> Hearts and Hooves day goes horribly wrong > by Galaxy Knight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Things get...awkward > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today is a special day in Ponyville, it's hearts and hooves day! This is the perfect opportunity for me to get closer to Rainbow Dash and to make her more open in this relationship. Don’t get me wrong, she’s great and I enjoy all the time I spend with her, but nothing really…changes with us. I decided to do something extra nice for her on what is considered the most romantic day of the year. I had a plan all set up as I flew out into afternoon sky, gliding over the love struck city. I saw quite a few couples out and about Lyra and Bon Bon, Doctor and Derpy, and a lot of background characters happily sitting together (I’m fairly certain I saw Vinyl and Octavia at one point but I don’t know if they were together or just at the same place at the same time coincidently.) In any case I headed towards the library to check up on two of my favorite people, I knocked on the door and entered the library and saw Anna cleaning up. “Hey Anna, why are you cleaning up? Doesn’t Spike or Twilight do that?” “Normally, but she and Spike left and they asked me to clean up the library for them while they were out.” “I see. What are those two doing anyway? I mean I know its hearts and hooves day but neither of them has a date. Twilight never showed the slightest signs of romantic feelings towards anypony and we both know Spike is never going to get Rarity.” Anna giggled. “What about you Anna, did you have anyone special back on earth?” She sighed a bit and then looked like she was going into deep thought. “Well, there was this one guy who I met when I went to college. His name was Logan, he was really sweet and funny and he loved fiction just like you and me. We became really close friends but he never made a move and I was comfortable with that, he reminded me a lot of you in some ways.” “Well that’s good to hear, I wouldn’t want you to be lonely without me, you’re too good of a person to be alone.” “Yeah, so what about you mister ‘I’m in love with my favorite character from the show’ what do you have planned?” “Well, I plan to do a very romantic gesture for Dash and see if maybe that’ll get her to come out of her shell.” “It’s possible, just don’t overstep your boundaries and be careful, you know what happens today.” “Yeah, don’t worry I’ll be fine. In any case I have to get going, see you later.” I flew out and headed towards Sweet apple Acers to get some apples for a pie and to pick up my special package. Turns out cider season is around the fall and winter months so that the apple family can get rid of some of their extra crop before it goes bad and so they have some extra bits over the winter. Instead of buying cider I decided to pay Applejack to set aside a gallon for me and Dashie to have later for a special occasion. I landed right in front of the farm and saw Applejack kicking some trees. “Hey Applejack. Happy hearts and hooves day.” I said “Howdy Wright, what can I do you for?” She asked. “I need some apples for making into a pie, what kind would you recommend?” “Well, normally red delicious is good for pies but if this is for Rainbow, and I’m guessing it is, then get the goldens, they’re her favorite.” “Okay. Do you have any?” “Sure, just let me get them for you and…” Suddenly her eyes were wide for a second “Shoot!” “What is it?” “Them golden apples are in the cellar and I gave Applebloom the key for it.” “Did she hoof it back to you?” I asked Applejack shook her head. “No. Go ask her where she put it; she’s probably in the club house playing with her friends.” I nodded. “Thanks.” I walked off and headed for the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. I climbed up the ladder and saw the three of them reading a book over a table, although I couldn’t see what it was. “Hi girls.” I said “Hey Mr. Lawyer, what do you need?” Sweetie Bell asked in her high pitched and incredibly cute voice. “I just need to talk to Applebloom for a moment then you can get back to whatever it is you’re doing.” I looked at Applebloom. “Speaking of you, hello.” “Hey Mr. Wright.” She walked towards me. “What can I do you for?” “I need some golden delicious apples, Applejack says there some in the cellar but you have the key. Any idea where it is?” “Oh shoot, I knew I forgot something.” She reached up into her bow and pulled out a key. “I put it in there so I would remember where it was when I needed to hand it back and I totally forgot.” We began walking towards the exit of the tree house. “Girls, you stay here and finish that…thing okay?” They nodded in agreement and both Applebloom and I walked off back to the farm’s cellar to get the apples. However, unknown to me Rainbow Dash was already flying overhead; I had no idea and was informed about this later on. Apparently, she went to see Applejack for advice on what we should do today (I didn’t tell her I was baking a pie, I thought it would be a nice surprise.) She came to talk to Applejack shortly after I had gone into the forest to go find Applebloom. The not so distant past… “Morning AJ.” Rainbow said to her friend. “Hey RD, what’s going on?” She rubbed her front hoof nervously. “I uh…I came to ask for advice.” “I’m listening.” “I know its hearts and hooves day and all but I’m not sure what to do with Wright. What would you recommend?” “Oh don’t worry; I’m sure he’s got something up his sleeves if you can’t think of anything to do.” Rainbow got all up in Applejacks face. “Hey, I can think of something that is just as awesome, if not more awesome than his thing.” Applejack sighed, annoyed that Rainbow tried so hard to mask her flaws. “Look sugarcube, if you really want to figure out what to do, why don’t you hear it from the horse’s mouth and go talk to him?” Rainbow nodded. “Yeah good idea, where is he?” “I think he went to my sister’s tree house so check there.” “Thanks Applejack, see you.” “No troubles.” Rainbow flew off to the inside of the forest while I just came out of it with Applebloom. I took the key from Applebloom and went down into their cellar, grabbing a sack of golden delicious apples. “Thanks guys.” I was about to spread my wings and fly off but Applejack interrupted me. “Hey Will, does Rainbow know you’re here?” She asked I had a confused look on my face. “No…why?” “She just came by less than a minute ago looking for you, I sent her towards Applebloom’s tree house.” I let out an exasperated groan. “Shoot, this was supposed to be a surprise. I’d better go lead her off my trail.” I was about to fly off before I remembered something else. “Oh by the way, I’m here to pick up my package so if you could get that for me I’ll come pick it up later.” She tipped her hat to me. “Can do.” “Thanks Applejack, you’re the best.” “I know sugar, I know.” I dashed up and flew back towards the tree house. I landed right in front of it, climbed up the ladder, and when I walked into the tree house I saw Rainbow just kind of standing there. “Hello Rainbow.” I said trying to get her attention. She turned around and looked at me. “Oh hello big boy.” She said in a…sultry voice? That’s very unlike her. She then walked up to me only stopping an inch from my face. “Um, Rainbow are you feeling alright?” I asked “I’m fine, especially now that you’re here.” Okay this was just weird; Rainbow was never acted this…personal with me, what’s changed? “Rainbow, are you sure nothing weird has happened?” She thought about it. 2 minutes ago… Rainbow was flying to the tree house to look for me, she came to the tree house but found that there was no one inside not even the Cutie Mark Crusaders. However, she did eye a small bottle of purple liquid on the table. “Ooh, is that grape juice unattended? I’m sure the girls won’t mind if I have it, I am thirsty after all.” She took the vial and drank the entire thing noticing it has a bitter aftertaste. “Ew, why is this thing so bitter? In fact, why is there grape juice on an apple farm?” Suddenly she felt this…feeling course through her body for a few seconds filling her with a burning desire and then it stopped. Her train of thought was interrupted by Will entering the room, she looked at him and she felt…very attracted for some reason and she acted on her impulses. Back to now… “Nope I’m right as reign. Well, there is one thing that could make it better.” “What?” Before I knew what was happening she closed the gaps between our mouths and kissed me. It was unexpected but not unwelcome and I happily kissed her back, this lasted for about a minute before she parted. “Right…I can see how that made this better.” I was still suspicious of her behavior. “So Rainbow, why the burst of affection?” “No real reason, I was just thinking about us and how lucky I am to have you. You seem like the perfect guy: very smart, very caring, and…very attractive.” She pulled me in and we started kissing again, this time with more passion. As much as I was enjoying this, we couldn’t do it here. “Hang on, we can’t make out here. Wouldn’t want to upset the fillies when they get back to their tree house. Why don’t we head back to our place and continue?” She smirked. “Sounds good.” She walked out of the clubhouse first holding my hoof in her tight grip as we both flew off back to her cloud house. “Wow, she’s strong when she needs to be.” A few minutes later the cutie mark crusaders returned to their tree house only to find that their love potion was missing. “Hey where did the love potion go?” Scootaloo asked. “I don’t know, no pony else was in here.” Sweetie Belle said. “Oh man, now we need stuff to make a new batch. Come on girls, Cutie Mark Crusaders ingredient collectors.” Applebloom said with confidence. “Yay.” They said with fake enthusiasm. The trio went out and got the ingredients they needed again to make their second batch of the potion and use it on their intended victims, but back to what you actually want to hear. Rainbow’s place… Rainbow led me back to the house rather quickly, and I barely had a moment to myself before she was all in my face again. She pushed me onto the couch and we continued our business from earlier. “I still think I should be suspicious of her behavior but I’m enjoying this too much to care.” We stayed there and kissed for a good five minutes until Rainbow started to get…hoovsey, now I didn’t mind the grabbing until she started going a little too far down for my comfort. That was where I decided to stop the strangeness. “Whoa, what’s going on?” I asked her. “Well, I need to train my body for racing and I was wondering if you could help me with my cardio.” Rainbow said in a sultry tone. “I don’t follow you.” “I need to focus on being physical for a very, very long time and I’d like to help me…physically.” My eyes went wide, I finally realized what she was implying and it made both me (and my wings) uncomfortable. That was it; I needed a way out of this. “Oh that…right. Um…just let me go freshen up and then we’ll do…that.” She laid her body along the couch. “I’ll be waiting.” I gave her a fake smile and walked over to the bathroom quickly opening and closing the door. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to do next. “Okay Chris, you can’t go through with this.” “Oh yes you can.” Suddenly I heard an unfamiliar voice. “Who said that?” “I did.” “And you are?” “Patrick Stewart.” “Patrick Stewart’s in my head? Sweet.” “No you idiot I’m the other part of your head.” “I have another part of my head?” “Of course, for every rational said there must also be irrationality and that’s exactly what I am.” “Okay, so I’m talking to another part of my brain and I’m not forming the argument, wouldn’t that make me insane?” “My friend, we already know that to an extent you are insane.” “Fair enough, what’s your point?” “There is an attractive mare in that room over there that you like who is willing and wants to…rustle your jimmies. Why not take the opportunity?” “Because she’s acting different from the Rainbow I know and love, it took a while just to get her open to the idea of a serious relationship with me and I refuse to believe that she wants to jump into bed with me.” “Oh stop being such a lawyer, we both know you’d hit that.” “No! I mean…yes, I mean…I don’t know!” “Well what’s the alternative? Wait in here until she’s not in the mood, or jump out the cloud window over there.” I looked to the other wall and noticed that there was indeed a window over there. “Yes! Sorry me but we’re not losing it today.” Without a second thought I jumped out that window and flew away from the house. “Whew! Thank goodness I’m out; things were getting too close in there.” I said in relief. “Oh things are about to get much closer from here.” I heard a familiar sultry tone say. I reluctantly turned around and saw Rainbow Dash floating confidently in the air. “Oh hey Rainbow…what are you doing here?” “I was waiting for you to come back until I saw you out of the window flying away from me so I gave chase.” She explained “Well, the cloud window giveth and the cloud window taketh away.” “Why are you so afraid of me, I don’t bite… hard.” She was coming onto me again I needed to make my escape. I put up my front hoof and looked at it. “Oh look at the time it’s I-don’t-have-a-real-watch-and-it’s-time-for-me-to-get-one o clock. Got to go bye.” I flew away from her as fast as I could, flapping my wings as hard as I could to pick up speed. Unfortunately, I was flying away from the fastest flyer in Equestria so she was right behind me. “Come on pal, stop running away and let’s go back to the house. Then we can have our own two person race.” I gulped. “God, why does that have to sound so hot? Come on body; don’t tense up on me now.” “Stop talking like that, it’s making me tense.” “Well if you stop I’d be…more than happy to relive that tension.” Suddenly I felt the burn in my wings. “Ahhh! I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” It became harder and harder to fly. ”Oh, why does it have to be me?” I said aloud. “You getting tried on me? Let me catch up with you and I’ll show you something really tiring” Yep that did it, my wings jutted to the sides refusing to respond and I started dive bombing to the ground. I started to see the tops of the buildings in Ponyville and I panicked, I tried to flap my wings but they wouldn’t budge. “Okay, my wings are as stiff as a board and I’m probably going to crash into the city, fantastic.” As I came crashing down I saw the top of the Golden Oaks library and somepony reading on the roof, I needed to warn them to get out of the way but I was too far up for them to hear me so I did the only thing I could think of and telepathied Anna. “Hey Anna it’s me. Listen, by any chance are you reading a book on the roof?” “Yes I am, how did you know that?” “Never mind that just please move out of the way.” “Why? You aren’t making any sense.” “I normally don’t, just move and you’ll see.” She moved out of the way. “Alright but I don’t see-“ “AAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I was getting very close to the tree and I screamed at the top of my lungs. In a second I smacked into the balcony on top of the library at top speed, causing an immense amount of pain in my body. “Oh god my pony ribs, mmm ribs, I miss meat. Wait a second, Anna you have to help me.” “Chris? What the heck is going on?” I climbed over the banister and stood on the roof with Anna. “I don’t know, I was just out today trying to get some apples to make a pie for Rainbow then I go to find her in the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse and she starts making out with me. Her face turned to one of disgust. “Ugh, too much information dude.” “The point is that she acting weird and the worst part is that now she’s pushing things even further.” “How so?” “Look at my wings.” I pointed at my wings and she clearly saw them standing up by themselves. “Oh…OH! You mean she-“ “She wants a pony ride, it was kind of freaking me out so I fled. I mean, she’s never come onto me this strong before, do you think I over reacted?” “Maybe, but are you sure that something’s up? What if she’s being legitimate?” “I considered that and as much as this unsettles me I really want to do it with her. But, I just feel like something’s wrong, something changed her.” Suddenly Anna had a look of realization on her face. “Wait a second; you said you found her in the CMC’s clubhouse right?” “Yeah, is that a big deal?” She hoofed me in the shoulder. “It’s a huge deal you idiot, remember Hearts and Hooves day?” “Yeah I know, it’s today, you warned me about it.” “No, the episode. This is when the Cutie Mark crusaders made the love potion which causes Big Mac to fall in love with Cheerilee.” “Oh! I completely forgot about that episode. Rainbow Dash must have drank it by mistake and that’s why she’s acting so much more forward with me, this could also explain why she wants to…do it with me, the potion must react to the pony’s personality as well as their heart. Cheerilee and Big Mac were timid ponies and were satisfied with being with each other; Rainbow on the other hand is very athletic and bold so she wanted something more physical.” “That makes sense I guess, so what are you going to do?” “Wright, where are you?” I heard Rainbow call in a sing song voice. “Run, I’m going to run and hide until she stops wanting me.” “That’s ridiculous. You can’t outrun her, or outfly her for that matter, she’s too fast.” “Anna, it’s the only plan I’ve got. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got flying to do.” I flew off the library and towards the forest; I flew deep into the forest and found a nice thick bush to hide in. “Whew! She’ll never find me here.” I said. “I’m afraid she’s already found you.” I looked to my side and saw Rainbow there. Shocked I flew back up and away from that spot as fast as I could, I flew faster than I thought I could ever fly until I made it to a mountain and then I flew to the top, I was tired and struggled to climb up until I felt another hoof wrap around mine and help pull me up. There I saw (guess who?) Rainbow Dash who was smirking confidently. “Took you long enough to get here.” At this point I was super frustrated so much to the point that I pushed Rainbow off the top of the mountain and just flew up higher and higher until the ground was lost in the clouds. Eventually, the air started to get thin and I found it hard to breathe so I laid down on one of the few clouds, panting and exhausted from all this chasing. “Hopefully…I lost her for good this time.” “Just keep hoping buddy.” Once again she was right there when I didn’t want her to be. “God! What is it going to take to escape this woman?” Without any place in sight my options were limited for an escape plan, there was only one way for me to go…down. “Oh, is this really worth not getting action from my mare friend?” I stood up on the cloud, retracted my wings, and fell backwards. I felt the wind hitting my back as I saw those clouds grow farther and farther away and I saw Rainbow start to come after me. She was fast but with the acceleration I was getting from my descent I was able to stay away from her. I flipped in the air so that I was staring at the ground as I fell; I extended my hooves so that I gained further speed. It was incredible, I felt the wind hitting my face and going through my wings, the adrenaline of the chase, and some other energy building up in my body. I looked behind me and saw Rainbow trying to keep up struggling just to stay close to me. “Hey…come on, slow down.” “Nope, you live for speed, so let’s live.” I kept going faster and faster until I noticed this ark of air was forming around my hooves and small bolts of electricity jumping from one to the other. I recognized the signs and I knew what was going to happen next. As I felt the energy reach its peak, I said one last quip. “Hey Rainbow!” “What?” “TAKE THAT!” With that, I unleashed my limit break and did a sonic boom, unlike Rainbow’s I didn’t have a rainbow trail but I was surrounded by a white aura (You know how it looks when people in Dragon ball Z fly? It looked like that.) With my new found speed I was moving faster than I thought was possible over trees and over Ponyville in seconds. “I can’t believe this; I’m going so fast I can barely keep track of what’s going on.” I wasn’t paying attention and I smacked into a tree with such force that it cracked in the middle and I knocked it over. “That’s probably why I didn’t see that tree.” I struggled to get up, but I couldn’t walk more than a few feet without falling down so running was out of the question. I lay on my back in the middle of a grass field as I tried to regain the feeling in my wings after that intense flight; my rest was interrupted by Rainbow’s head above mine. “That was some serious flying back there kiddo, nice job. Now, are you ready?” “God, even after that long flight she’s still in the mood. Okay that’s it. Anna’s right, I can’t run from this and I have to face it.” Rainbow was right on top of me until I managed to grab her and turn the tables, pushing her to the ground and picking myself up so that I was above her. “Ooh you’re rough, I like that.” “Enough of this Rainbow, I need you to tell me the truth: is this what you want?” “Um yeah, why do you think I’ve been chasing you all day?” Suddenly the psyche locks appeared with five red locks. “I knew it, she’s lying to me and she doesn’t even know it.” “Rainbow I know you’re lying to me. I know you don’t mean it so please fight it.” “What are you talking about? I need this, I mean exactly what I say.” “No you don’t, please look into my eyes and tell me this is what you want.” She looked me in my eyes. “Alright, I…I…” She seemed to struggle to find words. “I-I don’t want this.” I was surprised when I saw keys appear and unlock all the five locks surrounding her. “What? How did that happen? Not even Phoenix could do that. But, back to the problem at hoof.” I saw Rainbow rubbing the back of her noggin with her hoof, waking up from her potion induced haze. “Ugh, my head.” She looked at me with confused eyes. “Wright, when did you get here? And why are we in a field?” “You don’t remember anything?” “No, I was just in the cutie mark crusaders clubhouse and then I drank this weird grape juice and then my mind’s a blank.” “Yeah that juice might have been the problem. You see it wasn’t just juice, it was a potion” “What kind of potion?” “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you so I’m going to have to jog your memory. Sorry about this.” “What-“ I took my hoof and hit her over the head hoping that would jog her memory; thankfully she looked more confused than angry at me. “I remember stuff. You and I were flying all around town, you were afraid of me because I…oh geez.” Her face went redder than a tomato. “Yeah that happened. But I don’t blame you, I kind of had a feeling it wasn’t you so I tried not to.” She looked relieved but also confused. “What do you mean tried?” “Well’s not like I didn’t want to, I mean...look at you! How could any pony resist that?” Her blushing did not stop and she was flattered by my comment. “Wait, I’m seeing something else. You were diving and you went so fast that…” Her face went wide with shock. “Yep, I did it.” She jumped up and hugged me. “You did a sonic boom, and I thought I was the only one cool enough to do that.” “Well mine was only a sonic boom; you still have the rainboom which no one else can pull off but you.” “True.” Suddenly she looked at my coat and noticed something. “Um Will, I didn’t notice this before but you’re glowing.” “Huh?” I looked down at my hooves and saw that there was a faint glow on them. Like there was an air surrounding me that glowed with white light. “Oh yeah, huh that’s weird. I hope that isn’t a medical problem.” “Nah it’s probably just magic.” “Um, pegasi aren’t supposed to have magic.” “Right, we should probably go see Twilight, she knows about practically everything magic related.” We both walked off that field and back towards Ponyville. However on our way we came across Sweet Apple Acres and I was reminded of what I actually planned to do today. “Hang on Rainbow, I have to go get a thing from Applejack, I’ll meet you at the library.” “Okay, don’t be too long, you know how easily I get bored around books.” She flew off into the sky as I walked towards the farm. As I was walking I saw Big Mac walking off with Cheerilee, as well as the cutie mark crusaders and Applejack who was talking to Applebloom. “Applebloom, what in tarnation is going on?” Applejack asked curious as to what just happened. “Whatcha mean sis?” “Why would Big Mac be walking off with Ms. Cheerilee? I heard what you said before about how they should be together but Big Mac never said anything about it before. So I’m asking, did you have something to do with this?” Applebloom looked nervous. “What? No, I didn’t do anything.” I planned on helping Applejack prevent this problem. I walked up to Applebloom. “Really Applebloom? Are you sure that you had nothing to do with this? Can you look at me and tell me that?” She turned her head towards me and I looked her in the eyes. “Yes I…I…” She seemed to be searching for words, her gaze flattered and I swear I saw something in her brain click. “Me, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo thought Big Mac and Cheerilee could be very special some ponies but they didn’t want to be together so we gave them both a love potion but now it’s gone too far.” She said in one breath. When she was finished she put her hooves over her mouth, like she didn’t want to say it but she did anyway. I had to act shocked. “Applebloom, that is a total invasion of some pony’s privacy, you should know better than that.” She looked at the ground, dejected “I know, but we didn’t know that this would happen. Come on girls we need to go fix this.” So the Cutie Mark Crusaders went off to follow Cheerilee and Big Mac leaving just me and Applejack. “That was…odd. Mah sister told you pretty quickly what was going on whereas I couldn’t get a peep out of her, how’d you do it?” I had a theory but it couldn’t be proven until later. “Well you know… I have one of those faces. Anyway, I’ve got somewhere to be so if you could give me those apples and the cider you were saving for me I’ll be on my way.” She nodded and she went towards the barn and came back with a bag filled with about a dozen golden delicious apples and a jug of cider. I paid her six bits (a bargain) stuffed the cider in the bag so Rainbow wouldn’t see, and I flew off to the Golden Oaks library to meet Twilight and talk about my aura. I arrived at the library with bag in hooves as I walked through the door. I saw Rainbow talking to Twilight. “Wow, I see what you mean, he is glowing. How did this happen?” Twilight pointed I tried not to go into explicit detail on how it happened. “Well, Rainbow and I were flying all across town trying to see who was faster and at one point I was caught in a dive and I moved so fast that I did a sonic boom, however it wasn’t a rainboom. The glow itself seems to have appeared shortly after the boom.” Twilight moved around me as I talked examining me for what could be the problem. “Hm, I think I know what’s going on.” Twilight said. “Really?” “Yeah…totally.” She sounded a little unsure and I needed to put my theory to the test. “Twilight, are you sure you know what this is?” I looked her in the eyes as she responded. “Yeah, it’s just a…simple magical…” Once again she was lost for words. “No, I have no idea what this is, I’ve never seen anything like it and there’s nothing about it in any of the books I’ve read.” When she was finished she gasped. “Aha! I knew it, my theory was correct.” I said confidently. “Wait, you knew what was going on?” Twilight asked. “I had a theory but I needed to test it first.” I faced Rainbow. “Rainbow think about it, after the sonic boom I managed to break the potions hold on you by looking into your eyes and then you told me the truth.” “Uh-huh.” “Then, when you went to the library I saw Applebloom, looked at her and made her tell Applejack about the potion.” “Okay.” “And now when Twilight said she knew what this was even when she didn’t I made her tell the truth. Do you know what this means?” She still looked confused. “Yeah, but you say it first.” “That wasn’t a sonic boom or a sonic rainboom, I did the sonic truthboom. Something about the intense speed gave me this aura and now people can’t lie to me, this is awesome! And if my theory is correct all pegasi are capable of a unique sonic boom, I’ve seen my truthboom, your rainboom, the timeboom, the greenboom, and the rainbolt.” Rainbow looked confused. “Rainbolt?” “It’s a long story, I’ll explain later. Perhaps…over dinner?” Rainbow had a look of understanding on her face, knowing where this was going and played along. “I’d be delighted to.” She outstuck her arm and I hooked mine around it. “Shall we then?” “Let’s” We walked out of the library; hooves intertwined, and flew off towards our humble abode. Twilight merely stood in the middle of the room, still reedling at the events that unfolded. “Spike, I need you to send a letter to the princess!” She shouted into the other room. “What for Twilight?” He asked. “Something incredible has happened.” Later, at Casa de Dash… Rainbow Dash was sitting on her couch and reading a book, a favorite way for her to cool down after a tiring day, and man oh man did she need it after the day she had had. “Rainbow, dinner’s ready! Come and get it!” Rainbow excitedly jumped up from the couch and rushed over to the table. I opened up the oven that the pie had finished baking in and picked it up with my wing, it was more delicate than a pair of hooves, and I placed the pie on the table. The crust was a golden brown and it smelled divine with a bit of hot air rising from the middle. When Rainbow got to the table she smacked her lips together. “Mm, that pie looks delicious.” “I hope so; I wouldn’t want to make anything that wasn’t tasty. Sit down; I have to grab something else.” I walked into the other room to get the cider. However, Rainbow was so enticed by the pie that she didn’t want to wait; she reached in with an open mouth, trying to take a small bite of the pie. “Don’t eat the pie yet!” She quickly jerks her head back, could I see her through the walls of the cloud house? No, but I know she’s easily enticed so I thought she’d try and take a bite of that pie. I put the cider into two wooden steins and with one in each hoof and I walked back to table, and plopped one down right in front of her. She gasped and I saw her eyes go wide with excitement. “Is this cider?! But that was…” “Months ago? I know. I paid Applejack the cost of one gallon of cider and asked her to hold it for me; I’ve been saving it for a special occasion. Plus, it’s been sitting in a little wooden barrel for a couple months so it should be even stronger now.” Rainbow was excited, I could see her hooves jittering. She picked up the cup quickly, I could tell that she was ready to chug it all in one go, but then she looked at me and lowered the glass from her mouth. She then took the cup and extended her hoof to me. “Um, you wanna…toast or something?” I could see she was trying her hardest to savor this, I smiled at her kindness. I raised up my own cup. “Sure, toast to us.” “To us then!” We clinked our cups together and drank; I drank mine slowly while Rainbow went a little bit faster. I could see why though, this cider is really good! It was sweet like apples, but being fermented for so long it had an acidic and somewhat bitter feel to it, it wasn’t too strong though and it rounded out quite nicely. When Rainbow put her cup down she breathed a little bit heavier. “Wow, this stuff’s kinda strong.” “Well, I did ask for a gallon from the 50% cider batch.” Rainbow shot me a look that was very flirty. “Pegasus Wright, are you trying to get me drunk?” My eyes went wide with her accusation. “What? No! I-I Just thought…you’d like the strong stuff, you should know I would never-“ Then she started cracking up and laughing at me. “Ha! The look on your face, you were so nervous. I’m just kidding dude, I know you wouldn’t do that on purpose.” I sighed a breath of relief. “Oh, okay.” “Besides there’s only reason you would want to get me drunk and…we’ve seen how well that turns out.” “Heh…yeah.” Wow…that happened. She was just joking with me not a few seconds a go and now there was tension in here thicker than Pinkie’s chocolate cheesecake. We didn’t speak for at least a minute until she looked up at me with…sadness? I didn’t want that. “Look, Wright, I’m really-“ I gently put my hoof up to her mouth to stop her from talking. “I’m not having any of that, we both know that what happened wasn’t your fault and I don’t think anything of it.” She pushed my hoof away. “Yeah but…this is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.” I wasn’t sure what she meant by that. “What do you mean?” She sighed. “You should know that I’ve relationships before this one.” “Never a doubt in my mind.” I added. She was in her 20’s, or course she’s dated other people. “Well…none of them lasted as long as this one. Nopony wanted to stay with me, they kept saying I was ‘taking things too fast’ or ‘not as involved as I could have been’ and that really hurt. I didn’t really date much after I finished my weather patrol training because most colts I met there were idiots.” I chuckled a bit. “Yeah, I’ve met them before; they don’t really have much going on in that brain of theirs.” She chuckled back. “And that’s why I chose you Peg. Besides being a stand-up stallion you’re funny, you’re smart, and overall just a really nice guy. I didn’t want to turn you away like others so I played things safe. Heh, you can see how well that’s turned out.” I nodded taking in all that she said. “Can I say my thing now?” She nodded. “Why in Celestia’s name would I leave you? You’re the most amazing mare I’ve ever met; no one’s faster than you, your competitive spirit always makes me try and do better, and you always appreciate everything that’s done for you. You’re a keeper Rainbow Dash and I’m not letting go of you that easily.” She looked at me with her moth slightly open and her eyes wide, I could tell that she was moved by what I said. She started rubbing her eyes a bit. “Shut up, you’re making me all misty here.” I smiled. “Well then, let’s fix that with pie in your face. I think it’s cool enough to eat now.” I took the knife on the table and cut the pie into eights, we both took one slice and began to show down. Rainbow ate hers a bit more sloppily than mine. “Wow, this really nice.” “Thanks, I used golden delicious apples because Applejack tells me they’re your favorite.” “They are. Thanks for considering that.” We continued to stuff our faces with pie until we were about half done. I noticed that Rainbow had gotten her face a bit messy and I had a devilish idea. “Hey Rainbow, you got something on your face.” “Really? Where?” She tried to look at her face to find it. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it.” I slowly leaned in closer to her face; as I moved in and began to purse my lips, Rainbow Dash noticed this and she closed her eyes to do the same. Then, about two inches from her face I abandoned that idea and licked her check because there was pie stuff on it. “Ah!” She cried out, surprised. “Gotcha.” I said. She laughed at my little joke. “Happy Hearts and Hooves day Peggy.” “Happy Hearts and Hooves day Dashie.” We spent the rest of the night eating pie, drinking cider, and enjoying each other’s company. Today may not have gone exactly as I wanted but I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome than this one. Meanwhile, at the Canterlot Castle… Princess Celestia had just finished reading the letter her student sent her about her friend’s amazing new feat. “What are you doing sister?” Luna asked as she saw Celestia with a letter in her magic. “Just reading this letter my student sent me. Apparently her new friend is more talented than I had thought.” “Ah, the new pegasus in Ponyville? He’s the lawyer right?” Luna asked “That is correct.” Celestia confirmed. “It seemed your assumptions were right about him, both of them.” Luna confirmed “Indeed, I think that now that he’s integrated so well it’s time for the second phase of our plan.” Luna nodded in agreement. “Okay, whenever you’re ready.” Celestia and Luna combined their magic and prepared for the spell they were about to cast.