//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Sunset / Letter From The Principal / Letter to the Princess // Story: Flight, Failure, Faith and Family // by 8686 //------------------------------// Epilogue: Sunset / Letter From The Principal / Letter to the Princess The sunset and the moonrise had both been epic. Rainbow Dash had arranged the distant clouds in such a perfect way, that as the sun sank past certain points in the sky its light caught them just so and painted heaven in the most vibrant array of colours imaginable. Rainbow Dash was an artist, and the sky was her canvas. It was more beautiful than any firework display and drew astonished gasps from the dwindling crowd, now all gathered at the westernmost point of the cloud mass for the best view. The lucky few that had been able to stay at the beach long enough to watch it. Then when the sun had finally set, and everypony had thought the show was over, the full moon had risen and begun the dance in reverse. Only instead of vibrant golds and pastel oranges, onlookers were treated to a majestic symphony in blue and silver. One of those onlookers – perhaps unexpectedly – was Fluttershy, and no sooner had Dash spotted her than she was invited over to join them. She accepted the invitation with a smile, but unfortunately it did nothing to hide the black eye she now proudly sported. "Fluttershy? What happened to you?" "Oh, don't worry about it. It actually looks a lot worse than it is." But Rainbow was insistent, and wouldn't rest until she got an explanation. "Well...it was the last point of the match and I may have got a bit too close to the net." Fluttershy was smiling as she spoke. "The ball hit me quite hard, and when I came to, all the players were standing over me and telling me we'd won." "Are...are you okay?" "Oh, I'm fine," said Fluttershy genuinely. "Everypony was so nice. The other team felt so bad that they insisted on buying me ice-cream, and Spitfire said I could have free tickets to any Wonderbolt show I wanted. She called me 'heroic.'" Fluttershy blushed a little. "And then Soarin and Fleet Foot took me snorkelling with them. They were both really sweet." "Wow. You really are okay." "I'm fine," she reassured. "This really has been the best Pegasus Beach Party ever, and seeing you two together here has just made it even better." That prompted Scootaloo to launch into an enthusiastic explanation of the conversation they'd had on the ground, and her new status as Rainbow Dash's sister. When she'd finished, Fluttershy had subconsciously looked to Rainbow Dash as if for confirmation, and Dash put her foreleg round Scootaloo's shoulders with a grin and a confident nod, followed a moment later by a yawn. Fatigue struck, and Dash lay down, spreading herself on the comfortable cloud, Scootaloo nestling at her side. Rainbow's eyelids became heavy and she found herself quite unable to keep them open. Only then, while lying there on the cloud beneath the moonlit sky, did it even occur to her that she hadn't relaxed for two days straight. Setting up the beach party, the trip to Viper's office, trying to find Scootaloo in Ponyville – it had all been frenetic. Combined with the good night's rest she hadn't had the previous day, not to mention Operation Calendar Drop, and it was no wonder that she was totally exhausted. But it had been worth it. Awesome beach party? Check. Oldest friend happy? Check. Little sister gained? Check. Best. Day. Ever. --- Dear Rainbow Dash, I am sorry to hear that Scootaloo will not be joining the curriculum this semester. I hope that her training goes well, and to that end I have enclosed a number of lesson plans used on our beginner courses. I hope you find them useful. Should she decide to take up formal schooling here she will be free to apply again next semester. We'll keep the door open for her. Good luck. Sincerely, Pale Frost --- Dear Princess Luna, I've been very lucky to make some awesome friends here in Ponyville, but I never thought I'd make a sister. But that's what Rainbow Dash says she is now – a real sister who loves me and cares about me no matter what. I've never had a sister before, so I don't know how it's supposed to feel. But right now it's the best feeling in the world! So I wanted to say thank you. Thank you. If it hadn't been for you I never would have been brave enough to really talk to Rainbow Dash, the last two crazy days would never have happened, and I wouldn't know what it's like to really have a family. It turns out, it's awesome. If you're ever in Ponyville with your big sister, feel free to come visit me and mine. We can have, like a sister party or something! It would be nice to thank you in person. Your loyal subject, Scootaloo.