Anon's POV
>You sigh.
>Well, that's annother day of work out of the way.
>...You have to admit, though, it went a lot slower than the others.
>I guess you were too focused on getting it done.
>You need to find Rainbow Dash.
>...
>You chuckle to yourself.
>You don't find Rainbow, she finds YOU.
>That's how you've met up with her every day you've known her.
>Even when you aranged to meet up with her someplace, she'd show up out of nowhere somewhere along the road.
>She'd then complain about you taking too long, and simply walk there with you.
>You remember comparing her to an eagle, once or twice.
>They both fly, they're awesome and they always swoop down when they want to catch something.
>Every time you did, she'd get flustered and turn it back around on you.
>Like; "...S-so you think I'm bald?!", or; "W-well, if I'm an eagle, you're a mouse."
>She bit you after that last response.
>Not too hard, though.
>Like how someone would bite a coin to make sure it was genuine.
>She's a great friend.
>...Even if she apparenly has something against you.
>Wonder what it was you said.
>Eh, you'll find out.
>You'll go back home, you'll find an anonymous letter telling you to go someplace, and she'll meet you somewhere in between.
>You play along though. Don't think she knows you know it's her.
>...You've still yet to figure out if the letters she sends you are simply adressing you by your name, or if she's refering to how she doesn't leave her name...In...Her...
>DAMN, YOU JUST GOT IT.
>You crack up in the middle of the street, and you don't care.
>Well played, Rainbow.
>You look around to check for any ponies that might've seen you laugh.
>...Nope. Fairly late in the day now. The sun is setting.
>Wouldn't want any of them to think you're craz-
>OOF
 
>Something impacts your chest, HARD, pinning you to the ground.
>Damnit Rainbow.
>Your body was allready killing you from the hard work.
>Now you're worried you might actually die.
>...
>Still concious, good.
>If she broke anything, she's paying for it.
>You open your eyes.
>Yep. That's Rainbow dash, allright.
>...You'd recognise those eyes anywhere...
>She looks angry for a second, slowly shifts into a pensive, blank state, then shakes her head, angry again.
>She pokes a hoof at your chest, accusingly.
>"W-watch where you're going!"
"...Nice to see you too, Rainbow..."
>You cough, still a little winded.
>She suddenly looks concerned, and quickly moves off your chest.
>...Only to decide on sitting on your stomach, instead.
>She seems comfy.
>After wiggling around a bit, she sharply stops, and starts talking again.
>"...Well, aren't you going to say you're sorry?"
"Hold on, I'm doing something important."
>You take a deep breath.
>...
"Ahh, much better."
>You lift yourself onto your arms to get a good look at the tiny juggernaut.
>She's still staring at you, scowling.
>...She's probably waiting for you to appologise.
"...Yes, Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry you crashed into me."
>She stares for a few seconds, looks around to see if there are any evesdroppers, and then looks back at you.
>"...G-good enough."
>Again with the holding back.
>"...L-listen, I...Was hoping...Was gonna...I-I'm gonna ask you something."
"Go on."
>"Sh-Shh-shut up."
 
>It's hard to tell, because of the sunset, but you're pretty sure she's blushing.
>...Fine. You'll be a good airbag and listen to what she has to say.
>She waits for any further interuption, and when she doesn't get any, she continues.
>"O-OK. L-listen, champ, uh, Anon, you...You...D-do you wanna, uh...A-as a way of appolising to me..."
>Yeah, there's the excuse.
>Her eyes shut tightly with concentration.
>"D...Do you...I'd like it if y-you...B-b-bbb...
>She's stuck on the letter b.
"...Bought me a drink!"
>You don't know why she took so long to ask you that. She's asked you to buy a mug of apple cider for her a bunch of times in the past.
>She opens one eye, and looks at you expectantly.
>She then seems to renember that she's enforcing this on you.
>"...G-GOT IT?!"
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Come on, Dash, what are you so nervous about?"
>"N-nervous?! I'm never nervous! Shut up!"
>...She pauses a moment, looking away from you.
>"...That's what you'll have to do. Got it? OK?"
"Well, yeah."
>She looks straight at you again, cheeks flaring.
>"A-and right now, too!"
"...Sure, let's go."
>"...S-s-see? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Yeah. Why'd you have so much trouble with it?"
>You expect her to explode, and explode she does.
>"...I...I'M...COLD!"
"You're...Cold?"
>"Y-yeah, wind chill!"
"I don't know, you feel pretty hot to me."
>You shift under her buttocks.
>"...I-I-IDIOT!"
>Your shifting causes her to topple, and she flumps face forward into your chest.
>...She just stays there.
"...Well, we're not going to get anywhere if you're still on top of me."
>"...Mffmffmmffm! Mfffmmmmffm...ffm...mmmm...mm."
>She exhales heavily through her nose, escaping as a whinny.
>Ouch, that's hot.
>The area on your chest heats up rapidly from her breath.
>It cools just as quickly though.
 
>You sigh.
"Come on, if I have to carry you, I will."
>She twitches.
>...
>She doesn't budge.
>...I guess she...Wants you to carry her?
>Part of the "punishment", not doubt.
>Well, it's rude to keep a lady waiting.
>...You still haven't gotten over that, huh?
>You start to sit up.
>She evidently doesn't want to move, but she's not very heavy, and she soon lands on your lap.
>You put your left arm behind her head, shift your legs slightly, forcing her hind legs to fall to the right side.
>Using your left arm to support her, you use your right arm to scoop her up from under her hind legs.
>You quickly manuver your left arm to rest her back on, and your left hand supporting her rump.
>...Not thinking too harda about where your left hand is right now, you snake your right arm under her legs and link it to your left arm.
>You're now cradling her.
>Congratulations. It's a girl.
>She's wide eyed at this sudden turn of events.
>...You wait for her to leap from your arms and wrestle you to the ground.
>She doesn't, and just...Makes herself comfortable.
>She slumps against your arms, suddenly quite tired.
>She still looks grumpy, but content.
>She's also blushing heavily.
"...W-well, off we go then."
>You take her into town.
 
>You'dve thought that she'd react to being brought in front of all the residents like this.
>Quite a few have turned their heads to look at the little athlete. Muttering things like; "Is she OK?" and "What's she doing?"
>You look at her too.
>She hasn't shifted a bit.
>You could feel her tense up a little at the comments of the passerby, but she's still by no means uncomfortable.
>...Man, what is wrong with her?
>She's really not acting like herself at all.
>She holds her opinion as a "Local Heroine" around these parts quite highly.
>Seeing her like this isn't going to help that opinion much.
>You kinda want to get out of sight.
>If she's not going to defend her title, you will.
>...But...You don't want to disturb her.
>Like that time you held her hoof, this isn't a side of Dash you see too often.
>You want to savour it.
>...Now where's the bar?
>You decide to take this opertunity to appricate the town around you.
>The sun is still setting, so most of the tents in the marketplace are packing up, and there's not too many ponies walking around.
>It's somewhat tranquil.
>You usualy walk home from work at this hour, so you get to see it like this often.
>But it never gets old.
>You pass through the marketplace and into the town square.
>There's the statue of Celestia.
>It's casting an ominous shadow against a nearby building.
>You look up at the reddening sky.
>You do admire her work.
>You hear the sound of a page turning.
>Oh. It's Twilight.
>The princess is just sitting next to the statue, reading a book from the glow of her horn.
>You consider going over and saying hi.
>...Nah. She's probably here because of the peace and quiet.
>Besides.
>You look down at the somewhat senseless pony in your arms.
>There's a stupid grin plastered on her face.
>You wouldn't want her to see Rainbow Dash like this. She might become concerned.
>...Or suspicious.
>Her curiosity does sometimes get the better of her.
>Someday, she'll probably learn something she wish she hadn'tve learnt.
>You linger no longer, and proceed to the next street.
 
>There it is.
>The warm glow of the bar beckons you forth.
>You feel there should be a few artists down here, painting a picture of the scene.
>Honestly, every time you see it, you feel that the sight belongs in an art gallery.
>You unconciously scratch Dash's ear.
>She doesn't seem to mind. In fact, you think she likes it.
>...You resist the temptation to pet the pony silly.
>You came here for a drink, and a drink you'll get.
>The gossip from inside the bar gets louder as you approach it, and as soon as you open the door, you're greeted with the white noise of coliding conversation.
>You smile, and begin to walk towards the bar.
>You then remember the pony in your arms.
>You gently shake her out of her subconcious.
>She wasn't quite asleep, but she was close to it.
>If she was asleep, she'd snore.
>She jolts awake.
>"Who, what...Huh...? Oh."
>Her eyes meet yours again.
>This time, you try to resist the hypnotic stare.
>You gesture your head towards the counter.
>She suddenly freezes with realisation of what just happened.
>She pushes out of your arms, and suspends herself off the ground.
>She looks grumpy again.
>"...T-thanks."
>After a long pause, she heads towards the counter. You follow.
>She parks her rump on a stool, and gestures for the bartender.
>"Oh! It's you two again."
>He gives a friendly smile.
>"So", he bends over to you secretatively, but speaks loudly enough for RD to hear him. "Have you made the move yet?"
>You laugh. You love this guy.
>Rainbow Dash coughs to draw his attention, evidently flustered.
>He grins.
>"The usual?"
>"...Y-yeah."
>He nods, and goes over to the selection of drinks he has behind the desk.
>You look over at Rainbow Dash.
>She's leaning on the counter, hoof under her chin. Thinking about something.
>She notices you looking at her, and changes posture to something more defensive.
 
>"Here ya go."
>The bartender puts two mugs of apple cider in front of you and Rainbow Dash.
>He winks at you, and goes to serve the next customer at the bar.
>You take a sip.
>...
>The sip turned into a gulp, but you couldn't help it.
>It's so damn good.
>You look over to see if Rainbow's done anything.
>She's certainly looking at the drink, but she hasn't touched it yet.
>She'd usualy had downed it in one gulp by now.
>You're more one to savour your drink, but you'll do the same if competition calls for it.
>She puts her hoof through the hole and takes a sip.
>...Just a sip, though.
>Hmm.
>She has that far away look in her eyes again.
>You have a strange feeling this might be the only drink she'll have.
>She's not usualy this quiet either.
>...Maybe it's time you asked her about it.
"Say, Rainbow."
>It takes her a second, but she turns to look at you.
"Is there...Anything wrong?"
>Her eyebows drop to stern level, but she thinks about the question.
>She looks back at her mug again.
>"...Nah."
"Dash, come on, I know you. You've been acting wierd for quite a while now. What is it?"
>"I'm FINE, Anon.
>That doesn't sound particularly convicing.
>She takes a bigger sip of her drink. Still not as big as you're used to, though.
>An awkward moment of silence passes between you.
>"...H-how was your day?"
>What? Did she just ask how your day went?
>She never gives a damn about how your day went.
>...Fine, you'll play along.
"It was...A lot of hard work. Had me plouging fields, planting seeds, carrying a barrow full of tools around...It was exhausting."
>"...Kay."
>...
>It appears she's done with that question.
>You'll try buttering her up a bit.
"It's been a fun day, though. Got to hang out with you."
>You nudge her with your shoulder.
>You're actually standing up, and she's sitting on a stool, so you're more or less level for the nudge to take place.
>She actually smiles a bit.
>That's the first genuine smile you've seen from her that isn't on the reciving end of a finish line.
 
>The rest of the night goes on without much of an interesting moment.
>You asked her how her day was, but she didn't elaborate.
>Eventually when she finished her drink, as you expected...
>"...Come on, Anon."
>She begins to walk out.
>You quickly finish your drink and head out.
>You renember to leave some money on the bar though.
>It's dark out now.
>She waits for you to get outside.
>"That...I, uh...Liked that. Thanks, Anon."
>She's pretty chill, now.
>An insult or angry accusation was what you've come to expect from her at this point, but this is a nice change of pace.
"It was pretty fun. I should get in your way more often."
>She snorts.
>"...Yeah...M-maybe you should."
>She turns a full 180, and prepares to take off.
>"...Smell ya later."
>And with that, off she goes.
>You stretch your back.
>You didn't learn anything new, but...You could get used to this.
>You've never actualy had a quiet moment with her before.
>...It felt...Different.
>Good different.
>You should probably get home though.
>You yawn.
>You're not really expecting any pony street thugs to be hanging around.
>...Man, your world sucked.
>Eh, you won't have to worry about that now.
>As fate would have it, you're in a much better place.
>You've got no qualms with being here instead of over there.
>You just about had it up to here with all of the politics and wars...
>Everyone seemed to be complaining about it, but it never got better.
>This world, no one complains about anything they can't fix.
>Probably because they've got magic, and super strength and...Heroes.
>You look at the moonlit sky.
>You admire Luna's work too. Maybe even more than Celestia's.
>Mostly because it's really hard to admire the sun.
>But also because she gives you this to look forward to every time you finish drinking.
>Even the nights you can't renember, you're glad that you were under this same sky.
>...You breathe in the bracing chill of night's air.
>The stuff midnight oil burns on.
>You're really looking forward to tomorrow.
>You'll get bossed about again, sure.
>But you're starting to like it.