Coltfriends and Fillyfriends
The four colts made their way to Button Mash's house for lunch. His mom always had sandwiches for them. Button Mash loved his mom's food and swore it was the best in the world, and Rumble had to admit that her food was definitely better than his brother's cooking. Snips and Snails, they'd eat anything put in front of them. Of course anything was better than the orphanage's food.
Button Mash's house was the closest not even five minutes away from the school house. Which afforded them nearly three quarters of an hour to relax and eat lunch, and chill before having to head back to school for another three hours of class. Button's mom was waiting for them on the front porch as was Rainbow Dash.
"Hello Son, Rumble, Snips, Snails, how are you today?" Love Tap asked as soon as the four of them got to the bottom of the porch.
"Hi Mom." Button Mash answered not yelling but still unnecessarily loud. "We're fine. Hello Ms. Rainbow Dash."
"Hey, Button, Snips, Snails, Rumble." The cyan Pegasus sighed. "Hey Rumble I need to talk to you privately about something important."
"Okay." Rumble nodded.
"Great that takes care of the easy part." Rainbow smiled and sighed. Love Tap and the other three colts went inside leaving the two pegasi on the porch. "So," Rainbow Dash began. "Let's get to the point I need to ask a favor from you." She paused mauling over her words. "I need you to ask Scootaloo out on a date this Saturday."
"What?!"
"Calm down kid. I'm just asking you to take your fillyfriend out on a date."
"She's not my fillyfriend she's just my really good friend, that happens to be a filly."
"Really?" Rainbow asked fighting the urge to face hoof. "Okay, fine listen I need you to ttake your really good friend Scootaloo, out of the house on Saturday."
"Okay." Rumble answered before pausing to ask, "why?"
"Because, well uh you see, because." Rainbow started fidgeting. She took a deep breath and answered, "you see I really like her dad, and we've been seeing each other for ten months now, but so far he hasn't even tried to move the relationship along. Despite all of my hints, so tonight I'm going to find out what's going on."
"Why don't you go over there right now and just ask him?"
"Because relationships are hard and complicated. Now can I count on you to get Scootaloo out of the house, and give her a good time?" Rumble nodded, and Rainbow Dash sighed with relief. "Good, thanks you're a good colt Rumble. Now go on and enjoy your lunch, and have a good day."
***
"So," Scootaloo began as her dad started washing the dishes. "I made plans for the day with a friend is that okay?"
"Huh, sure it is." Quibble continued to wash the dishes, scrubbing each plate twenty times. "So what are you and Apple Bloom going to be crusading in today?" he asked so he could have an apology ready if they accidently got carried away.
"What? No never!" Scootaloo's outburst surprised her dad who stopped with the bowl he was currently on. "Sorry, Dad, it's just we always crusade for our cutie marks together we'd never do it if one of us was out of commission or away on a trip, never."
"That's okay." He returned to scrubbing down the bowl. "So what are you and Apple Bloom going to be doing then?"
"Uh well you see about that." Scootaloo started to fidget and looked expectantly at the door. "I'm not hanging out with Apple Bloom today." She got up and went into the living room.
"Rainbow Dash?" He put the bowl on the drying rack, and put the last plate into the soapy water.
"No, right race though." She looked out the window, and smile when she saw him coming up the path to the door. "See we had made plans earlier to go around town and hang out."
"Sure I'm fine with that. Say hello to Flutter Shy for me." Scootaloo opened the door just as the grey Pegasus was about to knock.
"Hey Scootaloo, ready to go?" At the sound of Rumble's voice the plate Quibble had been washing feel into the sink splashing water on him and the floor.
"Sure am. Bye Dad love you be back tonight. Go, go, go, go." She pushed Rumble out of the door way and closed it as her dad was turning around. The two of them were off of the front yard by the time he got to the living room, and out of ear shot by the time he got to the door. That second he was greeted by a cyan Pegasus.
"Hey Quibble how are you doing?" she asked purposely blocking him.
"I am fine thank now I really need to go."
"Let the two of them go Quibble they're young let them have their fun."
"You knew about this."
"I set it up." Rainbow Dash said. "I wanted to talk to you about somethings today, and I needed you to be alone. Think of it like a double date." Quibble's eyes went wide. "Kids will be kids Quibble, inside come on." Rainbow got him back into the house before he could run after his daughter, and her coltfriend."
***
"So, why'd you rush me out like that?" Rumble asked as the two of them set on a park bench catching their breath.
"For the same reason that I didn't tell Dad, I was spending all day alone with you." She leaned back and watched as a stray cloud passed by over head. "He'd want to come along and "chaperone", we wouldn't be able to do anything." She looked over at him. "So, what are we doing anyways?"
"Well I thought we could walk through the park and get some lunch at Café Hay." She looked mildly unimpressed he gave her a smile after that there is a rowing contest at the lake today." Her eyes lit up with the thought of competition. "Then we could finish it at Sugar Cube Corner. Of course I more than willing to sit, and relax at the park, instead."
"Yeah that sounds like a good idea, don't want to be tired before the contest." She smiled and leaned up against Rumble, enjoying the shade of the tree and the company.
"Hey Scootaloo?" He gulped.
"Yeah?" He blushed and bit his lip.
"Never mind, maybe later."
"Okay."
***
"So I thought that you were okay with the whole Scootaloo having a coltfriend thing?" Rainbow dash took the plate from Quibble and dried it off with a rag. "So what was with you trying to go after them."
"I'm okay with her having a friend that's a colt, and I would be happy if she got Rumble as a coltfriend or some colt that acted like him." Quibble said as he scrubbed the last plate from breakfast down twenty times. "But she's still to young to be going on dates especially unsupervised dates."
"Well if it makes you feel any better. Rumble was adamant about this not being a date."
"Of course he was they're ten."
"Kids date at ten, shoot Rarity was being asked out when she was eight."
"It's not that it's just every young romance I've read starts this way, and I don't want to lose my little filly just yet. Not yet." He passed the plate to Rainbow Dash.
"Who said you had to lose her. Besides this is real life Quibble. Sure she'll find a coltfriend, marry, and eventually move out. It may not even be in that order, but you're her dad that never stops being true, and you'll always be special to her. Trust me I know, she tells me everything."
"Thanks Dash. I know that talking about how you got me alone to talk to me, wasn't what you wanted to talk about, so what is on your mind?" To Quibble's surprise Rainbow's cheeks got a little red, just a little.
"Well it's a lot of stuff actually the most important thing, I you know. I'll ask that later. Right now, let's just talk and hang out."
"If it's important why not ask it now?"
"I'll ask it later nosy." She stuck out her tongue.
***
Scootaloo and Rumble sat on at one of the outside tables of Café Hay. It was after all a nice day. The table they sat at was near the corner of the off by itself. The two of them didn't mind much. They were more than enough company for themselves. Rumble would tell Scootaloo about his brother's shop and what Button Mash, Snip, and Snails were up to while she'd eat a bit of her salad. He would eat some of his while she told him about crusading, and Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.
"I still can't believe that Button hasn't asked Sweetie Belle to be his filly friend yet," Rumble said with a laugh. "I mean seriously did you know she spent two nights at his house before she and Rarity went on their trip to Canterlot."
"Oh I know, not to mention when it just us three she always mentions him at least twice." Scootaloo agreed. "But whenever me or Apple Bloom mention it to her she's swears he's just a friend."
"He is the same way." Rumble nodded. "And the worst part is-"
"They're like that all the time." Both of them said in unison, causing them to breakout laughing.
"So," Scootaloo wiped a tear from her eye. "Earlier you wanted to talk about something." Scootaloo didn't notice Rumble's cheeks getting redder. She did notice his fidgeting though. "Is it bad."
"Oh uh um no it's not bad it's just. Well you see um. It's silly I'll, I'll tell you later today though, I promise."
"Oh okay. What works for you works. Just so long as it's not bad."
***
Quibble and Rainbow dash's conversation about Scootaloo lasted till about noon. they talked about everything she had been doing for the past couple of months. Her grades had certainly started improving and she had more friends now that Rumble and Button Mash started hanging around with them. Quibble looked up at the clock on the living room wall.
"Twelve twenty already." He got up. "It's already been five hours? I swear time seems to fly when I'm with you."
"Of course it does. I'm Rainbow Dash guarantied to make anything twenty percent more awesome." She got off of the sofa and joined him in the kitchen. "Not to brag or anything."
"Alright Rainbow Awesome Dash, what do you want to eat for lunch today?"
"I don't know I'm really not all that particular about what I eat. What were you thinking?"
"Well I suppose I could make raspberry pancakes," he answered opening the refrigerator and checking to see if he had everything that he needed to make the two of them lunch. "Looks like we've got plenty. It'll take me away to make it from scratch though."
"That's fine I'm not all that hungry right now." She walked over to the cabinets. "Just tell me what you need." She pulled out the large blue mixing bowl, she knew he always used for pancakes. "And I'll get it for you." After twenty minutes Quibble decided that the batter was finally ready. Rainbow passed him a spatula, and watched her stallion go to work. Sure his cutie mark was for critiquing things, and he preferred books to food, but he could have just as easily been a chief with his eye for detail. Lunch smelled like it was going to be awesome.
***
The rowing contest was a lot had a lot more contestants than either of them thought, and was longer than the two pegasi had anticipated. Finally though after a grueling five laps around the lake they were nearly finished. Both of them rowing in unison as fast as they could trying their hardest to stay a head of the two unicorns that were neck and neck with them. Both were nearly at their breaking point. Scootaloo was almost willing to call it quits having lost her second wind on the third lap. Her fore legs were sore and her sides hurt with each breath she took. Rumble wasn't fairing much better grunting in exhaustion with each stroke. Ever few seconds he'd let go of the oar and try to push his mane out of his eyes.
Their demeanor changed the second they saw the finish line, as did the unicorn couple that was coming up on their side. With the promise that it would soon all be over, and the potential for victory. The two pushed themselves harder, pouring all their reserve strength into making it across the finish line. Both boats were neck and neck. Until the last second, when Rumble and Scootaloo somehow managed to find a third wind, and ridding on nothing but fumes, gave one final push.
"Yoo-Hoo!" Scootaloo and Rumble cheered as their boat crossed the finish line a full three inches a head of their opponents. Immediately after both of them fell back into the boat sprawled out. Their muscles hurting and sorer than they had ever been, the two of them taking quick deep breaths, trying to refill their lungs.
"Second to last place," Rumble panted, ribs hurting each time he inhaled. "Not bad."
"We didn't come in last that's really all I care about, well that and the fact that it's over. and I'm never doing that again."
"Not even, if it was your special talent?" Rumble asked between pants.
"I'd rather be a blank flank forever." she answered. "What about you would you ever do this again?"
"No, never, again." He answered before deciding to pass out.
"So, what were you going to ask me about?" She looked over and saw completely he was under, and thinking that, that was the best option soon joined him.
***
The day was a good day, Rainbow Dash had spent a wonderful eleven hours with Quibble. If she was any less of a mare she would have cut and run, called it a good day, and saved the question for a later date. She however was Rainbow FreakingAwesome Dash, and she came here for answers and she was going to get them. She sighed as she tried to psych herself up.
"Hey Quibble?" She rested her head on his shoulder. "I need to know something."
"Sure what's been on your mind?" He asked feeling the blood rush to his cheeks.
"You know I really care about Scootaloo right. I think of her as family, like she's my own flesh and blood. Right?" She asked hoping that this line of thought would help her to keep her nerve that was quickly beginning to slip.
"I know. She thinks of you the same way too."
"You know, it's not just her that I feel that strongly about." She gulped, all or nothing. "I feel the same way about you too." Her cheeks were glowing red, and her voice sounded uncharacteristically vulnerable.
"Like a brother or something?" Quibble asked his ears folded back.
"No not like that." Her voice started to shake. This was going bad, he didn't feel the same and there was no turning back. She had given herself no escape route. "Your special, and I, I thought."
"When?" Quibble asked, afraid that his last question had just hurt her. "I mean," he trailed off hoping that he hadn't messed up.
"Nine months ago."
"When you say special?"
"I want to spend my life with you. I want you to be my special somepony. I love you." Rainbow Dash could feel and hear every heart beat. She was afraid. Everything was out on the table, and she had no way out, no control over her life at this moment, and she was scared.
"Rainbow I, I need you to understand." Quibble's heart stopped in his chest as he tried to find the right words to navigate through this mine field. Rainbow took it the wrong way and turned her head. "No not like that." Quibble reached out and gently turned her face back toward him. "I care about you. I need you to know that I care about you, and I love you too but."
"But what?" She asked, hopeful even as tears streamed down her face. She was glad it was just Quibble here. She had never and would never be this weak in front of anypony else.
"But I, I-I, I care but." Quibble started to shake his hoof sliding down to her shoulder. He hung his head as he started to cry. "I love you Rainbow, but I still love her too. And I still care for her so much, but I care about you, and I don't know what to do. I want her back, but I don't want to give you up, and, and. I don't know what to do? I know I need to move on, but I can't, not right now."
"I don't want you to give her up, Quibble." Rainbow Dash pulled the sobbing stallion into a tight embrace, as her tears joined his. "I know you still love her, and now I know you love me to." Her voice cracked. "And I'll wait. For you I'll wait as long as I need to. I love you, and I'll wait."
***
Rumble walked Scootaloo back to her house. It was already dark and the two of them were so tired from the race that they were barely moving at all. It was a nice walk though the moon and stars were out, and were shinning down brightly, and there was a nice gentle breeze. The twenty minute walk from the lake to her house took nearly twice as long. When they got to the gate at the front yard the two of them just stood there.
"So how was today Scootaloo?"
"It was good even if we didn't go to Sugar Cube Corner."
"Sorry about that, I owe you one." Rumble said rubbing the back of his head. "Well good night." He started to walk away
"Rumble?"
"Huh?" He turned back around.
"What was that thing that you were going to ask me?"
"Oh I uh forgot about that." Rumble's face went red.
"Well now that I've reminded you what were you going to ask?" Scootaloo stepped up to him. He was adorable when he was like this.
"Well um, uh. I was thinking if maybe you would be-"
"Yes."
"I didn't even finish. And great."
"Finish it." Scootaloo smiled.
"Scootaloo would you be my fillyfriend?"
"Yes." She answered leaning in.
"No kissing until you're fifteen!" Scootaloo's eyes widened and her face instantly caught up to the same shade of bright red that Rumble's was now at. "Nuzzlings okay though."
"Guess Dad's okay with it." she said as she hugged him and nuzzled him, a gesture he happily returned. After a minute the two said goodnight. Scootaloo felt like she was flying when she went inside.