//------------------------------// // Chapter 15: Misunderstandings // Story: Happiness and Tears // by flaminkomage //------------------------------// Happiness and Tears RDcrystalheart Chapter 15: Misunderstandings "You're in love, aren't you?" Spectrum gazed down at his son with a stern look. Soarin's eyes widened as his father asked the question he'd been dreading the most. Did he know about Rainbow Dash? "What?" Soarin asked, stalling and buying time to think of a suitable approach to the situation. Spectrum's glare softened; he thought Soarin was nervous... that he didn't want to admit to his feelings towards Spitfire. "You're in love, aren't you?" he repeated. At that moment, Cloudy Quartz and Spitfire entered the room. Cloudy gasped upon hearing her husband's question. Was he finally revealing his plan to him? Spitfire broke into a grin. Finally! She would be able to approach Soarin in a much more intimate manner after today. Soarin gulped. "Uh... yeah," he finally settled on saying, bracing himself for the incoming scolding. "Yeah... I am." Spitfire silently cheered in her mind, and Cloudy winced as she realized whom her son was referring too. Spectrum let out a low laugh. "Yes!" he cheered, turning to his wife. "Didn't I tell you?" he asked with a happy expression. Cloudy bit her lip, while Soarin looked confused. "Wait... what?" he asked, trying to make sense of what was going on. "Oh do I know my son or what?!" Spectrum said, putting his hooves on Soarin's shoulders. Soarin did a double-take. "Oh Son..." Spectrum started again. "Today... today you have made me a very happy man." Soarin was confused. He had always thought his father would be angry, or at the least, disappointed, when he found out about Rainbow Dash. He didn't at all expect him to be so overly joyed. "I... I don't know what to say! You're... you're happy I have these feelings for her?" Soarin asked nervously, giving a peek at Cloudy and Spitfire sitting on a couch looking upon the two. Spitfire looked the happiest she ever had, while his mother was giving him a look of concern. What was going on? "Oh... of course I'm happy! I can't believe this is actually happening!" Spectrum said again, enveloping his son in another hug. "I told your mother... but she didn't believe me! And now... ahh!" Soarin cautiously hugged back, while looking at his mother. He gave her a relieved look, mouthing the words, 'he knows?' Cloudy simply shook her head. Oh boy... Soarin quirked his eyebrows. His father... didn't know? Then what was all this about?" "I just hope... that you'll make Spitfire happy too," Spectrum finished. All the blood drained from Soarin's face as his eyes widened in realization and pure shock. Wait... what? Spitfire? Who said anything about Spitfire? Spitfire, who had been smiling like an idiot, suddenly lowered her gaze. She understood. She understood why Soarin had just looked at her like that. She knew. Spitfire turned to Cloudy, biting her lip. Cloudy only nodded back to Spitfire, confirming her suspicions. Soarin didn't love her. He never loved her. He loved somepony else. Somepony else that wasn't her. "What... what was that all about?" Spitfire asked, turning to Cloudy. Spectrum had trotted off happily and left Soarin to walk off too... though him in utter confusion. Cloudy sighed, turning to the younger mare in pity. "I'm really sorry, Spitfire... I know how much he meant to you," she said softly, pulling Spitfire in for a tender hug. Spitfire breathed out something inaudible. "So it's true... he really doesn't love me," she said, her face solemn and looking down. Cloudy nodded. "Yeah... his heart is set on another," she said. "Who is she?" Spitfire suddenly asked. "When did he meet her? How did he fall in love with her?" "Well, from what I know... her name is Rainbow Dash, and she's from Ponyville," Cloudy explained. Spitfire's eyes widened. "Ponyville? Is that why he didn't tell Spectrum about anything? Because he was afraid?" she inquired. Cloudy nodded again. "Yeah... I can only imagine Spectrum's reaction to all of this," she said. "I just can't believe it though..." "What?" "Soarin usually tells me everything! I'm his best friend... I should have known about this," Spitfire said. Cloudy shook her head. "Don't blame yourself... nopony here is to blame, honestly," Cloudy said. "Soarin doesn't really have much control over his feelings like this." "You're right... but... I kind of regret not noticing it sooner," Spitfire said. "I understand... how... how did you feel about him?" Cloudy asked. Spitfire gave her a small smile. "He... he was my best friend. I always meant for our relationship to somehow develop into something much, much more than that... it was all I ever craved and ever wanted as a child, and still do," she explained, before her expression darkened. "But after hearing about Rainbow Dash... I think it's time to forget about Soarin... my dream is impossible, it'll never happen. I don't want Soarin to marry me because he was forced... I always imagined him marrying me because he loved me, not because his father made him. I'd never want that," she continued, before stopping and looking up to the cream-coated mare. "I see..." Cloudy said, trailing off. "I myself haven't met Rainbow Dash personally, but she's supposedly a very nice mare from what I've heard from Soarin." "Would you like to meet her...?" Spitfire asked. "Tomorrow, perhaps?" Cloudy quirked her eyebrows. "What are you saying?" she asked. Spitfire smiled. "I'm saying that maybe we should head out to Ponyville tomorrow morning to meet Rainbow Dash," she said. "I remember seeing her at your birthday party actually, now that I think about it." Cloudy's eyes widened in realization. "Oh you're right! I didn't even remember," she said. Spitfire nodded. "Right, so how about we go tomorrow morning, bright and early. I'd like to also meet the mare who captured Soarin's heart," she said. Cloudy grinned. "I'm totally on board with this," she said, before standing up and heading towards the door. "See you in the morning?" "Mhm, though I have to speak with Soarin before heading to bed myself..." Spitfire said, fluttering out the opposite door where she had seen Soarin go through earlier. She walked into the top floor's balcony and saw Soarin gazing out into the night. She gulped, before walking to him with a confident stride. "Soarin. We need to talk."