Part 1: Downcast
Rainbow Dash stretched out her cyan wings and glided through the inky black sky. She loved these late night flights when the skies were completely empty. Not a single cloud or pegasi stood in the way her way. The soft glow of the full moon and countless stars was just enough light for the pegasus to fly by. It was a bit difficult at first, but her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness.
The wind ruffled her feathers as she gained speed. The pegasus entered a nose dive and rocketed towards the ground like a falcon pursuing prey. Then, when she was only a few feet away from impact, she stretched her wings out and pulled up. The cold, wet blades of grass stung her hooves as she glided parallel to the ground. Perfection.
Crack!
Rainbow Dash's right hoof collided with a hard surface. A rock sitting in the grass was just big enough to trip her. She tried landing gracefully on her hooves, but she was going far too fast. The pegasus somersaulted onto the cold, hard, unforgiving ground, skidding through the grass like a stone skipping across water. She finally stumbled to a stop near the edge of the Everfree Forest on the outskirts of Ponyville.
Rainbow's world spun around her as she lay on the cold, damp grass. She struggled to get to her hooves again, but a sharp pain in her neck caused her to fall back to the ground.
With every movement she made, she felt as if a hundred white-hot daggers were piercing her skin. The world around her was turning dark and blurry, and the pegasus struggled to maintain consciousness. Finally, everything went black.
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Rainbow Dash woke up in an all too familiar white room. The hospital had become a sort of second home for her. She wound up there once every few months, usually because one of her new tricks didn't go as planned.
She hated this place. The curtains, sheets, and gowns were all the same ugly teal color, and ponies could see their reflection on the slick, white floors. The food reminded her of the lousy meals she ate at Junior Speedster Camp when she was a filly. They were always semisolid and always from a can. The only difference was that ponies often had to take a pill with their meal when they were at the hospital.
Rainbow's neck felt cramped, and as she reached up to rub it with her hoof, she felt something wrapped around it. She realized she was wearing a neck brace.
A tan stallion strolled through the door, his eyes scanning a clipboard levitating in front of him as he walked.
"How am I doc?" Rainbow Dash asked.
The unicorn stallion looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you're awake," the doctor noted.
"Well duh," she retorted, rolling her eyes. "How long was I out?"
"About ten hours," the doctor said. "Your friends stopped by an hour ago, but you were still unconscious."
Dash grinned. "I sleep through a lot of things."
"Well, I think you'd better get some more sleep," the doctor instructed. "You had quite the crash. I think it's best that you get as much rest as possible. I'm sure your friends will come by and visit tomorrow."
Rainbow Dash let out a groan as she leaned back in bed. Rest seemed to be the doctor's answer to everything. Still, she was kind of tired. The cyan pegasus slowly lay down in her bed and closed her eyes.
*************************
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and found herself in a dark, gloomy room. The only light was the dim moonlight that trickled through the thin, teal curtains. The hospital felt like an entirely different place at night. During the day, doctors and nurses hustled back and forth through the halls, stopping every so often to exchange information on different patients. At night however, the only noise that came from the hallway was the occasional hoofsteps of a doctor or nurse making their nightly rounds.
Rainbow's turquoise hospital gown was wet with her drool and her legs and neck were sore. She slowly eased herself out of her bed and onto the cold tile floor.
Once she was standing up, the pegasus was able to stretch out her cramped legs. She also tried stretching out her wings as well, but she slowly realized that they were not moving.
Rainbow Dash panicked. She twisted her head around and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her wings were still there. They were in perfect condition too. Not a single bandage covered her cyan feathers. Why were they not moving?
"Nurse!" She shouted. "Nurse!"
After a few moments, a white pony with a crimson mane burst through the door.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"My wings won't move," Rainbow Dash complained.
The nurse was silent for a few moments. "Nopony told you?"
"Told me what?" She demanded.
The nurse bit her lip. "I'm so sorry. I really am."
The pegasus gave the nurse a worried look. "Why? What are you sorry for?"
"Well, in the accident, you broke your neck and, as you may know, that often results in paralysis," the nurse explained. "Sometimes it's full body paralysis, or in your case, just the wings."
Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide. "You're joking right?"
The nurse shook her head. "I'm afraid not."
"So you're telling me that my wings are completely useless now?"
The white mare nodded. "I'm so sorry."
So many different emotions raced through Rainbow Dash's head. She wanted to scream and kick a hole in the wall with her hind legs. She wanted to stuff her face in her pillow and cry. She wanted to toss the lamp on the bedside table across the room, Instead, she stood there, motionless, her mouth agape, unsure of what to do.
She had built her life around her wings. Now, she could no longer be a weather pony. She could never take another nap on a cloud. Most importantly, her dreams of becoming a Wonderbolt were crushed. She had lived her whole life in preparation for that day when she would join them, and now, that day would never come.
"You should consider yourself lucky," the nurse said. "At least your legs are alright."
Rainbow Dash gave the nurse a nasty glare. Lucky? How was she lucky? Her whole life was ruined and this mare was trying to tell her she was lucky.
"You'd best get some rest," she said. "I'm sure your friends will be here to see you first thing in the morning."
The nurse turned and left, leaving Rainbow Dash alone next to her bed.
The pegasus didn't kick a hole in the wall or scream at the top of her lungs. She didn't toss the lamp across the room or slam her head into the door. She wasn't angry. She was crushed, and she didn't have the energy to break something or shout nasty words at nopony in particular. All she could bring herself to do was bury her head in her pillow and cry herself to sleep.
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"Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow Dash awoke to find all of her friends crowded around her bed.
"Oh thank goodness you're alright," Fluttershy said. "The doctors said this was your worst crash yet."
Slowly, Rainbow Dash's memory returned to her. She remembered the crash and her conversation with the nurse last night. She tried stretching her wings out, but they still refused to move.
Twilight bit her lip. "The doctor explained everything. I'm so sorry."
Rainbow Dash didn't want their pity. She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow, turning her back to her friends.
"You're lucky Fluttershy found you when she did," Rarity said. "Otherwise who knows what would have happened."
"Tell 'er the story Fluttershy!" Applejack exclaimed.
The pale yellow mare's cheeks turned bright red. "Well, I was feeding my owls and I heard a great big thud. At first I wanted to run inside and lock my doors, but then one of my little owls flew off towards the noise for some reason. I summoned all my courage and went after him and... and that's where I found you."
Rainbow Dash remained motionless with her head in her pillow.
Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder. "I just wanted to let ya know, I'll always be there if ya ever need somepony to talk to."
"As will I," Rarity announced.
"We'll all be there for you whenever you need us, and even when you don't need us," Twilight said. "Always remember that."
The cyan pegasus pressed her face even harder against her pillow. All she wanted was her wings back, and her friends could never give her that.
"Look on the bright side! The doctor says you'll only be here for another day or two," Twilight said.
Rainbow Dash turned and looked up at her friends with red, tearful eyes. "And then what? What am I supposed to do without my wings?"
Twilight opened her mouth but said nothing.
"Visiting hours are over!" One of the nurses announced. "The patients need their rest!"
The others gave Rainbow Dash one last sorrowful look. Even Pinkie looked upset.
"We'll be back first thing tomorrow," Twilight promised, and with that, the five ponies turned and left.
The pegasus leaned back in her bed and stared up at the white tile ceiling. She thought about all the places she couldn't go and all the tricks she couldn't perform. She thought about how she would never compete in another flying competition again. She remembered that glorious day when she had first performed the Sonic Rainboom and how the rainbow lightning bolt had appeared on her flank shortly after, but that didn't matter anymore. Her special talent was gone for good and her cutie mark only served as a cruel reminder.
She thought back to the second time she had broken the sound barrier and the light spectrum simultaneously. Rarity wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for her wings. Neither would the Wonderbolts. What would happen the next time somepony fell? What would happen the next time she fell?
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"Alright Rainbow Dash," the doctor said. "You'll need to wear the neck brace for the next few weeks. I'd like to see you again two weeks from now to see how you're healing. Normally you'd need to go through months of physical therapy, but I trust you are capable of functioning without your wings."
Rainbow Dash cringed. The doctor was acting as if paralyzed wings were no big deal. She remained silent as she followed the doctor through the busy hospital. Mares and stallions in different colored scrubs and white coats brushed past one another, often pulling sick or injured ponies along with them. Finally, the doctor and Rainbow Dash reached the front desk.
The grey receptionist pony sitting behind the desk wore a thick pair of glasses. She chewed loudly on a big wad of bubblegum, occasionally pausing to blow a bubble then suck it back into her mouth. "Rainbow Dash, right?" She asked in a shrill, nasally voice. "Gimme a sec."
She picked up a pen and began writing something in a thick binder.
"Okay then," she announced. "You're free to go Rainbow Dash. We'll see you back on the third to remove the neck brace. Have a nice day."
Rainbow Dash was surprised she didn't see any of her friends as she was exiting the hospital. They had promised to be there first thing and it was not like her friends to go back on a promise. Not that they could do anything for her anyway.
Without wings, it took Rainbow Dash a few minutes longer than usual to make it home. As she approached the cloud mansion sitting in the sky, she realized something. How was she supposed to get inside her house? It was fifty feet off the ground, and she could no longer fly.
At first, Rainbow Dash laughed. She had been taking flight for granted. Sure, she had thought about her career and her dreams of joining the Wonderbolts, but she had never thought about all the small things she used her wings for.
Her amusement quickly turned to frustration. She had no possible way of getting home. All she could do was sit and stare at the tantalizing clouds overhead.
"What am I supposed to do now?" She asked herself softly.
Nopony responded. Nopony even heard her.
Anger spread like a forest fire inside her. As if losing the use of her wings wasn't enough, the universe had to play one last nasty joke on her. She was stuck on the ground with no way of getting back home.
"What am I supposed to do now!?" She shouted. She felt like a fool sitting in the grass with no real home to go to. Her friends had probably forgotten about her already. That's why they never showed up at the hospital. They forgot.
She stomped her hoof in frustration. "WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW!?" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Dashie?"
Rainbow Dash gasped and spun around. Pinkie Pie was standing behind her. "Pinkie?! Where did you come from?"
The pink mare giggled. "I just came from Twilight's library. You should stop by. I mean, if you aren't too busy shouting at yourself."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Why should I go to Twilight's?"
"It's a surprise!" Pinkie exclaimed.
The cyan pegasus rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. I'll come."
Pinkie lit up. "Great! See ya there!"
*************************
Rainbow Dash was expecting a surprise party when she stepped through the door.
"SURPRISE!" Her friends cried as she walked into the library. She wasn't in the mood for this sort of thing, but she gave them a weak smile anyway.
Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Applejack all stood at the far end of the room, smiling back at her. The library had been decorated with multicolored streamers and confetti was scattered all over the floor.
In the center of the room was a table with a bright pink table cloth. On top was a large bowl of red punch and a massive three tiered chocolate cake.
"We reckoned ya might be a little glum after what happened," Applejack said. "So we thought we'd throw y'all a party."
"It was Pinkie's idea of course," Rarity explained.
"We're so very sorry we weren't able to make it to the hospital, but we had to finish setting everything up," Fluttershy said. "I hope you aren't mad."
Rainbow Dash didn't say anything. They hadn't forgotten about her. They were throwing a party because she was paralyzed. They were celebrating her pain.
Twilight gave Rainbow Dash a worried look. "Is there anything we can help you with?"
The cyan pegasus looked sadly towards the ground. "I don't know how to get home," she admitted.
Applejack walked over and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Maybe some of the other pegasi could help you," Fluttershy suggested.
"No!" Rainbow Dash snapped. She had too much dignity for a group of ponies to carry her around. The others were taken back by her terse response.
"I s-suppose you could stay here for the night until we figure out something more permanent," Twilight stuttered.
"What are you gonna do for a job Rainbow?" Spike asked.
"Yer welcome to come work at Sweet Apple Acres," Applejack suggested. "It ain't the easiest job in the world, but it pays alright."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I don't want to work on a farm."
"Well ya need to work someplace," Applejack said.
The pegasus laughed. "I think I can do better than Sweet Apple Acres."
Applejack frowned. "Whadd'ya mean? Don't tell me your above gettin' your hooves dirty."
"With Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake around, the Cakes could use some more help at Sugarcube Corner," Pinkie explained. "It would be so much fun to work with you Dashie!"
"I hate baking," Rainbow stated.
Pinkie started leaping up and down. "But it's so fun! Oh, I know you'd love it if you gave it a chance! The best part is the end when you get to eat it, but sometimes Mrs. Cake gets mad with me because I don't leave enough to sell to the customers! Please come give it a chance Dashie!"
Twilight frowned. "I would offer you a job here at the library, but Spike only just got used to Owloysius and I can't afford to pay you very much."
"That's okay, cause I wouldn't take that job anyways," Rainbow Dash spat.
Twilight Sparkle gasped.
"Things have been awfully busy at the boutique lately," Rarity said.
The cyan pegasus glared at Rarity. "That's the worst suggestion yet."
The other ponies exchanged nervous glances.
"Um... Rainbow?" Fluttershy said softly. "You'll probably think this is a stupid idea, but you could always come help me take care of the animals."
"No," Rainbow Dash groaned. "That's almost as bad as Rarity's idea."
"S-sorry," Fluttershy stammered. "I shouldn't have said anything. You wouldn't be able to help much anyways without your... you know."
Rainbow Dash approached Fluttershy and met her nose to nose. "No, I don't know," she said. "Enlighten me."
Fluttershy backed away nervously. "Without your... your..."
Rainbow Dash kept walking towards Fluttershy. "Yes?"
The pale yellow mare backed up until her flank was pressing against the book shelf. "Your wings," she muttered.
The cyan pegasus let out a sinister laugh. "If I could fly, I wouldn't be in this mess now would I?"
"N-no, you wouldn't," Fluttershy said. "B-but—"
"What would you do if you couldn't fly anymore Fluttershy?!" Rainbow Dash demanded.
"Well, I'd—"
"It wouldn't even affect you, would it?!"
The meek pegasus began whimpering. "It would though—"
"YOU DON'T EVEN USE YOUR WINGS!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
Tears began running down Fluttershy's face.
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight cried. "Stop it!"
Fluttershy scurried out the door, crying. Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash, then ran after Fluttershy, Spike and Rarity following close behind.
"Wait!" Pinkie Pie cried. "The party isn't over! We haven't even had the cake yet!" The pink mare bounded after the others. "Come back!"
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were alone in the messy library. The two ponies stood at opposite ends of the room, staring each other down like two boxers about to start a fight in an arena of tattered streamers and scattered confetti.
"I can't believe ya Rainbow!" Applejack shouted.
"What did I do?" Rainbow Dash cried. "She doesn't even appreciate her own wings! She doesn't even use them!"
"Did it never occur to ya that maybe she does use her wings?" Applejack hollered. "Did ya ever think about all the birds that are relyin' on her for food, or all the critters she wouldn't be able to care for without her flight?"
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"Exactly!" Applejack exclaimed. "Ya didn't think! You went off and hurt a friend for no good reason! I understand ya have it rough right now without your wings, and that ridiculous neck brace certainly ain't doin' ya any favors, but taking your anger out on your friends is not the way to deal with your problems!"
"B-but every one of my—"
"Every one of your life's goals is ruined," Applejack finished. "Lemme tell ya somethin' Rainbow. Ya have more strength than most earth ponies and more speed than most pegasi. Ya spent your whole life bein' the best at everythin' ya do. I'd kill for your level of natural talent. Now, life throws a few sour apples your way, and ya can't handle it."
"Y-you don't know what it's like!" Rainbow Dash stuttered.
Applejack laughed. "Whadd'ya mean I don't know what it's like? I've been an earth pony my whole life. There was a time when I was younger and I'd be jealous of the pegasi. Seein' y'all flyin' around made me turn green with envy. Still, I took comfort in the fact that I could beat anyone of them feathered fellas in a hoof-wrestle. When the rodeo came around, the pegasi and unicorn contestants never did all that well. Everythin' was so simple. Then I met you Rainbow Dash!
Ya were the only one—'cept Big Macintosh—who has ever beat me in a hoof-wrestle. I remember back in that iron pony contest we had a while ago when ya gave me a run for my money, even without your wings. Lemme tell ya, even though you use your wings more than most pegasi, y'all also use your hooves a lot more. Fluttershy would be much worse off without her wings because she doesn't have freaky strength and talent to fall back on. Her flight is one of the few things she's got goin' for her."
Rainbow Dash couldn't respond. She just stared sadly at the confetti-covered floor.
"Now if your ready to stop mopin' around and get back on top of things, then show up at Sweet Apple Acres at six in the mornin' tomorrow. If ya'd rather spend the rest of your days wallowing in pity, by all means, do that instead."
Applejack turned around and walked out the door, leaving the cyan pegasus stood staring at the floor.
After a few minutes, Twilight and Spike returned. The lavender unicorn glared at Rainbow Dash.
"I'm very disappointed in you," she said. "What happened to you wasn't Fluttershy's fault, and you shouldn't have taken out your anger on her."
"I know," Rainbow Dash muttered. "I'm... I'm sorry."
Twilight waved her hoof dismissively. "I don't want to hear it right now. Just go upstairs and go to bed, and don't say anything until tomorrow morning."
The pegasus stumbled up the stairs and lay on the second bed while Spike and Twilight stayed behind cleaning up the library.
She pulled the heavy blue quilt over her face and shut her eyes tight. She felt as if a grapefruit was stuck in her throat and tears would not stop flowing. It was the worst day of her life, and she was determined to make things right again.
