Authors Note: This chapter features a special appearance from Captain Alaska's OC, Checkered Flag! :D

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"Ponyville here I come!" Rainbow Dash cheered as she rocketed down from Cloudsdale towards the place that she called home. After a month of living in the sky she couldn't wait to get back home and reunite with her friends and tell them about everything that had happened at the Academy. Well, maybe she'd downplay the parts where her life was in danger, of course.

She wondered what had been going on down there while she'd been training at the Academy. They'd written to her a lot, of course, but they could have secretly gone on some crazy quest and not told her because they didn't want her to feel left out. Rainbow shook it off, knowing that her friends wouldn't keep anything from her.

This was gonna be great! She missed doing stuff with her friends, pulling pranks with Pinkie Pie, flying with Fluttershy (when she had the courage to get her hooves off the ground), reading Daring Do with Twilight, competing with Applejack for the title of Iron Pony and…well, she couldn't really think of anything she and Rarity did together, unless she was being used as a mannequin for one of the white unicorn's latest designs.

She thought of seeing Scootaloo again and recalled when she had first told Scootaloo about going to the boot camp. The poor little filly had been heartbroken.

"When can I see you again?" she had asked with tears in her eyes. Rainbow Dash had pulled her in closer and hugged her little sister tightly.

"I promise that I'll be back every chance I get," she had whispered to the little orange filly as she snivelled into her chest fur. "And when the four months is over I will fly with you every single day to make up for it."

Scootaloo had looked up at Rainbow Dash with eyes bigger than saucers. "But, I'll miss you too much," she said in a voice that almost made Rainbow Dash choke up herself. Rainbow Dash had ruffled the filly's purple mane and draped a wing around her.

"I'll miss you too, Scoots, more than anything. But I'll write to you and the others every day, so in a way you can still talk to me," Rainbow assured her, looking into her glistening purple eyes. Scootaloo had hugged Rainbow Dash again after that and Rainbow remembered wishing that she could take Scootaloo with her. But in the end, she had left for the Academy and Scootaloo had been there with her friends when she took off, waving and wishing her good luck.

Rainbow Dash hoped that the little filly had been okay while she was away and that her absence hadn't distracted her from her crusading with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. She had to make sure that ponies all over Ponyville could see that she had returned to make sure that Scootaloo and her friends could see her no matter where she was. Rainbow Dash could only think of one way she could make that happen.

A Sonic Rainboom of course!

Smiling as the adrenaline pumped through her veins, Rainbow Dash flapped her wings as hard as she could, feeling the pressure building up on her sides immediately. She loved the feel of the wind as it whipped at her face, and the bullet like sound she made as she whizzed downwards through the sky like a rainbow coloured meteorite.

But what she loved best was when the pressure got so hard that for a moment it hurt, because that meant that the Rainboom was about to happen and boy did she love it when it happened.

*BOOM!*

Rainbow Dash whooped with glee as the familiar multi-coloured explosion appeared behind her and an ear shattering boom echoed through the air, surely alerting everypony down there of her arrival. She made a rainbow arc over Ponyville before zipping down and landing outside town hall, greeted by the cheers of the ponies who had seen the Sonic Rainboom.

She hadn't even been on the ground five seconds before-

"RAINBOW DASH!"

Rainbow was knocked to the ground and rolled over and over before finally settling on her back on the cobblestone ground. The world spun around her in a mix of blue, white and…pink!

"Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash reached up and wrapped her hooves around her pink friend's waist, pulling her down and ruffling her poofy mane.

"Noogie fight!" Pinkie Pie returned the ruffle and sprung off Rainbow Dash, helping her up.

"Oh my gosh, Rainbow Dash, I've missed you so much! I know that it's only been a month but it felt like forever! Are they treating you alright at the boot camp, huh? I don't know why they wouldn't or who they are, but if they've upset you at all I'll kick 'em in the shins and-"

"Pinkie!" Rainbow Dash clamped a hoof over Pinkie Pie's muzzle. "I'm fine, okay. Pinkie Promise," she chuckled. Pinkie Pie sighed in relief and hugged Rainbow Dash again.

"Sorry, Dashie, I've just missed you so much it hurts! I made a cupcake for every day you were gone and it's just too many!" she wailed. "Seven cupcakes!"

Rainbow Dash titled her head to the side. "Pinkie Pie, I've been gone more than seven days," she told her livewire of a friend. Pinkie looked off into the distance and squinted.

"Oh…there's a 75% chance that I ate most of the cakes, but it was STILL TOO LONG!" she threw her hooves into the air again. "There's so much catching up to do, Rainbow, so let's go over to Sugarcube Corner, you look like you could use a cake."

"Don't you mean a break?" Rainbow corrected Pinkie Pie, who shook her head.

"No, you could really use a welcome back cake. Or, a cake break, if you prefer," she grinned widely. Rainbow Dash couldn't say no to that. The cakes from Sugarcube Corner were the best!

"Rainbow Dash, you're back!"

Rainbow looked over to the side and saw a familiar butter yellow pegasus rushing over to her. Rainbow threw her hooves to the side and allowed Fluttershy to squeeze her. After a few minutes of hugging, Rainbow Dash looked down at the pink maned mare, who was still hugging her.

"Are ya done yet?" she asked. She could feel Fluttershy shake her head as she squished her tighter.

"Almost," she held on for a few more seconds. "There, all done. Oh, Rainbow Dash, I've missed you so, so, SO much!" she fluttered into the air with excitement.

"Same here, Fluttershy. I've missed having my BPF around," Rainbow Dash was touched to see that the yellow pegasus was so pleased to see her. Fluttershy looked a little confused.

"BPF? What's that?" she asked. Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Best Pegasus Friend, of course," she replied, earning a smile from Fluttershy, who looked honoured to have the title of BPF bestowed upon her. Rainbow Dash became aware of somepony squeeing not to far way. Looking over her shoulder, Rainbow Dash was blinded by something shiny and she shielded her eyes.

"Rainbow Dash, darling, it's been so long!" Rarity's thrilled voice rung out through the blinding light. Rainbow rubbed her eyes and blinked a couple of times. She became aware of Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy rubbing their eyes, too. Rarity was standing before them, wearing a purple dress littered with so many glittery sequins ponies could probably see her from the moon.

"Rarity, I think the day is bright enough without you wearing that," Rainbow joked, squinting. Rarity put a hoof to her chin.

"Well, that does explain why so many ponies looked away from me when I walked down the street. For a minute there I thought they just didn't like it. I guess it could use fewer sequins…oh well, can't get everything right the first time," she looked down at her dress.

"What's with the fancy get up anyway?" Pinkie Pie popped up at Rainbow Dash's side, startling her. Rarity struck a pose at Pinkie Pie's words.

"This is part of my new collection, Spring Sparkles, and seeing as today is the Spring Celebration, it only seems convenient that I should wear it about town. I bet everypony will be wearing one by tonight," she explained. Rainbow Dash looked around and noticed for the first time that the town was decorated with different coloured lights and flowers of practically every kind in honour of the Celebration.

"Well, if the streetlamps suddenly break then they'll surely come in real handy, right, y'all?" a southern accented voice came from the other side of Rainbow Dash. The blue pegasus whipped round and was met by the smirking face of Applejack.

"AJ!" Rainbow Dash launched herself at Applejack, who hugged her back just as fiercely.

"It's good t' have ya back, pardner," Applejack hoof bumped Rainbow Dash and chuckled. "Sure been quieter than usual 'round 'ere since ya left," she commented. Rainbow could understand why; most of the disruptions in Ponyville were caused by her crashing or an explosion from a Sonic Rainboom.

"Well, I'm back for a whole day, so thing will be back to normal for a little while…well, as normal as they get," she added, earning nods of agreement form the ponies around her.

"Oh nonononononnonono!" somepony's panicked voice caused the five friends' heads to turn. A familiar purple alicorn trotted towards them with her nose buried in a scroll, sweat running down her face. Spike was at her side, looking flustered.

"What's the matter, Twi?" Applejack asked, standing to attention. Twilight Sparkle looked up from the list she was reading and addressed all of the ponies with a worried tone.

"I ordered magenta coloured lilies to decorate the castle…" she held up a red lily that she had tucked under one of her wings. "THIS IS CRANBERRY!" she dropped the list and spread her four hooves further apart in a complete panic. Spike buried his face in a claw and grumbled.

"Er…Twilight," Rainbow Dash raised a hoof, finally getting the purple princesses attention. "Hi," she waved. Twilight nodded and floated her list back up with her magic, reading it again.

"Oh, hi, Rainbow Dash," she read the next few lines of her list before gasping and dropping the scroll, which landed on Spike's head. She wrapped Rainbow Dash in her telekinetic magic and floated the blue pegasus over to her. She grabbed Rainbow around her waist and squeezed her. "You're back! You're really back! All my friends are together again! This is so great!"

"Yeah! This is gonna be the bestest day ever!" Pinkie Pie sprung into the air with glee. Rainbow was glad they were all together again, too. They'd been through so much as a group that being apart for so long just felt…unnatural.

"I have to agree with Pinkie Pie, it's absolutely marvellous to have you back, Rainbow Dash. And I do say that the Cloudsdale sunlight had done wonders for your complexion," Rarity agreed, looking closely at Rainbow's fur.

"Um…thanks?" Rainbow Dash examined herself, not exactly sure what state you had to be in to a have a good or bad complexion. Meh, she'd leave stuff in this category to Rarity.

"Aww, this is the sweetest reunion ever!" Pinkie Pie chirped, pulling Rainbow Dash out of Twilight's magic grip. "But not as sweet as the cake I made for Rainbow Dash at Sugarcube Corner. So, less yakkin', more snackin'!" she began springing towards the sweet shop.

"Mmmm, cake sounds lovely. Thanks, Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy licked her lips and followed after the pink earth pony. Twilight rolled up her scroll after Spike gave it back to her and tucked it under her one of her wings, which she had discovered were extremely useful for holding stuff when one's saddlebags had been set on fire by a dragon with irritable bowel syndrome.

"Yeah, I sure could use a snack. I skipped lunch because I had to deal with someone eating another of my castle walls," Twilight glared angrily down at Spike, who folded his arms and scowled.

"Gimme a break, Twilight, it's a palace made of crystals! If you had to get a castle the least you could do is make sure it didn't look like a dragon's greatest dream!" the little purple dragon huffed. Rarity patted Twilights number one assistant on the head.

"Aww, don't feel bad, Spikey-Wikey, I promise I'll get you one of my precious baby blue sapphires when I go back to the boutique later," she assured him, making Spike light up like a candle.

"Thanks, Rarity," he smiled dreamily up at the unicorn of his dreams before following her towards Sugarcube Corner. Applejack patted her tummy.

"Ah sure hope Pinkie has some o' those apple cinnamon cupcakes Ah love so much. Ah'm so hungry Ah could eat a horse…" she became aware of the stares she got from Twilight and Rainbow Dash and grumbled. "Great, now Ah'm a background pony and a cannibal. How low can Ah stoop?" she slumped off after that. Twilight gave Applejack one final cautious glance before gazing warmly at Rainbow Dash.

"It's really great to have you back, Rainbow Dash; we've got so much to talk about. I finally got some new books for the library…I can't believe I'm still replacing all the ones that exploded," she gave a half-hearted chuckle. Rainbow Dash put a wing over Twilight's back and squeezed her.

"You're not still sore about the library, right?" she asked. Twilight shook her head.

"Nah, I'm over it. It was just important to me, that's all," she replied. Rainbow could understand her pain. Well, she'd never had her house explode, but she could basically get how it must suck to lose the place that you had called home for years.

"Well…I'm sure a cupcake could cheer you up. Right? Right? Riiiight?" she poked Twilight in the ribs and the purple alicorn shoved her away.

"Of course. Nothing like Pinkie's cupcakes to cure what ails you," she agreed, walking alongside Rainbow Dash to the store. Rainbow Dash was just so happy to be home, with these friends that she treasured more than anything in the world, and all the cupcakes she could ever want.

And she knew for absolute certain that everything was certainly fine.

---

"So…sparkly!" Pinkie Pie drooled as another firework went off in the sky. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie and the rest of their friends, plus the Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting on a hill watching the firework show as the sky exploded in an array of colours and glitter. They matched Rarity's dresses perfectly.

"Oh, come on, Rainbow Dash, can't you just tell me what the surprise is, already?" Scootaloo pleaded her big sister as she clambered up to sit on her head, her purple tail flopping into Rainbow's eyes.

"Well, if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it, Scoots?" Rainbow Dash looked up at the little orange filly, who let out an irritated sigh. The sound of two ponies arguing snatched their attention away.

"Will ya just leave me alone, cuz? Ah don't need ya tellin' me where the fritters go!" Applejack's voice rung out from her spot beside the food table.

"Well, it's too crowded over there. They should be on the left side o' the table!" Braeburn argued. Rainbow rolled her eyes at the two of them. She didn't know what she preferred more, listening to those two arguing or listening to Braeburn and Soarin bicker. The earth pony had arrived from Appaloosa not too long ago and greeted his family like the most civil of ponies…then ten minutes later he began arguing with Applejack about the catering. Typical.

"Ooh, fritters!" Pinkie Pie suddenly fell down from the sky and grabbed the entire plate of fritters, devouring all of them. She finished munching and turned to the confused faces of the two cousins. "What?" she asked innocently. Applejack sighed and shrugged.

"Well, that's one problem taken care of," she said optimistically, Braeburn nodding in agreement. Rainbow Dash's ears perked up as she heard a familiar whooshing sound overhead.

"Everypony, here's the surprise!" she called her friends over. Scootaloo stood up on all fours, still on top of Rainbow Dash's head, staring up at the starry sky. The orange filly looked around before bending over to look Rainbow Dash in the eyes.

"I don't see anything," she complained. Rainbow Dash pushed Scootaloo back up and pointed at the sky.

"You will in a little while. Just watch," and as soon as she said those words, twelve blue and yellow streaks shot through the sky in a diamond formation. Scootaloo squealed with glee and fell clean off Rainbow Dash's head, managing to flap her tiny wings hard enough to hover down to the ground.

"THE WONDERBOLTS!" she yelled, hopping up and down beside Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who were squeeing like fanfillies, too. The 'Bolts performed their signature firework trick, earning applause from everypony before swooping down towards the ground, Soarin, Spitfire and Fleetfoot heading over to Rainbow Dash.

"So, how was that?" Soarin asked Rainbow Dash, taking off his flight goggles. Rainbow Dash gave him an appreciative hoof bump.

"20% cooler than I imagined," she replied. Spitfire and Fleetfoot pulled their goggles down around their necks and looked around.

"Gotta admit, this place looks a lot nicer than the Cloudsdale Celebration," Spitfire commented. "Not as many flowers in the clouds."

"Yeah, and the firework'th look a lot better than the latht time I wath here," Fleetfoot added. Rainbow Dash raised a brow.

"What do ya mean?" she asked the white maned Wonderbolt. Fleetfoot's eyes fogged.

"I wath thot down from the air by a rocket. Wortht. Pain. Ever," she answered, before letting her eyes flick around. "But…" she gasped as she saw something in the distance and got a hungry look on her face. "Well, helloooo," she smirked, rubbing her front hooves together as she laid eyes on a familiar red stallion. Soarin looked confused while Spitfire face hoofed.

"Oh no, Fleetfoot. Don't go stalking again," the captain told her colleague, who began trotting away. Once she was a few metres away, Fleetfoot looked over her shoulder with a cunning look on her face.

"I'll watch with binoculars at the minimum dithtance as laid down by Trenderhoof'th lawyers," she ignored her boss. Spitfire rolled her orange eyes and stared after the other Wonderbolt.

"Great, I have a feeling I'll be bailing Fleetfoot out of jail again by the end of the night," she muttered. Rainbow Dash looked even more confused and Spitfire could clearly see it. "Oh, Fleetfoot kinda has a stalking problem…it's caused trouble more times than I'd like to say…and that usually gets us a nice lawsuit or two."

"Yikes," Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head, looking after the retreating blue Wonderbolt. Spitfire just tutted and shrugged.

"Well, I'd like to say that she has enough sense not to get in trouble but…I can't because she doesn't," her face fell. She suddenly noticed Scootaloo peering at her and Soarin from behind Rainbow Dash's back. "Oh, who's this?" she asked. Rainbow Dash looked behind her and smiled softly at her little sister. Wrapping a wing around her, she pulled the filly forward. The orange pegasus seemed a little starstruck that two Wonderbolts were before her; the two most important ones at that.

"Soarin, Spitfire, this is my li'l sister, Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash presented Scootaloo to the pegasi. Scootaloo shyly waved, not saying anything. Spitfire smirked at the bashful expression on the filly's face.

"Never knew you had a sister, Rainbow Dash," she commented. Soarin stepped forward and playfully ruffled Scootaloo's mane.

"You sure are cute," he told her, earning a half squeal half giggle from Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash turned back to Spitfire.

"She's not my sister by blood, as I told Soarin the other day, but I agreed to take her under my wing, right Scoots?" she looked down at Scootaloo, who was trying to get her mane back into place since Soarin had finished messing it up. The filly finally said something, having gotten over the shock of meeting some celebrities.

"Yeah, Rainbow Dash is the best sister ever!" Scootaloo threw her little hooves around Rainbow Dash and squeezed her. Rainbow Dash giggled and hugged her back, nuzzling the top of her head. Spitfire's eyes glazed over for a second and Soarin shot her a worried glance.

"Uh-huh," she murmured, before shaking the sense back into her. "So, Scootaloo, can ya fly like Rainbow Dash?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "Nah, I can't fly yet, but Rainbow Dash is gonna teach me, ooh, and I exercise my wings on this awesome scooter. Wanna see?" the excitable filly asked, hopping up and down. Soarin chuckled at her enthusiasm and nodded.

"Sure, I'd love to see you on your scooter. Lead the way kid," he agreed, and Scootaloo squealed with anticipation before bouncing off with Soarin and Spitfire in tow. Rainbow Dash was about to follow them when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She turned to see Twilight Sparkle, looking at her with excitement.

"Rainbow Dash, that was so nice of you to get the Wonderbolt's to come to the Celebration; this totally makes up for me getting the wrong flowers earlier," the alicorn hugged Rainbow Dash for what seemed like the millionth time that day. She then began jumping up and down on the spot. "And I managed to persuade Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Shining Armor to make an appearance. They're pretty busy with their own celebrations in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire, so they won't be able to stay long…but what the hay, they're coming!" she squealed, looking pleased with herself.

"Coming, Twilight? Don't you think you're mistaken there?" a voice came from behind the purple princess. Rainbow Dash smiled up at the pony standing behind her gleeful friend. Twilight, however looked appalled at being accused as wrong.

"Yes, of course I'm sure, I'm always sure, how could I possibly be-" finally Twilight looked up at the pony behind her and got what had to be the hugest smile on her face. She threw her arms around the pink alicorn.

"Cadence! I'm so happy to see you!" she cooed, nuzzling her old foalsitters neck. After what seemed like an eternity of hugging, the two sisters-in-law pulled away and did their special chant and hoof-shake.

"Sunshine, sunshine

Ladybugs awake!

Clap your hooves

And do a little shake!"

Rainbow Dash bowed down to the Princess of Love with respect and then rose again a few moments later. "It's good to see you here, your highness," she greeted. Cadence chuckled.

"You don't have to bow to me, Rainbow Dash, I'm your friend," the princess told the pegasus, who nodded despite the fact that it felt strange not to bow to an alicorn. Sure, she never bowed to Twilight, but that was different. She had known Twilight before she became an alicorn, so she shouldn't bow down to her just because she had a fancy new set of wings. She was still the same old Twilight Sparkle in her eyes.

"Twily!" a white stallion appeared on the scene and squeezed her to his chest. Twilight seemed a little uncomfortable being crushed against him, but she wore that same old humongous smile anyway.

"It's great to see you, too, BBBFF," Twilight nuzzled her big brother's cheek when he finally let her go. She looked up at him with playful sternness splashed across her features. "But I still wish that you'd visit more often," she pointed an accusing hoof at him. Shining Armor chuckled at his little sister and ruffled her mane, in a style similar to how Rainbow Dash ruffled Scootaloo's mane.

"It must be a thing that older siblings naturally do," Rainbow Dash concluded, smirking at her friend and her brother. Speaking of Scootaloo, where was she? Just as the thought entered her mind, an orange blur whooshed by on a scooter, making a U-turn before whizzing back the way it came, skidding to a halt beside Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo hopped down from her scooter and took off her helmet, shaking her mane out before smiling widely up at her big sister.

"Rainbow Dash, you should've seen it. Soarin and Spitfire said I was so AWESOME on my scooter, and look, they even signed it!" she showed Rainbow Dash the two Wonderbolt's signatures scrawled onto each handlebar. It was then that Rainbow Dash noticed something hanging around Scootaloo's neck.

"Wha-where did you get those?" Rainbow Dash peered closely at the flight goggles the little filly wore. Scootaloo looked proudly down at them and recited how she got them.

"Soarin gave 'em to me. He said that if my wings become as good in the air as they are on my scooter, then I'll make a great Wonderbolt someday!" Scootaloo was practically oozing joy and Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel pleased that Scoots shared the dame dream as her. Even though they were not blood related, they were so alike that anypony who didn't know them would probably suspect they were sisters anyway.

"So, Scoots, you shown Rainbow Dash your present, yet?" Soarin suddenly appeared beside Rainbow Dash, Spitfire on his other side. Scootaloo nodded before rushing up to the two Wonderbolt's and wrapping her hooves around their front legs in turn, since she wasn't tall enough to give them a proper hug.

"Thank you, thank you!" she said as she hugged Soarin's leg. After some enticing, Soarin finally got Scootaloo to release his leg and the Wonderbolt stallion gave her mane another ruffle, which Scootaloo seemed to enjoy, judging by her giggles and beaming face. Suddenly, a third Wonderbolt arrived, startling the four pegasi.

"Guys, you'll never believe how good the sarsaparilla here is," Surprise raised her bottle of the stuff into the air before chugging it down. She noticed the looks that the others were giving her. "What? It gives you extra sass," she spluttered with a mouthful of the drink. Spitfire groaned and gave Surprise a stern stare.

"Surprise, you'd better go easy on the snacks. We've still gotta perform and the last thing we need is you throwing up in the air. Remember that time you ate too much ice cream before our airshow in Baltimare?" the captain looked uneasy at the memory. Surprise chuckled sheepishly at the thought.

"First off, Spitfire, there is no such thing as too much ice cream, right kid?" Surprise looked over at Scootaloo, who responded with an enthusiastic 'right!' before looking back at Spitfire. "And second, how was I supposed to know where the splash zone was?" she folded her hooves and raised an eyebrow. Spitfire just rolled her eyes and didn't reply, obviously feeling that her conversation with Surprise was pretty pointless.

"Just stop snacking, please; I don't want a repeat of that incident," the fiery mare practically pleaded. "There will be plenty of time to eat after the performance."

Surprise looked a little disappointed that she couldn't gorge herself anymore, but shrugged it off.

"Can I at least show ya the cool cupcakes they've got here, Spitfire? I've really got to show the pony who made them some gratitude," the white Wonderbolt didn't give Spitfire a chance to reply and began dragging her to the table with the treats on, anyway. Spitfire looked over her shoulder with an apologetic look on her face.

"Sorry guys, I guess I'm going to the snack table…catch up with ya later," she pulled her hoof out of Surprise's and walked beside her, the poofy maned pegasus yakking away about the delicious goodies. Rainbow Dash chuckled at the two Wonderbolt mares and turned back to Soarin and Scootaloo.

"So, Scoots, how'd ya like to see me do some of the tricks Soarin taught me?" she asked her little sister. Scootaloo gasped and flapped into the air with excitement, her tiny wings making a buzzing sound as she hovered a few feet off the ground.

"That'd be great!" she replied, looking up at Rainbow Dash and Soarin with wide eyes. Rainbow looked over at Soarin and he shifted his eyes up as if to say 'What are you waiting for?' before the cyan pegasus took off, preparing to show Scootaloo all the tricks she had learnt. Hopefully the show she was about to put on was enough to make up for her absence.

---

"Applejack, we've gotta make more room fer the muffins," Braeburn told his cousin, who was busy arranging mugs of apple juice.

"And be quick about it!" a grey pegasus called from somewhere in the crowd. Applejack looked over at Braeburn and slitted her green eyes.

"Ah've got muh hooves full right now, cuz. Why can't ya do it yerself?" the orange mare asked, slamming a mug down on the table so hard that Braeburn was surprised that it didn't smash. He grumbled under his breath and tried to shift around some of the other stuff so they would have enough room for the muffins.

"Alright, Ah'm doin' it!" he told Applejack, pushing a plate of carrots off to the side. He loved his cousin and all, but sometimes she could be as stubborn as an ox. Finally, he'd moved the food enough that he could fit the tray of muffins in; it looked a little too crowded now, but he couldn't really care less. Maybe now he could finally relax and enjoy the Celebration without having to help out with the arrangements.

"SURPRISE~!"

Braeburn yelped and clutched his chest as Surprise popped up in front of him, almost scaring him out of his fur. He felt his heart pound with both shock and fear and he began hyperventilating, glaring at the white Wonderbolt with pure terror.

"What was that for? Ya almost gave me a heart attack!" he puffed, trying to get his pulse under 700 beats per minute. Surprise chuckled and smirked at him.

"Well, don't say I never gave ya anything," she teased. "Now, where did ya move those cupcakes?" she asked, licking her lips as frosting-filled thoughts bounced around in her mind. Braeburn looked over at the tray of cupcakes and reached over to grab one, looking back at Surprise as she rambled on and on about how fantastic the cupcakes were. Braeburn fumbled around for the cupcakes until his hoof finally made contact with something. But it didn't feel like a cupcake at all…it actually felt like another hoof. Braeburn looked to his side and, yep, sure enough his hoof was resting atop somepony else's. He looked up at its owner, whose look of shock and surprise mirrored his to a tee, and almost had another heart attack! He quickly retracted his hoof and looked away, flushing incredibly red. Why did it have to be her of all ponies? WHY!?

"Erm…sorry, ma'am," he apologized to Spitfire, making sure that she couldn't see his blush. The Wonderbolt captain cleared her throat.

"Um…i-it's okay," she stammered. Surprise stopped talking and looked past Braeburn at the golden mare.

"Heeeeey!" she sneered at her. "I thought you said no snacking before the air show," she folded her hooves. Braeburn looked over at Spitfire, still red, and saw that she was munching on a cupcake with chocolate frosting. She swallowed her mouthful and looked back at Surprise.

"It's just one cake…and it's chocolate, so how could I resist?" she said carelessly. Surprise chuckled and turned to Braeburn.

"She's a huge chocoholic!" she explained. "Seriously, she'll eat or drink anything chocolaty. Chocolate mousse, chocolate pudding, chocolate ice cream, hot chocolate, chocolate cookies, chocolate-"

"Surprise, you're making me sound like a sugar addict," Spitfire scolded her friend before taking another bite of her cupcake. Surprise rolled her eyes, giggling.

"That's 'cause you are!" she knew that she was treading on dangerous ground, but she didn't seem to care. Braeburn was still recovering from the previous incident; he looked calm on the outside but on the inside he was turning cartwheels and cheering. He decided to distract himself by talking to Surprise.

"So, Surprise, you enjoyin' the Celebration?" he asked her. Surprise nodded and grinned.

"Yeah, especially the snacks. Say, who made those cupcakes, by the way?" she asked. Braeburn knew the answer to that and pointed over to Sugarcube Corner.

"That'd be Pinkie Pie. She's in that candy store if ya wanna see 'er," he replied. Surprise saluted him before flapping her wings and flying in that direction.

"Braeburn?" the earth pony stallion heard Applejack call his name. He noticed Applejack approaching him with Rarity (who had taken off her blindingly bright dress) at her side. "Could ya show Rarity where the-" Applejack stopped mid-sentence and looked closely at Braeburn. "Are ya feelin' okay, cuz?" she asked. Braeburn tilted his head to the side.

"Yeah, o' course," he responded. Applejack didn't look convinced and squinted at him. He looked at Rarity, and sure enough, she was also peering at him. He started to feel a little uncomfortable. "What're ya doin'?" he asked. Applejack put a hoof to her chin.

"Yer just lookin' redder than the apples in muh orchard," she answered and Rarity nodded in agreement.

"You're certainly a delightful shade of crimson," the white unicorn agreed. Braeburn put a hoof to a cheek and sure enough it felt warm. Maybe he should leave before the mares put two and two together.

"What's going on?" Spitfire walked up to them and halted beside Braeburn. "Where did Surprise go?"

Braeburn looked off in the other direction, knowing that this wouldn't improve his state at all. "Um…she went over t' Sugarcube Corner," he replied. He heard the captain give out a little 'uh-huh' before she spoke to Rarity.

"Hey, aren't you the unicorn from the flyers competition?" she asked. Braeburn looked over at Rarity who shifted her hooves, obviously uncomfortable now.

"Oh, um…yes…sorry about that," she looked down at the ground. Braeburn had no idea what they were talking about, but figured that it was a part of one of Applejack and her friends' adventures.

"Meh, it's fine. Accidents happen...and concussions heal," Spitfire shrugged. Rarity looked surprised that she had forgiven her for whatever had happened, but smiled at the fiery mare anyway.

"Oh, thank heavens. I was afraid you'd hate me for it," the purple maned unicorn sighed with relief. Spitfire looked over at Applejack.

"And you're Applejack right? Cowboy's cousin," she asked. Applejack slowly nodded.

"Yup, Ah'm Applejack, but…" she got a confused look on her face. "…who's 'Cowboy'?"

"Um…that'd be me," Braeburn told his cousin, looking over at Spitfire and feeling his cheeks heat up even more. Deciding that if he blushed any brighter he'd explode, he turned back to Applejack.

"Oh…" Applejack looked from Braeburn to Spitfire and then back at her cousin before her eyes popped out of her head. "OH!" she smirked at Braeburn, who instantly felt nervous. What was Applejack thinking right now? The orange mare turned to the Wonderbolt and innocently began to talk.

"Yep, Ah'm his cousin and one o' his best friends, right, Brae?" she asked. Braeburn nodded, uncertain as to what was about to happen. "And that means Ah know everythin' there is t' know 'bout 'im."

Braeburn looked over at Rarity, who bore the same look as Applejack. She was wearing a grin that suggested that she knew exactly what Applejack was doing.

"Ya know Braeburn's been applebuckin' ever since he was a li'l colt. So he probably has really great abs," Applejack told Spitfire.

Braeburn heard alarm bells sound off in his head and he looked over at his cousin, his face practically screaming 'WHAT THE HECK ARE YA DOIN'!' Applejack just continued talking.

"…and in the right tuxedo wouldn't look like a mare dressed as a stallion," she added. Braeburn shook his head at his cousin, trying to get her to shut up. Of course, Applejack just carried on.

"Ah can also say-"

"OKAY! Applejack, can Ah talk t' ya over there!" he began pushing Applejack away from the food table, the awkwardness becoming too much for him to handle, Rarity following after them. Once he was sure they were far away enough that nopony could hear them talk he spoke to Applejack.

"What the hay were ya doin' back there? Are ya tryin' to humiliate me in front o' muh boss?" he hissed. Applejack and Rarity looked at eachother, Rarity beginning to giggle and Applejack snorting with laughter.

"Yer boss, eh?" she asked as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Braeburn nodded, finally catching on to what Applejack was talking about.

"Yes, muh boss," he confirmed, wanting his cousin to stay out of his business. Rarity grinned up at Braeburn.

"But, Braeburn, it's so obvious that you like her," she chuckled and Applejack nodded. Braeburn turned even redder.

"N-n-no, Ah don't!" he insisted. Unfortunately for him, Braeburn was the worst liar in Equestria and Rarity began squealing, hopping up and down.

"You do! Oh, this is fabulous, right Applejack?" she looked at her earth pony friend who shrugged.

"Sure is pretty dandy," she agreed. Braeburn just wanted to get the heck out of here, so he began to back away.

"Look, as much as Ah wanna stay and listen t' you gals talk 'bout things that ain't true, there's some stuff Ah've gotta do," he turned away and jumped as he saw that Rarity was already in front of him, preventing him from leaving. What the hay!?

"But we want to know everything!" she looked up at him with wide eyes, allowing her gaze to slip over to Applejack for a moment before looking back at the stallion. "I want to know everything!" she corrected herself. Braeburn groaned and pushed her to the side.

"There's nothin' t' know, 'kay," he snapped uncharacteristically. Braeburn certainly wasn't prepared for a third mare joining in.

"Ooh, my Princess Sense was tingling. What's going on over here?" Princess Cadence flapped over to them. Braeburn gasped and bowed, along with the two mares that were with him. Cadence chuckled and told them to stand again.

"So, what's this Princess Sense o' yours?" Applejack asked. Braeburn knew that Pinkie Pie had a Pinkie Sense, so maybe this was the same. Princess Cadence sat down beside Rarity.

"Oh, I just felt like there was some kind of argument going on over here and came to check. So, what's going on?" she asked. Rarity put a hoof around Braeburn's shoulders, once again stopping him from escaping.

"Oh, Braeburn here just has a thing for the gorgeous Wonderbolt captain," she cooed, nodding over to the food table, where Spitfire was talking to Surprise, who had just returned with Pinkie Pie. Braeburn was surprised at how similar Pinkie and Surprise looked, besides the colours. Cadence smirked down at the earth pony stallion and he emitted a sigh of surrender, feeling completely helpless now that there was a princess joining in with his torture.

"That's adorable!" the pink alicorn squealed and Braeburn pulled his hat over his eyes, wishing that he'd just disappear.

"What did Ah do t' deserve this?" he asked nopony in particular. He was startled as Cadence flicked his stetson off his head, leaving him with nothing to hide under. The princess folded a wing over his back in the same way a pegasus mother would drape a wing over her foal. He didn't know if this was a comforting gesture or another way of embarrassing him. Probably both.

"Absolutely nothing…but you're getting it anyway. And by 'it' I mean all the answers you need," the alicorn replied. Braeburn stared up at her blankly.

"Please no," he begged her. Of course, since nopony seemed to listen to a word he said, she just went ahead anyway.

"So, what do you wanna know?" she asked, her eyes glimmering. Braeburn couldn't believe his ears. Why couldn't these mares just leave him be?

"Ah don't need t' know anythin', guys. So what if Ah like 'er? There's no way she'll like me, so it's best t' just let me deal with this muhself, 'kay?" he asked, trying to break free of Cadence's grip.

"Well, how do you know she won't like you?" Cadence asked. Braeburn was aware of Rarity and Applejack snickering as the princess interrogated him. He stared up at Cadence as if she had just asked the most pointless question ever…which she had!

"Well, it's obvious, right? She's…her and Ah'm just…me!" he explained poorly, trying his best to come up with a response that would get him out of here as soon as possible.

"So what you mean is…" Cadence prompted him, clearly not going to let him go any time soon. Was it wrong to want to strangle a princess? Braeburn groaned and explained again, in more detail.

"She's just too…good for me. She's the captain o' the Wonderbolt's for pony's sake; one o' the greatest flyers ever and Ah'm an applebuckin' earth pony! She's so far outta muh league…Ah can't even see whatever league she's in," he poured out his problem, actually feeling relieved to get it off his chest, even though he felt pathetic. He was getting fussed over by a princess of Equestria, which made him feel a little better, though.

"Classic," was all Cadence said. Rarity was listening with interest to their conversation and stretched over to Cadence.

"What do you mean, 'classic' she asked curiously. Cadence turned to the white unicorn.

"The classic 'out of my league' situation, Rarity, ya know when somepony thinks that they aren't good enough for somepony else," she looked back at Braeburn, who was staring down at the ground, wishing he could just vanish. "You know that when I first met Shining Armor he was a socially awkward nerd with no confidence at all. At first glance, you wouldn't think he'd have a shot with a princess; now look at him," she nodded over at her husband who was talking to Twilight Sparkle, just as he spilled punch down his fur. Cadence chuckled at his clumsiness and raised a hoof as if to say 'see what I mean?'

"Sure doesn't look like much o' a ladies stallion," Applejack stated, as Twilight mopped him down with a cloth, only to find out that it made the stain worse. Cadence giggled more at that.

"Anything else on your mind?" she asked Braeburn, still chuckling at her husband's attempts to banish the stain with magic. Braeburn blurted something out.

"Ah was just wonderin' why you mares don't come with a darn instruction manual," he joked, trying to lighten the mood, the conversation becoming way too much for him, now. Cadence smirked at him and Rarity giggled. Applejack just shook her head at him, and with that he knew that she would never let him forget this. Oh, boy. Cadence hugged him to her chest and Braeburn blushed again, with embarrassment this time, since he was practically being babied by a princess. Why did these things always happen to him?

"Ya know, if it makes you feel any better, us mares tend to be just as mystified by stallions as you are by us," Cadence told him. Braeburn thought it over, realising that it did make him feel a little better. He pulled away from Cadence's hug and put his hat back on.

"Yeah, thanks," was all he said. Suddenly he got an idea of how to get these mares off his tail. "Ya know, if ya wanna deal with some more o' this stuff, Soarin has a thing for Rainbow Dash," he smirked, feeling pleased that Soarin would get tortured instead. Cadence and Rarity gasped and Applejack looked bewildered.

"REALLY!?" Rarity squeed, clapping her hooves. Braeburn nodded and with that the three mares galloped off. He decided to go and find Big Mac or Apple Bloom, knowing that those two wouldn't give him any grief.

---

"I can't believe I have a doppelganger!" Pinkie Pie squealed as she and Surprise bounced round and round in circles. Rainbow Dash and the others were pretty bewildered by how similar Pinkie and Surprise were when they saw the two of them together for the first time.

"Me neither! This is the bestest day ever!" Surprise squealed, flapping in the air and doing a loop the loop. "You're just so cute!" she complimented Pinkie Pie, who beamed back up at her.

"And you're so pretty!" the pink earth pony returned the compliment. Surprise fluttered down to the ground and hugged Pinkie tightly.

"Twinzies!" they giggled.

Rainbow Dash was amazed that two ponies could be so similar. Maybe Pinkie Pie had a long lost cousin or something. She'd have to check Twilight's genealogy books some time.

"Sure is…strange," Fluttershy commented from her spot beside the purple alicorn. Spitfire, who was standing next to Rainbow Dash, just sighed.

"Just what we need…another Surprise," she grumbled bitterly. Rainbow Dash knew how fond the captain was of the poofy maned Wonderbolt though. Surprise and Pinkie Pie stopped hugging and looked eachother over.

"Nice mane, by the way," Surprise said to Pinkie, who grinned proudly.

"Back at ya," she replied. The pink party pony put a hoof to her chin. "So, you look like me and act like me…but can you sing and dance like me?" she asked. Surprise smirked at her newfound friend.

"You bet I can," she answered determinedly. Pinkie Pie cricked her neck from side to side.

"Do ya know the pony pokey?" she asked, hopping from hoof to hoof in her excitement. Surprise nodded enthusiastically, standing up on her two hind legs and stretching out her hooves. Pinkie Pie assumed the same pose and they both started to sing.

"You reach your right hoof in

You reach your right hoof out

You reach your right hoof in

And you shake it all abou-"

"No! No! There is no way you're singing a song! This is a fanfiction, not a musical," Spitfire interrupted the two mares. Pinkie Pie folded her hooves and glared at the Wonderbolt mare.

"Hey! Breaking the fourth wall is my thing!" she pouted, sticking her bottom lip out. Surprise gasped and began bouncing up and down.

"Pinkie, we're about to perform, so you can see your doppelganger's awesome tricks!" she told the party planner. Pinkie squealed and hopped up and down, too.

"This is so incrediciting!" Pinkie Pie fangirled, pulling Surprise into another hug. Twilight raised a hoof.

"Um, Pinkie, what's incrediciting?" the princess asked. Pinkie Pie and Surprise rolled their eyes.

"A combination of incredible and exciting," Pinkie Pie replied.

"Duh!" Surprise finished. Rainbow Dash looked over at Spitfire who shared the same look of awe. Two totally random mares together…yikes! The fiery Wonderbolt shrugged.

"We do have to perform, so, come on Surprise, let's go get the others," she trotted away, Surprise following with Pinkie Pie in tow, the two of them talking about Pinkie Pie's many parties and how they should throw a 'Congratulations We're Doppelgangers' party. Rainbow personally thought that it was the most ridiculous idea ever…but then again it would make more sense than National Random Holiday Party Day.

"I can't believe I'm gonna see the Wonderbolt's perform," Scootaloo appeared beside Rainbow Dash, still wearing Soarin's goggles around her neck. Rainbow Dash scooped the little filly up onto her head again so she could see better and waited for the show to begin.

"So, have you enjoyed the Celebration, Scoots?" Rainbow Dash asked. Scootaloo nodded and hugged Rainbow Dash's head.

"This is the best Spring Celebration yet. Your Wonderbolt friends are so cool," she replied. "But, not as cool as you, of course," she added. Rainbow reached up and ruffled Scootaloo's mane only for the orange filly to slap her hoof away. "What is it with you doing that? It's starting to get annoying," she scolded Dash with mock anger. Rainbow noticed the twelve Wonderbolt's gathering in the square and figured that the show was about to begin. She saw Rarity bugging Soarin (who was wearing a new set of goggles) about something until the Wonderbolt stallion shooed her away. Rainbow tapped Scootaloo's shoulder and pointed towards the 'Bolts.

"Watch, Scoots. It's starting!" she told her little sister and the filly gasped with excitement before shifting on top of Rainbow's head. Twilight and Fluttershy sat on either side of Rainbow Dash as the Wonderbolt's took off.

---

"That was so great!" Scootaloo bounded around Soarin as he made his way over to Rainbow Dash. "Do ya think I'll be as good as you some day?" she asked, hopping on Soarin's back. Rainbow chuckled as her little sister pestered the Wonderbolt, who flinched as the filly weighed down his back. Luckily, she didn't weigh much at all.

"Of course you will; you've got the greatest flyer ever as your sister. If you don't get into the Wonderbolts then I'll…eat my tie," he decided. Rainbow blushed as he said the 'greatest flyer ever' part, but shook it off, wanting to look cool in front of her sister. Twilight suddenly hurried past, looking flustered once again.

"Outta the way, everypony, the princesses are here!" she exclaimed. Rainbow Dash looked over at Soarin and Scootaloo and the pegasus stallion flapped into the air, Scootaloo still on her back.

"Wanna race there?" he asked Rainbow Dash, who spread her wings as if to say 'Hell, yeah!' Soarin looked at Scootaloo, who was making herself comfortable on his back.

"Ready, kid?" he asked. Scootaloo hugged his head tightly, darn near cutting off his circulation.

"Yes, yes, YES!" she squeaked. "Ready…set…" Rainbow Dash, flapped into the air to hover beside her mentor and sister. "GO!" Scootaloo gave the order and the three pegasi went whooshing through the air. "Mush, Soarin, mush!" Scootaloo cheered as they rocketed over Twilight's head and approached the two royal chariots. They landed and immediately began arguing over who got there first, not even noticing the princesses giggling at their behaviour. Twilight caught up to them a minute later, pausing to catch her breath before addressing the princesses.

"Princess…Celestia…Princess…Luna…" she puffed, taking a breath with every passing word. "So good…to have you…here…I've gotta…sit down," the purple alicorn sat on her haunches, wheezing.

"Sounds to me like you've gotta hit the gym," Rainbow joked, earning a hoof bump from Soarin and a scowl from Twilight. "What? If ya keep pigging out at the Hayburger, this is what happens," the rainbow maned pegasus shrugged.

"Heh…"Princess Celestia seemed mildly amused at Twilight's embarrassment. "It's good to be here to, Twilight. Sorry we can't stay long, but how could I pass up an opportunity to see my most faithful student?" the white alicorn dipped her head and tapped Twilight on each of her shoulders with her horn.

"I'm honoured to be here, too," Luna stepped forward and bowed to Twilight before rising again. "It certainly makes a delightful change to be able to come to this village and not be feared."

Rainbow Dash remembered when she had come to Ponyville for Nightmare Night. She had been too busy scaring ponies with her lightning cloud to take much notice of her, though (not that she'd do that again due to her recent experiences with thunder clouds). She had got a taste of her own medicine when Princess Luna pulled the same joke on her. Embarrassing, much?

"Nice work with the decorations," Celestia smiled, gazing around at the flowers that adorned…everything. Twilight grinned proudly.

"Thank you, Princess. I thought that the colours clashed with the buildings a little, but they were just so pretty and I couldn't resist getting them and do you have any idea how hard it is to find Firebird Dahlia's at this time of year? So I had to-"

"Twilight, it's perfect," Celestia shut the younger princess up by putting a hoof on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash knew how nervous Twilight got when it came to impressing the princess. Rainbow Dash bowed down for the second time that day. Scootaloo copied her and she expected Soarin to do the same. Of course he didn't-

"'Sup, Princess C," he smiled and Rainbow Dash's eyes bulged. Rainbow got up and pushed Soarin off to the side.

"Are you nuts? This is the ruler of all Equestria, Soarin. You need to show her more respect than that. You need to act sophisticated in front of her," she explained to the Wonderbolt, who looked a little insulted.

"Are you saying I'm unsophisticated?"

"Bottom."

"Pfft," Soarin snorted with laughter. Rainbow Dash admitted that it was pretty funny, but knew better than to laugh at it in front of a princess.

"Princess, would you like some food. We've got plenty in the square," Twilight invited, motioning with a hoof down the street, where ponies were gaping at the arrival of the princesses. Rainbow Dash knew that Princess Celestia loved cake, so there was only one possible answer.

"I'd love to," Princess Celestia replied cheerily, beginning to make her way down the street. Rainbow Dash looked over at Luna who was…talking to her chariot?

"Care to join us for some cake?" the princess of the night asked the chariot. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Twilight and Scootaloo all exchanged confused looks and stared at the princess as if she was growing an extra tail. Surprisingly the pegasus guards pulling the chariot didn't seem to think this was weird at all. What was going on?

"Of course," a voice came from inside the chariot and out jumped a light grey, almost white earth pony stallion who had a mane and tail that was half black and half white and bright blue eyes. Rainbow Dash noticed that his cutie mark was a black and white checkered flag and she gasped. She knew who this pony was!

"Oh, who's this?" Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight like she was insane. How could anypony not know who this was? She looked at Soarin who shared the same expression as her. The Wonderbolt trotted towards Luna and the stallion and stretched out his hoof.

"Checkered Flag, it's an honour. I'm a massive fan!"

Twilight looked over at Rainbow Dash and mouthed 'who?' Rainbow Dash made her way over to her friend and explained. "Checkered Flag is the greatest earth pony racer of all time. He's super-fast, does a whole bunch of charity work and is an all-around nice guy. I've been a big fan ever since he started racing," the pegasus explained. Twilight nodded along as she spoke. "But I don't know what he's doing here."

"Yeah, what are you doing here?" Soarin asked. Checkered Flag looked up at Luna.

"Just accompanying my marefriend on a trip to Ponyville of course," he revealed. Twilight gasped, Rainbow Dash exclaimed 'WHAT!?', Soarin's jaw dropped and Scootaloo fell onto her haunches with surprise.

"You're dating Princess Luna!?" Twilight gasped. Rainbow Dash had seen a lot of things in her life but never once had she even heard of an earth pony and an alicorn in a relationship.

"B-b-b-b-but, b-b-b-b-but," Soarin stuttered, looking from the princess to the racer, not being able to function properly at the revelation. "Hoooooooow?" he finally asked, barely being able to get the word out. Luna bent down and nuzzled the stallion's cheek.

"We first met when he invited me to one of his night-time races and I found him to be incredibly charming," Luna explained, folding a wing over his back.

"And we ate together at the charity dinner that was held after the race," Checkered Flag finished, leaning against the princess. "Ever since then we've been going out. Simple."

"Whoa…I did not see that coming," Rainbow Dash's mouth formed an O shape. Twilight seemed to be shocked the most.

"I don't think that this has ever happened before," the purple alicorn began hopping from hoof to hoof. "This is the most amazing thing I've heard in ages! How many dates have you been on? Are you getting married? Are you gonna have foals!?" she asked, almost sounding like an excited filly. Rainbow Dash put a hoof on her back to get her to stop.

"Whoa, Twilight, do ya think you can cut down on the crazy just a little bit?" she asked. Twilight nervously chuckled.

"Heh…sorry," she tipped back and forth on her hooves. Luna and Checkered Flag looked amused at the princess of friendship's dorkiness.

"It's fine, Twilight Sparkle," Luna smiled down at her fellow princess. "Now come along before my sister eats all the cake," she began trotting down the street with Checkered Flag by her side. Rainbow Dash laughed at the idea of Princess Celestia scoffing all the cake for herself. Twilight turned to the other assembled ponies.

"Yeah, we should head back. I've got to provide everypony with solar eclipse glasses before Rarity brings out the-"

"GYAH!" Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Scootaloo and Twilight were suddenly blinded by something incredibly bright and Scootaloo hid behind Rainbow to shield her eyes. Rarity could be heard presenting her dresses to the ponies, almost drowned out by the sound of pained cries.

"MY EYES!" Soarin yelled, slapping his hooves over his eyes. Twilight grimaced and began working her way forward through the light, squinting and waving her hooves around so she could feel where she was going.

"I'm gonna try and get Rarity to put the dresses away…you guys save yourselves!" Twilight ordered the pegasi before being engulfed by the light. Rainbow began pushing Scootaloo away.

"Yeah, let's go hide someplace dark until the light show's over," she told the others, her eyes still stinging. Soarin groaned and began walking away.

"You don't have to tell me tw-"

*SLAM!*

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo cringed as Soarin walked face-first into a lamp post. He teetered around, seeing stars.

"That's gonna hurt in the morning," he slurred. Rainbow Dash made her way over to him and folded a wing over his back.

"Just stick beside me, I'll lead us somewhere…safe, I suppose," she became aware of other ponies running for cover around her. "…if there's any space left by the time we get there."

---

"Okay, I suppose the new line's debut didn't exactly go according to plan, but on the bright side-"

Rainbow Dash and the others gave Rarity an irritated glare.

"…sorry, bad choice of words. But, looking at it optimistically, I got a lot of publicity," the white unicorn shrugged. Spike passed Rarity several letters.

"And hate mail," he told her as she picked up the letters in her blue magic aura. Rarity just bit her lip and tossed the letters over her shoulder.

"Oh, never mind that, at least nopony got hurt," she told her friends. Applejack rolled her eyes.

"Ah think the stallion with the sensitive cornea's can object t' that," she said blankly. Rarity did look a little guilty at that.

"Well, it's a good thing the princesses evacuated before that happened. I don't think they would ever be able to see me in the same way again," Rarity's shoulders sagged.

"I'd be surprised if they could see at all," Rainbow Dash joked, earning laughs from the ponies around her.

"Somepony say my name?" Surprise popped up beside Pinkie Pie. How did she do that?

"Hi, Surprise," Pinkie hugged the white Wonderbolt. "Wanna have another round of swing-muffin?" she asked. Fluttershy tapped Pinkie on the shoulder.

"Um…what's swing-muffin?" the butter yellow pegasus asked. Pinkie Pie licked her lips at the thought.

"Swing muffin is where you tie a muffin to a pole by a string and then you swing it round and round whilst trying to catch it in your mouth. It's funny and yummy!" the pink earth pony drooled.

"I can't," Surprise's head drooped. "We've gotta head back to Cloudsdale," she sighed forlornly. Pinkie Pie's mane deflated and Rainbow Dash suddenly felt a chill go down her spine.

"Aww, can't you stay a little longer?" she pleaded, making puppy dog eyes. Surprise wrapped a wing around Pinkie and nuzzled her cheek.

"I wanna stay, too, but I've gotta practise for airshow's and train the cadets. I wish you could come with me," the poofy maned Wonderbolt said softly before straightening up. "But I'll fly down and visit. And I'll write, too! What do ya think?" she asked. Rainbow Dash was instantly reminded of her departure talk with Scootaloo. Pinkie Pie's mane puffed up again.

"Yeah! We'll be pen-pal-ponies!" the party planner agreed, squeezing her doppelganger tightly. Soarin and Spitfire flew over and touched down on the ground beside Rainbow Dash.

"C'mon, Surprise, the others have already left," Spitfire said impatiently. Rainbow Dash hadn't realised that they'd have to go so soon. Surprise gave Pinkie Pie one final hug before flapping into the air.

"Bye, Pinkie," she waved down at her new friend before flying away, Spitfire following. Rainbow Dash looked around at her friends, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Scootaloo, feeling her heart ache at the thought of leaving them again.

"Guys, I really wish I could stay a little longer, but-"

"Can ya just skip the pity party, Rainbow, we get it," Applejack stopped her rainbow maned friend. "Ah think it'll make things less sentimental if ya just say goodbye."

Applejack certainly had a point there. If she skipped her speech about not wanting to leave them, she could leave on a more cheerful note. "Yeah, good idea, AJ, I'll just settle for a hug instead," Rainbow agreed. She hugged each of her friends in turn, giving Scootaloo an extra-long one.

"I'll see ya later, Squirt," she nuzzled the top of her little sister's head. Scootaloo wrapped her tiny legs around Rainbow's waist.

"I'll miss you, Rainbow Dash," she buried her face in the blue mare's chest fur. Once the little orange filly had finished saying goodbye to her sister she rushed over to Soarin, who bent down to ruffle her mane again only to have Scootaloo throw her arms around his neck instead. Soarin flushed red with embarrassment and hugged the filly back.

"See ya 'round, Scootaloo," he chuckled as she released him from the hug. After saying one final goodbye to her friends, again, she and Soarin flew off back towards Cloudsdale, listening to the chorus of the ponies below wishing her luck. It was like a repeat of the day she had left for the boot camp.

"You're feeling okay, right Dashie?" Soarin asked her, flying close to her side. Rainbow Dash nodded, even though she did feel a little upset to be leaving her friends behind again.

"Yeah, of course I'm fine, I'll see them again soon, anyway," she looked on the bright side of things, just like Rarity had said. "Let's just get back because, in truth, I can't wait for drills," she added. Soarin looked pretty shocked at that.

"Seriously, you are?" he raised a brow. "When I was in the Academy I dreaded drills. Captain Concorde wasn't as strict as Spitfire, but he still pushed us to the limit."

Captain Concorde had been the Wonderbolt captain before Spitfire. Rainbow Dash had been devastated the day he had been killed in action.

"Yeah, it means I've got another day to show off my stuff! That's the thought that gets me out of bed every morning at ridiculous O'clock," she told Soarin. The pale blue Wonderbolt tapped a hoof to his chin.

"Nice tactic. The thing that got me out of bed was the thought that I'd get a pie for lunch afterwards. Mmmm, piiiiie," he drooled. Suddenly, he got a confused expression on his face.

"Why do I feel like we've forgotten something?"

---

Braeburn wandered into the square, finally done with cleaning up the leftovers.

"Thank Celestia that's over. Now we can get back and rest up. Ah'm so tired Ah could-" he noticed that nopony was there, and aside from a few ponies making their way back home, the pegasi he was looking for were nowhere to be seen. He glanced around just to check before coming to the conclusion that they must have left without him.

"SOARIN!"

---

Endnote: Man, it feels good to get that off my chest. I know it's a little late, but I have a good excuse for it to be. This Friday I turned a year older (WOOHOO!) and I took a day off writing, hence the reason this is a day late.

Anyway, tune in next time where Surprise plans a party and Braeburn has a fight with an answering machine.

The randomness continues in chapter 19!