//------------------------------//
// Wonderbolts 
// Story: Dash jets on:  RotE Episode 2 
// by Dream Volt 
//------------------------------//

	Rarity was glaring at me.  I couldn't really blame her.  I mean it's sort of true, but not entirely.  I took a deep breath, getting ready to sum it up again.  She was sipping some tea she made to study her nerves.  Such a drama queen.

"As I said, that huge science party of Pinkie's in the cave attracted a bunch of ponies from all over, even Canterlot, and even some of the Wonderbolts."

Rarity nodded.  "That is clear enough.  Go on."

"Now I just had to talk to them once I knew they were there.  They didn't really want to talk about flying, but I still totally got to party with the Wonderbolts.  Then they decided to get some air and stretch their wings and I went with them."

"Again, quite clear.  Now the last part, this time in a comprehensible manner."

I still got a huge smile on my face, but forced myself to talk slowly.  "They liked my moves so much they inducted me as a recruit right then and there."

"So you'll be flying with them…"

I rolled my eyes.  "No, a recruit is awesome obviously, but it really just means I get to train with them and maybe if I'm really good I can be promoted actually train with the current active team."

"Say again?"

"Oh, uh, the recruits are trained by old Wonderbolts not on the team anymore for whatever reason.  I mean the active team might help sometimes, but most of the time it's the old timers.  Still, training with legends it's just.  So.  Awesome."

Rarity said nothing for a long time.  I couldn’t even guess what she might be thinking her face remaining neutral.  She then looked at a small stain on the giant doily she was using as a tablecloth.  Her horn glowed, and the stain just vanished.

"Could you always do that?"

"No."  Rarity smiled.  "Isn't it amazing.  Twilight guessed that cleaning fabric is certainly a spell I could master.  I must say the further from one's talent the harder the spell, but the effort is quite worth it."

I raised an eyebrow.  "Cause now you can clean spots?"

She rolled her eyes.  "It's a small thing yes, but I can use it on more serious stains, and each new spell allows greater understanding and eventually more spells."

"Okay.  Whatever."

"So why exactly have you not told any of us of this?"

"Because I don't know what I'm going to do.  I think I already train more than the Wonderbolts, but where that training is located is an issue."

Rarity got a slight smile on her face for some reason.  "Ah, so you feel we'll be upset because you will have to leave us, at least for a time."

"For months, and then I thought about the Wonderbolt's performance schedule and…"

"So now you're so desperate to find some excuse to stay, so your subconscious decided you're cheating and thus all your hard work doesn't matter?"

I stared.  Okay, that made some sense.  I mean I've been trying to work up the courage for weeks to tell them, but I just couldn’t.  Which is dumb because it's not like I'm afraid of anything else.  Rarity frowned slightly, but then smiled again.

"Now that that silliness is out of the way, don't worry.  We're your friends.  We'll support you and still be here when…"

"I can't leave, can I?"

"What?  Rainbow I assure you that there is nothing and no pony that will hold you back from achieving your dream.  You…"

I smiled.  "Yea, you're cool like that, but no, there is only one pony who is awesome enough to hold me back."  I then laughed.  "And once again she's being a stupid old nag about it."

"What ever do you mean?"

I laughed again.  "I mean me of course.  I mean come on, everyone loved those wings Twilight gave you, but I'm the Rainbow Dash.  I shouldn’t have been worried at all.  I'm the only one who can ever really stop me.  Even during that race with AJ during the running of the leaves I lost because of me, not her."

"Yes, though…"

I waved a hoof.  "Yea yea.  Freidship and love and stuff.  I got it the first time, no need to repeat a lesson I learned in the most painful way possible."

"Yes, you two really did get into quite the tumble."

I rolled my eyes.  "Not that.  I mean Twilight beating us.  I mean come on."

"Ah.  So that being the case, what now?"

I looked down.  Good question.  Then I laughed again.  I wasn't sure I like my answer, but it at least it was obvious.

"Hey Rares, do you think about that first trip though the Everfree much?"

"In my nightmares, which considering we faced Nightmare Moon is only appropriate I suppose, but otherwise no.  Though I did ask around about that stylish serpent we met.  He sometimes comes downstream out of the Everfree and…"

"You talk about fashion or something else I don't care about."

"Rude."

"Well I do think about it.  I mean at the time I was pretty sure the Shadowbolts were real.  I've since learned the three I met were really just Nightmare Moon somehow, but Luna also told me the Shadowbolts really did exist."

"Really?  Most interesting."

"The point is I think about that moment a lot.  I thought how Fluttershy probably could have got the bridge instead, how maybe I should think about not trusting them, how being their captain would be so cool, how good I'd look in black."

"Really?  I mean with your colors…"  Then she suddenly started.  "Hmm, but the contrast.  Yes, something monocromatic could work, maybe silver replacing white though.  Maybe a little gold.  Ooo perhaps…"

"Uh, not that I'm sure whatever you're thinking could actually be awesome, and clearly you'll like it but…"

"Yes, yes.  Go on.  I must get sketching.  Never question inspiration when it strikes."

She then trotted over to a table covered in designs.  She pulled a blank sheet of paper from a nearby shelf with her magic as well as a feather and inkwell at the same time.  She didn't even need to look at any of them.  She was very soon sketching, pen speeding across the paper, only stopping to get more ink.

"Wait, you sketch in ink.  I mean wouldn’t pencils…"

"Yes, but I prefer the feel of ink.  When I work on refining an idea I do use pencils, as you simply must change some details at times. But for now this is fine."

"So, uh, where was I?"

"You said you thought of many things while on the other side of the bridge.  We couldn't even hear you shortly after you crossed."

"Yea, so all this stuff went though my head, but I realized there is one thing that was more important than my dream.  I wasn't going to let you down."

"Thus proving you are the element of loyalty."  Then she spun around.  "Oh no, rainbow you simply mustn't."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you not about to say this is the same thing?"

I shook my head.  "Not exactly, but it's close.  I realized I wouldn't really be letting you guys down, but, I'm not ready to leave yet."

Then my face was wet.  What is up with that?  Rarity was soon hugging me.  Then my denial failed me when I started sobbing even harder.  I so didn't want to be doing this.  I mean it's stupid.  It's my decision and it's not like I couldn’t wait a while.  I mean it's not like it would hurt to be even more awesome.  I flew out of Rarity's grasp and turned away wiping the tears from my eyes.  Except even though I didn't want to I was still crying a little.  I zipped out of the store with a wave and quick "later."  I had no idea if Rarity heard me.