Prologue - Hero of Ponyville
The sky was perfect. Clear and blue, not a cloud to be seen for miles. Canterlot gleamed like an ivory spike in the distance, it's tower shining in the sun like a star that had escaped into daytime. Rainbow Dash paced nervously, trying not to notice the crowd of ponies who had gathered in the town square.
This was it. Her one chance. After her Sonic Rainboom at the wedding, it was finally happening: She was going to audition for the Wonderbolts. She hadn't been this nervous since the Best Young Flyer competition, but she'd managed to avoid melting into a blitering idiot. Besides, since all of Ponyville had come out to watch her big moment, she had to keep her cool. She had this in the bag. She was Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash.
The Coolest Pony in Ponyville.
With that thought in her head, she looked to the sky and did what she did best: Be Awesome. The oohs and ahhs of the crowd were soon lost in behind the howl of the wind and growing distance. She was betting everything on one move, one moment of perfection. Up and up she climbed until the gathered crowd of ponies was nothing more that a speckling of multi-colored dots far, far below that she only saw when she turned about in a hard turn and began to dive, nose-first, towards the ground.
Between the Young Flyer's Competition and the Royal Wedding, almost everyone in Ponyville had seen her Sonic Rainboom. But they'd never felt it. They'd never been washed in every color of the spectrum and felt the hot wave of glory that was left behind in the wake of Rainbow Dash. That was all about to change.
A ground-zero Sonic Rainboom. If that didn't get the Wonderbolts' attention, nothing would.
Ignoring the pressure of intense speeds and desperate focus, Rainbow focused on the task at hand. This wasn't just for her anymore. This was for everypony in Ponyville. This was for Scootaloo and every member of her fanclub. There was no way she was going to let them down.
Feeling the cone of pressure build around her, she knew she was right there - on the brink, the edge of the rainbow. The ground was rising to meet her at break-neck speeds and even if she did pull it off, she'd have to pull away at the last instant or risk life and limb. Worse than that, she'd look totally lame in front of everyone.
The pressure began to waver and the light spectrum rippled.
One more second.
One more moment.
One more instant.
Then, faster than thought, everything went wrong and Rainbow's mind shattered with pain and shame.
Big Mac had a great view of the take off. He didn't quite understand was the fuss was all about. Rainbow Dash was the best flyer he'd ever seen and there was no doubt to him that she belonged in the Wonderbolts. All the grandstanding and hub-bub in Ponyville didn't mean a whole lot to him, but she was family. Family made sense to Big Macintosh. He watched her disappear into the skies above. An instant later, she reappeared, rocketing towards the crowd like lightning. He knew Applejack and the rest of the family was there, cheering her on. Soarin', Spitfire, and the rest of the Wonderbolts were there too, but they were just watching. Big Mac didn't know what there was to watch. Rainbow Dash would come through, she always did.
He heard Scootaloo's voice at his hoof, "Isn't she the best?!"
"Eeyup."
He stole a glance down at the filly, wearing her Dash-hat and staring wide eyed before turned back to the sky with a smile. In seconds, Rainbow Dash would slam into the ground to the shock and horror of everypony, and Mac could feel the tension in the crowd. He wasn't worried.
Then, in an instant, everything changed. He saw a blur of violet and purple out of the corner of his eye. The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, what was she doing here? Perched like a statue on the roof of Sugar Cube Corner, she was watching Rainbow Dash. Leaping from the precipice of the roof, Mare-Do-Well somersaulted straight towards the flying pony. Her forehooves shot out, catching Rainbow Dash in the ribs and sending her crashing to the ground with a thud and a crack.
The crowd gasped and soon everypony was consumed with panic. Big Mac saw Scootaloo's eyes well up with tears and she cried out for her icon and mentor. Big Mac shoved his way through the crowd and came to the spot where Rainbow Dash lay on the ground in a crumple cyan heap. Her wings were bent in impossible ways and her eyes were closed.
"Is... she..." he heard Scoot whimper.
He leaned down, looking closely at her as the crowd drew in around them. She was still breathing, barely. "Nope," he said simply.
Soon, doctors and nurses rushed her away before the stunned spectators. Stunned, they all watched as the broken hero of Ponyville was rushed to the hospital.
