End of the Rainbow

by Dalkrin-the-Wanderer

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Scootaloo, Main 6, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Tank, Sad
Length: 6067

Rainbow suffers a life changing injury. Will her friends be able to keep her from dispair?

What kind of world do we live in when a pony can be on top of the world one moment, ready to achieve her dreams at the cusp of her greatest triumph only to have it all torn away in the span of a single wing beat? Why would a filly deserve such a fate? To all but touch her gilded dream but find it ripped from her grasp as the cruel hand of fate plays a devastating trick? Rainbow Dash is such a filly, and even in her sorrowful and woe-begotten state, her friends try to help her. Will they be enough to fill the gap left both physically and emotionally by the loss of her dearest treasure? Will they be able to save their friend from the all consuming anguish?

Chem my original posting here on DeviantArt. http://bio-rhythmic.deviantart.com/#/d4i2erd Also, please feel free to ignore this particular fic... not to happy with it but I guess I'll keep it going if the reception is good here.

Published 2012-01-14 13:48:21 UTC
Last updated 2012-01-14 13:48:21 UTC

End of the Rainbow Part I

Rainbow Dash stood behind the starting line of the thirty-seventh annual 'Ponyville 300' Pegasus race. Today was the day she was going to win her spot in the Wonderbolts! It was all set. She had a plan. A talent scout was rumored to be in the crowd this year. She would dazzle the scout with her speed and take the cup for herself. The racers this year were lightweights compared to her awesome skill. All except for one. A grey stallion with a black mane and a jet engine for a cutie mark. His name on the roster was Mach Cone and he was a young upstart from Fillydelphia.

Mach Cone held fourth position, two ahead of Dash, who threw the poll wanting to save her strength for the actual race. Everypony knew though, that starting position was unimportant on such a long race. The course began in the Ponyville town square and followed the road towards Sweet Apple Acres. From there it wound a wide arc through Whitetail wood before doubling back and rejoining it's start in Ponyville. While not a difficult course to manage it was less about maneuverability, and more about stamina. All that aside, Dash was out to impress. She had a finale planned that would blow the spectators away (Quite literally, in the case of those who were flying)

As the opening ceremony began, Rainbow readied herself mentally and physically for the grueling three hundred laps. All told it equaled to nearly seven hundred miles. It's the longest race in both the Luna Cup Series and the Celestia Cup Series. She had never won either but she was convinced that this was the year for her. She dominated in points and win ratios this year, with a close second drawn by Mach Cone, who seemed hot on her tail in every event. In the Cloudsdayle Circuit, he was neck and neck with her the entire race and only managed to pull a victory at the last second. This, along with the desire to join the Wonderbolts drove Rainbow to stomp the competition this time.

A trumpet sounded and the spectators roared in anticipation of the coming event. The Ponyville 300 was known on the circuit as 'The Gauntlet' for it's distance. Many Pegasi dropped form the running in the first 200 laps. But not Rainbow Dash, No! She put herself sixth in the poll and waited. A Pegasus carrying a checkered flag in his mouth fluttered into view. The announcer called over the PA.

"RACERS! TAKE YOUR MARK!"

Rainbow Flared her wings and crouched atop the starting cloud. The flag was lifted high in the air.

"GET SET!"

Her muscles bunched and she drew in a breath to add force to her liftoff. The flag bearer hefted the flag in anticipation of the announcers command.

"GO!"

The flag fell. She was off. The adrenalin beginning to flow, as she exhaled and forced her wings into action. Stroke after powerful stroke brought her up to speed and Ponyville zipped past below. This race was not like the Cloudsdayle Circuit or the Appeloosa Trail. She needed a strategy to best this beast of a race. Seven-hundred miles of sky between her and victory, but she didn't need the lead until the very end. The grandstands shot past as the pack spread open and they entered the Sweet Apple Acres straightaway. A good eighth of the track in a straight line. Here is where the positioning for the rest of the lap was mostly decided. Knowing this, Dash took the few seconds afforded to weave past the yellow mare ahead of her, using her slipstream to draft, and ducking beneath with the slingshot of speed given to her. Just a bit at a time. No rush.

Ahead, she saw Mach Cone, eating up the distance to the turn. He looked back, and spotted Dash, behind him. He grinned and turned ahead in time to take the turn easily. Dash just smiled inwardly. He won't be smiling when I wipe the track with his sorry mug, she thought, as the race drug on. Through the Whitetail woods, in its wide arc. Orange flags tied to the trees mark the course and here, judged swarm the woods to discourage cheaters. This was none of Dash's concern as she focused on the task at hoof. The wind whipped through her chromatic mane and her heart soared miles above her as she reveled in the freedom and challenge of flight.

As the pack emptied form the woods, the Pit came into view. Twenty nine tables, one for each of the racers stocked with water and pinion braces for when the wings got sore. Dash could see ponies from further back in the pack dropping down to take advantage of the water early on. This was a strategy that many employed because the first few laps are more or less used to feel out the course. Dash forewent this and pumped her way to closing the gap between her and a purple stallion ahead of her who had jumped ahead in the trees. She didn't need the lead but the further towards the front she placed in each lap, the better her score for the race, so she decided fifth would be acceptable for now.

The Race was in its one hundred and fiftieth lap when the pileup started. Several ponies had overtaken Dash in a gamble for the lead when two clipped a tree and careened into other racers. Quickly, Dash pulled away, having to relinquish another three positions as she righted herself and pulled back with the pack.the two that hit the tree were carted away , but several others rejoined the pack, albeit further in the rear. Rainbow was lagging as the pack emerged again from the trees of Whitetail wood, and she chose to take a quick rest. Down she flew to the pits where her friends were waiting to help.

"You're doing great!" Twilight Sparkle cheered as she levitated a water bottle to Rainbow, who drank gratefully. "Keep your pacing and save your energy for the big finish!"

"Yeah! You're doing super-duper great Dashie," Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her usual cheery attitude as she helped Fluttershy tend to Dash's wings. "Better than great! Amazing! Wonderful! ASTOUNDING! Twilight, What's better than 'astounding'?"

"Thanks guys," Rainbow Dash said, slightly out of breath. "I got this in the bag! Now, back to the race!" Dash's wings swept from her friends hooves as she shot back into the air, refreshed after a drink of cool water. She had a lot of sky to make up but with her friends backing her the whole way, she was sure that the trophy and the spot in the Wonderbolds was hers for the taking. A new wind caught, Dash shot past the rear fliers and quickly was in the lead ten again. These fillies and colts would be more of a challenge to take, but her opportunity was approaching fast.

The next turn brought then onto the straightaway leading to the starting line. With her skillful flying, she would make short work of the fore flyers and take the lead for the last half of the race. That was the plan anyway. The racers before her, and the laps behind her made advancing a trying and difficult task.

Lap two hundred and eighty seven, and Rainbow held third and was fighting off a very persistent orange filly who was trying to overtake her. After a time, the orange filly backed off and Dash redoubled her efforts to break into the lead. Less than fifteen laps to go and she had two ponies between her and the Wonderbolts. That was two too many in dash's mind. The Blue colt ahead of her was a very skilled defensive flier, holding her back and keeping her out of his slipstream. Try as she might, he wouldn't budge. Suddenly, she had an idea. Allowing the distance to widen between them, she flew high and let the orange filly pass her. The blue colt was then stuck trying to shoo off the persistant little mare as Rainbow poured on the speed and ducked around both of them before they knew what happened.

Lap two hundred and ninety eight and Rainbow was finally on top of Mach Cone. Both showing the sure signs of fatigue, but neither lagging or waning in the face of their rival. For half a lap, they flew neck and neck, Rainbow was pushing herself as fast as she dared go before the big finish, but it was still a chore to keep pace with this speed demon beside her. His gunmetal grey coat whipped wildly in the wind as he pushed his wings to their upper limit, trying to pull ahead of the chromatic mare matching him, flap for flap. They rounded the Whitetail bend and hit the lead into the Ponyville straightaway.

Now or never, thought Dash as they rounded the sharpish turn and rocketed towards the little hamlet. All bets are off. With a titanic effort, Dash pushed herself faster and faster. This last lap could only be flawless or her big finish would turn into an even bigger flop. Down the Sweet Apple Straightaway, Into the woods, piking up speed where she could find it and pulling all her energy into every flap. Out of the trees into the lead in, Mach Cone hot on her trail. But even as her rival used her wide slipstream to pull up behind her, his namesake began forming around Rainbow Dash, pulling tighter and tighter, flaring wide as she lost speed around the turn onto the straightaway. She gathered it back quickly and felt the wall begin to give as she pushed, and... ~-BOOOM-~ An explosion of chromatic light filled the air around her as the sound-barrier shattered under her force.

Just as she launched into the Sonic Rainboom, a panicked Mach Cone who had just pulled along side her on borrowed speed flailed and struck her in the flank as the energy of the blast cast him away like a mote of dust. Her vision blurred by speed and all semblance of control lost, she couldn't see the banner poll at the finish as she careened towards it. The crowd gasped as she missed, or seemed to miss rather. All Rainbow knew was that something was terribly wrong as she tail-spun and plummeted towards the ground at supersonic speed. The forces excreted on her body were too much and the rainbow Pegasus winked out of consciousness at the moment of impact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A strange beeping noise permeated the darkness as Rainbow Dash lay, dazed, confused and Alone. She could hear muffled voices but in the darkness there was no way to tell where they came from. She tried to move, but her body refused her commands outright. Some of the voices sounded familiar. Her friends were there. That was good. What were they saying, she wondered as she lay in the oppressive darkness.

What felt like no time at all passed and suddenly, the darkness was gone. It was still dark, but now, less so. Like a veil had been lifted, and with the removal of that veil, came the dull pain all over her body. The beeping was still there too as well as the voices and she could hear them a little better now. Twilight was talking, but she couldn't tell what was being said. Now a voice she doesn't remember. Twilight again. She sounds sad. Why was she sad? Was someone making her cry? Totally not cool! No pony makes her friend cry! Somepony's gonna learn respect, Rainbow Dash style. But first, she needed to open her damn eyes.

Rainbow Dash, through sheer force of will alone began to open her eyes. It was slow, slower than Dash had ever gone before but that was all her body was going to give her, and she was ready to take it. The room around her was a blurry mass for a few moments as her eyes adjusted themselves and focused with geological slowness. She heard a gasp and hurried shuffling, and a distraught looking Twilight Sparkle came into view, tears in her eyes and a half smile on her face.

"T... Twi?" Rainbow said. Her mouth felt like it was packed with wet cement, but she managed. "You OK?"

"I should be asking you that," Twilight said softly. "That was a nasty spill you took."

"some... somepony, makin' ya cry..." Dash tried vainly to push herself up but barely managed to shift a hoof. "I-I'll clock 'em good," threatened Dash, lamely. Twiligt couldn't help but laugh, but it was short lived as Rainbow slipped back into unconsciousness. The next time Dash awoke, she was much more herself and that infuriating beeping had finally shut up. She looked around and saw Applejack and Fluttershy talking with Twilight. When they saw her shift and look at them, they quickly came to her side.

"How ya' feelin' sugarcube?" Applejack asked gently. "Y'all've been out for days now. Took a right nasty hit."

"I'm not even sure what happened, AJ," Dash said, groggily. She vaguely registered that her right shoulder hurt. "All I can remember is losing control and blacking out."

Just then Nurse Redheart walked in and smiled at the group. "Looks like someone's up at long last!" She intoned with a friendly nod to Rainbow Dash. "Have you girls had a chance to fill her in on everything that happened?" She asked less jovially of the other three. They shook their heads. "Oh, then I'll be back in a few." She backed out the door and closed it lightly, having retrieved some medical supplies or other from a cabinet in the room and could be heard trotting away down the hall.

After a brief moment of unsure glances between the three guests, Twilight took a breath and started to speak. "I don't know how to say it, So I'm just gonna say it," she began, but faltered as she tried to find the words. Even rushing in, the news caught in her throat.

"What are you talking about? I've knocked my head more than once!" Dash tapped her head for effect and winced at the contact. "What's the big deal."

"Sugarcube, it aint your head we're talkin' about." Applejack too choked as she was about to say it, whatever 'it' was.

"It's um..." Fluttershy paused, but stammered on. "It's your... uhm... Your..."

"My what?" Dash demanded

"It's your... wi... um..." Fluttershy quelled under Dash's increasingly worried glare.

"My what, Fluttershy? Spit it out!"

"Your wings..." Squeaked Fluttershy finally.

"My wi- What?" Dash let out an incredulous bark of laughter. "My wings are just fine! See?" She went to flair them out in demonstration but only the left extended. "Huh?" She tried again, but only the left responded. "What happened? WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WING?!" Tears were forming in her eyes as she extended and furled her wing, as if by sheer force of will alone, she could bring the missing limb back. She twisted around, trying to look at her back as she quickly slipped into panic.

"Rainbow, you have to calm down! Please" Twilight said urgently, placing a hoof on Rainbow Dash's Shoulder.

"Calm down? You want me to CALM DOWN!? MY BUCKING WING IS MISSING! WHERE DID IT GO?! IT CAN'T BE GONE!" She was crying hysterically now as Nurse Redheart rushed in, a syringe of medicine at the ready. Twilight Shook her head, and Redheart stepped back from the distressed patient, but not by far in case she got out of hand.

"Rainbow please," Twilight pleaded with the hysterical pegasus. "You have to calm down, let us help you." In her weakened state, Rainbow was quickly loosing steam, and was finally hearing Twilight again.

"Twilight, my wing..." she said forlornly to her friend tears pouring down her face. Twilight could have sworn she heard her heart brake when the Pegasus said what she said next. "how can I fly with the Wonderbolts with one wing?" She was weeping openly as Twilight pulled her towards her and held her. Rainbow felt the bandages around her chest and back constricting as she sobbed. "It's not fair..."

"I know, Rainbow," Twilight said gently, stroking the distraught Pegasus's mane. "we're here to help you though. This isn't the worst thing that could have happened."

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow challenged. "What could possibly be worse than loosing a wing? That'd be like you losing your horn!"

"Loosing your life?" Twilight ventured.

"I'd rather be dead." Muttered Rainbow.

"Y'all don't mean that," Applejack stated, nuzzling Rainbow's foreleg that was laying limply on the bed. "We wouldn't know what to do without ya."

Fluttershy settled next to her on the bed. "Yeah! Why, if it weren't for you, I'd still be as shy as I was in flight camp," almost as if to moot her point, she hid her face with a nervous squeak when she saw nurse Redheart smiling at her.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight said. "Just remember, you've got all your friends to help you through this. You don't have face it alone."

Dash was still crying but she seemed less distraught than she had before, and the girls took that as a good sign. They stayed together for a while, not really talking when an orderly poked his head in. "Visiting hours are over girls." he said, and after a round of good byes and promises of further visits from the whole gang, they were ushered out of the hospital, leaving Rainbow Dash alone again.

Hollow. She felt hollow when she realized her wing was gone. Like a great chunk was missing. And it was. She had cried herself out before long and was just staring off at the far wall when she spotted it, sitting on a dresser. The Ponyville 300 trophy, gleaming in the setting sunlight that shone through her one window. She just sat and stared at it for the longest time, her mind not quite taking it in. When it finally clicked, she found herself wondering if it was the most wonderful or the most horrible thing she had ever seen. On the one hoof, she saw a symbol of her final victory, her triumph over her rival and her dreams were reflected in it's silvery surface. On the other, she saw the now unreachable sky and the binding shackles of gravity that now held her, and her dreams were reflected in it's silvery surface.

Dash sighed, and tore her eyes from the mocking trophy, looking instead out her window at the reddening sky. She saw the weather patrol sweeping across the sky, dragging with them the clouds for a nighttime storm. Groaning, she covered her eyes with her pillow and tried to forget the world, or the feeling of emptiness, and especially the now all too obvious sting below her right shoulder where her wing used to connect.

There was a knock at the door and the orderly from before came in. "You have one last visitor," He said. "make it quick."

"Who is it?" Dash asked, moving the pillow from her face, hoping to see pinkie pie, Rarity or even Scootaloo. Anypony, really. Anypony except who was waiting on the other side of that door.

"Says his name is 'Mach Cone'."

End of the Rainbow Part II

End of the Rainbow Part II

"Says his name is 'Mach Cone'."

Rainbow Dash Sat almost bolt upright, throwing the pillow across the room. "The hay does HE want," She spat. Of all the ponies that could have come to see her, why did it have to be him. At this point she would have preferred 'The Great and Powerful Trixie'. She glowered at the door as the orderly looked back out of the room nervously.

"I could send him away," the orderly suggested, preparing to do just that.

With a defeated sigh Rainbow instructed the orderly to let him in. Might as well hear the colt out. She did just whip his tail after all. Maybe he was here to congratulate her on her victory. This somehow didn't seem like something she would welcome from him. When he came inside, Dash was absently picking at the bandages wrapped around her chest and glaring at him. She stopped for a moment, when she saw the flowers gripped in his mouth. Gingerly he set them down on the foot of her bed. For a moment, she just looked at them, then up at The gunmetal grey stallion with the black mane before her.

"What's this?" She asked, nudging the flowers with a hoof. "I don't even know you."

"I know," Mach Cone said quietly. He looked her over and his eyes rested for a moment on her severed wing. She noticed and her expression hardened. "I needed to see if you were alright." He said after a moment. "That was a bad wreck and I can't help but think it was kinda my fault."

"How was it your fault," Rainbow demanded of the grey stallion. "I'm the one who lost control and got chummy with the road."

"Way I see it, Maybe you wouldn't have felt you needed to push yourself if I hadn't decided I needed to show you up." Mach Cone was scuffing the ground guiltily as he spoke. "Maybe you'd still be up there."

"Don't flatter yourself," Rainbow scoffed. "I wasn't trying to show you up! I was... I was gonna ..." Rainbow's haughty demeanor instantly deflated. "I was gonna join the Wonderbolts..." Her whisper was barely audible as she slouched in bed and rested her head on her hooves. If she had any more tears, she would have started crying.

"I should go," Mach Cone said uncertainly.

"Yeah... You should."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A week later, the longest week of the cyan mare's life and Nurse Redheart signed her release forms. Dash was just as low as she was after Mach Cone's visit but she decided to put on a brave face for her friends. Pinkie Pie had predictably decided that a party was in order for the whole town to welcome Rainbow back.

As Rarity and Applejack escorted Rainbow from the Clinic, her mind began to wander. It had been doing that a lot. She thought of her friends. Thank Celestia that they were with her. She didn't think she could do it all alone. She thought of her job. She couldn't work as a weather pony anymore unless she wanted a boring desk Job. Who would want to sit around all day planning the weather? Well, there was Twilight, but she's a pony of a different color altogether. This made rainbow smile a bit as the trio stepped out into the street. Twilight would be just the type to get a kick out of weather-planning. But still, where would she get the bits to support herself? She can't ask her friends, that's out of the question, not only would it be rude, but Rainbow Dash does not take handouts.

What else could she do? What was she good at? For years, ever since flight camp, her whole life was flying. Without that, she was nothing. Less than nothing. Her smile drained away as quickly as it came. Rarity noticed her expression and gave her a gentle smile.

"Rainbow, Darling, you don't have to attend," She said genially. "It's just a party, and I'm sure Pinkie Pie would have no objection to rescheduling or even throwing a private affair with just us."

"Thanks Rare," Rainbow said. "It's no biggie, I'll be fine! Besides, maybe a party's just the thing to take my mind off of... you know..."

"But of course, Dear." Rarity said. "It's at Sugar Cube Corner, and we've made sure that nopony will shout out 'surprise' today."

"Thanks. Don't know if I can handle any surprieses for a while."

"So," Applejack began earnestly. "What're you gonna do now sugarcube? Fer work ah mean."

"Dunno," replied Dash flatly. "Been wondering the same thing myself." She trotted in the amiable quiet granted her by her friends the rest of the way to Sugarcube Corner. The party inside was in full swing as they approached the bakery. Rainbow Dash stopped and turned to Applejack and Rarity. "Thank you guys." She said evenly, and hugged the two.

"Whatever for dear?" Rarity asked, returning the hug gently so as not to disturb the bandaged Pegasus.

"For being here..." Rainbow said, pulling away. "For being my friends and putting up with me."

"Aw, Sugarcube, what're friends fer?" AJ gave a friendly nuzzle and her warm smile. "Now C'mon! Party's a'waitin!"

The party was just what you would expect from the pink party pony. Streamers and cake, balloons and party hats. It was just as innocently juvenile as every one before and it really did help to lift Rainbow's spirits. Friends from all over town wished her well and offered her help getting back on her feet after the accident. Politely but firmly, she declined these offers. Rainbow Dash doesn't take handouts. The party was reaching crescendo when Pinkie Pie interrupted the music and stood on the counter to addressed the general congregation.

"Hey, Everypony enjoyin' the party?" She asked, expecting nothing less than the hoofstomps and cheers she got. "Good, but tonight we have a very super-duper-ultra Special guest that would like to say something!" Pinkie looked over the crowd till she spotted Rainbow Dash and gestured over to her.

"Pinkie, I don't have anything to say..." She said in an urgent rasp as she smiled to the crowd.

"Oh, it's not you, Silly Filly!" Pinkie assured the cyan Pegasus. "It them!"

Just as Pinkie Pie motioned to the kitchen door, it swung in and three Pegasi clad in blue and yellow trotted in. Rainbow Dash fell to her haunches as the Wonderbolts alighted on the Counter beside her and her heart felt like it froze. Spitfire looked down at Rainbow with a smile which quickly faded when she saw the expression on the ex-flier's face. A look of total despair.

"Filly's and Gentlecolts!" Pinkie began with a theatrical flourish. "May I present," She began to falter as she caught onto the mood of her guest of honor. "The Wonder... bolts?" Her usual buoyancy slacked as Rainbow turned and bolted from the shop, the jingle of the door and her receding hoofbeats the only noise in the room.

Home. That's where she needed to go. Home, where a nice soft bed waited for her. Her cloudhouse was hovering on the edge of town casting a shadow over a small patch of trees to one of which it was tethered. Rainbow slid to a halt below her home and stared up at it for a long moment. Slowly she flared her one wing and sighed. It was no good. Not only had she lost her wing, her job and her reason for being, she lost her home too. It just wasn't fair. One freak accident and her whole life is ruined. Tears began to flow unbidden. Not tears of sorrow, but of bitter anger. It was all so good. Life was great, then she had to go and lose a wing.

What did she have left? Her friends, sure, but they can't be with her all the time. It was enough to drive her over the edge. It would have too, but Rainbow Dash was too cool for that kind fo thing. Only lame Ponies went crazy. Standing, with tears still flowing freely, Rainbow approached the tree to which her home was tethered. She was going to take her home back if it bucking killed her. Vainly at first she tried to jump for the lowest branch. There was a time when she could jump clear over Big Mac, but now, with her wing out of the picture, she could barely manage three feet.

She tried a different tack. Running at the tree, she attempted to use her momentum to run up it's side and reach the branch after a couple steps, her grip failed and gravity took over, dragging her roughly down the side of the tree. With a frustrated growl, she threw herself fully into climbing the tree and reaching her home. For ten minutes, she fought for purchase failing more and more spectacularly as she went. Only twice did she manage to take hold of that branch, and both times, that's as far as she ever made it.

She had given in and was mercilessly beating the tree, wailing her rage to the heavens as she did so when Twilight finally located her.

"Rainbow! There you are," She said, rushing to her friend's side. "We've been looking all over town for you." She trotted to a halt beside the livid Pegasus, unsure of what to do in the situation.

"Go away!" Rainbow shouted, not looking at Twilight. "Leave me alone."

"Rainbow, What's the matter?" Twilight slowly approached as Rainbow relented her assult on the tree, and just sat there.

"What's the matter?! WHAT DO YOU THINK!?" Rainbow rounded on Twilight, a look of hatred on her face. Not directed at Twilight, no, just a general malignant hate, spread equally between all things.

Twilight's gaze drifted from Rainbow's hooves, covered as they were in small cuts and abrasions, to the severely batter and beaten tree and up to the cyan Pegasus' home, drifting against it's tether in a general evening breeze. Suddenly, Rainbow was in her embrace, Twilight hugging her tightly. Rainbow's general animosity faded into a gulf of sorrow as her tears of rage became tears of woe. After a while, Twilight led her away from the offending cloud home and to her library where she tucked the Pegasus into her bed. Tired as she was, she still ventured to the linen closet and retrieved a blanket and pillow for herself and deposited them on a couch where she lay for a time, worrying about her friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash awoke some time after midnight that night. It was almost pitch black in the library and she was feeling restless. Out on the balcony she took a seat in the warm air and decided to do some pony watching. Down below, the usually busy town was quiet aside from the few people still enjoying Pinkie's after party. Far be it from Pinkie Pie to let the whole party die out because of Rainbow Dash's grand exit. She felt bad for bolting like that but for all the brave faces she's been putting on, the last thing she needed was the Wonderbolts there to remind her of what was once in her grasp. All things considered, Dash felt a vague sense of pride in herself for how well she was handling the situation. Some decorum was lost with the whole tree climbing incident but it was a private shame, and that was enough consolation for Rainbow.

The evening wore on, maybe an hour further when she spied the rest of her friends leaving Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie waved them all good night saying something about another party soon. Fluttershy broke away from the group and cantered off into the night towards her hut. Rarity and Applejack stood and spoke with one another. Dash couldn't help but overhear.

"Sure was a nice party," Applejack said with little conviction. "Shame about Rainbow and the Wonderbolts."

"I do hope that Twilight was able to find her before too long." Rarity said, as they trotted towards the boutique. "The last thing she needs now is to be alone with herself. Who knows what she could talk herself into."

"Aw, C'mon sugarcube," Applejack chided lightly. "Give our girl more credit than that. She's a smart Filly. Jes' needs ta figure herself out is all."

With a typical dramatic sigh, Rarity carried on. "I suppose you're right, but I worry about her." They reached the botique and Rarity opened the door. "Would you like some tea dear?" She said, standing with the door to her back.

"Nah, I gotta git," Applejack yawned. "Lots a work ta be done, and Big Mac's still outta sorts after missin that tree couple days ago."

"Very well," Rarity stepped through the door and turned to Applejack. "Just remember we're getting together for a dinner tomorrow, the six of us."

"Wouldn't miss it fer nothing."

Rainbow smiled a bit, thinking about how Rarity really did care for her. She'd have to remember to give the alabaster pony a bit hug next time they met up. The smile stuck around this time, as sleep started creeping in on her. Wanting nothing more, Dash simply let it wash over her where she lay. It was warm enough and besides, the weather was supposed to be clear the next three days. She hadn't slept outside in the warm night air since the night before the accident. It was about time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celestia's sun rose over the horizon as morning overtook night. Rainbow awoke groggily as she heard her name being called from nearby. The door to the balcany opened and Twilight trotted through, sighing with relief when she spotted Dash pushing her way to her hooves.

"There you are," Twilight sighed, trotting over to Rainbow. "Thought you'd run off again."

"Nah," Rainbow said with a stifled yawn. "just needed to clear my head. Must have fallen asleep out here." A quikc shake of her head reordered her mane and she breathed in the fresh air. "Time for another day on the ground..."

"Come on," Twilight lead Rainbow back into the library. "You want to actually see all your friends today?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Oh, and sorry about bailing on the party and all that." Rainbow smiled sheepishly at Twilight who nodded. "And could we keep the whole 'Rainbow assaulting a tree' thing to ourselves? Not exactly proud of that."

"Sure thing. Now, let's go see how everypony's doing"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh! You found her!" Rarity squealed, hugging Rainbow Dash around the neck. "How are you feeling dear? Would you like me to do anything for you? Just name it."

Rainbow shook her head and smiled at Rarity, taking the opportunity to hug the mare tightly. "Thank you. You've already done more than I could ever ask of you though."

"Whatever do you mean Rainbow?" Rarity said, taken aback. "I've hardly done a thing since you were released form the hospital, and I never got to come and visit when you were awake."

Rainbow just laughed and hugged her tighter. "Just that you care is enough."

Rarity pulled away from Rainbow, with a tear in her eye and a smile on her face. "So, what is on the schedule for today?" She asked of the two. "Do you have any dinner plans?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow decided that she would take a stroll through Ponyville, maybe catch up with Ditzy who she hadn't seen at the party. Her shoulder was still quite tender and she walked with a limp. Ruefully she regretted the tree fiasco as it only served to exacerbate the injury. With noting but that discomfort to distract her, The colorful mare's mind began to wander.

At first, it was her usual fare. Wondering about the newest race statistics, who was the forerunner for the Luna cup this year. The Wonderbolts' newest recruits and when their next autograph session was to be. It soon gravitated towards that stallion, Mach Cone. She felt bad for sending him off so unceremoniously but now she was wondering what he was doing. It was odd. She only ever met him on the track, never once heard his voice aside from in passing but now he was forefront on her mind. The worst part was she had no idea how she felt about him.

Did she hate him for still being able to fly? Did she appreciate his concern? She wondered where she might be able to find him but before her thoughts could stray anyt further, a soft buzzing caught her attention. It was growing louder and she swiveled her ears attempting to pinpoint its source. Before she got a lock, a young filly's voice pierced the air.

"RAINBOW DAAAAASH!"

Rainbow turned and was cannoned into by an orange and purple ball of fur and feathers that appeared to be sobbing.