Rainbow Dash woke up to the sound of constant beeping. "Damn the Alarm Clock," She thought to herself. She reached over to turn the alarm off, but hit nothing but air. She fell out of the bed onto a...floor? "That can't be right," Rainbow thought to herself. Confused as to where she was, Rainbow finally opened her eyes.

Instead of her normal cloud castle home, she found herself in a place with numerous metal instruments. She saw a red cross, which could only mean one thing; it was a hospital. Soon after she located the source of the beeping; a heart monitor that was attached to her.

"Are you alright, miss Dash?" Rainbow was startled by a voice from behind her. She turned to see Nurse Redheart standing there.

"Sorry to have startled you. You should climb back into bed; you're in no condition to be walking around."

"I can walk fi...ARGH!" Rainbow groaned in pain as she got to her hooves. "Okay, maybe I do need, ow, to..." With that, Rainbow climbed back into bed, with some much needed assistance from Nurse Redheart.

"Your friends are all waiting in the lobby. I'll go tell them you're awake. In the meantime, just tell me if you need anything." Nurse Redheart left the room, leaving Rainbow to herself for a few moments.

"What the hell did I do to myself?" Rainbow asked herself. She felt like she'd been doing something earlier. What was it.

Just as it seemed the memory would emerge, Rainbow's thoughts were interrupted by yet another voice.

"Dashie! You're awake!" came the unmistakable energetic voice of Pinkie Pie. "I was so worried about you after your accident!"

"Wait, what accident?" Rainbow asked in response.

"You don't remember. You were going so fast and then something happened and you fell and so did a whole bunch of others and..."

"Pinkie, take a breath 'fore ya make yerself pass out." Applejack interrupted as she entered the room with Fluttershy, Twilight, and Rarity. "Y'all okay, Rainbow?"

"I feel sore, but I'm fine."

"Oh, it was simply dreadful watching the accident." Rarity said, "I'm amazed you aren't anymore hurt than you are now."

"What accident?" Rainbow asked again, "Pinkie tried to say something, but I didn't get anything from it."

"Y'all were in a race." Said Applejack, "And y'all were on the last lap."

"Then you ran in into a flock of geese," Fluttershy added, "they go mad and started attacking you. And then you..."

"Then I what, Fluttershy?"

"crashed..."

"What was that."

"She said crashed," interrupted Twilight, "you crashed hard enough to knock you out for a day."

"So that's what happened. Well, at least I'm fine. Can't wait to get out and stretch my wings again. Maybe go and win some more races."

The other ponies exchanged glances at the last sentence.

"What's with all the looking around?" asked Rainbow. After a few moments of hesitation, Twilight spoke.

"We talked to the doctors before you woke up. They...they don't think you'll be able to use your wings again."

"Good joke, Twi," Rainbow laughed a little.

"Sugercube, she wasn't joking." Applejack responded. Rainbow went into shock mode. Never flying again. No. It was a lie. She was Rainbow Dash, she had to fly.

"Raaaaaaiiiiiiinbbbbboooowwww, aaaarrrrrreeeeeee yyyyyoooooouuuuu ooooookkkkkaaaaaaayyyyyyy?" The world seemed to slow down in Rainbow's state of shock. It faded to black as she passed out again.
-----

"you...kay, Sugercube?" Rainbow heard Applejack's voice as she came to again.

"Yeah. I just had the worst dream. You guys said I couldn't use my wings anymore."

"Err...That wasn't a dream." Rainbow was at a loss for words for a few moments.

"So I can't fly...ever again?"

"Ah'm afraid so."

"But that can't be. I'm Rainbow. Future captain of the Wonderbolts. I have to fly!"

"You can't, sugercube. Ah'm sorry."

"But, couldn't Twilight just make me some new wings?" Twilight, who had been in a chair reading, jumped at the mention of her name.

"I could, but they would only be temporary. And it takes a lot of effort. You remember when I made wings for Rarity, right?"

Rainbow sighed, "I guess you're right. But, what am a going to do without wings?"

Pinkie suddenly burst into the conversation, "OOH! You could help me bake! It would be soooo much fun. We could make all sorts of things!"

"Pinkie, the last time I tried to cook anything I almost burned down a building."

"Oh, right."

Rarity was next to chime in. "You could help me run the boutique. I could use some extra help. Sweetie Belle is willing, but she makes such a mess.

"no," Rainbow responded rather bluntly.

"Well, fine then."

"Well, y'all could help at the farm..."

"Excuse me, but visiting hours are now over," Nurse Redheart interrupted, "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Sorry Sugercube, we have to go. See ya tomorrow." Applejack said. With that, all their friends said goodbye for the day, leaving Rainbow alone with her thoughts. No flying. No wings. How was she going to live anymore?
-----

Rainbow was allowed out of the hospital three days later. This automatically meant a party thrown by Pinkie. But Rainbow had refused to have a party, at least not just yet. Despite having three days to let reality soak in, She still needed more time to think. Her whole life was based around getting into the Wonderbolts, which was now an impossibility without wings. Her friends kept suggesting ideas of things for her to do without wings, but nothing that she cared for. There seemed to be nothing for her in the world.

Rainbow had been thinking about these things as she took a walk through Ponyville. Before she left the hospital, it had been agreed upon that she would stay at the Library with Twilight since Rainbow couldn't fly up to her house any longer. It was there that Rainbow was now walking after a miserable walk. As she rounded a corner, Rainbow saw a flier up on a building that caught her eye.

Equestria Racing League

Searching for new drivers

Testing Thursday: 2-7 @ Manehatten Raceway

Be at track by 10

Rainbow took off in a dead sprint to the library. Preparations needed to be made.
-----

"Are you sure its a good idea to have a bunch of rookies out testing a new car?" asked the long, black-maned stallion in his ever-present Scottish accent.

"It should be fine Dario." Answered the other, "Besides, these cars are far safer than our last version. That, and we are giving them a whole class on how to drive them. There's nothing to worry about."

"'There's nothing to worry about.' That's what you said before the race in Las
Heygas, and we all know what happened there."

"There's no need to dwell in the past. We need to move forward. And that means bringing in new drivers."

"Fine. But just don't take anypony. They need to be good. We don't need a rookie going and crashing every race."
-----

The day for testing had finally come. After a long ride out to Manehatten, Rainbow finally made it to the raceway. The track was enormous, with tons of stands and tons of hills. It made Rainbow a bit more nervous.

In fact, Rainbow was more nervous than she had been at the Young Fliers Competition. It was the last chance she had to do at least something she liked; racing. What would she do if she screwed this up. It's not like there was much of another option. Of course she was nervous.

She at least had the comfort of having Twilight come along with her. For one reason or another, just being near Twilight made Rainbow's nerves come down a bit. She hadn't noticed this until the incident with the dragon. Rainbow had been scared to death, though she wouldn't admit it, but something about the lavender mare made everything fine. In fact, at times she felt like...

"All drivers planning to test may now head into the room for instruction." An older looking stallion announced, interrupting Rainbow's thoughts.

"Ugh. Instruction. I just want to drive." Rainbow complained.

"Just go Rainbow. It can't be that bad, plus, you're learning." Twilight responded.

"Learning. Pfft. I hope I won't be too long."

Rainbow headed into the room, where about two dozen other drivers sat. She took a seat toward the back of the mass. Looking around, she saw it was a plain room with a whiteboard at the front. 'Feels like school again,' Rainbow thought to herself.

The older looking stallion returned the room and took his place at the front of the group. He began his lecture.

"Hello, my name is Mareio. I'll be teaching you how to drive the cars that you plan on driving later today. Now first, has anypony driven a car before?" Not a single hoof was raised.

"I see. Well, we'll start with the basics. When you climb in the cockpit of your car, you'll notice two things immediately. There are pedals under your hind hooves, and a steering wheel immediately in front of you. Lets start with the pedals. There are three pedals...'

'This is going to be a long class' Rainbow thought.
-----

"I still can't believe that Randy went through with this. I would have thought he had enough criticism as it is after Las Heygas."

"I agree with you Dario, but look at the positive. Maybe we'll find somepony who will be good."

"Maybe you're right Helio..."
-----

"So, how was the class, Rainbow?" Twilight asked as soon as she saw Rainbow come out of the room.

"Shoot me now."

"That bad, huh?"

"It was boring as hell. And before you ask, I did pay enough attention to get what I needed from the lesson."

"That's good. Say, why don't we go get some lunch before your big test? Or are you even hungry?"

"Not yet, I'm not..." Rainbow's stomach rumbled in protest, "okay, maybe a little." With that, the two headed into town.
-----

Rainbow got back to the track about half an hour before testing was supposed to start. It was barely enough time for her to get ready for the test. She was forced to wear a fire suit, shoes, and a helmet. She couldn't understand why these wear needed, but she went with it. She needed this.

After she finally was ready, She rushed to pit lane to get to the car she was assigned to. Car number 13. 'Just the luck I need' Rainbow thought sarcastically. She climbed into the car, and noticed the wheel immediately. So many buttons. No one said anything about buttons.

"Don't touch any of the buttons, please." Rainbow jumped as much she could in the cockpit of the car. "I'm just one of the safety crew. No need to worry. Now just stay still so we can buckle you in." The safety crew started buckling several seat belts, strapping Rainbow tightly in the car.

"All right, everypony's strapped in there car. Start 'em up." A deafening roar swept over the pit area as the engine of each car was started. Rainbow felt the car vibrate from the massive power of the engine behind her. She grabbed the steering wheel instinctively. For some reason, this was coming naturally to her.

"All hot. Send 'em out." One by one, each car was let out of pit lane and onto the track. The process was slow as three drivers managed to crash on their first lap.

Finally, it was Rainbow's turn to go out onto the track. Her heart was pounding out of her chest.

"Head on out." The safety crew member came over the radio. Rainbow eased her way out onto the race course after a few moments of trying to remember which pedal did what. Once out on the track, Rainbow went against her normal nature and went slow at first. She felt like she had done this before at some point, even though she hadn't. She drove around the track once at a low speed just to get familiar with the course. She never would have done this while flying.

She came around to the finish line and picked up the pace. She was surprised by how fast the car went at first. The speedometer went up rapidly, reaching 150 Miles Per hour before Rainbow could realize it was happening. This was the fastest she had ever gone. Ever. 'This is so awesome!' She thought to herself. Rainbow suddenly realized she had been shifting up gears without even noticing. 'You have to have been a race pony in a past life.'

It then occurred to Rainbow that there was a turn coming up. 'Oh God, don't mess this up.' Rainbow pressed on the brake pedal and turned the wheel. She got through the turn as smooth as anypony could. 'This is easier than I thought. And sooo awesome. This will be a piece of cake.'
-----

"I told you weren't going to find anypony by just holding a random test session!"

"I suppose your right. There was a good turn out though."

"Does that really matter, Brian? We're looking for a good driver, not some random pony off the street." The heavy-set stallion shot the other stallion a glare, or at least as much as he could through sunglasses.

"Chip, calm down. I'm sure we'll find somepony somewhere..."

"Hey Chip, you might want to check this mare out." The stallion named Brain was interrupted by a somepony apparently associated with "Chip". The group came to watch as a car came roaring past.

"What was the time on that lap?"

"Give me a sec...a minute 20 secs."

"...Are you serious?" Chip's jaw hung open as if broken.

"I'm not joking with you. This pony's good."

"Get me the name of that pony." Chip looked over and saw Brian was grinning from ear to ear.

"Let see, click this, and this. Ah here we go. Car 13. Says his name is...oh wait, her name...Rainbow Dash."

"Rainbow Dash. Write that name down." Chip turned to Brian, "You are one lucky son of a..."

"CHIP!"

"Sorry. Anyways, lets see if we can catch this 'Rainbow Dash' before she leaves."
-----

"Miss Dash, you have to come into the pit lane. Now."

"Oh, come on! Give me one more lap." Rainbow whined at the track marshal's request.

"We already gave you two extra laps. Come in now."

"Fine." Rainbow worked her way around the track and back to the pit lane. The safety crew helped Rainbow get unbuckled and then showed her how to leave the facility. She turned into the garage area where she immediately ran into Twilight again.

"That was amazing, Rainbow!" the lavender mare exclaimed.

"It wasn't that great."

"Rainbow being humble? Never thought I'd see the day. But you were like the only pony who didn't crash. You were amazing!"

'She so cute when she's excited' Rainbow thought, but quickly dismissed it 'Where the hell did that come from?'

"Well thanks. Hopefully some other pony thinks that way..."

"Excuse me, but would you be Ms. Dash?" Rainbow was interrupted by a pony clad in a red suit similar to what Rainbow was still in.

"Uh...yes?" Rainbow responded, rather confused.

"Oh, good. I thought I missed you. Anyway, my boss would like to talk with you."

"Your boss?"

"Yeah. I think he liked your driving. Anyways, just follow me and we'll be there in no time."

Rainbow and Twilight began to follow the mare, passing into an area that restricted to the race teams themselves. But Rainbow didn't notice any of this. She was lost in her own thoughts. This seemed like a dream to her, but the more she though, the more she realized how real it was.

When she finally snapped into reality, she found herself facing an large, overweight stallion wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap 'Gearnassi Racing' written across it. He was saying something.

"...Dash?" the stallion finished asking.

"Huh?"

"You are miss Rainbow Dash, correct?" He asked again.

"Uh, yeah."

"Well, that was some fine driving you did out there. Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Name's Chip Gearnassi, and I own a racing team in the ERL. Now, tell me, had you ever driven before this?"

"...Uhmm, no."

"You did that well on your first try. My Celestia, that's great. Now then, I wanted to talk to you because I have a space available on my team for next season. Would you be interested?"

Rainbow's jaw hit the ground on hearing the offer.

"Y-yes." She managed to stammer out.

"Great! We have a few days of testing up here, so we could get you in a car during those. Oh, would you look at the time. Looks like I've got to go. See ya soon."
With that, Mr. Gearnassi took off toward the garage areas.

Rainbow stood in shock for a few moments. Had she really just heard what she thought she heard. A team was signing her.

"Rainbow, this is great!" Twilight exclaimed. Rainbow smiled at her. She just looked so cute when...

'NO!' Rainbow screamed in her head. Why did she keep thinking these things? She had to try hard just to not blurt out what she was feeling.

"Thanks, Twi." Rainbow managed to get out finally.

"I just so happy that you finally got a chance at something."

"Well..." Rainbow started, only to be interrupted again.

"Oh! We have so much planning to do for this. You should read some books on this, oh and you should..." Rainbow phased out Twilight's rambling and just thought. She had a massive opportunity to race again. Perhaps everything would turn out okay after all.