Everything was going back to normal in Equestria.

Canterlot Castle had been rebuilt.

None of the three tribes held any lingering suspicions or prejudice towards one another.

And Twilight had had her disaster of a coronation.

Now to Soarin, those facts paled in comparison when the one thing that he had hoped for was happening. After about a month, was no more sporadic schedules for Dash. She had been to HQ back and forth, helping out with some of the practices and organizing a rather interesting routine for the coronation. But now she was back, going home only on the days off.

He felt rather selfish that he was happy she would be spending way more time here. And of course, less with her friends, something that she would surely be a little upset about.

“Hey Soarin.” Speak of the devil...

He smiled as she appeared in the locker room, letting his thoughts slip away. “Heya Crash.”

She chuckled and hung up her goggles. “Nice work messing up today,” she kidded.

He rolled his eyes and flushed a little as he remembered taking off a little too late, messing up the whole routine. “Hey, there was this one time when a mare with rainbow hair couldn’t even keep up with us, even after I told her to check her nine and—“

Her wingtip pressed to his mouth, effectively silencing him. He looked and saw her grinning. “Glad to see you’re still in good spirits,” she remarked.

Soarin’s wing reached out and pulled hers away, enjoying the feel of her soft, preened feathers. Their wings stayed locked together, causing his Adam’s apple to bob. A bit of regret hit him as he stared at the ground. He had avoided her for the most part in practice today. He still missed her with an intensity that hurt, and watching her save the world again p, seeing her in danger, had him torn up. He knew she was fine, yet was still regretful. He had never really got to repay her for every time she saved him.

“Are you good, Clipper?” came her raspy voice.

There he went again, lost in his never ending thoughts about anything possibly related to her. Figuring he should reply, his head lifted and he stared into her pretty eyes. “I’m fine,” he replied.

She didn’t let his wing go. “What’s wrong?”

Soarin shrugged.

“You can tell me, Soarin. I won’t make fun,” she teased gently.

He stayed quiet as she waited surprisingly patiently. “It’s dumb,” he told her.

“Eh, I’ll listen anyways.” She shrugged and her smile fell when he not-so-willingly pulled his wing away.
She said it casually, but he knew she meant it.

He sighed. Friends were allowed to express concern after all, so there was no problem saying… “I’m just really, really glad you’re okay,” he finally murmured.

Dash’s ears perked up before she gave him a small half smile. “Of course I’m okay,” she chuckled. “You don’t have to worry so much.”

Soarin glanced at her, still full of confidence and realized he had nothing to worry about in terms of them. They were okay. They were casual and easy. They could talk about anything. She was his pony, even after all this.

“We’re Rainbow Dash and Soarin,” he said.

And she was his friend. And he loved her. He loved her as a friend and as more than a friend.
“I’ll always worry about the ponies I love,” he said and instantly cringed.

A blush bloomed across her cheeks. “W-what?”

Though internally he panicked and berated himself, on the outside, Soarin kept his cool and just nodded. “Yeah, I mean we’re friends,” he answered smoothly. “I love my friends.” He emphasized the words and hoped to everything that she believed that he meant he saw her just as a friend.

Dash’s ears drooped she shook her head, laughing a little. “Oh, right, of course. Duh.” She rolled her eyes. “I uh... you know... love you too. As a friend,” she added quickly, her blush fading.

He grinned, feelings of dread somewhat exiting. “Wanna fly for a bit?”

“Sure!” she agreed and quickly slipped off her suit.

He smiled. “No races, Crash, first of all. I’m exhausted.”

She fake pouted as they headed out the door. “I suppose it’s good for your ego if we don’t.”

“Hey,” he said, now up in the air. “Who was a Wonderbolt first?”

“You’re way older than me!”

He scoffed. “Five years is not a lot.”

“Eh.” She waved a hoof. “Five, twenty, what’s the difference?”

His jaw dropped a little, unsure if he should be minimally or majorly offended. Instead, he made a risky joke. “Well it couldn’t have bothered you that much since you slept with me.”

She paused, hovering in mid air.

He waited with bated breath. Yeah... she’d be mad.

But then she broke out into a smile and merely chuckled a little. “Okay, for that joke, you’re gonna race me.”

“Or?” he challenged.

She punched him lightly on the arm. “Or I will get mad and kick your ass.”

So feisty and upfront. He loved it.

He squinted his eyes and pointed to a tree. “Ready? Onetwothreego!” he shouted and blasted off, getting an obvious head start.

“Hey!”

Almost at the speed of a lightning bolt, she was just a foot behind him and catching up quickly. “Nice save,” he called over the rushing of air in his ears.

“You know me,” she answered and flapped harder, now neck and neck. “I always come through.”

She winked at him and sped ahead, the tree coming up in just three, two, one...

“I win!” Dash yelped, turning around to smile at him. “So what’s that? A hundred to one?” she teased.

He chuckled goodheartedly. “Yeah, yeah, typical of you to beat me. But in my defence... I was tired,” he protested.

“Pfft, whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Oh come on Dash, help me keep some self confidence!”

Dash faced him and made a baby face. “Okay. You were great and you can totally beat me anytime you want.”

“Thank you.” He grinned, satisfied.

As they strolled through the shy, he watched Dash out of the corner of his eye and saw as a piece of fluff landed right on her nose, causing her to go cross-eyed as she looked it over. His heart swelled at her adorableness. And then it fell. He missed her with a longing so deep it was painful.

“How’d it feel to be a hero again?” he asked softly.

She turned at his tone, a surprisingly gentle smile on her features. “It was exhilarating. Just the danger and the action and then once I know we’ve saved ponies, it’s even better.” Dash sighed happily. “It’s really, really awesome.”

“Care to elaborate?” he asked, eager to hear the full story.

Dash gazed at a cloud as she began speaking. “Guess who turned out to be Grogar,” she said.

Raising an eyebrow, he shrugged. “Uh... Grogar?” he replied.

She giggled. “Discord.”

“What? I thought he was good! What happened?”

Dash laughed. “Turns out he had good intentions.”

“Excuse me?”

She rotated her shoulders. “It’s weird, I know. Something about boosting Twilight’s confidence. It did not work out in the end.”

“Well... that kind of makes sense... in a sick and twisted way,” Soarin muttered.

She nodded along. “Definitely sick and twisted.”

“Anyways, continue.”

She did, and as usual, he listened with enthusiastic interest as she encountered the entire story dramatically, keeping him entertained for a couple hours as they flew around and back to Headquarters.

“You were there for the last part, so you know what happened,” she finished.

“Wow,” he breathed.

She always had the best stories, best adventures.

“Honestly Dash, you can make anything sound entertaining.”

“Just another one of my talents,” she quipped and yawned.

He finally noticed how tired he was and rubbed his eyes. “It’s dinner time and I’m already tired.”

Dash nodded sleepily and opened the door. “Let’s just get some food with the others and hit the hay...” she mumbled.

“Sounds good to me,” he agreed, and they made their way towards the mess hall.

Full and still tired, Soarin tossed in his bed again, trying and failing to fall asleep.

Today had been so easy, so nice. So simple. Just two friends hanging out.

Except to him, they weren’t just friends.

They were teammates, friends, confidants. Each other’s ponies. More than a best friend.

And he wanted to be lovers. Boyfriend and girlfriend.

Again, was that wanting too much?

He had felt his need and lust for her start to take it’s toll on their flight. Why couldn’t they be together? Why did he reject it in the first place? What the hell were they doing? How long was this whole work friends thing going to go on when clearly there was still something more?

They tried to hide it. He did, she did.

But their affection and care was still there in every look, every soft touch, every laugh.

He didn’t know exactly how she felt, but he knew how he did.

He was still in love with her. He always would be, because even if he wasn’t the one for her, she was the one for him.

Dash was twenty four, almost twenty-five. Surely after the talk they had had the other day, she had a better idea of what she wanted out of life. Or at least, it sounded like she did.

One day, I dunno when, but someday… it could be nice to maybe… have somepony,” she said shyly, too embarrassed to face him.

Maybe she was scared. Because Dash was a prideful pony, and would hate to be hurt. Maybe that was her hesitation, despite having a better understanding of her future.

He should tell her, he should really tell her. Because the first time he had asked she was hungover and confused and apologetic.

Just one more try, a voice in his mind told him. Soarin listened. “Rainbow Dash, what would you say to being together?” he questioned, hiding his nerves.

The inquiry took her by surprise and she just stared for a few minutes before finally opening her mouth. “I... I don’t k-know,” she stammered. “I don’t know. We’re busy a lot of the time, Soar, and you didn’t want a relationship, remember?”

He frowned. “I did. I just didn’t think we could do it.”

She matched his frown with annoyed glint in her eye. “Why do you think you can now?”

“I don’t know if I can, but I can’t take this whole friends with benefits for much longer,” he said darkly. “It’s eating me alive, still knowing that you are free to be anypony else’s except mine.”

Dash sighed. “I’m busy a lot. I’m a Wonderbolt, a teacher, I save Equestria, I spend a lot of time with my friends, and I’ve always been too awesome for stallions.” She breathed deeply. “So, I don’t know,” she repeated.

But looking over across the room and seeing her sleep, he did not have the heart to wake her up and confess. That would be cruel, telling her something intense while she was half asleep.

But…He couldn’t stay and not tell her.

Biting his lip, Soarin removed the blankets and hopped out of bed, careful not to wake Blaze or Lightning. He slipped out of the sleeping quarters and out into the cool night air, an aura of relaxation hitting him.

Memories of him and Dash addled in Soarin's mind as he wandered into the night

“Soarin, wait,” she said.

He turned around and forced a smile on his face, despite the disappointment he was feeling. “Yeah, Rainbow?”

She suddenly looked a little shy, although she tucked the look away and walked closer so they face to face, mere inches apart. A second later and she had wrapped her slim yet toned arm around his neck, her head leaning against his cheek. He could smell the soft scent of... vanilla and... rainbows? A spice only a rainbow could have. It didn’t matter, she smelled ravishing. And what the hell, he was hugging Rainbow Dash. Soarin suspected the mare didn’t do this with a lot of ponies.

“Thank you,” she whispered in his ear and pulled away.

“You’re the heart of the Wonderbolts, and we would not be a team without you.”

Rainbow giggled and drew her hooves towards the base of his wings, stroking them. “Dash,” Soarin said, biting his lip. It felt so damn good.

“You’re a terrible impressionist,” she laughed, landing on the cloud.

He stuck out his bottom lip in a fake pout. “Dashie, you’re hurting my feelings.”

Dash only giggled. “Come here, ya goof.”

She shoved him a little. “I care about you,” she stated. “I care about you. And you can think that I don’t, Soarin, but I do. And- and... I miss you right now. I liked you! I still do! I was probably falling in...” She blinked back tears and stopped talking. “You are the only stallion to ever make me feel this way. And I hate you for it. But screw you,” she snapped, “screw you, for not believing me when I say that you are the only one I want,” she whispered, tears running down her face though her voice stayed steady. “And even though we can’t seem to work, you will always be the only one I want for the rest of my life.”

A flash of a blue coat and she was there, holding it in her hooves, a split second from spilling everywhere. She checked to make sure it was okay, and then rose a bit, holding it out to him. He kept his expression neutral yet thankful. He recognized this mare, with a mane like hers it was easy to. She had saved his life, won the title of best young flier, and saved his pie. He gazed at her outfit. She had on a rainbow streaked dress with fluffy cloud trimming, golden laced up silk shoes, and a necklace with purple beading around her elegant neck. What he really liked though, was her hair. That spectacular rainbow mane had been curled and fluffed, and tied to the side, with a leaf of gold laurel near her bangs, hooking around her ears. She smiled sweetly, lighting up her rosy pink eyes. She was a sight to behold.

“Oh! Oh my gosh... oh, Soar,” she whispered breathily.

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

“Soar, the first time I see you cum, I want you inside me,” she said hotly, inching her way back up and pressing a kiss on his mouth.

“I just want some privacy,” he said. “Is it so much to ask not to be followed almost everywhere I go? Or to have these downright private ass questions spat in my face, being demanded an answer? Nopony respects my business! I don’t want to have to answer every question in a goddamn interview!” he shouted in frustration. “I just want to live my life! Why can’t I be free? Why can’t I be normal? Why can’t I be~”

He was cut off when Dash quickly wrapped an arm around his neck. “It does kind of suck,” she murmured.

He let go and hesitantly leaned into her. “I want these stupid problems to go away.”

His eyes closed as she stroked his mane. “I can’t make them go away,” she muttered in his ear and took her hoof off him, looking up through lidded lashes. “But you will never, ever have to face them alone. ‘Cause you have the team. Spitfire, Fleet, Wave...” she counted off and blushed as she stared at him. “And you have me. Always. No matter what happens, okay?”

“Race you back to HQ?”

Soarin grinned, getting into stance. “You’re on, Crash. Three~”

“Twoonego!” she shouted and took off.

Soarin rolled his eyes and sped off, catching up quickly until they were neck and neck. “Hiya, Dashie.” He winked and flew past her.

“Hey! How’d you catch up so fast?”

“Come on, Soarin, let me fix this,” she growled impatiently.

Soarin glared up at her. “You spent the whole evening with Lightning.”

She cocked an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Yeah, and?”

He had no appreciation for the tone she held. “And I turn my back for a few seconds while talking to Winds, and you two are in the Very Important Ponies room, with him pressing you against the wall and his lips on your fucking neck,” he snapped.

“Rainbow Dash, what would you say to being together?” he questioned, hiding his nerves.

The inquiry took her by surprise and she just stared for a few minutes before finally opening her mouth. “I... I don’t k-know,” she stammered. “I don’t know. We’re busy a lot of the time, Soar, and you didn’t want a relationship, remember?”

He frowned. “I did. I just didn’t think we could do it.”

“Well we’re always talking. Make sure you have some cough drops for tomorrow.” He smiled.
“Sometimes we do drinking games, cards or darts or pool. We go back whenever and we get the whole VIP section to ourselves. It’s pretty great.”

She smiled and saw a bar up ahead. “Sounds fun.”

He nudged her as the team made their way through a different door. “They got apple cider.”

Dash’s ears perked up at that, and she cast a sideways smile at him. “Then pick up the pace, Clipper!”

Dash softened her lips, gently prodding him, urging him to go slower, and when they finally separated for air, their eyes locked and she looked at him that way again. Eyes so full of gentle passion and longing it took his breath away. “Soarin,” she mumbled against his mouth. “I lo—”

He pressed his hoof to stop her and only shook his head. “Don’t say it, please,” he whispered. “But yeah, I do too.” I love you.

He raised his eyebrows. “What’s on your mind, Crash?”

She cleared her throat. “We should be friends.”

“Uh, friends?” he echoed.

“Uh huh. You know, work friends. Friends that... hang out with our other friends and laugh at lame jokes and help each other with the other’s problems. Not the super close, tell each other everything friends, because Celestia knows that wasn’t the best decision.”

“You guys are kind of like an epic love story,” said Fleetfoot.

“Epic love story,” he echoed, landing on a cloud.

He glanced around and was startled. Out of an old habit, he had flown back to their cloud. The large, fluffy cloud that wasn’t too high, but no casual flyers would pass by. The cloud they had had sex on too many times to count. The cloud they had talked and laughed on for hours. The cloud they raced to every moment they found time to hang out.

He remained still as he took in the pretty scenery of the dark evening sky, sparkling stars, the white moon, and the shadows of trees.

He missed Dash.

He was so done with the whole ‘friends’ crap. He was going to be confident and brave, not backing down or shying away or—

“Hey.”

He turned his whole body and cast his eyes upon her, heart beating faster.

There she was.

“You weren’t in bed,” she continued, landing next to him on the cloud.

“Just had to clear my mind,” he answered, turning away. He was already having doubts about a confession.

“From what?” she asked.

He couldn’t muster up the courage to answer, instead, his body and muscles tensed.

Why was this so hard? Why couldn’t it be simple? It was making him angry. He felt like a coward. And Rainbow Dash deserved way better than that.

“Don’t be like this, Soarin.”

His head snapped up and his eyes met hers. She glowed. She was always so beautiful in the moonlight. “Like what?” he asked, feigning confusion.

She waved her hoof around. “All wishy washy. What’s up?”

Again, he didn’t reply.

Dash waited and waited. And finally, when it seemed clear to her that she wouldn’t get an answer, she sighed and started to fly away.

He watched her leave uncharacteristically slowly, frustration and fog clouding his mind. Why, why, why? Why was it so hard for him to just tell her? Why couldn’t he be brave for once about his feelings for her? He didn’t want to hide them anymore, no longer able to stand it.

“So I’m ending our little rendezvous, joke of a relationship, whatever you wanna call it,” he finished.

“Rainbow, no, we can’t... Teammates, remember?”

She turned to face him and ran her eyes over his face. “I guess this is it.”

“Yeah,” he whispered.

He remembered the ache he felt after those events. That twisting, soul deep ache that threatened to tear him apart. He would not feel that again.

Not without a fight.

“Dash, wait!” he yelled. He had no idea what he was doing.

Except he did.

He was just absolutely terrified, ready to jump out of his skin. But he looked at her.

She was about ten feet away, but she still turned, quickly flying back. Her silhouette was illuminated in the most beautiful way. She glowed.

Soarin swallowed, feeling the nerves take over again. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t say it.

After another second, a serene calmness settled over his mind. Closing his eyes and opening them, he said it. “I’m in love with you.”

He heard her sharp intake, saw the parting of her lips.

Ignoring her sounds, he kept going. “It was never going to work out, w-with Midnight Star. Because I loved you. I think about you all the time. I’m crazy about you, I always have been, I always will be.” He bit his lip, sighing a little. “And I... I tried to be okay with just being friends, but I’m not. I want to be more. I want to be with you. And I’m willing to do everything I can to make it work, because I love you.”

Dash stayed still and silent.

“It wasn’t fair of me to ask after that night in Las Pegasus. I was being selfish,” he admitted. “But I’m asking you now, when we aren’t fighting and hungover and confused.” Breathing deeply, he took a step closer. “I don’t know if you still love me, and I know this isn’t really your thing, but if you say yes, I promise I will always, no matter what, be here for you.”

Finally, he stopped talking, surprised and pleased with himself for telling her. Whether she had a positive or negative reaction, this was a weight lifted off his chest.

Minutes passed.

He did not back down. He stood his ground and stayed standing, waiting for some sort of response.
This matched the intensity of waiting for whether he got into the ‘Bolts or not. The same anxiety.

But unlike the team, Dash still did not answer.

His heart fell to his stomach. He knew her reply. No.

He berated himself. Why did he have to be so stupid? Why couldn’t he get over her? Turning away, he blinked away a couple forming tears and sighed. They were never going to—

A deep breath stopped his self-hatred. And then, “I love you too, Soarin,” she breathed. Flapping her wings, she rose into the air and landed so she was facing him again. “And I don’t want anybody else.”

His heart stopped beating, butterflies erupting in his stomach as he gazed at her sincere eyes. Really?

She nodded, gaining her usual confidence again. “You’re right, relationships aren’t really my thing. Romance isn’t really my thing. But with you...” She shook her head. “We were being stupid before. And confusing.” She nodded firmly as a wide smile spread across her face. “I’m done being stupid.”

His heart fluttered out of his chest. Her words were true, the tiny doubt in his head going away. He knew her too well, and while she was a prankster, she would never, ever be this cruel.

Dash loved him. She loved him. He loved her. And after all this agonizing time, they got to be together.

One question lingered in his mind. “Why the change of heart?” he asked softly.

She shrugged, a blush filling her cheeks. “I’m Rainbow Dash.” She stepped closer until they were mere inches away. “I don’t do things half way.” Her breath was on the side of his neck. She smiled coyly. “But first... you gotta ask me. For real.”

He tilted his head. “Ask you— oh.” He smiled. “Rainbow Danger Dash, will you be my marefriend?”

The left side of her mouth turned up and she brushed her nose with his. “I suppose that’s an offer I can’t refuse.”

He brushed his mouth against hers, getting goosebumps and a shaky feeling all over. “Thanks for giving me a chance, Miss Dash.”

She smiled. “Can’t knock something before you try it.”

“I fully agree,” he whispered, leaning in.

Another brush of the lips and then she pulled away, an evil grin taking place. “Gotta catch me first, Commander.” She winked and took off, blazing a rainbow trail through the night sky.

Shaking his head, Soarin blasted off and focused on the distancing cyan pegasus. Getting closer and squinting his eyes, he could see a faint cone forming around her.

Oh. This was something he had to see.

She flapped her wings harder and harder until her body made it’s way through the sound barrier, a loud boom and a magnificent circle of rainbow taking place all around as it rippled through the sky, spreading wider and wider.

God she was epic.

He was not letting her go.

He saw her body stay still and flew to meet her, slowing as he approached. She was breathing a little more, a little sweat on her forehead.

Soarin wrapped his arms around her stomach, his chest pressed to her back, breath on her neck.
“I love you,” she said softly, reaching her arms up and placing them on his.

He kissed the side of her neck. “You,” he whispered. “Are ridiculously awesome. You know that?”

Dash giggled in his grasp, a delicate smile forming as she leaned back into him. “Duh.”

takes place a month after the flashback parts of S9 E26, (The Last Problem.)

oh my fucking god.
that’s it.
it’s finished.

thank u to everyone who was there throughout the writing process and to anybody who is here in the future. it’s been a book that i’ve always wanted to write as such a huge shipper of these two. thank u for the reads, the comments, the likes. everything.

i’ll announce when two of my new books are out, in the same universe as this one.
Before The Rainbow, a one-shot prequel. before and maybe a little during MLP.

Moments That Brought Them Closer, considered a sequel, but i like to call it a twin story. it actually takes place during the Moments That Brought Them Together timeline, but different events that weren’t written in.

thank you, again.

- StarShear