Cloudsdale Coliseum was a flurry of activity that particular morning. The crowds were gathered just outside, hoping to get a glance at the elite. The media pegasi were buzzing about in a flurry all around the perimeter trying to catch the latest soundbite or furtive glance over the top of the ancient structure. Only a select few were allowed inside. This was of course a rare and momentous occasion. Once every few years the Equestrian Air Force and their elite fliers would host the event. Once every few years would the best fliers in Equestria come to train and earn a spot with the Wonderbolts. For one cyan pegasus and her polychromatic mane, this was her time to shine.

The Caneterlot Royal Guard stood at every entrance to the hallowed training facility. Their stoic resolve only broken when challenged for entry. Only the select few cadets and even more select few press ponies were allowed to pass to document this historic occasion. For decades—nay, centuries—the Wonderbolts had trained at the old arena. THIS year however, was the beginning of a new era. A brand new, completely revised facility had been crafted from the sturdiest of clouds. After decades of use and repair Celestia herself had decided that her top performance team was worthy of a new showground. In the off season the coliseum had been completely gutted and redesigned. Corinthian columns rung the outside of the coliseum, virtually identical to when the venue was formed a millennium ago. The intricate groves and carvings trailing the trim along the building, a monument to pony-kind itself and a testament to their fortitude. At the front, a colossal carving of the sun and moon, paying tribute to the diarchs of Equestria. Beyond this ancient design however, sat a true work of art. A sign of how far things had come in the last thousand years. Beyond those columns and carvings sat a miniature city. Dozens of passageways leading in a ring around the interior branching off into dozens more halls to offices, restaurants, seating areas, locker rooms, and even living quarters. Beyond that, the center of the arena itself. Almost as large as two hoofball fields, the venue was massive. Overlooking the pitch were two decks and tens of thousands of seats for eager ponies. The entire arena was enchanted so that earth ponies and unicorns alike would be able to attend without fear of falling through the clouds. Two large, flat sections of cloud sat on either end of the field awaiting the enchantments of the day to broadcast the activities for all to see.

For the rainbow maned mare however, none of the intricate details seemed to matter as she passed by the Royal Guard ponies. Her eyes darting all around the stadium as she made her way to the field. One single thought captured her mind…. Repeatedly.

OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!

For today was the day she stepped up from the reserves and attended the Wonderbolt Training Academy.

One month prior

Rainbow Dash was enjoying one of her many afternoon naps on a relatively puffy cloud over Ponyville. Having completed her Weather Team duties for the day there wasn’t much else for her to do. As she lay on the cloud, her tail hanging over the edge blowing delicately in the breeze she couldn’t help but release a contented sigh. She’d been training extra hard for months in preparation for the Wonderbolt Academy. As of yet she hadn’t received her acceptance letter, but after talking with the pony in charge of recruiting she couldn’t help but feel confident. Suddenly from down below her, she heard the shrill cry of a certain cotton candy haired pink mare.

“Rainbow Dash! Oh oh oh! Rainbow Dash!”

Peaking over the cloud Rainbow saw Pinkie Pie bouncing towards her, four hooves at a time, at a somehow unbelievable pace. Rather than question physics, Rainbow shrugged it off as an It’s Pinkie Pie moment and flew down to see what was the matter.

“What’s up, Pinkie Pie?”

“Welllllllllllllllllllllllll……” Pinkie said with a huge intake of air, “IwasatSugarCubeCornertryingtomakethissuperduperawesomecakeforLyraandBonBonspartytonightwhenDerpyflewintalkingaboutmuffinsandmailandbeforeIknewitshewasgonewithatrayofthembutleftaletteronthecounterandIthoughtitwasformebutitwasadressedtoyou!” The pink pony was gasping for air after finishing what was intended to be an entire conversation in one sentence. She produced a letter clad in a light blue envelope that had a lightning bolt with wings stamped over the seal.

Rainbow’s eyes widened as big as saucers as she snatched the letter from Pinkie.

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have been selected to be placed on the hiring list to become a Wonderbolt Cadet.  This letter serves as a conditional offer of employment, provided you successfully pass a psychological examination, and a physical.  Selection from the list will be based on the number of academy positions available.  Applicants will be given an academy slot based on their ranking on the register.  Your ranking on the register is based on your combined score of the physical fitness test and previous flight performance.  Applicants that are not selected for Cadet Class 953 will remain on the list for one year.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe her eyes… nor did she try to. She didn’t even bother to finish the letter before darting straight into the air to do several flips. After years of training and waiting she had done it. She was going to be a full-fledged Wonderbolt. It dawned on her she had left Pinkie standing there. Alone. Without a clue… ok Pinkie usually didn’t have a clue, but she had a knack for knowing the full scope of things before anyone else. As Rainbow touched down in front of Pinkie she saw the biggest smile she’d ever seen on the party pony’s face.

“Oh my gosh Dashie I’m so happy for you! After all this time it’s finally happening! You get to follow your dreams!” Gasp “OhmygoshIneedtothrowyouaWonderboltacceptanceparty!Ineedtogetcakeandmmmm” a cyan hoof found its way to Pinkie’s mouth.

“Uhhh Pinkie? Stop. Breath, your turning…. Well you’re starting to look like me.” Pinkie began a few deep breaths as soon as Rainbow removed her hoof. “I need to go tell everyone else first. Besides, it says here I still need to get medically and psychologically cleared… Not that that’ll be a problem being as awesome as I am!” Rainbow Dash’s ego shined brighter than Pinkie’s smile ever could.

“If you realllllllly want to throw me a party then there are two conditions.” Before Pinkie could even speak, Rainbow put her hoof back to the party pony’s mouth. “Just nod if you understand.”

Pinkie just wiggled her head up and down.

“Ok good. Number one, you have to let me go tell the rest of our friends first. Number two….. bring cider. Lots and lots of cider.” Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but grin at the last part. Her reputation as a cider hound was known across Equestria, but her knowledge that she’d be unable to touch the stuff once she started the academy fueled her desire for the crisp, fermented beverage even more. “Do we have a deal?”

Rainbow slowly removed her hoof from Pinkie’s muzzle before a quick “Deal!” was heard from the pink pony and she disappeared into a cloud of dust. Rainbow waved her hoof back and forth out of disbelief that Pinkie could vanish so quickly. She shrugged before darting off to Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow was chomping at the bit (as much as she hated the expression) to tell her friends of the news, but something deep inside just told her she had to tell Applejack first. She’d been her first friend when she came to Ponyville (other than Fluttershy, whom she knew from flight school), and felt a connection to her and the Apple family she couldn’t quite shake. Maybe being the Element of Loyalty helped her stay true to her oldest friends, maybe it was something about the fiercely competitive nature of the two’s friendship. Either way Rainbow felt she HAD to tell the orange farm pony first… well, second thanks to Derpy the mail mare’s mixup with the post again. But the klutzy Pegasus was lucky to find the right town half of the time, so it was to be expected.

As Rainbow Dash glided in to a landing outside of the farmhouse on Sweet Apple Acres she couldn’t help but admire the golden sunset over the orchards. The slight wisps of clouds that remained in the sky accented the deep hue cresting the horizon, fighting the darkness for control. Settling down with just a tuft of dust under her hooves she began a quick trot towards the front door when a certain red stallion caught her eye. She immediately stopped, caught admiring the colt as he removed his yoke at the barn before he began a stroll back to the farmhouse, unaware of the Pegasus observing his every move. As he approached the house, she spoke up.

“Uhhhh, hey Big Mac. Gorgeous night huh?” Gorgeous night, really Rainbow? That’s the best you can come up with? She mentally chided herself.

“Eeyup,” came his trademark reply. Not really sure what I was expecting, Dash thought to herself.

“Umm, i-is Applejack here?” Another quick-witted response, Eh Dashie?

“Eeyup, Ah’ll get her for ya.” The red stallion trotted inside. A deep “AJ? Yer friend is outside fer ya” resounded from within.

“Consarn it Big Mac!” Applejack scolded her brother as she passed him at the door. “Ah just got Applebloom to stop fussin’ an’ get to bed an ya go yellin’ across the house.” She swatted him with her Stetson on the flank as he passed with his head hung in shame.

“AJ? What’s that, who’s there?” A little filly’s voice echoed through the house.

Turning back towards Mac she glared at him with a This isn’t over type of look before muttering “told ya.” Walking outside she saw the usually hyper Pegasus still locked up and silent. “Well hey there sugarcube! What brings ya out to the ol’ homestead this time of night?”

Rainbowdash just stared silently for a moment before holding out her letter to Applejack. All of the sudden she couldn’t seem to string words together to form a sentence. This time it wasn’t out of awe or foolishness, it was out of fear. As she prepared to tell AJ about this she realized that this was it. This was her big chance. This was her dream. This was… her going away. This was her leaving her friends and, in essence, her family behind. She wasn’t sure how they would react.

As Applejack read the letter though her eyes grew wide and a smile crossed her muzzle. “Well Ah’ll be damned! Congrats, RD! Bout damn time they realized how great ya’d be!” Applejack swooped in and wrapped her forehooves around Rainbow Dash’s withers in a tight hug. “Ya think yer ready for this?” The farm pony backed up just a step and stared at Rainbow, who had yet to move a muscle.

Rainbow stared back. A second past. Then two. Finally she grinned widely with an “awwwwwwwwww yeah!” She swooped in and captured the farm pony in another hug. “This is gonna be so AWESOME! I mean there are still a few more hoops to jump through, but I’ve totally got that.” She smirked as she said the last part, taking a forehoof and whipping imaginary dust off of her shoulder as she did so. “I just hope they’re ready for ME!”

“Ah’m real proud of ya, Rainbow. Ah always knew you’d get to follow yer dream someday. Course Ah’m sad to see ya go, but t’ain’t like ya can’t visit! Ah’ll be sure to be there fer ya whenever you graduate too!”

Rainbow smiled. Not the egotistical smile she usually wore. Not the one of excitement she wore when she received her letter. She wore one of affection. One that was from the heart. One she knew was for a true friend that would always be there for her. It was the warmest smile she’d ever worn.

“Awww thanks Aj!” A slight hint of crimson graced her cheeks as she spoke. “I still need to pass the last few hurdles though. Chances like this are pretty rare so I need to make sure I don’t blow it. Ohmygosh! Rare. Rarity! I still need to tell everyone else about this! Gotta dash!” Before Applejack could even say a word, she was gone in a blue and rainbow colored blur. As quick as she was gone she came back, hugged the farm pony one last time, and took off again towards town. Applejack just smirked before turning back inside to go yell at Macintosh some more for waking up their little sister.

Over the next few hours Rainbow Dash made her way to Rarity’s, Twilight’s, and Fluttershy’s houses and gave them the good news. Rarity insisted on making Rainbow Dash a new outfit to wear for reporting in as well as one to go celebrate. Rainbow took off as soon as the word “frill” left her mouth. Twilight (after jumping around in circles for several minutes screaming “yes” and her congratulations) offered to help Rainbow learn every last minute detail about the academy as she could and offered to help her read every book needed. After turning her back on the cyan pony to get the tea only to turn around and see she was gone, she realized this may not be the best way to approach the Wonderbolt-to-be. Fluttershy was by far the most ecstatic of the bunch… not that anyone else could tell. Rainbow Dash’s oldest friend offered a rather hearty “yay!” in response to the news. It was so loud that the mice in her walls scratched their heads wondering what the noise was and Angel Bunny paused a whole two seconds before going back to munching on his carrot.

“I’m so happy for you, Rainbow,” the butter yellow Pegasus started, “this has been your dream ever since flight school!”

“Aww thanks, Shy! Ya know I couldn’t have done this without you. Without all of our friends. You guys never stopped believing in me.” She gave the timid pony a smile. “It really means a lot that you guys are ok with this. Me leaving to follow my dream I mean.”

“Oh Rainbow, you should know by now that we just want whatever makes you happy. We’re your friends, and we’ll support you no matter what. I mean um…. If it’s what you want.” Fluttershy attempted to brush her pink mane in front of her face to hide.

“Aww c’m here Shy.” Dash pulled the yellow Pegasus in for a hug. “I may have to leave for a while, but you guys are always gonna be with me in here,” she said gesturing to her heart with her hoof. I’m gonna go and make you all proud!” Rainbow Dash stood and offered a salute as she said the last bit, holding it until both she and Fluttershy burst out laughing. “Just don’t go changing on me while I’m gone, mmk? You’ve been my oldest friend since flight school. I’m gonna need your support to get through this.” Rainbow stopped with wide-eyed look like a deer that just got caught stealing feed. She pulled Fluttershy in close and wrapped a hoof around her neck before whispering to her ear “but if you tell anyone that I need their support for this I’m gonna deny it. Mmk?”

Fluttershy chuckled. “Ok, pinkie promise,” she said, going through the motions before miming with her hoof to her eye. “Just go blow them away. Promise?”

“I promise, Shy.” Rainbow gave her a smile before heading out for the night.

Two weeks later.

Rainbow Dash waited anxiously for her letter. She had finished talking with the psychologist and the medical doctor a week ago. All she wanted was for her results. She wanted to know she was placed high enough to start the academy. Her closest friends knew she was accepted. Now she needed to pass the final hurdle. While pacing inside of her cloud home she heard a thud followed by two distinct knocks. Rainbow rushed to the door and opened it in time to see Derpy dusting herself off before reaching into her mail bag and pulling out another light blue envelope for her. Rainbow ripped open the letter and only got through the first sentence before squeezing the mail mare into a hug so tight her eyes went straight for a moment, before releasing her.

CONGRATULATIONS! REPORT ON THE FIRST OF NEXT MONTH TO THE CLOUDSDALE COLISEUM FOR THE 953RD WONDERBOLT ACADEMY CLASS…