The bright blue sky was clear, with only a few lonely clouds scampered far away from each other. The summer heat was mercilessly pouring over Ponyville, making even the simplest of tasks seem impossibly hard to do. It was one of those days that makes you want to hug a giant block of ice, only to see it melt away in seconds. It was one of those days when a certain weather pony wanted to be left alone.

Rainbow Dash has taken a break from her daily routine and was resting under an apple tree, in the cooling shade of Apple Family’s orchards. She had much tension built up inside. The day of the annual Wonderbolts tryouts was approaching rapidly. It was going to be her second attempt to get onto the team.

“You’re a great flyer but your performance was lacking something very important. Something that would set the audience on fire when you pull it off, that special ‘umph’ at the end. I’m afraid that you won’t become a part of this team until you come up with a move like that. I’m sorry, Good luck next year.”

One year later, Nighthawk’s words still strongly resonated in the back of her head. She felt deep respect for this stallion, admiring him ever since she has first seen him fly, fifteen years ago. Nighthawk was the Wonderbolts previous captain. He became the team’s coach after Spitfire took over his old position. His harsh words only made Rainbow Dash focus more on reaching her ultimate goal.

The Best Young Flyer competition was a breakthrough for her. All the hard work paid off when she finally mastered the stunt which put the lightning shaped cutie mark on her flank. The Sonic Rainboom was now at her command.

“I’ll sweep you off your hooves this time, Nighthawk.” Rainbow thought as she drifted off to sleep.

***

“Wake up, Rainbow Dash.” An orange earth pony tapped her friend on the shoulder.

“Hmpfffmmm” Rainbow mumbled through her sleep.

“RAINBOW DASH!” Applejack shouted.

“Ugh… Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep over here, Applejack?” The cyan mare said with a groggy voice.

“Why are you always like this? Ah know that weather management isn’t your true callin’ and that the tryouts are startin’ next week but come on! Ah’m tryin’ to make a livin’ over here! Get off your flank and put some rainclouds over the orchards or Ah will personally make sure you don’t get your hooves on this year’s batch of cider.” Applejack kept yelling.

“Sheesh… I’m on it, I’m on it.” The irritated pegasus replied and took off.

Rainbow Dash started swooshing all around the sky, pushing all the clouds she could find towards the Sweet Apple Acres. After about an hour of hard work, first drops of rain started landing on the thirsty leaves. Being done for the day, she decided to fly over to the small cottage located at the edge of Everfree Forest. She knocked gently at the door and was greeted by a guilty look on Fluttershy’s face when the door opened. The yellow pegasus was a very different pony when she was alone with Rainbow Dash. Their friendship was on a different level than with the rest of the group, they were like sisters.

“Was it that obvious?” Fluttershy said with a nervous chuckle.

“I know you wanted to help but Applejack looked really awkward while she was screaming her lungs out at me like that. She even used the ‘cider card’ on me, can you believe it? I barely stopped myself from laughing in her face back there.” Rainbow replied.

“I’m sorry… I’ll make it up to her somehow.”

“I know you will. Now listen, I hate to see you worry about me like that. You know that I’m going to sweep them off their hooves this time. I could pull off a Sonic Rainboom right here, right now if you asked me to.”

“Please, don’t. It would startle all the animals.”

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I’m planning to take a week off from work and would like to stay over here for the time being. I get the feeling that I’ll probably do something stupid and pull a muscle, or worse, if I stay alone. The anticipation is tearing me apart from the inside.”

“Oh my! Of course, I’d love to have you stay here. You could help me with the chores to take your mind off it and let your wings rest a bit before the big day. Is that okay with you, Angel?”

The bunny wanted to object, but one glance from the cyan mare made him reluctantly nod at Fluttershy.

***

Three days have passed since Rainbow Dash temporarily moved in to the cottage. She felt the pressure inside slowly disappear. The mares spent most of their time talking whilst doing Fluttershy’s daily chores.

“Anyway, after all those years, I still don’t really get it. What were your parents thinking when they’ve sent you to that summer flight camp? They must have known that you would be bullied to oblivion over there." Rainbow Dash changed the topic of an ongoing conversation.

“Oh you know how some things are. Back then, my parents couldn’t accept the fact that flying just wasn’t my thing. I still love them though. You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” Fluttershy replied.

“Yeah… I guess.”

“Ooh! I’m so sorry. What an insensitive thing of me to say.”

“Relax, Flutters. Of all the ponies, you wouldn’t offend me even if you tried to.” The cyan pegasus said with a cheeky smile.

“It was fate, I guess. I wouldn’t be mare I am today if I hadn’t met you back then… We got our cutie marks thanks to you.” Fluttershy said with sisterly affection.

“You’re giving way too much credit to me. It was all just a happy coincidence.”

Rainbow Dash decided to change the subject again. She had a tendency for running away from difficult situations.

“So! Found the stallion of your dreams yet? You’re going to become the old, grumpy mare that nobody likes if you don’t spice up your love life a bit.”

“Oh my…” the yellow mare blushed at the unexpected question.

“Finally! What’s his name? What’s his name?”

“Pif Muffinfuf…” she mumbled, looking away from her friend.

“You don’t say!” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Yeah, he would be a perfect match for you but somepony has to make the first move or nothing will ever come out of it. Besides, half of the mares in Ponyville are after him and yet I have never seen him with a marefriend before. How does that sound to you?”

“I don’t think he is a… Umm…”

“ Yeah, yeah. Maybe he really is shy, just like you. That’s exactly my point. You have to tell him.”

“It’s so embarrassing...”

“Don’t mind it, just tell him. You’ll have to break the ice yourself because he certainly wont. Ask him out for a date. He’ll go if he knows what’s best for him. Also, Applejack would be so happy for both of you.

“I will, someday… And how about you, have you found that special somepony yet?”

“Same old, same old. A stallion here, a stallion there. I won’t be going steady anytime soon. Besides, I’ve got more important things to do right now.”

“Don’t be silly, you just haven’t met the right one yet.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right… What are we having for lunch?”