A Dash of Happiness Soared Through the Skies

A Dash of Happiness Soared Through the Skies

By: Crystal Heart

Chapter Ten: Laid Back

After their little trip to the compound doctor, Soarin and Dash made their way to the front of the compound, where the ponies who would be staying would be announced.

"So... You nervous?" Soarin asked Dash, who was slightly humming, as she walked side by side with him. Dash looked up at him, and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah right! Rainbow Dash does not simply get 'nervous!' It's considered a weakness!" Dash said defensively. Soarin rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Dashie! You can admit it! You're pretty nervous..." Soarin said, trying to pry out information from her. Dash just shook her head.

"Trust me Soarin... When I'M nervous... You'll know... And besides! Why would I be nervous? I already know that I didn't make it through!" Dash said sadly. Soarin just draped a wing over her.

"Oh please! You're one of the best flyers I know!" He said lovingly. Wait... Lovingly?

"Uh... Thanks... But, Soarin? Why are you acting like this?" Dash asked him slowly. Soarin looked down at her with a confused look.

"What are you talking about?" He asked her. Dash kept looking at him.

"Why are you suddenly hanging out with me more... And complimenting me all the time? Don't you have other Wonderbolt friends?" She asked him. Soarin instantly backed away.

"Why? Is it too much? I can stop if you want!" He said frantically. Dash quickly shook her head.

"Oh! No, Soarin! It's fine! It just feels... I don't know... 20% cooler?" She said uncertainly. Soarin looked at her with a goofy grin, and nodded.

"Well, when your hanging with THE Soarin' Skies... It's kinda hard NOT to feel like that!" Soarin said. Dash giggled, and lightly punched him on the shoulder.

The two now stood in front of the large podium, where Spitifre was currently standing, scanning a piece of paper.

She looked around, and saw everyone already gathered around. She cleared her throat.

"We are here to announce the ponies who are staying with us today! But, before we do so, I just wanted to let you know you will have the weekend off. So go ahead and have some fun! Just be back by 8:00pm everynight." She said. This instantly caused an uproar from the crowd.

Two days off? This was amazing! The Wonderbolts usually never got days off! Rarely even one! But to get TWO? That was something!

Soarin turned to Dash, and grinned.

"So! How are you feeling about a late night flight tonight?" He asked her. Dash nodded.

"That sounds great, Soarin!" She told him. Spitfire cleared her throat again, catching everypony's attention once again.

"Alright! Now the ponies who are staying with us!" She announced. Dash perked her ears up.

Slowly, one by one, names were being read off the list. Everypony from the selected ponies stayed, along with 90 others. Dash screamed in joy.

"Awesome!" She said, hoof bumping her friends. Soarin turned to her once again.

"Great job, Dashie!" He congratulated her. Dash grinned, and hugged Soarin tightly.

"Thanks, Soarin!" She said, before quickly kissing him on the cheek, and turning to her other friends. Soarin blushed, and covered the spot Dash had kissed him on with his hoof. He slowly shook his head, and walked away.

Rainbow Dash walked through the cool compound. It was about 9:00pm, and she was looking for Soarin.

"Where the hay is the goofball?" She quietly questioned herself. There was a swift pickup of wind beside her, and she turned to see Soarin standing beside her, grinning.

"Hey, Dashie! Ready for the fly?" He asked her. Dash raised an eyebrow, but nodded.

She slowly started to flap her wings, as the two accended out of the compound, and into the night.

Soarin turned to the rainbow maned mare, who was busy humming to the soft tune of the wind .

"So... How's life?" He asked casually. Dash looked at him, and raised an eyebrow.

"Uh... It's fun! I'm working my way to earning the elite spot on the Wonderbolt team!" She said. Soarin chuckled, and nodded. Dash, though, kept thinking about why he was hanging out with her.

"Hey Soarin?" She started.

"Mmhmm?" He replied. Dash took a deep breath.

"You never really answered me back there... On why you suddenly want to be with me all of a sudden?" She told him, slightly questioning him, and herself, at the end.

Soarin slightly blushed, but quickly turned away before Dash could see it.

"Well... It's because... To be honest... I've always kinda looked up to you, Dashie..." He said uncertainly. Dash raised both her eyebrows.

"What?" She asked him simply, clearly confused.

"You're just so... Brave, loyal, tough.... And undoubtedly an awesome flyer..." He said, before giggling. "You even have incredible timing... You've saved my life, and my pie's life!" He said. Dash grinned, as they landed on a cloud.

"Now comes the time when I have to decide whether to be modest or not..." She said quietly. Soarin burst out laughing.

"Oh Dash... You're a hoot!" He said, wiping some tears of laughter from his eyes.

It was then when Dash leaned forward, and planted a long, soft kiss on Soarin's lips.

Soarin's voice instantly hitched up, but relaxed after he realized what was happening. He slowly draped a hoof around Dash's neck, and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

The two remained like that for a few more minutes, before Dash slowly pulled away, her eyes still closed. They both slowly opened their eyes at the exact same moment, and started gazing into the other's.

Dash snuggled up beside him, resting her head on his chest, as he draped one wing around her, pulling her even closer, and rested his head on her soft mane.

No words were exchanged, no more gestures were made.

The two Pegasi simply laid there, on the cloud, as they slowly drifted to sleep in each other's embrace.