really, really good at predicting these sorts of things!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, coming out of the kitchen with a horrifically large cake she had just finished icing. “He predicted that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were going to get into trouble, and they did!” “Sugarcube, that’s about as surprisin’ as predictin’ the sunrise.” Applejack stated, casting a glance over at the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who all gave angelic grins. “But what if you’re right?” Twilight asked Dream Bolt. “I always am.” Dream Bolt replied nonchalantly. “Just last Tuesday, those girls covered Bon-Bon and her entire sweet shop in powdered sugar. On purpose.” “They did what now?” Applejack asked, pushing her hat back and glaring at the Crusaders, who grinned awkwardly as they remembered the infamous “Cutie Mark Crusader Hoofprinters” incident. “No, not that.” Twilight replied to Dream Bolt. “I mean about Sonic and Rainbow Dash.” “Um… well, what if I am right?” Dream Bolt asked, looking confused. “It would just mean that they both would probably surprise us when their weddings came up.” “But you said they would just be going along like good friends, and then, POW! Married!” Twilight cried. “Yeah… so?” Dream Bolt asked. “They’ve already been going along like good friends!” Twilight stated frantically. “And then out of nowhere, Sonic asks Rainbow Dash out on Hearts-and-Hooves Day? He could be proposing this very minute!” “Really?!” Pinkie Pie squealed. “Ooh! I get to set up the bridle shower!” “Woah, nelly!” Applejack cried out. “I think y’all are blowin’ this a bit out of proportion. Y’all are turnin’ a couple of friends hangin’ out into a full blown wedding! Y’all didn’t do that when Dream Bolt spent the day with Pinkie Pie at that fun park.” “You mean Dream Bolt wants to marry me?!” Pinkie Pie shouted. She stuck her face in Dream Bolt’s. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” “I don’t want to marry you!” Dream Bolt cried, shrinking back. “I’m sorry, Bolty, but I’m too young for that right now.” Pinkie replied. “But I just said….” “But I’m flattered that you would think of me.” “I do not want to marry you!” Dream Bolt cried. “Geez louise, can’t a colt be friends with a mare without wanting to be her special somepony?” “Exactly!” Applejack stated. “Why can’t Sonic and Rainbow Dash jes be bein’ friendly? That’s what friends do!” “Hmmm. I guess you have a point.” Pinkie Pie mused. “It would be kind of silly for somepony to act like two ponies are in love just because they hang out together.” Suddenly, the bell over the door rang, and in walked Lyra and Bon-Bon. The Crusaders turned towards Lyra, giving her pleading looks to remain silent. Lyra gave them a knowing wink. “Hey, everypony!” Lyra exclaimed. “What’s going on here? Some sort of party?” “Yep! A Singles Awareness Party!” Dream Bolt exclaimed. “Cool! Is it open for all singles?” Lyra asked. Bon-Bon sighed. “Lyra, we’re here to pick up some croissants, not have a party.” “Aww!” Lyra sighed. “Can’t we stay for just a little bit?” “No.” Bon-Bon said curtly. “We have errands to run.” “Aw, but you’ll miss out on the cake!” Pinkie Pie cried. “And besides, we have an extra seat since Rainbow Dash is off on a date with Sonic!” “A date?” Bon-Bon asked, her ears perking up. She was known for being one of the town’s biggest gossips. A nice one, and she rarely said anything bad about anypony, but she was notorious for being rather nosy about other ponies’ love lives. “We ain’t certain it’s a date.” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. “We aren’t sure it isn’t!” Twilight replied. “He did ask her out on Hearts-and-Hooves Day!” Bon-bon turned toward Lyra, who was grinning and staring hungrily at the cake. “I… guess we could stay for a slice of cake.” Bon-Bon said, sitting down. She put her chin in her hooves. “So… what’s this about Rainbow Dash and Sonic? ******************************************************* The Cutie Mark Crusaders met in their clubhouse, and high-hoofed one another. “Mission completed!” Scootaloo cried, marking off a check list that read, ‘Get Rainbow Dash a dayt.’ “Y’all misspelled ‘date’.” Apple Bloom pointed out. “Aw, who cares?” Scootaloo replied. “We did it! And without a magic potion!” “We’re matchmakers!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed joyfully. “Maybe we got matchmaking Cutie Marks!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. The three fillies turned to look at their flanks, but sighed in disappointment to see that they were still blank. “Oh, well.” Scootaloo sighed. “I wouldn’t want a mushy matchmaking Cutie Mark anyway.” “So… now what?” Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo shrugged. “I dunno.” Apple Bloom looked about. “Anypony up fer tryin‘ ta git our spa pony Cutie Marks?” ******************************************************* “Trust me, sweetie, I know how these things work.” Bon-Bon stated. “Those two are just playing it cool. But that competitiveness is probably just a cover for their deep admiration.” Bon-Bon had been going on for some time now, and had convinced most of the other ponies of Rainbow Dash and Sonic’s secret relationship. Only Applejack and Dream Bolt remained skeptical. “Well, Rainbow Dash did confide in me that she and Sonic felt rather close.” Twilight stated. “Yeah. She said like they were kin er somethin’, not like they were in love.” Applejack stated firmly. “Y’all are turnin’ a molehill into a mountain.” “But darling, they would be so perfect for one another!” Rarity exclaimed. “Yeah!” Pinkie Pie added. “They’re both fast and blue and have big egos….” “Exactly!” Applejack stated. “They’re too much alike! They may be friendly, but they’re rivals. Rivals. Like Trixie and Twilight here! They’re stuck halfway between bein’ best friends and bein’ enemies.” “Oh, but that kind of relationship can lead to unexpected love.” Bon-Bon replied with a giggle. “I’ve heard stories of rival who eventually fell in love and got married.” “And I’ve heard tales of rivals who stayed rivals and kept on fightin’.” Applejack retorted. “I say Rainbow Dash and Sonic may be good friends. Heck, they may even have a crush on each other. But no relationship’s gonna work out between two people who both have to be the best.” “Oh, but they would be so cute together!” Fluttershy exclaimed. Dream Bolt sighed. “Look, I’m tired of this.” he stated. “We’ll settle this in the most logical, scientific way possible.” “What’s that?” Rarity asked. “We spy on them!” Twilight cried. “We spy on….” Dream Bolt trailed off, as he and everypony else turned towards Twilight. “Why was that so obvious to you?” Dream Bolt asked. “Er….” Twilight said, grinning uncomfortably. “Hold on a sec.” Applejack exclaimed. “Spyin’ on Rainbow Dash? That ain’t nice!” “It’s just casual spying.” Dream Bolt stated. “You know, we just happen to decide to visit Cloudsdale, and see what they’re up to while we’re there. Nothing unfriendly about that.” “I don’t know….” Applejack said hesitantly. “Oh, come on, Applejack!” Bon-Bon exclaimed. “It’s just a friendly visit. We won’t disturb them or anything.” “Since when were y’all invited ta come with us?” Applejack asked. “Well… um….” “Hey, chill, Bon-bon.” Lyra said casually. “I’ve got a cloud-walking spell. We can catch a balloon up to Cloudsdale if they don’t want to bring us.” “Yeah, I’m all for bringing them!” Dream Bolt piped up. “Well, I personally think the more the merrier!” Twilight exclaimed gleefully. “Now, let’s go do some spying!” Applejack gave Twilight a frown. “I mean… friendly observing.” Twilight corrected herself with a blush. ******************************************************* “So that’s where the pegasi make the weather?” Sonic asked, pointing towards a large building surrounded by thunderclouds. “Yep!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Being a weather pony, I drop by there often. I’ll show you around if you like.” “Sound cool!” Sonic said cheerfully. As they walked along, Rainbow Dash turned towards Sonic. “So, just what made you choose today to come over?” she asked. “I mean, I’m really glad to have you here, but… why today?” “Well, that little orange filly who likes you so much said you might be a bit lonely and use the company today.” Sonic replied casually. He shrugged. “I dunno. You seemed to be having fun with your friends when I got here.” “Scootaloo asked you to come?” Rainbow Dash asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “And she specifically said today? Were here little friends with her?” “Yes to all of the above.” Sonic answered. He gave Dash a curious look. “Why?” Rainbow Dash broke out in a grin, then a chuckle, then a laugh. She fell on her back, kicking her hooves with mirth. “That little squirt must be trying to set us up on a date!” she laughed. “Those girls!” Sonic looked confused. “A date?” he asked with a smirk. “Yeah.” Rainbow Dash replied, calming down. “You do know today is Hearts-and-Hooves Day, right?” Sonic gave Rainbow Dash a blank look. “The day where ponies celebrate having a special somepony?” Rainbow Dash clarified. “Oh, you mean like Valentine’s Day!” Sonic said in realization. “And those girls tried to get me to go on a date with you?” “Yeah, I guess they heard that I didn’t have a date for today, and decided to get me one.” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Aw, that was nice of Scoots to go to all the trouble, but… seriously? Us on a date?” Rainbow Dash burst out laughing again, this time joined by Sonic. ******************************************************* “See? Look at how they’re laughing together!” Twilight stated. She was looking through a pair of binoculars at the blue pegasus and hedgehog. Beside her, the other ponies sat with binoculars or telescopes, except for Applejack, who was sitting nearby, looking bored and uninterested, and Lyra, who was trying to play cat’s cradle with a piece of string and remaining utterly indifferent to Bon-Bon’s rapt attention to the alleged couple. “Friends laugh together all the time!” Applejack cried. “Y’all are seein’ more than what’s there!” “Oh, Applejack, you know the two of them are too ‘cool’ to be openly romantic.” Rarity stated, lowering her binoculars to make quotation marks in the air with her hooves as she said ‘cool’. “Dream Bolt said so.” “Dream Bolt also thinks Discord is cool.” Applejack deadpanned. “Well, he’s reformed now.” Dream Bolt said in his own defense. “And I agree, everypony is blowing my statement about Sonic and Dash out of proportion.” He was wearing a blue hat covered in cotton balls as camouflage as he stared back through his telescope. “Lack of visible romance does not mean hidden romance.” “I would thank y’all fer bein’ reasonable, but y’all are the one who suggested this whole spyin’ business in the first place.” Applejack deadpanned. “Well, I’m a seeker of truth.” Dream Bolt said matter-of-factly. “I always must know what is true and what is not. And nopony here was going to rest until they knew anyway.” “An’ yer a conspiracy theorist who overanalyzes everything.” Applejack added. Dream Bolt shrugged. “That too.” “Plus, it makes a great story.” Pinkie Pie said, looking through her binoculars the wrong way. “Hey, AJ! You don’t have to sit so far away!” Applejack sighed and gave Pinkie a tap with her hoof to let her know she was right in front of her, despite what Pinkie saw through her backwards binoculars. “Hey, you learned to stretch like I do, Applejack!” Pinkie cried happily, still staring through the backwards binoculars. “Everypony, hush!” cried Bon-Bon. She was on the trail of some juicy gossip, and nothing would get in her way now. “Look! Sonic looks like he’s pulling out a present for Rainbow Dash!” ******************************************************* “Okay, you’re going to have to not take this the wrong way, considering that little revelation earlier.” Sonic chuckled. “I brought you something I thought you might like from Mobius.” Sonic pulled out a small box and handed it to Rainbow Dash, who opened it up. She gasped for a moment, then chuckled as her face lit up. “Oh, wow! Twilight told me about these!” she exclaimed. “Don’t they give you extra energy or something?” “Nearly limitless stamina.” Sonic replied. “Plus, this can protect you from pretty much any injury. But taking a hit will break the connection, so make sure to grab it again quick if you do get clobbered.” Rainbow Dash grinned at Sonic. “Thanks! So… this one’s mine?” “All yours.” Sonic said. Rainbow Dash looked excitedly into the box, then chuckled. “You know, I gotta say it was a bit surprising when I first opened the box.” she said. “I mean, in the context of today and all….” “Yeah, I’ll bet it looked strange!” Sonic laughed. “So… wanna give it a go?” “Sure thing!” Rainbow Dash stated. She reached into the box. And pulled out a Power Ring. ******************************************************* Twilight dropped her binoculars, her jaw going completely slack. Spike followed suit. Pinkie Pie gave a dramatic gasp. Fluttershy’s face lit up as she gave a cute little squeal. Rarity gave a small gasp and covered her mouth with her hoof. Dream Bolt’s eyes shrunk to pinholes, unable to look away. “Sweet Celestia.” Twilight breathed. “Woah. Did not see that coming.” Dream Bolt muttered. “Told you.” Bon-Bon said with a triumphant grin. “What? What is it?” Applejack hollered, suddenly curious. Twilight wordlessly levitated her binoculars over to Applejack. The orange earth pony looked through them, only to have her jaw drop as well. “Well, I’ll be a pickled pumpkin.” she uttered. “Yer crazy gab looks ta be right after all.” “Huh? Did something happen?” Lyra asked. “Yes.” Bon-Bon said, her face aglow, a big smile creasing her cheeks. A single tear slid down from her eye. “Yes, something did happen. Something wonderful. Sonic just gave Rainbow Dash a ring.” “No way!” Lyra gasped. “You mean like, a proposal?” “It certainly looks that way.” Rarity stated with a grin. “Oh, this is so sweet!” Fluttershy exclaimed dreamily. “Yes! I get to throw the wedding!” Pinkie Pie cried. Dream Bolt backed up, looking a little dazed. “But… this is so not canon.” “Technically, neither are you.” Pinkie Pie pointed out. Dream Bolt shrugged. “Touché.” Twilight shook her head in shock, before getting back to her old, organized self. “Okay, everypony! I have a plan!” Twilight exclaimed. “We’re going to throw a big, special wedding for them! And we’ll make it a wedding that everypony will remember for years to come!”