Chapter Twelve: Morning Flights
Rainbow Dash stood on her balcony watching the sunrise. Ash and his squad were asleep on the ground. They spent all night discussing what the process could be for her joining the Navy. Rainbow eventually told them to go to bed before rolling over and pulling a cloud over herself. The squad was fast asleep and Rainbow decided to take a morning flight. Spreading her wings she looked back saying. “I’ll be back later.”
Tank nodded his head as if he heard her in his sleep. Rainbow Dash dove off the edge as to avoid running into the speeders. Flapping her wings Rainbow leveled out before flying upwards hoping to visit the Jedi temple. She did want to take Master Yoda up on his offer. She flew high enough to keep away from the speeders but low enough to keep away from the oncoming ships going to the nearest landing pad or spaceport. She spun around as her wings stilled as she looked around as her body dropped a smile on her face. She felt the air move around her as she looked at the ground flapping as she lifted up stopping herself from interrupting the speeder traffic. She glided before flying up looking for the Jedi Temple, she spotted it feeling her stomach rumble. She landed next to the other speeders looking around for the Jedi. The temple was as quiet as she left it, she took a deep breath before heading inside.
“Come you have.” Yoda’s voice greeted her and she smiled seeing him waiting for her. “Eager to start this exchange you are.”
“Kind of.” Rainbow Dash admitted her wings twitching. “The other part just wants to get some food, but that can wait. Is Anakin back?”
“Resting he is.” Yoda told her and she nodded her head glad to hear that things went well. “Come.”
Rolling her shoulders Rainbow noticed that he was leading her outside. Shrugging mentally she decided to speak first. “Want to fly?”
Yoda thought for a moment before nodding his head saying.”The world through your eyes I shall see. Yes.”
“Climb on.” Rainbow said as she spread her wings, she knelt down waiting until she felt weight on her upper back and Yoda’s hands secured over her shoulders. She ran towards the balcony edge just as Mace Windu and Kit Fisto rounded the corner. She let out a holler as she flew up into the air as they watched her fly away.
“Was that Master Yoda on her back?” Kit Fisto asked, holding back as chuckle as Windu replied with a strained. “...Yes.”
Kit Fisto laughed patting Windu on the shoulder as the two headed back into the temple.
“What did you want to know?” Rainbow called back as she flew for a moment wondering where she should go. She chose to fly around a bit more towards the old temple but explore the city more as well.
“Your species handle temptation and darkness how does?” Yoda's first question caused Rainbow Dash to think for a bit. “Know you do not? Hrmmmm?””
“It’s difficult to explain.” admitted Rainbow Dash as she flew past the speeders. “Temptation is always a factor in life, it’s if we act on that desire when the darkness settles in. It can cause a lot of damage the more powerful you are. So an alicorn that falls is bad news, but that’s what the Elements of Harmony are for. They help us drive or seal the darkness away.”
“Indeed powerful these Elements of Harmony are. Your understanding of them what is? How can they remove the darkness? Hrmmm.” Rainbow Dash forces herself to keep flying despite the urge to stop suddenly. She hadn’t thought of that. Frowning she thought back to all the times she had used it, what she had felt. “We only have been able to use them twice… but I guess the way to explain it is… that in the instant we surround them with the magic we try to help them regain balance. But they would need to desire that change deep down or else they would be sealed away.”
“Consumed by darkness but to guide them back to not force balance upon those who are. Powerful artifacts indeed.” Yoda surmised watching as they flew through the lower parts of the city. Rainbow nodded her before asking. “What about the Jedi? You are protectors in your own right yet a lot of you seem to be… out of touch with your emotions. Why is that?”
“To fall to the dark side the greater the emotion the greater the temptation is. Yrsssss.” Rainbow nodded her head as she thought about it.
“Makes sense why you guys want emotional control, but would it kill you guys to enjoy a good joke?” Rainbow heard Yoda chuckle. “Find being under a downpour amusing some do not.”
“Good point, but I’ve yet to find a whoopie cushion yet.” Rainbow laughed herself as she flew back up passing by many establishments. She figured a place where they could talk. Flying up high enough she found a cloud of suitable size and she landed upon it. Her wings glowed as she sat down and Yoda noticed that the cloud seemed more solid. Keeping a grip on her arm he moved down placing a foot upon the surface as Rainbow warned. “You might not want to do that. Twilight had to cast a spell on the rest of my friends allowing them to….”
Yoda’s foot rested upon the surface as he looked at her saying. “So dissimilar perhaps the Jedi and Equestrians are not. Magic and the Force, fully understand the ways they work we do not.”
Rainbow nodded her head before she flopped back on the cloud saying. “And what we do know barely scratches the surface on what it truly can do. Though I’m not one for studying and research. The only book I can read constantly for hours is Daring Do. I love adventures, they can sweep you away… while studying, you can find something cool once in a while but a lot of the time the characters don’t seem to jump out at you.”
“Interesting the Reports of the Barsen’thor are.” Yoda mused and Rainbow let out a hearty laugh. Even Yoda chuckled as the laughter began to die down as Rainbow sighed. “I should head back, there has to be a way to get food for me and the boys. I can’t just rely on you guys for food, I want to make it on my own. Though I’ll probably need some help getting on my feet. Don’t know how long it will take before I can become a citizen of the Republic.”
Yoda nodded his head as he climbed onto Rainbow’s back gripping her shoulders tightly as she dove off the cloud. She was heading in the direction of the Jedi temple when a speeder shot past her. Something pink catching her attention and she sped after it before forcing herself back on course. She shook her head continuing on her course when the same speeder flew past her again. Rainbow knew that the driver was challenging her. Flapping her wings she flew towards the temple as fast as she could with someone on her back. She dove down, her wings spreading as she glided towards the temple. She listened carefully until she heard the engines once more. Her wings folded and she felt her speed increase the temple in sight. She heard the speeder gaining quickly and was impressed with the person controlling it.
“Want to hang on or let me drop you off?” Rainbow Dash asked as she almost made it to the speeder pad. Yoda smiled saying. “Hrrmmm. My own ways down I have. Yes, hrrrm. My thanks you have.”
Rainbow felt Yoda leap off her back as she angled her body up her wings flapping. She heard the speeder after her as she flew faster. A grin spread across her face as she flew into the city. She dodged around speeders and buildings glancing into the windows hoping to see the face of the driver. She cursed herself when she realized they were going too fast however she knew she had to get back to her apartment soon. She flew upwards near the top of one of the buildings spinning around. Her eyes locked onto blue eyes surrounded by bouncy pink hair with green tips. Rainbow felt herself fall backwards as the driver pulled goggles over her eyes and piloting the speeder after her.
“You like going fast, huh? Let’s see if you can keep up.” mumbled Rainbow Dash before looking downwards feeling the air rush around her. Finding the right moment she drew herself so she could bounce. She felt resistance under her legs before pushing herself upwards with the air. She bulleted through the air, past all the speeders with a lot of the drivers coming to a stop to watch her. Her wings spread as she laughed flying off towards her apartments shouting behind her. “Keep up with me now!”
The driver of the speeder smirked before piloting it away towards another building.
“You’re back!” Tank called as Rainbow Dash landed on her balcony a huge grin on her face. “You’ve got guests.”
“We’ve got guests you mean.” Rainbow corrected as she walked to the elevator. A huge grin broke out across her face as she saw Obi-Wan and Padmé standing there.
“Sup?” Rainbow asked, leaning against the open doorway, her arms were crossed. “Where’s Anakin?”
“He’s on his way, after all, he was the one who insisted on buying you a few housewarming gifts. Senator Amidala just wanted to bring some food for you and the clones.” Obi-wan chuckled as he moved away from the elevator door holding up the food. “Hope you’re hungry after your morning flight.”
“Starving, but I think the boys are even more hungry.” Rainbow commented, taking the food and walking in. “Wonder what you guys got us.”
“Well for starters, food, a few cots, and something to store food in.” Obi-wan replied as Rainbow shook his head saying. “And you’re making him carry it all up.”
“He was the one who suggested it, he gets to carry it.” Obi-wan pointed out and Rainbow rolled her eyes muttering. “Whatever you say Sass Lord.”
“That is Master Sass Lord to you.” a voice commented behind Rainbow. “Is that food? I’m starving.”
Padmé hid her laughter just as the elevator door opened and an irritated looking Anakin walked in a large box with cots behind him.
“Hey.” Rainbow Dash greeted and Anakin shot an irritated look towards Kenobi who shot him a grin. “I’ll grab those, why don’t you guys pass out the food.”
“At least I’m not the only one who has to carry them.” grumbled Anakin moving to check out the rest of the apartment. “Wait, are these clouds?”
“Yup!” Rainbow responded as she took the cots off the top of the box. One of the cots decided that Rainbow Dash was the perfect target to fall on top of. A hand caught it causing Rainbow to look over her shoulder and see Crossbones standing there.
“Master Sass Lord?” Rainbow asked as he grabbed the others and Crossbones shrugged. “He’s a Jedi Master, to us he would be General Sass Lord. For you at the moment, he’s Master Sass Lord. Makes sense.”
“Good point, hey Rampage! Tank! Can you help me carry this?” Rainbow called back as Crossbones walked back into the apartment. The two clones were in the entrance room in an instance easily picking up the storage unit. Rainbow frowned feeling kind of useless but walked after them.
“Why Sass Lord?” Rampage asked as they walked up the stairs. Rainbow thought for a moment before saying. “He’s sassy and that deserves to be recognized. Anakin would probably have to be Star Glider, Padmé… she’s a little bit more difficult to give a nickname to. I was going to call her Teach, but for some reason it just doesn’t suit her. I’m sure I’ll figure something out.”
“Do you like giving others nicknames or just the people you’re close to?” Ash commented as the door to the main room opened. Rainbow shot a grin in his direction saying. “For one, what I gave you are actual names. They get nicknames because I can actually think of something for them. Like Baldy Buddy, Fun Jedi, Master Yoda is probably going to stay Master Yoda. I’ve got waaaay too much respect for him.”
“A lot of people do, even our enemies.” Obi-wan replied looking around. “This is actually quite a good set up.”
“It’s a good location as well.” Anakin pointed out as the Clones dug into their food, Rainbow sitting down next to them to eat as well. “Padmé told us that you agreed to become a member of the Republic and that you want to join the Republic Military.”
“That is no easy feet, especially with how little is known to the Republic about your species.” Obi-wan pointed out and Rainbow looked at him. “There isn’t much we can do but wait at this point, though I don’t think you want to keep relying on us to keep bringing you food and furniture.”
“I’ll find something to do in the meantime. Maybe there’s a place I can work at for the time being.” Rainbow sighed after swallowing her food. She leaned her head against the wall hoping that there was at least some progress. She glanced at Padmé before smiling as she thought. ‘She’s like a princess. Maybe that’s what I’ll call her, Princess.’
A speeder parked at a building as the pink haired driver leaped out revealing long hair with bouncy curls. The curls seemed to split off into two sections moving past what seemed to be a mane like tail hanging above the hem of pants. She pushed the goggles into her hair as she approached a man with a military like stance.
“Did you find her?” the man asked and the woman shifted her weight to one foot saying. “Got my money?”
“The credits will be transferred to your account shortly.” the man replied curtly and the woman’s shoulders dropped before saying. “Yeah, I found her. Good flier, just like the Chancellor said, even with the modifications to my speeder I could barely keep up with her.”
“So the Chancellor wasn’t hyping her up.” the man muttered at the woman held up her hand. “Hold up. I said she was a great flier, I never said anything about her using a speeder. This teen had wings, I don’t think you want her in a fighter.”
“The Chancellor is suggesting letting her into the Navy, I need an assessment.” the man said and the woman sighed. “What else could you gleam from your chase?”
“Well she didn’t really start showing off until she dropped Master Yoda off. He probably knew this was a test or something because he didn’t attack me. So that’s good.” the woman commented moving her hand as she looked at a device on her wrist. “She got him out of there before really showing off. I think she’d be a great asset for you guys, fast and witty. She’s agile, has great reflexes, good eyes, and she can make decisions quickly.”
“Good, you can go back to that bar of yours.” the man replied waving his hand and the woman rolled her eyes saying. “Yeah, that bar which your men frequent. You know, I’d like to see the Clones there once in a while, you should really think about paying them. You’ve already scared off the rest of my clientele.”
“Criminals.” the man scoffed as the woman hopped back into the speeder. “Why you insist on staying down there, I will have no idea.”
“Hey, that bar has been in my family since the Galactic Cold War. I’m not moving it.” the woman told him before taking off. “Good luck!”
The man frowned watching her leave before heading back into the building.