At The Weakest

Around five-am, Dash and Soarin were getting ready to roll into the trailer. "Goodbye!" Pinkie Pie shouted over to them from Applejack's. "Okay. I'm good."

Rainbow laughed and looked at Soarin. "She's my best friend. What are you gonna do?"

Flyson flew down a moment later after finishing his coffee and Soarin brought Dash over to him. "Rainbow Dash, Flyson., Flyson, Rainbow Dash." He introduced. "Flyson is my 'flyer' and instructor. He flies me to my races in this trailer so I still have my energy and not flying myself for eight hours... thats how they do it now in case you forgot." Soarin explained.

"Pleasure to finally meet the girl who got Soarin's sorry attitude back into place." Flyson said, playfully punching Soarin.

Rainbow smiled. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine."

Soarin made a pouty face, then looked at Flyson. "How long is this flight going to be?"

"I can't believe this." Flyson said to Dash, shaking his head. "Not even in the trailer yet and he's already asking 'Are we there yet?'. See what I have to put up with?"

Rainbow stifled a laugh and Soarin teasingly glared at her. "Alright." Flyson announced. "Miss Dash, if you and I are finished tormenting Soarin, why don't we hit the sky."

Flyson walked over to go get hooked up on to the trailer and Soarin turned towards the ramp. "Ladies first?"

Rainbow  smiled and went up into the trailer, Soarin following her. Twilight will try to catch up to them in about 2 hours. However, because it was such a long trip, Flyson decided that he would take a few breaks. They were going to stop at a hotel that night and then continue two more hours to Soarin's parents house where they would be staying until Dash and Twilight got the medical records. Soarin didn't know this.

After walking into the trailer, Soarin hit the leaver to close the door.

"Alright, we are starting for take off for a long flight ahead of us." Flyson said over the intercom.

"Yup." Soarin agreed,  "And this trip is going to last all day." He looked beside him to see that he had about 12 inches between himself and Dash. She was gazing out the window, and Soarin took this opportunity to take in her appearance. Her eyes were so pretty, and shone when the lights hits them correctly

And her mane... That was what got him, every time. That beautiful rainbow mane, they took his breath away. 'But', Soarin chided himself, 'She only thinks of us as friends'. But those eyes! He wanted to melt every time that he saw them... Looking... Right at him!

"Soarin! Rainbow said again. "Snap out of it."

Soarin blushed a little."Sorry, Dash." He said with a smile. "I kinda zoned out, there."

"I'll say. You didn't hear what Flyson said." Rainbow replied. "It was about the trailer. He thinks it might break down."

Soarin's eyes widened. "Are you serious?!"

Dash laughed "I was kidding! Got ya there!"

Soarin shook his head. "Rainbow... Do you just enjoy teasing me?"

Flyson voice came over the intercom. "I do."

Soarin reached over and turned off the speakers.

Rainbow giggled. "Yeah, but you're right. I probably shouldn't do it so much."

Soarin just rolled his eyes again.

"So..." Dash broke the silence, "Want to play a game?"

They had been cooped up in the trailer for an hour and a half and were beginning to get bored.

Soarin shrugged. "Sure. What game?"

"Twelve questions."

"Don't you mean twenty?"

Rainbow shook her head. "No. That's a different game. Twelve questions is basically you play with two ponies, and one of them asks the other ANY twelve questions that they want to. No secrets, no lies. You want to start, or do you want me to?"

Soarin thought about this. "I'll start. Ready?"

Rainbow nodded.

"Okay then." Soarin said. "Umm... Do you like your coffee hot or cold?"

Rainbow laughed. "What kind of question is THAT?!"

"You said ANY twelve questions." Lightning protested, pointing a hoof at her. "That was one of them."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Hot." She answered.

"Likewise. How long have you been in Ponyville?"

"I got there about five months before Fluttershy." Dash replied.

Soarin nodded. "Do you have any siblings?"

Rainbow shook her head. "Nope. I'm an only child."

They continued playing until Soarin had asked all his twelve questions, and Dash was about to take her turn, when Flyson landed on the ground somewhere. "What's going on, Flyson?" Soarin asked, turning on the intercom.

"A flock of geese in the sky. I was just landing to let them pass. No biggie." Flyson replied.

"Already, they're past, ready?" "Ready." Soarin replied

They both gazed out the window and were silent for awhile, until Dash realized that Soarin had fallen asleep.

She was glad he was sleeping. He needed any extra rest he could get. If Dash had ever hoped for anything in her life, she hoped that Soarin's medical records proved Twilight wrong.

After another excruciatingly long 2 hours, Dash and Soarin flew outside together while Twilight caught up with them and massaged Flyson's wings. They were racing each other practically. They kept trying to fly in front of the other, and they both kept smiling and laughing. Twilight smiled herself. It was good to see them so happy. So carefree, if only for a few moments.

It was... Terrifying to think that Soarin might have an stomach deterioration. He was too young for that to happen. Twilight had seen deterioration before, considering that she is a doctor and has been for 3 years since taking the doctor's degree in La Saddle University in Fillydelphia. It was scary. For the doctor AND the patient.

There was stage one: The Illness stage. In that stage, the patient would become sick. Over and over. It happened because the immune system was slowly deteriorating, and with it being so close to the lungs, it caused the patient to cough violently. They also produced a fever and drainage. It wasn't uncommon for them to stop breathing for a few minutes. That's what had happened that night a few weeks ago when Dash had gone to give Soarin his medication. He had stopped breathing.

There was stage two: The weakening stage. In this stage, the patient began feeling extremely weak. Too weak to lift a hoof. This was because the disease was spreading into the part of the stomach that controlled the muscles. The patient, at this stage, either had to be hospitalized or constantly with someone who could help him if needed.

Stage three: The painful stage. This stage was scary. The patient was almost constantly in pain due to the deteriorating in nearly all the rest of the body. It could become excruciating agony very quickly. The only way to prevent it from hurting as much was to lie in bed quietly, unmoving, and take all the painkillers you could. This stage lasted about two weeks. This could also be a good stage though. This was the stage where either the rest of the deterioration happens, OR your body is strong enough to fight it. If the patients body was strong enough, they could perform surgery to give replacement parts where the rest of the parts had been deteriorated.

And finally there was stage four. Death. There were no other words needed. The stomach was deteriorated completely, and the patient died. Twilight hoped more than anything that Soarin would be able to fight this off. He Dash nor Soarin noticed, she was always looking out for taking care of him.

Twilight looked back at Soarin again to see that he was breathing hard and wincing. Rainbow, ahead of him, didn't notice. Twilight couldn't blame him. After his most recent illness, the last thing he needed was get out of breath. Because of all the severe coughing, to become out of breath was probably very painful. Twilight watched as Dash looked behind her, saw Soarin's expression and stopped beside him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked in a worried tone.

Soarin managed a smile. "Oh, just got out of breath. Give me a minute, I'll be fine."

Instead of flyng back on up ahead of Soarin, Dash stayed beside him as they continued to fly slowly.

Twilight smiled. She wondered if the Wonderbolt knew how much Dash liked him. She wondered...

Later on, that afternoon around four, Soarin and Dash were just hanging out in the trailer. It was quiet and peaceful. Soarin looked at Dash and smiled. "Guess what?"

"What?" She asked, an amused smile on her face.

"Guess what?" He asked again, his grin growing.

"What?" She asked, becoming slightly annoyed.

"Guess what, guess what, guess what?"

"What?!"

"Hi."

"What?!" Rainbow asked, then shook her hood. "Soarin..."

He was laughing now. "You gotta admit  that was funny."

Rainbow just rolled her eyes. They were quiet for another minute until all the sudden, Flyson flew with no caution. Soarin slid forward against Dash, his lips pressing onto hers. They were both shocked, and it was as if time stood still for a moment. Rainbow's heart began to race. Then just as quick as it happened, it was over. Soarin pulled away. "I'm sorry!" He said, blushing red all over his baby blue face.

Rainbow was also blushing. "It's okay."

The rest of the flight was filled with an awkward silence, but Dash wondered if Soarin kissed her intentionally, would it feel as amazing as that? She wondered if she would ever get a chance to find out.

Finally that night, they arrived at the hotel. It was nearly midnight. All were exhausted, and after unloading the luggage from the trailer, Flyson immediately flew to the nearest trailer stop, saying he'd be back in the morning. Soarin, Dash, and Twilight checked in at the front desk, then took the elevator upstairs. While in the elevator, Dash leaned against Soarin, her eyes nearly closed.

"Tired?" He asked.

Rainbow nodded. "Long day."

A few minutes later they got up to the room, and that was when they realized something: There were only two beds. And three of them. "Well now what?" Soarin asked Twilight.

"You and Rainbow can share." Twilight replied, setting her suitcase on one of the beds. "I'm sure she'd rather share with you."

Soarin looked hesitantly at Dash. He wasn't going to say it, but he wouldn't mind that, actually. Rainbow was thinking that she wouldn't mind either. Twenty minutes later, they were settled beside each other under the covers. Twilight was asleep.

Rainbow and Soarin were very aware of each other's presence in the dark room. "Dash?" Soarin whispered.

"Yeah?" She whispered back, facing him.

"Goodnight."

Rainbow smiled. "Goodnight, Soarin."