Chapter 31: Sonic Rainboom
Fire flew above Ponyville on his morning patrol, his two Pegasus guards flew at his side while two others walked the streets or kept watch at Warm Heart Tower. The anti-intruder spells were active so an alarm would go off that could be heard through all of Ponyville if anyone entered unauthorized.
Axe Eagleeye looked around, his cute mark was of an axe and an eye. He was perhaps the most observant of Fire's guards and nothing missed his gaze from up here, except when it was behind him.
"Well, everything seems peaceful today your highness," Axe said.
"Yes," Fire agreed. "Usually is but whenever there's trouble we're here to keep the peace and bring justice."
"Yes," Feather Falls said. "Though we do have the occasional excitement. But sadly, that's usually around you and the mares you hang out with, Prince Fire. We should have been there when the hydra attacked you guys the other day."
"We could have carried you and Twilight Sparkle to safety," Axe affirmed.
Fire shrugged. "If that hadn't happened, Twilight might have not believed Pinkie Sense. Or maybe she would have, she was in disbelief when we ran into the hydra. Who knows?"
Axe looked down below. "Well, I think I see some of your friends down there."
"Oh cool, its Rainbow Dash. Look out below!" Feather Falls said as he dove down at them.
Fire and Axe followed, a bit more slowly. As they descended, Fire saw not only Rainbow Dash but Fluttershy as well. They stood in a garden area of Ponyville surrounded by trees and flowers.
"Hello Rainbow Dash!" Feather called out loudly.
The loud sound startled Fluttershy who shivered. Fire frowned as he saw that.
"Hey, Feather you mind keeping your voice down when Fluttershy is around?" he asked as he landed with Axe. "She doesn't like loud noises."
"Oh sorry," Feather said in remorse.
"Eh don't be," Rainbow Dash said. "I like a pony who's daring and enthusiastic."
They smiled at each other. Seeing Fluttershy still in a ball, Axe reached out his hoof to her and she took it with a smile as he pulled her up from out of her cowering position.
Rainbow Dash turned to her as she circled the other Pegasus in flight. "Now, what have we learned?"
"Loss of control," Fluttershy answered.
"Good," Rainbow replied.
"Screaming and hollering," Fluttershy continued.
Fire frowned in confusion.
"Yes, and most importantly?" Rainbow asked.
"Passion!" Fluttershy declared nervously.
"Right!" Rainbow Dash said as she landed in front of Fluttershy. "So now that you know the elements of a good cheer, let's hear one."
Fluttershy took a deep breath and said in a soft voice. "Yay."
Rainbow Dash hoofplanted. "Ugh. You're gonna cheer for me like that? Louder."
"Yay," Fluttershy spoke in the exact same volume again.
"Louder!" Rainbow Dash demanded.
"Yay."
"Louder!" Rainbow Dash said determinedly.
Fluttershy took another deep breath and-once again spoke quietly. "Yaaay."
"Ugh..." Rainbow Dash fell on her back in embarrassment.
"Too loud?" Fluttershy asked.
"Um… can I ask what's going on here?" Fire inquired.
Rainbow Dash got up. "I'm trying to get Fluttershy to cheer for me at the best young flyer competition in Cloudsdale but…"
She looked at Fluttershy and didn't need to say it. The Pegasus was just cheering too quietly.
"Best Young Flyer Competition?" Feather asked intrigued.
He and Axe also looked interested.
Fire, meanwhile, looked at the yellow mare. "Fluttershy, you don't have to be afraid of being loud."
"I'm being as loud as I can," Fluttershy said.
"You have to actually shout, not say 'yay' quietly," Fire told her. "Like this. YAAAY! WHOO! GO RAINBOW DASH!"
Rainbow Dash smiled and pointed at him. "Now that's a cheer! I wouldn't mind having that being shouted for me! Think you can… oh you're royalty. I probably shouldn't ask for that."
"So, this Best Young Flyer Competition," Feather asked. "What's the age limit for it?"
"Oh, you have to no older than twenty at most," Rainbow Dash said. "This is a step above the foal flyer competitions and is for teenagers and young adults like me… or us."
Axe hummed. "I still have a couple months before I turn twenty. I'd like to participate, but I got my duties to guard the prince."
"You know, this could be fun," Fire said. "Maybe we should all go. We have been pretty busy and things have been pretty safe here for a long time. I think Vine Archer and the others can handle anything that might turn up while we're away."
"Are you forgetting your place got broken into?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It was during a storm and when I was missing," Fire reminded her. "Even with law enforcement things can happen. But that's a pretty rare occurrence here. I think I'd like to join this. Where do I sign up?"
"In Cloudsdale," Rainbow Dash told them then spoke with a hint of jealousy. "You'll probably have tons of mares shouting your name as soon as they see you, being the son of Celestia and all. Well, I got to practice my routine for it."
She flew up to a cloud as they watched, looking forward to seeing what she had planned. Maybe they could take some pointers.
"Yay," Fluttershy said softly.
Fire looked at her. "That's too low, Fluttershy. You have to be loud."
Fluttershy looked at him. "This is me being loud."
Fire sighed. "You have to be as loud as you were… when you stopped us from attacking that manticore when we stopped Nightmare Moon."
"That was only my emergency volume," Fluttershy objected. "
Fire was about to press more when Rainbow Dash jumped off the cloud like a diving board.
"And now, phase one of my routine!" she said.
She zigzagged between the trees around them, causing a powerful wind to flow around the four ponies watching her.
"Wooo," Fluttershy said ever quietly but impressed.
"Ooh! That mare is something else," Feather said.
Fire looked at him. "Do you… like her?"
Feather blushed. "Well, she's cool. But I actually got a marefriend back in Canterlot."
"Oh," Fire was a bit disappointed. He thought maybe he could play matchmaker again.
Rainbow Dash then soared upwards and turned to them. "Phase two."
She circled one of the clouds which began to spin at high speed like a top then repeated the process with two more clouds. That caused the others to get dizzy from watching.
"Nice work Rainbow Dash!" Feather shouted.
"Yeah!" Axe agreed.
"Way to go," Fluttershy said softly.
Fire looked at her. She was definitely not cut out to be a cheerleader. But who else could fill in that role? Then an image appeared in his mind of a certain young pony that idolized Rainbow Dash.
The sky-blue Pegasus soared high in to the sky where they could barely hear her. "Here we go. Phase three. The sonic rainboom."
She spun a circle in the air, then another, going faster as she headed down to the ground. The wind seemed to grow visible around her as she struggled, forming a sort of wall in front of her. Then the wall lit up, was that a sound barrier? It suddenly stopped Rainbow Dash and flung her back like a slingshot as she screamed. Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth as the others likewise watched in shock and concern.
"Rainbow Dash!" Fire yelled as he took off after her.
He couldn't catch her in time as she went crashing into the Golden Oaks library where the other four mares of their group plus Moondancer were. By the time he arrived he saw them all get out from under a pile of books that littered the floor.
"Are you guys okay?" Fire asked.
"Yes, thank you, just a little buried," Rarity said as she shook herself off.
Fluttershy caught up with them and landed on the open window on the ground floor. "Rainbow Dash, you rock! Woohoo."
She then noticed the mess and gasped. "Did my cheering do that?"
Fire Sword sighed then spoke to her honestly. "No Fluttershy. Sorry to break this to you, but your loudest cheering isn't loud at all. It's almost as quiet as a mouse."
Rainbow Dash got up. "Yeah, a truly feeble performance."
Fluttershy looked down. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just… not a loud pony. I guess… if I'm almost as quiet as a mouse you should find somepony else to cheer for you."
She sniffled. Fire put a hoof to his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!" he said in remorse as he walked over and pulled her into a hug.
"You were just being honest, Fire," Rainbow Dash said.
"Sometimes the truth hurts," Applejack admitted. "But even so you sometimes have to tell it."
Rainbow Dash sighed and looked at the others. "I wish you guys could come to Cloudsdale to see me compete in the Best Young Flyer Competition."
"What's that?" Twilight asked.
Pinkie Pie answered instead of Rainbow Dash. "It's where all the greatest Pegasus flyers get together and show off their different flying styles!"
"Some are fast!" she moved around rapidly, knocking some of the books on the floor around.
"And some are graceful," Pinkie concluded and trying to move gracefully before losing her balance and stumbling around. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
"Is it just for Pegasi?" Fire asked.
"Well, somewhat," Rainbow Dash said. "But they are open to anypony… or creature with wings really. I don't think they'll disqualify you for being an alicorn. I mean, Gilda was able to join me in flight camp so I'm sure its fine."
Fire remembered the griffon from a while back. If she could join, he was sure to be able to get in.
"Golly. I'd love to see you two strut yer stuff in that competition," Applejack said.
"Yeah. I wish you guys could be there," Rainbow agreed. "Fluttershy's a great support, but her cheering isn't exactly inspirational."
Fluttershy looked down as she had stopped crying. Then Fire remembered his idea.
"You know, I can think of at least one pony who'd love to cheer for you," he said to Rainbow Dash. "I'm sure she'd be louder."
"Really? Who?" Rainbow asked eagerly.
They went and found that filly.
"You want me to cheer for you in the Best Young Flyer Competition?" Scootaloo asked ecstatically.
"Yeah, I was gonna have Fluttershy but she's a little… quiet," Rainbow Dash said. "Let's see what you got kid."
"Okay, just a second!" Scootaloo ran back into her house and reappeared a literal second later with a Rainbow Dash cap on her head and a rainbow-colored flag in her hoof. "Rainbow Dash! Coolest Pony in or above Ponyville! Red, purple, yellow, green and blue! She's got them all and she'll beat you all!"
Rainbow Dash's mouth fell open for a moment and Scootaloo looked nervous. Then Rainbow grinned.
"That was AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash declared as she picked up Scootaloo. "You are perfect kid!"
The young orange Pegasus smiled at her. "That mean you'll take me?"
"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed.
"Ooh! I'd love to see you make a sonic rainboom!" Pinkie yelled excitedly before bouncing happily. "It's like, the most coolest thing ever! Even though I've never actually seen it, but I mean come on! It's a sonic rainboom! How not cool could it possibly not be?!"
"What's a sonic rainboom?" Twilight asked as she and Moondancer look confused.
"You really need to get out more," Pinkie said as she got up close to them. "The sonic rainboom is legendary! When a Pegasus like Rainbow Dash gets going sooo fast... Boom! A sonic boom and a rainbow can happen all at once!"
Fire vaguely remembered a loud sound mixed with a rainbow spread across Equestria when he got his cutie mark. That couldn't the same thing though, could it?
"And Rainbow Dash here's the only pony to ever pull it off!" Applejack said.
"It was a long time ago," Rainbow replied. "I was just a filly."
"Yeah, but you're gonna do it again, right?" Pinkie asked with a smile.
"Of course she is!" Scootaloo said. "She is the greatest flyer to ever come out of Cloudsdale!"
"Yeah," Rainbow said nervously. "I could do sonic rainbooms in my sleep."
"That does sound interesting," Moondancer said. "It would probably be very beautiful as well."
"If you pull that off, you'll win the crown for sure!" Twilight said.
"The grand prize is an entire day with the Wonderbolts," Rainbow Dash said, her eyes lighting up with a newfound source of passion. "A whole day of flying with my lifelong heroes... It'll be a dream come true!"
"Yay," Fluttershy cheered softly.
"YAY!" Scootaloo cheered loud enough to drown out Fluttershy's.
Rainbow Dash smiled at the younger Pegasus. "Glad to have you aboard, Scootaloo."
She then turned to Fire. "Good thinking Fire, this is probably just what I need."
Rainbow still seemed a little nervous and looked at the others. "Of course, it would be awesome if all of you could come."
She finally turned to Scootaloo again and bent down. "Hop on, Scootaloo!"
The smaller Pegasus got on the elder one's back. Scootaloo still couldn't fly on her own, but at least she could stand on clouds since she was a Pegasus.
Rainbow Dash then looked at Fluttershy. "Uh, you can probably come as well and watch."
Fluttershy nodded uncertainly. "Okay. If I can provide at least a little support I will."
"And we can fly as well," Fire said as he and his guards came forward. "I'm so into this competition."
"Uh… great," Rainbow Dash said nervously. "See you there."
She took off with Scootaloo on her back. Fire frowned.
"That's weird, she didn't seem too thrilled about us competing."
"Well, this is a big opportunity to take a step to her dream of becoming a wonderbolt," Applejack said. "Maybe she feels threatened?"
Fire looked at the Earth Pony mare. "Threatened?"
"Yeah, I mean yer the son of Celestia and an alicorn," Applejack reminded him. "You could easily win in a show of flight and magic."
"That's not a bad idea," Fire admitted as he could use both magic and wings. "But yeah, this is something Rainbow Dash really wants. Maybe I should sit it out? I wouldn't want to upstage her."
Rarity suddenly got up next to him and rubbed her body against his, causing him to blush. "Or you could use your princely authority to get them to accept her as your guest. They could hardly refuse the son of Celestia can they?"
"I suppose that could work," Fire admitted.
"Oh, I'd love to see a show from you," Rarity said.
"So would I!" Moondancer said as she took a step toward him, with a slight frown at Rarity.
"Too bad we're not able to sprout wings," Applejack said.
"Yeah, too bad," Fire said. "Rainbow Dash is probably really nervous. I mean, if she only did the sonic rainboom once when she was a filly… she might not be able to do it."
He flew off to Warm Heart Tower as the others watched.
…
Twilight led everypony back to the library which was still a mess. "Well, guess we better get this cleaned up... again."
She picked up a book with her magic, but received a prick from behind that came from Rarity's horn.
"Go on, go on," Rarity told her.
"Go on what?" Twilight asked, annoyed.
"Find a spell that will get us wingless ponies into Cloudsdale," Rarity said. "She needs more then just Fluttershy and Scootaloo to give her a confidence boost."
"I agree," Moondancer said. "She was definitely nervous."
"How am I supposed to find a flight spell in this mess?" Twilight asked looking around at the books.
"A flight spell? One sec," Pinkie said before grabbing a book and throwing it at the floor in front of Twilight. "Page twenty-seven."
"How'd you do that?" Applejack asked in suspicion.
"It landed on my face when Rainbow Dash knocked me into the bookcase," Pinkie said happily.
Twilight soon found it as she levitated the book. "Here it is! A spell that will allow Earth ponies to fly for three days."
"Just Earth Ponies?" Moondancer asked.
"Oh, I meant Earthbound ponies," Twilight clarified. "Unicorns count too."
She examined the spell. "Ooh, it looks really difficult... I'm not sure I can do it."
"You've got to try!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Maybe I can help," Moondancer said stepping forward. "I was at Celestia's school too."
"Okay," Twilight said uncertainly. "But who's gonna volunteer to be the test subject?"
There was a moment of silence as they looked around.
Then Rarity gathered her resolve. "I will! For Rainbow Dash, I will go first."
Not to mention she also wanted to see Fire's performance.
"I can maybe give one of you wings as well," Moondancer turned to Pinkie and Applejack.
"Okay, give it a try on me," Pinkie said.
Twilight took another look at the spell and let Moondancer look as well. "Here goes."
Both unicorns lit up their horns and grunted as they gathered an enormous amount of magic. Blue light shined around Rarity and wrapped around her, lifting her up into the air. Moondancer was a little slower but managed to achieve the same result with red magic around Pinkie. Then an orb of magic flew from Twilight's horn and exploded in the library, interrupting Moondancer before she could reach that stage.
All of the other ponies were knocked back, but as they looked at Rarity their lips all curled into smiles, though Twilight was weak from the spell.
"I think it worked!" Twilight said as they saw Rarity whose hooves hung above the floor of the library while sparkles shined from the wings holding her in midair.
Moodancer sighed as she looked at Pinkie. "I used up too much of my strength just trying to form the spell. I don't think I can do it again."
"Don't worry, one is probably enough," Pinkie told her.
"No, we all need to be there," Applejack said. "Maybe there's an easier spell that will work for the rest of us."
…
A few hours later, Fire flew up to Cloudsdale to register for the Best Young Flyer Competition with Scootaloo on his back, and his guards as well as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flying with him.
"Wow! I'm actually here on Cloudsdale!" the young filly exclaimed as she looked at it ahead of them.
"Yeah, well we'll show you around first," Rainbow Dash said.
"I'd like that," Fire said. "Haven't been here before."
Rainbow then turned to Fluttershy. "Now remember you have to be assertive Fluttershy. Don't be afraid to speak up."
They landed on the city made of clouds which also had a rainbow waterfall. They came for a landing on some part of the city, Fire didn't know where. But as they landed, they encountered three Pegasi in white uniforms. There was a brown, tan, and grey Pegasus all there.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" the brown one who had a cutie mark of a dumb bell said.
"It's our old friend Rainbow Crash!" the tan Pegasus who had a cutie mark of basketballs said in a not so friendly manner.
"Get kicked outta any flight schools lately?" Dumb-Bell asked.
All three of them laughed at the mean joke. Fire felt a brutal effort to shot a bolt of magic at them, but he couldn't by Equestrian law. It would count as assault, though a part of Fire felt that insults should be paid for… in blood. He pushed it down though, that part of him was not the pleasant part.
"I didn't get kicked out," Rainbow Dash told them with a glare.
"Face it, Rainbow Crash," Dumb-Bell taunted again. "Flight school had too many rules and not enough naptimes for you."
"Huh, ask her about the sonic rainboom," the one with the Basketball cutie mark said.
Dumb-Bell rolled his eyes. "That's nothing but an old mare's tale. You don't have the skills to try something like that."
Fire stepped forward, but Fluttershy came in first.
"Now wait just a minute! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm trying to be more assertive."
"Don't say sorry Fluttershy!" Fire told her as he stood beside her. "These flankholes don't deserve an apology after that!"
"Yeah!" Scootaloo agreed. "You show them Rainbow Dash! Fire Sword!"
"Well, looks like the Prince of Equestria himself!" Dumb-Bell mocked.
Fire frowned for a moment then smirked. "Yeah, and who are you guys, the kings of Loserville?"
Rainbow Dash laughed at that. "Good one Fire!"
Fire smirked at her and looked back at the bullies. "So are you three gonna be competing too? Or you just here to taunt others because you know you'll be the losers in last place if you do?"
They clenched their teeth in fear.
"Uh, I think we need to go!" the grey Pegasus spoke for the first time.
"Yeah," Tan agreed.
The three of them flew off.
Rainbow Dash grinned and hugged Fire. "Wow thanks Fire! You totally roasted those guys! I've never seen anypony do that to them!"
"Hey, bullies only pick on other ponies cause they feel weak themselves," Fire said. "I just did what any pony would do for a friend."
"Well, you did it right!" Rainbow Dash said before looking down. "But what if they're right? I've only ever done the sonic rainboom once when I was a filly. I've tried like a hundred thousand times in practice and never managed to replicate it."
Fire put a hoof on her. "Maybe, but you're still the best flyer I know. Even if you can't do the sonic rainboom, I think you have a great chance to win this thing."
"Wow, you really know what to say to cheer ponies up huh?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Fire shrugged. "I try to keep hope from dying out. Whenever you're down or in the dark, Fire's there to light the way."
They all smiled at him.
"Thanks Fire," Rainbow Dash said. "But if anyponies more awesome than me it's you!"
"You two are the best ponies I know!" Scootaloo declared. "You know, I think you two should go out!"
"WHAT?" they said together with red cheeks.
"I could just imagine it!" Scootaloo said. "FireDash! Rainbowsword! You two are the coolest ever, and you'd make an even cooler couple!"
Wow, she'd become a shipper for them.
"Uh, sorry Scoots but Rainbow Dash and I just like each other as friends. Right?" Fire asked, still blushing from embarrassment.
"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash said in a similar state. "Well, I'll figure something out for a substitute maybe. I would really love to do a sonic rainboom though. I mean its so-"
Fire suddenly spotted something as he turned back toward Scootaloo. His eyes went wide.
"Rare…" he stammered.
"Yeah, but it's more then rare!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Rarity?" Fire asked finding his voice.
That drew the others attention as they saw Rarity flying. She had a beautiful set of butterfly wings on her back all of a sudden. The wings were most likely purplish pink but also had specks of light blue, yellow, and green.
"Rarity!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she looked as well. "Are you... flying?!"
Rarity smiled at them. "I most certainly am! Aren't my wings smashing?! Twilight made them for me. I just adore them!"
She put a hoof on her wings to show it.
"They look beautiful Rarity!" Fire told her.
He had never thought she could look more beautiful. If she entered a competition for most beautiful unicorn in Equestria, he had no doubt she'd win.
"Thank you kindly, Prince Fire Sword," Rarity said smiling at him before looking at the others who all had mouths open. "Why so shocked? We couldn't leave our favorite two flyers without a big cheering section!"
"We?" Rainbow Dash repeated.
Suddenly a hot air balloon flew out from under the cloud, with Twilight, Moondancer, Pinkie, and Applejack inside.
"I... I can't believe it!" Rainbow Dash said.
"It's incredible!" Fluttershy agreed.
"This is so cool! You guys made it!" Rainbow exclaimed as the balloon soared a bit closer to them then strangely landed on the cloud.
"Sure did!" Pinkie exclaimed as she made to jump out of the balloon and onto the cloud.
Fire and the other winged ponies eyes widened.
"Wait!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
Fire got ready to dive under the clouds to catch Pinkie when she fell. But as she jumped out of the balloon, she landed on the cloud as though it were a solid floor. Twilight and Applejack followed suit and landed safely as well.
"How'd you do that?" Rainbow Dash asked, intrigued. "Only Pegasus ponies can walk on clouds."
Pinkie Pie laughed as she cartwheeled on the cloud. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"I found a spell that makes temporary wings," Twilight explained. "But it was too difficult to do more than once."
"I couldn't even do it myself!" Moondancer said.
"So, I found an easier spell that lets the rest of us walk on clouds," Twilight concluded.
"And we came to cheer you to victory!" Applejack said.
"Uh, him or me?" Rainbow Dash asked pointing a hoof between herself and Fire.
"Well mostly you," Applejack said. "Rarity saw how nervous you were and wanted to come and cheer you on."
"That was sweet of you Rarity," Fire said as he looked at the white unicorn who smiled back.
"But we'll be cheering for both of you!" Moondancer and Rarity said together, much to their shock as they looked at each other.
"To be honest, I was starting to get just the teeniest, tiniest bit nervous," Rainbow Dash admitted. "Fire helped me quite a bit with suggesting Scootaloo could be a better cheerer, and he just scared some old bullies away. But I feel even better now that all of you are here."
She smiled at them then a thought occurred. "Hey, we've got some time before the competition. Fluttershy and I were gonna show Fire and the others around Cloudsdale, wanna join?"
They all agreed and went on through the city in the sky.
Rainbow Dash led them to a spot where they could a get a full view of most of it. "Here it is, the greatest city in the sky!"
They oohed and awed at the sight of the buildings made of clouds, with very realistic looking pillars. It was very impressive.
Rarity, however, was focused on another sight. Herself. She looked in the mirror, awing at her wings.
Rainbow Dash sighed at that as she led them further. "Some of the greatest Pegasi in history came from Cloudsdale!"
Rarity soon noticed she was being left behind. "Oh, wait for me!"
They walked along a path of clouds, but Rarity decided she wanted to fly more. Some construction workers looked at her in awe, with one of them dropping their drill. Fire felt a bit jealous when he heard one of them compliment her wings and her thank him.
"Be careful with those wings, Rarity," Twilight said. "They're made from gossamer and morning dew, and they're incredibly delicate."
"Don't worry, Twilight," Rarity said down at them. "I'm sure they can't get worn out from too much attention."
Fire gritted his teeth at the thought of more stallions looking at her like those others had.
"I thought you liked Blueblood?" he reminded her.
"Yes, but a mare can never too many admirers," Rarity said smiling.
"Since we're up here, I'd sure like to get a look at where the weather's made," Applejack spoke up.
"I'd like that too!" Scootaloo said as she looked around with sparkling eyes.
"Stay close Scootaloo," Fire told her. "You step off a cloud you'll fall. And I'd rather not have to catch you since you can't fly."
"Great idea!" Rainbow agreed with Applejack. "C'mon, girls... and Fire. To the weather factory!"
They soon arrived at the factory which had a collection of storm clouds above that let off a blast of thunder and lightning. They all put on white coats since the area was a bit cold and entered. Inside were other ponies looking at things through magnifying glasses.
"This is where they make the snowflakes," Rainbow Dash Each one is hoofmade. As you can see, it's a delicate operation."
"So cool!" Scootaloo said. "In more ways than one!"
Rarity gasped as she flew up and saw some large snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. "Ooh, the snowflakes look even better from up here."
The flap of her wings caused the smaller snowflakes to fly through the factory. The workers began running around trying to fix it.
"We better move on before Rarity ruins winter and causes a drought," Rainbow Dash said.
They went to the next area, a series of chains filled with rainbow colored water.
"And here's where they make the rainbows!" Rainbow said.
Pinkie Pie dipped her hoof in a rainbow water basin and then licked it. Her face turned all the same colors and she screamed, "Spicyyyyyy!"
They laughed as Pinkie ran to find some water.
"Yeah, rainbows aren't really known for their flavor," Rainbow informed them.
"Whoa!" they heard a voice nearby.
It was Dumb Bell and his friends. "Oh, where'd you get those amazing wings? I want a pair!"
Rarity hummed. "Yeah, I guess I could see that."
Dumb-Bell then spotted Rainbow Dash again. "Oh, hey look, it's Rainbow Crash again!
The tan pony with the basketball cutie mark laughed as well. "Yeah! Rainbow- umm- crash!"
Fire put himself in front of Rainbow Dash.
"Rarity!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "What're you doing talking to these guys?"
"Oh, they were just admiring my wings, Rainbow Dash," the butterfly winged unicorn informed her.
"Rarity, those guys bullied Rainbow Dash when we got here!" Fire told her.
"Yeah, not cool!" Scootaloo said.
Dumb-Bell looked at Rainbow Dash. "You should forget the sonic rainboom and just get yourself some wings like these! Or better yet grow a horn like your royal friend!"
"That's it!" Fire said lighting up his horn with red magic. "One more word out of any of you and you're gonna be spending a night in my dungeon! My aunt Luna… Nightmare Moon… enchanted it so you'll suffer through your worst nightmares!"
They all clenched their teeth and turned pale.
"Uh… tootles!"
They fled, falling for Fire's bluff.
Fluttershy came forward to defuse the situation. "Uhh... C'mon, girls… and Fire. Why don't we go see how clouds are made?"
She then turned to Rainbow Dash. "Don't listen to them. You're gonna win that competition for sure!"
Unfortunately, the Pegasus's confidence had had already been damaged. "Are you kidding? I can't do the sonic rainboom, I have an alicorn and his two royal guards in the competition, and just look at these boring, plain old feathered wings. I'm doomed!"
"Oh, come on Rainbow Dash! You're the coolest ever!" Scootaloo tried to say.
"Now anymore Scoots," Rainbow said.
It didn't help that a group of workers began fawning over Rarity and her wings in the cloud factory.
"What, these old things? Go ahead, everypony. Photos are encouraged," the unicorn said.
All of them watched in disbelief as Rarity basked in the attention.
Twilight approached her with a scolding frown. "Rarity, we're supposed to be helping Rainbow Dash relax, remember? Put your wings away and stop showing off!"
"Yeah!" Moondancer agreed, speaking for the first time in a while. "You're not being a very good friend right now!"
Rarity merely scoffed and flew to the open top of the building, blocking out the sun which shined on her wings. "Oh, pfft. How can you ask me to put away perfection?"
She spread her wings which shined and spread light among them. It was an amazing sight, they could not deny. Rarity laughed triumphantly as Rainbow Dash fell to her stomach. Seeing this, Twilight tried to comfort her.
Fire now frowned. "Rarity! You're making Rainbow Dash feel even more stressed out!"
"Oh, come now Prince Fire, you don't see this sort of thing every day!" Rarity dismissed as she did a midair somersault. "Am I not a graceful flyer?"
There was no denying she was graceful with those new wings. Then the final straw happened.
"Hey! There's an idea! YOU should enter the competition!" one of the Pegasi looking at Rarity said.
"Yeah!" an older one agreed. "I could watch you fly all day long!"
"There really isn't anypony who uses their wings quite like me. Perhaps I should compete," Rarity agreed.
"WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
Fire turned to Twilight and whispered to her. "This is going too far! Can't you get rid of them?"
"I don't know how!" Twilight said. "I don't know a dewinging spell!"
"Maybe we could pluck them," Moondancer suggested.
They decided against that as crowd followed Rarity as she flew off. This left Rainbow Dash to despair.
Rainbow Dash put her hooves to her mouth. "What am I gonna do?! I'll never win the competition now!"
Fire sighed, unable to think of anyway that might counsel her.
…
Trumpets sounded as the Best Young Flyer's Competition was about to begin. Fire sighed as he, Axe, and Feather were all in the participants area waiting with Rainbow Dash. Rarity had gone into a changing room to spruce herself up, he heard her tell one of the Pegasi she was going to be a while. Knowing her, she was gonna make herself look even more beautiful, but right now her looks were taking priority over her friendships. She was acting a lot like the stuck-up sort of mares today, and Fire didn't like it. He liked when she was generous rather than vain.
Twilight and the others were with Scootaloo, ready to cheer.
The announcer for the competition then spoke through a microphone. "Fillies and gentlecolts! Please rise and join me in welcoming our beloved Princess Celestia!"
Fire's mouth fell open and he ran to the curtain that blocked their area and saw his mother land with two of her own Pegasus guards in the top area of the colosseum like building. Many spectators had gathered on the cloud platforms to watch.
"She is likely very proud to know that her son Prince Fire Sword will be competing as well as a last-minute addition," the announcer continued.
"Now please welcome our celebrity judges for the Best Young Flyer Competition, the Wonderbolts!"
The crowd cheered as the Wonderbolts showed up as well, all wearing their blue uniforms and goggles as they flew, leaving a trail of smoke behind them. They flew in perfect formation, then a firework appeared as they parted and dove back down before taking their place on one of the remaining clouds. The crowd cheered.
"And now, let's find out who will take the prize as this year's best young flyer!" the announcer finished.
A mare walked into the contestant room and spoke to them. "Okay, contestant number one, you're up."
The first contestant headed out to perform as Rainbow Dash cringed in fear. She looked at her flank which had her number on a sticker over her cutie mark. It read number two.
It wasn't long before number one was done and-
"Okay, number two, let's go," the summoning mare said looking around.
Rainbow Dash stammered nervously and hid behind a stallion who had a number five on his flank. She grabbed it and switched their numbers.
"C'mon, c'mon, we ain't got all day!" the mare called.
"She's talking to you!" Rainbow told the stallion she had secretly switched with.
The stallion stammered as he looked at his flank and swallowed his hay snack. "Oh. Umm... oh, I guess that's me!"
"Okay, number four, time to go." The mare in charge said.
Rarity emerged from the room with a mud mask on her face and her mane in curlers. "I'm number four, and I need just one more itsy-bitsy minute. Be a dear and have somepony go ahead of me, hmm?"
Fire sighed.
"Look, I don't care who it is, but somepony's gotta go on!" the mare said.
Number Seven went next eagerly.
"Uhh... What am I gonna do?" Rainbow Dash said.
Fire approached her. "You just do your best Rainbow Dash. I know this isn't easy with Rarity being here with those shiny new wings."
"No duh," Rainbow said.
"But I'm sure I can arrange something as the son of Celestia," Fire went on.
"No. If I lose I can't bear to face them," Rainbow Dash said.
"Rainbow Dash," he put a hoof on her. "You are really awesome, but no matter how awesome you are there can always be those that outshine you. Always someone who's better. But you have to content with what you are. So, you may or may not win this one… you just have to do your best. That's all anypony can expect from you. You can improve though, and have another shot. That's the point of defeat, we might not like it, but we can learn from it," Fire told her. "Strive to improve."
Rainbow Dash looked at him and smiled after a moment. "You know, you're right. Even if I don't win this won, I still got a chance to become a Wonderbolt in the future. Rarity can't, unless she has Twilight cast that spell every few days. Thanks Fire."
She walked away from him, and looked at the note showing her number which was now eighteen, the final one. Rainbow then began to speak to herself. "Thank you very much. Now I'm gonna be the last one to perform. Your pep talk was pretty good though. Now I have my confidence back in time. I'll do my best. "
One by one the Pegasi were called. Feather Falls went, and did a high soar before letting himself fall and spreading his wings to halt it gracefully. Axe was up next, throwing a trio of axes at the pillars with perfect accuracy as the nearby ponies ducked.
"Number seventeen lets go!" the calling mare said.
"That's you Fire!" Rainbow Dash said.
Fire looked at his flank. "Huh, I thought I was number eighteen. Ah well!"
He stopped as Rarity emerged from the room, which was at first covered by a layer of steam. She looked both… beautiful and ridiculous. She'd put on heavy red lipstick, a feathered headdress, reddish pink partial shoes with green studs and a matching feather that stuck behind her like a peacock tail, as well as a purple dress with a green marking.
"Rarity... is ready!" she proclaimed.
The mare sighed. "Look, ladies, your highness. I don't know what to tell you. We had a few more additions then usual and there's only time for one more performance. If you all want to compete, you'll just have to go out there together!
Rarity turned to them. "Well, Prince Fire, Rainbow Dash? Shall we?"
"We shall," Fire said with a slight glare.
Rainbow Dash followed them.
The announcer spoke up "And now, for our final competitor of the day, contestant number…"
Rainbow Dash and Fire emerged quickly followed by Rarity who spread her hooves out in eagerness. "Uh… apparently contestant number four, seventeen, and eighteen. It will a triple finale!"
All the ponies cheered.
"Go! Rainbow Dash! You are the coolest!" Scootaloo shouted. "And Fire is the hottest!"
"Yeah! Most handsome and strongest stallion in Equesria!" Moondancer agreed.
Fire blushed. He didn't know if that was true but he was probably one of the strongest.
She could have cheered for Rarity too, but didn't.
"Good luck, Rainbow Dash. Just do your best," Rarity encouraged. "And you as well Prince Fire. I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of changing our music. That "rock and roll" doesn't really match my wings."
Man, she was making this whole thing about her wings. Classical music that could go well with ballet played. Befittingly, that was exactly how Rarity moved, walking gracefully then skipping in midair like a ballerina. She looked at Fire.
"Would you care to be my partner Prince Fire?" she offered her hoof.
Fire was tempted, but after her being so self-centered today, had to refuse.
"Thank you, my lady," he said with the tiniest bit of venom. "But I had my own routine planned out."
He flew off and heard many mares, including Moondancer and the others call his name.
"Fire Sword! Fire Sword! Fire Sword!"
He lit up his horn which turned from red to orange as he used a fire spell. It came out as several burning hoops that would flow through. Many of the ponies gasped as the frightening display, Fire flew forward and flew through the burning hoops. Rainbow Dash began her routine as well, flying among the cloud obstacles through the middle which were so thick they were solid as rock. She unfortunately crashed which earned her more ridicule from those bullies in the audience.
"Nice work, Rainbow Crash!" one of them called as the three of them laughed.
"Hey leave her alone!" Scootaloo shouted.
Fire's horn lit up as he performed his swordhorn spell and cut the nearest cloud neatly in two after going through his last hoop. He looked and saw Rainbow Dash recover and enter phase two while Rarity continued her lovely dance. Rainbow Dash headed high up into the sky out of the main area. He headed over to the other mares as Rainbow Dash spun a series of clouds like he'd seen earlier for her phase two.
Fluttershy pointed happily. "Look! Phase two is working."
They all cheered with Scootaloo loudly proclaiming. "Rainbow Dash rocks!"
Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash ended up crashing again, and causing the cloud she was currently rotating to go toward Fire's mother who gasped and ducked, causing it to hit the molded cloud and disperse.
Rarity was still dancing, and spoke for all to hear. "And now for my grand finale. I will fly right up to the sun and beam my beautiful wings over the whole city of Cloudsdale! Oh, they'll be talking about it for years!"
She ascended up high as Rainbow Dash heard this in dismay.
"Looks like this is my last chance to turn things around," she said. "Phase three. The sonic…"
She gulped and looked at her wings. "Rainboom. Wings, don't fail me now!"
She soared up high at an incredible speed while Rarity did the same, slower, more gradually. But soon Rarity was in front of the sun, sweating from the effort and the heat from being so close.
The butterfly winged unicorn panted. "Look upon me, Equestria, for I... am... Rarity!"
She spread the wings which shined yet again. The crowd gasped in amazement as they were touched by her rays of light. But then, something horrifying happened. Rarity's wings caught fire (not from Fire Sword, but from the heat of the sun). They disintegrated and turned to black ashes. Rarity felt the difference and looked at her back.
"Uh-oh," she said as she saw the wings were gone.
Then, as if gravity was waiting for her to realize, she fell with a scream.
"Oh no! Her wings evaporated into thin air!" Twilight exclaimed in worry.
Rarity continued screaming and flailing as she plummeted downward, passing the middle of the stadium or whatever it was called. Fire hadn't seen the name of the cloud building. But he soon got over his shock and dove after her. Even if she had not been at her best today, she was still a good pony!
"Rarity! Hang on!" he called as he followed.
But there was nothing for her to hang on to. He was almost to her, he'd take her up in his hooves and save her life then-
His imagination moved at a speed faster then the speed of light.
He saw himself grab Rarity in his hooves and carry her back up to safety. She looked at him with her mouth wide open.
"Prince Fire Sword!" her eyes sparkled. "You saved me! Oh, Fire I love you! I was a foal to think Blueblood was a worthier prince! Please let me be your mare instead!"
"Rarity," Fire looked into her eyes as he held her. "From the moment I saw you… I thought you were the most beautiful unicorn in Equestria! I'd be honored to call you mine."
She beamed and threw her hooves around his neck before kissing him, getting her lipstick on his lips. Time moved forward rapidly for them as they were both at the altar with her in a white dress and veil next to him in a suit. He got on top of her in bed and kissed her, then stroked her pregnant belly, and finally they had two foals in their hooves. They grew old together with their children, happy together until the end.
That fantasy was pushed to the back of Fire's mind as he put all his effort into saving his friend that he did have a great attraction too, but would never come to pass (or so he thought). Regardless of whether that happened or not though, he had to save her. Almost there, another instant and he'd have her safely in his hooves!
Bam!
…
Rarity was flailing so much she knocked out her would be savior as she headed toward the ground, growing closer and closer every second. Twilight and the others watched in doubled concern as both their friends headed to what would surely be their inevitable doom unless some miracle happened.
That potential miracle came in the form of the Wonderbolts as well as Axe and Feather who all dove after them. Unfortunately, despite the latter two being trained as Royal Guards, they were not as fast as the Wonderbolts who tried to grab Rarity first, unfortunately her continued flailing resulted in her knocking them out just as she had Fire.
Rainbow Dash heard Rarity's scream and yelled. "Hold on, Rarity! I'm coming!"
She dove after them all, going faster than any of them were falling, could she reach them in time? Many ponies were shocked and paralyzed by concern, all except one. Celestia sprang into action as well, her massive wings carrying her down with incredible strength as she wanted to be there for her son if he needed her.
Fluttershy covered her eyes. "I can't look."
The only thing anypony heard now was Rarity's screaming which could be the very last sound she would ever make. She and all those that tried to save her were all nearing the ground. Fortunately, as they watched, Rainbow Dash managed to do what she had only ever managed to do once before.
She broke through the sound barrier created by her high speed flying, seeing her friend in danger gave her the strength to do it. Rainbow light flashed around her, and her speed increased many times fold, the rainbow light then shined brighter then Rarity's wings ever had and spread across the sky as the others watched in shock.
"A sonic rainboom!" Fluttershy exclaimed after taking her eyes off her hooves and speaking at the volume of a real shout. "She did it! She did it! Wooo!"
Rainbow Dash grabbed hold of Rarity, Fire, and all the Wonderbolts just in time as they were all mere feet away from hitting the ground. She left a rainbow trail behind her as she pulled back up toward Cloudsdale.
"Whoa!" Rainbow said, impressed with herself as she realized how many ponies she was carrying.
She managed to create a full rainbow around Cloudsdale then passed Celestia and Fire's two guards in the middle of the city when-
"Whoa!" Rainbow exclaimed again, this time in concern as Fire came loose from her back.
"Prince Fire Sword!" Rarity exclaimed.
The sight of her alicorn friend slipping off caused Rainbow Dash to lose hold of the Wonderbolts as well, but she managed to cling to Rarity before the unicorn could fall again. Celestia came to the rescue this time with Fire's two guards. Celestia reached out and caught her son just in time, along with one of the Wonderbolts as well, while Axe and Feather managed to get the others. Rainbow flew back down and helped. The four flyers managed to pull them all back up to Cloudsdale safely with other Pegasi helping.
As Rainbow Dash landed, the crowd cheered louder then ever. She was surprised to hear Fluttershy cheering loudly.
"I did it. I did it!" Rainbow exclaimed proudly.
Rarity sighed in relief as two Pegasi held her above the clouds. With the wings gone, she had likely lost that ability as well. "You sure did. Oh thank you, Rainbow Dash. You saved my life!"
"Oh yeah," Rainbow realized. "I did that too. Ha, best day ever!"
Rarity was put in the balloon her other none flying friends had come up on.
"I want to apologize to all of you for getting so carried away with my... beautiful wings," she said. "I guess I just lost my head."
"It's okay," Fluttershy assured her.
"Oh, don't worry about it, kiddo," Applejack said.
"We still love you," Pinkie agreed.
Rarity then turned to Rainbow Dash. "And I'm especially sorry that I was so thoughtless as to jump into the contest at the last minute after you had worked so hard to win it. Can you ever ever forgive me?"
"Aw, it's okay. Everything turned out all right, right? I just wish I could have met the Wonderbolts when they were awake," Rainbow Dash looked down.
"I do hope Fire is alright as well," Rarity said with a similar expression. "If I hadn't been flailing so much he would have saved me first no doubt. But then you probably wouldn't have done that wonderful Sonic Rainboom."
Her eyes widened as she looked at something behind Rainbow Dash who felt a hoof on her shoulder. The Pegasus turned and was surprised to see not only Fire but the Wonderbolts as well.
"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her mouth.
Their leader Spitfire spoke on their behalf. "So you're the little pony who saved our lives. We really wanted to meet you and say thanks."
Rainbow Dash repeated her series of "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!"
Then Fire's mother approached them.
"Princess," Twilight bowed with the others.
"Hello, Twilight Sparkle," Celestia greeted. "And hello to your friends too. And you my son."
She looked at Fire who smiled.
Rarity, however, looked ashamed. "Princess Celestia, I am sorry I ruined the competition, and endangered your son's life as well by knocking him out."
"It's alright Rarity," Celestia said. "Many ponies would flail uncontrollably as well if they were falling and did not have wings no doubt."
"Yes. Rainbow Dash here really is the best flyer in Equestria," Rarity said.
"I know she is, my dear. That's why, for her incredible act of bravery and her spectacular sonic rainboom, I'm presenting the grand prize for Best Young Flyer to this year's winner, Miss Rainbow Dash!"
Celestia took the crown which served as the prize. It was gold and had a pair of wings on the sides and a lightning bolt in the center like Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. Celestia put it on Rainbow Dash's head.
The victorious Pegasus did an even longer series of 'Oh my gosh' as the Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy, lifted her into the air.
Celestia then turned to her student. "So, Fire Sword, Twilight Sparkle, did you two learn anything about friendship from this experience?"
Twilight nodded, as did Fire. "I did, Princess, but I think Rarity learned even more than me."
The unicorn nodded. "I certainly did. I learned how important it is to keep your hooves on the ground, and be there for your friends."
"Excellent," Celestia praised. "Well done, Rarity."
Everything was soon wrapped up, the bullies apologized to Rainbow Dash and she got to hang with the Wonderbolts. This truly was her best day ever. Fire then noticed Scootaloo looking up at her idol.
"She's a great pony huh?" Fire asked.
"The best," Scootaloo said. "You sure you don't want to date her?"
Fire nodded. "Yeah. Sorry kid, but I just don't feel that way about her."
"And he has a date coming up soon!" Moondancer said as she nuzzled against him.
Fire smiled at the show of affection before continuing. "But she is a good pony to have my back, and I'm proud to have her as a friend. Maybe one day you can fly like her. Speaking of which, I still need to see if I can help you grow your wings out."
"Even if it doesn't work, doesn't make me any less important," Scootaloo said. "Just like you said. I can still use my wings for a little aid to slow my falls when I'm doing scooter stunts. I'm sure there's something out there that will work me if flying doesn't."
"That's the spirit Scootaloo," Fire told her.
They would have many adventures still to come.
Author's Notes: Hoped you guys liked this version of the Sonic Rainboom episode. Someone on Fimfiction suggested I add Scootaloo and I liked the idea and went with it. Also gave a little time to Fire's Pegasus cards, not much but something at least. There can be more to come as well. So, just ten more canon episodes to make. Though I might have to take off or alter Showstoppers as I'm not sure what to do with that one. Also hit me up with suggestions on the next Episode, Stare Master as well if you please.
You probably noticed that I have updated the title once again. It now has Season 1 in addition to Element of Balance. That means I have officially decided to split the seasons up into separate stories. Whether or not I will use different pictures for the seasons remains to be seen. I might make some custom art for each of them. I also added a fantasy for Fire which I thought was fun.