It was not his place to speak up, and Soarin had to keep his tongue from speaking his mind. From what he had witnessed, Soarin was happy to see Vapor Trail able to muster up the courage to confess her love to Sky Stinger. For a good portion of two years, Soarin had found himself in love with Spitfire, but was unable to find the strength to tell the captain the truth. The encouragement he needed finally showed itself when Vapor Trail not only told Sky the truth. It was also how she simulated a scene of asking Spitfire out with him. Vapor Trail’s amazing technique really put the umph! in Soarin’s feathers.
However, Sky Stinger’s final sentence simmered most of Soarin’s motivation to even approach Spitfire.
“Is… is this a no?” Vapor Trail squeaked. Just her tone alone broke Soarin’s heart. Her delivery was perfect! She expressed her emotions to the very core. Even Soarin felt the love and became a little jealous that a mare like Vapor Trail didn’t share emotions to the degree she did to himself. But was Sky Stinger being resistant? Was he trying not to break Vapor Trail’s heart and hope to let her off easy? Or maybe Sky actually wanted his friend to date Soarin and not himself. It was a stretch of a possibility, but Soarin could only assume, for he was not in the horseshoes of Sky Stinger or Vapor Trail.
“This is far from a ‘no,’” Sky Stinger answered. Soarin’s ears twitched and he couldn’t help but lean forward to hear what else needed to be said. Vapor Trail pressed against her friend as if to climb him. “But just not close enough to a definite ‘yes.’” Her pressure was short lived and the mare settled herself.
A flame of relief kindled within Soarin’s breast, not just for Vapor Trail but for himself. His biggest worry about asking Spitfire to be his special somepony is rejection. Nopony wanted to be rejected by the pony they loved. But what encouraged Soarin was Sky Stinger’s reply. Soarin had a strong feeling that Spitfire was going to think about her choice of being his boyfriend. They have been friends for years. The likelihood of a “yes” is definitely in the ballpark. But the chances of a foul ball was a possibility as well…
“Okay,” Vapor Trail nodded. It was obvious that Sky Stinger’s inept ability to be specific bothered the mare and her ears bent back as far as they could.
Sky Stinger looked at Vapor Trail as if he didn’t know what to do. He continued to hold her, but Sky looked like a father unable to take care of their foal. Soarin was beginning to be more concerned with Sky Stinger more than Vapor Trail.
“Let me… Let me show you how close I am to saying 'yes…'” Sky Stinger said. He gave no warning to anypony, not that it needed to be said. The stallion planted a firm kiss on Vapor Trail’s cheek. It happened so fast, Vapor Trail reflexed her wings out. Even Soarin did the same thing. Sunbeam was also astonished and flew off of Vapor Trail’s shoulders to watch from a distance.
Vapor Trail’s knees buckled and nearly gave way, but she held fast. When Sky Stinger concluded his kiss, the mare said, “I need to take a step outside.” She looked back at Soarin with a beat-red face and then to Sunbeam. “You want to come with me, Sunbeam?” The fish nodded and followed the mare who briskly made for the exit.
The moment she was out of sight, a cheerful squeal quickly followed. Soarin smiled for Vapor Trail’s joy and tried to imagine if Spitfire would react the same. As for Sky Stinger, he was blushing but not smiling. “You don’t seem very happy, Sky,” Soarin said as he got off the bed.
“Trust me,” Sky Stinger began, “I am very happy.” He circled a hoof around his face. “This is the expression of concern.” Another cheer of happiness ripped through the air.
“But why?” Soarin chuckled. “Do you not hear how happy Vapor Trail is? Or even see?”
“Don’t tell me things I can easily notice,” Sky Stinger bit back. “I am not oblivious.” The sudden mood swing hit Soarin and the stallion took two steps back. The turquoise pegasus blinked and quickly changed hit attitude. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to get aggressive.”
Soarin gave Sky Stinger a wide grin. “You are nothing compared to Spitfire. I once got myself a personal pizza with pineapples on it. When Spitfire saw that I had a toping she didn't like, she got so mad, she ordered a large pizza with tomatoes and wouldn’t let me have a piece of it.”
“All that over a pizza?” Sky Stinger laughed.
Soarin’s smile grew wider. “It’s funny how you can talk about politics and start a heated debate. But talking about whether or not pineapple on pizza is a good idea will end up with somepony dead.”
“No no no!” Sky Stinger argued with a shake of his head. “Arguing if a cat or a dog is the better pet will cause a war.” Soarin used the moment to laugh alongside his teammate. It was certainly a surprise to Soarin that Sky wasn’t always boastful about himself. Then again, Rainbow Dash was the same. She liked to bark, but she also knew how to crash, along with various other good traits about her. “Anyways, back to this whole romance issue.” The scene was easily swapped out and the comedy relief was gone. Back to reality. “Again, I did not mean to get in your face like that, Soarin. I am just… worried.”
“About Vapor Trail?”
“No,” Sky Stinger admitted. “About me.” It was too difficult for Soarin to respond to his teammate’s comment and only waited for Sky to continue. “Let me explain…”
"The truth is...I'm a gelding."
8530463 Oh my goodness! You and your "truths"
8530463 I don't know if you are taking the story seriously at this point
8530480
I try my best.
8530482
I'm actually enjoying the story very much. It's very well written.
I'm just considering one very real possibility (I'm working with a friend on a story with a similar premise, and that's one scenario that is quite possible).
I enjoy pineapple just fine on pizza!
A couple more things: first thing, for a good portion of two years (or longer) during this whole 'shipping' business, I wasn't very receptive of Soarinfire than I had felt with SoarinDash. Nowadays though, I do see the good that can come of them as a couple, having known each other longer than Rainbow Dash for one thing, and it works better for this story's purpose if Soarin feels for Spitfire anyway. But all the same, SoarinDash has been my favoured couple of the two the longest.
And second thing, what sort of fish is Sunbeam as he seems to not be in a tank, but floating in mid-air?
8530488 I do hope your collaboration goes well.
8530502 I'm not too fond of pineapple pizza.
When it comes to SoarinDash, I believed it to be a fan x celebrity type of relationship. Of course, the current cannon changes that scene as RD is a Wonderbolt now. Their relationship, from what I have read in past stories, when RD was not a Wonderbolt while Soarin obviously was, consisted of Rainbow Dash admiring Soarin while both trying to get into the Wonderbolts and getting to know him. That's how I would have gone about a SoarinDash fic. Soarin and Spitfire have that obvious connection they have and can easily make more sense why they would end up together.
Sunbeam is an angel fish. Think of him as a koi fish with small, thin wings at his side instead of regular fins.
8530535
It certainly makes more sense, but as I say it I do kinda favour SoarinDash that extra bit more.
That's fine, but what of Sunbeam being in or out of a tank?
8530550 I think the reason why Spitfire is less desirable is because of her fiery spirit. Rainbow Dash, despite her flare, has moments of softness. Soarin, as predicted, has been portrayed, both by fan fic writers and in the show, has a kindness unique to him. We know little of Spitfire's true character and many have created various adaptations.
But please explain what you mean by "tank." Are you referring to he word like Tank as in Rainbow Dash's pet? We are clearly confused about something so please be thorough with what you mean.
8530616
Yeah I can understand that about Spitfire and the rest.
I mean it as in a fish tank, like he's not in a fish tank but instead Sunbeam floats in mid-air, of course.
8531294 Damnit that is two stories now! Slow down! D:
8531306
Not so long ago, I was really bored at work on a slow day, and found this story while browsing for something romantic to read. I found this and then realized it was made by the same person who wrote another of my favorite stories. I spent the last few days reading over this and, while I would love to go over every chapter with a review, I'm going to do my best to point out the best parts in one, what will probably be, very long comment.
First off, this story has a very relatable subject matter, and for that, I give this story two wins! You also captured these two characters very well even though there is only one episode to go off of in terms of their characters. I'm not going to lie, Sky Stinger and I, would get into so many fights due to his over confidence. No joke, there were several times I was mentally going over how hard I would tackle him and then tie him into several knots before giving him my variation of The Rock Bottom.
Before I move onto Vapor Trail, I will add that Fleetfoot breaking Sky's record, was a beautiful moment and great way to show off how the veterans handle things. Now as for Vapor, I actually enjoy the sense of, I think, calmness I get from her throughout most of the story, because when she does get upset, or mad, or what have you, the reader feels it. When she is sitting in the bunker, I forget which chapter as they've all kind of blurred together, but I think it was just after Sky Stinger through her note clear off the cliff, that I felt really bad for her and understood exactly where she was coming from.
Honestly, with that above mentioned scene, if I had been Vapor, I would have just thrown in the towel, because the universe and pony generations before this one, have clearly said they do not want those two together. That brings me to my next point, the length of the story and the failed confessions, mostly because I think I saw a comment about that so I thought I'd throw my two bits in as well.
As far as I can tell, the enjoyment of watching Vapor's attempt burst into flames, and I was hoping for literal flames and lightning at one point just for a good laugh, lost its luster about five to ten chapters ago. After that, I starting feeling bad for her, and then after that, I started wondering why she was still pursuing things after all of her attempts had blown themselves into tiny pieces and then those tiny pieces burst into flames before blowing away in the wind. I think there are a few chapters you could have combined, which would have made the story a bit better, at least from my view point. Actually this is something I was going to point out in Seconds Late as well once the story was completed.
Okay, on to more positive subjects, like Sky's obliviousness. I found this absolutely hilarious, because I have met people like this before and the fact I can relate to this just adds to this story's enjoyment! These moments especially shined during scenes where Sky asked Vapor to point in the general direction of where her future special some pony was at. There were a few other examples of this, but I would have to search through all the chapters to pull them both out, but just know there are two other good examples in here!
Oh, before I forget, Vapor's inner thoughts are hilarious. Every time she has an inner thought about the situation, I'm usually laughing at what she is thinking. Especially when I happen to say the same thing just before I read it.
I think the only other down side to this story was a few minor grammar errors. Other than that, you once again have a fine story. I might have to take a look at your other stuff at some point. Oh, and I would award you a lot more than two wins, but I lost track somewhere after chapter eleven, so I'll just leave by saying you have a lot of Wins for this story!