“How does she not like me?”
Ladle sighed. “My wife’s dream to be a Wonderbolt and great flyer was always something she wanted. And despite all my praise and encouragement to her, it does not seem to help. She thought that maybe passing the dream to you would give her some satisfaction, but she only got bitter.”
Twilight thanked him for the information and Ladle and he went back to work. She put a hoof to Rainbow’s back. “Rainbow Dash, it sounds like this mare was important to you. Better tell us what happened.”
The three friends sat down as Rainbow Dash rubbed her head. “Corkscrew Scissors is one of the best fliers in Equestria. We met when I was a filly, after I got my cutie mark; she took time out of her busy day to coach me. She shared all the tips and tricks she knew, and talked about the Wonderbolts a lot. But she did always consider me a kind of slacker.”
“Oh gosh,” Fluttershy thought aloud, “you don’t think she’s jealous, do you?”
Twilight grimaced. “It sure seems like it. But we won’t know for certain until we talk with her.”
After Twilight and Rainbow Dash ate, Corkscrew flew back up to the balcony from her deliveries. She placed some meal tickets in for the chefs. “New orders in, Ladle!” when she turned and saw Rainbow Dash, she rolled her eyes. “Hey kid, why are you still here?”
Rainbow Dash flew into the air. “Uh, we were just here to see about your prob—”
Twilight put a hoof up. “We were just having dinner.”
Corkscrew stared at Twilight and Fluttershy a moment before jabbing a hoof into Rainbow’s chest. “Look at you. Wonderbolt. Friends with royalty. Star athlete. Big hero. Everypony loves you. It’s like you’re some crazed fan’s dream obsession in their own fan fiction. It’s like you’re somehow twenty percent more than me. Anything else I should know?”
Rainbow Dash grinned awkwardly. “I’m uh, teacher at the School of Friendship?”
Corkscrew grabbed a tub and used a wing to scoop their plates and empty glasses into it and spoke matter-of-factly. “Rub it in through my chest, my heart, and rub it in my eyes, rub it, just rub it all-l-l-l in. Look at this,” she stared at the tub, “my life, literally the plate of your life, a buffet. Wasting away.” She turned away with a watery glow in her eyes as she moved towards the kitchen. “My name should’ve been Dirty Dishes.”
* * *
All three of them lowered their heads as they walked the streets of Fillydelphia, trying to think of what to do. It was quite awkward. Fluttershy looked up. “I don’t know what happened, but she seems really upset.”
Rainbow Dash felt awash in guilt. “It’s all my fault.”
“I know exactly how you feel,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I’ve been there before. Think—was there anything you can remember that maybe you did, or didn’t do?”
Rainbow kicked at an empty can. “I existed.”
Twilight tsked. “That isn’t your fault. Come on, there must be something else.”
Rainbow Dash flew up in the air. “Face it, Twilight. I don’t know what, or how, but I gotta face it that I hurt my own coach from fillyhood. I mean, without Corkscrew Scissors, I wouldn’t be the mare I am.”
She passed a pair of tall doors serving as a perch to a group of pigeons that now fluttered around her She batted her hooves wildly. “What is up with all these pigeons?”
“I read once that they’re Fillydelphia’s bird of honor. Back in the Independence Era during a siege from the red coat ponies, Fillydelphia used carrier pigeons to communicate with the other cities. Back then, the Wonderbolts sided with the red coats, making it difficult for Pegasi to deliver letters.”
Rainbow Dash began to think as they walked by the Wonderbolt Recruitment office. “That’s it! Her dream to become a Wonderbolt! We could totally encourage her to tryout!”
Fluttershy tilted her head. “Hmm, do you think she could really qualify?”
Rainbow Dash yelled with spitting enthusiasm, “Are you kidding me? She could run rings around most of the Wonderbolts I know!”
Twilight looked to the sky in thought. “Then it begs the question, how come she never became a Wonderbolt? Does she have confident issues?”
“Not exactly, but why don’t we go see her again and ask!”
* * *
The next day, they were back at the restaurant trying to talk to her.
“I’m too old to be a Wonderbolt, kid.”
“Pffft, there’s not really an age limit, and if there was one, you’re under it.”
Corkscrew walked over to a table in the corner and rubbed the heads of twin school-age Unicorn foals. “I’ve got too much on my plate, kid. By the time I get enough burden off these wings, they’ll be crumpled and cramped up.”
Rainbow Dash grabbed her face. “That’s what you said last time when I was a filly before you moved here. Can’t you guys like, hire somepony else?”
Corkscrew sneered. “Ha. We tried. Nopony can keep up with the way I handle deliveries, what with going to the order drop boxes and then making the trip back here while maintaining deliveries.”
“You could always train somepony?”
“A Pegasus good enough to keep up is already shooting for the sky.”
* * *
The trio was already back on the street to rethink their approach. They walked by the Cute Critter Convention and Fluttershy perked up. “You know, I was beginning to wonder why I’m even here. But having a pet can always cheer me up when I feel down and useless, like these poor city pigeons with nothing to do. Or hugs, hugs would be nice.”
Twilight pondered. “Hmm, nice try Fluttershy, but Corkscrew seems busy enough as it is. I doubt she’d want to add a pet to her life.”
“Oh, I hoped that could save the day.”
Rainbow Dash gasped. “That’s it! Fluttershy, you’re a genius!”
“I am?”
Rainbow Dash paced back and forth. “I think she always wanted to be a hero! Fluttershy, do you think you can fly way up there and pretend to have a broken wing? And then when I give the signal, Twilight will…”
Twilight booped Rainbow Dash. “We are not scheming an elaborate plan, and endangering Fluttershy to make Corkscrew look like a hero.”
“But we do this all the time!”
Twilight nodded. “And how many times has it worked?”
Rainbow Dash lifted her lead feather, opened her mouth, then looked up. “Ok fine, you have a point. But what else can we do?”
Twilight smirked. “Oh, I think I have a few ideas.”