//------------------------------// // Sonic Rainboom // Story: Sugarcoat Interferes In Pony History // by Twinkletail //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash was nervous. That wasn't something she admitted easily—to herself or otherwise—but it was clear as day today. The mere concept of needing to win the Best Young Flyers competition was stressful enough, but that was the kind of stress that Rainbow usually thrived on. It was the fact that she hadn't been able to pull of the Sonic Rainboom in what felt like a thousand tries that was really causing a problem. Her performance today, while phenomenal without it, really hinged on the Sonic Rainboom to make it a clear-cut victory. She had thought that a cheering section comprised of all of her best friends would help reduce the stress, and thanks to Twilight Sparkle's magic, she was a blue to get just that. However, that came with its own set of problems... "Rarity! What're you doing talking to these guys?" Rainbow scowled at her friend as she caught her speaking to the three stallions who had been her childhood bullies. Of all the ponies for her to choose to talk to, it just had to be Dumbbell, Hoops, and Score. "Oh, they were just admiring my wings, Rainbow Dash," Rarity told her. While Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack had been enchanted with a cloud-walking spell, Rarity had been the lucky recipient of a spell that granted her a set of gossamer wings. The wings were attention-grabbing, and Rarity, always one to enjoy attention, had taken to them very fast. A little too fast, in Rainbow's opinion. The way Rarity was acting was certainly not helping to put Rainbow at ease. "Yeah, you should forget the Sonic Rainboom and just get yourself some wings like these!" Dumbbell said. He and his friends began laughing, which certainly didn't help Rainbow's mood nor her nerves. She grumbled under her breath, an action which was enough for Fluttershy to take notice of her sour mood. "Uhh...c'mon, girls. Why don't we go see how clouds are made?" Fluttershy offered helpfully. She waited for the others to begin towards the cloud factory before moving next to Rainbow Dash. "Don't listen to them. You're gonna win that competition for sure!" "Are you kidding?" Rainbow moaned. "I can't do the Sonic Rainboom, and just look at these boring, plain old feathered wings. I'm doomed!" She began to walk off, but was stopped by a powder-blue hoof. "Let me take care of this," Sugarcoat said. "Sugarcoat?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "How are you walking on clouds?" "I asked Twilight to cast the spell on me too," Sugarcoat said simply. All heads turned to Twilight, who smiled awkwardly. "What?" Twilight said. "She asked." "Never mind that," Sugarcoat said, then turned her attention to Rarity. "You. I thought you wanted to help Rainbow Dash." "What?" Rarity asked. "I do! That's why-" "That's why you're flying around with your fancy wings and drawing everypony's attention?" Sugarcoat offered. "That's why you're making the ponies who are going to be watching her later go all gaga over your wings and pretty much forget about her completely? That's why, instead of focusing on calming her nerves like you claimed to want, you're basking in the attention of the three ponies who she gets along with the least up here? If that's how you help ponies you care about, I hope you never help me with anything." Rarity stared at Sugarcoat in shock. She stammered, trying to respond to that, but she couldn't find the words. She finally gave up on words, looking pitifully at Rainbow to confirm this. "Well..." Rainbow said softly. "Uh...I wouldn't have worded it like that...but she's kinda right." Within moments, Rarity was in tears, wrapping her forelegs around Rainbow. "I'm terribly sorry, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed. "I've been a horrible, horrible friend!" Rainbow groaned a bit, but dealt with it. It was Rarity's nature to overreact. "Nah, you're not a horrible friend," Rainbow said. "Don't worry about it, Rare. Just...I dunno, relax?" She sat still, tolerating Rarity's hug. It was just a bit sappy for her. "Very well, Rainbow Dash," Rarity said, finally releasing her. "You concentrate on your act. I'll stay out of your way and cheer you on." "Thanks, Rarity," Rainbow said with a smile. "I think I'm already feeling a little more confident." The girls smiled, then began on their way towards the cloud factory. Sugarcoat, however, stopped Rarity. "Hey," Sugarcoat said. "You know what would really help Rainbow Dash?" "What?" Rarity asked. "Just fly up high in the sky like two thirds through her routine," Sugarcoat said. "How would that help Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked, looking quite confused. "Trust me," Sugarcoat said. "It'll help a lot of things in the long run." Rarity raised a brow, but shrugged and took it under consideration. Sugarcoat wasn't wrong too often, after all.