"Hey Soarin'! How are you?" She smiled, quickly turning around, but hoping she didn't appear too eager. Soarin' eyed her, a bit more excitedly than she was used to. "Hey, are you all right?" She tilted her head, then lowered her eyes as she noticed how he stared at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Rainbow Dash." His tone was very happy, exceeding its usual spirit. His eyes seemed very bright, even if he seemed as if he hadn't slept very well for quite a long time. "I need to speak with you, if you have the time."
This excited and worried her, a strange mixture of emotions that spread all the way through her, from her chest, all the way to the ends of her hooves.
"Um, that is why I came all the way up here." She smirked.
"Fine, Rainbow." He didn't meet her eyes, and walked towards a nearby building. He nodded for her to follow, and set his eyes firmly away from her. Rainbow Dash followed, hopping once before scrambling to catch up. They entered the building, and, as she glanced back, the door creaked shut. But that last thing she saw before it closed, was one familiar aircraft. The top of a bright pink hot air balloon, emerging from the clouds?
"Fine Rainbow Dash. You know that we've been watching your progress as a flyer, right?" Soarin' said.
"Of course." She rolled her eyes.
"Well, we've decided that you aren't the type we need for the academy."
Rainbow Dash's mouth fell open, big enough to put a whole cupcake in, which Pinkie Pie would've done, had she been there. "But, but... I'm awesome," she whimpered.
"You aren't the academy's type. But you may or may not be... mine." His eyes darted around, then settled on her.
"Soarin'?" She glanced back at the door, unsure of what she should do. What does he even mean? My type... Hmm. He... He doesn't *love me, does he?*
"Rainbow Dash, I think you and I have both known that this was coming. I mean, the amazing stunts you pulled off at the Gala, the Amateur Flyer's Contest, and your work at the academy. " He stepped a little closer, his eyes becoming more clear in the light that streamed in from the windows.
"Thank Soarin'! I know, my moves are pretty sweet." She smiled shyly, and cleared her throat. "What about you take me to get some cider, and we'll talk?"
Soarin' just took another step forward, slowly wrapping his hooves around her, slowly caressing her lower back. His hooves lifted her up, and he moved his neck closer, and nuzzled her so slowly and delicately.
Rainbow let out a small whimper of joy, tiny gasps escaping her lips as he caressed her. She felt as if he had picked her up, and brought her soaring into the skies, further than her wings could ever bring her. She couldn't think, her head was swimming. But all she felt was him, how silky soft his mane seemed as he gently rubbed his neck against hers. He nuzzled her like he wouldn't even get another opportunity, and his front limbs felt so strong, yet delicate as they suspended her, pressing himself gently and strongly against her, all at the same time.
She didn't fully feel him pull away, all she felt was numb. She turned her head slightly as she heard the door open, casting a bright shaft of light across her face. Her first thought was that someone had walked in, but it was really Soarin' leaving.
He turned his head back to her, and said, "I had to do that, just once. Before I can't anymore." His eyes were bright with emotion, gleaming in the light before he turned away from her. It took all the strength she could to get up, as her limbs still felt like she had been in something else. Something reserved for that moment when you reach the final horizon, finally reaching something that you've desperately been striving to reach.
