Prelude
A leaf, honeydew in colour with veins of fiery orange, detached itself, in a moment, from its place on the end of a high-up twig, and floated gently towards the ever-encroaching ground. Peaceful, beautiful. A pristine moment of late-summer, it fell, spiralling, like a -
SWOOSH.
The leaf was never to reach its destiny on the meadow floor, swept by a powerful blast of wind driven from under the wings of no other than that rainbow-maned lightning bolt, Rainbow Dash. She pumped the muscles in her wings, up and down, up and down. Every second seemed like a full minute of torment, the fire in her aching body, the relentless shrieking of the wind against her hooves. Droplets of sweat ran vertical to her straining structure and still she strove to overtake each and every one.Every minute saw the white cone that encased the pegasus grow stronger, brighter. Some pegasi were not meant for this. But she lived for it.
The spectrum that streaked her ruffled mane and tail began to appear, faintly at first, in the personal whirlwind that was the only world the mare knew. She could feel her heart beating, her slitted eyes watering - or were those tears? The normal world was beautiful, full of colours. Not enough. She flew on, now swimming inside of a rainbow. Today was not for her. This one, this one was not for freedom, not to celebrate her beautiful liberty - it was for her.
The thought, that one image out of so many inspirational moments in her life, drove a pegasus that was so very close to the end of her tether, to glory. Wings fanned. Breathing strong, consistent. Opened eyes.
Fire erupted inside her heart, and rainbows erupted around her body. She tore through the air, disregarding the limits of living matter completely. The Sonic Rainboom. Her signature in the sky. Ecstasy shocked through her mind at the simple joys of possessing wings - and yet, she slowed. Glided gently to the ground, surveying those beautiful flowers that sprinkled the meadow. No, no, no. None of them! Needles pained her heart, and tears formed in those fierce, magenta eyes. She slowly pivoted in the air, barely strong enough to stay in the sky. And then she saw it.
The tears turned into those of joy, and with a barely contained whoop of happiness, she landed and picked the flower, rolling it gently between her teeth. Her work here was done. One more trip to make, but in secrecy. For now, she would rest.
Midnight
The letterbox of the Ponyville library flipped open, squeaking quietly on its hinges. With the utmost care of its deliverer, a long, thin object passed through the small space, and landed, softly, on the doormat of Twilight Sparkle.