//------------------------------//
// Chapter one 
// Story: Am I dreaming? 
// by Lightning Splash 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow stepped into her apartment; chunks of her ponytail had fallen out from soccer and sweat made a few flyways’ stick to her face. She reached behind her head and pulled out the pony, letting her rainbow hair fall around her shoulders. She walked up to her room and pushed open her window, she stuck her head out letting the cold night air cool her down. Rainbow picked up her brush and headed over to her mirror, her hair had gotten a lot longer than she last remembered. She expected it fall around her chest, but now, it was to her belly button. Before Dash even started to brush it, she gave up, it was a long day and she knew it would be hard to get all the tangles out. She kicked off her blue tennis shoes and fell on to her bed, which had clothes strewn about it. She slowly got up; she had to get ready for Pinkie’s party tonight. She took off her rainbow socks and pulled her pink and white skirt down to step out of it. Her bike shorts were tightly stuck to her body and she slowly pulled them off. She had already taken off her jean jacket and hung on the coat rack downstairs. She took off the six ponies on her wrists, three on each wrist, they were red, yellow and blue. She pulled off her white shirt, which was now stained with grass and dirt. She threw it into the ever-growing pile of dirty clothes. Rainbow pulled a pair of jean shorts on and a rainbow striped shirt that said; twenty percent cooler. She stepped into a pair of blue toms and put a barrette that looked like a thunderbolt in her hair. She slipped on a matching bracelet. She didn’t bother with anything on her ears because she didn’t have them pierced. She picked up her Iphone. It had twenty messages, nineteen from Pinkie Pie. She read it:
Hi Rainbow Dash!  Next.
How are you doing? Next. 
Are you okay? Next.
Are you going to respond? Next.
Are you DEAD!! Next.
I’m just joking. Next.
:) Next. 
Just checking in. Next.
Soo….More.
Um… There were a few more but Rainbow didn’t bother to read them. There was one other though, not from Pinkie Pie. It was from Soarin’.
Hey Rainbow, didn’t see ya at the football game today. See ya at Pinkie’s party. Rainbow smiled, she had secretly had a crush on Soarin’ since freshman year. She fell over on her bed smiling. She felt the need to dress up more. She picked up her brush again and took out her barette. She started to lazily brush her hair. She decided to text him back.
See ya. She sent it. She walked into her bathroom and brushed her teeth. She splashed her face with water. She glanced at the make-up that sat on her counter. She never bought make-up or used it. Her friends, especially Rarity, always gave her make-up as a present. She picked it up. She put some foundation on,  brushed some blush on and did a few strokes of mascara, she thought she might curl her lashes, but after lookin at the contraption she decided not to because, to her, it resembled a toture device. She put her barette back in. She glanced at the curling wand that sat on her counter as well. Another gift from Rarity. After a few tries she finally got the hang of it. Rainbow spirals surrounded her face and Rainbow Dash actually kind of liked it. She grabbed her messenger bag with her keys and Iphone and headed to her car. Her bathing suit was in her bag along with a notebook, pencil, and an inflatable pool ball. When she arrived there was the sound of a bass pumping and lights shone from Pinkie’s back yard. She knock on the door.
“Hey, Dashie! The party’s just getting started!” Pinkie Pie stood at the door. Rainbow was led through her house which was decorated with streamers and balloons. Food sat temptingly on the tables. When Rainbow got to the backyard she was surprised. The pool sat in the center of the yard with lights shining inside the water. Lights shined everywhere, flashing and pulsing in interesting shapes. ‘Radioactive’ played loudly with the bass turned all the way up, neon balloons littered the floor. Other than the lights in the pool and the ones flashing all around it was pitch black. There was a photo booth off to the side and a dance floor on the other side. This was definitely not like Pinkie’s regular nice and all parties, this was awesome.
“Pinkie, this party is going to be awesome!”
“Thanks,” Pinkie smiled. “I had a guy named Cheese Sandwich help me.”  More people started to file in. Soarin’ walked over to her.
“Hey Rainbow Dash, whoa, you look nice.” Soarin’ said. Rainbow blushed.
“Thanks, you too.” He smiled.
“Oh look, there’s Spitfire.” He walked to her. Spitfire and Soarin’ had been dating for almost a year now. Rainbow sat there for a while then went inside to grab a snack. When she was done she got changed into her bathing suit. She went back outside.
“Come on in, Dashie, the water’s great!” Pinkie called from inside. Rainbow backed up, ran towards the pool and jumped in curled in a ball. She felt herself plunge into the water, which was surprisingly warm, she felt her curly hair go over her head. She touched the bottom of the pool and pushed off, rising to the top. Shortly after swimming, Dash needed to pee. When she got out of the water, her make-up had washed off, but didn’t leave any marks. She wrapped herself in  a towel and walked inside. She turned a corner and paused at the stairs when she saw Soarin’ and Spitfire again.
“You told me you loved me!” Spifire yelled at him.
“I do!” Soarin’ said.
“Then why are you breaking up with me?” Spitfire’s voice cracked.
“Because I don’t want to hurt you! I love someone else as well as you and…I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m sorry.” Rainbow said shocked, backing up.
“No it’s fine.” Spitfire said and looked at Soarin’. “I was just leaving.” She said. She turned away and ran. 
“Spitfire!” He called after her.  Rainbow walked past him to the bathroom, after she peed she changed back into her regular clothes. She went back out and dipped her feet in the pool, letting the coolness calm herself. Soarin’ and Spitfire just broke up. It still shocked her. Slower music started to play. “Hey Rainbow.” Soarin’ sat next to her dipping his own feet in.
“Hi.” She replied shortly. Soarin’ choked a sob. Rainbow felt a surge of sadness and pity. She scooted closer and rubbed his back.
“Do you wanna dance?” He asked. Rainbow smiled.
“Sure.” He stood up and held his hand out. She took it and he led her to the dance floor. They danced for a while until the music sped up. Soarin’ led her off the dance floor. He turned to leave. “Wait.” Rainbow said and he paused. “Don’t leave.” He turned to her and smiled.
“Let’s take a picture.” He suggested. They walked over to the booth and stepped inside. Before she could start the picture taking, Soarin’ stopped her. “Wait.”
“Yeah?” She asked.
“You know when I was talking to Spitfire…the girl I was talking about, who I loved…She’s you.” Rainbow’s mouth popped open. The words echoed in her brain and her heart hammered in her chest. Soarin’ drew her close, he put his arms on her shoulders. Her hair was now dry, but still curly. He brushed it out of her face and leaned in and kissed. The moment their lips touched it felt magical, Rainbow had never been kissed before and she was glad it was with Soarin’. His lips were perfectly soft, but the power behind them was strong. Her stomach fluttered like crazy and she tried to move out of the embrace at first, but melted into it, feeling herself being lifted up in Soarin’ strong arms. He was holding her cradle style, never breaking the kiss. She put her hands on his face. Her chest was pressed into his and their hearts were in perfect sync. She put her hand into his blue hair, she pushed his head so his lips went deep into hers. She opened her mouth slightly and so did his, she closed it again and he did as well. She felt her lips pucker. His hand momentarily touched her butt, but she didn’t mind. They slowly pulled away and broke the kiss.
“I love you too.” She said and they kissed again. His hand brushed her sleeve off. She broke the kiss momentarily. “Not quite yet, lover boy.” She smiled and resumed kissing.