Earth and Sky (fanfic)/Heartwarming


 * Rainbow Dash never leaves a friend hanging. When Soarin' gets cut from the Wonderbolts, the only thing he's ever had in his life, he falls into despair and self-denigration, fearful of his future. Rainbow is there to lift him up and formulate a plan to help him find a life beyond the Wonderbolts.
 * Perhaps more tellingly, Rainbow Dash will not save one friend (Soarin') by throwing another (Spitfire) under the bus. When she goes to see Spitfire, she doesn't start another argument or pin the blame. Rather, she takes Spitfire's verbal abuse and waits patiently for Spitfire's anger to tide over into frustration and anguish - then offers a shoulder for Spitfire to cry on. Rainbow understood that Spitfire had to cut Soarin', but necessity didn't make it any easier for her. Even though the office trailer was a gigantic mess with tossed papers, broken furniture, and shattered windows, and Spitfire continued to lash out at Rainbow Dash out of frustration, Rainbow Dash never raised her voice in response and kept the situation under control, allowing Spitfire to let out her emotions in a safe manner.
 * Rarity, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash reconciling after the latter's harsh overreaction to the flight harness.
 * Anytime we see any of the parents interacting with their kids.
 * Twilight and Rarity build their proposal to the Princesses around how the flight harness will help unite all ponies, especially mixed-breed families. At this point, the illusions they're using for the proposal include what appear to be models of Pinkie Pie and her daughters flying and playing together; Rarity tears up, and several reviewers comment on doing the same upon reading it.
 * The final scene of chapter 13 is one the most romantic and touching scenes in the story.