One Wish

Chapters

The Proposal
Take Wing
Stretching
Grounded
Plunge
A Touch of Magic
Shining Rainboom

The Proposal

Rainbow Dash breathed in the early morning air. The training grounds were waking up. Most of the Wonderbolts had just started their warm-ups—wing lifts, stretching, and so on. Rainbow Dash had finished all that before the first cadet rubbed the sleep from their eyes. She coiled her muscles, then leapt into the sky, once again claiming the first flight of the day.

After all, getting old didn’t have to be awful.

Dash had aged out of the Wonderbolts long ago. A lifetime of daring stunts, not to mention saving Equestria from world-ending threats, had taken its slow toll. The joints in her right wing didn’t bend quite right. She had a constant ache in her back left knee. No, she certainly couldn’t keep up with the younger ponies now, but she didn’t care. One advantage of being a living legend was that she didn’t have to try so hard to impress.

She took the course slowly, careful not to overexert herself. She may not have been on any rosters, but these youngsters needed somepony to train them, and Rainbow Dash was the best pony in the business. As she started her second lap, three pegasi rose to join her—Stratus, Skypuff, and Gale. “Morning, coach,” Gale said. He was the largest of the three, and the fastest flier on the Wonderbolts roster. “What’s on the schedule this morning?”

“More flying, less chatting,” Dash answered. “Save your air for your muscles.”

Stratus laughed. He was smaller than Gale, with slightly larger than normal wings—perfect for making quick, acrobatic maneuvers. “Coach means business today.”

“Old mares are never any fun,” said Skypuff with a wink. She was the current record-holder for highest altitude reached without passing out, and Dash suspected she would hold that record for a while. The three collectively formed what Dash called her Rainboom Squad, and she intended to teach them her signature move. She hadn’t performed the Rainboom in years—her body couldn’t handle the stress anymore—but she hoped at least one of them would carry on her legacy.

Of course, she’d have to get their heads out of the clouds first. The ribbing and jabs were all good fun, but jokes wouldn’t get them in top performance.

“The Wonderbolts are serious business,” she barked, “and this old mare doesn’t have time for layabouts. You’d better be ready for drills by the time I finish my laps, or it’ll be fifty wing-ups from each of you!”

Though the young trio smiled at her threat, they knew she meant it. Their wing beats redoubled, and soon they streaked ahead of her, flying in a tight formation around the training grounds. By the time Dash finished her second lap, the three had finished their warm-ups and stood at attention—a slightly winded attention, but she’d take it for now.

“Not bad,” she admitted, careful to descend slowly to avoid unnecessary strain. “Keep that up, and you might have a shot at pulling off a Sonic Rainboom before you join me in the senior discount line.”

“Yes, ma’am!” the three said in unison. Dash smiled. Down to business.

“Now, like I told you yesterday, pulling off the Rainboom is about more than just speed. If you don’t have a good start, you’ll never make it before you smash your face in the dirt, and if you can’t make a quick recovery, you might end up eating grass anyway. Altitude, speed, and agility—mess one of those up, and it’s going to be a painful landing.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said again.

“Now, I’m sure you’ve already worked out why I picked you three for this stunt,” Dash continued. “Skypuff, you’ll help these guys figure out how not to lose their breath up there. Stratus, you’ll run agility drills—focus on high-velocity turns. And Gale, you’re gonna help them boost their wing power. I want maximum speed from all of you.”

The three looked at each other with furrowed brows. “So, you’re not going to train us?” Stratus asked.

“Oh, I will,” she said with a grin, “but it’s important you learn from each other first. I might have experience, but these old wings don’t work like they used to.” She glanced behind them and spotted Fluttershy landing on the runway. Right on time. “I have business to take care of,” she said as she trotted away. “Run those drills!”

The Rainboom Squad nodded and took to the skies. Rainbow Dash watched them for a moment, then turned her attention to Fluttershy, who was walking toward her with a smile. Fluttershy’s wings had more gray in them than Dash remembered, but she had a feeling Fluttershy would say the same about her if she weren’t so polite.

“Glad you made it!” Dash called. “I hope the winds weren’t too rough.”

“They were fine,” Fluttershy answered. Her sleek, black saddlebags were stuffed with papers, and she wore a formal blouse—no doubt a gift from Rarity. “Thanks for agreeing to meet me so early. I hope I’m not interfering with practice.”

“Nah, I’ve got them teaching each other. Magic of teamwork and all that.” Now that they stood beside each other, they shared a quick embrace. “Come on in. Looks like you have a lot to discuss.”

“Oh, this shouldn’t take very long. Most of this is for the presentation in Cloudsdale,” Fluttershy explained.

“Right, the bird sanctuary. Think they’ll go for your cloud-birdhouse idea?”

“I hope so. The cloud engineers say it’s a sound concept, and I have a grant lined up from the Equestrian Audubon Society. All that’s left is to hire a construction team and get the materials.”

The two continued to chat as they made their way to Dash’s office. It wasn’t as big as the one she had when she was the commander of the Wonderbolts, but it was big enough to chew out lazy cadets if she needed to. “Take a seat,” Dash said as she stepped past her cramped trophy cabinet to sit behind her desk. “What can I do for you?”

“Well,” Fluttershy started, “it’s about the One Wish Initiative I told you about last Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“That’s the one for sick kids, right?” Dash sometimes had trouble keeping all of Fluttershy’s projects straight.

Fluttershy nodded. “The idea is to help them get one thing they really want—a trip or meeting a celebrity, for example. One wish, as the name implies,” she said. “Thanks to Twilight, I’ve gotten a lot of support, but some ponies are worried it won’t be able to fulfill its promise. That makes it hard to get the kind of funding we need.”

“Hmm. I can see that,” Dash said. “Wouldn’t want to get a kid’s hopes up and not be able to deliver. I’m guessing you think I can help with that?”

“Exactly.” Fluttershy reached into her bag and placed a thick folder on Dash’s desk. “Twilight has agreed to fund the first one herself, as a trial run. Go ahead and take a look.”

Dash flipped open the folder. A photo of a smiling pegasus filly looked up at her. She looked a little frail for her age. Of course she does. She’s sick. She glanced at the filly’s information. Cloudwing, from Cloudsdale. The name gave her pause.

“I feel like I’ve see this kid before,” she said. Then, it clicked. “Wait! Is this the same kid who won the Best Young Flyer competition three years ago?” Fluttershy nodded. “Wow! She was so young, too. I always wondered what happened to her.” One look at Fluttershy’s solemn expression, and the pieces clicked again. “Oh.”

“She was diagnosed with witherwing a few months after she won,” Fluttershy explained. “Her family has been seeking treatment, but the best anypony can do is slow the symptoms. She’s a fighter, but… well, by this time next year, the doctors say she’ll likely never fly again.”

Dash sat back in her chair. Never fly again... The mere thought was enough to make her spine tingle. That would have been devastating news for any pegasus. For a flier as talented as Cloudwing, for her flying career to be over before it could begin…

Dash shook off her chills. “So, she’s getting her wish. Let me guess: Flying with the Wonderbolts? I bet I can make that happen.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “I wish it were that simple. No. Her wish is to see a Sonic Rainboom.”

Dash let out a slow whistle. “Man, you picked a tough one.”

“The toughest Twilight could find,” Fluttershy agreed. “She says if we can somehow make this happen, it’ll prove we can do anything.”

“I mean, yeah, that’s probably true.” Dash collected her thoughts. “All right. That’s a tall order, but lucky for you, I have a team working on the Sonic Rainboom right now. If you can give me, say, a month, I bet one of them will have it figured out.”

“Oh. Um.” Fluttershy looked down.

“Too long? Would three weeks do it?”

“It’s not that,” Fluttershy said. “It’s… Well, I’ll just come out and say it. Cloudwing wants you to do it.”

For a moment, Dash’s mind froze. She only remembered to close her mouth after taking a few deep breaths. “Look, Fluttershy, you know I want this to work, but I’m way past my prime. I haven’t come close to pulling off a Rainboom in years.”

Fluttershy looked down and sighed. “Yeah. I know.” She flipped the folder closed.

“Wait. Hold on.” Rainbow Dash put a hoof on the folder before Fluttershy could tuck it away. “You know I’d do it in a heartbeat if I could. I’d fly there and do it right now.”

Fluttershy gave her a smile. “Oh, of course I know that. Twilight does, too. We know some wishes just won’t be possible. I just thought I’d ask before… well, before we have to tell her no.”

Rainbow Dash pulled the folder closer and opened it again. Staring at Cloudwing’s face, she tried to remember her performance from three years ago. She couldn’t remember the exact routine, but she clearly recalled her final maneuver—an impressive wing flare that threw water droplets around her, creating a multicolored halo of refracted light. And the look on her face, the sheer exhilaration of a performance gone just right…

It was a feeling Dash knew well. It was a feeling Cloudwing would never experience again.

Rainbow Dash sighed, then steeled her determination. “Look, I can’t promise anything,” she said, “but this kid deserves the best I’ve got. Give me one month. Let’s see if these old wings have one more Rainboom left.”

Fluttershy smiled and put the folder back in her bag. “Don’t hurt yourself,” she said.

“Psh. Me, hurt myself doing the craziest stunt anypony’s ever tried?” She waved a hoof dismissively.

“Rainbow Dash, I am being completely serious,” Fluttershy said sternly. Dash burst out laughing, and Fluttershy’s frown turned into a rueful grin. “Good luck. I hope it all works out.”

Dash collected herself as Fluttershy left, being careful to shut the door on her way out. Dash’s grin slowly faded. Her gaze drifted to her trophy case, a lifetime of accolades celebrating her aerial skill. Somehow, they all paled compared to the task before her now.

She stretched her wings. The right one still didn’t bend quite like it should. I can work with that. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. It’s just one more Rainboom. I can do it, for her.

Author's Note

The One Wish Initiative is based on the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which fulfils the dreams of children with life-threatening medical conditions. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

Take Wing

Rainbow Dash walked out to a training field in full swing. The newest cadets ran basic drills at one end, while the veterans rehearsed for an upcoming show in Baltimare. Rainbow Dash scanned the skies for her Rainboom Squad, but saw no sign of them. “Those jokers better not be slacking off,” she muttered as she spread her wings and took off.

It took her three complete circles around the field to spot her three trainees. She only found them because she happened to look up at the exact moment Skypuff’s tail flicked out beyond the edge of a cloud. Rainbow Dash pumped her wings, breathing heavily as she ascended. She hadn’t climbed to this altitude in a while. Better get used to it. You’ll be spending a lot more time up here now.

Despite her slow ascent, the three Wonderbolts were startled when she rose into view. They leapt to their hooves and stood at attention while Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs over her chest. “Just what in the hay do you think you’re doing?”

“Altitude training, ma’am,” Skypuff said quickly.

“Really. Didn’t know Wonderbolts were professional cloud-loungers.”

“This exercise is about exposure,” Skypuff explained. “See, I used to spend days way up high with my folks when they were working in the Cloudsdale observatory.”

Rainbow Dash help up a hoof. Skypuff fell silent. Dash grinned. “Working smarter. I can appreciate that.” The three pegasi relaxed, but not for long. “The goal is to fly at this altitude, though, so let’s practice that. Give me three laps around the perimeter at this altitude. Land here when you’re done.”

The Rainboom Squad took off. Though Gale beat the others for raw speed, he lagged behind Skypuff, who was used to working in the thin air. Rainbow Dash followed them at a distance. Thinner air means less oxygen and lift. She winced as her lungs and wings slowly caught fire. Once you start feeling dizzy, you’re in trouble.

For Dash, that moment came far sooner than she would have liked. Before her students finished their second lap, she had already landed to catch her breath. No big deal. You don’t stay here long for the Rainboom anyway.

The three Wonderbolts were gasping for air by the time they landed, though Skypuff recovered far more quickly than her companions. “Good work,” Dash told them. “Remember, the Rainboom takes a lot of speed, so you need time to accelerate. I recommend staying up here only as long as you need to.” The others nodded in acknowledgement. “Speaking of which,” Dash continued, “let’s work on those dives. Stratus, show 'em how it’s done.”

Stratus stepped to the edge of the cloud and prepared to jump. The other two stood close enough to watch. “What’s the target?” he asked.

“See that cloud?” Dash pointed with a hoof. Stratus nodded. “Dive at that cloud as fast as you can. Don’t turn away until the last second. Remember, the goal is to accelerate the whole way down, until you break the visible spectrum of light into a million glorious pieces.”

Gale and Skypuff chuckled, but Stratus focused on his objective. He lunged forward and downward, flapping his wings furiously as he fell. At the last instant, his wings flared, and he shot out across the grounds before taking a wide loop to return to his cheering companions.

“Not bad,” Dash said. “Gale, you’re up.”

Gale nodded and stepped forward before plunging off the cloud. His descent was significantly faster, and Dash thought she saw the beginnings of the Mach cone that always came before a Rainboom. It’s not so hard. She smiled as Gale ended his dive. “Good speed, but that recovery could have been smoother,” she said.

Skypuff stepped forward, but Dash held up a hoof. “I think it’s time I show you three a thing or two,” she said. The others looked at each other with a combination of wide eyes and eager smiles. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath to steady her nerves, the leapt off the cloud and plummeted. She stretched out her body to reduce air friction, all the while beating the air with her wings. It wasn’t her fastest dive by a long shot, but she felt a sense of pride as the cloud streaked closer. She felt the air begin to push back against her, and she smiled. I’m closer than I thought.

A part of her wanted to go for it, but she restrained herself. She raced toward the cloud as long as she dared. Then, she flared her wings and prepared to level out.

That was where it all went wrong.

The instant she opened her wings, something in her right wing gave out. Before she could react, the wing crumpled completely, fluttering uselessly by her side. The sudden shift in resistance sent her spiraling downward. She yelped in surprise and tried to compensate, but her right wing wouldn’t hold up against the rushing winds. She flew through the cloud and straight toward the runway. She saw a few eyes look in her direction, a few mouths open in shock. A sharp pain stabbed through the base of her wing as she tried to open it again. For the first time in a while, she felt afraid for her life.

She shouldn’t have worried, with so many skilled fliers hanging around. Gale was the first to catch her, followed by Skypuff and Stratus. The three helped her to the ground, then stood back while she caught her breath.

“Your dive was nice, ma’am,” Gale said.

“Don’t patronize me,” Dash snapped. Now that the shock had passed, embarrassment began to set in.

“The dive was fine,” Skypuff agreed. “It was the turn that went wrong.”

“Yeah, thanks, I was there for the whole thing,” Dash said. The edge had fallen from her voice, replaced with a kind of dull monotone. She cleared her throat. “Okay. So, not my best demonstration.”

“No, but catching you was good practice,” Stratus said. Rainbow Dash sent him a look that was half withering glare and half grateful smile.

“All right, enough chatting. Let’s get back up there.” Rainbow Dash started to take off, but grimaced as her wing seized. She landed roughly on her hooves, sending a jolt of pain through her joints.

“Easy there, coach,” said Gale as he took a look at her wing.

“I’m fine,” Dash said. Gale raised an eyebrow. “Okay, it stings a little.”

Gale looked more closely at her wing. “It’s not broken, but it could be sprained,” he said. “You should definitely ice it and rest before flying again.”

“I don’t have time for that. I have—I mean, you have a lot of practice to do, and I can’t fix your form if I’m watching from all the way down here.”

“That may be, but we’re Wonderbolts,” Gale said firmly. “We do it safely, or we don’t do it at all.”

Rainbow Dash couldn’t ignore that mantra, not after she’d spent her entire Wonderbolts career drilling it into everypony’s head. “You’re right,” she admitted. “Sorry. Guess I got carried away.”

“Get yourself better, coach,” Stratus said. “We’ll be here when you're well.”

The three took off into the sky to practice their dives. Rainbow Dash’s heart sank as she watched them. It’s not you I’m worried about.

“Yep. Definitely a sprain,” said the field medic. He retrieved an ice pack and pressed it against the base of Rainbow Dash’s wing. She flinched at the cold. “You weren’t doing anything crazy, were you?”

The office was cramped. Rainbow Dash ached to be outside. “Just trying to show 'em how it’s done,” she said.

“Hmph. Surprisingly, I didn’t expect you to hurt yourself today. I thought you’d accepted the limitations that come with age.” The medic jotted a few notes. Dash braced herself for the verdict. “A couple days’ rest, and you should be fine,” the medic said. “You’re free to continue training your team so long as your hooves remain firmly on the ground.” The medic looked Rainbow Dash in the eye. “It could have been a lot worse, you know. Torn muscles and ligaments, broken bones—I’ve seen it all from ponies who push themselves too hard. At your age, an injury like that could take months to heal.”

“Yeah, I know.” Dash had seen it, too, and it made her shudder. “I’ll be more careful.”

Dash made her way back outside. The Rainboom Squad was still practicing dives, just as she’d instructed. She couldn’t see much from her vantage point. The trio had climbed even higher than before and dove as a group. It’s a game! She smiled. They were trying to see who could get the closest to the clouds without bursting through them. Smart way to make the practice more interesting.

“Hey there, coach.” Rainbow Dash turned to see a uniformed pegasus gliding her way. It was Winter Gust, current commander of the Wonderbolts. Dash gave him a quick salute. “Heard you pulled a muscle. Everything okay?”

“Yep. Couple days' rest and I’ll be right back up there,” she said.

Winter Gust nodded. “Glad to hear it. I’d hate to lose my best instructor to injury, especially if she was doing something dumb when she got hurt.” He fixed her with a raised eyebrow. “I saw that little stunt you tried. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I’m sure,” she said. “I just… wanted to see if I still had it.”

“'Course you still have it. You’re a legend,” Winter Gust said. Dash looked down. “Okay, so maybe you don’t have all of it,” Winter Gust admitted. “You have enough, though. And you have determination. Whatever you want, you’ll find a way to get it.” He gave her a smile. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, all right? I’d hate to see my old commander get sidelined permanently.”

Dash returned the smile. “You got it, boss.”

Winter Gust left. Rainbow Dash watched her students practice, but her mind was elsewhere. She’d obviously jumped into things too quickly. She would have to take it slower if she hoped to fulfill Cloudwing’s wish. Right now, that meant getting her wing back into shape.

By the time her trio landed, exhausted, Dash had a new plan in mind. “Good work out there today,” she told them. “I didn’t see much from down here, but it looked good. Smart thinking on the team diving.”

“Skypuff’s idea,” Stratus said.

“Like you said, coach, you gotta work smarter,” Skypuff added.

Dash grinned. “Smarter. That’s right. Come on, let’s get some grub.” As the four pegasi walked toward the mess hall, Dash reviewed her plan. For her, working harder wasn’t an option. Smarter would have to be enough.

Stretching

Rainbow Dash was no stranger to physical therapy. Every athlete landed there eventually. It was, however, the first time she'd ever gone in of her own initiative. She felt a little nervous as the therapist poked and prodded her wing, but she didn't even think about walking out. Cloudwing deserved the best she could offer.

“Your bone structure is sound,” the therapist said. “Most of your symptoms are the result of age, I'm afraid. There's nothing I can do to turn back the clock.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. It was the answer she'd expected. “I'm not asking you to work a miracle, doc. I just want to make this wing a little stronger.”

“After that incident at the training ground, I don't blame you,” the therapist said as she consulted her notes. Rainbow Dash grimaced. News of her near-disastrous free fall was certainly spreading fast. “I do have some exercises that will help,” she said. “You'll have to limit yourself to stretching until your sprain heals up, but after that, I recommend adding some light resistance training to strengthen those muscles.”

She handed Dash a few sheets of paper with illustrations of low-impact wing exercises. Dash looked them over. “Sounds good,” she said. “So, with this, do you think I'll be able to make those tight turns again?”

The therapist gave her a stern, but understanding, look. “Miss Dash, it's very unlikely you'll ever be as agile as you were in your prime. These exercises will improve your control, but I don't want you to get any ideas or false hopes. As I said, I can't turn back the clock.”

It wasn't the answer she'd hoped for, but she knew better than to argue. She tucked the papers into her bags, thanked the therapist for her time, and left. It'll have to be enough.

A week passed, and Dash liked the results. Her Rainboom Squad gave her a little flak over what they called “grandma exercises,” but a few extra laps and wing lifts put an end to that. The joints in her wing popped a little less now, and she noticed her turns became much smoother. Can't believe I just let myself go like that, she thought, then had a good chuckle at herself—even in her current state, she knew she was more athletic than most ponies half her age.

The Rainboom Squad made good progress as well. All three of them could work comfortably at high altitudes now, and their dives and recoveries had all improved significantly. Only Gale seemed close to reaching the speeds needed to perform the Sonic Rainboom, but she was confident all three of them would be able to do it eventually.

Now, if only she could do it, too.

“All right, the pony games end here,” she told them as they stood in an attentive line atop a cirrus cloud. “Any pegasus with half a brain can make a dive. To master the Rainboom, you have to do more. Gale.” He straightened a little at the sound of his name. “You're the fastest. What have you noticed about your speed this week?”

Gale cleared his throat before answering. “It's improved, but not enough,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like I'm close, but there's a wall there, stopping me. I know that's just in my head, ma'am,” he added quickly. “The Rainboom's a legendary maneuver. I'm just psyching myself out.”

“Maybe,” Dash said, “and maybe not.” She stopped her pacing and looked each of them in the eye. “There's a very real wall you'll run up against. As you fly, you push air out of your way. The faster you go, the more that air builds up and pushes back. The trick to the Rainboom is figuring out how to break through.”

Gale nodded. “I think I understand, ma'am.”

“Good. Now, there's a certain technique that helps with this,” Dash said. “You know how your form is different when you're racing, versus when you're just flying around for fun?” The three nodded. “The Rainboom has its own form. It's hard to describe, so I'm going to show you what it looks like.”

The three exchanged nervous glances. “Ma'am, are you sure that's a good idea?” Skypuff asked. “You only just recovered, after all.”

“Don't worry. I have the power of grandma exercises on my side now,” Dash answered, smirking. The trio gave her sheepish smiles. “Obviously, I won't be going full speed on this one. You three follow me and watch what I do.”

Dash turned away from them and faced the plummet before her. Despite her confident air, her hooves were shaking a little. She hoped her years of practice would pull through. “Diving on three,” she said. “One, two, three!”

The four pegasi leaped from the cloud and descended. Dash beat her wings, building up as much speed as she dared. Smarter, she reminded herself, not harder. Though she wasn't anywhere near the speed required to perform the Rainboom, she imagined she was, stretching her body and lining herself up behind her front hooves. She flared her wings. For one panicked moment, she thought her right wing would fold again, but it held, and she swooped out of the dive to land on a nearby cloud. She smiled as she fluttered to a stop. Progress.

“All right,” she said to the three pegasi who shortly joined her. “Hope you all got a good look, because it's your turn to practice.”

Stratus nodded. “Lengthen the body to reduce resistance. Angle your hooves to cut through the air,” he said.

Dash nodded. “That technique is hard on the body, so use it well,” she said. “Now, back up to that cloud. I want ten reps from each of you, one at a time so I can see what you're doing wrong. Go!” The three leaped into the air and raced back to their starting point. Soon, they were dots in the sky.

Another week passed, and Dash knew she wasn't going to make it.

She was still making progress, no doubt. In fact, she planned to visit the therapist again to see about expanding her exercise options. Her turns were sharper, her speed improved, and now her Rainboom Squad had to work hard to finish their warm-ups before she did.

Still, that breaking point—the gateway to the Rainboom—eluded her. It wasn't the speed she worried about. It was the recovery. Pulling out of a dive that steep and fast... well, as she drilled into every cadet's head, if you can't do it safely, you shouldn't be doing it at all.

At the end of the second week, Dash had decided to break the news to Fluttershy. It was her weekend off, and she planned to visit Ponyville anyway. A part of her hated to admit defeat, but she consoled herself with the knowledge that she had given it her best effort. And, hey, this didn't have to be the end for Cloudwing, either. Dash felt confident the filly would enjoy a tour of the Wonderbolts Academy, maybe even flying with the team. There were plenty of options for a pony who loved to fly.

“Don't do anything dumb while I'm gone,” Dash told her team as she prepared to fly out. They were getting ready to head home to Cloudsdale for a well-earned weekend of rest.

“Take care, coach,” Skypuff said. “Be sure to give those old wings a rest.”

“And don't forget your grandma exercises,” Gale added.

“Yeah, yeah.” Dash smiled, in spite of herself. Sometimes, the trash talk was the only thing that got her out of bed in the morning.

She arrived in Ponyville in the early afternoon. The weather crews waved at her as she flew by, and she waved back. She stopped by Sugarcube Corner for a late lunch, and to catch up with Pinkie Pie. Next, she visited Carousel Boutique to see about getting her old flight suit patched. Rarity was more than happy to accommodate her, and promised the patch would be done by the morning. She decided to take a short detour to Sweet Apple Acres on her way to Fluttershy's cottage, where Applejack talked her into a hoof-wrestling match for old time's sake. She finally arrived at the cottage as the evening sky turned orange, feeling physically worn-out but mentally refreshed.

The cottage looked the same on the outside, but inside, things had changed. With the success of Fluttershy's animal sanctuary, most of her animal patients were able to stay there for treatment, recovery, and relaxation. The extra space was taken up with a half-dozen or so projects Fluttershy had in the works. It took Rainbow Dash a moment to find a place to put her saddlebags when Fluttershy welcomed her in.

“I'm sorry about the mess,” Fluttershy said as Rainbow Dash squeezed herself into a chair flanked by two large boxes. “Those are the new woodcarvings for the schoolhouse,” she explained. “They just came in from Trottingham today, and I didn't have anywhere else to put them.”

“Don't worry about it,” Dash said. “Any time with a friend is fine with me.”

Fluttershy smiled, then got her a drink. “So,” Dash started, “how's the bird sanctuary coming along?”

“Very well.” Fluttershy's grin warmed Dash's heart. “We've just started construction, and it should be done by the end of the month. Speaking of which...”

Dash tried to keep her smile on, but she knew it wasn't very convincing. “Yeah. I've been working my best, but...”

Fluttershy nodded. “You don't have to apologize. I always knew it was a long shot.” She took a sip of her tea. “I'll write to them in the morning. I'm sure we'll be able to come up with another wish that works.”

Dash's heart sank nonetheless. “I hate to let her down,” she said. “I can probably do some other stunts, if she wants. Or give a tour, or put on a show, or...” Now that she said them out loud, all of her suggestions seemed inadequate.

If Fluttershy agreed, she didn't let it show. “I know you'll do anything you can,” she said with a smile.

“This won't mess up the whole program, will it?”

“Oh, no. I have plenty of other applicants,” Fluttershy answered. “I'll look through them tomorrow and let Twilight know we're changing plans.”

Just then, somepony knocked on the door. Fluttershy set her tea down carefully. “It's probably a late delivery. I get a lot of those,” she said. Sure enough, the mail pony stood outside with an envelope. Fluttershy thanked her and returned to her seat.

“Who's it from?” Dash asked.

Fluttershy looked at the envelope and frowned. “It's from Cloudwing.” She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. As she read, her eyes squinted, and then went wide, ending with a small gasp.

Dash's heart raced. “What's wrong? Is Cloudwing okay?”

Fluttershy's chest heaved with each quick breath. “She heard you'll be doing a Sonic Rainboom for her,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “She's never been so excited in her life.”

Grounded

“ALL RIGHT, WHICH ONE OF YOU BONEHEADS BLABBED?”

The Rainboom Squad stood in wide-eyed silence as Dash screamed. Stratus opened his mouth tentatively. “Ma'am?”

“One of you told a little filly from Cloudsdale that I'd be doing a Sonic Rainboom for her,” Dash shouted. “Now, fess up. Who blabbed?”

This was certainly not how they expected to spend their morning, but Dash had been planning this confrontation all weekend. She didn't have anything else to do, other than exercise and try to get in some flying. Fluttershy stood nearby in silence.

The three pegasi looked at each other, still confused. “Ma'am, none of us could have said anything,” Skypuff said. “You never said anything about doing a Sonic Rainboom.”

Dash groaned and started to pace. “Well, somepony did,” she said. “I bet one of you figured out why I've been pushing myself so hard, and couldn't wait to break the news to Cloudwing.”

“Who's Cloudwing?” Gale asked.

“Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said softly, “maybe I should take it from here.” Dash nodded and stepped to the side, glowering at her team while Fluttershy spoke. “A little filly from Cloudsdale wrote to me a while ago, asking if Rainbow Dash could perform a Sonic Rainboom for her. Dash said she'd give it a try, but we decided it wasn't really feasible. I was going to suggest a different wish, but-”

“Except somepony told her I would, and now I'm stuck,” Dash growled.

A flash of realization came to Stratus's face. “Oh,” he gasped. “Uh...”

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. “Go on.”

“Well... I was talking with my folks about how you've been teaching us to do the Rainboom,” he said. “They had some friends over, and they had a filly with them.”

Fluttershy pulled Cloudwing's photo from her file. “Did she look like this?”

Stratus's wings drooped as he looked at the photo. “Yeah. That's her. I swear, I didn't say you were doing a Rainboom, just that you were showing us how.” He put a hoof to his face. “That explains why she was so excited about it. I'm so sorry, I didn't know she'd take it the wrong way.”

“Yeah, well, now I have two weeks to figure out how to pull off a Rainboom without breaking my wings in half!” Dash yelled.

Skypuff stepped between Dash and Stratus. “It was an honest mistake, ma'am,” she said.

“I'm sure we can figure out a solution,” Gale added. “I have a good feeling about our chances. If we work hard the next couple weeks, I'm sure one of us will—”

“You don't understand.” Dash covered her head with her forelegs. “She wants me to do it. I don't know why, but it has to be me.”

The trio exchanged glances. “Ma'am, no offense, but that might kill you,” Skypuff said.

Rainbow Dash couldn't answer. Her rage was giving way to despair. “Now, there's no reason to panic,” Fluttershy said. “I'll go visit Cloudwing and explain that it was a misunderstanding.”

“No.” Dash picked herself up and faced the four staring ponies. “I can't let you do that. This kid needs me. I don't have to know why.” She took a deep breath. “Two weeks. I'll figure it out.”

“Training with us is a good start,” Gale suggested. “You're already doing that, and we'll have your back if something goes wrong.”

“I can help you with the recovery. I know that's the hardest part for you,” Stratus volunteered. Dash wanted to be mad at him, but she didn't have the heart. Skypuff was right. It was an honest mistake.

Fluttershy walked over and put a hoof on Dash's shoulder. “I know this means a lot to you,” she said, “but, please, don't make any rash decisions. I don't want to hear that one of my best friends hurt themselves for my initiative.”

“You won't, Fluttershy,” Dash said, despair making way for resolve. “You won't.”

“Absolutely not.”

Rainbow Dash and the Rainboom Squad stood across from Commander Winter Gust. His desk was meticulously organized, and his gaze was stern. “I'm not signing off on this,” he repeated. “Frankly, I'm shocked you're even asking.”

“I don't think it's so far-fetched, sir,” Gale spoke up. “Coach's flying has really improved over the last couple weeks. All we need is some space and time. We won't get in the way of regular practice.”

“This isn't about resources,” Winter Gust said. “Only two weeks ago, you just about ate the pavement on my runway with a reckless stunt. You really expect me to let you, a pegasus well past her prime, attempt a Sonic Rainboom after that?”

“This isn't about me,” Rainbow Dash said. “This is a kid's dream we're talking about.”

“A kid's dream isn't worth the risk,” Winter Gust said. “I understand your predicament, but I won't have a careless accident—or worse—on my hooves.” He gave Dash a pitying look. “I know this means a lot to you, coach, but you know better than anypony why I have to say no.”

Rainbow Dash hung her head. “It's not safe,” she mumbled. “But I'll have my team with me. They'll make sure nothing goes wrong.”

“It's true, sir,” said Skypuff. “We'll be with her every wingbeat.”

“Your loyalty is admirable, but my decision stands,” Winter Gust said. “I'm really sorry, coach. My answer is no.”

The four left his office in low spirits. “Thanks for sticking up for me,” Dash said.

“You sound like you’re giving up,” Gale observed. “That’s not the living legend I know.”

Dash let out a snort. “If only the commander would accept ‘living legend’ as a reason to change his mind.”

“The commander controls our training and the facilities. He doesn’t control you,” Skypuff said.

“And he doesn’t control what we do in our spare time,” Stratus added.

Dash’s mind filled in the gaps of what they were trying to tell her. “He’ll be furious if he finds out,” she said. “It could cost you your places on the team. I can’t ask you to do that for me.”

“Then don’t ask,” Gale said with a smile. “We’ll meet in the cloud fields after dinner.” He turned to his teammates. “For now, we should get back to training. I’m sure coach has a lot of Rainboom-related tips to give us.”

Dash couldn’t help but grin. There was a certain thrill she always felt stepping just over the line. “Right. We have a lot of lost time to make up. Let’s go!”

The hours flew by quickly, and in the evening sun, Dash and the Rainboom Squad met in the cloud fields. It was an area filled with subpar clouds from the weather factories, which meant accepting a certain level of atmospheric unpredictability. It also provided ample cover from the Academy, so it was their best option for covert senior citizen Rainboom training.

“Let’s work on your recovery,” Stratus said as the four found a stable cloud to stand on. “Skypuff will guide you in a dive. Your job is to stick to her tail like stink on a diamond dog.”

Rainbow Dash ignored the repugnant comparison and nodded. “Don’t take it easy on me,” she said. “I only have two weeks to figure this out.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, coach,” said Gale with a mischievous grin. “Consider it payback for all those extra wing-ups.”

“Here we go,” Skypuff said. “Diving in three, two, one…”

Skypuff kicked off. Dash followed closely behind. She gave the younger mare a little space in case something went wrong, but not much, as Dash had no intention of letting anything go wrong. Dash kept Skypuff’s whipping tail in the center of her vision and watched her wings closely. She’d need to react fast to keep up.

A whoosh, and Skypuff’s wings flared. Dash mimicked the movement, straining against the wind. Her wing joints screamed in protest, but she held on, leveling off just a few trots below Skypuff, who had turned back to see how she fared.

“Not bad,” Skypuff said.

Not great, either. “Let’s do it again,” she said.

The two returned to their starting point. “I noticed a little misalignment in your secondary flight feathers,” Stratus said. “Get those in line, and you should be able to recover more quickly.”

Dash nodded. “Got it. Let’s go again.”

Again they dove, and once again Dash kept on Skypuff’s tail. This time, she was barely an inch below. She grinned. Grandma exercise has nothing on this.

Gale and Stratus were quick to compliment her when she and Skypuff returned. “You’re a quick learner,” Stratus said.

“Nah, just remembering my old tricks.” She stretched her wings, which were still stung a little from the last dive. “We should probably work on speed a little before we lose daylight.”

“Only if you’re feeling up to it,” Gale said. “You won’t be doing any Rainbooms on an injured wing.”

“Just a little practice,” Dash said. “I’m not going to bust out a Rainboom tonight.”

Gale nodded. “All right. Well, speed is a combination of wing power and form—not that I have to tell you that,” he added quickly.

Dash shrugged. “Never hurts to review the basics.”

“Uh huh. Let’s take a fly around the cloud fields and make sure your form’s still good. Then, we can focus on wing power.”

Dash nodded. “Solid plan, kid. Let’s give it a shot.”

Gale followed Rainbow Dash's pace as they wove through the clouds. Rainbow Dash kept an eye out for the clouds with dangerous defects—spontaneous lightning, high density, and the like. She did get too close to a windwarper once—clouds that alter windflow—but thanks to her years as a weatherpony, she recovered almost immediately. Gale, however, was caught off-guard and thrown into an excessively sticky cloud.

Dash couldn't help but laugh as Gale picked bits of cloud from his wings. “Gotta keep a sharp eye out in the cloud fields,” she said.

Gale rolled his eyes and grinned. “No substitute for decades of experience,” he answered. “Your form looks good. Let's pick up the pace.”

Rainbow Dash squinted her eyes. Speed was always her favorite aspect of flying. Her wings pumped harder, and soon her signature rainbow trail followed her through the cloud fields. “Not bad,” Gale said, keeping pace easily.

“You're not holding back on me, are you?” Dash asked. “Come on. This old race pony still has some fight left.”

Gale picked up the pace. Rainbow Dash fell behind him and beat her wings furiously to catch up. Her wings strained against the wind as they whipped past Skypuff and Stratus, who cheered them on. Slowly, the gap began to close. Dash focused all her attention on Gale. Her lungs burned. Her wingtips started to feel numb. She refused to slow. If she could catch him, she had a good shot at a Rainboom.

“Gaah!” Suddenly, her wing cramped—her left one this time. She reflexively angled herself for the nearest cloud—an over-damp one, by the looks of it—and braced herself for impact. The cloud absorbed most of the crash's force, and before the Rainboom Squad could come to her aid, she was shaking the water out of her feathers and tail.

“I'm fine,” she said before they could ask, stretching out her left wing. “Just a cramp. Nothing to worry about. It's not the first time I've had a crash.” Then she chuckled in spite of herself. “A rainbow crash... heh.”

The three hovering pegasi looked worried anyway. “Coach,” Skypuff started slowly, “are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Of course I'm sure,” she said. “I didn't become commander of the Wonderbolts by giving up just because things got hard. Now, what do I need to fix? Wing angles? Form?”

The three looked at each other. “Nothing,” Skypuff said. “Your technique is perfect.”

“I think I learned a few new tricks just watching you,” Stratus added.

“What you lack is endurance and flexibility,” Gale finished. “There's only so much we can do to help with that before Cloudwing arrives.”

“What you lack,” said a voice from above, “is stealth.”

The four pegasi turned to see Winter Gust hovering above them, a frown on his face. Rainbow Dash leapt forward. “It's not their fault,” she started, but Winter Gust held up a hoof.

“I thought you'd try something like this,” he said as he landed beside them. “That's why I followed you.” He looked around at the four pegasi, who each avoided eye contact. Winter Gust sighed. “I should have known you wouldn't give up just because somepony in a uniform told you no,” he said to Rainbow Dash.

“This was my idea,” Dash said. “If you want to fire me, fine, but don't take this out on them.”

Winter Gust shook his head. “All that means is you would keep trying on your own. I won't let that happen.” To their surprise, he smiled. “If I can't stop you, I might as well do everything I can to help. I'll draw up a schedule tonight.”

Rainbow Dash smiled back at him. “Thanks, Commander.”

He winked. “No problem, coach.”

Plunge

Two days before Cloudwing's scheduled visit, the Academy began to prepare for her arrival.

It started with a visit from her case worker and medical team, who brought with them a detailed list of accommodations Cloudwing would need. A team to ensure gentle weather. An escort to guarantee she wasn't knocked around by a sudden gust, and to catch her if needed. An examination of the performance area to minimize the risk of accidental falls. It took Winter Gust most of the morning to work through the checklist, but nopony complained. It was, after all, an honor to grant the first wish.

Fluttershy arrived mid-day to see how things were progressing, and to deliver the funds Twilight had promised. The safety precautions weren't cheap, after all. Once she'd seen to business, she set out to find Rainbow Dash and learn if Cloudwing's wish would, indeed, be granted.

Dash wasn't hard to find. She practically had her own team of handlers watching as she practiced. Her Rainboom Squad flew alongside her as she ran agility drills, pushing her wings to their limits. A few other Wonderbolts followed along, ready to swoop in if needed. Her physical therapist observed her drills, and assistants made sure her muscles were properly stretched after each run. “Hello,” Fluttershy said as she landed beside the therapist. “How's she doing?”

“Better than expected,” the therapist answered. “It's been a long time since I saw coach this determined.”

“Me too,” Fluttershy replied as Dash and her entourage whizzed by, leaving a blast of air in their wake. “She's certainly improved since I last saw her.”

The therapist nodded. “She’s definitely pushing the limits of what a mare her age can do.”

“Not pushing too hard, I hope.” Fluttershy winced as Dash pulled out of a steep bank. Just watching made her wings hurt. “You’re sure she won’t hurt herself?”

“In this line of work, there’s never a guarantee,” the therapist replied. Rainbow Dash flared her wings and came in for a gentle landing. “All we can do is minimize risk and hope for the best.”

Dash stretched her wings as the Rainboom Squad landed around her, congratulating her on her efforts. Dash tried to brush off the compliments, but her blush betrayed her true feelings. Her crooked smile faded a little when she saw Fluttershy. “Hey,” she said.

“Hello,” Fluttershy answered. “Your performance looked wonderful.”

“Heh. Thanks. I hope it's enough.”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, trying to calm her jitters. “So, have you done a Rainboom yet?”

Dash shook her head. “I'm close. I can feel it. They're not letting me fly tomorrow, but I'll have one more chance to try this afternoon.” She grinned. “Don't sweat it, Fluttershy. I won't leave you or Cloudwing hanging.”

“Well, as long as you're safe,” Fluttershy said.

“Of course!” Dash said with a wink. “Like I said, you don't have anything to worry about.”

Celestia, I hope this works.

The mid-afternoon breeze had settled in, ruffling the feathers on Dash's wings. Her flight suit clung to her body, still as snug as the day she'd hung it up. She worked her way through her stretches, both the familiar ones from her performing days and the new ones mandated by her physical therapist. She flapped her wings a few times, then took a few lazy circles through the sky. The Rainboom Squad was warming up as well. Winter Gust insisted they accompany her during every practice, but especially any time she attempted to pull off a Sonic Rainboom. On the one hoof, it gave them extra practice, and on the second, it gave her another safety net. On the third hoof, though, it was a stark reminder that she was, in a way, being foalsat. Her fourth hoof, however, didn't care about the embarrassment. She accepted the terms out of necessity; it was either that, or give up completely.

She landed on the cloud again and waited for her entourage to join her. Fluttershy and Winter Gust approached her. “How you feeling, coach?” the commander asked.

“I'm feeling good about this one,” Dash answered. Fluttershy was trying to look calm, but Dash knew her too well to be fooled. “I'll get it this time.”

“We're all rooting for you,” Winter Gust said, “but I stand by what I said before. I don't want to have to sideline you when this is over.”

The Rainboom Squad finished their warm-ups and joined them on the cloud. “Don't worry about that, commander,” Gale said. “Coach here is in top condition. She'll pull through.”

“You have my full confidence,” Fluttershy said with a smile. Dash noted the slight quaver in her voice, and the way the corners of her mouth twitched. “Just... be safe.”

“You got it.” Rainbow Dash secured her goggles. This is it. The moment of truth.

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She felt the wind rushing around her and subconsciously noted the subtle shifts and eddies in the current. A lifetime of performing, and it all comes down to this. She peered over the edge. Dive fast. Break through the wall. Get out. It sounded so simple when she put it like that. She shook her left hind leg to stave off the ache. “Diving on three,” she said. “One... two... three!”

The four pegasi sprang from the cloud and dove. Rainbow Dash's wings beat furiously; already she was traveling faster than she had a month ago, when she nearly tore her wing off. She pushed that thought aside. A month's worth of work ensured that wouldn't happen again. The wind rushed by, its roar building with her velocity. The clouds were white blurs as she descended. Only the forms of the three ponies diving with her stayed solid.

They blasted by the first checkpoint, a bright green flag mounted on a cloud. Two more, she thought. It was another of Winter Gust's precautions. If she couldn't pull off a Rainboom by the third flag, she was supposed to abort the maneuver. She gritted her teeth and flapped harder. Her wings began to ache, but she ignored it. She would have a whole day to rest off whatever happened now.

The second flag, a yellow streak out of the corner of her eye. One more. She wasn't going fast enough. She glared at the air in front of her, which seemed so determined to thwart all her effort. She stretched her body and pointed her hooves. Her speed edged closer to that breaking point. She saw the beginnings of the familiar Mach cone forming around her. Come on. She pumped her wings yet harder. Come on!

“Red flag approaching,” Gale shouted. “It's now or never, coach!”

She saw it in the distance, nearing far too quickly. She stretched her body so far, she thought her spine might snap. Her forelegs strained under the stress of maintaining her hoof form. Her wings pumped. Her lungs heaved. The Mach cone intensified, but not enough. The red flag blew by. The last checkpoint—her last chance, gone.

“That's it,” Skypuff said. “Pull up, coach.”

Dash ignored her and pumped even harder. Everything was a blur now, as the wind whipped streams of water from her eyes. “It's over, coach,” Stratus said. He sounded more distant than before, but Dash didn't dare turn to look. The edges of her vision began to fade to black as the ground rushed up to meet her. She was there. She was right there. If only she could find a little more strength, a little less resistance.

“Coach! Pull up, now!”

Panic rose in Gale's distant voice, and still she flew down, down, ignoring the pain, the blindness, the screaming in her heart and body. She was sure Fluttershy was having a heart attack, and Winter Gust was getting ready to fire her for good. Come on... come on... She forced Cloudwing's face to the front of her mind, her smile, the shimmer of mist from her signature trick. Blackness closed in around her. Come on!

Her lungs gave out. Her wingbeats slowed. The Mach cone dissipated. She squeezed her eyes shut and, at last, flared her wings.

The force of the curve popped several things deep within her body, but she pushed through the pain and redirected her momentum into a steep climb. She shot past Gale, Skypuff, and Stratus, who were still diving desperately to reach her. She punched through a cloud as gravity slowed her to a stop. For a moment, she hung in the air, wings still, chest heaving, tears running town her face. In the distance, she could see Ponyville, and beyond that, Canterlot Castle glittering in the sunset. It was the kind of view that made every flight worthwhile.

Cloudwing...

Gravity grasped her at last, and she fell, back-first, onto a cloud. She lay there, eyes closed, until the Rainboom Squad caught up. She heard their panting, but none of them said a word. None of them had the heart.

The room was silent. Rainbow Dash sat at one end of the table, her goggles still resting against her forehead. Stratus and Skypuff sat to her right, and Gale to her left. None of them had spoken during the flight back to the Academy. Winter Gust sat at the other end, waiting to hear the field medic's verdict. Fluttershy sat beside him, quietly hyperventilating.

Dash's medical team placed ice and heat packs on her wings at alternating intervals. She hardly felt them. A strange numbness had settled over her body and mind, the kind of numbness that left her feeling hollow. She replayed the attempt over and over, stretching each moment into an eternity, searching for something she could have done differently, something to take the blame for her failure. That would have been bearable. But she found nothing, and so nothingness gnawed at her soul.

The medic finished his examination and broke the silence. “She's certainly strained every muscle in her body, but she suffered no serious injuries,” he said. To Dash, he added, “You won't be racing any time soon, and you certainly won't be doing stunts, but your daily mobility shouldn't be severely affected.” He began to pack up his things. “Let me know if anything feels off over the next few days,” he said. “We'll want to make sure nothing else surfaces.”

“Thank you,” Winter Gust said. The medic exited the room, as did his team. The commander took a deep breath. “Rainbow Dash,” he said. Dash was too busy staring at the table to respond. “What you did was reckless and dangerous,” he continued. “If it were anypony else, I’d have you removed from the Academy immediately, but frankly, I don’t think I even have it in me to yell at you about this.”

“Well, I do!” Fluttershy spluttered, slamming a hoof on the table. Dash winced at the sound. “Do you have any idea what you put me through today? How do you think I could live with myself if my best friend got herself killed for my idea?”

Dash closed her eyes and sank lower into her chair. “She just wanted to help,” Gale said in her defense.

“I know what she wanted to do,” Fluttershy snapped. “I told her from the start her safety was more important. That we’d find another way to help Cloudwing.” Her voice cracked. “Why did you do it, Rainbow Dash? Why didn’t you stop?”

Rainbow Dash sucked in a deep breath. When she spoke, it was a miserable whisper. “I wanted to make a kid happy. And maybe I wanted to prove to myself that I could still do it, too. I’m sorry I scared you.”

There was a pause, and the Dash heard Fluttershy sit down. “I'm just as much to blame," she said softly. "I should have told Cloudwing you couldn't do it before things got this far out of hoof.” She sighed deeply. “I'm sorry.”

“You gave it your best. Nopony can say otherwise,” Winter Gust said. The others muttered in agreement. “Now, that doesn’t change the fact that Cloudwing will be here in two days. What are we going to do?”

Dash didn’t listen as the others discussed contingency plans. Whatever they were, she knew she wouldn’t have much of a part to play. She looked out a window and saw Canterlot’s lights glowing in the distance. An idea took root in her mind, and she grasped it like it was her last lifeline. In a way, it was.

There was one more thing to try. It was crazy, but after everything else, it seemed like the most sane idea she’d had in a while. It’s time to pay Twilight a visit.

A Touch of Magic

Nopony argued when Rainbow Dash announced she’d be leaving for the day. She was scheduled to rest anyway, and the flight to Canterlot was an easy one. She made sure to tell Fluttershy where she was going; she’d caused her enough anxiety already. The Rainboom Squad paused their practicing to see her off.

“Have a good flight, coach,” Stratus said. “We’ll be sure to train hard while you’re gone.”

“I should be back by tonight,” Dash answered. “Thank you. For everything. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Skypuff said. “And don’t worry about Cloudwing. I’m sure she’ll have a great time.”

Dash forced a quick smile before taking off. She didn’t want to think about Cloudwing right now, even though she was the reason Dash was making this trip in the first place. She occupied her attention by finding the easiest course to Canterlot. Her entire body still ached, but her experience was more than enough to compensate. She easily found enough thermal air currents to stay aloft without too much flapping, and she made sure to glide through the fastest slipstreams. By midmorning, she landed on Canterlot’s cobbled streets and stretched out her wings. She couldn’t help but frown at just how much they hurt.

She decided to walk her way to the castle to save her strength. The city was up to its usual bustle. Several ponies recognized her and waved as she passed. Dash returned the favor with a smile.

The crowds thinned as she approached the castle. The guards let her through without question. As she walked the grounds, she was struck with memories of the times she had spent here—at the Grand Galloping Gala, chasing Discord’s riddles, defeating Queen Chrysalis, Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding and performing the Rainboom…

Remembering the old days was bittersweet, especially after her failure the day before. As she made her way toward the throne room, a part of her longed to go back. Despite the multiple world-ending threats she’d helped to defeat, it had largely been a simpler time, back when she was a young weatherpony with nothing but grit and a dream to her name. Sometimes it felt like the time for dreams had come and passed, and though she’d seized every moment, she found herself wishing for a few more.

She paused at the throne room doors. Beyond, she knew, waited Twilight, and her last, thin hope. She wasn’t worried that Twilight would refuse, but she still felt nervous all the same. What if she did? Or what if she couldn’t do what Dash needed? She took a deep breath, then pushed open the doors. Now was not the time for doubt.

Twilight sat on the throne, reading letters. Her ethereal mane floated in an unseen wind, and Dash was reminded of all the times she had seen Princess Celestia sitting there, waiting to tell them about the latest enemy for them to face. Twilight looked up as Dash entered. Her face broke into a wide smile. “Rainbow Dash! It’s great to see you!”

“Hey, Twi!” Dash’s joy was genuine. “You keeping busy?”

Twilight laughed. “Some days I can hardly find a moment to myself. What about you? How are things at the Academy?”

“They’re great,” Dash answered. “Always a new group of knuckleheads to straighten out.”

“Well, you’d know a thing or two about that, I suppose.”

Dash laughed. “Plenty of experience.”

Twilight tucked away her correspondence and walked across the room. “I heard the big news,” she said. “Fluttershy was so happy you agreed to help her with the One Wish Initiative. I assume you’re ready for tomorrow?”

Rainbow Dash let out a long sigh. Twilight understood at once. “I gave it my best,” Dash said. “I was really close, but… it wasn’t enough.”

“Rainbow Dash, I’m so sorry,” Twilight said. “I can’t imagine what that was like.”

“Eh. Soul-crushing. Heart-breaking.” Dash chuckled. “Getting old doesn’t have to be awful, but it is right now.”

Twilight turned toward a nearby window that faced the Academy. “What’s the plan for that filly? Cloudwing, right?”

Dash nodded. “I’m not sure. Probably a private show, a tour of the Academy, that kind of thing.”

Twilight watched Dash’s face for a moment. “You don’t think that’s good enough,” she said.

“I mean, the kid won’t be able to fly in a year. We do tours and shows all the time. She deserves something special.” Dash stared at the floor, rubbing her forelegs together. “I really wanted to be able to give her that.”

“You’ve given her your best, haven’t you?”

“The best I have now.” Dash took a breath and faced her friend. “What she needs is the best I used to give—that I’m too old to give now. That’s why I’m here.” She steadied herself before continuing. “I want you to make me young again.”

Twilight’s expressionless face was not what Rainbow Dash had hoped to see. “It doesn’t have to be permanent,” she added quickly. “Just for tomorrow. If I had my old strength back, I could do the Rainboom, just like she wants.”

Twilight's gaze returned to the window. Dash moved to the side, trying to stay in her line of sight. “If you can’t do that, then maybe a strength spell? Or a speed spell?” Twilight’s continued silence only made Dash’s fear grow. “Or, okay, hear me out. What if you—or somepony else, it doesn’t matter—what if you made it look like I did a Rainboom? You have a spell for that, right?”

Twilight held up a hoof. Rainbow Dash’s heart was racing. “You gotta have something,” she said quietly. “I’ll take anything, so long as Cloudwing gets her wish.”

Twilight smiled at her. “This really does mean a lot to you,” she said. Dash nodded. “I can tell you it means a lot to Cloudwing, too. I do have spells that could help you, but first, let me ask you this.”

Rainbow Dash hadn’t expected this response, but she nodded eagerly. “Anything.”

“Why do you think Cloudwing asked for you, specifically?”

It was a question Dash had avoided—not that she feared the answer, it just didn’t seem to matter. “I don’t know,” she said. “She just wants me to do it. Isn’t that enough?”

Twilight walked back toward the throne, gesturing for Rainbow Dash to follow. “I know that’s enough to motivate you. Like you told me when we first met, you never leave a pony hanging. However, I think in this case, you deserve to know. Then, you’ll understand why I have to refuse.”

Rainbow Dash’s heart sank, but she resisted the urge to protest. Twilight retrieved a folder from a bookshelf and opened it on a table. Dash recognized it as Cloudwing’s One Wish file. Twilight sifted through the papers as she spoke. “As part of every application, Fluttershy receives a letter explaining the desired wish, as well as an explanation of why they want that particular wish to be granted. She hopes it will help to come up with alternatives, should the need arise.” Twilight selected a page and placed it in front of Rainbow Dash. It was written in somewhat sloppy but still legible script. Twilight waited in silence while Rainbow Dash read.

Dear One Wish,

My name is Cloudwing. I’m a pegasus pony from Cloudsdale, and I love to fly. But my doctor says I won’t be able to fly for very long. I have witherwing, which makes my wings too weak to work. This is sad for me because I love flying. I won the Best Young Flyer competition three years ago.

I want to keep flying as long as I can, and maybe learn some new tricks. My doctor says that’s not possible because my wings are as strong as an old pony. But I don’t think that means I have to give up flying.

For my wish, I want to see Rainbow Dash do a Sonic Rainboom. Some ponies say that she’s too old to do it anymore. But I think she can, because Rainbow Dash is strong and she doesn’t give up. I want to be like that, too. So if she can still do a Sonic Rainboom, that means I can still do tricks, too. Thank you.

~Cloudwing

Rainbow Dash felt several things at once as she finished the letter. She felt happy that she’d inspired Cloudwing to fight, but sad that she couldn’t live up to her expectation. She was proud of the kid for her spirit, and worried that her fire might fade. Most of all, though, she felt guilty. Cloudwing saw her as a beacon of hope. Tomorrow, that beacon would be snuffed out forever.

“You see now why I can’t help you with magic,” Twilight said. “Her dream isn’t to see a younger you, or an enhanced you, or a fake Rainboom. She wants to see the strength the real you holds. If I use magic to help you, then the Rainboom will be a lie, no matter how real it is.”

Dash nodded. “Yeah. I get it.” She pushed the letter away. “I thought I couldn’t feel any worse about tomorrow. She’ll be crushed when I tell her I can’t do it anymore.”

“She doesn’t have to be,” Twilight said. “You had to give up racing a long time ago, but that didn’t crush your spirit. How did you manage?”

Dash tried to remember that moment. She remembered the announcements, of course, passing the rank of commander to Winter Gust, hanging up her uniform, becoming a coach for the next generation of Wonderbolts. But that wasn’t what Twilight was asking. How did I handle that change?

“You don’t have to tell me right now,” Twilight said. “In fact, you don’t have to tell me at all. Ultimately, Cloudwing isn’t really looking for a Rainboom. She’s looking for something that Rainboom represents. If you can figure out what that is, then I think you’ll know how to help her when the time comes.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I think I get it.” She smiled—a real smile, not the forced ones she’d been giving recently. “Thanks, Twilight. I hope you’ll come see… well, whatever happens tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Twilight said. “After all, what are friends for?”

Shining Rainboom

Cloudwing's hot air balloon arrived bright and early from Cloudsdale. The filly's eyes were wide with wonder as she stepped out of the basket and onto the runway. A few Wonderbolt squadrons were practicing at a distance, careful that their exercises didn't disturb the young pegasus's visit. Her parents followed her out of the balloon.

Fluttershy was the first to greet them, as planned. Winter Gust stood beside her. “Welcome to the Wonderbolts Academy,” she said with a smile. She hoped it didn't look too strained. “How was the trip from Cloudsdale?”

“Smooth sailing,” Cloudwing's father answered. “We can't thank you enough for this. Little Cloudwing's been bouncing off the walls since she heard the news.”

Fluttershy's smile twitched, but she otherwise retained her composure. “I'm sure you have,” she said to the little brown filly.

Cloudwing beamed up at her. The filly didn't seem to notice the metal braces running along her wings as she fluttered into the air. “I can't wait! Where's Rainbow Dash?”

“She'll be along soon,” said Winter Gust. Fluttershy completed a few quick breathing exercises to steady her nerves. “For now, how about a tour of the Academy? Rainbow Dash gave you permission to look at her trophies.”

Couldwing squealed with glee as she followed Winter Gust and his entourage toward the building. Fluttershy let out a long breath. So far, so good.

“Thank you,” Cloudwing's mother said softly. “This means so much to her.”

Fluttershy gulped. It had been decided that she should break the news to her parents first, so they could help when the time came to tell Cloudwing. She had grown comfortable discussing business plans and grants, but this was something else entirely, and she had to fight to keep her natural timidity from overwhelming her. “I know it does,” she said once Cloudwing was comfortably out of earshot. “I'm so happy for you all. There's... a problem, though.” In her pause, the parents' smiles fell, and her heart sank with them. “I'm afraid Rainbow Dash won't be able to perform the Sonic Rainboom after all. Everything looked to be on track, but...”

Her voice lost its strength as Cloudwing's parents frowned at each other. “Is there any chance of rescheduling?” the father asked.

Fluttershy shook her head. “I'm so sorry. I know she has her heart set on a Rainboom, but I'm afraid I just won't be able to deliver on that promise.”

A trio of pegasi landed nearby. Fluttershy recognized them as the squad Rainbow Dash had been training. “Morning,” the biggest one said. “You must be Cloudwing's parents. We've been excited for your visit.”

“Is it true?” the mother asked. “About the Rainboom?”

The three Wonderbolts exchanged glances. “I'm afraid coach—Rainbow Dash, that is—won't be performing a Sonic Rainboom today, but don't let that get your hopes down,” said the mare with a smile. “We've been working on something special for Cloudwing. I think it'll do the trick.”

Cloudwing's parents looked at the Wonderbolts, then at each other. Fluttershy held her breath. “Well, it's not exactly what she asked for,” the mother said at last, “but I know you wouldn't have asked us to come here without a plan.” They smiled. The tension Fluttershy had carried all morning finally melted away. “As long as she's happy, that's all that matters.”

Rainbow Dash paced nervously in her office, which was hard because she didn't have a lot of extra room. She'd seen the balloon land from her window and watched Cloudwing come her way. Take it easy. You got this.

She heard hoofbeats coming down the hall. She took a deep breath. Winter Gust was pointing out some of the banners celebrating the Wonderbolts' many achievements. She took another look at her own trophy case, wondering for an instant if there was one she'd forgotten to polish. Nothing you can do about it now. Just have to roll with it.

The hoofbeats stopped outside her door. “This is Rainbow Dash's office,” Winter Gust's voice said from outside. “She's our head coach, you know. A lot of our best fliers owe her their thanks for their success.”

The door swung open. Cloudwing's mouth fell open when she saw Rainbow Dash standing there in her flight suit. “Hey, kid,” she said. “Heard you were coming to see me.”

Cloudwing squealed and rushed into the room, stopping just short of ramming into Dash's side. “I can't believe it! It's really you!” She looked up at Dash with a beaming smile that Dash tried to return. “Is it true? Are you going to do a Sonic Rainboom?”

“Slow down there, kid,” Dash said with a laugh. “How about you look at my trophies?”

Cloudwing walked over to the display, eyes wide. “There's so many,” she said. “Did you really win all of these?”

“Win, earn, same thing,” Dash answered. “Here's the one from when I won the Best Young Flyers competition. You won that yourself, didn't you?”

“Yeah.” Dash noted the way her smile drooped when she answered. “Yeah, I did. That was a lot of fun.”

“I'm glad to hear it,” Dash said. “And look at this one. That's the first one I got from the Equestrian Grand Prix.”

Cloudwing's excitement had tapered, but her spirits were still high. “What about that one?”

“Oh, that's a medal of honor for saving Equestria from...” She had to pause to read the inscription. “Oh, yeah. That was when King Sombra attacked the Crystal Empire.” She double-checked the date. “The first time. Man, that was a crazy adventure.”

Cloudwing looked up at her. “Which one's your favorite?”

“My favorite?” Dash thought about it for a moment, scanning the shelves. “Hmmm. I think it's that one, right there.”

Cloudwing peered at the marks etched in the plaque. “Equestrian Athletics Hall of Fame,” she read. “Oh! When you were named one of the all-time greatest athletes of Equestria.”

“Take another look, kid,” Dash said. Cloudwing obeyed. “Being named an all-time great athlete was awesome, but that one's for something different.”

“Liftetime Coaching Achievement Award,” Cloudwing read. “What's that?”

“It's for being an awesome coach.”

Cloudwing stared at the plaque. “Huh.”

“Something wrong?”

“I just... I thought you'd pick one you got for, like, actually flying, or something.”

“Now, Cloudwing,” her father started to say, but Rainbow Dash held up a hoof and smiled.

“A long time ago, I definitely would have,” she told the filly, “but when you get as old as me, you start to enjoy other things, too.”

“Like coaching?” Cloudwing pondered out loud. “I dunno. Wouldn't you rather be doing the stunts?”

“Sometimes,” Dash admitted. “Here, let's go outside. I want to show you something.” Cloudwing's mouth opened in a wide grin. She looked at her parents, who watched Dash with some concern. Cloudwing practically hopped down the hall. “You know, when you get older, your body doesn't work as good as it used to,” Dash said as they walked. “Your wings slow down. Your joints don't bend like you want them to. A lot of things are just harder. And when you try to push against those limits, you can really get hurt.” They stepped outside. The day was warming up. The Rainboom Squad stood to the side, waiting for their arrival. In the distance, she saw Twilight landing.

“But not you, right?” Cloudwing said. “You're Rainbow Dash. You can do anything.”

Rainbow Dash looked down at the filly, her overconfident smile, the trusting spark in her eyes. She sat down and looked the filly head-on. “From the moment Fluttershy told me your wish, I wanted to make it come true for you, more than anything else,” she said. “Maybe more than I've ever wanted anything in my whole life. But wanting something, that's not enough to make it come true. It takes hard work, practice, and above all, guts.”

Dash looked out at the training grounds, and the uniformed Wonderbolts running their drills. “I started training the moment I heard your wish. I hoped that with enough determination, I'd be able to get one more Rainboom out of these old wings. But the whole time, I knew there was one thing I couldn't control. Nothing lasts forever. Time goes on. And sometimes, you just run out.”

She looked back down at Cloudwing. Her smile was gone, replaced by an inquisitive frown. “I know I don't need to tell you what that feels like,” Dash said. Cloudwing looked at the braces on her wings and nodded. “You're a great flier,” Dash continued. “When I saw you win the Young Flyers Competition, I could tell it's what you loved more than anything else in the world. That's how I feel, too. But...” She took a deep breath. “I'm afraid my time ran out a long time ago. As much as I want to, I just can't do the Sonic Rainboom any more.”

Cloudwing looked down and squeezed her eyes shut. Little drops of water slipped out from beneath her eyelids. “It's not fair,” Dash said. “Not to you, or me, or anypony. But I want to tell you something, and I want you to listen.” Cloudwing nodded and looked up at her with watery eyes. “I might not be able to fly like I used to, but that doesn't mean I have to give up flying.” She motioned for the Rainboom Squad to step forward. “I want you to meet Gale, Skypuff, and Stratus.” Cloudwing gave them all a weak smile. “I've been teaching them my tricks, and they have a little show they'd like to do for you. Would that be all right?”

Cloudwing nodded. “Yeah. That's okay.”

The Rainboom Squad grinned at each other, then prepared to take off. “Watch closely,” Dash told Cloudwing. Then, to her team, she said, “Taking off on three. One, two, three!”

The trio launched into the air, sending a gust across the training ground. Dash made sure to brace Cloudwing to keep her from falling. The pegasi soared up high, then looped around, creating a three-leafed clover with their contrails. Next, they twisted around each other in a kind of braid, with barely a trot between them. Cloudwing smiled. “They're good.”

“Heh. Just wait. You haven't seen anything yet.”

The three performed tight rolls, then shot back into the sky, higher and higher until they were barely specks. “Did I mention I call them the Rainboom Squad?” Dash whispered in her ear. Cloudwing frowned, then gasped, then stared at the distant pegasi with rapt attention. The three specks slowed, then floated in the distant blue, and then dove. Faster and faster they fell. If Dash squinted, she could make out their furiously beating wings, and the Mach cones forming around them. Come on. Push through. You've got this!

It happened quickly, one right after the other. Gale's cone burst, sending waves of light flying across the sky. Skypuff followed, riding the wave of Gale's boom directly into her own. Last of all, Stratus's cone exploded, and a third Sonic Rainboom blasted across the training grounds—high enough not to harm the filly who was now grinning from ear to ear.

“That was amazing,” she gasped once she'd caught her breath. She looked up at Rainbow Dash with newfound adoration. “You taught them that?”

“Sure did. Like I said, you don't have to give up flying just because you can't fly,” Dash said. “You've heard of Princess Twilight, right?” Cloudwing nodded. “A long time ago, she taught me that knowing stuff is just as important as doing stuff. So even though I can't do the tricks any more, I can still share what I know with others. That's why that trophy is my favorite. It's not just about me—it's about how much I've helped others.”

Dash looked at her team, expecting them to land nearby. To her surprise, however, all three of them pulled out of their dives and shot into the sky once more. They did a long loop, then flew through a passing cloud and angled themselves straight at Dash and Cloudwing. At the last moment, they flared their wings, coming to a dead stop in the air. Water droplets flew off their feathers and fur, and for an instant, each was surrounded by a halo of multicolored light. Dash gasped. So did Cloudwing. When she found her voice, she whispered.

“That's my move.”

The Rainboom Squad fluttered themselves to the ground. Cloudwing's shock turned to ecstasy. “That's my move! You did my move!” She turned to her grinning parents. “Did you see that? They did my move!”

Skypuff stepped forward. “You might not remember this, but I was one of the judges when you won the Best Young Flyers Competition. That finale always stuck in my mind. When I heard you were coming, we decided we had to do it for you.” Skypuff grinned at the wide-mouthed filly. “We're calling it Cloudwing's Shimmer. That all right with you?”

Cloudwing could only nod. “I can't believe it,” she whispered. “The Wonderbolts are doing my moves!”

“It's all thanks to you,” Stratus said. “You showed Skypuff how to do it, and she taught it to us.”

“We know you've been feeling down,” Gale added, “so we wanted you to know that your moves won't be forgotten. Even if you can't perform like you used to, we'll carry on your legacy.” He looked at Rainbow Dash. “Both your legacies.”

Rainbow Dash gave Cloudwing a moment to take it all in. Her parents were crying quietly, grins shining through their tears. Fluttershy wiped her own face as well. Winter Gust gave her a quick salute. Twilight just nodded with a soft smile.

Dash felt a pair of limbs wrap around her foreleg. She looked down into Cloudwing's beaming face. “Well, how about it?” Dash asked. “I know it's not what you wanted, but is it a good substitute?”

Cloudwing nodded. “Thank you. It's everything I hoped for.”