splash splash
"Dearie, your mane is in an awful state" Rarity was helping Lightning wash her mane. "I'm just glad I got to it when I did."
Lightning replied sheepishly "thanks Rarity, it feels great just to be able to wash again."
"WHAT?" yelled Rainbow Dash who was in the room next door.
"Rarity, you have to hear this," she said as she walked through the doorway and began to read from the paper.
"The paper reported Wind Rider's dismissal from the Wonderbolts, that was like forever ago."
"Wait? Wind Rider got dismissed?" Said Lightning "He's one of my Hero's"
"Hold still" Rarity protested.
"I can't fix your mane if you keep moving."
"Sorry again Rarity for all this trouble." Lightning submitted.
Rarity followed up "It's really no trouble, a friend of Rainbow's is a friend of mine, and I simply could not let a crime like your mane go unfixed."
Rainbow explained, "A few months back when the Bolts were doing a show in Canterlot, I was there as a reserve and Spitfire might have dropped a hint to Wind Rider that someone might be getting close to beating one of his old records."
"Don't be so modest dear" Rarity interjected, "he was jealous that you might beat his record could, it's not nice to be superseded, but there was no way to behave the way he did."
"As I was saying" Rainbow giving Rarity an annoyed glance "He tried to frame me for Spitfire's disappearance, but thanks to Rarity and her investigation skills, she helped clear my name and show his true colors."
"I always thought he was always so nice. When he retired It was one of the saddest days of my life. I'd hoped one day to fly with him." Lightning said disappointedly
"Turns out he's just a selfish jerk, all he thought about was having an unbeaten record." Rainbow explained.
"There we go, it's not my best work but at least you should be presentable," said Rarity who had finally finished washing and re-styling Lighting's Mane and tail.
"If we had more time, maybe we could get it done by a professional"
"who wouldn't faint now." Rarity said to herself.
"I believe someone promised a meal" she continued "It's not quite The Tasty Treat from Canterlot but there is a restaurant just around the corner it's really quite good, they serve a very filling meal for a very reasonable price."
"That sounds good to me," said Rainbow Dash.
Half an hour later:
Sitting down at a table in the Restaurant Rarity asked
"So what are your plans now?"
"I don't know, Rainbow said that Spitfire wants to talk to me, maybe give me another chance?"
"Yeah. That's right." Rainbow said
"If your willing to rein in that show-boating ego of yours and just show Spitfire what you've got, and not cause a disaster. Knowing when not to push yourself and your partner too far. Then I think she'll give you a serious chance."
Lightning Dust cringed "I will try."
"No need to be so hard on her Dash" Rarity said "Just remember, they're looking for people who can work well in a team, just remember that and you'll be fine. They already know you're a good flier, otherwise, they would not have accepted your application in the first place."
“I think I got it, less reckless and more responsibility. I've had a lot of time to think about it. I owe the pair of you for giving me a chance.”
"You can pay us back by becoming a Wonderbolt reservist," Said Rainbow.
“Quite.” Agreed Rarity.
“A good show is always worth watching and a good excuse to show off my own fashion designs for the common pony.”
"But you've got some stiff competition, Twilight and I spent last weekend training Sky Stinger and Vapor Trails while helping them with their friendship problem. Spitfire seems to be very keen on putting them straight into the reserves once they've finished the Academy Training."
"Oh? A couple of excellent fliers?" Lighting said picking her voice.
"Yeah, they'd been holding each other back by not being honest with each other. After we finished setting them straight, they both qualified as lead ponies at the academy. Spitfire even jokingly said they had more potential than me." Dash explained.
By now Lighting was sitting straight up in rapt attention.
Rarity added “Well it sounds like you really do have your work cut out for you Lightning. I guess when Rainbow joined the reserves, they really raised the bar.”
"But I know you can do it Lightning," Rainbow replied, "You just need to cut the attitude and however good they are, I know you can give them a run for their money."
"That sounds like a plan," said Lightning. "But I'm really not sure about Spitfire."
"Hey" Said Rainbow "I'm going with you. I didn't search the entire of Manehatten just to get you cleaned up. Besides Spitfire wants me back, and if I can make sure everything is fair, then I'll be helping a friend get on the team, but remember this time you'll be my wing pony."
"Duly noted."
Mid-afternoon: Wonderbolt Academy
Two Pegasi landed on the Academy lawn as a bunch of ponies flew past, around the track. Lightning Dust kept her head down but stuck close to Rainbow as they watched the ponies finish another lap before being dismissed.
"So," said Spitfire walking up. "What have you got here Dash? Finally found Bite I see?"
"Bite?" Lightning asked
Spitfire explained. "Lightning Dust, Bite the Dust Bite"
Rainbow Dash "It's a nickname, all the Wonderbolts have one. Because your the first pony to 'disappear' you were awarded an honorary nickname, but don't expect it to last, you still have to earn it."
Spitfire followed up. "Earn it? The whole team wants to see what you've got. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to give these ponies a dressing down. So I'll see you in my office in 5 minutes if you can find your way this time? I'm sure Crash here can make sure you don't get lost again!"
After Spitfire had jogged off to yell at some other ponies. Lightning said "I must need my ears cleaned. Did she call you Crash?"
"Crash is my Wonderbolt nickname. It's a long story but when I got bumped up from the reserved, I maaay have tried to showboat a little, yeah it might have backfired a bit."
"What did you do? Crash into a thundercloud in the middle of a routine?"
"Now that is a Wonderbolt secret! You get into the reserves and maybe you'll have earned the right to hear the story, Maybe."
5 minutes later they were waiting in Spitfires office when the door burst open.
"RIGHT! Now would you two mind explaining what the hell you're doing here? And why the hell every post from the runway to my office is broken?" Spitfire demanded.
"Wait, what?" Rainbow said.
"You heard me Crash, why did the two of you break a load of posts?"
"It wasn't me and the only time I took my eyes off Lightning was when she needed the toilet."
"Well someone broke them and I don't like sabotage, So is that why you came back Lightning? To trash the place?"
"No!" Lightning looked horrified. "I would never. Being a Wonderbolt is my dream."
"Well if you didn't do it, then I need to find out who did. So your here to try out for the Wonderbolts?"
"Yes Ma'am, I will do whatever it takes ma'am"
Lightning said Saluting having taken pointers from Rainbow Dash while they had waited.
"Really? Because I'm not going easy on you, just because you've proven to be a capable flier. We're halfway through a recruitment process at the moment and I would not normally add another pony into the roster at this point, but we've got an odd number of fliers and Sky and Vaper both need a wing pony and I've got one wing pony left to assign. I don't have time at the moment to oversee your tests, so I'll leave that up to Rainbow to get you up to speed. Depending on how you do, I'll see which one I'll assign you to tomorrow evening. Now get going before I change my mind. Oh and Lightning. Don't blow this chance, you won't get another."
"Sir, Yes Sir!" Lightning replied before Rainbow ushered her out of the room at the Dismissal.
Once the door closed behind them Rainbow gave a sigh of relief.
"Well, that went worse than I expected. With someone breaking things, that makes things more complicated. But I know it wasn't you. I hope Spitfire catches them quickly because with Cadets running around it makes it a lot easier to point hoofs at people falsely."
"Like that story, you told me about Wind Rider framing you?"
"Yeah, Lightning. Exactly like that, which is why I need to solve it."
"I thought you were supposed to be 'bringing me up to speed'?"
"Yes, but if you help me find out who was responsible then that'll go along way to getting Spitfire to trust you again."
"I don't know, this sounds like the sort of reckless thing I'm not supposed to be doing remember?"
"Well we've got a lot of ground to cover and a lot of things to do, so I can at least ask around the other recruits if they have seen anything suspicious."
"Yeah, I guess it wouldn't hurt."
"Good, Now get your lazy ass moving Recruit. 1, 2, 1, 2, Hop to it."
Lightning tilted her head at Rainbow Dash. "Seriously? You haven't even told me where to go."
"Well, first of all, you need to get changed and then to the Dizzitron to start with obviously. Now get to it!"
As they emerged into the sunlight out of the shadow of the building, the rest of the recruits had all lined up having caught their breath from their endurance flight. Vaper Trail and Sky Stinger were standing at the head of the group.
Vaper Trail stepped forward and asked "What's going on Dash? We heard the commotion about the broken posts."
Sky Stinger stepped up next to Vaper Trail and asked "And why is there another pony in Training gear?" indicating Lightning Dust.
"An Investigation is ongoing, and I'd like you all to meet Lightning Dust."
Rainbow gestured Lightning to step forward having taken a position a couple of steps behind Dash although she kept her head down. She's going to be training with you all starting tomorrow evening."
murmured voices came from the assembled crowd.
"Training with us?" Vaper asked.
"Yeah," Rainbow confirmed. "It's a long story, Lightning Dust actually trained as part of my group and could have been a Wonderbolt by now, but she dropped out. Because of how well she excelled, Spitfire has agreed to make an exception and submit her into your group since your a pony down. Vaper Trail, Sky Striker. Spitfire told me Lightning Dust WILL be one of your wing ponies. And some of you might think Lightning Dust should be a Lead Pony when you see her fly. But because of the manner in which she dropped out, Lightning Dust is not ready to be a lead pony. So haven't you all got some exorcizes to be doing?"
This brought a collective groan.
"And if you do see, something suspicious, you tell me or you tell Spitfire right away."
The group reluctantly trotted off to another part of the training ground for their next session while Rainbow Dash escorted Lightning to the Dizzitron.
"So do you want to do normal or push yourself this time Recruit?"
"It's been a while since I did any excessive flying. So I'm gonna go normal and work my way up from there," said Lighting Dust half confidently
"Good choice. Not that you had one."
Lightning flew up to the Bar while Rainbow took the stopwatch and adjusted the controls.
"Are you ready?"
“Ready as I'll ever be.” Lightning gulped as she silently prayed to be able to maintain her composure.
Rainbow Dash started up the machine and let it get up to speed before letting Lightning Dust fly.
“9 Seconds Lightning. Your slipping.”
“Again. I want another go.”
“Are you sure Lightning?”
“I said, I want to go again. How can I hope to match up if I can't come even close to my original time?”
“You make a good point. Ok, get back on while I reset the controls.”
This time while Lightning was spinning she saw someone meddling with the Dizzitron and saw it begin to topple over towards Rainbow Dash.
"LOOK OUT" Lightning try to yell out, but she was still coming out of her spin to get the words out clearly.
Rainbow was still oblivious to the falling Dizzytron so Lighting zoomed forward as fast as she could knocking Rainbow Dash over as the machine finally fell over missing the pair of Ponies by inches.
"GET OFF ME!" Rainbow yelled.
Finally standing up she said, "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know, I saw a shadow at the back of the machine while in spin. I tried to warn you."
"Just great, what we really needed, a saboteur at the Academy."
Spitfires Office: 10 minutes later
"WOULD ONE OF YOU PONIES LIKE TO EXPLAIN HOW MY DIZZITRON BROKE?"
Lowering her voice Spitfire continued.
“That's going to cost a lot of bits to repair. And it just happened to be right where you were at that precise moment to save the day Lightning Dust? A likely story. I don't know how yet, but when I catch you, you'll be expelled from the academy for good. It's only because you saved Rainbow Dash that I haven't expelled you already!”
"I swear, I saw a shadow when I was in the spin."
"A likely story, more likely that you broke it to fall as you used it."
Spitfire was nose to nose with Lightning Dust.
"Next time I'll catch you breaking something, I'll expel your ass so hard you'll be looking for it all the way from Saddle Row to Saddle Arabia. Is that understood Cadet?”
“Yes Ma'am,” said Lightning who was shrinking under spitfire's burning gaze.