That night I relived every moment of our reunion over and over again in my head and with closed eyes in my new bed I could see Rainbow and I atop the highest clouds in Equestria as we watched the sunset together. Years of being bogged down and struggling to get by were washed away in the short hours I spent with her that evening.

When I woke up, the sunlight was shining warmly through my window onto my bed and I saw puffy white clouds outside the window. Just as I had every morning for the last ten years, when I woke up habitually I felt around for the feather, but when I realized why I didn't have it anymore, it never felt so good. Part of me wanted to fall back asleep; maybe that way I could more vividly relive last night as I pictured her gorgeous face giving me the look she did when she realized what I had handed her. But I don't need to dream anymore. Now I can see her and spend real time with her.

I flipped over in bed and felt my heart tug; part of me could still hardly believe that this was happening. I was now living in Ponyville where Rainbow Dash lives also, and we had just had a wonderful night together. The past seemed so distant. She never left my life but now she was fully and truly present in a way that that felt so powerful and satisfying. As I came to grips with that reality I pondered what I was going to do today.

This was the first real thought that had really stirred up uncertainty or anxiousness inside me since I flew into the darkness as I left her house. I had been so concerned with just seeing her again, wondering if she remembered me... I wanted nothing more than the chance make her laugh, to be a positive part of her life. The way we laughed together with had sent waves of delight through my entire body, and the fact that I can meet her after ten years and be worthy for her to call me her friend was truly all I ever hoped for. When she looked at me when I handed her the feather, it seemed a truly unique look for her, as if her toughness had been softened to a level she maybe didn't know she was capable of.

I suddenly sat up and bit my wing. What do I do now? Do I just continue to be her friend? She couldn't be at the level I'm at with her with me, could she? I knew that there was more in my heart then just friendship. Much more, as much as she was willing to draw from me. We hadn't seen each other for ten years, the last time when we were so young and tender.

I threw myself out of bed and began biting my wing even harder. Maybe the best thing for me was to just go and see her as a friend. Now that I had been blessed with her presence, my heart was craving her accompaniment. I was sure as soon as I saw her smiling again, I would feel as relaxed as I could ever imagine. Those eyes... there's just so much confidence in them. It felt as though perhaps I was losing confidence at my uncertainty of what to do next, especially since my romantic feelings for her seemed to be getting even stronger. She just never struck me as a romantic pony. At least not like some of those fake romances I've heard about.

The thought of Rainbow Dash as a foolish lovestruck girl was truly a funny thought, and I even started laughing to myself. But at the same time, I deep down she's a beacon of compassion and loyalty... But what do I really want? I just want her to be happy, and if possible be force of good in her life. I quickly resolved not to worry about things like romance, though I would certainly be open to them if she only said the words. I didn't want to put any expectations or conditions on my love, because she didn't deserve that. What's good enough for her is good enough for me.

I stood in the center of the bedroom and took a deep breath, once again examining my new home's inside. There was so much I wasn't used to, and not just having a house; I don't recall ever having ever gotten as much relaxation as I have in the last few days upon arriving here. That was just another reason to get out of the house and go spend more time with Rainbow again, so she could clue me in on all the weather patrol workings that need done around here. That much was enough to make me smile.

However, it wasn't enough to satisfy my morning hunger. It suddenly occurred to me I was going to need to start keeping some food here, and to buy food, I need bits. To get bits means to work. So, after another deep breath, I trotted down the stairs and out the front of door of my new home towards the market place. Fortunately for me, Princess Celestia had sent me here with a full one-hundred bits, which would be plenty to hold me over for food until I started making some bits of my own.

I trotted swiftly down the road into town, anxious and enthusiastic to get some breakfast and then go see the love of my life. I could've just flown there of course, but I guess part of me was hoping for the same friendly greeting I got from nearly everypony yesterday as I walked the same path. Many friendly ponies greeting me with smiles was new to me, and I can't deny the peace and harmony it stirs within me. I was eager to return their friendship with my own.

I passed over the lush green hills under blue skies and made my way into the outskirts of town. Once again, faces of ponies young and old began turning in my direction to get a look at the new stallion on the block, all of them friendly. I put on the biggest grin I could and acknowledged with content everypony that barked out greetings to me as I passed by, and I just kept on galloping right on through to market section of town where I could get some breakfast. In between my morning greetings, I continued to ponder my future with Rainbow Dash, the confidence I was getting from everypony's friendliness just adding to the happiness that poured in when thinking about her.

So... do I just continue to hang out with her like last night? 'Hi there! So I was just wondering you if you wanted to hang out again today, and you know maybe next week we could get married or somethi- My train of thought was cutoff my own gasp.

"What am I saying?" I asked myself outlaid, horrified. After having being reunited with her, the thought of not being with her anymore was suffocating. I don't want to come off too strong... but how long can I hide what's been in my heart all this time? Another dreadful thought crossed my mind also. Sooner or later... I'm gonna have to tell her about my parents.

Suddenly as I heard my name from every direction, I realized I had to put the space-out session on hold for the moment. I remembered to return all the happy greetings I was getting. Don't forget to greet everypony, Sonic! I shook my head and focused my attention on smiling at everypony I passed by. Thankfully, I was already practically to the center of town where the food stands are set up, so I could take a quick break and instead turn to getting some food.

I stopped just outside the square where they were all set up and peered my gaze down the rows of tents and shops. Immediately the scent of fresh fruit, fresh baked bread, and hay all made their way into my nose. As nice as they all were, I spotted a particularly handsome rack of watermelons on a stand owned by a scruffy-looking grey business stallion. I wonder if Rainbow would care to share that with me this morning... Feelings of great delight surged through me at the thought of such, and I quickly advanced myself through the crowds and up to the owner of the stand.

"I'll take one of those big ol' watermelons," I said, pointing to one in the middle. Immediately the watermelon began to glow dark blue as I realized he was a unicorn, and it floated it's way right over to the countertop and came to rest in front of where I was standing.

"That'll be five bits," he said, as I reached my snout into a little saddle pouch I had brought along with me to keep my money in.

"You want a bag for that?" I turned my head and looked over at my back. Might be hard to balance something that round on my back.

"Uh, yeah, thanks."

He signaled for me to hold open with my hooves a brown bag he hovered to the counter with his magic as he then raised the watermelon up and down into the bag as I held it open. I thanked him and picked up the bag with my mouth and turned around to face the crowd. I didn't have to walk through that again; all that was left for me was to now go see Rainbow Dash. So I galloped forward, spread my wings, and flapped violently up into the air, chomping tightly on the bag so no pony would have a watermelon breaking over top of them.

I felt like chuckling; mischievous Rainbow would probably love pulling a prank like that if nopony got hurt, but on second thought a watermelon on the head would probably someone hurt a lot, so I definitely didn't want that. Well, maybe I'll just let her do it to me then. I glided through the air in the direction of her house with no problems outside of maybe the few uncertainties I had thought about earlier. Just be cool, Sonic, be cool, just like her. You're just going to see her as a friend. I propelled forth through the air and practiced my how-do-you-do. Gooooood morning Rainbow! I happen to have just bought this nice watermelon, would you like to share it with me? You would?!? Gee, I hope it sounds better in person.

I let the air flow through my wings and glided to a halt on her cloudly front step from which I had departed from her last night. It was such a nice house now that I could see it so clearly in the sun; a Rainbow even jetted out from the top down the lower levels. It was nearly impossible to see if she was home or not though. With the watermelon bag in my mouth, I gently raised my hoof to knock on her front door, but I pulled it back when a twinge of nervousness came over me as I looked up across her house which seemed to tower of me. Is this too much? I lowered my head and closed my eyes. How can I be so scared? I was so happy lying in bed this morning, I was so happy last night. I was so confident! I just...

Almost in response to my anxiety, an image of Rainbow smiling at me in the way she had last night appeared in my mind, and immediately lifted most of the fear I was experiencing. Most of it. Maybe I was afraid that Rainbow would sense just how much that I had longed for her all these years. Then again, wasn't that kinda the point of giving her feather? It tells her how much it meant to me. I took a deep breath once again raised my hoof to her door, knocking on the soft pillow like door. It was a pointless knock, not generating any sound whatsoever, and I sighed grievously as I realized I was going to have to do more. I wrapped the bag around my front leg and lifted my head upwards at her house, taking another deep breath.

"Rainbow?"

There was no answer. Not a peep nor rustle, nor call nor anything. Upon which now, of course, I hoped she was not home rather then present but unwilling to respond. I had called her name quite shyly as I am by nature, and it occurred to me perhaps she was asleep, or was awake and just didn't hear me all together. Maybe one more try... just a little louder.

"Rainbow?"

I repeated it even louder, but there was no answer still. Slightly deflated, I sighed and raised my wings as I waited for perhaps a late response. All indications pointed to that she wasn't home, which is fine. No problem, I will still get to see her many times in the future regardless now that I live here. I took one more breath, and tried to focus my mind on the positive, and just before I turned my back to fly away, a thunderous noise erupted from below me. It was the ever-so-familiar voice of a super-hyper pink pony.

"RAINBOW DASH! ARE YOU HOME?"

The sheer volume and unexpectedness of the yell caused me to shutter in shock and drop my bag containing the watermelon right off the edge of Rainbow's doorstep. I realized that the pony standing below me was about to be the ruin of my breakfast exploding across her face if she didn't move - I blasted myself down after the falling watermelon, snagged with my hooves as it fell in midair towards the earth and spread my wings against the air, flapping violently and bracing for impact. Coming down with my eyes closed in an anxious brace, I felt myself slowing down and my hooves touched the ground softly. Freezing my wings and still desperately clutching the watermelon, I opened my eyes amid the awkward silence and was staring face to face with a brightly-smiling Pinkie Pie, who stood in the middle of the pathway between the green hills where we were.

"That was the most amazing save I've ever seen! I mean if you hadn't shwooped down and snagged right out of the air like 'woosh!' I would've had a watermelon to the face! Not that there's anything wrong with that- I love watermelons! I guess it could've hurt a little bit, too, though," she said, speaking so fast and excitedly I could barely keep up much less remember. As I processed everything that just happened and looked from Pinkie back up to the house, I finally let my wings fall and sighed in relief.

"Thank you for saying so," I said, though still a little confused. She tilted her head with a blissful smile at me.

"So what are you doing here? Did you come to see Rainbow Dash too?"

I briefly looked from her back up at Rainbow's house again. Certainly, if Rainbow hadn't heard Pinkie's scream, she must not have been home. Then I brought my eyes back to Pinkie as an awkward silence began to grow, to which Pinkie was utterly oblivious as she just continued smiling patiently for me to respond.

"Oh! Uh, yea, I just wanted to see if she maybe wanted to share some breakfast and uh, but it doesn't look like she's home, so that's fine I guess too, I'm sure she's busy. I'll just try again later," I remarked, though I secretly craved her presence.

Pinkie's gaze went from me to just behind me; she caught something or somepony approaching us from the back. Immediately I thought maybe it was Rainbow, and my heart jumped; as I turned around, Pinkie called to the approaching one.

"Hi Miss Mayor! Walking through the fields?"

I turned around, and walking right towards the both of us was a formal cream-colored and middle-aged mare, with a grey main and tale, glasses, and a turquoise ribbon around her neck. This was only the second time I had met someone of high authority, the first being Princess Celestia. I immediately went to bow, but then it hit me that bowing was reserved for royalty. Think, Sonic! How do you address mayors? Instinctively, my body stiffened, and I raised the hoof I wasn't holding the watermelon to my forehead for a salute.

"Miss Mayor," I said, nervously but with as little emotion as I could try. She was caught off guard by this gesture. Idiot! That's not how you address mayors! To my surprise and relief though she was rather delightfully embarrassed, and began to laugh. Immediately I thought of how silly I must've been. Well, at least I made her laugh... She seems really nice too.

"I understand we have a new citizen in Ponyville! Well nice to meet you, um... ?" she paused midsentence and looked at me as though for help, raising her hoof for a shake. It took me a moment to register what she was doing.

"Oh I'm Sonic, Sonic Rain - nice to meet you!" I said, shaking her hoof enthusiastically to try and make up for my mistake.

"Mayor Mare," she said with a kindly smile, "We can always do for some more stallions in Ponyville," she paused and eyed me from head to toe, seemingly impressed. "Especially handsome ones," she added, not realizing what she had said. After a second, her mouth and eyes opened with fear and she blushed deeply. "Whoops, did I say that?" she belted, laughing loudly and uncomfortably. I actually was flattered to hear it, though Ponyville certainly seemed to have more mares than stallions.

"I'll take it from a charming mayor herself," I said with a chuckle and a sheepish shrug.

"So what are you up to, Miss Mayor?" chimed in Pinkie. Mayor Mare faced her and her emotions seemed to calm and go to back to the more formal and professional vibe they were when she initially walked up.

"Oh, I was just stopping in to see Rainbow Dash," she answered.

My heart jumped; my exchanges with Pinkie and the mayor had caused me to briefly forget about her for a second. Well, maybe it's a good thing she's not home, since I seem to have had the worst possible timing. Rainbow Dash is apparently very popular, just as she was when we were foals. I didn't expect anything less from such a mare.

"Wow, I guess Rainbow's the most wanted mare in Ponyville right now! Sonic and I were both here to see her too," said Pinkie. Mayor Mare appeared a little more thoughtful then Pinkie, as though something was on her mind.

"That's strange, she was supposed to meet me this morning to discuss next week's weather and she never showed up," said the mayor with mild concern.

What? My heart sank. I started to have a mini panic attack but I was able to stop it thankfully. Ok... calm down. So she didn't make a meeting with the mayor. That doesn't mean she's in trouble, or upset, or anything like that... does it What if giving the feather upset her? What if she thought that meant I didn't want it because I think she isn't cool? I figured I was overreacting, as I had many times in the last twenty-four hours, but I also felt the serious need to console her if she needed consoling. I was also alarmed at the terrible thought of this somehow having to do with me. Sonic, get ahold of yourself. This is ridiculous. I've got to stop cooking up these crazy what-if stories.

"I hope she's ok," I muttered to myself out loud. Pinkie and the mayor both looked over.

"Oh, I'm sure she's fine, Sonic. She's an adventurer, she's always out doing something or saving someone or winning this competition, or what have you. When I said it's not like her, I didn't mean it like she must be in danger or something," said the mayor. Pinkie briefly held her hoof to her chin in thought.

"She's probably fine. If I know Rainbow, I know she can handle herself better than anypony. We can always come back later. Wanna come back to Sugarcube Corner with me?" she said with less energy but still care and friendliness. I perked my head up with a smile; half of it was forced, as I was still concerned if not mildly about Rainbow, but the other half was authentic, appreciated Pinkie's unending hospitality. "Come on, Sonic! I've got just the sweet treat to make that smile stay," she said, as she signaled for me to follow her, beginning to bounce up and down along the path in the direction of town. I complied with her and followed slowly along after her. Of course, what I really needed to make my smile stay was the mare of my dreams, if not just knowing she was ok.

The entire walk back into town, Pinkie Pie bounced and talked non-stop, as I trailed along behind her in silence. I could barely pay any attention to what she was saying. I was just too caught up in my own heart and all it's longings, not to mention my concerns and my heavy ponderings of the night before.

I recalled how when I had first made eye-contact with Rainbow the day before at Pinkie's party, she had looked so receptive and delighted to see me. Then between getting roped into a public competition with Thunderlane and Dumbbell ending the party by getting smashed into a table by a furious Rainbow, I never got to talk to her. But that did little to prevent me from seeing her later, and the two of us were finally reunited in full last night.

I recalled every moment yet again, from when we raced our way up to the highest levels of the clouds and sat there for evening and watched the sunset. With every glance she sent me, her magenta eyes were like mediators of my happiness. She was enthusiastic and even fascinated in all our conversations, eager to hear about how I'd been and what I was up to, and in contrast to me, still emanating that same toughness and boldness I have always lacked. I briefly wondered in the morn if I had come on too strong and had upset in her any way, and looking back on the night, that seemed impossible by the joy and content she seemed to be feeling. But still, I wanted to see her again so badly... After last night, the minutes without her seemed so long.

Just before arriving at Sugarcube Corner, I realized that the fast-moving words that had been coming out of Pinkie's mouth had all but stopped. I looked up at her, and she was silent indeed, looking at me with concern.

"Sonic, you look a little blue. Are you ok?" she said, wrapping her front leg around me. I pretended to smile again, feeling bad for putting her through this. If I didn't start getting better, she'd probably suspect something, even as a pony who is seemingly oblivious to many things.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine," I lied, appreciating her friendliness. I felt bad because I found everything about her rather adorable in a non-romantic way of course. She removed herself from my side and instead appeared right before me, smiling slightly.

"Would you feel better if we found Rainbow Dash first?"

Even if I attempted to lie, I don't think I could've done it very well. I still hesitated, but looking at her and unavoidably telling her 'yes' with my looks, I went ahead and shook my head for confirmation.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt," I muttered sheepishly. Pinkie Pie smiled a little wider. "It's not that I don't enjoy hanging out with you. You've been incredibly kind to me since I arrived, and I deeply appreciate it. It's just that, well last night Rainbow and I, we - well, we had unbelievable time together-"

Too much, too much...

"You know, you must really be a good friend of Rainbow Dash's. She's lucky to have someone who cares as much as you do!"

I raised my head and smiled with gratitude, unable to deny that hearing such a thing made me feel quite warm.

"You really think so?" I asked, warming up.

"Certainment! I'll tell you what, Sonic. I'll go look over at our friends' houses' and see if they've seen her. As for you, I've got one place in mind where she especially likes to hang out- maybe you could go check there?"

"Um, o-ok," I said in a little happier tone. She once again was right beside me, standing up on her hind legs with one of her front hooves resting on my back. With the other the front hoof, she pointed down the path out towards the outskirts of town where the green meadows are.

"See that hill over there?"

"I think so," I said, squinting my eyes.

"Over that hill, and over the hill behind it, and over the hill behind that one, and over the hill behind that one, and just a little to your left, there's a little lake where we like to go swimming. I don't know if she's there, but you can check it out! If you go out there to the outside of town and just fly up, you'll see it."

"Ok," I said, grateful. "Thank you Pinkie! I'm sorry about this, by the way. I-I-I think I'll just feel a little bit better-"

"I'll let you know if I find her with one of our friends!" she proclaimed, as she unceremoniously bounced off in the opposite direction. I smiled somewhat as she innocently hopped off. I think I was figuring her out - she's a pony you can't figure out. Nevertheless, she is an adorable one who I can't help but like.

But as she faded from sight, I nervously turned my head in the direction of where she instructed me; the direction of perhaps Rainbow Dash. My heart sank as I looked out at the horizon. She's fine. What could possibly be the problem? So she isn't home and she didn't see the mayor, big whoop. I hoped that was true. But I also knew that my heart was longing terribly for her, and as soon as I saw her and was blessed with her presence, I'd be ok again. I gulped as I began walking in the direction of lake Pinkie had explained to me.

As I made my way to the outside of town and walked out over the first the hill, my feelings didn't get any better. I was afraid that this somehow had something to do with me, however that may be. I also was caught up in my intense desire just to see her, much less make sure she was in fact ok. If she couldn't tell in the way that I looked at her, or the fact I had kept her feather for so long, maybe I should just tell her now how I feel. Otherwise my heart is going to ache continually like this. 'Um... Rainbow? You remember how I gave you that feather last night?'

As I began walking over the second hill, my love for her was only feeling stronger and more agitated in the depths of my heart. I chose not to fly to this location; if she was here, then I wanted to make a quiet entry. Not just fly in from above her. Watch her not even be here. Watch her not even be in Ponyville anymore.

I made my way over the third hill and began walking down to it to the left and through the meadow. I could see the lake up in front just at the bottom of a mountain. When I saw it and approached it, I actually began having some second thoughts upon meeting her. Maybe just hold off on telling her. Just continue to redevelop the wondrous friendship we had when we were foals. I stopped in the middle of the meadow and covered my face with my hooves. What do I do? It seemed I was just going to swallow my anxiety and continue on towards her. I wasn't sure what was going to happen. All I wanted was to see her happy, and be with her and appreciate her, because that made me happy. Why would she want to be with someone like me?

In a deep breath and gulp, I tried to ignore my thoughts and walked forward towards the edge of the lake. I realized there were two pegasus ponies swimming in the lake, two young mares I gathered because I heard female giggling and an unfamiliar female voice say "he's cute though."

I walked down the shoreline until I was standing right across from where they were swimming. There were two heads, light green and light yellow. I was actually quite embarrassed to be standing there like that, awkwardly and hoping they'd see me. When they did see me - which didn't take long at all - they both were a little shocked at first, I saw their eyes pop open, but I didn't hesitate to start talking at least, even if it didn't come out very eloquently.

"Um, excuse me! Sorry to bother you like this, I hope I'm interrupting anything," I asked shyly.

"No, not at all!" said the yellow mare, flashing her friend a quick smile.

"I was - I was just wondering if you happened to see Rainbow Dash over here," I continued just as embarrassed.

"I think she went into the forest," said the light green one.

"The forest?" I repeated, somewhat concerned.

"Yeah. Right over that hill, I'm sure you've seen it by now haven't you, with those big wings of yours? Don't worry though, it's only really dangerous at night. And it's not like she cares about that anyway," she assured me.

"Thank you," I said, flashing them a smile while trying to mask my concerns.

The forest... I thought, turning my eyes. Going into the forest didn't seem like that big of a deal to them. But now my heart was itching to see her very badly, and I knew it wouldn't be satisfied until I saw her. I started to trot in the direction of the forest, but before I left it occurred to me there was one more thing I wanted to ask them. I stopped in my tracks and turned my head ever so slightly back in their direction.

"So you.. saw her, right? Did she look happy? Or upset? Or you couldn't tell?" I asked, turning around. The one who had told me she was in the forest obviously thought my asking was a little odd, but she didn't seem too off put by it.

"Come to think of it, I think she did actually look kinda distressed," she replied.

Oh no... I took off towards the forest at full speed over the hill and through the fields until I came up to it. Without a second thought I raced into it and galloped through the trees. My mind was ablaze with horrible, negative thoughts about myself. I've upset her... It was wrong to think that she'd love someone like me... But everytime those thoughts would arise, another side of me would be there to quell those thoughts. Don't be ridiculous. You saw the way she looked at you yesterday, and how much fun she was obviously having. It won't be long now and I'll see her beautiful face again... I kept dashing my way through the trees turning my head in any which way to catch a glimpse of her while my heart called for her. Where are you?

I leapt over a large tree hump and landed in a small patch of dirt. I turned my head in either which way, desperately hoping for any sign of her. I looked between two trees close to each other and caught a glimpse of more sunlight than any other place in the forest I'd seen so far coming down through the canopy. I inquired closer and saw an opening in the forest, with rays of sun coming down beside a small waterfall. There was luscious greenery on either side of it. But then...

"-if he doesn't feel the same way? I can't tell Twilight. Or any of them for that matter. They'd never let me live it down," I heard her voice say in a muffled delivery. I gasped and held my breath. "And I have my reputation to consider... Ponyville knows I'm the toughest pony in Equestria, but will they say if they find out I'm in- I mean it's not my fault that I'd almost given up on ever seeing him again," she continued with a gentle sigh. "I certainly never planned on him coming back... to Ponyville!"

I tip toed towards the sounds of her voice and peered through the brush, catching sight of a most unmistakable tail. Who was she talking about? It was hers alright, with the streaks of all the beautiful colors known to ponies. I moved down a few steps and breathlessly shoved my face between the trees to get a better look. She was standing at the edge of a small pool at the bottom of the waterfall with her back to me. The isolated rays of penetrating sun fell down on her like she was a holy shrine whose beauty could only possibly be from the divine. At the initial sight of her my heart was enormously relieved and tremendously excited to see her at the same time, but the sight of her quickly brought on new concerns.

She looked into the pool at herself deep in thought as she was walking around the water's edge slowly, playing in the dirt with her hooves, or sometimes lifting her head up to the canopy as though asking it something. Occasionally there would be flashes of intense joy in her face at some recollection but it would be followed quickly with fear or uncertainty, which left my heart begging to know what she was thinking. I could hear her voice barely over the trickling water; she was talking to herself.

I hid myself behind one of the trees I was looking through and sat back against it, my entire body freezing while I stopped breathing altogether. I wasn't quite sure if I could handle this. I was almost sure she was talking about me. She had to be. But I didn't know that I was ready to hear whatever she had to say about me. What if she didn't like me? What if she didn't want to see me again? After being almost my sole source of consolation for ten years, I wasn't sure I could handle the emotional impact of knowing exactly how she felt about me and part of me really didn't want to find out. I closed my eyes, almost to the point of tears.

I turned back around and let the sight of her beauty distract my anxiousness to to the degree that I could. She was still walking along the side of the pool, though she was now on other side and I had a much better view of her face. She looked frustrated now, and after a short moment she even pounded her hoof into the ground and whipped her tail with a defensive gaze in the direction of Ponyville.

"Who cares what those guys think? It's not like I'm *not* still the toughest pony *and* the best athlete. I can still be a wonderbolt - and it's not like I'm not an element of harmony. GRH... they don't know what I'm feeling! They have no right to - Agh! What is wrong with me? I can't help it! He's-"

I shot up and wrapped my front legs around the tree in front of me, throwing my head forward. Now I had to hear more. My soul was desperate an on the verge of collapse, and everything rested on what came next.

"Oh," she moaned. "Who am I kidding?"

I said before that I didn't think I could handle the truth if it meant rejection of our friendship. But it turns out I was emotionally unprepared for what came next, either. She sat back and pulled out something I hadn't seen on her before, and stared at it with a most loving smile as she held it in her hooves. It was her own blue feather that I had given back to her.

Suddenly my breath was back, faster and deeper than ever while my eyes began to well up. This can't be happening, I thought while this wondrous feeling slowly began to overwhelm my entire being.

"Sonic the awesome," she started, staring into space with that same smile. "Sonic the gentle... Sonic the almost-as-fast-as-me!! Sonic thegorgeous," she listed off. " I mean... how can anyone have eyes like that? It's like not even possible! How is this happening to me? Why am I being such a -?"

I pulled my head from the tree and sank to the ground on my rump, putting both of my front hooves on my eyes and moving them up to my forehead, anything to calm down. How is this happening... It can't be... How could the same pony be saying that about a colt who was abandoned by his parents? The dreams of my dreams coming true right in front of me. With the way my life had gone, it seemed so hard believe, yet it was so unmistakably real. My heart was beating so fast and I was now breathing so hard that it was a miracle she didn't hear me. I stood up feeling light headed.

She looked upward with a rapturous expression and hovered off the ground while she pressed her feather from her feather from her filly days joyously against her chest. My anxieties were suddenly turning into incomprehensible happiness.

"Sonic," she proclaimed in a hushed voice and with a desperate, pleading expression. "Forget it! I don't care what they say! You can have my heart - just take it already!"

The levee broke and I crashed through the brush drunk with love, beyond eager to grant her request. Rainbow screamed with surprise and she blasted her wings forward and crashed into the top of the rock on the small waterfall. She then fell to the ground as I rushed over to where she was.

"Are you ok?" I shouted breathlessly.

"Yes I'm fine!" she replied in the same state. "What are you doing here??"

"I wanted to see you again!" I proclaimed, and she started to smile as though I'd just saved her life. I helped her up and the two of us were now just inches from each other.

"I can't believe you kept this for all that time," she whispered, holding up the feather, and I had never seen such depth of feeling anywhere as in Rainbow's expression. She sat back and gently raised her right hoof so that it was open and facing me. When I realized what she doing I was so ticked that I nearly cried as my heart was simply on fire.

I raised my left hoof, and our two hooves touched softly just as they did when we first met as foals, and somehow, unbelievably, it was even more of a thrill than it was before, with outpourings of the greatest feelings in the world shooting through my hoof up my leg, spreading immediately to everywhere else in my body. Watching it have a similar effect on her somehow lifted us even more to new and indescribable highs.

"You- you remember!" she cried in disbelieving ecstasy.

"Of course I remember..."

All of a sudden she backed away and eventually turned around, which instantly left me deeply concerned and terribly afraid that I'd done something.

Looking straight ahead into the forest she seemed concentrated on slow inhales. Finally she turned her head back ever so slowly, eventually meeting my eyes again like she couldn't help it. The longer she looked the less conflicted she seemed to become, though both of us were breathing fast and glowing with unhinged affection.

When she inched towards me, with every step I seemed to breath faster and faster, more and more anxious, though my love got stronger. As ten years of tension were reaching paralyzing levels, I closed my eyes... Then, after several deep breaths that took all of my utmost concentration and focus to accomplish... the softest lips in the world came to rest directly on my own, and the most powerful peace in the world flooded my soul as ten years of overwhelming stress and tension was banished with one timeless kiss.

When we finally opened our eyes together, the heavenly glee was restored in in the form of giggling with joy and indulging in each other's yearning gazes. Then we wrapped ourselves around each other and met lips again while our giggles turned into hearty laughter. I felt such a way that ten yeas, one hundred years, one thousand years of unbreakable misery was worth this moment with the mare for whom my heart burns with the deepest affection.

Our second embrace was quickly interrupted by the loud and curiously innocent voice of a mutual friend from somewhere very close in the forest.

"Rainbow Dash?" it called, almost in the form of a song. The call's subject withdrew herself violently from my grip in a rush of fear and a deeper blush than any I've ever seen.

"Pinkie Pie!" she cried in a hushed voice as her ears dropped in horror.

"There you are!" shouted Pinkie, running through the trees and into our little oasis. "Hey, you found her!" she said with a smile to me. "What are you guys up to?"

"What are we up to?" asked Rainbow in a nervous and hysterical laughter, blushing wildly and with ears that were so adorable they had to be seen to be believed. "We're just... hanging out, you know!" she continued, shooting me a smile that couldn't hide her real feelings.

"Why are you so nervous?" asked Pinkie, turning her head sideways in curiosity.

"Nervous? I'm not nervous at all!" she replied, turning her head in the other direction and rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof.

"Wow Sonic!" she proclaimed, suddenly looking me over as though impressed. "You look really really happy! Hey Rainbow, I think you've got a real friend in Sonic, he seems to like you a lot! He was so concerned for you this morning that he couldn't even eat breakfast until he knew you were ok. And just look at you now that you've found her! You're like the happiest-looking stallion I've ever seen!"

Now it was my turn to be embarrassed - the most heavenly embarrassment of all time... I chuckled gently with a glance over at Rainbow who seemed to find it incredibly pleasing though at the same time she visibly tried to quell her feelings from being seen by Pinkie.

"Hey Pinkie," she asked, refusing to make eye contact with her until the very end and instead swirling her hoof around in the dirt. "Do you think you could maybe... give us a moment to just, you know- catch up by ourselves?"

"But about the mayor?" asked Pinkie concerned. "You were supposed to meet with her today and she's looking all over for you."

"Doh- that's right!!" she shouted, hitting her face with her hoof and shaking her head violently. She shot me a look that seemed to be very depressed that she had to leave me. "Can it wait?"

"Well," replied Pinkie, uneasily. "I don't think so-"

"Ugh!" gasped an extremely frustrated Rainbow. "Alright alright I'm coming, just- can you please give us a minute?" she asked in a desperate plead.

"Sure!" replied Pinkie, standing there smiling.

"ALONE!" begged Rainbow. I found her every action and gesture to be so adorable I'd be fine with this to go on forever.

"Well... ok!" consented Pinkie, turning around and hopping behind a tree.

Rainbow's rage reverted instantly back to bliss. She flapped her wings and hovered just off the ground in a hover and held her hooves out for me to hold, which I did so with the utmost love and enthusiasm.

"I'll don't know how long this will take but I'll be as quick as I can!" she assured me in a whisper, glancing in Pinkie's direction to make sure she wasn't looking. "I'm definitely not ready for *her* to find out. Ugh, I don't want to leave!!!"

"Where should I wait for you?!?" I replied in a giggling whisper.

"Rainbow?" called Pinkie.

"I'm coming!" shouted Rainbow impatiently before coming back to me with a sweet expression. "Can you wait here and I'll come straight back?"

"Yes!" I replied overjoyed.

"Rainbow!" cried Pinkie.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!!!" shouted Rainbow to her. "I'm going straight there as soon as I can," she whispered with a rapturous smile that I returned with equal fervor. She stole one more kiss then blasted away at light speed that cut a line through the forest.

"THANK YOU!!!" I sang hysterically to the skies - I started dancing and skipping around the water's edge before I leapt up into the sky, twirling around in ascending circles and singing all the way up until I was above the highest clouds.