My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Wiki
For the village, see Locations#Rainbow Falls.
Rainbow Falls
Season ā„–: 4
Season episode ā„–: 10
Overall episode ā„–: 75
Original airdate: January 18, 2014
Written by: Corey Powell
Storyboard: Sherann Johnson and Dave Wiebe[1]
Featured characters: The Wonderbolts
Bulk Biceps
See also
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions
animation errors • statistics • speculation
Episode guide
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Rainbow Falls is the tenth episode of the fourth season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the seventy-fifth episode overall. In this episode, Rainbow Dash leads the Ponyville aerial relay team as they seek to qualify for the Equestria Games, though her loyalty is tested when the Wonderbolts invite her to join them on the Cloudsdale team.

Production and development[]

Rainbow waterfalls village

Season four promotional image using Rainbow Falls as a background

The episode is included in the DVD A Dash Of Awesome,[2] which was announced in early December 2013.[3][4]

The title of the episode was previously revealed in early August 2013 on Amazon as part of the title of the upcoming April 8, 2014 24-page storybook Welcome to Rainbow Falls!, in which "the ponies attend the famous sporting event known as the Equestrian[sic] Games", before its name was replaced with "Spring 2014 8x8" on the Amazon listing[5] in mid-August 2013;[6] some other websites' listings of the book still include the name.[7][8]

A small part showing Pinkie dressed up as a cheerleader reappears in Cakes for the Memories.

The scenes when Rainbow Dash qualifies Ponyville for the Equestria Games and when she admits her wrongs to her friends reappears in Deep Tissue Memories.

Summary[]

Pegasus pep talk[]

Pinkie Pie shouting at Fluttershy using a megaphone S4E10

"Gimme a 'P' for 'Ponyville'!"

In a clearing near Ponyville, Rainbow Dash gives a pep talk to the town's aerial relay team—consisting of herself, Fluttershy, and Bulk Biceps—about the upcoming tryouts for the Equestria Games taking place at Rainbow Falls. Pinkie Pie shows up in a cheerleading outfit while Applejack soon arrives with a cartful of treats. As Fluttershy and Bulk Biceps perform a warmup maneuver, however, they end up colliding with Rainbow and crashing to the ground.

The Equestria Games tryouts[]

On the train ride to Rainbow Falls, Twilight Sparkle commends Rainbow for joining the Ponyville team with relatively weak flyers, given that contestants can only participate in one event. Rainbow assures Twilight that she'll be able to pick up their slack, and the rest of the Mane Six express excitement about competing in the tryouts.

Wonderbolts flying S4E10

The Wonderbolts at the Training Grounds.

The group soon arrive at the tryout grounds and overhear that the Wonderbolts will be representing Cloudsdale in the aerial relay event, whereupon Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot approach Rainbow and greet her as "real competition". As Rainbow leads her team in a series of practice sessions, she begins to notice differences in ability and coordination between them and the Wonderbolts and grows discouraged, even as Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity borrow ideas from their support staff.

Fleetfoot pointing towards the sky S4E10

"This is your chance to fly with the winners."

During one of the Wonderbolts' practice sessions, Soarin clips his wing on a hoop and begins falling toward the ground. Rainbow manages to catch him just in time, though he finds that his wing is injured and gets carted off for treatment. Impressed by her quick reaction, Spitfire and Fleetfoot invite Rainbow to practice with them while Soarin recovers, pointing out that she can fly with them since Cloudsdale is her hometown. After some initial hesitation about practicing with a competing team, Rainbow agrees to do so in secret.

Between two teams[]

Twilight walking away S4E10

This is a decision Rainbow has to make herself.

For the next several practice sessions, Rainbow secretly moves between the Ponyville and Cloudsdale teams before Twilight catches her in the act of switching. Rainbow protests that she has more fun practicing with the "winners" than the "non-winners" and argues that Ponyville will still qualify with her on the team. Moments later, however, Spitfire and Fleetfoot approach and ask Rainbow to join their team permanently, reporting that Soarin won't recover in time. Rainbow's initial excitement about the opportunity quickly turns to dismay when Twilight reminds her of all the ponies she'd let down, and when Rainbow asks what she would do, Twilight tells her it's a decision she has to make on her own.

Rainbow "no way I can fly now" S4E10

Rainbow fakes an injury to avoid a tough decision.

Later, Rainbow Dash appears on the tryout grounds covered in bandages and bound to a wheelchair. She feigns injury and wails about being unable to fly with either team. Twilight is skeptical of the obvious ruse.

Rainbow Dash is brought to a hospital bed, continuing to fake being hurt. When Fluttershy and Bulk Biceps check in on her, they tell her not to worry about the tryouts, having found a replacement flyer: Derpy. They also promise that, if they qualify for the Equestria Games and win gold medals, they'll give them to her. Rainbow Dash's friends leave to let her rest, and before she joins them, Twilight tells Rainbow that "choosing not to choose isn't really a decision".

Rainbow glow in Dash's eyes S4E10

Rainbow realizes that her friends are more important than winning.

In the adjacent hospital bed, Soarin is envious of Rainbow Dash and her friends, noting that no one's visited him during his stay. When he tells Rainbow that his wing isn't hurt and that he's been benched due to Spitfire and Fleetfoot's concerns, Rainbow realizes both she and Soarin have been lied to. As sunlight enters the room and covers a dropped flag in colors, Rainbow Dash's eyes shimmer with a rainbow-colored aura.

The magic of loyalty[]

Rainbow "it's where my friends are" S4E10

Rainbow Dash truly shows that she is the element of loyalty.

Rainbow Dash also confronts Spitfire and Fleetfoot for lying to her about Soarin's wing just to replace him with her—which Soarin is also displeased about. The two Wonderbolts commend Rainbow for her loyalty, saying that they could learn a lot from her, and invite Soarin back onto their team. As the Cloudsdale team flies off, Rainbow and the Ponyville team join them.

Just as the Cloudsdale team finishes qualifying for the Equestria Games, the Ponyville team begin their own qualifying run, with some encouragement from the Cloudsdale team and cheerleaders. Despite a bit of fumbling with the horseshoe baton pass, Rainbow Dash speeds for the finish, and Ponyville just barely succeeds in qualifying for the Games. As Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Bulk Biceps are awarded medals for qualifying, Spitfire also gives Rainbow Dash a Wonderbolt pin.

Epilogue[]

Wonderbolt pin with rainbow glow S4E10

A lighting bolt badge has a rainbow on it.

In the Golden Oak Library, Rainbow Dash writes her latest lesson in the Mane Six's journal, reflecting that while she enjoys winning, her love and loyalty to her friends will always come first.

Rainbow hangs her medal and Wonderbolt pin on the journal's lectern before joining her friends outside. As she leaves, the Wonderbolt pin briefly shines with a multicolored light the same way the spool of thread shone in Rarity Takes Manehattan.

Quotes[]

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.
Bulk Biceps: Yeah! (numerous times)
Rainbow Dash: So, do I need to remind you of what our goal is here?
Bulk Biceps: Uh, maybe?
Applejack: Looks like they got better aim.
Fluttershy: Oh Rainbow Dash, I'm so proud of you. You scooped Soarin out of the sky and brought him down to the ground and now, now he's okay. At least, I hope he's okay. [to Soarin] Are you okay?
Bulk Biceps: 'P' is for Rainbow Dash!
Fluttershy: [whispering] Um, "Rainbow Dash" actually starts with an 'R'.
Bulk Biceps: Never mind!
Spitfire: We put you through some pretty intense workouts at the Wonderbolt Academy and you handled those just fine.
Rainbow Dash: I, uh, tripped on a, uh, foam hoof, and landed on a [mumbles, near unintelligible] pokey stick coming out of the ground...
Pinkie Pie: Grrrr!! If I get my hooves on that [matching unintelligible gibberish], it'll be in big trouble!
Twilight Sparkle: You know, choosing not to choose isn't really a decision.
Pinkie Pie: Gah! What am I gonna do with all these now?!
Applejack: Uh, what were you gonna do with them before?

Gallery[]

Rainbow Falls image gallery

References[]

  1. ↑ "@TheBiggestJim: Today's #MLPseason4 episode .... Twitter (2014-01-18). Retrieved on 2014 January 18.
  2. ↑ Sethisto (2013-12-5). New Episode and New DVD - Rainbow Falls and Dash of Awesome. Equestria Daily. Retrieved on 2013 December 18.
  3. ↑ My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: A Dash Of Awesome. Shout! Factory. Retrieved on 2013 December 5.
  4. ↑ My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: A Dash Of Awesome. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2013 December 5.
  5. ↑ My Little Pony: Spring 2014 8x8. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2013 December 5.
  6. ↑ Sethisto (2013-08-15). "Welcome to Rainbow Falls!" Pony Book - And renamed. Equestria Daily. Retrieved on 2013 December 5.
  7. ↑ My Little Pony: Welcome to Rainbow Falls!. Christianbook.com. Retrieved on 2013 October 21.
  8. ↑ My Little Pony: Welcome to Rainbow Falls! by Olivia London (2014, Picture Book). Half.com. Retrieved on 2013 October 21.
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Episodes, films, and animated shorts
Friendship is Magic
Season one
Episode 1
Friendship is Magic, part 1
Episode 2
Friendship is Magic, part 2
Episode 3
The Ticket Master
Episode 4
Applebuck Season
Episode 5
Griffon the Brush Off
Episode 6
Boast Busters
Episode 7
Dragonshy
Episode 8
Look Before You Sleep
Episode 9
Bridle Gossip
Episode 10
Swarm of the Century
Episode 11
Winter Wrap Up
Episode 12
Call of the Cutie
Episode 13
Fall Weather Friends
Episode 14
Suited For Success
Episode 15
Feeling Pinkie Keen
Episode 16
Sonic Rainboom
Episode 17
Stare Master
Episode 18
The Show Stoppers
Episode 19
A Dog and Pony Show
Episode 20
Green Isn't Your Color
Episode 21
Over a Barrel
Episode 22
A Bird in the Hoof
Episode 23
The Cutie Mark Chronicles
Episode 24
Owl's Well That Ends Well
Episode 25
Party of One
Episode 26
The Best Night Ever
Season two
Episode 1
The Return of Harmony Part 1
Episode 2
The Return of Harmony Part 2
Episode 3
Lesson Zero
Episode 4
Luna Eclipsed
Episode 5
Sisterhooves Social
Episode 6
The Cutie Pox
Episode 7
May the Best Pet Win!
Episode 8
The Mysterious Mare Do Well
Episode 9
Sweet and Elite
Episode 10
Secret of My Excess
Episode 11
Hearth's Warming Eve
Episode 12
Family Appreciation Day
Episode 13
Baby Cakes
Episode 14
The Last Roundup
Episode 15
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Episode 16
Read It and Weep
Episode 17
Hearts and Hooves Day
Episode 18
A Friend in Deed
Episode 19
Putting Your Hoof Down
Episode 20
It's About Time
Episode 21
Dragon Quest
Episode 22
Hurricane Fluttershy
Episode 23
Ponyville Confidential
Episode 24
MMMystery on the Friendship Express
Episode 25
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1
Episode 26
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2
Season three
Episode 1
The Crystal Empire - Part 1
Episode 2
The Crystal Empire - Part 2
Episode 3
Too Many Pinkie Pies
Episode 4
One Bad Apple
Episode 5
Magic Duel
Episode 6
Sleepless in Ponyville
Episode 7
Wonderbolts Academy
Episode 8
Apple Family Reunion
Episode 9
Spike at Your Service
Episode 10
Keep Calm and Flutter On
Episode 11
Just for Sidekicks
Episode 12
Games Ponies Play
Episode 13
Magical Mystery Cure
Season four
Episode 1
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1
Episode 2
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2
Episode 3
Castle Mane-ia
Episode 4
Daring Don't
Episode 5
Flight to the Finish
Episode 6
Power Ponies
Episode 7
Bats!
Episode 8
Rarity Takes Manehattan
Episode 9
Pinkie Apple Pie
Episode 10
Rainbow Falls
Episode 11
Three's A Crowd
Episode 12
Pinkie Pride
Episode 13
Simple Ways
Episode 14
Filli Vanilli
Episode 15
Twilight Time
Episode 16
It Ain't Easy Being Breezies
Episode 17
Somepony to Watch Over Me
Episode 18
Maud Pie
Episode 19
For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils
Episode 20
Leap of Faith
Episode 21
Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
Episode 22
Trade Ya!
Episode 23
Inspiration Manifestation
Episode 24
Equestria Games
Episode 25
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1
Episode 26
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2
Season five
Episode 1
The Cutie Map - Part 1
Episode 2
The Cutie Map - Part 2
Episode 3
Castle Sweet Castle
Episode 4
Bloom & Gloom
Episode 5
Tanks for the Memories
Episode 6
Appleoosa's Most Wanted
Episode 7
Make New Friends but Keep Discord
Episode 8
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone
Episode 9
Slice of Life
Episode 10
Princess Spike
Episode 11
Party Pooped
Episode 12
Amending Fences
Episode 13
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
Episode 14
Canterlot Boutique
Episode 15
Rarity Investigates!
Episode 16
Made in Manehattan
Episode 17
Brotherhooves Social
Episode 18
Crusaders of the Lost Mark
Episode 19
The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows
Episode 20
Hearthbreakers
Episode 21
Scare Master
Episode 22
What About Discord?
Episode 23
The Hooffields and McColts
Episode 24
The Mane Attraction
Episode 25
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1
Episode 26
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2
Season six
Episode 1
The Crystalling - Part 1
Episode 2
The Crystalling - Part 2
Episode 3
The Gift of the Maud Pie
Episode 4
On Your Marks
Episode 5
Gauntlet of Fire
Episode 6
No Second Prances
Episode 7
Newbie Dash
Episode 8
A Hearth's Warming Tail
Episode 9
The Saddle Row Review
Episode 10
Applejack's "Day" Off
Episode 11
Flutter Brutter
Episode 12
Spice Up Your Life
Episode 13
Stranger Than Fan Fiction
Episode 14
The Cart Before the Ponies
Episode 15
28 Pranks Later
Episode 16
The Times They Are A Changeling
Episode 17
Dungeons & Discords
Episode 18
Buckball Season
Episode 19
The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
Episode 20
Viva Las Pegasus
Episode 21
Every Little Thing She Does
Episode 22
P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)
Episode 23
Where the Apple Lies
Episode 24
Top Bolt
Episode 25
To Where and Back Again - Part 1
Episode 26
To Where and Back Again - Part 2
Season seven
Episode 1
Celestial Advice
Episode 2
All Bottled Up
Episode 3
A Flurry of Emotions
Episode 4
Rock Solid Friendship
Episode 5
Fluttershy Leans In
Episode 6
Forever Filly
Episode 7
Parental Glideance
Episode 8
Hard to Say Anything
Episode 9
Honest Apple
Episode 10
A Royal Problem
Episode 11
Not Asking for Trouble
Episode 12
Discordant Harmony
Episode 13
The Perfect Pear
Episode 14
Fame and Misfortune
Episode 15
Triple Threat
Episode 16
Campfire Tales
Episode 17
To Change a Changeling
Episode 18
Daring Done?
Episode 19
It Isn't the Mane Thing About You
Episode 20
A Health of Information
Episode 21
Marks and Recreation
Episode 22
Once Upon a Zeppelin
Episode 23
Secrets and Pies
Episode 24
Uncommon Bond
Episode 25
Shadow Play - Part 1
Episode 26
Shadow Play - Part 2
Season eight
Episode 1
School Daze - Part 1
Episode 2
School Daze - Part 2
Episode 3
The Maud Couple
Episode 4
Fake It 'Til You Make It
Episode 5
Grannies Gone Wild
Episode 6
Surf and/or Turf
Episode 7
Horse Play
Episode 8
The Parent Map
Episode 9
Non-Compete Clause
Episode 10
The Break Up Break Down
Episode 11
Molt Down
Episode 12
Marks for Effort
Episode 13
The Mean 6
Episode 14
A Matter of Principals
Episode 15
The Hearth's Warming Club
Episode 16
Friendship University
Episode 17
The End in Friend
Episode 18
Yakity-Sax
Episode 19
Road to Friendship
Episode 20
The Washouts
Episode 21
A Rockhoof and a Hard Place
Episode 22
What Lies Beneath
Episode 23
Sounds of Silence
Episode 24
Father Knows Beast
Episode 25
School Raze - Part 1
Episode 26
School Raze - Part 2
Season nine
Episode 1
The Beginning of the End - Part 1
Episode 2
The Beginning of the End - Part 2
Episode 3
Uprooted
Episode 4
Sparkle's Seven
Episode 5
The Point of No Return
Episode 6
Common Ground
Episode 7
She's All Yak
Episode 8
Frenemies
Episode 9
Sweet and Smoky
Episode 10
Going to Seed
Episode 11
Student Counsel
Episode 12
The Last Crusade
Episode 13
Between Dark and Dawn
Episode 14
The Last Laugh
Episode 15
2, 4, 6, Greaaat
Episode 16
A Trivial Pursuit
Episode 17
The Summer Sun Setback
Episode 18
She Talks to Angel
Episode 19
Dragon Dropped
Episode 20
A Horse Shoe-In
Episode 21
Daring Doubt
Episode 22
Growing Up is Hard to Do
Episode 23
The Big Mac Question
Episode 24
The Ending of the End - Part 1
Episode 25
The Ending of the End - Part 2
Episode 26
The Last Problem
Clip shows
Episode 1
A-Dressing Memories
Episode 2
Cakes for the Memories
Episode 3
Memnagerie
Episode 4
Deep Tissue Memories
Episode 5
Harvesting Memories
Episode 6
Memories and More
Pony Life
Season one
Episode 1
Princess Probz
Episode 2
The Best of the Worst
Episode 3
How Applejack Got Her Hat Back
Episode 4
Cute-pocalypse Meow
Episode 5
Bad Thing No. 3
Episode 6
Pinkie Pie: Hyper-Helper
Episode 7
The Trail Less Trotten
Death of a Sales-Pony
Episode 8
Bighoof Walking
The Fluttershy Effect
Episode 9
The Fast and the Furriest
Disappearing Act
Episode 10
Badge of Shame
Discord's Peak
Episode 11
A Camping We Will Go
Campfire Stories
Episode 12
Friendship Gems
Dol-FIN-ale
Episode 13
Potion Mystery
Sick Day
Episode 14
Meet Potion Nova!
Pony Surfin' Safari
Episode 15
All Bottled Up
All That Jitters
Episode 16
I, Cookie
Keynote Pie
Episode 17
Ponies of the Moment
One Click Wonder
Episode 18
Zound Off
Unboxing Day
Episode 19
Don't Look a GIF Horse in the Mouth
The Root of It
Episode 20
The Mysterious Voice
The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies
Episode 21
Game Knight
Director Spike's Mockumentary
Episode 22
Whoof-dunnit
Dear Tabby
Episode 23
Pie vs. Pie
Superb Six
Episode 24
The Debut Taunt
Flutterdash
Episode 25
The Rarity Report
The Great Divide
Episode 26
The Great Collide
Sportacular Spectacular Musical Musak-ular
Season two
Episode 1
Cute Impact
The Crystal Capturing Contraption
Episode 2
The Comet Section
Cotton Candy-Colored Glasses
Episode 3
Close Encounters of the Balloon Kind
The Tiara of Truth
Episode 4
Terrorarium
Bubble Trouble
Episode 5
Time After Time Capsule
The Great Cowgirl Hat Robbery
Episode 6
Planet of the Apps
Back to the Present
Episode 7
Magical Mare-story Tour
Life of Pie
Episode 8
The Rarest of Occasions
Portal Combat
Episode 9
What Goes Updo
Communication Shakedown
Episode 10
Lolly-Pop
Little Miss Fortune
Episode 11
Playwright or Wrong
The Shows Must Go On
Episode 12
The De-Stress Ball
Mad Props
Episode 13
Magic is Ahoof
Journey to the Center of the 'Cord
Episode 14
One Last Wish
Wild Heart Beats
Make Your Mark
Episode 1
Izzy Does It
Episode 2
Growing Pains
Episode 3
Portrait of a Princess
Episode 4
Ali-Conned
Episode 5
The Cutie Mark Mix-Up
Episode 6
The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over
Episode 7
Hoof Done It?
Episode 8
Have You Seen This Dragon?
Episode 9
Top Remodel
Episode 10
The Jinxie Games
Episode 11
Sunny Side Up
Episode 12
The Manesquerade Ball
Episode 13
A Little Horse
Episode 14
Missing the Mark
Episode 15
Cutie Blossom Bash
Episode 16
Family Trees Pt. 1
Episode 17
Family Trees Pt. 2
Episode 18
Father of the Bridlewood
Episode 19
Mane Smelody
Episode 20
Nightmare on Mane Street
Episode 21
The Isle of Scalyā€Žā€Ž
Episode 22
Roots of All Evil Pt. 1ā€Ž
Episode 23
Roots of All Evil Pt. 2
Feature films
Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks Friendship Games Legend of Everfree
My Little Pony The Movie A New Generation
Specials
Dance Magic Movie Magic Mirror Magic Forgotten Friendship
Spring Breakdown
Rollercoaster of Friendship Best Gift Ever Spring Breakdown Rainbow Roadtrip
Sunset's Backstage Pass Holidays Unwrapped Make Your Mark Winter Wishday
Bridlewoodstock Secrets of Starlight
Animated shorts
Rainbow Rocks shorts Friendship Games shorts Summertime Shorts Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 1)
Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 2) Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 1) Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 2) Equestria Girls Minis
Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook Rarity's Peek Behind the Boutique Fundamentals of Magic My Little Pony Established 1983
Friendship is Magic shorts Hello Pinkie Pie Stop Motion Shorts Tell Your Tale (season 1)
Tell Your Tale (season 2)