Self-Defeatby HeartGramHorseChaptersThe SeparationLost ConfidenceWing ReplacementHonorable Exit, Depressed HeartWhat Makes a HeroEpilogue: A 20% Cooler EndingThe SeparationSince the fateful day of Rainbow's wing being cut off by a sword in a battle against Sombra's army, she has been so lost and upset without her love of flight and her wing. The left side was still bandaged up, surgery was coming up around the corner. She slowly trotted to each of the pictures around her home in Cloudsdale looking at the most significant and happy memories she had with her friends, the Wonderbolts and even some as a filly. She started to tear up at the thought of her never being able to fly again, or even perform her Equestrian famous sonic rainboom that everypony loved seeing. She just sat down and cried her heart out. Thoughts were continuously running through her head about so many things. What if her friends never wanted to hang out again, because the new wing after surgery would hold her back. What if Scootaloo didn't want to be her biggest little fan again? The thoughts just made her cry harder. There was a knock on the door just then that interrupted her thoughts. She wiped the tears, and got up slowly and walked to the door and opened it up slowly. "Rainbow?" It was Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts. "Yes Ma'am?" Rainbow asked, a little less confident. "I'd like to come in for a moment if that is okay." She inclined, looking past Dash and into her home. Rainbow opened the door for the leader, and she trotted inside. Rainbow closed the door and walked over and climbed on her bed, and sat down, looking at the Wonderbolt's logo on her bed. "Rainbow... I have some news for you..." Spitfire hesitated. Dash looked up at her and watched the yellow mare pace back and forth uncomfortably. "Yes?" Rainbow asked looking at her, though she was still pacing. Spitfire stopped pacing and looked at the cyan Pegasus on the bed, then eyed the bandaged spot where her wing had been cut off. "It is with regret to inform you due to your injuries, that we have to honorably discharge you from the Wonderbolts permanently, you've done well with us but there is nothing we can do, even after the surgery of the new wing." Rainbow just stared at her, as a small tear began to roll down her face over the scar on her eye. It was hard to even speak because of the depressing, sinking feeling she got in her heart. "I'm sorry Rainbow, there will be a service in honor of this, a few days after the surgery." She put her hoof on her former flight companions shoulder. "Take care now, I'll be in and out for a few days due to filly flight camp." She turned around and opened the door and walked out. Rainbow continued to sit for the next few hours before falling into a deep sleep for the afternoon. During her slumber nightmare, after nightmare rolled through her mind. Some being of her friends walking away, some of Scootaloo, not wanting to talk to her, or her being kicked out of Cloudsdale. She awoke late at night with sweat pouring down her face. She got up and walked over to her kitchen and got a glass of water. She took a couple of sips before another knock was heard at the front door. She walked over to the door and peeked out. This time it was Twilight. "Hi Rainbow, just wanted to check and see how you are doing." Rainbow again opened the door, and let the purple princess in, who turned on a few lamps with her magic. Twilight looked back at her friend. Twilight could tell she was not well, she just wasn't her usual self, but then Twilight could understand that her wings were her prize as a pony, and how that could change somepony just by the tap of a hoof on the ground. "Rainbow, I... I'm really sorry about the loss of your wing." Twilight approached the conversation lightly. Rainbow looked around and exploded in tears and anger. "Yeah? Why? How do you know how this feels? I've spent my whole life with my wings, they were me, my best friends, practically sort of kind of a family member! They gave me my strength, my pride, my thrills! I did so many amazing things! Rainbooms, awesome tricks, some even daring! You? You are just an Alicorn, who magically sprouted wings by doing some wondrous magical spell thing with a book! You would never know how this feels! And now I have been honorably discharged from the dream I spent so much of my life on, so hard to work for, The Wonderbolts, I have nothing!" Rainbow stopped and fell to the floor crying hard. Twilight understood her friend was not mad at her, but rather at the situation of her wings. True, she did never have to put up with her wings being somehow physically torn from her body, but she did know that Dash needed the support and let her vent out all she had. She got up and put her hoof on her friends back and rubbed it. "I know it's hard from a point of the pain I've seen you in. Believe me Rainbow, I know these things just by growing up as friends with you for quite a few years. I'm sorry to hear your dream has been crushed, but the one thing I will say is I will never leave your side." Twilight said to the crying pony. Rainbow lifted her head, the tears slowing down now, and sat up next to her friend. "It's just when you put your whole life into something from filly hood to now, and you are rocking flying around the skies..." she made some simulating hoof movements "...and then BAM! All of it is gone, due to an injury that not only killed the dream, but also my heart." Dash finished, now looking out towards the open window into the night sky. Twilight wrapped her wing around Rainbow's back and hugged her with it. "As a best friend, I know what it is like to fail things. Some of them you were there to experience." She reflected back along the past of their adventures together and with their friends. "Heh, yeah you were a mess a lot of times, 'I am the princess of friendship, I can solve anything!' " Dash made a silly impression of her which made both of them laugh a little. "There's the smile and attitude I know, don't give up on that, stay strong Dash." She gave her friend a hoof bump as she got up and opened the door and left. Rainbow returned to her bad after turning off the lights and feeling better and fell asleep. Author's Note After consideration of Alternate Universe and current time, I decided to put them both together. It has given me more ideas and creativity to work with. Lost ConfidenceA couple of days had past since the fate of Rainbow's dream dashed right out the door of not being able to maintain and stay in the Wonderbolts and reach captain. She got up and walked and paced around her home. She was getting more and more nervous about the surgery of the new wing that was going to be performed in the next 3 days. She heard a knock at the door and opened it up to see Fluttershy, and Twilight with a chariot to give her a ride down from Cloudsdale to Ponyville. "Do I have to go down there? I... I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing this Twilight." Rainbow was feeling less and less confident about the journey to the town full of ponies. "Why not Rainbow? Surely you want to see the others and spend some time and get out for a while?" Fluttershy asked her, trying to snap her friend out of the stupor she was in. Rainbow just kind of glanced away with a slight frown on her face and looked at the bandaged side again. It was still making her feel depressed. "Rainbow I know you are nervous about the other ponies that are going to be looking at you, but that doesn't mean they will treat you any different than before, they all still are your friends. Why would anypony even dislike you just for not having a wing at your side?" Twilight asked curiously. Rainbow just glared and sighed at her. "Because, Twilight, my wings mean everything to me, and to a great number of the Equestrian ponies who would come to the Wonderbolt shows, and just see me flying around all over the place. They won't even want to talk to me, like me is gone, awesome, what does that even mean anymore?" Rainbow broke down in tears again. Fluttershy looked at Twilight and walked up to the cyan Pegasus. "Now, Now, Rainbow, don't be upset or cry everything will be okay. We'll just go down to Sugar Cube Corner, go inside and sit with the Cakes and the others, and enjoy some nice conversation time." Fluttershy reassured her. With Rainbow being a little more comfortable, she got into the carriage and laid down on the back seat as Fluttershy and Twilight, put the harnesses on and took the chariot down to the town below. When they landed, Twilight made sure They were on the back step of the building so that Rainbow could easily just walk in without being seen by the Ponyville residents. The three of them walked in and the first thing that happened was Pinkie, tackle hugging Rainbow straight into the ground. "Dashie!" She shrieked with delight Although Rainbow was not in the most available mood for hugs, she still let her friend continue. There is nothing that that pink pony cannot do to make you feel at least a little better about yourself. Rainbow slowly pushed Pinkie off of her and walked over to the table and sat down. Rarity sat down next to her as well as AppleJack, and the others followed suit taking a seat around the table. "So darling, how have you been? Rarity asked. "Yeah, Sugarcube, it's been a quite ah few days." Applejack followed suit. Rainbow just looked around, and messed with the spoon on the table, spinning it around and around. "Rainbow?" Twilight asked. "What? Like why do you all even care about me still? I mean I feel completely useless here in front of all of you, I don't even feel like you gals still like me and are just trying to keep me around just to make me feel better." Dash said with a hurt tone. The other 5 just stared at her, neither one of them acted shocked or upset about it. They knew Dash was going through a grief period, and yes her wings were a special thing to her. "Why would you think we wouldn't like you?" Fluttershy broke the silence. "You are our friend no matter a wing or no wing, in the Wonderbolts or not, rainbooms or no rainbooms, It does not matter how different you look on the outside, you are still one of our best friends." At that moment Scootaloo walked in with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and walked right past them up to the counter. Rainbow seeing Scoots, moved Rarity out of the way, and wondering what just happened, the 5 watched her quickly trot out the front of the shop, and AJ and Twilight walked out keeping the other 3 back for the time. Rainbow went and laid down inside the chariot and started just hurting inside her heart deeply. "Rainbow, what was that all about?" AJ asked. Twilight, who was curious as well, remained quiet with a slight puzzled look on her face. "I...I...Scootaloo...Just...She'll never like me at all! What kind of young sister-fan wants her hero and idle who can't fly, and is damaged to even be around her?" Rainbow said sobbing. "Oh..." AJ could not describe the feeling of the hurt that Dash had just stated. This was a rough feeling. "Now Sugarcube, why would she still not love you? Because of a missing wing? That's a bunch of rotten apples if you ask me. From what I've seen Scootaloo loves you as a sister and a fan because of how strong you are and how much courage you gave her to not give up. Remember the Equestrian games flag? She almost lost herself, but she stayed in it because you gave her the heart and courage. Or what about the time we took the trip to Rainbow Falls? And the fears she had at night and how you told her to never be afraid, that you are still here? I reckon she still loves you no matter what Rainbow, because you taught her to not give up and have heart." AJ just sat and looked firmly at her friend with the honest smile she always carried. Rainbow sat up. "You really think so?" She asked, wiping her tears. "I know so." AJ said. "As do I." Twilight started in. "Trust me you've been her strongest influence to keep going." Rainbow stopped crying and, although her friends helped her a little, she asked Twilight to just teleport her home. "Rainbow stay strong and I'll swing by again in a day or two." Twilight said as she transported the Pegasus with her magic back up to her home in the clouds. Rainbow walked into her home and, took off the bandage. She looked at her scars and the point of where the wing was once attached. It broke her to keep seeing it like this, she wished her wing could just grow back, or that she was never called into war in the first place. she walked over to her bed leaving the bandage off and also looking in the mirror on her dresser stand and seeing the scars across her cutie mark. It made her question what her purpose even was anymore. She climbed into bed and cried herself to sleep. Wing ReplacementIt was the day of the surgery and Rainbow was having the hardest time trying to stay in one place, and even mistakenly tried to fly around with one wing and fell to the floor. She was acting like she had some sort of stressful test just like the Wonderbolts one, back a couple years ago. She was hopping up and down stress fully on her bed, running around and looking at herself in the mirror, when all of a sudden a knock on the door that made her jump. Dash walked up, shakily from nerves and opened the door, to see Twilight and Fluttershy again, accompanied by the carriage. "You ready Rainbow?" Twilight asked. "Y-Yeah as I'll ever be" She said walking out of her house and closing the door. She hopped into the carriage. "Now don't you worry Rainbow, everything is going to be just fine, no need to be worried, all of your friends and us will be there for you." Fluttershy said, trying to comfort the cyan Pegasus. They took off from Cloudsdale and back down to Ponyville to the hospital. Nurse Redheart was waiting for her. "Alright, Rainbow go ahead and sit in the wheel chair." The nurse said. Rainbow kind of scowled and looked down. The flashback of doing tricks as the younger thrill seeker and breaking her wing before went through her mind. She took her seat in the chair. As the other five friends followed behind the nurse, and Dash, they could feel her nervousness and tension rubbing off of her. Pinkie had to step out because she kept trying to bring her party cannon and make them explode with balloons and streamers all over the place, which forced the nurse to have security walk her out. "Alright you four, you have to wait in the waiting room now." Redheart pointed over to the area where a few other ponies were sitting. The four and Pinkie, who finally managed to control her enthusiasm a little more, went into the waiting room and sat down. Rainbow felt a bit wired being pushed through the ER and looking at all the tools that were on the silver trays and by the beds. She was wheeled into her little room that was sectioned off by curtains. "Alright, Miss Dash. Go ahead and lay down on the bed with the bandaged side facing up." Nurse instructed her. Rainbow, not making any sounds or approvals in agreement, hopped onto the bed and did as she was instructed positioning herself on the bed. The surgeons came in and hooked her up with the equipment needed and put some neighstesia into her and Rainbow passed out. The operation was very technical for the doctors as they cut around the spot of the old dislocated joint and cut the old bone off. The first stage was to rid the area of scar tissue, simple, yet careful guidance, then connecting the first piece of the wing vertebrae that would normally support the other bones and the light thin tissue of the wing where the feathers would grow out. Then an advanced machine that was used to attach the smaller skeletal metal wing pieces, and screwing them in and tightening the flex bolts that would allow just like the normal wing to fold up appropriately. Then came the most precise part, attaching the six metal feathers of light weight steel that would allow for functionality of flight and easy movement while in flight. They stitched up the area around the wing muscle and the skin with stitches. While the pony still slept they moved her to a regular hospital room, and informed her friends that they could visit her later after she woke up and had something to eat. They all decided to go get her a gift from the shop for her around the corner, while Pinkie went and made some of her favorite cupcakes for Dash. Rainbow, woke up about 3 hours later, close to midnight. Nurse checked her vital signs and gave her a delicious meal of assorted hay burgers and sweet cider. Soon her 5 friends walked in. "Dashie!" Pinkie screamed and went and handed her cupcakes to her. Rainbow smiled slowly from the tiredness. "Hey gals, what's up?" She asked as she yawned. "Not much darling, how are you feeling?" Rarity stepped up beside her. Dash really couldn't answer her for the simple fact that she was still slightly inoculated by the neighstesia. "Still tired." replied the sleepy Pegasus. She stretched and her metal wing expanded quickly flinging the cupcakes that Pinkie had made right into her face and onto the floor. Dash surprised herself a little. She took a look at the metal wing. It was, different, but it looked amazing and she practiced moving it in and out a little. Pinkie on the other hoof, was busy licking the frosting up all off her face and the floor. The others slightly frowned, but then again this is Pinkie Pie. "That wing is stunning Dash!" Twilight exclaimed a little excited as she viewed the wing. She was wondering what kind of pony science this was altogether. "Alright ladies, time to get out for the night she needs her rest, lot of days of recovery and training to come." Nurse Redheart said to the five. They all went and gave their goodbyes to their friend and left the packaged present on top of the mantel piece. After they all left the nurse checked vitals one more time and dimmed the lights and closed the door. Rainbow looked over at the gift on the table and grabbed it, and opened it up. What was inside was a letter and a picture frame of her and her friends all standing around and having a fun time, she read the letter: Rainbow Dash, you are one of the most important and best friends all of us could have, we have all grown together strongly and we love you so much for your strength and most of all loyalty and never letting us go for what you know could mean the difference between dreams and reality. You are so amazing and we will always be here for you until the end. Fly high and keep rainbooming! All of her friends and even the Crusaders signed the bottom of it. It made her so happy and she cried as she set the picture up and she held the letter tightly as she fell asleep. Honorable Exit, Depressed HeartIt had been a couple days since Rainbow's surgery. Even though she was now allowed to walk around Ponyville freely, she still felt a little awkward with her new wing. It wasn't heavy at all, it was as light as her actual wing on her side had been, just really weird to have metal instead of feathers. She has been able to control the movement of the wing a lot more now. Her training had been rather successful with Nurse Redheart, and Spitfire to show her how to control the movements. Rainbow was walking down Ponyville early that morning towards Twilight's castle. She hadn't been able to sleep, and the lone Pegasus had to take a walk from Sugar Cube Corner, where Pinkie Pie had put her up for the night. Today was the day of her honorable discharge from the Wonderbolts. Rainbow was trying not to think about it, but it soon became too overwhelming. Twilight knows how to help, she's always got great advice. She thought as she approached the castle door and knocked. Twilight answered almost immediately. "Rainbow, surprised seeing you up this early." Twilight said as she motioned her friend inside. "Well... I'm kind of lost at everything right now." Dash said as she sat down after she walked in. "What do you mean?" Twilight asked quizically, with a confused expression. "Well... today... welll... I..." Rainbow started letting loose some tears. "I get discharged today from the Wonderbolts." Twilight, who walked around and sat by her friend, got a look of slight sadness upon her face too. This was Rainbow's dream. She had put so much effort into making herself able to get into the team. "Rainbow, listen, I know it's hard to accept this. Come on though you still have a flying buddy." She wrapped her wing around the blue Pegasus. "Plus this new wing of yours is pretty cool looking." "Twilight, you wouldn't know cool or awesome if it was written in a book in front of you right now you nerd." Rainbow snickered a little. "Meh, books are books, we all have some fancy of fun. Rainbow, you are a strong mare. Don't let this defeat you. You will always be the best Wonderbolt in my heart. We all have sacrifices and things that make us upset, but you grow and become stronger from the experience." "Feel free to stay as long as you like. Want some pancakes?" "Nah, I'm just going to go into the spare room you have here and sleep for a little bit. Oh, Twilight. Thanks for being here." Rainbow turned and walked away stretching the metal and real wing at the same time. Twilight smiled as she returned to the library where she did what she always did best, Study. Later that afternoon Rainbow gave her first attempt at flying up to Cloudsdale for the ceremony. It was shaky and she spiraled out of control a few times, before she realized she had to fly about the same speed as Fluttershy. Everypony was already up in the stands. Rainbow took a moment to walk through the Wonderbolts Hall of Fame, and look at all the pictures of her and all the other amazing athletics in the hall. She turned into the locker room and went to her locker. She opened it up and sat down and looked at her uniform, goggles, and pictures of everything. Tears began rolling down her cheek, she spread both wings and looked disappointingly at her metal wing. It hurt her bad to see the future in front of her in her locker, then the new future with the wing. She would never be able to wear the uniform again. Spitfire walked in. Saw Dash and walked over to her. "Dash, the ceremony is about to begin." Spitfire said. Rainbow just continued to stare at the uniform. "Ma'am I feel horrible right now, I'm in a state of pain. How am I meant to be loyal to something that I was apart of for so long and just walk away with honor because of an issue with my wing? I don't understand it, and don't know if I ever will. I'm constantly thinking about this and it is becoming so depressing every day that comes and goes..." Dash told the captain. "Rainbow, things are meant to happen for a reason, sometimes not understanding things at first is the best. As time goes on it will present itself as understanding later. You were one of the best we ever had, I'll miss your cool tricks and awesome thrills every single day. But, Dash this is no time to lose your heart. You must stay strong. With weakness, comes the courage to keep going to fight it and show your heart to Equestria about who you still are as a pony. Right now though we must get you to the ceremony." Spitfire finished, patting her close friend on the shoulder. Rainbow got up and followed her slowly behind. "Wonderbolts have honor, pride, firmness and loyalty above most things. Speed is easy to find, but to have control and know your strengths is the hardest thing to find. Today, we honor a pony who was a beloved member of this team. A fierce competitor, and a wonderful example to many, as one of the most strongest and loyal ponies to fillies and gentle colts alike. This mare had the fiery rainbow across the sky and most amazingly the legendary rainboom. Please put your hooves together for Rainbow Dash!" Soarin stepped off the podium as the cyan pegasus stood up to the roaring cheers and hooves. Rainbow was not feeling the happiness though, she stood there putting on a fake smile, and waving, while feeling the deep pressure of guilt still inside her heart. "It has been a pleasure, to serve as one of the finest ace Pegasi in the sky. I had a lot of fun, and now it is time to step away due to the injury all of you know about." Rainbow finished, a tear starting to roll down her eye. Nothing she said was honest at all, and she felt like AJ was staring at her, burning into her soul as she stepped to the side as Spitfire and Soarin stepped back up the the microphone. "Today a distinguished medal, goes to my friend of the sky here." Soarin opened a box. "For the fierce leadership in flight, and in battle, and the firmness and strength you have always held, we award Rainbow Dash the Purple Wing." Everypon was silent as Soarin took out the medallion and slipped it around Rainbow's neck. After he did that the whole stadium of Cloudsdale cheered her name and clapped for her. Rainbow looked down at the purple and gold wing. Do I really deserve this? Rainbow started to think really hard and turned and trotted out slowly, in tears. What Makes a HeroAs Rainbow walked back into the hall and towards her locker, she turned around as trotting was heard coming from behind her. She turned to see Twilight, Soarin, and Spitfire. "Rainbow, why did you leave?" Twilight asked seriously. Rainbow just grimaced and looked down at the cloud floor in disappointment. "You wouldn't understand. None of you would, not even you Spitfire." Rainbow stated to all three of them. "What would we not understand Dash?" Spitfire inquired questioningly. "Look, I go into war, after being a strong warrior and a flight member of one of the things I always dreamed of, my wing gets cut off, then my whole world comes crashing down at the tap of a hoof. I'm nothing without the Wonderbolts, I deserve to just be left alone for the rest of my life. I'm no hero, and I never will be." Dash began to cry as she looked from her friends, to the floor, then the Wonderbolts emblem on the walls. "Rainbow." Soarin started to talk. Dash looked at him. "Believe me, what you have gone through is more than anypony could understand, ourselves included. You are a hero, and what makes a hero is exactly more than just serving in a war, getting a wound, or being even one of the elite like our wonderful captain is right here. You are fierce when it comes to being at the call of everypony that needs assistance, you are stronger than any warrior that has ever come out of training, a leader, and most of all your friendship to many means the most, and that is what makes you a hero." "Dash, being out of the Wonderbolts for flying does not mean you are not still one of us." Spitfire added after Soarin had finished. "You got the Purple Wing medal because of your valiance in being a worthy pony as Soarin had said, not for a new fancy wing that has replaced your older one. Believe me you are not permanently out of the Wonderbolts, we hadn't even said the surprise that we have in store for you yet." Dash looked up curiously, with a more relaxed expression after what both Wonderbolt leaders had said. "Surprise?" "Yes, but you have to come back out to the podium, we want everypony to hear it." Soarin said. They all walked back out to the stage. When they all re aligned at the podium, and Twilight took her respectful place on the Princess throne, the commemoration continued. "Sorry about the delay, my friends. We do have one more thing to add for Dash here. Once a Wonderbolt, always a Wonderbolt. Therefore, Dash will now be the head captain of the young filly and colt training flight camp starting this Spring for all the new beginners in flight and to achieve their dreams of becoming one of us, or one of the best flyers of Equestria." Spitfire spoke through the microphone. Cheers and chants of "Dash, Dash, Dash, Rainbow Dash!" Were heard all around the cloud stadium. Rainbow felt a jolt of joy flip throughout her entire body. It wasn't the end after all. She still had her dream of flying, but most of all the importance of helping fillies and colts to learn to fly like her and become the best. "And without further ado, Rainbow wants to make a speech." Soarin said. At this point Rainbow, kind of looked at him with a slight scowl and smile. "Heh, not really accustomed to making speeches into a bunch of ponies. I am happy though, these last few weeks have been so hard and crushing for me. It hurt to lose such a value to not just my body, but also what felt like a dream fly right out the window of my home. I'm happy for the support of my five other friends who stayed there with me every trot of the way to this recovery, I'm thankful to still be apart of the Wonderbolts and to be able to teach your young ones and those aspired to be as awesome as I wanted to be, when I too was that age of youth. Thank you all for being here, it really means a lot to me." Dash finished, as the crowd began to yell out there joy. That night a celebration was held for Rainbow, and of course the famed Cider from Applejack was there and Dash was hovering around the table grabbing a glass of what almost seemed like every five minutes. The celebration went on for hours before it started to disperse and ponies got tired and started to head home for the night. It was at that point a little young filly Pegasus walked up and tapped Rainbow on the shoulder, Dash looked and saw Scootaloo. "What's up kiddo?" Rainbow asked surprised to see her there. "I just wanted to say how awesome you are, I'm really proud to have you as an idol and a family like sister next to me everyday. I may never be able to fly, but you mean the world to me, and that will never change." Scootaloo hugged her. Dash began to cry out of joy from her heart and hugged her back. "Look, Scoots, you will fly one day, it may not be with those wings, but with your heart and you will soar to wherever you want to with it and what you do in life." Rainbow picked up Scootaloo and returned to her home for the rest of the night for some sleep. Author's Note Most don't admire Dash, due to her lack of communication and more than most times her selfishness in doing things her own way, I however think that any pony, just like us human beings all have a heart and a beautiful soul that can show emotions such as pain, and joy and passion in the things that happen in our lives. Epilogue: A 20% Cooler EndingThe breeze was just the right amount of speed for the little fillies and colts that were on the cloud watching and learning how the athletic cyan blue Pegasus was giving different ways to fly and techniques to avoid obstacles and strong head winds during flight. Rainbow's wing since had been colored in the blue and yellow of the Wonderbolts, which gave her a lot more confidence of still being on the team. The little ponies were in awe as the Pegasus did twirls and loops just above them to show them stunts she had learned. "Now kiddos, it's your turn." Rainbow said to them. All the little ones started racing around the training area, laughing and sometimes falling with a big 'poof' onto the cloud with Dash assisting them back up and assuring them that they can do it, and to give it another try. She even had a little fun racing around with some of them. "Alright now, take a seat I want to show you something real amazing that is only thought to be an old ponies tale." Rainbow stepped to the edge of the cloud as the fillies and colts sat silently for what she was about to show them. As Rainbow looked out across the valley and looked down below, she smiled and thought about things. Self-Defeat will never be an option for her, she is a fighter, a leader, and a warrior. She was a strong Pegasi, one who couldn't let fear overcome her faith and most of all loyalty. She dived off the cloud and started speeding up to a mach speed, as she started to fold her wings in a little more for the move she was about to perform, her metal wing gave a little wiggle, but she was not worried. She raced downward and downward, faster and faster as a mist cone started to form in front of her, she approached close to the ground and as she did, she hit the speed to perform something she thought she had lost the ability to do, the rainboom. A large bang erupted from below as the ponies up above shouted and cheered as she raced back up a big rainbow following behind her and a rainbow spreading in a circle spread out across the land below. Spitfire was watching from the side near her office and muttered, "That's the girl I know," and walked back inside towards her office. Rainbow landed as the small swarm of little ones gathered around her with different cheers and excitement. "And that little ones, is how you stay true to your dreams." Rainbow stated. Author's Note Don't ever forget that you are only as strong as you let yourself be, everyone has the potential to achieve glory and success, even if it is a rough rocky road your hooves travel over, just keep pressing forward and don't forget to keep your head high with a smile.
The SeparationSince the fateful day of Rainbow's wing being cut off by a sword in a battle against Sombra's army, she has been so lost and upset without her love of flight and her wing. The left side was still bandaged up, surgery was coming up around the corner. She slowly trotted to each of the pictures around her home in Cloudsdale looking at the most significant and happy memories she had with her friends, the Wonderbolts and even some as a filly. She started to tear up at the thought of her never being able to fly again, or even perform her Equestrian famous sonic rainboom that everypony loved seeing. She just sat down and cried her heart out. Thoughts were continuously running through her head about so many things. What if her friends never wanted to hang out again, because the new wing after surgery would hold her back. What if Scootaloo didn't want to be her biggest little fan again? The thoughts just made her cry harder. There was a knock on the door just then that interrupted her thoughts. She wiped the tears, and got up slowly and walked to the door and opened it up slowly. "Rainbow?" It was Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts. "Yes Ma'am?" Rainbow asked, a little less confident. "I'd like to come in for a moment if that is okay." She inclined, looking past Dash and into her home. Rainbow opened the door for the leader, and she trotted inside. Rainbow closed the door and walked over and climbed on her bed, and sat down, looking at the Wonderbolt's logo on her bed. "Rainbow... I have some news for you..." Spitfire hesitated. Dash looked up at her and watched the yellow mare pace back and forth uncomfortably. "Yes?" Rainbow asked looking at her, though she was still pacing. Spitfire stopped pacing and looked at the cyan Pegasus on the bed, then eyed the bandaged spot where her wing had been cut off. "It is with regret to inform you due to your injuries, that we have to honorably discharge you from the Wonderbolts permanently, you've done well with us but there is nothing we can do, even after the surgery of the new wing." Rainbow just stared at her, as a small tear began to roll down her face over the scar on her eye. It was hard to even speak because of the depressing, sinking feeling she got in her heart. "I'm sorry Rainbow, there will be a service in honor of this, a few days after the surgery." She put her hoof on her former flight companions shoulder. "Take care now, I'll be in and out for a few days due to filly flight camp." She turned around and opened the door and walked out. Rainbow continued to sit for the next few hours before falling into a deep sleep for the afternoon. During her slumber nightmare, after nightmare rolled through her mind. Some being of her friends walking away, some of Scootaloo, not wanting to talk to her, or her being kicked out of Cloudsdale. She awoke late at night with sweat pouring down her face. She got up and walked over to her kitchen and got a glass of water. She took a couple of sips before another knock was heard at the front door. She walked over to the door and peeked out. This time it was Twilight. "Hi Rainbow, just wanted to check and see how you are doing." Rainbow again opened the door, and let the purple princess in, who turned on a few lamps with her magic. Twilight looked back at her friend. Twilight could tell she was not well, she just wasn't her usual self, but then Twilight could understand that her wings were her prize as a pony, and how that could change somepony just by the tap of a hoof on the ground. "Rainbow, I... I'm really sorry about the loss of your wing." Twilight approached the conversation lightly. Rainbow looked around and exploded in tears and anger. "Yeah? Why? How do you know how this feels? I've spent my whole life with my wings, they were me, my best friends, practically sort of kind of a family member! They gave me my strength, my pride, my thrills! I did so many amazing things! Rainbooms, awesome tricks, some even daring! You? You are just an Alicorn, who magically sprouted wings by doing some wondrous magical spell thing with a book! You would never know how this feels! And now I have been honorably discharged from the dream I spent so much of my life on, so hard to work for, The Wonderbolts, I have nothing!" Rainbow stopped and fell to the floor crying hard. Twilight understood her friend was not mad at her, but rather at the situation of her wings. True, she did never have to put up with her wings being somehow physically torn from her body, but she did know that Dash needed the support and let her vent out all she had. She got up and put her hoof on her friends back and rubbed it. "I know it's hard from a point of the pain I've seen you in. Believe me Rainbow, I know these things just by growing up as friends with you for quite a few years. I'm sorry to hear your dream has been crushed, but the one thing I will say is I will never leave your side." Twilight said to the crying pony. Rainbow lifted her head, the tears slowing down now, and sat up next to her friend. "It's just when you put your whole life into something from filly hood to now, and you are rocking flying around the skies..." she made some simulating hoof movements "...and then BAM! All of it is gone, due to an injury that not only killed the dream, but also my heart." Dash finished, now looking out towards the open window into the night sky. Twilight wrapped her wing around Rainbow's back and hugged her with it. "As a best friend, I know what it is like to fail things. Some of them you were there to experience." She reflected back along the past of their adventures together and with their friends. "Heh, yeah you were a mess a lot of times, 'I am the princess of friendship, I can solve anything!' " Dash made a silly impression of her which made both of them laugh a little. "There's the smile and attitude I know, don't give up on that, stay strong Dash." She gave her friend a hoof bump as she got up and opened the door and left. Rainbow returned to her bad after turning off the lights and feeling better and fell asleep. Author's Note After consideration of Alternate Universe and current time, I decided to put them both together. It has given me more ideas and creativity to work with.
Lost ConfidenceA couple of days had past since the fate of Rainbow's dream dashed right out the door of not being able to maintain and stay in the Wonderbolts and reach captain. She got up and walked and paced around her home. She was getting more and more nervous about the surgery of the new wing that was going to be performed in the next 3 days. She heard a knock at the door and opened it up to see Fluttershy, and Twilight with a chariot to give her a ride down from Cloudsdale to Ponyville. "Do I have to go down there? I... I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing this Twilight." Rainbow was feeling less and less confident about the journey to the town full of ponies. "Why not Rainbow? Surely you want to see the others and spend some time and get out for a while?" Fluttershy asked her, trying to snap her friend out of the stupor she was in. Rainbow just kind of glanced away with a slight frown on her face and looked at the bandaged side again. It was still making her feel depressed. "Rainbow I know you are nervous about the other ponies that are going to be looking at you, but that doesn't mean they will treat you any different than before, they all still are your friends. Why would anypony even dislike you just for not having a wing at your side?" Twilight asked curiously. Rainbow just glared and sighed at her. "Because, Twilight, my wings mean everything to me, and to a great number of the Equestrian ponies who would come to the Wonderbolt shows, and just see me flying around all over the place. They won't even want to talk to me, like me is gone, awesome, what does that even mean anymore?" Rainbow broke down in tears again. Fluttershy looked at Twilight and walked up to the cyan Pegasus. "Now, Now, Rainbow, don't be upset or cry everything will be okay. We'll just go down to Sugar Cube Corner, go inside and sit with the Cakes and the others, and enjoy some nice conversation time." Fluttershy reassured her. With Rainbow being a little more comfortable, she got into the carriage and laid down on the back seat as Fluttershy and Twilight, put the harnesses on and took the chariot down to the town below. When they landed, Twilight made sure They were on the back step of the building so that Rainbow could easily just walk in without being seen by the Ponyville residents. The three of them walked in and the first thing that happened was Pinkie, tackle hugging Rainbow straight into the ground. "Dashie!" She shrieked with delight Although Rainbow was not in the most available mood for hugs, she still let her friend continue. There is nothing that that pink pony cannot do to make you feel at least a little better about yourself. Rainbow slowly pushed Pinkie off of her and walked over to the table and sat down. Rarity sat down next to her as well as AppleJack, and the others followed suit taking a seat around the table. "So darling, how have you been? Rarity asked. "Yeah, Sugarcube, it's been a quite ah few days." Applejack followed suit. Rainbow just looked around, and messed with the spoon on the table, spinning it around and around. "Rainbow?" Twilight asked. "What? Like why do you all even care about me still? I mean I feel completely useless here in front of all of you, I don't even feel like you gals still like me and are just trying to keep me around just to make me feel better." Dash said with a hurt tone. The other 5 just stared at her, neither one of them acted shocked or upset about it. They knew Dash was going through a grief period, and yes her wings were a special thing to her. "Why would you think we wouldn't like you?" Fluttershy broke the silence. "You are our friend no matter a wing or no wing, in the Wonderbolts or not, rainbooms or no rainbooms, It does not matter how different you look on the outside, you are still one of our best friends." At that moment Scootaloo walked in with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and walked right past them up to the counter. Rainbow seeing Scoots, moved Rarity out of the way, and wondering what just happened, the 5 watched her quickly trot out the front of the shop, and AJ and Twilight walked out keeping the other 3 back for the time. Rainbow went and laid down inside the chariot and started just hurting inside her heart deeply. "Rainbow, what was that all about?" AJ asked. Twilight, who was curious as well, remained quiet with a slight puzzled look on her face. "I...I...Scootaloo...Just...She'll never like me at all! What kind of young sister-fan wants her hero and idle who can't fly, and is damaged to even be around her?" Rainbow said sobbing. "Oh..." AJ could not describe the feeling of the hurt that Dash had just stated. This was a rough feeling. "Now Sugarcube, why would she still not love you? Because of a missing wing? That's a bunch of rotten apples if you ask me. From what I've seen Scootaloo loves you as a sister and a fan because of how strong you are and how much courage you gave her to not give up. Remember the Equestrian games flag? She almost lost herself, but she stayed in it because you gave her the heart and courage. Or what about the time we took the trip to Rainbow Falls? And the fears she had at night and how you told her to never be afraid, that you are still here? I reckon she still loves you no matter what Rainbow, because you taught her to not give up and have heart." AJ just sat and looked firmly at her friend with the honest smile she always carried. Rainbow sat up. "You really think so?" She asked, wiping her tears. "I know so." AJ said. "As do I." Twilight started in. "Trust me you've been her strongest influence to keep going." Rainbow stopped crying and, although her friends helped her a little, she asked Twilight to just teleport her home. "Rainbow stay strong and I'll swing by again in a day or two." Twilight said as she transported the Pegasus with her magic back up to her home in the clouds. Rainbow walked into her home and, took off the bandage. She looked at her scars and the point of where the wing was once attached. It broke her to keep seeing it like this, she wished her wing could just grow back, or that she was never called into war in the first place. she walked over to her bed leaving the bandage off and also looking in the mirror on her dresser stand and seeing the scars across her cutie mark. It made her question what her purpose even was anymore. She climbed into bed and cried herself to sleep.
Wing ReplacementIt was the day of the surgery and Rainbow was having the hardest time trying to stay in one place, and even mistakenly tried to fly around with one wing and fell to the floor. She was acting like she had some sort of stressful test just like the Wonderbolts one, back a couple years ago. She was hopping up and down stress fully on her bed, running around and looking at herself in the mirror, when all of a sudden a knock on the door that made her jump. Dash walked up, shakily from nerves and opened the door, to see Twilight and Fluttershy again, accompanied by the carriage. "You ready Rainbow?" Twilight asked. "Y-Yeah as I'll ever be" She said walking out of her house and closing the door. She hopped into the carriage. "Now don't you worry Rainbow, everything is going to be just fine, no need to be worried, all of your friends and us will be there for you." Fluttershy said, trying to comfort the cyan Pegasus. They took off from Cloudsdale and back down to Ponyville to the hospital. Nurse Redheart was waiting for her. "Alright, Rainbow go ahead and sit in the wheel chair." The nurse said. Rainbow kind of scowled and looked down. The flashback of doing tricks as the younger thrill seeker and breaking her wing before went through her mind. She took her seat in the chair. As the other five friends followed behind the nurse, and Dash, they could feel her nervousness and tension rubbing off of her. Pinkie had to step out because she kept trying to bring her party cannon and make them explode with balloons and streamers all over the place, which forced the nurse to have security walk her out. "Alright you four, you have to wait in the waiting room now." Redheart pointed over to the area where a few other ponies were sitting. The four and Pinkie, who finally managed to control her enthusiasm a little more, went into the waiting room and sat down. Rainbow felt a bit wired being pushed through the ER and looking at all the tools that were on the silver trays and by the beds. She was wheeled into her little room that was sectioned off by curtains. "Alright, Miss Dash. Go ahead and lay down on the bed with the bandaged side facing up." Nurse instructed her. Rainbow, not making any sounds or approvals in agreement, hopped onto the bed and did as she was instructed positioning herself on the bed. The surgeons came in and hooked her up with the equipment needed and put some neighstesia into her and Rainbow passed out. The operation was very technical for the doctors as they cut around the spot of the old dislocated joint and cut the old bone off. The first stage was to rid the area of scar tissue, simple, yet careful guidance, then connecting the first piece of the wing vertebrae that would normally support the other bones and the light thin tissue of the wing where the feathers would grow out. Then an advanced machine that was used to attach the smaller skeletal metal wing pieces, and screwing them in and tightening the flex bolts that would allow just like the normal wing to fold up appropriately. Then came the most precise part, attaching the six metal feathers of light weight steel that would allow for functionality of flight and easy movement while in flight. They stitched up the area around the wing muscle and the skin with stitches. While the pony still slept they moved her to a regular hospital room, and informed her friends that they could visit her later after she woke up and had something to eat. They all decided to go get her a gift from the shop for her around the corner, while Pinkie went and made some of her favorite cupcakes for Dash. Rainbow, woke up about 3 hours later, close to midnight. Nurse checked her vital signs and gave her a delicious meal of assorted hay burgers and sweet cider. Soon her 5 friends walked in. "Dashie!" Pinkie screamed and went and handed her cupcakes to her. Rainbow smiled slowly from the tiredness. "Hey gals, what's up?" She asked as she yawned. "Not much darling, how are you feeling?" Rarity stepped up beside her. Dash really couldn't answer her for the simple fact that she was still slightly inoculated by the neighstesia. "Still tired." replied the sleepy Pegasus. She stretched and her metal wing expanded quickly flinging the cupcakes that Pinkie had made right into her face and onto the floor. Dash surprised herself a little. She took a look at the metal wing. It was, different, but it looked amazing and she practiced moving it in and out a little. Pinkie on the other hoof, was busy licking the frosting up all off her face and the floor. The others slightly frowned, but then again this is Pinkie Pie. "That wing is stunning Dash!" Twilight exclaimed a little excited as she viewed the wing. She was wondering what kind of pony science this was altogether. "Alright ladies, time to get out for the night she needs her rest, lot of days of recovery and training to come." Nurse Redheart said to the five. They all went and gave their goodbyes to their friend and left the packaged present on top of the mantel piece. After they all left the nurse checked vitals one more time and dimmed the lights and closed the door. Rainbow looked over at the gift on the table and grabbed it, and opened it up. What was inside was a letter and a picture frame of her and her friends all standing around and having a fun time, she read the letter: Rainbow Dash, you are one of the most important and best friends all of us could have, we have all grown together strongly and we love you so much for your strength and most of all loyalty and never letting us go for what you know could mean the difference between dreams and reality. You are so amazing and we will always be here for you until the end. Fly high and keep rainbooming! All of her friends and even the Crusaders signed the bottom of it. It made her so happy and she cried as she set the picture up and she held the letter tightly as she fell asleep.
Honorable Exit, Depressed HeartIt had been a couple days since Rainbow's surgery. Even though she was now allowed to walk around Ponyville freely, she still felt a little awkward with her new wing. It wasn't heavy at all, it was as light as her actual wing on her side had been, just really weird to have metal instead of feathers. She has been able to control the movement of the wing a lot more now. Her training had been rather successful with Nurse Redheart, and Spitfire to show her how to control the movements. Rainbow was walking down Ponyville early that morning towards Twilight's castle. She hadn't been able to sleep, and the lone Pegasus had to take a walk from Sugar Cube Corner, where Pinkie Pie had put her up for the night. Today was the day of her honorable discharge from the Wonderbolts. Rainbow was trying not to think about it, but it soon became too overwhelming. Twilight knows how to help, she's always got great advice. She thought as she approached the castle door and knocked. Twilight answered almost immediately. "Rainbow, surprised seeing you up this early." Twilight said as she motioned her friend inside. "Well... I'm kind of lost at everything right now." Dash said as she sat down after she walked in. "What do you mean?" Twilight asked quizically, with a confused expression. "Well... today... welll... I..." Rainbow started letting loose some tears. "I get discharged today from the Wonderbolts." Twilight, who walked around and sat by her friend, got a look of slight sadness upon her face too. This was Rainbow's dream. She had put so much effort into making herself able to get into the team. "Rainbow, listen, I know it's hard to accept this. Come on though you still have a flying buddy." She wrapped her wing around the blue Pegasus. "Plus this new wing of yours is pretty cool looking." "Twilight, you wouldn't know cool or awesome if it was written in a book in front of you right now you nerd." Rainbow snickered a little. "Meh, books are books, we all have some fancy of fun. Rainbow, you are a strong mare. Don't let this defeat you. You will always be the best Wonderbolt in my heart. We all have sacrifices and things that make us upset, but you grow and become stronger from the experience." "Feel free to stay as long as you like. Want some pancakes?" "Nah, I'm just going to go into the spare room you have here and sleep for a little bit. Oh, Twilight. Thanks for being here." Rainbow turned and walked away stretching the metal and real wing at the same time. Twilight smiled as she returned to the library where she did what she always did best, Study. Later that afternoon Rainbow gave her first attempt at flying up to Cloudsdale for the ceremony. It was shaky and she spiraled out of control a few times, before she realized she had to fly about the same speed as Fluttershy. Everypony was already up in the stands. Rainbow took a moment to walk through the Wonderbolts Hall of Fame, and look at all the pictures of her and all the other amazing athletics in the hall. She turned into the locker room and went to her locker. She opened it up and sat down and looked at her uniform, goggles, and pictures of everything. Tears began rolling down her cheek, she spread both wings and looked disappointingly at her metal wing. It hurt her bad to see the future in front of her in her locker, then the new future with the wing. She would never be able to wear the uniform again. Spitfire walked in. Saw Dash and walked over to her. "Dash, the ceremony is about to begin." Spitfire said. Rainbow just continued to stare at the uniform. "Ma'am I feel horrible right now, I'm in a state of pain. How am I meant to be loyal to something that I was apart of for so long and just walk away with honor because of an issue with my wing? I don't understand it, and don't know if I ever will. I'm constantly thinking about this and it is becoming so depressing every day that comes and goes..." Dash told the captain. "Rainbow, things are meant to happen for a reason, sometimes not understanding things at first is the best. As time goes on it will present itself as understanding later. You were one of the best we ever had, I'll miss your cool tricks and awesome thrills every single day. But, Dash this is no time to lose your heart. You must stay strong. With weakness, comes the courage to keep going to fight it and show your heart to Equestria about who you still are as a pony. Right now though we must get you to the ceremony." Spitfire finished, patting her close friend on the shoulder. Rainbow got up and followed her slowly behind. "Wonderbolts have honor, pride, firmness and loyalty above most things. Speed is easy to find, but to have control and know your strengths is the hardest thing to find. Today, we honor a pony who was a beloved member of this team. A fierce competitor, and a wonderful example to many, as one of the most strongest and loyal ponies to fillies and gentle colts alike. This mare had the fiery rainbow across the sky and most amazingly the legendary rainboom. Please put your hooves together for Rainbow Dash!" Soarin stepped off the podium as the cyan pegasus stood up to the roaring cheers and hooves. Rainbow was not feeling the happiness though, she stood there putting on a fake smile, and waving, while feeling the deep pressure of guilt still inside her heart. "It has been a pleasure, to serve as one of the finest ace Pegasi in the sky. I had a lot of fun, and now it is time to step away due to the injury all of you know about." Rainbow finished, a tear starting to roll down her eye. Nothing she said was honest at all, and she felt like AJ was staring at her, burning into her soul as she stepped to the side as Spitfire and Soarin stepped back up the the microphone. "Today a distinguished medal, goes to my friend of the sky here." Soarin opened a box. "For the fierce leadership in flight, and in battle, and the firmness and strength you have always held, we award Rainbow Dash the Purple Wing." Everypon was silent as Soarin took out the medallion and slipped it around Rainbow's neck. After he did that the whole stadium of Cloudsdale cheered her name and clapped for her. Rainbow looked down at the purple and gold wing. Do I really deserve this? Rainbow started to think really hard and turned and trotted out slowly, in tears.
What Makes a HeroAs Rainbow walked back into the hall and towards her locker, she turned around as trotting was heard coming from behind her. She turned to see Twilight, Soarin, and Spitfire. "Rainbow, why did you leave?" Twilight asked seriously. Rainbow just grimaced and looked down at the cloud floor in disappointment. "You wouldn't understand. None of you would, not even you Spitfire." Rainbow stated to all three of them. "What would we not understand Dash?" Spitfire inquired questioningly. "Look, I go into war, after being a strong warrior and a flight member of one of the things I always dreamed of, my wing gets cut off, then my whole world comes crashing down at the tap of a hoof. I'm nothing without the Wonderbolts, I deserve to just be left alone for the rest of my life. I'm no hero, and I never will be." Dash began to cry as she looked from her friends, to the floor, then the Wonderbolts emblem on the walls. "Rainbow." Soarin started to talk. Dash looked at him. "Believe me, what you have gone through is more than anypony could understand, ourselves included. You are a hero, and what makes a hero is exactly more than just serving in a war, getting a wound, or being even one of the elite like our wonderful captain is right here. You are fierce when it comes to being at the call of everypony that needs assistance, you are stronger than any warrior that has ever come out of training, a leader, and most of all your friendship to many means the most, and that is what makes you a hero." "Dash, being out of the Wonderbolts for flying does not mean you are not still one of us." Spitfire added after Soarin had finished. "You got the Purple Wing medal because of your valiance in being a worthy pony as Soarin had said, not for a new fancy wing that has replaced your older one. Believe me you are not permanently out of the Wonderbolts, we hadn't even said the surprise that we have in store for you yet." Dash looked up curiously, with a more relaxed expression after what both Wonderbolt leaders had said. "Surprise?" "Yes, but you have to come back out to the podium, we want everypony to hear it." Soarin said. They all walked back out to the stage. When they all re aligned at the podium, and Twilight took her respectful place on the Princess throne, the commemoration continued. "Sorry about the delay, my friends. We do have one more thing to add for Dash here. Once a Wonderbolt, always a Wonderbolt. Therefore, Dash will now be the head captain of the young filly and colt training flight camp starting this Spring for all the new beginners in flight and to achieve their dreams of becoming one of us, or one of the best flyers of Equestria." Spitfire spoke through the microphone. Cheers and chants of "Dash, Dash, Dash, Rainbow Dash!" Were heard all around the cloud stadium. Rainbow felt a jolt of joy flip throughout her entire body. It wasn't the end after all. She still had her dream of flying, but most of all the importance of helping fillies and colts to learn to fly like her and become the best. "And without further ado, Rainbow wants to make a speech." Soarin said. At this point Rainbow, kind of looked at him with a slight scowl and smile. "Heh, not really accustomed to making speeches into a bunch of ponies. I am happy though, these last few weeks have been so hard and crushing for me. It hurt to lose such a value to not just my body, but also what felt like a dream fly right out the window of my home. I'm happy for the support of my five other friends who stayed there with me every trot of the way to this recovery, I'm thankful to still be apart of the Wonderbolts and to be able to teach your young ones and those aspired to be as awesome as I wanted to be, when I too was that age of youth. Thank you all for being here, it really means a lot to me." Dash finished, as the crowd began to yell out there joy. That night a celebration was held for Rainbow, and of course the famed Cider from Applejack was there and Dash was hovering around the table grabbing a glass of what almost seemed like every five minutes. The celebration went on for hours before it started to disperse and ponies got tired and started to head home for the night. It was at that point a little young filly Pegasus walked up and tapped Rainbow on the shoulder, Dash looked and saw Scootaloo. "What's up kiddo?" Rainbow asked surprised to see her there. "I just wanted to say how awesome you are, I'm really proud to have you as an idol and a family like sister next to me everyday. I may never be able to fly, but you mean the world to me, and that will never change." Scootaloo hugged her. Dash began to cry out of joy from her heart and hugged her back. "Look, Scoots, you will fly one day, it may not be with those wings, but with your heart and you will soar to wherever you want to with it and what you do in life." Rainbow picked up Scootaloo and returned to her home for the rest of the night for some sleep. Author's Note Most don't admire Dash, due to her lack of communication and more than most times her selfishness in doing things her own way, I however think that any pony, just like us human beings all have a heart and a beautiful soul that can show emotions such as pain, and joy and passion in the things that happen in our lives.
Epilogue: A 20% Cooler EndingThe breeze was just the right amount of speed for the little fillies and colts that were on the cloud watching and learning how the athletic cyan blue Pegasus was giving different ways to fly and techniques to avoid obstacles and strong head winds during flight. Rainbow's wing since had been colored in the blue and yellow of the Wonderbolts, which gave her a lot more confidence of still being on the team. The little ponies were in awe as the Pegasus did twirls and loops just above them to show them stunts she had learned. "Now kiddos, it's your turn." Rainbow said to them. All the little ones started racing around the training area, laughing and sometimes falling with a big 'poof' onto the cloud with Dash assisting them back up and assuring them that they can do it, and to give it another try. She even had a little fun racing around with some of them. "Alright now, take a seat I want to show you something real amazing that is only thought to be an old ponies tale." Rainbow stepped to the edge of the cloud as the fillies and colts sat silently for what she was about to show them. As Rainbow looked out across the valley and looked down below, she smiled and thought about things. Self-Defeat will never be an option for her, she is a fighter, a leader, and a warrior. She was a strong Pegasi, one who couldn't let fear overcome her faith and most of all loyalty. She dived off the cloud and started speeding up to a mach speed, as she started to fold her wings in a little more for the move she was about to perform, her metal wing gave a little wiggle, but she was not worried. She raced downward and downward, faster and faster as a mist cone started to form in front of her, she approached close to the ground and as she did, she hit the speed to perform something she thought she had lost the ability to do, the rainboom. A large bang erupted from below as the ponies up above shouted and cheered as she raced back up a big rainbow following behind her and a rainbow spreading in a circle spread out across the land below. Spitfire was watching from the side near her office and muttered, "That's the girl I know," and walked back inside towards her office. Rainbow landed as the small swarm of little ones gathered around her with different cheers and excitement. "And that little ones, is how you stay true to your dreams." Rainbow stated. Author's Note Don't ever forget that you are only as strong as you let yourself be, everyone has the potential to achieve glory and success, even if it is a rough rocky road your hooves travel over, just keep pressing forward and don't forget to keep your head high with a smile.
