Rainbow Dash and Macintosh lay under the stars, curled up so Rainbow could rest her head on his stomach as he rested his foreleg around her barrel. This had been found to be the most comfortable position, and many, many deep conversations had been had in this position.
This one, though, happened to be more of a pregame discussion.
“Ok, so for the reunion tomorrow, eat slow, because we’ll be eating all day; don’t worry about everypony’s names because they’re all going to introduce themselves, and everypony’s going to want to see me.”
“Eeyup,” Macintosh said.
“Fair enough,” Rainbow Dash said airily. “I’m already the greatest attraction the Wonderbolts have. It’ll be just a normal day for me.”
Macintosh chuckled, a low rumbling sound.
“I’m serious!” Rainbow protested. “We did a photoshoot yesterday, and they’re putting me on the new international poster. Top corner.”
Macintosh nudged her. “Congratulations,” he said.
Rainbow sighed. “Ready for tomorrow?”
“Nope.”
“No?”
Macintosh sighed. “Ain’t the best in social situations.”
“You sing on stage,” Rainbow pointed out. “You’re singing tomorrow.”
“That ain’t social,” Macintosh argued. “That’s sharing a talent. Socialness is when ponies I ain’t seen in a dog’s age show up and say somethin’ like…” And here he put on a rather good impression of a doting female family member, complete with raised pitch and lilted inflection, “‘Oh, Macintosh, it’s so good to see you’ve done so well for yourself! Now, when can we expect grandfoals?’”
Rainbow blinked as horrifying images flashed through her head. “Macintosh?”
“Eeyup?”
“Hold me.”
“Eeyup.”
* * *
Thankfully, the reunion did not turn out nearly as bad as Rainbow’s nightmares had made it out to be. There were ponies everywhere, most seemed perfectly happy to meet their relatives. Apple Bloom got tackled by a filly with a reddish mane, Granny Smith fell in line with other ponies who looked as old as her, and Applejack mostly looked happy that she wasn’t in charge of it this year.
But once the basic introductions were made, she became a target.
“Is she your special somepony?”
“Eeyup.”
“She's beautiful, Mac!”
“Eeyup,” Macintosh said, rubbing against Rainbow.
“I’m so happy for you!”
Rainbow glared as he left. “That’s the seventh time. They do know I'm standing right here, right?”
“Eeyup,” Macintosh answered. “But I've been single so long, everypony thought it'd never happen. And now here I am with the awesomest mare in Ponyville.”
“You just hadn't met the right pony yet,” Rainbow said, trying to hide a smile.
“Oh, I'd met her; just didn't know how good she'd be for me.”
Rainbow grinned. “Thanks, big guy,” she said, nudging him.
There was a brief pause.
“She’s beautiful, Mac!”
“Eeyup.”
Rainbow fought the urge to facehoof.
* * *
Rainbow glanced around. “Is it just me, or are there some ponies that aren’t exactly thrilled to see me?” She looked back, and then glanced around at the distinct lack of pegasi there, and suddenly felt somewhat self-conscious. “I- is it the wings?”
“Nope,” Macintosh said, sidestepping around an earth pony foal being chased by a young unicorn. “Let's just say there's a lot of bets that got lost this year. So if'n you see a couple ponies in dresses tomorrow, that's why.”
Rainbow considered this for a moment, and then her jaw dropped. “Wait. Ponies are betting on your love life?!”
Macintosh shrugged. “Eeyup.”
Rainbow Dash scowled. “That’s horseapples. What, are you a prime target just because you’re a big stallion who’s been single for a while?”
Macintosh chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”
Rainbow Dash scowled harder. She reached behind her to the food table and stuffed an entire apple fritter in her mouth. “How’s this for cute?” she demanded, spraying fritter crumbs everywhere.
Macintosh raised an eyebrow, said nothing… and then reached behind her for a fritter. Without breaking eye contact with her, he, too, shoved the entirety of the fritter in his mouth.
And the silent challenge had been offered. Rainbow retaliated with another. Macintosh copied. And pretty soon a crowd started to gather.
* * *
“Spitfire’s going to hang my wings on her wall for that when I get back,” Rainbow groaned.
“Eeyup,” Macintosh said softly. They'd been forced to declare it a draw when the table had run out of apple fritters. This was, all things considered, probably the best possible outcome.
“What's in those things, anyway?” Rainbow had to ask. “They're delicious.”
“Love. And about three sticks of butter.”
“So worth it,” Rainbow said, rubbing the side of her stomach.
Oddly enough, word had spread of their little contest, and Rainbow Dash suddenly found herself part of the conversation, able to share a little about herself. Apparently, that little exhibition had made the ponies decide that now, she was one of them. Phrases like ‘she's beautiful, Mac!’ gave way to ‘Mac's a great pony!’ and ‘hope he can keep up with you!’
Rainbow Dash had just finished explaining an Icaranian Sun Salutation when Macintosh returned, smiling wide.
“What?” Rainbow demanded.
In answer, Macintosh held out a large mug of cider.
And really, when presented with cider, there is only one real choice.
She took it and drained it in one shot. The ponies chuckled around her. One even stomped a few times.
Rainbow grinned as she looked around, and that grin only widened when Macintosh revealed that he had brought two. She quickly repeated her previous performance, and the ponies cheered and laughed again. She looked around as she wiped the excess off her lips with her foreleg. It just seemed so friendly, so natural here. You know, I could really get used to being an Apple.