Only Down

by Readhead99

Rating: everyone
Tags: Tragedy, Adventure
Length: 2422

Rainbow Dash was always at the head of the game, the top of the scoreboards, but what happens when there is nowhere to go but down? As Rainbow finds out, you can't always win.

Rainbow Dash has won probably every flying contest in Equestria, and some in even more exotic locations, but then where can she go? She is at the top, so the only way is down. In this story, Rainbow learns that failure is a part of life, for normal ponies. But Rainbow is anything but! As she attempts the one stunt that made her famous, the sonic rainboom, everything goes wrong, and she can't compete in the Canterlot Derby: an obstacle course so tough, in 100 years, only 3 ponies have made it through. But knowing Rainbow Dash, she'll find a way.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-09 04:54:48 UTC

The Accident

It started as just another practice session for Rainbow Dash; Scootaloo watching from the sidelines, pedestrians staying a minute or two, then going about their buisiness, and all of her friends cheering her on. She was planning to surprise them with her special move: the sonic rainboom. "It's almost time to stop anyway, why not finish with a bang?" she thought. She moved up to a high cloud to get a small rest before the finale for her small crowd.

"I can't see her!"Scootaloo cried. "What happened?"

"Nothing." said Twilight, reasuring  the young filly. "She's just behind that cloud." She indicated the small cloud Rainbow lay on.

The relief that flowed from the smaller pony was almost solid. Scootaloo cared for her sister figure, and wanted her to be safe in whatever she did, even though she knew Rainbow was too reckless. Ever since the time she hurt herself before, Scootaloo was always warning her not to do anything too dangerous, but was always ignored by the multi-colored mare. Even the tiniest thing always sent Scootaloo into a nervous wreck. But she still watched, despite being always so nervous for her mentor's safety. It was an amazing bond.

As Rainbow Dash stretched her wings, she looked down at the small group of friends, and Scootaloo, who was much more than a friend, and smiled, for in her mind, she was in Canterlot Royal Stadium, getting ready for the biggest race yet: The Canterlot Derby, a 50 mile long obstacle cource that only 3 ponies in history have made it through. The crowd was screaming her name, the other racers were quaking in thier boots, and they were off at the sound of a gunshot. Rainbow leapt from the cloud, still in her dream land, unaware of her real actions, she pulled imaginary turns, and weaved through towers of clouds, and then it occured the she was no longer dreaming, she was falling, fast, and no amount of wing power could stop her.

The small group assembled below as Rainbow fell, and fell, and fell.

"Somepony do something!" Scootaloo was screaming.

"I might be able to catch her."Said Twilight.

With this, she stepped forward and attempted to use a levitation spell on her plummeting friend, but every time, her force kept her from stopping, so Twilight tried the magic pillow spell, to give RD a softer landing, it however did nothing to muffle the ear-splitting CRACK as the pegasus hit the ground. Hard.

A rainbow colored mushroom cloud erupted from the landing zone of the downed pegusus. Scootaloo fainted, as well as Fluttershy. The remaining 4 ran out to retrieve thier friend. As expected, Rainbow was knocked out by the impact, appearing dead. Twilight was the first to reach her. She immediatly checked heart rate and breathing, before levitating Rainbow's limp form out of a sizable crater.

When Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity saw Twilight carrying Rainbow out, they immediatly started asking questions.

"Is she okay?"They all said at once.

"She's breathing, but out cold. We need to get her to the hospital." Answered the purple unicorn.

Rainbow briefly stirred, but fell still again soon.

"Someone grab those two." Twilight ordered, indicating Fluttershy and Scootaloo's still bodies on the side of the road.

"On it!" Reported Applejack, tying the two together and dragging them behind the small traveling group, assisted by Rarity.

"Pinkie, help me by telling me if she moves." Said Twilight.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Said Pinki Pie, as she pulled out a pair of fake glasses with mustache and nose.

"Where do you even...   nevermind." Said a bewildered Twilight Sparkle.

Scootaloo seemed to remember her dire situation and woke up, saw her friend floating limply, and promptly fainted again.

The group was now at the hospital at the edge of Ponyville. They rushed through the doors, and the receptionist greeted them.

"Good morning, how are you to-" She was cut of by a frantic Twilight telling her about thier predicament.

"We need a doctor, now!" She practically yelled.

The receptionist hit a button and a pair if ponies took Rainbow Dash back into one of the examination rooms.

"You did by bringing- who exactly is she again?" The receptionest asked.

"Her name is Rainbow Dash." Twilight answered.

"Oh yes, her." A look of annoyance crossing the receptionist's face, undoutably remembering the book situation a while back. "Well, either way, you did good to bring her to us, she'll be right as rain in no time at all." She reassured the relieved group.

Pinkie had switched outfits again and was now wearing a detective suit, not unlike Sherlock Holmes's attire. "So when will she be okie dokie lokie exactly?" She asked the receptionist, all while randomly examining item in the room with a magnifying glass.

"I'd say no more than a month." the receptionist asnswered.

They all let out a breath of relief.

"Oh, by the way, are you need of a new design for your hospital gowns, by any chance?" Aked Rarity.

"I don't think so." Answered the pony behind the desk.

Rarity pouted and sulked away."Are you sure?" She asked again.

The receptionist nodded.

By then, Fluttershy was waking up.

"Wh-where are we?"She asked meekly, shrinking into the couch she was placed on. "And why am I Tied up?"

"Ah'll tell 'er." Applejack volunteered as she untied the yellow pegasus and walked her out the front door.

There were a couple of minutes of silence.

"Soooo." Twilight said awkwardly, trying to think of a way to start a conversation. "What's your name?" Finally deciding on the introduction approach.

"I'm Orderlee." She said, standing up to reveal her cutie mark: a neat stack of papers.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, this is Pinkie Pie, Scootaloo, and Rarity." Pointing to them in turn. "The two outside are Applejack and Fluttershy."

Just then, one of the ponies that took Dash back into the room came back out the door. "Your friend will be fine," He started."But it may be a while before she will fly again."

"Can we see her?" Asked Twilight.

The Waking

Rainbow Dash awoke to the sound of voices.

"No! Don't eat that! Those are for Rainbow Dash!" Twilight said, before smacking a cupcake from Pinkies hoof.

"She's awake!" Cried Scootaloo, before promptly fainting again.

"Wha- what happened?" Rainbow asked, dazed from her student's suprised reaction.

"You were practicing for the Canterlot Derby, and you crashed trying to do a stunt. It was horrific." Answered Twilight, looking at the floor, recalling the incident.

"But even when you're falling out of the sky and obliterating most of the bones in your body, you look terrinfic!" Added the ever happy Pinkie-Pie.

Rainbow suddenly shot up in her hospital bed. "The Derby!" She glanced at the calender on the wall. "It's in three days! How long did the doctor say I'm in here for? That's too long!" The last statement before hearing the answer.

"Calm down," Twilight said, easing her friend down into her bed again. "But the doctor said you could be like this for upwards of a month." She said, bracing for Rainbows reaction.

Scootaloo woke up again. "It's nice to see you up and all, but you had me absolutely worried sick!" The young pegasus ranted, "And how do you think poor Fluttershy feels?!" While the orange filly vented, Dash just sat back, her mind racing to find a way to stay in the race.

"There's always next year, I'm sure I could talk to Celestia about getting you in next year." Twilight offered.

"No way! Do you know how awesome it would be for a first timer to make it through in 1st?" the blue mare replied.

There were a couple of minutes of silence, which is rare when Pinkie is around. (Was it really silent, or did everyone just tune her out?)

"Oh! I almost forgot!" The unicorn exclaimed as she dumped a pile of books, most of them being of the Daring Do series, on the wounded pegasi's bed.

Rainbow Dash could only stare at the large hill of novels in front of her. This time it was Rainow's turn to faint.

"Oh, well then, I guess it's time to go." Suggested Twilight, somewhat embarrased that she cut their visiting hours short.

                                                   Later, at Sugarcube Corner:

"She was very revolted at the thought of postponing her run till next year." Twilight told the three that could'nt be there at the hospital, Applejack for apple bucking season, Fluttershy for a patient, and Rarity for a gem hunt with Spike.

"Well we have to help her, I mean, she is the element of loyalty, shouldn't we return the favor?" Said Rarity.

"Yes, but how..." The purple unicorn tapered off.

"Fake wings?" Offered fluttershy.

"Yeah, how." Applejack echoed.

"Or, or a glider of sorts." Said the yellow Pegasus.

There was a moment of quiet thinking, and a certain pink pony smacking loudly on food of all sorts laid out for the assembled guests.

"Umm, I think I may have an idea..." Tried Fluttershy.

"Wait! I've got it!" Burst forth Applejack.

"Now, here's what we need."

And with that, we leave the host of ponies to thier plan.

The Plan

"So we have the wood, the cloth, and the twine?" Twilight, the organizer of the plan to get Dash back in the race called.

"Yes sir, er Ma'am." Spike answered.

"Alright, what about the wood glue and tree sap." Twi rattled the list of.

"Right here." Answered Fluttershy.

"And the supporting rods?"

"Got 'em in the barn." Replied Applejack.

"And the binding strips?"

"I got duct tape." Pinkie answered.

"Alright, I-. Did you say duct tape?" Twilight asked, finally to the bottem of the list.

"Yep." Pinkie answered.

Twilight looked at her for a second. "Close enough. Now, the first thing we need to do is set up the frame, so I need a few crates or something to hold it up until Rarity can fas- make the wings." Avoiding the word as to not set Rarity on an endless drone on what fabrics are in or what styles are "off the chart", as it so often  does.

"Are sure the barn is big enough?" Asked Applejack, concerned about any possible damage that could come to her precious barn.

"Yes, I measured both, and it will fit out the doors." Twilight assured her, although she really didn't measure, and cursed herself inwardly for it.

        "Alright, everyone to your assigned jobs, let's go!" Ordered Twilight, and the ponies started to move to the places they would be most helpful.

"Um, can I help Rarity, since I know a little about sewing?" Fluttershy inquired.

"No, I'm sorry, but I need you to help Dash to lift up the frame to the supporters. But, I'll let you secure the landing gear."

"Okay." The Yellow Pegasus flew off without another word.

"Bless her heart, she really needs to learn how to assert herself." Twilight thought to herself.

"How long have we got again?" Asked Spike.

"Today." The purple unicorn replied.

"Can we help?" A trio of fillies suddenly asked.

More than a little supprised at their sudden appearence, all Twilight managed to get out was, "Sure?"

And so went the next 7 hours, until everypony was either passed out from exhaustion, downing thier twelth cup of coffee, or as usual of Pinkie Pie, completely awake, and somehow full of energy. As promised, Fluttershy got to put on the landing gear, but even though she completely trusted her friends, Twilight double checked, double double checked, and even double double double checked every little component. Everything was in place, all but the main piece: Rainbow Dash.

The Reveal/Revelations

Six ponies are gathered in a field, one clad in bandages. In the center of them is a tarp covered object, arousing intrest from passing ponies. Finally Rainbow Dash asked the question. "What the buck is that thing?"

"It's your chance at the Derby. And, it won't hinder you huge ego!" Replied Twilight, slightly annoyed at her friends rashness. "Pinkie, will you please do the honors? Pinkie? Pinkie!" Twilight repeated ferself as her quarry faced the wrong way, waving at seemingly nothing. "You know what, Applejack, go ahead." The purple pegasus said as she promptly facehoofed.

After rolling her eyes, the indicated earth pony obliged and pulled off the tarp. Under it was one of the strangest pieces of random junk thrown together junk Rainbow had ever seen. Even more so than the troublesome Flim and Flam brother's Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6,000. "That doesn't answer my question." Said a still very confused pegasus.

"Well, it's a machine that will allow a flightless pony flight!" Twilight pointed out exitedly, gesturing to Applejack and a still waving Pinkie.

"Hey!" Yelled a disgruntled AJ. "Y'all would all but starve it weren't fer me an the other Apples!"

Ignoring her friend's outburst, Twilight went to explain to Rainbow how it worked. "See, you step in here," Guiding her onto a seat not very different from a bicycle, "and you peddal to move those." Indicating two cloth wings attached to ropes in turn attached to the peddals.

"Like a bird!" Piped in an excited but usually subdued Fluttershy.

"Has it been tested yet?" Asked a concerned RD, obviously suspicious of the device.

"Yes, Lyra volunteered because she thought it was similar to something she claims the humans use for flight. Frankly, I don't see why they just don't evolve wings, like us." Answered Twilight.

"Okay, well, thanks, I guess." Said a still confused Cyan pegasus, still inspecting it, confused.

-A COUPLE HOURS LATER-

Back in her hospital bed after 3 hours training with the new construct, Rainbow Dash finds herself bored yet again. She finished all the books Twilight had brought her, and lost the only ball she brought, RD started thinking about the upcoming derby. It was a total of 100 pegasi, all the most elite fliers from all over Equestria, and Rainbow Dash was the first ever from Ponyville, and was excited to represent them. "But how can I win with that cumbersome machine?" She thought. It wasn't fast, it wasn't agile, and it certainly wasn't graceful.

"Odds are the others will all hit something or get lost and be disqualified." She thought smugly, "But then again, so might I." Plus, no other first timers had ever made it, the earliest winner won on his 9th time, and it's and ever changing cource, different every year. As the moon set, all she could think was; "Am I good enough?"