//------------------------------// // Pulling Together // Story: A Human, a Pony Princess, and a Mistake // by The Dimension Traveler //------------------------------// A Human, a Pony Princess, and a Mistake Chapter 32: Pulling Together Rainbow Dash was finally on the cusp of being accepted into the Wonderbolts! Now that Wind Rider was officially booted out of the Wonderbolts, Spitfire had been able to fast track her into acceptance. Now all that stood between her and her goals was a test on the history of the Wonderbolts. As much as Rainbow liked to play it cool when things were bothering her, she honestly wasn’t feeling all that stressed about her test. No, for whatever reason, Twilight was the one having a freak out over someone else’s test. Not that Rainbow felt she should be particularly surprised by that. Secretly Rainbow thought Twilight enjoyed worrying over every little thing. It was weird, but if it made her happy, who was Rainbow to judge? That was how Rainbow wound up sitting at a desk with a book as big as she was and easily three times as heavy plopped in front of her. “Twilight, call me crazy, but I don’t think Rainbow is going to learn much just by trying to memorize facts out of a book,” Tom quipped. Rainbow felt a rush of affection for the Human. Anything to get out of reading the tombstone before her. “Nonsense, this is how teaching is done,” Twilight ignored him. “OK, just ignore the guy with the degree in education. It’s not like he’d have any idea what he’s talking about…” Twilight completely ignored Tom’s sour expression. “Alright, but how am I supposed to get this entire huge book into my tiny head,” Tom snickered at Rainbow’s word choice, “Aw, shaddup.” “With my handy dandy study check list, of course!” Twilight exclaimed happily, having Tom levitate said check list to Rainbow. First on Twilight’s list was reading and highlighting. Rainbow had no idea what Twilight meant when she said to ‘separate the wheat from the chaff’ so she just marked everything with the marker she had been provided with. Twilight was not impressed, but Tom seemed to find it amusing. Who he was laughing at, Rainbow wasn’t sure. Probably Twilight, although it might be both, seeing as Rainbow drew pictures in the books. “I really like how you captured Twilight’s essence here,” Tom snarked as he showed off her drawing of Twilight. Twilight was not amused. “OK, so reading and highlighting isn’t your thing. Let’s go with the tried and true: A lecture!” Twilight decided. “Twilight, you’re teaching one on one here, not an auditorium full of college kids or even a regular class room. A lecture is only going to put Dash to sleep,” Tom protested. “Nonsense, everyone learns best with a good lecture,” Twilight waved him off. “You know, I almost don’t want to break that naive little heart of yours,” Moon Dancer spoke up, “But I don’t want you doing something dumb which leads to you and Rainbow having a fight, so… Twilight, not everyone learns like you do.” “I- Moon Dancer, what do you mean? You and I were top of our class. That has to mean our way of studying is best!” Twilight sounded shocked and appalled. “Twilight, you and Moon Dancer were top of your class because you both had a voracious hunger for knowledge. Tell me, how many lectures do you actually remember and how much of your tests were you just copying straight from the book? I don’t know how it is in the Equestrian education system, but back home, students would lose points for taking directly from the book unless instructed to do so,” Tom told her. “Uh, there was that one lecture with…but what about the lecture about…oh my stars, I can’t remember a single specific lecture,” Twilight started breathing heavily. “Twilight, relax, you’re a visual learner. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just how you learn best and how you retain the most information, by reading. Rainbow here could be an auditory learner, so she’d learn best from something like a song or a mnemonic device. She could be a kinesthetic learner, learning best by doing a physical activity related to the subject material. She could even be none of the above. In an ideal world, it’s a teacher’s duty to find out what kind of learner their students are and teach them in the way that works best for them. In an even more ideal world, students would be tested for what kinds of learner they are and sent to teachers that would best suit their needs,” Teaching was something Tom had grown passionate about over the course of his own education. He himself was an auditory learner. He learned best when he had a song about the subject, or failing that, listening to music while he read on the subject matter. “I guess that makes sense…sorry for trying to force you to my way of thinking, Rainbow,” Twilight apologized. “No harm no foul,” Rainbow replied breezily. Then Rainbow’s stomach growled. “Right, we can reconvene with our attempts to find Rainbow’s learning style after breakfast,” Tom decided and they all adjourned to the kitchen, where Spike was already making scrambled eggs. “Thanks Spike,” Twilight said gratefully, even if she couldn’t actually eat anything. “You’re a lifesaver!” Rainbow happily declared as she sat at the table. “Someone had to keep Twi from starving to death during those long study sessions,” Spike snarked, “First round, ready up!” Once breakfast was finished and the dishes cleaned, everyone headed outside. “I think as far as preliminary testing goes, why don’t we gather up the whole crew and see if they have any ideas? I can’t come up with a song to save my life, so hopefully one of the others will be able to,” Tom suggested. So they gathered up everyone and brought them up to speed. “Oh, I have an idea, if that’s alright with everyone,” Fluttershy spoke up first. So that was how Opal and Angel Bunny wound up dressed as Luna and Celestia on a stage that the Ponytones usually used. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted by the cat playing me,” Luna drawled. “Oh, um, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy quickly apologized. “It’s fine Fluttershy, I was joking,” Luna assuaged the yellow Pegasus’ fears. They watched as all the local pets put on a show. It didn’t go as well as they hoped. Rainbow had difficulty telling who was supposed to be who and what was going on. It wasn’t helped by the pets accidentally knocking down all the props. “I, uh, I don’t think I’m going to learn much like this,” Rainbow said uncertainly. “Aw, come on Dashie, that was amazing! Buuuut, if plays aren’t your thing, then maybe I can help!” Pinkie then broke into a rap song of all things and somehow Vinyl was there too. There was a strong desire to ask, but ‘It’s Pinkie Pie, Don’t Question It’ eventually won out. Alas, Rainbow didn’t seem to pick up much from the song either. “I mean, maybe it’ll take a few repeats to get it to sink in?” Tom suggested. “We don’t have time for that!” Rainbow cried. Rarity was next to step up to the plate. Her idea was another take on visual learning, showing Rainbow the fashions each iteration of the Wonderbolts wore and what happened during its tenure as the Wonderbolts uniform. Rainbow was quickly overwhelmed. “You know, I kinda like this bomber jacket. Mind if I keep it, Rarity?” Tom asked while Applejack was talking Rainbow down. “Go ahead, darling, I wouldn’t have much use for it,” Rarity replied. “Thank you~!” Tom was inordinately pleased by his new acquisition. He then followed Rainbow and AJ outside just as he heard AJ tell Rainbow she was up a creek. “That’s not helpful Applejack!” Twilight called after her. “Mayhap Dame Rainbow learns best as I do, by doing,” Luna suggested. “Give me an hour or so and I can set up a game of Jeopardy. We can play a few games and hopefully that’ll help it sink in,” Tom answered hopefully. “Can I come with?” Rainbow asked. “Of course! It might even be beneficial if you watch me set the whole thing up,” Tom took to the air with Rainbow close behind. Tom and Twilight were swapping ideas on subjects and questions and answers. Rainbow was paying attention to what they were saying with one ear. It sounded exactly like the kind of egghead thing Twilight would enjoy, but if it helped her, she wasn’t going to knock it. Rainbow was even asking a few questions along the way. Tom and Twilight were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice anything around them, so it came as a complete surprise when Rainbow shoved Tom away. “What the heck, Rainbow?” Then he watched as Cherry Berry’s pedal-operated helicopter flew right past where he had been flying, “…Well that certainly would have been painful.” “Yeah, you two were jabbering on so much you didn’t even notice,” Rainbow told them with a smile. “But how did you notice? You were listening to us and even asking questions?” Twilight asked. “You both are still rookies. Every experienced flyer knows how to multitask,” Rainbow explained. “Really now,” Twilight was surprised. “Yeah, it’s second nature to almost every flyer. Yes, I was paying attention to you two, but I was also scanning the sky and ground for any problems,” Rainbow revealed, “Flying isn’t just flapping your wings. You gotta see and hear everything down to the littlest detail.” Rainbow then went on to list all the things she had seen and heard during their flight. Twilight gasped in realization. “I think we just figured out what kind of learner you are, Rainbow,” Tom said with a smile. “And not a moment too soon,” Twilight agreed. “What, for real?” Rainbow asked eagerly. “Meet us at Golden Oaks in an hour and a half. We’ll then head to your house. I promise we’ll have you learning the history in no time at all,” Tom promised and zipped away. Ninety minutes later and Rainbow was expectantly hovering in front of Golden Oaks. Tom and Twilight walked out and took to the skies as well. “Let’s head to your place. I’ll tell you our plans there,” Tom instructed and they were off. “So, how’s the team looking for the Games?” Twilight asked. “They’re doing great. Ponyville’s gonna be proud of ‘em. I know I am,” Rainbow replied happily, “What about your squad?” “Lyra’s been almost insufferable since those articles came out, but other than that I’m confident we’ll make a good showing,” Tom answered. “Yeah, I heard Cloud Kicker joking to Bon Bon the other day about not being invited to the harem,” “Well, we are lacking a Pegasus,” Tom snarked. “Don’t encourage them Tom,” Twilight groaned as they touched down at Rainbow’s house. “So, what’s this super study idea you two had for me?” Rainbow asked impatiently. “Well…what do you remember about our flight?” Twilight asked with a huge grin. “Nothing special, other than after Luna was banished to the moon, Celestia needed protective forces, so Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasai formed the EUP guard of the Protective Pony Platoons,” Rainbow rattled off like it was second nature. Her eyes went wide as she realized what she had just said. Twilight and Tom were grinning like loons. “Go on,” Tom told her. “And, at the celebration of the first Celestial Year of Peace, an elite flying squadron preformed, headed by General Firefly, who later named the group the Wonderbolts!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Uh huh,” Twilight encouraged. “Commander Easy Glider established flight choreography that is still used by the Wonderbolts today! I know the history! I know it all! But how?! What hoo doo magic did you two use on me?!” Rainbow demanded to know. “No magic, just your own personal learning style,” Twilight answered. “You’re a subliminal learner, Dash. You won’t learn much by trying to get facts forced on you through your conscious mind, but your subconscious is like a steel trap. So if you’re doing something else, like say flying, and things are presented to you in the background, like signposts held up for you to casually observe and people shouting certain phrases while you’re focused on flying, then you’ll learn at quite a rapid pace,” Tom explained. The signs had been Twilight’s idea after Tom had explained to her exactly how subliminal learners tended to operate, with podcasts and lectures to listen to while they were working out or doing chores and such. “The whole town agreed to help you, Rainbow. They all want you to succeed. We couldn’t have done it without their help,” Twilight said softly. “I…wow, that’s just incredible,” Rainbow felt herself go misty eyed. “You have the tools you need. Now get out there and ace that test tomorrow!” Tom shouted. “YEAH!” Rainbow shouted back, “Right after I go thank everyone.” The next day, Rainbow sat for her test. She’d be lying if she said her heart wasn’t beating harder than usual in her chest, but with the help of her friends, she was confident she knew all the answers. One by one the questions came and one by one the answers rose from her subconscious as if she had known them all her life. When she was finished, she turned in her test to the examiner. He took it, looked it over. Rainbow grew anxious as he looked at her and back at the test multiple times. Finally he slammed the test back down on his desk. For a heart stopping moment, Rainbow thought she had failed, but then the examiner slapped a shiny gold 100% sticker on the test. Rainbow spent the rest of the day celebrating with all of Ponyville.