Soleil rushes to his wife as she breaths hard, laborious breaths.
“I’m so sorry, so…. So sorry, I was performing, and… and they didn’t tell me… is she all right?” he asked, alarmed at the amount of blood on her pure white coat. “Why is she bleeding so much?”
The doctors were all working frantically, but one nurse stopped to try and calm him down. “Don’t worry, sir,” she said soothingly, “there were just a few complications during birth. Prism should be fine, and your foal will be as well.”
Soleil gave the nurse a weak smile and nuzzled Prism’s rainbow mane. She barely opened her eyes to acknowledge him before her face grimaced in pain again. One of the doctors pushed Soleil out of the way and he stumbled back, and the doctors began working even harder. There was a muffled yell, but Soleil only saw the beginnings of a pool of blood before the nurse blocked his view.
“Sir, sir, please accompany me outside into the waiting room. I promise you will be let in as soon as your baby is delivered.”
Soleil tried to butt past her. “No, I need to be with her, I promised I always would be… I told-“ he faltered as the nurse began pushing him out the door with her magic. “Stop! I need to be in there!”
The only answer he got was the sound of the lock clicking in place.
“Mr. Soleil?”
Soleil looked up mournfully. He had sat there the entire night, waiting for the nurse to return, but she hadn’t. This was the doctor.
“Yes?”
He had sat there, straining to hear something. At first, he could hear everything. Screaming, the doctors yelling at one another, and then silence.
And then he heard a baby cry.
He had sighed in relief, glad that it was all over, that he could see his wife and his baby.
But still, the nurse didn’t come. He hadn’t seen another pony until now.
The doctor sat next to him. “Mr. Soleil… you have a new, beautiful baby girl. She’s perfectly healthy and in strong condition. Unfortunately…” The doctor trailed off. “Unfortunately, your wife died in childbirth. We tried everything we could, but she didn’t pull through.” He stood up before Soleil got to even say anything. “I’m very sorry. One of the nurses will be out soon to bring you to see your daughter.”
Soleil stayed silent until the doctor had left through the swinging metal doors that led to the back rooms. Then he let his head droop, and let out a choked sob. He didn’t have long, however, before the nurse came bustling back in.
The nurse stopped before him, and Soleil glared up at her. She only shook her head sadly and nudged him up off his chair. “Come here, dear. Seeing your baby will make you feel better, I promise.”
Soleil slowly got to his hooves and followed the nurse. They walked in silence until they reached the window where the babies were kept.
“That one,” the nurse pointed out to him, but he didn’t need it.
The pony was light blue, like him, with Prism’s glorious, colorful mane he had fallen in love with so many years before.
He leaned against the glass, fogging it with his breath.
“Rainbow Dash,” he whispered.
The nurse smiled at him. “That’s a lovely name.”
He didn’t respond, because she didn’t understand.
A prism always made a rainbow. And with his Prism gone, this was all he had left.
This little rainbow was his dash of color in a gray world.
“Rainbow Dash, get over here, it’s nearly time to go!”
Soleil smiled at his daughter puttering around the yard, trying to fly but not being able to get quite off the ground. “Get going, you foal,” he smiled teasingly. “We’re going to be late.”
He nuzzled against her rainbow mane to get her going. Dash smiled adoringly up at him and they began trotting together towards the center of Whinnypeg. Soleil’s attitude got progressively dimmer as they got closer to their goal, his face a blank slate when they finally arrived at the cemetery.
Dash trotted ahead of him with flowers in her mouth, always happy to see her mother. She dropped the flowers next to a gravestone marked “Prism” and plopped right next to them, eager to share her day. She told Prism all about learning how to fly, and how she could scoot herself around with her wings now, and school.
Soleil sat behind her, wondering what life would be like if Prism were still there. Just like he did every morning, when they visited her grave.
Dash looked up at him. “Are you going to say anything, daddy?”
“No, not today. I think she knows what I would tell her already,” Soleil said.
“Okay. When’s your next performance? I wanna go this time, not to stupid school.” Dash had started school just a week before, and already hated the confines of the classroom and sitting in the desks. “I’d rather learn with you,” she whined.
“I can’t let you miss school,” Soleil said, smiling, “but I do have a practice today. It’ll be mostly routine work, but I think you’ll still like it.”
“Yay! Bye, mommy.”
Rainbow Dash galloped ahead of him, screaming in delight when she beat him to the arena where the Wonderbolts practiced, and Soleil pushed her over playfully. “Go run to the bleachers then, and me and the rest of the Wonderbolts will be out in a minute.” He watched her get over there, and he went to get into his practice uniform.
The uniforms they wore for practice were considerably less flashy, a simple gray and old goggles so they could have less wind resistance without ruining their real suits in a trick gone wrong. Soleil changed, his orange and red mane flashing in the sun and looking impressive next to the stormy gray. The rest of the Wonderbolts were lazing around or changing as well, waiting for the meeting to start. A couple talked about the last performance, which had been in Manehatten for some sort of Orange festival.
Storm, the pony in charge, walked in, her gray curly mane a mess from flying. The silver streaks in it flashed as she walked, and it always dazzled Soleil how it really did look like an impending storm cloud.
The rest of the Wonderbolts clustered around her, happy to see what new tricks she had since last season. Instead of her usual happy note, she just looked around at them grimly.
“Psyche quit.”
A few exclaims came up from a few ponies, but most just shrugged, knowing that this was coming. Storm and Psyche were having problems- Storm a more subdued flyer- preferring subtle ways to show off- and Psyche flashy, always wanting more flips or lights, and they were constantly having to split up the performances because of arguments.
“I know this is sudden, but we need a new co-captain. Someone who can work more on the actual ideas for the acts and find new recruits, rather than perform themselves. They’ll still be in the main group, but if there’s a clash for recruitment and a performance, they’ll be the ones to miss out on flying with us that day.
“They’ll also have more responsibility, so I chose our four senior members and will let them decide if they’re willing or not. Then we can all confer on which will be the best for the team.
“Marcher, Soleil, Twister and Gray Chaser, please decide if you would like to take this position.”
Soleil blinked at how sudden this was. Gray Chaser, from beside him, automatically pitched in, “I don’t really have an eye for new tricks. Soleil and Marcher are good at training, though. Twister’s good at new ideas.”
Marcher shook his head. “No, I don’t think I’d like to do that. I’m not good at, um, decisions. Or really anything other than performing.”
Twister grinned at Soleil, shaking out her brown mane. “Guess it’s between me and you, old man.”
Twister was a skilled flyer, and one of the younger ones, but she was also Storm’s daughter and been hanging out and flying with them ever since she was old enough. She was considered an elder member because of her skill at choreographing them, even as a young pony, but she didn’t have the same patience as the rest of the older members.
Soleil laughed softly. “I guess I am getting a bit old to be flying around so much. I’ll take the job, if I get selected.”
Storm nodded. “All right, please leave the room. The rest of the team needs to talk about it- while you’re outside, though, you can meet the new recruits.”
The pair walked out into the sunlight. Soleil pushed Twister. “That’s for that crack about my age,” he said, but he was smiling. “You know, I’m not much older than you.”
“Whatever,” she laughed, “you’ve been on the team since I was a filly. I really do think they’ll pick you, though- they only mentioned me because I’ve come up with some new moves, but I help my mo- Storm with that anyway, so it’s not like my skills will be wasted if I don’t get it.”
"Mm," Soleil hummed in reply. "You are good at that. The double twister dash? Brilliant. I still think we should have used that at the Gala last year, but Storm's in charge, I guess."
They stopped at the recruit room. Twister nudged the door open, and inside were the five new members.
Twister and Soleil met each one, introducing themselves and chatting pleasantly until Marcher came to get them. "Hey, you can come back now. You all stay here," he added, nodding to the recruits.
The three of them walked back up the hallway, the tension building and keeping them quiet, until Twister finally said, "Those guys were pretty cool. Except the green one, he was way too cocky. But the rest were cool."
"Really? He reminds me of you when you first joined." Soleil grinned at her and she butted him in the side.
"Shut up, I definitely wasn't that bad."
They had reached the door. Soleil shook a little, not having realized until just now exactly how much he wanted the job... Marcher smiled at both of them and opened the door.
The Wonderbolts were standing in formation, with Storm in the very front, holding the co-captain's pin. Marcher took his place in line while Twister and Soleil walked to stand in front of Storm. She smiled at them.
"Now, you are both fine, hard workers, and excellent fliers. This job requires someone who is experienced, has an eye for new members and routines, and can work alongside me when I need them. While you both have these traits, we have decided... that Soleil best fits these requirements." Twister nodded in acknowledgment, and turned to hug him.
"Good job," she whispered. Soleil smiled down at her.
"Soleil," Storm said, putting the pin on him, "You are a magnificent flier, and you have been from the start. This team is important to you- that much is obvious to us all- and we have realized how important you are to the Wonderbolts. So we've decided to give you this to honor that dedication."
Soleil smiled proudly, and the rest of the pegasi clustered around him, offering praise and congratulations. When it was Twister's turn, she just grinned at him. "I didn't really want it, you know. Just wanted to make it more competitive."
"Right," Soleil replied, and nuzzled the top of her head. Twister was like his sister, and he knew he could always count on her. "I bet it was a close vote, though."
"No doubt."
After everyone had their say, Storm trotted to get the recuits while everyone else walked into the arena.
This arena was relatively small, compared to the official ones in Canterlot and Cloudsdale where they performed. It had a high ceiling, which had skylights so the sun could light the inside while protecting them if it rained and from wandering eyes. Sometimes show teams, amateurs or professionals, would try to find out what the most elite team in Equestria was doing to copy their moves, and that just wasn't allowed. The seating was sparse- enough for only about a hundred ponies, so family, friends, and retired or injured Wonderbolts could watch.
Soleil flew up to where his daughter had fallen asleep in the bleachers. He nudged her side, and she woke with a start.
"Wha- I didn't miss your practice, did I!?"
Soleil chuckled. "No, don't worry. I just wanted to wake you up so you wouldn't miss it."
Dash noticed his pin, and her eyes grew wide. "Hey, whuzzat?"
"Rainbow Dash, you are looking at the new co-captain of the Wonderbolts."
"Whoa! Really? What does that mean? Do I get to miss school? This is awesome! What's a co-captain?"
He chuckled. "Yes, really. It means I get to help find new recruits and figure out new tricks. You can't miss school. Well... Actually, Rainbow Dash.... What do you think of moving to Cloudsdale?"
Her eyes lit up, and Soleil knew it was the perfect thing to do.
Soleil continued to patch up the side of the house that had blown away with some extra cloud.
“Dad.”
He smoothed it out. The clouds were the same white Prism had been.
“Dad!”
Soleil started. “What, Dash?” he asked, still hovering and patting the cloud.
“Dad, can I build my own room?”
Soleil looked at Dash around the wall he was fixing. This was a daily chore- they had only been living there for a month, so most of the cloud hadn’t settled in yet. He was proud of the home, though. The two of them had built it from scratch, and since they could no longer visit Prism every day, they had a small memorial, a sort of garden, for her. It started at the top- rainbow creeks ran down the side of the fluffy, white clouds, and fell into a pool below. Instead of flowers, they just changed the design of it every day. Some days it was a million little rivers, and others it was a huge, gushing one. Once, Dash had even fallen in, getting covered from head to toe with the sticky rainbow.
“What? You have a room.”
Rainbow Dash glared at him from the yard of their home, floating not far from the outer reaches of Cloudsdale. “But, daaaaad,” she whined, “it’s not really mine if you built it.” Her tone told Soleil she’d already made up her mind and couldn’t be swayed. He chuckled a little at her logic, and how much he was reminded of Prism by her.
“Honey, you can’t even fly yet. How about it’s your first fly gift?”
It was the wrong thing to say. “Dad, that could be ages away, and besides, everyone in class says you get flying goggles as your first gift.” Dash had started school again, and Soleil had forgotten how different Pegasus customs were from the ones below. Dash gleefully reminded him though, delving eagerly into the culture, and apparently her school was teaching her new things every day. “You can help me get clouds, or whatever, and I’ll build it. Come on,” she added, when he didn’t look convinced, “my room barely fits my bed, which I’m growing out of, by the way. If I make my room I’ll make the floor super cloudy, and then I won’t even need a bed.”
Soleil smiled at her. “Fine, where would you want to build it?
“Next to the kitchen,” she deadpanned. “I’m a growing filly.”
Soleil laughed. “How about next to the porch? It’ll be like a clubhouse.”
Dash thought about it. “That’ll be fine,” she said, then quickly added, “for now.”
Dash trotted back home after school. Unlike the one in Whinnypeg, this one was more open, and not behind desks. It was hands-on, exactly how she liked it. The school was set up in a giant courtyard, with seats of cloud and pillars surrounding it, like the gazebo that had been in her friend’s yard on the ground, but bigger.
Nowadays, her schedule changed with her dad’s. Every morning, they would normally wake up and get ready for the day. They would take their breakfast to the rainbow pool and changed what it looked like. Dash’s favorites were the little rivers, that would twist and turn and weave in and out of each other before falling into the pool, and the dancing colors would mesmerize her. Then her dad would go to practice, or whatever he did during the day, and Dash would go to school. When she got home they would work on her room before going to bed.
Her room was her own pride. Sometimes she would get home and Soleil would have a cloud bank waiting for her to start building, and sometimes he would fly her around and let her grab her own clouds. It turned out that clouds needed to be touched a certain way, and a lot of Dash’s fell apart, but that was okay, too. Everything was okay when she was with her dad.
They had carved a little river of rainbow through her room, so she could see it every time she woke up. That was her favorite part- that, and the Wonderbolts poster her dad had given her, which was pinned above her bed. Every night, she would go to sleep with the poster above her. She could only hope she would learn how to fly someday, and she could join the team and soar alongside her dad.
Right now, though, her dad was away for a tour. He had been gone for two weeks, and each day she got a new letter from where he was. She got one from Manehattan, Canterlot, a little town called Ponyville, Hoofington, and even from Whinnypeg.
She puttered her wings some, scooting forward a few feet. She was almost home, and she sped up a little. She was excited to check the mailbox before heading over to her friend’s house, a friend from school, Green Tree. She was staying there until her daddy got back.
She got to the mailbox and ripped open the letter she found inside. Three things fell out. She picked them up and looked at them.
The first was just a postcard that said “SEADDLE” in big letters. Dash flipped it over, and on the back her dad had written, “Love you, be home soon.” The next was a letter that her dad always put in there. Dash skimmed the top, which just described the sights, and skipped straight to the very last paragraph.
“Love you so much, Dashie. We’ll finish your room when I get back, okay? Someday, it’ll be you here with me, and we’ll be performing together.
“Love always, see you soon, dad.”
Dash put the letter on top of the postcard. Those always came in the envelope, but she had never gotten a third thing.
It was a photograph.
Her dad was standing in front of a sign that announced, “WELCOME TO SEADDLE.” Next to him, though, was what confused her. There was a mare, silvery-gray, waving to the camera. She was a unicorn. Dash had no idea why she was in the picture.
She picked the letter up again and re-read it, slower. When she got to the part she had skipped, she paused.
“Dash, this is hard for me to say. Enclosed is a picture of me and my friend from school, Silver Heart. I saw her in Hoofington, and found out she was also coming to Seaddle. She has two kids, Golden Crown and Platinum.
Dash, your mother died years ago, and I miss her dearly, and even though you never met her, I know you wish you had. I was hoping you could meet Silver Heart sometime after I got back.”
The rest of the letter talked about some restaurant him and the mare had gone to, and the performance that the Wonderbolts had given. Dash put the letter down slowly, still confused. What did meeting Silver Heart have to do with her mother?
Dash gathered everything from the envelope and went inside, placing them on the table inside before grabbing her saddlebags. She tried to hover, but couldn’t get her mind off the letter, so she just headed back to the center of town where Green Tree lived.
