//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: All's Well That Ends Well 
// Story: Storm of Emotions 
// by 5746584864 
//------------------------------//

Soarin sat on a corner in the hall where Wind Rider, Rarity and Stormy Flare were. He was deep in thought, thinking about everything that happened.

Rainbow Dash was innocent all the time. Not only that, but she even went to bring Spitfire back, knowing it would stop her from performing with the Wonderbolts. He should have known better than to doubt her like that.

“Sheesh, still in the grumpy mood?” Fleetfoot's voice caught his attention. “Man, you're too boring lately,” she said as she approached.

“Thanks, Fleetfoot. I like you too,” he said sarcastically.

“Who doesn't?” Fleetfoot said smugly, before sitting beside him. “But now you really don't have any reason to be upset. We found out who was the real culprit, you don't have to kick Rainbow Dash out of the Wonderbolts and we know where Spitfire is. Everything's fine again.”

Soarin sighed. “She was innocent.”

Fleetfoot raised an eyebrow. “And...?” she motioned a hoof for him to continue.

“But I thought she could be the culprit for a moment,” he continued.

“So what? She wasn't,” she remarked.

“And I threatened to kick her out...”

“And you yourself said it was your duty. Seriously Soarin, can't you just go straight to the point?” she asked, with an annoyed tone.

He glanced at her, before looking back at his hooves and asking, “Do you think she's mad at me?”

Fleetfoot thought for a moment. “I don't know. You'd have to ask her. But even if she is, I'm sure it won't last long. Every couple has their fights,” she said. Soarin rolled his eyes, as Fleetfoot continued. “She loves you. She'll forgive you eventually.”

“Can't you be serious about anything?” he asked, looking at her flatly.

“What's the fun in that?” she said, rolling her eyes. “But, hey, did you really stop to think about that?”

“About what? The fun of being serious?” he asked.

“No, you dope. If she likes you,” Fleetfoot explained.

Soarin blinked as he contemplated the possibility. He didn't remember Rainbow Dash showing any sign of liking him romantically. They were nothing more than good friends.

Well, she did blush when she saw him at the dinner, but that doesn’t mean anything, right?

“I don't think she does,” he said, trying to seem indifferent.

“And how do you feel about that?” Fleetfoot asked him.

Soarin avoided his gaze as he thought. He wouldn't admit it to anypony, but, deep inside, the thought that Rainbow Dash probably didn't see him as anything more than a friend made him kinda... frustrated.

But why was that? It wasn't like he... wanted her to like him, right?

He snapped back to reality as Fleetfoot waited for his answer patiently, with that smirk of hers on her face.

“I'm fine with that. It's not like I wanted to date her or anything,” he replied, shrugging.

Fleetfoot's expression flattened. “You're a terrible liar,” she said, getting up and hovering to another corner of the room, before Soarin could say anything else.



“How would you like Wind Rider's spot on the show?” Spitfire asked Rainbow Dash.

“W-What? You can't do this to me! I'm one of the greatest Wonderbolts that ever was!” Wind Rider protested.

“Not anymore. For attempting to frame Rainbow Dash, I hereby strip you out of your Wonderbolt status,” Spitfire said, taking his golden Wonderbolt pin as other Wonderbolts led him out of the hall.

Rainbow watched wide eyed as the whole thing happened.

“So,” – Soarin started, turning to Rainbow Dash – “would you like to fly with us?”

Rainbow instantly smiled. “Would I?” she said, before flying and bursting in excitement, again. “WOO-HOO!” she shouted as she danced above the hall.

“Uh, Rainbow Dash?” Soarin called.

Rainbow came back to reality and looked back at him sheepishly, blushing. “Coming!” she said as she followed him and the other Wonderbolts out of the door.



The aerial display was a success! A lot of ponies came to watch the Wonderbolts' performance at the Royal Garden opening. The show happened without any more problems, and Rainbow Dash couldn't be happier in being, literally, the center of attention.

Soarin was happy that everything turned out fine. He was glad his best friend was back and that Rainbow Dash had a chance to perform with them.

He was still worried though. He didn't talk to Rainbow yet since she was proven innocent, aside from when he invited her to fly with them, so he couldn't tell if she was mad at him or not, and it was almost time for her to go back to Ponyville. He wanted to be sure if everything was still okay between them.

Soarin was getting out of his room in the castle when he saw, from the corner of his eye, a pony with a multicolored mane passing through the hallway, past his bedroom. He looked to see Rainbow Dash trotting towards the exit of the hallway with a saddlebag on her back.

He had to talk to her, at least to apologize. He didn't want her to go without her knowing he felt bad for all that happened.

He hesitated for a moment, before trotting to her. “Hey, Rainbow Dash,” he called her, in a casual tone.

Rainbow looked behind to see him. “Oh, hey Soarin!” she said with a smile as she stopped walking to let him catch up.

Soarin reached her and they started walking side by side.

“So, is everything alright?” he started.

“Are you kidding? I've just had a chance to perform with my idols. How could I be better?” she said excitedly.

Soarin smiled. “I'm happy for you.”

“But why do you ask?” Rainbow inquired, although she already imagined the reason.

“Well... You know, everything you just went through. I wanted to know if you're okay,” he said, rubbing his neck with a hoof. “Seems like I don't need to worry about that though,” he smiled.

“Nope,” Rainbow shook her head.

“You still wanna be a Wonderbolt after all of this?” Soarin asked.

“Of course! You think I'd give up on my dream just because of this? Who the hay do you think I am?” she smirked.

Soarin chuckled. “Of course. What was I thinking?”

Rainbow bit her bottom lip, contemplating if what she would say would make her look weak. “I have to admit I got a little... discouraged, with everything that happened,” she finally admitted. Soarin looked at her, with concern. “But that was only for a moment. It's gonna take much more than that to make me back down,” she continued, puffing her chest.

Soarin gave her a weak smile in response. Rainbow Dash could tell something was up with him, but decided to let him say it himself if he felt like.

They walked quietly for a moment, before Soarin stopped and broke the silence. 

“Hey, Dash.”

“Hmm?” she asked, stopping too.

“I...” he started. “I just wanted to say I'm sorry.”

Rainbow looked back in confusion. “What for– Oh, you mean that?”

“Yeah, I mean... for doubting you and threatening to ban you,” he said, lowering his head.

‘So he did doubt me...’ Rainbow Dash thought, but shook her head.

“Hey, there's no problem. You did what you had to do in your position,” Rainbow said understandably.

“Yeah, and I'd feel terrible if I had to ban you. But I shouldn't have suspected you. I should've known you wouldn't send Spitfire away only to take her spot,” he told her.

“You weren't the only one. Almost everypony thought it was me. It's no big deal,” she assured.

“Still. You're my friend and I should've trusted you,” Soarin insisted.

“Does it look like I'm mad at you?” Rainbow asked. Soarin looked at her. She was smiling, a smile that didn't seem forced at all. A warm and friendly smile.

“No,” Soarin replied.

“So you don't need to worry about that. It's cool, really,” she said.

Soarin smiled in relief. “That's good to know. I was worried you'd be disappointed or something. Sorry then.”

“For what?” Rainbow asked in confusion.

“I don't know. For saying I'm sorry?” he said, with his trademark goofy grin.

She chuckled. “Stop apologizing.”

“Sorry...” he repeated, avoiding his gaze. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at him. “I was kidding this time,” he said, with a smirk.

Rainbow smirked back and the two shared a chuckle. 

Soarin continued to accompany her until the entrance of the castle. They stopped as soon as they reached the front door.

“So... It was good to see you again,” Soarin smiled at her.

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah. It was good to see you guys too even though you almost kicked me out of the Wonderbolts,” she said. Soarin's eyes widened slightly and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “I'm kidding,” she chuckled.

Soarin blinked, before chuckling too.

“Until next time then?” he asked, extending a hoof at Rainbow.

“Sure,” she smiled, shaking his hoof with hers.

“Bye,” Soarin said, smiling back, as their hooves parted.

“Bye,” Rainbow replied, with a nod, and walked towards the door. Soarin turned and started walking in the opposite direction. 

He took some steps, before Rainbow Dash called him again.

“Soarin?”

Soarin stopped and turned his head to look at her. She had stopped too. Her gaze was darting between him and the wall beside him, and it looked like she was contemplating something.

“Yes?” he replied, turning completely towards her.

Rainbow Dash bit her bottom lip and, after a moment of hesitation, trotted towards Soarin, tackling him into a hug.

Soarin's eyes widened. He glanced at the mare who had her hooves wrapped around him, not sure about what to do.

“Thank you, Soarin,” Rainbow started, still embracing the Wonderbolt. “It's nice to know you were worried about how I was feeling. It's good to feel like somepony here really cares about me.”

Soarin was still surprised by the sudden display of affection, but relaxed, smiled and returned the hug.

“No problem, Dash. If you ever need a friend while you're with us, you can count on me,” Soarin said.

“Thanks,” Rainbow replied, letting go of him. “So, bye then,” she said, taking some steps backwards.

“Bye,” Soarin said back, before contemplating something else he had on his mind since the dinner. “Um, hey...” he started. 

Rainbow, who was already turning around, stopped and looked at him. “Yeah?”

“I heard you say something at the dinner about you not having the endurance to go long distances. Is it right?” he asked.

Rainbow smirked. “Were you overhearing my conversation?”

“Maaaybe?” Soarin said innocently.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Yeah, that's right. Why?”

“Well, I think I can help you with that,” he said.

“Really?” she grinned, throwing her wings straight up in excitement.

“Sure. We just need to schedule some day of the week for us to meet at the academy,” Soarin said. “So, what you say?”

“That would be awesome!” she said excitedly, tackling him in another tight, but quick hug, accompanied by an impulsive, and equally quick, peck on his cheek, that took him by surprise and brought a mad blush to his cheeks. 

“So I'll check my schedule and send you a letter telling you when I'm free,” she said as soon as she ended the hug. Soarin was looking at her blankly. “Hello? Equestria to Soarin?” she waved a hoof in front of his face.

“Huh?” Soarin blinked as he snapped back to reality. “Oh, yeah. Okay,” he nodded quickly, still a little affected.

“Thank you very much, Soarin,” she said thankfully, not noticing, or not seeming to notice, the stallion's red face.

“No prob. As I said, you can count on me,” he repeated, relieved that his cheeks seemed to be stopping burning.

Rainbow smiled. “I gotta go now or I'll lose the train,” she pointed a hoof at the door.

“Okay. See you at the academy then?” Soarin asked.

“Yeah, see ya there,” she said, taking some steps backwards and waving her hoof at him. “Bye!”

“Bye!” he waved back.

Rainbow nodded and turned away, walking through the door and soon taking flight in the direction of the train station.

Soarin walked to the doorway, standing there with a smile on his face as he watched the mare flying. Rainbow Dash turned her head at his direction and waved a hoof. He waved back, and soon, she was flying at full speed to her destination.

Even after Rainbow left his field of view, Soarin stood there for a moment, staring at the direction she left to, and thinking about everything that happened. Who would guess such bad circumstances would end so well?

Soarin let out a happy sigh, turning to go back to the other Wonderbolts...

Only to meet the smirking faces of Spitfire and Fleetfoot right behind him.



Rainbow Dash crossed the Canterlot skies with a grin on her face. Everything was perfect. Or, as she would say, everything was awesome. She was proven innocent, she performed with her idols and her friendship with Soarin wasn't affected. She felt like they were even closer than before. Now, she was even glad all of that had happened. Yeah, it was awful at first, but it got her a chance to fly with the Wonderbolts and another chance to prove her loyalty to Soarin.

Err, not only to him, of course. To all of the Wonderbolts. But... just maybe, she cared a little more when it came to him.

Who knows? Maybe they did have a connection deeper than they thought. Maybe all the insinuations that Rarity had been making had a reason.

‘Nah,’ Rainbow Dash stubbornly pushed the thought away as she continued to fly towards the train station.

She spotted Rarity from the sky as soon as she got there, and landed beside her friend.

Rarity looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?”

“Me? I'm great! Why do you ask?” Rainbow asked.

Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but shook her head. “Nothing, nothing...” 

How Rainbow Dash didn't take notice of the ridiculously big grin she had in her face was a mystery.

Rarity smiled at her friend. ‘I wonder what got her so happy,’ she thought.

Rarity didn't know that the answer was closer than she thought. Of course, she would never get it out from Rainbow Dash, for the pegasus wouldn't admit it even to herself.

Her happiness had a name. Its name, his name, was Soarin.