Resignation
Rainbow Dash looked at the jacket she received from Spitfire in both dismay and disdain. Thanks to that mortifying nickname, “Rainbow Crash,” she was now the laughing stock of the Wonderbolts.
She tried and tried again to remove the nickname with various plans from impersonating her friends’ personalities that either freaked out or annoy the other Wonderbolts, to aerial acrobatics that went horribly wrong. With Spitfire, the captain of the Wonderbolts, calling her “Rainbow Crash” and giving her a jacket that permanently labels her, Rainbow has finally reached her limit.
Tossing the jacket on the floor, Rainbow removed her Wonderbolt uniform and began pulling stuff out of her locker. She had one idea, but that meant risking the air show. And she didn’t want to give the Wonderbolts even more reason to tease her. There were so many times where she wanted to pick a fight just to get them to stop like she did in Flight Camp. But these ponies were not those foals, but professional fliers who, despite their shortcomings, were a part of Equestria’s military. It would make a civilian look foolish for striking a soldier.
After gathering her gear, Rainbow collected her discarded uniform and the jacket. She approached a trashcan and tossed the clothing in. She then took a piece of paper and wrote on it with a pencil, the finished product being placed in the ventilation slit. With a saddened gaze at her uniform, Rainbow walked out the door.
“I guess I’m not Wonderbolt-material after all…”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Hours before the Air Show…
As Spitfire finished the paperwork she needed to get done before the air show, a desperate-sounding knock on her office door. Not looking from her papers, the Captain of the Wonderbolts spoke out. “Come in.” Bursting in was none other than Soarin, her second-in-command. He panted a bit, a stressed look on his face.
“Spitfire! We’ve got a problem!”
Spitfire groaned as she placed a hoof on her temple. What could go wrong now? Especially with the Air Show in a couple of hours.
“What problem?” she said irritably.
Soarin gulped, knowing the information he held was going to make Spitfire angry.
“It’s Rainbow Dash! She never showed up! Her bed’s been empty all night! We thought she was getting in some things done late, so we didn’t question it! But a few minutes ago, we found these in the trash!”
He held out a hoof, showing the discarded clothing of the rainbow-maned mare, including the jacket Spitfire had given her the other day. Spitfire’s eyes widened as her jaw dropped. But before she could speak, Soarin pulled something from his suit’s pocket.
“We also found this sticking out of her locker. It’s a resignation letter.”
Swift as lightning, Spitfire took the letter and read it over and over again. It was a formal letter, so the reason why wasn’t specific other than one line.
“I regret that I may not be fit to be a member of the Wonderbolts, after all.”
After moments of silence, Spitfire slammed her hooves on her desk in anger.
“I’m going to find her!”
Soarin was taken aback by his captain’s outburst, but found himself asking a question.
“What about the air show?”
Looking at the address of the rainbow-maned mare in her address book, Spitfire gave him his answer.
“You’ll take over until I get back, with or without Rainbow. If one or both of us aren’t back in time, start the show without us.”
Soarin saluted and left to get the Wonderbolts ready. Once she got Rainbow’s address, Spitfire grabbed the discarded clothes and the letter before she burst out the door and flew in the direction of Ponyville.
“That mare’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
It took little to find Rainbow Dash’s cloud home in the Earth Pony-built town. With the elaborate architecture and rainbows, it stuck out like a sore hoof. Spitfire didn’t even need to know if the occupant was home or not as the mare in question was dragging a trashcan filled with something blue and gold out the door. It wasn’t until Spitfire got closer that she recognized the discarded items.
Wonderbolt memorabilia.
This worried Spitfire, but her anger was still raging as she landed on a cloud in front of Rainbow. Seeing the Wonderbolt, Rainbow found herself between shock and indifference as she continued to pull her trashcan out.
“Spitfire? What are you doing here?”
“The better question is ‘Why are you here?’”
The Wonderbolt held out the items she brought with her, causing Rainbow to frown. “A resignation?! After a day and a half?! And right before the Air Show?! After I gave you this jacket, too! We’re about to go on and here you---!”
Having enough, Rainbow turned around and, for the first time, shouted at the Wonderbolt in anger.
“You wanna know why I quit?! I’ll tell you! It’s that nickname!”
Spitfire froze in confusion. Her nickname?
“What about it?” She asked.
Ignoring the concerned look on the Wonderbolt captain’s face, Rainbow let loose the rant she had held in for the past day and a half.
“I HATE BEING CALLED ‘RAINBOW CRASH!’ You wanna know why? Because I got called that A LOT in Flight Camp! And not as a good joke! It was a name I got teased a lot with! I’d let it wash over before when those jerks call me that to this day! But to have the Wonderbolts, my heroes, call me that… You know what it did?! I’ll tell you! It…was…HUMILIATING! I tried to get you guys to stop! From telling you that my name is “Rainbow DASH,” not “Rainbow CRASH,” to acting like my friends from Ponyville! Heck, if it weren’t for the fact that it would’ve ruined it for everypony, I would do something reckless during the Air Show JUST so I can get you guys to STOP CALLING ME THAT NAME!”
Spitfire remained frozen as Rainbow Dash unleashed her rant. Did she really hate the nickname the Wonderbolts, including Spitfire herself, gave her? It was a normal thing in the Wonderbolts to call each other some sort of nickname. It was a practice that had lasted since before the time of Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy. It was then that Spitfire remembered how poorly Rainbow Dash had been performing ever since that incident with the trashcan. She and everypony in the Wonderbolts knew how good a flyer Rainbow Dash was. Did it really take a mortifying nickname to bring her, the Element of Loyalty, down?
Wanting to end the conversation, Rainbow proceeded to drag the trashcan out the door while struggling to keep her tears at bay. She was not about to cry in front of a Wonderbolt, no matter how less she thought of them now.
“I should’ve learned my lesson when Soarin and the others accused me of sending you away in Canterlot. Everypony must look after themselves. Dreams don’t matter. It is a fool’s endeavor to dream of being great. That jacket you gave me? That was the final nail in the coffin. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to clean my house out before I get my old job back within Ponyville’s Weather Team.”
Hearing Rainbow talk so cynically about dreams being foolish shocked Spitfire even further. And the jacket she gave Rainbow as a well-meaning gift having the opposite effect had made the feeling of guilt the Wonderbolt was having grew even further. She and the others meant well. So how come they didn’t consider how Rainbow Dash felt with the nickname? Or even notice the effect it was having on her? Seeing the rainbow-maned mare throwing her dream away literally right before her was a wake-up call.
Rainbow halted as Spitfire touched a shoulder with her hoof.
“Look at me, Rainbow.”
Still upset and angry, Rainbow reluctantly turned to her former captain. She forced herself to look at Spitfire’s eyes. But finding them in a saddened gaze caught Rainbow by surprise. What she said next took her completely off guard.
“I never realized how much being called ‘Rainbow Crash’ bothered you. None of us did. It’s a tradition to give each other a nickname in the Wonderbolts. Soarin’s nickname, ‘Clipper,’ was because he clipped a flagpole on his first day. Heck, you don’t wanna know my nickname. At least, not in public. The point is we should’ve taken notice about how you were feeling. And the bit about ‘not being Wonderbolt-material?’ You cannot be more wrong than that.”
“How? Everything I did ever since joining the Wonderbolts has been nothing but disaster.” Rainbow asked, wondering where this was going.
Spitfire continued.
“You’re one of the best flyers we have ever seen. You’ve won the Best Flyer competition after saving me, Soarin and Fleetfoot, not mention your unicorn friend, while performing a Sonic Rainboom. Not to mention that you’ve saved Equestria more times than even we in the Wonderbolts could ever do. So it baffles me as to why none of us noticed how much your nickname was bothering you when you began to perform poorly despite us knowing better.”
The Wonderbolt then scratched her head with her hoof.
“What I’m trying to say is I’m sorry. I’m-was your commanding officer, yet I didn’t act professionally. And I’m sure the others will be just as sorry once we’ve explained the situation. You’re a great flyer, Rainbow Dash. We need you in the Air Show. Not as the comic relief, but as a fellow Wonderbolt.”
She then held out the Wonderbolt uniform to an uncertain Rainbow. “So what do you say? Still wanna be a Wonderbolt?” Rainbow was hesitant. At first. But after taking into consideration of what Spitfire had just said, she cautiously took the uniform and put it on, a slight smile on her face.
“I’ll help with the Air Show. However, if anyone calls me ‘Rainbow Crash’ again, it’s back to Ponyville’s Weather Team for me.”
Spitfire released a relived smile as she led the new Wonderbolt back to the Air Show. The matter about the nickname will be dealt with after the show. But one thing’s for sure, Spitfire learned a lesson.
Not everypony can fully relinquish their emotions to others. Next time somepony has an episode like Rainbow Dash, Spitfire will be sure to check for any subtle signs. Because the difference between a good friend and a bad one is noticing what’s wrong and dealing with the problem before things go out of control.
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You know, I would not have minded this as the ending of the ep.
The one thing about this episode that bothered me was how easy everything would have been resolved with just one talk. Maybe Spitfire explaining beforehand that they all get horrible nicknames or Rainbow Dash coming out with how much the name Rainbow Crash is really bothering her here.
You solution that they will use another nickname, one not used by previous bullies, is pretty satisfying in my opinion. I don't think Rainbow Dash would mind a friendly nickname, even if it's horrible, but I don't think she would really accept one that was used in a non-friendly way so often before.
7210129 Me neither. I'd rather have had RD explain why she hated - and I say hated because there is no other word that can describe what she felt about - the nickname she was given, and have the Wonderbolts pick out a different name rather than have her stick with it. I kept imagining RD (while watching the episode) eventually blowing up at Spitfire and the others, and the mild ending of the episode, without whole bullying explanation, really disappointed me.
7210178 Welcome to life. Where many (not all) simple problems could be solved so much easier if people sat down with each other and talked.
7210201 I never meant to come off as narcissistic. The comment I posted had been getting a lot of comments both positive and negative and I just felt like it should've been pointed out.
7210280 well, with the wonderbolts I now see they have a dynamic that me and some of my friends have, a sort of, we are dicks to each other, but push comes to shove, we got each other's back. (Note this is not an excuse for Rainbow Falls)
7210292
Maybe not mind-readers, but at least the tiniest bit of perceptiveness would've been nice. It wasn't like Rainbow didn't project her dislike for the nickname at all, she just got mocked for it even more.
7210381 Indeed. That bothered me about this episode initially, but the more I thought about it, the more the thing that actually bothered me was how somehow RD had never heard of this tradition, despite idolizing the Wonderbolts and despite the fact that those names are represented on jackets that they wear in public. Anyone remember if the older guy from Rarity Investigates had such a patch?
7210178 I think when Spitfire explained about the jackets she thought she WAS explaining things. It's a common communication problem: assuming a basis of common facts that does not, in fact, exist.
7210456 Again, all Rainbow had to do was say how badly it affected her due to an incident in her fillyhood, and it all could have been over. Her reluctance to accept her new nickname meant nothing, I'm sure other Wonderbolts were just as annoyed at being insulted during their initiation, as well. How was any other pony suppose to know there was a deeper reason behind Dash's irritation?
7210542
Well, I'm not completely disagreeing with you there. Rainbow could've said something to explain her problem with that particular nickname. But I can't fully let the 'Bolts off the hook either, you know? This, plus the last three times are not a exactly a wonderful track record.
ok first I must say this story is exultantly written and I am hoping that I can finally watch that episode with out wanting to throw things this is the first show I can say I hated.
thank you DD for the different look.
7210553 True, and I'll never forget their less-than-impressive performance while trying to defend Ponyville from a gigantic Spike.
But I'm not talking about those times... This specific occasion, when all Rainbow had to do was air her grievances early and it all could've been sorted out, was a situation where I fail to see that they did anything wrong. I tend to judge things on a case-by-case basis, not as a whole.
Either that, or ditch the whole concept of hazing anyway. I'm surprised it even exists actually, in such a friendship driven society as Equestria...
7210563
That's one. Wonderbolts Academy and Rarity Investigates weren't flattering for them either.
7210572
I think hazing is a waste of time anyway. And again, yeah, Rainbow could've said something. I'm honestly surprised, though, how none of the Wonderbolts bothered to explain to her that their ribbing wasn't meant to be personal. Or, more accurately, I'm not surprised since the episode would've been over in like, three minutes.
Plus, there's the matter of how it was shown. There's only one time anypony else got called by their nickname. So of course it's going to look like they're singling out Rainbow Dash. Overall, it's one gigantic communication failure.
I admit, I had to watch that episode in 5-6 minute spurts before taking a 10-15 minute breather between each segment. Not even surprised at how hard that episode hit me when my own eye-twitch-inducing memories growing up meshed in places with Dash's own experiences. Reading Rainbow's denouement here was cathartic for me, and for that I thank our author of this fanfic.
7210657
That's not something we can say for certain though, is it? It would've been easy for Surprise or anypony else to take Rainbow aside and tell her instead of making a big secret out of it. But they didn't.
Look, I never said Rainbow didn't share most of the blame, but the Wonderbolts repeatedly prove they're not a good team. Spitfire's particularly bad in that regard, and she's the leader. It might've been a good idea to ask Rainbow what's eating her at some point.
Good Grief. I've turned a one-shot fic into a debate club.
7210708
That's just in the nature of contentious episodes.
7210704
She was told Soarin' had a nickname and what it was. She assumed what it meant.
She was told to her face everyone had a nickname. She never inquired or stood up for herself. She was focused on herself.
The Wonderbolts are not a bad team. Everyone takes what happens at Rainbow Falls to extremes and now it colors how everything the Wonderbolts do in an excessively negative light.
7210708
Eh, this is normal, at least for the good ones. Honestly, I loved this fic! Speaking as someone that was bullied as a kid, I can say with confidence any of the terms used to bully me, even said in jest, really DO have an impact on you. Granted, I'm FAR more blunt about such things to others, telling them point blank to quit it and why unless they want to loose some teeth.
Ultimately, this fic satisfies me, and shows RD wasn't willing to put the show at risk, even though her motives for doing so could be seen one part attempt, one part revenge. Either way, this was a better way, and I'm glad you wrote it out. Well done and thanks for the one-shot!
Nice story.
And about all this debate about Rainbow Trash and the Wonderbullies, I can only say one thing:
Potatoes
Easy: When a group has given nicknames like those, especially when others react positively to them, for as long as the Wonderbolts did, it's quite easy to forget that not all ponies like certain names. However, there is one thing the Wonderbolts didn't do that makes them fail as a military group: Give a psyche exam to all potential members. If they had, then it's very likely Rainbow's childhood trauma would have come up.
it needs more cause this feels like a cliffhanger.
Dang this was worth reading.
That episode ended like a bad fan fiction. Rainbow Dash quitting was how I among others wanted the matter to resolve with until the Wonderbolts or her friends change her mind. This fic fulfilled those expectations. Well done.
Whenever I watch a favourite show of mine, the number 1 thing I never want to think when doing so is, "I could write this better". But that was the exact scenario with Newbie Dash.
Thanks for writing this, it's given me a huge feeling of relief after such a stinker (A Hearth's Warming Tale helped somewhat too).
Short and to the point, but in this case, exactly what's needed.
To quote a good friend of mine, "You're broken leg doesn't make my broken arm feel better." Newbie Dash's ending was cheap and flimsy. The other WB's nicknames were light jabs played for laughs, but it was established from Season 1 that Crash is a very sore spot for RD and it felt oddly played down at the last third of the episode.
7210708 Oh, you're not the only one who inadvertently starts a fire.
7210708
Yep.
Well done!
7228603 Besides, they could have said "Trash-Can". You know, because trash-can. She crashed into one. Didn't have to be the specific nickname.
7277320 They even lamp shaded it. "At least they didn't call you Rainbow Trash." I think she would've preferred that. Also, what are the actual chances of getting the same exact nickname you did as a kid?
This episode was painful to watch. Thank you for writing this.
7299502 I know your pain. I was venting with this fic. I even wondered if I could've made it into a SoarinXDash fic.
I really need to sit down and actually watch season six. I'm coming up against stories that I have no basis of reference to.
Then again, after all of that weak 'Talking Head' garbage they did with the Cutie Map, I'm not sure I've really missed all that much.
Not the writers' fault; I blame the Talking Heads at the top slots at Hasbro.
7228603
Yep, and that's because the studio [Hasbro] has gone out of its way to work cross-purposes with every new episode. The fact that they keep on marginalizing stuff from the first three seasons is why I've only watched about ten of the episodes for both season five and six.
Not perfect, I kinda feel Rainbow quitting is a tiny bit off for her, but still good.
I like that this is an ACTUAL Fix Fic, not an ACCUSATION FIC disguised as one.
Is there a 'character calls another out on a canon error' part? Yes, but here it's also clear Spitfire wasn't entirely in the wrong, she just had no way of KNOWING this and needed told about it.
Unlike other fics I've seen where Rainbow Dash chews the bolts out and quits or abandons them completely.
This is an example of an actual FIX FIC, which sadly there seems to be an annoyingly small number of that aren't accusation fics masquerading as one.
Well, they're going to need ANOTHER humiliating nickname to call Rainbow Dash, it's TRADITION for each member to have a nickname that is after an incident that keeps them from getting a swelled head.
7337953 I can't tell if I should be insulted or not.
7338155 From ME that's a compliment because my definition of 'fix fic' is 'addresses a problem with the episode in a way the show might ACTUALLY DO'.
Most people, however, seem to have the definition of 'verbally assault the character or characters I personally blame for this issue I have with the show', which is by my definition an Accusation Fic rather than a Fix Fic..
This my definition of a Fix Fic because it addresses an issue with the show in a way I could actually see happen, so to me, that's a good thing.
I could see this ACTUALLY HAPPENING in the show and it doesn't feel like it's so purpose for existing is to beat up the Wonderbolts.
I do feel Rainbow just quitting may be a little out of character, but it's not enough to ruin it for me, and overall this is much better than a lot of so called 'fix fics' about this episode that consist of 'several pages of the Wonderbolts being put through a verbal wringer and being handed the 'I'm the bad guy' hat for the duration'.
Sorry if that wasn't clear, this was meant as a sincere compliment.
7338169 Oh. OK. I'm still new to this site other than writing fics and blogs. But I often find myself at thinking up Fix Fics in my head. "Newbie Dash" is the only Fix Fic I have ever written. ("Daughter of Magic" I have just figured is an Accusation Fic. I hate "Canterlot Wedding" with the fury of a thousand suns.)
7338191 Ah, gotcha.
At least you're able to CALL it an accusation fic, and the plot, from the summary at least, seems to be a fairly unique premise.
That's more than a lot of writers.
My advice when writing Fix Fics is to remember that people don't make mistakes JUST to make mistakes, even if they're wrong or their logic is flawed, good people who make mistakes do have their reasons.
felt as though i just read a leaked alt ending for the episode (its very good)
I like this story