Can I ask you a question? (Patreon)

After leaving Sweetie Belle at the train station Scootaloo wandered off on her scooter in my Equestria dreamscape. Her witnessing of Sweetie Belle dancing and cavorting with the butterflies and her recent experience with her friend at the barn dance had left pegasus filly confused about what she was feeling in her mind for her friend. Link

     She didn't know what that she was now experiencing or what or why she was suddenly feeling this. All she knew was that every time she now thought of her longtime friend Sweetie Belle she found her heart racing and her wings twitching. The whole thing was exciting, confusing and scary all at the same the time. Confronted this dilemma the filly sought out an answer to it, and the filly knew just the pony she wanted to ask.

     Rainbow Dash pushed her flight goggles back up on her head as she sat back in her chair. She'd just finished her morning weather shift and was now rewarding herself with a well earned iced mocha coffee at the Clover Field cafe. Today had been a great day for flying, and the mare and her weather team had done their cloud herding in record time. So thanks to RD and her crew the forecast for Ponyville today was sunny with a 100% chance of awesome.

     The mare looked up at the brilliant Cobalt Blue sky. Maybe after this drink and a shower she'd head out to Fluttershy's place and hang out there for awhile. Both mares had decided that they'd keep their newfound interest in each other secret until Sky Brush, Petina, and Carousel returned from Ft. Trotterdale. They thought it was best if they discussed with them in private. Link

     The septic tank work their cottage was finished Link but the place had a lingering but diminishing smell of poop. So RD was doing the bare minimum of housesitting at the moment. Mostly just checking the mail once a day.

     The mare was in the middle of a long sip of her drink when she heard the familiar droning buzz of Scootaloo approaching on her scooter. Then the buzzing stopped. RD sighed prepared for the filly's inevitable arrival. Dash did like the filly, and her enthusiasm for pursuing awesome was commendable. But right now the mare just wanted chill. Still RD put her cool face as she heard the sound of approaching hooves. Casually Dash turned her head toward the sound and then paused.

     Instead normally goofy smile Scootaloo wore when in Dash's presence the filly had a pensive expression on her face, and instead galloping up to the mare the filly was slowly walking up to her. Not sure what this meant Dash gave the filly a comforting smile.

     "Hey there squirt! How are you doing today?"

     The filly came to a stop in front of the mare. For a second the orange filly just scuffed her back hoof on the ground before she replied.

     "Oh. Um, hello Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo hesitated. While searching for RD the filly had rehearsed over and over in her mind how she would bring up the question that was bothering her, but now standing in front the mare she suddenly couldn't remember any of it.

     RD was often accused by other ponies of being clueless and unable to read the room, but prismatic mare could sense something was on the filly's mind. Leaning over she tapped the chair next to her a front hoof. "Hey there Scoots. Why don't you pull up seat. You want anything? It'll be my treat."

     The filly clambered into the chair next the mare. "Um. A root beer float please." She said.

     "On it!" Dash flagged down the waiter and got the order placed. With that accomplished she returned her attention to the filly. Unsure how exactly to proceed the mare decided to fall back on a general question. "Sssooooo Scoots. How's your day been so far?"

     Scootaloo for some reason suddenly found it difficult to look the mare in the eyes. She suddenly felt foolish for feeling like this. Staring down at the cafe table she replied."Oh. Ah. It's been alright. I guess. Um. Rainbow Dash can I ask you a question?"

     RD leaned back in her chair. Something heavy was obviously on the filly's mind, but Dash felt confident today, and she was certain she could put the filly's mind at ease. "Sure! What's your question?"

     The arrival of the waiter and the root beer float postponed Scootaloo for a bit, but it also gave fuchsia maned filly something to now focus on. As she slowly poked at the drink with her straw she spoke.

     "It's um, uh, well, ah, strange question." She said meekly.

     Dash flashed confident smile at the filly. "Don't worry about that Scoots! I've got years of experience under these wings, and I've dealt with everything from Nightmare Moon to that chaotic creep Discord. Lay it on me. What's your question?" She then started taking a long sip of her mocha.

     Scootaloo nodded her head. Still staring intensely at her float she took a deep breath and then blurted it out. "Uh Rainbow Dash. Have you, or um, well somepony you know ever known another pony for like ever and ever? You've done all kinds of things together, and its been really great, bbbbbuuuutttt suddenly one day. One day. Uh. For no reason you suddenly start feeling really, really different about that pony? Like suddenly whenever you look or think about them you started feeling really, really funny, and it's scary but exciting too, and you want to be with them all the time, but you don't what to do, and you're afraid to say anything to them because you're afraid they might say your being weird or something? Have you or anypony you know ever felt like this?"

     The filly looked up to find Rainbow Dash staring at her wide-eyed with slightly purplish cheeks. She also looked as if she was about to choke on her drink. Slowly and carefully the mare removed her lips from the straw and then swallowed her mouthful of drink. She coughed a little bit. and after a second she replied sheepishly.

     "Um, uh. Mmmaayyybbbee.

To be continued.