Rainbow Dash landed back at Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Fluttershy told me everything. I’m sorry.” Scootaloo said.

 “You don’t have anything to apologize for. I went to your grandmother while you were here, got some answers myself.” Rainbow explained to the filly.

“Oh…” Scootaloo replied.

“Hop on, we have some talking to do.”

The filly jumped on Rainbow’s back, no questions asked. The mare took off and landed on the highest cloud she could find.

“You can get off me now.” She instructed.

“What if I fall through?” Scootaloo was scared.

“You’ve never been on a cloud before?”

“I was, in Cloudsdale, but that one looks so thin.”

“Stop worrying. I can stand on it just fine, and you will too.”

The filly hopped off Rainbow’s back and gave her a quizzical look.

“Spread your wings.”

“No!”

“Nobody’s looking. Just do it.” Rainbow Dash assured her.

Scootaloo unfolded her small wings, the high-altitude wind caressed her feathers. It felt somewhat familiar, like a distant memory, long forgotten.

“Feels great, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah…”

“Although slim, there’s still chance that we will soar through the sky together, side by side.”

“You don’t have to sugarcoat it. The chances are, that we won’t.” Scotaloo frowned.

“That’s precisely the way I don’t want you to think about the world around you. For all those years, I was waiting for the family that never showed up… But I had a dream that kept me afloat. And look at me now, I’m a frickin’ Wonderbolt! Can you imagine what would’ve happened if I gave up half way through? I know I can’t.”

“But what if-“

“No buts! no what ifs! There’s still a tiny thread of hope dangling around. I want you to grab it as hard as you can and hold tight onto it. Don’t ever let go, at least not until the day you see what’s on the other end of it. Can you do that? For me?”

“Yes…”

“Now I want you to close your eyes… and flap those wings! Leave all the uncertainty behind you! That feeling in your feathers? No matter what the future brings, never forget about it!”

“Wahahah!” Scootaloo shrieked with joy, forgetting about all her sorrows, even if only for a short while.

***

Rainbow Dash was doing her usual weather work in preparation for the upcoming applebucking season and to keep her form up before the autumn training session. She saw a carriage, pulled by two armored pegasi stallions, in the distance. She immediately dropped everything she was doing and flew over to the Ponyville Library. Shortly after, the carriage landed next to the building. Five days have already passed since Twilight Sparkle left off to Canterlot. The purple unicorn’s bloodshot eyes had the answer written all over them.

“Something? Anything?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Nothing. Completely nothing! I’ve tried, I really did…” The exhausted mare replied, close to tears.

“Don’t worry about it, I know you did your best. When was the last time you slept, you look like a complete mess.”

“Five… days ago.” She swayed on her hooves.

“Are you insane?! Go to bed!”

“I’m okay. Maybe there’s a book I’ve missed over here. Let me check my library again.” Her left eye twitched uncontrollably.

“Bed! Now!”

Even the smartest unicorn Rainbow knew couldn’t find a solution to the problem. The only thing left to do was to wait for the answer to show itself, when the right time comes.

***

The remaining days went by in a blink of an eye. Rainbow Dash has recently quit her weather job and was getting ready for the trip to Cloudsdale. She was packing her bags when she heard a familiar voice calling her name from the ground.

“Hey there, squirt. What’s up?” Rainbow Dash asked as she landed next to Scootaloo.

“I was hoping that maybe we could spend some time together before you leave.” Scootaloo said.

“Anything specific on your mind?”

“Not really.”

“Want to come over to my place?”

“Yes!”

Rainbow Dash flew back up to her house, with the filly on her back.

“I still have some packing left to do. There’s orange juice in the fridge if you’d like some.” She said and went to her bedroom.

“Woah!” Scootaloo gasped when she entered the room, holding a glass.

“That’s ‘THE WALL’, squirt. That reminds me, I still didn’t make it up to you for that poster. Pick anything you want.”

Scootaloo stared at the shelves filled with Wonderbolts memorabilia.

“That one!”

“Are you sure you don’t want anything cooler?

“I’m sure.”

Rainbow Dash gave the small object to Scootaloo, a framed photo of herself in a Wonderbolt costume. Bronze Feather made her that outfit for the Nightmare Night, years ago.

***

“You wanted to see me?” Spitfire asked.

“How was her first day?” Nighthawk asked.

“Her stamina is better than you predicted but still needs to be worked on. She was completely exhausted about two thirds into the drill.”

“She didn’t look that tired.”

“You say that because you weren’t up there with us. Three months may not be enough. She might do a full minor show, or even a major one, but a full season finale is out of the question at the moment.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. How’s the new formation working out?”

“She bumped into Fleetfoot a few times but there’s nothing big to worry about, she’s a quick learner. Soarin’ seems a bit iffy about the fact that he’s not flying in the front with me anymore. Other than that, things look good as they are.”

“There are seven of you now. It’s the only way for the formation to work properly.”

“He’ll get over it.”

“Anything else you’d like to report, captain?”

“No sir, coach sir!” Spitfire chuckled.

***

One month has passed since Rainbow Dash moved into Cloudsdale. She spent five days a week training and hung out at the lounge on the weekends, while the rest of the team was doing the autumn events. She has integrated well with the squad already.

“Free weekend guys!” Spitfire triumphantly shouted after the training.

“Let’s get wasted!” Soarin’ replied.

“That big of a deal?” Rainbow asked.

“Says the weekend loafer!” Rapidfire countered.

“Not by choice!” Rainbow laughed.

“To the lounge!” Soarin’ commanded.

The group arrived at the VIP lounge shortly after.

“Hey, Muffin.” Rainbow said to the large black stallion.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.” He replied and invited them in.

“Would you like to order anything?" The elusive waiter showed up as soon as they sat down.

“The usual.” Rainbow replied.

By the time evening came, all of the Wonderbolts were completely intoxicated.

“And then I say to her: ‘Honey, it’s not a typewriter. There’s only one button to operate and you’re clearly not very good at it.’” Everypony laughed when Spitfire finished telling her anecdote.

“I didn’t know that you are that kind of a pony.” Rainbow blurted.

“That kind of a pony? What the buck, Rainbow Dash?! Somepony needs to pull the broomstick out of her-“

“As a gesture of friendship,  I won’t punch you right now! Are you calling me a homophobe?!” Rainbow interrupted before Spitfire finished the sentence.

“Well, are you one?!”

“Catfight!” Soarin’ yelled. Two hooves, one from each of the arguing mares, simultaneously landed on the sides of his face.

Both of them let out a short burst of laughter that quickly turned into a staring contest. Spitfire decided to make a move when the music playing in the background changed.

“How much can we take before we care to settle?

Thought we were set for a perfect scene(…)”

She leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Rainbow’s lips. The cyan mare didn't move a muscle, the stare down continued.

“(...)If I had the answer would that make you stay?

This is the time and place, it is your moment of fate(…)”

Rainbow Dash suddenly relaxed, closed her eyes and leaned a bit forward.

“(…)What are you longing for?

What are you longing for?

What are you longing for?(…)”

Rainbow Dash broke her lips away from Spitfire’s and, without saying a word, left the club.