takes place after S9 E5, The Point of No Return.)

also like to say that i’m gonna say about a week or at least a few days in between each episode of the show.

“Hey!” a voice called.

Soarin jumped and shot up, turning quickly. Upon seeing it was Midnight Star, he relaxed and folded his wings in, hitting the ground with a thud. “Oh, hey.” He grinned sheepishly.

“You’re very cute when you’re scared,” she mocked.

“I know,” he replied proudly, obviously teasing. “C’mon, everypony’s waiting inside for us,” he told her, moving to stand a little closer as they made their way into the building.

“Okay, you all know the rules of Twister,” Spitfire said, flying above everypony. They had just gotten acquainted with Midnight and were all ready to begin playing some games. “No pushing or shoving, and go exactly where the pony tells you to step, no exceptions! Unless you’re about to break a bone,” she explained.

Fleetfoot flew up to meet her friend and snatched the spinner from her. “Yeah, yeah, we know Cap,” she said with a wave of her hoof. Turning to face everypony else, she smiled widely. “Alright everyone! Get into pairs and let’s start. Blaze, you said you wanted to spin?”

Blaze nodded and grabbed the spinner. “Yeah, I’ll go first.”

“You guys have partners?” Midnight whispered.

Soarin nodded. “Yeah, makes it more fun. Hope you weren’t planning on going with anyone else,” he told her, standing up.

“Never.”

He saw everypony pair up. Spitfire and Fleetfoot, Surprise and High, Thunderlane and Dash, Misty and Blaze, Lightning and Rapid, Wave and Silver, and him and Midnight.

“Okay, decide who’s going first,” Fleetfoot instructed.

“I’ll go first, just so you get the lay of the land,” Soarin said into her ear, winking while Midnight giggled and blushed.

Spitfire, High Winds, Misty Fly, Lightning Streak, Silver and Rainbow Dash all got in place before the extra-big Twister mat.

“Alright, Lightning, right front hoof on blue,” Blaze called out.

Lightning followed and Blaze proceeded with the following ponies. “Misty Fly, back left hoof on green.”

Soon enough, they were all tangled up and struggling to stand. Misty and High Winds back and front hooves were intertwined with Lightning’s back hoof on green, right in between the two mares.
Dash was right in the middle of Spitfire and Silver Zoom, and awkwardly had to bend her head while Spitfire’s hoof had to go over her delicate blue neck. Dash’s left front hoof and right back were also the farthest they could possibly be apart diagonally from each other and she was slightly shaking holding the position.

As for Soarin? Well, he was right across from Dash, no circles in between them, with only one hoof crossed with Misty Fly and a hind leg a step behind him. He had been very lucky and gotten rather boring demands.

“Okay, Clipper!” Blaze called.

“Why does he get all the easy ones?” Fleetfoot wailed, watching Spitfire intently. “C’mon Cap, don’t let me down!”

Spitfire’s orange eyes moved to Fleetfoot and let out an irritated growl. “Flatfoot, shut up.”

“I haven’t said where he was going,” Blaze interrupted.

Soarin bit his lip and glanced at Midnight, who was watching while maintaining a conversation with Rapidfire. Soarin smiled at her and she smiled back.

“Bring it on, Blaze,” he called in a bored tone.

“Alright! Okay, right front hoof on yellow.”

Soarin looked down and ahead, a feeling of dread mixed with happiness taking place as he breathed in and out, taking a step and placing his hoof in between Dash’s, having to lean forward slightly.
Work friends were not supposed to be this close.

“Okay, Rainbow Dash, front left hoof on green,” Blaze announced.

A slight blush filled Dash’s cheeks as she moved her hoof underneath Soarin’s body and let out a sigh of relief at not having her hooves so widely separated. “You sure you read that right, Blaze?” she groaned uncomfortably. “Why did I even agree to play this?”

“Cause I made you!” Surprise called from her spot across the room.

“She made you?” Soarin whispered as Blaze told Spitfire to move somewhere.

“Said she’d pin me down and force feed me pie,” Dash muttered. “If it was anypony else then Surprise, I wouldn’t have bought into it.”

Suddenly, she wobbled as Spitfire slowly dragged a hind leg around, but was understandingly unable to hold her position, causing her to fall and Dash to come with her. Dash’s mane resembled a bed head as she got out from underneath Spitfire and Soarin was reminded of the way her hair looked after they had gotten, well, busy.
Her bangs matted a little to one side while the bottom part was curled with forming knots. She almost never brushed her hair and usually let the pillow or towel style it. Thinking about how she looked after sex was not a good idea, because now he could picture how she looked during sex, and he was not supposed to imagine other mares in bed because he had a possible marefriend, and he was going to try not to ruin it.

“Spits, Crash, you’re out,” Blaze said.

Soarin laughed a little as both mares complained under their breath about the ridiculous yet fun game.
“Nice job, Spitfire,” Fleet said playfully and sarcastically.

“It should not be allowed to be a game,” Spit grumbled, sitting down.

In the next two minutes, Blaze had directed Lightning to a spot that had him, Misty, and High Winds all on the floor, resulting with all of them out.

“Down to Silver Zoom and Soarin, who will win? Find out next on Wonderbolt Twister!” Fleetfoot and Surprise shouted.

Him and Silver listened to Blaze, and eventually got closer and closer until their bodies were very closely intertwined, legs shaking as they struggled to hold up.

“Ten bits says Silver wins!” Misty Fly called.

Lightning waved a hoof. “Nah, fifteen says Soarin does.”

“Shut up!” Blaze yelled jokingly and resumed spinning. “Soarin, back left hoof on yellow,” she instructed.

He squinted as he slowly tried to gravitate towards the spot. Almost there, almost there, almost there... and yeah! Wait, crap, dammit. Unable to take it anymore, Soarin’s legs gave out and he fell down, with Silver stumbling but managing to stay upright.

Upon looking up, a cocky smile spread across the older Wonderbolt’s grey face. “And all you young say I’m the one who needs to work on my... whatcha call it?” He waved his hoof dramatically. “Stance, posture, flexibility?”

Rolling his eyes goodheartedly, Soarin chuckled. “Good job, Zoom.”

“Okay, one point for Wave and Silver!” Blaze announced and drew a tally across their spot on the chalkboard.

“Yay! Second round, Spit, watch how it’s done by the master,” Fleetfoot announced, quickly stretching her legs.

Soarin thought of a comeback, but couldn’t say it. Fleetfoot actually was one of the best players he’d ever seen at this game. She had always been very weirdly flexible.

Walking over to Midnight, he gave an encouraging smile. “You ready?”

She bit her lip. “Gosh, all you guys are athletes,” she murmured.

Soarin smirked as he saw Rainbow watch them out of the corner of her eye, while also maintaining casual conversation with High Winds and Spitfire. “You’ll get a very nice prize if you can win,” he murmured back.

Midnight’s ears perked up and a cute blush formed on her cheeks. “I- I... uh,” she mumbled, looking away.

He kept on pursuing, trying to prove to Dash that he was over her. He wasn’t, but he could try nonetheless. “Too forward?”

Shaking her head, Midnight regained her confidence and shoved him playfully. “On the other hoof, that gives me a lot of motivation.”

Everypony, lined up and Misty began to call out colours and hooves. Quick you the team and Midnight became entangled with one another, though they had stretched and managed to retain their stances for quite a few minutes longer than their partners.

“Come on Thunder! Hold it!” Dash yelled.

Soarin winced as he saw his black teammate struggling, but Dash seemed to have the effect on ponies that had them pushing themselves and trying harder. She was inspiring. Don’t think about that, Soarin.

Midnight was intertwined with Blaze and Wave, her left and right hooves on the opposite ends and locking awkwardly.

He saw her look up at him, pale green eyes anxiously staring him down and a shaky smile on her face.

‘You can do it,’ he mouthed to her, which seemed to calm her a little and she let out so,e air she had been keeping in her lungs.

In the next fifteen minutes, Rapidfire, Blaze, Thunderlane and Wave Chill had all fell, leaving Fleetfoot and Midnight.

“Pretty impressive for a unicorn,” Rainbow whispered to him, sweet breath on his ear.

Maintaining his composure and keeping his gaze on the unicorn, he nodded. “Definitely.”

“Okay, Fleetfoot, back right hoof on red.”

Soarin his a smile as his friend, in the position of a bridge and her left back hoof on blue, attempted Misty’s instruction.

“Oh come on, Fleet, don’t let me down,” Spitfire repeated sarcastically, barely paying attention and sitting next to Wave Chill.

Fleetfoot muttered to herself and made her way over. “Yeah!” she exclaimed triumphantly. Then her front hooves gave out and she fell with a thud and groan.

“Okay, one point for Midnight Star and Soarin!” Misty announced.

Fleetfoot continued to lay there while Soarin made his way toward the mat and stopped in front of Midnight, a content look on her face. Thieir eyes locked and Soarin took the initiative, drawing her face closer and planting his mouth on hers, kissing her softly, tasting something grape-like on her lips.
He felt guilty for missing the taste and scent of vanilla.

Midnight kissed him back for a short moment before pulling away and staring up at him.

“Woo! That’s my man!” Lightning and Rapid called.

He broke into a little smile and yawned.

Blaze helped Fleetfoot off the floor and looked around. “Anypony up for another game?”

Soarin shook his head. “Nah, I’m uh, gonna head home.” He and Midnight had made a plan to let her stay the night and spend the day together tomorrow. She would simply cast a spell to allow her to walk on clouds.

“Somepony might want to take Crash to her room,” Wave pointed out, pointing to the prismatic mare who was curled up and snoring a little, her bangs covering her eyes.

Soarin stepped forward and sighed. “I’ll do it.” Would Midnight be upset?

Midnight stepped up as well. “I’ll come with you.” Lifting Dash with her magic, she placed her on Soarin’s back and he walked carefully back to the bedroom they normally all shared.

“You care about her, don’t you?” Midnight asked casually.

Soarin nodded. “Well, yeah. She’s my teammate. Plus, she’s saved my life a few times, hard not to like the pony who did that for you,” he replied equally casually, hoping she couldn’t detect any affection in his voice.

“Hey, you said that in your interview with Trenderhoof...”

His brows raised as he turned to her, a grin on his face. “I’m touched, Midnight,” he told her playfully as he stopped beside Dash’s bed. “Be careful. She gets annoyed if you wake her up, not that much does,” he chuckled as Dash was magically lifted and set on her bed.

Midnight blushed and rolled her eyes. “Well, I- I figured I should know something about you.”
Taking notice that Dash might get cold, Soarin took the covers in his mouth and gently draped them over her body, a content smile now resting on her face.

After one last look to make sure she was alright, he turned to Midnight and waved a hoof. “Come on, let’s go.”

She nodded and frowned a little, glancing between him and Dash. He cursed himself— did she figure it out? He shouldn’t tell her, who would approve of the guy they had a thing formerly being linked to his teammate, his co-worker, his friend? No mare in her right mind that is.

But him and Dash were moving on, which means they had, no, needed a clean slate. And that meant not lying to the girl he liked, that once made Dash disappear from his mind for a little bit. Once.

He would tell her when they got to his house. That way he could think up a way to explain it, one that hopefully wasn’t messy. He needed a simple one. Surely the pretty, sophisticated pony had been with another guy. He didn’t have to feel bad about him and Rainbow Dash, except he did.
Because not only were they having sex, she had saved his life, he would always be grateful to her. Not to mention they had been super close friends and then secret lovers, and then they had both fallen in love and he had in no way fallen out of it. Okay, maybe he didn’t need to tell her that.

Okay, just tell her you used to kind of like one another and had a bit of a fling, don’t open your mouth and spill everything. Star does not drive me crazy or turn me on so badly and make it hard to breathe every time I look at her. I wish she did, but she doesn’t.

They arrived at his house after her levitating herself for part of the distance and then Soarin helping her jump the small distance from cloud to cloud.

“Wow, I thought it’d be...”

He nudged her slightly. “Bigger?”

Sheepishly, she nodded and turned to him, making her way up the steps as she did so. “Yeah, gotta stop making assumptions about celebrities. I mean, you’re great and sweet and talented,” she complimented.

Aw, fuck. Now he really had to tell her. This girl that was elegant and sweet and was sincere and didn’t brag about herself. This girl who hadn’t saved his life and did not have a lot of common interests and couldn’t match him in ability, who wasn’t as adventurous.
He could keep this girl. I like her, I like her, I like her.

“Thanks,” he said. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

He fished out the key and inserted it into the lock, opening the door and welcomed her in.
She looked around at his simple living room, a couple pictures of the team, a couple fans that he had enjoyed meeting, his family, and one with him, Spitfire and Fleetfoot when they were all awkward teenagers.

All the ones he had of Rainbow he had in the bottom of his drawer in a spare room, not ready to part with them. And for the record, these were photos that were taken by them or somepony. He was not a weirdo who took photos of unsuspecting mares.

Stop thinking about Dash. We’re moving on, he reminded himself. Now tell her.

“Star,” he started, “I need to tell you something. About me.” He craned his neck and looked at her eyes.

She bit her lip and nodded, motioning towards the couch. “Okay. Is it, uh...” she fiddled with her tail for a bit before looking Soarin straight in the eye, “Is it about you and Rainbow Dash?”

He blinked, taking a seat beside her and nodding dumbly. “Yeah.”