Lunchtime in the Cafeteria:
“How are you feeling now Lightning?” Vaper asked with Sky standing next to her. The pair of ponies having managed to recover from their busy morning.
Meanwhile, It had taken some encouragement from several Wonderbolts to persuade Lightning to take the hangover cure. She was now finally beginning to feel normal enough to risk a couple of small bites of food.
Word had also managed to travel to all of the staff and the Wonderbolts on the base about Spitfire's office, at her behest, they'd tried to keep it from the cadets. Although it was hard to hide that there was something going on in there.
Soarin, Fleetfoot and Blaze had spent the rest of the morning shut away in trying to clean it up. After leaving Lightning under Thunderlane's supervision, Spitfire and Rainbow had gone to take a look at the cellar, only to find that the door was left ajar with the key still in the lock.
Upon a proper examination of the room, Spitfire confirmed that nothing else had been taken apart from one and a half bottles of drink. The half a bottle as Spitfire had explained to Rainbow being a bottle she'd opened the last time they'd had a celebration.
Locking the door and reclaiming the key, Spitfire said “Dash, you can't tell anyone about this cellar, not even another Wonderbolt. Now that you know where it is. My “predecessor” left it to my discretion how much I told new recruits. I made the decision not to share it with everyone encase anyone got any smart idea's. Sure, every Wonderbolt knows the cellar is somewhere in the academy grounds. But only maybe a dozen ponies alive know where, and now so do you.”
“So that narrows down the suspects right?”
“Not really. everypony but myself and Soarin are either retired or no longer a Wonderbolt for 'other' reasons. So we're back where we started. Someone might have found the entrance by dumb luck.”
“But why did you show me where it was?” Rainbow queried
“Because Soarin was away and I know you didn't know about it, so that means your both clean. Look Dash, I know I made Lightning your responsibility while she's here. This seems so unlike her, but we have to face facts. If you can prove she's not guilty, I'll let this go. But the timing is too coincidental. Either she's behind it or she's working with whoever it.”
“Spitfire” Rainbow protested. “You didn't see the state she was in when I found her, she was living in a park. A literal park, sleeping on benches and stuff. There is no way she could be working with someone.”
“Maybe.” she conceded. “But as I said. The timing is really bad for her if she is innocent. Otherwise, she won't have to worry about running away again, I'll kick her out for good.”
Seeing that the corridor was clear, the two of them stepped out from the hidden entrance and walked down the hallway like they'd been walking the whole time.
Rainbow then split off to check up on Lightning while Spitfire headed for an update on the office repairs.
Spitfires Office:
Stepping inside, Soarin turned to look at Spitfire with a grim expression. “We've had to take the desk from the classroom. It's not ideal but it should be serviceable. I've also sent Tight Ship off with most of the trophies to see if he can find a smith in Canterlot to repair them.”
“Good work.”
“So?” Fleetfoot asked “Did you find any clues as to who did this yet? Because this is not what we wanted to be doing returning from our vacation.
“No, but I can't rule out a Wonderbolt whose been at the academy. I asked you three to clean up the office because you only came back this morning. Whoever was responsible has been here since yesterday.”
“Is it true Lighting is back?” asked Blaze
“I saw her downing a cure special” Soarin interjected.
“Circumstantial!” Interrupted Spitfire before the three of them could make any assumptions “These strange occurrences started happening the moment she arrived with Dash yesterday. So far Rainbow has been vouching for her every step right up until someone poured half a bottle of Molotov Phoenix-tail in Lightnings soup last night.”
The three ponies gasped.
“Half a bottle? On an empty stomach!” Soarin was the first one to get any words out.
“Poor girl,” said Blaze
Fleetfoot followed up “That totally sucks.”
“To follow it up,” continued Spitfire “A second bottle is missing. Rainbow didn't know about the cellar, Thunderlane confirmed Rainbow's surprise at not knowing about it, that doesn't rule out the cadets, but that makes it more unlikely.”
Soarin face hoofed “You gave her the old no pony knows where it is routine?”
Spitfire replied haughtily “Wonderbolt tradition, besides she wasn't lying when she didn't know about it.”
Soarin followed up “You actually showed it to her? You made me take an oath not to reveal it's exact location.”
“Circumstances prevail Soarin. Besides, she's seen what half a bottle can do on a full stomach, that should deter her from trying anything”
“So have you got any suspects?” Blaze interrupted
“None!” Confirmed Spitfire “But this attacker seems to know us inside out, well enough to wreck both the Dizzitron and a cloud maker, plus they seemed to know where the cellar was.”
“I don't know what I'd do next” Soarin spoke up after a few moments
“But If I was responsible, I'd probably be out to get somepony specific with stunts like that. Certainly, everything so far has looked like the person has been able to make a quick escape or move unseen.”
“That's not a lot of help,” Spitfire added. “Although good idea trying to get into the saboteur's head. We can't set some sort of trap when we don't know who is doing this or why. The only problem is the only people involved so far have been Dash and Dust.”
“hmm” Soarin thought. “Who would be out to get either of them?”
“Well not a lot of Wonderbolts are exactly thrilled with Lighting Dust” replied Fleetfoot.
“On the other hoof, everyone has got to be at least a little jealous of Rainbow Dash. I mean her speed and that Sonic Rainboom.” Blaze followed up.
“So” Spitfire concluded “Either it's one of them or possibly someone out to get them. That just makes the list of suspects longer!”
The Other side of the Academy:
Rainbow finally sauntered into the cafeteria striding up to the three ponies huddled in one corner of an otherwise vaguely bustling room.
“So what's the verdict? Feeling better Lightning?”
“I don't want to know what was in that stuff, but I'm feeling much better now I've had something proper to eat.”
“That's good. I don't know what Spitfire has planned for this afternoon but she said you're still grounded for now Lightning, but she still expects you to fly for something special she has this evening.”
“Any idea's what it is?” asked Sky Stinger nervously.
“Nope, and even if I did, I couldn't tell you.”
Vaper narrowed her eye's looking at Rainbow “Is there something your not telling us? We heard there was a lot of commotion going on in spitfire's office.”
“Look, I can't say anything. If there is anything to tell you, Spitfire will let you know. All I know is the same as last night. Someone is going around and messing things up. Just as we were starting to get this one up to speed.” Rainbow idly ruffled up Lightning's mane.
“Quit it, I'm not a child. Rainbow.”
“Oops, forgot myself there for a moment.” apologized Rainbow, “I went into mentoring Scootaloo mode.”
“Scootaloo?” Lightning said. “That kid you told me about who can't fly?”
“Yeah” replied Rainbow. She'll get there someday, or if she doesn't she'll still be awesome.”
“What good is a Pegasus who can't fly?” huffed Lightning.
Thunderlane who was walking past carrying some washing up replied: “You don't know Scootaloo, she's inspired just about every Pegasus in Ponyville, she and the cutie-mark crusaders work harder than nearly any pony else I know.”
Vaper and Sky looked at each other, then at Thunderlane and then at Rainbow who confirmed.
“Yeah, she's like a little sister to me. The only person more awesome than her is me.”
“And where do I come?” Lighting scoffed.
“Your as awesome as you want to be Lightning But if you can make it as a Wonderbolt, maybe just then you'll be a close second to Scoots.”
“She must really be something then,” replied Lightning.
“You betcha.” Rainbow turned to Vaper and Sky “Haven't you two got some drills to be doing? But don't work too hard. Remember, Lightning will be right on your tail when your flying tonight.”
The pair of cadets saluted and took their leave. Rainbow took the opportunity to sit down opposite Lightning after getting some food for herself.
“What's really going on Rainbow?” Lightning asked, acutely aware that while she might appear to be the center of trouble, was as much a victim as anyone else.
In hushed tones, Rainbow explained. “Spitfire's office got trashed. We're keeping it from the rest of the cadets. You knowing at this point is mute, either you did it and so you would already know, or if you didn't then you must have been out of it when it happened.”
“Well, I didn't put that stuff in my own drink. Seriously I don't know what was worse, the hangover or that god awful cure.”
“Better that cure than keeping the hangover.” Rainbow pointed out, I'm not sure I want to know what's in it.”
Thunderlane was returning from the kitchen to collect more washing up. “You really don't want to know if you don't have to.” he winked at Lightning.
“So?” Lightning enquired. “What are we doing now?”
“If you're up for it, Spitfire wants you back on the equipment. She emphasized a light workout. She has something planned for this evening, an exorcize we're both familiar with.”
Lightning thought this over a bit. “Wait, Spitfire said about assigning me as a wing pony tonight. That can only be for a flag hunt.”
Rainbow looked around to check the room to make sure all the cadets were out of at least earshot, relieved to see there were no cadet uniforms in the room. “Silver Zoom is running some sort of observation training or something to prepare and keep them distracted. Spitfire didn't tell me the details, but the flying they've got it down, those that are going to make it to the reserves at least.”
“Those that are going to pass?”
“No.” Rainbow stopped Lightning before she could finish that thought. “You're still a long way from passing the grade. As it is, half the Wonderbolts have some respect for taking half a bottle of that stuff, the other half want to see you gone. It's not a team decision though. Even without this chaos, Spitfire still wants you flying through flaming hoops to convince her you're serious about this second chance.”
Lightning balked.
“Metaphorically” Rainbow explained, quickly realizing her bad analogy.
“Well, that's a relief. I'm still not sure I could fly straight at the moment.”
“That brings us getting you back on the exorcize equipment. You're still in no condition to fly. Apparently, there is a normal rule that after a drink Wonderbolt's are grounded for a full day for their own safety. But Spitfire is making an exception, partly because you're not a Wonderbolt yet. That drive to push yourself recklessly might just be needed this one time after all.”
Half an hour later out on the field:
Spitfire came out to give the cadets a quick check on their progress before walking over to properly check on Rainbow's supervision of Lightning.
“Well, nothing else has gone wrong yet I see!”
“It looks like it” Rainbow agreed, Did they turn up anything in your office?”
Shacking her head Spitfire replied “No, nothing. Unless one of your Ponyville friends has made another untimely surprise visit without me knowing, all we can tell is that whoever is responsible is a Pegasus who is likely still here!”
“Well is that good?” Lightning asked.
“No, not really,” Rainbow said signaling Lightning to move onto to wing press-up bench
Spitfire waved Lightning over to the pair of them overriding Rainbow's direction.
“Actually Lightning, you might want to hear this. I finally got the full report on the cloud machine from this morning. Looks like it had been building up for a couple of hours. So you're in the clear on this one. If I had to guess, based on what we know, the person thought you would have been flying the course when it went off. Probably a backup plan encase the drink didn't work. I'm not saying it's the same person as before but it certainly looks like someone is out to put you out. So it could still be a Wonderbolt behind at least part of this.”
“No, they would never” Rainbow tried to protest before Spitfire shut her up with a wing.
“Currently the only ponies I can account for are myself, Soarin, Fleetfoot, Blaze, Thunderlane and you two. I'm beginning to wonder if I need to call in a favor from Fire Streak. Somepony who knows things around here as well as I do.”
“If you're going to bring somepony in, How about Rarity or Twilight?” Rainbow suggested pushing Spitfires wing away.
“I've already ruled that out. This isn't a fashion parade or one of your friendship problem's Dash, This is a Wonderbolt problem.”
“So that's a no on an outside investigator?” Lightning piped up reminding the two Wonderbolt's of her presence.
“No, and I'm not going to call in Fire Streak unless I have to. Dust, you're currently in the clear. In the meantime, Rainbow you know Sky and Vaper, what's your current recommendation? Who should I pair Lightning with? Because I've still got Mountain Haze to assign to a Lead Pony.”