• Published 10th Aug 2016
  • 2,623 Views, 75 Comments

A Matter of Pride and Honor - bahatumay



Rainbow Dash brags to the three idiots from flight school that she has a boyfriend in Macintosh, even though she doesn't. The only possible solution is to make it true.

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Chapter 11

Clean Sweep looked like she felt very out of place. Her mane had been done up, and she wore a lovely dress; but she kept scratching at the back of her neck, as if there were a pin slightly out of place pricking her, she kept picking up and setting down her forehooves in place, and her tail would not stop swishing.

Rainbow Dash noticed this instantly. She trotted up and cleared her throat. “Hey, Sweeps,” she greeted her.

Clean Sweep jumped. “Oh! Hi, Rainbow Dash.”

“Soarin not here yet?”

She wryly shook her head. “Said he might need to take something over to his grandmother’s house, but that he’d be here as soon as he could.”

Rainbow Dash happened to know that Soarin’s grandmother lived in a retirement village in Cloudsdale, and she also happened to know that the floating city of Cloudsdale was currently making the rounds somewhere near the Smokey Mountains, so it was very unlikely that he had gone there at all. But Clean Sweep looked nervous enough without knowing that, so she went with a much safer, “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

Clean Sweep pranced in place. “I hope so. It’s really cold out here.”

Thankfully, Soarin soon arrived, wearing a classic suit. He dropped to the ground and Clean Sweep nearly flattened him with the force of her greeting hug.

Rainbow recognized it instantly. It was one of the set they kept in the office in case of accidents and lawsuits. She met his eyes over Clean Sweep’s shoulder and just smirked. Grandmother, indeed. He'd just forgotten to set up his outfit before. He grimaced and gave a hopeful smile. Rainbow mimed a closing a zipper over her mouth, and Soarin visibly relaxed.

After a moment, they separated. Soarin retrieved a trio of roses from under his jacket. “Brought these for you.”

Clean Sweep brightened. “My favorite! You remembered!” She quickly ate one, looking more at ease already.

Soarin chuckled. “Nothing but the best for you,” he said. He held out his foreleg, and Clean Sweep paused for a moment before recognizing this gesture. A faint blush colored her cheeks (or was that from the cold?) and she accepted it. Gallantly, he escorted her up the stairs and past security.

Now Rainbow was the only one left. Well, not really. There were a few other ponies waiting out here, but most of them were just regular guests. And Clean Sweep had been right about at least one thing: it was really cold out here.

Rainbow Dash had almost decided to go for a quick fly to get some feeling back into her wings when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around to see Macintosh, all dressed up in a vest and tie that matched her dress. He looked down sheepishly; but Rainbow found herself nodding in appreciation. He usually didn’t wear much of anything; the change was actually really nice. And it looked pretty good on him, too.

“Sorry I’m so late,” he apologized breathlessly. “Bunch of pigs got out and I had to help track them all down 'afore I could come.”

“It’s fine,” Rainbow said. “Now let’s get inside, before I freeze my wings off. You have our tickets, right?”

Macintosh froze. His jaw worked with wordless horror.

And then Rainbow chuckled, relieving him immensely. “I’ve got them, remember?” she said, holding them up. “One Wonderbolt plus one guest.” She leaned in and nudged him, as if sharing an inside joke. “You’re the plus one guest,” she stage-whispered.

Macintosh rolled his eyes, but he did smile as he followed her inside.

* * *

Macintosh glanced around. “Feel kinda out of place,” he admitted, pulling at the tie he wore.

Rainbow shrugged. “Yeah, you get used to it, being surrounded by ponies with more money than brains. Need proof?” She led him over to the refreshment table and pointed. “See? They’re the only ones who can get ‘or durve’ out of ‘hores devours’.” She scooped up one of the tiny sandwiches and popped it into her mouth, barely needing to chew before she could swallow. “Devours? More like devouring this whole table, amiright?”

Macintosh cracked a half smile.

Rainbow scooped up another and shoved that one in her mouth as well. “Better eat fast,” she warned, “or go find yourself someplace comfortable to stand. Because I’ve just about used up my two minutes of freedom, and-”

As she spoke, a very well-to-do-looking mare stepped behind her. “Dear me, is it Rainbow Splash?”

Rainbow Dash made eye contact with Macintosh just long enough to roll her eyes, and then spun around, putting on her Good Public Relations Dash persona. “In the feathers,” she said proudly, not bothering to correct her name.

“Oh, I saw you at the last Wonderbolts Derby. I must say, I do believe you’re aiming to become the fastest Wonderbolt Equestria has ever seen.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged lightly. “That’s my goal,” she said. “You know, altius volantis and all that.”

“Ah, yes. Ever faster.”

That was not what that phrase actually meant; but Rainbow didn’t feel like having that conversation, either.

As she continued talking, Rainbow noticed Macintosh slowly sneaking away. Oh, that she were that lucky… No, instead she got another pony coming up and introducing himself as a great fan and how much he enjoyed the Buccaneer Blitz from the last Derby and wouldn’t she sign this card he’d just so happened to bring along?

Eventually, she noticed that Soarin had also ended up nearby, fielding questions gallantly. Rainbow couldn’t help but grin. Nopony who saw him would ever think he would be the kind of stallion to shriek like a little filly when somepony (who had totally not been her) had put a fake spider in his locker.

At the next lull in the conversation, she leaned back. “So, where’s your date?” she whispered.

“Same place yours is,” he whispered back.

Rainbow gave him the stink-eye.

“No, really.” Soarin gestured with his head over towards the corner.

Rainbow glanced behind her to see Macintosh and Clean Sweep sitting at a table. They seemed to be involved in a rather deep conversation. “Huh,” she said. “Wonder what they’re talking about.”

“Probably pies,” Soarin said.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “The world does not revolve around pies, Soarin.”

Way back in Ponyville, Pinkie Pie sneezed, startling little Pumpkin Cake.

“It should,” Soarin insisted. “They’re delicious. And Clean Sweep makes the greatest pies. Seriously. I’m thinking of taking it further.”

“You don’t marry somepony because of pies, Soarin,” Rainbow said with a grin.

“No; you marry somepony because they’re amazing. Because she makes me happy. Because I make her happy. Because she keeps me grounded and makes me soar at the same time.”

Rainbow blinked. “That’s… pretty deep.”

“And she makes great pies,” Soarin repeated.

Rainbow laughed and shook her head. “Again with the pie thing. You’re like a one-trick pony.”

Soarin ignored this. “Also, she's really hot. She just doesn't realize it because she's got no self-confidence. When she does get it, I bet she’ll be into some crazy things. It’s always the quiet ones.” He winked at her.

“Yeah, you need to stop talking,” Rainbow said flatly. “And I’m willing to bet feathers to flight plans that they’re talking about anything
other than pies.”

Meanwhile, at the table, Clean Sweep rested her face in her hooves. “Crosshatching adds nothing to the pie! It’s extra work for less crust!”

“It’s for aesthetic.” Macintosh insisted. “It’s a physical expression of the love you put in it.”

“Physical shmysical,” Clean Sweep scoffed. “A pie is a pie because of how it tastes, not how it looks.”

“You eat with your eyes first,” Macintosh argued. “And if’n I didn’t like the way it looks, I ain’t gonna eat it.”

Clean Sweep rolled her eyes. “It’s a pie. It’s going to be delicious. Especially if I made it.”

Macintosh chuckled. “If you say so.”

* * *

Finally, the gala began winding down. Ponies began disappearing, and Rainbow found herself with a little more time alone. She spotted Soarin, walking with Clean Sweep up the stairs.

She had no sooner wondered where Macintosh had gotten off to when she heard something behind her. She turned to see him standing behind her, looking slightly awkward. “Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah?”

He turned. “Come on. Something I want you to see.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, but Macintosh gave no further indications of his plans. So she followed.

Macintosh led her outside. The weather pegasi had just begun work on the snow, and the gentle, fat snowflakes made the night perfectly calm and quiet. Rainbow caught herself staring.

And maybe mentally judging the pegasi on their work. It was passable. But they did have a huge area to cover.

She turned back around to Macintosh. “So you brought me out to see snow?” she asked. “I mean, I like snow.” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you want to start a snowball fight?”

Macintosh chuckled. “Nah. I just wanted to make it official somewhere special.”

“Make what official?” Rainbow asked.

Macintosh dipped his head. “Miss Rainbow, would you be my very special somepony?”

Rainbow’s heart stopped, and the world seemed to slow around her.

This is what she’d wanted, right? Yeah. It had been. And now it was here. It was hers. He was offering. WIth one word, one simple word, she, too, could join the ranks of ponies that could proudly state that she had a very special somepony.

But is that what she really wanted? This had somewhat all started with a simple misunderstanding and had converted into a matter of pride. It had been fun playing with him and teasing him, yeah; but now it was serious. He was actually asking her out. All she had to do was say ‘yes’.

She couldn’t do that to him. He’d been honest with her; she needed to return the favor. Macintosh was a good pony. He was honest, kind, really strong. Fast, too, when he wanted to be. He had hopes and dreams, and things he kept hidden from the world. He was easy to talk to. She never felt judged by anything he said. And he loved his apples.

He was…

Exactly the kind of pony she’d want to date.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said, a smile spreading across her face. “That would be awesome.”

Macintosh grinned.

But as the world faded back in, she heard some ponies laughing. She looked up and suddenly recognized some of the pegasi flying overhead.

And they were swooping down to say hi. Hoops and Score came first, with Dumb-bell following behind.

Of course they were here. Because why the hay not. How did these idiots even get tickets to this thing, anyway?

They landed nearby, and Rainbow started first. “Macintosh, some idiots from flight camp,” she introduced them. “Idiots from flight camp, this is Macintosh.”

Macintosh nodded politely. “Evening.”

He was the only one to try for civility. “Nice try, Rainbow Crash,” Hoops started.

“We heard it all,” Score gloated.

“Told you you didn’t have a special somepony,” Hoops crowed. “What, did you have to pay him to say that to you?”

Rainbow narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to retort; but before she could, Dumb-bell dope slapped Hoops upside his head. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened instead.

It wasn’t just her. All the pegasi seemed to be dumbstruck. Macintosh, not understanding the context, merely observed, more confused than shocked.

“You're a loser, Hoops,” Dumb-bell growled. “Rainbow Crash is getting something good in her life, and you just gotta try and poop all on her parade, huh? Colt, what's wrong with you?”

“Dumb-bell…” Hoops growled back.

“Don't you ‘Dumb-bell’ me,” he spat. “Dude, just grow up, ok? It's like you're obsessed with her. Let her have her good thing. She made it to the Wonderbolts; you're still working for your dad because nopony else wants to put up with your horseapples; and you’re only here because your grandma knows somepony.”

“Dumb-bell…?”

Dumb-bell shoved his hoof away. “You know what? I'm done with you. I'm here, I’m all dressed up, and I'm going to have me a good time.” Leaving behind the others, he stepped inside and nodded at the nearest mare. “How you doin’?” he asked in what was clearly supposed to pass for a smooth pickup line.

A nearby waiter uncomfortably cleared his throat. “Ah, sir?” he said, adjusting his bow tie. “That would be a statue.”

“I'm sure it's smarter than those two idiots,” he retorted. He glanced back at the statue. “So, you come here often?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

The waiter bit his lower lip, unsure if he were amused or disturbed. “I doubt she ever leaves, sir.”

“Ooh, then I bet you've got all kinds of good stories,” he said eagerly. “Spiiill!”

The other two slowly backed away. “Eh, we don't need him, anyway,” Hoops said slowly.

“Nah. Not at all.”

And then, in a flurry of wings, Macintosh and Rainbow Dash were alone again.

They looked at each other. The silent question of ‘now what?’ rang in the air.

Rainbow Dash finally broke the silence. “So, special somepony, last time my friends and I went to a gala, we left early and got donuts and hot chocolate. You in?”

Macintosh grinned. “Eeyup.”

* * *

As Rainbow Dash had remembered, the donuts were delicious. But this time, instead of being with her friends and Princess Celestia, she was just with Big Macintosh. Her special somepony.

She could get used to this.

And one of the benefits of being in a booth meant more privacy, which meant more time to talk. Macintosh started. “I didn't like the party,” he said bluntly.

“It wasn't bad,” Rainbow said. “I mean, I'd much rather spend Hearth’s Warming Eve with my friends; but it could have been worse.”

Mac raised an eyebrow.

“Grand Galloping Galas. Longer, stuffier, and much more boring.”

Mac smiled. He remembered the times Applejack had gone. “And you have to go to all of them?”

“Yep. Two words.” She held up her hooves to frame them. “Contractually. Obligated.”

Mac raised an eyebrow.

“It's a long story,” Rainbow explained, shoving another donut in her mouth. “But basically if Celestia throws a party and wants us to be there, we have to go, yes or yes.”

Mac snorted.

“I know, right? And, like, no offense; but most of these guys are unicorns and can barely tell the difference between a Buccaneer Blaze and a simple double aileron roll with a tail tuck. It’s like, wasted talent, really. Give me a family crowd any day. Somepony who actually cares.”

“Eeyup.”

“Somepony who knows my favorite moves, somepony who knows what year I was born, somepony who doesn’t care that I dropped out of flight school; somepony who actually knows my name.”

Macintosh grinned. “Rainbow Splash.”

“Yeah. Rainbow Splash. And it’s not the first time. It’s not that hard of a name to remember! Ugh. Ok, so first time it happened from some ‘loyal fan’ about a month ago, called me Rainbow Flash. I mean, at first I liked the speedy-sounding nickname; but then the team somehow got their hooves on a bunch of flash powder and kept lighting it off in the locker room. ‘Rainbow’-” here she held up a hoof, as if holding the powder, as the other pointed to an imaginary Rainbow Dash, then scuffed her hooves together, miming lighting the imaginary powder by the spark from the quick contact of her horseshoes. “-flash,” she finished. “Surprise thought it was hilarious, busted up laughing every time somepony did it; so of course they kept doing it just to set her off again. Whole locker room smelled like bad eggs by the end of the week. And Spitfire was stuck doing paperwork in her office over the weekend, so she was pretty peeved.”

Macintosh couldn’t help but chuckle. “Eeyup.”

“She puts up with a lot of horseapples, really. I don’t know how they’re going to replace her when she retires, and I don’t know who else would want her job. You know, Luna's working on putting a team together now. The Shadowbolts, she's calling them. I don't know how much of an audience they're going to get starting their shows at midnight, but hey. Maybe they can do some of the parties. If it were up to me, I’d never hit up another party again.”

Macintosh grunted. “Sorry to hear that.”

“Why’s that?”

“There's another party coming up in a couple weeks, was wonderin’ if you'd like to come.”

“Oh, yeah? Which one?” Rainbow asked. And how did you get an invitation?

“Ain't got a really fancy name; we just call it the Apple Family Reunion.”

Rainbow's ears pricked up. That was a good explanation. She'd only ever heard of these. “And special someponies are invited?” she asked to confirm.

“Eeyup.”

Rainbow smiled widely. “Then I'm in.”

* * *

The gala had finally ended, and ponies were cleaning up. Princess Celestia stood on a high balcony overlooking the ballroom, her lips slightly pursed. She would gladly have helped clean up; but princesses were not supposed to do such things. If she'd tried, she'd probably set off a chain of heart attacks all across her castle. Therefore, she supposed, such sacrifices needed to be made for the good of all Equestria.

A little smile played at her face as she heard her assistant step in. “Well, Raven, I suppose it was a good Hearth’s Warming Eve party?”

“As good as any,” Raven answered diplomatically.

Celestia chuckled, then got back down to business. “So, what's the damage?”

Raven consulted her clipboard. “As of first count, we're down thirty dinner plates, seventeen salad bowls, forty-four wine glasses, thirteen water glasses, and possibly a silverware set…”

Celestia chuckled. She suspected she knew exactly who that had been, and had taken the liberty of pre-enchanting their set to attract roaches. “Then we had a good year,” she said pleasantly.

Raven looked at her clipboard again. “Damage to the gardens is estimated at fifteen hundred bits…”

“Then it was a good year,” Celestia said, honestly surprised at this low number.

“And we've got four nobles too drunk to communicate cooling off in the holding corral.”

Celestia grinned. Some of their distant ancestors had won their noble titles over drinking contests she’d held. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.

Raven pursed her lips at the next line written on her clipboard. “And… well, we're not sure how to classify this next one…”

Celestia’s ears pricked up. That was an interesting development. Her ears pricked up even further at a sound of a commotion outside.

Raven noticed it, too. She leaned over the railing and pointed. “It's that.”

Celestia looked down along her hoof and saw a black pegasus stallion, holding tightly onto a statue of a young mare, with no fewer than three guards attempting to pull him off as two more attempted to hold down the statue.

“No! No!” the pegasus cried. “You don't understand our love! Marble, I won't let them separate us!”

“It's a sandstone statue, featherbrain!” one of the guards shouted.

“Marble!” he repeated. “Marble!”

With a Herculean effort, the guards finally managed to separate the two, and the black pegasus scrabbled desperately against the ground to get back to the statue. “No! No! Distance doesn't matter, for our love is true! I'll come back for you, Marble! I swear it!” He threw his head back towards the heavens as he was dragged out and shouted, “I swear iiiit!”

Celestia blinked as she watched the guards drag him away. “Yes,” she said calmly. “That is a new one.”