The Wonderbolts extend a formal apology to Rainbow Dash after the events of Rainbow Falls. After some convincing, Rainbow takes full advantage of the situation.
The Wonderbolts are worried. Spitfire and Fleetfoot disregard their teammate, acted without seeking permission and, worst of all, got somepony else involved. A pony who has every right to take legal action and whose best friend happens to be one of the Princesses of Equestria. The only way to clear the air is to apologize. But words are cheap. Luckily, the Wonderbolts have something that Rainbow Dash wants. A chance to prove herself.
Rainbow Dash let out a content sigh. Everything was perfect. The sun was just right, warming without making her sweat, a bit off to the side so that it wasn’t drilling into her eyes. The clouds were puffy and just a tad bit electrified, the current sending a pleasant tingle across her back that unwound tight muscles. Rainbow Dash stretched, her joints popping into place. She let out a sigh of pleasure.
Perfect napping conditions.
“Rainbow!” called a voice from far below.
Rainbow Dash turned over, gathering up a patch of cloud and using it as a pillow. “I don’t hear anything,” she muttered.
“Rainbow Dash!”
“Nothing.” She let out a yawn, stretching out a hoof to scratch at a rather uncouth part of her body. She didn’t even notice the purple shape break through the cloud layer.
“RAINBOW DASH!” came the same voice, now right against Dash’s ear.
The pegasus let out a cry, jumping off of her makeshift bed. Intruder! she thought. Invader! Nap-waker-upper!
Rainbow Dash turned towards this demon, this barbarian, this—“Oh, hey Twilight.” Dash let out a snicker. “Nice mane.”
Twilight Sparkle gave a deadpan glance. Or, rather, as much of a deadpan glance as one could muster with a wet mane plastered against their eyes.
“Ha-ha,” said Twilight, her magic flaring and restyling her mane in moments. “Yes, make fun of a drenched Princess. That’s a good idea.”
Rainbow Dash’s lips curled up into a cock-sure grin. “Twi, you’re in the sky now. I’m the Princess here.”
“Princess of hubris.”
Rainbow Dash smirked, turning around. She reached down, piling and patting down clouds as if they were snow. “If hubris means awesome.”
“It doesn’t.” Twilight craned her neck slightly. Rainbow Dash was blocking most of her construction, but Twilight was still able to make out the general outline. The Princess cocked an eyebrow. “Really, Rainbow?”
The pegasus flopped gracelessly onto her throne of clouds. She stuck her nose into the air. “And what, pray tell, brings you to my domain, Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “It’s been raining non-stop for a week, Rainbow.”
“Well yeah. It’s spring.”
“It’s summer.”
Rainbow Dash waved a dismissive hoof. “Details.”
“Roseluck, Daisy, and Lily have started building an ark.”
“They always overreact.”
“AJ made umbrellas for her trees.”
“AJ’s always had umbrellas for her trees.”
“Really?” asked Twilight.
Dash nodded. “Yeah, she just hides them in her barn. I’m pretty sure she’s been waiting for something like this. Anyway, Twi, I’m not the one giving orders, I just carry them out. Cloudsdale said that Ponyville’s behind on rain so they decided to send a little rain our way.”
Thunder boomed directly below the ponies, making them both jump. Twilight gave Rainbow a look.
“Okay,” said Dash, “they decided to send a summer storm. It’ll be gone in a few days!”
“And how many is a few?”
Rainbow thought for a moment, trying to remember her exact orders. “Heavy rains for two more days, intermittent showers for another week and one day of light drizzle.”
“Are they trying to drown Ponyville?” asked Twilight in shock.
“Hey, you’re the Princess. You could probably get them to stop.”
Twilight grumbled a bit, kicking at the top of the cloud layer. Then she sighed. “No, I won’t get in their way.”
Rainbow smiled lightly. “Look on the bright side.”
Twilight looked up expectantly.
“Wonderbolt season is starting up again!”
Twilight let out a groan and silently berated herself for her expectations. Rainbow Dash hardly noticed.
“They’re starting their tour in Cloudsdale, then they’ll be in Canterlot, then Trottingham, Whinnypeg, Manehattan, Fillydelphia,” Rainbow Dash’s voice grew higher-pitched at every named venue, “Salt Lick City, then Prancesylvania, then Maneapolis, then Whinnysota, then Whoofsconsin, then--” Twilight shoved a hoof into her friend’s mouth.
“I get it,” said Twilight, taking her hoof out of Dash’s mouth. “It’s a very long tour.”
“Nah, it’s about average length, but,” Rainbow Dash paused for dramatic effect, “their practices are gonna be open this year!” She floated up slightly, a huge grin plastered onto her face as she punched the air.
“I assume that the training isn’t often open?”
Dash zoomed forward, stopping inches in front of Twilight’s face. “Are you kidding?! They’re never open! Well, except for last season, but I wasn’t able to make it last season.”
Twilight smiled. “Well, I’m excited for you.”
“Rainbow Dash!” called a voice from somewhere below them. “Rainbow Dash!”
“‘Scuse me for a bit, Twi,” said the pegasus. She dug her hoof into the cloud, sticking her head through the layer. “Up here!” she shouted, waving a hoof through the opening.
A grey head, yellow mane matted with rain, poked up through the clouds. “There you are!” said Derpy with a grin. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Dash!”
“In this weather?” asked Twilight.
Derpy nodded, the movement sending a spray of water in every direction. “Yup! Through rain or shine, Derpy Mail is right on time!” With that, Derpy reached into her saddlebags, offering a scroll to Rainbow Dash. Despite the pouring rain, the scroll was spotless.
Dash took the scroll. “Thanks, Derpy.”
The mailmare grinned. “No problem! See you later, Dash!” Derpy gave a final wave, then dropped below the cloud layer, the opening closing cleanly.
Twilight took a few steps closer to the throne, trying to get a better view of the scroll. “Who’s it from?”
Rainbow Dash turned the scroll over in her hooves. It was rather plain, the kind of scroll that Twilight used to send all the time, but sealed by wax rather than tied with a ribbon.
The seal. Blue wax, a stylized lightning bolt lightly pressed into a rough circle.
Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. “I-It’s the--” her voice broke, her mouth suddenly dry “--the…”
“The what?” asked Twilight.
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “The Wonderbolts.”
“That’s great!” said Twilight happily. “Open it!”
Rainbow Dash nodded, glancing down at the scroll. “Okay.”
Twilight smiled expectantly.
Dash didn’t move, her gaze on the blue seal.
“Well?” asked Twilight.
“I’m working on it.”
“You’re staring at it.”
“Same thing.”
“No. Not at all.”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “Okay, I’m opening it. Right… now!” She didn’t move.
“Rainbow!”
“I’m trying to figure out the best way to open it!” said Rainbow Dash defensively.
“Break the seal.” The first drops of annoyance colored Twilight’s words.
Dash gasped, placing an offended hoof against her chest. “Twilight, that’s an official Wonderbolt seal, I can’t just break it like that! What are you, crazy?!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. Her magic flared sharply, coloring her horn as the same aura appeared over the scroll.The wax came off of the scroll, the seal left unharmed.
“There,” said Twilight smugly.
Rainbow Dash grumbled, unfurling the scroll and casting a timid eye over the words. Twilight hovered over her shoulder.
Dear Ms. Dash, It has come to my attention that two of my Wonderbolts caused you a considerable amount of distress at the preliminaries to the Equestria Games, acting in a manner unbefitting of any athlete. Spitfire and Fleetfoot have received their punishment for this. However, I am of the opinion that a punishment for them would not act as much of a consolation to you for their attempts to coerce you from your friends and teammates. I would like to extend a formal apology to you, Ms. Dash, but I admit that I am at a loss over how exactly to do so. Words alone hardly seem adequate. For that reason, I must ask you to kindly come to the Wonderbolt office in Canterlot where we can more fully discuss the apology. Simply show this letter at the front desk once you arrive and we will be able to more than happy to begin discussions.
With all Regards, Public Relations (Head of Public Relations for the Wonderbolts)
“Their PR head is named Public Relations?” asked Twilight.
Rainbow Dash stood stock still, her eyes roaming over the words a few more times. Then she sprang up, her hooves keeping her inches above the cloud layer. “I have to go!” she said excitedly. “To get ready! Cloudsdale! Wonderbolts!” She bolted off, a rainbow trail tracing her path along the sky.
***
Public Relations paced her office, a cup of coffee floating before her, her hooves falling perfectly into a dip in the carpet. It was her pacing spot, where she did all of her best pacing. And PR certainly needed her best.
What in Celestia’s name possessed those two to do something like that?! wondered PR. Idiotic! Absolutely idiotic! And for what?! A minor injury, already healed by the time the trial began! A preliminary that they could have finished in their sleep! Idiots!
She stopped pacing, lifting her coffee to her lips and taking a sip. It was bitter and scalding. PR pulled a face, her tongue hanging out of her mouth, trying to get the bitter taste of black coffee off of her mind. She despised the drink like nothing else, but it had always served its purpose. It’s tart, bitter, hateful purpose.
“Right,” muttered PR, her mind clearing under the coffee’s scalding magic. “Let’s be rational for a moment. Who’s involved? Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Soarin, and Rainbow Dash directly. All of the Wonderbolts by extension of the first three.” PR closed her eyes. “The Princesses by extension of the last.”
She took another sip of her coffee.
“But it’s fine! I can deal with it. I am dealing with it. I just need Rainbow Dash to get here and the whole thing will resolve itself in—”
There was a knock at the office door and a young mare poked her head in. “PR, she’s here.”
“Battle stations!” cried PR. “Note, I need you to go get Spitfire and Fleetfoot.” PR pushed her way past the secretary. “Bring them here. I want them waiting.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
PR didn’t even hear the confirmation. Her face had already changed; the shock and worry gone from her eyes, replaced by a wide smile and a bright aspect.
Celestia, kill me now.
PR bounced down the stairs, pushing through the lobby doors with as much excitement as she could muster. A light blue pegasus stood just before the receptionist’s desk, jumping slightly as PR made her entrance.
“Miss Dash?” asked PR, knowing full well who she was addressing.
“That’s me.” Rainbow Dash offered a weak smile, a far brighter one quickly spreading on the unicorn’s face.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Dash.” PR shook Dash’s hoof. “I am Public Relations, head of Public Relations for the Wonderbolt. Thank you for coming.”
“No problem.” Rainbow Dash glanced around the lobby. “So, uh, you wanted to talk about an apology or something?”
PR nodded somberly, her smile shifting into ‘sad truth’ mode. “Yes. I’m very sorry for Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s behavior, and I wanted to extend a formal apology, just to ensure that there are no hurt feelings in this whole mess.” And that you won’t be suing us.
Rainbow Dash frantically shook her head. “No, there’s nothing like that! I don’t really need an apology. I mean, if anypony really deserves one it’d be Soarin, but Spitfire and Fleetfoot already did that.”
“How humble of you!” PR’s eyes brightened, shining as though there were nothing in the world so inspiring. “And to think of Soarin before yourself! There aren’t many ponies who think that way, Miss Dash. Equestria would be an even better place if there were.” PR paused for a moment, smiling at Rainbow Dash. “But, I must insist. There must be something that I can offer you.”
“It’s really fine! I don’t really need anything.” PR heard the hesitation in her voice.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” said PR resolutely. “We’ll head up to my office and see if you hadn’t thought of anything by then.” She turned sharply, pushing her way through the lobby doors again. Rainbow Dash held out a hoof, beginning her protest, but the unicorn had already left the room and Dash was forced to follow, heading out of the lobby, up a flight of stairs, and out into a hallway. Two mares stood in the middle of the hall, right outside of a door marked ‘PR.’
“Spitfire!” said PR excitedly. “Fleetfoot! What wonderful timing!”
The Wonderbolts turned, their eyes widening slightly as they saw Rainbow Dash.
“You see,” continued PR, “Miss Dash and I were just going to discuss our apology for those terrible turn of events at the preliminaries to the Equestria Games, weren’t we, Miss Dash?” PR turned around, flashing a smile at Rainbow Dash.
“Uh, I guess.” This mare’s way too happy for her own good.
PR turned towards Spitfire and Fleetfoot. “I’d like you two to join us, since you’re here already.”
“Sure, boss,” said Spitfire. Fleetfoot tapped a nervous hoof against the floor, but said nothing.
“Wonderful!” PR stepped towards her office door, opening it with a flick of magic. “Follow me, please.” PR trotted into the room, quickly circling around her desk and taking a seat. Dash sat across from her, sinking slightly into an overly plush seat. Spitfire and Fleetfoot had to make due with much simpler chairs.
PR steepled her hooves, her eyes boring into Dash’s. “Now,” she said, “what can I offer you?”
“Like I said,” began Rainbow Dash, “I don’t really want anything. Just being here’s enough, I me—”
“Miss Dash,” broke in PR, “you’re a fan of the Wonderbolts, aren’t you?”
Dash furrowed her brow, caught off guard. “Well, yeah. Who isn’t?”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true,” said PR with a laugh. “Spitfire, weren’t you the resident at the Wonderbolt Academy when Miss Dash was when attendance.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Spitfire with a smile. “She was the top of her class.”
“Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less!”
Rainbow Dash felt herself go slightly pink.
PR let out a sigh. “Though I am rather saddened that you left early, Miss Dash. You would make a very fine addition to the Wonderbolt.” Her eyes flicked subtly to Fleetfoot. Rainbow Dash didn’t notice it.
“In time,” said Fleetfoot.
Dash’s head snapped up. “In time?” she asked.
“Well, yes,” said PR. “You have an incredible talent, Miss Dash.”
“One of the most talented I’ve seen in years,” added Spitfire.
“However,” continued the unicorn, “it takes years to hone all of that talent. Rigorous practice sessions.” PR tapped a hoof against her chin. “Though I suppose that your time in the Academy proves that you’re capable of handling it. Isn’t that right, Fleetfoot?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Fleetfoot turned towards Dash. “See, Spits is the resident at the Academy. She’s got a real eye for talent, so it’s her job to pick out candidates. But once the newbies are done at the Academy, the graduating few are sent to me and I watch over the primary training.” She nudged Rainbow Dash lightly. “If you’d stayed on, you’d probably be under my care right now.”
“Oh, please,” said Spitfire. “She’d probably be with us and Rapid right now.”
“You think?” asked Fleetfoot.
“Definitely.”
Rainbow Dash looked between the two Wonderbolts, images of herself flying in Wonderbolt uniform already flashing through her head. “What does Rapid do?”
“Rapidfire,” said PR, “leads the practices for the Wonderbolts regulars. Since Spitfire and Fleetfoot are often too busy with their own duties.”
“You,” said Rainbow Dash hesitantly, “you think that I could have been a Wonderbolt regular?”
“With enough time,” said PR. She leaned back in her seat with a sigh. “Unfortunately, that was not the case. Now then, have you managed to think of anything, Miss Dash?”
Rainbow Dash chewed her bottom lip. “How… how hard would it be to get me into the Wonderbolts practice?”
PR nodded. “I could get you tickets very easily.”
Dash looked up sharply. “I-I already have tickets.”
“Then what?” asked PR, her head cocking slightly.
Rainbow Dash paused. She glanced at the pegasi beside her, first Fleetfoot, then Spitfire. The latter offered a confident smile.
“As a Wonderbolt,” said Rainbow Dash. “Not a regular,” she added hurriedly, “but I want the chance to earn my place.”
“C’mon maggots, pick up the pace! You think that’s flying?! I was moving like that when I was in diapers!” Fleetfoot hovered in the middle of the track, dressed in her Wonderbolt’s uniform, a bright silver whistle hanging from her neck and her eyes darting from recruit to recruit as they dashed past her.
“Celestia’s teats!” shouted Fleetfoot. “I thought I was training fresh recruits, not a bunch of Pegasi that just found out they weren’t Earth Ponies!”
Rainbow Dash strained her wings, pouring on as much speed as she could, little more than a multi-colored blur as she sped ahead, weaving between the other recruits. She had heard every one of Fleetfoot’s taunts. More than that, however, she had heard the murmur in the crowd, the dull throb as hundreds of ponies clambered up steps and found their way to their seats. An audience. Not her audience, the recruit practice was little more than a sideshow to them, but an audience none the less.
And Rainbow Dash loved an audience.
“Flitter!” came Fleetfoot’s shout. “If Dash passes you one more time, you’ll be in the corner doing wing-ups for the first half of the Regular’s practice, I swear to Luna! And don’t you dare slow down, Dash!”
Flitter glanced back hesitantly, eyes widening as she caught a glimpse of the light-blue rocket gaining on her.
“Not again!” Flitter moaned, pushing herself forward. The distance between the two steadied slightly, then began to shrink again.
“Last stretch!” called Fleetfoot. “Sprint it out, kids, you know the drill!”
Flitter let out a groan, a terrible stitch working its way into her side as she flew as fast as she could. This was the worst part of practice, the mad dash to the end when every part of her body just wanted her to lay down. It certainly didn’t help that she could feel a pair of eyes boring into the back of her head, just waiting for her to slow down and it was even worse when Rainbow Dash chased her.
Those eyes weren’t waiting for her to slow down. Despite the gap between them, Flitter found herself pouring more and more energy into her flight.
A whistle sounded, sharp and shrill, quickly followed by a shout from Fleetfoot. “Regulars on the field!”
The recruit practice came to a sudden stop, each one of them turning towards the center of the field and snapping to a crisp, if tired, salute.
The Wonderbolts walked out onto the field, striding calmly towards the center of the track. There were a few beats of silence as every pony in the stadium fixed their eyes on the yellow and blue uniforms. The crowd exploded, led by a lone Wooo!, but quickly growing in intensity until the very field seemed to shake with their adoration.
The recruits stood through all this, eyes forward and their hooves pressed to their foreheads. The Wonderbolts waved at the audience, taking their time as they came to they joined Fleetfoot in the center of the track.
“At ease!” called Fleetfoot. The recruits allowed their hooves to fall. “Not a bad practice,” said Fleetfoot with the slightest bit of reluctance. “Clean yourselves off, we’ll be meeting again once the regulars have finished their show. Don’t be late.”
“Yes, ma’am!” called the recruits.
“Head out!”
The recruits, the beginnings of soreness creeping into their wings, began the walk off of the field. A polite stomping came from the audience, adding an extra spring to Rainbow Dash’s steps as she walked across the track.
***
The recruits’ locker room was a tight, narrow affair, the clouds that formed its walls just a shade greyer than those used on the rest of the stadium. The lockers themselves hardly had space to hang up two uniforms and three pairs of goggles, quite the challenge as three recruits were assigned to each locker. Most trios had taken to hanging two uniforms on one hook, just to save that tiny amount of space. While the Wonderbolts stood as heroes in the eyes of most of Cloudsdale, the recruits had to earn that respect.
Rainbow Dash, having finished her sprint on the far side of the track, was one of the last recruits to make it to the locker room. Flitter and Cloud Chaser already had the locker open, their goggles hanging from the single hook within the case.
“Good practice!” called Dash, adding her goggles to the pile.
“Good practice,” responded Cloud Chaser.
“If you wanna call it that,” said Flitter. “CC, do you mind getting my zipper?”
Rainbow Dash knit her brow. “What was wrong with practice?”
“You terrified me!” Flitter struggled for a bit, carefully stripping away her recruit’s uniform. “I thought you were gonna fly me right off the track! Thanks, CC.”
“Just get mine and we’re even.”
Rainbow Dash laughed slightly. “Oh yeah, that. It was the sprint, Flitter, I couldn’t do anything about it.”
“Stupid zipper’s stuck,” muttered Flitter, tugging at her sister’s uniform. “But you heard what Fleetfoot was gonna do if you’d passed me. You couldn’t slow down a little bit?” The zipper gave, and Cloud Chaser began the long process of getting out of her uniform.
“It’s not a sprint if you slow down, Flitter. Besides, I wasn’t able to pass you this time.”
“Want me to help with your uniform, Dash?” asked Cloud Chaser.
“Nah, I’m gonna keep it on for a little bit longer.”
Flitter pointed an accusing hoof at Rainbow Dash. “This time! This is the first time since you’ve been here that you haven’t passed me during the sprints!”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash smiled, clapping a hoof on Flitter’s shoulder. “I’ve only been here five days and you’re already getting faster! Good job, Flitter. I’ll get you tomorrow, though.”
“There’s no practice tomorrow,” said Cloud Chaser helpfully.
“Oh yeah. Thanks, Chaser.”
“That’s not the point!” cried Flitter. “I almost passed out trying to get away from you!”
Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her chin. “You should probably work on endurance next.”
Flitter scowled, shaking her head in exasperation. “It’s only been five days,” she said, mostly to herself, “and I’m already going to kill this mare.”
“You’d have to catch me first.”
“You should work on your speed, Flitter.” said Cloud Chaser.
Rainbow Dash laughed and, in that brief breath, got a full sense of locker room smell. “Hey, mind helping me with that zipper now? Uniform’s getting a bit ripe.”
Flitter pulled a face. “Nice.” She stepped forward, unzipping Dash’s uniform and helping her out of it.
“Thanks, Flitter.”
Flitter waved a flippant hoof in the air. “Yeah, yeah.”
Cloud Chaser stepped forward, throwing the uniforms onto her back. “Flitter and I can take the uniforms to the washing room, Dash.”
“You sure?”
Chaser nodded. “It’ll be your job next time. Come on, Flitter.”
“Thanks, you two,” said Dash, already backing out of the locker room. “I owe you one.”
“Or like four,” muttered Flitter.
But Rainbow Dash had already left, happily trotting through the narrow lanes of the locker room, images of blue and yellow streaks and trailing stormclouds bouncing through her head, covering up the glances she sometimes got from the other recruits.
Dash stepped out of the locker room, retracing her steps until she stood at the very edge of the field. The Wonderbolts flew just a few yards away, racing along the track or corkscrewing through the hoops in the air.
The Wonderbolts practice, while not the main attraction, was an impressive display in its own right. Each regular was left largely to his or her own devices, training whatever aspect of their talent that they felt needed polishing that day, making the practice more of a showing of individual ability rather than the grand displays of synchronization that drew in so much adoration.
Rainbow Dash sat at the entrance to the field, eyes flashing from regular to regular, trying to take in every bit of information that she could. There was Fleetfoot, testing her speed against Rapidfire. Nothing new there; there’d always been a history of rivalry between those two. Misty Fly and Lightning Streak were up in the air, winding and diving around one another, practicing their parts in various formations. Soarin stood off to the side, doing wing-ups at a pace that few others could match.
“Can you tell who’s who?” asked a voice from somewhere behind the pegasus.
“Well yeah,” said Dash, turning towards the newcomer. “I mean, it took a bit of practice but—Spitfire!” Rainbow Dash gave a start, jumping to her hooves and running a hoof through her mane, suddenly self-conscious. I should’ve taken a shower before coming out.
Spitfire laughed, coming to a stop next to Rainbow Dash. “That’s pretty good. Most ponies can’t tell the difference between us when we’re in uniform and most of them don’t even try when we’re up in the air.”
“I’ve, uh, had a lot of practice.” Dash felt her chest puff out slightly at the compliment. "It's a game that my Dad and I used to play when we came to watch a show."
“Naturally good eyes, huh?” Spitfire leaned forward, lifting her goggles slightly as she peered into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “Pretty color, too.”
Rainbow Dash took a step back, fighting desperately to keep a blush from her face. “I thought you were at the Academy!” she blurted, looking for another point of topic. She smiled sheepishly. “Attending regular, right?”
Mercifully, Spitfire leaned back and nodded. “Yeah, but Command wants me on this tour from beginning to end, so Surpise is taking my post for a bit.”
“Is that why she’s not out there right now?”
“Yup, we’re switching places for a while.”
“Oh.” Rainbow Dash trailed off, staring back at the field. Surprise was nowhere in sight.
The practice had gone into full swing, Wonderbolts darting back and forth over the field, sometimes flying directly flying over the audience, much to the crowd’s delight. Yet, there was something off about this practice.
“Hey, Spitfire,” began Rainbow Dash, “are they flying a bit slower than normal?”
Spitfire laughed again, throwing an appraising glance at the other pegasus. “Your eyes are even better than I thought.”
A whistle sounded from somewhere out in the field. Suddenly, each of the Wonderbolts banked towards the center.
Spitfire grinned, lowering her goggles once again. “Yeah, they’re going a bit slower than practice tempo, but it’s just right for a warm-up.” With that, Spitfire galloped forward, taking off with a single strong push of her wings and joining the milling and twisting formations of the Wonderbolts. The crowd let out a cry, the stomping and shouting redoubling in a single moment.
Rainbow Dash, still standing at the very edge of the field, gaped up at the spectacle, fighting against every urge to fly out and join them.
***
PR stood in the highest room in Cloudsdale Stadium, the entirety of the field stretched before her. The Wonderbolts dipped and dived just in front of her, tracing intricate patterns through the air with their trailing stormclouds. The crowd, which had swelled to nearly fill the entire stadium, roared and cheered, the individual ponies little more than a mass of ponies from this height.
The ‘secret’ show, as the fans had taken to calling it, had been an inspired idea. PR couldn’t remember the last time a mere practice had filled more than half a stadium, but the mere rumor of a possible show had ponies flooding into their seats.
Even Finance has to be happy with this, thought PR, her eyes scanning over the field. The Wonderbolts pulled a particularly skillful maneuver, flying dangerously close to one another as they passed over the crowd’s heads, drawing a chorus of oooooohs and aaaaaahs from the audience.
Yet, PR passed over the spectacle, drawn towards the very entrance to the field. Rainbow Dash was little more than a colorful speck from this distance, yet PR could make out the tilt of her head and, though this may have been partly PR’s imagination, the slight pink of a mouth opened in awe.
Yes, Finance would be happy, but the shows served another, perhaps more important, purpose besides filling seats.
PR paused as the thought crossed her mind. Though it may be better not to mention that to Finance.
The mare turned away from the window, walking over to her desk and taking a seat. The show would go on for a few more hours, about half the length of a normal show, just enough to leave the crowd wanting more. The audience would leave, providing confirmation of the rumors that had ‘mysteriously’ broken out days ago, and they would return in larger numbers.
PR mentally clamped down on that train of thought. There was nothing to be gained by being too sure of her plan. Any number of things could go wrong, especially now in the early phases. Sure, Rainbow Dash was a bit closer to the Wonderbolt organization, but she was not tied to them. Should Dash decide to leave the recruits and tell the public of Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s actions during the preliminaries, not to mention that she had essentially been bribed into silence.
PR shuddered. That couldn’t be allowed to happen. She had to move quickly, make sure that Rainbow Dash would have more interest within the Wonderbolts than without. Spitfire’s return could not have come at a better time.
The mare turned back to her desk, lifting the first of a small stack of papers and taking a quill in her hoof. This plan required finesse and delicacy and very careful planning.
Rainbow Dash was rather uncomfortable in her new room. This is not to say that it was a particularly uncomfortable room, because it certainly wasn’t and it was a far cry better than the room she had held at the Wonderbolt Academy, but it wasn’t home. And that single thought bothered Rainbow to no end.
This was a Regular Home, built for the rare Wonderbolt that did not own a home in Cloudsdale. There was no telling how many of Rainbow Dash’s idols had stayed in this same house and slept in the bed that she currently sat upon. If anything, it was a source of pride, proof that she had really been given a shot at being a Wonderbolt.
But why am I in the Regular House if I’m not a regular?
The thought made Rainbow frown. PR had said that the recruit housing was getting a bit full; that they needed time to prepare a room for Rainbow Dash. It had been five days since then and PR had not brought the issue up again. Just another discomforting thought.
There was a knock at the door.
Dash let out a sigh, rolling off of the bed and walking out to the entrance. PR stood on the other side, smiling brightly, as she tended to do whenever Dash was in the immediate vicinity.
“Good afternoon, Rainbow Dash!” PR greeted happily. “I was hoping to find you here. How’s your day off going?”
“It’s definitely going. There’s practice again tomorrow, right?”
“Getting restless?”
“I guess,” replied Dash with a shrug. “I got in a bit of practice in the morning, but—”
“It’s not enough,” PR finished with a sweet smile. “Yes, that’s a problem faced by many of the Wonderbolts. In fact, I’ve had similar conversations with many of them in this very spot.”
Rainbow Dash’s chest puffed out the slightest bit. “Really?”
“Really.” PR paused for a calculated moment before letting out a sigh. “Though I suppose that the press conferences are as much a part of being a Wonderbolt as flying is.”
“Press conference?” Rainbow Dash knit her brow in confusion. “I didn’t know there was a press conference today.”
PR placed a hoof over her own mouth. “Oh my. I wasn’t supposed to mention that. It’s a very private event, not open to the general public.” Another pause. “Though I suppose that you aren’t part of the general public anymore. Actually, have you ever been to a Wonderbolts press conference?”
“Just once, when I was still living with my dad.”
“Then it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?! Would you care to go? Get a glimpse into the life of a Wonderbolt outside of the field?”
Rainbow Dash glanced back towards the Regular House, then at PR. “When?”
“Right now!” replied PR excitedly. “I was just on my way over there.”
“Right now?”
PR nodded, her smile never faltering.
Dash rubbed at the back of her head. “I don’t know, I was kinda in the middle of something.”
“Oh.” PR seemed genuinely disappointed. “Well, I understand. The next press conference won’t be for another few months, so I thought… But if you’re in the middle of something, then it can’t be helped, can it?”
“A few months?”
“Well, there won’t really be time when the tour swings into full force.” PR glanced past Rainbow Dash, looking at a clock hanging from the wall behind her. “Is that the time? I have to leave now before I’m late. It’s really a shame that you couldn’t join us, Rainbow Dash. Maybe in a few months?”
Rainbow bit at her bottom lip, glancing into the Regular House once more. “How long is the conference?”
“Two, three hours at the most.” PR tilted her head slightly. “Why do you ask?”
***
“Well, that’s a very interesting question.” Spitfire tapped her chin a few times, eyes cast downward in thought. “I can’t really imagine what my life would be like if I weren’t a Wonderbolt. I expect that I’d be working in a weather division somewhere, probably watching for forest fires or something.”
Rainbow Dash let out a yawn, only covering her mouth as an afterthought. Somehow, press conferences were more exciting when you didn’t have to sit in place for two hours. Admittedly, there was quite a bit of press present and there was certainly a lot of conferencing, but it was all so boring! Dash had long since decided that she preferred seeing the Wonderbolts in the sky rather than behind a table.
PR smiled from her place behind the table, leaning forward slightly as that question was answered. “Are there any other questions?”
The reporters had run out of questions as the press conference went on. At the beginning, nearly every hoof in the room had gone up when PR had asked. Now there were only a few, the most enthusiastic belonging to a dark blue pegasus in the very middle of the room.
PR glanced in that direction. Rainbow Dash caught something very similar to hesitation flash across her eyes.
“Yes,” said PR. “The gentlecolt with the camera around his neck in the center of the room.”
The reporter glanced around with the slightest hint of a smile on his face. Seeing no other raised hooves in his immediate area, the pegasus stood up.
“Good afternoon,” he began. “I’m Snap Shot, a freelance photographer doubling as a writer since my partner couldn’t be here. I’d like to ask a few questions regarding the Equestria Games preliminaries.”
PR leaned forward slightly. “By all means.”
Snap Shot smiled, flipping open a notebook. “There have been rumors of an injury. Soarin, I believe strained one of his wings or something to that effect.”
Soarin spread a wing, and gave it a few flaps. He did the same to the other. “I was out for a bit,” he said with a grin, “but it wasn’t anything big. I’m still fit to fly, if that’s what you wanted to ask.”
“Glad to hear it,” replied Snap Shot as he scribbled something into his notebook. “Spitfire, Fleetfoot, did Soarin’s injury impede practice in any way?”
“Well,” began Fleetfoot, “it’s hard to fly trio practice with only two flyers.”
The reporters tittered lightly at that.
Snap Shot laughed as well. “However, there are reports of the two of you flying with a third. As far as I know, the Wonderbolts did not register an alternate flyer for the preliminaries. Who was this third flyer?”
Spitfire adjusted herself slightly, about to give a reply. Rainbow Dash sat up a little straighter in her chair.
“I’m afraid,” PR cut in with a smile, “that we are not prepared to disclose that information to the public.”
“Really?” asked Snap Shot. “What a shame. Any particular reason for this secrecy?”
“None that we can disclose to the press at this time.”
“Fascinating.” Snap Shot took a few more notes, then looked around the hall. Rainbow Dash strained her neck, trying to catch his eye without leaving her seat.
“Will that be all, Mr. Snap Shot?” asked PR.
Snap Shot turned back towards the table, his gaze passing directly over Dash. Then he nodded and took his seat once more.
***
The conference drew to a close soon after Snap Shot’s questions. The reporters filed out of the room, a few of them comparing notes, most of them eyeing others with suspicion while holding their notebooks against their chests. Before long, the room was empty save for the Wonderbolts..
“You didn’t tell them about me!”
PR turned around, a pleasant smile melting onto her face when she saw Rainbow Dash approach. “There you are! Did you enjoy the press conference?”
Rainbow paused slightly, thrown off by the reception. “Yeah, I guess, but—”
“Wonderful!” interrupted the other mare. “Fair warning, they’re not all as exciting as this one was; in fact, some of them are dreadfully boring. But I suppose you’ll learn that for yourself in due time.”
Rainbow Dash knit her brow. “I thought that—”
“Spitfire!” called PR, waving the Wonderbolt over from the other end of the room. Spitfire quickly trotted over.
“What’s up, boss?”
“I have some business to attend to.” PR levitated her saddlebags and put them into place. “I’ll have to ask you and Soarin to escort Miss Dash back to the Regular House. Make sure she gets there safely.”
Spitfire flashed a smile at Rainbow Dash. “Sure, no problem. We can handle that.”
“Wait,” Rainbow began, “I wanted to—”
But Public Relations had already turned around, her hooves quickly taking her out of the room.
Rainbow Dash stared at the exit. “And she’s gone.”
Spitfire let out a laugh. “Yeah, she does that sometimes. It’s a bit annoying, but you’ll get used to it soon enough.”
“Annoying is right. I don’t know about the get used to it part.” Dash scowled.
Another laugh from Spitfire. “Hey, nopony’s killed her yet so it can’t be all that bad.” She turned away, glancing around the room. “Soarin!” she called once she’d found him. “Come over here! We’ve got a mission!”
“What kind of mission?” asked Soarin, joining the mares.
“Escort. We’re taking Rainbow Dash back to the Regular House.”
Soaring let out a groan. “I hate escort missions.” A pause. “Wait, the Regular House?”
“That’s what PR said.”
“Wow.” Soarin turned towards Rainbow Dash, smiling lightly. “Guess she really likes you, huh?”
“Could’ve fooled me,” muttered Dash, glancing at the door.
“Hey,” Soarin began, “I didn’t even get to look into the Regular House until two years after I became a Wonderbolt. Looks like you’re a favorite. How’d you do it?”
Spitfire stepped forward, nudging Soarin aside, using perhaps a bit more force than necessary. “She’s just that good.”
Rainbow stood a bit straighter at the compliment.
“Anyway,” continued Spitfire as Soarin rubbed at his ribs, “the Regular House isn’t that far from here. Hey, are you hungry?”
“I could go for some food,” chimed in Soarin.
Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Not you, you’re always hungry.” She turned back towards Rainbow Dash. “There’s a pretty good place not too far from here. My treat?”
Dash shook her head. “No thanks, I’m pretty good right n—” Her stomach let out a low growl.
Spitfire smirked, not quite able to hold back her amusement. “Long conference, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Dash looked down at the floor, blushing slightly. “How far did you say that restaurant is?”
***
The restaurant, as it turned out, was a leisurely ten minute flight from the conference hall and had a rather unique structure to it. The restaurant was a rather squat, rectangular building, as if some giant had dropped a cardboard box in the middle of the airy, pillared structures of Cloudsdale. The restaurant’s walls were made of light-grey clouds, the kind that gathered in the mornings just before a storm. Indeed, the only adornment on the restaurant was a small, white sign just above the entrance.
“Storms,” read Rainbow Dash.
Spitfire nodded. “Cool place, right? Best food in Cloudsdale.”
“I still think it looks like a prison.” Soarin shifted his weight from hoof to hoof. “I don’t think I’d do well in prison.”
“It’s probably the look Storm was going for,” said Spitfire with a shrug. She walked forward, holding the door open until Soarin and Rainbow Dash passed through.
It was dark inside Storms, as if someone had managed to lift a cave up to Cloudsdale. The cloud walls blocked out light as perfectly as stone did and the few windows along the surface of the building were covered by thick blinds. The only real source of light came from small lamps that hung down from the ceiling. Even that light was muted, yellowed by a thin covering placed around the flame. Storms, it seemed to Rainbow Dash, would fit better in a Daring Do novel than in Cloudsdale.
Dash took a few tentative steps forward, getting out of the doorway so that the other two could enter. Her eyes not quite adjusted to the darkness, Rainbow Dash failed to notice the step just inside the restaurant. Dash flailed, letting out a cry, her wings flaring instinctively as she fell.
A hoof shot out from behind Rainbow Dash, wrapping around her slightly and slowing her descent. Dash got all four of her hooves under her.
“You alright?” asked Soarin, withdrawing his hoof.
Dash let out a breath, the darkness of the restaurant just barely hiding the pink that had crept into her cheeks. “Yeah. Nopony saw that, right?”
Soarin shook his head. “Naaaah.” A pause. “Well, maybe. But hey, it’s no big deal; everypony trips on that step.”
“Really?”
Spitfire joined them, hooves deftly dancing over the step. “C’mon, let’s go find Storm, she’ll probably ha—” She paused, noticing the stares from both Rainbow Dash and Soarin. “What?”
“Alright, almost everypony,” admitted Soarin, “but Spitfire doesn’t count, she lives here.”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “Not literally, right?”
“It might as well be,” answered a voice from somewhere behind Dash. A light grey pegasus with a baby blue colored mane melted out of the shadows of the restaurant. “Though she’s been skipping out on me for a few days now.”
“There you are, Storm!” Spitfire trotted forward, throwing the other mare into a quick hug. “How’s business?”
Storm returned the hug. “Same as always. Can’t complain.” Her eyes shifted to the other two guests. “Afternoon, Soarin.”
“Hey, Storm.” Soarin scratched at the back of his head, not quite making eye contact with the mare.
“And I don’t think that I’ve met your third. New recruit?”
Spitfire smiled. “Storm, this is Rainbow Dash, currently a Wonderbolt recruit on the fast track to regular. Dash, this is Thunder Storm, owner of this fine restaurant and a personal friend.”
“Hey there,” greeted Rainbow.
Storm nodded in return. “Is she your recruit, Spits?”
Spitfire put a hoof to her lips, shushing Storm into silence. “We’re not supposed to talk about that right now. Is the usual table open?”
“Always,” replied Storm flatly. “Do you need any menus?”
“Just the one for Dash.”
Storm nodded, reaching into her saddlebags and producing a menu. She offered it to Rainbow Dash, then turned back to Spitfire. “You can find your own way?”
“Sure.” The smallest smile crossed Spitfire’s face and she glanced at Dash. “That is, if somepony’s gotten used to the dark.”
“I’m fine,” muttered Rainbow.
Spitfire laughed lightly. “Nice seeing you again, Storm. I’ll come find you before we leave.”
“If you want,” said Storm with a shrug. She nodded her goodbyes, then trotted away.
“She’s nice,” said Dash.
“She gets better once you actually know her,” said Spitfire. “Storm’s a shy pony… just don’t tell her that I told you that. Anyway, we should get to our table. Storm will be sending a waiter over in a bit.” She turned around, heading deeper into the restaurant.
Soarin made to follow, but Rainbow Dash stopped him. “Hey, Soarin.”
The Wonderbolt turned, a slightly confused expression on his face.
“Just, uh, thanks. For the save back there.” Dash rubbed at the back of her head. “That would’ve looked really lame.”
“No worries. It’s a stupid step anyway.”
“But still, thanks.”
Soarin paused slightly. Then he smiled. “You’re welcome. C’mon, let’s catch up to Spitfire.”
