//------------------------------// // Kindling the Fire // Story: A Young Flier's Heart // by JoeChacho //------------------------------// Everypony went wild. The Wonderbolts all started to take off one by one and once Dash left the ground a series of cloud rings, cloud pillars, storm clouds, and regular clouds were moved over the stadiums ‘Clear zone’ by ponies that I recognized as the weather patrol here in Ponyville; Thunder Lane, Flitter, Cloud Kicker, Snow Flake, and Rain Drops. Guess they couldn't handle the Wonderbolt academy well except Flitter, because she was the one who told me that they all went to the tryouts and that the weather patrol needed other pegasi to fill in for them, but I couldn't because I was too young. But their academy days were over after a year and that was the last I saw of Dash in person until today. Sorin, Silver Wind, and Surprise veered off to the left one by one and pin-balled off the zigzag patterned storm clouds each time the kicked off the cloud a lightning bolt shout out. After the sixth cloud they shot back up going in reverse this time Surprise Leading while Sorin obliterated each of the storm clouds. The ponies went wild I just sat in awe and admiration in my eyes. ‘I’ll have to try that one day.’ I thought rubbing my hoof under my chin. Turning my attention back to Dash and Spitfire who were weaving through the Cloud pillars coming towards each other once they both came practically nose to nose they both shot upwards leaving a thick cloud of smoke as they flew higher and higher into the evening sky. Fleet Foot Came out of nowhere and stopped along with Spitfire while dash kept flying. Fleet Foot and Spit fire then joined up with Sorin, Silver Wind, and Surprise. They spun around in a small circle and with a small lightning bolt each shot in a scattered fountain like formation while Dash came down doing corkscrews at alarming speeds. “She’s gonna do it!” I shouted in excitement again and again. Velvet nudged me with her hoof. “What? What’s she going to do?” She asked. “You’ll see,” I started trying not to fan-gasim “It’s going to be awesome.” While still spinning Dash came closer and closer to the center of the area where the other Wonderbolts just dispersed from. And *BOOM* She sonic rainboomed dispersing all Clouds from the sky and folded her wings and started to barrel roll. While still spinning and plummeting closer and closer to the ground the crowd sat awe stricken staring at Rainbow Dash and no other member of the team. Rainbow unfurled her wings and shot up forming a ‘V’ then turned it into a heart. With everyponies eyes glued to Rainbow Dash, nopony noticed the other Wonderbolts skywriting until Sorin and Spitfire formed an arrow which pierced the ‘rainbow trailed’ heart, it was a message signaling the end of the show it read ‘Ponyville We ♥ You.’ I turned to Velvet whom had misty eyes and her jaw threatened to hit the ground. I burst into laughter “The look on your face right now is priceless” Velvet’s ‘glazed over’ eyes shut as she shook her head eyes and she stared at me. We started to depart and she said “I’m glad you didn't tell me what she was doing because that was simply amazing” she said still dazzled by the performance “thanks for bringing me to the show Chacho. I had a really fun time with you tonight.” she added slightly flustered probably from being embarrassed to show affection but it could have also been from the adrenaline I wasn't too sure. “No problem Velvet I’m glad you had such a good time and Thank you for accompanying me on such a night” I gave her a genuine ‘charming’ smile. I saw that her eyes were still misty, part of me wanted to wipe away her tears but then she might take it as a sign that I only brought her to the show to try my luck with her so I did the next best thing I could think of. “Hey are you crying?” I asked concerned. She shook her head while wiping her misty eyes “No. My eyes just got watery from not blinking while watching that sonic rainboom.” I had an unconvinced look on my face “Honestly I have never seen anything more beautiful than that. So yes it made me cry a bit but they are tears of joy. Nothing to be concerned about.” “OK if you say so” I deadpanned. We finally made it outside the stadium and she stopped and turned to look at me “OK Chacho I’ll see you in school on Monday.” She said as she started to trot off. “Do you want me to walk you home? I mean it’s pretty late and I’d feel bad if anything happened to you.” I said in protest to her going home alone. “Oh my dad is going to take me home silly. He was one of the volunteer guards here tonight he was the Black stallion with silvery hair that was standing off to the side when we gave our tickets in” she said “Whaa!? You mean your dad saw me with you when we walked in and didn't smash my face in?” I asked in exasperated shock. “Yup. I don’t think he would have done anything rash because he had to have heard the conversation with the ticket lady. Although I might be interrogated when I get home because I was ‘out with a boy’, but I don’t have to be afraid of much because we didn’t ‘do’ anything besides come and enjoy ourselves together.” Apologetically I said “I’m sorry I didn't know that would happen. If I would have known I wouldn't have asked you to come so you wouldn't be in trouble.” My ears laid flattened against my head “Its fine Chacho you are the first boy he has ‘caught’ me with.” Her face reddened at the sudden realization of what could have been misinterpreted “Out with I meant first boy out with!” Her ears drooped and she hung her head “I bet you think I am a weirdo and don’t want to be friends with me anymore.” Her voice cracked and choked, her eyes shut but tears could be seen building up threatened to turn into all out bawling, my ears perked up. ‘I am so bucked’ “No of course not. I think you are-” I choked up on my words as to not say anything that would make her dad want to bash my face in, because he was only a few feet inside and he looked like he could make it to Manehattan just to beat my ass and get back home ready for supper if I hurt her in any way, shape, or form. “I think you are a wonderful friend. You are smart funny and caring. I may have not known you for long but I can tell you are, because I see the way you carry yourself and you haven’t done anything to me to make me think of you any less.” ‘Nailed it!’ I thought as I concluded my statement. “Thank you Chacho you are too kind” “I try to be well I’ll see you on Monday then Velvet.” “OK then” she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. I unfurled my wings and got ready to take to the skies. “Wait.” Velvet shouted while reaching her hoof out. I stopped and folded my wing against my sides. “What happened Velvet?” “Can I give you an awkward hug?” she asked almost hesitantly. ‘Well it wasn’t a good night kiss but I didn’t expect anything to come from this date anyway.’ I thought to myself. “Only if it won’t get me killed by your dad” I said jokingly. We both got up on our hind legs and hugged each other. We held the embrace for what felt like an eternity. Time itself stopped for me. I have hugged mares before but none that could possibly have feelings for me as strong as mine for them. We broke from the embrace and we stood there in silence for a moment then I said, “OK Velvet have a good weekend see you in school on Monday” “OK Chacho get home safe” she said waving as she walked toward the doors of the stadium. I waved back and unfurled my wings again to take off. I took to the sky after a strong flap of my wings and started to head home. I bumped into Rainbow Dash right above the stadium and we started to talk. “Hey chump.” Dash said patting the spot next to her “come here, so we can catch up” I floated over to her and sat beside her “Wow Dash you still look amazing.” “Well duh! I’m only Equestria’s fastest and most awesome pegasus.” She chuckled “So did you enjoy the show tonight?” “Hey yeah, but I have one question why did you change your entrance song? It said on the roster that you be flying in to-” she silenced me with her left hoof. “Well honestly I wanted to do something special tonight for you since we haven’t seen each other in a while and” she stopped trying to not cry “And well I remembered back when I dropped out of high school-” this time I stopped her with a hoof. “Dash that was almost two years ago it wasn't your fault I’m…” “But it was my fault! I played with your heart! And toyed with your emotions! Then to top it all off went out with Thunder Lane instead of you!” At this point she had tears streaming down her face, her ears were pressed against her head and she hung her head while she let out a few audible sobs. “Rainbow Dash!” I said with a stern enough voice on the brink of yelling. “It. Was. Not. Your. Fault. It was mine. I should have asked you out. I shouldn't have let you become my obsession. It was all my fault not yours.” Putting emphasis on how much this was my fault and not hers. “You just found a guy who had the courage to ask you out.” I had a lump in my throat when I said the last part. Dash’s crying slowly came to a halt. I wiped her tears away from her face with my right wing, and pushed her face up with my front hooves so she had no choice but to look me in the eye. She soon opened her eyes, all puffy and red from crying. “Wow. Your eyes are still as beautiful as the first time I saw them Dash.” I said soothingly, which earned me a slug in the arm by RD. “Shut up!” she said jokingly, stopping her sobbing she added “You always know how to make a girl feel special don’t you Chach?” “Eyup” I said trying to impersonate Big Macintosh Dash buried her face into my chest “Thank you Chacho. I don’t deserve you.” I felt dampness on my coat. ‘She’s crying again’ I thought to myself. I used my hooves to raise her face to meet mine so I could look into those beautiful eyes. “Dash, you’re beautiful and deserve to be happy.” As soon as I ended that statement I dove my head into hers our lips connected and we kissed. I saw her eyes open in shock then I closed my eyes. This being only the second time I ever kissed anypony mouth to mouth. Dash let out a moan of pleasure. Her tongue tried to gain access to my mouth and I let the intruder in welcomingly. Both of our tongues danced around each other’s mouths. The kiss lasted for only a few minutes but felt like hours we separated from the kiss and a trail of saliva that connected our lips drooped and snapped. I wiped my lips and pressed my ears against my head, and I felt the heat of a heavy blush coming. “D-Dash I’m sorry. I-I-I just don’t know what came over me” Dash just smirked then said “You really do know how to make a girl feel special. That was our first kiss you know. So are we official?” “HUH? Y-You’re not mad?” I asked still flustered. “Nope not at all. You still never answered my question are we official now?” “I would like that very much Dash.” I said giving her bedroom eyes. Until I checked my watch because it beeped. “Buck” I muttered as I put my saddle bags on “Sorry Dash but I gotta get home before my mother sends a letter to the princess saying that I’m missing and tries to get the entire royal guard looking for me.” “OK chump but Monday I want that race you promised me” I gave her a quick peck on the lips and took to the sky and headed to my mother’s house. Landing in front of my mom’s door I pushed it open greeted my mother and headed to the bathroom to take a nice long shower to process the events of today. After emerging from my shower my mother decides to interrogate me for whom I took to the show because I usually wrote the friends name down when I would be staying out late. “So who did you take to the show Chacho?” my mother asked. “I took a friend I just made” I deadpanned not really in the mood for a debate “So it’s a girl because if it wasn't you wouldn't hesitate to tell me a name.” she said arching her eyebrow and let loose a barrage of questions “Who is she? Is she cute? Is she in your classes? Does she cook?” the list kept going until she came to the final one “Is she a virgin?” “Mom!” I said “I wouldn't know that because I'm still a virgin.” With that statement I just flew past her and went to my room. I laid on my bed and almost instantly fell sound asleep. ‘Can’t believe I’m thinking this, but I can’t wait till Monday’ was my final thought before I drifted into sweet slumber.