Come Soar with Me
By Wolfy
“Thank ya kindly!” Applejack said, with a tip of her stetson.
“No problemo, AJ! You know I don’t mind helping a friend out.” Rainbow Dash replied, with a nod.
Applejack laughed, and Rainbow smiled. She had just swooped down by Sweet Apple Acres for a quick chat after her practicing, and she had somehow ended up buying two apple pies. It wasn’t a big deal though, the pie was certainly good fuel for a Wonderbolt, or even one-in-training! At that, a vision of Rainbow’s favorite blue-maned athlete popped into her mind.
Dash brought herself back to the deal she was making.
“Now lemme, just find my bits..” Dash said, checking under her wings. “Aww man! I hope my bits bag didn’t fall out during my training!” She began to search more frantically.
“Hold on there, Dash, these are on the house. Ah ain’t one to leave a friend hangin’.” Applejack replied, smiling warmly at her best friend.
“Woah, you sure AJ? I wouldn’t want Macintosh to totally flip out over why you guys didn’t meet your sales or someething crazy like that.” Rainbow brought a hoof up and twirled it around her head to emphasize her idea of Big Macintosh going crazy.
Applejack suddenly went serious. “Now hold on there, don’t go kiddin’ round’ bout’ our lifestyle and profession her at the Acres.”
“Sheesh.” Dash huffed. “Lighten’ up there AJ. You should’ve seen your face!”
Applejack smiled a bit awkwardly, as if she were embarrased. “Yeah well, you know how serious Ah am bout’ the farm, just like my ma ‘n’ pa.” Her eyes glazed over for a minute, in a flashback, but she replied a few seconds later.
“Let me help you load these up on your back. Ah know about that storm you pegasi got rollin’ in, and Ah’d hate for y’all to get caught up in it.”
“Oh puh-leeze AJ. Equestria’s GREATEST flier can handle anything!” Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest like a valiant hero.
“Hmmph.” AJ smiled at Dash. “Typical RD.”
Fifteen minutes later, Rainbow Dash was alone, flying back to her house in Cloudsdale, skillfully balancing two apple pies on her back. The cold wind blew her beautiful rainbow mane and tail back, and lifted her up. She felt on top of the world. Training had gone well, and she had just created and mastered a new move. She tried to preoccupy herself by trying to think of a name.
“Hmm. ‘The Dashie Dive?’ That might work! Awesome!”
A proud smile crept across her lips.
“Well, hold on a sec. If The Wonderbolts ever use my trick that might seem awkward for them. Like, Spitfire doing my move? No way! or Soarin..”
An image of Soarin’s light blue face and cobalt mane flashed in her mind for the second time that day, wearing a lazy smile and fluttering eyes.
Thinking of her secret crush, or love more of, brought some new thoughts in her mind. Would she ever find that special stallion? The one who would be there for her, care for her, and love her with everything he had? Rainbow Dash frowned. Nopony had ever shown a love like that for her. The only colt who had ever done that was Caramel, the earth pony down in ponyville back in school.
She smiled at the memory of them sitting under a tree by the playground.
But, that had been long ago. Caramel was with another close friend of hers. She hoped him and Twilight were doing okay.
Dash’s smile turned to a more serious one. This “Lovey dovey” talk was not for her! An athlete had better things to do. She had her own things to deal with, a stallion or mare could wait.
Then, she remembered that that had been what Fluttershy said the morning before Big Macintosh had arrived at her cottage door, with a small flower in place of his wheat sprig, asking if she would like to go to the park for a walk together.
The frown came back again.
“Wow, this sucks. The one who has my heart doesn’t even know it.”
The clouds welcomed Rainbow Dash’s cyan hooves as she touched down in Cloudsdale.
The flight from Sweet Apple Acres had gone smoothly, besides for the thoughts about a lover. She had began to pick up the pace a little after the gray clouds began to catch up. The storm was going to be nothing big, but she still didn’t want to be caught up in it. Dash decided that she could walk for the remainder of the way back to her home.
Cloudsdale was very active, even now before a storm. Pegasi fluttered here and there, or stopped and chatted with each other on the cloud pathes. Dash spotted a few of her friends and waved a hello to them, but never stopped her trot.
Rainbow continued along, when she began to hear crashes behind her.
“Woops! Sorry, didn’t-OWW! That wasn’t there yesterday! Darn eyes!”
Dash knew that voice, and wasn’t surprised to see everypony’s favorite mailmare touch down shakily beside her.
“OOOH, ohh Dashie! Hi!” Derpy Hooves said joyfully.
“Hey there Derpy! How’s it hangin’?”
“Hanging? What’s hanging? Did I crash into something again? Oops!” Her pupils spun around crazily inside of her eyeballs. “Hey, check out this yummy awesome muffin Cloudkicker gave me!” Derpy suddenly stepped in front of Rainbow Dash, and held up a muffin with chocolate chips. Then, she set it down on the cloud ground and began to bow down to it. “Muffin! Muffin!”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “Geez Derpy! You are such a laugh. We should chill sometime!”
Derpy looked up from her muffin worship and chuckled. “Yeah, totally. We can bake muffins!” She chuckled again, except a little louder and sillier. “Alright buddy, I gotta get back to work. This mail won’t deliver itself, don’tcha know!!!” She patted her mail satchel, giggled, then took to the skies.
“Woah, and I thought Pinkie was crazy!” Dash smirked.
Soarin examined himself in the mirror of the locker room.
Practice had ended a little while ago. It had been a tough one. A good shower felt nice on his sweaty skin. Now, after drying off, he looked at his own reflection, wondering about things in the future.
Would he ever find a mare, who loved him, the Soarin side, and not just the Wonderbolt side?
Could anyone out here look past his celebrity status and see the real him for the real stallion he was?
Soarin sighed heavily, and turned from the mirror. It felt like a lost cause. Why dwell on what seemed like a dream? Some dreams didn’t come true.
He sighed again, and walked to his locker. It opened slowly and creakily. Soarin pushed his Wonderbolt suit into his saddlebag without a word. He then raised a hoof to close the locker door, but stopped at the sight of the pictures he had taped on the insides of it.
Himself, with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. He remembered the day very well. He and FleetFoot had engaged in a cupcake eating contest, with the winner of the challenge taking home 10 bits.
The battle had been fierce, but the competition fiercer. Soarin had walked home 10 bits richer, with a terrible tummyache on the side.
His eyes scanned over to the next one.
His mother and father, together with him as a colt. Soarin frowned. That was the last time they had been happy together. Still today, he wondered why they broke apart. His mother wouldn’t say, and his father had passed on.
Soarin scowled angrily. Love ment nothing. It builds ponies up, and then tears them down.
His anger faded as his eyes met the last photo.
At the gala, with Spitfire, and...
Rainbow Dash.
Soarin longed to see her stunning mane, her cyan coat, and magenta eyes again. She was beautiful to him. He wanted to really connect with her. He wished every day to have told her how he felt that night. But, the fans, with their pictures and their photos had stopped him.
This was the only picture he owned of her, before she had disappeared and the gala had been trashed.
Soarin felt alone, and sad. The popularity was almost like a curse.
He looked into Dash’s eyes again, then closed the locker, and left.
Rainbow Dash hummed and dreamed of new tricks. She was just about home. Her house was just past the Wonderbolts stadium. She coasted her eyes over to its height, and then down to the entrance where she saw a light blue pony leaving with saddlebags bulging at his sides.
“Is that...Soarin?” Dash asked herself inquisitively. She watched him carefully as he opened his saddlebag and stuck his muzzle into it.
“Woah, he’s even hotter without his Wonderbolt suit!” Rainbow giggled like a school filly.
Her star-struck infatuation turned to worry as she saw him look in her direction.
“Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh what if he doesn’t remember me? Should I say hi? What if he thinks I’m just another fan, looking for his autograph?” She continued to ramble on with crazy ideas. Rainbow Dash didn’t even notice Soarin trotting closer and closer to her.
Soarin was positive that was her. You couldn't really mistake a mare with a rainbow mane for somepony else.
He coudn’t believe his eyes. His two favorite things, right there together.
Rainbow Dash and apple pie!
Now is the time. Make your move. Stop making excuses and turning your back on what your heart says.
Soarin took a deep breath and walked over to where Dash was restlessly babbling to herself.
He raised a hoof and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Umm, Ms. Rainbow Dash....”
"Ms. Rainbow Dash?" Soarin asked, a little nervously.
Rainbow Dash whipped around, out of her discussion with herself. She prepared to scold who ever had just distracted from her panic attack, but paused when she saw it was the very pony the chat had been about.
"Soarin?" Rainbow Dash asked, her eyes growing wide with awe.
"Hey." Soarin' smirked coolly. He was trying hard to have the "cool guy" demeanor. He knew down in his heart that if he messed up that he'd never forgive himself.
"Whoa, a Wonderbolt, is talking...to me?" Dash raised a hoof and pointed at Soarin, then brought it back and laided it on her chest.
Finally, it registered in her mind.
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Not just a Wonderbolt, but the one!
She continued to look at him in awe.
"Do NOT blush, whatever you do, Dash. A voice in her head instructed very sternly.
"Hey Soarin! What are you doing around here?"
"Oh well, you know, practice ended early..and I was just wondering around, looking for a bite to eat. That's when I saw you! I know you're the ultimate Wonderbolt fan, so I thought I'd say hello."
Soarin' grinned at Rainbow again, but also at his excuse. That's perfect. She'll think he was just stopped by for a chat, not to flirt.
Rainbow Dash felt her wings twitch. Wings if you move again so help me I'll..
"Well, you know me! I'm the biggest fan there is! Dash replied enthusiastically.
Soarin laughed. She was so beautiful, and such a charmer. Even when she was nervous she could look good. He gazed in to her eyes for a moment before a crack of lightning interrupted the peaceful air around them.
"Woah. That doesn't sound good. Soarin, um, not to sound creepy, but why don't you come back to my place until the storm passes over?" Rainbow inquired, trying to sound calm and collected.
"Rainbow, I'd be honored."
The very short walk back to Rainbow's place had turned into a sprint, and then a race as the two ran through the puddles and got soaked by the cold, yet refreshing rain. Soarin' and Rainbow Dash laughed loudly as they ran side-by-side, each trying to take the lead.
Now, the two stood, still sopping wet, on Dash's doorstep as she got her key out from her hiding place beneath her wings. The apple pies still sat, untouched and perfect on her back. Soarin waited patiently, and stared at the pies. Dash fumbled with her house key nervously. All of a sudden, the key slipped out of her soaking hooves.
"Woops. Heh Heh." Dash smiled a very embarrased smile at Soarin before leaning down to grab the key out of a puddle on the cloud.
Soarin caught himself look at Dash's behind for a minute.
Wow, she's so toned and athletic... He stopped, and looked away, blushing. That wasn't like him. But, what if she did that on purpose?
"Soarin?" Rainbow said, standing in the house's doorway already.
"Oh, sorry." Soarin apologized awkwardly, a reddish tint still on his face.
Rainbow just smiled.
Soarin stepped into the house, and stood on the rug, still dripping water.
"I'm gonna go grab us some towels. Stay right there!" Dash slid the pies off her back and onto a small table near the door. Soarin watched as she trotted up the stairs, turned a corner and came back again, two towels stacked precariously exactly where the pies had been on her back.
"Catch!" she shouted suddenly as she tossed one of the towels over the railing and right onto Soarin's face.
"Dude! You were supposed to catch!" Soarin heard Dash stifle a laugh, and then finally burst out.
"Oh come on! Even I'm not that fast!" He replied playfully, grabbing the towel and beginning to dry off. Dash watched him as he dried off his vibrant blue mane, admiring how it sprung back up to its regular windswept look almost immediately. She moved over to the steps and trotted down, drying herself off as well.
"I don't know about you but I'm starved. Let's crack open these apple pies! I know they're your favorite.." she trailed off, starting to sound a little like a fangirl.
"That sounds awesome." Soarin smiled warmly.
Two empty pie trays sat on the kitchen table, cleaned of all possible remnants of pie.
Soarin and Rainbow Dash weren't at the table, though. They had relocated to a cozy couch in Dash's living room.
The two had sat with very full bellies, talking long into the night, as the storm raged on and on. Both had fallen asleep together as well, without even realizing it.
Celestia's sun sat low in the sky, rays covering Equestria, slowly coaxing all of the ponies out of their cozy beds, and up to work, study, or just get on with the day. Applejack would be up, loading the cart with the freshest apples, and readying it make the journey to the Ponyville marketplace. Spike would be re-shelving books, and Fluttershy would be out feeding the chickens in her backyard. No one really knew what Pinkie was doing, most likely baking.
A single ray found its way through the window of Rainbow Dash's cloud home, stretching through the kitchen, down the hallway, and into the living room, where the two Pegasi snoozed peacefully. Rainbow opened her eyes and yawned. What a peaceful snooze. She shifted and looked down in suprise to see two sky blue forelegs wrapped around her, just under her own. Rainbow soon heard a calmed sigh above her. She glanced up and saw Soarin, with a happy smile on his face and his eyes closed.
Dash blushed. She closed her eyes again and took in the warmth from Soarin next to her, before snuggling deeper in his chest. His coat smelled sweetly and felt nice against hers. For once, Dash felt no worry, no nagging feeling, just...happy. Nothing, not even Nightmare Moon returning and trying to enslave Equestria again could remove her from Soarin's tight embrace. Seconds later, she was asleep again.
An hour went by as the day went on. It was brighter out now. The house brimmed with the sun's light.
Soarin's eyes opened slowly. He looked around. This wasn't his apartment. Where was he? Soarin began to panic. Had he been kidnapped? His eyes darted around, and finally fell on the cyan and rainbow shape on his chest. His panic faded as he remembered exactly where he was, why he was here, and who was casually sleeping in his arms. He basked in the warmth of the sun, as it filled the room with its brilliance.
He felt Rainbow shift underneath him. She yawned loudly and sat up next to him, facing the opposite direction. Soarin heard her smack her lips and watched as she shook her mane. Dash turned around and blushed when she saw Soarin looking back at her.
"OH! Soarin! I, uhhh..." Dash said awkwardly, as her eyes shifted around nervously. Her mind worked a million miles a minute as she tried to come up with a reason as to why she had been sleeping in his arms.
"Dash.." Soarin said, calming her nerves. "It's okay."
They gazed into each others eyes again.
Rainbow dash broke the silence. "Are ya hungry? I can whip us up some breakfast in five seconds flat!"
Rainbow Dash and Soarin sat across from each other at the table, munching toast.
"You know Dash," Soarin talked through a mouthful of toast. "I really enjoyed my time over here."
"I'm pumped to hear that, Soarin. You're really awesome. Too bad we can't do this again sometime." Dash frowned and looked down at the rest of toast laying on her plate.
"Hey now, don't say that." Soarin replied, reassuringly. "I can make time for someone like you."
Dash felt another blush creep across her cheeks. The Wonderbolt across from her blushed as well.
A moment passed.
"I hate to do this, but I've gotta get going. Practice is in a few hours, and if I'm late Spitfire will be peeved." Soarin got up, picking up his empty plate in his mouth.
"I'll walk you out." Rainbow was sad to bid him farewell, but she knew a Wonderbolt's life certainly wasn't easy. Soarin nodded at her after setting his plate on the counter, and moved around the corner to the front door. Rainbow followed, feeling her wings flutter a bit. Her sides were hurting from holding her wings down. She couldn't even imagine how embarrassed she'd be if he saw her wings shoot up. She hoped to Celestia he couldn't see through her cover and know that her wings were trying to move.
Soarin slid his saddlebags back to their normal spot, sitting comfortably on his back. He turned and saw the door was already open, with Dash standing beside it. Slowly he trotted out, but halted in the doorway and turned to Rainbow. "I'll catch you later, Dash."
Rainbow's wings at her sides twitched, yet again. "We can chill again, for sure, right Soarin?"
He laughed. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" He brought a hoof to his eye to emphasis the point.
Rainbow burst out laughing. "Alright, then for sure, see ya later!" She watched him trot out and closed the door slowly behind him. She peeked out the window by the door and watched him casually trot down the path back to Cloudsdale. Finally, her strength gave out, and her wings snapped to her sides, erect and at-attention. She fell back on her haunches and stared out in to space.
"Awesome."
Soarin trotted from the house slowly and coolly, then turned his head to look back at the cloud structure. As soon as he was sure she wasn't watching, he broke in to a gallop, and ran as fast as he could through Cloudsdale, back to his tiny apartment. He fumbled just like she had last night with the key, and pushed open the door. It slammed behind him, and he slid his saddlebags off. Seconds later, his sky blue wings were pointing upward stiffly. He plopped on to his backside as all the blood rushed to his cheeks. Soarin could only bring himself to say one single word.
"Woah."
