Despite her earlier hesitation and reluctance to go along with Twilight Sparkle's plan, Rainbow Dash was now more than eagerly awaiting for an appropriate opportunity to play her part. After all, the only thing that Rainbow Dash had to do was spend time with Pinkie Pie. What could be better? For a mare in love, what could be better than spending time with the object of her affection? Absolutely nothing, or very little, depending on the case. For Rainbow Dash thought, nothing could beat it.

Rainbow Dash found herself, once again, thinking forward to the holiday and/or bonding experience that would soon be coming up. To say she was excited was an understatement. She was more like a little filly or colt on hearths warming when they wake up to see piles of wrapped gifts sat under the tree, though in Dash's mind, that still didn't compare to how excited she was. Nothing did.

She then quickly thought towards an important task that needed to be done. She needed to go and see her father and boss - who happened to be the same pony - about moving her shift to the Rockopolis skies for a month or two. She frowned slightly. She hated going to see her father. She didn't hate her father, in fact, she loved him very much, there was just something about him. He had changed recently. He had always been a happy, active, and strong stallion. Recently though, he was rarely ever seen as any of those. Any time Rainbow Dash asked him, or her mother about his change of demeanour lately, she was always brushed off. It was always "Work has got harder lately," or some other kind of story. Rainbow Dash tried to believe it, but it seemed to her that it was much deeper than that. She just couldn't place her hoof on it. She understood that, maybe her parents were trying to protect her from something, but she didn't like the idea that there was something she was missing. Something she really needed to know.

***

Alone in his office, a single grey pegasus stallion sat about his work. He sat at his desk which was completely littered with bits and pieces of paperwork. About the room were a few different decorations to make the office space feel more homely, and more personal to the occupant. A potted plant sat in the corner of the room opposite from where the door was situated, two chairs at the opposite side of the desk, photographs on the walls, certificates displaying several qualifications. Sat on his desk was a golden name plate with the words Thundercloud Dash imprinted in bold black text.

The pegasus stallion had several photographs about the room, but he kept four sitting right at his desk. The first, was his wife of over forty years, a mare with a long, flowing, beautiful Rainbow Mane. His dearly beloved wife, Firefly. The second depicted the elder of his two children. His son, Tornado Dash, a lilac stallion, who like his mother, had the Rainbow Mane, though his sons mane wasn't quite as flowing as his mother's. The third was his younger child, Rainbow Dash. The offspring he was closest to. He loved his son with all his heart, of course, but he was his mother's son. He was more of a mother's stallion, whereas Rainbow Dash was her father's filly, or as he might say, a daddy's mare. Like Thundercloud Dash, Rainbow Dash worked for the weather team, in fact, he was Rainbow Dash's boss and father rolled into one pony. Neither relationship really ever for in the way of the other. Even when Rainbow Dash moved to Ponyville, she would often pop by for a visit. The final photograph was a family photo. A photo of all four of them together, just before Rainbow Dash moved to Ponyville, and Tornado Dash moved to Fillydelphia.

His mind stuck in his two children for several minutes. He knew there was something he really should tell them. Something that he just couldn't bring himself to do. Though it wasn't an exclusive, he dreaded telling Rainbow Dash more than Tornado Dash. Rainbow Dash was a lot younger, and as the far more spunky one of the two, there was no doubt she wouldn't take well to something so serious. It was, indeed, very serious. It was made far worse by the fact it was something that could never be fixed.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Thundercloud Dash jumped slightly at the unexpected knock on his office door. He quickly threw the thoughts of telling his children to the back of his mind. "Ahem," he cleared his throat, "Come in." On seeing the pony who had come to see him. His heart tore in half as one half jumped in his chest, happy to see his visitor, whilst the other half dropped with guilt, "Heya Rainbow."

"Urmmmm hey dad," Rainbow Dash responded.

"And what brings my wonderful daughter here?"

"Yeah, I've been invited to take a holiday to Rockopolis with a friend, but I'm going to be gone for a month or two...I was wondering if you could put me on shift in the Rockopolis skies for a month or two."

"When will you be going away?"

"We haven't figured exact dates out yet, but I was asking you first to see if I could get my shift changed for a month or so."

Thundercloud Dash produced several documents from a sorter titled 'Rainbow Dash.' He had one for each of the members of the weather team, "Same time? Morning shift?"

"Yeah, that's cool."

"Ok, well you let me know when you are going, then all you need to do is sign."

"Ok dad, Thankyou."

"By the way," Thundercloud Dash started, "I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Truly. It must be tough loosing a friend like that. I know you told me when she disappeared, but I heard about what happened. By Celestia's mane, it's a shame."

"Dad, Pinkie Pie is fine now. She's back, and she's alive. She's even out of the hospital already. It's who I'm going to Rockopolis with. Her parents live there."

"My goodness. The last I heard....I won't bring it up. I'm sure you know. I don't want to force the memories back onto you..."

Rainbow Dash thought briefly and decided to ask a question that had always bugged her. "Dad..w..would you still accept me if I were...youknow?"

"Rainbow, I will always accept you. It doesn't matter who you are now, or what you are in five years. One thing you will always be is my daughter. I will love you no matter what may come. I don't exactly know what you mean to tell me, but I can assure you the answer is yes. I will still accept you."

Rainbow Dash drew a deep breath in, "Dad, I'm not interested in stallions. I'm gay. I love Pinkie Pie."

Thundercloud Dash's facial expression was one of pure shock. "Wow. I'm sorry about that," he said, quickly realising his mistake, "no, I'm not sorry about you being gay. It is as I said, I will always accept and love you. It's just, these past three years, and especially the past few days must have been really hard for you if you loved her all that time."

Rainbow Dash was seriously close to her father. It went to show. Three years of built up emotions automatically broke free. She had never been one to be able to properly show her emotions, but with everything that happened lately, it was needed. Rainbow Dash broke down crying. Her father quickly went to comfort her.

"Shhhh," he said, "I'm sure she loves you too. Even of she doesn't realise it yet." He so badly hoped the mare he had never met did - or soon would - love his only daughter. He had just one wish now. He wanted to see his only daughter happy before what will happen, happens.

Author's Notes:

Was going to release this an hour or so ago, but I was watching yesterday's Top Gear since I missed it. But here it is now

P.S whatever is wrong with Rainbow Dash's dad is sequel material. This is about half way through, but yeah...It will be the main plot of the sequel. If you must guess, please use the [*spoiler][*/spoiler] coding by removing the stars.