She felt cold water wet her face, as Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to see a furious Coach Blaze. Rainbow Dash winced under his glare, his bright orange eyes sparkling with anger.
"Rainbow Dash! As part of the national soccer team, you have to maintain a strict morning routine! This is the fifth time this week!" shrieked Coach Blaze, pacing around her room.
"It won't happen again coach" reassured Rainbow Dash, clasping her hands behind her back.
"That's the millionth time you've said that" Coach Blaze rolled his eyes, "Five minutes to get ready and changed, then head over to breakfast"
Rainbow nodded, as the red -headed coach left her room. It had been a year since she officially joined the team. Six months spent in training. And for some reason, she was still 'newbie' Dash. Crash to be precise. Rainbow cringed from the embarrassing memory of her kicking the soccer ball into a trash can as it propelled into the sky, falling on top of her on her first day. She also sighed from anther memory. A year since she abandoned the love of her life. It came with a lot of questions, but Rainbow Dash had her story well prepared.
A member of her family was unwell at the last moment and she went to see them. Soarin was upset so they peacefully broke up. But for some strange reason, rumours that she dumped him out of spite still floated around. Rainbow pulled out her uniform, and smiled to herself. Life was good. The team did appreciate her, but she stepped into a whole new world. There's a big difference between local teams and national ones. They were all so serious, and good. Better than anything she had ever seen.
Slipping into her uniform, she stepped outside, and saw an excited girl bouncing around, with bright yellow bouncy hair and full of energy.
"Rainbow Dash! Did you hear we have a new member joining us soon?" asked Surprise, popping right in front of Rainbow, "I heard he's super hot"
Rainbow gagged. The girls in the team literally scraped for a chance to get a man. Fire Streak walked over, and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Uh. Surprise, we're here as well you know" said Fire, brushing a hand through his flame like hair.
Surprise rolled her eyes, "Um, you're old Fire. Find a granny and settle down, you're not getting any younger"
"Neither are you!" pouted Fire, crossing his arms. Rainbow giggled.
"You don't need a partner in life to succeed" she reminded.
"True, and Rainbow knows first hand" said Misty, walking towards the trio, "Look at her, she left her fiancé and best friends to make it big"
Rainbow shifted her gaze at the floor. It was true, she had to give up Soarin and her friends. She hadn't heard from them ever again. Rarity sent the occasional written letter, in sloppy calligraphy, with the odd water stains smudging some of the words. Misty must have noticed her friend's mood, and handed her a newspaper.
"Come on Dash, your friends remember you! Read" ushered Misty. Rainbow looked at the headline, 'Friends of Soccer Sensation Rainbow Dash Dish on her Run from the aisle!'
Rainbow rolled her eyes. Those tabloids wouldn't give up trying to uncover the true story. But something caught her eye on the paper, 'Soarin Skies explains why his bride ran away!' She hurriedly flicked through the paper to find the article.
"'She just never loved me...she just cared about the fame'?? What?!" Rainbow read Soarin's words out loud, "That isn't true!"
Misty, Surprise and Fire shared a look. A single word the wedding day ruined Rainbow's mood.
"It says here that he's dating Lightning Dust" she whispered. She felt her knees feel weak, and fall down in defeat. Her heart sank; she always thought of Soarin as her own. Now he was gone to someone else, it all felt to upsetting. She was too late. Rainbow always hoped she’d have a chance to go back to her ex. Now that was gone. All gone. She felt her heartstring tug as she remembered her late grandmother's words, 'Strength and growth come from effort and pain'
A tear came to her eyes as she remembered her soft, kind eyes telling her everything would be okay when she lost her toy.
"It's okay Dashie" reassured the old woman, placing a hand on her granddaughter's shoulder. Young Rainbow rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
"But Mr Teddy was my favourite" she sobbed. The aged woman got up slowly, holding onto her cane for support. She scanned the room, and buried under a pillow on the couch, she saw a furry limb poking out. She slowly grabbed the arm and pulled it out.
"Here's Mr Teddy Rainbow" Rainbow wrapped the tattered bear into a tight hug, smiling wide.
"Thank you so much Grandma" Rainbow beamed, looking up at her grandmother.
"If you ever loose something you love Dashie, don't worry, because they'll come back to you. Everytime"
~
"Rainbow? Rainbow Dash!?" called Surprise, shaking Rainbow, who looked dazed.
"She's right" muttered Rainbow, getting up, still lost in thought. The others looked at each other puzzled.
All of a sudden, Rainbow got up and ran back inside to her dormitory. Sitting in the dark room, she lifted her pillow, and pulled out her diary. Chewing on the end of her pen, she thought to herself. She wouldn't give up. Rainbow had a new life, as one of the most heavily paid people in the soccer industry. Some random boy wasn't going to get in her way. She sighed to herself. But that's just it. Soarin isn't some random boy, and it's hard to let go. The only boy she's ever loved. Rainbow scribbled a new entry in her diary, but addressed it to someone.
Dear Mr Soarin Skies,
You were my everything. Okay, you are my everything. Even today. But it's clear I'm not the one for you, I'm just a no one. And you're Soarin Skies. THE Soarin Skies. Famous across the country. And me? I'm just...me. I'm sorry for leaving you. I know that doesn't change much, and the deed is done, but I had to follow my heart. But looking back, my heart wanted you. More than anything. But right now, it's clear you don't have the same feelings as me. I really must have been some fling for you.
On to what I really want to say. I'd like to wish you the best of luck in life. Because there is so much more to me than just becoming a famous person's wife. Because I will be the famous person. I'll be the one person everyone knows. When they mention me, people will admire me. I'm not just some girl. I'm Rainbow Dash. Soccer sensation. Something you'll never achieve. I had to do what I had to do to make it big, and what was right for me. I guess you weren't it. I understand you were hurt, but going to the tabloids is wrong. Even you know that. And now you're back to you're old girlfriend, what was her name? L-L, something like that? Excuse me, I don't remember the names of small business women. Good luck, and I hope you realise that I'm way more than you thought me to be.
~Rainbow Dash
"Rainbow Dash! The team member is none other than Soarin! He's part of the team" yelled Surprise, poking her head around the door.
"WHAT?!"