//------------------------------// // She's Just In Love // Story: Flying Blind Into Love // by TheTalentlessPony //------------------------------// "...Uggggh." Rainbow Dash groaned slightly as she began to regain consciousness. She coughed a bit at first, then rested her hooves on the blanket in front of her. She felt a little sore, but it was nothing compared to everything else she had been through. Silence echoed throughout the room, and she wondered if she was truly alone. She was back in her house, lying flat on the couch with the softest of pillows resting behind her. There was a pulled-up chair nearby, which made her rather suspicious as to if she had any visitors or not. "You're awake." Upon flinching, Rainbow Dash turned her head to see that her suspicions were correct, as the pony of her affections was staring back at her: Soarin. "Wah!" she yelped, grabbing her pillow and throwing it at him out of impulse. He held up his foreleg, which the pillow simply bounced off of. "W-what are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash questioned, shifting about slightly as she pulled the blanket closer to her. "What am I doing here?" Soarin asked. "Making sure you're okay, of course!" She quickly changed the topic. "How are the others? Where are the griffons?" He stared out of her window for a second, then sighed. "E...Everyone's fine. Your Sonic Rainboom knocked all of them out long enough for us to escape and take them away. I, however, took more priority to bringing you back to your house and nursing you back to health," he explained, his cheeks slightly red. "Really? Awesome! I took care of a whole griffon army!" Rainbow Dash cheered, her wings flaring up with pride. "Do you have any idea of how reckless that was!?" Soarin suddenly snapped, looking shocked that she was so proud despite her injuries. Rainbow Dash blinked. It was rare to see him look so serious and get so angry. Had she done something? Or was there something wrong with him? "...Of course I did," she replied flatly, trying to keep her cool. "Then why did you do it!?" he questioned. "I told you to return to your post! I told you not to go crazy like that! But you did it anyway!" After a moment, Rainbow Dash's eyes went slightly wide. Though he had been shouting just a moment ago, she could suddenly feel Soarin's anger fading. His expression suddenly had less rage and more compassion. His eyes were suddenly soft and concerned-looking. He suddenly looked scared. "Why did you do that..." he asked again, his tone weakened. "I had to protect you," she answered, as though it were obvious. There was a abrupt silence between the two after she had said that. She tensed slightly, seeing him mentally fighting with himself as to what to say next. Why was he so calm, yet enraged? What was he fighting with himself about? Rainbow Dash hated not knowing. But finally, Soarin spoke. "...Idiot!" She cringed, closing her eyes as he drew closer in fear that he would hit her. However, the hit never came. Instead, Rainbow Dash felt a warmth around her. Her wings fluttered slightly in gentle excitement, and she felt her breath hitch in her throat. The feeling was all too familiar to another moment she had shared with him. Only this time, it was stronger. Much stronger. Because he was hugging her. He had placed himself silently on the couch and held her close to him, his hooves resting on her back and warming her heart. But, despite how comfortable she was, Rainbow Dash could slowly feel her jealousy rising up within her. Reality was sure to remind her that this hug could very well be an impulse, and nothing more. Or maybe a hug from a friend to another friend. She felt special receiving it, but she knew that any love emanating from his body belonged to someone else. She lowered her head in response to the realization, not allowing herself to embrace him in return, in fear of saying something she'd regret. "You're hugging me," she muttered plainly, her tone lacking emotion. He stiffened slightly in response, then just held her tighter. "Do you have any concept as to how worried I was?" he questioned, his voice shaky. "I know you. You're brash and reckless. I knew that you were going to do something insane to take down those griffons, and I told you not to. But... b-but..." His sentence seemed to falter as he choked on his words. Was this the same Soarin from a few minutes ago? "You did anyway. To protect me." He let out a pained chuckle. "Some leader I am. I can't even defend my new..." He trailed off for a moment, then changed his words around. "...my Dash." Rainbow Dash went wide-eyed as he spoke her nickname. Not because of the heat of the moment, no. It was his tone. He had said it with so much compassion. So much love. And... my Dash. My Dash. Spoken as if she belonged to him. Like she was his. She was unsure of how to respond. Thoughts ran through her head, but she quickly breathed in and held in her emotions. She wouldn't let her feelings get in the way of his. "...I saw you and Spitfire earlier. Before you chased me." She felt Soarin's grip on her loosen slightly as she continued. "You two looked happy together. I'm..." She chuckled dimly at her cruel fate, then slowly pulled away from Soarin. "...Dash-" "-I'm happy for ya..." "Dash-" "No, really. I am." She smiled at him through her broken heart. Another long silence dragged on between the two. Rainbow Dash wasn't particularly fond of it, but she stayed quiet anyway. All that should be said, had been said. There was nothing left to say. Nothing... "...I'm not happy," Soarin suddenly admitted. "W-what?" she choked out in response. "B-but... you're-" "-with someone that I don't really care for like that." Grabbing Rainbow Dash's face, he pulled her close and placed his forehead against hers. Their manes mashed together in a tangled mess, but he didn't seem to care. "She came to me a week ago. I knew. I knew she had feelings for me, and I went along with it. It was wrong, but I went along with it." His words were shaky and filled with nervousness. Rainbow Dash didn't want to, but her body wouldn't listen. Her right hoof rested over his left, and her left hoof trailed over his body before stopping at his heart, urging him to go on. "I thought that, maybe... maybe if I got close to her... maybe if I grew a relationship with someone else..." Hesitation. "...Yeah?" "...Then maybe I could forget about the real pegasus I wanted. The one who was outta my league since day one." Rainbow Dash winced. She should've known. There was still somepony else. "...I-I see." "I'm sorry, Dash." She blinked. "Sorry? For what?" "I lied to you," he said. "When I said that I was worried about you. I wasn't worried." "..." "I was terrified." He cringed as he brought his right hoof down to rest on her left. "When you flew off, I panicked. My heart raced faster than my body ever had before. Dash, come back safe. Dash..." He shook his head, but still kept his forehead touching hers. "I felt so helpless, and Spitfire saw that. She came to me after we all escaped and broke up our relationship. She figured it out; that I was crazy for somepony else." After a short pause, he pulled away and tilted Rainbow Dash's head up, his eyes meeting with hers. He was so hesitant. So scared to say what he was about to reveal. "...We had gotten together a week ago; on the same day that somepony else joined our ranks." Rainbow Dash grew stiff. That day... a week ago. That was the day that she had become a Wonderbolt. She had joined their ranks. "...I'm sorry, Dash. But... I had to-" "Just shut up already!" Rainbow Dash's impulses burst out of her as she pulled Soarin in for an intense kiss. Finally. Finally, she could do this. She didn't have to be afraid of his reaction anymore. She knew now. And, as they pulled apart, she stared at him. The kiss hadn't felt great. It felt amazing. He was speechless for a moment, then smirked at her. "...So," he whispered to her, grinning devilishly. Oh, she knew that look well. "Who gets to move into whose house?" Rainbow Dash chuckled, then pulled Soarin closer to her, their noses touching. "Tell you what..." "Yeah?" "I'll race you on it."