New Year's Eve with Rainbow Dash

Again, I followed Rainbow Dash into Applebaum's. I wanted to go to Applebee's but Rainbow can be so pushy or I could be so soft. Don't get me wrong, Applebaum's got some pretty good food, those matzo poppers are pretty tasty. I wanted a change though. I think Ira is giving Rainbow jalapeños for free. Rainbow just loves them.

It was about three in the afternoon and the place was almost empty. Two ponies were sitting at a booth. I wish I could sit at a booth, but no, Rainbow loves sitting on those barstools. I hated them. Once I get my butt on one, the floor seems miles away. If I fall off, well, they better just call my relatives and give them the sad news. At least Rainbow could fly.

Speaking of Rainbow, she was muzzle deep in a bowl of jalapeños. This is going to be fun.

"Thanks for editing my story, The Maze Flyer. I can hear the bits jingling now! Awesome!" Rainbow said. I swear the heat from her breath was stunting the growth of the hair on my face. I wonder if I could give her a letter then she could breathe on it and it would be delivered. Nah, it would just burst into green flames.

Rainbow continued. "When the book makes a killing, I will send you some bits to pay for your help. Don't worry, Rainbow treats her friends well."

"No problem. I had fun reading your story," I said. Her bowl of peppers was almost empty. She eats those things like gummy bears. Nasty.

"Hey, thanks. We can't stay long, I promised Pinkie that I would help her decorate Applejack's barn for New Years. Are you coming? I bet it will be 20% cooler than what you are going to do," Rainbow said while spewing more pepper gas at me. Thank Celestia, I don't smoke. An open flame would probably cause an explosion with the fumes from Rainbow's mouth.

"You are right, it would be better, but I gotta get home so I can go to work Monday. Speaking of New Years, do you have any resolutions?" I said.

A waitress pony trotted by with another bowl of peppers. She dropped it right next to Rainbow.

"Yeah but if I told you, I would have to kill you," Rainbow squinted and leaned in close. The fumes from her pepper laden breath made me cough and gag. I think my vision even dimmed to a red blur for a second.

Rainbow flew behind me and thumped my back while I choked. "Hey hey. Are you okay?"

I wheezed a bit more then got my breath back. Rainbow flew back to her seat. I gave my yellow hoof a wistful look while I regained my composure.

Rainbow looked at my hoof. "Yeah, we need to talk about that. I already have a yellow friend. I don't need two. No offense, but you have to be more assertive."

"Let me guess, like you?" I said then something hit my back hard. It wasn't painful but I wasn't going to let someone bang on me again. I looked behind me, and saw a small orange pegasus filly. Her name was Scootaloo.

She stuck her face in mine. "I'm going to be Rainbow Dash!"

"Scoots, kid, you are scaring me!" Rainbow said while peering closely at me and Scootaloo. Scootaloo gave me the stink eye again before parking her Razor and clambering on a barstool.

Rainbow waited until Scootaloo was seated. "As I was saying, you will have to reach inside and find your own inner awesome! It might take some time but you have to do it. Though you won't be as awesome as me." Rainbow pushed the bowl of jalapeños toward Scootaloo. She pushed it back.

"Well," I said.

"You can do it! How about you start small and work from there. Next year, I will check on your progress," Rainbow said with a smile as she pulled the bowl close. Then she stuck her muzzle inside.

I looked at Rainbow Dash, Other than working on her story, I had been doing nothing. I made up my mind to try her advice. I would try to be awesome, um, somehow.

Rainbow raised her muzzle out of the bowl. Bits of chewed peppers fell back in. ”That will be four hundred bits please.” She even had the nerve to stick out her left fore hoof in my direction.

“Um, no! You gave me almost nothing,” I said.

Rainbow Dash nodded while Scootaloo grinned at her. “See Scoots! He is using my advice already!”

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Happy New Year!