Nopony argued when Rainbow Dash announced she’d be leaving for the day. She was scheduled to rest anyway, and the flight to Canterlot was an easy one. She made sure to tell Fluttershy where she was going; she’d caused her enough anxiety already. The Rainboom Squad paused their practicing to see her off.
“Have a good flight, coach,” Stratus said. “We’ll be sure to train hard while you’re gone.”
“I should be back by tonight,” Dash answered. “Thank you. For everything. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Skypuff said. “And don’t worry about Cloudwing. I’m sure she’ll have a great time.”
Dash forced a quick smile before taking off. She didn’t want to think about Cloudwing right now, even though she was the reason Dash was making this trip in the first place. She occupied her attention by finding the easiest course to Canterlot. Her entire body still ached, but her experience was more than enough to compensate. She easily found enough thermal air currents to stay aloft without too much flapping, and she made sure to glide through the fastest slipstreams. By midmorning, she landed on Canterlot’s cobbled streets and stretched out her wings. She couldn’t help but frown at just how much they hurt.
She decided to walk her way to the castle to save her strength. The city was up to its usual bustle. Several ponies recognized her and waved as she passed. Dash returned the favor with a smile.
The crowds thinned as she approached the castle. The guards let her through without question. As she walked the grounds, she was struck with memories of the times she had spent here—at the Grand Galloping Gala, chasing Discord’s riddles, defeating Queen Chrysalis, Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding and performing the Rainboom…
Remembering the old days was bittersweet, especially after her failure the day before. As she made her way toward the throne room, a part of her longed to go back. Despite the multiple world-ending threats she’d helped to defeat, it had largely been a simpler time, back when she was a young weatherpony with nothing but grit and a dream to her name. Sometimes it felt like the time for dreams had come and passed, and though she’d seized every moment, she found herself wishing for a few more.
She paused at the throne room doors. Beyond, she knew, waited Twilight, and her last, thin hope. She wasn’t worried that Twilight would refuse, but she still felt nervous all the same. What if she did? Or what if she couldn’t do what Dash needed? She took a deep breath, then pushed open the doors. Now was not the time for doubt.
Twilight sat on the throne, reading letters. Her ethereal mane floated in an unseen wind, and Dash was reminded of all the times she had seen Princess Celestia sitting there, waiting to tell them about the latest enemy for them to face. Twilight looked up as Dash entered. Her face broke into a wide smile. “Rainbow Dash! It’s great to see you!”
“Hey, Twi!” Dash’s joy was genuine. “You keeping busy?”
Twilight laughed. “Some days I can hardly find a moment to myself. What about you? How are things at the Academy?”
“They’re great,” Dash answered. “Always a new group of knuckleheads to straighten out.”
“Well, you’d know a thing or two about that, I suppose.”
Dash laughed. “Plenty of experience.”
Twilight tucked away her correspondence and walked across the room. “I heard the big news,” she said. “Fluttershy was so happy you agreed to help her with the One Wish Initiative. I assume you’re ready for tomorrow?”
Rainbow Dash let out a long sigh. Twilight understood at once. “I gave it my best,” Dash said. “I was really close, but… it wasn’t enough.”
“Rainbow Dash, I’m so sorry,” Twilight said. “I can’t imagine what that was like.”
“Eh. Soul-crushing. Heart-breaking.” Dash chuckled. “Getting old doesn’t have to be awful, but it is right now.”
Twilight turned toward a nearby window that faced the Academy. “What’s the plan for that filly? Cloudwing, right?”
Dash nodded. “I’m not sure. Probably a private show, a tour of the Academy, that kind of thing.”
Twilight watched Dash’s face for a moment. “You don’t think that’s good enough,” she said.
“I mean, the kid won’t be able to fly in a year. We do tours and shows all the time. She deserves something special.” Dash stared at the floor, rubbing her forelegs together. “I really wanted to be able to give her that.”
“You’ve given her your best, haven’t you?”
“The best I have now.” Dash took a breath and faced her friend. “What she needs is the best I used to give—that I’m too old to give now. That’s why I’m here.” She steadied herself before continuing. “I want you to make me young again.”
Twilight’s expressionless face was not what Rainbow Dash had hoped to see. “It doesn’t have to be permanent,” she added quickly. “Just for tomorrow. If I had my old strength back, I could do the Rainboom, just like she wants.”
Twilight's gaze returned to the window. Dash moved to the side, trying to stay in her line of sight. “If you can’t do that, then maybe a strength spell? Or a speed spell?” Twilight’s continued silence only made Dash’s fear grow. “Or, okay, hear me out. What if you—or somepony else, it doesn’t matter—what if you made it look like I did a Rainboom? You have a spell for that, right?”
Twilight held up a hoof. Rainbow Dash’s heart was racing. “You gotta have something,” she said quietly. “I’ll take anything, so long as Cloudwing gets her wish.”
Twilight smiled at her. “This really does mean a lot to you,” she said. Dash nodded. “I can tell you it means a lot to Cloudwing, too. I do have spells that could help you, but first, let me ask you this.”
Rainbow Dash hadn’t expected this response, but she nodded eagerly. “Anything.”
“Why do you think Cloudwing asked for you, specifically?”
It was a question Dash had avoided—not that she feared the answer, it just didn’t seem to matter. “I don’t know,” she said. “She just wants me to do it. Isn’t that enough?”
Twilight walked back toward the throne, gesturing for Rainbow Dash to follow. “I know that’s enough to motivate you. Like you told me when we first met, you never leave a pony hanging. However, I think in this case, you deserve to know. Then, you’ll understand why I have to refuse.”
Rainbow Dash’s heart sank, but she resisted the urge to protest. Twilight retrieved a folder from a bookshelf and opened it on a table. Dash recognized it as Cloudwing’s One Wish file. Twilight sifted through the papers as she spoke. “As part of every application, Fluttershy receives a letter explaining the desired wish, as well as an explanation of why they want that particular wish to be granted. She hopes it will help to come up with alternatives, should the need arise.” Twilight selected a page and placed it in front of Rainbow Dash. It was written in somewhat sloppy but still legible script. Twilight waited in silence while Rainbow Dash read.
Dear One Wish,
My name is Cloudwing. I’m a pegasus pony from Cloudsdale, and I love to fly. But my doctor says I won’t be able to fly for very long. I have witherwing, which makes my wings too weak to work. This is sad for me because I love flying. I won the Best Young Flyer competition three years ago.
I want to keep flying as long as I can, and maybe learn some new tricks. My doctor says that’s not possible because my wings are as strong as an old pony. But I don’t think that means I have to give up flying.
For my wish, I want to see Rainbow Dash do a Sonic Rainboom. Some ponies say that she’s too old to do it anymore. But I think she can, because Rainbow Dash is strong and she doesn’t give up. I want to be like that, too. So if she can still do a Sonic Rainboom, that means I can still do tricks, too. Thank you.
~Cloudwing
Rainbow Dash felt several things at once as she finished the letter. She felt happy that she’d inspired Cloudwing to fight, but sad that she couldn’t live up to her expectation. She was proud of the kid for her spirit, and worried that her fire might fade. Most of all, though, she felt guilty. Cloudwing saw her as a beacon of hope. Tomorrow, that beacon would be snuffed out forever.
“You see now why I can’t help you with magic,” Twilight said. “Her dream isn’t to see a younger you, or an enhanced you, or a fake Rainboom. She wants to see the strength the real you holds. If I use magic to help you, then the Rainboom will be a lie, no matter how real it is.”
Dash nodded. “Yeah. I get it.” She pushed the letter away. “I thought I couldn’t feel any worse about tomorrow. She’ll be crushed when I tell her I can’t do it anymore.”
“She doesn’t have to be,” Twilight said. “You had to give up racing a long time ago, but that didn’t crush your spirit. How did you manage?”
Dash tried to remember that moment. She remembered the announcements, of course, passing the rank of commander to Winter Gust, hanging up her uniform, becoming a coach for the next generation of Wonderbolts. But that wasn’t what Twilight was asking. How did I handle that change?
“You don’t have to tell me right now,” Twilight said. “In fact, you don’t have to tell me at all. Ultimately, Cloudwing isn’t really looking for a Rainboom. She’s looking for something that Rainboom represents. If you can figure out what that is, then I think you’ll know how to help her when the time comes.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “I think I get it.” She smiled—a real smile, not the forced ones she’d been giving recently. “Thanks, Twilight. I hope you’ll come see… well, whatever happens tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Twilight said. “After all, what are friends for?”