Mornings takes place after S6 E13, (Stranger Than Fanfiction)

Food Fight takes place during S6 E16, (The Times They Are A Changeling)

Dinner takes place during S6 E19, (The Fault in Our Cutie Marks)

yeah, i know it’s a lame title, but im drawing serious blanks in my head right now, so if u wanna give me shit, do it another day. enjoy :)

“Ugh, what is with our weird practice schedules?” Dash whined to nopony in particular.

She could never seem to keep up. Sometimes practice was split into two one hour sessions, or it was the full two hours in the middle of the day, the morning, and sometimes even at nighttime. Currently, it was her least favourite— the morning.

“Keeps things interesting, Crash. Come on!” Spitfire yelled before trotting out the door.

Dash groaned and wearily rubbed her eyes. Of all times, why did it have to be 6:30 in the morning? She knew nobody who got up that early! Well, except for Applejack. And sometimes Fluttershy. Twilight too. Okay, she knew a few ponies who got up that early. But at least Pinkie and Rarity had the good sense to stay in bed till at least eight. Except when Rarity had to complete an order, or when Sugarcube Corner opened up early. Her shoulder sagged slightly. Forget it, all her friends could be early risers.

She made her way to the bathroom, eyes blinking rapidly as she put a washcloth under the warm water and rubbed it over her face.

“Morning Crash.”

Rainbow put her cloth away and started to give her teeth a quick brush, swishing the toothpaste and brush around her mouth. After spitting it out, she nodded in Blaze’s direction. “Morning.”

They filed out of the bathroom, making their way towards the mess hall for their pre-workout snack.
Soarin stopped eating when he saw the two come in. A goofy grin spread across his face. “Sheesh Crash, I know you aren’t a morning pony but aren’t you supposed to be, oh, I don’t know…” He tapped his chin and smirked. “Fast?”

Dash’s ears perked up, and met his bright eyes with a challenging glare. Feeling confident and daring, Dash swiped Soarin’s protein bar right out of his mouth as fast as possible with her wing and tossed it into a trash can.

“Hey! That was the best flavour!” Soarin grumbled, ears drooping as he realized there was none left.

She smirked, unaware of the affection that danced in her eyes. Dash turned to see his shoulders sag, the light seemed to have gone out of his eyes. He was too cute, she thought. “Pfft, more like the worst,” she scoffed teasingly and picked up a bar for herself, taking a bite. She landed in between him and Blaze and gave him a light shove, smirk on her face. “Hope you learned your lesson, Clip. Do not mess with Rainbow Danger Dash.” A small look of alarm crossed Soarin’s face, but was quickly replaced with a ‘bring it on’ stare. Narrowing his eyes, he simply started walking away.

Dash chuckled, convinced that she had won for now, and quickly caught up to him, taking another bite. She turned to say something to Blaze, when she felt the thinly wrapped piece of food be taken from her. “Hey!”

Soarin had a satisfied smile on his face as he promptly dropped Dash’s snack in the trash can, making his way over to Rapid and Fleetfoot.

Dash’s lips parted slightly before a determined look returned to her eyes and she swept up beside him, gingerly moving her mouth closer to his ear. “I’ll get you back for that.”

Soarin turned quickly, startled, and an unmistakable heat rose on his cheeks at their close contact. His luminous green eyes and startled gaze, doubled with his chest rising in time with his breaths suddenly made Dash blush as well, and she hastily backed up.

“Ugh, Rapid, the flirting’s too much, I can’t take it,” Blaze drawled sarcastically and motioned to Soarin and Dash.

That snapped Rainbow out of her thoughts and she stutteringly regained her senses. “Oh shut up, that’s ridiculous.” She moved to go stand beside Wave Chill, somepony who surely wouldn’t tease her.
She had mixed feelings when Soarin didn’t follow her, instead walking to stand beside Spitfire and join in on the instructing.

But she saw as Rapid nudged Blaze. “Is it though?” he whispered.

A temporary scowl made it’s way onto Dash’s face. Of course it is.

“So, Rainbow Dash, what was that I heard about cookie-crazy zombies back in Ponyville?” Spitfire asked, taking a bite of her chicken.

Dash stared around at her teammates, all who were gathered in the mess hall. It was Friday, which meant they all shoved the tables together to eat before going out to Feather’s bar.

Currently, the question she was being asked had her trying not to flush. Being out-pranked by all of Ponyville was definitely not her proudest moment. “Umm… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she managed, voice muffled from her dinner.

“No, no, we were there. Soarin and me and Spitfire and we overheard some ponies talking about it. Mentioned your name like, a dozen times,” Fleetfoot chimed in.

Curse everypony. “That… was a prank,” Dash replied, deciding not to be specific.

“A… prank?” Wave repeated.

“That’s what she said!” Surprise shouted. “Was it a good one? Did you organize it Crash?” she questioned excitedly.

Dash chuckled at her energetic teammate. It took a bit for her to adjust to Surprise, seeing as she shared the same energy as Pinkie, and had Dash missing her friends. “No, I didn’t.” Her eyes flitted around the room, and rested on Soarin, who was happily eating and roughing it with Lightning Streak. Dash smiled on the inside at seeing Soarin’s pure, simple joy. He was a mix, positive when it came to little things, but when something important was on the line, he was pessimistic to a fault.

“Stop staring, Crash,” Spitfire whispered in her ear and nudged her.

As quick as a hummingbird’s flap, Dash drew her eyes away and went back to focusing on her food. When would this teasing about her and Soarin stop? They were nothing but good friends and it just so happened that their personalities complimented each other’s more than most ponies’ did. That wasn’t her fault. “I’m not staring!” she shouted in a hushed voice, light pink filling her cheeks.

“Whatever you say, newbie,” Spitfire teased.

Dash poked her with a wingtip before bringing her mouth down to eat, but was interrupted by a yelling of sorts.

“Hey! Dude! Totally uncalled for!” Lightning whined. “My mane’s ruined.”

Dash looked up to find Soarin with a wide, triumphant smile and Lightning with a fake frown, lower lip sticking out.

“Well that teaches you not to eat my food!” Soarin teased.

Lightning mimicked his friend’s words and turned back to his own plate. Everyone else started to as well, when the man-whore of the group effectively dumped his gravy all over Soarin’s head and immediately started cackling to himself. The entire team watched as the thick brown condiment rolled down Soarin’s face and over his muzzle.

Dash held her breath as air huffed out of Soarin’s nostrils, eyes narrowed in a stance that made her know that he meant business. Everyone else was silent, waiting to see what the second-in-command would do next. Get angry? Walk away? Laugh it off? Lick it? Infinite possibilities were there when it came to Soarin, who wasn’t always so easily predictable.

Then a sinister, playful smile crossed his face as he wiped the gravy from his hair and eye and shot up to rise all above them. “Food fight!” he yelled.

Spitfire was up there with him in the blink of an eye.“Take that back! We’re gonna be a mess!”

Suddenly, a messy mop of salad landed on her back, and Dash turned to see Misty Fly and Rapidfire snickering.

Spitfire narrowed her eyes, examining her team. She grabbed the lettuce leaves soaked with dressing and promptly threw it back at Rapid, having it land right on his face. “It’s on everypony!” she declared. “Food fight!”

Dash grinned, picking up her plate and soaring to the far corner of the room. Fleetfoot followed and threw an apple she dug out of the trash can right at Dash, which bonked right off her forehead and onto the floor.

Dash smirked deviously, shooting every which way and throwing bits of food onto all of her friends, hearing their shrieks and yelps of laughter. It was joyous and laughable and disgustingly messy, but none of that mattered in the moment, because they were all having fun.

Five minutes had passed of food pelting, and at this point, the ‘Bolts were just using all their leftovers to throw, unable to find any more new food.

“Take this, Rainbow Crash!” came a voice who Dash knew all too well. She felt the back of her head being hit by a sloshy ball of… tomato? A tomato.

Dash laughed and turned to face him, throwing the tomato in his direction, only to have Soarin fly out of the way at the very first second. Sometimes she still forgot she was up against ponies who met her equally in a ability. Except in her and Soarin’s case, speed. She zoomed off, chasing him around the room, both laughing and caught up in getting away that the two didn’t see the other ‘Bolts were starting to stop the fight.

“Get back here Clipper!” she laughed jovially. She was so close, just a little further and she’d be there.

Soarin was fast, very fast, but in terms of the Wonderbolts, he was actually one of the slower ones. Dash, Fleetfoot, and Spitfire were actually the fastest on the team, but Soarin made up for his speed in incredibly impressive strength, endurance and agility. Speaking of which, Dash had finally caught up to him and angled her body so she was under him and started to kick his stomach lightly.

“Playing dirty, huh, Crash?” he yelled and stopped abruptly. That was just what Rainbow needed, and she swiftly flew over top of him, pushing her hooves into the middle of his abdomen and pushing him towards the floor. In reality, it took about ten seconds, but to Dash, it took an hour it seemed like. Soarin’s green eyes pierced hers, his body offering no resistance to her shove. Dash blushed lightly as they landed, effectively on top of him.

It was quiet in the moment, and Dash hoped Soarin’s laboured breathing was from the exercise, because as much as she hated it, hers was definitely not. Stupidly, she removed her hooves, allowing her teammate to stand up, but to her surprise and secret delight, he never broke eye contact with her. And what would have been to her horror and unawareness, her already pink cheeks reddened. But Soarin did not point that out, only looked at her with those beautiful eyes and very, very handsome face.

“Get a room!” Fleetfoot yelled.

That snapped Dash out of her stupor, and she walked away, sticking her tongue out at her turquoise friend. “Shut up.”

Soarin nodded and pointed to Wave and Spitfire. “Tell that to these two. Not me and Crash.”

Wave flushed, Spitfire looked away.

But Dash still heard Fleet mutter, “Bullshit.”

“Thanks for inviting us, Spitfire,” Twilight said. “And you didn’t have to get a caterer just for us,” she added, taking a bite of her bruschetta.

“Oh Twilight, learn to just say ‘thank you’ already!” Rarity exclaimed, smiling a little. “This is absolutely divine.

Dash watched Pinkie nod, dunking her head into a plate of tortilla chips. “Yeah! Whoever ordered this has great taste!” Her blue eyes lit up even more. “Ooh! I’m gonna have to add it to my list of excellent caterers!” She dug into her mane and pulled out a list and a pencil, before giggling sheepishly. “Oops! This is my list of bad caterers.” She placed it back inside of her hair and pulled out a different list.

Surprise perked up and scooted over to Pinkie, bumping Misty, Blaze, Lightning and Rapid down a chair and plopping down. The two excitable ponies began conversing quietly.

“It was no problem. The cafeteria food isn’t exactly… the best we could do,” Spitfire explained. “Besides, we know how highly Rainbow here regards you guys. Wouldn’t wanna disappoint.”

Dash bit her tongue and managed a tight lipped smile. “Heh, yep.” Her friends knew Dash cared, but she still wasn’t the one to show it by doing gestures like getting a caterer for them. That had been Spitfire’s idea, as a way to pay thanks to the princess of friendship and the other elements of harmony.

All her friends just smiled though, and turned back to whatever conversation they were having. Surprise and Pinkie and now High Winds were talking, Rarity and Fleetfoot, Applejack and Blaze, and Fluttershy and… Soarin? Her stomach dropped slightly, and an unfamiliar feeling rolled around inside her. Dash loved Fluttershy like a sister, so why shouldn’t one of her best friends and her favourite teammate talk?

“Jealous, Crash?” Spitfire whispered.

Dash stared her captain up and down. “No.” She blinked. She was so not jealous. Just… It doesn’t matter what I am! Emotions don’t matter here.

Wave nudged the orange mare and instead of glaring at him, she just smiled sweetly, which had Wave flushing from Spit’s abnormal cuteness.

Dash didn’t notice Twilight lean in to her before she whispered, “I didn’t know that Fluttershy and Soarin would get along so well.”

Dash shrugged, glancing at the pair. Fluttershy was laughing softly at something Soarin said, while he just smiled. “Me either,” was all she could muster.

“I suppose it makes sense… they’re both calm and nice.”

The unfamiliar feeling that was so not jealousy rose up in Dash again, this time with a slight lurch in her stomach. Twilight was all about logic and reason, so if she thought they were okay together, there was no reason to doubt her. Dash hated that.

And while she adored Fluttershy, she despised the fact that her friend was one of the prettiest ponies out there. She’d seen Flutters get attention from stallions and mares from afar all the time, pretty much the same amount as Rarity or even Twilight. Who wouldn’t admire her? The yellow mare was sweet and gentle, and undeniably conventionally beautiful. Kind turquoise eyes, a neatly brushed pastel yellow coat, and a long and silky pale pink mane. Not to mention she was graceful and ladylike, unlike her. Dash was bold and daring, sporty and outspoken. Hot headed and reckless. She was too awesome for stallions, so why did she feel like this when it came to him? Soarin deserved somepony like ‘Shy, so why wasn’t she happy for them? And why was she jumping to big romantic conclusions? And most of all, why did she suddenly want to be teased along with him about them liking each other. Why, why, why?

“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight’s hoof waved in front of her face, purple eyes darting back and forth. “Are you okay?”

Dash blinked rapidly and smiled calmly. “Yeah of course! Just glad you guys are getting along,” she lied.
Everypony was starting to move towards a group conversation, and for once, Dash didn’t feel like talking with her closest friends, so she excused herself to go to the bathroom, not even noticing that Soarin wasn’t there at the table himself.

“Okay,” Dash muttered to herself, walking in a slow pace around the bathroom. She didn’t need to go, just wanted to get away for a bit, see if she could make any sense out of the lump in her stomach that seemed to take place when she saw Fluttershy and Soarin together, smiling and talking. “What is up with you? I am not jealous of Flutters, she’s my best friend! So… what could I be… oh! Maybe I’m jealous of Soarin because he’s spending time with my best friend. Somepony besides our other best friends or Tree Hugger or Discord is spending time with her. That must be it, that must be it,” she tried. You’re jealous of ‘Shy, just admit it. Dash cringed as her currently very stupid subconscious argued with her. No way! I don’t get jealous over things like this. Not boys. No stallions. You have time for that later, or not at all. Dash couldn’t admit she was jealous of Fluttershy, not to anypony, and certainly not to herself. So there she went again, stepping out of the washroom, completely unaccepting and disapproving of her emotions. She was so frustrated she didn’t even see the ice blue stallion right in front of her.

“Woah,” Soarin said, placing a hoof on Dash’s shoulder, steadying her. As soon as she was, he took it off, but she found herself liking the feel of his warm, softly callused hoof on her. “Head in the clouds?” he asked, smiling at her. Sweet and kind with a hint of confidence in it, like always.

Dash shrugged and gave a convincing yawn. “Just getting sleepy. Fluttershy was actually gonna let me show her some flying tricks tomorrow.”

“Oh yeah, she told me about that.” His eyes shifted towards the clock on the wall and he pointed to it. “Maybe you… I don’t…” He glanced away nervously for a second. “It’s almost nine.”

Dash cranes her neck upwards, eyes widening as she realized he was right. “Aw crap, we should get going. You know, Twilight gets up and does her princessy things and AJ and Rarity run their own thing and—”

“Its okay, Crash. You don’t have to explain,” Soarin said patiently, a tiny amused smile playing on his lips. “You good? You’re not usually the rambling type.” He ran his eyes over her. “Or at least, I hadn’t pegged you for one.”

Dash smirked a little, finding his voice and smile to be soothing. And heart quickening at the same time. “I’m not. But you are.” She nudged his hoof with hers and winked, walking away. “I’ll see you in a few days, Clip,” she called over her shoulder, making her way back to her friends to tell them they should get going.

“That was absolutely marvellous Dashie! You didn’t tell me you Wonderbolts could be so delightful!” Rarity sang happily, trotting in an upbeat manner.

Dash cocked an eyebrow. “You’ve met them all before, Rarity,” Dash pointed out.

“Yeah! You helped Dashie and Spitfire!” Pinkie Pie chirped, bouncing happily beside Applejack and Twilight.

Dash raised a hoof at that. “Actually, Pinkie, I saved Spitfire.”

“Well, I suppose Rarity proved your innocence which allowed you to go after Spitfire and—” Rainbow and AJ both stared at Twilight, who just shrugged. “Just saying.”

Dash rolled her eyes and smiled, letting four of her friends fall into their own chat, while she sought out her oldest friend there. “Hey Fluttershy,” she greeted.

The yellow mare smiled back at her. “Hi Dash.”

“So, how’d you like it? The dinner thing? I know you were a bit… nervous about it,” Dash started. She felt a little bad for trying to prod her friend. She always loved talking to her, but the main reason she was right now was because she was borderline desperate to know what had went on between her and Soarin.

Flutters smiled a little sheepishly. “I suppose I was,” she admitted. “But I did remember a lot of them from flight school or from seeing them around… and Soarin was very nice to talk to,” she added.

Dash was happy Fluttershy was more open to talking to other ponies, and she was grateful Soarin had been kind to her, but right now, she wanted to know more than just that. “Well, he’s nice to everypony,” Dash said. “What’d you guys talk about?”

“Hmm, well he told me a bit about your guys’ upcoming shows.”

Dash tilted her head. “Haven’t I already done that?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Yes.”

“Then why’d you..?”

‘Shy blushed. “I didn’t want to interrupt him,” she said quietly.

Rainbow couldn’t help but smile. Two of the sweetest ponies she knew put together was an interesting story. “Sounds a little like you,” she teased gently. Unlike some others, Dash mostly knew the appropriate times to tease Fluttershy. Mostly.

“Hey, I’m trying,” ‘Shy shot back, a smile on her pretty face. And for the first time, Dash wished she looked like Fluttershy. By all means, she knew she wasn’t ugly. She just wasn’t delicate like her friend was, and surely Soarin liked mares who weren’t as self-obsessed as she was. Dash had a confident attractiveness, her slim, toned build, straight mane and wide, fierce magenta eyes were all examples of her athleticism and sassy attitude. Something lots of stallions were too intimidated by.

“I know,” she replied, moving slightly closer to her friend.

“Anyways, after that, he, um… actually, he asked about you.”

Dash paused for a moment, an excited bolt of something riding through her body, though she kept her composure on the outside. “Huh?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Yes, he was wondering about our time in flight school and things we did together as fillies.”

Dash cringed slightly. She had no regrets of her actions as a child, yet she couldn’t deny that some of her decisions were, alongside being awesome, were bold and stupid. “Well… what’d you tell him?” Would she want to know?

Fluttershy smiled. “I told him how you were always there for me and stood up for me, and how you were never afraid to be my friend, despite being the Pegasus who couldn’t fly.”

Her answer warmed Dash’s heart. The two landed, and were surprised to see that their friends had all gone their separate ways. Fluttershy opened the door to her cottage. “Would you like to stay the night, Rainbow?”

A night with a friend who was always just as loyal and more kind than she was? “Duh,” she said. “Just please don’t let Angel kick me out. I’m exhausted.”

Fluttershy giggled. “No promises.”

They entered and she showed Dash to the new spare room, which the rainbow maned mare quickly settled into. He asked about me, he asked about me. Soarin asked about me! She blinked a few times. But why does that seem like the best news I’ve ever received? I’m a Wonderbolt.

Figuring she’d worry about her weird thoughts later, Dash drifted off to sleep, a content smile on her face.