It was another normal day in Ponyville… or least, what Twilight Sparkle would like to call normal if it weren't for the fact Pinkie Pie wouldn't stop bouncing around her and her friends in an endless loop as they waited outside Rainbow Dash's house.

"Pinkie… would you stop?" Twilight asked, with slight irritation in her voice.

"I can't help it! Rainbow said something important is coming up and I want to know what it is SO bad! The wait is killing me!"

Twilight shook her head. "Apple Jack… can you please do something?"

"Best I don't Sugarcube. Pinkie is not a pony you want to try and pull down and make her sit still… trust me."

"Aside from that, why did Rainbow call all of us here on such short notice?" Rarity chimed in, looking up at the cloud house. "I mean… she did seem kind of worried last night."

"She was."

The ponies all looked to Fluttershy confused as they heard her soft voice.

"Do you know what's troubling her?" Twilight asked.

Fluttershy shook her head. "She didn't seem able to tell me exactly what's bothering her, all she told me was she got a letter about something… she didn't go into details but she was very worried over it, she's been thinking about it for a few days now."

"Few days? This must be something huge, this is RAINBOW we're talking about." Apple Jack said, gazing up at the house. "She's always confident about things… em… most of the time."

"Well, we'll find out what it is once she comes out."

The group of friends sat there for a little while longer as Pinkie continued her endless circle. Finally, Rainbow Dash emerged with saddle bags on her back. She had a serious look in her eyes that her friends didn't see often unless circumstances called for it.

"Hey, guys." she said with a slight smile.

"Hey, Rainbow. So, what's the big news you have? … and more importantly, why do you have your saddlebags with you?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow's smile faded as she looked at the ground a little.

"What's wrong, Dash?" Apple Jack said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "We rarely ever see you like this."

Rainbow looked at all her friends before speaking.

"Something big has come up concerning the Wonderbolts, I've been recruited for a training program along with two other ponies. I can't tell you much about it under orders from Spitfire… I'm gonna be gone for awhile."

Her friends all gasped.

"F-For how long?!" Pinkie asked, hugging her friend tightly.

"I don't know, but they want me well trained so they're putting me on this program."

"Will we be able to write to you?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, but only you'll be able to mail them Twilight… here."

Rainbow dug into her saddlebag pulling out a little scroll handing it to Twilight.

"You're the only one allowed to read this according to Spitfire, and you have to swear you won't reveal any of the contents to anyone else… including the rest of our friends."

Rainbow looked at the rest giving a sorry look. "I wish I could tell you guys, but Spitfire says this is really heavy stuff that's only for the military and royalty to know."

They all looked at each other before nodding.

"We understand." Apple Jack said. "We're just gonna miss you."

"I'll be missing you guys too, I'll try and get through this training as fast as possible."

"Well you ARE the best flyer in ALL of Equestria!" Pinkie cheered, jumping around.

Rainbow glanced at the ground again. Yeah… but she has no idea what's ahead of me.

Rainbow shook her head of the negative thoughts that were plaguing her before speaking again. "I better get going… Oh! Before I forget."

Rainbow turned to Twilight. "Good luck at that race you're hosting with the other princesses, I wish I could be there."

Twilight smiled. "Thanks Rainbow, I'll be sure to give you detailed report on it so you don't miss anything."

Rainbow grinned. "Thanks, Twilight."

All of Rainbow's friends gathered around giving her one last hug before she took to the skies.

Pinkie chased after a little, calling out like she did before when she left for the Wonderbolts academy about not forgetting to write.

Apple Jack looked to Twilight who was already reading the scroll Rainbow had given her.

"You sure you can't tell us anything?"

Twilight closed the scroll nodding.

"Rainbow's right, I can't."

"But can't we know? We're part of your council after all." Rarity added.

Twilight shook her head. "This is something that the Princesses don't even talk about publicly, and it's okay that nopony knows."

"That heavy?" Apple Jack asked.

"Yes."

More heavy than any of us could ever imagine.

Be safe Rainbow.