“Hey, Rainbow.”

You’d called to her from across the market. You’d been in college together, albeit briefly, becoming friends until you messed it up and it had been the 2nd most awkward night of your life. It was last night that had replaced it as the most awkward you'd ever had, giving you regrets to deal with and problems you had to solve, as well as the motivation to fix them. She wouldn't get over this and you’d never gain her trust again if you didn't. You were on thin lines with her anyway. It was your fault she'd stormed off this morning, as for why she did it you didn't know, but with Celestia as your witness, you would finish it.

She glanced over her floating bed, rolling her eyes at the sight of you. “Go away. I’m napping” she jeers. Her fake snoring gives you little time to think before a smirk set across your face as you come up with a comeback almost instantly.

“You’re always napping. You were asleep for half of last night as for the other half, I don’t want to know what was going on.”

It was true, and it looked like it hit her hard. A loud groan almost echoed around the streets, drawing the attention of the sole bystander. She dropped from her cloud in a single fluid motion, taking only a single second before she was in front of you, baring her teeth and growling. She pushes forward, causing you to retreat until your rear hit the wall, a smile plastered on your face all the while.

“I knew you liked to get up close and personal but I didn’t think you’d want to start now, here of all places. Don’t you have a special some pony?”

“Listen you,” she snarls, “I don’t know who you think you are but your wit is going to earn you a one way ticket out of here, if you catch my drift.” She remains on the offensive, pushing until your head reaches the same wall your rear is pressed on. Her magenta eyes showing off the red flush of her cheeks as she remembered what had happened. She was quite cute when she was mad and you were sure that if you pressed her a little more she be adorable, but it was assuming things (or rather not assuming things) like that that had got you in this trouble in the first place.

“Look what happened isn’t my fault. I was only being respectful of Applejack. She was drunk and I'm not going to take advantage of her when she's like that. You on the other had weren't. So what's up with that?"

“I’m not answering that. I want you to forget what we did and get out of here. I’m not what you think I am; I thought you'd have learnt that when I bucked your ass back to Tartarus.” She turned away without a care, a hint of a blush causing her to retreat to her cloud. Her message had been clear: say anything to anypony and it will be the last thing you do. A threat if you hadn’t heard one before. Your intentions were pure but you weren't going to take advantage of Applejack like that. Not only would it get you a bad reputation but it would also stop you from having any chance with her at any other time.

“Hey, boy.”

But when they stumbled into your room, snuggled up to you in your bed, and began nuzzling you from in front and behind, you almost lost it. If they hadn’t fallen asleep a second or two after snuggling up, you would have broken and quite possibly had the night of your life. Why didn't you act? Dumb morals.

“Ain’t you got ears? Ah want to talk to you.”

Snapping out of your perverse presumptions, you turn to see the mare who’d called to you. A red blush contrasted with the sun-kissed orange of the mare’s coat. You knew her as Applejack, co-owner of Sweet Apple Acres and Element of Honesty as well as the local apple seller. But then again, that’s how most of the town saw her apart from her closest friends. The only time you’d seen and spoke to her aside from buying apples was last night, and it wasn’t the sort of conversation you’d have wanted. It was awkward…

“Ah wanted to apologise for last night and this morning. Ah think you got the wrong picture.” She avoided eye contact, brushing the ground with her hoof. All the signs of anxiety and shame. She didn’t want to be having this conversation at all, but her reputation and that of her friend was at stake.

“It’s okay Ms Apple, I can understand what was up. You were drunk. At least you had Dash there to stop you doing something you’d regret. But did you have to come into my room later? It was a little uncomfortable having the two of you sandwiching me.”

“Ah know it was wrong and ah wouldn’t do it if ah weren’t under the influence.” She looked away, embarrassed by your observations, “But ah wanted to ask. What exactly do you think happened last night?” You were a bit taken aback, surely she knew. You wanted to respond instantly but the nature of the question forbade you from doing so. You looked into the mare’s confused eyes and wanted to spill it, but you weren’t sure if she’d take it right.

“You and Dash were making some… noises last night. I didn’t want to disturb you, but then you both came into my room and snuggled up against me. Was it a joke, because-“

She interrupted you with a look of realisation and embarrassment. You realised you were wrong. How could you have been so stupid? Of course they weren’t humouring you! How could you not act upon the two mare’s wishes, especially when they were smiling and giggling and pressing their bodies against you?

“Applejack, I’m so sorry! I didn’t think you were being serious last night. I really should have acted. I really wanted to tell you that you’re beautiful. Please, believe me. I thought it was a joke. You and Dash were giggling all night, you were drunk. Please, I only though it was the alcohol acting yesterday. I’d love a chance to have you and your special somepony over again to make it up to you.”

You were almost grovelling for her acceptance of your apology. It wasn’t your fault! She had to forgive you. You’d been honest with her. Isn’t that what all mares want? You looked into her sparkling green eyes which conveyed the flurry of emotions her immobility didn’t. In only a few seconds you saw flickers of Relief, twinkles of Happiness, and most importantly, a whole lot of Confusion. “Ah’m not sure what to say. Ah think you’re kinda cute too, but ‘special somepony’? Ah don’t have one.”

You blink a couple of times at the implication. She'd just proved Rainbow Dash was what you thought she was so many years ago, only to tell you that it was all a lie. It didn’t seem likely but it was good and bad news for you. She was single and that lit a flashing light in the back of your head that had been absent for a while. Not since Dash shot you down. It’s why you let her bring her friend in last night. The bad news was that you’d sprung this on her in a situation you really shouldn’t have. It was a relief that she was one of only four ponies in the street. The others were napping, sitting on a bench and feeling guilty for telling her his instinctive feelings. You were now as much of a blizzard of emotion as she was and you wanted clarity.

“So Dash isn’t with you…”

Those were the wrong words to start, you face-hoofed immediately, groaning at your own stupidity. You hear a chuckle. It turns into a laugh, and further into a scene of hilarity, a mare rolling about the ground heartily laughing her head off to the expense of your pride and a little bit of your sanity, while you went the same colour as the incoming sunset turns the sky.

“I guess I was wrong then.”

“Ah think you know that” she chuckled, gasping between extended periods of hysterical cracking up, “but ah think we ought to start over. If that was y’all trying to be subtle about getting me and Dash in the same bed, ah can’t wait until you try again.” You smiled through your blush. This was a mare with a sense of humour. Not many of them around. “Ah can guess you want to apologise again but… you went a bit overboard last time. Ah don’t want no misunderstandings again. Just ask if y’all want some answers.”

You look away from the mare and up to the cloud where the cyan mare rolled her eyes once again and rolled over to resume sleeping. You take that as a sign of acceptance, and face the idol mare, standing radiant, and smile. You ask something that’s would cause the light to stop flashing and stay lit.

“What do you say to going out with me sometime soon?”

“Ah’d be happy to.”