//------------------------------//
// The Train Ride Home 
// Story: A Test of Loyalty 
// by KendallBunny 
//------------------------------//

Dash couldn't hold it in. She squealed. Had her lifelong dream just become true? She could barely speak.
"Would I!" Yes!!" She happily exclaimed.
"It's a deal, then" Spitfire said, shaking hooves with her. The other Wonderbolts followed with the same gesture. 
"I'll go pack my things, right now!" Rainbow exclaimed. She still couldn't believe it. Obviously, she would wake up soon, and find out that this was a dream. Was it a dream, though? A million different thoughts were running through her head. 
"Take your time. Your first show is in two weeks, you have time to relax" Spitfire smiled. The three Wonderbolts took off, leaving Rainbow standing there, dumbfounded.
"Wow!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, skipping over to the cyan pegasus. 
"Did you really get a contract with the Wonderbolts?" Rarity asked, amazed.
"Yes. In fact, my first show is in two weeks!" Dash replied. 
Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike ran over, drowning Rainbow in hugs and congratulations. She honestly hadn't felt love for her friends like this before. She always thought they were important to her, but she just then realized that they would be there for her forever, cheering for her in the stands. 
The night lasted a long time. The friends all went to get celebratory smoothies, and then boarded the train back to Ponyville. 
"Guys, I think it's time to get some sleep" Twilight yawned. Everypony nodded their heads in aggrement, and headed off to their own bunk. 
Dash couldn't sleep, though. She was way too excited, even if she felt like her hooves would fall off. The train would arrive at Ponyville in the morning, and she would train harder than she ever had. 
Rainbow wouldn't be there for much longer, though. This saddened the cyan mare for the first time in a while. What would her friends do without her, the Element of Loyalty? No, she had to visit them frequently. Being a Wonderbolt wouldn't take away her friendships, would it? 
"No, it wouldn't" Dash reassured herself. She closed her eyes, and finally let herself drift into slumber. 
The next morning was bright and sunny. Rainbow opened her eyes as it shined in through her window. She hopped out of her bunk and headed into the main car, where her friends had already awoken. Pinkie was chatting with Fluttershy, who was half asleep, Twilight was drowsily levitating a coffee mug, while AJ, Rarity, and Spike were sitting on the couch. 
"Morning, Dashie!" Pinkie shouted, causing the others to wince. 
"Morning" Rainbow replied, seating herself beside Twilight at the table. Her previous nights' sleep might have been a little poor, but her excitment restored her energy. Everypony else didn't look so lucky, though. The room was silent for the most part, besides the occasional slurping of Twilight's coffee.
Rainbow finally broke the silence. "Wait, I'm still a Wonderbolt, right?"
Everypony laughed. "Well, duh!"
"I thought it was all a dream, that's all," Dash chuckled, "I'm sure glad it wasn't, though."
A thought occoured to her. She had impressed the Wonderbolts enough to receive an invitation to join their team. How had they even known she was practicing for their team in the first place? She had never told them, had she? Unless..
Realization hit her. 
"Thank you, so much!" Rainbow shouted as she trotted over to hug each of her friends. 
"For what?"
"I know you set that up, you told the Wonderbolts' how hard I have been working!" 
"Darn it, who told her?" Applejack smiled.
The lack of energy in the train seemed to have dissapeared in that moment.