//------------------------------// // Clearing Clouds of Blue // Story: Soaring Rainbows // by Just A Random Pegasus //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash quickly spread her wings and looked up at the morning sky. The sunshine shone through the white, fluffy clouds that adorned the sky over Ponyville. As a breeze blew, Rainbow flapped her wings and was off. She felt the breeze cut her mane as she flew into a cloud, which instantly burst upon impact. Rainbow smiled as she continued running into clouds; feeling the nice, chilling feeling of bursting through clouds. Once she was finished, she descended. She looked at the sky and smiled. Her thoughts then instantly drifted to last night. She remembered flying with the Wonderbolts in that very sky. She felt heat rise to her face when Soarin entered her mind. "You forgot one!" A familiar voice yelled from behind. Rainbow shook her head to snap herself from her trance. She thought the voice was her imagination. "Hey! Rainbow Dash!" The voice called again. Rainbow's ears perked upright as she realized it wasn't her imagination. "Yeah?" She asked as she saw a hovering form. She then realized it was Soarin. She gazed into his emerald eyes for a second before briefly looking at the ground. "You forgot a cloud. I got it," he responded as he kicked the cloud, causing it to vanish. Rainbow looked up at him and smiled. "What are you doing here? I would think you would rather be hanging out in Cloudsdale than down here!" Soarin shrugged as he looked into Rainbow's eyes. "I thought it would be nice to escape the clouds and walk on solid ground for a short amount of time." He then looked down to his stomach, looking hungry. "Do you know any place to get some nice treats?" Rainbow nodded. "Of course! Sugarcube Corner makes the best desserts!" Soarin smiled. "Alright! Wanna tag along?" "Sure!" Rainbow responded without hesitation. She flew up next to Soarin and continued walking. Soarin glanced at her and smiled. "It is very nice down here. A very different environment than Cloudsdale, that's for sure," Soarin remarked, looking at the buildings. "Uh... yeah. It is very different," Rainbow responded. She then saw two pegasus fillies come to a stop right in front of her and Soarin. "Oh my gosh! You're Soarin!" A filly said as she and her friend bounced up and down in excitement. "Uh... yeah!" Soarin responded as the two hovered in the air. "Can you sign this piece of paper?" One asked, shoving paper in his face. "Can you sign my saddlebag?" The other one added on as her friend looked at her. "That's a good idea!" She then took her saddlebag off her back. "Can you sign both my bag and the paper?" "Hey! I want to have two signatures as well!" The other than took out a piece of paper. Soarin backed up a few paces as the two fillies gave him sweet, adorable eyes. "Alright. It's always nice to meet fans." One of the fillies gave him a pen; which he used to sign. "Thankyousomuch!" The fillies responded excitedly in unison. They then giggled as they flew off; pretending they were Wonderbolts dashing through the sky. Rainbow chuckled. "They remind me of myself at that age." She then chuckled again. "Is it awesome having fans all over Equestria?" Soarin gave her a nudge on her shoulder, which made Rainbow flush. "You would know. You're famous, y'know." Rainbow smiled as she remembered. "Oh, right! I am famous!" She then nudged him back. "But I'm not a Wonderbolt like you." "Not yet. You heard Spitfire and Fleetfoot. They think you're a great flier!" Soarin responded as Rainbow beamed. "Thanks for reminding me of my awesomeness. I can't believe I forgot about how cool I am!" Rainbow responded as Soarin chuckled. She then looked up to see Sugarcube Corner. "We're here!" "What?" Soarin asked as he looked up. "Oh. Alright!" The two walked through the door; a bell signaling their arrival. Mrs. Cake, who was working at the counter at the time, looked up and gave a friendly smile. "Hello, you two! What can I get ya?" Soarin scanned the desserts in the case as Rainbow made her order. "I'll have a chocolate cupcake, please!" Mrs. Cake put a cupcake in front of her as Soarin got a huge smile. "I'll have that raspberry pie in the case!" Mrs. Cake gave Soarin a smile. "Of course! I'm sure you get hungry as a Wonderbolt!" She then put the pie in front of him as he licked his lips hungrily. "Yum! Thank you, ma'am!" He and Rainbow then put their bits on the counter. "You're welcome, cupcake! I hope you enjoy!" Mrs. Cake responded before walking into the kitchen. Rainbow and Soarin walked down to a circular table and sat across from each other. Realization hit Rainbow as she realized it was just the two of them together. She felt some heat rise to her face but quickly shook it off. "Hey Dashie!" Called a voice from across the bakery. Rainbow looked to see Pinkie Pie descending the stairs. "Oh, hey, Pinkie!" Rainbow responded. Soarin turned around and caught sight of the bubbly mare bouncing up to Rainbow. "So... what'ya two doing here?" She asked, giving Rainbow a certain look. Rainbow rolled her eyes because of the look Pinkie was giving her. "Soarin wanted some treats, so I suggested we visit here." Pinkie slowly nodded her head. "Okie dokie lokie..." She then squinted her eyes and walked a few paces away; still looking at Rainbow Dash. "I'll be watching..." she whispered as she walked out of the bakery. Soarin looked over at Rainbow. "Did you do something to make her mad?" Rainbow flushed and looked into his emerald eyes. "No! She's always like this." Soarin smiled. "Wow. She sure is an interesting pony." He then took his last bite of pie as Rainbow stared at him in disbelief. "You already finished that?" Soarin nodded. "Of course! That was delicious!" He then turned to look at a clock on the wall. "Oh! I gotta go!" He started walking towards the door as he looked back at Rainbow Dash. "Wanna come to Cloudsdale in two days to fly with me, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot again? They told me to ask you while I was visiting." Rainbow Dash smiled. "Sure!" Soarin gave her a smile back. "Alright! See you at the Wonderbolts Training Center in two days!" "See ya!" Rainbow responded as Soarin waved and trotted out of the bakery. Rainbow's smile faded as she watched him fly away. The door creaked open as a pink blur rocketed in a took a seat next to Rainbow. "I'm always watching..." Pinkie said as Rainbow looked over at her. The pink mare then disappeared as quickly as she appeared.