Leap of Faithby LightsChaptersLandingFallingTaking OffLanding"Are you sure this is the place?" Soarin asked. The two Wonderbolts had traveled to Ponyville in search of none other than Rainbow Dash, the ecstatic cyan pegasus that they had gotten to know after she had won the title of Best Young Flyer. It had been a day of practice and training, and the two Wonderbolts were impressed by her mastery in the art of flying. "Don't sweat it, Soarin. All the bearers of the Elements live in Ponyville, you know that." Both of them, of course, have heard of the Elements of Harmony and the ponies that wielded them. After all, being saved from both eternal night and chaos doesn't go without notice, and definitely not without wondering who had done the saving. Unfortunately, they hadn't figured out that Rainbow Dash was the one of the six until after she had left their company, and they haven't had a chance to see her since. However, the Elements of Harmony wasn't the reason the two ponies were here. A brown parcel rested in one of Spitfire's saddlebags, to be hoof-delivered to Rainbow Dash. After all, becoming a Wonderbolt should warrant a personal visit. She thought to herself. It was something she had started herself when she became captain of the Wonderbolts. After all, it feels a lot better to be told through actual members rather than some scroll in the mail. Dear Celestia, these bags are uncomfortable... Spitfire bent her head down to loosen the straps to a more bearable degree of tightness. "Hey, there's one of her friends. Maybe she knows where Rainbow Dash is," Soarin suggested. Spitfire looked up and saw a violet unicorn cantering through the town square. Twilight Sparkle, the bearer of the Element of Magic. Spitfire and Soarin took off, covering the distance between them and Twilight in a matter of seconds. "Twilight Sparkle?" Spitfire started. Twilight looked over, evidently taking no notice of the two landing next to her. The surprise on her face gave way to a look of recognition as she found herself in front of the two Wonderbolts. "Hello, how can I help you?" Twilight asked Spitfire. "We're looking for Rainbow Dash. Do you have any idea where she might be?" Spitfire responded, asking a question of her own. Spitfire had noticed a crowd of ponies had gathered around the group, no doubt drawn in by the two blue-suited pegasi. "I was actually on my way to see her. You two are welcome to join me," Twilight offered. Spitfire nodded gratefully, both due to the unicorn's generosity and because she didn't particularly like crowds. Crowds meant fans, and fans meant signatures. Soon enough, the three were trotting out of Ponyville. It took a while for Spitfire to notice that there was an air of awkward silence between the trio. Having been coached on the art of conversation, she chose to strike up a conversation with their guide. "Why might you be meeting Rainbow Dash, if you don't mind me asking?" Spitfire asked, hoping that Twilight would jump into the conversation. Fortunately, Twilight was quite a clever pony, and caught on quickly. She hurriedly took the lead and responded. "I've been wanting to see her for some time, actually. Oh, it's nothing big," Twilight explained when Spitfire gave her a questioning look. "I just need to know the weather schedule for next month." Rainbow Dash is in charge of weather here? She didn't seem like a pony who would take on that type of responsibilty... Spitfire noticed that while she was thinking to herself, the air of uncomfortable silence had returned. She sighed inwardly in thanks when Twilight decided to press on. "And what brings you here to see her?" "I have some news for Rainbow Dash, as well as something to deliver." Spitfire emphasized this by glancing over to her saddlebags. Twilight followed Spitfire's line of vision and stared at the package in Spitfire's bags, then at the two blue bodysuits the two pegasi were wearing. Her eyes suddenly took on a look of realization, and she beamed at Spitfire excitedly. This one certainly catches on fast... "Rainbow Dash will be overjoyed when she hears!" Twilight said, positively giddy for her pegasus friend. "She's been dreaming of this day since I met her, you know," She added. The unicorn's last statement triggered a flashback in Spitfire's mind. She remembered the day she became a Wonderbolt. How happy she had been, rocketing around her home in Fillydelphia. She was certain Rainbow Dash would have the same reaction, if not more enthusiastic. That would have been a perfect day if- "Here we are. Rainbow Dash is housekeeping for Fluttershy while she's on a trip," Twilight said, breaking through Spitfire's thoughts. She found herself looking at a cozy little cottage on a hill, with the Everfree Forest behind it. A sudden movement from Soarin caused Spitfire to turn her gaze. He had his nose up to the sky, as if he had smelled something in the air. Spitfire shook her head, clearing her mind of her thoughts. Don't go back that far, Spitfire. You'll only hurt yourself. "Say, Twilight Sparkle, doesn't that earth pony live around here? The one that sold me the delicious apple pie?" Soarin asked, looking over at Twilight. It was the first time he had spoken since they had met Twilight. She nodded, certainly thinking of her friend Applejack, and Soarin smiled dreamily, his thoughts drifting back to the night of the Gala. Spitfire laughed, shaking her head. Only Soarin would be able to smell an apple orchard from a mile away. The three ponies reached the front door to the cottage, and Twilight gave the door a light rap. "Rainbow Dash! Are you in there?" Some time passed before there was a response. "Yeah, coming!" The door soon opened to reveal the cyan pegasus. She had obviously just woken up, as her eyes were half closed and her mane was a mess in some places. She seemed a bit dizzy. However, after opening the door fully, she noticed the two blue-clad pegasi standing next to Twilight, and all thoughts of sleep vanished from her mind. Spitfire expected Rainbow Dash to instantly be all over the two Wonderbolts, like how she had been during the few times they had met. However, instead of things going as expected, an air of tension came over the four ponies. A heavy silence hung in the space between them as Rainbow Dash's gaze swept over the three visitors slowly and deliberately. Soarin, noticing this tension a bit too late, did his best to dispel the awkwardness. "I'm a bit peckish, actually, the flight burned up a lot of fuel. You've got this, don't you Spitfire? I think I'm going to go to that apple orchard, see if I can convince the pony to make a pie." "I'll show you the way!" Twilight added quickly, a bit too loudly for comfort. Both ponies set off hurriedly, leaving Spitfire and Rainbow Dash by themselves. "I take it you wanted to speak to me?" Rainbow Dash asked after a lengthy silence. Spitfire noticed that she looked confused and frustrated. This was not how she had expected this encounter to be. "Umm, can I come in?" Spitfire asked. She knew this would take some time to explain, as there were formalities to the induction. "Of course." Rainbow Dash stepped out of the way for Spitfire. As she entered the cottage, she noticed a pillow and a blanket on the couch nearby. Looks like that's where she had been sleeping until we came. She took up a chair next to the makeshift bed, as Rainbow Dash sat on top of her arrangement. "I take it you can guess why I'm here?" Spitfire started. As she started to speak, she couldn't help but think to herself. This wasn't the Rainbow Dash she knew. Even if they had only a day to meet each other, Spitfire knew that Rainbow Dash would have been much more enthusiastic of her presence. "Actually, I have no idea." Rainbow Dash responded flatly. This was a lie, and both of them knew it. Immediately, the cyan pegasus cast down her eyes, choosing to study the wooden floor. Spitfire couldn't help but cringe on the inside. Why is this happening? "Well," Spitfire continued, trying to ignore the increasing tension in the conversation. "The other Wonderbolts and I thought about it for a while, and after what you showed us during our time together, we decided that you'd make a great addition to the team." She did her best to give Rainbow Dash a smile. "So what do you say?" She added, after Rainbow Dash didn't respond. "Want to be a Wonderbolt?" For a long time, Rainbow Dash sat there looking down at her hooves. It was evident that she was fighting with herself on the inside. But why? This should have been a no-brainer for any pegasus, especially Rainbow Dash. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Rainbow Dash looked up at Spitfire. "No thanks." After a lot of convincing on Spitfire's part, Rainbow Dash reluctantly decided to tell her about her dream, which was the reason for why she had declined. She told Spitfire about how she felt that she had let her obsession with the Wonderbolts take over her life, and how she realized that she had been neglecting the value of her friendships. The whole time, she looked as if she was about to burst into tears. It struck a pain in Spitfire's heart. She eventually finished with "I know that I'm giving up a chance of fame and wealth, as well as a chance to be with my idols when I say no, but ever since I've given up on my dream of becoming a Wonderbolt, I've been the happiest I've ever been in my life." Spitfire stirred. This was starting to sound familiar... "Listen, Rainbow Dash..." she began hesitantly. Are you really going to do this? She asked herself. "I'm going to tell you about a story of my past. After you hear me out, if you still decline, then I'll fully respect your decision, and leave without argument. But please promise me you'll listen." Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, unsure of where this was going. Spitfire took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. She was opening up forgotten wounds, and they hurt. After a long silence, she began. "Before I became a Wonderbolt, I was the definition of antisocial. I didn't talk to anyone, save my closest friends. I was teased in school because of my reckless flying. Inevitably, I became depressed. Depressed because of the world, depressed because of myself, I don't remember. But it felt as if life wasn't even worth living anymore. And one day, I decided to end it all. I told my closest friend, Glider, and nopony else of what I was going to do that night. I decided to take my life by jumping to my death. I thought it would be pretty ironic, being a pegasus and all. It would surely give my tormenters a laugh. Later that night, I found myself on a cloud. I was going to jump, about to end it all there, all my misery and sorrow. I leaned forward, and closed my eyes. But then I thought of the few friends I had. They were teased as well, some more than me. I would be letting them down if I did this." As Spitfire told her story, she couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind. My family... They were never there for me. My classmates... All they did was make fun of me. But what about my friends? They'll be really sad once Glider tells them... Is this really worth it? Am I really going to do this...? No, it's for the best, maybe without me my friends will learn to move on... "I reasoned with myself, trying to justify my actions as much as I can. I decided that I would jump. I felt my hooves edging closer and closer off the cloud. Then, in a sudden burst of frustration, I flung myself off, wings glued to my side. As I was falling to my death, my mind drifted towards Glider. How sad she had been when I told her what I was going to do. How trapped she had looked when I told her she couldn't tell anyone. She was brave. And at that moment, I heard someone call my name. I opened my eyes, and saw Glider, rocketing towards me. But that's the thing, Glider was teased for her flying skills. She never went nearly as fast as any of the other pegasi, and she would always crash or swerve off of the flight course during training. Yet there she was, probably flying faster than anypony I knew. She tackled me, mid-flight, and brought me to safety." Spitfire noticed she had staring at the ground. She looked up, and saw Rainbow Dash staring at her, enthralled by her story. She took a shaky breath, and continued. "When we landed, she pulled me in for a hug, and we didn't let go for a long time. We were both crying. She convinced me that life was worth living. She had been there for me when I was at my weakest. Sure enough, things got better. I tried harder to improve my flying, and soon, I was at the top of my class in flight school. Nopony could make fun of me anymore, and nopony did. But when you're the top of your class, you stop hanging around the ponies that were at the bottom. I abandoned all of my true friends, including Glider, for the ones that had bullied me all this time. The ones that almost brought me to ending my own life." Spitfire paused for a second. The more she talked, the more she hurt inside. She didn't want to do this. "What happened to us, Spitfire? We were the best of friends." Glider asked, tears in her eyes. "We are friends, Glider. It's just that..." Spitfire shook her head to clear her thoughts, and pressed on. "The day I was accepted into the Wonderbolts was the best day of my life. When I came into school wearing the uniform of the best flight team in Equestria, it was a feeling like no other. I was congratulated all the way to class. That day, Glider passed me a note. It was the first time we had talked in a few months. The note said that she would take her life that night, in the exact same place and time that I had tried. For a second, I was worried, worried that my savior would need to be saved. But when I looked over at her, she gave me a goofy grin, so I thought she was joking. I didn't think about it until... Until..." Spitfire choked on her words. "You can stop if you want, I know it must be hard for you." Rainbow Dash said, a look of genuine concern on her face. "No, you promised you would listen, and I promised I would tell you." Spitfire returned her gaze to the floor once again. Her chest felt heavy as she began to recite the next part of her memory. "My friends threw a party for me that night. It was great, I had never felt so alive in my life. I came home really late at night, tired and beat. I came home to a crying mother and a somber-looking member of the Royal Guard." Rainbow Dash put two and two together, and realized what the pegasus had meant. Her friend stayed true to her word, and took her own life. Spitfire was shaking slightly. "I had let my friend end her life. I hadn't been there for her, like she had been for me. She had saved me from taking my own life, and I couldn't have even been bothered to do the same. And not only that, but she made sure that I know where I could find her. I felt beyond terrible. I cried all night. I tore my Wonderbolts suit off of my shaking body and threw it against the wall. Nothing mattered to me right now. That night, I made a lot of important decisions. I told myself that I wouldn't join the Wonderbolts. Someone as pathetic as me didn't deserve to be a part of the best flying team in Equestria. I felt as if I had disregarded the importance of my friendships. I lived the ensuing days in grief. I cut off all ties with the ponies I had dared call friends. I would catch myself crying in school, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. A few days later, the same Royal Guard who had been there on the night of Glider's... He came to my house. He handed me her suicide letter, saying that it was addressed to me. He turned and flew off after I had taken the note. She wrote: Spitfire, I know you're going to beat yourself up for this Just know that it wasn't your fault I'm so proud of my best friend If you even have the slightest idea of not becoming a Wonderbolt Stop. It's what you've always wanted Become the best Wonderbolt ever From wherever I may end up I'll be watching you, guiding you I love you, make me proud. One last thing, never forget that there's always something to smile about. "So I became a Wonderbolt. Not for the fame, not for the glory, not for the riches. I did it for my friend, who would have wanted me to. My friend, who cared about me more than she cared for herself. Glider... I was on her mind when she died..." Spitfire had finished, and was silently weeping, her shoulders rocking. "Glider was a brave pony. And so were you, Spitfire." Rainbow Dash said. "You did what I'm too cowardly to do." The silence that followed stretched for several long minutes, before Spitfire abruptly got up. "Thank you for listening to my story," she said, turning towards the cyan pegasus. "I think that did more help to me than it did to you. I've never told that story before, to anyone." "The pleasure was mine," Rainbow Dash said absently. She was slightly dazed at the Spitfire she had just seen. It was nothing like what she had painted in her mind's eye. The Spitfire she knew was strong, rebellious, tough. The pegasus in front of her was broken and helpless. "But... I'll still have to think about my decision." Spitfire gave a weak smile, and turned to leave. "True to your word. I like it. Listen, I know that it'll take some time, but if you change your mind, we'll be waiting with open arms. You'd make a great addition to the team. Goodbye Rainbow Dash, may you find happiness with whichever road you take." With that, Spitfire walked out of Fluttershy's cottage, in search of Soarin. Rainbow Dash noticed that she had left her saddlebags on the chair she had occupied, along with the neatly-wrapped parcel. She knew what it was. She just didn't know if she could bear to face it yet. Falling"Wow, Dashie! That was the funnest, funnerific, fun day ever!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she was bouncing along the dirt path to Ponyville. The two ponies' day consisted of pranking the various citizens of the bright little town. Some of the wonderfully planned out traps surely had been among the best of their trickster careers. Their last prank, which involved a small garbage bag full of leaves and a generous amount of butter, left them walking away from Fluttershy's cottage near the Everfree Forest. The sun was setting, now just a sliver of light on the horizon, and both ponies were exhausted from hanging out since morning. Even Rainbow Dash, one of the most athletic ponies in Ponyville, found herself flying slower than her usual pace. "Yeah, that was real fun Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said with a weary grin. "We'll have to do it again someday." She noticed that Pinkie Pie showed no signs of exhaustion or drowsiness, even though they had both been running, or rather flying and bouncing, about all day. Typical Pinkie, Rainbow dash thought, smiling to herself. No matter how much Rainbow Dash trained, she couldn't best Pinkie Pie's endless well of energy. In fact, she doubted anypony in all of Equestria had more energy than Pinkie. I should convince her to be a contestant in the Running of the Leaves. I would definitely win a lot of bets... Her absent smile became wider as her mind drifted off to the prospect of winning piles of money from betting with other ponies. "Why are you smiling, Dashie?" Pinkie's voice pierced through Rainbow Dash's thoughts. "Not that there isn't any reason to smile, I've been smiling all day! Actually, I smile everyday, unless there's something not to smile about, then I don't smi-" Pinkie Pie was cut off when Rainbow Dash pressed one of her hooves to her mouth. However, that didn't stop her from trying to continue her rambling. "Mmph-mmph. Mmph-mmph mmph." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Pinkie Pie, do you ever stop talking?" Rainbow Dash asked sarcastically. She caught herself just in time, and hurriedly interrupted Pinkie before she could respond with another round of endless chatter. "Listen Pinkie, I have to go. I have to practice my moves. Didn't get a chance to today," Rainbow Dash told Pinkie Pie, fluttering her pegasus wings for emphasis. Pinkie seemed crestfallen at first, but quickly returned to her bright and cheerful nature. "Okay Rainbow Dash! I'll see you someday!" Pinkie Pie hopped her way to Ponyville, leaving Rainbow Dash to consider her unusual wording. Eventually, she gave up, dismissing it as a case of the Pinkies, and slowly began to fly towards her home above the nearby town. I'm in no shape to practice my moves, I'm way too tired. I'll practice all day tomorrow, first thing in the morning. She thought to herself. Yes, tomorrow will be a day of training for the Wonderbolts. During her serene flight towards the small cloud she called home, she couldn't help but feel a little regret over the way she had abruptly parted ways with Pinkie. That brief moment of sadness on her face told her that, underneath the smile, Pinkie was disappointed. Well, it's not like it's my job to hang out with her everyday. Besides, she has other friends. I'm sure she can find something to keep herself busy. However, even with her attempts to justify her decision to practice tomorrow instead of enjoying the day with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash began to question her priorities. The Wonderbolts, or her best friend? Rainbow Dash thought this through, and decided that, if there came a time where she had to decide, she would choose a spot in her dream team over her friend. Or would she? Of course, just practicing her moves didn't guarantee her a position among the elite flyers. The silent argument in her mind continued on until she arrived at her destination. It was interesting how she got to where she wanted to go without paying an ounce of attention during the trip. Must be a pegasus thing... Reaching her lone cloud in the otherwise clear night sky, Rainbow Dash plopped herself down on her back and looked up towards the heavens. The stars sure are pretty tonight. Princess Luna sure is good at putting them in just the right spots. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but start to count them, it had helped her sleep when she was restless, and it eventually became a habit. Now, she counts stars every night, regardless of how sleepy she is.. 1... 2... 3... 4... wait, did I count that one already? I'll just start over. However, she would have to resume this count the next night, as sleep pulled her heavy eyelids shut. Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes. Immediately, she noticed that her cloud was unnaturally stiff. However, as she turned to her side to investigate, she realized that what she was on was no cloud. Suddenly wide awake, Rainbow Dash bolted up from her lying position. She was on the ground, a field of grass surrounding her. This wasn't anything to unusual, Rainbow Dash had woken up to find that she had accidentally fallen off of her cloud during the night before. But something wasn't right about this... Looking around, she found what was causing this feeling. The sky, if you could call it that, was a muted gray. Where endless sapphire zenith was supposed to be, was a single-tone, depressing gray. There were no clouds drifting lazily in the sky, no bright sun or gloomy moon. It was as if she was staring into a void. Suddenly, a shrill cry reached Rainbow Dash's ears. "Rainbow Dash! Help me!" Was that Pinkie Pie? Rainbow Dash jumped to her feet, and leaped high into the air, preparing to take flight. The familiar rush of air whipped against her face as she took off. Rainbow Dash stretched out her cyan wings, preparing to ascend, to pinpoint the origin of this plea for help. Immediately, she felt something was wrong. Everything should have been a blur by now. The space on the ground where she was before taking off should have been rapidly shrinking in her perspective. Instead, it seemed to be doing just the opposite... Oh fu- Following this realization was the sensation of her falling face-first into the ground. It took a moment for Rainbow Dash to pull her head out of the dirt and figure out what had just happened. She had never failed to take off before. Even in her filly years, she was a master at basic flight maneuvers, such as taking off and landing. It was the flips and dives that she couldn't seem to master until later during her time as a Junior Speedster. So why would she be unable to do something as simple as get off the ground? Unless... A sudden flashback to her wingless form during her time in the palace labryinth shot through her mind. Quickly, Rainbow Dash turned her head as far as she could in order to see her back. No wings. A dreadful panic washed over her. She felt trapped on her feet. It was as if there were ropes constricting her frame, restricting all but the tiniest of movements. How could this have happened? Has Discord returned? But that's impossible, we trapped him with the Elements of Harmony... Yes, Discord couldn't have any part in this... Once again, Rainbow Dash was snapped out of her thoughts by another scream. It had to be Pinkie Pie, her voice... Rainbow Dash looked frantically around her, and saw Pinkie Pie in the distance, a pink speck against the endless gray. Feeling hopelessly slow as she was forced to stay grounded, Rainbow Dash bolted towards the sight of her friend. As she ran, Rainbow Dash noticed that the field of grass didn't stretch forever. She had been staring at the gray blanket of sky before she heard Pinkie Pie, so she had failed to take notice of the landscape. It was more of an island, in the middle of an endless sea. Except that there was no sea. Where there should have been ocean, there was nothing. The sky seemed to extend downwards, the same dull gray as whatever was above. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were on a floating island, in the middle of an endless void. Looking around and trying to take in as much as she can, Rainbow Dash noticed that the island had the general shape of a dumbbell. There were two bulbous fields at the ends of the island, joined by a thinner "bridge" of grass. She had awoke on one end, and Pinkie was on the other. Why couldn't she just come towards me? As she set foot on the narrow bridge of green, there was a loud rumbling sound, as well as what seemed to be the largest earthquake Rainbow Dash had ever experienced. She saw that the portion of the island Pinkie Pie was on began to tear away from the bridge. No! Rainbow Dash ran harder, her hooves digging into the ground. "Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie shouted. Rainbow Dash now saw what was keeping Pinkie from moving. Where she hadn't noticed before, Rainbow Dash saw two figures donning full blue bodysuits pinning Pinkie Pie down, one on each side of her body. "You let go of her, you-" The two ponies had turned to face her. What she saw almost made her stop her breakneck pace. "Soarin? Spitfire?" The two Wonderbolts looked at Rainbow Dash, and laughed. Not a light, humorous laugh, but a sick, cruel, taunting laugh. The island seemed to creep slowly away from the bridge. Rainbow Dash, full of confusion and anger, pressed herself, determined to get to Pinkie Pie before the gap between the two land masses grew too far apart. Everything began to blur together as she pressed on. Faster and faster she ran, until her legs were but a blur against the green stretch of land. She was going to make it... Suddenly, her hooves clung to the grass. She fell forward, something catching her leg. She looked back, and saw tendrils of azure fabric creeping up towards her face, snaking around her body. As much as she tried to struggle, Rainbow Dash knew it was no use; the fabric used to make the bodysuits for the Wonderbolts were designed to withstand the tearing force of several dozen G's. She was just a pegasus, she stood no chance of escaping. Spitfire began to speak. However, her voice wasn't what Rainbow Dash remembered it to be. When she spoke to Spitfire at the Gala, her voice was elegant an graceful, with a hint of her rebellious personality. Now, she practically spat the words out of her mouth. Bitterness and contempt was all she heard. "Ah, Rainbow Dash. If only you would have realized. You could never be a Wonderbolt if you didn't make..." She paused for a moment, looking for the right word. The corners of her mouth jerked upwards as hissed out the next word. "Sacrifices." Soarin began where she left off. "We knew a silly little girl like you would never have figured it out on your own, so we decided to help you. You can start by waving goodbye to your friend here." Pinkie Pie remained ominously silent. She kept her gaze directed at the ground directly beneath her. Rainbow Dash noticed that the blades of grass clung to the tear drops that had fallen onto them. The two Wonderbolts, two of Rainbow Dash's biggest idols, had made her best friend cry. She wanted nothing more than to break free of her bindings and end them both, here in this messed up excuse for a world. The two pegasi began laughing. It started off as nothing more but a chuckle, but crescendo-ed to booming, cackling laughter, tipped with venom that hurt more than any other. Horrified, Rainbow Dash realized why they were laughing. The strips of fabric had reached her face. She was clad in the full Wonderbolts flight suit, goggles and all. She was one of them. The laughter continued to ring in her ears until she nearly collapsed from the overwhelming sound. Suddenly, she felt the fabric leaving her skin, and the Wonderbolts disappeared without a trace. Pinkie Pie was leaning over the edge of the island. She was crying, tears streaming down her face. Why was she crying? It was then Rainbow Dash noticed that the space between the two islands was too big for her to cover without her wings. Helplessly, Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie. "I'm so sorry, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said, a tone of defeat in her voice. She looked down at her hooves, unable to face her friend. "W-Why are you sorry, Dashie? You have nothing to apologize for," Pinkie replied softly. It was obvious she was fighting back sobs. "I shouldn't have kept you from your dreams. You should become a Wonderbolt. The suit goes well with your mane." "No! I just want to be with you right now. I would give anything to be with you, and Applejack and Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Just us six, the best of friends, together." She found that she genuinely meant that, without any hint of regret for her words. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't make it in time." She hung her head in defeat. "You can make it, Dashie. All you need is a hop, skip, and jump." Rainbow Dash looked up. Pinkie was smiling, but it was obviously forced. Tears were streaming down her face, and she was shaking. A tear escaped Rainbow Dash's eyes. "No, Pinkie. I can't make that. I don't have my wings." "Yes you can!" Pinkie shouted. It wasn't a joyful shout, like the one she would use when she saw that everyone she invited came to her party. It was painful, like a mother losing her daughter. "You never know unless you try, Dashie! Do it for me!" Her voice was laced heavily with desperation and hopelessness. Both of them knew that Rainbow Dash would fail if she tried. "Do it for us..." "I'm so sorry, Pinkie. This is all because of me. It's my fault. I put what I wanted before you. I wasn't going to hang out with you, and spend all day training to be in the Wonderbolts." Rainbow Dash stomped on the ground in frustration. "I thought what I wanted was more important than my best friend." She choked out a sob. Pinkie Pie had lost it right then and there. She was bawling, trying to say something that Rainbow Dash couldn't understand. "D-Dashie... It's alright... I won't force you if you don't want to... Goodbye. Tell all our friends that I'll miss them... I'll miss you..." Pinkie Pie began choking on her tears. "And remember, there's... There's always something to smile about..." In that moment, Rainbow Dash got up off her feet. She looked fiercely at Pinkie, and gave her a sad smile. She then began backpedaling slowly. Pinkie Pie, realizing what she was about to do, hurriedly shouted. "Stop, Dashie. We both know you can't make it!" "We'll never know unless I try, right?" Rainbow Dash managed to get out, forcing a smile. "I'm taking a leap of faith here." And before Pinkie Pie had a chance to stop, Rainbow Dash galloped full speed towards the gap and... jumped. For a moment, Rainbow Dash thought she was going to make it. She seemed high enough, and she was definitely going fast enough. A lifetime of taking off and landing hard assured her that much. Even Pinkie Pie seemed surprised, surprised that Rainbow Dash would make it. Yes, she would definitely make it. She couldn't not make it... Suddenly, everything went wrong. The whole world began to tumble, and rather than plummet into the gaping void, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie began to slip into free-fall. It was as if the world was thrown into a washing machine, everything was tumbling endlessly. Rainbow Dash couldn't tell ground from sky. Then, everything righted itself in an instant, and an unseen ground rushed up to meet her. Rainbow Dash woke with a start. Once again, she found herself on the ground. This time, however, the sky was blue, blue like it should be, the same brilliant blue ceiling that she found comfort in. She could see her cloud looming over her, like an old friend waiting to help her up off the ground. The familiar smells of a Ponyville morning filled her lungs and teased her senses. Mmmm, cupcakes... Before she had a chance to gather herself, however, a familiar voice called her name. "Dashieee~! It's someday!" Pinkie Pie sang as she bounced towards Rainbow Dash. After what Rainbow Dash had just experienced, it seemed incredible that Pinkie could have such an oblivious facial expression. She noticed that Pinkie Pie had brought a trampoline with her, but since Rainbow Dash fell off her cloud during the night, she wouldn't be needing it. No sooner had she come within sight of Rainbow Dash, however, had she been tackled off her feet by her best friend, who broke down sobbing in her arms. "Pinkie Pie! I thought I never would have seen you again!" Rainbow Dash sobbed. Pinkie Pie, utterly confused, nevertheless embraced her friend and comforted her. She was a cheerful, carefree pony, but she knew when her friends needed a serious pony to be with them. "Aw, Dashie, don't cry. I'll always be here for you," Pinkie Pie assured her pegasus friend soflly, patting Rainbow Dash on the back. A thought popped into Rainbow Dash's mind. She had promised herself that she would practice all day today for the Wonderbolts. "Hey Pinkie Pie..." Rainbow Dash started slowly. "Yeah Dashie?" Pinkie replied, beaming at her. "I think we should go get something to eat before we hang out all day." Rainbow Dash replied, giving Pinkie Pie a shaky grin. "Greeaaat idea!" Pinkie shouted, startling Rainbow Dash. It was a joyful shout. Without notice, she jumped onto Rainbow Dash's back, nearly causing both ponies to fall to the ground. "Take us to Sugarcube Corner!" Rainbow Dash, catching her balance, looked up at Pinkie Pie, a look of indignation on her face. "Pinkie, you could have seriously hurt me! And the Sugarcube Corner in the morning?" She said this, noting in the back of her mind that she had wanted cupcakes as soon as she woke up. "You must be out of your mi-" She stopped midsentence. Her annoyance and anger towards her friend quickly evaporated. "Okay, Pinkie Pie. Let's go to Sugarcube Corner." Pinkie Pie grinned as the pair set off. Both ponies giggled uncontrollably together during the whole trip to Ponyville. "It's great to have you back, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash said, sighing happily. She noted that she would have to take her priorities into serious reconsideration from now on. Taking OffThe peaceful, azure sky of Equestria was interrupted as two pegasi, fully clad in blue, zoomed over the green landscape. Both ponies wore full bodysuits. As they flew, they left two trails in their roaring wake, one of smoke and thunder, the other a bright and vivid rainbow. Eventually, both mares landed, brushing their wild manes down. "That was all me," Spitfire said, an air of competition in her voice. Her opponent scoffed harshly, rolling her eyes. "Puh-lease, I won that by a long shot, and you know it," Rainbow Dash replied. "Looks like the captain's losing her steam." Spitfire considered this comeback for a moment, then abruptly tackled the cyan pegasus, pulling both herself and her opponent to the ground. Soon, both ponies lay on the ground, panting. They slowly got up, giggling. Brushing the grass off of her suit, Spitfire turned to Rainbow Dash. "Let's go, we've got a show to put on, and quite frankly, we can't do that if we're not there in the first place." "Too bad I'm going to be there first." Rainbow Dash said, ruffling her wings. "Over my dead body, rookie." In mere seconds, both pegasi were rapidly shrinking dots on the horizon. As Rainbow Dash performed, she couldn't help but notice her friends in the stands. They hadn't told her they were coming, and their presence had nearly thrown off her concentration. Luckily for her, the stunts she had to pull off were practiced so many times that they were like second nature to her. For her first performance, she couldn't help but feel good about her performance so far. She found her mind drifting off. She had made up her mind about a month ago. After hearing, no, experiencing Spitfire's story, Rainbow Dash had lost herself to thought. Twilight had been the one to convince her to pursue her dreams. When Twilight returned from escorting Soarin to Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash had told her what happened, and asked her what she thought of the situation. She couldn't remember much of what happened that night, but she remembered that Twilight, for the first time ever, had truly raised her voice in anger at Rainbow Dash. Being a mare of logic, Twilight eventually won the argument, and convinced Rainbow Dash to become a Wonderbolt. "If you're so worried about your friends, how do you think they'll feel when they find out that they're the reason you gave up on your dreams?" When Twilight said that, it had settled everything for Rainbow Dash. She flew to Fillydelphia and met with Spitfire, where she was formally inducted into the Wonderbolts. After that, everything was a blur of drills and practices. It was terrible, and the aches and pains coursing through her body were proof of this, but she enjoyed it. Of course, she had risen above all expectations, so Spitfire, to Rainbow Dash's delight, had let her take four days a week off, compared to the normal two. She had spent all the time she could find with her friends, and to her relief, her original fears of abandoning them had been dismissed. She still was as close to her friends as she ever was, maybe even more than she had been prior to her becoming a Wonderbolt. She felt a nudge, and found herself looking at Spitfire. The orange-maned pegasus nodded upwards. She knew what that meant without needing any further explanation. Sonic Rainboom. With a beat of her wings, Rainbow Dash was shooting upwards. Reaching a high point in the sky, a point where her lungs nearly gave out due to the altitude, she stopped flapping her wings and began to slip into free fall. This is as close as I'll ever get to Glider. She thought, looking up at the dark blue zenith. Letting gravity do the work, she felt herself being pulled back to the stadium. She felt herself going faster and faster, as she adjusted her body as well as the tilt of her wings and began to accelerate rapidly, the angle of her wings causing her to corkscrew. It was unnecessary, but Spitfire had suggested it for appeal. A blur of orange and blue told her that Spitfire was to her left, following her descent. "I'd like to thank everyone who made this possible," Rainbow Dash shouted over the deafening roar of the wind. She didn't know why she said it, but it felt right. "Without you guys, I wouldn't have gotten anywhere near where I am today," Spitfire shouted back, continuing Rainbow Dash's mock speech. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire began to alternate between names worthy of their mention. "Twilight and Applejack-" "Mom and Dad-" "Fluttershy and Rarity-" "Soarin and Aerial Ace-" "Pinkie Pie-" "Glider-" The two pegasi hit dead silence, the calm before the storm, a split second before the Sonic Rainboom shattered the sound barrier. It was as if Equestria itself held it's breath, if only for a moment, in anticipation. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire turned to look at each other, and in perfect unison said: "You guys complete me." Boom. Thank you so much for reading. If you find any errors, or think something should be changed, let me know, I'll do my best to help. I hope you had a great time reading this. If you like my work, don't hesitate to track me, I'll be writing a lot more in the future. Thanks. -Lights I'd like to thank everyone over at #EquestrianStudy (fanfic chatroom of EqD) who had acted as prereaders and helped this story get to where it is today. Seriously, I can't thank you guys enough. Also, a huge thanks to my friend Vivian, who did the cover artwork with pencil and paper, a very tedious way to draw artwork as apposed to computerized tablets and the likes.
Landing"Are you sure this is the place?" Soarin asked. The two Wonderbolts had traveled to Ponyville in search of none other than Rainbow Dash, the ecstatic cyan pegasus that they had gotten to know after she had won the title of Best Young Flyer. It had been a day of practice and training, and the two Wonderbolts were impressed by her mastery in the art of flying. "Don't sweat it, Soarin. All the bearers of the Elements live in Ponyville, you know that." Both of them, of course, have heard of the Elements of Harmony and the ponies that wielded them. After all, being saved from both eternal night and chaos doesn't go without notice, and definitely not without wondering who had done the saving. Unfortunately, they hadn't figured out that Rainbow Dash was the one of the six until after she had left their company, and they haven't had a chance to see her since. However, the Elements of Harmony wasn't the reason the two ponies were here. A brown parcel rested in one of Spitfire's saddlebags, to be hoof-delivered to Rainbow Dash. After all, becoming a Wonderbolt should warrant a personal visit. She thought to herself. It was something she had started herself when she became captain of the Wonderbolts. After all, it feels a lot better to be told through actual members rather than some scroll in the mail. Dear Celestia, these bags are uncomfortable... Spitfire bent her head down to loosen the straps to a more bearable degree of tightness. "Hey, there's one of her friends. Maybe she knows where Rainbow Dash is," Soarin suggested. Spitfire looked up and saw a violet unicorn cantering through the town square. Twilight Sparkle, the bearer of the Element of Magic. Spitfire and Soarin took off, covering the distance between them and Twilight in a matter of seconds. "Twilight Sparkle?" Spitfire started. Twilight looked over, evidently taking no notice of the two landing next to her. The surprise on her face gave way to a look of recognition as she found herself in front of the two Wonderbolts. "Hello, how can I help you?" Twilight asked Spitfire. "We're looking for Rainbow Dash. Do you have any idea where she might be?" Spitfire responded, asking a question of her own. Spitfire had noticed a crowd of ponies had gathered around the group, no doubt drawn in by the two blue-suited pegasi. "I was actually on my way to see her. You two are welcome to join me," Twilight offered. Spitfire nodded gratefully, both due to the unicorn's generosity and because she didn't particularly like crowds. Crowds meant fans, and fans meant signatures. Soon enough, the three were trotting out of Ponyville. It took a while for Spitfire to notice that there was an air of awkward silence between the trio. Having been coached on the art of conversation, she chose to strike up a conversation with their guide. "Why might you be meeting Rainbow Dash, if you don't mind me asking?" Spitfire asked, hoping that Twilight would jump into the conversation. Fortunately, Twilight was quite a clever pony, and caught on quickly. She hurriedly took the lead and responded. "I've been wanting to see her for some time, actually. Oh, it's nothing big," Twilight explained when Spitfire gave her a questioning look. "I just need to know the weather schedule for next month." Rainbow Dash is in charge of weather here? She didn't seem like a pony who would take on that type of responsibilty... Spitfire noticed that while she was thinking to herself, the air of uncomfortable silence had returned. She sighed inwardly in thanks when Twilight decided to press on. "And what brings you here to see her?" "I have some news for Rainbow Dash, as well as something to deliver." Spitfire emphasized this by glancing over to her saddlebags. Twilight followed Spitfire's line of vision and stared at the package in Spitfire's bags, then at the two blue bodysuits the two pegasi were wearing. Her eyes suddenly took on a look of realization, and she beamed at Spitfire excitedly. This one certainly catches on fast... "Rainbow Dash will be overjoyed when she hears!" Twilight said, positively giddy for her pegasus friend. "She's been dreaming of this day since I met her, you know," She added. The unicorn's last statement triggered a flashback in Spitfire's mind. She remembered the day she became a Wonderbolt. How happy she had been, rocketing around her home in Fillydelphia. She was certain Rainbow Dash would have the same reaction, if not more enthusiastic. That would have been a perfect day if- "Here we are. Rainbow Dash is housekeeping for Fluttershy while she's on a trip," Twilight said, breaking through Spitfire's thoughts. She found herself looking at a cozy little cottage on a hill, with the Everfree Forest behind it. A sudden movement from Soarin caused Spitfire to turn her gaze. He had his nose up to the sky, as if he had smelled something in the air. Spitfire shook her head, clearing her mind of her thoughts. Don't go back that far, Spitfire. You'll only hurt yourself. "Say, Twilight Sparkle, doesn't that earth pony live around here? The one that sold me the delicious apple pie?" Soarin asked, looking over at Twilight. It was the first time he had spoken since they had met Twilight. She nodded, certainly thinking of her friend Applejack, and Soarin smiled dreamily, his thoughts drifting back to the night of the Gala. Spitfire laughed, shaking her head. Only Soarin would be able to smell an apple orchard from a mile away. The three ponies reached the front door to the cottage, and Twilight gave the door a light rap. "Rainbow Dash! Are you in there?" Some time passed before there was a response. "Yeah, coming!" The door soon opened to reveal the cyan pegasus. She had obviously just woken up, as her eyes were half closed and her mane was a mess in some places. She seemed a bit dizzy. However, after opening the door fully, she noticed the two blue-clad pegasi standing next to Twilight, and all thoughts of sleep vanished from her mind. Spitfire expected Rainbow Dash to instantly be all over the two Wonderbolts, like how she had been during the few times they had met. However, instead of things going as expected, an air of tension came over the four ponies. A heavy silence hung in the space between them as Rainbow Dash's gaze swept over the three visitors slowly and deliberately. Soarin, noticing this tension a bit too late, did his best to dispel the awkwardness. "I'm a bit peckish, actually, the flight burned up a lot of fuel. You've got this, don't you Spitfire? I think I'm going to go to that apple orchard, see if I can convince the pony to make a pie." "I'll show you the way!" Twilight added quickly, a bit too loudly for comfort. Both ponies set off hurriedly, leaving Spitfire and Rainbow Dash by themselves. "I take it you wanted to speak to me?" Rainbow Dash asked after a lengthy silence. Spitfire noticed that she looked confused and frustrated. This was not how she had expected this encounter to be. "Umm, can I come in?" Spitfire asked. She knew this would take some time to explain, as there were formalities to the induction. "Of course." Rainbow Dash stepped out of the way for Spitfire. As she entered the cottage, she noticed a pillow and a blanket on the couch nearby. Looks like that's where she had been sleeping until we came. She took up a chair next to the makeshift bed, as Rainbow Dash sat on top of her arrangement. "I take it you can guess why I'm here?" Spitfire started. As she started to speak, she couldn't help but think to herself. This wasn't the Rainbow Dash she knew. Even if they had only a day to meet each other, Spitfire knew that Rainbow Dash would have been much more enthusiastic of her presence. "Actually, I have no idea." Rainbow Dash responded flatly. This was a lie, and both of them knew it. Immediately, the cyan pegasus cast down her eyes, choosing to study the wooden floor. Spitfire couldn't help but cringe on the inside. Why is this happening? "Well," Spitfire continued, trying to ignore the increasing tension in the conversation. "The other Wonderbolts and I thought about it for a while, and after what you showed us during our time together, we decided that you'd make a great addition to the team." She did her best to give Rainbow Dash a smile. "So what do you say?" She added, after Rainbow Dash didn't respond. "Want to be a Wonderbolt?" For a long time, Rainbow Dash sat there looking down at her hooves. It was evident that she was fighting with herself on the inside. But why? This should have been a no-brainer for any pegasus, especially Rainbow Dash. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Rainbow Dash looked up at Spitfire. "No thanks." After a lot of convincing on Spitfire's part, Rainbow Dash reluctantly decided to tell her about her dream, which was the reason for why she had declined. She told Spitfire about how she felt that she had let her obsession with the Wonderbolts take over her life, and how she realized that she had been neglecting the value of her friendships. The whole time, she looked as if she was about to burst into tears. It struck a pain in Spitfire's heart. She eventually finished with "I know that I'm giving up a chance of fame and wealth, as well as a chance to be with my idols when I say no, but ever since I've given up on my dream of becoming a Wonderbolt, I've been the happiest I've ever been in my life." Spitfire stirred. This was starting to sound familiar... "Listen, Rainbow Dash..." she began hesitantly. Are you really going to do this? She asked herself. "I'm going to tell you about a story of my past. After you hear me out, if you still decline, then I'll fully respect your decision, and leave without argument. But please promise me you'll listen." Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, unsure of where this was going. Spitfire took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. She was opening up forgotten wounds, and they hurt. After a long silence, she began. "Before I became a Wonderbolt, I was the definition of antisocial. I didn't talk to anyone, save my closest friends. I was teased in school because of my reckless flying. Inevitably, I became depressed. Depressed because of the world, depressed because of myself, I don't remember. But it felt as if life wasn't even worth living anymore. And one day, I decided to end it all. I told my closest friend, Glider, and nopony else of what I was going to do that night. I decided to take my life by jumping to my death. I thought it would be pretty ironic, being a pegasus and all. It would surely give my tormenters a laugh. Later that night, I found myself on a cloud. I was going to jump, about to end it all there, all my misery and sorrow. I leaned forward, and closed my eyes. But then I thought of the few friends I had. They were teased as well, some more than me. I would be letting them down if I did this." As Spitfire told her story, she couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind. My family... They were never there for me. My classmates... All they did was make fun of me. But what about my friends? They'll be really sad once Glider tells them... Is this really worth it? Am I really going to do this...? No, it's for the best, maybe without me my friends will learn to move on... "I reasoned with myself, trying to justify my actions as much as I can. I decided that I would jump. I felt my hooves edging closer and closer off the cloud. Then, in a sudden burst of frustration, I flung myself off, wings glued to my side. As I was falling to my death, my mind drifted towards Glider. How sad she had been when I told her what I was going to do. How trapped she had looked when I told her she couldn't tell anyone. She was brave. And at that moment, I heard someone call my name. I opened my eyes, and saw Glider, rocketing towards me. But that's the thing, Glider was teased for her flying skills. She never went nearly as fast as any of the other pegasi, and she would always crash or swerve off of the flight course during training. Yet there she was, probably flying faster than anypony I knew. She tackled me, mid-flight, and brought me to safety." Spitfire noticed she had staring at the ground. She looked up, and saw Rainbow Dash staring at her, enthralled by her story. She took a shaky breath, and continued. "When we landed, she pulled me in for a hug, and we didn't let go for a long time. We were both crying. She convinced me that life was worth living. She had been there for me when I was at my weakest. Sure enough, things got better. I tried harder to improve my flying, and soon, I was at the top of my class in flight school. Nopony could make fun of me anymore, and nopony did. But when you're the top of your class, you stop hanging around the ponies that were at the bottom. I abandoned all of my true friends, including Glider, for the ones that had bullied me all this time. The ones that almost brought me to ending my own life." Spitfire paused for a second. The more she talked, the more she hurt inside. She didn't want to do this. "What happened to us, Spitfire? We were the best of friends." Glider asked, tears in her eyes. "We are friends, Glider. It's just that..." Spitfire shook her head to clear her thoughts, and pressed on. "The day I was accepted into the Wonderbolts was the best day of my life. When I came into school wearing the uniform of the best flight team in Equestria, it was a feeling like no other. I was congratulated all the way to class. That day, Glider passed me a note. It was the first time we had talked in a few months. The note said that she would take her life that night, in the exact same place and time that I had tried. For a second, I was worried, worried that my savior would need to be saved. But when I looked over at her, she gave me a goofy grin, so I thought she was joking. I didn't think about it until... Until..." Spitfire choked on her words. "You can stop if you want, I know it must be hard for you." Rainbow Dash said, a look of genuine concern on her face. "No, you promised you would listen, and I promised I would tell you." Spitfire returned her gaze to the floor once again. Her chest felt heavy as she began to recite the next part of her memory. "My friends threw a party for me that night. It was great, I had never felt so alive in my life. I came home really late at night, tired and beat. I came home to a crying mother and a somber-looking member of the Royal Guard." Rainbow Dash put two and two together, and realized what the pegasus had meant. Her friend stayed true to her word, and took her own life. Spitfire was shaking slightly. "I had let my friend end her life. I hadn't been there for her, like she had been for me. She had saved me from taking my own life, and I couldn't have even been bothered to do the same. And not only that, but she made sure that I know where I could find her. I felt beyond terrible. I cried all night. I tore my Wonderbolts suit off of my shaking body and threw it against the wall. Nothing mattered to me right now. That night, I made a lot of important decisions. I told myself that I wouldn't join the Wonderbolts. Someone as pathetic as me didn't deserve to be a part of the best flying team in Equestria. I felt as if I had disregarded the importance of my friendships. I lived the ensuing days in grief. I cut off all ties with the ponies I had dared call friends. I would catch myself crying in school, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. A few days later, the same Royal Guard who had been there on the night of Glider's... He came to my house. He handed me her suicide letter, saying that it was addressed to me. He turned and flew off after I had taken the note. She wrote: Spitfire, I know you're going to beat yourself up for this Just know that it wasn't your fault I'm so proud of my best friend If you even have the slightest idea of not becoming a Wonderbolt Stop. It's what you've always wanted Become the best Wonderbolt ever From wherever I may end up I'll be watching you, guiding you I love you, make me proud. One last thing, never forget that there's always something to smile about. "So I became a Wonderbolt. Not for the fame, not for the glory, not for the riches. I did it for my friend, who would have wanted me to. My friend, who cared about me more than she cared for herself. Glider... I was on her mind when she died..." Spitfire had finished, and was silently weeping, her shoulders rocking. "Glider was a brave pony. And so were you, Spitfire." Rainbow Dash said. "You did what I'm too cowardly to do." The silence that followed stretched for several long minutes, before Spitfire abruptly got up. "Thank you for listening to my story," she said, turning towards the cyan pegasus. "I think that did more help to me than it did to you. I've never told that story before, to anyone." "The pleasure was mine," Rainbow Dash said absently. She was slightly dazed at the Spitfire she had just seen. It was nothing like what she had painted in her mind's eye. The Spitfire she knew was strong, rebellious, tough. The pegasus in front of her was broken and helpless. "But... I'll still have to think about my decision." Spitfire gave a weak smile, and turned to leave. "True to your word. I like it. Listen, I know that it'll take some time, but if you change your mind, we'll be waiting with open arms. You'd make a great addition to the team. Goodbye Rainbow Dash, may you find happiness with whichever road you take." With that, Spitfire walked out of Fluttershy's cottage, in search of Soarin. Rainbow Dash noticed that she had left her saddlebags on the chair she had occupied, along with the neatly-wrapped parcel. She knew what it was. She just didn't know if she could bear to face it yet.
Falling"Wow, Dashie! That was the funnest, funnerific, fun day ever!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she was bouncing along the dirt path to Ponyville. The two ponies' day consisted of pranking the various citizens of the bright little town. Some of the wonderfully planned out traps surely had been among the best of their trickster careers. Their last prank, which involved a small garbage bag full of leaves and a generous amount of butter, left them walking away from Fluttershy's cottage near the Everfree Forest. The sun was setting, now just a sliver of light on the horizon, and both ponies were exhausted from hanging out since morning. Even Rainbow Dash, one of the most athletic ponies in Ponyville, found herself flying slower than her usual pace. "Yeah, that was real fun Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said with a weary grin. "We'll have to do it again someday." She noticed that Pinkie Pie showed no signs of exhaustion or drowsiness, even though they had both been running, or rather flying and bouncing, about all day. Typical Pinkie, Rainbow dash thought, smiling to herself. No matter how much Rainbow Dash trained, she couldn't best Pinkie Pie's endless well of energy. In fact, she doubted anypony in all of Equestria had more energy than Pinkie. I should convince her to be a contestant in the Running of the Leaves. I would definitely win a lot of bets... Her absent smile became wider as her mind drifted off to the prospect of winning piles of money from betting with other ponies. "Why are you smiling, Dashie?" Pinkie's voice pierced through Rainbow Dash's thoughts. "Not that there isn't any reason to smile, I've been smiling all day! Actually, I smile everyday, unless there's something not to smile about, then I don't smi-" Pinkie Pie was cut off when Rainbow Dash pressed one of her hooves to her mouth. However, that didn't stop her from trying to continue her rambling. "Mmph-mmph. Mmph-mmph mmph." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Pinkie Pie, do you ever stop talking?" Rainbow Dash asked sarcastically. She caught herself just in time, and hurriedly interrupted Pinkie before she could respond with another round of endless chatter. "Listen Pinkie, I have to go. I have to practice my moves. Didn't get a chance to today," Rainbow Dash told Pinkie Pie, fluttering her pegasus wings for emphasis. Pinkie seemed crestfallen at first, but quickly returned to her bright and cheerful nature. "Okay Rainbow Dash! I'll see you someday!" Pinkie Pie hopped her way to Ponyville, leaving Rainbow Dash to consider her unusual wording. Eventually, she gave up, dismissing it as a case of the Pinkies, and slowly began to fly towards her home above the nearby town. I'm in no shape to practice my moves, I'm way too tired. I'll practice all day tomorrow, first thing in the morning. She thought to herself. Yes, tomorrow will be a day of training for the Wonderbolts. During her serene flight towards the small cloud she called home, she couldn't help but feel a little regret over the way she had abruptly parted ways with Pinkie. That brief moment of sadness on her face told her that, underneath the smile, Pinkie was disappointed. Well, it's not like it's my job to hang out with her everyday. Besides, she has other friends. I'm sure she can find something to keep herself busy. However, even with her attempts to justify her decision to practice tomorrow instead of enjoying the day with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash began to question her priorities. The Wonderbolts, or her best friend? Rainbow Dash thought this through, and decided that, if there came a time where she had to decide, she would choose a spot in her dream team over her friend. Or would she? Of course, just practicing her moves didn't guarantee her a position among the elite flyers. The silent argument in her mind continued on until she arrived at her destination. It was interesting how she got to where she wanted to go without paying an ounce of attention during the trip. Must be a pegasus thing... Reaching her lone cloud in the otherwise clear night sky, Rainbow Dash plopped herself down on her back and looked up towards the heavens. The stars sure are pretty tonight. Princess Luna sure is good at putting them in just the right spots. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but start to count them, it had helped her sleep when she was restless, and it eventually became a habit. Now, she counts stars every night, regardless of how sleepy she is.. 1... 2... 3... 4... wait, did I count that one already? I'll just start over. However, she would have to resume this count the next night, as sleep pulled her heavy eyelids shut. Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes. Immediately, she noticed that her cloud was unnaturally stiff. However, as she turned to her side to investigate, she realized that what she was on was no cloud. Suddenly wide awake, Rainbow Dash bolted up from her lying position. She was on the ground, a field of grass surrounding her. This wasn't anything to unusual, Rainbow Dash had woken up to find that she had accidentally fallen off of her cloud during the night before. But something wasn't right about this... Looking around, she found what was causing this feeling. The sky, if you could call it that, was a muted gray. Where endless sapphire zenith was supposed to be, was a single-tone, depressing gray. There were no clouds drifting lazily in the sky, no bright sun or gloomy moon. It was as if she was staring into a void. Suddenly, a shrill cry reached Rainbow Dash's ears. "Rainbow Dash! Help me!" Was that Pinkie Pie? Rainbow Dash jumped to her feet, and leaped high into the air, preparing to take flight. The familiar rush of air whipped against her face as she took off. Rainbow Dash stretched out her cyan wings, preparing to ascend, to pinpoint the origin of this plea for help. Immediately, she felt something was wrong. Everything should have been a blur by now. The space on the ground where she was before taking off should have been rapidly shrinking in her perspective. Instead, it seemed to be doing just the opposite... Oh fu- Following this realization was the sensation of her falling face-first into the ground. It took a moment for Rainbow Dash to pull her head out of the dirt and figure out what had just happened. She had never failed to take off before. Even in her filly years, she was a master at basic flight maneuvers, such as taking off and landing. It was the flips and dives that she couldn't seem to master until later during her time as a Junior Speedster. So why would she be unable to do something as simple as get off the ground? Unless... A sudden flashback to her wingless form during her time in the palace labryinth shot through her mind. Quickly, Rainbow Dash turned her head as far as she could in order to see her back. No wings. A dreadful panic washed over her. She felt trapped on her feet. It was as if there were ropes constricting her frame, restricting all but the tiniest of movements. How could this have happened? Has Discord returned? But that's impossible, we trapped him with the Elements of Harmony... Yes, Discord couldn't have any part in this... Once again, Rainbow Dash was snapped out of her thoughts by another scream. It had to be Pinkie Pie, her voice... Rainbow Dash looked frantically around her, and saw Pinkie Pie in the distance, a pink speck against the endless gray. Feeling hopelessly slow as she was forced to stay grounded, Rainbow Dash bolted towards the sight of her friend. As she ran, Rainbow Dash noticed that the field of grass didn't stretch forever. She had been staring at the gray blanket of sky before she heard Pinkie Pie, so she had failed to take notice of the landscape. It was more of an island, in the middle of an endless sea. Except that there was no sea. Where there should have been ocean, there was nothing. The sky seemed to extend downwards, the same dull gray as whatever was above. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were on a floating island, in the middle of an endless void. Looking around and trying to take in as much as she can, Rainbow Dash noticed that the island had the general shape of a dumbbell. There were two bulbous fields at the ends of the island, joined by a thinner "bridge" of grass. She had awoke on one end, and Pinkie was on the other. Why couldn't she just come towards me? As she set foot on the narrow bridge of green, there was a loud rumbling sound, as well as what seemed to be the largest earthquake Rainbow Dash had ever experienced. She saw that the portion of the island Pinkie Pie was on began to tear away from the bridge. No! Rainbow Dash ran harder, her hooves digging into the ground. "Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie shouted. Rainbow Dash now saw what was keeping Pinkie from moving. Where she hadn't noticed before, Rainbow Dash saw two figures donning full blue bodysuits pinning Pinkie Pie down, one on each side of her body. "You let go of her, you-" The two ponies had turned to face her. What she saw almost made her stop her breakneck pace. "Soarin? Spitfire?" The two Wonderbolts looked at Rainbow Dash, and laughed. Not a light, humorous laugh, but a sick, cruel, taunting laugh. The island seemed to creep slowly away from the bridge. Rainbow Dash, full of confusion and anger, pressed herself, determined to get to Pinkie Pie before the gap between the two land masses grew too far apart. Everything began to blur together as she pressed on. Faster and faster she ran, until her legs were but a blur against the green stretch of land. She was going to make it... Suddenly, her hooves clung to the grass. She fell forward, something catching her leg. She looked back, and saw tendrils of azure fabric creeping up towards her face, snaking around her body. As much as she tried to struggle, Rainbow Dash knew it was no use; the fabric used to make the bodysuits for the Wonderbolts were designed to withstand the tearing force of several dozen G's. She was just a pegasus, she stood no chance of escaping. Spitfire began to speak. However, her voice wasn't what Rainbow Dash remembered it to be. When she spoke to Spitfire at the Gala, her voice was elegant an graceful, with a hint of her rebellious personality. Now, she practically spat the words out of her mouth. Bitterness and contempt was all she heard. "Ah, Rainbow Dash. If only you would have realized. You could never be a Wonderbolt if you didn't make..." She paused for a moment, looking for the right word. The corners of her mouth jerked upwards as hissed out the next word. "Sacrifices." Soarin began where she left off. "We knew a silly little girl like you would never have figured it out on your own, so we decided to help you. You can start by waving goodbye to your friend here." Pinkie Pie remained ominously silent. She kept her gaze directed at the ground directly beneath her. Rainbow Dash noticed that the blades of grass clung to the tear drops that had fallen onto them. The two Wonderbolts, two of Rainbow Dash's biggest idols, had made her best friend cry. She wanted nothing more than to break free of her bindings and end them both, here in this messed up excuse for a world. The two pegasi began laughing. It started off as nothing more but a chuckle, but crescendo-ed to booming, cackling laughter, tipped with venom that hurt more than any other. Horrified, Rainbow Dash realized why they were laughing. The strips of fabric had reached her face. She was clad in the full Wonderbolts flight suit, goggles and all. She was one of them. The laughter continued to ring in her ears until she nearly collapsed from the overwhelming sound. Suddenly, she felt the fabric leaving her skin, and the Wonderbolts disappeared without a trace. Pinkie Pie was leaning over the edge of the island. She was crying, tears streaming down her face. Why was she crying? It was then Rainbow Dash noticed that the space between the two islands was too big for her to cover without her wings. Helplessly, Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie. "I'm so sorry, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said, a tone of defeat in her voice. She looked down at her hooves, unable to face her friend. "W-Why are you sorry, Dashie? You have nothing to apologize for," Pinkie replied softly. It was obvious she was fighting back sobs. "I shouldn't have kept you from your dreams. You should become a Wonderbolt. The suit goes well with your mane." "No! I just want to be with you right now. I would give anything to be with you, and Applejack and Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Just us six, the best of friends, together." She found that she genuinely meant that, without any hint of regret for her words. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't make it in time." She hung her head in defeat. "You can make it, Dashie. All you need is a hop, skip, and jump." Rainbow Dash looked up. Pinkie was smiling, but it was obviously forced. Tears were streaming down her face, and she was shaking. A tear escaped Rainbow Dash's eyes. "No, Pinkie. I can't make that. I don't have my wings." "Yes you can!" Pinkie shouted. It wasn't a joyful shout, like the one she would use when she saw that everyone she invited came to her party. It was painful, like a mother losing her daughter. "You never know unless you try, Dashie! Do it for me!" Her voice was laced heavily with desperation and hopelessness. Both of them knew that Rainbow Dash would fail if she tried. "Do it for us..." "I'm so sorry, Pinkie. This is all because of me. It's my fault. I put what I wanted before you. I wasn't going to hang out with you, and spend all day training to be in the Wonderbolts." Rainbow Dash stomped on the ground in frustration. "I thought what I wanted was more important than my best friend." She choked out a sob. Pinkie Pie had lost it right then and there. She was bawling, trying to say something that Rainbow Dash couldn't understand. "D-Dashie... It's alright... I won't force you if you don't want to... Goodbye. Tell all our friends that I'll miss them... I'll miss you..." Pinkie Pie began choking on her tears. "And remember, there's... There's always something to smile about..." In that moment, Rainbow Dash got up off her feet. She looked fiercely at Pinkie, and gave her a sad smile. She then began backpedaling slowly. Pinkie Pie, realizing what she was about to do, hurriedly shouted. "Stop, Dashie. We both know you can't make it!" "We'll never know unless I try, right?" Rainbow Dash managed to get out, forcing a smile. "I'm taking a leap of faith here." And before Pinkie Pie had a chance to stop, Rainbow Dash galloped full speed towards the gap and... jumped. For a moment, Rainbow Dash thought she was going to make it. She seemed high enough, and she was definitely going fast enough. A lifetime of taking off and landing hard assured her that much. Even Pinkie Pie seemed surprised, surprised that Rainbow Dash would make it. Yes, she would definitely make it. She couldn't not make it... Suddenly, everything went wrong. The whole world began to tumble, and rather than plummet into the gaping void, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie began to slip into free-fall. It was as if the world was thrown into a washing machine, everything was tumbling endlessly. Rainbow Dash couldn't tell ground from sky. Then, everything righted itself in an instant, and an unseen ground rushed up to meet her. Rainbow Dash woke with a start. Once again, she found herself on the ground. This time, however, the sky was blue, blue like it should be, the same brilliant blue ceiling that she found comfort in. She could see her cloud looming over her, like an old friend waiting to help her up off the ground. The familiar smells of a Ponyville morning filled her lungs and teased her senses. Mmmm, cupcakes... Before she had a chance to gather herself, however, a familiar voice called her name. "Dashieee~! It's someday!" Pinkie Pie sang as she bounced towards Rainbow Dash. After what Rainbow Dash had just experienced, it seemed incredible that Pinkie could have such an oblivious facial expression. She noticed that Pinkie Pie had brought a trampoline with her, but since Rainbow Dash fell off her cloud during the night, she wouldn't be needing it. No sooner had she come within sight of Rainbow Dash, however, had she been tackled off her feet by her best friend, who broke down sobbing in her arms. "Pinkie Pie! I thought I never would have seen you again!" Rainbow Dash sobbed. Pinkie Pie, utterly confused, nevertheless embraced her friend and comforted her. She was a cheerful, carefree pony, but she knew when her friends needed a serious pony to be with them. "Aw, Dashie, don't cry. I'll always be here for you," Pinkie Pie assured her pegasus friend soflly, patting Rainbow Dash on the back. A thought popped into Rainbow Dash's mind. She had promised herself that she would practice all day today for the Wonderbolts. "Hey Pinkie Pie..." Rainbow Dash started slowly. "Yeah Dashie?" Pinkie replied, beaming at her. "I think we should go get something to eat before we hang out all day." Rainbow Dash replied, giving Pinkie Pie a shaky grin. "Greeaaat idea!" Pinkie shouted, startling Rainbow Dash. It was a joyful shout. Without notice, she jumped onto Rainbow Dash's back, nearly causing both ponies to fall to the ground. "Take us to Sugarcube Corner!" Rainbow Dash, catching her balance, looked up at Pinkie Pie, a look of indignation on her face. "Pinkie, you could have seriously hurt me! And the Sugarcube Corner in the morning?" She said this, noting in the back of her mind that she had wanted cupcakes as soon as she woke up. "You must be out of your mi-" She stopped midsentence. Her annoyance and anger towards her friend quickly evaporated. "Okay, Pinkie Pie. Let's go to Sugarcube Corner." Pinkie Pie grinned as the pair set off. Both ponies giggled uncontrollably together during the whole trip to Ponyville. "It's great to have you back, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash said, sighing happily. She noted that she would have to take her priorities into serious reconsideration from now on.
Taking OffThe peaceful, azure sky of Equestria was interrupted as two pegasi, fully clad in blue, zoomed over the green landscape. Both ponies wore full bodysuits. As they flew, they left two trails in their roaring wake, one of smoke and thunder, the other a bright and vivid rainbow. Eventually, both mares landed, brushing their wild manes down. "That was all me," Spitfire said, an air of competition in her voice. Her opponent scoffed harshly, rolling her eyes. "Puh-lease, I won that by a long shot, and you know it," Rainbow Dash replied. "Looks like the captain's losing her steam." Spitfire considered this comeback for a moment, then abruptly tackled the cyan pegasus, pulling both herself and her opponent to the ground. Soon, both ponies lay on the ground, panting. They slowly got up, giggling. Brushing the grass off of her suit, Spitfire turned to Rainbow Dash. "Let's go, we've got a show to put on, and quite frankly, we can't do that if we're not there in the first place." "Too bad I'm going to be there first." Rainbow Dash said, ruffling her wings. "Over my dead body, rookie." In mere seconds, both pegasi were rapidly shrinking dots on the horizon. As Rainbow Dash performed, she couldn't help but notice her friends in the stands. They hadn't told her they were coming, and their presence had nearly thrown off her concentration. Luckily for her, the stunts she had to pull off were practiced so many times that they were like second nature to her. For her first performance, she couldn't help but feel good about her performance so far. She found her mind drifting off. She had made up her mind about a month ago. After hearing, no, experiencing Spitfire's story, Rainbow Dash had lost herself to thought. Twilight had been the one to convince her to pursue her dreams. When Twilight returned from escorting Soarin to Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash had told her what happened, and asked her what she thought of the situation. She couldn't remember much of what happened that night, but she remembered that Twilight, for the first time ever, had truly raised her voice in anger at Rainbow Dash. Being a mare of logic, Twilight eventually won the argument, and convinced Rainbow Dash to become a Wonderbolt. "If you're so worried about your friends, how do you think they'll feel when they find out that they're the reason you gave up on your dreams?" When Twilight said that, it had settled everything for Rainbow Dash. She flew to Fillydelphia and met with Spitfire, where she was formally inducted into the Wonderbolts. After that, everything was a blur of drills and practices. It was terrible, and the aches and pains coursing through her body were proof of this, but she enjoyed it. Of course, she had risen above all expectations, so Spitfire, to Rainbow Dash's delight, had let her take four days a week off, compared to the normal two. She had spent all the time she could find with her friends, and to her relief, her original fears of abandoning them had been dismissed. She still was as close to her friends as she ever was, maybe even more than she had been prior to her becoming a Wonderbolt. She felt a nudge, and found herself looking at Spitfire. The orange-maned pegasus nodded upwards. She knew what that meant without needing any further explanation. Sonic Rainboom. With a beat of her wings, Rainbow Dash was shooting upwards. Reaching a high point in the sky, a point where her lungs nearly gave out due to the altitude, she stopped flapping her wings and began to slip into free fall. This is as close as I'll ever get to Glider. She thought, looking up at the dark blue zenith. Letting gravity do the work, she felt herself being pulled back to the stadium. She felt herself going faster and faster, as she adjusted her body as well as the tilt of her wings and began to accelerate rapidly, the angle of her wings causing her to corkscrew. It was unnecessary, but Spitfire had suggested it for appeal. A blur of orange and blue told her that Spitfire was to her left, following her descent. "I'd like to thank everyone who made this possible," Rainbow Dash shouted over the deafening roar of the wind. She didn't know why she said it, but it felt right. "Without you guys, I wouldn't have gotten anywhere near where I am today," Spitfire shouted back, continuing Rainbow Dash's mock speech. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire began to alternate between names worthy of their mention. "Twilight and Applejack-" "Mom and Dad-" "Fluttershy and Rarity-" "Soarin and Aerial Ace-" "Pinkie Pie-" "Glider-" The two pegasi hit dead silence, the calm before the storm, a split second before the Sonic Rainboom shattered the sound barrier. It was as if Equestria itself held it's breath, if only for a moment, in anticipation. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire turned to look at each other, and in perfect unison said: "You guys complete me." Boom. Thank you so much for reading. If you find any errors, or think something should be changed, let me know, I'll do my best to help. I hope you had a great time reading this. If you like my work, don't hesitate to track me, I'll be writing a lot more in the future. Thanks. -Lights I'd like to thank everyone over at #EquestrianStudy (fanfic chatroom of EqD) who had acted as prereaders and helped this story get to where it is today. Seriously, I can't thank you guys enough. Also, a huge thanks to my friend Vivian, who did the cover artwork with pencil and paper, a very tedious way to draw artwork as apposed to computerized tablets and the likes.
