Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash were all having a small picnic in the sunny weather,
all very excited.
"OMIGOSH I can't believe this is your last day at the Wonderbolts Academy!!"
Pinkie Pie squealed as she made a big grin.
"Heh, I'm excited too but, I'm also a bit nervous."
Rainbow Dash said as her ears flattened a little as she looked away.
"RD, y'all got nothing to worry about! You're the fastest pegasus in all of Ponyville, and I'll be darned if you don't get chosen to be part of the Wonderbolts!"
Applejack smiled, patting Dash on the back.
"I know, I know. It's just, would if I don't? Ya know?"
Rainbow explained, shrugging.
"Rainbow, even if you don't become a Wonderbolt, remember, we will all still be proud of you! Besides, this won't be your last chance to become one!"
Twilight exclaimed.
"Right. We'll still all be very proud of you."
Fluttershy agreed,
"No matter what."
Rarity added.
"Thanks, guys. You're all right. I've got nothing to worry about. I'll do awesome at the contest, and if I don't become a wonderbolt today, there's always next year."
Rainbow Dash smiled, feeling much more calm and confidant.
"You guys are coming with me to the ceremony, right?"
Dash asked. All her friends nodded.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world."
Rarity assured.
"How about y'all show us some of your moves while we wait for it to be time to go?"
Applejack suggested with a wink.
Rainbow nodded and shot off into the air like a rocket. She did a few flips and twirls until she was interrupted by Derpy, with an envelope in her mouth. Rainbow's eyes lit up as she held out her hooves. Derpy spit out the letter into Rainbow's hooves.
"Thanks, Derpy!"
Rainbow called out as Derpy started to fly away. Rainbow slowly started flying towards the ground, careful not to drop the yellow envelope in her hooves. Before Rainbow landed, Twilight took the letter with her magic, and opened it.
"It says:"
Twilight began.
"Dear student of the Wonderbolts Academy,
at 3pm on April 14th, please go to the Wonderbolts academy for the last time this year and we will choose who's going to be the next Wonderbolt. You may bring family or friends. You must come up with a flying routine to show us, whoever wins get's to join our team. Good luck!
-Spitfire"
Twilight read out loud.
Rarity looked at her sparkly pink watch.
"It's 2:30. We should get going."
Rarity advised.
"Good idea. Come on, guys! Let's go and make me a Wonderbolt!"
Dash called out, already flying away, eager to find out if she'll join the team. Her friends followed close behind.
They all ran towards Twilight's castle, to get the pink hot air balloon.
"Before we go in, let me give you all the cloud-walking spell."
Twilight said. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash walked behind Twilight, for they already could walk on clouds, due to being pegasi.
Twilight held her head higher, as her horn began to glow. Magic surrounded Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. After about ten seconds, any visible magic vanished.
"Did it work?"
Asked Rarity.
"As far as I know."
Twilight said, pointing to the hot air balloon. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity all climbed in.
"Oh, oh!! Can I fly it?"
Pinkie Pie volunteered.
"Sure, Pinkie! Go ahead!"
Twilight smiled as she started flapping her wings. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash did the same.
"3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!"
Pinkie announced as she pulled the rope in the hot air balloon. The pink balloon along with the basket lifted from the ground.
"Let's go!"
Rainbow Dash called out with a grin from ear to ear.
They all flew through the sky. On their way to the academy, they all chatted about all the awesome stuff Rainbow will be able to do if she becomes a Wonderbolt.
"Do you guys all promise to come to all my Wonderbolt shows?"
Rainbow asked.
"Of course, darling!"
Rarity assured.
It wasn't long before the Wonderbolts Academy was in their sight.
"This is the moment you've been waiting for, Rainbow!"
Twilight said, as she noticed Rainbow looking at the Wonderbolts Academy dreamily.
"Yup"
Dash said, still in her Wonderbolts daydream.
The second they arrived at the academy door, Rainbow busts through the large doors.
"Rainbow Daring Dash is here!!"
Rainbow announced.
"Dash! Glad you could make it! Go over there with the other cadets and wait until we call your name. Your friends may sit on the benches around the performances."
Spitfire said, giving Rainbow Dash a hoof bump.
"Sorry we're a bit late, Spit."
Rainbow apologized.
"Gotta dash!"
Rainbow called out, waving to her friends. Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity all walked towards the benches. The show already started. There was a gray pegasus with a navy blue mane already doing flips and spins. The pegasus had an eighteen on his flank. Applejack looked over to Rainbow, who was adjusting her goggles. She had a twenty six on her flank. Rainbow had already put on her Wonderbolts Academy uniform on.
"Dash is number twenty six. We just have to wait for eight more performances. "
Applejack informed the others.
"Next up, number nineteen, Thunderlane!"
Fleetfoot announced.
Thunderlane zoomed into the center, and bowed to the large cheering audience in front of him. He gave his winner smile, as he started waving to the crowd. Rainbow couldn't help but stare at him. She watched every one of Thunderlane's moves carefully, pretending she was the judge. Thunderlane's routine was short, but sweet. He did a few flips and whirls and then he was done. Thunderlane trotted by Rainbow, still almost out of breath.
"Top that."
He smirked. Rainbow lowered her head, repeating her entire routine over and over in her head, going over every detail.
"I've got to win."
She thought.
"I have to."
It took about a half an hour for Dash's number to come up.
"Next up, number twenty six, Rainbow Dash!"
Fleetfoot announced.
Rainbow's ears perked up when she heard her name. She shot off from the ground and flew into the center. She didn't realize how nervous she was until she was put on the spot. The sight of her friends cheering and shouting her name calmed her a bit, though.
"You can do it, Dashie!!"
Pinkie Pie shouted. Rainbow quickly put on her confidant smile and starting flying up. Faster and faster. She kept going until she was about twice as high as she normally is when she does a sonic rainboom. When she finally reached an appropriate height, she changed herself into a down position. Every second she grew faster and faster. It wasn't long before she could feel the oxygen cone form around her. The wind blocked any noise, but she could still feel her friend's encouragement. She kept becoming faster, and her grin kept becoming wider. Before she knew it, colour exploded everywhere. The rainboom could be seen all the way from Canterlot. This time, the rainboom was even more extraordinary. Rainbow Dash had just done a double rainboom!!
"Everypony, please give a round of an applause for Rainbow Dash!"
Fleetfoot said over the mic. The audience roared with joy. All of Dash's friends were all jumping and cheering for their fast friend.
"If you have competed in this competition today, please go out back. We'll say the winner there. We'll come back and announce the winner, so all of you can know the next Wonderbolt, too. You may bring your family and-or friends."
Fleetfoot said. Rainbow could feel herself shaking. She had never felt this nervous before, she felt even more nervous than she did at the best young flier's competition. She did as she was told. She went out back and brought her five excited friends with her.
Rainbow was terrified of failure. At this point, she was so scared that she couldn't keep it in. Her friends did a good job on calming her, though. They're praises on how amazing Dash's performance was helping a little. They had to wait a few minutes before Spitfire entered the room.
"Alright, hello everypony!"
Spitfire greeted.
"I know what you're all waiting for, and I'll be quick."
Spitfire smiled. Rainbow could feel her forehead tense up again.
"The next Wonderbolt is..."
Spitfire started, pushing a cardboard box containing the Wonderbolts uniform.
"...Rainbow Dash!"
Spitfire announced. Rainbow let her jaw drop. She started tearing up. She was still shaky as she walked over to the box with her new outfit.
"W-w.....wow. I honestly can't believe it. Thank you so much!!"
Rainbow said, her voice a little shaky.
"Now..."
Spitfire said, hoofing Rainbow a pen along with a piece of parchment.
"Sign this."
"Okay...what is it?"
Rainbow asked, tilting her head to the side.
"You just need to sign this so you can move to Cloudsdale. You have to live in Cloudsdale to be a Wonderbolt, since that's where we do all our meetings and shows, and you live in Ponyville."
Spitfire said, pointing to the parchment.
Twilight instantly stepped up.
"You don't need to feel forced to stay here, Rainbow! This is your dream, we're talking about!"
Twilight said, noticing Rainbow looking down.
Rainbow just smiled.
"Spitfire, I'm sorry but you're gonna have to take the runner up. It's been great here at the Academy, but I can't leave my friends."
Rainbow said confidently. Rainbow's friends and Spitfire all stood there in shock.
"Rainbow Dash!! You've been desperate to be a Wonderbolt ever since you were a filly!"
Rarity exclaimed. Rainbow's smile didn't fade, which showed that she was serious.
Rainbow may have been desperate to be part of the Wonderbolts for her entire life, but nothing to her is worth as much as her friends.
Spitfire had never been so shocked, because she saw how much Rainbow wanted to join their team, too. But she did what Rainbow said. She hoofed over the box to the runner up, Blossomforth. Blossomforth jumped up and down with glee. Rainbow honestly felt happy for her. She didn't regret her decision for a second.
