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// Prompt #317: She's Wearing The Goggles Again 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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“Oh, they do look so adorable together!” cried Rarity, though not too loudly. She had learned that lesson many times before.  Across the table, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. 

“I told you, they aren’t dating,” grumbled Rainbow. She didn’t have lunch with Rarity often-they just didn’t have a whole lot in common. That said, Rainbow Dash knew everything that went on in Ponyville because she was always flying above it, and as such, Rarity liked to tap Rainbow Dash for gossip. Rainbow didn’t really care, but Rarity always paid for lunch, and Rainbow wasn’t going to pass up free food. She could think of worse ways to spend her lunch hour, and it wasn’t like she hated Rarity’s company.

“You’re simply missing the signs, dear. The way they try to ignore each other, how Fluttershy pretends that Pinkie annoys her sometimes, how Pinkie always tries to help her come out of her shell. It’s pure love, just bubbling under the surface, waiting for the right moment to burst forth!”

“First, ew,” said Rainbow Dash, taking a bite from her daisy sandwich, “second, ew, and third, I’m pretty sure that Pinks does actually annoy Fluttershy.”

“But how Pinkie refuses to play any form of prank on Fluttershy must surely be a sign of their secret relationship that they will not reveal to the world until Fluttershy feels they are ready, and it must surely be killing Pinkie inside that she cannot tell anypony about it,” wailed Rarity, drawing some unwanted attention from the tables nearby.  As she apologised, Rainbow rubbed her nose into the crook of her forehoof. 

“Trust me, Rare,” she said, “if Pinkie and Fluttershy were dating, I’d have noticed.”

“You may not have, Rainbow,” said Rarity, “after all, it is not as if you are the purest expert on romance. You may be interpreting the signs differently.”

“Like you’re any better,” snorted Rainbow,” Remember that time when you were convinced that I was in love with Applejack? Remember how that turned out?”

Rarity blushed. “In fairness, darling, you spent a lot of time around Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Yeah, because I was getting it on with Big Mac, not because I was staring at Applejack’s flank like you claimed.”

“I will concede that I was wrong about that instance,” ceded Rarity, “but I am not wrong about this. I can feel it.”

“You said that last time, too,” grumbled Rainbow.

“No, I am sure of it. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are simply hiding behind a veil of secrecy until it is torn back and reveals their beautiful relationship to the world! Oh, it will be so beautiful,” murmured Rarity. Rainbow Dash mimed being sick.

“You are such a boor, Rainbow Dash. Completely unable to appreciate the more subtle things in life. Why, I’d bet it would take a blow to the head for you to notice anypony in love with you.”

“Hey,” said Rainbow, “that is totally not true. I can always tell when somepony loves me! It just happens to be everypony, all the time.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “So you say.”

“I do say so! You know, I’ll bet you that I can name at least one mare who is totally in love with the Dash right now!”

“I’ll bet that you can’t!” said Rarity, and Rainbow smirked, leaned across the table, and whispered in Rarity’s ear. Rarity went bright red, coughed and then looked at everywhere except at Rainbow Dash for the rest of lunch, while Rainbow smirked in victory.

****Time****

Shortly after Rarity had departed in a rush, claiming that she had to attend to a dress, and Rainbow was just about to resume her afternoon practice, followed by her afternoon nap, she spotted Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, Pinkie!” cried Rainbow.

“Ooh, hey Dashie!”

“You going to Twilight’s again?” asked Rainbow, noting the direction that Pinkie was heading in.

“Yepperooni! She’s got some really neato books that she wants my help to unpack, and then we’re going to have sex!” said Pinkie. Rainbow, along with the rest of Ponyville minus Rarity, had determined a long time ago that Pinkie Pie basically had no shame when it came to intimacy.

“Well, have fun!”

“You know we always do!” cried Pinkie, as she dashed off towards the library.