The sky stretched endlessly above Rainbow Dash and Soarin as they soared through the crisp afternoon air, the golden hues of sunset beginning to streak across the horizon. Rainbow Dash was brimming with excitement, her wings carrying her effortlessly as she glanced at the stallion flying beside her. Soarin, on the other hoof, looked considerably less at ease. His normally carefree expression was weighed down by nervousness, his wings occasionally faltering in their rhythm.

Rainbow Dash, noticing his tension, smirked and nudged him lightly. "Dude, you look like you're flying into a thunderstorm. Relax! My parents are gonna love you. Plus they already know you're coming, I warned them beforehoof."

Soarin forced a chuckle, but the tightness in his chest didn't ease. "Easy for you to say. You're their daughter, the fastest flyer in Equestria. Me? I'm just some weather pony dating a Wonderbolt."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "First of all, I'm not a Wonderbolt here. Second, that doesn't matter! You're awesome, Soarin, and besides, my parents are super cool!" She grinned. "Well... mostly. They can be a lot, but they mean well."

Soarin swallowed. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Oh, come on!" Rainbow groaned, zipping ahead before spinning around to fly backward, facing him. "I already gave them a heads-up that I'm bringing my coltfriend over for dinner. The hardest part is over. Now we just gotta show up, eat, and survive the night. Simple."

Soarin exhaled. "Simple, huh?" He muttered, but Rainbow's confidence was infectious, and he found himself feeling slightly better. If Rainbow believed in him, maybe he could survive this.

Soon, the towering clouds of Cloudsdale came into view, and before long, they reached a cozy house nestled among the fluffy streets. Soarin hovered slightly behind Rainbow Dash as she rang the doorbell, his heart hammering against his ribs. The door swung open almost instantly, and suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with two very enthusiastic pegasi.

"Dashie!" Windy Whistles squealed, pulling her daughter into a tight hug. "Oh, my little champion is home!"

"Hey, Mom!" Rainbow laughed, hugging her back. "Told ya I'd visit soon."

Bow Hothoof stepped up, ruffling his daughter's mane. "There's our star flier! Look at you, still looking every bit as awesome as ever!"

Rainbow Dash chuckled and shrugged. "What can I say?" She then stepped aside and motioned to Soarin. "Alright, alright! Guys, this is Soarin, my coltfriend."

Windy gasped dramatically, as if Rainbow had just announced she'd won another major competition. "Oh my goodness! Soarin! Our little Dashie's first coltfriend. Or at least the first that she's brought home!" She clasped her hooves together. "Welcome, welcome!"

Soarin chuckled nervously. "Uh, hi, Mrs. Whistles, Mr. Hothoof. It's really great to meet you."

Windy immediately grabbed his hoof and shook it enthusiastically. "Oh, sweetheart, no need for formalities! You can call me Windy!" Before Soarin could react, she pulled out a folded sweater and beamed as she held it out to him. "I made this just for you!"

Soarin hesitated before taking the sweater and unfolding it. His ears burned red as he read the words stitched in bold, colorful letters across the front: 'Rainbow's Coltfriend'

Rainbow Dash facehoofed. "Mom… seriously?"

Windy pouted. "What? It's adorable! And it'll keep him warm!"

Soarin forced a smile, though he could feel Rainbow's silent amusement radiating beside him. "Uh, wow, thank you. This is… really unique."

Windy beamed. "Oh, I just love making sweaters! I have one for every occasion!"

Before Soarin could comment, Bow Hothoof stepped forward. Unlike Windy's enthusiastic energy, Bow's presence was more measured. He regarded Soarin with a critical eye, taking in the young stallion standing before him.

With an unreadable expression, he extended a hoof. "Soarin, was it?"

Soarin nodded quickly and took the offered hoof. The moment their hooves met, he felt it—the unmistakable firmness of Bow's grip, just shy of outright crushing. It was the kind of hoofshake that sent a very clear message: I'm watching you.

Soarin gulped. "Y-yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you, sir."

Bow held the hoofshake just a second longer than necessary before letting go. "Mhm."

Rainbow groaned. "Dad, don't do the whole tough-guy routine. I already told you, Soarin's cool."

"Just being thorough, kiddo," Bow replied with a small smirk, though his eyes remained on Soarin.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's go inside before Mom tries to make him another sweater."

As they stepped into the house, Soarin couldn't shake the feeling of Bow's scrutiny. He tried to push it aside, putting on his best smile. He could do this. It was just one dinner. How hard could it be?

Just as they settled in, Bow suddenly furrowed his brow, staring at Soarin. "Wait a second… your name sounds kinda familiar."

Soarin perked up. "Oh! Yeah, uh, maybe from the Young Flyers Competition?"

Bow's eyes lit up with realization. "That's right! That was the year Rainbow got second place, right? You were in that competition too!"

Soarin smiled, a bit of relief washing over him. "Yeah! That's me!"

Bow's face twisted in thought for a moment before he let out a hum. "Huh. If I remember right, you got… what was it?"

Soarin's smile vanished instantly. "A… uh… participation award."

There was a pause. Bow blinked. "Oh. Right."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Rainbow who had been lounging nearby, snorted. "Well, hey, at least you participated, right?"

Soarin chuckled awkwardly. "Heh… yeah…"

Bow simply nodded, clearly unimpressed. Soarin resisted the urge to sigh. He had hoped for a slightly stronger first impression, but it seemed that he had only managed to dig himself into a deeper hole. As Rainbow Dash led him further into the house, he cast a quick glance at Bow, whose expression remained neutral.

This was going to be a long night.

The dining room was warm and cozy, the walls decorated with old Wonderbolt memorabilia, family photos, and trophies from Rainbow Dash's past achievements. A large banner reading "WELCOME HOME, RAINBOW" was strung up near the window, making it clear just how much Windy Whistles and Bow Hothoof had been anticipating their daughter's visit. The scent of a hearty homemade meal filled the air as the family gathered around the table, the flickering glow of candlelight adding a soft ambiance.

Soarin, still wearing the sweater Windy had gifted him, sat stiffly in his chair. The fabric was snug, and the words "Rainbow's Coltfriend" stitched across the front made him feel both honored and slightly ridiculous. Rainbow Dash, seated next to him, looked completely at ease, happily digging into her meal. Across the table, Windy smiled warmly, while Bow remained quiet, his sharp gaze occasionally flickering toward Soarin.

"So, Soarin," Windy began as she ladled some mashed potatoes onto her plate. "Tell us about your parents."

Soarin hesitated briefly, adjusting the collar of his sweater. "Well… my dad's not in the picture," he said carefully, watching Bow's reaction. "But my mom, Tippy Tappy, raised me on her own."

At the mention of Tippy Tappy, Bow's ears perked slightly. He gave a thoughtful nod before speaking. "Tippy's a kind mare."

The moment he said it, Rainbow and Soarin exchanged a quick glance. They both remembered what Tippy had told Rainbow at the Grand Galloping Gala—the little detail about her and Bow having been high school sweethearts. Rainbow hid her smirk behind a sip of cider, while Soarin cleared his throat, trying to pretend he hadn't noticed the shift in the air.

Bow, oblivious to the unspoken conversation happening between the younger ponies, speared a piece of roasted carrot with his fork. "Soarin, what do you do for a living?"

Soarin wiped his mouth with a napkin before answering. "I work on the weather patrol in Ponyville."

Bow's expression didn't shift much, but something about his posture grew more rigid. He nodded slowly before responding. "Thunderlane's the head of weather patrol there, isn't he?"

Soarin nodded. "Yeah, we've been working together ever since he got the job."

Bow set his fork down. "Thunderlane's a good stallion. Hardworking. Responsible. I've known him for years. His parents passed when he and his brother were still young, instead of making excuses or feeling sorry for himself, he did what had to be done. Raised Rumble right, took care of everything on his own, and still climbed his way up. That's a stallion with drive." Bow's eyes flickered toward Soarin. "Probably knows how to treat a mare, too."

Soarin felt his stomach sink. Bow wasn't saying it outright, but the meaning behind his words was as clear as a summer sky. He was saying that Thunderlane was everything Soarin wasn't. . He was somepony Bow would have preferred to see sitting at this table, beside his daughter, instead of him.

Soarin's feathers twitched, and he resisted the urge to adjust his collar. The sweater suddenly felt even tighter. He forced a smile, trying to salvage the moment. "Well, now he's 'grounded' by his mare," he joked, nudging Rainbow playfully. "Because you know... Applejack doesn't have wings, so... he's stuck on the ground with her."

Silence.

Bow didn't laugh.

Soarin swallowed hard, feeling heat rise to his face. Rainbow gave him a reassuring bump with her shoulder, but the damage was done. He had been trying so hard to impress Bow, and yet, with every word he said, it felt like he was digging himself deeper into a hole.

Just as the tension threatened to suffocate him, the doorbell rang.

Windy's ears perked up, and she quickly rose from her seat. "That must be Rainbow Blaze and Firefly!"

Soarin let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Saved by the bell. Literally.

Windy hurried to the door, leaving Soarin with a moment to collect himself. He glanced at Rainbow Dash, who gave him an apologetic smile. "Hang in there, big guy," she whispered.

Soarin sighed. He could only hope that Rainbow's uncle and his wife would be easier to win over than Bow.

The door swung open, revealing a bright pink pegasus with a striking blue mane, her face lit up with excitement. Beside her stood a stallion who bore an uncanny resemblance to Bow , though his stance was more relaxed, his demeanor far less rigid.

Rainbow Dash grinned, flapping over to greet them. "You guys made it!"

"Like we'd miss meeting my favorite—and only—niece's special somepony?" Blaze said with a grin, ruffling Rainbow's mane. "I swear, just yesterday, you were barely flying, tumbling across the clouds, and now you're bringing home a coltfriend? Time flies way too fast."

"Ugh, Uncle Blaze," Rainbow groaned, pushing his hoof away but still smiling. "C'mon, you're making me sound like a baby."

"Hey, you'll always be our little Rainbow," Firefly chimed in before turning to Windy and Bow. "Hope we're not too late?"

"Right on time," Windy said warmly, standing up to embrace Firefly before giving Blaze a softer but still affectionate hug. Bow merely nodded in greeting, though his gaze lingered on Blaze for a moment.

"You look like you lost some weight," Bow noted, eyeing his younger brother. "You eating properly?"

Blaze chuckled, waving a dismissive hoof. "I'm fine, just been training hard. You know how it is."

"Mm." Bow didn't seem entirely convinced but let it go for now.

Finally, Blaze's attention shifted to the stallion sitting rather stiffly at the table, still clad in a sweater that read 'Rainbow's Coltfriend' in bold letters. Blaze's grin widened.

"Oh wow, Windy, let me guess—you made that?"

Windy beamed. "For a kind stallion like him, it's the least I could do."

Soarin smiled awkwardly. "Uh, thanks?"

"Looks cozy," Firefly noted, tilting her head as she gave Soarin a quick once-over. "And you must be the stallion of the hour, huh?"

Soarin nodded, swallowing a bit of nervousness. "Yep. Soarin's my name."

"Well, don't just sit there, eat!" Blaze said, flopping down onto a seat. "I wanna hear all about the guy who finally got our little Rainbow to settle down."

Windy chuckled. "Oh, Blaze, you should know better. Rainbow doesn't 'settle.'"

"True, true," Blaze conceded, nudging Rainbow playfully.

As they continued eating, Blaze leaned forward, resting his chin on a hoof. "So, Soarin, what's your deal? What do you do?"

Soarin swallowed his bite of food. "I work in Ponyville's weather patrol."

"Ah," Blaze nodded. " Thought you were a Wonderbolt."

"Nope," Soarin said, shaking his head. "Never was."

Firefly raised a brow. "Really? You've got the build of one."

Rainbow quickly chimed in. "Yeah, he's a solid flyer, but he likes the weather team. It's a good gig."

Blaze hummed. "Weather pony, huh? And yet you're dating the fastest flyer in Equestria."

Soarin let out a small laugh. "I guess I just got lucky."

Blaze smirked. "Well, we'll see if you're lucky enough to keep up with her."

Soarin was about to respond when Rainbow casually dropped a new detail. "Oh, by the way, Uncle Blaze, Soarin got into Daring Doo while he was in the hospital. Thought I should probably mention this now."

Blaze's ears perked up instantly. "Wait. What?"

Soarin scratched the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah. I read the first book while I was recovering. It was pretty good."

Blaze gasped. "You mean to tell me I've got another Daring Doo fan in the family?"

"Uh, I mean, I guess—"

Before Soarin could even finish, Blaze was already firing off questions. "What did you think about Ahuizotl's first appearance? Did you catch the foreshadowing about the Sapphire Statue? Did you see that twist coming?"

Soarin blinked. "Uh, I've only read the first one…"

Blaze's face fell dramatically. "Oh, c'mon! You gotta catch up, dude! There's so much to talk about!"

Firefly rolled her eyes. "Easy, Blaze. Let the poor guy eat."

Rainbow chuckled. "You just made his night, Soarin. There's no gurantee he's gonna let you eat tonight."

"I have good taste," Blaze said proudly. "And now there are three of us in the family who appreciate Daring Doo."

Soarin smiled, a warm feeling settling in his chest. "That's… actually kinda nice."

"See?" Windy said, pleased. "You're already fitting in!"

Bow, however, remained mostly quiet, only responding in short hums or nods when directly addressed. Soarin tried not to let it bother him, but the tension was still there.

As the meal continued, Windy turned to Blaze and Firefly with her own set of questions. "So, how's training been? Any plans for competition this year?"

Firefly answered first. "We're thinking about it. Blaze wants to go for another endurance challenge."

Blaze smirked. "Hey, gotta keep myself sharp. Can't let the young fliers show me up just yet."

Windy chuckled. "And how about you, Firefly?"

Firefly stretched her wings. "Might take on another relay event. We'll see."

The conversation continued naturally, until Windy casually dropped, "Maybe one day, we'll have a little speedster grandfoal flying around."

Soarin choked on his food. Rainbow's face turned bright red. Blaze burst out laughing.

"Mom!" Rainbow groaned, face in her hooves.

"What?" Windy said innocently. "I'm just saying, wouldn't it be nice?"

Soarin, still coughing, waved a hoof. "I think I just died a little."

Firefly snorted. "Aw, don't kill the poor guy, Windy."

Blaze smirked. "Hey, I approve. I'd love a little grand-niece or grand-nephew with Rainbow's attitude. That'd be hilarious."

Bow cleared his throat. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Rainbow let out a long sigh. "Can we not?"

Blaze nudged her. "What? It's cute."

Soarin, still recovering, sighed. "I knew I was in for a wild night, but I wasn't expecting that."

Blaze grinned. "Welcome to the family, buddy."

The night air was crisp as Firefly and Rainbow Blaze prepared to leave, sharing one last round of goodbyes with the family. Rainbow Dash and Windy hugged them tightly, and Blaze ruffled Rainbow's mane before throwing a teasing glance at Soarin.

"Take care, kid. You survived dinner, so I think you'll live to see another day," he joked with a wink. Firefly chuckled, giving Soarin an encouraging pat on the back before the couple took off into the night sky, disappearing among the stars.

Just as the door closed, Bow cleared his throat. "Soarin," he said evenly, making the younger stallion's ears perk up. "Come with me. A little flight will do us good."

Rainbow Dash frowned, immediately stepping in between them. "Dad…"

Bow gave her a look. "Relax, Dash. Just a flight."

Rainbow turned to Soarin, wrapping her hooves around his neck in a quick but firm hug. As she pulled away, she whispered, "Don't let anything he says get to you."

Soarin took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll try."

Without another word, the two stallions exited the house and took to the skies. The silence stretched between them as they flew over Cloudsdale's quiet streets, the moonlight reflecting off the soft, swirling clouds beneath them.

The cool night air wrapped around Soarin as he adjusted his wings to stay level with Bow Hothoof. The city of Cloudsdale stretched beneath them, its glowing streets weaving like a network of stars. Despite the breathtaking view, a lump sat heavy in Soarin's throat. This was it—the one-on-one conversation with Bow he had dreaded all night.

For the first few minutes, they flew in silence. The only sounds were the steady beats of their wings and the occasional gust of wind rushing past. Soarin dared a glance at Bow, who stared straight ahead, his expression unreadable. His powerful frame, a testament to his years in the military, seemed at ease despite the awkward atmosphere between them.

Finally, Bow broke the silence. "You know, I met Windy when I was about your age."

Soarin perked up slightly, surprised by the sudden openness. "Really?"

Bow nodded. "I was stationed at one of the outposts near the Griffon border. It wasn't exactly glamorous, but I was proud to serve. Then, during a training drill, I got injured. Torn ligament. Just bad enough that continuing in the military wasn't an option." His voice was steady, but there was something distant in his tone, as if he were reliving the memory.

Soarin hesitated before asking, "That must've been tough."

Bow exhaled through his nose. "Yeah. It was. But you don't sit around feeling sorry for yourself. You move forward. I went back to Cloudsdale and got a job at the Weather Factory. Maintenance division." He smirked slightly. "Not exactly a career in heroics, but it was honest work."

Soarin listened intently. This was the most Bow had spoken directly to him all night.

"That's where I met Windy," Bow continued. "She worked in quality control. Had a way of making everything seem brighter, no matter how dull the work was." His expression softened for the first time that night. "She was kind. Smart. Stubborn when she wanted to be. And before I knew it, we were dating. We saved up for a house, and we made sure Blaze had a place, too. He was sixteen at the time, already talking about flying competitions."

Soarin chuckled. "Yeah, I bet he was."

Bow gave a small nod. "Eventually, I asked Windy to marry me. Best decision I ever made. Then, ten months later, Rainbow was born."

At the mention of Rainbow, Soarin saw something change in Bow's expression. It was subtle, but there was a deep, unshakable warmth beneath the gruff exterior.

"I remember holding her for the first time," Bow said, his voice quieter now. "She was so small. Tiny wings, big eyes, already kicking and moving like she was ready to take on the world." He let out a quiet chuckle. "From the moment she could fly, there was no stopping her. Kindergarten? She was the fastest. Primary school? Always leading the flight exercises. By the time she hit high school, she had her eyes on the Wonderbolts, and nothing—nothing—was going to change her mind."

Soarin could picture it perfectly. That fiery determination, the absolute refusal to be anything less than the best. It was Rainbow Dash to a T.

Bow took a deep breath, as if steadying himself. "You have to understand, we celebrated her every step of the way. Not because we forced her into anything, but because she wanted it so badly. And we wanted her to know that whatever she set her mind to, she could achieve." He turned his head slightly, fixing Soarin with a piercing look. "So when I imagined the pony she'd end up with… I guess I pictured somepony just as extraordinary as she is."

Soarin felt a pang in his chest. There it was, said out loud. Bow had envisioned some grand hero, a legend-in-the-making, standing beside Rainbow. Not a weather patrol worker who spent most of his time fixing up stray clouds.

"But," Bow continued after a pause, "if there's one thing I've learned, it's that Rainbow knows exactly what she wants. Always has. If she's chosen you, then I suppose I'll just have to deal with it."

The words were blunt, almost gruff, but Soarin caught the meaning beneath them. He wasn't Bow's first choice, but Bow wasn't going to stand in Rainbow's way. In his own way, he was offering reluctant acceptance.

Soarin let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I appreciate that," he said honestly. "And I know I'm not some hotshot Wonderbolt or a big hero. But I do love your daughter, and I'd never take her for granted."

Bow was silent for a moment. Then, for the first time that night, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Good."

For a while, they flew without speaking. But this time, the silence wasn't heavy with tension. It was comfortable, even companionable.

As they circled back toward the house, Soarin stole another glance at Bow. Maybe this wasn't exactly the grand approval he had hoped for, but it was something. And for tonight, that was enough.