I came back up to surface with a large smile on my face, but that quickly fell as I noticed Dash was having trouble. I swam over to her were she had come up but she was flailing around.

“Dash? Are you OK?” I ask her.

Rainbow just looks to me as her hooves try to keep her afloat. It registered in my head that being a pegasi she might not know how to swim, but then being of many skills I thought it would be one.

“OK Dash, I got you!” I stated as I put my two arms around her chest keep her in place.

It was weird, it seemed I had enough buoyancy to keep both myself and Dash near the surface. When I grabbed hold of her she grabbed me back around my neck, clearly she was panic stricken.

“YOU JERK! WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?” She shouted at me. It was a good thing we were out of sight and ear shot of the others.

“I'm sorry Dash, I didn't know you couldn't swim.” I reply.

“Yeah well it's nothing I like to brag about!”

“Again i'm sorry, if I knew I would never have jumped in.”

“Just..*sigh*..It's fine now OK, I got to learn sometime. Best to jump right in...Right?” Rainbow asks.

“I learnt to swim in school, so jumping in wasn't the way I did it but...I could teach you if you want?” I suggest.

“You want to teach me, why?”

“Well, everypony needs to swim.” Yes I said everypony, feck you I adapted. “It may not be the best thing you can do but it feels great to dive under water for a while.”

“I suppose but water never really held much of place in my head, which is why when we come here I just laze about or read a book or something.” Rainbow was looking into my eye's.

It was then at that point a voice was heard from the shore.

“Hey you two! You can hug later alrighty! We have food ready now!”

“PINKIE!” We both shout out, then we realise we are still holding each other.

“Uh, I think I should carry you until you can stand up.” I say to Dash.

“I am so not going to live this down am I?” Dash says looking at the shore line.

“Hey, I won't say anything about this Ok? And my offer still stands.”

“Yeah sounds good, but about the not saying anything part? It's not you i'm worried about!” Dash replies.

After wading into shallow water, I place Dash down and she walks the rest of the way. Just before we get to the others she looks back to me and I gesture a zipping motion across my mouth, to which Dash smiles.

“Hey girls!” I wave.

“Oh good you two are back, enjoy your little ruckus?” Rarity asks.

“I did, not sure about Dash though. Think I gave her a heart attack!” I say then laugh when Dash gives me a glare.

“Yes, and I also saw you jumped in with your clothes on!” Rarity states with slight annoyance.

“Oh shit! Sorry Rarity guess I got caught up in the moment.”

“You're here now, and we have many treats if you would like to try some?” Twilight adds in.

“Would I! Though I do remember the hay cakes...Ugh! I think my insides were about to burst.”

“Yeah, I should have warned you about them. Sorry!” Twilight says looking down.

“Geez, it was a mistake. Anyway I didn't die and I'm fit, so no harm done.” I reply giving a smile.

“Oh yes! Pinkie was just telling us about how you two were...How do I put this? Cuddling?” Rarity says pointing a hoof at me a Rainbow.

“What!?” I shout, almost choking on the sandwich I was eating.

“I was playing a prank...And...And...John grabbed me before I could fly off!” Rainbow says turning red.

“But why were you grabbing his neck?” Pinkie adds in, Rarity follows the question with a grin.

“Look! I grabbed Rainbow to pull her under the water ok? Can we just drop it!” I say with just a little more anger than I wanted.

“Ok ok! I was just asking. But you two are being so defensive about this.” Rarity states.

Rainbow Dash seemed to have had enough and sighed before taking off and landing behind some rocks far away.

“Well done Rarity! When someone or somepony asks you to drop it! They mean drop it!” I stand up abruptly causing Rarity’s ears to drop. “Maybe next time you will learn that!” I storm off towards the area Rainbow had landed. I didn't look back but I knew the others were giving Rarity and me glances, but kept their silence.

I had never wanted to act like that, but to keep going on about something when you've been told to drop it. It just really irritates me! I don't know if I was born with it but I’ve always had it. The feeling of someone trying to extract information from you, even though you told them that you can't tell them yet, but still they persist. I guess it was some sort of trust issue with me, I had considered all the girls as my friends even more so my family; so why was I taking this so hard?

It took me several minutes to find Dashes hiding spot, but the condition I found her was not what I had expected. Dash was crying. She was holding her back legs while curled up into a ball, she also had her wings wrapped around her body.

“Dash?” I called out, she slowly looked up to me. “Are you ok?”

“I just want to be left alone, please just....Just leave me here for a bit.”

“Now I know that's not true! Don't shut me out Rainbow. If you have a problem, talk to me?” I sit down next to her. I reach over a hand but think twice before withdrawing it. “I may not have a lot of experience in problems but I have had a few in my life to recognise the signs. Just talk to me Dash, i'm here if you need me.”

I moved my gaze to the sun in the sky, then to the water. Seeing the light reflected brought calm to me, I was brought out of my thoughts by a movement of blue. I look down and see Dash had rested her head on my lap, I didn't react at first but when she said nothing I placed my right hand on her mane and started to stroke her as you would a loving pet.

“I don't really get to do this much.” Dash says not moving when she speaks.

“Why?” I reply.

“Because nopony sees me capable of this, You know; the closeness.”

“I don't see why they don't, you are no different to me than the others Rainbow.”

Rainbow lifts her head to look at me.

“You don't see me as different?”

“No, Why should I? You each have your own skills and personalities. But that doesn’t change that deep down you are all the same.” I say looking down at her.

“Same? In what way?” Rainbow asks.

“You are all my family Dash, and there's nothing that will change that!”

Rainbow lowers her head and closes her eye's.

“Thanks John, I guess you are a good pony...Um I mean 'guy'”

“It's ok Dash, I guess I have to except that here i'm a stallion in gender; so it's alright to call me a pony, I don't mind.” I look down to Rainbow and notice she has fallen asleep. “I guess even Rainbow Dash needs comforting once in a while?” The question was more directed at me than anyone else but I admit, I enjoyed the company and even the intimacy. But then I think to myself, if i'm going to be here for along time; finding a companion might be difficult. Not just with physical and emotional differences but also what mare would even fancy me?

**** ***** ****

I don't know how long we were both out but I must have nodded off too. When I opened my eye's the sun had dropped to the top of the mountains. I looked down and Dash was still laying on my lap, though she had moved onto her back with her forelegs tucked up to her chest. As I looked I saw how peaceful and beautiful Rainbow was, I smiled. I layed my head back to the rock I was positioned against. It was a short time later before a familiar voice called our names.

“John! Rainbow! Where are yah!”

I saw Applejack round the rocks not more than 10 feet from me.

“Hey Applejack, over here.” I raise my hand and give her a small wave.

“Hey John, ah...” Applejack stops when she spots Rainbow sleeping on my lap.

“Don't worry Applejack it's alright, guess me and Rainbow fell asleep.”

“We couldn't find ya, so we split up and searched. Guess I got the lucky straw.” I couldn't help but notice a small hit of disappointment in Applejacks voice.

“Applejack? Are you ok?”

“It's just been a long day, ah have to get up early tomorrow.” Applejack goes to leave but she turns around. “Ah'm gonna need you tomorrow, if your not busy?” She quickly looks down to Rainbow.

“What?” I look at Rainbow and my head clicks to what Applejack means. “No! I mean we're friends that's it! She needed an ear and I listened.”

I saw the expression change on Applejacks face go from sad to a slight hint of...happiness? Wonder why? She couldn't be....Nah! Somepony like Applejack? Strong dependable Applejack? I look to Rainbow and give her a small nudge as Applejack walks off back around the rocks.

“Huh? Wha?” Rainbow says opening her eye's halfway.

“Hey sleepy head! Time to get up!” I say.

“Where are we?”

“Still sitting by the rocks, Anyway it's getting dark so we should both get going.”

Rainbow rolls over and stands up. She gives her body a little shake and flexes her wings, before flying up above me. However before she leaves she turns back.

“Thanks John for what you said before, I really appreciate it.”

“No problem Dash, you just remember what I said and we will start those swimming lessons soon ok?” I reply.

“Yeah! Looking forward to it! See yah John!”

And just like that she was gone taking off for home. I walked around the rocks and found Applejack waiting for me.

“Applejack? You waited?”

“Yeah, ah wanted to ask you something. That is if you want to answer it that is?”

“What is it?” I ask as we both walk across the shore line.

“Well, it is kind of personal but ...” Applejack looks away to cover her embarrassment. “...If yah had to pick between the six of us; who would you pick?”

Of course that question was so far out of the blue, it hit me square. I face planted the ground, yes I really fell on my face. In the space of five minutes the day went from great to 'shit what do I say?'

“Uh? Where the hell did that come from?” I ask getting up from the floor.

“It was a stupid question! Ah shouldn't have asked!” Applejack takes off running before I could reply.

“Wait! Applejack! Wait!” I run after her only to find she had long gone. “What the fuck was that about?”

**** ***** ****

It had taken me almost an hour to get back to Twilights, I guess I went a little slower thinking about what Applejack asked me. When I pushed open the door I was met with a crushing hug.

“John! Your back!”

“Hey Twilight, sorry about earlier I guess I got ahead of myself. I should really apologise to Rarity, she didn't deserve my snapping.” I put an arm around Twilight and patted her back.

“I think she understood, Rarity was really upset that she hurt you and Rainbow.”

“She didn't upset me, it was just me being stupid. Though I think Rainbow took the worst of it! But she will come around, We all know that.” I reply.

Twilight let me go and trotted back into the main room.

“I have some dinner ready if you would like some? I'm not as good as Spike but he should be back tomorrow.” Twilight calls from the kitchen.

“Yeah I would love some dinner, to be honest i'm kinda hungry. Didn't eat much at the picnic !” I shout back.

Twilight came out with two plates in her magic. I saw how careful and precise she was with her magic, one of the many things I admired about her.

“Smells good!” I say.

“Thanks, I made you some proper pancakes with fruit. I know how you hate hay!” Twilight giggles.

“Don't remind me!” I laugh.

The dinner went by smoothly though I had no doubts. Of course Twilight tried to apologise many times but I just brushed then off. Later we both turned in early, yeah I know Twilight turning in early kind of gives you a heart attack; but it happens. She said she had some business to attend to, I wasn't going to pry.

I layed in my bed staring at the ceiling, thinking back to that question Applejack asked me. Just what did she mean by it? I had to know but do I just ask her or do I ask Big Mac? If I did ask her just what would I say? Damn i'm so bad at this! Why is it I can speak to Rainbow as a friend but not to Applejack as something more? Wait! Something more! What the fuck am I saying! Applejacks a friend, nothing more right?

My thoughts came thick and fast, I had been here for over a week, had made friends with six of the best mares I could have found. Yet all I could think about was, one - did some of them see me as more than a friend? And two – Why the fuck did my back itch so bad? I know first question in light of the current situation but the second fucked up as it may sound, would turn out to have the biggest impact yet to come.