Rainbow yawned deeply, having just woken up. Gilda had left yesterday, and she had been a ton of fun to be around. So much fun, that Rainbow was suspicious of something major happening that would be anything but fun.
Why am I tempting fate? thought Rainbow, I'll just do whatever I need to do today, and not worry about something terrible happening.
She got up and slipped on her metal wing encasement. She then quickly lifted up her space suit with her magic and put it on easily. She still needed to find some books on magic to study, but Rainbow didn't want to do anything suspicious today. She casually flipped through her journal detailing the two different visions she had so far, but there was only the two.
Time to go see what today's weather is going to be. I wonder why they keep giving me the big jobs, though. I am the newbie, after all.
Rainbow flew outside and checked her mailbox, expecting nothing. However, there was a small pamphlet inside, so she pulled it out and quickly read it to herself.
Young Flyers Competition in Cloudstale? she thought, looking over it, Why do I suddenly want to do this so badly? I've just read this one little sheet, and I can't help but want to win! Granted, I'm technically not a young flyer, but I am so entering this! But why would they send out a pamphlet for something happening tomorrow right now?
Rainbow stood still for a moment before shoving the pamphlet back in the mailbox and flying to the weather office. Whatever her assignment was, she would finish it as quickly as possible and start working on a routine. She just had to win this competition!
"Now, what have we learned?" asked Rainbow, flying front of Fluttershy.
"Loss of control." said Fluttershy confidentially.
"Good..."
"Screaming and hollering."
"Yes! And most importantly?"
"Passion!"
"Right! So now that you know the elements of a good cheer, let me hear one!"
Fluttershy took in a deep breath of air.
"Yay!" she said at her normal volume level.
"Come on, Fluttershy!" encouraged Rainbow, "You have to cheer for me louder!"
"Yay!"
"Louder!"
"Yay!"
"Louder!"
"Yaaay!"
"Okay, so maybe we need somepony else who can be louder..."
"I'm sorry, Rainbow, but I just can't be that loud..."
"It's fine, Fluttershy. I'm just nervous for the Young Flyers Competition, that's all."
"I'm happy that you're entering it, though! You haven't done anything so much like when we were younger until now."
"Uh... You're welcome?"
Fluttershy smiled, and Rainbow just nodded before flying up into the sky.
"Alright, time to practice the routine!" she declared, "After all, the Competition is today!"
"Yay!" said Fluttershy, who was standing on the ground, "You can do it, Rainbow!"
Time for phase one... thought Rainbow, before diving down and weaving through trees.
She went back and forth between the trees, making sure not to go too fast, like Luna had said in her letter. She flew by the last one, before turning and flying above all of them upside down.
Phase two...
She then flew up towards several clouds in the sky, and spun around them. Each spun fast enough to make droplets of water fly off of them, and catch the sunlight, making a beautiful display of colors. Rainbow allowed them to spin for a few seconds before zooming downwards.
And now for the finale! A dive that I spin up from to create a small tornado that will pull in the droplets and create a rainbow effect!
Rainbow zoomed downwards, and noticed that she was increasing in speed, and a bit of force was forming in front of her.
"No, wait!" cried Rainbow, realizing that she could majorly speed up from this.
The force in front of her suddenly launched Rainbow backwards, and she went spiraling out of control. She spread out her wings to slow down, and caught a glimpse of the Golden Oaks Library.
"Incoming!" cried Rainbow, before coming in through the open window and heading towards one of the bookshelves.
Luckily, Twilight had heard Rainbow's shout, and grabbed her with her magic right before she crashed into the shelf. She just tapped one of the shelves, causing a book to fall off and land on Pinkie's face.
"Sorry, Pinkie!" said Rainbow.
"It's fine!" said Pinkie, her voice muffled under the book.
"Rainbow Dash, what in Equestria were you doing?" asked Twilight, setting her down on the ground.
"Practicing my routine!" said Rainbow, "For the Young Flyers Competition in Cloudstale!"
"Rainbow, are you okay?" asked Fluttershy, flying in.
"I'm fine, just need to do some work on my last move! Just work on cheering harder while I do that!"
Rainbow flew out of the window and back towards where she had been practicing. She could get this move right, but still couldn't figure out why she wanted to so badly.
"You've got to learn to be assertive, Fluttershy," said Rainbow as they landed in Cloudstale, "Don't be afraid to speak up.!"
"Well, well, well," said a somewhat-familiar voice, "What do we have here?"
Rainbow turned around to see the two bullies from Flight School walking up to her. She glared at them, and stood defensively in front of Fluttershy, who was cowering from them.
"It's our old friend Rainbow Crash!" said one of them.
"Get kicked outta any flight schools lately?" asked the other, making them both laugh.
"I didn't get kicked out!" snapped Rainbow.
"Face it, Rainbow Crash," said the second one, "Flight School had too many rules, and not enough nap times for you!"
"Ask her about the Sonic Rainboom!" said the other one.
"That's nothing but an old mare's tale! You don't have the skills to try something like that!"
Rainbow blinked in confusion.
"Now wait just a minute!" said Fluttershy, before cowering again, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm trying to be more assertive. Anyhow... She is going to do a Sonic Rainboom!"
"No she's not, 'cause there's no such thing!" said the first one.
"Then show up at the Cloudeseum and see for yourself! I mean, if you're free."
The two laughed.
"Yeah, I'll be free!" said the second one
"Oh, don't worry," the the first one, "We'll be there!"
"See you then, Rainbow Crash!"
Rainbow blinked again.
"Did you see that?" asked Fluttershy, "I was so assertive!"
"Uh, yeah!" said Rainbow, "You were so assertive in telling them that I was going to do the... Sonic... Rainboom..."
"Don't worry, Rainbow Dash! Just because you've failed the sonic rainboom a hundred thousand times in practice doesn't mean you won't be able to do it in front of an entire stadium, full of impatient, super-critical sportsfan ponies!"
Rainbow froze, and her eyes widened in fear. She blinked again, and Fluttershy gasped in surprise.
"Rarity?" she asked, causing Rainbow to turn around.
Behind them was Rarity, hovering in the air with the aid of some butterfly wings she had.
"Rarity!" cried Rainbow in surprise, "Are you flying?!?"
"I most certainly am!" said Rarity happily, "Aren't my wings gorgeous? Twilight made them for me. I just adore them! Why so shocked? We couldn't leave our favorite flyer without a big cheering section!"
"We?" a balloon carrier popped up through the clouds, carrying Twilight, Pinkie, and Applejack, "I can't believe it! You guys made it!"
"Sure did!" said Pinkie, jumping out of the basket.
"Wait!" cried Rainbow, just before Pinkie landed safely on the cloud, "How'd you do that? Did you use a spell of something?"
"Haha! Pretty cool, huh?"
"I found a spell that makes temporary wings," said Twilight, getting out of the basket with Applejack, "But it was too difficult to do more than once. So I found an easier spell that lets the rest of us walk on clouds."
"And we came to cheer you ta victory!" said Applejack.
"Guys, that's so nice of you!" said Rainbow happily, "I was actually starting to get a bit nervous..."
"Don't you worry, Rainbow!" said Pinkie, "We're gonna cheer you on as you do your Sonic Rainboom, just like Fluttershy said you were!"
"What?"
"She told us that you'd been tryin' to do one in practice," said Applejack, "And we're here ta give ya so much support that you'll actually do it!"
Rainbow froze in realization.
Fluttershy thought I was trying to do a Sonic Rainboom in practice! she thought, But she didn't realize that I was just doing a dive! But now, if I don't do it, those bullies will make fun of Fluttershy for thinking I could!
"Uh, thanks guys!" said Rainbow, "I'll do the greatest Sonic Rainboom you'll ever see!"
The group cheered happily, and Rainbow did her best to put on a good smile.
Oh mare, this just got difficult!
"We'd better get to the Cloudeseum," said Rainbow, "The competition is going to start soon!"
Everypony nodded, and Rainbow led the way, trying her best not to panic. She felt a slight gust of wing behind, and looked to see that Rarity was flying, as opposed to walking.
"Rarity, you know that you can walk on the clouds, right?" asked Twilight.
"Well of course I know, darling!" said Rarity, "But I just want to show off my beautiful wings!"
Rarity flew up higher, posing in front of the sun. This caused her wings to let off an array of colors that sparkled down on everypony watching.
"You know what you should do?" said some pegasus, "You should enter the Young Flyers Competition!"
"That's a great idea!" said Rarity.
"Wait, what?" asked Rainbow, but nopony was listening.
"I'll surely win with these wings of mine! Come along now, Rainbow!" Rarity flew in front of Rainbow and towards the Cloudeseum, "I have a Competition to win!"
Rainbow gulped and tried her best not to panic. Things just kept on becoming more difficult.
Rainbow quivered with nervousness, as she was the only pony left to preform. She had traded numbers until getting the last one, just to delay her inevitable failure and not be as hurt when Rarity won.
"Number fifteen, let's go!" said the pegasus in charge of telling each pony when it was their turn.
The door to one of the dressing rooms opened, and Rarity stepped out. She was completely covered in makeup, which Rainbow thought looked rather silly, but was still nervous
"Rarity... is ready!" declared Rarity.
"Look, ladies," said the pegasus, "I don't know what to tell you. There's only time for one more performance. If you both want to compete, you'll just have to go out there together!"
"Well, Rainbow Dash? Shall we?"
"S-s-sure!" said Rainbow, who was completely terrified by this point.
Rainbow flew outside and the crowd gave a cheer. Rarity came after her, and the crowd cheered even louder. Rainbow saw that both Princess Celestia and Luna were here, and she became even more nervous. Luna looked a bit nervous, but Celestia seemed very excited.
"Good luck, Rainbow Dash," said Rarity, catching Rainbow's attention, "Just do your best. I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of changing our music. That 'rock and roll' doesn't really match my wings."
Some classical music started up, and Rarity began an aerial dance. Rainbow gulped with nervousness, before putting on a look of false confidence.
C'mon, Rainbow Dash. You can do this. Just remember the routine. Phase one.
Rainbow started by flying between the cloud pillars the same way she had gone through the trees. She made it through them, and turned to fly upside down, but grazed the top of one and ended up crashing into the side of the Cloudeseum. The two bullies laughed at her, but Rainbow continued on to the next phase.
Phase two!
She flew up to the clouds in the sky, and spun around them. Droplets of water flew out of them, creating the colors she wanted, but one of the clouds spun out of control and flew towards the Princesses. Both ducked in surprise, and Rainbow became more nervous. Hopefully they wouldn't be mad about that.
Alright, alright, it's time for phase three! The... Sonic Rainboom...
Rainbow took in a deep breath before flying straight up. Rarity was also flying upwards, but Rainbow ignored her. She flew higher and higher, seeing Rarity stop right in front of the sun.
"Look upon me, Equestria!" called Rarity, "For I am Rarity!"
Rainbow heard the crowd gasp in wonder, before hearing a searing noise. She then heard Rarity screaming, and looked down to see her falling. Three pegasi flew out from the crowd and towards Rarity, but she was flailing around so much that she knocked them out.
"Hang on, Rarity!" cried Rainbow, quickly flying down, "I'm coming!"
Rainbow streaked down past the Cloudeseum, where ponies were all watching in fear. Rarity cried out as the ground approached, and Rainbow pushed herself to fly faster.
"Come on..." she said, not noticing the bit of force in front of her, "Come on!"
She suddenly broke through the force, and blasted down with a burst of speed. In a single movement, Rainbow grabbed Rarity, the three pegasi, and started flying back up.
"Whoa..." she said in surprise.
As Rainbow flew back up into the Cloudeseum, she stopped flying so several pegasi could grab Rarity and the three other pegasi she had. Rainbow noticed that she was still surrounded by a rainbow color, when everything around her slowed down.
"What's going on?" asked Rainbow, "What's happening?"
She saw that Luna's horn was starting to glow, and Rainbow remembered that she had said not to fly too fast.
Oh no! I can't move, otherwise I'll fly out of control with insane speeds!
Rainbow tried to stay still. She did everything possible to not twitch a wing, until she felt an inch. Her left wing twitched downwards.
To say that she flew up with a bang would be an understatement. The closest analogy that Rainbow could think of of was an explosion, but even that was an understatement.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!" cried Rainbow as everything returned to normal speed, as she went zooming upwards.
She saw a rainbow of sparks fly up around her, and realized that she was diving down, again. The sparks seemed to be increasing her speed exponentially for each color, and Rainbow couldn't stop.
No! I'm going to travel back in time, again! she thought frantically, Unless... This had better work!
Rainbow tried pulling up as hard as possible, until making possibly the sharpest turn of all times. She switched from going diagonally downwards, to straight up, and couldn't stop. She tried using her magic, but that only seemed to make her go faster. Everything became a blinding swirl of colors and lights, and Rainbow did the only thing possible.
"SOMEPONY HELP!"
In another explosion, Rainbow vanished from everypony's view, leaving only a lightning bolt shape in the sky.
