takes place during S9 E25, (The Ending of The End Part 2.)

this is the last chapter that will take place during the canon timeline of the show for this story.

ONE MORE CHAPTER AFTER THIS AND WE’RE DONE! YAY!

“Hey, uh, woah, what’s happening?!” Spitfire yelled as they flew into their hometown.

Every current and veteran Wonderbolt were there, confused at the mass of frantic Pegasi trying to block Cloudsdale off from everything else.

Soarin had never seen anything like this in years. Loads more Pegasi made their way into the cloud city and started moving clouds to block it off from the ground below.

“The unicorns and earth ponies are doing the same thing!” a blue stallion called back.

“Nopony’s safe. Cozy Glow, Chrysalis and Tirek have returned and it’s everypony for themselves!” said a purple mare before flying off to help cover.

“What?!” Spitfire yelled. “After everything Equestria‘s been through, they just close themselves off like that? What the hell?”

Wave Chill flew in front of Spitfire and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Captain, let’s just go watch the rally down there. Everything’s going to be fine, okay?” His dark blue eyes seemed to steady her as she faintly nodded and regained her composure.

“Fleetfoot, Blaze, Lightning, Rapid, go help them cover Cloudsdale. Misty, Wave, come with me to the weather factory. The rest of you, stay here or go listen to the talks.”

They all saluted and went to do what they were assigned.

To say he was confused would be an understatement. What had happened to Equestria, all the creatures, Cloudsdale? And Dash?

He knew she was with her friends getting ready for Twilight’s coronation. But now she was in danger. He knew it. She was an element of harmony, a best friend of Twilight’s, somepony who had faced all three of these villains. She was a hero. She’d be up against the evil. He just knew it.
Dash in no way was cowardly.

He knew she was out there trying to save the world while he was here being protected. He was beyond worried.

A young colt with a dark yellow coat and a red mane shot up, clearing his throat and looking at all the Pegasi. “Focusing on our differences keeps us divided! Villains and creatures like the windigos use that division against us!”

Everypony looked at each other as the young colt looked at all of them. “It isn’t too late! We can still help, unite with the magic of friendship!” he pleaded, wide eyes looking around.

Soarin, still unsure about this, turned up to Silver, Thunderlane, and High Winds. He owed his loyalties to Equestria, Celestia, Twilight, the Pegasi.
To Rainbow Dash.

Every other Pegasus looked hesitant yet still touched by the colt’s words, and murmured amongst one another.

“He’s kind of right,” Soarin said, though he had his worries.

High Winds glanced around. “I- yeah. It makes sense,” she agreed and sighed. “But what about all of the other ponies? How could we possibly help save Equestria? We aren’t elements of harmony and we don’t have rainbow powers and lasers.”

Soarin opened his mouth to agree with her, but stopped.

Dash poked him in the chest. “Don’t feel insecure around me because of that. And don’t take it out on me,” she uttered angrily. “You’re awesome just the way you are, Soarin, and you can do anything and I wish you would see that.”

He stared blankly as she sighed and flew away to Ponyville.

“True, we’re not Equestria’s heroes.” He walked over to the colt and stood beside him. “We have to help,” he called out. “We need to try. Celestia, Equestria, they need us!”

The pegasi’s eyes widened as they listened to him, a Wonderbolt, agree with Hyper Sonic. Then smiles slowly lit up their faces and they all raised their hooves. “For Equestria!”

Soarin looked up and nodded at Spitfire, who nodded back.

All at once, the pegasi began to clear out, busting through the clouds and down below, they could see unicorns and earth ponies running.

“Guess they had the same idea,” Silver said.

Soon, every creature from ponies to changelings, yaks, griffins, Kirin, hippogriffs and dragons were all charging ahead. It was astounding and beautiful as they all rose, the unicorns magic wrapping around Spike, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash.

She was tough and strong. But he worried. He worried like he had never been worried before, because the mare he loved with all his heart was still in danger, even if she was safe at the moment.

A glistening white tinted shield protected them. Looking past, Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow were all staring up at them with slightly amused looks on.

This was the biggest thing Equestria had ever faced.

But Soarin had faith. He had faith in everypony there.

He had faith in himself.

“You’re awesome just the way you are, Soarin, and you can do anything and I wish you would see that.”

She had faith in him.

He would help save the world. In any way he could.

And no doubt clogged his mind as he and his friends and everyone else shot down towards the villains, flying in circles around, yaks stomping and ponies distracting.

“Don’t let them escape!” Tirek roared.

Cozy Glow jumped on his horns. “Which ones?!”

Soarin looked back for a second and saw the shield being lifted up and brought backwards to the rest of the creatures who stayed at the top of the hill.

The “distraction” was working. Maybe they could win this. And if they didn’t, the only thing that would matter was that Dash was okay. She had to be okay.

Suddenly, a strong force pushed him all the way back at lightning speed, and had Soarin crash right into the shield, falling down it slowly beside a changeling.

He was flat on his stomach when he looked up, and his eyes made his way to blue hooves.

For a split second, just a moment, magenta locked with green. I’m okay, she told him.

He gave a curt nod. Good.

Then the shield faded and more chaos erupted.

He managed to get back in the air, ready to go back to defending when Twilight flew forward, hair flowing in the wind. “Enough!” she bellowed. “Because of you I almost lost my way.” She looked back with fond eyes. “But every creature here has reminded me of the true power of friendship.” She turned back and glared. “There will always be darkness in the world, but there will also always be those who find the light.” A pink aura surrounded her. “The Pillars knew this. That’s why they created the elements of harmony.”

Suddenly, Princess Celestia, Luna, Discord, and Starlight Glimmer appeared, along with the old Pillars of Equestria.

“The elements showed me and my friends how strong our friendship could be. Together we work to bring harmony to Equestria.”

Her friends were lifted out of the air by some magic also surrounding them with bright light, along with the six students, Silverstream, Gallus, Yona, Smolder, Sandbar, and Ocellus. And the old Pillars joined them as well.

The heroes of Equestria.

Soarin could see Dash’s rainbow tail shining brightly, even in the distance.

“But there will always be more to do, which is why we teach others about the magic of friendship, others who will continue our mission after we are gone. Now I truly understand— the elements were just symbols. The real magic has always been right here. And the more who understand how powerful friendship is, the stronger we will all be. Together!”

The speech was incredibly inspiring, and Soarin looked out to his team, feeling a rush of gratefulness for his friends. His best friends. Because the princess was right, the fact that they were friends had gotten them through many things. Rainbows shot out of the three groups, all connecting to Twilight and banishing the windigos before shooting down and meeting all three villains.

As soon as it was over, Cozy Glow, Tirek and Chrysalis stumbled up, all looking weak.

Chrysalis began to say something but was ultimately crushed by a gigantic pink cupcake as... chocolate rain? started to fall.

Spitfire smiled and nodded. “Let’s go Wonderbolts, they have this covered.” She smirked one more time at the sight below before starting to fly, the rest of the team following.

Soarin hung back, watching as Pinkie Pie absorbed and was rid of Discord’s magic.

His eyes sought out Dash.

She was beside Fluttershy, and she was perfectly safe. That was all that mattered.

“Soarin, you coming?” Spit yelled.

He nodded and followed.