5 Epilogue
The display season had gone well. Rainbow Dash did have to trim back some of the extra bits that had made the new routine a little ambitious for some of the flyers, but she realised that she had tailored it for her own capabilities, and it took Spitfire to point out that not everypony was capable of flying to quite that exacting standard. She consoled herself that if the routine hadn’t have been so demanding then it was possible that Thunderlane may not have been diagnosed in time, so it had all worked out for the best.
Now, at the last show of the season, Royalty were once again present and a cream earth pony and mint green unicorn were once again in the VIP enclosure, but this time with a light grey pegasus colt proudly wearing his honorary Wonderbolts badge. They were much more at ease with the exclusive company this time and socialising was a lot easier than it had been the first time.
The display was stunning and executed to the highest standards for which the Wonderbolts had become famous, drawing the usual awestruck gasps from the audience; the aerobatics proceeding non-stop with something always going on in some corner of the sky while other flyers got into position for the next part of the routine.
The crowd was kept entertained without a break as they ran through their complicated manoeuvres, but everypony knew the finale would include a sonic rainboom, and as this was the last show, nopony could guarantee ever seeing one again as it may not feature next season, so they all waited with barely disguised anticipation as the six flyers started to form the aerial flower.
Lyra and Bon Bon craned to get a better view while the six petals were formed, and once Rainbow Dash had made her spectacular approach into the centre of the flower and performed the sonic rainboom behind, a lone Wonderbolt with two-tone white and grey mane flew through back towards the crowd, backlit by the colourful rainboom still lingering in its vibrancy.
Thunderlane had watched the entire display from a lone cloud left specifically for him and as Rainbow was on her high speed run-in to the aerial flower, he had stepped off and managed his fly-through once she was clear. Even then it had taken all of his effort, but he had managed the one short flight in his prized Wonderbolt suit to say farewell to the crowds – one last time.
Spitfire looked up and recalled her last display before hanging up her flight suit to fly a desk instead. That had been a day of mixed emotions, but this swansong was a celebration of Thunderlane and the crowd rose as one to cheer the brave pegasus in his last display before he took an office next to Spitfire - she had been as good as her word and kept him on the team.
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- Bronyxy · 8.8k words · 47 5 · 1.8k views
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8746318
Thanks for the kind words. It's lucky that there was such a positive interaction between your two favorite pegasi in this story!
I was basing Spitfire's response to Thunderlane on the lessons she had learned from Rainbow Dash in "Rainbow Falls" (S4 E10), and was aiming to use that as the basis for a really cathartic ending. I'm glad it worked!
I loved this and it highlights a cruel fact that most don't consider. No matter how good of an athleet you are, anything can happen to sidline your carrer. I'm happy Thunderlane's team was there to support. great work, keep it up.
8749067
Thanks for your kind words.
I found my inspiration for this fic in "Rainbow Falls" (S4 E10), in which Soarin is injured and Spitfire quickly drops him from the Cloudsdale/Wonderbolt team and tries to replace him by luring Rainbow Dash away from the Ponyville team.
Like you say, that really brings home the precarious nature of being an athlete at the top of their game, and I wanted to show how Spitfire had learned from Rainbow Dash and made sure that Thunderlane could continue to play an active part in the team even though his flying days were over.
8757121
Thanks - I'll bear in mind what you suggest. Meantime, do check out one of my earlier stories https://www.fimfiction.net/story/383651/the-end-of-innocence to see him with PInkie Pie in an adventure against the changelings.
This was amazing!
8922396
Thank you for your positive feedback, I'm so glad you liked it!
Thunderlane doesn't get a lot of publicity, so I really enjoyed giving him centre stage for a story with a happy ending.