//------------------------------// // Chapter Five: An Old Soldier's Dreams. // Story: Project Mechillion // by Ronocorian //------------------------------// Steelwing stared at Rainbow Dash while her back was turned to him. "Erm Steel?" Twilight asked in a polite tone. "Oh! sorry, my attention had quickly derailed." he said trying to hide his embarassment at Twilight noticing him admiring her friend. "Its perfectly fine." she continued. "Im just finishing up my tests now, how do you feel?" "Much better Twi, the pain had subsided, although pain sucks, i can deal with it easily. Its a familiar thing in my line of work." Steelwing concluded. "It must take some guts. And some bravery." Rainbow dash added, staring admiringly at Steelwing. "Not really, i just have very little else. when you have no home, no family, you learn that this is your place, Shadowhorn and Ironhoof, well, those guys are my family. I have nothing to lose." Steelwing assured. "No family, no friends?" Twilight questioned. "Many were lost a long time ago, im older than i look, and my body shows it. As you can observe first hand." Steelwing jested, "Actually..." Twilight went red as she thought about what she was saying. "Actually you have a pretty nice body." Rainbow Dash finished up. Steelwing grinned at the complement. "Well....Thanks, it isnt too bad if you can get past the scarring here and there, and by here and there, i mean everywhere. Heh." "I like scars, but anyway, Steel, you're going to be stuck here for a while, you've been here two weeks already...Ironhoof and Shadowhorn are eager to see you, they were mostly uninjured in the combat, but wow, you have some amazing friends." "Sadly..only one of the wingmen survived the attack. They lacked your luck and skill, we buried them a few days ago. We thought you might want these." Twilight handed Steelwing two pairs of dogtags, engraved with the information about the wingmen he had lost that day, Steelwing's expression changed to sorrow and hurt." "Im done with the tests, you should have some time alone..." Twilight walked out. "I guess shes right, you call me if you need me Steel." Rainbow added as she turned and proceeded to turn around. "Rainbow...you...you dont have to go if you dont want to." Steel called out. Rainbow turned around and looked at him. "What do you mean Steel?" "I mean ive seen the way you look at me, its like you're asking yourself what my story is, if you want that, you just gotta ask." Rainbow walked back over to Steelwing, and over the next three hours they proceeded to talk until the sun went to set and Luna's beautiful moon started to rise. They spoke about Steel's exprience, the horrible things he had seen, and what his ambitions were, Rainbow also mentioned a lot how "cool" or "awesome" some of Steels or attributes were. In turn Rainbow also gave glimpses into her own life, but Steel promised he would teach her many things she thought impossible. They talked about her idols, the wonderbolts and how Steel personally knew Soarin and had "history" with her. Rainbow was particularily interested in that subject, but she also discussed what Ponyville was like, how at home she felt and how it was like to have a home, a few jokes even made their was across the convorsation about how much Twilight had been visiting Shadowhorn's new residence over the other side of town. "So she keeps visiting him? Hah." Steelwing commented, reaching for a potato chip. "Yeah, she goes really red everytime we bring him up in a chat or anytime she sees him, its really funny!" Rainbow replied. "I envy her though, those two could really be something if what you say abuot him is true, ive never had that." Steel almost dropped his crisp at the comment. It was unusual for Rainbow to be open to anyone, especially strangers. "You havent? Hell, that makes two of us, ive had the occasional fling but i guess the scars put the mares off. I dont blame them, im not exactly the looked, but you...you arent an ugly mare, you're quite the opposite." Rainbow blushed at the comment, Steel quickly commented. "Oh look, now you're going red just like Twilight." "No...No...Wait!...No fair." She sulked, head down at the floor. "Rainbow, relax, i think you're lovely." "I can't wait to spend more time with you. "Steel added. She went a darker shade of red as she spoke. "I better get off to sleep Steel, im needed for weather control in the morning, ill see you soon ok?" "Hurry back" he added. "Ill be as fast as i can, see you tomorrow." she spoke, learning over to kiss him on the cheek. Steelwing's cheeks flustered red hot as he felt her lips touch him. "Erm...Yeah...see you tomorrow...." he stuttered.