Remember
“You know…I always wanted to be just like you. Strong, fast, brave…you were always my hero. Whenever I had a problem, I would always stop and think: what would you do?
“No matter what the issue, no matter what the odds against you…somehow, you pulled through. I don’t know if it was dumb luck or what, but you did.”
The pony stood alone in the field, listening to the wind, cold with the beginning breath of winter. The tree in front of her rustled with the breeze, dropping a few leaves into the earth.
“When…it happened…I wasn’t sure if I could go on. You have to understand, I looked to you for everything. But…I just had the feeling that you’d want me to keep going. You knew I was stronger than that. That belief…that’s what kept me going."
The pony flexed her wings awkwardly, stretching the fabric of her black jacket. A bundle of flowers lay at her feet.
“I still remember those few moments we spent together. You taught me so much. How to be strong. How to laugh in the face of danger. And most importantly, how to be loyal. You were my inspiration for everything I did.”
A scooter and helmet lay behind the pony, temporarily forgotten.
“I’m in the Junior Speedsters now,” she continued. “Just like you were. And maybe, once I get good enough at flying, I can go enter the Best Young Fliers competition. I’ll probably never be as good as you were, though.
“The Wonderbolts have changed their uniform now, you know. It’s hard to see unless you’re close up, but everyone who sees it knows what it means. None of us have forgotten that day.”
The pony sighed, flicking her purple mane back over her ear. “You were so happy when Spitfire told you. It was the chance of a lifetime. I was so happy for you. You could finally realize your dream, and fly with the Wonderbolts.”
“I went to every performance. So did the rest of your friends. You were…well, you looked like you belonged in that formation. We could see you smiling from the stands.”
“But, everything good has to end sometime, doesn’t it? None of us just expected your to come so…suddenly.”
Scootaloo forced herself to look at the headstone. It bore no name, just the same symbol now sewn into the Wonderbolt’s uniforms. A cloud and a rainbow-colored lightning bolt.
“We all remember that day. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. None of us will.”
It had been a beautiful, sunny day. Rainbow Dash had been training for weeks for this one event; the one Spitfire promised her would secure her a permanent position among her heroes. “Can you believe it?” Dash had said, ecstatic. “I sure can’t! If I do this, I won’t be flying with the Wonderbolts. I’ll be a Wonderbolt!”
Ponyville had been treated to a spectacular aeronautics display every day, as the pegasus perfected her every technique, and rehearsed the carefully choreographed moves she would perform.
Finally, the day arrived. Most of Ponyville went with Rainbow Dash to watch. Scootaloo herself made sure to get the cyan pegasus by herself and offer some words of encouragement.
“I’ll be fine,” the pegasus had replied nervously. “I mean, I’ve been practicing long enough, right?”
“We’re all with you,” Scootaloo had said. “No matter what happens.”
She could physically see some of the tension leave her idol. “Thanks. That…means a lot to me.”
“You’ll do great,” the younger pegasus had said. “I bet you could show even the Wonderbolts a thing or two!”
Dash had laughed nervously. “You really think that? There might be hope for you yet.”
Scootaloo lay the flowers down before the headstone. “I thought you might like these. They’re foget-me-nots. The blue ones match your coat, the pink ones match your eyes.”
She shivered as another chill wind blew past, and she hugged the jacket tighter around herself. “The weather team really tries, but they can’t do what you can. Nopony could. I bet you’d brag about that if you could.”
Scootaloo’s throat closed up for a second, and she looked away, brushing a tear from her eye. “They told me you didn’t feel anything. You wouldn’t even have noticed. Just there one second, gone the next. It’s…I just can’t believe someone can be gone…so quickly.”
She shook her head. “It still hurts. Even now. All of us hurt. Especially Applejack. You never told me you two were so close.”
She reached out and touched the headstone. “I’m just glad I was able to talk with you. That last time. When I wished you luck. I eased some of your worry, and…maybe, that’s all that really counts.”
The routine had gone flawlessly. Rainbow Dash flew in perfect unison with the other pegasi, as if she belonged there. Rocketing through the air, mane flowing in the wind…it was no wonder pegasi loved the sky.
Every trick the four pegasi performed brought another chorus of gasps from the audience. Those from Ponyville fought to hold back tears, their hearts rejoicing that the pony they knew and loved was living her lifelong dream.
The finale approached, the ground crew struggling to keep up the appropriate display of pyrotechnics. The Wonderbolts rocketed into the air, soaring above the clouds until they had all but vanished from sight.
After a heart-stopping moment, three rocketed down, through an eye-withering pyrotechnic display that sent streamers of fire in every direction.
The audience cheered and applauded wildly. But then their elation began to fade. Hadn’t there been four a moment ago?
Beside Scootaloo, Twilight Sparkle brought out a pair of binoculars, scanning the sky. After a moment, she gasped, and pulled the lenses from her eyes. “She’s still going up,” she breathed.
Scootaloo snatched the binoculars from her and peered into the sky, finding the rainbow-maned pegasus without difficulty. Rainbow Dash was still streaking upward, jaw set in a rictus of concentration.
“What’s she doing?” Scootaloo squeaked.
“Proving a point,” Twilight replied.
Scootaloo glued her eyes to the binoculars. “She’s going too high,” she whispered.
Just as she said that, Rainbow Dash’s furiously beating wings slowed, and stopped completely. An expression of mild confusion appeared on her face before her eyes rolled up in their sockets. A moment later, she fell.
The crowd began to cheer as the cyan pegasus appeared out of the clouds, about to perform what they thought would be the finale of finales. And in a way, they were right.
The crowd’s cheering stopped as the pegasus’ form plummeted toward the ground. By now, the sharper-eyed among them would have noticed her still wings. The assembled ponies held their breath, expecting her to flare out her wings and pull up any second.
She didn’t.
An instant before impact, Scootaloo tore her eyes from the scene and covered them with her hooves, a ragged sob escaping her throat.
The dull thud as the pegasus hit the ground could only be heard in the first few rows, but it might as well have been an earth-shattering blast.
The arena was silent for a long moment as the audience absorbed what they had seen. Then the screams began, and the medics began rushing onto the field…
Scootaloo cast a warm look at the headstone. To that day, nobody knew why the pegasus had done what she did. Maybe she had forgotten how high to go. Maybe she was trying to show off. But no matter what, she had died doing what she loved: raising the bar.
No matter how her final stunt had ended, ponies would have been talking about it for years. And maybe, that would have been all that mattered to the cyan pegasus.
The younger pony spread her wings wide, letting the chill air sweep through her newly formed flight feathers. “I’ll make you proud, Dash. Wait and see. I’ll be the best flier Equestria has ever seen!”
“And someday…someday, I’ll fly as high as you did. Maybe even higher. I’ll fly all the way to the moon if that’s what it takes. I won’t stop. I won’t give up. You shaped me, and now I’m going to shape your legacy. I’ll make sure the world never forgets you.”
Another gust swirled through the field, buffeting the young pegasus’ wings. Except this one was different. It was free, wild…and strangely warm.
Scootaloo looked around, bewildered. Had that been…
No. That was ridiculous. Nevertheless, she puffed her chest out. “I hope you’re watching, Rainbow. I swear, I’ll make you proud.”
Before she left, she moved forward and delicately placed one last thing on the grave: a single blue feather.
The orange pegasus flipped her helmet onto her head, and sped off on her trusty scooter.
A gust of wind soon swept the feather off the ground, where it tossed in the breeze. And if anyone had been there to hear, they would have sworn they had heard something.
Laughter. Joyous, innocent laughter. The laugh of one who loved the sky.
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Dude...I...I need to lift some weights...excuse me
seriously though that was awesome. short, to the point, and packed with emotion told from an appropriate perspective. I have not to this day given a 5/5, (probably because I don't read tons and tons of fics, or I just forget) but you sir have earned it.
Such a sad story. Some part of me likes it though.
Darn you! Tears ensure
Great job
You bastard... I need to... go... do manly stuff...
5 stars... get away from me...
I'm afraid I've used up all my manly tears on other fics. When I started reading fanfiction, a story like this would have had me choking back tears, but for some reason this time I was trying to force myself to produce tears because I felt like I was supposed to. I wanted to cry, but it seems I can't cry about fanfics any more.
That was sad...Great job
uh... shit, I hear the thunder and feel the rain
. Storm must have come... yeah, that's why my face is wet.
Aw, who am i kidding, that last sentence is what made the storm come, the last echoes of the Best pony ever
...that...
That was depressing, but beautiful. Short, but great. I didn't cry, though my heart did crack a little bit. Fantastic one-shot; really love it.
Anyone else hear Mad World playing in the background?
Very touching, very sad too. Great job with this, I loved it. Quite a large impact in just 1.5k words if you ask me, so you did a wonderful job on making every segment count.
Now if you'll excuse me...
That was touching, i've read my little dashie, so i can't really cry anymore tears, my tear sockets are all dried up, but this was awesome. 5/5
-LJ
God fucking DAMNIT brony. I'm 6'2". I weigh 230 lbs. I work as a security guard. I've been STABBED at work, my immediate reaction being to break both arm and face of the guy who did it. I did not cry.
I AM LEAKING. WHY AM I LEAKING?!
That, was very short and simple yet made my heart crack -applauds- yet i am still seeking something that will make me cry, Its really difficult for me to cry innocent tears, not tears of pain
40607 Have you read My Little Dashie? there may not be death, but you will love, you will cheer, you will cry... that is if you havent read it already. I have gone through the story several times, and each time, my chest is heaving with sobs,, feeling the warmth of all the love that is present. This did have that depressing feel to it, I couldnt listen to any sad music the entire night, because i knew it would make me feel worse. This definitely gets 4 hooves up, but it does not beat the agony from My Little Dashie.
My entire life I have only cried teers of physical pain even when my mom died and I saw the body I didn't shed one teer or even sob yet this makes me want to cry but I don't just from the way you wrote this and the emotions and evrything damm you I need to read all the oc fics I know I guess ill be calling in sick to my soccer coach
That was tear-jerking to say the least.
You go to York too? Small world, so do I. I frequent the Calumet rec hall some days, playing pool.
NEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......... !
! May you live forever and never stop trying to be as awesome as me!
and thus begins
RAINBOW DASH
5/5 I didn't cry but I felt like crying it's just so emotinal
38426 The Fox Amoore version, and only instrumental. But yes. Yes I did.
How did you go from writing this to writing "Why Didn't Ah Stay at Th' Farm?"
Amazing work, dear sir.
Oh my...
That was beautiful and very very sad T_T. It's got me wondering, what happened to Rainbow Dash, what caused her to pass out in the air like that? Lack of air pressure maybe? Poor Rainbow =(
And that is why anyone with an aviation career should be taught basic atmospheric physics.
Seriously though, this made me sad :( But I think it is good that there are things worth being sad over.
Why did Rainbow go to sleep forever in the sky? Come on why?
OH MY GOD IM. NOT. CRYING.
Who am I kidding, yes I am
It's 4 am. i should be asleep. but i need to go work out or something after this...
i'm seriously wearing a RD shirt right now. about halfway through this, i realized i was clutching the image for dear life.
It's 4 am. i should be asleep. but i need to go work out or something after this...
i'm seriously wearing a RD shirt right now. about halfway through this, i realized i was clutching the image for dear life.
I didn't cry. It was sad, but I didn't cry.
And I feel awful saying this, but Rainbow Dash kind of went down like Boba Fett. Complete badass, capable of doing awesome things, and yet dying in a manner completely unbefitting of their station. If RD had crashed because she didn't pull up in time at breakneck pace, it would have....I dunno, settled I suppose, better than Rainbow Dash making a dumb mistake and plummeting to her death where there should have been capable unicorns, Twilight included, who could have rescued her with a thought.
That's just my opinion.
Still a good story, though. I'll have to keep an eye on your future stories
~FifthAlicorn
This kind of reminds me of a documentary i saw about airplane pilots.
They say that in the final days of WWII, the germans were testing an jet engine plane, the test pilot knew that they werent going to win the war and decided he would go out doing what he liked...
Flying...
The test results say that the "plane exploded", but the witnesses said that he ignored orders and went on an 90 degrees rise, reaching 20,000 meters (4,000 meters more then the maximun allowed).
The plane was said to reach the ground 3 minutes latter, which means that the pilot not only didnt try to avoid the crash, but in fact accelerated.
Rainbow Dash passad out , wich means she didnt have how to avoid the crash, but I am sure she was happy, seeing the curvature of the planet.
She flew higher then any pegasus ever had...
I liked this fic. Thanks for the contribution.
Manly tears were shed
52306 If you read the later Star Wars novels, you'd know that Boba Fett didn't die. Ah, but that's beside the point. I admit, your argument is fairly logical. The thing was, RD was unconscious, having passed out from the high altitude. She couldn't have pulled up even if she wanted to.
The way I looked at it was that, despite having finally flown with the Wonderbolts, she still felt as if she had something to prove. And of course, there's the allure of the sky, which no one's immune to. I could have put it in RD's perspective during that part, and shown what was going through her head, but that would have ruined the effect, and I prefer leaving others to draw their own conclusions. Besides, Twilight mentioned in Lesson Zero that most magic was line-of-sight based, and it's hard to get a clear shot at an object falling at terminal velocity.
49924 Yes, it was lack of air pressure. She went too high, and passed out from sudden-onset hypoxia. Simple overconfidence.
Short, but I cried. Thank you.
Fuck. I knew this would destroy my composure
I'll just go back to my corner now
I ...it.....um....
ok im dun. But can u change the title to I'll Fly Higher plz. It would make it perfect.
194098 Hmm. Yeah, I'll do that. Blue Feathers was just for want of a better name anyway.
YAY!! there everything feels right.
well sorta
Gawd that was sad, but I couldn't cry, I give it a 5/5 and I'm sure that if I actually had tears left from whatever I sheded them from, I would of sheded them all here
That, my friend, was one of, if not the, most touching stories I've ever read. If you'll excuse me, I need to go to my jet and shoot stuff to feel more manly
.
.
.
FUCK. I'm a MASSIVE Scootaloo and RD fan. Fuck. Feee-uck. Now I'm crying in the middle of first period Biology, and everyone's staring at me. FUCK. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being crap and 10 being amazing, this rates a 178. Now go fuck yourself, you made me cry.
287112 Not to sound like an insensitive prick, but...that's why you don't read sadfics in biology. Meiotic division isn't exactly tearjerker material.
291086
No, I know. I just make stupid decisions sometimes. And holy crap, that's actually what we we're doing!
Dude - I read this again, simply because I remembered it as Blue Feathers and wondered 'What the hell is this thing doing in my favourites??'
Then I read it, and I remembered, and I cried again!
Well done, you not-nerd you.
- Midnight Specter
i almost shed manly tears!
good story!
Just...just awesome, man.
Excuse me...
that... was beautiful
i dident cry, but somehow I feelyou deserve my tears...*shead single manly tear*
i was bawling!!