//------------------------------// // Ponynaut Dossier: Rainbow Dash // Story: Ad Astra Per Derpy Aspera // by SparklingTwilight //------------------------------// Applicant Dossier #004: Rainbow Dash "Why's my dossier after Soarin's?" The rainbow-maned pony snipped and leaned across the table, encroaching on the interviewer's personal space. "We registered on the same day," the pony answered. "He cut in front. It should be me that has number three in front of her name on your file folder." "It just means I'm the fourth pony interviewed, not number four in the program? Fine. Next time make me the first pony, since I'm the coolest!" "For the record? Rainbow Dash. Isn't it obvious?" "Cloudsdale's where I was born. Come on--you can get that information off the back of any trading card or my cereal boxes." "Wonderbolt-O's, Cap'n Dash's Magic Froot Loops, things like that. Sugar and energy make for a balanced meal." "No. I eat a breakfast with a lot of protein. Need it for my tricks." "My cereals aren't cash-grabs. They're fine for short performance bursts. If a pony wants to build the right type of muscle and maintain energy over time, they need to eat a different meal mix. Ponies just need to know when's right to use each type of fuel. If you put the wrong fuel in the tank, then you're well, going to crash when you most need the performance." "Youngest Captain of the Wonderbolts... not anymore... but when I started, yep. You're right. I've been in charge since Spitfire retired." "I'm going to space because it's there and it's awesome and I'm awesome and it'll be double rainbow awesome when I get there and it'll be even 20 percent cooler when get back and stick a landing after a rocket-assisted double sonic rainboom." "Sure, I'm also doing it for Equestria. Princess Twilight Sparkle personally asked me to help. This is about all ponykind. I'd do anything for the Princess--Element of Loyalty right here." She beat her chest. "Relatives? Got my parents, an aunt and uncle, older boy cousin and Scootaloo." "Lovers? I've had a few. But they couldn't keep up with me." "No I don't regret--next question. Come on." "No, they weren't all ponies." "Excuse me, I don't have to answer that." "I've got a special dispensation from the Princess." An endorsed document was affixed to the page, accompanied by an official protest from the interviewer that an exemption for favored ponies risked the program's respectability--and it was unfair to ponies who lacked connections. "Talk about that bet with Soarin'? Fine. I wanted to light a fire. He was coasting. He's better than he thinks he is, and he just sort of plays around instead of honing his craft." "Sure, he thinks he practices all the time and sure that's the official report. But he doesn't push himself. Somepony can practice and get good at what they're doing. But that doesn't mean the pony's going to innovate or reach another level. Soarin will never be a leader until he takes charge. In space, he'll be alone. He'll have a chance to be awesometastic-cool." "Yeah, I want my team working as much as they can." "No, I don't have much time for hobbies outside of naptime and nighttime." "What's a good amount of personal time?" "Enough time for a lot of naps and to do a second job. Even though I'm the Element of Loyalty, I still have time for sleep and all that jazz." Rainbow Dash performed a power pose the same as a famous one depicted in a Palace stained-glass window and on a trading card that was also tucked into her file. "Yeah, I've had wing injuries before. Always recovered. I'm still a top flyer." "Yep, a pony beat me last year in a race. I'm getting older. You think I'm afraid to admit it?" "I'll fight any pony who thinks I'm afraid. And I'll fight any pony who doesn't believe I'll still beat nine out of ten ponies at anything!" "It's been at least a year since I've fought anypony, and he totally deserved it!" "No charges were filed. I won the fight." "No, the Princess didn't make the charges disappear. They're not in your file, right?" "Fears?" "Not living up to my friends' expectations." "Great. That's it?" Rainbow Dash zoomed off. Rainbow Dash was, quite simply, the best pegasus flyer in decades. She'd reinvented the sonic rainboom--a move so fast it broke the sound barrier. With a rocket assist, who knew how far or fast she could go? And she was a hoof-picked candidate of the Princess. It didn't matter that she had close relationships with creatures other than ponies. Mrs. Harshwhinny didn't pursue that line of inquiry. Unlike any other candidate, Rainbow Dash was beyond reproach. It almost didn't matter what she answered. Of course, there was no question that she was: Cleared for project Marred Mare.