//------------------------------//
// Dog Days - Summer (Part 1) 
// Story: A Year of Seasons 
// by The Rising Tide of Night 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash soared through the bright blue skies on her way to Ponyville, enjoying the freedom of an unscheduled flight.  It felt like it had been forever since she’d had a chance to just fly lately.  All of her time had been devoted either to Wonderbolts practice sessions or shows, and after getting back to the dorms, all she’d been able to do was collapse into bed, only to get up the next morning and do it all again.  It didn’t help that Spitfire was grooming her to become the next Wonderbolts captain, so any free time she had was spent with her in planning sessions or learning the ropes of running the group.
She mentally allowed herself a moment of ego as she sent herself into a spinning loop.  That’s what happens when you’re as awesome as I am, she thought with a smirk.  She easily banked around a large, fluffy cloud, smiling as she caught sight of Twilight’s castle shimmering in the summer sunlight.  Almost home, she thought wistfully.  Being married to her best friend and greatest love was one of the most wonderful things she had ever experienced, but lately the Wonderbolt’s heavy summer touring schedule had left her with little time to actually spend at home.  She’d had to beg for the three weeks to herself, promising to take Spitfire’s shift with the latest recruits in the Wonderbolts Academy when she got back.
She’d hoped to surprise Fluttershy when she arrived, so she’d done whatever she could to keep her break a secret, choosing to fly back as quietly as possible instead of taking the train.  Now, with her mane fluttering in the wind and her wings spread wide, she soared across the land, just relaxing and letting all of her cares and worries slip away.
Coming up to the outskirts of Ponyville, she smiled as other familiar sights began to greet her: the great spire of town hall reaching up towards the sky, the pristine white walls of Rarity’s boutique, and the colorful confectionary shape of Sugarcube Corners.  As her eyes caught sight of the bakery, a thought sprung up in her mind, and she angled her way down towards the ground.  I’ll just pop in and grab a little treat for Flutters.  I’m sure she won’t mind.
One quick loop and an easy landing later, she found herself on the ground outside the bakery.  Glancing around with a big grin on her face in anticipation of some sort of greeting, her grin faltered when she realized that nothing had happened.  Confused, she looked around once more, her eyes searching for the reason for the silence.
It wasn’t that the town was empty.  No, it was still its normal, bustling self, especially around the bakery, as it was approaching midday.  The difference was that anypony that had noticed that she had arrived was either blatantly ignoring her or giving her a look of outright disdain.
Confused, she slowly made her way into Sugarcube Corners, where she was greeted by the normal pleasant bustle of a busy bakery, a bustle that quickly turned sour as the ponies inside caught sight of her.  She gave them a sheepish grin in the face of the glares just as a bright, peppy voice called out, “Be right there!”
A moment later, a flour-dusted Pinkie Pie emerged from the kitchen, her eyes landing on Rainbow as she stood in the entryway.  Her expression went from welcoming and happy to guarded and sad, a trace of hurt in her normally-bright eyes.  “Dashie,” she said simply.
“Hey, Pinkie,” Rainbow replied as she approached the counter, trying to ignore the hostile atmosphere.  “How’s things?”
Pinkie stared at her for a long moment before replying.  “Things… are good, I guess.”
“Great!” Rainbow replied, now feeling a little uncertain about her return.  “Say, Pinks, can I get something to go?  I wanna bring Fluttershy a treat when I head home.”
Pinkie hesitated, the happy-go-lucky party pony unusually serious for a moment.  “Dashie, I don’t think that’s a good idea, ‘k?”
Frustrated, Rainbow’s anger flared.  “And why’s that, huh?” she snapped.  “Why can’t I bring my wife a treat after I finally get some time off?  And why’s everypony treating me like I got the pony pox?”
“Tell you what,” Pinkie replied.  “Go have a seat and I’ll come talk to you in a little bit.  Ok?”
“But –”
“Please, Dashie,” Pinkie said with finality.  “I don’t want any trouble right now.  I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Rainbow glared for another moment, but finally nodded.  Turning away, she stormed off to have a seat in a corner booth, silently seething.  She continued to glare in frustration, even as other ponies glared back or ignored her entirely.  She tried to listen in to some nearby conversations to figure out what was going on, but every time a pony noticed she was paying attention to them, they would give her a look and quickly clam up.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Pinkie finally emerged from behind the counter, leaving a teenaged Pumpkin Cake in her place.  Flour and other bits of baking detritus still dusted her vibrant pink coat, and her mane and tail were as curly as ever as she made her way through the bakery, greeting everypony she came across with the same bright smile and happy tone.  However, when she reached the table where Rainbow Dash sat tapping her hoof impatiently, she seemed to deflate slightly, her mane losing some of its poofiness and her eyes losing some of their shine.
Sitting across from Rainbow, Pinkie gave her a weak smile which Rainbow brushed off impatiently.  “So what’s the deal, Pinks?” she asked brusquely.
Pinkie countered with another question.  “Why’d you do it, Dashie?” she asked, hurt and betrayal in her eyes.
Rainbow Dash stared back, confused.  “Why’d I do what?”
“Why’d you cheat on Fluttershy?”
Rainbow gaped at her friend, at a complete loss for words.  Her mouth worked silently as she tried to find a way to respond to such a ridiculous statement.  Finally, she did the only thing that she felt like she could do.  She broke out into peals of laughter.
As she laughed, pounding the table as tears ran down her face, she noticed Pinkie’s face.  It was red with embarrassment and anger, and her eyes were hard, nearly as hard as she’d seen them the last time somepony had broken a Pinkie Promise.  She did her best to stop laughing, but it was difficult, and she kept fighting down another bubble of mirth as she looked over at Pinkie.  “What’s so funny, Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie asked, her voice completely different from before.  It was a scary voice, the kind of voice that sent shivers up Rainbow’s spine.
“You – you can’t seriously think I’d cheat on Fluttershy, can you?” she asked, trying to school her face back to a semblance of normality.  “Element of Loyalty, remember?”
“That’s what I thought too,” Pinkie replied in the same voice.  “‘Dashie wouldn’t do anything like that,’ I told them when we saw the papers.  ‘She’s better than that, you know.’”
Rainbow’s confusion deepened.  “Wait, what papers?  What are you talking about, Pinkie?”
Pinkie reached up into her mane and pulled out a newspaper, passing it across the table without breaking eye contact.  Rainbow glanced down at the headlines, and her eyes went wide.  “W-what the buck is this?” she asked, completely blindsided.  “’Partying With a Liar: Loyalty’s Farce,’” she read, before diving into the article itself.  “’Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, Wonderbolts star flier, blah, blah, seen partying frequently with Wonderbolts team members Soarin and Fleetfoot, blah, blah, said to be carrying on an affair with Captain Spitfire!’”  Rainbow slammed her hoof down on the paper, her eyes blazing as she glared at Pinkie.  “What the buck, Pinkie?  Why would anypony believe this – this – trash?”
“I didn’t want to believe it either, Rainbow,” Pinkie replied harshly, her mane slowly losing its curl.  “Rarity and Applejack were ready to hunt you down, but I convinced them not to until we figured things out.”  She leaned forward across the table, staring into Rainbow’s eyes.  “But then I asked around when I was in Canterlot last week.  It’s amazing what Donut Joe knows about what goes on in that city.  He told me that you’d been ‘secretly’ visiting Spitfire for a while now, but everypony knew about it.  Soarin himself told him that the two of you had hooked up a bunch of times when you were drunk.”  Pinkie slammed her own hooves down on the table, barely-controlled fury on her face.  “So once again, Rainbow Dash,” she hissed.  “Why did you cheat on Fluttershy?”
“I DIDN’T CHEAT ON FLUTTERSHY!” Rainbow screamed, thrusting her face into Pinkie’s.  “I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER!”
“THEN WHAT ABOUT THIS?” Pinkie screamed back, pointing at the paper.
Rainbow flopped back down into the booth, rubbing her forehead.  Pinkie hovered over her, a touch of uncertainty creeping into her furious expression.  It was a moment before Rainbow finally spoke.  “It’s garbage,” she replied in a weary voice.  “Spitfire’s been training me to be the Wonderbolt’s new captain.  That’s why I’ve been spending so much time with her.  I guess Soarin found out, and he’s been with the team for so long, maybe he got jealous or something.  I dunno.”  She shrugged.  “It’s true I’ve been partying a lot.  Maybe a little too much.  Got swept up in the life, I guess.  That bit’s my own fault.  All the rest?”  She shook her head.  “Everything I’ve done out there, I’ve done for her.  I would never cheat on her.”
A long silence greeted this announcement.  Rainbow finally looked up at Pinkie, jumping a little in surprise.  Pinkie was inches away from her, staring into her eyes with an intensity that rivalled Fluttershy’s Stare, and Rainbow had a brief moment of panic as she inexplicably saw her life flash before her eyes.  Then she blinked, and Pinkie was back in her seat, a bright smile on her face and her mane as curly as ever.  “Alright, Dashie,” she said softly.  “I believe you.”
Rainbow blinked once more.  “Y-you do?”
“Yeppers!” Pinkie replied brightly.  “That’s the Dashie we all know and love.  Now,” she said as she quickly pulled a small paper bag out of her mane, passing it over to Rainbow, “run along to Fluttershy and Auntie Pinkie Pie will take care of things around here, ‘k?”
“…Wait, take care of what?”
“The others, silly,” Pinkie replied with a giggle, and Rainbow looked around the bakery as if seeing their audience for the first time.  Every customer in the place had gone completely silent while she and Pinkie had been talking, and were now staring in awe at the two of them.
Rainbow felt her cheeks heating up at the sudden unexpected attention.  Normally, she was more than happy to be the center of attention, and quite often strove for it.  This time, however, was different, and she felt more embarrassed than excited.  At the same time, she felt grateful for Pinkie Pie’s offer, and decided to take her up on it before the mood changed at all.  Quickly grabbing the bag from the table, she dashed out of the bakery.  “Thanksh, ‘inkie!” she called, her voice slightly muffled from the bag in her mouth.
“Anytime, Dashie!” Pinkie called back before turning her attention to her other customers.  “Soooo…” she began with a grin.  “Who wants to get ready for a ‘You’re getting promoted and you’re back together with your special somepony’ party?”



The cottage that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy now shared was a beautiful sanctuary of love and kindness in the summer.  The sunlight shone down on the quiet glade, shimmering off the gently flowing stream just outside the door.  A warm summer breeze wafted through the nearby trees, sending the leaves dancing soothingly.  Bright flowers of all colors surrounded the cottage, each lending their beauty to a place of joy.  There were always animals around the cottage, brightly-colored hummingbirds zipping this way and that, little squirrels and chipmunks that skittered around in search of food or a little kindness, and the occasional seal or bear that stopped by for a visit.  Everypony that approached the cottage immediately felt at ease as the kindness of the one who had lived there for most of her life worked its magic on the surroundings.
To Rainbow Dash, the approach to her home was anything but soothing right now.  To her, it felt like she was stepping into the gates of Tartarus and all she had to defend herself was a single, fresh-baked pastry and a lame apology.  
Her visit to the bakery had cleared up so many things: the townsfolk’s reaction to her arrival, the coldness she had noticed from Soarin lately, and that one reporter’s odd questions at the last team press conference.  It even explained why Fluttershy’s letters of late had been rather brief and impersonal.  
Rainbow had just assumed it was because she’d barely had any time to sleep, let alone respond to a letter.
As she made her way to the front door, a feeling of trepidation began to build within her.  What if Fluttershy didn’t believe her?  What if she really thought she was cheating?  What if she threw her out?  What if – 
Rainbow shook her head wildly, trying to dislodge all of the nerve-shattering thoughts.  Fluttershy wouldn’t do anything like that.  Not the very embodiment of kindness.  Fluttershy wouldn’t throw her out.  Rainbow would just have to sleep on the couch, that’s all.  That was all.  It wasn’t like the normally demure pegasus could be incredibly scary on the rare occasions she was angry, and despite the fact that she generally shied away from any confrontation didn’t mean that she wasn’t a force to be reckoned with.
She slowly reached for the door handle, her uncertainty returning full force and causing her to hesitate.  Come on, Rainbow Dash, she berated herself.  Fluttershy’s the shy one, not you.  A problem like this, you just take life by the horns and go with it!
Still she stood there, hoof on the handle, bag in her mouth, not moving an inch.  Despite the fact that she knew the truth, talking to Fluttershy about it was going to be the hard part.  Rainbow Dash, to put it bluntly, was horrible at relationship stuff, and frequently ended up putting her hoof in her mouth during arguments.
As she stood there, trying to convince herself to open the door and walk into her own home, her problem was solved for her as the door opened on its own.  Caught unawares, all Rainbow could do was stare blankly as Fluttershy herself appeared in the doorway before letting out a squeak of surprise and slamming the door in Rainbow’s face.  Her heart sank like a rock for a brief moment before the door opened again, albeit much more slowly.
Fluttershy stood there, carefully looking out, her full expression hidden by her curtain of a mane.  Rainbow’s heart, momentarily buoyed by the door reopening, resumed its sudden descent as she saw the smile on Fluttershy’s face.  It wasn’t the smile Rainbow was used to seeing whenever she showed up, that smile of happiness and joy that was unmatched by anypony else.  No, this was the smile of greeting a friend that Fluttershy gave to nearly everypony that showed up to her door.
Absently scratching the back of her head, she tried to smile at Fluttershy, a gesture hampered somewhat by the bag still in her mouth.  “Uh… Hey shere, Fluttersh,” she said lamely, her greeting slightly muffled.  “Shuprishe…”
The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Fluttershy stepped back from the door.  “H-hi there, Rainbow,” she stammered softly.  “I-it’s good to s-see you again.”  Inwardly, Rainbow cursed.  There was that greeting.  Like she was a friend who had just stopped by for a chat.  She slowly followed Fluttershy into the cottage, the familiar, comforting scent of their home tickling her nostrils around the slight sweetness of the pastry in the bag.  
Rainbow carefully sat the bag down on the nearby table before turning to study her wife.  Fluttershy was watching her carefully, as if she were a dangerous animal ready to pounce and the yellow pegasus was trying to decide whether to run and hide or stay and try to calm her.  After a long, awkward silence, during which Fluttershy continued to hide behind her mane, Rainbow finally spoke.  “So… how’s it hanging?’ she asked lamely, causing Fluttershy to squeak in surprise.
“Fine…” Fluttershy replied in barely a whisper.  “Um… How are you, Rainbow?”
“Well, you know, just my normal awesome self,” Rainbow replied with a forced smile.
“That’s good,” Fluttershy replied.  “I-I haven’t seen or heard from you in a long time, so I was curious…”  As she trailed off inaudibly, Rainbow winced inwardly.  “Um… would you like some tea?” Fluttershy asked, averting her gaze.  “I was just making myself a pot.  I-If you don’t mind, that is…”
“Sure, that sounds fine…” Rainbow replied, her mind racing as she stared at Fluttershy.  What should she do?  Should she just come out and say it or should she talk about something else and hope it came up so she could just laugh it off and say it was nothing and they could go back to being normal and happy and in love and oh Celestia what should she do?  
She realized that her inner monologue had been going on too long when she saw Fluttershy’s expression change from hesitant to slightly fearful, and she shook her head to clear her mind.  “Sorry, you say something?” she asked, and Fluttershy’s expression softened.  Just a little bit.
“I-I asked if you wanted one lump of sugar or two,” came the quiet reply.
That stung a little.  Fluttershy hadn’t asked that question for a few years now.  “Um, two, please,” Rainbow replied.  Fluttershy disappeared into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups, which she placed on the table.  The two of them made themselves comfortable on the couch, though they carefully avoided touching each other as if an invisible wall had sprung up between them.
In a sense, one had.  Fluttershy sat quietly, staring into her teacup, her shyness and uncertainty keeping her quiet and reserved, while Rainbow’s mind was still racing a mile a minute trying to figure out what to do.  Finally, after nearly half an hour of awkward silence punctuated only by the occasional sips of tea, Rainbow opened her mouth to get it over with.  “Hey, Flutters, about that article…” she began, at the same time Fluttershy opened her mouth to whisper, “It’s ok, Rainbow, you can leave if you want to.”
Rainbow paused mid-sentence.  Caught completely off-guard for the second time that day, she slowly turned her head to gape at Fluttershy, who had immediately buried her face in her teacup while shading her eyes with her mane.  Finally, she managed a response.  “…What did you say?” she said slowly, uncertain that she had heard right.
Fluttershy turned her head slightly, and Rainbow could see the resolve on her face, as hesitant as it was.  “Y-you can leave if you want to, Rainbow,” she said, slightly louder than before.  “Y-You can l-leave me if I-I’m holding y-you back.”  She smiled at Rainbow, a sickly yet brave smile.  “I’ll be ok, h-honest.”  As Rainbow stared, Fluttershy slowly reached up to her mane, hesitating for a long moment before sliding the jeweled butterfly clip out and placing it on the couch between them.  “H-Here, I-I know how much y-you liked t-this,” she said, her voice trembling as much as the teacup in her hooves, “s-so I thought y-you could take it f-for your next s-special s-s-somepony…”
As soon as she finished what she was saying, Fluttershy quickly placed her teacup down on the table and promptly bolted up the stairs and into their room, slamming the door behind her.  Rainbow could hear the soft sounds of sobbing drifting down the stairs as she stared down at the clip lying next to her.  Ever so slowly, as if she were in a trance, she reached down and picked up the clip, turning it this way and that in her hooves as she tried to process what Fluttershy had just said.
A dark, sneaky little voice in the back of her mind encouraged her to take the chance she’d been given.  That voice taunted her with images of flying high and free, all by herself with nopony holding her back.  Tempted her with the thought of cutting loose from the ground and soaring to new heights, showing all of those doubters who the champ was.  Offered her a future without that weak ground-bound pegasus that couldn’t handle her lifestyle, and that was probably jealous of her success and her fame.
No more arguments over how much free flying she was doing during her breaks home.  No more disappointed looks when she took off, leaving Fluttershy behind on the ground to take care of the cottage or yet another animal patient.  No more having to deal with yet another one of Fluttershy’s anxiety attacks whenever something went wrong.  It wouldn’t be a betrayal, no.  It would just be a shifting of loyalties.
Fortunately, Rainbow knew how to deal with that voice.  She balled it up, stomped it down, and kicked it away as she tightened her grip on the clip in her hooves.  There was no way she was going to abandon anypony, let alone the love of her life.
Launching herself from the couch, she quickly flew up the stairs to the door leading to their room, determined to fight for their friendship and their marriage.