Beach Trip


                                            >”Hurry up it’s literally right there!”

                                            >An impatient Dash bobbed up and down on her wings as she dramatically motioned towards the unseen water.

                                            >You couldn’t see the beach over the towering dunes yet, but you figured she wasn’t exaggerating this time.

                                            “I’m not holding you back.”

                                            >She huffs and takes off towards the beach—apparently excited to do…beach things.

                                            >Unfortunately you couldn’t travel nearly as fast.

                                            >Not only did you lack wings, but you also happened to be carrying all the afternoon necessities.

                                            >Your backpack was full of sunscreen and towels and your arms bristled with an umbrella, snorkel, goggles, and your lunches.

                                            >The ground beneath you unexpectedly transitions from dry grass to hot sand, and the toe of your sandal digs in causing you to stumble.

                                            >An umbrella rod hits your brow and you struggle to balance everything without tripping.

                                            >You were slightly annoyed she wouldn’t at least take the lunch bag, but then again this whole thing was your idea after all.

                                            >”The water’s gonna dry up before you get here ya know!”

                                            >You look up and squint to see a blue dot yelling at you from on top of a faraway dune.

                                            >Unable to spare a hand to wave, and unsure your voice would carry against the wind, you opt to continue trudging along.

                                            >It was actually quite a bit farther and hotter than you’d first anticipated.

                                            >The magical hold on the weather must not extend this far to the coast.

                                            >Hot sand spills over your flip flops and grits between your toes as you start up the side of the dune.

                                            >The sound of your ankle painfully kicking the umbrella with every other step sticks out against the distant background noise of crashing waves.

                                            >A single bead of sweat stings your eye as you look up—hoping to spot the water’s edge.

                                            >Only endless seas of golden sand…it was a good thing you were using the buddy system otherwise you might actually die out here.

                                            >”Tank walks faster than you in his sleep!”

                                            >Your gaze snaps to Rainbow who suddenly appears next to you. It must be nice to have wings.

                                            “Yeah but he’s not carrying all this stuff.”

                                            >She drops onto her hooves from a hover and rolls her eyes.

                                            >”I’m pretty sure his shell is twice as heavy as all that, in like…turtle weight.”

                                            >You’re give her an unimpressed glance while still trudging up the dune.

                                            “So are you going to help me or what.”

                                            >She smiles and takes up a steady trot parallel to you.

                                            >”Nope. It’s actually fun to watch you do all the work.”

                                            >You give her a skeptical gaze and her smirk widens.

                                            >”Duh of course I’m gonna help you! Just thought I’d teach you a lesson about packing light is all.”

                                            >She balances the lunch bag in between her wings and grabs the goggles with her teeth.

                                            “Thanks.”

                                            >”Doh mehten ih.”

                                            >Together, you finish the trek to the top of the sand mountain and stop to gaze at the ocean.

                                            >Well you do…Dash was already over it so she kept going.

                                            >The water was a deep blue and it met the shore in a mixture of big and small waves. White foam and seaweed was washed up in places and the smell of saltwater hit you.

                                            >It was surprisingly similar to the beaches you visited back home.

                                            >Actually it was identical.

                                            >With the finish line in sight, you take a deep breath and follow Dash’s hoof prints.

                                            >The sound of individual waves get more distinct as you get closer.

                                            >The beach was surprisingly empty with the exception of a griffon couple sunbathing half a mile to your left.

                                            >How did that even work? Could feathers tan? You’d have to ask Rainbow.

                                            >Eventually the hoof prints end at a pair of goggles and lunch bag.

                                            >You drop the rest of your gear and shield your eyes as you scan the horizon for your blue friend.

                                            >Her mane and tail were distinct enough, but it was her coat that made it difficult to pick her out against the blue sky.

                                            >Eventually you spot her doing slow, lazy turns over the water quite a ways out.

                                            >She’d said the last time she’d been to the beach was when she was a filly, so it must be pretty exciting for her.

                                            >You pick up the umbrella that had been the bane of your existence for the entire walk out here and plunge it into the ground as if you were spearing an enemy.

                                            >You crank it open and spread out the two towels side by side underneath it.

                                            >Your shirt and sandals come off and you shove everything else in a small pile under the shade.

                                            >You hear the sound of flapping in the distance, thinking you had time, you look over your shoulder.

                                            >—Only to see Dash’s rapidly growing silhouette come to a stop a dozen feet from you.

                                            >Her wings spread in a powerful flare and sand stings your bare skin as you shield your face.

                                            >The sandstorm settles and Dash grins mischievously at you.

                                            >You spit some sand out of your mouth.

                                            “Thanks for that,” You offer with mock cynicism.

                                            >She only grins wider.

                                            >”Just giving you your daily dose of awesomeness!”

                                            >It was like everything she did was a show; in her mind she always had an audience.

                                            >But that’s why you liked hanging out with her so much.

                                            “Thanks, I feel much better now.”

                                            >She just chuckles and moves to lay on the towel next to you while you lean back on your elbows and soak up the scenery.

                                            >She rolls onto her back and looks up at the umbrella before grabbing the towel and rubbing it between her fore hooves.

                                            >”You know I’m actually glad you carried all this stuff out here, it’s kinda nice.”

                                            “It’s called planning ahead Dash.”

                                            >”Whatever, just don’t start making checklists and stuff like Twilight…I like you the way you are.”

                                            >That catches your attention.

                                            “Sounds like true love to me.”

                                            >She looks over at you with a shocked expression.

                                            >”What’re you…you, aargh! Fine then! I don’t care! Make all the checklists you want and grow a horn outta your head too!”

                                            >You reach over and love tap her shoulder, making her scramble to her feet defensively.

                                            “Hahaha, don’t worry I won’t change if you don’t.”

                                            >”What does that even…whatever you don’t make any sense anyways.”

                                            >You lean over and fish the sunscreen out of your backpack as Dash calms down.

                                            >You did it partly to hide your smile.

                                            >Moving to the sitting position you pop the cap open and pour some in your hand.

                                            >Dash watches your movement closely.

                                            >You start spreading it on your face, ears and neck, careful not to leave any spot unprotected.

                                            >”Please tell me you’re not like those lame ponies who don’t like to get in the water.”

                                            “If I was would you still like me the way I am?”

                                            >”It’d be pretty tough, but I might be able to pull it off if you washed my flight suits every week.”

                                            >You look over to see her grinning confidently.

                                            “Well you’re out of luck because I love the water.”

                                            >”Really! You can swim?”

                                            >You squirt a line of sunscreen down your arms and legs.

                                            “I’m not the best at it, but I’m pretty good. Can you?”

                                            >”Totally!”

                                            >The following awkward silence gives you the hint that her response was less than genuine.

                                            “So what’s your favorite stroke?”

                                            >”Favorite what?” She looks at you inquisitively.

                                            “Favorite stroke…for swimming.”

                                            >”O-Oh yeah! Uh…the one where you uhh…”

                                            >You look at her questioningly as you rub the rest of the sunscreen in.

                                            >”The one where you paddle with your front hooves,” She finally finishes.

                                            “You can’t swim can you?”

                                            >She looks up with a blush.

                                            >”What! Of course I can!”

                                            “It’s okay if you can’t I never learned until I was nineteen. Heck, I’d be surprised if any pegasus could actually.”

                                            >You move on to your chest and her eyes follow.

                                            >”W-why’s that?”

                                            “I’d imagine your wings would make it difficult.”

                                            >Only one spot left to cover.

                                            >”You bet they do. That’s why I’ve only totally mastered the basic strokes.”

                                            >She obviously couldn’t swim, but it wasn’t her denial that bothered you.

                                            >She was a more than competent flier, but if she hit the water too far out and you couldn’t get to her in time…

                                            >You shudder at the thought.

                                            “I’m no pegasus, but if you want I can try to teach you a few things.”

                                            >She snaps out of some trance and immediately looks at the ground while scratching the back of her head.

                                            >”Y-yeah, I’d…like that.”

                                            “Sounds like a plan then,” You smile at her “hey, can you help me with this really quick?”

                                            >She perks up at your request.

                                            >”Yeah what’s up?”

                                            “I just need an extra han-uhh hoof to get some sunscreen on my back.”

                                            >Her eyes dart to your bare back then to your face; you could swear you see a hint of redness in her cheeks.

                                            >You raise your hands defensively and smile.

                                            “I don’t bite I swear.”

                                            >She shakes her head a bit and chuckles your comment away.

                                            >She moves to grab the sunscreen out of your outstretched hand and walks around until she disappears behind you.

                                            >”What do I do?”

                                            >What does she mean ‘what do I do?’ it was pretty self explanatory wasn’t it?

                                            “Just, put some on my back and rub it around until you can’t see it anymore, and make sure to cover every spot. I don’t want any weird shaped sunburns because you messed up.”

                                            >”I doubt some pony like me could mess up something this simple.”

                                            >You just shrug your shoulders.

                                            >The next thing you feel is a string of cold sunscreen spray from shoulder to shoulder.

                                            >You can’t help but jump a bit at the sensation and you hear her snort at your reaction.

                                            >You hear the cap snap shut and a hoof presses onto your back.

                                            >She moves it slowly in small circles, working the protective lotion around the muscle of your shoulder and down your scapula.

                                            >It’s not nearly as hard as you imagined it would be, but she is pressing pretty lightly. Really lightly.

                                            “Dash you can press a bit harder if you wan’t I’m pretty tough you know.”

                                            >Her only response is a brief lull while she contemplates your comment.

                                            >Her hoof begins moving in circles again, this time a bit harder.

                                            >You start to notice her hard hoof edge a bit more and despite your request, you can’t help but wince away slightly when she hit your spine.

                                            >She notices it too, but instead of teasing you about it she angles her hoof back a bit so her soft frog is doing all the work.

                                            >The soft underside of her pad is much more pleasant and you lean back into her as she finishes your shoulders and moves down your spine.

                                            >A sigh escapes you as you hunch forward and close your eyes.

                                            >Your handyman job took more of a toll on your body than you realized.

                                            >She doesn’t seem to mind as she takes her time moving her hoof around your back, wait…didn’t she already cover that area?

                                            >Her hoof wanders back up to your shoulders, but you weren’t going to complain about a free massage.

                                            >She readjusts to sit a bit closer to you for easier access and you feel her practically breathing down your neck.

                                            >Dang, she really takes UVB protection seriously.

                                            >That reminds you…

                                            “Hey, do you guys ever use sunscreen?”

                                            >“Whaddaya mean?”

                                            “Like, do you ever need to put it on since you have fur and feathers?”

                                            >”I’ve never heard of any pony using it before, but I know minotaurs use it though.”

                                            >Her breath blows cold on your recently moisturized back and it makes you shudder a bit.

                                            >She moves back down and branches out to your sides.

                                            “That’s funny, I wonder why the Ponyville General sold sunscreen to begin with?”

                                            >Her hoof circles out a bit too far and hits a ticklish spot on your side.

                                            “Hah! Whoa! Easy Dash it’s a bit ticklish there.”

                                            >Oh that was a bad idea.

                                            >She stops massaging.

                                            >You can practically feel her evil grin behind you.

                                            >In an instant, both your sides were being prodded with pinfeathers and you lurch forward as electricity shoots through your body.

                                            “HAHAHAHAHAHA! Stop it!”

                                            >She jumps on you, pushing you forward onto your face and pinning your shoulders to the ground.

                                            >Her butt sits down on yours, pinning your hips as well.

                                            >Her wings continue their feathery assault as your legs flail and hands grasp at air, trying anything to escape her hold.

                                            “HAHAHA! Dash I can’t-HAHA-breathe!”

                                            >She relents a bit and you scramble to all fours and spin around.

                                            >A playful smirk adorns her slightly flushed face and her eyes bore into yours.

                                            >”It’s only fair since you got a free massage out of the deal.”

                                            >So the nuances of the situation didn’t escape her then.

                                            >She must’ve known you needed it. How nice of her.

                                            >She glances to the shore line, then back to you.

                                            >”Race ya to the water GO!”

                                            >She takes off on four blurry hooves kicking up sand as she goes all out.

                                            >Hopefully she didn’t miss a spot because this was going to be a long afternoon.