"The Name's Dash"

by calmcalmcalm


"Floor two."

"Dash?" A voice called from the small hospital rooms door. The pony sitting on the bed looked up, spotting the fiery orange mane peering from around the door.

"Oh, hey Spitfire." Rainbow Dash sighed, smiling sheepishly. "Looks like I'm stuck in here for now." She gestured around the plain room, rolling her eyes. "How's Soarin?" Spitfire shrugged.

"He's stuck here to. Right across the hall actually." She pointed through the open door at the shut one across the hall. "He's going to be fine." Spitfire smiled as she saw the look of relief pass over Dash's face as she flopped into a laying position on her mattress. "Aw, was Rainbow worried for wittle Soarin?"

"Shut it." The cyan mare's face was tinted pink as she crossed her hooves. "I just don't want to be responsible for injuring a Wonderbolt, that's all." Spitfire snickered.

"Ok, calm down. I'm just teasing." The captain perched on the edge of Rainbow's bed, looking down at her friend. "So, from what the doctor said earlier, it sounds like you come here often."

"Well... I guess more often than most other ponies do..." Dash sat up. "But I can't help it! I wanna learn all of these awesome tricks, and sometimes I get carried away..." She trailed off.

"Before we became Wonderbolts Fleetfoot was like that." Spitfire chuckled. "She was always hurting herself, trying to do all of these crazy moves. Didn't stop her though, and it doesn't seem to be stopping you."

"So you guys grew up together, right?" Rainbow brushed her mane out of her face, being wary around her nose. "You, Fleet and Soarin."

"Yeah. We've known each other since we were little. Soarin was always at my house, since his parents..." She cut herself off, glancing down at the cyan mare next to her. "His parents weren't the greatest." Dash tipped her head, a curious look on her face.

"Not the greatest?" She questioned.

"Always going away for work, and when they were home they basically ignored him. He ended up spending most nights my house, he's pretty much part of the family now." Spitfire explained. "But it's their loss, because they missed out on raising an amazing pony." She stared down at the ground.

"I..." Dash trailed off. "That just... sucks. I had no idea about his parents."

"Yeah, he doesn't really like advertising it." The yellow mare glanced at the door across the hall. "And, maybe don't tell him that I told you. He's kind of sensitive about it." Rainbow nodded her head. Spitfire laughed softly. "You know, I'm really glad we came to Ponyville. Life was getting a bit too... Routine at the compound."

"What? Life as a Wonderbolt would never be boring!" Dash exclaimed. Spitfire shook her head.

"Not boring, just routine. I think this is going to be good for us, especially Soarin. I worry about him sometimes, being all cooped up at the compound." Dash stayed silent. "I think this is going to be good for him." The Wonderbolt captain stood up and turned around. "I think you're going to be good for him. He needs a little adventure in his life." And with that, she trotted back across the hall and through the door, leaving Rainbow Dash alone in her room, pondering over what she just said.


Thud.

Soarin's peaceful slumber was interrupted by what sounded like a pony bashing their head against the wall.

Thud.

"The hell is that...?" He sleepily sat up in his bed, looking around. After Spitfire had returned from Rainbow's room, she and Fleetfoot had been told to leave as visiting hours were over. Soarin had been left alone, save for an unconscious Thunderlane, and had gotten bored rather
quickly. He tried to cross the hall and visit Dash, but had been stopped by Nurse Redheart because he "needed his rest".

Thud.

Soarin was now fully awake, and getting more curious by the minute. He climbed out of bed, being careful of his wing, and pushed the door open. The stallion peered up and down the hallway, seeing that the coast was clear of any hospital staff.

Thud.

The sound seemed to be coming from the room across the hall. Soarin trotted to the door and nudged it open slightly. There, sitting atop the bed, was Rainbow Dash.

Thud.

The source of the noise was discovered. Dash bounced a red rubber ball against the wall and caught it as it rebounded.

Thud.

She caught it again, humming slightly under her breath. Soarin pushed the door open a little further, clearing his throat.

"Hey." He stepped slightly into the room, distracting Dash, who missed the bouncy ball. It rolled across the floor, bumping into Soarin's hoof.

"Oh, hey." The prismatic mare ceased her humming and waved slightly at the stallion in her doorway.

"You've got a nice voice." Soarin took another step forward, scooping the red ball up as he went. Dash blushed slightly.

"Heh, thanks..." She trailed off, shrugging her shoulders. She noticed the pegasus inching through the door and snickered. "Care to come in?"
"The nurse busted me earlier for trying to leave my room." He explained, trotting towards her. "I don't want them to see me." Rainbow moved to one side of the bed, making room for Soarin to sit down.

"Well, now that you're here," She smirked. "I believe it's my turn to ask you some questions." Soarin sat next to her, remembering the night before, when he and Dash had gone out for a midnight flight.

"Go for it." He grinned.

"Favorite food."

"Apple pie. But you could have guessed that." Dash giggled at Soarin's answer.

"Favorite flight trick."

"Thunder Works." He replied without hesitating. Thunder Works involved using electric storm clouds, something Dash hadn't been able to master.

"Favorite colour."

"Blue."

Dash glanced sideways at the stallion next to her. She felt compelled to ask about Soarin's family, but remembered what Spitfire had said earlier and restrained herself. "Cutie mark story."

"Well, it's not that exciting..." Soarin shuffled his hooves.

"Well, I don't care. I wanna hear it."

Soarin looked down at his cutie mark. A lighting bolt, with golden wings. The symbol of the Wonderbolts. "Well, when I was little, I didn't really know much about the Wonderbolts." He began. "Spitfire and Fleetfoot talked about them all the time, but I wasn't very interested. Well, until I learned to fly, that is." He paused. "I was a late bloomer, sort of like Scootaloo. Spitfire and Fleet were both naturals in the air, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get the hang of flying. One day, Spit's family invited Fleet and I to go see a Wonderbolts show with them. Even though I didn't know much about them I decided to go, and it ended up being one of the greatest decisions of my life. I still remember watching the lead squad burst into the stadium, all dressed in their blue and yellow uniforms. That show was one of the best I've ever seen, and it inspired me to work even harder on learning how to fly. The looks on the ponies faces, you could see that they had found their passion in life, they were living their dream, and I wanted that." Soarin looked at Dash. "Do you remember Air Streak?"

"Yeah." She nodded. Air Streak had been the co-captain of the Wonderbolts when she was young.

"Well, Spitfire's dad was buddies with one of the Wonderbolt's security guards. He landed us a meeting with Air Streak, and even though I didn't really know who he was, I was beyond excited. The guard let us backstage, and there he was. Spitfire and Fleetfoot got a couple photos and autographs, but I hung back. Air Streak approached me, and bent down to my level. He asked if I wanted an autograph, but I said no." Soarin chuckled at the memory. "You should have seen the guy's face, getting turned down by a kid. But I didn't really want an autograph. Instead, I told him I wanted to be able to fly, and live my dream just like he did. I realised I wanted to be a Wonderbolt at that moment. I'll always remember what he said next. He leaned in really close, and said "Kid, I've been where you are before. I was the last foal in my class to learn how to fly, I crashed and burned countless times, and I was told that I could never be a Wonderbolt. But I didn't listen to them, and look where I am now. Life is going to knock you down, and you're going to want to give up sometimes. But you're going to get back up and keep trying, and you're going to succeed." Soarin looked down at his hooves before continuing. "Then he gave me his co-captain badge. I still have it, back at the compound. When it was time for us to go, he winked at me and said congratulations. I didn't understand what he meant until we got outside, and Fleetfoot pointed out my new cutie mark. I'm not sure if it came during the show, or when Air Streak talked to me, but it was clear what I was meant to do." Dash sat quietly for a couple moments.

"I think that's the greatest cutie mark story I've ever heard." She crossed her hooves over her chest. "And I thought mine was cool..." Soarin grinned.

"Well, you asked for it. Any other questions?"

"Mm, later." She decided. "Do you wanna go to the roof?"

"The roof?" Soarin asked. "Can you even get up there without flying?" He looked back at his injured wing.

"Yep. Ever heard of an elevator?" Rainbow sprang into the air, pulling him to his hooves. "C'mon!" She pushed open the door, looking both ways. When no hospital staff were spotted, she turned and beckoned Soarin through. "Follow me!"

"Hold on!" He whisper-yelled as she darted through the corridor. She was much faster than him, being able to use her wings, and within seconds she was gone. Soarin quickly trotted the direction she went, trying to be as quiet as possible. He turned the corner, just to see a set of elevator doors sliding shut, a cyan face plastered with a cheeky grin disappearing behind them. The stallion rolled his eyes, trying to contain a grin at the silly mare's antics, and poked the UP button with his hoof.

"Doctor!" A giggling voice reached Soarin's ears. "Stop it!" The Wonderbolt froze, holding his breath. The voice was coming from around the corner.

"But Nurse Redheart," A second voice joined the first. "I just can't resist..." Soarin recognised the voice as Doctor Stable. More giggling, presumably from Nurse Redheart.

"Well, if you insist..." She laughed. Soarin furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't know what was going on around the corner, but he knew that he definitely did not want to be caught by the pair. He strained his ears, trying to decipher if they were coming closer, but heard no more voices. He decided to not think about what might be going on. Thankfully, the elevator doors slid open with a swish, revealing the empty capsule. Soarin rushed in, jamming his hoof against the button labeled "ROOF".

"Wait, did you hear something?" Came the slightly muffled voice of Doctor Stable.

"No."

"Ok."

The doors slid closed, and began carrying the stallion to the very top level of the building. Cheerful music played from speakers attached to the ceiling. Soarin waited, tapping his hoof to the music. He briefly wondered what Spitfire and Fleet were up to, but as the elevator doors opened, all thoughts vanished from his head. The roof wasn't that exciting, lacking in decoration except for a couple of benches to sit on. The real view was the sky.

"Luna really outdid herself tonight." A voice spoke out of the darkness. Rainbow was perched on a bench near the edge of the roof, gazing towards the sky above. The deep expanse was full of glittering stars, accompanied by a crescent moon. Soarin approached the bench and sat down next to her.

"Yeah. She really did." He gazed at the colourful mare. Her large magenta eyes reflected the sparkling stars, making them seem infinite. Dash pointed one hoof at a constellation in the sky.

"See that?" She asked. Soarin tore his eyes away from her own and looked skywards. "Ursa Minor. Much prettier in the sky than in real life."

"Have you seen one in real life?" The stallion raised an eyebrow. He had been under the impression that Ursa Minor's were just an old legend. Dash didn't answer for a moment.

"...No." She wasn't sure why, but she felt hesitant about telling the Soarin and the Wonderbolts about the Elements of Harmony. Not many ponies outside of Ponyville knew, and she was sure that Celestia wanted to keep it that way.

"Oh." Soarin laughed. "You're an odd mare, Rainbow Dash. And I mean that as a compliment."

"Well, that's good. I would've taken it as a compliment anyways." Dash flapped her wings, raising slightly into the air. "You're a pretty weird dude yourself."

Soarin bowed and tipped an invisible hat."Why thank you." The pair sat in silence for a couple of moments before either spoke again. Dash broke the silence with a quiet yawn.

"Tired?" The large pegasus asked the smaller one.

"A bit." She admitted. "It's been sort of a long day." Soarin nodded. It was hard to believe that he and the other two 'Bolts had only been in Ponyville for two days.

"Got any big plans for tomorrow?" He stifled his own yawn with a hoof.

"Get out of the hospital, hopefully. Usually they only make me stay one night at the most, but you're a first-timer. You might have to stay another night." Dash glanced sympathetically at him.

"Awesome." He stuck out his tongue. "Don't do anything too fun without me... While I'm stuck here, in the hospital... All by myself..." Dash snorted, elbowing him in the side.

"What, you don't think we would come visit you? Listen Featherbrain, I'm not one to leave my friends hanging." Soarin rubbed his side, sniffling over-dramatically.

"W-what kind of friend elbows someone when they're already in the hospital?" He rubbed his eyes, trying to hide his smirk.

"An awesome friend." Dash poked him in the side again.

"Is that so, little-miss-I'm-so-awesome?" Soarin quirked an eyebrow. Dash nodded, trying to hide another yawn. "Well, should we call it a night?"

"I guess so." The mare slowly pumped her wings, hovering a couple of inches in the air. Soarin stood from the bench, and the two of them walked to the elevator. The "DOWN" button was pressed, and the doors slide open. Dash was about to step inside but froze.

"Hello Miss Dash."

"Uh, hello." She tried to smile innocently at the nurse in the elevator.

"Care to explain why you and Mister Soarin are out of your beds, when I specifically told you to stay put?"

"Well, you see-" She was cut off by Nurse Redheart.

"And on the roof?"

"Oh," Dash glanced around, faking a look of surprise. "Is this the roof? I guess we got lost... Looking for the bathroom?" She grinned nervously. Nurse Redheart rolled her eyes.

"Like you could get lost here, you practically live here!"

"Do not!" Rainbow pouted. "We'll just wait for the next elevator." The nurse glanced at Soarin, who hadn't said a word.

"Nope, you can ride with me." She stepped to one side of the car, making room for the pegasi. Dash stepped in, hiding her smirk from the nurse. Soarin followed behind.

"Ah, can you hit floor three?" Rainbow asked Nurse Redheart, who was closest to the panel of buttons.

"But you both are on floor two." She reminded them.

"Can you hit floor two?" Soarin snickered. The mare rolled her eyes before jabbing the button with her hoof. Dash bit her lip, trying to contain the oncoming fit of giggles. The silence in the elevator was incredibly awkward, with Nurse Redheart rolling her eyes at her patients, Rainbow looking like she was about to burst, and Soarin being reminded of the conversation he had heard between the nurse and Doctor Stable. He made the mistake of making eye contact with the cyan mare next to him. Dash puffed out her cheeks and crossed her eyes, causing Soarin to start to laugh, which made her break into a bout of giggles. Nurse Redheart looked at the two ponies and shook her head. The doors slid open, revealing a long hallway. Nopony stepped out of the elevator car.

"Uh, aren't you two gonna get off?" Nurse Redheart scrunched her eyebrows.

"Huh?" Dash laughed. "Isn't this floor three?"

"No, it's floor two!" Soarin nudged her in the side.

"Are you sure?" More snickering. Nurse Redheart was worried her eyes were going to get stuck if she kept rolling them this much.

"I think so."

"Oh my Celestia, just get off!" She pushed the giggling heaps of ponies out of the elevator doors before they could close. Once she was back inside, she jammed her hoof on the "Door close" button. The mechanical sheets of metal slid together, the nurses exasperated face disappearing from view.

"Sassy." Dash commented as she stood up.

"Says you." Soarin commented as he trotted down the hall. Dash quickly followed.

"Hey! You callin' me sassy?"

"Maybe." He smirked. The pair turned the corner into the long corridor that held their rooms. They were quiet for a moment, the only sound being Soarin's hooves against the tile floor.

"I like it here." He broke the silence.

"In the hospital?" Dash looked concerned. "Because I'm not sure that's a good thing."

"No." Soarin shook his head. "No, I mean Ponyville." He glanced at the pegasus floating overhead. "With you. It's fun." He stopped walking, unaware of the faint blush now covering Rainbow's face.

"Yeah. It is." She slowly dropped to the floor. They were standing outside of their rooms now, but each seemed hesitant to be the first to leave.

"Well, we should probably get some rest." Soarin shuffled his hoof on the ground.

"Yeah." Rainbow stared at her hooves.

"Good night Rainbow Dash."

"Good night Soarin." She replied, smiling. "See you in the morning." And with that, the two ponies went their separate ways, if being in rooms less than ten feet away from each other could be considered separate.