Exiting Sugarcube Corner with my head low and my trot slow, I started making my way back to my new home. What just happened? Rainbow Dash had stormed out of the building and unintentionally ended the party with her retaliation of Dumbbell (so really *he* ended the party), and I was left without a word with her. It was a strange and disappointing that I didn't get to talk to Rainbow and now I was angry at whatever set her off.

As close as I had come to talking to her, only to miss out not once but twice, I was now *dying* of anticipation to see her and I was going to be utterly consumed until that happened. No more distractions, I was thinking to myself, and I quickly worked myself into an excited skip. In actuality I had been really angry for a ridiculously short period of time before my emotions flipped a switch back to happy. She was smiling at me. Rainbow Dash was smiling at me... I kept replaying that over and over, that heavenly eye contact... How did I get to this point, where her mere smiling at me was such a thrilling and wondrous experience? The warm and fuzzy feelings surged through me and fueled my burning need to just *talk to her* already.

I broke out into a trot and started thinking hard to myself. This was something I'd waited ten years for, and if it wasn't going happen by itself, then I was going to make it happen. She has consumed my thoughts for so long and seeing her at that party helped show the degree of just how monstrous of a crush this is. Now, we're both fully-grown ponies, and I know she's still the same awesome filly on the inside as she was then. Not to mention unbelievably beautiful.

I reached my home and trotted up to the front door, lowering my head and banging right through. Still deep in contemplation for what I was going to do I made my way over to a couch and lied down, staring into space and thinking hard. Well, she does head the weather around here. Maybe she'll come to me. I sat up and buried my face into my hooves, wondering what kind of lame excuse that was. What am I saying? Gee, that attitude worked out really well at that party - not. Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen? I had one thing going for me; I was, as appointed by the princess, officially a new member of weather patrol around here. So, Rainbow Dash being the lead weathermare, I *had* to talk to her.

That thought came over me and I giggled. I don't have a choice, I thought delightedly to myself as a kind of crazy "gotcha" to my feelings of nervousness. I knew I was going to talk to her today after all. I just had to find out where she lives. I lied back down and began thinking of all the places I saw in town and in the sky. When's the best time to meet her? I had no idea how she felt right now. I highly doubt she's nervously planning out when and how she's going to make contact with me next... It was not the most confident thought in the world, but it was true. If I was going to meet her, I was going have to play it cool. Just relax, and let my love make me friendly and delightful to be around. It can't be too hard. I wanted to catch her in the late afternoon if I could, close to sunset if possible. Will she be in her home? Where does she live? Alright, if I were Rainbow Dash, where would I be in the late afternoon...

If I knew Rainbow Dash at all, in the late afternoon I would guess her to be either in the sky flying or napping on a cloud, depending on how late it is. Well, it's settled then. Come late afternoon, I'll find her and just let things go from there. I just had to pass the time until late afternoon came. I groaned and fell back on the couch. Maybe a little nap would be just the thing; I didn't want to go out and fly around and risk her seeing me some more without my knowing or ability to look back. It already killed me knowing that she knew I was here.

I wanted the next time she saw me to be intentional on my part, with actual conversation. Wanting to nap outside, I went back out the front door and flew up to a branch jetting out from my home. It was shady and pleasant, hiding me from anyone flying overhead. Bathing in the rays of light shining gently through the branches, I closed my eyes and listened to the birds, taking in the smell of the grass. She smiled at me... That's all I needed for confidence going into this. It was almost too exciting for me to nap. But thankfully, for her sake, I managed to close my eyes, rest, and my mind slowed.

I awoke to the sound of foals laughing. I gently opened my eyes and lifted my head, taking in the time of day. The sun was in the perfect spot; it was late afternoon, and dusk would be coming soon, but it wasn't here yet, and the sky was at it's bluest part of the day. I woke up and took a deep breath. Well, here it goes. I inhaled as much air as I could and then blew it all back out. I took the cloth and folded a few times over so it was completely secured and tied it to the bottom of my mane so it was secure and invisible.

I was both nervous and excited, but my nap had definitely relaxed me, and that only gave me more confidence. Ok let's see, how's my mane? My tail? I've never really done anything with them before, I hope that's ok... Do I need some breath mints? I still wasn't quite sure how this was going to work out. I mean, I'm only reconnecting with the mare of my dreams.

I started walking over to the town. I figured that would be the best place to start. I kept my eyes on the sky all the while, in case she might fly by. Ideally, I thought, I would see her before she sees me. As I came into the more populated part of town, I found it much easier to blend in then before. Almost everypony was out and about, so I just went along with the crowd like I was no one new, looking around for her. Who would be a good pony to ask where Rainbow Dash is? I went through who I knew so far. Well, let's see; there's Lyra, but I don't think given the vibe I've been getting from her that she's maybe the best person to ask... I could always ask Thunderlane. Don't really know where he is right now either, though.

One pony, then, who seemed like a good but maybe overly hyper possibility was Pinkie Pie. I knew where she hopefully was at Sugarcube Corner. Part of me sighed reluctantly - it's not that I didn't like Pinkie, quite the opposite; I had found her to be quite cute and enjoyable, but I thought that her super-energy and antics might be a disastrous ingredient when meeting Rainbow Dash. She'll have to do. Don't worry, it'll be fine.

I shyly walked through the door into Sugarcube Corner, and peered around. It was empty, contrary to what it was the last time I was there and despite the crowds outside. Pinkie Pie was sitting at a table with her elbows on top, staring intently at a straw the she was balancing over her snout. I stood there for a seconds awkwardly before her eyes caught me in the back. Immediately, she lost interest in the straw she was balancing and her entire face lit up with smiles of excitement, and I couldn't help but smile back. I knew it. She stood up and bounced over to me.

"Hi Sonic! Whatcha up to?" Ok, how do I put this? I let my right front hoof swirl around on the floor as I looked in every direction but directly at her.

"Hey Pinkie. Thanks so much for the party today, I was really enjoying it," I told her, which I had meant - she definitely worked hard to give everyone a good time.

"Don't thank me! Thank happy ponies like you who made it a happy a party!" she replied. Everything she said had so much enthusiasm, I found it incredible.

"I was wondering... seeing as how I'm like, kind of a part of the weather patrol and all, I was thinking I should talk to the head mare. Do you know her?" I asked. Pinkie Pie threw her hoof out and rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Rainbow Dash? Um... duh! She's like my best friend!" Yes!

"Oh, really? Wow, great, um, so... do you happen to know where she is right now?" She put her hoof on her chin for a moment.

"Hmm, on a day like today if she's not with me, which she isn't right now, she's usually either with one of her other best friends or up in a cloud napping." Her eyes suddenly popped out with enthusiasm. "Do you want me to take you to her? I know where she usually naps."

Wow, this is perfect! She knows where she is and she's an Earth pony so she can't fly up to her. This is exactly what I hoped. Nothing against Pinkie, I would just rather prefer to be the only one there when I finally meet up with Rainbow again. I was getting more excited - and more nervous - by the minute.

"Gosh Pinkie, thanks!" I bellowed.

"Follow me!!!!!" she sang as she bounced towards the exit. I trotted out the door behind her and soon enough I was back in the streets. As I trotted swiftly behind her as she prodded up and down like a bouncing ball, I smiled at ponies who happened to be watching. They had no idea what was going on, but that's ok. They didn't need to.

We exited the area that might be called downtown and into the edge of town where the hills were lush with grass and flowers. Pinkie Pie stopped directly under a lonely cloud that was not far above the ground, big enough for two. I couldn't see from the bottom, but from where Pinkie was standing and looking up at the cloud, it certainly seemed like she may have been up there.

Now that the moment was finally here the anticipation caught up with me in an instant and I was overwhelmed. This is it! I was finally getting to meet her, the mare of my dreams since she was a filly. My best friend from foalhood and my undying crush. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Pinkie finally pointed upward with her hoof.

"She's up there," she said happily. I almost screamed with fear as she pointed her head upward and began inhaling for a loud call to her friend. I quickly jumped forward and put my hoof on her mouth, which caused her to be quite surprised.

"Oh - you don't need to do that Pinkie!" I whispered nervously. "You've done quite enough, thank you. I'll just go up there myself, but seriously thank you so much," I continued, laughing uncomfortably and removing my hoof from her mouth. She paused for a moment and then smiled reassuringly, which was even more alarming.

"It's ok Sonic, you don't need to be shy! She's a great friend, she's tough but she's no one to be afraid of," she said. To my horror, she pointed her head upward again and exclaimed with tremendous volume. "HEY RAINBOW DASH!!!!"

My heart racing, I frantically looked around for a place to hide. There was a bush not ten feet from where I was standing, one of many; without hesitation, I lept into the bush and hid as Pinkie Pie called again for her friend.

"Wake up, Rainbow! I have someone for you!"

Watching from the bush, I saw, my level of excitement almost unbearable, Rainbow Dash raise up from the cloud on her wings, swiftly flying down to her friend. It certainly didn't seem like she had been asleep, in fact she looked wide awake. When she spoke, her voice, which was still raspy and somehow even more adorable, sent shivers down my spine.

"What's up Pinkie? I don't think now is the best time if you wanted to -" Pinkie Pie cut her off midsentence.

"I just wanted to introduce-" she stopped when she realized I was no longer standing next to her. She looked around with great eagerness, and I held my breath. "Hm. That's funny, I wonder where he-" I begged her in my mind not to say my name, and by the grace of heaven she didn't - she paused before she could finish the sentence again, looking around with intent. Rainbow was at first confused, and then appeared mildly agitated. She let out a rather annoyed sigh and rubbed her face with her hoof. She lowered herself to the ground with her back turned to me completely, and began to put on some pretend enthusiasm.

"Hey, Pinkie, hold that thought - you wanna go and paint Applejack's apples purple?" she said. At first I was anxious to hear they were leaving but it seemed like maybe this was only a plan to get rid of her.

"Hm. Well, that's weird. I was going to - oh well!" Pinkie said, shrugging and then smiling at Rainbow Dash's idea. She broke out into a violent giggle.

"Purple? Applejack hates purple! That would be a great prank!" she proclaimed. Rainbow Dash smiled.

"I know! So why don't you go get the paint, and meet me back at this exact spot, but be sure to take at least few minutes, " Pinkie paused for a moment, but then complied without question. "And if I'm not here when you get back, it's because I'm looking for - well if I'm not here when you get back just continue on without me."

"Ok," replied Pinkie cheerily. Huh... interesting pony. She began bouncing blissfully back in the direction of Ponyville as Rainbow Dash watched her intently. She began stretching her wings, and it certainly looked as though she was eager to fly away as soon as Pinkie faded from sight. This is my chance. This is my only chance! My heart rate pounding, I closed my eyes, gulped, and slowly I began to ease out the bush and out into the open from behind her, silent as the grave. I heavily admired her gorgeous mane and tail and as they fluttered in the breeze.

My heart rate raced as she began to walk backwards as Pinkie approached the top of a hill, ready to go out of site. I started begging myself to say something to her, but I couldn't. I couldn't stop staring at her and before I knew it, she was going to back up right into me! I took a step back and tried to speak, but I was frozen with wide eyes and a stupidly open mouth. Watching Pinkie carefully right until the end, at last right in front of me she turned her eyes widened with shock as they started at my hooves and moved all the way up to my petrified face. She planted herself into the ground and only three feet or so in front of me with an equal expression.

For the second time in a day I was trapped in her beautiful magenta eyes, ones I'd longed more than anything else. They were fixed upon me and filled with feelings I couldn't quite make out. Ten years ago, she stood a little higher than I, but now I was the one who had to look just a little downward. Finally her eyes took their full natural effect and I relaxed into a gentle smile.

"Hello," I said quietly and friendlily. Rainbow Dash, to my great delight, managed a small if not shy smile, but she still appeared somewhat uneasy for a moment as her ears fell down.

"Sonic?" she muttered, but the way she said it along with her body language was more quite taken aback, like she could hardly believe it. I wanted to think it was a positive kind of disbelief, but a skeptical part of me warned that may have just been wishful thinking on my part, and that sort of thing was only in my dreams. I smiled with a terrible blush and looked down at the ground.

"H-how are you Rainbow?" I asked, looking back up. She hesitated, continuing to look me over. Perhaps all of her memories were coming back to her. There was definitely a lot going on her head but I couldn't quite guess the exact nature all of it. Yet something deep down told me that it was good. Maybe really good.

"I'm- I'm pretty awesome, Sonic," she said, and she seemed to be relaxing quickly and started to smile widely, which was a greater thrill then I'd experienced all day. There was clearly genuine happiness in her and it was lifting my heart up almost quicker than I could handle. "I mean it's been what, ten years?"

"Something like that," I chuckled, though I knew the exact number of days.

"Do you - do you wanna go somewhere else?" she asked, glancing in Pinkie's direction uncomfortable.

"Yes," I replied with a chuckle. Yes! Yes! Yes!

"Alright, follow me. Do you, uh heh... so uh, do you wanna race?" she asked, somewhat embarrassed but not uncomfortably. "I haven't changed, I know."

"I was really hoping you hadn't," I replied quietly, smiling. "And yes, I would love to race."

It wasn't much of a response, I know, but I was overwhelmed by the mere sight of her, the friendliness in her face, the fact that we'd just had our first conversation... She propelled herself into the air and I lifted off after her. She flied into the sky fiercely yet gracefully, and I followed after her in a bliss.

She flew upward, clearly aiming for the highest clouds in the sky. I set aside my infatuation for a moment and flapped violently after her, showing off my new flying skills. It appeared that I was still not as fast as her, but I always knew that would be the case. She couldn't stop smiling at me when she wasn't showing off specular and unpredictable aerial feats that I could only hope to learn someday. She took a dive and doing a loop in midair, one that was easy enough for me to mimic before flying right up beside her.

"You're not gonna let someone who doesn't know where they're going beat you, are you?" I teased in the roar of the wind, though I knew she was going to beat me.

"What?" she replied, with an odd smirk.

"I said, you're not gonna let someone who doesn't know where they're going beat you, are you?" I said louder.

"What?" she repeated, her smile getting wider and now I realized what she was up to and I loved it.

"I SAID," as I took a giant inhale and placed both hooves on either side of my mouth like I was about to scream... then mouthed the phrase silently. She laughed again very hard this time, and it felt like I was going to have a heart attack if this didn't slow down. I closed my eyes and felt the wind flow through my mane, taking in the full comprehension of what was happening.

When I opened my eyes, however, I realized I was now on a direct collision course with Rainbow. Uh oh! The smile on her face faded as she discovered me too late.

"Ah!" we screamed, as I knocked into her, causing us to clumsily land on the top of the clouds, which was like landing on a sea of mattresses. Nice going, Sonic. I had landed of all places on top of her face down which preceded a moment of silence. We actually stayed like that for a moment but after a moment I came to and pulled myself off, blushing like a rose. She was doing the same thing.

"Wow, I am so sorry," I said, brushing myself off. She laughed, and her laughter was like sweet melodies to me.

"Still crashing into things, huh?" she said, sitting back down on the cloud facing the setting sun with her head turned towards me. That remark caught me off guard, but then I started giggling.

"Well... strange to hear that from you considering the first time I ever met you, you were defending me from almost those exact words," I replied. She rolled over on her back, still energized but winding down.

"Proud of it, too," she replied, catching her breath. Her expression and demeanor was just so confident and yet so laid back, I was privately in awe. She's everything I remembered her to be. "I can tease you about it. No one else can though, and if they did I'd probably beat the snot out of 'em just like I used to."

The way she had said it was defensive, like I was under her care and protection. That was like a shots of euphoria in me, so much so that I knew I was going too fast for my own good. Sonic... you've gotta calm down. I concentrated on deep breaths and took breaks from looking her to come back down.

"See.. I'd like to think I've got to a point where you won't need to defend me anymore, but if you'd still rather do it for me then I won't stop you," I joked.

"Well you certainly outsmarted Thunderlane today," she replied with a chuckle. "You embarrassed him! You couldn't have done that to me, but I was still really impressed."

"That-," I stuttered, looking down. "That really wasn't the idea... embarrassing him that is," I muttered, ironically with an embarrassed laugh of my own though I secretly enjoyed her saying that.

"Well he was asking for it! And you gave it to him."

She took a deep breath and sat back up, looking out at the sun briefly before turning to me. "You know," she said, looking me over with hesitation. "You've, uh... you've really filled out nicely."

At that I put my hoof on my chest and tried to concentrated solely on breathing. I was so happy. This was a dream come true. She seemed to be enjoying herself so much that it was almost too much for me to take in all at once, so I fought back with myself. I hoped it wasn't too incredibly obvious how I felt, but I wondered if that ship had sailed, wrecked, and sank to the bottom of the ocean.

"Yeah... about that," I said, glancing in her direction. "Let's just say, look who's talking. Times a million," I muttered. I hesitated myself on direct eye contact for a second, waiting until my next comment. "I'm just so thankful you remember me."

"Well, uh," she said, almost nervously and I quickly pondered what that might mean. "Well, I didn't, at least not like... right at first. You're so much bigger than you were then, I was shocked to see how much you'd grown when I realized it was you," she said, gesturing to me as though impressed. "I just saw you staring at me, for a quick second I didn't know who you were, but then in my head I was like in 'oh... my... gosh...'," she described, beaming an adorable smile. I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have though, I was too angry at myself.

"Staring? Wow. I'm... really sorry. I-I guess - I guess I was, wasn't I?" I said, blushing and looking down at the ground, deeply humiliated.

"Hey, it's alright!" she cried encouragingly. "I mean let's be honest here, we were pretty good friends... and I am pretty awesome after all." Knowing that she didn't care and even seemed flattered immediately obliterated any bad feeling of mine.

"Pretty good?" I laughed.

"Sonic... Are you uh, are you going to be in Ponyville for a while?" she asked with what seemed like many feelings hanging on her words, and suddenly she was almost nervous, like she was trying to hide something. But the way she asked the question really seemed to indicate that she hoped I was going to be in Ponyville for a while, which was once again beyond flattering and joy-inducing.

"I sure hope so, I have no plans of going anywhere else," I said. That is, unless you have plans to go somewhere else. "Though I guess I could leave if you really wanted me to," I continued, smirking.

"No!" she cried with a playful laugh that felt so good it almost hurt. This is really happening... "Well, that is as long as you don't do any more sonic rainbooms, Sonic," she said putting her hoof to my chest.

"What?" I asked, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Oh come on, that had to have been you."

"What had to have been me?" I said, giggling though I genuinely had no idea what she was talking about.

"The giant boom in the sky! That happened yesterday with the rainbow ring?" she replied, doing an exploding motion with her hooves. I thought about it for a second and then I remembered a couple days earlier when I was so excited about getting to meet her I went soaring through the skies over Ponyville.

"Ohhhh," I said, my memories playing it over clearly to me. "I saw one of those things right behind where I flew the other day!" I recalled. "So that's what it was?"

"Yeah... they're really rare and you have to be flying super fast, but here's the thing... they're my trademark! I thought I was the only one who could do them!"

I processed this as quick as I could. It was a spectacular sight but I didn't have the slightest idea it had come from me, and I was afraid that I had legitimately tainted something that belonged to her.

"How did you know that was me?"

"I was napping on a cloud, and I woke up from the boom. I hopped up and saw in the distance a light blue or grey pegasus, but at the time I was too far away to see that it was you. I really thought I was the only one who could do that, so I was a really angry when I saw someone else could," she said. She delivered this information with a tone and expression that suggested lightheartedness, but I still felt terrible. I knew she had to be telling the truth. "Seeing as you just got here, I'd say that kinda narrows it down."

"I'm sorry," I said sheepishly. "I mean, you've basically just proven that you're still a much better flier than I'll ever be. Rainbow, I-I would never try to-" I started to go on, but then her hoof covered my mouth and found her eyes looking straight into me with genuine care.

"Hey, c'mon... you didn't know that was my trademark. Besides, now that I know it was you," she said, with a sweet expression that I knew was rare for her, "I think I'm ok with it."

Well, you actually were the creator of that sonic rainboom, as it was only possible from a heart that's completely in love with you... When you consider how much I had practiced my flying over the years mostly for the sake of impressing her, she in fact really did deserve all of the credit for it.

"Well I'm just gonna tell ponies it was you," I said, which to my wondrous enjoyment she *really* seemed to like.

"Hey, I'm fine with that!" she giggling wildly, which led to me doing the same.

"I was counting on it," I replied, which immediately after saying hoped wasn't too forward or revealing.

"So... how was life in Canterlot?" she asked.

The quick subject change had kind caught me off guard. I wasn't going to tell her about what happened. Not yet anyway. Not today. Or tomorrow. Or probably the next month. Or year. I suspect I'll have to tell her at some point, but not now.

"Well, I was only there for a couple of days so it's really not right to say I lived there. I spent some more time in Manehattan before that though, and the west coast, and... I actually lived in many different places I guess," I said, hoping it would arouse her interest yet I didn't want to go into details either.

"You've been to the west coast?" she said, to which I nodded with a smile. She was so interested. "Well what did you think? I don't think I've ever been there. The sunsets are supposed to be gorgeous."

I couldn't hardly help it, now I was having another one of those moments where I could only concentrate on her and nothing else. The sunset was illuminating her face and seemed to give her a halo.

"Oh my goodness, you have no idea," I said losing myself in her, thinking rather how they were not nearly as gorgeous as her. I was completely preoccupied with how much I love her, and how I simply couldn't believe how there could be such a pony in all the world. I wanted to tell her that she saved my life right then. Her meanwhile... well, I couldn't exactly tell what she was thinking, but her eyes were full of awe and wonder.

"But I'd rather stay here," I remarked, snapping back to reality.

"What?" she replied, shocked and suddenly out of breath. "Oh! Yeah... I'm... really glad to hear that actually," she said, laughing and turning her head away.

Soon the stars came out in full force and darkness had completely overtaken the land. We flew back together to her house laughing and joking all the way like that moment there at the end never happened. When we arrived at her home in the clouds, and our parting for the night was at seemingly at hand, she turned and faced me. I was knew the perfect day was coming to a close and everything was overwhelming me to the point of being completely frozen again.

I'm not sure if she saw ten years of longing in my eyes, but she was staring at me in a manner I'd never been stared at before. It was at the very least a deep fascination and despite the skeptic in me that said it was impossible, I knew I saw what had to be admiration and longing. Give her the feather... my heart kept saying. But I couldn't move...

Finally after a long time her ears dropped, and she chuckled blushingly.

"Well, I better be catching my z's now. I'll see you tomorrow, Sonic."

I eased into a loving smile at her which she seemed to return, in my mind and heart thanking her profusely for everything. We couldn't stand there forever, and eventually we both slowly began to turn around until we were completely facing the other way. I reached my hooves into my mane untied the cloth with the feather, and turned around to see her about to walk inside. She opened her door with her head and I felt this perfect time slipping away, never to return.

I took a few giant steps forward and tapped her on the shoulder, and she spun around quickly.

Yes? she seemed to reply desperately in her mind. I looked down at the cloth in my hoof and signaled her to hold out her own hoof. When she brought it out slowly and curiously I sat back and gently held her hoof with my other hoof as I placed the cloth from the Princess' castle suite preserving the blue feather from her wing back into her possession. I then took several steps back to give her some room.

She unfolded the cloth, and beheld her own small and tattered feather that had taken with it all the burden of all the sorrow of the last ten years. She seemed to hesitated for a moment with curiosity. But then her head jolted up and I met her huge disbelieving eyes.