Rainbow was practising some basic aerial manoeuvres, Gilda cheered “GO RAINBOW!” Rainbow did a triple corkscrew before flying into to the air and dove towards the ground, she grit her teeth as a mach cone formed in front of her before she lost control slamming into a solid tree.

Rainbow groaned as she pulled herself from the tree “Well that failed epically.”

Gilda flew over with a frown “Are you alright?”

Rainbow nodded as she dusted herself off with her wings “Physically I’m fine but urggh I was so close that time. I have not been able to pull the rainboom off since that time when I was a foal!”

Gilda blinked “Wait you were the one who caused that massive rainbow explosion…” she grinned “That was awesome!”

Rainbow sighed “I have been unable to replicate it, I’ve tried countless times and now that Best Young Flier competition is today. I was hoping to figure it out before the competition starts, I really want to spend a day with the Wonderbolts.”

Gilda shook her head “I have faith that you can do it, Sunset has been preparing you for this hasn’t she?”

Rainbow sighed “She prepared me for the combat side of things but this is about the performer side of the Wonderbolts. I need to get past this part first before I can use anything Sunset has taught me.”

Gilda smiled “I’ll be up there with you as will Fluttershy, Sunset and Cloud, we have faith in you and you need to have faith in yourself as well.”

Rainbow gave Gilda a small peck on the cheek “Thanks Gilda I needed that, I’ll see you there.”

Rainbow took off leaving Gilda to head to Cloud’s house, Gilda entered the building only for her jaw to drop in shock as she saw to see four non-pegasi with pink butterfly wings next to two pegasi and a unicorn. Sunset smiled “I cast this spell plus a cloud walking spell on everyone who can’t cloud walk.”

Gilda blinked “So we are all going to fly there?”

Sunset shook her head “No, the Butterfly Wings allow a pony to fly a short distance if they fall off a cloud while the Cloud Walking Spell allows one to walk on clouds. Due to who my mother is, I have some pegasi magic in me so I can cloud walk naturally.”

Cloud smiled “We have a balloon out there awaiting us, it’s a gift from an old friend in the military.”

Rarity smiled “I’ve always wanted to go on a balloon ride, I can imagine that one day my special somepony would take me up on a balloon and show me the beautiful scenery from up high.”

Pinkie Pie bounced up and down in the balloon “I can’t believe we are going to Cloudsdale, I’m going throw a massive party for everypony!”

Applejack frowned as put a hoof on the pony pushing her to the ground “Maybe ya can do that after we support Dash.”

Fluttershy frowned “Pinkie, can you stop bouncing you are making me nervous.”

The group arrived to see Rainbow waiting there, Rainbow looked at Sunset as everyone on the balloon stepped off “You cast some powerful magic I assume.”

Sunset smiled “That’s quite correct, your smarter than most ponies give you credit for.”

Rainbow smiled “Thanks.”

Applejack smiled as the group began heading towards the stadium “I wish ya luck Rainbow not that ya need it.”

Rainbow smiled “Thanks Applejack.” Then three Pegasi stallions approached, Rainbow growled “Dumb-Bell, Hoops and Score!”

Dumb-Bell grinned “Well if it isn’t Rainbow Crash, getting kicked out of any Flight Schools lately!”

Rainbow growled “Why don’t come over here and say that too my face!”

Hoops grinned “Oh little Rainbow thinks she’s tough, why should we bother with a loser like you.”

Fluttershy growled as she joined her friend in a strong display of confidence “Back off!”

Score laughed while Dumb-Bell and Hoops backed off “Ah, it’s little miss I can’t fly. What are you going to do, cry on us.”

Fluttershy growled “Rainbow will do a Sonic Rainboom, like she did when she was a filly!”

Hoops and Dumb-Bell stammered “That was just dumb luck.”

They all shrieked as there heard a lion-like roar, Gilda stormed up in front of them “I was patient but it seems you three don’t know when to quit.”

The three stallions gulped “Gilda, oh shit!” The three scurried away with their tails between their legs.

Rainbow was shaking nervously, Sunset frowned “I’ll be back in a few seconds I need to talk to Dash.”

Cloud nodded “I’ll keep an eye on things here, she needs you I can tell.”

Sunset frowned as Rainbow followed her into a small corner, Sunset frowned “What’s wrong Rainbow, I’ve never seen you this nervous before.”

Rainbow was shaking “I’m not sure I can do this, what if I screw up. I’ll embarrass myself in front of my idols, those three stallions caused me a lot of trouble during Flight School and I put on a brave face for Fluttershy’s sake but it hurt every last word. I had to say strong for her until one day Fluttershy snapped and we left Cloudsdale.”

Sunset gave her a weak hug “It’s alright Rainbow, I know your nervous but you are smart and strong while never giving up on your friends. If you ever feel nervous again tell me, I am both your mentor and your friends so don’t hide things like this from me.”

Gilda chuckled “I missed doing that I must admit” she then turned to Fluttershy “I must admit you have more guts than I thought you would.”

Fluttershy frowned “After you left Rainbow was in a tough position, I had to become tougher and braver because I couldn’t stand Rainbow taking all the flak for me. Rainbow was being teased one day after the Rainboom and I snapped, put both Hoops and Dumb-Bell in a hospital for a six months.”

Gilda blinked “What happened?”

Fluttershy shook her head “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Sunset rejoined them with Rainbow behind, she her placed a hoof on Gilda’s shoulder “We should go on, we must get some seats to watch Rainbow perform” she then whispered “Fluttershy will open up in time.”

The whole group headed towards the stadium, multiple pegasi looking at the non-pegasi in confusion. Applejack frowned as she saw Rarity talking to a few pegasi stallions, one of which was part of the group of rude ponies that insulted Rainbow and Fluttershy.

Sunset frowned as he entered the stadium, she sat down next to Cloud and Gilda while Fluttershy sat next to Gilda. Applejack was sitting next to Pinkie Pie who was shaking in her seat with excitement. Sunset frowned “Where’s Rarity?!”

Applejack growled as she saw the competitors line up “Ah can see her down there, why is she even entering she isn’t a pegasus!”

Gilda growled “I am going down there and…”

Fluttershy scowled “I know Rarity better than anypony else here so I’ll handle her.”

Cloud blinked “I didn’t expect that from you of all ponies.”

Pinkie frowned “I hope Rarity doesn’t ruin this for Dashie, Rainbow may need quite a few hugs from me if she does.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow only for the the announcer to shout “Fillies and Gentlecolts, Princess Celestia has decided to grace us with her presence” Sunset frowned at her mum as the announcer continued “Now welcoming our Celebrity Judges, Captain Spitfire, Vice Captain Soarin and Flight Trainer Misty Fly from the Wonderbolts!”

Gilda looked on in worry as she saw her marefriend changing numbers as each performance occurred. Applejack and Pinkie were shocked, Fluttershy was livid while Sunset and Cloud were both disappointed in their seamstress friend.

Sunset frowned as the final event came up, Rainbow took off into the air performing a double aerial turn before a triple corkscrew then a spectrum burst only for the crowd to ignore her as Rarity showed off.

Rainbow flew really high in the sky as Rarity flew in front of the sun, Sunset shouted “Rarity, your wings are not supposed…” Rarity screamed as her wings dissolved in the sunlight. The three judges flew down to save her only for the Rarity’s wild hoof swings to hit them knocking them out.

Rainbow eyes widened a she rushed stowres her flailing friend a mach cone forming in front of her before a huge rainbow explosion erupted from her. Gilda and Fluttershy cheered enthusiastically as Rainbow caught the three Wonderbolts and Rarity.

Princess Celestia smiled at Rainbow, the three Wonderbolt woke up shortly afterwards. Princess Celestia smiled “It was Rainbow Dash who saved the three as well as Rarity of you so I believe she has earned the right to join you for the day.”

The Wonderbolts nodded as Rainbow was chosen as the victor of the competition. Rainbow entered the room and was given a warm hug by Gilda . As soon as Rarity, Fluttershy stormed over to her fury in her eyes “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!”

Everyone else in the room save Sunset and Cloud gasped at Fluttershy’s language, Rarity's ears drooped “I’m sorry, I just caught up in the attention I received and…”

Fluttershy took a deep breath “I’m not the one who deserves an apology, Rainbow is. I’ll forgive you if Rainbow does.”

Rainbow shook her head “It’s already been forgiven, I’m not one for holding grudges.”

Fluttershy gave a weak smile to Rarity “Well then I forgive you as well, I know I was overly harsh but I needed to say that.”

Rarity sighed “I understand, I screwed up royally and I swear to never do it again. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Pinkie screamed excitedly as she grabbed them excitedly “Group hug!” Everyone else rolled their eyes at the party ponies antics.

Author's Note

Fluttershy is tougher because of Gilda's influence while Gilda is softer because of Fluttershy's influence.