Dashie unfurled her wings and took to the sky, I followed short behind her with the help of a powerful gush of wind, a jump, and a push from my own wings. She was screaming for me to catch up with her - so I did. I began flying as hard and fast as I could, the pain in my wings from the injury was almost nonexistent from the incredible magic medicine I was prescribed. Flying was nearly effortless. I caught up to her, and tapped her side.

“Tag!” I shout through the wind noise as I soar away.

“Oh no you didn’t!” She says, determined to tag me back. She flew past and over me, turning and spinning as she went. She flew backwards in front of me and tagged my nose.

“You’re it!” She shouted as she flew towards a rapidly approaching Cloudsdale. I chased after her for a few seconds until she stopped short in mid air, hovering in place above the field I was taught how to fly in. The clouds moved out of the way, revealing Cloudsdale bathed in Celestia’s sunlight. Dashie saw I was getting close and took off, she flew between the cloud homes and Greek-esque cloud buildings that were floating through the sky, scaring ponies as she went at break neck speeds. I wasn’t too far behind her, the rainbow trail she made was dispersed as I flew through it. The mountain which Canterlot castle is part of was in sight now, we were getting closer to the race track.

The light grey clouds that shielded Cloudsdale once again moved in front of us, revealing a brightly lit racetrack near the outskirts of Canterlot. It was a large oval, surrounded by clouds to mark the race area. There was a lot of ponies waiting patiently in the marble bleachers that were attached to the side of a mountain, chatting about the race and patiently waiting for it to begin.

We glided our way down to the stadium, Dashie made her way up the stairs in front of me towards the locker room. On our way up the steps I heard one young filly shouting “Rainbow Dash!“ over and over, I told Dashie that she had a fan. She quickly made her way over to the young filly and gave her an autograph. Her first autograph. Her first fan, aside from all her friends and myself. A few of the filly’s friends began crowding around Dashie, but she soon gave them all what they wanted - a signature from ‘The one and only Rainbow Dash!’. Dashie left for the locker room to change into the blue and yellow jumpsuit which we‘d packed into her saddlebags, as soon as she was out of sight, I made my way to the betting stands.

I hadn’t made much money, but the little bit of money I had I’d earned by helping out Pinkie in the bakery, Applejack on the farm, or Rarity with modeling hats. I approached the window, inside was a pony wearing a formal looking suit, he seemed bored out of his mind.

“Hello sir, would you like to place a bet? Minimum bets are forty bits.” He said, in a monotone voice while leaning on his right hoof. I had only brought fifty bits with me. I was debating whether or not to place the bet, I’ve never been one for betting. I then realized who I would be betting on: Dashie, My daughter, the best young flier, a Wonderbolt! ‘I have no doubt that she’ll win.’ I thought. I reached into my pockets and pulled out the bag/wallet that I kept my bits in. I pulled out the coins, they jingled against the hardwood counter top. The colt took the coins, counted them, and asked me who I was betting on.

“Rainbow Dash.” I replied. The boy looked confused for a second, as if my bet was insane. He simply nodded, pulled out a ticket, and with his magic punched two holes into it then levitated over the yellow ticket to my hands.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to the Wonderbolts Derby! The competitors are taking their places at the starting line and the race will begin momentarily! ” A booming, female voice echoed. I took my seat on one of the seats near the track and waited for the race to begin. I began to watch the track, I didn’t see Dashie. No more than a second after I thought that I saw the familiar rainbow trail come out of a door which had nearly swung off it’s hinges.

Dashie’s eyes began shifting around looking for me once she made her way to the track. I waved to her, she noticed and waved back. She flew to the track and waited for the other ponies to do the same.

“Are the competitors ready?” The booming voice asked. One by one, everypony nodded their heads. The voice once again sounded off. “Racing today, we have Spitfire!” The crowd was sent into an uproar. “Soarin’!” The crowd went off again. “Rapidfire!” The crowd cheered yet again. “Fleetfoot!” The crowd screamed. “And lastly, Rainbow Dash!” I began cheering as loud as I could, the crowd followed in ear shatteringly loud screams and cheers.

I even heard the filly and her group of friends shouting “Rainbow Dash!”.

A few seconds passed as the crowd’s screams, and my own, died down. A horn sounded, signaling the start of the race. The referee pony blew the whistle and waved the checkered black.

There was a blur of blue, yellow, and white, as well as the ever persistent rainbow trail that followed Dashie. Needless to say, I don’t think I’ve ever screamed louder in my entire life. The race ended so quickly, I don’t even remember how many laps they all flew.

“Rainbow Dash wins!” The voice announced. “Followed by Spitfire, Soarin’, Fleetfoot and Rapidfire!” I was so happy for Dashie, she’d won her first race! The smile on her face equally matched mine: extremely toothy and goofy. I jumped out of my seats and flew over to her, she met me half way and hugged me tight. Spitfire flew over to us, a smirk on her face.

“Congrats kid, your first win.” Spitfire said genuinely. Soarin’ interjected.

“Whatever. I‘m going to get a snack.“ He was clearly bitter about the loss.

I raised my eyebrow at Spitfire. "He doesn't like losing."

"Who Does?" Dashie and I said in unison.

I went with him, not to get a snack, but to grab my bits. The colt was still inside of his cube, bored as always. I handed him the ticket with a grin, he rolled his eyes and handed me the bits I’d earned. I counted it out, two-hundred fifty bits. Was that the ratio of her winning? Five to one? ‘They really underestimated her’ I thought, it really upset me. I had more then enough bits to do something special for us, but what? Soarin’ came back from the snack bar, he’d bough a slice of an apple pie, it was evident from the crumbs around his mouth.

Spitfire wrapped her arm around Dashie’s and Soarin’s neck. “Wanna go get some lunch? On me.”

"Why not?" Dashie said.