Mistakes and Regrets
Chapter 10
Mistakes and Regrets
"Dang it!" Rainbow growled with a stomp of her hoof. "I really wanted it to be us."
Suddenly realizing that she was holding her breath, Twilight released it as a wave of relief washed over her. She turned to Nasir and found him watching Lightning with an unreadable expression.
"Keep a close eye on Lightning Dust," Twilight advised him. "She's got something to prove here, and it may cause her to become reckless."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said as he started forward. "Thank you for your concern, Princess."
"Make sure you show them who the awesomest Griffon in this competition is," Rainbow told Krystle as she hopped off of her back. "Make sure you don't hold anything back."
"I won't." Krystle grinned. "I'm gonna kick their tails!"
Rainbow bumped the little Griffon's fist. "Yeah, you are!"
Although she was smiling at the exchange between Rainbow and Krystle, she couldn't help but feel a little anxious as Nasir shook Gilda's talon. She was very grateful that she wasn't going to compete against Lightning Dust directly, but wished that someone other than Krystle were taking her place.
"Do you think they'll do all right?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow gave a firm nod. "They'll do great."
Twilight turned her attention back to the official and saw him approach a stallion and Griffon standing together. She instantly recognized them; they were the only interspecies team in the competition other than Lightning and Gilda, and they had also had one of the worst scores coming out of the obstacle course.
The stallion reached into the box and unfolded the parchment, and immediately broke into a grin. Showing the paper to his partner, he cried, "Check it out! We get to face Rainbow Dash!"
The Griffon rolled her eyes as the stallion hopped around and then reared up, kicking his forelegs excitedly. Bemused, the official stared at him a moment before announcing, "Team Cloudburst will face team Twidash."
Twilight giggled. "It looks like we're being paired with a fan of yours."
Looking very pleased with herself, Rainbow held her head high and thrust out her chest before leading the way to the center of the field.
The stallion galloped toward them. "Rainbow Dash, I'm your biggest fan!"
"Oh, yeah?" Rainbow replied with a self-satisfied grin.
He nodded enthusiastically. "I was at that Best Young Flier Competition, and saw you perform the Sonic Rainboom! It was the coolest thing I'd ever seen in my entire life!"
"It is pretty awesome, isn't it?" She flicked her tail. "And I'm the only pony that can do it."
"Are you going to perform it again later tonight for Event Three?" he asked, his eyes dancing with excitement.
"Nah." Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. "It's not something I can do with a partner, and besides, I want to prove that I've got other moves." Her ears flattened as she crouched low to the ground. "I'm more than just a one trick pony."
"You sure are!" he eagerly agreed. "I saw you at Rainbow Falls flying with the Wonderbolts! You're great at everything you do!" He suddenly smiled sheepishly. "And you always look great doing it too."
The Griffon, who had been hanging back and looking annoyed, harrumphed loudly and crossed her talons at this statement. His eyes going wide, the stallion whipped around. "Adele, honey, you know I only have eyes for you."
"Uh huh," Adele replied as she turned away.
"Oh, don't be like this, sweetie," he pleaded. "You know I have a thing for her, but it's different than what I feel for you."
Rainbow leaned close to Twilight's ear. "I wonder how much more hoof he can fit into his mouth."
Twilight had to cover her mouth to stifle her laugh.
Just then, the official called the last team name, and then asked them to return to the sidelines. As they reached the edge of the field, Twilight glanced back and found Adele quietly giggling at whatever the stallion was whispering into her ear, and then she nuzzled him before nibbling at his ear affectionately.
"Ah, a smooth talker I see," Rainbow said with a devilish grin.
Twilight turned to Adele as the stallion blushed. "So, you're Adele, and he is..."
"Cloudgazer," he answered with a quick glance at her before turning back to Rainbow. Then he gasped and looked at her again. "Princess Twilight!" He hastily bowed.
Adele began to laugh. "Seriously, Cloudy? It took you this long to notice the princess?"
"He was too distracted by this sleek body," Rainbow said mockingly as she posed and threw her head back exactly the way Rarity did when she noticed a stallion watching her. Twilight snorted as she fought to keep herself from laughing, and noticed that Rainbow was having trouble keeping a straight face. She quickly covered it by making a duck face.
Cloudgazer stammered for a moment, and then cried out in surprise as Adele smacked him in the back of the head. This made Rainbow laugh so hard that she fell over, and caused Twilight to double over laughing as well.
Without warning, Krystle dove out of the sky and landed on Rainbow's chest. "What happened? What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Rainbow answered as she quickly composed herself.
Nasir stepped up and lifted Krystle off of Rainbow. "How many times have I told you not to jump on someone while they're lying down?" He set her back on the ground. "You could really hurt someone that way."
"It's cool," Rainbow said as she climbed to her hooves. "It didn't hurt or anything."
Suddenly, an incredibly loud voice yelled, "Team Twidash rules! Wooo!"
Twilight looked in the direction of the voice and saw Pinkie jumping up and down on her hind legs and waving wildly. With a bright smile, she waved back, and then grimaced as Pinkie collided with Rarity and they both crashed to the ground.
"Ouch," Rainbow said.
"Hey, wasn't she in the Best Young Flier Competition too?" Cloudgazer asked, watching Rarity as she stood back up. "She's the one you saved with your Sonic Rainboom, right?"
"What, you got a thing for her too?" Adele growled.
Rainbow burst out laughing as Cloudgazer stammered, "N-no."
"Looks like the crowd is arriving," Nasir stated, pointing up at the treetops where the first group of Griffons soared into view.
Over the next hour, they talked and watched as the crowds slowly filled the bleachers and the clouds overhead. During this time, Twilight stole several glances over at Gilda, and saw that she was looking at Rainbow almost every time. Somehow, she needed to find a way to get those two together. Getting Rainbow alone would be easy, but how could she get Gilda away from Lightning long enough for them to talk?
Finally, the judges arrived, accompanied by Gideon and Overwatch.
Twilight watched Gideon and Overwatch greet her friends, then a Unicorn trotted over and cast the cloudwalking spell on them as a group of Pegasi lowered a platform of clouds for them to climb onto. They then raised it high into the air and placed it next to Overwatch's cloud.
"Grandpa!" she heard Krystle shout from atop Rainbow's back. Glancing up, Twilight saw the glint of Hans's armor as he smiled and waved at his granddaughter.
"Testing, testing. One, two, three," Clasko's voice boomed over the field.
Twilight turned her attention to the commentators and saw a Unicorn pressing his horn against Emma's throat. A moment later, she repeated the test, and finding her voice satisfactory, she and Clasko took to the air and landed on their cloud.
"All righty, folks," Clasko announced. "Event Two will be beginning shortly. The teams have already been matched up, and we are waiting for the okay from the judges to begin."
"Actually, it looks like they were waiting for us," Emma said. "So let's get Event Two under way."
Thunderous applause erupted from all around them as the spectators cheered for their favorite teams. Everywhere Twilight looked she saw ponies and Griffons waving flags and banners of all sorts, while several children held up masks of Celestia, Luna, and even Prince Zephyr to their faces.
Once the crowd started to quiet down, Clasko's voice once again reverberated across the field. "In this event, the teams will attempt to take the flags that are strapped to their opponents. They will have five minutes to succeed, and then the teams will switch."
"But the teams will be judged on more than whether or not they are able to attain the flags, Clasko," Emma added. "The judges will also be watching for agility and teamwork."
"That's right, but capturing the flags certainly won't hurt their chances of winning."
"No, it definitely won't," Emma agreed. "So now, let's get the first two teams ready to go."
As the teams that Clasko called took to the air and allowed the official to strap on the flags, Rainbow stooped low to allow Krystle to leap from her back, and then leaned in close to Twilight's ear. "Here's the plan: when we have the flags, just keep moving. I'll watch your back and make sure they don't catch you. Got it?" When Twilight nodded, she continued, "When they have the flags, do your best to chase them toward me. I'll handle it from there."
"Sounds good to me," Twilight replied, but then her eyes fell upon Gilda. "Dash...would you be willing to give Gilda another chance?"
Rainbow suddenly drew away and gave her a scandalous look. "What is with you about Gilda today?"
Twilight lowered her gaze and dug at the soft dirt with a hoof. "Well, I just kind of feel sorry for her. I mean, she lost you as a friend, and Lightning Dust isn't exactly being the best friend to her right now." She risked a glance at Rainbow's suspicious frown. "And I've noticed that she's been looking over here a lot."
"What?" Rainbow spun toward Gilda, who quickly lowered her gaze to the ground. "Yeah, she is watching me." She stared at her for a moment, then glanced back at Twilight. "You think she's up to something?"
With a shake of her head, Twilight said, "No, I think she just misses you, Dash."
"I don't think so, Twilight." Rainbow sighed. "I think she hates me."
"You can't know that for sure unless you try talking to her."
Rainbow's brow furrowed. "It's been years since that welcoming party. If she still wanted to be friends, then she would have come back to Ponyville by now."
"But Dash, Gilda is just like you," Twilight pressed. "How many times have you told me that while you were recounting stories? You've always had difficulties apologizing, so why can't the same be true for Gilda?" When Rainbow didn't answer, Twilight quickly suggested, "What if I talked to Lightning Dust and distracted her? Then the two of you could talk privately for a few minutes. Don't you want her back as a friend?"
For a long moment, Rainbow studied Gilda with an almost sad expression, and Twilight's heart quickened as she became convinced that she would agree to her plan. But then her features hardened and she turned away. "No, she's made her decision. She's Lightning's friend now, and honestly, I think the two of them deserve each other."
"Rainbow, I really think—"
"Enough, Twilight," Rainbow snapped, her ears flattening against her head. "I don't know what your problem is, but knock it off." She snorted and stomped a hoof. "I'm not talking to her. Now drop it."
Twilight's ears drooped as she shrunk away. "Okay..."
Never before had Twilight felt so frustrated. She had actually managed to draw Gilda out from her shell, and now Rainbow, the pony who had spent the last couple of years telling her that she wished they could be friends again, was brazenly refusing to speak to her. The whole situation was enough to make her want to snatch Rainbow up with her magic and shake the egotistical mare until she agreed to think rationally.
For the next half hour, Twilight watched the other teams compete and listened to the colorful commentary of Clasko and Emma, all the while trying to get her anger under control. But it wasn't until she heard them call team Pony Princesses Are Pretty to the field that she was able to forget her frustration.
As Krystle glided onto the field alongside her father, Twilight couldn't help but worry that Lightning would prove to be too intense for the little Griffon. Racked with guilt over her previous wish that anybody but her face Lightning in this event, Twilight felt a sudden intense desire to take Krystle's place.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Twilight asked as she studied Krystle's small frame.
"Who, Krystle?" Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. "Of course. She's undeniably, unquestionably awesome! She's gonna make those two wish that they had been paired against us instead."
Twilight couldn't help but crack a grin at her friend's words. "She's that good, huh?"
Rainbow nodded as she watched the official tie a flag to Krystle's talon. "If Gilda and Lightning fly with the same lack of teamwork as they did in the obstacle course, and I'm sure they will, then Krystle and Nasir have this in the bag."
This made Twilight feel considerably better. Rainbow was hardly ever wrong when she assessed the abilities of other athletes, and to Twilight's knowledge, she had never failed to accurately predict the outcome of every Wonderbolt event she had ever gone to. Still, a small amount of doubt lingered. Rainbow may be an expert at this sort of thing, but Twilight knew that her emotions were playing a large role in her prediction. Silently, she wished the best of luck to the little Griffon.
Once the official was finished securing a flag to Nasir's talon, he rose high above them with a single powerful flap of his wings and blew his whistle.
"And they're off!" Clasko's magically enhanced voice echoed.
"Wow, Lightning Dust wasted no time going after those flags, Clasko! She was across the field in the blink of an eye."
"Yes, but Krystle and her father are proving to be much too agile for a straight on attack. They are practically dancing around her."
"Oh, but Gilda almost had one. What an impressive save by Nasir!"
Rainbow had been right, Twilight realized. There was no organization to Lightning and Gilda's attacks at all. Lightning was simply rushing them and flailing about almost randomly. It was clear that she had expected her speed to be the deciding factor. Gilda, on the other hoof, had a bit of a strategy; she kept swooping down and charging them from below.
Twilight shook her head. If only Lightning would coordinate her attempts with Gilda's, she would succeed in distracting them while Gilda snatched the flags.
Just then, she saw Lightning rush Krystle, but Nasir quickly grabbed his daughter by the talons and launched her straight up into the sky. He then used his momentum to perform a back flip that carried him right over Lightning's head.
"What an incredible display of agility from Nasir! This is becoming—" Emma's excited voice suddenly cut off in a loud gasp.
As Krystle was positioning herself by her father, Lightning unceremoniously rammed her and sent her sprawling into Nasir. As he fumbled to catch her, Lightning stretched out her neck and tore his flag free, and flew away with it held triumphantly over her head as the crowd began to boo loudly.
"What unsportsmarelike conduct!" Clasko exclaimed. "I've never seen such behavior in all my years—"
"There's nothing in the rulebook against it, Clasko," Emma interrupted. "It's just the risk a young contestant must take if they're going to compete."
"Still, that was completely uncalled for, Emma."
"I agree wholeheartedly. Let's hope that there will be an update to the rules of the competition following this incident."
"If I get my hooves on Lightning Dust, I'm gonna ram her head against a tree," Rainbow growled.
"I'd let Nasir handle that," Twilight said as Nasir threw Lightning such a scathing look that Gilda slowly drew away.
Suddenly, the shrill of a whistle sounded over the field.
"And that's the end of round one," Clasko announced. "Team Lightning Dust managed to acquire one of the two flags, and now team Pony Princesses Are Pretty...boy what a name, will try to capture the flags."
"I'm sure Nasir is all too eager to go on the offensive after that stunt Lightning Dust just pulled. Those two had better watch out."
"Indeed. But Gilda doesn't look very happy with her partner at the moment either. They seem to be in a bit of a spat."
Twilight was relieved to see that Nasir was ignoring Lightning and was speaking quietly to Krystle. She understood how a father's rage over what had just transpired could easily get him into trouble, and was grateful that he was above something so foolish.
"And round two is about to begin," Emma stated as the official finished tying the flag to Gilda and rose into the air.
A moment later, the whistle shrilled and the two teams were off.
"It looks like Lightning Dust has a lot to answer for," Clasko said. "Both Nasir and Krystle are ignoring Gilda and going straight for her."
"But can they catch her? Lightning is one seriously fast pony."
"They can if they work together, Emma."
"Too right, Clasko, and it looks like Lightning is in trouble, but here comes Gilda to help."
"Oh, what an excellent save by Gilda! She got there just in the nick of time and was able to deflect Krystle's grab."
"Wait, Nasir just nabbed her flag!" Emma cried. "He knew exactly what Gilda was going to do and took advantage of her opening. Well played!"
Krystle did a couple of quick flips as the crowd erupted in applause, and then turned her attention to Lightning Dust, who was already rocketing away.
"There goes Lightning across the field with Nasir in hot pursuit. She's fast, but predictable, and I think he's already catching on to her little game, Clasko."
As Lightning climbed higher and began to double back across the field, Nasir suddenly shot forward with an unexpected burst of speed and cut her off.
Swooping directly into her path, he expanded his wings completely, causing her to come to a hard stop. Then, without warning, Krystle zipped out from below, snatching the flag and dashing right past her ear.
The whistle shrilled, marking the end of the round while Lightning simply hovered in place, still trying to comprehend what had happened. With an angry shout that was drowned out by the thunderous applause, she turned and landed on the other side of the field.
Clasko's voice rang over the field. "What a spectacular end to an electrifying performance!"
"Let's see what the judges thought of team Lightning Dust."
Twilight glanced up at the judges panel as both Griffons each held up a three, the Pegasus a two, and Hans held up a one.
"Ouch. The judges did not like them at all."
"I certainly can't blame them, Clasko. They only managed to capture one flag, didn't fly well as a team, and that disgraceful assault on little Krystle is hard to look past."
"Too right, Emma. Now, let's see what they thought of team Pony...ah...P.P.A.P."
The judges each held up an eight, and a beaming Hans held up a ten.
"Now that's a score!" Clasko's voice boomed. "And that puts them well ahead of any other team so far."
Rainbow took to the air and scooped Krystle up and spun her around. "That was so awesome!" she cried. "Lightning Dust didn't even know what hit her!"
Krystle grinned widely as they landed, and then broke loose of Rainbow and slapped her wing against her father's.
"Great work, honey," Nasir said, smiling as brightly as his daughter.
"Those were some pretty awesome moves, kid!" Everyone turned to find Gilda standing behind them. She smiled at Krystle. "I'm impressed."
Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "What do you want, Gilda?"
Gilda's smile faltered as she made eye contact with Rainbow, but then she glanced back at Krystle. "I just wanted to congratulate these two." She cleared her throat self-consciously. "They were amazing out there."
"Thanks!" Krystle hopped forward. "I like you, you're nowhere near as mean as that other pony."
Turning her gaze to the ground and scratching the back of her head, Gilda mumbled, "Yeah...sorry about that."
Nasir stepped up and held out a talon. After a moment's hesitation, Gilda gripped it and he smiled. "Thank you for the kind words." He tightened his hold, causing her eyes to widen. "And let your friend know if she ever touches my daughter again, I'll deal with her personally."
"I will," she promised as he released her. Warily turning her attention to Rainbow, she said, "So, Dash, I was—"
"Whatever you're going to say, I don't wanna hear it," Rainbow interrupted, crossing her forelegs tightly against her chest.
"Rainbow, just give her a chance," Twilight pleaded.
"No." Rainbow crouched low to the ground and dug at the dirt with a hoof. "She had her chance. She chose to be a big jerk to my friends, completely ignore me for years, and then suddenly show up and tell me everything is my fault." Looking like she may charge Gilda at any moment, Rainbow snorted. "I've got nothing to say to her."
Twilight was about to argue, but saw Gilda shake her head. "It's okay. She's right, I deserve this."
Helplessly, Twilight watched Gilda walk away as the next pair of teams entered the field. For several long awkward moments, they stood quietly, trying not to look at one another as the commentators' voices echoed all around them.
Finally, Krystle shouted, "Seventy four!"
Rainbow blinked. "Huh?"
"That's how many points me and daddy have! Seventy four!"
Rainbow grinned. "That's really good. You might even win this thing."
Krystle gasped. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Then Rainbow's features turned determined. "But I'm planning on catching up to you in this event, so you better bring your A game for Event Three, or this competition is gonna be mine!"
"Bring it on!" Krystle cried before erupting in laughter.
Watching Rainbow laugh with Krystle, Twilight sadly turned her gaze toward Gilda. She and Lightning Dust were sitting next to one another, but both were avoiding the other's gaze. She just looked so unhappy; Twilight wished that there was something, anything, that she could do for her.
"Next up is team Cloudburst facing team Twidash," she heard Emma announce.
Tearing her eyes away from her new friend, Twilight took to the air with the others.
"Oh, wow. We are so going to get owned by Rainbow Dash," Cloudgazer said to Adele. "It's going to be awesome!"
Adele laughed. "You're such a dork."
Rainbow playfully punched Cloudgazer in the shoulder. "I promise I won't embarrass you too badly."
Cloudgazer winked. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about when you're beaten by the best."
Adele caught Twilight's gaze and rolled her eyes. "He's going to enjoy this way too much. I'll probably never hear the end of it."
Despite her worry for Gilda, Twilight couldn't help but smile. She needed to focus on what was happening now, and to do her best to have fun. She was here primarily for Rainbow, and she would have to wait until Event Two was over before figuring out how to redeem Gilda.
"Good luck," she called to Adele as she and Cloudgazer headed toward the official.
"You ready?" Rainbow asked as they watched the official tie the flags on their opponents.
Twilight nodded. "I think so."
Honestly, she didn't feel nearly as anxious as she did before the obstacle course. She supposed experiencing the worst by taking that tuft of clouds to the face in front of thousands of spectators had cured her. After all, there wasn't a whole lot that could happen now that would equal her previous embarrassment.
A moment later, the official rose into the air and raised the whistle to his beak.
"Here we go," Rainbow said. The whistle shrilled and she exploded forward. "Remember the plan," she called over her shoulder.
Seeing that Rainbow was rocketing straight toward them, Cloudgazer and Adele split apart. Twilight swooped upward to chase Adele as Rainbow went into a steep dive after Cloudgazer.
Eyes squinted in concentration as the wind whipped almost painfully through her mane, Twilight fixed her sight on the tip of Adele's tail, just as Rainbow had taught her to. Clearing her mind the way she did when about to use a spell, Twilight allowed the entire world to fall away. She no longer heard the voices of the commentators, saw the cheering crowd, or felt the wind tearing through her mane. Nothing existed except for the tail.
With her body rigid, tense, and ready to react, and adrenaline pumping through her veins, Twilight shot forward with surprising speed. Suddenly, she found the tail only mere inches ahead, and with a victorious grin, forced herself to fly even faster to close the distance. Without warning, the tail abruptly banked away from her, but she swiftly veered after it.
Twilight shifted her gaze from the tail and caught sight of the flag flapping in the wind on Adele's talon. Gritting her teeth, she flapped her wings even harder as she arched herself up and positioned herself above the Griffon.
Just then, Cloudgazer flashed by with Rainbow right behind him, causing Adele to squawk in surprise and slow. Recognizing her chance, Twilight swooped down, cutting off the startled Griffon and snatching the flag as she soared passed.
Turning in the air and holding the flag up triumphantly, Twilight saw Adele laughing and clapping. Then the two of them raced across the field toward Rainbow and Cloudgazer.
Twilight flew straight at Cloudgazer, but slightly higher to force him to slope downward into Rainbow's path. Unfortunately, just as Rainbow was about to grab the flag, Adele burst between them and caused both Rainbow and Cloudgazer to spin out.
Rainbow recovered more quickly and swooped toward the still tumbling Cloudgazer, but Adele was swiftly moving to his aid. Clenching her jaw and bracing for the impact, Twilight collided with the Griffon, effectively blocking her and allowing Rainbow to snag Cloudgazer's flag.
The shrill of the whistle marking the end of the round was closely followed by the roaring applause.
Rainbow hoof bumped Twilight, and then turned and hugged Cloudgazer. "Those were some pretty awesome moves."
Cloudgazer blushed. "That's nice of you, but I know you had two chances to grab the flag and didn't."
With a grin and a wink, Rainbow replied, "I did promise not to embarrass you too badly." She bumped his hoof. "But still, you had some nice moves."
Beaming brightly, Cloudgazer followed Adele to the other side of the field while the official began to strap the flag to Twilight's foreleg.
"You were really great, Twilight," Rainbow said. "You looked like a pro when you grabbed Adele's flag."
Twilight smiled sheepishly. "I never would have managed it if you hadn't steered Cloudgazer into her path."
Rainbow shrugged. "Maybe, but those were some awesome reflexes you showed. I'm proud of ya."
"Thanks," Twilight said as the official finished tying the flag to Rainbow's foreleg and rose into the air.
When the whistle sounded, Twilight stayed back while Rainbow rushed recklessly toward the opposing team. Surprised, the two of them broke apart as she streaked by, twisting as she reached them so that Cloudgazer's hoof found nothing but bare leg.
Suddenly, Twilight noticed Adele was racing straight for her. "Time for some payback," she cried.
She waited until Adele was right on top of her, and then simply stopped flapping. She plummeted toward the ground as Adele grabbed a talonful of empty air, and then quickly leveled out and shot across the field.
With Adele in hot pursuit, Twilight soared toward Rainbow.
Despite her best effort, she could feel Adele gaining on her. Glancing back, she found that she was coming up right beside her. Her eyes widened as Adele began to reach for the flag, but then Rainbow swooped by and slapped the Griffon in the face with her tail. Catching sight of Cloudgazer hurtling toward her, Twilight performed a barrel roll, barely clearing his reach and leaving him to crash into Adele.
"Nice one!" Rainbow exclaimed as she and Twilight slapped their wings together. Then she started toward the other side of the field. "Stick close."
Following just behind her friend, Twilight looked over her shoulder to find that Cloudgazer and Adele had recovered and were heading straight toward her. Noticing that both were staring at her intensely, she realized that they must have determined that she was the weakest link, and meant to concentrate all effort on capturing her flag.
She desperately tried to think of a strategy as the two fanned out behind her. It wouldn't matter if she swooped up or down, or banked left or right, one of them would be there to swipe her flag. Just as she began to lose hope, Rainbow came to a sudden halt, and then propelled herself backward. Her back struck Cloudgazer in the chest, and the two of them plummeted toward the ground below.
Twilight turned her attention to Adele and saw her rushing forward. She quickly looped upward, watching the Griffon snatching at the spot she had occupied just seconds ago, and then came down on her back. Pushing off with all four hooves, she shoved Adele downward with a startled squawk as she lifted higher into the sky.
Far below, Twilight caught sight of Rainbow rocketing across the field with Cloudgazer trailing hopelessly behind her. Then she saw Adele barreling towards her and braced herself for her next maneuver, but was surprised by the shrill of a whistle.
"And that's the end of round two," Clasko boomed. "What a stupendous performance by these two teams! I wish we could watch them go at it for the rest of the morning!"
Emma laughed. "I don't think they could keep up that kind of furious flying that long."
"Hey, speak for yourself!" Twilight heard Rainbow shout from near the ground, eliciting a laugh from not only the commentators but from most of the spectators as well.
"Um, Princess?" Twilight turned around to find Adele smiling sheepishly. "I just wanted to say that I'm glad I met you. I knew the princesses were nice and all, but I wasn't expecting one to be so...cool."
Twilight giggled as she felt her cheeks begin to burn. "Well...thank you very much."
"Thanks for the great experience," Adele said with a deep bow, and then she dove toward Cloudgazer.
"Let's see what the judges thought of team Cloudburst's performance," Clasko stated as Twilight headed toward Rainbow.
"A six, two sevens, and an eight," Emma read off. "Not bad."
"Not bad at all, seeing as how they were completely outclassed. They certainly showed some spirit and determination."
"That they did, Clasko, and apparently the judges greatly appreciated it."
"And now for team Twidash."
Twilight turned expectantly to the judges and watched the Griffons hold up an eight and a nine, the Pegasus hold up a nine, and then her gaze shifted to Hans. He hesitated as he studied her with an unreadable expression, and then, with a thin smile, he held up a nine.
"Wow!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Thirty five points! That's the best score of the morning, Emma!"
"And they definitely deserve it, Clasko! That was not only the most exciting performance of the morning, it was also the best display of teamwork so far."
"All right!" Rainbow cried as she hugged Twilight fiercely and spun her around. "That's fifty five points total! Lightning's only got thirty seven! We're gonna beat them, Twilight!"
"Awesome!" Twilight forced the enthusiasm into her voice. She was happy that they did so well, and even more so that Hans had scored her so high, but she couldn't stop thinking about how sad Gilda had looked earlier.
"So, how did you end up on Hans's good side?" Rainbow asked.
"Actually, I think it's because of her," Twilight answered, indicating Krystle, who was yelling their names and jumping up and down on her father's back.
Rainbow shrugged. "I guess. Anyway, if Hans is going to score us fairly, then we just might be able to win this thing."
"Yeah, you will!" Cloudgazer agreed excitedly from behind them. "You two were amazing up there!" He began to trot in place. "I can't believe I competed head to head with Rainbow Dash! My friends are never going to believe this!"
"Oh, wonderful," Twilight mumbled as she saw Lightning and Gilda heading their way. "Here comes Lightning, Dash."
Rainbow's brow furrowed as she turned and watched their approach. "What now, Lightning? You here to make excuses for why you're losing?" Her eyes suddenly went wide. "Oh, wait, I got one...because you suck!"
"Rainbow Dash! That's—" Twilight began her reprimand, but was cut off by Rainbow's hoof pressing firmly over her mouth.
She stumbled back and stared at Rainbow incredulously as a hot flash of anger coiled tightly inside her chest. With her ears laid flat against her head, Twilight prepared to berate her hotheaded friend, but before she could react, Lightning lunged forward and butted heads with Rainbow.
"I suck! Look at you! You only pulled ahead because you got paired with a couple of half-cocked flight school rejects!"
Unblinking, Rainbow met Lightning's eyes with an intensity of her own as she pushed back. "No, I pulled ahead because you got your tail kicked by an eight year old!"
With a bright flash of light, both mares were thrown backward. As they hit the ground with loud grunts, Twilight stepped between them. "Enough. Both of you."
"You'll never beat me, Dash," Lightning spat as she climbed back to her hooves. "I'm in a league all of my own. You can't even compare!"
"Yes, she can," Cloudgazer suddenly interjected. "Rainbow's a Wonderbolt now, she can take anypony in this competition."
As everyone present turned and looked at him, Cloudgazer blushed and shrank back. "Uh...my cousin works at the Wonderbolt Recruitment Office..." he mumbled.
Gilda's eyes grew wide as she looked at Rainbow. "Oh my gosh, Dash, you made it? You actually made it?!"
Holding her head high and thrusting out her chest, Rainbow shot them a cocky grin. "Of course I did. Was there ever any doubt?"
Twilight quickly turned her attention to Lightning Dust and found her glaring at Rainbow, her nostrils flaring as she ground her teeth. Without warning, she leaped forward and violently shoved Gilda aside.
"I was the best recruit the Wonderbolt Academy had ever received," Lightning snarled. "Not you. Me. I pushed myself to the limits, I broke academy records, and Spitfire made you my wingpony." She shoved an accusatory hoof into Rainbow's chest. "But you threw me under the wagon, and took the credit for my achievements. I should be a Wonderbolt by now, but you stole it from me!"
A nasty sneer crept onto her face as her eyes gleamed maliciously. "I'll bet daddy would be so proud."
Her words made Twilight's heart stop. She spun despairingly toward Rainbow, and found her friend's eyes wide with horror as her face slowly drained of color.
How could Lightning possibly know about Rainbow's parents? They hadn't known each other long enough, and Rainbow would never have told her something that personal. It didn't make any sense. Unless...
Realization struck Twilight like a runaway carriage. With an inward groan, she glanced over at Gilda. The Griffon was looking at Rainbow as if she expected to be assaulted at any moment and was slowly backing away.
"Oh no," Twilight moaned as she covered her eyes with her hooves.
"You told her about my parents, G?" Rainbow spoke barely above a whisper. "I...I trusted you. You're the only one I've ever told...you were supposed to keep that private."
Gilda looked as though she were about to collapse. Gazing down at her talons, she said, "It was back when I first met Light. She was feeling down about the academy, and I started bashing you to make her feel better. Then we started going back and forth with it, and it just kinda came out." She shook her head, and in a voice brimming with sorrow, concluded, "I'm sorry."
Rainbow's features suddenly relaxed. "No, it's cool, Gilda," she said in a perfectly even tone, "you only completely betrayed my trust. I'm glad to learn that our childhood together meant absolutely nothing to you."
Twilight stepped back. She had never feared Rainbow before, but she honestly had no idea what she was going to do. She prepared to cast a spell to keep Rainbow in check if needed, but then thought better of it. As angry as her friend was right now, Twilight worried that she might hurt herself if she was restrained by magic.
Gilda started forward. "Look, Dash, I understand if you hate—"
Without even the slightest indication that she was about to do it, Rainbow punched Gilda square in the beak. The Griffon's head snapped to the side, she stumbled, and then collapsed in a heap.
Rainbow then turned a scathing glare at Lightning, who immediately backed away. It was clear from the expression on Lightning's face that she knew she had gone too far. For the first time since Twilight had met her, she was completely speechless.
After a few moments that felt like an eternity to Twilight, Rainbow took to the air and flew back toward Mt. Aerie.
Biting back her own anger, Twilight asked, "Do you really think your father would be any more proud?" She took to the air as Lightning hung her head, and then chased after Rainbow.
As soon as she caught sight of Rainbow in the distance, she teleported herself right beside her. Ignoring her friend's shocked expression, she gripped her by the hooves and teleported them down to the ground.
She steadied Rainbow as the Pegasus stumbled on the uneven terrain that was suddenly beneath them. "Sorry, Rainbow, but I want to talk to you."
After shaking her head, Rainbow's determined gaze found hers. "We don't have time for that, Twilight. I want to practice the routine we have planned for Event Three."
"But we've been practicing that for the last week," Twilight argued. "You said it was perfect back in Ponyville."
Rainbow huffed and rubbed her temple. "Look, Twilight, I just want to be sure that we don't lose to those two. I want to go out there tonight and get a perfect score, and prove to Lightning and everypony else that I do deserve to be a Wonderbolt."
Twilight blinked. "What do you mean 'prove that you deserve to be a Wonderbolt'? Rainbow, everypony knows that you deserve to be a Wonderbolt, you've got nothing more to prove."
"That's easy for you to say," Rainbow scoffed. "Look at yourself. You're a flapping princess for Pony's sake!" She began clapping. "Congratulations, Twilight! Everypony is proud of you, even Princess Celestia."
Feeling the sting of indignation, Twilight suppressed her rage. "Dash, I know that you're upset right now, but that's no reason to attack me."
"You're tiers above me, Twilight," Rainbow continued with no sign that she had even heard her. "I could never hope to reach you. You completed all your studies, and you earned your wings and your crown.
"But look at me...I couldn't even pass the Wonderbolt history test on my own. I had to rely on you. How can I call myself a Wonderbolt if I couldn't even make it there on my own?" Rainbow snorted. "And you thought I was ready to face Dad."
Although Rainbow's words were infuriating her, Twilight recognized her plight all too well. She reminded herself that her friend was hurting right now, and was suffering from the same doubts that had been plaguing her the last several days.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Twilight said, "Okay, Rainbow, I'm sorry. If you want to practice our routine, then we'll practice."
"Thank you," Rainbow replied sarcastically before rolling her eyes and taking to the air.
Twilight growled and stomped a hoof into the ground, but lifted off and followed.
Hopefully, Rainbow would calm down once they started flying together. Twilight didn't know how much longer she could—
Suddenly, Twilight cried out in pain as her wing clipped a thick branch. Pain shot through her entire wing, and she fell several yards before catching herself. She tried to spiral down gently, but with another cry, she fell the remaining distance to the ground.
Gingerly, she tried to fold the wing, but when she felt the pain intensify, she immediately stopped. What had she done to it? How badly was it hurt? How could she have been so careless? Slowly climbing to her hooves and holding the wing out awkwardly, Twilight glanced up to find Rainbow hovering above with her forelegs crossed.
"You done?"
"I just hurt my wing," Twilight began. "I don't know how—"
"I saw it happen," Rainbow interrupted, waving a hoof dismissively. "I think you'll be okay. Now, c'mon, we need to get practicing."
Something snapped inside of her, and white hot anger surged forth. She felt it burn her cheeks as her vision began to shake, and felt it tighten in her chest as her muscles tensed up.
"You don't even care, do you?!" Twilight snapped. "I just got hurt, and all you care about is this stupid competition! I'm so sick of your attitude, of your need to win, of the way you've been treating me!"
Rainbow cocked an eyebrow. "What did I do that—"
"You covered my mouth when we were talking to Lightning. You actually covered my mouth with your hoof! Who do you think you are?!"
"You hold me in place all the time with your magic," Rainbow retorted, throwing her hooves up in the air. "Why is that okay?"
"Because I do it to prevent you from doing something you'll regret later!" Twilight yelled. "Because you don't ever stop to think about anything!"
"And I did it to stop you from being little Miss Highhorse and embarrassing me in front of Lightning."
Twilight pressed a hoof against her own chest. "You don't think that embarrassed me? Do you even realize what that must have looked like to anypony watching? The princess was speaking, and her friend just clamps her mouth shut?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Your Highness," Rainbow said with an exaggerated bow.
Grinding her teeth, Twilight felt herself begin to shake. "I've never asked to be treated any differently now that I'm a princess, but I do expect to be treated with the same respect that anypony else deserves."
"You wanna talk about respect now?" Rainbow sneered. "Fine, then respect me. Your wing is fine, I just told you that, so why don't you trust me? You haven't trusted me about anything for the last couple of weeks!"
"Why should I trust you?" Twilight growled. "You said you wanted to enter this competition because we were close friends, but it turns out all you wanted to do was impress the Wonderbolts." She shifted her weight, and another sharp stab of pain from her wing made her gnash her teeth. "You were just using me to better yourself!"
Rainbow's eyes went wide. "No, I wasn't! I mean, yeah, I was kinda hoping that we would do well and the Wonderbolts would hear about it, but I only wanted to come here with you."
Twilight lowered her head. "I don't believe you."
"Well...fine!" Rainbow shouted. "If you're not gonna trust me, then I don't want to fly with you!"
"Great!" Twilight spat venomously. "Because I quit."
For a split second, Rainbow's face fell, but then it was covered by a mask of rage. "Whatever you want, Your Majesty!" She then whirled around and rocketed out of sight.
With a scream of rage, Twilight gripped the offending branch with her magic, and viciously snapping it off, she flung it to the ground with enough force that it splintered upon contact.
Twilight spun around and started off toward Mt. Aerie. She was getting on the train and heading back to Ponyville tonight, and she didn't care if any of her friends were with her or not.
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Oh my freaking.... Dash what the hell?
I haven't read this yet, but a story with two of the Mane 6, yet is not a shpfic?! Interesting...
Your
Also, oh dear. Dash will have to do quite a lot of apologizing for this.
Might as well take a week or so off for it.
~Twi
Dash has been setting herself up for this for awhile.
6447405
Ugh.
I fixed it. Thanks.
6447455
There's always that one that gets away ^^
~Twi
Oh my god... That escalated quickly. When's the next chapter? I MUST KNOW!
I love what Twilight is trying to do with Dash and Gilda, but her timing is terrible. All else aside, right now they're competitors. Opponents. There's a natural and healthy degree of conflict between them that is just going to build on the antagonism that already exists. Twilight's trying to jump a fence that has another fence built on top of it.
Ten years later, Krystle refuses to ever talk about her competition debut. Much blushing is involved.
Some bridges can't be rebuilt. It's sad, it always hurts, but sometimes the healthy thing to do is not be friends with someone. You have to be able to move forward.
Seconded.
If you never let her make a mistake, she'll never have room to grow. This is the same kind of argument that made Mare Do Well sound like a good idea instead of a catastrophically moronic one.
A lot of the comments are focused on Rainbow screwing up. She's hardly blameless, but she's not the instigator. I think Twilight just crashed headlong into that fence I was talking about. Dash was just along for the ride.
6447639
It's a little bit more complicated than this, though. Are they both guilty that it went this far? Sure, however, neither could really be pinned as instigator. It was just one thing piling on another and seemingly swiped under the rug, and then — things went boom.
But, it all started with Rainbow dragging Twilight to the competition under the false pretense. THAT was the main problem.
~Twi
Eh, I think they both have to share the blame. Sure, Rainbow dragged Twilight there under false pretense or whatnot, but Twilight hasn't made things a ton easier either. There really isn't a one is less blameless than the other... at least to me. In the end, I believe both have some apologizing to do here.
Maybe its just me but I'm not seeing how Twilight is nearly at fault as Rainbow Dash in what's been going on at this competition. The worst she really did was make her choose between her or looking good in front of everyone.
While it sucks that Twilight had to force RD into that decision, considering why and how Twilight agreed to come out there and Rainbow then started to act completely contrary to "I just want to fly with my friend", its hard to believe this would not have eventually come about.
Both Twilight and their friends had to remind RD that Twilight isn't the greatest flier and all that should've matter was doing her best but then RD started piling a bunch of pressure onto Twilight that had nothing to do with why she came out here. Most of the issues they've had to deal with since they've come out here have been a result of RD's pride and ego.
6447987
It isn't just one pride and ego being flexed these last few chapters. Twilight 'I'm the Princess of Friendship' Sparkle is trying to fix things like a child playing with her toys, only these toys are other ponies and a griffon. Still it is entertaining to watch everyone be wrong and crash into each other then spin off to smash into someone else. I wonder when the chain reaction will end.
6448192
I don't see how its Twilight flexing her pride and ego trying to get Gilda and Rainbow back together when the two of them actually wanted to but both of them just can't make the first move to actually doing it. Sometimes people just need others to help give them a push. Twilight gave Gilda that push. Too bad RD ego got in the way and completely snuffed her. Funny considering how both Pinkie and Twilight both said that RD has been saying she wanted Gilda to come back.
6448265
Time and place. Emotions aren't about logic which is why they are so messy. Trying to get two people who have been estranged for years and are in direct competition to make up while they are still likely on a bit of an adrenaline high after their runs is just a bad idea. If Twilight had lured Dash and Gilda together at say a restaurant later that night things might have turned out differently. Not to mention that Dash still isn't all good with Twilight and having Twilight pressure her to do something is likely to get automatic push back.
Twilight in typical Twilight fashion saw a problem and tried to solve it now! Can't be tardy.
*edit*
That also ignores the questionable logic of trying this while Lightning Dust who has been antagonistic to both and a negative influence all around was in the area.
Yay chapter already~!
6448308
In short: What could possibly go wrong, went wrong.
~Twi
6448308
So its really just terrible timing and place really and not Twi's ego. Can't get on her case that hard for the timing and place though considering this is the first time Gilda and Dash have been in the same place in years and no clue when they'd meet again if they didn't make up here.
Yikes!
I wouldn't like to be on RD's and Twi'so bad side. As always, another great chapter.
6448487
The hubris comes into it because Twilight is trying to force the issue at such a bad time. It isn't like the reason Dash and Gilda are here (the competition) is even over yet.
6447809 False pretense? I don't buy it. Rainbow has been worried about keeping up her image, yes, but that's an after-the-fact concern. Twilight's the one twisting that into a motivation. Put it another way, Rainbow never lied about her reason for attending the competition, but she didn't mention (and probably didn't consider) all her motivations for beating the competition.
Rainbow already made it into the Wonderbolts. She doesn't need to go out of the way to show off for them, and she doesn't have a reputation for signing on to every competition that happens to exist. What she does have is a drive, and ego, that forces her into taking any challenge seriously and putting a lot of weight on her performance in any competition she is in.
Ever since the pressure came on, Twilight's been resisting. She doesn't have a personal stake in the competition, she doesn't have a professional one, and she has real trouble empathizing with Rainbow's perspective. In fact she's tried to dismiss Rainbow's perspective a few times, with this fight being the most recent. Her attitude towards Rainbow and Gilda is the same way: you shouldn't feel this way, you should feel the way I'm telling you that you should feel.
(edit)
6448487 There's also the question of if the problem needed solving in the first place. Not all relationships work. Trying to force the issue ends poorly even when everything is calm. Hubris is a very good word here.
Finally. Took long enough.
Why?
Why would you say that?
...
Wait, wut?
She didn't publicly humiliate herself?
Something's terribly wrong.
But damn, dat fight. I wonder what Dash's reaction after "trust me, you can fly on that wing" resulted in her crippling herself. But fortunately she's smart enough not to push it... but what's actually wrong with it? If just folding the wing causes that sort of pain, it's got to be pretty badly sprained at the least. Unless the doctors there can work some pretty impressive magic, she won't be able to fly competitively (that if Team TwiDash isn't disqualified for attacking a member of Team Lightning Dust. But it happened outside of an event, maybe that protects them?)
Goddamnit, Gilda. If you hadn't just shown that you gave up Rainbow Dash's closest secret, I would have suggested that you split up with Lightning Dust and re-team with Dash (if that's permitted), but that sure as hell ain't happening now. I had imagined that Lightning Dust would pull some shit this chapter, but I wasn't expecting this!
So... how will they reconnect next chapter (or the following)? I'm guessing either Rainbow realizes that she's been a huge jerk, the rest of the Six come across Twilight and convince her to stay, or Hans meets with her and congratulates her or something (it looks like a grudging respect is there), accidentally shaming her into returning to Rainbow Dash.
6448660
6448573
It was definitely an issue of false pretenses. Rainbow Dash gave Twilight the impression at the very beginning that she was inviting Twilight to fly in the competition because she wanted to do it with a close friend and it reminded her of flying in the competition with her dad.
But ever since they got there it went from flying with a friend to suddenly pressuring Twilight because, "I have to stick it in Hans face", "I can't lose to Gilda and Lightning", "I can look bad to the Wonderbolts", and "I gotta stick it in daddy's face". Twilight just wanted to fly with her friend and have fun with it. Not sit there and be pressured so Rainbow Dash can puff out her chest and go "Hah, look at me now. I'm #1". If her reputation for so important to her, she should've gotten a better flier or rather been straight with Twilight from the start.
Also, the competition may not be over, but the competition is not infinite.
Twilight was victim of poor timing and planning. Don't really see it as arrogance. Gilda is prideful and insecure. She doesn't know how to express herself properly when slighted so she lashes out. RD has a ridiculous ego so dealing with apologies is difficult as hell for her. You have two people who almost never make a move unless they're given a significant push.
6448660
Not really, especially since Dash admitted that by herself.
Dash needs to show Wonderbolts her "stuff", even if she's their full-fledged member. Because here's a thing about reserves: You are nobody. Just a number that might get picked from a pool of other numbers in case something could go wrong or they're maybe looking for another member... eventually. Even though Dash is Wonderbolt now, she... really isn't.
Wait, huh? Resisting? Twilight is a novice flier that was paired with an expert one. As Dash has been in competitions many times she probably lost count, Twilight was shown that she's not of competitive nature. Anxiety, insecurity and all of those come with mistrust of you own abilities, and as canon showed, she often doubts into her own (magical) abilities, even though she had put many magicians to shame.
Incorrect. Twilight's attitude is "Why can't we all get along?" Is that naive? Sure, even though she witnessed the same ordeal from Gilda like Dash saw it. But Dash can't forgive her. Because it's much harder to forgive when a long-time friendship go that way.
Twilight is a Princess of Friendship for a reason. It's just sometimes solutions aren't easy.
~Twi
6448839
In no way was it false pretenses. I really doubt that Rainbow Dash knew that Gilda and Lightning Dust were going to be there as a team. Or that Hans was going to ruffle her feathers about Twilight getting special privileges. If those things hadn't happened it would have gone exactly as you think it should still be going.
Random analogy. You invite your friend to go bowling. You are quite good, they are strictly a 'it's fun to throw the ball and chat with friends' level player. When you arrive you are assigned the lane right next to your old high school rival. Does you getting more serious mean that you lured your friend out under false pretenses?
Everyone (aside from Krystle) is varying levels of wrong for different reasons.
6448918
Random, but questionably applicable in this context, especially since defeating Lightning and Gilda was just another motivation stacked on others. Dash wants to be the best. She wants to shove that in her Dad's face and she wants to be noticed by the Wonderbolts.
Twi didn't sign up for that.
~Twi
It's hard to argue that Dash is behaving poorly. I think it's no accident that she has just echoed Lightning Dust herself in telling Twilight to ignore that wing she clipped, just as Lightning told her to do in "Wonderbolts Academy".
I will agree that Twilight is not being successful because she has such a hard time grasping Rainbow's competitive mindset, but it's no surprise. Hell, Twilight was coaxed into doing this because Rainbow made it about friendship. One can hardly blame her for thinking that repairing a rift in Dash and Gilda's friendship (one that they both have confessed hurts and they wish was mended) is more important than any competitive results.
That said, at this point Twilight is simply too close to the whole thing to bring Dash around and accomplish what she's trying to do. It's likely going to take their friends to straighten them both out before things go too far.
Loving the story, and looking forward to more!
6448839
6448915
Neither of these arguments suggest "false pretenses." Think for a moment. If Rainbow just wanted a flier who could keep up with her, why Twilight? There are plenty of pegasi in Ponyville that can outfly Twilight and wouldn't run the risk of overshadowing Rainbow the way flying with a Princess could. The argument "Rainbow just wanted to show off" doesn't fit with Rainbow's choices.
Think about Rainbow's history. We've seen plenty of examples of her getting performance anxiety, even without a couple of hecklers goading her on. Twilight's seen it, she's lived her own, but she's never been in the middle of somepony else's insecurity. What you're seeing is roughly on par with the Lesson Zero catastrophe, except instead of trying to help Rainbow through her anxiety Twilight is too focused on Gilda to recognize Rainbow's crisis.
Twilight is incapable or unwilling to see Rainbow's perspective, so every time Rainbow pushes, Twilight pushes back. It only escalates the tension between them, which Twilight is trying to ignore every time she shoves her royal muzzle in the broken friendships of these three athletes.
My own random analogy: I don't care who laid the minefield, prancing through it is still a dumb idea.
On the risk of making myself unpopular, both of them have been incredibly stupid in this chapter.
It may not be OOC since we have never seen them in a comparable situation there, but it isn't fanon either.
RD has never shown to be this prideful. She might have been hotheaded and fixated on certain things but she always had her priorities straight.
I have never seen her letting herself be lead by anger or pride to this extend or to be that concerned about how she appears to others. It totally goes against her element as well. She is and always has been loyal to her friends and to herself as well.
Twilight seems similarly strange. She is assessing the situation quite accurately, she KNOWS what she would have to say for goodness sake!
But she isn't doing it. She's trying to be diplomatic, trying to give positive impulses to get RDs mind off of her rage.
But that is only fuelling it, and rightly so! This behaviour, above everything else shows Twilights controlling nature. She's trying to get the situation under control not primarily to resolve the conflict.
The problem with all this is, that it isn't a problem of Twilight not knowing what the 'right' thing to do was. It is a problem with her not doing it and for the wrong reasons at that.
She is delaying the inevitable talk about the unvarnished truth. Nothing dissolves anger, fixation, and self-centeredness as being forced to see oneself from an objective perspective. But Twilight is not doing that. She is making things worse in the long run by trying to spare her friend immediate pain. In the past we have never known Twilight for being susceptible for this kind of sentimentality. She has always at some point barged in forced everyone to let go and watch themselves from afar.
Of course I know that this story would be much shorter and not as rich on drama if it were this way but to me it seems like these two characters had forgotten all the wisdom they usually show in stories.
Aside from this critique I still like the story. All in all it is very well written. It's only Twilight's and RD's characterisation that irks me at times.
6449692 Nice analysis. I couldn't agree more, although it never occurred to me that Twilight might actually be blind to RD's performance crisis. I too, have seen that part as not the main issue. It's pride, anger and misdirected anxieties that are driving RD nuts. I laid that out in greater detail in my comment, but on RDs side, I'd like to repeat my thoughts. I think a fixation this strong, one that goes so far as to leading her astray from the things she values most seems very unlike her to me.
6451470 I didn't think of it from your perspective either, and you're right too. Rainbow running into a situation like this without thinking it through is very her, but I think you're right that she has exceeded that headstrong urge. She's ball to the wall if it's just her on the line, but she's been very quick to reverse course when somepony else pays for her mistakes. And then she usually ends up moving heaven and earth (or at least a few clouds and a princess) to make it right. Instead we're seeing her double down on Twilight.
This time Dash went way too far.
Like Lightning.
First of all, Dash... What the hell.
And... P.P.A.P.
How did you predict the future?
the element of Loyalty...SHATTERS