Wave Chill had given Stoner back to Soarin, who took him in a way that made Stoner feel like it was out of unwanted obligation, and then the three Wonderbolts smashed through the cloudbank to the redoubled cheers of the stadium. Usually, they were cheering for Rainbow Dash, but today, it was all about Soarin.
The team accepted the trophy and got their pictures taken with it, and after that, they could do what they wanted. Most of the team stayed out to do some extra gallivanting for the crowds; usually, Rainbow Dash would have stayed the longer than anyone doing tricks and barrel rolls until the stadium was almost empty; but today, after about ten minutes, she skulked off by herself when all eyes were on Soarin.
Funny, Stoner hadn’t taken her to be the pouting type.
Soarin had always had a crush on Rainbow Dash, but since putting on that amulet, this had turned into a weird, creepy obsession that caused Soarin to follow her, de-suit in record time and run into her as she was sneaking out the backdoor. “Hey, wait up!” Rainbow Dash turned, she didn’t look as happy to see Soarin this time, but at least she stopped. “I wanted to apologize.” Said Soarin evenly, “I know I should have talked to you before stealing the show, it’s just… I didn’t want to try and promise you anything I couldn’t deliver on, and I didn’t know I was ready until today.
I've been testing a new formula designed by one of the professors in Celestia’s School for gifted unicorns; it increases speed, stamina, reflexes; everything, and it’s perfectly legal. I wanted to tell you about this before, but… I couldn’t bear the idea of getting your hopes up and then letting you down again."
Rainbow Dash looked at him thoughtfully, as Soarin continued, "These last few weeks have been excruciating: late night purges, headaches, all smattered with intermediate bursts of speed and reflexes like you saw today; but when I woke up this morning, everything was crystal clear. I took some tests with the professor and passed them all with flying colors. I knew I was ready for this… but I didn’t have time to show you what I could do, and I knew you wouldn’t agree to change the script at the last moment without proof. Will you forgive me?”
Rainbow Dash hesitated for a long time; she seemed suspicious, particularly at how many words Soarin was using at one time, but then she smiled, and held out her hoof, “We won the last round by half a point. There is absolutely no question that your Soarbang won the Canterlot Cup, and I don’t argue with results.”
“Thank you” grinned Soarin happily, taking her hoof in his, “But I still feel like I need to make it up to you. Maybe I could take you out to dinner, and we could discuss you being the second participant in trialing the new formula.”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes flickered in anticipation, but only for a moment, “…Could we do that tomorrow?”
“What’s wrong with today?”
“I already have plans. It was my sister's birthday last week, and I wasn't able to be there because I was too busy preparing for The Cup. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her, but I promised that as soon as I was free, we’d spend the day-”
Two quartets of hooves thundered across the pavement behind Soarin, who turned to see a filly and colt charging Rainbow Dash at full speed. The colt shied away and began to slow down about ten paces off, but the filly kept coming, wings buzzing excitedly until she hurled herself into Rainbow Dash’s waiting arms. “You were amazing!”
Rainbow Dash held the filly out at wings length, and rubbed her mane, “You too Scootaloo’ I reckon you must have flown the last five yards to get to me, now who's your friend?”
“They made a video game about you!” blurted out the colt, rearing excitedly.
Scootaloo giggled, “This is Button Mash, ever since they put your new game in the arcade me, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom have been playing it whenever we get the chance, but we need a fourth player to do team battles so we play with Button Mash and I always go with him because he so totally wins everything. Is it OK if he comes with us today?”
“Where are Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom?”
Scootaloo shrugged, “Doing something with their sisters I guess.”
Rainbow Dash eyed Button Mash then back to Scootaloo with an impish grin, “So I tell you we can do whatever you want for your birthday; you don’t bring your friends, but you bring him. Is he-”
“-Is he your coltfriend?” Scootaloo asked suddenly, pointing towards Soarin.
Rainbow Dash faltered after being beaten to the punch, turning bright pink, “W-wha-no-Soarin and I are just friends!”
“Oh; sure.” Smirked Scootaloo, rolling her eyes, “I saw the way you two hugged during the finale, and you were up above the clouds way longer than you needed to be. What were you doing? Smooching?”
“No! We were just talking about… you know what, it’s none of your business!”
Soarin laughed confidently, “Well maybe we’re not a couple per se, but let’s just say that Rainbow Dash and I are having dinner tomorrow to discuss… well... adult things.”
"You're not going to propose to her are you?" asked a wide-eyed Button Mash.
"Not if he knows what's good for him he's not." growled Dash quickly.
"You're right" smiled Soarin, "If I was going to propose I'd need to do something way more romantic than just dinner; like maybe an airship cruise over the Alps of Prance or a snorkeling adventure in the reefs off the Carriagebean Islands." Rainbow Dash blushed suddenly, and Soarin laughed, “Come on Rainbow Dash, what don’t we H-U-M-O-R them this one time?”
Wait; what did Soarin just say? Both the foals looked as confused as Stoner, making him feel like he wasn’t a total idiot, but normally he could understand everything Soarin said. That amulet wasn’t just making him fast and evil; he was getting smarter.
Rainbow sighed turning to Scootaloo, “Let's get lunch. I’m buying.”
"I'm in," said Soarin quickly.
"Wait, who invited you?"
"You did; just now."
Dash rolled her eyes, and Scootaloo prodded her playfully on the shoulder, "Come on Rainbow Dash; you're not going to leave your coltfriend behind; are you?"
Dash huffed, "Fine he can come. Now can we eat?"
“Of course!” agreed Scootaloo, “Right after you give Soarin a kiss.”
“What!?”
“You know, just a little something to show him you’re interested.” Teased Scootaloo; prodding her in the shoulder.
Rainbow Dash made a face like she’d just been told to take her medicine, swiped her mouth near Soarin’s cheek, without touching it, and made a kissing sound. “There, it's done; let’s go eat.”
“You call that a kiss?” challenged Button Mash.
“I couldn't agree more.” Chirped Soarin, stepping forwards; in one fluid movement he stepped forwards, swept Dash's hooves out from under her and then caught her face up, and planted a kiss on her lips so deep that it caused both foals jaws to drop and even Stoner to blush a little. Soarin balanced both their weights with just one wing, supporting Dash behind the wings and neck with his hooves, while his other wing made several fast laps from her chest to her flank in the few seconds that he held her. Rainbow Dash jolted when he first grabbed her, but then failed to resist, her eye’s fluttering momentarily before Soarin pulled back, flipping her back to her hooves, “Now we can go eat. I’m buying.”