Soarin's heart was thudding. He heard it clearly in his ears. He felt it in his chest.
"You can do it," Dust Storm encouraged. "I know you can."
Soarin took a deep breath. "I sure hope I can."
"If she turns you down... then hey, it's her loss for not recognizing your awesomeness," Orange Breeze said.
Soarin smiled. "Thanks, Orange Breeze," he said.
"But, trying and getting turned down is better than never trying at all," Cloud Blaze said.
"Yeah, you miss 100% of the shots," Orange Breeze said. "That you never take at all."
Rainbow Dash walked by.
"There's your chance! Go, Soarin!"
Soarin rushed up to her, awkwardly. He lightly tapped the mare on the shoulder to get her attention.
Rainbow Dash turned around to see him. "Oh, hey, Soarin! What's up?" She laughed a bit. "Did ya miss me?" she teased.
Soarin chuckled. "Yeah, uh, actually..."
His heart pounded. It sounded like drums in a marching band.
"Are you okay?" asked Rainbow Dash.
Soarin froze. It was too hard. He was too afraid to take the risk.
"I really value what you have to say, Soarin," said Rainbow Dash. "You can tell me anything."
Soarin tried, but the words were clinging to his tongue. It was too nervewracking to try to speak to the mare of his dreams.
"I..." he finally managed.
He sighed. He would have to ask if he ever wanted to be sure that she liked him.
"I was wondering if... if you'd like to go to the upcoming Gala with me," Soarin finished.
There. He said it. All that was left to do was wait for a response.
Rainbow Dash smiled. "Sure."
"That's okay," Soarin said. "If I were you, I wouldn't go either... What?!"
"Sure, that'd be fun!"
"You're serious?" Soarin asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she responded. "See you at the Gala!"
She trotted away.
His friends stepped out of hiding.
"I... I think I just did it," Soarin stuttered.
"I think so too, dude," Orange Breeze said.
Soarin felt light and happy all day. A huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
He didn't get upset when Spitfire scolded him for forgetting the rules. He was just in too good of a mood.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Spitfire to Cloud Blaze.
"He's got a disease," Cloud Blaze joked. "It's called love."