This chapter is a bit of an anomaly. I did not originally intend to write this chapter. This particular chapter is the result of a challenge a friend of mine gave me. In short, if she successfully impressed me at least three out of five days of the week with a quick meal before work, I would write a chapter focusing on her favorite character, Rainbow Dash. She succeeded and so I wrote this.

As always, please consider supporting my patreon.

Being a Sunday, there was not much I could say about the start. Breakfast was tasty and Scootaloo was invited by Button Mash to join up with him, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom at the arcade. Fluttershy and Rarity were also due at the spa for their weekly visit, so I was left to myself for the late morning and afternoon.

Sundays are an odd day for me since I both love and hate them. I love them because they are ideal days for relaxation and to be alone with my thoughts since most people stay at home, leaving the surrounding areas very quiet. And yet I dislike them due to having so very little to do. A number of businesses are closed on Sunday or just close early. I prefer to keep myself busy rather than just have nothing to do.

I headed south for a stroll through the park, taking delight in the very small number of locals hanging out there. Not too cool, yet not too warm, the temperature was just how I like it in spring. Especially during such a sunny day. I soon went down to the largest pond in the park, but was left disappointed when I found that the sack of fish food Fluttershy normally leaves there was not present for once. I suppose she had taken it home to refill it and just had not gotten around to bringing it back. I walked to the water's edge and could see the fish floating just under the surface while looking up at me, waiting for a snack. It reminded me of seeing wild carp hanging out by the docks of lakeside restaurants back home. I held my arms out to my sides and looked down at the fish. "Sorry, guys. Nothing today. Someone took your stash and hasn't brought it back."

With nothing else to do, I just sat down near the water's edge and looked to the sky. If I had a pillow and an air mattress, I could settle down for a nap. Barely five minutes later, I got a surprise. Something streaked across the sky while leaving a short-lived rainbow vapor trail in its wake. I knew who it was and cracked a smile. That smile only grew bigger when the one who made that vapor trail swooped down and landed beside me. "Hey there, James! Just chilling?"

"Yeah, you know how it is on Sundays." I retorted as Rainbow Dash trotted over and took a seat beside me. I guess she had just finished up her weather patrol routines and was looking for a spot to take a nap even though she did not seem sleepy.

Rather than look bored, Rainbow just smirked. "Hey, that's what I love about Sundays. Nopony can complain to me for lounging around all day and I can take all the naps I want."

The two of us just lied down beside each other and looked to the sky. While mostly clear, a few clouds were drifting overhead. I was tempted to start a guessing game on what the clouds looked like, but the shapes were too vague and there were not very many of them. Rainbow Dash then asked, "So, nothing going on with you today?"

"Nope. Sundays are my days off. It's nice to relax, but I would still like something to do to keep myself occupied. I don't like getting too complacent." I explained while trying to not look directly at the sun.

"Yeah, I like to stay busy with fun stuff too..." Rainbow Dash said while letting out a yawn. She sounded like she was ready for a nap, but also did not want to fall asleep in my company. For a moment longer, she said nothing. But that did not last for long. Suddenly, she sat up and looked at me with an excited smile. "Hey! That's it! James, let's just get up and go!"

"Go? Go where?" I asked as she grabbed my attention. I could not understand what she was trying to tell me.

Rainbow Dash then jumped to her feet and even began to sway her tail in excitement. "Anywhere! Let's go, just you and me! Whaddya say?"

I cocked my head to one side as I started to comprehend her words. "What, you mean like a field trip?"

"That's exactly it! So, how about it? You wanna just come fly with me for a while?" Rainbow Dash then asked while spreading her wings.

It sounded like fun and a great way to pass the time on an otherwise bland day. There was just one tiny little problem. "I would take you up on your offer...if I had wings of my own to fly with."

Rainbow simply let out a laugh. "Oh, that's easy! You just left your wings up in Canterlot, right? I'll just head on up and ask Princess Celestia if you can borrow it. Actually, come to think of it, you're free to do what you want with that stuff, right?"

"Uh... I think so. They did say I'm the owner of that armor. And I guess they'll let you take it if you tell them I want it." I replied while turning my gaze to the distant mountain that Canterlot sits upon. Rainbow Dash could probably get up there and back in a matter of minutes.

"Right! Then you just wait here and I'll be right back. I won't even be ten minutes!" Rainbow Dash said with a confident grin before suddenly taking off and streaking across the sky as she made her way for Canterlot in the far distance. With nothing else to do, I just lied back down and looked at the clouds as they passed overhead. I very nearly nodded off for a nap when I heard someone land right next to me. "Eeeehhh.... I guess that was closer to fifteen minutes. Sorry if I took too long!"

I turned my head to look up and found Rainbow Dash looking down at me. In the grasp of her arm was a familiar silver chalice with a lid tightly affixed to the top. I sat up and took the chalice in hand. "You know, I'm surprised they just let you carry this on your person from Canterlot to here. What if you dropped it?"

Rainbow Dash dismissively shook her head. "Hey, we pegasi are used to carrying things while on the go. I know how to keep a grip on stuff like that. Oh, and the reason I took a bit to get back here is..."

She then tossed me something that was hidden behind her head. A pair of flight goggles. "Just to keep stuff outta your eyes when we fly. We pegasi don't have that problem unless we're dealing with really windy weather, but you'll probably need it. I know you helmet helps with that, but I didn't see the point of bringing that along too. Just the necessities, you know?"

I was glad she brought the goggles along. It would probably feel good to have the wind blowing through my hair, but I would hate to have to stop every minute to rub stuff out of my eyes. I tried pulling them on, finding that they fit nicely over my eyes. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind leaving the helmet off this time. These goggles should be enough."

Not wanting to delay this little field trip any longer and wanting to shake off my lethargy, I popped the lid off the chalice. Inside was a swirling shifting liquid metal that consisted of the colors of Celestia and Luna's coats. I was about to stick my hand in, but then took note of my shoes. They probably would not fit inside of my sabatons. And who wears shoes over shoes? "Hang on, I probably should get these off first. You think you could drop my shoes off at home?"

Rainbow Dash looked down at my feet and then back to me while I kicked my shoes off. "Sure, no problem. Is Fluttershy or Scootaloo home?"

"Nah, Fluttershy's out at the spa with Rarity and Scoot's hanging with her friends today. They won't be home for a while. Just leave them right by the door." I replied before Rainbow Dash flew away with my shoes in her arms. She was only gone a minute since our house is not that far from the pond, even if you put Sweet Apple Acres into the equation. Rainbow Dash soon appeared on the horizon again and then landed beside me without looking even remotely worn out. She has quite a bit of stamina for someone who flies that fast and far. "OK, your shoes are... Hey, what're you waiting for?! Why haven't you suited up yet?"

I looked down at the chalice full of the liquid metal before glancing back at Rainbow. "Huh? Oh, I thought you wanted to watch the armor solidify over me. It's pretty cool to watch, right?"

Rainbow's expression went blank for a second before she snorted while rolling her eyes. "Oh, that. Yeah, it is pretty cool. OK, put it on. I'm watching."

Not wanting to delay us any longer, I stuck my hand into the chalice. Almost immediately, the liquid metal began to crawl up my arm and soon coated my entire body. It quickly solidified, leaving me covered in that suit of majestic winged armor. Rainbow Dash certainly enjoyed the show. "Man, it's always so cool the way it just goes from a liquid to a solid like that. Almost creepy too! Just be glad that stuff stops at your neck!"

"When you put it like that... Yeah, I guess it is. But it's really snug and fits me well once it's on." I replied while flexing my fingers inside my gauntlet. I glanced at the chalice and found not a drop of liquid left in it. I then secured the lid and passed it back to Rainbow Dash. "Before we get going, can you take this back home and put it somewhere safe? Just don't leave it out in the open. The raccoons like to pilfer it."

"Those little sneaks can't keep their paws off of shiny stuff, huh? Got it. I'll put it someplace they can't get to." She then picked up the chalice and flew north before returning a minute later in even less time. I was about to ask her where she put it, but decided not to. She then hovered above me and called out, "All right! You ready to fly?!"

"Yep!" I then leaned back while still seated and stretched out my wings to push me up and onto my feet. I then spread them wide as I crouched and then flapped them hard to propel me skyward in one jump. In just that instant, I went from feeling too relaxed to feeling pumped for adventure. "Woo! Forgot how good it feels to fly!"

I mostly followed Rainbow Dash's lead. I was expecting her to take us south, but she instead led us west over the vast canopy of the Everfree Forest. It felt so...nostalgic to be flying beside Rainbow Dash. I soon looked to her and asked, "Hey... Hasn't it been a while since we last got to fly together like this?"

"What're you talking about?! We got to fly not too long ago in that comic bo... Oh, you mean flying like this. Huh... Yeah, it's been a while! How long has it been?" Rainbow Dash replied while rolling over to look at me while performing the aerial equivalent of the backstroke.

"Close to a year, I think..." I retorted while trying to think back to that fateful night. Was that really the last time we got to properly fly together?

We soared and drifted over the vast forest below, the refreshing sense of isolation falling over us as we drifted further and further from civilization while knowing we could head back at any time. That ocean of green spread out for seemingly miles. At least until we reached a large brown patch.

"That looks familiar... Is that Froggy Bottom Bog down there?" I asked as we drifted over it. I even dipped a bit lower to get a closer look at it. Even at that height, I could still hear the chirping and croaking of frogs. However, I was in for quite a surprise as something huge burst out of the vast muddy bog and came right for me! "What the...?!"

Before I even knew what had happened, I felt something grab me around the waist from behind and dragged me skyward for just a second at breakneck speed. I heard Rainbow Dash speak from just behind my head, "Sheesh, that thing just doesn't know how to play nice!"

Once I was hovering on my own again, I looked down and saw that same hydra that tried to make a meal out of me when I hid out in the Everfree Forest just after my arrival in Equestria. Did it remember me? It must have had quite a strong memory to recognize me after a year and a half! "Man, I almost forgot it was even here... Thanks for the rescue, Rainbow."

"Anytime... Hey, that magic in your arms is still working, right? How's about some payback this time?" Rainbow Dash retorted while she gave me a sly smirk. We were definitely out of range, but that hydra's four heads were still looking right up at us from below.

Not appreciating the memory of that thing trying to come after me, I decided to take Rainbow Dash up on her suggestion as me gauntlets were engulfed in billowing magic auras of gold yellow and cobalt blue. "Sure thing."

I held out my arms as the hydra's heads were engulfed in identical billowing magic auras. Golden yellow on one side and cobalt blue on the other. The hydra's heads looked at each in confusion when they noticed their magical shrouds and became rather alarmed when they started to get pulled away from each other. They struggled to pull back, but my magic was too strong for them to resist. Once I had pulled their heads quite far apart, I released my magical grip on them and let hem go crashing into each other. The impact of the collision was more than enough to stun them and the sight of the whole thing falling right back into the bog was quite a site. The heads fell right into the mud at the water's edge, preventing them from drowning. Rainbow then looked at me and asked, "You think I should've yelled 'timber' while that thing was going down? Feels like I missed out on something funny."

"Nah, that would've been too cliché to be funny. Besides, that's something I'd only expect out of Pinkie Pie. At least maybe now that thing will learn to stay away from me next time it sees me." I replied while rolling my eyes. I then turned to my friend as she hovered nearby. "So, where to next? I'm just following your lead."

"Where to? Uh... Lemme think a minute." Rainbow Dash said while rubbing her head. She looked around with nothing but an ocean of green and a few hills poking out of the forest here and there spread out below us. She then brought her hooves together and said, "Hey! What about those castle ruins? You know, the place where Nightmare Moon was hiding out?"

I had all but forgotten about that place. Those crumbling stone ruins of a far larger structure in its prime. Without a second thought, I nodded. "Sounds good to me... Uh... You remember where they are, right?"

"I think if we just keep flying west, we'll spot it. Come on, let's go!" Rainbow Dash replied before soaring on ahead with me in tow. And sure enough, there it was on the horizon. A clearing set beside a gorge with dark crumbling stone structures. In all honesty, I was rather surprised to see that it had not deteriorated further since I last saw it.

"Huh... It's still there." I muttered as we glided in for a landing. It was quite nostalgic to be back at those looming stone ruins after so long. There is some indescribable feeling that comes from the sense of mystery you get from exploring deserted structures. Urban exploration, I think it is called. Even though our current location was anything but urban.

We landed just beside the bridge that spans the deep canyon right in front of the castle ruins. I took a moment to look over the edge and down into the gorge. It was quite a long drop and the lack of fog in the midday sun gave me a clear view. "Whoa..."

"Yeah, you better not look down." Rainbow Dash added before pulling me away from the side. We then both looked at the ruined entrance to what was the front of the royal sisters' castle long ago. Rainbow then looked up at me and asked, "Pretty sure there's nothing different in there. You wanna head on over to the big one?"

She had a point. There never was anything of any real interest at any point I had looked around in there. The crumbling walls could not even stop me from peering in from outside. Instead, we turned our gazes to the only other section of the castle that was still standing in the near distance. The stone tower and throne room.

In minutes, the two of us were walking up the spiraling stone stairwell as the clopping of hooves and clanking of metal boots echoed all around us. Rainbow Dash even looked up at me and said, "Man, it's so spooky the way it sounds in here! I bet we're gonna find someone waiting in ambush up there!"

"Dream on, Rainbow. I can't imagine anyone waiting for us with...that in the way." I replied as we reached the top of the stairwell and was immediately greeted with a reminder of the mayhem that occurred the last time we were there. A pile of stone bricks and rubble blocked our way along with the charred remains of a large tree branch. There was not even enough room for us to crawl through.

"Oh... Right, forgot about that... Hey, you think you can use your magic to move that junk outta the way?" Rainbow Dash said before looking up at me.

I suppose I could have tried using my magic to steadily move all of the rubble aside piece by piece, but a thought then came to mind as I glanced down at my foot. I wondered if my legs could deliver a kick strong enough to push everything out of our way. I smirked and braced myself while motioning for Rainbow Dash to step back. "I've got a better idea. You might want to step back though."

"Whoa! You're really gonna try that, huh? OK then!" Rainbow retorted while taking several steps back behind me. I spread my wings out to prop them against the walls and lifted my leg. I then slammed my foot against the pile before me.

I have to admit I got more than what I expected out of that. That one kick sent most of the rubble pile sprawling across the hall. I stood still in stunned silence, knowing that my greaves grant my legs with the strength of the burliest earth pony, but still did not expect to have such an easy time with that. Rainbow Dash seemed to mirror my thoughts as she trotted up beside me and asked, "Yikes... You been working out?"

"That...or these boots come with a built-in steroid supply." I retorted while we stepped past the tiny pile of debris at our feet. The vast throne room echoed at the sound of our footsteps as the sense of solitude fell over us. This time, I felt no presence of anyone other than ourselves. It was almost...eerie coming back there after all that had happened and finding no signs of life there.

Before either of us could even really look around, a sound reverberated through the vast stone chamber. We looked towards the nearest window and could see a lightning flash through the darkened clouds. During our approach, we were so focused on what was ahead and below that we had failed to notice what was above us. A thunderstorm was rolling in. I turned to Rainbow Dash and asked, "I take it your not allowed to mess with the weather in the Everfree Forest?"

Rainbow Dash looked out of one of the towering windows, whatever glass panes that had been there having long since gone missing or fallen out. She then looked back at me and spoke right as the rain started to come down. "Nope. I mean, I guess I could and nopony would notice, but I don't think I should mess with something like that in a place that pretty much takes care of itself."

"True... At least we have a roof over our heads until it passes." I retorted as I began to walk down the vast chamber. The wind was weak, so we did not have to worry about the rain being blown directly into the chamber. Especially with that gaping hole in the wall at the back of the throne room. I almost winced as the memory came back to me of when Nightmare Moon practically bulldozed we right through that wall. The amount of force behind that spell must have been absurd to push me right through a wall of stone bricks.

"Hey, check me out!" I heard Rainbow Dash call out before she swooped past me and sat herself upon the empty throne at the far end of the chamber. Even with all that happened that night, the throne and its immediate surroundings had survived the chaos unscathed. Rainbow then held up her arms and boldly called out to me. "I am Queen Rainbow Dash! Bow before me! I hereby decree that today shall be forever known as Wonderbolts Appreciation Day! All citizens are to... Uh... You! Servant! Come here!"

Seeing that she was talking to me, I decided to play along and walked up to the throne before taking a knee and bowing my head. "You called, your majesty?"

Rainbow Dash sat proudly upon the throne and said, "I am famished! Go to the kitchen and have the chefs prepare a potato salad and spaghetti sandwich!"

Potato salad and spaghetti on a sandwich?! That sounded absolutely revolting to me. Regardless, I tried to throw in some wit. "With all due respect, your majesty, the kitchen collapsed and was reclaimed by the forest centuries ago."

I was not expecting Rainbow's response. Apparently disappointed, she crossed her arms and pouted. "Tch... Killjoy."

I stood up again and looked at Rainbow with an amused smirk. "Did you...really think the kitchen was still here? Or that it still had edible food to prepare?"

"Hey, a girl can dream! Right?" She replied with a bit of a snicker. A soft rumbling of the thunderstorm caught our attention. We fell silent for a moment while turning our gaze towards the windows. The sky was gray and the rain was coming down hard as the delightful scent of wet earth reached our nostrils. The sound of the rain falling and splattering against the stone exterior was quite relaxing. If I had a soft cushion to lie on, I could take a nap to that quiet symphony. Soon, Rainbow Dash stepped off the throne and tapped its side. "You wanna take a seat?"

"Huh? Um... Sure." I retorted before stepping up onto the throne's raised platform and sat down on the throne. I had a fairly cushy seat cushion even after centuries of partial exposure to the elements. Once I sat down, Rainbow Dash then hopped up into my lap and just laid back into my arms. "Oh, uh... I know my arms are harder than usual, but... Comfy?"

"Yep! Now we've both got a seat." Rainbow Dash replied while she relaxed in my grasp. For a moment, we just chilled on the throne while letting our eyes wander. The vast stone room, the falling rain outside the window arches, and the flash of lightning in the distance was all we saw with the sound of rumbling thunder being all that we heard. Finally, Rainbow Dash spoke up as she turned her head to look at me. "Man... Has it really been almost a year now?"

I let out a sigh as I turned my gaze to the ceiling where Nightmare Moon hid as little more than a shadow on the walls. "Yeah... That was a crazy night, but it's good to see everything's OK now. Nightmare Moon's come a long way..."

"Yep... Man, that was a lot to take in. Zombies, then Nightmare Moon, then a new Element we had never heard of... Heh, who knew you'd be such big news for Equestria?" Rainbow Dash said with a light snicker. I just rolled my eyes, not exactly interested in drawing that much attention to myself as the bearer of the Element of Humanity. However, I felt Rainbow Dash then tighten her grasp on me as if in response to her recalling an unpleasant memory. "And... God, I thought I was gonna lose you back then..."

Those words jogged my memory as well. Thoughts of Rainbow Dash enduring a blast of magic lightning. My grasp on her tightened, an unpleasant chill flowing through me as I recalled the moment where I thought Rainbow Dash had died right in front of me. "I thought I lost you too for a moment..."

A moment later, Rainbow Dash suddenly relaxed and placed a kiss upon my cheek while smiling. "Hey, why're we getting all gloomy? It's the rain, right? Everything turned out fine, right? Let's...uh...try to focus on the good stuff right now. I didn't want this field trip to stop being fun."

Before I could really take her words to heart, Rainbow then surprised me by rubbing her nose against mine for a more traditional equine kiss. That sudden touch got a chuckle out of me. "Heheh, all right then. Yeah, let's just focus on having fun."

I stood up and walked around the room with Rainbow Dash and came to the gaping hole in the wall near the back of the chamber. I was especially impressed how big it was now that I was getting a good look at it. "Man... Did she really push me right through that thing with just her magic?"

"Yeah, that was crazy to watch. What happened after that? Did you fly away or something?" Rainbow then asked while surveying the damage as she stuck her head out the hole as the rain drenched her mane. Indeed, the stone bricks that had been part of the wall were now lying at the base of the tower far below.

I glanced back at my armor's wings as they spread wide. "Uh... Not really. I was OK, but the impact busted up my wings to the point where I could only break out into a glide. They're kinda fragile compared to the rest of my armor."

"Yeesh. Well, I can kinda understand that. I can take a beating, but my wings still aren't unbreakable." Rainbow Dash retorted while looking at one wing. Did she break it once? However, she then changed the subject rather suddenly while sounding rather excited. "Hey! What about those zombies from last time?! Are they around here?"

That brought back some unpleasant memories. I scowled while turning towards the gaping hole in the wall, not entirely sure if I was looking east. "What, you mean those freaks from Sunny Town? Um... I guess they are kind of close by, although they're not zombies during daylight hours."

"They're not? Well, that makes things easier. How about we pay a visit so we can mess with them?" Rainbow Dash said with a smirk. She seemed interested in getting into a brawl with them. Probably as payback for trying to mess with us the last time we all passed through the Everfree Forest.

I was not surprised by her ignorance. I merely crossed my arms and gave her my sternest glare. "Absolutely not, Rainbow. I have no reason or desire to ever go back there and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm not welcome there anymore anyway and it'd be in your best interest to not show your face or cutie mark there either."

"Oh come on, how bad can it be?! I bet they'll never even touch me!" My brash and bold friend retorted while going airborne as if to emphasize her ability to fly and stay out of reach.

I reached out and placed my hands on Rainbow's shoulders to try and convey just how serious I was about that place and its xenophobic inhabitants. "Rainbow. If they catch you, they'll pin you down and beat you to death. There's a reason why they're cursed, you know. They've killed before. And they'll kill you too if they get the chance."

Rainbow's expression became grimmer as she seemed to comprehend my words. With a sigh, she seemed to relent. "Oh... Well... Dang. I didn't think they were THAT dangerous. OK, scratch that idea. Messing with those jerks isn't worth dying for. In that case... How about we stop by Cloudsdale instead?"

"Cloudsdale? That's where you're from, right?" I asked in return while my interest was piqued. I had never been to that city in the sky. Sounded like it would make for an interesting place to go. Something that is literally impossible where I come from.

"Yep! Born and raised in the clouds! There isn't another place like it in the world! Wanna go? I can show you around." Rainbow retorted while hovering closer to the gaping hole in the wall. Probably because it was the quickest way out.

"Sounds good to me. Let's go...as soon as the rain lets up." I replied before walking over to the hole and looking out it. The rain was still coming down, though not as hard as earlier. And maybe ten minutes later, it came to a stop. Not wasting any time, I pulled my goggles back on watched as Rainbow Dash rushed out of the hole and into the sky. I took one last look back at the empty throne room, appreciating it as I thought briefly about all that had happened in there. Worrying that Rainbow Dash might get too far ahead, I then spread my wings and hurled myself out the hole and took off after my friend. We were heading northeast.

"Is Cloudsdale far? I mean everyone else can get there with a hot air balloon. It's not in danger of just drifting off, is it?" I asked while we soared high above the landscape. I doubt I had ever flown so high before that point. The sense of freedom was indescribable to the point where I felt as if I was lazily drifting along through the air.

Rainbow glanced at me and said, "Nah, it's pretty much in the same place at all times. I mean I guess it can drift away on the wind, but they make sure it's always in the same place. I mean they can't have Cloudsdale just up and walking away when most of Equestria depends on it for its rainwater. Gotta know where to send the water, you know!"

It still bewilders me how the weather teams of Equestria create a tornado powerful enough to suck water right out of a pool and into the sky every year. I have yet to see it happen in Ponyville, but it sounds like a sight to behold. Before long, something started to come up over the horizon. I thought it was simply a large cloud. But as we drew closer, it started to show features that would never be on just an ordinary cloud. Visible pillars, a number of flags, and even liquid rainbows pouring over the sides. It almost looked familiar to me, prompting me to turn to Rainbow. "Uh... Rainbow? Did the summit of Mt. Olympus detach from the mountain and just float away to become a city in the sky?"

"Huh?! Uh... Not when I last checked! That right there is all cloud! Welcome to Cloudsdale, big guy!" Rainbow Dash replied in both bewilderment and delight as we approached. The architecture looked archaic to the point of carrying some noticeable parallels to the legends of the pegasus from where I come from. As we flew in for a landing, I felt as if I had stepped into a world even more magical than Equestria, as if I had stumbled upon the realm of gods presiding over the mortal realm below. All of those varying gradients of white and icy blue. Cloudsdale really is a place you have to see to believe. "What's up, James? Got your head in the clouds?"

"Very funny, Rainbow. I'm just.....a bit mesmerized by this place. It feels like a dream." I replied as I walked along the surprisingly smooth and flat cloud floor below me. It felt quite firm and not at all like most clouds I have touched while clad in my armor. Not as firm as solid ground, I mean it did give under each step just a bit as if I was walking on a trampoline, but it would quickly regain its uniformed flatness a second later. After glancing around a bit, I turned to Rainbow again. "I'm having a hard time processing this place! I know I've heard of Cloudsdale from you and others lots of times, but I don't think anything could prepare me for this."

Rainbow Dash just got a laugh out of my reaction. "You'll get used to it. I mean... Well, yeah. A city of clouds isn't big on color. That's pretty much the only problem I could think of having here. Don't got that problem with me though!"

I cracked a smirk while Rainbow Dash wile she flipped her rainbow-striped tail around a bit. "Yep! Guess I should be glad I inherited my dad's rainbow do! Anyway, how about I show you around? It'd be cool if we start with the weather factory."

"Sounds good. Lead on." I retorted before I followed Rainbow Dash on foot. With how many pegasi I saw flying through the city, I was rather surprised to see Rainbow choosing to walk instead. Perhaps she was taking my advice of getting more use out of her legs, or maybe she was just taking her time now that she was back home after a long time. Still, it was almost disquieting to see nothing but pegasi in Cloudsdale after seeing a mix of all three pony races everywhere I have gone. Then again, earth ponies and unicorns would just fall through the clouds to their doom.

The architecture was truly something out of a different era. More ancient in style than the castle we had just been to. This really was turning into quite the spectacle of a field trip. To anyone not familiar with cloud-based architecture, Cloudsdale seems like something out of a dream. Although something was off with Rainbow Dash too. She seemed unusually alert, constantly glancing around as if keeping an eye out for something. And judging by how angst she seemed, it was something she did not want to see. Regardless, I could see the weather factory in the distance at the edge of the sprawling city of cloud. A number of ugly dark thunderclouds hovered overhead, probably waiting to get shipped out to where they were needed, and a large funnel-like object pointing out of the city was putting out clouds that were probably full of rainwater. I guess the thunderclouds are those, but overloaded with it to the point of becoming unstable. They are probably reserved exclusively for specific cases.

Before we could enter the factory proper, we had to stop by a lobby area. Apparently because one needs to be in uniform before entering the workplace. I tried to avoid eye contact since I was starting to draw a bit too much attention since most of the ponies in Cloudsdale probably had never seen a human before. Eventually, Rainbow Dash trotted over to me while clad in a white jacket and hard hat. I think she has a set of those back at home. "OK, before we head inside, you gotta suit up. Now just put this on and... Oh, wait..."

"Not my size, Rainbow. And I can't exactly take this armor off while we're up here. It'll be the death of me. Although seeing as how I didn't bring my helmet..." I replied while also pulling off my goggles. Regardless, I took the hardhat and set it upon my head. "Still, I can probably use this. So, where to?"

After showing a sheepish grin while putting the extra jacket back, she motioned for me to follow her outside. "Right this way! We'll start with the spot where the snowflakes get made."

Curious, I followed closely behind my guide. A door on the outside slid open, revealing a vast room with desks outfitted with magnifying lenses. Many pegasi decked out in the same uniform Rainbow Dash was wearing were carefully examining what seemed to be very large snowflakes under the lenses. It was rather quiet, so I felt compelled to keep my voice down. "Looks delicate."

"Yeah, it is. Everything is hoofmade, so it's pretty delicate. And never flap your wings while you're in here. This is a strict no-fly zone since the wind our wings kick up will send those things flying everywhere. Let's move on so we don't disturb them." Rainbow Dash whispered back while we quietly made our way into the next room. It felt much more alive in there with the room being partially outdoors with no real walls or ceiling. Many pegasi were carrying around what seemed to be spoons on the end of long poles as liquid rainbows poured from basin to basin and settling in pools in the floor. "And here we've got the rainbow fa...ack!"

"Something wrong?" I asked upon noticing Rainbow Dash gag loudly.

She turned back to me and replied while looking annoyed. "Ugh... Something about those words together just feels wrong to say. Like it's trying to bring back bad memories of something, but I can't put my hoof on it."

I looked up at my surroundings, wondering why 'rainbow factory' was so taboo to her. I then looked back down at my friend and asked, "Well, how about the rainbow production plant?"

"Much better! We'll go with that!" Rainbow replied with looking much happier with that term. "But anyway, yeah. This is where they make the rainbows! You ever see one after a thunderstorm? Well this is where they come from."

I smiled at Rainbow's enthusiasm and looked down at the liquid pool of colors. I never thought I would see such a thing in a physical form. And furthermore, I was tempted to taste the rainbow. I looked at Rainbow Dash and asked, "Say, didn't you get Rarity a bottle of this stuff for Hearths Warming Day?"

She looked up at me and said, "This stuff? Kind of. It's a special wine that they make from diluting this stuff as much as possible and fermenting it. Don't ask me how it works because wine is the one kinda booze I just can't get a taste for."

"Yeah, wine's the odd one out when it comes to alcoholic beverages." I muttered before glancing around and seeing a water cooler set up nearby with paper cups available. I smirked and went over to get one before coming back. "Before we move on, I gotta try something. I always wanted to taste the rainbow."

As I scooped a full cup of the liquid rainbow up in my cup, Rainbow Dash briefly looked like she was about to warn me of something before backing down with an excited grin. This did not escape my attention and prompted me to ask, "What? What's wrong? This stuff isn't toxic, is it?"

Struggling to suppress a snicker, Rainbow Dash waved her hoof at me. "Nah, it's not dangerous. Go ahead! Tell me what it's like pure!"

"You got it!" I replied before chugging the whole thing in one gulp. But not three seconds later... My god, what even hit me?! My vision rapidly cycled between multiple colored tints and my mouth just went haywire with an incredibly powerful assault on my taste buds that I cannot even begin to describe! Was it spicy? Sour? Bitter? I have no idea! All I know was that my senses were just overwhelmed to the point of finding myself on the floor and foaming at the mouth a moment later as Rainbow Dash howled in laughter. A number of the plant workers had gathered around me, probably out of fear that I would need to be hospitalized. Wheezing and gasping, I tried to yell at Rainbow. "What the hell...was in that stuff and... Was I foaming at the mouth?!"

Rainbow Dash, laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face, forced herself to stand and walk over to me as her laughter finally came to an end. "Ooooh man, that was awesome! Sheesh, Pinkie Pie only tasted the stuff! I've never seen anypony chug it! You OK, big guy?"

"Pinkie Pie?! She puts hot sauce on her cupcakes from time to time and THIS was too much for her?! Why didn't you tell me?! That was... Crap, I think my tongue's gone numb..." I grumbled in irritation that Rainbow Dash had not warned me about the rainbow's raw overwhelming flavor.

"Because it wouldn't have been funny if I stopped you, that's why! Come on, nopony's tried that! I had to see it!" Rainbow replied before ordering the rest of the pegasi around me to get back to work. "OK, show's over! He's OK! Back to work, everypony!"

She was at least kind enough to get me a cup of water to help sooth my mouth. I am still certain that that my taste buds were shot for a while after that. After I gulped that down and climbed to my feet, I glared down at Rainbow Dash. "Remind me to spike your next bottle of cider with that stuff. Now, where to next?"

"Well, there is the place where they make clouds... But nah, that's probably the least interesting part of the plant. And... Hey, you feeling hungry? How about we go grab a bite at the Cloud Cafe ?" She replied while a noticeable gurgle reached my ears. I suppose that was her stomach.

"Now that you mention it, I haven't had lunch yet... Sure, let's grab a bite. I just hope my taste buds turn back on by then..." I said while feeling rather hungry myself. I followed Rainbow Dash back out while dropping off our jacket and helmets back in the lobby.

I followed Rainbow Dash through the streets of Cloudsdale, marveling at the unique architecture. The roads were not all that consistent and there were no guardrails to speak of around the many drop-offs, although I suppose that was not a real danger since literally everyone up there can fly. I even saw a residential area with houses that had cloud-covered roofs instead of thatched ones that brought to mind puffy wigs and moustaches. The even had rainbow fences here and there that seemed to be made of literal physical rainbows. Although I have to say the very cold color palette of much of Cloudsdale's architecture was starting to rub me the wrong way. Even with the warmth of spring, I felt like we were in the dead of winter. The city felt cold and lifeless in spite of all the activity around us. Rainbow Dash seemed to take note of my prolonged silence and looked up at me. "What's up? You're really quiet. Have you gone into 'massive visual information intake mode' or something?"

"I guess you can say that... Although..." I retorted quietly before bringing myself to look down at my guide. "Well... I have to say... I don't really like this place very much. All of these cold colors make the place feel...dead."

I almost expected Rainbow Dash to fly up in front of my in shocked disbelief that I could be so unimpressed by the city she came from. But to my surprise, she was quiet and contemplative at first. Rainbow Dash then showed me a rather somber smile and said, "You know... I think that's part of the reason Fluttershy was so eager to move to Ponyville after she wound up on the ground by accident that one time. When she got back up here, she wouldn't shut up about all the cute little animals down there along with how bright and colorful it was. So...yeah. I get your point. I mean Cloudsdale does try to keep itself from being nothing but too many different hues of white, but... Well, there's only so much you can do with clouds and rainbows. And if not white, then blue. At least the insides of the places are..."

I noticed Rainbow Dash suddenly freeze in place as she stared straight ahead. At first, I was left baffled. I looked ahead down the road and did not see anyone I recognized. "Uh... Something wrong? Did you see something over... Hey?!"

Next thing I knew, Rainbow Dash was above me and pressing down on me with her hooves on my pauldrons. In just a second, she pushed me right down into the street until I was packed into the clouds below us. I could barely move in that cushy tomb of clouds. "OK, what gives?!"

Rainbow Dash then looked down at me with quite a panicked and serious expression. "Look. I am dead serious here. Don't move and don't say a word until I pull you back out."

With that, she covered me back up with a layer of white cloud. It was...surreal being stuffed into a tomb of white cloud that might as well have been cotton to me at the time. Although I suppose she had a point. While it felt like a solid layer of soft matter, clouds offer next to no hindrance to sound. Before long, I heard a mare speak up somewhere above me while only barely being able to hear her muffled footsteps as she approached. I soon felt some slight pressure on top of my head as whoever came closer was now standing right above me. And the greeting was...rather unorthodox, to say the least. "Rainbow! How long has it been, my #1 Widdle Dashy Washy Bashy?!"

"What the hell?" I muttered in as quiet a whisper as I could manage. What in the world was happening right above me? And it sounded like Rainbow Dash was groaning in noticeable discomfort.

Just as I was starting to wonder who in the world Rainbow Dash had seen coming, she provided the one answer I did not expect. "Mom, come on! Lemme breathe! And seriously, stop calling me that junk in public! People are staring!"

Oh god, I almost busted out laughing as I tried to imagine the scene right above my head. And quite frankly, I could guess as to why Rainbow Dash would not want me to see her mother do...whatever it was she was doing up there at that moment. Thankfully, it sounded like she was relenting and respecting Rainbow Dash's wishes. "Oh, sorry, sorry! It's just that it feels like it's been years since we last had a chance to talk like this. So, what brings you back to Cloudsdale?"

Regaining her composure, Rainbow Dash provided a more relaxed response. "Oh, just looking for a way to pass the time. I've got nothing to do today, so I came up here to look around, take a walk down memory lane, that sorta thing. How's Dad? He staying in shape or is he letting himself go?"

"Oh, you know your father. He always has to keep himself busy. You know where you get your energy, after all." I heard Rainbow's mom reply. The air quickly became less humorous, which helped me stop myself from laughing. Stuck and with little means to remove myself from that cloud coffin, I just looked up at the layer of white above me and just listened to the show. "Oh, have you had lunch yet? Would you like me to whip up one of your favorite potato salad and pasta on sourdough sandwiches?"

I cringed as I heard of that snack again. That was where she got it from? Rainbow Dash, clearly sounding like she was trying to get away from her own mother, replied while trying to avoid sounding suspicious. "Nah, I'm good. Trying to cut back on carbs. Need to stay sleek and lean if I'm gonna maintain my speed record on cloud removal."

Her mom almost sounded like a huge fan in her response to that. "Oh, that's right! You most definitely do! Ten seconds flat, right? Nopony's faster than our Rainbow Dash!"

"Yeah, yeah, we all know that. Anyway, I've still got a schedule to keep and would like to grab a bite somewhere before heading back home. Say hi to Dad for me, OK?" Rainbow Dash replied hastily in an attempt to cut the conversation short. I can only imagine the look on her face at the time.

Rainbow's mother sounded like she took the bait and decided to head on her way. But not after sounding like she gave Rainbow Dash another squeeze of a hug. "Will do! And be sure to stop by sometime! We miss our little champ! Have a good one!"

"Oof... Right. Anyway, see ya!" Rainbow Dash replied while I could make out the soft steps of her mother become increasingly distant. After maybe another thirty seconds of Rainbow Dash waiting to see if the coast was clear, she reached down into the clouds and yanked me right out of street like a radish. "Sorry about that. I just didn't... Uh... What's with that look?"

I was giving her a rather disgusted stare before saying, "I thought you were joking about the potato salad and pasta sandwich... You seriously eat that stuff?"

"Uh... Yes?" Rainbow Dash replied with a nervous chuckle. "It's been one of my favorite foods since I was a filly. I still make it every now and then myself, but I try to not eat it too much to avoid packing on the carbs."

"Still sounds revolting... But seriously, why'd you hide me from your mom?" I then asked while glancing around. She was long gone, so I have no idea what she even looks like at this time.

"Why? You heard everything that happened and you don't get it?!" Rainbow retorted while sounding rather annoyed. "In case you didn't notice, my folks are several flavors of CRAZY! The last I need is them seeing you and going nuts thinking I have a boyfriend. Trust me, it'd take a long time to get through to them that you're with somepony else."

"Uh... Aside from how she greeted you, she didn't sound that weird. She kept her cool for the most part until she left." I replied while trying to think of every line she said right above me. "She sounds fun, to be honest."

Rainbow Dash's expression soured immediately as if she was recalling memories that did not sit well with her. "James. My parents took the lamp I broke when I first started to get the hang of flying, the apple I was eating when I lost my first baby tooth, and the diaper I was wearing when I said my first word, and painted them over in gold paint to turn them into trophies."

I almost laughed. Seriously, that was so incomprehensible that I was certain she was exaggerating. But before I could burst out laughing, I saw that Rainbow Dash was giving a very dry glare. Not a shred of humor was in that expression. It slowly began to dawn on me that she was not exaggerating anything. "You're...not kidding, are you?"

Rainbow Dash let out a sigh while she rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Don't get me wrong. I love my parents, I wouldn't be where I am today without them, but they've got problems. And I swear that one of these days, I'm gonna snap at them so hard and it's not gonna be pretty. They're supportive, but... They're also waaaaay too supportive. Their biggest problem is that they don't know where to draw the line. Seriously, even I've got my limits on how much praise I can take. And they crossed that point a hundred miles back."

"Yeesh... Sorry I asked... Wait. That diaper they turned into a trophy... Was it clean or soiled when they did that?" I then asked as a very uncomfortable thought passed through my head.

That definitely unnerved Rainbow Dash as she cringed before me. "Don't even ask, OK?! The less I know about what really happened with that diaper, the better! Besides, I'm hungry and I don't wanna spoil my appetite! Come on, this way!"

Not wanting to wait any longer, I followed Rainbow Dash through the streets until we came to an unsuspecting cafe. While the exterior was largely interchangeable, I was very pleasantly surprised by the interior. It was roughly as colorful as the cafe in Ponyville with no signs of clouds making up the interior. A jukebox was playing music nearby while a number of customers were already seated around small tables. I suppose the materials used for interior design are infused with a type of magic that makes them just as resistant to clouds as a pegasus itself. Rainbow Dash led me over to a booth made up of a half circle seat that wrapped around half of the table. It was a bit of a tight squeeze due to my size and especially since I was in full armor, but I managed. I could not help but smile and say, "At least the interiors are nice and colorful."

"Hey, it helps draw the customers. If it was all those shades of white and blue everywhere you go in town, everypony would be constantly depressed!" Rainbow retorted with a laugh. A waitress passed by and dropped off a couple of menus, leaving us to plot our orders. I was looking through the sandwiches for a while and took note of a special rainbow juice. But then I realized I did not have my wallet on hand. "Uh... Rainbow? I just now realized that I don't have my wallet. I think I'll have to pass this time."

"No worries, big guy. I'll handle it. Least I can do for you tagging along with me all morning." My friend said from behind her menu without even putting it down.

"Thanks, Rainbow. Let me know if I can make it up to you." I replied while setting my menu down and helping myself to a pack of saltine crackers to see if my taste buds were fine after chugging a cup of pure liquid rainbow. Thankfully, I could taste it just fine. The waitress soon came back and we placed our orders for a pair of sandwiches and bottles of rainbow soda. Hopefully those drinks would be milder than the last one.

For a minute or two, I let my eyes wander around the cafe. Quite a few patrons and employees would eye me now and then, probably since they had never seen anything like me before. They did not focus on me for too long though, probably because I was in the company of Rainbow Dash and she likely has a reputation in Cloudsdale. Speaking of her, I eventually turned my gaze to her and noticed she was not looking at anything in particular. I gently nudged her with my wing and asked, "You OK?"

She almost did not respond as if lost in thought and looked at me out of the corner of her eye with a soft smile. "Huh? Oh... Yeah. Just thinking."

"But isn't thinking for eggheads?" I retorted snidely in an attempt to mess with her.

"Hey, you know I took those all back." She replied with a rather serious tone of voice. Rainbow quickly noticed this and propped her chin up on her hoof while just staring out at the rest of the room. "Sorry... It's just that... You know how they say hindsight is 20/20?"

I immediately became worried about what Rainbow Dash was thinking about. Perhaps us spending a good chunk of the day had caused her to become resentful of herself not taking the opportunity to try starting up a relationship back before Fluttershy and I came together. I know that thought has passed through her mind at some point. She seemed to guess this too as I looked at her and shook her hoof at me while showing an awkward smile. "Hey, it's got nothing to do with you! Nothing at all!"

"Then... What's wrong?" I asked while finding myself relaxing that such a thought was not the cause.

"It's just that... Well... That was the first time I've seen my mom for the last couple of years and..." Rainbow Dash began to say while pausing to let out a sigh as she once more propped up her chin on her hoof. "It's just that... Thinking back on how things went... I mean I know my parents did their best, but... All they really knew how to do for me was always praise me and give encouragement. Even when I failed, they always stood by me. But... I know this sounds crazy, but... It was like they thought I was always a winner because I tried my hardest. And... Well, nowadays... I feel like they never really taught me how to deal with failure... And I think that's why I always had such a hard time dealing with anything where I had to settle for less than 1st place..."

That was a surprisingly somber topic for her to bring up. She almost sounded resentful. I draped my wing over her to pull her close, hoping no one around would pay us much mind. "You don't hate them for that, do you?"

Instead of looking upset, Rainbow Dash showed me a very sincere smile as she turned to me. "Hate them? Nah. I mean they might've screwed up on a few things and drove me nuts before I left home, but they've always supported me. No. It's just made me all the more grateful that you did for me what they didn't."

"Excuse me?" I asked while rather surprised by her words, not really understanding what it was I did for her. At least not consciously.

She sidled up closer to me, apparently taking care to mind her body language while in front of a number of Cloudsdale natives who probably knew about her. "Seriously, I can't tell you how grateful I am for you being a good influence on me. You taught me restraint. You taught me how to just let things be. You taught me things that my parents just didn't have the mind to. I can't tell you how glad I am to have you in my life. So... Thanks. Seriously, thank you for always being there for me in ways I can't say."

I was touched. That was quite a thing to open up about, especially for her. All I could do was smile and pet her head. "No problem, Rainbow. I'm glad to help."

Right after that, our waitress returned with our orders. She even seemed to know Rainbow Dash by name. I was especially surprised by how tasty that rainbow beverage was. I do not know what they do to balance out that ridiculously strong flavor, but it was good! The sandwiches were tasty too and I was wondering what I would get next time we stopped by, if ever.

As we came close to finishing our meal, Rainbow Dash asked, "So, you wanna head home after this? I think I'm ready for a nice long nap right about now."

"That sounds good to me. Maybe I'll join you." I replied as I chugged the rest of my drink. Once we finished up, Rainbow Dash pulled a stack of bits out of her mane and left them on the table before I followed her outside. We then spread our wings and took to the air before flying south. It did not take long to clear Cloudsdale's limits as we went into a glide to slowly descend back towards familiar ground.

However, on the return trip, I started to feel an uncomfortable pressure in my bowels. I was going to need to use the bathroom soon, so I was in a big hurry to get back home and make my way to the toilet. "Hey... Uh... Rainbow? Can you get us where we need to go with the shortest route? I kinda need to go!"

"You gotta go?! OK, just stay right behind me!" She replied before veering to the right slightly and speeding up. I flapped my wings hard to keep up while being relieved that doing so did not require any actual effort on my part. Far in the distance, Ponyville began to peek up over the horizon and Fluttershy's cottage at the very edge of the Everfree Forest beyond. "See? Takes no time at all to get anywhere when you can fly!"

"Yeah, I'll take wings any day! Now let's hurry!" I yelled back while going into a dive. I pulled out of it to slow down right as we were above Fluttershy's home and had to loop back around to give me enough distance to really come in for a landing. I reached the ground by landing on the bridge that spans the little brook in front of the cottage. Rainbow Dash was right behind me and stayed airborne while I started to fiddle with my armor. "OK, now to get this...off... Uh..."

"What's wrong? Can't you just pull that off like a jacket?" Rainbow Dash asked as she circled me.

"Uh... No! Plate armor is tricky to get off of your own... Where's the clasps for the cuirass?! I can slide the gauntlets off just fine, but the rest of it is... Oh man, I don't wanna make a mess in this thing!" I all but yelled as I realized that I did not have the means to get my armor off on my own. I was stuck in it!

"Oh boy, that's not good! Maybe there's... Wait! Maybe Princess Celestia or Luna can get it off! I'll be right back!" Before I could even object, Rainbow Dash took off like a rocket towards Canterlot in the distance. All I could do was stand there and fidget in discomfort as I prayed she would get back in time with someone who could remove it. Barely five minutes later, I was startled as a bright flash popped up near me and revealed Rainbow Dash speaking to Luna. "And we just got back from Cloudsdale and... Wait, what?! How'd we get here?!"

"Teleportation, Rainbow Dash. Now, I understand you have a problem here?" Luna then asked rather straightforwardly as she approached me with a somewhat dry expression on her face. I could tell she did not appreciate having to drop everything just to deal with this issue.

Somewhat embarrassed by my situation, I coyly explained the problem. "Uh... Yeah... I really gotta go and I can't get this armor off!"

Luna found my response to be rather humorous as her face scrunched in a muffled laugh. She then rolled her eyes and muttered, "We never got around to teaching you how to use the spell for regressing this armor to its base liquid state, did we? I suppose we should make that a priority next session. Very well then. But first, where is that chalice it was contained in earlier?"

"I'm on it!" Rainbow Dash spoke up before swooping up to the cottage's roof and rummaging around in the foliage that covered it. Barely ten seconds later, she lifted that very chalice up for all to see. "Found it!"

"You hid it on the roof?" I asked while Rainbow flew back down to us with the chalice between her hooves.

Rainbow Dash just cast me a bit of an amused smirk. "Well, I had to put it somewhere the raccoons would have a hard time getting to. I was considering putting it on top of the chimney like a weathervane, but I didn't want a sudden breeze to knock it down into your fireplace."

"Well, enough stalling. This will only take a moment." Luna then said as she took the chalice into her magical grasp and popped the lid off. My armor was also engulfed in her blue magic aura and quickly melted right off me and pooled around my feet and into a puddle. It then rose off the ground and was put right into the chalice before the lid was secured. "That should do it. Now then, is there anything else?"

Glad to finally be back in just clothing I could easily remove, I grinned in gratitude. "Nope! That'll do it! Thanks, Luna!"

My royal friend smiled while taking some amusement from my fidgeting. "Anytime, my friend. Now, I suppose I will see you again at the Grand Galloping Gala. See you soon!" And with that, she was gone in a flash of magic light.

Before Rainbow Dash could even say anything to me, I bolted inside and upstairs to the bathroom without even bothering to put my shoes back on. I do not need to describe what happened in there, but I was feeling much better afterwards. But when I went back downstairs to look outside for Rainbow Dash, she was nowhere to be seen.

I almost felt guilty to just rush off like without even saying goodbye. Fluttershy was still not back yet and Scootaloo was nowhere to be seen. With it being too quiet for my tastes, I turned the phonograph on and started playing one of Fluttershy's relaxation music albums before slouching on the sofa for a nap. But once I closed my eyes, I was startled as something fell on me. Upon opening my eyes, I found Rainbow Dash looking up at me while draped across my chest. "Huh? Where'd you come from?"

"I was hiding behind the sofa while waiting for you to come back down. You still up for a nap? Because I am." She replied while letting out a yawn. She must have read my mind.

With a smile, I reached out and placed a kiss upon her nose. "Yep... Wanna join me before you go home?"

Rainbow Dash smiled back and placed a kiss upon my lips. "You bet. Sweet dreams, big guy."

Not much else really happened today. We were both awakened by the smell of Fluttershy cooking dinner, so Rainbow Dash ended up sticking around. Scootaloo really enjoyed having her idol around again. Once dinner was over, we all saw Rainbow Dash off for home. And my lord, did Scootaloo and Fluttershy laugh themselves silly when I told them about what happened when I tasted the rainbow today.

I think that is just about it. Not a terribly eventful day. Just a nice little field trip spent with Rainbow Dash. Nothing impressive while still feeling quite special. I wish I had days like this more often. I think I will go make some tea before bed. Some of that rainbow tea that Rainbow Dash brought me from Cloudsdale recently.