Apart

The Beach Kinda Sucks without You

by elPossenreisser

Apart

“You lookin’ for somethin’ there, sugarcube?” Applejack’s smirk was clearly audible to Rainbow Dash as she was looking at the shiny shape of the conference hotel at the other side of the bay.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Why, dear, you’ve had your eyes peeled on that hotel all afternoon,” Rarity explained. “It’s just that we never pegged you as the type who’s interested in modern architecture.”

“Well, maybe I am,” Rainbow groaned. She stretched her legs in the hot beach sand and lazily let her gaze wander from the hotel across the bay and over the beach. The sea water was crystal clear and the beach was pearly white. Big waves were rolling up on the shore and almost muted the cheers and happy shouts of the other ponies frolicking on the beach. Rainbow and her friends were lying in the sun and enjoying the afternoon.

Well, all her friends except for Twilight who was on official princess duty, something about meeting some ambassador in that hotel across the bay. What mattered was, she wasn’t there.

Not that Rainbow was worried, hay no! Everything was a-okay, no doubt, thanks for asking. Saturday night with Twilight had been a blast, and it was only natural that Rainbow somehow, kinda, wished she was here as well.

She wondered what Twilight was doing, talking with that stupid ambassador and not being here. She was probably thinking about Rainbow, too, all wondering what things were like between the two of them now, since they hadn’t really had a chance to talk after Saturday. Rainbow huffed and turned on her stomach. Yeah, it could easily wear a pony down, not knowing where one stood with somepony as awesome. Unlike Rainbow, poor Twilight was likely obsessing about this.

But what if she wasn’t?

“Aw, lighten up, sugarcube, will ya,” Applejack said. “This place is beautiful. Let’s go have a swim, you lazy-flank.”

“You go,” Rainbow Dash replied dejectedly. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Now quit your belly-achin’,” Applejack scolded her good-naturedly. Rarity and Fluttershy looked at her uncomprehendingly. “You need to get yourself distracted.”

“I’m not belly-aching!” Rainbow Dash protested. “Fine, race you to the water. Last one in’s a lame old mule!” She jumped to her feet and started galloping towards the sea. Applejack shouted “Yeehaw!” and was already on her tail.

After a while of friendly wrestling, splashing and mutual ducking the two ponies returned to the beach. Rarity had fallen asleep, watched dreamily by Spike, and Fluttershy was reading a romance novel. Pinkie was busy on something that was perhaps a sandcastle or maybe an archeological excavation.

“Next time you better put up a real fight,” Applejack grinned as she dropped on her towel.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Rainbow shot back.

Suddenly, Spike belched, and in a green flame a scroll of parchment appeared. Fluttershy startled and dropped her book, and Rarity jolted awake. “What was that?”

“Sorry,” Spike said sheepishly. “Letter for us from… Twilight?” He stared at the scroll in surprise. “That’s new.”

“I thought only the princesses can send letters… ooh!” Rainbow said.

“Oooh open it open it open it!” Pinkie Pie squealed and bounced out of her digging site.

“Gimme that!” Too fast to even follow her with the eye, Rainbow snatched the scroll from Spike’s claws and opened it. It was addressed to all of them, which was totally not disappointing at all. Rainbow cleared her throat and began reading out.

“My dear friends,

“Princess Celestia finally taught me how to send letters with magic! That means I can now send letters to Spike from anywhere I am, and Spike can send letters back to me! Isn’t it great?

“I’m very sorry I can’t be on vacation with you, but the meetings with the ambassador don’t seem to end anytime soon. There’s just so much to discuss, and the Princess (and Equestria, as she told me) is counting on me. After all, I am a princess now, and I have to take my responsibilities seriously. But I’d love to spend some quality time with you at the beach. Oh my, I didn’t mean to complain.

“I hope you’re enjoying the vacation so far. Just imagine me waving over to you from the conference hotel!

“Your friend,

Princess Twilight Sparkle”

Pinkie Pie was sitting on her haunches, her eyes wide and watery. “She’s still thinking of us!” she cried and burst into tears of joy.

“Pinkie, dear, why in Equestria wouldn’t she?” Rarity asked.

“That’s really nice of Twilight – “ Fluttershy started, but was interrupted by Pinkie Pie.

“TWILIIIIIIIGHT!” she yelled at the top of her lungs, jumping up and down and waving her hooves at the hotel on the other side of the bay. “THANKS FOR YOUR LETTEEEEEER! WE MIIIIIIISS – oomph!” Rainbow stopped her by putting a hoof on her mouth.

“She can’t hear you, Pinks,” she said.

“Aww.”

“We can still send her a letter back, now can’t we,” Applejack suggested.

To Rainbow Dash, that seemed like a brilliant idea. “Yeah, let’s do this! Who brought parchment and ink and quills and stuff?”

“To the beach?” Applejack deadpanned. “Why in tarnation would anypony bring that stuff to the beach? We all can still write her later, when we’re back at the hotel.”

“But why waste so much time?” Rainbow complained. Applejack just grinned at her.

“Well,” Rarity spoke, “there is a Quills and Sofas store in town, near the marketplace. You can probably get – “ But Rainbow had already vanished in a multi-hued contrail. Applejack chuckled and lay back, closing her eyes and soaking up the warm sunlight.

***

Dear Twilight.

Rainbow was still pondering over what to write when they were sitting in the ice cream parlor near the beach some time later. She absentmindedly licked on her half-molten ice cream cone and glared at the selection of parchments, quills, and inkwells she had spread out on the table. This whole writing business was hard!

“Still not getting on with that letter of yours?” Applejack asked sympathetically.

“What does a pony write in a letter anyway?” Rainbow asked, exasperated. “How does Twilight manage to write letter after letter to Princess Celestia? There aren’t even that many words!”

“Oh, you could write her what a wonderful time we’re having, so that Twilight can share our joy, dear,” Rarity suggested.

Today we spent the whole day at the beach. Rarity and Fluttershy were sunbathing the whole time, and Pinkie dug a beach cave. I Spike must have had three bowls of ice cream, and I totally beat Applejack at swimming, which was awesome.

“And don’t you go makin’ up no humbuggery about you winning at swimming, sugarcube!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Our hotel is nice. Rarity is sharing a room with Fluttershy, AJ is with Pinkie Pie, and I'm with Spike. Still a shame you’re not even in the same hotel as us.

Right now we’re having this amazing ice cream. It’s really like the best ice cream ever. I mean, nothing against Pony Joe, but his ice cream falls flat on its flank compared to this. I wish you could be here with us and have some so you could see for yourself.

After a moment of thinking, she crossed out the last sentence. Too sappy.

Anyway, I hope you get some time off so at least you have some vacation with us.

Yours

Rainbow Dash

“You guys wanna sign this, too?”

“Why of course!” Rarity said. “Let me see.” She quickly read. “A little, well, crude, but sweet nonetheless. Except for that crossed out line. And that ‘Yours’ should really be ‘Love’. She is one of our best friends, after all.” She looked at Rainbow with mild reproach. “You’ll want to write the letter again, dear.” She handed Rainbow the parchment back.

“Really? Again? Just because of one sentence?” Rainbow asked incredulously. “You gotta be kidding!”

“My dear Rainbow Dash, the immaculate appearance of a letter is a sign of respect for the recipient,” Rarity explained. “And vice versa, a sluggish appearance is a sign of carelessness and disrespect. You wouldn’t want to send Twilight a letter that expressed your disrespect, now, would you?”

“Celestia forbid!” Applejack chimed in, grinning.

With a groan, Rainbow took out another piece of parchment and started copying the letter. When she was finished, she signed it and passed the parchment and quill on to the orther girls so they could sign as well.

After Spike had signed, he made to roll up the scroll to send it, but Rainbow Dash grabbed it out of his claws. “I need to add something.”

Twi,

This part is just me writing (RD), the others won’t read this. Since we never had a chance to talk after Saturday night, I just wanted to tell you that I really had a great time. And it really sucks that you can’t be with us on this vacation. The beach kinda sucks without you is kinda boring without you.

Can’t you come over for like, an afternoon or something?

I guess I kinda miss you.

Yours

Love

Rainbow Dash swallowed hard as she rolled up the letter. Her hooves were shaking. Opening up like that, telling Twilight that she missed her, was scary. Or, seeing as she was Rainbow ‘Danger’ Dash and unafraid of everything, it wasn’t scary but rather… what was that word again...

Oh to tarnation with it, it was scary. What if Twilight didn’t feel the same? What if she didn’t want to read this kind of sappy stuff from her? What if Twilight was really quite happy having some time without them? Without her? She would have made a complete fool out of herself. She’d be the laughing stock of –

“You alright there, sugarcube?”

Applejack’s question snapped her out of her brooding. With decisiveness, she nodded and rolled up the letter before handing it to Spike. “There, all good to go.”

“What did you add? If you don’t mind me asking, that is,” Fluttershy wanted to know.

“I… ah… erm… I added…”

Applejack watched her squirm and stutter for a few more seconds before she gently put a hoof on Fluttershy’s foreleg. “I’m guessin’ it’s something rather personal.”

“That’s it!” Rainbow almost shouted in relief. “Something personal. Nothing important.” Fluttershy looked at her confusedly. Rarity shot Applejack an inquisitive gaze, unnoticed by Rainbow Dash, while Spike breathed green fire on the letter and made it disappear in a small cloud of smoke.

“Thanks, AJ,” Rainbow whispered as they left the ice cream parlor.

“Sure thing, sugarcube.” She deliberately walked a little slower than Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike, and held Rainbow back with a hoof. “You know I’ll still keep pesterin’ you, right?” she smirked.

Rainbow hung her head. “You’re a good friend, AJ.”

“Aw shucks, sugarcube, now you’re makin’ me all blush,” Applejack grinned. “I know you’d do the same for me.”

Even though she was right, Rainbow felt the urge to kick her friend.

***

“Hold on, dragon boy, where do you think you’re going?” Rainbow demanded.

“Uh, I was just going to have a look at that jeweler’s display at the esplanade?” Spike replied as he got up from his towel. “Just over there, see?”

“Ah. That’s cool. I’ll come along.”

“Still nothing, huh?” Applejack asked when they returned to their spot on the beach some time later. The concern in her voice was audible despite her grinning. Why did it have to be concern? Concern was somehow bad. As if there was reason for concern! “None of the jewelry takin’ your fancy?”

“Very funny, AJ.”

“I’ll just have the two of you know that from now on, officially, I no longer care about what you have been going on and on and on about the whole day,” Rarity huffed, not quite convincingly. “Spikey-Wikey, don’t let them disturb you with their uncouth antics.”

“Don’t worry, Rarity, I – burp!” The dragon spat out a green flame, and a scroll of parchment fell into the sand. “Sorry, Rarity.”

But the unicorn had already grasped the parchment in her magic and brought it in front of her eyes. “To: Rainbow Dash,” she read. Pointedly raising an eyebrow, she levitated the letter to Rainbow. “Would you finally explain what this is about?”

“Just a letter,” Rainbow mumbled and opened the scroll. Her heart was totally not beating like the wings of a… tiny bird… like the ones Fluttershy had in her cottage. It was cool. Just a letter from Twilight. Of course she had written back. Why wouldn’t she?

Her hooves were barely shaking.

“Just drop it, Rarity,” she heard Applejack speak in a universe next door.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I am really very sorry that I only write back to you now; I was stuck in a meeting and only got to read your letter now. And right now, another meeting is about to start, and it is scheduled until 10 p.m. Technically, I’ll have some free time after that, but I have to be up early tomorrow so I guess we’ll have to see what the rest of the week brings.

I, too, had a great time on Saturday night. I think I’d like to go out with you again, if you are interested?

I’m really sorry we can’t even see each other while we’re here. I miss you, too.

Love

Twi

“Sweet Celestia, she’s grinning so broadly her head is gonna split in half!” Applejack cackled and rolled on her back. Rainbow just kept staring at the parchment.

“Her head?” Pinkie cried, jumping out from her underground lair. “Isn’t that going to hurt? And wouldn’t the top half just fall off? That must look so funny! Aw, I wish my head would split in half.” Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder to quiet her down.

“Oh my, Twilight must have written something really nice,” Fluttershy said, smiling.

“Oh for the love of Celestia!” Rarity groaned. “What in the world is going on here, would somepony please just be so kind and tell me already? I mean, us? All these insinuations are driving me positively insane!”

“I can’t, sorry, Rarity,” Applejack said, still grinning and obviously not too sorry at all. “I Pinkie promised.”

“Um, guys, it’s just a letter from Twilight,” Rainbow explained, rolling it up again. “There’s, like, nothing going on here.” She shot Applejack a nasty glare. “Except for somepony being a smartflank!” She took off, scooped up Applejack in one swooping motion, and flew her over the sea where she dropped her into the water unceremoniously.

When the farmer reemerged, she was still chuckling. “Very refreshing, thanks, Dash!”

“AJ, why do you have to be so such a pain in the flank?” Rainbow groaned.

Applejack sighed and suddenly looked at her more solemnly, the effect partly ruined by stray strands of her wet mane plastered to her face. “Dash, you really gotta loosen up,” she said and caught Rainbow’s gaze with her eyes. “You been actin’ crazier than a sprayed roach ever since Saturday.”

“Where have I been acting crazy?” Rainbow shot back defensively.

Applejack just raised a brow and looked at the ocean’s surface without a word.

“Oh. That.”

The farmer continued, “Point is, there really ain’t no reason for that.”

“What? How do you know that? Did Twilight say something to you? Tell me now!” Rainbow lowered to sea level and pressed her snout against Applejack’s.

“I don’t know nothing you didn’t tell me,” Applejack said, pushing Rainbow away. “She went out with you. Y’all had a good time. You got nothin’ to worry about. Really, Rainbow, you’re behavin’ like you’ve never been on a date before.”

“This time it’s, I dunno, different,” Rainbow murmured dejectedly. “It’s like I really want things to work out with Twi, but I have no idea if they’re gonna work out, you know?” When Applejack just stared back at her quizzically, she went on, “So she said she wants to go out with me again, but what if it’s all just a nice night out among friends, and she doesn’t want… you know… more?” She blushed, and Applejack struggled to keep her expression under control. “We didn’t even kiss! This whole not-knowing is killing me. It’s been over two days! I don’t want to be left hanging anymore!”

“I think you’re just bein’ impatient, Dash,” Applejack observed. “She wrote that she wants to go out with you again in that letter of yours?” Rainbow nodded. “See, you got nothin’ to worry –“

“The letter!” Rainbow suddenly cried. “I left it out in the open!” Without further ado she darted back to the beach, leaving Applejack to swim back to the shore on her own.

Back on the beach, Rarity was engaged in a staring contest with the letter, which was still lying on Rainbow’s towel, rolled up. She had a slight twitch in her eye, like the ones Twilight sometimes got when she was really stressed out. Rainbow idly wondered if all unicorns got this twitch.

“Just so you know,” Rarity said with a strained voice, “my refined manners as a lady forbid me from reading it.” She turned her back to Rainbow Dash and took a book out of her bag. With a huff, she began reading. Rainbow could have sworn that she heard Rarity muttering something like “Blasted manners”.

***

“So what do you guys think about that seafood place right at the beach?” Spike suggested, folding up his towel.

“It smelled delicious when we walked past it earlier,” Fluttershy said dreamily. “But, whatever you girls want is fine with me.” She already had her saddlebags on and was waiting for the others to pack up their things.

“Looked like a decent place, so yeah, fine with me,” Applejack said and put her Stetson back on. “Pinkie, Rainbow?”

“Yes!” Pinkie cried immediately. “They had a wonderful desserts menu; I want to try their caramel-coated chocolate shrimps.” The others stared at her in disgust. “Oh you silly fillies, they are not actual shrimps! That would be completely crazy!” The others sighed in relief.

“You girls go on without me,” Rainbow Dash said, not blushing at all. “I have, erm, plans.”

“I bet you have,” Applejack remarked, smirking.

“Oh, you’re going to see Twilight?” Pinkie Pie chimed in. “Can we come, too? I miss her sooooooo much! Can’t you just take her here so we can all have dinner together and –“

Rainbow put a hoof on the pink pony’s mouth to stop her, but didn’t say anything. The others were looking at her expectantly, even Fluttershy looked positively eager. It was really kind of annoying.

“Rainbow Dash, out with it already! What are you and our dear Twilight up to?” Rarity demanded in a shrill voice. Rainbow shot a glance at Applejack, but the farmer was just standing there, hooves crossed, and grinning at her. No help there.

“I’m… I am…” She needed an excuse, fast! “It’s a project I’m working on. Can’t really bring Twilight to hang out with us, sorry, Pinks.” The second she finished, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Spike started bombarding her with questions.

“Project? What project? What are you –“

“Are you going to –“

“Is Twilight –“

“What in Equestria –“

Applejack was still just standing there and silently enjoying the show with that annoying grin of hers. Even though she was only trying to help ease Rainbow’s mind, it could drive a pony mad. “Sorry guys, gotta go!” Rainbow interrupted the constant stream of questions and took off. She poked her tongue out at Applejack, and the farmer tipped her hat in response, still grinning.

Together

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Together

Rainbow Dash was hovering outside the hotel window. Somepony who didn’t know her might have thought she was hesitating, that she was scared or something, but that was of course a pile of horseapples. She was getting her concentration on. It was just a thing good athletes did before an important challenge.

Why would she be scared?

After all they had already been on a date once. And Twilight had written that she wanted to go out again. There was no reason at all to be scared!

Then why was this so hard?

She wanted to go out with Twilight! In fact, right now, she probably wanted to go out with Twilight more than pretty much anything. And when the Rainbow Dash wanted something, she went ahead and took it!

If only there was a way to make sure she did get what she wanted! There was just nothing she could do to make sure Twilight would go out with her. Or ever become anything more than friends. All she could do was burst in there and ask, and then hope…

Why did that have to be so hard?

It really kinda sucked.

***

“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight exclaimed in utter surprise. “What are you doing here? I mean, what are you doing here?”

Rainbow’s ears drooped at this underwhelming welcome, and she almost visibly deflated. “I wanted – nevermind. Guess I’ll just be going,” she said defeatedly.

“No, wait!” Twilight called. “I… I don’t want you to leave.” Rainbow raised her gaze at her. “I just wasn’t expecting you to suddenly come flying into my hotel room,” Twilight added, smiling.

“Heh, yeah,” Rainbow said and sheepishly scratched her temple. “I kinda bribed the bellboy to tell me which window was yours, and a page to open it for me.”

“That’s… neat?” Seeing Rainbow flinch at her unenthusiastic remark, Twilight quickly crossed the distance between them and pulled her into a quick hug. “It’s great to see you, Rainbow,” she murmured. She pulled away from the pegasus and looked at her. “But what are you doing here?”

Rainbow took a deep breath and tried to wrestle down the strange, uneasy feeling in her tummy. “I’m taking you on another date,” she finally said.

“Rainbow, as much as I’d love to go out with you again, I already told you. I have to be up early tomorrow morning, and I still have to get some dinner, otherwise my nutrient balance will be completely off and I’ll risk digestive disorders tomorrow, not to mention concentration shortcomings –“

Rainbow didn’t let Twilight finish. “That’s why it’s gonna be a dinner date. And, since you’re going out with the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria, it’s gonna be so fast that I’ll get you into bed before you even know what hit you.” She puffed out her chest; then, after a second, she realized what she had just said. “Erm, that came out wrong, I mean…”

“It’s okay, Rainbow, I know what you meant,” Twilight chuckled, her cheeks slightly colored. “Okay. It seems you have put some thought into this. And I’d really like to go out with you tonight. So alright! Take me out on that super-fast dinner date!” Rainbow cheered and did a quick mid-air somersault. “But you have to promise that I’m back here by eleven. I really need to be well-rested tomorrow.”

“Totally!” Rainbow almost bashfully took Twilight’s hoof. “Let’s go! First stop: dinner!” She took off, and Twilight followed her as she led her out of the window and across the bay.

The moon had just risen from the ocean, and the last sunlight still illuminated the calm sea waters. On the other side of the bay, the town was basked in light, and the esplanade lining the beach looked like a string of glowing pearls in front of the velvety blue waters. The day’s warmth still lingered in the mellow air despite a soft breeze. Rainbow’s goal was right in the middle of the bay, but the sheer beauty of the vista made her circle the bay a few times. Twilight kept her relaxed pace with no problems; her flying had improved vastly ever since she had first asked Rainbow for some training lessons.

“It’s beautiful!” Twilight exclaimed. “I haven’t even had a chance to see anything of this place.” Rainbow just smiled, very content with herself that some extra flying rounds were to Twilight’s taste.

She slowly centered in on the small white spot that swam in the middle of the bay, pulling Twilight along. As they came closer, a platform entirely made from cloud stuff came into view, floating on the gentle ocean waves. On the float there was a table, covered in bowls and plates with all kinds of delicacies; two chairs, and, in a corner, a tiny glowing rainbow fountain.

“Ta-daa!” Rainbow made as they landed on the small cloud float, her voice not even a little shaky in anticipation.

“Wow,” Twilight said after staring at the arrangement for some time with her mouth agape. “Rainbow Dash, that… that is amazing! Did you do all this by yourself?”

Rainbow puffed out her chest. “Yeah, totally! Well, I didn’t cook the dinner… but I hoof-picked the dishes and all!” Looking at her date, she couldn’t help but add, “So you like it?”

Instead of answering, Twilight pulled Rainbow Dash into another hug. “Of course I do!” As if on cue, her stomach started growling. “Hehe, I’m sorry, I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Then what are we waiting for? This is supposed to be a fast date anyway, and there’s still more to come after dinner!”

Twilight nodded and settled down, and they both dug into the food. Rainbow was very hungry herself since she hadn’t had dinner either due to the preparations for the date. She had picked a selection of salads and cold hoof foods that could easily be left on the float.

As she chewed on a piece of apple pastry with cream cheese, she couldn’t help but let her eyes wander over the pretty mare across the table. Twilight was busy laying waste to a plate of fruit salad like no tomorrow, and judging from the soft moans of pleasure she uttered, she was enjoying it. Rainbow mentally patted her own back for doing a good job on setting up this dinner.

“So, what were you and the girls up to all day?” Twilight asked after she had slowed down a bit on the food. “Did you have a good time?”

“Yeah, we had a nice day on the beach,” Rainbow recounted. “You can actually see our spot from here.” She pointed with her hoof. “See the tall palm tree next to that little blue stall? We were like five meters to the right of it.”

“Next to that giant sandy hill?”

“Yeah, that’s Pinkie’s sandcastle. I think. Or her air shelter, I’m not sure. She was busy digging the whole day.” She chuckled.

“How’s Spike doing?” Twilight asked. “I hope he didn’t get sick after all that ice cream.”

“He’s fine, I guess?” Rainbow said. “Didn’t look sick when I left the others.”

“That’s good. I hope he’ll learn one day.”

“Heh, yeah.” She continued, “Um, Rarity and Fluttershy mostly read their romance novels, and AJ was a total pain in the flank because…” She stopped, mentally slapping herself. Why did she say that? Twilight would probably be less than thrilled when she learned that Rainbow had blabbed about their date. Wasn’t that a private matter or something?

“Hmm? Why’d Applejack be a pain in the flank?” Twilight asked. Rainbow just looked at her guiltily. “Did you tell her about our date?”

Rainbow hung her head again. She needed a distraction – but she couldn’t come up with one. Defeated, she started explaining, “I needed somepony to talk to about this. You know, it’s not like I’m going out with one of my best friends every other day. I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to–“

Twilight raised her hoof to interrupt her, smiling. “It’s quite alright, Rainbow,” she said. “Sometimes one needs somepony to talk to, I understand that. I bet Applejack is a great listener.”

“Not so sure about that after today,” Rainbow mumbled. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed, but she was relieved that apparently she hadn’t screwed up. She wondered who, if anypony, Twilight had talked to about the date. And what. With more effort than she usually needed, she pushed away these thoughts. That was not the time for brooding.

“So, what do you have planned next?” Twilight asked, casting a quick spell to wipe her mouth. Rainbow mentally facehoofed – she had forgotten to get napkins!

Out loud, she said, “Well, next I’m gonna show you the beach.”

“Great!”

“How about we swim? You’ve really been missing out, you know, the water’s awesome!”

“Now?” Twilight asked doubtfully. “Isn’t it cold? And dark?”

“It’s still super warm, see?” Rainbow extended her wingtip into the water and splashed some drops onto Twilight. “And you can make your horn glow, right?”

“Stop it!” Twilight protested, but she was smiling. Rainbow didn’t need any more of an invitation and splashed her some more. Before long, Twilight reached out with her wings and splashed her back. “We’re ruining the food!”

“Oh yeah? Well there’s a simple solution!” Rainbow took off and tried to pick up Twilight, but since her coronation she had grown a few centimeters, and Rainbow couldn’t grasp her properly. Laughing, Twilight struggled back, but Rainbow just settled on tugging on Twilight’s forehooves and pulled her over the railing of the cloud float. With a mighty splash the two ponies dove into the water.

When they emerged, Twilight tried to blow her soaking wet bangs out of her face and grinned at Rainbow Dash mischievously. “Oh, you’re on!” she cried, using her superior reach to duck Rainbow before she could so much as reply. Rainbow didn’t reemerge immediately, but before Twilight could even worry she felt somepony drag her under water by her hind leg. When they surfaced again, they grinned at each other.

“Water’s awesome, right?” Rainbow said. Twilight nodded.

By then, the last daylight had vanished, and Twilight lit up her horn, basking the two swimming ponies in soft purple light that was bobbing up and down. Rainbow turned on her back and spread her wings, floating on the water. Twilight tried to imitate her floating which ended with her horn underwater. Now the two ponies were illuminated from below and cast in a host of surreal purple shadows. Above them the stars shone magnificently.

“The stars are beautiful tonight,” Twilight said dreamily. “Orion is really low here.”

“Who’s Orion?”

“That constellation there.” Twilight pointed. Noticing that Rainbow looked at the night sky rather confusedly, she guided her gaze pointing with her hoof, smiling. “It’s named after a hunter in an ancient legend.” She shivered slightly.

“Uh-huh… you cold, Twi?” Rainbow asked. “Wanna head to the beach?”

Twilight suppressed another shiver. “Yes, that might be a good idea. Do you have anything else planned for our fast date?”

“How about a nightcap on the beach?”

“I hope you’re not trying to get me drunk,” Twilight chuckled. “I really shouldn’t be hungover tomorrow.”

“And I hope I don’t have to get you drunk,” Rainbow heard herself say. Smooth, sure, but also very straightforward. Not that that was a bad thing, but still – what if it was too straightforward? What if she scared Twi away with her smooth moves?

“I wouldn’t say so,” Twilight purred, causing Rainbow’s knees to turn into something not quite solid – luckily they were swimming. “Let’s go get that nightcap.”

Back at the beach, Rainbow led Twilight to a spot a few dozen meters away from Pinkie’s cave. A huge checkered blanket lay in the sand, illuminated by two lanterns nearby. In an ice bucket rested a bottle of sparkling cider, right next to two glasses.

“Ponyfeathers, I forgot the towels,” Rainbow groaned and facehoofed.

“Don’t worry, I will take care of this,” Twilight said and smiled at her reassuringly. Again, her horn lit up, and suddenly Rainbow found herself surrounded by a stream of warm air that quickly dried her fur, mane, and feathers. It didn’t take more than a minute, and both ponies were completely dry and comfortably warm.

Twilight also took care of the drinks, uncorked the bottle and filled both glasses with the sparkling cider. Rainbow took hers and held it out to her date. “To…?”

“Us!” Twilight said decisively and clinked glasses with Rainbow. She settled down on the blanket and gestured Rainbow to join her. As soon as the pegasus did, Twilight huddled up to her. “Thanks for taking me out tonight. This is a really nice date.”

“Glad you like it,” Rainbow replied sheepishly.

For a few moments, they just lay there next to each other, occasionally drinking from their glasses. Rainbow was staring at the sea, reveling in the warmth of the alicorn huddled up to her side. She still felt that fear that she would screw this up, that she would say or do something that would drive Twilight away from her, but now it was faint. There was hardly any doubt that the date was going well.

At that moment, the clock struck eleven.

Rainbow hung her head. “I guess we better get you back to your hotel,” she said, dejectedly.

“I guess so,” Twilight agreed without a lot of conviction. They stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment, then Twilight giggled. “I really don’t want to go. It’s so nice here… with you… And the sand is surprisingly comfortable.”

Rainbow Dash took a chance. “Then don’t. Let’s sleep here.”

“But Rainbow, I have to be up really early tomorrow, and –“

Rainbow put her hoof on her mouth. “We’ll wake up early enough, I promise. You know, when you’re on vacation at the sea, you kinda have to sleep on the beach one night. It’s, like, a thing.”

Twilight grinned. “Is that so?” She yawned and snuggled up closer to Rainbow. “I guess then I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

Rainbow draped one of her wings over Twilight’s back and shook her head. “’Sides, I don’t want you to go either.” They both rested their heads on the blanket.

“You know, there is one thing about Saturday that kept me wondering,” Twilight suddenly said in a dreamy voice. “We didn’t kiss. I kept asking myself why.”

“What!?”

“You see, the books I’ve read on dating agree that at the end of a date, if it went well, one is supposed to kiss the other pony. We never did, even though it felt like it was going really well.” Rainbow cast her a furtive look, but Twilight was just lying next to her, eyes closed.

“I thought about why I didn’t kiss you,” Twilight went on, seemingly not aware that she was basically torturing Rainbow. That was a bit of information she wasn’t sure she wanted! “I was scared I’d move too fast, that maybe you didn’t want me to kiss you and things would become complicated and awkward between us. After a little pause she went on, “I guess I really don’t want to screw this up, you know? And that makes me extra careful.”

Hearing Twilight speak out her very own concerns was such an incredible relief that Rainbow almost forgot breathing for a second. She considered just leaving it at that – it didn’t seem like Twilight expected her to come up with an explanation for the lack of a kiss. She seemed to be happy to take the blame for it.

On the other hoof, Rainbow felt that Twilight deserved to know how she had felt. And maybe she wanted to tell her. Maybe she wanted to share these feelings with Twilight. The lump in her stomach grew bigger.

“Yeah,” she finally managed to say in a strained voice, “I kinda had the same thing. You know. Not wanting to scare you away or something?” After a moment’s thought, she added, blushing, “You know, you can’t scare me away that easily.”

Twilight raised her head and nuzzled Rainbow on the cheek. “Neither can you,” she whispered.

“Phew, good thing I’m not one of those creepy bat ponies,” Rainbow laughed nervously.

“It’s scary, isn’t it?” Twilight said, ignoring Rainbow’s feeble attempt at humor. “Opening up to somepony like that.” She gave a slight chortle. “I mean, we almost walked out of here tonight without kissing again.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow agreed. She gave it some more thought and added with a hoarse voice, “But it’s way better than not knowing where you stand with somepony you like.” She started. Had Twilight just said what she thought she had? And she had totally almost missed it?

She turned to Twilight. The alicorn was smiling at her a little shyly, her eyes half closed, her cheeks slightly flushed. To Rainbow Dash, she had never looked more adorable. Slowly, infinitely slowly, the two ponies brought their heads together.

Rainbow closed her eyes a split second before their lips connected. She was acutely aware of the soft sand they were lying on, the ocean surf, Twilight’s body pressed against hers – and then Twilight’s soft, warm lips on hers. Without even being aware of it, Rainbow brought her hoof up to Twilight’s face and began stroking her cheek.

They broke the kiss after an indeterminate amount of time and just looked at each other, Rainbow still stroking Twilight’s cheek.

“Wow.”

Not So Sucky Anymore

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Not So Sucky Anymore

“Lookie here who’s in a good mood,” Applejack greeted Rainbow as she landed at the beach, returning from putting away all the supplies she had organized for the date. The girls and Spike had already taken up their spot and were preparing for another leisurely day at the sea. “I half expected y’all to still be sleepin’ over there. Two of you looked a mite cute when I saw y’all on my morning run!”

Rainbow started. “You… you saw us?”

At that, Rarity perked up her ears. “Us?” She turned to Rainbow Dash and poked a hoof against her chest. “Will you finally tell me what is going on?”

“You mean that Rainbow and Twilight had a date last night and slept on the beach?” Pinkie asked, her head poking out from her strip mine.

“You knew!?” Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack gasped in unison.

“Well, duh!” Pinkie Pie stared at them. “First Rainbow got all mopey when Twilight had to stay in the other hotel to meet the sea pony ambassador. Then Twilight writes a letter, and Rainbow is all excited and jumpy, like me, when I tried a triple caramel muffin in that funny club in Canterlot. Then Rainbow disappears for the night and returns super smiley, and there’s a mark of two ponies on a picnic blanket right over there. You really don’t have to be a Twilight McSmartypants to make sense of that.” While everypony was still busy staring at Pinkie Pie, mouth agape, she pulled Rainbow into a crushing hug. “I’m so happy for you guys!”

Rarity’s eye twitched. “And Applejack, darling, you knew about this, too?” she asked with suspicious calm in her voice.

“Eyup,” Applejack simply nodded. “It’s your story to tell, sugarcube,” she encouraged Rainbow Dash.

The pegasus sighed. “Not much to tell. Twi and I went out on our first date on Saturday. I kinda needed somepony to talk to afterwards, so I went to AJ.” She shot the farmer a nasty glare. “Never. Again.”

“Aw shucks, sugarcube, it was all in good fun,” Applejack smiled. Rainbow Dash snorted.

“Fluttershy, dear? Did… did you know of this, too?”

Fluttershy shied back and hid her face behind her mane. “No, I didn’t. I mean, I could guess they went on a date last night, and that Rainbow Dash was… oh, but I didn’t know that Rainbow and Twilight spent the night on the beach. Eep!”

Rarity’s eye twitched once more. With very self-possessed motions, she got up and put on her hat. “Spike, I am in desperate need of well-mannered company right now. Would you care to join me for a bucket of ice cream?” Spike jumped up and followed Rarity towards the ice cream parlor. The others laughed.

“Ice cream!” Rainbow suddenly shouted. “I forgot the ice cream!” Before the other girls could react, she had already darted away.

***

“… and we will meet again in half an hour,” Princess Celestia said. Her smile looked as radiant as ever, even after almost two days of tedious negotiations with the ambassador of the sea ponies. Twilight fought back a yawn. She had slept perfectly fine last night, but the proceedings were really tiresome.

Suddenly the window of the corridor burst open and Rainbow Dash darted in. “Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed, surprised.

“Hey Twi!” Rainbow pulled Twilight into a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Yeah, she was just awesome as that, kissing her… kissing Twilight like nopony’s business. She shoved an ice cream cone into Twilight’s hoof. “You never got to taste this amazing ice cream!”

Belatedly she bowed before Princess Celestia who was watching with an amused smile. “Sorry for bursting in here like this, Princess,” she said, scratching her temple and grinning.

“Princess,” Twilight said, blushing under Princess Celestia’s curious smile, “allow me to introduce to you my girlfriend, Rainbow Dash.”

Girlfriend! Rainbow totally liked the sound of that!