//------------------------------//
// Anger - Rainbow Dash’s Chapter 
// Story: The Elements of Grief 
// by GenericFriendship 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash could scarcely remember a time, much to her dislike, that she had been given free stuff from her friends for being awesome. She was the kind of pegasus, being sky-blue and with a rainbow-striped mane, who adored attention from other ponies and it inflated her ego to gargantuan sizes at times. Rainbow Dash had only risen further and further with her position as a Wonderbolt, and now from out of the blue, her ego mixed in with joy had detonated with delight. It was all because Twilight had decided to get the Special Editions of the Daring Do series, specialty collector’s versions of RD’s favorite book series, just for her. Rainbow hadn’t even known Twilight to do things like this, and she had initially gone to Twilight’s just to visit for a while, friend-to-friend, but it just so happened that Twilight’s order had been fulfilled the same day. 
    Why she ordered them Twilight would not say, but she seemed satisfied in basking in Rainbow’s happiness rather than in explaining everything to her, and so was Rainbow Dash herself. The ordering of the books was not of happenstance nor was it a fluke, for Twilight had been regaled by Rainbow Dash many times over of the value (both monetary and emotional) of these Special Edition novels, and it was starting to wear on her. Rainbow had told her numerous times every occasion she visited, much to Twilight’s chagrin, of how great these copies were.
    “The Special Edition copies have signatures from A. K. Yearling!” Rainbow had told Twilight for the umpteenth time, going onto another tangent when they sat together on their thrones. “They’re worth more than three times their weight in bits, and they’re so awesome, too!”
    Of course, every time Rainbow finished rattling off the reasons as to why they were superior to the regular editions, she always went into bitter hysterics over them, as if the world had deliberately aimed to prevent her the satisfaction of acquiring the Special Editions.
    “It’s awful that they cost way too much, and at the price rate they’re going, I’ll never be able to afford any of them!” she complained errantly. “It’s just not fair!”
    Twilight had wondered why Rainbow didn’t simply ask Rarity if she could borrow some of her seemingly infinite collection of priceless jewels to pay the supposedly overwhelming price, but Twilight thought it better to save face for Rainbow’s feelings rather than to break it to her, so no matter how long RD droned on about them Twilight would listen patiently. Twilight became bored by the whole affair after some time, but it was hard not to pay attention to everything Rainbow was saying, but it was certainly grating once Rainbow had told her for the fifth time. In the hopes that getting the books would hopefully put an end to Rainbow’s constant griping and her feverous articulation, Twilight had bought the entire collection using the castle’s treasury (mostly consisting of tributes paid to the Princess despite her protests, and the extra funds pooled together from her friends, though mostly Rarity).
    It was gratifying seeing Rainbow so happy, but sadly her talk had turned from the theory of acquisition to the method of acquisition, meaning Twilight was mobbed with inquiries from Rainbow about how she got them. So much for peace and quiet.
    “How did you get them, Twilight?!” Rainbow shouted curiously, whilst clutching the books close to her. “These copies cost a ton! Last I checked, you didn’t exactly have a lot of money!”
    Twilight laughed dryly at Rainbow Dash’s comment, considering that she did have money, she just used it rarely. Again, being a good friend meant putting up with a friend’s more… curious quirks.
    “Y’know, maybe I wouldn’t have so little funds if you contributed some to the castle’s treasury,” Twilight added seethingly, barely above a whisper. “Like everypony else.”
    “You say something Twilight?” Rainbow asked curiously. She had yet to register Twilight’s minor contempt.
    “Oh! Nothing,” Twilight said, resuming a smile. “I just thought that since it’s a special day, I’d get them for you as a gift, since we’re friends.”
    Twilight’s face adopted a coy expression, but if she was hinting at a particular something, then Rainbow was yet to notice it. RD hugged the stack of Special Editions to her barrel in a manner resembling a filly snuggling a stuffed animal. She turned and looked over to Twilight.
    “Well, thanks, Twilight! I didn’t know today was special. Is it because I’m awesome?”
    Twilight winced a bit, but considering egotistical assumptions were the norm of hanging out with RD, she took it better than some.
    “Well, that wasn’t my intention but… sorta?” she said, a bit confused at first, but then her coy look returned. “There’s another reason besides you being awesome. Which you are, by the way.”
    Rainbow Dash was pleased by these compliments and smiled arrogantly. She stopped only to flex her left foreleg like an arm. Then she swooped over and studied Twilight, Special Editions in-hoof.
    “So… why did you get them? You didn’t… didn’t…” she paused, and her eyes darted to the sides before going wide. “-s-steal them for me, did you?! Twilight!!” 
    Twilight opened her mouth to refute this shocking and inane claim, but before she could say anything at all, Rainbow shoved her hoof in her mouth with an audible thock. Then she shielded their faces with the same hoof, and Twilight spat to the side with a loud ‘ptooey’ once her mouth was vacant again.
    “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me,” Rainbow Dash whispered wryly. “We can just say they… fell off the back of a book wagon. I’m sure nopony’ll worry about it.”
    Twilight gasped, and then scoffed at this.
    “No, Rainbow!” she interjected, her words plain and her tone more contemptuous. “I told you I bought them! I wouldn’t steal from somepony!”
    “Oh,” she replied, a bit disappointed that Twilight hadn’t committed a crime for her. After a slight pause, Rainbow grinned. “Well… would you steal them for me if I asked?”
    Twilight groaned loudly and pretended to have not heard Rainbow’s idiotic question. She looked very tired from all of Rainbow’s incessant and often oblivious implications.
    “All I’m saying is that I got them because today’s a very special day, especially for you.”
    Rainbow was curious. A special day? For her? It wasn’t her birthday… or any holiday, for that matter. It was the fourth of July, and there was nothing special about that…unless…
    “Wait a minute… why didn’t anyone tell me there was a National Rainbow-Dash-Is-Awesome day, Twilight?!” Rainbow chimed pompously, “I guess I should’ve figured it wouldn’t take long for everypony to start celebrating my spectacular, totally inspiring awesomeness!”
    Twilight shook her head again, fiercer this time, and with a scowl. Rainbow was grinning self-indulgently again.
    “It’s not just because of your awesomeness, Rainbow!”
    “Oh,” Rainbow said, a stricken look to her face. “Right, you said that, didn’t you.”
    “I can’t tell you what it is and you’ll have to wait to find out.” Twilight chided. “I have to get confirmation first before anything else happens.”
    She began walking towards her shelves, presumably to re-organize them. Again.
    “Please, Twilight!” Rainbow begged suddenly, throwing herself at Twilight’s hooves, and stopping her just short of the bookshelves. “You have to tell me why today is special!! I can’t go on without knowing!”
    If Rarity was practically the Alicorn Princess of Drama, then Rainbow Dash was the Twilight Sparkle/Sunset Shimmer student-equivalent. Twilight might’ve refused her further, but something else spoke out first.
    “Twiiiiiiilighhht!”
    Spike, a purple-green ‘baby’ dragon, wandered in from the right hallway. He was clutching a blanket in one claw and a pillow in the other. Bags lined his scaly, slitted dragon eyes. He did not look well.
    “Twwwwiiiiillliggghhhht…” he whined bothersomely, “The stuff in your science room’s being loud again. Make it stop, pleeeease…”
    Rainbow Dash eyed Spike with sympathy.
    “Whoa, Spike,” she said, eyes wide. “You don’t look so good.”
    “I was napping when that… thing started beeping.” he replied pessimistically, “I was having a great dream, too. Rarity and I were-”
    Spike stopped himself before he said anything more. RD eyed him with another sly look.
    “Were doing what?”
    “Uh… nothing! I, uh, didn’t say anything! Who said anything about Rarity?! Not me, hehe, I dream about… normal things.”
    Twilight stepped up.
    “So…” Twilight began, “what ‘thing’ was it that woke you, Spike?”
    “It was your telegram thingamabob that was being noisy,” Spike complained. “That was what woke me up.”
    “You mean the telegraph?!” she said incredulously. “It was beeping!?”
    “Yeeees,” he groaned sullenly. “That thing, whatever it is, yeah. Just make it stop alreadyyyyyyy…”
    Right on cue, another round of loud beeping noises echoed throughout the castle, of which these noises were strangely repetitive and matched in tone. Twilight’s eyes widened, and her mouth curled into a smile that would outmatch Pinkie Pie’s in length.
    “It’s here!” she squealed excitedly, bucking out her forelegs. Twilight then galloped from the room, shouting jubilantly as she went, almost in pure ecstasy. “It’s here, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here!!”
     A dazed and groggy Spike, accompanied by Rainbow Dash, followed along wonderingly. Trailing after, the both of them found her located in a side room in the East Wing of the Castle. Inside of this side room were many weird doodads and other technological prototypes, customary of Twilight’s keen obsession with the sciences (and ironically, the science of magic and magical science). At the back wall, centered alongside a number of other inventions, was what looked like a block of wood. It was weirdly shaped so it had a lever made of brass that tapped on the surface, and was connected by a long, thin black string that trailed through a window and onto a series of wooden poles that stretched for miles in the direction of the Canterlot mountains. 
    The source of the noise was coming from another large wooden object, which looked like a loom wheel integrated into a metal crate, except it had thin parchment instead of wool or string spilling out of the end. Twilight fiddled with these two objects, while Spike and Rainbow exchanged glances.
    “Uh… Twilight?” Rainbow asked cautiously. “What’s all this… stuff in here?”
    Twilight squeed again and didn’t seem to hear them. 
    “Twiiiiilight.” Rainbow beckoned again. “Hello? Equestria to Twilight, this is Rainbow Dash speaking!”
    Twilight Sparkle suddenly became aware of them, but she didn’t look away from the diagnostics. She seemed laser-focused, the wide smile still plastered on her.
    “Hi, Rainbow Dash! I’m using a new machine called a telegraph!” she explained happily, as she fiddled and pressed things on either contraption. “It’s a machine that sends messages to other ponies! Those messages go through wires, the electronic signals they send come out on the other side, and are then interpreted through a communication medium!”
    Another exchange of glances between Spike and RD. Spike yawned, but said nothing, for he was still groggy from his mid-woken nap. Rainbow’s face scrunched up in thought, but she couldn’t figure it out.
    “I… didn’t understand half of what you said,” Rainbow said quizzically. “But what’s so important about this… wood and metal thingamajig?”
    Twilight continued fiddling with the machine, racing from one end to the other like she was waiting for some kind of reaction. She finally turned to look at them, flashing a sub-deranged look to her eyes.
    “What’s important is that I’ve just got a message in from Canterlot!” Twilight exclaimed happily. “I’ve been expecting one for a while!”
    Rainbow Dash blinked, and slowly glided onto the ground.
    “Is this whole thing you’ve been talking about?” Rainbow asked skeptically, “About today being ‘special’ in a way?”
    “Yep!” Twilight said gleefully. “I’m so, so, so excited! Today is the first time the castle telegraph’s ever been used!”
    Twilight pressed a series of buttons, and the loom-wheel thingie began spilling out thin paper, which pooled at Twilight’s hooves. She immediately picked it up and began scanning it, but it only read out a bunch of black dots and lines. What it meant, neither Spike nor RD knew, but Twilight certainly did. After getting a good look at it, she gasped, and her breathing became labored. Then she squealed again.
    “She sent it! Rainbow, look, look!”
    Twilight galloped over and shoved the paper in her face. RD looked at the series of dots and lines, but she could not comprehend it.
    “Uh…” RD droned in confusion. “What am I looking at, Twilight?”
    “It’s a message!” She said enthusiastically. “Read it, read it!”
    Rainbow looked at the dots and dashes again, then tilted the paper to the side, and then upside-down. She held it up to the light, then stretched the sides, then folded it a little. Still, nothing changed about it, and she remained illiterate to its meaning. Rainbow was at a loss.
    “I… don’t know what this says.”
    Twilight stopped and suddenly registered this. She cleared her throat, and her demeanor became calm again.
    “Oh, right. You don’t know how to read telegrams… or Horse Code…” Twilight replied pointedly. Then she smiled. “I could teach you how to… if you want! I already taught Rarity… and Pinkie Pie already knew Horse Code, somehow.”
    Rainbow Dash groaned at this and rolled her eyes. Typical Twilight, always getting invested in these newfangled machines and then finding ways to turn it into a lesson. Why didn’t she just write a letter? Why did she need to use this big hunk of wood and metal to transmit messages? Spike stood there and scratched himself absentmindedly, then gave another tired yawn that permeated into the conversation. After a brief silence, Rainbow’s annoyance welled up inside.
    “Just tell me what it says, Twilight!” RD demanded. “No more of this secretive telegraph-code malarkey!”
    Twilight recoiled, and her eyes narrowed sorely, but she willingly obliged. Twilight brought the paper closer to her and cleared her throat. Then she spoke, her eyes trailing across the surface as she read.
    “Rainbow Dash… Princess Celestia has officially appointed you to be…”
    A drum appeared from nowhere, and Spike repetitively hit mallets onto it, creating a drumroll.
    “...the Joint Chief of the Equestrian Air Force!”
    Rainbow Dash went stiff like she had been petrified, and she was stunned. Literally. Then she began breathing hard, and Rainbow Dash looked like she had been hit by a runaway wagon filled with turnips. After a few moments of being incapable of speech, she found her now-incoherent voice.
    “W-Wh-Whu-Wh-Whu-Wha-” RD stammered bluntly. Spike and Twilight were staring at her. “Wha-Wha-Wha-WHAT?!”
    Twilight smiled pleasantly and moved over to her stiff friend. She set a hoof on her shoulder, which seemed to revive her a little.
    “It’s no joke, Rainbow Dash. Princess Celestia wants you. Nopony else.”
    Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t really happening, was it?
    “Are you sure? Are you positive that Pinkie isn’t gonna jump from around a corner and yell ‘surprise’, Twilight?!” she asked interrogatively, still wide-eyed. Her head flitted around the room as if looking to confirm this. “B-Because there’s no way that I’m… I’m…!”
    “You clearly haven’t been watching the reforms.” Twilight explained happily. “If you’d listened, you would’ve heard about the changes undergoing Equestria. We formed a War Committee about a month ago, and only a few days ago Celestia reformed the military High Command! If she thinks you’re the best for the job, then she’s sent for you, Rainbow. Nothing else about it.”
    Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words. She’d somehow managed to surpass even her superior, Spitfire, in ranking. She had made the greatest jump in military-ranking history, from a lowly (well, maybe not lowly) Wonderbolt to a brand-new General, and she was still in total shock. Twilight continued reading the message with additional directives, which made RD’s jaw weigh down like it bore a lead weight.
    “The message says you are to report to Canterlot where the rest of the high command is waiting. You’ve been scheduled for a meeting with all of them, and it’s there you’ll be introduced to your new position!” Twilight explained. “It must be an honor, getting to serve at Canterlot directly! I’m sure you’ll be a natural at it. If I were Celestia, I wouldn’t trust anypony else for the job either.”
    Suddenly, the doors burst open, and there stood the rest of the group, thrilled. Applejack with her ranching hat, Fluttershy looking pretty yet introverted, Pinkie Pie who was… well, Pinkie Pie, …and even Rarity! She looked a bit exhausted from what had happened, but she was no worse for wear than she had been a few days ago. Each of them ponypiled on top of the astonished Rainbow Dash, who was still overwhelmed by the announcement. A cacophony of voices rang out in sequence as she was crushed.
    “Ya did swell, Rainbow, we’re proud o’ ya!”
    “Oh, I’m stupendously glad for you, darling!”
    “You did… really great, Rainbow.”
    “Awesome-tastic, Rainbow Dash! I knew you were always a super-duper-duper amazing pegasus pony! This calls for a celebration!”
    Rainbow looked around incredulously.
    “I don’t understand… how did everypony know already?”
    Twilight giggled bashfully. She scratched her mane with her hoof in a bemused sort of way.
    “Well… I might’ve told a few ponies beforehand,” she said shyly, as she attempted to defend her actions. “And by a few, I think I mean everypony close to the rest of us, us being the Elements of Harmony.” 
    Twilight quickly realized and went to prevent Rainbow’s ego from inflating into a balloon-size.
    “T-That didn’t mean you were guaranteed or anything! It… well… okay, Celestia might’ve told me in advance that you were the most probable candidate. I didn’t want you to get your hopes up, though.”
    Rainbow smiled weakly. Then she burst out laughing, and the rest of the girls (plus Spike) joined in, their mirth echoing throughout the castle.
    “Thanks, Twilight. You guys. You’re all the best!”
    She pulled them all into a big hug.







    The rest that followed was all a blur to Rainbow, which was surprising, considering how fast she was on average. Pinkie Pie immediately held a ‘Congratulations to Rainbow Dash for the Promotion’ Party which everyone laughed about some more, but of course, the celebration was enjoyable. Rainbow’s shock from the revelation she had received was wearing off, and a somewhat idiotic grin was plastered on her face. She still couldn’t believe had achieved one of the highest positions attainable in her career. The others could, and spent a great deal of time playing party games or eating cakes of all kinds. After some time spent at the exhaustive blowout, Rainbow needed a break from the celebration, so she scooted away towards the punch table. There, Rarity stood with a cheerful yet dimmed smile, and together they chatted under the beat of the party music (DJ P0N3 had been hired for the occasion).
    “I hope you’re enjoying the party, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity voiced encouragingly, “I am very glad for your fortune in your career. Perhaps we’ll see each other at my Canterlot boutique.”
    Rainbow Dash chuckled gratefully and sipped a bit of punch.
‘    “Hehe, thanks, Rarity.” she replied. “Yeah, I hope so. I might be a bit busy, but I bet I can easily drop by after a bit.”
    Rarity nodded, and following another sip of punch, she suddenly flinched and nearly choked on it. RD patted her on the back to help her out.
    “Whoa, you okay, Rares?”
    “Oh, sorry, darling… I am fine,” she said, with an extra cough for good measure. “I just realized you’re going to be wearing the uniforms I designed!”
    Rainbow Dash’s expression became incredulous.
    “Really?”
    “Oh, why, yes! I just got word back from Canterlot, they loved my new uniform designs!” she gushed. “Since you’re going to be in the joint chiefs, you’ll get to wear one! I’m sure you’ll look so dashing!”
    Rainbow thought about this. She wasn’t much for uniforms, but if it was something one of her friends made…
    “Cool, Rarity!” she responded happily, “I’m sure everypony’ll look awesome wearin’ them. Take it from me, a super amazing, extremely awesome pony.”
    Rarity took on a delighted, assured smile.
    “Oh, thank you for your encouragement, Rainbow Dash!” she said. “I’m glad you like them.”
    Rainbow balanced the cup of punch in her hoof, which was strangely being held in ways the laws of physics do not explain. She grinned wryly.
    “So, I guess you’ll be busy makin’ them, huh?”
    Rarity’s blinked, then she chuckled.
    “Oh, no, Rainbow,” she responded. “I just had to design them. My work is finished, so I’ll be quite free. Especially-”
    Rarity stopped. Her happiness drained away from her face, much to Rainbow’s surprise.
    “You okay, Rarity?” Rainbow asked, a mixture of curiosity and encouragement. “Everything fine?”
    Rarity sighed.
    “I’m fine, Rainbow. I just…”
    She stopped and looked wistfully off into space. She was clearly deep in thought. Rainbow frowned nervously.
    “Is it Sweetie Belle…?”
    Rarity sighed deeply.
    “...Yes, Rainbow.”
    “Do you miss her?” Rainbow asked, “Since she ran off?”
    Rarity paused in thought. 
    “Of course, Rainbow.”
    Rainbow shifted a bit closer, comfortingly. Rarity sure was being laconic.
    “You wanna talk about it?”
    Rarity shook her head softly.
    “No, Rainbow.”
    Rarity blushed in a jumpy manner. She had realized how she came off to her friend.
    “O-Oh! Listen to me, hehe!” she said suddenly. “Getting all sentimental when I should be celebrating your promotion! Good show, Rainbow Dash, we all knew you could do it.”
    Rainbow saw her friend was upset. She wasn’t much for outward emotions, she kept hers bottled up… but she knew when her friend was in need. Rainbow reached out her foreleg and patted Rarity’s back again, this time to soothe rather than to upend punch from the throat. Rarity realized she wasn’t fooling anyone, and her true feelings emerged on her face again.
    “I’m sorry, Rares.” she comforted. “I’m sure she’ll be okay. She’s tough. Like you.”
    Rarity blinked. A faint smile slowly formed on her face.
    “Rainbow Dash…” she said finally. “Thank you. I suppose I wouldn’t be much of a sister if I didn’t worry about her.”
    The two embraced, or rather, Rarity embraced Rainbow. Rainbow grunted with the force of the squeeze.
    “Ough, tight there, Rarity…”
    Rarity realized what she had done, and released, chuckling.
    “Aha, oh, sorry. Ehm… well… enjoy the party!”
    Rarity walked off after that, leaving Rainbow by the punch bowl. She shrugged. Suddenly, a pink blur assaulted her.
    “Rainbow Dash!” it cried. “We haven’t even opened the gifts yet! C’mon, you super-duper-duper amazing pegasus pony!”
    Rainbow sighed and was pulled away, back towards the party. The rest of it went off without a hitch, continuing on all night long until the last snacks had been snacked upon and the confetti cannons lay empty and sizzling with spent gunpowder. The rest of the gang all resolutely decided to stay the night, which they did, sleeping soundly from their rooms. Except for Rainbow Dash, who bore a twinge of anxiety that caused her to toss and turn all night long.







    After the party held for her, Rainbow Dash woke the next morning and sped off for Cloudsdale. After all, she had to pack her bags and head for Canterlot on Celestia’s orders. Rainbow Dash wanted to make a good first impression at her new job, regardless of her status or of being ‘super awesome.’ Of course, if you asked Rainbow, she wouldn’t tell you that. Rainbow Dash flew off for the train and stopped at last outside, where her friends were waiting for her. Each of them said their various goodbyes, complete with sniffles, and bawling from Rarity. 
    After that, she saluted them all and boarded her train.
    “Good luck, Rainbow!” Twilight cried. “Have fun!”
    “Thanks!” Rainbow Dash called after from the train. “I’m sure it’ll be fine! I’ll miss you guys!”
    “We’ll miss you too!” they all called back, in their respective ways. “Goodbye!”
    The train rode away, leaving her friends in the distance on the ride up to Canterlot, which was short but pleasant, as things on trains often were. The train wound its way up the sides of the mountaintop, passed by quaint streams and low rivers, and eased in Canterlot Station in no time at all. Rainbow Dash grabbed her baggage, being a variety of possessions both personal and formal, and set off, and of course, she brought the Special Editions with her. What else was she to read while here in Canterlot? Speaking of Canterlot, the city proper was as regal and astounding as it always seemed, though Rainbow did notice soldiers were marching in columns around the roads. The life of the snooty nobility hardly seemed changed, but it felt like there were a lot more young ponies milling around than usual. 
    While passing through Canterlot’s courtyard areas, she caught a glimpse of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, which seemed almost overloaded with promising new students making their way around the front steps of the building. There was also a brand-new building alongside it, with more young ponies moving about the front, except all of them wore uniforms of various colors. Most of them wore silvery-grey ones, a few of them wore ones tinted sky-blue, and a couple of them wore sailor fatigues. Rainbow’s pegasi vision allowed her to get a look at the sign that sat on the front lawn: “Celestia’s Officer Candidate School” it read in bold letters.
    A new school for the military, huh? Rainbow Dash thought to herself curiously, That’s neat. Maybe I’ll get to meet some of the students.
    At last Rainbow Dash found herself crossing the threshold of the front gate, where guards shifted at her approach. Rainbow flinched since it was usually never good when a guard had to move closer to you, but her anxiety was replaced by pleasant surprise when they merely raised her a sharp salute. Seeing each guard salute to her, mostly in pairs, as she crossed to the grand doorway would take some getting used to. The grand doors opened up for her, and once Rainbow had made it inside with her things, a small porterpony scurried up to her in the grand hall. It was mostly deserted, aside from a few royal ponies chatting quietly. It was a long way from when the GGG was going on.
    “Your bags, madame?”
    Rainbow Dash internally grimaced. ‘Madame?’ Rainbow Dash wasn’t a madame at all, she was friggin’ Rainbow Dash. Or Ms. Dash, at the very least. RD tried to be courteous, but it wasn’t her style.
    “Uh, sure.” she replied reluctantly, “Thanks.”
    The porterpony beamed at her and grabbed her saddlebags with great willingness. He hustled off with them down the royal hall, leaving RD alone for about 5 seconds. Another stately-looking pony approached Rainbow quickly after the porterpony vanished, causing Rainbow to jump. The stately pony cleared his throat noisily, and had a dull, uninterested expression to his face, as was common with most butler-types. He paid no heed to her reaction towards him, and he looked expressionlessly upon her.
    “You are Ms. Rainbow Dash, I take it?”
    Rainbow Dash nodded cautiously. 
    “Yeah. Who’re you?”
    The stately pony straightened himself.
    “You can call me Humble Bundle, and I shall be assisting you this morning. This way, if you please,” he informed smartly, “We’ve a room prepared for your convenience.”
    Humble Bundle sounded like he had prepared to say these things multiple times as if he were reading a script. Rainbow Dash shrugged and waved a hoof towards the hallway. 
    “Okay, I’ll just call you Humble.” she drawled, “Lead on, or whatever.”
    Humble nodded, and together they went down a weave of hallways, up and down many stairwells, and squeezed through tight corridors until they finally arrived at a very grand-looking suite. It had high ceilings, a large queen-sized twin bed, and an open window view. The walls were lined with marble and ivory, very fanciful indeed.
    “These accommodations are only temporary, Ms. Dash.” Humble Bundle added to Rainbow’s breathless expression, “Once we have finished preparations for your residence here in Canterlot, you shall be moved to your new home at Quarters 3, Fort Celestia.”
    Rainbow blinked as she took this in. 
    These are temporary accommodations?! She thought to herself, Holy Daisy Joe!
    She didn’t know what or where ‘Quarters 3’ was, but it sounded important. She vaguely remembered Spitfire talking about it.
    “Whatever pony’s either lucky or unlucky enough to become the new Chief,” Spitfire had said to them in the mess, “Gets to reside in these new cushy buildings they’re constructing for ‘em in Canterlot.”
    Humble Bundle bowed before her, trailing out of the room in a lowly manner. Rainbow snapped back to reality.
    “If you have need of anything, I am at your service, madame.”
    Another grimace from Rainbow, and the door shut closed after that. Rainbow Dash looked about, seeing the luxurious room she had been permitted for her to stay in at Canterlot Castle, and sighed with relief. At least she could relax after her journey in royal luxury, and RD took advantage of this by happily flying onto her bed and rolling in the covers. The sheets sure were comfortable, that was a given. Rainbow was ready to nap away the rest of her stay until she was required to wake, but a knock alerted her to a new presence only a minute later, and not a second off the mark.
    “Permission to enter, ma’am?” a voice asked.
    Again, with the formalities. Rainbow waved a hoof, beckoning apathetically.
    “Come in.”
    A mare with a roll of measuring tape around her neck entered the room and approached RD. Without saying anything, she propped up Rainbow Dash off the bed forcefully and began inspecting her. Rainbow was confused and astounded by these actions, and protested fiercely.
    “What the- unf!” she cried, “Hey! What are you doing, lady?!”
    “Taking your measurements, General Dash,” she informed brightly. She didn’t seem phased at all by Rainbow’s derisive words, and for the first time, Rainbow had heard her new title. It didn’t so bad, at least. “You’re being fitted for your uniform right now.”
    “But, the- you- you mean right now, right now?!” Rainbow replied indignantly.
    The other pony nodded, working away without hesitation nor contemplation.
    “But of course!” she responded “Your meeting is in 15 minutes, you’ll need to be ready.”
    Rainbow did a double-take.
    “It is?!”
    The measuring-tape mare shh’d her.
    “Please hush, ma’am, I need to concentrate.” she chided. “Lift your forelegs up, please.”
    Rainbow Dash grumbled angrily and complied.







    In no time at all, Rainbow had been fitted with a very gallant-looking uniform that had been provided for her by the mare, whose name was Stitcher Trim. This one was a more decorative version of the light blue ones she had seen at the academy. She didn’t even have to put it on, since Stitcher Trim literally stitched it on for her like some of the fancier suits and dresses the Canterlot Nobles wore. Rainbow, once she got a good look in the mirror, was surely impressed.
    Wow, Rarity did a really good job designing these. She internalized. Kinda tight though…
    Rainbow twisted from side to side, and a discouraged look formed on her face. She would adjust in time, but until then, the freedom of movement she had known without this apparel was absent. Humble Bundle reappeared in the doorway once Stitcher Trim had departed.
    “Ma’am, we are ready for you.” he informed dully, “The Meeting begins in 5 minutes, and it would not be prudent to arrive late.”
    Rainbow Dash scoffed. She was getting sick of all this prissy treatment. This wasn’t any hero-worship or fanfare, which she actually liked… this was just a bunch of royal pony servants being stuck-up because it was their job. A sigh escaped her.
    “Alright, alright,” she said, hopping off the side of the bed and trotting to the doorframe.
    “Shall I escort you?” asked Humble, pleasantly.
    “Thanks, but-”
    Rainbow suddenly realized she didn’t know her way around. Another heavy sigh.
    “Oh, fine.” Rainbow conceded, “Lead the way, I guess.”
    Humble Bundle motioned, and she followed. They went through another elaborate maze of hallways that Rainbow knew she’d have great pain figuring them out, and at last, they arrived. They entered upon a gargantuan-sized hall, lined with portraits and banners, and it was even bigger than the Palace Throne Room. Inside was a table, long and rectangular, that acted almost like an aisle in the center of the room. Gathered, or rather, dispersed around the table were some important-looking ponies. Most glanced at Rainbow, and a few gave a nod, before turning back. However, there was one that stuck out.
    “Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire greeted cordially. “Good to see you again.”
    Rainbow was a bit surprised.
    “Spitfire?” Rainbow replied in astonishment, a smile of amazement forming. “I thought… I thought you commanding the Wonderbolts! What are you doing here?”
    Spitfire only laughed.
    “What, thought that your fancy new role meant you didn’t have to deal with your old commander?” she said slyly, “In your dreams, Dash.”
    Rainbow Dash laughed too. It was good to see a familiar face here. Humble Bundle bowed.
    “I shall await your command, Ms. Dash.”
    He trailed out again. Spitfire grinned at Rainbow.
    “You got a stallionservant,” she said with a smile, “lucky you, being Chief. I don’t get so many royalties.”
    Rainbow eyed her.
    “Why’re you here, then? What do you do?”
    Spitfire snickered.
    “You are not the only one ol’ Celestia netted,” she said, with a cheeky grin. “She’s got me down as an Air Warfare Theorist. Better than sitting back and training Wonderbolts, since all the new special forces programs mean more work for the new drill instructor, somepony named Red Light.”
    Rainbow gave a curious smile as she sidled next to her.
    “I thought Soarin’ was going to be the new instructor?”
    Another laugh from Spitfire.
    “Nope. Celestia got him too.” Spitfire added. “He’s General Soarin’ now.” 
    “Really?” Rainbow replied skeptically.
    Spitfire nodded on with that sly look.
    “Yeah. I can hardly believe it myself,” she informed with another chuckle. “Guess even ol’ Clipper couldn’t get out of it.”
    This one got a laugh from both of them. At that point, Celestia entered the room from the main doors, looking positively regal as she always did. Her expression, however, was a bit more solemn than usual. She clopped over and stood at the head of the table, guards, and ponies at the table alike saluting her. Celestia’s gaze swept over them all, and she allowed herself a quaint smile.
    “My fellow ponies,” she began. “It is good to see you all here on this day. As you know, a directive to reform the high command was recently put into place, and because of this, we have some new ponies among us today. Please give them all a round of applause.”
    Everypony stamped their hooves in applause for each other. Some beamed, others nodded, and both RD and Spitfire looked at each other with a grin. Then came the introductions. Despite supposedly hiring a new High Command, Prince Blueblood was there as a political advisor, he was one of the ‘Old Guard.’ Celestia was the Chairmare of the Joint Chiefs, and supposedly Luna was Vice-Chair, but she did not appear at the meeting. Then there was Spitfire, whom we already know of, and a mare that nobody but Celestia knew the name who went unspoken, but looked vaguely familiar. 
    All that was said of them was that they were an Agent of the S. M. I. L. E. organization, whatever that was. Rainbow had a feeling she’d be told if she asked, but she didn’t. Then there were a few more ponies whose names were listed off, and as things seemed to be getting started, the door to the conference room burst open.
    “Ehhh, ah hope ahm not too late, preencess!” a shrill voice crowed.
    In walked an elderly mare with a wisp of white hair tied in a tight bun, pale green fur, and many wrinkles.
    “General Smith.” Celestia greeted, her quaint smile becoming a bit. “Thank you for coming.”
    “Aww, don’ yew mention it! An’ don’t call me Geeneeral!” she introduced loudly. “The name’s Granny Smith! Same goes fer all o’ y’all!”
    Her demanding demeanor and impactful (yet aging) voice gave her a very commanding feel. Rainbow Dash was a little stunned. What was Applejack’s grandma doing here?
    “Now, this whar the meetin’ yew wrote about is?” she cried, trotting slowly up to the table with a glance around the room. Celestia nodded politely.
    “Yes, Granny Smith,” she answered gently. “I’m glad you made it alright. Your experience shall be quite the aid to this country, you being our new Military Theorist.”
    “Naw, don’ y’all mention it!” Granny replied with a toothy grin, “I’m jes’ doin’ meh duty fermeh countree is all!”
    Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle. Granny Smith then sidled along and sat herself down right on Rainbow’s left. She gave her a walleyed stare.
    “Why ain’t you Applejack’s lil’ pony friend!?” she shouted, causing a great deal of staring. Her toothy mouth curled into a gnarled grin. “Hey thar, Ranbow Desh! I hope you two keeds been playin’ nice awright.”
    Rainbow wanted to hide underneath the table, and blush was smudging her face in red. She coughed, but Granny didn’t seem to notice. Thank Celestia that there was uhm, Celestia, at the table.
    “Thank you, Granny Smith,” she said, completely unphased. In fact, she seemed to be happier at this familiarity. “As you can see, we have Rainbow Dash with us here as well.” Celestia introduced pleasantly as if Granny hadn’t just embarrassed the lot of them. “She will be serving as the new Chief of the Air Force.”
    Rainbow Dash waved a hoof a bit reluctantly and gave a nervous chuckle. The other ponies stamped their hooves politely, and a few laughed.
    “Hehe.” RD replied bashfully, “Uh… hi, you guys.”
    After that embarrassing moment, the rest of the meeting went off without a hitch, if you’ll pardon the pun. The only downside was that after that, it got really, really boring. Like, mind-numbingly boring.
    “Now, I’d like to go over the current situation with you all.” Celestia began, and magic sparked from the end of her horn. A holographic map appeared on the table, similar to Twilight’s friendship map. It looked almost identical, aside from being colored yellow, and showing the full breadth of Equestria and some of the areas on its borders. Celestia eyed them all. “And may I remind you that this information is not to be shared in public.”
    The heads of the room nodded, a few gulped. Celestia was very adamant about this point. She cleared her throat and continued on.
    “This is our map of Equestria.” Celestia began, “We’re enacting various operations to accrue ponypower and supplies for the war effort. We’ve got factories being built in the northeast, and railway lines being made westward.”
    Celestia created an old-fashion besom from her magic and pointed it on the map. Everypony gazed at it intently. Celestia’s eyes snapped to the unnamed mare in shades.
    “What’s the situation on infiltrators?” Celestia asked her astutely.
    “We’ve got S.M.I.L.E. agents patrolling the frontline areas,” she replied, sorting through a collection of documents stowed away in a metal briefcase. “We’ve captured a few infiltrators, but the insectoids are good at what they do, so we’re putting out warning pamphlets and posters to make sure everypony stays aware.”
    Celestia nodded again and tapped the besom on the table.
    “Any ideas as to provoke them out of hiding?”
    The unnamed shady mare tapped her chin, thinking.
    “We… could ban affection, on the off chance that the Changelings get starved out of love…”
    Celestia nearly snapped the besom and stood up.
    “Absolutely not.” she refuted coldly, “If we do that, our morale will drop significantly. We will seem no better than Chrysalis and her minions.”
    The unnamed mare said nothing and merely nodded.
    “I’ll look into alternatives.” she said, “we’ll come up with something.”
    Celestia nodded, then turned to Spitfire.
    “Commander Spitfire? What’s the situation regarding the Air?”
    Spitfire rubbed a hoof against her chin.
    “Well, we have poor infrastructure in the East. It’ll be harder to resupply the planes. What if we-”
    And it kept going. Spitfire said something about supply lanes and other stuff, which was kinda cool… but also still boring. Celestia nodded and talked a bunch about other things, but Rainbow had stopped listening by this point. Was this it? Just a bunch of strategy and status reports? What about the fighting? What about when the Changelings actually attack?
    “Uh, Princess?” Rainbow asked between Spitfire’s tangent. “When are the Changelings gonna, y’know… declare the war?”
    Celestia frowned a little at this statement, but she went on anyway.
    “As for declaration? We aren’t sure, but with the invasion of Olenia… it’s only a matter of time until Chrysalis strikes.” Celestia informed, serious in all her manner. “My guess is that she will gather the polar bears to her cause, and strike once she is surrounded by vassals. Safer that way, not fighting a multi-front war. Now, if we take into account the frontline, then-”
    And boom. Back to the blahs. Rainbow didn’t feel any better knowing that it would probably be years until the war actually went on. Which meant even more preparations, strategy, and a whole bunch of talking!
    Where’s the action, huh? Come on! Rainbow internally decried, There’s gotta be something cool to talk about, right?!
    There wasn’t. Even worse, the conversation turned to the most dreaded topic of all once Prince Blueblood started talking… politics. That subject went on for ages. Then there was boring stuff about communists from Stalliongrad which was interesting for about 5 minutes, and then stuff about the Dragon Isles and the Badlands, and then more Anti-Changeling rhetoric and blah blah blah, it just went on forever! The meeting slowly felt like it was going on into infinity, and by the end, Rainbow Dash had nearly entered a coma. 
    The dreariness was overpowering, the negativity combined with a bunch of theoretical ifs and buts that made things more tense and scary. Rainbow Dash didn’t like speculating about fighting, she wanted to be in the fighting! Not talking about fighting, not thinking about fighting, but hoof-to-hoof on the battlefield fighting!
    Thank Celestia, at last, there was a loud tapping from her that signaled the meeting’s end.
    “We’ll resume the discussion at our next meeting,” Celestia announced. She didn’t seem relaxed at all from what she had discussed with everypony. “Thank you all for coming.”
    And suddenly everypony was filing out of the room, mares, and stallions from the table breaking into conversation. Rainbow stood up and looked around with relief. At last, it was done. She turned to Spitfire, who seemed of a similar mind, but didn’t show it very much.
    “Was that it?” she asked curiously.
    Spitfire turned to her and nodded.
    “Yep. That was the meeting.”
    Rainbow cocked her head.
    “What was that about resuming?”
    “Oh, well, we’re probably gonna have another meeting within a few days.”
    Rainbow practically jumped out of her fur.
    “Another meeting?!”
    Spitfire nodded again, that same sly smile on her face.
    “Yep, ‘nother meeting. We’ve only covered about half of the material here.”
    Rainbow’s sanity was draining away by the second. Another boring meeting? More political and military talking nonsense? This couldn’t be all there was to her new job, could it?! Rainbow could not ask, for Spitfire filed out of the room, and Rainbow reluctantly followed. Humble Bundle approached them, nodding to Spitfire and turning to Rainbow.
    “Greetings, General Dash,” Humble said by way of a greeting. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “I trust things went well?”
    Rainbow nodded listlessly.
    “Uh, yeah. It was… fine.”
    Humble gave another nod.
    “Follow me, if you please. We are scheduled for a luncheon dine-in at Fort Celestia.”
    Rainbow didn’t know what a dine-in was, but she followed anyway, waving goodbye to Spitfire. She was led outside the castle towards a large military complex north-east of the castle, labeled by sign the name ‘Fort Celestia’ in bold letters. More soldiers and guards saluted as she went along. Once inside, they made their way to a large mess hall, where soldiers were filing in. The Enlisted and Officers filed into the line, while Rainbow was led down to a series of circular dining tables lined in front of the rectangular bench tables. Some of the other Chiefs sat at their own circular tables, though Spitfire and Granny Smith were absent. She sat down, and Humble Bundle bowed.
    “I shall return once you are finished. Enjoy your meal.”
    Humble Bundled departed. At once, a waiterpony approached to replace him.
    “Can I get you anything, ma’am?”
    Rainbow Dash was hungry, and she considered her options.
    “Can I uh… get a hayburger with hay fries and a shake?” she tried, grinning nervously. “If I can.”
    The waiter nodded.
    “Of course, General Dash. Please wait here.”
    The waiter sped off. In an instant, he returned with a delicious gourmet hayburger, hay fries, and a shake. He bowed and left. It sure looked delicious, and this was the kind you only got at fancy restaurants. Rainbow ate hungrily, she certainly was famished, and at once she found herself finished and her stomach filled. Humble Bundle returned.
    “Did you enjoy your meal, General Dash?”
    Rainbow nodded happily.
    “Ah, yeah.”
    “Very good. Come along, if you please, we must head to your office.”
    “Wait, my office?!” Rainbow asked incredulously. Humble Bundle nodded back.
    “Of course. You are the Joint Chief of the Air Force, therefore, you have an office. Literally and figuratively, madame. Please attend.”
    Rainbow sighed for the twenty-second time and followed. It was good that her gut was filled with food, or she might’ve been very excited, so instead, she moved about casually. After another 5-minute walk, they ended up in a large, formal-looking office. The flag of Equestria dotted most surfaces, alongside the Equestrian Air Force logos, but aside from that, it was mostly empty save a large executive desk and an office chair. Rainbow reluctantly moved inside, and sat down, in awe. She examined the things on her desk, including her own nameplate.
    “I shall see you in the evening when it is time to retire. Good day, General Dash.”
    With that, Humble was gone and immediately replaced again by another stately-looking stallion in a uniform.
    “Good afternoon, General Dash!”
    “Uh, hi.”
    “I’m Secretary Pool. I’ll be helping you out since you’re new to being a Joint Chief.”
    “Alright, then,” Rainbow replied nonchalantly. “Hit me.”
    What followed was the most boring explanation of how to do pencil-pushing military work Rainbow Dash had ever heard.







A few days later, Rainbow was sure she was going to pass out, and she practically did when she reached her bed on the fourth night. She didn’t even bother taking off her uniform, she simply laid there instead, groaning in mental agony. Her fourth boring day had ended at last and had consisted of a heck of a lot of boring work and meetings with boring ponies and a haystack-sized amount of politics. It was cool, being able to help guide the organization and training efforts of the Air Force. She had the power to determine what they were equipped with and what training they received, among other things the Air Force did.
    Still, really boring, since a lot of it was being informed on how it all worked and then doing a bunch of document-signing and receiving telegrams from other ponies. Secretary Pool handled all of the boring stuff like typing messages and sending out telegrams, leaving Rainbow to do a bunch of sitting in her office.

Of course, that wasn’t the entire job. There were things like Air mobilization, administration, construction, and repair… she could assign units and do lots of other stuff. But it was all a bunch of paperwork. This was her life now, much to her frustration. She knew the importance of her job, of course, she helped regulate the whole Equestrian Air Force for Celestia’s sake! She knew her duty, and it was her sheer Loyalty alone that kept her along, for her anger was boiling over. Instead of being in the thick of the action, she was stuck on command duty. Instead of being a Wonderbolt who could fly through battle and get assigned to missions… she was stuck in an office.

Even worse was the fact that Rainbow was being treated like a Princess, and she started to see why Twilight disliked it so much. So many ponies treated her like ‘General Dash’ and not like ‘Rainbow Dash’, and even the ponies close to her that worked with her couldn’t be around all day. Spitfire and Granny Smith would disappear to their own duties, or leave and go back home, while Rainbow Dash was forced to attend several pre-scheduled outings to help ‘keep up with appearances.’ Humble Bundle wasn’t a bad pony, but he was not a fun one. He simply went through a giant list of things she had to do, or at least at first, for after the third day he too departed.

All Rainbow had now was Secretary Pool, and while she could be fun, she filled the same role that Humble did. Constantly informing her of meetings, send-offs, and signings to attend… and while being loyal to the fans had its own rewards, that was a small part of it. All Rainbow had been doing was smiling and waving, visiting places for the sake of upkeep and not to really get to know them, and being treated like a superstar. She wondered how all the royal ponyfolk in Canterlot could stand such a lifestyle… obviously, those who loved the spotlight like her or were as stuck-up as Tartarus, but even she had her limits. Being praised and adored was fun at first, now it was just tedious and irritating.

Never had Rainbow been in such an important position that also absolutely sucked to be in. It had its upsides, sure, but Rainbow was a mare of action and not of paperwork. Rainbow thought of all of this as she lay on her bed, groaning from a mixture of exhaustion and stress. She turned over, buried her face in her sheets, and angrily fought with the covers. The covers won, obviously, and suffered only in tidiness. The maids would most likely repair these damages once RD got up, leaving her attack to be infective. So much for taking things in stride.