Dash of All

"Dashie! Are you okay?"

Rainbow looked upon the hyperactive pink pony before her, slowly standing and chuckling as well. "I just fell, no biggie! I can still fly!"

"Looks like Rainbow Dash is out of the race! She's sustained an obvious wing injury!" the announcer pony said, waving a flag to Rainbow telling her she was out of the race.

Rainbow groaned and looked at her bent wing, nearly screaming at the horrific sight. "But! But, I don't even feel it! I can still fly through the pain!"

Pinkie laughed, "Don't be silly, Dashie! The race can't be held responsible for any injuries done to anypony, and they don't wanna get sued either!"

"Sue them? I don't even know how law works to even consider that!"

"They don't know that," Pinkie replied, putting her hoof on Rainbow's chest. "You look sad and worried Dashie..."

It was true, she was nearly having a panic attack at the thought of the humiliation she would feel once anypony else heard of the news of her failing out of a race so hard. One chance to show the ponies of Ponyville what she was made of, now ruined by a wipe out. Nopony was laughing, but their pity was truly worse. She sweated as her head turned to look at the watching audience, nervousness flooded her spirit and the urge to hide her face was only quelled by the pain in her wings. Some ponies were still looking at her from the stands and audience, while most others did not care at all and were still watching the race. Soon, all of the rest of the Mane Six had come to help her, and they carried her to the First Aid pit stop beside the race tracks so the attendant there could do whatever she could to help as well.

"You seem to have cracked a bone, and I'd say you're really lucky to have this only happen to one in the spot in which it did," the attendant told her. "Any more flying for you would snap your wing completely... On that note, your wing should be cast in one position, and considering where it was injured, I suggest it stays folded." The attendant rubbed some cream over the area of the break. "This cream will help you heal... With tender love and care, you'll be back to normal in about three months. Then you can fly again."

"Three months with no flying? Are you crazy?!" Rainbow shouted, then wincing in pain as her wing sent a sharp spike of pain through her body. She dropped onto her stomach as she lay on the table on which she was being checked up upon. "This is straight up bogus."

"Dash," the lavender unicorn said with a sigh, "please, can you just settle down for a while? We don't want you to get anymore hurt than you already are. Better to sit out for three months feeling like a quitter than spend the rest of your life paralyzed flight-wise over some silly ol' race."

Rainbow's head hung low. She looked to her friends, and they all smiled at her. "I... I guess I can do this..."

"That's great!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, whipping out a rain of confetti and blowing a kazoo. "Let's have the 'Can't Fly For Three Months' party!"

"You planned to have a party for this exact occasion?" Rarity questioned the pink earth pony.

"Well duh," Pinkie replied cheerfully, then taking some time to think, "well, actually, in my mind, I had planned for a 'Grounded For Life' party, but since Rainbow will only not be able to fly for three months, I had to think of a different name. On top of that, I planned it for Fluttershy, but it was Dashie who got injured--"

"Wait, what?" Fluttershy whispered quietly in disbelief as her wings spread in surprise. She nervously retracted them and then stared at the ground.

Twilight used her magic to bring them all together in a hug, also making sure that nopony accidentally bumped Rainbow's wing in the process. As they all broke from the hug, Twilight approached her injured friend with concern written all over her face. "Dash, are you hurt anywhere else at all?... do you... I don't know... need anything?"

Rainbow blushed. "Stop it, Twi... You're being too much like a mom... and that's not really it actually. I'm fine--"

"But I would recommend keeping in touch with your friends, Rainbow Dash," the attendant said. "In this world of friendship and magic, one would be foolish as to not accept such requests in a time of need like this."

Rainbow blushed even harder and rolled her eyes, taking into consideration what the attendant had said. "I...I-I'll think about it." She started for the door, and felt as the cream which had sunk into her skin was cooling her pain.

Twilight teleported in front of Rainbow, holding the can of cream with her magic. "You nearly forgot your cream, Rainbow. You also forgot to ask how frequently you should use it."

Rainbow's blush was never ending. "Twilight, please..."

"Do you see how helpful your friends are?" the attendant said with a giggle. Then the rest of the Mane Six and Spike, excluding Rainbow, all joined with the laughter.

Unable to hold back, Rainbow giggled at herself as well. She took the cream from Twilight and put it in Twilight's saddle bag. "Okay, okay... you got me there... Now, let's go home."

"But, don't you wanna stay for the rest of the race?" Twilight asked her.

Pinkie joined in as well. "Yeah! We were gonna throw a 'After the Race' party at my place!" She threw even more confetti.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure that the race is over by now, especially with Lightning Dust out there," Rainbow replied, walking outside, and her friends followed her. The black and white flag had waved, and now the race was over. Embarrassed, Rainbow slowly walked to the gate leading out back to the fair grounds out of the race track. Wanting nothing more than to go home, she still found herself trapped by none other than Lightning Dust. Lightning Dust was followed by Thunderlane, Flitter, and Cloudchaser.

"Rainbow Dash! You okay?" the turquoise pegasus questioned her.

Rainbow rose her head, and saw that Lightning Dust looked fairly concerned, but happy to see that she was not hurt too bad. "What? You're gonna laugh at me for wiping out and breaking my wing, aren't you?"

Lightning chuckled, rolling her eyes at the downcast cyan pegasus before her. "Rainbow Dash, you were awesome! Even though I won, I still enjoyed your company. These bozos didn't pose much of a challenge, but you... you gave it your all, and that's why I'm here. To congratulate you."

"This is slightly a bit too nice for you," Rainbow said, until getting a nasty look from Twilight. She straightened up and scratched the back of her mane nervously. "Uhh... thanks... And I ought to congratulate you too. You're the winner here."

"You okay, Rainbow? Looks like that wipe out hurt more than your wing," Lightning said rather solemnly.

Rainbow sighed. "Look, don't worry about me, I'm fine--"

Lightning Dust placed her hoof on Rainbow's chest. "We were planning a party to throw for the pegasi who participated in the race... and even though you didn't make it to the finish. You still participated, and more importantly, you showed some guts out there. So, would ya join?"

Rainbow looked to her friends, who seemingly pushed her on to join the other pegasi with their party. She nearly spoke up to say something, but Surprise, of the Wonderbolts, stepped in between the two parties and made her appearance known.

"Hey! I was just watching your race, and I wanted to congratulate you all on your efforts and flying skills!" she exclaimed, hopping up and twirling around with Lightning Dust in her hooves.

"And, you are?" Lightning questioned her.

"Oh! Sorry for holding back on the introductions! I'm Surprise! A member of the Wonderbolts!" the white, gold maned pegasus answered her, setting her back down by Rainbow Dash.

The two pegasi looked to one another and squealed in joy, circling around Surprise, who was laughing in zeal, now spinning in circles. "I can't believe a member of the WONDERBOLTS is here! We have sooo many questions to ask you!" the two tomboyish pegasi squealed, as Surprise managed to silence both of them.

"That's great, but I heard that there was a party being planned here," she said with a fangirlish tone. "I love parties!"

"Oh My Heavens!" Pinkie gasped, jumping on Surprise, who squeaked as Pinkie did the same. "Party pony?! Wonderbolts?! I wish I was a pegasus!"

"That's no surprise," Surprise said with a chuckle. "I suppose you were merely this close to being one too."

Gasping again, Pinkie found herself entrapped in a hug with Surprise, finally she had found her hyperactive equal.

"But, I don't get it... Pinkie's coming?" Lightning asked Rainbow, who shrugged her hoof not on the side hosting her nearly broken wing.

"What I'm trying to say is, is that if Pink Me here is hosting a party, and Rainbow Bolt, please let that be your name, is going to another party, then why don't we just mash the parties up all together as one big super party?!" Surprise suggested, as the ponies' jaws dropped.

Pinkie laughed, pulling Surprise close to herself. "I can tell we're gonna be great friends!"

Twilight and the others walked to Rainbow, who still looked surprised. The Wonderbolt had solved her little dilemma with an answer to a question she did not even know she was answering directly. "So... are we joining you all?"

Lightning pat Twilight's back. "Of course! You could have come anyway if you were Rainbow here's posse! We don't discriminate here, mates."

"Oh... well, I was under the impression that--"

"What? That we wouldn't let ya come just because you're not pegasi? We live in Ponyville, girl! We're all pony one way or another. You were welcomed as long as you got the ability to party!"

Pinkie and Surprise blew kazoos and sent confetti flying in all directions, both of them exclaiming, "And we got plenty o' that!"

The group made their way to the party, which took place at a picnic area, and as decided earlier, was to be hosted by Pinkie and Lightning, who gave her hosting position to Surprise instead. Balloons and tables set up with many snacks, vegetables, cakes, and even a potato bar. For those who liked potatoes. Lightning supposed that there would be one pony there who liked potatoes.

Lightning pat Rainbow on the back as Pinkie and Surprise rushed past to get themselves set into the party, and soon, the partying began. "If you don't feel too well, we got plenty of benches to sit on... I wouldn't be able to think straight if you got hurt anymore, Rainbow," the turquoise pony said to her.

Rainbow, still slightly hurting from the cracked wing bone, found her way to a bench with a plate of two hayburgers, taking heed to Lightning's words. She bragged at how she was only resting, but soon would join it. "Don't think I'll just sit out!" she shouted to Lightning, who giggled and turned to go dance with Thunderlane, Flitter, and Cloudchaser.

Twilight came with her, to eat hayburgers as well, but Twilight had picked up four. "So, you feel alright?" she asked Rainbow, with a slight head tilt. "You should be careful with that wing of yours... After this, I recommend that you get lots of rest, and I'll stay with you to make sure you keep that wing of yours properly positioned."

"Twi, c'mon... I can take care of myself, I don't need you guys watching over me all the time..." Rainbow said in reply, biting into a burger.

"Really, Dash?" Twilight said with a sly tone. "How do you expect to get up to your house if you can't even fly?"

Rainbow nearly choked on her burger, but managed to swallow before doing so. "What?...oh... well... I'll crash at somepony's..."

"Who's?" Twilight further questioned. "Why not over at the Library? I'll make sure you're rested and fed with the right amount of proportions so you can heal up fast. I have knowledge and magic on my side."

"Why not I adorn you with soft cloths and soothing casts to help with the pain?" Rarity joined in.

"I can take care of another being, pretty easily actually," Fluttershy said to add, "so, you can... um... stay at my house! If... if you wanna, that is..."

"You guys are tryin' to bore her with your own styles, but what Rainbow needs is a barrel load of fun! Fun always heals me when I'm sick! Fun is the doctor, and laughter is his medicine!" Pinkie exclaimed, being pulled back to the middle of the massive dancing session by Surprise.

"C'mon y'all," Applejack said slyly. "That attendant said very clearly, we should show Rainbow some love to help that there cream work better. That's all she needs. Not no fancypants science mumbo jumbo, no cloths made from silk, not to be surrounded by other animals to feel like another animal, and especially she don't need no loud party routine. Rainbow here is like an apple tree. She can't live off of one thing alone. What she needs is..."

"All of you! That's an awesome idea!" Rainbow finished Applejack's statement. "Just a 'dash' of all of you! Maybe all of you guy's love with this cream can help me get back to flyin' in one month tops!"

"I wouldn't get ahead of ourselves, Rainbow," Twilight said with a smile. "If it'll be this way, you have to make sure you don't overwork yourself... If you need to rest, you know who to come to."

"Twi! I'll be resting over all of your houses, I think I know where to rest," Rainbow said with a frustrated sigh. "You guys should know, it's really easy to run me away... If I don't like my host, I'll leave and go somewhere else... Simple as that, I won't even lie to you."

"Okay, then it's settled... the only question is now... Who's first?" Rarity asked Rainbow, who immediately pointed to Applejack.

"What?!" Twilight cried. "Well... I mean... Rainbow, you chose so fast... why is that?"

"Because Applejack won't smother me, at least let me start off pretty easy," Rainbow said with a shrug. "I'll just let myself decide for now... I'll crash at all your places till I can fly again, no biggie, right?"

"I... Well, I suppose..."

Rainbow turned to Applejack, who blushed. Rainbow smiled at her brightly, and Applejack smiled back. "I bet the earth pony life will be a good, easy start for me, right? Applejack?"

"Oh, Sugarcube, you're flatterin' me," Applejack sighed. She found Rainbow with her foreleg over her, holding her close. "Ah guess we could get used to bein' in each other's company now... cuz tonight, you're comin' home with me."

To Be Continued