I swear I'll write a dialogue sooner or later, I'm just uploading it so that you know that I simplythe episode with Dash's parents (though my favorite of season 7 so far is the one with Luna and Celestia) and I really liked their two characters, especially Bow Hothoof - hence why I drew him. I've already got this little bit of story planned and just need to write it down (also, look! another attempt at a background!), so stay tuned

Bow Hothoof tiredly opened the door and let his saddlebag fall on the floor. He walked to the living room slowly and with heavy steps that revealed all the stress he’d collected throughout the morning and afternoon. Sighing, he plopped down on the couch, careful not to lie on his wings, and closed his eyes.

His wife had to meet the principal right after work, so she wouldn’t come home until dinner time. Windy Whistles hated meeting Rainbow’s teachers, she found them too strict and narrow-minded, so she usually unburned herself of such duty by unloading it on her husband.

This time, though, it seemed Rainbow had got in real trouble and a simple reprimand letter was not enough. And since Bow already knew his shift would last longer than usual, it was Windy’s turn to talk to the school’s director and try to lighten whatever punishment he had in mind for whatever trouble her daughter had caused.

The stallion was just about to fall in the dreamless sleep he’d been longing for, when he heard a soft sniffle from upstairs. He moved an ear to catch the sound, not sure he’d really heard it, but then stood up at once when he realized it was his daughter’s silent weeping.

He quickly trotted to Rainbow’s room and quietly knocked on her door. “Dashie…?” No more crying could be heard, but a few hoofsteps getting closer to the door.

“Go away.” The filly mumbled as she sat on the floor with her back against the door.

Bow bit his lip and found himself at a juncture: he could leave his daughter alone and let her sadness fade away (though he was not sure it would) while he finally relaxed after hard work, or he could bring up the promise he’d made her a few days earlier and brighten her day. Sighing, he offered: “I thought you’d sworn we would have that walk alongside the lake near Ponyville.”

Rainbow didn’t answer at first. He could hear the gears in her little brain turn as she judged if it was really worth going. After a few seconds, Bow heard a quick flutter of wings and the door opened, revealing the tiny blue Pegasus still in mid-air.

“Perfect.” He commented with a smug smile.

Once reached the small grassy beach, father and daughter decided they preferred lying on the sand to walking up and down the short shore. Rainbow plumped down near the water and her father settled beside her, opening his wings wide to stretch them and let his feathers warm up in the still shining sun. The filly almost mimicked him, but winced when she tried to unfold her right wing.

“What happened, dearie?” Bow wasn’t really sure what his daughter had done to deserve her mother a meeting with the principal. Rainbow seemed however determined not to tell him, so he opted for a further push. “Did you get in another fight?”

“It wasn’t me who started it.”, she was quick to specify. Her eyes guiltily ran left and right to avoid her father’s, but she gave up when he brought a hoof to her chin to lift it.

“Why were you involved?” Though he’d had a similar conversation with her plenty of times, Bow could swear there was something more serious about it this time, something that was upsetting Rainbow more than usual. “Did you say something you shouldn’t have?” The only answer he got was Rainbow’s slow head shaking. “Then explain to me what happened. I promise I won’t punish you, Rainbow. I’m certain what you’re going through now is enough.” At that, the filly’s ears perked up and she looked at him for a second before lowering her head again.

“They laughed at me. And then they started hitting me...” Tears were welling up in her magenta eyes again, but she hurriedly tried to cover them with her shaking hoof. “O-Only because they saw me…”

“What did they see?” Bow was now sincerely worried, more than he’d ever been for her, and he tried to appear as calm as he could to give his daughter more confidence.

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?”

“I promise.”

“Not even mom?” Rainbow stared deep into her father’s eyes, searching and finding honesty in that stallion she trusted so much.

“Not even mom.”, he reassured her lovingly, though with growing worry.

Rainbow gulped and looked away, seemingly regretting her decision of telling him. “They saw Gilda and me holding wings… a-and then I gave her a kiss.” She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for a physical punishment that actually never came. When she opened one eye, she glanced at Bow and noticed the vaguely surprised look on his face, but she could find no sign of anger. “You’re not… angry?”

“Not at all, my dearest… why would I be?” The Pegasus wrapped a wing around his daughter and stopped her before she could talk about the event again, taking notice of the wet sparkles in her eyes. “Listen to me, Rainbow. Whatever those bullies said, it’s not true.”

Confusion arose on the filly’s face. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know for a fact that there is absolutely nothing wrong in fillies who like other fillies, or colts who like other colts.”

Rainbow seemed to be caught unprepared. “H-How do you know I like Gilda…?” The plumage on her chest and shoulders was ruffled and her cheeks had become red in embarrassment.

“That doesn’t matter, Dash.” He smirked at her, though if a bit tiredly. “What’s important is that you must forget what those bad foals accused you of: never let them talk to you like that again.” The filly brightened up and the ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. From the look in her eyes, Bow could already tell what she had in mind. “However”, he added with an authoritative tone, “this does not mean you’re allowed to beat them like they did to you. Violence is never the answer, even though it might seem the easiest solution.”

Before her father could add anything, Rainbow snuggled up against his feathered chest and muttered a soft “thank you”. A single tear ran down the older Pegasus’ cheek as he gently rested his head on top of his daughter’s and kissed her on the mane.

He closed his eyes, but gave up any attempt at falling asleep when the ever growing worry inside him started asking him questions he was afraid to answer.