Rainbow Dash kept her distance from the cluster of ponies massed in the hallway. Who did they think they were fooling? They were making so much noise that Princess Celestia could probably hear them all the way over in Canterlot.

“Did you bring the present?” Twilight Sparkle whispered.

Sweetie Belle nodded and pointed to a box perched on Apple Bloom’s back. Covered more with tape than anything else, its wrinkled cardboard showed through gaps in the mismatched scraps of wrapping paper.

“Cake?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes. Yeah, like she’d go anywhere without cake.

Letting out a sigh, Twilight jerked her head toward the open door. “Okay. We jump out on three. One—”

“Wait, sugarcube. Right on three, or is there a ‘go’ afterward?” Applejack said as she scratched her head.

“On ‘go,’ I guess,” replied Twilight. When everypony else had nodded back, she took a deep breath. “Okay. One... two... thr—”

“Surprise!” Pinkie cried, leaping through the doorway with the cake balanced on top of her head.

“Surprise!” came a halfhearted murmur in echo as the rest filed in behind her. Except Fluttershy. She’d ducked her head to the floor and was covering it with her hooves.

“Is it over?” she squeaked.

“Yes, dear. You’re the only one miss—” Rarity’s head soon poked back into the hallway and found Rainbow Dash still leaning against the wall. Raising an eyebrow, Rarity perked her ears up. “Are you coming?”

Dash shrugged and let out a sigh. It was just another kid party. It’s not like she didn’t have better things to do.

“Come on, Rainbow Dash. You know what this would mean to her.” Suddenly, Rarity’s eyes didn’t have that usual sparkle.

Dash tensed her legs to walk, but... she just scratched a hoof at the floor. She should be moving. She wanted to.

“Rainbow Dash, you get in here this instant!” Rarity growled through a clenched jaw.

Finally, her hooves were listening to her. Or Rarity. Whatever. She trudged the last few steps down the hall and into Scootaloo’s room.

“Happy birthday!” everypony chorused as Scootaloo sat up in her bed and buzzed her wings. Her mouth gaped open, and she swung her head from one side to the other, taking in all the cheery grins directed at her.

She giggled and bounced up a little on her mattress. “Wow! I wasn’t expecting—”

“O’ course not, sugarcube!” Applejack said through her chuckling. “Now, put out that candle and make a wish!”

Scootaloo clasped her hooves together, closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and let the corners of her mouth turn upward faintly. After a long minute, Fluttershy and Pinkie exchanged glances, but Scootaloo finally opened her eyes again and blew the candle out.

As soon as Pinkie had given a hearty “Woo hoo!” and carried the cake over to the desk to cut it up, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hopped up on the bed beside Scootaloo.

“We got you this!” declared Apple Bloom as she bucked the package into the air, then bounced it off the top of her head and let it plop down in front of Scootaloo, who immediately tore at the paper and flipped the box’s lid open.

From the back of the crowd, Rainbow Dash rocked up on her hooftips, flared her wings, and craned her neck to see over everypony. A warm sensation flooded her chest, and she held her breath at the immense grin on Scootaloo’s face until...

Scootaloo held up a new helmet, painted with rainbow stripes. “I love it!” she shouted, tugging her new prize over her head and fastening the chin strap.

Dash felt the blood rush from her face. Why couldn’t that filly be obsessed with somepony else? She sank to her haunches and folded her wings back. Of course ponies found her awesome. But most knew where to draw the line.

“Today’s your special day!” Apple Bloom shouted as she leapt back and forth across Scootaloo’s bed. After Apple Bloom’s third trip, Applejack put a hoof on her sister’s shoulder and shook her head slowly. Frowning, Apple Bloom hung her head and folded her ears back.

“You can do anything you want!” cried Sweetie Belle, her tail swishing around. “So, what are you gonna do for the perfect birthday?”

“Hm. I was thinking...” Scootaloo held a hoof to her chin and stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth.

“Yes?” said Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in unison as they leaned forward and opened their eyes wide.

“Well, I’ve got an idea for a new crusade.” Scootaloo snapped a sharp nod and beckoned them closer. She flicked her eyes back and forth between them. “It seems to me that we’ve never done much crusading in the snow. Now, obviously my cutie mark is going to be about speed and style. I think it’s time we hit the slopes.”

Apple Bloom drew her eyebrows together for a moment. “But... there’s no snow on the ground. And we’re not scheduled to get any for a couple o’ weeks.”

A bright grin spreading across her face, Scootaloo spotted Dash ducking behind Rarity and Fluttershy. “I know. Rainbow Dash can do it!”

Everypony turned to look at Dash. She jumped and rubbed a hoof at the back of her neck. Perfect. No chance of slipping out of here unnoticed. “Oh. Well... I dunno. I’d have to request a permit for a temporary weather modification. Could take a week or two...”

“Oh, Dash,” Twilight said, wrinkling her nose and shaking her head. “They’re not going to care about one hill out in the countryside. I think it’d be okay.”

Cocking her head and giggling, Pinkie said, “Hee hee! Silly filly! Dashie’s just pulling your leg. Of course she can do that for you, Scootaloo!”

“Um... Heh heh.” Rainbow took a steadying breath and let her shoulders slump. “Yeah, I guess that would work. When do you want to go? Sometime after lunch?”

“Why not right now?” Scootaloo answered. “I’ve got a lot planned, so we better get started early!” She tossed the blanket off and bounced down to the foot of the bed with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

“Oh...” Rainbow froze and rolled her eyes down toward the floor.

“Ssst!” Rarity hissed under her breath, glaring at Rainbow. “You said you’d help out!” she added in a harsh whisper.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think I’d have to do everything,” Dash muttered. When she looked back up, there were enough stern glances directed back at her to make her shudder. Fine. She managed a weak smile and gestured toward the door. “Right this way, kids.”

She glanced back at the other party guests and noticed one she’d missed before: Spike. Up there on Twilight’s back. He was actually smiling, but just a little. “You wanna come, too?” He nodded vigorously, but that strange smile remained. She wasn’t sure she liked it.

---

“This is the perfect one, Dash!” Scootaloo shouted, pointing up a long slope just outside Sweet Apple Acres. “I could get going so fast down this one. I can see it now: my cutie mark’ll be a flaming icicle!” She flashed a toothy grin and rubbed her hooves together.

“A flaming what now?” Apple Bloom remarked, scrunching her face up. “Do those things burn?”

“If you get it going fast enough, I bet anything can.” Scootaloo smirked at her clearly superior reasoning.

“I can try to light one,” Spike offered, “but... Princess Celestia might not appreciate it.”

Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. She spotted a large gray cloud in the distance and left them discussing flammability as she raced out to get it. After she’d checked it over, she braced her hooves against it and shoved it back to their hill. Grabbing a pointy tendril at one end, she swung it around and around, faster and faster, until the cold air had turned the few drops leaking from it into ice.

There. That should be chilled enough. “Heads up!” she called, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders retreated over to the next hill.

Dash rubbed a hoof at her chin and nudged the cloud this way and that, satisfied that she had it centered over the hillside. Finally, she rocketed straight up into the sky, then turned back earthward. Each second, she built up more and more speed, the icy blast of wind making her eyes water. She braced a shoulder against the impact and plowed into the cloud, which immediately plopped a thick white blanket over the hilltop. The snowy wave rolled down the incline, leaving the whole thing buried under several inches of fresh white powder.

When Rainbow came to a landing at the bottom of the hill, the three fillies charged down from their waiting place and back up the dry side of their new playground, shoving and jostling to be the first to the top. Wait. Where was Spike?

Dash saw a strange green light beneath the snow, and soon after, flame erupted from the snowpack, and Spike jumped out. “Oh my gosh! Are you okay, Spike?” she shouted, but her astonished gape faded as she watched him rolling around and writhing with laughter.

“I’m fine! Now that was fun!” Spike glanced up to see her wiping the tear streaks from the corners of her eyes. “Oh. I’m sorry... Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?”

Returning a blank look for a moment, Rainbow finally flicked her gaze down to the hoof she’d been using to rub her eyes and shook her head. “Oh, that? No, that’s just... flying fast in cold air. Y’know.”

“Oh. Yeah. Dash, I...” He gave one of those knowing smiles that’s supposed to say a lot, but Dash was never much of a mind reader. He kicked at the snow around his feet for a minute before finally rushing off to clamber up the hill.

By the time Spike had reached the top, the three fillies had already strapped on skis. “Here goes nothin’!” yelled Apple Bloom as she leapt onto the snow. Sweetie Belle was right behind, and they made slow progress in snowplowing down the hill on wobbly knees. Still having fun, though. Open-mouthed smiles and laughter slowly floating down. Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle at them.

Then, Scootaloo came blasting between the two. Crouched down on her skis with gritted teeth, she buzzed her wings for extra speed, but her eyes quickly widened. “How do I steer? How do I steer?” Before Rainbow Dash could open her mouth to answer, Scootaloo had plowed into a snowbank and gone airborne, fluttering uselessly and screeching until she flew face-first into a drift. The other two had lost their concentration as they watched, and both teetered over sideways.

Dash was on Scootaloo like a shot, digging her out of the snow. “Are you alright?” she asked, panting.

After taking a moment to get her breath back, Scootaloo nodded and blushed. “Yeah. But I’m not gonna get anywhere like this.” She set her jaw and bounded back up the hill. “C’mon, girls! Let’s try the sleds next!”

She perched her sled right on the edge of the snow, retreated to get a good head start, then ran at a full tilt, finally taking a flying leap. The sled took off in an instant, and Scootaloo streaked downhill, squinting and wearing an evil grin. She skittered and bounced over lumps in the snow, but using her wings, she managed to keep her course straight.

She hit the bump at the bottom and launched far across the grassy field, flailing her tail around to keep from tumbling. Scootaloo! Dash’s heart leapt into her throat, and she grabbed the leftover bit of cloud in her teeth, tearing after Scootaloo. At the last instant, Dash managed to get beneath her and catch her on the cloud’s pillowy surface.

Scootaloo pulled her face out of the cloud and stared at Dash for a few seconds, both of them gasping for air. Then she broke into a broad grin. “That was awe—”

“Look out below!” Apple Bloom shouted. Dash saw her just in time to shove the cloud underneath her, but she flew straight through it and crashed into Rainbow Dash, sending them both sliding across the ground. “Sorry,” Apple Bloom said with a sheepish grin as she spit out some dirt.

“My fault,” Dash grunted. Forgot that clouds don’t work if they’re not pegasi... She rubbed her head and trotted back over to the bottom of the hill. Kicking at the wall of snow, she scattered rough clumps of it all over the lower end of the slope. That should slow things down. She snapped a nod and went back to Scootaloo’s side.

Scootaloo sat up on the cloud’s edge and shoved enough of the fluff away to see that her flank remained unmarked. “Rainbow Dash,” she said, punching a hoof at the cloud, “we need more! That clearly wasn’t fast enough. Can you make us a track?”

Rubbing her chin, Rainbow nodded. “Yeah. I think that’d work.” Never tried this before. Could be interesting. She scanned the sky for a moment. Yeah. That little grey one will do.

Dash flew off for a second time to retrieve a cloud, and once again pulled it over the hilltop. She gave it a good stomp to start it raining, then flew circles around it faster and faster, slowly following a corkscrew pattern toward the ground. Once she had the raindrops whipped into a fine mist, she shot down the hill, her spiral pattern carving a channel through the snow. The mist trailing in her wake immediately froze, leaving a slick glaze. Worked like a charm. Heh. Even put in a couple of turns for ’em.

Scootaloo’s eyes lit up, and she scrambled back up the hill with Apple Bloom hot on her trail. At the top, they met Sweetie Belle and slapped hooves together. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Bobsledders!” Spike was laughing so hard that he had to prop himself up with his tail.

After all three fillies had piled onto one sled, Spike gave them a mighty shove, and they went sliding down the icy course. They whipped through the first turn, and Sweetie Belle was already hanging on for dear life. Out of the banked curve, and Apple Bloom finally had enough balance to yank Sweetie Belle back onto the sled. Dash was still a bit out of breath, but she felt a smile creep onto her face as she watched. Their manes were blasted straight back, and they couldn’t even hold their ears up anymore. Through the final turn and into the last straightaway. Heh. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were shrieking their heads off, but Scootaloo just hunched down even further and grinned. And all three with their cheeks flapping in the wind. Girl’s got nerve.

They hit the rough snow at the bottom and skidded to a stop. Just a few seconds behind, Spike slid up beside them on his stomach.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Sweetie Belle asked, one eyebrow raised.

“Nuh-uh,” Spike answered with a head shake as he closed his eyes and patted his belly. “Thick, smooth scales.”

“Oh!” Scootaloo said as she looked down at her side, but her face fell. Still empty. Apple Bloom dabbed some snow there, and they all giggled.

“I’m sorry, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said as she hung her head.

Sighing, Scootaloo replied, “It’s not a big deal. I had fun. C’mon! Let’s go again!”

Casting a glance over her shoulder to where the sun was well on its way to the horizon, Dash cleared her throat. “Hey, it’s well past lunch. Didn’t you have other plans for the day?”

“Oh, yeah!” Scootaloo’s ears pricked straight up.

“Alright, you four head off, then. Hope you had fun!” Rainbow turned to trot away.

“But Dash!”

Rainbow froze in her tracks.

“I was hoping we’d have lunch together!” Scootaloo put on her best puppy-dog eyes.

It was all Rainbow could do to keep from stamping a hoof. Wasn’t all morning and half the afternoon enough? It’s not like she needed to beg—of course Rainbow would do that for her. So why did it feel like such a chore?

“Sure, squirt. Where’d you want to go?”

“Well... you know that diner you talk about sometimes? The one you said was the most hole-in-the-wall place in all Equestria, but they had the world’s best grilled mushroom sandwich?” She leveled a huge grin at Rainbow Dash, but then frowned at her friends. “Sorry, guys. It’s in Cloudsdale. You wouldn’t be able to walk around there,” she said, wiggling her wings.

“Don’t worry your little head.” Apple Bloom waved a hoof at her and closed her eyes. “We’ll just skedaddle over to Sweet Apple Acres for a snack, then we’re gonna come back here and sled some more.”

Before joining them, Spike sidled up to Dash. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Dash answered with a shrug and a forced grin.

He let out a sharp breath. “I’ll be here when you get back. Stop by and let me know how everything went, will you?”

Rainbow stared back for a second, then nodded. What was that all about? Dash could handle herself.

She bent low to let Scootaloo climb onto her back. The poor thing was still breathing heavy from her sled ride. “You okay?” Dash felt a nod against her neck and went for a gentle running takeoff. Would Scootaloo say so if she wasn’t okay? Ponies don’t always answer that question honestly—

Spike.

Dash wished she had a cloud to punch.

“I can see Canterlot from up here!” Scootaloo shouted. She opened her wings straight out and twisted them a bit in the air stream, experimenting with the force of lifting herself a little off Dash’s back.

“Yeah. And way over that way is the mountain where we chased off that dragon.” Rainbow added a punctuating snort. “I kicked him. Right between the eyes, and he never came back.” At their easy pace, she only needed to flap once every few seconds. It was actually... relaxing. She let her hooves dangle limply below her and soaked up the sun’s warmth at her back.

“Well, duh! He didn’t want to mess with Rainbow Dash!” Tucking her wings back in, Scootaloo settled down onto Rainbow again and let go of her mane.

“Heh.” Dash’s smile lingered a little while as she angled toward Cloudsdale’s downtown area.

At the end of their brief flight, Rainbow weaved through a few streets near the edge of the city, then set down in a back alley, where a flickering neon sign read, “Skyline Diner.” They walked in the front door, and the jingling bell prompted a head to pop out the kitchen door.

“Rainbow Dash! It’s been a while! Your usual seat?” the cook asked, jerking his head toward the corner booth.

Dash nodded. Greasy Spoon had the same apron as always. Stained in—heh!—a rainbow of colors, and she was sure that none of them was the original. “Good to see you again, Spoon.” She slid into her seat just inside the front window and patted the bench next to her. “Best seat in the house!” she remarked to Scootaloo.

The filly craned her neck a bit to where she could see a narrow patch of sky between a couple of the buildings. From there, she found the edge of the weather factory, where new clouds puffed out a few times a minute. “Um... nice view?”

“That’s what gave this place its name!” Greasy Spoon roared as he gave Dash a hearty clap on the shoulder. “What can I get ya?”

“Two of your mushroom specials and some ice water.”

“Comin’ right up.”

When he’d left, Rainbow studied the well-worn tabletop and didn’t say anything. What was there to say? In the sky, at least she was an expert. Here... She just watched Scootaloo, who seemed fascinated with those batches of fluff floating out of the factory like clockwork. Cloud after cloud, all the same, but still she stared, that little smile never leaving her face.

The clink of plates against the table jerked both of them back into the moment. Sinking her teeth into her sandwich, Scootaloo let out a low moan. “Mmmm. It’s even better than you said!” By the time Dash was halfway through hers, Scootaloo had already wolfed the whole thing down. And seconds later, she hiccupped. Then again.

“Whoa! Take it easy!” Dash leaned over and thumped Scootaloo on the back. “Drink some water.”

Scootaloo drained half her glass, and when she came up for air, she sat still for a minute before smiling. “They’re gone.” She took a deep breath, then munched on her potato chips and pickle slowly while waiting for Dash to finish her meal.

Dash did so in silence. All around them, the few late-afternoon customers chatted away, and sounds of silverware clinking against dishes added punctuation. A strong smell of vegetable soup floated out of the kitchen. The front door’s bell tinkled and hinges squeaked every few minutes when the mail carrier came by, the odd police officer needed a hit of coffee after his shift, or some pedestrian needed a place to get out of the winter air and read her newspaper while enjoying a piece of pie. In the right circumstances, the rhythm could be hypnotic. If she let it. Or needed it to be.

She shook her head.

That filly. Staring at the clouds again, and the occasional burst of rainbow. Was she really happy just sitting there? Rainbow picked up the pace a bit, if only to get this day over with a bit quicker. Last bite down. “You want the rest of my chips, Scoot? I’m not gonna eat ’em.”

“No. I’m full.” A thin ribbon of blue sky reflecting in her eyes, Scootaloo smiled up at Dash.

“Anything else? Dessert?” Greasy Spoon asked as he walked over and slid their check onto the table.

“I’ve still got cake waiting for me,” Scootaloo replied, her ears perking up.

“Alright then. Don’t be a stranger, Dash!”

Looking at the bill, Rainbow dug a small stack of bits out of her saddlebag and tossed a couple extra on the table. She glanced back at Scootaloo and motioned toward the door.

Scootaloo followed her out into the street. “So, was that all? Day’s almost over.” Poor kid. She looks wilted. Can barely keep her eyes open. “Shouldn’t we head back?”

Nodding, Scootaloo added, “But can we take the long way? I was hoping to go for a flight.” Her knees were wobbling, just barely. But Dash noticed.

Again, Dash bent down to let Scootaloo on her back. “I’m not feeling up to doing any stunts this late. You don’t look like you are, either.” Poor kid’s exhausted. She’s pushed herself hard today.

Scootaloo blinked hard, and her eyes didn’t open all the way. She let out a big yawn. “I know. I don’t care if it’s a lazy flight. I just wanted to spend it with you.”

Rainbow swallowed hard and glanced around at the few pedestrians in the street as her pulse picked up. She trotted the couple of blocks to the city’s edge. Leaping off and into the sky, she turned easy circles to gain altitude gradually. Once she was high enough to clear all the rooftops, she skimmed over toward the far end of town.

“Down there’s my old neighborhood when I was a filly,” she said, pointing at a row of nondescript apartments. “Those old streets are where I first learned to fly. Every day after school. And over there—” she angled her head toward a large open field with a couple of race courses “—is where I went to flight camp. That’s where I first learned to fly again.”

“Again?” Scootaloo raised her head from where she’d allowed it to rest on Rainbow’s neck.

“Yeah. Raw talent’s one thing, but you don’t get the most out of it if you don’t really understand it.” Banking gently to the south, Dash flew over the city’s large stadium. “And that’s where I was in the Best Young Flyer competition.”

“I know,” Scootaloo slurred.

Rainbow raised her eyebrows and craned her neck around at her passenger. “How’d you know that?”

Blushing, Scootaloo looked to the side. “I snuck over and watched from the ground.”

Heh. She’s got spirit. Gotta give her that.

The sun was just dipping below the horizon, and Dash could see the interplay of color in the high cirrus clouds above. She continued circling for some time, letting the orange evening glow wash over her. It was nice. Peaceful. In fact, she could almost forget...

Eyeing the fading light to the west one more time, she broke the silence. “We can swing by Canterlot, but then it’ll be dark, and we should head back. Okay?” No answer. “Scoot?”

Dash felt a stirring on her back. “Hm?”

“I was just saying—we should go home after we pass by Canterlot. Okay?”

“Mmhm.”

More long minutes of silence. But... Dash’s knotted muscles relaxed a bit. The wind rushing over her wings, that soft breath on her coat. Though there was a bite to the chilly night air, a pleasant warmth ran through her body. In the moment, it was... If she could just stay in the moment, it was blissful. She closed her eyes and couldn’t help smiling. But moments end.

Everything had dimmed to a dusky purple, and Rainbow kept on course for the twinkling lights that were drawing near. “Rainbow Dash?” came a faint voice from a little below her ear.

If it had been any louder, it might have made Dash jump, but it was just right. “Yeah?”

“I... know you’re tough, Rainbow Dash. I wanna be just like you. That’s why I didn’t wanna risk making you think I was all sappy or something.” A light sigh brushed Rainbow’s neck. “But I wanted to say... I love you.” Dash felt Scootaloo’s muzzle snuggle a little harder into her mane.

Rainbow’s eyes widened instantly. Her mouth worked in silence as it tried to sort out something to say. But what? Say something! Don’t leave that hanging out there! She forced air from her lungs, but all she could do was croak. The fan club. Following her around everywhere. Spending her entire birthday with her! It’s not like it wasn’t obvious. Say something!

Her pulse pounded in her head, and lights danced in front of her eyes, but not the familiar ones of Canterlot. She—she thought she might pass out. No! Rainbow Dash doesn’t get lightheaded. That’s for weak ponies.

Rainbow came to a hover and looked back to see she’d overshot Canterlot by several miles. “Scootaloo?” she said, her voice quaking. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to tell. “Scootaloo?” she asked a bit louder, her tightened throat at least making a steadier sound.

That tingling sensation returned. Her head swam. “Scootaloo!” Dash didn’t even notice that she was crying. She dove for the ground and leaned her head back to nudge her passenger.

“Hm?”

Pulling up while still several hooves above the ground, Dash took a few deep, shuddering breaths and buried her face in her hooves. She didn’t know she’d been trembling, either, but now she felt her hooves shaking against her eyes. “Scoot, I...” She waited a minute, but there was no further response. Asleep again.

Dash glared at the ground. That’s where it was all going to end. She’d fly forever if she could, but someday, hooves have to return to the ground. As long as she could, she’d fight it, though. It was solid, didn’t move. It cut her world in half. And brought back harsh facts. Everything returned there, after all. She sighed. Still need to start back toward Ponyville.

Ponyville.

Spike.

She flew off back toward the snowy hill at the highest speed she could muster. Soon, she saw the frozen expanse reflecting the soft moonlight. Sweeping down the slope, Dash finally spotted a small purple shape curled up at the bottom. Spike was asleep, shivering faintly against the snowbank, wrapped up in both Apple Bloom’s and Sweetie Belle’s scarves. Dash hovered above him and poked him in the shoulder. “Spike! Hey, Spike!”

He stirred, blinked a few times, rubbed his eyes, and looked up at her. “I’m sorry, Spike! Scoot wanted to go flying after lunch, and I forgot all about you. You should have gone home!”

Spike shook his head. “I’m fine. Did you two have fun?”

“I think so. At least she did.” Rainbow jerked her nose toward her back. “I...”

“Why don’t you come down here? You’ve gotta be tired from all that flying.”

“No.”

“But Rainbow—”

“No!” Dash could just make out his scowl in the pale light. “When I touch ground again... that’s it. She’s still flying with me. But when the flight’s over, so is the moment. Gone forever and back to reality. So I’m staying airborne.” She sneered toward the east and its eventual sunrise. “I’ll stay out all night if I can help it.”

Spike sat up and sighed. “It’s late. She’s probably already missed dinner.”

“We had a late lunch.”

“Dash, it’s going to be okay.” He rested his chin on a claw.

“Go home, Spike,” she replied as a few beads of sweat trickled down her forehead.

“You’re the one I asked to come by here on your way home. Not her.” Dash had averted her gaze to the ground in front of Spike, but he hunched his neck down to keep eye contact.

“Are you okay?” His stare bored into her.

He wasn’t going to let up, was he? Dash kept silent for a minute, but her wing joints were starting to ache. That horrible tingling started up in her chest again.

“How’d you get to be so wise beyond your years?” she asked as her voice broke and the first few tears trickled down her cheeks.

“Ancient dragon knowledge.”

Dash raised an eyebrow at him. “For real?”

“You learn to pick up on things when you live with Twilight,” he answered, chuckling. “Someone’s gotta.”

“Oh. Well, I’ll be fine.” She sniffled and managed a weak smile. “I’ll be fine. I don’t know why this hit me like a ton of bricks, but...”

Spike reached up a claw and patted her on the hoof.

Almost flinching from the touch, Rainbow set her jaw. “I’m not ready to land just yet. Not yet.”

Nodding, Spike rose to his feet and brushed the snow off his sides. “Dash, it’s going to be okay,” he said again. “It may not be that serious.”

Rainbow wrestled the corners of her mouth upward, wiped a hoof across her nose, and shrugged. “Now go home, Spike. Really. And keep this to yourself.”

He turned toward the road back into town and waved a dismissive arm behind himself. “I’m not gonna rat you out.”

Her shoulders protesting with each flap, Rainbow winged off toward town. The last few familiar landmarks passed by below: Town Hall, Carousel Boutique, the river. She found her destination and hovered over the front walk for a minute before a tightening in her wing told her there was an imminent cramp. She dropped the last few inches to the pavement and didn’t let her knees absorb the landing. It jolted her. It hurt. It should.

By some miracle, Scootaloo didn’t wake up.

Having spent the last several hours in darkness, Rainbow squinted into the harsh light when she went through the front door. She trotted down the hall, up the stairs, and found Scootaloo’s darkened room. Number two-eighteen. That warm breath still on her neck... She sighed and leaned over, letting Scootaloo slide into her bed, then rolled her onto her side and pulled the covers up.

“Dash?”

“Yeah, kid?”

“I had fun. Thanks.”

“No problem. Say, when is your birthday really?” Dash leaned in close to hear the whispered answer.

“Next week. On the third.”

“Hm.” Dash gently unstrapped the rainbow-striped helmet, slid it off, and placed it on the bedside table next to the covered cake platter. “Scoot?” No answer. Just the steady rise and fall of her chest and the soft rush of breath. She leaned over a little farther and kissed Scootaloo on her forehead. “I love you too, kid.” There might have been a faint smile, and Scootaloo wriggled a little harder into her pillow.

Stepping out into the hallway, where the lights had also been dimmed for the overnight hours, Rainbow looked in both directions and didn’t see anypony. Just a few cabinets and scattered bits of equipment. She turned toward the stairs and went far enough that she was sure to be out of Scootaloo’s earshot.

Dash remembered from her own time in the hospital that there was a shift change right about now. The day nurses would be signing out, and the night staff would still be picking up their assignments downstairs. She probably had about ten minutes.

It wasn’t fair.

She was just a filly. And why was Scootaloo the strong one? Everypony knew Rainbow Dash was supposed to be unbreakable. Gritting her teeth, Rainbow winced at a muscle spasm in her fatigued left wing.

She slumped against the wall and slid down it until she was huddled on the floor, her head in her hooves. Rainbow Dash cried as quietly as possible.