Chapter 1
End of a Dream
-Krack-koom!- Rainbows spread out behind me in a large ring as I started my routine with a bang, literally. This was the fifth time I had run it that day, and could only hope that I ran it right this time as a twigs from my last crash flew out of my mane because of the shockwave. Convincing my weather patrol team to let me have the day off while they covered my shift for the day wasn't hard. They knew how much I had waited for this moment, and the Wonderbolts had finally sent ME an invitation to join them. Well, to participate in their tryouts. But for it was as good as an invitation to join for me. There's no way any of the other competitors stand a chance against me! I thought as I pulled every trick in the book, stringing them together as I flipped around the sky in playful defiance of gravity, my rainbow trail leaving a path behind me. I can do this. I'm going to be a Wonderbolt tomorrow. Wonderbolts don't quit. I dove down, past the cloud layer, the thin mist clinging to my coat as the wind playfully tussled my mane. -Krack-koom!- The ground rushed up as my wings strained to lift me up. Come on! Pull up, pull up, pull up, pull u-
-Beep!-
-Beep!-
-Beep!-
-Beep!-
"She's waking up! Gasp-Where's my party cannon! I haven't been this excited since-"
"Pinkie Pie, darling, calm down. Rainbow Dash needs rest, not a party."
"Dash? Can ya hear me Dash?"
"Shh! Everypony quiet down. She's waking up!"
I had to squint as I opened my eyes, the bright light making the five shapes around me blurry shadows. I opened my mouth to say 'Could somepony turn off the lights… I can't see.' but all that came out was a groan. The lights suddenly dimmed. "No worries Dashie. I read the script. I got the lights!" "Thanks… I think…" Carefully leaning forward, I looked around at the worried faces of my friends, none of them meeting my eye. "It was just a crash guys, I'm not dead. I've only been out, what, an hour?" "Three days. You've been out for three days." I looked over to Twilight, my eyebrows as high as they could go. "Well, I should be out in less than a week the-" The pain hit me full force then, doubling me over under it's iron fist.
"Sugarcube? You feelin' alright?" "I'm -OWOWOW- I'll be fine AJ." She raised her eyebrow and was about to say something when Nurse Redheart stepped in the room. "Finally. Nurse, how long until I can spread my wings again? I gotta get back to training!" She looked away from me and to my friends and nodded, as if giving permission. Why does she need their permission to tell me? "Rainbow Dash," she began "You broken your left wing in over nine places, and your right wing was dislocated and broken in five places. You have three broken ribs and a cracked vertebra. You're not flying again for three months at least. Your grounded from the weather patrol until we've got you as good as new, probably four months." "G-Grounded? For four months? But-but-but…" I pushed against the bed with my fore-hooves, trying to get up. "Rainbow, darling, don't strain yourself!" Blinding pain, and then darkness took my vision again as I passed out. I won't make the tryout! I'm not going to be a Wonderbolt…. Why?