Vapor Trail was at a loss for words as her best friend stood without notifying anypony of his presence. Soarin was her saving grace when he stepped toward Sky Stinger and said, “This… isn’t what it looks like.”
Sky Stinger couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “I’m sure it isn’t.” The invisible barrier Sky Stinger was standing behind went away and the stallion stepped forward. “If you think I am upset that you asked my friend to be your special somepony, you are far from wrong.” Sky Stinger stared at Vapor Trail to give her one of his charming smiles. “Besides, she has been daydreaming about you for the longest time.”
Both Vapor Trail and Soarin were stuck in a quicksand that was quickly swallowing them whole. Vapor Trail did what she could to get herself to speak, managing a few words to roll off her tongue. “This may come as a shock…” Her cheeks flushed as she knew for sure the truth about her love for Sky Stinger was drawing near. “...this is all a big misunderstanding. Soarin isn’t the pony I have in mind for Hearts and Hooves.”
Her friend’s brow twitched with confusion. “But I thought you said that Soarin was the pony you were daydreaming about. I mean, you pointed to him this morning.” For some reason, Vapor Trail felt tears start to push the at the back of her eyes. She didn’t feel sad. So why? Vapor Trail looked around to try and divert her attention to anything other than Sky Stinger. On her bed, she saw Sunbeam spectating the scene. He saw his owner but didn’t move from the mattress.
“Do you two…” Soarin inputted softly, “...need me to leave?”
Sky Stinger shot his hoof in front of Soarin’s potential path. “Not until I understand everything.” The stallion rubbed his chin, “This morning, Vapor Trail said she liked you or rather pointed at you specifically.” Sky Stinger scanned over Vapor Trail’s vulnerable stature. “Throughout the day, you didn’t deny that Soarin was the pony you liked. And just moments ago, Soarin just said your name along with the words, ‘I really like you.’ But now you are denying his words, even though you exclaimed ‘yes.’” Sky Stinger couldn’t hold his eyes on either Soarin or Vapor Trail for very long. “What’s going on? Somepony please tell me what I am missing.”
The atmosphere increased its weight and pressed hard on Vapor Trail. And her body couldn’t hold back or resist any longer. Tears began to roll down Vapor Trail’s flushed cheeks; they twinkled like diamonds on the surface of red sand. The first to react to the liquid gems was Sky Stinger. He magnetized himself against the crying mare. In her peripheral, Vapor Trail saw her friend stare down with intense worry and confusion. The second to react, though it was more of a tie, was Soarin and Sunbeam. With quick speed, the angel fish brushed himself under Vapor Trail’s throat before settling on her neck like a scarf. Soarin stood on the sidelines, not sure what to do. All he did was look concerned and stayed mute.
“I’m sorry I lied about Soarin,” Vapor Trail said as she buried her face into Sky Stinger’s muscular chest.
“There is nothing to be sorry about, Vapor. I don’t understand why you are crying.” As she continued to weep, she listened to Sky Stinger and Soarin talk. “So... what were you two doing if you both weren’t trying to ask each other out?” Sky Stinger asked.
“We… were talking about the ponies we wanted to ask to be our special someponies,” Soarin answered.
“Did she mention that you weren’t the pony she had in mind?”
“She did. And I told her who I was interested in.”
Vapor Trail’s nerves twitched when Sky Stinger started to stroke her back. “Let me guess… You like… Fleetfoot!”
“Heh, not quite. But Vapor did tell me who she was truly in love with.” Vapor Trail spun her head at Soarin, giving him a stare that dared him to speak any further.
“But… when I walked into the bunker, you were telling Vapor Trail how much you really like her,” Sky Stinger said.
The ability to speak finally returned to the white mare. She tapped her friend on the shoulder and stole his attention. “We were practicing Soarin’s confession on asking Spitfire out.” Realizing what she had just said, Vapor Trail looked at Soarin who was very upset at her casual truth unveiling.
“V-V-Vapor Trail!” Soarin shouted.
As for Sky Stinger, his composure was easily misaligned. “Holy hay! No way!” Why Sky Stinger was laughing so hysterically Vapor Trail didn’t know. But she felt ashamed for letting out the fact about Soarin’s deep liking to Spitfire so easily. “You want to date that ball of fury?!”
“Can you keep it down?” Soarin hissed. His cheeks flared to a color of pink that Vapor Trail worried if it would burn if she touched Soarin’s face. The Wonderbolt simmered his temper and gave a more shy expression. “I want to tell Spitfire myself and not let word spread to her.”
As Vapor Trail leaned her head on Sky Stinger, she heard a low hum in his breast. “Well, that explains one mystery. “Though it is a shame that you weren’t the pony Vapor Trail had in mind.”
The mare looked up to Sky Stinger. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I know Soarin is a one stallion I trust,” Sky Stinger said. “He is very respectful toward other mares. Unlike me, who likes to flirt but fails at it.” He then shrugged, “But what can I say? Mares don’t know what they are missing while I stay single.”
Vapor Trail squirmed around, her emotions wanting what she was missing with Sky Stinger. However, she was curious about what he said earlier. “What did you mean by one mystery being solved?”
“Because everything changed now that Soarin was not the pony you were pointing to this morning,” Sky Stinger said. “Who were you pointing to? I didn’t see any other stallions standing behind me.” Vapor Trail slid her head down and looked at Sunbeam. The two stared at one another in silence. Has the moment finally come? Or will, once again, another interruption bother the moment? She looked at Soarin who was sitting on a bed, waiting to be dismissed. It was all on Vapor Trail. Only she could answer the question.
“I was definitely pointing at somepony,” Vapor Trail said. Just to be sure Sky Stinger didn’t make an unnecessary and extreme guess, she spoke, “And no, it is not Spitfire.”
Both stallions started to laugh at the statement. “That would make things interesting if they were,” Sky Stinger chuckled.
“I don’t even know how Spitfire would react if Vapor Trail had a crush on the captain,” Soarin said.
“Regardless!” Vapor Trail exclaimed, settling the easily amused stallions. She was not in the mood for laughter and was taking the moment with seriousness and caution.
“Hey, Vapor, there’s no need to get mad,” Sky Stinger smiled and extinguished any anger the mare might have had. “So, it wasn’t Soarin you were pointing at. And, of course, Spitfire wasn’t on your list of ponies to like, either. Then who?” Both Vapor Trail and Sky Stinger looked at one another. Vapor Trail wanted to mend her mind with his and know what was going on in that thick head of his.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Vapor Trail whispered. “Has… has nothing I’ve done made any sense to you?”
“Well, clearly I am not sure who you were pointing at.”
The tears returned in full force. “Who else was in front of me? Who else was there for me? Who else… who…” The old frustration of the past began to grasp at Vapor Trail’s heart. Why was the stallion she loved so much acted so stupid? Why wouldn’t he see what was so plain and obvious? As hard as she could, the pegasus squeezed Sky Stinger. Please! Please, hear me, Sky!
“Were… Were you pointing at me?” Sky Stinger asked. Vapor Trail’s ears twitched, not sure if she was daydreaming. “Look at me, Vapor Trail.” It was slow but the mare lifted her head. When her eyes met Sky Stinger’s, the stallion’s cheeks were red and wore a look of wonder. “Am I… the stallion you’ve been daydreaming about?”
Vapor Trail’s lips writhed into a wide smile and the warm tears kept flowing. “Yes.”