The choices that we make today are those that we have to deal with tomorrow. Rainbow Dash knows the truth of that.
The rainbow-maned mare has done it. She has become the Captain of the Wonderbolts, the career that she had always dreamed of. But it didn’t come without a price and now she has a choice to make: the career she’s always wanted or to pursue what she lost once.
A single bead of sweat had now formed on her forehead and was now cascading down her face.
Though she loved being the centre of attention, as it both fed her ego and was the reality of her career, right now, she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with all eyes fixated on her.
She slowed her breathing and closed her eyes momentarily. Contrary to public belief, picturing the audience naked didn’t help in this case since ponies didn’t normally wear clothes.
She gave a small smile knowing where her reasoning came from. With a slow sigh, she felt a little more at ease. Her eyelids finally opened and she looked over the expectant crowd. She gave a short smile and with sweaty hooves, she slid the paper away from eyesight.
“Good afternoon everypony. Parents, faculty, let’s give a hoof-stomp for the graduates for the Wonderbolt Academy. And to all the ponies who don’t have wings, don’t worry if you fall through the cloud floor. I’m sure there’ll be at least eighty of us who’ll catch you. You’re good!”
Laughter spread through the audience, as well as a good-hearted hoof-stomp on the thick clouds. This encouraged Rainbow to forge on.
“If you haven’t already heard of me, which I’m sure you all have, I’m the one and only Rainbow Dash! Captain of the Wonderbolts, Sonic Rainboom legend, Element of Loyalty, and to all the new graduates, the mare who made them do fifty wing-ups every morning.”
Another laugh, bunched with a couple of knowing groans was heard from the crowd.
“But all kidding aside, I’m honored to be this year’s speaker for this comment-cement, commons meant? Er…speech thingy. Ask Twilight if you wanna know the egghead way to pronounce it.”
“Hey!” Twilight protested, eliciting another chuckle from both the congregation and Princess Celestia.
“Today, eighty of the best of the best flyers will give up their lives to both entertain and protect the Citizens of Equestria, as I have. With this, they have given us their most prized possession, to which countless hours have been used to strengthen and maintain them. After thirty-six months of training not only their wings but their character, they have proved their dedication goes beyond the sky’s limit.”
“But some ponies may wonder why. Why are they doing all this? What would convince ponies to get up six in the morning only to do fifty laps around the track, practice death-defying flying tricks that will only be seen for two minutes? Or study how air pressure affects aerial manoeuvers ‘till three in the morning.”
She cocked her head as if she was asking herself those questions.
“Fame? Sure, maybe for a few years. Fortune? Yea…maybe. Though I've never heard of anypony say they are doing it for the money.”
“But then what? What keeps these ponies going?”
A smile crept back on the cyan pegasus’ face.
“It’s because these pegasi love what they do. And no, not the mushy kind of love. But their first love. The one that pegasi foals dream about all the time. The feeling of wind against their wings. Of zooming through clouds and rainwater. The feeling of being free.
Her smile fell a bit as she continued.
“But sometimes, without struggle, your first love can fade away. Through time, it can get pretty clouded.”
Two years, six months and three days ago...
The party, her party, was dying down and now was the best time to get some fresh air.
Rainbow Dash stepped out onto the castle balcony where no one was. With a pause and a long intake of breath, she got a whiff of the air that she once practiced in. The smell of Ponyville. The smell of home.
Feeling the soft breeze glide gently against her skin made her feel better already. She gave a few wing flaps, although not so much as to crease her nicely pressed suit. Rarity would sure be at her side to fix it if there was. She was sure of it.
After a few moments, she heard another set of hoofsteps that seemed to be headed towards her direction. Her ears twitched at the sound. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Rainbow wished the mare wouldn’t get the chance to get her alone. But life was unfair sometimes and she knew she would have to face her sooner or later. The aroma of apples not only reaffirmed her of who it was…it made her slightly sick.
“Hey…” a voice was heard from behind her.
Rainbow made no effort to turn around. Breathe. Just breathe. In. And Out. Now Answer. “Hey…”
“How are ya?” The voice from behind asked in a softer tone.
Suckish now that you’re here. “Fine.”
Instead of walking away as expected, the orange mare slid into Rainbow’s peripheral vision. She was dressed in a light green dress that was simple yet graced her curves well. Her blonde mane wasn’t in its regular ponytail, but brushed and trimmed neatly. The sight, however angled, almost made Rainbow’s knees give out. Almost.
Damn it Rarity, You made her look hot!
“And how’s the Wonderbolt life treatin’ you Cap’n?” Applejack said with a smile.
That was a low blow
Rainbow looked away. “It’s fine.” She said with a bit more force, hoping that the apple farmer would get the hint.
The smile dropped from Applejack’s face and Rainbow knew she had gotten the message. She turned to leave but not without an offensive move. “By the way, congratulations on the engagement. Hope you found that perfect somepony to settle down with.” She made sure to say it in a mocking way.
It only took a split second until she came face-to-face with Applejack. The rainbow-maned mare, though slightly surprised by the sudden move, stood her ground.
“Who told you?” Applejack said in a non-threatening way.
“Does it matter?” Rainbow countered. She tried to pass the orange mare only to be stopped by her hoof.
“Rainbow…”
“What?” Rainbow’s sharp tone remained the same.
“Can we just talk?” Applejack said in a way that almost sounded like a beg. Rainbow tried to walk on, but the grip tightened on her arm. “Please…”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “About what?”
“About us.” The orange mare gripped her arm a bit more as the emotion hit her voice. “I..I miss ya.”
“Applejack,” Rainbow turned to face her former marefriend for the first time that night. “There is no us. There will never be an us. You were the one who left me remember? You said that you didn’t wanna see me anymore and to leave you alone. I’m just honoring that request.”
“Rainbow…that was a long time ago.” Applejack reasoned. “We both said things that night we shouldn’t have sai-“
“Well maybe you should be more careful of what you say!” Rainbow cut her off, pushing through Applejack’s hoof and ending the conversation quickly.
She heard a sigh from behind but she no longer cared.
She left you Rainbow. She left. It’s her fault.
But only one thought came to Rainbow that brought her near to tears. It kept replaying in her mind like a bully’s taunt.
Meanwhile, four mares, two colts, and one dragon formed together in an arc-like formation, waiting not far away from the balcony. Seeing that face the rainbow-maned mare had as she re-entered her welcome home party, made by Pinkie Pie and Cheese, they all sighed.
“I guess that didn’t work after all….” Rarity whispered, as she held onto Spike's claw tighter.
Big Mac looked at the floor. “Eyup” he replied in a sad way.
“But my parties always work.” Pinkie pie felt a bit down. “I mean there’s music and dancing and ca-kphfff”
Pinkie was stopped by Twilight’s hoof. “Well, it’s been years. And both of them are still hurt. It may take even longer…”
Fluttershy gave a little gulp. “But…we only have three days until Rainbow Dash goes back. A-Are you sure this plan will work?”
The Princess of Friendship looked towards the balcony, towards Luna’s moon. “I hope so…”
"As many of you know, I was a flight school drop-out. And no, it wasn't because they had too many rules and not enough naptime. It was because I felt my parents were wasting their hard earned bits on teachers who taught too much theory and didn't give students a chance to explore. Like telling us that Sonic Rainbooms were impossible to do but never let us try to perform one because based on their numbers, it couldn't be done so why bother."
Rainbow stood straighter against the podium.
"So I left. And honestly, it was one of the best choices I've ever made. It gave me the freedom to learn any trick I wanted, perform it and make it my own. I was able to defy the limitations I was taught and turn my first love into something great. Something that was my own."
The cyan pegasus frowned a little.
"But it wasn't easy. The pressures of the real world hit me pretty hard. There were bills needed to be paid and I didn't even know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Not long after, I heard from my childhood pal, Fluttershy, that there was an open position on Ponyville's weather patrol and so I moved. I remember my first day in town when she showed me around. Not only did I grow to like the town and the other ponies, I remember a certain group of ponies, in their blue and yellow uniforms, performing that year for the Summer Sun Celebration."
Rainbow Dash smiled as she recalled the memory.
"I had found something new to hope for, with something that I had already loved."
Two years, six months, two days ago...
"So what, you're just gonna break up with me just like that? After all we've been through?"
Rainbow shifted in her bed and clenched her eyes shut.
"I've been tryin' to tell you for months. I guess you ain't been listenin'. Figures.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
She rolled over to one side of the bed, waiting for the memories to go away.
"Do you think it's easy to wait around for you? Do you think it's easy for me to go to each of your shows, just so you can get drunk or tired afterward and ponies are swarmin' our hotel so I don't even get to spend some time with you. And I guess I don't need to bring up that time y'all went ahead and kissed one of your fans for "publicity"?
"That was ONE TIME! You don't need to bring it up everytime we fight. I already apologized for it. Like geez, it was for a charity event and we needed the funds. I kissed her as a Wonderbolt, not Rainbow Dash."
"What's the difference RD? They're the same mare. How would you like it if I dressed up as Mare-Do-Well n' kissed all mah fans?"
That side of the bed was too hot, she rolled over to the other side.
"Ugh why are you bein' like this? You knew this is how my life was gonna be and you said you were okay with it. You told me to pursue my dream. Why are you backin' out all of a sudden?"
"I'm not tellin' you to stop pursuing your dream Sugarcube. I know how hard you've worked to get in and I'm proud of you. I just...I don't think I can deal with it no more. You're there and I'm here. Sometimes I wonder if you're even mine."
Rainbow pulled the covers over her head, hoping to get some peace.
"Fine, y'know what, if you wanna break up with me. Go ahead! Even Granny Smith kept telling us we wouldn't last so why don't you go tell her the good news huh? At least somepony'll be happy from all this.
"Don't. Don'tchu go there RD! Don'tchu go talkin' bout Granny like that."
"Why not? It's true! She's been riding my back ever since about marriage and how to get foals. And what bout your Aunt and Uncle Orange saying that I'm "not classy enough" or-"
"Stop right there Rainbow. I tell you if you talk dirty bout one more apple family member, I swear-"
"You'll do what huh? You're already breaking up with me! Why not be honest for once and get it all out there? I thought you wanted the truth. If you don't like it, then maybe you shouldn't be the Element of Honesty!"
"I hate-"
"Go on say it! Say it AJ. Say it!
"I hate-"
"SAY IT!"
"I hate....y'know what just leave me alone! I don't wanna see ya anymore."
"Whatever you say, dirt pon-"
"GET OUT!"
It was morning. Rainbow tried to go back to sleep but she knew she wouldn't be able to. With a stretch of her joints and a flap of her wings, she flew to the only place she knew that was open, with great coffee and a sugary treat.
"Hiya Dashie! You want some great coffee and a sugary treat!"
It didn't help Rainbow that her server was a morning pony. The pink pony was bouncing all over the place it hurt her eyes.
"Yea..." she replied in a zombie-like fashion.
"Okie dokie lokie. Coming right up." Not two minutes later, a cup of coffee slid her way, followed by a plate of Apple Cinnamon muffins.
Rainbow grabbed her coffee and took a few sips in order to get the engine in her head running. She then looked at the plate of muffins with disgust.
"You didn't have anything else besides Apple Cinnamon?" the cyan mare inquired.
"Oh but of course I do," the pink pony said cheerfully. "But I thought this would be a good choice since we have a lot of appl-"
"Can I get something else?" Rainbow pushed the plate away with a hoof and took another sip of her coffee.
Pinkie looked a bit disheartened for two seconds but then smiled and took the plate away, replacing it with cherry cheese strudel. Rainbow could only chuckle. Celestia, it felt good to laugh.
"I take it living with Cheese has its perks?" Rainbow smirked, over the steam of her coffee.
"Of course it does! You know, we expanded the party cave and it's so much bigger now." Pinkie exclaimed. "Although, we still don't know where to put his party tank. Or my King Grover statue."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "I still can't believe the Griffons let you take it. It's so...creepy."
A gasp was heard from the counter. "He's not creepy Dashie! And it wasn't hard. They helped me carry it over here. Two thousand bits is a good price for a statue."
Rainbow Dash simply shook her head and drank her coffee slowly. It was still hot but she knew the temperature was just right enough not to burn her tongue. She started to chug it down.
Neither mare said anything for a while, but Pinkie always had a way of making things interesting.
"Soooooooo..." the balloon-flanked baker started.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow while drinking her coffee, as if to say "What?"
"You going to Applejack's engagement party?"
All the coffee came shooting out Rainbow's mouth and onto the pink mare. Pinkie, however, shook it off like Winona would, puffing up her hair even more.
"It's in three days." Pinkie went on. "Well two days if you count this one."
"No." Rainbow stated, a little angry that Pinkie had brought it up.
"But you have to...I mean Cheese and I worked on it for so long. And I'm making my extra special meringue pudding. And everypony's gonna be there. And the girls. And-mphhff"
Rainbow just sighed looking into Pinkie's expecting eyes. She searched in her head for the right words to say.
"I know you all want me to go and show my support. And to be honest, a part of me wants to go as well."
She took her hoof out of Pinkie's mouth, as Pinkie listened carefully.
"But, I don't know, you know. Another part of me thinks I'm making a big mistake if I do. I mean, she's my ex-marefriend. And she's getting married to somepony else. I just don't know if I can take it."
Rainbow paused before asking. "Do you know who her fiancée is?"
Pinkie's face suddenly looked worried and her eyes went from side to side, as if her cover had been blown. It didn't take a genius to see that Pinkie pie promised not to say anything. Besides, she didn't want to be the bearer of bad news that would make any of her friends sad.
Before she could answer, Rainbow spoke up. "It's alright Pinks. I get it. But like I said, I need you to understand how I feel too." The Wonderbolt captain gave her a little smile. "I'll try okay?"
Once Pinkie saw the smile on her friend's face, she mirrored it. "Okay."
Rainbow Dash downed her second cup of coffee before taking out her bits. Pinkie, of course, protested.
"Oh don't worry Dashie! It's on the house!" the pink pony gave her the bits back. "Just make sure to use it for tonight!"
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, taking two seconds to scroll through her mental list of special events. She came up empty. "What's tonight?"
It was the second time that day that Pinkie gasped. "You mean, you forgot?"
The rainbow-maned mare gave a sheepish look as she rubbed the back of her mane with a hoof. "Err...yeah?"
The party wasn't a big one but that didn't matter none to Scootaloo. She had her friends, her family and her idol all under the same roof of one of her favorite places in Equestria: Sugarcube Corner.
As the party settled, it was high time to give a toast to the celebrant and to present their own special gift. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom had already planned to take her out on a girls retreat to Canterlot, renting out a royal suite for an entire week. Rarity, of course, had given her a specially designed aerodynamic suit, Pinkie gave her ten jars full of candy-flavored petals, Fluttershy had given her her very own baby tortoise, and Twilight had given her....a book. Even Big Mac surprised her with a hoofball with her name etched on it.
It was Rainbow's turn to present her gift to Scootaloo. She presented before Applejack since the apple farmer was still getting her gift ready in the back.
Rainbow felt immense pride at her gift, considering she only had a few hours to get it, and knew Scootaloo would love it.
All eyes were now on Rainbow Dash for a few words. The former filly turned her eyes to her mentor, sister and friend.
"Scoots. When I first met you, I'm gonna be totally honest. I kinda found you annoying."
"Booo" Discord hollered before getting a gentle slap on the back of the head by Fluttershy. "What? You aren't supposed to call your friends annoying amirite?"
Rainbow Dash gave him a quick glare before moving on. "Anyways...yea I thought you were just a little annoying filly that followed me around. But that's when I met the real you. I remember that time when I saved you from falling off that river during that camping trip. I remember you being so scared at the time and didn't want to admit why."
Scootaloo blushed a little. "I wasn't that scared."
All her friends and family gave a warm chuckle.
"Trust me kid, you were scared. But that's alright Scootaloo. It's okay to be scared sometimes. There will be a lot of things that scare you. When things change, the future or even growing up may scare you a little." Rainbow Dash said.
"But you face it, just like when you faced me and told me what was wrong. How you react in those situations are what make you a mare."
Rainbow looked straight into her eyes.
"I took you in because I saw that in you. That this filly was a fighter and was going to go far in life. And I don't know any better sister than one who can be tough, loyal and most of all, not afraid to face her fears.
Rainbow Dash held up her wine glass with cider in it. "To Scootaloo."
"To Scootaloo" everypony said in unison, following their drink.
Rainbow let the cool liquid pour down her throat before she gave her gift.
"And now I present to you Scootaloo..." Rainbow announced, before handing it over. "A limited-edition superticket that allows you to go to all the Wonderbolt shows, back-stage interviews and meet and greets."
As Scootaloo heard what the present was, her face fell slightly but tried to hide it with a fake smile. She didn't hide it well as everypony could see right through it. Even Rainbow knew that look.
"Umm...don't you like it?"
Scootaloo's eyes went wide and so did her fake smile. She didn't want to disappoint the pony she looked up to. "Of course I do! I mean..well yea!
Rainbow's single eyebrow went up. "Um...don't you wanna be a Wonderbolt? Like your older sister?"
The orange filly turned mare was now sweating bullets. After that speech that Rainbow had made, she wanted to tell her mentor that she had chosen a different career path, but was still too afraid to disappoint.
To her salvation, Applejack stepped in. "Umm Sugarcube," she told Rainbow gently. "May I?"
Scootaloo's gaze still followed Rainbow's questioning face, as Applejack stepped up. The room, too, sensed this tension as well, hoping that the apple farmer could relieve it with her words.
"Scootaloo," Applejack said in her normal tone, which made the orange pegasi mare turn to her. "Umm what Rainbow was tryin' to say was that's not all she got you."
The rainbow-maned mare frowned. "What do you m-ow!" Applejack nudged her side. Rainbow turned to give her daggering looks but it was as if Applejack was already immune to them.
"This is a gift from Rainbow and I. Hope ya like it Sugar." The blonde cowpony winked as she gave her the carefully wrapped gift.
Scootaloo unwrapped the gift slowly. It revealed a beautifully hoof-crafted, purple skateboard, lined with a golden caliigraphed design. The design mirrored flames that when she rode it, it would leave a gold wake on it's trail.
Scootaloo's eyes beamed at the skateboard and held it up as her most prized possession. Her reflection faintly reflected in the lining, knowing it took hours of polishing to get that effect.
"I love it. Thank you, thank you, thank you Rainbow Dash. Thank you so much Applejack!" Scootaloo hugged it with all her might.
But Applejack wasn't done. "Turn it around, Sugar."
A now curious Scootaloo turned the skateboard over to reveal another surprise.
It was a bejeweled logo of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Wooow! That is so cool!" Sweetie Belle leapt over to Scootaloo's side. Applebloom followed behind.
As each jewel was touched with a hoof, it revealed a memory.
"Oh my gosh, look. That's the Cutie Mark Quinceanera where we all met for the first time!" Scootaloo pointed out.
"And look, that's the time when we stayed over at Fluttershy's for a cutie mark sleepover!" Applebloom pointed out.
"Oh, remember this." Sweetie Belle pointing to another jewel. "This is when we wrote that Gabby Gums column, where we turned the whole town upside down-"
"Sweetie Belle!" both her friends piped up and shook their heads frantically.
Sweetie Belle shrunk back a bit. "I mean, remember that time we did that talent show and won first prize for comedy. That was fun..."
Everypony in the room laughed out loud remembering each time, including Sweetie Belle.
Applejack composed herself again before going on. "Sugarcube, Rainbow and I also want you to know that in addition to facin' yer fears, we want you to cherish every moment spent with your family and friends. It's moments like these that matter the most."
Scootaloo's eyes teared up. She flew straight up to the orange and blue elder mares, wrapping her hooves in a tight embrace around both of them. Everypony else decided to join in, and Big Mac lifted the whole crowd in a tight hug.
Pinkie, of course, took the picture.
Later on that evening...
"Hey..." Rainbow said in a non-threatening tone as she approached her former love.
"Hey." Applejack smiled her way, looking more beautiful under the light of the party.
"Uh...thanks. I mean really." Rainbow shifted her weight to each hoof. "I mean, what you did back there for Scoots...that was really cool of you."
Applejack simply laughed. "Don't give it a second thought R.D."
Rainbow let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She stood silently for a few moments before speaking. "Look AJ, about yesterday..."
The orange cowpony lifted a hoof to silence her. "Like I said, don't give it a second thought. We can't change the past. Let's not dwell on it tonight."
Rainbow nodded in agreement, yet that awkward feeling still hung over her. The feeling of not talking to your ex for years and then talking to them once again. Maybe it was a feeling that would never go away.
But being close to AJ, it felt a bit freeing. Though they were strangers with each other, after all the years of absence, they still seemed to click somehow.
Looking into Applejack's green eyes, she knew Applejack was feeling the same way. Until her face started showing another expression.
"What?" Rainbow looked at her with question.
"You do realize this means you owe me, right?" Applejack's eyes bred fire.
"Oh it does huh?" Rainbow smirked, showing the same determined look. "Whatcha have in mind?"
"A race tomorrow. You n' me. Whitetail woods." Applejack stated, before raising her brow. "No flying."
Rainbow pouted a little. "You really think the Captain of the Wonderbolts would cheat?"
Applejack narrowed her eyes before smiling. "I'm counting on it."
The two laughed like old friends before making their way to bob some apples.
The rest of the room, through knowing smiles, silently communicated their happiness.
