Let me in, Rainbow Dash Ch.4

"Just remember: no matter what she says, don't give up."

> Twilight says sternly, giving you a look mixed with hope and concern.
> You're standing in the main atrium of Canterlot Castle, at the top of the grand staircase.
> The morning light streams in through the windows of the spacious room, bathing it in a pale, pink light.
> In front of you is Celestia. She gazes at at you warmly, her motherly presence radiating outward. Twilight stands closely by her side.
> "Oh!" Twilight exclaims, perking up, "And another thing..."
> She turns and plucks a small bundle off the ground with her teeth, then levitates it over to you.
> "I found all the books I could on Las Pegasus," Twilight explains, "Hopefully they'll be of some help."
> You grab the pile of thin, hardcover books out of the air.  They've been tied together neatly with string for easy carrying.
> The title of the top book, embossed with golden letters on the solid green cover, reads "Las Pegasus: The Coastal Metropolis"
> You glance at the violet unicorn and give her a thankful smile.
Thanks, Twilight. These will be great to read on the train.
> You say. She responds with an appreciative nod.
I'll see you again soon, ok?
> "Ok. Bye Anon!" She replies.

> You turn to the ever-majestic Celestia, and give her a deep bow.
Goodbye, Princess. Thanks for everything.
> You say before rising up again. "Fare well on your travels, Anonymous, and good luck." She replies in a kind tone.
> You turn and head down the stairs, led by a Royal Guard,
> He follows the regal, red carpet to the bottom, and then takes a right to lead you down a side hall.
> Eventually you emerge from the castle to see another golden carriage waiting for you. This time, there are no bars on the windows.
> Two guards are already linked up and ready to fly.
> It's impossible to tell if they're the same ones as before, as they all look so much alike, but just in case you decide to saunter over to the carriage wearing the smuggest expression you can possibly muster.
> You duck into the carriage and lean back on the coushined bench seat, stretching your legs out in front of you.
Gentlemen,
> You say with a sly grin.
Please, take me home.

> The guards drop you off on the dirt road that runs by your cottage, right on the outskirts of Ponyvile.
> You trod along the path to your home. It looks like most of the other houses in town, white walls with light brown trim and a thatched roof.
> Compared to typical human houses it's quite small, but at least it's built to accomodate you and not four-legged creatures half your size.
> You open the door to your house and swing it open. The familiar, musty smell of hay and wooden floors is there to greet you.
> You step inside and shut the door. It will be a few hours before the train leaves, so you have some time to pack, get cleaned up and into a fresh pair of clothes.
> Your home consists only of two rooms.  The main room is a combination of a bedroom, kitchen and living area.
> The other room, tucked in the back of your house, is the bathroom.
> Not much to look at, but at least it's yours.
> You open your storage chest and scrounge around for a while, then pull out an empty, olive-green duffel bag.
> You unzip the bag and lay it open on the floor, then place your bundle of books inside.
> Opening your dresser, you then also throw in an extra pair of jeans, some socks and underwear, along with several t-shirts.
> You pluck a light jacket off a hanger and add it in too. Don't want to be without it during a rainstorm.
> You look over your pack and rub your chin, contemplating. What else would you need?

> Ah, of course. You head over to your bed and lift up the mattress. Underneath is a flattened cloth sack filled with coins.
> You grab the bag of jingling bits and empty it onto your table, the thin pieces of metal making a racket as they form a sizable pile.
> Out of all of the odd jobs you've had in this realm, writing a nonfiction textbook about the human world was definitely the most profitable.
> Twilight had given you the initial idea, and helped with the editing and finding a publisher.
> Within a few months, your work was in stores and libraries across Equestria, and you had enough money to commission the construction of your house.
> You begin counting the coins. Although home building was expensive, you still had enough to live comfortably for a while.
> This should be more than enough for any expenses you might encounter on your way to Las Pegasus.
> Your concentration is interrupted by a quick series of knocks at your front door.
> You grunt and amble over to the door, undoing the latch and letting it pivot open.
> It's Pinkie Pie.

> "Anon!" She shouts, jumping a foot into the air as she recognizes you. Immediately, she starts talking at lightning speed, her mouth practically a blur.
> "Hey so Rarity told me all about what happened between you and Dash and at first I was so angry that you would do something so mean but then she told me about how determined you were to make things right that I felt better and then I heard you got arrested and taken to Canterlot and I was so sad and worried I didn't know what to do-"
> You glare at the pink pony with an unamused expression. You know that trying to stop the unending stream of words is futile. She continues, ignoring you completely.
> "-and then I saw a royal chariot flying back and so I thought it must be you and so I put down the fruit cart and I ran over as fast as I could and now I'm here!"
> Pikie stands before you breathing heavily, trying to regain the oxygen lost from her ramblings. You smile and respond,
Hey Pinkie, good to see you too. I was just getting packed to leave for Las Pegasus.
> "LAS PEGASUS?" She excalims, apparently recovered from her breathless state, "Why would you want to go there? It's so so so far away!"
Well, because that's where I think Rainbow Dash has gone.
> You explain, your calm voice a stark contrast to Pinkie's usual overenthusiasm.
I'm going after her.
> Pinkie Pie's eyes light up and she gasps in surprise, inhaling audibly. She beams and starts gushing over your noble quest.
> "Oh my gosh, that is so ROMANTIC! It's just like one of those saucy novels Twilight's always reading, where the stallion runs after the mare right before she's about to leave!"
> Your cheeks burn and you feel a wave of embarassment flow through you. You suddenly realize how absurdly far out of your way you're going for someone you only consider a friend.

N-no, Pinkie. It's not like that. You see- uh...
> You say, stumbling over your words,
I-I'm doing it because she's my friend, and I-uh... I owe it to her.
> Pinkie eyes you suspiciously. A thin smirk spreads across her face. She's completely silent for once in her obnoxious life.
> You feel your forehead becoming increasingly damp, and consider a change in topic to be a good idea.
Hey! So, uh, my train leaves pretty soon. Could you tell the rest of the girls to meet me at the train station in about an hour and a half?
That way I can say goodbye to everyone before I leave.
> The pink mare perks up at this request, beaming at you happily.
> "Okey dokey lokey! See you there!" She says and then swiftly runs off in the direction of Ponyville.
> You exhale slowly, relieved to be out of Pinkie's scrutinizing glare.
> You turn back inside and continue counting out a portion of funds to take with you on your journey.

***

Are you sure you're feeling ok?
> You ask Rarity.
> "Well, I won't be levitating anything sizeable for a while, but I'm sure I'll manage." She responds.
> You're standing on the train station's platform . Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy have all come to say goodbye.
> Thankfully, Rarity has forgiven you for pushing her magic over the limit and ditching her in the middle of nowhere.
> The mid-noon sun shines down brightly, making shadows shrink and hide beneath the walls and bushes. It's a little warm, but no uncomfortably so.
> The train has already arrived, but you have some time before it departs. Its engine emits a low rumble as steam hisses slowly from its smokestack.
> Applejack takes a step forward. "Don't you worry 'bout us, Anon." She says in her typical southern drawl.
> "Just worry 'bout finding Rainbow, an' not gettin' lost in such a big ol' city."
> "Yeah!" Pinkie chimes in, "And be sure to bring us lots of presents when you get back! We all just love souvenirs!"
> She wraps a foreleg around Fluttershy, pulling her uncomfortably close. "Isn't that right, Fluttershy?" She asks.
> Fluttershy cowers back in her friend's embrace, her eyes darting back and forth between you and a random point on the ground.
> "Ummm... yes?" She manages to say, her voice barely a whisper.
> Poor Fluttershy is still incredibly shy around you, but you have no idea why. She has no problem caring for terrifying creatures twice your size, but around you she clams up and hardly says a word.
> Once, when you asked Applejack about it, she just shrugged and suggested, "I reckon it's 'cause you act more like a pony than other critters."

Don't worry,
> You say, showing Pinkie and Fluttershy an assuring smile,
I'll make sure to bring back something... uh, cool!
> You realize you have no idea what the culture of Las Pegasus has to offer. Another reason to delve into those books Twilight gave you.
> "Yay!" Pinkie exclaims. "That's... nice." Fluttershy says, wearing an anxious grin.
> Suddenly, a stallion's voice calls out from the front of the train, "All aboard!"
> You grab your bag by its strap throw it over your shoulder.
Well, looks like this is it. Bye everypony!
> You say, raising a hand in farewell.
> "Bye, Anon! Good Luck!" The ponies call out to you as you step into the locomotive.
> The train's cars are thankfully much larger than they look from the outside. You're able to stand fully upright as you walk down the aisle.
> You stow your luggage in an overhead rack and plop down on an empty seat.
> You slouch a little and get comfortable, since you don't really expect that you'll need to share.
> Ponies have stopped giving you stares, but they aren't liable to share a seat with a hulking, bipedal monster.
> Several more ponies filter in through the doors and take their seats. You reconize a few faces, but none of them are ponies that you've talked to before.

> The passengers all finish boarding and the doors of the car roll shut. They come to rest with a heavy clunk.
> Your balance shifts as the train lurches forward. Gusts of steam burst from the engine as it churns.
> You glance out the window to notice most of the ponies still on the station platform are waving and calling out goodbyes, including your group of friends.
> You wave back to them as they scroll past you and disappear behind the walls of the train car.
> Soon the train is moving along at a steady clip, and a peaceful calm settles over the cabin.
> Idle chatter between ponies drifts out from the rows of seats. Some it excited with anicipation, some of it regular, everyday talk.
> Seeing as you have little else to do, you stare out of the window and watch the scenery slide past.
> Rolling green hills dotted with clumps of trees. An occasional house or barn, but nothing too exciting.
> You hope the scenery isn't this dull for the entire trip. Two days to get to Las Pegasus seems like forever.
> But perhaps that's not such a bad thing... you could use some time to think.

> Pinkie's words from earlier still linger in the back of your mind.
> Did she really think your journey was "SO ROMANTIC?" I mean, yeah, you are traveling hundreds of miles just to talk to a girl, but you're not trying to "win her back" or anything.
> You're doing this to fix your mistakes. To set things right. You're not even sure if you have the capability to fall in love with a pony.
> No matter what feelings Rainbow Dash has.
> You watch a distant grain silo slowly drift past.
> You sigh and shift your weight to the side, supporting your head with your hand.
> When you get there, will she even speak to you? If Twilight is right and she is... discordant, she'll probably be completely different than the rainbow-maned mare you knew.
> She might not even give you a chance.
> You feel a slight pull as the train rounds a turn, the passenger car swaying gently back and forth.
> You never imagined things could go wrong so fast. Not in a place as quiet and peaceful as Equestria.
> Everything used to be so simple. All you did was relax and have a good time with your new friends between the unusual hours of whatever odd job you currently had.
> You remember warm summer nights gazing at shooting stars. Friendly banter over a cup of hot cocoa in the cozy winter months.
> Running through the streets on a cool, spring morning.

> You continue to reminisce on fond memories as the train steadily rolls along.
> You hardly notice when the locomotive enters a tunnel heading straight into a giant foothill.
> The passenger car goes dark, the only light coming from a few oil lamps lined up in a row over the aisle.
> Slowly, you slip back into the past, thinking of the time you first met the one called Dash.

***

> You're meandering along a dirt path along the outskirts of Ponyvile.
> You've only been here for three days, and you're still just getting used to the whole "world full of colorful, magical horses and mythical beasts" thing.
> Walking helps clear your head, helps you cope with being trapped in what looks like an acid trip in the girl's toys section of Wall-Mart.
> Everything here looks so vivid and full of life: the grass, the trees, the houses. Hell, even the clouds look cheerful.
> Especially that cloud. The one that's soaring oddly low to the ground. Strange, it seems like it's drifting faster than the others.
> Before you can contemplate the matter further, the cloud abruptly stops entirely, hesitating a split second before hurtling at you at a tremendous speed.

What the fuu-aaaah!
> You yell, throwing your hands in front of your face and cowering back as the puffy white object races straight for you.
> Your body tenses, bracing for impact. Your eyes are closed tightly as you wait for death's sweet embrace.
> Then, nothing.
> You feel a cool, gentle breeze flow past your face. It feels like vapor, making tiny droplets of water cling to you.
> You hear someone... laughing?
> You open your eyes to see a light blue pony hovering in front of you, propelled by a pair of strong, feathered wings.
> Tiny tufts of cloud encircle her. She is cracking up, her hooves covering her mouth, her high-pitched laughter ringing in your ears..
> "Hahahaha!" She says, her voice slightly gruff and boyish, "You should see the look on your face!"
> She shakes her hooves in front of her face and puts on a silly expression. "Oooh, look out for the killer cloud! Hahahaha!" She mocks.
> Her rainbow colored mane bounces around as she gestures.
> You let your arms droop down to your side as you stand awkwardly and watch the pegasus laugh in your face. Your cheeks burn, a mix of anger and embarassment surging through you.
Yeah, good one.
> You grumble, laying on the sarcasm thick.

> You walk past the giggling pony and continue on your path.
> "Hey, wait!" You hear the mare call out from behind.
> Abruptly, she zooms in front of you, stopping you in your tracks.
> "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad," She explains, "It was just too funny to pass up, you know?"
> Your narrowed stare and sour expression convey the fact that you do not, in fact, "know."
> She smiles nervously and rubs the back of her head with a hoof. "So..." She says, "You must be that hyoo-min thing Twilight was talking about, huh?"
Yes. I am a human.
> You state in a deadpan tone, continuing to glower at her angrily,
And I am not a 'thing.' I'm a person.
> She looks at you pensively. "Hm, well that's pretty cool, I guess." She states as if she has authority on the subject.
> "So do you have any cool abilities?" She asks.
Like... what, exactly?
>"Can you do magic?"
No.
> "Flight?"
Nope.
> "Do you have retractable claws?"
Nuh-uh.
> "Super speed?"
No.
> "Petrifying stare? Super fast healing? Invisibility?!"
No, no and no.

> "Well what CAN you do?" She asks in a cricital tone, while raising an eyebrow.
> You shuffle anxiously, racking your brain for impressive things you'd be able to show off.
> You glance around, noticing a small twig on the ground at your feet. It's roughly the size and shape of a pen.
> With a coy grin, you pick it up and start twirling it with one hand, just like you practiced every time you were bored in class.
> The the rainbow-maned pegasus stares at your trick, watching the tiny stick dance and flip around between your fingers.
> She then gives you a thoroughly unimpressed look.
> "Well that's... pretty cool." She states while looking off in another direction.
> You drop the twig and awkardly hold your hands together, keeping your gaze focused on the ground.
> "Um, well, I'll see you around, ok dude?" She says while revving up her wings.
> Before you can respond she's already speeding away, leaving a rainbow colored streak in her wake.
> You continue trodding along the path, expecting to never see the pony again.

> A week passes. Now you're trapped in the Carosel Boutique, bored out of your mind.
> Since you haven't found any work, Rarity generously offered to entertain you for the day.
> You accepted, knowing that whatever the gentle, lady-like pony wanted to do, it couldn't be that bad.
> You were wrong.
> Rarity stands before you in a frilly, over-the-top outfit. Gemstones cover the dress, making it glint and sparkle unnaturally.
> This is the thirty-seventh dress that Rarity has oh-so-graciously modelled for you.
> "Oh what do you think? Isn't this one just to die for?" She ask excitedly, striking an elegant pose and glancing at her reflection in one of the many mirrors throughout the store.
Yeah it's... shiny.
> You say, your voice completely devoid of enthusiasm.
> Rarity continues to gaze at her herself, completely oblivious to your lack of amusement.
> "Oh, it's so good to get the opinion of a creature that loves fashion just as much as I do!" Rarity spouts wistfully.
> "I just love that you commit yourself to wearing clothes every day. I love it!" Rarity gushes, giving you a big smile.
> You don't have the heart to tell her the truth behind your habitual clothing habits, nor that don't care for fashion at all.
> Instead, you respond with a weak grin and nod.

> "Oh, that reminds me." Rarity says, turning to walk towards the back of the room.
> "I have another dress that's positively stunning to wear in the spring. Let me see if I can find it."
> She strolls into a huge, walk-in closet containing possibly hundreds of dresses.
> Oh dear god. You're not sure how long you can take this.
> You adjust your position on your seat, a hard wooden bench that has made your behind increasingly sore.
> Maybe if you ask for tea she'll stop? Ponies like tea, right?
> Your sulking is interrupted by a light tapping sound. It sounds like a coconut bumping against a glass pane.
> You spin around in your seat to see the form of a pegasus hovering just outside one of the higher-up windows in the boutique.
> It's the same light blue and rainbow-maned pegasus from before.
> She's motioning with her hoof. It looks like she wants you to... come outside?
> You glance back at the entrance of the walk-in closet. You can faintly hear Rarity talking to herself about dresses or something.
> Now's your chance. Sweet escape. It's too tempting not to take it.

> You quietly tip-toe over to the front door. Turning the knob carefully, you try to make as little noise as possible.
> You pull the door open and step out, then close it behind you silently.
> By the time you're outside, the powder-blue mare has already floated down to your level, a look of determination sparkling in her magenta eyes.
Yeah?
> You ask.
> "Hey human, I need your help." She says, "Are you up to it?"
> You mull it over for a split second. If it means getting away from this dress shop, then you don't care what it is.
> You nod confidently, saying,
Yeah. I'm down. What do you need?
> "I'll explain when we get there," She says in a mischevious tone, "Follow me."
> She flies ahead of you, and you start jogging in order to keep up.
> She leads you out of town, always flying a few feet in front of you the entire way.
> The stone-paved roads eventually turn to dirt, and you find yourself near what looks like an apple orchard.

> The pegasus pony finally stops flying, coming to a graceful landing in a rough patch of wilderness just outside the fences of the orchard.
> You ease down to a slow walk, giving yourself a chance to catch your breath.
> "Hey! Over here!" The pegasus calls out, beckoning you forward with a hoof.
> You clamber through a layer of high, untamed grass and walk over to where she stands.
> She's looking at a small mound with a deep burrow dug into it.
> "Put your grabby things in there." She says, gesturing toward the hole.
What? Are you crazy?
> You exclaim.
No way I'm putting my hand in there.
> "Ugh." She grunts, rolling her eyes, "Come on, dude. I thought you wanted to help."
What's in there?
> "Something I need." She says shortly, "I promise it won't kill you, ok?"

> This is the same pegasus that laughed in your face for being afraid of a speeding ball of fluff.
> However, something behind that bold, carefree gaze speaks to you.
> For whatever reason, you want to prove yourself to her.
> You kneel down on the ground, bringing your open hand to the entrance of the burrow.
> Slowly, you reach into the depths of the tiny cave, the damp smell of earth seeping from it.
> Your fingers bump and scrape against the sides of the soil-built den, navigating its strange curves.
> Eventually you get shoulder deep in the hole, and you feel something silky, smooth and tubular. Like a garden hose made from soap.
> A sickening feeling turns in your stomach, but you're too far to turn back now.
> Very carefully, you grasp the body of the ropey object and tug.
> You feel muscles coil and write under the skin of the object, but you don't stop.
> With a bit of resistance, the thing comes free of the den.

> The body of a large garter snake flails and twists in the open air, its middle held tightly in your grasp.
> Its beady, black eyes stare blankly as its tongue darts out, tasting the wind.
> "Haha! Yeah!" The pegasus cheers, then holds out a forehoof to the snake.
> You are shocked to see the slithering creature wrap itself along the length of her leg, but she doesn't seem frightened at all.
> In fact, she's smiling devilishly.
> The pegasus pony takes into the air, blowing your hair back with a strong gust of wind.
> She soars into the apple orchard. You watch her meticulously as you walk towards the fence on the perimeter of the farm.
> She disappears into the canopy of bright green leaves and red, ripe fruit.
> You lean over the low fence and observe, your full attention on the antics of this strange mare.
> She then abruplty appears again, gliding back over to you effortlessly. The snake is gone from her foreleg.
> You open your mouth to question, but she shushes you as she lands by your side.
> "Shhh!" She hisses, "Just stay low and watch."

> You crouch down, hiding behind a tangle of grass that grows thick around the fenceposts.
> A minute ticks by. The light blue pegasus peers through the brush, her squinting eyes searching for something unseen.
> Then, you faintly hear the sound of someone, or rather somep0ny, whistling a cheery tune.
> An orange pony strolls into view, a cowboy's stetson on her head, her blonde mane and tail bound by red scrunchies.
> Wait. That's Applejack, that pony with the southern accent that Twilight introduced you to.
> You guess this must be the farm she works on.
> You study the pony as she strolls over to an apple tree and sets down a few buckets within its shade.
> The pegasus to your right lets out a muffled giggle, her mouth scrunched in a surpressed grin.
> Applejack turns and faces away from the tree, bending her front legs as she prepares a mighty kick.
> THUMP. She bucks the tree with both legs, causing the entire trunk to shake violently.
> A cascade of apples tumble from the branches of the tree and fall into the waiting buckets, along with a coiled, dark green snake that lands squarely on Applejacks back.

> "AAAAH! Git it off!" She hollers, rearing up and prancing on her back legs in a frenzy.
> "It's a rattler! Oh sweet Celestia!" She cries, cowering away from the reptile as it harmlessly slithers away.
> "Hahaha! Yes!" the pegasus beside you laughs, rolling around and clutching her sides in the bed of tall grass.
> "Hahahaha. Oh..." She chuckles, "That was classic! Hahaha!"
> You can't help but feel the infectious laughter bubble through you as well. You fail to hold back a series of amused snorts.
> The orange pony's ears perk up. Your position has been given away by your companion's roaring guffaws.
> "Rainbow DAAAASH!" Applejack yells, her face turning a much darker shade of orange.
> "Oh crud." The pegasus says, her laughter cut short.
> "Run!"
> You and the light blue mare speed off down the path, running as fast as you can from the furious country mare.

> Soon, you're both taking cover in a shady grove of maple trees, panting heavily from your daring escape.
> "Heh." The pegasus says between breaths, "You did pretty good back there, human."
> You look up at the smiling blue pony, your heart beating loudly in your ears.
Anon.
> You say in a confident tone,
My name is Anon.
> The pegasus smirks, surprised by your sudden moxy.
> She extends a hoof to you, saying,
> "I'm Rainbow. Rainbow Dash."
> You make a fist and bump it lightly against her outstretched hoof.
> The gesture of respect makes her grin even more.

> And so it began. You and Rainbow were hanging out almost every day.
> You pulled pranks on the unsuspecting townsfolk.
> Raced along the rushing streams of the forest.
> Got rowdy and sang badly after a few too many apple ciders.
> Before you knew it, you had forgotten how to feel out of place in a world not your own.
> And then she had to go and ruin it.

> Part of you hated her. Hated her for trying to force you into something you couldn't handle.
> But mostly, you just hated yourself.
> Of course she was falling in love with you. You were an idiot not to realize it.
> She was just lonely. So were you.
> Was that really so wrong?
> If you could just go back, rewind time to that warm starry night, and once again lay pinned to the cool grass.
> When she bent down, her magenta eyes glimmering, her cheeks flushed, her breath heavy.
> You don't think you'd be able.
> Able to turn away.

> "Tickets! Tickets please!", a peircing male voice demands.
> Your eyes shoot open, your head bolting suddenly into an upright position.
> You're staring face-to-face with a stallion pony in a train attendant's uniform, your head still in a daze.
> He has an apprehensive, yet expectant look on his face.
Oh, right. Sorry.
> You say bashfully, reaching a hand into your pocket.
> You pull out a shiny yellow ticket and hold it out to him.
> He grips it in his teeth and tears it with one one fluid motion, letting you hang on to the other half.
> He then keeps moving along the cabin, repeating his call. "Tickets! Tickets please!"

> You sit back in your seat and rub your eyes, feeling the sleepy mindset of your daydream melt away.
> The afternoon sun warms your face, another reminder that your voyage has only just begun.
> For a while you sit, content to listen to the gentle "click-clack, click-clack" as the train rolls along the rails.
> Then you decide that doing some research would be helpful, to take your mind off other things.
> Standing up, you retrieve the bundle of books from your bag overhead.
> You reseat yourself, the stack of texts weighing heavily in your lap.
> You unbind the knot that ties them together, and let the strings fall loose.
> You pick up the top book, examining its title yet again in the sunlight. A narrow piece of paper slides out from beneath the cover.
> You pull it out of the book. It looks like a letter that's wrapped around a brochure.
> Unfolding the letter, you begin to read.

Dear Anon,
I don't know what you're going to encounter when you get to Las Pegasus,
but I want you to be prepared for anything. From your story that you told
Celestia and I, it seems likely that certain events could unfold once you
find Rainbow Dash. So just in case, I'm including some important reading
material that I'd like you to study. Please understand that it's very
crucial to know, so please don't be embarassed. Good luck!
Your Friend,
Twilight Sparkle
> You pick up the brochure, holding it up to the sunlight.
> There's a picture of a mare and a stallion facing each other, a red heart floating between them.
> Its title reads: "Sexual Health for Young Mares and Stallions."
> What the shit?
> Your eyes go wide and you quickly tuck the brochure into the stack of books, hoping that nopony saw.
> You take a breath and stare out the window, but you're fuming on the inside.
> God dammit, Twilight.