Author's Note
This story is dedicated to Little Tigress. I hope you like it.
Part 1: Bottoms Up
***A Patriot Pony Production***
The Grand Galloping Gala, one of the largest social gatherings in the entire Equestrian calendar year, was in full swing. Thousands of ponies from across the land waited to get in, and very few of those masses ever did. One might think a winged mare privileged to have a close relationship with the ruling princesses would be thrilled at the idea of attending the party and enjoying everything the event had to offer, but not Rainbow Dash.
The blue pegasus was grateful to be there, but there wasn't exactly much of a party for her to enjoy. She imagined spending some time with her friends and hanging out with the legendary fliers she had long aspired to join, but so far, none of those things had happened. Her friends disappeared into the crowd almost as soon as they had arrived. There were a few Wonderbolts around, but Rainbow didn’t have the courage to approach them. She’d never admit it to her friends, or anypony for that matter, but she was shy when it came to introducing herself to her idols.
All dressed up in her custom dress tailored expertly by Rarity, Rainbow stood by the door and watched as ponies stood around and quietly talked amongst themselves. She rolled her eye subtly and let out a wishful breath for some excitement. “Hmph... Some party.”
Behind her, she heard a low chuckle, and she tended up. She hadn’t expected anypony to overhear her complaint, and she turned red with embarrassment. Rainbow turned quickly and spotted the snickering culprit, a stallion in blue fatigues with medals brazened on his chest and gold stripes on his sleeves. He had a pale, cornflower blue coat and sported a dark mane with a tail to match. She recognized him immediately as one of the Wonderbolts, and the red on her cheeks deepened.
When he noticed her expression, his eyes widened, and his grin vanished. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any offense. I, uh... I just happened to overhear you, and I kinda agree.” His gaze shifted to the slow moving ponies around the large ballroom. “Things could stand to liven up around here a little.”
Rainbow was in awe at the stallion before her. Though she fantasized about it almost every night, she never imagined actually talking to a Wonderbolt at the gala. Then again, it wasn’t exactly a conversation since he was the only one speaking. She hadn’t said a thing since he addressed her. Anxiety began to set in, and her hooves froze to the floor.
He acted so cool and casually. She wondered what he was thinking, what she should say to him, if she should even respond to him at all or make a dash for the mares’ room and hide. Rainbow opened her mouth and forced out the first thing that came to mind. “Yeah... It’s pretty boring here.” She immediately regretted every word she ever said in public and nearly smacked a frustrated hoof into her dumb forehead. “I mean... I just... It’s hard to believe a party this big could move so slowly.”
That was a slight improvement, but only just. The stallion appeared to agree with her, nodding his head slightly as he eyed her cutie mark behind her multicolored gown. “Spitfire told me something similar as soon as we arrived. Hey, you’re Rainbow Dash, aren’t you?”
Her chest twisted with excitement at the idea of cute stranger knowing her name, but she also felt sense of hesitation. “Yeah... How’d you know?”
The Wonderbolt managed a nervous smile, probably sensing her discomfort and rubbed the back of his head. “Well, the mane and dress kinda hinted at it, but your cutie mark’s a dead giveaway. Everypony at the academy’s heard of you. You’re one of the fastest fliers in Equestria. I hope I didn’t scare ya’ or anything.”
Rainbow immediately felt much better, especially knowing the Wonderbolts regarded her so highly. “No, you’re fine. I was just curious.”
He quickly fell to a more relaxed stance again and extended a hoof towards her with a friendly smile on his face. “I’m Soarin, by the way.”
She took his hoof allowed him a firm shake, managing to return his smile with one of her own. “I guess I don’t really need an introduction, since you know me already.”
Soarin’s cheeks turned red as their hooves fell. “Yeah... I’m sorry about that. Maybe I could make it up to you over a drink. If you’re interested, I mean. I wouldn’t want to interfere if you’re already here with somepony...”
Rainbow’s eyes widened. Part of her wondered if she had heard him correctly, and the rest of her was paralyzed by the fact that he was actually hitting on her. She quickly shook her head. “N-N-No, you’re not doing anything like that. I only came with a few friends, and they disappeared as soon as we showed up.” She took a moment to collect herself and took a deep breath. “I mean... Yeah, I’d like that.”
A huge grin came over Soarin’s face, and the two of them made their way out of the ballroom and out into a garden. Like the rest of the palace, it was filled with high-society ponies milling about aimlessly and engaging in boring conversations. What the two pegasi were after, however, was a temporary bar that had been erected in the center of the garden for the gala.
Soarin was the first to reach the counter and sit down, and he offered Rainbow the stool next to his. He then turned to the pony behind the bar. “Something light, please.” He glanced towards her and grinned sheepishly. “Spitfire told us not to get too carried away. We have to fly back to the academy in the morning.”
Rainbow found the thought to be amusing, and she let out a chuckle before looking at the bartender. “I’ll have the same.”
The pony nodded and vanished under the counter briefly before returning with two glasses filed with an opaque substance, passing them along to the fliers.
With her drink in hoof, Rainbow took a long sip before setting it back down and returning her attention to the Wonderbolt. “So... You’re spending the night in Canterlot?”
Soarin had his own glass to his lips when she asked her question. He nodded and swallowed as he set it back down. “Yeah. We’re staying in a hotel not too far from here. It’s only for the night, but the accommodations are nice. What about you, though? Are you staying anywhere?”
She smiled and shook her head. “No, my friends and I came from Ponyville. It’s not too far to fly, so we were just gonna head out when the party ended.” She looked at Soarin and could tell something had shifted in his expression. There was a sense of disappointment in his eyes, but his carefree grin remained ever present as though he were trying to cover it up. “I don’t really have to leave when they do, though. I can fly back whenever I want, so we don’t have to stop any time soon.”
His eyes seemed to light up. From where Rainbow was sitting, it almost looked as though he was trying to hide the red coloring in his cheeks. “I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t come here with a date, then. I don’t think either of us would have a lot of fun if I got beat up for asking a taken mare out for drinks.” Then, he looked lost in an unpleasant memory. “It wouldn’t be the first time either.”
She shook her head and laughed. “No, Soarin, you don’t have anything to worry about. This is the most fun I’ve had all night, and that’s not saying much.”
The two of them laughed some more. Rainbow didn’t realize just how close they were until his leg brushed against hers under the counter. It might have been little more than an accident, but Soarin looked distressed. She looked down and saw why he was so embarrassed. Between his legs, the stallion’s member had begun to grow. It dawned on her that he was doing everything he could to conceal it. “I... I’m so sorry...”
Rainbow wasn’t nearly as paranoid. She actually looked amazed by what little she could see. With her fears and doubts gone, she let out a low, shaky breath. “Is that... because of me?”
Soarin quickly finished the contents of his glass and admittedly nodded his head. “I’m really, really sorry, Miss Rainbow Dash... I only-“
She quickly cut him off by holding a hoof to his lips. He was surprised, to say the least, but she continued to press her hoof against his mouth. “I didn’t say I was mad at you or anything.” Rainbow let out a sigh and finally lowered her hoof. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been on edge for a few weeks now. I could use some... Well, you know...” Her eyes darted down to his shaft. She couldn’t help looking at it, especially knowing she was the only one in the garden who knew it was there.
Soarin appeared to understand her, pondering over her words. “If you’re suggesting what I think you are, then I think I know of a way we could both get what we want.” The look on his face was dead serious.
Rainbow managed a sly grin and slid off of the stool, standing on her hooves again. She stood with her back to him and looked over her shoulder to meet his gaze, ever so subtly swishing her tail from side to side. “I’m all ears, big guy.”
***Up Next: Tasting the Rainbow***
