There were a lot of little things Dash that liked about flying really high: the wispy wild clouds, the feeling of accomplishment in simply making it up there, the sense of just how screwed she'd be were it not for her pegasus magic. She was aware of the cold and such, but there was something like a constant chant of "This is how awesome you are" in the back of her head, telling her she was safe.
The best part by far was the view. Maybe it was the thin air, but being up here made her feel... well, she wanted to call it "sappy," but it was more poetic than anything. Beneath her was Equestria, a patchwork of dull, boring, and green. But the sky opened up all around her, a bowl of blue echoed on her coat, promising infinity to those who sought it.
Yeah, it was definitely the thin air. And maybe too many Daring Do books, ridiculous as that seemed. Still, the panorama called to her. There was so much to see out there. So much to explore, so much to do, so many who didn't yet know just how awesome she was. The winds blew at her, tugging her towards an unknown destiny.
And she could let them. She could glide for miles from up here, go across the country with hardly a flap. She could just about make out some pegasus cities. The smudge almost directly beneath her was Cloudsdale. To the west were Las Pegasus and, much closer to her level, Denvertigo, the Five-Mile High City. To the east, where the winds pushed her, she couldn't see anything, but she knew that way led to the Griffish empire.
Maybe she'd find Gilda. Maybe she'd find a special somepony. Maybe she'd find something she couldn't even imagine. She couldn't see what would come any more than she could see over the lip of the sky. But she could go and find out.
Applejack bucked a tree and looked to the pegasus resting in another. "You know, RD, sometimes I wonder. What's it like up there?"
Dash waved a hoof at her. "C'mon, AJ. You've been up in Cloudsdale."
"Yeah, but I bet you've gone a lot higher." Applejack started putting baskets in place for the next tree. "What's it like when there ain't nopony but you and the big blue?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged and laid back. "Eh, it's nothing special. I'd rather hang out with you guys."
I just have to comment here that this one was *right* outside of my top 5. That ending kinda slapped me across the face when I first read it, but it grew on me the more I thought about it. I actually scored it in voting to tie with my other top contenders.
Plus, Denvertigo.
Yeah, Denvertigo is about the best thing ever. :D
There needs to be an entire season of FiM dedicated to an extended roadtrip. (That way RD can take the gang to Denvertigo!)
Denvertigo is a pretty awesome name for a city. Wouldn't it be up in space, at 5mi into the sky? Space ponies!
Wow. Everybody loves Denvertigo. Heck, I'm getting dizzy thinking about that place!
6580615 The Official Edge Of Space is usually considered 100 kilometres (about 60 miles, I believe) up. I'm pretty sure five miles is above the "Oxygen masks required" line, though.
While Denvertigo is a great pun, I don't think any place name will top "Baltimare", at least for me.
Denvertigo!
... Any connection to pilot euphoria or whatever?
I love how when RD is by herself it's grand and wonderful and calling to her.
When she's with AJ it's no big deal XD