"You have met with a terrible fate, haven't you. Soarin Galeforce, before the judgement seat of Faust, it is you who shall confess the doings of your existence, good and bad."

The faceless Lights stood atop his mangled form in the seeming-less void. Lights so bright, no, so immaculate that the sun was but a mere shadow. The Void, itself, actually has a life-like functionality to it. It could actually breathe like a pony. With each inhale, spheres of luminescence would change their colors and become as white as the virgin snow. With every exhale, they grow a deep and rich crimson color, finally dissipating into the Void.

"Step forward."

As those words were broken, the presence around him sighed heavily. The glowing sprites then grew as if they had each become that of Princess Celestia's sun. The Void which had once seem so soothing had grown into a raging inferno, roaring all the while as it were a beast among it's prey. Soarin was paralyzed at that very instant. Finally their expansion halted, and the spheres became as they once were. And all became silent. The mangled sprite formerly known as Soarin, Lieutenant of the Wonderbolts, One of Equestria's best fliers, began to step forward, now remembering how to trot. He was burdened with fear, a fear so mighty that even Princess Celestia would tremble in it's wake. The Lights that were once so bright, that stood atop him, now stand before him. But they, in their dimming became three. They began to speak in a chorale-type unison.

"Offer the truth, and your punishment shall be lessened. But offer lies, and your soul shall know no rest."

Those very last words shook the endless Void into a violent quake, and the words themselves echoed louder than the last. Their volume swelled until the words began to become noise. The noise then swelled until it rang unto an absolute silence. A silence that was broken soon after with these very words:

"Dear Faust, show mercy for I have sinned!"

Several Months Earlier...

========================================================================

Soarin's Point of View

I never actually been in Ponyville before. But now that I have, well... lets just say that the place isn't so attractive to the wandering eye. It's what some would call a dirt town, except with snow. Lots and lots of snow. There is not one sole corner in this establishment that isn't covered in the stuff. I mean it's everywhere! It even reaches up to my haunches in some places! If it had reached any higher, then I would need to ask Princess Celestia if she can send me to the sun just so I can defrost the boys down under. My wings ache from the chilly winds and I really can't afford to keep them packed in. I would spread 'em open (heh heh, spread 'em) just to get some blood goin' in these bad boys if it wasn't for the fact that I'm on the Northbound train. The only words that express my immediate thoughts right now are as followed: "Dammit. My wings are freezing." I don't know why, but they seem to put me in the one cart that has a busted window. A BUSTED WINDOW! I can't seem to catch a break today. If it wasn't for the fact tha-

"Umm... Excuse me sir. If you wouldn't mind me saying... umm... well... thank you! "

A yellow pegasus with a pink mane and a trio of butterflies as a cutie mark came to me to thank me... or at least I think it was a thank you. She whispered it so softly I could barely make it out. But that voice.
That voice.
That sweet, little voice.
It was so calming, so... so...
Unf...

Dammit, why don't they make more of her? And before I could find the answer to that question-

"Eep!"

She was gone. Just like that. I blink. She's there. Again, I blink. Feathers and hair trail her like dust to a tornado.

"Hey wait up! I didn't..."

And I didn't even get her name. Faust dammit all. And as quick as she left me to wonder what her name was, I suddenly remember why I am in THIS cart. She was going to be in this cart because she arrived when the train was about to leave the station. She had managed to make the final boarding call and was assigned to this cart because the conductor told her something happened. I guess something about traffic. Before she started her slow trot to the back, I told the conductor that she could take my seat in the VIP cabin. She insisted that she didn't want me to be uncomfortable. ME. Of all the ponies in Equestria, she said me. I'm pretty sure just from her demeanor she would do that for anypony. But you know what they say: "An act of kindness is rewarded by an even greater kindness." I didn't think that pegasus could even smile as big as she did, and it was a beautiful smile. Not a plastic smile, or a prissy-possy smile, nor a 'I-want-you-to-mount-me-all-night-long-so-later-I-can-collect-the-foal-support-check' smile. It was a genuine smile, one of gratitude. I was slain at that very moment until...

"Hey, slow-poke! Hop to it will ya!?"

Until I heard the slightly-familiar raspy voice of a mare none other than Rainbow Dash. Man that mare is something else. Tomcolt of the year, winner of Equestria's Best Young Fliers Competition, student of the Wonderbolt Training Academy, and the mare who saved my ass on one occasion. I actually thought it was possible for me to get lucky with that mare. We went on a date, had a freakin' blast, showed some moves and then she asked me to fly her to her place. I was originally set on leaving, but then she had to ask me to stay over. I could have sworn, at that very moment that I lost enough blood to become lightheaded until I remembered where it all went to. So being the nice-guy that I am, I couldn't refuse. As soon as the door closed behind me, I was expecting her to rocket-throttle herself at me. And then...

My body wasn't ready.

Instead of knockin' hooves, we're 'pwning n00bz' as she would say.

"OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh! Did you see that!? A self-flashbang-360-drop-shot-no-scope! Oh. My. GOSH! You guiz got! SHIT ON! Watch this shit."

"Well done Soarin." I said to myself. "You've broken yet another academy record." Achievement Unlocked: Blues and Balls.

"Did you say something?" Rainbow asked me.

"Eeaugggh... No. I was just saying how awesome you were. I mean, who else could pull off a self-360-drop-scope-no-flashboom like you did?" I replied... What? You expect me to remember all of that shit with case of blue-balls?

"Nopony, that's who! You're not bad Soarin." Ok. That was almost like Spitfire was talking through Rainbow Dash. That was hot. Creepy... but hot. "It's not like many other ponies appreciate my talents. In fact, you're the first."

Please get closer. Please get closer. Please get closer.

She gets close to me, close enough for our tails to brush up against one another. That's what I wanted. That's right. Just like that. Kissing distance. And now she speaks in a voice so seductive... my excitement begins to precede me.

"So now that we're here..."

Yes?

"How about..."

Yes???

"We..."

Yes Yes YES???

"Get..."

OH FUCKING FAUST YES!!!

"Some breakfast?"

"MY BODY IS RE- wait wha?" I stood frozen in place.

"Yup! Pwn n00bz 1ill 1h3 br3ak 0f dawnz!" (Translation: Beat newbies until the crack of dawn, or 5:42 a.m. to be exact.)

Fuck. My. Life.

So after this little excursion, I decided that I was NOT going to deprive myself of sleep for the certain chance of me playing games with Rainbow Dash until the soy eggs and hay bacon strip comes marching in the morning. And to be honest, I think that she's a le-

"Hey, Lieutenant Soarin! How are you doing?"

Welp, time I'd stop living further in the past and bring myself to the present-past. Now where was I? Oh yeah.

"Lieutenant Soarin?" Rainbow questioned me.

"Oh, well hello. How are you?" I wanted to get this over with quickly.

"Awesome as usual. I see you haven't changed a bit."

It's been two months...

"Well I try to stay in top shape." Keep talking small Soarin. Knowing her, she'll get bored and leave quickly.

"Hey Rainbow!" An unfamiliar voice calls out. "Somepony gave up their seats in the VIP section. TO US!!!"

And then I remembered those seats were reserved for the other Wonderbolts officers. I'm dead.

"Ahh yeah! I'll see ya later Lieutenant! My friends and I got some pretty awesome seats." And Rainbow just breezed into the front of the train faster than you can say season tickets. As I start to make my way to the front, I am redirected by the conductor as he informs me that a certain incident with a certain mail-pony with a flank of solid steel (or from what my mind had concluded) bumped into the window and they would rather not use that cart unless there was an overfill of passengers, and there was a flood of passenger traffic today. So I asked him was there anything else we could do.

"Nothing left to do Soarin. Just expect to see me in my office later." As I turned around, my fears had been realized. Commander Spitfire and the other Wonderbolt members standing behind her. Oh joy. "I will speak with you later, as for your irresponsibility placed us in a compromise of our comfort."

Damn. I don't like being in these situations. If there's one thing that Spitfire is known for, it's that her size has nothing to do with her ability to make even the high ranking officers of the Equestria National Guard (the E.N.G. for short) crack under her hoof. And when I mean crack, I really meant render them BROKEN. And in all honesty, I've never seen a stallion so strong in their duties, cry actual tears begging to be sent to the brig instead of her office for evaluation. But then again, we are more than a stunt-troupe of pegasi. We are specialists, which means there is only two individuals of similar rank to Spitfire: General Ironclad of Coltlahoma City (Earth-Type Commander of the E.N.G.) and Sir... I'm sorry... PRINCE Shining Armor (Unicorn-Type Captain of Princess Celestia's Royal Guard, husband to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Prince of the Crystal Empire and one lucky son-of-a-bitch). That aside, she is efficient at what she does and now I will be the next to know how efficient she can be from first-hoof experience.

So we waded through the crowded station, carried on to the back, and now my wings are freezing in this cart. The yellow pegasus thanked me and now I remember why I, as well as the other members of the Wonderbolts, were back here in this cart with a broken window that a certain pegasus with a plot of steel bumped into.

And right now I could care less, with me seeing Her smile. Especially for what she did for me a while back. Oh Faust, please...

...give me her name...

========================================================================

Fluttershy's Point of View

"Hey, Fluttershy! Ah reckon ya met sumpony with a heart of gold tah get us in this here cart. If ya meet up with them again, can ya tell 'em we're mighty grateful for their generosity?" Applejack yelled.

Oh my. I guess I should thank him. Nopony else would have done what he did, especially giving us such expensive seats. Everything is so wonderful, but the blue curtains going against the gold is really outdated as well as somewhat boring. The seats are missing some of the cross-threading, the red on the seats compliments the gold very well but it is out of place when it's combined with all the blue curtains and drapery, did I mention how the red and blue clash with each other? And the seats are made of a 3-star cotton which should be improved to maintain a 5-star rating, there's a place where the seat has endured some wear-and-tear, the foam is protruding said seat, the seat that Rainbow Dash was about to sit on has a stain that was there when we entered and the stain looks to be a liquid of some sort that settled in for some time without treatment. And judging from the stain, it was there for at least a week, and it's dry and crusted, which means it could be from... oh dear.

"Equestria to Flutters! Can you read me?!"

Eeep! Rainbow Dash, you startled me.

"Oh yes. I really should go thank him. He is a nice guy." I said to myself.

"Him? A GUY!?" The other five questioned in unison. I guess I forgot I was in a room with everypony. Fluttershy, you loudmouth.

"Oooh! What is he like?" Pinkie ask while bouncing up and down.

"Does he have a name?" Twilight asked while smiling.

"What does he do for a living to afford such accommodations darling?" Rarity asked with a collected tone.

"Is he a smooth-talker?" Applejack questioned with concern.

"Earth pony, pegasus, or unicorn?" Rainbow Dash asked. And everypony gave a displeased look at Rainbow Dash. "What? We all know what's up with stallions nowadays. Unicorns are rich, pegasi are athletic, and earth-ponies are packin'!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed with suprise. "Meaning that one being a unicorn, does not accentuate the fact that one is comfortably well off."

"And meaning that you're a pegasus, doesn't always mean that you're in shape." Twilight added in. "In fact, Shining Armor told me that many of the pegasi who do plan to join the Royal Guard end up quitting because they weren't physically strong enough to endure the training. And the ones that do are often the ones that have been more prominent in sports and manual labor that requires a lot of strength."

"Okay I get it." Rainbow Dash admitted in defeat. "It's just with what most mares are saying nowadays are-"

"Stereotypes sugarcube. Mares who say those kinds of things really don't know what it's like ta fall in love with a REAL stallion." Applejack stated proudly.

"Now that aside, c'mon Fluttershy. Tell us what he was like." Twilight inquired.

At this point in time, I was really nervous. I know they're my friends, but still...

"He's a pegasus." I simply stated.

"Awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Name, darling, name." Rarity begged.

"Ooh,OOH!" Pinkie starts to guess. "Wait! Is his name Berry? Harry? Pokey? Or maybe eve-mmmph hmmphmmm!" And just as quickly as it started, Applejack brought a hoof to Pinkie's muzzle.

"What was his name sugarcube?" Applejack still holding a hoof to Pinkie's muzzle.

"I... well... um... didn't ask."

"WHAT?!" All the girls chorale in shock. And in Pinkie's case: "HMMMMMPH?!"

"I'm sorry girls, but I was about to until Dashie called me over an-" And I was cut off...

"RAINBOW DASH!" Somehow Pinkie eluded her captor and began to interrogate Rainbow Dash. "What did you do that for? She was just about to get the guys name and you ruined the moment."

"Well I didn't know!" Rainbow answered.

Well, girls I think I'm going to go apologize to him. Umm... If I may be excused" I stated while slowly walking backwards.

"Go on ahead. Be sure to bring us back a name." Twilight said while gesturing me to hurry onward.

I back out of the VIP cart and begin to make my way into the back. Oh dear. There are so many ponies on this train. I don't even think I'll be able to- NO! I have to do this. I have to show him that I am grateful for his kindness. All I need to do is walk forward.

...

"Excuse me sir." Onward through a sitting high school hoofball team.

"Pardon me miss." Past the group of cheerleaders.

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry." Past an elder pony.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry." Past the last couple in the second cart.

Finally making my way through the second cart, I found relief upon exiting the cart. But that relief was short-lived as I had entered the third cart which seemingly had some ponies who weren't exactly, how do I put it nicely? Umm... not-so... nice?

_____________
5 Minutes Later
_____________

I finally reach the last cart in earnest hopes to thank him for his kindness.

"An act of kindness is rewarded by an ever greater kindness." Those are the words he spoke to me. I wish I knew his name. I see him sometimes when I'm in Cloudsdale. He was the one who would be in charge of the city's security at night. We've only truly met once before. It was the morning after I took care of Tank for Rainbow Dash because she said something about going somewhere with a stallion for the night. So after I dropped of Tank, I walked in and talked to Rainbow Dash about her date (although she would rather call it a hangout). She was in such high spirits afterwards and I don't think I've seen her so happy. I only wished they'd continued after that because she was so upset that he never wrote again. But that's another story. But shortly after my visit and as I was leaving the city, I saw him. And he looked so tired. He even fell asleep on one of the clouds. But a few hours after his nap I flew to him and gave him one of Applejack's famous apple pies.

"These here apple pies will turn a sour day into sumthin sweet, I tell ya what." That's what Applejack would say. And judging from his facial expression, his day became sweeter with each bite he took. He was so happy. "No matter who you are, we all deserve a little kindness." I said to him as I flew away. I didn't get his name, but from then on, seeing that expression on his face made me blush to this very day. I would sometimes visit Cloudsdale unannounced just to see him patrol. Pretty soon, I developed a crush on him and wanted to come up with a way to approach him. But I didn't want to seem like a total chatterbox. Oh my, and I get so, SO nervous every time I thought about speaking to him. I'd even hide when he would walk in my general direction. Oh dear, it's so cold back here. Oh I hope he's okay.

"Dammit. My wings are freezing." I hear the swears to my left. I look over to see who it was. I froze in place.

It was Him.

"Umm... Excuse me sir. If you wouldn't mind me saying... umm... well... thank you! " I said to him smiling. I don't know what causes me to smile every time I think about him but I wouldn't trade it all for the world. Maybe I should talk to him.

But, what if He doesn't like me back? What if he's already with somepony? What if he thinks I'm not good-looking? What if he thinks I'm boring? *gasp* What if I AM boring him? Oh no. He's looking at me. What if I said too much to him? Oh Fluttershy you motor-mouth you drove him away. Just leave before he gets offended. I take a step back and suddenly something touches my backside above my tail.

"Eep!" What do I do!? Run!? FLUTTERSHY RUN!!!

"Hey wait up! I didn't even-"

The door closes behind me. I'm breathing as if I've had to run for my life. But what was I running from? Something touched me and the only thing I remember was... Oh fudge.

I bumped into the desert cart.

____________________
Another 5 Minutes Later
____________________

I walk back into the VIP cart and my friends were eagerly awaiting me.

"So..." Pinkie sang-said.

"So?" I merely questioned.

"What was his name?" Twilight asked with pent-up enthusiasm.

"I... I... still didn't get his name." I said in a defeated tone.

"Augh!" The girls, once again, expressed their disappointment with me.

"But I can tell you what he looks like." Not wanting to leave them in total disappointment, I offered to give them a visual description.

"Well... Details, darling. Details!" Rarity demanded.

"Where do I start?" I ask before moving on. "He's nice, kind hearted, he's also..."

"Well?" Rarity urged me forward.

"...really cute" I finished.

The entire cart was fill with the sounds of excitement. Squees of glee and approval filled the air. So I carried on...

"He is a pegasus, as you all already know. Judging from his physique, he looks to be one who stays in shape."

I then notice that Dashie's face lights up, way more than usual. I continued my description...

"He is really toned, one could even say he is in th-"

"The military" Rainbow Dash concluded.

I stare in total shock as Dashie continues my description for me.

"Toned haunches, muscular but not too muscular, sky blue with a royal blue mane, cutie mark of a sword wrapped in wings on a plot to die for."

My mouth hangs in utter silence. Eventually I once again find the motivation to speak.

"How did you know?" I asked to Rainbow.

"The answer is: Lieutenant Soarin Galeforce. Second in command of the Equestrian Aerial Specialist Division. Second in command to Commander Spitfire, Commander of the Equestrian Aerial Specialist Division, and Captain of the Wonderbolts."

"So he is a-" Before I could finish, Rainbow Dash confirms to me.

"A Wonderbolt."

Silence...

"AHHHH!!!" And the girls get really loud. Especially Rarity. I think everypony in Equestria can hear our excitement. But Rainbow Dash was just unusually... well...

...quiet.

She is just sitting there. I would expect her to be so excited, knowing that a member of the Wonderbolts would even look in my general direction. But she's not exactly excited. She's just sitting there, staring into thin air. She doesn't look happy, nor does she look upset. She looks, oh I wanna say... in shock. Is that it? Surprised? Perplexed? Maybe.

"Rainbow Dash?" I tried to call for her attention but she doesn't respond. So I gently lay my hoof over hers. Needless to say that I managed to break her out of her daze. She blinks, shakes her head and looks at me.

"Wow Fluttershy, I didn't know your big crush was him." Rainbow said in a softened voice. I've never heard her speak like this. Usually her voice is so rough and kinda brash, that it would match her attitude, like how she always wins at her races and say 'I told you already, I'M the fastest in all of Equestria'. But this time, it sounded so feminine. Is this her real voice?

"You might actually have a chance with him. You should totally go for it." This time she tries to show some enthusiasm in her voice, but her body gestures begins to betray her intentions. She stops looking at me and looks to the side, not even towards the sky like she usually would, but to the ground. She kinda rubs her hooves together. And she winces at the slightest touch, the slightest sensation even. Rainbow Dash...

...what's wrong?

========================================================================

Rainbow Dash's Point of View

Ugh. I hate lovey-dovey stuff. It just gets on my nerves. I really don't see why every time a mare gets with a stallion, she begins to act so different to life. I mean, IT'S JUST A STALLION! He has an outtie and mares have an innie. Insert Tab-A into Slot-B and you get Element-C. There is nothing so special about the pony anatomy to even consider a coltfriend, let alone a romantic interest, as something to be so drastically life-changing. It just doesn't make any sense. And if doesn't matter so much, like I told myself it doesn't, then why does it hurt?

Why am I in pain? Why does he not like me as much as Fluttershy? I hung out with him. We had a blast. We played games together. Everything about our time together was so awesome. I wanted to hang out again. Why? Because he was awesome. He has moves that I couldn't even dream of imitating. I even saved his flank back at the Best Young Fliers Competition. And after all of that... I'm not good enough. Maybe it's me? Was I too aggressive? Not aggressive enough? N-no way! I'm Rainbow Dash! I can get any colt licking my hooves in total admiration to my awesomeness. I bet there must be a line of stallions (and mares oddly enough) wanting to have a go at the Dash. They like me. And I'm super famous in Ponyville. I am an element bearer, The Element of Loyalty no less. Stallions are climbing mountains to get a shot at the amazing Rainbow Dash. And I'm more than willing to accept, if they were all like him.

"Soarin..." I whispered to myself. "Am I really that unattractive?"

I began to think back to the Wonderbolt Training Academy. I used to see Soarin a lot then. In fact, he was one of our drill instructors. When we were in our lines he would stare me up and down to make sure I was at attention. Of course there were others. Snowflake, Cloud Flitter, Jet Stream, Wildflower, Midnight Shadow, Thunderlane, Lightning Dust and I were in the same squad. And he was our squad commander. One time I even remember looking at him as he passed by. And of course, I got chewed out for it. He was screaming and yelling about how miserable of an excuse I was and how much my mom would be better-suited for Wonderbolt material. Needless to say, after that last comment about my mom, I stared him in the eyes with an intention to knock him off the runway.

"Are... are you eye-balling me Private?! You should be looking ahead. Eyes forward!!!"

I didn't look away. Instead, I looked further into them, into his soul. And the squad paid dearly for it.

"Since Private Dash seems to be a little confused as to what a proper 'attention' stance is, why don't you all give her a quick lesson. HALF-RUIIIIGHT FACE!"

By this point, everypony was complaining and whining to me and calling me an idiot.

"FRONT-LEANING REST POSITION! MOVE!!!"

A proper front-leaning rest position for pegasi requires our wings to remain perpendicular to the ground below. Our fore-hooves are not to touch the ground in our wings place. If you disobey, you would receive 'The Box' as punishment. 'The Box' is a punishment in which you gallop in place, drop to a proper front-leaning rest position (a push-up position if you will) and you will hit the ground until they tell you otherwise. Many times you will be ordered to do this in an environment of hostile weather conditions (simulated of course). Sometimes they have you do it as everypony else runs (or flies) by you. I'd know from personal experience, of course.

"PRIVATE DASH! What in Celestia's blue and white sky are you doing? Is that a proper front-leaning rest position? NO? THEN GET INTO ONE BEFORE I MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR MOM DID AS SHE WAS GIVING BIRTH TO THE SORRY PIECE-OF-HEIFER-BRED FERTILIZER YOU ARE!!!"

While holding my fore-hooves out to the ground in front of me. I did the best thing I could have ever done.

I did nothing.

____________________
About 7 Hours Later
____________________

"Think you're hot shit, huh?"

At this moment, I am in the middle of the camp. Drills are over and everypony else has retired to the barracks for the day. The sun has set hours ago. And right now, I am in the most unbearable pain. My hooves ache from all the galloping in place. My wings ache from all the push-ups I did. My wing-tips have blisters on them from having to drop from galloping to front-leaning rest. My chest is about to explode. I haven't had the luxury of going to the mess hall. Latrines are out of the question right now. I was what Applejack could describe as 'plum-tuckered out'.

"I bet your ass won't try that shit again."

He was right. Like Tartarus I was gonna do this all over again.

"I'm tired. Get the fuck up Private! NOW!!! Before I have a change in heart!"

I hurry up to get at attention. I can't believe it. I don't believe it. How am I even alive right now? Why am I not dead yet? How do I move without being in pain? How am I able to support my own weight right now? These few questions were of many that runs through my pulsing brain. And I suddenly realize...

He broke me...

"DAMMIT PRIVATE DASH! HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT SOMEPONY WHO IS IN AUTHORITY OVER YOU!"

I, Rainbow Dash...

"DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS!?"

...the most awesome pony...

"DO I HAVE TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF YOU!?"

...in all of Equestria...

"I DON'T THINK YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH YET, PERSONALLY!"

...broken down...

"MAYBE WE NEED TO START ALL OVER COME TOMORROW MORNING!"

...into virtually...

"WOULDN'T YOU SAY SO PRIVATE DASH!?"

...nothing.

"..." I froze in place.

"DID YOU!" He yells. "FUCKIN' HEAR ME!?" Now taking a larger breath. "PRIIIIVATE?!?!!" Saliva flying from his mouth landed on my right cheek, below my eye and even on my muzzle.

"y-yes s-s-sir." I could barely even speak.

"I didn't hear you."

I breathe in, causing my chest to expand in pain. "Sir, yes sir."

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE CRICKETS PRIVATE!"

I take in a lung-full of air. "SIR, YES SIR!!!"

Now he walks towards me. He looks into my eyes, directly into my soul, my very esscence. I feel his breath as it rushes by my cheeks, past my muzzle, down my neck. Oh... Faust.

"Don't you dare..." He breathes again. It's so warm.

"eyeball me..." He breathes even harder. Even hotter.

"again..." He softens his draw. His muzzle misses mine by inches. His breathing has gotten soft but the temperature of his breath reaches a climax that rivals the sun. Slowly, it runs down my neck as if it was the very sweat that beads down my navel. Why am I so hot?

"...private." This time he whispers it into my ear. I can feel his presence even as he withdraws his very flesh. He begins to walks away briskly at first, but then stops suddenly and performs an about-face.

"Private, you are dismissed."

I was so relieved to hear those words, but at the same time, upset. I don't know why but he dominated me in every way, and I liked it. It was more apparent when I looked behind me and noticed that my tail was slightly lifted. My wings were in pain but yet they pulsed with a new life, a life of eager anticipation. It was like I wanted him to not just dominate me, I wanted him to violate me. Then and there. On the asphalt of the runway. To take me to the lowest depths of primal submission and shut me down completely. I didn't even wanna know there was light in those depths. I just wanted him to drown me. To tell me how I am nothing to him. To destroy my ego until it was beyond my repair. I wanted him to show me that I am a common mare. I want to beg. I want to sit. I... I-I... I wanted to be owned. Not even as a pet, but as mere property.

I damn near lost it at the thought of Soarin taking me. And to this very day, I still do.

Soarin...

My mind wanders back to the present.

"Rainbow Dash?" Asks Fluttershy who then touches my hoof. I loose all my lustful thoughts in the blink of an eye. Shaking my head in hopes that those thoughts are locked away, now that I know they will never become a beautiful reality.

"Wow Fluttershy, I didn't know your big crush was him. You might actually have a chance with him. You should totally go for it." I urged Fluttershy onward, knowing I could possibly lose him in the process. But I won't stop Fluttershy from being happy. I didn't like losing. It makes me feel not-as-awesome. What Soarin does to me is different. With him is a sense of being owned like a prized possession. Without, it's more of an unwanted antique at the flea market. He was the first to truly appreciate me for who I was, and the first to be able to break me down to make me realize that I am a mare with needs.

As I think about these things, I hear a high pitch screeching and a whistle in the distance.

"We have arrived in Canterlot ladies. Princess Celestia must be waiting for us." Twilight states.

I look up to see the ivory-and-gold trimmed towers that litter the streets of Canterlot outside my window.

"Yeah, you girls go on ahead. I gotta use the little fillies room." I hastily replied.

"Of course dear." Rarity responds while fastening her hat on her head.

Now that all the girls have left, there's nopony to judge me, right? I look to my left to see if anypony was around. My right, nothing. Behind me, nopony there either. Phew. A sense of relief overtakes me as I finally move from my seat. I can only pray that the worst didn't happen. I close my eyes and question myself repeatedly.

"Did I do it? Did I do it? Did I do it?"

I open my eyes and much to my disappointment... It happened. Again. I soaked the seat. And it's no better the fact that I sat on my tail this time to try and prevent it. Now I REALLY have to use the fillies room to freshen up. You know, sanitize and deodorize my tail, which is carrying a little more than just the daily air and the usual sweat. Dammit...

____________________
15 Minutes Later
____________________

After I cleaned up the mess I made (or at least tried to), I caught up with the girls at the castle. The corridor floor was covered in a marble so shiny, you'd thought you would be walking on glass. I even took the time to look into it and check myself out.

"Who's awesome? You're awesome. Nopony could ever take your place, not eve-"

"RAINBOW DASH!"

The others yell out to me. I guess I got a little too invested in myself for a second there. I should get back on track. Now the floor doesn't exactly transitions into red carpet, instead it just says 'welcome to the noble life' as soon as you turn into the main hall. The carpet that covered the white marble was always clean, spotless, flawless even. So many ponies walk down these halls on a daily basis and yet there is no sign of usage except the hoofprints left behind me and the girls. Whoever does the cleaning around here must really be obsessively compulsive. I know OCD when I see it. Twilight kinda taught me what the disease is, what the symptoms look like and the side effects of the disease. She even told me that she once had it real bad (another reason why the princess sent her to Ponyville in the first place). She even went as far as to tell me the method she uses to keep it suppressed while she's out in public. But's still, even Twilight can't clean a floor to this degree.

We finally reached the end of the main hall leading into the throne room. The doors themselves were as tall as the hall itself. The doors are covered in a white marble-like surface, gold fixtures adorned with rubies and a handle affixed in such a way that only the guards and the princesses can use it (a door that only unicorns and alicorns can use, go figure). The twin guards (unicorns of course) light their horns (their auras are even the the same color as each other) and suddenly the fixtures begin to glow the same color as the auras. The door begins to open slowly, letting in a scent of honeydew and a white light begins to flood the area. I squint my eyes slightly to adjust until the light dies down and we see on the right side of the throne an ivory-colored unicorn with a black mane and glasses holding a lot of scrolls. And to her left, Princess Celestia herself.

"My little ponies." Why does Princess Celestia always have to call us that? "We've been expecting you for quite some time."

"Princess. We came as fast as we could. Is there something wrong?" Twilight asks.

The way she ask makes it seem as if there was another dragon taking a thousand-year nap just down the road from here. And given our track record (the Mare in the Moon incident, the napping dragon, Discord's reemergence, the Battle of Canterlot, the issues with King Sombre, and the taming of Discord), I can sympathize why Twilight seems so concerned.

"My assistant, Quill Ink, has informed me that you, Twilight, would be the head of upcoming event that is to soon befall on Ponyville. I am simply here to give to you a list of instructions that Mayor Mare has sent to me so that I may give it directly to you." Celestia states while telekinetically lifting the scroll with the mayor's sigil.

"Well that's weird. Why wouldn't she send it to me directly through the mail?" Twilight asks with a puzzled look.

...
...
Seriously???

Twilight, I know you're smarter than this. I mean it's so obvi-

"Because the local mail mare had a run-in with a train and apparently she is being treated for cuts and bruises." Celestia confirmed.

"Oh... But why not send it through Spike?" Twilight questions. I gotta admit, that was a question that rolled right off my tongue.

"Because the last urgent message was never seen, or so I've been told. I don't know how it got lost between you and Spike, but I was ensuring that you knew of a threat being called against Canterlot." Celestia quipped.

Oh yeah, I remember. We were in the Southern Badlands and group of dragons threw away a letter bearing Princess Celestia's sigil. It landed in lava shortly after one of the dragons said, and I quote: "Hey, check it out! Spike's friends with a namby-pamby-pony princess!" Oh boy did I wanna wring his scaly, red neck blue for that. But still, it wasn't really Spike's fault that happened.

"Oh." Twilight said in defeat, knowing as much as I do what happened.

"And not only that, I tend to give official documents first-hoof. It is to insure that the recipient did receive their paperwork." Celestia added.

"So what's the big event that you were talking about princess?" I asked of curiosity.

"Well, my dear, Mayor Mare has placed Twilight in charge of this year's Winter Wrap-Up." Responds the princess.

Oh crap. I forgot.

"Where do we begin, your highness?" The six of us asked.

"Well..."

Author's Note

This is more of a introductory chapter to give you a basis on the three characters involved. Their stories are all interwoven into each other to give each of the girls a legitimate reason to develop feelings for Soarin. As you may know, the end is inevitable, but what all happens to get to that end? Stay tuned for part 2...

P.S. Rainbow's time at the academy was meant to be an erotic teaser. And this is literally my first time writing something erotic. Opinions? What do I need to work on? Comments are appreciated.

P.P.S. Hooray for transition music.