Chapters Chapter 1-Name her Scootaloo
Soarin stood forlornly at the foot of his wife's grave. The orange foal in his arms wailed softly and piteously. He remembered his wife's words.
"Hey Soarin? Do you wanna be friends?"
*FLASHBACK*
"Violet Peach?" a nurse said. "You and your husband may come in now to see the baby."
The couple excitedly walked into the room where Rosemary Peach (Violet's mother) was lying. She was holding a tiny foal in her hooves.
"Mom?" Violet asked. "Can I see the baby?"
Said mother held out her hooves with the sleeping filly.
"She's adorable!" Violet squealed.
It was true. The filly had a coat of orange and a fluffy magenta mane. Her eyes slowly fluttered open to reveal that her irises were lavender.
Stem Peach (Violet's father) smiled at his daughter."Have you thought of a name for your sister?"
"Not yet. But I'll work on it."
"She looks like you, Vi." Soarin said.
Violet grinned. "Well, she is my sister. And I'm going to think of the best name ever for you, little sis."
It was three days after the birth of the filly, and the proud family was walking home from the hospital. The adorable orange filly was sleeping soundly in her mothers arms, giving out cute little snores, which made the family chuckle.
"So Mom? How're you feeling?" Violet asked.
"I'm feeling good now, dear. This baby has given me the pain of a lifetime but there's nothing your old mom can't handle."
Violet giggled.
Soarin couldn't help smiling at his wife's cute childishness, despite being twenty years old.
"So, Vi. have you thought of a name yet?" Rosemary asked.
"I sure have!" Violet beamed. "Any sister of mine deserves the best!"
Her parents exchanged happy looks before facing their daughter.
"What name have you thought of, dear?"
"Well, I quite liked the name-"
"HEY! LOOK OUT!"
A taxi was coming towards them! It had lost one of it's wheels which made it go out of control. The taxi driver was frantically trying to stop the taxi colliding into the group of pegasi.
The frantic family rushed to get away as fast as they could, but were not fast enough.
Soarin managed to dodge in time, but the same can't be said his parents-in-law and wife.
The filly was now awake and wailing alarmingly. Soarin reached out and caught the baby before she got seriously injured.
"VIOLET!" Soarin yelled.
Soarin sat anguished in the waiting area of Cloudsdale's local hospital for the second time this week. He sat for seemingly an age before a nurse bustled in.
"How is she, Nurse" Soarin asked frantically. Violet's parents had sadly not survived the crash, and the Wonderbolt didn't want his wife to have the same fate.
"Well, Mr. Skies. Your wife didn't get any external injuries, but her internal bleeding was very serious. I'm- I'm afraid she might not survive." she said gravely.
Soarin stood up. "Can I see her?"
"Yes, you may."
Soarin didn't waste a second . He flew into the room where his wife was lying. Her curly magenta mane was slightly unraveled and messy and her face was tear-stained but Soarin still thought her the most beautiful mare in the world.
Violet was handing Cumulus Skies (Soarin's mother) 10 letters tied with a blue ribbon.
"I've written 10 letters here. Each of them for my sister's first 10 birthdays. They have all the things I'm want to say to my sister. Will you give them to her, Aunty?"
"Of course I will." Cumulus sniffed hard to stop her tears brimming.
Soarin sat at the edge of Violet's bed, frowning.
"You're very bad." Soarin said sternly.
Violet gave a watery smile and took his hoof.
"Hey Soarin. Do you wanna be friends?"
Soarin shook his head.
"Soarin, I need you to promise me two things. Please listen." Violet said urgently.
Soarin sniffed hard,
"I need you to promise that you'll never cry. Promise?"
Soarin nodded dolefully.
"Besides, you look very ugly when you cry." Violet said, smirking a little.
Soarin gave her a glare but squeezed her hoof tight.
"And second, promise you'll name my sister Scootaloo? Promise?"
Soarin nodded again, and a tear flowed down his cheek.
"Soarin, do you wanna be friends?"
This time Soarin nodded fiercely.
"Don't go."
"I'm sorry, Soarin. I'm really sorry." Violet said, tears trickling down her cheeks.
Soarin threw his hooves around his beloved wife and sobbed into her shoulder.
Violet hugged him back, hard. Eventually, her grip loosened and she stopped breathing.
*FLASHBACK END*
"Promise you'll name my sister Scootaloo? Promise?"
Soarin stroked his sister-in-law's fluffy mane.
"C'mon Scootaloo. Let's go home." the Wonderbolt cradled the baby in his hooves and set off towards his house.
*Flashback*
Rainbow Dash flexed her muscles and stretched to one side, then the other, warming up for her daily basketball match. These matches were held in the Cloudsdale College gym an hour before classes started.
Rainbow Dash wasn't like any other mare, fussing about messing up her mane, wailing if her lipstick was smudged (in fact, the very idea of wearing makeup made her feel like barfing), or swooning over the hunks in her class.
Anyway, Dash was just finishing up her Warm-Up when a baby-blue pegasus stallion came flying in. His mane was blown back and his emerald-green eyes still looked liked they had some sleep in them.
The technicolor maned pegasus frowned and rolled her eyes at the stallion.
"You're late again." she said, raising an eyebrow.
"I can't wake up so early." Soarin yawned.
"Couldn't wake up, or you were scared?" Rainbow teased.
"Hey, Soarin Skies isn't scared of anypony at all."
"Soarin Skies isn't scared of anypony at all ," Rainbow mocked. "But he loses to Rainbow Dash in basketball everyday."
"I won't lose today."
"You say that everyday."
"We will see." Soarin grinned.
"We will see." Dash smirked.
So far, the match had been a success. For Rainbow Dash. She had managed to effortlessly score four baskets. Soarin groaned each time the ball went through the hoop.
After the fourth basket, Soarin managed to grab the ball and bounce it for a while, until a multi-color blur swooped it out of his hooves.
"UGGGHHH!" Soarin moaned.
Rainbow whistled casually and nonchalantly and bounced the ball while jogging over to the net. She jumped up, ready to spring, when she felt a hard push on her back. It took her a second to register what happened. Soarin had pushed her!
Soarin smirked and grabbed the ball and threw it into the basket before Dash could get up and do something about it.
"YESSS!" Soarin yelled happily.
Rainbow got to her hooves, feeling boiling mad.
"If you don't know how to play, you don't have to cheat!" Rainbow spat angrily.
"Hey, don't call me a cheater."
"That's what you are. Cheater, cheater, cheater!"
"Dash, don't call me a cheater."
"Soarin is a cheater. He is a cheater. Cheater. Cheater. Cheater. Cheater!" Dash chanted, while stepping towards him.
"I'm not a cheater!"
"CHEATER!" Rainbow roared. By then they were muzzle-to-muzzle. Suddenly, Soarin grabbed Rainbow's hooves and twisted them around.
"OOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!" Rainbow squealed. Soarin cringed at the noise.
"Stop crying like a prissy little mare!"
"Hey, don't call me that." Rainbow pouted. Soarin let go of her sharply.
"Actually, you're right. You're not even a mare!" he grinned.
"A least, better than those stupid mares you run after!"
"Oh, excuse moi. I don't run after mares, they run after me !"
"Oh, waaoooww," Rainbow said in a high-pitched voice, while batting her magenta eyes. "Soarin's so cute, so sweet, so polite, so handsome, isn't he?"
"I'm not as handsome as you. You have a better mustache!" Soarin sniggered.
"Oh, hahaha." Dash said sarcastically. "That was a joke, huh?"
"Yeah so?"
"I don't like jokes." Rainbow said, while pushing him back with her muzzle.
"I don't like you." Soarin retorted.
"Hmmmph!" they both stormed off, then returned to the same spot.
"SHUTT UPPPPPPPPP!" the pegasi both roared in each other's faces.
"Dash and Soarin had another fight!"
"Dash and Soarin had another fight!"
"Dash and Soarin had another fight!"
"Dash and Soarin had another fight!"
"Dash and Soarin had another fight!"
Word got over the school quick, even though it was nothing new. Rainbow Dash and Soarin were everypony's favourite Best Friends.
They had childish, silly fights all the time, but the student body encouraged them to make up.
After they apologized, they slapped each others hooves and gently flicked each others' muzzles. This was their special ritual, called "The Make-Up Hoofbump".
Yessiree, Soarin and Dash had been best friends since the first day of college.
Dean CloudWeather sighed as she walked through the mares dormitory. All the pegasi in the room were either carefully applying cosmetics, slotting curlers into their manes, or gossiping about stallions.
"You girls are all crazy." Dean Cloudweather said, shaking her head. "You aren't going to attract any boys with the paint all over your faces and mountains on your heads."
"Then how are we supposed to attract stallions, Dean CloudWeather?" one pegasus cooed.
"I'm not telling you silly fools anything! Try to figure out something yourselves!"
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash came flying into the room, knocking some perfume bottles down in the process.
Dean CloudWeather shook her head at the tomboy mare's unkempt mane and flushed cheeks.
"Ah, Rainbow Dash. Try doing something girly for once, will you! Not like these buffoons, but still a little."
Rainbow Dash wrinkled her muzzle, making it plain what she thought of the idea.
"How'd you get in such a state anyway?"
"Just another basketball match with Soarin."
"Soarin! Haven't you seen him, flirts with all the girls in the college. I think you should stay away from him."
"Why? He's my best friend."
"If you don't watch out, this 'best friend' buisness will turn into something more romantic. Not o mention that you'll get a reputation if you stay with him."
Rainbow gagged at the thought. "Soarin! Naaahhhh."
Chapter 4-Friendship Band
"Happy Friendship Day!"
This phrase was heard repeatedly at the college, on Thursday. It was a sunny morning and everypony was visibly cheerful. On Friendship Day, ponies gave each-other friendship bracelets and hugs to their respective companions.
Stem Peach, was strolling the grounds and exclaimed crossly when he saw the length of the skirts the girls were wearing.
"No short skirts are allowed at this college!" he groaned. "How dare you shorten your skirts just to attract boys! Please follow the dress code, you naughty mares."
Suddenly he got distracted by the other teachers' skirt lengths. His mouth gaped open.
I'm a married stallion. he scolded to himself. I'm a married stallion. Then he beamed when he saw his wife, looking just as pretty as the other mares.
Rainbow Dash was casually walking around the college grounds, when she bumped into her principal, stilling mesmerized by his wife.
"Hi, Principal Peach! You certainly look happy today!"
"Huh? Oh, yes. I am. My daughter Violet Peach is coming back home from Las Pegasus. She studies in Las Pegasus University there, but I told her to spend her last term at this college. Because, after all, our college isn't any less than Lss Pegasus University."
"Yes, sir!" Rainbow saluted.
Stem chuckled. "Will you watch out for my daughter, Rainbow Dash. I know I can count on a loyal mare like you to take care of her."
"Sure." Rainbow grinned cockily."By the way, Happy Friendship Day!"
"Thank you, Rainbow." Stem smiled.
A certain baby-blue pegasus stallion did things more romantically on Friendship Day, being the Casanova flirt he was.
"You know, Paint Bucket?" Soarin said as he slid the bracelet onto the pale green mare's hoof. "This friendship bracelet is just for you. Because you're very pretty, and very smart."
"Really Soarin? You are telling the truth aren't you."
"Of course I am. Would I lie to such a beautiful mare as yourself, Paint Rucket."
"My name is Paint Bucket!" Paint exclaimed.
Soarin bit his lip. "Oh, yes. Paint Bucket. See, I got so lost in your big beautiful eyes that I forgot your name."
"I just can't believe this. Oh, Soarin."
"Oh, Paint."
"Oh, Soarin,"
"Oh, Paint."
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash had seen what her flirtatious friend had been up to and nearly hurled at the dialogue being said. She suddenly noticed a big bunch of friendship bracelets sticking out of Soarin's pocket. Rainbow knew that Soarin gave friendship bands to practically every mare at the academy. The cyan mare slowly pulled them out and rolled her eyes at Paint Bucket's stupidity.
"Oh, Paint. My baby ." Rainbow muttered crassly.
"Oh, Soarin?" Dash said, tapping his shoulder hard.
Paint Bucket pulled away from Soarin and gawked at the clutch of friendship bands.
"They fell out of your pocket, Soarin." Rainbow smirked.
"You cheat!" Paint Bucket shrieked at the guilty-looking stallion in front of her. "You liar!"
"Wait....Grate Bucket!" Soarin stammered as the mare began stomping away. "Saint Bucket? What's your name?"
"Paint Bucket." Rainbow grinned as she handed the bands back to Soarin.
"Ugh, go away." Soarin groaned. "You wasted my half hour."
"Don't you get tired, running after these stupid mares?" Rainbow asked him, annoyed.
"Hey, I don't run after girls, they run after-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Rainbow Dash interrupted. "But can't you ever find a girl with beauty and brains?"
"A girl with beauty and brains." Soarin repeated. "Where do I find a girl like that."
Rainbow blinked, waiting for him to continue.
"I'm just spending time with these mares." Soarin went on. "I haven't found her yet."
"Who 'her'?" Rainbow questioned, confused.
"The mare who I lay eyes on, and immediately, something happens."
"What happens?"
"Something happens." Soarin repeated.
"What happens?"
Soarin sighed and looked at Rainbow Dash. "Something happens, Rainbow Dash. You won't understand."
Rainbow stared at him, clearly wanting him to elaborate.
"When she smiles, it feels like the whole world has lit up." Soarin went on.
"When she walks, it's like all eyes are staring at her."
"When she stops, it's like all time has stopped."
"And when she giggles-"
"She, she, she." Dash interrupted. "What will you do when you meet her?"
"When I meet her?"
"Yep."
"Okay, I'll walk right in front of her and outstretch my hooves," Soarin said, demonstrating.
Rainbow laughed. "And?"
"And I'll say, 'Hey, whoever you are I love you-"
Soarin was cut off as a mare bumped into him, hard.
Soarin groaned and gaped in awe when he saw the mare in front of him. He had never seen anything like it. Her coat was as orange as the setting sun. Her mane as magenta as a fuschia, elegant and curly. Her eyes were the clearest blue. Soarin stared at her, bedazzled. He had never seen her before. His lips curled into his trademarked smirk.
"I love you." he blurted out.
Rainbow stifled a giggle at the mare's reaction.
"Sorry?"
"Don't be. I love you." Soarin said again.
"Ugh, excuse me." the mare said, rolling her eyes and trotting away.
"Squeeze me." Soarin smirked.
Rainbow Dash suddenly understood who she was. "Violet!" she yelled, flying over to her.
Soarin stared after them. Violet. I like it.
"Hi, I'm Rainbow Dash!" Said mare introduced herself.
"Hi!" Violet said, happily shaking Dash's hoof.
"And, I'm Soarin Skies." Soarin said, catching up to them.
"Er, hi." Violet replied.
"Soarin, this is Violet. It's her first day at this college." Rainbow said.
"How do you know that?" Soarin asked, suspiciously.
"Because, today Principal Peach said that-"
"Please don't talk about that fat ogre early in the morning." Soarin groaned. He wasn't in Principal Peach's good books, to put it mildly.
Rainbow facehoofed while Violet looked shocked upon hearing her father insulted like that.
"Anyway ," Dash said, while throwing a glare at Soarin, who was oblivious to the fact that Violet was the principal's daughter. "Violet here just got back here from Las Pegasus University!"
"How do you know that?" Soarin's suspicious tone returned.
"Because," Rainbow said through gritted teeth, "today Principal Peach said that-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Soarin interrupted again. "Let the Baldy be. We have a really grouchy principal."he whispered to Violet. "Rainbow here is the principal's spoon."
Rainbow heard and glared at Soarin again.
Then, the trio saw Principal Peach walking towards them.
"Hi, Principal Peach!" Rainbow said nonchalantly.
"Hello, dear." Stem said, smiling. His smile faded when he saw his daughter's skirt.
"No short skirts allowed in college, Violet." Stem Peach said sternly.
"Hey, Principal Peach." Soarin butted in. "Poor Violet here just got back from Las Pegasus and she hasn't finishes her unpacking yet. So she just wore whatever she could find."
"How do you know that?" Stem asked, frowning.
"Because, I...er...know Violet from childhood!" Soarin lied.
"Really?"
"Really, Dad." Violet said.
Soarin ears went up in surprise. "What?"
"Dad." Violet repeated, smirking.
Rainbow couldn't hold back her laughter at Soarin's face.
"Oh, well. I'd better be going, then." Stem said, briskly walking on.
"Oh, damn it!" Soarin groaned while Rainbow patted him on the back.
"Excuse me?" Violet asked the stallion.
"Yes?" Soarin said, smiling hopefully."
"He's fat, he's a baldy and he's a g-"
"Great? Good?" Soarin suggested.
"Grouch." Violet finished. "But, he's not that bad." she said, trotting away.
"Squeeze me?" Soarin asked.
Violet turned. "Yes."
Soarin held a friendship band up. "Happy Friendship Day." he said, while Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes in the background.
Violet stared straight at him and declined the band. "We just met. Friendship is a long way ahead." she said, before waving to Rainbow and walking away.
As soon as Violet was out of sight, Rainbow Dash nudged Soarin.
"So? Did something happen?" she asked, smirking.
"No. She's not right." Soarin replied.
"Why?" Rainbow was confused.
"She's looks so snobby and posh. Nah, she's not my type."
"Nah, she's not my type ." Rainbow mimicked. "You're not gonna find anypony if you're going to be so picky."
"Why, I have you, don't I."
Rainbow gagged. "Ew, no way!"
Soarin grinned. "If I don't find anyone else, I'll marry you."
"Just shut up before you make me hurl." Rainbow groaned.
"Nopony would marry you anyway!" Soarin chuckled.
Chapter 5-Love is Friendship
Violet was walking through the halls. She was looking prettier than ever today, hair mane curling down her neck, her mascara evenly in place, her clothes pin-neat and ironed. All the stallions couldn't stop staring at her. The mares stared at her too, in a teasing and mocking way.
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash came flying up with a sweatshirt in her hooves.
"Hey, Vi! I got you a college sweatshirt!" she said, thrusting it in her hooves.
Violet smiled gratefully. "Thank you Rainbow."
"No problem." Dash said, seemingly about to trot away.
"Wait, Rainbow Dash? Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah?" the multi-color pegasus bounded back to her.
"Why is everypony here staring at me?" Violet asked, peering around. Sure enough, lots of eyes were still glued on her.
Rainbow hesitated. "Oh. Well, the stallions are staring at you 'cause....you know. And the mares want to know why the stallions are staring at you so much, so they're staring at you too. Yeah?"
Violet blinked in confusion, but nodded slowly, "Yeah."
Rainbow went on. "Anyway, if you have any problem, come straight to me. Or Soarin."
"Soarin, the one who-"
"Yep! He's my best friend. And in our college we kinda have some traditions."
No sooner than Rainbow finished saying that, Soarin and his other friends flew over to them, wearing leather jackets and sunglasses.
"Hi," Soarin said, as nonchalantly as he could.
"Hi." Violet calmly replied back.
"Now, as Rainbow here has told you," Soarin started. "We have some traditions at this college. Right boys?"
"Riiiiight." the stallions behind him said in unison.
"Anyway," Soarin went on. "Our tradition is every new student has to sing the Cloudsdale anthem."
Rainbow laughed nervously. "Erm, guys? This is the principal's daughter."
"So what?" Soarin said, glaring at her. "We cannot break tradition for anypony. Right boys?"
"Riiiight."
Rainbow gritted her teeth. "Soarin, how will she sing the Cloudsdale anthem?" she asked in a low voice.
"Why not?" Soarin laughed. "She's the principal's daughter, isn't she? If that Baldy Bounce can't teach his daughter the Clousdale anthem, what will he teach us?"
The stallions laughed, while Rainbow looked anguished. She peered apologetically at Violet.
"Sorry." Rainbow mouthed.
Violet sighed as the stallions surrounding them began to snap their hooves repeatedly.
Right, she would show them.
Violet opened her mouth and started singing the Cloudsdale anthem, in a smooth and clear voice, never missing a beat or word. All the stallions stopped snapping their hooves. Rainbow Dash stood staring with her mouth open. Soarin was clearly the most astonished, his jaw practically thwacking the floor.
When Violet finished, she opened her eyes and walked up to Soarin.
"I studied in Las Pegasus for five years, but I didn't forget my hometown. And you don't forget that." Violet said, snapping her own hoof at Soarin's face, before walking away.
Rainbow gave a triumphant smirk at Soarin, who still looked utterly jaw-punched. He shook his head, and walked on, his friends following close behind.
Violet walked into English class, peering around for a seat. When she saw Soarin, she rolled her eyes and walked over to the seat behind him.
Rainbow Dash walked in, bouncing her basketball with her wing and muttering the number of bounces as she walked over to her seat.
"Hey, you're in my place!" Rainbow exclaimed when she saw Violet.
"Oh, sorry. Here, I'll move-"
"Nah, it's okay." Rainbow's eyes quickly met Gizmo, who was shuffling toward his seat.
"Hey, Gizmo? Move." Dash commanded.
Gizmo didn't argue, and quickly walked to the extra seat behind him. Everypony in the college listened Rainbow Dash.
"Good Morning, students." Rosemary Stem said. (She was an English teacher at the college) "Today, are going to do something different than usual. We are going to discuss this book, Romeo and Juliet . An eternal love story by William Shakespony. But, before we start this lesson, I wanted to ask, what is love? Anypony?"
When nopony raised their hoof, Rosemary sighed.
"Violet, could you tell me, what is love?" she asked her daughter.
"Love? Oh..er....I don't know." Violet chuckled nervously.
"Okay then. Hmmm, Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow jumped and dropped the spit wad she was about to shoot.
"What are you doing? Tell me, what is love?" Rosemary asked.
"Uh...love...it's....um.....uh-" Rainbow stammered.
"Oh, forget it." Rosemary rolled her eyes, while Dash's cheeks burned. "Ah, Soarin. Would you mind telling me, what is love?"
Soarin cleared his throat, and began.
"Love is friendship."
Rainbow Dash's head shot up and turned to Soarin upon hearing this.
"If she can't be my best friend," Soarin continued. "then I can't possibly love her. It's simple. Love is friendship. Okay, Mrs. Stem?"
Rosemary smiled. "Okay Soarin. What a delightful thought. Love is friendship."
Whatever Rosemary said next was droned out by Rainbow Dash's thoughts. Love is friendship? She never thought of it that way.
Violet trotted out of the classroom, and groaned when all her papers fell out of her binder. She sighed and started scooping them up. Suddenly, another baby-blue hoof reached down and helped her gather the papers. When all of the papers were sorted, Soarin held up a friendship band again.
"Do you wanna be friends?"
Violet gave a little smile, and gracefully accepted the band.
"Okay."
Soarin grinned back.
The girls dormitory was very loud. The mares were chatting loudly and styling each others manes. However, a certain technicolor pegasus was lying quietly on her own bed, lost in her thoughts. She didn't know why she was thinking these things, but couldn't do anything about it.
Something was happening.
Chapter 6-I've found somepony
A school competition was coming up, hosted at Cloudsdale College. Lots of the colleges and universities were forming routines and dances to compete with.
Stem was sleeping in his bed by himself. His wife had gone to train the routine for the competition, which was going to be held tonight.
Tring Tring Tring!
Stem groaned and reached for the phone.
"Hello," he yawned.
"Hello Stem! It's me!"
Stem's whole stance changed when he realized it was his wife.
"Oh, hello dear."
"I didn't disturb you, did I?" Rosemary asked.
"Huh, no!"
"And, even if I did, I'm sure you don't mind!" she chuckled. "Anyway, I'm phoning you to tell you that our final rehearsal has finished. Tonight, our college is going to be the best!"
"It's all because of you, Rosemary." Stem said admiringly.
"And it's all for you, Stem." Rosemary said sweetly.
"Oh, Rosemary."
"Oh, Stem." she sighed.
"Oh Rosem- AHHH! I fell out of bed!"
"And the next performance is by our very own college. Cloudsdale College! " the PA announced.
There was a big cheer in the audience. Everything was going great.
"WHAT?!" Rosemary exclaimed, backstage.
"What happened, Rose?" Stem rushed to his wife's side.
"The dancers can't get here! Some sort of big family issue or something."
"Oh, Sweet Celestia! What are we going to do? Everypony's waiting impatiently down there!"
"Quiet! You're making me panic more." Rosemary snapped, seemingly forgotten their lovey-dovey conversation earlier.
"Wait, I got it!" she suddenly yelled. "YES! "
"No." Rainbow Dash and Soarin said simultaneously when the principal and the English teacher revealed the plan to them.
"Why not?" Rosemary asked.
"How can we dance and sing on stage? We don't know anything!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"And all the students down there will eat us alive!" Soarin complained.
"Oh, come on guys!" Rosemary said. "Look, you just have to go up on that stage, we'll play some music, and all you have to do is dance and move your lips. You know, like in movies! Lip-Synch!"
"No." the two pegasi said obstinately.
Stem walked over to Rainbow Dash. "Come on, Rainbow. You aren't even a little concerned for the reputation of the college? That's very tragic. Very tragic."
He had her there. When Stem and Rosemary turned to walk away, Rainbow looked at Soarin pleadingly.
"C'mon Soarin. It's for the reputation of our college."
Soarin sighed, so Rainbow Dash gave him the cutest puppy-dog face ever, her eyes shimmering as if tears might flow any second, her lips curled into a sad little pout.
"Fine."
Rainbow grinned, and Stem and Rosemary excitedly high-fived each other.
"Hey Vi!" Rainbow walked up to her. "Come on! Come with us onstage!"
"Who, me? Oh no."
"Aw, come on, Violet! What are you saying?"
"Hey Dash." Soarin cut in. "Why are you asking her? Lets go."
He dragged Rainbow away. Violet stared after them.
Right, she would show him.
There was a huge cheer as the king and queen of the college bounded onto the stage. Rainbow grabbed the guitar while Soarin went for the drums.
"Okay, now play the music." Rosemary whispered.
"Which button?" Stem asked worriedly. "This must be it."
Rainbow quickly pretended to strum the guitar while Soarin mock-banged on the drums.
No sooner did Stem take his hoof off the button, an old song started drafting through the air. The kind your great-great-great grandma would think is old-fashioned.
"What the hell is happening?!" Soarin whispered to Rainbow frantically.
Suddenly, to answer Soarin's question, tomatoes started flying towards them, courtesy of the audience. The two pegasi tried to dodge, until suddenly the tomatoes stopped invading.
Smooth, unmistakable guitar music was wafting through the air. Everyponys' heads turned to the direction of the sound.
A mare was walking onto the stage, wearing a sparkly blue dress that went splendidly with her sapphire eyes, and an elegant contrast to her magenta mane.
Rainbow's grin stretched large while Soarin looked mesmerized.
When Violet was level with both the blue pegasi she began singing in that fabulous voice of hers.
"I've found someone... "
Soarin found his voice and sang after her. "I've found someone... "
Rainbow quickly found her cue. "I've found someone?"
Suddenly, they were launched into the catchiness of the song. The audience appreciated it too and sang along with them.
Soon, everypony was on their hooves and dancing the night away, and the three pegasi were by far the happiest.
For a while, that is. When Soarin grabbed Violet into a sort-of couple dance, Rainbow felt....weird. Like she was jealous or something. She shook her head and tried to carry on dancing, but her magenta eyes kept swiveling towards the baby blue and orange couple. Eventually, she couldn't stand it anymore and walked out of the auditorium.
Dean CloudWeather found Rainbow Dash pacing back and forth in front of the auditorium door, trying to make sense of her thoughts.
"Why, Rainbow Dash! What's the matter? Why aren't you inside?"
Rainbow wiped her eyes furiously and gave her favorite dean a wan smile.
"It- it's nothing." Rainbow lied. "I'm just...missing my mom today, I guess."
Dean CloudWeather walked over to to Dash and patted her shoulder.
"Idiot, how can you say that in my presence." she said fondly.
Rainbow threw her hooves around Dean CloudWeather and hugged her hard.
The next day, Soarin was completing an obstacle course out in the college grounds. Rainbow Dash was on the sidelines, gently cheering him on.
"Soarin! You want juice?" she said, waving the bottle of mango juice beside her.
Violet came to watch, gracefully sitting beside Rainbow Dash. Rainbow saw the way Violet sat and immediately felt embarrassed about the own way she was sitting. She shook it off and quickly diverted her attention to Soarin and the course.
"Rainbow Dash?" Violet asked. "How long have you and Soarin been best friends?"
"Since the first day of college. He challenged me to a hoof wrestle, and I beat him. Since then we're best friends! Soarin, juice!"
"So, Rainbow Dash?" Violet repeated.
"Hmm?" Dash said, without taking her eyes off the game.
"Do you love him?"
Dash turned her head in shock and astonishment. For a few moments she stared right at Violet, until Soarin came running over.
"Hi." he said nonchalantly, seeing Violet there. "Well, I'm off then."
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. Every Sunday, Soarin goes to meet his family and relatives." Dash explained to the perplexed Violet, hoping her cheeks weren't rosy red from the question Violet just asked.
"But, I don't have to go," Soarin said to Violet, hitching up his sunglasses. "If you don't want me to."
"No no! Come on, Soarin. Go meet your relatives! Come on!" Rainbow ordered.
Soarin sighed and walked away, but not before flashing his hottest white-teeth grin at Violet, which made her giggle.
A few hours later, Violet was about to leave the church, but then she was quite surprised to see...
"Please God, please help me pass my exams. I don't want to get failing marks again. Please God," Soarin muttered under his breath.
Violet chuckled, which made Soarin jump, and get very flustered.
Violet smiled sweetly and walked out of church.
A few minutes later, she was accompanied by Soarin.
"Why'd you lie about coming to church?" Violet asked. "I thought you were supposed to be meeting your relatives?"
Soarin laughed nervously. "Erm...because boys in our college never come to church. I try to keep it secret. I haven't even told Rainbow Dash."
"So, Soarin Skies comes to church every Sunday." Violet stated, and giggled again when Soarin sheepishly nodded. "How sweet!"
"Look, don't call me sweet." Soarin said, his face flushing. "Anyway, my mom said I should come to church as much as I can."
"How sweet!" Violet repeated.
Soarin gave her a mock glare but went on."My mom also used to say that a mans head bows before only three mares. Before his mother, before Princess Celestia and..."
"And?"
"And."
"And?"
Soarin gave her a small smile and flew off, leaving a perplexed Violet in his wake.
Violet was lying on her bed, lost deep in thought when suddenly she heard a tap on her window. She whirled around to find it was a baby blue pegasus.
"Huh? Soarin?" she flew to the window and pulled it open.
"Soarin? You're here?! At this time?!"
"Yes, well I couldn't sleep so I figured that you couldn't sleep either if you were thinking about me because I was thinking about you."
Violet scrunched her nose in confusion. "Huh?"
"By the way, do you like flowers more or chocolates?" Soarin asked.
"What?"
"I didn't bring anything, I'm just asking."
Violet grinned and rolled her eyes.
"Just kidding," Soarin said, pulling out a red rose from behind him.
"Thank you." Violet smiled.
"Y'know, I also have chocolates." Soarin said, getting two round cherry chocolates from behind him as well.
"Where are my manners? Come in, Soarin."
"Well, okay. If you insist." Soarin flew inside.
Violet laughed and went back to sit on her bed.
When Soarin was beside her, he saw that Violet had returned to the book she had apparently been reading.
"Hey, isn't that the book where the rich stallion falls in love with the maid he kept and his supermodel wife is heartbroken, and at the end the supermodel commits suicide, and the stallion realizes that the maid only wanted his money?" Soarin asked.
Violet turned to Soarin and groaned at all the spoilers she had just received.
"Thanks." she said dryly.
"No problem!" Soarin said, not twigging that the orange mare was being sarcastic.
"Anyway, Soarin. You didn't finish your story." Violet suddenly said.
"But I just told you." Soarin asked, perplexed. "The stallion falls in love with the maid and-"
"Not this story!" Violet interrupted. "The story you told me outside of church. That a stallion's head only bows before three women, before his mother, before Princess Celestia and..."
"And?" Soarin asked.
"And?"
"And?"
"Soarin?"
"Violet?"
"Soarin?!" Violet was starting to get irritated.
"Violet!" a voice suddenly yelled from another room.
"Dad?!" Violet exclaimed.
"Baldy." Soarin smirked.
"Shut up!" Violet glared. "C'mon Soarin, get out of here. From the window. Wait no, from the front door. No! Ugh, my dad would see you. Just go from the window!"
"Wait, Violet! I didn't finish my story that-"
"Not now, Soarin. My dad will see you!"
"A stallion's head bows before three women, before his mother-"
"Ugh, not now, Soarin!"
"Before Princess Celestia and...and...and.."
He suddenly caught hold of Violet's shoulders, causing her to stop talking.
"Shhh." Soarin whispered. Then he slowly bowed his head in front of Violet, who was silent.
"Soarin?"
Soarin looked up and grinned. "And?"
Then he quietly flew out of the open window."
Soarin was flying fast until he suddenly collided with something.
"Ouch! Ugh, Soarin! What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash groaned.
"Sorry! Actually, I was about to come looking for you."
"Me? Why?"
Soarin didn't answer. He was staring at the fabulous black night. Suddenly, a whooshing sound could be heard from a meteor gliding across the sky.
"Look, a shooting star!" Soarin exclaimed.
"Where?!" Rainbow asked.
"Not down! Up!" Soarin said, jerking her head up.
"Woah." Dash said quietly.
"Ponies say that if you wish on a star, it'll come true."
Rainbow stared at him. "Do you believe that?"
"Well, lets see." he said, closing his eyes.
Rainbow did the same, and they both muttered under their breath.
Chapter 8-Confession (Indirectly)
So, the weeks went on. Soarin fell more in love with Violet, and Rainbow Dash, unable to stop herself, was falling in love with Soarin. She didn't know how or why, but after Soarin had explained what love is, she felt something happening in her heart.
His glorious glittering emerald eyes, his slick and athletic body, his muscle tone, was nothing that attracted her, like the other mares. It was his personality, it got to her. In a way, that even she couldn't explain.
That made Rainbow queasy. She wasn't supposed to fall in love! All that sentimental sappy nonsense practically made her want to hurl. But, she couldn't help it.
She lay on her bed at night and whispered to herself.
"I'm in love with the Casanova, goofy, Soarin. I'm in love with my best friend. Sweet Celestia, help me."
Rainbow Dash couldn't take it anymore. She had to tell somepony. And who was better to tell than her trusted dean, CloudWeather.
Stem was sitting in his piano room with his daughter. He was playing some corny old love song on the instrument, which made Violet giggle.
"Dad!" she said, rolling her eyes.
"Soarin." he replied back.
"Dad?" Violet asked, trying to sound perplexed.
"What 'Dad'? You can't hide anything from me. But seriously, Soarin? Couldn't you find anypony better?"
"Oh, come on, Dad."
"Why don't you go confess your feelings for him. I know he loves you a lot to."
Violet shook her head. "No, Dad. Behind Soarin and Rainbow Dash's heavy friendship, there something else. And I don't want that to vanish because of me. Secretly, I'm sure they love each other somewhere."
"Violet, Rainbow and Soarin are just friends. That's it."
Violet pretended to be listening, but she knew that there was romantic love in store for Dash and Soarin.
"Go, tell him. Right to his face that you love him." Dean CloudWeather said.
Dash looked skeptical. "I don't know. He might just think I'm joking or something. And, I don't even know if the feeling's mutual or not."
CloudWeather gave Rainbow a kind look. "A secret should never stay in your heart. Go. tell him."
Soarin flew across the grassy fields while Rainbow Dash was flying towards him. They stopped and stared at each other.
Dash felt her heart beating fast and color rising to her cheeks. Every time she saw those emeralds gazing down at her, her heartbeats thump went 20%, no, 2000% percent faster.
Rainbow was snapped out of her thoughts when Soarin spoke.
"I love you."
Rainbow's eyes widened. "What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I love you. I never thought I'd say this to anypony. But I r-really love you. Damn!" Saorin stuttered.
Mere words could not describe how Rainbow Dash was feeling now. Use your imaginations, readers!
Soarin went on. "I-I hope I can say this to her. Every time I go to her, I open my mouth but nothing comes out. It probably looks pathetic."
Rainbow's grin faded completely. "Who 'her'?"
Soarin looked at her as if she were crazy. "Violet, of course!"
All happiness and joy dreams Rainbow was having a few seconds ago vanished instantly into thin air. She didn't know why she felt surprised. Violet was a graceful mare of elegant manners, with a smooth voice like silk. Rainbow was a rough-and-tough mare, practically one of the stallions, and her voice was raspy and quick.
Rainbow tried to shake it off lightly and laugh, then forget about it. But, she couldn't. It felt like her heart was literally breaking and ripping into a thousand pieces, as fragile as glass, delicate as paper.
"Anyway," Soarin spoke up. "Let's do this again, with me, Soarin and you, Violet. I love you."
If only he knew what he was doing to her. Rainbow felt a knife in her heart. She wanted to scream out her own feelings, but she knew it would spoil things utterly for Soarin. He looked so happy and in love. So, she managed to hold her tongue but managed to croak out:
"I love you, too."
"She'll say this, won't she?" Soarin asked, looking anxious.
"Of course!" Rainbow said, hoping her voice wasn't laced with tears.
"Ah, come here." he said, outstretching his hooves.
Rainbow didn't hesitate and hugged him hard. That split second it started pouring heavy rain.
The hug felt so good, so warm, so happy, so safe. But why were tears gathering in her eyes?
Lucky for her, Soarin didn't notice. Mainly because the rain's shower blended in with the water lacing out of her pupils.
"I should go tell her this, shouldn't I?" Soarin asked.
"Mmmhmm." Rainbow Dash croaked out. Then she pulled away from the hug and gave Soarin a big grin, though tears were still brimming.
"Thanks Dash. You're such a good friend." he beamed.
So this is what friendzone felt like. It felt absolutely horrible. But, nonetheless, Dash beamed back.
Soarin quickly slapped her hooves and tweaked her muzzle while she in return did the same. Then, after Soarin flew off, Dash let the tears go and they coursed down her cheeks.
Rainbow flew back to the dormitory as fast as she could, while the tears streamed freely.
When Rainbow got back, she was soaking wet, and tear-stained as well. She threw herself on the bed and sobbed into her pillow until she had no tears left.
She had gotten broken-hearted and friend-zoned on the same day. By her best friend, no kidding.
Why else would she be crying?
Scootaloo was on her couch with her best friends, watching Melody Magic on TV. The party was three days ago, and her best friends were hanging out (Scootaloo dismissed the word 'play' as babyish now) for a while at her house. They were eating the last of the cake before Soarin got to it.
"Hi guys! This is Melody Magic and you're watching your favorite show, The Melodigic Show!" the VJ's voice boomed into her microphone on the TV. The crowd around her cheered.
"Today, as usual. We're going to something new and something different. Today's we are going to play a game!
"Oooooooooooh!" everyone oohed behind her.
The three fillies cheered. The best Melodigic Shows were the ones with games.
"Anyway, here are the game rules." Melody continued. "I am going to ask somepony a word, and they have to say the very first thing that pops into their mind. But, you won't be given time to think! Okay, let's start with you!"
Melody pointed to a blue stallion.
"Hmm, lets see." Melody thought out loud. "Love!"
"Flower Pattern!" the stallion said.
"What? You love me!" said the mare beside him, who was clearly Flower Pattern.
"Yay!"
Scootaloo's face suddenly lit up.
"That's it!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Huh? Oh, nothing."
The yellow earth pony shrugged and returned her attention to the television.
This is going to work. Scootaloo thought to herself. She needed some help from Cumulus, but that was okay. Scootaloo knew she could count on her brother-in-law's...um...mother.
"Stupid game. Stupid Melody." Soarin said, after Scootaloo explained the game to him. He was fiddling with the tie on his neck. The family was going to visit Violet's grave. It was her ten-year death anniversary today.
"Soarin, don't you dare call Melody stupid, okay?" Scootaloo said threateningly.
"Okay, I won't call your Melody Magic stupid." Soarin said, pulling Scootaloo onto his back to give her a piggyback.
"Lets start the game, then." Soarin said.
"Okay. Ready, set, go!" Scootaloo said loudly. "Sexy!"
"Uh...Mom!" Soarin smirked.
Cumulus gasped and swatted him. "Hush your filthy mouth!"
Scootaloo laughed and went on.
"Hmm....crazy?"
"You!"
"Love?"
"Friendship."
"Cloudsdale?"
"College."
"Clouds?"
"Rain."
"Rainbow?"
"Dash!" Soarin blurted out, before he had time to analyze what he had said.
"Dash?" Scootaloo asked, pretending innocence. "Who's Rainbow Dash?"
"Nopony." Soarin said.
"Who is she?" Cumulus asked, walking up behind.
"C'mon Soarin. Please!"
"Okay, but only because you said 'please'." Soarin gave in. "Rainbow Dash used to study with me in college. She was my friend."
Scootaloo and Cumulus raised there eyebrows and smirked.
"My best friend." Soarin continued, seemingly oblivious to his mother and sister-in-law's grinning.
"How was she, Soarin? Like, how was her personality?" Scootaloo asked.
"Rainbow Dash. She wasn't like the other mares at the college. She was just....like us stallions."
"There Rainbow. I think the barrette will stay in your mane now." Rarity said, wiping away some sweat with her handkerchief.
"Thanks, Rare." said mare grinned.
"All the other mares wore pounds of makeup." Soarin sighed nostalgically. "And, Rainbow Dash....she played basketball."
"Oh, Dash. You look amazing!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Wonderific!" Pinkie bounced.
"Breathtaking." Fluttershy breathed.
"You look astoudin' , girl." Applejack smiled.
"Yeah, tell me something I don't know." Rainbow smirked.
Rainbow's friends rolled their eyes.
"She'll never change." Twilight groaned.
"I'm kidding, guys! Thanks though."
"For all the other mares, it was second nature." Soarin went on. "Mane-Styling, hooficures, makeovers, Rainbow didn't know how to do any of them."
There was silence for a moment, then Soarin spoke up again.
"Is that it, or do you want to know more?" Soarin asked the orange filly.
"Soarin, where is she?" Scootaloo asked solemnly.
Soarin was quiet again, but then spoke out.
"I don't know."
Firefly bustled into the room where all the six mares were sitting. She beamed and sighed proudly at her multi-colored daughter.
Rainbow was indeed, looking breathtaking. She was wearing an ivory dress with gold trimmed net at the edges. She was also wearing the diamond necklace her mother had given. She was wearing light make-up, but it still had a glowing effect. Her mane was curled and, as Rarity had implied, had a white rose barrette on it.
Dash put her hoof up to scratch her mane before Rarity slapped it back.
"You'll ruin your mane!" Rarity hissed.
Firefly chuckled. "Rainbow Dash, I just can't believe it's your engagement party today! Oh, my little girl has grown up so fast."
Rainbow blushed while her friends giggled.
"Mooooom ." Rainbow groaned.
"Well, c'mon Rainbow. Your soon-to-be-groom is waiting down at the party hall!" Firefly said, seemingly about to leave the room.
Rainbow gave a faint smile to her mother. "Tell him to wait. This bride will take time."
When Rainbow was ready, Twilight grabbed one of her hooves and Applejack the other, and they ran down the stairs. Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity ran beside them, all of them beaming with joy. They made it to the bottom where Rainbow's fiance was waiting.
Cheese Sandwich was standing in the middle of the room, wearing a black tux and a silk red bow tie. His smile increased in volume when he saw the sky-blue mare. He had been hopelessly in love with her for a while now, and had finally brought up the courage to propose to her a month ago.
Rainbow had accepted, for she liked Cheese a lot. But whenever she looked at him, she couldn't feel anything happen in her heart. She hadn't told anyone about her feelings, not even her parents.
Cheese grabbed Rainbow Dash and pulled her into a waltz along with the music.
"Cheese!" Rainbow protested, but eventually got into the flow of the music.
Near the fruit punch table, Pinkie Pie watched a little wistfully at the couple. They looked so happy together, and Pinkie wasn't going to ruin their relationship at all. She tried to be happy for her friend, but there was a pang of jealousy somewhere in her heart.
Applejack came over. "Hey Pinks. Why aren't you dancin'? Is something the matter?"
Pinkie shook her head. "No AJ. I'm fine, really. You go on and dance."
The farm mare narrowed her eyes. "I can tell when you're lyin', sugarcube. Tell me, what's wrong."
When Pinkie said nothing (which made Applejack even more suspicious, because Pinkie usually chattered nine to the dozen) Applejack followed her gaze.
"I understand, Pinkie." Applejack said softly.
Pinkie gave Applejack a proper grin. "Don't worry at all, Applejack. I'm absotively, positutely, indeed-a-rooni.......um........positive that I'm fine!"
Applejack put her hoof around the pink party planner. "C'mon Pinkie. Lets dance!"
After a while and a few more songs, it was time for the rings to be slid onto each hoof. Cheese slid the diamond ring with little ruby chips scattered around it, onto Rainbow's hoof, and she in return, slid a gold ring with swirled designed etched onto it.
The engagement party went on, while Firefly and Rainbow Blaze went to discuss the date of the marriage with the wedding planner.
"So, Mr. Chain. Have you found a suitable date yet? I was wondering if we could perhaps have it sometime in the next month?" Firefly asked.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Firefly," Key Chain said. "There is going to be jam-packed weddings everyday of next month."
"Oh," Rainbow Blaze deadpanned, not wanting to admit that he was secretly happy to have his only daughter around for a while longer.
'So, the month after the next month then?"
"Hmm, there is a free date on 15th of September."
Firefly and Blaze looked at each other, the spoke in unison.
"Okay."
Scootaloo had done as much research as she could with Cumulus, although she grumbled about how boring and tedious research was.
She had found where Dean CloudWeather was, and visited there with her sort-of mother-in-law.
Dean CloudWeather was touched when she had heard the whole story from the ten-year-old filly and ruffled her mane.
"I'm so so sorry, Scootaloo." she said softly. "But, I'm afraid there is a problem."
"What?" Scootaloo's ears perked up.
"She's having her engagement party today. And in a couple months, her marriage too. I'm so terribly sorry, dear."
Scootaloo screwed up her face. No, this wasn't going to happen. The marriage won't happen. She had to do this. She had too.
"Um, excuse me, Dean CloudWeather?"
"Yes?"
"I don't suppose I could have her home number, could I?"
Rainbow sat on her bed, her hooves hurting after all the dancing. She was unraveling her mane and flicking it back to it's normal style, while her mother gently plucked out the barrette and confetti from her mane.
"Dashie?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes a little, but since nopony was there to witness this, she replied without turning to look at her mother.
"Yeah, Mom?"
"Are you truly happy?"
Rainbow turned her head and stared straight into her mother's blue eyes. Then she got up and paced around her room.
"What kind of question is that, Mom?!Of course I'm happy. I had an engagement party today. In a few months, a wedding. Cheese is a very nice stallion. He loves me a lot-"
"But do you love him?" Firefly cut in.
Rainbow paused and sat back down again.
"I've already fallen in love before, Mom. I'm not sure I can do it again." Rainbow said finally. "Just think of this-" she gestured to her ring. "as a compromise?"
"Compromise?!" Firefly exclaimed.
Rainbow bit her lip. She hadn't expected to see her mom this shocked.
"My own daughter getting married based on a compromise. I never thought-Oh Rainbow. Everypony wants a home to live in, in peace and happiness with their spouse. But a home based on a compromised marriage isn't a home , Dashie. It's just a house."
The next morning, Rainbow and Cheese walked down the stairs to another party in the same hall. They had to meet a few people and discuss important wedding matters with Key Chain.
When they had got to the bottom, Cheese suddenly turned around.
"I can't do this." he moaned.
"C'mon Cheese." Rainbow said. "We're supposed to discuss wedding matters with this Key Chain."
"I'd sooner hang him with his own chain. I mean, the dude delayed my wedding!"
Rainbow giggled. "Come on, you."
Firefly came running up.
"Rainbow Dash, there's a telephone for you." she said to her daughter.
"Hello? Hello?" Rainbow spoke into the phone. She was starting to get impatient.
"Hello?" Rainbow asked irritably.
"Hello," a voice said behind her.
"Hello?" Rainbow repeated.
"I love you." the voice behind her whispered. Rainbow turned around in surprise.
"Cheese." Rainbow rolled her eyes and returned to the phone.
"Hello?!"
Cheese pulled the phone away from her.
"I have a problem."
Rainbow raised her eyebrows."What now?"
"Why are you always leaving me and your friends every summer?"
Rainbow sighed. "You know I go to Summer Camp in Rainbow Falls as a coordinator every year. Those kids are a part of my life now, as sappy as that sounds."
"Oh, now they're a part of your life, too. Now, here I am all alone." he mocked sadness and made huge green puppy-dog eyes.
Rainbow chuckled and was about to return to the phone when Cheese chimed in with another question.
"Why do I get the feeling that you don't love me?"
Rainbow's heart thumped but she managed to give a smooth answer. "Because I don't."
"And you don't want to marry me?"
"Yep."
"Hey, it's taken me a while to propose to you. Any temper tantrums or funny business, and I'll forcefully drag you to the altar."
"You'll force me?" Rainbow stared at him in a way that Rarity could only do.
"Looks like I'll have to."
"Have the guts?" Rainbow smirked.
"I'll make some. Besides, if I can handle a humongous Goof-Off against Pinkie Pie, I can drag one whiny mare to an altar."
Cheese started walking away.
"I can drag you to an altar, but I can't force you to give up your Summer month. You go to your Summer Camp and have fun 'kay?" he called over his shoulder.
On the other end of the phone, Scootaloo and Cumulus grinned.
"Summer Camp!" Scootaloo exclaimed happily.
"And in Rainbow Falls!" Cumulus said gleefully. "Thank goodness it's not that far away."
"Soarin will definitely say yes to this!"
"What? Summer Camp? In Rainbow Falls?!" Soarin asked, astonished."No, no, no, no, no, Scootaloo. It gets very cold there."
"Soarin, it's a Summer Camp!" Scootaloo rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Listen, you are not going." Soarin said firmly as he looked for his black tie. "Where is that darn tie?"
"Come on, Soarin. They teach singing and dancing there. And you know how much I like singing and dancing."
"Since when do you like singing and dancing."
"I've sung in a school talent show, remember?"
Soarin cringed at the memory. "Look, stop arguing with me. You are not going, and that's final." he started walking away.
"C'mon Soarin It's not fair!"
Cumulus grabbed Soarin's tie and tossed it to him.
"Come on, son. Let her go. I'll go with her too."
"Mom, I'll handle this, okay?" Soarin gritted his teeth back.
"Pleeeeeaaaasssssseeee." Scootaloo begged. "Please let me go. I love singing and dancing! I want to go!" Scootaloo said, making a sad puppy-dog eye face, a technique which Sweetie Belle had taught her.
"No."
"Why?!"
"Quiet!" Soarin snapped.
Scootaloo was shocked into silence. She hadn't expected Soarin to get this mad.
"I said you can't go once, so you can't go! There is absolutely no need for arguing. Now, no one is going to Summer Camp, not you or you!"
Soarin barked, gesturing to his mother and sister-in-law.
Scootaloo stared at the ground, not responding.
"You understand?" Soarin said, losing some traces of anger. "Good, good."
Then he saw Scootaloo's face and walked over to her.
"Felt bad?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
Scootaloo performed the Make-Up Hoof-Bump but not with her usual enthusiasm.
"It's okay."
"Good." Soarin smiled and ruffled her hair.
Suddenly, the gentle mood vanished. "But that does not mean you are going to Summer Camp. Now, I'm going to a conference, we will talk when I get back. Goodbye."
When Soarin was out, Cumulus walked over to Scootaloo.
"Scoots, we'll go to Summer Camp, no problem. But how is your brother-in-law going to come too?" she asked anxiously.
"Oh come on, Aunty. Remember, when Soarin had to go to Manehatten for some trip thingy for three weeks, and I got a very bad case of strep throat and winter flu?"
"Oh yes. That was terrible." Cumulus nodded at the memory.
"Aunty , did you see the point. Soarin came back the very next day after you told him."
Cumulus thought for a moment, then her face suddenly lit up.
"Oh!"
Scootaloo giggled.
Dear Soarin,
Me and Aunt Cumulus Aunt Cumulus and I went to Summer Camp. Please don't be angry with us, but you know how much I've loved singing and dancing. Don't miss me too much, okay?
Love from,
Scootaloo
Soarin groaned when he read the letter. But he couldn't do anything now, they were probably at Rainbow Falls already.
"No, I can't go after them." he said to himself, then groaned. "Scootaloo! "
"Good Morning. kids! Welcome to Camp Falls!" the camp coordinator bellowed loudly to ensure everyone had heard him. "My name is Fluffy Clouds and I am your coordinator! Please stand in a line and come turn by turn onto the scale so I can check your weight."
So far the weighing was going fine.
"Weighs 35 kg, okay. Weighs 37 kg, okay. Weighs 81 kg oka-" he stared at the number on the scale.
"What child is this?" he muttered in astonishment, then his eyes fell upon the middle-aged mare on the scale.
"Who are you?!" he asked suspiciously.
"Me? Oh, I'm Aunty Cumulus. And who are you?" she countered, looking him up and down.
"Who's Aunty? And I am the counsellor of the camp."
"I'm Scootaloo's Aunty."
"Hey, there is no Mummy, Daddy, Aunty, Uncle allowed in this camp!" he said fiercely.
"Oh, so you think I was going to let Scootaloo come here alone, huh?"
Scootaloo walked along the path leading to the dormitories of the camp and she stopped short upon seeing a mare. Not just any mare, but the mare she was looking for.
She was wearing a Camp Falls sweatshirt, but it was tight, and you could quite tell it was a mare. Her mane was all the vibrant colors of the rainbow, and it elegantly coordinated with her sky blue coat. Her eyes were an amazing color, magenta. The color of raspberries or beautiful pink roses.
Yes, this was certainly Rainbow Dash. She was greeting the kids into camp with a little hug or mane ruffle, and a name inquiry.
"Hey, what's your name?" she asked a little colt with a grey coat, blown back black mane, and light purple eyes.
"Rumble." the colt squeaked.
"Well, welcome to Camp Falls, Rumble. You better enjoy it here!" Rainbow gave him a warm smile.
Rumble just nodded and ran off, and Scootaloo excitedly approached the mare, though she tried to keep her demeanor calm.
Chapter 13-Rainbow Dash finds out
"Hi! What's your name? I'm Rainbow Dash" Rainbow Dash asked, extending her hoof.
"Scootaloo." she replied.
Rainbow paused for a moment. 'Scootaloo' was a name she had always loved, she had even considered naming her own child that, if she ever had one. She was a bit surprised, granted that somepony else had chosen the name, but she beamed wide.
"Scootaloo? That's my favorite name! Awesome!"
"Why is your name Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo blurted out suddenly.
"Um.....perhaps my parents liked the name, and my mane is a dead giveaway." Rainbow chuckled. "Why is your name Scootaloo?"
"Perhaps my parents liked you." Scootaloo said and quickly ran off towards the dormitories.
Rainbow stared after her. She pondered for a moment, what could have the filly's words meant, shrugged and was about to start walking to her own room.
"Ugh!" Cumulus asked, peering around."Where is that Flurry- Fluffy Clouds-" she suddenly gasped, and stared at Rainbow Dash.
"Er....hello?"she said, smiling nervously.
Cumulus walked over and gently cupped her chin, then recovered from this spell and continued to find Fluffy Clouds.
Rainbow was still perplexed, but sighed and went back to her room.
That night, Rainbow decided to pop into the dormitories and say goodnight, and was surprised to see Rumble out.
"Counting stars?" she asked softly.
When Rumble didn't answer, she asked louder. "Counting stars?"
After still no reply, she walked away, coming to a conclusion on who to check on next, but not before calling out:
"Good night, Fluffy Clouds!"
"Good night! Manehatten bridge is falling down, falling down-" he suddenly stopped short when he saw the grey colt.
"Dear God, how are you, hm? Please keep my brother happy, and make sure he doesn't miss me too much." Scootaloo prayed out loud.
Rainbow silently walked into the room and watched her, amused.
"You know, he can't do anything without me. please take care of him, okay?" Scootaloo smiled and opened her eyes.
"Got you." Rainbow smirked.
Scootaloo whirled around in surprise. "Oh, Miss Dash, hi."
"Hm," Rainbow frowned. "All the prayers for your brother, none for your parents, or other siblings, if you have?"
Scootaloo gave her a sad smile. "Now, what do I ask from God for my parents and sister?"
Rainbow looked confused, so Scootaloo went on.
"They're with Him anyway. Whatever they need to ask, they can ask themselves." Scootaloo reached for the picture of her sister and hugged it tight.
Rainbow's smile faded. She walked over to the filly and gave her a tiny hug.
"Hey, now go to sleep, okay? Sweet dreams." Rainbow patted her back and walked out quietly.
As soon as Rainbow reached her room, she grabbed the TV remote and turned the TV on.
"Hi guys! This is Melody Magic and you're watching your favorite show, The Melodigic Show!" Melody announced into her microphne. "Today's show theme is Messages! I'll choose some random pony here, and they are going to say their message for someone they love, or hate, or whatever. Okay, let's start with......you!" she pointed at a purple stallion
"Who's your message for, gentlecolt?"
"Minty Mare." The stallion replied.
"Who's Minty Mare?" Melody asked.
"She's my girlfriend."
There was a lot of ooooohing from the crowd.
"Okay, well. What's your message?"
"Minty Mare, please don't call me. I've found somepony else." the stallion said, wrapping his hoof around the mare next to him.
The crowd all gaped and Melody chuckled.
"Anymore messages! Aha! You, good sir!"
"Y-yeah. I have a message." the stallion stammered.
Rainbow grunted. She couldn't see the face of this stallion because he was facing opposite the camera.
"Okay! Who's your message for? Oh, and please turn around." Melody said.
"Scootaloo." the stallion said, obediently turning around.
Rainbow's eyes almost popped out when she saw who it was.
"Scootaloo, I love you a lot. Where have you gone. Just come back, please." Soarin said, looking heartbroken.
Rainbow's brain felt like it was broken. Scootaloo. No, it couldn't be the same Scootaloo. It must be someone else.
"Who's Scootaloo?" Melody said, snapping Rainbow out of her thoughts.
"Scootaloo's my ten year old sister-in-law." Soarin said. "She's gone to some stupid Summer Camp in Rainbow Falls."
Rainbow didn't waste a second. She flew as fast as she could to Scootaloo's dormitory and gently eased the picture out of the sleeping filly's hooves. Sure enough, the picture was of Violet Peach.
Rainbow stared at the picture for a moment, then hugged the picture tightly. She couldn't stop a tear trickling down her cheek.
Violet was dead. So were her parents. Scootaloo had to live with Soarin, and he was bringing her up single-hoofedly.
Rainbow Dash reached out and ruffled Scootaloo's magenta locks.
Soarin plonked onto his armchair when he got home. After cleaning up the whole Wonderbolt compound (his flying skills were lacking today, because he was worried about Scootaloo) and reaching the crowded area where Melody Magic was, he was glad to get home.
He saw messages clicking on voicemail, and clicked the button to see who they was from.
"Soarin, your meeting with the rest of the Wonderbolts is scheduled for next Thursday, at 2:30 pm. " a female voice said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Soarin muttered.
"Hi Soarin! It's Scootaloo. I'm calling becaus-AAACHOOOOO! "
Soarin stared at the phone in horror. "A cold?!"
Scootaloo grinned happily in the cafeteria hall as she chomped her breakfast. She was deeply lost in her own thoughts that she jumped when a grey colt sat next to her.
"Hi!" she whispered.
Rumble just nodded back.
"You don't say much, do you?" Scootaloo wondered out loud.
Rumble responded with a little head shake.
"You look quite excited. What happened?" Rumble whispered suddenly.
"Oh, nothing." she said, because she wanted to keep her plans a secret.
"Okay kids! Are you done with your breakfast?" Rainbow asked. When she got nods and "Mmhms" and "Yes" in return, she grinned. "Good! Because we are going to do some exercise, outside!"
A chorus of groans and moans filled the air, save for a few colts and one certain filly.
Soarin cheered as he got to the Summer Camp gates. It had taken him 3 hours to get there, involving some screaming fangirls, weather conditions, etc. etc. etc. etc.
He flew as fast as he could to the area where his sister-in-law could be.
Most of the fillies and colts were gulping down as much water to fill an entire ocean. Rainbow chuckled.
"C'mon guys! You haven't been exercising that much! Just some jogging and sit-ups!"
Scootaloo was drinking water too. She had to admit, sit-ups were tiring.
Rainbow flew over to her. "Hey squirt! You were pretty impressive out there!"
Scootaloo blushed. "Thanks! But I'm nowhere near as good as you."
Rainbow grinned smugly. "That's true. But you've got potential, I reckon you could be practically as good as me when you grow up."
Coming from Rainbow Dash, that was a big compliment. Scootaloo threw her hooves around Rainbow's neck and hugged her hard.
Rainbow stepped back, a little startled, but returned the hug back warmly.
Suddenly, a baby-blue pegasus came flying in.
"Scootaloo!"
Everypony's heads craned around in surprise. Rainbow and Scootaloo's heads practically popped off their shoulders.
Soarin's mouth stayed completely open when he locked eyes with magenta ones. Rainbow's heart beat harder than ever before when the glorious glittering green emeralds stared at her.
Scootaloo's grin, meanwhile, threatened to rip right of her face, it was so big.
"Uh....um...hi." Soarin stammered, forgetting the reason he was here in the first place.
A smile flickered on Rainbow's face, and she walked towards him, and he did too.
Soarin still couldn't believe it was her. Back in college, Rainbow's mane was always rather unkempt, and she often flew and bounced around energetically. Now, her mane was slightly longer, and more under control. She was also acting rather graceful.
Both of them stood there, at a loss for words. Soarin wanted to throw his hooves around her, but for some reason, he was feeling rather shy.
Eventually, Rainbow spoke. "Nice uniform."
Soarin peered down, aware that he still had his Wonderbolts uniform on, and chuckled embarassedly.
Rainbow giggled too.
Rainbow stared at the stars, they were gleaming perfectly today. Soarin flew silently over to her, and Rainbow jumped and chuckled.
"Rainbow Dash?" Soarin asked, after a moment of silence. "Are you feeling well?"
"Yeah, why?"Rainbow tilted her head, confused.
"Because you're looking so beautiful, that's why."
Rainbow flushed heavily, but laughed and nudged him hard.
Suddenly, the mood became solemn "I......didn't know about Violet. I'm sorry." she said, gently touching Soarin's hoof.
"How would've you known? You just vanished."
Rainbow flinched, but smiled wanly. "You didn't get married again?"
Soarin was silent for a moment. "I didn't find you, did I? Otherwise I could've married you." he said, and Rainbow felt heat on her cheeks again.
"You didn't get married again?" Soarin asked suddenly.
"I didn't find you, did I?" Rainbow smirked, deciding to not tell him about Cheese yet.
Soarin suddenly stared up at the sky. "Hey, a shooting star!"
Rainbow gave him a sideways glance. "You still believe that?"
"Nah." Soarin denied.
Nonetheless, both pegasi turned their heads around and murmured under their breath.
When they turned back, Rainbow gave Soarin a beaming smile.
"Right, um..goodnight." she said, jumping up and trotting away.
"Rainbow?" Soarin called.
"Yeah?" Rainbow turned around.
"What did you wish for?"
Rainbow just gave him a sly grin and walked off to her room. "Goodnight."
Soarin sighed. "Goodnight."
He remembered how obstinate she was, so he shrugged and flew to the room that he was going to stay in.
Meanwhile, Scootaloo groaned from inside a bush where she was spying, and quickly ran off to find her Aunt Cumulus.
"Aunt Cumulus!" Scootaloo hissed urgently.
"What happened?" she whispered.
"It's a big problem. They both are acting like they've met for the first time! 'Goodnight Soarin.' 'Goodnight Rainbow' What do we do?"
Cumulus tapped her chin in thought, and they both started pacing around in agitation.
Scootaloo suddenly tripped over a basketball. She stared at it hard and smiled.
"I've got it!"
"Okay kids!" Rainbow came to the art table where all the fillies and colts were sitting."Today you are going to write letters to your parents. They're complaining that they aren't hearing back from you. So okay, here you go, Rumble. Yep, write a letter to your parents. C'mon Scootaloo, write a letter to your parents-"
Rainbow instantly felt regret for what had blurted out of her mouth, and felt more remorseful when Scootaloo quickly left the room.
Later, Scootaloo was sitting outside, clutching Violet's picture tight. Rainbow flew over to her and sat down. Scootaloo glanced up at her, but Rainbow wasn't looking at her, she was looking at the picture in Scootaloo's hooves.
"Hi Violet." Rainbow started. "If you were here today, you could proudly say that Scootaloo is your sister, because she's spunky, spirited, and brave, y'know?"
Scootaloo blushed at the compliments but kept her eyes on the sky.
"But," Rainbow continued. "Do you know the best thing about her? That she's just like you."
Scootaloo ears perked up and she looked and Rainbow properly.
"Same hair, same coat, same stance." Rainbow grinned.
Scootaloo felt a huge ball of happiness inside her, For years, she wanted someone to say the words Rainbow had said. Scootaloo threw her arms around the sky-blue mare and hugged her tight.
Rainbow ruffled her mane and hugged her back warmly.
Meanwhile, where Soarin was watching this scene, he was dabbing at his eyes. Cumulus came walking up to him and put her hoof on his shoulder.
"I don't find this family incomplete anymore y'know?" Cumulus smiled.
Soarin just nodded.
"Hi guys!" Scootaloo stood on the little stage in the middle of the big gazebo that were in."Right now, we're going to play a game."
There were several cheers from the ponies surrounding her. Rainbow had let Scootaloo decide a game for tonight, and the other coordinators agreed.
"We're going to play Movie Charades. This game will have two teams. Team A" -here she pointed to said team, which consisted of Rainbow, Soarin and half the fillies and colts- "and here Team B." - Team B had consisted of Fluffy Clouds, Cumulus, and the remaining amount of kids.
"The rules are simple." Scootaloo went on. "One team member will whisper a movie's name in the another member from the opposite team's ear. Then they have to come to the middle of the stage and act out the movie without words to the rest of their team, and therest of the team have to guess. The team who guesses the most movies wins. Okay, lets start with Team A."
Cumulus came and whispered a movie name that made Rainbow's mouth drop open, "But, how can I-"
"C'mon Rainbow, do it!" Soarin called and the rest of the team cheered.
"Okay, okay. It's, you know, something like this-"
"You can't talk, that's cheating!" Fluffy Clouds called.
"C'mon Rainbow, " Soarin repeated. "You can't even do this?"
Right. Rainbow twisted her mouth into a sexy pout and ran her hooves through her mane roughly yet seductively.
Soarin's jaw practically thwacked the floor . He saw Rumble next to him and put his hoof onto the colt's eyes, but Rumble stubbornly threw it off again.
" 'The Colorful One!' " a filly piped up.
Rainbow stopped and grinned. "That's right."
When Rainbow found her way back to her seat, Soarin was still staring at her.
"What?" Rainbow questioned, giggling when she saw his face.
"Er....that dance...yeah...it was very sexy." Soarin blurted out.
Rainbow blushed. "Um....thanks."
After a few more movie guesses, it was appearing that the teams were tied.
Scootaloo walked over to the standing Soarin and whispered " 'I Love You' " in his ear.
"There is no such film, Scootaloo." Soarin sighed.
"There is, Soarin." Scootaloo insisted.
"I haven't seen any such movie." Soarin said sternly.
Scootaloo had already walked back to her seat.
Soarin faced his team nervously. "Uh...um..it's like...um" Soarin waved his hooves around and made them meet.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
Soarin continued the gestures, but no one got them at all.
Rumble facepalmed. He walked over to Soarin and tugged him down to his level.
"What?" Soarin asked.
Rumble gestured himself to ask him to whisper in his ear.
Soarin caught on. "Oh okay. The movie name is 'I Love You'." he whispered. "How do I do this?"
Rumble took hold of Soarin's hoof and brought it to his own chest, then back to Soarin's.
Rainbow blinked. "Can you do that again?"
Rumble repeated the exercise, while the perplexed Soarin stared at him.
" 'I Love You'! " Rainbow suddenly said.
Rumble nodded and flew back to his seat.
"You couldn't even do that?" Rainbow asked Soarin.
Scoarin chuckled awkwardly. "I couldn't."
"If you did we could have won, right?" Rainbow wasn't smiling back.
Soarin was about to say something, when a heavy downpour of rain came down on them. The gazebo had a huge hole in the roof and rain was pouring through it.
Everypony ran to take cover in the dormitories. Rainbow grabbed an umbrella and stared at Soarin standing underneath the hole and getting wet, seemingly enjoying himself. Rainbow ran over to him.
"Are you mad, you idiot?!" Rainbow held the umbrella over him. The heavy wind suddenly snatched the umbrella out of Rainbow's hooves.
Soarin took her hoof. "C'mon, I know a place."
They flew along to another smaller gazebo where it was dry. Rainbow and Soarin panted and gasped by the time they reached there.
When they had recovered, Soarin held his hoof out to Rainbow.
Rainbow tilted her head, confused, so Soarin demonstrated a dancing gesture.
Rainbow raised her eyeborws. "No music." she whispered.
Soarin lifted his soaking hoof. He tapped thin air gently, as if playing a piano. Music suddenly started floating through the air, which would have been deaf to anypony else.
Rainbow took his hoof carefully and Soarin pulled her right onto him. They started the flow into the waltz and Soarin twirled her around a few times. Rainbow smiled, enjoying the sensation of being in his hooves. When Rainbow's back was turned, Soarin carefully ran his hooves over Dash's body, elegantly outlining her body shape, while Rainbow shivered, not that she was complaining or anything.
Then after a few more steps, Soarin lowered Dash slightly and ran his lips up her neck. Rainbow was in such bliss, she kept her eyes closed with pleasure. When she opened her eyes, she lifted her hoof to stroke Soarin's face when she saw-
The diamond and ruby ring gleaming on her hoof.
Rainbow dropped her hoof immediately.
What was she doing? She was engaged to somepony else! She instantly felt a huge pang of disloyalty in her.
Rainbow pulled sharply away from Soarin and felt tears gathering in her eyes. Soarin stared at her, in shock and bemusement.
Before he could say anything, Rainbow flew away as fast as she could, leaving Soarin standing alone.
Rainbow flew and flew, until she reached a tree near the camp and could not fly any further.
Rainbow sobbed, leaning against the tree, when she felt a pair of hooves around her waist.
"I love you." Rainbow whispered in a voice that could be heard above the pouring rain. "I love you so much."
"Hey, I love you too." The stallion replied.
Rainbow jumped, and could just about make out a curly brown head and orange coat and green eyes.
Yep, this was her fiance.
Chapter 17-You won't understand
Soarin flew back to the main hall of the camp. There were several leaks through the ceiling and all the kids around him were putting buckets everywhere.
"Hey Mom? Have you seen Rainbow Dash?" Soarin asked anxiously. He was worried he might have done something to upset her.
"Wasn't she with you?" Cumulus said.
Suddenly, the door opened and Rainbow walked in.
"Hey...uh..Rainbow? I kind of wanted to talk to you. Actually, I wanted to talk to you there but you just ran off and-"
Cheese walked inside, his normal cheery grin plastered on his face. When he saw Soarin, his mouth dropped open.
"Rainbow-ow D-Dash? Isn't this SOARIN SKIES OF THE WOOOOOOONDERBOLTS!"
Rainbow smiled wanly. "It is."
"Wow! Like O-M-GOODIE GUMDROPS! Can I have your autograph?"
Soarin grinned nervously. "Um....sure? Might I ask who you are?"
"I'm Cheese Sandwich." he held out his hoof smoothly and shook Soarin's heartily.
"He's my fiance." Rainbow said, in a voice barely above a whisper.
Scootaloo walked over and squeezed Soarin's hoof.
No, I need a new plan.
Soarin was shooting hoops in the basketball court while everypony was asleep. Or so he thought everypony.
"Wow, dude! You are amazing at basketball!" A bouncy voice said.
"I am? Well, thank you." Soarin replied modestly. 'But I've lost before."
"You have? I don't believe it. Who won, then?"
"Rainbow Dash." was Soarin's direct answer.
"Oh yeah! You two used to study in college together right? How was she back then? Like who were her friends?"
"She was the life of the college. Everypony brought their problems to her." Soarin said.
"Really? Okay, now I've brought a problem to her."
Soarin chuckled. "What is your problem?"
"Well, my problem is I love her very much, y'know?"
Soarin was silent for a moment then replied "Yeah, I know."
Cheese smiled delightedly. "Anyway, it took me ages to finally convince her to marry me. I don't want to force her into anything she doesn't want to, but she keeps insisting it's fine."
Soarin patted his shoulder. "Well, buddy. I'm not sure if I can help you there, but I hope you and Rainbow will be happy together.
Cheese blinked twice, then threw his hooves around Soarin, who stepped back nervously.
"Thank youuuuuu!" Cheese jumped off of Soarin and started walking away. "See ya!"
Soarin stared after him. He was a great guy. Rainbow would be happy with him.
Cumulus walked into Rainbow's dorm the next morning, where she was lying on her bed, contemplating.
"Hey Rainbow." Cumulus patted her hoof.
"Hi ma'am." Rainbow replied.
Cumulus smiled. "No need for formalities, dear."
Rainbow sat up and smiled wearily at the white pegasus mare.
"Anyway, Rainbow dear. I needed to talk to you."
"Yes?"
"I know you're feeling torn right now. My bit of advice is you should say your true feelings, Rainbow. From the heart."
Rainbow was quiet for a moment, then spoke up. "Sometimes, saying a thing from the heart, can break the heart."
"If you don't, will it stay fixed, hm?" Cumulus asked gently, and Rainbow flinched a bit.
"Take time to think about it." she patted Rainbow's hoof and walked out of the room.
"Congratulations and Celebrations! We wish Miss Dash a happy wedded life!" all the kids cheered, while Rainbow herself stared at them with a deadpanned expression.
"Congratulations!" Soarin came flying up, a cheery look on his face. "Hey, Dash. You didn't even tell me, you're getting married! And here I thought nopony would marry you anyway." he joked, and Rainbow just stared at him.
"You're happy, aren't you?"
"Having heard this news, are you happy?" Rainbow asked him.
"I'm very happy, why?" Soarin lied, keeping his cheerful expression on.
"Then why should I be happy?"
Soarin blinked. "I didn't understand."
"Something happens, Soarin. You won't understand." Rainbow said somewhat cryptically, and walked off.
Soarin stared after her.
Talk about deja vu.
Scootaloo laughed after hearing the tale about Cheese's pickle juice fiasco. She suddenly reached out and took hold of one of the pictures from the engagement.
"Hey Uncle Cheese? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure kiddo! Ask away!"
"Why are you marrying Rainbow Dash?" she asked.
"Why? Is there a problem?" Cheese was suddenly serious.
"Yes, there is. See, it's very simple."
"Explain." Cheese requested, amused.
"You're very handsome, right? So good-looking!" Scootaloo grinned at him.
"Thank you so much, Scoots." Cheese ruffled her mane fondly.
"But Rainbow Dash isn't so good-looking, is she?" Scootaloo asked, feeling a bit disloyal, but she was doing it part of the plan.
Cheese wasn't sure how to answer, so Scootaloo spoke up again.
"Y'know, you could get any lady you wanted?"
"Really? Then will you marry me, Scootaloo?"
"Me? Oh no, no."
"Why? Am I that bad?" Cheese asked, putting on a puppy-dog face.
Scootaloo giggled.
"Then you will have to find the perfect girl for me." Cheese said.
"I've already found one!"
"Who?"
"Her!" Scootaloo was gesturing towards the picture Rainbow had of her 5 best friends, and was seemingly pointing to the pink poofy one. When Rainbow talked about her friends, she described Pinkie Pie like Cheese genderbent!
"Heh, not bad Scoots. Then what about Rainbow Dash?" he was still humoring her. "You'll need to find a stallion for her, too."
"I found one. Shall I tell you."
"No thanks."
"I'll tell you."
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no."
Scootaloo chuckled.
"Cheese?" Rainbow's voice said, causing Scootaloo and Cheese both to turn around.
"I want to go back to Ponyville, tonight."
Scootaloo ran back to her dormitory, trying to keep the tears under control. When she was, at last, there, she sobbed into her pillow.
Soarin eventually walked in and placed his hoof around her, so Scootaloo wrapped her hooves around him.
"I know." he said gently."I know."
"Goodbye, Fluffy Clouds." Rainbow said. When she walked over to Cumulus, the mare threw her hooves around her, much to Rainbow's surprise.
After Cumulus let her go, Rainbow walked over to Rumble.
Rumble hugged her even tighter than Cumulus, and Rainbow was even more astonished.
Eventually, when she walked to Scootaloo, she felt tears gathering in her eyes.
The filly was tearstained, and a tear escaped down her cheek. Rainbow gently wiped it away and planted a kiss on Scootaloo's forehead.
"There now, Scoots." Rainbow whispered, stroking her head motherly, and Scootaloo cried harder.
When Rainbow had to reluctantly let her go, she started walking away.
"Rainbow?" a stallion's voice said behind her, Rainbow turned to him.
Soarin walked over and placed a scarf in her hooves.
"You gave this to Violet," he said quietly. "when she was going to start a new life. Now, I'm giving this to you for the same reason."
Rainbow struggled. "Thank you."
"I know you and Soarin will be very happy together." Soarin deadpanned.
"Cheese." Rainbow gently corrected, and flew over to the orange stallion who was waiting to go with her back to the train station.
"Mom, let the wedding preparations start." Rainbow said. "I can't wait anymore."
"But dear.......Key Chain said that they're are no free dates.....Oh alright. We'll try." Firefly sighed.
So the preparations started, with Spike planning the bachelor party (somepony still needed to explain to him what it actually was) Rarity working her hooves off to sew her a fabulous wedding dress, Applejack and Pinkie Pie preparing the wedding cake and catering goods, Fluttershy in charge of the music, and Twilight in charge of the reception.
Also, Firefly and Rainbow Blaze managed to pull together a close date so the wedding date was decided much earlier than the former one.
Soarin sat on the balcony at his own house, staring at the marvelous view tonight. If only......
No, he was thinking nonsense. Cheese loved Rainbow very much, possibly more than Soarin ever could.
Suddenly, he felt like his wife was sitting next to him. Violet gave him a little smile, and gently placed her hoof over his eyes.
Even when Soarin's eyes were closed, he could see a technicolor mare beaming at him.
When Soarin opened his eyes, he found they were filled with tears. He wiped them away quickly.
Then he stood up. He knew what he had to do now.
All the guests were in a excited cluster, chattering happily about the bride and groom.
Firefly was greeting everyone. Then she saw a pale blue Wonderbolt, standing with a white middle-aged mare, and a orange filly with a fushia mane and tear-stained cheeks.
Firefly walked up to them. "Welcome."
Soarin cleared his throat nervously. "Hello ma'am. Uh...Rainbow and I used to be buddies in college and-"
"I know." Firefly patted his shoulder. "Rainbow wanted the wedding day so quickly that I couldn't...Oh well. Please come sit."
"Oh, er...may I use the lavatory?" Soarin asked.
"Oh erm...sure. Go ahead." Firefly gestured towards the bathrooms, oblivious to the fact that Soarin wasn't aiming to go there entirely.
"There Rainbow. I think you're done." Rarity stood back, blinking back tears.
"Ah. It feels like it was only yesterday when we all first met ya. And now look, Rainbow gettin' married!" Applejack sniffed.
"AJ, don't get me all sappy." Rainbow complained, but she threw her hooves around her farm friend.
When she pulled away, Rainbow looked at Pinkie.
Pinkie was openly sobbing (ruining the makeup Rarity applied) and wiping her tears away.
"Pinkie?" Rainbow asked, approaching her.
Pinkie threw her hooves around the mare and clutched her in a spine-bending hug.
"I'm gonna miss yooooooouuuuuuuuu!" Pinkie wailed, clinging to Rainbow.
"Calm down Pinkie." Rainbow blinked hard to stop her own tears escaping.
Twilight gently eased Pinkie off of Rainbow. "There now, Pinkie. Rainbow isn't going to be moving away. Don't cry."
Rarity quickly rushed to slap some makeup onto Pinkie's face when her sobs eventually subsided.
"Rainbow Dash!" Soarin called, throwing open many doors.
"Rainbow Dash!"
When they had a last group hug, Rainbow's friends all left the room to take their places at the altar, leaving Rainbow alone for a few minutes.
She sighed and stared out of the window.
"Rainbow Dash!" Soarin suddenly burst open the doors, making Rainbow jump and turn around.
Soarin was left speechless for a few seconds. He couldn't believe the sight in front of him.
Rainbow was wearing a wedding dress encrusted with a few opals at the edge, with lacey sleeves. Her mane was slightly swept to the side and curled. Her makeup was simple, with shiny white eyeshadow and just a tint of blusher.
Soarin walked up to her, and carefully took hold of her lacey hoof, brought it to his chest, then back to Rainbow's chest. Meaning: I Love You.
A tear trickled down Rainbow's face, and Soarin's too.
The Wedding March started, and the bridegroom himself was standing at the altar. He was smiling, until he saw Scootaloo's face from the audience. She was rubbing her cheeks fiercely, and caught Cheese's eye.
When the flower girls had run down the aisle, scattering petals (Rainbow had considered Scootaloo to be one, but she declined)
Rainbow Blaze walked down the aisle, his arm linked with his daughter.
Halfway down the aisle, Rainbow caught Soarin's emerald eyes, and stopped walking altogether.
Rainbow Blaze whispered, "C'mon Rainbow. Let's go."
All the bridesmaids stared anxiously, and Firefly shot a pleading glance at her daughter.
Cheese, however, noticed the tears in Rainbow's eyes and started walking.
The whole audience was silent as they watched Cheese storm up the aisle until he was muzzle to muzzle with his fiancee.
"I'm going to drag you the altar." Cheese said darkly. "I told you, didn't I?"
He took Rainbow's hoof and pulled her away, causing Rainbow to let go of her father and follow him down the aisle.
Soarin hung onto Scootaloo's hoof tightly as the couple marched to the altar.
When they reached, Cheese let go of Rainbow abruptly, and Rainbow felt a slither of fear inside her.
Cheese looked away for a second, but then he faced back with kind eyes.
"You know, Rainbow Dash." he began softly. "Ever since I fell in love with you, I always hoped you would look at me with the same love in your eyes that is in mine. Now, I've seen the love in your eyes, but it isn't for me. It's for Soarin. You've loved him ever since you've understood what love is, right?"
Rainbow closed her eyes and a tear ran down.
"Soarin is your first love. And first love is important, ask me that." Cheese went on. "How can I come between a love like this? And anyway, somepony told me, that I'm so handsome I could get any mare."
Scootaloo smiled and wiped away her tears.
"Cheese?" Rainbow whispered, as Cheese pulled her into a hug.
"Go, get your love." Cheese said, patting her back.
Rainbow giggled, and turned around to see Soarin. He had tears in his own eyes. Soarin stared at Cheese, who nodded and mouthed "She's all yours."
Soarin reached out, and nearly bumped his muzzle on Rainbow's veil at first, while Rainbow's dress nearly got attached to Soarin's tie. But eventually, the two embraced properly, crying yet chuckling at the same time.
"You may now kiss the bride." Twilight said with a smile.
Soarin didn't waste a second, and pulled Rainbow into a passionate kiss on the lips.
Rainbow's mind went into overdrive, utterly enjoying the bliss she was feeling. Soarin tasted of apple pie (surprise,surprise) and other sweet treats, and Rainbow pulled him closer. Soarin was purely enjoying this too, enjoying the taste of skittles and slightly appley taste of Rainbow.
Rarity dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Oh, weddings are by far the best celebration ever." she sighed.
"You said it." Applejack grinned.
During the reception, Scootaloo threw her hooves around Soarin and Rainbow and clutched them tight.
"Why're you crying, Scoots?" Rainbow whispered, grinning. "Am I that awesome?"
Scootaloo hugged her harder. When she eventually let the newlywed couple go, Scootaloo ran to Cheese.
Cheese smiled when he saw the filly approching.
"Pssst." Scootaloo whispered. "There's Pinkie Pie. You wanna ask her to dance?"
Cheese saw the pink mare. She was, indeed, looking gorgeous.
"What if she says no?" Cheese asked anxiously.
Scootaloo chuckled. "I doubt that."
Cheese ran up to Pinkie. "May I have this dance, milady?" he said in posh voice.
Pinkie giggled, and felt happiness run through her. "Of course, good sir!" she said, grabbing Cheese's hoof.
Rainbow chuckled when she saw Pinkie gliding along the dance floor with Cheese.
"I think Pinkie is way better for him anyway." Rainbow grinned and turned back to Soarin, in the flow of the dance.
"And you are better for me." Soarin smirked, and pulled Rainbow closer.
Rainbow chuckled. "Save all that for the carriage!" she said, winking.
Soarin laughed.
He hadn't been this happy in years. And he knew he'll be happier, for years to come.
He had Rainbow Dash, and she had Soarin.
What more could they ever want?
The End
Chapter 2-Just One Minute
10 Years Later...the day before Scootaloo's birthday
Scootaloo set up the camera in a good position. She was pretending to be a VJ.
"Three, two, one, ACTION!"
The soon-to-be-ten filly beamed at the camera and started her dialogue.
"Hi! I'm Scootaloo, and you are watching Channel...um....Scootaloo!"
"My hobbies are scootering, pulling pranks, eating chocolate, annoying my Aunt Cumulus and....reading my sister's letters." Scootaloo gave a sad smile when she said the last part. She loved her sister to the moon and back despite never have seen her.
Scootaloo continued her script.
"When I grow up I wanna be a VJ. Y'know, just like Melody Magic." she said pointing to her M.M. poster.
"Hey, I'm late! I have an appointment with my brother-in-law! But I'll be back next week, same time, same place. Watch me!"
Scootaloo sighed as she waited next to Cloudsdale Mall and peered at her watch for the umpteenth time. She was supposed to meet Soarin there to buy clothes with him.
Suddenly a big bouquet of roses were thrust into her hooves by a certain light-blue stallion. Scootaloo turned her head away. A box of chocolates was given to her too. Scootaloo still wouldn't give in. Finally a shiny bike helmet was given to her. Scootaloo grudgingly accepted it but then turned to stomp away from her brother-in-law.
"Scootaloo, wait! Scoots!"
Scootaloo stopped and turned around with a glare plastered on her face.
"C'mon Scootaloo. I'm just-" he blinked when he saw the time on his sister-in-law's watch.
"two hours late."
"Right," Scootaloo said, rolling her eyes
"Okay, I'm sorry. But I was quite busy-"
"And I'm busy too, Soarin," Scootaloo interrupted. "I didn't see my friends today, because I had to meet you here, to buy your clothes. This is too much, Soarin. I'm your sister, not your wife." she said angrily.
"And why not? If I can be like your mother and father," Soarin asked. "Then why can't you be my sister and wife?"
When Scootaloo didn't reply, Soarin nodded defiantly.
"Okay then," he said, snatching the bike helmet out of her hooves and turned his back.
Scootaloo tried pulling it back, but Soarin held it tight.
"Soarin?"
"Hmm?"
"Felt bad?" Scootaloo said quietly.
"A little,"
"Sorry."
Soarin chuckled and handed the bike helmet back to her. Then they both slapped each others hooves and gently tweaked the other one's muzzles. This was a ritual Scootaloo had known for years.
"Well, c'mon bro, we're gonna be late for my Just-One-Minute competition in Ponyville."
Soarin and Cumulus found their seats in the auditorium and sat. They found that their seats were next to Spoiled and Filthy Rich, Diamond Tiara's parents.
Filthy Rich started talking to Soarin the moment he sat down.
"Isn't this competition quaint? The kids have to take a random paper out of that bowl, and then they have just 60 seconds to say something about the topic on the paper. And right on the spot too!"
"Still,our daughter Diamond Tiara wins every year." Spoiled Rich said, smirking.
"Good evening, fillies and gentlecolts" Cheerilie's voice boomed across the auditorium. "Welcome to the Just-One-Minute competition! Each child will have one minute to say the topic they get on the randomly selected papers. Our first contestant is Sunny Days!"
Sunny Days pulled a random paper out of the bowl and read it out loud.
"School."
As the yellow filly started her speech, Soarin peered at the side of the stage where Scootaloo was sitting. Scootaloo caught his eyes and grinned.
"Good Luck!" Soarin mouthed, just as Sunny Days finished her speech.
"Thank you, Sunny." Cheerilie said pleasantly. "Our next contestant is Scootaloo!"
Scootaloo walked over to the bowl and selected a piece of paper. Her smile faded as she read what it was.
"And your timer starts now." Cheerilie said.
Scootaloo opened her mouth but no words came out. Everyone in the auditorium looked at her expectantly.
Scootaloo managed to find her voice to croak out the topic.
"Family."
Soarin instantly felt his heart become as heavy as a boulder. Now, Scootaloo did have a family, but not many ponies had a family of just a brother-in-law and his mother. The Wonderbolt felt even sadder when he saw a tear trickle down the orange pegasus' cheek.
Scootaloo gave a watery smile to her brother-in-law watching her.
"I'm sorry." she said, turning around.
"Family." a male voice behind her said. Scootaloo turned around and saw the light blue Wonderbolt right underneath the stage.
"Family is something we can't live without. Their joy is in our joy, and their sadness is in our sadness." Soarin continued as he walked onto the stage. "They might criticize us, make us cry, but they will always be there for you when it counts." Soarin was now face to face with the tear-stained filly. "We might not have a normal family like other ponies. But- but it is still a family, right?" Soarin asked.
Scootaloo nodded.
"So you give me a hug." Soarin said, outstretching his hooves.
Scootaloo hugged the Wonderbolt tight. Everypony in the audience started applauding. There wasn't a single dry eye in the crowd.
Scootaloo sobbed into Soarin's shoulder, but felt wondrously comforted.
Soarin bounced a basketball around his house, expertly preventing it to bump into delicate things. Meanwhile, his mother was still rubbing her eyes from tears.
"Soarin?" Cumulus began. "You know Mr. Sweetmeat?"
"Mmm" Soarin said vaguely.
"Well, he has a really good-looking, polite daughter, and he sent a marriage proposal yesterday."
"For who?" Soarin asked, while bouncing the ball.
Cumulus rolled her eyes "For me ." she said sarcastically.
Soarin smirked. "Accept it then."
Cumulus glared at her son. "Hush! Anyway, I said no thank you to the proposal. I did the right thing, right?"
"Yeah, mom."
Cumulus nodded. "Then I must have done the right thing. I don't do anything wrong anyway. Mr. Sweetmeat is mad. He just sends marriage proposals all the time. Can't he get married himself?"
Soarin sat beside his mother, while still clutching the basketball and patted her back to make her relax.
They were silent for a few moments, then Cumulus spoke up.
"I don't know why, but I feel that this family is....empty."
Soarin stared at her, "Why? There's you, there's me, there's Scootaloo. I don't think it's empty."
"You know, whenever I go out, all my friends talk about their daughter-in-laws and how stupid they are. I can't even do that." she said sadly.
Soarin sighed. "Oh, this is a very big problem. You need a daughter-in-law so you can talk dirt about her."
Cumulus stared at her son. "No Soarin. I just want you to be happy."
Soarin smiled. "I'm happy, Mom. Very happy."
"So you won't marry again?"
Soarin stood up, and started dribbling his ball again. "Mom, we live once, die once, get married once, and....fall in love once. We don't do these things again."
Cumulus stood up too. "I know you can take care of yourself, Soarin. But what about Scootaloo?"
Soarin stared at the ground.
"Don't you think she needs a mother figure?" Cumulus continued.
"She's fine, Mom."
Cumulus stared at him.
"Because she has something that I don't even have'" he went on. "Violet's letters."
Bzzzt! Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
At 12:00 a.m, Scootaloo's alarm clock rang. The filly shot out of bed happily.
"Happy Birthday, Scootaloo!" she said to herself, running down the stairs. There was a big pile of presents but Scootaloo was more interested in the letter sitting on the table. She grabbed it and started reading it excitedly.
My dear Scootaloo,
Happy Birthday, sis! I'm sure you're looking very pretty and grown up right now. I wish I could see you.
"I wish I could see you too, Violet." Scootaloo whispered
Tell me Scoots, does Soarin still sleep with his Wonderbolt uniform on? When will he cease the habit?
Scootaloo giggled and shrugged.
You're a big girl today, Scootaloo, and I'm sure you will understand the things I will say. I'm going to tell you a story. This story has me, your brother-in-law, and Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow Dash?"
Chapter 9-Leaving the College
Rainbow stayed depressed for a couple weeks. She didn't understand why. Why couldn't she just get over it?!
She knew why. She was in love.
Eventually a letter from her mother, Firefly, made her burst into tears.
She knew where she had to go now.
Rainbow threw her hooves around Dean CloudWeather and hugged her hard.
"Don't forget me, you mad girl." Dean CloudWeather whispered, rocking her gently.
"I won't." Rainbow Dash promised, wiping her tears away.
"Rainbow Dash!" Soarin called, as he and Violet quickly flew to the train station.
"Look, Soarin. Check here. I'll check in that one." Violet said, flying off in the other direction.
Soarin quickly flew inside and found the mare he was looking for. Rainbow was plonking her bag on the seat next to her.
"Where are you going?" Soarin asked from behind her, making her jump. Her heart started pounding. Damn, why does he have to do that thing with his eyes?! she thought.
"Er...I got a letter from my mom. My dad's not well. I'm going to go see them."
"Are you crazy? Look, how can you leave in the middle of the term?"
"But Soarin-"
"No Dash," Soarin picked up the bag she was holding. "You can go after the final exams."
"Look-"
"After the final exams." Soarin repeated.
"Soarin, I might not come back for the finals!" Rainbow said in a voice just below a scream.
Soarin turned around to look at her.
"I'm not coming back, Soarin."
Soarin sighed. "Oh, I see. You're leaving the college. Leaving me. And you didn't even tell me."
Soarin flew out, making Dash want to burst out crying again.
She caught Violet's sympathetic blue eyes a few yards away.
Rainbow found her hooves reaching for the scarf around her neck. It was a scarf she had gotten on a birthday. It wasn't cold today, but Dash liked stroking and snuggling into the scarf when she was depressed. She had it around her neck right now, because Rainbow dash certainly wasn't going to let anypony see her cuddling a piece of cloth.
She suddenly threw it into the air, and it landed in Violet's hooves.
Violet gave her a For me? look. Rainbow Dash nodded.
Rainbow Dash wanted Soarin and Violet to be happy together, so she gave the scarf to Violet as a symbolization of beginning a new life.
Violet felt a few tears prickle in her own eyes and wiped them away with her hoof.
When the train was about to move, Soarin went out of his sulk and ran to the door where Dash was standing.
"Rainbow, don't go." Soarin begged."Who will I play basketball with?"
"You lost everyday anyway." Rainbow sniffed.
"Then why are you going?"
"Mom needs me."
"And I don't?"
"Now go drive Violet crazy. You've already gotten me to the brink of insanity." Rainbow snapped.
"Okay."
"And stop chasing after those stupid mares, okay?"
"Okay, but I'll miss you Dash!"
"I miss you too." Rainbow said, a tear rolling down her cheek now.
The train doors closed, and the train slowly started pulling from the station.
Rainbow ran to the window, quickly raised her hooves, and slapped thin air, Soarin did the same. Then they both flicked their own muzzles.
Rainbow gave Soarin a watery grin, just as the train pulled away.
Then she sat on her train seat and started sobbing.
Standing at the platform, Soarin felt tears spill down his own cheeks. He didn't try to wipe them away.
Violet walked over and gently placed a hoof on his shoulder.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
That day I realized, that I had come between Rainbow and Soarin. Between two friends. Between a hidden love.
Scootaloo felt tears in her own eyes and let them stream freely, since no one was there to witness this, and carried on reading.
After seeing the tears in her eyes, I realized Rainbow Dash loved Soarin very much, maybe more then I ever could. She never phoned or sent a letter, and was out of our lives.
Scootaloo, I know your bro-in-law very well. He's alone, but will never say anything. His life has a love missing. And that love is Rainbow Dash. Can you get Rainbow back into Soarin's life? Find a way to get them together, because I know they're both made for each other. Can you fulfill this last wish of mine?
Your ever-loving sister,
Violet
Scootaloo looked at the picture attached to the letter. It was a picture of a mare. She was a clear sky-blue and had an amazing mane with the colors of a rainbow. Her eyes were rose colored. She was slim figured, but you could tell she was a serious athlete.
"I'll do it, Vi. I'll reunite Soarin with Rainbow Dash. You'll see." Scootaloo murmured.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Scootaloo. Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuu!"
It was Scootaloo's birthday party in the afternoon. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hugged her tightly, while everypony sang the Happy Birthday song. Scootaloo slapped her forehead when she saw Soarin crying.
Scootaloo took a deep breath, and blew out her candles.
"Make a wish." Sweetie Belle whispered.
Scootaloo closed her eyes and wished hard.
Please let me unite Rainbow and Soarin together. Please, please, please!
Chapter 15-Basketball and Photographs
During break time, Scootaloo and a colt about her own age were having a fight, with a crowd of kids cheering them on.The latter was seemingly winning, but Scootaloo was good at pulling hair. Rainbow and Soarin came flying in and yanked the kids away from each other.
"Stop fighting!" Rainbow yelled.
"What's wrong with you?" Soarin shouted
"He wasn't letting me play basketball, I just told him that mares can play basketball even better than stallions!" Scootaloo roared. "And he said-"
" 'Mares can't even play basketball!' " the colt finished.
"He said the right thing and you began fighting with him?" Soarin demanded.
"Why? In college, Rainbow Dash used to beat you in basketball everyday, didn't she?"
"Hey shush!" Soarin clamped his hoof over Scootaloo's mouth, but the group of kids heard, and Rainbow giggled.
"She didn't win to me every day. Just somedays."
"Soarin, you lost everyday." Rainbow smirked.
"Actually, Rainbow Dash, you lost everyday."
"You lost everyday ." Rainbow's voice was raising louder.
"Don't lie in front of kids, you're being a bad influence to them."
"What? You think I'm lying?!" Rainbow said, in full blown anger. The kids laughed happily, they didn't expect a fight between two adults.
"Well, you are." Soarin retorted.
"The truth is that you could only win by cheating!"
"No it wasn't."
"Soarin is a cheater, he is a cheater, cheater, cheater, cheater, cheater." Rainbow chanted, and most of the other kids joined in.
"Don't listen to her!" Soarin yelled.
"Cheater!" Rainbow barked right in his face.
"Oh, I'll be a killer." Soarin said, and the two correctly imitated the fight Scootaloo and the colt were having, much to all the kids delight.
Rainbow pinned Soarin to the ground, while the wonderbolt struggled underneath. For a moment, they locked eyes, and Soarin sweared he could hear his heart thumping. Rainbow flushed and jumped off of him.
"I challenge you right here." Rainbow deadpanned. "Play basketball with me."
Soarin laughed humorously and everyone else joined in. "Don't be silly, Rainbow Dash." he said, and lightly slapped her face.
"What happened, huh? Got scared, didn't you, Soarin ?" Rainbow returned the gesture.
"Hey, Soarin Skies isn't scared of anypony."
"We will see!" Rainbow slapped him again.
"We will see!" Soarin slapped her one more time, then the two pegasi stomped off to get ready.
All the kids were in the bleachers, one group holding the sign Rainbow Rules! and the other team was holding the sign Mares cannot play basketball!
Rainbow and Soarin stood in each half of the basketball court, glaring at each other hard.
"You'll lose again, Soarin." Rainbow sighed.
Soarin shook his head. "I've been practicing for 10 years. I won't lose,"
Fluffy Clouds came in, and threw the basketball into the air. Soarin made a grab for it and started bouncing it towards the net. Rainbow made an attempt at snatching the ball, but Soarin had clearly gotten better at basketball. He held the ball out of her reach and dunked it inside the net.
Soarin grinned at the very anguished and appalled Rainbow, and grabbed the ball back again.
Soarin bounced it for a while, until Rainbow pulled his tie hard and snatched the ball triumphantly from him.
Soarin staggered for a second, then jogged after her.
Rainbow was going good, but she stumbled on the way and ripped her uniform. She gave a sharp intake of breath, because the rip was huge, and tried to cover it up desperately.
Soarin caught up to her. "Here, give me the ball." he panted.
Rainbow was so busy fiddling with her uniform that she handed it over, then groaned when she realized what she had done.
"Idiot." Soarin smirked, and threw the ball inside the net.
He gave his signature grin to Rainbow as he passed her, and outstretched one hoof and gently stroked her stomach through the ripped uniform, then trotted away. Rainbow stared after him, half dumbfounded, half boiling angry.
Rainbow ran after him. Then just when Soarin was about to jump, Rainbow pushed him hard, resulting in....well, you know what.
Soarin thwacked onto the ground hard, and got up as Rainbow was stomping away.
"Hey! If you don't know how to play, at least don't cheat!" Soarin said angrily.
"Hey, don't call me a cheater!" Rainbow croaked.
"You are a teacher-I mean, cheater." Soarin retorted.
Rainbow opened her mouth but found no words. After a moment of silence, the boys started chanting. "Mares can't play basketball. Girls cannot play sports." though Scootaloo shot fierce glares at them.
Rainbow blushed heavily. She had won from Soarin everyday, everyday , yet now she couldn't even get one basket.
Rainbow turned her back and started walking away, when she heard whistling behind her.
She whirled to see Soarin whistling their signature tune they hummed in college together, and beamed wide.
Soarin outstretched his hooves, and Rainbow ran into them, hugging hard.
After a couple weeks of being at the Summer Camp, Soarin couldn't believe it. His heart had thumped the moment he lay eyes on Violet, but this was different. Somehow, he hadn't seen Rainbow in this light before. She was loyal, devoted, tough, spunky and brash but something else caught his eye.
Something happened in his heart, and he didn't understand.
Fluffy Clouds was taking a photo of all the fillies and colts at Summer Camp. They were all sitting at the bleachers, with grins on their faces when suddenly a voice spoke.
"Hello, Mr. Fluffy Clouds!" Cumulus came up.
"Oh Celestia." Fluffy Clouds muttered, but he plastered a fake smile on his face. "Hello, Mrs. Cumulus?"
"Hm, tell you what, hows about I come in the photo, too."
Fluffy Clouds had an idea. "Okay, just please fly up to the top of the bleachers."
Cumulus flew obediently, and Fluffy Clouds peered into the lens. Sure enough, Cumulus's head was cut off in the screen, so he snapped the picture.
"Fantastic." he grinned, and mimed cutting his throat.
There were lots of pictures, but when there was a picture taking of Rainbow and Scootaloo, Fluffy narrowed his eyes.
"What happened?" Rainbow called.
"I don't know, I just think something is missing." he replied.
Soarin came and sat down next to them. "Is it fine, now?"
Fluffy stared into the lens and Cumulus nodded. "Yep, it's perfectly fine now."
Fluffy snapped the picture. "Excellent! Now, just you two adults, huh?"
Scootaloo jumped off Rainbow's lap obligingly and excitedly stared at them.
So far, the plan was going well. There wasn't anything that could interfere now, was there?
Cheese was looking at the pictures from the engagement party with Firefly.
"Look at these, Mother-in-law."
Firefly smiled fondly at Cheese. "You know, Rainbow is still at Summer Camp for a few more weeks. You can do some travelling yourself if you want to."
"No! I'm not going anywhere."
"You love her a lot, don't you?" Firefly sighed.
"Yep, of course I do. But......sometimes I feel that..."
"Hmm?"
"that she doesn't love me back." Cheese completed.
Firefly was silent, and Cheese stared at her.
"She doesn't love me, does she?"
Firefly stood up. "Cheese, you're going crazy." she said, and walked out of the room.
Cheese exhaled sharply and stared at the floor.
She didn't answer.
