"You were so close to the eight hundred wing power minimum!" Twilight hung her head low. "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow pulled her head out of the tree. "We've got to try again!"

"But you've pushed your crew to their limit already!" Twilight yanked Rainbow back. "If you break apart again, somepony could get hurt! You should quit, it's not safe!"

Rainbow shook her head. "No! One more time! I've gotta know we gave it our all! If I'm going down, I'm going down flying!"

Spitfire fluttered over. "Now that is the kind of spirit I like! Tell ya what, Dash: I'll be 'from Ponyville' for a day, and we'll get the job done. Together. What do you say?"

"Yes!" Rainbow did a little spontaneous back flip. "C'mon, ponies, let's make this happen!"

All of Ponyville's Pegasus ponies rushed back into action, including one honorary Ponyvillian. The tornado rose strong, draining the reservoir in short order and sending the water in a long, graceful arc all the way to Cloudsdale.

Rainbow Dash and Spitfire landed side-by-side.

"You showed some real spirit there, Dash." Spitfire punched Rainbow in the shoulder. "You'll make a fine Wonderbolt some day."

Rainbow didn't say anything. It was doubtful she could, with how widely she was smiling.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some new trainees to whip into shape. Gotta go!" Spitfire launched off into the distance.

Rainbow just sat there, squealing. She didn't notice Fluttershy quietly making her way in.

"Hi, Fluttershy," Twilight called out.

"Oh, Hi Twilight." Fluttershy looked around. "Am I... am I too late?"

"Yeah." Twilight shrugged. "Spitfire chipped in and they did just fine."

Fluttershy shrank down. "Oh. I hope Rainbow won't be mad."

Twilight looked over at Rainbow. The pegasus was still sitting, staring in the general direction of Cloudsdale with a huge grin on her face. "No," Twilight said, "I think Rainbow's going to be perfectly okay with it."

S02E23 Ponyville Confidential

"What I meant was, we should write for the paper!" Sweetie belle said. "We can get our cutie marks as journalists!"

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. "It'd be a lot easier if you just have Twilight Sparkle zap a cutie mark onto ya, like she did for me." She turned to show off the apple blossom on her flank.

"Oh... right." Scootaloo stared at it.

Sweetie Belle looked over at Scootaloo. "Why haven't we done that yet?"

"I have no idea." Scootaloo shrugged. "But let's go do it now!"

"Cutie Mark Crusader cutie mark getters! Yay!" the three of them yelled at once.

S02E24 MMMystery on the Friendship Express

"I'll show them. I'll stay up all night and protect you. Nothing and nopony will stop me from keeping you safe."

Pinkie proceeded to diligently guard the cake all night, not allowing anypony near it. Later the next day, it took second place in the Canterlot dessert competition, with the distinction of being Princess Celestia's first choice for 'tastiest treat'.

S02E25 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1

"I've got something to say! She's evil!" Twilight pointed an accusatory hoof at Cadance.

Everypony froze.

"Are you sure?" Celestia asked. "I trust you, of course, but this is quite the accusation."

Twilight nodded. "I'm sure."

"But... but... I'm not... I can't be evil!" Cadance broke down into tears. "What's happening? Why is she doing this to me?"

"Don't worry." Celestia gave a calm smile. "I have a simple spell that should clear up any misunderstandings. It reveals lies and deceptions."

Cadance's eyes went open wide. She grimaced.

"All you need to do is pass this little test, and then we can all find out what the misunderstanding was." Celestia's horn glowed.

"Wait! I'm–"

A beam of golden magic hit Cadance, ripping away her disguise and leaving a black changeling queen in her place.

Everypony stared at her.

"Aha!" Twilight shouted.

S02E26 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2

"Right you are, Twilight." The changeling cackled. "And as queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!"

"No. You won't." Princess Celestia stalked toward her. "Now that I have revealed your true self, I can protect my subjects from you!" She took to the air and fired an intense beam of golden energy toward Queen Chrysalis.

The Queen shot back her own green beam, smashing it into Celestia's and even beginning to push it back.

Celestia winced. "Twilight! I little assistance, please?"

"Of course!" A violet beam shot out from Twilight's horn toward the changeling.

It, too was blocked and countered by a green beam, but with her magic split in two directions now, Chrysalis was losing ground on both fronts. "No! Fools! My army will–"

The violet and gold beams met in the middle, blasting the changeling away, straight through one of the stained glass windows of the hall.

Twilight stood there a moment, panting. "Whew... I wasn't expecting her to be that strong."

"Indeed." Celestia took a deep breath and twisted her neck back and forth, making a slight cracking sound. "Now, how about we go find the real Princess Cadance and get this wedding back on track?"

Twilight smiled. "You can count on us!"

Author's Notes:

Be sure to fave or follow if you're interested in seeing the sequel: season 3.