You sigh as you drop your bag next to you on the floor and you fall back into the booth of the train. You rub your eyes with the palms of your hands, getting the sleep out of them to the best of your ability.
You look out the window to see the massive hotel by the beach off in the distance, blocking the sun just starting to rise over the horizon. You have no idea why you decided to leave this early in the morning, when there we trains heading to and from Ponyville all day. Maybe you just wanted to get home as soon as possible to see your friends again.
It had been a fun three months, sure. You'd even made some new friends and had become well known around the resort, probably because you were the only one of your species there.
You reach into your pocket as you feel the train lurch forward, beginning your ridiculously long trip back home. You pull out a crumpled up piece of paper and unfold it to re-read it's contents for what feels like the millionth time. You smile a bit as you read the words, remember the promise you'd made so long ago to return.
It wasn't until after you had left that you had learned about how Rainbow felt about you. You felt guilty that you had left her without being able to respond to the letter she had given you. You had been thinking about what to tell her for the last three months, and you had finally come to the conclusion that you liked her back. Heck, it had taken you weeks of debating whether it was ethically right to be with her, but after finally coming to the conclusion that nobody would probably care, you decided to give it a shot.
The only problem you still had, was that you still weren't quite sure what you were going to tell her. You have no idea how she is going to react or if she even still feels the same way for you. People, or in this case ponies, can change a lot in just three months. You were just hoping much hadn't changed between both of you.
You fold the paper back up gently, placing it into your jacket pocket. You look out the window, resting your elbow on edge, and staring at the slowly rising sun in the distance. Slowly, the movements of the train cause you to doze off, eventually falling into slumber that you wouldn't wake up from until you were home.
You suddenly sit up, gasping as the steam whistle of the train jolts you from your sleep. You groan as you rub your eyes, looking out the window next to you. It has to be sometime in the mid-afternoon if the sun's position is anything to go off of.
You stand up in the aisle as the train begins to slow down, and Ponyville comes into view in the distance. You stretch your arms over your head as you watch the town slowly become bigger and bigger as you approach it. A smile begins to creep across your face as you prepare to see your friends after not seeing them for months. You had sent letters to them during your trip, making sure to stay in touch as much as possible. You had sent any updates to Twilight directly, knowing that she would be the one that would tell everyone any news. Other than her, you hadn't actually written to any of your other friends directly, which made seeing them again all the more enticing.
As the train's breaks screech, you grab your bag and start moving to the front of the train. As you pass through one of the middle aisles, you look out the right window to see a crowd of ponies waiting for the train. You spot a very familiar group of six, and they spot you back. They wave excitedly, smiles on all of their faces as you pass by the window, and making your way to the exit.
As you step off, you drop your bags and immediately run up to the group. You drop to you knees as the all surround you just like they always do. It had taken a while, but you'd grown to love their awkward group hugs.
"Oh Celestia it has been too long!" Twilight says as they back up a bit, giving you some room. You remain on one knee, looking around at each of them and the smiles on their face. You eventually land your eyes on Rainbow, and your heart skips a beat when you remember the note in your pocket. You notice a bit of worry or nervousness in her facial expression as she refuses to make direct eye contact with you.
As the rest of your friends welcome you back excitedly, you can't help but think of Rainbow in the back of your mind.
After a good ten or so minutes of catching up, the group starts to move off the platform and onto the fresh Ponyville grass, something you hadn't seen in months.
"Oh God, it is good to be home." You say, taking a deep breath of the spring air. You look behind you to see Rainbow walking rather slowly behind the group. "Twilight." You say, looking at the group around you.
"Yeah?" She replies. You stop as the rest of the group keeps walking.
"I'm gonna talk to Rainbow for a minute. You guys go ahead of us, we'll catch up later."
"O-Oh, okay." She says with a smug smile like she already knows what's going on. Of course Rainbow would tell them, they're so close after all.
You turn around and stand in front of Rainbow with your arms crossed. She doesn't even notice you until she bumps into your legs. She lets out a short gasp, looking up at you.
"Sorry 'bout that." She says with a sheepish smile, looking behind you at the rest of the group walking away without you. "We should catch up with them." She says, trying to walk around you. You stick a leg out in front of her, causing her to back up a few steps.
"Want to go to the park?" You say smugly, giving her a friendly smile.
"Um, what?" She says, confused.
"Don't think I forgot." You say with a smug grin as you pull the piece of paper out of your pocket. Her ears droop to the side of her head, and her back legs press together as she lets out a nervous chuckle.
"Oh, you still have that. I thought you would have just forgotten, and-"
"Let's walk and talk." You say as you begin leading her towards the park. You walk together in an awkward silence, wondering if she still has feelings for you or not. The walk could not have taken longer, as when you finally arrive, you feel like a ton of weights has been dropped off of your shoulders. You sit down on a bench, dropping your bag under it. You pat the open spot next to you, and Rainbow slowly climbs up, not making eye contact, instead looking out at the sun and pond in front of us.
"So... you read the note I guess?" She says reluctantly, now looking down at her hooves.
"Yeah, I read it." You say in a monotone voice.
"So, what? Did you freak out about it or something? You don't seem all that happy to see me." She says, sounding defeated. You sit up, giving her a confused look.
"What? Seriously? Rainbow, I've been wanting to see you every day for the past three months. I haven't been able to go a day without thinking of you guys, you most of all." You say, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. She looks at it, somewhat shocked, before finally making eye contact with you.
"Me? Really?" She says, sounding surprised.
"Well yeah. You're my best friend, how could I not miss you. And that letter... Rainbow it was-"
"You don't have to say it, I already know..." She says with a sigh.
"I was gonna say I loved it. And... I've been thinking about it and... I think I feel the same way. About you."
"You... what?" She says, her jaw hanging open slightly and her pupils shrinking a bit. You smile and wrap your arm around her back, pulling her into your side.
"It's always been there since we met, but I'm just now realizing that I think I have a thing for you too." You can feel Rainbow's heart beating so fast you think it might explode.
"So, what you're saying is... you love me... back?" She says as tears start to form in her eyes. You use your free hand to wipe them dry, wiping it on your pants before placing it on her hoof.
"Duh, you crazy pony. It just took that letter for me to realize it."
"Nopony has ever said that to me..." She says, a smile forming on her face as more tears being to roll down her face.
"Well I just did. Now, let me show you I mean it." You pull Rainbow's head over, quickly placing your lips on her's. You feel your face turn red as it heats up. You feel her heart again beating against your chest.
"I'm back for good now." You say softly as you pull away, resting your forehead on her's. "I keep my promises after all."
"I'm glad you did. I don't think I could live without you." You lean back into her, breathing in sharply through your nose. You feel your entire body light up like a raging fire as hold Rainbow against you. The sun begins to set over the trees in the distance, covering you in an orange glow.
It isn't long before you both begin to close your eyes, falling asleep on the bench, holding each other for the first of many times to come.