The blue pegasus turns over on her side in the soft embrace of the cloud. Everything is perfect, perfect like her. The fog of sleep had long since settled over her, clouding her thoughts. Soon, the routine would begin. The voice is already starting to fill her subconscious.
Sleep. Dreams. Not quite conscious, but not quite unconscious. There’s a feeling in the back of your head to remind you that you’re there. You’re in your head. A soft darkness, light reaching into the corners like tiny golden strings holding you up.
“I’m awesome... I’m awesome... I’m sooo awesome...”
The world isn’t in your head, Rainbow Dash. The world is all you. You are the world.
“Of course I can save your pie. I’m the Pie Master! They call me that because of my mastery of pie.”
Your dreams are relenting; they let you do anything you want. You can be whoever you want to be. You do things your way, Rainbow Dash.
“My way or the cloudway, foal!”
The world can barely comprehend you. But there’s no need to feel lonely. You’re an individual. You stand out. The world needs you, but you don’t need the world. Don’t let them hold you back.
“Nothing can stop me! Fastest mare alive!”
Yes! That’s right, Rainbow Dash! How could anything stop you if you can outfly anypony? Think of the things you can do...
“Why of course I’ll accept Captainship of the Wonderbolts. No, please, hold your applause. You made the right choice.”
You can do anything you set your mind to, Rainbow Dash. You want to know why?
“A sonic rainboom isn’t really all that hard. I mean, you just have to be me.”
No one can be you, Rainbow Dash. That’s what makes you special.
“What’s that Scootaloo? No, I can’t teach you to fly as fast as me. I’m way too ahead for you to keep up. I can teach you all the best moves you need to make you the fastest flyer in the world. Other than me, of course.”
But sometimes you fall, don’t you Rainbow Dash? Sometimes you fly too fast. Sometimes you can’t make that extra leap, that extra loop. Sometimes the cloud is just a bit further from you than you remember.
Rainbow Dash shivers in her sleep, even though the cloud is now warm from her body heat. Her eyes twitch nervously under her closed lids.
“The...the contest...I can’t lose...cheer louder! I need to hear your voice!”
Sometimes, the world says you brag a little too much.
“I can beat that mute, tights-wearing jerk. I’m invincible...aren’t I?”
Mare Do Well wasn’t a very good lesson, was she? It eats at you, doesn’t it? To see all your friends so adamantly trying to steal the glory for themselves? After all, they can’t be you, Rainbow Dash. Why should they ever think they measure up to your greatness?
“Why would my friends do that to me? They’re my friends! I thought they cared about me!”
Rainbow shuffles in her sleep, disrupting her fragile cloud and her clouded peace.
That was wrong of them to spoil your fun. What right had they to end something that made you happy? It was wrong, Rainbow Dash.
“Wrong...”
To think they’re your friends. It’s sickening to think they’d turn on you like that.
“It was wrong, but they had my best interests at heart.”
Yes, loyal to a fault aren’t you, Rainbow Dash?
“I’m the Element of Loyalty and nothing can change that!”
The pegasus straightens up, flaring her wings slightly.
Of course. Of course. But you haven’t always shown your loyalty, have you?
“I...I don’t know what you mean...”
You’ve slipped up, Rainbow Dash. You haven’t always been the greatest friend. Remember when you and Applejack had that contest? It wasn’t very fair of you to use your wings in that Iron Pony Competition. You weren’t very loyal to your friend there.
“Oh...well...yeah...I mean...I guess I could have handled that a little better...”
And then when you teased Fluttershy about being afraid of the dragon. You didn’t want her to come with you, did you? Not a very loyal thing to say...
“Okay okay okay! I’m sorry, already!”
Rainbow Dash tosses and turns, threatening to fall off the cloud. Even her wings couldn't save her if she fell.
Shhh, Rainbow Dash. Don’t worry about the past. The past is over. You always catch yourself now. There’s nothing more to fear. Nothing.
“That’s right. I’m the best. I’m awesome...”
That’s right, now dry your tears. Cuddle your cloud. Everything’s going to be alright. Let’s think of the positives, shall we?
“I don’t know if I can after that...”
Don’t speak nonsense, Rainbow Dash. You have ponies for that. Now is your time to shine. You need to shine with the force of ten Rainbow Dashes.
“I can’t--”
Don’t you say that. Don’t you ever say that. There is nothing you can’t do. Now isn’t there anything you can think of that makes you exceptional, different from the herd?
“I’m the fastest flyer in Equestria.”
That’s right, Rainbow Dash. You are. You can fly higher than anypony, anything. You can even do a sonic rainboom. Nopony else can even try to do that. Isn’t that awesome?
Rainbow Dash snuggles deeper into the cloud, looking much more happy and relaxed. In the dozing recesses of her mind, she utters one last thought before falling into a deeper sleep.
“You can never have too much awesome.”
That’s right, Rainbow Dash. Be yourself. Be your dreams, and the world will never take them away.
