"Stupid wing." Dash mumbled, stretching the appendage out with several audible cracks. "Oh, that didn't sound good." She continued, rotating it around in the air. She'd slept on it funny, and it went without saying that she wasn't happy with the result. It was sore, and now she was looking forward to weather duty even less.

Tank stared up at her from the floor, blinking one eye. Dash sighed, getting up from her couch and trotting into the kitchen. She grabbed a lettuce head, ripping off a few leaves to toss to the tortoise. She took a bite out of the rest of it, crunching as thoughts from last night resurfaced. The cyan mare swallowed, taking another hunk from the spherical greens. She'd been in the middle of trying to come up with a plan last night.

"Something big…" She said, beginning to pace. "A gesture that isn't girly, hopefully." Dash put a hoof to her forehead, wracking her brain for any ideas. Minutes passed, before she let herself up for air. Sometimes she thought better when she was flying anyway. She took a bite out of another bite of lettuce.

"Don't burn down the house, Tank." She said, and Tank stared. "Guess I'm coming home to steam, then." Dash sighed, hopping into the air and floating out a window. She dropped like a rock, slowly pulling herself out of the dive as she neared the streets below. She would just ask Mac to go somewhere tonight, but she didn't want to seem clingy. She wasn't a clingy mare anyway. At least, she was pretty sure.

Dash skidded to a halt on Ponyville's main street, breaking into a trot as she pushed her way though the doors into the weather team's headquarters. It was probably ironic that it wasn't made out of clouds and floating, but Ponyville wasn't heavy in pegasi. Many of the staff members were unicorns and earth ponies, and the system ended up making sense. Pegasi didn't tend to be the best accountants anyway, though Dash couldn't be sure exactly why.

The cyan mare slowed to a walk, moving through the door to her office. She knocked her hoof into a bobble head of Soarin', watching it bounce around as she took her seat. Dash put her hind hooves up on the table, draping her tail over one leg as she leaned back and closed her eyes. She was a good fifteen minutes early anyway, on account of the fact that she hadn't slept well. Too many fucking thoughts of Mac. It was starting to get on her nerves.

She tried to put together a list of places that she figured Mac would like. His tastes were simple, though they still had a bit of variation to them. Some part of her was glad he hadn't ordered apples last night, in a way. He wasn't totally focused on the things, at least.

What about fancy places though? She could imagine him liking someplace that was fairly nice. It would be a nice change of pace from the usual stuff. Then again, there was only one fancy place in Ponyville, and that was booked several years in the future. Figuratively, of course.

That would be nice though, just her and Mac in some mood lighting with extravagant food. Dash knew she had at least a few bits burning holes in her saddlebags. Then again, he might want to pay, and-

"D-Dash?!" A voice began. "I didn't expect to see you here so early!"

"Oh, hey Flitter." Dash responded, taking her hooves off the desk. "How's life?"

"Gooooooood…" She said, putting strange emphasis on the word. Flitter took a seat, propping her head up with her hooves as she stared at Dash.

"Flitter, you're kinda creeping me out."

"Oh, shush. What's he like?" She asked.

"What? Who?"

"Oh, you know."

"Do I though?" Dash inquired, shuffling a few papers around.

"You can't expect to keep rumors from spreading, cap'n. I heard that you're dating Macintosh, but I wanted to hear it from you. It's a little far fetched that you-" She covered her mouth. "I mean, uh-"

"What did you mean, exactly?" The weather captain asked, her face darkening with anger. She felt slight relief at the slim reason to yell and let off a bit of steam. "That I can't exhibit a bit of a personality?!"

"No, that's not-"

"Oh, that somepony like me isn't able to foster an actual relationship?!" She felt her anger grow, although she couldn't figure out why it came quite as easily as it did.

"I didn't say that-"

"Then what the heck are you saying?!" Dash took in a quick breath. "Get out!" She watched the mare leave and close the door behind herself, feeling a pang of guilt.

Dash counted to ten in her head, sitting down and spinning in her chair. When she came back around, she smacked a hoof into her desk, gritting her teeth. It wasn't like her to explode like that, but something Flitter had said just resonated. Ponies didn't tend to love her presence. Dash had an ego, and wasn't agreeable on most everything. If it was that clear that she couldn't hold down a relationship, then what were the chances that Mac had been repelled? He was just the type of pony to be too polite to bring it up.

Maybe that was why he'd walked away, when he realized that he wasn't going to be able to tell her. A tear of frustration slid off her muzzle and onto a piece of paper. Dash swept it off the table, hissing in rage. She felt so annoyed at everything, and she didn't even know why.

No, she was mad at herself. For screwing something up. For taking this long to realize that it was probably her fault. It was always like her to do that. Every fucking time. Dash let her head fall, bumping into the desk. She was so tired, and she didn't even feel like moving anymore. Part of her mind was trying to be optimistic, but the rest of her didn't want to be. She'd created the mess, and she deserved the consequences. Getting angry at Flitter was collateral damage, and she knew she'd need to apologize later.

Hopefully the mare wouldn't spread rumors about her the way everypony seemed to. She wasn't sure how it would be spun, but she doubted it'd be correct. Or maybe it would. She was sitting in here, throwing a tantrum over the fact that she couldn't figure out her own emotions. How old was she anyway?

Dash pulled her head off of the desk, resting her chin on a hoof. Her mind seemed to reboot, supplying her with a stream of actual intelligible thoughts. She wasn't giving up on Mac, she knew that. Not until she knew she wasn't wanted, anyway. But she had to go about this carefully. She didn't want ponies to know what she was doing, and that included him at the moment. She needed a plan and a weak point, something that Mac would like more than something else. She needed something so show him that he held a lot of her interest. That she really did like him.

His love of astronomy came to mind, but that seemed like something to remember for later. It didn't seem to apply anyway, with the forecast for clouds. So that was out of the question. Dash felt another bolt of annoyance lance through her brain.

No. This was stupid. She just needed to find a good way to think about it. Look on the bright side.

It was a challenge, for sure. She never gave up on anything, and this wouldn't be a start. She'd told herself that a million times. But this was completely different from flying or a competition. Dash was dealing with somepony else now, and she wasn't any good at it. She'd thought she was good at picking up guys, but that was probably due more to the fact that it wasn't anything long, and she had the body and heavy flirting to back it up. That stuff wouldn't help her with a guy that wanted something lasting.

Dash knew her competition, as always, although it was a little different this time. In some strange way, she liked trying new things like this, and getting Mac was kind of a victory in itself. It meant something, knowing her, that she wanted to try so hard to keep what little she had to hold onto. She figured she'd be the first to cut her losses with so little going on.

A knock at the door shattered Dash from her thoughts, and she cursed under her breath. "Come in!" She yelled, managing to keep her voice waver free. Thunderlane pushed the door open, walking a few steps inside.

"We're ready to set up, Rainbow Dash." He said, and she nodded, getting out of her chair to follow him. He stopped, turning his head back towards her. "And I know it's none of my business, but what happened between you and Flitter?"

"I-" Dash sighed. "I owe her an apology, I know that much. I'm just a little tired and stressed is all." Thunderlane nodded, and an idea popped into Dash's head. "Hey, on an unrelated topic, don't you have a marefriend?"

"Well- yeah, but I mean-" He paused, looking at her oddly. "Why?"

"Look, it's nothing weird." Only for her, really. "I- can you meet me here after work?" She asked.

"Nothing weird?" He questioned. "Because Cloudchaser is already kinda pissed at me over something." He scratched his head. "I'm not really sure what it is though…"

Dash sighed, pushing at him lightly with a hoof so that he would get out of the way. "Let's just get this stupid storm together."

Dash pushed a cloud into place, sighing as it locked itself into the cloudbank. It was a particularly boring day, not even a breeze to goof off on. Usually whenever a wind gust came by, she'd take it as a perfect opportunity to throw in a trick or two with the extra lift. It made weather duty bearable on days like these.

The fact that spring hadn't come into bloom yet made things look dreary, especially with the delayed rain. Estrous had messed with their schedule, and the fact that the sun had come out a few days early really messed with the temperature and humidity that they were supposed to maintain. It had taken weeks to fix it all, although it would have taken a lot longer without Thunderlane throwing in a hoof where he could. She couldn't really prove that, because she'd removed herself from the scene, but still. He was next in line to get a promotion, when the year-end reviews came around. Besides, it fit his character. The reports couldn't be that far off.

But her thoughts quickly drifted back to Mac, as she had expected them to. Dash had gotten her emotions under control at least a little, and it felt good to be able to think again. Her mind was still working at full speed, trying to run through scenario after scenario towards a possible solution.

All she had come up with by this point was that it was more than just her drive to win. She was sure that there was substance with him, and even though her first actual conversation with Mac and her shot at asking him out had been in an attempt to woo him when no pony else could, she knew that when she got there it wouldn't be a hollow victory. She had a shot at a relationship with a pony that was a lot like her, and had a body to boot. He seemed smart as well, and that was just icing on the cake. Not that she would be very interested if he had turned out to be a total dolt. If she was going for a real relationship, then he had to be smart. His banter back and forth with her had easily shown that he could keep up.

There was probably another hint somewhere in the fact that he didn't have wings, and her lack of concern over such a thing. She thought about it, and didn't really care. So he couldn't fly. She didn't need him to. She tried to convince herself that it would be annoying and stupid to have a coltfriend that couldn't explore the skies with her, that she wouldn't ever get a playful challenge out of him.

But he pushed himself hard, and she saw a little of herself in that. So he couldn't fly. He could still push her. Dash didn't have speed records in everything yet anyway. So what if he could only push her in some ways? They'd be new ones, that was for sure.

She was just beating around the bush, and she knew it. She could see the farm from here, along with its red-coated resident traveling between the rows. Dash pushed a large cloud into place, giving a quick salute to the pony that had helped her. As she turned to look around for some more clouds.

There were more than enough hanging over Sweet Apple Acres, and while part of her really wanted to go over and watch Mac like she occasionally did, the other part of her didn't want to risk being seen and making things worse. But her reasonable thinking lost as soon as she saw him appear again.

Maybe she could figure something out about what he was thinking, or something that could help her. Dash looked around, finding her sector devoid of ponies. She had a reputation for being lazy, but she didn't want to actively encourage it. The mare grabbed a nearby cloud, pushing her hooves in a little ways so that she could pull the fluff apart. She quickly hollowed it out, climbing inside before she closed up the cloud behind herself. She pressed her hoof through the bottom of the cloud, making a little hole that she could see through. Even if Mac did look up, there was no way she could see her in here.

She unfolded her wings as much as she could and began to push wind through the cloud, drifting slowly as she approached the acres. After a few minutes, the first apple trees came into view, and Dash felt a slight pang of nervousness. If she missed him drifting like this, she would have to float over and try again once she was a ways away. Changing direction was too obvious, especially with the sun casting shadows below her.

But Mac came into view and she allowed herself to slow, coming to a halt ever so slowly. He was concentrating on his job, and she took the time to begin dropping in altitude. She heard him grunt and kick a tree, a resounding thump echoing out as apples fell. It looked way more menacing than Applejack's kick, and that meant something. Of course, Dash had seen him preform the same smooth action dozens of times. The way he tensed up, the way his muscles just rippled when he-

Dash put a hoof to her forehead, sighing. She wondered if he knew he was a sweet bit of eye candy. That he could basically ask any mare to sleep with him and they would. Well, maybe that was a stretch, but it made Dash want him a little more. The competition and growing likeness had really done a number on her. As if floating around in a hollow cloud after him for a smidgeon of information didn't say that loud and clear.

Mac had finished getting the apples into barrels, and loaded a few into a wagon that he had brought along. He dipped his head under the single yoke and struggled to get himself attached before testing the connection. He planted his hooves in the ground and the cart began to move, getting up to his cruising velocity in only a couple seconds. It always amazed Dash, seeing stuff like this first hoof. Even if she had no interest in Mac, she could still find interest in what he did. He dwarfed Applejack in the things he could do, which was understandable with his size, but when he pulled stuff like this it just looked mismatched. Like it should've been impossible in the first place.

She kept Mac in her view as he drew the wagon into their barn, coming out a few minutes later. He looked a little under the weather, though she supposed he had just moved a huge amount of stuff up a slight incline. But he usually seemed to shake that off. Whatever, she honestly hadn't watched him a whole lot.

Applejack walked up to him as he exited the barn, and some hushed conversation went on about something or other. Dash didn't care too much; she didn't want to creep more than she had to. Mac shook his head, and uttered the only words she could hear. "Not yet." He said, and Dash's heart sunk a little. Not yet what? He hadn't continued their relationship yet? He hadn't kissed her yet? Hadn't found a mare he actually wanted?

Dash eyed them, as Mac shifted awkwardly, his head facing downwards. Applejack took a couple steps forwards, putting a hoof around the larger Stallion's neck. It looked like the smaller mare was trying to comfort him, although Dash had no idea how that necessarily pertained to anything she'd just heard. She didn't want to think that his emotions were related to her, but some part of her brain assumed the worst.

The pair walked back towards their house, disappearing inside. Dash let herself roll onto one side, trying to make sense of what little information she had. She couldn't possibly hope to, and she wished she hadn't even tried to get more. She felt like the addition of what she'd heard had just left her farther away from where she wanted to get.

Dash opened up her cloud base, flying away silently. Maybe her little chat with Thunderlane could clear something up.

Dash checked her office clock once again, watching the second hand click around slowly. The door opened and she jumped, taking her hind legs off the desk in a hurry. When she saw that it was only Thunderlane, she replaced them and pointed to the seat across from herself.

"So, I still don't know what I'm supposed to be doing here." The stallion said, looking nervous.

Dash took her hooves off the desk again, opting to lean over the surface. "You better never tell anypony that this happened." She said.

"I won't, I guess." He replied.

"That really sounds trustworthy." Dash mumbled back.

"Yeah, well I don't know what I'm doing."

"Look, I'll be straight with you. I had a couple dates with Big Macintosh, and he's a complete mystery to me."

"That doesn't surprise me." Thunderlane responded, before quickly adding, "He kinda is to everyone."

"I just hoped that maybe, being a guy, you could give me some sort of advice?"

Thunderlane leaned backwards in his chair, putting a hoof under his chin in thought. He let out a thoughtful hum. "Well, there's always a place in a guy's heart for a mare he can relate to. I mean, there's the whole physical attraction, but after that, it's all about keeping the guy involved. We get bored of looks."

"So like, things in common."

"That's one part. Mac could just be clueless, but I like to think he isn't. I know the guy, kind of, and when we actually had conversations, he was always kinda funny. Made a couple of slightly dirty jokes once."

"So then why is he distancing himself?"

"Maybe he just wants his choice? He's got anypony he wants. But he obviously agreed to going on a date with you, even though guys don't like girls asking them out too much. So there must be something. He talk a lot?"

"More than I expected him to." Dash replied, rolling a pencil under her hoof.

"I'd say that's also a good thing. Look, you've got no choice other than to continue, so you'll have to do that."

"Yeah, but what kind of things should I do?"

Thunderlane thought some more. "It doesn't need to be much. Stallions are cheap. Sure, a dinner would be good, but spending time with him is just as good. Go buck some trees with him, bring a lunch. Cloudchaser got me to ask her out with things like that, when she was really just paying attention to me."

"Well I could've done that. How could they not want anything?"

Thunderlane chuckled. "Pride. Stroke his pride and give him a little attention, stay even moderately desirable and give him chances to take the lead, and you've got a new colt friend. Only hard part is keeping him from knowing what you're doing. So no 'Oh Big Mac, you're so very strong' stuff, alright? Just be yourself, but do it around him." He got up, turning to leave.

"Thanks." Dash said, and he nodded.

"Oh, one more thing. Never throw a race or a competition. Winnning out of pity sucks. Complete turn off."

"That pride, huh?"

"Yeah. Surest way to a guy's heart." He paused, standing in the doorway. "Other than complimenting his sexual prowess." He laughed at his own comment, voice fading as he walked away.

Dash pondered his comments, finding that what he'd said made a fair amount of sense. In a lot of ways, the joke that stallions were simpletons had merit. They were fairly easy, if you just changed a couple things for each one. Of course, she didn't know how to change them to fit Mac.

Dash got up, grabbed her keys, and exited her office. She locked it behind herself, sighing. The dreary light from outside seemed to mesh with her emotions perfectly as she left, giving a slight wave to the receptionist. They'd finished early despite Dash's distractions, and she realized that doing something dinner related with Mac was still an option.

The mare took to walking, keeping her head down in thought as she walked through town. Walking was always the best way she had to think. Flying always turned into speed or a trick, or this and that. It was too much fun to keep concentrated on something serious, though it sometimes worked nonetheless.

Her eyes raised to Twilight's library, and she altered her course to walk inside. She wasn't going to ask Twilight for relationship advice. That would be like asking a mathematician about his opinion on art. That wasn't to say Dash didn't have an idea, though.

The cyan mare opened the door, trotting inside. A few stacks of books were here and there, so she could tell Twilight had been working.

"Twilight?" She called out, and the mare raised her head above a small wall of books.

"Dash? What're you doing here?"

"I was actually- well, I need a favor."

Twilight set down her book, walking over. "Yeah?"

"Well, since you still owe me for saving you from that one aerial crash…"

"That I'll apparently never stop hearing about…" The lavender mare responded, looking annoyed.

"I heard you had reservations with the Princess for dinner tonight. You know, to talk about princess stuff."

"Yeah…" Twilight urged Dash, making a gesture with her hoof to continue.

"Can I have them?" She asked, watching Twilight's face scrunch into an odd expression. "Look, I really need it, and you can just say that you forgot to make them and go anyway. They won't turn down a princess." Dash waited a few seconds, her heartbeat sounding in her ears. "Please?"

"Why do you need them so badly, Dash? Who are you trying to impress?"

"It's not about impressing anypony, Twilight. I just- I need a shot. An opportunity."

Twilight was silent, and Dash figured that things wouldn't pan out. She sighed, and began to turn around. "Fine." Twilight said, and Dash's eyes went wide. "I'll go over with you, and we'll change it. This won't reflect well on me, but I think I can make an exception just this once."

Dash almost launched herself into the other mare, her hooves wrapped tightly around Twilight's neck. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She exclaimed, squeezing her arms in a tighter hug.

"Yeah." Twilight grumbled. "Don't get too used to it."

Dash balanced herself on one of the larger branches of an apple tree, watching Mac work his way down the row. He kicked another tree, and the sounds of apples hitting the bottom of buckets filled the air.

"Ah can see ya there, Rainbow Dash." He said, and Dash jumped. "Blue don't match with green." Dash hopped from the tree, her cover blown. "What brings ya out here?"

"You." She replied. That was supposed to just be a thought. She was pretty sure Mac blushed, but she couldn't tell. Dash looked away. "Look, I got us reservations at the Ruby Bale. I don't know if you want to come, of if you even want this relationship to continue, but I'll be there at seven. I hope you are too." She chanced a glance at Mac, who looked completely mortified.

"Dash, Ah didn't mean ta make ya think-"

"Look, it's your choice, alright?" She said, turning to take off. Mac galloped over and grabbed her tail before she could, keeping her grounded.

"Ah'll be there, alright?" He asked, his face full of what almost looked like fear. Maybe he did care. Dash nodded, letting her mouth turn up into a smile. She flapped her wings, but he held firm. "And Ah'm sorry Ah'm actin' weird, Ah just have a lot goin' on."

Dash wanted to get mad at him, but she didn't. She was just glad that things hadn't exploded around her, because of her. Not yet, anyway. Instead, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before he could resist, grinning as he lost his grip on her tail and she flew off. Dash turned around to see him put his hoof to his cheek where she'd kissed him, and she grinned a little wider.

Maybe there was still hope after all.

Author's Notes:

I'm surprised this story got as good of a welcome as it did. I partially expected it to flop, honestly, but I'm glad that so many of you have found it enjoyable.

By the way, if you've already favorited, don't be afraid to like it!