//------------------------------// // Friends and Family // Story: A Rainbow's Tail // by KingYakko5991 //------------------------------// "So, uh, when is the funeral?" Pinkie asks me. Wait... when IS the funeral? The letter didn't say anything about... Oh. There's a back. There's another thing Swift was good at. Always making it seem like the end when there's a back. I could only smile at this. "Maybe the back has something to say about it..." I say. "Wait, you didn't know about the back? I assumed that you did." I chuckle as I read. At least Pinkie's here to lighten the mood. But then it darkens a little. "I uh, kinda missed it because of my move. Damn, I wished I would've known this before... They didn't get my new address in time and couldn't postpone it." I sigh a little and Pinkie gives me yet ANOTHER hug. Guess she's a hugger. Not that I mind in a time like this. I have to visit. Apparently my brother managed to convince them to bury him near Ponyville. Not sure if it was because Dad was from Ponyville or because he was thinking about me. "Hey Pinkie," she turns and looks at me. "Know a place where I can grab some flowers?" I head off to where my dad was buried. I'm kinda looking down when I see a pegasus shadow on the ground. I look up to see who it was but there is nopony there... I'm PRETTY sure I saw somepony. But when I start to walk again, I feel my saddlebags lifted off of my back. I turn around kinda angry. "What the hell-" But instead of some random pony, it's none other than Rainbow Dash. "It's just me, sweetheart. No need to use angry words." She says with a smile. Wait... SWEETHEART?! Okay who are you and what have you done with my Dashie? "So what brings you out here?" She asks, putting my saddlebags back where they belong. "Am I really that irresistible?" She gives me a face that on any other day, I wouldn't be able to say no to. But today is not any other day. "Not exactly. I-" "WHAT?! Not the answer I was expecting. Guess I have to work on that... Anyway, you were saying?" "My dad died and I was going to visit him." I said with that sadness in my voice. "Oh. That sucks," she says landing next to me. "I suppose you wouldn't mind me coming with you then, right?" "Of course, Dashie." "Cool." We walk in silence to the cemetery were my dad was buried. It takes me a little to find his tombstone. But eventually, I do. A sight that I never thought I'd see... I get the flowers out of my bags and lie them in front. "I'm sure gonna miss you..." I mumble, a little more to myself. I feel a tear roll down my cheek. Again, I'm being hugged. But this time, it's Rainbow, not Pinkie. I hug her back and we stand there for what seems like ages, hugging each other. I finally break the warm hug. "Hey, you don't mind if I visit my mom do you? You know, with your parents visiting and all..." "That's okay. I'm sure it's hard on your mom as well. I can probably arrange something... Hey! Maybe we can all meet at your mom's house?" "Yeah! That's a pretty good idea. I'm sure my mom won't mind." "Cool. I'll leave a note telling my parents to meet over at your mom's place and they can meet each other as well!" "Sounds great to me!" I tell Rainbow where my mom lives and we both head home. I put away my stuff and get ready to visit Mom. Except... that feeling... it's back again. What could it mean THIS time? I try to ignore since I'll probably find out once I get to my mom's house. But it's hard to ignore. I meet Dashie just as were about to enter Cloudsdale. We go to where my mom lives and I knock on the door. "Lightning?" "Hey, Mom." She quickly gives me a hug. She's just as I remember her. That whitish-gray coat. Her blonde mane with a single red highlight. And those blue eyes that I genetically received. "It's been so long since I've last seen you." She says as she releases me. "Yeah, I know." "Look at you. You're all grown up." Of course. The generic mom statement. "And who is this young mare over here?" "I'm Rainbow Dash. Lightning's marefriend." She used the word. SHE USED THE WORD! In front of my MOM too. "Aaaaaawww. Another one already?" I kind of blush as she lets us in. I start to catch up with my mom. "So what brings you here?" "I heard about what happened to Dad." "Oh. The funeral wasn't the same without you." "Yeah. I bet it wasn't." "So how did you meet this nice mare?" She asks, gesturing to Dashie who was looking at the pictures above the fireplace. "She crashed into me." My mom giggles a little at this. "Well good luck with her." She says with a wink. "Thanks... Oh! Her parents are visiting and she left them a note telling them to meet here. Ya know, 'cause I was going to visit you and all." "That's quite alright." I knew Mom would be cool with it. I go over to Dashie. She's looking at the picture of my dad. Some memories come back as I look at it. His brown mane and tail. Light tan coat and deep blue eyes. I'll never forget him. "He would've liked you." "Huh? Wha-?" Clearly she was startled. "That's what your were thinking, right?" "Yeah. He seems like a pretty cool pony." "Yeah... Basically his way of showing that he was alright with you would be to playfully tease you." We just stand there in silence for a little while. "Hey, wanna see my old room?" "Sure!" I lead her to where my room was. Wait... there is NO way I left this room THIS clean. "It's a lot neater than I remember... or than what it should be since it was MY room." "Maybe your mom cleaned it for you?" "Yeah, probably." I sit down on the bed and Rainbow joins me. We just sit there, again in silence. "So, uh, I thought you were from Canterlot?" "Well, I was born in Cloudsdale and moved to Canterlot with my dad when my parents divorced..." "Oh... that sucks." "Yeah. But they eventually got back together. But I decided to stay in Canterlot. Mostly because I fell in love with this one mare named Sunset Shimmer. " "So that's what your mom meant by 'another' one already..." "Yeah..." I feel a slight blush come to m cheeks. "Soooooo. What happened to Sunset?" "She ended up going somewhere, but she never told me where..." "Oh." I take another look around the room. I see a few old things of mine. The chemistry set, a picture of me when I first learned to fly, and some trophy that I won. I can't remember what for though... We head back out into the living room. I spot the piano and immediately go over to it. It's been a long time without YOU, my friend... I'm a little hesitant, but I begin to play my favorite piano song. Fur Elise, by Beethoven. When I'm done, I get an applause from my mom and Rainbow. "Wow Lightning! I didn't know you could play the piano." "Yes. He actually taught himself how. I was so proud when he played his first song without messing up." I blush a little at the memory. "Ya know Mom, it does need a little tuning..." "Of course it does, Mr.Piano Expert." And as if on cue, somepony knocks on the door. "I got it mom!" It's probably Rainbow's parents. Hopefully I can make a good first impression. When I open the door however, I am instantly greeted with a spear. Not THAT kind though. Only one pony would be insane enough to do something like that. "What the hell was THAT for, Swift?" The other stallion gets up. He has a light grey coat with a light brown mane and tail. His eyes are a mix of my eye color and my dad's. Somewhere in between those 2 eye colors. "Gotta make sure your ass is strong, lil bro. Espec-" "Boys, watch your language, please." Mom interrupts sternly. "Sorry Mom!" We both reply at the same time. Now it feels like the family is back together... Except for Dad... "Anyway, like I was saying, I just wanted to make sure you're ready to be an uncle AND an older brother..." "Wait, WHAT?" I'm going to be an uncle AND an older brother? "What? Mom didn't tell you?" "N-noooo..." Why DIDN'T she tell me? "Your dad and I were going to tell together, but you moved and then this..." "It's okay Mom." We sit there in silence for a little bit. "So, uh Swift? You're gonna be a dad, huh?" I had to break the silence. "Yeah, bro. When you reach a certain part of your relationship, all your mare can think about is having foals. Sometimes they start talking foals before marriage. I was lucky. You got a mare yet?" Before I can even open my mouth, Rainbow speaks up. "He has ME." She's all proud of our relationship now. I remember when she was shy about it. Swift laughs a little at this. "Good luck with her. It's only a matter of time." Well thanks for that, Swift. I walk over to the couch and sit down. I need some rest. Before I know it, Dash joins me. She rests her head on me and nuzzles into me. I wrap her in my hooves, not even bothered by my mom cooing and Swift laughing. I'm used to it by now. I hug the rainbow maned mare in my hooves a little tighter. "Did I mention that I love you?" I ask her. "I think you might've... but you might have to say it again, just in case." "I love you." "I love you to." And with that, she leans in closer for a kiss, which I gladly accept. The moment lingers for some time. I honestly wish it could last forever. But of course, it doesn't. We break up the kiss and just sit there on the couch. Rainbow soon falls asleep and so do I, soon after.