Lake Iwannagohome

Chapters

Chapter 1. Good Morning!
Chapter 2. We Should Probably Get Going
Chapter 3. Let's Get Out of Here!
Chapter 4. A Sight for "Soar" Eyes
Chapter 5. Loco in the Cocoa
Chapter 6. Meeting for the First Time
Chapter 7. Dinner and a Show
Chapter 8. Deadwood
Chapter 10. Truth be Told
Chapter 11. Heart of the Swarm
Chapter 9. Good Night.

Chapter 1. Good Morning!

The sun rose up from below, signaling the start of a brand new day, peeking through the middle of two grassy hills as its bright yellow glow showered the sleepy little town of Ponyville that resided near the center of the magical land of Equestria in warm, golden sunlight. Ponyville is home to Earth ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi. These are the three mystical races of equine creatures that live happily alongside one another.

It was a very cold and breezy morning in Ponyville. The sound of dry, fallen leaves scraped lightly across the sidewalks as the smooth, gentle breeze pushed them ever so slightly.

Ponyville’s just an average town filled with timber-framed houses with distinct thatched roofs that varied in size and shape, and were the most commonly used shelter for every civilian in Ponyville.

These houses blended in with one another due to them all looking pretty much the same, and were spread across the town on every corner of every street giving the place a very calm, earthy feel.

But there was one home far off in the distance that didn’t quite match the rest; in fact, it was so different because instead of being on the ground, it floated high above in the sky.

The house was round and tall, shaped like a cylinder and seemed to be about three stories high, supported with large columns; the house was huge–crazy huge. It was probably best classified as more of a mansion than a house. It was structured with puffy, white clouds, and had an enormous fountain of rainbows shooting up from the top of the roof along with two pools of liquid rainbow that sat near the front entrance.

Sunlight entered through a small, opened bedroom window, aiming itself on the face of a sleeping blue Pegasus mare with a rainbow colored mane.

“Mmph…” The sleeping blue Pegasus let out a small, muffled grunt.

The mare was sprawled out on a queen-sized cloud bed, legs positioned in a very unlady-like manner, sheets scattered all over, her colorful mane a mess, drool dribbling out of her mouth down the side of her cheek, ears slightly twitching, and snoring softly.

The sunlight turned harsh and the mare shut her eyes tightly.

“UGGGH!” The groggy Pegasus grunted as she slightly opened her sleepy eyes and moved her head to look over at the window where the light was pouring in.

“I. Hate. Mornings.” She muttered out loud to no one in particular.

This mare was obviously not a morning pony.

She turned her head and glanced at her mini calendar that sat on her nightstand.

“Good, it’s Saturday.” The mare sighed quietly as she laid her head back down on her soft cloud pillow facing away from the sunlight.

Knock, knock, knock

The Pegasus’s eyes shot open.

“GRRRR!!!” She growled through gritted teeth. The mare’s eyes were red and full of anger as she tore off her sheets and flew down to her front door and yanked it open; it only took her about two seconds.

“WHO IN THE HEL–looooo…!” She shouted at first, but then quickly softened her voice when she saw who was crazy enough to come knocking at her door at such an early hour.

“Morning, Rainbow Dash!” Said a pale blue Pegasus stallion in a very chipper sounding voice as he wore the biggest, brightest smile while standing in front of her opened door.

This stallion was obviously a morning pony.

Rainbow Dash began to rub the remaining sleepiness that still lingered in her eyes with her fore hooves, blinked a couple of times, and then stared at him, mouth slightly agape.

“Soarin?!” Rainbow Dash’s voice squeaked; her magenta eyes shimmered as she stared at him.

“Hey! How you been? Remember last week when we bumped into each other we agreed on hanging out today? You’re not busy are you?” Soarin asked.

Rainbow Dash had just woken up, and everything seemed to be happening so quickly that her brain was barely able to process with what was going on.

About a week ago, Rainbow Dash and Soarin were stuck out in a rainstorm that she had not been informed about by the weather team, but it turns out that she just so happened to be taking one of her 10:30 a.m. naps when the meeting about it was being held. Rainbow Dash remembered her near-death experience when she was struck by lightning while flying out in the wicked storm. She remembered falling through the dark, grey sky as Soarin raced down to try and reach her before the unthinkable could happen. She didn’t remember much of what had happened since she blacked out and ended up back at her house covered in bandages.

“Oh! Uh yes, of course not!” Rainbow Dash replied when she finally processed what he had just said.

“Great! So I thought it would a great idea to go…” Soarin paused when he walked to the side of her front door, opposite side from where she was standing, and bent down to grab a bunch of objects strapped together with his teeth. “...CAMPING!” He shouted ecstatically as he swung his head and threw a saddle bag with a rolled up sleeping bag tied to it with other various items strapped on all around right down in front of her.

Rainbow Dash looked at the bag on the floor in front of herself with a raised eyebrow and her mouth in an ‘O’ shape.

She looked up at Soarin and saw him bouncing up and down in place with a huge, goofy grin on his face.

She looked back down at the bag on the floor; it’s as if he didn’t even think about the possibility of her giving him a ‘no’ for an answer.

But luckily, Rainbow Dash loved camping. She was a very outdoorsy mare who loved being outside, so of course, she was more than happy to oblige.

“Heh heh, of course! I love camping!” Rainbow Dash said while smiling.

“Yes!” Soarin said happily as he hoof bumped the air.

Rainbow Dash looked at the stallion; her head slightly tilted towards the ground meekly looking up at him as her mouth formed a tiny smile.

“So… You ready to go, or do you wanna freshen up a little first? Sorry for dropping by so early, I was just so excited to come by and tell you about what we should go out and do!” Soarin told her while trying his best to be polite since he didn't want to point out her messy mane.

Rainbow Dash realized that she probably looked disgusting, and quickly tried to flatten and shape her mane into how she usually wore it.

“Ughhh, sorry you had to see me like this…” Rainbow Dash said while avoiding eye contact, and a subtle blush forming on her cheeks.

“Heh, I should be the one who should be sorry, I came by too early.” Soarin said.

“No, no, it’s fine.” Rainbow Dash insisted. Usually, if anypony else were to wake her up at this hour, they’d be six feet under by now, but for Soarin, she reacted differently. Much, much differently.

“Here, come inside.” Rainbow Dash told Soarin as she moved aside, giving him enough room to walk through the door.

“Thanks.” Soarin thanked her as he grabbed his stuff and walked inside.

Rainbow Dash closed the door behind him and both Pegasi flew upstairs to the third floor.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin both landed on the third floor of the cloud mansion in front of a nice, white door.

Rainbow Dash pushed the door open with a fore hoof and it gave a slight, squeaky sound as it creaked open.

Both Pegasi entered a large, surprisingly clean, round room. Rainbow Dash went over to her closet and grabbed a fluffy, pink towel that hung on a wall hanger screwed on to the top of the closet door and threw it over her shoulder.

She looked back at Soarin before walking towards another door in her room; it was most likely the door that lead to her bathroom.

“Hey Soarin, you can sit down on my bed and wait until I’m finished taking a shower, then we can probably go get breakfast or something.” Rainbow Dash suggested.

“Sure!” Soarin replied happily and started trotting over towards her soft cloud bed with sheets that were spread around messily.

Rainbow Dash gave a little smile before she turned around and opened the door to her bathroom; she walked inside then kicked it shut with a back hoof.

Soarin set his bag down on the floor and sat on the edge of her bed humming a nameless tune as he heard water running in the bathroom; the sound being muffled by the closed door.

Soarin looked around her room; Wonderbolt posters placed all over her cloud walls alongside some Wonderbolt merchandise such as figurines, used tickets, T-shirts, and hats.

Soarin chuckled. He didn’t think he knew anyone else that was a bigger fan of the Wonderbolts than Rainbow Dash was. She was obsessed with this legendary flight team.

Soarin got up from her bed and started to walk around her room.

For a tomboy, she had a very feminine-looking room aside from the Wonderbolt stuff. She owned clean, white furniture, not a single thing looking out of place. This was probably the side of her that she kept hidden from the public, probably because she was too afraid of looking uncool.

He walked up to a white vanity dresser and saw pictures of Rainbow Dash with five other mares laughing and smiling, looking like they were having a great time together. These must have been her best friends.

Soarin chuckled and smiled a bit while looking through the several pictures that were scattered all over the vanity dresser. He noticed how adorable Rainbow Dash looked when she smiled and laughed–she looked so sweet and innocent.

Bzzzzz…

Soarin’s head shot up along with his his ears when he heard a strange buzzing noise coming from behind. He looked at the mirror in front of himself and his eyes focused on a small, green object in the corner flying towards him…

Chapter 2. We Should Probably Get Going

“Lalalalala…” Rainbow Dash quietly sang as she reached for a bottle of citrus scented shampoo, then squeezed a larger than needed amount of the liquid into the palm of her fore hoof, splattered it on top of her head, and began rubbing it into her prismatic mane, the shampoo started to foam and engulf her hair, and bubbles started floating everywhere–

“AAAAHHHHH!!!” Someone cried out.

“What the–” Rainbow Dash’s words were cut off when she quickly peeked out from behind her shower curtain, her mane covered in white bubbles.

BOOM!

Her bathroom door was flung open by Soarin running in and screaming with his eyes closed, arms flailing, and not looking where he was going.

“AH! SOARIN, WHAT ARE YOU–” Rainbow Dash shouted out then was quickly silenced when Soarin ran into the shower curtain, ripping it out of its hooks as he fell into the tub, and landed right on top of Rainbow Dash…

Rainbow Dash’s rosy eyes quickly grew into the size of saucers; her face was as red as bright cherry tomatoes.

Soarin quickly shook his head then looked straight ahead; his emerald green eyes meeting with Rainbow Dash’s magenta ones.

He then realized what he had just done…

“Oh my gosh! I’m so, so sorry Rainbow Dash!” Soarin’s face matched the red color on Rainbow Dash’s face as he quickly got up from on top of her; his navy blue mane was now soaked from the water spraying out of the shower head.

Rainbow Dash quickly stood up and got the shower curtain to cover herself even though ponies normally didn’t wear anything.

Both ponies were silent for a few seconds, the only sounds came from the steamy water spraying out from the shower head, until Rainbow Dash broke the awkward silence.

“What the hay happened?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Soarin looked at Rainbow Dash. “Oh uhh, something was flying around in your room! It came right towards me! So I ran in here without thinking, and yeah… This happened…” Soarin said while looking down at the floor.

“Huh? What’s in my room?” Rainbow Dash asked with concern.

Bzzzzz…

The flying object came buzzing in through the bathroom door and landed on the counter of the bathroom sink.

“That!” Soarin jumped and pointed a fore hoof at the now descended object on the side of the sink.

Rainbow Dash looked at the object, then started to burst out laughing.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” Rainbow Dash threw her head back, shampoo flung off her hair as she hollered.

Soarin stood there and watched her with a confused expression.

“Hahahaha, whew!” Rainbow Dash calmed down a bit before explaining to him what it was.

“That’s just my pet tortoise, Tank! He probably just wanted to say hello! Bwahahaha!” Rainbow Dash told him before she started laughing again.

Tank stood on the edge of the sink with a sweet smile on his face. He had what seemed to be a propeller strapped around his green shell, and wore flight goggles over his eyes.

Soarin quietly examined the tortoise, and then looked back at Rainbow Dash who turned off the running water before stepping out of the tub and wrapped her pink towel around her rainbow mane.

Rainbow Dash looked up at Soarin and chuckled. “Heh, let’s just pretend that this whole situation never happened alright?” She said as she walked passed him towards the bathroom exit as Tank ascended and followed her out the door.

Soarin stood there in the bathroom for a moment, and then quietly followed Rainbow Dash to her bedroom.

“Tank will watch the house for me when I’m gone, won’t you, Tank?” Rainbow Dash said to the green creature.

Tank made turtle noises as a response.

“Great! I knew I could count on you!” Rainbow Dash said and gently patted him on the head before turning around to face Soarin who was still blushing.

“Hey, it’s alright, accidents happen right?” Rainbow Dash insisted.

Soarin looked at Rainbow Dash. “Heh, yeah, I’m really sorry, it’s just that he startled me.” Soarin said while rubbing a fore hoof on the back of his neck.

Rainbow Dash let out a loud snort.

“Pfffttt, heh, here, you look like you could use one of these.” Rainbow Dash threw an extra towel towards Soarin.

Soarin caught the towel and laughed when he remembered that he was drenched. He sat down and threw the towel over his head and vigorously started to dry his mane.

Rainbow Dash trotted over to her closet door and opened it revealing different kinds of hoodies and T-shirts that hung from hangers.

Rainbow Dash took a simple, plain, black hoodie with two slits on the back for ponies with wings off a hanger and threw it on to the floor before she went back inside her closet and began rummaging for something else. Now normally she didn’t wear clothes unless the weather was cold, but it was the end of fall, winter was about to start in two weeks, so the weather was pretty chilly.

She pulled out a simple, tan saddle bag with her cutie mark on it–a cloud with a lightning bolt coming out of it colored with the three primary colors: Red, yellow, and blue.

Rainbow Dash was very proud of her cutie mark; she earned hers in a race when she performed the first sonic rainboom, which is achieved when a Pegasus breaks the sound barrier and a sonic boom and a rainbow happen at the same time. Rainbow Dash being the only Pegasus that has been able to pull it off multiple times.

Rainbow Dash found her sleeping bag and tied it around her saddle bag. She then took off the towel around her mane, threw it to the side, and shook her mane out with a fore hoof before putting her black, hooded sweatshirt on.

“Darn it!” Rainbow Dash said as she was once again looking around on the inside her closet.

Soarin took off the towel on his head and looked at Rainbow Dash. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“I forgot that my old tent got ruined the last time I went camping and forgot to buy a new one!” Rainbow Dash told him.

Soarin thought for a moment.

“Oh, that’s okay I have a tent, we can share it… If that’s okay with you?” Soarin asked.

Rainbow Dash was quiet for a moment before responding. “Oh, yeah I’m cool with it as long as you are.” She said while she closed her eyes and shrugged.

“Alright cool.” Soarin said.

“Hey, let’s go get some breakfast and some food to pack for our trip.” Rainbow Dash suggested as she put on her saddle bag.

“Oh yeah! I’m starving!” Soarin said with large, hungry-looking eyes.”

“Heh, good cuz I know the best place to get the best tasting snacks.” Rainbow Dash said.

Soarin nodded eagerly and threw on his saddle bag.

The two Pegasi flew downstairs to the front door. Rainbow Dash opened the door and they both walked out onto the ledge of her house, both looking up at blue sky that had a few puffy clouds scattered around it.

“Wanna race?” Soarin asked while smirking at Rainbow Dash as he spread out his wings from underneath his saddle bag.

“Oh hay yeah!” Rainbow Dash quickly spread out her wings and crouched down in starting position.

Soarin’s smirk disappeared when he looked at Rainbow Dash’s left wing which had a huge, indigo scar that started from the tip of her wing that continued to spread down to the base of her wing. The scar looked like a tree without leaves, and it actually looked pretty cool, but that wasn’t important at the moment. He remembered that her wing took most of the damage when she was struck by lightning last week.

“Oh, I mean… If you’re feeling okay, if not we can just normally fly there.” Soarin said quietly with concern.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Rainbow Dash asked and stood up straight, cocking an eyebrow at him.

“It’s just that I forgot that you’re still healing from last week’s incident.” Soarin said as he pointed a fore hoof at her scarred wing.

Rainbow Dash turned her head around to look at her wing.

“Oh that? Psh, that healed quickly a long time ago, I took that week off from work, now let’s race!” Rainbow Dash said as she went back into starting position.

Rainbow Dash loved to race; it was in her blood. The day she denied a race was the day the world ended.

“Hahaha, alright, whatever you say, Dash.” Soarin chuckled as he too, got into starting position..

“First one who reaches the fountain in the middle of town wins!” Soarin stated. “Okay, on the count of three… One… Two… Thr–

“THREE GO!” Rainbow Dash shouted and darted off at the speed of light.

“Hey!” Soarin laughed as he sped off towards her.

Rainbow Dash wore an all-knowing smirk, confident that she would win.

Just when a light, blue blur darted right past her…

Rainbow Dash’s eyes shot open wide before she realized what had just flown past her.

“HEY!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed and began to beat her wings faster.

Soarin looked back at her and smiled while moving his eyebrows up and down giving her a look that said, “You can’t beat me.”

“Grrrr…” Rainbow Dash grumbled. She felt her wings start to become sore and started to slow down.

Soarin saw the fountain in the center of Ponyville and quickly sped up.

WHOOSH

Soarin landed perfectly right in front of the fountain and looked back up into the sky to see where Rainbow Dash was.

CRASH!

Soarin blacked out for a few seconds before opening his eyes.

Right on top of him laid a certain, cyan Pegasus mare.

Both Pegasi looked straight at each other, muzzles only inches apart, mouths slightly agape, both not saying a word, too dazed to think clearly.

“Uhhh I–uhh…” Soarin muttered out.

Rainbow Dash was right on top of Soarin; she looked into his green eyes and froze up when she realized that he was right underneath her.

All around the fountain, ponies stopped and stared at the two young Pegasi.

Soarin shook his head and cleared his throat. “Ohh uhm, hey! I won!” The Pegasus stallion said loudly while forcing a grin.

Rainbow Dash didn’t respond. She laid there looking at Soarin as she felt something welt the inside of her chest, like that weird feeling she had when they hugged last week before saying goodbye. She still couldn't understand why she got this strange feeling.

“Soooo, are we gonna get going soon?” Soarin asked hesitantly, still pinned to the ground by Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash came back to her senses and jumped right off of Soarin and stood up on the ground on all fours looking tensed up.

Rainbow Dash quickly eased out. “Oh, uhhh, hey! No fair, you do remember that I’m injured, right?” Rainbow Dash said while wiggling her left wing with the large scar on it to make her point.

Soarin picked himself up off the ground, dusted himself off with his feathered wings, then looked at Rainbow Dash.

“Hah, I thought you said you healed quickly?” Soarin smirked.

Rainbow Dash puffed out her cheeks into an angry pout.

“You started off too quickly, Dash!” Soarin chuckled.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Whatever, let’s just get going, the place is just right over there.”

Rainbow Dash pointed in the direction where their destination was and both started to walk over. A large building that looked like a larger version of the homes around Ponyville came into view, only that it seemed to have a roof made to look like gingerbread outlined with white frosting instead of the normal roofing material.

Chapter 3. Let's Get Out of Here!

Ding!

A tiny bell sounded when Rainbow Dash opened the front entrance to the building and walked inside with Soarin right behind her; the scent of freshly baked goods filled their nostrils as they sniffed the air.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin both saw what looked to be pink cotton candy with two pink ears perk up from behind a counter.

A very pink mare’s head shot up from behind the counter. She had a curly, hot pink mane that bounced when she looked up, and stared across the room at both Rainbow Dash and Soarin with a pair of huge, crystal blue eyes.

GASP!

The pink pony gasped, then sprang up ten feet into the air, a comical springy noise followed her actions.

“DASHIEEEEE!!!” The pink pony exclaimed in a high pitched voice with a huge grin, aiming herself to land where Rainbow Dash stood.

“OOMPF!” Rainbow Dash was caught off guard when the pink pony tackled her with a hug.

Rainbow Dash knew very well who this pony was; she was one of her best friends, an Earth pony that went by the name of Pinkie Pie.

“Ughh...” Rainbow Dash muttered as she tried to gasp for air and free herself from the powerful hug.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie…” Rainbow Dash said still trying to break through her friend’s tight grasp.

The pink Earth pony rubbed the side of her face on the side of Rainbow Dash’s face; she wore the biggest smile while doing so, both of their faces rubbing together emitted a sound like inflated balloons rubbing against each other.

“PINKIE PIE, I CAN’T BREATHE!” Rainbow Dash shouted in Pinkie Pie’s ear.

“Hugging done!” Pinkie Pie shouted cheerfully, and then let go of Rainbow Dash, leaving her gasping for breath.

When Rainbow Dash finally caught her breath, she looked up at Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie, how’s it going?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“GREAT! HEY WHERE HAVE YAH BEEN, DASHIE? NOPONY'S SEEN YOU IN DAYS!” Pinkie Pie responded by shouting right in Rainbow Dash’s face making her stumble backwards a little.

Pinkie Pie almost always used her outside voice whenever she talked, even indoors.

“Heh, it's a long story.” Rainbow Dash said. "So, you think we can take a seat and order something off the menu?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Pinkie Pie tilted her head to the side to look behind Rainbow Dash and noticed a pale blue Pegasus stallion looking at her with emerald green eyes.

“Oh my gosh! Who’s this, Dashie?!” Pinkie Pie grabbed Rainbow Dash’s cheeks and turned her head around so that they could both look at the stallion.

“Oh, that’s Soarin, from the Wonderbolts, remember?” Rainbow Dash replied whilst still having her cheeks pressed together by Pinkie Pie’s hooves.

Pinkie Pie let go of Rainbow Dash’s face and put a fore hoof up to her chin as she looked up to the ceiling trying to remember the stallion in front of her.

“Hmmmmm, oh! Oh yeah! I do remember him!” Pinkie Pie said resonantly.

“Well okay then.” Rainbow Dash said. “So can we please have two menus, Pinkie?”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully and dashed off to go get two menus for the two Pegasi.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin walked over to a round, wooden table with wooden stools and sat down waiting for Pinkie Pie to return with the menus.

“Here yah go!” Pinkie Pie squawked as she set two colorful menus down right in front of Soarin and Rainbow Dash before running off into another room.

The front faces of the menus had the words, Sugarcube Corner: Bakery and Confectionery, written in white, cursive letters.

“So this is the best place to get the best food?” Soarin asked as he smiled at Rainbow Dash while opening his menu.

“Yep! And well, I also thought it would be a great idea to stock up on food for our camping trip here.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“WHAT?!” A voice cried out.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash both turned their heads to look at where the voice came from and saw Pinkie Pie charging out from another room in the bakery.

Pinkie Pie grabbed a chair and sat down right next to the two Pegasi.

“You two are going camping?!” Pinkie Pie chirped.

“Uhhh… yeah..?” Rainbow Dash said with a raised eyebrow wondering why Pinkie Pie took such a sudden interest in what she had just said.

Pinkie Pie smiled and closed her eyes and started to quickly clap her hooves together.

“That is soooooo soooo sososososo cute!” Pinkie Pie said gleefully as she threw her arms up in the air.

Rainbow Dash’s face turned crimson as she shrank her head back into her shoulders.

“What are you talking about, Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow Dash asked, now annoyed.

“Ohhhhh nothing! So are you two ready to order?!” Pinkie Pie asked with a huge grin.

“I’ll have an apple pie please!” Soarin said cheerfully as he licked his lips.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I guess I’ll have a carrot cake muffin.” She said as she closed her menu.

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie Pie ran into the other room where she came out from before and quickly came back out holding two items in each hoof and set them down on Rainbow Dash’s and Soarin’s table.

“Pokey, pokey!” Pinkie Pie chirped as she poked Rainbow Dash’s cheek with a hoof.

Rainbow Dash glared at Pinkie Pie in annoyance.

Pinkie Pie zoomed backwards and stood behind the store counter leaving the two Pegasi to their meal.

“Heh, you two seem like really good friends.” Soarin said before digging his face into his big apple pie making slurping noises as he ate. He was clearly forgetting his table manners.

Rainbow Dash looked at him; her magenta eyes were shimmering as she muffled a chuckle as she rested her head in both fore hooves on the table.

Little did she know that Pinkie Pie was watching them the entire time.

“Hmmmm…” Pinkie Pie squinted her eyes and leaned forward over the counter to focus better on Rainbow Dash.

Ding!

The three ponies in the shop all looked up towards the front entrance where they heard a small bell ring.

A lavender colored mare with purple hair and eyes came trotting in. This pony had both wings and a single horn coming out from the center of her forehead. This was a unique kind of pony known as an Alicorn. There were only four of them in all of Equestria: Princess Celestia of the sun, Princess Luna of the moon, Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire, and Twilight, the Princess of Friendship. Alicorns were seen as royalty.

Pinkie Pie gasped loudly, “TWIIIIILIGHTTTT!!!”

Pinkie Pie, once again jumped high up into the air and tackled the Alicorn with a hug.

“Oomph!” The purple mare let out a large amount of air from her lungs.

“Hello, Pinkie.” The Alicorn said while struggling slightly.

“Hey, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called out to the Alicorn, waving a fore hoof in the air.

“Oh! Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said as she gently pushed Pinkie Pie off, ending the hug.

Twilight trotted over to where Rainbow Dash was sitting and noticed Soarin.

“Oh! Hello there.” Twilight greeted Soarin.

Soarin gasped, “Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Soarin quickly placed both fore hooves on the table and bowed his head down, sticky apple chunks and crumbs were caked on his face as he did so.

“Hah, please, just call me Twilight, I insist.” Twilight told him kindly.

Soarin pulled his head back up and grinned sheepishly at her, sticky apple pie filling dripped down from his muzzle.

Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin, then chuckled a little, her rosy eyes glistened as she stared at him.

Pinkie Pie looked back at Rainbow Dash, a curious look on her face.

“Hmmm…” Pinkie Pie walked up next to Rainbow Dash then looked at Soarin.

“We’ll be right back!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she proceeded to wrap her arms underneath Rainbow Dash’s armpits.

“P–PINKIE PIE WHAT ARE YOU–WAAA!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed then was startled when she found herself being carried off to somewhere by Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie ran on her two hind legs towards a large, white door with the word Mares written on it in cursive lettering, then flung it open and ran inside while carrying Rainbow Dash.

Both mares entered a very clean-looking restroom.

“PINKIE PIE, LET ME GO!” Rainbow Dash shouted while struggling to escape the pink pony’s grip.

Pinkie Pie set Rainbow Dash down by a row of porcelain sinks with individual mirrors behind each of them.

“Spill the beans, Dashie! You like him don’t you?” Pinkie Pie asked while smirking and moving her eyebrows up and down.

Rainbow Dash stayed quiet, and then realized what Pinkie Pie had just said.

“Wha–no! Of course not! Did you forget who you’re talking to?” Rainbow Dash replied slightly angry and annoyed.

Back outside in the bakery, Soarin and Twilight stood in awkward silence.

Twilight cleared her throat. “Sooo... I guess I should go check up on them.” Twilight said, breaking the awkward silence.

Soarin replied with a nod as Twilight started to walk over to the mares' restroom.

Twilight opened the door and cautiously peeked in.

“Everything okay in here, girls?” Twilight asked, and then closed the door behind her.

“DASHIE HAS A CRUSHIE!” Pinkie Pie cheered while she threw both arms up into the air.

“Shhhh! NO I DON’T!” Rainbow Dash protested.

“Oh, really?” Twilight said. “Is it on that stallion that you were sitting with outside?” Twilight asked.

“No! I don’t like him! I’m Rainbow Dash! I don’t do sappy.” Rainbow Dash stated as she sat down on the cold, white, tiled floor and crossed her fore hooves across her chest, looking away from the two other mares.

“Oh puh–lease, Dashie, I’ve never seen somepony so in love before!” Pinkie Pie said loudly, her voice echoing through the restroom.

“Ugh! I’m not in love with anypony, Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash made a forced gagging noise. “I never have been and I never will be!” Rainbow Dash said and furrowed her brow in annoyance.

Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash with concern. “Hmmm, you should probably leave Rainbow Dash alone, Pinkie.” Twilight said as she turned her head to face Pinkie Pie.

“But I wanna know all about it!” Pinkie Pie shouted and then grabbed Rainbow Dash’s shoulders with both fore hooves.

“About what?! There’s nothing to talk about!” Rainbow Dash said. She was getting really mad now.

“Yes there is!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“Ugh!” Rainbow Dash grunted and rolled her eyes, she took Pinkie Pie’s hooves off her shoulders and flew into a toilet stall and locked it.

“Go away! This might take a while.” Rainbow Dash said behind the closed stall pretending to be using the restroom in attempt to avoid any more outbursts from Pinkie Pie.

“But Dashie!” Pinkie Pie whined loudly.

Rainbow Dash blew a raspberry.

“Oh, oh yeah, definitely going to take a while, you two should go outside!” Rainbow Dash told them loudly.

“Come on, Pinkie Pie, let’s go back outside.” Twilight said to Pinkie Pie.

Twilight trotted out of the bathroom and Pinkie Pie bounced after her.

Rainbow Dash stood in the bathroom stall for a couple of moments.

Gurgle gurgle

A bubbling noise came from behind Rainbow Dash, she turned around and looked down at the toilet.

“JUST ADMIT IT, RAINBOW DASH!” Pinkie Pie, now wearing a diving mask and a snorkel yelled as her head popped out from the toilet, splashing toilet water all over the floor.

“AAAAAHHHH!!!” Rainbow Dash shrieked and flew out of the stall and burst out through the restroom door returning back out into the bakery.

“Alright! We’re leaving now!” Rainbow Dash said loudly as she grabbed her carrot cake muffin that she had not yet eaten and threw a couple of bits on the table to pay for it as she flew out of the front entrance.

Soarin gave a quizzical look as he watched Rainbow Dash fly out the door.

“Heh, what was that all about?” Soarin chuckled and took a napkin off the table and wiped his mouth clean, then grabbed his unfinished pie and flew off after her.

Pinkie Pie ran to the front entrance and opened it, still wearing her snorkel mask, and was dripping water all over the floor.

“HAVE FUN!!!” Pinkie Pie called out in an ear-shattering voice to the two Pegasi that were leaving the shop, waving to them goodbye.

Soarin looked behind himself and waved back while smiling.

Twilight trotted up to Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie Pie, what in Equestria did you do?!” Twilight asked with concern.

“Oh nothing… Yet!” Pinkie Pie said in a singsong voice as a maleficent grin started to form on her face…

Chapter 4. A Sight for "Soar" Eyes

Rainbow Dash and Soarin flew through the cool, refreshing morning air.

“So, where exactly are we going?” Rainbow Dash asked the stallion that flew beside her.

“This amazing campground near a gigantic lake!” Soarin replied excitedly. “Here, I’ll lead, follow me!” Soarin said as he went out in front of Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash smiled and nodded as both Pegasi banked right.

An hour had passed by as both Pegasi soared through the cloudy sky, both clearly enjoying themselves.

Soarin glanced over at Rainbow Dash. She closed her eyes and took a deep sniff of the fresh air with a contented smile on her face as her colorful mane flowed through the air.

Soarin felt a slight smile creep up on his face as he watched her. He had never seen somepony so in love with flight before, not even himself. He too loved flying just as much, so don’t get him wrong, but Rainbow Dash was the most passionate flier he had ever met. Other Pegasi saw their wings simply as something that they were born with, but Rainbow Dash saw her wings as a gift. She cherished them in every possible way. Other Pegasi only flew when it was convenient for them, but when Rainbow Dash flew, a strong passion burned inside of her as she enjoyed every single second of her time in the air without missing a single wingbeat.

He knew that she would make a great Wonderbolt some day.

“Hey, is that it over there?” Rainbow Dash pointed a fore hoof out in front of her.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash flew over luscious, dark green pine trees when a large, wide, crystal clear blue lake came into view behind a couple of thin clouds.

“Yep!” Soarin said with a happy smile.

Both Pegasi stopped flapping and proceeded to glide down to a clear, open spot on the ground.

When both Pegasi landed on the ground, they looked out into the blue lake, and both took the time to admire the scenery that was around them.

Soarin closed his eyes and breathed in loudly through flared nostrils, taking in the scent of pine trees and dirt.

“Ahhh, I love it out here.” Soarin sighed loudly with a contented smile while looking out into the ginormous lake.

Rainbow Dash turned her back towards the giant lake to look at the pine trees behind her.

“Hey, that looks like a good spot to set up camp.” Rainbow Dash said while pointing a hoof towards her desired location.

Soarin looked over to where she was pointing.

“It’s perfect.” Soarin said with a smile as both Pegasi trotted over to a flat area covered in hard dirt and set their saddle bags and camping gear down on the ground; Soarin's bag made a clashing sound like pots and pans hitting against each other when he threw it onto the floor.

"Gee, Soarin, did you forget to pack?" Rainbow Dash joked sarcastically while pointing at his overstuffed bag.

"Haha, you can never be too prepared when you go camping!" Soarin replied laughing.

Soarin took off his dark blue sleeping bag and pillow from his saddle bag and flattened it onto the cold ground. He then proceeded to take out his clover green tent from its drawstring bag of the same color and started to set it up.

Rainbow Dash unstrapped her sleeping bag from her saddle bag and unraveled it and set it down onto the floor; it was purplish pink with swirly magenta colored designs on it, accompanied by a light pink pillow with purple hearts.

Soarin turned his head back and glanced at Rainbow Dash and her sleeping bag.

“Pfft, hey Dash, tough-looking sleeping bag yah got there!” Soarin snickered. He began to think that Rainbow Dash wasn't actually a true tomboy, but more of a mare who just likes to be aggressive, play sports, and doesn't mind getting a little dirt on her coat while still liking somewhat girlish things in between.

Rainbow Dash blushed briefly.

“Hey! Shut up!” Rainbow Dash laughed a little.

Soarin chuckled then returned back to setting up the tent.

"Hey Dash, can you go out and look for some sticks and rocks so I can start a fire?" Soarin asked while setting up his tent. "It's still pretty chilly out here." Soarin said.

"Sure." Rainbow Dash said then flew off into the forest.

"Thanks." Soarin thanked her while still setting up the tent, looking at her until she disappeared into the foliage.

Chapter 5. Loco in the Cocoa

Rainbow Dash landed on a dirt trail that curved through the pine forest and quickly began to collect sticks and rocks big enough to make a fire.

Rustle rustle

Rainbow Dash stopped collecting twigs and perked her ears up when she heard something coming from behind a berry bush. She cautiously tiptoed towards the bush to see what was making the noise, spreading the center of the bush apart with her fore hooves–

“HIYA, DASHIE!” A very loud, bubbly voice shouted, catching Rainbow Dash off guard.

“WAAAAAHHH!!!” Rainbow Dash cried out, while falling onto her back, her campfire materials launched out of her hooves and flew through the air.

Rainbow Dash looked back over to the bush, and her magenta eyes grew wide.

“PINKIE PIE?!” Rainbow Dash panted angrily.

“Yessiree!!!” Pinkie Pie chirped as she walked out from behind the berry bush and stood near the blue Pegasus sprawled out on her back. She was wearing a camouflage jacket along with a matching military patrol cap, but instead of being the usual brown, green, and tan colors that camouflage consisted of, both were different shades of pink.

Rainbow Dash caught her breath and stood up and proceeded to dust off her hoodie with her wings, then looked up at Pinkie Pie.

“Why are you here?!” Rainbow Dash whisper shouted.

“To help you get with your loverboy! Hee hee, silly filly!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow. “He is not my loverboy! I don’t even like him like that!” Rainbow Dash said annoyed. “Ugh, how did you even get here?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I followed you two!” Pinkie Pie replied happily.

How Pinkie Pie was able to keep up with two flying Pegasi on foot was unknown to Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie looked at Rainbow Dash with a smirk. “Hah, if you don’t like him, then why were you making goo goo eyes at him back at the shop? Hmmmm…?” Pinkie Pie questioned as she leaned sideways towards Rainbow Dash, smirking as she raised her eyebrows up and down looking Rainbow Dash in the eyes.

“Ugh, no I wasn’t!” Rainbow Dash said loudly as she started to pick up the fallen twigs and rocks spread across the dirt ground with her wings.

Rainbow Dash started walking back towards where her and Soarin set up camp.

Rainbow Dash turned her head around. “I’m going back now, and please Pinkie Pie, just go home.” Rainbow Dash said to Pinkie Pie, while trying her best not to sound too rude as she began to trot out of the forest along the path.

Rainbow Dash saw that Soarin was done setting up the tent, then spilled her collected materials down in front of it.

Soarin looked at the pile of rocks and twigs.

“Great! These should do for now, I decided to make us some hot cocoa.” Soarin told her.

Rainbow Dash smiled meekly at him. “Sounds good.” She said as she sat down on her sleeping bag.

Soarin placed the rocks that Rainbow Dash had gathered into a circle, and then placed the twigs in the center. He then went to the tent and stuck his head inside the flap and took out a box of matches with his teeth, took a match out, struck it against one of the rocks that made up the campfire, and as the match lit up, Soarin threw it into the pit. Soon the twigs burned and crackled as the flames spread around the inside of the campfire.

“Hey Rainbow Dash, you can put your stuff inside the tent now.” Soarin told her.

“Alright.” Rainbow Dash responded as she got up from her spot and put on her saddle bag and rolled up her sleeping bag and flew towards the tent then went inside.

Rainbow Dash looked around the inside of the tent; it wasn't very big, but there was enough room for two ponies. She noticed that Soarin had already put his stuff inside. His sleeping bag and saddle bag sat near the left side of the tent. She then too placed her sleeping bag down on the floor on the right side of the tent and took off her saddle bag and placed it right on top.

She exited through the tent’s flap and saw that Soarin had set up two black foldable chairs by the campfire and set a small steel grate over the fire making it look like a grill with a stainless steel pot sitting right on top of it as creamy, brown liquid boiled inside.

Rainbow Dash trotted over to one of the black chairs and sat down as she put her fore hooves in her hoodie's front pocket.

“Someone came overly prepared.” Rainbow Dash smirked at Soarin. “I could’ve just bucked some tree trunks down to use as chairs!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed while puffing out her chest and placing a fore hoof on it.

“Heh, but these are more comfortable, don’t you agree?” Soarin said while smiling at her.

“Heheh yeah, I do have to agree with you on that.” Rainbow Dash replied while sinking back in her seat a little attempting to get more comfortable.

Soarin had two white ceramic mugs out on the floor and picked one up and poured the hot chocolate from the pot and handed it over to Rainbow Dash.

“Here yah go!” Soarin said cheerfully.

“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash thanked him softly.

Soarin smiled and nodded and went back to pour the remaining contents inside of the pot into another mug for himself.

“Hey Dash, I’ll be right back, I’m going to go over to the lake to wash the pot and get us some water so I can boil it.” Soarin said as he flew over to the lake nearby while holding the pot in his fore hooves.

“Alright.” Rainbow Dash responded as she was about to take a sip of her hot chocolate.

“Just do it, Dashie.” A quiet high-pitched voice that sounded very serious and very close by said.

Rainbow Dash threw her head back away from the cup.

“Huh? Who’s there?!” Rainbow Dash said, slightly starting to panic as she frantically moved her head from side to side.

“Psssst down here!” The same voice whispered.

Rainbow Dash looked down and peeked inside of her cup of hot chocolate and noticed a round, pink face with a pair of big, blue eyes and a smile molded around the inside of the cup, staring right at her.

“WAAA! WHAT THE–PINKIE PIE?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she almost tipped back in her chair.

“Hee hee! Yep! Now go, Rainbow Dash! Make a move!” Pinkie Pie giggled while she was still inside of the mug making it shake a little as Rainbow Dash held onto it.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and shouted, “Ugh! FOR THE LAST TIME, PINKIE PIE I DON'T–”

“Hey Dash, everything alright?” Soarin asked.

Rainbow Dash quickly spun her head around and noticed that Soarin had come back from fetching water.

“Oh, I uh…” Rainbow Dash mumbled as she turned her head back around to look at the inside of her cup again and noticed that Pinkie Pie was gone and the steamy hot chocolate had returned.

She turned around to look at him again.

“Oh! Haha, nothing!” She then placed the brim of the cup on her lips and began to nonchalantly sip her drink, but held the liquid in her mouth.

“Uhm, alright, cuz it sounded like you were shouting.” Soarin said as he trotted over to the campfire to place the pot of water on it to boil.

Rainbow Dash turned her head around and spat out the hot chocolate onto the ground from fear of Pinkie Pie still being in there when Soarin wasn’t looking.

After Soarin was done putting the pot back on the steel grate he turned around to look at Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, Dash, yah know what I thought would be a great idea?” Soarin said, a happy grin forming on his face.

“What?” Rainbow Dash asked as she cocked an eyebrow.

Soarin zoomed inside of the tent, then came back out holding a brown ukulele in a fore hoof.

“CAMPFIRE SONGS!” Soarin shouted cheerfully as he held up the ukulele over his head.

Rainbow Dash looked at the ukulele, then up at Soarin. She chuckled a little.

“Alright, alright, what are gonna sing?” Rainbow Dash sighed then smiled at him a little.

“This one’s called, The Calmest Campfire Song Ever.” Soarin replied as he went to go sit down on the black chair alongside Rainbow Dash, propping the ukulele up in playing position.

“Oh hey, I know that one.” Rainbow Dash said as she sat up straight, preparing to sing along with him.

Both Pegasi cleared their throats and Soarin began strumming the ukulele. Both started to sing.

“We all have those long work days where all we want to do is dive onto our beds and fall into a deep, everlasting sleep…”

As they were both singing, Rainbow Dash looked over at Soarin and noticed him violently strumming the ukulele strings while bobbing his head up and down. He obviously had no experience in playing the ukulele before.

“Until reality kicks in and we have to take care of bills, chores, family, food, and for many of us, even more work!”

For a pony with a normally raspy voice, Rainbow Dash had a very beautiful singing voice.

“By the time everyone else is asleep, we’ve just finished what is known as ‘yet another day in the life’, but we’re still restless.”

Soarin, on the other hoof, did not.

“We get into bed, but can’t stop thinking about the millions of things that we haven’t finished yet, so we stay awake.”

Rainbow Dash tried to harmonize with Soarin, but his singing was just so horrid, that it reminded her of a foghorn.

“That’s where calming music, sounds, and songs to sleep to, come to our rescue and help us relax in a healthy waaaaaay.”

The song was coming to an end, and both Soarin and Rainbow Dash prepared for the smooth, calming line at the end of the song…

“Ooooooooooo…” Rainbow Dash sang in the most blissfully sweet-sounding voice.

“ARRRROOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Soarin sang loudly sounding like a dying wolf as he stopped strumming the poor ukulele strings. Rainbow Dash swore she heard one of them snap.

“Whoo! I love that song!” Soarin shouted. The song seemed to have invigorated him since he had a huge grin upon his face.

Rainbow Dash looked at him and smiled. Even though she didn’t find The Calmest Campfire Song Ever, very calming to say the least, because of Soarin’s howling and poor ukulele playing skills, she was glad that they both sang it together. It was a song from her foalhood that brought back a lot of good memories.

Chapter 6. Meeting for the First Time

A few hours had passed by after singing their duet, and Rainbow Dash was getting pretty sleepy.

“Hmmm, it’s starting to get pretty warm out here.” Soarin stated as he looked out towards the lake and saw that the sun was reflecting against the water.

Soarin was right; it was oddly warm for a fall day.

“Let’s go for a swim!” Soarin shouted as he jumped out of his chair and flew towards the clean, blue lake.

Rainbow Dash got up and followed him. She didn’t feel like going for a swim, so she just decided to watch him.

“GERONIMOOO!!!” Soarin yelled as he plummeted straight down into the icy cold water. It wasn’t as warm as he thought it would be.

Soarin’s head sprang out of the water. “AAAHHH!!! COLD, COLD, SO COLD!” Soarin yelled through gritted teeth, his now wet, navy blue mane covered his eyes.

Rainbow Dash giggled at the funny-looking stallion.

“Hehe, bwahaha! You should see the look on your face!” Rainbow Dash cracked up while pointing at Soarin.

“H-h-h-helppp m-meee!” Soarin stuttered as he shivered, his teeth clattering.

Rainbow Dash stopped laughing and looked up at him. She noticed that his muscles looked like they were starting to freeze up and he slowly started to sink down from not being able to keep himself afloat.

“Hold on, Soarin!” Rainbow Dash zoomed across the lake and saw the tip of Soarin’s muzzle sticking out of the water as he took in one large breath before he became completely submerged under the frigid lake.

Rainbow Dash dove down into the cold lake, feeling like someone just threw ice at her, and quickly shot back out of the water carrying a dazed and frozen stallion in her fore hooves over her shoulder.

“T-t-t-thank y-y-youuu…” Soarin thanked her as he shivered tremendously.

Rainbow Dash was pretty strong for such a little pony as she carried him back to the campfire with ease.

She sat him down in one of the foldable chairs. She too, was now drenched and cold. She tried hard not to shiver.

“M-m-m-my b-b-blankettt.” Soarin pointed a fore hoof towards the tent as he shivered.

Rainbow Dash knew what he wanted and darted to the tent to get his blanket.

She found his burgundy fleece blanket and noticed the box of matches on his sleeping bag and grabbed those too.

She flew back outside and saw the poor stallion rubbing his arms trying to warm himself up as he breathed loudly through clattering teeth.

Rainbow Dash threw the blanket over him and flew over to the nearby forest and grabbed as many twigs as she could to feed the fire that was starting to die out.

She rushed back and pushed off the steel grate and pot of water that sat on top of the campfire and threw the twigs in the pit, grabbed a match with her teeth, struck it against a rock, and relighted the fire.

A few long moments went by, the only sounds coming from Soarin’s chattering teeth.

“Wooo, okay I can feel my face again.” Soarin sighed in relief.

Rainbow Dash was staring at him the entire time.

“Hah, I guess the lake didn’t warm up enough.” Rainbow Dash said trying to keep conversation light.

“Heh, yeah, I guess I wasn’t thinking.” Soarin sighed while looking down at the campfire.

Rainbow Dash muffled a chuckle.

“Brrr.” Rainbow Dash shivered. She was so distracted by looking at Soarin this whole time that she forgot that she was still wearing her hoodie that was now soaking wet from saving him.

“You’re cold too? Hah, well I guess you probably should be. Why not try taking off that sweater?” Soarin chuckled.

Rainbow Dash wanted to smack herself right then and there. She was afraid that she looked stupid for not thinking about taking it off earlier, and she hoped that he didn’t notice her staring at him before.

“Oh, yeah… Haha, silly me!” Rainbow Dash joked quietly and proceeded to take off her damp hoodie. It stuck to her and was kind of hard to take off, but she managed and threw it over the backrest of the chair that she was sitting on to let it dry.

She was now bare and even colder than before, and started shivering.

Soarin noticed this and felt guilty.

“Gee Dash, I’m sorry that I had to put you through that.” He apologized remorsefully.

“Nah, it’s c-c-cool.” Rainbow Dash shuddered.

Soarin looked at her before getting up and went inside of the tent to grab something. Rainbow Dash looked over and heard something being unzipped from the inside. When Soarin came back outside, he was holding something in his mouth as he headed back over to where Rainbow Dash was sitting.

“Here.” Soarin said as he wrapped a navy blue scarf with blue and yellow tassels and a yellow winged lightning bolt imprinted on the bottom front over Rainbow Dash’s neck.

It was an official Wonderbolts themed scarf. She always wanted one of those.

Rainbow Dash looked down at the scarf that was placed around her neck. She saw that below the winged lightning bolt Soarin’s name was stitched in yellow, cursive letters; it also smelt faintly of cologne.

“I know it isn’t much, but it’s all that I have right now.” Soarin said. “Unless you want the wet blanket.” He joked and gave her a warm smile.

Rainbow Dash was actually surprised that he didn't pack warm clothes considering all of the other things that he packed that she thought was unnecessary, but she decided not to point that out.

Rainbow Dash looked up at him, then slightly turned her head away as she blushed a little.

“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash thanked him as she meekly smiled at him.

Soarin was feeling much better now that he had dried off and warmed up from the sunlight and campfire.

Rainbow Dash felt slightly better as well, but she was still cold. She kept looking down at the scarf and smiling.

Soarin looked at her, then up towards the sky. He noticed a couple of low floating clouds above the lake.

“Hey Dash, I think it’ll be a good idea to fly up there since we’ll be closer to the sun, it’ll warm you up faster.” Soarin told her and pointed up at a cloud.

Rainbow Dash looked up at the cloud that Soarin was talking about.

“Alright.” She said as both Pegasi flew up towards the cloud and landed on top of the soft object, both looking at the sun that was close to setting; it made the sky a pinkish, orangey color that reflected off of the water making the whole place look stunning.

Rainbow Dash looked at the scene in awe, the sunlight shimmering in her eyes. She was happy to be here, even if she was freezing cold and damp, and Pinkie Pie's wacky antics kind of messed with her mood, but she was glad that Soarin out of all ponies was with her, and realized that he and she never really hung out together by themselves before; sure she used to talk to him back at the academy, but with others around. She noticed that she developed a weird, warm feeling whenever he was around her; it was something that she never used to feel back at the academy. She was really starting to bond with him and was truly getting to know him. She realized how sweet and caring he was, which was something that no other stallion was to her. She felt like she was genuinely meeting him for the first time.

Chapter 7. Dinner and a Show

The sun had set, and Princess Luna’s bright, beautiful moon was out, and the tall pine trees silhouetted against the dark purplish sky. It looked absolutely gorgeous from the cloud where the two Pegasi were perched.

Soarin was sitting up while looking out at the moon and lake with a contented smile the entire time as the moonlight reflected off of his emerald green eyes. It was nice for him to get away from the pressure of being a Wonderbolt, even if it was only for a little while. Sure he loved his job and all, but he loved being able to feel like a normal pony again. He felt free.

Soarin sighed happily, and then looked down to the left; he saw that Rainbow Dash was asleep and quietly snoring.

He saw how the moonlight danced on her blue coat and reflected off every color of her mane. He had never seen such a unique-looking mare before.

A sweet, loving smile grew slowly on his face.

“She’s beautiful.” Soarin whispered.

Rainbow Dash’s ears twitched and her eyelids slowly started to open.

“Huh? Where am I?” Rainbow Dash mumbled and was drowsy from just waking up.

Soarin snapped out of his daydream.

“Oh, uh hey! Look who’s finally awake!” Soarin laughed.

Rainbow Dash sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“Oh hey, Soarin.” Rainbow Dash yawned.

Can it be? No– I can’t. Soarin said to himself.

“Hey! Look!” Rainbow Dash said and pointed a fore hoof out in front of her.

Thousands– no, millions of fireflies started floating out in the distance, slowly spreading around the cloud where Soarin and Rainbow Dash were sitting on, making it look like a mini floating lantern show.

“Wow.” Soarin said in an awed whisper, becoming mesmerized by the amazing scene that stood before him.

“Heh, cool.” Rainbow Dash said coolly.

Soarin glanced over at Rainbow Dash and smiled. He felt something tug on his heartstrings.

“Hey Soarin, had a great time singing with you earlier.” Rainbow Dash said. “Where’d you take your ukulele lessons?” Rainbow Dash smirked.

Soarin turned his head towards her. “Haha, I know I’m not the greatest ukulele player– Soarin was cut off when Rainbow Dash gave him a look that said, “Really?” Soarin sighed, “Hah, okay okay, I know I’m terrible, but I love playing with that thing.” Soarin laughed.

Both smiled at each other and were quiet for a moment.

“So, how do you know that song we sang? Not very many ponies have heard it before.” Soarin asked her as he went back to looking at the fireflies floating all around them.

Rainbow Dash stayed quiet for a few seconds before responding.

“Well, when I was a filly, my parents and I also went on a camping trip.” Rainbow Dash said. “It was terrible because at night, it started to rain and thunder, both of my parents didn't know that a storm was scheduled and I, believe it or not, was actually kind of scared; but only a little bit.” Rainbow Dash smirked. “So, we all ran inside of the tent and that’s when I sat in my mom’s lap as she held me in her arms and sang that song to calm me down.” Rainbow Dash looked up at the moon when she was done talking.

Soarin smiled at her. “Your mom sounds wonderful.” He told her softly.

Rainbow Dash looked up and him and smiled. “Thanks. She really was.” She whispered.

“Was? What do you– oh…” Soarin’s ears flattened against his head after he figured out what she meant.

“I’m so sorry.” He told her quietly.

Rainbow Dash looked at him. “It’s alright, it was a long time ago and I lived happily with just me and my dad.” She smiled at him.

Soarin looked at her. Her magenta eyes looked stunning in the moonlight. His mouth was slowly forming a smile, and was unconsciously moving his head forward, just when a firefly landed right on top of Rainbow Dash’s nose.

Rainbow Dash crossed her eyes to focus on the insect that chose to land on her, her mouth in an ‘O’ shape.

“Heheh.” Soarin chuckled and thought she looked adorable.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said as she tried to gently shoo the bug away with a fore hoof.

The firefly ascended back into the air and quickly circled around both Rainbow Dash and Soarin before flying off to join its friends.

Grumble grumble

Both Soarin and Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin’s stomach where the gurgling noises came from.

“Hey, I guess I’m getting kind of hungry.” Soarin rubbed a hoof on the back of his neck as he laughed.

Rainbow Dash remembered that she still had her muffin from Sugarcube Corner in her saddle bag.

“I’ll be right back!” Rainbow Dash said as she got off from the cloud and darted down towards the tent, went inside, and came back out holding her carrot cake muffin in her hooves as she flew back up to the cloud where Soarin was waiting.

“Here, we can split it.” Rainbow Dash said as she too felt herself getting a little peckish. She didn’t have time to order anymore snacks before they left the bakery since she was scared off by Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash divided the muffin in half; crumbs came off and fell through the cloud as she handed half of it over to Soarin.

Soarin took the muffin half and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth.

“Thanks!” He said with a mouthful of muffin, pieces of it flew out of his mouth as he spoke.

“No prob.” Rainbow Dash said as she looked at him with glistening eyes and a tiny smile.

Rainbow Dash bit into her muffin and sat back while propping herself up with a fore hoof behind her as she ate.

Rainbow Dash looked over at Soarin and saw that he was fidgeting for whatever unknown reason

“Hey Dash, I’ll be right back. Nature calls! Haha.” Soarin laughed as he zoomed off of the cloud and into the forest behind her to take care of his personal business.

Rainbow Dash shook her head and rolled her eyes while smiling.

Rainbow Dash took the last bite of her muffin and felt something cold touch her shoulder that made her flinch in surprise and slightly choke on her last bite of muffin.

Rainbow Dash coughed and spat out her chewed muffin and quickly looked behind her and found Pinkie Pie holding onto her shoulder while being carried by several different colored balloons tied around her with strings.

“Pinkie Pie?!” Rainbow Dash said loudly while glaring at her pink friend. “What are you still doing here?!” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Hah! You really thought that I would just leave when there was still work that needed to be done?!” Pinkie Pie said in her high-pitched voice.

“Ugh!” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes in annoyance. She loved Pinkie Pie, she really did, but right now she just really wanted to be left alone.

“I saw you earlier when you jumped into the lake to save him!” Pinkie Pie said. “You were holding him pretty tightly against you! Heehee!” Pinkie Pie snorted.

Rainbow Dash glared at Pinkie Pie. She was clearly unhappy with the fact that Pinkie Pie had been spying on them the entire time.

“Well, duh! I had to so he wouldn’t slip and fall because he was shaking so much!” Rainbow Dash said, slightly raising her voice at Pinkie Pie.

“Yeah, but it looked more like you were hugging him to me! You were blushing the entire time!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

“That’s just because I was cold! The water was freezing!” Rainbow Dash defended.

“And he gave you his scarf! I think he likes you too!” Pinkie Pie cheered as she pointed at the scarf wrapped around Rainbow Dash's neck.

Rainbow Dash blushed heavily and looked away.

“He didn’t give it to me! He let me borrow it because my sweater got drenched!” Rainbow Dash said loudly.

“Whatever you say, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie said as she let go of Rainbow Dash’s shoulder and quickly floated up into the night sky.

Rainbow Dash watched Pinkie Pie as she floated up.

“Hey Dash, I’m back!” Soarin said as he landed on the cloud and sat back down with Rainbow Dash.

“Hey.” Rainbow Dash said quietly.

“It’s getting pretty late.” Soarin yawned. “You wanna go hit the hay early?” Soarin asked.

“Sure.” Rainbow Dash replied as both Pegasi flew off the cloud and went inside their tent.

Soarin lifted the cover of his sleeping bag and gently shuffled inside of it, trying to get comfortable.

Rainbow Dash did the same and rested her head on her pillow.

"Goodnight." Soarin yawned loudly, and in a few minutes he was out like a light and began to snore softly.

Chapter 8. Deadwood

As Soarin slept like a log, Rainbow Dash was still wide awake lying down in her sleeping bag with her arms behind her head staring off into the darkness.

“Pssst, Dashie!” A hushed voice said.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes shot open wide as she shot her head up from her pillow to see who called out for her.

Rainbow Dash felt something touch her arm from the inside of her sleeping bag.

“WAH– Rainbow Dash exclaimed then was silenced by a hoof covering her mouth.

“Shhh! You don’t want to wake him up now do you?” The same voice said.

Rainbow Dash moved her eyes down with the hoof still on her mouth.

Inside of her sleeping bag right beside her was Pinkie Pie who was smiling while looking at her with her big, blue eyes. Pinkie Pie took her hoof off of Rainbow Dash’s mouth.

“Pinkie Pie?!” Rainbow Dash whisper shouted.

“Heehee! Come on, Dashie let’s go!” Pinkie Pie said as she sprang up from underneath Rainbow Dash’s sleeping bag and unzipped the tent flap and walked outside.

“Go where?!” Rainbow Dash quietly asked as she cocked an eyebrow.

Pinkie Pie popped her head back into the tent. Rainbow Dash could now see Pinkie Pie more clearly and noticed that she was wearing a blue and white striped sleeping cap with matching pajamas.

“It’s a secret!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully.

Rainbow Dash looked over at Soarin who was still out cold.

Rainbow Dash looked back at Pinkie Pie and sighed. “Fine, I guess I have nothing better to do since I can’t fall asleep.” She said as she got out from underneath her sleeping bag and trotted out through the exit.

The two mares were walking along a dirt trail for a while, the sound of rushing water filled Rainbow Dash’s ears.

“Where are we?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Wait and see!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully as she darted out in front and grabbed a bush that was underneath a bunch of bushy trees and spread it apart with her fore hooves as she waited for Rainbow Dash to catch up.

Rainbow Dash quickly caught up with Pinkie Pie and looked through the bush; her eyes widened in amazement.

A large waterfall that seemed to be emitting a warm, rainbow glow splashed into the lake below. The darkness of the night really brought out the colors.

“Whoa.” Rainbow Dash whispered in amazement.

“I knew you would like it! I found it when I floated away earlier! I just had to come and show you because it reminded me of you!” Pinkie Pie said quickly in her high-pitched voice.

Rainbow Dash looked over at Pinkie Pie and gave her a warm smile. “Thanks, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash thanked her, she was grateful that Pinkie Pie brought her out here.

“Nooo problem!” Pinkie Pie said in a singsong voice.

Both mares looked out into the falls again, just when a single firefly flew over their heads.

“Ooooo! Pretty shiny flying thingy!” Pinkie Pie said and turned around and hopped after the insect, her hops making a springy sound every time she jumped up.

“Wait! Pinkie Pie, hold up!” Rainbow Dash called out and flew after Pinkie Pie.

“Heehee!” Pinkie Pie giggled, having a great time chasing after the bug.

Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie Pie and shook her head as she laughed. “Oh Pinkie Pie, you are so random!” Rainbow Dash laughed as she followed behind the bouncing pink mare.

Both were having a great time chasing after the bug, filling the quiet nighttime with girly giggles.

“I’m gonna catch it first!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Oh nuh-uh! I am! Heehee!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Oh, yeah? Watch thi–

“AAAAAAAHHHHH HELPPP, HEELLLPPP!!!” A shrill voice cried out.

Rainbow Dash’s ears shot up at the ear-piercing scream.

“Soarin?!” Rainbow Dash said and quickly dashed off back to the tent which was surprisingly close by after chasing the firefly.

When Rainbow Dash saw the tent come into view, she noticed that Soarin was being dragged out of the tent from his back left hoof by a quadruped creature with glowing green eyes. Rainbow Dash knew what this creature was– it was a timberwolf. An animal that looked like a wolf, but instead of flesh and fur, it was completely comprised in wood.

Rainbow Dash had a horrified expression on her face, but took no time to think as she darted towards the creature with her left back leg in a kicking position aiming for its head.

BOOM!

The timberwolf’s head was completely obliterated by Rainbow Dash’s overpowering kick; its wooden head shattered all over the ground as its body collapsed to the floor.

Rainbow Dash turned her head to face Soarin who was sprawled out on his stomach, wincing in pain.

“Soarin!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she flew over to him.

“Ughhh, my leg…” Soarin mumbled.

Rainbow Dash looked down at his back leg; it had a large bite mark deeply penetrated on it from the timberwolf.

Rainbow Dash panicked, but quickly got the pot by the campfire and flew towards the lake to fetch some water to put inside.

When Rainbow Dash returned to Soarin, she landed by his leg and gently poured the water she grabbed on the injured area.

“Ow, ow, ow.” Soarin whimpered.

“Sorry.” Rainbow Dash quietly apologized as her eyes filled with remorse.

“My first aid kit…” Soarin said quietly as he weakly pointed a hoof towards the tent.

Rainbow Dash ran inside the tent and found the first aid kit in his saddle bag and quickly ran out with it in her teeth. She opened it, and found rolled up gauze. She quickly unraveled it and wrapped Soarin’s injured leg for what seemed like hours.

Chapter 10. Truth be Told

Rainbow Dash flew through the chilly air with a grief-stricken look on her face as she hung her head low. Flying would usually get her mind off of things, but right now all she could think about was what had happened between her and Soarin.

She looked up, and saw Ponyville’s fountain in the middle of town come into view as she slowly started to descend towards it. She wanted to sit out here for a while since it was empty and she really didn’t feel like going home at the moment.

She landed nearby the fountain and took her saddle bag off and leaned it against the side of the fountain, then walked up and sat on the edge looking at her reflection in the water as Ponyville's streetlights flickered all around her, the sound of the soothing, running fountain water filled the silent darkness.

Twilight was taking one of her evening walks at this hour, a contented smile on her face, the cold air hitting against her felt great.

She then saw something from the corner of her eye near the town’s fountain.

“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight whispered to herself and trotted over to see if her eyes saw what she thought they saw.

Twilight walked up behind a very quiet and sad looking Pegasus mare.

“Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash turned her head around and looked at Twilight with disconsolate eyes. Her usually bright, colorful mane seemed dull and not as vibrant due to her current expression.

Twilight was shocked to see her friend looking so upset.

“What happened to your camping trip? Pinkie Pie told me all about it after you left.” Twilight asked with concern.

“He’s a big jerk.” Rainbow Dash’s voice quivered as she still looked at her reflection in the water.

“Huh? Who?” Twilight asked and raised an eyebrow.

“Soarin.” Rainbow Dash replied flatly.

Twilight sat down on the fountain edge with Rainbow Dash.

“That stallion from the Wonderbolts that you went camping with?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded.

“Mind telling me what happened?” Twilight asked her sad friend.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Rainbow Dash said quietly. “I’m still mad at him.”

Twilight noticed that Rainbow Dash looked more depressed than mad; she was a very smart mare and could read pony’s expressions just as well as well as she could read books.

“I can’t help but get the feeling that you’re not actually angry at him.” Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash sniffed. She looked like she was about to cry, but held her tears back because she didn’t want Twilight to see her cry.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “You’re right... I’m not... I guess I’m just really upset at him for what he did because I–” Rainbow Dash paused; the words she wanted to say got caught in her throat. She wasn’t used to expressing her feelings to others.

Twilight leaned her head to the side to get a better look at Rainbow Dash’s face.

“Because…. You…” Twilight hesitated. “Like him... Don't you?” Twilight asked, finishing Rainbow Dash’s sentence for her.

Rainbow Dash looked down at her reflection in the water, shut her eyes tightly, and slowly nodded as a response.

Twilight’s heart grew heavy from seeing her friend in the condition that she was in. She knew Rainbow Dash as the tough, strong, brash mare that would never let anything get to her. She’s never seen her this way before.

“Well, then... What's holding you back?” Twilight asked softly.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and stared at her sullen expression in the water.

“My parents…” Rainbow Dash whispered. Twilight was barely able to hear her.

Twilight knew about Rainbow Dash’s mom and dad.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked quietly, wanting Rainbow Dash to clarify.

Rainbow Dash took in a deep inhale then let out a loud exhale of the cold night air then looked at Twilight with her big, sad, magenta eyes.

“I can’t go through what my dad went through… I just can’t.” Rainbow Dash’s voice cracked and quivered as she spoke. “I don’t want to have someone that I care about, only to just one day have them be gone forever…” Rainbow Dash sighed and looked away.

Twilight swore she heard her own heart shatter.

Both mares were quiet for a moment before Twilight spoke up.

“Rainbow Dash… I’m sure if your mom were here, she would want you to be happy.” Twilight said comfortingly. “She would be proud to see what a great mare you’ve become.” Twilight said reassuringly and gave her a warm smile.

“You really think so?” Rainbow Dash sniffed then looked up at Twilight with watery eyes.

“I know so.” Twilight replied softly. “I can’t guarantee that a few mishaps won’t happen, but you have to take the chance before you’re stuck with this feeling forever.” Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash gave her friend a bittersweet smile while wiping her nose and both mares stretched out their arms and hugged each other.

“Thanks, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash said quietly. A single tear rolled out from Rainbow Dash’s eye, and onto the floor.

Chapter 11. Heart of the Swarm

Soarin circled above the forest for nearly an hour. He wanted to go home, but something held him back. He felt angry–angry at himself.

“Ughhhh!!!” Soarin grunted loudly as he smacked the sides of his head with both fore hooves.

“How could I have been so stupid?! Even if the tent was closed, that thing still could’ve gotten in!” Soarin scolded himself.

Soarin circled around the air above the pine trees for a little while.

He stopped and hovered in the air, thought for a moment, put a determined face on, and then darted back to the campsite praying to Celestia that Rainbow Dash was still there.

When Soarin reached the campsite, he carefully landed on three legs, lifting his injured leg up a little so that he wouldn’t put pressure on it.

Soarin looked around searching for a certain, blue Pegasus, but the place looked empty.

Soarin sighed, and then saw the damaged tent that he had left behind.

He set down his saddle bag and slowly limped a short distance towards the tent and was about to open up the flap.

Soarin peeked his head in and whispered, “Rainbow Da–”

ROOOOAAARRR!!!

Soarin fell backwards onto the ground when he heard the ear-piercing roar from the inside of the abandoned tent.

Soarin began to hyperventilate, trying to get himself back onto his legs, just when a creature with glowing green eyes pounced right out of the tent, and stood right above him, snarling right in his face.

It was a timberwolf–the same one that attacked him from before.

“AAAHHH!!! WAAAHHH!!!” Soarin cried out and he quickly turned around onto his stomach and crawled away as fast as he could.

Soarin got up on all legs, forgetting that his back left hoof was injured, and fell back onto the ground from the pain.

“Oomph!” Soarin muttered when he hit the ground.

He looked behind himself with a horrified expression as he saw the timberwolf getting ready to pounce on him.

The timberwolf growled, and sprang into the air, aiming itself at Soarin.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!” Soarin yelled as he looked away and covered his face with a fore hoof, waiting for what was about to become of him.

All was quiet. Too quiet.

Soarin saw a faint, orange glow behind his eyelids, and slowly started to open them.

He cautiously took his forearm away from his face, blinked a few times to clear his vision, and stood opened mouth at the sight in front of him.

Right there in front of him, thousands of fireflies were swarming all over the wooden beast, flying in and out of its eyes, ears, and mouth.

Soarin looked at the scene in disbelief, he couldn’t look away. It was disturbingly beautiful.

The timberwolf gagged and coughed, and tried to swat the bugs away with a paw, but soon enough, the timberwolf suffocated and collapsed to the ground, shattering into different pieces.

Soarin watched the whole thing come to an end; he felt dizzy and started panting and sweating.

The fireflies quickly buzzed away as Soarin sighed loudly in relief and sprawled out onto his back on the cold, hard ground. He felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest from how quickly it was beating.

As he was catching his breath, and replayed the scene a few times in his head, he noticed something sitting in the sand by the lake.

He couldn’t see what it was, but he thought it could’ve been another pony.

He quickly got up, and flew towards the lake and landed behind what he saw.

It was another pony sitting in the sand looking down at the lake’s low tides.

“Uhhh… Hello?” Soarin said to the other pony.

The other pony turned around and looked at Soarin.

Soarin saw the pony’s face, and instantly recognized them.

It was Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, I remember you; you’re the same pony from the bakery.” Soarin said. He noticed that there was something different about her. Her usually curly, pink mane seemed less bouncy and full, and the pink color looked faded, and instead of smiling and laughing, she was frowning.

Pinkie Pie’s eyes shot open wide when she realized who he was, and jumped up and grabbed his shoulders.

“Oh my gosh! It’s you! Please please please please oh pleeeeeaaaasssseeee don’t be mad at Rainbow Dash, this was all my fault!” Pinkie Pie pleaded, her blue eyes stared straight into his emerald ones.

Soarin didn’t understand what she meant and titled his head to the side in confusion.

“What are you talking about?” Soarin asked with a quizzical expression.

“This! The reason why your whole camping trip was ruined is because I made Rainbow Dash leave the tent and forgot to zip it back up!” Pinkie Pie shouted and let go of his shoulders and sat back down on the ground.

Soarin still didn’t understand what was going on or what she was talking about. He didn’t understand how she got here or why she was here in the first place, but he decided not to question it; he needed to find Rainbow Dash.

“Do you know where Rainbow Dash went?” Soarin asked. “I have to apologize to her before it’s too late.” Soarin said while sadly looking down at the ground.

Pinkie Pie looked up at him with a questionable face. “What do you mean before it’s too late?” Pinkie Pie asked, her voice high-pitched, but not as loud as usual.

Soarin stayed quiet for a while trying to think of the right words to say, but just mumbled, “I… Uhhh, errmmm…” He scratched the back of his head with a fore hoof.

Pinkie Pie sensed something, and then gasped.

“Oh my gosh! You like her, don’t you?!” Pinkie Pie said in a louder voice than before, her blue eyes grew wide.

Soarin stared blankly at her. How did she know? Soarin asked himself.

“I know these things!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully, her mane puffed back out to its normal state.

“Wait, what?” Soarin said. Did she just read my mind? He asked himself.

He looked over at Pinkie Pie who started jumping for joy, springy sounds coming from every hop.

“I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!” Pinkie Pie chanted with glee.

Soarin slouched. “Yeah, but she hates me now…” Soarin sighed.

Pinkie Pie stopped jumping and walked over to him.

“You don’t know that!” Pinkie Pie said loudly.

“And plus, she doesn’t even like me…” Soarin said quietly.

Pinkie Pie was about to explode. Literally.

“ASDFGHJKL!!!” Pinkie Pie babbled, not wanting to reveal anything just yet.

“You okay?” Soarin asked the funny-talking mare.

“SUPER!” Pinkie Pie shouted, and bit her bottom lip, trying hard not to say anything about what she knew, or thought she knew.

Soarin looked down at his hooves, then saw the lake start to glow from the corner of his eye, and quickly turned to look towards it.

“Whoa.” He whispered in awe.

Pinkie Pie turned her head towards the lake as well.

“Ooooooo!” Pinkie Pie said in her high-pitched voice.

Above the lake, thousands of fireflies were hovering just slightly over the water.

“Where do they keep coming from?” Soarin asked.

The fireflies then proceeded to form a beeline through Pinkie Pie and Soarin; both ponies turned their heads around and saw that they headed straight through the forest.

“Hmmm, I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that they want us to follow them!” Pinkie Pie said.

Soarin couldn’t help but get that feeling as well.

“Then let’s go!” Soarin was about to take off into the skies, just when Pinkie Pie grabbed Soarin and threw him onto her back.

“WAAAH! What are you doing?!” Soarin exclaimed.

“I just know they’re heading for Ponyville! I just know it!” Pinkie Pie shouted and darted off into the dark forest that was being lit up by the fireflies.

ZOOM!

Pinkie Pie sped up quicker than the speed of light, jumping over tree roots and rocks as she ran through the forest with a serious, determined expression the entire time.

“AAAHHHH!!!” Soarin yelled as he hung on tightly to the racing pink Earth pony. He’s never moved this fast before, not even in the air. Pinkie Pie surely was something.

Soarin saw blurs of the trees and brush as Pinkie Pie ran through them, the leaves made flickering sounds as she ran straight through.

He looked over her shoulder and already saw that Pinkie Pie had surpassed all of the fireflies and both of them were now alone, the only light coming from the moon above lit their way.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash were still sitting down by the fountain discussing different things.

“Brrrr.” Twilight said as she shivered. “Sure is cold out here, you’re lucky that you at least have that scarf to keep you warm.” Twilight said while pointing at the scarf around Rainbow Dash’s neck.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes grew wide, and looked down at the scarf around her neck–she forgot that she was still wearing Soarin’s scarf.

Twilight saw Rainbow Dash’s expression change.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash stayed quiet, then showed the bottom of the scarf to Twilight, the part where Soarin’s name was stitched on.

Twilight looked at the scarf then realized. “Ohh…” Twilight said quietly.

Rainbow Dash sighed, “It’s okay…” A sullen expression on her face.

“How about you go talk to him? I mean, not right now since it’s late, but maybe tomorrow?” Twilight suggested.

“It’s too late…” Rainbow Dash sighed. “He doesn’t feel the same way about me, I mean, why would he? He’s a Wonderbolt and I’m just me…” Rainbow Dash said as she looked away.

Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash with a warm smile. This wasn't the confident Rainbow Dash she knew, but Twilight knew that she was just lovesick.

“You never know for sure, because you’re an amazing mare that will become a Wonderbolt one day!” Twilight said comfortingly.

“Don’t you see, Twilight? He’s too good for me.” Rainbow Dash sighed.

Twilight knew that she had to come up with some reassuring words soon, or else Rainbow Dash would probably cry again, and she did not want that.

“Remember when I said to take a chance?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash let out a loud sigh. “Yeah… But… Just forget it. He probably never wants to see me again anyways…” Rainbow Dash responded in an empty tone.

Twilight really wanted to help Rainbow Dash cope with this whole difficult situation, but she was running out of ideas, even a mare as smart as Twilight doesn’t know all the answers to every problem.

“AAAAHHH!!!” Someone shouted in the distance.

Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash turned their heads towards a couple of trees to see where the sound came from.

“Hold on! We’re almost there!” Another voice said.

Both mares looked at each other with a confused expression, just when two ponies, a mare with a stallion on her back popped out from right behind a bunch of trees, and fell to the ground right in front of the fountain where Rainbow Dash and Twilight were sitting.

“Pinkie Pie?” Twilight asked, now very confused.

Pinkie Pie laid sprawled out on the ground with another pony on top of her.

“S–Soarin?!” Rainbow Dash stuttered, she tried to hide how excited and happy she was to see him.

“Twilight! Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie Pie shouted happily and sprang up, letting Soarin fall down onto the cold, hard ground, and then grabbed both of her friends by their necks and pulled them into a loving hug.

Rainbow Dash was too focused on the stallion that was on the floor to realize that Pinkie Pie was still hugging her.

Soarin winced from the painful impact with the ground, and shook his head quickly to regain consciousness, then looked up at the rainbow maned mare with big, magenta eyes staring down at him.

Soarin’s green eyes grew wide. “Rainbow Dash!” Soarin said loudly as he jumped up onto three hooves, leaving his injured leg slightly lifted up above the ground.

Rainbow Dash sat quietly, still staring at him.

Pinkie Pie let go of the hug and sprang back next to Soarin.

“HE HAS SOMETHING THAT HE NEEDS TO TELL YOU!” Pinkie Pie yelled. The quiet night made her voice sound louder than usual as it echoed through the town.

Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie Pie with a raised eyebrow, then back at Soarin who was looking down and rubbing a fore hoof on his other arm.

Soarin looked back up at Rainbow Dash and stopped rubbing his arm.

“I–I’m so sorry, Rainbow Dash! I really am! I was stupid; I ruined our camping trip, not you!” Soarin shouted, his eyes filling up with guilt.

Rainbow Dash stared at him; she was slightly taken aback by his apology. She saw by the look of his eyes and the tone of his voice that he was actually really sorry for what had happened between them.

Rainbow Dash got off from the edge of the fountain and walked over to the stallion.

She quietly stared at him thinking for the right words to say.

Rainbow Dash sighed, “Soarin, I–”

“Hey, look!” Twilight said and pointed a fore hoof towards the trees that Pinkie Pie and Soarin came from.

Everypony turned their heads around to look in the direction where Twilight was pointing.

The same group of fireflies from the lake finally caught up with Pinkie Pie and Soarin and made their way towards the four ponies.

“W–What? How?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Finally! See, I told yah that they were headed this way!” Pinkie Pie said with a smirk.

The fireflies slowly started to approach Soarin and Rainbow Dash, and wrapped themselves around Rainbow Dash’s left wing, and Soarin’s left back leg, encasing their limbs in a warm, yellow glow.

“What in Equestria…?” Twilight said quietly with a quizzical look as she stared at the insects wrapping themselves around the two ponies.

The fireflies’ warm glow felt oddly nice to the two Pegasi, they weren’t sure what was going on, but they let them do their thing.

Soon, the fireflies’ soothing glow grew dim, and they all proceeded to fly off and away from the two Pegasi.

“My wing! The scar’s gone!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed while flapping her left wing.

“My leg doesn’t hurt anymore!” Soarin stated, then proceeded to set his previously injured leg onto the ground and took off the bandages around it with his teeth, and found that the bite mark had also disappeared.

“That was… Incredible!” Twilight exclaimed with big, purple eyes and a huge grin.

The fireflies floated around the fountain, making the water light up.

All ponies stared at the fountain in awe.

Soarin looked at Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash turned around to look back at him.

“Please Rainbow Dash, forgive me. I don’t know what got into me, that's not how I usually act! I don't know why I acted the way I did!” Soarin pleaded with a crestfallen expression.

Rainbow Dash looked at him; the fireflies’ subtle glow reflected off of her magenta eyes.

Soarin stood there waiting for an answer.

Rainbow Dash stood there in silence.

Soarin sighed, “I understand if you don’t forgi–”

Soarin was cut off when Rainbow Dash wrapped her fore hooves around him and pulled him into a tight hug.

Soarin flinched in surprise; he wasn’t prepared for a hug from Rainbow Dash; he thought that she was still angry at him.

Soarin froze, but then quickly relaxed. He smiled, closed his eyes, and hugged Rainbow Dash back, enjoying the gesture that he knew for sure had to mean, “I forgive you.”

Both Pinkie Pie and Twilight looked at each other and both started to tear up a little.

Rainbow Dash let go of the hug and stared at Soarin with her big, beautiful, magenta eyes.

Soarin loved her eyes, he thought that they were amazing, and they made him feel some type of way when he looked into them.

Soarin cleared his throat. “Dash, can you please give me another chance?” Soarin asked.

Rainbow Dash smiled. “I think I can do that.” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk, then looked at Twilight and winked.

Twilight smiled and nodded in response.

“OOOOOO!!! COME ON ALREADY!” Pinkie Pie shouted impatiently.

Rainbow Dash looked at her pink friend with a raised eyebrow.

Soarin smiled, he knew what she meant.

“Rainbow Dash.” Soarin said softly.

Rainbow Dash turned her head to look at him.

“Yes?” Rainbow Dash replied.

Soarin had a sheepish smile on his face, and was looking away from Rainbow Dash, slightly blushing.

“Would you like to… Yah know, go out with me?” Soarin slowly looked up at her expression.

Rainbow Dash stood frozen; her eyes opened wide and she was blushing heavily. This whole situation felt so surreal.

“Like… Go out, go out?” Rainbow Dash replied meekly.

Soarin smiled and nodded.

“I–I’m really starting to like you…” Soarin said quietly.

Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up, and she threw herself at Soarin giving him another extremely tight hug.

“Me too!” Rainbow Dash said ecstatically.

Rainbow Dash felt like she had let go of a huge weight that had been weighing her down since last week. She felt freer than when she flew. She was so happy that she couldn’t stop smiling. This was all she wanted at the moment.

Both Pegasi ended their loving embrace and smiled shyly at each other, slightly blushing.

“So, how about we take things slow and choose a place to hang out for our first date?” Soarin suggested; he didn’t want to rush things.

“Sure!” Rainbow Dash said happily.

All three ponies looked at Rainbow Dash, they’ve never seen her act like this before; it was adorable.

“We’ll leave you two alone, good night! Come on, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said and trotted off with Pinkie Pie bouncing behind her with a huge grin on her face.

“I told you she liked him!” Pinkie Pie said loudly as she bounced off, loud enough for both Soarin and Rainbow Dash to hear.

Rainbow Dash blushed after what Pinkie Pie had just said.

“Heheheh.” Soarin chuckled when he saw how embarrassed Rainbow Dash looked.

Rainbow Dash looked at him. “Hey! Shut up!” She laughed.

Both Pegasi sat down on the ground near the fountain where the fireflies still hovered around.

“Sooo… Winter’s in two weeks, wanna do something then?” Soarin asked Rainbow Dash with a smile.

Rainbow Dash smiled so widely that she felt her cheeks start to hurt. “Ohhh yea-uh!” Rainbow Dash cheered as she hoof bumped the air, she felt more comfortable being her true self around him now.

Soarin smiled heartwarmingly at her, just when a single firefly flew and landed right on top of his nose.

Soarin stared at the insect with crossed eyes.

Rainbow Dash looked at him and giggled; she thought he looked funny.

Soarin focused off of the firefly and looked at Rainbow Dash.

“Heh, I don’t know about you, but these fireflies sure are something.” Soarin chuckled.

Rainbow Dash leaned her head against his shoulder, just when the firefly flew off his nose and up into the dark sky, the other fireflies flew away from the fountain, and followed closely behind, leaving the two Pegasi to watch the beautiful scene that resembled floating lanterns.

“Hey Dash.” Soarin said, interrupting the blissful silence.

“Yeah?” Rainbow Dash said as she was still leaning against his shoulder.

“Cloudsdale is a pretty far flight from here; you think I can stay at your place until morning?” Soarin asked.

Rainbow Dash lifted her head up and gave him a smirk. “Race yah there!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she grabbed her saddle bag and darted off into the night sky.

“Hey!” Soarin laughed and flew after her.

Both Pegasi’s laughter and shouting faded away as they flew deeper into the peaceful darkness of the night; a single shooting star flew high above them in the distance. Both knowing that only the best was yet to come.

The End

Chapter 9. Good Night.

Rainbow Dash had finished carefully wrapping the gauze around Soarin’s leg.

Soarin turned around and sat up on his haunches. He gave a light grunt as he did so due to the pain in his left leg.

Soarin glared at Rainbow Dash.

“Where were you?! You forgot to zip up the tent flap!” Soarin snarled through bared teeth.

Rainbow Dash was taken aback by his angry outburst. She was shocked to see him act like this since she’s never seen him act like anything but sweet before.

“I… Uhm…” Rainbow Dash mumbled. She wasn’t sure what to say.

Soarin looked back at the tent that now had three giant slash marks on the front.

“That thing also ate the rest of my apple pie!” Soarin said. He looked and sounded really upset now.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe what was happening. She just saved his life and this is how he repaid her? By yelling and practically telling her that this whole thing was her fault? And this wasn't the first time that Rainbow Dash had saved him from a near death experience before, way back before they started hanging out, she had saved his flank twice.

Rainbow Dash felt her face heating up, but not in the same way as all of those other times. She was angry now. Really angry. Rainbow Dash had a very short temper.

“Really?! All you care about is your stupid pie?! I just saved you!” Rainbow Dash yelled angrily, her voice cracking.

Soarin didn’t reply. He just sat there and rolled his eyes, avoiding eye contact with her.

“I wanna go home.” Soarin mumbled.

Rainbow Dash glared at him. “Fine! Then leave!” She shouted as she crossed her arms and sat down facing away from him.

“Hmph.” Soarin muttered and started to hover and grab his things around the campfire.

He went inside of the messed up tent, and came out with his saddle bag on.

He looked over at Rainbow Dash who was still sitting away from him.

“Bye…” Soarin sighed and flew off.

Rainbow Dash didn’t respond. She slowly turned her head to look behind herself and saw him make his way back to Cloudsdale.

Rainbow Dash was upset. She looked at the tent, flew inside, grabbed her things, and then took off into the night sky as she made her way back to Ponyville.

Pinkie Pie had watched the whole thing from behind a bush.

“This is all my fault…” Pinkie Pie said sadly as she looked down at the ground, her usual smile replaced with a frown.