This night was perfect. He got in just before sunset and immediately met up with Rainbow Dash. Soarin could still taste all the treats from Sugar Cube Corner. And the pies, for the love of crust, the pies were just glorious. Then a trip to Sweet Apple Acres for a mug of the best and brownest cider he ever drank. They capped off the date with a quick flight through the Everfree Forest, an element of danger that forced them closer together. This Ponyville place was pretty awesome. But this filly was even better.
Rainbow Dash was just...everything. She was funny. She laughed at his jokes. She even snuck him a spicy lemon drop at the Corner. She was cool. She actually listened and responded to what he said. She was athletic. She knew what it was like to perform. She had more guts than he did. She pushed him both mentally and physically. She, she, she, she, she, she just would not get out of his head.
And she was a knockout. Hard not to notice that.
Soarin didn't care that this was the first date, and that of course she would hide her negatives, and that of course she would find his later on. They connected in a way he never felt before. The fillies in Canterlot and Cloudsdale would throw themselves at him. They wanted his fame, his fortune. They wanted it to be theirs. But Rainbow Dash wanted it differently. She wanted to earn her spot as an equal, not riding some pony's coat tails. Soarin respected her for that. And Rainbow Dash respected him. When he would tell some filly about a double back-flip plancha they would stare blankly. Rainbow Dash knew why the wind speed couldn't exceed 10 knots for that trick to work. They just got each other.
Rainbow Dash had his eye ever since the Young Flyers Competition. She saved his life after all. He still hadn't forgiven Spitfire for holding her private lesson with the Wonderbolts on a day he wasn't there. That argument, combined with his cold feet at the Grand Galloping Gala, led to a running gag in the locker room about his inexperience with the ladies. Soarin laughed along with it, but knew it was true. He always told himself he would know what to do when the moment came and, well, here it was. She invited him in after he flew her home and-oh horse apples, she invited him in!
Rainbow Dash was cocking an eyebrow, looking very impatient. "You know you can say no, right? I just thought tonight went really well."
"No! Yes! I mean, I'd love to come in. Tonight was fantastic." How long did he stand there like an idiot?!
Rainbow smiled as she opened her door. "Good. I never thought I would invite some guy in on the first date. Nice to know I didn't misread anything." Soarin walked into the sparse interior. There wasn't much to do inside except-he jumped at the touch of her hoof on his shoulder. She laughed. "Are you always this tense before a show?"
Soarin bristled at the analogy. Was that all this was to her? "This isn't a show! I've done shows before. Plenty of them. I'm not exactly used to this." Too much. Smooth, Soarin. Spell it out for her why don't you?
Rainbow Dash did not miss the implication of his outburst. "Really? But every pony wants a Wonderbolt! Even the mares on the team make colts crazy. You've never been with the fillies before?"
He could fix this. Every performer had a backup plan, a way to make an embarrassing moment all part of the act. "Of course I have. But they all had the same problem."
"And what was that?"
"They weren't you." Perfect! Rainbow leaned backwards. She even raised a hoof, but stopped before she could presumably place it over her heart. That was a swoon if he had ever seen one.
"Did you steal that line from a Daring Do book?"
"No." Yes. But she read Daring Do too? That settled it; he was marrying this girl. If he could actually, you know, convince her. "What about you? You've invited colts in here before?"
She gave him a playful smile and shook her head. "A lady never kisses and tells."
"You stole that from Rarity. We just saw her at Sweet Apple Acres, remember? Applejack asked us how things were going and Rarity stopped her with that line. You blushed a little bit and said we hadn't gone that far yet. Then Applejack said 'yet?' Then Rarity smiled because they totally set you up for that. Then you blushed some more and started shouting...and...looking at me blankly because I'm rambling." He could probably recite the whole evening like that.
Rainbow Dash laughed softly and stepped closer to him, inches away now. "Soarin?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"I'm going to tell you something I don't think any pony has before." Soarin was paralyzed. He could feel the warmth radiate from her body as she leaned even closer in. She raised her mouth to his ear. Her mane tickled his nose, and its sweet scent filled his head. He had to stop his knees from shaking to prepare to hear this intensely private message.
"You're thinking too much."
Soarin narrowed his eyes and protested as she lowered her head. Rainbow Dash's lips cut him off. She was exactly right. He couldn't believe how right she was. She pressed him harder, pushing him back and down onto the cloud floor. Rainbow broke the kiss and began stroking his chest, a look of anticipation in her eyes. It was his move now. And he only had one in mind...
---
Rainbow Dash woke up the next morning alone. Her confusion quickly turned to anger. No he did not fly out on her! "They weren't you?" She actually fell for that? Soarin had not seen the last of Rainbow Dash! She would get him for this. She would find him and-there was a note taped to her door.
Rainbow composed herself and flew over to take it down. Even so, she was surprised at her reaction. She liked Soarin, of course. She never thought there was any chance in Tartaurus she would go so far after one date as she did with him. But how did she get that angry after just one night? Soarin might have a deeper hold on her than she realized. Anyway, the note had her all her attention now.
I can't believe I'm doing this. This night meant so much to me and I'm sneaking out like a thief. Spitfire wants us to work on a new routine before the exhibition in Canterlot tomorrow and I just couldn't bring myself to cut this night short. It took me a half hour to write this much. I can't stop watching you sleep, and WOW that sounded creepy when I read it, but it's the truth.
Several false starts were scribbled out of the next paragraph. I'm crazy about you. Come to the show tomorrow. Please. There'll be a ticket with you name on it. Promise. There was an arrow pointing off the page. Rainbow flipped the note.
I just stole a kiss. I couldn't help it. Your little snores were too adorable. I'll swing by and give it back if you can't make it tomorrow.
Rainbow flushed as she reread that last part to make sure she understood it. Where did he find the nerve for that?! A kiss wasn't much, relatively speaking, but Soarin could barely put two words together when she invited him in. Was he holding out on her? And what was that line about her snoring? Rainbow Dash was many things, but "adorable" was not on that list. Oh, she had to get him back. A smile spread across her face. She knew just how to do it.
---
Soarin dropped a bag of bits on the counter. The teller looked up at him in disbelief as the small fortune spilled out. "There. Count it up. Every last bit. Now will you please add her to the list?"
"No. I've told you three times already this is the VIP box. Reservations have to be made in advance. You're gonna need to buy a regular ticket."
"And I've told you three times they're all sold out! How is this not in advance?"
"SOARIN!!!"
He winced. That was Spitfire's angry voice. He turned to see her land in front of him. This could get ugly. Spitfire slowly stalked towards him until they were nose to nose, burning him alive with her eyes. "Be in formation in one hour means be in bucking formation in one hour! Get your tail in that stadium before I rip it off!"
Soarin shrank under the onslaught of her words. The captain was certainly living up to her name today. Maybe honesty was the best policy? "I promised a filly there would be a ticket for her and they're all sold out. Look, I'm serious about this one. She's coming a long way to see me. I have-"
"Stop. Just stop." Spitfire backed down, hoof outstretched. "I know you think you're the comedian of the group. And no, I'm not going to tell which part of the joke was funnier this time. Frankly your timing sucks and this subject matter is reserved for your teammates." Well that was hurtful. Soarin just stood there, trying to think of some response. Realization finally dawned on Spitfire. "You're serious?"
"Yeah. I just said that."
Spitfire shook her head. He could tell she still didn't quite believe him. Her eyes lingered on the pile of bits behind him. A sigh, and then she spoke to the teller. "Will you please make the reservation for him? As a favor to the Wonderbolts?"
The teller held his head in his hooves. "Fine. Whatever gets him out of here. What's the name?"
"Rainbow Dash."
Spitfire choked. He didn't know that was possible to do on thin air. "Rainbow Dash?" She laughed and started making her way back into the stadium. "Soarin, I will pay you back every bit you just left on that counter if she actually comes." He held off making a smart comment and followed her.
---
What in Equestria, Rainbow Dash wondered, was with Soarin and mood swings? She had the best night of her life taking him through Ponyville, she was angry that he left this morning, she was feeling like payback after reading the note, and now she was...something. Disappointed? Angry again? There was no ticket with her name on it. So much for his promise.
Was Soarin just stringing her along? This was way too much drama for her taste. She was on her way to the backstage entrance. Maybe he had an explanation. And if he refused to see her, well, that would be an answer too.
"Rainbow Dash! Smashing to see you again." She turned to the accented voice. A white unicorn wearing a tuxedo and monocle was making his way toward her. Another white unicorn mare with a pink mane followed behind him, draping herself over him when he stopped.
"Oh! Uh, hi. Nice to see you again too." What was his name?! She knew this guy! Rarity even introduced them at Twilight's birthday party. It was some fancy pants handle that would get him mocked anywhere outside Canterlot.
"It was such a surprise to see your name on the VIP guest list. I was beginning to worry you would miss the show." Rainbow Dash blanched. VIP? She never even thought of that. One more turn on the roller coaster of Soarin.
The three made their way to the VIP entrance. Sure enough, Rainbow was on the list. From the moment she entered the box she could not wait to leave. Stuffy ponies in frilly costumes crowded her, asking her about "Dear Rarity" and the current state of her fashion. Rainbow grinned and tried to bear it for Rarity's sake. They quickly realized that Rainbow Dash wasn't quite up to par with Rarity.
That was fine with her. She hated the fact that these ponies seemed interested in everything BUT the show they were about to see. She soon found herself alone at the rail to watch the Wonderbolts warm-up. At long last she heard an interesting conversation.
"I'm backing Fleetfoot of course! What she lacks in size she makes up for in speed." The fancy pants unicorn winked at Rainbow as he spoke.
One of the other stallions disagreed. "She can't win every race here. Besides, I heard that Soarin had quite the pep in his step at practice yesterday afternoon. He's sure to win the day."
Rainbow Dash's laughter drew all their attention. "Oh no. No way. Soarin doesn't have a single solitary shot." She kept her firsthand knowledge of his lack of sleep to herself.
The horn sounded, and the Wonderbolts took their marks. The crowd waited in breathless anticipation. Rainbow kept her eyes on Soarin. He needed a good start to prove her wrong. At the sound of the whistle he was last off the blocks. Fleetfoot was able to hold off Spitfire's final charge for the win, and Soarin trudged in last. She saw him scan the VIP box and reared up on the railing to make herself more visible.
Soarin never looked away from her as the cloud crew rearranged the race track for the next event, individual tricks. What Rainbow Dash was waiting for. Little colts and fillies crowded the edge of the seating area to get a closer look at their heroes. Rainbow smiled at her memories of doing the same. This event was a Wonderbolt tradition after all. And so was what came after...
As captain of the team, Spitfire was up first. She started flying in low circles. Faster and faster and higher and higher she went. There was barely a reaction from the crowd. They had seen tornadoes before. The captain must have something else planned. The roar of the winds grew louder until Spitfire simply stopped. She angled her wings and held still to ride the storm. Eventually, she turned and tried flying the opposite direction. Through sheer strength and tenacity she beat down the very winds she created.
Rainbow Dash was amazed. The crowd went wild. Spitfire flew to the crowd of young ponies and stopped, scratching her chin, pretending to think. The little ones stretched out their hooves. Their backs were turned to Rainbow Dash, but she knew what look they had in their eyes. Me, me, pick me! Spitfire flew to a colt wearing one of her faux manes and ruffled it. She hoof bumped him, flashed him a smile, and took off. The colt celebrated in her wake.
Soarin was next. He spent some time packing clouds together in a tight ball. He grabbed a spare one and flew up above what he created. The crowd grew restless as he began pulling tufts out of the cloud he took up with him. They wanted to know what the hay he was waiting for. Rainbow Dash wondered the same thing.
Finally, Soarin flew up higher to leave both sets of clouds below him. He flipped and dove straight down. He looked faster in that instant than Rainbow Dash could ever remember. Soarin passed through the first cloud, stretching it out behind him as he went. Rainbow could barely recognize the shape before Soarin struck the bottom clouds to create a clap of thunder. The cloud lightning hung in the air as Soarin posed in front of it for the applause. Rainbow Dash looked down at her cutie mark in amusement. Did he memorize her flank?
A chorus of boos drew her attention back to stadium. Soarin flew right by the kids and was on his way to the box. Rainbow grinned as he approached. He stopped in front of her and reached out for a hoof bump. Soarin was leaning backwards like he was lying on a cloud, hind legs crossed with his other front hoof behind his head, and gave her a smirk. "How was that, gorgeous?"
Cool, confident, and a little cocky. She liked this Soarin. Still, she stuck to her plan. Rainbow Dash reached out and slapped his hoof away. A hush fell over the entire stadium. Rainbow's smile grew as Soarin's faltered. "You owe me more than a hoof bump, and you know it."
"Now?" His voice was small. Even with the goggles blocking his eyes she knew they would be wide. This was the Soarin she remembered.
Rainbow tapped her hoof to emphasize her next words. "Right. Now." He'll never do it, she thought. She saw his head turn to look at the ponies watching them from below. One more twist and then she'll let him off the hook. "Just-"
Soarin zoomed in and kissed her. Rainbow Dash lost sense of everything else. He pulled her into him so half of her body leaned over the railing and rested on his chest. Rainbow could hear sounds that reminded her of applause, or laughter, or jeers, but it was impossible to focus on them.
Suddenly she was falling. Rainbow Dash grabbed the rail as Soarin let go of her. He fell with a smile on his face. At the last moment he spun and spread his wings to glide inches over the heads of the spectators below. Rapid Fire was announced to perform next, but something told her no pony would pay much attention to him. In fact, the ponies that shared the VIP box with her were watching her very intently. Rainbow Dash took flight and left the stadium behind.
---
Rapid Fire finished counting out his bits. He was quick to make the same bet as Spitfire as soon as he caught wind of it. Soarin took the bag and tied it around his waist to balance out Spitfire's on his other side. Rapid Fire left him, shaking his head and walking towards the showers. Soarin left the locker room and made his way towards the exit. Spitfire was coming from that way, still in uniform. She nodded her head back the way she came when she noticed Soarin. "She's waiting for you."
A weight fell on his back before he could respond. Fleetfoot crushed his throat with a hug. "Oh, Soarin, I don't believe it!" She planted a wet kiss on his cheek exaggerated by a loud hum. "Our little Soarin is a stallion now!" She jumped off his back and buried her face in Spitfire's shoulder. "Why?! Why do they have to grow up so fast?!" Spitfire joined her theatrical wailing as Soarin left them behind. After thinking for a moment, he scraped his cheek with a hoof. It was stained red with lipstick. He smiled. Good thing he caught that.
He found Rainbow Dash watching the crowd exit the stadium. As usual, there was a large group gathered around the Wonderbolt's exit. Many of them were fillies with streaks of red, orange, or purple in their manes. That was fast. The pleading started the moment he showed his face. "Why her?" "Please, give me a chance!" "I love you Soarin!"
Rainbow Dash shook her head with a smirk. "Shameful, isn't it?"
"I know. They think a flashy hair style is all there is to you? That it's all I care about? I can't believe the other Bolts wondered why I didn't go for this crowd."
"Oh no, not them." She pointed at the bags of bits. "You got that much for losing?" Soarin laughed, which drew her venomous glares from the crowd. He never laughed with them. Rainbow Dash answered back with a smile. A smile, Soarin noted, that showed plenty of teeth.
"You didn't stay for the whole show?"
She shrugged. "I got what I came for." The two of them started walking away. The fillies followed. Rainbow looked back in annoyance. "They won't leave us alone, will they?"
Soarin shook his head. "It's like this every show." Not this time, he thought. Canterlot had precious few pegasi. He stopped and Rainbow took one step ahead before turning back in surprise. "Race you back to Ponyville?"
"While you're weighed down with all that cash? You won't be able to do anything but watch my flank the whole way there."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Rainbow Dash slapped him with her tail and took off. Soarin followed her into the sky. He quickly realized Ponyville was in the opposite direction. Their eyes met when Rainbow Dash looked back to make sure he was following her. Anywhere you go, Soarin thought with a smile. The two of them danced through the air into the night.