Behind her, sounds of the Wonderbolts' Hearth-Warming Party resounded. Ponies there were singing gaily, jingling their glasses together. For some unknown reason, Rainbow Dash had felt the need to get away from all this cheerfulness. Really, she couldn't understand what were they rejoicing for...Were times so good?
When she closed the door behind her, she was struck by how cold the wind was. Snow had fallen all day long and though there were no more flakes falling from the sky, it was still bitterly cold. She shivered. Why hadn't she taken her coat before she left? She marked a pause... and decided not to turn back in order to get it. All she wanted was to be alone, unsure why she did exactly.
She trotted on the door step, the sounds of her leather boots creaking against the wood because of the snow surrounding it. The huge garden was peppered with white powder, as well as the naked branches from the trees. It looked as if no pony were outside. They all probably were busy celebrating Heath-Warming, drinking cider and singing songs. Why wasn't she able to be cheerful like them?
Rainbow Dash sat on the dusty steps, after she had meticulously wiped away dusts with the tip of her tail. Her long polychormatic mane was dancing with the freezing wind and she suppressed another thrill, glad she at least had thought about wearing her bonnet and scarf. She started to stare at the landscape, forgetting about her surroundings for a short while, even forgetting how long she had been sitting here.
All those years staying strong, fighting for what was right, for Equestria, for her dreams... She wondered when would it stop. She had always believed that if she fought hard enough, one day, she would have met true happiness on her way. But Rainbow Dash had to come to terms with the fact that she didn't know what true happiness was. As soon as a battle was won, another bursted into her life. She felt as if she was the unceasing bully of time.
Surely, this was why she wasn't willing to celebrate with her fellow Wonderbolts. Maybe they could forget about the harsh truth of reality for a little while, but she wasn't able to do it anymore tonight. She sighed, and a white elusive smoke appeared in front of her, vanishing into air as quickly as it had appeared.
Maybe she might as well get home and sleep. Until tomorrow morning... Until she would have to fight again.
Rainbow Dash heard the sound of the door creaking behind her. Like an automaton, she turned around to see who it was, though she was not that curious to know.
Soarin appeared, clad with a thick black coat, his midnight blue mane almost entirely disappearing under his woolly bonnet. They exchanged no smile.
Rainbow Dash simply turned around again to stare back at the garden, and he sat by her side. For a while, they both remained speechless, looking at the immaculate and silent landscape.
"So", he finally said, emphasizing on the syllables.
"So", she repeated the same way.
"Why did you leave the party? Feeling bad?"
"I'm not quite sure..."
It was partly true. She didn't really know why, except that she was feeling tired, though she didn't know either what she was trying to escape.
Rainbow Dash felt suddenly uneasy sitting by his side, with no pony else around. There was this thing she couldn't name, or didn't want to name, in fact, afraid she would have to accept the consequences of it. Her throat was dry...
Her eyes slid to the side and her heart skipped a beat when she noticed he was staring at her, his two deep emerald eyes steady on her face. She hated it and wanted to tell him yet she didn't. Words were like closed off inside her throat.
"Why are you looking at me this way?", she finally was able to mutter.
"Why not?"
She didn't know what to answer.
This was the way it always was with him. He always had the words and actions to make her understand that what she thought was true was fake once she thought about them again. That was why she couldn't help but avoid him, and not only because it felt wrong to feel that attracted by her Second-in-Command, but also because she was scared this could distract her from her missions. She had no time for stallions. She had her own battles to win.
Rainbow Dash jumped when she felt one of his hooves on hers, put there softly. They felt so warm. She really hated it. She hated it because in reality, she really liked this touch, tender and comforting. Soarin tightened his grip around her icy hooves, without a care in the world for the obvious tension in the body next to his.
"You're a fool!"
"What did you just say?"
Rainbow Dash was looking at him now, blinking. Their eyes met and she had to focus hard not to let blood rushing to her cheeks. How could one stare mess up her stomach so much? One more thing she hated because it felt too good.
"I said you were a fool. Why do you always want to act so tough? You don't need to force yourself the way you do. Everyone has flaws."
"If I'm a fool, then you're no better, silly. No one's perfect."
Yes, they both were fools. She was because she absolutely wanted to be this strong and cool mare who never could fail and he was, because he always tried his best to act as if nothing could really hurt him, though it was obvious he had past mistakes still hauting him.
And it was not the only reasons for their stupidity. There was this strong bond between them and they kept on ignoring it, doing their best so no pony could notice it, though they both knew what it was. They weren't the kind of ponies to think about this strange thing called love. Yet, they couldn't help it, they always went toward each other and knew there was something stronger than plain fellowship between them.
But there was a difference between knowing and accepting. Rainbow Dash didn't know whether or not she was ready to transcend their relationship for something more. She still had so many things to fight for...
She tried to take her hoof off his, but Soarin tightened his grip, leading the hoof he was holding into his coat's pocket. She knew it would be easy for her to remove it, but she didn't try to remove it, enjoying for the first time the sweet warmth of his fur against hers, although she kept on feeling guilty.
"So", Rainbow Dash said the same way than before.
"So... You little fool?"
"What do we do, now?"
"Nothing. Just enjoy this moment. There's no need to say or to do anything. Let's just stay like this for a little while. Let's stay like this for as long as you want."
Rainbow Dash slightly sighed. There was a moment in life when one needed to surrender. Sometimes, to let it go and to think of nothing else could feel good, as long as she would really do it, not acting as if when this was nothing but a faking.
And for the first time, she was sure she wanted to take this break with him by her side, because he was special for her and she was special for him. There was no need to tell him, he already knew.
Softly, Rainbow Dash let her body emptying from all her tension, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, simply enjoying the intoxicating sensation of his presence next to her.
Soarin had a tender smile seeing her relaxing. She was pretty, despite her tompony appearance. From his free hoof, he stroke her mane softly and put a light kiss on her forehead, before focusing back on the landscape in front of him. Snow had started to fall again, but they weren't cold. They were warm like never before.
Maybe this was the answer to this famous question, and maybe the beauty of the question was here. Never being sure of why do fools fall in love...
