Soarin's New Wings

by Foal Star

Rating: everyone
Tags: Spitfire, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Comedy, Rarity, Romance
Length: 33336

During a freak accident, Soarin's wings were changed into beautiful butterfly wings and now he has to deal with accepting his loss, and learn to use his new wings.

The events of this story take place during and after the episode "sonic rainboom."

Soarin's life was going great until the day of "The Young Fliers Competition," when he tried to save Rarity's life. The next day Soarin wakes up realising his wings have been transformed into girly butterfly wings. Now he has to learn to use his new wings and fight to keep his position in the Wonderbolts with the help of Rainbow Dash.

Editor: The man without a face

Artist for the cover art: Pridark

Published 2017-09-19 07:00:08 UTC
Last updated 2018-06-09 13:37:31 UTC

Prolouge: The Sonic Rainboom incident

Soarin stood in the empty Wonderbolts locker room, gazing at his reflection in the mirror as he made sure his uniform was on right. He adjusted his goggles on his forehead and mumbled, “Alright, goggles? Check!” He flicked his tail to and fro to ensure that it wouldn’t get in the way. “Tail? Check!”

He lowered his head and brushed his mane, “Mane? Check.” He cantered around the mirror and smiled. “Right then. Looks like everything is good to go.”

Out of nowhere, Spitfire came right up behind him and shouted. “Hey Clipper! Looking forward to watching amateurs humiliate themselves?”

Soarin shrieked and jumped back, turning to see Spitfire in her Wonderbolts uniform giving him a smirk and a devilish glare with her big brown eyes. He gulped, building the strength to respond with a smirk. ”Well, it's not like we do this to look for potential recruits. But you do enjoy the idea of seeing ponies make fools of themselves.”

Spitfire rolled her eyes, crossing her forelegs across her chest as she sat down. “Alright, just say it, then... I'm too harsh when it comes to judging these competitions.”

Soarin blushed as he started stepping back. He stammered. “I... I don’t think you're being too harsh, and that's not what I was getting at that.”

Spitfire blushed as she slapped him on the back again. “I hope you’re ready for tonight! Been looking forward to it all week.” Soarin fell into a dreamy look as Spitfire flew right back into his face. “But if you ever tell anypony about us I swear... I’ll make you clean the barracks, and scrub the stadium for the rest of your time in the Wonderbolts.”

Soarin gulped, as Spitfire punched him in the chest. “Stop being such a nervous filly, Clipper, still can’t take a joke it seems.”

Soarin gave another exasperated sigh and mumbled, “Ye..yeah...it’s fine, I'll definitely keep our date a secret.”

Spitfire came up and kissed him on the cheek, making his wings shoot upward, then whispered in his ear, “Good to know, now let's get out there and see some spectacular crashes.”

The blushing stallion whispered, “Sounds like a plan.”

She flicked her tail at him and soon the two were flying off towards the stadium getting in place with the rest of the team. When they landed, she shouted, “Alright, fillies! Time to show these young fliers what real talent looks like!”

She slipped her goggles over her face and got into a stance as Soarin slowly placed his goggles over his face all the while thinking to himself. Better not screw this up, or tonight is going to suck.

Soarin slowly got into a stance with the rest of his team and then they heard the announcer shout something about Celestia as he thought to himself, Alright keep it together. Just get this overdone maneuver over with and sit down and judge for a few hours.

When he heard the announcer shout, “Get ready to meet our celebrity judges for the young flyer competition...The Wonderbolts!”

Soarin shot into the air with his fellow Wonderbolts at breakneck speed up into the air and swirling around a firework explosion, then they broke the formation in a spectacular display. Soarin, Spitfire, and Silver Zoom sat together on a cloud. As the announcer continued to drone on, Spitfire came over and whispered in Soarin’s ear, “Too easy, bet those amateurs think that was something special.”

Soarin shrugged at the remark. “I guess so.”

He was now engrossed into the competition and spotted the first contestant, a brown-coated pony with a peculiar hourglass for a cutie mark flying through hoops. He eyed him and mumbled, “I feel like i've seen him before, yet he wasn't a pegasus.”

Spitfire shrugged. “Beats me, but his flying is terrible, uncoordinated, and pathetic. No way he’s getting anywhere near the Wonderbolts.”

Soarin, getting a bit agitated, just mumbled, “Yeah sure.” He took out his scoring papers and scribbled down his thoughts.

The best young flyer competition went on for some time with Spitfire snickering as another pony slammed into a cloud and crashed into the stands. “Oh this is just great!”

Soarin eyed her, too scared to say anything. He just turned his head to the pegasus being helped as he thought. I just hope she’s doing okay.

Spitfire looked down at her next form. “Number fifteen is the last one... Whoever the pony is they better be worth something. So far this whole competition has been a waste of my time.”

Soarin turned and looked into the empty stadium, still too scared to say something, then out of nowhere two ponies flew into the stadium. One was a white-coated unicorn but she had beautiful eye-catching butterfly wings, a colorful costume filled with sparkling jewels, and makeup that covered her face with thick black eyelashes. Spitfire was bursting into fits of laughter at the sight, scoffing, “Is that contestant number fifteen!”

Soarin snickered, then looked over to the side and said, “I...I dont think so, it could be the cyan pegasus quivering over there,” he said as he pointed towards the pegasus nervously wavering in the back.

Spitfire turned to where Soarin was pointing towards, and nodded, mumbling, “Guess you’re right, Soarin. She seems to be pretty nervous.”

They watched Rainbow Dash fly through the columns of clouds only to bounce off of one and into the stadium's wall, making Spitfire scoff. “Oh darn... and here I was thinking she was going to be good.”

Soarin rolled his eyes and continued to watch as Rainbow Dash got up, flew to the clouds, and started spinning them, making Spitfire scratch her chin. “Not bad, very impressive.”

Soarin smiled at Rainbow Dash flying through the air and thought to himself. Yeah you go fifteen prove Spitfire wrong for once. He blushed at what he just thought. The cloud spun out of control, spinning right at Princess Celestia, who had to duck as it flew over her head. Spitfire clenched her teeth and slammed a hoof into the cloud. “Seriously?!”

Soarin sighed as he looked at the blue pegasus and whispered, “It’s not over yet.” He pointed towards the sky as they both watched Rainbow Dash climb higher and higher with Rarity doing the same. The white-coated unicorn stretched out her beautiful transparent wings, letting the sun shine through them while the ponies in the stands gasped in awe.

Soarin turned his attention from Rainbow Dash to Rarity, eyeing her wings as he saw smoke coming off of them. “Spitfire her wings!”

Spitfire gasped as she watched them smolder until they poofed into puffs of smoke. She started falling, screaming at the top of her lungs. Spitfire, Soarin, and Silver flew down at neck-breaking speeds to catch her before hitting the ground, but Rarity’s flailing hooves hit the three in the faces, knocking them out. Soarin was unsure of what was happening as his vision blurred, seeing the ground only a few feet away. He thought, Is this it am I going to die? All of a sudden, he felt something hot slam into his back and his vision went black.

Soarin woke to beeping sounds echoing throughout the room, his eyes opening up to see green all around him. The walls were painted green, and a green divider was on the left side of his bed. Soarin groaned feeling some strange pressure on his back, as he slowly lifted himself up and grumbled. “What’s happening? Where am I?” He looked around to see Nurse Redheart opening his door looking down at a clipboard and heard her ask, “ Hey Soarin, how are you feeling?”

The stallion groaned, maneuvering his body to sit up he thought, Seems like I’m alive and Nurse Redheart knows me pretty well by now as he responded with a smile. “A bit sore, but overall feeling okay.”

The nurse smiled at him. “Good to hear that. It seems that you weren’t seriously injured. We examined you earlier and only found a couple minor bruises besides the other issue.”

At that Soarin sighed in relief but was a bit confused, so he asked, “Okay, so what is it this time, a broken wing, or a broken leg?”

Nurse Red heart was writing some things down in her chart as she turned to Soarin with a surprised look and whispered, “Oh, you don’t know?”

Soarin gulped, now becoming a bit worried as he asked, “Wha..what is it?”

Redheart sighed, looking up with a worried look. “Alright, Soarin it has to deal with your wings, you see, Rainbow Dash...um the mare who used the rainboom to save you, your friends, and Rarity... some of its power hit your back and um...well it mixed with residue from Rarity’s butterfly wings.”

Soarin whimpered as he flexed his wings but could feel that they were lighter than normal and asked, “Let..let me see them. Give me a mirror.”

Redheart gulped and whispered, “Of course, but please don't try to freak out.”

She took a hand mirror and held it to Soarin’s face, who gaped at what he saw. He had a pair of transparent, sparkling butterfly wings with pink and yellow spots all over them. He sat in awe while they glimmered with the sunlight. He flexed them in their shimmering splendor as he could only stare, flapping them as he rubbed his eyes. “This is a dream, some stupid dream.” The nurse walked out of the room and slowly shut the door behind her while Soarin was thinking to himself. This is a dream..this is a dream nothing more just go to sleep and wake up and your wings will be normal.

That was when he heard a familiar mare ask, “Soarin, you okay?”

Soarin peeked from his covers, seeing the yellow mare with her wild orange flaming mane. He whispered, “Spitfire is that you?”

She gulped, looking at his large butterfly wings, then stammered, ”H...h..hey Soarin. Glad to see that you're okay.”

Soarin turned to look in the mirror again and saw his butterfly wings flapping. “No I'm not okay! I'm far from okay! What in tartarus happened?”

“Well, to be truthful, I don’t know, I was unconscious when they brought us back to the stadium. I didn’t even notice your wings until Princess Celestia came down and went straight to you. She tried using spells and even asked Twilight to figure out what happened and how to fix your wings. ”

Soarin sighed looking up at the mare. “Is that all!?”

Spitfire sighed, coming close to Soarin. She smoothed the mane from his eyes. “Hey...it’s going to be fine. Twilight is looking into your case and will get you fixed up, but you need to stay strong. When this is over you're going to be back with the Wonderbolts, got it?”

Soarin grumbled, turning towards Spitfire and asked, “If i'm stuck like this? If I'm stuck with these...” Pausing to give his new butterfly wings a small flap, “Will I still be a Wonderbolt?”

Spitfire got up and exclaimed, “You won’t be stuck with those and will soon have your old wings back, and you need to believe that.”

The stallion slowly looked up so his blue eyes met the brown eyes of his lover and asked, “If i'm stuck like this...will we even have a chance?”

The yellow pegasus looked back and whispered, “Just get better, Clipper.”

As Spitfire left the hospital room, Soarin laid his head back onto his pillow and stared at the ceiling above him in silence.

Chapter 1: A strange hospital visit

a week later…

One early afternoon when Nurse Redheart was strolling through the halls heading towards Soarin’s room, she grumbled to herself, “It’s nearly noon and he’s still not up. Soarin is starting to get on my nerves.” She opened his door and found Soarin slumped over snoring in his hospital bed and turned to his uneaten breakfast. “This stallion is going to be the death of me.”

She stomped a hoof on the ground and growled. “Soarin, get up!” He moaned, rolling over on his side just great I was hoping I could get some time to myself today, “No five more minutes.” The nurse persisted in her nagging tone. “Get up Soarin, you need to stretch your wings.”

He turned over with a glare on his face She wants me to do those stupid exercises again, well screw that! He flexed his butterfly wings out to their full extent and shouted. “See they’re fine! Can you just leave me alone!” He fell back onto his bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.

Nurse Redheart sighed, pausing for a second. She looked up and continued in a more reassuring tone, “Look I know you're upset and angry I get that, but if you want to get out of here we need to make sure there’s no complications with your wings.”

Soarin thought for a second and slowly turned towards the nurse with his serious look, “I'm not leaving until my wings are normal, and exercises won’t help with that.”

Redheart stomped her hoof in frustration, “ Soarin, you need to do your exercises, there is no cure right now, and they’re not going away anytime soon, so get your lazy rump up or i’m going to have to stay here until you do.”

Soarin sighed. She really is pestering today, andslowly pulled the blanket off him and fell onto the floor, his sparkling butterfly unfurling. He grumbled, “Alright fine guess you have a point.”

Redheart gave an exasperated sigh and mumbled. “I'm glad you're finally seeing some sense.”

She looked down at his tray of uneaten food and said, “You should eat your breakfast first.” As she walked out the door Soarin went over to his tray glaring at the cold scrambled eggs and orange juice and grumbled. “Okay mom, whatever you say.”

They were out in the yard with sun shining down on them. Redheart’s eyes were wide open gazing upon Soarin with astonishment. His butterfly wings glistened in the sun like morning dew with the eye catching light flooding the field. Soarin, who was irritated, stomped a hoof and grumbled. “Why do you always stare at me like that.”

The nurse blushed hard and whispered. “Oh i’m sorry, it’s just well... they’re very eye-catching.”

Soarin rolled his eyes and began scanning the field and asked, “Um so what do you want me to do?”

Redheart cleared her throat and looked down at her chart, “Right, first how about the basics, start by doing the normal checkup, lift them up and down, but slowly no flying yet.”

Soarin grumbled at the request, but did as the nurse asked, slowly flapping his wings. He blushed thinking I still can’t believe how light these things feel like, it’s like they’re not even there. He looked up at Nurse Redheart and asked. “Um...so what do you think?”

Redheart scratched her chin. “Seems like they function normally, how about flapping them a bit faster just so we can be sure you can lift yourself off the ground.”

Soarin flapped them about faster and he started to build momentum. This is so weird. His blush grew over his face as his body started to float into the sky and asked. “So um do you see and problems?”

The nurse shook her head smiling, “Not from what I can see, you’re doing great. Come down now I think that’s enough for today.”

Soarin gave a nod and started to lower himself, but suddenly a gust of wind swept him off and he started to float away. He tried to flap but the wind’s power was too much for his fragile wings and stayed fully open he squealed in terror, “Redheart I can’t move my wings!”

Redheart’s cheeks were bloated as she was do everything in her willpower not to laugh and gasped then shouted. “Close them! You’ll just drop on your rump!”

Soaring gulped, looking down. He closed his wings and gasped as he fell to the ground with a plop on his rump. Redheart ran over and started look for injuries. “Soarin are you okay? Anything broken?!”

The stallion got up rubbing his rump with a hoof and mumbled. “Only my pride.”

Redheart still checked his wings and looked them over with intense scrutiny and seeing them undamaged she sighed in relief, “Alright everything’s good, looks like you’re going to have to get used to them.”

Soarin got up and grumbled. “Yeah I get it, can I just go back to my room now?”

Redheart shook her head. “No not just yet, come on I need to discuss some things with you first.” He gave a slight nod and followed her back into the hospital.

Nurse Redheart was with Soarin back in her office looking wide eyes at the X-rays of his wings on her desk, the bones on his back were clearly attached to his new butterfly wings and whispered. “Wow...it’s like as if I had these all my life.”

The nurse gave a small sigh before explaining, “That’s right, they’re fully intact and are healthy and strong. This isn't just any enchantment, whatever happened may have permanently morphed your wings forever.” Soarin gulped looking down at the pictures again and whimpered, “Bu...but Twilight was looking for a cure, that’s what she said.”

Redheart put the pictures aside and pulled out some charts placing them in front of soarin and continued, “Soarin, your old wings as of right now are gone forever and have transformed into those and are a part of your body now.” Soarin looked over the charts and graphs gulping at each one, “But Twilight said this can be reversed. I mean shouldn’t I stay here until she finds a cure?”

Redheart shrugged. “I don’t know anything about magic, but I know a lot about the pony anatomy. From what those tests we gave you, it seems at least for the meantime you’re stuck with those.”

Soarin looked back down, slumping into his chair. Tears started rolling down his face. He shook his head as he gave a long sigh. “Fine, whatever I’ll deal with these stupid wings for now.”

Redheart smiling, continued. ”That's wonderful to hear, because we think it's about time you left the hospital.”

Soarin looked up in surprise, “But where am I supposed to go?! I mean yeah it seems I'm healthy but I can’t fly to Cloudsdale; I can barely get ten feet off the ground!”

Redheart giggled and replied with a sweet smile, ”Oh don’t worry about that, Rarity came by the other day and said you can stay at her place until you're used to your new wings.”

Soarin gave the nurse a confused look and shrugged. “Sure I..I guess that's fine.”

She paused for a moment chuckling before adding, “Oh one more thing from your blood tests it seems that you have low testosterone.” His eyes went up with surprise as she took out a pill bottle, “These should help with that take one day but no more than one, also you need to take it easy with those wings, first off don’t fly too high to the sun. You saw what happened to Rarity’s wings when she did that.” Soarin gave a nod as she continued with the lecture, ”No tricks, no stunts, no dangerous maneuvers either, nothing like that those wings are very fragile.”

Soarin grunted and gave another nod. She then ended it, “Also no rough playing, and that includes any kind of sports like hoofball or running too hard. Keep things light for at least a few weeks; your body may still need to adjust.”

He just gave another nod as he thought Great seems like I’m going to be treated like a damsel for the next few weeks, soon my nickname is going to change from clipper to flutter.

“Yeah,” Redheart continued, “Now for the time you stay in Ponyville. I want to see you at least once a week for a checkup for the first month. Just to be on the safe side.”

Soarin rolled his eyes as he got up. “Alright, alright I get it. Can I go to my room and pack now?”

Redheart nodded. “Yes you may, sorry for pestering you so much...I’m just looking out for your wellbeing.”

Soarin turned with a sigh, “It’s alright, I get it.”

After his meeting with Redheart, Soarin was walking back to his room, lost in his own thoughts, Rarity wants me to live with her? Why? I mean that’s nice of her, but still it just seems odd.

He eventually came to his room, and opened the door to see that all his things were already packed with large bulky stallions taking his stuff downstairs. He shook his head and shouted, ”Hey wait!? Who are you guys!”

“Oh don’t fret about that darling.”

Surprised, the blue-coated stallion turned to see Rarity standing near his hospital bed with a sweet smile. He blinked in surprise and whispered, ”Rarity? What are you doing here?”

The white coated mare threw a hoof. “Oh just packing your stuff up darling, you’ll be living with me for a while until you get used to your new wings.”

The bashful pegasus gave his butterfly wings a few flaps. “Yeah I heard from Nurse Redheart, thank you, I hope it won't be too much trouble.”

Rarity waved a hoof at him and said, “Oh of course not darling, it’s the least I can do for you trying to save my life.”

Soarin turned his head as he ground his hoof in the ground. “Well I didn’t really, Rainbow Dash is the one who saved both our lives.”

Rarity came over and picked his head up. “Don’t be so hard on yourself darling, Now come on how about I treat you to some lunch. I’m sure you must be tired of the hospital food.”

Soarin followed after her smirking. “Yeah you can say that again.”

The two were now outside of a nice restaurant sitting across from each other on small table. The waiter came by and asked, “What do you wish to order?”

Soarin spoke first. “A thick apple pie and cup of coffee for me please.” The waiter wrote his order down then turned to Rarity who smiled and replied, ”A salad and a cup of tea, for me darling. No sugar please.”

The waiter nodded writing down her order, then read off the order, “One apple pie and one salad co-”

Soarin blushed and raised a hoof, “Actually I wouldn’t mind trying the salad and um...a cup of a tea as well.” The waiter was a bit surprised, though he still changed the order and replied, “Very well, two salads and two cups of tea coming right up.” As the waiter left Soarin blinked shaking his head, Wait why did I change my order?”

Rarity giggled at the blushing stallion and asked, “Oh, you on a diet?”

Soarin shrugged and said, “Well , since i'm going to be sitting around a lot might as well watch what I eat.” He heard some snickering and turned to see ponies all around looking at his butterfly wings. He tried to fold them oh just wonderful, Soarin the great wonderbolt reduced to a blushing fairy. Then he heard, “Darling, don’t worry about them.” Soarin turned to see Rarity smiling at him. “Ignore them; let’s just focus on us for now.”

He smiled then turned to see that the waiter putting their salads and their cups of tea in front of them. Both Soarin and Rarity gave their thanks as the waiter bowed and asked, “Now do you wish for any dressings for your salads?”

Rarity just waved a hoof, “Just olive oil, darling.” Soarin gave a nod turned to the waiter, “Olive oil for me as well please.” The waiter bowed, took a bottle, and gently poured it onto their salads before strolling off.

The stallion started to eat forkfuls of salad as Rarity eyed him eating his salad. What’s going on with him? I’ve always heard he would never turn down pie. She asked in a suspicious tone, “I don’t mean to be rude, but are you copying me?”

He blushed and shook his head. “No I...um... just suddenly felt like salad really.”

Rarity laughed. “Alright darling, I’m just curious.” They continued chowing down for some time. Soarin looked a little blue munching on his salad in solace. Rarity thought Seems like there’s a lot on his mind, I should try to have him open up. She put on a smile and asked, “So Soarin, what's on your mind?”

He shrugged and mumbled. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Rarity whispered sweetly at him, “Darling, just tell me I’m here.”

He gave a long exasperated sigh. “Well I was thinking about my fellow wonderbolts? Where were they while I was in the hospital? I haven’t seen the whole team come in once, and Spitfire I’ve only see her twice since my accident.” He slammed a hoof and shouted, “Worse! When Spitfire visited she acted like nothing happened! She kept on treating at me as if I was disabled!” He paused, his breath moving his mane out of his eyes. Wait why am I getting so emotional about this? The team is probably busy getting ready for the Galloping Gala and Spitfire has a lot on her mind. But still, it still hurts.

Soarin looked up surprised to see Rarity wipe a tear from her eye as she whispered, “That’s terrible, but how were the nurses and doctors? I’m sure they gave you company?”

Soarin scoffed and continued. “As if, Nurse Redheart was nice don’t get me wrong. But, she kept on pestering me the entire time I was in the hospital and treating me like I was made of glass. It was beyond irritating.” He paused again shaking his head. What in Equestria is going on with me?

Rarity shook her head with a sad look on her face. “How awful darling, I can't even imagine what you’re going through you right now.”

Soarin shook his head and stuffed more salad in his mouth. “No I...I shouldn't...I mean I got carried away.” He took his tea and started gulping it down.

Rarity shook her head and retorted, “Please darling, you can't bottle your emotions, you need to vent. I know from personal experience.”

He shrugged unsure of what to say and continued munching on his salad.

Rarity thought to herself, Wow Soarin must be going through a lot; from what Rainbow Dash told me about him he never acts like this. She then decided to changed the subject. “Alright but how was your day so far? Things must have gotten better.”

He looked at Rarity with a soft smile, ”Well I have to say today has been great, I mean after leaving the hospital that is. Having real food and just talking with somepon…” He blushed as he whispered. ”Sorry, I’ve been more talkative than usual.”

Rarity shook her head. “No it’s alright go on.”

He gulped as he looked up at Rarity smiling as he finished his sentence. “Well, I guess it’s just nice to talk to somepony about this.” He started tearing up a little chewing on his salad more slowly and calmly.

Rarity drank her cup of tea with smile and cooed, “It's alright darling I'm glad you can talk to me.”

Soarin sighed, seeing his empty plate and pushed back into his chair. What is going on with me? I mean I don't think I’ve ever opened before like that and mumbled. “Yeah I guess so...I'm not feeling well. Can we leave?”

Rarity waved a hoof as she out a bag of bits on the table. “Of course darling, come on, I’m sure all your stuff should be at my boutique by now.” He slowly got up and started to walk off with Rarity still keeping his wings folded.

Chapter 3: To Soar or To Flutter

It’d been a week since Rainbow Dash was given the responsibility of bringing Soarin back to Wonderbolt shape and things were...progressing for lack of a better word. She was in the air with Soarin, practicing simple maneuvers, while enjoying the lazy breeze brushing through their manes. The two were high above the clouds as Rainbow Dash shouted to her new ‘pupil’, “Soarin! Come on! You need to get your head in the game!”

Soarin gave Rainbow Dash a scowl and growled, “I’m trying! But this is impossible trying to do these maneuvers with these!” He pointed angrily towards his butterfly wings.

Rainbow Dash threw up her hoof and rolled her eyes. “Again with the same excuses with this guy! “ She just shouted back. “It doesn't matter what kind of wings you have! If you can fly, you can dive! Now get going, it's time to start flapping.”

Soarin, again glared at Rainbow Dash, but continued flapping his big, butterfly wings with greater vigor, until he finally started to fly above Rainbow Dash. He continued climbing into the air, wheezing as his altitude increased, “Okay, I think I’ve got the hang of it now.””

He continued to flap his wings,moving his body more and started to flutter above the clouds, grunting as Rainbow Dash cheered him on from below. “Go Soarin you can do it!”

He finally got high enough to where he felt comfortable trying out a few loops around some of the nearby,giant clouds. Sadly, it still proved difficult as clumsily twisted and turned clumsily through them.

“I can do it! I can do it!”

His heart still pumping in his chest as he came upon the last big cloud, he pushed forward, quickly adjusting his wings and weaving through the cloud before finally coming to a stop. Once he was in place, he practically bounced up and down in the air with glee, shouting with excitement.

“I did it! Rainbow Dash I actually did it!”

Rainbow Dash clapped and cheered, “I knew you could you big, blue stallion! Now come on back down and we can get you started on the next set of maneuvers!”

Soarin smirked, quietly fluttering downwards, only for a large gust of wind to hit his wings, causing him to quickly lose control of his wings. The stallion found himself quickly tumbling towards the ground at a fast speed, his big butterfly wings useless now, as he screamed like a mare as he fell passed Rainbow Dash.

The mare gasped in horror, quickly flying down to rescue the falling stallion, still tumbling out of control, desperately trying to flap his own wings to break his fall, but to no avail. “I don’t think I'm going to make it!”

But Rainbow Dash dived down towards him gaining speed with a rainbow stream trailing behind her. She reached out and grabbed Soarin in her hooves and hugged him close as she flew back into the air inches from hitting the ground. With Soarin clutched in her hooves Rainbow Dash whisked through the air and landing on a field and put him on the ground as she smoothed out her mane with sweat rolling down her brow. All the while Soarin was trembling as he tried standing up on his hooves and he squeaked. “I...am alive!?”

Rainbow dash just sighed and smoothed back her mane again. “yeah you're alive but we still have a lot to learn. I mean you can’t even do a basic trick without having me save your rump. No offence.”

Soarin groaned as he plopped on his rump and crossed his forelegs across his chest. “So what? at least I can kind of fly again. It's not like im not improving.”

Rainbow Dash shouted back. “Well your not improving fast enough! I have to get you back to Wonderbolt material in three weeks and were still stuck on the basic maneuvers!”

Soarin sighed at the sight of the tired and angry mare . “Sorry, it’s not my fault these things are insanely light. I can’t even believe I got this far with these!”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and continued, “Alright, how about we stop right now and get back to it tomorrow? I'll think of something else we can do.”

Soarin gave a small nod getting up and shrugged, “Alright, well i’m going to get something to eat
.”
Rainbow Dash nodded “Sure just don't overdo, I need you bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow. Not fat and slow.”

Soarin shrugged and walked off grumbling as Rainbow Dash shook her head dumbfounded that Soarin. one of her greatest heroes, was turning out worse than a foal on their first day of flight school. “How could Soarin of all ponies be this bad at flying!?”

A hour later Soarin was back at Rarity’s, and was eating a sandwich with some tea. This was the sight Rarity came upon, and she was far from impressed. “Darling, I hate to sound like a nag, but that’s the third sandwich you ate since you got back.”

Soarin stopped eating for a second and blushed at the realization she was right. He quickly gulped down the food in his mouth and whispered politely “Uh yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t mean to raid your fridge.”

Rarity sat down and gave a empathetic sigh. “Please dear, something’s clearly bothering you and I don’t think eating away your problems is going to help.” ”

Soarin turned his head and let out a sad whimper, “Well...I'm not getting any better at flying. I'm not sure I’ll be ready for thethat test in three weeks.”

The white coated mare rolled her eyes. “Well you can't with that attitude. Don’t you remember what Rainbow Dash said?”

Soarin groaned but they both chanted together, “If you don't try, you won't fly!”

However, that did little to bring his spirits up, planting his chin on the table in a miserable stupor. “But, I have been trying so hard though! And nothing's worked!”

He slammed his tea down as he shouted in frustration, giving his wings a burning glare. “I feel like like I’m trapped in a box with no key and no door. No matter how much I try, nothing seems to work and I’ll be stuck in this rut for the rest of my life.” He practically smashed his face into the table, moans of sadness leaking from his mouth. ”

Rarity quietly seated herself next to the somber stallion, lighting running her hoof down his back., “It's just nerves darling.You just need to relax and you’ll do find. Perhaps you need something to help ease your mind off all this… Though I'm not quite sure if you will like it?”

Soarin eye peaked out from the table, “I think at this point I’d be willing to try anything. Not like I can feel much worse.”

She blushed as she fluttered her eyelashes and cooed, “Have you ever tried the spa?”

Rainbow Dash was deep thoughts as she flew from the practice. “I need to find Fluttershy. If that Butterfly Migration taught me anything, it’s she’d probably be the expert on Butterflys and how their wings work.” She quickened her speed as she zeroed in on Fluttershy’s cottage, spotting the animal lover in her yard..”

Said pegasus was in the midst of humming a sweet little tune as she admired the many flowers around her cottage.. The spring flowers smell so lovely in the morning. I wonder if there’s any I can pick up for the Spring Fling later this week.”

Her thoughts quickly shifted as a group of butterflies of various sizes and colors, started to cover the field, making the butter, yellow pegasus all but squeal in delight.

“Oh, hello there little friends. Did you come to enjoy the flowers as well?”

She continued to make small talk with the insects, as Rainbow Dash descended from the sky, cringing slightly at the..cutesy display before her.

“Remember, this is for Soarin. Least it Though, definitely seems like I came to the right place.”

With a quick clearing of her throat, Dash got Fluttershy’s attention. Said pegasus turned to meet her gaze and offered her usual shy smile and quiet greeting.“Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. Did you come to help me with picking these flowers?”

The rainbow pegasuspeagsus had to fight back the urge to gag, not wanting to come across as rude to her friend and settled for shaking her head. “No...uh...no I'm here because...well.”

The Cyan coated pegasus gave a loud gasp and blurted. “I need tips on how butterflies fly!?”

Fluttershy blinked in surprise at the request and for a moment, Dash swore it looked like a smile was ready to stretch across her face. “Really? Oh, my that’s wonderful. I’d love to help you out.” Yep, Dash was certain the peagsus, was excited over the prospect, almost fighting down the desire to jump for joy.
."

Rainbow Dash groaned “Yeah, but only for a few minutes and you better not tell anypony about this.”

Fluttershy giggled crossing her heart. “I swear, I won't tell a soul.” She quietly patted the grass patch next to her, beckoning Dash to join her. “You’re actually just in time, there are quiet a few different specimens her in my garden we can watch.”

Rainbow Dash plopped down on her rump and crossed her hooves. “Alright let’s watch these stupid butterflies.”

Fluttershy simply giggled at her friend’s discomfort, “Now there’s no need to be like that. I can just tell this will be a lot of fun.”

Rainbow Dash just grumbled, “Maybe for you.”

The daredevil sat and watched the butterflies flutter about. Some were blown by the wind and managing to catch onto one of the nearby flowers, while others used their winds to buffer the breeze, allowing them to safely land on the grass below. . Rainbow Dash watched in disbelief at how fragile they were. “Dear Celestia! This is all they can do!”

The routine of the winged insects just fluttering about, collecting nectar from the flowers, continued without change for several minutes to the quickly growing boredom of Rainbow Dash. Said pegasus pulled a hoof down her face,groaning in almost in pain at the sights before her., “Fluttershy, they can do tricks, right?”

Fluttershy shook her head “Oh no, they mostly just go where the wind carries them. Sadly they don’t have the same kind of build as a pegasi or a bird. Their bodies and wings are so light even the slightest breeze can send them in any direction. Doing tricks is pretty much impossible for them.”.”

Rainbow Dash got up and threw her head back “No! There has to be a way to make them fast and cool! There has to be!”

Without a single word of follow up, she burst into the air, flying straight for Twilight’s library. “Twilight must know something about these wings. She created them after all, maybe she can use a spell to make them less fragile or better at maneuvering. If not then Soarin’s doomed!”

Soarin was shaking all over entering the spa with Rarity, not exactly sure how react to such a foreign concept. Also didn’t help he was currently surrounded by numerous mares, all chatting and gossiping while in the midst of Steam and Mud baths. Sure he spent plenty of time with mares in the Wonderbolts, but not in this kind of context.”

Still he pushed towards the front desk with Rarity, who got the attention of The mare at the front desk. “Ah Ms. Rarity, so nice to see you again, and with company I see, interesting. So are you here for the usual?”

Rarity nodded “I'll have the hooficure with amud mask. Soarin will have the normal relaxing hot tub with bath salts, nothing more."

Aloe nodded and continued, “Alright then, right this way you two.”

She lead the two down a hallway and into a dressing room, where a pair of mares flambored over Rarity, streaking her face with the mud mask whilst applying sliced cucumbers to her eyes. Soarin was just given a simple towel and a robe as he was pushed down the corridor to the t spa room. He made his way to one of the baths, making sure to curl in his wings before entering the warm waters, Rarity relaxed settling into the bath once he was in completely. Soarin sighed in content, laying his head back, feeling the bath salts in the hot tub do their work, clinging to his fur and skin making them soft.

Rarity giggled, “I take it you’re enjoying yourself?”

Soarin gave a nod and smirked. “Yeah, I thought I would never in a million years do this girly stuff.”

Rarity laughed and waved a hoof. “You’d actually be quiet surprised. More than few stallions visit her regularly. It's quiet a good place to relax your aching muscles after a hard day's work.”

Soarin blushed as he gave his wings a gentle flap. “Well thanks Rarity...I think i'm going to like it.” Though he quickly felt uneasy as some of the nearby mares whispered and pointed.

Rarity groaned, throwing up a hoof, “Oh don’t worry about them darling just a bunch of nosey mares. Your wings just look gorgeous. Now stop fussing and relax and enjoy the water.”

Soarin giggled and snuggled into the steaming pool and relaxed his wings along withhis mind and started to drift off to a peaceful sleep. “Thanks Rarity I dont think ive felt this good in a long time.”

Back at the Ponyville Library, Rainbow Dash had all but rocketed into the closest window and practically threatened Twilight to figure out what to do about Soarin’s wings.

Said Unicorn,was in the midst of reexamining the spell she’d originally used to create Soarin’s new wings, trying to find as much information about them as she could.. “Here it is, it says the wings are extremely fragile and delicate made of gossamer and morning dew.”

Rainbow Dash merely rolled her eyes at the explanation. “Yaddah, tell me if I can still teach Soarin to perform aerial tricks, that's the part I want to hear. Not all this Egghead talk.”

Twilight looked over the spell with intense scrutiny and shook her head. “I’m sorry Rainbow Dash, but nothing in this book even hints that Soarin could even perform the most basic of tricks. The only advice it has is to be very gentle and don't fly too high towards the sun.”

Rainbow Dash threw her hooves in the air in disbelief. “Just wonderful, how in Equestria am I going to help Soarin become a Wonderbolt again if he can’t even stay in the air!”

Twilight scratched her chin and asked, “How about you try something different? I mean, maybe he can't do the same things as before, but maybe he can do a solo like what Rarity was doing. It may not be cool, but it's better than nothing.”

Rainbow dash groaned and tapped a hoof. “I guess so…Wait a minute.” Almost immediately the Weather mare laughed, clopping her hooves together in excitement. “Of course, that would totally work. Thanks Twilight,I have the perfect idea thanks!”

She then flew out the door in a streak of blue and rainbow. As Twilight stood there blinking unsure of what to say. “I hope she knows what she’s doing.”

Rainbow Dash flew back to Rarity’s, only to squeak loudly before crashing into the road in Rarity and Soarin, having just returned from the spa. Rainbow Dash looked up in a horrified look as one thought ran through her mind “Rarity what did you do to Soarin!”

Soarin’s mane was now silky black, waving around his head while his tail was twirled like a corkscrew. His coat was super squeaky clean with the sun glinting off it as were his hooves.

Soarin waved his tush back and forth with his wings opened up glimmering in the sunlight. He smiled and asked “Hey, Rainbow Dash how are you doing?”

Rainbow Dash’s mouth dropped and shook her head “it's alright, even I go to the spa a few times. Just stay focused.”

She then exclaimed, “Soarin, I uh!? Came by to see you because I think we need to change up our training a little.”

He laughed tugging at his mane. “Just after we went to the spa?”

Rarity giggled “Aww that’s adorable Soarin.”

Rainbow Dash actually cringed at the little exchange,rolling her eyes as she fought back the urge to groan. “It's alright,this time we're going a bit slower anyways.”

Soarin shrugged and turned to Rarity who giggled, “Well alright, but do go slow, I’d hat for all the moisture in the air to make your become mane frizzy darling.”

Soarin laughed, “Don’t worry about me Rarity! I feel like a new stallion!” He then fluttered into the air and Rainbow dash grumbled following him. “More like a new mare.”

Chapter 4: Keep Fluttering on

Two weeks had passed and Rainbow Dash was now watching as Soarin was flying up into the clouds, this time gracefully fluttering up and down, weaving through them majestically. Though despite the improvement, the cyan coated mare still growled impatiently at his performance, “Come on Soarin, flutter faster!”

Sadly, while his flying had improved he’d started to weaken in other areas. For the past several weeks Soarin has been packing on the pounds and was getting rather heavy in many weird places for a stallion. What was even weirder though, was that his mane and tail were growing longer now, while his face seemed to be getting smoother and less defined. On occasions, Rainbow Dash had to shake her head a few times to make sure that it was indeed Soarin that she was looking at.

“Is it just me or is he looking more like a mare?” Rainbow Dash wondered to herself, increasingly confused as she kept looking at him.

Though her concern turned back to annoyance at the sight of his bloated belly. “Well however he looks, if he doesn’t start laying off the food he’ll be too heavy to get off the ground.” She quickly shouted at the out of shape athlete, “Soarin! I told you to lay off those pies! You can't get back into the Wonderbolts looking like that!”

Soarin blushed, running a hoof through his mane “Yeesh, her coaching starting to remind me of Spitfire. Here’s hoping she doesn't make me do laps too.”’ He quietly groaned as he struggled to remain airborne.“You’re right but I've been having these insane cravings lately I..I can't control myself sometimes.”

Frustrated Rainbow groaned, running her hooves over her face. “This isn’t the time for this, You're a full grown stallion! not a pregnant mare! Have some self-control for crying out loud and get your head in the game!”

The bloated flyer could only squeak like a mouse under the mare’s glare, straining himself to reach the last cloud, gasping for breath as he fluttered back down to the ground. Thankfully, despite his weight and fatigue, he still managed to land gracefully on his hooves instead of his rump.

Rainbow Dash fluttered back down to him with a hard to read the expression, though Soarin could tell she wasn’t especially satisfied with his performance. “Well, you can at least flutter around and do some flips. Unfortunately, that’s not gonna be enough, there are still quite a few things we need to get a handle on.”

She took a step closer and pressed her hoof against his stomach, actually sinking into the growing rolls of fat, “For starters, you need to lose some weight. Once that’s handled, we can worry about your presentation.”

Soarin eyed her at the latter half of her sentence. “Presentation? What do you mean by that?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I don't know but it seems that Rarity thinks you'll do better with a…” She cringed as she struggled to get the words out, “A costume and some classical music.”

Soarin groaned, slamming a hoof into his face, “I don’t need classical music or a costume.”

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof. “Look, I agree with you 100% on that, heck if it was anypony else I’d tell them no way. But this is Rarity we’re talking about here. She’s been working on this all day and if we don’t she’ll never let us hear the end of it.”

Soarin merely offered a look of defeat, “Alright, I’ll try whatever it is on, but I’m not wearing it at the tryouts.”

“Well, we may not have a choice, considering we're going for a different approach here.”

Soarin eyed Rainbow Dash and explained, “Hey, even the Wonderbolts may have a spot on me seeing how well coordinated I am with my new wings.”

Rainbow Dash gave him smirk, lightly punching his shoulder, “True, you float around almost as well as a cloud, too bad you’ve got the same build as one. I'm sorry for being so tough on you. I think all of this pressure is starting to get to me.”

Soarin patted his gut and chuckled, “Yeah, I think the pressure is starting to get me to and I don’t just mean my stomach, though I really do need to watch what I eat.”

The cyan coated pegasus gave the stallion a look of encouragement. “Just when you feel those cravings kick in, try something healthy, like apples or salads.”

Soarin gave nod and patted his pudgy tummy, still slightly concerned about the change his body had gone through.

Though he was quick to put those concerns aside as he and Rainbow Dash made their way to Carousel Boutique, himself a little apprehensive about whatever Rarity was so eager to put him into.

Upon entering the store they found the white-coated mare humming a tune whilst threading a sparkling gold suit over one of her mannequins, obviously, the one meant for Soarin.

Upon hearing her bell ring Rarity turned towards Rainbow Dash and Soarin, taking special notice of the later’s long flowing mane, shortened face and little pudgy belly. While part of her was shocked by his change, she held it in and maintained her ladylike composure “Soarin, Darling! How is your routine coming along?”

The stallion shrugged, brushing his long mane from his face. “It’s going well I guess, I’m liking this new approach to our training, and I think I’m getting the hang of being more graceful.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful darling. I know it’ll be an exquisite display when you finally perform. Speaking of which.” Soarin’s dread immediately returned in full as Rarity levitated the suit from the mannequin, allowing him to get a full view of it.

The fashion pony, however, remained oblivious to his discomfort, “I finally managed to finish this suit for your performance. I believe it’ll accent your wings quite nicely. And with a little music thrown in, it’ll be a performance no pony will ever forget.”

Rainbow Dash gagged a little, “Are we sure that’s such a bad thing?”

Rarity quickly made her way over to Soarin to start the dressing process, though he clearly wasn’t happy about it. “Rarity, I appreciate what you’re doing, but I really don’t think I need to wear this when I perform.”

Rarity scoffed, “Oh pish posh, if we’re going for a softer touch on your test then we need to go all the way with it!”

She quickly managed to get the suit on him and finished buttoning it over his chest, topping it off with a golden top hat on his head that made Rainbow facehoof. “There we are, now go see yourself in the mirror and tell me what you think?”

Soarin grumbled angrily across the room, “I would tell you, but my mother told me not to use that kind of language in front of a lady.”!

He eventually came over to a full body mirror and saw himself in the sparkling gold top hat and the snug glittering suit actually shaping around his body well, almost hiding some of his excess weight. The sight actually made Soarin give himself a look over in the mirror.

“Huh, well it’s not what I usually wear. But it’s certainly not as awful as I thought it’d be.”

Rarity clopped her hooves together and continued asking, “Isn’t it just divine? I mean you look just fantastic darling.”

Soarin, taking one last appreciative look, wanted to nod but couldn’t as reality set in. “Doesn’t matter how nice this looks, it’s not gonna help me get back in the Wonderbolts.”

He turned to face Rarity with apologetic look while trying to explain as politely as he could. “Rarity this outfit looks amazing, but this isn’t what the Wonderbolts want. They want me to be fast and agile. This just won’t work.”

Rarity came up smiling and brushed a hoof across his mane. “Who knows but just do your best and do what you think will work.”

He sighed taking off the top hat. “Alright.”

Rarity paused for a second as she looked at his shortened face, the longer mane, and how his body was not just a little pudgier but also smaller than before. She gasped in realization, “Darling,I don't mean to be rude, but are you feeling okay?”

He looked up and asked, “What do you mean?”

Rarity gulped as Sweetie Belle ran inside the house shouting “Soarin!” She turned to see Soarin and asked, “Oh, hey there. Are you Soarin’s sister?!”

“Sister!?” Soarin squeaked and turned and ran to a mirror in the hall only to gasp at his reflection. At that moment only one thought crossed his mind.”What...what’s going on!?”

He turned to the mares and replied, “Sorry, but I need to go to Nurse Redheart and find out what’s going on.”

He then flew out the front doors and into the sky before anypony could say anything.

An hour later Soarin was now back in Nurse Redheart’s office and was sitting down across from her desk. Said Nurse was currently looking over the folder filled with his blood work, X-rays, hormone tests, and with a shocked expression asked, “Soarin have you been taking the testosterone pills I gave you right?”

Soarin slammed his hooves on to her desk, “Yes! I take one every day like you’ve told me! I don’t know what’s going on!?”

Redheart put the papers down and sighed, pausing for a few seconds before explaining, “Well there's no easy way to say this Soarin... I looked over your tests and well, your turning into a mare.”

Soarin sat back completely shock and whispered, “A mare!? But how!?”

Redheart peered at his wings. “I’m not entirely certain, but I'm betting that Rainboom and those wings have something to do with your changes. Unfortunately, this is obviously a magic related condition and I don’t have the kind of knowledge or skill to treat something like that. .”

Soarin slammed his hooves back on the desk and asked, “There has to be a way out of this! Maybe I'll take more pills! Or take get an injection or something!”

Redheart shook her head and continued as calmly as she could, “I wish it was that simple, but at this point that wouldn’t do anything. At this point, your best option would be to ask Twilight Sparkle, with her experience in magic she might have a solution.” Her expression quickly turned uncomfortably serious, putting Soarin further on edge. “However, if that ultimately doesn’t work, we’ll need to discuss some...changes you’ll be going through.” then we may need to discuss some changes.”

Soarin gulped and stammered, “Like, what?
Will my personality change?” He paused for a second as his pupils shrank, “Will I be able to get pregnant!”

Redheart nodded uncomfortably, “Yes, you’re going to have deal with all of that. I can give you some reading material that might help and advice if you need it.”

She took out bag and filled it with pamphlets and books from a drawer before handing it to Soarin.r. “Just in case Twilight can't change this; you should read these. They are usually for mares going through puberty, but under the circumstances, they seem appropriate.”

Soarin, almost numbly, took the bag whilst tremors shook throughout his body, all the while his mind tried desperately to come to terms with the taking sudden news. “Thanks, Nurse Redheart, I...I better get going!” He then ran out of the office and down the road as fast as he could.

“I'm sure Twilight can fix, this she has too!”

Meanwhile, at the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight was in the midst of organizing some of her books s when she heard a rapid knock on the door. The alarmed unicorn turned to hear a stallion shout “Twilight, it’s Soarin, I need to talk to you NOW!”

The purple unicorn was quick to open the door, resulting in Soarin flying, gasping all the way.

“Soarin, what in the world is the matter. I figured you’d be practicing with Rainbow Dash right now.”

Soarin however, didn’t acknowledge he question and instead practically got in her face, a look of mania in his eyes. “Twilight, you’ve got help me. There’s something wrong with me and you’re the only one I can turn to.”

Seeing little point in arguing with him the student of Celestia merely offered him a seat, before taking one herself. “Alright Soarin, so what’s this big emergency that’s got you so wound up.”

At that, he quickly became uncomfortably quiet, almost holding his head down in shame as he tried to find the right words for it. “It’s not exactly something I want to admit.”

“Soarin, if you don’t tell me what the problem is then I can’t help you.”

Soarin just lets out a frustrated sigh, sorely tempted to smash his face on the table. “Alright….I’m turning into a mare.”

A pin could have dropped right then and it would’ve been heard throughout the library, as Twilight’s mind worked to reboot itself.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that.”

Soarin, already upset at having admitted what he just did, simply just got up and started angrily walking around the room, , “You heard what I said! I just went to Nurse Redheart who examined me head to hoof and pretty much told me!”

Twilight, still surprised but processing the matter better, tried her best to calm Soarin down.d, “So what did she say exactly.”

Soarin shrieked, “I don't know, that my gender change might have something to do with how I got these damn wings. By the way, did you find anything that could help with that?”

Twilight's eyes averted from his gaze. “I'm sorry but I didn’t find any spells to counter what happened to your wings. As for your gender change, that may have something to with the Rainbooms magic. Unfortunately, since they rarely occur most ponies haven’t been able to study them. Though I think I know a spell that can help.”

Soarin groaned running his hooves through his mane, “What am I going to do I can’t become a mare! It’s bad enough I lose my wings and get replaced with these useless things, but now I’m turning into a mare on top of that, I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!” He screamed, running out the door with tears streaming down his face.

Rainbow Dash groaned to herself, coming down from the sky to Sugarcube Corner. “I can’t believe Soarin is back here again after I told him to watch his darn weight! But I guess after learning that he’s turning into a mare from Nurse Redheart he’s dealing with a lot better go easy on him.”

She took a few deep breaths before going in to see Soarin with a dozen pie tins scattered all over his table, all the while sipping on a milkshake. Pinkie bounced up giggling at the stallion. “Wow Soarin you’re that big of an eater huh!?”

He shrugged and just kept sipping his milkshake grumpily as Rainbow Dash stomped with anger on her face. “Soarin! I need you out there practicing we only have one week left to get you ready!”

He just gulped more of his milkshake and grumbled, “Forget it, I'm done.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and growled, “Oh come on Soarin! You’re just mad because you're turning into a mare. So what! Isn't Spitfire a mare? And isn't she the captain of the Wonderbolts!?”

He just gave nod then she exclaimed, “I'm a mare! And I'm going to become a Wonderbolt one day! So don't think just because you're a mare you can't become a Wonderbolt!”

Soarin slammed his milkshake on the table and shouted, “No! Here’s the difference, you and Spitfire were born mares, I’m a stallion turning into one. I’ve always been a stallion and now I’m changing in such a way that it’ll affect the rest of my life in ways I can’t even begin to imagine. So yes Rainbow, this is a big deal and excuse me for not taking it in stride.” He quickly chugged down his milkshake. !”

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on his shoulder and whispered, “Okay, I get it, this isn’t turning out how you’d hoped. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through right now. However, don’t think that just because you’re gender’s changing, it’ll change who you are. Mare or Stallion, you’ll still be Soarin and a Wonderbolt on top of that. Just don’t let it beat you down.”

He looked down into his empty drink, part of him wanting to just keep drinking and maybe pass out if only so he didn’t need to keep thinking about his situation. But, there was also that part of him that wanted to at least do something constructive, if only to take his mind off of things. Plus, wasn’t like he could stop it from happening. So with another sigh, he slowly got up from his chair.

“Alright Rainbow might as well finish what I started. Not like I can change anything else, least I can still be a Wonderbolt again.”

Rainbow Dash clapped a hoof over his shoulder. “That’s the spirit, now get out there and show your stuff flutter butt!”

With a nod, he slowly and almost painfully waddled out of the bakery, even more, weight piling onto his body. The sight made Dash more concerned than ever before.

“Stallion or Mare, if I don’t get him back into shape he’ll never become a Wonderbolt. Better do something and soon.”

Chapter 5: A Cheerful Slumber Party

One week later

Rarity slowly walked down to Soarin’s room, giggling as she thought, “Oh, I do hope Soarin will enjoy what I have planned for him. Hopefully it’ll make him feel a little better about how things are going.” The white coated mare knocked on the door. “Soarin it’s time to get up.”

She heard a loud snoring and asked, “Soarin please I need you to get up!” But only the sound of sheets being pulled could be heard.

Rarity’s expression quickly turned fierce, outright growling at the still closed door, “That’s it, while I do believe a lady shouldn’t condone herself in such a manner, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” With a kick that would make Applejack proud, Rarity burst through the door, finding Soarin still sleeping underneath his covers.

Despite her outburst, her anger quickly reseeded at the sight of Soarin, whose body had become even more feminine during the last few days . With his long wavy mane,shortened face, more slender body, it was hard to believe he was ever a stallion to begin with.

“I suppose the transformation is nearly complete, I can’t say I’m surprised he’s acting so out of character...even so,” She whispered angrily, “Soarin you promised we would be going out today.”

Soarin groaned peeking out from under the covers and grumbled, “Oh yeah, almost forgot.”

He slowly got up and crawled out bed, only to squeal as he got tangled in the sheets before plopping unceremoniously on the floor. Rarity was quick to come to his aide. “Soarin are you alright?”

He just crossed his forelegs over his crotch and whimpered, “I’m fine.”

Rarity nudged him and helped the stallion onto his hooves, leading him to a desk with a mirror. “Come now, let's get that mane fixed.” Rarity started spraying some mane spray and rubbing cream into it before brushing the long black hair. The sensation made the shape changing stallion growl, “Ugh, that hurts!”

Rarity just continued brushing and cooed, “You really shouldn’t complain so much. After all, with your condition you’ll need to get used to things like this. We can’t have you going out looking like a mess.”

Soarin rolled his eyes in annoyance, but let Rarity continue fixing his mane. “So, Soarin, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.Fluttershy has been inquiring about you for a while, hoping you’d stop by. I’m fairly certain she’s heard stories about your butterfly wings and wants to see them first hand.”

The stallion blinked and looked up at the white coated mare and asked, “Wait Fluttershy wants to see me?”

She nods and continued, “Yes, and Twilight has set up a surprise for you at her place.”

Soarin groaned at the thought of any more surprises, especially after the last few he got courtesy of Ponyville’s resident magical librarian. “Great, Celestia knows what she’s got in store for me this time.” ”

Rarity, ignoring his apparent dismay, pushed Soarin out the door, giggling with excitement, “Come now, no fretting, I have so much planned today!”

Soarin just rolled his eyes at her enthusiasm, “Here’s hoping it's nothing to embarrassing.”

To an extent the progressively, former stallion was only half right about it being something embarrassing. Once again he’d been dragged to the the spa, this time getting his manes and hooves done. The Wonderbolt hopeful, cringed every time a mare came to lather different foreign substances to his mane, all the while inquiring about his condition..

He however, just sat back dazed, trying his best to not go completely insane at the situation he was currently in. “I can’t believe this is happening? I wish I was still in bed and all of this was just a long, bad dream.”

At the same time, Rarity, in the midst of having her own mane blow dried, peered out of the corner of her eye at Soarin, frowning in disappointment at the sight of his distress. “I take it you’re still adjusting to everything that’s going on.”

Soarin turned towards Rarity and growled, “What was your first clue. I mean, how am I supposed to adjust to this. First I get stuck with these completely useless wings, which get me kicked out of the Wonderbolts. Then on top of that I learn I’m slowly turning into a mare. How exactly should I respond to that. I don’t wanna be a mare and I don’t wanna be comfortable with this. What I want is for this whole situation to just go away and for things to go back to normal.”

Rarity, reeling slightly at the sight of Soarin, who was now breathing somewhat heavily as a result of his outburst, and tried her best to offer a comforting hoof to his shoulder. “Darling, I understand this is difficult for you. Celestia knows if I was turning into a stallion, I’d be panicking all across Ponyville.”

Soarin sighed and rolled his eyes, “Well it’s actually happening to me and I’m still have more than a little trouble just accepting it. So you’ll have to forgive me if I decide to be a little testy with everypony.”

Rarity only nodded, “Yes it isn’t a pleasant experience for sure and you have every right to be angry. Though I do wish you wouldn’t be so quick to lash out, you’ll only make things worse for your self if you just sit and sulk all day.”

Soarin looked downtrodden for a second, before exhaling a calming breath, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Last thing I want is to make this situation any worse.”

Rarity gave a nod as she smiled back, “It’s alright darling, you’ve been through alot and I have to say I’m proud that your taking all of this very well as you have.”

Soarin sighed, “Really, I dont think I have.”

Rarity held his hoof. “Trust me, you’re doing fine. You’ve actually stuck with your training regime and stopped your food binging.” The later part she seemed especially grateful for, if her expression and tone were anything to go off of.

Soarin laughed patting his stomach. “Well, Rainbow Dash has had me working me out everyday and I've been so focused on just trying to get this routine down. I think it's helped relieve some of the stress.”

The stallion then looked up and gave Rarity a loving smile. “But none of this would’ve happened if it weren't for you letting me stay at your home. So thanks, Rarity”

The mare laughed. “Oh, don't fret about that darling, you’ve been a lovely guest. Now we better rap this spa date up, there’s still Fluttershy to see and then Twilight.”

Soarin gave a nod before making his way
into the spa’s large hot tub, soaking in the bath salts and the calming atmosphere.

“Well, I have to admit, at least these spa dates are nice.”

The duo quickly made their way from the spa to to Fluttershy’s cottage, with Rarity quick to give a few light knocks to the door. The pair only had a wait a few moments for door to creak open and a familiar yellow mare to peeked out, “Oh, hello Rarity. Do you need something?”

The white coated mare cooed, “Hello Fluttershy, I just thought I would properly introduce you to Soarin. After all, you’ve been so eager to meet him.”

Pulling back so he could fully be seen, the transforming stallion only blushed and waved a hoof at Fluttershy, whose eyes all but turned into stars at the sight of him, or atleast his wings. “Oh my, he looks more beautiful than any stallion I’ve ever seen!”

Soarin’s blush immediately turned completely red in embarasment, ducking his face under his wing, “I’m not beautiful.”

Fluttershy lead the stallion in giggling, “Oh yes you are! Now please, come on in!”

She lead him to a couch and sat him, along with Rarity down as she passed the pair a cup of tea. Soarin accepted the beverage without argument, sipping it gently before giving a small, “Thank you.”

“Oh it’s no trouble. I’m just happy to finally meet you after hearing about you Rarity and Dash. By the way, how are your lessons coming along”, ?”

He shrugged, “I’ve pretty much nailed my new routine down, but I don’t know if it’ll be enough to get me back into the Wonderbolts.”

Fluttershy cooed, “Oh, do be so hard on yourself. I just know you will pass. Though, are you going to do the same performance Rarity did back at the Young Flyers Competition.”

Soarin sighed and nodded, “Something like that, Rarity even made me a pretty nice suit to go with it.”

Rarity blushed at the compliment, “Oh, please dear, you flatter me. I’m just glad you like it.”

As the trio chatted Fluttershy’s expression quickly started to redden as she fiddled with her tea cup, obviously wanting to say something but having trouble finding the words.

Soarin was of course quick to notice, “Something the matter Fluttershy?”

His voice got her to stop shifting the cup around, though she kept her face glued to the table, “Oh, well it’s just that, I was wondering if maybe you could show me some of your performance. I don’t want to impose, but after everything I’ve heard about it, I’m really excited to see it.”

Rarity turned to Soarin who despite apprehension, just couldn’t say know the butter yellow pegasus. Seriously, she was so adorable it was practically weapons grade., “Alright, I don’t see why not.” The cute, barely audible cheer she immediately let actually made the decision easier to bear.

The group quickly went outside, allowing Soarin to finally spread out his big butterfly wings, all to the glowing amazement of their third companion.

“Oh my, they’re gorgeous.” The pegasus currently fighting off the urge to get up close to the wings and get a measure for just how soft they were.

With a bit of apprehension still present, Soarin fluttered above Fluttershy's cottage and started tiptoeing across the air, following up with a few spins as he flew higher into the sky. He then finished his little performance by spreading his wings over the sun, allowing for a beautiful array of lights of all colors to shine upon the mares. He’s positively breathtaking isn’t he?.”

Fluttershy merely nodded, mesmerized by the many bands of color that set the sky alight.“He is! I wish he was living with me!”

Soarin slowly drifted down onto the ground, landing gently on his hooves. He blushed at the glowing looks of approval from the two mares, almost tempted to look away in embarrassment.”So how was that?”

His response was a squeal and a tight hug from Fluttershy, who merely offered a quiet, muffled “You were amazing.”

Soarin chuckled at the praise, brushing the back of his head still embarrassed at the attention. ”Thanks, though I’m just glad to hear that all the practice I’ve been up to is actually paying off. Of course, I’m not one to pass up a hug.” He quickly returned the gesture, albeit with one hoof which lasted for a good few seconds.

Rarity, having being shook out of her previous stupor, now eyed the embracing pair uneasily., “Alright, that’s enough. Soarin we should be going, we have an appointment at Twilight’s remember.”

Soarin’s race quickly erupted red as he pulled himself from Fluttershy’s grasp. “Right... yeah, we need to go see Twilight.”

Fluttershy still blushing whispered, “Oh alright, um...could you come by again...you could...um help with the butterfly dance.”

Soarin turned and asked, “Wait, the what?”

Fluttershy ground her hoof into the dirt as she thought, “Oh he probably doesn't want to.” She turned away but Soarin was curious and asked, ”Sorry, I couldn’t hear your. What was it?”

Fluttershy blushed and continued, “Well...the baby butterflies just hatched recently but their clumsy, they’re still learning how to fly...I was thinking maybe you could help coordinate them. If you don’t mind of course?”

Soarin had to hold back a slight frown at the idea of essentially being a flight coach for butterflies. What stopped him was Fluttershy’s distant gaze and slightly hope filled expression that all but cracked any reservations he might have had. “Oh, I can’t say no to her. She’s been so nice to me and well...I can't shake the feeling I want to be friends with her.

Hesmirked and replied, “Sure, I wouldn’t mind sounds like a lot of fun.”

Fluttershy squeaked, “Really? Oh that’s wonderful. How about we do it next Friday, after you become a Wonderbolt.”

Soarin gave a nod. “Next Friday i’ll be here.” Fluttershy squealed and fluttered over giving Soarin another big hug.

Rarity now getting a hint of jealousy growled and stomped a hoof. “Alright, we really need to get going now.”

Soarin broke with Fluttershy who giggled as she waved as Rarity escorted him away like a mother with a colt.

As the two walked through Ponyville Soarin eyed Rarity, whose scowl was practically etched across her face, “So what is it?”

She turned away and sighed, “Nothing.”

Soarin nudged her teasingly, “Now you're the one holding something back.”

Rarity turned and mumbled, “Well… I have to admit there is one reason why I let you stay with me.”

Soarin eyed the mare and asked, “And what’s that?”

A nervous sweat broke on the mare’s forehead when she turned to Golden Oaks and laughed “Oh look were here!”

Soarin was about to ask a follow up question, but she beat him to the punch, giving the door a few knocks.“Twilight are you home?”

Twilight opened the door smiling “hey you two come on in!”

The two ponies walked to the middle of the living room and sat down to some cups of tea gracefully placed into their hooves by Twilight’s magic. She giggled plopping on a chair down across from them. “So Soarin how are you feeling?”

He blushed taking a sip from his tea. “Well I’m doing better, sorry for freaking out in front of you last week.”

Twilight was quick to wave off his distress, “ It’s fine don’t even worry about it. Though on the that topic, I’ve been researching spells relating to gender transformation since then but still I can’t find a spell that could reverse your particular situation.” Her disappointment at not being able to solve this particular problem was obvious given her tone and posture.

“It’s ironic, we have spells that can change a ponies age and appearance, but gender is where we drew the proverbial line.

Soarin wanted to roar in annoyance, but simply didn’t see the point anymore, sighing in defeat. “Guess that means I'm definitely going to become a mare. “It’s alright, Rarity’s been helping me to deal with my...um, changes.”

Twilight look somewhat relieved at the revelation,, “That's great to hear. So, since a cure isn’t an option right now, I decided to focus more on how I can assist with your changes.”

Rarity curiosity peaked at this and decided to inquire further. “Really darling, how so?”

Twilight nodded and took out a book, “I found a few spells that can help with your menstruation cycles and a spell to make your wings more durable. I even found one to help keep your breasts from growing big.”

Soarin practically slammed his face on Twilight’s table in shame, as Rarity burst into laughter, He mumbled, “Thanks, I’m sure those spells will come in real handy.”

Twilight smiled, ”Thanks, for now though you have your big trial tomorrow and I thought that we should have some fun yo lift your spirits!”

Rarity giggled and asked, “Oh so what do you have planed?”

Twilight took out a makeup set. “How about we do makeovers and have a slumber party!” Rarity despite still chuckling as Soarin on the other hand, simply looked ready to run out the door. “So is this the surprise.”

Rarity squealed hugging him, “Oh lighten up darling, it’s going to be fun!” He rolled his eyes again and sighed “Fun for you maybe. I’ve still got some pride left. Here’s hoping this won’t be too much more embarrassing than what I’ve gone through already.”

In the span of a few hours, Soarin found himself with hair curlers in his mane and a green mud mask over his face, discomfort still visible despite the mask., “Um, how long do I have to leave this on?”

Rarity, who was fixing Twilight’s mane, explained, “You need to leave that on for the whole night dear. You want to look your best tomorrow don’t you?”

Soarin looked at himself oddly as Twilight waved a hoof. “Oh you look great Soarin! Now how about we do our hooves next!”

Twilight took out a set of hoof polish “Who wants to do their hooves!”

Rarity squealed. “Oh let me do Soarin’s please!”

Soarin however, took a step back, “Actually, can I just stick with the mud mask and curlers. I think I’m good as I am.”

Twilight laughed handing her the kit and Rarity went through the selection and took out a sparkling gold hoof polish and sat him down, “Now, don’t worry so much Soarin. Just me it’s perfectly harmless, now give me you left forehoof.”

He gulped and laid it out Rarity too it gently and began painting it. He grimaced and watched her paint it and he blushed seeing how well it match his coat. “Well it does look good.”

Rarity laughed,”Oh I'm so glad you're liking it darling now give me the left one. “

Soarin raised his right hoof and watched Rarity paint it slowly with a methodical gaze. Soarin blushed seeing how well his hooves were beginning to look and asked, “So, Rarity your really good at this I see.”

Rarity laughed, “But of course, and by tomorrow you’ll be the most stunning stallion in Ponyville!” He blushed and she had him sit down and began painting his back hooves. Then she put the polish aside and began to paint Twilight’s hooves who giggled, “Oh pink?”

Rarity cooed,”It’s a dark shade poof pink darling nothing more.” She started finishing up the polish and cooed,”There all done.”

Twilight turned the hoof around and cooed, “Oh wow it looks incredible.”

Rarity laughed,Isn’t darling, you look just simply smashing now let me do your other hooves.”

As Rarity was painting Twilight’s hooves Soarin turned to a mirror and blushed seeing his mane tied tightly in curlers, the green mud mask plastered on his around face and his butterfly wings shimmering with his hooves now glisiting with the sparkling gold hooves polish. “I can't believe this is really me, it seems almost surreal.”

His inner musing was interrupted by Twilight, who bounced over to him with almost childlike enthusiasm, reminiscent of a certain pink party planner. “Hey Soarin want to play truth and dare!?”

Soarin eyed the mares as they sat around and he shrugged plopping next to them. Twilight giggled and asked “Alright, who goes first?”

Rarity turned her head around at Soarin and asked,”truth or dare?”

Soarin eyed her and thought for a second and mumbled, “Dare.”

Twilight gave a long, “Oooh!”

Rarity smirked, “Alright Soarin I dare you to sing a song.”

Soarin squeaked , “Sing! I don’t know how to sing!”

Twilight laughed and clapped her hooves together, “Come on Soarin, you have to do the dare. It’s the rules!”

Soarin’s face turned a deep red as he started raising his voice, “Um twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.” He then planted his face onto the floor in shame, “So pony, just put me out of my misery already.”

The mares both burst into laughter and Soarin crossed his hooves with a pout as Twilight cooed, “alright my turn, Soarin truth or dare.”

Soarin sighed, “Truth.”

Twilight asked, “Do you like going to the spa?”

Soarin blushed even more as he whispered, “Yeah, it’s not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.”

The girls dawwed then he smirked, “Alright my turn Rarity truth or dare?”

Rarity cooed, ”Oh, I think I should do truth.”

Soarin looked into her and asked, “What were you going to say to me before we came into Golden Oaks Library?”

Soarin paused as she turned away. “Oh, I should’ve known he was going to ask that.” She could only let out a quiet whisper in response. “Well...I was...going to say I found you...attractive.”

Twilight blushed and Soarin just gulped looking down and mumbled, “Wow...I...Um..”

He turned back to Rarity and explained, “Well I can't lie things have been wonderful with you but... um...I’m still with Spitfire.”

Rarity rolled her eyes, mentally groaning at how absent minded he was. “I know that already!” But just offered a nod,”I understand.”

Soarin asked in a concerned tone, “Are you okay?”

She looked up with worry in her eyes and asked,”D...do you blame me for what happened to you?”

Soarin blinked in astonishment and sighed, “No I don’t blame you or Rainbow Dash it was all a accident.”

She nodded and Soarin whispered, ”I’m sorry for what Spitfire said to you, she can be so blunt sometimes. Were still friends aren't we?”

Rarity sighed in relief as she looked back,”Of course, we still are darling.”

Twilight got up. “Wow, this just got really uncomfortable.” She quickly coughed to get the pairs attention. “Alright I...I think Soarin uh you should probably be hitting the sack and get some sleep.”

He nodded. “You're right, see you all tomorrow.”

He got up and slowly walked upstairs as Rarity followed behind. Twilight could only giggle, “Rarity has a crush on Soarin never would imagine that.”

Chapter 6: The Trial

Soarin awoke the next morning in bed, yawning as he stretched while his butterfly wings unfurled themselves. Quickly freeing himself from the beds confines, he slowly made his way through the still dark library. He stumbled into the bathroom and looked upon his face, finding that much to his chagrin, the dried green mask still attached. The stallion began cleaning off his mask and looked up again, blinking at how feminine he appeared,with curlers in his mane and the green mask painted on his face.

The sight brought forth a bubble of anger inside of him, reminding the stallion of his situation, almost like his own reflection was openly mocking him now. With a growl, he was quick to pull out the curlers before washing his face clean of the mask. Once it was mostly gone, he gave his face another look, rubbing his hoof across his exposed skin to rub away the remaining bits of mask. However, when his hoof made contact with his exposed face, he was surprised by the sensation it gave off.

”Wow, it’s so soft. Didn’t think it could be…..”

His words quickly died with a squeak at the sound of his voice, now significantly softer and less guttural than before. He put a hoof to his throat gulping, “My voice..it..it can’t be.” He tried coughing and clearing out his throat before speaking again.”Hello?” He could only groan in frustration when he was met with the same result.

He groaned, stomping a hoof. “So now my voice has changed to!? I can’t sound like this before the trial. Between my mane, my wings and this voice, everypony there will be too busy laughing at me to even see my routine!”

His brief emotional breakdown/rant was quickly interrupted by the door opening, revealing Spike entering the bathroom. “Oh, hey Soarin, good morning.” Soarin squealed jumping bad and tumbling over with his mane falling over his face. “Sp..Spike what are you doing here!?”

He pouted crossing his claws, “Just using the bathroom like any pony wou…”

Soarin practically gulped, having just realized the latest change he’d undergone and had just quite literally blabbed it to Spike, who was still trying to process what he just heard.

“Uh, Soarin. Are you feeling okay, cause your voice sounds kind of...off.”

Soarin just gave a uncomfortable smile, before shaking his head in a no like gesture. Spike eyed him and asked, “Are you sure, I can get Twilight if you want.”

He shook his head again and waved his hooves affirmatively. Spike shrugged, “Alright, I'll wait.”

Soarin just gave a sigh of relief as he finished cleaning his face off and combing his mane before quickly exiting the bathroom. He then made his way downstairs, finding Rarity and Twilight already cooking breakfast together. The sound of his hoofsteps prompted Rarity to look up and smile brightly at the pegasus. “Good morning Soarin, how was your sleep last night?”

If he was being honest with himself, still more than a little tired, but was able to manage a small smile while he sitting down at the table, doing his best to avoid talking and then revealing his latest change. “Just don’t talk Soarin, who knows maybe I can just get through the day without saying a word.”

However, Rarity was quick to pick up on his unusually silent demeanor. ”Soarin, are you feeling alright?”

He was quick to nod sipping a cup of tea if only to have an excuse to not communicate. As he continued to slowly, sip at his tea,Twilight brought a plate of eggs and pancakes with a cup of coffee. “Eat up, you’ll need to keep your energy up for today.”

Soarin, without missing a beat, quickly shifted from the tea to the food, gobbling it up with gusto. Seated next to him, Rarity simply cut her pancakes at a slow pace, while still trying to get a word out of the stallion.“By the way dear, I brought over your uniform so you could try it on here.”

Soarin coughed on his eggs and squeaked, ”You did what?” He then realized what he’d just said, albeit too late and vainly tired to clamp his mouth shut.

However, the mares both turned with surprised looks at Soarin, who blushed in shame while covered his mouth with booth hooves.

Twilight whispered in awe,”Soarin..Is that your voice?”

Rarity gulped as she whispered, “Well...it’s nothing to be ashamed of Soarin. Honestly I think it sounds lovely.””

Soarin sighed, uncovering his mouth, seeing no point in hiding it. “I...it happened after I woke up this morning. All of a sudden my voice started sounding like...this.” His now significantly higher pitched voice rose even higher on the last note, prompting Soarin to practically bury his face into the wooden table. ”

Twilight did her best to remain supportive, offering a comforting hoof, ”Soarin it’s a lovely voice, you shouldn’t hide it. Besides,I’m sure that we all were expecting your vocal cords to change eventually.”

Soarin sighed going back to eating. “Yeah I guess.”

Twilight happily nodded at his acceptance. “Don’t worry too much, I’m sure once your in that uniform and doing your routine, this change will be the last thing on your mind.”

He groaned, being reminded of the test and continued to stuffing his face, perhaps hoping all the syrup would make his voice sound better. Rarity came by opting to shift topics in a different direction, “So is there anything else you need before the trial?”

He shook his head, still thinking/dreading the trials ahead. Between the wings, his voice, the suit and everything else, there was practically no way he’d be likely to pass. He’d be lucky if he wasn’t laughed right out of the testing facility. The thought almost made him want to find a cave and hide in it for the rest of his life, but he knew that wasn’t an option.

“Here’s at least hoping this’ll be short. Less painful that way.”

In a brief amount of time, Rarity has left the library and returned with Soarin’s uniform, to which she was now admiring her handy work. The stallion of the hour was now in his sparkling golden suit with his hooves matching with the gold hoof polish from the previous night. He looked at himself in the mirror as Rarity was circled him, getting a good look from every angle she could. “Oh, you look positively stunning darling. I do believe I may have outdone myself.”

Soarin struggled to maintain a positive facade as his eyes stayed glued to his reflection.” I mean it looks great but...well..now that I look like a mare, do you think it still suits me?”

Rarity waved a hoof and scoffed,”Oh please, if anything I think it looks even better on you as a mare.”

Soarin turned from the mirrors, still unsure about his appearance and the test itself,”You sure? After everything that’s happened already, I don’t know if I should even go out there.”

Rarity simply grabbed his head and turned it so he could see directly into her eyes, those sapphire blue eyes glimmering with untold self-confidence that the stallion turned mare needed. “Don’t even think that, even for a moment. I know you’re going to do great. That much I’m quite certain.”

Soarin actually felt a few tears leak from his eyes as the fashionista’s words, quickly holding the unicorn tightly to her surprise “Hey, what's the matter?”

He whimpered, “I...I’m scared, that even after all of this...The Wonderbolts still won’t accept me.”

Rarity simply hugged Soarin back whilst smoothed out his mane. “That's just hormones and stress talking. Believe me when I say this, you’ve more than earned your place here. All that hardwork and determination is going to pay off. You deserve to be here Soarin.”

Soarin nodded and wiped his eyes, “Right I’m ready to go.”

With a final look in the mirror, he made his way down the stairs with Rarity, finding Rainbow Dash wait for them. Her reaction once she saw Soarin was...about what they expected.

“You're actually going to wear that?” She spoke with tone with enough revulsion you’d think the outfit was made of rags and washed in garbage.

Soarin glared at the cyan coated pegasus, stomping his hoof firmly on the ground and growling at his companion.”I happen to think it looks really cool and I’m honored I get to wear it. Do you have a problem with that?”

Rainbow Dash’s jaw practically crashed through the floorupon hearing the stallion’s voice. “What in the hay did you do to him Rarity!?”

Rarity stomped a hoof. “Rainbow Dash, I had nothing to do with his voice and you really should be more respectful to other ponies.”

The light blue coated stallion reeled back at her friends disappointed tone, only to take several steps back as Soarin drew closer, looking more than a little offended. “So what's wrong with my voice Rainbow Dash, you got a problem with that too?”

She's just sighed, really not wanting to start a fight with anypony. ”No, it was just surprising is all. Anyway, we need to start flying or else we’re gonna be late.”

Soarin only nodded, before offering a quick wave goodbye to Twilight and Rarity who both offered him a loud,”Good Luck!” before he flew off into the sky with Rainbow Dash at he/her side.

At a nearby Wonderbolt training field, Spitfire, along with a few other Wonderbolts, sat eagerly awaiting Soarin’s arrival. This was something they didn’t have to wait long for as they quickly witnessed Soarin fluttering down towards them alongside Rainbow Dash. The entire team gasped at Soarin’s metamorphosis. Where once there was a clumsy stallion, now there flew agraceful, stunning mare in a golden glittering suit, complimented by a shimmering, silky black mane.

The sight actually made Spitfire do a double take, checking to make certain her eyes were functioning properly. Once that was made clear, her face actually turned scarlet at the sight of Soarin, his entire body glimmering under the rays of the sun. “Wow, who’d have thunk turning he’d be such a pretty mare. Honestly not sure how I feel about that.”

Quickly remembering the trial, she shook her confusing thoughts out of her head and readopted her stern, commander persona. “So Soarin...Are you ready to begin the trial?”

He gave a nod, still uncomfortable about speaking with his former teammates as he was. Spitfire turned to Rainbow Dash, “Alright, from what the reports you gave me say, you’re gonna give a more unconventional performance from the normal Wonderbolts demonstration?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. ”Yep, his new wings aren't durable enough for the usual Wonderbolt regiment, so we had to make our own technique. Though I can promise he’s been working on it none stop and I’m sure you guys we’ll be impressed.”

Spitfire, keeping her stern demeanor, only offered a short nod. ”Very well then. Now, just to be clear we're going to judge him predominantly on his style and skill, not speed or power. Understand?”

Both Dash and Soarin answered in the affirmative, though the Wonderbolt hopeful was now shaking all over. Though despite him shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, Spitfire seemed to ignore it and focus on the task at hand. “Alright Soarin, we’re ready you may begin.”

The classical music began and echoed throughout the empty stadium. Without missing a beat, he fluttered into the air,making sure to do a few twirls with his wings shimmering in the sunlight.

Once he got up to a certain point he proceeded to dive around the clouds over head, weaving gracefully throughout each one as the classical music continued with a soothing sound. He then slowed his movement letting the wind take his wings ashe fluttered,dived, and waved through the air with graceful arcs, with a high speed twirl at the end of his first set of maneuvers. The Wonderbolts were all gaping in utter confusion and shock at how breathtaking the performance was.

Soarin then raised himself above a little and began twirling around the clouds, this time fluttering around them and taking in a breeze allowing him to float above the clouds. He continued to to spin and throwing his wings open to the Wonderbolts, who started to applaud him a little and even chanted his name.

“Soarin, keep going.”

“You’re amazing!”

He grunted closing his eyes tightly as he worked to maintain his altitude. “Alright, I need to be sure I finish this off with a good finale!”

He then did a loop in the air,fluttering high above as the classical music’s melody intensified,flying higher and higher. Once he’d reached a certain point, he unfurled his wings and let the the light streamed down, the music ending in a loud booming finale with the sun’s rays gleaming through his wings. This was the final image he held for a few moments, he started fluttering down.

Spitfire clapped and cheered as Soarin descended. The other Wonderbolts quickly began whispering amongst each other,Spitfire responding to some of the unheard dialogue . They all nodded in approval and Soarin closed his eyes and hid his face behind a wing as he thought, “I knew it, they’re not gonna let be a part of the Wonderbolts again.”

Spitfire turned towards Soarin and declared, “The Wonderbolts have made their decision. Soarin you did very well and I'm proud to say that you have made massive improvements.” Her next words caused her expression to change to a somber one that told Soarin all he needed to know.

“I’m afraid however, that due to your wings fragility and how you can no longer perform intense maneuvers we’re known for, you simply can't be apart of the Wonderbolts.”

The poor stallion looked devastated, his head bowing so low it threatened to kiss the dirt. Spitfire however, wasn’t done talking, “But...the Wonderbolts have recently hired a cheerleader squad. And well...we would like you to be the captain.”

Soarin blinked in surprise his eyes quickly leveling back to match Spitfire’s. “Wait, they want me to be a cheerleader?”

Spitfire continued explaining, “Your amazing Soarin, those wings are just so beautiful. You’d make an amazing opener for out show. Combined with our own moves at the end, it’d be the perfect performance.”

She took out a box with the Wonderbolt logo,and said “Here's your new uniform Soarin. I also included some cards detailing the routines you’ll be doing with the cheerleading squad.”

The stallion took the box as he was still shaking and Spitfire came over and gave him a hug, “Oh, and stop thinking what I know you are. Even as a cheerleader, you’re still a Wonderbolt. Welcome back.”

He looked at the other Wonderbolts smiling at him and he hugged Spitfire back and whispered, ”Thank you.”

Spitfire blushed hearing Soarin's new voice and broked the embrace as she continued, “ I’ll give you a week to prepare and learn the routines. We can just go through introductions to your new teammates next Monday.”

Soarin gave a sheepish smile and replied,”Sure Spitfire, sounds great.”

Spitfire turned to Rainbow Dash and spoke to her directly, “Now that Soarin is trained and apart of the Wonderbolts, I’m also giving you, Rainbow Dash, official acceptance into the Wonderbolt Academy. You’ve clearly shown you’ve got what it takes to be one of us. Also as a bonus and a thank you, I’m giving you a pass to every Wonderbolt show for the next year.!”

Rainbow Dash flew into the air shouting “Ohmygosh!ohmygoshohmygosh! Thank you thank you thank you!”

Spitfire laughed and clapped her hooves as the rest of the Wonderbolts did, though Soarin just looked downtrodden as he clutched the box trying not to burst into tears.

“Is this it? Am I to be just gonna be a cheerleader?

Chapter 7: How to be a mare?

It’s been a week since Soarin became a Cheerleader. He woke one morning, still in Rarity’s boutique, stretching his giant butterfly wings and legs, when the stallion felt like something was off. He grumbled, slowly getting out of bed and strode to the calendar on the right wall, with Friday circled in bright red marker.

“Ican’t believe I’m going to my first performance as a cheerleader, then again I can’t believe I’m a cheerleader period. Thankfully, at least the routine was easy enough to figure out and the girls Spitfire found are amazing. Least I won’t have to worry about making a fool of myself.”

That was when Soarin noticed a breeze went under his nether regions and felt that something was missing. Soarin’s body started to sweat as he hesitantly passed a hoof down underneath his back legs and felt two small fleshy sacks, only to find something rather important missing between the two bulbs. He squeaked in horror, stumbling backwards into a wall, sending a loud boom echoing throughout the house.Soarin could hear Rarity running upstairs and quickly took his blanket to cover himself before the mare burst in through the door, concern all across her face.

”Soarin, are you alright?”

Soarin blushed and stammered,”Oh, hey um...yes everything is fine.”

Rarity peered down at him and asked, ”Are you sure darling? You seem rather flustered.”

Soarin whispered with a fearful expression,”I...I need to go see Nurse Redheart and...c..can I borrow a dress.”

Rarity blushed, quickly putting things together in her mind. “This was going to happen eventually, I just wish it didn’t happen so suddenly.’

Of course darling, when your ready I'll help pick one out for you.”

Soarin waited for Rarity to leave and as she closed the door. Soarin looked down at the floor with tears forming in his eyes and he sobbed into his blanket.

A few minutes later Soarin was now waiting patiently in a Nurse Redheart’s office with only a simple purple dress covering “her” body. As of right now Soarin knew that she without a doubt was a mare.

Nurse Redheart walked into the office with a stack of files on her back and a blush on her face. “Well Soarin there’s no other way to say it but, you’re a mare...biologically speaking anyways.”

Soarin groaned and slammed her hooves over her eyes. “I knew this would happen, but I never thought it would be so sudden!”

Nurse Redheart sighed, trying to be as patient as possible, the white coated mare sat down and laid the tests out in front of the distressed mare. “It’s alright Soarin, it’s not that bad. Ignoring the current issue, everything else about you is healthy and there doesn't seem to be any complications. Do you want me to explain things now? We can wait we don’t need to do this.”

Soarin gulped lowering her hooves and stammered, “So…so...I…I’m fertile.”

Redheart nodded awkwardly at the comment as she continued, ”Yes, well when you become in heat that ise. Did you read up on the pamphlets I gave you? They provide some very detailed information on the subject.”

The pegasus grumbled, thinking back to when she did read those stupid pamphlets and nodded. ”Yeah, I understand them well enough.” His/her tone making it clear their mood was still a little irritable.

Redheart shook her head and stacked all the files. “If this is too uncomfortable we can go over all this later.”

Soarin sighed in relief. “Yes, thank you Celestia it's finally over!”

She got up and quickly stammered, “Thanks for the info..we can go more in depth later. I just ...I just need time to get used to this.”

Redheart gave Soarin a smile. “No worries, I understand this is all new. Please go and relax. When you’re ready we can go through all this medical mumbo jumbo together.”

Soarin just got up with a smile, “Thanks Nurse Redheart.” The pegasus slowly left the hospital and walked through Ponyville, looking downtrodden as ponies waved at her, some even cheering her on. Soarin gave them a smile back knowing everypony was supporting her through the changes. But she still felt strange and unsure of the transformation, it just felt, odd for lack of a better term.

The pegasus’s mind continued to wrestle with these thought as she eventually returned to Rarity’s boutique, finding the titular mare eating breakfast, though she stopped once she caught sight of Soarin, her face starting to glow. “Oh, you’re back...so how was your visit?”

Soarin’s expression remained completely flat, feeling her appearance should’ve been a clear enough answer to the question. “Well, I just learned definitively that I’m biologically a mare now.”

Rarity, unsure of what to say, gulped as she chose her next words, “Well…how are you feeling about all this?”

Soarin turned her head away and whispered. “I guess I’m happy the transformation part is all over. I also think it's about time I move back to my house in Cloudsdale. I've asked way too much of you already and now that the transformation process is done, I should be able to handle things myself.”

Rarity however, didn’t look convinced, if only from the forced tone Soarin was speaking in. ”Physically she might appear fine, but I think it might be better if Soarin stayed in Ponyville just a bit longer. Just so she can feel adjusted to her new situation.” Rarity waved a hoof. “Nonsense darling, it’s fine, you can stay here longer if you need to.”

The Pegasus turned and eyed the white coated mare suspiciously. “You sure that’s okay? It's been over a month since I've been living with you?”

Rarity merely shook her head as she lead Soarin upstairs as she continued. “Think nothing of it, besides we still need to try on that cheerleader’s uniform. I want to see if I need to make adjustments to it. You never did give me a chance yet.”

Soarin shrugged and simply replied, ”Okay, I suppose that sounds like a good idea.”

Rarity clapped her on the back. “Of course it is dear, I just hope the uniform looks fashionable.”

The two were now upstairs in Rarity’s workshop with Soarin behind a changing curtain, Rarity waiting patiently while tapping a hoof on the ground.

”Are you ready in there?”

Soarin sighed. “Yeah, I’m ready.” The transformed mare slowly walked out of the changing booth, now clad in a white tank top with sparkling, yellow lightning bolts coming around the sides and a dark blue skirt coming out the back end, with her tail trailing behind, with two golden pom-poms attached to her forehooves. Rarity, taking in Soarin’s features, gave the new mare a quick look around, scanning every inch of the outfit. “Hmm, I do believe the skirt should be made a bit longer.”

Soarin, looking back at the skirt, as well as feeling the breeze from it, nodded, “Yeah, it definitely feels a little on the short side. Though, I don’t really have time to wait for you to adjust it right now.”

Rarity laughed, “That’s alright, I’ll do it after the show, but the top still needs to be adjusted. I refuse to let you go out there in baggy looking clothes. It’d be positively dreadful to allow such a thing.”

Soarin dragged her forehooves over the top. ”It does feel a little loose I guess.” She then struck a pose with her pom-poms, while standing on her back hooves. “So is that it? Anything else?”

Rarity blushed at Soarin standing at her full height, clad in the pretty cheerleader uniform. ”Oh my, really getting in the spirit aren’t we?” Soarin just blushed and held the pose as the fashionetta gave her outfit a look around one more time

“Well, there doesn’t appear to be anything else. We may have to give it another look over after the performance, but I’d say otherwise it looks fine darling.”

Soarin settled back down on all fours and hugged Rarity. “Thanks, I’d better get going.” She then ran outside and fluttered into the air as Rarity looked up into the sky and shouted, “Good luck Soarin! Knock’em dead!”

Spitfire was waiting patiently as Soarin fluttered down to meet her in the giant Wonderbolts stadium. She smirked, “Hey Soarin! Ya ready for your first show!”

The mare looked up and asked, “Yeah, but um weird question and I'm trying to not be girly or whatever just uh..is my uniform okay? I meant to get it adjusted earlier but I’ve been so busy with getting my routine down.”

Spitfire smirked and looked her over, ”Yeah, it’s good, just go out there and do your thing. We’ll be in the air in ten. ”

Soarin rolled her eyes turning to his team of mare pegasi, all standing ready in their own uniforms. Soarin cleared her throat. “Okay you girls, lets go out there and show our stuff.”

The mares all cheered as Soarin turned around and shouted, “Okay! Are you Ponies ready for the Wonderbolts!” The crowd cheered as Soarin flew out with her team, before they rose their pom-poms and started their routine. Soarin lead their chant, “Wonderbolts are the best! They can take on any test!”

Soarin shaking her pom-poms and dancing with her teammates,while the crowd clapped in cadence with their moves. The mares followed up with forming a sky pyramid with Soarin flying on top, spreading her large butterfly wings out and shaking her pom-poms in the air.

“Go Wonderbolts!” Her cheer sent the crowd roaring into applause, which only grew louder as the Wonderbolts soared overhead.

Soarin fluttered down looking at the other cheerleaders with a smile.“Good job girls, excellent work!”

They all went to the sidelines as they drank from water bottles. Soarin turned, watching the Wonderbolts doing their tricks and look upon them with envy, a tear forming in her eyes. “I'll never be able to that again.”

She continued to watch as they were coming down for their finale, promptly her to fly out and fluttered above the Wonderbolts, allowing her wings to above the crowd with the final boom being illuminated through her glittering wings. The crowd roared and the Wonderbolts bowed as Soarin fluttered back with her fellow cheerleaders, who were similarly enthusiastic with the performance, only for Soarin to drown them out as she noticed Spitfire approaching.

“Hey Soarin, great job out there, you really have that routine down. Also was wondering if you wanted to get some dinner later tonight Ponyville…my treat.”

She nods, “Sure that sounds great…”

Spitfire smirks as she leaves. ”Alright Clipper, ill meet ya by sugarcube corner at eight, don’t be late.” Soarin watched her fly off to the locker room before slamming a hoof to her face. “A date why in Celestia would I say yes to a date!?

That evening Rarity was now in full fashionetta mode getting Soarin ready in her workshop while the cheerleading mare complained all the way. “I mean i'm a mare now, so why is Spitfire pretending to still love me! It's not like she was into mares back when I was a stallion?”

Rarity who was busy stacking racks on racks of dresses cooed, ”Oh stop it, she loves you for who you are, so it shouldn’t matter what gender you are.”Soarin rolled her eyes. “Oh don’t give me that, it's obvious she’s only doing this to be nice.”

Rarity paused tapping a hoof on her chin. “Would you mind if I do your makeup?”

Soarin squeaked and blushed at the thought. ”Um...I...I’m not sure about being prettied up.”

Rarity storde over. “Oh please, if you’re a mare then let's show off your true beauty and knock Spitfire dead. Make her love the new Soarin!”Soarin thought it over, “I guess she’s got a point. Be a chance to show Spitfire the new Soarin in her full glory!”

The pegasus plopped down in the chair. ”Alright Rarity, do your thing.”

Rarity looked Soarin’s face over and started her work, first putting a light blush on Soarin's Cheeks while darkening her elongated eyelashes. Soarin all the while, was still nervous and squirmed uncomfortably about, “This is still so alien to me.”

Rarity just gave a nod proceeding with putting a red lipstick over Soarin’s lips “I know darling but trust me your going to look absolutely stunning.”

Soarin smirked. “Easy for you to say, I’m not even sure why mares wear make-”

She promptly quieted after seeing herself in the mirror,unsure of how to react to the mare staring back at her. Her long black eyelashes, the slight blush on her cheeks, matched with a red, thin smile now on her lips. It was surreal in a sense that Soarin was unsure of what to say. Rarity smirked as he asked sarcastically, “Oh, what was that about why we mares wear makeup?”

Soarin put a hoof to his right cheek and rubbed it. “Yeah I guess it make sense.”

Rarity then turned her back around and continued, now with brushing hermane out,making sure it curled around Soarin's neck like a corkscrew, while also doing the same to her tail.

When she was finished the fashion marehelped Soarin up from the chair and replied with a gentle tone,“See, it wasn’t bad at all was it? Now, it's time for a dress.” She took out a rack of rather fancy and quite expensive looking dresses that prompted an embarrassed squeak from Soarin.“Do I really need to wear one of those dresses?”

Rarity waved a hoof, “Of course darling, these are the top of the line. Now come on let’s get started.”

Soarin gulped as she waddled over “Why do I get the feeling this is gonna to more unpleasant than it sounds?”

To Soarin’s displeasure, they ended up going through hundreds of dresses, with Rarity scouring her collections for the perfect outfit. Finally,she finally had it, a beautiful, gold silk dress which rippled over Soarin's Body with gold slippers to match for her hooves. She was blushing heavily at the sight of herself the mirror, able to fully see that she’d been transformed into quite a stunning mare. Rarity was equally moved by the sight before her, “I did it! You’re ready for your d-” Before she could finish Soarin hugged Rarity. “I love it! I love it! Thank you Rarity!”

Rarity broked the embrace and stared into Soarin’s eyes, “You're absolutely welcome darling.”

Rarity lead the new Soarin downstairs to see Sweetie Belle coming in and gasping, “S...S..Soairn!? Are you a princess?”

Rarity laughed and Soarin waved a hoof, “Nope just going on a date.”

Sweetie Belle ran and over and hugged Soarin who squealed and held the little filly. Rarity couldn’t help it and snapped a few photos. Soarin ruffled the filly’s mane. “Alright I better get going or i'll be late.”

She then trailed off as Sweetie Belle bounced up and down,”Good luck, knock her dead!”

Spitfire went through the door of carousel boutique and smelt the air looking into the night, “That's right world here comes Soarin the mare.”

Chapter 9: A New oppurtunity

It’d been three weeks since Soarin and Spitfire had their first date and things had since quieted down, at least as far as dramatic events were concerned. Truthfully, after opening up to Spitfire and hitting it off, both ponies had fallen into their own personal routines.

In the case of Soarin, she was practicing her cheerleading routine with her fellow mares in the early morning.

“Alright ladies, let's go, five, six, seven, eight.” Currently, she was showing the group how to properly wave their pom poms as they flew into the air. Soarin was currently fluttering in front of the group chanting, “Come on, make those pom poms sizzle! Get those wings in the air show some pride!” The girls were able to pull off the trick, but given they’d been practicing for some time and were visibly exhausted, they clearly weren’t in an especially cheerful mood. Soarin shook her head seeing that her teammates were beyond tired and she settled down back on the clouds with the rest of her tired team, panting with exhaustion.

Soarin shined her wings and gave them all a smile, trying to raise their spirits.. “You all did an excellent job! Tomorrow, we're going to blow Cloudsdale away. So you all get a good night sleep and be here tomorrow at noon for the show and remember, if your uniforms are torn or feeling worn out please let me know.”

The mares all raised their pom-poms in the air, managing to muster out a half than normal volume, “Go Wonderbolts,” before breaking formation and casually started chatting amongst themselves. Soarin strode through the locker rooms sweating as she changed out of of her uniform, only to squeak in surprise when Rainbow Dash suddenly popped in., “Oh, Rainbow it’s been awhile.”

Rainbow nodded, chuckling a little at her friend’s shy response. “Yeah, sorry I haven’t dropped by more often, been pretty busy. Heard ya helped Fluttershy with her butterflies. I swear she just won’t stop talking about it.”

Soarin threw a hoof in the air. “Oh, that? It was nothing, just had to show them how to flutter. Pretty easy once I got the hang of it.”

Rainbow smirked. “Yeah well, I have to thank you...she usually asks me to do it and I’m not exactly fond doing that kind of frilly, girly stuff. Anyway, figured I owe you for taking over for me and helping her out, so I was gonna ask if I could try out the spa with you...my treat.”

She blushed. “Sure why not? I don’t think I could pass up a free trip to the spa. “

Rainbow, excited by the response, got readyto fly off but stopped midway out of the locker room. “But, you better not tell anypony." Soarin laughed, thinking how Rarity would react to Rainbow Dash’s apparent attempts to hide her feminine interests. “I won't, trust me. Though not sure what you’re so worried about, I enjoyed going to the spa even back when I was a stallion.”

Rainbow only let out an irritated sigh. “Just promise me okay.”

“Alright, I swear on my honor as a former Wonderbolt.”

Rainbow flew down, smile returned to her face. "Okay, I’ll see you there." She then quickly flew off as Soarin shrugged and started taking off her skirt and shirt, turning to see Spitfire walking smirking at the former stallion. “Just saw Dash fly by, mind telling me what you two were chatting about?”

Soarin just shrugged. “Nothing crazy, she just wants to treat me to the spa for helping her get out of flying with butterflies. You can come if you want?”

Soarin grunted, cracking her wings. “Well, my wings have been feeling pretty stiff these last couple of weeks and it would be nice to get to know more about Rainbow. Girl may be a little cocky, but she’s prime Wonderbolt material.” Soarin laughed. “Yeah, she is. I've never met such a determined young mare. Well…. ,maybe since I met you.”

Spitfire eyed her marefriend and asked, "should I be worried?”

Soarin scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I would never cheat on you.”

Spitfire smirked. “Yeah, because if you did your butt would be wearing a pink tutu every time you did your cheerleading routine.”

Soarin squeaked as she jumped back causing Spitfire to giggle“but “Though, given how you are now, I’m not sure if that would really be a punishment."

Soarin rolled her eyes. “Haha, very funny I may be girlybut I’m not that girly.”

Spitfire just rubbed her hoof over Soarin’s shoulders and cooed, “Alright, alright, don’t get angry at me.”

Soarin giggled and nuzzled Spitfire’s neck and whispered, “Oh, I can’t get angry at you.”

They held each other then Soarin pecked a kiss on Spitfire’s cheek and the orange coated mare smirked, “Alright, my filly, you ready to go?”

Soarin laughed as she spread her butterfly wings, “Alright, how about we race, first one to the spa get’s to decide our date this weekend.”

Spitfire ground her hoof into the floor, “You’re on Clipper.”

The two then ran out of the locker room and Spitfire blasted into the air, but to her surprise Soarin lifted her wings and flew on a gust of wind, soaring right past her.

“Wow, looks like Soarin’s got quite the handle on her new wings. Guess I need to focus a little more or I might might actually lose.”

Soarin was squinting as she flew on the air currents,watching Spitfire streaming down towards Ponyville Spa. Not wanting to lose, Soarin bent down and went into a straight nose dive as the two were neck and neck. Rainbow Dash, having just just arrived at the spa looked up and smirked seeing the two both land in front of her. The two took a moment to collect themselves before asking the obvious question, “Who won!?”

Rainbow Dash blinked. “Um...I..I couldn't tell I think it was a tie.”

Soarin scoffed, “Come on Rainbow, if I lost I can handle it.”

Rainbow Dash blushed and replied back. “I’m serious, it was really too close to tell. I’m actually surprised you were able to keep up with Spitfire Soarin.”

The captain of the Wonderbolts turned with a smile to Soarin and cooed, “Well, since it’s a tie, we both decide something to do this weekend.”

Soarin giggled and nudged Spitfire, “Sure, now come on, let’s get in a soak.” Spitfire just gently nudged Saorin back as Rainbow Dash shook her head and opened the door to the spa.

Soon the three mares were all soaking in a hot tub together with Dash quivering with excitement and nervousness seeing Spitfire a feet away from her relaxing with Soarin, who had on a green mud mask while reading a newspaper scoffing. “Would you look at this Spitfire, the once great Wonderbolt Soarin, is now just a sissy cheerleader with flimsy looking wings! Can you believe this!”

Spitfire threw hoof. “Relax Clipper, it's just the press, they're always trying to cause drama.”

Soarin scoffed.“Still, you don't think that, right?”

Spitfire shook her head. “No way, I think we compliment each other perfectly. You warm up the crowd and we wow them, perfect tag team performance.”

Rainbow Dash shouted, “Yeah, you guys are like amazing! I mean, even I’m not a big fan of the cheerleading squad but I can tell you guys are crazy good.”

Soarin blushed and ran her hoof through the steaming water as she whispered, “Thanks, but I can't take all the credit, my team works very hard to perfect that routine.”

Spitfire held one of Soarin’s hooved and commented, “Come on Soarin, take some pride, you're doing amazing. And don't worry about what some reporter says.”

Soarin sighed “Yeah I guess you're right.”

The pairs conversation was interrupted by the sound of another pony entering the room. They turned to find a rather elegant looking unicorn with a stunning white coat,dark blue eyes and glimmering,flowing mane standing near the edge of the tub. A closer inspection revealed her cutie mark to be a pair of yellow ballet slippers printed on her rump. She gave the mares a gentle smile and asked, “Uh, hey, all the other hot baths are taken, do you mind sharing?”

Spitfire casually patted the water like it were a spot on the couch. “No problem, come on in, there’s plenty of room."

The strange unicorn eagerly entered and settled down into the bubbling, steaming water, moaning as she slowly sank in. “Oooh, thank you, this feels amazing.”

Rainbow Dash eyed the strange mare and asked. “So who are you? I’ve never seen you in Ponyville before?”

The mare, whose soaking mane was currently covering her eyes, gave her head a good shake so that she could make eye contact with Rainbow. “Oh, I’m Glass Hooves, and you’re right, I'm actually from Canterlot.”

Soarin intrigued asked, “So, what's your profession?"

She blushed and continued, “I’m actually in the Royal Canterlot Ballet.”

Soarin blinked and turned the newspaper to a section on a review of said Ballet, recalling that it had been described as stunning the very definition of grace. She blinked as she gave the article another look over. “Wow, you mares can twirl in the air without wings!?”

The mare laughed. “Well it takes a lot or practicing, but yes. Though, you need to be very extremely flexible and the shows are exhausting. Ponies always get the wrong idea about ballet thinking it's just for little fillies.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Sure it is.” Her tone earned a weak glare from Soarin, causing her to sink further into the water.

Spitfire asked, “Dang, so what bring a ya to Ponyville?”

She sighed. “Sadly one of our dancers retired recently and we’ve been looking for a replacement.I’m holding trials in Ponyville to see if there’s any talent here.”

She lifted herself out of the water enough to grab the newspaper Soarin had been holding and flipped it until she got to a page before hoofing it over to Soarin, “Here, I even put an ad in the newspaper.”

The mare all looked down at the small panel where a picture of a twirling pony with the message, “Join the royal canterlot ballet.Auditions at the skating rink from 9am to 4pm.”

Soarin looked up with a surprised look and asked, “So, anypony can join?”

The mare just seeped into the hot tub and nodded. “Yes, it doesn't matter as long as you have the drive and the tallent.”

Soarin looked down then back at the article...thinking…, “Should I try out?

After the spa, Soarin ran out after Glass Hooves shouting, “Wait up!”

Glass Hooves turned and smiled, “Oh, Soarin was it, what’s up?”

The blue coated mare gasped, “Looks I need to ask, I don’t have any previous experience with ballet but I’m really graceful with my wings and I was a Wonderbolt for five years. I just wanted to ask if it was okay if I could have some practice and tryout for the Royal Canterlot Ballet before you leave.”

Glass Hooves smiled, “Oh, that’s wonderful. However, learning ballet can take years, and tryouts are till the end of the month. I would love to have you, but it’d b be quite the challenge. Are you sure you want to try?”

Soarin smirked. “I can do it, you'd be surprised what I can do in a month.”

Glass Slippers waved a hoof signaling him to follow her. “Alright, then come with me, can give you some things to get you started.”

The mare followed Slippers to her home and looked around at the awards and pictures of the ballerina with her group. Soarin just gasped at her trophy case, cluttered with countless gold medals and glittering cups, while the ballerina grabbed a yellow tutu,a pair of yellow slippers and a book called, “Basics of Ballet.”

Once she had everything, she hoofed them over to Soarin. “Alright, that’s everything that you’re going to need as far as the basics are concerned. Now, I know the tutu may look embarrassing but it’s standard attire.”

Soarin squeaked seeing the tutu and whimpered stepping back. “Uh...are you sure I can’t I wear anything else?”

Glass Slippers chuckled, “Oh trust me it’s not that bad. Anyways just read this book and learn the basics.”

Soarin blushed now with her tutu slippers and book, “Thanks, but um, why would you give me all this? We just met.”

Glass Slippers giggled,“Soarin you were a Wonderbolt and I've heard all about you as a cheerleader. You have a lot of talent and I think you can do more.”

Soarin sighed as she bowed her head as she flapped her butterfly wings. “Yeah, thanks for the support. I’ll do what I can”

Glass Slippers pat Soarin’s back. “You don't have to do this if you don’t want to. I’m just saying, you can do whatever you want.”

Soarin gulped as she started to sweat a little, “Is being a ballerina something I really want to do?”

Soarin was now back in her room at Rarity's, reading the basics on being a ballerina on her bed. Sweetie Belle popped into the room and shouted, “Hey Soarin what’re ya doin!”

The winged mare squealed, jumping up, sending the book flying off the bed. After a second to slow her racing heart, she looking at the little filly. “Oh, it’s just you Sweetie Belle.”

The filly picked up the book that fell on the ground and giggled at the title. “So why you reading about ballerinas?”

Soarin blushed as she picked the book up and sighed, “Hey Sweetie Belle I...I think iI think I have a cutie mark problem.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes practically turned into stars as she squealed “You do!?”

She nods, prompting the filly to immediately hop onto the bed next to her.. “So what's up?”

Soarin turned, “So I'm going to tell you a secret and you can't tell anypony.”

Sweetie Belle nodded eagerly, excited more than ever. Soarin sighed, “I...I don't want to be a cheerleader.”

Sweetie Belle gasped “Oh why?”

She sighed, “Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the job and love my team, but it's just not challenging. As a Wonderbolt I could push myself to my limits and try to be better all the time. That's why I got my cutie mark.” Soarin quietly pointed to the mark on her flank, a bolt of lightning splitting two clouds. “I loved flying faster than anypony and when I was a Wonderbolt, I could do that whenever I wanted. But, now since I got these wings and got reduced to a cheerleader, I can’t challenge myself anymore. There’s no speed, no excitement, by the end of practice everypony else is exhausted while I’m not even winded. I just don’t feel as fulfilled, so I thought maybe…” She shifted over to the ballet book, “Maybe this could be what I’m looking for.”

She showed Sweetie Belle the flyer. “I think I should become a professional ballerina.”

Sweetie Belle gasped, “Wow really!? But don’t you have to wear those embarrassing pink tutus.”

Soarin shook her head, “No you wear black leotards and yellow tutus nothing too emberassing.”

Sweetie Belle gaped “Oh!”

Soarin sighed, “So with your experience what do you think? Would quitting being a cheerleader be doing the right thing?”

Sweetie Belle tapped a hoof on her chin. “I think you should do what makes you happy and if your not happy being a cheerleader and you think being a ballerina will help. Why not?!”

Soarin smiled at the filly’s response. “Thanks...I..I think I might actually go for it.”

Sweetie Belle nodded and nuzzled Soarin. “Alright, if you need anything else let me know.”

Soarin hugged her and pat the filly’s head and just thought to herself, “Yeah, I want to be my own mare, but I don’t want to disappoint Spitfire either. If I go ahead with this I need to find a way to tell Spitfire how I feel.”

Chapter 10: To Be or Not To Be a Ballerina

A few weeks later, one late Saturday afternoon, Soarin was in Glass Hooves’s house as the Canterlot unicorn watched transformed mare performing a dance, twirling and gliding across the ballerina’s own private dance room.

Soarin’s face, as well as the yellow tutu she was sporting, were completely drenched in sweat from what had been a rather taxing practice. However, the mare was still keeping it up, straining not to make a mistake. Mercifully for her, she finally finished the routine by doing a dozen twirls in the middle of the stage as her wings sprang out, glistening from the lights above. However, she was only able to hold the pose for a second or two before practically falling onto the dance bar, sucking down air like it was water.

Though, it seemed the effort was worth it, as Glass Hooves couldn’t stop clapping her hooves as Soarin slowly regained enough stamina to stand on her own power. Said instructor quickly handed the mare a bottle of water, which the blue coated pegasus was all too happy to gulp down, while Glass continued to smile as she watched.

“Soarin, that was simply spectacular. I’m honestly surprised you only just really started ballet. Just from what I saw, I know you’d make the cut easily.”

Soarin turned as she took a towel and wiped her brow clean. ”Thanks, though I'm just happy you're even giving me a chance.”

Glass Hooves nodded, “Don’t thank me, frankly it's amazing to see how well you’ve progressed since you started, and I’d be remiss to allow such talent to go unnoticed. Now I think we can schedule your test for tomorrow.”

Soarin gulped a she got up and asked, “So...I actually have a few questions about this ballerina thing.”

Glass Hooves looked at the mare curious, but maintained her smile. “Of course, what would you like to know. ?”

Soarin looked up and asked, “So, if I do become a ballerina, would I still be able to live in Ponyville?”

Glass Hooves’s smile immediately dropped as she looked hesitant to give an answer. “I’m afraid not. My studio and troupe are all in Canterlot, hence that is where practice has to take place. As I told you before, I only came to Ponyvile to scout new talent. I always planned on returning to Canterlot, with whoever I chose.”

Soarin sighed, “You sure there’s no other way around that?”

Glass Hooves, quietly groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose in slight annoyance at how quickly complicated things had become. “I’m not sure. I might be able to work something out. But Soarin, you can’t always expect things to work out the way you want. Ballet is a commitment and you have to be willing to make sacrifices if it’s what you want to do.” Her tone quickly shifted back to a more sympathetic one as she gave Soarin a comforting pat on the shoulder. “I know it’s hard, and I understand it’s asking a lot, but that’s the best I can offer.”

Soarin gave a nod as she sighed. “Okay, well, I need to get ready for a date, can I use your shower?”

The mare laughed. “Of course you can. Take the time to spruce up. Wouldn’t be proper for you to show up smelling like the inside of a locker room.”

Soarin gave Glass hooves a smile. “Thanks, I’ll keep what you said in mind.” She then walked off as her smile turned to a frown, wondering about what to do.

Soarin, once cleaned up and changed, meet up with Spitfire a couple blocks from Glass Slipper’s studio. The two mares were both sitting across from each other on a table with the sun shining down, laughing as they talked and ate some light salads with milkshakes. Soarin was chuckling, “Dear Celestia, I can't believe that we actually crashed during practice.”

Spitfire scoffed. ”I have to admit those wings blinded me, you need to be careful with those things.”

Soarin raised his wings, pretending to look intrigued. “Oh really, you think I need to register them as weapons or something?”

Spitfire burst into laughter and wiped the tears from her eyes, “Not quite what I meant, but considering how they’ve managed to incapacitate us more than once, it doesn’t sound that crazy.”

Soarin folded her wings as she took up her milkshake and started to slurp it up. “Well, they do get in the way. I still have problems with gusts of winds.”

Spitfire giggled, as she posed another question. “So, how do you sleep, with how big those things are, it can’t be easy?”

Soarin blushed “I can fold them up in my back or I can sleep on my side. But it is quite hard to adjust with them.”

Spitfire gave her milkshake a long slurp before asking, “So, you still living with Rarity?”

Soarin sighed. “Yeah, but I was planning on getting a house here in Ponyville.”

Spitfire blinked, her milkshake suddenly forgotten. “Wait, your not moving back to Cloudsdale?”

Soarin looked hesitant to key her eye fixed on Spitfire as she tried to speak.“Well, I made a lot of friends here. Fluttershy and I have been talking more, Rarity and I are best of friends and I love her sister Sweetie Belle. Twilight is still interested in researching my wings and I even think she’s writing a book about them.”

Spitfire smirked, “Oh wow, you sure you’re not apart of the Elements of Harmony yourself?”

Soarin rolled her eyes as she took a sip from her own drink. “Please, I’m not their only other friend. Pinkie Pie knows everypony in Ponyville for crying out loud.”

Spitfire shrugged deciding to shift the conversation elsewhere. ”Alright, just joking around. So I guess you’ll be needing help to move from Rarity's?”

Soarin shook her head, “Well not right now. I still need to find a place, but I’ve had my eye on a few good looking houses.”

Spitfire nodded, “Oh really? Well when you do move out let me know.”

Soarin smiled slightly as she slurped her milkshake and whispered, “Thanks.”

There was silence for a little while for the couple as Soarin gulped and looked down. “So there’s something I've been meaning to ask you.”

Spitfire looked up unsure of what to say as Soarin sighed. “Look...I’m happy for what you’ve done for me getting me the cheerleading job….but,”

Spitfire sighed, already knowing that a “but” had been coming. “L:ook Soarin, I know that your not satisfied with the cheerleading job. But you are enjoying yourself right?”

Soarin nodded as she continued, casually spinning the straw in her milkshake as she did., “Well yeah I really do like the job...but it’s just not satisfying.”

Spitfire nodded, while looking a little disappointed was still looking supportive. “I can understand that, after being a part of the best flying team in Equestria, pretty much anything would seem like a downgrade.” She took another sip before looking at Soarin with a curious eye. “So, did you get some other kind of job offer or something?”?”

Soarin looked into her marefriend’s eyes, more than a little nervous as she said her next words. “I...I’m think of applying to be a ballerina.”

Spitfire’s eyes blinked wordlessly for a moment, almost making Soarin wonder if she’d even heard her. The silence only lasted a minute, before the esteemed drill sergeant burst into a fit of laughter that sent her to the floor. Soarin just rolled her eyes, while also ducking down a little to avoid the curious stares of some of the other ponies nearby. Eventually Spitfire got up, tears still streaming down her face as she looked at Soarin again. “Y-your kidding right?”

Soarin all but promptly got up with scowl, “I’m not, I’m being completely serious.”

Spitfire sighed wiping a tear from her face, now looking more serious as well as confused. “But isn’t that...I don’t know...more degrading than being a cheerleader?”

Part of Soarin wanted to vehemently deny such a claim, but kept from initiating an outburst. “Well, not exactly, it actually requires a lot of hard work, precision and grace to even pull off decently. In fact, there’s only two Professional Ballet companies in Equestria and the one I’m looking at is the Royal Canterlot Ballet company, which is supposedly the more prestigious of the two.”.”

Spitfire eyed Soarin questionably, more intrigued than before but still confused.”So you why buy a house in Ponyville? Wouldn't you have to move to Canterlot if you’re accepted?”

Soarin sighed, still mulling over that slight roadbump. ”Well, I’m still working that part out. I figured I might be able to commute by train, though I’m not entirely sure if that will work.”.” Her previous confidence slowly dropped as self doubt started to return, her face dropping lower.

Spitfire saw Soarin looking down and whispered, “Hey, I’m not mad or anything, but you should think about this. I mean if you do this and have to leave Ponyville it’ll be hard for...”

Spitfire paused midway as Soarin got up and smiled. “Hey, I’ll think about it alright? Nothing is set in stone yet and I’m not about to make such a big decision on a whim..”

Soarin quietly took out some bits and placed them on the table as she slowly walked off in silence as Spitfire watched unsure of what to say.

Rarity was coming back one late afternoon a long fashion shoot. It was late and she was quite exhausted as she opened the door to her home. However, while she’d been debating on whether to eat something or simply go to bed, her thoughts quickly halted when she spotted Soarin, on her fainting couch, goring herself on ice cream and pie.

The sight brought an exhausted sigh from the mare, having been through this same scenario multiple times when Soarin was first adjusting to her current situation. Any plans she might have had were immediately forgotten as she put on a kind face and lightly tapped the distracted mare on the shoulder. d

“Soarin, darling, are you alright?”

Soarin squeaked, jumping in midair, sending her pie and ice to the floor. Once she stopped her heart from beating a mile a minute, Soarin finally noticed Rarity’s presence. “Oh, he-hey! Rarity I didn't realise you were there.”

Rarity, sneering lightly at the ice cream and sweets now staining her clean floors, gave Soarin a sweet smile and asked “Yes well, I can understand how that would be difficult, what with you face first into what appears to be a tub of triple peanut butter ice cream and about 4 chocolate, coconut pies.” Her expression turned to one of concern. “What’s the matter dear, I haven’t seen you like this in ages and I know something must be bothering you.”.”

Soarin turned to the empty pie trays and the ice cream tubs and sighed, “Well it's just that things are complicated. Right now I’ve been caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Rarity eyed her friend and asked, “What do you mean?”

Soarin looked over wiping the tears from her eyes. “Well I’ve been thinking of becoming a ballerina for the Royal Canterlot Ballet, but that would mean leaving here forever. Yet...I feel unfulfilled right now, like I'm living up to my potential, I'm not sure what to do.”

Rarity nodded as she continued, “Well darling, I’m not really the one who would know the answer to that question...I guess you should do what makes you happy.”

Soarin sniffled as she nodded. “Yeah well I'll sleep on it I guess, though my try out for is tomorrow.”

Rarity blinked. “Tomorrow bu...but whay haven't you told anypon-" Rarity stopped mid sentence as Soarin started tearing up again. The posh pony was quick to put on a comforting smile and offer a hoof to her friend.“ Listen Soarin even if you move to Canterlot we’ll still be friends. After all, Twilight is from there and we can visit often. Don’t let that stop you from doing what you love, understand?"

Soarin chuckled, quickly wiping away her tears. “Okay, thanks I...I guess you're right.”

She then got up and slowly walked to her room as Rarity stood there and saw that Soarin had left her yellow tutu on the ground. Naturally, the sophisticated mare was quick to pick it up only to gag at the smell of sweat permeating from every fiber of the clothing. “Well, Soarin definitely can’t tryout in this tomorrow.” Her eyes suddenly got an all to familiar gleam to them, as her she looked the tutu over with a critical gaze.“Soarin won’t mind if I give this a quick wash and a little modification here and there. Yes, a little sprucing up should cheer the poor dear right up.” Her mind made up, she immediately carried the tutu towards her washing machine, preparing the cloth for tomorrow.

The next morning, Soarin found her sleep immediately interrupted by the scent of something burning downstairs.. Panic set in, as she knew immediately the cause….Sweetie Belle was cooking. Much as Soarin had grown to care for the young filly, simple fact was cooking was not a skill she possessed, even at a basic level. The filly managed to burn juice somehow. How was that even possible?

Without a second to spare, she immediately rushed down the stairs to the kitchen. However, her rush was stopped when she spotted Sweetie Belle, grumbling to herself as she attempted to stir something on the stove. ”Come on, making oatmeal shouldn’t be this hard.”

Soarin quickly took Sweetie Belle from the stove and started cleaning out the pot, all the while trying not to show her growing annoyance.“Come on Sweetie Belle, you know you’re not supposed to be trying to cook.”

Sweetie Belle blushed as she hopped off a stool. “Sorry, Rarity usually makes breakfast but I wanted to give it a try..”

Soarin sighed and ruffled the young filly’s mane. “Well the effort is appreciated, really. But, you definitely need some practice. For now, I’m going to find your sister.”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes at the mention of her sister. “Knowing her, she’s probably still trying to get to her beauty sleep.”

Soarin shrugged, going upstairs and was quickly met by the sounds of rather loud and as Rarity would say, unladylike snoring. As quietly as she could manage, the mare slowly opened the door to Rarity’s room, only to gasp in shock upon seeing her tutu. Only now it had been properly cleaned and now glitteried with an array of jewels and sequins. “Oh...oh my gosh. Its beautiful.”

Another snore immediately reminded her of why she was there, and turned to find Rarity slumped over on her desk, snoring softly, her normally groomed mane a complete mess. Soarin’s eyes filled with tears at another gesture of Rarity's generosity and came over and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you Rarity, it’s beautiful.” The mare quietly took the tutu and sighed. “Well, I'll go make Sweetie Belle and I some breakfast then its showtime.”

Not long after, at the skating rink, Glass Hooves was standing aside watching the mares one by one twirl and dance along the stage to classical music, yet each display was only met with a shake of disapproval from Glass Hooves, unimpressed by what she saw. Soarin, having watched each mare fail and some leave in tears, felt much of her confidence practically burn away, now shaking nervously as she waited for her name to be called. All the while she stood several other mares looked at her in awe of her glimmering attire, one even actually vocally acknowledging her.

“Dear Celestia, you look positively stunning.”

Soarin blushed, finding herself tongue tied while trying to get a response. “Tha-" Her words immediately halted as she caught sight of her friends, as well as Spitfire looking at her from the stands. Soarin’s heart fluttered at seeing all the support, allowing her to calmly walk on stage as her name was called.

Once one, she gave Glass a customary bow, which she returned in kind. “Alright Soarin, you may start your performance.”

With a final nod, the mare began her dance. With a single leap she was in the air, twirling around and gaining momentum. As she flew, her wings opened and fluttered across the stage, gaining several mares attention. Soarin then did a pirouette before entering a jump and mid air spin, landing perfectly three times in row, landing every single beat of the classical music that played along. Everypony’s gaze was now on her as she spun around while the pace of the music increased. She eventually reached the finale of routine, spinning nonstop in the air, her wings gaining momentum then shining her wings above as the musconended. The crowd clapped and her friends cheered her on “Soarin! Soarin!”

Glass Hooves practically shot up from her seat, vigorously applauding the performance. “Bravo! Bravo! That was amazing!”

Her friends cheered her on as the mare stood up, offering her only bows in both excitement and thanks for the support.

Glass Hooves, immediately began writing something down on a clipboard she had on the table. “Well Soarin, I believe it goes without saying that you are most certainly in. And now that you're officially apart of the Royal Canterlot Ballet we shall begin preparations to move you to Canterlot immediately.”

A resounding sense of shock quickly washed over Soarin’s friends, all unsure of what to say or even how to react. Soarin was similarly in a state of surprise, but still managed to steadily turner toGlass Hooves.

“Thanks for the offer, but if I can't stay here in Ponyville then I’m sorry, but I can’t become a part of the Canterlot Ballet.”.”

Oddly enough, despite this revelation, Glass didn’t seem all that disappointed, merely chuckling at the statement. “Heh, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, what with what you said yesterday. Then again, I can’t just let you walk away after a performance like that. So, how about you act as a supporting member for the troupe and if we need a backup member we’ll call you. And if you’re worried about practice, it’s only about twice a month.”

Soarin practically had to fight back a squee, settling for a sigh of relief instead. “Well, I do believe that is very agreeable and I’d be more than happy to do so. I’ll still have cheerleading, but I can definitely do both. And thanks again for this.” .”

With another smile, she quietly left the rink with her friends all congratulating her on her accomplishment, Glass continuing to smile at the mare, eager to see what she’d bring in the future

Epilogue: A New Begining

A few days had passed since the audition and the girls now found themselves staying in Glass Hooves Ponyville home, now Soarin’s own home, having been given to her by Glass. At the moment, the group was relaxing while Rarity and several mover ponies were unloading much of Soarin’s possessions into her new accommodations.

In the meantime, Twilight had apparently opted to write a letter to the Princess regarding recent events.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

Today or I guess over the past few months we have been doing everything we could to help make Soarin feel welcome in Ponyville. And I’m happy to say she’s be able to adjust to her situation and realized that despite the changes that have occured, they don’t change her as a pony. In fact knowing yourself means to believe in yourself no matter the circumstances. And I know she’ll continue to carry this lesson into the future.”

Signed your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight looked up with a smile and asked, “So Soarin, what do you think?”

Soarin sitting aside from the others, blushed a little embarrassed by the praise the letter contained. ”Um, it’s okay. Sure sounds like a good letter.”

Twilight smirked, “Well, I have to say, giving up being a ballerina to stay here was quite the sacrifice. I think I heard something from Pinkie pie about a “Soarin is staying in Ponyville party.”

Soarin sighed, “Yeah I heard about that too…” Twilight gave the letter to Spike who instantly burped green flame sending it straight to the Princess.

Rarity was coming back downstairs with the moving ponies. “Now remember darlings, when you're moving the dresses be careful, they’re quite fragile.”

The big stallions quietly rolled their eyes as they continued carrying the boxes upstairs. Fluttershy was also in the parlor sipping a cup of tea, her eyes following the stallions as they carried up one stack of boxes after the other. “Wow, that’s quite a few dresses you have there. I’m surprised.”

Soarin laughed, despite also acknowledging in the back of her mind how accurate the statement was. “Oh, well it’s enough to keep me satisfied anyways Their quite comfortable and I couldn’t really resist snagging a few.”

“So, Glass Hooves really just gave you this house?” Twilight asked as she took a short stroll around the room.

Soarin nodded, “Yeah, or at least I’m renting it. She still owns the building itself. But since she’s not here most of the time, she said I can live here as long as I want.” Her tone combined with her growing smile made her giddiness at the prospect all the more obvious.

Rarity bounced down the stairs and cooed, “Oh, well you definitely got a steal my dear, this house is positively marvelous.”

Soarin turned and smiled. “Glad you like it, it also has a nice little garden in the back.”

Rarity squealed, “Oh do you! Are you perhaps planning to get some pets?”

Fluttershy almost immediately perked at the mention of pets and was now hovering just a few feet away from Soarin, who was sinking close to the ground to avoid unwanted contact with the mare.. “Uh maybe, I’m still debating on what I want...though maybe a dog if possible.”

Fluttershy following squee nearly shattered the nearby windows. ,”Oh I have a few dogs who would love it here and I know would just love you as well. Do you have a breed in mind?”

Soarin, merely chuckled at the pony’s enthusiasm. Honestly, after seeing her be so shy and restrained all the time, outspoken and happy was a really good look on the pegasus. “Well, I always wanted a golden retriever. Of course, kind of hard to have a dog as a pet when you live in Cloudsdale.”

Fluttershy’s excitement only continued to build with each word Soarin spoke, her wings flapping fast enough to kick up a noticeable breeze. “Oh, I have plenty of those at my home. I know any one of them would love to be your pet, if you’d be willing to take them of course.” .”

Soarin smiled “Sure, sounds like a plan.”

Twilight cooed seeing how happy her friends were. “Oh, I’m just so happy that you decided to stay Soarin things here just seem… so much better having another friend around.”

Rainbow Dash, who’d chosen to pretend to take a nap in the background let out a loud groan as she cracked one eye open. “Ugh, can you all stop with the luvey duvey talk! It’s so not cool.”

Soarin turned towards the daredevil pony. “Hey, you like me like this don’t deny it.”

All the other ponies nodded in agreement, Rarity giving the rainbow pegasus a knowing smirk. “Yes Rainbow Dash, you must admit the new Soarin has certainly come a long way since when she arrived. So refined and graceful compared to before.”.”

Fluttershy nodded.”Yes, and she’s so kind and cute. Plus, I really I love how her wings glitter in the sunlight.”

Soarin just rolled her eyes as Rainbow groaned again. “Look, as much as I love the new Soarin, I really miss the old Soarin. I mean, I grew up thinking about how awesome you guys were and now, you’re just….not cool anymore. No Offense of course.” Rainbow tried her best not to sound insensitive, knowing this whole situation wasn’t Soarin’s fault and she could tell it was meant as respectfully as possible. .”

“Hey, it’s fine Rainbow. Even I’m willing to admit I’m not as cool as I used to be, I’ve just learned to accept it and move on, instead of letting it drag me down.” The pony quickly grew a playful smirk as her eyes drifted to the kitchen. “Of course, one thing that hasn’t changed is my love of pies and if you want, we can still have a good old fashioned pie eating contest.”

The earnest tone in which she spoke quickly brought a laugh to Rainbow’s face as she patted Soarin on the back. “Now there’s the Soarin I remember. We need to do more stuff like that and less of the girly stuff.”!”

The ponies continued to laugh until a knock at the door got their attention. “Hey Soarin, can you open up. It’s Spitfire.”

The blue coated mare gasped as she got up and went to the door,slowly opening it to reveal the smiling face of her marefriend. “Hey, how’s it going Clipper?”

Soarin went up and just kissed her on the lips,holding her in an embrace for some time. Eventually, Soarin broke it and nuzzled her marefriend, which Spitfire reciprocated. “I’m gonna take that as you’re doing really great right?””

Soarin chuckled and nodded. “Well, I certainly have a lot less to complain about. So what brings you around, came to see my new place?”

Spitfire looked inside seeing the decor with ballerina tutus and pictures of the cheerleading squad and the Wonderbolts. While she involuntarily flinched at little at the sight of the tutus, otherwise her expression was one of approval. “Very nice, plenty of space to fly around in that’s for sure.” Her expression quickly turned more sensual as her eyes became half lidded. “Of course, there are other things we could do with this much room to if you catch my meaning.”

The tone of her voice caused Twilight as well as a few others to break out in a blush and some started to panic. “Uh, maybe we should leave you two alone.”

Soarin turned seeing the rest of her friends feeling awkward and sighed, ”I guess but it was nice having you all here.”

The mares got up and left quickly with Rainbow groaning about this being so uncool. Soarin closed the door and turned to Spitfire admiring the house. “So looks like your staying, huh Clipper.”

Soarin gave a nod, “Yeah seems like it, you sure you want me here.”

Spitfire turned and stared her cute marefriend down “It’s not about but I want, but you. Do you feel satisfied?”

Soarin walked slowly to her marefriend and smoothed out her mane. “I feel great and I think it’s about time we stopped trying to hide the fact were together.”

Spitfire nuzzled her and asked, “if we take this public we could be facing a lot of press, I’d rather we just take this slow and have some private time.”

Soarin giggled a little as Spitfire put her hooves around the blue coated mare and Soarin nuzzled her back as they locked in embrace Saorin whispered, “Sure let’s take this slow. Let’s forget about anything but us.” Spitfire nuzzled her and Soarin squealed as she tripped on the rug and fell down onto the ground Spitfire burst out laughing as Soarin giggled and thought to herself, “this is who I am and I’m fine, Twilight was right it doesn't matter what happened to me...Im still me.”

Chapter 2: Soarin's new mission

It’s been a few days since Soarin had moved into Rarity’s boutique, and it was proving to be an, interesting transition. Of course mention that one of the Wonderbolts was now staying had caused a little stir among some, including Sweetie Belle and her friends, currently sneaking around the corner of Carousel Boutique.

Apple Bloom yawned quietly, as she stumbled along with her friends.” You sure this is a good idea? I mean, I don’t mind ya waking us up early and all, it’s just that I don’t think your big sis would like us snoopin’ on her.”

Scootaloo turned with a astonished look. “Are ya kidding? We can’t miss a chance to see Soarin fly! He’s Wonderbolt for crying out loud!”

Sweetie Belle gave a loud shush, “Be quiet you two. And stop worrying Apple Bloom, Rarity’s just helping Soarin. Not like we can’t get in trouble for just watching right?”

Apple Bloom still rubbing her eyes mumbled, “I hope so, rather not get another lecture from mah sister or Granny Smith..”

Sweetie Belle chirped, “Relax, after all we’re the the Cutie Mark Crusaders. We can’t stop trying to get our marks just because we’re scared. s. This could be what we have to do to earn them.”

Scootaloo with questionable look asked, “I don’t know Sweetie Belle? I mean watching Rarity help out Soarin, what would a mark for that even look like?”

Sweetie Belle pondered the question for a few minutes then shrugged. “Maybe we’ll get butterfly wings or something.”

Apple Bloom eyed the little white coated filly, “But you’ve come out here like a dozen times already and ya still don't have your cutie mark. How’ll this be any different?”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Alright, forget about the cutie marks. Honestly, I just brought you two out here to watch Soarin fly.”

The three then heard voices as the back door opened, revealing Rarity and Sorain, side by side as they entered the room.. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both gasped at Soarin, who’d unveiled his wings in their full glory. Apple Bloom’s eyes were filled with wonder as she whispered, ”Oh wow, they're the most beautiful things i've ever seen.”

Scootaloo was also entranced by the strange, glimmering wings. “Yeah, it’s hard not to look away from them.”

Sweetie Belle giggled at her friends gawking. “Oh you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Rarity was now giving instructions to Soarin. “Now darling, remember to be graceful, give those wings nice big flaps, but keep them gentle, like….”

“Like a butterfly I get it.” Soarin interrupted with a grunt.

The stallion gulped as he started to flap his wings slowly, lifting himself above the ground as the fillies gazed upward at the fluttering stallion. Apple Bloom put her hooves to her cheeks and squeaked, “Wow he’s like a big butterfly!”

Sweetie Belle was just smirking. “Just wait, it gets better.”

Soarin flew higher and higher, grunting as the breezes started to make it difficult to maintain his balance, with Rarity applauding his progress

“Oh, you’re doing positively splendid darling, keep it up!”

He kept climbing flapping steadily as thoughts went through his head. “I can’t believe that i’m actually flying with these. But I have to be careful, every time I get this high I fall down on my rump”.

His ascent continued until he rose to where he could see Cloudsdale, which was right outside of Ponyville at the moment. He gave a big smile at his town and threw his forehooves in the air shouting, “I did it! I can fly again!”

The celebration however, was cut short, as out of nowhere a gust of strong wing batted his wings, sending him tumbling through the sky. Worse yet, almost on a reflex he didn’t even know he had, Soarin’s new wings curled up around him, causing his body to now start falling like brick.

Soarin squealed, trying to stay calm, before managing to reopen his wings,catching a gust of wind and fly back upwards toward the sky. Once he was safely high enough off the ground he let out a gasp of relief.f “Oh thank Celestia! That was a close call.”

Rarity, having seen the entire near death experience, quickly called up to the stallion in concern, “Soarin darling, are you doing okay!?”

The stallion looked down smiling at Rarity. “I’m alright, just give me a second.”

Soarin adjusted his wings, fluttering slowly towards the ground, only for his wings to buckle without warning, plopping the stallion onto the ground.

Rarity quickly ran over to him and looked the stallion over. “My, that was quite a fall. Are you sure you’re already dear? ”

The only response she received however, was the sound of laughter, which they quickly found was coming from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, now unconcerned with being found as they rolled across the grass laughing.. Soarin got up, blushing at the laughter clearly directed at his little display not two seconds ago. Sweetie Belle, who’d since stopped laughing, bounced over to the Wonder Bolt with a big smile on her face.“Hey, Soarin, that was amazing! Can you do that again!”

Soarin sighed as Rarity got up with a scowl. “Sweetie Belle, what did I say about snooping? A proper lady should know better then to act in such an uncouth manner.”

The filly blushed, grinding a hood into the dirt as she whispered, “Sorry Rarity, I just wanted to show my friends how cool Soarin is.”

The stallion got up, rubbing his rump with a hoof, while letting off a small smile at the praise from the young filly., “Are you sure? Seems you three were more interested in seeing me fail.”

Apple Bloom came up with a smile. “No, we were just surprised to see you get so high with those wings! We only laughed when you fell on your rump, honest.”.”

, “Yeah you're so awesome Soarin! I mean even with those wings you still were able to climb that into the sky! Soon you’ll be back doing awesome stunts with the Wonderbolts!” Scootaloo, befitting a fan of the Wonderbolts, was bouncing around the stallion with unbridled excitement.

Soarin could only blush at the compliments, while trying to maintain some sense of modesty, “Well, thanks you three, but as you can see I'm not exactly as skilled a flyer as I was before.”

His statement did little to curb Scootaloo’s excitement. , “Are you kidding, I know you’ll have it down in no time and doing all sorts of can’t super cool stunts just like before!”

Rarity sighing shaking her head. “Alright you three better get going to school you're already late.”

Sweetie Belle groaned at the mention of school, but knew that arguing with Rarity would be a waste of time. Thus settled for giving Soarin a quick hug. “See you later Soary.”

Soarin blushed at the nickname and patting the filly on the back. “Yeah see you soon.”

They then all scampered off as Rarity sighed and gave an apologetic look at Soarin. “I’m so sorry darling, Sweetie Belle and her friends can be quite rambunctious.”

Soarin merely shook the apology off. “No it’s fine, honestly I enjoy having some ponies cheer me on. Helps give me a reason to get the hang of these new wings.”

Rarity laughed at the comment. “Well, if that’s the case, we’d better get you some breakfast so you can keep practicing. Don’t want to let those little fillies down do you?”.”

Soarin’s stomach grumbled as he gave it a few pats. “Breakfast sounds wonderful.” He then followed Rarity back into the Carousel Boutique and thought. “I have to admit Sweetie Belle’s encouragement every morning cheers me up.”

Soarin was now settling down having a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs and coffee in Rarity’s quaint little kitchen. As Rarity was eating her breakfast from across the table Soarin whispered, ”So congratulations on your new dresses for The Grand Galloping Gala. They were really impressive.”

She giggled, looking up from her food. “Oh really? Well, glad to know I got it right the first time around as opposed to before.” The fashionista let loose a shiver, recalling the the memory of her previous Gala Dresses, if one could even call them that. “Not my proudest moment, I’m afraid.”

Soarin laughed, snorting a little before getting up. “Yeah I heard. Though honestly, I’m kind of wishing I could’ve been there to see it. I asked Hoity Toity for more details a little while back and all I got from him was….So Gaudy...So Garish...Need High end Stitching with good color balance.” Soarin causing Rarity to laugh at his poor attempt to imitate Hoity’s posh accent.

He continued eating for sometime before he asked, ”Anyway, I was wondering if you could make some adjustments to my Wonderbolt suit for the Grand Galloping Gala? I doubt my uniform would look good with my wings as they are now.”

Rarity laughed at the request and cooed, “Of course darling, I'm sure I could make something quite fashionable for those beautiful wings.”

Soarin smiled, “Thanks Rarity, I know you’ll make something absolutely amazing.” The mare gave him a warm smile as a thought went through her head, “Why is he interested in my fashion? I mean not just that, he seems different then what I expected.”

This thought process made the fashion pony look at her guest with a more analytical eye, “I’m a little surprised Sorain, I never pegged you as someone who’d be interested in fashion.”

Soarin looked up from his breakfast with a odd look and replied, “Wouldn’t say I’m interested persay, just figured my uniform could use make do with a few changes, to go with my own. Why?”

The mare waving her mane out of her face. “Well, it’s nothing really, it’s just that your acting more like a…”

Soarin got a bit stern and crossed his hooves. “Like a what?”

She gulped giving him a sheepish smile and waved a hoof. “Oh it’s nothing darling,I’m just being silly.”

Soarin however, didn’t seem convinced, his expressing just as stern, “Rarity, if you have something to say just say it to me. Don’t lie.”

Rarity gulped as she continued, “I mean...you're acting very feminine.”

Soarin blinked, unsure of how to respond to such a response. Thankfully for both of them, the discussion was halted by a knock at the door. . Soarin got up with a jolt and a clearly uncomfortable expression on his face. “Um...l’ll go get that.”

He quickly scooted out of his seat and quickly went to the door. “I’m being feminine? I mean I know I haven’t been myself lately. But am have I been acting that strange?

Soarin then opened the door to see Spitfire, clad in her drill sergeant sunglasses and Wonderbolt uniform, standing on Rarity’s porch, only able to promptly shout in disbelief. “Spitfire?!”

The fiery pegasus lifted her sunglasses and gave Soarin a smirk. “Hey Clipper it’s been awhile.”

Soarin still astonished whispered, “Yeah it has.”

Hearing the commotion, Rarity came out to the door, and seemed elated seeing Spitfire standing . “Spitfire darling, it’s so great to see you again.”

Spitfire’s expression quickly shifted to a harsh a glare and scoffed, ”Yeah, it's great to see the unicorn that started this whole mess. If it weren’t for y-”

Soarin gave a cough as Spitfire threw her head to the side. “Alright….Anyway, I need to talk to Soarin alone if you don’t mind.”

Rarity bowed her head. “Guess she’s still sore about this whole situation. Can’t say I blame her though.” Deciding it was best to avoid further conflict, she started scooting back into her boutique. “Of course darling, i’ll leave you two alone to catch up.” Then swiftly shut the door.

Soarin sighed, turning to Spitfire with stern loom. “You didn’t need to be so rough on her, she’s been helping me ever since I left the hospital.”

Spitfire gave him a stern, but apologetic look. “I know, just a little annoyed is all after everything that’s happened.” Letting out a calming breath, she directed her eyes over to Sugercube Corner. “So, what say we have some pie and catch up. My treat.””

Soarin fluttered down beside the fiery mare. “Why captain, you know I can’t say no to pie.” He spoke in an almost posh tone that got his fellow Wonderbolt chuckling. “Though tell, does this count as our first date or do I need to earn a few more brownie points?”

Spitfire, uncharacteristically, didn’t even reply to the joke, instead simply turned her head away as Soarin walked alongside her. “That’s not good, I hope for whatever reason she came by isn't just to deliver bad news.”

Despite the pleasant atmosphere of Sugarcube Corner and the large pie and milkshakes the pair had before them, it didn’t help to cut the uncomfortable silence they were currently stuck in.. Soarin was poking at the pie with a worried look, almost afraid to even utter a word to his captain. Spitfire only sighed solemnly at seeing Soarin so disgruntled, not helping what she knew she had to do.

“Better not delay this anymore then I need to, this is rough enough as is.” She then took out a form and placed it in front of Soarin's face. He blinked at the form and asked, “What’s this?”

Spitfire continued in a solemn tone, “It’s a resignation from from the Wonderbolts.”

Soarin’s wings flared and his face turned a deep red and shouted, “You want me to resign!”

Spitfire, now apologetic, looked straight into Soarin's eyes. “Listen, I know this looks bad, but it’s only temporary. Once you’ve gotten a better handle on your new wings, we can schedule a retrial so you can rejoin the Wonderbolts.”.”

He sat back down,still glaring at Spitfire. “Alright I get it,I obviously can’t perform with these.” Giving his new wings a flap

Spitfire sighed, “Like I said, it’s not that you can’t be in the Wonderbolts at all. We just need to be sure you can perform our more intense maneuvers with your new wings. Really, it’s not that bad.”

Soarin sighed in relief and whispered, “So,if I pass this re-trial I can come back into the Wonderbolts.”

Spitfire smiled at Soarin and replied, “That’s the plan. Besides, did you really think we’d let you quit forever, the whole team can’t wait to have you back. Only reason they aren’t here is because we’ve t been so busy perfecting our maneuvers for the Grand Galloping Gala.”

Soarin looked down at the form with hesitation, gulping as he thought “This is it, i'm officially being kicked out of the Wonderbolts, even if it is only temporary, it still hurts.” He sighed, took a pen and wrote his name on the form. Spitfire took the paper and whispered, “Thanks for being so understanding, I wouldn’t even know how to feel if I were in your horseshoes.”

Soarin gave a long exasperated sigh. “Yeah it’s been tough dealing with these new, stupid wings, but things have been going better.”

Spitfire blushed. “Um..yeah I guess this has been a shitty date huh?”

The stallion shook his head as he stammered, “Oh no, it’s been fine, just...um…”

Spitfire could see he was holding back and persisted. “What is it?”

He looked back at Spitfire and replied “Look, I know you've been busy and this whole ordeal has been hard on us. But why didn't you visit me while I was in the hospital?”

Spitfire turned her head in shame, “I was afraid he would ask this.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, shewhispered, “I...I couldn’t deal with putting off our practices to visit you. I know how bad that sounds, but trust me we all care for you and it tore me apart. But with you in the hospital and the doctors telling us it could be months before you were up and flying again. We had to redesign our maneuvers without you.”

Soarin stood there still poking the pie with a fork listening as Spitfire turned to him and continued, “It's just I never had to deal with being a boss and being a marefriend at the same time. Truth is I just needed time to get things together.”

Soarin nodded solemnly and mumbled, “I understand.”Right, I get it, she has to put the needs of the team first. Even if she were to be my marefriend, the Wonderbolts is what she’s truely devoted to. He continued prodding the pie with a fork as Spitfire chuckled, “Not hungry?”

Soarin looked up blushing. “Oh just...uh...I haven't had a craving for sweets lately.”

Spitfire scoffed. “Really? I always known you for a pie lover Clipper. Don’t get skinny on me.”

The stallion laughed patting his gut. “It’ll be some time before I can really start flying so I guess I should watch what I eat.”

She sighed, throwing a bag of bits on the table, “Well eat to your heart’s content and work on your training. I'm sure you’ll pass the retrial.”

Soarin saluted his former captain. “I won’t let you down captain! Soon i'll be flying right alongside you again.”

The mare gave ahim a hopeful smile, “I’m sure you will Clipper.”

As Spitfire left Sugarcube Corner, Soarin gulped and started to shake all over as anxiety started to build inside him. “Oh man what if I don’t pass the retrial? What would I do? How am I even supposed to practice intense maneuvers with these stupid delicate wings?” Pinkie Pie then bounced into him shouting, “Soarin why didn’t you tell me you were in Ponyville!”

He groaned as he endured Pinkie’s hug and she squealed, “You should’ve told me, I totally would’ve thrown you a party! Also look at your pretty wings! Can I touch them, please!”

Soarin sighed. “If it gets you to leave me alone sure.” Thus with a small nod,the excited pink pony started to poke at the soft wings, giggling at the sensation. “Wow they’re so soft! You have the coolest wings ever!”

Soarin however, didn’t quite agree. “Yeah, cool. If by cool you mean so delicate I’m actually worried I might rip them during practice or the retrial. l Never being in the Wonderbolts is bad enough! Never flying again would be a hundred times worse!” He turned attention back to the other pie at his table and just started to gobble it up, along with his milkshake. Pinkie Pie watched with a surprise,as he slammed the glass down and asked, ”Can I have another round?”

She squeaked, “Certainly, coming right up!” then bounced off with a huge smile.

Above the skies in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was flying through the clouds, enjoying the warm sun on her face, when she caught sight of Spitfire exiting Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow Dash had her hooves pressed into her face as she watched Spitfire adjusting her sunglasses, before zeroing her sights on Dash.

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh,”
Was all the cyan pegasus could stutter as one of the mare’s hero came up right to her with a smirk. “Hey squirt, thanks again for saving our rumps.”

Rainbow Dash laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head in embarrassment, “Uh anytime Spitfire.”

The sight of Dash suddenly got Spitfire thinking, as she took another glance at Sugar Cube Corner. “Soarin’s gonna need all the help he can get if he wants to pass the retrial.” She turned her gaze back to Dash, still sweating and stuttering with each passing second. “Kid’s still a little wet behind the ears, but definitely a skilled flyer. You have to be to pull off a Sonic Rainboom...I wonder.” She then asked, “Hey listen squirt, think you’d be willing to do me r a favor?

Rainbow Dash gasped in disbelief and shouted, “You want me to do a favor for you!?”

Spitfire chuckled at the mares exaggerated reaction, “Yeah, the team and I have a lot on our hooves and...well you know what happened with Soarin right? He needs to learn how to fly again and I think you’d be a excellent coach.”

Rainbow Dash still in disbelief shouted, “Wait, you want me to coach Soarin!”

Spitfire continued, ”Hey you were pretty good at the Young Flyers Competition. I have confidence you can at least get him to learn the basics so he can rejoin the Wonderbolts.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, confused on what she just heard. “Wait, did I hear that right? You kicked Soarin out of the Wonderbolts?!”

Spitfire continued in a irritated tone. “Rainbow I had to, at least until he can learn to fly like he used to. Were going to have a retrial in a month and I need you to get him ready.”

Rainbow Dash thought for a second. “Oh my gosh! I’d have the chance to help one of my heroes get back on his hooves. I might even be able to land a spot with the Wonderbolts.! This is going to be awesome!” She saluted Spitfire. “ You can count on me! I’ll get Soarin flying again in no time!”

Spitfire laughed, “Great, well I better get going. I'm going to be late for a training session. Don’t let me down!”

The fiery pegasus flew off as Rainbow Dash went inside Sugarcube Corner giggling to see Soarin. “Oh man this is going to be awesome worki-”

Then her mouth dropped, seeing Soarin gorging on pies and chugging down his tenth milkshake with ponies all around cheering him on shouting, “Chug! Chug! Chug!”

Pinkie, who was shouting with them, saw Rainbow and squealed, “Hey Rainbow Dash you have to see this! Soarin's going for his twentieth pie!”

Rainbow Dash just gaped at what she saw, her hero with dozens of pie tins scattered all over his table among numerous empty glasses. “What the heck is going on here?”

The cyan pegasus, after shaking off the shock, slowly went up to the stallion and tried to get him to pause from his….sugar binge. “Uh Soarin...you doing okay?”

He finished chugging another milkshake. “I’m fine, just enjoying some milkshakes and pie.” Rainbow Dash just looked over the piles of empty pie tins and empty milk shake glasses. “Yeah I can see that…”

Soarin gave a loud belch, which lead to cheering from the crowd, as he went to devour another pie. Rainbow Dash gulped at the sight, “Hey, listen Soarin. Normally I’d probably be right there with you on this, but I think you should probably stop. I mean Spitfire told me about the retrial and….”

The mention of the retrial sent the stallion’s eyes open wide, as if snapped out of a trace. A single glance at the mess he’d made caused him to drop his half drank milkshake, almost coughing up what was still in his throat. Another look over the end result of his little bender and shot out the door with Pinkie pie groaning, “Oh,Dash, he was going for Ponyville’s record!”

Rainbow Dash was still confused but knew she had more important concerns, “Uh... I better go find him and see what's going on.” She then flew off after the former Wonderbolt.

Rainbow Dash flew to Rarity’s boutique, finding d the white coated unicorn upstairs knocking. “Soarin, what’s wrong darling, please open up?”

Rainbow dash blinked again “Soarin locked himself up in his room? What in Equestria happened to him?” She slowly crept upstairs towards Rarity., “Hey, is everything okay?”

Rarity turned to Rainbow and shrugged. ”I don’t know, he just flew in and locked himself in his room.”

They both turned to the locked door as they heard a click and Soarin peeked through, “Oh, hey, sorry about earlier Rainbow Dash.”

She laughed, “Oh it’s no problem. I mainly just wanted to tell you that Spitfire told about what’s going on and asked me to help coach you on how to fly.

Soarin blushed at the mention of Spitfire, “Sh..she did?”

The cyan pegasus continued, ”Yep, and I promise I'll do my best and turn you into an even better flyer than you were before d. Heck, I taught Fluttershy how to fly a little, so you know I’m good.”

Rarity whispered, “Hey, don’t give up yet darling. Rainbow Dash is one of the best flyers in all of ponyville and she’s going to get you back on your hooves.”

Soarin looked up and whispered, ”Yeah, maybe… It’ll be weird telling my parents I made it into the Wonderbolts a second time, but be kinda of funny too.”

Rarity laughed, “That’s the spirit, now go down there and let’s get you started.”

Soarin gave nod smiling back at Rarity, “Thanks for the pep talk.” He then ran down the stairs shouting, “Hey Rainbow Dash, lets go!”

Chapter 8: A first date

Later that evening Spitfire was sitting down at a table in the middle of Ponyville, looking around, tapping a hoof on the surface. She looked around nervously at the other ponies, all talking and eating their dinners, whilst thinking to herself, “What was I thinking, planning a date so soon? Maybe I should’ve waited a bit longer.“

She waited for a few minutes, tapping her hoof nervously, signing in disappointment at the lack of her date. “Maybe, Soarin didn’t…” Her voice suddenly died, when she saw a strange mare wearing a long flowing golden dress coming down the road. She was beautiful in every sense of the word, with the dress accentuating her blue coat, along with a familiar pair of butterfly wings,flowing black mane, and shining green eyes. Spitfire blushed, recognizing the mare immediately as Soarin. The Wonderbolt’s heart fluttered as she looked at herself wearing nothing but the goggles over her mane, realising how underdress she was.

Soarin was similarly flustered as she came over, “Hey, uh, Spitfire.”

Spitfire was still stunned at Soarin, who was now in front of her, having trouble forming words to speak, “Wow Soarin, you...your uh...”

The former Wonderbolt sighed, looking over herself and realising how much she stood out among the rest of the ponies there, “I’m overdressed aren’t I?”

Spitfire laughed, “Oh, no, you’re fine...I...I… just didn’t expect you to be in a dress.”

Soarin sat down across from Spitfire and replied, “Well, Rarity talked me into it and she’s really hard to say no to.”

They would’ve continued but for the waiter came by and coughing to get their attention, “Beg your pardon, but are you ready to order?”

The two ponies looked up and nodded, Spitfire nods, “Yes, I’ll have the double hay burger, with extra fries smothered in ketchup and a thick beer.”

Soarin blushed, “I'll have a salad with a glass of wine…”

The waiter wrote down their orders and nodded in approval. “I’ll be back with your drinks and your food should be out soon.”

Once he’d left, the nervous couple returned their gazes back towards each others. Spitfire gulped as she attempted to start the conversation, “So uh...how did you enjoy your first day as a cheerleader?”

Soarin sighed as she fixed her dress, “I’m fine with it, I guess…” Her voice trailed off as Spitfire asked, “I’m guessing there’s a but in that sentence?”

Soarin looked up with a pitiful expression and grumbled, “But I'm just that, a cheerleader.”

Spitfire gave an exasperated sigh, “Look Soarin, I would love nothing more than to have you back as a Wonderbolt, but you know that's just impossible.”

Soarin sighed and gave a nod, ”Of course I understand that, I just can’t help but feel a little frustrated with how everything is now.”

Spitfire could only offer a sad, understanding nod, “I get it, honestly if I were in your position I’d probably feel the same way.”

The waiter came back with the hay burger and fries on one plate and a salad bowl. As he placed them down with wine glasses and a bottle of cabinet. “There you go, if there is anything else just let me know.”

The waiter walked away as Spitfire dug into her ketchup filled burger while Soarin delicately ate her salad. Spitfire actually chuckled at the sight of Soarin eating so dainty and cooed, “Aw Soarin, don't tell me your turning into a prissy Canterlot mare.”

Soarin laughed as she patted her belly, “No, just I’ve been trying to watch my weight these last couple of weeks. Had a bit of an eating problem that I only recently got a better handle on.”

Spitfire scoffed, “Oh, that’s it? You sure I can’t at least tempt you with a delicious apple pie?”

Soarin blushed, feeling the temptation, and giggled, “Part of me wants to say no, but maybe later.” She then ate another forkful of salad.

Spitfire nodded as she continued chomping on her burger while Soarin sipped her wine, the pair now able to converse more easily, all previous awkwardness having been cast aside.

“So Soarin, tell me, how's living in Ponyville been for you?”

Soarin gave Spitfire a smile, “ It’s actually been pretty wonderful. Sure it was pretty rough at first, what with everything that had happened, but I’ve meet wonderful friends, and Rainbow Dash and Rarity have done so much for me. Rarity helped give me confidence, learn how to deal with my transformation and even showed the wonders of the spa.” She smiled softly whispering, “Without her, I don’t think I would even be a cheerleader.”

Spitfire laughed. “Sheesh Soarin, you’ve really been missing out. I’ve been going to the spa since forever. Especially after a hard practice.”

That little detail merited an eyebrow raise from Soarin, finding the idea of the tough, drill sergeant, Wonderbolt captain at the spa of all place. “You, at the spa?”

“Yep, I don’t do anything too fancy, but a little steam and a nice soak in the hot tub, really helps relax sore muscles after a workout.”

Soarin smirked as she gave her soft curly mane a pat. “Oh well...have you ever had a hooficure or maybe your mane done?”

Spitfire scoffed, “Please, I don’t do that prissy stuff. No reason to get all gussied up, especially with how much training we do.”

Soarin laughed, “Come on, you’ll love it! Trust me, I was so unsure about it at first too, but I now have a spa date twice if not three times a week.”

Spitfire looked rather surprised at just how feminine Soarin was sounding. Part of it was jarring to think about, but another part, especially the idea of going to the spa with Soarin, made her blush a little harder than before. “ Well, it looks you really have turned into a mare.”

Soarin giggled as she threw a hoof sarcastically. “Stop your making me blush.”

They continued finishing their meal and as they got up Spitfire smirked, placing a bag of bits on the table. Soarin eyed her and replied, “Hey, don’t worry I got this.”

Spitfire merely shook her head in the negative.“Oh come on,don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of the bill.”

Soarin rolled her eyes, “I was the stallion and will take care of the bill.” She took her bag of bits out as every pony gasped and Spitfire shoved her bag of bits out. “I'm going to pay alright you’re making me look bad!”

Soarin looked around blushing as she took her bag back, while Spitfire sighed “Come on, before I slam the pie I ordered into your face!”

After dinner, the pair casually walked down the road, with Spitfire noting how gracefully Soarin walked down the street, paying special attention to how her rump move back and forth, with her dress rippling and wings glistening in the dark. Spitfire blushed thinking, “Soarin sure has become very beautiful, I mean I don’t think I've seen a prettier mare.”

Soarin turned seeing Spitfire giving her a dreamy look and squealed, “Is something wrong?”

Spitfire laughed nervously, ”Oh nothing.”

Soarin turned her head, seeing ponies smiling, noting how several of them were watching her with clear interest. The attention made the mare sigh, “I think I overdid it with the dress and mane.”

Spitfire shook her head, “Not at all, you’re just stunning.”

The blue coated mare threw a hoof. “Oh stop.”

Spitfire laughed, “I’m serious Soarin, you’re like the something straight out of a fairy tale, you need to wear that to the Galloping Gala this year.”

Soarin smiled, “Yeah it’s amazing, but I’m still the same pony as before, just a little different.”

Soarin’s eyes turned slightly to point towards a familar looking bakery, meriting a chuckle from Spitfire. “Guess you’re right, even when you’re all dressed up like a princess, you’re still the same stallion I know from flight school.”

Soarin only smiled wider, “Yep.”

The pair made their way into Sugarcube Corner, and were met by Mrs.Cake turning and dawwing at the sight of Soarin, “Oh there’s my best customer!” She then gasped at the sight of Soarin’s dress and appearance. “And my word, you look absolutely beautiful, like something out of….”

Soarin beat her to the punch, “A fairy tale?” He cast a glance back a Spitfire who just laughed at the callback to her line. “I’ve been told that once or twice today.”

Mrs. Cake only continued to smile, “Well, please have a seat. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

The pair took a seat at a nearby table, with Spitfire looking at Soarin curiously, “I’m guessing you called ahead before we even had dinner didn’t you.”

Soarin merely shrugged, “Hey, some old habits are hard to break.”

Mrs. Cake quickly returned,placing a giant apple pie between them with two strawberry milkshakes. “There you go cuties. the Sugarcube Couple Love Special. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

She skipped off as the two mares began sucking on their straws as Spitfire asked, ”So you set all this up already? What if I said no?”

She sighed, “I mean..well...I just figured you would say yes. Though if you said no, least I’d have some sweets to drown my misery in?”

Spitfire quirked her eyebrow at the remark, “I thought you said you were watching your weight after a prior incident.”

Soarin merely chuckled as she sipped her milkshake, “Another thing Rarity taught me about being a mare. When you’re sad, drowning your sorrow in sweets is an acceptable response, just don’t go too crazy with it.”

The two continued to sit and drink their milkshakes, occasionally taking a bite from the pie, with neither saying a word for a few minutes.

Soarin eventually looked up from his milkshake at Spitfire, “So, you don’t mind me being a mare?”

Spitfire coughed on her milkshake and blushed, “Um..well it’s going to take some time getting used to.”

Soarin nodded as she continued, “I know this is strange, I mean it could be too soon.”

Spitfire smiled and held the other mare’s hoof. “No, It’s fine, we can make this work.”

Soarin smirked as she took a knife and started cutting up the pie Spitfire cooed,”Oh you sure you can do that Soarin, aren’t you worried about chipping your hoof after all those hooficures you seem to love so much?”

Saorin smirked as she took a big piece of pie and stuffed it in her mouth as Spitfire took a piece and did the same. Soon after stuffing their faces with pie and they both looked at each other, before bursting into laughter spreading pie all over the table.. Mrs Cake came by with Pound and Pumpkin Cake babbling she laughed, “My goodness, you two have worse table manners than my foals.”

She quickly started wiping down the table as Soarin was wiping her face “Sorry about that.”

She laughed, “Oh, don’t worry about it, I’m glad you two are having so much fun. It’s worth a little mess here or there”

Soarin watched Mrs.Cake put the foals down and felt something inside her seeing Mrs. Cake babled at them,”Now, let mama clean up some big ponies then it’s baba time.”

Soarin blushed as a thought entered her mind. “Mrs. Cake, do you think I could hold them?”

Mrs Cake giggled, ”I don’t see why not. Though, aren’t you worried they’ll ruin your dress.”

Soarin blushed, ”Oh, I don’t mind.”

Mrs Cake shrugged and gave the foals to her, with Soarin holding them to her chest, watching them pull on the gold silk dress or drooling at the sight of her wings. Spitfire shook her head seeing how Soarin’s newly acquired maternial instincts took over with her babbling along with the foals and nuzzling them. Spitfire asked,”So you thinking about having foals already?”

Soarin scoffed, ”No, of course not, I just wanted to hold them. Stallions do it to you know.”

Pound pulled on her mane making Soarin coo but also yelp slightly at her hair being pulled. "Not my mane sweetie, that hurts.”

She gracefully pulled Pound off but Pumpkin Cake was taking some of the dress and was chewing on it. Despite this Soarin just laughed, hugging her close to her chest. “Oh, you two, I just want nuzzle you to death.”

Mrs. Cake, who was finishing cleaning, took out two bottles. “I don’t suppose you want to feed them too?”

Soarin squealed, “Would I!” She took the bottles and placed them into their mouths and watched them both suckle. Spitfire just watched with a smirk and after Soarin burped them and hoffed them back to their mother. Mrs Cake dawwed, “Oh Soarin your a natural would you...would you mind to foalsit once in a while. I mean I never seen a pony with such an inclination for caring for foals.”

Soarin blushed,”Well, I have a busy schedule,helping Fluttershy with her butterflies,cheerleader practice…”

Her words immediately halted when the babies gave her googly eyes and melted yet again, “Well whenever you need a last minute foalsittter I’m your mare.”

Mrs. Cake smiled, ”Thanks. Oh, and of course I’ll be sure to pay you, I mean my goodness we need more ponies like you around Ponyville.”

The mare left as Spitfire smirked, ”Foals and butterflies...you are a prissy Canterlot mare.”

Soarin sighed, “Maybe, or maybe I just have a weakness for cute stuff.”

Spitfire sighed,”Well alright, I guess it’s another thing I'll have to get used too.”

The blue coated pegasus smirked, ”Well, might be a little easier if you try to be a little girly yourself.”

Spitfire eyed her as Soarin continued. “I get this is still a little awkward, so how about we try this. I’ll do something awesome with you, and in turn you do something girly with me. Might help make things a little less odd between us.”

Spitfire looked slightly apprehensive at the idea, but shrugged off her apprehension and nodded.“Okay, that sounds like a fair compromise I guess. Though, what kind of girly thing did you have in mind?”

Soarin smirked, “Remember what I said earlier about having spa dates?”

Spitfire was now in a chair with Aloe and her sister taking care of her mane, making it curl as they painted her hooves with Spitfire grumbling, “I’m going to make you do something really messy when I’m done!”

Soarin struggled to fight off laughter got up, with makeup all over her face and her eyelashes curled. A single blink of said eyes made Soarin burst into laughter, unable to believe the makeup covered mare before her, was the same hard as nails drill captain of the Wonderbolts.

Spitfire crossed her hooves in annoyance. “What, you don’t like my makeup?”

Soarin came up and brushed down her curled mane and nuzzled her “You look adorable Spitfire.”

She giggled and nuzzled her neck before running outside,Soarin chasing her laughing as they took to the air and Spitfire lead Soarin along. They went to the empty Wonderbolt stadium as Spitfire landed down with the blue coated pegasus as she smirked, ”You probably should take off that dress. Not like there’s anypony to impress here anyway. Besides, you’re not gonna want that on for what I have planned”

Soarin merely rolled her eyes, but complied, taking it off and shaking her mane. “Alright Spitfire, what is it?”

Spitfire took Soarin and flew up and whispered, “Fold your wings.”

The blue coated mare did just that and Spitfire sped through the air, much like how Soarin had before her accident.

She looped around the stadium until she was panting and sweating as she lowered Soarin to the ground panting. “H...ho...how was that?”

Soarin teared up and hugged Spitfire and she nuzzled Saorin who was in tears. “Thank you...that was amazing.”

Spitfire sighed, “Yeah...it’s the least I can do.”

Soarin looked into Spitfire and asked, “So, you think this will work?”

Spitfire leaned up and kissed her on the lips and they held the embrace for sometime.