Author's Note

SoarinDash HC notes:

• They're not friends but also not acquaintances. They're in the middle of both post Rainbow Falls.

This is the first Soarindash/ClipperCrash fic I've posted. Hope you enjoy! <3

EDIT (10/21/2023): story fixed + improved! B]

Crash

“Crash!” The pegasus in question flinched before slamming her locker shut and turning her head to face the source of the voice. The Commander was faced with her tired, weary smile.

Something's wrong. He approached Rainbow, ever so slightly. Soarin had seen how Spitfire and Fleetfoot confronted the cerulean pegasus. A loud approach wouldn't do.

Luckily for them, he was the right pony for the job. “You have a minute?”

Rainbow Dash glanced at the clock nearby. He hears the soft hum coming from her throat.

Is she busy?

“Sure,” she chirped, getting up and walking out. He followed right after, guiding her to the runway.

The chance to start this “mission” was secured. Now it was just a matter of getting to the goal: the answer behind Rainbow's recent performance in practice.

At first, Spitfire didn't see reason to worry. Neither did he or the other Wonderbolts.

“It'll be gone by tomorrow.” Those were Spitfire's words as they watched Rainbow Dash leave the compound that day.

Yet, when Rainbow Dash arrived the following morning, they didn't expect the young one to behave the way she did…

Because they didn't even notice her until Fleetfoot had said, “It's a little quiet today… Is somepony missing?”

All of the pegasi perked up and looked around. Some shrugged while others scratched their manes or went about their business.

Soarin noted that everyone was accounted for. Yet when his eyes landed on the newbie, he understood why.

She'd been surprisingly quiet since he walked in and greeted her. She was the first one there. He had chuckled at the idea that it was because she was excited.

She hadn't been.

Yesterday hadn't gone so well, either. The turn she'd failed on the first day was still a challenge. If anything, none of her moves were improving. Her progress was stuck.

Today hadn't gone any better, which was why Spitfire decided to confront the mare. Rainbow Dash kept ignoring her teammates. They had noticed the occasional catch of attention but most of the time, she kept ignoring everyone. Instead, she would scowl or walk away. It was a far cry from the Rainbow Dash they knew at the Academy. That day went as well as the day before as she still hadn't nailed the turn, though she was improving in the other parts of the routine.

It's the late afternoon of the first day. Spitfire and Fleetfoot had already tried confronting her during lunch break but it blew up in their faces. It seemed to only worsen Rainbow's mood as she started to snap at others.

They trusted him to resolve the issue. He was closer to Rainbow Dash than they were, they claimed.

The thought soothed him.

On their short walk to the runway, he noticed that Rainbow Dash kept her distance from him, proven by the quiet, distant trots of her hooves.

As soon as they reached the spot, Soarin took off with swift acceleration. Rainbow Dash followed right after, her launch being the smoothest since she arrived at the headquarters.

The two pegasi let the wind do the work, gliding through blue Equestrian skies and weaving around the clouds in their path. After settling into the flight, Soarin broke the tense silence. “What’s going on, Crash?”

Rainbow Dash scowled, momentarily glaring at him before looking straight ahead again. “Nothing,” she affirmed.

So far, nothing. He couldn’t pick up what her issue was. It must be something deep, then.

Being persistent but easy, he warmly smiled, hoping it could at least comfort his… friend? I think we are. “Come on, Rainbow Dash.” He held in the urge to nudge her shoulder. “You know you can trust me, right?”

She scoffed, scrunching her face. “The same way you couldn’t when Wind Rider framed me?” she bit. Frustrated, the cerulean mare picked up her pace, leaving the pale cornflower stallion behind.

Shit. The same worry from the incident, when he had been worried about her being upset, came back with full force. She’s still mad about it, and it’s been over a year since the incident. “Rainbow Dash, wait-!”

“Is that the only reason why you wanted to talk?” she snapped. “‘Cause frankly, I don’t!”

Soarin picked up his pace, trying to keep up with his mare but her persistence left him behind. The little realization threw a thought at him. There’s a reason why Spitfire and Fleetfoot wanted to replace me at the Equestria Games tryouts years ago. Shaking it away, he pushed himself, finally catching up to her.

Hearing him quickly approaching her, the cerulean pegasus understood that he wouldn’t give up. Who am I kidding? she thought as she gilded down to a cloud. He’s the Commander of the Wonderbolts. Of course, he can catch up. On that note, she plopped herself onto the white sky fluff, something that would’ve brought her comfort but at the moment, it didn’t.

Said cloud was spacious enough for Soarin to join her, and he did just that.

Softly landing on the cloud, he trotted towards Rainbow, who faced him. Her face is scrunched up, frowning and her eyebrows furrowed.

Despite her clear anger, Soarin didn’t let it deter him. As their encounter continued, the more worried he grew for the rainbow-maned mare. “Crash-!”

“Stop!” she screamed, slamming her forehooves down. “Stop calling me that!” With heavy breaths, she held back her tears, sucking back in her breaths as she glared right at the navy-maned pegasus. Her body trembled with fury and distress.

“...‘Rainbow Crash?’” All he got was a snort, and it was all he needed to understand.

Rainbow Dash thought otherwise.

“You really wanna know what’s been bothering me?” Rainbow Dash struggled to keep her voice composed but her attempts were in vain as it cracked horribly. “That! That stupid name! I wasn’t always the best flier, you know! I was terrible in flight school, bottom of the class! So bad that it got me that name the same way I did on my first day!”

Her breaths become ragged and heavy, concerning Soarin as he backs away, only for Rainbow to approach him, keeping the distance between them the same.

“It never went away because no one stood up for me. It stuck with me throughout flight school, when I pulled off the Sonic Rainboom during flight camp, and when I dropped out and left Cloudsdale. When I came to Ponyville and became one of their weather ponies, it was still there. It took the Best Young Flyer’s Competition for it to stop, and even then, it wasn’t until I was declared the winner that it stopped.” Her throat ached, begging for a break. Having exhausted her voice and let out what needed to be said, Rainbow Dash broke down. Her barriers were broken under her own will. She felt exposed and uncomfortable. In an attempt to salvage what was left of her reputation as the young tough mare many knew her as, she quickly turned around and spread her wings to cover herself, shielding herself.

Soarin stood still, stunned and processing the context Rainbow Dash had given. Everything began to make sense as he looked back to the previous days.

The mare would constantly stop or flinch whenever she was called “Crash.” He’d been there when Rainbow asked about the names on their jackets.

How he didn’t catch on upset him.

Catching her breath and getting her thoughts straight, she spoke once more, her raspy voice having reached its limit for the day. “You guys might be okay with it, but not everyone can get over things like that, Clipper.”

The way she punctuated his nickname struck Soarin. It was unpleasant, just like the very first time he was “honored” with the name. He hadn’t felt good about it either, but not wanting to risk being seen as “not enough” and “sensitive,” he stayed quiet.

Still, he persisted, pushing away the bitter reminder. “Rainbow Dash, I-”

“Go away…” Her exhaustion was clear in her broken voice. She didn’t want to think about those times anymore. Those times when no one but her parents and fillyhood friends believed in her. The times when everypony seemed to be against her for that one thing. For the single mistake she’d made when she was just a filly. “I want to be alone.”

“Rainbow-”

“You got your answer…” Her wings tighten their hold on her body. “Just leave me alone.” She could only hope he couldn't hear her cries.

And he didn’t, and he didn’t dare step closer. He stayed put, and once Rainbow realized this, she got up to fly off.

There’s silence for a short while, and the longer it went, the more anxious Soarin got, awaiting her departure. Did she have something to say? If she did, will she lash out? Maybe she’s pulling herself together so she can fly safely.

Right as he wished for her to do something, she spoke for the last time.

He wished she hadn’t as the words tumbled out.

“Out of all the ponies here, I thought you would be the most welcoming.” She spread her wings wide open with aggression, establishing her emotions. “Guess I was wrong..." she huffed, the bitterness piercing his crumbling composure. With a powerful flap, she was off into the sunset skies as Celestia put the sun to rest.

Where she’s off to, Soarin wasn’t sure. Anywhere but here, that he’s sure of, and he’s absolutely sure that Rainbow Dash didn’t know about the tears brewing up as the dam holding back his composure broke.

He hurt somepony he considered a friend. The regret chewed at his heart, tugging at the strings connected to his brain. A situation he believed had been resolved wasn’t to begin with, and he let himself believe the words Rainbow Dash had said, implying a promise that she was okay after the whole ordeal.

She hadn’t been, and it’s there that he failed as a friend. If she had even seen him as one.

The uncertainty of what they were was no longer a high priority, yet the relief Soarin had hoped to feel never came.

Hiding behind some clouds nearby was Spitfire. She had seen everything, and she, too, was regretting her part in the encounter. Had she known about this previous tension, she wouldn’t have sent her found brother to amend the problem. Yet, that was the issue. The tension was one-sided from the sounds of it. It just took time and a problem to set it off, and to an extent, she felt responsible. Maybe if she had bothered to check in on the, at the time, reservist, this wouldn’t have been the built-up tension that it became.

Spitfire shook her head. Right now wasn’t the time to reflect. Her brother needed comfort, so she leaped from the cloud and glided down to where Soarin was.

His droopy ears flinched. He was aware she was approaching him. Before he could ask her what she was doing, hoping to take his mind off the situation for just a moment to compose himself, she beat him to it.

The yellow pegasus plopped herself next to him, wrapping her right wing around him. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled as the younger stallion sniffled, leaning into the comforting hug of his older found sister.

As time ticked back and Soarin calmed down, Spitfire could only hope that Rainbow Dash wasn’t only physically prepared for her debut performance. The worry building up quickly diminished it, worrying the Captain.