Mate For Dash 1/2

[appending_fic]

A Mate for Dash
Fandom: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
Rating: PG
Summary: When Rainbow Dash begins exploring the wide world of romance, she doesn't realize how it's going to go, or what she'll discover.


Rainbow Dash ducked her head deep under cover of the foliage of the apple tree she was sitting in. Below her, Big Macintosh dragged a cartload of tools towards the barn. Sweet Apple Acres was bathed in early-afternoon sun, the cloudless sky a testament to Rainbow Dash’s productive morning. It was a beautiful midsummer day, the orchards fresh and green and ready to produce the season’s bounty. Still, it was hot, which was part of the reason Rainbow Dash was hiding in this tree.

“Land sakes,” Applejack said. She passed between the trees to stop next to her brother. She was dripping on the ground under the nearest tree, even her saddlebags water-stained and dripping. “I haven’t seen such a downpour. Goodness, it’s bright here. Y’all aren’t having any problems, are you, Mac?”

“Aa...nope,” Big Macintosh drawled.

“Great. Now, I gotta check on the stores. You can stay out here as long as it stays nice. I can’t imagine it will, though. It was cloudy as midwinter this morning. And Rainbow Dash was telling us the other day to be ready for a real downpour; somepony’d gotten a little behind on the precipitation quotas-” Applejack paused mid-word, and turned up towards the treeline. Rainbow ducked down a little more, knowing it wouldn’t do any good if Applejack looked in her direction. If there was a downside to being Rainbow Dash (and Rainbow would die before admitting that there was one), the fact that there were very few environments in which she could effectively hide would be it.

Applejack eventually looked down, apparently unperturbed. “Well, it’s a lucky thing the weather’s nice enough to get work done out here. I’ll see you when the rain reaches the farm.”

“Eeeyup.”

And with that, Applejack trotted away. Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. It wouldn’t do for Applejack to find her like this. She’d get the entirely wrong idea, and Rainbow had already gone to a lot of trouble for Applejack, and didn’t want any more if she could avoid it.

She waited until Big Macintosh was out of sight and then dropped to the ground. Rainbow cautiously brushed a few twigs out of her mane before trotting towards the main house. When she reached the door, however, she slowed and stopped. Rainbow took a deep breath, trying to settle her stomach. It wasn’t, she thought to herself, that she was scared. Just uncomfortable.

But the best way to deal with that was to power through.

Rainbow stepped forward and rapped on the door.

It swung open to reveal Applejack, who gave Rainbow Dash a long, measuring look before she smiled widely. “Good afternoon, Rainbow Dash. What brings you to my humble little home?”

“Ah...” Rainbow looked away from her friend rather than risk Applejack seeing how nervous she was. “Well, I was just in the area-”

“Doing a little unauthorized cloud-kicking?” Applejack asked slyly.

Rainbow felt her cheeks heat at the realization she hadn’t been nearly as sneaky as she’d thought. “I...might’ve.”

Applejack made a thoughtful noise. “Hm. I won’t ask what you’re up to, but it better not do anything to hurt the farm.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t do that to you, AJ!” Rainbow protested. “I know how much you care about this place. In fact, that’s sort of why I was out here this morning.” She grinned weakly at Applejack. The earth pony watched her, eyes narrow, and Rainbow felt her heart sink at the sight. This wasn’t going to work if Applejack was suspicious of her. “Can I come in?”

Applejack shrugged. “You know y’all are all welcome here whenever you please. Come on in, sit a spell.”

Rainbow trotted into the house. The sturdy, weathered beams that made up the Sweet Apple Acres main home were dark, the air smelling of cinnamon, sweat, sugar and, of course, apples.

Applejack closed the door behind Rainbow and followed her to the kitchen, where a plate of sliced apples were laid out. Applejack tilted her head at the plate. “You’re welcome to them; if you spent all morning clearing the sky, you deserve it.”

This was it. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “Not really. I didn’t do it to be nice - or not just to be nice, you know? I wanted to ask you a favor, and so I thought what better way to, ah, smooth the way, than doing you a favor first?”

“A favor.” Applejack nudged the plate of apples towards Rainbow. Rainbow took a slice and chewed on it while Applejack watched her thoughtfully. “Well, I can’t promise you anything, sugarcube. But I owe you a listen, at least.”

“Oh. Good.” Rainbow Dash sat down next to the table and swallowed her bite of apple. She glanced sidelong at Applejack and cleared her throat.

“Go ahead and spit it out,” Applejack urged.

Rainbow sighed and dropped her head to the table. “Look, it’s a little...embarrassing.” The last word she whispered, but by Applejack’s abruptly kind expression, she’d heard. Rainbow resisted the urge to sigh again. She knew she should have just come right out and said it. “You know how how I’ve been writing to Spitfire?”

“You might have mentioned it once or twice,” Applejack replied, smiling. “It was right nice of her to stay in touch.”

“It’s not that surprising. I’m the best flier coming out of Ponyville or Cloudsdale; it’s natural the Wonderbolts would keep an eye on me.” Rainbow tossed her head. “But that’s not the point. Spitfire told me Soarin's getting married.”

Applejack nodded, but when Rainbow didn’t continue, she tilted her head at her friend in curiosity. “Is that...good news?”

“Course it is!” Rainbow said. “She’s apparently really nice, and everypony’s excited about it. It just...made me think.” She folded her hooves under her head. “Spitfire invited me to tryouts next fall, said I have a really good chance. But once I’ve gotten that dream - what’s next?”

“Oh, sugarcube,” Applejack said, walking around to nuzzle Rainbow’s head. “There ain’t any need to trouble yourself with that. You can spend a little time being proud of what you’ve accomplished already.”

“I know that,” Rainbow said, shoving herself up and away from Applejack, heart tight with frustration that she wasn’t getting her ideas across. “I just thought...well, it’s a nice thing to think about.”

“What is?”

“Meeting a...you know, a...special pony.” Rainbow winced at the awkwardness of her words. “Gah, you know what I mean!” She ducked her head down, covering it with her hooves.

Rainbow could feel Applejack’s gaze resting on her. She didn’t look, aware that if Applejack laughed at her, she was going to abandon this whole plan as a stupid idea and just go home.

“Sugar - Dash - you gotta know I don’t know all that much about-”

“Yeah, but you’re the best help I got,” Rainbow replied. “Twilight wouldn’t have any advice that’s not in a book written a hundred years ago. Pinkie Pie’d get everypony involved. I love Fluttershy, but she’s such a wallflower she wouldn’t be any help at all. And Rarity...she’d suggest a makeover.” Rainbow spat out the last word with as much venom as she could muster. Rarity was sweet, but Rainbow had to admit they had very little in common.

“Glad to hear I’m at the top of such a distinguished list,” Applejack drawled. She sounded amused, but Rainbow could only hear the words themselves, disappointed in her.

“I can’t help it if you’re the most level-headed pony around aside from me,” Rainbow said, sitting up. She met Applejack’s eyes, trying to force as much sincerity as she could into her expression. She smiled, but it felt like it lacked her usual bluster. “To be honest, I thought of asking your advice first. It was only after I realized you’d be the best one to go to, anyway.”

Applejack smiled at Rainbow; try as she might, Rainbow couldn’t see any mockery in it, so she relaxed.

“Well, if you’re going to be looking for that special pony, I’ll wish you the best of luck. But I don’t see what sort of help you’re after.”

“I gotta tell you something, AJ, but you gotta promise you won’t tell anypony.”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, Dash,” Applejack said easily. “Shucks, you gotta know I wouldn’t break a promise like that. So out with it.”

“I’ve never really...beenonadate.”

“Pardon?” Applejack asked, one ear swiveling towards Rainbow.

Rainbow crouched down and, biting her lip, repeated. “I’ve never even been on a date. There! You happy?”

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Applejack said. A flare of heat rushed through Rainbow’s chest, and she leapt to her feet. Applejack shied away from the sudden movement, but when she met Rainbow’s furious gaze, her green eyes softened. “I don’t mean it like that, sugarcube. The time you ain’t asleep or with us, you’re training. I can’t imagine you were any different as a filly.”

Rainbow settled back, mollified, but also a little embarrassed that Applejack seemed to know her well enough that Rainbow’s lack of experience wasn’t a surprise. Did the others think the same thing?

“It ain’t all that hard, though. Just find somepony you might like to see more of and ask them out,” Applejack continued. “Just don’t expect to find the right pony on the first time out.”

Rainbow sat, expectant, until it was clear Applejack was done giving advice. “Is that it?”

“Well, yeah.” Applejack nudged Rainbow playfully with a hoof. “Did you think there was some big secret?”

“Course not!” Rainbow scoffed. “Only...what’m I supposed to do?”

“On a date?” Applejack asked. Rainbow nodded and hunched down, certain Applejack was going to laugh at her. “Whatever you want, sugarcube. No one’s gonna dock you points if you want to go flying or something instead of dinner and a show.”

“Oh. Well. Thanks, then.” Rainbow turned to leave, but paused as a thought struck her. “You said ask out a pony I wanted to know better. Do you think...would you mind if I asked out Big Macintosh?”

Applejack glanced away for just a moment before shrugging. “Ain’t no skin off my muzzle, sweetheart. I just - are you sure?”

“Why not? He’s big, strong, not a stupid jerk who calls me ‘Rainbow Crash’. Isn’t that the sort of stallion a mare’s supposed to look for?”

Applejack turned back to the table, shuffling plates around. “I guess so, sugar. Just don’t go overboard, or you’re gonna end up getting somepony hurt.”

“Overboard?” Rainbow grinned at Applejack, or would have if the farmer had been looking at her. Rainbow settled for tugging at Applejack’s tail, earning her a reproachful look from her friend, but at least it was the attention she’d wanted. “When have I ever gone overboard?”

Applejack opened her mouth to respond before snapping it closed. She just gave Rainbow a weak smile. “I’m sure you know what you’re doing, Dash.”

“Darn right,” Rainbow growled before tipping her head at Applejack and trotting outside.

<3 <3 <3

Rainbow Dash found Big Macintosh taking a break next to the barn. The draft stallion was lounging against the wall, red bulk blending with the paint. He glanced up when Rainbow drew near, giving her a lazy smile.

“Afternoon, Rainbow Dash,” he said.

Rainbow paused, braced herself, and gave Big Macintosh a wide smile. “Hello, Mac,” she said. “How’re you doing?”

He blinked, silent, before staring uncertainly at Rainbow. “All right, I guess.”

“Good.” Rainbow looked down. Big Macintosh looked comfortable, but sitting down next to him seemed like it would be awkward. “Nice day, right?”

“Eeeyup?” he asked.

“Anyway,” Rainbow Dash said, sitting down next to Big Macintosh. “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to...hang out with me sometime. You know...maybe dinner or something. Kinda like a...date.” At first she thought Big Macintosh hadn’t heard her, because he didn’t say anything for several moments that dragged on. But then he turned to her. His normally placid gaze was thoughtful, eyes narrow rather than relaxed.

“Applejack say it was all right?” he asked.

Rainbow Dash leaned away from Big Macintosh, confusion giving way to awkwardness; this was not how this was supposed to go. “And what if she didn’t? You’d say no?”

“Eeyup. Wouldn’t want to upset her,” Big Macintosh said tersely.

“Fine.” Rainbow dropped her head onto her folded legs. “She’s fine with it. Wished me the best of luck, if you must know. So...how about it?”

Big Macintosh gave Rainbow a considered look. “All right. Tomorrow night,” he declared at last.

Rainbow Dash grinned and hopped to her feet. “You are going to have the best time ever; I promise!”

Big Macintosh’s expression slipped back to a lazy smile. “I bet,” he said.

<3 <3 <3

Rainbow Dash put it off for as long as she could, but by the next afternoon, she’d admitted to herself that if she wanted to make a good impression, she had to at least make a token attempt at...dressing up. She’d dragged herself to the Carousel Boutique, the pink-and-purple checkered roof and ostentatious pillars themselves a sign of everything Rainbow Dash didn’t have time or inclination to worry about. But as much as Rainbow Dash declared herself a fan of the wind-blown look, not everypony was. And maybe...this was what the whole dating thing was about. Finding how to make other ponies like you better.

Rainbow lowered her head and knocked it against the front door.

The door swung open, admitting Rarity’s head, framed in exquisite violet locks as she looked around. When her eyes rested on Rainbow, they brightened.

“Rainbow Dash! So good to see you. What brings you to my humble home?”

Rainbow took a deep breath. “I need a little help.”

Rarity’s eyes crinkled at the edges, giving her normally polite smile a fond, indulgent appearance. “Well, I’m so glad you came to me, then. If you would step inside...”

Rainbow glanced once around the street before darting inside. Date or not, she had a reputation to uphold, one that would not be helped by being seen going to Rarity for help. She stopped inside, and stopped immediately at the mess. Cloth was scattered over every available surface, and Rarity’s models were strewn among the chaos. One of them was missing a leg.

“So sorry about the clutter,” Rarity said, picking her way around a spilled box of pins before gathering them up and settling them on a nearby table. “Someponies decided to try out Cutie Mark Crusader dressmaking. You can imagine how well that went.”

Rainbow chuckled. She didn’t mind the young fillies’ single-minded drive, although she was aware enough to realize that it was mostly due to their inability to enroach on her normal flying grounds, and Scootaloo’s adoration of Rainbow Dash. “I could come back later, if you’d like-”

“That’s very considerate, Rainbow Dash-” Rarity jerked her head around, staring at Rainbow. “A little more than I’m used to. What are you here for?” she demanded.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing sinister, Rarity. I just need a teensy little favor.”

Rarity’s eyes narrowed. “Teensy.”

“I just need a little...” Rainbow found the words wouldn’t come, so she sighed and tried a different angle. “Look, you can’t tell anypony, but I’ve got a, sort of...date.”

“That’s wonderful, darling!” Rarity said. “Anypony I know?” She gave Rainbow a sly, sidelong glance that awoke a flight response in Rainbow. Rather than shying away, she steeled herself and tried to affect a nonchalant air.

“Sure. I asked out Big Macintosh yesterday, and I want to make a good impression. Nothing too girly, you know, but...nice. I thought you’d be able to do it.”

Rarity’s smile took on a frozen quality as she stared blankly at Rainbow. “Macintosh. I see. Well, yes, of course I can give you just the sprucing you need. Hold still.”

Rainbow bolted backwards when a pair of scissors flew at her face. “Whoa! Pointy things away from Rainbow Dash! This flank works best without any holes in it.”

“Oh, do settle down, Rainbow Dash. This is for your mane.”

“Even worse!” Rainbow snapped. “You can brush and primp as much as you want, but keep your knives away from my hair.”

“Hm.” Rarity began a slow circuit around Rainbow Dash; Rainbow tried to track the unicorn, but somehow, Rarity stayed a few steps ahead of her until Rainbow became dizzy and stopped. When Rarity returned to Rainbow’s front, she tapped her chin with a hoof thoughtfully. “I’d spent every day knowing you assuming you had no idea what your hair looked like. You can imagine my shock at discovering you actually like it that way. So, if I’m not allowed to cut it, what would you like me to do with it?”

“I don’t know,” Rainbow said, kicking at the floor. “Just make it look cool.”

Rarity’s right eye twitched. Rainbow took an uncertain step backward. “Um...Rarity? Can we go somewhere with fewer...points?”

“No,” Rarity growled. “You are going to sit perfectly still and I am going to make you look gorgeous. If it kills us both.”

What followed was quite possibly the most torturous experience of Rainbow’s life. It wasn’t that she had to sit still; Rainbow was still sometimes. She slept, didn’t she? And she’d dressed up for the stupid Gala, hadn’t she? The problem was the intrusiveness of the comb running through her mane and coat, again and again. Rainbow couldn’t imagine what Rarity had to do that required running the same brush through the same part of Rainbow’s coat a dozen times would accomplish. And she couldn’t help twitching every time Rarity got near her mane. It had to be a week for deep, personal revelations. True, the fact that Rainbow...liked the way her mane looked probably didn’t rate up with Rainbow never having had a date before, but she’d planned to take both facts to her grave.

When Rarity stepped away with a declaration of, “Done!” Rainbow gave out a gusty sigh and tried to drop to the floor. Rarity caught her with her magic. “Nuh-uh, darling! I have spent an hour making you look fantastic, and you are not to ruin it unless absolutely necessary!”

Rainbow glared at Rarity until the unicorn dropped her to her feet. Then Rainbow ventured to the full-length mirror set up to allow customers to examine Rarity’s handiwork. Rainbow had to admit she looked...good. Smooth. Sleek. Rarity had brushed Rainbow Dash’s mane and tail until every strand ran in the same direction. She’d brushed the dust and occasional twig from Rainbow’s coat and combed it until it shone. And...Rainbow scowled at her Cutie Mark. “Is that Cutie shadow?” she demanded.

“You’re so proud of that Mark, I thought you’d appreciate me making it pop,” Rarity said.

“Huh.” The powder Rarity had applied did make Rainbow’s lightning bolt stand out even more than it normally did. “Okay. I have to admit: I look pretty awesome.”

“I’m hurt you thought anything else,” Rarity drawled. “You may feel free to heap me with accolades.”

“Nah, I’m fine,” Rainbow said. “But...” She stepped close and patted Rarity’s shoulder. “Thanks a ton. I owe you one.” She darted for the door.

“You can start by telling me how the date goes!” Rarity called after her.

Rainbow was already gone, though. She landed almost immediately, realizing that the amount of work she’d gone through would be ruined if she took off the way she normally did. Rainbow glared at her hooves as she stood outside of the Carousel Boutique. It looked like she was going to walk to meet Big Macintosh.

Celestia, the sacrifices she made for love.

<3 <3 <3

“So, did you have a nice day?”

“Eeyup.”

Rainbow narrowed her eyes at Big Macintosh. She knew he had a bigger vocabulary than two words. But he hadn’t said anything other than those two words since he’d greeted her with a genial, “Evening, Dash.”

She sighed. The Cheval Cadeaux was almost suffocatingly quiet; carpeted in velvet, walled in mirrors, and staffed by snooty stallions in suits, it made Rainbow feel like everypony was watching her when she spoke above a whisper. And from the looks of the other patrons’ plates, neither she nor Big Macintosh were going to be getting much of a meal.

“You know, if you don’t want to be here, you don’t have to be,” Rainbow said. “I’ve got better things to do than spend time with people who don’t appreciate me.”

Big Macintosh dropped his gaze, and when he looked back up at Rainbow, his green eyes were half-lidded, but slanted out in a more apologetic expression. “Sorry, Dash. I’m not used to talking much.”

“You don’t say,” Rainbow said with a chuckle. “Come on. What’ve you been up to? Even AJ gets off the farm every now and again.”

“Me and the fellas have been running through the Everfree Forest,” Big Macintosh said. “Plus I’ve been working on my painting.”

“Painting?” Rainbow squinted at Big Macintosh, who’d never struck her as the artistic type. Not like Rarity, or Ponet. “You any good?”

“Nope. But Granny always said Cutie Marks are guidelines. No shame in trying something new, she always said.”

“So you paint, even though you’re no good at it?” Rainbow scrunched up her face before remembering she was supposed to be nice. “That’s...good, I guess.”

“Come on, darling, you gotta practice something you’re not good at.”

Rainbow scoffed. “Not a chance. I’m an ace.” Big Macintosh snorted, earning him a glare from Rainbow. “What’s that for?” she demanded.

“Sis tells me stories, you know. You’re not much of a runner, are you?”

“Ooh, let me tell you about Applejack!” she snapped back. “That no-good cheating-” She broke off when she realized Big Macintosh was laughing. She paused, confused as she watched him shake. “What are you doing?”

He shook his head helplessly. “Sorry, Dash. Just the way the two of you go at it, sometime, like a couple of foals. ‘sfunny.”

“Oh, laugh it up,” Rainbow said. “I bet you never got into any embarrassing scrapes when you were small. Er.”

Big Macintosh’s smile took on a wicked edge as his eyes gleamed. “As a matter of fact...”

<3 <3 <3

Rainbow Dash was still giggling as she followed Big Macintosh out of the restaurant a few hours later. He might have been taci...didn’t talk much, but he’d had nearly as many adventures as Rainbow and her friends. And even if he seemed to feel Rainbow’s own occasional (practically rare) mishaps were funny, he was...nice.

The only problem, Rainbow thought, giving her date a sidelong glance, was that she didn’t feel a...spark. The sort of thing books (not that Rainbow read those sorts of books. Not often, at least) said was supposed to happen when you met that special pony. Weak knees. A fluttering heart. The inability to pay attention to anything other than that pony.

It took a few minutes for her to realize they were walking towards Sweet Apple Acres. “Um...Mac?”

“Hm?”

“I had a great time. Really. I don’t know why I never hung out with you before - you’re pretty cool. But...”

“You’re not bad yourself, Dash.”

Rainbow stopped mid-sentence. A part of her wanted to rant at being rated as poorly as ‘not bad’, but the rest felt...a little fluttery at the casual compliment. Nopony went out of their way to compliment her. They agreed with her when Rainbow declared herself to be awesome, but no one went out and said it just because. She shivered from her head to tail, and before she could think, Rainbow darted forward and kissed Big Macintosh’s cheek.

He took a startled sideways step, eyes a little wild. “Whoa there, little filly.”

Rainbow Dash’s breath froze in her throat. The panic only held for a moment before she felt a flare of anger. “What do you mean hold on? Is this a date or isn’t it?”

“Ah, well, I thought you wanted a little company,” Big Macintosh said. “You’re a nice pony, just not...” His cheeks darkened and he ducked his head, glancing away from Rainbow. “Sorry, Dash.”

“It’s all right,” Rainbow said airily, tossing her head. “I’m too young to be tied down by anypony, even a stud like you.”

“Dash!” Big Macintosh choked out, his entire face flushing a much darker shade of red.

She fell back, laughing at Macintosh’s embarrassment. “You should see your face, Mac!” she laughed. “The unflappable Big Macintosh, brought low by a little colorful language.”

He just set his jaw, face still darker red than the rest of him, glaring at Rainbow until she settled down. She sat up at that point and grinned at him. “So,” she asked. “Are you sure you don’t want another shot at this fine figure of a mare? I’m sure a stud like you can handle it.”

He glared at her again, but the expression lacked heat, or any real embarrassment. “Nope,” he replied. Rainbow snorted and clambered back onto her feet.

“Well, seeing as this date is officially over, I think it’s time for me to walk you to your door,” she declared. Big Macintosh gave her a level stare. “What?” Rainbow asked. “You don’t think I can keep you safe from ruffians out here?”

“You’re a weird pony,” Big Macintosh decided. “Come on.”

Rainbow followed him, still chuckling. It wasn’t a long walk to Sweet Apple Acres, which was good, because Big Macintosh seemed to have used up most of his words for the evening. And the alternative to talking was thinking. Rainbow wanted a moment alone to herself before she started that.

When they reached the edge of the orchards, Big Macintosh nodded at Rainbow. “Evening.”

“So long!” she said before taking to the air. As soon as she was sure she was out of sight, Rainbow broke into a sprint, reaching her cloud home in almost no time at all and throwing herself onto her bed with a frustrated shout. She couldn’t understand how that stupid date had gone wrong. She’d been charming and funny and - Rainbow Dash. What had gone wrong?

She rolled onto her back and glared at the ceiling, light clouds hidden in the shadow of night. The rolling forms could entertain Rainbow for hours if she felt like picking out shapes in them, but she wasn’t in the mood. She resisted the urge to kick anything; rebuilding her house was more work than she was willing to put up with right now. Plus, no matter what she kicked, she’d still be a failure at this romance thing. Staring at the ceiling proved to not be entertaining, but as the night dragged on, Rainbow Dash, unable to sleep, found herself counting swirls in the clouds just to keep from going insane. She must have gotten some sleep, because she awoke well after dawn, but she still felt irritable and dejected.

Rainbow finished her work with usual speed, if not with her usual flair, and on finishing, flapped to Sweet Apple Acres, where she settled on one of the trees. She caught sight of Big Macintosh working near the far edge of the orchard; he seemed busy clearing loose branches, and didn’t come anywhere near Rainbow’s perch, for which Rainbow was grateful. She wasn’t certain if she could talk to him normally, at least until she’d calmed down.

“Rainbow Dash, if you keep sleeping up here, I reckon I ought to start charging you rent for my apple branches.”

Rainbow snorted at Applejack’s teasing words. “Leave me alone,” she grumbled.

“I told you not to get your hopes up, sugarcube,” Applejack chided. Rainbow turned away from Applejack. She wasn’t in the mood to talk to Big Macintosh, but she was even less of a mood to be lectured by Applejack. After a few moments, Applejack sighed. “Dash, I know you must be disappointed-”

“Disappointed? Why’d I be disappointed? I just realized all this stupid stuff isn’t for me.”

“Dash...” Applejack paused, and Rainbow heard her pacing on the ground under the tree. “Look, you can’t expect everypony you like to feel the same. It ain’t your fault, sugarcube.”

Rainbow raised her head to poke it over the edge of the branch down at Applejack. The earth pony had sat, and was staring up at Rainbow. For a moment, Rainbow thought she saw a pained glimmer in her friend’s emerald eyes, but then Applejack smiled at her.

Rainbow just snorted again. “You think I should blame Mac?”

“Mac - no, Dash! It ain’t anypony’s fault. Just because Big Macintosh didn’t like you as much as you like him-”

“I don’t like him!” Rainbow snapped. “I...” She trailed off, burying her head under her hooves again. “This is stupid. I thought he liked me, and he didn’t. And how in the hay am I supposed to find a stallion I like, anyway?”

“Well, for one thing, I wouldn’t kiss a stallion unless I liked him, else you’re liable to end up in a mess,” Applejack said. “But you gotta just keep trying, Dash.”

Rainbow rolled over and off the branch, landing neatly next to her friend. “And you think if I just keep doing that, I’ll find the pony I’m looking for just by chance?”

Applejack’s smile went a little soft at that; Rainbow decided she’d take time to grill Applejack about her obvious romantic side later, when Rainbow wasn’t still asking for her help. “Most ponies seem to manage that way,” Applejack said. “Maybe you should find somepony you have something in common with?”

“Pft. Maybe later. This all sounds like a lot of work.” Rainbow stretched her wings and nodded at Applejack. “Catch you later, AJ.” She took off, heading generally towards her house. Halfway there, though, Rainbow reconsidered. Somepony she had something in common with? It seemed like Applejack was suggesting Rainbow trying meeting a nice pegasus pony; they’d both enjoy flying, after all.

Rainbow changed direction, taking a direct flight to Cloudsdale. Once just outside the city limits, Rainbow stopped, staring at the pegasus ponies winging around it. Where was she supposed to find a nice stallion she had something in common with? It struck her only a moment later, and Rainbow slapped her forehead with her hoof, amazed she hadn’t realized it immediately. She soared down towards the public practice courses, landing easily on the strip next to them.

Almost immediately, however, the plan started going wrong.

“Hey, it’s Rainbow Crash!” Rainbow winced at the teasing voice. Of all the stupid places for Hoops and his buddies to be hanging out. The three pegasi - orange, brown, and gray - fluttered to land in a circle around Rainbow. Hoops grinned at her, nudging Score. “We better warn the other ponies out there to land.”

“Are you looking for a black eye?” Rainbow snapped.

“Naw, but I know somepony’s getting hurt if you take off again,” Hoops chortled.

“That’s it,” Rainbow growled. She pawed at the clouds, readying for a fight. “Get ready for a pounding.”

“Hey! Leave her alone!” Rainbow’s fight was forestalled by the arrival of a pale, blue-haired stallion with an umbrella Cutie Mark. He landed between Rainbow and Hoops, glowering at the other stallion and his jock friends. Crouched combatively, he set his hooves as if ready to charge. Dumb-bell smirked and took a step forward; the newcomer snorted and reared, causing all three of the others to shy away.

Rainbow laughed. “If you can’t handle the wind, boys, stay on the ground!”

“Oh, yeah?” Hoops demanded, darting around the white stallion, only to receive a sharp kick in one of his front legs for his troubles. Rainbow snorted and stayed back, enthralled by the novel experience of watching a fight instead of being in the middle of it. Not that it was much of a fight. Hoops, Dumb-bell and Score flapped off after one kick, although not without one last jab from Hoops.

“You can have the filly-fooler if you want, dude!”

“You want to say that to my face?” she demanded, launching herself after Hoops, only to stop when the pale stallion rose in front of her, hovering.

He tilted his head at her, smiling gently. “Maybe you ought to let them go,” he said. “They’re sort of jerks, you know.”

“You don’t have to tell me.” Rainbow gave Hoops and his friends one last considering look before dropping back to cloud level and shrugging. She didn’t actually want a fight right now. “I’ve known them since I was a foal.”

“My condolences.”

“Anyway, I’m Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow stuck out a hoof.

The newcomer tapped it. “I know. I saw you at the Best Young Fliers’ competition. You know three-quarters of the foals at flight school keep trying to break the light barrier because of you.”

Rainbow tossed her mane and grinned at him. “I’m not surprised; who wouldn’t want to be like Rainbow Dash?”

“Anyway, I’m Brolly,” the stallion said. He smiled nervously at Rainbow. “You out here to fly?”

“Naturally.” Rainbow glanced at Brolly sidelong, giving him a confident smile. And then she realized: he was a fan. He didn’t think she was a clumsy screw-up. “But I was also thinking I wanted some company for dinner. You know, suitably cool company. You look like you might fit the bill. Want to join me?”

Brolly’s grin went wide. “I’d love to!”

“Great; let’s go,” Rainbow said. “But I’ve been living in Ponyville for a while, so you’re going to have to show me the coolest place to eat.”

<3 <3 <3

Rainbow hit the door of the Sugarcube Corner hard enough to force it open. She landed in front of the counter and slammed her front hooves down onto it.

“I want a glass of the sweetest thing you can mix, and a rainbow cupcake!” she snapped.

Mrs. Cake looked out from the kitchen. “Are you sure, darling?”

“Of course she’s sure!” Pinkie Pie declared, popping up from behind the counter. “Rainbow Dash always asks for rainbow cupcakes when she’s in a bad mood, and this looks like a doozy!”

“Enough talking, more sugar,” Rainbow growled.

Pinkie winked. “Okie Dokie Loki!” She vanished, reappearing a moment later with a plate holding a multi-colored cupcake and a glass full of something that didn’t slosh when she set it on the counter, so much as it oozed. “On the house, Dashie!”

Rainbow downed the cupcake and followed it with a gulp of the drink to offset the burn that was just about to hit her taste buds. She coughed at the taste of the drink, however. It was sickly sweet and burned going down. With the cupcake’s flaming spice, it set Rainbow’s whole mouth aflame.

She coughed, choked, and spat, trying to clear the fire from her mouth, but to no avail. So engrossed was Rainbow in trying to calm her burning throat that it took her nearly a minute to realize Pinkie Pie was on her back, laughing uproariously.

“Why, you!” Rainbow tackled the pink earth pony, sending them careening into a table and overturning a tray of muffins. “All that nice talk was just show!”

“Of course it wasn’t, Dashie!” Pinkie laughed. “You see, I saw you coming along and you looked really mad, so I thought you needed cheering up. And what cheers ponies up - other than a party, which I obviously didn’t have enough time to plan, even thought it would have been awesome - other than a good laugh?”

Rainbow fell back, staring at Pinkie, amazed. “You played a prank on me...to cheer me up?”

“Of course I did!” Pinkie’s face abruptly fell. “Unless you thought a party would have been better?”

“Course not,” Rainbow replied. “I’m actually feeling a little better.”

“A good laugh always does the trick,” Pinkie agreed. “Now, come on!” She tugged Rainbow to her feet and led her to a small table at the corner. “The next best thing for a bad mood - after a party and after a good laugh - is telling somepony about it.”

Rainbow felt her fragile, lifting mood plummet. She dropped her head on her hooves, glowering at the wall. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Not even your bestest, cheeriest friend Pinkie Pie?” Pinkie gave Rainbow a wide-eyed stare, pink irises glittering with unshed tears. Her jaw quivered. Rainbow held out for three seconds - nearly twice as long as she’d manage against the same sort of pleading expression from Fluttershy.

She sighed. “Fine. I was out on a date-”

“Ooh!”

“Rein it in, Pinkie,” Rainbow grumbled. “It didn’t go that well. I was hanging out by the flight school-”

“I thought you said you were on a date,” Pinkie said.

“I was. Anyway, Hoops and his stupid bronies were picking a fight, and this stallion stepped in. He actually got into a fight with them - I couldn’t have done much better myself. Pretty cute, too.”

“Wait a minute.” Pinkie held one hoof up, pausing Rainbow’s story. “I want to get something straight. Were you on your date yet?”

“No.”

“Okay. Good. Continue.” Pinkie rested her head on her hooves, smiling expectantly.

“So I ask this stallion - Brolly - out-”

“Waitwaitwaitwait,” Pinkie said. “I’m officially confused.”

“Why?” Rainbow asked. “This is a new millennium, Pinkie; nopony thinks twice about a mare asking a stallion out. At least mostly.” Her mood darkened again and Rainbow dropped her head. “Lousy stupid...” She shot her head back up and glared at Pinkie. “He was holding doors for me. Pulled out my chair. He even tried to order for me at the restaurant.”

Pinkie’s expression turned serious. “Well, that’s not right. What if you’re in a mood for something spicy, and he orders you a mild salad? Or if you want a bowl of fruit, and he thinks you want a hay sandwich? And what about drinks? He just met you; he can’t possibly know how much sugar you like!”

“Thank you, Pinkie. I know that. And now Brolly knows it. And, for that matter, most of the restaurant.” Rainbow grinned briefly and insincerely at Pinkie Pie. “I think the date ended at that point.”

Pinkie nodded, head blurring with the movement. “I’m so sorry, Dashie!” She lunged across the table to hug the pegasus. “Are you sure you don’t want a party? I could invite a ton of cute...stallions who totally wouldn’t try to tell you what to do.”

“Nah.” Rainbow waved lazily at Pinkie. “This is the sort of thing I’m supposed to work out on my own.”

Pinkie set her face back into a serious mood, eyes narrow in concentration and mouth a hard, flat line. “Of course. A mare has to find her perfect match without any outside interference. But...” She grinned and leaned in close to Rainbow. “Can I give you some amazing, not-meddling advice?”

“Knock yourself out, but Applejack’s been my go-to mare for this.”

Pinkie opened her mouth, ready to reply, but no sound came out. She closed her mouth and stared at Rainbow, tilting her head, presumably to get a better look at Rainbow or something. Then she carefully reached a hoof up to her mouth and twisted it before reaching out and making a throwing motion. She nodded once, decisively. “The pony that would make a great partner also makes a great friend.” She winked at Rainbow.

“That’s not exactly - wait. You’re saying I shouldn’t go out on dates if I don’t like the pony? But I already went out with Big Macintosh, and he said he wasn’t interested! This is complicated.”

Pinkie’s expression went slack as Rainbow spoke. She stepped away from the table and slammed her head into one of the display cases, causing it to rattle alarmingly.

“Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow asked. “Are you all right?”

The pink earth pony grinned at Rainbow. “Sure! Just doing my exercises.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Pinkie Pie, you are so random.”

“Yep, that’s me!” She grinned a little wider. “But maybe you ought to set your sights a little wider.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Rainbow said. “I can’t figure out how to get a really good date until I have a bunch more. Thanks, Pinkie!”

As Rainbow left, she thought she heard a drawn-out yell. She didn’t give it a second thought, as Pinkie had been experimenting with primal scream therapy for most of a year.

It was not, however, an auspicious meeting. It set off a string of - not disasters, because nothing went quite as poorly as the date with Brolly. But they were far from successful. Rainbow was pretty good at getting a stallion to agree to go out with her. But either he’d turn out not to like Rainbow that much, or Rainbow turned out not to like him, or, and this only happened once, but Rainbow was still considering it a definite possibility for future dates, Pinkie would pop out of a centerpiece and scare the stallion off.

Once it became clear Rainbow Dash was not failing at the whole dating thing because of a lack of experience - she had more than enough to say that there was a remote possibility Rainbow may not have been the greatest at romance - Rainbow realized she had only one option left.

She had to brave the library.

<3 <3 <3

She picked a time right after lunch, when the fewest possible number of ponies would be at the library. Rainbow landed out back in the shade of the other trees near Twilight’s home and crept around to the front, moving as silently as she knew how. She paused near the entrance before poking her head through the door, carefully canvassing the place for any potential interloper-

“Hi, Rainbow Dash! Are you here to see Twilight?”

“Yagh!” Rainbow tripped and fell into the library, ending up at Spike’s feet. He smiled and waved at her.

“Should I tell her you’re here, Rainbow?”

“Go ahead,” Rainbow muttered from the floor.

Spike turned. “Hey Twilight!” he bellowed. “Rainbow Dash is here!”

“Oh, good Celestia,” Rainbow said, covering her eyes with her hooves. Now everypony would know she’d gone to the bookmare for help.

“Hi, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight trotted carefully down the stairs to Rainbow’s side. “Are you okay? That doesn’t look very comfortable.”

“I’m fine,” Rainbow ground out, scrambling up from where she’d landed. “I just came to see you.”

Twilight smiled and gave Rainbow a playful nudge. “Is that why you were lurking out back?”

“You...saw that?” Rainbow felt a surge of panic at the thought that anypony could have seen her sneaking into Twilight’s.

“I hate to tell you, Rainbow, but your mane is...sort of noticeable.” Twilight gave her a wan smile. “If you’d like, I could lend you Some Observations on the Art of Invisibility. I haven’t had a chance to use any of the tricks yet, but Lord Winstallion Girthville-Pipe is supposed to be the expert.”

“Maybe later.” Rainbow took a few uncertain steps towards one of the nearest stacks of books. “I sort of came for some...other advice.”

“What sort of advice?”

“Um...it’s sort of...personal.” Rainbow found she couldn’t keep her eyes off of the floor. “You see, I’ve been having some bad luck with...dating.”

Twilight drew away from Rainbow. “I’m not sure I’m the best pony to ask for advice about...that,” she said. “There aren’t very many books written on the subject - or at least not many reliable ones. And even if there were, I’m not certain how applicable they are to your situation.”

“My...situation?” Rainbow frowned as she considered the words. “Is that some sort of jibe? I know I haven’t had the best luck at dating, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got a situation!”

“Whoa, calm down, Rainbow.” Twilight trotted uncertainly around her friend, biting her lip. “I didn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. It must just be...difficult.”

“Of course it’s difficult!” Rainbow snapped. “No one ever told me about any of this! My parents just taught me about...you know, flying and stuff.”

Twilight’s left eyebrow twitched. “Uh...flying? Are we talking about-”

“Flying!” Rainbow said. She flapped her wing for emphasis.

Twilight’s expression relaxed. “Oh,” she said, smiling more gently at Rainbow. “Well, in any case, I don’t really have very many books on the subject.”

“Look.” Rainbow stepped close to Twilight, pursuing even after Twilight’s first nervous step away. She pressed her face close to Twilight’s, meeting the purple unicorn’s panicked gaze. “I. Am. Desperate. So I will take any book you’ve got.”

Twilight’s expression eased. She gave Rainbow a long stare before nodding. “I think I can manage, Rainbow. Just don’t be upset if it doesn’t have everything you expect, okay? Um...just in case you were wondering, I don’t have any books about...flying.”

Rainbow stared at Twilight, and then at the empty space after she practically galloped into one of the back rooms to find whatever book she thought would help. Twilight was weird. And wrong; she’d found that book with the wing spell in it, plus Rainbow had found a couple of adventure novels about pegasus soldiers in Spike’s bed, once, so there were totally books about flying in the library. Maybe Twilight was embarrassed about it, like unicorns weren’t supposed to think about flying.

“I cannot believe how deeply this was buried,” Twilight said as she returned to the room, Spike behind her carrying a stack of books taller than he was. “It’s actually a little embarrassing; I try to be a cosmopolitan librarian, and here the only books on sensitive subjects are tucked in a corner. Here you go, Rainbow.”

Rainbow stared at the book Twilight was holding out to her. An Analysis of Alternative Sexualities in Equestria: History and Discussion of Modern Attitudes and Lifestyle. She crossed her eyes at the words, but they didn’t make much more sense the second time around.

“What is this?” she asked.

Twilight glanced away, cheeks darkening. “Well, I understand these sorts of feelings can be confusing and-”

“I’m not a filly, Twilight. I know about...” She paused, catching sight of Spike. “Making foals,” she concluded awkwardly.

“I know that. But these feelings are supposed to be extra-confusing-”

“Maybe they wouldn’t be if I had any idea what you’re talking about!” Rainbow snapped.

“Oh! Twilight’s trying to say...she loves and supports you even if you are a filly-fooler,” Spike chimed in eagerly.

Rainbow felt her jaw drop open of her own accord. She thought her brain might have actually turned off for a second.

“Spike, that’s not a very nice word,” Twilight muttered.

“Yeah, well, let’s call a spade a spade,” Rainbow growled. “Let’s snicker behind Rainbow Dash’s back and talk about how she’d rather be with her marefriends. Let’s tease her best friend and call her names and make her move to the next town over just to get a moment’s peace!” Rainbow snapped her mouth shut the moment she realized she was yelling, but by then the whole outburst was over. Spike was hiding behind Twilight’s forelegs, eyes wide in palpable fear of Rainbow. Twilight’s expression was...sympathetic. Her eyes looked wet, and her chin quivering.

“I didn’t know,” Twilight said softly. She suddenly took a step forward, posture set in a new resolve. “But I promise you I won’t hear a word against you as long as I’m in town.”

“That’s all well and good, Twilight, but I’m not a filly-fooler!”

Twilight nodded, but her expression hadn’t changed, and Rainbow suspected she was being humored. “If you tell me that, I’ll believe it. But Rainbow: if you tell me you aren’t, I want it to be because you’re not attracted to mares, not because you’re afraid of what people will say if you are. I want you to be happy, and if you are...if you do...hiding it won’t make you happy.”

Rainbow had planned to make a smart remark, but she was tearing up by the end of Twilight’s speech. And then Spike had to hug her leg.

“I don’t see what difference it makes,” he said. “Unless you’ve got a crush on...” He gave her a narrow look. “Do you have a crush on somepony? Who is it?”

“Hey, get off.” Rainbow shook her foreleg to dislodge the baby dragon, an effort that met with only partial success. “I don’t have a crush on anypony, okay?” she said. “And even if I did, and even if I were a - if I preferred mares - which I haven’t said I do - I would not have a crush on Rarity. Can you imagine what she’d want me to do? Grooming and spa treatments? Blech!”

“Heh heh, yeah,” Spike said, dreamily. His eyes widened abruptly, and he clapped his hands over his mouth. “I mean-” he mumbled.

Rainbow snickered. “Don’t worry about it, kid. I’m not going to tell anypony about you and Rarity. As long as you don’t tell anypony about this discussion.” She prodded the baby dragon’s shoulder, causing him to giggle.

Twilight must have sensed the edge in Rainbow’s voice, because she took that moment to speak up. “We wouldn’t talk about something that private! Anyway, it wouldn’t matter if you’re not...don’t prefer mares.”

“Bad enough that I was talking about it, for someponies,” Rainbow growled. “So I don’t need to give them anything else to talk about.” She pawed anxiously at the ground, nervous under her friends’ attention.

“But you’ll think about it, won’t you?” Twilight asked. She stepped closer to Rainbow, tilting her head inquisitively.

“Sure,” Rainbow said dismissively.

“No, I’m serious,” Twilight insisted. “You don’t have to - talk to anypony. But if you can’t tell me right now, you need to figure it out.” She bit her bottom lip and looked up at her friend, obviously worried. “I don’t think you can be happy if you don’t know what you want.”

“So what about you?” Rainbow pulled away from Twilight and began to circle her friend.

Twilight backed away, or tried to; what with Rainbow circling her, she just ended up moving in a circle. The look she gave Rainbow was a pale, wary wide-eyed expression. Rainbow stopped moving once she realized she was upsetting Twilight.

“What about me?” Twilight asked.

“Where did you get all this insight about this stuff? Are you a filly-fooler?”

“Wha - no!” Twilight shied away from Rainbow. “Not - not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just...a couple of my friends back in Canterlot were.” She gave Rainbow a reassuring smile. “So no matter what you decide, you know I’ll be behind you 100 percent.”

“Yeah, enough with all this mushy stuff,” Rainbow muttered. “I gotta go.”

“Just...think about it, okay?”

Rainbow paused at the door to the library and looked back at Twilight, who looked so bucking earnest Rainbow couldn’t muster the energy to give her anything but a sincere reply.

“Sure. And Twilight? Spike? Thanks.”

She bolted before either could reply; Rainbow wasn’t going to sit around for more talking about feelings. At least...not with Twilight.

<3 <3 <3

Rainbow pouded her head against the door again. Nopony had answered the first knock, but, driven by Twilight’s plea that Rainbow figure this out, she’d knocked again.

The house, set near the edge of town, was a small, neat little one-story home surrounded by wild weeds. A neat bow was tied around the mailbox, giving the home, painted a cheerful yellow, an incongruous sort of beauty among the mess engulfing it.

Not that it was ugly. It was...wild, untended by anypony, giving the home the air of the Everfree Forest. Something that would make anypony think twice before approaching.

“Hello?” Rainbow stepped back to avoid the door as it swung open a few inches. An earth pony with a pale cream coat and elegantly curved dark blue mane poked her head out of the house. The pony stared at Rainbow Dash for a few moments, frowning thoughtfully. “You’re...Rainbow Dash, right?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow glanced at her hooves, feeling suddenly embarrassed. This didn’t seem like a good idea anymore. Of course, that had never stopped Rainbow before. And it was for that reason that she squared her shoulders and raised her head high. “That’s me; champion young flier and rising star of the competitive flying circuit. And you’re Bon Bon, right?”

The earth pony nodded smiled genially at Rainbow. “I...it’s nice to meet you.”

Rainbow nodded, finding herself tongue-tied. The silence dragged for a few moments, at which point Bon Bon began to shift her hooves.

“Um...it’s very nice to meet you,” she said. “But I don’t...I don’t see why you’re here.”

Rainbow took a deep breath. “Well, I sort of wanted to talk to you. A friend of mine suggested I...think some things over. And I wanted to talk to somepony, and none of my friends would really understand...” She trailed off, aware that she was making no sense. “That is...”

“Why don’t you come inside? That is, if you’d like to.” Bon Bon stepped away from the door, giving Rainbow room to enter. Rainbow paused at the threshold. The inside of Bon Bon’s house was more like the exterior yardwork (or lack thereof) than the building itself. Here and there, Rainbow could see attempts to improve the place’s decor - a nice lamp, a picture hanging on the wall - but overall, the place was overwhelmed with clutter. Rainbow took a step forward and nearly stumbled over a pile of papers.

“Whoa, and I thought I was messy!”

Bon Bon gave Rainbow a weak smile. “Sorry. Lyra gets after me to clean up more often, but she’s a lot better at that than I am.”

Rainbow nodded absent-mindedly, eyes drifting around the mess - papers, bags, plates and scraps of clothing scattered everywhere. Her gaze fixed on a photo, and she almost immediately glanced away. It was a picture of Bon Bon and another pony - a mint-colored unicorn with a light blue mane - sitting under a huge oak tree. The two were entangled with one another, only Bon Bon’s flank visible enough to see her Cutie Mark. They were both grinning, and the unicorn’s horn was glowing, suggesting she was the one holding the camera. It felt too intimate to be hanging on a wall, where anypony could see.

Well, anypony that came to visit, and if the mess was any indication, Bon Bon didn’t get many visitors.

“Well, this is...nice,” she said.

Bon Bon laughed. “That’s sweet of you to say, Rainbow - do you mind if I just call you Rainbow?” Rainbow nodded. “Anyway, it is a mess. I know.”

“Mhm.” Rainbow found her gaze, traitorous as it was, had drifted back to the photograph that had caught her notice.

“Oh! Do you like it? Lyra hates having it up; she thinks it’s embarrassing.”

Rainbow snorted. “If you want to have a picture in your house showing you with the pony you love, I don’t think anypony ought to get offended by it.”

“What?” Bon Bon raised one eyebrow. “I meant she thinks the picture’s terrible. Thanks for the sentiment, though. I personally like it.”

“It’s...eye-catching,” Rainbow choked out.

Lyra smiled at Rainbow. “Never seen a picture of two mares enjoying each others’ company before?” She winked at Rainbow, who felt her cheeks heat.

“I...no.” Rainbow looked away from the earth pony, eyes fixing on a pile of what looked like musical scores. “That’s not the point, anyway. It’s a nice picture.”

“Well, then. Take a seat, I’ll get us some tea-”

“Wait!” Rainbow snapped, cutting off the other mare. “Look, I know this is totally random, and you’ve got no reason to help me, but...I wanted to talk to you about something...” Rainbow dropped her head down and covered it with her hooves. “Oh, this is so embarrassing.”

Rainbow started when a hoof patted her back. She sat straight up, staring at Bon Bon, who stared at her with a wide-eyed, sort of nervous smile.

“You don’t need to be nervous, Rainbow. We won’t - well, I won’t bite.”

Rainbow sighed. There was no reason she should be so nervous. “I wanted to ask a question. Probably a lot of questions, but it’s just one.” She took a deep breath. “Howdoyouknowifyoulikemares?”

Bon Bon snorted. “The same way I know what my special talent is.”

Rainbow felt her thoughts stutter to a stop. “There’s a Cutie Mark for fi-that?”

“No, silly!” Bon Bon laughed. “But the way you were looking for it, I think you shouldn’t be too confused on the point of liking mares.” Bon Bon pushed Rainbow’s head aside form where it had fixed on her flank; Rainbow, still a little too shell-shocked to speak, let the earth pony move her with no protest.

Nevertheless, the words caught up to her. Eventually. “Hey! I am not a-” The word died in her throat, half because it would have been beyond stupid to throw that word around in Bon Bon’s own home, and half because...well, Rainbow wasn’t sure. It was the whole point of this visit, anyway. “Or, I...”

“Celestia, you are confused,” Bon Bon said. “But I wasn’t being cute; I can’t tell you the answer, any more than somepony else can tell you what your Cutie Mark is. And just the same...when you figure it out, you just know.”

“Yeah, but how did you know?” Rainbow demanded.

“Oh.” Bon Bon’s cheeks darkened. “My.” She smiled slowly. “The first time I ever laid eyes on Lyra.”

“Aw, come on,” Rainbow said. “I don’t have anything like that.” Bon Bon didn’t answer, so Rainbow waved a hoof past her eyes. “Hello? Equestria to Bon Bon.”

“Sorry,” the earth pony said, shaking her head. “Lost myself for a moment.”

Rainbow gave an explosive sigh. “Well, I guess you weren’t exactly unhelpful...anyway, I gotta go.”

“No, wait.” Bon Bon stepped into Rainbow’s path before she could leave. “Look, Rainbow. It’s not a huge mystery. You just gotta close your eyes and think about it. Do stallions...do it for you? Or is it an attractive mare, slim athletic flanks and delicate shape...”

“Bon Bon?”

The cream-colored mare darkened from her head to hooves. “Sorry,” she said.

“No problem. If I had a mare who liked me that much, it’d be awesome to know she thought about me that much. You know, not that I’d blame her.”

Bon Bon gave Rainbow a considering stare as her blush faded. “Well,” she said. “I can safely say you don’t lack confidence.” She chuckled. “I think anypony you give your heart to is lucky.”

“Yeah, thanks for the talk, anyway.” Rainbow walked to the door, now unobstructed, but one hoof out, she stopped and turned. “Hey, Bon Bon?”

“Yes?”

Rainbow swallowed. “Would you like to hang out sometime? Get lunch or something? Not like a date! Just, you know, being friends, not, ah...”

“I don’t think it’s a date just because we’re both mares,” Bon Bon said, smirking. “I’ve got news, kid: I’m head over heels for the unicorn in that picture over there, and I wouldn’t leave her for anything.”

“Is...that a yes?” Rainbow asked, feeling a little (not that she would admit it to another soul) weak in the knees at Bon Bon’s declaration.

“What? Oh, yes, certainly,” Bon Bon said. “I’ll even keep my being distracted by thoughts of Lyra to a minimum. Just for you.” She winked again, and Rainbow, her cheeks warm, stumbled out of the house with a strangled “Bye!”

Rainbow took to the air almost immediately after leaving Bon Bon and Lyra’s home; she settled on a low-flying cumulo-nimbus and sat back to think, staring at the higher cloud formations as she did so.

The million-bit question was, of course, did stallions...do it for her? Or was it mares?

Rainbow scrunched up her face, trying to think of a handsome stallion. Nopony she’d tried to date, of course - all of those ships had sailed. But there’d been a few nice-looking stallions in the Best Young Fliers’ Competition. Rainbow tried to imagine kissing one, or getting...closer.

It was a nice thought, Rainbow supposed, but she didn’t see how it was supposed to do anything. So she switched to thinking about a pretty mare. Not, she affirmed, one like Rarity. But somepony athletic, energetic, a little bit competitive, who might be willing to argue a little, or tussle before Rainbow pinned her and pressed her lips-

Rainbow jolted her whole body upward, her wings snapping outward.

“Oh, horse apples,” she growled, burying her head into the cloud. “I’m going to have to tell Twilight I was wrong.”

<3 <3 <3

The Thrilling Conclusion