Wings Against the Sun (Rainbow Dash Meets a Legend)

[mannulus]

“Remind me again why it was so important to come out here so early, Dash”

“Dunno, Spitfire just said be hear now, and when Spitfire gives an order, a Wonderbolt obeys it.”

“Any further words were ceased by the arrival of Spitfire. Dash stood at attention and saluted.

“At ease, Dash. This isn’t an official thing, at least not fully. I just heard we were getting a visitor, and thought you would be perfect for showing him around. “

“O really, who.”

“None other than Corporal Lightedge”

At the sound of the name, Dash’s mouth dropped open “Lightedge……..”

“Uh, someone I should know Dash” Rarity asked? But Dash was busy jumping up and down. Rarity was sure Spitfire would remand her, but then noticed Spitfire had broken her composure and was ALSO jumping up and down!

“Clam yourself, Dash, behavior like this is unseemly!”

“But this is LIGHTEDGE who’s coming. I get to meet an actual Cloudcutter!”

“And this is important because…..”

This time it was Twilight who spoke.

“Well, I’ve certainly heard of them, in history class. The Cloudcutters were LEGENDS back during the wars, the most elite squad even in the Equestrian Air Guard. But I though there WERE no more of them, that they all died in combat.”

Spitfire shook her head “All but Lightedge”

“But” Said Dash, “He’s a legend in his own right. His move, the Light Cutter is what I based the Sonic Rainboom on.”



Suddenly there heard a faint sound in the air, as if someone was talking

“I recognize that cadence, said Dash, the Cloudcutter Oath.

She and Spitfire went stiff and began to speak as one


“Until the battle’s finally won

And evil from the world has run

Until the fighting’s finally done

“We stand; the wings against the sun.”



The sounds got louder and a shadow came over the group, followed by the landing of a pony wearing a flight helmet. He had the biggest narrowest wings anyone in the group had ever seen, bigger by far than even Twilight’s Alicorn ones. As he folded them up Twilight noticed that the folded to the TOP of his body rather than the sides; like a swallow. Eventually they came to rest with the tips jutting out behind him, his tail poking out between them. He lifted the visor of the flight helmet he was wearing, revealing an extremely old face.

[mannulus]

Spitfire broke out of her reverie and knocked off a crisp salute.
"Corporal Lightedge, I'm Wonderbolt Commander Spitfire. Welcome to Ponyville.

Off to the side Rarity whispered in Twilight's ear "Dahling, is they any spell that could give ME wings like that. I have some GREAT ideas for new fashion lines."

Twilight shook her head

"Even if I COULD give you Pegasus wings, I couldn't give you ones like that. The Cloudcutters were a FAMILY group, they're BORN with those wings."

[mannulus]

"Corporal" this is Rainbow Dash. She'll be your guide today. Dash, it's over to you.

Rainbow Dash snapped to attention and said "Sir, Yes Sir!"

Spitfire then flew off, leaving Rainbow and the rest of the Mane 6 alone with the corporal.

"Well" said Dash "I guess we should get started Come on we've got a lot to see. Then, unable to control herself, she said "Can I see it, Can you do the Light Cutter for me, just once, PLEASSE!

Lightedge shook his head sadly

"I wish I could, I really do. Nothing would make me happier than to do the Light Cutter again. But I'm just too old and my body just can't take the strain anymore."

Rainbow looked disappointed, but nodded and said "I understand".

[mannulus]

"Well, we might as well get going on the tour then"
"sounds good to me" said Lightedge and the group trotted off to begin showing him the sights of Ponyville

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Some hours later, the tour completed, the group stood in the same meadow they had started ready to say their goodbyes.

"Thank you, Mis Dash, it has been a pleasure seeing....."

Lightedge's goodbyes were suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Spitfire, in a state of EXTREME disteress

"Corporal,Dash, you'll have to cut this short I just got a message from HQ, There's a unexpected storm coming fast and it headed right for the stunt park I sent the Wonderbolts to perform at. They're in terrible danger! Dash, you're the only pony I can think of who has any chance of getting there fast enough to warn them!"

"Sweet Celestia!, I'm right on it!"

"I'm coming too" Said Lightedge

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Corporal?" Said Spitfire, You know you aren't young enough

"But I know the way to that field, and Dash here's doesn't" countered Lightedge

"But......"

Rainbow Dash broke in

"We don't have time for this! I'm off, If anyone is coming with me, take off now!"

Rainbow Dash spread her wings and soared off, Lightedge following her. Rainbow Dash was pleased to see that, as fast as she was going, and as old as he was, Lightedge was having no problem keeping up. Soon the fair ground was just visible

Looking forward however, her heart sank. As fast as they were going the storm was moving much, much faster. They'd never make it in time! She turned her head to face Lightedge "I think I'll need to try a Rainboom!"

"Lightedge shook his head." I've seen your Rainboom. Even that won't be enough. We'd need the Light Cutter."

"But you said you can't do the Light Cutter anymore!"

"I think though there is one way I can!" first I need a Rainboom

Dash nodded, and speeded up suddenly the pulse occurred and the sky was split by a rainbow
.
"Now what" Dash started to ask, and then SAW what, Lightedge had gotten into the middle of her slipstream, in the middle of the rainbow. The lessened air resistance was making him move faster and faster, Suddenly the Rainbow split with a band of black and Lightedge zoomed forward at what seemed to Dash and impossible rate and was lost to sight.

Dash arrived at the fair ground about five minutes later. The storm was already raging, but she could see that the sky was empty and everyone was now huddled under tents

To her surprise the Spitfire and the rest of the Mane 6 were already there

"How'd you guys beat me?"

"About a minute ago Twilight suddenly remembered she could teleport, so she teleported us all."

Did the message get though

"Yeah, Lightedge landed just in time to give the warning

"Well, that's good..."

Suddenly there was a commontion

"what's going on"

"It's The Corporal, he's collapsed>"

"Get him to the medical tent, NOW!"

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The doctor pony came to them, shaking his head.
“I’ve done what I can, but his body is just too worn out. He’s only got a few hours left, at best.”
Rainbow Dash bowed her head, fighting back tears
“This isn’t fair, this isn’t how it’s so supposed to be”
“He died doing what he loved, Dash,” said Spitfire “You helped him do it one last time. No one could have asked for a better end.”
“But this isn’t how a Cloudcutter is supposed to die; not on the ground”
“I know, but your heard the Doctor, he’s barely able to breathe now, let alone fly. There’s nothing anyone can do.”
Dash bowed her head again in despair. Suddenly she snapped it up. Her eyes, which were still rimmed with tears, went hard.
“YES THERE IS!”
Rainbow Dash barreled into the medical tent knocking nurse ponies left and right. Spirfire hurried after her.
She found her in the central area where Lightedge lay. Rainbow Dash had somehow managed to get his helmet back on his head, and was now by his side tugging his wing open.
“That won’t help Dash, he just doesn’t have the strength”
“By this point Dash had pulled Lightedge’s wing out to its full extent. Lifting it up she placed herself under it by the wingpit, supporting its weight on her back, her knees slightly bent.
“HELP ME, DAMMIT!” she yelled.
Spitfire quickly figured out what Rainbow Dash wanted her to do. She rushed over to Lightedge’s other side, pulled the other wing out and put herself in the same position as Dash. Then with quick hoist the straightened and stood, with Lightedge’s body now supported between them. They strode out of the tent and, without one word to each other, took flight.
At first the weight suspended between them made flying awkward and they kept close to the ground. But soon they got the hang of it, and their height began to climb. Higher, and higher they soared until with a final burst they broke thought a layer of clouds and were in open sky, just the sun and the three of them.
But no, NOT just the three of them. As they hovered in place, Rainbow caught a glimpse of something behind her. Managing to turn her head, she saw, Pinkie, Spike, and the rest of her friends all surrounded By Twilight’s purple glow. Evidently Twilight had seen her and Spitfire taking off, had worked out what they were doing, and decided that this was something Dash should have ALL of her friends around for.
Before the surprise of this could even register, she got another one. From across the distance between them, a small but firm voice began to sing. It was Spike. Rainbow Dash recognized the tune as an old one she had sometimes heard some of the skyponies who occasionally came thorough Cloudsdale on shipping trips sing.
“Corporal Lightedge gained the day
Fly him along Dash, carry him along……”*
You didn’t have to change the lyrics just for me, Spike she thought, but I know the sentiment. Thanks.
At first she could only hear Spike’s voice, but soon the other ponies joined in, first Pinkie and Applejack (who presumably already knew the tune as well) then the others. As the song got louder and louder. It almost seemed as if the sky was full of it, and suddenly it seemed as if there were even MORE voices, hundreds of them, THOUSANDS of them, all singing Lightedge to his final rest.
Evidently Lightedge himself heard them too, since his eyes suddenly opened weakly. He gazed at the sun before them and weakly nodded that that was the direction they should fly. Dash and Spitfire gave a quick nod, and pushed off. A shadow behind them showed Twilight was following.

As they got closer, Dash noticed something else odd, Lightedge seemed to be getting lighter. Looking behind her, she saw, to her shock, that Lightedge’s wing was no longer touching her back but was several inches above it. A quick look to the side showed that Spitfire had noticed the same thing on her side. Lightedge was now flying on his own. His head was fully erect now and his eyes though the helmet were wide open and clear. He looked as good as he had when he had first landed. No he looked a lot better; as if with every wingbeat he was getting younger. A golden glow began to build around him, leaching over onto the two of them.
Dash noticed that the glow was also coming from their sides as well, slightly above. She looked up and her jaw dropped. On each side of them a half dozen other pegasi were flying in V formation, also encased in the golden glow. Some had large stocky bodies, some small thin ones, some mares, some stallions, but all had Lightedge’s unique long wings. The Cloudcutters had come back for their own. Lightedge flew up a little higher until he was level with them, taking his place at the head of the V. The ponies flew faster and faster until not even Dash and Spitfire could keep up. Sensing that their part was now done, the two of them fell back and watched the V fly on. Dash did the only thing she could think of and raised her hoof in a salute, her eyes now brimming with tears again. A quick glance showed her Spitfire was doing the same, including the crying. They watched the formation diminish in the distance until it and the sun were one.

The bubble caught up with them a few seconds later and sensing that they were now exhausted Twilight extended it to bring them in so they could rest. Rainbow was still weeping but the tears were now drying up. At last they stopped. Spitfire who had also come back to normal turned to her and said somewhat breathlessly
“Now THAT’s how a skypony should go. Ya done good, Dash, ya done good.”
Rainbow Dash was about to return the compliment when there was a sudden outcry from Twilight. Turing to see what it was Rainbow dash saw a small yellow ball of light come barreling towards them, before she could even think the streak had pierced the bubble of magic and hovered above Dash’s head. The glow faded to reveal Lightedge’s helmet, which drifted down to lay on her head like a crown on a king.
“His helmet? But, what does that mean”
Spitfire put her hoof on Dash’s shoulder
“I think you damn well know exactly what it means, soldier. Looks like I might be wrong about you one day taking my place as head of the Wonderbolts. I think there is a chance you’re gonna be something even greater.”

**tune “General Taylor/Old Stormy”