//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Recovery // Story: Soarin to Victory // by TorontoFCBrony //------------------------------// "Ugh... no... please... not yet," Rainbow pleaded as the morning sun came through her window, beaming right into her face. She could feel its warmth and could see light from inside her eyelids. Her eyes shot open. She turned over to her side table to look at the clock. 6:30. "You've got to be joking." The mare closed her eyes once again. She turned around to face the other way. The room began to light up as the sun got higher in the horizon. She covered her head with her pillow. All of it was of no use. She was up, and there was no fighting that. Even though the mare would get up before dawn on some days to practice, she wasn't normally a morning pony. Or an evening pony. Or an afternoon pony. In fact, sleeping could probably be put on her list of hobbies. She used her tongue to lick her teeth and her lips. They were dry, and her breath could probably rival the smell of rotting garbage. It was time to get up and brush her teeth and mane before anypony else would see- or smell- her. Dash shoved the blankets off of her and put her left hoof on the ground so that she could sit up on her bed. She then picked herself up and got off the bed, instantly feeling weak and starting to stumble. "Oh yeah, that," she muttered, remembering the sprain and bandage on her left back leg. She quickly adjusted and found her strength, though, as she had been through far worse in her life. Being one of the saviours of Equestria would often leave her sore after battles. She limped and winced her way over to her bathroom. She brushed her teeth and fixed her train wreck of a mane. Knock knock knock. Rainbow finished washing her face as she heard a few knocks come from her door. "Oh for crying out loud!" She quickly dried off her face and hobbled over to the door. As she started to open the wooden door with her right hoof, she used her left to shield her eyes from the sun's rays that assaulted her tired eyes. "Yes what hello whatdoyouwant?" she muttered as she swung the door fully open. "I... I don't really know what to say to that, Dashie." "Soarin?! Oh no no no," Dash responded as she tried to shield her face and wet mane from the stallion. "Oh come on, relax a little bit," the stallion said with a chuckle. "You don't look half as bad as you think you do." With a shrug towards his response, she let Soarin in, and he sat down on the couch. She sat down beside him. "So, how're you feeling today?" he asked. "Not too bad, actually. My leg still hurts, but my wing-" My wing. She forgot to even check on how her wing was doing. With a cringe, she spread out her left wing as far as it could go. Nothing. No pain. No pressure. No stress. It unfolded properly and easily, almost as if it had never been hurt to begin with. Rainbow's fear was instantly eased, and she smiled. "I take that as you're feeling much better?" Soarin asked the smiling mare, who nodded happily in response. "Good." "So, what're you up to today?" she asked while slightly closing her eyes and leaning towards the stallion. "Well, I was going to prepare for tomorrow's cross-country race. You know, just stretching, slow flying. Nothing intense." "Oh, okay," Dash responded. "But there is one problem." "What's that?" the mare asked with intrigue. "I don't have a partner to practice with." Dash sat there with an open mouth, listening. Soarin looked away, and then back to Rainbow. "And I was wondering if my favourite pony in the entire world would like to accompany me today." Dash still sat there, not responding. "Um, that would be you." "Oh!" the mare said excitedly. "You knew I was asking you to join me." "Yeah, but I wanted a complement first." "That's the Rainbow I know." "Wait, let me just get ready first, okay?" "You don't really need to get ready for this. It's warm outside and you'll probably get all hot and sweaty anyway." "Fine," the mare said while swaying her head, flicking her mane back. She wasn't any worse looking than usual, even though she just got out of bed. "Let's go." The morning conditions could not have been more favourable. The dawn air was clean and pure, the sky did not have a single cloud, and it was warm, but not too hot to compete. The Crystal Empire's weather team had done an excellent job so far to make sure that the weather at the games was as favourable as possible to the athletes and fans alike. Soarin flew with the mare to the hills just past the empire's farmland. The steep, rolling green hills gave the two of them a pleasant view of the city. The could see the athlete village, the general excitement going on in the town square near the castle, and the new stadiums build for the games. Preparations were underway for the events on the day, which included the final of the hoofball tournament, featuring Manehattan against Fillydelphia, which was taking place inside the main stadium, as well as a few swimming races and diving competitions at the aquatic centre. "So, how do you want to practice this morning?" Rainbow asked after they finished looking out at the view for a few minutes as they hovered in the hair just above the hills. "Well, I was thinking of having a small race with you. You know, just like a few months ago when we first started officially going out. Once around this set of hills. Winner gets bragging rights?" Rainbow pondered for a few seconds. "You're on." "But are you sure you want to do it? You have to be careful with your wing." "It was just a cramp, Soar. It feels great today," Dash responded while using her hoof to boop her stallion lightly on his nose. Let's go." "If you say so. Start counting." "Three... Go!" Dash yelled as she took off. "Hey," Soarin yelled as he quickly fell behind. -------------------------------------- It was the final qualification tournament that Rainbow Dash was trying out for- the cross-country race. After two days of qualifying for her first two events, Rainbow Dash was on top of the world. She fought her urge to stay in bed in order to get up early to practice, hoping to take one of the twenty spots for the race. She knew with fifty ponies competing that there would be a lot of competition, but with her blowing away the competition the day before, she had confidence that she would make it with time to spare. She stretched her wings, did a few loops in the air, dashed from side to side; anything to prepare herself for the qualification race. The rules on this day were simple: everypony leaves at the same time, following the path of flags set up around the plains in the distance, which made a loop about one-quarter the size of the actual games' cross-country race, and finish in the top twenty to qualify. Simple? Yes. But would a high finish indicate a future medal at the games was in the bag? Not at all. The ponies had to mentally prepare themselves that if they were to qualify for the final aerial race, this race would be the one that would break them. It was a mentally and physically draining experience that usually lasted four hours during the games, with three hours and sixteen minutes being the record for the games. The qualification race on this day was expected to only take the competitors an hour to finish. Dash took a deep breath through her nose to smell the morning air. The clean smelling scent of the falls tickled her nostrils. Everpony else was asleep as the sun just began rising. The only thing she could hear was the sound of the birds in the trees and the rumbling roar of the colourful falls. "Heya Dashie!" "Ah!" she screamed as she fluttered about a metre higher in the air while turning around. "Soarin? What're you doing up so early?" "The same thing you're doing up. I'm preparing myself to get to the games so I can show my stuff and beat you all and win a gold medal." "Ha, well, good luck with that," Dash responded. "Races aren't really your thing, Soarin. You're more of a showpony." "And what is that supposed to mean?" "No offence, but your whole role in the Wonderbolts is to wow the onlookers. I've seen you perform so many times. Races aren't your strong point. You're better at doing moves in the air." "I'll race you anytime, anywhere Dash," Soarin said with a confident grin. "Just try and keep up with me." "Ha, let's do it right now." "Now?" Soarin asked as his face straightened. "Um, no. I need to keep my energy up for the qualification." "Suit yourself, chicken," Rainbow said as she smiled and slowly floated away from Soarin, mimicking chicken sounds. "All right, Dashie. Right here, right now. Let's do it." "Now you're talking," Rainbow said as she went beside Soarin. "Once around the mountain. That's it. Winner gets bragging rights and that's it." "What's the fun in that?" "You get to make fun of me for the rest of the day if you win," Rainbow teased her new coltfriend while flying around him. "Just think about it. You get to say that you beat the best flyer in all of Equestria. Doesn't that sound good to you?" "Let's go!" Soarin said. Dash lined up beside him. "Ready?" "I was born ready." "Three." "Two." "One." Honk! "Ah come on," Dash said in frustration as she heard the horn over the loudspeakers that sounded to signify all the racers to get ready for the race, which was to begin in fifteen minutes. "We can still race, Dashie," Soarin suggested. "What're you waiting for?" Rainbow looked out as more and more ponies competing made their way to the area around the starting line, getting themselves ready to compete. "I don't know. There's a lot of ponies around, and I would hate to embarrass you in front of all of them." "First of all, you would never embarrass me in a race. Second of all, I do sort of agree with you. We'll race at sunset when everypony is gone. That way they won't see 'the best flyer in Equestria' lose to a 'showpony'." "Sounds like a deal to me," Dash said, ignoring Soarin's mockery. "After I finish first in the race today, I'll whoop your flank one-on-one." "We'll just see about that." -------------------------------------- Soarin raced with all his might as Rainbow dashed ahead of him, making her way around the hills just outside of the Crystal Empire. He watched from behind as her mane and tail blew in the wind. He pushed ahead as hard as he could go, trying to catch up with the mare. Maybe she was right that time a few months ago. Maybe he was just a showpony, and not a true racer. But then again, he did win a gold medal the day before. A medal that he left at his own cottage that morning, not even mentioning it to the mare who coveted it so badly. He needed to live up to being a champion. He squinted his eyes, pushing ahead as hard as he could, eventually catching up with the mare on the other side of the hills. "Not too shabby, Soar," Rainbow said as the stallion caught up beside her. "I'm not going to let you win, Dashie. Hurt wing or not, you don't get any charity from me." "I won't need it!" she yelled out with a salute as she shot like a bullet away from him. Dash had that one thing that Soarin was never able to get no matter how hard he practiced. She just had that natural gift of flying. He watched as she made the turn around the hills, about ten seconds ahead of him. -------------------------------------- The cross-country qualification race was well along. Dash, Lightning Dust, Soarin, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot led the way about fifty-five minutes into the race. The finish line was just ahead. They all smiled to each other as they knew their spots in the final race were all but set. Rainbow slowed down as she didn't want to tire out right at the death, allowing Soarin to approach beside her. "So," the stallion shouted above the sound of the wind. "You ready for the big race?" "Um, it's not for a few months, Soarin. But yeah, I'll be ready." "Oh no, I mean our big race." "Oh, that. Yeah, of course I'm ready. After I beat you right now, I'll beat you later as well." "We'll see about that," the stallion responded as he went up ahead. Dash's face became more determined as she pushed ahead to finish first in qualification. Even though she actually probably was the fastest flyer in Equestria, her endurance and stamina was her weakest part. As she went faster, she grew more and more physically and mentally tired. With a grunt, she watched as Soarin went ahead, finishing first. She crossed the finish line in second, assuring her qualification in the final aerial race of the games. Rainbow panted and gasped for air when she finally reached the ground. Soarin trotted up beside her, full of pride for qualifying first. "So, how do you feel that you were just beaten by a 'showpony'?" "Hold... on... one... second... please." "Oh? Too tired to talk?" Soarin teased playfully. Dash looked up with a grin. "Just wait until everypony leaves. You'll be eating my dust." Soarin and Dash waited around, conversing with the other competitors, especially the other Wonderbolts. They talked about how they just started dating two days ago. They were going to keep it quiet to start, but it was pretty plain to see, what with Soarin already using a pet name for his marefriend, and all. One that she never let anypony but her closest friends use on her. "So, Dashie," Soarin said as the sun was setting and the last pony in the area left for the night. "Ready to lose to me again?" "Not a chance. Let's go," she said as she stood at the finish line from the previous race. "You know, I won't take you calling me a showpony lying down. I need you to see that I can compete as well." "Oh Soarin, I wasn't saying that to be mean. But I'll never call you a showpony again if you beat me. Deal?" "All right. Three," Soarin counted as he stood beside her on the finish line. "Two." "One." "Go!" they shouted in unison as they took took to the sunset sky. Once around the mountainous region they went, passing by the caves at the back, looking over the river, forest, and empty fields. Hearing the crash of the falls. If they weren't engaging in a race to end all races, they could have probably had a romantic flight together. They were neck and neck as they made their way around the mountains, eventually coming around the final turn. Soarin desperately wanted to win as Rainbow struggled, still tired from the long race earlier. "It's a beautiful sight, isn't it Dashie?" Soarin said while looking over the land. "Stop distracting me, Soar. I'm not going to fall for it." "All right, I guess I'll just have to beat you fairly," he said as he used all his might to pull ahead. Dash tried desperately to find her second wind to give that extra push. She grunted and growled as she pushed forward. But her wings were just too tired. She watched as Soarin made the turn ahead of her, landing on the finish line a few seconds before. The mare stood on all fours, looking at the ground as she tried to catch her breath. "All right, you beat me again. Go ahead, make fun of me." "Hmmm," Soarin sounded out loud as he thought. "No." "Why not?" "Because, Dashie, I know how much you like to win. Losing is enough punishment for you. And besides, what kind of coltfriend would I be to insult you for something like this?" Dash smiled as she lifted her head back up. "Fair enough, Soarin. Thank you. I'll keep my end of the bargain and won't call you a showpony anymore." Soarin trotted slowly up to the mare, who now caught her breath fully. "I may be done racing with you, but I don't think I'm done flying with you just yet," he said. "What do you mean, Soarin?" Dash asked in response. "Come on," Soarin said as he grabbed his mare's hoof for the first time, causing her to blush profusely. -------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash proudly looked back with a grin as she came to the spot where they started racing, finishing a good twenty seconds ahead of him. This time it was Soarin was panting and out of breath. After he finally was able to breath normally, he said, "All right, you made you're point. Even with an injured wing, you're still a better racer than I am. I fear for the competition tomorrow." "Hey, I don't think we'll ever know who's the best flyer in Equestria," Dash admitted. "I like to pretend that it's me, but there is just no way of ever knowing." "That's noble for you to admit that, Dashie. But now that you won, you may go ahead and tease me about it. Come on, call me a showpony." Dash thought out loud, just as Soarin did the first time the raced like this. "No. What kind of marefriend would I be to insult you for something like this?" Soarin smiled as he flew closer to his marefirend, hugging her high in the sky. "I'm happy you're feeling better," he said as he broke off the hug. "It hurt me to see you so upset yesterday. Come on, let's go watch some other events," he said while grabbing her hoof and leading her away. "Sounds good to me," she responded without a flinch. At this point she was used to Soarin holding her hoof. -------------------------------------- Even though Soarin had just beaten Rainbow in the qualifier race and their own race, he wanted to give her a memorable evening in Rainbow Falls. After all, it was their last night there. Each competitor was to go back to their normal lives the next morning. "You know, Soarin, I don't like all this romantic stuff," Rainbow said as Soarin led her by the hoof. They flew over the river down below. "Okay, but I do," the stallion responded as he made them start to descend. He led them to a part of the river outside of the forest, where they could get a full view of the sunset. The sun was about a quarter gone beyond the horizon, so they had only a few minutes left to watch it pass. They gently landed on the soft grass beside the bubbling stream coming from the falls in the distance. "What're we doing, Soarin?" Dash asked as they trotted along the water. "I know that the last few times we've spent time together before this week, things didn't end up the way we may have wanted. Life just got in the way. Tonight I want to show you that I'll be here by your side, and that's a promise. I not only want to share a nice evening with you now, but I want to assure you that this- us- will work out." That wasn't really what the mare was expecting to come out of the stallion's mouth. She couldn't help but blush again. "Um, okay. Yeah. I mean, I want us to work out too. So, how will we do this?" "Well, I know you live in Ponyville, you know where the Wonderbolt Headquarters is. How about every second weekend I fly out to see you in Ponyville, and every other second weekend you fly out to Cloudsdale to see me? We'll make a routine of it. I promise you we'll have some fun dates." Dash thought for a few seconds. "You know, Soarin, that could work." "I'm glad you're on board, the stallion responded while letting go of his mare's hoof to pick up a rock on the ground." He threw it, hoping it would skip, but instead it fell down to the bottom of the river in one big splash. The stallion's ears went down in embarassment. "What was that, Soarin? That was pitiful. I thought you said you were romantic." "Just because I can't skip stones doesn't mean I'm not romantic, Dashie." "Here," Rainbow said as she picked up a smooth stone, throwing it down the river and watching it skip five... six... seven times. Soarin watched on in disbelief. "The trick is that you have to pick up a smooth stone, dummy," she said jokingly. With a chuckle, Soarin picked up a smooth stone and threw it, skipping it only twice. "Oh come on." "That's okay, Soarin. My parents used to take me to different places when I was a filly. We always ended up throwing stones in the end. It was our thing when I was younger." "Well, with enough practice, I could get better at it, and this could be our new thing." "I would love that," Rainbow replied while approaching the stallion closer. The sun was just about to set completely in the distance. The couple looked on, watching it get lower and lower. The sky was red and orange in the distance, and darker blue on top of them, with just a few small clouds in the sky. Rainbow squinted her eyes and leaned up to the taller stallion for a kiss. He closed her eyes and returned it in kind. "I thought you said that you didn't like being romantic?" Soarin asked as the kiss ended and he slowly opened his eyes. "Okay, fine, maybe I do enjoy being romantic a little bit. I never really had the chance to try it before," she said in response. "But if you tell anypony that I enjoyed this, I'll smack you one." "Ah, there's the Dashie I know."