Won't Let it Bring Me Down

Won't Let it Bring Me Down

By: Crystal Heart

Chapter 2: Flying and Friends

The next morning, Blaze entered his daughter's room cautiously, to find her staring at a Wonderbolt's poster in a peculiar way. He raised his eyebrows, and moved closer to her.

"Good morning, Dash," he said, startling her. Dash quickly turned, and wiped a few stray tears that had somehow managed to roll down her cheek. Blaze frowned. "Dash? What's going on?"

Rainbow Dash simply gave him a cheeky smile.

"Oh! Hehe... nothing's going on! Nothing at all! Say, I'm going out for a morning fly. I'll see you later! she said, before dashing out the window.

Blaze scurried quickly over to the window, and prepared to yell.

"Rainbow Dash! YOU FORGOT BREAKFAST!"

Dash started beating her wings faster and faster, ignoring her father's desperate calls. She didn't exactly know where she was going, but she did know that all she wanted to do was get away from her family. At the moment, she didn't really want to talk to anypony besides herself. Maybe a nice quiet stroll through the park would help?

Dash nodded, deciding this would be the best option, and landed on all fours at the beginning of the trail that led through the thickets of bushes, trees, and shrubs throughout the Ponyville Park.

She started to casually trot on the trail, all traces of tears disappearing from her face. She wore a bright, genuine smile, as she observed the different kinds of wildlife throughout the park.

She noticed a little bunny, running over to slightly bigger one, and giving him food. Dash knew instantly that these two were partners. Fluttershy had told her enough about rabbits to know it. She sighed, as the observed them further, as they rubbed themselves onto each other affectionately. Dash's throat hitched up, as she realized she would never be able to experience such pleasure. She would never be able to feel warmth from a significant other. She would never be able to do anything that happy couples could experience. Because one thing was definitely for sure.

She would never get along with Hoops. No matter how much she tried, she would never really be able to experience anything nice from him. Because that's just the kind of stallion he was.

Dash released another heavy sigh, as she started to walk away from the two bunnies, and back onto the trail. She began to trace the path with her hooves, not looking around at anything. She kept staring at her hooves, before her eyes started to tear up again.

Why did this have to happen to her? Why couldn't she have an arranged marriage with somepony else? Why Hoops, of all stallions? Why the guy who always made a big fuss over her? Why the guy who never bothered to be nice to her?

Did Hoops ever know about the arranged marriage? Because if he did...

Of course.

Hoops already knew.

He knew that he was going to get married to her the minute he laid his eyes on her! Maybe that's why he never had a pleasant attitude with her! Maybe, if he hadn't known, he might have not been such a bully. This was just his way of venting all that pent up anger out! By... being a mean stallion!

Though of course, an impression had stuck between the two... Dash didn't think Hoops would ever change. No matter how hard she tried.

After her long stroll, Rainbow Dash decided to go for a fly.

She twisted, and turned on a puffy cloud that she had found a few minutes ago, trying desperately to get some more sleep. A nice, long nap sounded just about right at this moment.

Dash suddenly sensed a change. The cloud was weighted. Meaning somepony else was there.

She quickly looked up, to see a baby-blue stallion staring at her with a peculiar glance. Dash scrambled to her feet, and tried hide herself from him. Which of course, was no use. Soarin stepped up to her with a concerned look.

"Rainbow Dash... are you alright?" he asked her. Dash quickly nodded.

"Uh... um... yeah, Soarin! I'm absolutely terrific!" she exclaimed. Soarin raised his eyebrows, and gestured for her to sit back down. Once she did, he slid into the spot next to her.

"Hey, uh... I've been meaning to ask you something for a few weeks now..." he said. Dash's ears perked up, as she stared at him.

"What?"

"Why didn't you meet me again?"

Dash stopped dead in her tracks. Of course, she knew he was going to ask this, but to hear it out from him was a little overwhelming.

"What do you mean?" she finally settled on asking. Soarin sighed.

"That day, when we flew off for a little while, you promised me you would hang out the next time we saw each other... but that never happened. I was just wondering if you... had a reason?" he asked. Dash bit her lip, and shook her head quickly.

"No... I just... never saw you after that, and you know me! Shy as a frail little flower!" she said, putting her hoof behind her neck, and chuckling nervously. Soarin raised his eyebrows.

"Uh huh..." he said slowly, exaggerating every syllable. Dash gave him an awkward smile, before leaning back.

"I dunno... I guess life's just been getting in the way of everything..." she said. "I don't know about your's, but my life is pretty crummy at the moment..."

"Really? Care to elaborate?" Soarin asked. Dash shrugged.

"Nah. I mean, I could tell you all the boring details about my crappy life... but I don't wanna kill you," she said. Soarin gave her a confused look.

"How could you kill me by talking?" he asked. Dash rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't want you to die of boredom," she explained heavily. Soarin made an 'o' shape with his mouth, and started humming slightly.

"Ohhh... I get it. Ha... hahaha..." he said, starting to laugh a little. Dash gave him a small smile, before pushing herself off the cloud.

"Well, I better get going. My parents are over for a few days," she said, starting to fly off the cloud. Soarin quickly got up after her.

"What? Again? Awe..." he groaned. "We were having so much fun, though!"

"Fun? You little goofball. I really wish I could stay, trust me I do... but I don't think my parents would appreciate me being late to breakfast. Besides, I'm starving," Dash replied, her stomach gurgling slightly. Soarin's eyes widened, as he brought forth an idea.

"Oh! I know! How about we eat breakfast out today? It'll be my treat!" he exclaimed. Dash raised her eyebrows.

"You mean... like a date?" she asked, deciding to be as straight forward as possible. Soarin shrugged.

"I mean, if you want it to be..." he said nervously, starting to blush a little. Dash bit her lip, and politely shook her head.

"Thanks for the offer, Soarin. But maybe another time," she said. Soarin frowned.

"Do you really want to leave that empty stomach of your's like so for longer than this?" he asked slyly. Dash looked away in response, and sighed, shrugging, and nodding. As long as she was careful not to let anything extreme happen, everything would be fine.

"Oh... alright. We'll go out. My parents will just have to wait," she said, grumbling a few inaudible words to herself. "But you're paying!"

Soarin chuckled.

"Deal."