Plot Bunny Theater: Rainbow Dash, Single Mother · 4:39pm Feb 18th, 2020
There's just one change to the story of Friendship is Magic: Rainbow Dash is a single mother. She had a male rival/friend at Flight Academy, who was named Thundercloud. Both of them wanted to join the Wonderbolts, but took different routes: Dash became a weather control officer, and Thundercloud went into the Royal Guard to get military service and experience. The night before he left, they had sex, he left, and Dash ended up pregnant. Thundercloud unfortunately was lost in action, missing and presumed dead.
And so, Dash gave birth to and raised little Thunderbolt, a colt, all by herself. He is reckless, aggressive, cocky and competitive-Much like Dash herself when she was that age. So Dash has had to grow up a little sooner. She has to be a bit more mature... For him.
How does MLP change?
I would see Thunderbolt and Scottaloo being best friends with rainbow dash getting involved as her big sister a lot earlier. It would probably also mean Rainbow dash would be more involved with the CMC's antics.
Rainbow Dash might also be more careful with her stunts due to having a child, so maybe the rainboom doesn't happen the second time
Wouldn't it be For Him?
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On the contrary: she would have trained even harder to become a Wonder Bolt. What would have changed would have been her reasons: Wonder Bolts must have incredible pay and benefits.
Would she have even gone into the Everfree that first night? The prospect of orphaning Thunderbolt might make her hesitate.
Or the second rainboom does happen for a different reason. Perhaps catching a falling Scootaloo during a flight attempt.
Well shit, you’re the writer, tell us!
Going off the top of my head, RD would definitely not be as reckless as she was originally portrayed. There’ll be SOME recklessness, and I can picture her training her son in a pretty intense fashion, but nothing dangerous.
I also believe she would not go into the Everfree Forest of her own volition. She’s the element of loyalty, and right now, her loyalty is to her son. I don’t think she’d ever put herself in the position of possibly orphaning him. He’s already lost his father, after all. The only way I see her tagging along is if her boy chases after the other 5 and RD has to chase him down to bring him back, at which point they’ll all be united for the final battle.
She’s definitely be the reluctant hero type, in my opinion. I don’t think she’d want to be traversing all of equestria saving the day because she has a kid at home. But her reckless kid would definitely force her along.
Dash and Fluttershy’s friendship would be impacted by an adorable kid that Auntie Flutters would help with. Given their closeness and long friendship people may assume they are dating, whether or not this is true. Either way Thunderbolt definitely grows up with two mommies.
Thunderbolt definitely joins the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the mayhem is increased significantly.
Applejack and Rainbow have another subject to bond on, Applejack having taken a major role in raising Applebloom. And, having kids of the same age, they probably know each other in passing. As rival soccer moms if nothing else.
I actually think Rainbow would be even more likely to go into the Everfree. But more cautious. She has to protect her family, but more she has to protect everyone’s family. Nightmare Moon gobbles up foals, and while it may be a legend she’s still the one with most to fight for except Applejack and maybe Rarity.
Something else to consider would be fan theories regarding Scootaloo being an orphan. Remember that the series took forever and a half to even reveal that Scoots sleeps in a bedroom, let alone mention any relatives of hers whatsoever.
Thus, if Scoots happened to either be a street urchin or just happens to have a shitty home situation, how long until a more mature Rainbow adopts her?
Sounds like she wouldn't be as brash and reckless as she is in canon. If anything, though, she'd be even more suited to be Loyalty and might react more supportive and intelligently (or at least more maturely) to the canon situations.
Of course she'd also be less able to go on excursions. "Sorry, I can't go with you girls to Appleloosa; Thunderbolt has school and he's not old enough to leave alone."
Or like when Applejack ran off to Dodge Junction, Dash's keen "you got in trouble" sense would have skipped half the episode and gotten right to the end: "AJ, I know you're lying."
AJ: "Ah ain't lyin'! Ah'm the element o' Honesty, ain't I?"
Momma Dash: "Lying by omission is still lying. You think I wouldn't notice how you're acting, little missy? Thunderbolt acts the same way when he knows he's in for trouble and doesn't want to face the music, so what's got you so bothered that you're running away from Ponyville?"
AJ: "Little missy? Ah'm a year older than you."
MD: "That won't stop me from dragging your plot back to your family if you don't tell us the story right now. Act like an adult and talk to us."
AJ: "...It's embarrassin'"
MD: "Oh, like pushing out a tiny colt from—"
Pinkie Pie: "NO, OUR TV E RATING!"
MD: "...Wasn't... embarrassing... What are you on about, Pinkie?"
Pinkie: "Oh, nothing. By the way, Applejack's running off."
Dash, Twilight, Rarity, Flutters: "WHAT?!" *They see an AJ-shaped dust cloud where the farm pony was standing a moment before.*
Twilight: "After her!"
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That would have been cool.
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Dash would also have a means of bonding with Rarity: As Rarity is essentially a second mom to Sweetie Belle and she would be a big help to Dash in how to raise Thunderbolt.
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It occurs to me. Between Single Mom Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Auntie Fluttershy, and Twilight being Spike's Sister/Mom? The just leaves Pinkie out of the 'raising a kid' crowd. There's some meat there I think.
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She could babysit Thunderbolt. That's a lot of potential fun.