Dreaming. It was one of Rainbow Dash’s favourite activities, outside of flying and having alone time with her     marefriend. Heck, it was half the reason she napped so often. Dreaming… dreaming let her do so many things she couldn’t do, or wouldn’t even attempt to do, in real life. Fly-swimming beneath the ocean, riding lightning bolts through the skies and visiting all the surrounding countries, becoming the Commissioner of the Equestrian Weather Service, the Captain of the Wonderbolts… Becoming a mother. Lately… that particular dream had become more and more frequent, as of late, and often combined heavily with the others.

Dream-Rainbow was always smiling, always laughing. The proud light in her eyes had faded somewhat, overshadowed by a wiser, more humble, but highly protective… fire. It was both comforting, and vaguely disconcerting. And with Dream-Rainbow, always by her side, was a little orange filly. Perched on their back as they raced across the world on a lightning bolt; tucked under a wing as they swam beneath the waves. Standing proudly beside her mother in a Wonderbolts uniform, or flying beside her as they soared through the clouds, creating the weather that kept Equestria, and many of their neighbors, alive and well. Rainbow knew why that was, and who.

An all-mighty yawn rose out of the depths of the little rainbow pegasus, and a snrk responded, driving Rainbow further out of dream-world.

"Good morning there, Dashie,” the gravelly, somewhat-sleepy voice teased, and Rainbow shivered as a muzzle softly caressed her neck.

As always, that voice drove a massive smile out of Rainbow Dash as her eyes opened, greeted by the sight of fiery mane and a tender grin. Spitfire. Her idol, her mentor, and the love of her life. Over a year ago this coming Saturday, Spitfire had arrived in Ponyville, stunning Rainbow Dash with news of her retirement from the Wonderbolts and her interest in joining the Ponyville Weather Service. It had taken the older mare several hours just to convince the stunned mare that, no, she did not want to take over as manager, and wanted to rise up the ranks on her own. And despite being a Wonderbolt and one of the best fliers of her age, Spitfire had… taken some time to become as proficient as many of the other pegasi, when it came to weather servicing. But in hindsight… it had been that struggle that had brought the pair together in the first place.

“Come on Dash, get up,” Spitfire whispered softly in her ear, a hot breath washing over the sensitive appendage, before a tongue playfully dipped at it, “It’s the Day.”

Rainbow Dash’s violet eyes flew wide open, and she gave a soft mewl. The Day. They were heading to the Ponyville Social Office to finalize the adoption process on Scootaloo! With a soft groan of stiff muscles and bones, she rose to her hooves, tail waving slowly as she looked over at Spitfire with no small bit of trepidation.

“T-that’s today?” she breathed, ears splaying out nervously.

“Yep,” Spitfire merely replied, smiling over at her fiance with a soft chuckle bubbling out.

She didn’t have to a say a word. They had long since had the talk- Rainbow thinking she’d be a terrible mother, Spitfire promptly bapping her across the ear and replying to the opposite. She knew of Rainbow’s dreams, just as Dash knew of Spitfire’s. Her dreams of a family, and of living her life with the mare she loved. Her dreams of glory with the Wonderbolts had been achieved, and now her only wish was to secure her legacy, and her love. All Spitfire had to do now was soothe Rainbow’s fears. Two wings, large and fluffy without their morning preening, slowly curled around her rainbowed companion, drawing her close and entwining with Rainbow’s primary feathers.

A soft coo rose out of Rainbow’s throat, a sound Spitfire had often likened to a dove. The magic of their flight feathers was strong, and twisting them together sent a powerful rush through the pegasi. A confident chuckle rose out of her lover, and Spitfire happily leaned forward to embrace Rainbow Dash, kissing softly at the soft fur of her neck.

“We can do this,” she told Dash firmly, her old Captain’s voice rising up, “We’ll get Scootaloo, and we’ll give her the family she deserves. That we both deserve.”

They could. Rainbow knew that, in the bottom of her heart. With a thankful smile, Rainbow Dash leaned up to kiss Spitfire softly, her lips molding to her lover’s like they were made to fit together. She loved her taste- a mix of apples and smoke, no matter what time of day or meal last eaten. Rainbow’s, however…

“Mmm. Love… brush your teeth,” Spitfire teased, barking out a laugh as a smirking Rainbow practically tossed her out of bed.

An hour later, a freshly showered and fed Rainbow Dash and Spitfire, both of them proudly wearing the braids of their lovers' lost primary feathers in their manes, dived from her cloudhome, currently parked over Sweet Apple Acres, and lazily banked on the air currents that curled and flowed above Ponyville. The day was beautiful. Celestia’s sun had risen over the mountains, bathing the land beneath in gentle warmth, and the clouds the Weather Service had sent up the night before, preparing for an incoming thunderstorm in the following weeks, gave everypony a great deal of cool shade. To a pegasi’s enhanced eyes, the world of the sky was a tapestry of currents and breezes, like a painting come to life. Dash had never thought herself a deep thinker, but every time she flew, she felt that this was how the entire world should see the landscape as she did. Maybe the beauty would make it a better place…

An orange blur was keeping pace with them on the ground, and a proud smile split across Rainbow’s muzzle. Scootaloo was amazing on that scooter- even if her wings were badly stunted, they could power a great deal of speed into her little machine. Once Scoots was her daughter… A little shiver ran through Rainbow’s spine. Her daughter. She was really going to have a daughter. And not any daughter, but the best damn daughter in all Ponyville. Scootaloo WAS the best. She may not be smart like Sweetie Belle and Twilight, but she was one of the better athletes amongst the foals her age, and was just as clever as Applebloom. Rainbow adored the little filly, as did Spitfire.

She grinned over at her lover, who had spotted the blur as well, and was grinning just as broadly. Spitfire and Scootaloo had hit it off famously since day one, when Scootaloo had challenged, and beaten, Spitfire in a hoof-race. Terrified she may have offended Spitfire, Scootaloo had spun around at the finish line, only to be tackled and ferociously noogied under the uproarious laughter of Spitfire and Rainbow Dash. They had practically been inseparable since, much to Rainbow’s relief.

“You ready?” she called out to Spitfire, nodding at Spitfire’s responding wink and dive, and quickly followed after her.

What awaited the pair was shocking; all of her friends stood in front of the Social Office. Twilight and her- goddesses this still stunned Rainbow- marefriend Trixie stood off to one side, a bright smile radiating off the faces of Rainbow’s best friend and her... ex-nemesis? Applejack stood near the back, smirking widely over at her top “rival.” Rainbow merely winked over at, pulling a chuckle from the farmer pony. Rarity and Fluttershy were both holding back tears; the buttery pegasus had a wing draped over marefriend, and Rarity was gently leaned against Fluttershy, to take the weight of her pregnant belly off her swollen hooves. And Pinkie Pie… was…

Rainbow sighed, “Pinkie party?”

The whole group merely smirked, and Rainbow suppressed a groan. It was going to be a long night after this. But totally worth it. A tiny muzzle gently pressed against Rainbow’s side, a slight tremor running through it, and Rainbow’s wing extended down to embrace Scootaloo to her side tightly. Scootaloo’s tiny primary feathers twisted into Rainbow’s, and a little sniffle rose out of the filly.

“R-rainbow Dash… y-you don’t… have to, I-I mean…”

“Hey now, what about me?”

Spitfire’s chuckle was punctuated by her own wing joining the embrace, wrapping their soon-to-be daughter in feathery warmth.

“We’re doing this together, Scoots,” she continued, leaning down to nuzzle along Scootaloo’s violet mane and ear, “All three of us.”

Inspired, Rainbow gently leaned down,  using a hoof to turn Scootaloo’s face around. The poor filly looked torn between utter happiness, and complete fear. Her violet eyes were rolling in emotion, and Rainbow recognized it well. The fear of failure, the fear of disappointment and rejection. With a soft smile, Rainbow leaned forward to gently kiss the bridge of her nose, then stared sternly in Scootaloo’s eyes.

“Three of us, together, always.”

Scootaloo gulped, neck bowing in a nod, then turning to peek at Spitfire. The former Wonderbolts captain was far more direct; a fetlock hooked around Scootaloo, and she squealed as a hoof ruffled and noogied her little head.

“Okay, okay!” she yelped out, giggles matching those of the crowd around her, doubts finally dying in her eyes.

Satisfied, if nervous, but with a smile on all their faces, the trio walked into the Office, ready to begin their life as a family. Forever.

Next Chapter: Chapter 2- Musical Hope Estimated time remaining: 14 Minutes