Moondancer trotted down the street, humming to herself as she headed for the cafe where she planned to meet her friends for lunch as they usually did. Life had been great since Twilight had come back and mended the rift they had both caused in their friendship. She hated admitting it, she had just as much to do with it as the lavender Alicorn had. After all, letters weren't that hard to write.
"Hey, Moonie!" a raspy voice shouted from above her, causing the Unicorn to look up, a smile blossoming on her face.
"Hi, Dash," she replied as the cyan Pegasus landed next to her. A brief kiss and nuzzle later, they continued walking, a blue wing draped over the other mare's withers. She glanced over, her glasses sliding down her face slightly as she trained her eyes on the athlete.
"Is everything ok?" she asked. "I thought we weren't supposed to meet until tonight."
"It's totally awesome!" Rainbow Dash cooed, trying hard to keep her voice down in her excitement. "I didn't want to wait till tonight to tell you, so I came right over before rehearsal for tomorrow's show."
Moondancer waited patiently, knowing her marefriend's habit of wandering all over the field around a subject before coming right to it.
"You look fit to burst, sweetheart," she said as they came into view of the cafe. "Tell me what's got you so hyper, Dashie."
"The Wonderbolts were asked to perform at the Summer Sun Celebration this year!" she crowed. Her wings flared out and her hooves momentarily left the ground before she landed and came around to face the Unicorn. "I know we had decided we were going to go to Rainbow Falls for that week, but the orders came down today and, well..." she circled a hoof nervously. "I'd really love it if my little bookworm could be there to cheer me on."
Moondancer smiled at the hopeful look in her marefriend's eyes. Underneath that brash and headstrong exterior, Rainbow Dash had as soft a center as any mare, and between the look on her face and the tone of her voice, it was like looking at a filly asking if they could get a cookie before dinner. It was adorable.
"Of course I'll be there," she replied, giving the rookie Wonderbolt a sly wink. "You know I can't say no to a mare in uniform."
Rainbow beamed. "Great!" she exclaimed. "I promise, I'll make sure you enjoy every minute of our vacation after that, Moondancer!" She leaned in and gave her a kiss before bolting off into the sky.
Moondancer shook her head and tried to fight down the blush as she heard Minuette's teasing coo come over from the cafe.
"That was so adorable!" the pony exclaimed.
"Oh, hush," Moondancer said with a smile. "It's not like you haven't seen that before."
"Yeah, but it doesn't make it any less cute," Minuette said.
Moondancer rolled her eyes as she slid into her seat. "So," she said. "What's up?"
Dash slowly walked into her room and dropped her rucksack by the door, gazing at the cloud bed before her.
"Sleep..." she groaned. This had quite possibly been the hardest rehearsal she'd ever been through since she had joined the ranks. All she wanted was a nap before dinner with Moondancer and nothing was going to prevent her from getting it.
Nothing, that is, except a slightly uncoordinated mailmare that came crashing through the cloud wall of her home and crashed into her.
"Ow," she gasped as she looked up into the other mare's face. "Muffins, what gives?"
"Sorry, Rainbow," the wall-eyed pony said. "Last minute delivery." She reached into her bag and pulled out a letter bearing the seal that denoted a royal message.
"Thanks," Dash said. "Could you leave a little slower, though?"
The mailmare smiled and flew back through the hole she had caused, the wall slowly resealing behind her.
"How did she make it through flight school?" Dash murmured as she opened the letter and read it's contents.
Oh...oh no. she thought.
All thoughts of sleep were crushed as she bolted out her front door, returning to the flight pitch. She arrived just as Spitfire was locking the doors to the office building.
"Captain," she shouted as she came in for a landing. "I just got the updated location letter. Is that accurate?"
Spitfire sighed and tugged on the hem of her flight jacket. "I'm pretty sure it is, Crash," she said. "Considering that I got the information straight from the Princesses themselves. The celebration this year is going to be in the Crystal Empire."
"I thought it was going to be in Rainbow Falls, though."
"Last minute changes, diplomatic complications," Spitfire said. "I don't really understand it all, it's above my paygrade. And yours too, for that matter. Something about helping bring the Crystal Ponies back into the full swing of the modern era." She spitted the cyan Pegasus with a look that challenged her to protest further. "Is that all? You look like you've something else on your mind."
Rainbow hung her head. "Yes, Ma'am," she whispered. "I'll just have to find a way to make it up to Moondancer."
Spitfire walked up to her and set a hoof on her shoulder. "Listen, Dash," she said. "I don't like it any more than you do. I've been waiting to head back to the Falls myself. But you've seen the Crystal Empire, probably know it better than the rest of the squad. Surely there must be something the two of you can do there. My husband and I personally want to try out those hot springs I've heard about."
Dash smiled weakly. "I'll talk to her tonight," she said. "Maybe it'll be better than the Falls for her. She's never been that I know of."
Spitfire smiled and spread her wings. "If nothing else," she said. "Mention the hot springs." Giving the other mare a informal salute, she took to the sky.
"Are you alright?" Moondancer asked. "You've been quiet all night. Did something happen at practice?"
Dash poked at the coffee mug in front of her, wishing for once that her marefriend wasnt as perceptive as she was.
"We received word today that the venue was changed last minute," she said, staring at the tablecloth. "It's being held in the Crystal Empire this year. Something political about it. I hope you're not upset. You don't have to come with me, and I'll meet you at the falls as soon as I'm dismissed for the show."
Moondancer shook her head. "I'm disappointed in you," she said, rising from her seat.
"I know," Rainbow said, head hanging.
"I can't believe you'd think I wouldn't go with you there," she said, coming to stand beside the Pegasus. "I told you I'd go with you to see you perform. I mean that."
Rainbow blinked for a moment.
"You mean..."
The Unicorn pecked her mare friend on the cheek.
"I just need to talk to Twilight about how to dress for the Empire," she said, flicking her tail across Rainbow's nose as she turned. "After all, all five princesses will be there! I don't want to upset one of them."
Rainbow just smiled.
"I'm sure you'll knock them dead, babe," she said.
"What do you mean, nothing?" Moondancer turned to face her oldest friend in the sitting room of the Castle of Friendship.
"What I mean is," Twilight Sparkle said, turning the page in the latest Daring Do book. "Is that none of us will be offended. Princess Celestia and Luna won't even notice as they'll be busy during the festival, Cadence is the nicest pony you're likely to meet, Flurry Heart is still a foal, and you know my stance on fashion."
"I know," the Unicorn rubbed her foreleg for a moment.
Twilight shut the book, glancing at her friend.
"This isn't about the princesses, is it?" She asked. "Something to do with Dash?"
Moondancer sighed. "I was looking forward to a relaxing week at Rainbow Falls," she said. "I don't mind the change in venues - I'm actually excited about seeing the Empire - I just..."
"Wish the two of you had more control?" Twilight whispered.
"Yeah," the bookworm said, dropping back onto the cushion she had been offered when she arrived. "I knew what I was getting into, Twilight. Rainbow is more or less a military pony and as such has to follow orders. But I never thought it'd be this trying."
"You think that's trying, try being a princess, or dating one," Twilight smirked. "You know how hard it is for Luna and I to find time some days?"
Moondancer's eyes popped wide open.
"Y-you and Princess Luna?"
The Alicorn nodded. "Long story," she said. "Involving an amulet, dreamwalking, and more than a botched spell or two."
Rainbow eased herself into the hot spring, the water warmer than she had anticipated. There were stone benches under the water, just high enough for a pony to keep their heads above water if they wished. The pools also held a deeper center basin for those so inclined to fully submerge.
Moondancer slid into the water next to her tired athlete.
"That was an amazing show, honey!" she said, nuzzling Rainbow's cheek.
The Wonderbolt rookie grinned nervously at the compliment. "Thanks," she said. "And since we've been relieved for the weekend, we could still swing through Rainbow Falls before we have to head home."
Moondancer frowned slightly, her yellow-grey coat starting to take on a reddish hue from the warm water. This was the third time the Pegasus had mentioned the Falls since they had arrived, and it was starting to get annoying.
She swung around in the pool so that she was straddling Rainbow and stared at hervhard in the eyes.
"Will you stop about Rainbow Falls!" she hissed. "If I hear you mention it again, you can go there yourself!"
Rainbow had been surprised when her marefriend had settled herself across her lap, but the angry words had tripped her ego and guilt.
"Hey, you were the one that wanted to go there so badly," she shot back. "I'm just trying to make up for ruining a trip you were looking forward to!"
"I was looking forward to it because it was going to be the two of us, alone, in a quiet relaxing resort!" the Unicorn shouted. "We could have that here, if you didnt notice, because we have a private room given to us by the Empress herself!" She pushed off, floating out into the pool.
"Even this particular spring is private," she continued, calming slightly.
"I thought you wanted to go because of that book convention," Rainbow said, confusion showing.
"Oh, Dash," Moondancer said. "That may have been an attraction, but it was always about spending time with you." She levitated her glasses to sit in a small cubby by the poolside where they had tucked their personal items they hadn’t wanted to get wet. "Now, lets try this again, what do you say?"
The Pegasus smiled sheepishly as the other mare returned to her side. "Guess I'm not being very romantic, huh?"
"I don't know," the bookish mare said, nuzzling in again. "Secluded hot spring, personal room in a palace, rare delicacies, secluded hot spring..."
"You, ah," Rainbow said as she turned her head to kiss the spot just below her marefriend's horn. "Already mentioned the spring."
"I know," Moondancer said, her eyes sliding partially shut as a sultry smile split her countenance. "Do I have to say it a third time for you to get the hint?"
Rainbow smiled and took the Unicorn into her embrace, turning slightly to let her wings spread slightly in the warm pool.
Just letting you know that I won't be able to make the lunch with you and the girls next Wednesday. Rainbow and I have decided to take an extra five days and tour some of the Empire. Supposedly, one town is nothing but a single, giant archive! I cant wait to see it! Who knows what kind of tomes it might contain?
Also, I have a proposition for you. If you tell me your story with Luna, I'll let you proof the piece I'm writing about Rainbow and I, our mistakes and triumphs. You know, that kind of thing.
Speaking of mistakes, you wouldnt happen to know how to dismiss the cloud walking spell if it's improperly cast, would you? Asking for a friend...
Sincerely,
Moondancer
"How long till you think she gets it?" Rainbow asked as the cloud drifted lazily through the late afternoon sky. She and Moondancer were stretched out comfortably in it's fluffy mass and she had her wing draped over the other mare's side.
"Three days, I should think, unless Muffins in doing the late night haul again," the Unicorn said, snuggling a little deeper into Rainbow's side. "Besides, even if it's longer than that, I don't think I'd ever want to be anywhere else right now, and you did cash out a weeks leave."
The Pegasus smiled, nuzzling her marefriend across the back of her neck. "And when this cloud fills with rain water?"
Moondancer grinned. "Well. I guess I'll have to charm a pretty Pegasus for help," she purred. "Know any good ones?"
Rainbow leaned in and kissed the mare.
"I might know one," she said before leaning in again for another kiss.
