//------------------------------// // The ugly Green beast // Story: Nyctophobia // by Valorousspectre //------------------------------// Chapter 4: The ugly green beast. Soarin must have flown the best few laps of his life that day. He seemed to have boundless energy and euphoria. Nothing could have dragged down his mood. Nothing. The rest of the team noticed this, but only two could guess at the potential cause and even come remotely close. The obstacles seemed to move out of the way on their own, as though he need not dodge them, but they would dodge him. He didn’t have a care in the world. Looping, twirling, corkscrews, barrel rolls... All the simple stuff he did as he was flying normally. As they moved onto the more complex tricks, he seemed to focus more than before. “Soarin! Nice, try not to show us up too much in the next show huh?” It was Echo talking, as it normally was, and Soarin grinned. “No way Echo, We work as a team, as part of a whole! You know that!” Echo couldn’t help but laugh as the two of them took a breather. The rest of the team kept going, practicing, training. Preparing for the next big show. ~*~ Skeleton saw it all, and couldn’t help but feel an odd sense of pride for Soarin. That’s right my Soarin, Fly hard and fast. When she saw him quit the field with Echo her heart jumped into her throat. She didn’t mean to feel jealous, or threatened, but she did. Echo spending time with her Soarin, whilst all Grin could do is send letters... It didn’t seem fair. What are they saying...? Skeleton may have had keen ears, but not even her ears could hear things from that far away. So she had to sit and watch as the two chatted, laughed and generally had a good time. That could have been you Grin... That could have been you It was at that point that Grin almost had a heart attack as Echo Fleetfoot kissed Soarin on the cheek. Oh Celestia no.... She slumped, a feeling of defeat in her bones as he reciprocated the motion, no matter how much she tried to convince herself it was a move among friends, and she couldn’t shake a feeling of depression sneaking up on her. What if... what if... She couldn’t keep watching, it was too much. She knew she shouldn’t feel how she did, but she couldn’t help it. She collapsed next to her box, scrabbled to remove the photograph of Soarin, blowing the camera a kiss as he was, and cuddled it to her chest, crying herself to sleep. ~*~ “Oh...” Soarin smiled apologetically at Echo. “Sorry Echo, but I just... I don’t want to get into any sort of serious relationship after just being dumped... it just... it doesn’t seem right...” This was a massive lie. Quite frankly, there was nothing he wanted more than to feel loved again, to be able to sleep with a warm mare to cuddle innocently, to be able to shower with somepony else. But Echo was not on the list of possibilities. In fact, there was only one. And he’d never even met her before. Echo smiled at Soarin. “That’s okay Soarin, I understand. It’s perfectly alright.” She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. A motion that he reciprocated. The pair chatted about a thing or two afterwards, Soarin deftly side-stepping the whole ‘fan mail’ issue, letting Echo tell him about the irritation of having a million letters a day purely telling her how much they love her, nodding sagely. After this, the two got back up and kept practicing, They couldn’t just stop any time soon... The big show was getting ever closer. ~*~ Soarin dropped the letter off at the foot of the locker room door, on schedule, after everypony else had left, and he didn’t wait. He knew he could, but if she, whoever she was, didn’t want him to see her yet, he’d respect her wishes. Skeleton watched him leave, tear tracks hidden by her combination of hat and scarf, the cape she wore obscuring her torso. She ghosted up, took the letter, and flew back to her abode. Home sweet home... for now Grin looked at the letter she’d placed on the broken table the moment she’d returned. She was terrified of the content of the letter, could almost feel the rejection, the sour taste in her mouth was definitely not helping. She found herself shivering, terrified of what was written on the latest scroll. You’re not going to find out until you open it Grin... Taking a deep breath, the nervous mare took the scroll up, undid the beautifully knotted ribbon holding it closed, and unfurled it, beginning to read. My dearest Admirer. First and foremost, I must say that your previous gift to me was absolutely amazing. I don’t know where you got your hooves on a spell like that, nor who these two mares you got it from are but I am glad you did. I know you don’t want us to meet yet, and that I believe is your prerogative, however I have enclosed a way for you to see me up close without needing to sneak around, not that I don’t find the concept of that thrilling in a way. Once more, I beg of you your name, which I may at least refer to you as something other than a generic “admirer”. I know you won’t give it, but I will continue asking each and every time. With love: Soarin” She stared dumbly at the letter, gobsmacked. With love... With love... With love.... With love.... With... Love.... Those two words reverberate around her head like the bass at a rave echoes around the room. Her heart soared and she went light headed. Did he actually write that... or are you just dreaming Grin!? She double checked it, Triple checked it, quadruple checked it. It never changed. He DID write it! Dumbstruck, she unrolled the scroll as far as she could. Stapled to the bottom, yes, Stapled, was a bright red ticket. A ticket to the next show, located in Cloudsdales’ cloudosseum. Oh my goodness.... A ticket to the show! Her eyes nearly fell out of her head as she read where it was. VIP box!? As in, the VIP box with the princesses!? And the who’s who of Cloudsale and well, pretty much anywhere and everywhere!? Oh goodness... Don’t faint Grin.. She was hyperventilating something terrible. She needed air, but she couldn’t seem to get it, it was almost frustrating, if not for the ticket she held in front of her. She could barely think, but there was one thing she knew. She was going to Cloudsdale. Then the memory of his quitting the field with Fleetfoot hit her full in the face and her exultation died down and the smile fell from her face. But... what about...? ~*~ Soarin arrived at the locker room at five in the morning to find Spitfire and Firestreak there already, smiling, Spitfire holding the scroll in one hoof. “Expecting a letter Soarin?” Soarin smiled and took the scroll from Spitfire. “Yes, in fact I am. Thank you.” Firestreak couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath at the two as the three went into the locker room. Spitfire was visibly excited. “So? What’s it say? Tell me everything, I want to know. Are you two meeting yet?” Soarin laughed. “Calm down Spitfire, I still don’t even know her name, so of course we aren’t meeting yet.” Firestreak tapped Soarin on the shoulder lightly. “I’ve noticed the towel. Now you can’t tell me you went out to get that, because I haven’t seen its like before, not even in Canterlot.” “You’re right, it was a gift from her.” “Thought so. Now how bout explaining to me why I had to clean up a heap of cheap jewellery from my locker?” Soarin stammered at that one. “Uh.. I uh.... spring cleaning! Yeah, that uh... old jewellery box that she who will not be named got me? Well, I threw it out, uh, I wasn’t exactly happy.” Firestreak was obviously not persuaded, but he let it be. Spitfire was about to talk, but a nudge from Firestreak shut her up. There was silence for a while before Spitfire spoke up. “So, have you sent her anything yet?” Soarin blushed lightly. “Well, I sent her a photo... And a ticket.” “A ticket? As in, to the next show?” Soarin nodded and Spitfire couldn’t help but smile. “Awwww! That’s so cute!” Firestreak frowned. “Where at?” Soarin smiled. “The VIP booth. The BIG VIP booth.” Spitfire gasped. “With the big shots?” Soarin nodded. Firestreak grinned. “Oh you sly dog.” Spitfire looked between the two smiling stallions, confused. “What? What?” Streak looked at Spitfire, still grinning. “Easy. Everypony who is important will be in that booth, and we’ve seen them all before. Now all we do is look for the one who is out of place, and we’ll know precisely who she is.” “Exactly!” Spitfire looked confused for a second, then understanding dawned on her face. “Oh! I get it! That... that’s pretty smart actually.” “Ha, thanks Spitfire.” “So!? What’s it say?” Soarins’ attention was brought back to the note from his admirer and he took the ribbon off of the rolled up parchment and unrolled it. He was instantly aware of his two team mates looking over his shoulder as he read out loud. “My Dearest Soarin. I cannot even begin to describe how happy I am to have received a ticket to the Cloudsdale show. It’s a dream come true, and that you gave me such a distinguished seat makes it even better. Thank you so much, I swear to you I will be there. I cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful, thoughtful and amazing gift, and nothing I have could possibly allow me to describe how happy this has made me feel. With all my love and affection S.G.” “S.G....” Soarins’ face creased into a frown, then a happy smile as he realised. “Initials... She gave me her initials!” Firestreak thumped Soarin on the shoulder and Spitfire laughed happily. “There you go mate! Now you only have to pick through the million or so mares with the initials of S.G. rather than the billions out there!” Soarin found himself laughing at his fellow Wonderbolts’ humour. “So true! So true!” “Hold up colts, there’s a P.S.” Soarin looked as Spitfire unrolled the scroll a little more and his heart fell as he read it. “P.S. I will not be writing any letters for a time, as I need to arrange travel for myself to the proper areas of Cloudsdale. I’m so sorry if this makes you feel bad... Oh what am I saying? You have Echo Fleetfoot to keep you company... Love you Soarin!” At the mention of Echo Soarin felt his heart freeze. She’d seen that... “Jeez, that’s a bit harsh...” Soarin felt two pairs of eyes questioning him and he sighed. “Last practice, Echo Fleetfoot... When we went to rest, Echo came up to me and asked me out on a date.” Spitfire gasped. “You? I always...” A harsh look from Firestreak made her quiet again and Soarin swallowed his nervousness down. “She must have seen her kiss my cheek and me return that and assumed the worst...” Firestreak sighed. “Typical fillyish behaviour.” There was a resounding CRACK as Spitfire slapped Firestreak across the face and looked at him angrily. “What’s that supposed to mean!?” Firestreak cowered away. “Jeez Spitty, I didn’t mean anything about you! You’re not a typical filly!” “Is that so? W-“ “Will you two quit it!?” The pair looked at Soarin, he looked irritated in his own right. “I’m trying to figure something out here, go someplace else and bicker will you? I need some time... I’m going home.” The two previously arguing ponies looked at him in shock. “Now!? Right before the performance?” Spitfire looked almost horrified. “Oh please, we have a week before we’re there. Gimme a break.” With that Soarin took the jewellery box from his locker, slammed the locker shut, making the two Wonderbolts who were staying wince, and left. Spitfire looked at Firestreak. “Woah... think we annoyed him?” Firestreak, still staring after Soarin, nodded sagely. “Guess so...” He looked at Spitfire and smiled. “You know, I really didn’t mean to offend you...” Spitfire giggled and put her hoof to his lips. “You talk too much...”