Blown Away

Twilight Sparkle enjoyed the view below her as she soared over Ponyville. “It really brings up a whole new fascinating perspective,” she remarked.

“Eh, you get used to it,” Rainbow Dash said, lying belly-side up on a cloud. Twilight had asked her to supervise her flight practice.

“Are you even watching?” Twilight asked, coasting in a wide turn to face Rainbow Dash’s cloud.

“Yeah, you’re doing fine,” Rainbow Dash said nonchalantly as she turned the page of her Daring Do book.

“Rainbow, I asked you to supervise me because you’re the best flier I know,” Twilight said, landing on the cloud and pulling Rainbow Dash’s book down, staring her in the eyes. “What if something goes wrong?”

“Relax, Egghead. Flying’s totally safe. As long as you’re talking to me calmly, I know you haven’t fallen to your death yet,” Rainbow Dash turned around and continued reading. “Besides, you’re not even doing anything cool, it’s just slow coasting and wide turns. When you want to show off some real moves, then I’ll watch.”

“I’m just getting the hang of things. But I’m pretty sure I could do a loop de loop if that’s too boring for you,” Twilight smiled, taking off.

Rainbow Dash put her book down. “It’s a start,” she said as she watched her friend gaining altitude, ready to flip. “Try not to dive too deep, or you’ll have a hard time pulling back up.”

But her advice reached Twilight too late. The alicorn was losing altitude fast, plummeting towards the roof of a nearby building. “Pull up!” Rainbow Dash called.

“I can’t!” Twilight shouted back. “Rainbow, help!” Rainbow Dash took off, coasting downward at breakneck speed, catching Twilight moments before collision.

“Thanks, I guess I have a lot to work on,” Twilight said, drifting about with shaky wings as Rainbow Dash released her. “I just didn’t know I’d get so dizzy.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I’m probably gonna have to keep a closer eye on you,” she said.

Twilight shrugged. “Why don’t we call it a day? I’ll treat you to cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner for saving my life.”

The two ponies met up with their friends at Sugarcube Corner. “So Rarity, about those outfits I designed while I was a dressmaker… Did you get rid of them all or are there any you didn’t burn? I’d like to know what I did wrong,” Applejack was saying.

“Sorry, all of them went into the bonfire,” Rarity said. “But if you’d really like to know, I still have their image burned into my corneas- Oh Twilight! How was flight training?”

“I’ve… got a long way to go,” Twilight said, sitting down at the table.

“She can do the boring stuff, but she tried to do a loop de loop and almost crashed,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Twilight Sparkle? Is that Princess Twilight Sparkle?” Mr. Cake sprang up from the counter, scrambling over with a tea set. “Would you like some biscuits? Tea? Completely free of charge, of course, your Highness.” He bowed clumsily as his wife hurried over.

“Oh, Twilight, a Princess now! How exciting!” Mrs. Cake said, placing a tray of cupcakes on the table.

“Thanks, but I’d prefer you treat me like you used to… you know, before I became a Princess. This attention kind of makes me feel uncomfortable. Just think of me as Celestia’s student and nothing else, okay?” Twilight beamed.

“You were Celestia’s student?” Mr. Cake asked. “Oh my goodness, Honey!” he said to his wife, “Twilight’s even more important than we realized!” He turned back to Twilight. “Of course, anything for you, Twilight,” he said, bowing and exiting.

“Boy… talk about awkward,” Twilight said nervously. The table was silent for a moment. Twilight shifted her weight from hoof to hoof before taking a bite out of a cupcake.

“Mr. Cake sure is crazy,” Pinkie Pie said, breaking the tension. “Of course you know we still see you as our friend, right?” She hugged Twilight.

“Wings or no wings, you’re still our lovable Egghead,” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Now about those cupcakes you owe me…” Twilight pushed the platter of cupcakes over.

“Oh, Princess Twilight?” Mr. Cake said. “Deeply sorry to interrupt, but there’s a letter for you. It looks important.” He handed a letter over before bowing and retreating. His raised posterior knocked over a vase, spilling flowers and water on the floor.

“You know you don’t have to bow, right?” Twilight Sparkle said, turning her attention back to the letter. It was rather uncommon for her to receive letters through the mail system, as most of them were sent through Spike. “From the Wonderbolts… Dear Princess Sparkle,” she read aloud. “We cordially invite you to attend the Wonderbolts Academy, the best flight school in Equestria. Here you will hone your skills and earn a chance to join the Wonderbolts. I believe you are destined for greatness and this is where you will find it. Sincerely, Spitfire. P.S. Enclosed are a couple goodies to help you make up your mind.”

Mr. Cake returned dragging a large parcel. “Almost… forgot… Twilight’s… letter… came… with… this.” He said between grunts. Twilight walked over and opened it. A flood of Wonderbolts merchandise poured out.

“No way!” Rainbow Dash said, diving into the pile of loot. “There’s an autographed Soarin action figure! And Official Wonderbolts goggles!” She jumped on a pillow with a Wonderbolts design, fishing around a cluster of packing peanuts. “And six tickets to their next show! These have been sold out for weeks!”

“I’m not sure if I should really take them up on this offer,” Twilight said. “Do you think I’m ready for the Academy? Some of the things you described seemed a little difficult.”

“Are you kidding?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Everything in the Wonderbolts Academy is easy peasy. You’ll breeze right through.”

“Well, it’s not really my style to pass up an invitation to an academy,” Twilight mused. “Alright, I’ll go. Maybe I’ll improve my flying there.” She glanced at Rainbow Dash admiring the Wonderbolts Merchandise. “Go ahead and take anything you want. Just promise that you’ll help me out some more.”

Rainbow Dash beamed. “Of course I’ll help! And this time, I promise I won’t even read while I’m doing it. You’ll have my full attention.” She said, sorting through the loot. “Oh, found your pamphlet.” She fished a paper out from under a pile of packing peanuts and handed it to Twilight. “Looks like you're in my group. Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you. This is gonna be so awesome!”