A Warrior's Heart of Gold

This is the story of a sad, romantic, tragic love story. A loving, yet sad love story. And it all starts with one word...

War.

The changelings had never liked the ponies, and it was the same the other side. Princess Celestia had tried hard to make peace, but sadly was unsuccessful. Queen Chrysalis became furious with the princess that she declared war. On the same night that she did, was the night Rainbow Dash and Soarin first met.

Rainbow Dash smiled at Fluttershy.

"What a way to spend New Year's Eve huh?"

"U-Uh yah sure. I don't like big crowds." Fluttershy smiled at Dash.

"Well, no one is actually getting the party started."

The New Years Eve party was full of ponies, lots of dressed-up formal looking ones. Rainbow Dash was full of energy and frankly, she was bored. She stood there watching pony couples dance and laugh. She had her friends, but otherwise she was a loner. Practically every pony in Canterlot was there, even the Wonderbolts. When Rainbow Dash saw them arrive she pratically jumped for joy.

"OMG! It is the Wonderbolts! It is them! It really is! She smiled and looked at Fluttershy with excitement.

"Yes I can see that they have." Fluttershy shyly smiled at Rainbow Dash.

'Aren't they wonderful! I'm going to be just like them some day!" She smiled and stared intriguingly at the great band of flying troops. One of the flying ponies happened to noticed Rainbow Dash and walked over to her.

"Hello. I happened to notice you were staring at me and my group." He smiled at her.

"Oh sorry! I-I'm just such a big fan." She nervously stumbled out the words before she looked like an idiot.

He smiled at her as though he understood her. "Oh it is quite all right. My name is Soarin and I fly with the Wonderbolts."

"Dash. Rainbow Dash. Nice to meet you." Her face turned a cherry red as she embarrassingly smiled at him.

"Would you like to dance?"

"Pardon?"

"Would you care to dance with me?" He held out his hoof to her.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. Then sweetly took his hoof and walked out onto the dance floor with him. They began to dance to a soft sweet song. They quietly smiled at each other here and there until he finally spoke up.

"You are a pegasus. Do you fly much?"

"Me? Of course! I love flying! I'm the best!" She proudly said.

"Oh how nice. Are you on the weather team?"

"How did you know?" She looked at him with intrigue yet confusion.

"I have traveled through that area and I think I might have seen you up in the sky one day"

"Oh yes I'm always clearing the clouds and...stuff" She giggled and nervously smiled.

He laughed and stopped, still holding her hooves.

"Do you want to hang out some time? Like grab a bite to eat or something?" He nervously smiled at her.

She nodded and giggled.

"Yes. I would love to."

"Wonderful. Hmm..How about we meet at Sugarcube Corner at noon next Friday?"

"O-Ok. Sounds like a plan."

The crowd began countdown to the end of the year. Dash smiled at Soarin as she joined in. When the clock struck 12, the building went wild as people cheered and yelled, but before Dash knew it, Soarin had disappeared into the crowd. Rainbow Dash looked around but he was nowhere to be seen. All that was left in his place was a small slip of paper that read:

Sugarcube Corner. Next Friday. Noon.

Dash bit the bottom of her lip and held the paper close to her chest as she smiled and began to walk home.