//------------------------------// // Chapter 1-Introductions // Story: In Love and War // by Rainbow_Danger_Dash //------------------------------// "Ok, here we go again," Rainbow Dash muttered to herself as she launched into the air. She had been trying all day to perfect her routine for her Wonderbolt Entrance Exam, but just could not get the last part right. She brushed through the first part of her performance easily, and was at the end in a few minutes. "Five," Rainbow Dash muttered to herself, "Quad-barrel roll, Four: Pick up speed, Three: cloud catapult, Two: Nosedive straight at the ground." The sound barrier began to morph around her. She was almost through now. Just a little more.... "One: Sonic Rainboooo-oh crap!" Rainbow Dash failed to penetrate the sound barrier once again, and was catapulted backwards, this time ending up implanted into one of the trees on Sweet Apple Acres. The force of the blow shook off nearly all the apples and earning a surprised yelp from Applejack, who was pelted with the falling fruit "What the buck is goin' on out here," Applejack said to no one in particular. More than one tree had ended up showering her with fruit today. She looked up and was rewarded with the culprit. "What the hay are ya doin' up there Rainbow." Rainbow Dash looked down with embarrassment at her friend, who was trying to stifle a laugh. "Just, uh, taking a break from practice, that's all." "Yeah, I can understand sitting on a tree, but in the tree?" Applejack said, "I don't think that's a good restin' spot." "Just get me out of here," Rainbow Dash said. She had hit the tree hard enough that her hooves were stuck in the wood. "It's been a long day, and I just wanna get back home." "Hey, Twi and I are going to the Ponyville Inn for a few drinks later. Ya wanna come?" Applejack asked while kicking the tree to shake Rainbow loose. "S-s-sure," she said, her speech distorted by Applejack kicking the tree. "W-w-why wouldn't I-I-I go with ya-." Her last word was cut off as she was suddenly freed from her trap and face planted in the ground. She pulled herself up and spat out any dirt she had swallowed. "See ya then AJ," Rainbow Dash said before taking off towards her cloud home. "Dammit, I still can't get that stupid, freakin Rainboom right," Rainbow Dash said angrily to herself as she flew home. Once she was alone, Rainbow had easily lost her cool with the situation. "At this rate, I will have to wait for the selections next year! Another whole year! Argh, that's the last thing I need." She kicked her door in and headed for her bath, still cursing at herself for not being able to do a move she had already been able to do twice before. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Seven hundred and twenty eight!" "Seven hundred and twenty nine!" "Seven hundred and thirty!" At that last lap, Soarin collapsed on the ground. His wings felt like they were on fire. Surprise and Fleetfoot came in close behind, both just as exhausted as he was. "Nothing...like...doing...one-thirty more...laps than...normal, eh Soarin?" Surprise said with a mischievous smile. "What's the matter, all....those pies made ya fat?" "Hey, I still...beat you, didn't I?" "Only because Fleetfoot cut me off on the last five laps!" At his point Fleetfoot joined in. "That's what you deserve for knocking me into that cloud on six-seventy five. I am surprised Spitfire didn't catch you!" "Never does!" Surprise said with a large grin as she used her wings to hover upside down in front of Fleetfoot, who pushed her out of the way while rolling her eyes at Surprise's antics. Soarin smiled in amusement at the two mares, before unraveling his sore wings and flying down to the small town below the arena. This was the location of their next show. He had already found the most important locations on his last visit: food and drink. He flew slowly, admiring the scenery of the surrounding landscape. That was, before a voice right beside him violently drew him out of his daze. "Hey, mind if we join you," Surprise said with Fleetfoot a wingspan behind her. "Uh, sure. I don't care," Soarin replied. "Whatcha thinking about Soarin?" Surprise teased. "Are you thinking about HER?" "What? No! Why do you always think that?" "Only because you still have that picture of the both of you on your desk." "So what? That means nothing." "Oh come on, you should ask her out. Or do you not know what to say?" "Could you just drop it Surprise? Please?" As usual, Fleetfoot waited for the conversation to get interesting before chipping in. "Aw look, he's blushing. Soarin does like Rainbow Dash! Daw!" Soarin let out a disgusted grunt and facehoofed himself. 'Who am I kidding?' Soarin though, tuning out the mares. 'Of course I like her. And yes, I am not sure how to exactly ask her out. But more importantly, how the hay does Surprise know this?' He glanced at her, trying to figure out how she was able to pull it off. The trio landed and walked into the Ponyville Inn. Fortunately they had left their uniforms at the arena, or else the Inn would probably be flooded with fans right then. Few recognized them without the distinctive blue and yellow body suits. Soarin had just ordered his cider when the door opened again. He instinctively turned to look, but whipped his head back around as soon as he saw who had entered the door. Surprise stifled a laugh at his reaction as she saw a certain cyan mare enter the Inn with what must have been two of her friends. Fleetfoot just glanced towards where Rainbow Dash was not taking a seat and back to Soarin. Then back to Rainbow and back to Soarin. Soarin pulled them closer and spoke in a whisper. "All right, you are right. I do like her, but I don't know what to do. I do not know what I should say. And I have no idea how you do it Surprise. Also, I hate both of you, ya know that." "Well," Surprise started, "let's start off with me just saying I KNEW IT! Anyways, just go over there if she is alone and offer to buy a drink. Then, you guys will start to talk, be friends, blah, blah, blah; etcetera, etcetera. Eventually, you will offer to fly her home, she stops at the door, gives you a goodnight kiss, and one thing leads to anoth-" Surprise's ramble was cut off by Fleetfoot's hoof being shoved into her mouth. "I think we all know what you were about to say, and no, it does not always 'lead to another'." Fleetfoot turned back towards Soarin, still keeping her hoof shoved in Surprise's mouth. "Look, just do what stupid here started out with, and let it run its course." "Yeah, only problem is what if she doesn't like me?" "Then you look like an idiot, but at least she knows you care about her." Soarin turned to look at where Rainbow Dash was at. Her friends were starting to get up to leave, but it did not seem like she was going anywhere. He waited until they were out of the door until he turned back to Fleetfoot and Surprise, who had just managed to get Fleetfoot's hoof out of her mouth. "Well, here goes nothing," Soarin said with an edge if nervousness in his voice. He gulped down the rest of his cider and started to slowly walk towards the cyan mare, who still did not notice him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Even though her friends had left, Rainbow was still content with having a drink by herself. It gave her more time to think and try to figure out what might be wrong with her routine. She replayed her failed attempts over and over, but could not find out what was wrong. A nearby voice drew her out of her thoughts "Would you mind if I, uh, bought you a drink?" 'Ugh,' Rainbow thought to herself. She didn't even have to look to see who it was. A pair of teenage stallions had been bugging her all night, and now that Twilight and AJ were gone, they could do it even more. "How about you just buck off and leave me al-" Rainbow Dash started to say as she turned in her seat to glare at the annoying little prick bothering her. But Rainbow cut herself off once she realized that she was face to face with none other than Soarin. "OhmygoshIamsosorryIthoughtyouweresomeoneelseIamsosorry!"Rainbow spewed out as see realized that she had just swore at Soarin. He gave her a grin, amused by her reaction. "It's ok. I understand. Don't worry about it. Anyways, could I buy you a drink?" "Oh, yes please." Rainbow flashed a sheepish grin at Soarin. She could not get over the fact that she had just yelled at him. "So, uh, what did you guys do at the arena today?" Surprise smiled at Fleetfoot as Soarin and Rainbow began to start talking. "I bet you 20 bits Soarin and her are going to start going out after tonight!" "So that's when I ended up being shot into a tree at Sweet Apple Acres. And I mean INTO the tree! Applejack had to- Hey it's not funny," Rainbow said playfully. Soarin had a big grin as she regaled him of her attempts to pull off a sonic rainboom earlier that day. She gave him a light punch on his shoulder and he faked an injury. Rainbow glanced at the clock and frowned slightly. "Soarin, I have to go. It's late, and I really need to get some sleep so I can practice again tomorrow" "Oh, ok. We should do this again sometime."" "How about next week? Same time, same place?" "Sure...but there is only one problem. We will be headed off to Canterlot after our show here." "Magic thing Soarin," Rainbow said with a sarcastic tone as she leaned a little closer, "It's called flying." With that, Rainbow Dash gave him a wink and walked out the door. Soarin sat at the table, staring wistfully at the door where Rainbow had left. "So how did it go?" Surprise had managed to get right beside him without making a sound, and her sudden intrusion made him jump. "It was fine." "Ya gonna see her again? Are you? Are yo-". Surprise was once again cut off by Fleetfoot, who managed to keep a calm expression throughout it all. "I am sure you want to hear all about his time with Rainbow Dash," she said to the muted Surprise, "But we need to head back to HQ. It is late and we are going to be training hard tomorrow. Let's go." Soarin left the Inn only half aware of reality, his mind still locked onto Rainbow Dash. Even as he flew to the Wonderbolt Headquarters, he replayed the events of that night over and over. 'Perhaps I have a chance after all,' he thought to himself. 'Just take it slow, and be careful. Don't rush this Soarin. You don't want to lose her again.'