Rainbow Dash dropped in front of the barn, landing squarely on her four hooves. She stretched her wings and swiped her hoof across her eyes one last time before nudging open the door.
"Hey, Applejack, what did you need me f-" she began, before her friends burst out of hiding, screaming wishes of a happy birthday. Dash's wings instinctively unfurled in a defensive position from the surprise, but her face brightened. She chuckled. "My birthday was last week, guys."
"Well, yes, but we decided to wait to celebrate until you were back from Cloudsdale. We didn't want to bother your training," Twilight said.
"Yeah, how'd th' tryout go, Rainbow?" Applejack asked.
Dash's ears flattened and she pawed the ground. "I, uh, didn't get in. Something about my weight."
She looked up to see her friends nodding somberly. Pinkie Pie nuzzled Dash's neck. They all looked sad- all of them, except Twilight, who was just studying Dash, looking puzzled. The unicorn began to say something, but Rarity spoke first.
"Rainbow Dash, dear, I'm sorry. At least it's something you can fix."
All the others chimed in with helpful suggestions. Except, again, Twilight, who was still studying Rainbow Dash.
Dash avoided meeting her eyes.
Dash stood near the punch bowl. She had just finished dancing with her friends, and the party was beginning to wind down. It was nearly time to open presents and eat cake, and Dash wanted to rest before it happened. She was leaning against the wall, sipping the juice, when Twilight approached her.
"Rainbow Dash," she whispered. "We checked your weight before you left. Together. What really happened?"
Dash bit her lip. "You can't tell."
"I won't. I promise."
"I'm... I failed the vision test. I'm color blind." She hung her head. "I can't ever join the team. Ever."
Twilight gasped. "Oh, Rainbow Dash. What happened?"
The line for Ds was surprisingly short. Dash was nearly to the front, ready to get her number for the performance portion of the tryouts. Tables made a solid line across the room, each representing a different letter. On Dash's side were the competitors who hadn't yet gotten their performance number and time, all patiently lined up. On the other, Wonderbolts were welcoming the newly-numbered participants, wishing them luck on the tryouts and pointing them to the waiting room. Spitfire was helping sort out ponies that had issues with registration- health, improper forms, or whatever else could go wrong.
Dash stepped in front of the burly gray unicorn behind the table, who was shuffling papers.
"Name."
"Rainbow Dash."
He lazily picked through the papers until he found her. He levitated her picture in front of her. "This you?"
Dash raised an eyebrow. The mare in the picture couldn't be anypony else. "Obviously."
The stallion glanced up at her from his papers. "It's a safety precaution," he said, before looking back at her file. "Okay, Rainbow Dash, it seems like your weight is fine, your wings are fine, no joint problems... why does it say 'failed'?"
Dash paled. "What now?"
The unicorn's eyes flickered up at her, then back at his paper. "Oh."
"Oh, WHAT?"
"You, er, failed the vision test," he said. "You're colorblind."
"What? How is that an issue? It doesn't-" she tried to stifle a sob, but it came out anyway- "that doesn't affect my flying." Tears were falling down her face.
The stallion looked behind him and waved Spitfire over. He turned back to Rainbow Dash. "Well, it means your depth perception could be off. It can lead to other problems, and we can't risk having a pony that might now be able to see right. These tricks are already high-risk, and we can't afford making them riskier."
Spitfire reached the unicorn's side. He whispered in her ear, and she looked at Rainbow Dash, aghast. "Dash- I am so, so sorry."
Spitfire blurred as tears filled Dash's eyes again. "Spitfire- you know I'm the best flier... well, in Equestria. You KNOW it. Can't... can't some exception be made? Can I at least try out?"
Spitfire shook her head sadly. She spread her wings and flew over the table separating them, landing next to Dash. "I would if I could," she whispered. "Here, I'll walk you out."
She turned and waved at Soarin. "Take over for a minute, okay?" she called. Soarin made a "what's going on" gesture, but Spitfire just shook her head. She returned to Dash's side and put a wind around the crying pegasus. "Come now, Rainbow Dash. It'll be okay."
She led Dash outside. The sun blinded them, and Spitfire's wings automatically moved to try and shade her eyes. Dash slipped out from under them and walked to the edge of the cloud, watching the world float by below, miles away. Spitfire watched her warily, but when Dash only stood near the edge, Spitfire approached her.
"You know, you don't need us," Spitfire told her.
Dash's hair obscured her face, but she turned to look at Spitfire. Her eyes were half-lidded, and she looked tired. So different than the cocky pegasus Spitfire knew. "Yeah, I know. It's just, you know. Big dream, and I failed."
A voice came from behind them. "Spitfire, we need you to come inside to judge." It was the unicorn that had broken the news to Rainbow Dash. She hadn't thought about it, but it was odd that a unicorn was working for the Wonderbolts. He couldn't even fly, and he was with them, even if it was just a paperwork job. It wasn't fair.
"Just a minute!" Spitfire yelled back. She nuzzled Dash's neck. "Listen, Dash. You've achieved so much. This isn't a failure. Don't do anything stupid," she warned. "I'm not sure what your friends would do without you. Or what I would do without you."
"Thanks, Spitfire."
Spitfire started to leave, then leaned over to kiss Dash on the cheek. "Don't ever forget, you're still the best flyer in Equestria."
Spitfire opened her wings and flew over the side of the arena. Dash couldn't see over the high walls- meant to keep the auditions private- but she could still hear the cheers.
"Oh, Dash, I-" Twilight started, after her friend finished telling her what happened, but Dash just shook her head.
"It's okay, Twilight. I realized... at least it wasn't because of something I did. It was out of my control. I should have known that you have to- that you can't be colorblind and be a showpony. I'm probably better off as a one-mare show, anyway."
Twilight just nodded. She could tell that Dash was only saying it to make them both feel better, but Twilight didn't want to show she could see through the lie.
"And, plus," Dash continued, "it's not even the Wonderbolts that have me down about it. It's just, every time someone compliments my mane, or talks about how beautiful the Sonic Rainboom is... it depresses me, that I make these colorful things that I can't see. I don't know, Twilight. It's hard to explain."
Twilight nodded. "I understand," she murmured.
"Presents!" Pinkie Pie screamed behind them, bringing them back to reality. Twilight jumped, and Dash giggled at her. They both trotted to where the rest of the group were standing.
Rainbow Dash opened each of the presents. From Applejack was a bushel of apples and a jug of cider. Pinkie Pie had a bag of prank supplies, and Dash laughed when she squeezed the whoopee cushion. Fluttershy had given her some pet supplies, and Twilight a book called The Book of Aerodynamics, which Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrows at.
"It's really helpful!" Twilight said defensively. "Really!"
Rainbow Dash hefted the 800-page textbook. "Right, I'll keep it in mind if I ever decide I'd rather read than go outside ever again."
The last package was from Rarity. It was wrapped in white paper with a purple bow, which was lopsided. Dash picked it up, but Rarity screeched, "Hold it!" and grabbed the present. She ran off.
The other five ponies sat in silence while they waited for Rarity to return, but after a few moments, Pinkie lost patience. "Cake!" she exclaimed, She dashed into another room and wheeled out a huge, cloud shaped pastry. When she cut it open, everyone ooh-ed, except for Rainbow.
Pinkie looked at her expectedly. "It, uh, looks delicious, Pinkie," Dash managed, unsure of what Pinkie wanted.
"No, silly billy, the inside's rainbow! Don't you like it?"
"Oh! Yeah, of course I do! I thought you meant besides that," Dash said, catching Twilight's eye. "Sorry," the unicorn mouthed.
They had just finished cutting it into six pieces when Rarity ran back in. "Okay, Rainbow Dash! Here's your present," she trilled. The bow was back in the center, perfectly tied.
"Oh, thanks, Rarity," Dash said thickly, spraying rainbow bits all over the white packaging. Rarity cringed and backed away.
Rainbow Dash gulped down the cake and tore open the present. Out fell two things- a sparkling, beautiful necklace, and a pair of flying goggles.
Rainbow Dash just stared at them as her friends complimented them.
"Wow, Rarity, those match Rainbow Dash's colors exactly!"
"Ah've never seen such pretty colors. Where'd you find those gems?"
Rarity beamed. "Well, it was difficult finding all of Dash's colors, but someone so vibrant can't have anything less!" she said, then continued apologetically, "The goggles were for your Wonderbolts coronation, and the necklace for the Ball afterward, but you can save them for the next tryout, of course. You could always wear the necklace to any other event, it will go with nearly anything!" She paused. "Er, Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow Dash was still staring at the goggles and necklace. Twilight watched her, biting her lip anxiously. After a moment, the pegasus realized everyone was staring at her, and she broke into a grin. "Thanks, Rarity!" she said, wiping her face with her hoof. "They're perfect."
"But, Rainbow Dash, dear, why are you crying?"
"It's just.... they're great. I just feel so lucky having such great friends."
Twilight nuzzled her. "Of course, Dash. We're always here for you."
Rarity was beaming again. She pointed at the gems on the necklace. "The green and blue were easy enough to match, but the yellow was harder, you know, it can be difficult to find those because they're so rare, but I managed. Don't you just love the colors?"
Dash nodded, smiling sadly, wishing for all the world she could see them.
Note: The colorblindness Rainbow Dash has is a fictional, black-and-white kind where she can see no colors at all.
