Rainbow Dash was quite upset at the news of Soarin's departure. Rarity could hear her sobs outside of her bedroom door. She sighed. "What am I going to do with that pegasus?"
Rarity knocked on Rainbow Dash's door. "Rainbow?" she called. "Are you alright in there?"
"I told you to go away," Rainbow replied.
Rarity then opened the door. "What happened?"
Rainbow sighed. "Please leave me alone."
Rarity in return sat beside Rainbow's bed. "No, Rainbow Dash. I'm not going to leave until you tell me what happened with Soarin."
She's as stubborn as I am, Rainbow thought with a groan as she sat up to face Rarity. " I don't know what's wrong with me. I only knew him for such a short time, but now that he's leaving to join the Canterlot Army, I feel so empty."
Rarity's eyes lit up. "Joining the Canterlot Army? What a stallion!" She sighed with dreamy eyes.
Rainbow groaned again, and Rarity winced. "Ahem. I mean, that's awful. Why is it awful?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Because once he leaves, he'll be to busy to see me, or anyone else! He might be killed in battle! So many possible things could happen to him. I mean, I love him as a friend, but I'm just not sure anymore if..."
Rarity was genuinely surprised to see how serious Rainbow was. "Well, dearie, it doesn't matter if you love him one way or another. If you really care about him that much and don't want to lose him, please tell him before it's too late."
"You really think I could do that?" Rainbow asked, but then stopped herself. "Of course I can! I'm Rainbow Dash!"
"That's the spirit!" Rarity yelled.
___________________________
Soarin sighed as he packed away all of his things. He had signed up for the army months ago, but was now questioning his decision. How could he leave behind everything? His friends, his family, and Rainbow Dash, who he had not been able to get through to in time.
But Soarin needed a purpose. He wanted to die and be able to say he had impacted Equestria, which he could never do if he just was on some racing team, even if they are legendary. It was too late now, anyway. It's best I didn't become Rainbow's coltfriend, or anything like that. I would have been to attached to leave.
Still, Soarin couldn't get that rainbow maned pegasus out of his mind. Why would I even get to know her, anyway? The more I spent time with her, the more I fell for her. Soarin did visit Sweet Apple Acres for cider, but also because he had just quit the Wonderbolts to join the army and had needed to get away for a while.
I'm going to live with this pain for the rest of my life if I don't tell her how I feel, Soarin thought. But was Rainbow Dash really worth giving up his ambitions for?
Soarin had a gut feeling that Rainbow Dash was the one, the one who caused a spark to never be quenched. It was written on his soul, he felt. She was the one.
She, of all ponies, was worth it.
_____________________________________________
The next day dawned upon Equestria, and Rainbow awoke with a start.
"Soarin's leaving today," Rainbow Dash said aloud. No time for making herself pretty today. She didn't even notice her bedhead and ruffled coat as she flew out of her house.
Soarin's hot air balloon had arrived when he woke up. He rapidly went back and forth to pile his luggage into the basket so he could have some time before his departure to see Rainbow again, to see if he could stay with her.
Rainbow Dash was speeding towards Soarin's house when she saw his hot air balloon. She let out a sigh of relief. I'm not too late.
Soarin was about to go find Rainbow Dash when he saw her flying towards him.
Rainbow Dash collided with Soarin before he could react. Rainbow laughed nervously. "I need to work on my breaking skills, huh..."
Soarin just stared at her, and she stared back, they both opened their mouths to speak, but then they both said "You go first."
Soarin smiled a little. "I'll just get this out. Rainbow Dash, I've never met anypony like you, or any mare like you for that matter. I know it sounds cheesy, but I did like you from the start. As I spent more time with you, I kinda, sorta, maybe fell for you more than I had planned. I just hope if you don't feel the same way, you'll forgive me for being so naive and we can still be friends."
Rainbow smiled back, with tears in her eyes. "And I know I'm too late. I was going to keep my distance from you, since I know you're really set on being in the army and whatever. I'm not a mare for words, but I will always remember our time together. I never thought I'd have feelings for anypony, but then you came along, and you're leaving and I don't know what to do..."
"Hey," Soarin put his hoof on Rainbow's. "I'd rather have you than be a captain of the army. I'll stay with you." Soarin's face glowed, but something didn't feel right.
Rainbow thought for a moment. She didn't want to let Soarin go, but she also wanted him to be happy. At that moment, she realized she did love Soarin, even if their story had only just begun. How did she know? She would set him free.
"No, Soarin." Rainbow stood firm.
"What?"
"If you stay here, you'd have me, but you would still be unhappy. If you joined the army, I wouldn't be with you, but you would be happy. That's what matters."
"No! I'll be happy with you!"
"Soarin, I will drag you to Canterlot if I have to. Think about others, but think about yourself. You said yourself you wanted a purpose in life. What difference will I make?" Rainbow said regretfully as a single tear glistened and fell.
"I... I..." Soarin sighed. "I really haven't met anypony like you, Rainbow." He hung his head as he trotted into the hot air balloon.
Rainbow waved sadly as the hot air balloon drifted away, but then she thought of something she needed to do, for all the missed opportunities and so a memory will be fresh in both her and Soarin's mind.
"Wait!" She cried as she flew faster than ever before to catch up with the hot air balloon. Soarin turned his head. "Rainbow!" Soarin exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing up he-" Soarin was cut off by Rainbow kissing him full on the lips, and Soarin quickly embraced this as he put a hoof around her and kissed her back as Rainbow returned the favor by sliding a hoof up into his wild hair.
And there they stood, for what felt like days, weeks, months, as the hot air balloon drifted peacefully in the softly blowing wind. Their fluttering hearts beat as one as they shared a beautiful memory. When they finally broke away, Soarin escaped from his daze and murmured softly, "You do make a difference."
Rainbow waved to Soarin again, as their distance grew, until Rainbow could see nothing of him at all.