Rainbow Dash was grinning as she zipped and twirled through the air, her cyan fur complementing the clear blue sky as she soared over Ponyville. The noon sun warmed her back as her wings stretched out on either side, the wind whipping her feathers and mane in just the way she loved.
Dash was on her way to Pinkie Pie's party, she didn't really know what it was for but Pinkie was excited about it and everypony in Ponyville was attending. Plus Dash just never missed any of Pinkie's parties!
Rainbow Dash did a few loops in the air, one, two, but on the third one she felt a twinge in her wing. Her wing cramped and on reflex it clamped itself tightly to her side, causing the pegasus to start twirling through the air out of control.
"Uh oh!" Dash cried out, she tried to unclamp her wing but it wouldn't budge, so she was left wildly flapping her other one as she desperately tried to right herself.
Of course this wouldn't be the first time Rainbow Dash crashed, she'd be fine for the most part, but it still super sucked when it did happen.
Rainbow Dash felt herself descending, that's when she noticed another pegasus mare moseying along in the street.
"Look out!" Dash cried, she once again tried to regain control over her wings but she only sent herself spiraling toward the ground.
"Huh?" The gray mare looked up, just as a bracing Rainbow Dash came tumbling from above and crashed right into her.
The two rolled across the dirt road, Dash was sent skidding into a bush and the other mare bounced off of the ground a few times before sliding to a stop.
Ponyville was silent for a few agonizing seconds, until Dash pulled herself out of the bush with a groan. She shook herself free of any stray leaves and twigs, then she gasped as she realized what'd happened. She looked left, then right, then she spotted the pony she'd crashed into.
"Hey! Hey are you okay?" Dash called, she galloped over to the mare, but found herself slowing to a shaky trot as she got a better look. "H-hello?"
The gray mare with a blonde mane lay in a crumpled heap in the middle of the road, her coat was dirty and one of her wings was bent at an odd angle. The worst of it, however, was how her neck was twisted so that her glazed over eyes were facing the sun.
Rainbow Dash's stomach twisted, she felt her cheeks bulge before she ran back to the bush and threw up. Coughing Dash looked back at the mare, she sniffled, then her eyes went wide.
"I… I killed a pony," Dash's ears pulled back. "Oh Celestia, I just killed a pony!" Suddenly she covered her mouth with her hooves, causing her to collapse onto her rump. Her eyes darted around as she scanned the area for witnesses, but everypony in town was currently attending Pinkie Pie's party.
Everypony, except for Rainbow Dash, and… Her eyes shot to the deceased pegasus.
"Derpy." Dash sobbed. With a shuddering breath she stood and walked over to the body, the body of a pony that she knew the name of.
I have to get rid of the body, I- I can't go to jail, it'll totally ruin my chance at becoming a wonderbolt!
Not to mention her reputation as the best flier in Equestria, not one of the wonderbolts had ever crashed so hard they'd killed somepony!
But it was an accident! What if I just tell the truth, then maybe I'll get off with a warning?
She grunted as she slung Derpy over her back.
No, no! Even if I don't go to jail, ponies will never trust my skills again! I'll probably be banned from flying in Ponyville! Or even banned from flying at all!
Dash sobbed quietly as she trotted into an alley, even if it seemed like nopony was around she still didn't want to risk being seen. She couldn't just fly away, both out of fear of dropping Derpy and because that would make her even more visible.
So she stuck to the shadows of buildings and alleyways, until she reached her destination. The lake just outside of town, it was normally a peaceful place, but now Rainbow would only remember it for the sinful thing she was about to do.
She closed her eyes, and she said a prayer to Celestia. Then with a huff she heaved Derpy's corpse into the lake. She kept her eyes shut for a few seconds, and when she finally opened them the lake looked as peaceful as ever.
Rainbow Dash considered washing her face off since surely Pinkie would notice that she'd been crying, but when she looked at the water she cringed back. With another soft sob Dash flew over to the farthest side of the lake, before landing and splashing her face with the cool water.
An hour later the door to Sugarcube Corner opened with a jingle, and a nervous looking Rainbow Dash stepped through. The party was lively as music played, ponies danced and played games, and the smell of sweets wafted through the air.
Before Dash could take another step a grinning pink face suddenly popped into her field of vision.
"Hi Dashie!" Pinkie cheered, pulling the shocked mare into a tight hug.
"Gah!" Dash flinched back, but she couldn't escape Pinkie's crushing grip.
"You're a bit late but that's okay! The parties just getting started!" Finally Pinkie let go, she gave Rainbow Dash a little boop before she bounced away and disappeared into the crowd.
Rainbow Dash shuddered, she tucked her tail between her legs and made her way to the back of the room. She needed a drink.
As she approached the table with the punch a squeaky voice called for her.
"Hiya Rainbow Dash!"
Dash turned, she looked around before looking down. A little purple foal with a yellow main was approaching her. Rainbow Dash gulped, why did this filly look so familiar?
"Have you seen my momma? I know she's a slow walker but she should've been here by now." Dinky smiled innocently up at Rainbow Dash.
Dash went pale.
"You know her right? Derpy Whooves?"
For a second it was like Dinky was talking in slow motion, then her words faded into silence as the world went black around Rainbow.