takes place during and slightly after S1 E16, (Sonic Rainboom.)

Earlier

It had started out normally, get up, eat breakfast, train for a bit, and then head down to the cloudaseum to judge, along with Spitfire, Misty Fly, and Wave Chill, the Best Young Flier’s Competition.

It had gone smoothly for the first part, thirteen Pegasi had performed various stunts and flying tricks around the arena, hoping to be crowned best young flier. To Soarin, only a few had truly impressed him, not that any of them were bad. For him personally, he was looking for a standout young mare or stallion, and only numbers 3 and 7 had really done that for him.

Then, a white unicorn with a dark purple mane emerged, all made up with fake lashes, and a rather stunning pair of butterfly shaped wings, clear with a sparkling of green, yellow, and pink. They truly were something, but no way were they natural. She had begun flying when a female pegasus flew out, a number 15 on her flank, and looking rather... nervous. From what he could tell from where he was standing, she had a cyan blue coat and a rainbow coloured mane that was rather messy yet seemed to suit her.

While the unicorn was performing, number 15 had begun shifting through a pair of cloud trees, and it was going smoothly until she crashed into the seats of the stadium, which caused three stallions to laugh and call her ‘something Crash’. Nonetheless, she recovered, and began her way up to the sky, swirling clouds around and making them spin, she was doing quite well, he noted, until a piece of cloud hit her body and caused the cloud to fly straight at Princess Celestia herself. No one was hurt, and he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the princess and the young mare who was clearly trying her best. His green eyes shifted towards the unicorn, who was finishing a pirouette and started to soar higher and higher into the sky, reaching so she was right in front of the sun.

“Look upon me, Equestria!” she had shouted and threw her forelegs out to the side. “For I am Rarity!”
Glorious light streamed from her wings down onto the other ponies, leaving Soarin staring at the beautiful glow. Only for a second though, as the sun burned her wings right up and they evaporated, leaving Rarity falling to the ground at lightning speed.

Lucky for her, the Wonderbolts bolted quickly from their positions and soared towards the ground in their efforts to save her. Once they caught up to her, her panicked flailing hooves kicked him, Spitfire, and Misty Fly square in the face, knocking him out.

Then he was awake, along with his fellow teammates, just as disoriented as he was.

“What happened?” Spitfire demanded, looking at the medic who was checking them for injuries.

“You were knocked out, Captain. A young mare saved you three and the other girl who you were trying to rescue. Then she performed the sonic rainboom. Seems like she may win,” the doctor replied calmly. He turned to Soarin, who still felt slightly dizzy. “Follow my hoof.” A few moments later, he turned his flashlight off and nodded. “You all seem to be okay, take it easy for the rest of the day and don’t overwork it tomorrow. You’re lucky she was there for you.”

Spitfire nodded and stood up, motioning for the other two to do the same. “Thank you, doctor. We appreciate it a lot.”

The doctor’s eyes glowed at her words. “Y-your welcome, um, Captain. It was my pleasure,” he stuttered, finally coming to terms that he was amongst the famous team.

Soarin and Misty Fly nodded their thanks before walking out of the tent and down to meet Wave Chill, who was there in an instant. “Are you guys alright?” he asked, staring at them intently. Though he meant the question for all of them, he was mainly looking at Spitfire.

Soarin nodded. “My head hurts,” he said, “and my pride,” he added quietly.

Spitfire nudged him and beckoned for them to follow her. “You’re fine. We’ll take it easy tomorrow, but then we’re back to full swing, got it?” she asked sternly, with only a hint of affection in her voice. She was a great captain. Stern, smart, capable, professional. But she was a great friend too. Caring, teasing, funny, sympathetic and passionate.

“Yes ma’am,” Soarin mumbled and continued walking.

“Good,” she replied. “I’d like to thank the pony who saved us. I think she’s over there with Princess Celestia. After all, we do get to spend some time with her now.”

Misty Fly nodded. “Sounds good. I heard she’s the only other pony besides a young filly to pull off the sonic rainboom.”

Soon enough, the three reached the princess and rainbow maned pegasus surrounded by a purple unicorn, another yellow pegasus, two earth ponies, one pink and one orange, and the white unicorn in a hot air balloon, makeup and wings gone.

Soarin put on a smile as Spitfire tapped the crowned pony on the shoulder just as she was saying how she wished she had met the Wonderbolts when they were awake, then stepped back slightly as she turned around.

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” she squealed, eyes lighting up as a big smile stretched across her face.

Spitfire spoke up. “So you’re the little pony who saved our lives. We really wanted to meet you, and say thanks.”

The mare’s hoof was still pressed to her mouth, still in shock. She was pretty, Soarin thought. Bright, prismatic mane that looked like it styled itself, a clean and shiny cyan coat, and brilliant, large magenta eyes with thick lashes. Definitely attractive. She had a wild, carefree look to her. It was kinda sexy.

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” she exclaimed again.

Just then, Princess Celestia and her royal guards touched down. Thy all bowed. “Hello, Twilight Sparkle,” she greeted the purple unicorn. “And hello to your friends too.”

The white unicorn known as Rarity started to speak. “Princess Celestia, I’m sorry I ruined the competition. Rainbow Dash here really is the best flyer in Equestria.”

“I know she is, my dear. And that’s why for her incredible act of bravery, and her spectacular sonic rainboom, I’m presenting the prize for best younger flyer, to this year’s winner, Miss Rainbow Dash!” the princess exclaimed and placed a gold crown with two wings attached on her head.

Soarin watched as her friends all cheered and picked Rainbow Dash up, while she further exclaimed plenty of ‘oh my goshes’. Soarin couldn’t help but be amused at the fan girl and her excited persona. So far, she seemed like most fans, except for one difference; she had saved his life. A Wonderbolt’s life. His life. He wanted to repay her, but couldn’t think how as she rejected the three stallions who had laughed at her earlier in their request to hang out and fly away with him and Wave Chill into the sky.

Now:

Getting to know her was pretty cool. Yeah, she was pretty starstruck most of the time, but she had told them her name, that she was from Cloudsdale, how she wanted to be a Wonderbolt, and that she had helped defeat Nightmare Moon once. Oh, and apparently she was the filly who had performed the legendary stunt.

They even had a race with him, Spitfire, Misty, and Wave Chill, and Soarin was surprised when she actually beat them by a mere fifth of a second, with Spitfire second, Wave Chill third, and him and Misty tied for last. He had never been more impressed by a fan, hell, she was probably just as great, if not a better flier than he was! It had been nice getting to know her, but still, he longed for someone who treated him as more than just his status, and the only ponies who seemed to do that were, well, his fellow Wonderbolts. Still, as he lay there finally drifting off, he still couldn’t get the sound of her uniquely raspy voice out of his head. Thank you, Rainbow Dash,he thought.