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// Blissful ignorance 
// Story: Loyal to a fault 
// by Twidash fanatic 
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	For the first time in a long while, Ponyville was enjoying a warm and sunny day. Winter Wrap Up had finished over a month ago, but the cold and wet weather decided to stay a while longer. Thanks to Rainbow Dash and the rest of the weather team the heat was back, allowing everypony to venture outside again without fear of catching a cold or coming home soaked. Ponies were enjoying the day in their own unique ways, which for Rainbow meant flying through the skies above the peaceful town. 

Flight was more than an action to Rainbow. To her, flying was letting instinct take over and guide her actions. The way she could feel the wind resist her in different directions and different intensities every day was nothing short of magic. It was more than leaving the ground, moving fast, more than a part of daily life. Flight was part of Rainbow's identity, something she simply couldn't see herself without. Pulling off tricks and winning races would always be her talent and passion, but sometimes a slow glide with the sunshine at her back was all that she could ever ask for.

"Rainbow?" The pegasus smiled at the sound of her name. It was a reminder of who was flying beside her, another something she couldn't fathom her life without. Her head turned to face the source of the sound, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Though she had only been the alicorn's marefriend for a few short months, Rainbow knew Twilight better than almost anypony. Years of friendship and perilous adventuring together was a pretty good way to grow close to somepony, after all. 

"Yeah, Twi?" Rainbow responded. She gave her purple companion a quick once over with her eyes. First was her horn, which Rainbow had seen perform magic so strong it rivaled that of the princesses back when Twilight was a unicorn. Next were her eyes, the beautiful purple gems that could command Rainbow's attention for hours. Her mouth, which had been placed against Rainbow's own more and more these past months. Her wings, still imperfect and flapping weakly but growing stronger every day. As Rainbow's eyes drifted past Twilight's flanks, cutie mark, and all of her tail flowing in the wind, she smirked proudly. Yeah, I did pretty well for myself. She thought happily.

Twilight smiled back at her marefriend. "I just want you to know how much this means to me. I'm sure you're really tired from all the rough weather you've been clearing, but you still wanted to fly with me. That you would do that for me... it really means the world. So... thank you." The princess blushed and faced forward, leaving Rainbow shocked and blushing herself at the sudden heartfelt speech.

Whoa... where did that come from? Rainbow wondered. Twilight isn't usually so comfortable being open and vulnerable like that. She then giggled as she had a small revelation. I'm not so mushy and readable, myself. Maybe the reason we fit together is because we can communicate without always using words. That being said... "Twilight, look at me." The lavender mare obeyed. "There is no place I'd rather be than right here with you." High on emotion and with Twilight's lips on her mind, Rainbow flew ahead of the princess a short ways and turned around. She slowly drifted towards the alicorn, whose face had gone completely crimson. When at last her vision was completely filled with Twilight's blushing face, she leaned in and kissed her marefriend. 

Kissing while flying was nothing like kissing on the ground. It was more difficult to focus and become lost in sensation when trying to stay aloft, but there was so much more passion. With lips locked and wings flapping in graceful unison, the mares found themselves in a romantic dance of mouth and body. Rainbow rose a hoof up to run gently through Twilight's mane and another to the mare's back, deepening the kiss and guiding their bodies into a more vertical position. Twilight hugged Rainbow tightly around the middle with both hooves, unwilling to provide any space more than the pegasus needed to breathe. After a few long minutes of complete bliss, the mares separated and stared at each other dreamily, both smitten and exhausted.

As if the universe itself knew that everything was going far too well, a scream could be heard from below Rainbow and Twilight. Without even considering a glance at her companion, Rainbow fell into a nosedive. She was determined to reach the call for help as quickly as she could, and save whoever was in danger. When the ground beneath her came into focus, Rainbow easily spotted the origin of the scream. Applebloom, little sister to Applejack and proud member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, was rolling through town at breakneck speed on a little red wagon. The wagon seemed to be filled with apples that were rapidly being tossed out from the sheer force of the speeding wagon.

Wasting no time, Rainbow raced to catch up to the rogue cart. Upon spotting a building a ways away that the wagon would soon ram into, she doubled her velocity. Soaring low and dodging ponies on both sides, the daredevil pegasus easily gained on the wheeled red blur. Applebloom's shrieks and pleas for help rang in her ears as she reached out to grab the filly. With no more than a second to spare, Rainbow latched onto the yellow earth pony with her front hooves and pulled up into the sky again. The wagon continued on to crash violently with the building, and any remaining apples were unceremoniously thrown to the ground.

When she finally stopped screaming, Applebloom realized that she was not only unharmed, but she was floating. Straining to look up at her savior, her eyes met Rainbow's. "Rainbow Dash!" The filly exclaimed. "Ya saved me!"

Rainbow chuckled kindly in response. "Of course I did, kiddo! You didn't think you could crash into a building with old Dash around, did you?"

The two laughed merrily and gently returned to the ground. Mere moments later Rainbow noticed the elder Apple sister sprinting their way with tears in her eyes.

"Applebloom!" Applejack cried. At some shock to her sister, she scooped the filly up in a loving and concerned hug. "Are you hurt? Ah saw the wagon start to roll but ah couldn't get you off of there in time. Ah'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, big sis, Rainbow saved me! She flew down and pulled me out of the wagon before it smashed into a house. It was awesome!" Applebloom and Applejack both looked to the blue pegasus, who offered a broad grin.

"Heh, it was pretty cool I guess. In any ca-" Rainbow was interrupted by her orange friend, who had all but tackled her in a hug of her own.

"Oh Rainbow, ah can't thank you enough!" Applejack said. "If you hadn't been here, Applebloom might have gotten hurt, or worse!" She detached herself from her flying friend and returned to her sister's side. "We oughta get back to our apple stand, but thanks a million, sugarcube!" 

Rainbow waved to her friend happily as she walked off with Applebloom in tow. In need of a break from all the unexpected excitement, the element of loyalty sat down and rested. It wasn't until she heard the sound of wings nearby that she perked back up, and remembered what she was in the middle of before the rescue. 

"Rainbow, is everypony alright?" Twilight asked in concern as she finally lowered to the ground. "You rushed off so quickly, I had no clue what was happening!"

Standing and rolling her neck to work out any kinks, Rainbow relayed the story to Twilight. "Yeah, everypony is just fine. Applebloom was just in the middle of a demolition derby involving a wagon and some apples, but I kept her out of harm's way."

"What a relief!" Twilight responded. "Um, not to change the subject, but about what we were doing... y'know, just a moment ago...?"

Rainbow's mind could not boast the same speed as her wings. When all the proper connections had been made, her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my Celestia! I didn't mean to ditch you at a time like that, Twi! I'm sorry..." Rainbow's head hung low, but was soon raised by a purple hoof.

"Rainbow..." Twilight reassured, "I'm not mad you went and saved somepony. I was just wondering if we could... well... pick up where we left off?" The alicorn's face turned sultry, and Rainbow immediately felt her face heating up once more. Though there were few things she desired more in Equestria than to take her marefriend up on the offer, the pegasus found she could not accept.

"I would really like that, honestly, but I promised Pinkie that I would help her with a new prank today." Rainbow sheepishly smiled in embarrassment. "Can we wait until tonight?"

Twilight, feeling as if she'd just been slapped, quickly hid her surprise and disappointment. "Y-yeah, sure thing, Rainbow. Go and help Pinkie, I'll see you tonight."

Ignorant to the pain she had just caused, the pegasus mare gave her marefriend a bright smile and a peck on the cheek. "Awesome, thanks for understanding, Twi! See you later!" Taking to the air and making for Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow's head buzzed with happy thoughts. What a great day! Made out with Twilight, helped somepony in need, and now I get to spend the afternoon pranking with Pinkie Pie! Everything is perfectly balanced. I mean, what kind of element of loyalty would I be if I started playing favorites?"