A Dashing Tale

The Wonderbolts stepped out from underneath the shade of the royal palace and onto the temporary runway secured to the pure marble steps preceding the palace. It was the biggest day of the year for the Wonderbolts. They had to perform a spectacle to please the sophisticated crowds of Canterlot, most notably Princess Celstia. But this time was different; by royal decree, and for the first time ever, the Wonderbolts were performing to a televised audience as well. For this reason alone, Princess Celstia demanded that the Wolderbolts invent a new signature move, for all the nation to see and remember forever. And the team captain, Spitfire, along her trusted co-captain, Soarin', had been drilling the new signature move into the team. They had taken to it better than Spitfire had expected, and they had plenty of time prior to this day to perfect their new move; a high bomb burst and a long, fast, adrenaline-fuelled nosedive to the ground, pulling up at approximately 2000ft. If they timed it right, the smoke trails would emit right above the crowd's heads. With a nervous confidence, Spitfire gave the order, and the team gathered speed down the runway, and took off in a flawless delta formation.

They had prepared for this. The moment the Wonderbolt's feet left the ground, they were in a cool control. Spitfire decided to start the crowd off with something light; all members of the team did a simultaneous triple aleiron roll, then broke into a double barrel roll. Now, the crowd winner was coming up. This had to be executed flawlessly, otherwise it could end in e,harassment, catastrophe or both. Once Spitfire was satisfied that all of her crew had formed on her wingtips, she gave the nod, and the all split into five different directions.

From here on out, Spitfire was on her own. If she messed up, her and her alone would have to pay the price. After 500ft of horizontal travel, she dived down in a 90 degrees angle, perpendicular to the earth. She had to time her pull out just right. Too soon, and it would look bland. Too late, and well...she didn't want to think about that.

With the ground fast approaching, she positioned her wings, ready to lift at 2000ft. At exactly 2000ft, she motioned her wings to pull up, but nothing happened. With a dreaded look of horror, she had come to terms with one fatal fact; she had exerted too many G's whilst in a dive. She barely had time to register the fact that she was going to smash into the ground had full speed. With the remaining time and strength left in her, she raised her hands in front of her face, blocking her view of the oncoming pain.

And then she saw black.