A Human, a Pony Princess, and a Mistake
Chapter 20: The Betrayal of Loyalty
The day was almost here. Rainbow’s heart was thundering in her chest with anticipation, even if the qualifiers didn’t start for two days. She had the best damn team she could ask for and they would show all of Equestria at Rainbow Falls!
She knew the Rainbow Falls events were only for the Pegasus qualifiers, but she was sure Tom, backed up by Twilight, could solo any of the unicorn trials and Applejack, Big Mac, and Bon-Bon were sure to clean up in the Earth Pony events. Was it cheap to bring along an Alicorn to the Games? Maybe, but there was no rule against it and without Tom and Twilight, Ponyville didn’t have enough Unicorns to compete. It was nice of the Elements to all come cheer her team on. It was just a shame the rest of the usual suspects had business to attend to.
Rainbow was just thankful there was no rule forbidding Ponies from running multiple events. As much as Dash was more or less friends with all the Pegasai of Ponyville, she didn’t want to imagine Bulk Biceps trying to compete in any of the Pegasus events. He would’ve been much more suited to Earth Pony events if the Games allowed such a thing. But now Dash was just distracting herself with pointless thoughts.
As she saw to her team setting up, who should show up but the Wonderbolts, who were flying for Cloudsdale.
“Hello, Rainbow,” Captain Spitfire greeted amiably.
“Nice to see there’ll be some real competition,” Soarin quipped.
“We may not beat you, but you’ll be in for one heck of a challenge,” Rainbow stated confidently.
“Those Changelings of yours any good at flying?” Fleetfoot asked.
“Us Changelings can be just as fast as any of you Ponies,” Pharynx said coolly.
“Except Rainbow,” Pincer quipped.
“Except Rainbow,” Pharynx agreed.
“I wouldn’t underestimate the Changelings if I were you, Fleetfoot,” Rainbow warned, “Like they said, they can be just as fast and their insectoid wings give them a good edge in general directional mobility.”
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to see it firsthoof,” Fleetfoot remarked, “See you in the air in two day’s time.”
“We have to get back to practice, catch you later, Dash,” At Spitfire’s signal, the rest of the Wonderbolts took to the air.
“So cool…” Rainbow couldn’t help but sigh. Then she turned her attention back to her team.
“OK, Cloud Kicker, Fluttershy, and Pharynx, you’ll all be part of the first event, the relay race. I’ll be handling the 50 and 100 meter sprints alongside Cloud Kicker. Derpy, you and Fluttershy are on the acrobatics team. Fluttershy, you and Pincer will be handling the endurance flying. Pharynx, Pincer, and I will finish it off with the 2 mile race. You all know your assignments and we’ve all been working our flanks off preparing for them. I don’t expect us to place first in every event, but I do expect us to make the cut of top four overall. No matter what happens though, I’m proud of all of you. AM I UNDERSTOOD?!”
“YES MA’AM RAINBOW DASH!” Her team shouted back and her heart swelled with pride.
An hour later, Rainbow called a break. She guided her team over to the Cloudsdale encampment.
“As expected of the Wonderbolts, they are working seamlessly together. See them up there? I know you’re all capable of matching that level flying prowess. I know they’re considered the best flyers in Equestria and my personal heroes, but we’ve got more heart than all of them put together! However, that doesn’t mean we’re not capable of still learning a thing or two. You guys get me?” Rainbow asked.
“Rainbow Dash comparing us to the Wonderbolts? Who’s this soppy mare and what’d you do to the boss?” Cloud Kicker teased.
“Alright, Kicker, you want soppy? Up in the air and give me ten laps!” Rainbow barked. Cloud went happily, laughing all the while, “I swear, that mare…”
Rainbow turned her attention back to the Cloudsdale group just in time to catch Soarin eating a face full of dirt. Rainbow zipped over to him.
“Yo, are you OK?!” Rainbow asked worriedly as the other Wonderbolts and her team caught up with her.
“I think- ack! Nope, I think I busted my wing,” Soarin moaned as his wing hung limply from his side. He was soon carted off to the medical facility that had been set up.
“Hopefully it’s just a sprain and he’ll be fine in time for the competition,” Spitfire sighed.
“But if it isn’t, then we won’t be able to get another Wonderbolt to replace him…” Fleetfoot groaned.
“We can’t let Cloudsdale down like that! There’s gotta be something we can do!” Spitfire exclaimed. Then both she and Fleetfoot looked at Rainbow, “Hey, Dash, you were born in Cloudsdale, weren’t you?”
“We could really use a practice buddy while Soarin is on the mend. If it turns out he’s down for the long term, well, as a born Cloudsdale Pegasus, you could fly with us!” Fleetfoot said excitedly.
“You should do it, Dashie,” Fluttershy spoke up, “It’s always been your dream to fly with the Wonderbolts, even if it is only in practice.”
“We can handle ourselves for a couple of hours and I’ll do my best not to break anything,” Derpy said good naturedly.
“I’ll keep these riffraff in line, Rainbow Dash, ma’am,” Pharynx promised.
“Alright, I’ll practice with you until Soarin is better,” Rainbow tried to play it cool, but secretly she was over the moon.
The next day she was feeling significantly worse. Spitfire had just told her the news. Soarin wasn’t going to be in any shape to fly for the competition.
“Rainbow, we need you. Cloudsdale needs you. We only brought three Wonderbolts because at most the events only require three Ponies. You brought a full complement of six. They can afford to lose you, we can’t,” Spitfire had begged.
Rainbow didn’t know what to do. On the one hoof, she had a commitment to her friends and Ponyville to see them through. On the other, Cloudsdale, where she was born and raised, needed her. She couldn’t just abandon either one! That went against her very nature!
Indecision ate away at her until finally she snapped and did something drastic. She pretended to injure herself. Was it the best solution? No, it still left Cloudsdale without a flyer. But Rainbow wasn’t thinking very clearly.
Tom and Twilight had seen through the act instantly. Rainbow was very possibly a worse liar than Applejack. When the Elements and the Ponyville team had visited Dash in the medical facility, it turned out Rainbow was sharing a room with Soarin. As they were exiting the room, that was when Tom and Twilight had learned something very interesting.
“Captain Spitfire, a word, if you please,” Tom led Spitfire to a secluded corner to talk, “So, why did you tell Rainbow that Soarin was unable to fly when he was never injured in the first place?”
“Well- I- uh-” Spitfire stuttered.
“The truth, Captain, or I’ll be very…displeased,” Tom nearly growled. Spitfire sighed in defeat.
“The truth is gonna require a bit of a story. Just know all we’ve done has been under orders,” Spitfire began.
“Orders? Who can order around the Captain of the Wonderbolts?” Tom asked.
“I’ll get to that. So, this story starts a few years back. I had just been promoted to Captain and in the course of my duties, I sorted the applications to the Wonderbolts. When I read Rainbow’s application, the enthusiasm she had for the ‘Bolts shone like the sun itself. Even if she was half the flyer she is, I would have still taken her into basic training in a heartbeat. That passion is something precious. Unfortunately, it wasn’t up to me,” Spitfire said bitterly.
“I thought you are the one who accepts new recruits?” Tom asked.
“Nope, I only do the initial screening. Even if the Wonderbolts isn’t technically a military organization anymore, there’s still a rank above me: General. It’s the general who gets the final say on who gets into the Wonderbolts. When the general read Rainbow’s application, he denied it so fast your head would spin. At the time, I had no idea why. It would be about a year and a half and several more applications from Rainbow, each holding that same passion, before I got answers,” Spitfire’s face turned stormy.
“I take it those answers weren’t satisfying?” Tom knew the answer just from the look on her face.
“Damn straight they weren’t! General Wind Rider, that’s his name, had somehow found out Rainbow had done a Sonic Rainboom as a filly and that’s why he was denying her!” Spitfire snarled.
“What kind of backwards logic is that? I would think the Wonderbolts would be frothing at the mouth to induct someone who performed the Rainboom at such a young age!” Spitfire just laughed hollowly.
“As Wind Rider’s gotten older, he’s become more and more obsessed with making sure his flying records stand, and I quote, ‘forever’. He knows the instant Rainbow joins the Wonderbolts she’ll smash his records without breaking a sweat,” Spitfire said angrily.
“You do realize that’s abuse of power and will see him stripped of his position, correct?” Tom checked.
“I know. That’s why we were doing what we were here at Rainbow Falls. Wind Rider ordered us to stage Soarin getting hurt in order to lure Dash into joining the Cloudsdale team. I’m guessing he planned to use the scandal of Dash choosing us over her friends to ruin her. Pitting her loyalty to her friends against her loyalty to the place where her parents live and she grew up along with making her think that without her Cloudsdale couldn’t compete…it’s despicable is what it is,” Spitfire growled softly.
“So why are you telling me this now instead of telling someone when you first learned of Wind Rider’s corruption?” Tom asked at Twilight’s behest.
“Wind Rider is my great uncle,” Spitfire confessed, “But I just…I can’t keep covering for him. I’m willing to do a lot for family, but he’s officially crossed the line.”
Tom closed his eyes and listened to Twilight’s input on the matter before speaking.
“Regardless of if it’s a little late; I thank you for telling me the truth about Wind Rider. I’ll get in contact with the proper Ponies and have him removed. You do realize you will suffer some sanctions for your complicity, correct?” Tom asked gently.
“I know. I hoped Wind Rider would go back to how I remember him being as a filly. More fool me, I guess. I’m willing to take any punishment you deem necessary, Princess. Just leave Fleetfoot and Soarin out of it, they were just following orders,” Spitfire requested.
“Your concern for those that serve under you does you credit and will be noted when a punishment is ultimately decided. For now, I have the unenviable job of telling Rainbow that her heroes tried to betray her,” Tom suddenly felt very weary.
“No, I’ll tell her face to face. I owe her that much and so much more,” Spitfire decided her face filled with resolve. They returned to the room where Rainbow and Soarin were staying.
“Captain! I’d stand and salute, but, uh-“
“Drop the act, Soarin. I’ve spilled the beans to Princess Sparkle,” Spitfire told him.
“What do you mean, ‘drop the act’?” Rainbow was confused.
“I was never hurt in the first place,” Soarin admitted, looking anywhere but at Rainbow.
“WHAT?!” Rainbow shouted.
“You can drop the act too, Rainbow. No one bought the wounded puppy act anyway,” Tom said and Rainbow grimaced. Both Pegasai took off their fake bandages.
“So does anyone want to tell me why Soarin was pretending to be hurt?” Rainbow questioned.
“Soarin, go find Fleetfoot, tell her the jig is up,” Spitfire ordered Soarin and he was happy to leave before Rainbow learned the truth.
Spitfire explained everything to Rainbow. She hated herself as she watched Rainbow’s expression turn from confused to heartbroken. Maybe if she had done something sooner, the blow wouldn’t have hit as hard, but she could play the ‘maybe’ game all day. She had done what she had done and now she had to live with it.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you decide you don’t want to be a ‘Bolt. We don’t deserve somepony like you,” Spitfire finished sadly.
“No, you don’t,” Rainbow agreed with equal sadness, “But Wind Rider is getting kicked out, and so I will still join the Wonderbolts. I’ll become the general and make sure as long as I have something to say about it, something like this will never happen again!”
The fiery conviction of Rainbow’s words left Spitfire speechless. She just sat there for a moment, mouth open in surprise.
“I look forward to seeing that, Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said when she finally found her voice. On an impulse, she removed her captain’s badge and gave it over to Rainbow, “You deserve this far more than I ever will. One day, it’ll even be official.”
When all was said and done, Team Ponyville had tied for first place with Team Cloudsdale. No one had been shocked when Ponyville’s celebrations lasted deep into the night. When they returned home they were hailed as heroes. Rainbow was still hurt by the Wonderbolt’s betrayal, but she could and would use that hurt to propel her. From adversity greatness is born.