Soarin' and Rainbow Dash have been dating for a while but now Soarin' has seemed distant. He is constantly going to special Wonderbolts training and missing important dates with Rainbow Dash. Just what could Soarin's little secret be.
Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash had been going out for a few months now and things were off to a great start. It is a shame that relationships can’t always be like how they start.
“Good morning Soarin’.”
He had just woken up to see the rainbow colored pony next to him in bed.
“Hello Rainbow Dash,” he said with a smile.
“How was your night?” she asked him.
“It was fine. Wait did you mean before or after we fell asleep.”
They both let out a little chuckle.
“I meant before.”
“Well in that case it was fun. A lot of fun.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“So how about I make breakfast,” Soarin’ said.
“That sounds good to me.”
Soarin’ got up out of bed and went to the kitchen, but not before stopping at the bathroom first, and began to get things ready for him to cook. He wasn’t the best cook ever but he was still good. He decided he would make pancakes since that was a favorite of theirs. It didn’t take long and the smell of pancakes filled the house. Rainbow Dash came out of the bedroom to see that the table was set with a vase and flower in the middle. She sat down at the table and then Soarin’ came over. He set the pancakes down on their plates and then he sat down in his seat. They both tried to look at each other but the vase kept obstructing their view.
“Why don’t I just move this out of the way,” Soarin’ said as he began to move it, “There, much better. Now I can see you.”
“And I can see you,” said Rainbow Dash, “When are we getting married?”
This change of subject caught Soarin off guard quite a bit, “Married? We’ve only been dating for a few months.”
“I know but… I just really like the name Rainbow Airs. I think the name is perfect for me. Misses Rainbow Airs. And of course you would be Mister Airs.”
“Yes it does sound nice but, I prefer to call you Dashie.”
“Then it’s settled. I will be Misses Dashie Airs.”
“Very funny but we still have a long way to go before we get married. Now why don’t we actually eat our food.”
After they ate their breakfast Soarin’ finally began to tell her the news.
“Dashie.”
“Yes Soarin’?”
“I have another flight training I have to go to.”
“Again,” she said in a disappointed tone, “But you’ve already went to two others this month.”
“I know, I know. It’s just that work is busy right now and I’d be fired if I didn’t show up. I wish I could just go to my manager and say that I don’t want to go but then I would be fired.”
“You’re always so busy. Hey I’ve got an idea.”
“What is it?”
“I could go with you.”
Soarin’ had a small frown on his face, “I’m sorry but the coach says that we need to practice without distractions.”
“That doesn’t make much sense. After all you race with loud, cheering fans all around you. Does he not consider that a distraction.”
“I guess not.”
“Okay. What day are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! But tomorrow is our three month anniversary.”
“I know. There’s really nothing I can do though,” he saw Rainbow Dash was saddened by this and so he move closer to comfort her, “Don’t worry. When I get back we’ll have a make-up celebration.”
“Okay,” Rainbow Dash said even though she was still upset.
Well time had passed and before they knew it was time for Soarin’ to leave.
“Do you have everything you need,” Rainbow Dash asked him.
“Yep I’m already to go,” Soarin’ replied.
“Bye Soarin’.”
“Bye Dashie,” Soarin’ said as he flew off.
“Maybe I’ll go see if Twilight has the new issue of Daring Do,” she said to herself after she could no longer see Soarin’.
She flew over to Twilight’s house and knocked on the door. After a few moments the door opened and she was greeted by Twilight.
“Hi Rainbow Dash,” she said with a smile.
“Hi Twilight. Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
“I came to see if you had the new issue of Daring Do yet.”
“Of yes I just got it. In fact it’s right here,” she said as she levitated the book over to Rainbow Dash, “Hey where’s Soarin’? I mean it is your three month anniversary after all.”
“He had flying practice again.”
“Really? Just the other day I read that they only practice once a month.”
“What? But he said he had to go to flight practice two times before this month. What is going on?”
“I don’t know but maybe you should call him.”
“That’s a great idea Twilight. Oh but can I use your phone. I left mine back at the house.”
“Sure thing Rainbow Dash. It’s right upstairs.”
Rainbow Dash quickly flew upstairs and picked up the phone. She typed 555 - 1234 on the phone and called Soarin’.
“Hello,” Soarin’ said.
“Hi Soarin’ it’s me.”
“Dashie,” Soarin’ replied with a surprised tone.
“I was just calling to hear how things were going for you.”
“Oh…um…things are going great. Yep everything is just fine,” he said a bit nervously.
“Hey guess what I just found out.”
“What Dashie?”
“Twilight told me that the Wonderbolts only train once a month.”
“What,” he said with shock, “Oh that’s right I forgot to mention that we were doing extra training to prepare for a big race against a rival team.”
“I didn’t know that there were any rival teams.”
“Oh yeah there are plenty of them.”
“Then how come I’ve never heard of them.”
“Oh…well…um…hey I have to go train now so bye,” before Soarin’ hung up the phone Rainbow Dash heard another voice say “Welcome to the Pony Express Hotel.”
“That was weird,” she said to herself.
She walked down the stairs to see Twilight again waiting for her.
“So how did it go?” she asked.
“Fine,” Rainbow Dash replied, “Hey do you know where the Pony Express Hotel is?”
“Yeah it’s right in Canterlot. Why?”
Before Twilight could get her response Rainbow Dash was running out the door to go find Soarin’.
Rainbow Dash had just boarded the train to Canterlot and was off to see Soarin’. It was a boring train ride taking about two hours to get there. There were many sights to see as is usual with Canterlot but Rainbow Dash wasn’t interested in the slightest bit of it. After all she was on a mission. She first started by asking if anypony had see Soarin’ and then asking for directions to the Pony Express Hotel.
She had gotten to the hotel and went inside. At the front desk was the pony that confirmed reservations and confirmed leaving times.
“Excuse me,” Rainbow Dash said after she approached the desk.
“Yes, how may I help you?” the other pony replied.
“I was looking to see if a Pegasus named Soarin’ Airs checked in here.”
“Oh yes. In fact he just returned.”
“Great. What room is he in?”
The pony at the desk looked at Rainbow Dash strangely, “I can tell you but without a key card I’m afraid you can’t enter.”
“That’s ok,” Rainbow Dash responded.
“Ok he’s in room one o seven. It’s on the third floor in the east wing.”
“Ok thanks,” Rainbow Dash said as she began to walk off.
She had reached Soarin’s’ room but there was still the matter of getting inside. She looked down the hall and saw a room service pony just outside a room. She flew down the hall over to him and began to just stare at him.
“Can I help you miss?” he asked Rainbow Dash.
“No it’s just… you must do an awful lot of work.”
“No not really. Ponies rarely get room service any more due to the price.”
“Really. I’d think that all the ponies in the world would get room service just to see you.”
He began to blush, “Who me. No I’m just a regular pony. Nothing special at all.”
Rainbow Dash saw the special all access key cards on the tray he was pushing around. She moved a little closer and while he wasn’t looking she grabbed one.
“Well it was fun talking to you,” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
“Yeah.”
Rainbow Dash moved back to the other side of the hall and waited until after the room service pony had entered the room to go in. She opened the door quietly and to her surprise it didn’t make a sound. She gently closed it behind her and looked around the room. She couldn’t see much at first because of the wall next to her. She took a few steps forward and she saw a lot more than just a wall. She saw Soarin’ lying in bed. But he wasn’t alone. No Spitfire was there too. And she was also in bed with him.
“Oh my gosh,” Rainbow Dash said in disbelief.
The two other ponies look over in the direction of the sound.
“Crap,” Soarin’ muttered to himself.
“Soarin’! What are you doing here?”
This is when Spitfire began to speak up, “I think he should be asking you why you’re here.”
“Well I am his girlfriend so I think that means I’m allowed to come and visit him.”
“Wait you’re his girlfriend,” Spitfire looked over at Soarin’ who’s face was flushed red, “Are you cheating on me.”
“Well…um,” were the only words he could manage to speak.
“How could he be cheating on you,” Rainbow Dash cut in, “He’s clearly cheating on me.”
In response to this Spitfire got out of bed and walked over to Rainbow Dash.
“What do you mean he’s cheating on you?” Spitfire said.
“Well clearly he is. I mean we’ve been dating for three months.”
“Dashie…Fires,” Soarin’ began.
“Don’t use your pet name on me,” they both shouted at him.
“I’ve been dating Soarin’ for three months. Of course he probably spent more time with me than he did with you,” said Spitfire.
“No way. He spent way more time with me than he did with you.”
“Actually I made it about the same amount of time-“
“Shut up Soarin’!” they both shouted at him.
“The only fair thing to do now is to let me dump Soarin’ for cheating,” said Rainbow Dash.
“What. You don’t get to dump him I do. After all he obviously liked me more. And besides he knew me for longer.”
“No he liked me more. Soarin’, we’re finished!”
“And we’re finished too,” Spitfire finished.
They both walked out of the door and closed it behind them.
“Dumped twice in the same minute,” Soarin’ said to himself, “What the hay just happened.”
Outside the room was the room service pony waiting for Rainbow Dash. She returned the key card and got on the elevator. Before the doors full closed Spitfire stopped them with her hoof and got on.
“Hey I’m sorry about back their Rainbow Dash,” she said, “I was just mad and you weren’t the pony I should have gotten mad at.”
“That’s okay. I was pretty mad too. I guess he was cheating on both of us.”
They both let out a little chuckle. The elevator had reached the first floor.
“There’s just one more thing I have to do real quick Spitfire,” Rainbow Dash said as she walked over to the front desk, “Excuse me again.”
“Yes,” the pony at the desk asked.
“Soarin’ Airs sent me to order room service for him.”
“Oh okay.”
“And he’s going to pay once he gets it.”
“And what would he like,” the desk pony asked.
“He’ll get one of everything.”
The desk pony was surprised but still she sent the food, “Will that be all?”
“Yes that’s all. Bye now,” Rainbow Dash said and then began to leave, “Hey Spitfire, do you want to hang out?”
“Sure. I know of this really great place in Canterlot. It’s really close and it is the best place to go for breakfast.”
“Sounds great,” Rainbow Dash said and they both went out the door.
The two ponies Rainbow Dash and Spitfire had just sat down at a restaurant to eat. It was surprisingly formal for a place in Canterlot and was used as a place to escape from the pressures of the upper class life. There were few tables and only one other group was there. Not long after they sat down the waiter came and got there orders. It was during the time after they ordered that they talked a little.
“I just can’t believe it,” Spitfire began to say, “I can’t believe that we didn’t catch on sooner.”
“I can’t either,” Rainbow Dash replied, “I can’t even remember what I saw in him.”
“I know right.”
“I mean sure he was sweet.”
“And he had a good sense of humor.”
“He was handsome…but he’s nothing more than a lying, cheating fool.”
“Agreed.”
They’re conversation was ended by the arrival of their food. So they ate and then afterward they began to part ways.
“We should do this more often,” Spitfire said as they began to leave.
“How about two weeks from today,” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Sounds great.”
Rainbow Dash had arrived back in Ponyville and just had to tell somepony about what happened. She decided to tell Twilight since she was the last pony she talked to before she left. She had arrived at Twilight’s house and began to tell her the whole story. Twilight was shocked by just about every word she heard.
“I can’t believe it,” Twilight said after Rainbow Dash had finished, “He was cheating on both of you.”
“Well it’s all true. Actually I’m glad I don’t have him around anymore. I finally have some time to myself,” Rainbow Dash said and then began to think of the possibilities.
So two weeks had passed and it was time for Rainbow Dash to go meet Spitfire in Canterlot. They had both gotten to the restaurant and ordered when they began to talk about their lives.
“So how have things be going for you?” Spitfire asked.
“Great, I’ve had so much free time. But I doubt that things could be going very well for you what with having to see Soarin’.”
“Well actually I haven’t seen Soarin’ since the last time we were together.”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash replied with some surprise.
“Yeah, but I’m not surprised. If I were him I wouldn’t show my face in public ever again.”
“Well good riddance. Nopony needs to know somepony like him.”
They were becoming good friends so they decided to make this a regular thing. Every two weeks Rainbow Dash would head out to Canterlot and meet up with Spitfire. They would talk about how their lives were and occasionally about Soarin’. But eventually they both forgot about him and rarely ever mentioned him.
About six months had past and Rainbow Dash was getting ready for breakfast with Spitfire. The phone had began to ring and so she went over and answered it.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hi Rainbow Dash,” said a familiar voice on other line.
It was Pinkie Pie.
“Hi Pinkie Pie, what’s up.”
“I was wondering if you wanted to help taste test my new cupcake recipie.”
“Sorry Pinkie but I’m seeing Spitfire today remember.”
“Oh I forgot. Can we reschedule for another day.”
Before she could answer she heard a knock on the door. ‘Who could be here this early’ she tough as she walked over to the door. She opened the door and there stood the blue maned Pegasus she had hoped to forget forever. The Pegasus that had done some pretty horrible things. The Pegasus named Soarin’.
“I gotta go Pinkie Pie.”
“Okie dokie Rainbow Dash.”
She set the phone down on the table next to her and looked at Soarin’.
“Why are you here?” she asked him in a displeased tone.
“Well… I… I came because I want you back.”
Rainbow Dash began bursting into laughter at this ridiculous statement. She finally regained herself after a few minutes and noticed he was still there.
“Wait you were serious.”
“Well yeah.”
“No just, no.”
“Look I did a lot of soul searching and I’ve realized what I did was wrong.”
“But you still cheated on me. Now could you please move? I have somewhere I need to be.”
Soarin’ stepped to the side and let Rainbow Dash out. She began to head to the train station but Soarin’ followed her. She began to fly a bit to try and get away but he flew too. She flew faster and faster trying to escape him but he stayed with her the whole way. Soarin’ even went as far a boarding the train with her and following her all the way to Canterlot.
“Would you stop following me,” Rainbow Dash said after they both got off the train.
“Just give me a second chance. I realized I made a mistake but should I be punished for it?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
“I’ve got an idea. What if you give me some time to prove myself and then you can decide.”
She saw no harm in at least giving him a chance to prove himself, though she didn’t think he would change her mind.
“Alright,” she said.
“Yes,” Soarin’ said to himself.
“But, if you do even one thing that I don’t like you have to promise that you will just give up on me.”
“Okay and you won’t be disappointed.”
Luckily for Soarin’ she would have no way of being disappointed since her expectations of him were nonexistent.
She had finally got to the restaurant with Spitfire and they had both been seated at their table.
“You are not going to believe what just happened Spitfire,” Rainbow Dash began.
Spitfire’s mouth hung open after she had just heard from Rainbow Dash.
“Now way,” Spitfire said in amazement.
“Way,” Rainbow Dash replied.
“You actually gave him a chance.”
“Yeah but I doubt he’ll last ten seconds. He’s just way too unreliable.”
“You’ve got that right.”
-----
It had been a few weeks of Soarin’s’ trial time, and Rainbow Dash was surprised he hadn’t messed up to the extreme degree. After the first few days Rainbow Dash began to watch him closer, looking for any slip ups. She just couldn’t accept the fact that he had changed and so she even tried to make him fail but it was to no avail. Eventually she gave up and just let him try to make it up to her.
It had been about four months since Soarin’ was given a second chance and Rainbow Dash had finally let her guard down. That’s how it works I guess…
Rainbow Dash was sitting out on the balcony of her cloud house to get some fresh air. Though her house did have many windows she couldn’t help but find that being outside provided more fresh air. She heard the glass door behind her slowly slide open. She turned around to quickly see who was there.
“Hey,” Soarin’ began, “Can I come out.”
“Oh…uh…I guess so.”
He walked out and closed the door behind him. He sat down next to Rainbow Dash and looked out at Ponyville.
“Thanks,” Soarin’ said.
“For what?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“For giving me a second chance to make things right.”
“Well to be honest I only did that because I thought you hadn’t changed.”
“So if you thought I had changed you wouldn’t have given me a second chance? That seems backwards to me.”
“That’s not what I meant Soarin’. I thought you would fail right away so I thought there would be no harm in at least giving you a chance.”
“Well I guess I proved you wrong,” Soarin’ said a little proudly.
“Yeah but I’m still watching you.”
Soarin’ decided that this was a good time to change the subject, “Hey Rainbow Dash. I was wondering if maybe… well if it would be alright… if we could go and maybe get dinner? Not as a d-date or anything but… just as friends.” She at first had no clue how to respond to this but then she replied with, “Look Soarin’, the last four months you’ve proven yourself to be a good friend but I don’t know how we could go out to dinner and have it not be a date.”
“I could just not pay for you.”
“Hm…well...," she tought about it for a moment, "Okay.”
That night Soarin’ did all the right things to do if you weren’t on a date. He didn’t pull out her chair, he didn’t buy here meal and he didn’t give her a kiss goodnight. Strangely though, this bothered Rainbow Dash. Personally she liked it when Soarin’ did all of those things. However she knew he was never going to unless they were on a date.
-----
A few more months had past and The Running of the Leaves was tomorrow. Rainbow Dash had gone to Twilight Sparkle’s house to see if she had the new issue of Daring Do. After she got the book she flew home as fast as she could and began to read. It seemed to her that each and every book was better than the one before it. Every once and a while the thought occurred that the series might end someday. The thought occurred as she was reading this book and stopped reading like she always did. She heard a knocking on her door and so she went to see who it was. She opened the door to see Soarin’ standing there.
“Hi Soarin’. Do you want to come in?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Oh sure.”
Soarin’ sat down in one of her empty chairs.
“Hey Rainbow Dash. I was wondering if…if maybe…we could go to dinner again? I mean not as a date or anything.”
“Well that’s too bad because I don’t want to go to dinner with you. Unless of course it was a date.”
Soarin’ tried to hold back his excitement but couldn’t, “Really! I mean, really. Well I guess so.”
“Then it’s a date.”
Rainbow Dash’s phone began to ring and so she answered it.
“OhmygoshRainbowDashIcan’tbelieveyou’regoingonadatewithSoarin’!” the voice on the other line shouted.
“Pinkie Pie how did you know I was going on a date with Soarin’?”
“Oh that’s easy. I just watched from your window.”
Rainbow Dash looked over to see Pinkie Pie in a blimp outside of her window waving to her. She was holding a metal can with a string attached to it to her ear. Rainbow Dash followed the string with her eyes to see it come to another can sitting just inside her house. Rainbow Dash walked over and picked up the can. She held the can close to her mouth.
“PINKIE PIE!!!!” she shouted as loud as she could, “CAN I GET A LITTLE PRIVACY!!!!!”
At the other end a startled Pinkie Pie leaped into the air.
“Okay Rainbow Dash,” she said and began to leave.
“Pinkie Pie,” she said as she looked over at Soarin’.
“Well what can you do?” Soarin’ said, “Oh I’ve got to get ready. I’ll pick you up at seven okay.”
“Okay,” Rainbow Dash replied.
Soarin’ flew off as fast as he could to get ready.
That night Rainbow Dash had what she could safely call her best, and perfect, date ever. Unlike the time when Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ went as friends, Soarin’ did all the things you should do on a date. He paid for her meal, he pulled out her chair, he opened doors and even gave her a kiss goodnight. Yes, Rainbow Dash could safely say this was the perfect date.
Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ had been back together for three months.
Three months. Rainbow Dash remembered what happened the last time she was with Soarin’ for three months.
But this time was different. Soarin’ had changed and she knew that. Plus, everything was already planned. She would be waiting for Soarin’ at the restaurant because he had to stay late at work.
Rainbow Dash had just eaten breakfast with Soarin’ and was making sure he knew what to do, “And don’t forget to come to the restaurant. Oh, but first you need to stop at Carousel Boutique to pick up the tuxedo Rarity made for you.”
“Do I have to wear a tuxedo,” Soarin’ said in a slightly childish way.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, “Yes Soarin’, you have to wear a tuxedo.”
“Oh fine,” Soarin’ said, crossing his legs and pouting jokingly.
“And you’d better not forget,” Rainbow Dash thought back to their last three month anniversary, “Or else.”
“Alright alright Dashie, I get it,” Soarin’ glanced at his watch, “I’ve gotta go, I’m running a little late.”
“Okay then. Just make sure you’re on time Soarin’.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Do you Pinkie promise?”
Soarin’ didn’t know what a Pinkie promise was but he went along with it any ways, “Sure, I Pinkie promise.”
“Good,” Rainbow Dash said, feeling at ease, “Oh and just so you know, if you break a Pinkie promise Pinkie Pie will hunt you down and make you wish you hadn’t.”
Soarin’ began to feel uneasy after hearing that, but Rainbow Dash was already pushing him out of the door so she could get ready.
It wasn’t very often that Rainbow Dash felt she needed to look pretty but this was an exception. She had spent all day getting ready and hadn’t even noticed when it was time to leave.
Rainbow Dash sat at the table waiting for Soarin’. She had arrived early due to her excitement and so she only felt more impatient as time went on. The minutes went by, and then the hours. She watched as other couples left, one-by-one, each enjoying their night until she was the only pony left except the employees.
“Excuse me miss,” one of the waiters said as he was next to Rainbow Dash, “We’re about to close up for the night,” He assessed the situation and realized what happened, “You got stood up,” he said sympathetically.
“Yeah but…I half expected it to happen,” She wanted to believe what she just said, but she didn’t. She was truly surprised. She thought Soarin’ had changed but he let her down.
She got to her cloud castle and locked herself in her room. She was in there for a whole week, trying to see if Soarin’ gave any signs that he didn’t change. She tried to think of possible reasons for him not showing up. She didn’t find any answers. She only came out for a few times, either to get something to eat or to go to the bathroom, and then went back in. She didn’t feel like doing anything. She just wanted to stay there and she would’ve had it not been for her friends.
There was a faint knocking on the door followed by Fluttershy’s voice, “Rainbow Dash...I was wondering if maybe…if maybe you could please come out.”
“No!” Rainbow Dash replied.
Then she heard another familiar voice, “Hey Rainbow Dash, there’s something you need to know.”
Twilight was there. ‘She must have used the spell to walk on clouds.’ Rainbow Dash thought to herself.
“What,” she said, still displeased that she wouldn’t be left alone.
“Well you see, the reason Soarin’ couldn’t make it was because…he got hit by a bus,” Twilight barely managed to say.
At first Rainbow Dash thought that this must have been some kind of joke. Or maybe Twilight was covering for Soarin’. She was wrong, and another voice she heard confirmed it.
“I’m sorry Rainbow but Twilight’s tellin’ the truth.”
Rainbow Dash knew that was Applejack. It was Applejack, the element of honesty. She couldn’t lie, even once.
Rainbow Dash burst out of the door, “Where is he?” she asked in a panicked voice.
Her friends couldn’t believe that she was breaking down. For once she wasn’t being her cool, regular self but who could blame her.
“He’s in the Ponyville hospital but-“ Twilight began but Rainbow Dash bolted off before she could finish.
Rainbow Dash had made it to the hospital and was immediately directed to Soarin’s room, almost as if they knew she would be looking for him. She entered the room to see Soarin’ lying in one of the beds. He was in bad shaped and Rainbow Dash quickly ran to his bedside.
“Oh my gosh, Soarin’ are you alright?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’ll take more than a bus to stop me but…”
“But what?” Rainbow Dash asked, wanting to know what he was trying to say.
“I didn’t make it. I wasn’t on time. I broke my Pinkie promise,” there was a sudden angry booming sound far off in the distance, “Oh no,” Soarin’ said, trying to improve the atmosphere, “Now Pinkie Pie’s going to hunt me down.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she knows you had a good reason.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Oh, I almost forgot,” Soarin’ said as he reached to grab something. It was a long string with a plastic card attached at the end, ‘It’s a Wonderbolts V.I.P. pass. Now you can come and watch me train any time.”
“Thanks but…I don’t think I need to keep my eye on you any more,” Rainbow Dash said.
“After all the trouble I did to get it for you too,” Soarin’ muttered to himself.
“Well, I guess I might as well make good use of it,” she said to cheer Soarin’ up from his pouting.
“Yay,” Soarin’ said in a childish manner.
“Oh and Soarin’,” Rainbow Dash began to say, “Don’t get hit by a bus again.”
“Well,” he stopped to pretend like he was thinking about it, “Okay.”
