Rainbow Dash slipped her goggles over her neck and gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror. Her mane was still unruly despite Rarity's constant effort to get it styled. She looked, perhaps, a little rounder, a little less gaunt. Her muscles and sinews no longer showed so clearly through her coat.

Not bad, all things considered.

She trotted downstairs, where Rarity had laid out breakfast. Fruit again. Rarity was not, Dash had learned, the best cook in the world. She chuckled at the thought and inhaled a few bites, then grabbed the bag lunch Rarity had left on the table. A tiny yellow note, filled with her flowing script, was taped to the top:

Remember Sweetie's recital tonight. Love, -Rarity

Ah, fun. Three hours of listening to ponies trying to sing. Still, it made Rarity happy, and Sweetie would certainly blow them all away again. Why she bothered staying in Ponyville when the whole world wanted to hear her was a mystery to Dash.

She tucked the lunch in her saddlebags and flew out the door to work.

The skies above Ponyville were filled with clouds. The late winter sun was still low in the sky, adding little warmth to the pegasi laboring around her. A snowstorm was due in a few hours, and they still had an entire high pressure system to push away before the storm could move in. Dash watched the progress of the flight around her, offering a few corrections as the less-experienced pegasi struggled with the thick, heavy clouds.

She heard a subdued *pfft* behind her and turned to see a pegasus who most certainly did not work for the Ponyville Weather Team standing on a cloud, just a few feet away.

Dash gave the newcomer a nod. “Captain Spitfire. Welcome to Ponyville.”

Spitfire shook off her goggles and gave Dash weak smile. “Lieutenant. You don't know how good it is to see you back in the air.”

“Heh, yeah... things are better now.”

“I'm glad to hear that.” Spitfire paused, watching the dozens of pegasi working around them. “You know, since things are better... are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yup. Why, want to talk me out of it?”

“I'd be lying if I said I didn't.” Spitfire sighed, then reached back into her saddlebags and pulled out a small envelope. “Your paperwork is complete. Lieutenant Dash, you are hereby assigned to the Equestrian Aerial Demonstration Team reserve squad. You will complete at least one training session per month, and attend at least one air show per year. Do you understand these orders?”

“I do.” Dash grinned at her. “And thanks for pushing that through.”

“Eh, you deserve it.” Spitfire passed the envelope to Dash, who stuck it in her saddlebags. “And hey, if you ever change your mind...” She left the rest unsaid.

“Thanks, but I don't see it happening. Things are... things are really good here.” Dash turned around to watch her team reposition a few more clouds. She'd been running the team for less than two months, but already they responded to her directions like she was an old hand.

“Mhm... You know, I've met Rarity a few times. Forgive me, but she doesn't seem like your type. Are you sure it's going to work out?”

Dash tilted her head. She had asked the same question dozens of times. At night, before she fell asleep in Rarity's arms. In the morning, waking up nestled against her soft coat. When they were together. When they were away. Always, the answer was the same.

“I don't know, Spits. I don't think anypony ever knows. But I haven’t been this happy since before Soarin died.” Saying his name didn't hurt anymore. It was like a scar – always with her, but no longer bleeding. No longer a wound in her psyche.

Spitfire nodded. “Alright, I'll leave you be.” She turned and trotted away, but stopped at the edge of the cloud. “Hey, Dash?”

“Yeah?”

“You could've led the team, someday. You still can. If you change your mind, you could be the greatest Wonder Bolt ever.”

Dash was silent for a moment. She looked over the edge of the cloud, down at the bustling town below. Somewhere in that mass of buildings, a white unicorn was hard at work on her dresses. In the back of her mind, Dash knew, she would be thinking of a sky blue pegasus with a garish mane.

“Yeah, I could be.” She turned to give Spitfire a smile. “And maybe, someday. But today, I'd rather be the happiest pegasus in Ponyville."

And she was.