Breeze in the Storm

“Fillies and gentlecolts, please give a warm Baltimare welcome to the Wonderbolts!”

The crowd that filled the seats of the stadium began to cheer and stomp their hooves as the Wonderbolts flew down from the sky and landed in the middle of the field. They all stood with a confidence that immediately showed the audience that they were in for a masterclass of technical flying and death-defying stunts. As the attendance continue to show approval of the athletes before them, Spitfire looked at her teammates and with nothing more than a simple nod, they all shot back into the air and began their performance. They began with the standard affair, tricks that they had done so many times they couldn’t possible gotten it wrong. The crowd continued to clap and cheer as the moves began to become much more exciting. They continued their flawless display and as they all landed once again, they took a bow as if to signal the end of the performance, but they had one last trick that a certain pony couldn’t wait to show off. Rainbow Dash looked over to Soarin, who was bowing besides her.

“Alright, Dash, show them what you got,” Soarin said.

“Hope you’re ready for a standing ovation,” she said with a grin on her face. With that they executed their stellar closer and it went just as well as it did in practice. Rainbow Dash landed besides her fellow Wonderbolts and looked around her as she took in the roaring response to her move. Unable to hide her grin, Soarin raised an eyebrow and put on a smirk.

“Better than Ponyville,” he mouthed to her. She responded with a silent gaze. He quickly put on a nervous grin, “Sorry.” When she looked back at the rest of the team, she noticed that they had stepped back a couple of yards and soon realized Soarin had as well. Spitfire motioned her forward, for she knew that this was Rainbow Dash’s moment and she deserved it. Dash stepped forward and bowed against the onslaught of praise and admiration that the Baltimare patrons were heaping upon her. She continued to thank the crowd as the booming voice came over the PA system.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, once again, the Wonderbolts!”

With this final sendoff, the team began to head to the locker room, waving goodbye to their amazing audience. Once they were out of sight, Rainbow Dash began to giddily flap her wings let out a short and quick laugh.

“That. Was…”

“Awesome? Incredible? Awe-inspiring? Am I getting close?” Soarin said as he walked past.

"Yeah, just about all the above, but I also would have accepted amazing."

“Alright," Spitfire said as she walked by, "if you two can stop flirting for just a minute, we still got to meet some fans.”

“Yes ma’am,” Rainbow replied. Flirting? Yea, that’ll be the day.

The Bolts entered the locker room and changed out of their performance attire and began to pack up their gear to get ready to go back to the hotel. Dash quickly grabbed the pens she had stored with her stuff and began to distribute them to the rest of her team. When it was all said and done, they made their way to the exit. Spitfire led her team towards their cab and into the hooves of a barrage of fans. Autographs and photos being demanded from every which way, much more than an average pony could handle, but the Wonderbolts and become accustom to this, as too did Rainbow Dash long before she was on the team, thinking back to an incident that ended up with her friends becoming a masked vigilante. She laughed off this memory as she began to make her way through the crowd, signing and taking as many photos as she could as steady approach her team’s taxi. After about twenty pictures, it looked like she was about to make it through the mob, she heard something shockingly familiar.

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” A high pitched voice rung out from the crowd of euphoric fans as a small filly Pegasus with a light beige coat and red mane along with a single streak of cyan in it and a Wonderbolts cap rest on her head. She ran towards the Wonderbolt with a pen and poster tucked in her wings. When finally reaching the red rope separating her from her idols, she had to stop to catch her breath.

“Ra- Rainbow Dash!” said the young filly “I’m a huge fan! I-I travelled all the way… from Manehattan to see you!” The little pony tried to put sentences together but constantly fumbled over her words due to her excitement. A soft smile came across Rainbow Dash’s face as she thought back to how similarly she reacted to seeing her idols and that now she was in their position.

“Ca- Can I get a picture with you?! An- And an Autograph?!”

She let out a small chuckle. “Of course!” Rainbow Dash took her pen and signed the Wonderbolts hat and poster, then posed with her for a photo. The young filly was filled with excitement.

“Thank you so much! I can’t wait to tell my friends I met you!” As she said this, a Pegasus mare approached the two. The filly turned to her with gleeful smile. “Mom, look! I got a picture and she signed my hat!”

“That’s fantastic! I guess the trip was worth it, then?”

“Definitely!” she said as she ran up and hugged her.

“It’s really cool that you took your daughter all the way from Manehattan to see us.” Rainbow Dash said to the mother.

“Well, we missed you when the tour stopped in the city, and this one wouldn’t stop saying how much she wanted to see you.”

“Well, I am pretty awesome…”

“Always so professional, Dash,” Soarin said as he approached his fellow teammate.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Rainbow Dash with a sarcastic tone, which Soarin responded with a similar tone.

“Oh, nothing at all...”

“Mom! That’s Soarin Skies! Oh. My. Gosh!”

“Hey, there nice to meet you.” Soarin said to the two fans, “I hate to be the one that does this, but it’s time for us to get going.”

“Oh, no worries, we understand,” said the mother, “great show today.”

“Yeah! It was awesome!” said the young filly.

“Thanks,” said Rainbow Dash, “it was very nice to meet you two. See ya around, kid.”

“Bye!” The two parties began to part ways, but the smile on Soarin’s face.

“What are you grinning about?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“What? You didn’t see yourself talking to a mirror? That filly was the spitting image of you!” Soarin said as he broke out in a hardy laugh.

“What are you talking about?” She said rolling her eyes.

“Really? ‘oh my gosh, oh my gosh!’” he said putting on his best Rainbow Dash impression, “You said that so many times at the Young Flier’s Competition I would have sworn it was the only words you knew.”

Dash playfully shoved him, “Yeah, well, remember that I was saying that after I saved the entire team from certain doom.”

“You’re not going to let us live that down, are you?” Soarin said.

“Eventually… maybe… probably not.” The two Pegasus shared a laugh when Rainbow Dash heard something hit the ground followed by a short grunt. She turned around to see the filly on the ground.

“You alright, kid?” she called out.

“Yea, just great…” she replied with a shaky voice. Rainbow Dash watched as the she flapped her wings and failed to get more than a few feet off the ground, “Just gotta… try… a little…” she fell to the ground once again, then it clicked.

She can't fly...

She couldn’t have been much younger than Scootaloo, in fact, she might have been a year older, and yet she still was confined to the ground. This really got to her as she thought about how hard her adoptive sister worked to try and fly. Rainbow Dash trotted over and helped the filly up.

“Thanks,” she said.

Rainbow Dash placed the Wonderbolts that had fallen off back on her head. “Hey, kid,” she said, “what’s your name?”

“Slipstream.” The filly said.

“Ok, listen Slipstream,” Rainbow Dash said, “it might not be my place to say, but I wanted to tell you that no matter how impossible it might seem, don’t give up on your dreams, work hard and you’ll make it. I know someone around your age that is going through the same, but she never quits, and I wanted to make sure you did the same.””

Slipstream knew what she was referring to, it was embarrassing that she was like this in front of her, one of the few ponies she idolized, but after hearing this she put on a huge smile and gave the Wonderbolt a hug. She stood up and walked back over to her mother.

“Thank you,” she said, “That meant a lot to her.”

“It’s no problem,” Rainbow said, “I know someone around her age that has the same issue. Just wanted to let her know that she’s not alone."

“I make sure she knows that each day. Again, thank you.”

The two Wonderbolts continued to make their way towards their carriage. As they walked and waved to the crowd around them.

“That was great what you did back there,” Soarin said as the two approached the carriage.

“It was nothing,” Dash said, “Just something I had to say.”

“Still, it was very kind. It’s something that that filly won’t forget,” the two Bolts stopped at the carriage, Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin and smiled.

“Thanks,” she said, “but let’s not dwell on it. Today’s been great! Let’s keep it that way!” The two opened the door to see Rapidfire sitting in there with all the bags.

“What? Somepony has to watch them.” Soarin and Dash shared a look, shook their heads, and placed there bags in the carriage. They then went over to join the rest of the team, and once everyone was accounted for, Spitfire thanked the ponies in attendance as they all shot into the air.

As the Wonderbolts made their way back to their hotel, the team reminisced over the day’s work, either completing each other the synergy of the Wonderbolts team seemed to be at an all-time high.

“Well, another day, another crowd in roaring applause,” Fleetfoot said as caught up with Rainbow Dash.

“Yea, I wonder what their favorite part was,” She said, confidently placing her hooves behind her head as she looked up to sky.

Fleetfoot shook her head, “Hey, Spitfire,” she called forward, “I think if we let Crash pick another move, her ego make her float away.”

“You can’t say it wasn’t awesome,” Dash said to her.

“She’s got you there,” said Misty Fly as she went by, “Remember what happened when you first suggested a move?”

Fleetfoot suddenly froze, “Hey, don’t go there.”

“Oh Celestia,” Spitfire said, “That was an absolute travesty.”

“Oh, come on, it wasn’t that bad,” Fleetfoot said, obviously embarrassed.

“Woah, woah, woah,” Rainbow Das said as she flew in front of the team to stop them, “Fleetfoot tried to get a move in a show and it didn’t make it.”

“Yeah,” Soarin said, giving a sly grin to Fleetfoot, “she really owned up to the name ‘Flatfoot.’”

“No way!” Rainbow Dash said as she broke out in laughter, “You’ve got to tell me about it!”

“Fine,” Fleetfoot said, “you’ll hear the whole story at dinner.”

“That is fine by me.”

The team finally return to the Mare-iot Hotel to see Rapidfire sitting on the curb with all the bags and equipment simply laid out next to him in an unorganized pile. When they all landed, they unanimously shook their heads.

“Wow, great effort taking care of the bags,” said Blaze.

“Come on,” Rapidfire said, “You can’t expect me to carry all these bags in, I could pull something.”

“How Pegasus as lazy as you got into the Wonderbolts, I’ll never know,” Spitfire said sarcastically as she picked up her bag and made her way into the hotel.

“You hired me!”

“Alright, Bolts,” Spitfire said, “due to the stipulations of our little race earlier, we are having a feast tonight. All on our gracious benefactor, Rainbow Crash!”

The team began to deliver very hyperbolic claps and cheers as Rainbow Dash simply rolled her eyes.

“How kind of you, Dash,” Soarin said.

Rainbow’s eyes shot open, “Oh, please, Soarin! Race right now! Double or Nothing!”

Soarin shrugged, “I wouldn’t want to embarrass you twice in one day.”

“Sorry Crash, a bet is a bet,” Spitfire said, “Time for you to pay your dues.” She turned back to the rest of her team. “Wonderbolts! Head back to your rooms and get ready. We are meeting back her in one hour sharp!”

“Yes, ma’am!” said the team in unison. With that, they all broke away and headed back to their rooms.

Dash laid on the bed for a good fifteen minutes before getting up to see what she could wear. She looked through her suitcase for something to wear.

Should I be more formal or casual? We have a reputation to uphold so it might be a good idea to wear something semi-decent…

She continued to go through everything until she came across an outfit that stood out from the others. It was very similar to the one that she wore to the Grand Galloping Gala, but with much less fanfare. It was simply a dress with a rainbow pattern and was something that Rarity insisted she brought with her.

“Oh. Please, darling! You must have at least one piece of formal attire in your repertoire,” Rainbow Dash said in her best impression of her fashionista friend. She laughed as she remember how much she ensured Rarity she wouldn’t need it, but now she was glad she was talked into taking it. She put on the dress and looked in the mirror. It was nice, just what she needed for tonight. Once she was ready she gathered up all of her bits and headed down to the lobby.

Rainbow Dash was met by the rest of her team, who were also dressed for the occasion.

“Wow, Crash, you clean up well,” Misty Fly said.

“Eh, you know, girl of many talents,” Rainbow Dash replied. Soarin entered the hall shortly after. He wore a black dress jacket with a white undershirt and red tie.

“Not bad, Soarin,” Dash said, “If any fans don’t recognize you, they’ll still be plenty of mares hanging off of you.”

“Was that a compliment? I thought I’d never see the day,” Soarin said, with a overblown shocked expression.

“Well, don’t expect many more,” Dash said. With that, the Wonderbolts took off towards the southern city light to begin their night on the town.