***
If you have ever been in some type of accident, any type. No matter how minor, or dangerous. No matter if you can remember the exact point of impact or not, there is always one thing you can remember. The moments before the accident. It plays so clearly in your head like a movie. Whatever happened at the point of impact is all up to your brain. Whether you can remember it or not it's all up to your memory itself.
Rainbow Dash could not remember her incident, everything was fuzzy when she tried to think about it. She could not remember her bone shattering from the sheer impact of the grassy ground below. She couldn't remember plummeting to the ground hitting several pine trees below her. She couldn't remember hearing the screams of the ponies watching her from the grass below or the Pegasi above her watching from the clouds above.
The things Rainbow could remember was her name being chanted before impact, the crowd cheering her name as she was about to attempt to break the record of Wind Rider once and for all. She could remember the wind in her mane, the rising amount of adrenaline coursing through her veins, and glaring at Wind Rider with a smirk, who was watching from the crowd above with rage clouding his eyes. Rainbow could remember speeding faster and faster until a Sonic Barrier formed, on the verge of breaking.
But if there was anything Rainbow could remember about her accident, if not almost vividly, was as that she was flying straight down and the Sonic Barrier began to form to a reasonable size. She saw a flash of blue and gray slam into her like a thunderbolt. She did not know who or even what slammed into her, all she knew was that sent her off course and broke the Sonic Barrier much too soon.
As a result, a deafening sound resonated through the air and sent a shockwave of sound and air cascading through Ponyville and Cloudsdale. Rainbow could only assume that windows were being shattered, trees and plants were being ripped up from their roots, and roofs and shingles both made of cloud and tile were being torn off and sent flying. What had happened was she had created a Sonic Rainboom without a rainbow to cancel out some of the Sonic Boom's destructive properties. Or that is what Twilight had told her.
The next thing Rainbow could remember, she was in a hospital bed. Almost the exact same one she had been in the last time she had broken her wing. Not surprisingly, she was not alone.
Rainbow was now surrounded by her friends.
Pinkie and Fluttershy began to weep loudly when they noticed she was conscious, both wrapped their hooves around her tightly in a hug, careful not to move her bandaged wings. Twilight was more than happy to see her awake and surprised her with the entire series of Daring Do, considering Rainbow would have to stay in the hospital for a while. Applejack who always cried on the inside, shed a little bit of tears at that moment. She had truly thought Rainbow was a goner, she told her. Rarity was overjoyed to see Rainbow awake, and awarded her with a signature on her wing cast.
Scootaloo had been in the corner, her eyes wide with terror from the moment of her accident, to now. That was the moment Rainbow remembered, Scootaloo had been watching from the stands. In fact...she had a front row seat.
After a lot of coaxing and assuring that things were going to get better, Rainbow held the small orange crusader in her hooves in a comforting fashion.
With such support from friends, Rainbow felt warm and fuzzy inside, loved beyond anything or anypony in Equestria.
But the second the doctor came in levitating a clipboard in mid-air and offering nothing more than a grim expression, did the warm fuzzy feeling tense up and become cold.
***
Rainbow Dash could still hear that cold, yet somehow sympathetic, voice.
"Miss Dash, is it? You gave us all quite a scare there, didn't you?"
"Well, you survived a Sonic Blast, not may ponies have lived to tell the tale...but you can...can't you? Heh, well...let's take a look at your chart, shall we?"
"Mhmm...yes...I see...no internal bleeding, thankfully...bones are all-oh...oh dear..."
"W-Well Miss Dash...it appears you were so close to creating a Sonic Rainboom, that you were mere seconds from creating one...this left you pushing against a massive Sonic Barrier...and when you lost control...it burst...sending sound decibels loud enough to shatter glass...as well as a massive force of wind...it sent you flying into several trees...and as a result...you landed on your back after going faster than the speed off sound, you would have been dead if your wings didn't attempt to cushion your fall... but...well..."
"What I am trying to say is...you shattered every single bone in your wings...we managed to save your spine...though you will most certainly need steel rods in planted in your spine and many months of physical therapy to regain what little movement you possess...as for your wings...t-they're pulverized...Miss Dash...there is a very slim chance...no...Miss Dash...you will never be able to fly again..."
"Your insurance does cover wing transplants...but the waiting list is miles long...it may take months for you even to make the top ten patients in need of a new pair of wings...and even then there is a chance that if you do get a wing transplant, there is most likely a chance you may never regain full use of that limb...you will have to take a medication that will prevent your body from rejecting the wing...I would recommend at this point in time a full amputation of the wings..."
"Magic cannot fix the bones in the state they're in...so far we can heal clean breaks and some cases of hairline fractures..."
"If you refuse amputation, the best we can do is put you on a list...and give you some pain killers...I am so sorry Miss Dash..."
Even then, Rainbow Dash denied those words. How could she never fly again? There had to be a way! She was supposed to fly with the Wonderbolts in shows! Officially, and not as an Element of Harmony or a council pony for the Council of Friendship! She refused the amputation in her stubborn ways, believing that there might be a miracle and she might be able to fly again without any complications.
But no...the second she tried to fly after being discharged from the hospital after at least six months of physical therapy, blood and DNA tests for cell mutations and history of low bone density, medication for swelling in her other muscles, and just keeping her there for close evaluation and recovery after the implants, she was gripped with a white hot pain spreading from her wings to the center of her wings. She had ripped the bandages off by forcing her wings to open, however much to her surprise her wings sagged and trailed on the ground. Flapping them caused such pain. Thankfully, Fluttershy was nearby to stop her from trying to hurt herself any longer.
From that moment forward, Rainbow Dash stayed in Fluttershy's Cottage. From that moment, reality set in Rainbow's mind. She would never fly again. This left Rainbow Dash bitter and depressed beyond all measure, drowning in a mixture of misery and despair. From that moment forward it was get up, take at least three kinds of medication for bones, nutrition, and pain, refuse breakfast until she gave into Fluttershy's tears, and spend the day wallowing on the couch until Fluttershy changed the bandages of her limp wings.
Though Rainbow never saw Fluttershy's face when she changed Rainbow's bandages, she assumed Fluttershy was horrified at what she saw. Rainbow saw her wings...and each time she became number to it. Her wings were swollen and scarred from surgery, purple, swollen, and above all, limper than a noodle, as every time the bandages were removed the masses of muscle would flop to the side. Rainbow would not feel anything due to the medicine she took, which was a relief. They would be folded for her, as Rainbow Dash physically couldn't do it herself with no bone.
As the months wore on, things didn't seem to get much better for Rainbow. Twilight tried so hard to try and find a spell that would grow bone, but many of them were just to grow tiny parts of bone, not an entire limb. Not to mention, Twilight was not about to grow Rainbow a new pair of wings, as the last time that happened, its results were disastrous. She most definitely begged Rainbow to get the amputation, as it was the most ethical thing to do. But Rainbow refused time and time again.
All of Rainbow's friends became nervous beyond everything. They hated seeing their friend act in such a bitter tone. Applejack got in more fights with Rainbow than ever before, leaving Pinkie crying, Fluttershy trembling, and Rarity fainting. Twilight also had her fair share of fights with Rainbow, resulting in the friends splitting for weeks at a time. It was misery at its finest.
Rainbow's friends were not the only ones who were worried about her. Scootaloo became increasingly worried about her sister. Every day when she got home from school, she would visit Fluttershy's cottage to see Rainbow Dash. Each time she visited, Rainbow became more and more sluggish and began to shun any kind of race or play. This made Scootaloo crushed, she wanted so much to save Rainbow just like Rainbow used to save her. But she thought of herself being too weak to do so, and that broke Scootaloo's heart.
Things for a long time were anything but good, and things only got worse when Rainbow Dash finally decided to withdraw from the Wonderbolts Academy. It was then that everypony realized is that the best flyer and all of Ponyville had given up.
***
One year later brought forth the dawn of spring, henceforth, the day was the first day of Winter Wrap Up.
Rainbow Dash laid on Fluttershy's couch, curled up and her folded wings in flexible breathable bandages. She could see outside the window next to her the many Pegasai of Ponyville in their little blue vests clearing the gloomy snow clouds. Just the sight of the many wings flapping in the cold winter air made Rainbow Dash scowl.
Fluttershy had woken up at dawn to prepare herself for the many hours of waking up the tiny animals in her town, now she was entering the living room in her vest color. She kept a confident hopeful smile as she approached Rainbow Dash.
"Good morning Rainbow Dash, sleep well?"
Rainbow Dash let out a snort, "Yeah...sure I did..."
Fluttershy glanced down at her hooves, frowning, "O-Oh...o-okay..."
Rainbow Dash felt guilt immediately after using such a tone on one of her closest friends. She looked away and let her hard gaze soften as she gazed at the bashful yellow Pegasus, "Flutters...really...I slept fine...honestly..."
Fluttershy smiled and sighed in relief, "Oh, okay, good..." she paused for a moment, unsure of how to phrase her next words carefully, "Um...I-I was wondering...i-if you would...like to...help out with Winter Wrap Up?" she froze and winced, "I-I mean! Um...y-you don't have to i-if you want! Y-You must be sore! Y-You didn't take your medication! And I know you're still very very grumpy and all and-"
Rainbow Dash approached Fluttershy and put her hoof on her shoulder with a smile hiding the bitterness of joining the lucky Pegasai with their flawless unbroken wings. Deep down, Rainbow hated the other Pegasai. They kept their wings, they were able to fly and-
"Sounds great Fluttershy, I'll get my scarf and stuff..."
***
"It's not fair..."
Rainbow Dash trudged down the snow cleared path down the hill from Fluttershy's cottage wrapped in a rainbow patterned scarf. The small rays of sunlight peaking through the clouds that were being destroyed nearly blinded her. It had been so long since Rainbow Dash had basked in the sunlight. She felt that if she could no longer fly, she would never be able to experience the power of the sun once more. It was one thing when bathing in the sunlight on the grass, it was a whole other deal to feel the sun's warmth on a soft fluffy cloud...so close to the sun...you could touch it...though...it's not recommended.
Rainbow winced as she felt a sharp wind whizz right past her. Looking closely, she could see it was Scootaloo buzzing by on her little scooter. Scootaloo cleared away the snow on the ground with one sharp line across the ground with her her wings, which were gaining momentum by the second. Rainbow admired how quickly Scootaloo cleared the snow, dare she say, she was jealous.
Rainbow paused in her thoughts, Jealous? Of little Scootaloo? How could that be? Rainbow could not lie, Scootaloo had amazing talents all of her very own, dare Rainbow say, she wished she could be that graceful when it came to the type of stunts that Scootaloo pulled. But Rainbow had her own talents, amazing talents. Or at the very least, used to. But now...Rainbow had to think about this...she was jealous of her own sister? A little filly who could barely flit her wings long enough to float at least two inches off the ground, was the target of Rainbow's envy.
"Weak..." Rainbow muttered to herself, "Come on, Dashie! Are you really jealous of Scootaloo?" she trudged along the path, staring at the icy ground, "The kid doesn't deserve that...just because..." she winced as the lump in her throat grew, "She can...use her wings..."
All at once, Rainbow stopped. She tried to move her hooves, but her trembling body prevented any movement. Her chest became waterlogged with emotion and squeezed her chest tightly. Her eyes became filled with clear salty orbs of grief and her body itself sank into the snow like a rock. Rainbow's lips quivered as little sobs escaped her throat, muffled by the melting snow.
"I-It's not fair!" Rainbow wailed, "It's not fair, Celestia damnit!"
Moments past of Rainbow wailing and whimpering of in a coat of her own misery. She could not bring herself to pick herself back up, at that moment she had given up for good.
"I want to fly again! I was going to train as a Wonderbolt! Things were going to be perfect! Why? Why? WHY?"
Seconds later, Rainbow Dash could hear hoofsteps crunching the snow behind her.
"Rainbow? Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow didn't need to look, she knew that voice.
"S-Soarin..."
Sure enough, the ice blue Wonderbolt was behind him, looking quite worried. Out of character even for Soarin. Rainbow Dash instantly stood up and regained her composure, wiping away her tears and smiling before turning to Soarin, "Hey there...what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be prepping for the new cadets in Cloudsdale?"
Soarin remained concerned, still he smiled warmly.
"I was, but um...I just...well...came to check on you..." Soarin admitted with a blush raising to cheeks, "The Wonderbolts are worried, we haven't heard from you in months! We wanted to visit you in the hospital, but we were tracking down the thing...no...pony...who knocked you out of the sky..."
"Wait, pony? A pony knocked me out of the sky?" Rainbow's eyes showed such shock at the idea of a pony ruining her life forever, "Who? Who did it?"
Soarin raised his eyebrow, "They didn't tell you?"
"No!"
"Oh...probably for the best then..."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"We all know you Rainbow, you have a hot head, and I know Spitfire by the way! You would want to kill him! What he did was terrible, and he's paying for it...let's leave it at that."
"Soarin..."
Soarin was taken aback by the icy tone that came from the once fiery Pegasus.
"Soarin...I'm glad you thought of the guy's security, because if he didn't have security I would track him down and-" Rainbow paused and glanced at her limp lifeless wings and winced, "But don't you think I have a right to know who clipped me?"
Soarin was speechless for several seconds, he was told to not tell Rainbow Dash. Ever. Spitfire's orders.
But...Rainbow did have a right to know.
Rainbow Dash's eyes flitted with desperation now, "Well?"
Soarin cleared his throat, "Of course you do! But I was told by Spitfire to not tell you!"
Rainbow roared, "Well Spitfire can just-"
"Spitfire can what?"
There was a wooshing sound overhead that screeched to a halt on the ground in front of her, Rainbow didn't flinch at the pair of fiery eyes in front of her.
"What do you want, Spitfire?"
Spitfire seemed shocked at such an icy tone, "That's commander to you..." she growled.
Rainbow then noticed that neither Spitfire were wearing any type of uniform, strange.
"Fine..." Rainbow let out an annoyed sigh, "What can I do for you, commander?"
Spitfire glanced over at Soarin, "Good job finding her, Soarin. You are relieved."
Soarin shook his head, "I'd rather not leave, ma'am."
Spitfire smiled, "Very well, now..." she glanced at Rainbow Dash, "Walk with me, would you? We have to talk, pony to pony."
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to protest, but something stopped her. Was it empathy? Her old fan-filly squealing at the opportunity to walk along side a Wonderbolt? Whatever it was, Rainbow didn't like it.
"Fine.."
***
Usually, Rainbow Dash would be more than honored to fly, let alone walk, beside Spitfire. After all, Spitfire was her favorite Wonderbolt. But nowadays Rainbow Dash didn't see any reason to have such fantasies.
Yet, there she was, walking with Spitfire one on one. Rainbow Dash continued to stare at the ground in an effort to avoid Spitfire's gaze. Thankfully, Spitfire's gaze was not on her, rather the sky above. Her eyes shimmered in the light as her sight trailed the many fliers above clearing the sky.
"Ponyville has great fliers, huh?" Spitfire remarked with a smirk.
Rainbow didn't say anything, her gaze remaining locked on the snow on the path.
Spitfire shrugged it off and continued to speak, "I can see where you get it, the speed...you must have trained for years here..."
Rainbow gave her commander a nod.
"Ponyville is such a small town...so little sky to cover...little room to practice...I have to admit, it's a miracle you hit the wing power you have...break the records you do..."
Rainbow Dash blushed for a minute, as being complimented like this was rare, especially from her commander.
Spitfire chuckled to herself, "You nearly broke my wing power...ninety-two wing power...incredible!"
This earned a smile and an approving nod from Rainbow Dash, though it was rather unwilling.
"You just never stopped training...even you were hurt...man...that took real guts...you never quit...did you?"
Rainbow shook her head, she never had ever quit on her pursuits of becoming an elite flier. At least, when she was physically able to fly.
"So Rainbow Dash, I've got a question for you...how can a pony who won't give up, even when her body is begging for her to stop, but give up when she can't fly anymore...even though there is a chance that she can again...?"
Rainbow Dash froze, "What are you trying to say...?"
Spitfire glanced over at her, "Rainbow Dash, we received your resignation to withdraw from the academy..."
"And?"
"I personally think you should reconsider..."
Rainbow Dash just stared at Spitfire, "Are you kidding me?"
Spitfire shook her head, "I'm never one to be kidding..."
"Um...no offense Ma'am...but my wings are useless, I can no longer fly without some amount of pain...and my feathers are falling off by the day... I have literally no bones in my wings, the doctor said even if I did get a transplant, I might never be able to fly the same ever again! There's a chance it won't work! And I don't want to be stuck taking medication the rest of my life, thank you very much!"
Spitfire frowned, "Yes, I'm quite aware of your situation...but according to your updated personal records, you are on a wing transplant list here at Ponyville hospital."
"You looked at my personal records?" Rainbow was flabbergasted, Spitfire was not allowed to look at records for personal information!
"I did...I had to after receiving your resignation..." Spitfire explained, "When anypony decides to quit, we have to go a thorough check to see if you're not just quitting because it's too hard...trust me, ponies do that all the time...and when that does, we usually do let them go...but unlike anypony with a valid reason, if they decide to return, they have to do training all over again and even clean the latrines for month if they quit a second time...a third time and they are not allowed to rejoin afterward."
Rainbow Dash remained shocked, "You looked at my personal records?"
"That's beside the point, Rainbow Dash..." Spitfire sighed, "Look, you are not the only cadet in the academy who is getting a wing transplant..."
"What?"
"I'm serious, if a relatively healthy cadet that enters the reserve and ends up having a transplant while in the reserve, we put them on leave until they are fully healed and ready to come back because transplants are really rare, especially wing transplants..." Spitfire chuckled, "Of course, you'll have to pass the physical exam again, and if there are any complications we continue to put you on leave until you pass the exam...several Wonderbolts have done this and still do. You think Cloudsdale is the only place to hold a Wonderbolt's Reserve? There are several in fact. It's a part of the Equestrian Military. It's meant to have many ponies stationed from all around Equestria!"
Rainbow growled, "Don't you think that's really unsafe? No offense ma'am, what you heard what the doctor said! Even if I do get the transplant, there is no guarantee I'm ever going to fly the same way I did. This whole disaster weakened me! What if I get really hurt? What if I end up getting into another disaster? I can't risk that, ma'am! I just have to accept the fact I'm never going to fly again, I'm just gonna have to accept the fact that I'm going to get a amputation!"
There was nothing but silence for a long time after that, Rainbow couldn't believe what came out of her own mouth. Why was she expecting this? She wasn't supposed to accept it! She didn't accept it! How could she? Maybe it was her conscious waking her up after a long sleep filled to the brim with depression and misery, maybe it was her logical side that was barely used, whatever it was she hated it. But Rainbow guessed Twilight's lectures really was starting to rub off on her. For the first time, she was thinking more clearly than she ever had about this whole situation.
Spitfire frowned and sighed in defeat, "You do have me beat there...You're right, it's really unsafe...I guess that's why many of the wing transplants never return...we really do have trouble letting go of some of the best...you were one of the best in our academy, you taught us things that we should've learned on our own, and for that I thank you..." Spitfire smiled, "If you must resign...we will not put up a fight...we realize it's dangerous to have you come back after the transplant, and it is quite unethical to have you hold onto your wings like this...not to mention extremely painful for you...But I want you to know no matter what, whether you have wings or not, you are still Rainbow Dash... Nobody will break your record, many can try but many will fail..." Spitfire smiled softly, "But that doesn't mean they won't give up, and you should not give up either..."
Rainbow snorted, "Well I'm glad to see you realize of dangerous all that is, but I can get up if I want! There's no point to having me around anymore! I used to be an amazing flyer, one of the very best! That was what I was known for! I don't have anymore talents to give to the world! I really don't, ma'am!"
"Now you know that's not true, Rainbow Dash...you have other gifts..."
Rainbow glanced up at Spitfire, sighing, "Yeah sure. Like what?"
"Look behind you."
Rainbow turned around and sure enough, there was little Scootaloo speeding along in her scooter.
Spitfire beamed, "That filly depends on you...you're her hero...You inspire her to do things she would've never thought of doing and it made her life special! And it's not just her you inspire, you inspire everypony! You always make the crowd cheer louder than before, you push shy ponies to do with they've never done before, to conquer their fears! You are a coach, Rainbow Dash. You believe in everypony, you have a strong sense of morality, and above all you want to see ponies succeed. If that doesn't tell you to become a coach, I don't know what will..."
"Coach?"
"Yes Rainbow Dash, coach. Everypony has a second gift, something far more profound than their original gift. Not everypony uses the second gift, not everypony shapes the second gift to do something wonderful. And as a result, not everypony feels that their second talent is not worth showing because it is so raw and powerful...but you must shape that talent with vigorous training and self-control, the same as you would with your first gift. Just because you don't have wings anymore, doesn't mean you can't be an athlete Rainbow... Did you receive your second talent to shine and make other ponies feel important."
Memories of Scootaloo flashed in Rainbow's mind. Times of them going to the Wonderbolts show, attempting to cook breakfast and actually setting the kitchen on fire, preforming stunts together for small crowds. With each of those memories, involved Rainbow Dash encouraging Scootaloo in anyway she could.She could remember Scootaloo giving her a picture she drew herself when she came to the hospital. It was a crudely drawn picture of Rainbow Dash in crayon with titanium wings and below was scribbled: MY HERO. in bright red. That picture had given her hope then...and was renewing her faith now.
Rainbow Dash now saw herself as a pony who could weave dreams into the minds of younger ponies, being the reason their lives become so wonderful. Pushing them to towards their hope and dreams. She couldn't remember when Scootaloo didn't want to go to the flag ceremony because she couldn't fly, and Rainbow could remember encouraging her and assuring her that whether she could fly or not, she was awesome anyway and to be herself. That she had her own talents, and not to be like Rainbow Dash, but to be like herself. To ride her scooter, perform daring tricks, and be the best at being Scootaloo. She knew the kid might never fly, but she didn't let that stop her from encouraging Scootaloo and pushing her in the right direction. Because of her efforts, Scootaloo went to the flag ceremony and literally blew the competition away.
Rainbow Dash was a coach that she didn't even realize it.
"How does one become a coach though? Where do I even begin?"
Spitfire chuckled, "Well, first things first…You need to get all healed up...whether you decide to do the amputation or not is up to you...we can make accommodations anyway...you have the bone density of a Pegasus so you can still walk on clouds I would think. What really matters is you training to be a coach and passing the coach exam...Showing us what you can do...but um...you can't join the Wonderbolts until you have at least ten years of coaching experience. But since you did join the Wonderbolts prior to your incident, we would have to kick you out. But quite honestly, I'm going to let this slide... But don't you tell anypony I did or else I'm in for it! Anyways, here's what we'll do. We will make you a trainee to one of our coaches, I'm thinking Snow Bolt might train you well."
Rainbow grinned, "Sounds great! When do I start?"
Spitfire smiled, "When you feel well enough to return, of course."
"Great! Oh, and Ma'am...?"
"Yeah?"
"I really I think you need to rethink the whole joining after wing transplant thing. That's pretty unsafe. Coach to coach." Rainbow added with a wink, "I don't want anypony else getting hurt...after all, many of them have second talents. If Celestia were to find out you were allowing injured ponies into the reserves, she would shut it down."
Spitfire chuckled, "Noted, thank you cadet."
Deep down Rainbow was horrified that such a thing would happen, thankfully she handled with enough tact. It did however change something in Rainbow. Spitfire was a good coach, the best there was. Her methods were well known...still... Spitfire was reckless beyond belief. Not to say Rainbow herself wasn't reckless, but at least she learned from her faults. At that moment, Rainbow had decided on the first pony she was going to couch when she could. Spitfire.
Starting today.
***
Author's Note
I would very much like to thank http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Darksonickiller for correcting me on a few points in the story, it was greatly appreciated. 
I'm going to be completely honest, I don't get enough constructive criticism. So if you find anything wrong with this, please let me know in a dignified manner. I'm not one of those people who can't take criticism, in fact I encourage it. Criticism is very healthy and helps writers and artists alike get better, that is true.
So I would very much like people to enjoy my stuff, but if something is wrong don't be afraid to tell me. Be specific, and be clean about it.
Thank you very much for reading 