In Need of Side Stories: Tough Love

by Sweetheart_a_Light

First published

Twilight and Rainbow are now togheter. They couldn't be happier to be in each other's company. Although, that's not really what they expected.

After a long day of work, Rainbow stops by her marefriend's castle to spend some time with her. But Twilight plans on revealing a secret that was, surprisingly, well kept all this time. So was Rainbow.


Takes place after the events of In Need of a Hobby, but this is not a sequel, nor it's necessary for the aforementioned story to be read.


Proofread/Edited by my good friend Krickis. Thanks for helping me improve my work for so long.

A Little Talk

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Rainbow Dash was having a very normal day, one that fortunately didn't involve monsters and other things attacking Ponyville. She woke up, went to work and, by the end of the day, was heading to the Friendship Castle.



It's been six months since she and Twilight started dating, and they've been happier ever since. Sure, they've had their bitter moments, but that's part of any sweet relationship. Rainbow trusted Twilight and she knew Twilight trusted her too, for everything.



Arriving at the Friendship Castle, she didn't even hesitate to knock on the door anymore; the castle was practically her home too. She got inside as quickly as she could. It was their sixth month anniversary, and instead of going off to a fancy restaurant and exchanging material gifts, they decided to have a normal dinner by courtesy of Spike the Dragon and be in each others company. But when Dash opened the door, nopony was there.



"Twi? Are you home?"



Rainbow put her hooves on the ground and started walking slowly. She had to be somewhere.



"C'mon Twi, where are you?" she shouted. "You told me we're be having dinner tonight so I skipped lunch! I've been starving for hours!"



Right next to Rainbow, Twilight opened her bedroom door and leaned her head out, with a concerning look on her face. "Sorry Dash, I've lost track of time. Let's go have dinner."



"Uhh..." Rainbow looked at her marefriend and realized she was lying. "Are you sure? You don't look so well."



"Oh, I can't hide anything from you, can I?" Twilight muttered. "Fine, come on in."



They both walked silently in the room. Twilight closed the door, sitting on her bed next to where Dash was.



"Rainbow, be honest with me," Twilight started, looking sadly at her marefriend, "am I the first pony you fell in love?"



Rainbow raised an eyebrow at that question. Out of all the things she was expecting Twilight to say, that wasn't one of them.



"Well, sorry to say, Twi, but... No. You're not." Rainbow looked over her shoulders. "I mean, haven't you liked other ponies too?"



Twilight raised her hoof to her face. "Of course I did, but... I guess I asked this the wrong way. Out of the ponies you liked, have you ever fell so hard for someone that you thought you might have a chance with her? As in, dated her?"



Rainbow opened her eyes in shock. The way Twilight was saying "her"... Did... did she knew? She never told anyone about it...



"Well, uh, have you?" Dash stumbled her words, trying to not look nervous.



"Have you?" Twilight asked, but feeling more confident this time. "You know we're both terrible liars, Dash. Plus, you're sweating."



Rainbow just stared at her girlfriend. "You're too good at this. Yes, I had."



Twilight let out a satisfactory sigh. "Thank Celestia. Thought I was the only one keeping a secret about a past silly crush I had."



"Wait, what?" Dash asked, dumbfounded.



"So, was it a mare or a stallion?" Twilight started her usual Q&A that she always loved doing. "Do I know the pony? Do they live here or are they from somewhere else? Was it a pony at all? It was Gilda, wasn't it? I knew you always had a thing for her with the way you looked at each"



"Whoa, whoa, whoa, time's up!" Rainbow shoved her hoof in Twilight's mouth, finally shutting her up. "Calm down there, shipper on deck. I never liked Gilda as more than just a friend. Also, yes, you do know the mare I liked very well. She lived here longer then we did."



"Oh, well, I also used to like a mare that you might know as well." Twilight said. "She also lives here."



"Who is it, then?" Rainbow asked curiously. "Heh, I’m gonna be honest, I never thought you could like any ponies like me. Athletic, outgoing. Always thought a pony more like Fluttershy was your thing."



Twilight just sat there motionless. She couldn't believe it. How could Dash know? She made sure no one would notice.



"How... How did you know…?"



"Wait!" Rainbow smiled. "No. Way. You really liked Shy? I was just guessing!"



"Well, yeah, you guessed right," Twilight continued. "While the first time I met her was really awkward, I've noticed we had some similarities. We're both not that outgoing, introverted. We would rather have a good book with a cup of tea then going out partying or something like that."



Rainbow's snarky smile began to fade as Twilight started talking about one of her best friends like if she was a goddess.



"Not to mention her beautiful, pink flowing mane. She shouldn't use it to hide her face, because it's also so pretty and" Twilight noticed her marefriend's ears flopped and a frown. "And just because I used to like her, doesn't mean I do anymore. She's our friend and she's happy with Pinkie now."



"Yeah, I know." Rainbow looked at Twilight, feeling a bit better. "Can't blame you for thinking like that. I could go on and on about my crush too."



"Oh, right." Twilight sighed. "Do you mind telling me who the mysterious mare you liked is?"



Rainbow sighed. "Applejack. I really liked AJ."



"Oh!" Twilight awed. "That's... Not really surprising, actually."



"What."



"I mean, it's kinda obvious," Twilight continued rambling, "my first guess was Gilda, but I always knew that there was something between you and Applejack. Athletic, competitive, tomcolt-ish; those descriptions fit both of you to a tee!"



"So you knew all along?" asked Rainbow.



"Oh no, not at all," Twilight explained. "Just saw some hints of a possible interest on you for AJ. Although, I also saw some of this interest in Pinkie too, I mean, you're both very fun and loud, and"



"Twi, please, this is the third time you did this." Dash covered her marefriend's mouth. "Stop."



Twilight got Rainbow's hoof out of her face and blushed. "Sorry. I got a bit carried away."



Rainbow raised an eyebrow at her. Twilight just rolled her eyes.



"So, you feeling better?" Rainbow asked, getting out of the bed.



"Definitely." Twilight leaned on her marefriend and gave her a slight kiss. "Thank you for listening, Dash."



Rainbow blushed a little and giggled. "Hehe, uh, sure, anytime... You're welcome!"



Then, suddenly, the girls heard a loud growl inside the room.



"Let's have some dinner." Twilight laughed. "Spike made us your favourite."



Walking out of the bedroom, they realized that they were feeling much better, because they didn't hesitate to tell how they were feeling for each other, even if had something to do with past loves.