//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Rainbow Triumphant 
// by Trinary 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Five





Twilight Sparkle snored gently into her pillow. Clouds really were the most comfortable things ever. She sighed happily as she cuddled even deeper into her cloud pillow and cloud bed. However her blissful slumber was soon disturbed by a little filly suddenly leaping onto her belly. “Miss Twilight!” Dinky giggled as Twilight jolted awake under her. “Time to wake up, a’kay?”

“Dinky?” Twilight yawned, murmuring as she rubbed her blurry eyes. “What’re you doing up so early?”

“I was snuggling with Mommy and then I hada use the bathroom, which is kinda funny since it’s all clouds and stuff, and then I went to snuggle with Rainbow Dash for a bit, and then I feel asleep but when I woke up again she was gone!”

Twilight’s eyes shot wide open. “What?” She glanced around the guest room where the rest of her friends were still sleeping—they'd had to do a bit of quick remodeling to fit everypony in. Lucky for them, Rainbow, Derpy, and Cloud were all weather ponies, so it didn't take long to expand things enough to give everypony some breathing room. “Everypony wake up!” She shouted, struggling to sit upright with Dinky still perched on her stomach. “Rainbow Dash is gone!”

“Hmm? What’s that?” Applejack sat up … only to let out a fillyish shriek when she saw Rarity’s glop-covered face as she got up too. “AAAAAH!”

The noise woke up Fluttershy who let out a soft squeak at all the noise. Then Pinkie sat up and yelled, “AAAAH! I WANNA SHOUT TOO!”

“What’s all the noise about?!” Derpy demanded grumpily as she got up, her eyes not even making a pretence of looking in the same direction.

Cloud groaned as she pressed her pillow against her ears to drown out the noise. “No, I don’t wanna do the doggy style...” she mumbled before consciousness sunk in. She looked around. “Oh thank Celestia! Wait, what’s going on?”

Pinkie raised her hoof. “Well, Dinky woke up Twilight, who woke up Rarity and Applejack, and AJ screamed like a little filly--”

“Ah did not!”

“--who woke up Fluttershy, who woke me, who woke you and Derpy, which scared the cat and startled the dog which flipped the man into the pan in the house that Jack built!” Pinkie finished in a single breath, beaming. “See? Easy-peasy!”

Dinky giggled. “Miss Pinkie’s silly.”

Cloud Kicker shook the cobwebs out. “What was that you were saying about Rainbow Dash being gone?”

Twilight picked up Dinky with her magic. “That’s what Dinky told me. Oooh this is bad, this is very, very bad...”

“Maybe she just went to do some warm ups?” Derpy suggested worriedly.

But Dinky shook her head. “Nuh-uh, that’s not what her note said!”

“Rainbow Dash left a note?” Twilight looked at Dinky. “Why didn't you tell me she left a note?”

“I jus' did,” Dinky pointed out.

Pinkie nodded. “And cuz you didn't ask, Twilight. Duh.” She made a face. “I thought you were the smart one.” Twilight facehoofed.

Applejack snorted. “Well g'wan an' read it already!”

Cloud Kicker took the note from Dinky and started to read. “‘Hey guys. Been thinking about stuff. Come to the Best Young Flyers Competition for something you guys won't ever forget. You won't want to miss it! See you guys there.’” Cloud read. “It’s signed Rainbow Dash.”

Rarity sniffed. “Well, that was rather cryptic. It's a lady's prerogative to have some secrets, but really...”

Dinky began marching in place, digging a rut into the cloud under her hooves. “C'mon! Let's go let's go let's go!”

“Relax, Dinky,” Cloud said. “We've still got hours until the competition.”

“But I wanna go now!” The little filly pouted.

Twilight looked worried as she took the note, studying it as if looking for some deeper meaning from it. “Cloud Kicker? What do you think this means?”

Cloud shrugged. “She's up to something. Probably something crazy and awesome.”

“An' superawesomeradicool, which is why we gotta go NOW!” Dinky stamped her hooves until Derpy picked her up.

“But what could it be?” Twilight wondered, relegating everything else to the back of her mind. “Last night she sounded upset about her ego, but now she sounds pretty boastful again…”

Derpy nodded solemnly. “That's what worries me, too.”

Cloud shook her head. “After last night? I don’t think so.”

“Oh my ... do you think she'd be so upset that she'd quit and go back to Ponyville?” Fluttershy gasped.

Dinky shook her head fiercely. “NUH-UH! She'd never quit for anythin'!”

“And she does want us to go to the competition.” Rarity pointed out thoughtfully. “I think she must be planning something.”

As one, everypony in the room looked at each other and felt a cold shiver work its way up their spines as that sentence sank in. “That is the single scariest sentence I have ever heard.” Twilight winced.

At almost the exact same time, Cloud said. “Rainbow Dash has a plan. That's a bad sign.” The two shared a surprised look that soon gave way to a wry smile.

“How do Rainbow's plans usually go?” Twilight asked after a moment.

“Define ‘plan.’” Kicker asked. “Usually, she doesn't really plan so much as charge blindly forward and hope for the best.”

“About as well as my attempts to make cereal.” Derpy groaned.

Dinky nodded. “Lotsa runnin' an' hollerin' an' stuff. And fwooshin'!”

“Maybe we should go to the Cloudiseum.” Twilight suggested slowly. “Now. Just in case.”

“Tha's what I'm SAYIN'!” Dinky whined.

Everypony nodded in agreement, only to be interrupted by a sudden grumbling. They all turned to Twilight, who blushed as her stomach rumbled again. “A heh, maybe we can pick up some breakfast along the way?”

Applejack shook her head. “No need, sugarcube. I can whip up something right quick.”

“But, you've never been in a cloud house before,” Twilight pointed out warily. “Are you sure you know what you're doing?”

The down-to-earth farmpony shrugged. “Can't be that different.”

“Famous last words,” Derpy noted as they headed downstairs into the kitchen, following the determined looking Applejack.

A mere ten minutes the determination on her face had been replaced with slight scorch marks and a singed mane. “Let's jest pick sumthin' up on the way there,” she deadpanned.

Derpy bit her lip but was unable to prevent herself from giggling. Something had gone wrong and for once, it wasn’t it her fault!

Twilight shook her head. “I'm just grateful Pinkie Pie had that fire extinguisher.” She decided not to dwell over where and how Pinkie had gotten it. “And that Dinky has such a good aim!”

“I've hadda lotta practice.” Dinky explained as she put the empty extinguisher aside.

Fluttershy gave her a hug. “Such a brave filly.”

Dinky shrugged as she hugged her back. “Nah. It just happens a lot.”

Rarity tried and failed to hide her amusement at Applejack’s predicament. “Is everything alright, darling?”

“Fahne.” Applejack ground out.

“And I was so looking forward to your cooking.” She let out a melodramatic sigh before levitating a burned, shapeless mass out of the kitchen. “This ... might be edible. Would you care to try some of your cooking?”

She floated it over to Applejack, who nudged it away with her hoof. “Ya done yet, Rares?” She frowned. “Or wouldja like to gloat a bit more?”

Rarity gave a haughty sniff. “A lady doesn't gloat. I am simply savoring.”

Twilight groaned as her stomach let out a manticore-sized growl. “So hungry…”

Dinky’s eyes widened in shock. “You're tummy's all grumbly an' stuff!” She backed away from it, giving Twilight a wary look. “Nuthin's gonna burst outta it, izzit!?!”

“No, Dinky,” Twilight blushed. “Nothing's going to burst out of me.”

“Unless you ate a parasprite and now you gotta bunch of hungry bugs growing inside you!” Pinkie corrected helpfully. “Or if you’ve got gas!”

Twilight frowned at her. “So ... how about grabbing some food on the way to Cloudiseum?” She pleaded, looking around.

“Heh.” Cloud snerked. “Sure thing. Breakfast is on me.”

“Great.” Twilight sighed, then her eyes widened as she remembered something. “Be right with you, there’s something I have to take care of.” She teleported away, leaving her friends looking at each other in confusion.

Pinkie just nodded to herself. “Told ya she had gas. Or did I say bugs? Or gassy bugs? Oh well!”

A few minutes later, Twilight returned without saying what she had been up to. Shrugging off her friends questions, she headed out the door. The walk to the Cloudiseum was a leisurely one, especially with all the ponies flocking to see the competition. After picking up some breakfast from pegasi operating food carts, the group made their way to the main entrance.

“There seem to be a lot of ponies here to watch the competition.” Twilight observed as she turned her head to see the entryway marked ‘Competitor’s Entrance’ but not a lot of competitors.”

“Tha's a’kay!” Dinky proclaimed. “'Cuz Rainbow can do more flyin'!” She paused. “Oh, an' Miss Cloud Kicker an' Mommy, too.”

“Yeah.” Cloud Kicker sounded a touch depressed as she thought about how that knowledge had made Rainbow feel last night. Still, she put on a smile for the others and said, “Well, guess this is where we split up. Last call for good-luck kisses.”

Before anypony else could respond, Dinky hopped up on her hindlegs and hugged CK’s head. “MWA!”

Twilight gave an amused snort. “That enough good luck for you, Cloud Kicker?”

“Aww, thanks, Muffin.” Cloud gave Dinky a nuzzle before shooting a grin back at Twilight. “A pony can never have too much luck.”

Dinky mwa’d her again. “Good luck, 'kay Miss Cloud Kicker? I want Mommy t'win an' stuff, but I wantcha to fly rilly good too.”

Fluttershy awwwed as Cloud gave the filly a hug. “Now go give your mommy a kiss too.” Kicker let Dinky go, looking to the others and offering them a teasing little grin. “So...” Fluttershy let out a meep and blushed. Everypony else rolled their eyes, except for Derpy who was being showered with good luck kisses from Dinky. Cloud sighed when she saw the lack of takers. “Oh well. At least I have Rainbow's victory kiss to the look forward to.”

Dinky looked up. “Oh YEAH!” Then her ears flattened. “Awww, I can't give her a good-luck kiss.”

“You think Rainbow's okay?” Twilight asked Cloud, still concerned.

“You think she izzn't?” Dinky asked, suddenly worried. “Izzit 'cause she didn't get her good luck kiss!?!”

Cloud Kicker confidently smiled at both of them, loudly announcing, “Rainbow's going to be fine, girls.” She nodded to Derpy. “C’mon Dee, we gotta get to the locker room and get our numbers.”

“Okay. Bye muffin!” Ditzy gave Dinky one last mom-hug. “Be good for me, okay? I’ll wave to you when I’m flying!”

Dinky hugged her mother back tightly. “A’kay! Bye Mommy, I love you!” After a last hug and a nuzzle, Dinky scampered back to Fluttershy’s side as the group parted ways—Ditzy and Cloud Kicker going in the competitors’ entrance and the others going in through the spectators’ entrance. They eventually found a cloud seat big enough for all of them to sit down and watch the contest.

Dinky held up a small rainbow flag in her mouth. “I hope Rainbow Dash and Mommy and Miss Cloud Kicker see me!” She announced around it.

Twilight looked around. All around she could see hundreds of ponies carrying similar flags, some of them much larger and others carrying banners and posters and all sorts of things extolling their champion to win. The only problem was that their only champion seemed to be Rainbow Dash. Try as she might, Twilight couldn’t spot a single home made banner or sign for any other contestant. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought they were attending a private aerial show of Rainbow Dash’s tricks, not a public competition that was supposed to involve dozens of competitors.

She thought about Rainbow’s short and cryptic note. What could she be up to? Twilight shook her head. Whatever it was, she’d find out shortly. The competition was due to start soon.





An hour later, Twilight had cause to regard her early thought ruefully. The contest had not begun, nor provided any explanation as to what the source of the delay was. If she had to guess, Twilight would say that Rainbow Dash, the star attraction, hadn’t arrived. But that just begged the question: where was she and what was she doing?

“Oh my. I wonder why they competition hasn't started yet.” Fluttershy asked softly, suppressing a yawn.

Following Twilight’s thoughts, Rarity suggested “Perhaps they're waiting for Rainbow?”

“Maybe.” Dinky pouted. “I still wanna give her a good-luck kiss an' stuff.”

“Figures she'd be late to her own contest...” Applejack grunted.

Pinkie Pie shrugged. “Eh, she'd probably be late to her own funeral … or wouldn’t you already be ‘late’ because it was a funeral?”

Rarity ignored Pinkie. “A lady is never late, Applejack. She arrives precisely when she means to.”

“Rainbow Dash is a lot of things, but she ain’t no lady.” AJ retorted.

Cloud Kicker and Ditzy, having been assigned their numbers and lacking anything else to do until the competition began, made their way over. “Do you know what’s happening?” Twilight asked them.

They both shook their heads. “There’s no sign of Rainbow.” Derpy sighed. “And there’s only a hooffull of other contestants back there.”

Cloud cast a worried look around. “If she's not here soon, I'm going and looking. Can you do some kind of tracking spell, Twilight?”

Twilight sighed and shook her head, already having considered that option. “Not at the drop of a hoof. I'd need something of Rainbow's for it to be accurate within acceptable—” Whatever she was about to say was lost as a sudden rush of wind, the kind caused by something moving by very fast, buffeted the assembled ponies. Accompany it was a loud vrooom.

“Look, in the sky!” Pinkie pointed.

Dinky looked up—only to wince and put on a pair of Rainbow sunglasses. “Stoopid sun.”

Kicker looked up. What she saw made her eyes widen and a huge grin plaster itself on her face. Derpy had a proud walled-eyed look of her own. “IT'S RAINBOW DASH!” Fluttershy hopped up and down, cheering for all she was worth, joined by an exuberant Dinky and Pinkie.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight grinned widely.

“WOO-HOO! WOO!” Fluttershy continued to shriek and whoop, hopping up and down.

“RAINBOW DASH!” Dinky bounced up and down, cheering wildly. Then she remembered. “YOU FORGOT YOUR GOOD-LUCK KISS!”

“Splendid...” Rarity’s eyes widened.

“Well ah'll be a mule's uncle...” Applejack mused, unable to keep the awe from her voice. “Nice work, Rainbow.”

Sure enough, it was indeed the famous rainbow mare who flew over the top of the Cloudiseum, a rainbow trailing in her wake. Cloud Kicker and Derpy zoomed up to join her. Rainbow gave the suddenly animated crowd a lazy salute and a wave. Her smile became broad when she saw her friends below. She waved to them and beckoned Cloud and Derpy up to join her.

With a whoop and a grin, Cloud soared upwards, followed closely by Derpy. They stopped right in front of Rainbow. “Where the hay have you been?” Derpy demanded as she gave Rainbow a fierce hug, quickly joined by CK.

Dash hugged them back. “You’ll see. Come on. Fly with me!” She started flying again, Cloud Kicker and Derpy falling back into place behind her, flanking Rainbow. When she saw this, Rainbow Dash slowed down and dropped back until the three of them were flying abreast, together.

Cloud Kicker smiled at her wingmate, touched by the gesture. “So, what's your plan, and how scared should we be?”

“Heh, sorry guys,” Rainbow winked at them. “We had some work to do first.”

“'We'?” Derpy repeated, confused.

Dash grinned and pulled up, Derpy and CK following suit. Just as they were wondering what Rainbow was up to, their answer came in the form of a phalanx of young, athletic flyers joining them over the Cloudiseum.

Rainbow Dash, Derpy and Cloud Kicker formed the point of a large, broad wedge of flyers: mares and stallions, pegasi with feathered wings and bat-like wings and even the odd griffon or gargoyle. Dozens of them flying together. They weren’t exactly in synch, like the Wonderbolts would be, but neither were they a disorganized gaggle. Each and every one of them was flying together, in formation, but did so while highlighting their own unique style. One would be performing barrell rolls as she flew, another would loop around in mid-air and return back to his spot.

From their seats, everypony in the stands watched with awe at the demonstration. This was no ordinary airshow. Everypony flew in a way that illustrated their diverse talents while seeming to exist as part of a larger whole. Their eyes widened as they tried to take it all in, not wanting to miss a single pony’s part of the performance.

Of all the amazing and wonderful flyers, none was as amazing or incredible as Rainbow Dash. For most ponies, including many pegasi, wings and flight were just a way for pegasi to get from one place to another. Many ponies had seen pegasi fly, but now they could watch them soar.

The same amazement and wonderment that Rainbow Dash got whenever she saw the Wonderbolts perform, she helped bring to everypony below watching her and the others.

Rainbow nodded to Derpy and Cloud, signaling them with her hooves and wings like she would do during weather work. They nodded, understanding. The two of them peeled off, Derpy to the right and Cloud Kicker to the left, each one bringing a third of the assembled flyers with them. The three groups created smaller diamond-shaped formations that criss-crossed against each other’s path, with individual ponies breaking off to perform a stunt or maneuver before rejoining the main group.

Everypony watched wide-eyed, determined not to miss a moment of the action by any of the ponies flying overhead.

After a solid twenty minutes of flying, Rainbow nodded to her fellow aviators and they descended, en masse, to the Cloudiseum below. Even before they reached the clouds, the audience was on their hooves, stomping and cheering. It was impossible for Rainbow Dash to be heard over the din, so she instead flew up to the very perplexed announcer pony and borrowed his headpiece, with built in microphone. “Is this thing on?” Her scratchy tones echoed across the Cloudiseum. “Heh, cool. Good morning Cloudsdale! Did you all enjoy that?”

A roar of approval almost knocked her off her hooves followed soon by the familiar chants. “RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH!”

Rainbow had to raise her hoof and gesture for quiet before she could continue. “I’ll take that as a yes … and, you know what? It was awesome.” She grinned but quickly suppressed it. “But it wasn’t just me up there, y’know? Well, not unless somepony managed to perfect a duplication spell and made a whole bunch of me’s which would be pretty cool...” she mused before shaking her head. “But that’s not the point! The point was that what made that display so awesomely amazing was the fact that the best young flyers in the world were all flying together!” She waved her wing towards Cloud Kicker, Derpy, Lightning Dust and the others. “Give them a hoof ponies!”

After another round of cheering, Dash continued. “‘Cause that’s what this contest is about: the Best Young Flyers in all of Equestria. This isn’t the Rainbow Dash Show ... I mean if you wanted to book me to do a solo show I’d be all over that and it’d rock! But today isn’t just about me: it’s about every young flyer coming here to show their stuff. Some of these ponies have trained hard for months, even years!” She nodded down to her fellow contestants, spotting a few familiar faces, like Lightning Dust.

“And when they came here to compete, to match themselves against their fellow athletes, they found that the competition had been replaced by all this … celebration, of me.” Rainbow looked around. The silence was even more deafening than the applause. “I’m not saying that I’m not the best. I think--I know--that I’m the best. But that doesn’t mean the competition doesn’t matter--that the other competitors--don’t matter. If it weren’t for me constantly testing myself against other awesome flyers, I wouldn’t be as good as I am now. We don’t advance as athletes at the expense of other ponies, we become better by working off them.”

“But the way Cloudsdale’s been acting, it’s been driving ponies away from the competition. And what’s worse, it’s like nopony even cares. Before I left this morning to find these guys--” she pointed to the assembled flyers. “The entire competition was going to just be me and three or four others--and nopony cared!” She snorted. “Well, I care! That totally awesome display you just saw? Everypony--and griffin and gargoyle--with me made that happen! It wasn’t just me!”

She was practically shouting now. “I’m not gonna pretend that I didn’t love the attention you all sent my way, ‘cause I did. And I’m not mad at anypony … s’matter of fact, I appreciated it. A lot. It’s just...” Dash trailed off, trying to find the words. “... all the praise I got? Yeah, I earned it, but too much of a good thing, you know? If I got told when I was a filly that I was the best flyer ever and nopony could ever hope to beat me, then would I have trained as hard to become even better?” She looked around. “Even after I performed the first Sonic Rainboom, I had something to keep me going: the desire to do it again, to become good enough to join the Wonderbolts. But if you take that away, then why should I--why should any of you--even try to become better?”

Rainbow looked down, managing to spot her Ponyville friends and shoot them a nod. “When I got to Cloudsdale, everypony acted like I was already the best I could be. A very awesome friend of mine told me that she wanted me to the best I could be, even though I was already awesome. Not to be as good as I already was, or to be ‘good enough’ but to be the best I could be. That’s the difference between being a fan ... and being a friend.” A smile crossed Rainbow’s face. “And friendship, real friendship is even cooler than a Sonic Rainboom. Friendship is what defeated Nightmare Moon: a bunch of friends, each one of them already amazing on their own, becoming even more amazing by coming together.”

“I’ve had ponies call me a hero and, well, yeah I’m not gonna say that I’m not one. But my friends are too, and I couldn’t have done it without them. See, the thing about heroes is that they inspire ponies: they make you want to be more like them, to do the things they do and become the best. Seeing them strive against all odds, working to constantly make things better--it makes you want to be better too. That’s how I feel when I see the Wonderbolts. But that’s not what’s been happening. I’ve been built up as somepony so much better than everypony else, so much better than anypony can ever possibly be ever--that it makes ponies not even want to try. It makes them look at me and give up because they’re not as awesome as I am or as fast as I am.” She sighed. “I don’t want to be the pony that gets to be the best by making other ponies feel worse, by making others ponies give up.”

She licked her lips. “So, what am I saying? I’m saying that as awesome as all this attention has been, as great as everypony has been…” Rainbow sighed once before soldiering on. “...I’m not gonna compete in this year’s Best Young Flyer Competition.” There was a intake of breath so deep Dash actually felt herself getting dragged down slightly by it. “As much as I want to compete and win, winning against two or three ponies doesn’t make you the Best Young Flyer in Equestria, which is what this contest is about. And if it means keeping the competition that’s been going on for generation alive, if it means seeing my fellow athletes do their best, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Rainbow Dash looked at her fellow competitors. “But don’t think that I won’t be back next year, and I better see each and every one of you here and bringing your A-game! Because as carried away as I and some of the ponies here got, that’s no excuse for all of you to quit without even trying!” She looked at Gilda, at Lightning Dust and at the other dropped-out contestants she spent half the morning rounding up. “Nopony ever got anywhere by quitting. It took me years to pull the Sonic Rainboom off again but I never gave up! I hate losing more than anything, but losing isn’t anywhere near as lame as just giving up! So today is yours … but when I’m back here next year, you all better show or I’ll drag you here by your tails.” She grinned. “And if you actually think you can outfly me, well … bring it.”

Remembering the crowd of ponies below and the announcement she had just made, Rainbow coughed. “So, yeah, I wish I knew how to wrap this up. Hay, I've pretty much been making this whole speech up as I go. S'kinda how I do things. So ... everypony else get to work competing and being awesome, 'cause if I'm gonna be stuck in the audience then you better give me one hay of a good show!"

She tossed her headset back the announcer pony and quickly headed out of sight, too busy to even notice the crowd applauding her as she went.





Shortly after all that, Rainbow Dash found herself in the locker room of the Cloudiseum. She shook like she had just completed a 1,000-lap race and was covered in cold sweat. She wanted to just take a shower and quietly slip in with her friends to watch the competition (hopefully without having to run into anypony).

Dash had expected it to be empty, but she found her friends waiting for her. Before she could even think of walking back out the way she came in, Derpy and Cloud Kicker approached her from the rear, blocking her exit route.

Dash looked around completely at a loss. What could she even say to them after everything that had happened? After racking her brains she managed a very weak smile and a soft “Hey…”

Brilliant, Rainbow. She berated herself.

Before she could think of anything better, Dinky zoomed up to her attached herself to her leg in a tight hug. “Hi, Rainbow Dash!”

“Dinky!” She instinctively lifted her leg so she could give her goddaughter a hug. That bought her a few seconds before she had to face her friends again. “Hey guys ... what's up?”

Derpy looked down at the clouds under their hooves. “Well, we're up.”

“Derpy, don' remind me.” Applejack grumbled, not quite suppressing a wince.

Twilight and Cloud Kicker gave Rainbow a moment with Dinky before making their way over to her. “Rainbow…” Twilight gave her a nuzzle. “Are you okay?”

Cloud was less hesitant, throwing her forelegs around Rainbow Dash and giving her a big hug. “That. Was. Amazing!”

Dash leaned into her friends’ embraces, badly needing the emotional support right now. After swallowing a hail-sized lump in her throat, she managed to choke out, “...'m sorry.”

A confused Kicker drew back from her hug so she could look Rainbow in the face. “For what?”

Rainbow drooped, not quite meeting her eyes. “For dropping out. For dragging you guys up here for nothing...” She sighed, her wings wilting slightly as she looked around the room. “But mostly for being a big-headed idiot who almost drove her friends away.”

“Stop being silly, Rainbow.” Cloud chided her gently. “You were great, and you got over the ego thing pretty fast.”

Twilight saw Rainbow flinch and gently nudged Cloud Kicker. “Let Rainbow finish.”

“Just saying…” Cloud protested weakly.

But Rainbow Dash shook her head. “You're wrong, CK. I mean, you were right ... but Twilight was right too. I couldn't handle it when everypony was going nuts over me, cheering me and acting like I couldn't do anything wrong.” She bit her lip. “I acted like a real…” her mind faltered as she failed to think of an appropriate word. “A ... um ... help me out here?”

“A silly pony?” Derpy suggested.

“A puffed up goofy pony?” Pinkie offered.

“A prima-donna?” Rarity contributed with the air of somepony who knew a thing or two about it.

“An attention-grabbin' showoff?” Applejack tossed in before being wing whapped by Derpy.

Rainbow winced. “Yeah. That stuff.”

Cloud gave a slight wince of her own. “Yeah. I just ... I guess some part of me knew you were messing up, but I didn't wanna see it. 'Cause ... reasons...” she idly kicked at the ground. “I’m sorry, Rainbow.”

“S'okay guys.” Dash reached out to rest a wing on Cloud Kicker’s back before facing the rest of her friends. “I'm sorry for all … that.”

Derpy gave her a fond nuzzle. “I already forgave you, Rainbow.”

“You got it right, in the end.” Cloud said. “That's what counts.” The rest of the group nodded.

“An' I still love you!” Dinky piped up, giving Rainbow’s leg another tight hug.

Rainbow gave a crooked smile, sniffing slightly at the humidity in the room. That was it. “I guess.” She looked down at Dinky. “Sorry I couldn't do a Rainboom for you, kiddo. I just…” she tried to think of the right words and again came up empty.

Fortunately Dinky knew exactly what to say. “I love you.” She reared up to give Rainbow a kiss. “Mwa!”

“…C'mere you.” Rainbow reached down to pick her up and hug her tightly.

Rarity let out a soft, delighted coo and the scene. “Awww…”

Dinky’s ears perked up. “Oh, an' I needed t' give you your good-luck kiss, 'cause you missed it earlier.” She mwa’d Rainbow again, just to be sure.

“Little darlin’…” AJ sniffed, tugging her hat down to hide her face for a moment.

“YAY!” Fluttershy shouted, her voice echoing loudly in the confined locker room. “Oops, was that too loud?” She asked sheepishly, folding her wings and looking away.

“Ya did good, Fluttershy.” Cloud Kicker winked at her before turning back to Dash. “And so did you. You did real good.” Twilight nodded in affirmation.

Rainbow felt a weight she didn’t know she was carrying fall off her back. “T-thanks guys.” Her voice warbled slightly. “I just hope Princess Celestia isn't too disappointed in me...”

“I could never be that,” came the soft, regal tones of the Princess as she stepped out from behind the group.

Everypony jumped at the surprise intrusion, never having even heard her approach. “Whoa! She's sneaky, an' she didn' make box noises or anythin'!” Dinky commented before her mother tucked her under her wing and bowed to the Princess, a gesture that was soon repeated by everypony else.

Save one. “Oh my gosh, Princess?!” Rainbow yelped as she spun around.

Celestia looked over Dash’s head and nodded once. “Please, no need for that.” She smiled at her student. “Hello Rainbow Dash, and hello to your friends too.”

“Celestia...” Rainbow Dash hung her head. “I--I'm sorry. I almost ruined everything!” She blurted out. “First with all the hype and then with my bragging, it--it scared off all the other contestants and then I quit which I know is lame but it was the only thing I could do and—” Celestia’s raised hoof fortunately cut off Rainbow’s rushed apology.

“Shhh. It's all right, Rainbow.” Celestia reached out with her wing to draw Rainbow Dash into her embrace. “I’m not upset with you. In fact, I feel so very proud of you.”

Rainbow’s head snapped up. Had Celestia been an average height pony Rainbow would’ve just head-butted her. “What?!” She yelped. “B-but I—” She looked to her friends to help her out.

“She's not the only one, Dash.” Cloud Kicker smiled proudly.

“But I was a total butt-head!” Rainbow protested.

Derpy nodded evenly. “And look how far you've come.” She pointed out gently.

Dinky snickered. “You said ‘butt!’”

“Dinkyyyy…” Derpy gave her a pointed warning look out of her left eye.

“Sorry.” Dinky apologized, but not before she saw Princess Celestia fight to suppress a smile of her own.

Cloud walked up to Rainbow, Celestia having drawn back to give her some space. “We all make mistakes, goofball.” She nudged Dash. “It's part of life.”

“She's right.” Twilight agreed as she walked up to nuzzle Rainbow. “You made a mistake, but you went out to fix it ... and I think what you said to the ponies of Cloudsdale, to the other competitors ... I think it was some of the wisest things I’ve ever heard.”

“Heh.” Cloud chuckled. “If anypony repeats this later, I'll deny it, but ... yeah, that was some serious wisdom, Dash.”

“Well said, all of you.” Celestia nodded before looking to her pupil. “Rainbow Dash, you were able to recognize that you had an issue with your ego and wrestled to correct it. And in doing so, you managed to teach others a very valuable lesson.” She smiled fondly. “It is one thing to learn a lesson yourself. It is another to be able to take that lesson and turn it into one for other ponies to learn from as well. I am very proud of you today.” She leaned down to give her a maternal nuzzle.

Rainbow blushed at the gesture. “Aww ... c'mon Celestia, not in front of my friends!” She couldn’t quite keep a little whine out of her voice.

“That's Dash-ese for 'more, please.'” Cloud winked to the Princess, who nodded and was happy to oblige, make Rainbow Dash squirm and blush even more.

Of course, the sight of the adorably blushy and squirmy Dash was enough to get her friends grinning. Rarity let out an amused titter as AJ swore to herself to never let Rainbow Dash live this down. Twilight tried and failed to hide a giggle as the insides of Rainbow’s ears heated. She finally managed to break away from Celestia. “Geeze, you're as bad as my folks sometimes, you know that?”

Celestia just grinned. Then her attention was drawn to an adinkable wave from Dinky, still standing besides Ditzy. “Hi Miss Princess!”

“Hello Miss Doo.” Celestia leaned her head down closer. “It's Dinky, correct?”

“Yah-huh! That's me!” Dinky said proudly.

The Princess kneeled down on the floor. “You’re Rainbow Dash’s goddaughter? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Dinky gasped. “Rilly?”

“Oh yes.” Celestia nodded. “She writes about you all the time in her letters to me.”

A high pitched squeal burst out of Dinky’s lips as she started to hop up and down. “She did?” She gasped. “Did she also write about Mommy? And Sparky?”

Not put off in the least by Dinky’s exuberance, Celestia smiled and nodded. “Yes and yes, she did. She told me about how much you love your mother and sister and how much you enjoy muffins and flying with Rainbow Dash and your mom.”

“Yeah, it’s rilly fun!” Dinky nodded. “Sometimes I wish I was a pegasus so I could fly with Mommy and Rainbow too, but then they wouldn’t get to give me rides which I rilly, rilly like so it’s okay even though I still kinda wanna fly too!”

“Dinky...” Derpy stepped forward, about to tell her daughter not to talk the Princess’ ear off when Celestia stood up and faced her.

“Miss Doo? With your permission, I’d like to perform a spell on your daughter. It will be temporary and will not harm her in the least.” She lowered her voice as she told Derpy what she wanted to do. The others leaned in, trying to grab some snippet of their conversation but heard nothing. All they noticed was Derpy’s eyes going wide as she nodded numbly.

Princess Celestia turned back to Dinky. “Dinky, I want you to close your eyes and think about flying with your mother. Okay?”

Dinky nodded and squeezed her eyes shut. Celestia’s horn started to glow as blue-green swirls of magic started to spiral around Dinky, lifting her off her hooves as they cocooned her with magic. There was a flash and the swirls were gone, revealing …

“Wings!” Dinky exclaimed as she opened her eyes to find herself fluttering in midair. “I got wings! Lookit me Mommy, I’M FLYING!” Derpy’s eyes were gleaming with tears as she fluttered off the ground. Dinky scrunched up her face as she kicked her legs as she worked out how to make her shimmering, semi-translucent (and oddly muffin-decorated) wings work. After about half a minute of a wobbly, off-kilter flight, Dinky landed in her mother’s hooves. “Didja see that? I flew!” Derpy didn’t say a word, she just covered her daughter’s face with kisses.

Rainbow awed softly. “That is so awesome! Heh, reminds me of my mom’s face the first time I flew to her.”

Celestia cleared her throat gently. “Speaking of your parents, Rainbow Dash …” she unfurled a wing and stepped aside, revealing a pegasus mare and stallion. The mare was bright pink with blue mane and tail and her Cutie Mark was a pair of blue thunderbolts. The stallion was cerulean blue with a familiar rainbow mane.

“M-mom?” Rainbow’s jaw dropped. “Dad?” She winced and looked down all over again. “I-I'm sorry. I know you must be dissapointed that I stepped down but--” Her mom and dad interrupted her would-be apology and swept her up in a mass of parental hugging and nuzzling and kissing.

“Dashie,” Rainbow’s mother, Firefly nuzzled her. “I spoke to your friend Twilight this morning. She told me about how hard you've been driving yourself, because you've gotten it into that silly rainbow-covered noggin of yours that it's somehow your fault that I never joined the Wonderbolts.”

“But, I--”

Firefly held up a hoof, gently shushing her. “I would trade a dozen Wonderbolts for just one Rainbow Dash.” She kissed her cheek. “If the Wonderbolts are your dream, then I will be right there with you to help. But don't go making your dream into a chore because of some misplaced feeling of guilt, okay?”

Feeling touched and overwhelmed, Rainbow Dash hugged her mother tight. “Okay...” she sniffed gently. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you too, Rainbow.” Firefly rested her head atop of Rainbow’s own.

Rainbow’s friends all smiled and awwed at the sight. “So sweet...” Twilight cooed, as Derpy nodded, knowing the feeling well.

After a moment of silent mother-daughter bonding, Firefly stood back so she could look Rainbow Dash in the eye. “Now, Dashie, I better not catch you being so silly in the future or I swear I will turn you over my knee and spank you in front of the Princess and all your little friends!”

Rainbow’s entire head blushed bright red, her jaw dropping open in mortification. “MOOOM!!” She whined. Dinky erupted with giggles, rolling on her back and wriggling all four legs in the air while all of Rainbow’s friends and Princess Celestia let out a perfectly synchronized snerk of amusement.

Cyclone nodded his head. “Listen to your mother Rainbow … she isn't all joking around.” He gave a weak grin. “She, uh, wasn't too happy when she found out how I told you about that stuff.” He rubbed his own rump ruefully.

“Dad!” Rainbow groaned.

“I like your parents, Rainbow.” Cloud let out a gleeful cackle. “Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't comment on how kinky that is.” Derpy rolled her eyes and promptly applied her wing to the back of Cloud Kicker’s head. “...Had that coming.”

The mental images conjured up made Rainbow Dash whine and start dancing up and down on her hooves as if she really needed to use the bathroom. “Oh gross! Ew ew ew! Those my parents!”

Firefly had a mischievous glint in her eye as she advanced on her daughter. “What do you mean Rainbow? Are we too old for us to enjoy each other's company?”

Dash shuddered. “Well...”

“So, you are calling us old?” Her mom challenged.

“What? No!”

“I don't know,” Derpy grinned. “It sure sounded like you did.”

Rainbow’s father agreed. “I think she’s right.” He looked to Derpy. “You know, there's only one punishment for calling your folks 'old', right?”

“Oh yes.” Ditzy nodded solemnly.

“Oooooh you're in trouuuuble!” Dinky called in that delightful way that only a child watching someone else get in trouble could.

Rainbow groaned, but still had a smile tugging at her face as her parents began needling her. Surrounded by friends, family and her teacher, Rainbow Dash truly was one very lucky pony.





Later that day, Rainbow Dash and her friends stood on the edge of Cloudsdale, waiting for their balloon to be untethered. Rainbow nudged CK. “Hey, not bad, fifth place!”

Cloud smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “Thanks. I thought I would’ve had a shot at first place with you dropping out, but that Lightning Dust? Phew!” Her tone turned thoughtful. “You know, if I could get you and her in bed together, I could die a happy mare.”

Dash cuffed her gently with a hoof. “You’re gonna a live a long, threesome-free life then.”

“Darn.” Cloud Kicker pouted. “But in all seriousness Dash? I am beyond impressed with you. Bowing out of a competition … I know how hard that must of been for you.”

Rainbow felt a lump well up in her throat, like she had swallowed a too-big piece of cake. Choking it down, she shook her head. “S’what I had to do.”

“Yeah.” Cloud nodded as she put a hoof on the side of Rainbow’s head, gently guiding her face towards her own. “You might not have won, but I still think you're a winner.” She gave Rainbow Dash a kiss on the lips.

Dash felt her face go from cyan to furious red in less than ten seconds flat as her eyes bugged out and her wings snapped open in shock. “Hmmm--!”

After what felt like an eternity, Cloud pulled away, smiling. “You okay?”

Rainbow’s left eye twitched. “...I think I injured myself in my confusion.”

Her friends all giggled at the look at on her face. Dinky looked up at Rainbow Dash. “Are you Miss Cloud Kicker’s special somepony?” She asked with perfect foalhood innocence. Then she gasped delightfully as a new idea struck her. “Are you and Cloud Kicker gettin’ married?!”

Dash’s jaw dropped open as her blush returned, redoubled in strength and brightness as her friends laughed. “What? No!”

Pinkie Pie didn’t seem to hear her. “Eeeee! You know what this calls for? A party!” She exclaimed, confetti firing out of somewhere as she raised her forelegs. “And a cake! Oooh, a wedding cake! The most superiffic wedding cake ever!”

“If you're gettin' married, then you're gonna have lots and lotsa babies, right?” Dinky asked, tugging on Dash’s leg. “Can I hold the baby?”

“We're not getting married!” Rainbow groaned.

Pinkie frowned at Rainbow condemningly. “Dashie! Let Dinky hold the baby!”

Rainbow looked pleadingly at her friends. “Guys, could you rope her in?”

Applejack stroked her muzzle thoughtfully. “I dunno Rainbow, sounds t’me like this could be a great catering opportunity for the farm.” A tell-tale grin tugged at the corner of her face.

Rarity cooed. “You would make such a sweet couple...”

“And it’s not like you’re getting any younger, Rainbow.” Derpy added, sounding for all the world like she was her mother.

Dash facehooved and groaned. Taking pity on her, Twilight cleared her throat. “Thanks again for bringing us along Rainbow Dash. In spite of a few … hiccups ... this was a really amazing trip. I’m glad we were here to see you shine.”

“Thanks Twilight.” Rainbow gave her a small smile. “You’re a real friend.”

“And as your friend … you could let me be in charge of planning the wedding!” Twilight grinned as she used her magic to summon a quill and scroll of parchment. “I always wanted to plan a wedding! I’ve been told that it’s supposed to be difficult, but I’m sure I could make it a neat, orderly affair with checklists!”

Rainbow covered her face. Fluttershy walked over and gently nuzzled her. “Oh, it’s okay Rainbow Dash … we all know how meek and shy you can get.”

“Even Fluttershy’s teasing me.” Rainbow groaned. “Great …”

“You know you’d be dishing it out if it happened to somepony else.” Cloud snerked. “So...” she fluttered her eyelashes at Dash. “I take it you don’t want another kiss? You sure?” She puckered up, only to get a ball of cloud thrown against her cheek. “...Is that a ‘later?’”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “All right, that’s enough everypony. Here comes the support staff with the balloon.”

They turned to look to see a crew of pegasi pulling ropes to guide over the hot-air balloon the non-flight capable ponies had used to ride up to Cloudsdale. As soon as they got close, they tethered it to the clouds underneath their hooves so the Ponyville group could board. After a quick nod and some words of thanks, the crew left.

“I guess this is the end of our trip.” Twilight sighed, stretching. “This was really wonderful, but I’ll be glad to get back home and sleep in my own bed tonight.” She caught Cloud’s glance her way. “Sleeping alone in my bed, thank you.”

Cloud pouted. “Darn. I never get any loving from you ponies.”

“This was an amazin’ trip, Rainbow.” Applejack nodded. “That sure was a powerful show you put on with all them pegasi and such.”

Rarity agreed. “It was ever so elegant. It makes me wish I had a pair of wings of my own. Why, I bet I could be as graceful and dazzling as any pegasi in Cloudsdale!” She draped a hoof to her brow, just in time for Dinky to flutter over her head and into a cloud.

Dinky poked her head out. “You can use my wings for now, Rarity. I'm getting dizzy.”

“Oh … how generous.” She gave a weak smile as she looked at Dinky’s wings, not wanting to be seen with muffin patterned wings. “Those look ... too tasty, darling. I'd be tempted to nibble on them.”

Dinky nodded solemnly. “I tried, but they just taste like air.” She made a face.

“Gossamer isn't very heavy with flavor.” Twilight agreed with a chuckle. Then she turned to Rainbow Dash and put a hoof on her shoulder. “I know you were really looking forward to winning the competition.”

“Yeah.” Rainbow sighed. “I mean, I’m glad things worked out but … I really just wish I could’ve gotten the chance to meet the Wonderbolts, you know?” Just then Rainbow felt another hoof gently tapping her on the shoulder. She looked around to see a trio of pegasi in blue and gold flight uniforms. “Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!”

“Hey there, Rainbow Dash.” The lead pony lifted up her goggles revealing a yellow mare with a fiery mane.

“S-S-Spitfire?!” Dash goggled, her jaw dropping all over again.

Spitfire gave the dumbstruck young flyer a nod. “Even though you didn’t compete, you still put on a quite a display.” She looked to her two fellow Wonderbolts, getting a pair of nods in agreement. “It's a shame we didn't get to see the Sonic Rainboom. Still ... one of the most important things a Wonderbolt needs to learn is how to be a team player.” A faint smirk played on her lips. “There's no 'I' in Wonderbolts.” She gave Dash a nudge. “We’ll be keeping an eye on you. Hope to see more of you real soon.”

“Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!” Rainbow chanted to herself before her brain got her mouth back under control. “D-do you mean that you’re … that I could … with you?”

Spitfire winked. “Catch you later, Dash.” She turned and zoomed off, her two companions following right behind her.

Dinky blinked. “Wooow … I think they liked you, Rainbow Dash!” She exclaimed.

“I’d say so.” Cloud nodded, nudging Rainbow and giving her a moment to compose herself. “Ready to go?”

“Just about.” Rainbow looked around. “One last thing I gotta take care of...”

“Hey!” A voice from behind them shouted. “Didn’t think you could skip town without saying goodbye to us, did you Rainbow Crash?”

Rainbow Dash looked to see Dumbbell, Hoops and Score. “Oh, there you guys are. Thought I might miss you.”

If they three noticed Rainbow’s bemused, unworried look, they didn’t act like it. “So you went and chickened out, huh? Figures.” Dumbbell snorted. “We knew all along that Sonic Rainboom stuff was just an old mare’s tale. Maybe everypony else will finally wake up and realize that you’re nothing but a fake.”

Cloud Kicker turned around, intent on surging towards the three losers and pounding some sense into their thick skulls, Krav Pega-style. But she was stopped by Rainbow putting a hoof on her shoulder.

She was grinning wryly. “Yeah, you figured me out.” Dash shrugged. “I admit it. I’m totally full of baloney.” Everypony in ear shot looked stunned, none moreso than her three would-be tormentors.

“R-really?” Hoops blinked from behind his bangs.

Rainbow nodded as she started walking to the edge of the clouds. “No point denying it when you three have so obviously gotten me pegged.” She gave her mane a little toss and winked at her friends. “Clearly, I can’t do a Sonic Rainboom.”

Seeing the cloud writing in the sky, Rainbow’s friends all backed away and started to hunker down behind whatever cover they could find. Soon the only ponies left standing on open cloud was Dash and the trio. Rainbow gave them a small nod and a wave. “Catch you guys later!” She took off, flying away from Cloudsdale and picking up speed as she flew.

“...What just happened?” Hoops asked, looking at his two companions. Then he looked at Rainbow’s friends, still crouching behind various boxes, implements and other cover. “And what’re they doing?



An earth shattering boom in the distance cut him off before he could finish. The three bullies turned to stare at the source just in time to see an explosive ring of pure color stretching out from a point on the horizon. And soaring magnificently upwards from the point of explosion was a cyan blue blur trailing a solid, pure rainbow in her wake.

“Whoa...” Score said in awe, stirring his friends from their stunned silence.

“Is that a--that’s a--” Hoops stammered.

Dumbbell shook his head, his eyes never once turning away from the explosion of light. “N-no way...” He was still mumbling to himself when the shock wave hit. Fortunately the Rainboom had actually occurred far enough away to mostly dilute the impact of the shock wave.

Mostly.

It was still strong enough to send roaring winds that sent the three unprotected bullies into a careening tailspin. Their shocked shouts were lost in the wind, which ended with the three of them having a face-first encounter with a cloud wall, forcing them half-way through it.

Dinky was the first to risk a peek when the wind had died down, her mane a total mess. “Whoooaaa...” her golden eyes went wide. Then she grinned so widely her face almost split in half. “SHE DID IT! RAINBOW DASH DID IT! HOORAY!” She started bouncing around her mother. “Rainbow Dash is the most superawesomegamazing-radicool pony EVER!” Dinky pranced until she spotted the rumps of the three bullies sticking out of a wall. “Heeeheeee!” Rainbow’s friends laughed as they helped themselves up.

Cloud Kicker snorted as she helped Twilight up. “Think we should help them?” She jerked her head to them as Pinkie hanged a “Free Spanks!” sign on their rumps.

Twilight thought about if for a moment. “Nah.” She smiled. “Let’s go home.”

As the group got into the balloon and started for Ponyville, the got their last look back at Cloudsdale just in time to see Rainbow Dash arcing over the city: a brilliant rainbow still trailing her path, lighting up the entire sky.

Everypony in Cloudsdale who saw, felt a sense of awe and wonderment. And for Rainbow Dash, that was the greatest feeling of triumph of all.






THE END