"You can do it, Dash!"
Scootaloo was jumping in place on the small cloud Dash had cobbled together. Already she was proving to be a better cheerleader than Fluttershy.
"I know you can do the rainboom!"
"Don't you doubt it squirt." Pulling the filly into a hug Dash frowned as she thought about the problem. Every time she's tried it she gets thrown back. She peered over the edge of the cloud, the forest below them rustling in the breeze. Striking one more epic pose she took off, flying up before she quickly turned around and dove straight down. She blasted past the cloud to give the filly as good a view as she could. Her hoof outstretched she begins to accelerate, soon a small cone of air formed around her.
This was the tricky part, the more she pushes against the barrier the more it fought back. Straining against it until all her momentum is gone. With a snap Dash is sent flying backward, her wings instinctively spreading out to stop her from flying too far, the memory of hitting twilight's library some ways away made her wince.
She needed something to wow the judges at the Best Flier's competition in a few days.
Back to the problem at hoof, she needed more momentum, if she can just break that stupid barrier she'd be free. Looking up at the sky above Dash got an idea.
She needed more height.
"Stay here squirt, I'm going to go high." Pointing up she got a nod from the filly. The entire cloud shook from a single beat of her wings as Dash climbed up. She passed more and more clouds, climbing ever higher until eventually she broke past the highest clouds and leveled off. looking down, the forest beneath was so far away it was just a dark green splotch on the light green field.
Perfect.
Shifting her gaze she looked for the cloud Scootaloo was on. She noticed a yellow pegasus below her standing and looking downward. something about the mane was familiar, though she looked concerned, her wings spread like she was going to jump.
Dash followed her gaze and sees Scootaloo on the familiar cloud below. What was so concerning? Yea the cloud looked a little smaller than before, but that must be the height. Looking closer Dash studied the cloud once again.
With a start Dash noticed something. It was her third attempt today, and each one she was flying as close to the cloud to give Scootaloo as good a view as possible. A pit formed in her stomach as she noticed how thin the edge of the cloud had become.
The exact edge that Scootaloo was standing on. Before she could even say anything Scootalloo jumped again in excitement.
And fell right through the thin cloud.
Time slowed to a crawl, it felt like Dash's stomach dropped out from beneath her as she saw the filly's wings buz to try to stop her fall.
They were far too weak for that.
"Scootaloo!!!"
She dove, flapping her wings, her hooves stretched out before her. She's never accelerated this fast In her life, her wings began to burn as she put every bit of experience she had to go faster. In response, a bit of pain spread through her wings letting her know that she was pushing them.
It didn't matter. She accelerated faster than she ever dared before. There was too much at stake to worry about safety.
A quick judge of the distance showed that she was about fifteen hundred hooves from Scootaloo, and Scootaloo was about five-hundred from the ground.
The air in front of her started to compress as she flew faster and faster. Memories of her previous failures flashed through her mind. "No no no, not now!" She grits her teeth as she started to slow down. She pushed harder, the pain in her wings grew more pronounced, as the cone in front of her got thinner. Tear's blurred her vision, being ripped away from her by the wind.
Scootaloo needed her, that's all that mattered.
A thousand to go, three-hundred from the ground.
Dash squinted through the tears, it was getting hard to see Scootaloo, but she was still too far away. she needed to pick up the pace even more. The cone continued to get thinner and harder to push past, her wings were on fire now, the pain of her muscles tearing themselves apart was becoming harder to ignore. Channeling all of her fear and adrenaline she pushed once again, the cone beginning to stretch as her two hooves spread the cone a bit wider than she was doing before. With a final bit of resistance, it gave way.
Boom
Suddenly the pressure was gone, her mane whipped wildly behind her, leaving a multicolored trail in her wake. The removal of the resistance let her accelerate more, she was gaining on the flailing shape beneath her but Scootallo had stopped her wild flailing in shock. Even this far away Dash could see the hopeful look in her eyes.
Five-hundred to go, one-fifty to the ground.
Scootaloo's profile had narrowed considerably, letting her accelerate to terminal velocity faster. Even with the barrier gone, it wasn't enough. Dash Called upon everything her body can give, her wings cramping and protesting with each beat. Her muscles tore themselves apart, filling her slim body with pain.
She couldn't go any faster.
One-fifty to go, fifty from the ground.
She was at her limit.
One-twenty to go, thirty from the ground.
She's too far away.
sixty to go, twenty from the ground.
It wasn't enough.
Scootaloo's form crashed through the branches beneath her, the sound of splintering wood filled the air, Dash lost sight of her in the thick foliage. She started pulling her wings in to narrow her profile, crashing through the green canopy half a second later.
Thin Branches snap against Dash's hooves, an explosion of pain in her left-wing caused her to spin out of control. Her view a whirlwind of color until she saw the brown bark of a tree rushing to meet her then all was darkness.
~~~~~
Sometime later things slowly came into focus, a familiar ticking sound greeted her ears, sterile white walls surrounded her. The beeping of a heart monitor joined the Ticking of the clock, an uneven bed beneath her.
Looking down at the hospital bed she's in she noticed a familiar yellow pegasus leaning over her barrel. Dash moved the tangled pink mane out of Fluttershy's eyes to see her sleeping face.
It looked like Fluttershy's been crying.
With a start Shy looked up, her eyes red from tears. It took a few moments for Fluttershy to recognize her but she hugs Dash softly when she realized her friend was awake.
"S-Scootaloo."
Fluttershy flinched at the name, hugging slightly tighter.
"S-she...She didn't make it."
With those four words, it felt like Dash's world shattered. Memories of the young filly filled her head.
Dash
Dash went to sit up but Fluttershy gently but firmly forced her back down, the bed resting against her back unevenly once again.
Come on Dash! Just let me watch!
Dash's voice was a weak monotone as she looked at Fluttershy. "How...long."
Fluttershy sat back and wiped her face with a hoof, it didn't help as the tears were simply replaced a moment later. "Three days. You were...very badly hurt." Wiping away more of her tears Fluttershy continues. "Y-you did all that you could, the whole town saw the rainboom."
Come on Dash, please!
The knowledge that she performed a rainboom somehow felt hollow. An empty pit in her stomach in the shape of a young filly's warm smile.
I'm your biggest fan!
Something about the bed had been bugging Dash. It felt odd against her left side, a weird ache on her shoulder where the wing attached. She absently went to stretch her wing.
Nothing happened.
If she felt hollow before, now her body was filled with ice. Hesitantly Dash turned her head to look at her left wing. Fluttershy noticed the movement, a fresh batch of tears flowed down the well-worn path.
It was gone.
Her wing was gone
All that is left were white bandages covering where the wing previously connected with her back.
"What.."
Fluttershy simply gave Dash another hug. "They tried all they could. You hit the branch so hard it was...beyond repair."
Dash sat there in shock, it was just too much. Darkness began closing in from the corners of her vision once more.
You can do it Dash.
As she sank into her dream, the feeling of wind in her mane, a plummeting shape beneath her one thing was clear.
She wasn't fast enough.
And now she never would be.
Author's Note
tissues not included.
this story is based on a youtube video
The wind whistled through her feathers, the emptiness inside her numbed her to the cold this high up.
Stretched down below is Equestria, small yellow lights scattered around the world flickering beneath her. It always looked so orderly this high up. Like a patchwork quilt during the day.
It wasn’t day now. The warming rays of Celestia’s sun were gone.
Another gust of wind hit Dash, but she didn't budge. Her gaze not shifting at all.
She was sitting right on the edge of Cloudsdale. Her left-wing throbbed with pain, the memory of pushing herself to her absolute limit still stark in her mind. The crash was a blur but she could still clearly see Scootaloo below her, almost close enough to touch.
Almost.
Even in her dreams, she doesn’t catch up to the orange shape falling before her.
Falling….always falling.
She continued to stare over the edge, her body was devoid of fear, a great pit of emptiness inside her. Something had shattered when Fluttershy told her what happened. It felt like the world fell from beneath her hooves.
Like there wasn’t anything holding her up anymore.
Whatever broke, it was something that can't be fixed, she hasn’t felt anything since then.
It was her fault. she brought her there.
She could have taken more time to make sure the cloud was safe.
She could have avoided hitting it with the wind as she passed.
Scootaloo’s laughter when she did that flashed through her mind, the sound that was once precious and pure, now rang hollow and empty.
She could have paid more attention.
It’s her fault she’s gone.
Her muzzle itched and she absently scratched it, something shining on her hoof in the starlight.
Frozen tears, she didn’t even realize she was crying, the emptiness inside her shifted a little.
She didn't deserve to be there, They both should have died.
Dash moved closer to the edge, it was so dark she couldn’t even see houses, just the lights that flickered in the night. The dark shadow of a forest barely visible in the moonlight beneath her.
It was perfect.
Her hoof slowly moved over the edge, the wind whipping her mane behind her, the thin hospital gown fluttering, sounding like a flag blowing in the breeze.
“Don’t.”
Dash flicked an ear, the word was so faint she almost didn’t notice it. She looked around for the source of the sound. When she didn’t notice anything she went back to looking down.
Suddenly warmth began working its way into her side, With a start, she realized somepony is leaning into her.
It was Fluttershy. She didn't say anything, just sat there, leaning against Dash.
Slowly Dash sat down again, Shy was also looking over the edge, still not saying another word. The fur on her face was still matted, two well-traveled paths leading from her eyes where she’s been crying.
She wasn't crying now, her face was neutral as she watched the lights beneath them.
Don’t
What was she talking about? Dash’s mind was already made up, Fluttershy wasn’t a very strong flyer. She couldn’t stop her if she took that final step.
Don’t.
She’s just sitting there, leaning against her. She’s wasn't holding Dash back or anything.
She could still join Scootaloo.
Don’t. It was just one word, it wasn’t even spoken in anger. Just the usual soft Fluttershy tone.
Her usual kind tone.
Why was she here? She knew Dash failed too. Not even the others came to see her while she was in the hospital.
The others….What would they say?
Applejack would probably call her a coward. Twilight would try to find a solution in a book somewhere.
Rarity would summon her fainting couch.
Pinkie would... Dash had no clue what she would do.
And Fluttershy...she’d do what she’s doing now.
Just being here with her.
Something inside Dash shifted again, and a thought broke through the emptiness.
None of them would abandon her.
The cold of the wind was fading away, Fluttershy was doing a better job than the thin hospital gown at keeping Dash warm. The wind hit them again and she could feel Fluttershy shiver a bit from the cold.
They wouldn’t abandon her.
“Did... did they come to see me?”
Fluttershy nodded in response. Her eyes were closed now, her mane flowing in the wind.
“Twilight was the first to get there, Celestia was already at the hospital somehow. You were out of surgery by then, the pegasus who brought you in was gone, something called her away. The rest came and went after making sure you weren’t in any danger.”
Dash was wrong about them. Her failure was still present in her mind, but that thought is growing stronger every moment.
They didn’t abandon her
Don’t they know she failed? They didn't know Scootaloo that well, but they should still be angry. They should be yelling at her for her failure. She turns once again to look over the edge, her hooves just inches from the abyss. When she looks down this time something else wormed its way inside of her.
It was fear.
Her wing still throbbed. It shouldn’t hurt, it was gone.
Yet it hurt whenever she thought of that day, the memory of pushing herself with everything she had still there.
And that small orange shape always falling below her.
Falling…
Images of Dash's friends flashed before her eyes, twinkling among the lights below. With a start dash stood up and moved back from the edge, her heart beating so hard in her chest that she was certain all of Cloudsdale could hear it.
Shy was surprised at the sudden moment, she looked afraid. Checking below her first, and then behind her to where Dash was.
When she saw Dash was fine she looked at her for a moment, studying her face for short while.
Then she seemed to sigh in relief.
The look on Fluttershy’s face confirmed it.
They didn’t abandon her.
she couldn't abandon them.
Fluttershy put her hoof on Dash’s shoulder, gently leading her back toward the hospital. Dash sighed and let herself be guided.
The twinkling lights over the edge get farther and farther away.
She still wants to join Scootaloo. But not now.
At least not today, not as long as her friends won’t give up on her.
Author's Note
While this story was finished, I felt I could add more to it, and exploring dash in this world is interesting to me.
What challenges lie ahead? can she forgive herself?
How is she going to live with the injury? so many different avenues. I have another chapter that's done, and I'll be uploading that one shortly as well.
Cheers filled the air, colorful confetti lazily drifting through the air above. The sound of trumpets filled the cloud Colosseum as the Wonderbolts begin their preshow flight.
As she watched the Wonderbolts fly, Dash’s left-wing ached. It's been doing that a lot recently.
Usually when her thoughts turned inward. Magenta eyes followed the Wonderbolts as they flew through the stage.
"I figured this would help. I'm always here if you want to talk Rainbow." Magenta eyes glanced to the right at the white alicorn sitting next to her. Celestia's expression was carefully neutral.
After a long uncomfortable pause, the only reply was "I wish she could see them with me."
Dash looked at Celestia closely, watching her eyes for a long moment. It takes longer than usual, but the soft lavender eyes shifted slightly to the right.
To her missing wing. Looking away in disgust Dash looked back to the show. It took all of her willpower to avoid biting her lip.
Pity. It was always pity! Whatever small good mood she had until then turned sour. This entire trip is just the princess trying to cheer me up.
Her friends were constantly walking on eggshells next to her, going out of their way to avoid talking about what had happened.
Dash was sick of it. Sick of the constant gazes, the whispering ponies around her. Nobody ever talks about it to her face. Acting like she's made of glass.
With a flash of light, the pre-show was over, the Wonderbolts beginning their wing warm-ups to prepare for the race. Dash's eyes watch them prepare and her wing throbs again, sometimes it hurts so much it's like it's still there, flapping to push her closer.
Gritting her teeth she just tried to ignore it till it went away again, the pain should fade. Eventually.
A gruff voice pierces her thoughts. "Hurts doesn't it." Looking up Dash sees a pair of yellow eyes glaring at her, a shockingly yellow and orange pony flying in the air in front of her.
Keeping her face neutral Dash simply stared into Spitfire's eyes, waiting for them to shift to her missing wing, or look away.
The silence slowly moved from uncomfortable to oppressive. Oddly it was Spitfire who speaks first. "You taking meds for the pain?"
Dash's eyes widen slightly, looking to Celestia for a moment. "I haven't said anything to them Dash."
A hoof roughly turns Dash's head to look back into Spitfires eyes again. "I asked you a question, civilian."
Gritting her teeth dash replied harshly. "Of course I'm not. It's not a big deal."
Instead of softening, or looking away Spitfires eyes glared at her so powerfully it's a wonder her remaining wing didn't catch fire. "Bullshit."
Dashes mouth simply hung open in shock. Her gaze turning to anger a moment later. "How dare you! it's my body. If I don't want to stop the pain I won't." Standing to her hooves Dash's glare matched Spitfire's, her one remaining wing spreading out behind her absently. "It's my body, my wing, and my punis-"
The rest of Dash's sentence is cut short when Spitfire slapped her.
"It's your punishment? It's your price for failure? Don't give me that shit, you did our race proud! They saw that rainboom all the way in Cloudsdale. I don't think any of us could have made it in time. Yet instead of thinking about that, you punish yourself for failing in an unwinnable sitution."
Spitfire leaned in close, her face an inch from Dash's. "You couldn't have saved her, no pegasus could have saved her, I was there and I couldn't save her."
Whatever angry reply that was brewing inside Dash vanishes instantly. "You..." Dash looked to Celestia for clarification, only getting a sigh in response, before she could say anything she's cut off by Spitfire.
"Who do you think flew you to the hospital?"
~~~ A week earlier ~~~
For a town that’s always being attacked, Ponyville is surprisingly peaceful. Cloudsdale’s been at peace for so long that they are going soft.
Not Ponyville though, this town’s seen some shit.
Spitfire flew through the sky, keeping high so that her signature colors aren’t recognized.
With that stupid competition happening in a few days the paparazzi was even worse than normal, hell even the other Wonderbolts were abuzz over the fact that Rainbow Dash was going to be competing.
Personally, Spitfire was looking forward to what the youngster showed them.
And thus her trip to Ponyville, fewer reporters, and it was a great excuse to watch Rainbow practice too.
She found a lone cloud above a random field Spitfire settles in for another long day. A sound of annoyance rising up from below as a blue form is tossed away.
Good, she didn’t miss anything. As she looked down Spitfire smiled as she saw Dash picking herself from the ground. The sound barrier was a bitch, and Dash’s form was flawed, she’s not thinning her profile enough to overcome the resistance.
Her heart also didn't seem in it, frustration’s ruining her focus. Chuckling to herself Spitfire’s ear twitched at a new sound.
“You can do it Dash!”
Seems she’s got an audience today. Maybe this will give the mare motivation. Spitfire’s eyes are locked on the young pegasus.
Not seen her before, does she even go to flight school?
Spitfire’s eyes are drawn to the wings on the orange fillies back.
Ah, that explains it. Looks like malnourishment.
Dash takes off after ruffling the head of the filly. They must be close. Something is bothering Spitfire, like an itch in the back of her mind. Focusing on the feeling her eyes were drawn toward the cloud the filly's standing on. It took no more than a second before she realized the problem.
The cloud that the small filly’s standing on doesn’t look stable, it’s far too small in diameter, and far to thin at the edges.
Especially for somepony who couldn’t fly. Rising in a panic Spitfire scans the skies for Dash, not seeing her she looks up...and up.
And up.
Shit. she came to the right idea, she needed more speed, but now is not the time.
A scream from below highlighted her worst fears, the cloud has given way. Spitfire does a quick check of their distances, Her head rushing through the scenario before her.
Even as she took to the air and dove down, she knew it in her head.
She wasn’t anywhere near close enough. She wanted to be out of sight, which meant being high up.
She’s also not wearing her goggles, moving at her fastest speed would blind her from the wind, she’d be lucky to avoid a bird, let alone catch a filly.
She’s still going to try.
As she flapped downward she was knocked aside by a pressure wave, correcting herself she sees Dash speeding toward the filly.
Please make it.
It doesn’t take long for the sound barrier to begin to slow dash down. But this time her form is better, and she’s at the proper angle. With a burst of determination, she blows right through it like it wasn’t even there.
Doing another quick estimate it looks like she’s going to make it in time.
But then the filly stops moving her hooves, thinning her profile and speeding her fall.
Shit shit shit shit. Yes, she just did a rainboom. but focus little one!
Did nopony teach this young one the basics?
A few moments later it’s over. The filly crashing through the branches of the forest below.
In the end, Dash was almost close enough to touch the young filly.
It was only by a few hooflengths.
Wait, can she still pull-
Crash
Shit shit shit shit.
Spitfire arrives not ten seconds later, following the hole in the canopy, seeing some branches with a bit of red on them fills her stomach with dread.
Her hooves reach the ground and she sees them. Lying next to each other, just a hoof length apart.
Rainbow’s left wing is a mangled mess, Her head has a nasty looking cut from where she hit a tree.
The filly didn’t look good at all.
Falling back on her training Spitfire worked quickly, She fashioned a small sled to carry the filly on, she slings dash over her shoulders and begins dragging the pony, doing her best to avoid roots along the ground.
She made it to the road and picked up her speed, shoving aside pedestrians walking into the city. She made her way to the city center and got lost for a moment, her eyes frantically searching the buildings till she sees a familiar medic cross.
She doesn’t so much knock, as knock the doors open, Her back was beginning to feel a bit hot where dash’s head was resting against her, her left-wing hanging limply at her side as if it didn’t even have any bones.
That was not a good sign.
~~~~~
They were both in surgery for hours, A purple dragon that was in the town square sent a letter to Celestia. When she arrived she saw that the small-town hospital wasn’t going to cut it. So after they stabilized Dash she then sent the pair to Cloudsdale for better treatment.
Spitfire was not one of the ones she teleported, so she grabbed her goggles and flew.
The Wonderbolt’s not ever flown that fast in her life, even her goggles cracked from the air pressure.
She arrived in only thirty minutes.
When she got there Dash and Scootaloo were being looked at by the best doctors in Equestria.
At hour one Rainbow’s wing was deemed unsavable and the decision was made to amputate.
It was that or live a life in constant pain as it healed improperly. She’d be unable to fly either way.
At hour three the head wound was treated, She managed to get them to treatment in time, suffering no more than a concussion and a cracked skull.
At hour four, they lost the filly.
Spitfire only learned her name was Scootaloo the next day.
~~~Present day~~~
Dash’s eyes were wide in shock, this ponies rude behavior and the revelation that a Wonderbolt saved her hitting her at the same time.
“I bet you never even thought of it. How you didn’t die in the woods.”
Spitfire moved closer, her nose nearly touching Dash’s now.
“I also bet you hate the fact that you lived and she didn’t.”
Spitfire didn’t just hit the nail on the head, she pounded it in. Dash flinched from that, she almost didn’t hear Spitfires next words as they were directed at Celestia.
“Think now’s a good time?”
“It’s as good as any.”
Dash is lifted into the air, a golden glow surrounding her as she’s dropped right into the middle of the field.
Celestia’s voice boomed around the stadium. “Ladies and Gentleponies, I’m sure you all noticed the rainboom a week ago, this pegasus here is the one who did that. Due to injuries she suffered after performing this feat, she was not able to participate in the contest that happened a few days ago. You must be wondering why I never gave out the winning prize of such an event. It is my great honor to give Rainbow Dash, The best fliers award." She paused for a bit, gesturing to the orang captain. "And Captain Spitfire also has something she wishes to say.”
Dash was overwhelmed by the cheering she received, even as the confetti rained down. She gritted her teeth at all the attention, she could practically feel the eyes on her back.
On her missing wing.
At one time she would have just basked in the attention she was getting, but now it just felt hollow.
It was just more pity.
Then Spitfires gruff voice washed over the crowd, hushing them almost instantly.
“This pony has been on our watchlist ever since the Nightmare Moon Incident, she’s saved Equestria more times than anypony, and is always loyal to her friends. Each of the Wonderbolts respects her from the bottom of our hearts, and though it’s a few years too early, We are giving her membership into the Wonderbolts as of today.”
Spitfire flew down to the stage and held up one of Dash’s hooves to thunderous applause.
Spitfire leaned in and said something just for Dash. Even among the din Dash could make out what she said clearly.
“This isn't pity Dash, we were going to invite you to the Wonderbolts when you came of age. Those plans are out the window, but A position just opened up at the Wonderbolts flight academy.”
Dash felt something she’s not had for what seems like a lifetime.
She felt a little hope.
Looking at Spitfire she doesn't see pity in her eyes. A bit of sadness, sure. But not pity.
Maybe this pony knew.
Looking up at the crowd as it's cheering reaches a crescendo.
Maybe she understood.
Dash looked to Spitfire and got a steady gaze in return.
No shifting to her wing, no pity in her eyes.
Just respect.
And a little bit of anger too. Anger at dash’s Behaviour.
Even though she still hated the applause, maybe this is what she needed.
She’s still never going to be fast enough. That filly will haunt her dreams forever. Always just out of reach.
But if she can save others from the same fate, each one will help to fill the hole in her heart.
Dash decided to start taking medication for the pain.
She’s got another way to repent now.
Wait for me Scootaloo. I’ll be there someday.
~~~~~
Dash arrived at the clearing, the wind rustling the trees around them. Ahead of her was an iconic treehouse.
Dash's wing didn't hurt as much, the doctors called it 'Phantom limb pain.' It still aches occasionally though.
The wind blew once again, drawing her gaze to the bottom of the treehouse where a simple cross lay. It was obviously made by either Appleboom or Sweetiebell, the telltale crusaders cape pinned to the back moved in the breeze, and a rather recognizable blue hamlet sat on top of it.
Slowly, Dash approached the cross, Her memories of that time flashing through her mind. but instead of it only being of her failure, she remembered all the other good times she had with the young filly. Before she knew it tears were flowing down her muzzle.
She hadn't cried when she heard about Scootalo, or at all really.
Now the tears came flowing out, her voice coming out in an ugly bawl, she hugged the helmet tight, memories of what she's missing assaulting her.
She didn't know how long she stayed like that, but in the end, she felt better.
Scootaloo will never come back, but at least she has another path to follow. That hole in her heart will always remain, but she'll never forget.
"Don't Worry Scoots, I'll be joining you someday. But for now, I'm going to do my best to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Her vow made, she returned to town, a chariot waiting to take her back to Cloudsdale.
And to her new purpose in life.
Author's Note
This is all I have for now. I hope you enjoyed my story. Sometimes a little bit of sadness is what you need. just need to let the tears flow.
I hope I gave this an appropriately bittersweet ending. She's going to be changed forever, but maybe that's ok.
