Chapter 4: The Farmer and The Princess

As Sweet Apple Acres drew closer Rainbow slowed down, allowing herself a moment's rest before she trotted on to the farm. With a quick look around she could tell no pony was around right now except for her, so she decided to make her way up to the farm house. Even if Big Mac wasn't there she could at least hope Granny Smith would be inside, doing whatever it was old mares do. When her hooves touched the wood on the front porch Rainbow heard a loud bang come from inside, making he step back in surprise. A moment later Applebloom came running out of the house being chased by Applejack, who's trademark stetson was missing.

"Applebloom get back here with my hat!" Applejack shouted as she ran off into the orchard after Applebloom, who had the stetson sitting crookedly on her head and being held down with one hoof as she tried to get away. Rainbow laughed quietly to herself before turning around, accidentally bumping into the red mountain that was Big McIntosh.

"Can I help you miss?" Big Mac asked kindly, making Rainbow look at him in confusion. How can he not recognize me, I haven't changed that much, right? Rainbow thought in her head, but one look in a nearby window proved her wrong. Her coat was now completely white, and she couldn't even believe it was her she was looking at. She looked like a completely different pony now, except for her eyes and cutie mark...

"Hi Big Mac" Rainbow said, thankfully still sounding like her old self. When he heard the familiar voice Big Mac's eyes widened, now looking around Rainbow for any sign of the old her. His jaw opened slightly as he caught sight of Rainbow's cutie mark, which meant one thing. The mare standing in front of him right now, was Rainbow Dash.

"R-Rainbow, you're..." Big Mac said, trying to find the right words, and failing. Rainbow let out a small giggle as she watch him try to figure out what to say, but he eventually gave up, prompting her to speak up instead.

"I heard what you said in the library Big Mac" Rainbow admitted in a slightly seductive tone, making Big Mac blush just enough for it to be noticeable under his coat. He attempted to speak again, this time being caught by nerves as his face turned deeper shades of red, finding it impossible to actually ask her out.

"I would have said yes you know" Rainbow said, pushing him even further, his face now redder than seemed physically possible. Rainbow smiled sweetly at Big Mac until he finally started to talk, his words spilling out in nonsense at first, but he eventually sorted it out.

"Would you like to go for dinner tonight Rainbow Dash?" Big Mac said, seemingly forcing it out despite his nerves. Rainbow decided to be playful and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, making him tense up immediately. It was a nice surprise for Rainbow to learn that under his strong and silent appearance, Big Mac was really just a nice and nervous stallion that had a crush on her. In an attempt to make things more fun Rainbow walked away, but not before swinging her tail around Big Mac's neck, pulling his face towards her flank, which she was swaying ever so slightly. She laughed loudly as Big Mac's hooves came up immediately to cover his eyes, causing him to fall forward onto his face.

"Come on let's get going" Rainbow said cheerfully, a devious grin on her face, "Don't want to keep the lady waiting"

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After managing to calm Mac down after all the jokes Rainbow had played on him they were finally in Ponyville with both of them on the lookout for a place to eat.

"Usually the stallion figures out where he plans to take the mare before he asks her out" Rainbow complained, her hooves starting to ache from walking for so long. She was a Pegasus, shouldn't Mac have known she wouldn't want to stand around for a long time?

"What about that place over there?" Mac asked, one of his hooves pointing to a rather posh restaurant filled with high class ponies that were visiting Ponyville. Rainbow glared at Mac for even suggesting a place like that, so he quickly pointed at another restaurant, this time one filled with working class ponies that had just gotten off a long day of work,

"Perfect, let's go there" Rainbow said happily as she started to trot over, leaving a bewildered Mac to follow behind her.

"I thought you were a princess now?" Mac asked, making Rainbow stop on the spot so she could turn around and face him.

"That doesn't mean I want to act like one!" Rainbow shouted, making the attention of everypony in the area turn to them, "I'm still plain old Rainbow Dash, I just look like this now!" Big Mac shied away from Rainbow Dash, looking at her with fear in his eyes, as well as everypony else in the area. When Rainbow had calmed down enough she looked around, seeing a circle around her that was made entirely out of ponies.

"What's her problem?" one mare whispered, giving Rainbow Dash the stink eye.

"Is that really Rainbow Dash mommy?" a small filly asked her mother, who was trying to hide the filly from Rainbow.

"She reminds me of Princess Luna on Nightmare Night..." a colt said to his father, who was angrily staring Rainbow Dash down. Rainbow scanned the crowd, her heart breaking at every comment she could hear, all of them insulting her pride. She could almost hear her pride and dignity shattering when she saw a small orange filly with a purple mane standing in the crowd, her eyes wider than the moon as she watched her idol humiliate herself. After their eyes met Scootaloo ran away, pushing herself through the crowd of ponies that was quickly growing.

"Scootaloo wait!" Rainbow cried as she took off, giving Big Mac a kiss on the cheek before flying after the little filly. Great going Rainbow Crash! Rainbow shouted at herself, Not only did you make an ass of yourself, but you did it in front of the filly who loves you the most!

"How could this night get any worse?!" Rainbow shouted as she flew after Scootaloo, who was running at an amazing speed. As if on cue the Ponyville weather team turned on the evening showers that had been scheduled for today, completely soaking Rainbow Dash.