Today is a day I am so nervous about. Today I am finally going to meet up with Rainbow and hopefully put this whole thing behind us. To be honest I am beginning to think I overreacted, but in my defense who wouldn't after going through a near death experience. Despite my nervousness, another part of me wants to do this as soon as possible. I am beginning to miss the girls and while a part of me can understand leaving me alone, I want that to end and everything to go back to normal. I have never felt that way before. It seems without intending to, I have become a part of the Rainbooms, exactly like Trixie's friends have told me.

"Are you ok?" Wallflower asked me.

"I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."

Wallflower and I were in our usual spot for lunch, though lately my lunch would end up only half eaten, due to my thoughts on the recent events with Rainbow. I noticed Wallflower noticing and becoming increasingly worried, but she didn't comment on it, at least until now.

"Ok." She responded awkwardly, before giving me a knowing look, "Well, you have seemed a bit distant lately and while just having someone's company is good enough for me, I am beginning to be concerned," She gently grabbed my hands with her own soft ones, "I won't pry, but if there's something wrong feel free to tell me."

I couldn't resist the adorable look on her face.

"God damn it. Why are you too adorable?"

After a second, I realized what I said and removed my hands from her grip to cover my mouth. She started blushing heavily in embarrassment and even stuttered.

"A-a-adorable?"

Why do I associate with girls too cute for me to handle? I sighed and took a moment to regain my composure.

"Well, if you must know," I began before I quickly explained what happened between the Rainbooms, mainly Rainbow, and I.

"I'm sorry to say I think you and most of the girls overreacted a little bit, though considering the circumstances I can understand why."

"Exactly. I was planning on making-up today and I'm just a little nervous at how it will go," I added.

"Considering her texts, I am sure she will be overwhelmed with joy."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"Relax, you have nothing to worry about," She assured me before she sighed nervously, "Speaking of the Rainbooms. I've thought about what you said during the welcoming party and you asked me to consider meeting the Rainbooms. You're right, if I want to be remembered more, I have to make the effort, so yes, I will meet them. I don't have much to lose, if it doesn't go well and I will still have you."

"Well, said. After I make things right with them, I will set things up."

I arrived at Rainbow's house, completely anxious at how things would go down. Alright I can do this. Just knock on the door and... Yeah, just knock and get this over with. I raised my hand and moved it close to the door. Come on. Knock on the door. You can do this. I took a deep breath and managed to knock on the door. A part of me regretted it, but there was no turning back now. After what seemed like a few minutes later the door was opened.

"Whoever you are, go away. I'm not in a god damned mood for anything!"

I froze at the sorry state Rainbow was in. Her rainbow hair was unkempt, but in a loose ponytail, as a lazy attempt to keep it neat. Her eyes were red from crying too much. I gasped as I took in her appearance and guilt was the only thing I could feel, for letting this go for so long. I should have read her texts and reached out on day one.

"You..." She gasped stunned, "You showed up anyway?"

"May I come in?" Was all I could awkwardly ask.

She simply nodded, too stunned to speak and moved out of the way, granting me entrance. I haven't been here since band practice and sadly it's not for something fun.

"I guess follow me to my room?" She asked, sounding unsure of herself.

This is bad. If she has been negatively affected so much that she is acting nowhere near her usually cocky and sure self, this is more serious than I initially thought.

"Sounds good."

She awkwardly and nervously led me to her room. The room seemed to be in even more of a mess than the previous two times I have been here. I noticed Tank in a slightly unclean habitat, giving Rainbow a concerned look, before he seemed to give me a dirty one. Great. I always feared overprotective fathers or brothers when it comes to girls, but I never would have thought I would have to deal with an overprotective pet.

"Well..."

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it like that. I just... I don't know," She interrupted me, as tears formed in her eyes, "I just reacted without thinking. I always do that, but for once it ended up hurting someone special to me. Someone that managed to do what I thought no one could be good enough to do," She sobbed as she rubbed her eyes, "I really messed up and now you're here to tell me you don't want to be friends anymore. That there is no hope for..."

I interrupted the crying girl with a hug to even my own surprise. I just couldn't stand to see the poor girl like this, especially since this isn't how she usually acts. It just hammers in how much this has affected her and how pigheaded I was to let this go on for the past several days. I can't believe I have come to care about her and the rest of the girls, to this extent and in such a short time. I do enjoy my time with them, and I especially enjoy my banter with Rainbow, but I barely noticed myself becoming friends with them. That has never happened to me before. Is this how true friendship works?

"No, I'm not. Rainbow, you aren't the only one who should apologize."

"What are you talking about?" She asked, before sniffing, "I am the one who made that insensitive comment. I'm the one who ruined any chance of us staying friends and maybe even more," She continued before nervously covering her mouth for a couple seconds, "I mean I don't deserve your friendship," She finished awkwardly, after a moment.

"Don't you ever say that! While your statement may have been insensitive, it wasn't anything worse than our usual banter. I reacted so strongly to it and now I see I overreacted."

"No, you didn't! After your near-death experience, it's understandable you did so. I just said it without thinking as usual."

"Look at what that did to you. Dashie..." I was momentarily distracted when she was completely stunned at me calling her by her nickname, most likely believing she no longer deserves me referring to her by such, "Dashie, you aren't and shouldn't be like this. Have you even been taking care of yourself?"

"No, I don't deserve..."

"Dashie, don't even finish that sentence!" I shouted, making her flinch, "Don't ever think or say you deserve this. This isn't the Dashie I know and love."

"Love?"

"Come on! You really think I am going to let one insensitive comment ruin our relationship, especially with our usual banter?"

"I guess?" She questioned.

This is more serious than I thought. It pained me even more than hearing the comment that started this whole mess, to see her like this. Looks like it's going to be harder and take longer than I thought.

"Seriously, Dashie, have you been taking care of your basic needs at least?"

"Well," She responded nervously with an awkward chuckle, before flinching at the serious look I gave her, "Ok. I have been barely eating, I can't sleep for long, and I don't feel like bathing. Happy now?"

"No, why would I be happy about that?"

Rainbow only gave me a weak smile at my rhetorical question. I have my work cut out for me and I feel I am going to stay for the rest of the day. First things first, make it clear I forgive her, then make sure she starts taking care of herself again.

"Dashie, regardless of how you feel I forgive you."

"You do? Why? I..."

"Don't finish that sentence! You're one of my closest friends alright. I enjoy our game with one another and days of being without you have made me feel so lonely and isolated and as an introvert that is new to me. I don't want this to end. Please, accept and try to go back to the Dashie I know and love. Now you are going to take a shower and I am going to cook something for you to eat."

"But..."

"Please Dashie. You have suffered enough and as your friend, I want to help you end it and for things to go back to normal."

"Ok." She simply said with a tearful smile.

I looked through the fridge and pantry as I pondered what to make for her. Normally, I would feel bad for going through someone else's fridge, but right now I don't care. There must be something simple I could make that should also be easy for someone to eat. As I noticed plenty of potatoes, carrots, and chicken, I got the idea to make some soup. My mother would make some for me all the time and when I got old enough, I even helped, so I should be able to make it decently on my own. I grabbed all the ingredients I needed and got started.

Right in the middle of the soup cooking on the stove, Dashie entered the kitchen, and I couldn't help, but gasped at her appearance. Her hair was noticeably less unkempt and in a longer ponytail and instead of a shirt, she was only wearing a rainbow bra. Her bust was slightly smaller than Trixie's but was still sizable enough to enjoy.

"Dashie, why aren't you wearing a shirt?"

"I'm not in the mood to. Lucky you. You are the first boy to get to see my girls like this," She teased me, while touching the bra and moving them up and down a little.

Glad to know she is starting to get back to her normal teasing self.

"So, what are we having?"

"Soup. It should be easier for you to eat, assuming you don't have much of an appetite."

"Yeah, I just haven't been feeling like it, recently," She admitted nervously, before she took a deep breath, "So, since you showed up to our agreed meeting anyway, I guess I better..."

"Finally admit your feelings for me."

"Well," She began while blushing heavily, "Come on. Don't make it harder for me. I never had to deal with this before."

"But Dashie, it's fun to mess with you."

She only groaned in response, before she took another deep breath.

"I just have never met anyone who made me feel this way before. Someone who could challenge and rival me, but instead of making me annoyed they turn me on. I was against it due to my dislike of anything too girly like romance, so I tried my best to deny and ignore it, but I hated being a coward and running from it, so I decided to tackle it head on, but it was still in a cowardly way. I wanted to accept it in a more private setting and keep it a secret. After my insensitive words, I realized how important you have become to me, and I don't want to lose that," She managed to explain.

"So, you want us to become boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Not exactly. Most of the others..."

"Have a thing for me too. I know Dashie. I'm not dense and they made it completely obvious. Even you despite your best efforts to deny it."

"Right," She simply responded with a nervous blush, at being called out, "During the separation, we all talked, and the others confronted each other about it. After a bitter argument that lasted for days, they... No, we, including myself, decided that the best bet would be to share you."

"You mean in a friend with benefits kind of way, like you told me you wanted during the slumber party?"

"Exactly, but it's ultimately up to you to do what you want, though that won't stop us from flirting with you," She teased, before shaking her breasts again.

"Dashie, you just dropped the biggest bombshell in my entire life and told me something most teenage boys can only dream of."

"Lucky you. You have the option to make it a reality," She chuckled, "If only you could have seen it. Rarity and Pinkie got into a bitter argument over who gets to explain this to you and try to make the first move. Eventually the others got them to stop by agreeing that they won't reach out to you and that the first one you happen to see or meet up with, gets to. Lucky me I got to. Take your time and let me know," She explained before giving me a wink.

I don't even know what's going on anymore. I knew I kept attracting these hot girls and I have thought about us forming a harem, but it actually being a reality now, is just unbelievable. I mean I do enjoy the time I have spent with them so far and they are all attractive in their own way. This does seem like the ideal solution, since I doubt I would be able to pick one. Not to mention any other girls I end up attracting in the future. I did enjoy the kisses from the ones I got so far. Maybe I should consider this. Of course, the only problem is spending time with and keeping them all happy and knowing some of them could be clingy will make this difficult, but I am sure with careful time management and making sure everyone has equal opportunity, will make it work, more or less.

"After pondering it, I want to give it a try," I decided, making Dashie smirk.

"Great choice stud."

"So, shall we tell the others?"

"No, not yet" She shook her head, "We can tell them tomorrow during school and we can work out everything there. For now, let me have a head start."

I simply shook my head in amusement. Typical Dashie.

"Now what do you say, we make it official," Dashie told me, while walking closer to me.

I nervously nodded and took a quick breath, before I found the courage to place my hands on her cheeks. She chuckled, before she puckered her lips and connected them to mine. She then wrapped her hands around my waist and pulled me closer. After a few seconds, I found myself being bold enough to lick her lips with my tongue and to my surprise, she actually granted me entrance. Have to work for it my ass. We ended up tongue wrestling, where she desperately tries to pin mine down, but she was no match for me. I heard her moan loudly as I quickly pinned hers down and I eagerly explored her mouth. After a few more moments, we both separated from each other, panting heavily.

"Oh yeah, stud. Now I can see why Pinkie enjoyed her kiss," She moaned.

"Regret playing hard to get and refusing tongue back then?" I teased.

"Oh yes!" She moaned with a goofy smile on her face.

I simply chuckled in response to her. I wasn't completely sure about forming a harem with the girls, but I think I am going to enjoy it, if this is a good indication of what it's like. Dashie is really adorable like this, and I can't wait to experience more of this side of her.

After eating and making sure she ate plenty of soup, Dashie and I spent some time playing Daring Doo. Instead of competing with the other, we decided to take turns progressing the single player campaign. Right when I finished my current tomb, I noticed it was getting late.

"I better get home," I said getting up.

"Do you have to?" Dashie asked me, frowning.

"Yeah, my dad will be worried sick about me."

"Can you please stay?" She begged.

"Dashie?"

"I'd rather have you stay the night. I know we have made up, but I just don't want you to leave me unless you have to. Can you ask your dad to stay the night? My parents usually arrive home after I leave for school, so it should be fine." She begged, giving me a cute look.

"For a tomboy you know how to be too cute for one to say no to."

"What can I say? I am that awesome. Besides, with our new upgraded relationship you have to keep my happiness in mind even more now."

"That doesn't mean you get to be lazy and make me put all the work in the relationship."

"Yeah, yeah I will put in my fair share."

I sighed, "To answer your begging, fine. Knowing my dad, he will actually congratulate me for spending the night with a girl."

"Really? Your dad sounds cool actually."

"Yeah, he is very laid back and supportive."

After a few more hours of Daring Doo, Rainbow and I decided to hit the hay.

"See you tomorrow," I told Rainbow, before getting up and walking to her door.

"Where are you going? You're sleeping with me, stud," Rainbow told me with a raised eyebrow.

I simply stared at her bed for a brief moment.

"I don't know, it looks too small for two people."

She shook her head.

"That's no problem. I will simply lie on top of you."

"Fine. I guess that will work," I sighed.

"I see you still need to adjust to our new relationship. Relax and go with the flow. We will find a way to make it work. Now get on the bed, I want to sleep. I know with you; I will actually get some decent sleep."

I simply nodded before getting in her bed and she followed suit. I was right and there was barely any room for her, so most of her body ended up on top of mine. She covered us with her blankets and moved her head next to mine on the pillow.

"See this isn't too bad, stud. In fact, it's actually kind of cozy."

"Right. Goodnight Dashie."

"Goodnight stud." She responded before giving me a quick kiss and wrapping an arm around me.

When I decided to finally make up with her, I didn't expect to agree to be in a friend with benefits relationship with not just her, but with most of the most popular girls in the damn school. This is something boys can only achieve in their wildest dreams and for me it's a reality. I have to admit my life is good right now.

I really feel I am pushing the teen rating here. I am actually considering changing the rating to m, as I want to do more extreme stuff. That means no sex, well on screen, but I will do things I fear is too much for the teen rating, if I actually haven't already. I feel like I am toeing the line, but not going too far to get me in trouble. Wallflower also returns. I didn't mean to ignore her, I just don't have much to do with her, so why not push her finally meeting the girls, just to have something for her. I realized I have forgotten her, which is bad, since that goes against the idea of Marcus befriending her. Also, the harem is officially starting. since 5 of the girls, Rainbow, Sunset, Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack have fallen hard and the other two haven't quite yet but have still shown small attraction to him. I figured it's time to start it and introduce the way I am handling the harem. Just him being Friend with benefits with the girls. Not to worry Marcus will have time with Fluttershy and Sci-Twi and they will fall for him. Hope you manage to enjoy.

Next chapter: The harem officially begins