“Left! Right!” Spitfire shouted through the megaphone.

The team followed her leads perfectly, creating a zig zag of lightning through the air, before all of them bolted down diagonally towards the ground, and shooting sideways right before they touched land.

“Alright, Crash, go!” Spit called, watching her teammate.

Soarin, Blaze, Silver Zoom, and Rapidfire stopped midair, hovering gracefully as Rainbow Dash shot down from high above and broke the sound barrier, creating a magnificent, rippling circle of bright, pure rainbow and a loud boom.

He would never get tired of it.

She landed gracefully, sweat dripping from her brow, a delighted smile on her face as Spitfire and Lightning Streak both complimented her.

“Good enough job today everybody,” Spitfire said jokingly. “Alright, let’s head to the gym for some cool down exercises.”

They all followed by walking, their wings tired from the flying. Soarin saw both Fleetfoot and Spitfire catch up to Dash, both talking enthusiastically with her, while Dash laughed, still energetic after all the practicing.

He wanted to compliment her, but he couldn’t. That wasn’t his place anymore. He was doomed to watch her from afar, that powerful body taking leaping strides, soaring expertly threw the air, the flash of smoke or rainbow that followed her everywhere she went.

Oh how he longed for the days where they would be bantering after a practice, flirting over meals, taking nightly flights around the base, where they would look at each other after a long day, passion and exhaustion in both their eyes, and she would reach for him...

Get it in your head, Clipper, those days are over, he told himself.

“Clipper, Crash, Thunder, Flatfoot,” Spitfire said, walking into the room.

Soarin walked over to the three playing cards, looking at his fiery friend.

“Yeah, Cap?” Thunderlane asked, turning to face her.

Spitfire took a seat beside Dash. “Deal me in,” she nodded to Fleetfoot, who began dealing out some more cards. “There’s a kind of party some of us are supposed to attend, just cause Princess Celestia’s touring Equestria right now, and she’s in Manehattan.” Spitfire frowned as she looked over her cards. “Anyways, I can’t go. Some army guys are coming here, and as usual, I have to meet them, do paperwork, plan out our next tour... so I was wondering if you four would go. Soarin, you’d be in my place.”

Soarin bit his lip. “Uh, you sure you don’t need help? Maybe Rapidfire could go instead?” Truthfully, he found it too hard to be around a certain mare these days. Anytime they were in the same room, it was hard to focus, hard to breathe.

“No, it needs to be you.”

He frowned. “You sure?”

Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. You’re all going tonight, no excuses,” she stated.

“Hey, Twilight and Rarity are gonna be there as well. You mind if I just go with them?” Dash asked, not looking up from her cards.

“Uh, yeah, why not. Fleetfoot, meet Dash and her friends at the train station around six thirty. And by the way... it’s a formal thing. So make sure you’re wearing something... appropriate.”

Dash groaned. “Ugh... yeah okay. Alright, Thunder, you have any... fives?”

“Go fish,” Thunder smiled as Dash pouted and picked up another two cards.

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna,” Soarin murmured while bowing. “It’s an honour to be here tonight.”

He looked around at the fancily decorated park. Strung lights, elegant tables, fabulously presented food, and fashionable ponies all around, all either friends of or celebrities themselves.

Fleetfoot and Thunderlane followed after Soarin bowed, smiling before they were grabbed by two ponies to take some photos.
Walking away from the princesses who were now greeting other ponies, Soarin flew over to where Fleetfoot and Thunderlane were standing. “Hey, Fleet, have you~”

“Can you take a photo with us?!” a young couple asked excitedly, smiling widely at him.

Putting on a smile, he nodded. “Of course.”

Walking away after a couple pictures, Soarin headed towards Fleetfoot who was currently drinking some punch. “Fleet, where’s Crash?” He grabbed a plate and scooped some chicken and coleslaw onto it, feeling hungry and nervous. Where was she? Had she forgotten? Was she injured or sick?

“Sent a letter. Apparently Rarity was having some trouble finding somepony to run the shop, they should be here in fifteen minutes,” she replied casually. “Oh, crap,” she muttered looking down. “I just bought this!”

Soarin followed her gaze to see what she was cursing at, and found a bright purple streak along the front of her dark blue dress. “Rarity might have something,” Soarin offered, not exactly sure how to approach the situation.

“Hopefully. I’m gonna go hide in the bathroom till they come,” she told him, flying off.

Soarin just chuckled and began to eat, mingling with fans and signing autographs for young, excited children. This was one part he loved— meeting the young fillies and colts, innocent and full of hope, telling him they wanted to be a Wonderbolt. It was especially touching when a unicorn or earth pony told him this, even though it didn’t happen a lot.

A loud clearing of several throats caught everyone’s attention, and Soarin turned o see three mares in the centre, one purple, one white, and one blue.

“May I present Princess Twilight Sparkle, Miss Rarity, and the Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash!”

Ponies all around stomped their hooves at the beloved princess, trendy, beautiful designer, and the fan-favourite Wonderbolt.
Upon Twilight’s head was a golden crown with a pink point at each tip and her body was covered with a simple white gown, while Rarity had on a shiny diamond barrette at the end of her royal purple mane that was tied in braid, and a glittery blue dress that matched her eyes. Soarin held his breath as his eyes shifted to Rainbow, and once again, his mind went blank, staring at the beauty.

Dash’s dress started out a shimmering, gauzy white, which slowly blended into a deep magenta colour at the ends. The dress was paired with some white lace up slippers, a white band across the top of head and left dangling to the side in a neat yet messy fashion, and two tiny golden hoops in her ears. And that lovely hair had it’s green, blue, and purple parts curled.

He was breathless at this very moment. She was gorgeous, stunning, no girl could compare... he wouldn’t be surprised if a pony came up to him and told him he had hearts in his eyes, or that his jaw was on the ground, never able to be attached to his mouth again.

Dash broke off from her friends and walked over to him, offering a gentle smile. “Hey, sorry I was late. Rarity had some major freak out, heh.” She chuckled, eyes darting around nervously.

Soarin cleared his throat, begging some words to come out of his mouth. “Uh, yeah. It’s no problem.”

“Okay, good,” she replied, a smile still on her beautiful face. “Didn’t want you to think I forgot or something...”

Soarin blushed as his mind raced. “Rarity make your dress?” he asked.

“Good guess,” she said, raising her eyebrows. Her eyes shifted to where her friends, only to see Rarity to none other than the charming business stallion, Fancy Pants himself, while Twilight awkwardly talked to some fans. “I’m, uh, gonna go keep Twilight company. I’ll see you later?”

“Do hold us up too long, this party is awfully boring,” he muttered.

Dash grinned and mock saluted. “Yes Commander.” She flew away at that, but her words left a ringing in his ears.

“Yes Commander,” she whispered seductively in his ear.

Soarin stayed put for awhile, content to just have a look around at his surroundings. The young fillies and colts had left by now, and only the occasional celeb came up to him to ask for his photograph or signature. Fleetfoot and Thunderlane both left, due to feeling sick after drinking the punch, and had found the nearest hotel in the city to sleep at.

He had been watching Dash interact with everypony, making ponies laugh and previously showing some of the young pegasi a couple simpler flying tricks. She was smiling most of the time, and at one point had a bit of a disagreement with Rarity for what he could see. Probably over the dress. But he was fine staying where he was, happy to watch her from a distance.

“Excuse me?” a female’s voice asked.

Soarin blinked and turned around, being greeted with a pale pink unicorn who had a curled white mane with pink streaks, and a white dress, eerily similar to Twilight’s. “Oh, uh, hi,” Soarin said awkwardly. “Sorry, am I in your way?”

She tilted her head and giggled, and he inwardly hoped she wouldn’t start hitting on him. “No, actually, it’s just... my friend, she’s a friend of Countess Coloratura’s... she’s really into the Wonderbolts. She was too nervous to come and get your autograph herself,” she replied and held up a photo of him posing and a pen to write with.

Soarin smiled. “Oh, cool, of course!” He took the pen and messily scrawled his name in the corner. “You guys are totally welcome for a photo,” he continued, passing the picture back. “I don’t mind, really.”

Her light green eyes twinkled. “Sure! You know, for Copper, I’m not really into having my picture taken.”
Unlike somepony I know, he thought while chuckling, scanning the area for Dash. She was smiling with a guy in a suit, who excitedly pranced off once Photo Finish was done.

“What?”

He blinked, snapping out of his daze. “Oh, nothing. Let’s take that picture.” He grinned, and the unicorn lead him over to an anxious looking yellow pegasus with blue hair, reminding him a little of Misty Fly.

“Hey, you’re Copper?” he asked, sticking out a hoof. “I’m~”

“Soarin!” she blurted out and shakily grasped his hoof.

Being used to this, and for some reason, finding her nervousness and her friend sweet, he smiled. “You wanna take a photo? I’m happy to.”

Copper moved her eyes towards her friend. “Midnight, did you make him do this with me?”

Midnight rolled her eyes and smiled. “He offered. Go on, take it, I’ll stand here,” she said, stepping away.

Copper grinned. “Okay! Let’s go!”

Soarin chuckled, and the two made their way through the crowd and in front of the backdrop. “Quite the popular one tonight, huh Crash?” Soarin asked the prismatic pegasus who looked like she as getting worn out.

“Oh my gosh! Rainbow Dash!” Copper squealed.

Dash craned her neck towards Soarin’s companion. “Hey! You’re one of Coloratura’s friends, right? Applejack told me about you.”

Celestia, the mare really knew everypony, didn’t she? Copper lit up. “Yeah! AJ, she’s pretty cool. I met her when she came to visit Coloratura for a concert in Canterlot.”

Dash smiled and inched her way closer. “You came for a picture with Clipper, eh? I’ll get out of your way.” She opened her beautifully manicured wings to go, but Copper stopped her with a clumsy “Wait!”

Dash turned.

“Um... would you mind... uh, since you’re here, you know... being in the photo as well?”

Soarin watched Dash’s expression. For a split second, it dropped, and he knew it was because she was tired. He felt the need to take care of her and stroke her mane, even though she was capable of handling herself just fine. But then the tiredness was gone and a friendly look took it’s place. “Of course.”

The three walked to the backdrop, Copper in the middle with Soarin on her left and Dash on her right.

“And smile!” Photo Finish called.

Soarin put on his best magazine smirk and waited while it flashed a couple times. Another pony handed the picture to Copper, and he and Dash looked over her shoulder. The yellow pegasus had a shaky yet thrilled look while Dash sported a rather sweet smile and Soarin had on a soft and kind smirk— a look only he could pull off without seeming cocky and arrogant.

“Thank you so much!” Copper exclaimed.

“No prob,” Dash replied, waving a hoof. “Tell Rara me and AJ said hi.”

Copper nodded excessively. “Totally! So I guess I’ll see you guys tomorrow for your derby in Canterlot? I got VIP tickets,” she told them.

“Well then we’ll see you.” Soarin smiled. “I’ll walk you back to your friend.” He turned to Dash. “Hey, we’ll get going after this.”

“Thank god... I’m so tired. I’ll wait for you here, if you wanna go together?”

Spending time with her probably wasn’t the best thing, but he found himself saying ‘yes’ anyways.

“So, your name is Midnight?” he asked the unicorn, now back with her while Copper went to bow to Princess Luna.

She smiled. “Midnight Star, actually.” She looked down and stared at a hoof. “I know, I look nothing like a. ‘Midnight’,” she chuckled and looked at him with green eyes. He liked those eyes, he decided, they were calming.

“Well, would you take me for a~”

“Soarin?” She smirked and ran her eyes over him. “Probably not my first guess.”

“What would you take me for, then?”

Her teeth bit her her bottom lip and she tilted her head, tapping her chin like she was actually considering it. “Hmm... maybe Ice Cube. You’re kinda coloured like one,” she pointed out.

Soarin rolled his eyes but found himself laughing a little. “Okay, well you are totally a Pastel,” he chose.

They grinned at one another, and Soarin felt a nice feeling wash over him. Turning around, he saw Dash yawning quietly, blinking rapidly. He really needed to get on the train with her, but found himself not quite wanting to end the conversation with Midnight.

“So, Midnight, you going to the show tomorrow?”

“What show?”

“The derby in Canterlot,” he answered. “They’re pretty popular.”

Her hoof touched his chest. “Of course I know what you’re talking about. Copper won’t shut up about it.”

He gazed down at her hoof and smiled as she shyly pulled it away. “So..?” he mused at his unanswered question.

“Oh, yeah, I’m going.”

He nodded. “Maybe I’ll see you there, then.”

“Maybe.”

Deciding she was sweet and cute, just like most of the other mares he had dated, he went for it. “So maybe after that... we could hang out? If you’re interested.” He didn’t mind if she shot him down, although it would suck a little.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” she murmured. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Soarin.”

“See you,” he said and walked off, making his way towards Dash. “Ready to go, Crash?”

She lifted her lids and peered up. She looked so innocent with her bright large eyes that he almost melted on the spot. These were the only eyes that ever lit a fire in the pit of his stomach.

“So, who was that mare you were talking to?” Dash asked as they sat down on the chairs in the train.

“Oh, that’s Midnight Star. She was friends with Copper.”

Dash shrugged, looking away. “Huh.”

“Yeah, she was pretty nice,” he commented. “They’re coming to the derby tomorrow.”

Dash sighed and rolled her shoulders. Slowly, she reached down and unlaced her shoes kicking them off. “I could feel every single thing under my hooves in those,” she muttered and swiftly unhinged a clip at the back of her dress, letting it fall to her hooves, where she gracefully stepped out of it.

Soarin blushed. She was stripping right in front of him. Sure, it was totally normal for ponies to be naked, but something about being alone in a quiet room, where she tore the clothing off in a rather careful matter, made it all the more... intimate.

“That dress was really uncomfortable,” she remarked and sent him a faint smile. “For such a boring party.”

He laughed, running a hoof through his gelled mane and loosened his tie. “Remember the time when we...?”

Dash stifled a giggle. “That was so great! When the cupcakes exploded in his face!”

Soarin laughed, remembering the time in Canterlot when they had been attending a party held by Fancy Pants, and a particularly stuck up stallion had insulted Rarity behind her back, Soarin had suggested to Dash setting a tiny explosive in the mini cakes which left him humiliated.
“And he sputtered and glared around the rooms, hoof pointing to each and every one of us,” he told in a daunting voice.

“Which one of you ruffians dare do this?” Dash said in a deep voice, trying to imitate the older stallion.

“I’ll inform the princesses! I swear on it!” Soarin mocked.

They quieted down and stared at each other, slow smiles forming on their muzzles as they bursted into subtle laughter.

“We totally made those parties more entertaining,” she recalled whilst yawning.

“We were the life of it,” he agreed. “Especially you.”

Dash shrugged and winked. “You bet. Now, I’m gonna go to bed, don’t wanna be too tired to beat your ass at the derby tomorrow.”

Soarin scoffed, even though it was true. She was faster than him. “In your dreams,” he retorted.

She peeked her head back in. “And reality,” she added and quickly disappeared.

“Are we actually doing this?” Dash snickered, spying through the window.

Soarin nudged her. “Nopony insults your friend and gets away with it, right?”

“Absolutely,” she confirmed, a confident look returning.

Soarin watched as the guy went to reach for a cupcake, and was instead hit by a showering of pink, purple and yellow frosting, ruining his assumingely expensive suit. He started yelling, even though they couldn’t hear the words, though Rarity would tell them later.

Soarin covered his partner in crime’s lips with a hoof and buried his face into her rainbow scented mane to keep himself from laughing. She smelled so good in that moment...

Teammates did not masturbate to each other.

But at this moment, Soarin didn’t care as he tore the tie and suit off his muscled body, sitting on his bed in his room on the train and stroking his member. Memories of tonight drifted back to him as he let his eyes shut. Dash making a subtle yet grand entrance with her friends, the dress she wore all flowy yet hugging her hips, the way her delicate neck had been exposed to the air, and those cute ears decorated with golden hoops. No matter what she wore, something about her screamed ‘sex appeal’ in a manner that drove him insane...

And then she had taken it off in a way that made his mouth dry, and he let himself imagine that she had undressed for him, had wanted him to take her and pound into her hot, tight pussy, hind legs wrapping around him.

Soarin groaned at the thought, jerking his hips up and sliding his hoof up and down his cock a little faster. Soarin didn’t self pleasure a lot, and he found himself wanting to make this worth his time and effort.

Images of him and Dash soared through his mind, and two words from earlier tonight came back to him— “Yes Commander.”

But instead of a soldier’s voice, it was her breathy sighs as he rubbed his hoof against her snatch, feeling the warm wet folds as he languidly explored her mouth with his own, thriving when their tongues brushed each other, engaged in a deep yet calm war. Taking their time.

“Oh, Dashie,” he whispered to himself, lying full back on the bed, still tentatively stroking his cock as more images flooded his mind.

He remembered yesterday at practice, when Dash had slowed after her sonic rainboom, and her lean body had touched the ground, the taut fabric outlining the wonders that were her muscled legs and butt, and then he was back to their last sexual encounter. It was quick. In her home, her forehooves digging into her comforter while Soarin had pressed his stomach against her back and pumped in and out of her from behind, her perfectly shaped ass jiggling just the right amount as her tight walls clenched around his cock at the right time, making the experience all the more pleasurable as she had panted and ground out the words, “Please, Soarin,” she moaned. “Harder.”
He had obeyed that request, thrusting in and out, his balls slapping against her clitoris as her whines increased, until they had turned into shuddering gasps as her orgasm hit her. “Oh! Oh my gosh... oh, Soar,” she whispered breathily.

In his mind she repeated the word ‘harder’, and he did, jerking into the air slightly as his hoof began to vigorously rub up his length, creating a golden friction.

The way she had looked up at him from the ground this evening... those gorgeous cerise eyes, sparkling like stars, and framed with the thickest of long lashes. Full of innocence and purity, which had him falling for her all over again. He had the urge to make those lovely orbs roll back in pleasure as he kissed and licked the soft fur of her neck, her shoulders, her sensitive ears. It was when he touched them that she pressed her hooves into him, her hot breath against neck, making him dizzy.

The thought of her feeling good had him pulsing harder and harder as vivid flashbacks of so many lustful moments made their way into his memory. “Mmm... oh god,” Soarin groaned. He could feel the tingles coming more rapidly now. “Fuck, fuck, Rainbow Dash...”

Dash’s cyan hoof made it’s way down her body, finally sliding along her damp pussy in a teasing way. Soarin watched eagerly as she raised her hips, letting her juices drip towards her ass as she let out a sigh. “Shit,” she murmured as her butt moved back down, letting him see her rubbing her clit in circular motions, her moans increasing in volume as she began to rub it fiercely while Soarin sauntered over and whispered naughty things into her ear.

“Imagine tying me up while your mouth takes my hard cock, me, Dash, totally at your submission.”

A whinny escaped as her small body began to shake with the pulsing pleasure, rapid breathing and quivering lips taking place as she quieted, gazing up at him affectionately.

The reminder that he could make her feel good was just what he needed to push him over the edge. “Shit!” he yelped slightly as he ejaculated, effectively coating the sheets with a thick white substance.

As his groin and mind came back to reality, he shifted into an upright position and licked a little of his cum off, pretending it was Dash’s juices he was tasting.

After that was done, Soarin got up and grabbed a box of kleenexes, wiping the mess up as best as he could, before sneaking out into the washroom to wash his hooves. He glanced at the row of doors, all leading to a room. He had no idea which one she was currently sleeping in, but he smiled a little to himself as he imagined her adorable little snores.

Soarin pulled the blankets over his tired body when something hit him.

From now on, he would only have these memories of the mare he loved. Their time together was in the past, and they wouldn’t be sharing moments like those anymore. The thought made his heart ache with a loneliness that could not be occupied by anypony else. He had a lovely mare waiting to hang out with him tomorrow, but the only one he seemed to want did not go by the name Midnight Star.

Sighing sadly, Soarin closed his eyes, hoping to be lulled to sleep. “I miss you, Dashie.”

takes place after S8 E22, (What Lies Beneath.) Dash only makes an appearance in Sandbar’s “dream” but is not actually there.

Midnight Star and Copper are OCs (original characters.)