Soaring Emotions

Rainbow arrives at Soarin's house to pick him up, after knocking on the door his mother answers and invites her in and offers a seat at the couch Rainbow couldn't help but see trophies with the name "Storm" Cloud" on them and pictures of a younger looking mare.

"You must be Rainbow Dash, please make yourself at home while Soarin gets ready." The sky blue pegasus said, her scarlet eyes warm and inviting. "May I get you anything?" She asked as Rainbow sat down.

"No, I'm good. Might I ask your name?" Rainbow asked, trying her best to be polite.

The mare sat down, adjacent from Dash. "My name is Misty Cloud, Soarin's told me so much about you." The mother said, causing Rainbow to blush.

"Oh yeah? What else did he tell you?" Rainbow asked, rubbing her head as she began to blush even more.

"Just that you're one of the best Wonderbolt recruits, that you always bring the best out of all of them to do their best." She said as Rainbow smiled at hearing all of this. "He told me he had a crush on you when you became a full member, but was intimidated by you. He really likes your strong will." The mother finished as Rainbow smiled, she turned her head to see a picture of a white stallion, with a slicked-back chestnut mane, his green eyes shone with warmness, but also determination, drive, and a no-nonsense gaze.

"Hey, who's this?" Rainbow asked with idle curiosity.

The mother smiled as she looked at the picture lovingly. "That's my husband Feather Skies, I'm sorry you can't meet him now, he was needed at the weather factory." The mother said as she and Rainbow sat, waiting for Soarin.

"It's ok, work comes first right?" She asked with the mother nodding.

"Yes, it's what puts bread on the table, but it also makes the time we have with him more special." Misty Cloud said as Soarin came downstairs wearing blue jeans and a white shirt.

"Hey, Rainbow. I'm ready." Soarin said as Rainbow got up and kissed his cheek.

"You two have a great night." Storm Cloud said as she goes into the kitchen, a young colt runs out as she does, accidentally bumping into Rainbow's leg as he does. He falls to the ground dropping the toy airplane he was playing with.

"Oh, sorry little tyke, here." Rainbow said as she helped the turquoise colt up and handed him his plane before ruffling his blue hair

"Are you my brother's girlfriend?" He asked out of the blue, his green eyes shining with innocence.

Hearing this made Rainbow and Soarin blush simultaneously. "Gray Squall, you shouldn't ask that, this is just our first date." Soarin said embarrassedly.

"Aw, it's alright, Soarin." Rainbow said as she rubbed his head. "Yes, I am, hopefully something more later down the road. Now go play." Rainbow answered his question causing him to laugh as he jogs off.

"You handled that well." Soarin told Rainbow as they headed out the door.

"He was just curious, he and Scootaloo might be good friends." Rainbow said as she and Soarin started flying towards Canterlot.

Once they arrive in Canterlot they make their way to "The Tasty Treat" where Saffron Masala greets them with a warm smile. "Hello, and welcome to The Tasty Treat, please follow me." The mare said as she brought Rainbow and Soarin to a table.

Soarin and Rainbow take their seats on the cushioned stools as Saffron puts two menus on the table. "May I get you two drinks?" She asked as they perused the menu looking for the drinks.

"Hmm, I'll have green tea." Rainbow said as Saffron wrote it down.

"And you sir?" She asked Soarin who had his face buried in the menu.

"I'll take the masala chai." He said as the hostess wrote it down and went to get them their drinks as they decided on what to order.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash sat in silence for a bit before Rainbow broke the ice. "My friend Pinkie Pie told me about this place, it sounded pretty nice so I high-tailed it over here to try it." Rainbow uttered as Soarin looked up and nodded in agreement.

"The atmosphere is nice, it's very relaxing." Soarin chimed in as Saffron brought them their drinks.

"Here are your drinks, and have you decided on a dish?" Saffron asked as she produced a notepad and pen.

"Yes, I'll have the veggie chicken curry." Rainbow Dash said as she folded up her menu.

"And you, sir? Saffron asked as Soarin scanned the menu.

"Do you have any recommendations, Rainbow?" Soarin asked, unsure what to order.

"Oh, the peanut curry is really good. I recommend that." Rainbow said excitedly.

"Alright, I'll take the peanut curry, please." Soarin said as he folded up his menu and laid it on top of Dash's.

"Ok, I'll have those shortly, may I interest you two in the "Two Hearts" special? If you're a couple your order will be half off." Saffron asked, making both of them blush. Rainbow gave a nod as Saffron wrote it down and headed into the kitchen.

Rainbow and Soarin sat in awkward silence for a few minutes as they scanned the restaurant, patrons paid for their food while new ones came in and waited to be seated. Soarin tried to break the ice as he took a sip of his drink. "This is pretty good, I've never been here before." Soarin said as he sat his drink down.

"Never?" Rainbow asked as she looked at him only for Soarin to shake his head.

"No, I'm either working at the Wonderbolts or helping out at home, so it's kinda hard to find time to try different restaurants." Soarin replied while smiling.

Rainbow smiled and put her hand on top of his. "That's great you help out when you can, what do you help out with at home?" Rainbow asked.

Soarin smiled and blushed. "Well, whenever my dad has to work late, I help with the cooking, the cleaning, and other stuff, I also help my brother with his homework and tutor him in subjects he struggles with." Soarin replies as Saffron comes up with their order.

"Here is your order, please enjoy." She said as she put the dishes on the table before walking off to seat another party.

The aroma of the peanut curry wafted through the air and into Soarin's nostrils. The smell of the cooked peanuts, paired with the various spices made Soarin's mouth water as he picked up the spoon and scooped up a spoonful of the rice, gravy, and peanuts. Taking a bite, Soarin's eyes lit up before closing and smiling. The taste dancin on his tongue as he chewed.

Rainbow smiled as she took a bite of her dish as well, shedding tears of joy as she chewed. "Hmmm, this is what I usually order, and it's always delicious." She says as she looks at Soarin. "I'm glad you're enjoying yours." She says as Soarin looks at her.

"I am, the peanuts are cooked to perfection, the rice is nice and delicate, and the hint of ginger in the curry, compliments the taste nicely." Soaring replied as Rainbow looked at him surprised.

"You can taste the ginger?" She asked as she took a sip of her green tea.

Soarin blushed, as he rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I actually like to cook, trying different spices in a dish." He admitted as he took another bite.

"Oh, you cook often?" Rainbow asked as she set down her tea and took another bite of her dish.

Soarin nodded as he swallowed. "Whenever my dad works late, I like to help out whenever and however I can. I help with the dishes, the cooking, even give mom half my paycheck as a Wonderbolt." Soarin said as he went for another bite.

Rainbow looks at him with a warm smile as she pokes at her food with a fork. "It's nice that you do that for your family, your father works at the weather factory, right?" Rainbow asked.

"That's right, I'm guessing my mom told you that he does?" Soarin replied while wiping his mouth.

Rainbow nodded as she took another bite, their plates almost empty. "What does he do?" Rainbow asked curiously.

"He works in cloud production, making cumulonimbus, cirrus, nimbostratus, cumulus, you know the usual." Soarin answered as he ate.

Rainbow and Soarin continued to talk as they are, their dreams, their hobbies, nothing was off the table. After about an hour they've completely cleared their plates and glasses. Saffron Masala comes with a bill which is fifty bits, Rainbow takes out one hundred bits and leaves fifty on the table. She and Soarin then go up to the cashier and pay fifty for the meal.

Exciting the restaurant, Rainbow and Soarin stop at a public park to watch the sun set, the sky was painted in a plethora of oranges, yellows, and reds.

They sit on a bench as they look out at the sky. Rainbow turns to Soarin and starts to speak. "Soarin, how did you decide you wanted to be a Wonderbolt?" She asked curiously.

Soarin smiled, he remembered the day fondly, he sighs as he leans back on the bench. "That would be the day my father took me to a show, I was about seven years old. They were performing at Whirlwind Stadium in Cloudsdale. Their tricks and stunts were so spectacular that I wanted to join and be a part of that. The smiles and joy they brought to ponies' faces, I wanted to do that, so I started training when I had the time." Soarin answered, remembering the day with fondness.

Rainbow listened wholeheartedly as Soarin told her the story, once he stopped she responded. "That's nice, and you said it was at Whirlwind Stadium in Cloudsdale?" She asked.

"Yeah, I think it's still there." Soarin replied as she asked that.

"And Wind Rider was there, he performed in that show." Rainbow said as she remembers the show too.

"Oh, yeah. He performed his famous stunts. Wait, you were there too?" Soarin asked, surprised that she could have been there.

"Yes, I was there with my dad, he took me because I was so excited to see Wind Rider, I think I even still have his autograph." Rainbow answered as she sighed, remembering Wind brought back bad memories.

Soarin sensing the tension grabbed Rainbow's shoulder. "I'm sorry he tried to frame you, I wish I had the nerve to deck him back then." Soarin said as he rubbed Rainbow's back.

"It's ok, I'm over it, if I hold grudges I wouldn't accomplish anything, besides I don't even know where the autograph is, and when I find it, I'll either sell it, burn it, or donate it to a museum. With the exception that the museum puts it on the record that he fell from fame by pulling that stunt." Rainbow answered while she leaned into Soarin, resting her head on his chest as his arm draped around her.

Soarin smiled as he held her close. "That's a good way to look at it, and I'm sure the museum will accommodate that request." Soarin replied as they watched the sky turn from reds, oranges, and yellows, to blues and purples.

As the sun disappeared, Rainbow and Soarin got up from their seats and started the flight back to his home.