! Darn... I don't know about you, but to me, 2022 passed FAST! Then again, with all the crap that happened around the world, maybe that's for the better 
.
). Details are here:
! Check it out!
Apr
7th
2019
How far are you willing to go to help a reckless friend? · 8:51am Apr 7th, 2019
Let's say that your friend ran someone over with her car while driving drunk. Now, she has to face the consequences, that will most likely ruin her life, but you have the authority to save her from the punishment.
Knowing that using your power in the given situation would be 100% unethical – would you do it anyway?
That's the question Twilight will have to ask herself in the latest chapter:
Huk ·
126k words
· 281
46 ·
6.1k views
Sometimes, there are no right answers… 
you are right..... sometimes there are no right and easy answers...... but what Rainbow has done, is utterly unforgivable.... she has committed a very harsh, potentially FATAL assault on an innocent being, all for the sake of a utterly fucked up prank...... even IF John survives and even IF he decides to not press charges, there HAS to be some form of serious punishment towards her...... and getting kicked out of the Wonderbolts would be a MILD punishment compared to her crime
5040217
Honestly, I'm not so sure about the 'unforgivable' part… Yes, Dash fucked up big time, (and it's not the first time either – the whole '28 Pranks Later' debacle), and yes, she should be punished for it.
But… I would still draw a line between what she did, and a drunk driver example above. I agree that the final outcome is… pretty messed up, but if we allow our anger to subside for a moment, then we will see that there really are some extenuating circumstances.
Both John and she were at the wrong place at the wrong time. That doesn't excuse what she did, but... is ruining her life's dream for a single mistake (even if that mistake was a biggie) an appropriate punishment?
I don’t know… personally, I don't believe that in most circumstances a punishment should work like that, but… maybe it's just me
5040230
Look l get what you are saying, l really do... but allow me to explain why l say that it is an 'unforgivable act'.....l can't exactly remember where l read it, but as part of her training to become a weather-pony, she has had to go through a course in weather safety, which will have included the subject of lightning and it's effect of living beings.... Now she as a Pegasus is largely immune to injuries caused by lighting, griffons to a lesser degree.... but she would have KNOWN that none-Pegasi creatures, such as minotaurs, diamond dogs, unicorns and earth ponies are fully capable being injured and/or outright killed by lightning, there is a reason why they seek shelter during a storm after all.... even IF it had been James and she knew that it really was James, she still doesn't know if he would be able to take and survive a lightning bolt, even with his armor and nanobots...... but this fact, her lessons in safety, not to mention all the times she has been told by both him and her friends to lay off the pranks or someone might get hurt..... all these things are something, that she will-fully chooses to utterly IGNORE due to her own arrogance and desire to have fun at the cost of others...
and yes... l know that this is very harsh of me, when compared to a case of drunk driving.... but in that case, the mind is clouded and fuzzy under the influence of alcohol, so your actions can be called mentally impaired and thus the punishment can be milder..... but here... l am sorry to say it (cause l love Dash when she is not an arrogant ego-ass) Dash is neither drunk, nor high on drugs, she is in a clean state of mind, and fully aware about what she is doing.
5040244
In my canon, pretty much all creatures of Equestria are – more or less – lightning resistant, due to the magic around them (James is also immune, but it will mess up his electronic parts for a while).
That said, I understand what you mean, I'm just not sure about the level of punishment she should receive.
In any case, I will be looking forward for your feedback when I publish the next chapter
5040257
Ah, see.. l did not that that would be your canon :P.... in any case... l am EAGERLY looking forward to the next chapter, l love your stories, and just started re-reading the first of the stories
I am going to do something I something that I don't normally do, Defend Rainbow Dash.
.....I can not condone the stripping of Rainbows Wonderbolt Status. She worked Damn Hard for it and one fuck up shouldn't cost her that, no matter HOW bad the fuck up was. This should be used as a Learning Experience, a Warning.
Yes she fucked up bad, yes she just about killed a person, but in the end it shouldn't cost her what she has EARNED.
The way I see it, I would Pardon her no matter the outcome that happens to me. I would gladly have my Rank stripped, my Wings cut off and myself Exiled. She will LEARN from this! She is IS Leaning from this! She is Terrified and she is going to have to live with what she did for the rest of her life, see it in her Dreams, see it whenever she closes her eyes. Is THAT not punishment enough?
5040590
Ah, yes - it is interesting to see you writing this
But, yeah - what you said is pretty much whe I have mixed feelings about this whole situation...
In real life, in most countries, we have certain professions that require clean criminal record, and while it makes sense to me to deny people access to those professions IF they conducted a crime that is related to them somehow - I never understood why something completely unrelated should cost someone a career.
If Dash had done something reckless while performing a Wonderbolts show, and THAT would make someone paralyzed then YES, I would say, she should not be a Wonderbolt ever again. But, in the situation that transpired? Hmm...
That said, using a royal pardon also seems wrong to me... and Celestia's reaction seems understandable.
5041141
True I agree with that, if this was WONDERBOLT Related then YES she shouldn't be one anymore. But this is NOT Wonderbolt related.
I agree she must face SOME type of repercussion for what she did, but not what Celestia hinted at. If I were in Celestias Shoes I would issue a ruling that Dash must pay John 5% of her income for the next 5 years, she must help him while he is healing and to throw in a little Humility she must do so while in a Maids outfit designed and made by Rarity.
As for the Royal Pardon? Royal Pardons have been used in the past to clear up disputes and are typically Blanket pardons for all crimes BUT have been used for just single crimes too. What Compounds this situation even more is Rainbow is the element of Loyalty, throwing her in Jail would Break Harmony and Render the Elements useless or Worse, Taking away Rainbows dream could SHATTER her mental wellbeing or worse.
That's a question that cannot be answered just like that. Is the friend regretting their reckless action? Do they vow to make it better in the future? And to help the family of the one they killed by doing what is necessary to compensate them for their loss?
If yes, then a punishment is unnecessary and would only happen to enact revenge. Punishment should never be used as a means of revenge.