> Fell Into the Right Hooves
>  by CosmicWaltz
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fell Into the Right Hooves
by CosmicWaltz

Chapter 1

"Wind?" Dash licked the back of her forehoof before raising it high above her into the air.

"Good! Clouds?" she called to herself. Looking from atop the cloud where she was perched, she noted the empty sky around her.

"Clear! Cheering section?" The blue pegasus sat up, ears alert as if expecting a round of praise. After a few silent seconds, she looked over the edge of her cloud at the ground below. "I said 'cheering section?'"

Rainbow Dash could just barely make out the yellow and pink blur. Fluttershy, sitting peacefully on the grass far below the blue pegasus' cloud, shot up to attention. "Oh, um,... yay!" she replied, though barely above a whisper.

"Ugh..." Dash placed a hoof over her face. She knew the pegasus below her had the heart, but her voice usually hid it behind meek expressions. Nevertheless, her cheering section was ready. "Check."

The two pegasi were just outside of Ponyville, away from its busy streets and market. Dash had been scolded about performing her stunts too near to town by Mayor Mare after her last trick sent a cloud careening into the market, leaving it in a misty fog for hours. She assured the Mayor that it was only a mishap, but, when presented with the large list of complaints sent her way over the years, realized it was best not to argue, lest she be handed the bill for the damages.

"Okay, Fluttershy," Dash called to the grounded pegasus, "this is my latest trick I've been working on. A first run! Now, the Sonic Rainboom is great and all, but I can't just be a one trick pony! Especially with the Wonderbolts' open audition being only four weeks away. So, I got to thinking; I'm the only one who can pull off a Sonic Rainboom, right? How about I use that in some other extraordinary stunts! No one could beat that that! The Wonderbolts will have no choice but to accept me!"

Dash struck a proud pose from the edge of her cloud platform, as a gentle voice chimed up to her with hushed enthusiasm. "That's a wonderful idea!" Even from her starting place in the sky, Dash could make out those large teal eyes.

"Of course it is! You're going to be the first to see," the athletic pegasus began, dropping into her starting position, "THE LIGHTSTREAM!"

"Ooh!" Fluttershy called up, though Dash could just barely say it wasn't the wind making the quiet sound.

'This is it,' Dash thought, spreading out her wings in preparation. 'This is the stunt you've been planning for weeks! You can do this. You're the best, after all. So, let's make it happen! First, a Sonic Rainboom.'

The rainbow-maned pegasus quickly bucked the cloud beneath her, dissipating it into a soft mist as she fell through towards the ground. She had to start this trick with a Sonic Rainboom, which required a long distance of height and perfect conditions. And of course, somepony to cheer her on. As she fell through the sky, she let her wings catch the air, falling into the groove she needed. Now, it was all a matter of getting enough speed before she hit the ground. She caught the words that had passed in her mind. Hitting the ground; the biggest fear of any pegasus. She tried to push the thought out of her head, attempting to focus on the stunt at hand. She stretched out her body, feeling the air bend around her. She could see the sky beginning to distort in her peripheral vision. She just needed a little bit more speed. Her eyes once again caught the rapidly approaching ground. 'Come on, you idiot, pull up! You're not going to be able to break it in time!' Her mind was screaming for her to cancel the drop, and she felt herself slowing down in panic. Then, she heard a timid note carry its way to her on the wind.

"Go, Rainbow!"

Fluttershy called to her. Dash could just make out the calm pegasus in the corner of her vision, but those large eyes were still looking to her with excitement. 'I can't back out of this now,' she thought, feeling stronger than ever. 'I have an audience to amaze!'

Dash poured forth one final burst of speed, feeling the air wrap tightly around her, before finally exploding in a bright, colorful flash. Not a moment too soon, she darted back up into the sky, leaving a beautiful spectrum aura in her wake. She swore she could hear Fluttershy cheering her on.

'All right, Dash,' she spoke in her head, 'first phase is done. Time for the hard part!' Dash had planned this out for days, but had yet to give it a try. Flying high into the air, far above the tree line, the streaming pegasus began to fly in a tight loop, circling an empty space of air. The world around her soon became an endless strobe of green grass and blue sky, flickering in rapid succession. Once she felt comfortable with the flight pattern, she began to spin. She had to start slow, so as not to lose the rainbow-colored trail she had made in the sky. She kept herself in the loop, slowly tightening her spins. Before long, she was spiraling like a drill, sticking close to the looped pattern in the sky. That's when she felt it. The path she had made began to lurch into motion, drawing the air with it in a stream of color and energy. As the stream began to pick up speed with her, whirling around her in a torrent, she could barely make out the bright, white light forming in the center of the loop. This was the Lightstream!

'No time to celebrate!' Dash thought, as she continued to follow the churning loop in the sky. 'Now, the only thing left is an exi-' Her thought was cut off by a terrible realization. 'I NEVER PLANNED AN EXIT STRATEGY!!'

She lost focus, letting her wing slip out of formation. The change in angle tossed her against the side of the stream, where she quickly found the speeding wall of color to be surprisingly solid. She panicked, frantically trying to correct the mistake, throwing her other wing out to balance. This overcorrection proved a mistake, as she was thrown hard into the other side of the stream. The solid impact jolted her, and full terror began to set in. She had become disoriented in all the chaos. Beyond the streaks of prismatic color, she could no longer make out ground or sky. With all the air twisting around her, she didn't even know if she was spinning herself anymore. In blind fear, she decided the best thing to do was to stop doing anything. She closed her wings, and hoped for the best.

---

It was dark. Soft noises seemed to echo off in the distance. Dash didn't know exactly where she was. She tried to remember how she arrived there, but could only recall lights and color. "Pinkie must have thrown one wild party this time," she mumbled to herself, finding her voice very frail.

"Oh! You're awake!" The voice echoed loudly through her head. She didn't recognize the voice at first, though she knew she had heard it before. She tried to get up to find where the sound was coming from.

"Don't move around too much, Ms. Dash. You had quite a spill. I'll go get the doctor right away!"

Now Dash recognized the voice. 'Nurse Redheart?' she thought, finding the voice of her thoughts to be just as weak as the one in her throat. 'What's she doing here? Did somepony get hurt?' She reflected on the nurse's words. ''You had quite a spill, Ms. Dash.'' It seemed almost alien to her. ''Dash'? 'Ms. Dash'? But I'm the only Dash I know.' Suddenly, it began to dawn on her. She remembered the Lightstream stunt. She remembered panic. She realized what the nurse had said. 'Oh, Celestia... I'm the one that had the spill?!'

Dash's eyes fought to open, flooding the darkness with intense light. Though blurry, the world began to come back to her. She was in a room of the Ponyville Hospital. The calming blue walls seemed too vivid with the splash of orange light shining through the windows and curtains. She was in bed, propped up at an angle and wrapped in a light blanket that felt far too stiff. Many tubes and wires were hooked up to her forelegs and chest, feeding from IVs and into various machines. She began to feel as though the walls were closing in as she took in her condition. The lights seemed to grow dim and low, making the room feel claustrophobic. The blanket began to feel heavy and thick, and the lines almost seemed to wrap around her, trying to suffocating her. 'I can't stay here! I gotta fly!'

She bolted off her back, frantically pulling away the tubes and wires, some stinging sharp as the needles they held were ripped out from under her skin. She kicked the bedcloth off of her, feeling freed from the binding fabric. 'The window,' she thought, the voice in her head shining with reassured confidence and spunk. 'They'll never miss me. Just another day patient.'

As she spread her wings to take flight, a sharp, biting pain shot through her body from her side. Dash winced as she went stiff and fell flat against the rigid bed. She quickly began to inspect herself. Her legs were all fine, it seemed. She looked to her left, seeing her wing outstretched and ready for the air. It was then that she noticed the two bands of white cloth, overlapped with velcro grips, wrapped around her body in front and behind her wing. She followed the cloth across her chest to her other side. The bands expanded to a wide rectangle of white fabric, held tightly to her side, where her wing should have been.

Dash's eyes grew wide with horror. Her right wing, which her mind told her should be outstretched and prepared for flight just as her other, was not there.

"N-no... no... no nonoNO!!" she screamed out. Bottomless dread and sadness began to overtake her, only just overpowered by the adrenaline pumping through her body. She felt herself drop into a delusional fear. "I gotta get out! I gotta get out!" Her open wing began to beat furiously at the air, trying to propel the panicking pegasus into the sky shielded away from her by the ceiling. The furious pulses of her wing knocked over the instruments and IV stands beside the bed, creating a tumultuous clatter as they landed hard against the tile floor. Her hooves kicked furiously for footing, rattling the metal sides of the bed, sending a clamor bouncing around the room in waves of echoes. She didn't know why her mind told her to run, but she knew she just had to. She had to outrun the reality of this.

Nurse Redheart ran back into the room, a startled worry on her face as to what was causing all of the noise. "Ms. Dash, what's wrong?! Is everything all right?!"

The blue pegasus, writhing in terror on the bed quickly backed herself against the wall on the far side. She glared in a hurt madness at the orderly. "WHERE THE HAY IS MY WING?! WHAT DID YOU HACKS DO WITH MY WING?!"

"Calm down this instant, Ms. Dash!" An older earth pony made his presence known from the doorway. His faded tan coat and white mane showed his years all too well, and a thick, white mustache hid his mouth beneath his scowling features. The white coat and stethoscope adorning his large frame immediately identified him as the doctor. "If you would just settle down, I can explain everything."

"WHERE IS MY WING?!" Dash was not consoled by the figure that walked closer to her. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes as her vision began to blur again into streaks of light. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!"

The elder stallion stopped half way to the bed, a gruff expression crossing his bushy brow. "Ms. Dash! If you would look, your wing is just fine! It's merely bandaged to you. Now, please, control yourself!"

It was as if a light had suddenly beamed into the shrinking room, expanding it back to its natural dimension. Shaking the wet from her eyes, Dash quickly looked back to the large bandage at her right. Though it held firmly to her body, she could now clearly see the distinct outline of her wing. The dreaded thoughts of amputation sank back into her, relieving her mind to a calm, if unnerved, disposition.

"Oh... oh, okay." She tried to play off the show she had just displayed, though the now disheveled room said otherwise. Her heart was still pounding in her ears as she sat back proper into the bed. "I kinda lost my head there for a bit. Much better than losing a wing though." She laughed weakly, trying to mask the true fear the very thought grasped her in.

The doctor's glare softened, though his disapproval was almost etched into his face. "Yes, it is. Nurse Redheart, will you please call in somepony to help with the mess?" At his request, the nurse nodded and disappeared back down the hall. "Now, back to you," he said, his gaze looking over to the pegasus.

"Ms. Rainbow Dash," he began, reading from the chart at the foot of the bed. "Pegasus, admitted two days ago fo-"

"Two days?!" Dash interrupted. "I've been here for two days?!" Though she didn't remember much of what landed her here, it had only felt like a few minutes ago.

The doctor let out of sigh of frustration. "Yes, Ms. Dash, you have been here for two nights already. Today is actually your third day here. I was expecting another night, to be honest, but it seems you're already doing well enough to destroy a room and interrupt me as I explain, so that's always a good sign." The doctor's sarcasm had been well trained with the years, almost becoming unnoticeable through his professional tone. "If I may continue?" he asked, a critical expression waiting for permission.

Dash backed down a bit, almost as if he possessed Fluttershy's stare. 'He's good,' she thought.

"Anyway, where was I. Ah, here we are. Admitted two days ago for severe trauma to the right wing and head after, and I'll quote this myself, 'a failed flying stunt.'"

The words bit into Dash's heart. She was worried that her trick was what landed her here, but couldn't recall. "Well," she started, trying to rebuild herself after the blow, "it wasn't a complete failure."

"Hmph!" the doctor scoffed. "You've been in a coma for two days and your wing was horribly injured. If that's not a complete failure, I'd hate to see what you'd call one."

Dash's eyes suddenly flashed at his words, and she shot forward in bed. "I thought you said my wing was fine!"

"Ms. Dash, if you continue to interrupt me, I'll just let you read the chart yourself." The doctors rough voice was calm, as though he dealt with this every day of his career.

Dash shrank back into bed, feeling the doctors stern gaze upon her. "Uh, sorry, doc..."

The doctor looked genuinely pleased, and continued to read off the chart. "You suffered extensive damage to the muscles and tendons of the wing, but luckily didn't break any bones. You won't be flying for a while, but you will be able to fly again. As for your head..." He looked up with a humored smirk. "I think your thick-headedness saved you from any permanent damage."

Even Dash found herself giggling shyly at the doctor's joke. "I knew it'd come in handy one day. So, my wing's just a little busted up? Great! Let's get some unicorn doctors in here and magic it up some! I'll be flying out of those doors by sunset!"

The doctor's mood fell again, into a look of serious concern. He walked over to the window, looking out as he spoke. Dash could now see his cutiemark was a red heart with a bandage over it. "Ms. Dash, I don't believe you understand. Your damages were quite bad. You're very lucky that I've had training for pegasus wings, but even I was shocked by the injuries. We called in a unicorn doctor all the way from Canterlot to assist in the surgery. I did the best I could to set it up as it is now. Ms. Dash, you're looking at the best work anypony in Equestria could have done for you. We even used magic to close the incision. You won't even see it." He turned to look at her. "Honestly, when you came in, I thought amputation was the only option. But, I knew I had to do my best to save your wing." He gave a soft smile, which seemed to warm the room.

"I... I'm sorry I freaked out on you earlier..." Dash's apology was almost bitter in her throat, but she knew the doctor deserved it. "So, when will I be flying again, doc?"

The doctor opened his mouth to talk as a group of three earth ponies walked in and quickly took to picking up the mess from earlier. Nurse Redheart was at the back of the group, taking her place again beside the doctor. "Ah, there you are. I was wondering what took you."

Nurse Redheart smiled nervously. "I'm sorry, Doctor Heartfeld. When I went to the lobby, I found the orderlies attempting to console the pegasus in the waiting area. Apparently when she heard the commotion, she was quite startled. Everything is fine now, Doctor. How's the patient?"

"Yeah," Dash chimed in. "How's the patient?" She pointed at her bandaged side, with an impatient look on her face.

The doctor sighed in defeat. "And here I thought we were having a moment together. Anyway, you will make a full recovery, and you should be flying again within two months."

"Two months?!" Dash's calm attitude was immediately tossed aside again. "No way, doc! I got important stuff coming up soon. I can't wait that long to get back in the air!"

"Ms. Dash," the doctor started, his expression turning back to a stern seriousness, "I don't think you understand. This isn't debatable. It's amazing we even fixed it to this point. If you try to fly with it before it's healed, you risk reversing all the work we've done on it. Right now, you'll recover, but if you damage it again, you might lose the ability to fly all together."

His words struck hard. Her face sank into dejection, realizing just how bad it must have been.

The doctor's face softened again at the tense silence in the room. The orderlies, having reset the apparatuses around the room, quietly shuffled out of the heavy scene.

"You're free to leave today, Ms. Dash, but there are care instructions. Absolutely no flying for the first month, and only small exercises past that. In fact, that bandage of yours shouldn't be removed for any long period of time for the first two weeks, I'd say. I'll schedule a check up, say, four weeks from today to monitor your healing, and we'll take it slowly from there with physical training."

Dash looked down over her bed, unable to meet the doctor's eyes. "Okay, doc..."

The doctor handed the chart to Nurse Redheart. He broke the silence with soft, warm sentiment in his voice. "Okay. Let's get you discharged. Nurse, please help her into the chair. It's regulation that we assist you to the lobby, Ms. Dash. I'm sure you understand."

Nurse Redheart was quickly at Dash's side, readying a wheelchair that one of the orderlies had discreetly wheeled in. Though the nurse offered assistance, Dash turned her down, lowering herself into the chair from the bed.

"All right. Nurse, if you will, let's get her on her way."

The nurse wheeled the quiet Rainbow Dash past the doctor towards the hallway.

"Oh," the doctor called as they neared the doorway. "Ms. Dash? When you see that little pegasus friend of yours, be sure to thank her."

Dash looked up quickly, stopping the chair by catching the door frame with her hoof. She called back to him. "Who? Fluttershy?"

The doctor turned, facing his patient. "Yes, I believe that was her name. She's the one that brought you here in the first place. Carried you on her back. She's also the one who paid for all of the expenses, and has been showing up every day waiting for you to wake. She's a quiet little thing, but she's got a big heart."

Dash was dumbfounded. Fluttershy had done all that? For her? Sure, she was the only pony around where Dash attempted the stunt, but she was still surprised to find just how far her friend had gone to make sure she was okay.

"I... I will. Trust me, doc." Dash smiled, warmed by the thought that somepony had stuck by her so closely.

The doctor smiled. "You're lucky to have a mare like her."

"Wha-?!" Dash was obviously taken by surprise at the doctor's final comment. "Uh, nonono, we're nothing like that, doc. She's just a friend of mine. A good friend." She felt herself blush a bit at the insinuation, but fought it down. The last thing she wanted was to fall further into the perception of the doctor's mistake right now.

"Hmm." The doctor seemed genuinely surprised. "Well, then, that's unexpected. My apologies. Though, a good friend is always a cherished gift. There were others as well who showed up to check on you, but none have stayed as long as her. She's waiting for you now, I believe."

Dash let loose of the doorframe. Nurse Redheart began to wheel her into the orange glow of the window-lit hallway. "Thanks, doc," she called back, one final time.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fell Into the Right Hooves
by CosmicWaltz

Chapter 2

"Oh! Rainbow, you're okay!"

Fluttershy was waiting eagerly in the lobby, just as the doctor had said. Upon seeing her wounded friend, she quickly darted the length of the waiting area to hug the pegasus.

"Are you all right? How's your wing?" Fluttershy asked, her voice full of concern.

Dash stepped out of the wheelchair, scornfully looking at the sling on her side. "My wing will be fine, but, I won't be able to fly at the Wonderbolt's audition now..."

Fluttershy smiled, her eyes closing into a look of happiness. "Oh, that's good!"

"'Good?' That's 'good?'" Rainbow felt a flush of anger overcome her. "It's not 'good,' Fluttershy! It's very 'not good!' I missed my chance to fly with my heroes, all because of some stupid accident!" She had yelled a bit louder than she wanted to.

Fluttershy sank back behind her pink mane, a look of apology crossing her face. "Oh, I-I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. I... I-I meant th-that it's good that you're going to be fine. I'm so sorry you can't make the audition."

Dash looked at the cowering pegasus in front of her. She was still angry, at herself now for yelling at her friend. She opened her mouth before realizing she would only make it worse with anything she said. Finally, she forced out a sentence. "I... I'm just going to go home. I just want to be alone right now, Shy." She turned, walking with stomping hooffalls towards the door.

Fluttershy let out a squeak beneath her mane. Her half-veiled face looked out with curious worry. "Oh, b-but Dash, you... I mean, you can't..." Her voice trailed off into a timid whimper as Dash walked out.

---

The sun was setting slowly over Ponyville as Dash made her way back home. She had never walked the distance before, and found herself with too much time to reflect.

'How the hay did I forget an exit strategy? It's the most basic thing in stunt flying! You never do a trick you can't land! How could I be so stupid!'

She berated herself the entire stretch of distance back to her house. She had designed a spectacular stunt, and in a foalish rush to try it out, never planned a way to get out of it. A rookie mistake, one that would have earned her poor marks in flight school. And yet, the 'expert' she is, she completely forgot. And now it had cost her a shot at being a Wonderbolt! They've never held an open audition before, and that was the best chance she'd ever have to show off her talent. 'Was...' she repeated in thought.

Dash finally reached the end of her sullen walk as Celestia lowered the sun beneath the horizon. Luna's moon was rising in its place, painting the ground with a soft, blue glow. Fireflies speckled the air, reflecting the stars that were letting themselves show above. Dash looked up to her house. "Home... sweet home." She opened her wings to make the quick flight to her door when her injuries reminded her exactly why she was so upset. Pangs of fire shot through her side, dropping her onto her forelegs. The realization dawned on her at once. "Aw, HORSEAPPLES! I live in a FRIGGIN' CLOUD!"

There was a soft, scared squeak some distance behind her. Without turning, she knew who was there. "This is what you wanted to tell me, wasn't it?"

Fluttershy had followed behind her during her walk home, allowing her injured friend the privacy she had asked before.

"Um... y-yes. I knew you wouldn't be able... to..." The yellow pegasus' voice trailed off into another inaudible silence.

Dash looked down at the ground below her hooves. Like it or not, she was stuck to it for a while. Her friend had known, but in her anger, she neglected to listen.

"Fluttershy," she said in a weak voice. "I'm sorry. About earlier. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was angry at myself. And I should have listened."

The yellow pegasus was soon at Dash's good side, giving her a reassuring nudge. "Oh, Dash, it's okay. You've been through a lot." She did her best to cheer up her friend.

Dash looked up at the pony, a faint happiness beginning to shine in her eyes. "Thanks, Fluttershy. And, thank you for everything you did while I was out."

Dash looked back up at her home, floating so close to the ground, yet just out of her reach. She let out a heavy sigh. "So, I wonder what I'm going to do for housing. I can't just sleep out on the grass for the next two months."

"Um, well, you can stay at my house, if you'd like," Fluttershy offered.

Dash looked over to her friend. "I really don't want to be in the way. Besides, you've done so much already. I'll just stay in Applejack's barn or something."

"Oh, but, Dash, that's all the way on the other side of Ponyville. My home is much closer. And you really need to get your rest." Fluttershy was persistent, to the point of forgetting her own shy nature.

Dash sat, the soft light of the moon peeking over the silhouette of Ponyville. It was a long walk back to AJ's, and with running not being the best option, it would take her a long time. Of course, the farmer pony would already be turned in by then. As much as she hated the idea of further bothering the pony that had helped her so much lately, she knew she had no better options.

"Okay, Fluttershy," she said finally. "Let's go back to your place. You have a lot of experience with treating animals and such anyway. I'm sure I'd be much better off at your house than in a cloud or a barn." She shot a joyous smile to her friend, as they both headed off to the home at the edge of the Everfree Forest.

---

Dash entered the small cottage behind Fluttershy. She had been there only a few times since Fluttershy found her way to Ponyville, but this was the first time she had ever really taken the sight in. It was a warm home, far removed from the clouds most pegasi preferred. The walls were a mix of warm auburn and cool beige tones, accented by various plants around the rooms. Small nooks in the walls held books and vases in place, with much of the walls decorated by vibrant paintings. The hardwood floor was dyed a light green, and was accented by the green boards and tan rafters above. Each hoofstep upon it gave a dull thud, and was drowned further by the various area rugs through the rooms. Looking closer, many holes and trails lined the walls and ceilings, no doubt made for her many animal friends. Although nothing like what Dash was accustomed to, it was rather nice, in an earthy sort of way.

"I'm sorry it's such a mess. I've barely been in to clean in the past few days," Fluttershy apologized. Dash looked the room over. The house seemed almost spotless to her, at least compared to how her home always looked. She knew that there was no need to argue with the pony, though.

"Nice house you got here, Fluttershy," she complimented.

"Oh, thank you." Fluttershy turned and smiled to her friend. "I try to keep it as nice as I can. Well, Angel and I do."

"Angel?" Dash asked.

"Oh, yes. He's my bunny. He's, um, right beside you." Fluttershy pointed to a small house shaped structure beside the blue pegasus.

Dash looked over, greeted by an annoyed looking bunny, his arms crossed. He stared intensely at the new pony.

"Uh, hey," Dash said, giving a nod to the bunny, before turning back to Fluttershy. "He doesn't look too happy to see me."

"Well, Angel is often like that around guests," Fluttershy responded. "And, he's probably upset at me too. I've spent so much time at the hospital lately. But I left him plenty of carrots while I was gone."

Dash looked back and noticed the pile of carrots within the small house, standing at almost twice the height of the bunny they were given to.

"Now, Angel," Fluttershy spoke tenderly towards the animal, "won't you be nice to our guest? She'll be staying with us for a few days."

The bunny threw down his arms and let out a silent sigh, before storming off into the small house behind him.

"Oh, Angel, don't you want dinner first?" Fluttershy called, obviously ignoring that the bunny had enough carrots to last the duration of Dash's stay. At this, the bunny slammed the tiny door, making a much louder thud than expected.

"Well, isn't he charming?" Dash joked, laughing a bit as she did.

"Don't mind him. He's just a little grumpy. Now, I'm sure you're very hungry. I'll go get dinner started." Fluttershy headed to the kitchen, eager to begin the night's meal.

Dash hadn't thought about her hunger, which now made itself known with a loud growl. 'Hey, you!' she thought, staring down at her belly. 'You've been quiet all night, so don't start that now!'

Dash walked over to a green couch on the far wall. As she took a seat, she felt just how tired her hooves were. Despite her preference of flight, she was far from unacquainted with walking. Still, her time in bed must have weakened her a little, as she now felt the relief of rest spread over her legs. 'I wonder what my wings are going to feel like in a month, then,' she nervously mused.

It seemed to be only moments later that the soft-spoken home owner cheerfully called her to dinner. Dash stood onto her sore legs, walking forward to the kitchen. She had expected a simple sandwich or similar because of the pegasus' speed, but was surprised by a large pot of soup sitting on the stove, and a bowl prepared at the table for her already.

"Wow! I didn't know you could cook, Fluttershy!" The pegasus took her seat, looking over the dish before her.

"Oh, well," Fluttershy answered, still adorned by an apron. "It's a talent I picked up. I made a nice, thick alfalfa and daisy soup. It's very good for promoting recovery."

Before Dash could stop herself, she let out a disgusted groan. She quickly realized her mistake and looked over at her quiet friend. "Um, sorry. Just, alfalfa isn't exactly my favorite dish. Do you have anything sweet like an apple or something?" Trying to save face, she felt more like she was twisting the knife in her gracious host's back.

Seeming unstirred by the comment, the yellow pegasus immediately began to think. "Sweet? Like dessert? Oh! I know just what I can make! It will only take a minute!" Fluttershy quickly bounced back to her counters, already beginning to make another dish. Dash wanted to protest, but felt each word had been digging her deeper into a hole.

Dash looked disdainfully over the soup as Fluttershy buzzed about the stove. Though she had never liked alfalfa, she had to admit that the meal looked very good. Its aroma filled the room with a sweet, yet savory fragrance, and the daisies added a warm overtone to the pleasant smell. Though she had thought she would hate the dish in front of her, she knew Fluttershy had put a lot of thought into it, and after the insulting way she rejected it before, she owed it to her good friend to at least try to eat it.

She began with a small sip, just at the edge of the bowl. Soon, she found herself holding the drained dish over her head, quaffing down the healthy meal. Despite what she had at first assumed, the soup was delicious! She quickly found herself feeling almost painfully full of the delicious brew!

She lowered the empty plate back to the table as Fluttershy walked over with another dish.

"Oh, wow! You ate all of it?" Fluttershy asked, happy her friend had liked her cooking.

Dash smiled bashfully. "Yeah! It was great! I've never had alfalfa that tasted so good."

Fluttershy blushed softly at the compliment. "Thanks. Oh, and here's the dessert I made for you!"

Fluttershy placed the treat on the table. "It's nothing much. A red delicious apple, coated in a glaze of honey and strawberry, and topped with powdered sugar."

Dash sat speechless. She hadn't expected the quiet pony to go so far out of her way for her dinner. Even after she blindly insulted the chef's excellent soup, she still took the time to make her an amazing dessert, without even taking the time to get a bite herself. By now, Dash figured the remaining soup in the pot had grown cold, and felt even worse about having put the friend she owed so much out of her own supper. There was no way she could enjoy this dessert without paying back some of that kindness.

"That looks great, Fluttershy. Though, I did eat so much of the soup," Dash began, "I couldn't eat all of this great dessert, so, how about we split it?" She felt a bit better not being complete burden.

"Well," Fluttershy said, looking over her dish. "If you really feel you couldn't eat it all, I'd be happy to split it with you." She gave a big smile to Dash, before walking over to get a knife.

Dash always thought it was quite awkward to watch a pony try to use a knife. They were mostly tools of a unicorn, but with so many uses, were often adapted to be held in the mouths of earth and pegasus ponies. As Fluttershy gently cut the dish, the air was filled with the blissfully sweet scent of the apple and its coating. Dash deeply breathed in the wonderful aroma, remarking how she knew she could have eaten the whole dish in a moment. Still, she wouldn't feel right taking everything Fluttershy offered her so greedily. She owed this pony, and refused to be a pest.

The apple having been split, Fluttershy placed the knife in the sink, and finally got her own bowl of soup. The pair enjoyed their meal in a happy silence.

---

"It was beautiful!" Fluttershy remarked after dinner, recalling to Dash just what had preceded her accident. "The Rainboom, and the colors of the Lightstream, and then that bright light! It was just so... amazing!"

Her happy expression began to fade after that line. "And then, that's when you... l-lost control. I couldn't see much through all the light and colors, but I-I could hear something wasn't right. And then, you just shot out of the loop! I saw you hit the ground, and ran over to you as fast as I could!"

Dash figured it was the exit that got her, but hated hearing it. She knew the speed she was going was far beyond what any pegasus had reached before, which means she hit much harder than any before had too. She didn't recall the fall, which she was now happy of.

Dash looked up as she heard the gentle sobs of her friend. Fluttershy was crying, trying to hide it behind her mane. "I... I-I th-thought, as I-I ran up, that th-there was no way you could have survived. I-I was so scared..."

Dash got off the couch Fluttershy had insisted she rest on to put a hoof around her friend. Gently nuzzling the pegasus' face, she gave Fluttershy a look of reassuring pride.

"Come on, Fluttershy," Dash spoke, letting a cockiness she didn't feel tint into her voice. "You know I'm invincible. Though, maybe not invulnerable." She nudged her head to her side, pointing at the bandaged wing. Fluttershy let out a soft laugh at the joke.

"Dash," Fluttershy sniffed, clearing her eyes. "You really need to get some rest. You can use my bed, and I'll take the couch."

"Are you sure, Shy? I mean, I feel I've been enough of a problem in just the short time I've been here," Dash asked.

"The best medicine for you right now is good bedrest! Now I insist, missy." The shy pegasus stifled a giggle at her joking maternal stance. Dash got a laugh from it as well.

"All right, all right. I'll go to bed," Dash replied, walking up the small staircase.

Dash stopped, and looked back at the yellow pegasus curling up to rest on the couch.

"And Fluttershy? Thanks."

---

Dash lay restlessly beneath the covers. Though she was admittedly tired, she found little comfort in the bed. Compared to the clouds she normally rested on, the bed was rather hard, and much too flat. The fabric felt itchy on her coat, and the fresh scent of the air she was used to had been replaced by a heavy smell of wood. Though it wasn't unpleasant in any way, it was still quite a difference from her usual housing.

The cover was another issue. Often, she curled a cloud over her to sleep. They were always light, and cool, but never cold. The thick blanket over her, however, was quite the opposite. She found herself feeling much hotter than she preferred, and couldn't shake feeling entombed by the oppressive fabric. A slight claustrophobia set over her when under it. If she kicked it off of herself, though, she quickly found the cold night air biting at her coat. Begrudgingly, she found herself always reaching back to the fabric she began to loathe.

Even the pillow seemed to fight her. It was far too flat for her liking, and felt as though her head was hanging loosely. When the pillow was folded under itself, however, she found her head sat far too high. 'How can earth ponies stand this? How can Fluttershy stand this?!'

Fluttershy had done so much for her today, and she hated to throw an offer like this back at her, but Dash knew she wouldn't get any rest in the bedding.

'That's it,' she thought, sliding her hooves to the floor. 'I have to find a cloud.'

She quietly walked down the stairs into the main room. She knew Fluttershy wouldn't like what she was planning and she was far too tired to argue. She carefully skulked her way through the living room, making it to the door without so much as a noise.

Suddenly, a carrot pegged her in the side of the head. She quickly turned to see what had launched the missile. Though the room sat dark, she clearly made out the white bunny Angel standing on a table not a few feet from her. He wore the same annoyed look as their first meeting.

"What's your problem?" Dash whispered to the bunny.

Angel, unable to talk, made the motions he needed to answer. Turning his head to the side and placing his hands beneath, he gestured snoring, then pointed at Dash, and back up the stairs.

"Oh, I see," Dash responded, still keeping quiet. "I should be asleep, huh? Well, that's exactly my plan. I just need a cloud to sleep, is all." She posed rather triumphantly to the flustered pet.

Angel proceeded to make a flapping motion with his arms, before grabbing his right arm at the shoulder, and making a falling motion with his paws.

"I'm not going to fall!" Dash said, a bit louder than the whispers before. "I've had the best treatment. So, maybe I bend the rules a little just for tonight. It's no concern of yours anyway, Hair-ball. Now scram!"

Before the bunny could protest, she stepped out into the open, quickly closing the door behind her.

"So, let's see how this thing looks." Dash said to herself, removing the sling from around her body. As the cloth fell to the dirt, she got the first look at her wing. It was incredibly sore, both from the injury and from being so tightly pressed to her body. She gingerly stretched out the limb, letting the muscles strengthen from their prone position. It wasn't as bad as she had expected, to her relief. A few feathers were gone, but none so close as to hinder flight. A deep purple bruise was visible just underneath the down, but didn't feel as bad as it looked. She scanned her wing over carefully, finally finding underneath where the doctor had made an incision. Just as he said, the line was barely noticeable, hidden well by the magic used to seal it. Overall, she found herself quite comforted by the work.

"Now, to find a bed."

Dash looked up to the sky. It was a relatively clear night. Luna's stars twinkled listlessly in the sky, as the moon swathed the land below. It was then that she spotted a small cloud, just barely visible, floating right overhead. It was just barely bigger than the bed inside, its edges frayed in soft translucence as the wind gently slid it along the night's sky. Perfect for sleep.

"Okay, Dash," she encouraged herself aloud. "You just have to reach that cloud. Nothing you haven't done a hundred times before. You may have been in better condition then, but you're the same old Dash at heart! So, let's do this."

Dash stretched out her wings, lowering her body. All she needed was one good push, and from there, it was only a few flaps of her wings away. No strain, no problem. She leaped up, forcing air beneath her with her wings.

Immediately, the pain shot through her. She had barely made it her body's length off the ground, and already she was seizing. 'No,' she thought. 'I can't give up now. I just have to make it up there.' She gave another powerful pulse with her wings, moving her further from the ground. The pain intensified, rattling within her bones. She gritted her teeth against the stinging. She had made it this far. She had flown this far, so she knew she could make it. Another mighty gust of wind left below her wings, rising her further. The pain rang out again, stabbing her with a cold heat. It was almost too much, but she was far too high now. She was easily at the height of the Fluttershy's cottage. She just had to give it one more burst to reach the cloud. One more...

The world slowed to a crawl around her as time stood still. Noises slipped from hearing, leaving only a silence so deafening it almost hurt. She had messed up. Suddenly, her body defied her. Every muscle went limp under her control as she felt the air shift on her. She was falling. She tried to reach out for the cloud just in front of her, but her hooves refused to listen.

'No... NO!' Terror fed back into her mind. She was falling back, far to the ground below. She would land on her wing. She knew it couldn't be repaired this time. She hadn't listened to the simplest instructions, and she was going to lose her wing for it. She felt the tears wet her eyes as reality began to speed up again. She was helpless, her abused body refusing her commands. And she was falling. The sky sped away from her as the stars looked down in apathy. The top of the cottage sped by to her side, as she prepared for the hit.

Everything froze again, returning to odd stillness. She looked up at the sky she'd never touch again, just knowing she had hit the ground. Though, it seemed odd that the second floor window was just beside her.

"RAINBOW DASH! What were you doing?!"

Dash was startled by the voice. Tilting her head back to see where it had come from, she was greeted by the inverted view of a very angry looking Fluttershy.

"Fl...Flutter-" she stammered, not sure of what was happening.

"Dash! You know you can't be flying! You're still far too hurt!" Fluttershy's eyes stared back into her own, full of emotion and spark.

Dash felt the ground slowly press up beneath her hooves. Her wits returning, she knew what had happened. She had fallen. And Fluttershy caught her.

Fluttershy's wings ceased their frantic beating as she landed with the injured pegasus in her hooves. She had just barely made the catch in time. Rainbow Dash's body began to regain its own power as she shakily stood up, turning to see the pony that had stopped her fall. Her limbs felt weak, but the adrenaline coursing through her held them up.

"Fluttershy... I..." The words still wouldn't come to the trembling Dash.

"And your wing! Look at it!" Fluttershy still bore all the anger of a mother scolding their child.

Dash looked over her wing as ordered. Where it was neat and set before, the feathers now splayed out in disarray, many twisted and turned out of groove. She drug the wing worthlessly along the ground, the pain having numbed it beyond feel. With what strength she could muster, Rainbow Dash pulled the limb back into her side.

Fluttershy picked up the discarded sling in her mouth before draping it over her back. "Get inside! Now!" She ordered.

Dash instinctively stepped back into the domicile. As she stepped into the living room, her legs quickly wavered again. She began to trip, only to find the yellow pegasus at her good side supporting her.

"I'm sorry..." Dash was only able to quietly mutter the words into the her savior's ear. It wasn't that she didn't feel it, but that the pain had begun to return, tightening her voice into a cracked whimper.

Fluttershy moved herself underneath Dash, propping her friend up as she carried her into the living room. She had carried the wounded pegasus like this once before.

Fluttershy laid the blue pegasus down on her belly, being careful that her wings were not beneath her. She quickly set about straightening out the injured wing, repositioning the feathers gently into their original orchestration.

Dash could hear her friend sobbing softly beneath her breath. Everything she did lately seemed to hurt those around her more. She laughed a bit on the inside at her remark, considering her crying friend more hurt than she was as she lay paralyzed on the floor.

"Fluttershy?" Dash called up, just barely regaining her voice. Her friend was busy resetting her wing. There was nothing she could add, no comment she could say to explain or excuse her action, and she knew it. So, she decided to try to use a small joke to help lighten the situation she had once again thrown her friend in.

"Perhaps I can get a back massage while you're at it?"

The words felt cold as she said them. The silence that followed didn't help. Fluttershy quietly finished her work on the wing, stepping back to see it better. Dash was about to apologize for the joke, and accept the scolding she deserved, before feeling hooves gently set down on her back. Pressing in slightly, they began to move in small, tight circles along the muscles of her back. Fluttershy was actually giving her a back massage.

"Shy, I was kidding about that. You don't have to..." Dash felt the words leaving her, her tongue aware that they betrayed how she really felt. Her sore and rigid muscles seemed to cry with joy at the gentle motions the hooves made.

"Shh. This will help with the pain, and should help you relax." Fluttershy had softened back into her comforting tone. Her sobs began to quiet away, before disappearing.

"Fluttershy," Dash began again, between quelled sighs. "I'm sorry. I thought I cou-" A blissful moan escaped her lips. She quickly turned her face forward to hide the growing blush from her friend. "-could make it. I'm such a foal for thinking that." Dash couldn't help but note how much she sounded like Fluttershy right now.

The yellow pony stepped down, feeling she had done a thorough job of massaging the weakened muscles. She nuzzled her friend gently. "It's okay, Dash. Your wing is okay, and you'll be fine. But please..." She nudged Dash's face to look at her own. "Promise me you won't do that again."

Dash looked into those large eyes. "I promise."

With Dash still too weak to move, Fluttershy reapplied the sling to her side. With her wing set back into place, Dash used all her strength to stand. Fluttershy ducked beneath the injured pegasus, supporting her weight. With Fluttershy's help, they both began the walk up the stairs to the bed Dash had abandoned earlier.

Dash drifted somewhere between wake and sleep as they tackled the steps together. Her hooves still refused to cooperate as well as she'd like, almost rebelling against her for the pain she had put herself through. She rest her head gently over Fluttershy's neck, the delicate scent of the pink mane soon flooding Dash's senses. It was sweet, like cookies, with just the slightest hint of oak and spice underneath. It was a beautiful aroma she soon found dancing with imagery in her tired mind. She drifted off into her dreams far before she made it to the bed. She knew however that she could trust Fluttershy to get her there. She could always count on her.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fell Into the Right Hooves
by CosmicWaltz

Chapter 3

The Wonderbolts sat in a line before her, seeming almost larger than life. Dash stepped forward, throwing her mane back out of her eyes. She was impossibly nervous as her idols stared upon her. It was her turn to audition.

Dash gazed forward. From her cloud, she could clearly see the pegasi she idolized on the far side of the stadium. Between her and them, there was a massive opening in the clouds. No props, no rings, no ramps. Just skill. Dash looked to the blue sky above. She was finally going to achieve her goal. She gave one last look to her heroes before diving forward off the cloud and stretching out her-

Her wings? She felt gravity take hold of her as she began to fall. She tried to regain herself, flapping with all her energy. But, something wasn't right. She looked back, only to see in horror that she had no wings. Smooth sides, as though she had been born an earth pony. She had taken the dive with no way of recovering. She stared up into the endless blue above. She screamed.

The Wonderbolts leapt into action, diving down to catch her. Spitfire led the troop, closing the distance to her quickly. Dash was in awe of their speed and grace, wings large enough to surround her entirely. But within moments, her amazement waned as they began to fall further away. She was dropping faster than they could fly. The great blue around her seemed to rip away into cold blackness. She watched as her heroes faded away into the darkness before her. They couldn't reach her. She was helpless now.

Dash felt the tears burning at the corners of her eyes. She flailed uselessly against the wind, trying to catch it with wings she didn't have.

And then there was warmth. An intense warmth like she had never felt before. It wrapped around her, comforting her. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. She didn't know what it was, but she knew she never wanted to leave that warmth. A soft fragrance whisked by, staining the darkness with a deep pink glow, and the sound of distant bird chirps pierced the silence.

"It's okay, Rainbow," a voice called to her. She felt herself slow to a stop, hovering peacefully within the pink glow.

"I've got you."

The voice behind Dash was comforting, almost angelic. She turned to see who sang this beautiful chorus.

Caressing her, high above the world, was Fluttershy, her hair drifting amongst its own accord, and huge, engulfing wings streaming stars of light with each beat. She looked like a Princess.

"I've got you, Rainbow Dash," she breathed sensually into Dash's ear. "And I'm never letting go."

Fluttershy leaned in, pressing her lips softly against the wingless pegasus'. Dash felt her heart spike to her throat, and her coat felt pinpricked by sensation of flight. She kissed back deeply, giving herself completely to the angelic pegasus that had saved her.

---

Dash's eyes popped open from the dream.

"Whoa."

She was lying in bed, wrapped neatly in the blankets. Orange light shined in from the window, bathing the room in a glow. This wasn't the hospital, at least. It was Fluttershy's bedroom.

Dash quickly sat up, looking to her side for the pegasus from her dreams. Beside her, the bed lay empty. She felt an odd mix of relief and longing.

"Okay. Okay, just calm down." Dash tried to console her racing mind. "It was just a dream. Just a... just a bad dream, right?"

It certainly didn't seem bad to her. She could still loosely taste the sweet lips of the dream-pony upon her own, and her beautiful fragrance still seemed to waft about the room.

She couldn't be feeling that way, she thought. It was just because of last night, right? Her mind just went a little wild on her, and replayed the events in her head under a dream's delusion.

'I don't remember any kiss last night, though,' her mind retorted, almost mocking her.

'Of course there was no kiss! Why would there be?'

'Well, there was one in the dream.'

'It was probably just because she saved me. Nothing behind it.'

'Did we just experience the same dream? Because there was definitely something behind that kiss.'

'No, there wasn't! And she kissed me! Not my fault!'

'Uh, Dashie, it was your dream, not Fluttershy's. She kissed you in your dream because you wanted her to.'

Rainbow Dash grabbed the pillow and pressed it against her face with a fluffed thud, screaming in quiet frustration into the thick mass.

'So, what if I did? It was a dream. Nothing more. There are no feelings like that between me and Fluttershy.'

'You're trying to convince your own mind that you don't have emotions for her. Really, you might be fighting a losing battle, kid.'

Dash sat back, looking at the rafters across the ceiling. She was right. There was something in that dream. Something... deeper than she was comfortable with.

Dash knew she liked mares. She had as long as she could remember. In school, she fought the feelings away. With age, she came to find them sitting quietly in the bottom of her mind, only kicked up when the mood called or a particularly attractive mare crossed her path. She had never followed the thoughts much further than cursory glances, and she had found that to be enough to keep them at bay. But that dream, and the sensation rolling over her... it was like the crushes she had had in flight school all over again. Deep, heated emotions. 'Too deep,' she thought.

Dash soon noticed that as the taste of her dream-mare's lips died away, the fragrance lingered. She recognized it as the smell of baked goods in an oven. Fluttershy must be cooking. But sweets? At this hour? It then dawned on Dash that it wasn't morning. The sun was falling, not rising. She had slept the entire day.

She slipped groggily out of bed, finding her hooves to be in much better condition than how she had left them. Before leaving the room, she duly noted how the bed was much more pleasant than she had remembered. She still didn't like the blanket, but she had much more pleasant feelings regarding the pillow and mattress now. She started her way into the living room.

As Dash reached the bottom of the stairs, she was immediately met by the yellow pegasus that had helped her before.

"Oh! Rainbow, you're finally awake!" Fluttershy was wearing her cooking apron again. "The girls stopped by today to see you, but you were asleep."

"Hi, Shy," Dash sheepishly replied, her dream still fresh in her mind. She fought a blush as the image resurfaced. "I didn't mean to sleep so long."

Fluttershy smiled at her friend. "I'm just glad you're okay. Angel woke me up last night, frantic! He kept pointing at the door over and over. When I went to look, I saw you in the air." Her voice quieted as memories seemed to flash in her mind's eye again.

Dash stepped forward, nuzzling her friend's cheek. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. It was stupid, and I won't try it again any time soon."

Fluttershy looked up from behind her draped mane. Those teal eyes fed themselves back into Dash's. They were full of intensity and comfort. Dash could have fallen in to those eyes.

She quickly recovered herself, trying not to drift back to her dream. "So, what are you cooking?"

"Oh, um, just some oatmeal." Fluttershy stammered through her words. "I made it really sweet for you."

"Awesome!" Dash wasn't exactly a huge fan of oatmeal, but she wished to avoid the awkward pitfalls of their last dinner together.

Dash sat at the table in the same place as yesterday. Fluttershy continued to buzz around the kitchen, putting the final touches on the dinner she had prepared. Not a moment too soon, Dash thought, as her stomach began to rumble angrily.

Fluttershy carried a bowl over to her friend, setting it down before her. Just like yesterday's meal, the smell was absolutely wonderful. It had the typical look of oatmeal; sitting somewhere between tan mud and sludge. Though, Dash remarked how it seemed... happier. As if just by being cooked by the timid pegasus made the dish better.

Dash waited for Fluttershy to sit with her own bowl before tasting the one before her. Just as the previous night's meal, the cooking was delicious. The thick oatmeal was tasty on its own, but Fluttershy's careful use of spice and sugar made it even better. Dash also noted the taste of apple pieces in the blend.

"Fluttershy, you're a wonderful cook!" Dash said, lowering a bowl she didn't realize she had emptied back to the table.

The yellow pony blushed. "Thank you. I don't often to get to cook for anypony else, so I try to do my best."

"Would you mind if I get seconds?" Dash asked, embarrassed by the bare dish before her.

The two ponies held conversion throughout the dinner. Dash realized she knew very little of the quiet pony before now. They spoke of her animals and daily life, and Dash boasted about her stunts and job clearing the skies. Though very different, the two of them found themselves with common ground in being impressed by the other's abilities. Dash was beginning to see why the other pegasus liked the simple cottage and earth pony life, even if she didn't prefer it herself.

"So, um, how does your wing feel?"

Dash looked up curiously from her third bowl. She hadn't thought about her wing at all today. "Oh. Well, I guess it's doing well. I didn't even notice it." She looked over her tightly pressed side. "I guess it was your massage that helped it, huh?"

Fluttershy looked the blue pegasus in the eye, the deep blue orbs radiating emotion Dash could hardly look into. "Oh, well, did you want another?"

Dash visibly blushed before she could react. She kept forgetting to let it show when she was joking about these things. Though, she thought, she really did enjoy the one before.

"Uh, well, I, um," Dash stumbled over her words, scavenging for the right selection. "I mean, if you don't mind, that is, I'd, uh, I'd be up for another." She felt like smacking herself in the face for how silly she must have looked.

Fluttershy only giggled at the display. She carried both empty bowls to the sink. "A gentle massage is very good for the muscles while you're recovering. Promotes blood flow."

'And it feels wonderful' Dash thought in shameful musing.

Fluttershy finished washing the dishes and placed them back in the cabinet. She walked back to the table, and led Dash into the living room.

Dash again found herself lying on the floor, though on much better terms this time. Her wings spread out to either side, she felt again the soft pressure of hooves on her back.

Fluttershy began to gently knead the blue pegasus' back. "Just, um, tell me if I hurt anything, okay?"

Dash found herself floating in a blissful state just as she had the night before. This time, however, the sensation was much more intense, having not exerted herself to her breaking point. The masseuse's hooves firmly pressed into just the right spots, washing away all of the stress and tension she had built up not only in the pass few days, but through much of her life. Suddenly her thoughts flashed back to the dream. The kiss rushed into her mind, and the wonderful sensation surrounding her in that suspended state flooded her thoughts. She could feel her cheeks blushing, but found she was enjoying herself far too much to suppress the images.

"Mmm, lower..."

"I'm sorry, did you say something?"

Dash realized the word that had escaped her lips. "Uh, I said 'lower.' You know, under the shoulders more." It was a quick save, but effective.

After a few more rounds over her tender wing muscles, Fluttershy sat back onto her haunches. "Rainbow, your wing looks to be doing really well."

Dash looked over to her injured wing. She had to admit, for what she had done to it twice already, it was looking much better. The light bruising she had seen the night before was clearing up well, and her remaining feathers carefully hid the gaps while the new plumage grew underneath.

"Hey, you're right, Fluttershy. Must be the expert treatment I'm getting here." The sentiment was sincere. She knew she had Fluttershy to thank. For the hospital, for the housing, for the food, for the massages. Everything Fluttershy did seemed to be for her. The yellow pegasus began to replace the bandage over Dash's wing. Something else to thank her for.

---

The night was well underway again. Dash found herself surprised by how tired she had felt, despite all the sleep she had received through the day.

"Hey, Shy?" Dash asked, broken by a yawn she hadn't expected. "I think I'm going to head back to bed."

"Oh, sure. You need all the rest you can get right now." Fluttershy gave a tender smile. That smile could have defeated Nightmare Moon all its own, Dash thought.

A throw pillow hit the yellow pegasus with a soft puff of feathers. Both ponies looked in the direction it came from. Unsurprisingly, it was Angel who had let loose the missile. He stood with his disapproving expression, staring at Fluttershy before pointing outside.

"Oh!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "I almost forgot! Thank you, Angel!"

Dash felt the thanks the bunny received was undeserved, but knew Fluttershy trusted the crude animal for whatever reason. She also knew that she owed the little brat for waking Fluttershy the night before. She watched as Fluttershy walked out the front door and rose slowly into the night air.

In just a moment, she returned to the front door, closing it behind her. "Okay. Let's go to bed."

Dash froze. 'Let's go to bed?' As in 'let us' go to bed?' she repeated in her head. Nervously, she followed her friend upstairs.

"Angel told me why you were trying to fly last night." Fluttershy spoke softly as the pair ascended the stairs. "You could have just told me you didn't like my bed."

Dash had no argument to rise. What she had done was foalish, and had almost set her back much worse than she dared to imagine. She continued to follow her caretaker up the staircases. Soon, they were both in front of the small doorframe she had just earlier emerged from.

Fluttershy stopped just short of the door. "I guess I'm so used to a mattress that I forget most pegasus ponies don't like them."

As Fluttershy pushed the green oak door open, Dash was greeted with a new sight in the quaint room. Floating peacefully in the corner was a small cloud, just big enough to make a great bed.

"It wasn't too hard to get it through the window. And now, you can sleep on a cloud like you like, and I can take the bed again. So, it's really better for both of us." Fluttershy looked over to her friend, waiting for a reaction.

Dash felt a goofy smile spread over her face. "Fluttershy. Thanks." She gave the yellow pony a small hug.

As Fluttershy lay down in her own bed, Dash settled comfortably on the fluffy white cloud. Pulling a thin sheet of its surface over herself, she coiled herself onto her good side. As great as the cloud bedding felt, a part of her mind told her that the firm mattress would be much more comfortable now with Fluttershy in it.

---

Rainbow Dash woke much earlier the next morning, sometime just before noon. The cloud she had slept in had started to dissipate in the night, which was often the problem with clouds not intentionally fashioned into beds by pegasus craftsponies. The good thing, Dash thought, was that afterwards you get the fun of popping them with a good buck! Being careful of her side, she gave the pillowy fluff a solid kick, watching it burst into tiny droplets of mist.

Downstairs, Dash was again met with a nice meal and a hail of concern over how she felt. She assured Fluttershy she was doing well, and both ponies soon enjoyed another example of Fluttershy's amazing cooking together.

"Dash," Fluttershy began after they had both eaten. "I need to head into Ponyville today. Mr. Badger has a nasty cough after taking a dip in the stream, and I'm all out of medicine. It'd be nice for you to get out some, and all our friends must be so eager to see you. Would you like to come with me?"

As excited as Dash was to see her friends, she was sure that after being dragged through town in a mangled heap word had gotten around. She cringed at the thought of everypony staring to see the broken flier.

She looked up at Fluttershy, ready to decline her offer. Again, she caught those eyes. A gentle, deep aquamarine; like looking into the ocean. She felt something turn in her as she looked at those eyes. As long as Fluttershy was there, she knew she could put up with a few ponies looking for a spectacle. "Yeah, sure. It'd be good to see our friends again. I'm sure they've been worried."

Before heading out, Fluttershy loaded down Angel with far more carrots than he could possibly eat while they were gone. Dash helped place the small saddlebags over Fluttershy's hips.

As they stepped out of the house, Dash looked up at the sky she had almost lost twice now.

'I'll pay you back one day, Fluttershy. I promise.'

---

As the duo entered Ponyville, a crowd was quick to gather around. A storm of whispers stirred just outside of interpretation, though Dash could occasionally make out the lone voice in the crowd.

"Is the wing still there?"

"How bad does it look?"

"I wonder if she can fly again."

She knew the words were of concern, but they still stung at her ears. She found herself more than a little happy to see the four excited ponies she recognized as her friends galloping towards her and Fluttershy.

"Well, if it ain't the celebrity of town herself!" Applejack cheerfully exclaimed. "How ya feelin', 'Rainbow Crash?'"

So much for getting out of this without a few kicks to her pride.

"Ah'm just picking with ya, Sugarcube. Fluttershy here's told us you're lookin' to make a full recovery." Applejack moved forward to hug the wounded pony.

Dash found herself a bit happy to see her old friend was confident enough to joke about the situation. It made her feel she really would be all right. "Yeah, I'm doing pretty well because of her. Must have been some sight on the streets, if the crowd's anything to go by."

"Rainbow, trust me, Ah've seen some pretty crazy things in mah time," Applejack began, "but seein' Fluttershy come boltin' through town like a dragon was on her tail with you thrown over her back? Well, that took the prize."

Rainbow had to admit, she would have paid to see that, had she not been the pony in particular.

"She was the only one nearby where I was practicing," Dash began, giving an appreciative look to the quiet pegaus at her side. "I'm lucky to have such a strong cheering section, huh?"

Applejack put her hoof over Dash's shoulder. "Well, you fell into the right hooves. How's the wing doin', anyway?"

Dash looked over to her side, seeing where her wing was tucked under the cloth. "Well, it's doing a lot better with Fluttershy's help. Doc says I'll be flying again in two months." There was a small rustle of relieved voices in the crowd around them.

"Oh, Dash, that's so good to hear!" Twilight said, "We were so worried when we heard what happened. Oh! And I got you a little something!"

Twilight looked back to her own saddlebag and used her magic to retrieve a large book. She hovered the tome over to Dash.

Sitting back on her haunches, Dash took the book into her hooves. "'The Physics of Advanced Flight and Aerial Acrobatics?' And here I thought AJ'd be the only one taking shots at my pride today." Dash gave a cocked smirk to show she was joking with her friend.

Twilight gave a quick chuckle. "I think you'll change your mind when you read who it's by."

Dash looked back to the book, rereading the cover. ''The Physics of Advanced Flight and Aerial Acrobatics' by Spitfire Boltstorm.'

Dash's mouth fell agape. "Spitfire?! Like, the Wonderbolt 'Spitfire'? Where did you get something like this?"

Twilight lifted her head triumphantly. "I thought you'd like it. It's a new edition to the library. It was written for universities, and as part of my study, Princess Celestia has all the newest educational books sent to me. I just figured, since I'm not a pegasus myself, you'd get much more from it, especially with who it's by. And since you're really the only pegasus that stops by the library, even if it's mostly just to wreck the shelves, I'll even let you keep it as long as you need; no late fees."

Though Dash had never been much for studying, she made it a point to read everything about the Wonderbolts, and this actually came FROM a Wonderbolt!

"Thanks, Twi. I'll take good care of it." Not having saddlebags on herself, Rainbow Dash let Fluttershy place the book within her own.

Rarity was the next to speak up. "Darling, it is so good to see you're doing well. I also wanted to give you a little 'get well soon' gift. I first thought about a dress or garment, but, I remembered that you're not as partial to that as some other ponies." She tossed her mane back, letting it fall into much the same place with a jovial bounce. "However, Rarity has her hooves in many places. Though we may not have the same interests, I was able to find something that I knew you would enjoy!"

From her own saddlebags, Rarity brought forth two small tickets, levitating them over to Dash with her magic as Twilight had.

Dash looked over the tickets. "'Metal Mane Fest'? Awesome! I know, like, all of the bands that are playing there! I thought this sold out last month, how'd you get them?"

If Rarity liked one thing, it was to brag. "Well, it was quite simple dear. If you know one musician, you can find any. I spoke to Vinyl, who told me how to get in contact with Sapphire Shores, who called in a few favors she had with her label, who got in contact with the ponies holding the event, who, with some persuading, were more than willing to hand out a few exclusive tickets in exchange for some custom garments. And as much as I dread all the spikes and chains I know I'm going to be sewing into jackets over the next week, for you, it's worth it!"

Dash wasn't expecting any gifts, so seeing her friend having gone so far out of her way just for her was heartwarming. She hugged Rarity.

"Aw, you guys. I take falls all the time, you didn't have to get me stuff just for this one." She could feel herself starting to blush at their sentiments.

"But we had to do something for our dear old Dashie!" Pinkie spoke in her usual excited voice. "At first I thought, 'Dashie will want a party!' but then I realized you probably wouldn't be in too much of a party mood at first, so I decided to bake you a cupcake, but then I thought 'Pinkie, this is Rainbow Dash we're talking about! She deserves more than a cupcake!' and I was all like 'You're right! She needs a cake!' so I ate the cupcake and baked you a cake, but then I thought 'What's a cake without a party? That's almost sad!' and I knew I couldn't have you being all sad, so I started to plan a party, but I knew the cake wouldn't last that long, so I ate the cake, and now I'm going to throw a party for you! How does two weeks from today sound?" Pinkie suddenly stopped the bouncy stream of thought and looked at the pegasus with full interest.

Dash's head was still reeling to comprehend just what the party pony had said, but she definitely caught the end of it. "All right, Pinks. Two weeks sounds good!" By then, she'd have the sling off, and maybe a few ponies will have forgotten the accident all together.

By this point, the crowd within the market had mostly dispersed to their own affairs, their curiosity sated with seeing the stunt flier's condition. For this, Dash was thankful.

"Oh!" Fluttershy jumped to attention, having forgotten why she had even come into town. "If you guys don't mind, I need to run over to the pharmacy real quick. I'll be right back."

"Sure thing there, Fluttershy. We'll be right here entertainin' the lightshow," Applejack joked as Fluttershy bounded off.

"'The lightshow?'" Dash repeated. "Oh, you mean the trick I was trying... You guy's saw that, huh?"

"Of course we saw it!" Pinkie exclaimed in a burst of vibrancy. "I'm sure it was seen all the way in Canterlot!"

Dash winced. She had hoped the failed stunt had at least been low-key. "I guess it was the Rainboom that gave it away?"

Pinkie began to bounce around as she recalled the story. "Well, at first. See, first I got a combo sense! My ears flopped, then knees twitched, then eyes fluttered, and I knew there was about to be a rainbow! Then it was all 'BOOM' and that's when the rainbow flew over and I thought 'Dash did a rainboom!' And then there was this bright, white light! It was so pretty, and the rainbow around it was so cool!"

Dash perked up. "You really thought it looked cool?" She felt her pride returning.

"Of course, darling!" Rarity chimed in. "I'm not normally a fan of such stunts, but even I have to admit it was a lovely sight. I could see it all the way from my boutique."

"Yeah! Spike told me about it!" Twilight joined. "We both thought it was somepony using magic at first!"

"Ah was in the market at the time mahself, selling apples," Applejack said, "when that bright light started shinin'. It sure was something to see there, Rainbow."

Dash didn't even realized how tall she had pressed herself up. She felt great hearing that even the failed stunt lived up the the Dash standard! "Well, it was just the first attempt. You guys should see when I perfect it!"

"And then there was the weird 'wooshy' noise," Pinkie Pie began again, her face looking up absently in confusion, "and then a loud crackling sound, then another 'BOOM!' That's also about the time the light stopped. And then a bunch of ponies started gasping, and some were talking about an accident or som-"

The pony was stopped short by a hoof being jammed in her mouth from a very nervous looking Applejack. "Uh, Pinkie, Ah don't think she really needs to hear that part, if you catch mah drift?"

"It's okay, AJ," Dash defended. "I may not remember what happened next, but trust me, I know how bad it was. I'm just glad Fluttershy was there for me."

Almost as if called, the yellow pegasus in question returned.

Fluttershy rejoined Dash's side. "It's been nice catching up, girls, but I really need to get this medicine back to Mr. Badger." She gave a soft smile to the group before turning to Dash. "Would you like to stay in town for a while?"

As much as Dash was enjoying being out, she still felt uncomfortable being seen with the large bandage on her side. Not to mention, her muscles were still protesting being used so soon after the incident.

"Nah, I think I'll head back with you," she said to the pegasus, before turning to the others in her group. "But I'll see you girls around. It looks like I'll be at Fluttershy's for a while, so you can find me with her."

Pinkie Pie again burst in to activity. "OOH! OOH! Idea!"

All eyes turned to the pink pony. "Well, you can't get to your house because it's a cloud, which is really unfortunate, though I'd like to live in a cloud. They're like giant marshmallows! Oh, but anyway, you can't reach your home since you can't fly, but I have, like, a bajillion things that I use to fly around! I can lend you one so that you can get back to your home while you get better!"

Dash thought for a moment. "Actually, if it's all right with Shy, I think I'll just stick with her for now. She's a great caretaker."

Fluttershy blushed lightly. "I do my best."

"Hmm..." Pinkie gave Dash a narrowing smirk, before popping right back into her normal spastic self. "Okie dokie lokie! If you ever need to get back into the sky, though, you just have to ask!"

"Sure thing, Pinkie. And the party?" Dash fell into a starting position, letting her one free wing flare out as if to take flight. "Make it a 'Comeback Party,' will ya?"

---

The two pegasi reached Fluttershy's home around mid-afternoon. Though Dash was enjoying the time out of the house, her tired body was telling her otherwise. She made it a point to walk some each day, to get back some of the energy she lost from the hospital stay.

Back in the cottage, Fluttershy quickly got to work. Within moments, she had a pot of carrot and daisy soup cooking, had fed the birds, and had given the poor badger the cold medicine she had gone to town for. The soft-spoken pony ran about the house with a dedicated fervor. Dash wanted to help out, but every time she asked her friend what she could do to help, she was met with reassurances that the other pony had it covered. As much as it bothered her to feel out of place in the busy home, she had to admit that the yellow pegasus seemed to have everything down to a precise science.

As Fluttershy buzzed about the room, Dash remembered the book Twilight had given her. A chance to read the words of a Wonderbolt was great itself, but at this moment, it also gave her something to do other than stare.

Dash looked around for Fluttershy's saddlebag. She found it draped over a small stand near the door where her friend had left it. Dash wondered as she walked over to the bag how she hadn't known one of her very own idols had written a book. It was for educational purposes, though, and with Dash being far more interested in practical application over study, it made sense that she hadn't heard of the work. Perhaps if she had spent more time on the technical aspects, she wouldn't have messed up so bad on her stunt the first time. She made a mental note to visit the library when she was flying again to study more often. Who knows, perhaps more of the Wonderbolts have published works out!

She found the book tucked safely in the bag. Not having magic to lift it as Twilight had, she had to settle for picking it up with her hooves, tucking it under her good wing to move to the couch. As she did this, though, she noticed a second medicine bottle beneath the book in the bag.

Dash looked over the bottle. It wasn't like the normal ones at the pharmacy. It was made of some type of gourd and had a cork seal. "Hey, Fluttershy, what's this strange bottle?"

Fluttershy looked up from the spot of floor she was currently sweeping. "Oh, that's a special ointment I picked up for you. Since Zecora's become more accepted in Ponyville, she's opened up a small trade with the pharmacy. Her remedies have helped us before, so I figured we could trust her work."

Dash looked back to the bottle. It didn't look spectacular. The only thing written on the bottle was "Restorative Oil." Well, that wasn't the only thing listed; so was the price. "Fluttershy! This stuff is so expensive! How can you afford this?!"

Fluttershy gave a small smile. "It's not a problem, Dash. I mean, I make a little bit from taking care of everypony's pets, and I really never spend much in the market. It's much more important for you to get better."

Dash was dumbstruck. Fluttershy had covered her hospital bills, and the small bottle of medicine was almost the same price again.

"Fluttershy..."

"Yes, Rainbow Dash?"

"Stop. Please, stop."

This caught the gentle pegasus off guard. "Is there a problem, Dash?"

Dash looked up to meet Fluttershy's eyes. They burned at her with that same caring radiance as before. "You've done so much for me already. The hospital, your home, the food, the medicine. I can never pay you back for all this."

Fluttershy put down the broom, and walked over to her friend. "Dash, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

She threw her hoof over Dash's neck, drawing her in for a hug. Her fragrance was just as sweet as Dash remembered from before. It was intoxicating.

"I don't expect anything back," the yellow pegasus assured. "I only want you to get better."

Dash could feel her heart racing, and a heated blush spread over her face. She hoped Fluttershy didn't notice.

"That reminds me," Fluttershy said, breaking their embrace. "It's about time for your massage."

Dash felt awkward about how something she had joked about at first was being treated like a common thing now, though she had been feeling much better for it. And she also had to admit that the treatment felt great. This time less so, as the massage ended with the thick oil of the medicine bottle being rubbed into the plumage of her wing and into her coat around the shoulder. It had a pungent odor, and stung the skin a bit.

"Are you sure this stuff will work, Fluttershy?" Dash asked from her spot on the couch.

"Well, it is Zecora's own brew. She was right about the Poison Joke cure, so I think we should give it a shot." Fluttershy used a small rag to wipe the oil from her hooves. "I'll go get a bath ready for you. I'll be right back."

Dash was to let the oil sit for a bit before rinsing it off. Luckily, this foul concoction was only a one-use treatment. The stinging had given way to an odd sensation of being tickled, and the more she smelled the odorous brew, the more it began to smell like mints. She knew Fluttershy was right though; if there was anypony to trust about these herbal remedies, it was Zecora.

'If this stuff can get me flying by the time the Wonderbolts open auditions,' Dash thought, 'I swear I'll kiss Zecora for it!'

"Okay, Dash," Fluttershy announced as she came down the stairs. "Your bath is ready, and you can clean off that oil now. When you're done, I'll have dinner finished."

"Thanks, Shy." It had been only three days and it already felt to Dash like she had just become part of the household.

---

Dash sank into the tub. She was used to showering by storm cloud, but found the hot, steamy bath water to be a refreshing alternative. The temperature of the water also made it easier to wash the heavy oil from her wing, though it still put up a fight. It was intended for sprains and muscle injury, so it had to be a strong mix to penetrate the skin so well. Content with how much of the oil she had taken off, the blue pegasus let herself slip deep into the water to enjoy the remainder of her bath.

The heat of the water reminded her of her dream. She had had a similar dream the night before as well, still regarding Fluttershy.

'You're really falling for her, you know,' her mind started again. 'No pun intended.'

'No, I'm not. We're just friends.'

'What about your other friends? You don't feel that way about them. Just her.'

'I've just known Fluttershy for longer, is all. We were friends back in Flight School.'

'And you had a crush on her back then, too. Gotta admit, though, standing up for her honor was very cute, even if you did end up knocking her off Cloudsdale in the process.'

Dash dipped her head under the water, trying to escape her own thoughts.

'Even if there was something there, Fluttershy wouldn't go for a pony like me. She's everything I'm not. And besides, I'm sure she's not into mares. Not like that.' Dash began to feel her spirits breaking at her own defenses.

'And we both know the only way to find out is to ask her. What could it hurt?'

'A lot.'

'You really think?'

'Okay, say I tell her. What if she freaks out? She is Fluttershy, after all. What if she doesn't want to talk to me again?'

'Do you really think she'd be like that? Especially to the pony she looks up to? By the way, Dash, you should really breathe.'

Dash suddenly realized how bad her chest was burning from the lack of air. She quickly rose up, gasping in a refreshing lungful.

"What if she doesn't love me back?" Dash asked aloud. The silence of the room didn't respond.

---

Dash exited the tub, feeling refreshed for the soak. She could smell the soup downstairs. Another of Fluttershy's masterpieces, she thought.

Walking into the living room, Dash looked to the sling hanging over the sofa. She gave a deep sigh, hating to have to put the thing back on after having it off for so long.

"Hey, Shy, can you help me get this thing back on?" Dash called, lacking enthusiasm.

The yellow pegasus walked in from the kitchen. She had her cute little apron on again. Cute? Dash didn't mean to think that, though she knew it's how she felt about it.

Fluttershy held up the large bandage as Dash closed her wing to her side. Giving the limb a look, Fluttershy placed the cloth back onto the floor.

"Dash," she began, "I'm no doctor, but, I think you might just be well enough to not need it."

Dash looked at her friend confused, before looking to her own wing. The doctor had told her to keep it on, but her wing did look almost as good as it had before. Though the joints were still stiff, and it had a pinching pain to extend, she could tell it was doing much better.

"You might be right, Fluttershy," Dash expressed, happy to be free of the binding garment. "So, how's dinner coming?"

The afternoon went as the previous had, with much small talk and joyous conversation over dinner, and a few chores afterwards, which Fluttershy let Dash help in. The pegasus even finished a few chapters of the new book before nightfall. To finish off the night, Fluttershy fetched a new cloud for her friend to lie on, and both ponies again shared a room in their own bedding.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fell Into the Right Hooves
by CosmicWaltz

Chapter 4

It had been three days since Dash had cast off the bandage over her wing. The treatment had been much the same; as much rest as she could get, healthy meals, and a nightly massage. On her own, she had begun to lightly extend the wing, re-strengthening the limb from its lack of use. She could hardly feel any pain in it anymore.

"Hey, Shy?" Rainbow Dash asked.

The two pegasi found themselves in the garden by Fluttershy's home. It was just past noon, and the yellow pegasus was tending to the many songbirds that shared in her housing.

Fluttershy was lying in the grass, with many of the colorful birds around her. They had grown accustomed to Dash's presence over the week, which Fluttershy was delighted by. The quiet pegasus turned to her friend. "Yes, Rainbow?"

Dash still found herself hypnotized by those eyes. And Fluttershy's frequent visits to her dreams hadn't helped to quench those feelings.

"I was just thinking," Dash said, breaking the spell the eyes had placed her under. "The doc wanted me back in three weeks to begin my physical therapy, right? Well, I've been feeling so much better lately, I'm wondering if you think I could start now?"

Fluttershy looked up in thought. "Well, if you really think you're ready. I can contact the doctor today and see when he can see you again."

"That's not what I meant, Fluttershy," Dash corrected. "I mean, do you think you'd be willing to help me with it. You've done such a great job with everything else, I mean."

"Oh, um, I really don't think I'd be any good at that." Fluttershy hid back beneath her mane.

Dash gently brushed the pink hair out of her friend's face. "You've been doing a great job so far. Just look at this thing!"

Dash extended her wing. The bruising had completely vanished, and the missing feathers were growing back slowly. She gently flapped the limb once. "See? I'd still be wrapped up like a mummy if it weren't for you. If there's anypony I'd like assisting me with therapy, it's you."

Fluttershy blushed. "But Dash, I'm not a very good flier myself. I don't even know where to start."

Dash smirked. "Well, you're not teaching me how to fly. You're just helping me get back up there. Come on, at least give it a shot."

Fluttershy was obviously worried. She stood up, the birds around her hopping about to reposition themselves. "I'll give it my best shot."

---

"Um, I'm not sure where to begin," Fluttershy said nervously.

The two ponies stood in a field beside the cottage. The open land was very close to the Everfree Forest, and yet, was quite a contrast to the sights within. Lush, green grass grew in sheets over the meadow, with flowers poking their way up throughout. In the distance, large mountains reached up to the sky, the white snowcaps extending into the deep blue above. Even the Everfree Forest looked rather nice against this backdrop.

The blue pegasus stood at attention, with her mane held up with a sweatband. The quieter pony sat back, a clipboard in her hooves, and whistle around her neck. One would say it looked more like training for a race than rehabilitation.

"Well," Dash replied, "I guess we should start slow. Basic exercises, like in school. Let's try Wing-Ups."

Fluttershy looked up from her clipboard, which was surprisingly blank of ideas of her own. "Rainbow, if you know what you need to do, why do you need me out here? Oh, not that I mind, I mean."

Dash really didn't know why she wanted her friend to help her. Somehow, though, she just felt better knowing she was there.

"Well, I need you as a coach, obviously!" Dash shot an honest smile to Fluttershy.

"But, I've never been a very good coach, or teacher," Fluttershy nervously replied. "I'll just mess it up." She sank beneath her mane again, a weak look on her face.

Dash couldn't stand to see Fluttershy like that. "Well, how about something you're the best at? How about you be my cheering section?"

Fluttershy's spirits livened at the words. "Well, I can do that for you. If it will help."

Dash felt her heart flutter as those eyes met hers again. "Of course it'll help. Dash always does her best work when there's a good cheer behind it!"

The blue pegasus began her therapy. Wing-Ups were hardly an exercise, mostly used to stretch out before flying. It was simply lifting the wings to their highest peak behind the back, then lowering them to gently touch the ground. To Rainbow Dash, though, they were surprisingly difficult. Her wing felt heavy, and moved awkwardly at first. She found herself barely making it to ten before her shoulder began to quiver. Had she really been set back that badly, she asked herself? She felt like giving up, ready to wait until she saw the doctor again, when a soft voice was heard.

"Whoohoo!"

Fluttershy's cheer was as quiet as ever, but it was the spark Dash needed. She finished another 10 cycles before taking a break. 'I might be able to come back from this yet.'

---

Over the next week and a half, Dash trained her recovering wing daily. She started her day with breakfast, followed by 20 Wing-Ups. After that she ran a lap through the fields with Fluttershy cheering her from the side. Warm up complete, her routine consisted of Wing Jumps, using a small pulse of the wings to propel a pegasus' jump from the ground, and Distance Glides, where from a leap a pegasus extends their total jump distance by gliding. It was all basic exercise that even Scootaloo would have scoffed at, but each felt like a milestone for Dash. She found herself over the days jumping higher and gliding further with increasing ease. She even found herself able to hover for brief periods, all well before she was even supposed to be out of her bandages. With each soft cheer of her friend, she felt herself going further and further. Her hopes weren't gone yet; she could still make the audition.

Throughout the entirety of this time, however, her feelings for Fluttershy had only grown stronger. Every time she looked at the pegasus, her heart would flutter helplessly. She found herself fighting a blush at every compliment, and giving many more than she was accustomed to. The dreams were there as well. They had become much more intense with each passing day, a few leaving her out of breath and burning with a blush at waking. She did her best to cover this. As far as she knew, Fluttershy was oblivious of her feelings. And for Dash, that was a good thing.

---

The blue pegasus pulled the sheet of cloud over her shoulder. She was sore from the long day of exercise, but was finding little relief in the bedding she lay on. The weather team had been clearing up the sky, so the only cloud Fluttershy could find was uncomfortably thin tonight. Still, she didn't want to turn down something her friend had worked so hard to find. She would make do.

Pinkie's party was tomorrow night. A "Comeback Party" had renewed meaning to her now. All day today she had set new records for herself. She was proud of how well she was doing. Fluttershy was proud, too. She had been cheering louder and louder over the days. It still wasn't as loud as most ponies spoke, but for Fluttershy, that was something.

Dash snuggled down into the thin strip of atmosphere beneath her, letting her mind rest.

'You love her.'

Or, she had at least thought her mind was at rest.

'Yeah, I know I do.'

'At least we agree now. When are you going to tell her.'

'Never.'

'Never say never.'

Dash let out an audible groan of frustration. She tensed as Fluttershy stirred quietly within her bed across the room, but settled when she found she had not awakened the pony.

'It's just better that I don't say anything.'

'Explain that one.'

'What if I say something? Best case scenario, we get together, but worst case, I lose her as a friend. And I'm left outed for all of Ponyville to take their stabs at.'

'Perhaps. But I like to think of it this way: Best case scenario, you get together.'

'She doesn't feel for me. Not like that.'

'You don't know that.'

'And you don't know she feels anything either!' She tried to yell in her own mind, finding it just as mute as any other thought.

'You know what? I don't. But I'll tell you something, Dashie; you'll never know anything if you don't ask.'

'How do you know it'll go so well?'

'I don't. But you'll never have anything if you aren't willing to take some spills. You should know that by now.'

Her own mind was mocking her. She had reached a new low.

'Do you plan on trying that stunt again?'

Dash scoffed mentally. 'Of course!'

'Why? It hurt you so bad the first time.'

'You heard the way everypony talked about it! It was great! No way I'm going to just toss something like that because of a little accident.'

'So, you don't care if you get hurt because of how great the outcome is if you get it right?'

'Er, yeah, something like that.' Where was she leading herself with this.

'How's it any different with Fluttershy?'

Dash's eyes popped open. Had she just been outsmarted by herself?

She stared at the wall thoughtlessly for a few seconds. 'What should I do?'

'Tell her you love her. Just be honest.'

'Honesty is AJ's thing. I'm Loyalty.'

'Then trust your Kindest friend to be Loyal to your friendship. If she doesn't feel the same, she just doesn't. With all she's done, do you really think it'd hurt to tell her the truth?'

'I guess not...'

'The party's tomorrow night. It's a good time to tell her how you feel.'

'Yeah...'

'Don't tell me 'the Dash' is scared of talking to a pony. You've faced down a Manticore, a Dragon, even Nightmare Moon, and you're worried about a pony?'

'Fighting impossible odds is much easier. If I had to confess my love to Nightmare Moon, we'd still be in that castle right now.'

'It's easier if you trust them.'

Dash glanced over to Fluttershy's bed. The yellow pegasus looked so peaceful when she slept. Her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath, a stray lock of hair flickering near her muzzle with the exhale. Dash felt her heart thumping in her own chest. As much as she argued with herself, she knew she was right. She had to tell her friend, if for nothing more than to get it out.

'I hope I'm doing the right thing.'

---

Mid-afternoon found the two pegasi headed towards Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie had been given full use of the shop for the party. The Cakes had long accepted Pinkie's tendency to throw events there. It didn't bother them. Pinkie's parties were great publicity for their business, she often paid for all the supplies and treats, and they both enjoyed attending the soirées themselves.

The walk from Fluttershy's had been awkwardly quiet, as had much of the day. Dash could feel the tension, but every time she opened her mouth to start conversation, a million worried thoughts of what words would come flashed before her. Even the training today had been marred by her frantic mind. She barely cleared distances she had set days ago. She could tell her friend was worried, but held it in silence. The party would be good for both of them, she thought.

"I wonder how many ponies showed up," Fluttershy finally broke the silence.

"Well, I know our friends will be there, and probably a few others. It can't be too many." Dash was just happy to no longer be wrapped in the bandage she felt so self-conscious about at her last outing.

A soft bustle could be heard within the storefront as the ponies approached. Dash knocked on the front door. The upper half of the two-panel door burst opened, a pink earth pony appearing in the aperture it made.

"What's the password?" Pinkie tried to put on her best stern face, but still couldn't stifle a giggle.

Dash smiled at the bouncer impression. "Hmm, how about 'I'm the guest of honor?'"

"Ooh, that's a good one!" Pinkie flung open the lower half-door. "Welcome to the party, girls!"

Dash looked around the busy room as she entered. Bright, colorful balloons were anchored to every table and wall, streamers lined the ceilings and doorways, and fun, wild music thumped from some unseen source. A large cake made of six layers sat on a table in the center, each tier dyed a different color of the rainbow. The bottom layer, a vibrant violet color, had a simple message written in frosting; "Get back up there, Dashie!"

There weren't too many partygoers, but it was still far from a casual gathering. She immediately recognized her friends in the crowd, as well as Spike, Applebloom and Big Macintosh, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo by the punch, Lyra and Bon-Bon, Carrot Top chatting with Rarity, Dinky and Derp- Ditzy Doo, she corrected, and of course Mr. and Mrs. Cake. There were a few other attendees she had seen around town, but didn't know much about.

"Wow, Pinks. You really outdid yourself," Dash commended her friend.

"Well, duh! It's not every day I get to throw a party for my very best friend. Well, it kinda is, but that's not the point!" Pinkie was just as bouncy as ever.

The pink pony stood before the cake in the center of the room. "Can I have your attention, everypony! The guest of honor has arrived! Let's hear it for Rainbow Dash!"

The crowd was instantly alive with applause in Dash's direction. Though she normally reveled in an adoring crowd, she felt herself shrinking beneath the invisible spotlight.

She felt a soft nudge. Dash looked over to see Fluttershy at her side, standing with her. The yellow pegasus cast a supporting smile to her friend. Dash felt her pulse rocket with that smile. The simple comfort was all she needed.

---

The party was as festive as any Pinkie threw. Punch, candies, and sweets were in abundance, and everypony was enjoying themselves. Though the party was for Dash, it seemed most ponies were just interested in partying for a party's sake. This relieved the pegasus more than she expected. Though she was okay recounting the story, and even showing off her mostly recovered wing, she was still haunted by the nagging question in her mind.

'When are you going to tell her?'

About an hour into the party, Dash decided she needed some time alone for a moment to think. With most of the shop full of ponies, she took a step outside. A number of partygoers had taken to the yard as well, however.

She looked up to the roof of Sugar Cube Corner. It was a low flight, and she knew she could make it. It was also the quietest place she could go right now. As she began to flap her wings, flashbacks of her first night with Fluttershy jumped forward. The pain she caused herself, and the difficulty of flying that short distance. Her falling helplessly... It seemed almost like a bad dream now, as her wings gently fanned themselves off the ground, carrying her with ease to the roof above.

Dash sat near the tall smokestacks of the kitchen ovens. She had often wondered as she flew by if the building was actually made of the sweets it looked to be, but a quick and embarrassing test of this said otherwise. Unless, of course, it was made of a candy that tasted like roof shingles and mineral water. Content to not tell any other pony of her discovery, she settled into her own thoughts.

Several minutes passed by before a soft voice brought the pegasus back to reality. "Dash, what are you doing up here?"

Rainbow Dash turned to see Fluttershy flying towards her. The yellow pony sat next to her on the faux-candy roof.

"Hey, Fluttershy. Just... up here thinking," Dash replied.

"Something's been on your mind all day, hasn't it?" the quiet pony asked in concern.

"Well, it's complicated," Dash began. "Let me ask you something, Fluttershy."

The yellow pony nodded. "Oh, anything."

"Well," Dash looked down as she spoke. "I have something I need to tell somepony. Something big. And, I'm worried. What if this pony doesn't want to see me again afterwards? What if this pony doesn't even want to be my friend anymore? I just don't know what to do."

Fluttershy looked over her friend in silence for a moment. "Is it important that you tell this pony?"

Dash couldn't bring herself to connect her gaze with those eyes. Not now. "It is. I can't even sleep soundly keeping this in..."

Fluttershy placed her hoof over her friend's shoulder. "Well, you should tell them."

Dash looked to her friend. Those eyes were why the Princess raised the sun every day, she'd swear. "But, what if..."

"Dash," her friend interrupted, "if it's that important to you, this other pony will understand. And, no matter what happens, you'll always have me and our friends here for you."

Fluttershy was still oblivious to her hints, but she hadn't expected her to think it was about her. She was naive like that, which Dash found to be cute. She hugged her friend tightly. "Thanks, Fluttershy."

As they parted, Fluttershy suddenly gave a look of confusion. "Dash, how did you get up here?"

The blue pegasus hadn't even thought about the feat. "Oh, well, I guess I flew." She didn't think of it as a big a deal through the pestering thoughts, but she had actually flown. She had recovered enough to take to the air. Fluttershy's eyes lit up with an excited spark.

"You flew?! Oh, that's so wonderful! You didn't hurt anything, did you? I mean, you're all right?" She hadn't seen Fluttershy this energetic in a long time.

"Yeah, I'm good. I feel like a million bits, all thanks to you." She gave Fluttershy a wide grin. "Now, let's get back inside. What kind of party is there without the guest of honor, right?"

---

As the two ponies returned to the party, Pinkie had just started with the games. "There's the pony of the hour! We were just about to play 'Pin the Tail on the Pony'! Well, not an actual pony, that would probably hurt, but a drawing of a pony! How would you like the first round?" The small crowd around the game cheered for Dash.

"Nah, I think I'll pass, Pinkie. But, I'm sure Fluttershy would like a turn." Dash looked to her friend with a confident smirk. "You've been putting me back together over the past month, so this should be no problem!" Fluttershy giggled under her breath, stepping forward to be blindfolded.

Pinkie moved over to Rainbow Dash. "This must be, like, the best day ever for you! Well, I know you said the Best Young Flier Competition was the best day ever, but I'm sure this is up there! You get your very own party, and you can finally get back into your home!"

Dash glanced over at the party pony. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you can fly again!" Pinkie replied. "You made it up to the roof, which isn't much lower than your house! By the way Dash, the roof isn't really made of candy, though it'd be super if it was!"

Dash felt another hit to her pride knowing her friend saw her tasting the roof of the shop somehow. "Actually, I think I'm going to stick with Fluttershy. At least for a little while. She's probably the only reason I can fly right now anyway." Dash felt her heart warm as she spoke of the gentle pony.

Pinkie looked on in thought, before letting out a shocked gasp. "Dash!" She grabbed Rainbow Dash's face with both hooves, moving the pony to face her eye-to-eye. "Say 'Fluttershy'."

Dash felt a hot blush cross over her face. "F-Fluttershy?"

The pink pony gave a delighted squeal. "I knew it! I totally called it! How long have you two been together? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

Dash's face was suddenly burning with an intensified blush. "Not so loud Pinkie! How did you figure it out?!"

"The eyes never lie!" the party pony spoke in a sing-song voice.

Dash knew she might as well tell her friend. "Look, there's nothing between us. It's just on my end. I haven't told her yet."

Pinkie's expression lowered to a more concerned one. "Oh, Dashie, you gotta tell her!"

"I know, I know. I plan to tonight." Dash confided. "Just, don't say anything, to anypony! Not even our friends. Not yet, at least."

The pink pony put on a stern face, sitting upright on her haunches and saluting with one hoof. "You have my word!" The almost poster-esque salute faded with a half-suppressed giggle. "But it's so cute!"

The crowd began to laugh around them. Fluttershy had pinned the tail on the drawn pony's back, making it look like a wing. Dash found herself joining in the playful laughter.

---

The party had been quite the event. Big Macintosh had let himself be painted by the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Applejack had shown amazing skill at bobbing for apples, and somehow Spike had managed to set the cake on fire with a sneeze. Dash had even signed an autograph for Scootaloo, the little pegasus having called Dash an inspiration. It was a nice night. But, there was still one thing that needed to be done.

Fluttershy and Dash walked back from the party together. The night had just started to grow as Luna raised the moon into place. The sky faded into a deep blackish-blue, dusted lightly by the emerging stars.

"It's a lovely night." Fluttershy remarked, looking into the cosmic scene above.

"It is." Dash replied, almost solemnly.

'Now or never, Dash. Now or never.'

She stopped in place on the path. "Fluttershy, wait."

The yellow pegasus stopped not far ahead, turning back to see her friend. Even in the low light, Dash could still make out those eyes.

"Fluttershy, I gotta say this. You're the pony I needed to speak to, on the roof. I've been fighting to say it all night, and if I don't now I never will." Dash looked down, knowing the bomb she was about to detonate on their friendship. "Fluttershy, I... I love you. Not just as a friend, but much more." The tears Dash had told herself she wouldn't let fall escaped her control. Through her blurred vision, she could see the droplets dotting the dirt below her. "Okay, I said it. You can hate me now."

Silence. Motionless silence. A silence that pierced into the most tender parts of the soul. Dash knew she had made a huge mistake, one that she could never take back. She had lost the pony she owed so much to, and one of her oldest frie-

The yellow pegasus pressed herself against Dash, holding her closely. Dash was in shock. All of the horror stories playing in her head, and yet, the pony she had been so worried to talk to was wrapped around her shoulders.

"Don't cry, Dash. It's okay." Fluttershy cooed in her ear.

Dash's worry welled up again. She was about to let her down easy. Less painful, but a hundred times more bitter.

"Dash... I... I feel the same for you too," Fluttershy confessed. "I have for years. You were the first pony who ever stood up for me. I was just too nervous to say anything. And, I never thought you'd feel the same. You're fast, athletic. The coolest Pony in Equestria. I didn't think you would ever want to be with a pony like me. I promised myself that if I couldn't be with you, I would always be there for you, whenever you needed."

Dash's mind went blank, overloaded by what she had heard. Her senses held an emergency meeting to debate which one needed to handle the situation. Finally, her body took over where her mind had fallen short. She returned the embrace, tightening her own hooves around the other pegasus.

After what felt like an eternity, the two parted. Fluttershy was the first to speak. "Um, so, were does this put us?"

The conference of senses in Dash's head flashed together an ingenious plan, almost out of a cheesy comic book. "Right about here."

Dash leaned forward, meeting the other pony's lips in a deep kiss. With only the briefest hesitation, Fluttershy pushed back into the embrace. Dash's heart was threatening to burst as her mind reveled in tingling ecstasy. She drank in the sweet taste of the other pegasus, lapping greedily at the source. Her tongue was locked in a battle with Fluttershy's own, both fighting to enter the warm mouth of the other. It was like a dream.

This was better than any dream, she thought.

Dash separated her contact from the yellow pegasus. Fluttershy absently kissed at the air for a moment, almost too eager to have the wonderful moment interrupted. She opened her eyes, looking up to the blue pegasus. Those beautiful eyes...

"Fluttershy? Let's go home." Dash nuzzled her friend. No, she was more than a friend. Her partner. Her girlfriend. Her mare.

Tomorrow, she would train as she had every other day. She would enjoy three lovely meals throughout. She would get back into the sky she once knew. But tonight, and every night that followed, she knew she'd have a pony waiting for her. And she knew she'd never be lonely again.
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fell Into the Right Hooves
by CosmicWaltz

Chapter 5

It was the four week mark. Today, Dash was to meet the doctor who had done his best to grant her a second chance at flight. It fit in her schedule well; the Wonderbolt auditions were tomorrow.

Doctor Heartfeld was making his rounds. Though it was never necessarily busy at the Ponyville hospital, there was always work to be done. Caramel was in almost weekly with a new bump or scrape to have looked at from his clumsy work on the Apple farmland, and there was never a shortage of schoolchildren filing through with everything from scuffed knees to 'cooties'. Today, however, the most notable patient he had ever treated was on his clock.

Doctor Heartfeld entered the small exam room, the same worn look as a month before. "Ms. Dash! It's good to see you again. So, are you ready to begin your rehabilitation?"

Dash sat on the bed-like exam table. She had always hated the paper sheets on those things. "Actually, Doc," Dash began, a smug grin creeping along her face, "I think you'll find I'm better off than you expected!"

With that, she flew up from the table, making a tight back spin before landing in front of the doctor. She drew up one foreleg, striking her best pose.

The doctor's face showed genuine surprise. "My, my! Must have been some care you've been receiving!" He walked to her side, sitting back to get a better look at the wing.

As his hooves traced along the limb, he questioned his patient. "So, you have full use of your wing?"

"Yep!" Dash proudly reported.

"No pains or difficulties?"

"Not a one!"

Doctor Heartfeld moved back, a warm smile on his aged features. "Well, this is certainly impressive. I wouldn't have bet money on it, but I'd say you're well on your way to a full recovery in just this short of time!"

Dash retracted her wing. "Uh, I think I've already made a full recovery. And not a day too soon! Tomorrow's my audition for the Wonderbolts!"

Doctor Heartfeld's expression suddenly flashed into a look of shock. "Stunt flying? Tomorrow?! Most certainly not!"

Dash was suddenly in the doctor's face. "What do you mean? You said it yourself! I'm better! Heck, I feel better than I did before my accident!"

"Ms. Dash," the doctor began, his face settling back into his gruff disposition. "You are not well enough to compete! Your recovery is impressive, granted, but you're not back to full health yet. The muscles still do not have their previous mass, and the tendons are still tender from the repairs. The fact that you're flying at all is nothing short of miraculous, but there's no way that this wing can handle the stress of aerial performance just yet! I'm not saying this just as your doctor, but as a concerned friend. Don't do that to yourself."

Dash hovered before the doctor, her expression mirroring her frustration. "And I should listen to you? If I remember correctly, you didn't think I'd even be moving the thing by now, and yet I can fly laps through this whole building! Where you thought I'd be in that dumb sling for two weeks, I was out of it by the third day! I almost missed this chance once and just when it's in front of me again, you want me to give it up? When you've been wrong at every turn? Not a chance!"

The doctor sat unintimidated by the angry mare hovering in front of him. "Fine. If you want to throw that wing away, I can't stop you. Go ahead and fly your audition tomorrow. And when it's over, I just hope I'm not the doctor that has to amputate what you fought so hard for."

Dash gave an angry huff in the doctor's face. "Thanks for the work, doc. Now, why don't you let someone with experience use it?"

With that, she flew out of the room, leaving the doctor in her wake.

He let out a fatigued sigh. "Youth is truly wasted on the young."

---

The path between Ponyville and Fluttershy's home seemed to disappear with the use of wings. In no time, Dash could easily commute the distance. As of late, though, she flew just because she could again. She loved feeling the wind brush through her coat as it once had. Flying was always her joy in life, but after her ordeal, she found herself drawing more pleasure from the simple act. And of course, it had granted her a new joy in her life.

Dash landed at the step of the small home. The door was open today, letting the fresh Spring breeze sweep through the house. As Dash entered, she found Fluttershy dusting off the shelves on the far wall, oblivious to her return. Dash took in the moment; Fluttershy was truly a gorgeous pony. Her flowing mane was tied back as she dusted the shelves, giving her a regal and flirty look. And she wore another small apron, which Dash still found to be adorably cute. She could have watched her like that all day, if a certain bunny hadn't launched a half-eaten carrot at the working pony.

The carrot bounced off of Fluttershy's head before landing on the bookcase. She turned to face the rabbit. "Is there something you need, my little Angel?" How she kept her cool with that little pest Dash would never know.

The bunny pointed at the door with his normal scowl unchanging. Fluttershy looked in the direction to see Dash had returned.

"Hey, babe," Dash called, enjoying the affectionate monicker that rolled off her tongue.

Fluttershy was quickly over to her, embracing the blue pegasus. "Oh, Dash! I didn't hear you come in." The two shared a light kiss in the lit doorway. "What did the doctor say?"

Dash recalled the unpleasant visit just moments earlier. "He said... he was impressed with how well I'm doing, and that I'm going to be fine!" It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Besides, Fluttershy didn't need to hear all of the ravings of the charlatan.

"That's so good to hear! So, you're ready for tomorrow?" Fluttershy asked with a loving concern.

Again, Dash couldn't say the full truth. Despite the doctor's words, though, she felt perfectly fine, and knew that she could audition. "Of course I'm ready! I was born to be a Wonderbolt! All I need are the wings on my back, and a certain pegasus by my side." She nuzzled her mare.

"Do you want to start practicing?" Fluttershy asked.

As much as Dash knew she needed practice, she also knew she'd need all her energy tomorrow. "Nah. I'm just going to rest up for the moment. Besides, I'm sure any one of my old tricks will win them over. Even the Sonic Rainboom is still something that only I can do!" She felt comforted by her own voiced enthusiasm. "Tonight, I'm just going to read a bit on advanced flight, and take it easy. Perhaps I can get another one of your expert massages later?" Dash gave a devilish smirk to the other pony.

Fluttershy giggled, her cheeks blushing slightly. "Of course."

---

This was it. The day Dash had been so excited for. The day she had felt so crushed to believe she would miss, and here she was.

The auditions were held at the Coliseum in Cloudsdale. The entire stadium had been rented out by the Wonderbolts for today. All six members sat in the booth across the arena, with empty stands to either side. The only audience aside from the judges were what ponies were close enough to the head of the line to see out the door. It was nothing but a show of ability.

Dash and Fluttershy had awoken slightly late, both finding themselves sleeping more soundly in each other's hold. Though not too late to make the auditions, they were far back in line. Pegasi from all over Equestria filed into the open corridors circling the main stage. Dash was at first nervous bringing her partner along, but soon found many of the ponies in line had come not to try out, but to support their friends and spouses. One young colt even brought his mother along.

"Dash, there are so many ponies here," Fluttershy said in a whispering voice. Dash could tell she was uncomfortable with the large, unfamiliar crowd. "Don't the Wonderbolts have to narrow this down to just one?"

Dash realized how frightening the odds were in numbers, but was still confident in her abilities. She looked down at the call number on her flank. '138.' And the line behind her seemed almost twice as long as what had already passed through.

"Yeah," she said, "they're only looking for one pony. And it's going to be me, Shy." She gave the nervous pony a gentle nuzzle.

It became clear quickly that many of the ponies who had shown were only trying out because it was a free chance to see the Wonderbolts. Some could pull simple tricks, and more couldn't do a full loop without losing their direction. Though, Dash did hear the 'ooh's and 'aah's ahead in the line as rather talented competitors gave their best. Still, she knew she had skill none of them could touch.

'And when it's over, I just hope I'm not the doctor that has to amputate what you fought so hard for.'

The voice of the old quack echoed in her head. Of all the times to let negativity affect her, it had to show up as she neared the head of the line. There were only four more auditions before hers. She could see the stadium clearly through the ornate doors now. More importantly, she could see the Wonderbolts across the gap. Even at that distance, they still seemed to glow in their uniforms.

The first pony in the line went out. He was a skinny thing, with long legs and rather short wings. Dash would have commented on how ridiculous he looked, but was thoroughly surprised by his grace when flying. He could easily make sharp angled turns and pull from dives. He ended his performance with a high speed drop, darting back just before passing below the cloudline, looping into a tight bend, and darting back into the sky with legs outstretched in victory. An impressive run, Dash remarked. Not 'Wonderbolt' impressive, though.

Next was an older mare. What she lacked in speed she made up for in daring. She dashed through the difficult cloud obstacles suspended in the arena, making wild turns. Though interesting, it was hardly special, and more reckless than anything.

'If you want to throw that wing away, I can't stop you.'

That stubborn voice again. Not now. Not when she's so close to her goal.

The next pony was a young filly, just barely old enough to not be in school that day. She walked towards the starting platform, then nervously shook in place for five minutes. Finally, she bolted back through the open doorway and past the crowd. Fluttershy said she would probably have done the same.

Only one more pony stood between her and her goal. A large colt, once part of the Cloudsdale Guard, he had told Dash. As he took to the air, Dash found herself too lost in thought to pay attention to his show.

Was she really well enough to do this? The doctor may have been wrong about the time needed, but he was still a doctor. It was only by his hoof that she kept her wing at all. He wasn't a pegasus himself, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Maybe she wasn't well enough to audition. But, if she didn't try now, she wouldn't have the chance again.

'I don't expect anything back. I only want you to get better.'

This time, the voice speaking in her mind wasn't the doctor's. It was Fluttershy's. Dash looked to the yellow pegasus beside her. She owed her so much. She owed it to her to get better. And now, was she going to throw it all away in willful ignorance? Fluttershy looked up to her. Those eyes. She always felt so weak, yet so empowered by those eyes. Like she could do anything, but couldn't move a muscle. Fluttershy gave her a soft smile.

"Dash, sweetie, it's your turn."

Dash was thrust back into the world. She had missed the entire performance of the pegasus before her, and now it was her turn to audition. She gave Fluttershy a quick kiss on the nose. "Wish me luck, babe."

Dash walked past the doors, standing on the cloud overlook. Before her was a massive gap in the clouds, with a clear view of the ground far below. On the far side, the Wonderbolts, her idols, sat in the judges' booth. The space between was littered with various obstacles and objects. This was her domain.

She leapt from the platform, stretching out her wings. Flashbacks of the first night's dream flickered before her, and a paranoid dread filled her, if only briefly. The wind caught beneath her wings, lifting her up in an arc into the stadium proper. 'Time to shine.'

She wanted to start slow, warming herself up first. That hardly meant she was taking her time, though. She blitz through the cloud hoops, bobbing to meet each in the center perfectly. She enjoyed how she could just feel the tips of her furthest feathers touch the soft obstacles when she made the goal. Following a lap of the rings, she took to weaving the through the cloud pillars down the center of the course. Feeling the thrill of the flight returning to her, she began to grow bold, turning her body in full so that her mane just brushed the pillars as she passed them. A few ponies showed their admiration to her from the line, but one voice stuck out the most.

"Yay!"

Fluttershy cheered with her soft voice. There was love behind that voice, Dash felt. A love that had always driven her to do more. That was all the inspiration she needed. It was time for her big finale; the Sonic Rainboom.

Dash flew straight into the sky, high above the stadium. Many of the ponies broke their formation in the line to see what the daring blue pegasus was doing. High above the Coliseum, she was ready to make her dive. If she had it right, she would make the Rainboom just below the clouds, lighting up the gap with a wave of color.

She began her dive with flare, closing her wings by her side and turning back into a flip. As she began to pick up momentum, she opened her wings, putting all her energy into the descent. She had to do this. For herself. For the Wonderbolts. For Fluttershy...

'I'm not saying this just as your doctor, but as a concerned friend. Don't do that to yourself.'

Again, the doctor's voice echoed in her head. She could just see the yellow blur out of the corner of her eye. Fluttershy. She hadn't told her what could go wrong. She hadn't even told her what the doctor had said.

The air began to bend before the blue pegasus as she picked up speed. A slow numbing burn began to tickle at her wing.

Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to put herself through this again? Put Fluttershy through this again? 

The air coned around the pony, flickering rainbow light in its wake. "She's going to do a Rainboom!" an excited pony exclaimed from the sideline. A twisting pinch radiated through the joints of her bad wing like icy wind.

No. No, she couldn't do this. Not to Fluttershy. Not for the Wonderbolts, not for anything! She couldn't do this to her again!

Dash curved her wings beneath her, using them as air-brakes to stop her fall. A sharp pain stabbed throughout the limb under the strain, bringing biting tears to the edge of her eyes. She bit down hard against the pain.

Below, the crowd of ponies gasped in shock, not the least of which being Fluttershy and the Wonderbolts. Dash had failed them.

She landed beside the silent Fluttershy, whose mouth was still agape with worry. Dash's wing felt heavier now, like it had weeks ago, but the pain had died down into a comforting numbness. She hadn't done any more damage than a day of rest could fix, thankfully. She didn't want to imagine what would have happened if she completed the stunt.

"I'm sorry, everypony," Dash answered, fighting the tears in her eyes. "I can't do it. I'm sorry I wasted your time." She looked to her partner with tears trailing her cheeks in silence. "Come on, Fluttershy. Let's just go. I'll explain at home."

Both ponies turned to leave, heads lowered.

"Rainbow, wait!"

Dash turned to the voice. It was Spitfire! From the far booth, six uniformed ponies flew to the platform the two pegasi stood on. 

"Hey, Pie-Saver! It is you!" Soarin' called out from the group.

Spitfire stepped forward. "Dash, right? I was surprised to see your name on the roster today. You have quite a reputation, you know? You won the Best Young Flier Competition, hailed by Princess Celestia herself. You're the fastest flier in Equestria, and the only pony to ever pull off a Sonic Rainboom. Those titles aren't just handed out, and I've seen myself that you deserve them. I was amazed to hear you were going to audition today after your accident!"

Dash felt her pride crumple. "You guys heard about that?"

Spitfire looked over the pegasus incredulously. "I think every pegasus in Equestria heard of your tumble."

"Oh, great!" Dash exclaimed in heavy sarcasm. "I wanted to be known, but not for my biggest failure!"

Spitfire drew back at the comment. "Dash, do you think word spread because you messed up? Everypony spoke of it because it was the worst injury any of us have ever heard befall one of our own! It's been decades since any pegasus has taken a blow like that. And you're already flying again!"

Dash really hadn't thought much of it, but it was astounding that she had even shown up for the competition today. She hadn't known word had reached Cloudsdale when she had arrived.

Spitfire walked closer to Dash. "Rainbow, it took a lot of courage to come back from something like that so soon and try to fly for us today."

"Too bad I couldn't even do it," Dash added in a low groan of pity.

"But more than that," Spitfire continued, "it takes a good mind to know your limits. And that's something much more valuable. That's what it takes to be a Wonderbolt."

Dash's head shot up at the comment. "Wh-what?"

"You've impressed us today," Spitfire commended. "Which says a lot given what we've already come to expect from you. There's no way we're going to miss seeing what you can do now, but you'll have to bring your best. And that means you'll have to be at your best! We'll be back in Cloudsdale in a month, opening for the Cloudsdale Coliseum Races. Be there, and afterwards, you'll get your audition, one-on-one. And, I can't say much, but, let's say the spot might still be open on our team for a pegasus with a strong heart and a good head above it."

Dash's mind was again blank for thought, every nerve firing to find an appropriate reaction. Her body again took over. She popped into the air, latching her hooves around Spitfire's neck.

"THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!" She had put Pinkie's wild nature to shame, locked on to her hero.

"I wouldn't give you the chance if I didn't think you had what it takes, kid."

Fluttershy practically had to pry Dash away from the uniformed pony.

---

As the couple walked back past the line towards the exit, a whispering grew in the crowd.

"Didn't she say that was Dash? Rainbow Dash?"

"She the one who won the Best Young Flier Competition!"

"I heard she was in a bad accident."

"Yeah, didn't she break her wing? How did she even fly here?"

Dash stopped, giving a cocky smile to the commenter. "Actually, I didn't break it. I just tore it up a bit. Luckily, I've got the best doctor," she gave a loving look to Fluttershy, "and the best mare in all of Equestria looking out for me."

As she walked past the admiring crowd, she realized she still owed an apology to one of those ponies.

---

The sun had just begun to set as Doctor Heartfeld's work day ended. He placed his coat and stethoscope away in his locker, and donned his standard attire; a simple white shirt collar with tie.

As he left the hospital, two pegasi landed before him. He quickly recognized Rainbow Dash.

"Hey, doc."

"Hmph? Ms. Dash?" he responded. "I see you didn't go through with it. What changed your mind?"

Dash looked apologetic. "Let's just say there was a grumpy old voice in my head. And the more I listened, the more he made sense."

The doctor smiled. "Well, I'm glad that voice was there."

He looked over to the pony beside Dash. "You. You're the pony who brought Ms. Dash in, correct? Fluttershy, I believe. Are you the one who's been taking care of her recovery."

Fluttershy ducked slightly behind Dash. "Oh, um, yes, I have. Did I do anything wrong?"

The doctor gave a hearty laugh. "The opposite, dear! I care to say she might owe her swift recovery solely on your expert care. It's quite the gift you must have."

Fluttershy couldn't help but blush at the professional's words. "Um, thank you, doctor."

Doctor Heartfeld looked back to Dash, a gentleness she hadn't often seen gleaming in his eyes. "You're lucky to have such a caring mare. And I dare you to say otherwise this time! Ha!"

The sudden shift in demeanor was almost too much for the winged duo. They both burst into laughter.

"Oh, come on!" Dash said through bellowing laughs. "It's not that obvious is it?"

The doctor beamed of a kindness Rainbow Dash had only seen within Fluttershy before. "I read you from the moment you said her name. You don't make it to my age without being able to read a pony's heart. You may not have known it yourself, but I could see it in your eyes."

"You and my friend Pinkie would probably get along well, then."

---

Dash walked the path back to the cottage she had become accustomed to calling home. Fluttershy followed in step, wrapped warmly under Dash's good wing. The doctor gave the other a quick check up before they had parted, confirming that she was going to be fine after her close call with her own foalishness. She had been advised to rest up, and stay out of the air for a few days. This time, she would listen.

Celestia's sun tucked itself quietly beneath the horizon, casting long rays of orange across the sky in its final light. Dash looked up into the sky she had loved for so many years. At this moment, though, it didn't fill her with that same comfort. There was somepony that filled her with even more joy now. She looked to the pegasus under here wing, her soft features glowing within the fading light of day. She peered into those large eyes. She knew what she saw in them now. What she had seen all along.

Home.


--End--

Zecora was busy mixing a large cauldron of herbal oil within her hut. With her medicines being such a hit in Ponyville, she found herself making larger batches at a time. She didn't mind finding the ingredients, nor the brewing. What she found to be bothersome was the bits that they paid her in. A large sack lay in the corner full of the useless coins. She preferred trade, but most ponies insisted on paying with the cumbersome capital. She had debated donating it back to Ponyville, or perhaps trading the bits for various curios from the oddity shop in town.

Her musings were interrupted by an unexpected knock at the door.

"Could it be, Somepony to see me?" she asked.

Zecora left the large wooden spoon she had been stirring with to spin peacefully around the rim of the pot, carried by the rhythm of the whirling potion. Opening the door, she was greeted by two pegasus ponies.

"Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy too! What can Zecora do for you?"

Dash looked at Fluttershy, an embarrassed blush on her face. "You sure you don't mind?"

Fluttershy giggled. "Well, just this once. You told me you swore you would do this."

Dash wondered why she ever shared that thought with Fluttershy. Perhaps she was too trusting of the sweet pony. Or perhaps she didn't think the pegasus would lead her all the way through the Everfree Forest to uphold a joked promise. "All right, then."

"Zecora," Dash began, sitting back on the doorstep before the zebra, "I used one of your herbal oils a while back on my wing after an accident. I'm here to tell you it works amazingly! And, since I was flying again by the day of the Wonderbolt audition, I'm afraid I have to do this."

With that, Dash grabbed the sides of the zebra's face, pressing Zecora's lips to her own. The zebra's eyes widened in a sudden shock.

Dash backed away from their quick kiss, leaving the stunned zebra staring forward quizzically. Fluttershy continued to giggle softly at the sight.

"It's nothing personal, Z," Dash added as she and Fluttershy flew into the air. "Just a promise I had to keep. Besides, I got my own mare." The pair disappeared above the thick canopy.

"That blue pony is a strange one," Zecora remarked, returning to her mixture. "But, she sure knows how to have fun!"