Over the hills and many flat plains, if one were to travel north and continue on even past the capital they would be blessed with a sight beyond comprehension. Majestically crafted the rainbow falls cascade over the skyline leaving one in awe of their constant flowing streams. Colorful and unique this strange phenomenon can only be found in this very part of Equestria and nowhere else making it the-

“-hottest destination for many ponies hoping to make good use of their summer”

Flipping over the pamphlet I continued.

“Of course this does not mean the rainbow falls are only a summer vacation as the winter months find many pegasus couples during our Hearts and Hooves day special where couples can have their dream-“

“Dude, can you please stop reading that?” Irritated Dash tapped her hoof in anger beside me.

“What? Don’t wanna hear about the special?”

“No actually I don’t. As a matter of fact it would be better if you didn’t say anything at all”

“Yeah okay” A little irritated as well I swallow my anger, tucking the paper aside in its holder.

We both fell silent and the subtle noises of the train filled the void. This was now a common occurrence between us. Ever since that day Dash asked for my help the two of us had never been the same. I never apologized and neither did she. Soon enough our usual get togethers and times spent shooting the shit were gone leaving behind nothing but sour memories of a time once had. Painfully I envied them, desired them to return yet my own stubbornness wouldn’t allow things to simply adjust back to normal. No we were at a stalemate and our friendship seemed to be at a breaking point.

The others took notice eventually and soon enough began worrying. At points we even avoided each other all together leading the girls to finally take action and place us together as we are now. I’d known something was up just by Pinkies odd behavior but, I brushed it aside given her normal antics. All the way up to the point where I reached my seat seeing Dash already awaiting the trip. Unfortunately for me when I went to trade tickets the girls who did come with us refused to budge and when Dash went to fly her way instead of ride Twilight was quick to limit her flight with a simple cast.

Stuck together I spent most the trip in silence, refusing to look her way and decided a nap would do me better.

“This is sooo boring…”

“Might as well take a nap then”

“Easy for you to say, I’m wide awake”

“Probably cause you spend more then half your day napping”

“Yeah cause unlike you I actually want to have a cool job like being a Wonderbolt and I’m tired from practicing”

“I do have a job and it’s called keeping the girls out of trouble. You’d be surprised how often one of them gets some crazy idea and nearly destroys half the town”

“Pfft, yeah right. You’re the one who always gets hurt and makes everything complicated”

“Yeah and you’re the one who always acts like a hero until she does something stupid and makes everything worse”

“Least I actually help my friends when they say they need help”

“I did try to help you and you fucking cussed me out and left. Least the other girls appreciate my help”

“Your help wasn’t very helpful at all. You made fun of the way I acted and tried to make it seem like I was an idiot! Why would I appreciate that?”

“I didn’t make fun of you and you’re the one who tried to make it seem that way. I was really trying to help but now… now I kinda wish I didn’t even bother”

“Me too” If I were a dragon, this would be the moment steam visibly left my nose.

Standing up I’d had enough already, “You’re a fucking ass”

I leave my bag behind and make my way down the cart. Traversing down several more carts I eventually end up at the end, leaning over the railing with a deep exhale.

The tracks beneath flash by with a speed that leaves them blurred. The sky a wonderful deep blue untainted by a single cloud. It was too nice a day for my current mood. How I wished it reflected otherwise instead of leaving me with feelings of misplacement. As if I didn’t belong in such a happy world. How pale a figure I was in such a vibrant place.

With a click I can hear the door behind me open and a pair of hooves make their way close. The stranger didn’t waste much time.

“H-hey… you um… feeling okay?”

“No”

Taking the spot beside me Twilight reveled herself but, did not join me in admiring the view. Instead her focus was directly towards me, unwavering.

“Do you want to talk about?”

“I want things to go back to normal”

“What do you mean by back to normal?”

“However things were before. It’s not like I’m stupid or anything… I know things would be better for all of us if Dash and I made up”

“Then you two should talk it out. Explain how you really feel and I’m sure Rainbow will understand. Sure she can be a little hardheaded but, it’s not like she actually hates you enough not to listen”

“Talking it out won’t work”

“Joey..”

“I know it’s easy to just think that forcing the two of us together for a train ride will eventually cause us to see eye to eye but, not everything works like a fairy tale. I’m pissed and she’s pissed and I don’t honestly think she wants to hear what I want to say… and the same goes for me”

“Joey you two were best friends when you first arrived here. You’d spend almost every day together. You really think one argument is going to ruin that friendship? Come on… I know you’re better then that”

“The problem is she’s not the same pony I knew when I first met her. She’s always going too far now like she wants to piss me off and every time I try to help her or be serious she just treats me like shit! I don’t want to be friends with that! I know you girls want us to make up but, I don’t know if that’s best for me”

“Do you want me to go talk to her for you?”

“So she can say she it’s my fault and that I was the one that changed? Ugh… I just don’t want to do this anymore. Can you girls please just let it go?”

Not replying we stay silent a little while longer until she motions toward the door, “And I thought Dash was hardheaded”

Left alone once more I’m left feeling sunken. I was hurting my friends but this felt like what was best for me, why couldn’t they see that? Is it selfish to expect my friends to respect me and not treat me like shit? Why was I the bad guy?

The door opened again yet I stayed firm faced away. “Twilight I don’t want to talk-“

“Shush!”

Normally her squeaky voice would bring me joy however oddly, in this moment in brought nothing but dread. I was in for a talk.

“Wow it’s pretty nice outside! Wait until we get to the falls. I bet they’re so pretty!” Taking a spot beside me I’m a little confused at the change of behavior.

“Pinkie what-“

“Shush!!!” I stop and settle back down, watching over the many tracks passing below. “I heard that the Wonderbolts are going to compete in the tryouts too! Talk about free front row seats!”

“Pinkie-“

“Joey shush!”

“No! What the heck are you doing? What is this?”

With a wry smile she sits back down off the railing, “You see how that felt? That’s no fun for anypony”

“Yeah it was annoying but I don’t understand why you were doing it?”

“Because you weren’t listening”

“Listening? Yeah I was-“

“Not to me silly, to Dashie”

“I did listen to her, she didn’t listen to me!”

“Neither of you two goobers listened and I know a goober when I see one!”

“Pinkie I listened to her and I tried to help. She didn’t like my advice so she blew up on me”

“Are you sure that’s why she got mad?”

“Yeah…”

“I think you weren’t listening”

“Did you ask Dash and she said something else?”

“I did buuuut she said the same thing you did. ‘Joey gave me a bunch of stupid tips and then got all upset cause I called them stupid!’”

“Then why do you think I wasn’t listening?”

“Because silly, noponies argue with each other if they both agree. That makes less sense then communism!”

“Communism? Why- It’s not like we were agreeing on what was right. We agree that Dash got pissed cause she didn’t like my advice”

“Aha! Got ya!”

Crossing my arms I frown, “How exactly did you get me?”

“Cause Dash said you were angry cause she called your advice poopy not because it was poopy. You didn’t even listen to me ya goober!”

“Okay now we’re splitting hairs. Who cares about what he said she said, the point is Dash is treating me like shit and I don’t appreciate it!”

“Does she know you feel that way? Did you tell her that?”

“N-no… but shes definitely being an ass on purpose”

“I think you two need to be more honest with each other”. Tugging on my shorts I lean down to listen, her mouth to my ear. In a whisper it’s the last thing she says before leaving me alone. “You need to listen”

Magnificent. A perfect word to describe the sight straight off the train. Stepping off into the colorful landscape, we were surrounded with large puffy clouds, their bottoms often poring a constant flow of rainbow colored liquid. Around those clouds even more rainbows pranced about cloud to cloud. Almost every inch of sky used in an elegant display of beauty.

“This has to be the gayest place in Equestria”

“Joey!! You can’t say that word out loud!”

“Huh? Gay?”

“Da- wha- you said it again!!!”

“Twilight who cares”

“Me!!”

Spilling out of the train our Ponyville group found our place among the training grounds awfully quick. Fairly small for a town it didn’t take long to notice how much smaller we were compared to the other nearby towns. Unlike most teams gathering in their large groups, roughly in the teens, we found unity in our five. Dash, Fluttershy, and some incredibly bulk stallion made up our relay team while two more normal sized and potentially forgettable faces made up our other squad, their event name completely escaping me. It didn’t matter though as I wouldn’t be worrying about them but, rather the hodgepodge group I watched in front of me.

Getting their stretches out it was clear if Ponyville had any hope of winning tryouts this year, they’d need a miracle. Flutters was hardly an athlete, barely able to keep flight for more then a few minutes while the living muscle of a pony beside her could hardly bend most his body at all. Some pony clearly hadn't heard of flexibility.

With a few flips and a split, Pinkie dressed in full cheerleader getup started her chant.

“LET’S GO PONYVILLE! YIPPEEEE!!” Yelling from a blow horn I had to close my ears to avoid hemorrhaging.

Rubbing her own ears Dash swooped over quickly taking the horn, “Pinkie could you maybe save the cheering for when the games start?”

“Okie dokie but I gotta practice otherwise I might not cheer good enough to help us win!”

“Okay but maybe do it somewhere else… somewhere farther away?”

“But I need somepony to cheer at! How am I supposed to cheer for nothing?”

Helping out I pick Pinkie up under my arm, “Let’s let them practice Pinkie, we can find something else to cheer until the race”

Unwilling to flash much appreciation Dash at least didn’t scowl at my presence, settling for a small mouthed ‘thanks’ instead.

Taking us elsewhere it took about a minute of struggling until Pinkie broke free trotting along side of me. Her front hooves still were covered in pompoms, dusty from the path she walked.

“Wanna scout the competition? See what we’re up against?”

“We could do that, I don’t see much else to do”

So with a walk around the training grounds Pinkie and I found ourselves watching over the many opposing teams workouts. There was a common theme throughout and honestly after the first few I already started to get a little bored. Team stretching, fundamentals, warm ups, it wasn’t exactly spectacular until we reached a certain squad, the Wonderbolts.

Combining speed with precision they cut through the air with elegance while somehow maintaining a level of aggression that could only be described as mastery. This was on par with Rainbow and there was three of them.

“Holy moly they’re really good aren’t they?”

“Yeah… Dash really has her work cut out for her”

“Yeah but she’s way better then any of these ponies. Ponyville’s still going to win if this is the best they got”

“Starting to sound like Dash”

“Confidence! It’s the name of the game!”

Then during the middle of their excellence a brief second of mistake leads to one of the members in their group falling from the sky. Hurling toward the ground with dangerous speed the pony managed to pull up still crash landing rather hard.

“Oooo damn!”

“That pony was lacking confidence”

“Heh, that’s pretty cold to joke on someponys injury like that. I must be rubbing off on you”

Sultry she rubs her face against me, “Yeah you do…”

“Oookay were in public”

Thankfully I’m saved by some commotion in the distance. A few of the teams started to gather around and referees sent from the capital began to find their places. The tryouts were beginning.

“We should get back Pinkster before they start otherwise they’re going to miss out on your cheers”

“You’re right! We gotta get back pronto! Hurry up two legs let’s go!” Kicking up a small dust cloud behind her, I tried my best to keep up all the way back to our station.

While I’m not in horrible shape, long distance running isn’t exactly easy for the average joe so after being late a minute or two I catch my breath next to Twilight.

“You missed the start of the first events”

“Yeah… just the start though” looking around the two strangers in our group were gone but, even stranger Dash’s group was there without her. “Where’s Dash? Doesn’t her group start soon?”

“No they’re the last event, the relay and Dash is… well maybe you should ask her yourself”

Checking the direction of her pointed hoof my eyes seem to deceive me. Practicing with that same Wonderbolts squad we quite literally just left was thee Rainbow Dash herself.

“What’s she doing? Doesn’t she need to practice with Flutters and… and that bulky ass guy over there?”

Seemingly uninterested Twilight flipped another page in her book, “Uh huh”

“Uh.. then why isn’t she?”

“Cause a member of the Wonderbolts squad got hurt and they need to run their reps with three so when they came up to Dash with an offer… you can connect the dots”

“I just watched that pony get hurt, there is no way they already asked her”

“You’d think she would’ve hesitated wouldn’t you?”

“So you saw this happen and didn’t say anything?”

Taking her reading glasses down her muzzle she stared from above her book, “What exactly would I say? She’s a grown mare she should know better then this”

“But Ponyvilles team is going to suffer, her friends are going to suffer. I mean look at Flutters right now and tell me she doesn’t need help”

In a pathetic display of athleticism Fluttershy managed to fall on her face before her own hoof… from three feet above ground.

“See?!”

“Okay okay, you’re right. I’ll go talk to her but, it’s still her decision to make in the end so don’t say I didn’t try”

“Thank you, you’re a life saver”

She doesn’t bother to turn around heading in Dash’s direction, “You owe me for this”

“I’ll pay you back I swear!” Unconvinced Pinkie rolls her eyes with a grin, “I’ll pay her back don’t be like that”

“Where’s Twilight going?” Behind us Fluttershy snuck up and asked innocently.

“Uh she uh…”

I can’t tell them about Dash ditching, that’s too far

“She said she’s gotta pee!”

Blushing from Pinkies blatant lack of self awareness Shy was quick to start heading back to the rest of her team, “Oh! I uhh okay! I should p-probably get back to p-practicing”

“Yep! I’ll be rooting for ya so give it your all!” She waits long enough for her to be out of earshot before turning over to me practically beaming. “That was pretty good wasn’t it?”

“P-pretty good?!” I sputter into a fit of laughter, “Why do we always end up telling embarrassing lies to Fluttershy?”

“Huh? I’ve never done that before!”

“I did in the past heheh. Yeah… I don’t even know if we cleared it up”

“What was it what was it!!”

“Me and Dash had a joke going that we were messing around upstairs in her house one day. It was a misunderstanding that she walked into and we thought it would be funny to just roll with it” unable to hold back, my laugh grows loud enough to grab a couple stares from passing ponies. “You should’ve SEEN the look on her face like oh my god” but then it hits me and my laughter fades. “Me and Dash used to joke like that all the time…”

“Hey!” I snapped from my thoughts, brought back from a pink hoof, “Don’t be looking all sad like that! It’s not like you two can’t joke like that again!”

“Tell her that”

“You can’t be all closed off like you’re being. You two need a heart to heart!”

“Thought I needed to listen…”

“That too! How about this, when Dash wins these tryouts for us you congratulate her like you would normally and you keep being like you were before until she has no choice but to be like she was before too! Otherwise you’ll both be out of sync and nopony wants that”

“I sorta like your idea but I think the ending is a little off” patting her head between the ears I give a few scratches, “It doesn’t matter though, you gave me a pretty good idea”

“Ooooo… that feels soooo goood” nearly melting in my hand Pinkie has to sit her wobbly legs.

Returning clearly upset, Twilight went back to her book, “Okay I talked to Dash and I think she got the message”

Still reducing Pinkie to goo I hold a fist out for a pound Twilights way, “Nice going purple!”

Hesitating unsure exactly what to do she eventually meets my hoof, “Y-yeah… at least let’s hope she doesn’t stay starstruck. I’ve seen that look on her before so it’s a little worrying”

“She’s the element of loyalty, she’ll come back after a little guidance I mean sure she’s stubborn as a mule-“

“Joey!”

“Uh… stubborn as a rock but, she’s not too stupid to know when she’s in the wrong. Most times”

“Maybe you could use a little more guidance as well and just say you’re sorry already. There’s no reason you two should be fighting like this over something so trivial”

“Maybe if you were in my shoes you’d understand but you don’t wear shoes so muah” I stick my tongue out for added effect.

She can only facehoof going back to her book, “Either way you still owe me. I was thinking maybe another spa day. This time we mix it up and you brush my coat last”

Shuddering I remember the last Twilight spa day. Flexing my fingers I could still feel the clammy pain after all those hours pampering. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to massage a hoof.

“Hey Rainbows coming back!”

Sure enough with a swoop she’s back with the team. “Sorry I thought I’d run a couple practice laps first to get a better layout of the course. How are you both doing with your wig ups?”

Not wasting much time I turn my attention elsewhere, over to the crowd beginning to form a couple hundred feet away. “Pinkie let’s go watch the other events while they warm up”

“But what about cheering the warmups?”

“There’s ponies literally competing right now you should be cheering for, what are you talking about goofball?”

“You’re right! We have to get over there right now” and she was off to the races.

Pony Olympics were surprisingly pretty similar to what I was accustomed to back home. It was almost like rather then having events catered to pony abilities they prioritized copying human Olympic games. Strange.

The javelin throw was the perfect example. While some ponies would use a wing to throw, others would use their mouths and whip their head in order to build enough momentum. It definitely felt unfair and strange but, most things in Equestria were strange, why should I start drawing questions at their sporting events? Honestly this topic in general isn’t that important so let me bring things back to myself.

Pinkie and I had watched most the tryouts with of course the Wonderbolts squad winning nearly every event. Cool enough however, Ponyville managed to stay close, gathering enough points throughout to have a chance at winning it all. If that wasn’t good enough news to excite you than know that the final event the relay race was worth more points then any other event. If we were to take first in the relay, we’d surely win the entire thing. That is if Dash would’ve stopped practicing with the Wonderbolts!

Off to the side away from everypony else I’d managed to get a moment alone with her. She’d gone for a water break and I knew this opportunity was my best shot at getting her focused. I wasn’t doing it for Dash, it was for the others.

“Dash!” Drinking from her water bottle her eyebrows immediately told me she was pissed. “What the fuck are you doing? You need help Fluttershy and big fuck get ready for the relay, why are you wasting time practicing with the Wonderfucks?”

“I’m practicing with them both! Besides, they’re not going to get any better with me coaching them so I might as well pick up the slack practicing with the bolts. It’s a win win”

“But it’s not cause Fluttershys childhood friend is taking secret practice sessions with the opposing team instead of helping her get better at flying”

“What would you know about flying? You think I can just say a couple encouraging words and make everypony better? Fluttershys… she’s not very coordinated so it’s better if I just carry the team myself”

“And big fuck?”

“His names Bulk Biceps and he clearly needs to lose some of that muscle mass if he hopes to get any better at flying”

“So you’re telling me you’re not going to stop practicing with the Wonderbolts?”

“Actually… they asked me if I could run the tryout with them”

“And you told them no right?” Her silence says enough. “You know I was thinking maybe I should apologize and that I missed hanging out with you but, after watching this shit unfold and watching you ditch out on your friends? You’re not even the Dash I knew anymore. Have fun with your new friends, I gotta go help mine prepare for a race”

Stomping away angrily I expect a response yet none is returned.

Coming back to our practice area I immediately head over to Shy and Bulk. I was going to take matters into my own hands.

“Alright you two Dash told me what she wants you both to work on so let’s get to it. Bulk I need you to practice maintaining flight. You’re strong enough to fly but for long? Hell no. We gotta get that time up if you’re going to hope to finish your part of the relay. Shy, we need to get your strength up. I know you can fly but your speed is… lacking. I want you to give me some wing ups until Biceps falls to the ground with his exercise”

My sudden burst of enthusiasm confuses everypony around. Even Twilight took a moment to peek over her book puzzled.

“What are you both doing just standing there?! I told you what to do now get to it!”

*WHISTLE*

Loudly Pinkie used her whistle beside me getting an instant reaction out the both of them. “What? I thought we were being coaches?”

Insert your typical training montage with catchy music and time cuts and you might get close to the pathetic display that followed. Not only did it take less then five minutes for the two of us to realize we had no idea what we were doing but, somewhere during our shitty montage we last track of time. Exhausted and clearly overworked with less then an hour til the event Pinkie blew her coaching whistle.

“Okay team let’s call the warm up there!”

Nearly dead Fluttershy floated down to the ground with a light poof, “Huff… huff… o-okay”

To her side Bulk was gulping water as if his life depended on it. It was right then I realized we probably fucked our chances.

I leaned down toward her ear with a whisper, “Pinkie we might have uhhhh… overworked them a little”

“Overworked? They’re fine, Fluttershys usually that blue in the face after a workout and Bulk has definitely thrown up more then that before. I’d say we’re in pretty good shape”

“Shy might actually be dead I mean look at her” she lay there still as a rock, her wings sprawled out covering her upper half.

“Could you maybe just lie to me so I don’t start worrying too?”

I sighed deeply knowing we were in over our heads, “Look, neither of us are Dash, we have no idea what we’re doing. I say we let them rest til the event and we just take whatever place we get”

“Do you think it’s our fault if Ponyville loses? I didn’t mean to push them so hard Joey! I just wanted to win!”

“If it’s anyponies fault it’s-“

“Mine”

Standing nearby in the clearing Dash was covered from head to hoof in medical gauzes and braces. With a couple slow swings of her crutches she came over to us unable to meet anyponies gazes. Twilight was the first to rush over worried.

“Sweet Celestia what happened to you?”

“I kinda got in a little accident on my way back here… I don’t know if I’m going to be able to compete”

In an instant Pinkie jumped between them both, “What?! But Dash you’re are only hope of Ponyville winning, what do you mean you can’t? You always find a way to push through I mean you’re thee Rainbow Dash!”

The more she yelled the more Dash recoiled, each word like glancing blows. I could tell she really felt horrible but, was she actually injured? The skeptical look across Twilights face told me otherwise and once Dash noticed her questioning stare she squirmed in discomfort.

“Dash are you suuuure you can’t compete? The race doesn’t start for another hour” It’s clearly an olive branch, a second chance to back out.

“Uh… yeah I don’t know. My wing kinda got banged up real bad. I’m sorry everypony”

Consistent to herself Pinkie was fast to forgive, “That’s okay Dashie, it’s better you stay healthy then risk getting hurt for some dumb tryout anyway. Besides we’re on pace for second place! That’s like almost first!”

“Thanks Pinkie… I’m… I think I’m going to rest in the shade for a bit. Little sore standing here”

“Yep I totally get it, if it were me-“

In the background their voices faded into a monotonous blend as my own conversation with Twilight required my full attention.

“Twilight, what’s on your mind? I know you know something” I teased while poking her horn with a finger.

She jolted at the touch taking short breath through her teeth, “EEP! Horns are sensitive remember?”

“Oh oops heh, sorry. Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes and there is something I know and no I’m not telling you” she went back to her book trying to end the conversation there.

Sneaking around I slipped my hands between her ears, “But… don’t you love me? If you did you wouldn’t be keeping secrets right”

Trying her best to ignore the mind melting chills running across her body she held firm, “Joey if you’re so curious about Dash go talk to her”

“I never said anything about Dash”

“Yeah well it’s pretty obvious that’s what you were talking about… why does that feel so good?”

Taking a seat behind her in the grass I continue to work away until she’s fallen back onto my lap, completely at my mercy. With eyes closed her cute little expressions at each scratch entertained me dearly.

“So you mind telling me what’s going on?”

“*Yawn* Just go talk to her you big baby”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then you must not want to know”

I still had one last trick up my sleeve.

“… cmon”

“Nope”

“Damn”

Welp that was all I had

“If it’s really bothering you I’ll at least tell you this. Dash needs somepony to give her a little push and I think I know the right pony for the job”

“Twilight I’m not playing motivation speaker today alright? Especially not to Dash”

“Cause?”

“Cause she’s an asshole and if she really wants my help she’ll come to me”

“We both know *yawn* she’s not the one to ask for help”

“Her loss”

“Joey…” I could feel the disappointment.

“Hm?”

“You’re better then that”

Staying silent I pondered over what Twilight might’ve been thinking. Perhaps Dash wasn’t hurt at all, only worried of making the decision between her friends and her dreams. So worried in fact that she decided to not decided anything at all, to take the choice completely out of her hooves. But she knew what she was doing. This was a choice in its own.

“Twilight is Dash actually hurt?”

After about a minute of silence I look down to see shes completely asleep with a small smile curled at the end of her lips. I was drawn to the slow rising of her chest, the calm expression of her face, and the elegant but still beauty of her body. She truly was blessing to gaze upon, easing my heart from its anxious state to one of simplistic relaxation. I could lay here for hours admiring her features no matter the minuteness but alas, the sleeping alicorn before me gave a task. One I couldn’t deny.

I stayed there resting for a bit watching the others go over technique while Pinkie cheered away. Dash at the very least was willing to train them even if she couldn’t compete but, as I watched her coach I began to notice she was indeed not injured at all. She’s wasn’t even using her crutch properly.

Making sure to lay Twilights head down lightly as to not wake her, I left a small kiss atop her forehead to which she smiled brightly at the touch. With a murmur she spoke, “Hm… stop you’re gonna wrinkle the page…”

Nerdy book dreams, thats too adorable

Almost in an instant Dash spotted me making my way over and with quick thinking shouted to the others, “Alright quick break and we’ll pick it back up in ten”

Waiting for the others to separate and give some privacy I took a seat nearby on the grass.

“Dash-“

Taking a swig from her bottle she didn’t bother with the act, “You noticed didn’t you? Well ya caught me, happy?”

“You have to make a decision”

“Yeah and I decided that it would be better if both teams went without me instead of one of them missing out! I can’t play favorites now” putting up her smug persona I know all too well she knows better.

“Your friends are going to be disappointed”

“They don’t have to know, it’s better they don’t”

“Twilight already knows” I already know

“Yeah and Twilights going to have to get over it!” Huffing after shouting it’s when she notices my shocked expression does she realize what’s she’s said. “I… I didn’t…”

There was something definitely wrong, deeper then our argument.

“Whatever your holding onto… you need to let it go”

“I’m not holding onto anything! It’s… it’s all this fuckin pressure everypony is putting onto me and… and I can’t help but get a little anxious!” Strangely her face began to flush red.

I felt it a cue to push further.

“Since when does Rainbow Dash feel pressure? I know you’re still keeping a secret, what’s bothering you so much?”

“Okay you’re right, I don’t feel pressure but, that doesn’t mean I’m keeping a secret”

“Why the attitude then?”

“What attitude?!”

“You’ve been acting like you’re better then everypony! Don’t lie!”

“I have not!”

“Then why are you getting so flustered?”

“I’m.. I’m not!”

“Dash… your legs are literally shaking”

Sure enough when she lifts a hoof to her face, it trembles uncontrollably causing her to slam it back down.

“Fatigue, I'm tired from practicing”

“Tired of lying more like it and now even your body is tired of it. Just let tell me what’s wrong”

“This is ridiculous”

“Is it?”

“I don’t have to listen to this I’m leaving”

“Just like you did to Shy and the others joining the Wonderbolts squad? Guess you really have changed”

Preparing for another excuse or a witty comeback it’s the silence following that draws my attention back to her. Her eyes brimming with hot tears freshly cooked from the fiery blush burning her muzzle. Unable to hold back, the first few stream make their way down before she’s even said a word.

“I d-dont know w-what to do…”

“Just tell them you’re feeling better now I’m su-“

“No… there’s something wrong with me”

“What do you mean?”

“M-my… my stomach keeps feeling uneasy a-and my chest, it hurts”

“Are you sick? Is it like a constant thing?” She shakes her head.

“I… I think… I think I…” she can’t even finish, having to pause to fight through tears.

Even with our recent rocky struggles I’m left feeling unsure. Should I comfort her? Would she get more upset? Just watching her cry was making me sick! I had to do something.

“Joey it hurts” Without thinking I hugged her nearly on the verge of crying myself.

“Dash what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know… I don’t know. It started that day… the day we started arguing. When w-we… when I left my chest starting hurting and I started getting all sick and now every time I think about you or that stupid stupid day I start feeling all shitty again. I can’t even look or think about you at all or I start getting sick again and I just want it to stop. I want to be friends, I want to hangout again! I want this stupid pain to go away”

Stuffing her face into my shoulder I reassuringly rub her back gently, “I’m sorry… I should’ve apologized a long time ago”

Muffled in my shoulder I can still understand her but the next words she speaks almost feel as if I’ve heard her wrong still. Quietly, ever so she managed to break my heart.

“I like you… I’m sorry”

The next minute fell silent. The only noise her light sobbing, slowly finding its way down to a miserable groan. She stayed buried into me, hugging close as if the only antidote to her pain was my warmth. Slowly I stroked her rainbow mane, letting the moment take over rather then rush. She needed this and I wouldn’t dare disturb it.

“I know you don’t think of me the same way a-and that’s okay but, I don’t want to lose you” she pulls away looking with her puffy tired eyes, “I can’t handle that”

Her exhausted face forces me to smile, my heart barely able to take the abuse, “I’m not going anywhere. What kind of best friend would I be otherwise?”

A few more tears spilled their way free but, the smile that grew across her face told a different story. “Heh *sniff* a pretty shitty one”

Chuckling I met her forehead with a light bump, “Look at us idiots yelling at each other. I can’t believe we let this last so long”

“Yeah well.. *sniff* it was mainly your fault”

“My fault!?!”

“Yeah! Clearly I was talking about you the whole time and you never noticed cause you have the awareness of a rock!”

“How was I supposed to know when the most in your face, I don’t care bout nopony friend I have doesn’t just say how she feels?”

“I clearly like you! Why do you think I only tell you my personal stuff? Because I felt like you had the best answers? Come on we both know that’s not true”

“Wow… that’s going too far. I have great advice”

“bE YoUrSeLf, yeah I did dweeb and look how that turned out”

“I literally said you were attractive you little shit!”

“Then why don’t you like me enough to court me?!”

I paused, knowing it was important I explained my feelings right.

“Because I’ve only seen you as a friend Dash. You remind me of my friends back home and it’s a feeling I needed more then anything the moment I got here. You’re important to me and you probably were the only reason I kept going the first few months I lived here. I know it’s unfair to you but, it just the way I feel. I’m sorry”

Staring with piercing daggers aimed my way they suddenly disappear into the normal pink orbs she always carried. Getting up she started to make her way back to the others, “I’m still the most important pony in your life though, can’t deny that”

My first week in Ponyville flashes back to when I met Dash. Our times spent cloud gazing. The prank days spent messing with the ponies around town. Her new pink sunglasses. The Fluttershy sex scandal. Even the moment she found out I was cutting, she handled it all in stride listening to my ridiculous demands even if it hurt her to do so. She’d been there the whole time. My best friend.

“You are Dash. You really are”

Unprepared for such a forward response she immediately tripped over her own hoof falling flat on her face. Getting up and leaving sooner then I’d have liked I stopped her with a shout. There was still one last thing I needed to know.

“Hey!”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to be okay?” Faltering just a little she made sure to still give me her best smile.

“Y-yeah… I think I’ll be okay”

“Don’t… don’t hold it if you’re not okay?”

“I won’t… I promise”

And away she flew.

In a much better mood and willing to compete, Dash returned and gave her best apology for the actions she took. She explained everything, from the secret practices to the fake injury. Only when she finished was the response she got an unexpected one. The girls swallowed her in a group hug.

“I’m so glad you decided to come back Dash”

“Yeah! Now Ponyville is going to win for sure!”

“Y-yeah!” Shy gave her best shout, just barely above the average ponies outside voice.

“You… aren’t mad?”

Conjuring up a magical stick from thin air Twilight made sure to get a real good bonk on Dash’s head, “Course I’m mad but, I’m more happy you decided to come back!”

“I never doubted you for a second unless you count the second I found out but, it was only one second!”

“Even you Shy?”

“Well… I can’t say I’m not a little disappointed” with ears flat against her head Dash found interest staring toward her hooves rather then her friend’s upset face. Until she went on. “But I’d probably have trouble too if it was something I really wanted”

“But I should’ve known better! You girls are my friends I mean how could I even think about not running the relay with you! I’m a terrible friend”

Covering her with a wing Twilight hugged her in close, “If there’s one thing I know you are not, it’s a terrible friend”

She was right and I couldn’t agree more.

“Everypony can get a little selfish at times Dash, plus it’s your dream to practice with them. I’m sure nopony here is going to hold it against you, specially since your going to win us that relay”

“Still I’m really sorry, to all of you. I’ve been a bad friend lately but, that stops today. No today we are going to win this friken relay and put Ponyville into the Equestrian games!”

In unison we all met in the middle, “Ponyville on 3! One, two, three! PONYVILLE!”

“Now let’s go kick some flank!”

“…ahem” standing there giggling one of the judges stood nearby with her clipboard in her mouth. “The relay still doesn’t start for another twenty minutes”

“Oh” it was tough not to laugh.

Soon enough the Ponyville team set up for the final event. The rest of us meanwhile found our places at the finish line waiting anxiously in worry. Sure we had Dash but, the Wonderbolt squad was only down one pony. Whoever the replacement was it would still be quite the accomplishment to win. This challenge however, clearly didn’t bother some.

“LEEEETS GO PONYVILLE!!” Pinkies loud microphone yelling drew a few faces but, of course she didn’t mind at all. “GIVE ME A P! GIVE ME AN O! GIVE ME-“

“Pinkie! We got it”

“Heheh, sorry Dashie! LETS GO PONYVILLE!!!”

Taking their places our relay team went in this order. First, bulk biceps. With the beginning part of the course starting near the ground it was the best idea to keep him low in order to help him maintain his speed given his biggest difficulty was gaining altitude. Next he would be handing off the baton to Fluttershy. Although outmatched by most the ponies she lined up with, she still was the second best flyer we had so the rise in altitude and the various loops would have to be completed by her in at least a decent time. Finally there was our anchor. Dash had to be our final pony. She was the best under pressure and if there was any chance at all we were going to make up time it would have to be her.

Watching Bulk barely hover above the ground I almost wanted to close my eyes for the first third of the race. Second place wasn’t that bad right?

“On your mark, set, *POOOOOF*” in place of a gun the ref fired off a magical firework, it’s explosion the starting signal.

With that they were off, Bulk immediately falling behind. With bated breath beside me Pinkie jumped up and down covering her mouth as to not shout. It was Twilights idea she held any screaming for the final kick, the other two not likely to preform better under such conditions.

The other 4 teams started to close the gap and with already a twenty second lead the Wonderbolt squad passed their first baton. With a wobbly handoff the replacement stallion made his way through the course. Although he appeared clumsy his competition was far behind.

Taking my focus back to Bulk I noticed he’d passed another pony! Somehow they’d caught their leg on one of the courses many loops, falling and getting stuck in a nearby bush.

“Hey you got it Bulk! Keep it up bud!” Yelling I’d completely forgotten about the mare beside me.

Pinkie looked as if her head was going to explode, her face red from the pressure.

“Pinkie” Twilight warned. “Hold it together”

“I’m… trying!”

Passing it off Shy was surprisingly fast to start. Perhaps it was the practice or some random burst of confidence she flew around most her obstacles with ease. Then without warning reality had caught up. Almost as if she’d stumbled into a chamber of double gravity her wings seemed to move in slow motion. Her flight began to wobble and it started to look like she might not finish at all. Not until a voice shouted from ahead giving her a second wind.

“You can do it Fluttershy! Come on you’re almost there! Show them how much you worked for this!”

Giving everything she had she reached Dash exhaling the last of her held breath, falling slowly to the ground right after. With good reflexes Twilight caught her with a purple glow, gently bringing her over to the rest of us.

“RRRRR-LEEEETSSSSS GOOOOOOO DAAAAAASH!” Clutching my ears from Pinkies sharp voice we couldn’t say we didn’t see it coming. Hell I’d say we did this to ourselves. “GIVE THEM THE PONYVILLE SPECIAL!!!”

Like lighting Dash soared through the course, her body leaving an audible sound of pure violence. She flew possessed, precise, and with a degree of difficulty even a Wonderbolt would be proud of. Down almost a full minute she covered most of the slack within seconds, leaving behind a rainbow blur and a harsh gust of wind. She was flying dangerous with something to prove.

Taking a look back the golden Wonderbolt in first couldn’t hide her shock to see the lead shrunken so fast. With haste she picked up from her leisure speed hoping to finish strong enough to keep Dash at bay. It was too late though, the final stretch Dash’s ally. With breakneck speed, she broke the sound barrier leaving behind an explosive rainbow across the sky. The air seemed to yell back at as Dash crossed the finish line disappearing into the horizon. She had brought us back for the win.

Erupting into a fit of cheers I grabbed Pinkie and started swinging her in circles. “We fucking won! We really won!! Ponyville! Fuck yeah!”

“I’m so happy I feel like I could puke!”

“Okay enough spinning for you”

With a sudden pull I’m brought down to a knee by my hand and smothered by a Twilight kiss. Her boldness alone flung my little hamster wheel brain right off the track.

“I’ve never seen her fly so amazing like that in my life! What did you say to make her so motivated?”

“Uhh… I uh”

“Oh sorry I shouldn’t have kissed you out of the blue like that, that was um… my bad” back to her old quirky self, the mare tried her best to hide behind her bangs.

“N-no that was… that was fine. Just wasn’t expecting it ya know?”

“Do I get an unexpected kiss now?”

“Pinkie it’s not unexpected if you ask for it”

“What?! Thats stupid!”

“Would you settle for an expected kiss?”

“Hmmm nah, maybe later. Kinda got my hopes up for the unexpected one”

To the side I could see Fluttershy holding her chest in embarrassment. At this rate we were going to kill her.

*THUD*

Behind us all Dash crashed hard into the ground, sliding a few feet before stopping in a small heap. The girls fell silent while my feet started to move for me. Running as fast as I could by the time I reached her she had already started to get up. The sight of her wing alone made me flinch.

Twisted in an odd fashion she folded it against her body, limping out of the newly dug up ground. I gathered her up in an instant.

With an exhausted face she met my eyes with her own half lidded stare, “I told you we’d win”

“You… you idiot…” looking over the many scratches and bruises it was clear the speed at which she raced was too much for her body. I almost wanted to cry seeing her so hurt.

“I’ll be okay… I trust you’ll take care of me” with a smile she passed out, leaving me with a sick feeling of guilt.

For an odd reason I knew I was at fault for this. She wouldn’t have raced that hard otherwise. Was it to impress me? Did she feel like she owed me something? Whatever it was I wasn’t able to think it over for long as the first priority I had was to get medical attention.

About a day passed by since the race and the girls headed home leaving me and Dash behind at the nearby Canterlot hospital. Pinkie was tough to convince to go back home but, once I explained my reasoning she was willing to listen. She understood we needed the privacy and was never one to argue so that left me alone, sitting beside Dash’s bed. Fiddling with the Wonderbolt pin in my hands I watched over my friend’s sleeping form.

Why would she go so far? Am I being selfish thinking it was because of me? Maybe she’s just that competitive, I’ve never seen her race competitive before

My thoughts are interrupted with a sound from the door. Her doctor had came back with the X-ray results in hoof.

“Are you the one in charge of Miss Dash?”

“Yeah, we decided that I should stay behind”

“Hm, lovers perhaps?”

I blushed with a little frustration, “Why is it always about romance with you ponies?”

Chuckling he checked over the clipboard at the end of the bed, “Perhaps it’s in our genetics? Alright no need for the face it was just a joke”

“She gonna be okay?”

“Well she had a pretty nasty break near her metacarpus and strangely enough not from the fall but, other than that she’s as fit as a fiddle. I’d say with a little therapy and some daily medication she’ll be back to flying in about three to six weeks”

“Three to six weeks?! She broke a bone doctor isn’t that like serious?”

“Maybe if it were a bone say like her femur but, pegasus wings are often times quick to heal. A mare in good as shape as her? Why she’ll be just fine”

“That’s good to here”

“Yep. All that’s really left is the bill and she’ll be ready to go home as soon as she wakes up. Just make sure to follow the directions with her medication and therapy sheet and everything should go swimmingly”

Oh god the dreaded medical bill. As a former U.S. citizen there’s fewer worse things to hear. “How much we looking at?”

“Here you are” handing over the sheet, the bottom has a little spot for signatures with a number and bit marker right beside it.

“Uh.. am I reading this right? This seems pretty cheap”

He laughed loudly catching me off guard, “Cheap? Sir where exactly are you from? Most ponies nearly cut my head off after reading the bill! You sure are one strange pony”

Happily signing away I gave back the paper, “Well where I’m from two hundred bits for a broken bone would be dream”

“Yeesh, hate to live where you’re from. Anywho, I oughta get going now. You two have a wonderful day and remember to follow the directions exactly like the sheet says. You wouldn’t believe how many ponies think they know better than a doctor”

“Thanks doc, take it easy”

With a gentleness similar to his voice he shut the door leaving me alone once more.

“You didn’t have to pay for me you know” Rising weakly from beneath the covers she propped up against her pillow. A sigh of relief washed over me.

“You didn’t have to scare us all like that you know?”

Cheeky she crossed her hooves giggling, “And not be a winner? Come on you know me better than that”

Smiling back I walked over giving a light karate chop to her head, “Take the loss next time, I never want to worry like that again”

“Sorry heheh. Didn’t plan on getting hurt if it makes you feel any better”

“It doesn’t buuuut seeing that you’re okay it definitely makes it an easier pill to swallow. Speaking of which, tadah! You’re on painkillers for the foreseeable future!” Enthusiastically I wave the bottle in front of her.

“Oh shit I almost forgot! I broke my wing didn’t I?” Checking to make sure with a spin she immediately snapped back in pain. “Ow ow ow!”

“Easy there sport, no sudden movements til we get ya all drugged up”

“Can you not make it seem like I’m a druggie?”

“Come on, take the pill. Come on girl”

“You’re really milking this aren’t you?”

“How else am I going to get my pay back?”

“…fair”

“By the way, that yellow Wonderbolt mare wanted me to give you this” holding out the pin Dash stared at it with wonderment.

“This.. this is an official Wonderbolt pin! From Spitfire none the less!” Holding it in her hoof I swear the instant she touched it her eyes flashed in a rainbow of colors.

“Yeah, yeah, you can geek out later after you’ve taken your medication now come on”

Taking her required dose she geeked a little harder and we talked a little longer until it kicked finally. Getting ready for the trip back I gathered most her things myself seeing how she really didn’t have an open limb to help. Slung behind her, her wing was wrapped neatly and stiff. Although I wasn’t a pegasus it certainly looked uncomfortable.

“You need help with anything?”

“Besides scratching my wing? No. Actually how much was my bill? I wanna pay you back”

“I thought you heard me earlier when I was talking to the doctor?”

“Eh… I only caught some of it. Still coming off the fact I’ve been asleep for like a whole day ya know?”

“My bad, my bad”

“So are you going to tell me how much it was?”

“Huh?”

“Joey!”

“Shit it’s getting kinda late, we should probably hurry to the station”

“If you don’t tell me-“

With one swift motion I scooped her up, careful not to touch the aforementioned wing as well. Flipping her face to meet mine she was already blushing.

“Put. Me. Down”

“No or we’ll be late”

“I broke my wing not my leg, put me down!”

“I thought you said you liked me? Shouldn’t you be enjoying this?”

“… maybe that’s why I want you to PUT ME DOWN!”

“Ya know that was pretty amazing watching you kick all those ponies asses at the end there. Probably the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen”

She rolled her eyes blushing harder, “It wasn’t that amazing”

“Oh I beg to differ”

Leaving through the front doors of the hospital we stepped out into the sunset, Canterlot’s many twists and paths left orange from the suns glow. Hit with its vibrant warmth I don’t even notice it still distracted looking at the mare in my arms. Checking out the view herself I’m spoiled enough to admire the sight of her backdropped by a prestigious city. Just from being outside again the color practically spilled back into her.

“Hey Dash?”

“Yeah?”

“Wanna hang out after this? Maybe get something delivered?”

With glistening eyes she nodded, “Y-yeah… I’d like that”

Author's Note

Have a wonderful day/night