"C'mere you!" Twilight laughed, chasing Scootaloo through the air near the outskirts of Ponyville park. "I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna tickle you and then you're getting raspberries, you scoundrel!"
"Nooo!" Scootaloo cried dramatically, before giggling madly. She pulled a quick backflip in midair and landed on Twilight's back, eliciting a gasp from the alicorn.
"But first you gotta catch me!" Scootaloo teased, sticking a tongue out at Twilight before using her back as a springboard, jumping and flying in the opposite direction.
"Why you... That's it! Now you're getting double the raspberries!" Twilight whooped, turning around and chasing after the filly.
Meanwhile from a bench below, Rainbow Dash was watching the two most important ponies in her life with half lidded eyes and a serene expression.
Rainbow Dash, you made it. You’ve come a long way since you were that one pegasus who spent every night alone. This is… This is perfect. This is what I’ve been missing my whole life.
The sounds of high pitched squealing tore Rainbow Dash away from her thoughts, and glancing over, she saw Twilight gently holding Scootaloo to the ground and blowing raspberries on her tummy. Scootaloo was squealing loudly and fruitlessly attempting to escape.
“Now I hope you learned your lesson, fiend!” Twilight announced in a mock heroic tone.
"You'll never defeat me!" Scootaloo growled, breaking free of Twilight's light hold and fluttering over to Rainbow Dash. "Hey mom, did you see that flip? That was awesome, right?"
Rainbow smiled and raised her wing. Scootaloo eagerly tapped it with her own. "Excellent use of maneuver seventeen, squirt. Couldn't have done it better myself."
Scootaloo responded with a wide grin, before jumping off the bench and charging at Twilight, tackling the alicorn and laughing. Twilight squeaked in surprise.
Rainbow caught movement in the corner of her eyes. Three pegasi in blue and yellow uniforms were flying overhead. Rainbow watched as one broke out of the formation and started flying toward the park. Identifying that pony as her Captain, Rainbow trotted over to meet her, followed swiftly by Twilight and Scootaloo.
"Princess Twilight." Spitfire greeted, bowing in front of Twilight.
"No need for formalities." Twilight smiled. "You must be Spitfire. Rainbow's told me quite a lot about you. Like, a lot."
"Good things only I hope." Spitfire replied with a smirk.
"Let's just say... be glad I'm not the jealous type."
Spitfire chuckled and turned to Rainbow Dash. "I heard you two went official. Congratulations. But don't think the Wonderbolts are gonna treat you any different because you're messing around with a princess. Which brings me to why I'm here."
Rainbow Dash's grin grew as Spitfire established a dramatic silence.
"Fire Streak is retiring. The Wonderbolts need you, Dash. Welcome to the team."
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" Rainbow squeaked, flapping the very ends of her wings. She looked back at Scootaloo and Twilight, a giant grin on her face. Scootaloo was smiling back with a grin that threatened to bisect her head. Twilight gave her a demure smile, but it seemed kind of… sad.
Rainbow blinked hard and her grin wavered. She turned back to Spitfire, who was waiting for her reaction, an eyebrow raised and her mouth twisted into a cocky smile.
"How uh… how often would I be able to see my family here?" Rainbow asked.
Spitfire's eyebrows knit together. "Any time we're not doing training, which you know is pretty frequent, or doing a show. At worst, you may not see them for a couple months."
Rainbow's smile faded. "Months?"
"Rainbow, what are you waiting for?" Twilight hissed behind her. "You've always wanted to be a Wonderbolt."
Rainbow looked back at Twilight and Scootaloo.
Her family.
But… can I really just leave them behind? Twilight and Scoot both are still recovering… although it's true I've been vying for this forever…
"What do you say, Dash?"
Rainbow bit her lip as she looked between Twilight and Spitfire.
This has been my dream since I was a filly.
A bead of sweat ran down Rainbow's face as she looked between Twilight and Spitfire again.
I'm sure she'll understand. I have to do this.
"Well, Dash?" Spitfire asked impatiently.
"You." Rainbow choked out.
"Great! Get-"
"Thank you, really." Rainbow walked over to sit between Twilight and Scootaloo, placing a wing over both of them. "The Wonderbolts may need me, but these two need me way more right now."
Twilight's and Scootaloo's jaws dropped in stereo.
"Dashie, what are you doing?" Twilight asked, pushing Rainbow's wing off of her. "You've always wanted to join the Wonderbolts!"
Rainbow chuckled and put her wing back around Twilight, pulling her in close.
"You two are worth it."
Rainbow bit her lip and turned to Spitfire, who had thrown up her eyebrows in surprise.
"Ma'am, I'd really appreciate it if you can move me down the reserves list. I would still love to be a Wonderbolt, but I need to be there for my family right now, with all due respect."
Spitfire blinked hard.
"You sure about this, Dash? I don’t know when the next opportunity will come up."
Rainbow hesitated.
"Y-yes ma'am."
Spitfire shook her head and paused for a moment to collect her thoughts.
"That's good of you Dash. Though I'm pretty sure the team will be disappointed. For you, and considering the…" Spitfire’s gaze flicked to Twilight and Scootaloo. "Circumstances, I'll do it. See you at the all hands practice in two weeks."
"Yes ma'am!"
As Spitfire flew off, Scootaloo escaped Rainbow's winghug and whirled around to face her, her expression a mixture of confusion and sadness.
"Mom, what was that? Your dream was always to be a Wonderbolt!"
Rainbow just chuckled and slid Scootaloo over to her, pulling her into a hug.
"That's okay. I made new dreams. Better dreams. And with you two, I'm living them right now."
Dawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
10372233
Glad you liked it.
some ones getting laid tonight
10372243
Oh wow. I can't believe Rainbow would give up her dream for them...actually, scratch that, I totally can
Damn, GO DASHIE
That was a hard thing to do. I’m happy it went well, since Spitfire’s not so well known for her chill.
10372427
I mean Twi and Scoots still have a long road to recovery, and aside being the most two important ponies in her life, she is loyalty and has shown this kind of thing before.
10372510
Hell yeah!
10372650
Given recent actions though, I think Spitfire would be okay with it.
10373016
True. I'm glad Spits was more cool with it than the Shadowbolts were when Rainbow did that same exact "Thanks for the opportunity" thing
10373021
Well I mean that was a flying group literally made from dark magic to tear Dash away from the group. Spitfire is not made of malevolent magic.
10373023
True. I can't wait to see what's next
10373024
Last chapter is next. And it might not be too long, but it'll be a hell of a doozy.
10373027
I can't wait to see it. Sad this is already going to be over though...
10373031
Admittedly, so will I. And my next two novels aren't really gonna be cute or romance, but I hope you will enjoy just as much! I will continue to make cute one-shots though!
10373129
Alright then! I look forward to them!
I see what you did there!
10373823
Nobody was expecting a reference to the second episode of the show!
That... just... that just happened!?
Holy cow... I mean, I'm not surprised. Dash has her family now. But... wow! That was spectacular!
I loved every second of this chapter. LOVED. EVERY. SECOND! Scoots is still adorable, and Twilight is still adorable and Dash is just... looking on in pride at her family. And that family, truly is the most important thing in her life. Ambitions be damned, she has family commitments. Good on you, Dash. I'm... so proud of her...
Also, did I detect an episode 2 reference? From like... a decade ago? Awesome!
Sweet, feel-good chapter. So GREAT! This family deserves the break.
Only one more chapter and an epilogue to go... I'm feeling a mixture of sadness and happiness right about now.
But I'm off to work! Looking forward to the next chapter, as always!
Onward!
Still. Damn. Can't get over how amazingly awesome Dashie is... I'm sure this must've been a hard decision... but she chose her family over her lifelong dream and just GAAAAAAAAH! I CAN'T STAND IT! I'M GOING CRAZY INTERNALLY RIGHT NOW!
Ahem.
I'm good... I'm here. Or... at least halfway
10374453
That was an episode two reference, yes.
I'm not even sure where that came from, my muse just insisted I do it.
But I'm so glad you liked the chapter. And honestly, I feel you. I'm both sad and happy the journey is coming to a close. I really enjoyed writing this family. I fell in love with my own characters. I may do another twidash story in the future. Probably not another novel though.
See you when the next chapter drops!
10375146
Just a heads up about either next chapter or the epilogue, I'll probably be doing an all-story analysis. Not sure yet if I'll do it next chapter or the epilogue though. So, be warned! Massive wall of text incoming in T-Minus... uh... T-Minus finished story
10375155
That sounds awesome! Can't wait.
Ok. I don't take the time to just comment on stories nearly enough. But looking through the comments here on my second run throug of this chapter, for error checking, I felt compelled to throw in my two cents.
First of: Scoots and Twi playing was adorable. Second: that scene with Rainbow refusing the spot on the Wonderbolts is one of the most touching scenes in this entire series. I can't say it came as a supprise, but that does not affect its emotional impact in the slightest. I don't think I can get enough of stories that do this. Don't get me wrong, I have read amazing stories that have Twi and Dash balancing dealing with the stress of Dash being busy with the Wonderbolts, and often Twi either swamped in her studies or princess duties. But a story that properly earns the emotional weight of Dash turning down the chance to be a Wonderbolt to stay with Twi, and preferably Scootaloo too, by shoving their relationship developing probably gets itself on my top 10 list just for that. And this story earned that payoff, it earned it ten times over, and the execution was great too, to the point that the only story with a scene like this that has hit me harder emotionaly is Bats' Spellbound Fireflies, which I might pick as my absolute favorite on this entire site if forced.
Although you have been giving Bats, and The Abyss, some great competition for the spot of my favorite TwiDash Scootadopt fic with this series. Which is not something many stories have done, so congratulations and I hope to see more stories from you in the future, both continuations of this universe and separate from it.
10378719
I've never read Bats, but comparing me to The Abyss?
You're too kind. I'm so happy you liked it though!
I've seen The Abyss referenced a lot in the comments... and I haven't read it myself. Might have to give it a read