Soarin was worried. Had he crossed the line? It had been nearly two weeks since the incident and he had not heard word from his favorite mare.

Suddenly, the doors to HQ opened.

Soarin froze.

Standing at the door stood a small, broken Rainbow Dash. Soarin had never been to witness to this side of her before and was sure no one else had either.

He desperately wanted to gallop towards her, but he forced his hooves into the ground. If he moved now, Rainbow’s fight or flight response would kick in. He might not see her again for a very long time. Instead, he waited. He waited for her to react. Surely a punch or a kick.

Rainbow Dash’s head never once lifted towards Soarin, so when she began to walk in his direction, he spooked but stayed grounded. He knew she knew it was him standing before her. A slap or bite, he would take it all if she could only talk to her again.

Instead, she kept walking until her forehead rested against his chest. He sucked in air and subconsciouly held it in.

It was a very long time before he felt her shift.

He wanted to hug her and beg for her to forget everything.

Her voice sent shivers down his spine when she finally decided to break the heavy silence between them.

“I. Am not. A. Coward.”

Soarin let out the air he was holding in out through a single, non believing chuckle. He had to strain his wings against his side. He said nothing as she shifted against him once more.

She was strong even in weakness. He knew how hard it must have been for her to suck in her pride and ego. He knew how hard it must have been to acknowledge the difficult position he placed her in. He knew how hard it must have been for her to return and face him.

Rainbow Dash was indeed a very special pony. She was simply and truly admirable.

It was to no surprise that Soarin could not control the blossoming warmth growing on his face and spreading into every single bone in his body. He couldn’t restrain his ever growing smile either.