”Come on, Dash! You can do it,” Soarin shouted gleefully as he looked on at the rainbow mare behind him. The pair had been racing across the whole of Equestria with an endless cheering crowd. The world was slightly foggy, but that didn’t matter to the stallion.

“I-I can’t do it, Soar, you're just too good for me,” Dash replied breathlessly as the stallion flew back over to her.

“No, Dash, you can do anything, you’re the best,” Soarin said happily as he flew back over to pick the mare up and flew them over to the finish line.

“I love you, Soarin,” Dash said as she nuzzled into the stallion. Leaning up for a kiss.

“I love you too, Dashie—”

“Hey, sleepyhooves, time to get up!” Rainbow said happily as the Wonderbolt awoke with a jolt, rolling off the cloud sofa and hitting the floor below. Soarin groaned struggling to stand back up on all fours while rubbing his head with a forehoof.

“I’m pretty surprised ya’ know, thought you guys would be up this early every morning,” Dash said in a slightly astonished tone. Soarin failed to reply straight away his mind still returning to the senses of reality.

“N-No we aren't usually up till sun...rise, wait you train at night?” Soarin asked in shock as he looked out of the window towards the sky, which was still a greyish dark. The stallion could hear Rainbow’s snickering in the background and shot a glare over at the mare in protest.

“Oh come on, Soar, it’s only an hour until sunrise, besides the air’s nice and cool at this time,” the sky blue mare happily chirped in response. She proceeded towards the kitchen to grab a few things as she left Soarin to himself to wake up fully. After a few moments she came back with a few bottles of water placed on her back. She rolled one off her wing in Soarin’s direction, the stallion picking up the bottle of liquid as he opened the cap, taking an encouraging gulp of the cool refreshment.

“Before we go training though it looks like you could use a shower,” Dash pointed out, cringing slightly at the smell that wafted through the room. Soarin felt his cheeks turn red as his eyes shifted across the cloud floor.

Dash snickered. “Okay, go get cleaned up, I’ll wait,” she said leaning on the wall, trying to hold back her laughter. Soarin slowly rose and trotted quietly up the spiral staircase to the bathroom.

Rainbow sighed as she waited. It didn't take all that long, with a few embarrassing singing moments which unfortunately reached Dash's ears. Soarin returned down the staircase once again in a much more freshened state. As he came down the stairs, the sound of a door opening directing the stallion's eyes over to Dash. The mare was leaning on the doorframe of the home. “Come on, Soar, let’s get training.”

“You were right about it being cold, Dash, it’s freezing,” Soarin stated as he flew alongside his partner, the light of the new day just beginning to crack through the night's clouds. When they had begun it was almost impossible to see, but in the last few moments the world had finally started to wake up once again.

“Like I said, it’s cool air, it’s better for your wings too,” Rainbow replied knowingly as she began doing flips and tricks in the air.

“What, your wings shivering is a good thing?” Soarin asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice as he followed the mare.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “No, your wings don’t get all hot and sweaty when it’s cold, besides you're a Wonderbolt ain’t ya, never knew you would be such the shy type.”

“Hey, I’m not shy!” Soarin protested. Rainbow smirked in response.

“Then show me,” she said plainly.

Soarin grinned as he flapped his wings powerfully, shooting up into the sky. He quickly rounded up a few night clouds into a triangular shape before he began to fly around them, spinning the fluffy textured mass. The three clouds began thundering and sparking as lightning began to shoot out from the core of the now agitated cloud. Soarin smiled, his work was now complete. With another powerful flap the stallion soared higher until he was directly over the three clouds, which were still spinning and shooting out powerful bursts of electric doom.

Soarin took in a deep breath before he let his wings fold to his sides and began to dive down towards the clouds. Rainbow watched from a close distance, her mind on edge as she came to the realisation of what the stallion was going to do.

Oh please, Soar, don’t be stupid, Rainbow thought to herself as she felt the slightest tinge of fear rise in the lower depths of her heart. Soarin was still gaining speed as he reached the clouds, he now began to roll slightly as he approached the final stage of his trick. Rainbow watched as the stallion neared the lightning and she stood in position getting ready to catch him if he fell. However, Soarin blitzed through the clouds sending sparks flying everywhere. Dash’s eyes widened as she watched the spectacle unfold into what looked like a fireworks show of lightning.

“Yep, it’s pretty awesome,” Soarin said proudly as he landed onto a nearby cloud, close to where Rainbow was hovering.

“H-How did you do that?” Rainbow asked in a stunned tone.

Soarin looked back to his flank. “It’s how I got this bad boy, I thought up the trick ages ago, it’s my signature move.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow as she hovered over to the cloud and landed next to him. “So...how come I’ve never seen it in any performances you guys have done in the Bolts?”

Soarin gave out a happy sigh before responding. “I dunno it's...just something I like to keep to myself.”

Rainbow was now very close to her mind being fully blown. “Wait...so why did you show me?”

Soarin only gave a wink in response before taking off again. “Come on then, Dash, thought you were gonna beat me in a race?”

Rainbow sighed, she’d get an answer later, for now training came first. She flared her wings before darting off after the stallion.

Soarin smirked to himself as he watched Dash fly ahead of him, the sun beginning to rise in the distance. There had been only one real reason he had shown her that trick, but for now the answer would remain his to know.

“O-Okay...I...I think it’s time….we call it...quits,” Soarin breathed out as he crashed onto a cloud, Rainbow doing the same a few moments later. The two exhausted pegasi clambered onto the soft surface of the fluffy mass before catching their breath.

Soarin looked out onto the now morning day sky. A smile came to his features as he felt the satisfaction of completing his first training day with Dash. Over the course of the past few hours the two had raced, trained and even played a game of wing tag, something that Rainbow had been doing at the academy as a training exercise. Now though he couldn’t even think about moving until he'd at least had a rest.

“Okay, Soar, you did kinda well I guess,” Dash started before the sound of muffled snores came through the cloud. Her eyes swung down towards the stallion who was now asleep, she smirked at the sight. “But you’re still not as good as me,” she finished in a proud tone, muffling a giggle soon afterwards when Soarin let out a particular loud snore. Rainbow looked over to another cloud nearby, she sighed feeling the need for one of her usual naps. Quickly hovering over, she laid down on the plush surface and closed her eyes with a yawn.

As the day marched on, below the clouds, five ponies were trotting down a dirt road, heading towards a large apple orchard, a small purple dragon sitting on the back of a lilac alicorn, his claws tapping away at his jaw, the boredom clear on his face. “Are we there yet?” he asked quizzically.

The lavender mare rolled her eyes. “Not yet, Spike,” she started shaking her head playfully, as an orange mare with a stetson hat continued.

“Twilight’s right, Spike. It’s only just around the corner, wish we’d found Rainbow though, just doesn’t feel right havin’ a get together without her,” the farm pony admitted with a sigh.

“Oh come, come now, Applejack, I’m sure Rainbow is having a fabulous time wherever she is, plus if she comes back, she’ll know where to find us,” came the voice of a snow white unicorn.

“I know, Rarity, but I still feel like we should try finding her again,” Applejack said, the tone of guilt in her voice.

“I think I see her,” said the voice of a pale yellow pegasus, her face slightly hidden by her long flowing pink mane. All the ponies looked around, their eyes settling on the rainbow tail of their friend, hanging from a cloud off in the distance.

“I’ll get her!” shouted a pink pony in the group. She raced over to the cloud before pulling out a rather large megaphone. “Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow and Soarin both awoke with a shock as they jumped slightly on their separate clouds, Soarin nearly falling off his makeshift bed. Dash averted her eyes from the embarrassing scene and instead looked over the cloud to see the pink pony below.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie, what’s up?”

“Hey, Dashie!” Pinkie called back from below as Soarin came around enough to look down at the ground. Rainbow looked over to the pale blue stallion and smiled.

“You wanna meet my friends?” she asked casually. Soarin looked back down at the bouncing pink pony as a few more ponies came into his view.

“I guess so, why not?” he replied with a calm smile.

“So, you’re here to train Rainbow?” Twilight asked, levitating a mug of cider over to the stallion. Soarin nodded happily as he sat next to Dash around the table in Applejack’s barn.

“Yeah, I’m her personal trainer for the games,” he replied.

“Well, you don’t train me...do you, Soarin,” Rainbow said looking over at him with a sly grin. The stallion only sunk his head slightly in response.

“Then...what do you do?” Twilight asked, her curiosity piqued. As the rest of Rainbow’s friends closed in on the two sitting together at the barn table.

“We’re uh…” Rainbow started, but quickly remembering Soarin’s reaction to the term.

“We’re flying buddies,” Soarin said in a straightforward tone, just managing to keep his laughter inside. Rainbow nodded in confirmation.

“That sounds fun!” Pinkie announced as she chugged down another mug of cider. Rarity was next to speak.

“So, darling, you're from Cloudsdale?” she asked, earning a nod from Soarin. “My my, I must say you are rather handsome."

“Hey!” Rainbow said, more firmly than she had intended as Soarin felt his cheeks flush. Rainbow scanned the room quickly, feeling the nerves rise before continuing, “I-I mean... hey, what do we all think of this cider?” she asked taking a quick swig of the drink, hoping the change in subject would help.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, “Are you alright, sugarcube?” she asked, slightly concerned.

“Me, I’m fine,” Rainbow answered casually as Twilight and Rarity shared a few concerned looks of their own.

“So, what do you guys all do then?” Soarin asked curiously, gaining everyone's attention and receiving a relieved look from Rainbow.

“Well, I’m Twilight Sparkle as you know, I research the study of friendship under Princess Celestia—”

“And she spends way too much time reading books,” Spike finished as he drank the last few drops from his mug. Twilight shot the small dragon a glare as Rarity started.

“Well, dear, I fashion the best and most desirable clothes in Equestria. I have a shop in Ponyville to which you're free to come by any time. I can already think of a few designs that would suit a stallion such as yourself,” the marshmallow coated mare finished with a wink as Rainbow crossed her forehooves.

“I’m Pinkie Pie! I love balloons and parties and balloons, oh I also love cupcakes and I live in the best candy store in town and I love cherry chungas and I love—” Pinkie started, but couldn’t finish because of her lack of breath.

“Um, maybe you should calm down first,” Twilight said putting a hoof around the mare’s shoulder as she breathed in heavy gulps. All eyes then turned to Fluttershy, the mare shying away from the crowd slightly, but when she saw Soarin’s warm smile she came out of her shell slightly. “I’m uh...Fluttershy, I care for animals in a cottage outside of the town, you’re free to come by...but only if you want to…”

Soarin kept his smile as all the eyes came down on him once again. Before he could speak up again though, music began playing from a stereo in the corner of the barn. Everypony turned to see Pinkie bouncing around. “I thought we should have a ‘Welcome to Ponyville, Soarin’ party, but rather than have it at Sugarcube Corner we can just have it right here!”

“A Soarin what now?” the stallion in question asked.

“It’s just Pinkie being...well Pinkie, come on, it’ll be fun,” Rainbow said, quickly taking Soarin’s hoof, the pair moving over to where the pink pony was dancing as the others joined. Soarin snickered slightly. “What?” Rainbow asked with a smirk, raising her eyebrow.

“You gonna tell me you're the most awesomest dancer in Equestria now too?” Soarin asked casually. Rainbow waved a hoof at his dismissively.

“Well it’s not like it’s a race...but I’ll still beat you,” she said confidently. Soarin rolled his eyes playfully in response as they started dancing with the other ponies around them.

Soarin felt the rest of the day pass rather quickly, luckily spending most of the time with Rainbow Dash. The mare was happily being more friendly with him now he was accepted into the group of friends that were quite well known throughout the world. Of course though, he knew he’d have to spend a lot more time with her if he was to reach his ultimate goal.

“So, did you have a good time? Did you, did you, did you?” Pinkie asked as Soarin and Dash stood outside the barn, getting ready to leave.

Soarin laughed. “Yes, Pinkie, I did. I’m honored to call you my friend, it was great to meet you all,” he finished, looking at the smiling faces of Dash’s friends as they too exited the barn and came out into the world once more, the sunset sky brining and orange hue to the ground below.

Rainbow yawned before speaking up, “Well I’mma hit the hay, come on, Soar,” she said, spreading her wings as Soarin followed.

“Wait,” Twilight started, “Soarin’s staying with you?” she asked curiously. Soarin turned his head as did Dash.

“Yeah, the flight to Cloudsdale’s just a bit too long to do everyday...so Rainbow let me stay in her house while we train,” the stallion answered.

Twilight was about to speak when another voice cut her off. “But...uh Rainbow...don’t you only have uh...one bed,” Fluttershy interrupted quietly, earning smirks from all of her friends.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Well, of course we don’t share a bed.”

Rarity’s eyes widened. “You mean this handsome gentlecolt has to sleep on the couch, that is outrageous if I do say so myself.”

Soarin could sense the argument rising and decided to calm things down. “It’s okay guys, really...I mean cloud stuff is really all the same anyway...even if the beds are slightly softer.”

Rarity shook her head. “Soarin, dear, as a guest you should not have to sleep on furniture such as a couch!” the mare said firmly. “I insist you stay with me, I have a bed which you may happily use any time you wish.

Rainbow rolled her eyes once more, “Come on, Soar,” she said darting off into the sky, Soarin turned around and smiled.

“It’s okay guys, I’ll be fine, I’ll see you around,” he said with a wave of his hoof, the others giving smiles and waves of their own before Soarin took off after the mare.

Soarin landed back onto the cloud surface of Dash’s home. While making his way inside he saw the sky blue mare trotting over to the chest in the corner of the living area with a blanket in her wing, a disheartened look plastered on her face. Soarin felt a pang in his chest at the sight.

“Hey, Dash, never knew you as the type to clean up,” he said happily trotting in and closing the door softly behind him. Dash looked up and her face seemed to brighten at the sight.

“Oh, but I thought...nevermind, do you want something to eat? I’m not much of a cook, but I can—”

“Whoa, this is a new approach, Dash, what’s this all about?” Soarin asked quizzically.

Rainbow sighed. “I just thought I’d be a bit more helpful, I mean you are here to train with me right?” she said happily.

Soarin nodded, “Yeah, but I didn’t think I’d be getting these kinda privileges...does that mean we’ll be sharing the now bed too?”

The stallion didn’t even have time to blink as a blanket was thrown directly into his face. Soarin scrambled to his hooves as he took the blanket, only to be met with a swat of a rainbow colored tail. “No chance in Tartarus, Soarin, as I already said, that’s a very high privilege...now go get washed up while I get something to eat.

Soarin laughed as he shook his head, beginning to trot over to the stairs. “Sure thing, flying buddy!” he said happily as Dash trotted into the kitchen to make something that hopefully wouldn’t burn the house down in the process. Both pegasi happy to have formed an even better bond than the day before...