//------------------------------// // Rainbow "Snuggle" Dash // Story: Rarity Snuggles Everypony (Whether They Like It Or Not) // by PropMaster //------------------------------// “And that is how it’s done.” Rainbow Dash grinned devilishly at the stunned Wonderbolts as they sat, at a loss for words. Rainbow Dash’s new flight routine had been one of her best, fastest, and most daring yet. She knew it was good, but she need to hear it from them. She’d caught Fleetfoot, Soarin’, and Spitfire at the end of a relay team practice session and invited them to check out the routine she was planning on debuting before the Equestrian Games this year. After their bonding experience at the time trials a few weeks previous, they’d eagerly taken her up on her offer. She’d almost lost her cool. Almost. She’d played it off with the right blend of enthusiasm and attitude. Of course she was hanging out with the Wonderbolts. Of course they’d agreed to see her new routine! They were all friends, or at least peers. The Wonderbolts thought of her as a peer. So. Awesome. Fleetfoot managed to speak first, after collecting herself. “Wow.” “That’s an understatement,” said Soarin’, his shocked expression turning to one of delight. “That was really good. I mean, you did a reverse-corkscrew during the Filly Flip, which I’m sure was an accident, but—” Spitfire began. “Accident nothing, I did that totally on purpose!” interrupted Rainbow Dash. “You did a Reversed Filly Flip… on purpose? You know it’s harder that way, right? I mean, nopony except stunt fliers like us would even notice the difference!” protested Soarin’. “Well, duh, of course it’s harder. Why do you think I did it?” said Rainbow Dash, examining her forehoof with practiced nonchalance. The three Wonderbolts shared a look, before bursting into laughter. Rainbow Dash glanced up at them, her ears going flat as she frowned. “What?” “You’re crazy, Rainbow Dash!” said Soarin’, wiping a mirthful tear from his eye. “You don’t have to try to impress us, speed-freak! You’re practically one of us!” said Fleetfoot, still giggling. Spitfire chimed in, “After what you did for us at the time trials—standing in for Soarin’, keeping us practicing as a three-pony team—” “Don’t forget putting you two back in line after you tried to get rid of me!” Soarin’ interjected, smirking at Fleetfoot and Spitfire. “—you’ve more than earned our respect,” finished Spitfire, smiling bashfully at Soarin’ before adding, “And we already apologized for that how many times now?” “Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure I can get one or two more out of you both,” said Soarin’, casting a wink at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash beamed at the three pegasus ponies, a warm feeling bubbling up inside her. “Wow, thanks, guys.” “Yeah, well, thanks for showing off your routine. It was really something else,” Fleetfoot said. Rainbow Dash giggled bashfully, squeaking out a small, “Cool!” Soarin’ glanced up at the sky, noting the colors of the clouds shifting towards deep indigos as the sun began to set. “It’s probably time we got back home. We’ve got a bit of a flight ahead of us.” “Yeah, of course. Gotta stay in peak condition for training, right?” Rainbow Dash said with a smile. “How about you? Shouldn’t you be getting some rest? I know you’re training just as hard as we are, if that routine is anything to judge by,” asked Spitfire. “Oh, yeah! Got some Apple Brown Betties waiting for me at home—Applejack’s been keeping me well supplied—and then right to bed!” replied Rainbow Dash. The three Wonderbolts and lone Ponyville Weathermare parted ways, heading opposite directions, eager to rest and recover. Rainbow Dash flew to a screeching halt as she touched down on the fluffy cloud bed surrounding her home, tucking into a forward roll as she laughed excitedly. She somersaulted twice before finally coming to a halt a few feet from her doorstep, lying on her back and looking up at the night sky. She beamed at the darkness, the warm feeling from earlier causing her to grin and giggle, clutching her sides as she kicked her legs and rolled in the cloudstuff like a filly after her first flight. Finally, she stood up, pushing open her front door, and trotted into her living room. “So awesome!” she crowed, her exultation turning suddenly into a yawn. Grinning sheepishly, she walked to her ice box in the kitchen and pulled it open, grabbing a chilled Apple Brown Betty from inside. She brought the tasty treat over to a electrified stormcloud, setting it down beneath the tiny tuft of cumulostratus, and gave the cloud a solid buck. Electricity thunderously discharged, zapping the frozen Apple Brown Betty. Rainbow Dash reached out and picked up the baked good with her mouth. Her eyes widened and she spat it out, fumbling it with her hooves as she yelped. “Hot!” She juggled her dinner for a few moments, letting it cool, before she dared another bite. She swallowed quickly, exhaling. It was still hot, but not so bad. The electric tingle of the re-heated food was a little gross, but it was better than eating it cold. She scarfed down the snack in a few bites and then trotted to the sink, filling a glass with some water from a faucet attached to a rain reservoir on top of her house. She carried the glass with her to her bedroom, setting it beside the bedside table, and flopped into her bed—a nest of small fluffy clouds, pillows, and blankets. She wriggled around, wings flapping slightly as she dug into the pile of comfortable clouds, and emerged a moment later with a book. “Daring Do and the Jewel of Bitaly, chapter fourteen…” she murmured as she flipped the book open to a marked page, and began reading. She read quietly, but in an engaged manner, giggling at funny moments or gritting her teeth through tense moments. After a dozen pages, her eyes grew heavy, and she found herself having to re-read sections as her sleepy brain failed to process the words on the page. Rainbow Dash finally set the book down on her nightstand, trading it for the glass of water. After taking a few gulps, she set her drink aside and curled deeper into the blankets, throwing a cover at the sparking firefly lantern that lit her room. The cover landed squarely, dimming the light, and Rainbow Dash smirked sleepily as she snuggled into her soft nest.   Rainbow Dash woke up late, as always, the sun having already risen into the sky. She stretched, rising from her nest of blankets with a slight blush and a chuckle. “Well, that was… interesting.” Her ears flattened against her skull, and she giggled nervously, glancing around the room. “But not so interesting that I’d ever admit anything about it.” Nodding to herself, she stretched, feeling a satisfying pop in her joints, and then fluttered towards her kitchen to fix herself some breakfast oats.