"So, you remember what I told you, huh?" Rainbow Dash touched down on my front lawn. Her wings settled on either side of me. "Ease into the liftoff. Don't strain your muscles, Keep the wings even, but move your body around—throw your weight into where you wanna go."
"Uhhhh... y-yeah..." I climbed down and trotted evenly onto the springy grass. "I mean... it's a lot to take in... and it'll take some practice..."
"Heh... you got that right," she said, smiling in the afternoon glow. "Not everypony can learn that sort of stuff overnight."
"Cuz everypony isn't you." I winked hard. "Right?"
"A+! That's your grade for the day, squirt!"
"Heheh! Alright!"
"Well, I got stuff I gotta get to," Rainbow said. "But this was super cool."
"Yeah! Totally!" I grinned. "But, like, I've got some chores to do today. But I'll practice between now and the time we do lessons again! I promise!"
"You'll learn faster than in any Flight Camp!" Rainbow pointed. "And that's a promise!"
"Heheh... okay!"
"Later, kiddo." She turned around with a flick of the tail and spread her wings again. "There are buckable clouds out there with my name on it."
"Hey... uh... Rainbow Dash!"
"Hmm?" She looked over her shoulder. "What's up, Scoots? Besides me in ten seconds."
I opened my mouth—but nothing came out. At least at first. Two breaths later, I found myself quietly murmuring: "A knight in shining armor doesn't always have to be a dude, huh?"
She looked at me. For a while, I didn't know whether she would smile or frown. To my joy, she took the happier of the two routes. "No, kid. You're right. Not always."
I gulped, then smiled. "I'm... uh... I'm really glad that Applejack is okay."
She nodded. "So am I, Scoots." The wind kicked at her hair, and yet the warmth in her face remained. "Top of the world."
FWOOOOSH!
And then she was gone.
I stared up into the wild blue yonder, unable to make her out from the rest of the bright world anymore. I realized soon enough that I didn't have to. Rainbow Dash would always be around. Always.
With a curious spring to my step, I galloped into the household and enjoyed the rest of my Saturday.