Crushed Dreams and a New Opportunity
Rainbow Dash sobbed into the pillow on her bed in despair. She can’t believe it. After all that she had worked for so long and so hard her dreams of being in the Wonderbolts have been brutally crushed. Her spirit felt broken and her heart was torn in two.
It all started two days ago when Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts officially declared Rainbow to be a part of the team. At first Rainbow Dash was ecstatic that she is finally operating in the main squadron of the team, but things quickly went sour when a runway incursion led to the rainbow-maned pegasus crashing straight into a trash can full of garbage. It was from this point on that the entire squadron started to mock and tease her by calling her Rainbow Crash. It is a horrible nickname because it is what Rainbow was called during her filly days in flight school by bullies after a similar incident occurred.
Rainbow tried everything she could of to stop the Wonderbolts from calling her that terrible nickname, even resorting to imitating her friends and doing a dangerous stunt gone-wrong during a flight show to impress the flying team, but all it did was make things worse and further demoralise the poor pegasus. Once Spitfire and the rest of the Wonderbolts revealed the truth of the nicknaming gimmick being part of a tradition in the team and even mentioning their own personal nicknames things went horribly wrong. Upon hearing this revelation instead of being glad and accepting Rainbow Dash became absolutely furious.
She practically yelled into Spitfire’s face, launching a tirade on how the nickname Rainbow Crash completely crushed her morale and that she blatantly made it clear she hated that word so much she wished it would be erased from anypony’s memory permanently. Rainbow called out the team that after everything that she has ever done for them, from saving them from being flattened to the ground alongside Rarity during the Young Flyer’s Competition a year ago to training hard in the junior academy and proving her worth to even exposing the fraud that was Wind Rider for misleading them on the disappearance of Spitfire, this was how she is repaid; by being made fool out of herself by the very heroes she looked up to.
As a final gesture Rainbow Dash threw her Wonderbolts suit in front of Spitfire and clearly told her that she quits the team for good. Her friends (Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity) all tried to stop and convince her to rethink her decision but Rainbow didn’t listen and just flew back home to her cloudominium, and now it all leads back to her crying on her bed with a broken dream thrown in the trash.
Rainbow wiped the tears off of her eyes. “Why? How could they have done this? After everything I have done to prove that I could join the Wonderbolts and become one the best this is how it ends? With them humiliating me? It’s not fair! It’s not fair…” sobbed the pegasus mare as she stood up from her bed headed downstairs to the kitchen. She needed to eat something after a long day.
Rainbow Dash heated up a frozen pizza in the microwave and poured herself a glass of soda before sitting on her living room couch. She grabbed the remote on the coffee table in front of her and switched the TV on. Maybe watching something on it will clear her sullen mind. She switches the channels until she lands on the Equestrian Sports Network, and today they are showing the WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca live from the NTT IndyCar Series.
Rainbow’s eyes light up slightly at the mention of racing by the broadcasters and decided to watch what will happen. Her patience was rewarded greatly by watching humans race each other around the track for 95 laps in super fast aerodynamic vehicles that can go up to speeds over 250 kmh. The rainbow pegasus mare was intrigued by it all; the strategy in racing, the battles between racing drivers, the thrill of going over 200 on the straight away. Somehow watching all this has managed to reignite the fading spark in Rainbow Dash’s determined fiery spirit. The race came to an end when French driver Simon Pagenaud won the grand prix.
After the race had concluded Rainbow Dash switched the TV off and started thinking. Watching that race had reinvigorated Dash’s drive for competition, but this time she wants to try something different, something new. She wants to race in the IndyCar Series.
For as long as Rainbow Dash can remember since her days as a filly she had the passion to race and compete for glory, and now maybe instead of having to do it in the Wonderbolts she can do it in another team-based series. The racing looked intense but exciting and challenging and the drivers themselves all are proven to be tough opponents on the track, but Rainbow believes she can race alongside them and show she can be a worthy challenger. She just needs to find the right team to race in and be herself in the face of the game.
She stands up and walks up to a nearby Wonderbolts poster by the side of the TV and stares at longingly. It was her long-time dream to join the Wonderbolts since she was a filly, but given just how horrible they have treated her the last two days she wonders if that dream has ever been worth it at all. But now she can move on to a much newer opportunity.
Rainbow Dash’s train of thought is interrupted when a knocking sound reverberated from her front door. She walks up to the door and opens it up to reveal her friends.
“Girls? What are you all doing here?” asked a very surprised Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow is suddenly and unexpectedly pulled into hug by her friend Twilight Sparkle. The pegasus is stunned for 5 seconds before returning the hug to the purple alicorn.
“Oh Rainbow, we were so worried about you.” says the concerned princess.
“Yeah sugarcube. Ya just up and stormed off without listenin’ to us after that huge shouting match against Spitfire.” says Applejack worriedly with her usual southern drawl.
“Darling, you have no idea how much of a fright you gave us after that argument with the Wonderbolts. Why poor Fluttershy was almost scared half to death from your screaming.” proclaimed Rarity as she hugged the butter-yellow pegasus next to her.
“I’m fine Rarity. Dashie? Are doing alright? I see tear stains on your face.” Fluttershy says with worry as she noticed the faint tear tracks on her best friend’s cheeks and bloodshot eyes.
“Oh my gosh Dashie! Are you alright!? Are you okay?! Do you need any help? I can bake you a cake and throw you a party to make you feel be-“ Pinkie Pie’s panicked rant is cut off by Applejack stuffing a hoof into her mouth and the farmer shushing the pink mare.
Rainbow Dash shook the surprise out of her head and wiggled out of Twilight’s hug. “I’m fine girls, I just needed some time alone after my outbursts from earlier today.”
“Ah’ll say. Ya look more tired than one o’ mah chickens after layin’ her eggs.” Applejack puts a comforting hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder to provide her friend some support.
“I didn’t think you would permanently quit the Wonderbolts after the nickname gimmick drove you this low point.” says Rarity.
“But you all know why I hated that nickname! It is what the flight school bullies called me back then and the fact that the Wonderbolts refused to stop calling me that when they didn’t notice my poor morale shows just how much I loathe it. I… I thought that I could be the best of the best in the team after working so hard to get to where I am, but instead I only got a broken dream.” Rainbow Dash sighed sadly as another tear dripped down her face from her emotional rant. “Maybe I was never cut out for being with them after all.”
The other 5 looked at each other in concern before pulling Rainbow Dash into a loving hug.
“You may have given up on the Wonderbolts, but we have not given up on you Rainbow Dash.” reassured Twilight.
“That’s right, ya don’ need those silly old Wonderfrauds from kickin’ ya down, you have us to support you.” Applejack says comfortingly.
“Yeah! Don’t let those meanies’ words get to you. You are stronger than this and we will always be there to encourage you to stand firm and proud.” said Pinkie as she cheered up her friend with her usual happy tone whenever somepony is feeling sad.
Rarity and Fluttershy said nothing, only continuing to hug their polychromatic friend.
“I…I don’t know what to say… You all still believe in me. I-thank you so much everypony.” Rainbow hugged her friends back as tears of happiness flowed down her face after receiving such kind and encouraging words from the others.
After a minute of cuddling the six ponies separate from it and Twilight addresses the elephant in the room. “So what now, Dash? Where will the path you from here? What goals will you pursue now that you won’t be in the Wonderbolts anymore?”
“Yes, where will you go now Rainbow Dash?” asked Fluttershy.
Rainbow Dash already knew what her answer will be. “Girls, I have decided that I will race in the NTT IndyCar Series.”
Pinkie Pie gasped excitedly. “The NTT IndyCar Series?! That sounds like a fun adventure! Why it should be a blast! It uhh… what exactly is the NTT IndyCar Series?” asked the pink party pony, now confused at what exactly it is Rainbow Dash is talking about.
Twilight Sparkle answers that question for all of them. “The NTT IndyCar Series, or just IndyCar, is the highest class of open-wheel racing in the United States. It’s predominant feature is a multi-race calendar spanning across the entire continental United States with human racing drivers all competing against each other to win these races and win the championship. One of the most famous events in IndyCar is the prestigiously renowned Indianapolis 500.”
“Wait. So yer’ sayin’ you want to race in some crazy car competition overseas, am ah hearin’ that right?” asked Applejack inquisitively.
Rainbow Dash nods her head, knowing that her decision is final.
“Good golly girl! Ya sound like yer going to do something crazy. Are ya sure you want to something like this?” Applejack inquired with caution.
“I’m inclined to agree with Applejack on this one. It sounds highly dangerous and the fact that you will be overseas, away from Equestria and your friends just sounds like pure insanity.” Rarity said with the same cautious voice.
“Are you really sure you want to approach this opportunity Rainbow Dash? Because if you do there is no turning back.” says Twilight as she looked into her friend’s magenta-coloured eyes with worry.
Rainbow nods her head. “Twilight, my decision is final. I don’t want to be with the Wonderbolts anymore, I will pursue a different career. One that feels better than the last. I will race in the IndyCar Series and win the championship. I will make history and become the first pony from Equestria to race in the American open-wheel series.”
Twilight looks at Rainbow Dash for a few solid seconds, taking in the answer that her friends gave before hugging her once again.
“If you wish to race overseas and follow your new dreams then I won’t stop you. Isn’t that right girls?” asks Twilight to the others.
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity all look at each other, pondering the weight of Rainbow Dash’s decision before hugging her again as well.
“If ya wish to go racin’ over there in the U.S then I will fully support ya sugarcube.” assured Applejack.
“I’ll support you too darling, if it means making your dreams become a reality.” says Rarity.
“I will as well Dashie. Your dreams mean so much to me as they do for you, and I would be happy to help you reach those goals.” agreed Fluttershy.
“You can do it Rainbow Dash! We all believe in you!” cheered Pinkie.
Rainbow Dash smiled for the first time in 8 hours. She is so glad she has friends like them by her side. She lets go of the hug and holds out her hoof in the air.
“What’s say we all shake on this with a hoofbump? Sound good?” she asked with enthusiasm.
“YEAH!” cheered her friends as they all gave each other a hoofbump and laughed. It looks like Rainbow Dash will have a brighter future after all. This is just the beginning of a wonderful racing career.
Author's Note
So I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter for this story I am creating. It has been on my mind for a long while and I wanted it be shown to everyone.
If you are confused as to how the in this world know about things like cars, motorsports, TV, the United States, etc. Just imagine this Equestria existing on Earth as an island in the Caribbean Islands area. And the only human characters will be the racing drivers, crew members, media personnel, broadcast commentators and any other people of relevance.
Oh and constructive criticism and positive feedback is always helpful. Thank you.
