The Pegasus & The Pegasister

Ashleigh and the guards spent several hours trying to find her the perfect room. Finally, after Ashleigh told them that she was fine with not being treated practically like another princess, she was sent to a fancy suite inside a building next to the castle. The room was furnished with a large bed, a bathroom, and a balcony; it was a dream come true to her. “If you need anything then tell me.” a friendly hotel pony told her, before shutting the door, leaving her alone.

Ashleigh suddenly felt like something was missing.

“Soarin!” she said. She remembered the stallion and her were separated by mistake, but she had told a guard to have him meet her at the room she was at. Well, it had been awhile since then, and still no sign of him.

“Maybe he went back to the Wonderbolts.” she muttered, hoping that what she had said wasn’t true.

To be completely honest, Ashleigh was missing Soarin a lot more than she thought she would when the two would have to say goodbye. Maybe it was because of the fact they hadn’t gotten a proper goodbye...or maybe it was the fact that spending the last week with someone alone with nobody else to talk to and the fact they had saved each other’s lives had made them a lot closer as friends...OR...maybe Ashleigh felt something more for that certain stallion…

Ashleigh walked onto the balcony, standing there for several minutes as the sun began to set.

“Sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye, Soarin.” she sighed, her pretty blue eyes reflecting the orange of the setting sun.

“Don’t worry, there’ll be time for that.”

A familiar voice spoke from behind her. Soarin had flown onto the balcony from behind, his suit gone, and was standing next to her. The two looked at each other for a moment, until suddenly Ashleigh walked over and pulled him into a hug.

“You came back.” she said, as he pulled his forelegs around her back, returning the hug.

“Of course I did.” Soarin retorted. “Do you think I would just leave without saying goodbye to my best friend?”

“Of course not!” Ashleigh said, silently cursing at herself for doubting him.

Soarin grinned. “I got the laundry to get my suit cleaned. So you can’t use it to dry off with it next time you decide to take a shower without warning me!” he chuckled, pulling away from the hug and poking her in the stomach.

Ashleigh playfully swatted his hoof away. “Please, that was a once in a lifetime thing. There was nothing else to dry off with. Besides, you guys are naked almost all the time.”

Soarin grinned. “Yeah, but we can hide our stuff cause we walk on all fours. And we don’t have tumors.” he finished by rubbing his own chest in demonstration, causing Ashleigh to roll her eyes.

Ashleigh ruffled his mane. “You liar, you know those aren’t tumors. Did you forget everything I told you?”

Soarin suddenly poked her mouth with his hoof. “Maybe your mouth is a tumor.”

Ashleigh laughed. “Very funny. Do you want to go get something to eat?”

Soarin gulped, looking at her.

“Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you before, that I’ve been wanting to tell you for a few days, but I was afraid it was too soon, so I never said anything…” Soarin started, looking her straight in the eyes.

Ashleigh had an interested and confused look on her face. “What is it Soarin?”

Soarin gulped, beads of sweat already trailing down his face as he got ready to reveal his biggest secret to her. Everything was just right for the scene, the sun was setting, as though symbolizing that his time to tell her was running out, the wind was making her gorgeous blond hair twirl, and the slight coolness held the awkward note.

Soarin let go of his fear momentarily, giving him enough time to tell her what he was about to say.

“I-I like you.” he blurted out, expecting Ashleigh to be shocked. Or angry. Or maybe even excited. But none of those expressions ever came. Instead something else.

“I like you too Soarin, you’re my best friend! You didn’t have to tell me that, I know you still don’t hate me.” she said kindly, patting him on the shoulder.

Soarin shook his head. “N-no! I don’t mean like that, I mean I have a...crush on you…”

Then came the silence.

Ashleigh said nothing, but she mentally was piecing everything together. It all made sense…

Soarin gulped, wondering what her response would be. He was not expecting what came next…

“You...like me? But we’re different species…” The words, though not harsh in nature, stabbed Soarin in the heart.

Soarin shuddered internally. “Y-you don’t like me?” he tried to ask, his tone no more than a whisper. He felt hurt. But he felt no anger towards her, only the realization that maybe she was right. I’m a fluffy pony who probably looks like nothing she had ever seen before. Is it such a surprise she doesn’t like me?

He turned to walk away, his cheeks red with shame, but felt her stop him and turn him around to face her, moving towards him until he could feel her breath reach his nose. Soarin expected an angry scolding, but instead, he saw a smile in her gaze.

“Soarin.” she said. “Don’t be ashamed. I never said there was anything wrong with liking me. All I said is that I was surprised that you do, I mean we’re different species. I mean I remember how you acted around me, but the fact that you feel that way about me is...amazing…”

He blinked, trying to keep bittersweet tears from welling up in his eyes. “Really? W-well how do you feel about me?”

Ashleigh giggled, tickling his ears with her hand. “Oh Soarin, I think you know I like you just as much.”

His eyes lit up. “Really? You do?” His heart was soaring, he wanted to scream it to the world, but inside, he was still a little sheepish about it.

Ashleigh grinned. “Soarin, do you think normal people-or ponies talk about their personal lives with their friends like I do? No Soarin, I like you. I wasn’t sure at first, I thought maybe I was just alone on it, but after you told me, I knew that you felt the same…and I’m sorry if I upset you with my talk about species, I was just a little worried. I mean, I’ve never heard of a talking stallion pony and a teenage girl being together. It’s just...never happened before.”

Her words left a moment of silence, as the two’s confession metaphorically evaporated. Finally, Soarin spoke up. “S-so what now?” he asked. The stallion was nervous, he had never told anyone that he liked them, and he wasn’t sure what to do now that he knew she felt the same way about him…

Ashleigh pulled her arm around Soarin, and pulled him so close that the two were pretty much cuddling, before giving him a reply;

“What do you think is next?” she asked, closing her eyes and turning her head towards his. Soarin, knowing what she was talking about, smiled and did the same, as the two finally shared their first kiss. Pony and human. Male and female. Pie lover and adventure seeker. The two’s differences seemed to melt away, until the only one thing remained, their love for one another. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime but in reality was only about thirty seconds, Ashleigh pulled away, gasping for air.

The two looked each other, a new feeling of affection and care for each other now instilled by their kiss.

“I love you Soarin.” Ashleigh whispered.

“I love you too, Ashleigh.” Soarin said, kissing her back on the nose, and pulling his wing around her.

For Soarin and Ashleigh, this was already the best day for them already. But it was about to get better...