A/N:
- This fic is intended as a one-shot entry in a writing competition, but it's still in development, so I will highly appreciate each and every single review that contains useful critiques and suggestions for improvement.
- English isn't my native language, so I apologize if some of the words or description I use appear cumbersome.
- I know we've seen as much as 10 Wonderbolts, but this fic will limit itself to 6, being those we have seen in the "Sonic Rainboom" episode.
- This isn't my first fic, but it is my first MLP fic, so I hope I'm not going too much OoC with everyone's favorite ponies.
- Most of all: enjoy!
Now if I just move this cloud this way... Aaaaand... done! That's the last one.
Rainbow Dash smiled at her handiwork. Applejack had asked her to provide her orchard with a downpour, to provide it with some much-needed watering. Rainbow didn't feel like it at first, since Applejack caught her in the middle of a napping session. But the pegasus was part of the weather team after all, something the earth pony seemingly needed to remind her of. Furthermore, she didn't have anything else to do that day anyway, so she complied.
Sweet Apple Acres was big, so it took Rainbow Dash a good few hours to find, gather and position enough rainclouds over the entire orchard. But it was imperative every single tree got its share of liquid nutrition, since Applejack's farm was Ponyville's only source of apples. So in order to provide the town with them, not to mention keep a stock of their own for Cider Season, they needed an ample supply of the fruit to give the trees enough time to grow new ones.
Rainbow headed back to the farmhouse, and knocked on the door.
"Hey, AJ, I'm done! Wanna come out and take a look?"
Big was her surprise when the door flung open and Applejack jumped out, tackling Rainbow Dash to the ground. When they skidded to a halt, Applejack covered the pegasus' mouth with her hoof.
"Sshhh," she whispered, "Granny's takin' a nap. Quit yer hollerin'!"
"Hmpf hmmf prff!" Rainbow tried to speak.
"What's that?" Applejack asked, after which she removed her hoof so the pegasus could speak.
"I said, 'Are you crazy?' There's no need to jump me like that."
The orange earth pony gave a sheepish chuckle. "Heh, sorry. You know how cranky Granny Smith can be when somepony wakes her up."
"Anyway," Rainbow said while getting up and batting the dust from her mane, "I'm done with the clouds. Whatcha' think?"
"Yee-haw!" Applejack exclaimed, getting up on her hind legs and kicking the front ones around for a second, when she saw the sky above the tree orchard covered with clouds. "Heavens to Betsy, nicely done, RD!" Her cheerful face turned into a frown when she noticed something was off, which didn't go unnoticed.
"What? What's the matter?" Rainbow asked.
"Uh... they ain't raining."
"Oh yeah, that. These clouds weren't scheduled to rain today, so a pegasus needs to jump on them. I was thinking of getting Fluttershy's help to do that."
"Alrighty then, works for me! I'll be here if y'all need me."
Rainbow levitated herself off the ground.
"Right, I'll be back before you even know it!" after which she took off into the sky towards Ponyville.
As Rainbow Dash glided through the air, she cast her gaze downward at the bustling town underneath her. Unicorns, earth ponies and pegasi alike trotted or gently flew through the streets of Ponyville, all concerned with their own matters at hoof.
Sometimes she felt bad for the unicorns and earth ponies below, who'd never get to enjoy the thrill of flying. It was unquestionably the most awesome thing ever, especially for a pegasus like Rainbow Dash. Sure, there existed a few spells unicorns could make use of to allow ponies to get a taste of the incredible sensation of flight, but only creatures with natural wings were truly blessed with such a benevolent gift. Most of them anyway, considering chickens, penguins, ostriches and such. Even her pet tortoise was granted the ability to fly, albeit mechanically.
That reminds me, I need to pick up some food for Tank. Might as well ask Fluttershy if she has anything once I get there.
The rest of Rainbow's flight was uneventful as she landed on the doorstep of Fluttershy's cottage, nestled at the outskirts of Ponyville on one side, and at the edge of the Everfree Forest on the other. The forest was a terrifying and creepy place, especially for a timid pegasus like Fluttershy. But if it meant her animal friends could reach her faster in their time of need by living close to them, then that's the price she was more than willing to pay.
Dash knocked on the front door. "Fluttershy! Are you home? It's me, awesome Rainbow Dash!"
Expecting the yellow, pink-haired pegasus to open the door, she came peeking from around the corner of her house instead.
"Oh, hi there, Rainbow Dash. I was out back, feeding the chickens," Fluttershy said in her usual quiet voice. "What can I do for you?"
"Hiya, Fluttershy!" Rainbow cheerily greeted her. "Two things, actually. I need some food for Tank, still got some?"
"Sure! Come on in," she replied, and held open the front door of her cottage for Rainbow to enter. While Fluttershy rummaged around her animal food supplies in a separate room, she asked, "And what's the other thing?"
"I'm helping Applejack watering her orchard, and I was wondering if you were willing to help me."
Fluttershy retreated from the food storage room, holding a bag of tortoise food in her hooves. Setting the bag down with a rather grim look on her face, she said, "Oh, my. Sounds like a lot of work, and I promised Angel to go out later today. I don't know if I have the time."
Rainbow waved a dismissive hoof. "No need to worry about that. I already moved the clouds in position. All that's left to do is jump on them, and with you helping, we'll be done in half the time!"
Rainbow mused that in reality, she'd do three quarters of the work while Fluttershy'd do just a quarter, given her timidness. She didn't word that concern out loud, since she didn't want to upset her friend – something easily accomplished.
Fluttershy's face lit up like a foal earning its cutie mark. "That sounds much better! Sure, I'll help! Why don't I feed Tank for you, and then meet you at Sweet Apple Acres... You know, if that's okay with you."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Of course it is, Fluttershy. I'll see you there, then. And thanks!"
"Oh, you're most..." But before Fluttershy could finish her sentence, Rainbow had already zoomed out of her house, causing her to emit a meek yelp. Angel, who was coming up at the front door after a small, relaxing afternoon walk, was sent spinning out of control by the passing cyan pegasus, and ended up face-first on the ground. He lifted his head and shook his fist at the ignorant Element of Loyalty, as menacing as he could be for a bunny.
Passing over Ponyville once more, Rainbow caught a glimpse of Twilight's library while heading back to Sweet Apple Acres.
Hmm, I wonder if Twilight got the latest book in the Daring Do series yet. I'll go find out once I'm done with Applejack's orchard.
"Hey, watch out!"
Before Rainbow Dash could turn her head forward and check her surroundings, she slammed right into another pegasus flying in her path. She fumbled around for a second or two before rediscovering which way is up, and steadied her flight. Her eyes tumbled around in her head for another second before shifting back into focus.
"Mint! Are you okay?" Another, female voice called out.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Good thing I have a hard head," the first voice replied to the second, before shifting its attention to Rainbow Dash. "And you. Can't you see where you're going? So much free space up in the air, and still you manage to run into somepony!"
Rainbow got a good look at the pegasus yelling at her. It was a stallion, his coat a very pale shade of green and light blue hooves. His tail and mane were a contrasting dark blue, with a streak of soft yellow running through them. A tiny blue goatee hung from his chin, and his eyes were a striking orange.
"Well, right back at you, buddy," Rainbow responded. "You saw me first, so why didn't you move out the way yourself?"
"Because I was talking to my friend here, and didn't see you until just before we flew into each other," the stallion said, gesturing to his friend hovering next to him.
Rainbow shifted her sight to the other pegasus, and her jaw dropped open as wide as it could get. For flying next to the pale green pegasus was a yellow one, with a mane and tail the color of fire. Dash was at a loss for words when she laid her eyes upon Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts.
"Spit – you – I – Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" was all that Rainbow Dash was able to say.
"Hey, I remember you. You're... uh... Rainbow Flash, right?"
"Almost, heh," Rainbow said, scratching the back of her head with her hoof. She blushed deeply, at the notion of the Wonderbolt captain remembering her name. Mostly, anyway. "It's Dash."
"Right, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire turned to her friend, a puzzled look donning his face about these two mares being acquainted. "Peppermint, meet Rainbow Dash. Winner of the Best Young Flyer competition, and the only pegasus ever to have pulled off a Sonic Rainboom."
"Twice."
"Huh?"
"I did it twice," Rainbow corrected Spitfire. It was still unreal to her she was talking to her life-long idol, yet here she was. They talked at the Grand Galloping Gala as well, albeit briefly, but at least this time there were no high society ponies around to steal the Wonderbolt captain away from her.
"A Sonic Rainboom... twice?" Peppermint asked in astonishment. "How come she isn't a Wonderbolt yet?" he jokingly asked Spitfire.
This question hit Rainbow hard, like a punch in the face. Why WASN'T she a part of her dream team by now? After all, she did something no other pony ever managed to pull off – two times, even! Not to mention her spectacular moves she's been training on for years, which surely had the ability to sway even the most impressionable of ponies. The Wonderbolts were well aware of her skills, and she figured it was just a matter of time before she would receive an invitation in her mail one day. But the more time she spent with her friends, the more the idea of joining the Wonderbolts waned.
"Peppermint, you know why," Spitfire answered, faking a condescending tone.
"Yeah, I know, I'm just pulling your tail," he chuckled. "Well, we better keep moving, or you're gonna be late for practice!"
"Yeah, we should. Sorry, Rainbow, but we gotta, well, dash. Maybe we'll catch you later!"
"Bye, Rainbow," Peppermint said as Spitfire and he gained forward momentum, and passed by a stunned Rainbow Dash. "And hey, no hard feelings for running into me!" he called after her.
Dash's head was spinning, several questions swimming around in it. Spitfire had said "you know why." Does that mean they had considered inviting her after all? And why didn't they? Did they have a reason? What held them back?
Normally, with any other pony, she would turn back and directly confront Spitfire with these inquiries.
But this was no ordinary pony, not in the least. She wanted to follow and fly alongside Spitfire so badly, even in her path if need be, to ask her why she never got an invitation. But she didn't want to upset her idol, and consequently, possibly nullify her chances of joining the Wonderbolts.
She turned around, only to see Spitfire and Peppermint had already made quite some distance between them. She could've easily flown after them and catch up in no time, but let her better judgment prevail, if not reluctantly. She turned back and continued her trip back to Sweet Apple Acres to finish her chore there, albeit with a heavy mind now.