Rainbow awoke from her peaceful slumber, dazed and confused, as her mind desperately attempted to comprehend the world around her, and as her eyes grudgingly adjusted to the light. Whilst a younger version of herself would have done little to resist the pain of waking up, instead deciding to give in to her mind’s urge to fall back to sleep, she had since joined the Wonderbolts. Thus, she had gained more discipline in dealing with the struggle, that came upon her from readjusting to reality, and was now able to get out of her soft bed at the early times her new job required. She slowly shook her head and blinked a few times, as if to speed up her mind’s recovery, to allow her to move on with her day without the restraint of being stunned and tired.
She was about to move from her comfortable position, when her white door crashed open. Her parents emerged from the corridor, greeting her with a tray that held a delicately made meal. It contained two fried eggs, giving of a delightful aroma, with a perfect dash of parsley sprinkled onto them that was certain to offer a splendid rush of flavour, without becoming overwhelming. Three slices of brown breaded toast were also present at the side of the plate, with corn yellow butter smeared all over the otherwise healthy cuisine. Just how Rainbow liked it. Steam rose from the plate, giving of an amazing scent that soothed Rainbow’s senses, causing her to energetically arise from her sleeping position. Her mind having completely adjusted to reality.
“Aw, thanks you guys. You didn’t need to do this.”
“Oh, but we did dear. You had such an awful night last night that we just had to make you feel better. It’s our jobs ya know.” Windy said in a welcoming tone.
“Yeah… But you’re my guests here. I should be takin’ care ‘a you for once.”
“Come now Dashy, you’re still our daughter, and you just weren’t yourself last night. So like it or not, we’re gonna care for ya.”
“Ha, okay dad… But seriously you guys, thank you… For everything lately.”
“Oh, you’re welcome Dashy, we’re just being your awesome parents! Now eat your breakfast sweetie.”
“Well if you say so mom.” Rainbow said sarcastically, winking at her mother.
Windy then took the trey and placed it next to Rainbow, who then quickly began to devour the meal as if she hadn’t eaten for days! Showing the etiquette of a new born foal as she indulged in the exquisitely made dish. Rainbow had practically finished the meal when her parents sat beside her.
“So, Rainbow, what’re our plans for the day? After what you told us last night, it’s more important than ever that we find out more about what Scootaloo’s going through at home.”
“Oh, uh… Yeah dad.” Rainbow bulged out, finishing her final mouthful. “We should be able to… Wait, no. Not today. Sorry you guys, I totally forgot. My friends Rarity and AJ are takin’ Scoots an’ her friends out to Rainbow falls today, as a reward for workin’ so hard lately. There’s this theme park thingy up there for a bit, and those fillies should be just about tall enough to go on most of the rides… We think at least. They wanted me ta go to, but I couldn’t. Spitfire wanted me to do some drills with the new Wonderbolts recruits today, so I had to say no, as much as goin’ out with ‘em would’a been totally awesome!”
“Wait, you didn’t tell us you were going out today?”
“That’s the thing mom, Spitfire cancelled on me just a couple days ago, said that they already had enough staff and that me bein’ there would just ’a been a waste of my time. I guess I could ‘a told Rarity or AJ I could go now, but I’m sure they already had plans, and I didn’t wanna ruin ‘em.”
“Well that was very mature a you Rainbow, I know how much you love theme parks, ‘specially them roller-coasters.”
“Yeah, the adrenaline rush is almost as good as doin’ a Sonic-rainboom! But I know Scootaloo’s gonna love it, and that’s all that matters. Just hope she can get on the rides okay… But hey! At least we get some time together now.”
“Ha, you’re right! Oh, I have SO missed our mother/daughter time. EEK. This is going to be so much FUN!”
“HEY! I’m standing right here!”
“Oh… Sorry Bow. You can join in to.”
“Ha, okay then, there really is no stopping you when ya get excited, is there Windy? But, as long as I got some time with our Dashy, I’m good.”
“Thanks guys. This is gonna be great, I can show you the best spots in Ponyville and we can…”
Rainbow’s speech was interrupted by a loud KNOCK at her front door. The intensity and strength the mystery pony showed in their force on the door suggested that they were either a dominant and strong pony exerting their power, or were there with an important message and had no time for delay. Possibly both.
“Nah! Who’s knocking at this hour.” Rainbow said with an annoyed voice. “One sec’ guys, I’ll be right back.”
Rainbow arose from her bed and headed towards her front door, surprisingly agile for having just woken up. Her parents followed her, intrigued as to who would be visiting somepony else at six in the morning. Rainbow would have told them to wait in her living toom, whilst she dealt with whoever was visiting her, though she ultimately didn’t care if they were there or not. Thus, she just shrugged and allowed them to follow her to the door.
Rainbow opened to the door as quickly as she was able to, curious as to whom would be so forceful in their knock so early in the morning. Ponyville’s residents had not built a reputation as being violent. Though everything was suddenly as clear as the daylight that burst through from Equestria and into her home when she saw the mare at her door. She had a bright, lightning yellow coat, like that of Scootaloo’s mother. As well as a mane and tail of a mustard yellow at the centre, spreading out to a bright orange towards the edges. Her mane was spikey, making her appear confident and stallion like. Her cutie mark showed a light-yellow lightning bolt, with three flames of dark-yellow, light-orange and dark-orange spewing from the top of it.
Whilst it was untraditional for ponies to wear cloths for their everyday activities, Rainbow knew that this mare was visiting on no mundane business, wearing a dark blue suit, with yellow and red buttons, and a lightning bolt badge for accessories. In addition to her iconic dark shades, masking her brown eyes, that had become indistinguishable from the mare herself. Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts and now friend to Rainbow Dash.
“Hey Crash, how are ya?” Spitfire said in a raspy, stallion like voice, though still containing just enough of a high pitch to connote it came from a mare.
“I’m good Spitfire… But what are you doing here? Don’t ya have that drill session with the new recruits today?”
“Yeah… Well about that… em.”
Spitfire showed a blatant contrast to her usual confident demeanour, not looking Rainbow in the eye. She would have usually looked on at anypony with a proud glare, staring down any naive new recruit that dared questioned her authority! As Rainbow knew all to well. Though, now, she appeared week, timid and even afraid of the same pony she had once scalded and mercilessly imposed the nickname “Crash” onto. Rainbow knew exactly what she was there for.
“Let me guess Spitfire, you were with the new guys, but you FINALLY realised that you weren’t gonna get anywhere with ‘em without my awesomeness whippin’ ‘em into shape for ya. Ha, its about time my unrivalled skill and talent was recognised. Maybe I should be captain.”
“HEY! Don’t forget who your boss is! Em… I mean, err, yes, yes. You’re help with these guys would be really appreciated. They’re actually quite a handful, and I know how good you are at keepin’ the little snowflakes who think they’re better than everypony else in line. Soooo… I know we said we weren’t gonna need ya today, but if you’re not busy, would ya mind?”
“ Now whilst I’d love to go and teach those know it all’s a little lesson in teamwork and discipline, I’m sorry Spitfire, I got plans today. My parents here are finally in Ponyville, and I’m gonna show ‘em all the good spots.”
Having focused all her attention on Rainbow Dash, Spitfire hadn’t noticed the proud parents standing directly behind her. Thus, in a sign of respect, Spitfire raised her wing to her head, in a salute to the two ponies who had raised one of the Wonderbolt’s most talented flyers.
“Good day Mister and Misses Dash, I hope you have a wonderful day.”
“Thank you, Miss Spitfire, but there really is no need for the formality, we’re no different from any ordinary ponies, we just so happen to have raised the most awesome pony in Equestria. Speaking off. Rainbow, you simply must go with your friend here, this experience might help you clear your mind from everything that’s happened lately, and I know how much you love showing how tough you are to other ponies. So, go on, have fun, we’ll be fine.”
“But mom, you guys are my guests here, and you helped me so much yesterday. I can’t just leave you alone!”
“Oh, we’ll be fine Dashy.” Bow said, taking a slight pleasure from the fact that he towered over the three mares. “You go enjoy yourself. He, I think we could use a little rest after everything we did yesterday anyway.”
“At least Scootaloo had fun Bow.”
“And that’s all that really matters. But any way, you go have fun Rainbow, you deserve it.”
“Well, if you guys say its okay, then I guess you’re in look Spitfire.”
“Phewph…Thanks for this Rainbow. I hate to admit it, but we really do need your help with this new batch of recruits.”
“It’s nothin’ Spitfire. But you owe me one now, K.”
“Okay Rainbow Crash.”
Rainbow hugged her parents goodbye, before departing with Spitfire to the Wonderbolts academy, where her and Spitfire’s new victims waited for their fate! She couldn’t help but feel guilty for abandoning her parents, especially after her mother had seemed so exited for their time together. Though they both had seemed more than happy for her to go, and were likely correct in their assumption that doing these drills with the recruits would likely clear her mind completely of the prior night’s turmoil. Thus, her guilt cleared quickly, as she became more and more exited for the day that was to come.