//------------------------------//
// Everything is Awesome 
// Story: Better than the Best 
// by BronyDad 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 12


Everything is Awesome


"Good evening, Ponies and Griffons, and welcome to Event Three, the third and final round of The Annual Flying Pairs Competition!"

"And what a round it's going to be, Clasko!  We've seen some superb flying so far, and with nothing to hold the contestants back, I'm sure we are about to be treated to one heck of a show."

"Oh, of that I have no doubt, Emma.  There are several teams that I am really looking forward to.  Team TwiDash being at the top of the list, and team Lightning Dust should be interesting.  Even if they fail once again to perform as a team, I'm sure with their skills, they'll still be very entertaining.  And then there's team Pony Prin—"

"Actually, Clasko, that reminds me.  Little Krystle approached officials not long ago and requested to change her team's name..."

"Oh, thank goodness!"

"...and since there is nothing in the rules prohibiting it, mainly because no one's ever done it before, they were only too happy to comply.  So, for this final round, team Pony Princesses are Pretty will instead be known as team Dads Rule."

"That's adorable."

Raising her gaze a little further down field, Twilight spotted Krystle hugging her father tightly as the audience awed and applauded.  The two of them beamed as they turned in a small circle and waved at the crowd.

"That kid's something else, isn't she?" Gilda commented from behind her.

"You'd better believe it," Rainbow replied.  "How else would she be beating both of our teams?"

Gilda grinned.  "You've got a point there."

"Gilda!  What in the hay are you doing over here?"  They turned around to find Lightning hovering several feet off the ground.  "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"I'm talking to Rainbow and Twilight," Gilda said evenly.  "Is that a problem?"

Lightning simply stared at her for a moment, then shook her head before turning her attention to Rainbow.  "You doing all right?"

Rainbow exchanged a look with Twilight.  "Yeah...why?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you're cool," Lightning stated.  "Bringing up your dad like that was a low blow, I'll admit that, and I don't want you to be upset."

Cocking her eyebrow, Rainbow asked, "What do you care?"

"Honestly, I don't."  Lightning shrugged.  "I just want to be sure that you're at your best when I beat you.  That way, there can be no doubt in our minds who the better pony is."

"And what about the part where you want to humiliate me?  You know, like I humiliated you when I got you kicked out of the academy?"

With a quick glance at Twilight, Lightning said, "Yeah, well, maybe I'll leave that part out."

Rainbow snorted.  "You don't have to worry about me.  I'm more than ready to kick your tail all the way back to Cloudsdale."

"We'll see."  Lightning smirked.  "After tonight, everypony is gonna know which of us truly belongs in the Wonderbolts."

"Yeah they will," Rainbow agreed with a curt nod.

"You just think you're so bad," Lightning said as she rose higher into the air.  "I can't wait to see you lose."  With a small flip, she rocketed off toward the opposite side of the field.

"Um, guys..." Gilda spoke hesitantly, "she probably needs to talk to me about some stuff.  So, I'll see you after the round?"

"If not, we'll come find you before we board the train tomorrow," Twilight assured her with a warm smile.

Returning the smile, Gilda lifted off and headed toward Lightning.

"Are you okay, Dash?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow flashed her a grin.  "You bet.  I know better than to let her get under my skin again."

"And if we lose to her?" Twilight pressed, voicing her lingering concern.

"We won't."  Rainbow shrugged.  "But if we did, I'd be cool with it.  As long as I don't have to deal with her rubbing it in my face too much."

"If she becomes a spoil sport and tries anything like that, I'll teleport her back to the hotel," Twilight promised.

Rainbow laughed.  "That would be epic!  Can you imagine the look on her face when she suddenly finds herself talking to a stone wall!" 

"I wonder how long it would take her to realize what happened."  Twilight snickered.

Suddenly, Clasko's voice boomed over the field.  "And now, if we can have everyone's attention, we've got a bit of a surprise for you.  Just arriving from Cloudsdale, we present to you...the Wonderbolts!"

At that exact moment, Spitfire and Soarin came blazing into sight.  They hovered above the field, smiling and waving at the crowd, and then launched into a series of stunts that left Twilight's jaw hanging.

"Whoa, Twi!  Did you see that?!" Rainbow cried excitedly.  "That is a very hard trick to pull off.  You and your partner have to have complete trust in each other before you even attempt it.  That's like the elite of the elite moves!"

Twilight sighed as her old regret resurfaced.  She was glad that the two of them had made up, but she still hadn't found a way to prove to Rainbow that she trusted her.  She would happily place her very life in her friend's hooves without hesitation, and wanted more than anything in the world to show her that.

"Let's hear it for the Wonderbolts, everyone!" Emma cried. 

As the crowd roared madly, Spitfire and Soarin crossed the field and sat on a cloud that had been placed right next to Gideon's.

"The contestants are eager, the judges are set, and the order of the teams have been determined."

"And as soon as Clasko is finished with the theatrics, we can get this round started."

"Oh, come on, Emma.  It's the final round.  I'm just trying to add a bit of flair."

"Why don't we leave that to the competitors?"  Emma chuckled as Clasko sat back in the cloud and grumbled, and then called the first team out onto the field.

"Hey, Twi," Rainbow said as the team began their performance.  "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Of course," Twilight replied without taking her eyes off of the two fliers.

"I was wondering if...uh..."  Twilight glanced over at Rainbow when she paused and frowned as she scratched her head uncertainly.  

Suddenly concerned, she asked, "What is it, Dash?" 

Rainbow hesitated for a moment longer, and then blurted out, "Would you come to Cloudsdale with me to visit my parents?"

A warm smile spread across Twilight's face.  "Yeah.  I think I would like that."  She studied her friend closely.  "Why did you have so much trouble asking that?"

Rainbow grinned sheepishly.  "Well, with everything I've put you through here, it kinda felt wrong to ask you for something else."

Rolling her eyes, Twilight said, "Would you stop acting like you were the only one that messed up."  She poked Rainbow in the chest with a hoof.  "You know I would do anything for you, and meeting your parents will be fun."

Rainbow started forward, but then faltered.  She looked at the spectators all around them, then at the Wonderbolts seated up on their cloud before turning her gaze back to Twilight.  Then she shrugged.

"Oh, what the hay."  She hugged Twilight tightly.  "I don't care who sees me."

Touched by Rainbow's affection, Twilight returned the embrace.  Unfortunately, the warmth she felt within didn't last long before it was smothered by her guilt.  

I've got to find a way to prove my trust to her.

Just then they heard Clasko call team Lightning Dust, and Rainbow quickly pulled away to watch Gilda and Lightning enter the field.

As the two of them flew toward the center of the field, Gilda caught Twilight's eye and smiled.  Returning the smile, she leaned toward Rainbow.  "I've really got mixed feelings about this."

Rainbow frowned.  "Same here.  I want to see Lightning fail miserably, but that would mean Gilda failing too."

High above the field, Lightning seemed to be saying something, Gilda nodded, and then held out a fist for Lightning to bump.  With a small sideways roll, Gilda lined herself up perfectly with her partner, and then they both nodded to the official.

"There's the whistle, and they're off, and my, oh my are they fast!"

"But Lightning is sticking close to Gilda, Emma.  It looks like we're finally going to see some teamwork from these two."

"Look at how in sync they are, and at those speeds!  This is incredible!"

"Oh, wow!" Clasko exclaimed as the crowd began to cheer.  "That would have required pinpoint accuracy!  Unbelievable!"

Twilight glanced over at Rainbow and found her grinning ear to ear.  "It looks like she's having a good time up there."

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed.  "I'm glad Lightning is finally working with her."

"I wonder what made her change?"

"I dunno.  Maybe it's her drive to beat me."  Rainbow shrugged.  "But they're gonna get a high score.  We better be at the top of our game."

"Thanks to their low score last round, they should be easy to beat even if they get a perfect score here," Twilight pointed out.  "At least, as long as I don't mess up."

Rainbow snorted.  "Since when does Twilight Sparkle ever fail?"

Twilight rolled her eyes, but was unable to keep the smile from her face.  The confidence Rainbow had in her felt great, and as she looked into those bright, intense eyes, Twilight knew she would succeed. 

The shrill of the whistle brought Twilight's attention back to the field.

"What a fantastic performance by team Lightning Dust," Clasko announced once the crowd had quieted down enough for him to be heard.  "Let's go to the judges."

"Four tens!  A perfect score!"

"And definitely well deserved.  That puts them in first place with seventy seven points total."

"Sweet!" Rainbow exclaimed.  "Krystle will have no problem beating them, and we only need twenty three points for second.  And Gilda should still take third."

Twilight nodded.  "I'm glad she'll place.  She's put in a lot of work for it."

"Yeah," Rainbow replied.  "And notice that Lightning isn't coming over here to gloat.  She must have finally figured out the math and knows we're gonna take the lead from her."

With a giggle, Twilight nudged Rainbow.  "Be nice."

"What?"  Rainbow grinned.  "It's not like I'm calling her stupid or anything.  Just that she probably has trouble counting."

Laughing, Twilight turned her attention to the team currently on the field.  Once they had finished and were scored, Clasko called for team Dads Rule.  

She waved as Nasir and Krystle entered the field, and beside her, Rainbow yelled, "Show them what you're made of, squirt!" 

Flittering around her father excitedly, Krystle returned the wave.  "Will do!"

"All set?" the official asked once the two of them had reached the center of the field.  

With a nod from Nasir, the whistle shrilled.

"What a promising start, these two are just so graceful."

"They really are, Emma.  It almost seems like a sort of dance, doesn't it?"

Sitting back on her haunches, Twilight smiled as the two of them continued their routine.  She oohed and awed with the rest of the spectators at the perfectly coordinated routine.   

But then, as Krystle performed a back flip and swooped forward toward Nasir, she cut up too sharply and slammed her head into his face.  Dazed, Nasir raised his talons to his face and lost some of his altitude as Krystle plummeted toward the ground. 

"Oh, she's falling!" Clasko shouted.  "Someone, catch her!"

Twilight's heart stopped as her eyes tracked Krystle's descent, but then, with a hard shake of his head, Nasir went into a steep dive and snatched the little Griffon out of the air.  He held her tightly as the rescue ponies rushed to their aid, but a moment later, Krystle lifted away on her own and began waving with a sheepish grin as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

"She appears to be fine," Emma stated, "but per the rules she will need to be checked by the physician."

"Which, unfortunately, means that team Dads Rule will be disqualified from this round."

"Still, they have seventy four points, and are still well ahead of most teams, Clasko.  With any luck, they'll keep second place."

Without a word, Rainbow raced off toward Krystle, and Twilight quickly followed suit.  As they arrived, Rainbow asked, "Is she all right?  What happened?"

"I'm fine," Krystle said, then paused while the doctor shined a light into her eyes.  "My head hurts a little though."

"She just got too excited," Nasir explained, the ugly discoloration of a black eye already distinguishing itself from his feathers.  "She came at me faster than I was expecting, and I didn't have time to react."

Krystle sniffed as she approached them.  "I'm sorry, Daddy."

"It's okay, sweetheart," Nasir assured her with a warm smile and a gentle pat on the head.  "It was an accident.  These things happen sometimes."

As Nasir stepped away for his checkup, Krystle wiped her eyes and turned to Rainbow.  "I'm sorry I didn't win, Rainbow."

Rainbow scooted her forward with a wing and embraced her tightly.  "Krystle, all because I wanted you to win doesn't mean that you had to."

"Rainbow's right," Twilight chimed in.  "We know you did your best, and we are both very proud of you."

"Really?"  When they both nodded, Krystle beamed.  "You're the coolest Pony I've ever met," she said as she squeezed Rainbow's neck, causing the Pegasus's eyes to bulge.  Then she unexpected leaped from Rainbow and threw her talons around Twilight.  "And you're the coolest Princess in the whole world!"

With a grunt, Twilight stumbled, but managing to keep her balance, she hugged Krystle back.  "You're pretty cool yourself."

They all turned to the judges as the shrill of a whistle marked the end of a team's performance.  After holding up his card, Hans glanced down at them just as Nasir was returning.  He held a thumb up in the air, and Hans smiled and sat back in his cloud.

"You want to get some cotton candy?" he asked, laying a talon on Krystle's back.

Krystle's eyes went wide.  "Yeah!"

Nasir looked at them.  "You two want anything?"     

After they both declined, Nasir and Krystle headed off toward the vendors.  Once they were out of earshot, Twilight asked, "You think they'll still place?"

Rainbow shook her head.  "We'll beat them for sure...but I don't think anypony else will."

"Well...third place isn't bad," Twilight said, a bit dejectedly.  "Especially for someone her age."

"Yeah..."

Each lost in their own thoughts, the two of them sat and watched team Cloudburst enter the field.  

Although they were far from graceful, Cloudgazer and Adele really seemed to be having the time of their lives out there.  Despite her disappointment for Krystle, Twilight found herself grinning as the two of them crashed into each other and just started laughing.  It was clear that winning was the furthest thing in either of their minds.

After team Cloudburst, a pair of sibling Griffons took to the field, and Twilight's heart slowly sank as they put on a terrific show.  Her ears drooped as she watched the judges score the team, and even though Hans scored them two points lower than the other judges, they still ended up with a total of seventy five points.

"They just put Krystle down to third place," Rainbow muttered.  "So...if we beat Lightning, then she won't even place."

"Do you want to call it off?" Twilight suggested.  "I did bruise my wing pretty good, I could use that as an excuse."

Rainbow shook her head.  "The Wonderbolts are here, I can't just quit without a good reason.  How would that make me look?"

"Well, thankfully we're the last team to perform," Twilight said, "so we still have some time to think of something."

But as each of the remaining teams performed, Twilight fell deeper and deeper into despair.  There was no way out of their predicament.  Either they performed well for the Wonderbolts and Krystle wouldn't place, or they purposefully did poorly.  She knew that both outcomes would disappoint Rainbow, and there was absolutely nothing that she could do about it.

Seemingly in no time, Clasko was calling them out onto the field.

"Well...did you think of anything?" Rainbow asked.

"Sorry, Dash.  I can't come up with anything."

Rainbow sighed and nodded.  "I'll just have a talk with her once this is over.  Still, I wish she could have done better."   

Twilight desperately tried to think of something she could do as they approached the center of the field, but was distracted by someone shouting at them.  Glancing below them, she spotted Cloudgazer hopping around wildly.  "Go team TwiDash!  You're gonna win this thing!"

She thought of Cloudgazer and Adele as they collided with each other, and how they hadn't been concerned with winning.  They were just there for one another, that was all that mattered to them.

Suddenly, Twilight gasped.  "Rainbow, I have a plan."

"Really?"  Rainbow perked up.  "What is it?"

"Are you ready?" the official called.

"Just follow the routine," Twilight told her hastily, "and watch me closely when we split apart."

As Rainbow nodded her understanding, Twilight waved to the official and he blew his whistle.  

Twilight flew the routine exactly the way she had practiced; Rainbow was beneath her with her back angled toward the ground and close enough to touch.  Slowly, they began to rotate until Twilight was the one with her back facing the ground.  She smiled as she remembered her fear the first time they tried this maneuver, and the number of times she had crashed into Rainbow before she finally got it right.  Seeing Rainbow return her smile, her own widened.

They touched all four hooves together, and pushing off one another, they back flipped and returned with all four hooves touching once again.  They did this several more times, then broke away and sped off toward opposite ends of the field.  As Twilight climbed higher, she quickly took in the positions of the rescue ponies and the Wonderbolts, and moved further down the field from them.  It would not do to have any of them reach her first.  

Turning her attention to Rainbow, she saw that she had reached the peak of her climb.  Twilight had already broken the routine, and she could see her friend's confusion as she continued to climb higher.  Twilight made a show of twirling as she ascended, wanting to fool the spectators into thinking this was still their routine.  Finally deciding that she was high enough, she met Rainbow's gaze, held it, and then closed her eyes and stopped flapping.

As before, there was a surreal moment when she felt as if she were floating, and then she was plummeting toward the earth at terrifying speeds.  This time the roaring of the wind in her ears was accompanied by the screams of the spectators.

"Something is wrong with the princess!"  Clasko's voice was filled with horror.  "She appears to be unconscious."

Twilight bit her lip as she struggled to suppress her panic.  

"The rescue ponies are too far away!"

With her heart hammering, every muscle in her body tensing, and the overwhelming sensation of loss of control enveloping her thoughts, Twilight's mind screamed at her to fly.

"Here come the Wonderbolts!  But I don't think they're going to make it in time!"

Her fear once again overpowering her, Twilight opened her eyes with a gasp and spread her wings, but then she heard Rainbow's words:  To me, Twilight is more than a friend, more than a princess even.  Twilight's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Recalling the love of her friend, Twilight smiled and closed her eyes.  Her body relaxed and her wings folded as she reminded herself that she trusted Rainbow.

"Clasko!  Look at Rainbow!  What is that around her?!"

"It's like...a-a cone of air..."

Suddenly, Twilight was no longer falling, and she opened her eyes to see Rainbow's beaming face mere inches away.  Seconds later, the entire field erupted in wild applause as the two of them hugged.

"She did it!  Rainbow Dash caught Princess Twilight!"

"That was amazing, Clasko!  I've never even heard of a Pegasus flying that fast!"

"And did you see that cone, Emma?  I think we very nearly saw the fabled Sonic Rainboom!"

As Spitfire and Soarin reached them, Twilight looked around the field.  

There wasn't a single spectator still seated; everywhere she looked were ponies and Griffons jumping around, hollering and clapping.  The judges were all hovering above their panel, Clasko and Emma were several yards away from their cloud, and even Overwatch and Gideon had left their seats.  

"Great save, Dash!" Soarin exclaimed with a slap on her back.

Spitfire nodded her approval.  "Somehow, you manage to impress every time we see you."

Then the rescue ponies arrived.  "Princess, are you all right?"

"Yeah," Twilight answered slowly.  "I just got dizzy and passed out."

One of the rescue ponies turned to the other two.  "Get her to the physician as quickly as you can."

Each stallion grabbed one of her forelegs and gently lowered her to the ground and toward a cot that the physician was hurriedly setting up.

"What a spectacular rescue by Rainbow Dash, that was easily the most amazing thing we've seen at the competition this year!  And definitely the most amazing thing this Griffon has ever seen."

"Too right, Clasko!  But...it pains me greatly to have to say this, but as Twilight cannot finish the round, team TwiDash must be disqualified."  As the crowd began to boo, Emma held up her talons.  "Sorry, folks.  That's always been the rule."

"Still, they may not have placed, Emma, but they certainly are winners in my book."

"No doubt!  I only hope I can manage to meet Rainbow before she leaves and shake her hoof."

As Twilight lay on the cot, the physician asked, "How are you feeling, Your Highness?"

"Okay, now," she replied.  "I just got a bit woozy up there.  Maybe I simply haven't had enough to drink?"

He rubbed his beak for a moment.  "That's plausible.  Flying as hard as you were can put a lot of stress on your body, and if you were dehydrated, it could have caused you to black out momentarily.  Let me get you some water."

Once he was out of earshot, Rainbow lowered her head to Twilight's ear.  "If you ever do anything that crazy again, I'm gonna kick your rump so hard that you won't be able to sit for a week."

Twilight giggled.  "It wasn't crazy, Dash.  I knew you'd catch me."

Rainbow glared at her.  "Yeah, I knew I'd catch you too, but it still scared the life outta me."  Then her face broke out in a grin.  "But I know you did it for me, and it's totally awesome that you finally pulled it off.  Thanks, Twilight."

Suddenly, Fluttershy was hovering directly over them.  "Are you all right, Twilight?"  Once Twilight assured her she was, 
Fluttershy asked, "Was that the trust fall?"

Twilight and Rainbow exchanged surprised looks, and then started to laugh.

"Yes, Fluttershy," Twilight answered.  "It was the trust fall."

Fluttershy beamed, and then dropped onto the cot and hugged Twilight.  "Congratulations!  I'm so proud of you for conquering your fears!"  Releasing her and taking back to the air, she said, "I'll let the others know you're okay."  Then she raced off.

"I should of known she'd figure it out," Rainbow said.

The physician returned with a pitcher of water, and after allowing her to take a long drink, he examined her.  

Blinking from having his light shining in her eyes, Twilight heard Clasko's voice announcing that team Lightning Dust were the victors.  Lightning shouted out as the crowd began to applaud, and lifting into the air, she pumped her hooves in the air and did a couple of flips.  Gilda simply smiled and waved, but quickly turned her gaze toward Twilight.

"Well...I'm stumped," the physician said.  "You don't seem dehydrated, and you're as healthy as a horse."  He tapped a claw to his temple.  "I suppose it could have been any combination of things.  I'd suggest you take it easy for a while, Princess."

"I will," Twilight promised him.  "Thank you very much, sir."

"I wish to speak with the princess," spoke a voice from behind the physician.  Twilight looked up to find Hans standing only a few yards away.

"I am just about finished with her examination, Ambassador, and then you may talk," the physician replied.

Hans straightened.  "I will speak with her now."  He narrowed his eyes at the physician.  "Alone."

"Of...of course, sir," the physician bowed his head and flew away.

Rainbow stepped in front of Twilight and glared at Hans defiantly.  "I'm not going anywhere."

A thin smile crept across the proud Griffon's features.  "I was just as loyal to Prince Zephyr, and like you, he was more to me than just a prince."  He turned his gaze to Twilight.  "I have led enough troops into battle to know when a soldier is faking an ailment.  I wish to know why you did this."

It was Twilight's turn to smile.  "I trust Rainbow with my life, but since she and I started training together, I haven't been able to complete a trust fall.  It was really bothering her...and it was bothering me too.  I felt like my inability to overcome my fear made me a failure as a friend."  She turned her smile on Rainbow.  "But this time, as I looked at you as we flew, I knew I would succeed because I know that you will never fail me, Dash."         

Rainbow's cheeks began to turn red as she scratched her head self-consciously.  "Wow...I, uh...really?"

"Really."

Suddenly, Rainbow perked up.  "That's right!  You've got nothing to worry about with me around.  I'm always there for my friends."

"And what of team Lightning Dust?" Hans inquired.  "My son tells me you share quite the rivalry with them."

"I wanted to prove to myself that I deserved my place in the Wonderbolt Reserves," Rainbow explained, "but I let my pride and ego get the best of me."  She shook her head.  "At some point, I fooled myself into believing that the best way to prove it was to beat them, and I lost sight of what was most important there for a little while."  Then she beamed at Twilight.  "But as usual, Twilight was there to set me straight."

"But if you had continued your performance, you would have easily won," Hans pressed.  "Couldn't you have proven your trust in your friend some other time?"

Twilight exchanged looks with Rainbow.  "I guess...the time just felt right."

Hans studied her closely.  "And I suppose it had nothing at all to do with what happened to Krystle."

Twilight chuckled.  "We can't get anything past you, can we?"

"No.  You can't," Hans replied evenly.

"We just wanted to make sure Krystle placed," Rainbow said.  "She's a great flier and worked way too hard to come in fourth."

"So, when she was dropped to third, we knew that we couldn't beat team Lightning Dust," Twilight added.

Hans stared at them for a long moment.  Finally, he asked, "Why were you reluctant to tell me this?"

"Well..."  Twilight hesitated.  "I was just worried that—"

"We didn't think you'd buy it," Rainbow interrupted.      

His features still unreadable, Hans nodded.  "I find it inconceivable that a commoner can become a princess literally overnight and be a competent ruler.  And yet, here you are."  He waved a talon toward Rainbow.  "If your friend is any indication, then it is clear that you give much of yourself to others.  You are kind, caring, and selfless."  Without warning, Hans bowed deeply.  "It has been an honor and a privilege to have met you, and I offer my most humblest apologies for my earlier actions."

Twilight beamed.  "I can't tell you how much that means coming from you."  Climbing to her hooves, she waited for him to straighten and then held out her hoof.  "I hope that we can look past this and be friends."

Hans shook her hoof and smiled.  "Of course, Your Majesty."

"Hey, it looks like they're getting ready to start the medal ceremony," Rainbow said. 

"Well, we certainly don't want to miss that," Hans stated as he took to the air and headed toward the other judges.

As they started walking toward the center of the field, Rainbow gave Twilight an expectant grin.  "So, how's it feel to have won Hans over?"

"Incredible!" Twilight exclaimed, unable to keep the bounce out of her step.  "I can't believe he came around.  He was so set against me!"

"Of course he came around," Rainbow remarked, "you're Princess Twilight Sparkle!"  She suddenly stopped and rounded on Twilight, and taking her hoof in her own, she said, "I know that being a princess has been rough for you, and that it kinda scares you, not knowing your destiny and all, but I have no doubt that whatever it is, you're totally gonna rock it."  

Twilight threw her legs around Rainbow's neck.  "Thank you, Rainbow Dash."

"No prob."  After a moment, Rainbow cleared her throat.  "Um, if you don't let go of me soon, we're gonna miss the medal ceremony."

They made their way to where the rest of the contestants were standing in the center of the field just as Gideon was approaching the pedestal.  Stepping up to Nasir and Krystle on the third place platform, Gideon grinned as he slipped the bronze medal over Nasir's head, and then turned to Krystle.  The little Griffon was fidgeting so much from excitement that Gideon actually missed on his first attempt to place the medal around her neck, but she managed to still herself for his second try.  Her eyes sparkling with delight, Krystle raised the medal and stared at it for a moment before holding it up for her father to see as the crowd began to cheer.

As they looked at the happiness etched onto Krystle's face, Rainbow threw a foreleg around Twilight's shoulders and drew her close.  "We did good, Twi."

Twilight couldn't stop grinning as she watched the little Griffon hopping up and down on the platform.  "Yeah."

They applauded with everyone else when the sibling Griffons were awarded the silver medals, and then Gideon moved on to Lightning Dust and Gilda.  Once the gold medal was placed around Lightning's neck, she held her head high, thrust out her chest, and gave the crowd a cocky grin.

"Ugh," Rainbow muttered, "please tell me I don't look like that when I win."

"You used to," Twilight replied, "but you've learned humility since then."

"This sucks," Rainbow whispered as Lightning's gaze swept over them.  They watched Gilda accept her medal and smile, and as the crowd cheered once again, she straightened, looking very proud of herself.  "Well," Rainbow corrected herself, "maybe it isn't all bad."

As the spectators and other contestants started forward to congratulate the three teams, Gilda leaped into the air and glided toward them.  

"You okay, Twilight?" Gilda asked as she landed.

Twilight smiled.  "I'm fine.  Congratulations on your victory."

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed.  "You looked really good out there."

"Not as good as you."  Gilda punched Rainbow's shoulder.  "That was an awesome save up there."  

"Rainbow Dash!"  Rainbow turned in time to be struck in the chest by Krystle as she flung her talons around her, causing the Pegasus to stumble with a grunt.  "I got a medal, Rainbow!  It's the first medal I've ever gotten!  Look!  Look!"  

Nasir approached Twilight as Rainbow examined Krystle's medal and offered her his talon.  As she shook it, he whispered, "Thank you, princess."

Twilight beamed.  "You're welcome."  Her smile widened as she watched Krystle hop up on Rainbow's back.

"I got one piece of advice for ya, squirt," Rainbow said, looking over her shoulder at the little Griffon.  "Always listen to your dad."  She turned and gazed at Nasir.  "You might not always think he's right, and someday he could say or do something that might really upset you, but you've got to remember that he will always want what's best for you.  He'll always love you."

"I'll remember."  Krystle launched herself off of Rainbow's back and landed on her father's.  "Promise!"

Twilight stepped forward.  "You okay, Dash?"

"Yeah."  Rainbow sniffed.  "I'm great, actually."

Without warning, Lightning was suddenly hovering over them.  "There you are, Gilda.  What are you doing over here with these losers?"  She smirked at Rainbow.  "I guess bringing your princess friend didn't work out so well for ya, huh?"  

Lightning turned back to Gilda.  "Let's go.  I wanna try and find the Wonderbolts."

Gilda's eyes narrowed.  "No."

Lightning blinked.  "No?  What do you mean?"

"I mean no.  I'm not going anywhere."  Gilda crossed her talons.  "Rainbow and Twilight are my friends, and they are not losers."

"Since when?!" Lightning demanded.  "You don't even know Twilight, and you hate Rainbow."   

Gilda shook her head.  "No, you hate Rainbow.  I just went with it because it was easier.  But now that I'm with her again, I remember why she's so special to me."

Her face transforming into a mask of rage, Lightning asked, "So...what?  You're choosing them over me?  This stupid arrogant fraud and her little princess friend?"

"Yeah."  Gilda nodded firmly.  "If you're gonna make me choose, I choose them."

The anger seemed to melt off of Lightning's face, and she dropped the few feet to the ground.  "I-I don't understand...I beat Rainbow Dash.  I won.  Why don't you want to be my friend?"  Suddenly, her features turned determined.  "I won!  I'm the best!"

Gilda studied Lightning for a long moment, then threw a talon over Twilight and Rainbow's shoulders.  "Well, if that's true, then I guess these two are better than the best."

At her words, the fight seemed to drain from Lightning, and she turned and silently walked away.

"Is she going to be all right?" Twilight asked.

"Probably."  Gilda shrugged.  "She's been such a huge jerk this entire competition, maybe it'd be better if we weren't friends anymore."

"Except..." Twilight pressed.

"Except..."  Gilda sighed.  "Except she really isn't that bad.  Running into Rainbow here made her go a little crazy, but I learned from you two that I shouldn't hold that against her.  I'd be happy to forgive her, but if she's gonna force me to choose, I'll pick Rainbow any day."    

"Maybe you could...OW!"  Rainbow had unexpectedly poked her in the ribs.  As Twilight turned toward her friend, Rainbow wordlessly pointed across the field.

The Wonderbolts had just landed and were talking to Lightning.  Spitfire shook Lightning's hoof, and Lightning perked up and smiled with evident pride.  Then Lightning said something that caused Spitfire to cock an eyebrow, and replacing her shades, the Wonderbolt captain replied, then she and Soarin abruptly flew away.  Lightning simply stood there and watched them leave.  Slowly pulling her medal over her head, she threw it to the ground before turning and trotting away.

Rainbow immediately began waving her hoof to get Spitfire's attention, and the captain soon changed course and landed next to them.

"What's up, Dash?"

"What was that all about?" Rainbow inquired.

Spitfire snorted.  "We were over there congratulating her on her victory, and she asked if I still stood by my decision to remove her from the Wonderbolts."

"So, Spitfire told her that she does, that it takes a lot more than simply winning a competition to be a Wonderbolt."  Soarin's brow furrowed.  "She'll never make it with that kind of arrogance."

Twilight saw Rainbow's face fall and gently touched her shoulder. "Rainbow...what's wrong?"

Instead of answering, Rainbow launched into the air and flew away.

"Where's she going?" Soarin asked.

Twilight lifted off and turned to Spitfire.  "Will you come with us?"

The two Wonderbolts exchanged looks, then they both grinned.  "I think we owe Rainbow that much," Spitfire said.

As the three of them pursued Rainbow, Twilight tried to make sense of her friend's sudden change.  

Lightning had gotten cocky, and Spitfire had set her straight.  Why had that upset Rainbow so much?  She had no idea why Rainbow was going after Lightning, but with what had just happened, Twilight doubted that this was a good time for a chat.

"Hey, Lightning, hold up!" Twilight heard Rainbow yell from further ahead.  A few moments later, Twilight caught sight of Lightning walking the path that led back to Mt. Aerie.

"Go away, Rainbow," Lightning called over her shoulder without looking back.  

Rainbow landed.  "I just wanna talk for a sec."

Lightning stopped.  With her back to all of them, she demanded, "What more could you possibly want?  You've taken away my lifelong dream of being a Wonderbolt, and now you've taken my best friend."  She whipped around.  "What more could you..."

She trailed off as she saw Twilight and the Wonderbolts hovering behind Rainbow.  Instantly, the anger on her face was replaced by confusion as she hastily wiped the tears from her face.  "What..." she turned back to Rainbow.  "What do you want?"

Without looking away from Lightning, Rainbow said, "Spitfire, ma'am, I know I'm only in the reserves, but I'd like to make a special request."

Spitfire crossed her forelegs.  "Oh, yeah?"

"I request that you give Lightning Dust another chance."

As Lightning's mouth dropped open, Spitfire shook her head.  "Not happening."

Rainbow nodded knowingly.  "Right, because she's reckless and unable to work as a team."  She studied her rival for a moment.  "But what if she changed?"

"She won't."

"But she already has!"  Rainbow rounded on Spitfire.  "She's finally learned what it means to have a friend.  To be part of a team.  Look at her routine.  She flew perfectly with Gilda.  That was what she lacked at the academy!"

Frowning, Spitfire removed her shades but remained silent.

"Sure, the recklessness needs some improving, but I know she's changed."  Rainbow turned to Twilight.  "You saw her when Gilda chose us, she was devastated.  That wasn't the same Lightning that was my lead pony."

Twilight glanced at Spitfire and noted worriedly that she still seemed unconvinced.  "Rainbow, are you sure about this?  You're taking a really big risk."

"Yeah, Twi.  I'm sure."

Suddenly, Gilda swooped down and landed beside Rainbow.  Stepping forward, she held out a claw to Lightning.  "You dropped this."

Hesitantly, she held out her hoof, and Gilda handed her the gold medal.  As Lightning stared at it with trepidation, Gilda said, "I don't hate you, Light.  I'm not even mad.  But I can't give up what I have with Rainbow for you."  She threw a talon around Rainbow's shoulders and pulled her close.  "I was an idiot for letting Rainbow go, and I won't make that mistake again."

Lightning swallowed hard and nodded.  

Gilda released Rainbow.  "But I'd be just as big an idiot if I let you go, Light.  We've had some great times these last couple of years, and I don't wanna lose that."  Gilda gently took the medal from her hoof and slipped it over Lightning's head.  "You're not the best, Light.  At least, not yet.  But to me, you'll always be a winner."      	

"T-thanks," Lightning spoke softly, blinking rapidly.

"So..."  Gilda placed a talon on Lightning's shoulder.  "Can you be my friend, knowing that I'm friends with Rainbow?"

Instead of answering, Lightning lunged forward and hugged Gilda, eliciting a startled squawk from the Griffon.  Smiling, Gilda returned the embrace.

Leaping into the air, Rainbow began gesturing excitedly at the two of them.  "You see?  The Lightning from the academy was nothing like this!"

Spitfire chewed on the earpiece of her shades as she contemplated Rainbow's words.  Finally, she asked, "And what if she doesn't work out?"

"I'll take full responsibility for her," Soarin suddenly spoke up.

Spitfire's shades fell to the ground.  "Really?"  She blinked.  "You sure about that?"

"If Rainbow Dash is sure, then yeah."  Soarin saluted Rainbow.  "She's saved me from falling twice, and once even rescued my apple pie."  He grinned.  "I trust her judgment, and I'll stand by her request."

With a chuckle and a shake of her head, Spitfire glanced at Rainbow.  "You really are something else.  I'm glad you made the reserves."  As Rainbow beamed, Spitfire landed in front of Lightning.  "This year's new recruits start the academy the same date and time as before.  If you're even one minute late, I'll send your sorry rump right back home."

Lightning straightened and saluted.  "Yes, ma'am."

Spitfire's eyes narrowed.  "I'm going to be watching you like a hawk, cadet.  If you so much as sneeze the wrong way, you'll be out of the academy before you even know what happened."  She shoved her muzzle in Lightning's face.  "Think you can handle that?"

With a grin, Lightning answered, "Yes, ma'am."

"All right."  Spitfire nodded curtly.  "I'll write you in when we get back."  She jabbed Lightning in the chest with her hoof.  "You'd better not make me regret this."

Without another word, Spitfire launched into the air, and the two Wonderbolts soared away.

Once they were gone, Lightning rounded on Rainbow.  "Why did you do that?"

"I've spent my entire life wanting to join the Wonderbolts," Rainbow explained.  "I couldn't imagine missing my chance because of a stupid mistake.  You've changed, and I think you deserve another chance."

Lightning glared at Rainbow for a long moment.  Finally, she growled, "I hope you don't think this is going to make me like you."

Rainbow smirked.  "I'm not doing this so you'll like me.  I'm doing it so that someday, when I'm a permanent member of the Wonderbolts, I'll have an awesome rival that will drive me to push my limits."

"You'd better push your limits," Lightning said as her ears flattened and she crouched low to the ground.  "Or else I'm gonna put you to shame every time."

Rainbow crouched low as well, but she wore a grin.  "And I'll look forward to watching you try."

Suddenly, Gilda was between them, and she pulled them both close against her.  "And I guess I'll be the one keeping you two in check."

Lightning and Rainbow glared at each other for a moment, and then both smiled and hugged Gilda back.  

Her vision blurring, Twilight stepped forward.  "I know this has nothing to do with me...but I love you girls!"  She leaped forward and wrapped her forelegs around all three of them.

The four of them stood there for a long moment before finally breaking apart.  

"So, I hear there's an awesome party in The Den every year after the competition," Lightning said to Gilda.  "You game?"

"You bet!"  As Lightning took to the sky, Gilda turned to Rainbow.  "See ya around?"

"You'd better believe it."  Rainbow grasped Gilda's talon, and then they turned sideways and clapped their wings.  Smiling as she watched her friend fly away, Rainbow shouted, "Hey, G!  I'm going to start visiting Cloudsdale more often now, so I'll look you up!"

Gilda gave her a thumbs up, and then flew out of sight.

"That was a great thing you did," Twilight said, her heart swelling with pride.  "I'm so proud of you."

"Well, like I said, she deserves another chance."  Rainbow flashed her a grin.  "Besides, being a member of the Wonderbolts will be so much more interesting with her around."    

Twilight laughed.  "Gilda was right, you really are better than the best!"

Rainbow blushed.  "Well, I learned it all from you."  She lifted into the air.  "You wanna race back to the others?"

"Do I have a chance?"

Rainbow contemplated for a moment, then nodded.  "I might even let you win this one."

Without another word, Twilight jetted into the sky.  Moments later, Rainbow was right beside her.  "Hey, you think it'd be all right if I invited Krystle to Ponyville?  I think she'd love it, and I really want her to meet Scoots."

"I'm sure Nasir would love that idea," Twilight agreed.

Rainbow beamed.  "I know we hit a lot of bumps here, but this turned out to be a pretty awesome visit, huh?"

"Yeah."  Twilight turned her gaze toward Mt. Aerie looming to their left.  As the sun began to set, the alpenglow bathed the top half of the mountain in a rosy light, and Twilight marveled at the beautiful sight as she sighed deeply.  

Yes, everything was indeed awesome.