Rainbow Dash trotted into the living room, catching Soarin's attention. Soarin turned and froze, mouth agape. Rainbow Dash was dressed in a nice elegant, royal and cyan blue colored dress. The array of beautiful, vibrant colors of Rainbow's mane were pulled up and secured with pearl tipped hair pins. Rainbow Dash stopped and turned to look at him.
"What? does it really look that bad?'' Rainbow asked, wearing a worried expression on her face.
"PppffffftttthHhahahahahah!'' Soarin laughed as he fell over.
Soarin was now clutching his sides and rolling all over the floor. Causing Cloud Chaser to look up as Soarin knocked over his blocks. Soarin's cheeks were puffing out as laughter was released into the air.
"Soarin! I don't know why you think this is funny, but it isn't! Don't you understand how important this is to me?! Tonight will be the first time I've actually really seen my Dad casually in TEN years!'' Rainbow Dash yelled tears brimming her eyes, as unwanted thoughts of her past were forcing their way into her mind as she tried to block them out.
Soarin's eyes bulged as he realized what he had just done.
"No! Dash! I didn't mean that at all! I was just surprised at seeing you so dressed up. It's not something you'd normally do. It just doesn't seem like you. Truthfully you look beautiful, but you are even without all this. Your beautiful because you're you. Honestly, are you sure this is the right approach you should be taking?''
"What are you talking about!? You already just proved how you feel about my Dad! What does that have to say about how you feel about me!?'' Rainbow Dash yelled, stress and frustration piling up.
"No! I-I mean, all I meant was that he's your dad! "
"Well, duh! Gee, Soarin, go figure, I never knew that!'' Rainbow Dash growled sarcastically.
Soarin took a deep breath to calm down and regain his composer. After all, this was for Rainbow Dash. If he too got frustrated and lost his temper it would due little to help Rainbow Dash calm down and think about this from a realistic angle.
"All I meant Dashie, was that he's your dad. Do you really think you should have to dress up and change who you are to impress him? Dash, you know you don't owe him right? If any pony owes anything it's him. If he doesn't want to put in the effort it's his loss. Never change who you are! I know it's hard because he's your father, but at some point you need to put your hoof down here. Dressing up? It's good start, it means your putting in the effort, but is he? "
"W-what do you mean,'' Rainbow Dash asked after a small pause, her voice quivering and cracking as she spoke.
"What I mean is,'' Soarin continued tenderly. ''Is that it's clear you care and are putting forth the effort. However should you continue to go out of your way for him? Don't let him wrap you around his hoof. You are control your life. Remember that you're your own pony. None of this is your fault. Your fathers actions are his own. I just don't want you blaming yourself. It's his loss. Maybe next time you meet up with him somewhere you go to a more casual place. Someplace you enjoy, let him get to know you catch up on the times he missed. Your father has no right to control you life. Just don't forget that no matter what happens, you can't change him. This is your life, sometimes you just have to step away. Sometimes it hurts but sometimes its also the right thing to do.''
"So, you just want me to give up on him?'' Rainbow Dash asked her voice choked up at the end.
"No. Put in the effort to make a relationship, but don't change who you are to please him. Dressing up? It's a good start, it proves you care. However don't let him change you or make you think that anything that happened is your fault. Especially if he doesn't put in the effort. Okay?'' Soarin replied seriously as he took his leave, quietly exiting the room and trotting into the kitchen.
"Okay.... '' Rainbow replied to no pony in particular.
Rainbow Dash wanted to argue, wanted to say that he was wrong, but how could she? She hadn't really seen him without constant supervision. How would he act? Would he play her? Rainbow Dash hated to think that way, but he very well could. Forget the fact that it was a possibility. It doesn't matter. They still don't know what will happen. Rainbow allowed her gaze to drift down to a silent Cloud Chaser. Rainbow felt it, and it was obvious Cloud felt it too. Something was going to happen, but for better or worse Rainbow didn't know. Only time would tell, time and Spectrum Blaze......
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Soarin trotted into the kitchen and leaned casually against the counter deep in thought.
No matter what happens, I just hope that Dash doesn't get hurt.
"Ring, ring, ring, ring- ring, ring, ring, ring. " A loud noise interrupted Soarin's thoughts.
Soarin turned his head and cast a brief glance at the phone before reaching forward to grasp it in his hoof.
"Hello?'' Soarin asked with a sigh pulling the phone up to his ear.
"Hey! Soarin!
"Comet Streak? "
"Well, yeah! Who'd you expect? Guess wh- ''
"Let me guess- new job? "
"Yup! As always your daily news from yours truly,'' Comet said in a playful tone.
Soarin smirked and shook his head, ''alright then, what's your new job? Lay it on me.''
"A brand new, just opened restaurant by the name of Oak Garden! You know that fancy shmancy new place down town that just opened.''
"Oh cool,'' Soarin said rolling his eyes and smiling, ''how long is this career? "
"Eh, I give it 24 hours. Come on, we all know that I'm not good at being fancy.''
"Eh, I give it 15 minutes,'' Soarin replied with a smirk.
"Folks! We have a winner! Anyway yeah you definitely win,'' Comet Streak said with a smirk. "So where's the dinner at? "
"I have no idea. Your sister's the pony who picked it. I'm just worried she went a bit over the top. I just hate how stressed she is. "
"Yup, only so long before the tower topples over. "
"Yup, right you would be.''
"Just keep an eye on her for me, okay? " Comet asked, his tone going from playful to dead serious in an instant.
"You know I will.''
"Thanks Soarin. "
"Comet Streak who are you talking to?'' Soarin heard Comet Blazes voice ask over the phone.
"Hush! It's the president!"
"What?!" "
"It's Soarin. By the way, I can talk to ponies by myself, you know! I don't need you monitoring me twenty-four-seven! I'm old enough to take care of myself! Hey-!" Comet Streaks voice was cut off.
"Hello?''
"Hello Miss Comet Blaze, how have you been?'' Soarin asked curiously.
"Comet, do me a favor and go down stairs and finish the dishes for me please? "
Soarin then heard Comet Streak grunt and stomp off.
"Soarin, I hate to ask you this but.....''
"But what? Blaze, you know if you ever need anything you just have to ask, right? "
"Yes, believe me, I do. Look, I know it's a lot to ask, but are you willing to let Comet Streak come live with you for a bit? I've finally been offered a promotion...... In Las Pegusus.... Soarin, I'm sorry. I really don't have a choice. I've been getting by for a while now, but money has always been tight, and now I have to pay off all of Comet streaks medical bills from.... you know...... the incident. "
Soarin stood there quietly, thinking.
"Yes, I think having his stay with us would be a good idea. It would benefit all of us. I have to go back to the Bolts soon and Rainbow Dash has to go back to school soon... having him around would help lift a lot of stress off of Rainbow Dash. Plus, Comet Streak loves Cloud Chaser. Honestly, that's the only job I trust him with. I know for a FACT that Rainbow Dash won't mind at all. Those two are really close. However if you need any help with money I can-''
"No, no! Its fine think you. Its my problem not yours..... just don't tell him yet, okay? "
"Wait, you haven't told him yet?''Soarin asked eyes growing wide in shock.
"No. Comet has no idea how bad the situation is.....and I plan to keep it that way. I just..... haven't told him yet..... I'll go tell him that he'll be staying with you.... just..... please don't say anything to him......''
"You have my word, '' Soarin sullenly swore.
"Thank you.''
" Your welcome. " With a sigh he put down the phone
"This is gonna be a hard secret to keep from him."Soarin sighed sadly "I hope I can keep it."He whispered to himself.