Many hours later Soarin and I glided across the bountiful fields of sweet apple acres, the trip had taken all day due to our frequent stopping and showing off our various flying tricks, however I still hadn't managed to convince Soarin to divulge the details of his special whatever it was that he thought could be cooler than my sonic rain boom.
I glanced up at the star spotted sky; it was completely clear, save for my cloud house in the distance. My friends were probably all at their homes, sleeping and dreaming up magnificent dreams. Tomorrow they would all get to meet Soarin and without really knowing why I worried that they would like him as much as I had grown too.
Soarin flew up beside me, and we fell into stride, our wing tips touching with each down stroke. I fixed my gaze on my cloud house. I couldn't wait to see tank again, I had made sure to give him enough food for the weekend in the off-chance I would be gone longer than I had anticipated, as was indeed the case.
Looking below me I saw that we had moved beyond the tree fields of Sweet Apple Acres, and were now soaring over the many quaint and humble homes in PonyVille, some without lights, and some dotted throughout with a soft glow coming from a window or two.
My thoughts wandered off to meaningless things as we glided up to my house, and into my kitchen. Tank let out a gurgle as I patted him on the head. "You have a turtle?" Soarin asked with confusion as Tank took to the air with his Fly-A-Tron 2000. "And it flies?" He added as Tank made his way over to him and bopped into his head.
"Yeah." I explained with amusement. "He's pretty awesome." Tank made his way over too me and landed on my head, then curled up and started snoring. "He helps me slowdown when I need it."
"I've always wanted a pet, but I wouldn't be able to find the time for it." Soarin said walking over to Tanks snoring form. "He is rather adorable." With that remark Soarin started petting Tanks shell; Tank let out a grumbled sigh and relaxed into my mane. I quite suddenly realized just how close Soarin was too me, his face was inches from mine looking up above my head at Tank. He was quite well-defined, with a lean form that spoke of early practices and late night workouts. I find myself compulsively reaching up to feel his shoulder.
He was just as soft as I had hoped, his muscles flexed beautifully as he tensed up. Why did he tense up? Oh good gosh, why was I petting him? I snatched my hoof off of his shoulder and thumped it back to the ground. He laughed as he said. "Whoa, I didn't realize my workout regime had worked that well. The ads were right, it does make me irresistible."
I mumbled a few excuses and we make our way into the dining room. "I don't have anything in right now, ya know with the whole 'not having been home all weekend thing'" I check a few cupboards, but I know it is a fruitless effort. I would be lucky to find as much as a half-eaten box of cereal.
"Don't worry about it." Soarin said as a cheeky smile slid across his face. "I guess I'll have to take you out to dinner, eh?"
"Not too many places are open this late." I countered.
"For you, I can find a place." He said as a debonair tone creeping into his voice. he Launched himself out of my dining room window he called back to me over his shoulder. "Follow me." So I did, I followed him right out into the open air.
He seemed to know where he was going, and I allowed myself to relax and followed him on instinct while my mind wandered.
We glided down gently to the door of Sugar Cube Corner. Soarin pulled a hidden key out from behind a false rock, undid the lock, and opened the door.
"How did you know there was an extra key?" I asked once inside the quaint sweet shop.
"I'm their number one customer and only get to visit at odd hours, so I got told where the extra key was kept. I leave the money I owe on the counter and lock up when I'm done eating." Soain explairned as he threw a handful of bits on the counter and selected a pie for us.
We ate the pie while laughing and swapping flight stories. Soarin had an impressive the arsenal of funny childhood stories to tell. Many included him trying, and then failing to execute a trick he had seen a more experienced pony perform, though some were the hazy memories of his parents.
I told him all about my adventures with Twilight and my other friends. He seemed skeptical when I told him how many times I had saved Equestria, but I was sure if I got a hold of Twilights flow chart explaining how we had beaten each enemy, he would believe me.
In the early hours of the morning we locked up the sweet shop and had made it back to my cloud house. Once securely back inside my living room I realized just how insanely late it actually was. "I guess we should try to get some sleep?" I didn't mean for it to sound so much like I question, but that's how it came out.
"Yeah, a few hours are better than none." Soarin mused. I showed him where the extra toothbrush was and where my spare bedroom was. Then I headed to my own elegant cloud bed.
I had unusual dreams that night. They were free from threatening fire this time though. These dreams focused mainly on Soarins shoulders and on his smile. I would be thoroughly embarrassed come morning.