Immediately, everypony turned to Rainbow Dash.

"W-What?" She stammered, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Rainbow.." Twilight Sparkle's tone was not impatient nor pleading, but somewhere in between. Rainbow Dash heaved a heavy sigh.

"Alright.. But you're not gonna like it.."

The ponies settled down in their seats and listened politely as Rainbow Dash began to fill them in on what had gone on in her life for the past ten years.

"Ever since I've been a filly I've been training and working so hard to be the greatest flier in Equestria…" Her voice almost sounded bitter. Twilight gulped. "When you left, Twilight, I worked harder than ever. And one day, an announcement came over from Canterlot that the Wonderbolts were looking for 'The Greatest Flyer in Equestria!'" Twilight imagined a younger Rainbow Dash squealing in delight as she read the decree, and it brought back more memories of great times. She reminisced for a moment, wishing that she could live them all over again. Her attention was drawn back to Rainbow Dash, though, as she continued her story.

"Of course, naturally, I knew I was right for the gig! I knew, now that we had grown up and chosen jobs and all, that it was time for me to try out for the Wonderbolts!"

"That must've been sooooo exciting!" Pinkie Pie cooed.

"Yeah," Rainbow replied, dismissively, "Anyway, so I got to Canterlot and signed up for auditions - I even recognized some of the judges! Soarin' was there, Oh, and Spitfire, too! I thought that having them, the real Wonderbolts as judges would work to my advantage.

"Well, when it was my turn to fly, I got out there and did the greatest Sonic Rainboom in the history of Sonic Rainbooms! I was sure that Ponies in Fillydelphia could hear me!" She paused, looking down.

"So, what happened?" Rarity wondered. "Did you make it?"

For a moment, there was no reply. But then Rainbow Dash could hold the truth in no longer.

"…No.." she faltered. This was the first time - well, make that second - time that Twilight Sparkle had ever seen Rainbow Dash cry. Admitting the truth of her defeat had struck a chord in her that had never been struck before.

"How could the Wonderbolts not accept somepony as great as you?" Applejack criticized, her hoof around Rainbow Dash for comfort. "You did a Sonic Rainboom, for Celestia's sake!"

"That's just it.." Rainbow barked, angry tears that she was always too brave to let out streaming down her face. "They said I was too good.."

"What?" Twilight and Applejack were astonished.

"They told me that I was too good.. They didn't want to be overshadowed."

"That is truly cruel." Twilight Sparkle fumed, a grave look on her usually kind face. "You have dreamed about being a Wonderbolt your whole life!"

"Thanks for reminding me. I've been trying to forget." Rainbow wiped the last tear from her eye. The ponies continued to comfort her with words of encouragement.

"You know, Rainbow, you could make a flying team of your own!" Pinkie Pie chimed in, as exuberant as always. Rainbow Dash looked up at her pink friend, the mischievous sparkle that her friends had always known returning to her eyes.

"Pinkie Pie, that's a fantastic idea!" she exclaimed, flying around the room excitedly. "I could get Scootaloo, my most faithful fan, to be in it! We could be called 'The Dashes!' Ooh, or 'The Sonic Rainbooms!'

"Whatever your name, I'm sure that you'd be more than twenty-percent better than them there 'Wonderbolts.'" Applejack stated, saying "Wonderbolts" as one would say "Dirty Underpants."

"Honestly?" Rainbow Dash smiled. It seemed that she was finally feeling better.

"Always."

After a few seconds of silence, Rarity piped in, saying, "..So who did get into the Wonderbolts?"

Rainbow Dash's expression once again turned sour. "Why don't you ask her for yourself?" she fumed.

Fluttershy fidgeted in her seat. "Um… hi.." she mumbled.

"Out with it, Fluttershy." Twilight Sparkle was all business - it even took a minute for her surprise to catch up to her.

"It's - It's not like I wanted to be in it.."

"Then why are you doing it?"

"I never really wanted to be one…"

"Then why did you audition?"

"I didn't exactly t-try to get in…"

"What in the Hay is going on here?" Applejack hollered.

"OKAY!" Fluttershy protested, quite loudly for a change. "I didn't want to be a Wonderbolt! I auditioned because Rainbow Dash brought me along to be a cheerleader! When they told Rainbow that she was too good, they turned to me. They said that they liked my charisma and wanted me to join them - but I didn't want to; I wanted Rainbow Dash to be a Wonderbolt, not me."

Twilight Sparkle knew that Fluttershy was being sincere. "Fluttershy, why did you join the Wonderbolts then?" she asked.

"I shouldn't be mad at her." Rainbow Dash chimed in with a sigh. "I told her to do it. Of course I wanted to be a Wonderbolt more than anything, but I didn't want to stop her and be the reason that she didn't get to be a part of such a cool thing. Plus, I am starting my own flying group now, so it doesn't matter to me anymore!"

"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy turned to the other Pegasus, her eyes full of forgiveness. "I should've told you that this wasn't what I wanted to do. That would've made everything easier!" The two reconciled friends hugged.

Twilight stroked her chin for a moment, and suddenly, an imaginary light bulb flickered on above her head.

"You girls," she began, "This reminds me of the time when Fluttershy got the modeling job with Photo Finish! Do you remember? Rarity didn't want to stop Fluttershy from being a model because she thought that Fluttershy wanted to be one."

"Oh, yes." Rarity chuckled. "Flootershy!" She did her best Photo Finish Impression, heading towards the locked door, flipping her scarf every which way. "We go!"

The girls rolled on the floor in fits of giggles, unable to control their laughter. Twilight Sparkle felt a familiar warmth inside - the same feeling that she used to always get when they were young and best friends.

"Well, I'm glad that that misunderstandin' is all handled." Applejack proclaimed. "I - well, I feel silly sayin' this.."

"Oh, go on, Applejack." Fluttershy encouraged her.

"Girls, I feel like we're finally friends again!" She gathered the other ponies in for a good-old, down-home group hug.

"I wish that we never spilt apart!" Twilight added, and the ponies broke away.

That's when Twilight Sparkle noticed that one of her friends had been missing from the Group Hug - Pinkie Pie.

"Is everything alright, Pinkie?" she turned to the fidgeting pony who was suspiciously biting her hooves.

"Huh, what?" Her voice was unusually high in pitch. "Oh, yeah. Everything's just… Okie Dokie Lokie!" She laughed nervously.

"Uhh.. Pinkie? What's goin' on?" Applejack was worried - she'd never seen Pinkie act this way (except, of course, on a a sugar rush. And as there were no treats in the room, she could assume it was not that)!

Before Pinkie could answer, there was a knock at the door.