Worst Case Scenario
"You ready, Rainbow?"
"Is that a trick question?"
Cloudchaser chuckled as the ref blew the whistle. They took off! Of course RD was ahead of Cloudchaser but nonetheless, she kept up with her.
"That's 10.0 seconds for Rainbow Dash annnd 11.6 seconds for Cloudchaser. Good job ladies."
Cloudchaser removed her googles and paused to take a breather, "Amazing flying as always Rainbow!"
"They don't call me Rainbow DASH for nothing!"
They both laughed and walked into the lunch hall of the Wonderbolts Academy.
"Are you going to the party?" Cloudchaser asked as her and Rainbow sat down with their lunches.
Rainbow tilted her head, "What party?"
Cloudchaser jumped in excitement, "It's a special ball for all the trainees! Since we've been here--and survived--for a month, the higher ups decided to cut some slack and give us a party!" She squealed then stared off towards Thunderlane, "I can't wait to go...Thunderlane's gonna be there~~!" Then she turned to Rainbow again, "I also heard Soarin' is gonna be there~"
Rainbow jumped suddenly, "Really!? Uhh...I mean..ahem. That's cool." She leaned back cooly but that didn't fool Cloudchaser.
With a fierce raised brow she said, "Riiight. Well, I'll be there rooting you on!" she walked away, tossed her trash, and excited the hall.
Rainbow Dash sighed relieved of the suspicion she may have caused. No one--NO ONE--can know she likes Soarin'. It would ruin her reputation of course.
Later, Rainbow strolled into Rarity's Boutique.
"Darling! Darling! How are you?"
She hugged Rainbow and through her gasps for air she replied, "I'm..doing great..Rares!"
Rarity released her grasp, "What do you need?"
"Actually, i need you yo make a dress..."
Rarity gasped,"Do my ears deceive me? Rainbow Dash WANTS a dress!? What for, darling?"
She smirked,"Well...we're having a party at the academy...and..." she blushed,"Soarin might be there..."
"Oh~! Don't you worry, Dashie! I'll whip up an absolutely fabulous dress so you can stun him into submission." They giggled.
Rarity immediately started brain storming.
"Thank goodness you came! I've not had any work lately. It was just the worst. Possible. THING," she posed dramatically which made RD roll her eyes.
"Yeah...that's what i do. Fly in at just the right time," she leaned confidently. "It's my job."
Rarity wasn't paying attention anymore and was fully emersed in her work by then. Rainbow smirked and bolted out and flew to the academy.
There she saw everyone getting preparations ready for the ball. Rainbow's stomach fluttered. She hoped this party went well. Finally being able to talk with Soarin'...would be her dream. But she couldn't show it of course. That would make people think she's soft. And she can't have that.
She entered the main training hall and looked around. She saw Spitfire talking to some of higher ups. Then she almost jumped when she heard a loud voice from behind her.
"Hey! Rainbow Dash!"
It was Soarin'! Ok, ok. Just be cool.
"Sup."
"You going to the party?"
His green eyes made her heart warm and fuzzy.
"Yeah. I guess," she shrugged.
"Oh cool! Then it'll be great if you're there..." He smiled warmly which almost made her break her facade but she managed to stay together.
She smirked cooly, "Of course i will. I'm gonna bring the party to the party."
He laughed a dorky laugh,"Okay. See you there!" He waved and flew off. She waved bye too and almost swooned. She actually talked to Soarin'! The Soarin'! She leapt into the air and did a summersault mid-air. Her heart could just explode!
Meanwhile, back at the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was whipping up a truly beautiful dress.
"Sweetie Belle, would you mind handing me that sheer fabric, darling?"
Sweetie Belle passed the fabric, "Can i go play now? I'm soooo bored, Rarity..."
"I need all the hooves i can get right now if i want to finish this in time for the party. Maybe you can call Applebloom and Scootaloo over so they can help!"
Sweetie Belle whined, "They won't want to do this!"
"Well you never know!" She said pinning a fold in the cloth.
"Mmmm...fine. I'll go see..." Sweetie Belle dragged her bored body out of the boutique and went to find Applebloom and Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle reached the Apple farm and looked around.
"Applebloom? Scootaloo? Where are you?"
Applebloom peaked out from behind the barn and trotted out along with Scootaloo.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle! Where have ya been?"
She slumped over, "With Rarity, she's making a dress for Rainbow Dash. She wanted me to ask you guys if you wanted to help make it."
Scootaloo jumped, "For Rainbow Dash!? Heck yeah! I'm in!"
"Yeah, I'll help too!" Applebloom chimed in.
"Alright! Let's go then!"
When they reached the boutique, Rarity was running around her hair already a hot mess.
"Oh thank goodness you came to help, girls! We need to get working! Sweetie Belle, you're in charge of cutting. Scootaloo, you're in charge of the fabric. And Applebloom, you're in charge of sewing."
The CMC nodded and quickly began working
Applebloom posed a cute dramatic pose, "Let's get working, Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
Rarity smiled at their innocence and went back to work.
When the moon rose, Rainbow bolted to Rarity's and flung open the door. There she saw Rarity along with Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. All tired and beat from working all day.
Rarity walked over to Rainbow Dash, "I would now like to present to you...your dress!"
The girls pulled down the big curtain and revealed a beautiful sheer rainbow dress.
The dress was scalloped at the end with the rainbowy sheer fabric and the necktie bore her lighting bolt trademark. It also came with a matching rainbow sheer headband.
"This. Is so. AWESOME!"
"Come come darling, we must get you changed!"
Rarity dragged Dashie into one of the changing rooms.
"Keep still, darling!"
"Ow! Watch the hair!"
"Okay, okay! And...now for the reveal!"
Rainbow stepped out of the room. The girls looked in awe and Rainbow Dash's natural radiance shined even more with her dress. She looked in the mirror and she smiled widely.
"Wowie! You did an awesome job Rarity! It really screams rainbow."
Rarity smirked, "I'm sure you'll woo that stallion of yours!"
Rainbow Dash blushed a bit, "Yeah...thanks."
Rainbow strolled out, feeling pretty as ever, and flew up to the academy. There she saw almost all the trainees gathered by a large building. Including the eternal brat, Lightning Dust. She scoffed at her presence and was irritated by the fact she was even here. She brushed it off and trotted over to the large crowd and spotted Cloudchaser.
Cloudchaser immediately scoped her and gazed at her, "Rainbow! You look so amazing!"
"Thanks. Rarity made my dress...hey what's going on? Why isn't everyone inside?"
"Oh. I guess they're not ready to let us in yet," she turned and saw Thunderlane, "Oohh~ Gotta go Dashie! See ya later!"
She sighed and sat down for a bit.
Everypony waited for about 20 minutes before they FINALLY opened the doors. Rainbow shot up and zoomed to the entrance. She was so nervous and her heart was beating faster than a hummingbird's wings.
Immediately, the trainees are washed over with colorful lights and extravagant amounts of balloons and streamers.
"Woooow! Awesome!" she said in a childlike voice.
She saw many of her friends there and also some of her idols as well chilling in their own little sections.
She was just about gawking at everything going on around her when she felt a pat on her shoulder.
"Nice party, right?"
Dashie turned to see, and almost die in front of, the handsomely dressed Soarin'. He was wearing a especially attractive suit that was a dark blue and pinstriped with a light silver. And of course, it wouldn't be complete without his dose of pie in his hoof.
"Oh! Heyyy!" she said nervously.
He smiled, some crumbs still sitting on his face. He scanned her, "Wow! You look great!"
Rainbow blushed, "Thanks..."
He then sighed and took another bite of his pie, "Well...Igott a get bck to dis perty nao. Iwwl phee ya laer!"
He waved and trotted along his way.
Rainbow unknowingly stared at his male rear. It was pretty cute. She giggled to herself and rolled her eyes thinking about how much he loved pie.
The party went on, everypony had enjoyed themselves and danced their hard work and intense training off their shoulders. Ponies began leaving after awhile until there were only a few ponies left to savor the last moments of the party.
Rainbow Dash hadn't seen Soarin' after he had talked to her and had assumed he left already.
She exited the building and walked on the side of the fun house to leave to the sleeping quarters when she stopped dead in her tracks.
There she saw a horrifying image of Lightning Dust in a deep but awkward kiss with none other than...
"Soarin'....?" Rainbow whispered loud enough for them both to hear. Her voice cracked and tears suddenly swelled in her eyes.
Soarin' pushed Lightning off him. Lightning looked at Dash smuggly knowing full well what she had done.
Before another work was spoken, Rainbow ran past them and jumped off a nearby platform, heading straight for her home. She flew fast, glimmers of tears erupted from her eyes, making it slightly difficult to see.
She landed on her doorsteps safely and quickly ran inside and jumped on her bed to only cry even more. Her heart ached and her body trembled. The rest of the night she cried until she had finally fell asleep.
The next day, Rainbow woke up to a knocking on her door. She lifted herself out of bed and realized she still had her dress on. She quickly pulled it off and trotted to the door, her cheeks were still wet with her trails of tears.
She opened the door to see a worried Soarin'. She scoffed her heart hurt but she was so angry she couldn't cry.
"What are YOU doing here?" She asked in a sassy voice.
He sighed, "Rainbow...I--"
She slammed her hoof down, "Why don't you go fly with Lightning since you two obviously are in looove with each other. In fact, why don't you two just get married already and get it over with!!"
Her anger turned to sadness again as her dry ducts failed to produce more tears.
Soarin' flared his wings and stomped his hoof, "Rainbow, I didn't kiss her! She just randomly ran up to me and literally just smacked me in the muzzle!"
She flared her wings as well, "Yeah right! You know...why are you even here!? Why would i care where you put your lips?"
Soarin' folded his wings and turned to the side.
"Dash...you don't understand...i didn't kiss her...i wouldn't kiss her...do you know why...?" He faced her now and looked straight into her eyes.
She was taken aback by his sincere, soft voice. She didn't retort but listened instead.
"Rainbow.....I...I like you..." a light blush crawled across his muzzle as Rainbow Dash jumped back in surprise.
"You...do...?"
He nodded, "Yes. I'm sure now," he paused, "Every time i see you i want to do more than just talk. Your voice makes my heart beat a little faster and your beauty makes me want to cry..." He sighed and walkef closer to her, "I.....I love you...."
Rainbow's heart skipped a hundred beats as he stepped even more closer to her and stared into her reflective magenta eyes. She blushed as he lifted her chin but didn't kiss her. He instead tightly embraced her in his built arms. She was still in shock and didn't know what to say.
"Soarin'..."
He kept their embrace until she finally hugged him back, breathing onto him softly, feeling the warmth from his body comfort her heart.