What's Really the Most Important?

by KrishnaKarnak

First published 31st of March, 2013

Rainbow Dash's life with Scootaloo has begun. But with a nasty disorder growing in the young Scoot, will Rainbow be able to balance affections between her and Rainbow's crush, Soarin? A mission to Saddle Arabia is about to make everything m

(This iteration of the story has been cancelled. Detailed explanation + silver lining/glimmer of hope here)

Rainbow Dash always had a thing for First Officer Soarin of the Wonderbolts, even without realizing he could be such a sweet pony once she got to know him a little better. However, her affections are already tied up with the newly adopted Scootaloo, who needs guidance and care when a new disorder rears its ugly head. There's not much room in her heart for a stallion, is there?

Unfortunately, her life will get even more complicated as the Mane Six join the Wonderbolts to face a mysterious darkness in the distant land of Saddle Arabia. She must remain strong, because her entire world is about to come crashing around her ears. Is there a light at the end of this tunnel, or will everything she endured simply bring more pain down the road?

(Rated teen for the occasional instances of strong language, suggestive scenes, and scattered ponies drinkin' themselves stupid!

Chapter headers by: SparkBrony

Former editor: ShootingStar159)

1 The Mother She Deserves

Rainbow Dash was staring at the ceiling. Her expression was blank, but her mind had been racing for the better part of an hour or two. She held a hoof behind her head, supporting her pillow as she tried to get into a more comfortable position. Her tired eyes gazed upon the alarm clock on the bedside table.

“Oh, for the love of...” she groaned quietly.

It was nearly 5:00 AM. So much for getting much sleep tonight, she thought wearily. She felt a tickle on her left side and turned her head to see if the filly was awake. No, Scootaloo was still fast asleep, her hair tickling Dash's side as she breathed softly. Dash sighed, feeling her left arm gradually growing more and more numb, but she wouldn't risk moving it and waking the child up. She had held Scoot close to her when the little filly had come in a few hours previously, in great distress.

Scootaloo had yet again experienced the same recurring nightmare. Almost once a week, Scootaloo's sleep-time was disturbed by memories of the last night she had ever seen her mother. Scootaloo, who was four at the time, had gone into the Everfree Forest with the mare who had brought her into the world, whom Scootaloo had loved dearly. Scoot couldn't remember why they had gone into there, but her mother left her in a small cave and told her to stay put and wait for her to return.

Misty Skies, that was her name, Rainbow Dash remembered. Her eyes narrowed and she bit her lip, trying to prevent herself shaking with rage. She would never forgive that mare! She knew her well, the mare had been friends with Dash's mother. A lazy and worthless stallion had gotten Misty pregnant at a young age. Little Scootaloo had been the result of that one-time union. Rainbow Dash had met up with Misty Skies again, well over a year ago now. But Scootaloo didn't know. Dash told not a soul.

All Scootaloo knew was that her mother never returned to find her in the cave. Scootaloo was lost in the forest and had no way to fly above the trees to return home to Ponyville due to the fact that she was handicapped. Scootaloo's wings had never developed properly, so the young pegasus could not yet fly. While most pegasai foals experiment with flight as young as a couple of months old, Scootaloo had gone her full seven years of life never tasting the thrill of it.

Scootaloo believed her mother had died. Everyone did. Scootaloo never knew her father, who had left her mother before she was born. She had waited in that cave for two whole days, shaking and hungry, until a botanist picking herbs in the forest heard her cries and brought her to safety. She was taken to the Ponyville orphanage, where she had lived until two months prior to this sleepless night.

There was a pegasus that Scootaloo idolized: the great Rainbow Dash, the fastest pony in Equestria! Friend of the famous Twilight Sparkle, who was the protegé of Princess Celestia herself. Scoot had founded the 'Official Rainbow Dash Fan Club' amongst the foals at her school and a few other ponies in Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash glanced back down at the sleeping filly beside her, her chest swelling with memories. Rainbow Dash was the one who had adopted Scootaloo. It was only after they had gone camping that Dash fully realized precisely how much Scoot adored her. Rainbow Dash had always pitied her, knowing she could not fly, knowing she was orphaned, knowing she had no one but her best friends, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

And so, the month before last, Rainbow Dash had bought this house and brought Scootaloo home. She remembered fondly the look of supreme joy and the tears of happiness when the matron of the orphanage had led Scootaloo into the room 'to meet the mare who wanted to adopt her'. Acting as both a big sister and mother, Dash cared for and fed her. Laughed with her and preened her. Rainbow helped her with her homework, tucked her into bed whenever the filly was upset, told her stories, played with her, started wing training with her in their basement gym in the vain hope that one day Scootaloo could have sustained flight. Rainbow Dash was growing to love her.

Her thoughts drifted back to Misty Skies and her blood boiled. That mare was no more dead than Rainbow herself. Misty Skies lived in Manehattan. Dash had accompanied her friend Rarity there for a fashion show. She probably wouldn't have bothered otherwise, but she yearned to see the big city, and the rest of their friends were too busy with other affairs to go that weekend. After a successful show, the pair of them had gone to a nightclub in the evening to celebrate after a long day of sight-seeing.

Rainbow Dash was sitting at the bar, enjoying her drink and lost in the raucous atmosphere of the dance club. She kept throwing furtive glances at a stallion across the room who had been eyeing her up all evening. He was kinda cute, she deliberated, and his behaviour towards her whenever he stopped for a chat had suggested certain motives that were not necessarily unwelcome to her, but Rainbow Dash was only there for some drinks and dancing. Not tonight, she thought. It was Rarity, after all, who was flirting with the guys there.

As the night wore on, the fatigue of the day seemed to finally catch up with her. Growing tired, Rainbow decided it was time to drag Rarity back to their hotel. Throwing the room one final pan with her gaze, she had spotted someone that made her heart rocket into her throat. She sat in a corner of the club, drinking alone, but chatting it up with a stallion or two every few minutes. With long fuchsia hair in light, fluffy curls and a dark grey coat of fur wrapped in a dress of lavender silk. Misty Skies.

Dash stood up quickly on her hind legs. Despite the alcohol intake, was quite steady as she marched over. She had to walk this way to keep her head above the crowd, keeping the pony in her sight. Her mind buzzed numbly as she tried to ignore the sights and sounds around her: the song blaring over the sound system, the lingering taste of her drink on her throat, the smell as a stallion stumbled his way toward the exit, supporting a buddy on the verge of passing out. As Rainbow Dash finally reached the corner, Misty Skies looked up, a look of horror crossing her features.

“Misty?” Rainbow spluttered, sitting down at the same table as a feeling of great surprise and shock thundered through her.

“Rainbow Dash! Ish that you?” the mare responded with a gasp, her drink tumbling from her hooves and spilling across the table. “Oh no, oh no...”

“We thought... you were dead!” Dash stammered. “What in Celestia are ya doin' HERE? W-what happened?”

“Oh no, no, no... Look, I'm beggin' ya, don't you tell anypony! I left Ponyville becaushe of my debt. I had no way out, so I ran for it. Please! Don't tell a shoul! If the authoritiesh -hic- found out...” Misty wailed, hiccuping. “I moved here and shtarted afresh. I go by Dusk Feathersh now...”

Judging by the curious look on Misty's face, Rainbow had a feeling that her own expression was unreadable. “You a fool?” Dash continued, hooves shaking. “You could have gotten help! Do you have any idea what you've left behind?!”

“I wash too far in the hole! I panicked, but it's all worked out sho far.” Misty explained, wiping off her dress. Some of the spilled drink had splashed on to her without her notice. “Besides, I had nothin' left for me in Ponyville. Life ish way better here.”

An ugly fury had begun to bubble within her stomach. Blood surged through her veins with such force that it was physically painful.“That's... true, I suppose. You had nothing left for you back home.” Dash spoke calmly, standing up and leaning across the table. “Nothing at all.”

A terrible stinging pain erupted through her right hoof as it collided with the smirking, arrogant face of her old friend. The warmth of the blood as Misty's nose broke flowed freely across it. With a crash, the chair Misty Skies was sitting on had fallen over and Rainbow watched the drunken mare looking up at her, horrified and shocked, recoiling in fear.

“Nothing at all,” Dash repeating, loud enough for only Misty to hear, “except a practically crippled little pegasus who you probably left to die alone in the woods. Oh, you probably thought we'd all think she died or disappeared or whatever along with you, huh? You probably thought no one would ever know you left her for the timberwolves, did you? Don't be too disappointed that she survived, now. Enjoy your new life, you pathetic wretch.”

Rainbow Dash kicked her hard in the stomach and turned away, immediately finding Rarity amongst the startled and silent crowd who were close enough to notice the assault. Moving quickly, she dragged the unicorn from the club before the security could alert law enforcement and returned to the hotel.

They departed Manehattan early the following morning. Despite her own confusion, Rarity had never asked Rainbow precisely what had happened, never asked her why she had seemingly attacked a stranger for no reason. This made Rainbow Dash very grateful.

These memories had been racing through Dash's mind all night, keeping her up ever since Scoot had come in earlier. Around 2:00 in the morning, Dash had been prodded awake by a tearful and shaking Scootaloo, who had asked to sleep in Dash's bed with her. It was the same nightmare; Dash had known at once from the look on the filly's face.

Dash had moved over and allowed Scootaloo to come aboard, cuddling the sniffling filly until the younger pegasus had fallen asleep. Three hours later, and Dash was still wide awake and still thinking about everything.

Nobody knew who Dusk Feathers of Manehattan really was. Rainbow Dash didn't tell anyone that Misty Skies was still alive. She didn't go to the police, either. She wasn't worth it, nor did Dash have any real evidence. Scootaloo did not know that the mother she had cherished had selfishly abandoned her, had left her to either starve to death or become the timberwolves' next meal. Perhaps, Dash often debated, she was better off never knowing. But, no. When she had first adopted Scoot, Dash had decided that she would tell the child about her mother's treachery when Scoot was older. She deserved the truth. Scootaloo deserved someone who loved her. Rainbow briefly nuzzled her face against Scoot's head.

'The mother she deserves...' Dash thought, a warmth spreading through her body. 'I'll never let anything happen to her... she's been through enough.'

Scootaloo slept on as Dash picked up the remote off of the bedside table and clicked on the TV that sat on top of her wardrobe. Turning down the volume quickly as not to wake the girl, Dash flicked through the channels. She was trying to distract herself as she remembered why she wanted to adopt a filly or colt in the first place.

Scootaloo certainly wasn't the only pony who had something wrong with their body. Dash had known for years that she was almost completely infertile. As such, it was unlikely that Rainbow Dash would ever be a mother herself, so she had pushed the idea from her mind as soon as possible to avoid becoming depressed as she continued to train hard to become the best flier who ever lived. She hadn't really intended to adopt anyone until she was much older and had finally gotten herself into the Wonderbolts, the world famous aerobatic team.

Dash looked over at the poster of First Officer Soarin on her wall. She smiled at the scribble near the bottom, put there by Soarin himself. 'To Rainbow 'Sonic Rainboom' Dashie, keep being an inspiration to pegasai everywhere!'. Rainbow had drawn a little heart next to the signature. One day, perhaps. One day.

No, she had decided that she would adopt earlier than she had originally intended. When Scootaloo confessed her deepest fears and told Rainbow that she wanted the older pegasus to become something like a big sister to her, Dash had agreed. Not only that, but Rainbow Dash had taken it further. Even though Dash was still barely into her adulthood at the age of twenty two, she had made that fateful trek to the orphanage to file the paperwork she needed.

She had certainly known Scoot long enough by that point. Rainbow had saw her nearly every day, especially whenever she visited Rarity or Applejack. Both of them had a sister who were best friends with Scootaloo. The three fillies formed the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders', Ponyville's little band of trouble makers on a quest 'to find out who they are' by attempting everything under the sun to cause their Cutie Marks to appear.

Rainbow Dash turned the television off. Nothing good on, she realized with a sigh. What a surprise! Once again, she gazed intently at her new 'sister'. Scootaloo was drooling all over the sheets. Scoot really was adorable, Dash noticed fondly. Her life had felt so much fuller ever since that camping trip. She felt truly happy. Best of all, she had noticed Scootaloo seemed a lot happier, too. Dash smiled to herself, knowing how happy being together as a real family had made both of them.

She could remember telling the filly that she could call Rainbow Dash 'Mommy' if she wanted. Rainbow still wasn't one hundred percent certain if she would prefer being called that over 'Sis' or not, since it was practically impossible for her to hear that word otherwise due to her near-infertility. What was more, she often wondered if Scootaloo found it painful to accepting having a mother again. Maybe it would be best to stick to 'sisters' over 'mother and daughter'? Now and then, Scootaloo called her 'Mom', but it seemed more of an accidental slip up than anything else. Rainbow wasn't really bothered by it.

She rolled over and snuggled the filly close as the room gradually brightened due to the sky outside the curtained window growing steadily lighter. Their life together had been amazing thus far, but not everything had been enjoyable, she remembered. The Crusaders had nearly burned down their clubhouse a few weeks after Scoot was adopted, an event that easily could have cost either of those fillies their lives. Rainbow Dash had to face the prospect of disciplining Scootaloo because of this, and not three weeks later, she found herself in almost the same spot after Scootaloo had started a fight with one of the school bullies that landed her in detention. Rainbow Dash's 'sisterly guidance' was firm, but she always made sure Scootaloo understood that it was all out of love for her and these corrections were necessary because she wanted her to do better.

Eventually, Dash had to give up on the prospect of trying to sleep. Instead, she breathed deeply as she continued to set her focus on the memories they shared together, the good and the bad. She was looking forward to the days, weeks, months, and even years ahead where Scootaloo would get all of the love and guidance her real mother had never offered her. After losing herself in her recollections and thoughts for another long while, she rolled back over to the right and checked the alarm clock. 6:25 AM, it was going to go off in five minutes. Realizing that it was pointless to wait, Dash reached over and disabled the alarm early, yanked her arm out from under a still snoozing Scoot, and sat up. Shaking the feeling back into the limb, she stretched and yawned. Today was going to be a long day. An important day, though Dash didn't know it yet, but any day felt exhausting when you were tired.

“Wake up, kiddo,” Rainbow Dash said, giving Scoot a gentle prod. “Time to get up for school.”

Author's Notes:

I won't be including notes after the chapters, but this seems the best place to say this: There's been a lot of confusion over whether or not this story is anthro. I do not like using the term forelegs very often, so I tend to refer to the front legs as arms and the back legs as the legs. Since ponies use their front hooves often, I feel it's dumb to say, for example, 'SO AND SO PICKED IT UP WITH HER LEGS' if a pony picks something up. Ponies -can- stand for a short while on their hind legs (see Rarity's martial arts in Return to Harmony Part 2), and everyone seems to sit like Lyra now (see Sleepless in Ponyville), so arms and legs instead of forelegs/backlegs seems very reasonable.

As for RD wearing a uniform for work and dresses and stuff, this is all supported by the show itself: The mane 6 wear dresses every other major episode, Rarity enjoys pajamas on a Sunday morning, the Wonderbolts wear military-style uniforms when not wearing their signature blue/yellow flight suits, Ms. Harshwhinny wears a suit, etc.

With all that said, enjoy your ride, ladies and gents!

2 Pinkie's News

“Umm, hmm mmm...?” Scootaloo mumbled into her own arm, which was soaked with drool.

Dash rolled over and off the bed, standing up on her hind legs to open the blinds properly. “I said 'get up', bedhead! It's time for school,” she repeated, flooding the room with sunlight.

“Gah!” Scoot croaked, pulling the blankets over her head. “Are you trying to blind me?!”

Rainbow made her way around to the other side of the bed, carefully avoiding the junk and clothes littering the floor of her untidy bedroom. “No, I'm trying to get your flank moving!” she tapped the bundle of sheets that Scoot had wrapped herself up in. “I've gotta make this bed. Go take off your dirty jammies and brush your teeth.”

“And if I refuseee?” came a muffled, playful voice.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the sheets on the edge of the bed with her teeth and pulled them off, causing Scoot to roll out on to the floor with a thud. “Then that happens!”

“Ow...” Scootaloo complained, standing up as straight as Rainbow Dash and rubbing her leg. “Jerk!” The filly stretched her arms to the heavens and yawned loudly before dropping to all fours.

Dash rolled her eyes and began to make the bed. Scootaloo stayed still and simply watched her, occasionally looking about the bedroom. “Your room is a mess, Rainbow Dash,” she said cheerfully.

“Grown ups are allowed to have untidy rooms,” Rainbow said. “Hurry along, now.”

“You're a grown up? Why didn't anypony tell me? Probably 'cause it ain't true, I bet!” Scoot giggled, smirking.

“You're quite the pain in the butt this morning. Pretty lame, Scoot!” Dash remarked, stretching out a wing to casually flick Scootaloo on her way. “Now come on, Scootaloo. Brush your teeth and stuff, or we're gonna be late. Again. I've already had Cheerilee lecture me on being punctual once before. If it happens again, I'ma be rude and walk away from her. No one wants that!”

“Fiiine,” Scoot sighed, turning away and trotting out of the room at her leisure. “See, I'm going! Walking out and everything.”

Dash shook her head and turned back to the bed she still had to finish making. Fifteen minutes later, she made her way downstairs, buttoning up a shirt and adjusting a tie. Removing the hairbrush she was holding in her mouth, she started brushing out her hair and mane. She stopped at a mirror in the hallway, smirking at her reflection. “Aaawww yeah! Perfection. But I hate having to wear clothes at that stupid job. Ah well, I'm still awesome.”

Reaching the kitchen, Rainbow found Scootaloo leaning against the kitchen counter, munching on a red delicious apple and flipping through one of her colouring books. Dash smiled at her, seeing that Scootaloo had not only packed her own lunch, but Rainbow Dash's as well. Scootaloo might like to get under Dash's skin in the morning, but she could act really mature when she wanted to.

“Impressive,” Rainbow Dash said, coming over to her. “You might just earn your keep around here. Now, lemme see your coat.”

“I don't wear a coat!” Scootaloo said through a mouthful of fruit. “It's not even cold out!”

“C'mon, Scoots, you know what I mean,” Dash sighed at her, eyes rolling.

Scootaloo twirled on her heel with her arms outstretched. “My fur's fine. I look fab, as always,” she said.

“Your mane doesn't. I've gotta brush it out,” Dash said, pulling over a chair and sitting down. “You'll look 'fab' when you look as good as I do!”

“Look good as you do? Wearing that lame, geeky shirt and tie? You look like a bank owner!” Scoot gasped in mock horror, slapping a hoof to her face.

“Hey! You know about the dress code at the weather factory. Now, get over here.” Dash pulled Scoot in front of her and got to work getting the tangles out of her mane.

“Argh! Quit it!” Scoot snarled as she threw the apple core towards the garbage bin, her head jerking back with every stroke through her hair.

“Don't be such a baby, Scootaloo. Not a wimp, are you?” Rainbow asked as she worked.

“I'm not a baby! Or a wimp... It's just... bah! I. Hate. This.” Scoot pouted as Rainbow Dash continued grooming her. “Do you go out of your way to try and pull every hair out?!” She flinched as the bristles caught the hair around her ears.

“Scootaloo, I love when you try to act mad because I know you're completely full of it!” Dash smiled at her, pulling her into a hug once her hair was in a satisfactory condition. “Act as mad as ya want, Dashie knows you better than that!”

Scoot gave her a tight squeeze back. “I'm gonna fool you one of these days, big sister!” Scootaloo grinned, pulling away and looking into Dash's face with adoration.

Rainbow Dash smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. “No, you won't. Let's go!”

Dash stood up and and put on the beige leather jacket she had hung over one of the chairs to keep her shirt from getting wrinkled from the wind. Scootaloo picked up her school saddle bag while Dash retrieved both lunchboxes. A minute later, they were standing outside the house. The morning was quiet and very warm and there was a feeling of approaching Summer in the air.

“Onward, faithful steed!” Scootaloo said, scrambling up on to Rainbow Dash's shoulders and wrapping her limbs tightly around the back of the mare's neck. “Your master commands it!”

“You can be master when you pay the bills,” Rainbow said, keeping a firm hold on to the lunchboxes as she bent her arms and hindquarters, expanding both of her wings out fully and giving them a powerful flap. “Hold tight!”

She felt Scootaloo's legs and arms tighten and heard an intake of excited breath. It was the same every single time Rainbow prepared to take off; the filly just could not get enough of getting to fly. And every day she got to fly with the fastest in Equestria. Dash could hear a faint buzzing noise, causing her to beam with happiness. She felt wonderful, knowing Scootaloo was flapping her own wings rapidly like a hummingbird's in joy, ready for take off. In an instant, Dash rocked into the sky, going from kneeling almost flat to the ground to being fifty feet in the air and climbing rapidly. Within seconds, they reached 200 feet, Dash's preferred cruising altitude lately.

Ponyville passed beneath them rapidly. Dash felt Scootaloo twisting to look back at the streak of rainbow and fuchsia trailing behind them. Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes against the rush of air and couldn't resist grinning broadly. She was in her element in these moments. The speed, the adrenaline, the WIND IN HER MANE! There was nothing better than flying. It was a gift she was thankful she could share with a wonderful little girl who could not enjoy this feeling on her own.

Below them, the cottages seemed to rush by. The tired looking ponies beginning their mornings glanced up as the pair zoomed overhead, surprised and impressed. A wonderful smell of baking pastries was floating up on the wind to meet them from Sugarcube Corner. The post office came and went like lightning. Dash dropped low enough to circle the town hall once, hearing an excited cheer from Scootaloo.

“Yo!” Dash yelled, slowing down and dropping low to the ground as they passed by the Carousel Boutique. “'Sup, Rare?”

Rarity, who was just leaving her home, looked startled. The unicorn relaxed when she realized who it was. “Ooh, Dash, my dear! What in Equestria are you wearing under that ugly old jacket? Wait! Is that... leather?! Great heavens!”

However, Dash and Scoot were already zipping away. The orange filly barely had time to yell 'See you at school!' to Sweetie Belle, who was standing in the doorway behind Rarity. They touched down outside the school within minutes. Scootaloo slipped down from Dash's shoulders and sighed. She hated whenever they had to land.

“I wish... I could fly on my own...” Scootaloo bemoaned, frowning at the dirt and gravel at her feet. “It isn't fair. I hate having something wrong with me!”

“There's nothing wrong with you, Scootaloo. How often do I gotta tell you that before you believe it? The time just ain't right for you to fly. Who knows, one day you might with all that wing training we do in the basement." Dash ruffled the filly's hair. "Oh, darn it... I just brushed that!” She tried to flatten it with her hooves.

Scoot shook her head in disbelief, trying to pull her head away from Rainbow Dash. “Doctor said it won't ever happen, remember?”

“Pff, what's he know?” Dash asked, noticing Scootaloo's eyes growing wet. “Look, you have the GREATEST FLIER IN THE WORLD as your BIG SISTER!. With me teaching you, you might be a Wonderbolt some day. I definitely will!”

Scoot gave Rainbow Dash a weak smile. “That would be awesome...”

Scootaloo's ears perked up once she seemed to notice Apple Bloom by the school's entrance. Bloom waved and ran down to meet them. Scoot took a deep breath and hurriedly wiped her eyes, turning to smile broadly at the approaching earth filly.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Apple Bloom said, screeching to a halt next to them and turning to the younger of the pair “Scootaloo! I've got this amazing thing to show you and Sweetie Belle! We're gonna get our cutie marks! TODAY!”

“Really?” Scoot asked in surprised, her wings buzzing rapidly again in her excitement.

“Know what we've never done? Magic! I found an old spell book!” Bloom said, a fire in her eyes.

“Uh, I'm pretty sure Sweetie Belle's done magic. She is a unicorn, after all! You two, however... aren't. How you gonna pull off magic?” Rainbow Dash asked bemusedly, handing Scoot her lunchbox.

“It's a secret!” Bloom said happily, leaning close to Dash and continuing in a stage whisper. “Cutie Mark Crusaders only! Y'all and your nerdy shirts are not invited to this club!”

Dash zipped up the jacket a little more, rolling her eyes. “You both are the worst!”

“No, but that is!” Bloom laughed, pointing at Dash's torso. “C'mon, Scoot!”

The fillies giggled together and Apple Bloom ran off. Scootaloo made to follow her, but stopped after a few paces. She ran back to Dash and hugged her tight. Rainbow Dash knew Scootaloo wouldn't let her go without a goodbye hug. She stretched out her wings and wrapped them around Scootaloo for a moment.

“See you later, Sis!” Scoot said, letting go and running towards the school.

“Later, kiddo!” Rainbow called after her, glowing with pride.

Flicking her wings once more, she took off again, shooting straight into the sky, spotting Rarity and Sweetie Belle walking down the road towards the school house. Dash could just make out Sweetie pointing out the streak of colours as she made her ascent.

Her next stop was in Cloudsdale. Leaving Ponyville as nothing but a small mess of toy cottages and trees, Rainbow Dash tore through the sky and clouds. Ever since buying her home, she had to pick up a part time job at the factory that produces precipitation and clouds in order to keep her coin purse full. Otherwise, she was still the main pony for weather maintenance in Ponyville.

She arrived in Cloudsdale after half an hour of flight. She sped through tunnels of cloud and zipped between pillars of stone and moss as she soared in the direction of the factory, enticing cheers from the other pegasai as her rainbow trail stretched behind her. Upon exiting a tunnel, however, she stopped dead. Her mouth fell open in surprise as she beat her wings to stay afloat.

“Hellooo! Rainbow Dash! Hi!” said Pinkie Pie, who was standing atop a pillar with a broad grin on her face.

Dash was quiet with surprise for a moment. “I-wha-wait-what...” she spluttered, her arms held out in front of her, as if to ask 'what gives?'.

“Guess what I just found out! C'mooon, guess! It's fun!” the pink earth pony cheered, bouncing up and down.

“How did you...? Get up...? Cloudsdale...” Dash asked, staring in disbelief.

“How else was I gonna tell you? A-duuuh!” Pinkie smiled, smacking herself in the head and pulling a goofy face.

Dash remained silent a moment, shaking her head back and forth. Although her question wasn't answered, her better judgement prevented her asking again.

Pinkie giggled. “Listen! Listen! Guess what, guess what, guess what, guess whaaat?”

“Okay, okay! What?” Dash asked, folding her arms but still gawking in amazement.

“You know that new stadium they just built in Ponyville?!” Pinkie asked, looking as though she were about to burst. “I heard Soarin is going to be there at the grand opening! You know Soarin, right? That pony you got a crush on, right? The one you said has an awesome butt, right?! I heard it on the radio when I woke up and I was like..." Pinkie continued, giving a huge gasp, "I said to myself, 'I've gotta go tell my bestest friend Rainbow Dash this wonderful, wonderful Wonderbolt news!' So here I am! Telling you! My bestest pal!"

Dash gave a little shriek, her blue cheeks flushing. “Whaaat? Are you serious?! Oh man, that's awesome! I am SO there!”

“The radio said that Soarin is going to preform an airshow before the game starts! There's gonna be try-outs to be his partner! You should try-out at the try-outs to try-out as his partner at the...try-out! I mean, airshow! Then you can tell him he's got an grand posterior in person!” Pinkie squeed. “Try it out!”

Rainbow Dash blushed ever more profusely. “Haha... maybe! Man, I'm psyched. Thanks for telling me, Pinkie Pie! I've gotta get to work now. Uh... how are you getting back to Ponyville? Don't you need to work at Sugarcube Corner this morning?”

Pinkie gave a sharp chuckle. “I'm going to WALK, silly!” she beamed.

Dash stared a moment, before shaking her head again. “Riiight. Well, see ya!”

Rainbow started to fly onward again as Pinkie smiled broadly at her. She kept flying until she reached another tunnel. Before she entered, she glanced back to the pillar Pinkie Pie was standing on. There Pinkie was, still smiling happily and just staring at her.

“Well, that was... strange,” Dash mumbled to herself, flying through the cloud tunnel. “I'm pretty convinced she's insane. Insane, but the best friend ever! Ohmigooosh! I am going to nail those try-outs! Soarin's going to be so impressed!"

Giving a loud and triumphant laugh, Rainbow Dash sped forward towards the factory, leaving a brilliant streak of rainbow behind her. She couldn't believe how good her fortune has been lately. What could possibly bring her down from this high?

The answer? Absolutely nothing, she told herself. Dash was happy as happy could possibly be. As she took her punch card to the clock and inserted it at work, her thoughts drifted back to Scootaloo. It was all for her.

She had a new house and she had Scootaloo with her. Dash's second job kept the cash flowing nicely and she would be meeting Soarin again soon. It would be a perfect opportunity to impress a member of the Wonderbolts. Her favourite one, too!

“Everything's comin' up Rainbow Dash!” she said to no one in particular, strolling off to her locker to deposit the leather jacket and her lunch.

Dash could not have any idea how important hearing Pinkie's news would turn out to be.

3 Dreams and Memories

“What a maneuver! Stupendous.”

“We can't beat her!”

“She's amazing...”

“Pfff, I could do that if I didn't sprain my wing!”

“Bring it on home!” Soarin yelled.

Rainbow Dash soared higher and higher, her body twisting majestically, leaving a trail of multi-coloured spirals beneath her. She felt absolutely weightless! The very air around her was her canvas and she would paint the greatest art with her greatest abilities.

“I'll bring it on home, Soarin! I'll take you home too, shall I?” Dash called out in a carrying voice that echoed over the field. “Watch this!”

She shot upwards, wings beating so fast they appeared not to move at all. Her limbs were pressed tightly to her body as she cut through the air like a javelin, the world vanishing beneath her. She flipped over in midair, feeling a sudden rush of wind in her ears. She hovered there, in the void, seeing nothing around her but blue sky and clouds.

Dash narrowed her eyes and flicked her wings so violently that it produced a terrifying noise. Was it like a clap of thunder, she pondered? She began her descent back to the crowd, temporarily invisible due to her staggering height. Gravity was her aid, but speed was her mastery. Rainbow's body was flat while her tail was aerodynamically positioned for minimum drag. She felt her hooves tearing through the solid sky as she accelerated back to earth. All she could hear was the rushing wind as she out-paced sound itself. A solid funnel of air was forming around her. Dash felt her body contract. Her grin was brighter than the sun!

There was an explosive bang that seemed to quake the very ground below. The visible light spectrum split open as a great ring of colour burst from the pegasus, expanding throughout the sky. Her rainbow trail had become completely translucent, a cascade of solid colours that did not fade with time, marking her path from the point of the Rainboom. Dash rushed straight to the ground, twisting and zooming off inches from the grass, her trail building a great wall around the field.

“There is nopony as perfect, nopony as athletic, absolutely no one, pony or otherwise, as TALENTED as you, Rainbow Dash!” Soarin spoke, gazing deeply into her eyes with an untold passion. “There's no one in the world I would be more honoured to call my partner for the upcoming show. Are you... doing anything tonight?”

“Why, thank you, good gentlecolt,” Dash said, tossing her long hair and giving Soarin quite the same look in return. “You will find me quite free this evening.”

There was a great bang of thunder overhead, though the sky was cloudless. It was precisely the same bang as the Rainboom had produced. Precisely the same noise her wings had made.

“I would love to take you out to dinner!” Soarin said, smiling broadly and winking. “Allow me to treat the best flier of our lifetime.”

“I would be delighted to go!” Dash agreed, extending a hoof.

Another bang of thunder as Soarin bent forward to kiss it, shaking the very world.

Wait... thunder didn't bang.

Rainbow Dash was grinning stupidly into her pillow, soaking it with an endless stream of drool. Bang! Her eyes shot open. What in name of Princess Celestia is that thumping noise, she thought? Bang! Rainbow stumbled out of bed. The novel she had been reading before dozing off tumbled to the floor with a smack. Eyelids heavy, Rainbow wiped off the stray saliva and checked her reflection in the mirror.

"Ugh..." Dash whispered silently. And she thought Scootaloo normally had a bad case of bedhead? Bang! “Oh, right,” Dash sighed. “That.”

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes and frowned over at her alarm clock. She felt a flutter of anger in her belly. 'Oh, you have gotta be kidding! What do they think they're doing, making a racket like that at this hour?' Dash thought furiously. She told them to be in bed!

She stomped down the hallway, throwing Scootaloo's bedroom door open with a crash. Her eyes panned the room quickly. Scoot was standing on the floor, pulling hard on one end of a large piece of rubber with all of her might. The other end was tied to one of her bedposts. Apple Bloom was next to her, pulling the middle of the rubber back like a giant elastic band, a stack of heavy books next to her. Across the room, Sweetie Belle was standing on the dresser, wrapped in a bed sheet like a ghost, arms held above her head menacingly. The floor at the foot of the dresser was covered in open books,. There was a small mound of towels and clothes, as well. It appears that the two Crusaders on the floor were launching books at the dresser, trying to knock Sweetie Belle off and into the pile of clothes. Dash recognized that most of the clothes pile were garments she had folded that very day.

One by one, the fillies turned to stare at her, horror in their eyes. Apple Bloom dropped the book she was about to load as the rubber snapped to the bed when Scootaloo let go of it. Sweetie Belle dropped down off the dresser, whipping the sheet off of her body quickly. The trio moved together in a close knot, looking up at Rainbow's scowl. Scootaloo glanced at her wall clock. It was almost midnight, and Dash only ever let her stay up until 10:00 PM whenever the other Crusaders had a sleepover. The three of them were looking very uncomfortable. Perhaps they were remembering that she had told them to be in bed by then, Rainbow Dash wondered?

“Um,” Sweetie began in what she assumed was a winning voice, “hi, Rainbow Dash! How are you?”

“Five seconds,” Rainbow Dash huffed, folding her arms and glaring at each guilty face in turn as she leaned against the doorway.

Apple Bloom gave a gasp and dived on top of the bed, yanking down the bed covers and crawling under them.

“S-sorry, Sis...” Scootaloo had the grace to look ashamed. She jumped in next to Bloom.

Sweetie Belle, realizing she was the only one left in the no-pony's-land between the door and the bed, smiled weakly and backed up to the bed herself. “You're in good spirits, then! Me too! Yep, me too!” With a panicked grunt, Sweetie crawled into the bed next to Scootaloo and reaching over to click off the lamp on the bedside table.

Dash continued to frown at them in the semi-darkness, the light of the hallway barely illuminating the room. She could just make out their eyes. Scootaloo's were looking directly into her own. Realizing the younger pegasus was still ashamed, Rainbow allowed her anger to ebb away.

“Not another sound from this bedroom, girls,” Dash said, her voice much calmer than before. “Scoots, you know better. Goodnight.”

Rainbow closed the door and sighed. She had been having such a good dream, too. Most of the details had already escaped her mind, as the memories of dreams are wont to do. She was pretty sure she was talking to Soarin after the try-outs in the dream, but specifics were vague and trickling away like running water. Dash wondered if she was being conceited, trying to recall the praise he was giving her flying. It had all been created by her own mind, after all. Making a mental note to be a little more humble should the need arise, Dash walked back into her bedroom, stumbling a little as she tripped over a record player cord and some rolled up gowns. Maybe she should clean up in the morning?

'Naaah.'

She crawled back into bed, gazing enraptured at her poster of Soarin once more. She knew she was rapidly becoming obsessed, but every time she thought about that pony, she got a little squirm of delight in her belly. It was like fluttering butterflies, or maybe, bumbling Fluttershys? What she wouldn't give to actually be able to go out on a date with him. He was most certainly too famous a celebrity, though. How was he ever going to make time for her?

'He's probably dating Spitfire anyway, those two are always seen together...' Dash thought sadly as she rolled over.

She had always liked that wonderful Wonderbolt. It didn't help that she had met Soarin plenty of times before, be it at airshows, the Best Young Fliers competition, the Grand Galloping Gala, or at the wedding of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. It was like being offered a slice of cake you weren't allowed to take. Rainbow Dash found it maddening.

Just...

One date...

"Or a chance to take that horse for a ride!" Dash grinned to herself.

"Um... Rainbow... Rainbow Dash...?" came a soft voice. "You're just... staring at the wall. Um..."

Dash gave her head a shake, trying to clear her mind. She had been standing still in the corner of the basement for nearly a full minute, completely lost in her thoughts and memories. She had completely forgotten the ponies she had invited over.

"Aren't you going to help Applejack? Um, if you don't want to, that's fine... I can try...” Fluttershy mumbled uncertainly.

“Oh!” Rainbow Dash said, finally back to reality. “Sorry, you two! I was just... yeah!"

“Pardon my French, but what in tarnation were you just thinkin' 'bout that could possibly make you forget you had to spot me less than sixty tappin' seconds after I asked?!” Applejack spat, arms folded as she sat on the weight bench.

“I was just thinking about last night! Now, hold your horses, I'm comin'!” Dash said, marching over to stand above Applejack. "Horses. Get it? Nevermind."

“What happened last night?” Fluttershy asked, watching Rainbow Dash help Applejack lift the barbel off it's support.

“I had another dream about him...” Dash said loftily, blushing slightly.

“Oh... here we go... again!” huffed Applejack as she began to lower and raise her hooves quickly, pumping the weight.

“Give me twenty, AJ! That's not that heavy.” Rainbow said, grinning down at her.

“Who did you dream about? Soarin?” Fluttershy asked.

“'Course... she did!” Applejack panted. “Just... to distract me with... her bedroom fantasies!”

“Oh, please!” Dash rolled her eyes. “As if you don't enjoy them!”

“I... never... said... that...” AJ gasped, finishing her set and making to get up.

“Hold it!” Dash said crisply, grabbing a pair of twenty pound weights with her wings and slipping them on either side of the bar. “Do ten. Slowly.”

“Are you flippin' crazy?!” Applejack snapped, giving a snarl as she struggled to take the weight back off the support again.

Rainbow grinned and placed a hoof under the centre of the bar, giving Applejack a little bit of extra push.

Fluttershy approached, waiting for her turn on the bench. “Are you... um, nervous about the try-outs?”

“A little. I mean, not that I expect to lose or anything. Gah, there I go again! I feel so conceited lately. But...” Dash gestured at the trophies adorning the wall, “it's not like I can pretend I'm not the best flier, at least in Ponyville or Cloudsdale. No, I'm not nervous about try outs in THAT sense... I'm just a bit nervous about seeing Soarin again. The concept of being his partner in an airshow, having to work personally by his side! It's exciting! So... I'm, I guess, nervous. Yeah...”

“Y'all should be thankful for the opportunity.” AJ said, rubbing her arms as she slipped off the bench and back onto all four hooves. “Yer turn, Fluttershy.”

“Is there... a level zero?” the yellow pegasus asked apprehensively as both Dash and Applejack pulled every single weight off the bar.

“Uh, yes?” Dash rolled her eyes, jabbing at the empty bar. “That. Just do twelve regular reps.”

Applejack took a gulp of water from a bottle she had on the floor as Fluttershy climbed on to the bench as if she were ascending the steps to a set of gallows. “So... you've been here two months now, right? Y'all still findin' motherhood the bee's knees, sugar?”

“Of course! It's...” Dash began, turning away from Fluttershy, who was struggling to push the bar up once. “It's been amazing so far. Still the best decision I've ever made, AJ! Scoots is an awesome kid! She's so clever! She's the most honest, humble, and sincere thing I've ever met. She's the sweetest thing, too! Remember me telling you girls about when I was talking to the matron when I went to adopt her? How she was worried that no one would ever want Scoot, because nopony seemed interested in a pegasus who couldn't fly? They just go for the earth ponies, y'know?”

“Yes, yes, I remember! You did a wonderful thing that day.” Applejack said, placing a hoof on Dash's shoulder. “I'm still so proud of ya. Any doubts I did have that y'all might not be able to handle raisin' a filly, let alone one of the Crusaders, has long been snuffed, Rainbow Dash. Of course, it woulda been easy for me, since I've had to raise a Crusader myself, with a bit of help from Granny Smith and Big Macintosh. Because of... y'know... that accident... They drowned back when she was still in diapers.”

“Thanks, Applejack,” Rainbow said quickly, trying to shove the conversation away from Applejack's parents as she watched the pain etch itself upon her friend's face. She placed her own hoof on Applejack's shoulders, returning the favour. “I know I can look to you for inspiration or advice when I need it, though! Like the clubhouse thing.” Dash finished with a warm smile before turning her head to Fluttershy. “All done, Flutters?”

“... four...” Fluttershy croaked, her arms quaking.

“But hey, despite that particular day kind of sucking, it's been smooth sailing! It's not really as hard as you would think,” Rainbow continued. “First off, there's nothing in Equestria that I can't handle. Secondly, Scoot's already a little independent, so most of the actual taking care of part she handles herself. It's just that the poor thing's never really had... anyone. You know, before me.”

Applejack shook her head, sighing. “It's scary how we've all lost loved ones. I've lost my parents, you've lost your mother... and even poor Scootaloo has lost a mom.”

Dash turned her face away so Applejack wouldn't see her scowl. “Yep... even Scootaloo's mom."

Dash closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She had to be careful or else she might end up looking suspicious. When she turned back to face Applejack, she didn't like the puzzled look on the earth pony's face. She spoke again hurriedly to disguise her momentarily bubbling anger.

“My dad's a tough cookie, though! When death comes to claim the great Radiant Dash, it better be prepared for a fight!” Rainbow laughed. “He's always been so rugged and strong! I mean, look who he had to raise! Even after my mom died...” Dash trailed off.

“That's all... I can do...” Fluttershy choked, rubbing her sore biceps.

“How many didja get?” Applejack asked.

“Six!” Fluttershy whispered softly.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash loaded as much weight as the bar could hold. Dash asked Fluttershy to sit up on it as well. Giving her wings a flick, Dash threw herself down on to the weight bench and pressed her wings against the underside of the bar.

“Hey, remember what I was like in school and summer flight camp?” Dash asked Fluttershy, wrapping her arms behind her head as she began to thrust her wings upward, lifting all the weight plus a fully grown pegasus with ease.

“Oh! Oh dear, you were a bad pony...” Fluttershy shivered, bouncing on the barbel.

“Yep. I was okay to my friends, like you, Fluttershy! But man, I put my poor father through hell and back...” Dash sighed, shaking her head. “I was a bully! I was a liar! I was a slacker when it came to anything unrelated to sports, so my grades were terrible. I used to break into the school at night as a dare. I would sneak out of my house, too! When I was born, I was my dad in miniature. We had the same colour fur and he's the only person I know who ever had a rainbow mane. But by the time I got my cutie mark, his fur was nearly grey. Stress, I tell ya! But he was always so tough! My mom was gone by then, so he had to handle a hyperactive and cruel filly Rainbow Dash all by himself!"

“It's no small wonder you can handle a little thing like Scootaloo, then!” Applejack laughed, tapping her hoof on her thigh as she counted Dash's reps silently. “Clearly, you learned from the best.”

“You got that right! Oh man, I must have been gettin' it once a week when I was at my worse. I can't believe he put up with me. I really wish I never made life so difficult for him, especially given how supportive he was of me... Even through I was the worst child a parent could possible ask for, he ALWAYS pushed me to try my hardest. I wouldn't be half the flier I am today if it weren't for Radiant Dash!” Rainbow continued to reminisce, her friends listening silently. “I can't wait to see him again once he retires and moves back home. He hasn't even been home to meet Scootaloo yet, but his letters make it sound like he totally can't wait! That's another thing that I am SURE made him suffer, knowing his baby girl wouldn't be able to give him grandkids... but he was never disappointed with who I was. Just, y'know, disappointed in my bad behaviour, I guess! I hope he loves Scoots... I'm sure he will! I bet you anything, he'll show up with seven years worth of birthday gifts, just to make sure he's caught up! He'll spoil her!”

Dash dropped the bar back on its support, getting up and flexing her wings. She flapped one gently across Applejack's face. “Gentle as a breeze...” she approached a punching bag and jabbed at it with the other, making the bag swing violently, “but strong as a minotaur! Sooo, how many?”

“I lost count around fifty,” Applejack said, shrugging. “Been busy listenin' to y'all monologue!”

“If you wanted me to shut up, ya shoulda said so,” Dash said, tossing her mane and frowning.

“I'm not complainin'. I love listenin' to family stories! I'm sure he'll love Scootaloo, too.” Applejack assured her.

“Speaking of... where are the fillies now?” Fluttershy asked.

“With Rarity.” Rainbow answered before jerking a hoof at Applejack. “This poor sap gets them tomorrow! As confident as I am with taking care of Scootaloo, foalsitting the Crusaders seems to get exponentially more terrifying with each one added. At least during the day times they can go about Ponyville on their own, but as soon as bedtime comes, watch out! It must be a nightmare whenever Babs Seed is in town, eh, AJ?”

Applejack smiled. “Well, I can handle it! And I'm sure Scootaloo would love to invite the others over for a sleepover next time Babs is stayin' with us! Then we can all see exactly how brave 'n confident you are, Dash!”

“I look forward to the challenge!” Dash smirked. “Anyways, thanks for coming over, girls!”

“Oh, it was our pleasure, I'm sure!” Fluttershy said sweetly. “We don't really get to spend much time together these days...”

“Yeah. It's hard, what with Dash workin' two jobs 'n' all. Besides, neither Canterlot nor Ponyville have been in much danger lately. There's been no real need for the Elements of Harmony! No need for the six of us to come together to fight somethin',” Applejack said, yawning.

“I know!” Dash exclaimed. “What a snore.”

“You mean a 'bore'?” Fluttershy corrected, raising an eyebrow.

“I know what I said! Anyways, wish me luck in the try-outs tomorrow!” Dash beamed, waving as her two friends made to leave the basement gym.

4 The Spirit of Competition

“So, is this what I've been reduced to? The great Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria, wielder of the Element of Loyalty, known throughout the land as one of the bravest and most skilled of Princess Celestia's trusted champions... sitting down in the shower, afraid she's not going to impress a dude,” Rainbow spoke quietly to herself, clutching her hooves to her head.

Dash watched the water rush continuously down the shower drain, feeling it beat the back of her neck and soak through her hair and fur. Two hours to go and then she would head to her doom. She had already been sitting here with the water running long enough that the heat of the running water was running out. Shivering, Rainbow reached up and twiddled the 'hot' valve a little further.

“Luna's moons, I'm falling apart! What's wrong with me? These nerves are nuts... way worse than I've ever felt in my whole life... 'the hell am I worried about?" Dash asked herself, staring at her tail tucked between her legs under her.

She looked sideways into a mirror that had been screwed into the walls of the shower. Some of her crimson-coloured hair strands were dangling down the centre of her face, hanging off her nose and dripping.

“He's just a stallion. I mean... I've been with plenty of them! Just look at me! Okay, so, not as many as Rarity, but enough that this shouldn't be so hard... One does not attempt to beat Rarity at promiscuity! She is simply the best there is. OH CELESTIA, I'VE LOST IT!” Rainbow roared suddenly.

The faucets creaked as she turned them off, throwing the shower curtain aside and spraying the bathroom with water. “Enough is enough. Pull yourself together, Rainbow Dash!” she told herself, throwing out her chest as she stepped out of the shower. “You can handle anything. Nopony walks with your grace!”

She slipped. The mirror over the vanity rattled as she landed hard on her rump. Dash's back, wings, and shoulders crashed into the side of the tub fixture. Employing a handful of her favourite swear words, she carefully made it to her hind legs, aching all over. She snatched a towel off the holder, her lip trembling.

“Yep, nopony. A lesser creature would have broken their neck just now.” Fuming, she limped from the bathroom.

She paused sadly outside of Scootaloo's empty bedroom. Dash wouldn't mind Scootaloo for some moral support right now, especially considering that she was presently falling apart at the seams. Perhaps the fillies were at Sweet Apple Acres already? It was noon and Rarity had them for the full day prior, so she may have dropped them off early, Dash thought. She decided to stop by there on her way to the try-outs.

Feeling slightly more cheerful at this idea, Dash went to her room to brush out her mane. Perhaps if she got to know Soarin better as his partner, she'd learn that he might be dating Spitfire? That would be a blow, but Rainbow would feel better knowing she had a right to be nervous. Of course, there's always the possibility that she might screw up and lose. It's entirely possibly that there will be a pegasus just as skilled or even better than herself, she reasoned. Unlikely, but possible. Losing would suck, but it would spur her on to greater heights, cause her to push her limits further. That would not be an unwelcome outcome, though very disappointing.

But what if she won, and Soarin was single? Would she get a chance to make her move? 'Oh man, there's the butterflies again.' Maybe he wouldn't be interested, but Dash knew that she was going to go for it if she had even the slightest chance of success. She's never had a crush on someone this badly or for this long. Well, whatever happens, happens.

Rainbow Dash left shortly thereafter, realizing it was impossible to try and eat anything. She still had plenty of time, but perhaps arriving early would quell her unease a little. Or maybe make it even worse? Her stomach couldn't decide what it wanted to do.

Rainbow Dash touched down in Sweet Apple Acres. She gave a wave to Big Macintosh, who was out in the carrot field, dragging a plough. 'If things don't work out, there's always Biggie Mac... He's kinda handsome, gotta admit! Best earth pony bachelor, by far!' Rainbow thought to herself as she approached the barn and pressed her ear to the wall.

They were in there, she realized with a rising sensation in her chest. Her heart leapt higher as she heard Scootaloo's voice. She could also hear a saw and the noise of a hammer. Wonder what the Crusaders are up to? She probably didn't want to know. Rainbow moved just outside the sliding door, which was ajar, and knocked three times.

“Yes, Applejack?” Apple Bloom asked after a moment, her hairbow proceeding her head as she leaned out. “Oh! It's you, Rainbow Dash,” Bloom said, smiling up at her before twisting around to yell into the barn. “Scootaloo! It's yer mom-sis pony!”

Thud. Apple Bloom went flying as Scootaloo knocked her aside.

“My mo-, uh, my Rainbow Dash?! Where?!” Scootaloo asked frantically, her head zipping every which way until her eyes caught the blue pegasus. “Sis!” she gasped, wings abuzz. Scootaloo jumped into Dash's arms and squeezed her chest tight. “You came to see me!”

Rainbow nodded, nuzzling her face against Scootaloo's hair. “I couldn't go on to the airshow try-outs without seeing my little sister first! Dashie missed you.”

Scootaloo beamed. “Really? Can't I come too?”

Rainbow shook her head. “Sorry, kiddo. They're not letting anypony watch. Just for the competitors. But I'll come see you again once it's over, okay?”

Scootaloo sighed, but nodded. “Okay... good luck, Sis!”

She watched Scootaloo return to the barn. Apple Bloom stumbled in after her, looking aggrieved.

'I love you, Scootaloo... I wish you could call me 'Mom' more often, because that was just the word I needed to hear right now! Dash thought, grinning as a feeling of great contentedness spread throughout her body. 'I wish I understood why you're not comfortable with saying it all the time, but I trust you've got good reasons, kiddo... Misty Skies being one of them.'

She flew to the farmhouse and peered through a window, trying to keep her elated feeling from bursting. Applejack was standing over a stove, placing a pot of water on the boil for the potatoes she had peeled. She was humming happily to herself. Rainbow Dash felt her grin broaden.

“Hey there, green-eyes!” Dash shouted loudly, slipping through the open window and causing Applejack to bang her forehead against the vent over the stove.

Applejack rubbed her head, turning to glare at Rainbow Dash. “Really? I mean, REALLY? Must y'all act like a foal?”

“Sorry!” Rainbow said earnestly. “As awesome as that was to witness, I... really didn't want you to bang your head! Startle you, yes. Hurt you, not today. That was pretty funny, though. Not gonna lie! I'm just in a great mood right now!”

Applejack gave a start. “The try-outs are over already? Hoooo-whee! Judgin' by yer smile, yer his partner! That's great news.”

"Whoa! Slow down, hammer hooves, I haven't tried-out yet! I'm on my way there now. I'm just feeling a lot better, that's all. I came to see Scootaloo,” Dash explained.

“I see...” Applejack said, still rubbing her head. “Golly, what a smack... Well, glad to hear yer feelin' better. Scootaloo was happy you came to see her, I bet! Anyway, feel free to bump yer head on a nice big rock for me, but y'all may wait until the competition is over first."

Dash grinned at her. “Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. And yes, she was! But not as happy as I was to see her. Well, see ya later! Hope that doesn't bleed!”

Dash jumped backwards through the window adeptly, twisting in midair and extending her wings. With a great flap, she ascended through the air and was off. She soared back over Ponyville, flying south. She knew the stadium had been built on the field southwest of town hall. She found out in the days after Pinkie Pie had told her about it that the try-outs would be held there as well. She felt her nervousness creep back into her as she approached the structure.

Rainbow Dash descended quickly, her blurred rainbow streaks trailing her to the ground. She landed in the middle of the field, and glanced around. Blue Skies was already there, stretching on the grass with Thunderlane and Snowflake. Silverspeed, Bluebell, and Airheart descended not long after. Clearly, Dash wasn't the only one who thought to be early.

Rainbow dropped to the ground and began doing pushups with her wings to distract herself while she waited. Seconds later, however, she heard voices drifting up from the entrance to the stadium. Her stomach seemed to fall out of her body as a group of Wonderbolts walked out on to the pitch, flanked by a few security personnel. Spitfire and Soarin lead the group in their military uniforms. Fleetfoot, Lightning Streak, and Blaze were behind them, each wearing the iconic Wonderbolt flight suits.

“I can see some worthwhile faces here, but not many,” Spitfire said, shaking her head in disappointment as she lowered her sunglasses, peering over them at the gathering. “Rainbow Dash is here, though. Well... that's at least one good attempt we'll get to see. How long are you going to wait?”

“Uh, not too long. Maybe we'll wait for a few more and get this wrapped up early? I mean, these ponies are fine...” Soarin shrugged, folding his arms and flying a few feet into the air to get a better view of the pitch. He watched as the burst brothers, Sunburst and Starburst, landed onto the field. “I'd be happy with a few of this group...”

Rainbow saw him look towards her and she turned away, her cheeks feeling hot as the sun. 'Deep breathes...' she thought to herself. 'Why does he have to look absolutely gorgeous today...?'

“That's two more. I'll get them started. Feel free to keep waiting if you want,” Spitfire called up to him. "It's your partner we're talking about, after all."

Spitfire stormed forward, extending her wings to their fullest extent. She drew all eyes, though her own did not move. She stopped in the dead centre of the field, next to Rainbow Dash.

“Captain,” Dash said, inclining her head to Spitfire.

“Rainbow Dash,” She nodded in return. “I am happy you showed up. You deserve proper accolades for your time in the Wonderbolts Academy. Now...” She took a deep breath and yelled, using the full strength of her diaphragm. “LINE UP, MAGGOTS. Ladies on my right, fillies on my left.”

Some of the pegasai who had flown closer looked confused, including Wild Fire, having just landed on the field.

Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Look, stallions on the right, mares on the left. MOVE IT.”

The collected group did as they were told, Rainbow Dash being the first one standing at attention on Spitfire's left. Next to her stood Wild Fire, Silverspeed, Airheart, and Bluebell. Opposite them stood Starburst, Thunderlane, Snowflake, Sunburst, and Blue Skies.

“You disappointing bags of feathers know why you're all here! You are being given an opportunity of the highest honour!” Spitfire's voice rang out, as she paced down the field between the two lines. “In TWO weeks, this stadium will host its FIRST GAME. THE WONDERBOLTS have been contracted to PERFORM AN AIRSHOW. There will be TWO pegasai. FIRST OFFICER SOARIN WILL BE LEAD PONY, but he has decided that inviting a non-member to put on a show with him would be an excellent publicity stunt. PUBLIC IMAGE, FOALS; It's where we get our funding. NOW, which one of you think you're worth your weight in press photographs? Who's the best one for the job?”

No one spoke up. Rainbow assumed that, like herself, they all thought that the question was rhetorical.

“What was that? I couldn't hear you all over the PATHETIC SILENCE,” Spitfire spat. “I REPEAT! WHO. WILL. BE. SOARIN'S. WING. PONY? SOUND OFF LIKE YOU'VE GOT A PAIR."

“I will” Each pegasus sang out at once, Rainbow Dash throwing out her chest as a sharp 'YEEEAH!' came from the right lineup.

“Then LET'S GET STARTED, FOALS!” Spitfire yelled, jumping into the air and catching herself with her wings. “Fly forty laps around this field. The last two ponies to finish ARE DONE. MOVE!”

All ten of them launched into the air, zooming to the edge of the field and turning left to begin their laps. Thunderlane took an early lead, with Airheart behind him. Rainbow Dash was in no rush, however, and was already in 7th or 8th place. The other three Wonderbolts seemed to be there to keep track of who was on what lap. Soarin flew to the centre, landing next to Spitfire.

“Well, that's strange,” Spitfire said, taking off her glasses and gesturing them at Dash as she passed close by them. “I expected Rainbow to be in the lead from the start.”

“Is it really that strange, though? She was top of her class at the Academy. I believe... since she's unsure of how the rest of these trials will play out, that Rainbow Dash is merely reserving her energy. She understands this isn't a race; she's pacing herself. As long as she doesn't place in the last two spots, she's still in this,” Soarin explained.

“Hmm! You may be right. That's probably the wisest thing to come out of your mouth in many months now. I'm impressed,” Spitfire grinned.

“I thought you were more impressed with my action figure collection?” Soarin laughed.

“Not a day goes by that I don't realize that I hate you.” Spitfire nodded, slipping her sunglasses back on. “How a dork like you always ends up as my wing pony, I will never know.”

Keeping her pace was indeed Dash's plan. She made sure to stay ahead of at least two ponies. The entire forty laps, she did not allow Snowflake or Bluebell to pass her. While Snowflake may be easily the strongest of the pegasai who turned up for the try-outs, he was certainly not the fastest. And neither, it seemed, was Bluebell.

“Nooo...” Snowflake huffed, giving a tremendous sigh and bowing his massive head.

“Sorry. You two? YOU'RE GONE.” Spitfire yelled at them. “Work on your speed and impress me next year at the Academy. THE REST OF YOU, FALL BACK INTO FORMATION!”

The other pegasai fell back into their original lineups. Most of them seemed a little tired after attempting to beat each other in the laps, while Rainbow felt perfectly relaxed. At least, until she caught Soarin staring at her. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself as her face flushed.

“And then there were eight. Less ponies, less competition, and greater your chances of being Soarin's wing pony. That means you each have... you each have... Ahem. FLEETFOOT? NUMBER CRUNCH,” Spitfire roared.

“EACH PONY PRESENT WILL HAVE PRECISELY A TWELVE POINT FIVE CHANCE OF WINNING, MA'AM!” Fleetfoot called out immediately.

“Precisely what I said! You each nearly have a thirteen percent chance to win this, ASSUMING YOU MAGGOTS ARE OF EQUAL CALIBER, WHICH YOU MOST CERTAINLY ARE NOT! Now, PROVE ME WRONG!” Spitfire yelled. “LIGHTNING STREAK. GET YOUR WORTHLESS FLANK OVER HERE, PRONTO!”

The orange and yellow maned Wonderbolt walked forward, standing next to Spitfire.

“Wings,” Spitfire said to him.

With a loud flap, Lightning Streak extended his wings.

“This next test is for STRENGTH. Pity Snowflake is out, isn't it? OTHERWISE HE WOULD DESTROY YOU MAGGOTS with his TINY, TINY WINGS. Each of you will march forward IN TURN, and attempt to push Lightning Streak away from you USING ONLY YOUR WINGS. If you can't overpower him, YOU'RE GONE. Airheart, FORWARD!”

The pink pegasus marched forward, spreading her wings and pressing them against Lightning Streak's. On Spitfire's whistle, they began to grapple. Unfortunately for her, Airheart was on her back after less than ten seconds.

“GONE,” Spitfire spat. “Blue Skies, so we can keep this ALPHABETICAL. You're UP!”

And so she went through the list. One by one, Lightning Streak locked wings with them. Blue Skies was the first to survive the round, managing to cause the Wonderbolt to slip on the grass, which was enough to satisfy Spitfire. Silverspeed lasted the longest, keeping Lightning Streak at bay for a full two minutes before he finally pushed her aside. Neither of the burst brothers were able to overpower him. Thunderlane was, however, as indicated by the streak of dirt as the Wonderbolt was shoved back. Rainbow Dash pushed him straight onto his back within five seconds, receiving an approving nod from the Captain. Lightning Streak recovered enough to push away Wild Fire just as fast.

Spitfire had yelled herself hoarse at every pony to fail. “Pathetic showing! Only three left! What say you, Soarin? One more trial. We'll make it... interesting.”

Soarin's gaze passed over the three remaining as Lightning Streak returned to the sidelines. His eyes paused briefly on Rainbow Dash. “Hmm... yeah, let's make it interesting. What did you have in mind, Captain?”

“A race. However... we're gonna compete ourselves,” Spitfire grinned wickedly. “And if either myself or Soarin win, then I'll be doing the airshow with him. I'm upping the ante, screw the public image! So... winner take all."

"How fun it will be, Spitfire!" Rainbow Dash said, narrowing her eyes. "How fun it will be to beat the Captain of the Wonderbolts in a race.

5 Rainbow Dash vs. Spitfire

“Tough talk for a cadet!” Spitfire said, taking her sunglasses off and casually putting them in her shirt pocket. “I know you're fast, Rainbow Dash... but I lead the Wonderbolts. You might have speed to match or beat me, but I have technique. You WILL regret your cocky attitude, foal.”

“You two realize you aren't the only ones here, right?” Thunderlane frowned. “I won that race earlier.”

“That wasn't even a race!” Soarin chuckled. “Sorry to break it to you. However, if anyone's winning this, it won't be you, it won't be Blue Skies, and it won't be Rainbow Dash. It'll be me. Or Spitfire, if I'm feeling generous.”

“Excuse me?!” both Spitfire and Rainbow said in unison.

Rainbow Dash walked within an inch of Soarin's face. She did not feel embarrassed or nervous at all. Nose to nose with the object of the biggest crush she's ever felt, Rainbow Dash smirked. Whenever she felt the spirit of competition, all other worries or nerves left her.

“I'm gonna be your wing pony, Soarin,” she said, jabbing him in the chest, “and you're gonna like it.”

'And so will I!' she continued in her head.

“Sorry, Dash, but I'm gonna perform in that airshow!” Thunderlane said, pushing her aside to face down Soarin.

“Neither of you are going to get the chance. Sorry!” Spitfire said, gazing at her hooves as though the other pegasai weren't even worthy of her attention.

Blue Skies alone had remained completely silent. He looked from Rainbow Dash, to Thunderlane, to Soarin, and then to Spitfire. “Uh... I feel increedibly outclassed. I'm abandoning ship. Sorry!”

Rainbow Dash watched him turn tail and flutter away quickly, as though truly frightened by the competition. Dash caught the Wonderbolt Captain's eye and smirked as Spitfire's glare alternated between herself and Thunderlane. Spitfire then gave a sideways glance at Soarin, who nodded. He signalled to the rest of the Wonderbolts, who came over.

“If you four are racing...” Blaze said, pulling up her goggles. “I've got a proposition. First, we need a location.”

“Cloudsdale,” Rainbow Dash supplied at once, saying the first locale to come to mind.

“Very well. I will fly there. Give me a ten minute head start. I will wait at the main entrance to the Cloudosseum. The first pony to make it back here to Fleet and Streak AFTER hoofbumping me will be the winner. I will return after the fourth reaches me. So, if Rainbow Dash, for example, reaches me second, high-hooves me, but gets back first, she'd still be the win—”

“We get it,” Spitfire interrupted. “We doin' this, or what?”

Thunderlane grinned. “It's my time to shine.”

Blaze waved off the security ponies who had accompanied the group to the field in the first place. They departed, she slipped her goggles back on, and took flight. “Start in ten minutes!” She called, zooming off, leaving a dark and clouded trail behind her, crackling with lightning.

“I've been meaning to ask...” Thunderlane said, frowning up at the sky as the dark cloud faded. “How in the name of Celestia do you guys do that?”

Spitfire just walked away from them, pulling out a pocket watch from the same pocket she had placed her sunglasses in.

“The flight suits are imbued with magic. It's pretty fantastic,” Soarin explained. “They're great. The suits are at a constant room temperature, too, so even at extremely high altitudes, you stay comfortably warm and stuff.”

“Just keep spillin' all our secrets, there, Soarin. There's a good lad,” Spitfire snapped, turning her head towards them with a scowl on her face. “What are you, an idiot?”

Soarin rolled his eyes. He jerked a hoof at Spitfire, shrugged, and walked away as well, albeit not in the same direction.

Rainbow Dash had moved away and sat down on the grass, waiting silently. Now that the heat of the trash talk had worn off, she felt the familiar nervousness crawling over her again. Every twenty seconds or so, she caught Soarin looking over at her. She kept her face averted every time he did so, a little squirm erupting in her stomach. She had to admit: getting up and tough in his face like that had been really exciting. It was comforting to know she was at least able to stare him down. What was more, Spitfire seemed less and less like his girlfriend every time she opened her mouth.

Dash was actually a little surprised. Spitfire was a tough Captain and drill instructor, but she was always somewhat fair and had great morals, as far as Dash could tell during her time training in the Academy. However, every now and then she said something very harsh or unpleasant to Soarin. Was there bad blood between them? Maybe they had been going out in the past, but it definitely didn't seem that way now.

Soarin glanced around and saw Dash staring at him. He quickly looked away, as she did a moment later. Spitfire's eyes never left her watch. Thunderlane was laying on his back, eyes closed but looking relaxed. Fleetfoot and Lightning Streak were speaking quietly to each other, seemingly unconcerned with the others. Rainbow thought that she and Soarin had to be the only ones feeling apprehensive.

“Five minutes,” Spitfire announced, still not looking away from the watch. “Don't embarrass yourself when we race, Soarin.”

Rainbow glanced to Soarin and was unsurprised to find him looking directly at her. She gave it everything she had to avoid looking away, curious to find out if he would. He jerked his head in Spitfire's direction, and shook it sadly. Rainbow Dash frowned at him, gesturing towards the Captain with a 'what gives?' look. He briefly looked at Spitfire again before shrugging and strolling over to the blue pegasus. Rainbow's eyes immediately locked on to the ground.

'Oh no, oooh no... Keep calm...' she thought to herself.

“Sorry if she seems very rude to you guys,” Soarin whispered in a low voice, kneeling beside her. “Spitfire's been going through a rough time lately.”

Rainbow Dash, in spite of her butterflies, looked up at him and whispered back. “I don't think it's me or Thunderlane that she's being rude to.”

Soarin sighed. “Well, it is my fault... She's been good at disguising it lately, grinning and joking around with me, but sometimes it slips through, and... Look, sorry, I shouldn't really be talking about it. It's her business...” he trailed off, walking away again with his head bowed.

Rainbow wasn't really sure how she should have reacted to that. However, at that moment, it didn't matter.

“Two minutes to go...” Spitfire said, putting her watch away. “Let's just start now. Blaze will be at the Cloudosseum long before we get to Cloudsdale, it's sitting on the edge of the city.”

Spitfire unbuttoned her uniform and tossed it to the grass unceremoniously. She stretched out her forelegs and flexed her wings. Soarin followed suit, leaning low to the ground and flexing his limbs.

“Never seen him without his uniform or flight suit on. Yum...” Dash mumbled quietly to herself, blushing again as she eyed up his hindquarters. “He does have an awesome butt. I was only joking...”

“Oy!” Spitfire called to Fleet and Streak. “Don't you two go dozing off or anything. I won't be gone very long.”

“Neither will I!” Dash said, standing up and stretching her legs.

Thunderlane said nothing, getting to his feet and dusting off his coat. Rainbow was impressed with his confidence, considering he was almost as outclassed as Blue Skies had been. She remembered he had an impressive wing power, though. He might be a worthy challenge, for all she knew. She rolled her eyes at herself; was she being too conceited again? She pushed the thoughts from her mind, as she had a greater concern.

She studied Spitfire carefully. She was in terrific shape and, as the leader of the Wonderbolts, she had to be extremely fast. And like Spitfire said herself, she had experience over Rainbow Dash, which meant she had to know plenty of aerial maneuvers. It wasn't just the idea of besting a rival, skilled flier that made Rainbow Dash anxious to beat her; she didn't know or care about whatever was happening between Spitfire and Soarin just now, she just believed so strongly that Spitfire didn't deserve to perform with him, given how she had been treating him.

It had nothing to do with the fact that she wanted to be the one who got to be Soarin's partner. Rainbow Dash wanted to see Spitfire fail. Rainbow Dash wanted to be the one to beat her, even if the airshow wasn't on the line. Dash felt her breath catch in her chest as she recalled something Spitfire said earlier, her hooves digging into the grass as her teeth bared.

”What are you, an idiot?” Rainbow Dash remembered her saying to him. The malcontent in her voice had made it all the worse.

“Enough delaying!” Spitfire said, rising into the air. “Let's get this over with.”

Rainbow jumped straight up into the air, flinging out her wings and catching herself. Her blood was pounding in her ears as she continued to glare at Spitfire. She was going down.

Thunderlane and Soarin rose with them. All four of them hovered silently in place. Rainbow Dash looked to Soarin, who was staring at Spitfire, who looked back to Thunderlane with an expression that made it all too clear that she wanted to ask him why he was even still there. Despite this, Spitfire's head snapped forward.

“Three,” she called out, “two, one.”

Rainbow Dash bumped hard into Spitfire as she shot forward like a cannonball. Leaving the Captain with nothing but a streak of radiant colours, Dash took the immediate lead. Within seconds, she had cleared the outer walls of the stadium, climbing higher and higher. She looked back. Spitfire was behind her, with Soarin and Thunderlane bringing up the rear. All four of them had left the stadium behind now.

Clear skies ahead, Dash's view returned forward and she beat her wings harder. The rush of air tore at her eyes, which she narrowed. They were flying directly into a headwind. It was a powerful one, too, Dash realized. It was going to be difficult take good breaths. Rainbow bent her head to the side, filling her lungs with air. She blinked to get the dryness from her eyes.

Her mouth fell open. Despite the fact that she was still rapidly accelerating, there was a brilliant streak of orange and amber as Spitfire soared on by, her trail burning through the air like an inferno. It was rare for Dash to ever see another pony leave a streak as bright as her own. After all, she had only ever witnessed her old rival at the Wonderbolt Academy, Lightning Dust, pull it off.

Within five seconds, Spitfire was easily forty feet or more ahead of Rainbow Dash, with that distance increasing with each beat of Dash's twitching heart. Was it worth pushing herself to a Rainboom, she wondered? She would certainly shoot past Spitfire and gain a tremendous lead, but it would exhaust her strength rather quickly, she thought. She'd reach Blaze in no time flat, but she'd never get back to the stadium first with her energy reserves in that state.

Dash had to push herself anyway, or else she was going to lose this race. Straightening her body out, she began flapping her wings faster, head bent low as she felt the rush of air through her mane. She glanced ahead, eyes aching from the wind, and saw Spitfire's streak inching closer. Second by second, Dash moved faster and faster, closing that distance.

Spitfire had disguised her skill well, even with her own arrogance. Dash would never have guessed that someone who sat behind a desk at the Wonderbolts Academy would even stand a chance against her, but it was true. Perhaps Dash's skills had grown rusty in the last couple months? With everything going on, it was true that she never really had the time to just practice her flying. She had stopped flying fast for the sake of it, focusing more on caring for Scootaloo and balancing her two jobs. Rainbow Dash had never stopped to think that there was the remotest possibility that she wasn't in her peak physical condition.

Rainbow Dash watched as Spitfire's tail slowly passed by. It wasn't flapping in the wind at all; each hair looked to be frozen in time. Spitfire's form was excellent. Rainbow thought she knew exactly what she was doing. But, as Spitfire's flaming cutie mark and belly passed by, Dash herself inching further and further ahead, she knew Spitfire would have to try a little harder.

They had managed to climb above the air currant now. As the wind died down, Dash's stomach contracted, her chest expanding with a great and full breath of air. As she drew neck and neck with the Captain, Spitfire's eyes rolled over on to hers, looking appalled.

“Nopony... bests Rainbow Dash... nopony!” Dash breathed, her eyes squinting against the air, feeling her wings already starting to ache as she pushed herself harder, urging her body onward at incredible speeds.

Dash had left Spitfire in the dust once more. Bending her head low again, she opened her eyes and saw the rolling hills below her. Ponyville must already be miles behind them. Dash couldn't remember ever flying this fast without exploding in a circle of colour, yet here she was and, what was more, Rainbow Dash was not yet completely fatigued. Perhaps she wasn't as out of shape as she thought? Dash looked at her hooves in front of her. There was a funnel of solid air as she ripped through the sky, but her body was not positioned correctly to execute the Sonic Rainboom. That meant that she could maintain this speed safely as long as she was physically able to. She knew she still had that trick up her sleeve if she needed it.

As Cloudsdale loomed in the distance, Rainbow realized it wasn't over yet. She heard Spitfire cutting through the air beside her. Rainbow's eyes travelled to the gold pony. Spitfire's body moved weirdly. She did not appear to be flying, but swimming through the air. Her arms where pinned to her sides, her tail swishing as she twisted like a fish zipping through water. Whatever she was doing, it was working. Clearly, the Wonderbolt Captain wasn't lying about knowing some maneuvers, Rainbow realized with terror in her furiously beating heart. The blur of orange and yellow behind Spitfire was giving off burning heat.

Rainbow Dash's muscles cramped as her body straightened out more and more, but she could not pull any closer. Clouds, archways, and pillars floated by in a blur of white and grey. The Cloudosseum was dead ahead and Spitfire got there first. Blaze stood at ease as she made their approach, perched on top of the wall of the arena directly above the entrance. She casually raised her left hoof, her expression blank. Spitfire clapped it, twisting in midair as she soared upwards in a graceful arc. She glared down at Dash as she flew over her.

'This... this is gonna be hard,' Dash thought wirly.

With a soft clap, Rainbow Dash made contact with Blaze's hoof as well, tilting her left wing downward and right wing up, making a wide turn without losing her momentum. Spitfire was several hundred feet ahead by now. How in Equestria was Rainbow going to catch up? Should she Rainboom? Rainbow wasn't even sure she had the agility or stamina left to pull it off.

In less than a minute, both herself and Spitfire had already left Cloudsdale. The intense speed of the race was making her dizzy. Rainbow Dash was panting deeply, her wings felt like they were on fire, and her heart was pounding so hard it seemed to tear a stitch right through her. She noticed Soarin and Thunderlane approaching Cloudsdale. They seemed to be in conversation, laughing with one another, at their ease. Both must have realized that their chances of out-racing Spitfire and Dash were very fine indeed, and were just having fun instead. Dash felt warmer upon seeing him, her eyes snapping to the figure of Spitfire. She seemed much closer. What was more, she was turned to look at the oncoming ponies, scowling at Soarin.

Rainbow Dash gave a grunt of anger, her wings making great swishing motions through the air. Spitfire was facing forward once again, but was still drawing closer. She had abandoned her fishtailing, or whatever she had been doing. It must have been tiring, as Dash could see her chest heaving.

This time, it was Canterlot that loomed ahead, far in the distance. They must still be a great length from Ponyville, however, as the little town was not yet visible at the mountain's base.

Within two minutes time, Dash was once more neck and neck with Spitfire. But Rainbow herself was growing very tired by now. She saw Spitfire glance sideways at her. The Wonderbolt looked exhausted. She did not scowl, or glare, or give any signs of hatred. She merely looked at Dash, face sweating, taking sharp breathes.

“You're... a great flier...” Dash heard Spitfire's voice croak, though it was hard to catch as Rainbow's ears were aching and dry. It didn't help that they were hovering near the sound barrier at these breakneck speeds.

“I under... underestimated you, Spitfire!” Dash spoke back, her voice hoarse, her nostrils bone dry.

Spitfire came to a suddenly, completely dead stop with some rapid wing movements. Dash shot by her like a bullet fired from a rifle. Stiffening her wings flat against the air, Rainbow's speeds ground to a halt as well.

“Wha... what?” Dash gasped, throwing her hooves on her knees and struggling for breath.

“I'm... done...” Spitfire said, shaking her head and frowning, her breathing sounding very painful. “You've just given me my greatest challenge in five years, but... I'm running on empty.”

Dash gaped at her. “You're not... serious!” she panted. “We're... almost there!” Dash felt a great disappointment flooding her pores.

“Huh... Really wanted... to beat me, didn't you?” Spitfire asked, cocking an eyebrow and giving a short laugh, coughing. “T-trust me, you have.”

“I guess... but I wanted to beat you fairly... Not with... you just giving up!” Dash sighed, feeling her nose. It had begun to bleed from the roughness of the air being forced up it during the flight.

“Stop being so... dramatic!” Spitfire spat, watching Dash wiping the blood on her arm. “If you want a nice ending, catch your breath and give me a Rainboom.”

“I... don't think I have any fuel left for a Sonic Rainboom,” Rainbow Dash croaked, shaking her head.

“I just told you to catch your breath!” Spitfire rolled her eyes to the heavens. “Recharge your batteries a moment, and then try!”

“Why do you want me to do one so badly?” Dash asked, bowing her head and focusing on keeping her breathing steady.

“Well, like I said... You seem to want a dramatic ending to this race... Besides...” Spitfire continued, her breathing gradually returning to normal. “I can appreciate what the best is. And when it comes to flight tricks, that's probably the best. It's my favourite, at least. At the Best Younger Fliers competition... Incredible...” Spitfire said, shaking her head. “You just whupped me in a race, chump. You owe me a favour.”

Rainbow Dash looked up, grinning. “How does that even make sense? I owe ya nothin', pal!”

“Oh, come on. I know you want to! Besides...” Spitfire said, pointing out the casually passing figures of Soarin and Thunderlane, each throwing the mares startled looks. “Do you really want those morons to win?”

Dash was silent a moment. She made no effort to try and finish the race, even though the two stallions were now in the lead. “What do you have against Soarin? What could he have possibly done to you to justify you treating him like he's garbage all day?” she asked abruptly.

Spitfire glared. “He broke my heart, that's what I've got against him! I know precisely what you're after, Rainbow Dash. The quick glances toward him... I see you flushing red whenever you catch his eye. You're clearly enthralled; you can have him. He's lucky I'm even speaking to him right now. Now, give me my Rainboom.”

“Tell me what happened and I'll do it!” Dash demanded, her heart racing again as dread flooded her. What had happened? Was Soarin an abusive boyfriend, or something horrifying like that?

“That's... really none of your business!” Spitfire spat, but sighed and continued anyway. “He chickened out, that was all. Said he wasn't ready. I can't really blame him, it's not exactly his fault, he did nothing wrong, if that's what you're wondering. But... it shattered me. I feel quite justified in treating him like dirt at the moment. I... I loved him. I wasn't happy to lose him.”

Dash closed her eyes. “I'm sorry if I misjudged you...” she said slowly.

Spitfire groaned, jabbing her hoof in the direction of the mountain. Judging by the smallest streak of dark blue, barely visible against the afternoon sun, the stallions must have accelerated; Soarin and Thunderlane was nearly at the finish. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and looked in the direction Spitfire was pointing.

“Don't be an idiot!” Spitfire said, turning and flying in the direction of Ponyville. “Make this win official. Besides, we don't want Blaze to catch up to us on her way back. She's the slowest Wonderbolt, the team'll hold that one against me for months.”

Dash watched her leave, sighing. She narrowed her eyes and breathed deeply, starting to move forward again. She stretched her body flat, and began to beat her wings furiously.

“That's it! Come on, I want to see it!” Spitfire said, her own wings beating hard as she kept pace. “Let's catch up to the bronies up there first, and then you can do your Sonic Rainboom. I wanna see their faces!”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, but the idea of executing her Rainboom in front of Soarin was one she could happily anticipate. The two ponies soared through the air, their streaks side by side, merging into a tangled mess of rainbow and a flaming, brilliant orange.

“You'd make a good rival if you ever make it into our ranks,” Spitfire said, glancing over at Rainbow Dash. “I look forward to a rematch someday. I'll win that one, though.”

“Not a chance!” Dash grinned back as the two of them began gaining on the stallions.

The cottages and farms of Ponyville were in full view, just on the horizon. Spitfire and Rainbow Dash separated, flying wide enough to place Soarin and Thunderlane between them.

“What was that all about back there?” Soarin asked Spitfire, giving Rainbow a sideways glance.

“Deciding how best to humiliate you boys, of course.” Spitfire grinned wickedly. “You two honestly didn't think you'd beat a mare, did you?”

Rainbow accelerated forward as promised to Spitfire. Thunderlane groaned.

“You all got my hopes up!” He snapped. “I thought I'd have a chance of pulling this off.”

“It doesn't matter! Rainbow Dash is winning this, I couldn't outmatch her. So just enjoy the show,” Spitfire called to him.

“Show? You don't mean...” Soarin gasped, eyes snapping to Dash's flank as she pulled ahead.

“The Sonic Rainboom!” Rainbow called back in response.

Dash's tail twitched into position, minimizing her drag. She held her head steady, arms bent in front of her to form a point. Her tired wings beat faster and faster, becoming a blueish blur. Her rainbow trail was lengthening and growing as her body elongated and squeezed between the funnel of air around her.

The ponies below were treated to a colossal explosion of sound and colour, easily heard and visible from as far as Sweet Apple Acres. From the point where she had crossed that threshold, her trail seemed to solidify into a solid rainbow. A massive ring of expanding multi-coloured light, the spectrum shattered, stretched outward as far as the eyes could see as Equestria's fastest flier descended in a great arc toward the stadium below.

Fleetfoot and Lightning Streak were waiting for them, the thundering crash of sound having alerted them. Dash sped between them, grabbing each by the hoof as she divided the pitch with a solid wall of colour, catching them both by surprise.

Soarin, Spitfire, and Thunderlane landed on the edge of the stadium's outer wall. Directly across from them hovered Rainbow Dash, beaming wide and glowing with happiness, the two Wonderbolts dangling in surprise from either arm.

6 The Greatest Treasure of Rainbow Dash

It was evening. The little farm was quiet in the moonlight. The animals were sleeping peacefully in the barns and pens, or on the fields. The stars twinkled overhead like sparkles of light in a water's splash. All was darkness but for a few lights on in the big farmhouse, the brightest shine coming from the main sitting room, which had a flickering quality to it.

The fire was lit, giving the little room a warm glow to bask the inhabitants in. Granny Smith was dozing in her favourite armchair. The dinner table in the connecting dining room was weighted down with dirty dishes and cups. Applejack threw it a look, possibly making a mental note to clean up before she turned in for the night. She was stretched out on the sofa. The three little girls all sat on the floor, eyes wide with reverence, grinning broadly.

“Again!” Apple Bloom cheered. “C'mon, Rainbow Dash!”

“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle agreed, tapping her hooves excitedly on the floor. “My heart's in my throat!

Scootaloo didn't say anything. She just continued to gaze at her big sister, exaltation in her eyes.

“Whaaat? No way! I've already told you twice,” Rainbow Dash protested, folding her arms and shaking her head. Unfortunately, she had nearly given herself away by the fact that she was finding it difficult to conceal her smile. “Well, what do ya think, Applejack? It's getting awfully late. I just don't think it's fair to these sleepy little fillies to keep them up on a school night.”

Applejack winked at her, slipping off the sofa. “Ya knooow, Rainbow Dash, I quite agree. It would be much kinder to send them off ta bed so they are well rested in the morning! Off y'all trot, now!”

“Guess I'll be going then!” Dash said brightly, stretching her wings and yawning, trying not to laugh.

There was immediate uproar. Scootaloo jumped to her feet, rushing over to Rainbow and throwing her hooves at Rainbow's chest. Apple Bloom was begging her sister to let Rainbow stay to tell her story once more, leaping onto the couch, scrambling on top of her sister and staring her in the face into the air to put her on eye level with Applejack. Sweetie Belle had her head against the sofa, grunting and trying to push it into the doorway to block Dash leaving.

“Siiis! Don't go yet, please?” Scootaloo begged, sadness plastered all over her face. “Once more... I don't want you to leave yet!”

Rainbow Dash picked her up with her wings and nuzzled Scootaloo's face with her own. “You sure you aren't falling asleep, sleepy head?”

Scootaloo shook her head quickly. “Nooo... I'm wide ah... awake!” She stifled a yawn.

“You kids can hear the story one more time, but then it's off to bed. Go brush yer teeth now, all of y'all, and then you can hear it again,” Applejack said, smiling warmly at the fillies.

Scootaloo gave a wiggle and broke out of Dash's wing hold. She joined Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who was panting.

“Heavy... heavy couch!” Sweetie told the room at large, throwing up her hooves in exasperation.

The earth, unicorn, and pegasus filly all ran up the stairs, trying to race each other to the bathroom sink. There was much banging and screaming overhead after they had vanished out of sight.

“So, how much of that story was horseapples?” Applejack asked, walking into the dining room to gather up the plates.

Dash flapped her wings and swooped over to help. “You don't believe my gripping tales? Applejack, you wound me.”

Applejack threw her a smug look, but chuckled anyway. “I know when yer stretchin' the truth.”

Rainbow gathered up several plates at once with her wings, balancing them on her outstretched arms. “Sometimes the truth really is more exciting than a made up story.”

“Is that so? Four hundred pegasai showed up to the tryouts and y'all had a wrestlin' match, didja,? To trim it down to a smaller number?” Applejack asked, still smiling smugly and taking the plates Rainbow Dash had gathered to the kitchen sink.

“It was an over the top rope battle royale, to be specific!” Dash said, but she couldn't hide her guilty smile anymore. “Okay, okay! Only ten of us showed up. In the end, though, it was a race between me and that dark grey pegasus, you know the one. Thunderlane, that guy. It was down between me and him, and Spitfire and Soarin. I won with my Rainboom. I mean, come on, YOU SAW IT IN THE SKY!”

“That's the only part I believed!” Applejack chuckled loudly, turning on the tap over the sink.

“You are the worst,” Rainbow Dash said with a smile, rolling her eyes. “Soarin and Thunderlane just kind of... screwed around, they didn't seem that interested in beating us. I think me and Spitfire set the bar a little too high at the start, trying to one up each other in speed. She is faster than you could possibly imagine. If it didn't end the way it did, I probably would have given myself a heart attack just to beat her back to the stadium! I had never felt so physically exhausted.”

“Here they come...” Applejack said as the sound of a stampede echoed down the stairs. “I'm very happy ya won, Rainbow. When do you start your lessons with Soarin for the airshow performance?”

“Wednesday! I cannot wait, it's going to be so awesome. He's sooo cute, ohmigosh! I dunno how I'm gonna survive the next two days. Spitfire said she was going to work something out with the both the weather factory and the Ponyville Weather Commission so I could get time off to practice. They'll even pay me! The Wonderbolts got connections, lemme tell ya.”

“AHEM!” came Scootaloo's impatient yell from the living room.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked over. All three fillies were back and sitting on the floor, heads turned to glare into the kitchen. Rainbow Dash grinned and swooped back into the living room. She landed lightly between the fireplace and the Crusaders, clapping her hooves together.

“That's right, I forgot I owe you guys another stirring rendition of my heroic struggles against FOUR HUNDRED WINGED AND MENACING PONIES, ending in a ONE ON ONE RACE WITH THE WONDERBOLT CAPTAIN, HERSELF!” Rainbow Dash said in a sharp voice, her silhouette dark against the fire.

The fillies drew together excitedly.

“... So there I was...” Rainbow Dash continued some time later, having told most of her story. “Ponyville must have been two hundred miles below us. We were so high we could see the stars and moon, even though it was the middle of the afternoon.”

She soared around the room, drawing gasps from the girls.

“BAM!” Dash said, smacking her hoof into the wall loudly, causing the girls to give a shriek and Granny Smith to mumble in her sleep. “Spitfire zoomed on by into the lead! The air behind her was ON. FIRE. That's how fast this mare was going.”

Rainbow Dash hovered slowly over the fillies, eyes locked on to them as they looked up, mouths open in awe. “A lesser pony would have wet her feathers! The sound of the roaring flames, the eeevil look in Spitfire's eyes. She was like a great dragon, not a pegasus at all. I gathered what was left of my courage. I put everything I had into it! BOOM!”

Rainbow Dash rushed back to the fire, landing hard on the floor with a smack. “AND JUST LIKE THAT, IT WAS OVER!” she yelled in triumph. “I knew the Sonic Rainboom was the ONLY WAY to beat Spitfire and her voodoo flight. I did not want to do it, but it HAD. TO. BE. DONE,” Dash continued, slapping a hoof into the other with every word. “The other competitors erupted into cheers and the Wonderbolts flew all around me as I celebrated my victory. Spitfire told me she would change her wicked ways and said she would make me Soarin's wing pony for the airshow, as promised.”

The fillies clapped their hooves together, whooping and cheering. Rainbow Dash gave a little bow, with much twirling of her hooves and flicked her mane, putting it in danger of catching an ember from the fireplace. Applejack emerged from the kitchen.

“It's nearly eleven! You fillies get yer rumps off ta bed!” she said, wiping of her hoof with a cloth, the dishes done. “Ya heard yer story, now skedaddle!'

The Crusaders all yawned, getting to their hooves, but did not protest their bedtime Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were happily in discussion about their favourite parts ('I liked the wrasslin!' 'No, the fight with the chimera was the best part!') as they walked to the stairs. Scootaloo stayed behind, approaching her adoptive guardian.

“I don't want you to leave... If you have to, can I come home with you?” she asked softly in a voice only Rainbow Dash could hear.

Dash dropped to her knees and pulled Scoot into a hug. “I won't be leaving until you girls are asleep, don't you worry your little head,” Dash whispered back. “Don't you like sleeping over with your friends?”

“'Course I do, but I'm gonna miss you! You're the coolest big sister ever!” Scootaloo said, her round greyish purple eyes fixed on Rainbow's.

“You won't even know I'm gone until you wake up and go to school, and I can't follow you there anyway. Be a brave little squirt, Dashie's gotta get home and tidy up! I think there's muskrats living in my bedroom!”

Scootaloo gave a watery chuckle. “Okay... You aren't allowed to leave without kissing me goodnight, though!”

“Well, obviously,” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes but beaming down at Scootaloo anyway.

A couple of hours came and went. Rainbow Dash closed her front door with a snap, trying not to yawn. She had just finished discussing the rest of her day with Applejack, truthfully this time, including everything that had happened after the race was over. She placed a wrapped object down on a hallway table and stretched her wings.

As she walked through the quiet house, she peered into the living room, flicking on the light and giving the room a quick pan. Aside from a rumpled blanket on the couch and a Daring Do novel on the floor next to the coffee table, the room was still clean and tidy. Dash looked at a few of Scootaloo's toys and colouring books, all stacked neatly in a corner. Scootaloo always put her things away when she finished playing with them. Dash walked back to the coffee table and picked up a framed photograph.

In the picture, Scootaloo was sitting on Dash's shoulders, her hooves flattening Rainbow's hair and beaming at the camera. Her wings were stretched out wide like Dash's had been. Dash smiled warmly down at the photograph, which was dated March 19th: The very day she had adopted Scootaloo.

Twilight Sparkle had insisted on dragging them shopping after she had told her friends the news, still so jubilant about the great kindness Rainbow Dash had done. They met up with Pinkie Pie shortly after, who snapped the photo as Twilight stood aside.

“Big smiles, you two!” Twilight had said happily, her eyes watering. “This is your first family picture... ever!”

“Say 'Cheese and whiskers on a polar bear on Tuesday is a silly concept!'” Pinkie had squeed, taking the photo.

Rainbow was surprised to find herself curled up on the couch with the blanket wrapped around her. She had gotten herself lost in memories again, thinking about the filly who had changed her life. Impatiently wiping her eyes, she gently put down the photograph again and jumped up, folding the blanket neatly and stashing it under her arm. She picked the novel off the floor and laid it on the coffee table.

It was a stupid thing, really, but she refused to let herself cry for anything. That's not to say she never spilled tears, but she always tried her hardest to avoid it. Some would say this was a facade she was using to hide inner pain, Rainbow often thought, but her real reasons were a little different. So far, it had already been nearly two years before she had let out a real sob.

Before her mother had passed away, she had told Rainbow Dash to 'always stand brave and tall when you have to face your fears, and never cry when the world becomes too much to bear'. These were words Rainbow had lived by ever since she watched the coffin lowered into the cold earth. It wasn't always easy, though. Sometimes you had to cry, no matter how brave you felt in your heart.

Dash looked up at the bookshelf. There was another photograph, faded with age, sitting on top of it. Inside the frame was a happy-looking family. A smiling blue filly with brightly coloured hair and mane of every shade of the rainbow sat on her mother's lap, while her father stood behind them. Rainbow Dash had her mother's hairstyle, although she was the splitting image of her father. Even though the tones were faded, father and daughter seemed to share every single bright colour. She stood up and approached the bookshelf.

Heavens Above smiled happily out of the photograph forevermore. Her coat had been snow white. Rainbow Dash remembered how it used to shine bright, even when the sun was away. Her mother's hair had been bright blonde with golden highlights. She had had the most brilliant wings Dash had ever seen in her life. When Rainbow Dash was a little girl, she foolishly thought her mother had secretly been an angel, looking like she did and with such a name.

Rainbow blinked away tears again, taking a deep breath. When her mother passed away, her father had always told Dash that 'Mommy has gone back to Heaven'. Rainbow Dash had always found comfort in those words; comfort in the simple idea that somehow her mother would be waiting for her and that they would meet again when her own time in this world was over. She took another deep, steadying breath and wiped her eyes again. She would not let the tears fall. She walked back to the coffee table and picked up the photo of herself and Scootaloo. She returned to the bookshelf and placed it next to the picture of the young family torn apart by tragedy.

“I hope you're still watching out for me, Mom...” Dash said softly, standing back so she could see both photographs at once. “You taught me that my family is my greatest treasure. I would have loved for Scootaloo to get the chance to meet you. I know you would have loved that wonderful filly just as much as I love her...”

Dash paused at the pictures for just a second longer, focusing on her father. She hoped she would be seeing him soon. Dash walked out of the room, turning off the light, and put the blanket she was still holding into the closet in the hallway. She made her way through every room in the house quickly; putting her weights in the basement away, cleaning the counter tops in the kitchen, wiping down the bathroom floor, sweeping the upstairs hallway and Scootaloo's bedroom.

Finally, Rainbow Dash entered her own bedroom and sighed heavily at the chaos. It took her a full hour to clean it. She had a pile of clothes set aside to wash in the morning. Her wardrobe had been wiped down, everything pulled out and folded neatly. Her record player was unplugged and put into her bedroom closet, along with a few of the dresses she had hung up in there, including both her bridesmaid's gown and the dress she wore to the Grand Galloping Gala.

Dash flopped down on to her neatly made bed and fixed her eyes slowly over the poster of Soarin, a small smile crossing her face. Suddenly remembering the wrapped package she had left downstairs when she got home. Rainbow jumped up and rushed downstairs to get it. Returning to her bedroom, she pulled yet another photograph from the wrapping paper, one taken that very day.

She placed it down next to her bedside table, feeling a fuzziness spread through her body. Several pegasai were sitting down at a table inside 'the Vinyl Scratch', the club owned by DJ Pon-3. Soarin and Thunderlane were toasting one another with their large steins, roaring with laughter. Rainbow Dash sat on Soarin's left, with Spitfire beside her. Across from them sat Blaze, Fleetfoot, and Lightning Streak. All were raising their glasses.

After the race, the Wonderbolts treated Dash and Thunderlane to a few drinks at the club to celebrate Rainbow Dash's victory. Spitfire had been acting much more warmly to all involved. Maybe her brief chat with Rainbow Dash at the tail end of the race had made her realize she wasn't doing herself a favour by being nasty, Rainbow wondered?

Rainbow traced her hoof down Soarin's face, sighing softly. “I really hope you like me...”

She crawled into bed without even turning off the bedroom light and was asleep within moments. It had been such a wonderful day.

7 The Worst Day

Rainbow Dash was slumped on the bench, panting heavily. Soarin landed next to her, drinking from his water bottle. Dash glanced at him. He stared back. She shook her head in exasperation. He gave a laugh. Dash put her head in her hoof, glaring away from him when Soarin folded her arms and looked sternly at her, waiting for her to notice.

“What? I'm not doing it,” she said firmly. “You're absolutely insane.”

“C'mooon!” Soarin grinned and nudged her with his elbow.

Rainbow Dash stood up straight, breathing deeply. Soarin watched her carefully. THWAP. She extended her wing and knocked him off the bench. She leaned over him, shaking her head.

“I couldn't help but I notice I already toldja 'no'!” Dash smirked.

Soarin pushed himself off the floor with his own wings, placing himself nose to nose with her. He held up a hoof between them, and carefully pushed her back.

“Why not?” He asked, grinning.

"Do you even realize what you're asking me to do?!" Rainbow snapped. "I can't believe you!"

"It doesn't last very long. It'll all be over quickly," Soarin explained, attempting to persuade her.

Rainbow shook her head again. She wrapped her arms tightly about her chest, tossing her mane in his face.

“I... I am not doing the 'bunny hop' during the second flight phase. I'm not doing it. You are the biggest dork ever. I'll look like a tool! Besides, it's exhausting!”

It was Wednesday. Rainbow Dash was nearing the end of her first day in practice for the airshow performance with Soarin. They were inside the grand gymnasium at the Wonderbolts Academy, testing aerial acrobatics. The show was to be broken into three phases and Soarin was aiming to teach her the toughest moves first, with them focusing on tying it all together later. He had just showed her a move he called 'the bunny hop' that involved quick acceleration shifting while increasing and decreasing altitude, all while leaning forward with all four limbs bent like a hopping bunny rabbit.

“I think it's cute,” Soarin said, shrugging.

“Cute?!” Dash rolled her eyes. “I wouldn't even let my kid do that!”

Soarin sat back down on the bench, Dash still standing, glaring in another direction with her arms still folded tight. Dash would not have noticed the smile slowly leaving his face.

“I... didn't know you had a foal,” he spoke after a few moments, regaining his slipping composure.

“She's a filly, actually,” Rainbow Dash said, staring at a chart of moves that Soarin had posted on the wall that morning. “Scootaloo is seven.”

“Well, that would explain how you've managed to stay in flying shape! You had plenty of time to get back into it!” Soarin said, probably under the impression he was flattering her.

The time it took for Rainbow Dash to slowly turn her head toward him and fix him with the most disgusted look she could muster could have been a million years. As it was, Soarin seemed to recoil slightly, unnerved at her expression. He stood up, holding his hooves up in front of him.

“Whoa, whoa! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you,” he said, backing away slightly.

“I... should probably leave.” Dash sighed. “I've gotta pick her up from school soon, and that's all the way in Ponyville.”

“But... Dash, I... I—” Soarin spluttered into silence, falling back to all fours. “Uh, yeah. Alright, we can finish up early and try again tomorrow. I'll try and work the bunny hop out of the set.”

“Thanks,” Dash said, calming down and smiling. “You can say some dumb things sometimes!”

Soarin smiled weakly at her. The silence fell between them once more, but still Rainbow Dash did not yet leave, having returned to looking at the chart. If Soarin was smart, he could still save the situation. Dash was on the verge of saying that Scootaloo was a child she had adopted, and had thus never would have needed to 'get back into' any sort of shape, but Soarin spoke first.

“Sooo...” he mumbled, clearly casting around for something to say. “What's... wrong... with her going to normal flight school?”

Dash wheeled around to face him again, feeling the pure rage flood her face.

“She's HANDICAPPED, you JERK!” Dash yelled, spit flying and her chest heaving.

She gave him one snort from her nostrils and leapt into the air, spreading her wings and leaving a completely mortified looking Soarin in her wake. She landed on the edge of one of the high windows at near the ceiling, threw him one look of deep loathing, and dived out. She hadn't even bothered to grab her towel or water bottle.

She plummeted a hundred feet. The building and floating earth it was built upon flashed by as she fell, ripping through clouds and exiting Cloudsdale through the bottom. She opened her wings to catch the air and glided toward Ponyville, still fuming.

She had been anticipating this day ever since she had won the race. She had barely slept the night before. Stomach churning and feeling dizzy, she arrived at the gym that morning to meet with Soarin. She was so shy and embarrassed, completely nerve-wracked. However, a full day of working side by side with him, moving through the air under his instruction, allowing him to adjust her limbs to perfect her form, joking around with him and chatting constantly had all been beneficial. By that last hour, she was very comfortable around him. It was all very hard work, she knew, but she enjoyed it all immensely anyway. And although his stupid bunny hope exercise was ridiculous, it was still a great cardio.

Rainbow Dash sighed. Despite all of this, she had such a sour taste in her mouth. She couldn't really blame Spitfire for calling him an idiot, as much as that realization tore at her. Soarin seemed to have absolutely no idea how to talk to another pony without humiliating himself or offending them. He was clueless! All throughout the day he had said things that just crossed the line. Little throwaway comments or crude jokes that just rubbed her the wrong way. What made it all worse is the fact that she couldn't really blame him, at least not for his last two insulting attempts at making conversation. He obviously didn't know about Scootaloo beforehand, nor did he know Rainbow Dash wasn't her real mother, nor did he know she could not fly. Despite this, Rainbow Dash had still blown up at him.

She still liked him, but he had really and honestly disappointed her. It was the first time since hearing about the airshow that Rainbow Dash felt like she truly would not be bothered if she didn't do it. Cute he might be, but if he didn't start thinking before he opened his wretched trap, she was going to back out of this awfully quick.

Dash swore as she kept flying, Ponyville just in the distance. 'Why does he have to make this SO HARD?' she thought, her breathing erratic. She wanted to rewind time and try this day over again. Hopefully tomorrow would be better. Dash was dreading another sleepless night tonight as she looked forward to second guessing her feelings until the sun came up.

“Sis! You're late!” Scootaloo frowned as Dash touched down next to the school house.

Scoot had been sitting down on the steps in front of the doors. All of the other fillies and colts seemed to have already gone home. Rainbow looked up at the clock tower; school ended nearly a half hour ago. Rainbow could not help but think of Misty Skies leaving Scootaloo to wait, only to never return. She felt ashamed of herself as she approached Scootaloo, kneeling down beside her.

“I'm so sorry, Scootaloo,” Dash said with a heavy sigh, ruffling her hair and kissing her forehead. “Mo—I mean, man, I didn't mean to keep you waiting. Dashie wouldn't do that on purpose. Practice ran late, that's all... I'm surprised Cheerilee didn't wait with you, though.”

Rainbow Dash had almost called herself 'mommy'. The last thing she wanted was to upset Scootaloo even more. Just let this day end already, she thought ruefully.

“But Cheerilee is here! She's still inside,” Scoot explained, standing up. “She didn't want me to be left here all alone.”

“Oh!” Dash said, feeling a little sickened at herself at jumping to conclusions so quickly. “I'll go talk to her, thank her for cleaning up my mess!”

Scootaloo smiled. “Okay. Hurry up, I'm booored!”

Dash walked inside the school and into the main classroom. Cheerilee was standing by the blackboard, wiping it clean with a sponge, a bucket on the floor. Dash rapped on the door frame, and Cheerilee looked over. The fuchsia coloured mare frowned.

“Late again, Rainbow Dash?” she asked, shaking her head. “You mustn't keep that up. You are a parent now, and certain responsib—”

“Unavoidable, sorry!” Rainbow interrupted. “Well, thanks for stickin' around, gotta split, later!”

“Dash, wait a moment!” the teacher said, approaching her. “I need to talk to you for a moment, if you don't mind.”

“Look, if you want to flog me with a meter stick, I'm free during the evenings and my rates are cheap.” Dash said, leaning against the door frame and scowling, sure she was giving the all-to-obvious impression that she was in no mood to be lectured on time-keeping right now.

Cheerilee rolled her eyes. “If we could be serious for a moment? It's about Scootaloo.”

Dash raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Huh? What about her?”

“Has she been... acting strangely at home?” Cheerilee asked delicately.

“W-what...? What do you mean?” Dash's heart began to beat rapidly. “What's wrong with her?!”

Cheerilee sat down on one of the desks and Rainbow Dash followed suit, sitting next to her with concern and worry inching on her face. Her mind was racing with any number of horrifying answers to what Cheerilee was about to say.

“There may not be anything wrong with her. I pray that is the case, at least. However...” Cheerilee looked saddened. “I believe she may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. The symptoms come and go. When you adopted her, they had vanished for the longest period that I could remember. I was sure it was related to her life at the orphanage and nothing more, but they returned today. Scootaloo has been the happiest I have known her since you came into her life, but I fear this is something that runs deep...

Scootaloo seems concerned with anything that happens between other students. Any confrontations, even when Scoot herself is not involved, and she will grow worried. Her mood changes, and she seems more depressed, more apprehensive, and prone to crying far more easily. I've noticed her hooves sweat when she doesn't immediately grasp something I am teaching. She is a very gifted little filly, but whenever these symptoms manifest themselves, her work suffers. Problems with memory and concentration are linked with anxiety.

You should take her to a doctor to get her examined, Rainbow Dash. As I explained, this all seemed to vanish when you gave her a proper home, but her joy only seemed to be a temporary fix. That suggests the problem may be... internal. I'm sorry, Dash.”

Dash made not a sound during Cheerilee's explanation. The teacher's words crashed over her like waves on rocks. Her heart seemed to be stuck in her throat and she felt her arms shaking. Rainbow racked her brain, trying to remember any odd or anxious behaviour that Scoot might have been displaying, but she was coming up blank. She opened her mouth to speak, but could not find any words. 'The problem may be internal'? Did that mean there was something wrong with her brain, or something? Were the powers that be out to get that poor child, she wondered in frustration? Why couldn't Scootaloo catch a break?

Rainbow made an effort to steady herself. Cheerilee was looking very upset at having to be the bearer of bad news and even more concerned at how hard Rainbow Dash was taking this. Rainbow Dash filled her lunges with a deep breath.

“T-thanks for telling me this...” Dash said after a moment. “I will get her examined... Please, keep me updated on her behaviour. I will keep a close eye on her at home and I'll check with Applejack and Rarity. They've both foalsat her recently.”

“Be strong for her, Rainbow Dash,” Cheerilee said, standing up and placing a hoof on her shoulder. “I pray that I'm mistaking this for something minor.”

Rainbow Dash stood up as well and the two mares looked at each other silently. Dash looked over at Scootaloo's desk on the far side of the classroom, marked with a block with her name on it. Dash picked it up, sliding her hoof over the engraved letters. Dash was scared, she couldn't deny it to herself. She was really scared.

“You've been forever!” Scootaloo groaned as Rainbow Dash and Cheerilee walked out.

“Sorry, kiddo. We were talking about grown up stuff. Like... boys and cooties,” Dash said, smiling her hardest at Scootaloo, though her insides were still churning.

“Eeewww!” Scootaloo said, pretending to gag. “Can we go home nooow?”

Dash bent low. “Hop on and we just might.”

Scootaloo gave a squeal of delight and scrambled up on Rainbow's shoulders. Rainbow stretched out again, her wings extending.

“See you tomorrow, Cheerilee!” Scoot said happily, her wings buzzing.

“Goodbye, little one!” Cheerilee replied, smiling broadly at her. She gave Dash a meaningful look and a nod. “Rainbow Dash, feel free to stop by any time you're passing.”

Dash nodded. “Same to you, Cheerilee."

Dash didn't know how she managed to get through the rest of the afternoon. The disastrous fiasco with Soarin was one thing, but this? All throughout the day, she watched Scootaloo very closely. Her eyes rarely left the filly as she prepared the stir fry for dinner that evening. Scootaloo was playing with her toys in the living room now, having just helped Dash chop up vegetables. Scootaloo had always seemed so happy and calm. Was she really suffering from some terrible disorder? Dash kept having to steady herself, to focus on controlling her breathing. She felt absolutely miserable and constantly on the verge of tears. It had not been an enjoyable day. Eventually, they sat down to eat.

“Bath tonight, Scootaloo...” Rainbow Dash said as Scootaloo shovelled food into her mouth. Dash was barely touching her own, having no appetite.

“'Kay!” Scoot said quickly, chewing loudly. “Neat!”

“Hey!” Dash said, seeing bits of carrot hit the table. “Mouth closed, missy.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and flicked some rice at Rainbow Dash. Dash smiled warmly at her. The prospect of getting her examined was a frightening one, but necessary. She would have to know. Dash would need to consult Twilight on this, perhaps. Maybe she had a book that could help? Or better yet, a spell. But... no. Dash didn't want to have to use a spell to fix Scootaloo. 'There's nothing wrong with her. There's nothing wrong with Scootaloo.' she said in her head. Could she be wrong? She would have to look up a doctor tomorrow.

“Are you okay, Sis? You're actin' weird!” Scootaloo remarked, licking her plate.

“I'm acting weird?” Dash laughed, standing up and moving around the table. “At least I'm not throwing food and licking my plate like Winona!”

She scooped up Scootaloo with her wing and sat down again, cuddling the filly close to her. “I love you, Scootaloo. You know that?”

“Yeah, 'cause you don't shut up about it!” Scootaloo grinned up at her, nuzzling her head against Rainbow's chest. “It's okay, though, 'cause I like you too!”

“Like? That's all I get? A lousy like?” Dash asked in exasperation, tickling Scoot with her wings. “You'll have to do better than that!”

Scootaloo giggled and fought with her. “No! Stop it, stop it, lemme down! That tiiickles!”

“I'll let you down, because you're smelly! You should take your bath now!” Dash said, plopping the filly on to the floor.

“Yeah, I'll get riiight on that!” Scootaloo replied sarcastically. “I've got cartoons that need watching. I'm a busy pony!”

“An hour, at most!” Dash called after her as Scootaloo marched back into the living room. “Then it's bath time!”

There was a knock at the door. Who in blazes is that, she wondered? She heard Scootaloo yell 'I'LL GET IT!' excitedly. Dash quickly gathered up the plates off the table and laid them on the counter. She heard the front door open and someone's voice, talking to Scootaloo.

“Who is it, baby?” Dash called out to her.

“Rainbow Dash? I think it's... a Wonderbolt,” came Scoot's reply.

8 Suit of Hearts

Rainbow Dash stood there in the kitchen, her breath held. Could it possibly be who she thought it was? She walked to the kitchen's doorway, peering into the hallway. Soarin was standing on his hind legs at the front door, speaking to Scootaloo. He was holding something over his shoulder by a hook, another object under his arm. Dash tried to walk down the hallway, but got stuck as her perked wings caught either side of the entrance. She snapped them closed impatiently.

“What's your name, little one?” Soarin asked, bending low to talk to her. “Is your mommy home?”

“Um, I'm Scootaloo. And of course she is, I just called out to her!” the young pegasus replied, looking over her shoulder as she heard approaching footsteps.

“Soarin...” Dash said, coming into view.

“Rainbow Dash... Hi...” Soarin said, his mouth parted slightly and looking very awkward. “I wanted to, uh, talk to you. May I come in?”

Rainbow Dash hesitated. She wasn't really sure she wanted this right now. “I... yes. Of course... Please, c'mon in.”

She stood aside, giving Scootaloo a gentle push so she would do likewise. Soarin stepped over the threshold. What he was holding turned out to be a long plastic bag, the hook protruding from the opening, which had a string tied around it to keep it tight. He dropped the other bag to the floor. It seemed to be Rainbow Dash's towel and water bottle, as it landed softly and something protruded through the top. Soarin had returned them to her.

“Waaait... I know you!” Scoot was saying, looking up at the stallion's dark blue mane. “Gimme your autograph! You are a Wonderbolt! Rainbow Dash got a poster of you, I recognize you!”

Dash blushed scarlet. “Scootaloo, would you like to go upstairs and watch cartoons in my room instead of down here?”

“Bah, there's no couch in your bedroom!” Scootaloo sighed, but her ears and wings perked up. “Oh, but there is a big ol' bed. That's actually way way better!”

She ascended the stairs. Rainbow Dash was still feeling hot under the collar. Soarin's eyes were averted from her.

“She's really adorable...” Soarin said after a pause, looking up at the ceiling as Scoot's voice echoed down the stairs ('SWEET CELESTIA, SHE'S MANAGED TO KEEP IT CLEAN FOR LONGER THAN A DAY!'). “Quite energetic, I see.”

“Yeah...” Rainbow said awkwardly. “Scoot's pretty awesome.”

Well, the pegasai couldn't stand in the porch all day, Dash thought. She gestured wordlessly down the hallway to the living room and squeezed by him, leading the way. She walked to the couch and sat down on the right side, turning the television off with a remote. Soarin came in and laid the long bag on the floor and looked over at her. He paused a moment, and sat down on the opposite end of the sofa.

“You've got a nice home here...” Soarin said, glancing around the room. “Is it just you and Scootaloo, or do you have a...?”

“It's just me and Scoots, yeah...” Rainbow answered, still not sure she was able to look at him.

“Rainbow Dash...” Soarin began, but Dash forestalled him.

“I know what you're gonna say, Soarin...” Dash spoke, looking him in the eyes. “You upset me earlier. You were upsetting me the entire day. But I'm sure, pretty damn sure, you've already realized that...” Her voice trailed off a moment. “But I am happy to see you right now, y'know, irregardless of the fact that I've been wanting to take a frying pan to your skull. I could use somepony to talk to... about something.”

“Well, if you want to hurt me, I'm not surprised you're happy to see me!” He grinned, though it faded immediately. This time, it seemed, he realized his own mistake before Rainbow had a time to react. “I... did realize I upset you. That's why I'm here. I wanted to apologize for the... stupid things I say, like just then...” Soarin began as Rainbow looked at her own hooves. “I say stuff without thinking. I'm sorry...” He sounded it. “I should have asked about Scootaloo first before jumping to any conclu—”

“Soarin...” Dash cut across him. “I understand. I flew off the handle when I probably shoulda avoided it. You are a bit of a numbskull sometimes. Just... put some thought into your words, man! Y'know, when you come over to apologize, don't start by making a stupid joke! I'm sorry for overreacting...”

Soarin gave a half smile. “I'll do my best from now on. So... apology accepted if you accept mine?”

“Very well, then!” Dash replied, smiling faintly back.

“You... mentioned you could use somepony to talk to. Is everything alright?” Soarin asked after a moment of silence.

“That remains to be seen. I dunno if it will yet...” Rainbow said, shaking her head sadly.

She explained briefly about what Cheerilee had described to her that afternoon. Soarin listened quietly, a look of concern on his face. As Dash spoke, her composure began to slip. Soarin hesitated, but placed a hoof on her arm in comfort.

“It's just... not fair, Soarin...” Rainbow said in a quivering voice. “Scootaloo has been through hell and back already. She can't fly on her own, her wings didn't develop properly. Who knows if she'll ever actually fly... To make matters worse, she doesn't even have her real mother.”

Soarin looked confused.

“I adopted her. But I'll love her as though she were my own. She's my whole world right now...” Rainbow finished, closing her eyes and shaking.

“It sounds to me like she does have her real mother right now.” Soarin said, sitting close to her and putting a hoof around her shoulder. Rainbow Dash made no attempt to shift away or remove it. “I'm certain you've already been a wonderful parent to her.”

Dash shook her head. “I don't even know how to handle this anxiety thing! I've been an emotional wreck ever since I found out. This is all still so new to me. I'm going to do my best and help her through this to the very best of my abilities, but I'm scared, Soarin.”

“You've only just found out. It's going to be it's worst for the first little bit, isn't it? You'll figure out a way to pull through it. If I know anything, it's that nothing can beat Rainbow Dash. Nor anypony she raises.”

“Thanks...” Rainbow Dash said after a moment. She leaned close to him, her lips slightly parted. She was about to place a kiss on his cheek. However, Rainbow thought better of it. She just gave him a faint nuzzle. Soarin blushed in response. “When you're not being a jerk, you sound like you can be a really sweet guy.”

Soarin gave her a tight little squeeze. “You're both going to make it... I'm sorry I upset you earlier, Rainbow Dash. Especially now that you got this news on top of me being an idiot. Hopefully, this can cheer you up.”

He stood up and walked around the coffee table, kneeling down to the bag he had brought and untying the string around the opening. Rainbow sat up straight, leaning over the coffee table.

“If you're going to be my partner in a Wonderbolt performance,” Soarin said, opening the bag fully and pulling on the hook, “you'd better look the part.”

Rainbow Dash gave a gasp of breath. He had pulled out a blue suit with the iconic yellow lightning bolts. Over the flank on the suit was Rainbow Dash's cutie mark, the cloud with a bolt of rainbow lightning. He laid it out on the floor next to the bag.

“That is an OFFICIAL Wonderbolt Flight Uniform, specifically made for you. I asked my seamstress to make a brand new suit earlier. She works fast! She still has to enchant it with magic, but there you go! There's a pair of goggles in the bag, too. I designed those myself!” Soarin explained as Rainbow Dash made her way over, her face glowing with euphoria.

“I've dreamed...” Dash spoke in barely a whisper. “I've dreamed of owning one of these. I've wanted to join the Wonderbolts ever since I was a little filly. Having my own suit is just as good right now! Soarin, I love it!”

Soarin sat on the couch, smiling at her. “I'm glad you like it. Well... put it on!”

Trembling all over, Dash picked up the suit and felt around the front of it, There was a fold revealed with a zipper. She unzipped it and slipped a leg into one of the suit's legs. She put the other one in and pulled it up around her waist, slipping both arms in and pulling up the zipper. Her hair, mane, and wings fit through the slits on the back perfectly. She adjusted any creases. Reaching into the bag, she pulled out the goggles with a yellow elastic strap. She snapped them on to her face, falling back on to all four hooves and bending low, as though she were about to take off at full speed.

“You look awesome!” Soarin exclaimed, his eyes locking on to a sheet of paper and a couple of crayons.

Dash moved quickly into the hallway and checked out her reflection in the mirror. She grinned broadly. “Aww yeah! Rainbow Dash, Wonderbolt!”

Soarin came into the hallway after her. “I look forward to you joining our ranks, Dash. You'd make a great Wonderbolt. Anyway, I better be off. I'll see you tomorrow?” he asked, placing a folded up sheet of paper on the hallway table. It appeared to be an autograph for Scootaloo, albeit written in crayon.

Dash lifted the goggles. “Yes, I'll see you in the morning. No bunny hops, though!” As he turned to leave, she took his hoof into both of her own. This time, she managed to kiss him on the cheek. "Thanks... for everything!"

Soarin flushed again, his wings quivering. “Is it true you've got a poster of me in your bedroom?”

“I'm allowed to have a crush on whatever celebrity I want!” Dash said with distinction, opening the front door. “Besides, you gave it to me yourself, remember? After that Rainboom in Cloudsdale? Signed it and everything. You are clueless sometimes! Now, out ya go!”

She gave Soarin a shove with her wings and he stumbled out onto the step. “Goodnight... Dashie...” He said, smiling back at her as she closed the door.

Rainbow leaned against the front door for a moment. Her torso seemed to swell, the rapid beating of her heart sending the blood flowing into her face. She was inhaling and exhaling deeply. He was a lot more complex than she had realized and he had definitely just earned himself a few brownie points.

“It's too early for you to call me Dashie, Soarin...” she mumbled quietly to herself in the empty porch. “But you're on the right track.”

She reached up and slipped down the goggles again. She ran back to the mirror, eyeing herself up happily for a moment. The day had not been a total disaster after all. Her mind drifted to Scootaloo, and her heart ached for the filly, but both Soarin and Cheerilee were right. Dash had to be strong. If there was anything wrong with that little pegasus, Dash would need to be there for her.

“And I will!” she said, tearing her gaze from the mirror and calling up the stairs. “Scoot, you better be in the tub right now!”

“I'm nooot!” Scootaloo's voice called back playfully.

“Well, you're gettin' the blazes in there!” Rainbow said, climbing the stairs excitedly. “I've got something to show you!”

“What do you have to—” Scootaloo gave a great gasp. “WOW!” Scootaloo's jaw would have punched a hole in the floor had it not been attached to her skull. She bounded off Rainbow Dash's bed as her big sister entered the bedroom. “Oh WOW! Is that real?!” She gawked at the suit, mesmerized.

“It is! Soarin gave it to me! DO I LOOK AWESOME, OR DO I LOOK AWESOME?!” Dash asked, standing tall and spreading out her limbs, flexing her wings.

“YOU LOOK AWESOME!” Scootaloo said in a hollow rush, running around her. “It's even got your cutie mark! Ohmigosh Rainbow Dash! You look like a SUPER HERO! I WANNA WEAR IT!” The filly grinned excitedly, jumping up and down continuously, a faint buzz coming from her rapidly flapping wings.

“This is waaay too big for you!” Dash laughed, pulling off the goggles again and glancing down at the yellow bolts on all her hooves.

“Pfft!” Scootaloo spat. “Like I care! I'm gonna try it on anyway!”

“Not without a bath, you aren't!” Rainbow said, shaking her head. “By the way, Soarin left you something, too!”

“WHAT?!” Scootaloo gasped. “Ya kept that quiet, ya big blue goof! What is it, where is it?!” She started bouncing again.

“It's that autograph you asked for! It's downstairs.” Rainbow replied. "Don't be long!"

Scoot gave a great inhale and tore from the room. Dash heard her pounding down to the lower floor. Feeling more cheerful than she had the entire day, she unzipped the suit and took it off, folding it neatly on top of her bed. She looked at it happily for a moment before going into the bathroom to run the water for Scootaloo.

“Raaainbow Daaaash! I can't fiiiind... OH! THERE IT IS!” Scoot's excited squeal echoed up to the bathroom. “It says I'm a 'Fearsome Filly'! It's even written in crayon, that is so awesome. I am showing everyone I have ever met this autograph!”

Rainbow Dash grinned as the tub gradually filled up. She checked the water, deciding it was not too hot. She stamped her hoof on the floor. “Get your rear up here!”

Scootaloo slowly made her way upstairs, clutching the autograph to her chest. “A Wonderbolt signed this. A Wonderbolt I think I'm in looove!"

Rainbow wanted to say 'you and me both!', but it was foolish to think that just yet, anyway. She knew she and Soarin had a long way to go before that. Rainbow followed Scootaloo into her bedroom and watched her place the sheet of paper on her bedside table, beaming at it. Scootaloo turned around and bumped into her sister. She looked up into her face. Silently, Rainbow Dash jabbed a hoof in the direction of the bathroom. Scootaloo rolled her eyes and sighed.

Once inside the bathroom, Dash closed the door, sealing the only way out. Scootaloo was standing in the middle of the rug on the floor, just by the sink. Dash walked around to Scoot's front.

“Why's it so hard to get you to take your bath? I thought you said 'neat' earlier?” Rainbow Dash questioned, folding her arms and sitting on the edge of the tub. "You sounded like you were looking forward to it!"

“I...” Scootaloo tried to speak, frowning up at her.

It was like something unreal. Rainbow noticed that Scootaloo looked nervous. Her wings were tucked in tight and her eyes were darting every which way. She almost seemed to cringe away from her big sister. Scoot's chest was heaving and her ears were drooped. Scootaloo was chewing her lip anxiously.

“I'm sorry, I just got so excited. Really, I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash!” She hung her head in shame. “I'll take my bath!”

Dash jumped up, her heart rate once again accelerated for what felt like the billionth time that day. “I... I was only asking, Scoot!” She said quickly, feeling a chill creeping down her spine. Her thoughts drifted to the conversation with Cheerilee. “Scootaloo, Dashie's not mad... at... at you or anything! Why would I be upset with... You did nothing wrong! Don't be silly, I wouldn't...”

“Of course you're not mad!” Scootaloo said with a warm smile, her abrupt return to normality making Dash feel significantly alarmed now. “Outta my way!”

Scootaloo bounded forward and hopped up on the edge of the tub. She held her out her arms and wings gracefully and tipped into the water, nearly slamming her face off the far rim. She began to splash around and dipped her head under, emerging with her hair soaked and flowing down her body. She reached for a few bath toys.

Dash just stood there in total silence. Her thoughts were racing, her mouth was slightly open, and her extremities were quaking so badly her bones physically hurt. She could feel each thunderous bang as her heart threw itself against her chest, a look of horror in her eyes.

9 The Therapist

“Alright, Scootaloo. Let's move on, shall we?” the therapist was saying. “I'm going to tell you another story. I want you to tell me how it makes you feel.”

Scootaloo was sitting down on a small wooden chair, one arm dangling over the back of it, her mouth curved downward in a frown. Across from her sat the unicorn doctor. Scoot seemed very fidgety, running her hoof over the table and unable to keep her legs still. She glanced over to the long mirror on the wall, and then back into the therapist's eyes.

“If you really wanna know how I feel...” she said, tapping her hoof on the table between them, almost knocking over the microphone. “All these questions, getting a checkup, and this microphone... that mirror? It makes me feel weird. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't want to be here, I wanna go home.”

The therapist offered her a juice box. “I know this is a weird experience for you. But we're here to help you, Scootaloo. When this is all over, I believe you are going to feel a lot better. Do you want to hear the story?”

Scoot sighed. She looked at the mirror for a moment. Doing so seemed to strengthen her resolve somewhat and she sat up a little straighter. “Alright... I guess so.”

On the other side of the mirror, Rainbow Dash sat staring into the room. She was tapping her own hoof on the table she and her friends sat down at, squirming with unease. She could hear the voices of Scootaloo and the doctor coming from the speaker on the wall.

“I wish she'd be a little more cooperative with him. She's clearly not buying it!” Dash spoke, placing a hoof to the side of her face and shaking it.

“They're making progress. That's something, isn't it? Therapy is a lot better than medicine, Rainbow Dash. That's something to keep in mind; Scootaloo doesn't need to take anything,” Twilight Sparkle said, wrapping her hooves around Dash and giving her a hug. “I know this is all hard.”

“No, Twilight! You don't know. How could you know?” Dash snapped, waving the purple unicorn away.

“Dash...” Applejack said, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “She's only tryin' to help.”

“I know, Applejack! I...” She trailed off, huffing. After about twenty seconds, she bowed her head. “Sorry. I'm just on edge right now.”

Twilight smiled at her. “I understand.”

Twilight levitated a folder off the table, her horn glowing the colour of a raspberry. It floated a few inches into the air and fell open, causing the papers inside to spread neatly over the table. Twilight picked up one of the sheets, her eyes scanning it.

“These are the behaviour reports from the orphanage, right?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I would have loved for them to give those to me when I adopted her. We could have caught this earlier. The fools should have noticed the pattern, they should have noticed that she was having anxiety attacks! They did NOTHING to help her!”

Dash grumbled herself into silence, fuming. Twilight was reading through the reports, every now and then consulting a book she had brought with her.

“I'm sorry I never noticed anythin', Dash. I had no idea she was sufferin'.” Applejack spoke suddenly, as though she was unable to keep it inside her any longer.

“It's not your fault, AJ. I didn't even notice anything until Scoot had that mood swing Wednesday night... It was so sudden, like flipping on a light switch. The doctor said it's harder to notice when she's around ponies she's either comfortable with or trust. So when she's, like, with the Crusaders or me, it'll be hard for symptoms to manifest.”

“I jes' hope the therapy works,” Applejack said. “If he's able to get Scootaloo to understand how and why these fits of anxiety are happenin' to her, then maybe she can avoid them or calm herself when they happen.”

“Exactly!” Twilight said, still reading. “It says here that behavioural therapy has cured a score of different types of anxiety disorders. So even if you don't know precisely which one Scootaloo has yet, simply being in therapy will do wonders for her. Every minute that she's in here brings her closely to getting better, possibly forever.”

Dash felt the unease lift a little from her shoulders at these words. She nodded quietly. As silence fell between them, the three of them listened to the exchange going on between the filly and the doctor.

“What would you have done differently, Scootaloo?” he asked, having just finished the story. “You said you felt like you wished somepony would have stopped them from arguing, even though it did nothing to harm their friendship.”

“I dunno...” Scoot sighed, leaning back in her chair so the front legs left the floor. “I mean, if I was there with them, I would have tried to calm Cinnamon Swirls down before she got mad with Sugarsweet.”

“Can you tell me why?” the therapist asked, sitting relaxed with his hooves together. “Do you understand why?”

“Well... I know they were still gonna be friends, but I don't like watching ponies fight. Or hearing about it... I feel scared when it happens. I don't think anyone should fight. I don't like... I just don't like it. I wanna stop it when I see it at school, but it's usually none of my business,” Scootaloo mumbled, glancing all around the room as her left ear twitched a little.

He leaned in close, extending a hoof to her. “Sometimes ponies got to confront their problems. And sometimes that involves an argument. Nopony is perfect, but this story shows us that Cinnamon Swirls and Sugarsweet were better friends once they settled their differences and understood what being friends meant to each other. It hurts your feelings, seeing others fight, is that right?”

Scootaloo nodded, putting her head down as she closed her eyes, a few tears squeezing out from under her eyelids.

“What's wrong?” the therapist asked, patting her shoulder softly.

“I don't understand w-what's wrong with me!” Scootaloo sobbed, starting to shake again. “I'm s-sorry... I'll stop-p... c-crying...”

“You're allowed to cry if it helps you feel better. That's what everypony wants, for you to feel better. There is nothing wrong with you, please understand that. You're a clever and kind little pegasus. I can tell just by talking to you. The problem is the fact that you let things stir your emotions that shouldn't. Things you cannot control and do not affect you personally.

It is perfectly fine to be concerned with bad things and to want to help. That is normal. You are normal. But you can't allow yourself to get nervous. You're not going to help if you can't control your own breathing, or how fast your heart is beating. That's just hurting you. Try and talk things out with your classmates if you absolutely must, but if you cannot, trust that those you know or the ponies it's happening to will be able to solve their problems.

You must be brave and strong in your heart and in your mind when you can't help but to feel nervous. It will always pass, won't it?” He finished, pausing to take a sip of coffee. “Remember: There is nothing wrong with you, you are quite normal. Extraordinary in your own special way, but there's nothing abnormal about you. Now... Scootaloo? Is there a special somepony you look up to?”

Scootaloo had cried silently throughout the doctor's reassurances, slowly and slowly regaining some control over herself. At his last question, she nodded at once, wiping her nose.

“Who is it?” he asked, smiling kindly at her.

“Rainbow Dash...” Scootaloo said, looking over at the mirror.

Dash was smiling quietly, very touched. She kept looking into the room and into Scootaloo's gaze, though the filly couldn't see her. She felt Twilight's hoof on her arm, feeling grateful she had her friends by her side. Dash continued to focus on the pale purple eyes, her own cerise coloured ones quivering.

Back on the other side of the mirror, the therapist followed Scoot's gaze, locked on to her reflection. “Do you think your mother is brave?” he asked, his eyes shifting from the mirror and back to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo glanced back at him in turn and nodded again. “Very brave.”

“Do you think she is strong?” He continued.

“Very strong!” Scootaloo said, a smile inching onto her face, flapping her small wings.

“Scootaloo, I want you to think of Rainbow Dash next time you start to feel nervous in school. The next time you start to feel sad and worried, and you don't understand why, think of how you want to be brave and strong, just like she is. You want to be brave and strong, right?”

“Mm hmm...” Scootaloo said, kicking her hooves a little under the table.

“Would you believe me if I told you that you already were?” he asked, standing up and smiling down at her.

“No way...” Scoot said, shaking her head.

“I think you are very brave and you have a very strong heart. Think of your mom when you feel one of these moments creeping up on you. Moments where you feel anxious or worried. Think of how you feel about her and let the thoughts of her remind you of how strong you are when she isn't there to do it herself. I believe you'll feel a lot better. Do you know why?” He asked, extending his hoof to her.

“I'll feel better because... Uh... I'll know I'm brave and strong, just like her!” Scootaloo answered, standing up and shaking hooves with him.

“You already knew the answer to that! I believe you are going to be just fine, Scootaloo. I think you know what to do from now on. I want to see you again in a month's time, alright? We'll see how well you've been doing.”

Ten minutes later, they all walked out of the office, once Dash had arranged an appointment in four weeks time. Rainbow Dash knelt down by Scoot and kissed her cheek. Scootaloo tried to push her away, pretending to be embarrassed. As much as she said she hated sappy stuff, Dash knew Scootaloo was quite fine with being hugged and kissed until she threw up sunshine and flowers.

“You did so well in there! Makin' me proud, Scoots!" Rainbow beamed at her. "Are you gonna have fun with Twilight and Spike today?” the older blue pegasus asked, ruffling Scootaloo's mane.

“Uh huh!” the little orange pegasus replied, before asking a question herself. “How long are you gonna be gone?”

“At least until dinner time. I'm sorry, but Dashie's gotta... dash! Soarin's been waiting on me all morning. He's had to practice with his brother, Wave Chill. He's a dork! Actually, they're both dorks! They're not cool like me 'n' you, Scoot!”

Scootaloo giggled and took the hoof Twilight offered her. “Nopony's as cool as us!”

“You know it! Knock it!” Dash said, extending a hoof out, which Scootaloo bumped. She then addressed Twilight and Applejack. “Thanks for coming with me today. I really appreciate it, I do.”

“We're always there for you, P. F. F.!” Twilight smiled at her. “Pony friends forever!”

“Exactly. What're friends for?” Applejack said, winking at her. “Good luck with your practice!”

“Thanks. See ya, guys! Love ya, Scoot!” Dash said, lifting into the air.

Dash rose up, away from the three of them. She watched as they all began to walk down the street, her attention focused on the pegasus. Dash caught her turning around and looking up into the sky.

'She's going to be okay. ' Rainbow Dash believed it as the words crossed the forefront of her brain.

Within half an hour, she Dash made her approach to Cloudsdale. She was sweating in the heat of the first really hot day of the summer. Despite the wind rushing by, the warmth of the sun could not be blocked. She flapped her wings hard, watching the other ponies passing her by. Judging by the traffic as buildings around her slowly evacuated, it must be close to lunchtime. It was alright for Scootaloo, who had the rest of the day off from school! However, Dash had a hard day's training ahead of her, sweating in this heat.

The runway of the Wonderbolts Academy passed below her. Her eyes locked on the gymnasium. She toyed with the idea that she could see both Soarin and Wave Chill in practice, but it was really impossible to tell. Through the blurry heat haze and the sharp angle to the windows, she could not get a good look inside. A sparkling, shimmering glare beat her in the eyes for a moment. Dash spotted the outdoor pool adjacent to the gym, surrounding by a marble floor. It was on a separate piece of floating earth, leaving a gap between the building and the pool which lead to the clouds, which Dash liked to use as a means of quickly leaving Cloudsdale.

“Yep...” Rainbow said, watching the light ripple on the surface of the water. “It's happenin'.”

Splash! She went into a nosedive, cutting a twisting path through the air and diving into the cool waters. Five, ten, fifteen feet she descended, the water caressing her warm fur. What a feeling, as the rays penetrated the surface, leaving the bottom of the pool quite clear and visible. Dash pretended to trot along the bottom, bubbles trickling out of the corners of her mouth and nostrils. She swished her arms in front of her, using her wings to help propel her quickly to the far end. Reaching the edge of the pool, she swished her tail and swam upwards, feeling the heavy squeeze as her head broke the surface of the water and lost all buoyancy.

Dash drew in great lung-fulls of air, twisting around and propelling herself across the surface of the water to the western wall. Rolling over, she allowed herself to drift along on her back, using her momentum to keep her in motion. Her eyes were closed, allowing the hot beams of sun and the cool breeze and touch of the water to come together over her face and chest. It was an extremely comfortable feeling.

“Enjoying ourselves, are we?” a chuckling voice asked overhead.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and swore as the image of the sun burned into them momentarily. She gave a bump against the stone floor and flipped over again, treading the water.

“Argh!” Dash held a hoof over her right eye, which was paining her. “Soarin!”

“Hey! That wasn't my fault! Why did you open your eyes and look directly into the sun? You might have noticed... today's a scorcher!” he laughed loudly, standing casually on the flat stone that ran around the entire pool.

“Yeah, no kidding...” Rainbow groaned, blinking the spots out of her vision. “I figured you'd still be in practice with Chill, so I came in here to cool off.”

“I figured that much out!” Soarin said, sitting down along the pool's edge and watching Dash's multi-coloured hair and mane swirl around in the water, making it appear that she was lost amongst a mixture brightly coloured paint. “I haven't even got a chance to start. He was ill today, so it was pointless to do anything without a partner. I've just been doing some paperwork all morning! Spitfire is out on a flight exercise, plotting a new course for next year's Academy syllabus.”

“Uh... huh,” Rainbow said, her eyes finally returning to normal. She placed her hooves along the marble floor beside him. “Well, if you haven't done anything either, we're gonna have to double time it today! We've only had Wednesday! Even then, it took us a couple hours to actually get started, after you finished going over your silly one million-step training program! I spent all of yesterday looking around for a doctor for Scootaloo to see, AND you were busy with the campus inspection in the afternoon and evening! It's noon of the third day, and it feels like we've got nothing done.” Dash made to pull herself out of the pool.

“We'll still have plenty of time for me to go over everything! Eleven days total is quite a lot of time to prepare, so we're allowed to slack for a few.” Soarin grinned, holding out his arm to prevent her climbing out. He began to unbutton his uniform shirt, getting to his hooves as he done so. “We've got eight days left and I'll shift my schedule around if you want to work on our moves for the full eight. But right now, swimming is a great idea, and I can technically teach you the next move while you're in the water. Buck up, there, I'm coming in!”

10 The Seeds of Happiness

Dash floated aside as Soarin's form momentarily blotted out the sun. His hooves were together as he dived gracefully. His jump was tremendous; using his wings to guide him, the bleached blue body penetrated the ripples. Rainbow Dash felt a little wave from his point of submersion lap lightly at her chest as she waited for him to surface, a mischievous little grin spreading across her face.

As Soarin's head broke the surface, he turned to face Rainbow and opened his eyes wide. Rainbow slapped her hoof down hard, skimming across the top and sending a thin shot of water splashing into Soarin's face.

“Gah!” he gasped, dipping his head back under the water in case Dash followed it up with another.

Rainbow started to giggle hard, feeling her cheeks burning. Oh, this was going to be rather fun! She took a deep breath and splashed forward, plunging back into the depths.

She spotted Soarin at once, about four feet down and narrowed his eyes at her. He shook his head warningly upon seeing her face. Rainbow smiled smugly, sticking out her tongue at him, tasting the chlorine in the water and issuing a stream of bubbles from her mouth. Dash kicked off hard against the wall of the pool, her hindquarters and tail swishing through the water as she flapped her wings and did an underwater breaststroke, moving through the pool like a torpedo. She headbutted Soarin hard in the stomach, causing him to expel all of his oxygen and immediately rush to the surface.

“I thought being a Wonderbolt meant you had to be tough?” Rainbow Dash grinned at him, coming up for air too.

“Whatcha tryin' to do, drown me?!” Soarin gasped, flapping his wings hard out in front of him and sending a huge torrent of water to come crashing down upon Rainbow Dash. “No tackling!”

“Oh, now it's on,” Dash said, shaking her head after the barrage. “Let's wraaassle, little colt!”

Rainbow dived down again, swimming fast until she was about nine or ten feet below the surface. Rolling over, she began to accelerate to the surface again. She breached the water, her body flying six feet into the air and coming down with an almighty crash on top of Soarin.

“CROSSBODY!” she cried as she dropped upon him. The pair struggled for a moment, surfacing and submerging and resurfacing again as they fought. Rainbow caught Soarin's arm and pinned it behind his back. She applied copious pressure. “Will he tap out to Rainbow Dash's patented submission hold, the SPECTRUM CRUNCH?! What a match! THE FANS ARE ON THEIR HOOVES, LADIES AND GENTLECO-Whoa!”

Soarin gave a great swoosh of his wings and knocked Rainbow Dash away. Dash expected him to be angry, but he was grinning just as much, his cheeks glowing a rosy red.

“He POWERED out of it!” Soarin yelled. “Rainbow's strength is just no match!”

Soarin dived. Dash waited, waving her arms and legs to stay afloat. She was quite curious to see what he was going to attempt. Most unfortunately for Rainbow Dash, however, curiosity killed the pony.

Soarin emerged from beneath her, causing her to fall over as he pushed himself out with both hooves around one of her legs. He flicked the water from his wings and flapped them hard. He hovered some distance above the water, holding Dash by the leg. She had to fight to keep her head from dipping into the pool.

“You give up, or will I need to apply my ankle lock?” Soarin asked playfully, giving Dash's leg a little twist as he wrapped his own around her belly and torso, preventing her from twisting with it. “Time's tickin' on for Rainbow Dash! What's she gonna do?”

Dash's heart was racing. She was able to get her wings free, but Soarin was holding her too tightly. She swished them feebly, but they were no use to her upside down right now. What's more, Soarin's own flapping wings were sufficient enough to keep them in place.

“I'm gonna kill you!” Rainbow Dash groaned, struggling as she lifted her head up towards Soarin and glaring at him.

“Even if all I'm doing...” he spoke in a short hiss, moving the leg back into it's untwisted position, but keeping a firm grip on it nevertheless, “is innocent tickling?”

“Don't. YOU. DARE!” Dash gasped, struggling again as the blood rushed to her head. “Release me!”

“Nuh uh! I don't hear you giving up!” he laughed, tickling the bottom of her hoof.

“Nonono, I will drown you in this pool!” Dash shuddered, trying to kick her other leg, which Soarin kept avoiding.

“Hehehe, do you give up, Rainbow Dash?” Soarin teased, circling his hoof against the underside of her own tantalizingly.

“I do not give up! BRACE YOURSELF, you whelp!” Dash roared out like a war-cry.

Rainbow's wings began to flap like a pinwheel caught in a breeze. Crying out 'YES!', she twisted her body with everything she had. She went limp when she realized Soarin just rotated with her.

“That was quite dramatic! Pity it did absolutely nothing!” he laughed.

Dash's face was the colour of a setting sun, even though the real sun still blazed overhead. Rainbow was most certainly not used to being overpowered so easily. Squirm as she might, there was no breaking out of Soarin's hold. He started to tickle her hoof again and she bit down hard on her lip, trying not to laugh. It was all too much. She was feeling rather uncomfortable and, quite possibly, a little thrilled.

“OKAYOKAY!” she gasped, blushing furiously and laughing. “Argh, you wiiin! I GIVE! Stopitstopitstopitstopit!”

Soarin gave a satisfied chuckle and stretched both his arms and his legs out, causing her to drop into the water. Rainbow righted herself, scarlet faced, her hair swirling around her like a vortex. She spat water out of her mouth like a fountain. Soarin dropped down with a splash next to her, and she swat a hoof against the side of his head head.

“Hey, didn't your parents ever teach you not to hit?!” he asked, grinning sheepishly. “You know, Dashie... You're kinda cute when you get flustered!”

“You're a dork!” Rainbow snarled, bonking his head this time.

They continued to play in the water for another ten minutes or so, splashing and doing their best to one up each other, to make the other beg for mercy. Rainbow tried her best, but Soarin continued to power out of everything she tried. Rainbow Dash wasn't so lucky and had to beg for release twice more. She had found herself blushing furiously several more times, Soarin scarlet just as often, as each attempted to make the other uncomfortable. It wasn't until shortly thereafter, however, that she had got her revenge for the tickling.

She and Soarin had gotten out of the pool for a breather, relaxing in the sun on the grass just beyond the marble floor which surrounded the pool. They lid side by side, Dash on her back with her arm in front of her face to block the glare of light.

“There's one move we should seriously practice, though!” Soarin was saying. “It's a sort of dual barrel roll. I'm going to come up beneath you and lift you with my arms, right? You should roll off my shoulders to your right, right?”

“Right.”

“I'll roll to my left once you make your move. Both of us should turn sharply in our directions. You right, me left, that is. We'll keep rolling, slowly flying further apart,” Soarin explained, laying on his belly, arms folded under his head, which was turned to face her.

“It's a shame that you and Wave Chill didn't get to do that. A pair of stallions doing air ballet would have been the most precious little thing in the world!” Dash snickered. “But totally, Soarin. That move should look awesome with our mane trails. You said the suit magic would make my trail visible even at much slower speeds?”

Soarin nodded, closing his eyes and yawning. “Yep. Most definitely. You'd be better off with your regular rainbow trail instead of the standard Wonderbolts clouds, but with some crackling lightning added in for flair. We'll try out the move in a moment if you want to...”

“Yeah, in a few minutes...” Rainbow Dash spoke, slowly and quietly getting up, watching his face to see if he was opening his eyes.

She crept to him, that naughty smile back on her face. Carefully stepping over other pegasus, she positioned her legs just between his. Acting fast, she forced his arms apart as she put him into a full nelson. Soarin gave a gasp of surprise and tried to press her away with his wings again. Dash was prepared this time; she had her wings wrapped around her belly and torso to guard her against the pressure of his own. She stretched her legs apart, forcing his legs wide so he had no strength to kick against the ground. She enjoyed the feel of him squirming in discomfort beneath her. With a grunt, she rolled over, Soarin contorted like a pretzel on top this time, arms pinned behind his back, legs stuck out on either side.

“Oh no!” he groaned, giving another useless squirm. “Turning the tables on me? Dastardly trick! A bit foolish, though!” He gave an exaggerated laugh. “You've got no way to tickle me! Your hooves can't do anything!”

“You forget I have a tongue, Soarin! I wouldn't use that, though. I can't have you liking it, can I?” Rainbow flirted, heart racing.

Dash twitched her tail, twisting it and flicking her coarse, wet hairs along the underside of one of Soarin's legs. He gave a sharp gasp, shuddering all over.

“Oh dear! I don't think you liked that, not one itsy bitsy widdle bit!” Dash spoke into his ear, her breathing becoming very rapid as her heart thundered in her chest.

“C'mon, Dashie! Let me down!” he asked, trying to muscle his way out of it, but to no avail; Dash had him restrained properly.

Dash flicked her tail against him again, this time aiming to tickle him with the tip. She licked her lips, closing her eyes and focusing on the movement of her tail.

“Seriously, Dash!” Soarin whimpered, shivering. “I give! C'mon, this isn't funny.”

Feeling quite disappointed, Dash relaxed her limbs and Soarin got up by pressing his wings against her, a little unsteady on his wide legs. He dropped down onto his flank before her, showing just his back and mane. It was only then that Dash realized just how far she had gone with her playfulness. The whisper in his ear, all her rushing puffs of breath? She was feeling quite jittery and very hot in the face, but she had to have better control over herself. Rainbow would need to dial things back a notch.

“Soarin, I'm sorry...” she said, her ears drooping humbly as she tried to calm her vapours. “I took that waaay too far, I'm sor—”

“Hey, it's okay!” Soarin assured her quickly, looking back. “I just got a bit too warm. In this sun. That's all. Just a little... uh, nervous. Don't get me wrong, it's fun playing around with you, like we're a couple of kids!”

After a few moments of silence, in which Dash sat there in full shame with her own grit, Soarin got up and faced her, holding out a hoof to help her up off the grass. “C'mon, let's try that barrel roll thing!”

The rest of the afternoon passed by without further incident. They worked as a seamless pair, practicing their maneuvers. After the dual barrel roll technique, they discussed and planned some formation flying. Once the sun had died down a little, they went inside the gym to continue for another hour or two.

Rainbow Dash was sitting on a bench in the Officer's locker room. She heard the hiss of steam as Soarin started up his shower and glanced over at his silhouetted figure, behind one of the curtains in a small row of showers. She had just sat in the sauna for a long time, mulling things over. The Wonderbolt had sat with her, but both were so exhausted from the day's training that they did not speak very much, just relaxing in the warm mist and one another's company.

She knew she had liked him. She had liked him for a very long time. But today? Her attractions had felt much more different. They were stronger, so much stronger. Rainbow never comprehended exactly how much she enjoyed being around him, everything about that stallion being so captivating to her. But was this purely a physical attraction and nothing more, she wondered? Did she like him on an emotional level at all, or did she just think he was a fine example of a male pegasus? Rainbow Dash wasn't so sure. She had gotten herself so mesmerized today that there was no room in her head for anything but his physical appeal. His physically appeal... she exhaled a great deal of air.

Rainbow Dash felt like she had made a terrible blunder. She had got her revenge for the tickling thing, she supposed. She made him really uncomfortable. But was it too much? Would he be scared away? She debated giving him another little peck on the cheek when the time came for them to depart for the day. She didn't dare risk it, though; Rainbow had done enough for today.

Yes, he had flirted with her as well. This was true. He was good at it. 'Damn good at it!' Dash thought. But was he just flirting for the sake of it, because he knew she had a crush on him? Maybe that was Soarin's way of being nice to her, in the wake of her worries about Scootaloo? He had been in a relationship with Spitfire. When, exactly, did it end? The Captain had not said. Was it recently? Spitfire had told Rainbow Dash that Soarin's reasoning for breaking up with her was due to his 'not being ready'. Ready for what, exactly? If the breakup was recent, then Dash most certainly had crossed a line with her flirtation. He deserved space if he was still hurting from it all. Dash shouldn't go around teasing him with her tail and breathing into his ear like some hussy out to get something foul, she told herself. But, wait, what if he was already over it? What if he was interested in return? Did he simply get embarrassed that he had allowed himself to get so flustered and attracted in return? Still... Rainbow Dash thought that she shouldn't act the way she did anymore.

“You're going to keep yourself under control, Rainbow Dash!” she told herself, jumping off the bench and striding across the locker room to peer into a mirror at her reflection. “If he wants anything to do with me, then he can make the first move! Oh, wow, I need to brush out my mane before I dare leave this place...”

She heard the creak of the taps as the sound of rushing water died away. “What was that, Dashie? You talking to me?” Soarin's voice called.

“Nothin', just talkin' to myself!” she called back, then whispering to herself, “I'll let you call me Dashie, I suppose... You keep doing it, after all! I'd love to know what's going through your head...”

Dash grabbed a towel and took an adjacent shower before he had finished drying himself off and leaving his own. She hung it over the wall and turned on the taps.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. It was well after dinner when she picked up Scootaloo from Twilight's, apologizing profusely for once again being late. Scoot had not minded in the slightest. She appeared to have had a blast. Twilight, it turned out, was not as boring as her friends might assume when she was not entertaining a filly. She had taken Scootaloo all over Ponyville in a day of fun. They had gone for ice cream. They had watched cattle herding. They went to a movie. They had gone to the library, although that bit did sound rather drab. Twilight had tested some new transformation spells on Spike the dragon, with results that sounded pretty hilarious. Scootaloo did not want to go home and get ready for bed.

Rainbow agreed she could play some games with Spike and stayed up in Twilight's room for awhile, telling her about everything that went down with Soarin.

“I hope you're not turning into Rarity, Dash!” Twilight smiled at her. “I think waiting to see if he's comfortable enough to make a move is a wise decision. Otherwise, just keep your distance and see if he eventually comes around. If the airshow is a success, he's bound to want to hang out with you, isn't he?”

“You've got some good advice on this subject. Y'know, for somepony who's never so much as kissed any guy that wasn't in her immediate family.”

“You flatter me, Rainbow.” Twilight smiled. It occurred to Rainbow that Twilight Sparkle had been completely serious, and she shook her head in wonderment when Twilight wasn't looking.

“I should probably ask Rarity about this next time I see her around. We always joke about her being a little too friendly with the stallions, but if there's anypony with real experience on dealing with the bronies, it's her!” Dash explained. “Thanks for looking after Scoot today... and for spoiling her half to death! Now I've gotta make sure the stuff we do next time I take her around town is way more awesome in comparison. Can't let a nerd act cooler than me!”

“A nerd? Says the pony who reads Daring Do novels before bed!” Twilight laughed, levitating one off a shelf in her room and having it dance in the air before Rainbow's face.

“That does not make me a nerd, thank you very much,” Dash pouted, folding her arms. “You study as a hobby!”

When Twilight had eventually waved her off and Rainbow Dash had gotten Scootaloo into bed, it was nearly 10:00. It had been another long day, filled with ups and downs. However, Dash did not have that horrible feeling of unease in her stomach.

Rainbow opened Scootaloo's door slowly, allowing some light from the hallway to permeate the room. It was not much, however, since the light in the upstairs hallway was as far away as possible from Scootaloo's bedroom door. Rainbow got down on her knees and leaned over the sleeping filly, wrapping her arms gently around her. Scootaloo had been sleeping on her stomach, breathing softly, her wings folded and mouth drooling as usual.

“Brave in your heart and strong in your mind, Scoots. You're going to make me proud, I know you will...” Dash whispered, placing a quick kiss to the top of Scootaloo's head and standing up again.

As she turned to leave, her eyes caught the diary lying on the bedside table. It wasn't like Scootaloo to leave it out, since she was normally very tidy about her possessions. The little pegasus must have been exhausted from the day's events. Scootaloo had always been most secret about her diary. Rainbow Dash really wasn't sure where Scoot normally hid it. Rainbow had never so much as seen its opened pages, but she had caught Scoot slumped over and writing in it every few days or so. Rainbow Dash debated picking it up and giving it a quick look, wondering if it was going to give her any insight on how Scootaloo had been handling her anxiety. After all, she had owned the little book since before she had left the orphanage. However, she walked out of the room, leaving it undisturbed. Maybe she would ask her daughter's permission sometime?

Dash entered her own bedroom and closed the door, yawning. She looked ahead at the poster of Soarin and gave a happy sigh. Despite her guilty feelings over how she had pushed things a wee bit too far, she couldn't deny that it had been a very fun afternoon. She crossed the room, turning off the light, and slipped into bed. She threw a glance at her blue flight suit hung in the open closet and felt her breast swell with joy.

“Make a move and I'll be yours, Soarin...” she breathed dreamily. “No matter how long it takes you. I'll wait.”

Dash closed her eyes, drifting into a pleasant sleep.