Swiftpen couldn't help but not be surprised. He sighed again.

"We'll work it out later. I'm sure I can do some of my romantic-magic on you two to have you fall in love in no time. Though I think you're already too far in the trenches of love… ANYWAY. Good luck during the race. Don't get distracted. I'll be in the audience with Pinkie." He flew away to the crowd (there had amassed a large crowd, everypony loved watching a Rainbow race) where Pinkie was smiling even bigger than she had been when he met her. Nym chuckled to himself as he remembered the reason. Then he got focused. He was going to compete against the single coolest, most attractive mare he had ever seen. He hoped he could forget about his competitor to perhaps win or tie the race. He started to doubt himself. Types like him always did.

He then remembered that this was going to be a bit of a first impression for the ponies of Ponyville. Mostly all of them, there was quite a few. Showing off was kind of a necessity in situations like this. They all knew Rainbow Dash, now they needed to meet Nym.

It was time. He was prepped completely. He forgot the fact that there were other ponies existing in the world. He even tried to forget Rainbow. It apparently worked, because distraction was not an issue. The race appeared to be a simple obstacle course, though it was fairly large, and because it was air-based, not very simple. He had a chance to look at it beforehand. It was certainly.. unique. They were both at the start line. Right below them was the finish line, it looped around perfectly.

Suddenly, they were off. It was time to show his stuff.

He didn't think about anything. Just speed. Dodging, occasionally. He was in his mode. Almost a bestial rage overcame him. It was surely a sight to see, if the onlooking ponies could see him at all. The only things they saw were Rainbow's rainbow and his trail, which looked black on the top and yellow on the bottom. Which made sense, because of his cutie mark. Lightning speed.

Eventually, he finished. He looked at his side to see that Rainbow Dash had finished at the same time. It was an absolute dead tie, they even had photos to prove it, for Twilight had prepared a magical camera to go off instantly when someone finished. The crowd was cheering like wild. Rainbow looked confused.

Nym grinned as he realized that he was just as fast as the mare. This was an interesting day for him.

Around an hour later, when everything was calmed down, the announcement was made. Perfect tie. Nym was glad as he realized that the blue pegasus pony wasn't mad or anything. She walked over to him, and his heart leaped.

"Hey, that's pretty impressive. I've never seen a stallion that could keep up with me. I know I'm faster than you, though. This was just a fluke!" Swiftpen noticed that she looked happy that she had found an equal. Sure, she had found a couple in the past, but this was a bit out of the blue.

Nym didn't notice. He was too busy being one of the happiest pegasus stallions in Equestria. Rainbow Dash had complimented him. HIM, the random pony from a nameless town far away from Canterlot or Ponyville. He blushed for around an hour, and longer still when he rethought the way she said it. Naturally, he assumed a lot of things about it that were very far-fetched, but ponies tended to do strange things when they fell in love. He would try and befriend that mare so much, if he could get past his social ineptitude and awkwardness. Especially around that radical mare.

Swiftpen thought about his next course of action. He was actually sort of surprised that Nym grew fond of the speedy pegasus mare. He didn't know what he expected, actually. It was odd to see his friend after such a long time. See how much he's changed and grown. Even though technically he was the elder now, it was hard to not feel paradoxically nostalgic. Now that he was in the perfect relationship he felt it was time to help the gray pegasus get his own. Perhaps it would be with Rainbow Dash, if she felt the same. He considered asking her how she felt.

He instantly dismissed the thought. Blunt romance is the least interesting, and generally always ends badly. On the other hand, hesitate too long, things will go wrong. He needed some scheme. Some plan. He decided to ask Nym about it.

He was returned to reality. He was eating dinner with Nym at his house. How convenient.

"Hey, Nym, got any ideas for an RD plan? I know she's basically all you've been thinking about." He looked startled and frankly a little embarrassed.

"What plan? I wasn't even thinking about her..." A dreamy stare returned to his face. Swiftpen couldn't resist rolling his eyes, even though he enjoyed romance a lot more than the average pony.

"You're going to need to act on this, you know." He glared seriously at Nym.

"Uhuh." He blankly responded. Swiftpen started to get frustrated.

"Let's. Talk. About. Rainbow. Dash." He said through grinding teeth.

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?" Finally. He got his attention.

"You like her, right?" He had no idea why he asked that.

"Um, yeah, sure, I like her. She's cool." Intense awkward silence.

"You know what I mean. Like-like. I hate using such an elementary term…" He started to blush.

"Erm… not, really.. I mean she's cool, I just, I'm not good enough for her or anything… why get my hopes up?" He wasn't sure whether to pity or understand him. He would've thought the same with Pinkie had he have noticed his feelings before all that wackiness.

"There's no reason to not try, you know. I think I read in a book once that failing is better than not trying at all. Besides, you two are basically perfect for eachother. Super fast, have a lightning bolt on your cutie mark, and you're sort of outcasts, too. Your personalities are very different but they don't clash." His eyes lit up. Hope was never lost when love existed.

"You… really think that?" Okay, he may have pushed his luck.

"Um… yeah, you guys seem like you could be a great couple. Now, we have to think of a plan! Maybe I can think of a prototype real fast… Perhaps.. the moon? No.. those mushrooms in that magical cave? No, not again… We should get some help. Let's go around and ask Twi's friends." He suddenly felt exhausted. Partying took a heavy toll. Eventually. Never made any sense to him, but as if he cared after dating Pinkie Pie for ~6 years. It was handy. Nym spoke suddenly.

"Wait, wait, wait. I don't think I need a plan, honestly. I can do things at my own pace." Swiftpen looked bewildered.

"What… but, you're so awkward and probably very nervous.. You must need at least a little bit of help, right?" Nym shook his head firmly.

"No.. honestly, thanks for the offer, but I can do things on my own. No need to get all complicated with plans on me. I'm just gonna… um, go out for a flight. It's a beautiful night." He left before Swiftpen could get a word out. Naturally, he was going to help anyway. He decided he would head over to Pinkie's to get some support.

As he went to open the door, Pinkie sprang in and grabbed Swiftpen in a huge hug before he could even react. Eventually he regained his bearings and returned the embrace. Pinkie was smiling ridiculously big.

"Hiii Swifty! Why'd Nym rush out of here?Oh, and also, we can't stay at Sugarcube

Corner tonight. It's a long story! I'll tell you aaaaallll about it later, don't worry!" She never once seemed to change emotion from amazingly happy. It was quite contagious.

"Nym and I were talking about how he has a gigantic crush on Rainbow and I wanted to concoct a plan to get them together! I was just thinking that we could work together, in secret, of course, to set everything in motion." Pinkie seemed a bit surprised but nothing fazed her.

"That makes sense! I don't think that we'd have to do much, though, because I saw Rainbow look all weirdly happy after that race! " Swiftpen nodded with a smile.

"Yeah, I saw it too, but Nym's completely blind to it."

"Anyway, I would really like to help get those two together! It'll be fun! I love fun. We should throw a PARTY!" She smiled openly and waited for a response. Swiftpen was thinking.

"Maybe… that's a GREAT idea, Pinkie!" She grinned, somehow even more than before.

"We need to get them together.. they'd both definitely show up to a friend's party.. How would we do this?... I know!" Swiftpen suddenly blushed wildly, even worse when Pinkie asked-

"What is it, Swifty?" He smiled widely but he didn't stop blushing.

"Um… nothing! Forget I ever said anything… never said anything…" Behind his back he used magic to write down his brilliant plan. They spent another half an hour brainstorming, then Pinkie suddenly resigned and looked awfully tired. It wasn't that late, but Swiftpen also looked exhausted.

"I'm sorry Swifty, my Party Exhaustion kicked in earlier and I REALLY need to sleep!' Swiftpen nodded.

"Yeah, mine did too, as usual. We really have to get some rest." The couple walked away to the small bedroom and closed the barely-used door. As they were trotting away Swiftpen secretly magicked a small note addressed to Nym onto the table, knowing that he would see it upon his return.

He later read it and felt somewhat proud and jealous of the brown stallion.

Perhaps it really was time to get his move on.