She zoomed through the streets, dashing between houses. She almost crashed several times, but she didn’t care. Nothing could ruin this day for her. As she approached the large tree, she noticed that the door was already open. She darted inside and came to a skidding halt in the center of the room. A lavender mare chuckled as she closed the door.
“I heard ponies screaming and figured you probably had something to do with it.”
“Can you blame me for being excited?! The Wonderbolts are performing in Ponyville! Today!” Rainbow bounced around the room for a moment before regaining her composure.
The other four mares in the room giggled.
“Shoot, Dash, ya see ‘em every year,” Applejack pointed out, “What’s so special ‘bout this show?” Rainbow gaped at her for a minute, not entirely certain her friend had actually just asked her that.
“‘What’s so special?!’ In the history of the Wonderbolts, they have never performed in Ponyville! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not to mention the fact that Spitfire personally gave me these tickets. For free. It would be rude not to show a little enthusiasm.”
“Well, ain’t you an’ her friends now?” Applejack pondered, to which Rainbow simply scoffed.
“So? I freak whenever Twilight gives me a ‘Daring Do’ book. Right, Twi?” Twilight sighed and nodded.
“Last time, she almost took my entire ceiling off,” she checked the clock on the wall as she spoke, “but more on that later. We should get going.”
As the other five were getting their bags, Twilight called Spike down. He darted out of the room and down the stairs. He had never been to a Wonderbolts show before, and was beyond eager to actually attend one.
“This is gonna be so cool!” He was simply bouncing with enthusiasm as he spoke. Rainbow chuckled.
“See? Spike has the right attitude.” Without another word, the two began hopping around the room together, the remainder of the group watching and laughing at their antics.
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Rainbow’s eyes shot back and forth, taking note of the many ponies surrounding her, gawking at the promotional posters lining the walls of the new stadium, focusing to find that one certain pony.
“Hey, Dash!” Rainbow Dash spun in the direction the voice had emanated from. She spotted a fiery-maned pegasus in a blue jumpsuit a few feet away and darted toward her. Rainbow nearly knocked the other pony to the floor as she pulled her into a tight hug.
“You. Are. AWESOME! How can I repay you for these tickets?”
“Well, Dash,” Spitfire managed to spurt out, “You can start by letting me breathe.” The blue pegasus looked to her hostage and groaned as she broke her hold. Her lungs at full capacity once more, Spitfire inhaled deeply.
“Heh. Sorry,” Rainbow said as she rubbed her neck.
“Don’t worry about it. So, care to introduce me?” The mare pointed as she presented friends. They all began walking together, talking and laughing as they went, until they had reached the stadium entrance. With a smile and a wave, the Wonderbolt divided herself from the group to prepare for her performance. The remaining seven entered and began the search for their designated seats.
After half an hour of small-talk, the group heard a voice echo through the stadium. Beyond their notice, every seat around the field had been filled and the announcer was initiating the event. They watched in awe as a set of pegasi donning blue jumpsuits took to the field below, and an instant later, the skies above.
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“The gang was planning on hitting the town. You guys wanna tag along?” The fiery-maned flyer motioned over to her team members standing next to a large chariot. Rainbow, as one would imagine, pounced at any opportunity to hang out with her idols. The others, however, were slightly more apprehensive.
“I don’t know,” Twilight answered, “It’s already pretty late, and Spike should be getting to bed soon.” The dragon in question groaned.
“I’m not tired, Twilight. And I wanna hang out with the Wonderbolts.” Spitfire placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Twilight. Just a couple of hours, and we’ll give you all a lift back home. A little R&R never hurt anyone.” Twilight scratched her head.
“Well… I guess we could all use a little break every now and then.” The little dragon practically tackled the mare, wrapping his arms around her neck and shouting his ‘thank you’s. The rest merely laughed.
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The doors to the swanky little nightclub swung free, opening the path to the nine ponies and their little dragon. The group glanced around and, noticing a table free, decided to sit. Spitfire called to a nearby waiter.
“A round of cider. Virgin.” At the mention of the word cider, Rainbow shot her attention to her friend, who smirked back to her, “On me, of course.”
“I love you.” The Wonderbolt chuckled at that, hitting Rainbow in the shoulder playfully. When the drinks had been placed before them, they all lifted their mugs above their heads and clinked them together. Rainbow looked back to Spitfire, whose eye were narrowed at the other. She cast Rainbow a seductive wink, causing the target to turn slightly red.
“You know I was kidding about the love thing, right?” Spitfire chortled at the comment as she slammed back her tankard.
“Chill out, Dash. We’re all just trying to having a good time.” Rainbow put a hoof to her chin.
“You know what? You’re right.” Suddenly, she kicked her chair back and emptied the contents of her mug into her mouth. “Come on, guys. Let’s dance!” The rest of the table seemed rear-ended by that. Particularly Rarity, who, after taking a large a swig of cider, shot her drink straight across the table, soaking a certain Wonderbolt stallion.
“Oh, um. Sorry, dear.” Soarin waved her apology off and picked up a napkin. “But, Rainbow, since when do you dance?”
“Since right now. Like Spitfire said, it’s all in good fun.” With a simple shrug, the others followed her onto the dance floor.
Across the floor, they dance, laughed, and just let loose. Rainbow couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun. Swinging and swaying, she accidentally bumped into another pony, sending them both to the ground.
“Oh, geez, pal. I’m so sor-” Rainbow stopped dead in her tracks as she gazed into the strange stallion’s eyes. “Um.. I mean, I… NNNgh…” The stallion tipped his hat and smiled at the mare before him.
“Think nothing of it. If I am to be attacked, I’m glad to have an assailant so beautiful.”
Rainbow chuckled nervously, twiddling her hooves.
“Have you a name to match that lovely face?”
“Um, I’m Rainbow Dash.” She extended a shaky hoof, which he gently grasped with one of his own, pulling it upward and pressing it against his lips. Rainbow felt herself growing warm all-over. When her hoof was free of his grip, she subconsciously began fanning herself with it.
“A very strong name. I am Umbra.” As Rainbow noticed her name being called, he glanced at his watch. “And I must be going. Indeed a pleasure meeting you, miss Dash. Do you live in Ponyville?”
“Yeah.”
“What a quaint little town this is. While I’m here, I might look you up, if I may.”
“I think that would be okay.” By now, Rainbow had begun quivering. He moved in slowly and stole a gentle kiss on her cheek. She raised a hoof to her cheek, lost in the recesses of her mind.
“Rainbow?” The sudden voice broke her of her trance. She turned to Twilight looking at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just… Nevermind. You guys ready?” The group all nodded in unison, all a bit exhaustedly, and made their way to the exit.
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“I had a lot of fun tonight. Thanks.” Rainbow bumped hooves with the Wonderbolt captain.
“Hey, I should be thanking you, Dash. I don’t think I’ve ever just let out like that. Anyway, we’re gonna have to cut this goodbye short. Looks like we’ve got a rogue storm heading in, and we still have to get the others home. G’night, Dash.”
She lifted into the air and floated back into their carriage as Rainbow waved them off. A cold breeze blew threw her mane, cuing her inside.
She immediately went to bed, the events of the day taking their toll. She curled up under the warmth of her blanket as the rain began to fall. The tapping against her window was like a lullaby to her. She paid no mind to the boom of the thunder, conveniently loud enough to cover the sound of the kitchen window shattering.