//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2. I Had to Listen for It 
// Story: Free Falling 
// by Scquishiey 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash was close to falling asleep until she heard a noise like someone was yelling in the distance.

Rainbow Dash quickly opened her half-lidded eyes and sprang up from the floor, trotting over towards the cave ledge, carefully looking over the edge to examine where the noise came from, and saw a mysterious figure plummeting straight down towards the hole in the side of the mountain right where she stood. 

CRASH

Rainbow Dash blacked out for a few seconds before opening her eyes and realized that she was laying down on her back with another pony on top of her as they were both touching muzzle to muzzle. 

“AAAHHH!” Shouted the other pony.

“AAAHHH!” Shouted Rainbow Dash. 

They both sprang up and backed away from each other quickly, Rainbow Dash towards the back of the cave, and the other pony towards the ledge. They stared at each other with wide eyes.

Rainbow Dash shook herself out of her stupor when she instantly recognized the pony who sat across from her. 

The pony was a light blue Pegasus stallion with a navy blue mane, he was slightly larger than she was, and wore a pair of gold colored flight goggles over his emerald green eyes. It was none other than the second-in-command, Soarin of the Wonderbolts; the aerial team that Rainbow Dash had been obsessed with ever since she was a little filly.

“S-Soarin?” Rainbow Dash stuttered in disbelief.

“Rainbow Dash?” Soarin said quietly. “What are you doing here?” He pushed his goggles up to his forehead to get a clearer look of her.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash had met numerous times before which is why she didn't go into her fanfilly mode like in her younger days, but still, she was surprised to see him literally drop on by.

“I should be asking you the same question.” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.

Soarin chuckled a bit before responding. “Well, I was flying through here on my day off to just relax and what not, until that crazy storm broke out.” Soarin replied while pointing a fore hoof out towards the storm to emphasize what he was talking about. “I made it halfway through the storm until my wings froze up and gave out from the cold and I came crashing down here. So, what about you?”

Rainbow Dash looked out into the storm wondering how he was able to get this far from where he was when she was barely able to lift herself up in that crazy weather, but then again, Pegasus stallions were built for strength flying while Pegasus mares were more aerodynamic and agile. She made a mental note to do some strength training when she had the time.

Rainbow Dash looked down at her hooves before replying, “Oh, uhhh, just practicing some new, awesome tricks.” She flashed a cocksure grin while puffing out her chest. 

“Hah.” Soarin let out a small chuckle. “You’re covered in grass and dirt. That must have been some trick you pulled off.”

Rainbow Dash looked down at herself–she was filthy and had grass clippings stuck to her coat and feathers.

“Oh, heheh, yeah it was.” Rainbow Dash said quietly while avoiding his gaze and rubbed a fore hoof on the back of her neck.

Soarin looked at her with a sincere smile and a compassionate look in his eyes.

Rainbow Dash looked up at him with her big, magenta eyes fixed on his mane, which was usually styled in a Mohawk, was now a sopping wet, disheveled mess; like a mane that belonged to a surfer after riding some rough waves. Not to mention his voice also sounded like it belonged to a stereotypical avid surfer which made him look even more like one every time he talked. 

Rainbow Dash tried to suppress a giggle after thinking these thoughts.

“What’s so funny?” Soarin asked with a confused look.

“Pfffft, heh, it’s just that your mane is a mess!” Rainbow Dash burst out laughing.

Soarin blinked a few times before replying, “Hey! Yours is no better!”  He walked up to the hysterical mare and plucked a leaf out of her mane.

Rainbow Dash stopped laughing and glanced over at the leaf Soarin held in his hoof, and then moved her eyes until they met his. 

The two Pegasi burst out into a fit of laughter and then sat down next to each other near the edge of the cave opening, both looking out into the storm.

“It sure is beautiful out here.” Soarin spoke in an awed whisper as he looked out into the grassy plain.

Rainbow Dash looked at him and then turned her head towards the storm.

Even though the rain was loud and heavy, and the strong winds made the lanky pine trees bend to the point where they looked like they could snap in half at any given second, it was surprisingly very calming and peaceful to look at especially from where the two Pegasi were perched. They could both see as far out where the land ended due to their keen Pegasi eyesight. Rainbow Dash hated anything sappy, but right now she had to agree with what he had said. It truly was a sight to behold.

“Brrrr.” Rainbow Dash shivered.

“You cold?” Soarin asked, glancing down at the mare beside him.

“What? Me? Psh, nah.” Rainbow Dash replied, still shivering.

“Hmmm…” Soarin looked at her with a raised eyebrow, not totally convinced. 

Rainbow Dash looked up at him with her big, rosy eyes. 

Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. “Okay, okay, maybe just a little.” Rainbow Dash gave in.

“Heh, that’s Rainbow Dash for yah, always trying to keep up that tough girl attitude.” Soarin smirked and glanced down at her. 

“Hey! I do have a reputation to keep up yah know!” Rainbow Dash defended.

KABOOM! 

A lightning bolt struck a nearby tree.

“EEEEPPPP!!!” Rainbow Dash jumped and threw her wings straight up as she let out a high-pitched, girly shriek. 

Soarin was more surprised from the noise that escaped Rainbow Dash’s mouth than the lightning bolt that hit the pine tree.

“Pfffftttt! Hahahahaha! Whoa what was that?!” Soarin fell over onto his back, tears bursting out of his eyes, whilst he held on to his sides, kicking his back legs up in the air unable to contain his laughter, making small horse noises in between.

“Hey! What’s so funny?!” Rainbow Dash cast a death stare towards the laughing stallion sprawled out on the rock floor of the cold cave. 

Rainbow Dash was crouched down on all four hooves, bearing angry eyes, and flaring nostrils, looking as if she were about to pounce on him at any moment. 

“Hah hah hah!” Soarin wiped away a tear from his eye and sat up straight and took a long inhale and exhale of the chilly air before he spoke.

He turned towards her, her face was red, and she was shaking, probably now from anger more than the cold.

“Oh nothing, it’s just that I wouldn't expect you out of all ponies to have such a high pitched scream, haha.” Soarin said, sounding out of breath due to his fit of laughter.

Rainbow Dash’s face grew redder with embarrassment.

“I–I DO NOT!” Rainbow Dash’s voice cracked from it being louder and angrier than usual.

“Whoa, whoa!” Soarin said with wide eyes when he noticed the look on her face and held up his fore hooves defensively, and he knew if he wanted to get out of here alive, he would have to apologize.

“Sorry Dash, I didn't mean to offend you.” Soarin said quietly and apologetically.

Rainbow Dash realized that she may have overreacted to the whole situation just a tinsy bit.

Rainbow Dash sighed; the red in her cheeks receded and went back to their normal, cyan color.

“It’s cool.” Rainbow Dash said with her eyes closed and nose in the air as she sat back down next to him.

“Heh, well I think it’s actually kind of adorable.” Soarin stated with a smile as he was once again looking out into the storm. 

Rainbow Dash’s cheeks once again turned a shade of red, but not from anger.

“Hey you still cold?” Soarin asked. 

Rainbow Dash snapped herself back into reality and looked up at him quickly.

“Oh… Uh… Yeah, sure.” Rainbow Dash answered meekly, not sure how he intended to fix that. 

Soarin looked at her while smiling softly and nodded. He then proceeded to drape his left wing around Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes shot wide open while her blush grew into a deeper shade of red.

They were both quiet for several minutes. Soarin was looking out into the storm that was starting to calm down a bit. It was still heavy, but not as strong as before, and even the wind was also starting to die down. 

Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what was happening. She felt funny. This was a completely new feeling that she had never experienced before. What was this strange feeling forming inside of her?

Rainbow Dash looked down at the wing that was strewn over her. It was a few lighter shades of blue than hers; it was also bigger and much stronger than hers as well. 

It didn't warm her up all the way, but it was better than being in the state that she was in before. She felt safe. She was glad that Soarin had crash landed in the same place that she was in so she wouldn't have to be stuck out here alone. 

She gazed over at his toned, muscular forearm, most likely being that way due to all the training at the academy. She stared intently at it and unconsciously started to lean her head sideways against his shoulder…