Rainbro the first

>Dash is flying home from a night hanging out at your place, lookin' at the ridiculously beautiful view.
>Srsly, sunsets like that are the setting of half of all confession scenes ever.
>She starts getting mushy romantic ideas in her head.
>Shakes 'em off, flies home.
>She can't sleep.  She can't stop thinking about you.
>She comes up with the best and stupidest plan.

>The next day...

>"Hey Anon?"
>"Yeah, Dash?"
>"I have a crazy idea.  You trust me, right?"
>"Sure.  I probably trust you more than any other pony I've met."
>She blushes just a bit.  You don't notice.
>"How'd you like to fly?"
>Short silence.
>"What, like you carry me?"
>"Actually... it'd be easier if you sorta... rode me."
>Long silence.
>"I mean, if you don't wanna that's cool.  I just thought it was lame that you're gonna be stuck on the ground your whole life and I wanted to give you a taste of the good stuff."
>You smile.  Good ol' Dash.
>"Why not?"
>She does a quick little loopy flip and gets a huge grin on her face.
>"Awesome."

>You're up in the air.  It's pretty awkward to be riding a pony like a... pony.  And also flying.
>Whatever.  This shit's pretty fuckin' awesome.  The thrill of flight, incredible speed, some cool stunts, and all with your bro Dash.
>What a goddamn bro, sharin' the wonders of life in the sky with you outta the goodness of her heart.
>She looks toward the sun.  Almost sunset.
>She grins.  You don't see it because you're up top, stupid.
>She pulls into a really tight turn and you start to slip.
>You get a little nervous, but nothing more than you'd feel on an intense rollercoaster.
>She speeds up.
>You're losing your grip, but you don't wanna wuss out and scream like a little bitch just because the ride is too intense for you.  She may be your bro, but she's still totally entitled to make fun of you for that.
>You keep quiet until you're about to fall off.
>She still isn't letting up.
>You're getting legitimately scared now.  You try to say something but your mouth is too dry.
>You finally manage to get some sounds out, but they definitely aren't words.
>She turns her head back toward you and lets out a huge theatrical gasp as you fall off.

>You're plummeting toward the ground, absolutely terrified.  Can't entertain a single thought outside of "OHSHITOHSHITOHSHIT."  You might even have shit your pants for all you know.
>She's terrified, too, but not because you're falling.  That's all part of the plan.  She swallows the lump in her throat and shoots down after you.
>She gets below you and catches you.
>The two of you are in a pretty good imitation of the 'man carrying new wife' pose as she beats her wings furiously, trying to slow enough that you don't die on landing.
>She'd never gotten a good sense of your weight before today.  It's gonna be a close call.
>Her rear hooves hit the ground and there's a pretty sick cracking noise.  You don't notice because you're still pretty shaken up and also a total dipshit.
>You jokingly clasp your hands, bat your eyelashes, make the face, and croon "My hero!"
>She chuckles a bit, but she's definitely out of breath.
>She sets you down, gets back on all fours, and turns toward the sun.
>It's just setting.
>"So... Anon..."
>She's having a pretty hard time.  She must be really exhausted.
>"I... I wanted to tell you something."
>Is she... crying?
>She blacks out and falls over.

>Dash wakes up in a hospital bed.
>She panics until she remembers what happened.
>She hangs her head and sighs.
>"...Awesome..."
>"Oh, you're up."
>"Anon!  What're you doing here?"
>You smile.
>"What, you break your legs saving my life and I'm not allowed to wait for you to get up?"
>"Get up?"
>"Yeah, I guess you passed out from shock or something."
>"Oh... that makes sense.  Uh, thanks."
>"No problem.  I should be thanking you."
>She frowns.
>"No way.  It's my fault."
>"Come on, accidents happen.  I knew what I was getting into."
>She gets a really hurt look on her face.  Maybe it's a pride thing?  Accidents shouldn't happen on her watch?
>Nurse comes into the room.  Blah blah good to go, make sure you rest, stay off those legs.
>The whole time the nurse is talking, you're making an exaggeratedly bored face and flapping your hand open and shut.  The standard childish way of indicating 'this person is talking too much and it is boring.'
>Dash keeps looking over at you and trying to suppress a smile.
>The nurse leaves.
>"So, I know you think this is your fault or whatever, but I still feel bad.  I'm willing to let you crash at my place until you're feeling better."
>She does something weird with her face.  You totally can't read it.  Maybe you shouldn't've used the word crash.
>"I dunno, Anon.  My wings work fine."
>You convince her.

>Over the next week, she insists on helping out as much as possible, even though you keep telling her to just chill.
>She won't let it go, either.  She's adamant that this is all her fault and she needs to make it up to you.
>One day, she puts a little more weight on a back hoof than she's ready for.
>She yelps and falls down.  Right in front of you.
>"Come on, Dash.  They're not gonna get better if you don't take it easy."
>"But they wouldn't even BE broken if it weren't for my stupid idea!"
>"Accidents happen.  You were doing me a favor, then you saved my life.  I don't see where you went wrong."
>She groans in frustration.
>"It WASN'T an accident, okay?  I dropped you!"
>"Yeah, and I'm Twilight Sparkle."
>"I'm serious!  Don't you think I've been a little ridiculous about this?  I mean I know I'm not exactly a jerk to you, but since when am I your servant?"
>"Dear Princess Celestia..."
>"Come ON, Anon, listen to me!  You said you trust me, right?  I'm telling the truth!  I dropped you on purpose!"
>"Seriously, Dash, why the hell would you do something like that?"
>"I dunno, because I'm an idiot!  I had this big stupid plan, and it probably wasn't even gonna work, and part of it called for me saving your life, okay?"
>"Listen, Dash, 'saving' someone so you can call in a favor is a pretty fucking terrible thing to do, and I'm still willing to write this off as an accident if you stop right there.  Quit joking, and let this go."
>"I'm not joking!  It was all my fault.  You could've died, and that's really not funny!"

>You're both quiet for a little, and then the anger hits you.  You're not sure what she was up to, but she was going to manipulate you and put you in danger to get what she wanted.  Like a total bitch.
>She hangs her head in shame and closes her eyes.  You can see them quivering just before the lids come down.
>"I'm sorry."
>"I thought you were my cool, Dash."
>She says nothing.
>"Why would you do something like this?  I thought you were my bro!"
>She turns and steps over to the door.  She opens it and looks back.
>She opens her eyes again.  You're pretty sure she's just about to cry.
>"I'm sorry.  It won't happen again."
>You can't think of anything to say.
>She flies away.
>The rest of your day sucks ass.
>You feel terrible even though you did nothing wrong.
>She's the one who put you in danger.
>She's the one who was going to manipulate you.
>She's the one who walked out.
>Why do YOU feel like the asshole?

>Next morning you're ravenous.
>Head over to Sugarcube Corner for some baked delicious.
>Pinkie frowns at you the whole time you're there.
>Bump into Applejack on your way back through town.
>She's really rude to you.
>God, not only do you feel like an asshole, but the ponies around here are treating you like one.
>Next day you decide to go ask Rarity what's going on.  She's in on all the latest gossip, and you haven't seen her in at least a month so there's no way she can be pissed at you, too.
>Bump into Fluttershy on your way to Rarity's.
>Even Fluttershy is trying to be mean to you.
>She's failing because she's Fluttershy (lolnewepisodewut), but you can tell she's trying.
>Seriously, what the fuck did you do?
>Rarity is totally pissed at you.
>She denies there's a problem.
>Bitches and horse.
>Twilight is level headed.  Maybe if you just ask her what you did she'll shed some light on this bullshit drama nonsense.

>Twilight has apparently been sworn to secrecy.
>She keeps looking around the room nervously any time either of you say 'secret.'
>Ugh, you guess you need to go ask Dash.  You're still kinda pissed at her.
>You're standing underneath her house, wondering how to get her attention.
>You've never been the one to go get her before, she always comes to you.
>You try yelling, but there's no response.
>You throw some little rocks.  They go up through the cloud bottom and come back down.
>You hear the sound of glass shattering above you and wince.
>A few seconds later, nothing else has happened.  Maybe she really isn't home.
>You can see Applejack off in the distance, headed from the town back to the farm.
>You yell to get her attention and she ignores you.
>You run over there and stand in front of her.  She's the element of honesty, maybe she'll tell you.
>And if not, you can at least ask her where Dash went.
>"Applejack, what's going on here?  What did I DO?"
>"You know what ya did.  Yer the one who did it!"
>You scrunch your face in confusion, trying to follow her logic.
>"I'm really lost here.  Can you please just tell me what I did wrong?"
>"You hurt Rainbow!"
>"What?  No I didn't!"
>"She's a tough gal, she don't turn into a blubbering mess without a good reason."
>"Oh, not the broken bones... yeah I guess I yelled at her... but it's not like she didn't deserve it!"
>"What in tarnation are you goin' on about?"
>"Nevermind... I just need to talk to her."
>"Well then what are ya doin' standing here gabbin' at me?"
>"I can't find her."
>"She hasn't left her house since she left yours cryin'."

>You're back under the cloud.
>"Dash, I really need to talk to you."
>No response.
>"Look, I am mad at you, and maybe I said some things, but I'm here aren't I?  Can you please come down here?"
>"...no."
>"And why not?"
>"'Cuz I can't let you see me crying."
>Shit, that's like Bro Rule #4.  Even now, she's still at it.  Maybe it was just a stupid little mistake and a big misunderstanding.
>"Come on.  I'm not gonna stay mad forever, and I know feelings are totally gay, but I'm pretty sure we need to talk about this."
>After a few more minutes, she finally comes down.  She's not actively crying anymore, but it's incredibly obvious she has been crying.  A lot.
>"Okay.  Progress!  We're talking.  So, first off... you alright?"
>"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
>Her face makes it clear she is not, in fact, alright.
>"Seriously.  Are you gonna be okay?  What big, world ending problem has reduced Rainbow Fucking Dash to tears?"
>"... I screwed up."
>"THAT'S what's got you so upset?  That your plan didn't work out?"
>"No! No, no.  That I did it in the first place.  It was totally not cool of me to try something like that.  I wanted something, but I screwed up so bad trying to get it that I think it's gone forever."
>"Whoa, now.  Slow down.  What did you want so bad you were willing to put me in danger for it?"
>"Does it even MATTER?  What I did is not okay.  End of story."

>"Yeah.  What you did is shitty.  So how about you try to make up for it instead of running away?"
>"You mean you don't hate me?"
>"...No, Dash.  I don't hate you.  I don't think I could ever hate you."
>She lets out a sigh so heavy with relief you can fucking TASTE it.
>"You're my bro, and you always will be."
>For some reason, it looks like she's about to cry again.
>"Hey, rule #4.  Come on, you're stronger than this.  If what you wanted was so important that you'd be that desperate for it and burst into treats when you think you've lost it, maybe I'm not being enough of a bro.  Maybe I should be helping you out, y'know?  Rule #2?"
>She's sniffling.
>"I... I don't think it works like that.  It's not something you can just go and get."
>"I'm sure we can handle it.  You're Rainbow Dash.  The fastest and most awesome pegasus who ever lived.  I've... got opposable thumbs!  Together, there's nothing we can't do - probably."
>"I just... I just don't want to lose you..."
>"Oh come on, there's no way it's that dangerous.  And besides, I've got your back and you've got mine.  Bros for life, yeah?  Look, something about seeing you this down just feels wrong and I can't take it anymore.  I'm not mad.  Just tell me what you want and what's in the way, and we'll go solve the problem."
>She smiles weakly, but it quickly crumbles back into a frown.
>"I just... I don't know what I'd do without you."
>"Why would you lose me?"
>"I almost did when I dropped you out of the sky, and then again after that when I told you why I did it."
>"You still haven't really told me."
>She hesitates for a long time.
>A looong time.
>"Hello, Equestria to Dash?  Come in, Rainbow Dash... can you hear me?"
>She blinks and exhales very slowly before locking her eyes with yours.
>Her stare is... intense.  Whatever this is, it really is important to her.  But you're not gonna let your bro down.
>"Meet me on that hill over there tomorrow just before sunset."
>"Okay, but what are we-"
>"PLEASE.  Just do it.  I'll... I'll explain then.  I'll tell you what I was gonna tell you before I blacked out."

>You and Dash are up on the hill.  The sun is setting.  It's beautiful.
>It's hard to tell in an open field with all the smells of nature, but you swear there's a light perfume scent in the air.
>"So.  The big moment.  Let's make your dream come true."
>"You're sure?  You can still leave right now, but if you don't there's a good chance we'll never be able to go back."
>"We may have just had some stupid shitty fight, but I'm already having a hard time remembering why.  Our bond is the bond that will pierce the heavens.  You're here for me, I'm here for you, let's do this."
>"I'm gonna warn you right now, Anon.  I'm about to be really selfish.  I'm going to ask you to do something I have no right to ask you to do."
>"Come ON.  What is with all this drama?  I'm your bro, I've got your back!  Why does this have to play out so slowly with so many feels?  It's not some shitty high school romance."
>"I'm just not sure... how you're going to react to this."
>"Well we'll never know if you never SAY IT."
>"That's really hard to do, okay?"
>"Why?  What exactly is the problem?"
>"I'm really scared, okay?"
>You hold back a guffaw, and she gives you a light hoof to the shoulder.
>"Shut up.  I'm serious."
>"Then just tell me already.  It's simple.  You say what you want.  We work together to get you what you want.  None of this drama.  This is not one of those shitty stories where two teenagers are best friends and one develops romantic feelings for the oth...er..."
>Shit.

>You go silent.  Your face goes into championship poker mode.
>"Heh... yeah.  Y'see?  It's... not easy."
>You don't move.  This is a scenario you were NOT prepared for.  Where to even START?  She's a girl, so that's good.  She's also a horse.  Is that okay?  Is there any chance you'll ever be amongst humans again?  Is she good looking?  How do you judge looks on a horse?  Fuck... this is... this is... you're not ready for this.  You've completely shut down trying to process where to START processing this.
>"Hey Anon?"
>You're still catatonic.
>"Anon?  Are you okay?"
>Nothing.
>"You're freaking me out, here.  I think you just put the pieces together, and I need to know whether or not you're okay with ever seeing me again.  I'm pretty sure if I don't find that out in the next few seconds I'm gonna die."
>You're trying.  You are TRYING to get somewhere.  ANYWHERE.  The wheels are spinning, but you haven't moved an inch.  Maybe if... okay, as a hypothetical, maybe you could just try to wrap your head around this if she was a human and THEN translate it to pony.

>Let's see... can't evaluate looks right now, since that's dependent on pony factors, so skip that.  You've dated ugly girls before if they were awesome enough.  Shit - awesome... she's awesome, right?  She's... she's TOTALLY awesome.  She's like... the best!  She kicks a dozen different kinds of ass and she knows it.  You slowly go down a mental checklist of traits you want in a woman, and she seems to fit the bill.  In fact, she's practically perfect for you!  Like, if she was a human, you probably would've put a ring on that by now!

>Dash is losing it.  She's collapsed into a heap of mumbling and sobbing.  She's completely lost you.  Not just as a friend, either.  You're completely gone - no better than dead as far as she can tell.

>Dash has slipped into a full blown panic.  You're there, but you're not THERE and she can't explain why.  She collects what's left of her wits and makes a mad dash for Twilight's, hoping she can do SOMETHING.

>Okay, so you could totally fall for a girl like her.  But she's not a girl, she's a horse.  Well, okay, she's both.  She's a girl horse.  Pony, not horse.  Is that distinction important?  Okay, well she's neither.  She's not a horse or a pony as you know them.  She's sentient.  And awesome, that part's important.

>The front door to the library bursts open and a rainbow blur swoops in and grabs the librarian.
>"Huhwha?  Where am... Rainbow?  Rainbow, what's going on?  Where are you taking me?"
>Dash manages to make a stream of unintelligible noises fall out of her mouth.
>Twilight struggles as the two ponies scream through the air, quickly closing the distance back to you.

>You are making progress, albeit slowly.  You're pretty sure you've decided that Dash is awesome, but haven't been able to move or make noise yet.  Apparently rebooting your mind is time consuming.

>"Rainbow, I'm serious!  You need to put me down right now!  I know you've been going through some things lately, but Anon's not going anywhere.  We can take our time to talk through this."
>Babbling, maybe even some drool.

>You have leveled up to babbling and drooling while your brain trudges forward.  You and Dash are both babbling and drooling.  Clearly you're perfect for eachother.

>"Okay Rainbow Dash, you leave me no choice!  I'm going back and getting the girls, and we're going to talk about this.  We'll tie you up if we have to."
>Twilight's horn starts glowing.
>Dash turns her head to look at the glow.
>She smashes into you.
>You, Dash, and Twilight all plow into the ground, Twilight going headfirst.
>Surprise of surprises, the blow to her head causes Twilight's spell to misfire.  The three of you are now a few thousand feet in the air, though the exact number is rapidly decreasing.
>Twilight screams as she realizes she's falling.
>You are vaguely aware of some element of your world besides potential horse-fucking that needs evaluation, but you're fairly sure it can wait.
>Dash sees you and Twilight falling.  She needs to save both of you.  Failing on either end is unacceptable.

>Dash snaps to attention.  It is GO TIME.  She's saved plenty of ponies in one fell swoop before, this should be a piece of cake.  Except they're a lot closer to the ground already... and none of them are pegasai with hollow bones... and Anon is huge compared to a pony.
>Okay, plan B.
>"Twilight, stop screaming!  I'm not sure I can get both of you.  He's heavier than he looks and the last time I caught him, the landing broke some bones.  I need to know RIGHT NOW whether or not you can warp to safety.  Do you think you can do that?"
>She doesn't say anything.
>"TWILIGHT!  CAN YOU HANDLE YOURSELF?"
>Twilight nods slowly and closes her eyes.  Her horn glows softly.
>Dash turns her attention to you.

>You've managed to work out that even if distinguishing between ponies and horses IS important and Dash is definitely not either of those, so it's not worth considering at the moment.

>She grabs you and starts flapping like mad.
>Twilight blinks out of there.
>She flaps and flaps and flapsandflapsandflapsandflaps.
>The ground does not seem to care and just keeps getting closer.

>After a lot of thought, you have decided that cyan is a great color and rainbows are not gay.

>Dash is crying and not fighting the tears.
>She is straining her wings as hard as she has ever strained them before, desperate beyond belief that it will be enough.
>Her still broken rear legs hit the ground.  It feels as if the bones have shattered into a fine dust as she crumples to the ground, losing her grip on you.
>You, still having some momentum, thump against the ground and bounce slightly before your limp body rolls a few feet away and comes to a slow stop.

>You feel an intense pain.  A stray rock punched you in the kidney, and some day you will have your vengeance.
>For now, the blinding pain finally brings your mind into focus.  Everything is clear.  You understand exactly what you feel and what you would like to do.
>Unfortunately, you seem to be incapable of standing at the moment.
>You drag yourself toward Dash.
>She sees you moving and her eyes light up.
>She tries and fails to stand.
>You make it to her and lay your head against the ground a short distance from hers.
>You grab her front hoof in your hands, and open your mouth.  You bat your eyelashes just a little.  You aren't joking.

>"My hero."