Til Kingdom Come

Chapters

Chapter 1: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Chapter 2: The Story of Spitfire and Soarin
Chapter 3: The Story of Violet Hill
Chapter 4: Apple Cider and Pie
Chapter 5: Love and War
Chapter 6: Til Kingdom Come
Chapter 7: Returning Home

Chapter 1: A Trip Down Memory Lane

The sound of the birds in the morning awoke Rainbow Dash. It was the day after the wedding to her beloved husband, Soarin. However, waking up was much harder than she thought it would be. Just opening her eyes was a struggle.

But the mare was glad she continued fighting and opened her eyes in the end. As her tired eyelids opened up, she was facing the love of her life. He just had woken up himself, and the smile on both of their faces said it all.

Even though they both didn't quite remember what had happened after about halfway through the reception, they still knew that the day before was one of the most magical days of their life. It was a day that the couple had waited over five years for.

Even after all the trials the both of them went through- Rainbow thinking that her fiancé was dead for years and Soarin spending his time as a prisoner of war in Saddle Arabia- they still knew that the reward was a far greater gift that outweighed the horrible path to it.

Rainbow lived a tragic life. Her father had died when she was very young, and her mother also passed away when she was just a young mare. She had to live for years feeling like a widow, raising her quiet filly, Violet, while Soarin was gone.

Soarin had to deal with being shot, going into a coma, and waking up in a horrible place where he was treated like a criminal. And what was the Wonderbolt's only crime? He kept to his promise to his beloved Rainbow to not kill anypony in the war.

Both of them had to deal with giving up their careers as Wonderbolts for different reasons. Rainbow Dash had to leave due to refusing to serve in the war in Saddle Arabia, and Soarin retired after he returned from the battle in order to focus on his wife and daughter.

But despite all the struggles, the pain, the suffering- the reward was in front of their eyes. It was somepony that they loved; somepony who loved them in return. It was having a beautiful daughter together whom they could love as well. It was having a quiet life in Ponyville, where they could follow their new dreams. They both were no longer Wonderbolts, but they were optimistic towards the future.

“Good morning, my love,” Soarin said to the mare that meant the world to him.

After a happy sigh and a smile in return, Dash replied, “Good morning, Soar.”

The male pegasus moved closer to give a tender kiss on the cheek of his beloved new bride. The kiss on the cheek was retaliated with a kiss on the lips from the mare, which turned into an open-mouthed kiss, which slowly led to... something else. It was the perfect way to start off a brand new morning.

Just like the day before, this was no ordinary morning. Today was the day that they were going to leave for their honeymoon. The few months that the couple spent together before the wedding were full of craziness. Ponies from all over Equestria would come visit Soarin. His parents would visit their house almost every weekend since his return. The new couple spent most of their time caring for their daughter and taking care of daily responsibilities. But on this day they were going to leave for a week of relaxation, adventure, romance, and each other’s undivided attention and company.

One thing was still on the mind of Rainbow Dash, though. Where are we going? she kept wondering. The truth was: Soarin was keeping it a surprise. He had something planned; something that was special enough for his special mare.

Soarin turned over while they were still in the bed, the morning now further along, and he looked into the magnificent magenta eyes of Rainbow. “Hey…” he said to her.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Both the mare and the stallion opened their eyes wide at each other in both surprise and realisation. They looked over at the clock on the night table and noticed that it was already nine in the morning.

The couple quickly jumped out of bed and made themselves a little more presentable to let in the visitor. Rainbow brushed her mane a few times and Soarin brushed his teeth, due to having the smell of bad morning breath in his mouth.

The pony at the door was Scootaloo, whom they were expecting. The little sister of Rainbow Dash, who was also her best mare, was coming over to stay at their house to babysit Violet for the week. It gave the young mare a chance to get out of her own house and have some time alone with the filly. Violet and Scootaloo had become a good little duo over the last little while. The orange pegasus proved to be almost a hero to the younger filly.

“Okay, so... you know where all of our food and dishes are, right?” Rainbow asked as she quickly ran around the house, gathering everything she needed to leave for her honeymoon. Thankfully most of it was already packed away.

“Uh-huh,” Scootaloo replied.

“You know who to call in case of emergency, right?”

“Of course.”

"Bring Violet to school every week day."

"I know..."

“You know not to open the doors to anypony you don’t know, have Violet in bed by nine, and don’t let her watch any violent shows!”

“Oh for goodness sake, big sis. I’ve got it under control!”

Rainbow stopped running around to take a breath. She walked over to her honorary younger sister. “You’re right, squirt. I know you’ve got everything under control.”

Scootaloo reached up to give the taller pegasus a soft hug farewell. “I hope you guys have a lot of fun.”

“Thanks, Scoots. We will, I know it,” Rainbow responded with a smile. One other thing was still on her mind, though, and she needed to remind Scootaloo of it. “There’s just final thing, young mare.”

“Okay, what is it?”

Rainbow looked Scootaloo right in the eyes. “Absolutely no colts allowed when you are gone!”

Scootaloo looked back at Rainbow with squinted eyes. “I can’t believe after all we’ve been through you would think that I would do something like that.”

“Scoots, I mean it. Not even Rumble.”

Scootaloo let out a sigh in reply and rolled her eyes, saying, “Fine.” She did, however, give a slight chuckle as well, which was returned by the mare.

Just then, Soarin came by with his bag that was to hang by his side as the two of them flew to their destination, wherever it was. “Are you ready, dear?”

Rainbow gave a face back to Scootaloo that just said, ‘Here we go,’ with excitement. She gave the younger mare a quick noogie, grabbed her bag, and ran up beside her husband, ready and eager to see where he was going to take her.

“Aren’t you guys forgetting something?” Scootaloo asked, confident that the couple were indeed forgetting something very important.

The two of them looked at their bags, and then to each other. “Um, I don’t think so,” Soarin responded.

Scootaloo gave an unimpressed look back at them. “Your daughter?!”

“Oh, stink,” Rainbow responded. The two of them were so focused on getting themselves ready that they forgot to say goodbye to their beloved little filly. They were only leaving for a week, after all. That’s not such a big deal, right? They put their bags down and flew quickly upstairs.

The filly with the lighter blue fur and green eyes of Soarin, with a mane similar to her mother’s, only with an added streak of blue through the middle, was sleeping soundly in the morning. It was a Sunday, after all. The only thing she had to do on Sunday mornings was watch her cartoons, like My Little Human, and Flowerpuff Fillies.

Rainbow gave a very gentle shove to the filly to see if she could wake her up calmly. The normally quiet filly let out a few grunts as she tossed and turned in the bed, trying not to wake up. After another shove from her mother, Violet finally opened her eyes.

“Vi, we’re leaving now,” Rainbow informed her beloved daughter with a smile. “Say goodbye to your favourite parents in the whole world.”

The young filly, who was still in her first year of school, let out a tired sigh and pushed the blankets off of herself. She leapt up into the hooves of her mother. The two embraced closely, and then Rainbow passed Violet over to Soarin. The filly shut her eyes and smiled as she felt the warmth of her father, whom she had only known for a few months because of his time spent in the Arabian prison, but she still loved him with all of her heart. Rainbow joined them for a family hug. Scootaloo, who was waiting at the doorway to Violet’s bedroom, could not help but feel joy as she saw the loving embrace by the happiest family in Ponyville. It was something that she never felt herself, being an orphan. Rainbow stretched out her hoof to allow her younger sister to join in the hug, which nearly brought Scootaloo to tears as she joined in.

After the hug, the couple put their filly back onto the bed. They each gave her a kiss on the cheek. After saying their goodbyes, they returned downstairs with Scootaloo. Upon gathering their bags for the trip, they thanked the younger pegasus for foalsitting Violet, and they were now, finally, ready to go.

Upon going out of the house, Rainbow couldn't help but notice that there was nothing there to pick them up. Soarin had not ordered a pegasus chariot to pick them up. Rainbow looked around the outside of their quiet Ponyville house, hoping to see a chariot coming in the distance to pick them up. But there was nothing there.

Meanwhile, Soarin was just waiting for Rainbow to stop and look at him for confirmation. When his mare finally did that, she had a clear face of confusion. "Yeah, there's no chariot coming to get us," he informed her.

"Soarin, why? First you don't tell me where we're going, and now you're telling me that you didn't prepare something to pick us up? Come on! We only have one honeymoon!"

"Oh, don't worry, I prepared. I just wanted to show you a few things first," Soarin said while putting his front hoof on his mare's back. Rainbow was still confused about what Soarin actually meant.

"What do you need to show me?" She asks him.

"A lot of stuff. Just... follow me. It'll be worth it," he said as he made sure that they had everything they needed for their trip.

After they readied themselves by making sure their bags were tightly closed on their sides, they spread their wings and took flight.

After quite a while of flying high in the sky, with the spring sun shining down on them, Rainbow realised that Soarin was taking her in the direction of Cloudsdale.

"Our honeymoon isn't going to be in Cloudsdale, is it?" Rainbow asked in hope that it would be somewhere new and nice.

Soarin chuckled, "Buck no. I wouldn't do that to you. I just want to show you a few places first, trust me, please." Rainbow agreed in her heart to give Soarin a chance with what he was going to do. She really didn't have a clue, though.

As the couple reached Cloudsdale by about noon, Soarin flew over to the Cloudadale Hospital. They stopped flying forward and hovered in the same position.

Soarin pointed to the hospital and said, "Here is where we were both born, and where our journeys began."

Rainbow didn't really care to see the hospital. She knew where she was born, after all.

Soarin took her towards the school that the two of them went to, Cloudsdale High. Soarin continued, "Here is where we both went to high school. I don't know if you remember me then, because I was quite a few years older than you."

Rainbow smiled and said, "How could I not? We were only in school together for one year when you were a senior and I was a freshmare. You were one of the best athletes to ever go here."

"True, but that's not why I'm showing you this," Soarin informed her. "You see, even though I never really spoke to you then, one day we had a special race to see who would represent the school in the Best Young Flyer competition."

"How could I forget? You won by a landslide."

"Yes, well, that's still not my point," he assured her. "When all of the students were sitting on the bleachers, cheering on the competitors, the one I really noticed was you. You were the prettiest filly I had ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, it was years after that until I saw you again, because I graduated soon after."

Rainbow felt a lump in her throat. She didn't expect a compliment like that from her husband, especially since she knew that Soarin had dated Spitfire before they dated each other. She really didn't say anything in reply; she only smiled.

Soarin continued, "The next few years were a different story. I won the Best Young Flyer competition that year and became a Wonderbolt soon after. But, let's continue our tour."

Rainbow agreed, and Soarin took her along as he continued his tour of memories. The next stop was the floating stadium where that competition took place.

Soarin said as the two of them flew overtop it, "This is where I won, but more importantly, this is where you won. You got to spend a day with us as a prize, and it's where I first got a chance to spend time with you, after you saved my life, of course. And the rest is history."

Soarin and Rainbow then flew even higher. Pointing over to Canterlot in the far distance, he said, "That was where we danced for the first time, after the royal wedding. It didn't mean much at the time, but it was another great moment for me."

Rainbow was actually really enjoying this tour that Soarin was giving her. It brought back a bit of nostalgia, and it was so far a great trip down memory lane.

The next place that Soarin took his wife was to where things started to get serious for her- the Wonderbolts' headquarters. They landed on the roof, the soft clouds providing a great place to rest for a few minutes, after all the flying.

"Okay, I know why we're here. To see our old teammates, right?" Rainbow asked.

"No, actually. I don't want anypony else to spoil this day for us," the stallion replied. "We are here on the roof because this is where your training as a Wonderbolt began. This is where I got to see your amazing abilities, and I'll admit, you looked darn good in a wet mane."

Rainbow blushed a little in response. Since she first dated Soarin, her entire personality softened. She wouldn't have taken a compliment like that before without saying something like, 'Hey, shut up.' But, alas, love changes ponies. Now she was a loving wife and mother, and a lot less harsh and abrupt as she used to be. She was still the same old Rainbow Dash, just improved.

"Soarin, stop it. Are you done complimenting me? Haven't you said enough?" she asked in reply.

"No way, we're about two-thirds done. There is just never enough I could say about you," Soarin said sincerely. "Now, where was I? Oh yes. The place beneath our hooves is where I got to know you, and your room is where, well, I got to 'know' you quite well."

Rainbow chuckled a little bit with a hoof to her mouth. "Yes, I remember it well. Being with you was the best memory of being a Wonderbolt for me."

"Same for me, Dashie. Come on, I have one final place to show you."

The two of them spread their wings and took to flight, the hot afternoon sun now upon them. Thankfully, they packed snacks to eat on the way. As Wonderbolts, they were talented flyers, so they could multitask by eating while flying.

Rainbow smiled in the air as she knew where they were going. In fact, they were just there the day before for their wedding. It was Violet Hill.

As the couple landed in the field, they saw that the area was all cleaned up from their wedding the day before, thanks to Rainbow's friends, who all did their part. The field was pristine as usual. The cherry blossom tree was in bloom, and the field was full of the violet flowers that caused Soarin to name the place what he did.

"This is where I fell in love with you. This is where I proposed to you. This is where I finally found my purpose in life," Soarin said, almost as if he had planned it all beforehand.

"This is also where your funeral was," Rainbow reminded.

"Yeah, well, we're focusing on what actually happened here, Dashie," Soarin joked. "This is where I feel that my life truly began, and this is where we start the next chapter of our story."

Just then, a chariot with four pegasus stallions flew down from the sky, landing in front of them. This was obviously well planned by Soarin in advance.

Rainbow was shocked. Soarin pointed to the chariot as if to say, 'Go ahead.' The couple settled in, and were off to a new place for a week of fun and excitement.

"Where are we going, Soarin? Germaneigh? The Neightherlands? Mexicolt?" Rainbow asked in excitement.

"No, Dashie. We're going somewhere tropical. I wanted to go somewhere where we can be served apple cider while laying on our plots at the beach," Soarin said. He could see the excitement mounting on the face of his wife. "We're going to Costa Caballo."

Rainbow, clopping her hooves in excitement, wanted to make sure she heard him properly. “Costa Caballo? The beautiful island country? Really? That’s the most romantic place in the whole world!”

Soarin kissed his mare on the cheek. “Then it will be perfect for us.”

Chapter 2: The Story of Spitfire and Soarin

"Dashie, wake up. We're here."

Rainbow opened her eyes, which revealed the beauty that was in front of her. The sun was setting as they made their way through the sky on the chariot. They were just minutes from landing at Costa Caballo. The small island underneath them shined from the reflection of the sun, all the way from coast to coast, from the beautiful beaches to the tropical rainforest. It was a breathtaking sight.

The chariot landed at the small landing strip at the island's only airport. The airport was mostly used for chariots, but was quickly being renovated to accommodate the more and more tourists every year, as well as small propeller airplanes, which were new inventions made during the war. However, those airplanes were not that safe yet, and a private chariot was the much more romantic choice for a honeymoon.

"Soarin, can we see our hotel from here?" Rainbow asked as the chariot flew just over the beach and towards the airport.

"Yes, my dear. It's just over there," Soarin pointed. He pointed over to the Grand Paradise, an all-inclusive resort right along the beach.

Rainbow clopped her hooves in excitement like a young schoolfilly. She could hardly contain her excitement anymore.

After landing and checking in with the local government, the hotel was just a pony-drawn carriage away.

While travelling slowly through the hilly, forest-covered countryside, they were able to see all of the buildings and houses built along the main road. The country was poor compared to Equestria, but it was a rapidly developing country, especially thanks to tourism. The houses and buildings were full of colour and had clay tile roofs, which was a big difference when compared to Ponyville's grass-style roofs. It was a nice sight to see.

With the sun just about set off in the distance, the sky was aflare with beautiful hues of orange and red. The sky began to get more and more dark as the time went on, and it was peaceful hearing the sounds of the many tropical animals as they made their way. Rainbow was able to rest her head on Soarin's shoulders, creating a feeling of content inside her.

The ride lasted a little while longer. The sun fully set and the sky grew darker as the night came along. The couple finally arrived at their hotel by the time the sky was fully dark and the stars were out.

"Oh sweet Celestia, I can't believe how hot it is, even at night," Rainbow said quite loudly while trying to blow air on her face by waving her wings upward. They couple got off the chariot ride and made their way into the reception. After checking in, Rainbow just couldn't hold in her excitement. She needed to check the grounds out before they went into their room.

The resort was made up of about five or six buildings with rooms, and had bungalows located along the beach, facing the ocean. That was where the couple was staying for the next week. After looking around the grounds and getting a good look at what the resort had to offer, greeting every worker and visitor along the way, the couple went into their room to leave their bags down. Soarin fell backwards on the bed due to his exhaustion, while Rainbow was too busy prancing around the room due to her excitement.

"So, what do you want to do tonight?" Rainbow asked her tired husband.

After letting out a tired growl, Soarin replied, "Sleep."

"We can sleep when we're dead, Soarin. Let's go to the bar or the hot tub or something"

Soarin lifted himself up and looked at his wife. He just couldn't resist her face. He needed this week to be special, and he wanted to give Rainbow the time of her life. After all, since his return, most of the time was spent planning their lives together, caring for Violet, and reuniting with friends. They didn't spend much alone time together.

"Ugh. I guess you're right, Dashie. Come, let's go to the bar and the hot tub."

There was just something about the tropical drinks that was just so soothing and relaxing. It was now close to midnight and Rainbow and Soarin were now in the hot tub, which was in the middle of the resort, beside the pool.

The two of them leaned up against each other on the wall as the bubbles and heat soothed them. There was only the occasional pony walking around at this time. Most of the other visitors were either in bed by now or at the late-night club near the beach, so it was a great time for the couple to be together.

"Hey," Rainbow started to Soarin while a little more bubbly than usual. "Tell me a story."

"What do you want me to tell you Dashie?"

"I really want to hear about your time in Saddle Arabia. What happened there, Soar?"

"Dashie, I," Soarin paused, thinking for a second. "I don't really want to bring up my time there right now. I kinda want to just forget about it for the time being. I'll tell you one day, but it's just too soon for me."

Rainbow accepted that fact. It was only a few months ago, after all. "Okay. Can you please tell me some kind of story? Anything? I want to just sit here and listen to you."

"Oh all right, I'll tell you a story," Soarin replied. Rainbow leaned in even closer to Soarin so that the mare's head was against his chest and she could look up at him with her eager eyes, ready to listen.

"I'm ready when you are," the mare said. "Now that we're together, I want to know everything about your past. I know the important things, but this time I really want to know about you. It's been so long since we had time like this together."

"Would you like me to tell you about my life right after I became a Wonderbolt?" Soarin asked.

"I would love that, Soar," Rainbow responded.

"Well, you asked for it," Soarin replied. "You even want me to talk about my relationship with Spitfire?"

"Sure, just don't tell me everything," Rainbow chuckled.

"All right, I won't go too into details if you want. It would be pretty hot telling you, though," Soarin smiled, causing a frown on Rainbow's face. "Fine. I'll just tell you the important stuff."

"That's better," Rainbow said while giving a much less scary face.

"So... how do I start? You remember how we went to school together for just a year, right?" Rainbow nodded with a smile. "Well, after I won the Best Young Flyer competition, I got to spend a day with the Wonderbolts. They liked what they saw and asked me to join the team, without even having to go into the academy, and I accepted it in a heartbeat with my parents' blessing. I ended up having to train with Spitfire, who had joined the team a year prior."

Rainbow was quite interested at this point, so Soarin continued, "It was kinda like how we trained together, except the opposite positions. She was the more experienced member, who ended up taking a liking to me. We trained together and ended up becoming very close. We eventually went on a few dates. We went to the movies, a few small concerts, dinner, things like that. Spitfire doesn't really care for hoofball."

Rainbow gasped. "How awful!"

"I know, Dashie. How can anypony not like hoofball? Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. We went on a few dates, but our most special date was after my one-year anniversary as being a Wondebolt. We had a show in Manehatten, so we ended up getting a hotel room together. We spent the weekend in the city. I really thought she was the one for me at this point. We had been together for just over a year. I actually had bought her a diamond ring at the store down the street."

"How sweet," Rainbow said. "Wait, was it bigger than my ring?"

"Heck no," Soarin responded harshly. "I didn't have as many bits back then. Your ring is worth so much more than hers; kinda like the mare who wears it. I'm much happier I ended up with you."

"Thanks," Rainbow replied, rubbing the back of her neck. She didn't have much to say in reply at this point.

"Anyway, she accepted my proposal. I was on top of the world at that point. I gazed into her eyes; she gazed into mine. We leaned in closer on the bed. Then I grabbed her..." Soarin stopped for a second and looked at his wife, who was starting to look more disapproving. "…hoof. Yeah, that's it. We shook hooves and moved on."

Rainbow smiled at Soarin's change in the story. She approved of the censored version. "Then what happened? Why did you two end up breaking up?" Rainbow asked. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Because, my dear, like I told you a few years ago, Spitfire started to take the job more seriously. She ended up having big ambitions for herself. One day she would be down-to-earth and she would enjoy her time with me, and the next day she would say that she just didn't have time for my 'foolishness.' Eventually, she ended up putting her goal of becoming captain of the Wonderbolts ahead of me, and she dumped me after I brought it to her attention."

"I kind of remember you saying something about that to me before you left to Saddle Arabia," Rainbow said while thinking to herself.

"Yes, but now you at least know how far we went. I have nothing else to hide. I have never been with anypony else, and I am much happier with you."

Soarin was happy with Rainbow's response to his story about his only previous relationship. She showed no signs of jealousy, especially because she was so happy with how things worked out in the end.

"Hey, Soar. You know, it's our honeymoon after all," Rainbow said as the two remained in the hot tub with nopony else around.

"And there's nopony else around," Soarin added.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Rainbow asked with a sly voice and bedroom eyes.

"Of course I am, Dashie. Let's have some fun," Soarin said while leaning in to presumably kiss his mare.

Rainbow closed her eyes and puckered up her lips. Then she felt a certain wetness come upon her. In fact, there was warm water all over her head and mane. Soarin splashed her face with the warm hot tub water.

"What the buck was that for?" Rainbow shrieked. "I thought we had a moment there."

"Ohhhhhh," Soarin sounded sarcastically. "I thought you wanted to have a little fun!"

"Oh, you're so dead," Rainbow responded with an evil smile. She used both hoofs to splash the bubbly water right back into Soarin's face. He retaliated with a few more splashes. The two of them laughed and grumbled out loud while continuing to splash each other.

Their foolish foalplay drew some attention to them. After all, it was late at night and a large number of the visitors at the resort were already asleep. One of the workers said, "Hey you two, the pool area closes at ten. Ponies are trying to sleep at this time."

"Oh, we're sorry," Rainbow apologized.

"We'll leave," Soarin added.

The two of them went back to their room, tired out from the journey. They both feel asleep quite quickly, not engaging in any more foolishness.

Chapter 3: The Story of Violet Hill

"Good morning, Violet. What would you like me to make you for breakfast today?"

Violet, wiping her eyes so as to try to wake herself up, replied, "Can I have some toast, auntie Scootaloo?"

"Of course, squirt. I'll get it for you soon."

Violet struggled trying to get out of bed, but she eventually got up. She walked over to her dresser to put on her very small morning robe, which her father had bought her a few weeks prior. It was a robe that had the Canadian Girls characters on it, which were the characters in the most recent My Little Human movie, where the princess of the magical kingdom went through a portal and got transferred to the pony world in order to win back her royal crown at the Grand Galloping Gala.

"Auntie Scootaloo?" Violet asked as she went downstairs and sat at the table.

"Yes, Vi?"

"When are mommy and daddy coming home?"

"Sweetheart, it's only been a day. They've still got quite a few to go."

"Oh," Violet responded while looking down in disappointment.

"Hey, what's wrong, little filly?" Scootaloo asked while coming over and using her hoof to lift up the chin of the filly.

"Daddy just came back from war a few months ago. I missed him so much. I want to spend all of my time with him."

"You will, dear, you will. Mom and dad just need some alone time to spend together. It's what couples do after they get married. You'll understand when you get older."

"Oh. Okay, auntie Scootaloo. I get it. I wonder what they're doing now."

"Oh, Soarin... that's really big. Will it even fit in my mouth?"

"Of course it will, Dashie. Just force it in."

Soarin and Rainbow were having their first breakfast at the resort the next morning, which included pancakes and tropical fruit. Rainbow was tempted to try a whole mango, but decided to cut it up instead.

"This is delicious! You've got to try it, dear."

After having their delicious, fresh breakfast, which was one of the best possible ways to start their first full day on their honeymoon, they started to think about what they could do for the day.

"Well, Dashie, we could go through a trek in the rainforest, visit shops in the town, or just relax on the beach. It's your choice."

"Mmm... There'll be ponies anywhere we go, Soar. I wish we had this whole island to just the two of us!"

"Trust me, Dashie, I do too. Maybe one day we could just buy our own private island for just the three of us."

"Scootaloo can come too. She's like my sister."

"Sure. Scootaloo can come live with us in our private island. If only we had some bits."

"I guess we never thought about that, huh? Since you came back we only either focused on loving Violet and our dream wedding. I mean, being parent and all is nice, but it's nothing compared to the time when we used to be Wonderbolts. My job on the Ponyville weather team probably won't be enough for both of us."

"Don't remind me, sweetheart. I long for those days again. We could always go back, you know."

"Yeah, but what about our daughter?"

"I think she's the only reason that's going to keep us back. That, and the thought of ever having to go back to war. I never want to go back to something like that."

"Soar, are you ever going to tell me the stories of what you went through?"

Soarin could feel some deep, painful emotions inside himself. He didn't have the best memory of his time in the battle; he only remembered his time while serving as a prisoner of war. But all of those memories nearly brought a tear to his eye. "Dashie, in due time, I'll tell you everything. I promise. I'll even tell Violet one day. But as of now, I am just so happy to be alive and be with you that I want nothing to take me away from the happiness I feel."

Rainbow couldn't help but smile and agree to that. She also had been through enough pain. This vacation was about being happy and rekindling their old love for each other- not bringing back sad memories of the past.

"So, then, Soar... what are we going to do about the future?"

"Well, one thing I always wanted to do was open my own flight school. We could do that in Ponyville. I actually like the quiet, small town life over the travelling, touring, big city life of being a Wonderbolt and a hero. The only thing would be to find enough bits and time to work on it."

"That'd be lovely, Soarin. We could teach all of the little future Wonderbolts. Maybe even Violet could become a Wonderbolt of her own one day."

"That would be every parents' dream, Dashie. We could always work on it and hope for the best."

"In the end, though, it's her decision. I don't want to be like a hoofball mom who forces her foal to practice when she'd rather study for school or something."

"Come on, Rainbow. You're a wonderful mother. You show a caring side of you when you're with her that I doubt anypony else ever sees."

"Are you saying I'm not caring?" Rainbow raised her voice.

"Of course not! I'm just saying that you are extra caring and loving to her. And that is exactly what I expect from my very special mare."

Rainbow actually had a blush on her face. It hadn't happened in quite a long time. It took a lot for the mare to blush, and usually it was just during an embarrassing moment. This, however, was due to the complement from her husband. It was as if they were dating all over again- which was exactly what the mare had hoped for. She had worried that marriage would have slowed down their relationship, eventually leading to a loss of romance in her life. But this proved to be a positive step.

"But let's talk about this when we're back," Soarin suggested. "For now, I want my attention to be solely focused on you now. Let's have a date day as if we went back to the time when you first joined the Wonderbolts."

"Soar, that sounds like an awesome idea. I want to feel like a mare again."

"Then make me a sandwich!"

"Soarin?!"

"Oh. Oh! I'm so sorry, dear. That's not me to say that. That's the rude stallion in me coming out. It's hard for me to portray emotions properly after all the pain and suffering I've seen and went through."

"Oh, Soarin. Don't guilt me. But I guess I'll forgive you this one time."

"That's my mare! Now, seriously though, what do you want to do today?"

"Can't we just go to the beach or something? I want to sit with you under a palm tree and watch the waves crash in."

"That sounds like a great idea, Dashie."

Each wave slowly crashed onto the soft, light brown sand of the coast. Soarin laid on his back against a slightly slanted palm tree, with Rainbow laying down just on top of him and under his chin. The two of them looked out the beautiful blue ocean, and the tree gave them just enough shade from the hot, tropical sun.

"Hey, Soar?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Doesn't this kinda remind you of the first time we rested together like this?"

"Oh yes. That's a memory I think I'll always have with me. It was so long ago, though," Soarin replied.

"You know what I'm remembering right now?"

"What?"

"I'm thinking about the fact that you never told me the full story of how you found Violet Hill. You told me about your relationship with Spitfire and stuff, but there are just so many things that you either didn't tell me or I just can't remember."

"You know what? I think you're right. I always told you I would tell you one day, but then I had to leave. Well, today is 'one day.'"

"Well, I'm listening," Rainbow said while looking up at her husband.

Soarin began to lightly stroke the mane of his mare as he began to speak. "Well, you know about my relationship with Spitfire. Basically, after Spitfire had dumped me, I took some time off to clear my mind of what had happened. I originally went on a tour of all the major cities in Equestria to have some fun. One night stuck out in my mind, actually. I was in a pub in Trottingham, drinking my thoughts and cares away. There was a band playing that night, and it was one of their first gigs. I decided to put down my glass and give them a listen. And you know what? I love what I heard!"

"What was the band?"

"Well, my dear, they weren't named it at the time, but those four ponies turned into Coltplay. I met them after their performance, which I loved, and they recognized me to be a member of the Wonderbolts. Really, that's where I met them and got to know them. I eventually went to other cities around the world to see their concerts, even travelling with them. They were a really good distraction from my personal life, and that's why those four stallions will always be some of my very best friends."

"That's so nice to hear, Soar. I always wondered how you got to know them."

"Well, now you know." Soarin looked out to the beach for a few seconds to gather his thoughts, and then continued, "So I decided to come back from my trip, feeling a little better. My flight path was supposed to take me to Canterlot, but a storm along the way made me deviate from my original plan. I went down from the mountains and over to the plains of the land. However, there was just one spot in the distance that caught my eye. It had one tree on top of a hill, and the fields around it were covered in the beautiful flowers that I saw. I went down under the tree to rest my wings. You could see so much of Equestria from the hill because of the flat fields around it. The wind blew my mane and cooled me off. It was just a spot that I fell in love with, so I decided that it would become my very special place. I thought I would keep it all to myself; that is, until I met you. I just knew that you were special, so I needed to share what was special to me to my very special mare."

"Soarin..."

"Yes, dear?"

"You're making me feel amazing again."

"And that's what you want, isn't it?"

"It sure is!"

"Well, Dashie, there's one thing that I now realise. I loved when I could stay at Violet Hill to just think and spend time by myself, but the most fun I had there was with you. Like I showed you a few days ago, it was where I fell in love with you. It was where our wedding was. But I think the best time I've ever had there was when I proposed to you."

"Which was one of the most awesome things ever! I still can't believe that you could arrange such a thing."

"What can I say? I have some pretty awesome friends. But you know what? What happened right after was probably the best moment of my life."

Rainbow began to blush. "Yes, that was fun. And it wasn't the only time we had gotten intimate in public."

"At least nopony saw us."

"Yeah, that would've been embarrassing, eh Soarin?" The two of them shared a chuckle together.

"Oh yes, that would have been embarrassing," Soarin said.

"Hey, you know what?"

"What's that, Dashie?"

"I just realised that that was where Violet was conceived. Hmm. I guess it was fitting that that was what I had named her. I don't think we should ever tell her that, though."

"No, it's not a very good idea. I still think, though, that she's too young to realise that she's a bastard."

"Soarin!"

"It's true, dear. She was conceived and born out of wedlock."

"She would've been born in wedlock if you hadn't left to Saddle Arabia..."

"Okay, wait, wait... Let's not ruin this moment by arguing. Let's get back to what's important."

"Sounds good with me."

"So, Dashie, as I was saying, Violet Hill was a very special place for me. But what was even more special was the mare that I had shared it with. And the longer I spent in Saddle Arabia, the more I realised that being with you was the only thing that made me get over Spitfire. The hill was a distraction, but you were the cure."

"Oh, Soarin, you little tease."

"No, really. I really mean it. You were the only thing that kept me alive in Saddle Arabia, after all. And now that I sit here under a different kind of tree in an entirely different country, I still have the same feelings for you that I originally had. I may be older, but I still feel like a colt when I'm with you."

"I feel the same way. Maybe it's because we both have foalish personalities."

"Could be that. But what also helps is that you are not only my wife, you are my crush, my love, my best friend in the whole world. It doesn't matter where I may be- it only feels good to me if you're there with me, and even a crowded place would feel empty without you."

"Oh Soarin, you're on your game today."

"I haven't even started playing yet."

Rainbow gave Soarin the same young, lustful bedroom eyes that she had given him years ago. Soarin couldn't help but nearly melting on the inside at her majestic, large, magenta pupils. The slight blush on her face sealed the deal. He reached his head down and tilted it; she reached her head up and tilted it. He locked his lips on hers, and they shared a passionate kiss that was even greater than the one when they first fell in love. Their love was not only rejuvenated- it was strengthened.

The couple slowly let go of each other's lips and slowly opened their eyes back up, staring into the eyes of each other.

"You know, we've gotten intimate outside a few times before," Dashie reminded Soarin.

"And those were the best times, weren't they?"

"They really were. Wanna go for it again?"

"You read my mind."

Soarin reached his hooves down and around Rainbow's back, jerking her face forward and straight into Soarin's for yet another long kiss. After a few seconds that felt like minutes, Soairin opened his eyes again, looking directly at a very large stallion who was watching them while sunbathing on a beach towel just off to the distance.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm not watching. You can continue," the fat stallion yelled out while picking up his bag of popcorn.

Soarin looked down to his mare, who's mane was now blowing in the wind. "Crap. We can't go any further out here."

"Let's go back to our room, them. We have the bed and the bathtub there."

"I like the way you think, Dashie."

Chapter 4: Apple Cider and Pie

"Mmm... Good morning, Dashie," Soarin said while turning his head and opening his eyes the next morning. The sun had shot through the windows at the top of their room, and the tropical birds were singing their songs.

Rainbow, with a very messed up yet very cute bed mane, responded, "Good morning, babe."

"What do you want to do today?"

"Well, Soar, since yesterday we just laid around at the beach, why don't we go on an adventure today? There are pamphlets at the reception desk. Maybe we can go to the rainforest or whale watching today?"

"Dashie, if we wanted to go whale watching, I'd just take us to Spitfire's mom's house."

"Soarin!" Rainbow yelled out while using her hooves to cover her mouth.

"That was mean of me, wasn't it?"

After chuckling in her hooves, Rainbow uncovered her mouth, and responded, "No! That was hilarious!"

"Glad you think that, my dear."

"So, you want to go eat and then go to the lobby?"

"Yep."

And that is exactly what the couple did. They had a breakfast at the buffet, and then went over to the reception area to figure out something exciting that they could do for the day.

"Oh Soar, look at this!" Rainbow said while reading a pamphlet with excitement.

"What is it?" Soarin asked while coming over.

"They have a trip to the tallest waterfall on the island, but there's a small pond of water underneath it and a cave where tourists go to swim. That sounds awesome!"

"Let's do it," Soarin agreed.

"Senor y senorita, the tour is actually just about to leave," a worker with a mustache at the desk pointed out. He pointed one of his hooves over to the driveway, where an open wagon on wheels with about eight tourists from the resort were sitting. It was being pulled by two other earth stallions with brown fur.

Soarin and Rainbow ran over to the wagon and just got the last two seats available, and they pulled off.

"Hola everypony! How're you all doing today?" the stallion tour guide shouted out.

"Good," everypony shouted in return.

"There is just a twenty minute ride to the Cinco Rios Falls Welcome Centre. There you will get some boots, and we will walk through the jungle to get to the falls. Want to go faster?"

"Yes!" everypony shouted excitedly.

"All right, rrrrrapido porrrrrrr favorrrrrr!"

The stallions pulling the wagon took it into a higher gear as they made their way along one of the island's main highways to get to the falls. They passed along plenty of shanty houses and young fillies and colts playing hoofball on the side of the road.

"Coast Caballo means Horse Coast," the tour guide explained along the way while the wind from the ride blew his mane. "It was discovered just over two hundred years ago, but tourism has been booming more recently due to the beauty. Over to your left in a few seconds you will see a beautiful view of the ocean."

The ponies on the ride all looked to the left, and after a break in the thick tropical trees, they could see the light blue water down the cliff. They hadn't even realised that they were climbing towards the middle of the island.

The tour guide continued, "As you can tell, it is not the richest country in the world. Tourism is now our biggest industry after selling fruit and coffee, so we always appreciate it when you fine ponies come. To your right will see a few of our local fillies sitting on a porch."

All of the tourists, except for the couple, made sounds of awe as they took pictures of the poor foals on the side of the road playing tag. Soarin and Rainbow just looked at each other in confusion.

"So, who here is from Equestria?" the tour stallion asked. Only Soarin and Rainbow put up their hooves.

"Where is everypony else from?"

"Germaneigh," one of the stallions said. It was apparent that the rest of the ponies on the tour were all one large group of family or friends, but the couple from Equestria didn't need anypony else to enjoy their time together.

The ride went on for about an hour- much longer than expected, but it was island time. Soarin and Rainbow did not mind at all. They got to spend time together at the back of the wagon, watching the sights go by. Rainbow even peacefully rested her head on Soarin's shoulder.

They got to their destination all in one piece. Soarin and Rainbow gave a tip to the two stallions pulling them.

"Grassy ass," one of them said.

"Excuse me?" Rainbow asked. "My flank seems clean to me."

"No no, senorita. Gracias. It means 'thank you'."

"Oh," Rainbow replied with a blush. "Sorry. You're welcome."

The couple went into the visitor centre. After a quick review of where the tour would take them, as well as the safety precautions they needed to take, the tourists were all given high rubber boots so that they could walk into the wet rainforest.

"Please, everypony, stay on the trail," the guide said as the group made their descent into the rainforest to get to the bottom of the waterfall.

"Hey Soarin, wouldn't it be awesome if a tiger or a manticore came out and we had to fight it off?"

"Yeah. I'd use my hooves of fury to give him the what-for!"

"I'm so glad I have such a brave husband," Rainbow said as she moved closer to Soarin.

"Yeah, I'm pretty amazing," he replied. "Oh sweet Celestia, what the hell is that? Get it off!"

"What?! What is it?" Rainbow asked in worry as Soarin instantly became a karate master as he moved his body rapidly.

"Senor, are you all right?" the guide came over and asked.

"I'm just dandy!" Soarin shouted sarcastically as he still was moving to get whatever it was off of him.

The guide very calmed reach his hoof towards Soarin and pulled off the spider web from his face.

"Pfft. Tourists," the guard scoffed.

"Thanks..."

"Yeah, I'm really glad I have a brave stallion," Rainbow winked.

"Oh, shut up, Dashie. You would have done the same thing."

"Yeah right!" Rainbow responded as she started to laugh. "You've been shot, and you were scared of a spider?"

"It could have been some kind of jungle spider with a disease or something. Didn't you think of that?"

"Sure sure," Rainbow chuckled as they continued to trot forward and downward.

The couple and the rest of the group made their way further down. Eventually, they could feel the air start to get a few degrees colder, and the smell and sound of running water filled the air.

"You hear that, Soarin?"

"Oh yeah!"

"Just beyond these trees is something you will remember forever," the tour guide said. He then pushed aside a few branches from a tree, revealing the pond where the waterfall led to. There were ponies young and old splashing in the light blue water due to the bright sand around it. There was a rope attached to the tallest tree in the area so that one could swing into the water. The mist cooled off everypony in the area, and when the sun came out through the clouds, the mist also made a rainbow appear. "Enjoy yourselves," the tour guide said.

"Let's go!" Rainbow shouted as she ran and jumped straight into the water. Soarin smiled as he watched the mare, and then joined her as well.

The two of them swam in the water, which was just deeper than their heads. They occasionally splashed each other while moving their way to the waterfall. The booming sound from the falling water was refreshing, and the mist was very cooling in the hot tropical sun.

The couple eventually made their way underneath the waterfall and into the cave behind it, where the water was colder but shallow enough for the couple to stand on their hind legs while swimming. The sunlight was shining through the falling water. The cave went much deeper, but the couple stayed close.

"Rainbow, why do you always look so hot?" Soarin asked as Rainbow looked back at him with her wet mane.

"I guess I was just born this way. I can't help looking this good."

"It's... it's a little creepy in here, though. Let's go closer to the group."

"Sure."

The two pegasi moved towards the waterfall. As they were about to exit the cave and go back out into the sunlight, Rainbow stopped her husband. "Wait, Soarin. There's always been something that I've wanted to try."

"What's that Dash-"

Soarin couldn't finished the question because the mare locked her lips on his and moved the two of them directed underneath the falling stream of water. A kiss under a waterfall was truly a majestic feeling.

"Soarin, that was so wonderful. i don't think I can get any happier," Rainbow said after the two of them made it back to the resort.

"Same here, Dashie. I feel like a colt in a carrot store."

"What do you want to do no-" Rainbow started to ask before she was stopped by a sign on the cobblestone walkway that pieced together the different parts of the resort. "'Free hooficure and makeovers- today only.' Sounds... stupid, doesn't it, Soarin?"

"Dashie, don't think I'll judge you for it. Go ahead. I'll go to the beach hut bar or something while I'm waiting for you."

"Thanks!" Rainbow replied. She gave Soarin a kiss on the cheek, and went into the room where the sign pointed to.

Soarin made his way over to the bar, which was a hut made of wood and had a straw roof.

"Hola senor, what may I get you?" the bar stallion asked as Soarin took a seat.

"Can I have an apple cider?"

"Sure thing, amigo. Coming right up."

As the bartender began to make his drink, the television at the corner of the wall caught his eye. It was showing the Germane Super Cup, which saw the city of Manes taking on Coltmund. It was an instant-watch for the stallion.

"Here you go, my good man."

"Thanks," Soarin said while giving a bit as a tip.

Soarin took a few sips of his drink. It was a peaceful moment, that is, until he was tapped on the shoulder by a hoof.

"Soarin? Is that you? Dude, you really are alive!"

Soarin gave his head a shake as tried to figure out who the stallion who knew him was. "Rhodimus? Is that you?"

"It sure is!" replied the stallion pegasus. "We're having a quick reunion here with a few other of the other colts who served in Saddle Arabia. Over there is Omega, Alpha, and Zeta. We're all still working at the Canterlot Royal Guard. I can't believe that you're alive! We were told that you passed away."

"Yeah, I had gone into a coma. When I came out of it I was in enemy captivity."

"Dude, that is just, like, crazy, bro!"

"Have you been drinking?"

"Yeah, a lot. It's free, after all. And if it's for free, it's for me."

"You haven't changed a bit, Rhodimus," Soarin said while turning back to look at the match on the television.

"Come on, let's share a drink for old times. I know we hardly saw each other in the war, but it's cool to catch up."

"Sure, grab a seat."

The four stallions all sat at the bar stools beside Soarin to watch the match and catch up. After Soarin finished his drink, he requested an amaretto sour. And then a screwdriver. And then a spiked orange cooler. Eventually, he lost track of the amount of fruity and alcoholic drinks he had. The match on the television had finished, and he didn't even notice, especially due to all the laughter that the former soldiers were having while telling funny- and morbid- stories of the war.

"...And then I said, 'rectum? I nearly killed him!"

The stallions all burst into laughter.

After wiping a tear from his eye, Omega said, "Oh, Soarin. You sure know how to retell a joke I just told you!"

"Ahhh. I love you guys," Soarin said while putting his forelegs around two of the stallions with him. "But I gotta go. My hic wife is hic expecting me in the room."

After saying their goodbyes with a few missed brohoofs and some punches to the shoulders, Soarin stumbled his way back to his room, which felt like an adventure.

"Honey. Hic. I'm home," Soarin said as he walked in the door. As he turned the corner, he noticed somepony laying on the bed whom he had seen before. "You. I know you. I met you back at the Grand Galloping Gala."

"..."

"No no no. Don't you try and seduce me! Hic. I'm a married mare. I mean, I have a husband," Soarin said while stumbling towards the bed.

"..."

"Babe, what we had was great, but we can't do it again."

"..."

Soarin shot his head back and gasped. "No! I would never cheat on Rainbow Dash!"

"..."

"Ohhhhh. But why are you being so scrumptious and seductive?"

"..."

"Okay, just this once, but don't tell my wife."

Meanwhile, Rainbow was desperately looking for Soarin after she had returned the room to drop off an apple pie and some sexy pictures that she had taken at the photo store as a gift for her husband. She looked at the pool, the volleyball court, and finally went over to the bar, where she saw four drunk and loud stallions.

"Excuse me? Have any of you seen a blue pegasus around here?" she asked the other stallions.

"Whoa!" Zeta said. "Somepony get me a glass, because I just found myself a tall drink of water."

"Are you really that drunk?" Rainbow asked.

"I swear to drunk I'm not Celestia."

"Yeah, whatever," Rainbow said. She decided to make her way back to the room, hoping to find the Soarin had returned there.

But as she made her way to the room, just before trotting through the door, she heard her husband making very suggestive sounds. She slowly opened the door. "Um, Soarin?"

"Uhhhhhh..."

"Are you okay?"

"Ohhhh."

Rainbow turned her head around the corner. First was a look of shock, but then a massive grin came upon her face. There was Soarin, spread out on the bed, covered in crust and apple pie filling.

"I hic tried to resist her, but she was just so tasty!"

"Well, Soarin, I got 'her' just for you. Did you see the pictures I had taken too?"

Soarin was too covered in food and too drunk from sheer ecstacy from the pie to even get up. Rainbow walked over to the desk to see the pictures that she had taken for Soarin. One was her in socks, one was her dressed as a cheerleader, in a cowfilly outfit, and finally one was a seductive pose with the very same apple pie. Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle at Soarin's face. His tongue was still hanging out of his mouth as he lay sideways on the bed.

"Hey, does this place smell like upsexy?" Soarin asked.

"What's upsexy?"

"Oh, nothing much. What's up with you?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes as Soarin nearly died of laughter from his own joke.

"Oh, you. I wanted us to share this pie and look at the pictures I took together, but I guess you're not prepared for that. Maybe tomorrow."

Chapter 5: Love and War

"I'm sorry... I-I'm sorry I won't be there for you. Just... just do... do one t-thing for me."

"Anything, my love."

"A-always b-believe in yourself, l-like I believe in you. You'll be fine. You'll be a great mother."

"I... I promise. I'll always believe in myself."

"T-thanks. I-I'm sorry... I have to go now... I'm going to go home, Dashie. I'm going to... to go where I... where I will be at peace."

"I love you Soarin."

"I... I love you too, Dashie."

"Dashie?"

"Mmmhmhm..."

"Hellooooo?"

"MhmhmhmhmHONK!"

Soarin used his hooves to close his wife's nostrils so that she would wake up.

"Dashie, you've been shaking and muttering and snoring like crazy tonight. Is everything okay?"

"Soarin... everything's fine. Sorry I've been keeping you up. I'll try to be more quiet." Rainbow turned on her side to try and fall back asleep again. She felt Soarin's hoof rubbing lightly against her soft, furry back.

"Are you sure? You can talk to me about anything. After all, I went years without hearing your beautiful voice."

Rainbow turned to lay on her back. Looking at the dark ceiling of their hotel room, she said, "Soarin, I had a dream again about the day you died. That day will haunt my dreams forever."

"But I'm right here, Dashie. You know I'm not going anywhere, either."

"I know, I know. But this whole thing has just been a shock to me. You haven't even been with me for very long since you came back."

"And that's bothering you?"

"Not at all! I just... I need to know what happened to you. I have to know how you came back to me."

Soarin looked down, having thoughts coming back to him. "Dashie, it's all too soon. I don't even want to remember anything myself."

"Soar, please. I mean, maybe telling somepony else about it will help you deal with it all. It's so hard to deal with this kind of thing alone."

"I guess you're right. I've been having nightmares pretty much every night since I came back about it all. Maybe you can be my shrink to help me remember it all in a better way," the stallion said with a smile.

"Sure, if only I had some librarian glasses or something to make me look more professional."

"That would be nice. It would give it a all a better feel. But, you're right. I should tell you about it all."

"Sweet," Rainbow said quietly, not wanting to shout to wake the other guests of the hotel. Even though they probably made plenty of noise earlier in the night. It was their honeymoon, after all. The day before Soarin spent most of the time in the room hungover while Rainbow did activities organized by the hotel with other ponies staying there, so Rainbow was eager to listen to her husband talking.

"I don't even know where to begin, Dashie. Are you sure you want me to recount all this?" Soarin asked. Rainbow scooted over to be against her husband. He moved all the pillows against the head of the bed and leaned back. Dash rested on his chest, putting her head under his chin and looking up at him, waiting for him to begin. "It's all very hard for me to think about, my dear, but I'll try my best to say it all in the best way possible."

"I'm ready!"

As Soarin's body lay on the bed in the Equestrian base, lifeless, motionless, the doctor readied herself to hand the body over to the ponies who would bring him to Rainbow Dash to be laid to rest. Rainbow Dash had left sad, broken, and defeated just an hour prior. The doctor leaned down to pull the plug for Soarin's heart monitor.

Beep.

"Huh?" she asked as she heard the sound coming from the monitor. She picked herself up and moved over to look at screen. Looking at the monitor, she was baffled. There was still a very slight heart beat detected in the stallion. Soarin's heart was beating ever so slowly, hardly even noticeable. The beats were very slow, very far apart, and very light. But they were there. And the longer she looked at the screen, the more she noticed his heart beating.

Beep.

"He's alive?" she asked. She leaned into his chest, making sure that she didn't touch his wound, and listened. His lunges were breathing ever so softly, but there was still air movement.

Beep.

"Soarin?" she asked him. "Can you hear me?" There was no response. He might actually be in a coma, she thought to herself. Being in the desert during a time of war, the Equestrian doctors didn't have as much equipment as they would have liked in order to do proper tests. But his heart was actually beating, and his lungs were breathing. He had no way of responding. He had lost a lot of blood from the gunshot wound, which could have resulted in him falling into a coma; a much better fate than death.

As cheesy as it sounds, the power of love made him stay awake and functional until he saw Rainbow Dash again. But when he saw her, he just couldn't hold on anymore. His brain shut off all non-essential systems as his body started to heal. But as he lost consciousness, all hope seemed to be lost as well. Rainbow wept over what seemed to be his lifeless body, but there was still a small amount of life left in him.

"So, let me get this straight: you went into a coma?"

"Yep. Well, that's what I was told, at least."

"You didn't die?"

"Rainbow, I'm sitting right here," Soarin reminded her.

"Yeah, I know, but I just... I can't wrap my head around that. You told me the day you came back that you went into a coma, but it just didn't make much sense to me then. I was an emotional roller coaster at that time."

"I know, Dashie. I feel you. When I finally regained my sense I thought I was in hell. Maybe if I was in a real hospital recovering then I wouldn't have lost so much blood and would have been operated on sooner. Then again, if I never went to war, none of this would have happened."

"It's my fault. I should have been more forceful with stopping you from going," Rainbow said sadly while looking up at her husband. She still couldn't forgive herself.

"Dashie, it's nopony's fault. And it definitely wouldn't be yours. I was just conflicted with my thoughts, and I thought it was right for me to go. And besides, we couldn't have survived living if we both lost our income. It was still my choice in the end, and we'll never know how things would have turned out if I didn't go."

"That's true," Rainbow replied, feeling a little better.

"Now, where was I?"

The doctor at the Equestrian base, on realising that there was still time to save the stallion's life now that he was in a coma, and not dead, as first thought, quickly called on other ponies from Equestrian bases around the desert kingdom to come if they were available. A unicorn stallion surgeon, who enlisted in the army from Fillydelphia, and a pegasus mare nurse, who was called to serve from Las Pegasus, came later that day so that they could help remove the bullet from Soarin's chest.

After a few hours, using as many resources that they had available, they were able to remove the bullet and seal the wound, without losing him again. He still remained in his unconscious state, but it was still a major improvement from just hours prior.

Everything went well, and the stallion was on the long road to recovery.

"Okay, so were operated on, you started to get better... what happened then? Why'd you go missing for so long?"

"Well, Dashie, everything changed two days later."

The next day came and went, and the second morning after arrived. Soarin's condition had improved greatly. He still was unconscious, but his heart rate was faster, and his breathing was much better. There was hope that he would make a full recovery soon. Only time was needed.

But the peace that he had on his sickbed didn't last. The doctor, who was awake almost constantly to monitor his situation, along with the two other ponies with her, heard a sound coming from outside. Then more sounds. Louder sounds. It seemed almost like a stampede was coming.

She went out the front door to see. The sun was just rising over the sand dunes. It shined brightly into her face. She used her hoof to shield her eyes. She could see the few other makeshift buildings that the Equestrian Army had made in the desert that were set up for the soldiers. They were located about an hour's trot from the area which had the most oil in the desert; one of the main reasons why Equestria had invaded the kingdom to begin with. Princesses Celestia and Luna had had negotiations going on with the leaders from the desert kingdom, but they quickly went south. The land that was prominent with oil and gems was not willing to trade with Equestria, and that resulted in Celestia's kingdom invading to try and take over the land and its resources.

Well, the mare saw nothing in the distance, and felt no reason to be alarmed. She turned to go back inside, but was stopped as she heard the sound of horns coming from the distance. She felt a sharp flush go through her entire nervous system. It was the battle sound that the Saddle Arabian army would make before attacking. The ground started to shake, and the sound of hoofsteps became louder.

She quickly ran back inside to warn the other two ponies, but by then there was no point. It was too late to get out.

The three Equestrian ponies, knowing that theyir time was short, and their end would come so abruptly, huddled together and hoped for the best. They had spent much of their time and energy worrying about the stallion on his sickbed whom they saved. He still lay there, motionless, yet still alive. How much time he had left for his own life was unknown, but all hope was fading quickly.

They could hear explosions and shouting close by as the Saddle Arabian army set fire to the primitive settlement buildings that the Equestrian army had set up. The sounds of pain and anger were in the air as they could hear their fellow soldiers fighting back.

The noise, yelling, and fear in their heads became louder as their impending deaths approached. There was nowhere to go. They were in the middle of the desert, with nowhere to flee and not enough time to save themselves.

The three ponies who saved the Wonderbolt's life huddled together closer and closed their eyes as the hoofsteps of the battalion got close enough for them to know that their time had come. Their efforts to save a wonderful stallion's life had all been for nothing, as they couldn't even save their own lives now.

The only thing that could help them now would be a miracle.

The mare doctor who almost pulled the plug on Soarin, but ended up keeping him alive because of the sound of one heart beat on the monitor, huddled with the other mare and stallion as they waited their impending defeat. She let out a sigh, saying, "Well, this is the end. Thank you for coming here to help me save a life. I'm sorry that it cost you your own lives."

"It's all right, dear," the nurse from Las Pegasus said. "We knew of the risks when we came out here. It's not your fault."

"Yeah," the stallion surgeon added while he huddled with the other two. "After all, it's our leaders' faults for getting us into this whole mess."

"I know," the mare doctor replied, "but I still made you two come out here. I'm sorry. I wish it didn't have to end like this."

"I wish it didn't either," the nurse replied, "but at least we won't have to face this fate alone."

The doctor looked over to Soarin's heart monitor as she could hear the opposing army get even closer. His heart rate was a little better than before. But she couldn't stop her eyes from swelling up after remembering that it was all for not. The Wonderbolt would not be able to go home to his love and their future foal. He wouldn't be able to see Rainbow Dash's beautiful face or bright eyes. He wouldn't be able to feel her loving embrace anymore. She wouldn't ever find out that Soarin survived his gunshot wound.

She held her head down low, letting the tears come as she heard hoofsteps just outside.

The door was kicked in by a tall, skinny brown earth pony from Saddle Arabia who had a rifle at his side. As he noticed the three ponies huddled together, obviously scared out of their minds, he held his gun in his hooves towards them.

"Hello, Equestrians," he said with sarcasm, even through his thick accent. "Can your beloved Celestia save you now?"

"Please, spare us," the doctor begged as she sobbed. "We... we were only here to help this stallion so that he could return to his pregnant fiancée," she said as she pointed her hoof to the sickbed.

Without looking at who the injured pony was, the Saddle Arabian stallion just looked back to the three scared Equestrians. "Do you think I care?" he asked angrily. "This entire war is your kingdom's fault. Some of my close friends have died simply because of your army following orders. Now I have to follow mine and eliminate you."

The mare, now crying harder than she ever had before, knowing that her time had come, begged for one final thing with a quiet voice, saying, "Fine. I understand. But- but please, please, spare Soarin his life. He didn't do anything wrong. In fact, I... I h-heard that he didn't even harm anypony from y-your army."

"Wait, did you say Soarin?" he asked.

"Yes," the stallion in the huddle replied. He was stronger emotionally and hadn't succumbed to sobbing as of yet. He saw the pain in the mare doctor's eyes, so he wanted to be the one to speak as she quietly wept in fear. "Soarin the Wonderbolt. He was forced to come to war while he didn't want to. He only came so that he could support his mare financially. You can take us out, but, please, I beg you, spare him. He's innocent."

The stallion with the rifle, who held the other ponies' lives in his own hooves, had a memory rush back into his mind. He remembered the time that his father took him to see the Wonderbolts as an older colt. Soarin was only a rookie back then, but the Wonderbolts put on an amazing show in his small desert town. It was the only time that they ever came, but it left a profound memory in his mind forever. It was one of his few positive memories he had of his father.

The stallion closed his eyes tightly as he thought. He opened them to look at the badge he had on his army uniform. It read, "The Saddle Arabian Army- To Protect The Ponies We Love." It was a phrase he lived by. It was the reason he enlisted in the army, so that he could protect his kingdom from the Equestrian invasion. He didn't have to kill these innocent ponies to protect his kingdom.

He also looked at another badge he had on his uniform. His "First Officer" badge. He's the one who led this attack on the Equestrian base, but he had the power to do what he wanted as well.

"Please, s-spare him for all the young foals around the world who look up to him," the mare nurse begged as she spoke up, though quietly.

With a sigh, the stallion at the door put his rifle back to his side. "Fine."

"What?" the mare doctor asked, shocked. "What was that?"

"I'll not only let Soarin survive, but I'll let you three live as well."

The stallion surgeon quickly helped the other two mares with him to get up. He then ran over and gave the stallion a hug. "Thank you."

"Hey, don't get all sappy yet," he said. "I can let you live so that you can get Soarin the attention he needs, but I also can't have it look like I'm helping you all escape. I'm going to have to transfer you to a prison. It'll be our lowest-level one. There you three can help him get back to normal. But you'll have to stay there until the war ends."

"We accept," the mare doctor, who still had water in her eyes from her previous crying, but at the same time still had her life, replied happily.

"So, you were spared by a member of the other army?" Rainbow Dash asked her husband.

"Yep. I wish I knew who he was so that I could thank him. He not only spared my life, but also the three ponies who saved me."

"I'd thank him too. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be here and I would still be unhappy. When you left my life it felt like half of me died."

"I know, Dashie, I know. I felt the same way when I came out of my coma. You weren't at my side, so it felt like only half of me was there." The stallion let out a loud yawn. "Dear, I think I should get some sleep, though. If you want I can finish this story later."

"I'd like that," the mare said with a smile as she scooted over and rested her head on her stallion's chest. The warmth coming from his body was soothing to her, and helped her to fall asleep soundly.

Chapter 6: Til Kingdom Come

The sun rose on yet another beautiful day in the tropics, but this day was different. There was something a little more dim about it. It was the last full day of Soarin and Dash's honeymoon. That, and the sun didn't even show through the clouds that were across the sky.

The couple really enjoyed their first week as a married couple, but like all good things, it had to come to an end. They had a daughter to come home to, and a new life as a married couple to start.

Rainbow Dash woke up nice and early on this day. It wasn't like her to wake up early on normal days, but since they were leaving by nighttime, she didn't want to waste a single minute.

"Soarin! Soarin!" she said while shaking him.

"Huh? What?" he asked as he slowly opened his eyes.

"It's our last day here. Let's make the most of it!" Rainbow replied excitedly.

Soarin let out a few grunts and yawn, but then replied, "All right. What're you thinking of doing?"

"I don't know, but I don't wanna waste our time in here!" Rainbow yelled happily. She trotted her way over to the window and opened up the curtains, expecting the beautiful sunrise from their ocean view room. But that wasn't the case.

"How's the weather, Dashie?" Soarin asked. He cringed a little bit as he imagined that it wasn't good. Rainbow still stared outside, not even turning around to answer his question. He got up out of bed and trotted over to his wife and joined her.

The outside view was not a very welcoming one. It was dreary outside. A set of grey clouds rolled in, and light rain was falling.

"Don't the weatherponies here know that this our honeymoon?" Rainbow asked her husband. "Don't they know this is our last day? Couldn't they give us a nice day? Come on!"

Soarin kissed his wife on top of her head. "Sorry, Dashie, but I read when I was planning this trip that there are no weatherponies here. They let the weather go about naturally. I'm sorry, but it looks like our last day will be mostly inside."

"That's not really fair," Rainbow said, almost bringing out her inner filly.

"Life isn't fair, Dashie. Let's just make the most of it."

"Fine," Rainbow replied reluctantly. The two of them got themselves ready for their last breakfast on the tropical island.

They made their way over to breakfast area, where many other ponies already were enjoying their meals of fresh fruit, hay bacon, tropical drinks, and other specialties that they served on the island. The couple were able to get a nice table right on the outdoor patio that overlooked the ocean, while still being covered from the light drizzle by the straw roof above them.

Soarin chowed down on his food rather quickly, and then made his way to the desert table to look for some pie. In the meantime, Rainbow barely touched her own food, and just stared sadly at the beach and ocean with the grey clouds covering the sky.

Soarin brought back the apple pie he coveted from a mile away, and sat back down on his seat. He stuffed his face into the pie. Normally Rainbow would laugh at her husband's sloppy eating, but she wasn't amused this time. She just sighed and stared out at the water.

"Mmm... mmmmmmm... yum," Soarin muttered as his nuzzle was deep into the pie. But he looked up at his wife, noticing her discontent. He took a big swallow, and then asked, "Everything all right?"

Dash sighed once again as she rested her chin on her hoof. "No, not really."

"Well, what's wrong?"

"We're going home soon, Soar. Back to regular, everyday, boring life. We don't have jobs yet. It's going to be hard."

"Dashie, I," Soarin started to say, but had to choose his words wisely. "Remember when the war just started, and we didn't know what each day would bring?"

"Yeah," Rainbow replied while turning to face Soarin. She covered her mouth and let out a slight chuckle at all the crumbs and sauce on his face.

After smiling in return and wiping his face, Soarin continued, "Well, we're just going to have to do things like that again. We'll be fine. I'll take up some odd jobs. You can go back to being the leader of the Ponyville weather team. We'll be content with what we have. Sure, it's not the glamorous Wonderbolt life, but hey, can be happy."

Rainbow let out a soft sigh once again. Even though Soarin always had something encouraging to say, sometimes she didn't feel like being encouraged. She quickly thought about the old days. The old days of adventure that she used to have. The days before she had a filly of her own. Since she left to join the Wonderbolts, things were different. She didn't go on any more adventures with her friends. She didn't have the joy of defeating villains anymore. Life was simple, and that's not how she wanted it.

"Soar, I, just," she said as she tried to pick the right words. "Yeah, you're right. We'll just have a simple life, the three of us. Our focus should be on our family now," she said, though not really believing in it.

"There we go! We'll be fine," Soarin replied cheerfully.

But Rainbow wasn't as cheerful in her heart. She yearned for the days that she used to have. Even though Soarin was back, she was able to feel the love with him that she used to have, she was depressed knowing that their trip was going to end, and a simple life awaited them at home. Aside from their romance, she felt that there was nothing exciting left.

"Hey," Soarin began.

"What?" Rainbow replied, still looking out towards the water.

Soarin got up out of his chair, trotted over beside Rainbow, and nuzzled his face against hers. "I never finished my story the other night. Want me to continue it?"

"Nah, I'm good," Rainbow replied, to Soarin's surprise.

"Oh. Well, what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. Nothing. Let's just wait until we have to go home," she replied in a depressed tone.

"Okay, this isn't you. This isn't the Rainbow Dash I know. Come on. We're going to go have fun, and you don't have a choice!"

Rainbow let out a loud, obnoxious sigh, and got up out of her chair. "Fine."

"That's the spirit... I guess," Soarin replied. Rainbow went on ahead to leave the breakfast area, and Soarin tipped the server ponies.

Rainbow and Soarin trotted side by side on the wet sand. The light rain had now stopped, but the grey clouds were still covering the sky.

"Come on, Dashie," Soarin started as they made their way back to their room. "What's so bad about a simple life?"

"There's nothing bad about it, Soar," she replied. "I don't know. Maybe I'll feel better about it when we get back. I guess I'm just a little depressed that we're leaving."

"Well, okay," Soarin replied, not knowing what could cheer up his mare. "I guess we'll just go back to pack for home, then."

"All right," Rainbow replied in a lifeless way.

Rainbow Dash was never really the type of pony that wanted a simple life. She was always a pony who wanted adventure. She always tried to be one of the best ponies around, no matter what she was doing. Ever since Violet was born, her life was set on raising her filly. It's not something that she ever thought she would do. Ever since she was a filly herself, her goal was to be the best Wonderbolt ever. But things didn't turn out that way, and reality now set in. But Rainbow wasn't ready for reality just yet.

The rest of the morning was spent packing their clothes in their hotel room. Not much talking was done, as Rainbow wasn't really in a mood to talk. She was feeling down, and Soarin didn't know what to do to cheer her up.

That is, however, until the afternoon came in, and the sun started to break through the clouds. Soarin smiled as he checked outside, and he hoped that the sun would cheer up his wife's mood.

"Hey, I know what we can do!"

"What, Soar?" Rainbow asked as she was laying down on the bed with her eyes closed.

"Let's get some lunch, and then we can go buy some souvenirs for Violet, Scoots, and your other friends."

Rainbow let out a sigh once again; something that she was doing many times on this day. But she came to a realisation, and replied, "Yeah, I guess we should do that."

After a nice lunch, the couple made their way to the souvenir shop for the resort, which had very basic souvenirs for ridiculously high prices. But there was nowhere else to really pick up a souvenir, so they didn't really have a choice.

"Okay," Rainbow said while looking for things to buy. "Violet loves animals, so we can get her one of these little beanie plushies."

"How about this one?" Soarin asked while pulling out a plush phoenix.

"We have those birds at home," Rainbow reminded her husband.

"Oh yeah," he responded as he put it down. "How about this?" he asked while holding up a plushie of a chameleon.

"That's it! That's the one," Rainbow said as she came over and looked at the cuteness of it. It had soft green minky fur and cute buggy eyes.

"Now, what about for Scootaloo?" Soarin asked.

"I think that's what we should get her," Rainbow said while pointing a hoof to an item on the wall.

"A tropical surfboard? Where can one use that in Ponyville?"

"I don't know, Soar, but she still loves her scooter. Even though she can fly now, she seems to get a thrill out of these kinds of things. I'm sure she'd love to get a gift like this."

"If you say so, Dashie," Soarin replied while grabbing the surfboard, painted with a sunset design over a beach. He took a look at the price tag. "Fifty bits?!"

Soarin looked at Rainbow, who cringed at first, but then pouted at Soarin.

"She's foalsitting Violet for free this whole week, after all. This is something really nice for her."

"Fine," Soarin replied. After all, getting a nice gift for Scootaloo seemed to make Rainbow Dash a little happier, so that made purchasing the board a little nicer for him as well.

With Rainbow Dash in a much better mood, and the sun now fully out, the couple finally had some more things to do. They went to the games room, where Rainbow kicked Soarin's flank in fussball, billiards, ping-pong, and darts. After much frustration, he decided that it was time to leave, and they went to have their final dinner on the island.

After an uneventful dinner, where the couple were serenaded by a band of three ponies singing in the language of the tropical ponies, there was only two hours to go until their chariot would come to take them back to the airport.

The sunset was upon them, and it was beautiful, as usual.

"Well, we don't have much time left," Soarin told his mare as they got up from their dinner table. "Let's make the most of this!"

"Let's do it!" Rainbow replied.

The two of them made their way to the beach, resting under a palm tree, facing the sunset over the ocean. Soarin laid on his back against the tree, while Rainbow rested her upper half on her husband's chest.

"Hey, Soarin?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, Dashie?"

"Thanks for cheering me up today. I know you let me beat you in the games earlier."

Soarin's eyes shifted from left to right, but she didn't see that. "Um, yeah. No problem, Dashie. See you happy is far more important to me than winning," he replied.

Rainbow Dash smiled. She knew that Soarin was actually trying his best to beat her, but she didn't want him to feel bad about continually losing to a mare.

Rainbow looked up to her husband as the sun was now just above the water on the horizon. "Hey, Soar?"

"Yes, Dashie?"

"I think it's time for you to finish that story from before."

"All right. But you've got to tell me a story after that.Deal?"

"Deal!"

"Okay, where to begin..." Soarin pondered. "So, what I told you the other night was basically what I was told myself by the ponies that I saw as soon as I awoke. But now I'll tell you what happened when I awoke from my coma."

As Soarin opened his eyes, he was greeted by a blinding light. It was the light from the sun, but he was unconscious for so long that it felt as if somepony were shining a flashlight directly in his eyes.

"Huh? What's going on?" Soarin asked as he covered his eyes from the light of the sun shining through a hole in the roof of the building he was in.

"Oh sweet Celestia, he's up!" yelled a stallion sitting in a chair beside him.

"Who are you?" Soarin asked the stallion. He moved his sore body upwards. After a few seconds, he was now sitting up, and he looked at his surroundings. In was in an enclosed room in a poorly built building. The walls were made of mud, there was a small hole in the ceiling, and there was only one window with bars on it at the top of the wall behind him. "Oh great, I'm in hell."

"You most certainly are not!" the unicorn stallion beside him said. "I'm Scalpel. I'm one of the doctors who saved your life!"

"Wait a minute, I'm alive?" Soarin asked in shocked.

"You sure are!" Scalpel replied. "Lily was the doctor who called me to help save your life. She's in the next room over with a nurse, Blueheart."

"So, you saved my life? I'm not dead?"

"No, Soarin, you're not dead! In fact, if it wasn't for you, we'd all probably be dead by now."

"Okay, there is just way too much you need to fill me in on," Soarin replied as he shifted his body over in an attempt to get up. His body was sore, but he was alive.

"All right. I'll tell you everything I know," Scalpel started. "Just as Lily was about to give up, soon after your fiancée left to go back home, your heart started beating again."

"Dashie?!" Soarin called out. "Where is she? I must talk to her!"

"Soarin," the unicorn said tenderly. "She returned home months ago. In fact, she thinks you're dead. Actually, even the three of us were declared dead also. We were only spared because the general who found us from Saddle Arabia recognised you from a show many years ago and decided to send us to a low-security prison instead of killing us."

"Dashie? Dashie! Oh no no no," Soarin said as he started to move all over the place, covering his head with his hooves. "She thinks I'm dead! Wait a minute, how long was I in a coma for?"

"About ten months..."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Well, you were shot in the chest!" the stallion barked back. "Being unconscious for ten months is better than being dead!"

"Dashie. I need to see her!"

"Soarin, I'm sorry, but there's no way of telling her that you're still alive. The war is still raging on."

Soarin buried his head in the small, not-so-comfortable pillow that was on his bed. He covered his head with his hooves, and began to cry softly.

"Soarin, it's going to be okay," the unicorn said while putting his hoof on Soarin's back.

"Okay?" Soarin replied while lifting his head, his tears showing. "My supposed-to-be wife thinks I'm dead. She probably had our foal by now! Everypony thinks I'm dead. And I'll probably never get out of this hell-hole!"

"Actually, Soarin, we were promised that once the war was over, they'd release us to go back home. That's what makes this a minimum-security prison here."

Soarin rested his forehead on his hoof. "I can't believe this. I mean, I'm happy I'm alive, in all, but I may have absolutely nothing to go back to!" He looked down at his chest, noticing that his wound was very small now and had healed very well. "But I have to say, you guys did a very good job."

"What can I say?" the unicorn replied. "I have a very sturdy horn. And we knew what you had to go back to, so we tried out best to save you. Unfortunately we couldn't get you back home, but hey, you're alive, and you have a second chance at life."

"Fine, I know, but it's still not the same. I want my Dashie here with me."

"Soarin," Scalpel replied while reaching his hoof forward. "I'm really sorry, but there's nothing we can right now. We can only wait and hope for the best."

"I'll wait for Dashie until the day I die," Soarin replied. "She's worth it."

"Well, from what I was told by Lily, who saw your last moments together, she said that Rainbow was so heartbroken that there'd be no way she'd ever be able to move on."

Soarin felt a lump in his throat. "That doesn't really help, bud."

"I didn't mean it like that. What I mean is that, when we finally get released, you'll have something to go back to. I'll go back to my family in Fillydelphia, and you'll go home to the love of your life and your foal."

"I don't even know if it's a filly or colt," Soarin said sadly. "I hope it's a colt, though."

"I'm sorry, Soarin," the stallion said while sitting on the bed beside him. He put his hoof on Soarin's shoulders. "We all have something to return to. We just need to wait."

"I know," Soarin replied while looking ahead of him, hunched forward. "I'll wait for Rainbow Dash. I just hope that she'll wait for me."

"You really said those things?" Rainbow asked her husband. There was only about half of the sun left on the horizon.

"Every word."

"Even that you wanted a colt?"

"I'm sorry, Dashie, but I've always wanted to have a colt."

"Well, we could make one one day," Rainbow said to Soarin flirtatiously.

"I think that could be arranged," Soarin replied with a grin.

Rainbow rolled around so that she was now on top of Soarin under the palm tree. She stuck her hooves out for balance, and faced her husband directly.

"So, you were worried that I wouldn't wait for you?"

"Well, yeah. You thought I was dead! You'd have every right to move on!"

"Soar, you're my first- and only- love. I was never able to move on, not even for a day! Nopony else would ever be the same to me."

"I'm so sorry that that happened to you, then. I'm sorry that you had to go through all that. And sorry you had to raise Violet alone for so long."

"For the last time, Soarin, it's not your fault!" Rainbow yelled quietly down at her husband, who nuzzled her in return. "I'm sorry for everything you had to go through!"

"Well, now you know everything that happened. It can't be changed. We can only look to the future. Normal life begins tomorrow. We've got lots of planning to do, and that's fine with me. I'd rather be with you than be dead, anyway!"

"That's not really a compliment," Rainbow replied with a chuckle.

"I know, but it's true. No matter what hard times are ahead, we'll face them together. Anyway, the next few years were pretty boring. I just sat in prison, met the other prisoners from all over Equestria, and told stories for years. I told them all about how wonderful of a mare you are, and that I'll hopefully be returning to you soon. And then I waited and waited and waited, all the while getting back to normal health, until we were finally liberated by the Equestrian Army."

Rainbow's cheeks turned a light shade of red. "Well, I'm glad I never fell in love with anypony else, then," she replied. "It wouldn't have been fair to you."

"I'm glad too," he said as he pecked her on the cheek. "So, since my life was uneventful for years, why don't you tell me what happened with you? I mean, since I've returned, we've pretty much spent our time together preparing for our wedding, and since the wedding, we've just been here. We haven't really done much else together."

"You really wanna know? I don't want you to get sad because you weren't there."

"I do. Tell me about Violet. Was she fussy foal? I need to know about her if I'm going to be a proper father."

"No, actually. She was as she is now. She's sweet, quiet... if I didn't give birth to her, I would probably doubt that she was even mine."

"I'm pretty sure the mane would indicate that she's your filly, too," Soarin joked.

"Well, yeah, that too. So, I don't know. She was an easy filly to raise. It was more hard for me because she became the only pony in my life. The hardest part was when she asked why she didn't have a father like other foals do."

"What'd you tell her?"

"I told her that you were gone off to war, and I didn't know when you would come back."

"So, you lied?"

"Soarin, she's so young! I couldn't bear to tell her that you died! Well, you know what I mean. I was just going to wait until she was old enough. And besides, I always hoped in my heart that you would return."

"Well, you... I don't know, Dashie. I can't say that you did anything wrong, really," Soarin said. He looked down, saddened a little by the conversation.

Rainbow looked down as well, which was where Soarin's chest happened to be, because she was still over him. The mood had changed from flirtatious and happy, to nearly depressed.

"Well," Rainbow said, interrupting the silence. "Why don't I tell you a happy story?"

"All right. That sounds great!"

"That sounds great!" Rainbow replied as she rolled back to lying down beside Soarin. "Where to begin..."

It was yet another beautiful, peaceful day in Ponyville. Even during a time of war, the small town remained quiet. Rainbow Dash was focused on raising her one-year-old beautiful filly, Violet.

Rainbow Dash woke up, ready to do her regular routine. Still living off of her and Soarin's saved up money from when they were Wonderbolts, she would get up, make breakfast, wake up Violet, and spend the rest of the day with the filly. It wasn't the way she planned on living her life, as she was always a spontaneous pony, but this was her life now, and there was now somepony who depended solely on her. Dash's wants in life weren't the most important things to her anymore.

At this time, Violet was eating and growing as a filly. She was a quiet foal most of the time, which was pleasant for Rainbow Dash. It made things much easier.

After making a good breakfast, cleaning up the mess that the filly had made from just her normal, sloppy eating, Rainbow placed Violet in front of the television for an hour while she would go clean up. Living in a regular house on the ground was good for her young filly, but it was a lot harder than living alone in her old cloud home. There were many more responsibilities in taking care of and cleaning a regular house.

Violet spent most of the time in one place, mesmerized by the cartoons she was watching. Rainbow eventually finished her morning chores, so it was then time to spend quality time with her pride and joy.

"Hey Vi," Rainbow said as she went on her stomach and put her face in close to the filly, who turned around with a surprised look in her big, green eyes. Violet giggled in response. "Say, you what do you wanna do today?"

"Ababoogagala," Violet mumbled in response.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Rainbow replied jokingly, not even understanding what her daughter said. "Well, how about I just watch some cartoons with you?" Violet nodded her head in response.

Rainbow grabbed a few pillows from the couch and joined Violet on the carpet in watching a few cartoons.

During the next commercial break, Violet, who as of yet was yet to fully walk, got up from sitting on her rump and stood on all fours. Rainbow stared at her with open eyes. To date, Violet had only moved around on her flank, or crawled around on her forelegs. She was yet to properly walk on all fours.

"Sweetheart, are you... ready to walk?" Violet stared back at her with her massive eyes and cute smile. Rainbow sat up tall on her haunches and smiled at her daughter. "Go ahead, Vi, take a few steps!"

Rainbow watched with a massive smile as Violet looked like she was about to take a step. But after a few seconds, she still didn't move. She was only standing on all fours.

"Come on, baby, you can do it!" Rainbow encouraged, but Violet still didn't move. Rainbow moved down and rested on her stomach, and then wrapped her forelegs around the filly's body to ensure her that she was protected. "Come on, Vi, you can do it!"

Rainbow loosened her grip so that she was just barely touching her filly. She watched with excitement as Violet lifted one hoof and put it in front of her. She reached forward and landed the hoof on the ground. That's when Rainbow let go entirely. Violet then stuck her other hoof out and moved it forward, but she was now fully stretched out, as she didn't move one of her hind legs yet.

Rainbow moved her hoof to her mouth and chuckled. Violet turned to her mother with an open, surprised mouth. "You're fine, Violet," Rainbow encouraged. "Keep going! Back leg now," Dash said as she pointed to the filly's back leg.

Violet reached one of her hind legs forward, shortening the gap of her stretch. Her other back leg then followed, and she was back to standing normally on all fours.

"You did it, Vi!" Rainbow said excitedly as she clapped her hooves. She picked up her daughter and gave her a big hug. "I'm so proud of you!" Violet smiled from ear to ear in her mother's loving grasp.

After only a few hours, Violet became a natural at walking the pony way. She was no longer a crawling foal. Violet was making progress, and Rainbow was proud of her little filly.

But even through all the happiness, Rainbow Dash still wished that Soarin could have been there to see it.

As Rainbow finished her story of Violet's first steps, the couple watched as the final sliver of the sun disappeared. The evening had now come, and the sky was still lit up in a beautiful orange colour.

"That's so sweet, Dashie," Soarin said after his wife finished talking. The mare smirked happily as she cuddled up against her husband. "And, you know, I really wish I was there to see it, too."

"Yeah, well, you can still be a good father."

"And I intend to. I want to help her learn to fly."

"Hey!" Rainbow yelled while sitting up. Staring at Soarin, she replied, "I wanna be the one to teach her to fly!"

"Well, we can always make her choose who she wants!"

"Fine," Rainbow said. "But she will choose me."

"We'll see about that," Soarin said in challenge.

The couple spent about an hour longer snuggled up under the palm tree. The breeze was now a little cooler than the hot summer sun, and Soarin wrapped his wing around his mare to keep her warm from the ocean breeze. They watched the sky slowly turn dark, and listened to the sound of the waves for the last time.

The time had come for their honeymoon to be over, but they enjoyed it very much. Normal life awaited them the next day, but it was something that they felt they were prepared for.

Chapter 7: Returning Home

"Violet, the greatest young hoofball player in the world, stands over the ball to take the free kick."

Scootaloo watched from the kitchen window as she did the dishes while waiting for Soarin and Rainbow Dash. She couldn't help but smile as the young filly played hoofball in the large backyard, shooting her ball in between two trees. It's what Violet liked to do a lot of the time now. She started practicing at home to get better in order to beat the other foals at school.

"She steps up to take the kick," the filly commented as she stepped forward and swung her right front hoof towards the ball, then striking it off the right tree post and in. "Oh, it's a br-bril... a great shot!" Violet yelled with joy as she ran around the field celebrating, making crowd noises with her mouth.

Scootaloo chuckled as she finished cleaning the last dish. She took one quick look around the house, to make sure that everything would be fine for when Violet's parents came back from their honeymoon. Everything was as it should be. And just as she finished, she could hear a key being turned in the doorway.

The young orange mare quickly ran to the back door, called Violet back in the house, and the two of them went into the living room.

"Scoots, Vi, we're back!" Rainbow said excitedly as the two of them entered their house. They dropped their bags on the floor beside the front door.

"Momma!" Violet yelled out as she ran over and jumped into her mother's grasp.

"Hey, Vi," Rainbow said lovingly as she moved the two of them towards Soarin so they could have a group hug.

After the hug, Scootaloo asked, "So, how was the trip?'

"Oh, it was awesome," Soarin replied. "We did a lot of... stuff."

Scootaloo smirked, knowing exactly what 'stuff' meant.

"Yeah, stuff," Rainbow said happily. "We went to a waterfall, swam in the ocean, ate lots of food, and watched the sunset together. Lots of stuff."

"It sounds like you two had a lot of fun, then," Scootaloo responded happily.

"Soar, do you wanna grab the gifts for our two most favourite mares in the world?" Rainbow asked her husband.

"Sure!" Soarin replied cheerfully, turning around to go back to the front porch, where the gifts were.

"So," Rainbow started as Soarin waited outside. "Scoots, you have to be honest with me: did you have any colts over?"

"No!" the young mare shouted back. "It was just me and Vi the whole time, I promise!"

"Vi, is she telling the truth?" Rainbow asked while turning to her innocent daughter.

Violet nodded her head. "Yeah. Auntie Scoots even had a visitor, but she told him that he couldn't come in."

"Thanks, sweetheart," Rainbow said while messing up her filly's mane. She then turned to Scootaloo. "Rumble?"

The other pegaus nodded her head. "Yeah, he wanted to come in to watch a movie with me or something, but I said he wasn't allowed in."

"Good job, squirt," Rainbow said happily. "Proud of you." Scootaloo smiled. "Because you two were so good, we got something for both of you."

Soarin came out with the first souvenir, the small plush chameleon for Violet. He crouched down and handed it to her.

"This is for you, Vi," he said tenderly. "You're such a good filly, and you deserve it."

"Oh wow!" Violet said as her eyes lit up. "He's so cute and squishy and huggable! I'm gonna name him... Pascal!"

"Pascal?" Rainbow repeated. "That's a weird name for a chameleon."

"Hey, you'll hurt his feelings!" Soarin said in defense of Violet's new 'friend'.

"Sorry, you're right," Rainbow replied. She then peaked her head outside, grabbing Scootaloo's gift, which was leaning on the outside wall. "Now, squirt, you know we don't have many bits."

"Yeah, I know," Scootaloo replied. "It was fun staying over here. I don't expect you to pay me."

"Well, that's good. Because we actually only got you something small," Rainbow replied, pulling out the beautiful surfboard the they had bought for their foalsitter.

Scootaloo's eyes lit up almost as wide as Violet's did at the sight of her gift. "Wow!" she replied while grabbing the board, which was taller than her. "This is awesome! Thanks!"

"No problem, Scootaloo," Soarin replied. "You took really good care of our house and our daughter. It's the least we could do."

The afternoon was spent catching up with each other, telling stories of what happened during the week. Violet kept quiet most of the time, because she wasn't the type of filly to talk a lot.

After they said goodbye to Scootaloo, the couple tucked Violet in, giving her a kiss on the forehead. After some time of watching television together, it was their own time to go to bed.

After getting comfortable in their own bed, the couple gave each other a peck on the lips, and leaned their heads on their pillows.

Even after some time, though, Soarin had his eyes wide open. He just laid there, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Rainbow Dash didn't start snoring yet, so he also knew that she wasn't asleep either.

"Hey, Dashie?" he asked quietly.

"Hmm... yeah?" Rainbow replied, turning around to look at him.

"Do you think... Violet likes me? I mean, I've only been back a few months, and then we left again. I don't want her to hate me."

"Are you kidding me, Soar? Violet loves you!"

"Really?" he responded happily while raising his head from the pillow.

"Uh, yeah! She's shy, so she just doesn't tell you. But before we went on our honeymoon back when we were planning our wedding, she kept telling me that she's so happy that her 'daddy' is back! She just might not be so open to you yet, but she'll open up in time."

Soarin felt so much joy. "I'm so glad to hear that. I'll make sure that I'm the best father possible. I just feel bad that I wasn't there for the first time she spoke or the first time she walked on her own."

"Yeah, that stinks, but you could still be there for the first time she flies!"

"That's true."

"I'll be the main one to teach her, of course, but you can help," Rainbow said with a grin.

"Uh, excuse me? Who's the better teacher here?" Soarin replied in defense. "After all, I taught you how to be a Wonderbolt!"

"Yeah, but my job right now is being the captain of the Ponyville weather team, remember? I'm so good at leading others that even though Thunderlane took over after I left, I was given my own job back, and he was demoted to being my assistant!"

"Fine, we'll both teach her!"

"All right," Rainbow replied while turning around and leaning her head back on her pillow. "But I'm still the better teacher," she mumbled teasingly.

"Go to sleep, Dashie," Soarin said. "After all, you have work tomorrow. I get to spend all day with my daughter!"

"Oh yeah, rub it in some more!" Rainbow teased back again. "But I'm gonna leave early tomorrow morning, because we have to bring some early light rain tomorrow, while you have to make Violet breakfast and bring her to school."

"I'll do that," Soarin replied happily. "I'm sure she'll love spending time with her favourite parent!"

"Ha," Rainbow responded while rolling her eyes.