//------------------------------// // Chapter 9- Why? // Story: Of The Past That Haunts Us // by Dusk_Writer //------------------------------// "You must tell yourself, 'no matter how hard it is, or how it gets, I'm going to make it.'." —Les Brown The town was quiet in this part of Ponyville. No wonder Twilight loved this area, Spitfire thought as she landed right outside the princess’s large castle. The whole reason Spitfire flew all the way from Rainbow’s house to the castle was not only to open the lock of the door with magic, but since Twilight was the princess of friendship and was an expert, she could most definitely help persuade her stubborn friend. But in favour of the former, she was pretty sure Dash wasn't going to appreciate a broken cloud door when she came back. If she came back. Spitfire quickly shook her head and mentally slapped herself. Of course she would be back! She just had to, Fleetfoot would make sure of it! Taking a deep breath, she landed outside the castle doors and knocked, stepping back, waiting. She immediately heard hoofsteps behind the door and it opened with the bright pink aura. “Yes?” Twilight peeked her head out the door. When she saw her visitor, she smiled sweetly. “Oh, Spitfire! I wasn't expecting to see you here! Do you need anything? Do you want to discuss plans going further for the show?” “Not right now. I'm afraid I don't bear the best news. I need you to come with me.” She unfurled her wings and took off, waiting for the princess to follow. A few seconds later, the alicorn came up steadily beside her and they took off in the direction of the cloud home. “So, what's happened?” Twilight asked, trying to keep up her pace and speed with the wonderbolt. Spitfire sighed and explained everything that had transpired between Soarin and Dash. Twilight listened intently and furrowed her brow as she continued her description of the encounter. “This doesn't make sense!” She said after a moment. “My best theory would be that they knew each other before but…why here? Why now?” Spitfire immediately shook her head “That's impossible,” she scoffed. “I've known Soarin for years and he'd surely mention a friend to us! We know everything about him!” “We’ll just have to see, won't we? We’re here.” Twilight shrugged and landed on the cloud porch of the mansion. She stepped forward and opened the door, Spitfire following close behind. Walking up the black staircase, they cautiously proceeded to the second room to the left. They pressed their ears to the door. No sound. Twilight lit up her horn with an ethereal magenta glow and after a moment, they heard the ‘click’ of the door opening. “Come on,” She whispered and they entered. As they walked in, their eyes were immediately drawn by the light blue pegasus sitting on the long window seat, quietly looking outside. “Soarin?” Spitfire looked at him in concern as she walk forward and put a hoof on his shoulder. He turned around and looked at her. “What?” He hissed and she blinked in surprise. “Um…” she glad back at Twilight who nodded in encouragement. “Are you ok?” “Fine and dandy.” Twilight walked next to Spitfire, hoping to add encouragement of her own. “Soarin…listen, we don't know what happened with you and Dash out there but—” she was quickly cut off by Soarin as he looked at her instead and glared. “Dash? What's a ‘Dash’? I don't know a ‘Dash’! Just like I apparently didn't know one until The Best Young Fliers contest!” He huffed and banged his head against the window. “I'm not following. What happened out there?” Spitfire asked softly, which was a rare tone of voice to be heard from the usually ferocious captain. “I…” Soarin sighed. “I screwed up. I screwed up big time.” “Care to elaborate?” He remained silent. “Soarin…” Twilight warned. “We're not going to go anywhere like this.” “Fine…well, Dash and I?…we go way back.” He began. “We knew each other even before I joined the Wonderbolts. She was the one that motivated me to even tryout. And…how do I repay her? I make her a promise I couldn't keep and forget her after I've made it. She made me remember earlier…made me think about a lot of things about before.” He chuckled darkly. “What a friend I am!” “Wow…” Spitfire gaped. “Twilight suggested something like that but I didn't want to believe it…you and…her…” “I agree.” Twilight spoke up. “From what I've seen so far of you, you don't seem like somepony who would take advantage of anyone…what really happened?” “I…” Soarin struggled, “I don't know…” he admitted. “I wanted to see her again but everything…everything beca—” he was cut off of by Twilight. “You know what? We're not the ones that need to hear it…you need to go to Dash, explain everything.” Her eyes softened. “She wouldn't want to see me after this…” his ears flopped down. “Listen to me, Soarin.” Spitfire looked him straight in the eye. “Fleetfoot is out there right now with Rarity to try and reason with Dash. If they fail, you need to go out there and make her see you, or I swear to Celestia…I will make your life a living Tartarus. Got that?!” She growled. “Difficult, how?” Soarin scoffed. “Speed drill, number fifty.” Spitfire smirked as he flinched and gulped. “Yes ma’am!” “But seriously Soarin, I know Dash, and while she may act angry, she's probably as hurt as you right now—most likely more! Her concept of loyalty is strong. Very strong. You need to prove that you're worthy of that loyalty.” Twilight finished, nodding firmly. “Thank you. I'll keep it in mind.” He flashed a crooked smile and looked outside, his eyes full of determination. “I need to find her.” “Good luck.” Spitfire gave him a nod of approval. Soarin gave them a final glance and opened the window, rocketing off at full speed out towards the sky. After a moment, Twilight spoke up. “Come on!” And flew out of the window after him. “We’re following him?” Spitfire asked. “Knowing those two? Definitely!” She nodded. The fiery-maned pegasus smirked. “We're gonna get along well.”