//------------------------------// // Rainbow and Soarin' // Story: Beauty Lies Within // by MiraculousDragonMaster //------------------------------// Beauty Lies Within Chapter 2 Rainbow and Soarin' Meanwhile, somewhere above in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash, best flier in Equestria, was lounging about on a cloud, enjoying some peace and quiet. The golden sunlight was enhancing all of her features. Her rainbow hair was tied into a low ponytail to her ankles and shining all its spectrum colors, and her cyan blue skin and wings are glowing as well. Once in a while, she would open her magenta eyes to see figures in the clouds. She was wearing her usual white T-shirt with her signature tri-colored bolt under her blue jacket, her pink and white gym skirt, black leggings, and her favorite blue sneaker boots. Rainbow sat up from her spot on her cloud. It was a miracle that the Wonderbolts gave her the weekend off so that she could have time to spend with her friends. "That was pretty cool of them to be chill with that." She said aloud. Recently, all the Wonderbolts had been practicing non-stop for their annual performance for the Grand Galloping Gala next month. Dash just hoped that this year, nothing drastic will happen like it did the past few times. Rainbow looked down at Ponyville. Even she knew she was awesome, never in her life did she think that she would actually be a hero of Equestria, along with her best friends of course, and be a member of her favorite flying team as well. But, Dash knew that as much as she loved flying with her heroes, she loves being a hero with her BFFs even more. She proved that to her captains, Spitfire and Fleetfoot, back at Rainbow Falls a couple of years back. Out of that loyalty swelling up in her being, she swooped up and started busting some clouds. While she was flying, that she started singing. Rainbow Dash: When life gives you lemons, You can make lemonade. But, life gave me freedom, And my choice has long been made. No danger will come to Ponyville. I'll be strong, but not on my own. I'm glad I have friends by my side So I will not be alone. And I'll fly, And I'll fly until the end of the sky, So we'll be the ones who doesn't Have anything to deny. I'll fly the skies forever, Freedom beating in my heart. We will keep everyone safe, And no evil will ever start. While she was singing and cloud busting, a young man Rainbow's age was flying around when he heard his co-Wonderbolt. He had wild navy hair, light blue skin with matching wings on his back, and green eyes. He wore his street clothes instead of his usual Wonderbolt uniform: a white T-shirt with a lightning bolt piercing through a storm cloud under a blue sports jacket, jeans, and black shoes. Soarin' watched Rainbow Dash as she zipped through the sky breaking the fluffy clouds, still singing but not slowing down or losing focus. He settled on a nearby cloud and continued watching her. All my fellow pegasi Who make the seasons in the sky, You might think I'm impossible, But you see, I have to try. No danger will come here now. We'll keep the harmony somehow. I'm sorry, buddies, this has to be, For I need my friends and they need me. I know it's strange, but what does it matter? 'Cause nothing's gonna stop me now. We'll change it all, despite any weather. And nobody's gonna bring us down. We'll keep the sunlight shining free, And I'll bust the clouds apart, So they can stay with me. Soarin' was almost star-struck. He couldn't help but admire the confident girl who he knew could kick his butt if he got on her bad side, even though he was a member of her dream team. Even he didn't expect this from Dash, he thought it was the most beautiful thing he ever heard. She was just awesome. And I'll fly, And I'll fly until the end of the sky, So we'll be the ones who doesn't Have anything to deny. I'll fly the skies forever, Freedom beating in my heart. We will keep everyone safe, And no evil will ever start! As she finished, she spun around, her ponytail twirling around her ankles and the sunlight shining on her, making her seem angelic in his eyes. Soarin' was so dazed at the sight that he didn't notice Rainbow zooming towards his cloud and she kicked it hard, making it disappear in a puff of white tufts. "Whoa!" Soarin' immediately stopped his would-be fall by flapping his wings. Dash's eyes widened. "Soarin'!" She flew down to him and nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry about that." Though she'd never admit it aloud to almost anyone, Soarin' was her favorite Wonderbolt on the team, and her best friend during training exercises. "No sweat." Soarin' reassured her. "Too much focus can do that to anyone." Rainbow grinned. "So, what are you doing here in Ponyville?" She asked. "I thought you'd be with the rest of the team back in Cloudsdale." Soarin' was now rubbing the back of his head. "Well, I just wanted to see if I can hang out with you before you leave for Manehattan." Dash could feel her face growing warm. But before color could show in her cheeks, she smiled at him. "Sure thing. There's still have some clouds I feel like busting. First one to finish wins." Soarin' smirked at her challenge. "You're on!" Then, the two zipped and zoomed through the sky, busting and kicking clouds apart. Sometimes, Soarin' would fly towards a cloud and would be ready to kick it, but Rainbow would beat him to it. And other times, it was vice versa. After a few minutes of competitive cloud busting, Rainbow broke apart one last cloud. "And Rainbow Dash wins the challenge!" She cheered. Soarin' rolled his eyes, then smirked. "Not yet!" He called. With a quick zip, he tackled Dash towards a huge cloud that was too big for them to bust apart. The two laughed as they tumbled through the fluffy white tufts as if it was grass. Soon, they had stopped and laid side by side, their laughter dying. Then, magenta eyes met green. They easily become lost in the other's colorful orbs, and their hands slowly made contact. "Rainbow Dash!" A voice called out, ending the moment. Dash sat up and looked over the cloud. Twilight was flying just beneath it, her majestic wings flapping. "Hi, Twilight!" Rainbow waved to her with a grin. "Hey!" She waved back. "Hi there, Soarin'." "Hey, Princess Twilight." Soarin' greeted back. Twilight turned back at Dash. "Are you ready to go, Rainbow?" She asked. "Yep. I'm all packed. Just need to get it." Soarin' flew up and off the cloud. "See you when you get back." He said to Dash. She smirked at him. "Count on it." With a returning smirk, Soarin' zoomed off back to Cloudsdale. Dash smiled fondly at the direction he went, then flew over to Twilight. "So, remind me again of the plan?" She asked. "Spike went to go get Applejack, and Fluttershy will meet us at Sugarcube Corner where we'll pick up Pinkie Pie. Then, we'll meet Rarity at the train station." Twilight said. "Let's get going, then." Rainbow said as the two flew to her cloud home to get her belongings.