"Whoohoo!" The cyan mare chanted in victory as she arrived backstage, "Beat that, Spits!" Trailing behind her was a panting Spitfire.
"Now don't be so sure of yourself, Crash! Mark my words, someday I will beat you to getting backstage first."
"I'd like to see that happen, I've beaten you all seven times." Rainbow said, flashing Spitfire a cunning smirk. All of a sudden, a baby blue stallion burst threw the door. He clipped his wing on the door by mistake and bumped into the two mares.
"Oof!" The three of them said as they all fell down.
"Rainbow Dash! Spitfire! What kinda friends are you?! You left me behind! And Soarin! You're the worst cousin in the world!" The turquoise mare ranted as she ran inside, "Seriously, what were you three... Thinking..?" Fleetfoot stopped at the sight of the three ponies flat on ground. She bursted into an uncontrollable laughter as she fell on the floor laughing. All of a sudden, Misty Fly, Blaze, and Surprise, High Winds walked in together and were shock at the scene before them. They erupted into a fit of giggles while maintaining their balance.
"Heh... Sorry..." Soarin said with a mad blush on his face. He was glad that he had his Wonderbolts' suit on as he helped the two mares up.
"Geez, Clipper. The entire team is still waiting for the day you fly in without clipping your wink?!" Rainbow teased. Soarin's face fell flat with a mad blush still on his muzzle. Soon he was joining the entire team in their eruptions of laughter.
~~~
"Alright, 'Bolts! Three-Hundred laps across the course!" Spitfire ordered. Groans could be heard from all the pegasi, "After this, you can all have a day off tomorrow." Spitfire said while rolling her eyes. That was when they all shot up to the sky. Spitfire chuckled as she carefully observed how they flew on the track.
"Hey, Soarin! Ya gettin' tired already?" Rainbow Dash said slowing down a little to fly at the same pace as her friend, "You look a lil' flustered!"
"I'm pretty tired after today's show." He panted.
"Don't slack too much. You might loose you place as second-in-command, and I know somepony who would really like that place!" Rainbow said, nudging him playfully.
"Hahaha. How funny." Soarin sarcastically said while rolling his eyes. Her looked back his rainbow-maned teammate who winked at him as she quickly darted ahead of him. He felt his cheeks get hot. Dumb Soarin. She'll never like you. You've been in the friend-zone since ever! He thought to him self. It wasn't till a chill-toned voice broke his thoughts.
"Now look whose the 'slow poke'!" Surprise said as she passed him.
Did Surprise just pass me?! Sweet Celestia, Spitfire is going to KILL me! He though as he overtook her, "Ha! You were saying?" He mocked as he flew past Misty Fly, High Winds, Blaze, And finally gained a lead on Fleetfoot and became neck-and-neck with Rainbow Dash, "So, Rainbow, gettin' tiered yet?" He asked.
"N-Nope"! She replied with a sly grin.
Uh Oh... Soarin thought. I know that face... What's she gonna do?!
"It's been nice chattin', but this is the two-hundred and ninety-ninth lap, and I ain't got time to loose. She said as she zipped on ahead leaving him in the dust. Soarin couldn't see where he was going, but proceeded to where he last saw the finish line. She got over taken by Fleetfoot and finished third. He glared at Rainbow Dash who had an innocent smile on her face, "What's wrong?" She said in the most cutest voice he ever heard. The two of them laughed together until Fleetfoot came over.
"Thanks for helping me get second, Crash!"
"No prob, Flapflip!" Rainbow Replied, "Even though it wasn't my intention, It still happened!" She said zooming to the air. By that time, the rest of the 'Bolts finished.
"Alright, Wonderbolts!" Spitfire said causing all of them to move into a single form, "Good job out there, just next time, don't drop behind, Soarin." She said while rolling her eyes. A bigger blush spread across his muzzle. He was still glad he had his suit on, "Dismissed!" She said as everypony scurried on towards the locker room.
"Hey, Clipper!" Rainbow Dash said as she walked up to Soarin. A small tint of pink appeared on his muzzle, but it was hard to notice, "How ya doin'? She asked
"J-just fine..." He said. As the two proceeded with their conversation, Soarin eased and was casually talking to he with no awkward moments. That was something Soarin like about having Rainbow Dash a friend. The two could start a conversation from anywhere, and could go on talking forever. A little while after talking, a small yawn escaped Rainbow mouth.
"Sorry, still three months of being a Wonderbolt, and I'm still not used to not napping during the day. I get sleepy more quick now." She sheepish chuckle.
"Then good thing we have the next day off!" Soarin said with a goofy grin.
"Good ol' Spitfire, glad we slipped pass it." Surprise said as she passed them, pointing a hoof where three mares were standing, signaling Rainbow Dash to come over. Dash flashed a smile at Soarin that made him blush madly while staring at the mare while she went to talk with Surprise, High Winds, Misty Fly, and Blaze. He wished he had something to cover his face. Good thing nopony was looking in his direction. Put of nowhere, snickers could be heard from form outside the locker room. They sounded familiar... Fleetfoot and Spitfire..? As Soarin approached the exit of the locker rooms, he saw two snickering mares before him.
"What's so funny?" He asked in confusion.
"When are you going to ask her out?!" Fleetfoot impatiently asked with a serious look on her face.
"W-what?!" He said dumbfounded by the question Fleetfoot just asked him, "W-what d-d-do -y-y-y-you m-mean..?" He said stuttered with his face literally looking like a tomato.
"C'mon, we know you like her!" Spitfire said while nudging him in the front leg.
"N-no I-I D-dont..!" He said trying to defend himself.
"Ooh please, cuz! I saw you two talking while you were flying earlier today!" Spitfire said.
"Th-that was as friends."
"Okay then, how about when she came up to you in the locker rooms, you had a tiny blush on your face, and when she smiled at you when she left, you looked like Pinkie Pie!" Spitfire teased, "And this entire conversation is making you look like a tomato!"
"Just shut up you two!" Soarin said as he walked away
"Silly, Soarin. That's not how you say, 'I love love love Rainbow Dash'!"
"Ugh!" Soarin groaned as she flew back to where the Wonderbolt's sleep, leaving two giggling mares behind.