The Ponyville town hall is bustling with activity during a mild spring night, as many ponies from across Equestria have come to see the very first art exhibition by Equestria's new rising star in the art world. Many of the visitors view in awe at the marvelous speed-painted landscapes and cloudscapes.
In the center of the room is the artist herself, a pegasus mare with a rainbow colored mane wearing a fancy dress and standing next to the financer of the exhibition, Flithy Rich, her name is Rainbow Dash.
"Dash, these paintings are beautiful, how long did you say on average it took you to paint them?" asked an impressed and curious Rarity walking up to her pegasus friend.
"20-30 minutes on average." answered Dash, who's mind seem to be focused on something else.
"I'm glad you finally found a new talent Dash, and I'm also glad that you're financially stable again." stated Rarity, happy for her.
Dash looks around the room to see a lot of ponies appreciating her work, along with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie casually talking to each other. Twilight and Turner couldn't make it because they're in Canterlot prepairing for their upcoming wedding in a week. The pegasus then walks up to Pinkie and Fluttershy at another part of the room.
"Hey guys, what do you think of the exhibition?" asked Dash.
"I never knew you had such a hidden talent." complimented Fluttershy.
"Thanks Shy, I guess I needed something new to do since I can't fly as fast as I usually can anymore," Dash decides to change the subject. "By the way, how are things between you and Big Mac?"
"Oh, never better, taking things slow though, he's going with me as my date to the wedding next week." explained Fluttershy.
Dash then turns to her pink friend. "What do you think of the exhibition Pinkie?"
"It could be more lively, but the pretty pictures make up for it." explained a grinning Pinkie.
At the Royal Palace in Canterlot, Princess Celestia is sitting in front of the fireplace in her personal study, looking over a book. She hears someone enter and turns to see her sister Luna walking in.
"How are Twilight and Turner doing?" asked Celestia.
"They're fine, they just left to go back to Twilight's home so Turner can meet her family." explained Luna. "They really do love each other." Luna then sees her sister with a book. "What book are you reading?"
"Oh, this is Star Swirl's unfinished spellbook, I'm planning on giving this to her as a wedding gift." explained Celestia, her voice falters slightly on the word "wedding". Luna notices.
"Are you okay? Because ever since we started preperations you seem to have enthusiasim for the wedding." asked a concerned Luna.
"I'm fine, it's just that I can't believe my most faithful and favorite student has found her special somepony and is getting married, it felt like only yesterday that I first met her and noticed her magical abilities." explained Celestia, looking distantly at the fireplace. "She's about to fulfill her destiny." she then mutters under her breath.
"What did you say sis? I didn't quite catch that." asked Luna.
"Oh, it's nothing, I just accidently thought out loud." lied Celestia to her sister.
"Okay then." was all Luna was able to say before walking off to leave her sister alone.
After the exhibition closed for the night after midnight, Dash walks back to her temporary home at Golden Oaks Library and gets inside to find Spike waiting for her.
"So, how was the exhibition?" asked Spike.
"It went great, had a lot of offers from ponies who wanted to buy my paintings." explained Dash, plopping herself down on a couch, exhausted. "But why do I feel like there's something missing in my life?" asked the pegasus.
"Do you still miss flying fast?" stated Spike, concerned for her.
"No, it's not that, I've accepted that I'll never fly as fast or as long as I like to, it's Applejack." admitted Dash.
"Applejack? What about her?" Spike is confused.
"Apart from Twilight, who had a legimite reason, Applejack was the only one who didn't show up, and it made me feel terrible." explained Dash, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Why don't you go and talk to her?" suggested the baby dragon.
"I would love to, but everytime I do, I start thinking about how she's dating Soarin and how my life changed because of her, I want to talk and be friends with again, but part me wants nothing to do with her." explained the pegasus.
"Look, why don't you sleep on it, you had a long day today, and when you're ready, tell me so I can give you any advice when you need it." offered Spike before going off to bed.
"Thanks." said Dash as Spike waves her goodnight. The pegasus then gets up from the couch, walks downstairs to the basement, turned bedroom/art studio, takes off her dress and crashes on the bed. She looks up at the ceiling to see the only painting she refused to exhibited, her only non-landscape, a painting of herself with her five friends together. A single tear rolls down her cheek just as sleep finally consumes her.
The next day...
"And let's thank the Wonderbolts for giving us another outstanding performance, and give a big cheer for their newest member Lighting Dust!" yelled the announcer at the Cloudsdale arena as the five Wonderbolts head back to the locker room after giving their first show of the season.
"Good work everyone, I have a feeling this will be another great season for all of us!" announced Spitfire to her team. All the members happily cheer, except for one, Soarin. Spitfire notices this and immediatly takes him off to the side to privately talk to him. "Something wrong Soarin?" asked the yellow pegasus.
"I'm fine, it's just that I feel somepony else should be in Lighting Dust's place." explained Soarin.
"What happend to Rainbow Dash, no matter how unfortunate, was not your fault, and yes, Lighting Dust has some teamwork issues, but we needed a replacement and out of all the recruits she was the best." explained Spitfire.
"It was supposed to be Dash in her place, imagine who much more attention our shows could bring if we had one of the best and fastest flyer in Equestria, but also one of the few who can break the soundbarrier, plus she has a lot heart and greatly values teamwork." stated the blue pegasus.
"Well, life is diffcult and unpredictable, but she has a new calling now, and I'm glad she found something else to strive for, and besides, I need you more focused and ready than ever, because I need you know more than ever." explained the yellow pegasus.
"What?" stated a confused Soarin.
"I haven't told anypony else, but, I'm planning on retireing at the end of autumn this year." stated Spitfire. "And I want you to take over as captain of the Wonderbolts when I do."
"Retireing? Why?" Soarin is stunned.
"I've been with the Wonderbolts for nearly 10 years already, captain for half that, I think it's time for me to move on and have someone else lead the group to a new era." explained a hopeful Spitfire, "You've been my lieutenant and second-in-command for years, if anypony has the ability to lead them, it is you, I know you." Spitfire then rubs Soarin's back to comfort him.
"When are you planning on telling them, who will be MY second-in-command once you're gone!?" asked Soarin.
"I'll announce the news to them tonight at the aftershow gala, and as who'll be your number two, well, that's your decision and you have until autumn to decide." explained a smiling Spitfire, smiling to show Soarin that everything will be fine.
"Well, I'm not going to be able to make it to the gala tonight, I have somepony I need to meet." stated the blue pegasus.
"Then go to her, everything will be okay with me." urged Spitfire, before walking off to meet the with the other members. Soarin just smiles at her.
Sunset at Sweet Apple Acres as Applejack finishes laying down the picnic blanket on top of a hill overlooking the orchid. She opens the picnic basket and takes out the one meal that will greatly impress her date; a fresh homemade applepie.
Applejack looks up into the sky to see her date flying in and landing; Soarin. They gallop towards each other and give each other a very deep hug. "Sorry I was a little late, the show went a little long." sheepishly explained the pegasus.
"That's alright, as long as yo' got here before th' sun went down." winked Applejack, breaking the hug. She then shows Soarin the pie. "Yer favorite pie as always." pointing the mare.
"Alright!" exclaimed an excited Soarin, he then grabs Applejack and giver her another hug. "I love you." whispered the pegasus.
"Ah love yo' too, sugarcube." whispered Applejack back. They let each other and lay down on the blanket enjoying the sunset.
"Listen, do you mind if I give you something?" asked Soarin.
"That depends, what is it?" smirked the mare, cuddled up next to him.
Soarin extends one of his wings and pulls out a feather with his teeth, one of his primaries, and gives the blue feather to Applejack. "A feather."
Applejack just looks at him in utter shock, she knows that a pegasus only gives their feather to the one pony they love, the one they want to court, she couldn't believe this is happening. But before she could give an answer, her thoughts are interrupted by a voice.
"Ahem." said the voice.
Applejack and Soarin turn around to see Rainbow Dash standing behind them with a sad look on her face. The tension immediatly increases.