Prompt #68: Rainbow Dash finally gets accepted into the Wonderbolts
“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh.”
Spitfire laughed at Rainbow Dash’s continued enthusiasm. She never ceased to be amazed by the adoration the young pegasus held for the Wonderbolts, and it was as pleasing as it was grating.
“Okay, Rainbow, let’s cut the fangirling. You ready to train?”
Rainbow Dash looked down at herself, hooves clutched to her cheeks and legs bent in subconscious supplication to her hero. She coughed awkwardly and stood straight.
“Uh, yeah. Training. Right.”
Spitfire smiled to put her new protege at her ease. They still had a while to go before Rainbow would be comfortable with them, but... well, that didn’t exactly matter.
~
The day was clear and bright, and training continued apace. Rainbow Dash, for all her childish glee, showed all the skill and grace that had brought her to the Wonderbolts’ attention in the first place. Spitfire watched from a nearby cloud as Rainbow effortlessly lapped Soarin.
She couldn’t stop staring. The power of the filly. Whether the Element of Loyalty had enhanced her abilities or it was sheer natural talent, Rainbow was beautiful to behold. Her eyes lingered on Rainbow’s wings, tracing every contour of every feather as they flung her through the air.
Yes, she would serve the Wonderbolts well.
~
The dying glow of the sun cradled Rainbow’s face, and once again Spitfire found herself unable to look away. They stood at the door of Rainbow’s new room, Rainbow’s hoof on the door to enter. Something had made them pause, some feeling in the air that neither of them was quite ready to acknowledge.
“Uh... listen, I just wanted to say, yknow... thanks for letting me in. I mean... seriously.”
Spitfire smiled warmly.
“Dash, you’re the best flyer Equestria has ever seen. The only reason you don’t hold every record is because you never let us take readings. We need your wings.”
Rainbow returned the smile, a genuine grin that broke Spitfire’s heart.
She almost couldn’t bring herself to knock Rainbow out.
~
Dim lamps lit the cold stone room, a necessary inconvenience to keep this place off the grid. Spitfire took a deep breath and hoisted Rainbow’s limp form onto the stone slab. The shadow of their goddess loomed over the unconscious pegasus
She hated this place. It was so cliche, so... uncool. A wry smile crept onto her features as she sensed Dash’s influence. Already she had wormed her way into Spitfire’s mind. Still, what must be done must be done.
Her fellow Wonderbolts emerged from the shadows, wearing the purple uniforms of their ancestors. They nodded, and she commenced.
“Mare in the Moon, we pray to thee. In wings be strength, let hers be ours.”
The statue began to glow, and the brightening light made Rainbow stir. Spitfire’s stomach turned. It was so much worse when they were awake.
Icy hands of shadow swirled into being around the statue, snaking their way toward the twitching Rainbow. They gripped her wings tightly, and Rainbow awoke, her eyes snapping open in fear and surprise.
“Whoa, whoa, what the hay is going on? Where am I?!”
The hands tightened, and Rainbow cried out in pain. Spitfire sighed, and her fellow Shadowbolts moved closer. Rainbow’s eyes widened as Spitfire leant in close, their muzzles almost touching. A look of hunger and regret consumed Spitfire’s face, and she choked the words free.
“In wings be strength, Dash.”
Rainbow struggled harder, but the hands clamped down and Spitfire heard the bone crack. She felt the energy begin to enter her, felt the ritual being in earnest. Soon the hands would start to pull.
“We need your wings.”
~~~~~
Note: This one is kinda weird. I got the time-conversion wrong and thought I only had 40 minutes, so this got about 5 minutes thinking and 20 minutes writing. It really, really shows. But it definitely turned out a little better than I thought it would, and I think I did an okay job of horror on the "a clear reason makes a thing less scary" basis.