//------------------------------//
// Coming Weather 
// Story: Uncharted Territory 
// by Cosy Purity 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash was snuggled amongst the covers of her magic cloud-comparted bed, pressing her head against the pillows as she found herself - for the very third time in her life - deep in thought.
She reached out a hoof from the mass of blanket that enveloped her to stroke the shell of her pet tortoise Tank, mostly for her own reassurance. 
The loyal creature would always be curled beside her whenever she turned in for the night or lazily remained in bed come sunrise to read a Daring Do book till evening on her off-days.
A slow smile creeping upon his face, Tank craned his neck to return the gesture with a nuzzle.
A few moments passed, assumably of more thought, and then with a special suddenness Rainbow Dash turned almost irritably in her bed in an attempt to adjust her position so that she could face upwards in order to look at the posters that plastered her ceiling.
Her gaze drifted across each one until it landed on a particularly recent addition: an advertisement for the Wonderbolt show in Trottingham, her fifth performance ever since she'd joined the ranks of the Elite Fliers.
The poster bore an image of the Wonderbolts mid-flight during a practice session, showcasing every flier on the team striking a totally awesome pose that actually came naturally to them, which was all the more flattering.
Rainbow Dash mentally listed every flier as they came, pride causing a small smirk to cross her face as she almost forgot about what had been troubling her earlier.
Spitfire, Blaze, me... awesome... Fleetfoot, Thunderlane, and...
A flash of some unfamiliar feeling qualmed in her chest and she abruptly shifted to the side and buried her face into the cushiony abyss of her pillow once more, having suddenly remembered the object of her conflict.
Tank, disturbed at the loss of Rainbow Dash's comforting hoof on his back, squirmed closer to the mound of blanket that Rainbow Dash had somehow covered herself underneath even further. The tortoise nudged at Rainbow's side, in a gesture to ask what was the matter, and after no response he sighed a very long sigh and curled up tight beside her again.
After a tinge of guilt the cyan pony wrapped an arm around her tortoise as a wordless apology, the reach from the angle she was at putting a small strain on her shoulder.
Then the thought hit her again.
She closed her eyes and frowned to herself.
Stupid.
She scrunched up her nose.
Sappy.
It took no more than half a milisecond more for Rainbow Dash to groan and leap out of her bed, deciding she needed some fresh air to help her sort her thoughts.
Unfurling her wings and giving them a good stretch Rainbow started for the door, then froze and looked over her shoulder to give her poor tortoise a smile.
"I'll be back," she said, curtly but gently, making pure example of the odd way she maintained her pride whilst somehow managing to get across her affection at the same time. 
Tank nodded and then rested his head against his little feet.
Smiling, the mare returned her gaze to the door and slipped into the next room quietly, and left the house with seemingly one quick movement.
Already she was gliding through the air, yet with a sort of respect for the quiet of the night that one wouldn't have seen from her at one of her performances. 
It seemed she was kind of out of her element in most ways tonight, and Rainbow Dash hoped this short flight would help remind her of her awesomeness.
She didn't like what she was feeling, whatever it was.
A soft breeze stroked her mane and gave her wings a sort of peaceful ease to their escapade. Shades of deep indigo fading into a royal blue-ish maroon surrounded Rainbow's vision like an encompassing, atmospheric sea, dotted with several glowing stars and a moon high amongst them all, the knowing ruler of the sea-sky gazing upon it's little sparkling subjects and casting white rays all across its empire.
Rainbow Dash let her gaze drop to the ground per instinct and examined the sleeping town of Ponyville below her, houses mostly without lights gleaming through the windows; there was always that one All-Nighter who decided sleep was at most optional.
Rainbow usually wasn't one for scenery, but she had to admit, the view was pretty sweet.
Taking in a deep breath, the cyan mare, fully appreciating the peace of this midnight air-stroll and head fully cleared, returned to her former subject of discomfort.
She thought over the last week and the routine practices. Something had definitely changed. 
When heading to the academy where the fliers would train, her heart would squirm anxiously, beating a thousand miles a minute -- exceeding all Rainbow's expectations of her innate speed.
Then there was the one Wonderbolt she never wanted to be around, but then again....
No. Don't even go there.
Despite this protest, her thoughts trailed back to the poster and the strange feeling in her chest.
Growling at herself, Rainbow Dash flew faster, higher, bursting through a couple of clouds a little too carelessly.
No. I won't accept it. This is stupid and pointless... her speed picked up even more, this isn't... me. I don't want it. 
Suddenly Rainbow Dash snapped out of her thoughts and skidded to a halt, looking about herself and realizing she had no idea where she was. She'd been too preoccupied.
Her memory flashed to a conversation with Spitfire that morning.

"...Hey, look, Crash, if there's somethin' going on you gotta tell me... you've been all over the place this week."
Spitfire placed a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, a rare display of sympathy.
Rainbow Dash shook her head vigorously, her brows furrowed.
"No, ma'am, I'm fine. I've just been... I mean... Just... I'll step it up, ma'am. It won't happen anymore."
Spitfire narrowed her eyes, not bothering to disguise her concern.
"Alright, but if this keeps up, I'm gonna have to make you take a few off. Don't know how long. Depends on how your performance continues. I don't know what went wrong with your practice run with Soarin...."
Rainbow Dash snapped her gaze from her hooves, previously unable to meet her superior's eyes during the lecture, and spluttered unceremoniously,
"N-no, no worries, ma'am. It was nothing, I promise. My mind's been on a lot lately and I wasn't thinking and I just kinda ran into those storm clouds... It's nothing to do with Soarin. J-just with all the weird stuff in Ponyville... well... yeah. Just distracted... but... but I promise, it won't happen again."
Spitfire looked perplexed, but didn't make any comment on her confusion. Instead she said simply,
"Well... okay. But you know the deal."
"Of course, ma'am."

Rainbow Dash stared blankly at nothing really, her wings flapping absently and her hooves curled around herself similarly to a hug.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Soarin isn't the cause of this.