Crashing Down

"Ready?" Spitfire called from the head of the V-formation. The Wonderbolts tilted their wings in response, preparing.

"GO!" Fleetfoot shouted from the left of Rainbow Dash. Instantly, the Bolts split apart, the individual speed trails breaking into identical arcs.

"Hold...HOLD!" Spitfire shouted. Just as Rainbow and the rest began diving towards the ground, the yellow mare barked: "NOW!" The Bolts flipped their wings, streaked towards each other, and spiraled into a line, pulling up and whizzing along the runway, dust kicking up behind them.

"UP!" Fleetfoot shouted. The Bolts tilted their primaries and zoomed back into the sky, air rushing past. As the ponies split into arcs again, Rainbow closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the wind roaring in her ears. She opened her eyes.

"AHH!" A cloud had blown into her flight path, too big to dodge at the speed she was going. She only managed to turn slightly before crashing into the cloud. She burst through the other side and, completely disoriented, skidded to the ground on the hot asphalt. Since the outfit she was wearing was only the practice uniform, she had no sleeves to protect her from the rough stone. Once she slid to a stop on her side, she groaned. "Ow."

"Crash!" Soarin called, swooping down next to her. "Are you okay?!" He looked at her shoulder. "Oooh, that must have hurt."

"It still does," Rainbow grunted, getting to her hooves. Soarin reached a hoof out to help her as Spitfire and the rest glided down next to them.

"You okay, Crash?" Spitfire asked, looking worried. "That was a nasty fall."

"Yeah, I'm okay," Rainbow replied.

"I don't know," Soarin said hesitantly. "That skid burn looks pretty bad."

"It's fine," Rainbow insisted. "How did that cloud get there?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"I'm so sorry!" a cream colored pegasus gasped, landing near them. "A stray wind picked it up out of our cluster and blew it over here." He was bright red. "I am SO sorry. It won;t happen again."

"Don't worry," Rainbow said, grinning reassuringly at him. "It's not deep."

"Even if it's not deep," Spitfire interrupted, "you still need to sit out the rest of practice. Understand?"

"But it's fine, re-"

"No," the captain replied. "You can fly tomorrow, but let that wound close up overnight so it doesn't get infected." Rainbow sighed.

"Yes, sir." She began heading back to the building, limping slightly.

"I'll help you get there," Soarin offered, trotting over and offering his wing for support.

"I'm fine, really," Rainbow started, but Fleetfoot shouted at her.

"Let him help, Crash, or you're cleaning the barracks for the nest month!"
************

After the medic cleaned up Rainbow's wound and left the barracks, Soarin walked over to her bed. "Feeling better?"

"I don't see what the fuss is all about," Rainbow huffed, pulling a Daring Do book off the shelf. "It's just a skid burn. Sure, it stings, but it's just a surface wound."

"If it got infected, it could hinder your flying, especially since it's so near your wing," Soarin explained. "Spitfire got one once and wasn't able to fly in the next show."

"Oh." She hadn't thought of that. She leaned back against the pillows and was startign to read when Soarin spoke up again.

"By the way, Spitfire picked you to be Weaver at the Baltimare show."

"WHAAAAT?!?!" Rainbow leaped up, feathers spiked. "I can't be Weaver! I'm HORRIBLE at flying through all those obstacles."

"Well, all of us are needed for other positions and classes, so you're the only one available for Weaver." Soarin felt a little sorry for her. He knew how tough Weaver was. "I would trade with you, but I'm needed on Point."

"I could fly Point. That's easy," Rainbow declared.

"So you know how to fly the Splinter?" Soarin asked. Rainbow fell silent, her wings drooping. "I rest my case." Rainbow groaned and flopped back on her bed.

"I hit every single pole I try to fly through. It'll be a total humiliation!" she moaned. Soarin rolled his eyes. Newbies.

"Look, it's in two weeks, so from now until then I can teach you all the tricks I use," he offered.

"Please!" Rainbow begged. "Or it'll be the Winderbolt downfall!" Soarin raised an eyebrow.

"Are you always this dramatic?" he asked.

"Eh, really depends," Rainbow replied. "So, when do we start?"

****************************

Oooh! 2 pictures in one day!!

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