Monday, April 11th, 5am, Dusk’s Library

Long before Bronze reached full awareness, the intoxicating presence of Dusk’s scent had filled her lungs. It was a glorious awakening; his aroma flooded her senses so powerfully it felt as if the stallion himself had crawled into bed alongside her at some point in the night.

She lay there in bed, pressing her face into the pillow, sighing happily. Her strong legs shifted slowly, and she just luxuriated in the contact high of sleep, comfort, and stallion. Even though she knew she had to get up for her run, the temptation to skip it this morning and just stay in bed was strong. She imagined Dusk lying next to her; she could almost feel him if she just closed her eyes…

Unconsciously, two of her fingers slipped between her thighs, massaging into the folds of her sex. They teased out a wonderful tingle, but it was just a shallow echo compared to the feeling Rarity’s dexterous fingers had given her. Still, familiarity counted, familiarity and the intensely intriguing memory carried on his scent. After a few moments, an even greater heat flared between her slick, quivering lips.

Toned muscles rippled and tensed as the sensation forced its way out from her core. She gripped her pillow closer to her face, murmuring Dusk's name softly into it like a secret. Her delectably toned hips bucked lightly, and she firmed her strokes, kneading the warmth against her dewy labia, her lustful imagination overpowering her just-awoken mind. Dusk's fingers replaced her own - less callouses, she recalled, but with a scribe's supple strength - and she gasped, hazily reinterpreting the delicious drip of sweat as the moistness from his lips kissing along her neck.

Soon she could feel him with every movement of her still bed-stiff body, his weight pressing down against her back. Faster, deeper his digits probed into her pussy as he whispered her name into her ear. Imploring, she hoped; as needful for her orgasm as she was. She knew he would be; hadn't Rarity promised her an ardent gentlecolt in him? Gasping, panting now, Bronze’s spine arched, while she struggled to hold back her climax. To edge it, for a few more glorious seconds longer...

Urges stronger than any warrior, even a pegasus in the model of Hurricane would not be denied for long. Need hard, savor the moment, and find your glory, that was the way. Unable to remain quiet any longer, she let out a loud groan into her pillow, face flushing as some still-rational part of her mind worried about being heard. Her well-groomed and better-exercised wings spread out, and she knew his other hand had found its way to her wing base. A further stretch; a delicious hiss of strain and she could believe there was force applied; insistence. Voice slipping out again, she moaned his name into her pillow, seeing stars even as his fingers kept moving.

Relentless, eager to please the mare beneath him, phantom-Dusk added a third finger to probe her drenched depths. Meanwhile, she could feel his hot breath on her cheek as he began whispering lewd things in her ear, telling her just how he was going to please her, going to make her beg him to keep going. Overcome by the half-feeling, half-certainty of her stallion pinning her down, holding her in place as he played generously with her needy body, Bronze felt her sex tighten with the oncoming tidal wave of pleasure at her climax. Falling forward to bury her face back into the pillow and the Elysium of Dusk’s scent, Bronze rode the sense-shattering wave emanating up from her pulse of her clit and the need of her core.

It rode her, too, sending her tightly conditioned warrior's body thrashing against the mattress, squirming over the bed in delicious, moist abandon. Time after time she had to recover her mouth, cries of relief escaping into the pillow's protection with moments to spare. Her breathing was ragged, hot and filled with the tang of Dusk burning her lungs, and she came with it, her peak all the more savory for the wait.

After her climax finally began to fade from her sweat-drenched body, she lay face down and panting for breath, beautiful daydream regretfully retreating. Gently glowing, the dawn sun shone through her blinds, creating a demanding and persistent reminder that she had to get out of bed. Groaning reluctantly, she rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling in an effort to delay the inevitable.

Sudden embarrassment made Bronze sit up rapidly. She heard the bathroom door down the hall open, followed by the noise of Dusk trudging up the staircase. Unable to help but worry that she'd been so loud that he might have noticed her voice, she struggled to remember hearing him start to shower. Heart racing, she gathered her clothing for the day and peeked out at the hallway, making sure it was clear before racing the short distance to the bathroom.

When the door was locked safely behind her, she panted breathlessly, resting her head back against the cool wood of the doorframe. Distantly, she could hear Dusk walking about in his room. Feeling a sudden need to hide the results of her ardor despite his prior interest, she resolved to clean up. It made good policy, anyway. Setting her clothes aside, she turned the shower on as hot as it would go and tried to wash away her embarrassment and smell in the cleansing water.

Not too much later, she felt sufficiently clean, and stepped out of the shower. Silence filled the room after the roar of the water, leaving her calm enough to breathe freely again. A sudden rapid knock on the door nearly made her jump out of her skin, her embarrassed flush returning immediately. She wondered at what point this damn stallion turned her into a raw page once again, and if it could be harnessed as a weapon.

No, she decided. It was nothing she or any other mare in his life would share with an enemy after all.

Dusk’s voice was unmistakable and swirled through her almost as completely as his scent had. “Morning, Bronze. I'm packed. Just going to Rarity’s. Cherry Berry will be picking us up there in a few hours. If you've got time, come say goodbye. We're scheduled to leave around eight.”

Struggling to speak around the thick lump in her throat, Bronze croaked back a feeble reply. “O-of course, Dusk. I'll-I’ll be there.”

Calling back through the door, his voice was cheerful and calm. The rich joy of it acted as an absolute anodyne to Bronze’s wrecked nerves. “I'll be waiting, my Vicarius.” Bronze still wondered if it was an inherited trait; she'd always been able to hear Shining's smile as much as see it, or more.

Swiftly, she set to work, drying and dressing with crisp efficiency. By the time she stepped from the bathroom dressed in her light jogging clothes, Dusk was gone. Just as with her bed, the taste of him lingered on the air, as though a part of him stayed with her, whenever, wherever.

Alone in the house, and flooded with nervous energy, Bronze snatched a banana from the kitchen and headed for the door. Looking where the sun was already beginning to climb into the sky, she decided it was too late for a cool predawn run. Despite that, she was way too keyed up to go back in and deal with any new paperwork that might have - who was she kidding, had - arrived this morning.

Resigned to a warm, mid-morning run, she stepped out under the glorious glow of the morning sun and let her wings flare out to their full expanse. Giving them a good stretch, she sighed at the soothing sensation of the wind blowing through her feathers as she began to run. Her muscles were still stiff from the night's rest, but thankfully the previous day’s stress swiftly began to melt under the heat and aura of the sun’s radiance.

Feeling better than she had in days, Bronze ran, wings outstretched under the watchful eye of the Light.

6am, The Wonderbolts’ Training Field, Cloudsdale

Dash couldn't help but fight back a giddy squeal as she watched Soarin take three long, bounding strides across the cloudface. In one hand hoisted over his shoulder, he held a javelin steady despite his rapid pace. Then, in a single, smooth and effortless motion at the end of his final stride, he hurled the bladed javelin into the air.

Arcing as it soared across the open field, the javelin’s path to the target never wavered for even a moment. Dash felt a little better when she realized she wasn't the only pony in the watching crowd that gasped in awe. Despite his javelin weighing five pounds, when the spearheaded weapon made contact with its target, it bit through the steel shield at the center of the ten foot ring. What came as a real shock was that he had not even bothered to watch where his javelin hit. Instead, he had run back to the waiting cadet, taken a second throwing spear, and repeated the process with exactly the same pace and precision. Three more times he hurled javelins and repeated the process at a breakneck pace, bolting back and forth over the clouds as fast as he could. Stopping in the end so he could watch where the final javelin impacted.

The resounding ring of the impact of five expertly tossed javelins hung in the air as the crowd fell silent, but was suddenly blotted out by the whoop of joy from the Wonderbolt 2nd Lieutenant. He had managed to pierce the target shield on all four sides, the fifth nearly standing straight through the middle, off center by only a few inches.

Turning back to face his audience, he seemed just about ready to rush over to the other watching Wonderbolts before reigning in his excitement. Looking around sheepishly for a moment, he cupped his hands around his mouth then bellowed much more officially, his nervous energy suppressed as he stood at attention and squared his shoulders. The act made him suddenly appear massively more mature before Dash’s eyes. “That is your target for today, but don't be mistaken! This isn't about just hitting the center once. When your turn comes during today's event, you'll be given five javelins! You'll be judged on how consistently you can hit the target zone as a whole! You've got an hour before we close the field so get all the practice in you can if you're not used to our field, the elevation, or the weight of a war javelin! No excuses will save you if you’re not ready during the event today!”

With his speech done, Soarin joined the other senior Wonderbolts in the air overhead, and Dash quickly moved to follow after Surprise. Each of the ponies that had entered the Young Flyers Competition had been paired off with a Wonderbolt, mostly with Cadets hardly two years their senior. A few though, like Surprise, were full Wonderbolts, making Dash wonder just how many must be herd sisters, or more distant relatives. Most shockingly, Fleetfoot herself stood beside a young stallion, lecturing the oddly familiar-looking, stern-faced boy.

Unable to put a finger on why she recognized him, Dash leaned in closer to Surprise as she took up position beside the yellow line that marked the outer edge of the running start. Her voice was a measured shout in an effort to be heard over the crowd but not overheard nonetheless. “Do you see that colt Fleetfoot is talking to? Who's he? Some cousin of hers?”

Pausing long enough to look over her shoulder across the ring of ponies as they set up around the target, Surprise looked over and shook her head slowly, her voice much quieter despite the crowd of loud ponies. “Him? Oh, that’s ‘Thrash’. He's Spitfire’s nephew. He’s always been a top flyer. You aren’t thinking about… pranking him. Are you?” Unsurprisingly, Surprise didn’t look angered, but instead excited by the idea of another chance to return to her old ways.

Shaking her head and laughing Surprise’s offer off, Dash accepted the first of the javelins from her, stepped inside the marked ring in the clouds. She made a few short stretches before answering. “What? No. I just wanted to know who my competition is. If he’s Spitfire’s nephew, then he’s probably the second best here.”

Giggling as she readied another rainbow coloured ribbon to mark Dash’s next javelin, Surprise asked exactly what she knew Dash wanted to hear. “Oh? And who's the best?”

In a burst of speed, Dash didn’t bother to try copying Soarin’s three massive strides. Muscles honed by long hours of practice at Applejack’s cornfield kicked into motion. In four leaping steps, she crossed to the inner ring, and hurled her decorated javelin in a practised motion. Smugly turning away without watching where it hit, Dash put a hand on her hip. She cocked a thumb over her shoulder, just as the resonating thwack of metal impacting metal rang out. The clear tone was easily heard even over the busy crowd of other pegasi practising throwing at that very same target. “Who else? Me.”

Fluttershy had come along when Dash, Surprise, and Rumble left for the Wonderbolts field despite the early hour. However, she quickly realized that everypony else had grown fixed on the stick throwing, and despite her best intentions to cheer Dash on, she was just so… bored!

Looking around the grandstands Fluttershy initially recognized none of the ponies that were gathered. Distantly she could just make out Rumble as he exited a gate far across the field. Following him closely were two other colts and a dozen fillies all dressed in the same dark blue uniforms. Intrigued, Fluttershy decided to get up from her seat. The odd badge on their shoulders reminded Fluttershy of a thunderhead, but the green trim on the badge, cuffs, and collar looked out of place.

Making her way to the edge of the field, Fluttershy looked around to see if there was somepony she could ask for permission to go talk to Rumble. With all of the guards fascinated with watching the contest, she decided it would be fine if she stayed out of everypony’s way and simply kept close to the edge of the arena.

Carefully Fluttershy began circling around in the shadow of the grandstand. In the process, she got to watch as the group of foals split up and spreaded out in all directions. In the end they all took up positions around the older contest entrants. When she finally reached Rumble, the colt had stopped and removed his shoes, his body sinking barefoot into the cloud past his ankles, nearing his calfs.

Just when she was about to step closer to say hello, Rumble slipped a tiny silver whistle into his lips that looked different from the ones that Dash’s weather team used. When he blew on the whistle, she heard nothing, but could feel the magic of a spell whispering out. Looking up, she realized all the younger colts had sunk just as deep as him into the cloud, with a few pressing their hands in as well. Even as she observed them, magic flooded into the cloud. In moments, to Fluttershy’s surprise, the cloud beneath her feet hardened. Soon it felt like she was walking on rock, not the wispy white pillows most clouds felt like.

Finally understanding what was going on, Fluttershy couldn’t help but speak her shock out loud. “Oh! They’re reinforcing the magic that holds the cloud together! That makes so much sense now.”

Twisting to look back over his shoulder, Rumble opened his eyes and grinned at her. However, his face sobered and he lifted a finger to his lips to try to quietly hush her. Soon his eyes closed again and he focused on the cloud. Feeling embarrassed for interrupting him while he was working, Fluttershy decided to turn back towards the grandstand. Feeling a little proud of the efforts of her friends, she couldn’t help but admire how far the colt had come in so little time. “He must be in charge of this group of foals. None of the others have whistles like he does. I should get Dash to tell Thunderlane all about this when we get home!”

7:50am, Outside Rarity’s Boutique, Ponyville

Approaching Rarity’s boutique, Bronze was surprised at just how many ponies had gathered to admire Cherry Berry’s balloon. She was relieved to see that most were simply gawking good-naturedly. As she drew near, however, all but the most distracted made way, offering her a path through the crowd.

Escaping the worst of the crowd and finally able to fully see the boat beneath Cherry’s balloon in person was reassuring. ”She’s into the true classics, that's good. It’s not one of those silly glass-bottomed sky trawlers like the unicorn nobles prefer. This looks like one of the old longboats. A sturdy, traditional choice, probably with a history.” Stepping up to the side of the boat, Bronze ran an approving hand over the gunnels. They hadn't simply been polished to look pretty, but expertly curved to an aerodynamic angle. The effect would help Cherry cut the wind more efficiently.

Jumping over the railing to land by Bronze’s side, the captain herself lifted a brow. The proud mare did not even attempt to be subtle at the challenge she unleashed towards somepony critiquing her ship. “Well Vicarius? Does my lady meet your approval?”

Bronze nearly laughed, but instead approvingly stroked the railing, grinning back at Cherry Berry. “A true, classic design. She’ll serve better than anything short of a royal galleon… but I suppose living in Ponyville, getting to see something that big is a rarity.”

Bronze could see the laughter in Cherry’s eyes, but couldn’t say what had amused the mare. Turning, Bronze saw Dusk and the others gathering on the far side by the gangplank. Swallowing back her nerves, Bronze made her fingers lay flat and stepped around the hull of the ship to face Dusk.

Freshly showered, Bronze dressed in the tunic Shining gave her as his squire. It was oddly refreshing to wear again after so long, but the soft sky blue silk felt awkward against her skin. Trimmed in silver, Rarity had painstakingly stitched Dusk’s sigil over the formerly bare right breast. The twined scrolls and heavy tome were a contrast to Shining’s crest over her left breast, a lance crossing over a scroll. Unsure what to do and still concerned that he’d heard her this morning, Bronze stiffly saluted Dusk before speaking. “Vicarius Bronze Feather, reporting for duty, Magistrate. I promise I'll care for your ponies in your absence.”

The laughter in Dusk’s eyes made Bronze weak in the knees, and behind him, Rarity was watching her. The sly look the alpha mare - no matter what Rarity said, after so long with Canterlot’s nobility, Bronze couldn’t help but think of the mare as such - gave her made it seem like she was expecting something from Bronze. Of course, that only made her all the more nervous.

Still smiling at her, Dusk gave a crisp salute that showed he had learned from his brother’s style. Breaking off and stepping forward, he offered Bronze a steady hand, his eyes still dancing with amusement. “I will only be gone a day or two unless the weather turns against us, but I trust Ponyville will be in good hands, Bronze.”

Accepting Dusk’s handshake, Bronze briefly felt both faint and elated. The thrill gave her the courage to ignore the watching crowd, but her pulse now drummed in her ears, drowning out everything else.

Dusk released her hand and stepped forward to talk to the crowd, but she heard nothing of the speech. Behind her, his herd climbed the short gangplank into the hovering boat, until only Scootaloo was left waiting, while Cherry Berry was busy helping the others secure their luggage and strap into their seats.

When Dusk was finished, Bronze stepped up beside him as nerves fought against her careful plans. Leaning up against his side, her throat felt raw as she spoke. “Dusk… Can I talk to you real quick, alone?”

The stallion nodded, and trying to swallow down her nervousness, she guided Dusk over to a gap between the house and the boat. Though the boat blocked the view of the crowd, Bronze still spread her wings to give them a semblance of real privacy before looking into his eyes. He still had a grin on his face, though his eyes looked a little worried now. She forced a smile onto her own face before speaking. “I’ve got a, uh… a message I want to give Dash. If you could pass it along, that is.”

Quirking an eyebrow, Dusk reached out and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly before replying. “Of course, Bronze. What did you want to tell her?”

Her eyes flicked back to the boat, where she knew Rarity was, and she heard the mare’s words in her head. “Let him know what you want.” Steeling herself, she reached up, grabbing the back of his head, and fiercely pressed her lips to his in a sudden, aggressive kiss.

Dusk seemed to hesitate for a moment before returning the kiss, putting his hands on her hips. Blood roaring in her ears, Bronze breathed out through her nose as she deepened the kiss, her arms moving around his neck to pull him against her tighter. The heat from his hands seemed to urge her on, relaxing her, and she wanted to push things a bit more. She forced her tongue into his mouth and let out a soft noise, Dusk eagerly responding by crushing her against him more.

After what seemed like a blissful eternity, she reluctantly pulled back. Dusk tried to follow her for a moment before pulling himself back, and Bronze’s heart pounded excitedly at the thought of him not letting her pull away. The stallion took a moment to swallow before trying, and failing, to speak. He cleared his throat before attempting again. “Well, that- I, uh… I can pass that-”

The roaring in her ears came back louder than ever, and it took Bronze a moment before she realized it was the excited crowd cheering. Cherry’s balloon had drifted while she was locked in the kiss with Dusk, revealing their private moment to everypony. Above them all, Applejack whistled sharply around two fingers before hollering. “‘Atta girl!” Meanwhile Pinkie chattered off to her in an excitedly indecipherable but joyful rant.

Bronze felt her face flush, and she quickly pulled away from Dusk, but made sure to brush her tail against his before stepping away. Seemingly fed up with waiting, Scootaloo finally managed to make herself heard over the crowd. “Either bring her along or don’t, Dusk! You’re holding us up with all this lame kissing business!”

That earned the filly a round of laughter from the adults, but Apple Bloom rushed to her side and aggressively threw an arm over Scootaloo’s shoulder before grinding her knuckles against the top of Scootaloo’s head. “Aww, come on! The mushy stuff can be fun sometimes too. Sweetie Belle showed me a couple of stories that made it work.”

Scowling at the taller and stronger filly, Scootaloo did the best she could to escape from Apple Bloom's impromptu noogie. Using both hands to push her friend's face away, she rolled her eyes and shot back good-naturedly, “Yeah? Is that 'cause she had to help you read the big words?”

Stepping out from Big Mac’s shadow, Sweetie Belle squeezed Dinky’s hand for support before replying to Scootaloo’s jibe. “Only the really big ones, and most of those I had to ask Rarity for help with.” The filly’s face screwed up for a moment before she continued. “Then she took the book away and said it wasn't appro-priate for foals.”

Above them all in the boat, Rarity groaned in embarrassment and buried her face in her hands where she was strapped into her chair. She took a moment to recompose herself before calling out to her little sister. “Sweetie dear? Remember to do what Big Mac and Granny Smith say to do while you're staying with them, alright?”

Confused, Sweetie looked back up at Mac before turning back to Rarity. “But… Mac never says much of anything, Rarity.”

Deciding to tease Sweetie Belle before leaving, she looked over the railing at the little filly, and gently smiled. “I know Sweetie, dear. Why not try following his example? He's very good at it.”

From the gangplank, Cherry Berry stuck two fingers into her lips, whistling sharply. “Oy, filly and you lovebirds! Are we going to Cloudsdale or not? Because if we take too long we'll be fighting against thermals the whole way!”

10am, Blitz's Balcony, Cloudsdale

Blitz could tell Silken Flight was nervous. It was in the way she rolled her half-full teacup loosely between her fingers, spinning it from the palm of one hand to the other. He could read her little nervous tick like a textbook, despite her serious expression. Only the fact it had taken him nearly an hour to identify a tell in the former mercenary’s behavior kept him humble enough to not outright question her. He felt rusty. He wanted more practise, and searched her every action for a sign.

Lowering the paperwork to the table, Blitz crossed his hands, watching still as he finally spoke. “So Fleetfoot’s departure during the event today is... what? A show for the civilians? To boost morale?”

Silk's hands passed the cup back from left palm to right, pausing just long enough to take a sip before answering. “You’re officially being delayed for a day to get personal affairs in order. Dash’s participation in the competition today has worked out to be a convenient excuse. Three of the lieutenants and four sergeants assigned to Fleetfoot and Spitfire’s squadrons are being transferred in from other wings. We've experienced casualties in the Griffon Empire and need experienced hands used to dealing with hostile griffons. You'll be able to follow her Tuesday night at the latest, though some of the transfers will need to ride in a supply chariot. One is coming straight back from a mission in the ruins of Pegasopolis.”

Memories of the distance and difficulties required in maintaining such a deep patrol into the lost kingdoms came flooding back, and Blitz flexed his wings as he remember having to shake off the feeling of frostbite in mid-flight. As Silk passed the cup back again between her hands, he lifted the teapot and reached over to top off the spy’s cup. With care, he kept his tone mellow. “So what has you so nervous? Surely having both princesses in Cloudsdale can't be causing you this much worry.”

Turning her gaze up from her tea to glare him in the eye, Silk huffed at him with frustration, adjusting her leathery wings and refolding them before answering. “Princess Luna has insisted a bat mare she just discovered last week be added to today's competition. The filly’s talented, a good fighter, and smart enough. But she's only sixteen, and might as well have been raised by bison. The problem is that it’s made everypony else pissy. The Elder bats are angry because they want her to find a clan and have at least one foal before joining the ‘Bolts - they’re willing to overlook the fact that she’s a stray - and the Elder pegasi are angry because “tradition” excludes bats from service in the ‘Bolts after the Nightmare Night rebellion. Apparently they’re deciding to ignore all the exceptions Celestia herself has made over the years. And, true to being a fresh boot, the foal herself got into a fight and bit an earth pony guard last night in a bar brawl in Canterlot.”

Startled by the idea of a filly that young becoming a mother, Blitz simply had to ask. “Wait, but you said she's sixteen. That's way too young to start thinking about starting a family.”

Silk scowled at him again, rolling her eyes and folding both hands over her teacup. “We don't have the same kind of luxuries the rest of you ponies enjoy, Blitz. A foal, colt or filly needs to start paying their clan - or in her case, a clan that’s offering to take her in - back for raising them by the age of sixteen. Which is usually done either by joining their clan’s mercenary band or rearing foals. We're not doing any better these days than we were a hundred years ago. Every pony counts.”

The sudden reminder of the gravity of the bats’ low population problem meant that it was clearly a sore subject with the mare, and Blitz gave her a nod, trying to forestall a fight. “I'll grant you that, Silk. There's no arguing that.”

Drinking his tea and wondering how well an apparently fiery mare at sixteen would take to joining the Wonderbolts, Blitz started grinning despite himself. Stopping to refill his cup before taking another sip of the hot rose tea, he shook his head a little at Silk's headaches. “Forget about the Elders. They still think we should try reestablishing a colony in Pegasopolis. The Wonderbolts will be the real judge of this mare’s character. I served with the first griffon wonderbolt, Captain Crimson Ripbeak, back during the Night of the Red Sun. Nopony there even worried for a moment that she'd betray us. When a fight broke out between some mercenaries and the griffons we'd taken captive, she dove head first into the brawl while everypony else had their hands full. Your foal will be fine if she can back up her attitude with talent.”

Firmly but carefully returning her cup to the table before half rising, Silk's leathery wings unfolded and lifted threateningly as she leaned forward against the table. “Watch what you say, Blitz. She isn't my foal. She's not even the foal of my former clan members. She's just some wildling with no respect for authority that Princess Luna found while dream walking. Maybe in five or ten years she'll earn her place in a clan, but until then, she’s a headache with a lot of extra baggage.”

Remembering his fights with Dash only a few years ago, Blitz let his side of the conversation flag until the bat mare had calmed down and re-folded her wings, silently sipping at her tea. Eventually, he cleared his throat and asked the obvious. “So… what's her name?”

Twisting her scarred face into an amused smile, Silk didn't bother to hide the irony as she answered. “Gentle Breeze.”

8:15 am, Aboard Cherry Berry's Balloon, Approaching Cloudsdale

Scootaloo strained the lead on the twin tethers to their limit, grinning from ear to ear as she leaned as much of her body as she could over the railing. Ignoring the wind blowing in her face, Scootaloo beat her wings as hard as she could. The feeling of lift from the impact of wind on her feathers was exhilarating... She just wished that Dusk and Rarity hadn't insisted on tying her to the boat like a foal.

In the distance, she could already make out little hints of Cloudsdale if she strained her eyes, and couldn't believe how many pegasi she could already see. Roaring through the sky, Wonderbolts in full uniform were everywhere, in groups of two, five, or sixteen, while others in brown uniforms with bright yellow patches flew in groups to balloons that were gathered at the perimeter of the cloud city. A few were allowed in, but most waited. At some boats she could even see teams of adults unloading cargo. Wondering how much longer she would get to stay at the helm, feeling the wind in her wings, Scootaloo looked over her shoulder at Cherry Berry. “How come so many of the bigger ships are waiting outside? Will we have to wait very long?”

Cherry Berry was too busy looking out in every direction to answer Scootaloo’s question at first, twisting around to look out in every direction she could manage. When she finally had a free minute, she laughed a little and tapped a sheaf of papers bound in leather and hitched to her wheel. “We won’t have to wait long. Soon the weather team will stop us and look at Dusk’s paperwork and my pass. If Rainbow Blitz's place is clear enough, I've got a pass for anchoring next to his house for the day. If not, I know a few friends with a bar that always have space for me. And a very nice cider.”

Picturing the earth pony captain constantly falling through clouds whenever she stepped off the boat, Scootaloo just had too many questions to ask. “You visit Cloudsdale regularly? But, how? There aren't that many walking paths, are there? And most ponies make their homes out of clouds, right? And why? Who'd you want’ta visit so badly? Huh?”

Laughing openly at all of Scootaloo’s questions, Cherry pulled a long lever that made the wings on either side of the airship fold back into the body. Then she walked to the railing, slipping a silver whistle into her lips. To Scootaloo’s embarrassment, she couldn't make out the whole message the earth mare called, even after she repeated it twice. Without warning, Cherry cupped her hands around her mouth and cried, “Anchors away!”, before pulling another, shorter lever. The boat gave a slight lurch, and when she looked over the side, Scootaloo could see a heavy red iron block drop away from the bottom of the boat. It crashed down into a cloud beneath them, and Cherry continued answering some of Scootaloo’s questions from earlier. “I like my cider, but not so much I forget where it’s safe to walk. And my friends run a tavern for all the clans. Most days they even have griffons visit.”

Scootaloo barely noticed what she said, as she was too absorbed in trying to figure out the anchor that Cherry had dropped. The metal block hadn’t dissipated the cloud it struck, but instead sank into it a bit before holding fast. Scootaloo felt a shiver run down her spine at the feeling of weather magic, and as she watched, other nearby clouds were sucked into the one that had been hit. Soon, Cherry’s boat stopped gliding forward as the chain hooking them to the cloud reached its limit. Impressed, Scootaloo cried out, “But earth pony's magic doesn't work that way! How did you do that?!”

Free from her work on controlling the balloon's flight, Cherry lifted a spyglass from a leather holster on the side of the steering wheel. Pointing out towards the massive city just past a drifting cloud bank, she watched carefully but answered Scootaloo’s question right away. “That’s because it isn't earth pony magic. A smith crafts the anchor, then a unicorn with weather or metal magic and a pegasus good with clouds or weather work together to make the spells stick so it attracts the clouds and holds a balloon in place. After that, I just have to get the spells inspected every year or so… Ah! Here comes the traffic pony.”

To Scootaloo’s shock, Dusk was out of his seat for the first time since they had taken off, and together with Cherry, began a boring conversation with the traffic pony, who reviewed their paperwork in enough detail to bore Scootaloo senseless. Watching over the distant cloud bank, she could see hints of landmarks she had only ever read of.

The Wonderbolts arena looked to be the busiest place in the city, with hundreds of pegasi roaring into and out of the massive structure. An odd feeling of magic directed Scootaloo’s attention to a massive structure of odd, pink-hued clouds with metal edifices built all over.

When the traffic pony finally blew his brass whistle, Scootaloo got to watch as four new pegasi approached in similar uniforms. As all five took up flight positions around the balloon and Cherry returned to the wheel, Scootaloo pointed to the seemingly-abandoned pink monolithic structure in the distance. “Cherry… what's that place?”

Screwing a wheel to retrieve the anchor, Cherry glanced to where Scootaloo pointed and laughed gently. “That? That's the ‘Rainbow Factory’. The pride and joy of Pegasopolis and the heart of Old Cloudsdale. Today's a holiday, so it’s closed, but if you're lucky, you might be able to visit it someday.”

Unable to help herself, Scootaloo puffed up her chest, bragging to herself. “Someday, I'll run it.”

8:40 am, Blitz's Balcony, Cloudsdale

Dash dragged her fork around the rim of the bowl of salad Blitz had prepared for her when they returned from javelin practice. A dull dish with only the lightest of dressings and a mild surplus of minced carrots to spruce it up, it did nothing to distract her from daydreaming about her two newly-revealed rivals: Thrash and Lightning Dust. Knowing their names… remembering their skills... it did nothing to make her thoughts any calmer. Dust was fast, just judging from her javelin throw. Thrash was… ”Thrash scored just about as many points as I did. Pfft! Just a few lucky hurls, no way I can't do better next time. I just needed a few more practise shots to get used to Cloudsdale’s atmosphere again.”

Only half listening to Surprise and Fluttershy’s conversation, Dash’s attention drifted away, watching far overhead and moving slowly while being escorted by a massive team of traffic ponies, an airship passed overhead, and Dash looked up casually. The Royal Guard lined the ship's railing, piquing Dash’s interest more than her dull dish ever could.

Despite the bad angle, she could just make out the banners being flown high overhead. One bore a golden sun, surrounded by a prismatic rainbow of familiar colours that matched Celestia’s hair. The other was an unfamiliar crest of deep purple and a nearly black hue of royal blue, but Dash realized who’s it was when she saw the large yellow-white crescent moon. Luna's emblem. Finally distracted from brooding thoughts of her newfound rivals, Dash sat up, pointing. “Surprise, did you know both Celestia and Luna were coming today?! I finally get to show off my moves before both princesses!”

Sitting way back in her chair and looking up at the sky, Surprise watched as the ship slowly progressed overhead, drifting at almost a walking pace as it approached the nearby Wonderbolts Training Field. With the stands already half full, Dash felt a sudden, little twinge of nervous energy. When Surprise finally answered, it was so casually that it made Dash instantly suspicious of Pinkie’s cousin. “Well, except for a few very rare exceptions, Celestia’s come to every Young Flyer’s Competition. The rumor about Princess Luna coming has been going around for at least a week now. But you've already shown off for both princesses before, right? Why is today any different?”

Crestfallen, Dash fell forward onto the table, covering her face with one arm while she slammed her free hand into the table. “That's not the same! I was fighting against Nightmare Moon both times! I doubt Princess Luna even got to see anything I did! And Princess Celestia is always busy whenever I've done a show. Not to mention the last time I saw her was when I got in trouble with Gilda. I've never had a chance to show off…” Pausing for a moment, Dash grinned a little to herself. “Maybe you could count the Running of the Leaves.”

As another airship started to pass beside Blitz's house, nearly running parallel to the balcony, Surprise leaned in, her excitement only heightened by Dash’s vaguely worded comment. “You mean… that time you brawled with Applejack in front of everypony?! That was great! If Celestia saw that, she probably loved it!”

Unable to help herself, Dash groaned, burying her face further into her arm. “Oh by the Light! Please don't let her remember me brawling with another of the Elements. That would be so embarrassing.”

The sudden sharp sound of two ponies landing on the wooden deck behind her made Dash straighten up in a vain attempt to try to preserve her dignity in front of strangers. But as a look of incredible amusement spread over Surprise’s expression, Dash felt her stomach drop. Fluttershy let out an excited squeal, and then a certain familiar stallion spoke, making Dash’s blood run cold. “Do you know if Princess Celestia witnessed you two fighting, AJ?”

A familiar heavy hand came down to rest on Dash’s shoulder, her farmpony lover’s voice was full of laughter. “I can't recall. After a good fight with Dash, things tend to get a little blurry. Do you remember, sugarcube?”

Turning in her seat to look up at the errant pair, Dash struggled to think coherently, mumbling awkwardly. “I… I don't know. But… how? Why are you two here?! Cloudsdale is really dangerous for non pegasi!” Straightening up as she remembered Fluttershy’s story about the hydra, Dash jumped to her feet, knocking over her chair so she could jam a finger into Dusk’s chest. “And just what in Tartarus were you doing trying to fight a hydra? Nopony, not even a wing of Wonderbolts takes on a 90 foot hydra without any backup!”

The impact of another pony jumping overboard to join them on the deck announced Pinkie’s arrival. Far more casually than Dusk or Applejack, Pinkie strolled over and picked up Dash's fork, taking a large bite of Dash’s salad. Seemingly unaware of Dash’s last words, she chewed on her mouthful before butting into the conversation. “Well, doesn't Dusk write the princess detailed reports on everything that happens in Ponyville anyways? So I guess she’d know all about the fight!”

Flabbergasted, Dash semi-consciously opened and closed her mouth several times, watching as Pinkie quickly devoured her salad. Glancing up at the airship, Dash saw Scootaloo and Rarity both wave down at her while Cherry Berry coordinated with several traffic ponies in securing the placement of a cloud anchor beneath Blitz's house. Finally, Dash burst out in shock as Pinkie dropped her fork back into the empty salad bowl. “Pinkie!!!”

Looking up innocently, Pinkie licked a little dab of dressing off her lips. “That was good, Dashie… what was it?”

Despite her shock at the incredibly odd situation, Dash groaned and picked up her chair so she could slump back down, even as Fluttershy slipped over to Dusk’s side, squeezing him into a tight and clinging hug while flooding him with questions. Rubbing her face, Dash shook her head slowly. “It was my breakfast, Pinkie.”

Suddenly realizing her mistake, Pinkie cried out in panic. “Oh! No oh no oh no! I'm so sorry Dashie! I'll make you something really quick!”

As Pinkie bolted to the door into Blitz's cloud house, Dash lept up, crying out a warning that came far too late. “Pinkie! That's a cloud house, you can't-”

Already in the kitchen as Dash tried to warn her, Pinkie had to run back to the door. With a befuddled grin she peeked past the doorway. “Yeah Dashie? I can't what? No more salad ingredients? Don't you worry! I'll chop you up some healthy fruit full of lots of energy!”

Her heart racing at a frantic rate, Dash’s mind tried to process how Pinkie could be standing on clouds, before it hit an answer. Slowly turning to Dusk, her finger came back up in an accusatory point. “Just what in the world did you do, Dusk!?”

Sometime during Dusk's explanation to Rainbow Dash, Pinkie had found Rainbow Blitz, and together they returned with a platter of chopped fresh fruit with strawberry yogurt for dip. With the airship now properly docked and everypony eating, and Fluttershy having trapped one of Dusk’s arms in an affectionate but aggressive grip, Dusk turned to observe the retired Wonderbolt.

It had amused Dusk when he realized that Scootaloo wasn't fawning over Dash for once. Sitting on Blitz's other side, the foal sat with her mouth agape, eyes glazed over with awe. While Dusk fished out a piece of strawberry from the collection of fruit, Scootaloo seemed to straighten up in her seat, a serious look and tone entering her eyes and voice. “Are you the Rainbow Blitz? The one who fought on the griffon border? The hero of Grayclaw gorge? The- the one who captured Hilmara Thunderclaw?”

Rainbow Blitz chuckled at the foal’s questions, munching at a sliced bit of banana thoughtfully before Scootaloo mentioned the capture of a griffon. When he heard her name, he swallowed sharply, holding up a finger to halt Scootaloo’s prattle of words while he chewed and swallowed. Once he was finally ready, he lowered his hand, his eyes still mildly amused. “I wasn't the only one there when we captured that griffon clan leader. Hilmara and her clan had flown too far past the border while terrorizing farms. With my wing, we caught them on the ground, and even though Hilmara escaped, we captured the rest of her clan. When we camped with our captives that night, she attempted to ambush us in revenge. If …” Blitz's voice grew thick, and he paused to cough and clear his throat before finally continuing. “She jumped me while I slept, but Firefly… she caught Hilmara in the act and rescued me. She should have been the one given the praise.”

With everypony watching them closely now, the excitable filly pressed on. "Lt. Firefly? Didn't she retire early?"

Even as Scootaloo spoke, Dash went pale. But Blitz just smiled before answering her with a far more mild tone of voice. “Back in those days, I was the Lieutenant, and Radiant was a wingmare, my Staff Sergeant. You know a startling amount about the Wonderbolts for a foal who lives outside of Cloudsdale. What other Wonderbolts do you know about?”

Delighted to show off for Dash and Blitz, Scootaloo lifted one hand and started counting off as she named Wonderbolts and their famous accomplishments. “First of all there was the famous General Firefly, er... sorry, Blazing Firefly. The founder of the Wonderbolts and famous for establishing the city of Cloudsdale after the Exodus. Later Colonel Purple Dart led the Wonderbolts during 4th century of Equestria and established our modern borders with the Griffon Empire, despite how much they've contested them over the centuries. Next was Commander Easyglider, who established the modern art of Choreography and battle dance still used by the Wonderbolts today.”

As Scootaloo grew even more excited, she started leaning forward in her seat and gripped Blitz's hand with both of hers. “Admiral Fairweather made it his life's mission to bring the Rainbow Factory to Cloudsdale. A-and now, Fleetfoot is in charge of the local air force. Spitfire leads the border force and Silver Zoom the third air force, who patrol everywhere outside Equestria’s borders in all other directions.”

Growing winded, Scootaloo paused, catching her breath and looking frustrated. She let go of Blitz’s hand and counted off her fingers, before making an irritated noise. “Ummm… A mare… named… named… umm…. High Wh… wh… wind? Winds! She’s the head of the Weather Team and a Wonderbolt… umm… Lieutenant Colonel! And there’s a griffon currently named…. Umm... oh, I knew it yesterday! His nickname is Obsidian ‘cez of his black wings. He's a captain, and the head of the Wonderbolts’ heavy brigade. No clue what they do, though.”

Outright laughing now, Blitz tousled Scootaloo’s hair affectionately, shaking his head. “Gerard Obsidian is a Major now. He commands the heavy brigade and the irregulars, true. They’re the muscle to back up the traffic ponies around Cloudsdale normally, but in situations where muscle is more important than speed, they are invaluable. Just a few weeks ago, they got called out on an important mission. They had to tear down the wall of a fortress some Diamond Dogs had established, despite the terms of our current treaties.”

Somewhat bemused by Scootaloo’s ability to give a lengthy and detailed list of important Wonderbolts, Rarity coyly arched an eyebrow, sipping at her tea. “Now Scootaloo dear, please tell me: why exactly do you need to study with Sweetie Belle again?”

Suddenly sheepish, Scootaloo lowered her head to look down at the wooden deck, idly fiddling with her plate before finally meeting Rarity’s gaze. "It's well… it's because everything else is just so boring! I don't care about math, or the old unicorn empire, or how earth ponies adapted their old faiths to include the princesses. The ‘Bolts are just *so cool*"

Part of Scootaloo’s answer had reminded Dusk of the Rainbow Factory, and he turned to look for it across the busy sky. It was surprisingly easy to find, its grand pink cloud bank still vibrant and distinctive compared to the more dull white of the rest of Cloudsdale. Idly stoking the embers of his magic, testing his reserves against the spell he was maintaining, he was surprised when he heard - or maybe felt was the better word? - the ancient relic of Pegasopolis suddenly sing out to him in soft lilting tones.

For a moment, Dusk sat in complete silence, entirely absorbed in the hauntingly beautiful music that seemed to drown out all other sensations. After a few moments, he looked back and forth between Rarity and Dash, hoping to see one of them take notice of the song. They had proven to be the most sensitive to magic of his friends, but they didn’t appear to notice anything out of the ordinary. Finally, as the song began to die off, Dusk knew he couldn't wait any longer. “Do any of you hear that? Hear the Rainbow Factory? I swear to Celestia I heard it singing just now…”

With everypony else at the table offering him only slow shakes of the head, Blitz broke the silence with a heavy sigh. “I've never heard it, but Firefly said she could - and I thought she was just messing with me. It was part of why I built a freestanding home instead of building one with the barracks, so we could always stay near the factory.”

Standing up and pouting while pounding a fist excitedly on her knee, Pinkie pointed at the distant structure. “Ohhhh! This isn't fair! I was the one who got that door in the Castle of the Two Sisters to talk! How come the Rainbow Factory won't sing for me? I want to know what a singing building sounds like!”

Idly scratching at the stubble that had grown on his chin in Barb's absence, Dusk couldn't help but laugh a little at Pinkie's rampant enthusiasm. Turning to look at both her and Blitz, he placed one hand over Pinkie's on the table. “What are the odds we could request a visit to the Rainbow Factory, Blitz? Perhaps even a tour?”

The old stallion gave a mild but amused chuckle before offering him a shrug. “It might be difficult… you see, it's a holiday in Cloudsdale today, but I can ask. Plenty of old friends work there, so I'm sure I can arrange at least a visit. You are the Elements of Harmony after all, and Princess Celestia's favorite student. Give me some time between rounds and I'll figure something out.”

Almost like one pony, Pinkie and Scootaloo whooped with joy, the filly high-fiving the mare before they joined hands and danced around in a circle singing out together. “We're going to visit the Rainbow Factory!”

Rubbing her head where the short hair met the long and sighing a little, Dash stood up and pushed her chair back under the table. “I guess I'd better head to get ready for the first round. Think you can escort my friends across the bridge, Dad? I'd hate to ask Cherry Berry to leave dock just to cross a two hundred foot gap.”

Smiling lightly, Blitz snatched up the last sliced peach, chewing quickly and sucking his fingers dry. “No problem, Dash. You go show them what a real pegasus can do.”

10am, The Wonderbolts Stadium

Dusk examined the stadium as they walked the long way over to the freshly installed bridge that linked the Wonderbolts barracks to the cloud neighboring Blitz's. As he strode up the wooden staircase up from the entrance, he remained fascinated by the merger of wood and cloud in the construction. Just as they turned the bend onto the third story, the sudden appearance of a familiar face made Dusk freeze in his tracks. Walking into him from behind, Rarity nearly stumbled, catching herself by gripping his waist. “Dusk, dear?”

Waiting for them not twenty feet away, holding up a sign with Dusk’s name, was Winter Harvest, the snow expert he'd met at Ponyville hospital during the Running of the Leaves last fall. Spotting him and the way he suddenly stopped, face shocked, she covered her laughter with the sign, hardly able to say hello through her amusement. “He- snerk- Hello, Dusk. Rainbow Blitz. Princess Luna had a premonition you'd show up here today. She ordered a couple of us to wait by the different entrances so we could find you and deliver tickets for one of the boxes. C’mon, I'll show you the way, there's plenty of room for everypony!”

Struggling to picture what, if any, limits existed regarding the scope of Princess Luna’s dream walking, Dusk gave Rarity’s hand a squeeze and followed the weather teacher into a guarded hallway. To everypony’s wonder, all use of wood to reinforce the rooms from here on had stopped, with only clouds forming everything except the doors and windows facing the rest of Cloudsdale. When at last Winter opened a door for them, Dusk stepped out only to discover they'd been given a deluxe box, constructed entirely from silvery-blue clouds. Letting Rarity in first, Dusk followed after Applejack and guided her to the front two rows of seats. He felt tension in her powerful, calloused grip. With the others busy talking, he leaned in close and carefully whispered in the mare’s ear. “Are you okay, love? We can go back to the wooden stands if you can’t handle the clouds.”

Squaring her shoulders and weakly smiling down at him, Applejack maintained an even voice as she whispered back. “I'll be fine, Dusk. Just ‘cause I ain't bouncing about like a filly the way Pinkie is don't mean I won't stay and watch Dash’s show.”

Grinning despite himself, Dusk nodded and took a seat beside the towering mare, still holding her hand. As she sat, he could feel her grip momentarily tighten until the seat proved to hold up against her frame. Finally, she leaned in close again, muttering softly. “But if Dash finishes early, I might walk back to Blitz's place. I saw he had a garden out front, and with no earth ponies around, I’d bet it needs a whole heap o’ help.”

Settling into the seat behind them, Blitz offered an embarrassed cough before speaking up. “It would be nice to have a real earth pony take a look at my poor little flowerbed. I fertilize it yearly but the flowers just don't grow like they used to.”

Watching as a group of Wonderbolts took flight in their striking blue and yellow silk display uniforms, Dusk nodded slowly. “Applejack runs her Granddam’s ranch, so I'm sure she will be able to help your flowers.” The smooth and steady way the Wonderbolts moved drew Dusk’s attention and he turned to Blitz. “Do the Wonderbolts always fly the same pattern? They move so fluidly, as if they've practiced this routine a hundred times before.”

Laughing comfortably, Blitz shook his head before leaning forward to talk easier as some of the crowd started to cheer on the struggling young mare that chased after the Wonderbolts. “They don't fly one single pattern, but a collection of sets and how to move fluidly from one to another at a moment's notice. A clockwise spiral to gain height, followed by a backwards flip into a corkscrew dive. Those kinds of things. They rarely ever fly identical paths; it makes the senses dull if you get too used to routine.”

Scratching his chin, Dusk leaned back, speaking gently. “Then how do the contestants know what to do?”

Blitz laughed and pointed to the struggling mare who trailed five or ten feet behind the group of Wonderbolts. “They don't. This tests how well they can think on the spot and adjust quickly.”

Watching as the Wonderbolts returned to the enclosure and traded off with another team of seven, Dash nervously rubbed at her elbow. Ahead of them all, Fleetfoot herself reached deep into a bag, pulling free a tiny slip of paper. Bellowing in a voice that was all-too familiar now, she called out another name. “Number 64! Gentle Breeze, you're up!”

Dash's eyes were instantly drawn to where the mare herself was milling against a wall alone, the only bat pony in the room with four griffons and nearly eighty pegasi. As she straightened up, Dash judged she was as short as Rarity, her silvery hair streaked with blue. Other than a single scar that crossed her nose from left cheek to right eyebrow, she looked in good shape. She wore what was a cleary brand-new, skintight black flight suit that matched her dark mocha skin, and her dark auburn eyes danced with excitement. Grinning wickedly from ear to ear, she followed swiftly after the Wonderbolts as they ran out into the open area, her black leathery wings beating at the air even before she hit the sunlight.

Almost as one, Dash and the vast majority of the other contestants turned to rush to the line that Fleetfoot had marked off limits. Just barely able to watch from there, Dash focused on the seven Wonderbolts as they drew into formation. Flying in pairs as a tight line, with the last spot open for the bat mare to join, Dash judged they were still matching the same pace as the previous three displays.

“This just isn't even fair... Aren't they even going to go a little easy on her? Bats and griffons both get the short end of the stick on formation challenges...” Feeling sorry for the mare, Dash stuck two fingers between her lips and joined those few in the crowd who were cheering the mare on by whistling sharply.

With powerful muscles working overtime, Breeze inched closer to the tailing Wonderbolt and her spot in the formation. As they turned into a broad, arcing curve, she cut across the gap rather than follow them exactly. In another obviously exhausting burst of effort, the bat finally reached her spot, and for one wonderful moment, she held her own. The curve twisted tighter, then turned into a sharp dive, but she held on…

Right until the last moment, she kept up. But when the lead bolts turned up rather than hit the clouds that formed the arena floor, Breeze reacted too slowly, and without the wing strength of a pegasus, her crash into the cloudbank was inevitable. With so much momentum, the mare skidded across the hardened surface before finally recovering to look for where the formation had gone.

Already soaring high overhead, they turned as one, returning to another slower spiral before landing all around the panting mare. To Dash’s shock, the mare that Breeze had been meant to fly with used the sleeve of her uniform to wipe blood from the bat’s nose before shaking her hand. The lead stallion of the formation threw an arm around the bat’s shoulder, and as a group they walked her from the field, gathering around and talking excitedly to the sullen and embarrassed girl.

Without realizing she was speaking out loud, Dash scornfully said, “But if they knew she couldn't keep up, why didn't they slow down and compensate for her?”

Fleetfoot’s answer was sharp, and Dash could feel her cheeks redden with embarrassment at being overheard. “Because if we embarrassed Princess Luna’s last-minute entree by going easy on her, she'd never forgive us. Now if you've got time to talk, Dash, how about you go next?! Hey, Soarin! Dash’s supposed to be quick; full-speed, like in practice!”

Shooting their leader a salute, the fresh team of Wonderbolts charged forward, rushing as one out into the sunlight. Caught off guard, Dash stumbled out of the crowd of other contestants, shifting her mother's goggles down over her eyes as she rushed to catch up with the older pegasus team. Under the radiant warmth of the sun, Dash marveled for just a moment as Soarin and his partner took off, then leaned into her sprint to catch up with the gray-and-white-haired Wonderbolt that was clearly her partner.

Dash landed her final stride in time with her partner before the stallion lifted off, at exactly the same spot that Soarin had. Dash leapt with him, glad she'd been watching every move Soarin made. Soon, she found herself caught up in the rhythm of their flight, wings beating in time with the formation as they soared high over the crowd in such a tight and twisting formation that Dash was sure she could reach out and touch Soarin’s foot if she wanted to.

Somewhere, distantly in the back of her mind, Dash’s younger self was screaming at the idea of flying together with real Wonderbolts, but it took all of her concentration to keep up. Every turn she was certain something was about to go wrong, but with rapid adjustments and her partners forgiving and attentive assistance, they avoided any devastating impacts.

Far below, Dash heard the sound of a single tiny voice crying high over the roar of the crowd. Turning one eye from Soarin to glance to the stands, Dash could just make out Pinkie’s brilliant hair as she jumped up and down. With Scootaloo sitting on Pinkie’s shoulders with her brilliant orange wings spread wide, there was no doubt her friends were cheering her on. Grinning, Dash winked down at them before turning her attention back to Soarin...

With barely any time to spare, Dash caught the sign of Soarin reversing the direction of their flight before immediately dropping into another steep dive. A half-second behind everypony else, Dash turned and dove, but in the process she clipped the Wonderbolt at her side hard, just below the shoulder with her elbow. She could see the stallion momentarily wince but hold formation. Internally, Dash knew she'd failed.

Struggling to do her best, Dash pressed on, matching move for move and shift for shift until at last they returned to the tunnel. Around her, Dash heard a roar of cheers, but she couldn't handle that - not with how she’d failed. Pushing her way out of a circle of other contestants, Dash hesitantly stepped up beside the stallion she’d flown by. With her voice trembling, Dash spoke to him. ”I’m- oh… by the Light. I'm really sorry. Are you okay?”

Subconsciously running a hand over the place Dash had hit him, the stallion looked briefly shocked before reaching out and punching her playfully in the shoulder. “You’re kidding, right? A little bump like that's nothing compared to some of the accidents we have sometimes during practice. Don't be so hard on yourself!”

But as the stallion turned away and walked off, Dash’s heart sunk as he started to rub his arm again.

The moment Dash disappeared from sight, Applejack rose to her feet. While everypony else was cheering wildly, the towering earthy pony ducked her head down to avoid disturbing anypony else and made for the door.

Following quickly behind, Dusk caught up with her just inside the hallway, where she'd paused to rest her back against the wall while catching her breath. Squeezing her hand, Dusk waited for his lover to calm down.

After what felt like forever, Applejack still only held his hand, leaning against the solid cloud wall of the hall so others could pass them. Eventually, her eyes opened and she shook her head. ”I’m sorry, Dusk. But I think… I need to feel the dirt under my feet again. You'll tell Dash I stayed to watch her as long as I could manage, right?”

Dusk nodded a little, but looked back to the door to where the others were still cheering the other contestants on, chewing at his lip. “Are you sure you're okay enough to get back to Blitz's place alone? I can walk with you... Pinkie and Scootaloo are doing more than enough cheering to make up for the rest of us.”

Behind Dusk, Blitz's distinctive voice grabbed their attention. “How about you stay, Dusk? I'd be happy to show Applejack to my garden. She'll be able to feel dirt beneath her feet again, and once she's settled, I can fly back much faster. No risk of me missing Dash’s next turn to show off.”

Surprised that Dash’s father had joined them, Dusk was grateful for his offer of assistance, but still hesitant. “Applejack… are you okay with that?”

Smiling over Dusk’s head, Applejack gave Blitz a small nod before looking back down to Dusk’s eyes. Leaning in, she planted a gentle kiss on his lips, brushing her nose gently against his. Squeezing his hand again, Applejack grinned once more. “I'll be fine, really Dusk. Besides, it'll be nice to have a chance to talk with Dash’s pa alone. Go back and join the others. I'll see you later.”

Watching as his lover and Blitz took off, Dusk felt a lump of guilt that he wasn’t sure he could ignore. Breathing out a sigh, he turned away and rejoined the others.

It wasn't until the next contestant took flight before Dash got any room to breathe. It felt so strange to have a dozen other excited pegasi crowded around her and asking questions. Instead of feeling epic at the attention, Dash couldn't help but remember her mistake, or the way the unnamed Wonderbolt had winced.

Before Dash had time to realize it, the next contestant was back to a much milder fanfare. A second, then a third each had their turn, and at last Dash’s crowd thinned out. Lost in her own thoughts, it wasn't until the familiar-looking stallion ‘Thrash’ jumped to attention as Fleetfoot derisively called his name that Dash finally remembered the colt she'd known years ago.

“Thrash! Hey, Contestant #4! … Hey! Dumb Bell! You're up! If you can't pay attention here, maybe Soarin can take you for a lap at full speed and remind you that real Wonderbolts work for a living!”

Sheepish, the colt Dash had once challenged to a race over his tormenting of Fluttershy bolted away from a mare he had clearly been talking with. Joining Soarin’s wing just in time to run out into the sunlight with them, they took off as one.

After hearing Fleetfoot call out the colt and send Soarin to put him through his paces, just like she'd done with Dash, she couldn't help but follow the others as they rushed to the edge of the sunlit path to watch.

Turning to focus on the display high overhead, Dash marveled at the tight formation that roared past the crowd in one downward spiral, then back again in a broad, long arc. It was Soarin that held Dash’s attention at first, but inevitably she found herself shifting to ‘Thrash’. Somehow, he kept up with the Wonderbolts flight in style, making smooth shifts in time with their own. In the loop-de-loop, she never once caught the colt struggling with micro-adjustments the way she had been forced to do. And soon, both in the stands and the tunnel, the crowd was roaring, cheering them on again.

When it was over, the Wonderbolts returned to the tunnel, panting heavily and breathing hard. While Cadets handed out water, one of Soarin’s team ruffled ‘Thrash’s hair and the other contestants surged around to pelt him with many of the same comments they'd asked Dash before. Finding a wall to linger against, Dash was surprised when a mare with vivid green feathers joined her, giving a dismissive grunt. “So, Dash. How's it feel to be upstaged by Spitfire’s nephew? Rotten, right?”

Remembering the mare from this morning’s javelin throw, Dash almost stared at her cocky smirk and confident indifference. Breathing a sigh, Dash shrugged, trying to play it cool. “You’re Lightning Dust, right? I remember seeing you during the morning's event. You crushed everypony else but ‘Thrash’.”

The mare’s laughter was excited, and she snorted derisively before extending Dash a hand. “Thanks, Dash. But hey, that was nothing! I've been watching every Wonderbolts practice for three years. Just wait until I blow you both away. I'm going to get Soarin’s team and lap them if that's what it takes to impress Fleetfoot.”

Shaking her other rival’s hand was odd to Dash, but the way she smiled and laughed reminded her of Applejack. Remembering all the times they'd raced or wrestled soothed something in Dash's wounded pride, and she tried to relax a little, firing back at the mare. “Sounds good, but you haven't seen me in the solo flight. I've got half a dozen moves prepared that'll blow the Wonderbolts’ socks off. So don't disappoint me, I've been looking for a real challenge.”

Snickering, Lightning gestured over her shoulder at ‘Thrash’ who was talking boastfully to the other contestants while a new group of Wonderbolts took flight together with one of the few griffons. “You mean Dumb Bell and his fat, bloated ego weren't enough for you? Don't worry. This, I've got!”

Having a new friend to distract herself from the stress of the competition was good, and Dash enjoyed Lightning’s frank opinion of ‘Thrash’. Hyped by their conversation, Dash finally started watching the griffoness that struggled to keep up with her partner in the sky overhead. Doing an impressive job, Dash tried to cheer her on like she had the bat pony, joining a small but serious group in the crowd who were clapping in rhythm.

When the flight ended, Dash grabbed one of the cups of water from the cadets and joined the taller griffon who sat on her knees, panting for breath. Offering her the drink, Dash tried giving advice. “You gotta keep walking around after racing that hard or you might get cramps. You did great, by the way.”

Meeting Dash’s eyes, the stranger was reaching out to take the cup when Lighting Dust suddenly called out to Fleetfoot. “Hey! Can't anypony but Dash and ol’ Dumb Bell fly fast enough to keep up with the Wonderbolts? Shouldn't you just disqualify these slow pokes and let the real contest start?”

Fleetfoot shot a nasty glare at Lightning as she spoke out, her silver whistle suddenly in her lips. After the shrill call she pointed to the spot at her side, eyes burning with unsubtle anger. “You think you're so hot, Lighting? Soarin. Full time. See if this blowhard has anything to say after flying a round with your crew.”

Sprinting together, Lightning Dust and the Wonderbolts whipped up a powerful gust as they rushed out into the sun. Only half-watching as she left, Dash was shocked when the panting griffoness spoke up. “Why would you care to help me? Aren't you busy gloating about being in the top three today?”

Still holding out the water, Dash tried to play it cool and shrugged casually. “I already knew I'd be good at flying. I mean I am Rainbow Fucking Dash. I made a Sonic Rainboom as a filly. But you're a griffon. You could easily skewer anypony in this room to the wall with a blunt stick! That's why the Wonderbolts are so powerful. They know what makes each of us great, and teach us how to be even better. Now stand up and walk with me, or you'll get cramps when you drink this water.”

While other contestants around Dash were shocked by a number of things she'd said, the griffoness took Dash's hand and let the pegasus help her back to her feet. Accepting the water, and not so slyly grinning, the tall mollen leaned against Dash as they started walking around the chamber. “Why’d you think I'd ever be willing to drink water a pegasus gave me in the first place?”

Snickering openly, Dash punched the mollen gently in her ribs before answering. “Because, you screwball! If you don't drink it, you'll wear it! And then we'll end up fighting. And sure, you might win that fight, but you’d get DQ’d in a heartbeat, and you’re not stupid!”

Behind Dash, Fleetfoot’s loud and vocal snort of amusement was unmistakable even while she wrote on a clipboard the cadet at her side passed to her. “And Dash, regardless of which one of you won that brawl, you'd both have hell to pay. But Dash is right, all of you! Knowing who flies fastest helps us groom those of you we take on. But we judge you on all of your talents. Attitude and effort are both extremely important.”

A sudden outcry from the crowd forced Dash’s attention away from her newfound griffon friend. Looking to the sky, Dash couldn't see Dust or any of Soarin's team. Searching everywhere, she at last found the mare flying alone, rushing back to where the others had landed. Utterly shocked, Dash didn’t realize she was speaking out loud. “She was doing well, right? How'd she end up flying alone?”

From his reclined pose on the wall, Thrash laughed, tossing his long bangs with a shake of his head. “Are you kidding? She missed a cue any foal could have seen! Hell, even that bat mare nearly recovered from that dive. Guess she just blows at landings. Oh well, just me and you now, Dash. Want to surrender and join me for lunch? I've got plenty of room in my herd for a mare with wings like yours.”

Shaking her head at Thrash’s sad attempt to flirt, Dash pulled away from the mollen she had been talking to and turned to leave. Just as she reached the archway back to the public areas, Dash stopped and turned to roll her eyes at Thrash. “Hey, Dumb Bell? I've got lunch plans with Fluttershy. Remember how you tormented her as a foal? Yeah, she's one of the Elements of Harmony. Who's got time for your rude ass?" Spreading her wings wide, Dash couldn’t help but throw out one more barb. “And get a good look, because this is as close as you’re ever getting to my wings.” Stretching them to their full limits, Dash strode out of the tunnel, going to look for her friends.

Author's Notes:

Hey guys. Making faster/better progress, but sadly I have now lost the assistance of my 3rd full time editor and another of my part time editors. I already posted a blog about this, but I'd really appreciate anyone who can offer some assistance with editing in the future. Feel free to drop me a line here or via pm.

I had lots of stuff I wanted to talk about here, but things haven't been going right for a few days now, so I'll just post this and go back to bed. Hopefully you all like what we've got going, and see you again next time, when Rainbow Dash rediscovers the Sonic Rainboom!