Small Talk
It was a cold, dark night, like most winter nights in Equestria. Snow fell softly and gently onto the ground, making it glow as bright as the moon. It was hard to imagine ponies back then didn't appreciate the Luna's beautiful, peaceful nights.
Just a bit above though, there was a small diner, which was usually anything but empty. Tonight, however, the normally cheerful place was all alone. Except for a certain rainbow-maned mare.
Rainbow Dash wasn't one to be out alone, as she hated the idea of it. Yet, there she was, choosing what to order. She wasn't too hungry, but she wanted to stay there a while. She honestly didn't mind waiting as long as she could be out of her house.
"Miss?" A female voice echoed through her thoughts. Rainbow looked up to see a waitress standing in front of her.
"Yes..?" Dash replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"I know this is the third time I've asked but...are you ready to order?" she asked with a fake smile. Rainbow looked back as if to roll her eyes.
"No, not yet. I'll tell ya' when I am," Dash answered. The waitress shot her a glare before going back to her pretend positivity.
"You do realize you've been here for almost an hour and you haven't even ordered a drink, right?" The waitress asked flatly.
Rainbow frowned. She was reconsidering her choice in location. "I'll have some hot cocoa," she replied quietly and turned away. The waitress frowned, but was relieved to finally have something down.
As she left, Rainbow picked up the menu again. Nothing caught her attention though, so she soon put it down and began to hum to herself quietly.
Her humming soon clashed with the sound of a small bell that came from the door. Being the loudest sound through the entire place, it caught everypony's attention, the employees and Dash, and forced them to look over.
A light blue stallion came from the other side of the door and took off his coat, draping it over his back. It was him...Soarin Skies. Immediately the waiters and waitresses still in the building went over to him and offered to assist him.
Through the corner of his eye though, he caugh a familiar pair of magenta ones staring back at him. He quickly thanked the employees who swarmed him and rushed to the brash pegasus.
"Fancy seeing you around here, Dash," he teased happily as he took the seat in front of her. She looked at him and smiled.
"Could say the same thing about you," she shot back, earning a chuckle from him.
"It fun to get away from stuff. Especially on winter nights, most peaceful time if the year and I still have to deal with paparazzi," he said in a slightly more serious, but still joking manner. "Now, I believe I asked you first?"
"And yet you answer before me," she joked. "Well, I'm just a little lonely at home with Tank still hibernating"
"Tank?" Soarin asked.
"He's my awesome pet tortoise, I'll introduce ya' some time," Dash answered happily.
"Can't wait," Soarin beamed at her. He stared into her eyes a bit before hearing someone clear their throat.
"S-sorry to interrupt but here's your cocoa M-miss," the waitress studdered upon seeing Soarin's slightly annoyed expression.
"Oh...uh. Thanks," Dash said softly as she was greeted by a hot beverage in front of her. She half smiled at Soarin and he looked in the direction of the waitress.
"Could I just get an apple pie?" he asked.
The waitress nervously looked around. "S-sorry sir, we don't provide apple pie....b-but you c-could get cherry pie."
"That'll do just fine," he said. "Thank you Miss..."
"Cranberry," she replied quietly.
"Thanks, Berry." Cranberry smiled and left them alone to go give the cooks their order.
"Well, somepony's quite a mares' stallion," Rainbow commented, a bit of anger in her tone. Soarin smiled.
"Nothin wrong with being nice, Dash," he added jokingly.
"Whatever...enjoy your pie, I'll see ya later," Dash said flatly and got up from her seat.
"Hey! Wait!" Soarin almost yelled. Dash turned around and raised an eyebrow. Did he want her to stay?
"Sit your rainbow tailed flank back in this booth, Skittles!", Soarin called again, this time he was trying as hard as he could to contain his laughter.
Rainbow snorted softly and flew over to him.
"You actually want me to stay?" she asked. Soarin nodded in agreement and patted the table side across from him, signaling her to sit.
"Alright...but NEVER call me Skittles again," she joked. Soarin smiled at her and looked into her eyes as she did to his.
"Soooo..." he said eventually.
"Soooo...how's training been going?" Rainbow asked.
"Great! I almost died today," he replied smiling.
Dash smirked and rolled her eyes.
"No but seriously, Wonderbolts training is tiring. Are you sure you're up for it?" he asked looking a bit worried.
"Training is the last of my worries in this endless trip... I just wanna know how long it'll be before I can fly with you.." Soarin's eyes widened.
"All of you, I mean..." she continued.
"O-oh right..."
Cranberry came back holding a hot tray. She lay it on the table softly and smiled at them. "Here's your cherry pie, you two enjoy and tell me if you need anything else."
"Thanks," Soarin replied and looked over at Dash. "You want some?"
"I'm good," Dash said smiling. "Go ahead and tear it up."
"What?" Soarin chuckled. "What do you-"
"Oh please, I saw you at the gala last year," Rainbow said trying to contain a snicker.
Soarin gasped dramatically. "Miss Dash, I, am greatly offended. I, am not wild dog!" he said in a voice that could compete with Harshwhinny. Rainbow snickered a bit more.
Soarin then grabbed a napkin and tied it around his neck. "Oh yes, etiquette," Rainbow said between laughs.
"Pshhh, yeah. It's like the fanciest life can be," he shot back. Rainbow laughed a bit more.
"Definitely, Sir," she agreed. Soarin's ears perked up
"Sir?" he asked. "Please, you don't have to call me 'Sir', my leige is good."
"Pffffft!" Rainbow continued. He stared as Rainbow laughed, her voice slightly cracking on every other point.
"Aww....your widdle waugh is adowable.." Soarin complimented softly, but Rainbow managed to hear anyway. Her eyes widened completely.
"What...?" she asked containing a small laugh."I hate my laugh, it's so weird." She was now laughing softly to herself.
"Well, it's the cutest thing I've ever heard," Soarin confirmed. Rainbow raised a brow at him
him.
"Listen buddy, call me whatever you want, but I am not cute!" Rainbow argued slightly pouting. Soarin chuckled a little and smiled at her.
"Rainbow, there's no pony here," he pointed out.
"I know, but that doesn't change anything. I'm the fastest most athletic pony in all of Equestria. Weather there's other ponies here or not."
"Dash, just because you're an athlete doesn't mean you can't be all cutesy wootsie," he said truthfully
"Well, do you think I'm cute?" Dash asked. Soarin's eyes widened.
"I...uhhhh..." he started, a bit nervously. "Well...I think you're..."
"Yes?" she asked in almost a teasing voice.
"You're pretty...umm...nice looking?"
"Oh...just...nice?" she asked a bit more serious.
"Ummmm...yes?"
"Uhhh, ok then..." she said softly. "So. How's your pie?"
"What? Oh yes my pie, it's great!" he answered nervously.
"That's good..."
"Yes it's..." he looked around until he caught himself in her eyes,"just what I needed."
Rainbow laughed softly and slowly. She looked back into his eyes and both stared for about a minute.
"I should get going...my place is a bit far from here," Rainbow said drifting away from his gaze. Soarin's ears slowly flattened.
"Oh. That's fine I'll see you later then?" he said giving her a soft smile.
"Maybe..." she smiled back.
He stared at her until she left. Then he looked back to where she was sitting.
"Just what I needed...."