Chapter 1: The Offer (Revised)
A Fleet Of Hearts
Written by: Alex A.
Chapter 1: The Offer
Rainbow Dash was prowling the skies of Ponyville while she did her weather duties for the day. She continued her cloudbusting and flight routines for the up and coming Wonderbolt tryouts at the end of the month.
The Rainbow maned mare had been working tirelessly since the day the event had been announced. It was her life's goal and everypony in the village knew it. She wasn’t going to lose a challenge. Rainbow Dash made sure her weather work for the day was complete before soaring upwards towards her cloud home for her scheduled nap.
Just before the cyan mare reached her cloud home in the sky something shot past her at great speed blasting off in another direction.
Dash flew back a few feet before shaking her head trying to regaining her senses. Once it returned Dash could see a light blue and white streak outlined in the summer blue sky which made its way across the small earth pony town. Dash grinned and darted off after the mystery pegasus.
Rainbow made her way through the buildings and tree's, narrowly avoiding market stands as she kept up with the streak. "Jeez, this pony flies fast," Dash muttered under her breath, careful not to draw any attention to the ponies around her that she was actually trying to keep up with somepony. She decided to put all her energy into her wings, beating them faster as she quickly started to catch up with to the streak. As Dash closed in she recognized the colour and the mane of the pony.
A thought went through Dash’s mind, but she quickly shook it off. “No,no,no that can't be her, right? Why would she be here?” she thought to herself quizzically.
Without warning the spec stopped just on the outskirts of the small town. Dash’s eyes widened as panic started to kick in. She tried to slow herself down, but couldn't manage to stop before she had a chance to warn the spec. before either ponies knew it Dash slammed into the unfortunate mare and both pegasi were sent tumbling onto the grassy hill which overlooked the village.
Dash rubbed her temple with a free hoof and moaned slightly from the pain it gave off. Her eyes slowly began to open, but before her vision returned completely she heard a familiar voice speak up.
“Oh! Hey there Rainbow Dash," the voice said.
Rainbow Dash gasped as her eyes shot wide open. Her vision was instantly clouded by a sea of light cyan fur. Dash tilted her head slightly when she noticed that the ponys flank was adorned with the famous cutie mark of a winged golden horseshoe. Without warning the voice spoke again.
"Hey Dash! Um my eyes are up here," the voice said, Dash slowly looked up to see the pegasus mare who had a slight colour of crimson forming on her cheeks from what Rainbow Dash had been staring at.
Dash raised an eyebrow. "F-Fleetfoot?" Dash stuttered out, still slightly shocked.
The pale cyan mare giggled before nodding. "Yes Dash, don't act so surprised," Fleetfoot answered offering the rainbow maned mare a hoof as she got herself up. Dash shook her head as she regained her sanity, still looking at Wonderbolt like she was some sort of apparition. She took Fleetfoot’’s hoof and stood back up
"B-But your a W-Wonderbolt," Dash said in awe, her eyes as big as her sockets would allow.
Fleetfoot smiled at the statement and nodded.
However Dash was still confused about the mare being in her town. "So why are you here, Fleetfoot?" Dash asked.
Fleetfoot perked up at this. "Oh ya! I’m here looking for you actually," Fleetfoot answered.
Dash's jaw dropped at this point as Fleetfoot stifled a giggle. "W-What!? You’re here, for me?" she asked astonished.
Fleetfoot nodded. “Yep.”
Dash raised an eyebrow. “For... what for exactly?” she asked curiously, her eyes full of wonder.
Fleetfoot started to fumble with her hooves as she spoke. “Well you know all the Wonderbolts are currently off touring at the moment,” she asked knowing the mare would have kept up to date with the Wonderbolt time table.
Dash nodded.
Fleetfoot continued, “Well Spitfire told us to choose somepony to help train for the Wonderbolt tryouts next month.”
Dash was astonished. “And you're gonna help me train!” she said excitedly.
Fleetfoot nodded. “Well that’s the idea so...yeah. But only if you want to though,” she pointed out but by then Dash had already made her decision.
“Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh!” Rainbow squealed in a fangirl like voice. This was until she realised what was happening and rubbed the back of her neck hesitantly. “I mean, that’s cool, I guess,” she said with a slight flush of embarrassment.
Fleetfoot muffled a giggle, “Hehe, well sure thing then Dash, when should we start?” she asked the cyan mare.
Dash smiled. “How about right now?” she asked curiously with a hint of hope.
Fleetfoot pondered on this. “Okay cool, although first I gotta grab some grub. You know where to eat in this town?” she asked curiously.
Dash nodded. “Yeah I do! This place called Sugarcube corner is Awesome!”
Fleetfoot smiled. “Okay then, hey race you there?” she asked flaring her wings as she did so.
A spark caught in Dash’s eyes as the thoughts of racing against the fastest Wonderbolt came to throistion. She nodded eagerly as she too flared her wings ready for action. The two Pegasi lined up and began the countdown.
As soon as the countdown ended both mares bolted from the hill and downwards towards the small town at great speed.
Applejack was happily spending her days work selling apple’s at her usual spot in the market. She had just finished giving a customer a set of items before turning back to see two advancing pegasi approaching towards the small market place at high speed.
Applejack turned to the other ponies in the market and shouted, “Duck and cover!” Before the two ponies shot through the market.
Dash was keeping pace with the Wonderbolt as they dodged various stands and ponies through the small market square, although Fleetfoot had the upper hand on straight line speed most of the time. Dash still could make up for it in the tight bustling village.
The two cyan mares weaved in and out of the towns buildings as they blasted over alleyways and roof tops before making their way into the center of town. But there was still one last hurdle they had to overcome, town hall.
Fleetfoot saw her opportunity and bolted a mile up into the sky. Dash looked up in awe at the Wonderbolt as she watched her speed which matched her own. She couldn’t stare for too long as she looked back to focus on the building. Dash steared herself around the circular shaped building with great speed and ease. She could then see the finish line and the iconic Sweetstore.
Dash used all her strength to beat her wings faster as she powered the last few inches towards the building. She thought she had the race sealed until a light blue mare soared back down from the sky and came to her side matching her current speed.
Dash saw Fleetfoot turn to look at her, she could see the same competitiveness in the mare’s eyes. It was one of the things she did admire out the Wonderbolt, but now wasn’t the time for thinking and she pushed her whole body further as the two ponies made way for the store.
The entrance to Sugarcube corner was blasted open as two pegasi crashed into the store. Everypony turned round in shock to see two mares in a heap on the ground.
Dash looked up to see Fleetfoot just a few feet from her. The pale cyan pegasus smiled at her and it almost seeming to make Dash’s heart flutter slightly. She got herself up of the ground and just like before offered a hoof to the cyan mare.
Dash returned the smile and took the Wonderbolt’s hoof as she got herself up. Dash had to admit that Fleetfoot was a great racer just like herself, it was yet another thing Dash admired about the unsung Wonderbolt.
Fleetfoot muffled a giggle, “Great race there, Dash,” she said walking over to the counter at the store.
Dash grinned sheepishly. “Thanks Fleet, it means a lot,” she said with a slight shade of crimson.
Fleetfoot smirked. “Glad to hear it,” she said with a wink.
Dash felt the heat on her forehead intensify.
As Fleetfoot went back to looking at the confectioneries that lined the counter Dash went back to thinking more about the Wonderbolt.
Fleetfoot wasn’t a name that was very well heard of. The only ponies that did know of her where the hardcore Wonderbolt fans - like herself - and the other members of the team. Outside ponies only knew the names of famous captains and lieutenants, they never heard about the side runners like Fleet and it was something Dash felt a little downhearted for. She still admired the Pegasus in every aspect really. Mainly because she had the same raw passion for flying as she did as well as matching certain aspects of the cyan mare too like speed and confidence.
Because she was deep in this thought Dash had failed to notice that she had been staring at the pale cyan mare for too long, and now the Wonderbolt was staring back at Dash with a raised eyebrow.
Fleetfoot giggled, “What are you finding so interesting today, miss Dash?” she asked laughing. This only seemed to intensify Rainbow’s already reddened cheeks.
Fleetfoot shook her head playfully passing off Rainbow’s reddened cheeks as just pure embarrassment. “Okay then rookie, let’s get started on training,” she said happily as she made her way to the entrance of the eatery.
Dash followed as she thought about how she was going to survive the next month with the pony she had been having feelings for ever since she had seen the mare a few years ago. She shook the thoughts away as she quickly returned to her original, confident posture and trotted off quickly after the mare…
The light summer air wafted through the grassy textures of the landscape as the two Pegasi conversed on a lone hill that overlooked the small town.
Fleetfoot smiled. “So Dash, I’m guessing you’ve probably put together a routine already?” she asked curiously.
Dash smiled and nodded. “Yeah...do you wanna see it?” she asked hesitantly
Fleetfoot nodded happily. “Sure! Why wouldn’t I?” she said sarcastically rolling her eyes playfully. Dash flushed at this and could feel her forehead starting to burn. She figured that best way to hide her current thoughts and feelings was to focus on her routine.
Dash took off into the sky and flew up towards the clouds. She twisted and turned as she performed many stunts unseen by any other Pegasi, she even performed some of her own signature moves. Fleetfoot watched eagerly, judging the mare’s movements in every direction. She was amazed by the rainbow mare’s moves, she had been through many Wonderbolt performances, but she had never seen anything like this. Little did Fleetfoot know that things were about to get a lot more interesting.
Dash flew up to a high altitude before diving back down towards the ground with great speed. She started to feel the air friction against her hooves and the wind start to force itself around her entire frame. Dash then started to see the mach cone shape form around her and she put all her reserve energy into her wings as she kept pulling herself, just that little bit further.
Fleetfoot watched in wonder. She soon realized what Dash was trying to pull off, and she felt her nerves rise as she began to wonder if the cyan pegasus could actually pull it off. She had only seen it been done once before and she had always wished to see it again.
However, when Dash got to the final stage of the move she felt the air tighten around her body, like a slingshot being stretched to its limit. Even with this cyan mare still tried with all her might to finish the routine, but to no avail. The pegasus was soon sent flying back as she had failed to puncture the air shaped cone.
Dash was sent flying through the air dash tried to re correct her flying, but was soon caught by a set of hooves grab her and bring her to a hover in the air above ponyville, she looked up to see Fleetfoot with a grin. “Now that was a routine!” she said happily before letting go of the cyan mare. Dash began to hover on her own and backed away slightly.
Dash smiled hesitantly. “You really thought it was that good?” she asked in astonishment.
Fleetfoot nodded. “Heck yeah I did! I’ve been to many performances Dash and that was by far one of the best,” she said confidently.
Dash held back a squee when she heard the Wonderbolt’s words. However, she couldn’t help hide the red forming on her features.
Fleetfoot looked back up to the sky. “So I see you had trouble with your signature move,” she asked.
Dash nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been tryin’ but I can never seem to do a Rainboom unless I’m savin a ponies life or even trying to defend a pony for that matter,” she said with a hint of annoyance.
Fleetfoot nodded. “Okay, it seems like it’s something that’s triggered by the mind then,” she said.
Dash raised an eyebrow. “A trigger of the what now?”
Fleetfoot muffled a giggle, “I can’t really remember, it was something Spitfire was talking about, it was something to do with when you focus your surroundings too much you can’t complete certain moves,” she said putting a hoof to her chin trying to remember the rest of the conversation.
Dash though had already come up with a theory as to why she couldn’t complete the move, she had been so hooked on trying to do a Rainboom for the tryouts that she’d been stressing herself out. She did that before the best young flyers competition to. But when she was saving Rarity or defending Fluttershy’s honer she was only focused on one thing rather than everything else in the world around her. Her complete focus must have triggered something in her mind, but how would she be able to accomplish a feat like that without having to save somepony’s life.
Fleetfoot could tell that her cyan friend was in deep thought at this point and held back a giggle at the thought of having some fun. The mare quickly slipped out of view from the cyan mare.
When Dash finally came back to reality she looked around to find no sign of the light cyan mare. She then looked behind her to see a dark cloud. But before she could react the cloud shot a lightning bolt, making the mare jump.
Dash breathed heavily as she heard muffled giggles coming from the cloud above her. But a devilish smirk came to the mares face as she shot up into the air and tipped the cloud upside down, letting gravity take care of the mare sitting on the cloud.
Fleetfoot quickly recovered from her fright and turned around to face the rainbow mare floating in the sky above her. “Touché Dash, but can you handle this!” she said whilst taking a feather from her wing and waving it around in her hoof.
Dash’s eyes widened at the thought of what fate was about to occur. She quickly darted off into the sky with the wonderbolt hot on her hooves.
Dash weaved in and out through the clouds trying in vain hope to flee from the advancing Fleetfoot. She looked behind her and breathed a sigh of relief when she couldn’t see anypony behind her. However, when she turned back she saw an advancing cloud coming towards her at great speed. Dash hit the cloud and groaned from the slightly dazed feeling it gave her.
Dash flopped onto her back as she came face to face with the light cyan mare still grasping the feather tightly in her hoof. She immediately held up her forehooves trying to block the imminent attack.
Fleetfoot giggled at the cyan mare’s attempt to get away, “You know Dash you’re really cute when you're trapped,” she said.
Dash blushed slightly at this and tried to find another way out of this cloud trap she had gotten herself into. Luckily, the darkness of the sun dipping below the horizon making Fleetfoot turn around. Dash took this as her chance to switch places with the mare.
Fleetfoot laughed, “Well done Dash, I see two can play at this game,” she said with a grin.
Dash grinned back knowing she had won, whatever it was the two had started.
After a few moments of silence Fleetfoot spoke up again, “Hey, you know of a good place to stay in this town?” she asked.
“You could stay at my house!” Dash blurted out without thinking.
Fleetfoot nodded. “Well if its not too uncomfortable,” she asked hesitantly.
Dash knew she couldn’t go back on it even if she wanted to and nodded. “Nah it’s cool, it’ll be fun, right?” Dash replied.
Fleetfoot laughed, “I’ll be the judge of that,” she said with a smirk.
Dash rolled her eyes playfully and let go of the mare as she floated into the air and turned to face the wonderbolt. “Follow me,” she said before shooting off into the sky.
Soon the two pegasi came up to the famous cloud home in the sky over the small earth pony town of Ponyville. The features of the house such as the rainbow waterfalls and sculptures were invisible to anypony at this time of day, but the house was still a sight to behold.
Fleetfoot smiled. “Well would you look at that, this place is better than being in Cloudsdale,” she said, chuckling slightly.
Dash smiled and pushed open the door to the cloud home revealing the living room which was more the less crammed with all the things Dash had gotten from Wonderbolt shows and derby’s alike. Many of the posters that adorned the walls were of Fleetfoot or other Wonderbolts from the famous flying team.
Fleetfoot smiled as she looked around the humble cloud home. “Well, it’s certainly a lot cleaner than my place,” she said with a giggle as she looked around all the posters adorning the walls.
Fleetfoot grinned. “I’m guessing you’ll be wanting me to sign everything you’ve got hmmm?”
Dash looked at Fleetfoot and then at the posters. “No, no, no...I mean unless you…nevermind forget it,” she said studdering slightly.
Fleetfoot shook her head playfully and went over to the couch and laid down with a happy sigh. “Thanks for letting me stay here by the way Dash. You've got a nice place,” she said with a smile.
Dash returned the smile. “You can sleep in my bed if you want, I’ll just sleep on the couch,” she said politely.
Fleetfoot shook her head. “Nah, all cloud stuffs the same, I’ll take the couch. And besides, you'll need your rest for tomorrow,” she said with a smirk.
Dash returned the smile. “Thanks Fleet, now if you need anything just ask,” she said before heading up the stairs to her room.
Dash closed the door to her room and began to trot around, her mind was still buzzing from the day’s current events. She had no idea that something like this would happen and she didn’t expect to be sharing the same house with the mare she had adored from the moment she first saw her.
Dash started to get nervous as thoughts went around in her mind. She couldn’t tell Fleetfoot her deepest secret could she? If she didn’t she’d been spending a full month with the Wonderbolt constantly having to try and act natural which after today didn’t seem like a good option
Dash sighed, “Maybe I’ll just sleep on it,” she thought collapsing onto the cloud bed in the room. She closed her eyes and let her dreams and thoughts take over her…
To be continued...
