Soarin's Life

by fleur party

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Sad, Tragedy
Length: 3511

Soarin relives his best and his worst memories as he is on deaths doorstep.

I was first going to write a comedy called Twilight Vs The Water Fountain… But then this came to mind.

Soarin, suffering from age and his heart slowly failing, decides the ultimate sacrifice. Follow him as he relives some of his memories.

Again, as usual, a big thanks to my editor/co-author Wertmon505

Also an additional thanks goes out to Soaricorn for the great cover pic he made for this story!

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-29 17:19:32 UTC

Intro- Confronting Death

Intro

  An aged Spitfire and Rainbow Dash sit in a hospital room with an equally aged Soarin. The life support machine, the only thing

currently keeping Soarin alive in his elderly times, just beeped.

Beep...Beep...Beep...Beep...

It was the only noise that kept the room housing the three sorrowing Wonderbolts from falling into complete tragic silence. It was the only noise letting two of the three, Rainbow and Spitfire,  know their fellow Wonderbolt was still alive. They were for the most part silent, looking over to each other for support once in a while. Soon enough, Soarin couldn't take the pang of sorrow he was causing.

   He had thought long about this, had hours of time actually. Sitting in this lonely room, only thinking. He thought about his life. He thought about his life after death. He even thought about his past. But most importantly, he thought about how sitting in this hospital sapping money from his two best friends wasn't saving anything. And with that, he made his decision.

   "Just let me go," Soarin spoke up weakly, breaking the silence that consumed them. Rainbow looked over at him confused for a second.

   "What? W-What do you mean 'let you go' Soarin," Rainbow said back to him, she was afraid this would happen, Soarin always tried to be a hero. What scard her even more is that if he was serious enough Spitfire would, she is the kind of pony who likes to honor wishes. No matter how hard they may be. She found this out the hard way, when Spitfire pulled the plug on Fleetfoot those five years ago.

   Rapidfire had retired from the Wonderbolts before any of this, his age and a disease had gotten to him. He couldn't fly nearly at all anymore. He suffered from a rare genetically passed down bone disease. Leaving only the three left after Fleetfoot's passing away. There were way more Wonderbolts then just them but those five got together the best as a group, they were the oldest ever living Wonderbolts team, they were slowly fading. Even if you didn't see Fleetfoot or Rapidfire with the other three that much. If they were here at this moment... Things would be a lot more comforting. The most famous Wonderbolts team in the world, and they sat, one dead... one dying... one retired and still suffering... and two waiting for their time...

   Soarin looked over at Rainbow Dash, he didn't want any sorrow, he wanted it to be over with quickly. It didn't feel right to him. Sitting here taking up their bits on a hospital bill as they watch him suffer. He didn't care how much he suffered. He cared about them caring how much he suffered. He wouldn't stand around and let them get anymore emotionally scarred then they were. Not this time. Not like with Fleet.

   "Don't Rainbow, you know what I mean, pull the plug." He said with a look of sadness in his eyes.

   "What! No! But I- we can't ju-" Rainbow stuttered until Soarin cut her off.

   "No, I am sick of lying around here taking up your bits because you guys want a miracle. My age has gotten to me and my heart is failing... No more false hope..." He said with as much pride he could muster from the situation. "Spitfire please, if I die I don't want to die wasting someone's bits on my medical care while I waste away, you two still have lives to live, mares live longer than S-stallions," He said looking over at her in sorrow. She looked back at him, a hint of painful nostalgia from Fleetfoot's accident hit her, she fought back her tears and looked at him strongly, like a leader. Spitfire also had a logical grasp on the situation, she saw what he meant, what he was trying to say.

   "Y-yes... Soarin... I guess we have no choice but to pull the plug for your sake," As she finished tears began to flow freely from her face. She hated sounding so up right about it, like she had no emotion or she was just putting down a dog more than a living pony, but she needed to stay strong for them. She was their leader. "I'm so sorry Soarin, you deserve more. I will g-go talk to them about this. You were a good recruit when you came along," She tried to comfort herself by complimenting him, and assuring it was the right thing to do. But after Fleetfoot, it didn't help.

   "What? It's just that simple? He asks and you just immediately agree without hesitation? Do you even feel bad about this!" Rainbow said with sudden frustration at Spitfires thick headed leadership. Rainbows words stung but Spitfire ignored them. "Don't ignore me. You can't do it Spitfire! He is going to make it! He has to! H-he is a Wonderbolt..." Rainbow said pleadingly. Her tears now also flowing freely as well.

   "Rainbow look at him... He is suffering, this isn't a wing sprain or an injury or even a disease. This is his age. His heart is failing because of it, and you can't heal age..." She finally spoke up to the fellow Wonderbolt. "We have to...We aren't Wonderbolts anymore, we sold out long ago... We are just along for the rest of the show, occasionally doing a trick or stunt to wow the crowd. How long has it been since we even last raced? " She said, the pain seeping in. Rainbow, the strong mare she was, only sat there crying next to Soarin. The room went silent for a bit.

   "I'm sorry Rainbow..." Soarin said depressed. She looked over at him and finally fully broke down.

   "I-I know you a-are! I j-just don't want to go along for the -rrest of the ride without you b-beside us! First Fleetfoot, now this..." She said wrapping her forelegs around him, crying into his mane as he returned the embrace. Spitfire couldn't take it anymore, she left the room while they were in embrace, to have them pull the plug. To make the suffering stop. To make the pain in her heart go away knowing the suffering would stop.

   Spitfire came back in with a doctor and a nurse, as she sat back down the doctor looked over at her.

   "Are you sure you want to go through with this." He said calmly.

   "Y-yes..." She said, tears obviously stained her coat. In her absence she had finally broken down fully as well.

   "And you? Mr...Soarin?"  He said with sympathy for all three.

   "...Yes, let's get this over with already." Soarin said strong.

   "Alright, I wish it was something less simple than just this but, pull the plug..." he said with a gesture towards the nurse. She nodded and turned off the machine keeping Soarin alive, slowly unhooking it. They had been through this procedure so many times the effect it had on them was dramatically decreased. As soon as the machine was off Soarin felt himself slipping away so fastly... So much faster than expected. He looked over at Rainbow, the once strong and independent mare now reduced to a blubbering mess over the slow losing of a loved friend. He felt sorry for her, he really didn't want this, but he knew that the hospital would do everything to milk the rest of his lifespan for their bits, and he wanted the best for Rainbow and Spitfire..., Spitfire, he looked over at her to see her try to stand strongly and hold it together. Once a leader, always a leader...

"Dash, Spit, I-" He was cut off by a sudden flash of his vision as he slowly faded away. Soon he started to see something... It was a vision..., no it was a memory! In the sudden wake if realization the memory started to reveal itself so fast that soon he-

Chapter 2- Graduation Day

Graduation Day

Another vision appeared to view, it appeared to be the same colt, just older, and he appeared to be rushing his mother.

  "Come on mommy! We are going to be late! My last day in flight school is today and I am going to be laate! I am the youngest in my class graduating!" Soarin yelled excitedly to his mother. The mother looked over at her impatient colt and spoke up.

"Soarin, calm down dear. I am going as fast as I can. Of course I want to see my little colt graduate from Junior Flight School but I don't want to do it looking like a mess!" She says putting emphasis on her frizzled mane. "Now go play or something while I get ready." She says shooing him away. Soarin scampered outside and past his dad, who waved as he passed by. While his mom finished up, his quest to protect the house from evil foe's had begun.

   As the colt's imagination kicked in he unsheathed his mighty cloud sword. Evil Knights turned every corner, rushing him with a surprise attack, but Soarin was prepared. As the first came he easily swung his sword as it sliced, thy unworthy foe evaporated into the sun, beaming down onto the front if his castle. Vanquishing him to back whence he came. He swung again, sword drawn in his hoof and hit yet another, just in time to see him evaporate.

   Soarin fended as more came, soon they started to thin out, and Soarin rushed in. He sliced one in the side as he ran, bringing his sword back up he sliced through another, and another, and more as he ran by. Soarin felt like he was invincible. The last FoE coward in fear wide-eyed and as he whinnied, the foe charged, only to have the mighty cloud sword plunged into his chest, making him evaporate into the sun along with the others. With all of Soarin's foe's vanquished for the day he scampered back to the house, ready to step inside.

   He heard his mom and dad talking very loudly, yelling actually, curiosity overtook Soarin as he put his ear to the wall, listening in on what was to be heard.

   "I told you already! I can't go! I have work and if I miss this meeting I am sure to be fired! You know this! We have been over this, I want to be there, I really do, he is our colt for crying out loud!"

   "He is our colt and you won't tell your boss to buck off so you can see his own graduation! Are you kidding me!? All you think about is work, never about family first! Ever since he was a foal it has been like this! You think your doing good by bringing him money and stuff but if you aren't even spending time with us you might as well not even be part of this family!"

   "How dare you! I provide everything for you two! I want to help and be part as much as I possibly can but you are making it impossible! This is your fault you know! 'Oh pick the big job, sure you will have to spend more time working but we will be better financially, think of the baby.' Now look where we are!"

   "I can not believe this, you are blaming this on me when you can just as easily go out and get another different damn job!?"

   "Finding a job is not that simple! But it's not like you would know!"

   "Why I never, you know what? Fine. Go to your damn job, since it is more important."

   "Fine! I will."

   Soarin's father came storming out the door, not looking back and flying off for work. Soarin, a little worried. He trotted up to his mother and spoke up.

   "Daddy isn't coming?" Soarin asked sadly.

   "No Soar, he isn't, come on let's go." She said, sighing.

   "Ok..." Soarin said quietly.

   Soarin and his mother quietly flew to the Junior Flight School Academy arriving a little late. They walked in and took their seats.

   "Next up to the stage is, Spitfire!" Said the announcer as a filly, a bit bigger, then Soarin, trotted up to the stage and took the diploma excitedly. She exited through the other side as everypony clacked their hooves for her and cheered. Soarin waiting patiently as other names were called. "Next up to the stage is, Star Blitz!" The announcer says, repeating the phrase just changing the name. A colt trotted up and took his diploma shyly, walking off and ponies cheered for him. "Next up to the stage, is Fleetfoot!" The announcer again repeated, as a Filly trotted up on stage with confidence, taking the diploma and trotting off as people cheered for her.

   After another couple ponies were called up, Soarin sat with anticipation. "And finally! The last Junior Flight Academy graduate, and youngest in the academy! Soarin!" Soarin excitedly got from his seat as his mom encouraged him on. He got from his seat and trotted up to the Stallion holding his diploma. Soarin eagerly took it and trotted off the stage, to his mom with pride. He felt so alive as everypony cheered for him. He trotted up to his mom happily as she hugged him.

"My little Soarin, a Junior Flight School graduate!" She said excitedly. "Come on Soarin, it is time to get some ice cream!"

"Ice cream!? Yay!" Soarin cheered. This was the best day of his life. He wished it could last forever. But soon, it started to fade, and their was another flash, certain to take him to yet another memory.

Chapter 1- Inspiration

Inspiration

   "Soarie! Get down here I have a surprise for you!"

   "Surprise? Yay!"

   The memory came into focus, it was a little blue pegasus scampering down the staircase, he looked so happy, so loving. His mom looked at him with a warm smile and chuckled.

   "Yes Soarie, a surprise. A very special one Daddy got!" She said happily.

   "What is it? I neeeeed to know!" He said eagerly anticipating what it was. "Daddy always has really good surprises!" He said to his mom smiling. He saw his mom hiding something on her back with her hoof and smiled. "What's behind your back Mommy?" He said playfully.

   "Oh, nothing," she said fainting innocence, and playing nervous to amuse to young foal.

   "Mommy?" Soarin said suspicious of her behavior, she never acts like this.

   " Oh alright, you caught me you're too smart," she said defeated. She pulled her hoof out from her back and revealed two Wonderbolts tickets. "Surprise!" She yelled. Soarin squealed excitedly as he saw the tickets.

   "Yay! The Wonderbolts!" He said excitedly, but then he noticed something, there was only two tickets. "Mommy? Where is Daddy's ticket?" He said a bit disappointed. His mom looked at him with sympathy.

   "Oh Soarie, you know Daddy is a busy Stallion, he can't make it but he will make it next time." She said with a hint of anger in the back of her voice.

   "Does he promise?" Soarin said with puppy dog eyes. His mom sighed inwardly and looked and him with a smile.

   "Yes, he promised." His mother lied.

   "Yay! Alright it's okay, let's go mommy, let's go!" He said eagerly tugging on her. She chuckled and looked at him.

   "Ok, ok, calm down we're going." She said smiling. They packed up the stuff they needed and were off. The ride was long, and by the time they got there Celestia's sun was already halfway in the sky. They got out of the wagon after his mom tipped the cabpony, they got inside and took their seats. The huge crowds of color that were Equestria's ponies lit up the stands in the most beautiful way possible, sunlight reflecting off each and shining against the metal stadium.

   Soarin eagerly awaited the performance to start, sitting near his mom. He heard the sound of a trumpet and off they went. Zooming past every obstacle with ease, cutting through the wind with the grace of swans and the speed of falcons. They raced, and raced, not making one turn up, one slip up. It was amazing, watching professionals take a hold of the crowd like that. As they cheered them on with everything from horns to foam hooves. His mom was watching them intently and cheering too. Every time one would loop through a ring or fly past something in there way the crowd gasped in awe and cheered them on.

   He had to get a closer look, maybe he would meet one is person! A wonderbolt! Some would say only in his dreams but this was his chance, and he was determined. When his mom was focused cheering on a wonderbolt Soarin made took his chance. He slowly got up and hid in between a group of ponies, walking with the group he finally got out and looked at the field before him. This was his chance. He slowly started to flutter and lift himself off the ground. He giggled at his success and fluttered on to the track.

   "SOARIN!" He heard someone call, he looked back and saw his mom, pale with fright.

   "Mom! I'm going to meet a wonderbolt!" He stated excitedly. Commotion was growing in the crowd, soon a security pony walked by and saw him.

   "Kid! Get off the track! You're going to get yourself hurt! Somepony get him." He said and then gasped. "LOOK OUT!" He yelled and pointed as loud as he could. Soarin turned to where the man was pointing to see a wonderbolt heading straight towards him. His eyes went wide and he froze up in fear. The wonderbolt noticed the colt and gasped. It tried use its wings to stop but it was in vein. Suddenly a Wonderbolt shot past the first and snatched the colt up and out of harm's way.

   There was a sudden rumbling and the whole stadium broke into applause and sighs of relief, except for his mother, who had almost fainted. The Wonderbolt sat the colt down and looked at him.

   "Kid! I seriously want to know what you were thinking! You could have gotten yourself hurt or worse down there, and I expect your mom to say the same." The wonderbolt said taking off her mask revealing it to be a mare. Soarin looked up at her, ashamed and sad.

   "I'm sorry..." he whispered almost on the verge of tears. The mare with an electric green mane just looked down at him with sympathy.

   "Hey look kid, it's ok, my name's Green Breeze, what's yours?" She said sympathetically. He looked back up at her and started to smile again.

   "S-Soarin..." he said nervously.

   "Well, Soarin, you can fly really well for your age... You have strong wings, I saw you fly over to the tracks." She said smiling. "You should really think about starting flight school early. Maybe you'll even become a wonderbolt like me!" She said proudly. Looking down at the talented colt in front of her she saw determination in his eyes; which all shrunk away once his name was called from behind.

   "Soarin!" His mom said, galloping up to him. She turned to the Wonderbolt "Oh thank you for saving my son!" She said with relief.

   "You're welcome, it's just my job." She said casually to the mom. The mom looked back at Soarin who was looking ashamed again.

   "And you mister! Oh, you are in so much trouble!" She said angrily, but her tone betrayed her relief to see her foal alive and unharmed.

   "Hey hey, lay off the kid, I already told him. And by the way, he's gonna be a great flier when he's grown up." The wonderbolt said stepping in. The mother looked back to her then to her colt.

   "Oh alright..." the mother agreed. Soarin looked at the wonderbolt with relief and she winked back at him.

It was dark; they were currently taking a carriage back to Ponyville, where they would go to Cloudsdale from.

   "So, besides your little stunt today, did you have fun Soarin?" She asked him happily.

   "Yeah! That was so cool! They were like Woosh whoosh! And then the others were like Wsshhh Wsshhhh" he said waving his forelegs excitedly.

   "Alright alright, calm down," she said chuckling. Soarin looked up at his mom as they were riding by.

   "I think I know what I want to be when I grow up..." he sighed as he drifted off into sleep in the carriage they rode.

The memory quickly faded away while it was starting to be replaced by soon another.