//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Double Date // Story: Happiness and Tears // by flaminkomage //------------------------------// Happiness and Tears RDcrystalheart Chapter 14: Double Date "You know... usually when you invite somepony on a date, it's two ponies alone," Rainbow Dash remarked as she entered a lunch eatery with Scootaloo. Soarin and Speedy were in front of them instantly with big grins. Scootaloo's eyes widened. "Wait what?" she stuttered. "I thought we were going to buy me a new scooter! Hate to break it to ya' Sis, but this doesn't really look like a mechanical store." Dash shrugged. "We can do that another time," she said, before turning back to Soarin. "Now Mister, answer my question." Soarin chuckled, before pressing on his signature smirk. "You know, Princess," he started. Dash rolled her eyes at the nickname, but let him continue. "I never did say this was going to be a date." Rainbow Dash's eyes widened considerably. "W-W-Whaaat?" she said, her voice suddenly going a whole octave higher. "D-Didn't you?" Speedy suddenly spoke up. "He didn't, Rainbow Dash." Soarin grinned. "Though, we can always change that... if that's what your heart desires," he said smoothly. Dash gritted her teeth in annoyance. "I hate you," she said with a glare. Soarin rolled his tongue before replying. "Love ya' too!" he said quickly before grabbing Speedy and rushing to the nearest empty table. Dash sighed, turning to her little sister who was looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. "Looks like we're doubling," Scootaloo said. Dash grumbled something under her breath, before following Soarin and Speedy to the table they had picked out. Scootaloo slid into the seat next to Speedy, and Dash did the same with Soarin. "What'll you be having, Dashbug?" Soarin asked sweetly, laying his head on her shoulder. Dash snorted loudly, causing a few ponies from other tables to look over, but quickly covered it up with a cough- sliding Soarin away from her. "Nothing you'd have," she replied snootily. Speedy almost choked on his water, giving the filly sitting besides him a mortified look. Scootaloo looked confused. "Oh rrreally, Princess?" Soarin continued. "Because I happen to think of myself as quite the mmaster," he rolled his tongue for emphasis, as Scootaloo quickly covered her ears. She glanced over to Speedy who nodded in agreement. "Next time they say anything remotely close to... that," he whispered, "we're out." Scootaloo nodded. "Agreed. I happen to know a few great eateries downtown," she said. Speedy smirked. "Ooh, intriguing," he said smoothly, looking back over to his older brother and flustered partner. He knew he had it bad for this girl, but he didn't expect it to go this far. He shook off the disturbing thought out of his mind, and shrugged. "Anyway, that aside," Dash piped up, her ears still a faint shade of pink, "we should definitely order. I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry." Soarin nodded in agreement, slipping his hoof over the seat behind her. Dash raised her eyebrow at him, sighed, and looked over to the younger lot of the group. "Well, kids?" "Kids? We're fifteen!" Speedy and Scootaloo exclaimed at the same time, before looking at each other and giggling. Dash looked amused, but decided not to pressure it. "Uh... okay. Well, not-kids?" she tried, causing Soarin to bite his lip to prevent him from smiling. "What do you want?" Speedy and Scootaloo both shrugged nonchalantly. "I... guess I'll have the hayfries," Scootaloo said, placing her menu down. Speedy nodded in agreement, looking to his own menu, and back to his brother. "Make that two," he said. Soarin nodded. "Three," he said. Dash shrugged. "Wow, originality. How pleasant," she said, before sighing in defeat. "Fine. Four." Soarin glanced at her. "Or you could always share with me, Dashidoo," he said in a sickeningly sweet voice. Dash gave him a confused look. "How many nicknames do you even have for me?" she asked him with a small pout. Soarin grinned. "More than I can count, Rainy," he said, picking up four trays of hayfries from the counter nearby. Scootaloo and Speedy looked between them, finally settling on something together. "We're out," they said, picking up their meals and walking towards the door. Dash and Soarin barely noticed them pass by; too caught up with other things to worry. "Those two are disgusting," Scootaloo finally settled on saying to the colt across from her. The two had roamed Cloudsdale for a bit, finally settling on a small local restaurant to eat in. "They are... but let's face it, they'd make a pretty cute couple," Speedy said. Scootaloo shrugged. "Heh... they are kinda awesome together..." he said. Speedy nodded. "Mhm, though I doubt Dad agrees," he said. Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Yeah... I think he's got some crazy plan to set Soarin up with Spitfire or something," Speedy explained. Scootaloo's eyes widened. "No way!" she exclaimed. Speedy nodded again. "It's true," he said. "How do you know?" Scootaloo suddenly asked. Speedy gulped, looking away with a small tint of red in his cheeks. Scootaloo reclined back in her seat in full understanding. "Mm... you eavesdropped, didn't you," she said, more of a statement rather than a question. Speedy gulped, but nodded. "It's not my fault! He and my mother were talking, and they weren't exactly very quiet about it," he said. Scootaloo sighed, looking off. Speedy frowned. "What's the matter?" "I'd hate to see Dash heartbroken because she can't be with him..." she said softly. Speedy bit his lip, and nodded sadly. "I understand. Soarin would probably be the same." "Yeah..." "You're too much, My Lady," Soarin said with a small smirk as the two ate their lunch. Dash chewed slowly, before throwing him a sly smile. "Oh? How so?" she asked in mock confusion. Dash broke into a grin, and met Soarin's gaze with one of her own quirky winks. "I know the truth... about us," Soarin suddenly said. Dash raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten me," she said as Soarin draped a hoof around her back. She leaned into his touch, sighing in contentment. Soarin shot her a smile. "I know... I know how we feel for one another," he started. Dash jolted awake from her trance to give him a questioning look. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice getting higher and higher. "I know... that you know... that I'm in love with you." He said it so simply, Dash had to make sure she heard correctly. "Come again?" "I love you, Rainbow Dash." Something inside the cyan mare broke. She was so incredibly happy with his confession, yet she was also confused. How could somepony of such high descent, somepony so important... famous... ever fall for an ordinary mare such as herself? Soarin didn't let her react, and continued on his thought. "And... I know you love me too." Rainbow Dash's breath hitched, as she quickly turned to face him. She didn't think about what she was doing, and she definitely didn't consider the consequences. Dash grabbed Soarin's chin with her hoof and pulled him in. When their lips met, it was as if a million sparks exploded all at once in the air. Soarin's voice got muffled- not that he was complaining. He pulled her in closer, resting his hooves above her waistline. She explored a little herself, her hooves reaching to comb through his hair. They broke off a few seconds later, their foreheads lingering on one another. "I do, Soarin," Dash suddenly said. "I do know... that you know... that I love you."