The Paths We Choose

by inuboy7

Rating: everyone
Tags: Wonderbolts, Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Tragedy, Scootaloo
Length: 12844

Rainbow Dash achives her goal of becoming a wonderbolt, but is it really what she wanted in life...

Rainbow Dash is finally invited to become a Wonderbolt. She astounds everypony with her amazing winning streak, yup life is good for Rainbow, everything she ever wanted is in her hoof. What could go wrong right? But sometimes expectations can be abolutly shattered just when it seems the happy ending is in sight.

Published 2012-10-05 18:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-09 14:10:52 UTC

The Mailmares Delivery

We were all on a picnic that day, actually it was more of a picnic pet play date. Everypony had brought their pets, and Scootaloo had even seemed to bring a little critter of her own.

"See Rainbow, I'm just like you!" she exclaimed prouldy holding up her... apparently pet snail.

"He's slow but I don't mind he sticks to me no matter what."

"Or probably just because that's what snails do." I told her trying to ignore the pestering youngster. She was always following me it seemed, I wondered why didn't she have a mom who was calling her in for dinner at all. Honestly she would follow me until I flew away. Even then as I was leaving, she be like 'Ok Rainbow, byw I'll see you tomorrow ok?' and watch me until I dissapeared into the clouds.

One time I turned around while I flew past a cloud and I swear I saw her start to cry. I couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for the little filly but honestly she was a little too clingy sometimes.

A crash into a nearby tree got all of our attentions.

"Oops, my bad." It was Derpy, the mailmare. I sighed as I flew over to pull the clumsy pony out of the tree.

"Hey Rainbow, got a letter for ya!" she proclaimed. I set her down on the ground and the grey pegasus gave me the letter and took off. Immediately smashing into a low hanging branch. I shook my head and turned my attention to the letter it REALLY got my attention. I felt my wings unfurl with the excitement of what I saw.

Twilight trotted over to me and looked at the letter, "What's got you so excited, Dash?" she asked.

The others had gathered around me as well, to find out what was happening. I showed them all the baby blue envalope with a lighning bolt shaped postage stamp.

"This is an official letter from the Wonderbolts!" I squeed, not bothering to hold back my excitement.

I tore open the letter without any further hesitation.

Dear miss Rainbow Dash,
We are proud to announce that we the Wonderbolts, have decided to coordially invite you to a private tryout for our team. This honor is only given to six other pegasai in all of Equestria, only one can gain the honour of becoming an honorary Wonderbolt. Please report to the address in Cloudsdale at the appointed date for your tryout. Once again we thank you for your dedication to training yourself and all you've done for the pegasai and all of Equestria.

Sincerly yours,

The Wonderbolts.

The signatures of all the official Wonderbolts were underneath it as well as the specified location. I couldn't believe it, not only had I gotten invited to tryout for the Wonderbolts I had gotten ALL of the autographs. This was officially the BEST DAY EVER!!!

When I got home that night I hung up my invitation on my wall full of Wonderbolt memorabilia. Tickets for the shows pictures. I even had cards with the Wonderbolts past and present on them. I gazed at my wall imagining a picture of me one day on it preforming a Sonic Rainboom. I drifted off to sleep dreaming of Wonderbolts.

Two days later I was at the training grounds of the Wonderbolt acadamy. This was truly awesome, the huge coloseum towered over my head. The race track that so many times I imagined flying over. Wonderbolts had raced on this track thousands of times before. I now stood on this field ready to give it my all.

A blue pegasus with a white mane came out stomping the ground. A whisle around her neck and sporting the Wonderbolt uniform.

"All right fillies let's get this over with." It was Fleetfoot.

One pony spoke up, "Uh, excuse me, miss Fleetfoot, I'm a colt not a filly." he said.

She zoomed in front of the gray colt eyeing him with her cold intimidating stare, "You questioning me?" she said, "Thunderhooves is it, says on your file you didn't learn to fly until you were six is that true?"

"Uh... well I-I uh..." he stuttered.

"Not too impressive." Fleetfoot tsked.

I snickered, Fleetfoot cocked her head and started towards me. She looked me dead in the eye, siezing me up.

"Well, well, well, miss Rainbow Dash. Let's see what you got." she told me.

She turned to the rest of the five who had been elected only one could win.

"Alright ponies this is a simple enough competition, for three weeks you get special training from the Wonderbolts themselves. You eat what we tell you to eat, you sleep when we tell you to sleep and you train when we tell you to train. Consider this, Boltcamp fillies." she finnished.

This was gonna be a breeze.

"Let's start things off with a race!" she said.

Before anypony could react she shouted, "GO!"

I sprang into action, leaving the other five in the cloud mist.

I was a good twenty feet in front before anypony had even realized what had happened. As soon as I reached the finnish line I started to slow down.

"Keep it going Dash this is an endurance race so don't try and burn out, sixt-five laps, GO, GO, GO!!!"

I races forward and onward, taking down lap after lap after lap. I was at fourty-seven when I felt the burn. My wings were begining to cramp up. I couldn't quit now I was ahead. I pushed on.

Fifty-six.

Fifty-seven.

Fifty-eight.

Almost there.

Sixty-two, sixty-three.

I was in the home streatch when my wings couldn't take anymore, they gave out. I skidded hard on the cloud track.

"Common Dash a Wonderbolt never quits, your still three laps ahead of Thunderhooves over there." Fleetfoot cheered

I watched as the gray colt zoomed past me.

My wings may be done for but I still had legs to race on.

"Common Dash, two laps ahead now, pick it up." she challanged.

I got up and started running, I galloped as hard as I could. It was tough because it was thick clouds. Like running in tall grass. But I zoomed through it keeping up with little Thunderhooves. He noticed this, he was panting as well I could see it. I threw him a smug smirk and he looked determined.

He picked up the pace, I did as well.

"You got some serious speed on you there I guess that's why they call you Dash." Fleetfoot said as we passed another lap. Sixty-four. One more to go.

Thunderhooves flew forward with all he had and came up on me with what was left of his endurance. We were both on lap sixty-four.

Neck and neck he had decided to fly right above me.

As we came within yards of the finnish line I felt the sting in my lungs and the burn in my legs. I lunged forward as I dived. It was all in slow motion now, I was in front of him by a nose, six inches to the finish line. I felt myself falling... down. I was going down, BAM! I hit the ground, banging my chin. My eyes were shut by the sheer force. I opened them to see Thunderhooves at the other side of the finnish line living up the spotlight.

I looked down my nose to see I was just an half an inch short.

Fleetfoot came over, "Nice dedication Dash." She slapped me a hoof and turned around and left.

We all trotted on into the bedding quarters accompanied by Spitfire, I couldn't belive it. I was complemented by Fleetfoot. This day couldn't get any better.

"This is where you'll all be sleeping." Spitfire was giving us the grand tour of our surroundings. I wasn't listning I was daydreaming about being a Wonderbolt. I had finally made my dream come true.

Boltcamp

It had been two days of Boltcamp, already somepony had dropped out. There was five of us, myself, Thunderhooves, Whirlwind, Lightspeed, and Sparkflame. All five of us were determined to get that top spot of the Wonderbolts. Today was PT's, for physical training, or as we had come to call them personal tortures. It was a series of extensive exercises built to push a pegasus to his or her limits. And they worked every time, when we went to hit the showers my wings were sorer than they'd ever been.

Whirlwind, and I were the only mares on the team so we had a lot to prove to the hotheaded colts who thought they were better. So today the first test was a push up marathon, last pegasus pushing no wings allowed. It was down to three the other two were laying on the ground watching us. During the iron pony competition I was only able to do a hundred with AJ, but things were different now. For one I had done more training for two this was the Wonderbolts. I pushed with all I had.

Two hundred ninty-six!

Two hundred ninty-seven!

Thunderhooves was wearing down and so was I.

Whirlwind fell.

"Whirlies out!" Fleetfoot called.

Just me and Thunder now.

Two hundred ninty-eight!

We were struggling to get up now our arms both wobbling it was a matter of will power now.

Two hundred ninty-nine!

One more Dash! I told myself.

We were both pushing as hard as we could half way up now all I had to do was push through the threshold and SNAP! I was up Two hundred ninty-nine!

Thunder was watching me still pushing with all he had. He came up as well, I watched him as we went back down. Once more we wobbled to the next push, all of our dedication on this one point in time. Almost there I felt the stining my arms wanted to give out so bad but I refused to loose!

I pushed with all I had and... AHA! I was up at three hundred.

Thuder still half way down fell to the ground exhasted.

"Rainbow Dash is the winner!" Fleetfoot called joyously. They all knew that Fleetfoot had taken a favorite to me although she still didn't slack me on training if anything she pushed me harder.

"Alright ponies rest up Spitfire will be out here for the next competition in one hour." Fleet told us.

We rushed to the water fountain and nudged each other out of the way to drink the life sustaining liquid. That was Boltcamp rule number two. Number one never question a Wonderbolt. Number two, no water until training is done. Number three don't ever give up.

We sat around the water cooler massaging our aching muscles trying to relive the cramps. All the while gossiping about what the final competition would be to decide the final Wonderbolt. I wasn't paying attention to ANY of it, once more my mind drifted off to me in that Wonderbolts uniform soaring through the sky with my idols. The wind in my mane and the breeze rolling through the sky, my dreams finally compleated.

"Alright everypony up!" I heard the commanding voice of Spitfire boom through my day dream.

"Alright fillies it's time for a real test of your will power." she told us the gossip began up immediately, "QUIET!" they all shushed, "You final test for today is for rank placement, after this you'll be allowed to train whenever you want but places in the race will determine your rank. Higher rank gets you the privelage to kick anypony off whatever equipment you want." she smiled at us all, "failure to comply with an outranking member will result in expulsion from Boltcamp. Got it!" she finnished we all nodded.

We all took our positions on the starting line, I flexed my wings preparing them for the race. Spitfire took her place at the signal cloud above us.

"Ready." I bent down preparing for take off.

"Set!" I tensed.

"GO!" ZOOM, I shot ahead of the crowd, one lap was easy.

Thunderhooves was next to me. He was fast all right but he wasn't going to beat me, I flapped my wings harder and got in the lead. We were half way around the track. He once more pulled up next to me. Our wings almost touching, I pulled away I knew all to well that if I threw off my flight pattern at this speed I would go into a tumble.

Ten more yards. Almost there. Thunder bumped me and hit my left wing, the sudden shock threw me off and I went down muzzle first into the billowy clouds. I watched as all three of the others zoomed overhead and across the finnish line. Spitfire came over to me.

"Sorry Dash looks like you got stuck in last place." she said and walked away.

I sat there for a moment taking in this grim news, for the rest of Boltcamp I was going to be ordered around by everypony else? This just went from the best day of my life to the worst possible scenario.

It had been an entire a week and I was NOT enjoying being on bottom rank. It was humiliating everytime I was in the middle of something or even starting somepony would bump me off. I was using the wing resistance bands and Hurricane comes over and says, "Hey Rainbow let 'em go my turn."

"I just started using them though!" I complained.

"Uh oh was that a failure to comply?" she said. I grumbled but I took them off, they were having too much fun with this I wasn't getting ANY training done. I swore that whatever that last test was I was going to win it no matter what. Just to show these smug little fillies who the real top rank was.

I had been resorted to flying and pushups, that's the only thing I could do that required no equipment. It was absolutely humiliating.

"Alright fillies line up!" Soarin had come out to address us. "You all like the ranks?" he said.

They all nodded and smiled nudging each other about how many times they had made me get off the equipment.

"Good, you only have three more weeks here at Boltcamp, now it's time for the twist." he said.

They went silent awaiting the captains new surprise.

"Were going to do a new competition today for a new rank change." he announced.

"YES!" I shouted.

This was my chance.

"You've done an endurance race, and you've done a speed race." he told us, "But being a Wonderbolt you can't just rely on endurance or speed. You have to be well rounded in all aspects."

He stopped when he saw me.

"Well miss Rainbow Dash, it's an honor to finally meet the one who saved my pie at the Gala." they all stared, I blushed. "You ran off I didn't have the chance to thank you last time."

He addressed the rest of the group, Whirlwind who was next to me let out a 'hmph' I stuck my toung out at her. All she talked about was Soarin we all could tell she had a crush on him. Soarin complimenting me was like a hoof to the face.

"That's for knockin' me off the feather weigths yesterday." I whispered to her.

She mumbled under her breath.

"Ok, so today's race will test not only your endurance and speed, but also your will power and drive to win." he told us. The anticipation for the challange was killing me.

"Each of you one by one will race me" he said. At first it sounded great, but then one thing contradicted the results.

"Your probably wondering how the ranks will be determined." Good he was going to tell us, otherwise somepony was going to have to break rule number one. "Only the ones who beat me will be rank one's. Rank one's answer to nopony except a Wonderbolt. Rank two's get second choice on everything and can order nopony at all." I liked this idea.

"But what if everypony wins." Thunderhooves asked.

"Well! It looks like rank one wants to be volunteer number one for breaking rule number one!" he shot at Thunder. He gulped and got on the starting line.

"Thirty laps, first to cross is the winner." he said.

They took their positions, Spitfire took up position on the signal cloud. With a wave of the red flag Thunder was off. But Soarin had stayed in place. He watched the confused Thunderhooves get a lap ahead and then shot out in front. He zoomed faster than Thunder around and around and around, he finnished all thirty laps before Thunderhooves could even finnish ten!

"Common Thundy, ya gotta do better than that." he slapped him in the side leaving a number 2 stamp on his side. "Looks like your a number two this week." he laughed. "Who's next."

Whirlwind got up to the starting line.

"'Lil miss Whilwind, alright."

They raced Whirlwind also lost, and Soarin took it easy on her.

Lightspeed was next, he also lost.

So did Sparkflame. I was the last to race.

"Let's see if little Dashie can break the number two curse and be the only pony with authority here." he said as we took our places.

We locked eyes at the start. He nodded, I nodded back.

My life long dream of racing with a Wonderbolt, I couldn't let him down.

Spitfire blew her whistle and we were off, I had the lead, Soarin came up on me fast. We knocked out ten laps at breakneck speeds, nose and nose. Neither of us letting up.

At lap twenty I was ahead by a good ten yards. Soarin's endurance was running low after so much racing I slowed down and let him catch up.

"What's the matter, don't you want to win?" he asked.

"It's not a win if it's not a fair race." I told him.

I stayed by his side until lap twenty-nine.

"Caught your breath?" I asked after we crossed the line.

He nodded.

"Then let's do this." We both flapped out wings as hard as we could the finnish line in sight he zoomed ahead.

I felt the familiar barrier pushing against me as I reached the sound barrier. I broke through and zoomed ahead of Soarin I turned up after crossing the finnish line and did a corkscrew back down at the end of the track. Leaving a brilliant spiral rainbow in my wake. The others were all talking amongst each other.

"Dash." Soarin called, "That was one amazing race, you earned this." he put a gold medallion ovder my neck. It had a number one imprinted on it.

"Your a number one this week." he winked and turned to fly away.

I chortled teasingly at Whirlwind who once again 'hmph'ed. I laughed watching Soarin as he and Spitfire flew away. One day I would fly with them.

The New Wonderbolt

It was awsome being the only number one in the unit. I was kicking everypony off the equipment, they hated me for it. Two weeks went by and I had finally caught up with my training that I had lost from the week before, so I guess it made up for it. We were all preparing for the final test we didn't know what it would be or how hard it would be, all we could do was wait for Rapidfire to come and deliver the news of the challange. That was pretty much all the info we had gotten. Rapidfire was going to give us the challange.

I was on the featherweights when Rapidfire came strolling in. More of stormed in, he came straight out of the sky we heard him before we saw him. The whistling of the resistance between him and the sound barrier screeching in our ears. His wings flared as he came to the track stopping him immediately, he floated the two foot drop down. We all witnessed his entrance in awe, it was almost as cool as when I won against Soarin and did that corkscrew Rainboom.

"Hello Bolt Cadets." he said his voice commanding, "I hope you've all been training hard because it all comes down to this." He paused the suspense was killing all of us.

"Your final test," we were all at the edge of our horseshoes, "is to be the first through the Wonderbolt's unnoficial training camp." We were all confused.

"Rapid we said we wouldn't make them do that it's too dangerous even for us." I heard Spitfire whisper to him.

"Relax, they'll be fine I have security at every point of danger to avoid and accidents." Rapidfire told her.

"Now if you'll all follow me I'll take you to the unofficial training grounds." He took to the sky, we all soared upward to follow him.

We followed for a few miles above the clouds, I watched them go by wondering how far we had gone. Finally he dipped below the clouds, we followed him. Pushing through the clouds so that we didn't get stopped by them. I a small cave in a clearing of a bunch of trees. We landed in the clearing just a couple of yards away from the mouth of the cave.

"Here we are the Lost Everfree cave." Rapidfire said.

"Wh-what wait WHAT!?" Thunder stuttered.

"This is the unofficial Wonderbolt Training grounds, the Lost Everfree cave. Here you have to get through to the other side which will spit you out in Ponyville. There if you make it by avoiding the pirate traps or not getting mauled by one of the many monsters in the cave you will be greeted by your friends and family waiting on the other side. First to make it through is the new Wonderbolt. Got it?" We all nodded, "Then what the hay are you waiting for GO! GO! GO!"

We all took off into the mouth of the cave, my adrenaline had gotten the better of me. I ran into a spike at the top of the ceiling. I noticed that they were all over the place at the top and bottom. Twilight had mentioned them to me, water that condensated from the ceiling brought minerals with it as it dripped forming a spike as it dripped to the ground another spike identical to the one above it formed as well. They were called stalagtites and stalagmites, I forgot which was which but all I knew right now was that it ment my flying was limited to how high of low I could fly.

I kept a constant pace weaving in and out of lower hanging spikes, I had already passed Whirlwind up. We all knew she wasn't going to make the cut she was after all the weakest link. I had come to a clearing that seemed to be spike free. Actually it looked like it had been hollowed out. I put it out of my mind and decided to keep going. A loud crash is what stopped me.

Eight big glowing red eyes appeared out of the hole in front of me.

"Oh oh!" this couldn't be good at all.

It was the biggest spider I had ever seen. And it was comming right at me, I rose toward the ceiling but it climbed the wall following me up. I dived down and banked right aiming for the smallest hole. I found myself crashing into a wall narrowly avoiding getting impaled. I sighed and hoofed it out of danger.

That was too close, I got back into the air and started to fly but was stopped by a shriek of terror. I turned around and saw that Whirlwind had gotten herself caught in a web. I looked ahead to see that Thunder had turned to watch as well he turned around and chased the lead colt, Sparkflame. I looked back to see the spider preparing to dig it's fangs into my competitor.

I turned around and zoomed straight to the giant arachnid. I slammed hard into its side it dropped the frightened filly the web she was entangled in broke and she flew up next to me.

"Thank you." she said smileing

"Don't mention it, let's just get going before that thing figures out where it is." We took off into the hole. We didn't travel long before Whilrwind stopped and landed on the ground. I put a hoof on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, are you hurt?" I asked.

"Just my pride, you go on." she told me, "You deserve this prize more than anything else." she told me.

I looked at her for a moment, "Go on, I'll be fine we're near a way station now I can bunk here and wait for a guard to escort me to safety now go you have to catch up to Thunderhooves." I smiled.

"Thanks." I told her.

"Mares gotta stick together." she said. We hoof bumped and I took off.

I caught up quick to Thunderhooves, turned out he sprained his wing. As I zoomed past I stuck my toung out and kept on going. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I burst through to hear the cheering I looked down to see my adoring fans but instead saw everypony gathered around Sparkflame. I was so devastated I sank to the ground and just sat there.

Twilight and the others were already there.

"I'm so sorry Rainbow, you really deserved that spot." she said.

I felt the tears welling up, all of my efforts were for nothing.

"WAIT!" we all heard somepony calling from the cave, it was Thunderhooves panting and cradeling what I thought was a sprained wing. It was so dark I hadn't noticed it before but his wing was bent back and upward it was broken.

"He cheated!" Thunderhooves pointed an accusing hoof at Sparkflame. "I was in front and he came up behind me and grabbed my tail between his teeth and threw me to the floor. I could have died you plothole!" he shouted.

They all shot suspicious glances at Sparkflame.

"Is that true Sparkflame?" Soarin asked.

"I uh... uh I..." he sputtered. Before he could say another word Thunderhooves ran up and lifted Sparkflames upper lip to reveal some of his tailhairs still caught between the colts teeth.

"The evidence is undeniable Sparkflame, you are disqualified and the one who was supposed to be in front will be crowned the new Wonderbolt." Spitfire said.

My heart began to flutter I held my breath waiting for my name to be called.

"Thunderhooves is the new Wonderbolt." she said, my wings and heart once more fell from the dispair of having lost after so much effort.

"Acctually." he said swiping off the hoof of the congradulatory Soarin, "I'm not the one you should be cheering for." He said, walking over to me, he winked. "Rainbow and I were neck and neck until we heard that giant spiders attack on Whirlwind." the chatter began, "I turned around and kept going for the exit, but Rainbow risked her flank to save somepony she didn't have to. And for that I relinquish it to her, I know that if we would have duked it out in the cave she totally would have won."

They all listened to his speech.

"Well then miss Rainbow Dash we have no choice but to make you the honorary New Wonderbolt." Fleetfoot said putting a gold medallion in the shape of a lighning bolt around my neck and handing me a uniform. I beamed at them gleefully watching everypony roar into an applause, even Thunderhooves.

This was truly the best moment of my life.

Fame

The wind rushed through my mane as I went faster and faster, the sound of the crowd roaring in my ears. I had been a Wonderbolt for a month now and I had already had an eighty-six percent win streak. I was the one to put sure money on but if I lost, which I hated loosing, money was lost and dreams werte crushed. This time I came in first, zooming past the finish line by a landslide, preforming a spiral as I swept across. That was my signature win move, nopony else had ever done it so I decided I needed to be the first to come up with something to symbolize my victories.

The crowd cheered as I exited the track to get to the showers.

"Good match Rainbow." Soarin clapped a hoof on my back.

"Thanks." I replied.

Spitfire walked beside me to the shower room, she simply smiled.

"What?" I found myself turning red.

"Haha, nothing Dash." she went ahead.

I was begining to takeoff to my Wonderbolt issued cloudhome, when I heard somepony calling me.

"RAINBOW WAIT!" I turned around to see Scootaloo.

"Scoots what are you doing here?" I laughed, I was actually a little creeped out from wondering how she even got here.

"I took a baloon," that explained it, "I had to see one of your races for myself." she said.

"That's great kid, listen I've had a long day I'll see you later ok?" I told her. I prepared to take off when...

"Rainbow?" the tone in her voice stopped me.

Her wings were down and so were her ears. I could have sworn her eyes were even begining to water.

"When are you comming back to Ponyville?" she asked. I pondered the question, if I did go back I wouldn't just go back for her I'd go back for my friends. I had to see them to tell them about my awesome adventures as a Wonderbolt.

"Hmmm, maybe next week sometime. OK?" I told her, her face lit up with delight.

"Maybe you can teach me to fly?" she sputtered on.

I laughed, "Ya, maybe." she turned and ran off.

She was a really strange filly, I wondered why she was always following me around. Why was she up here alone, hadn't her mom come with her to supervise. I didn't know but I had to get home I had a big day tomorrow, I'd be getting my very first team photo of me with the Wonderbolts as the newest member.

The next day we gathered in the Cloudsdale photo acadamy. It was actually a competition for the young photographers for them. They were compeating to see who could get the best picture of us, the winner would have his or her picture posted in the Equestria Daily newsletter covering my upward rise toward fame with the Wonderbolts.

After we left Soarin and Fleetfoot took off, Spitfire stayed to talk with me.

"So Rainbow," she began, "the rest of the team and I are having a get together at Soars place you in?"

"Heck ya!" I replied almost immediately. I had only heard stories of how crazy the parties got, from Wonderbolts themselves of course. Only exclusive members of the Wonderbolts and a few guests were ever invited.

"Good be at Soarins at eight." she said and took to the skies.

I beamed as I watched her take off toward the sunset.

I was so jealous of her house, the Bolts management had given her the house highest in Clousdale, every night she could just look out the window and watch Celestia set the sun. Must be an amazing site to be so close to a feat of magic like that.

"Um, miss Dash?" a young colts voice snapped me from my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Uh, could I have your autograph?" he held up a picture of me.

It wasn't the first time I'd given an autograph, but this time was different. Before I was giving them out for self satisfaction, now it was to please those loyal fans who watched me and were inspired. It wasn't for self satisfaction it was now for inspiration, to inspire those youth who looked up to me to become all they could be. Just like when I was a filly and looked up to the Wonderbolts. Now I was living that fantasy life. I had to help pass it on.

"Sure kid who am I making this out to?"

I signed the picture and he took off thanking me wildly.

I laughed to myself, this was one awesome lifestyle.

Almost immediately after the kid left a crowd had begun to form. Fillies and colts of all ages surrounded me asking for my autograph.

"Woah, woah one at a time!" I said to the growing crowd.

I don't know how long I stayed there signing photoes of myself, listening to little kids tell me how they wanted to be just like me.

I looked up to wipe my forehead and saw the sun setting behind the horizon.

I looked up at the clock that protruded from the town square.

"Oh horse feathers!" I panicked seeing that it was almost nine!

I unfurled my wings and sped towards Soarins place.

It only took a few minutes but the pounding in my heart seemed to slow time making it feel like hours. I finally got there and knocked on the door. Spitfire answered and laughed.

"What?" I said curious as to what was so funny, "So I'm a little late."

"Haha, it's not that. Besides nopony arrives at a party on time." she said, "You should really get the the restroom to clean up."

I followed her into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I could see what she was talking about, I was sweaty, my mane was now more scruffy than usual. I splashed water in my face and washed a little and used a towel to dry myself off. I saw Spitfire cackling silently in the corner.

"What?" I asked, I found myself saying that more around her than with anypony else, probably because she didn't say much, he communication was almost compleatly implied.

"No go ahead make yourslef at home." she said.

I realized she was being sarcastic. I put down the towel after drying myself off and realized that I was being a little grabby with Soarins stuff.

I straigtened my mane a little more and made sure I was presentable and prepared to leave.

"Ready?" she asked.

I nodded, she opened the door and was immediately greeted with the pounding of bass from the speaker system from downstairs.

I joined Spitfire at a table with Fleetfoot.

"Hey RD. What took ya so long?" Fleetfoot asked me.

"Got caught by fans." I replied.

She and Spitfire cracked up, "That tends to happen if you don't leave an area almost immediately." she told me.

We sat around chatting it up and listneing to the music, I looked over and saw Vinyl was at the turntables.

What the hay? I was going to ask but saw that remembered that Twilight had once cast a cloudwalking spell on the others to see the young flyers competition. The party went on for the rest of the night, a lot of dancing chatting and all around good times. I got home and got in bed satisfied with my overall lifestyle. I could get used to this. I could get used to being famous.

Family

I was in the field at Ponyville on a picnic with my friends. I'd kept my promise, not to the little kid but to myself, for my friends. After all I was famous now, but they still ment more to me than that.

"So can you teach me to fly now Rainbow?" Scootaloo asked for the hundreth time, she was really getting on my nerves.

"Sorry kid, I really want to spend this time with my friends right now." Scootaloo seemed disapointed. "Maybe next time I'll spend the day with you and teach you, ok?" That seemed to brightend up her face, she beamed with delight her tiny wings fluttering but not lifting her off the ground. She ran off to find her friends, I really doubted she'd ever be a great flyer, her wings just weren't powerful enough.

I turned to continue the picnic, Twilight and the others told me the recent stories they'd had without me, we laughed and talked and ate. It was just like old times only... the stories didn't have a familiar prideful rainbow maned mare bursting in to shuffle up trouble. I grew quiet.

"Rainbow," Pinkie asked quietly, the others looked at me, "is everything ok?"

I looked up and realized my eyes were actually getting watery.

"Ya," I replied wiping them, "ya I'm fine I just got wind of a little dust that's all." I told them.

"Dash," Twilight said comfortingly, "if there's anything you need to tell us we'll be glad to listen ok?"

I nodded, I looked around at all my friends. They would always be there for me, I gave this life up for the Wonderbolts. Was I wrong?

The wind rushed through my mane, the crowd roared for my victory as I crossed the finish line of the final lap. They cheered and chanted my name.

"RAINBOW DASH! RAINBOW DASH!" I bowed and followed my team to the locker rooms for a shower. I was entering the tunnel when I heard a familiar voice. One that I hadn't heard in about six months, since my tour had begun.

"I have to see her!" it was Scootaloo.

I turned around and saw the little orange filly wrestling with a security guard.

"Nopony enters the Wonderbolts shower room." The security guard said.

I hovered over and placed a hoof on the guards shoulder, he wasn't struggling or anything with her more like gently pushing her back.

"It's ok," I said to him, "Scoots, ya can't go any farther than here got that?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Ok, what do you want?" I asked.

"You said you were gunna come to Ponyville and teach me to fly, then after two months I heard that you guys came all the way here to Las Pegasus to start a tour."

"Ok, first off how did you get here, where's your mom?" I asked.

She shuffled a hoof on the ground, not answering. I bent down to get eye level.

"Listen Scoots, I'll teach you to fly one day I promise." I smiled, "But right now I have a responsibility to the Wonderbolts to do this tour." She was silent. "Now your going to stay here with the guard, I'm gunna go wash up and then I'm taking you back to Ponyville, ok?" I asked.

"Ok." She sounded down about having to go back home, but it also ment I got to be with her alone for five hours during the train ride there.

We boarded the train and found an empty booth to crash in.

"Wow this is so cool, I'm on a road trip with my idol." Scootaloo went on, "Ooh, can you teach me some tricks right now, maybe how to hover or the secret to a good takeoff–"

"Stop!" I prompted, "Listen, Scootaloo you can't just run off to see my races. Your mom will get worried about you." I told her sternly.

"No she won't." she said quietly. I was shocked by her response.

"Why not?" I asked.

She was silent for a minute.

"Scootaloo," I demanded, she looked up her eyes turning red from the tears welling, "I said, why not?" I asked more softly.

She turned away and looked out the window, "You'll see when we get there." she said.

We made the rest of the trip in silence, which was odd for the usually hyperactive filly. As soon as the train got to the Ponyville station she grabbed her scooter and we got off the train. She put on her helement and started to ride in the direction of wherever she lived. I followed her making sure she got there safely. She seemed to ride slower than usual, as if she didn't want me to see where her house was, come to think of it I'd never been to the little fillies house, nor did I recall any time when the other fillies had spent the night at her house. In fact it seemed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were always being asked by her to let her stay the night. My mind raced to conclusions but I didn't let them stray too far. I landed after a few blocks of flying above her, trotting at a brisk pace to keep up with her scooter. I was confused when we came to a poorly lit ally way. She turned down it.

"Scoots you know this is a dead end right?" I asked following her still.

"I know." She lit a match and used it to light a candel.

From the resulting stike of the match I saw a flash of light around me. There was a cardboard box, with a few pillows and a blanket and what seemed to be a doormat in front of the box. The doormat read "Home Sweet Home" I actually think that this was the one that was stolen from Sugar Cube Corner a while back.

Scootaloo's voice was shaky as she spoke.

"This is my bed." She motioned climbing onto the pillows and underneath the blankets. "And this is my pillow!" She put on a wobbly smile, I could see the tears being held behind her purple eyes staring up at me trying to be the brave filly I'd known her to be.

"Scootaloo where's your mom?" I asked her worriedly.

"Right over there." She pointed a hoof to a picture that looked like her only older, it was nailed with a rusty old nail she had probably found, to the brick wall right next to an old poster for the Sister Hooves Social. The old poster was colored in, the usually gray and white fillies. One had a rainbow colored mane and a cyan colored coat. The other an orange coat with a purple mane.

"See, home sweet home. You can go back to the Wonderbolts tour and... I guess I'll see you when you get back and you can teach me how to fly when you get back."

"Scoot... how long have you lived like this?" I asked her.

"...I don't remember." She replied lowering her head to face the ground, I could see the tears falling from her eyes now.

"Your coming with me Scoots c'mon grab your scooter." I told her.

"You mean it?" She asked delighted, still tears streaming down her face.

"Yup." I told her. "But first I need to mail a letter to the Princess." I told her.

"For what?" I asked her.

"Well I can't just take you in and say nothing, ponies will wonder where you went. I have to ask the Princess to push through an adoption recomendation." I told her.

"You mean?–" she gasped.

"Yup," I smiled at her, "your officially gunna be a Dash." I thought she was going to collapse in excitement.

"Common you, let's get you into bed ok?" I told her.

She followed me to the guest room, I never thought I'd have a daugther. This was going to be a really sudden jump but I had to help her out. I tucked her into bed and began to leave.

"Dash?" she called. I turned around, I could hear her voice drifting off to sleep, "Good night." she said, I smiled.

"G'nite Scootaloo." I turned off the light and shut the door.

I sighed and went downstairs to find some parchment and a quill.

I'll Fly Higher

Scootaloo and I were in the fields a few streets from my place, we were here for one thing: teach her how to fly. It had been three weeks since Celestia had approved my adoption for the little filly. I couldn't help but smile every time I saw her, why hadn't I ever noticed how much fun she could be. All those times she fought for my attention I shooed her off becasue she annoyed me, now I could see how cruel I was. But now I was going to be there for her.

"Common Scoots you can do it just flap your wings as hard as you can." I told the little filly bending down to her level.

She was trying as hard as she could to get off the ground, her tiny wings buzzed. She really did have heart, I can't see why I didn't notice it before.

I heard a sound coming from behind us, I looked up and saw that it was coming from the sun. A charriot carrying Princess Celestia. The charriot landed in front of us. Both Scootaloo and I bowed before the royal Princess.

"Please Rainbow, it's quite alright. I'm only here to inform you that I have made all the arrangements. The citizens in Ponyville have heard about your recent adoption." Celestia explained. "Your friend Pinkie Pie has agreed to hold a celebration at Sugar Cube corner this Friday to honor you. That way everypony can say goodbye to you Scootaloo, after all a lot of ponies were sad to hear you had just left."

I looked over to see Scootaloo's wings buzzing once more, out of excitement this time.

"There's gunna be a party? For me?" She almost all but jumped out of her coat.

She hovered in mid-air, I watched her for a moment before I realized she wasn't coming down. I felt a pang of pride, not like from winning but more of a knot in my stomach from seeing the filly who was now officially my daughter learning to fly. It hit me like a wave, Scootaloo was my daughter now. And she'd learned to fly. And I was going to see my friends. And I was a Wonderbolt. I had never felt happiness like this in my life.

There was nothing that could bring me down, nothing that I could ever think of.

I paused when I saw Scootaloo's disapointed look after she came back to the ground.

"What's the matter kiddo?" I asked.

"Well, I just thought I'd be able to get my cutie mark like you from learning to fly." She said.

"Aw, don't worry about it Scoots, besides I got mine from my race remember?" I assured her.

She lightened up.

"Now get your scooter and lets get goin' home, we got a long day ahead of us tomorrow." I told her.

"What are we doin' tomorrow?" She asked picking up her saddlebag and scooter.

"Well you learned how to fly so well, I figure you deserve a treat. Tomorrow we're going to the Cloudaseum so you can meet the real Wonderbolts and practice training." I replied proudly.

I could litterally see the stars in her eyes as they lit up with joy.

After I tucked her into bed I gave her a kiss and stared walking out, before I turned out the light she called my name.

"Rainbow?"

"Ya, Scoots?"

"Your gunna be my mom forever right?" she mumbled sleepily, the poor little thing was so tuckered out. But I knew the question was legitamate.

"Forever and ever sweet heart, now get some sleep OK?" I whispered to her.

I went to my living room and ploped on the big fluffy couch. I would go up to my room in a minute but for now I wanted to bask in the glory of this day. No, this whole life I'd been blessed with.

Surely it couldn't get any better right? Surely there was nothing else that could make this any better than the things I'd dreamed of since I was a filly.

I heard a knock on the door.

I got up and answered, it was Soarin.

"What's up Soar?" I asked bumping his hoof.

"I was just wondering..." his words trailed off, I saw him turn a little red.

"What?" I asked him.

"You know... if you wanna come on a date with me this Saturday." He asked. "You know since were not having any races until next month."

I frowned, "So let me get this straight, you come up to my house practically in the middle of the night after I just put my new daughter to bed, knock on my door, and ask me if I wanna go on a date with you?" I was in his face now, he seemed a bit scared.

"Uh..."

"I'd love to." I told him.

He seemed confused.

"Pick me up at 8, and don't be late or so help me..." I closed the door in his muzzle.

OK, I was wrong, it could get better. I thought to myself.

I went up to my room and fell straight to sleep.

Building it Up

The first thing we had to prepare for was Scoots' going away party at Ponyville Town Hall, which at this point was tomorrow. I wanted her to make the best impression as possible, so we went shopping. It wasn't girly little dress shopping no, we were out looking for cool clothes. Leather and denim, aww yeah!

Scootaloo had her outfit all picked out like a champ. A white T-shirt, with a black leather jacket, and a pair of blue jeans and a belt that had an 'S' for it's buckle.

We were flying home, she'd gotten a lot better at it, when she proded me with an index feather. I looked over.

"Ya, kid what's up?" I asked her.

"Check it out Rainbow, I can do stunts just like you!" She said, she soared upwards into the sky and did a weak loop-de-doop. And came back to settle next to me breathing heavily.

I smiled it was a weak attempt but adorable none the less. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in the little filly for having such heart.

Friday, we were heading off to Scootaloo's going away party, I couldn't wait to get there and see my friends. I hadn't seen all of them in months. Scootaloo was keeping up, I was so proud of how far she'd come. I couldn't wait to see how Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom would react to see her flying.

We landed in front of the Town Hall and were immediately greeted by Princess Celestia.

"Good afternoon miss Scootaloo and miss Rainbow Dash, I'm so glad you could make it."

I opened my mouth to say it but–

"Wouldn't miss it!" Scootaloo took the words right out of my mouth.

We walked in the double doors of the building and were greeted by all the citizens of Ponyville crammed in cheering for us. There were streamers, signs, Wonderbolt banners and dozens of decorations for Scootaloo and I hung all over. I thought I had gotted bombarded by fillies and colts asking for my autograph but it seemed Scootaloo was just as popular if not more with ponies clamoring over her asking her questions.

I broke out of the crowed and went to her side.

"Please everypony, we're here to have a good time. I'll sign photos in a minute, but I'd like to have a talk with my friends for some catching up if that's OK? And I'm sure Scootaloo has two little fillies she'd like to see as well." I scanned the crowed and saw the little fillies zoom up to the front.

Scootaloo went crazy when she saw them and joined them in a group hug.

"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle. I'm so glad to see you guys!" se said.

The rest of the crowd dissipated and I was happy for it, I didn't want to deal with my fans right now. There were five mares I spotted across the room sitting at a table who I wanted to talk to.

I went over and took my seat at the table, I was imediately glomped by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

"Oh Dashie we missed you so, so MUCH!" Pinkie said in her much too overexaggerated hyper tone.

"I missed you guys." I said returning the hugs.

"Honestly Pinkie you must learn to control yourself, it isn't as if Dash will be gone forever right?" Rarity shot a glance over at me.

"Naw, as soon as I go down in history as the greatest Wonderbolt in history I'll come back to settle in this town." I told them.

Twilight and Apple Jack both smiled.

"Well don't ya'll go fergettin' about the little mares that kept ya on yer toes now?" AJ told me, she bumped my shoulder playfully.

I laughed, "You were never any competition in the first place AJ." I told her.

"Was too!" She challanged.

"Were not!" I shot back.

She smiled, I smiled back.

It was good to be around friends again.

The party went on for hours, but Scootaloo and I had to get going eventually. As promised I did my signing of autographs until my hoof gave out. They never give up do they? And Scoots and I began to take off.

"WAIT!" We heard Sweetie Belle calling us.

We both turned around.

"Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and I have something for you." She told us. "Bring it over!"

Apple Bloom wheeled in a decked out silver scooter. I saw Scoots' face light up when she saw it.

"You guys bought this?" She asked.

"Yup, we wanted you to have something to remember us by that way you could always remember..." she paused as they all took notice.

They pumped their hooves in the air for one last time as they let out their signature call.

The Cutie Mark Crusaiders!

They all hugged, I could see one tear in Scootaloo's eyes. We both knew it wasn't going to be the last time we saw them but after all Ponyville was a long way from Cloudsdale. There was no way I was going to be able to take her here every weekend. I felt a little sad knowing that I was taking her so far away from her friends.

She packed her clothes into her saddlebag and we began to take off.

I was flying, but Scootaloo remained on the ground, seeing as she could keep up for the majority of our trip out of town. On the ground I watched her speeding, weaving and dodging ponies on their way home. She was really good. I watched her wings buzzing as she came towords a ramp that had been placed down for construction. She sped towards it and jumped catching major air as she did a flip. It was like slow motion when it happened.

I dove in thinking I had to catch her, but at the last minute she righted herself and landed on the ground. She skidded to a halt and looked up at me. I swooped in and hoof bumped her.

"That was awsome kid!" I told her.

"Well now that I know how to fly I can actually catch air like that." she told me. "That was a lot of fun!"

I noticed there was something on her flank, probably some dirt of something. I pointed it out so she could brush it off. She reached over and I heard her squee.

"What?" I asked, I realized after I asked what it was. "No WAY!" I asked her.

"Oh my gosh!" she said.

I saw it, she got her cutie mark. I wheel that had a wing on it.

We sat there cheering like idiots, but we didn't care. I was so happy for her I could litterally jump for joy.

The next day I was going on my date with Soarin, he was taking me to his favorite resturaunt.

He pulled up in a carriage and got out. I didn't bother with a dress or anything but I did put my mane up. We trotted out and went into the carriage. I didn't have to worry about Scootaloo, I had her at the field with Spitfire for a little light training.

To be honest I was expecting some fancy resturaunt where the waiters actually waited on you and Octavia was somewhere on a stage playing live classical music. But when he said "We're here" I couldn't belive my eyes.

It was a down home country barnyard with a sign out front that said "The Pigspen" above it.

It looked like a place AJ would eat at.

We walked in and took a seat pretty much anywhere.

Soarin was greeted by a hillpony who asked him, "The usual Soar?"

Soarin nodded.

"And fer the lady?" he asked.

"I'll have the same." I told him.

He looked at me skeptically, "You sure you can handel all that grub missy." He asked me.

"Anything Soar can handel so can I" I shot a look at Soarin. He grinned accepting the challange.

"You can put that as a double for both of us than Larry." He told the mud colored colt.

"Alrighty than." He said happily.

I thought he would go to the back to tell a cook what to make instead he just stood there.

"HENRYETTA! WE GOT FOUR ORDERS OF THE REGUALR FOR SOARIN AND HIS LADY FRIEND!" he shouted.

"Four? You sure?" I heard a faint voice call.

"YUP!" he said.

He turned to us. "It'll be out in a minute folks."

My ears were ringing, Soarin laughed when he saw me rubbing them to soothe the tingling.

"Don't worry about it that's the way things run around here. It's my favorite place they give you all the fixins" He said enthusiastically.

"Oh ya and what all are in 'the fixins'?" I asked.

Before he could answer two pots the size of my head were shoved in front of me.

It was full of mashed potatoes, corn, hay, corn bread, gravy, and tons of other things I'd only had AJ notion off as comfort food.

"Like I said," he motioned a hoof at all the food, "all the fixins"

We laughed, the eating competition turned into an all out shoveling food down our throat holes brawl. At the end we were both stuffed and had to be carried out, but I had a lot of fun.

We recovered on the way back home, laughing and talking the whole way. When we reached my house he got out and walked me to the door.

"Well, see ya." He said, he turned and walked away.

A bit of a let down, but hay who was complaining. Besides he had onion breath.

Now it was time for training, after all the biggest race of the season was two weeks from now. Set in Fillydelpia we would be racing on the biggest track known to Equestria, not only that it wasn't just the Wonderbolts racing. It was going to be an epic battle for first in this 500 lap race to the finish.

To Burn it To the Ground

The Equestrian 500, the biggest race in the world. It was only held once every 10 years to crown the best flyer in the world. This was my opportunity to show my stuff, to finally prove that I, Rainbow Dash was the best flyer in Equestria. My nerves were killing me.

"It's alright, Dash you'll do fine." Soarin said placing a hoof on my shoulder.

"Thanks." I replied.

"Oh, get a room you two." Spitfire remarked, she'd heard Soarin asked mo out and didn't seem pleased about it.

Soarin laughed, "Maybe after I win the race Dash and I will."

I saw Spitfire blush and puff as she trotted away.

He looked back to me, I gave him a quick hoof to the arm.

"What?" he asked, apparently clueless.

"Idiot." I said before going to the Racers Lounge to scope out the competition.

It was mostly pegasi but it was an open species race to all flyers so I saw a few griffons. There was one creature though that stood out in the groups of pegasi's, griffons and harpy's, one that I had only seen Twilight reading in her books. It was called a Feng, and it was humongous. It stood about ten feet and had a gigantic wingspan of at least twenty five. I didn't know if I could beat it, I'd heard Twilight talk about the mythical birds but she'd said that all of them had gone extinct centuries ago.

It was poised upright and didn't seem interested in any of the other competitiors. I had to find out about my biggest threat so I decided to fly up there and find out more. Opened my wings and took to the air, right up to the closed eyes of the Feng.

"Hey you!" I called, it opened it's eyes to reveal two stunning emerald pupils.

"What?" It replied.

"Oh, I'm just being friendly." I said, it seemed annoyed, "My name's Rainbow Dash." I told her.

She paused, "Tourine." She replied.

"So I thought that all the Fengs were gone?" I asked her politely.

She glared at me, "They are." she said.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I told her apolagetic actually dropping a few feet.

"Don't be it was a curse cast upon our species by a wicked spirit, only one of us at a time can live. Therefor I must guard the only egg until my time passes. My death will hatch that last egg and our cylce of eternal lonliness will continue on. My last moments must be spent explaining the history of my people."

"Wow, now that's a story. So what brings you to the Equestiran 500?" I asked.

"I am not a participant of this race, I'm here to scout the greatest flyer in the land so that when I pass on my child will learn to fly." She said.

"Well you don't have any farther to look 'cuz I'm gunna win this thing." I told her.

"Yes that's what all the flyers here have been sayin." She rolled her eyes.

"Ya but I am! You see I'm the only one who has ever been able to pull off a Sonic Rainboom." I told her proudly.

"Well, I may not know what that is, but if you do win miss Rainbow Dash then I will be glad to know that my species has had the pleasure to meet such an enthusiastic character such as yourself." She smiled and closed her eyes again.

I wasn't sure if she was serious or not but I brushed it aside, I was just glad I didn't have to compete against her.

"FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! WE'RE HERE TODAY TO BRING YOU THE CHANCE TO CROWN THE BEST FLYER IN EQUESTRIA!" The announcer boomed. "AND NOW A WORD FROM THE FORMER CHAMP HIMSELF MISTER LIGHTNING SPEEEEEEED!"

A red colt with a short cropped black mane steped up to the microphone.

"I would like to announce the official start of the Equestian 500, a race to test young fliers all over the world. This decade has produced some amazing talent and I want you all to know that this is the last time I will be competing in this race. After this I fear I will be much too old to offer any competition to these wonderful winged competitors. That is all, the race will begin shortly."

We were all at the starting line, which was almost a hundred feet long to house all of the ponies, griffons, and harpies racing. We were all waiting for Lightning to get on the line. He took his place next to me.

"I want you to know Rainbow, I've been following your progress carefully. You will not win this race do you hear me?" He said almost threateningly.

I saw the flag to signal start drop and we were all off. This was the largest track in all of Equestria, but racers stratagy to keep any other racer from getting to you we all formed into a stream only about two lanes thick. All around mini battles for a place up were taking place as the faster racers took the lead and slower or smaller ones took the rear.

Up at the front of the pack were Lightning and I going head to head, going faster and faster. We were probably just a blur to the audiance but they didn't care, through the wind in my ears I could hear them shouting and cheering in the excitement. This was a true test of strength and endurance, five hundred laps around a track that (all around) was about four hundred feet. Yessirie this was going to be the race of my life.

We were zooming down, I was keeping track of the laps fifty so far.

"Like I said before kid you're not beating me!" Lightning wheezed.

"Ya? Then why are you the one out of breath!" I shot back, I laughed.

He looked angry which made me laugh even more.

"What's the matter afraid your old flank can't keep up?" I did a loop de loop and came to settle back next to him. "Face it old man you're just too slow."

UH-OH FOLKS IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A PERSONAL BATTLE BETWEEN NEW WONDERBOLT RAINBOW DASH AND CHAMPION LIGHNINT SPEED!

I heard the announcer and decided it was time for some fun. I began doing some tricks and flips and spins to show off for the crowd. They loved it before I knew it I had the whole crowd cheering my name.

"RAINBOW DASH! RAINBOW DASH!" They all called in unison.

IT'S AS IF RAINBOW DASH IS TAUNTING LIGHNING, HOW'S HE GUNNA REACT TO THIS ONE. WILL THE CHAMP KEEP HIS COOL AND RISE TO BEAT THIS YOUNG BLOOD, OR WILL THE POWER OF THIS LITTLE FILLY BE TOO MUCH FOR THE OLD KING!

Even though I was busy being the crowd pleaser I was still keeping track of the laps, I was at three hundred-ninty six. Not even breaking a sweat yet, all that training as a Wonderbolt had paid off.

Something in the stands caught my eye. It was Scootaloo, in her own Wonderbolt VIP section waving trying frantically to get my attention. I waved to her and she went ballisic. I smiled like an idiot and decided it was time to kick this race into overdrive.

I flapped my wings as hard as I could and pushed forward, I zoomed in front of Lighning. I pushed against the wind resistance, it was pushing against my face. Then I felt it, the breaking through of that powerful sound barrier. Only a few competitors behind me managed not to get thrown off the track from the explosion, one of them was Lighting.

YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST FOLKS THE LEGENDARY SONIC RAINBOOM PERFORMED BY THE ONE AND ONLY RAINBOW DASH!

I whized through almost a hundred laps with my rainbow tailing me. This by far was the longest I'd ever kept it up but I couldn't quit now I was ahead of the pack by a longshot. I was gunna win this race litterally with flying colors.

I was almost there when Lightning came from the side and knoked me into the wall. My Rainboom streak was over, I went back to his side and kept the race going.

"What was that for?" I shouted.

"Quit showin off!" He replied in the same volume.

"Ha, you're not gunna beat me old man thanks to my Sonic Rainboom I must be at least fifty laps ahead of you." I told him.

I could see him getting flustered, he bumped me again. I bumped him back. There was only four more laps left.

OH! LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER BATTLE HAS BROKEN OUT OVER THE FEILD ONCE AGAIN RAINBOW DASH AND LIGHNING ARE AT EACH OTHERS THROATS. THIS BATTLE CAN ONLY END WITH ONE VICTOR, WHO WILL IT BE?

The bumping went on until on one occasion when I went in he dodged me by going up. The sudden motion made me falter a bit. I looked up just in time to see him come crashing down and pushing me to the ground. I tumbled on the clouds, worse than my crash during my Wonderbolt race. I felt something snap and felt an excruciating pain in my back. That's when I passed out...

When It All Comes Crashing Down

Ten years ago was that fateful day that had changed my life and turned everything upside down. After the fall from Lightning's attack I had been here in my Cloudsdale home since. I can still recall the moments exactly.

We were on the last lap, Lighning and I were in an all out brawl for first. I went in to bump him and instead of taking it he rose up. I looked up just in time to see him coming down and knock me to the ground. I tumbled in the clouds and felt an excruciating pain followed by a crunch. That's when I blacked out...

I woke up in a hospital bed, my vision was blurred as it came into focus. I saw the tawny colored coat of the unicorn doctor staring at me.

"Rainbow Dash? Can you hear my voice?" He asked.

"Uhhh... ya..." Was all I could reply.

"Good, now it seem that there wasn't any significant damage to your head but... I do have some very grave news for you." He told me.

Now he had my attention, "What?" I asked.

"You see you had an extreamly bad injury to your right wing." He told me.

My whole world froze.

"It was a compund fracture that caused the bone to protude from the wing." His explination wasn't helping, "unfortunately an infection has already set in. We're doing all we can but... there's only so much medicine can do."

"So... what? What's going to happen?" I asked him almost utterly terrified of the answer.

"We... we may have to amputate." He said.

"WHAT!?" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "NO WAY your taking my wing, flying is my life!"

"Now miss Dash I know that this is a very serious situation but this infection can–"

"NO! NO WAY! Your a stupid unicorn you don't know how it feels to fly, it's the only thing that makes a pegasai feel free. I would rather die than loose my wing." I crossed my arms to show my defiance.

"Think about your adoptive daugther Scootaloo." He told me simply, his words struck me like an apple cart. "What would she do without you she has nopony else."

The words sank in and utterly shattered my pride. I couldn't leave her not after all we've been through.

"In three days if the infection hasn't already taken hold than we'll operate." He said, he left the room.

I sat there dumbfounded for what felt like hours, I lay on my side because it was the only comfortable position I could manage. The pain was nothing more than a slight tingle but every time I thought about it the pain shot into the same feeling as when I broke it. I never thought that all of my happiness could come crashing down to this moment, I'd had it all and I lost it.

I felt the air getting chilly so, despite the pain I felt, wrapped my wing over my body like a blanket to keep warm. I drifted off into my dreams, I dreamt of flying.

When I woke up I felt like crying. In two days if I didn't get better then those dreams and my memories would be all I'd have of when I used to fly.

On my second day in the hosptial I was told I had a visitor, I asked who it was but the nurse didn't tell me her name.

"She didn't say but you gotta come outside to meet her."

I was wheeled outside in a wheelchair.

It was Tourine the Feng that I had met.

I waved to her, she waved back.

"Hey Tourine, what are you doing here." I asked her.

"I saw what Lightning had done to you it was a despicable act of cruelty." She said. "Unfortunately he went on to win the race."

"So I guess that means your gunna give him the egg." I lowered my head.

"Not necessarily." she said producing a small egg that was almost microscpic in comparison to her. She placed it in my lap, it was about the size of my hoof. "For I learned from you miss Rainbow Dash, that integrity is more important than ability." She smiled at me.

I looked down at the little egg, one day this little guy was gunna be as big as her. And I was gunna raise it, I looked up and smiled.

I saw her whisping away in the breeze.

"Goodbye Rainbow Dash, take care of Dashira for me, she's named after you." The yellow mist swirled around the egg and settled in over it.

A tear rolled down my face as I watched.

"Well that was a wierd visit." The nurse said as she wheeled me back inside.

Two days later the infection hadn't cleared and my wing was amputated. So that's pretty much where I stand today. I was taken home to recover and I watched Dashira hatch from her egg. Naturally I told Scootaloo about it, she was excited to have a little sister.

Altough ten years changes a lot, Dashira was still with me. Scootaloo had moved out to pursue her new career in airial acrobatics, she was the first pony to ever be a professional motorized acrobat but the sport caught on quickly and she soon found she had many rivals. And of course the one major thing that shot me down was the fact that I couldn't fly, being that I was forced to hang up my uniform and retire early. Now all I did all day was play with Dashira (who Scootaloo had taught to fly for me.) and look down at Ponyville so many miles away. The place I had once lived that brought me so much joy and laughter. It broke my heart to see it.

Sometimes... the paths we choose don't always live up to our expectations. Once I had a dream, and I lived it. I was truly happy, but at what cost? This? I don't want this anymore... I want my friends.

The End

Epilouge

I was in the foyer waiting for Dashira to come back home from Junior Flight Camp. Even though Scootaloo had taught her everything she knew about flying I still wanted her to go. I was at the trophy case looking over all of my awards and ribbons, the ones I'd one as my days as a Wonderbolt and a few from even before that. One prized possession kept catching my eye though, my old uniform. It was dusty and faded from the years of non-use, but I kept it to remind me of happier times.

I heard a knock on the door, it couldn't be Dashira she'd always come barging in yelling "I'm home!" at the top of her tiny lungs. She was still small compared to her birth mother, but to me she stood eye level. I limped a little over to the door, my left knee had never exactly been the same since the accident.

I opened the door to see the one colt I would have least expected to ever come back into my life.

"Soarin?" I squeaked out.

"Hey Dash." He said with the same vitality and youth as the day last saw him.

"Wh- what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I heard about what's been going on around here," he said as he walked past me and made himself at home in the foyer looking over my awards, "it's been ten years Dash. Think it's time to let go?"

I laughed trying to ease the mood, "What are you talking about?"

"You have to go back where you belong Dash, your friends are worried about you." He told me sternly.

I looked down, knowing all too well what he was talking about.

"They miss you Dash. And running away like this isn't going to solve it, face your problems." Soarin told me. "I'll be there with you."

I looked up and saw him smiling.

I waited until Dashira came home and told her we were going to our real home

"But I thought this was our home." She said with her wide eyes staring up at me.

"It was..." I told her, "it still is but... we have to go to my real home ok?"

"Why?" she asked.

"It's just complicated, we have to go." I told her.

"OK." She mumbled glumly.

It was the first steps in the series of things that would push Dashira and I to the limits of our bond. For ten years I'd raised her as my own, she's never known the outside world. Now we had to travel to Ponyville, it's just that I had no idea how hard it would be...

Stay tuned for the sequal: The Decisions We've made.