Twilight paced around her room excitedly. Mere hours ago, she was told she was going to be an aunt. An aunt! Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were having a foal! She just couldn't wait to spend every minute of her day teaching it everything she knew. The magic of friendship and everything! She needed to start planning names, buying baby supplies and being the most supportive sister she could be.
She especially loved the way they delivered the surprise. With a good old scavenger hunt, just like the old days. A bit of nostalgia hit her for a second and she just couldn't help but smile.
She started tracing down everything her brother and the princess of love had set up in the scavenger hunt. The school house, the crib, the birth certificate, and the foal free press paper. Pretty clever, in Twilight's opinion. Foal free press though, practically has the word in the title. She wondered why she hadn't known something was up from then.
Twilight remembered when the paper was filled with Gabby Gums' very offensive and intrusive rumors. Just the thought of it put a sour taste in her mouth. She remembered how everypony was upset and hurt, it was hard to believe the sweet crusaders would ever do that to everypony.
Her thoughts shifted as she heard brief, but loud knocking on the doors of her castle.
"Spike! Door!" she called. The alicorn waited for a response but nothing was heard. She called his name again and trotted to his room. "Spike?" She found the small dragon sleeping in his small bed. She wanted to get him a real bed but... She didn't want to hear him complain about how they were too soft or too squeaky.
The pony outside knocked once more, so with a sigh, Twilight teleported down to the door. She opened it to reveal a young familiar colt with a rolled up paper in his mouth. "First Base?"
"Hey Twilight!" the colt muffled with the paper in his mouth. "Look!" Twilight took the paper from his mouth using her magic and recognized it as the school paper. "Your friend is in one of the stories!"
Twilight raised a brow. "Which one?"
"The one that has Skittles in her mane!" he chirped happily. Rainbow Dash.
"How'd she get in the paper?" Twilight pondered. First base smiled, raising an eye brow while doing so. He had always seemed so innocent towards Twilight...just like someone he knew.
"I don't know Twi, but there's quite a story about her," he responded proudly.
Twilight eyed him suspiciously, but more of just messing with him. Both shared a quick laugh. "I wonder what kind of trouble she got into this time."
"Oh yes, wondrous trouble!" he joked. Twilight laughed loudly.
"Wondrous! I'm very pleased with your WONDERful vocabulary!" They both laughed once more and led up to saying their share of goodbyes.
"Well thanks kiddo! Uhh...say hi to your brother for me!" She called to him as he walked away. First Base gave her a small nodd and kept going. Twilight turned around and closed her own door only to start inspecting the paper.
"Cafeteria food, great new playground equipment," she quickly took pride in having helped set it up,"New pony president lives up to promises...AHA! Rainbow Dash's... Wonderbolt love affair? Rainbow has a coltfriend?" she pondered outloud. "Woah, how come she never told anypony? This is great news!"
The princess jumped slightly. "This week's just full of surprises!" She was so excited for her brother and now her friend! She couldn't wait to tell everypony.
"Wait...I will tell everypony...at the same time!" She beamed happily. "Yes, I'll make a small get together for all my friends! We'll have snacks and we'll sit around the map...maybe we can have a-"
"Can you keep it down?" a young voice snapped. Twilight opened her eyes to see Spike standing there with his small Rarity plush. She smiled sheepishly and ran over to him.
"Sorry Spike, I'm just so excited!" She smiled widely, leaving the dragon to guess why she was so perky.
"I don't get it...who's birthday is it?" he asked bluntly.
"Well, mine in three weeks, but that's not important right now!"
"Then what's got you so hyped?" Twilight popped down in front of him and put the paper in his face. "Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt Love Affair."
"Isn't this great!" Twilight gushed. Spike chuckled quickly.
"Yeah! I actually thought she'd be the last one to get a colt friend," he joked. The princess stopped jumping and glared at him. Spike sheepishly smiled at her before looking down at his feet. "So, can I help you with anything?"
Twilight's expression softened and she smiled at Spike, who was relieved she wasn't angry anymore. "Yes, thank you Spike. There's many things I need for tonight."
"Yes?" he pondered.
"Well, would you mind fixing up some of your famous nachos?" she pondered.
"Not at all, anything else?" Spike asked excitedly.
"Yes actually..." she responded.
Twilight stopped pacing and smiled.
"Spike, get out the pillows cause' we're having a-"
"SLEEPOVER!!!!!"
Pinkie bounced around excitedly, smashing cupcakes and getting messy. A purple maned unicorn scoffed. "Pinkie, sit down please!" The bubbly pony kept jumping as frosting flew everywhere. "UGHH! Or at least keep away from things that are easily smashed."
Pinkie stopped and patted her mane."Well, what fun is there in that, silly?" Rsrity rolled her eyes and fixed her mane as Pinkie Pie continued to bounce.
"Thanks for coming everypony!" Twilight announced proudly. The remaining five stood before her smiling, ready to begin the night.
"Thanks for invitin' us Twi," Applejack started with a smile. "I love spendin' time with y'all, especially if smores are involved!"
Pinkie's mouth watered at the idea and Fluttershy softly giggled as she took out a small napkin to wipe her.
The rest of the evening went along smoothly, everypony enjoying themselves.
"So, Rainbow, care to tell us about your... COLTFRIEND!" Twilight exclaimed.
Rainbow spat out her smore and endlessly coughed. The remaining ponies gasped and giggled.
"I do NOT have a...coltfriend..." Rainbow said imitating a gag. "I'm not into all that sappy stuff."
"Oh really?" Spike said slyly. He handed Rainbow Dash the school paper. She flipped through the pages trying to find what the alicorn was blabbering about. Her eyes widened as she found her picture and instantly became red.
"SOARIN! OH MY GOSH......" Rainbow screamed, her face becoming redder by the second. Giggling once agaon carried throughout the ponies....and spike.
"Soarin and Rainbow Dash..." Pinkie started, soon being joined by the others,"K-I-S-S-I-N-G...."
"Shut up! Soarin is not my coltfriend!" Dash protested.
Fluttershy blinked. "Well, then why are you so red?"
"Uhhhhh...."
The girls...and spike laughed eagerly. Rainbow's face was a tomato. Who was responsible for all of this? She scanned the paper to find the author's name.
"Uhhhh guys...." Rainbow started, "you might wanna shut up now..."
They all continued giggling, making Dash slightly annoyed. "Why should we?" Applejack asked teasingly. Rainbow held out the paper to Applejack's face. "That picture of you and Soarin ain't gonna shut us up."
"Ugh...no. THIS," she said pointing at the author's name."This article is by Gabby Gums!"
Rarity frowned. "Well, that's impossible! Gabby Gums was my sister and she would never go back to those old and rude ways."
She eyed Applejack slightly, who was taken aback. "Oh nuh-uh, I know my sister wouldn't do that either."
"And I know Scootaloo wouldn't purposely do something like this to me. Besides the already have their cutie marks," Dash protested.
"Whoever it was she must have a good reason for it...right?" Pinkie jumped into the conversation.
"I should hope. But Gums hasn't written anything in the school paper this year before now," Rarity objected.
"It could be a 'he'," Pinkie suggested. The rest ignored her and continued talking.
"Well, whatever. It's not like anypony believes this...is it?" Rainbow asked cautiously. The ponies avoided eye contact with her. "Oh, c'mon!"
"It seems believable, and it makes sense," Twilight responded.
"How? How does it make sense?" she grimaced.
"Well, for starters, you both have similar interests and hobbies," Rarity stated knowingly.
Dash rolled her eyes. "So what? Just because we're alike doesn't mean we'd make a romantic pair," she protested, blushing slightly at the last part.
"He genuinely cares for you," Rarity added.
"Oooooh!" Pinkie and Fluttershy cooed. Rainbow's slight blush grew at the thought.
"He was the only Wonderbolt to not only apologize after the events Wind Rider caused, but then spent the entire next day with you in Canterlot."
"He did?" Twilight asked excitedly. All turned to Rainbow as she nodded, her face just beet red at this point.
"He was being nice!" she argued.
"He looooves you!" Applejack teased. The other ponies erupted into giggles.
"No, he doesn't," Rainbow snapped.
The girls knew the couldn't convince her. Even if they felt it was extremely obvious.
Twilight, not willing to give up, turned to her friend.
Spitfire, captain of the famous flying team, the Wonderbolts, was sitting in her office looking over the latest reports for the new recruits they had just received. As usual, she wasn't exactly happy to be stuck in that position, but she couldn't really complain. She was the captain; who exactly was she gonna complain to?
"Let's see, Clear Skies. Hmmm. Only 13.4 wing power... might need to increase that a little," she quietly spoke to herself. She continued making soft remarks and mental notes to chew them out for it later.
A sudden crash came at her door.
"SPIT! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST FOUND OUT!" Fleetfoot squealed. Spitfire rolled her eyes and groaned.
"As fond of you as I am, Fleet, I can't have you marching in here while I'm busy," Spit said in an almost annoyed tone.
"Yes, okay. I understand that... B-BUT THIS...this is important!" She took a rolled up stash of paper from her wings and lay it out on the table in front of the irritated captain.
"A school newspaper?" Spit sarcastically asked.
Fleetfoot giggled excitedly. "Turn the page!" The pegasus raised and eyebrow, but did as she was told.
As soon as she turned, she quickly spotten an image of Soarin and Rainbow Dash together. Her eyes widened as she read the headline. "No...way..."
"Yes way!" Fleetfoot squealed.
"Your dorky cousin finally has a girlfriend?!"
"YEAH!"
The two mares laughed to themselves excitedly, their professionalism slipping away quite quickly. They read and re-read the article, almost in tears by the fifth time.
"I can't wait to tease him to death!" Fleetfoot added in between giggles. Spitfire attempted a nod, but through her laughter, it was bearly noticeable.
"Just imagine how much we can toy with this!" She laughed. "He'll hate our guts," she added in the same manner.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Ahem?"
The pegasi looked up at the new voice.
Blaze stood at the entrance of the room, a serious look on her face. Spitfire sat up and crossed her hooves in preparation for any issues or progress.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Captain Spitfire, but there seems to be a rather large rumor going around the academy," Blaze spoke steadily.
"A rumor? Why does that concern me or my very valuable time?" Spitfire stated harshly.
"Very valuable..." Fleetfoot snorted.
"Ahem..yes. Well, the rumors are about a relationship with a member of the team and one of our reserves. Something seemingly suspicious," Blaze commented.
"Oh, really?" Spitfire asked. "And to whom do these rumors pertain to?"
Her tone was teasing. Fleetfoot herself could barely muffle her snickers.
Blaze, all too confused, continued. "Our co-captain, Soarin Sk-"
"And Rainbow Dashie Washie!" Fleet said exploding into laughter.
Blaze glared at Fleetfoot, slightly annoyed. "What she said..."
"Oh, yes. I'm very aware of the current situation."
All day.
All friggen day.
Soarin had never been so aggravated in his entire life.
Every member of the team teasing him, something he still couldn't understand. Even the captain herself was acting strange.
Worst thing; nopony told him why. He hated this completely...
So now he sat like a loner, away from all the other ponies, eating his lunch. He felt the last thing he needed was more stress. He was already tired as it was, he didn't want the constant looks and laughter only deepening the scar.
He wasn't used to eating alone, however, and didn't exactly want to start then. But for his sanity, he obliged with the options. It was better this way anyway. He was planning to visit an old friend, and had he gone to sit with the other guys, he might have gotten pressured into their plans.
"Oh, Soarin!" A hoof slammed the table space in front of him. "I need to talk to you."
"Blaze? What do you need?" he replied emotionless. Blaze scooted closer to him, a seductive look in her eyes. He only backed away in response. "Can I help you with anything?"
"Oh, yes. You see, there's been some talk all over the academy about you...having some sort of...relationship?" she stated, raising her voice a bit at the end.
"What?"
"I knew it! I knew it wasn't true!" she yelled. "I mean, why would you want to go out with that... Ponyville filly, when you have all you need right in front of you!
"Wait, what are you even talking about?" He was feeling even more frustrated by the moment.
"Your supposed affair with that reserve pony... Rainbow Dash..." Blaze answered, clearly disgusted.
"Rainbow Dash?!" Blaze nodded. "I-I..." he blushed significantly.
"I already reported the rumors to the Captain. I'm sure she'll put an end...to them.... Soarin?" He had stopped moving. "Are you okay?"
Soarin still didn't react. He was stiff.
"H-how did this rumor begin?" He finally asked.
"Oh, um...a picture of you two was seen in the ponyville foal free press," she answered. "Why?"
Without further hesitation, Soarin flew out of the mess hall as fast as he could.
One of the stallions arched a teasing brow.
"Looks like somepony has gone off to talk to his girlfriend!"
Rainbow's ears perked up at the sudden noise. She faced the door and flew towards it at a moderate speed.
Soarin, on the other side, was hoping she was here and was hoping she would answer the door. Much to his relief, the cloud door opened to reveal a cyan mare with a colorful mane.
"Oh, hey Soar! What's up?" Dash asked trying to sound as casual as possible. A blush rose to her cheeks at the concerned look on his face.
"Is everything okay? Have you read the paper from your village's school house?!" She didn't want to nod, seeing as it might make the situation easier for her, but instead, she nodded truthfully. "Oh, no...."
"Don't worry, I was shocked too," Dash explained,"Although what is strange is the pony who wrote the article-"
"Seemed to have clear evidence?" He interrupted. Dash raised her brow slightly.
"No...they don't exist anymore...or at least they shouldn't..."
"Oh..." Soarin said with a slight blush. Retracing what she said, his mind was puzzled. "They shouldn't exist?"
She nodded. "Gabby Gums, the writer of the article, was actually three fillies. Applebloom, my friend Applejack's sister, Sweetie Belle, Rarity's sister, and Scootaloo."
"She's that fillie who you say admires you?" He asked.
Rainbow nodded for what seemed like the fifth time. "Yes, but they promised they would never go back to writing gossip about other ponies. And from how much we've....asked....them, they deny having anything to do with the column."
Soarin chuckled. "You didn't interrogate with them, did you?"
"I will ask you POLITELY one last time...."
Applebloom gulped.
"WHICH ONE OF YOU THREE DID IT?!"
"IT WASN'T ME, I SWEAR!"
"We were as polite as possible," Dash stated.
"Okay..." Soarin smiled.
"Yes...now, what are we gonna do about the rumors?" Asked Rainbow.
"I don't know yet..." Soarin admitted. "First, I think we definitely need to find out who did this."
"But how? I mean, we know the writer is definitely a student here but...there are hundreds!"
"Well, we know for sure that three aren't responsible for it, right?" He asked.
She looked at him, a tad confused. "Well...yes, but...that helps us how?"
"We can have them as an inside source! They can help us by eavesdropping on their classmates!"
"Way to be subtle..." Dash chuckled. "That's a good idea, though."
"I know," he said puffing his chest. "I'm soooo smert!"
Rainbow rolled her eyes smiling. "What'll we do if it doesn't work?"
"Well, do you have any brilliant ideas?" He asked teasingly.
"As a matter of fact, I do, smert guy!" She teased back. "It's less risky than yours even."
"Oh, is it really?" He asked in an english accent. "Do tell."
"I'm sure I can convince Ms. Cheerilee to get on the foals' tails and find out who's behind this," Rainbow explained. "And then we won't have to resort to having three fillies stalk their classmates for our answers."
Soarin crossed his hooves as Rainbow released a smirk.
"Well, genius, what will we do once we figure out who it is?"
"DUH, we'll....we will....I actually haven't thought of that..."
Both stared at each other for a few seconds before turning away blushing.
"So, uh...what did you first think..when you..umm," Soarin started nervously. Dash smiled and hid behind her mane. "When you read...the rumor...article...thing."
"Well...uhh. Hehe. I was kind of...shocked," Rainbow Dash stopped as she realized he'd just been standing in the doorway since he got there. "Oh. Shoot! Umm, come in, please...I...sorry just...yeah."
Soarin chuckled softly. He trotted into the cloud home and went over to her living room. "Geez, how long has it been since I've been here?"
"Long...very. I'm surprised you still knew the address!" Rainbow joked.
"Oh please, don't think so highly of my memory. As long as you see a giant-ass cloud blob only feet above ground, what else could it be?"
"A cloud?"
"With rainbow falls?"
"It's a possibility, yes."
He snorted. "Fair enough. Anyway, I believe I asked you a question?"
Dash giggled softly. "Did you? I don't believe so..."
"Oh, believe it, baby."
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened and her cheeks became red.
She could hear Soarin muffle a snort.
"Well...I just...I hadn't thought about it..." She said, looking down. "I was angry for the most part, I guess..."
Soarin's eyebrows shot up for a split second. "You were angry at the thought of being in a relationship...with me?..." He looked down slightly.
"Yes. Wait...no. I just...I wasn't expecting it..." She corrected him.
He started feeling a strong urge in his eyes. "Would it be so bad..?" He whispered.
"Kind of, yeah." She said softly. " I mean... I wouldn't say it's you or anything, but don't you find a relationship between us kind of...y'know...weird?"
"How? How would it be weird?!" Soarin said a bit defensively.
"Because you're my friend!" She declared. "You aren't actually taking this little rumor seriously, are you?"
He turned away from her, not knowing whether to feel angry or depressed. One thing for sure, he felt betrayed.
"Look, I'm sorry Soarin...I didn't mean as it could never happen or whatever...I just mean-"
"-No," he said with a slightly sinister chuckle. "Don't try to sugarcoat it for me...."
Rainbow stared at him, hoping he wouldn't feel any hate towards her.
"I really didn't mean to hurt you, Soarin," she said softly.
He didn't even turn to her. "Dash...don't think you're so special. You didn't hurt me. It's not like I'll ever love you anyway...."
With that, he left the cloud mansion, and a certain heart broken cyan pegasus.
She walked over to the door and closed it slowly, only before collapsing onto the floor with silent tears falling down her soft face.
Rainbow had the temptation to go after him. Maybe she could fix this, after all they were best friends right? WRONG. After this, he'd never speak to her again. She had to fix it, she couldn't lose him. As a friend. She was pretty sure she couldn't lose him as a friend. She couldn't tie a knot at his reaction to her opinion. She wanted to believe that he was the one that over reacted and that she was correct to refuse his less than subtle offer to a relationship. But if she was right, then why did she feel so guilty?
Dash walked over to her kitchen, wanting to forget her problems. Surely, she would figure it out tomorrow at practice. Rainbow looked over at her counter, covered in pictures of Tank and her friends, along with a few of herself at some that fit all three categories. Amongst them she spotted a picture that would've gone under two.
The infamous Canterlot wedding day was a date to remember, and she had a picture incase she ever forgot. She still remembered clearly the nervous expression he wore when asking her to dance, which was something she was nervous of herself since she wasn't the best dancer. Still he managed to make it enjoyable, and she would admit that she looked awesome in whatever she tried to do.
A single tear fell from her eyes at the mere memory. It still fell under both categories. She would make sure of that.
Soarin flew rapidly towards the academy. Call her oblivious all you want, she knew exactly what she was doing and now he knew how she felt. Crystal clear, it was. But he didn't care, why should he? After all, she didn't seem to care about his feelings.
Or maybe he was the crazy one.
Whatever the case was...he wasn't apologizing. Not after that little scene. He'd seem desperate. Not only that, but he'd be completly embarrassed.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he landed where the academy stood. He tritted all the way inside, his wings tired from the journey. While it would take most Wonderbolts two to three hours to get to the academy at average speed, he used all his skill to get there in only one. But it did drain him of most energy.
"Top of the evening to ya, Soarin!" He heard Spitfire say. He continued walking, not meeting her gaze even though he was almost sure she wasn't even looking in his direction.
"Hey," he grumbled back.
Spitfire jerked her head up. "What's wrong, Soarin?"
"Nothing," he fumed. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just tired...."
"You sure look tired!" She called out to him.
"Yeah. I think I'm just going to pick up my things and head home...maybe sleep a bit," he explained.
"Oh no you don't!" She said speeding in front of him.
"What?"
"Go down to the shower room and relax! That's an order!"
Soarin sighed in defeat. There was no point in arguing in his condition. She would ask questions he wouldn't have answers to.
"Yes, ma'am...."
Spitfire grinned and walked off to adjusting the flight paterns as she was before he had come in.
Soarin, with his wings sore as hell, actually thought of thanking Spitfire. He didn't feel like flying for another thirty minutes all the way to his home. And there were no trains to take him up to Cloudsdale.
"Thanks...." He grumbled. Quietly, but loud enough for Spitfire to hear and smile happily at him.
He trotted over to the shower room.
Maybe he didn't have to fly home. Maybe he could just sleep in the recruit bunks. No one was sleeping in them after all, it would be a few weeks before they arrived.
He started the shower on hot water.
The more he thought of it, the more he favored the idea over flying back home. It wasn't exactly late...only about 8 at night. But he didn't think he was gonna have the energy to fly back anyhow.
Soon steam rose into the air, indicating the shower was ready. Soarin stepped in, allowing the hot water to fall and almost beat on his exhausted back. It was painful, but soothing at the same time. Like stretching after a long session at the gym.
He gently massaged his wings, which were completely soaked by now, alternating every few seconds or so. For a while, he had almost forgotten his issue with Dash.
He remained in the showet for a bit over thirthy minutes before stepping out. He hadn't really washed his mane, his sore muscles were a bigger problem to him at the time. Now he felt way more relaxed...almost making up his mind to fly home after all.
"Soarin?" he heard a voice outside. Blaze.
Deciding he wasn't up for dealing with her crud that night, he ignored her, pretending he wasn't even there.
"Soarin, I know you're in there! Spitfire told me you needed time to cool off," Blaze called out.
"Darn it. Thanks a lot Spit..." he thought.
He walked out of the locker room, leaving his towel on the dirty rack as he passed by. Once outside, he faced Blaze with an annoyed expression.
"What?" He whisper shouted.
"Is something wrong? Why did you need to cool off?" she asked.
"None of your business, Blaze. In fact I'm about to leave," growled and started trotting away.
"WAIT!" Blaze screeched. She grabbed his shoulder with a hoof. It stung, like a sharp bee to him.
Dash wouldn't feel like this. Dash's touch was soft and gentle, despite the fiesty mare whom it belonged to.
"What is it, Blaze?" He asked angrily. She was taken a back, but nonetheless faced him sternly.
"Does it have something to do with Rainbow Dash?" She asked him.
He froze. Yes. But why did she care? She liked him, that's for sure. But he wasn't interested. She knew that.
"Yes..." He answered truthfully. "But...don't tell anyone...and leave me alone."
"I would never," she said. "For both cases."
He lifted his eyebrow.
"Soarin, you're my friend! I care about your problems! Why do push me away?" She asked offended.
He didn't say anything. He knew what she was doing now.
"There's only one reason you would push me away while you're hurting...."
No.
"You're afraid to fall in love with the only one who truly cares!" She squealed hugging him.
Wrong. Very wrong. Completely incorrect.
"Blaze, you're confusing me being isolative and upset over trying to hide my emotions."
"But you are hiding your emotions," she responded.
Soarin rolled his eyes. "From everyone. Not just you. I want to be alone."
"Please Soarin, don't deny it. Dash hurt you, stop obsessing over her!"
"I'm not obsessing!" He yelled.
"She wasn't the one...she'll never care about you the way I do!" Blaze pleaded.
Soarin's eyes widened. She was right. If Rainbow really cared about him, he wouldn't be in this situation. Maybe he was being obsessive. Maybe Blaze was his only option now...
"I know..." He finally said. Blaze smiled and hugged him tighter, the once relaxed muscles from the shower now long gone.
"Soo...are we a thing now?" She asked bluntly. Soarin looked at her quickly.
"What are you saying?" He asked confused.
"Ugh...do I have to spell EVERYTHING out for you?" She pretended to be annoyed, laughing at her self. Soarin still seemed nonchalant.
"A thing?"
She rolled her eyes jokingly. "Do you want to go out with me?"
His heart stopped. What was happening? Why was this happening? This wasn't what he wanted. He was wanted Rainbow Dash. Only Rainbow Dash. He was sure that she was the only one for him. The one whom he could talk to without feeling judged. The only one who treated him like the pony he was. The one who could make his heart tie up a knot when she spoke to him. The one who's eyes glowed a thousand shades of beautiful. The same eyes who stared down at him while he poured his heart out to them. The same eyes who didn't care.
Rainbow rushed through the skies, beating her wings rapidly. She needed to fix the mess she had caused the day before. Even if she wasn't interested in a relationship, Soarin was her friend. Or at least, she hoped he still was.
She arrived at the HQ in record timing, the sun barely rising. Dash looked around, temped to just call out his name when she spotted a certain fiery yellow captain who could help her.
"Spitfire!" she yelled out. Spitfire turned around to face her, an almost-smile forming on her lips.
"Glad to see you're early, Crash," She paused after a closer inspection of her sweaty figure. "Looks like you booked it here. Any particular reason?''
Rainbow Dash sighed. ''Yes, please. Where is Soarin?'' Spitfire's eyes widened. She looked to her left trying to make something up.
"Oh, he's...around...why do you need him?'' She replied as convincingly as possible.
''Yesterday, was he okay?'' She asked, ignoring Spitfire's question.
''Well...define 'okay','' Spitfire responded.
''Was he upset?'' Rainbow asked.
"He seemed to be. Why?" She heard the rainbow maned pegasus groan. "Something wrong?"
"It was all my fault...I-he came over to my house to confront me about the rumor that was spread around about us dating and I told him that I wasn't interested...in a more or so rude manner. I want to make things right. I need to find him." Rainbow Dash stated firmly, but anyone could hear the desperation in her voice.
Spitfire merely stared at Dash with a strict face, taking a second to think about everything Rainbow had said, and trying to find a possible solution. It didn't take long."Well, in that case...Rainbow Dash, I'm going to be as gentle as possible, but you're fired."
Rainbow looked up with wide eyes. "WHAT!? Why?" What in the world was going on these past few days?!
"Lately, you've been slacking off a lot, your flying techniques are lacking compared to the rest of the team, and now you're causing an emotional dilemma in a workplace. Consider your affiliation with The Wonderbolts over." She answered.
''But, Spitfire!'' Rainbow yelled almost whining.
''Talking back, now?'' Spitfire replied. Dash quickly shut her mouth. ''Now, I'm sorry, but this just isn't working out anymore. This isn't about you personally, it is merely a decision for the team. A team that doesn't need you, or your input, and I apologize. This doesn't mean you're not a great flyer. And I'm sure you'll get a lot more jobs elsewhere. Maybe a better position than the one you have now.''
''But I don't want another job! And you've never mentioned any of my skills being 'lacking', I could've fixed it!'' Rainbow protested.
''No, you couldn't have,'' Spitfire paused smirking. ''Because they aren't. In fact, you're one of the best flyers on the team,'' she admitted.
''What?..." Rainbow felt relief for a second, only for one. ''Wait, so, why am I fired?''
''You're not fired,'' Spitfire said with a chuckle. ''It was only an example.''
''An example? Of what?'' Rainbow asked, confused.
''Of what you're going to do to Soarin.'' Spit replied. ''Tell me, did the fact that you're getting fired hurt you any less even after I complimented your flying the second time?''
''Well, no. Not really.'' Rainbow admitted.
''Exactly. Just because you say it with kinder words the second time you reject him, doesn't mean the rejection will hurt him any less.'' Spitfire explained. ''He just needs some time to think, possibly even get over you. He has to accept that you don't like him that way and move on.''
''But, what if he doesn't remain my friend once he gets over me?'' Dash asked.
''Then he was never really your friend in the first place, he only stuck around because he liked you.''
Rainbow Dash shuddered at the thought of all her fun memories with Soarin being only because he had a crush on her. She refused to believe that was the case. It couldn't be the case. Soarin was her friend before anything.
''Can I still talk to him? I want to at least apologize for hurting his feelings,'' Rainbow suggested.
Spitfire sighed. ''He actually isn't here yet. Get your uniform on and start warming up. I have a new move that I want to show you.''
Rainbow felt her ears go down as Spitfire changed the subject. She really only wanted to fix everything with Soarin right now. Nevertheless, she smiled at her captain and raised a hoof to her forehead.
''Yes, ma'am!'' Dash confirmed with a salute as she flew off into the locker rooms.
Spitfire shook her head and went back to finishing her wing ups.
''Spitfire!'' A voice yelled.
''Blaze?'' Spit asked, looking around for the pony.
''Above you, ma'am,'' Blaze said. Sure enough, she was there when the captain looked up.
''Do you need anything?'' She asked with a dull expression.
''I slept here last night,'' Blaze commented proudly.
''I'm aware of that,'' Spitfire replied uninterested.
''And I overheard your conversation with the newbie,'' Blaze said.
''She isn't exactly new anymore. And I'm only teaching her the stunt first because she can learn it faster than a majority of you and I want her to teach it to the team while I'm gone tomorrow,'' Spitfire explained.
''Oh no, I'm not concerned for the trick. I'm talking about Soarin,'' Blaze said with a smirk. The captain looked her over curiously.
"What do you mean?" Spitfire asked. "What Rainbow Dash and Soarin are going through is none of your business, you shouldn't get involved."
Blaze rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Spitfire. I'm not trying to get involved in any of their petty arguments, I'm just looking out for the team."
"In what way?" Spitfire asked. While she would rarely approve of ponies meddling in any situation, if it helped the team it surely couldn't harm anyone. "What do you have in mind?"
Blaze smirked. She knew that would reel her captain in. Quickly, she looked around to make sure no pony was eavesdropping. She spotted Surprise doing laps in the main outdoors arena, and Rainbow Dash opening her locker through the window outside the locker room. All in all, the coast was clear.
She took a deep breath and turned to her captain. "What if Soarin dated someone else?" Spitfire cringed and was about to oppose, but Blaze continued. "Think about it Spitfire, a mare to take his mind off Rainbow Dash. It would be good for both of them. Dash wouldn't feel guilty, and Soarin wouldn't be heart broken. They'll both be able to focus on their flying more than their emotions, and this whole dating drama, and the team will receive better results from it."
Spitfire shook her head. "I don't know, I think we should let them fix it on their own." Blaze frowned. "Soarin and Rainbow Dash work really well together, especially when we're working with aesthetic flight patterns. Their colors just blend well together, and the crowds love it. I would hate to see what would happen if they refuse to fly together now."
Blaze sighed, "Exactly! That's what I'm trying to tell you, ma'am."
Spitfire held her hoof out. "Let me finish, Blaze." The pegasus pony shut her mouth and looked at her superior. "While I'd hate to see any bad outcomes to their current problem, nothing has happened yet. At least, nothing within the team."
Blaze let out an almost-growl and looked to the ground. "So, what you're saying is...not to get involved just yet?"
"Not to get involved at all. Soarin and Rainbow Dash will figure this out, somehow. Even though they are our friends, all we have to do is give them support and advice. I'm sure nothing will cause them to disrupt the team, and if it does, I'll speak to them myself," Spitfire explained.
With that final note, the captain took off in the direction of the arena. Most likely to do some laps herself, Blaze noted. She kicked the ground with her hoof. Without Spitfire's support, her task would be a lot harder, since the captain had a lot of influence on the entire team; specifically Soarin, as they had been foalhood friends.
Still, she didn't start this whole mess to be thrown off this quickly.
