"Welcome home, Dashie!" Pinkie cheered, tossing confetti into the air and blowing hard on her horn. The pegasus gave her excited friend a weary smile, turning to glance at all of her friends gathered there. All but one…

"Darling, you looked simply exhausted!" Rarity gasped, snatching away her bags to ease the load on her back.

"Yeah it's just… lots of work bein' a star, ya know?" Rainbow chuckled with a sigh.

"Well, it's about time they gave you a break, Rainbow. How long are you going to be staying?" Twilight wondered, assisting Rarity with the rest of Rainbow's things.

"It's a two month leave, but they offered me a third month what with everything I've been doin' lately," Rainbow replied, following her friends into town.

"Oh it's so wonderful to see you again, Rainbow. I mean, of course we saw all of your shows and we still wrote to each other, but it's nice having you home again." Fluttershy smiled. Rainbow couldn't help but feel jealous of her friend.

The wonderful motherly glow, the smile on her face, and the gentle bump she was developing. Rainbow had never thought she'd want to be a mother, but seeing Fluttershy and hearing about all of her plans had really hit home. She winced as she stomped on a rock, shaking her hoof and grumbling under her breath.

"Hm, Ah reckon yer plum tired o' walkin 'round, huh Dash?" Applejack pointed out, standing close to Fluttershy and ready to help at a moment's notice. After all, that was her niece or nephew the pegasus was walking around with.

"Yeah. I'm not really restricted from flying or anything but…"

"After doing it all day everyday, it's just as exhausting?" Twilight asked, answered only with a weary nod.

"What you need is some quality relaxation. I'm sure I could get you a day at the Spa!" Rarity said excitedly. Rainbow squeaked and shook her head.

"N-No it's cool, Rares, you don't have to do any of that!" she said quickly, her friends bursting into laughter.

"Lemme guess, still worried about 'em touchin' yer hooves?" Applejack grinned. Rainbow sighed as her shoulders slumped.

"Well… there is something else…" Twilight murmured, glancing upwards. The group of friends followed the alicorn's gaze to spot one Spike Swiftshrike hovering in the air with a clipboard, ordering ponies around.

Rainbow felt her heart catch in her throat.

"Twilight you didn't?!" She panicked.

"Of course I didn't! But you should. AHEM… SPIIIIKE!" Twilight called, grinning as the drake glanced down, a large smile gracing his lips as he spotted his friends. He shouted a few more orders before landing beside them.

He's bigger than I remember… Rainbow thought to herself.

"What's up, Twi… Rainbow! Oh wow, it's been a while," he chuckled.

"Y-yeah… Couple months… Sorry for kinda dropping everything on you…" Rainbow mumbled.

"Nah, it hasn't been all bad. Just some crazy weather from the forest, but the new guys are almost as good as you were. They just need someone keeping them on track." Spike shrugged, the pair hardly noticing as, one by one, their friends found a way to leave.

"So, how long are you gonna be in Ponyville?" Spike wondered as they walked side by side.

"Well, that depends…" Rainbow glanced around before moving closer to the dragon.

"How long is your break?" she whispered. Spike grinned and flared out his wings, the pegasus gasping as she was swept off her hooves and flown into the clouds. Spike would have to remember to properly thank Twilight and her idea to soundproof the clouds. Rainbow always squealed the loudest when he played with her hooves.

Author's Notes:

Written by Saro0fd3monz.

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