Five autumns have passed since the final battle with Tirek, Cozy Glow and Chrysalis. Five autumns since Celestia and Luna have retired and completely disappeared from politics to explore Equestria, especially the casinos of Los Pegasus for Celestia and post offices for Luna. In fact, Twilight Sparkle has entire bookshelves dedicated to all the post cards Luna has sent; including post cards from the post office down the street.

But post cards and casinos aside, life has moved on for everyone. Dreams have become real for some, love has bloomed for others, and the students of Ponyville School and School of Friendship have moved on to join the labor force, thus making room for the next batch of kids.

Now for this year's autumn harvest dinner the gang is all together with their friends and loved ones at Twilight's Castle, which is now under the care of Starlight Glimmer. However, Starlight is unavailable. And neither is Sunburst or Trixie, for that matter. Normally Rainbow Dash wouldn't think much of it, but she noticed that Sunburst and the mentioned mares slipped out of sight after drinking most of the hard cider Applejack made in her bathtub. Sure Applejack was annoyed, but she also came prepared and had Big Mac and Sugar Belle bring in the spare keg.

With the new keg, Rainbow Dash got herself a drink and is now sitting alone, drinking the delicious contents from her red cup, miserably watching the scene in front of her.

Off to the far side Pinkie and Cheese are sharing fruit punch from a large cup lined with umbrellas, lemons and limes. In another area, Fluttershy and Discord are snuggled by the newly added fireplace, watching a book read another book out loud to them. Then there is Twilight and Flash, they are talking business to the Rich's, Applejack and Trenderhoof by the snack bar. How Applejack and Trenderhoof happened is beyond Dash, but she doesn't feel like questioning it too much right now. Last in the batch of Bearers is Rarity, who is having a fling with Spike, but currently the Element of Generosity is keeping herself occupied by doing an on the spot tailoring for Sweetie Belle's dress while Featherweight sits in a corner, watching the scene unfold with as much enthusiasm as a sloth watching a carrot.

Rainbow Dash snorts and turns her focus to another spot and sees Scootaloo and Rumble talking about whatever. Maybe sports or camping or cooking or how Rumble still doesn't have a cutie mark (that poor bastard). Then there is Apple Bloom and Pip Squeak, who is still living up to his name since he is a head shorter than Apple Bloom and looks like a branch that Apple Bloom can easily snap if she chooses to do so, but from what Rainbow Dash can tell they get along just fine. And lastly, there is Tempest Shadow with Stygian in the back corner, enjoying their company and plates of food away from the crowd.

Freaking.

Tempest!

Of all the ponies, even she has someone!

Such a miserable sight brings Rainbow Dash to down her hard cider in one large gulp before walking out of the room. The hallway she walks down is decorated with paper pumpkins, colorful leafs and streamers of orange and brown, and lighting the halls are glowing crystals. It is a homey feel, and ever since Starlight took control of Twilight's Castle there has been a much needed addition of rugs and plush furniture. But as comfortable as the furniture looks, and as relaxing as the atmosphere is, Rainbow Dash just cannot bring herself to enjoy the Castle, so she goes to a large patio (recently added with fancy furniture) and let's the crisp cool air soothe her.

She puts her hoofs on the patio railing and looks at the growing town of Ponyville, dreading the day when the little hatch roof buildings, wooden walls and dirt roads will be replaced with brick, steel and cobblestone. But as much as she doesn't want the town to change, she knows it will. Everything changes. Heck, even her time with her friends has been gradually getting shorter, and while they enjoy their success and new circles, Rainbow Dash finds herself wanting more. Needing more. All the success she has with the Wonderbolts is great, but right now she feels like a tumbleweed in the wind. Dead but still moving.

“Rainbow?”

Rainbow Dash's ears perk and she looks over her shoulder to see Thunderlane walking towards her. He showed up with Rumble earlier, but she has not thought much about him since he has been doing his own thing. Though, now looking at him with the glow of the hallway behind him she can't help but get a little smile.

“Hey, Thunderlane, where have you been hiding all night?” asks Rainbow Dash, offering a teasing smile.

“Oh, you know, snack bars, drink bars, trying to avoid Spitfire and Soarin,” says Thunderlane.

Rainbow Dash raises a brow. “Why are you trying to avoid those two?”

“They got into Applejack's special cider.”

“Ohhhhh~”

“Yeahhh~”

The two fall silent, just staring at each other, and a few seconds of this pass before Thunderlane walks up to her and joins her in putting his hoof on the railing.

“Nice night,” says Thunderlane.

“Yep,” says Rainbow Dash.

“Where's your partner?”

“Don't have one. You?”

“Same. Unless I run into Soarin and Spitfire.”

The two exchange laughs, and while they laugh Rainbow Dash focuses on Thunderlane. The tall stallion's charcoal coat is groomed, his gray mane looks soft as always, and the feathers of his impressive wings have been preened recently. The time at the Wonderbolts has also done great work on his physique, giving him more muscle and a better stature than when he first showed up in Ponyville.

“You okay?” asks Thunderlane.

“Yeah. Why?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“You got a weird look on your face.”

Rainbow Dash scoffs. “I do not.”

Thunderlane returns the scoff. “Yeah you do.”

“If I'm looking weird it your fault.”

“Really?”

Rainbow Dash nods and looks over the muscles on his body and the long wings folded against his ribs.

“Yeah. Showing up out of the blue and flirting with me after you cleaned yourself up,” says Rainbow Dash. “You were just waiting for me to be alone, weren't you?”

Thunderlane bobs his head side to side and waggles his hoof. “Maybe a little.”

“I knew it.” Rainbow Dash slips her tail under his, brushing his flank and making him jump, bringing her to grin. “So now that we're alone, did you want to talk or do something else?”

“Well...”

Before he can finish, Rainbow Dash puts her hoof on his mouth.

“I'll tell you what. Let's say you and me go back to my place and 'talk'?” says Rainbow Dash.

“R-Really?” sputters Thunderlane.

Rainbow Dash nods and nibbles on his neck while her hoof runs up and down his shoulder. She can hear his heart racing and feel his body warming up, and Thunderlane tilts his head up, shuddering and legs buckling as her gentle nibbles move up his neck and finish with dragging her tongue along his cheek. Thunderlane's large wings are at full mast now, and Rainbow Dash pulls away, smirking with lidded eyes and flicking her tail.

“There's more where that came from if you still want to talk,” says Rainbow Dash. She turns around and brushes her tail up Thunderlane's barrel and along his muzzle, and saunters away, swinging her hips and tail as she looks over her shoulder. “All you gotta do is follow me.”

Thunderlane gulps and follows Rainbow Dash, and she snickers when he brushes next to her, rubbing his shoulder against her flank and up her torso. Once they reach the other side of the patio they take flight into the night, ready to have a nice long and energetic chat.

And a fast amount of time later, Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash find themselves laying on their backs, underneath Dash's Wonderbolt blanket, eyes to the ceiling, doing everything they can to not look at each other. A minute or two of awkward silence passes before Rainbow Dash shifts to the side to glance at Thunderlane, but she quickly looks away, red faced and nibbling her lip while Thunderlane coughs into his hoof and looks in the opposite direction. After the cough Rainbow Dash sits up to look at him, eyes big and wet, and she places her hoof on his shoulder.

“I swear this has never happened to me before,” says Rainbow Dash.

“I believe you,” says Thunderlane.

“I mean... we can try again if you want.”

“Nah, I don't want you to strain yourself.”

“I won't strain myself! I just need a minute!”

Thunderlane seethes and looks at the clock on Rainbow Dash's wall.

“Yeah, listen, I just remembered I got to do something important,” says Thunderlane.

“What do you gotta do? Maybe it can wait!” says Rainbow Dash.

Thunderlane climbs out of the bed and flexes his wings.

“I have to... uh... buy Rumble a cutie mark,” he says.

Then he flies out the window into the starry night sky, leaving Rainbow Dash alone in her room. She watches Thunderlane until she can no longer see him, and then she whimpers and curls on her bed, sniffling and blinking tears away. Though, a moment later a shuffling catches her attention and she looks up and sees Filthy Rich outside her window, piloting a Griffin Chaser and grinning lewdly with binoculars around his neck.

“You can try again with me if you want.”