https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7RDNROXdEIHere's another idea I've been cooking up. Rainbow Dash, despite her dedication and training, is left questioning whether or not she will ever become a Wonderbolt. Despite her performing a Sonic Rainboom and winning the Best Young Flyer competition, the Wonderbolts have yet to show true interest in letting her join their ranks.
Desperate to impress them, and believing that only winning competitions and performing stunts will get her noticed, Rainbow Dash signs herself up for the Equestrian Air-Rally tournament, a notoriously dangerous Pegasus sporting event that takes place in the Everfree Forest. It involves flying at high speeds beneath treetop level, with only a narrow path through the trees to follow (in many ways it's like an Equestrian version of rally-racing). Dash immerses herself in her training, completely ignoring her friends despite their concern for her safety. Another problem is that other participants in the race include a notorious gang of pegasi who have been suspected of cheating (Shadowbolts maybe?).
Things go sour when an attempt to cheat by the Shadowbolt-esque gang leaves a younger pegasi, also aspiring to be a Wonderbolt, with his wings badly broken. Rainbow Dash, though wanting to win the race, willingly forfeits and rushes the injured pegasus to the hospital. Rainbow Dash's speed ensures that the pegasus wouldn't spend the rest of his life on the ground.
Dash leaves the hospital, content that she saved the pegasus' wings, but disappointed that she couldn't win the race and get the renown that she felt the Wonderbolts were looking for. Outside, she is surprised to meet Spitfire, out of uniform, congratulating her on the race (Spitfire was an avid participant in the rally-races when she was younger, and still watches them). She tells Dash that it takes infinitely more courage and heart to do what she did rather than win a stupid race. Though Dash is still too young to join the group, Spitfire encourages her to keep training, saying that for what she's done, she has her vote.
Insert some lesson about winning not being everything. Also, this song needs to be the Shadowbolty-bad-guy-group's theme.