Among the smoldering ruins of the Gala, ponies were trying to piece together what information they could as to how the most regal and formal event of the year was destroyed by a handful of ponies. However two pegasi were not among them, the wonderbolts Spitfire and Soarin.

Soarin sat staring at the tendrils of steam drifting up from the star-bucks coffee mug set before him, he sighed deeply as a flame colored mare sat in the seat before him. Spitfire was shocked by the behavior of her normally ecstatic team mate. "Come on Soarin." She said, "What's got you in a mood to rival the mental breakdown of Luna". "I cant get her out of my mind!" He said, "Her rainbow mane, rose eyes, and flying skills to boot. I... I've had crushes before but this... this is more."

Soarin sighed and returned to staring at the mug of bitter liquid in his hooves. 'Wow', She thought to herself 'He really likes her...' Suddenly she was distracted by a brown pony stumbling into the store. He exhaled what appeared to be a cloud of golden mist but she wrote it off as a trick of the light. He babbled about how he wasn't a 'ginger' and sat in a booth towards the back and promptly fell asleep.

Spitfire turned around and found Soarin completely ignoring a piece of pie which shook her to her very core. Soarin was near pie and it wasn't being devoured. That did it, she knew if he was too depressed to eat even his favorite food, something had to be done. Deep in thought, Spitfire looked and was shocked to see an alicorn walk out of a donuts shop and disappear in a flash of light, leaving behind her a group of mares one of which was a blue rainbow maned pegasus. Seeing her chance, she piped up "Yo, Soarin, if you wanted to talk to her, there she is. Oh, and there being a one week holiday for the bolts why don't you take a small visit to Ponyville and.... scout out potential recruits."

Soarin looked so happy she thought he might break out into song then and there. "Thank you!" He managed to squeak out before barreling out the door. Laughing to herself Spitfire noticed the pony from earlier use some strange devise to open the back door and slip out. She followed him carefully noticing his wings as he disappeared into a strange blue box. catching the door with her hoof Spitfire eased into the box after him. Shortly afterward the box vanished with a few noises and a small wind.

Rainbow Dash, still minorly upset from the nights events, said farewell to her friends, and trotted off. Turning around she came face to face with a wide eyed Soarin. After the initial shock of meeting her hero again, she managed to say "H-hey S-s-soarin." Suddenly realizing what he was doing, he became very shy and said "Hey D-dash" looking down at his hooves. "Would you ummm", he stammered "Like to hang out sometime tomorrow?" resisting the urge to tackle him from sheer excitement, "Ohmygod yes!" she squealed. Beaming from ear to ear "Sooo tomorrow at your place?" He inquired. "Sure thing Soarin." Dash said. Excitedly the two pegasi flew off in opposite directions both looking forward to spending the day with their crush.

Next Chapter: a night to remember Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes