Never a Wonderbolt
Rainbow Dash stood patiently in the hallway outside the office of the Wonderbolt commander, Spitfire. She had met with the Commander on several occasions in the past, but this time, she was certain that the reason Spitfire had requested this meeting was to finally tell her the words that she had wanted to hear ever since she had discovered what the Wonderbolts were.
That she had finally been accepted.
It had been a long time getting here, in spite of having pulled off the incredible Sonic Rainboom maneuver on multiple occasions, winning the Young Fliers Competition, achieving top honors in the Wonderbolt Academy, and nearly besting the ‘bolts in the Equestria Games, in spite of having the handicap of having Bulk Bicep on her team. Not to mention all of the times that she had had a hand in saving all of Equestria from certain destruction.
This had to be her time.
Sure, up until her last birthday, she had technically been too young to join their ranks, but now that she was finally sixteen, she was positive that all of her hard work was going to pay off.
“Rainbow Dash, please come in.”
The Commander’s voice sounded mildly frustrated. Rainbow Dash took no time in the act of passing through the door. She was suddenly very nervous.
Spitfire wore her full uniform, with all the insignia and trimmings marking her rank in the Wonderbolts. She sat behind her large desk, and regarded Rainbow from behind her sunglasses. On the desk was a stack of papers in a neat, orderly stack, though if the Commander’s profile was accurate, it was likely because she had not touched them all day, rather than any particularly fastidious nature. Beside the stack was a single file, which Rainbow imagined to be her own. Idly, she wondered at what might be written in there.
Rainbow shook her head slightly, reminding herself that she had to stay focused on the matter at hand. This was no time to let her mind wonder. She stood at attention, waiting for the Commander’s leave to speak.
Spitfire sighed and pushed herself up. “Rainbow Dash.” She said gravely, “I am afraid I have to ask that you stop applying to the Wonderbolts.”
Rainbow’s jaw hit the floor. “W-what?” was all she managed in response. This was… not at all what she had been expecting.
Spitfire hung her head slightly. “We cannot let you be a Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash.” She said.
Rainbow’s eyes narrowed. “Why?” she demanded in a hurt tone.
Spitfire sighed and put her hoof on the file in front of her. “Rainbow Dash, have you ever actually read your file?” she asked.
Rainbow shook her head. She had always figured that such files were only for administrative use, and as such had never seen fit to investigate hers.
Spitfire opened up the file. “Do you know what an HVA is?” she asked.
Rainbow searched her mind for the answer for a moment. “A High-Value Asset.” She quoted from memory, glad for Twilight helping her find the photographic memory that she can use while flying. “High-Value assets include anypony of sufficient status in society that it is deemed necessary that their safety be secured for the good of all of Equestria.”
Spitfire nodded. “Okay,” she said, “do you know what your titles are?”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “Titles?” she asked.
Spitfire tapped her hoof on the page in the file. “Officially you are Element Protector Rainbow Dash, a member of the Element Protectorate.” She said, “Recently, you have been added to something called the ‘Council of Friendship’, and you are considered a Pony of High Value to Princess Twilight Sparkle. That makes you a High-Value Asset by definition.”
Rainbow’s eyes widened. “But… Does that mean I can’t be a Wonderbolt?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly, filled with pain over the thought that her fondest dream might be for naught.
Spitfire watched her levelly. “Rainbow, if you were a Wonderbolt, and Princess Celestia came in requesting to join, what do you think your response would be?” she asked.
Rainbow thought for a moment. “I would have to say no.” she said, “The Princesses are the highest value assets there are.”
Spitfire nodded. “Your level as a Protector on the Council puts you at one step below the Princesses.” She said, “Your word is law anywhere in Equestria, and can only be countermanded by the Princesses themselves, or one of the other Protectors. Even Civic Leaders of the Cities are not as important as you are.”
Rainbow Dash’s face fell. “So my position makes me a High Value Asset.” She said slowly, “Which means that I am too important to become a Wonderbolt…”
Spitfire nodded. “I know…” she said, “It isn’t right. We would have loved to have you. You have the right attitude, you have the drive to succeed, and, to be honest, you are a better flyer than the Wonderbolts have seen in recent memory.”
Rainbow blushed and kicked the ground. “I… I’m not really THAT good.” She said, “You beat me in the Equestria Games, remember?”
Spitfire shook her head. “I recall you having come back from a five second handicap to finish neck-and-neck with me.” She said. “I was giving it my all, so I can honestly say that if it had been a straight race, I would have lost. There is no shame in that.”
Rainbow Dash blushed, and then sighed. “So, why didn’t I hear about all of this earlier?” she asked, “Why was I even allowed in the Academy, if me being connected to the Elements made me too important to join? Why get my hopes up?”
Spitfire shrugged. “Because we did not know about it at the time.” She said, “Near as I can tell, Princess Celestia has been playing the entire thing pretty close to her chest. She announced her sister’s return, and the fact that the Elements of Harmony had been recovered, but gave out little in the way of how or why.”
Spitfire shifted several pages in the file folder. “According to this File, there was an incident involving Discord last Fall, but details were sketchy at best. Nopony knew who was involved with stopping him, if they had heard about the incident at all.” She said, “And near as I can tell, by order of Prince Shining Armor, the Royal guard were set to keep all the details of the Changeling Invasion at Canterlot an internal matter. We were not told about it, in spite of the fact that some of our own were involved.”
She flipped to another page. “From what I have heard, most of Equestria was not even familiar with the name and face of Princess Twilight until she started doing public events like the Trader’s Exchange and the Equestria Games.” She said, “And the rest of you did not hit the public limelight until the Tirek incident planted a new Castle in Ponyville, complete with thrones for each of you. Tirek was a Nation-wide disaster, and the facts of its resolution could not be held back from anypony, which is why we know all of this now.”
Rainbow hung her head slightly. “So much for my dreams of flying with the Wonderbolts.” She said sadly.
Spitfire chuckled. “No offense, Rainbow Dash,” she said, “But I think you would be taking a pretty big step down joining us anyway. You kind of outrank us.”
Rainbow’s eyes widened. “I what?” she asked.
Spitfire put her hooves together. “In terms of military Rank, you and all of your friends count as Fleet Admirals.” She said, “You personally are the highest ranking Pegasus in any position in the world. Thanks to your training and experience, only the Princesses and Prince Shining Armor rank higher than you. Basically, you could order me to bake myself into a pie, and I would be expected to do so.”
Rainbow stared at her with wide eyes. “Seriously?” she asked.
Spitfire sighed. “Yes…” She said, “except for the pie part… Please don’t try that. It would take forever for me to get the flour out of my mane. You can basically command the Wonderbolts however you wish. You just can’t be one.”
Rainbow nodded to herself. “And if I want to fly out with you?” she asked.
Spitfire smiled. “Me personally, or all of the Wonderbolts?” she asked, a playful smile crossing her face.
Rainbow blinked, and then blushed. “I… um…” she answered eloquently.
Spitfire laughed. “If you fly out with the Wonderbolts, we will follow your lead.” She said, “On my own, however, I am a bit more of a rebel than that. Assuming that you can even keep up.”
Rainbow saw in Spitfire's eyes the same need for speed that she knew burned in her own. “I can do better than that.” She said with a smile. “You’ll be eating my wind.”
Spitfire smiled challengingly. “You’re on.”
It was a good time to be a Wonderbolt.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- Deep · 2.1k words · 538 25 · 7.9k views
- Juntao112 · 1.8k words · 575 60 · 9.8k views
- DemonBrightSpirit · 3.9k words · 1,534 33 · 15k views
- Majin Syeekoh · 1k words · 842 20 · 11k views
- Fire Gazer the Alchemist · 5.9k words · 987 30 · 12k views
- Sharp Spark · 4.8k words · 769 50 · 7.1k views
- MythrilMoth · 2.7k words · 647 41 · 10k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.266 seconds
Total duration
1,063 users online
1,527,938 hits today, 1,870,739 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Wow, she's really taking having her lifelong dreams crushed pretty well. RD, you're a better pony than I could ever hope to be.
*Insert Spitfire Sad Face here* "....Slag."
wow Celestia really troll Rainbow with this one. let beleive the entire time she could join the Wonderbolts. that's low Celestia, even for you.
On one hand, her dream is crushed. On the otherhand, not entirely so... It is still possible for her to work with the wonderbolts on a military-esque mission if the elements of harmony are needed. That said RD may end up leading them, as a officer of the Equstrian forces in general, due to military training and the apparent prestige of her current rank. It may all depend on how RD plans out her actions later.
So then why didn't Rainbow just make herself a Wonderbolt on the spot?
Other than that, nice little story. +1'd
5358759 It has always been my head canon that Rainbow Dash's true dream is not to be a Wonderbolt, but to be recognized by them. To be counted among the best flyers in Equestria by the best flyers in Equestria. She simply projects that onto becoming a Wonderbolt because the Wonderbolts are considered the best flyers in Equestria, and Joining them is an achievable representation of her goal.
5359415 She does not make herself a Wonderbolt because the Princesses made her an HVA, and thus too important to be allowed into the Military organization, and their word trumps hers.
5359080 Less "Trolling" more "Controlling information to perceived benefit of all". She did not want the girls' lives to change noticeably before they were ready for it, so she tamped down the flow of information. The fact that it also had side effects like preventing ponies from learning that Chrysalis had defeated her, and that she was essentially useless against Discord is just a bonus.
5359463 not tellingthe public i can understand but NEVER telling Rainbow that because of her position now she can't be a Wonderbolt. That is low, because the few times Rainbow has been around her and no doubt Twilight's letters she would know that was Rainbow's Dream. At least have the decency to tell Rainbow in person why her dream can never be. No after many applications Spitfire has to tell her. No wonder Luna went NMM with this Clestia.
So much information about this universe in such a small amount of words, yet still extremely enjoyable.
Great job!
I like it! You took a sensitive subject and put a spin that turned it into an overall positive experience. Bonus, it all makes sense.
5360014 But NOT telling Rainbow. That's the key part here. Rainbow learn in the worse possible way why she can't be a Wonderbolt.
But to be honest, Rainbow Dash gets in more danger living in Ponyville then the Wonderbolts do so in the end a weak arguement for her not joining them.
5360081 yet we've only seen them twice in a combat role. Spike's Greed Episode and Tirek. THAT'S IT. Rainbow mean while dealt with NMM, Discord, and Changelings. Then consider the wacky stunts she pulls. she isn't safer outside of their ranks.
5360166 true but this is RAINBOW DASH we're talking about. Even if I agreed with the reason the way she learn was a jerk way to do it. That could have easily gone worse.
This was a good read to me, but there was some parts that were messed up and didn't make since.
5358997 I learned a new word today thanks to you. Albeit one I'll probably never use, but I still found your comment pretty funny.
This was cute.
A little sad, since Dashie got her lifelong dream of joining the Wonderbolts smashed (at least in this story), but...
She does outrank the 'Bolts. And she can still fly with them if she wants.
5358997
I really like reading this, Its post Tirek and it gives a excellent explanation to RD's dilemma. the author had great reasons as to why RD can't be a wonderbolt but she can still have her dream of flying with them if she wanted to, All being she won't be a wonderbolt herself but she would have her dream come true.
This explains so much. Head-canon accepted!
We now need a Sequel fic with Rarity going to some event in Canterlot and have Nobles, and maybe Blueblood with their heads too far up their plots to have cared to pay attention to any news involving a pony from a "Backwater" town like Ponyville, only to have her own status as a HVA and being second only to the Princesses revealed to them.
Sixteen? Really? She's been in management for years and you're claiming she's sixteen?
To me, this seemed really out of character for Rainbow Dash to take this news so well, and for her to just accept that Celestia has been withholding information this important from her. Rainbow Dash is impulsive and a bit of a hot head, she should be storming up to the throne right now demanding Celestia herself tells her why she wasn't told this before.
5360541 It's from Hasbro's OTHER major franchise. XD I first heard it in Transformers : Beast Wars.
5361050 <- THIS. OH GOD THIS. AUTHOR, THIS!!!
5360890
Seconded.
Very good.
A nicely told reson as to why the mane 6 is never recognized in the show.
I do like the idea of Rainbow Dash now being apple to control the wonderbolts, nice touch that one
Good job 4.5/5
~Tobben
5361399 YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!!!!!! THIS IDEA IS
5361050 kellykeoughwriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/please-feed-writer.jpg
Eh, it's a good read. I can believe Rainbow would accept her apparent command of the WB in the moment, especially if Spitfire distracted her with a race, like she did. I would expect it to fully hit her latter, and then start demanding answers from Celestia.
5/7, would not reread, but glad I read it once.
~Aku.
Amazing story idea, HVA and all the logical stuff. This is really good!
Things that aren't so good: me being immature.
Example?
Totally imagined Rainbow flying ahead of Spitfire, and just ripping a fierce bit of gas. Basically breaking wind AND the sound barrier!
5361523
I am inclined to agree!
Good, but it feels like more of a beginning then a whole story.
Yesh why haven't I thought of this headcanon before? It's so obvious, yet it slipped my mind. Of course Celestia would be on media-censor duty to keep the Element Bearers a secret. It would draw too much attention towards the Mane 6, and we all know how nosy some people can be.
A fantastic and well-presented head-cannon. I buy this.
Mmm... just a good story with a very good idea.
You are aware that the six of them were publicly knighted for this, right?
Rainbow is definitely older than sixteen by the time season one starts, let alone by the end of season four, which this presumably takes place at. (In Pinkie Pride, Rainbow presumably turns twenty-one)
On the other hand, I liked the different take on Rainbow's chances to becoming a Wonderbolt.
But, they were publicly recognized for defeating Discord, they were all there at Twilight's coronation, during which Celestia mentioned how they had helped her become reunited with Luna... The premise of this doesn't seem to make much sense, and I sort of cringe at a term like "Element Protectorate".
RD and the others are also almost definitely older than 16, what with living on their own and having jobs and what not. Of course, one could argue that these ponies age differently and thus the age scale is different. So, that's easily sidestepped.
Now that I am done being harshly honest, I enjoyed reading this in spite of all that. The ending was cute.
5361190
Like China, there are no Child Labor Laws in Equestria.
5360599
Now that's a refreshing perspective.
Agreed, mate. Even though Rainbow can never really join the Wonderbolts, it isn't because she can't make the cut--she's simply out of their league.
Good concept on this one, but you spend too much time at the outset setting it up. Also, I was a little iffy on some of the details, like Bulk Biceps being the handicap on her team (not Fluttershy?), Rainbow just turning sixteen, and Spitfire saying she's the highest-ranking pegasus in Equestria (again, not Fluttershy? shouldn't they be equal rank then?) Keep writing, though! If you come up with ideas like this regularly, you're on the right path. :)
"Your word is law" ???
While the Elements may be important, powerful and what not, I don't believe they would have legal enforcement powers. Maybe Twilight. Maybe. But certainly not the others.
But keep writing, mate. We can never have too many MLP fanfics!! :-)
Well, ONE of them has finally figured out that there's a list of things they are allowed and not allowed to do, but ONLY because she was told strait out! All hail the life of attack dogs. Spike watch your ass and spread the word to Zecora, sinse you're the only nonponies in the room your days are numbered!
This would explain a lot. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b1/Fleet_Admiral_Collar_Device.jpg
Oh. Oh my...
There are some stories that only have one relatively short chapter but is of excellent quality so that they really don't need more words.
I call these stories cookies.
You sir, made an excellent cookie.
This... THIS I can appreciate.
This was a nice read, but like other people have said some things about it just don't make sense or actually conflict with canon. One thing I'm surprised no ones mentioned is the fact that as of the season four episode Testing Testing, 1 2 3, Rainbow is actually a part of the Wonderbolt reserves. And this obviously takes place after season four and that episode since there was a mention of Tirek. I'm not sure how canon you meant this story to be though, so I can look past it. It is a good concept and I enjoyed reading it.
well that make sense why rainbow can't join
I like the concept! The canon compliance is a bit iffy sadly as others have said, and I'm not sure I like most of the titles you ascribed to being an Element of Harmony etc. but overall it's a nice concept! You could've gone with double-spacing between the paragraphs, it makes it easier on the eyes on the internet especially.
Great story. It also helps explain other things as well.
dear lord no
Flt. Adm. are only given out in wartime situations not on whim so the Mane 6 would at least be General Grade officers not G-5 or Flt. Adm.