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// The Performance 
// Story: Soarin Through the Night 
// by Xero000 
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The Wonderbolts were performing for Royalty one day. Soarin' had performed his 720 loop and barrel twist in formation with the others. But he was only focused on one thing today. The princess of the night... As he flew with his thundering cloud trail behind him, he had a burning desire to break formation and declare his love in the sky right there, in big cloudy letters. "Luna, I love you!!!" But he was too determined at the moment to impress her with his perfomance. After a few more maneuvers and his signature death-defying dive, he and the other Wonderbolts had finished their routine. As he and the others were landing, he noticed two alicorns with flowing astral manes approaching him, and his heart began to race faster than in any performance he had ever been in. The taller of the two had gone over to one of his partners, Spitfire, to congratulate her. But Luna had chosen to talk to him out of the entire crew. "That was quite a performance, how do you all manage to perform such spectacular tricks?" Luna asked him. 

He was shaking quite a bit and he noticed her looking at him with a worried expression. "Oh I'm fine, it's just the adrenaline from the show", he lied. "But yeah, we practice every weekday, I'm glad you enjoyed the show!" He was in a complete mix of excitement and absolute wonder at her admiration of his performance, and her beauty. His gaze had drifted up to meet hers and in that moment of staring, he quickly became fearful that she would detect his emotions and his gaze droppped to the ground. He didn't see her confusion as she wondered what he was thinking. 

"Well, I really would enjoy seeing another performance of you all! And, if I may, I would love to fly among your group if I could." She said. 

He instantly responded," Yes, of course!!! Anything for you princess!!!" He instantly regretted his decision as he thought of how he sounded way to eager.

"That would be absolutely exciting! Thank you, um... I'm sorry, I never got your name. What is it?" She asked him. 

"Soarin... My name is Soarin." He was absolutely ecstatic, but he was careful to contain it. He hadn't been as excited since Rainbow Dash saved his pie at the Grand Galloping Gala. He watched Luna as she walked to her sister, and after a quick exchange of words, they left together back to the stands. 

He went over to Spitfire and she immediately asked him," You have a crush on Princess Luna, don't you?"

"Wha, how did you know!? Was I obvious?! Oh no, I invited her to fly with us!!!"He said in a panic.

"Relax", she told him," I could tell from your flying. You were a little off and you kept looking towards her. But don't worry, I know you, and you were moving way to fast for anypony in the stands to see." After a few moments, he was calm again, and the Wonderbolts went off to rest for the rest of the day, except for Soarin as he was repeating his encounter in his head.