"Just breathe Rainbow Dash. You got this. They're going to see you're the best flyer in Equestria." She took a deep breath. On the other side of the curtain she heard the mumbled roar of the crowd outside Fillydelphia. The sun hung low on her back and Rainbow Dash knew the time to make her dreams come true was here. Like all shows, the audience waited on the Wonderbolts, and didn't quiet when the announcer read his script.
Rainbow Dash whispered the words with him, "Winner of the Young Flyers Competition in Cloudsdale, a pony known for creating a sonic rainboom, this is Equestria's newest star pegasi…" Rainbow Dash crouched low and fanned her wings out. She'd done this routine a dozen times, it didn't have a sonic rainboom in it, even if Rainbow Dash could pull it off every show there wouldn't be a point for her to be the Wonderbolts opener. "She's promised a show that only the best flyers in Equestria can give, it's…" the announcer said her name with a gusto she couldn't repeat.
Deep breath.
She knew she was good, not like arrogant ponies thought they were good. When you're born with a talent, when you spend your whole life rocketing up the ladder faster than anypony ever—she knew she could stun this crowd. But at the same time… what if she wasn't as good as she thought? No, she was the best flyer. The best flyer.
Breathe, Rainbow Dash.
"Miss Rain-bow Dash!"
The pegasus launched through the curtain so fast the fabric ripped in half, so fast the mic and pedestal of the announcer fell over. She was in the air. Her wings beating. She spent the past ten minutes warming up for this half minute of glory. On both sides of her she saw the blur of temporary stands on the wide field outside Fillydelphia. The field was a hundred pony lengths long, and on its floor rested a carpet of fog the pegasi set team for the Wonderbolts laid out an hour before.
Rainbow Dash ascended, her mane pressed against her back as she shot in an oblique line across the field. She reached the end of the field, and felt the pressure of this most difficult part. She tipped her wings and body against her own momentum and went head over hooves in the air. Equestria spun and she felt the contents of a light afternoon dinner bounce around her stomach like an apple in a barrel rolling downhill. Her mane and tail flew out though, and at the speeds she went the crowd saw the spinning circle of rainbow shoot the length of ten ponies like whirling sparkler.
She regained control and dove, the audience applauding while the speed ripped at her senses and flushed her whole body with its toxic joy. She needed to fly just outside the field so that when she got ten wing spans from the ground she swept up and came so close to the ground she could put her hooves back down. Rainbow Dash did, bounding through the fog, the thick waters soaking her and blinding her. She felt the stirs of panic, because if each bound wasn't paced she risked messing up the entire show. It happened before, on her second night.
She cut swaths through the fog, carving out a lightning bolt before she leapt back into the air. She spun, beating her wings to create a furious updraft of gust until the wind pulled the fog into the air and twisted about and she lost sight of the crowd again. She shot upward and the mist exploded at the top, blooming like a bouquet of flowers the height of forty ponies. The sun caught the top of the bouquet and a rainbow poured over it. The crowd went wild while they watched Rainbow Dash ascend.
Because Spitfire shot past her, down to the fog and swept around the bouquet, following the arc of the rainbow. Rainbow Dash put on the breaks and spun to watch while Soarin plummeted past her. Spitfire finished half of her circle, the plume of thunderclouds shooting from her was complimented by Misty and Blast shaping the points on either end of the circle while Spitfire completed it, so that their contrails shaped a sun. All three finished at the apex and shot downward to meet Soarin when he shot through the middle of the sun, the massive friction in the air caused a spark of lightning, ignited by the misty vapors and thunderclouds.
A blinding flash left most of the ponies of Fillydelphia blinking and mouths agape while the massive blue sun exploded into being, first as veins of lightning from the center like a crack in glass, then those filled with light and the sun hung in the air above the field. The explosion rocked the stands, the air rushed up and Rainbow Dash felt the heat prickle along her hide and the wind almost knock off her balance. The sound reached her then, like the hammer of ten thunderstorms striking the anvil at once.
And that was how they opened their show, every night.
Even the ponies still in the city were left in awe.
Spitfire sighed and pulled the curtain back. She turned and said, "There's another line outside the tent."
Soarin frowned. "Aww man, how is my pizza supposed to get here if the delivery guy can't get past the crowd?"
"You know how we appease them," Spitfire stepped away from the tent flap. A team of brawny earth ponies kept the crowd from getting more than ten pony lengths to the wide open tent. Inside every piece of livable furniture could be found, the Wonderbolts relaxed in peace while Rainbow Dash sat at a table. She looked over a half-finished hay and sunflower seed sandwich to two of her idols.
Spitfire said, "It's your turn anyways. I'll keep Tyco off your pizza while you're busy." Rainbow Dash watched Spitfire lean over and whisper something, when her eyes flicked to Rainbow Dash the pegasus found her sandwich fascinating. Then she heard, "Hey Rainbow Dash, how about you join Soarin out there?"
Rainbow Dash head darted up. "What? Really? You mean, sign autographs and stuff, right?"
Soarin said, "Well, yeah."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
She leapt over the table in front of the two ponies, her wings sprung up. Spitfire chuckled and walked away. Soarin said, "Let's go then."
They passed through the tent flap and on the other side a crowd of ponies cheered. There must've been a hundred of them. They all stomped their hooves and whistled and shouted when Soarin stood on his hindlegs and fanned out his wings. Cameras flashed and Rainbow Dash felt sheepish. She knew a lot about showboating, for sure, but only did it in front of her friends. Soarin used his wings to balance himself and grabbed Rainbow Dash. She blushed as the Wonderbolt raised her hoof in the air. The crowd kept cheering and Soarin leaned over and said, "You gotta learn to have fun with them, otherwise you'll just go nuts."
A warmth flowed through the pegasus pony's body, she felt like hours of practice worth this moment of glory, it felt justified. She didn't know how Soarin could think anypony could go crazy when so much adoration was thrown at their feet.
A few ponies from the security team brought out a table and then bunched around it, bristling their muscles to warn overenthusiastic fans. They didn't care. When Rainbow Dash and Soarin reached the table the ponies rushed them.
At once it all came down.
"Oh my gosh Soarin I love you—"
"You guys were just so amazing—"
"For an opener you put on a heck of a performance—"
"When will you make this one a Wonderbolt Soarin—"
"Sign my cutie mark!"
Rainbow Dash felt emotionally exhausted, but it had all the same enjoyable twinges she got when she had a day of really good practice. Her head was awhirl with compliments and adolation and how she earned it. Because she did, she was one of Equestria's best flyers. Heck, one pony even threw a bunch of diamonds onto the table. Soarin had told Rainbow Dash, "That's typical."
The last fan, a little pegasus filly with big green eyes for Soarin approached the table and said, "I don't have anything to sign, but I was wonderin' if you think, well, maybe someday I could fly with you guys."
Soarin chuckled. "I think with tons of practice you can do anything. But it's hard. Like I love sleeping and pigging out on a nice pie every now and then, but sometimes you have to give up that stuff. It's awesome though. And you know what? I think you'll be an awesome flyer one day."
The filly gasped and swooned. One of the security ponies snatched her up before she fell, and helped her leave.
Soarin sighed and said, "Glad that's over. I'm going to look forward to this next week."
Rainbow Dash pulled her gaze away from the filly and asked, "Huh, why?"
"Because we're going to take a break, but the next month is going to suck. We'll have to practice day in and day out to get our new routine right."
Rainbow Dash wings perked up. "A new routine? Are you guys going to bust out some sweet new moves, because I've been thinking of some and if you want I can show you, but that's only if you want because you guys are so awesome and—I mean—you wrote the book on tricks."
Soarin laughed. "No, it'll be an all new routine with some killer new tricks. But here's the thing—well first I got to know if you can keep a secret."
"Umm… umm…" Rainbow Dash licked her lips. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
"Haha. Look at you getting all worked up. You sure you can handle this, dude?"
"Yes! I mean—of course I can, dude. I can handle anything," Rainbow Dash said and forced a smirk.
Soarin leaned in and said, "Well, if you can keep it between us. We're starting a new routine because we need to change things up if we want to add the pegasus we've been using as our opener to the team." Soarin leaned back. He winked. "But don't tell her. We don't think she's ready for the big news yet."
Rainbow Dash's legs became weak. For a moment she thought she would fall over.
Soarin said, "But I've got a pizza waiting for me. Later, Rainbow Dash."
He went back to the tent, the pegasus watched him go, she realized her mouth hung open. The shock simmered a moment longer, she heard the security team put up the table before it exploded in her.
Rainbow Dash leapt into the air. Her heart racing, she was shouting. She screamed her throat raw. "I'm going to be a Wonderbolt! Yes! Yes! Everpony is going to know my name!" And she climbed and climbed, spiraling through the air until she rose so high the air became too thin for her to breathe. She dropped and dove. Her wings surging forward. She felt speed and force close around her. To a point. It spiraled up her body until she couldn't do anything but follow through.
Her heart beat so loudly she didn't even hear the explosion behind her. She raced across the sky, over the city and back again, lighting up the night with an impossible rainbow. She could feel tears streaming down her cheeks. Equestria whirled underneath her.
She landed in the empty field again. Alone, with the abandoned stands on both sides. She could hear in her ears the chant, "Dash, Dash, Rainbow Dash! Dash, Dash, Rainbow Dash!"
This was her dream. Now it was her reality.
Her heart pumped so fast she felt blood racing behind her eyes. She didn't realize she pushed herself too hard until she fell over. She didn't care if no pony helped her or not, if she lied there until the sun rose.
She did it.
Breathe, Rainbow Dash.
The next day went by in a blur. The official announcement was made and Spitfire gave her a crash course on what it meant to be a Wonderbolt. After some begging, Rainbow Dash convinced them that an empty field between two hills east of Ponyville was the perfect place to learn their routine. With that said, the team split to return to friends and family, and Rainbow Dash went home.
She wanted to fly. She felt like she could stay in the air forever, but she strained the other night and her wings could barely lift her off the ground. So she took the train. She stared out the window the entire time, watching the clouds go by and thinking of zooming through them. She felt impatient, like if she did fly she could beat the train. By afternoon she got off at a station and walked the last hour into Ponyville.
The trip did do her wings some good. She stretched them out and tried her best to work them to their old flexibility. By the time she reached the quaint town she felt like she could fly again, and leapt into the air. Between imaginings of her future glory she thought of a killer way to announce her new title.
She flew to Sugar Cube Corner and found the window to the second story open. Rainbow Dash floated in. On the bed on the far side of the room lied Gummy. The alligator opened one eye, then nuzzled himself deeper into the bed. Rainbow Dash frowned. She hoped Pinkie Pie would be home…
The door to Pinkie Pie's room and opened and Rainbow Dash heard, "I'm gonna check on Gummy real quick. Be back down faster than you can say, 'Well I wonder what's taking Pinkie Pie so long. I mean, really? That silly pony needs to hurry up. Yeesh.'"
Down below Applejack said, "Ah'll be able ta say it twice if ya don't stop blabberin', sugar cube."
Rainbow Dash sped to the door as Pinkie popped her head in. The pony's eyes popped, but Rainbow Dash slapped her hoof over Pinkie's mouth before she could gasp. Rainbow Dash whispered, "Don't say a word, Pinkie. I need your help with a prank."
Rainbow Dash allowed Pinkie Pie to creep inside before she closed the door with her wing. When she did, Pinkie Pie tackled her and said, "Oh my gosh what are you doing back in town Dashie? My eyes thought they were nuts when they saw you because they were all like—"
"Pinkie."
"well that can't be her because she's with the Wonderbolts. But then I noticed you're cutie mark and—"
"Pinkie."
"then I thought gosh it must be her, especially when you knew my name and stuff."
"You done?"
Pinkie Pie grinned and nodded her head like a hummingbird flaps its wings.
"Okay, can I get up?"
"Oh, gee, sorry about that, Dashie."
Rainbow Dash got up and said, "Look, no pony knows I'm back in town yet. I'm going to sneak back over to my house, and later tonight, when the sun's coming down, can you bring the girls here? Just right outside, though. I've got a wicked prank planned."
Pinkie bounced onto all fours and took the stance a dog would when it wants to play. "Oh what? What? Can you tell me?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No, I need this to be a total surprise. Can I trust you?"
"Of course you can Dashie. And it's so good to see you, we'll have to throw a party when we get back. Oh, horseshoes I forgot about Applejack. I'll see you later, Dashie!"
"Just remember, at sundown."
"Of course," Pinkie Pie said. She bounced to her door and opened it.
Rainbow Dash heard Applejack say, "Ah reckon if Ah waited a moment longer Ah'd have been able ta say what ya said a dozen times. What took ya girl?"
"Sorry Applejack. Gummy left me a surprise in my room."
"Eh-heh… that might be too much information for me, sugar cube."
Rainbow Dash returned to her home without any incident. No pony disturbed it. She found all the cloud sculpted furniture the way she left it, if it was a little worn. Cloud buildings needed occasional maintenance to keep them from evaporating. She remembered spending so much time on her home. When she first made it she figured she'd have the biggest house over Ponyville, all to herself.
She loved her home. But when she got there and had a moment to relax, in the open spaces and relative silence, with the lazy sun her only piece of company, she remembered why she disliked staying there.
"Okay Pinkie Pie. We've waited five minutes now while you just stared at the sky. What's going on?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry dear, but if I'm going to stay on schedule I have to finish one last dress tonight. Is this really important?" Rarity asked.
Pinkie Pie frowned, she kept looking up, searching the skies. She glanced at the five ponies waiting outside Sugar Cube Corner and said, "Oh I'm sorry girls, but she swore she'd be here by now."
"Who swore they'd be here?" Applejack asked.
Fluttershy wasn't sure she liked waiting, especially this close to being dark. Some nights she had problems with the dark, especially when it carried a chilly wind like this one.
"Oh, I can't tell you though! I promised!"
"Um… well, did you promise to make sure we'd stay here? Because if you did I'd be happy to stay, but… well, it is getting dark," Fluttershy said.
"And I'd prefer not staying up too late," Rarity said. "When I do my mane is such a mess in the morning."
"Just five more minutes. Oh please you guys—" Pinkie Pie stopped and pointed her hoof behind them. "There!"
Fluttershy tried to turn around, but a blue blur fwooshed overhead. She squeaked and shut her eyes. She heard Twilight sputter, "R-Rainbow Dash."
She opened her eyes and no pony was there. But everyone was looking up. Fluttershy frowned and heard Twilight say, "I can't see her. She disappeared behind those clouds."
Fluttershy scanned the sky and spotted the outline of a pegasus zip outside the clouds. She said, "Is that her?"
"Where?"
The ponies became frantic again. Rainbow Dash moved so fast they couldn't keep up with where she went.
"What in the hay was all that about?"
"Indeed, that was the most bizarre," Rarity said, "Was that even her?"
"Was that who?"
Fluttershy squeaked again and almost fell over, she spun around and their stood Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack swept a hoof over the pegasus' neck and gave her a noogie with her other hoof. "Ah don't know if Ah should hit ya or hug ya with that stunt you pulled."
Fluttershy got her hooves under her while Rainbow Dash slipped out of Applejack's grasp. "Stunt, what are you talking about?"
"You flew right into the middle of us and then shot into the air," Twilight said.
"You ponies crazy? I just got here. And I walked."
Behind them Fluttershy heard Pinkie Pie giggle.
"Aww forget ya then. Watcha doin' home anyways?"
"Oh that?" Rainbow Dash's head perked up. She strutted between the ponies, reached the steps to Sugar Cube Corner and said, "The Wonderbolts are taking a weeklong break before they work on a sick new routine."
"Really? So what are you going to do while they're busy with that?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow Dash hopped into the air, landed on the roof of Sugar Cube Corner and spun around. She said, "Well… I might be a little busy myself, since I'll be practicing the same routine."
Fluttershy gasped. A soft little thing no one heard, but… wow. She said, "Oh good for you, Rainbow Dash!"
"Now what's goin' on now?" Applejack asked, looking from one pegasus to another. "Don't be playin' around Rainbow Dash. We're happy ta see ya and all but we can't take much more foolin' around."
"You ponies are only looking at the next and greatest Wonderbolt to ever live," Rainbow Dash said.
"That's fantastic, Rainbow Dash."
"Bravo, Rainbow Dash."
"Oh, Dashie, that's great."
Applejack said, "Ah can already see it gettin' to your head. But Ah reckon you deserve it. You are the best flyer in Equestria, after all."
"Course I am. But I got a week to rest, and then the Wonderbolts are coming here and we're gonna practice our new routine right outside of town. It's going to be so awesome!" She jumped off the roof and fluttered down to the girls. Pinkie Pie squeezed her into a hug and the others joined in. They had their moment and Rainbow Dash said, "Hey easy on the wings. I'm gonna need those."
The library door flew open and Spike almost fell. He grabbed the side of the ladder he stood on and looked over his shoulder. Twilight and Applejack entered the library, in the middle of a conversation.
"Well Ah'm glad she's here. Even if it's for a short while, anyway. Pinkie Pie needs someone who can keep up with her," Applejack said before she closed the door.
"Who's here?" Spike asked to remind them he still existed.
"Rainbow Dash came back today," Twilight said. "And she told us some great news. She's going to become a Wonderbolt."
Applejack nickered. She said, "Ah'm not so sure if it's great news or not, though."
Spike said, "But it's her dream. I mean, she's been drooling over the Wonderbolts for so long—"
"Spike."
"What? She has, I don't remember her not talking about them and getting a cloudy look in her eyes," Spike said. He decided to turn away from the ponies and keep on with his dusting. He stretched his tiny limbs far as he could to reach a book on far side of the shelf. He'd rather risk falling over than climbing all the way down, nudging the ladder over, and climbing all the way back up. His chores were already chores enough without stacking another chore on top.
Twilight said, "You know, I thought I did notice something go across your face when she made her announcement. What's worrying you?"
"Just that there's more hot air under her wings than wind," Applejack said. "Ah love Rainbow Dash, Ah do, and Ah wish the best for her, but ya know how she gets. All bluster and such. A pony can't hardly tell when she's upset or not. And she was just the opener for them Wonderbolts and we didn't see her for two months."
Spike balanced on his toes. Just one more corner...
"You make a good point," Twilight said, "But if it's what she wants… we're her friends Applejack. We have to support her no matter what."
Ah-ha! With one more flick of his wrist Spike got that final spot. But he couldn't get himself back onto the ladder, he was poised with his duster propped against the nook at the back of the bookshelf.
Neither pony noticed. "Um… guys."
"Ah know. But a pony can worry. Ah reckon we'll just see what happens."
"Help." Dust still lingered in the air. Spike's nose began to twitch.
"If it's bothering you so much, why not talk to her about it?"
Spike's eyes watered. "Hey guys."
"Suppose Ah will, guess Ah came here first ta get my feelin's sorted. Thanks, Twilight."
"Anytime, Applejack. How are things between you and your brother?"
"We made up. He apologized for leavin' and Ah, well Ah apologized myself. We're not sure how ta tell Applebloom 'bout it. Far as she knows, he went ta Fillydelphia to pay that pony."
Spike's arm began to ache. He couldn't fight it anymore. He just needed to turn away from the bookcase so he didn't fry any books. He spun and sneezed, "Achoo!" A jet of green flame shot up to the ceiling and seared the wood. It had a fire retardant finish, for obvious reasons. The floor met him and Spike's skull bounced on the floor.
"Oh my gosh, Spike!"
Spike groaned and rubbed his head. Twilight knelt behind him and propped the baby dragon up with her hoof. Applejack asked, "What happened?"
Spike closed his eyes and waited for the throbbing in his head to stop. He felt the creep of magic spread across his scalp and a tingling soothed his pain. He said, "Thank you. I guess I was trying to get this spot on the shelf up there, but when I got it I couldn't get back to the ladder."
"Well why didn't you say something, you silly dragon?"
Spike clenched his fist and glared at her.
"Hey ya, Applejack."
Applejack looked up from her work. She hitched a line around the end of the tree Big Macintosh ruined. Her brother asked her to take care of it. He wasn't comfortable with the site. Applejack figured she owed her brother as much, and there was more than enough work for him to do while she took care of this little favor.
Above her Rainbow Dash perched on the branches of a nearby tree. Applejack said, "Howdy Rainbow Dash, never expected ya up this early in the mornin'."
Rainbow Dash said, "Well now that I'm a Wonderbolt I've got to keep up a daily regimen."
"Mmhmm. What are ya doin' here?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "None of the other ponies are up yet. Hey what happened to that tree, it get struck by lightning or something?"
"Somethin' a little more mighty than that." With the help of hooves and teeth, she cinched the rope tight around the mass of branches. She felt rainbow Dash watching her the whole time and it made her a tad bit uncomfortable. She faced the blue pegasus pony and asked, "So how was flyin' around with the Wonderbolts?"
"Oh, it was awesome. You should see them Applejack their show is just… it's amazing."
"Ah bet it'll be even better a month from now."
"Oh, yeah, well duh." She jumped down from the tree and said, "The only thing they've ever been missing is me."
Applejack said, "Now, don't ya forget about us simpler ponies when ya become a big star."
"I'll send you guys postcards or something," Rainbow Dash said.
"Course ya will," Applejack said. "But Ah mean it, don't go chasin' stars if it means givin' up the ground." She kicked the branches with her hind-hoof and said, "How 'bout ya remind yourself by helpin me move this?"
"Pfft. I can move that by myself."
"Oh really? Ya wanna make that a bet then?"
"Only if you're prepared to lose," Rainbow Dash said.
Applejack took the rope she planned drag the branches with and tossed it to Rainbow Dash. "It's all yours then, sugar cube."
Pinke Pie poised on the edge of the fountain, her arms stretched out like a diver. She made a show taking long, deep breaths.
"Just go for it Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said.
Pinkie Pie twisted her head around and stuck her tongue out. She held her nose up and said, "I've never. I'm an artist. An artiste! And I must have absolute silence, or as much silence as one can get with a fountain making noise. Anypony need to go to the bathroom by the way? Oh, I mean—I am an artiste!" She bent her knees, and leapt backwards, away from the fountain. She twisted her body and extended her front hooves. The top of her head hit the ground with her hooves and she spun herself. Rainbow Dash, the fountain, and park warped into a multi-colored haze. She spun and spun and shifted her body weight and came to a stop on her side, an elbow on the ground, hoof propping her head up. She reclined on her side and said to Rainbow Dash, "Draw me like one of your Manehattan girls."
Rainbow Dash chortled. She almost fell over while Pinkie Pie got up and shook dirt from her mane. They'd been having tons of fun these past few days. The Cakes didn't mind her absence, one day they even let Rainbow Dash help with cooking. Oh, she was so awful, but in a good way. Like a funny awful, at least, she thought it was funny to see a Wonderbolt cook. Mrs. Cake didn't want them cooking again after that. She had a policy against Pinkie's friends and Baked Bads.
Rainbow Dash said, "You're so… how does that not hurt?"
Pinkie Pie poked her mane, "Poofy." She noticed a pegasus flying towards them. Pinkie Pie pointed the pegasus out and said, "Hey who's that?"
Rainbow Dash turned around and gasped. "Spitfire!" Rainbow Dash's knees wobbled, but she shook her head and mumbled something before the other pegasus reached them. The pegasus was pretty flying. She looked like a streak of flame. Pinkie Pie wondered why her name wasn't comet, or meteorite, but she supposed meteorite would be bad. Twilight said they always burned up before they could ever land. And even pegasus ponies needed to put their hooves on the ground sometime.
Rainbow Dash said, "Hey Spitfire. It hasn't been a week already, has it? Not that I'm not ready or anything. I'm always ready."
"We still have another day," the other pony said. She tilted her head towards Pinkie Pie, "Who's your friend?"
Pinkie Pie smiled and bounced to the other pegasus. "I'm Pinkie Pie—are you new to town? Because if you're going to be here for a while then the whole town's going to need to meet you and the best way to do that is with—"
"Pinkie Pie is a friend of mine," Rainbow Dash said. She chuckled and scraped the ground with her back hoof. "I… so why did you come early?"
Spitfire said, "To visit the town. Get to know it beforehand. I don't think we've ever gotten the chance to do a show here. Normally these small places are just too small. But I like it."
"Just wait until you try some of the food here—"
Rainbow Dash rested a wing on Pinkie Pie's flank. She said, "How about I give you a tour then? I mean, we can visit that spot I was telling you guys about and maybe talk about our wicked new routine."
"Sounds great. Guess I'll see you around… Pinkie Pie?"
Pinkie Pie said, "See you around, Comet."
"Right… lead on, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire and Rainbow Dash flew away, chatting all the while. Pinkie Pie frowned and watched Rainbow Dash go.
Stupid bed and stupid soft pillows and stupid everything. Thank Celestia Pinkie Pie decided to bug her. She would've slept even longer, she shouldn't have given up on her sleep schedule. She just knew she was out of shape and everything else, she had to have flew faster days ago than she did right now.
Rainbow Dash sped over Ponyville and to the field. Spitfire told her they would be there at the crack of dawn to plan out their routine and then start with some basic maneuvers. She wouldn't know a thing about the routine and they'd hate her before she ever got the chance to fly.
Rainbow Dash reached the field. It was pockmarked with different colored flowers, and swept down off a south hill the length of a hundred ponies before it rose to meet the crest of a hill to the north. On the northern hill Rainbow Dash made out a group of pegasi. She sped to them and when she reached the hill a few spared her a glance.
Spitfire broke off from the group and met her. She said lowly, "This isn't a habit, is it?"
"No, course not. Somepony was supposed to wake me up and she didn't. It won't happen again."
Spitfire nodded. "Just make sure it doesn't. Nopony's going to make a big deal out of it since nothing much has been done today. Tomorrow may be a different story, though."
Rainbow Dash nodded. She didn't dare ask what she missed, she'd pick up her slack, not give more. Both approached the group. They stood around a large scroll rolled across the grass with several different sketches for different maneuvers and tricks. Tyco, a fire maned pegasus with a white streak, led the discussion. Rainbow Dash scanned the scroll, but couldn't make any sense out of it. None of the ponies were labeled, so she couldn't tell who was who.
Tyco said, "Then if you look right here, we're going to have Misty come through going full speed. She's going to stretch these clouds out so they look like a funnel, Blizzard and Blast will spiral around them from the other side."
Rainbow Dash gasped. She said, "You guys are gonna—"
"A belly up tornado isn't anything we haven't done before," Blast said. Blast matched Spitfire in most looks, she missed the yellow streak in her mane, and her wings were larger. The two were cousins.
"I've got something to put a twist on it."
Soarin chuckled and Blizzard glared at him. "What? I thought it was funny. Twist, twister?"
"No one else appreciates your puns, Tyco. For our benefit, why don't you tell us what you got drawn there," Misty said. She pointed her hoof at a sketch of a tornado, a pegasus barreling to the twister's tip.
"Soarin is the biggest, so he's going to shoot right up the middle," Tyco said.
Rainbow Dash said, "You can't just send a pony through there."
"Hey I don't know if I'm too comfortable going through that, either," Soarin said. "A crash and burn isn't any fun."
"Don't worry about it. Spitfire and Rainbow Dash are going to lead you in, you're going to use their speed to help slingshot you into the thing. Then boom," he pressed a hoof on the last stage of the sketch, "out the other side."
Everyone squinted at his next sketch.
Misty asked, "What is that exactly?"
"It's a rose."
"Uh-huh..."
"Look, cloud sculpting is abstract at the best of times. Let's just move on to something else."
They made it through the rest of the scroll. At first Rainbow Dash tried to make herself a part of the conversation, but she was never the star of any of their wicked awesome tricks. She supposed she didn't mind, but she just flew alongside ponies and didn't do a single thing the Wonderbolts were known for. And she noticed, every time she spoke nopony really listened to her. Her words passed them over like a cloud too high for a pegasus to clear.
She didn't mean to, but well, she started watching the field. At first she imagined all the cool tricks she'd show them, but then she watched a pair of hummingbirds zipping around, fighting over territory. Their aerial duel reminded Rainbow Dash of thunderclouds, shooting lightning at each other. Bam, flash, in one place, then another the next—
Tyco cleared his throat. "For the finale we're going to need you at you best."
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash flinched. "Oh. Oh right—um… I'm always at my best."
Tyco glanced at Spitfire. Rainbow Dash didn't see the look Spitfire returned, just that the pegasus shrugged her wings. Soarin said, "Hey look at those hummingbirds go at it."
Misty smacked his shoulder.
Tyco said, "Alright. I need to know right now. Can you do the sonic rainboom? I know you've done it twice for us, one time when you didn't mean to. But you need to be able to do that every show. I'm thinking I want to debunk it as an old mare's tale."
Rainbow Dash made herself as tall as she could. She didn't even mean for her wings to fan out when she said, "Does Celestia make the sun rise?"
"Good to hear it. Now what I'm thinking is using that as the closer, about at the height of the cumulus cloud. I don't want anyone in the audience to get hurt, you get any closer to the ground and you call it off. I mean it. Last thing we want is the another show where somepony messes up and ponies get hurt."
Rainbow Dash heard everything he said, but the only thing she listened to was the word "closer". Any show started with its second best trick and closed with its best. The first to get the audience riveted, the last to make them remember. Her heart sped up. Even if she just spent the next month practicing the sonic rainboom, she'd have it down so good she could pull it off in ten seconds flat.
"Now, with that said, Rainbow Dash is going to blow up the sky, which means the audience is going to be looking up. We'll have some petty thing to keep their attention while you're getting ready Rainbow Dash, and then we'll divert them to you. After the rainboom is the important part. At the front of the field, you're going to make a lightning bolt, just sort of make it and loop back around. We'll all join up and meet you through it at the center. This trick is yours Rainbow Dash, it's what you'll be practicing the second half of this month. You need to be able to do it in your sleep."
Rainbow Dash smirked. "Please. I'll do it in my sleep, and I'll do it backwards."
"Sounds like somepony's ready to go," Spitfire said. "Okay, thank you, Tyco. Now let's run through warm-ups and then we'll start with some formation flying just for today."
Scootaloo sat at the crest of the southern hill while her friends watched. The filly perked up her wings and said, "There's Rainbow Dash." Out on the field spun a twister, recently created by the Wonderbolts. Clumps of dirt and flowers spun through it, and at the sharp end Rainbow Dash and another pony swept down together with a bigger one right behind them.
Rainbow Dash and the other Wonderbolt split and the bigger pony flew right into the cloud. A second later he shot through the side, spinning and hurtling to the ground. He righted himself in time and landed on his hooves, tripped and fell over. One of the ponies in the air shouted at him. Sweetie Belle could just hear the crashed pony say, "A wad of dirt flew into my face!"
Sweetie Belle sighed and said, "Hey Scoot, come on. You've been watching these ponies fly around sun up to sun down forever now. We're wanting to do something else for once."
"Just a minute," Scootaloo said without looking at Applebloom or Sweetie Belle. "They almost got it that time."
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. She said to Applebloom, "I don't think she's ever going to move."
Applebloom frowned and said, "Aww, come on, Scootaloo. These guys ain't even fun ta watch crash no more. Ah know there are plenty of fun things to do. How 'bout it?"
Scootaloo shoulders heaved as she let out an exaggerated sigh. She turned and said, "Alright. I guess I can for you. But it better be something awesome." Scootaloo trotted past Sweetie Belle, her eyes narrowed on the pair as they started away.
She mumbled, "But you can't for me, huh?"
Rainbow Dash kicked the front door closed. With that blessed moment of privacy, she fell onto her haunches and groaned. Her everything hurt now, not just her wings. She didn't show it or she tried not to, in fact she thought she hid it pretty well. A few twinges here when they stretched, but nothing bad. No groaning, she'd never do that in front of a Wonderbolt.
With knobby knees and dead weight wings, Rainbow Dash stood and made her long trek to her bedroom.
But there were things to be excited about. Every morning they ran through the first half of the show, and they had it nailed down. It was so awesome, she couldn't wait until ponies everywhere saw it. Already plenty of the ponies out in Ponyville would picnic on the southern hill.
As she ascended the stairs to her room Rainbow Dash thought of her own ascension. In the past three days she managed to pull off two sonic rainbooms. In another week she wouldn't need to try anymore. Just sweep down and stun every pony ever with how awesome she was.
Rainbow Dash reached her bed. The most awesome bed ever. The best bed, no bed could be soft like it could be soft. Like sleeping on a cloud…
Knock. Knock.
Rainbow Dash groaned and turned back around. Downstairs somepony knocked on the door again. She sighed and said, "I'm coming."
Rainbow Dash reached the door and took a deep breath. She opened it and Pinkie Pie's head popped in. She leaned out the balloon she rode there and said, "Oh my gosh Rainbow Dash we haven't done anything together in three weeks! Can you believe it? I couldn't, I mean we talked a few times but you were always so tired and like, 'I need to go to bed so I can wake up early and be awesome with my awesome Wonderbolts because we're like twenty percent cooler than every other pony.'" She leaned back into her balloon and glanced away. "And I suppose that was okay but—"
Rainbow Dash closed the door, gently. She still heard Pinkie Pie muffled blabber sound off. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and opened the door, "—and holy smokes here you are now. We just got to make up for lost time, don'tcha think?"
Rainbow Dash said, "Now's not the best time Pinkie Pie. I've been working my tail off lately—"
"Oh then we can play pin the tail on the pony then!"
"No," Rainbow Dash said. She sighed, "I'm sorry Pinkie, I just... I need a break, a nice long break. The first chance we can get, we'll have some fun, okay?"
"Well, okay. See you later Dashie."
"See ya," Rainbow Dash said. She closed the door and sighed. She fled to her bed and nearly leapt in. She snuggled herself deep into her sweet mattress.
Knock. Knock.
"Gah—no, go away!" Rainbow Dash rolled over and squeezed her eyes shut.
Knock. Knock.
Rainbow Dash nickered and dragged herself from the bed. She returned to her front door and yanked it open. This time she spotted Fluttershy flying away.
Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils. "Fluttershy. Was it you knocking on my door?"
Fluttershy wheeled around and cringed when she saw Rainbow Dash. "Oh, I'm sorry Rainbow Dash. I—you we're probably sleeping. I'll just go."
"Well I'm up now," Rainbow Dash said. "What do you want?"
Fluttershy hesitated, then flew to Rainbow Dash's doorstep. "Well… if you don't mind… there's this dried up garden patch of carrots. Wild carrots, and there are so many cute little animals that use it for food—"
"Spit it out, will ya?"
Fluttershy squeaked and cast her gaze down. "I'm so sorry. I just… I was hoping you could maybe help me move some clouds over there to get it to rain. You're just so much better at it than me, and if you—"
"Some other time." Rainbow Dash closed the door on her face.
"Oh, well, okay. I'm sorry to bother you," Fluttershy said before she drifted down to the ground. There Applejack and Twilight stood with Pinkie Pie, the balloon right beside them.
Applejack said when Fluttershy landed before them, "Ah don't suppose she's just tidyin' up the place before you two leave."
Fluttershy shook her head. "No, she didn't want to talk to me at all."
"Ah see." Applejack narrowed her eyes at Twilight.
Twilight ignored her and said, "It's okay Fluttershy. You and Pinkie Pie don't worry about it. We just wanted to see if she could. We'll make up for it with her surprise party next week."
Twilight's legs began to burn, she felt tempted to just lie down, rather than remain in this crouch. Applejack shared her sentiments. The farm pony said, "If she doesn't show up soon Ah'm goin' ta fall over."
All five of Rainbow Dash's friends waited in Sugar Cube Corner, only the windows allowed soft moonlight to creep into the shadow wrapped room. Rarity asked, "You did give her the right time, dear?"
Pinkie Pie said, "Oh I'm sure I did. I left her a dozen invitations too, all over the place. In her house, her mailbox, in the field, even between her wings."
Applejack sighed.
"Um… I think I hear something," Fluttershy said.
The door opened. With her magic, Twilight turned on the lights. Rarity and Applejack jumped up from behind the counter, Pinkie Pie bounced around the corner, and Twilight leapt to her feet. "Surprise!" they yelled.
"Surprise." Fluttershy had just came down from the stairway. Her gaze swept the room and she climbed a step back up the stairs. "Oops, I didn't mean to be late."
Rainbow Dash smiled. "Aww, you guys shouldn't." Rarity gasped. Twilight almost did too. Their fastest flyer's wings were a mess, the feathers unkempt and desperate for a preening. There were bags under her eyes, matts in her mane, and a general stench that drifted from her.
She stepped inside. "Sorry I'm late. I just got done with our last day of training."
"We know," Twilight said. She watched them run through the show once, it was an impressive sight. The Wonderbolts practiced the whole show at least four more times, over the course of the day they saw five sonic rainbooms rattle the chimneys of Ponyville.
Pinkie Pie popped in front of Rainbow Dash like a jack in the box.
"Don't worry about it now Dashie. We got this super mega awesome party for you. We spent all day—well I spent all yesterday too—getting it ready for you. We've got the best cake ever, and I borrowed a record from Lyra of that one group you like, and all sorts of games—"
Rainbow Dash yawned and smacked her lips. "I think we need to take it easy on the games Pinkie."
Twilight glanced around the room. Rarity and Applejack both gave her a look. Twilight said, "How about some tunes then? Where'd you put that record, Pinkie?"
"Oh my gosh I'll go put it on right now. Thanks Twilight," Pinkie Pie said and sped to grab her phonogram.
Rainbow Dash stepped inside and closed the door. Her eyes lingered on the poster of pin the tail on the pony and apple bobbing barrel beside it. Twilight asked, "So how is all the practice going, Rainbow Dash?"
"Huh? Oh it's great. I'm fitting in way easy. They love me."
"And they're not working you too hard, darling?" Rarity asked.
Rainbow Dash said, "No. I mean it's tough, but awesome tough. Like always hitting that next challenge and everything. I'm really good now, like loads better than that silly pony flying around a month ago."
"Uh-huh…"
"Here it is everypony," Pinkie Pie said. She hefted the phonogram down the stairs, standing on her hind hooves with the music player wrapped in her front. Fluttershy gasped, hesitated, then helped her. They got it to the floor and after Pinkie Pie caught her breath, she put on the record and started it.
After a short pause, the phonogram squealed with the high note of a guitar. The noise broke into a high-octane solo, with drums and a thrumming bass falling in behind it. Then music took a turn for a slower tempo while some rock pony belted out lyrics. No pony moved for a moment, then Pinkie threw up her hooves and said, "Let's dance."
They tried. Pinkie Pie made sure everypony got to moving their hooves, but well, Rainbow Dash's taste for music was not the best for dancing. Fluttershy and Rarity bumbled about, the swinging guitar hooks and thumping drums did not offer them a rhythm they found natural, Applejack was just bad at any dance not a square dance, and Rainbow Dash was so tired… Pinkie Pie tried, everypony tried.
Twilight regretted her suggestion.
Five minutes later Rainbow Dash stopped and said, "I don't know if I'm up for dancing yet."
Pinkie Pie froze. She stood on her hind-hooves, Gummy hanging from her mane, and a glowstick in a hoof. Applejack grabbed her and said, "We'll bring out your cake then, Rainbow Dash. Twilight, turn the music down, if ya would."
Applejack whisked Pinkie Pie into the back of the bakery. Twilight used her magic to turn the phonogram down while Rarity said, "I think you're going to find your cake simply smashing. I designed it, took most of my afternoon. The taste is just a divine, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie outdid themselves. Didn't you dear?"
Fluttershy nodded and said, "Oh yes. It's… well Pinkie Pie did most of the baking. I helped pick out ingredients mostly. But it should be very good."
"Okay," Rainbow Dash said. "I'll take your guy's word for it."
"Here it comes now," Twilight said and turned on the door when she heard it swing open. Applejack and Pinkie Pie carted out a massive cake. It was in the shape of the Wonderbolt lightning bolt, with the wings sprouted from the sides. The point met at a green pedestal, and some pony used several dyed icings to show the spread of an explosion of color. The sonic rainboom. Six small pegasi flew out from the back and arced over the cake, their contrails of thunder clouds made from black licorice.
Twilight heard a long and low, "Whoa…" She felt a small flush of relief ease the tension in her belly. They all wanted Rainbow Dash so badly to have a fun time.
Rainbow Dash floated into the air and swirled around the cake, taking in every aspect of it. "This is so awesome. I've never seen a cake so cool. Do we have to eat it? I mean. Can we keep it like this? It's just—whoa thanks guys!"
"Not a problem, sugar cube," Applejack said.
Twilight said, "How about a picture before we eat. You've got a camera, don't you Pinkie?"
"Well of course! I'll go get it."
Pinkie Pie raced upstairs with her improbable pet latched onto her tail. In an instant she was downstairs again and past the five of them. She said, "Gather up everypony. Let's take a picture."
They all gathered around, Twilight and Fluttershy sat together at the base of the cake. Rainbow Dash hovered over it and Applejack and Rarity stood at its side. "Say dapple apples!" The camera flashed before they even got past their grins. Pinkie Pie set down the camera and said, "Okay, time to eat—"
"Wait!" Rainbow Dash said. "I'm sorry guys, but it's just so cool. Can we keep it up for a minute longer?"
Twilight said, "Sure? Rarity, you and Fluttershy had a present for her, didn't you?"
Rarity held her head higher than she already did. "I don't know how Fluttershy and I had time to make something this fabulous. You'll simply love it."
Rarity's horn glowed and in the corner of the room a dressing screen folded up. Behind it waited a dressed mannequin, with a suit like a Wonderbolt's, only the cuffs and ankles held a rainbow lightning bolt. The bolt started on the side and wrapped down behind the sleeve. The normal lightning bolt on the outfit reflected Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. The rest of the suit seemed the same.
Rarity said, "It's your own personal Wonderbolts outfit dear! We tried for something that would make you standout, but wouldn't look gaudy beside those other outfits. There was so much more I wanted to do with it, but Fluttershy reminded me you weren't supposed to steal the show."
"I didn't want you getting in trouble," Fluttershy said.
"It's great you guys," Rainbow Dash said. She approached the mannequin and looked it over. She nuzzled the fabric and asked Rarity, "Hey, what's this stuff made out of?"
"It's two layers of fabric, dear. Silk on the inside, to keep you comfortable, and a sleek satin to get that color."
Rainbow Dash frowned. Her wings drooped and she faced the girls again. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to wear this. All the Wonderbolts have to wear this sweaty, poly-something something. It's supposed to protect us and stuff."
"Oh… I… I suppose it will just look magnificent when you wear it while giving autographs," Rarity said.
Twilight intervened again. "How about we get some cake then?"
"I'm down for that. Going to miss that cake, though. It's so awesome."
"Pinkie Pie will send ya the picture," Applejack said.
"I'll make copies for everypony," Pinkie Pie said.
Pinkie Pie already busied herself grabbing a knife. When she found one, Twilight offered to cut off a piece from the top before the pink pony could cause a disaster. She took off six neat slices and dropped them on waiting plates before she levitate the plates around.
"Let us know what you think Dashie," Pinkie Pie said before she chomped off a massive wedge of cake.
"No problem, Pinkie Pie." Twilight watched Rainbow Dash take a bite. She chewed the cake for a minute, her eyes screwed up in mock concentration then they went wide. She swallowed and stuck out her tongue. "Bleck. I hate blueberries."
Out the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Fluttershy grimace.
Rainbow Dash noticed the donkey she made of herself and shook her head. "The rest of it's great, I swear. It's awesome, but I just can't stand blueberries. You guys can eat, though."
Twilight caught Applejack looking at her. She glanced at the orange pony and saw the intense stare that said, "Do something."
Twilight opened her mouth to make another suggestion when a bell tower in Ponyville began to its slow bong… bong… bong…
Rainbow Dash glanced at the door and said, "Gosh is it that late already." The bell rang seven more times. Rainbow Dash said, "I need to go. Got to get up super early. I guess I'll see you guys?"
"Um… I guess?" Twilight said.
"Right, thanks," Rainbow Dash said before she retreated out the door. Applejack blew past Twilight, and chased Rainbow Dash outside.
Applejack rushed into a gallop when she noticed Rainbow Dash already took to the air. She shouted, "Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! Wait just an apple pickin' minute ya stinkin' pegasus."
Rainbow Dash spun around and Applejack stopped. They made it half a hundred pony lengths in a few seconds.
"Why are ya so eager ta leave?" Applejack demanded.
Rainbow Dash floated down to a few paces before her. Her face hard to make out in the moonlight. She said, "I just have to get to bed early. I'm not going to sleep in again."
"That's fine and dandy. Shucks if ya want Ah can wake ya up tomorrow to be sure. But ya just don't run out on your friends like that."
"I didn't run out on anyone."
Applejack snorted. "Okay, ya didn't run out. Ya zipped out on your wings so fast every other pony didn't hardly get the chance ta blink."
"Fine, maybe I was a bit rushed. But you know what? I have a right to act this way. I'm tired Applejack. I'm just tired and while I'm happy with everything I've done and I don't regret a second of it, it's still the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I wake up and even my aches have aches, okay? I know it'll get better after tomorrow. When we don't have to spend every moment of the day perfecting a routine, but for now I'm tired."
Applejack scratched the dirt with a hoof. "That still don't give ya the right ta treat your friends like a bunch of rotten apples."
"Maybe that's what you saw. But that whole party was an awkward mess and we both know it. Look, I loved the cake and the gift, and I loved what you guys were trying to do, but I can't deal with it right now."
"My party was a mess?" Pinkie Pie's squeak made Applejack freeze. She glanced over her shoulder and saw everypony now stood ten paces behind her.
Rainbow Dash just noticed them as well. She said, "No, it's not you Pinkie. I'm just tired."
"Well if you're tired take a day or two off. Ya can't kill yourself, you're just a pony—"
"No, I'm a Wonderbolt now!" Rainbow Dash said. "And if every other Wonderbolt is handling this just fine, well then so can I. If that's what it takes—"
"This isn't about what it takes or what it don't take ya stupid pony!" Applejack said. "It's about your friends, worryin 'bout ya and tryin' their best ta understand and support ya, but ya don't hardly give us the time of day no more."
"Because I don't have the time. Aren't you listening Applejack? I'm so tired it hurts to just stay in the air like this."
"Then put your hooves on the ground before Ah force ya to!"
"I won't. I can't let something like this beat me. You know what? You aren't even listening. Some friend you are. I'd hope somepony would at least try to support me with this, but it always has to be about yourself. Fine. I'm done. I didn't want to go to your stupid party anyways."
Rainbow Dash turned and catapulted into the air. Her flight path wavered, but she soon dropped out of sight behind the roofs and homes of Ponyville.
Rainbow Dash felt like her whole insides were ready to come up. She didn't care. She wanted them to understand. She wasn't trying to be awful or anything, but stupid Applejack and her stupid pride. She made her say those things in front of Pinkie Pie and the others. Rainbow Dash didn't want to turn back now, she didn't want to face any of it. She wanted to fly all the way to Canterlot where she would do her first show as a Wonderbolt for the princess herself. The princess would be stopping to see her, just her.
And none of them cared. None of them. Rainbow Dash sped through the night, with no flight path, no destination. But she reminded herself of the Wonderbolt's camp outside of town and changed her course. She'd show them, show them all.
Breathe, Rainbow Dash.