The train ride to Canterlot was a normal one just like any other that the Mane Six had taken, save for the lack of dessert-based murder mysteries, assaults by native Buffalo tribes, having to share seats with a faceless white mare, an entire apple tree stashed into the caboose or the engine coming alive and trying to derail itself straight into the gates of Tartarus. None of that nonsense - only a smooth, ten-minute train ride up to Canterlot like so many times before. There was, however, that awkward moment where Applejack found out that Derpy made her home inside the angel seat of the mail car, but aside from that scene, everything was otherwise relatively normal.
But then again, Ponyville, if not all of Equestria itself, had a very odd definition of the word "normal."
Making their way through the painting-lined halls and arabesque, open-air transepts of Canterlot Palace, the thundering clop of hooves on marble belonging to the Mane Six had slowed to a stop before the lavender double doors of the ballroom where the initiation party was taking place. Nervously examining the door's chiseled, geometric facade, Rainbow Dash felt her heart pounding against her sternum, alive with anticipation for what has finally come. Finally ready to take on her fantasy headfirst, Dash pushed the door open with a gentle nudge of the hoof and beheld the glory that she and her friends found within.
Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns both common and elite mingled amongst another in the ethereal chill of excitement and wonder, engaging in long-winded and lighthearted conversations. Tables creaked with gaudy displays of lavish foods and desserts, with fine wine and champagne flowing into crystal goblets and filling the plates and bellies of nearly every attendee. Covered balconies and parapets carved into the third-story walls loomed over the partygoers like foreboding architectural sentinels, upon which nested the vigilant eyes of the Canterlot Royal Guard - the most esteemed military force in Equestria. Though they were a very common sight in the city's inner palace, nearly two-thirds of its hallowed ranks stood watch in this very room, for not only were the Wonderbolts in attendance, but also the Princesses Celestia and Luna themselves; the veritable gods of the world that their people lived and died upon.
Like a giddy schoolfilly, Rainbow Dash was jogging in place with utter excitement, her friends more than happy to see her in such an ecstatic mood. With six rolls of folded parchment in hoof, Twilight Sparkle handed them over to the guard watching over the roped partitions the separated them from the rest of the party.
"Hi, we're here for the party..." Said Twilight, magically unrolling and presenting the scrolls to the guard, who scanned them with glaring eyes to determine their authenticity. "...Well, actually we're here for the guest of honor here, Rainbow Dash." She continued, gesturing a hoof towards her hyperactive Pegasus friend.
Quickly recognizing both Celestia's hoofwriting and the guest of honor's beaming blue face, the barrel-chested guard unhooked one of the ropes, allowing for the six ponies to pass through. "Very well. You may enter." He said in a gruff, stoic voice.
"WAHEEEEE!! This is the happiest day of my life!!" Rainbow Dash squealed, her voice cracking in the fangirliest way possible, prompting the guards and her friends to recoil from such a high-pitched noise. "I cannot wait to finally and official become an official Wonderbolt! Spitfire, Soarin', Fleetfoot, Blaze and Surprise, here I COME!! Dash reared up on her hind legs with the vigor and fervor of a caffeinated puppy, galloping off into the crowd with her friends trotting behind.
"Umm...I really really wish you wouldn't startle me, err...us, Rainbow Dash..." Spoke Fluttershy, lowering her ears.
"She can't hear ya, sweetie, she's too busy bein' a big fan-filly o' them fancy Wonderbolt folks." Replied Applejack to her meek yellow friend.
The guard behind them hitched the rope back into its original position before rubbing a hoof into a sore ear. "'The Canterlot Royal guard always meets the best girls...'" He grumbled, quoting the numerous recruitment posters found plastered all around the city, his ears still ringing from Rainbow's excited squeal. "...Phooey."
Rainbow Dash wasted no time in snaking and budging her way through the crowded clusters of attendees to locate her idols, relying on her keen sense of direction to find her way past the gossiping aristocrats and lower-class socialites and clearing a path for her friends trotting right behind her. As for her five friends, they found it to be a bit of a chore to keep up with Rainbow, keeping her technicolor cape just within eyesight. As tough as it was to chase after the future Wonderbolt, they found the experience to have a fun, if not rather...mystical feeling; Like chasing a holographic butterfly through a living, winding hedge maze of Ponies, the walls of their coats flickering past them like a colorful strobe light.
But then again, that feeling may have been the heat talking, even though Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were not yet in estrus, which affected different mares at different times.
Coming to a clearing, Rainbow Dash found herself dead center in the middle of the ballroom, which held the vast, round table where the Wonderbolts themselves sat, like the knights of Arthurian legend. Skidding to a stop and allowing her friends to catch up with her, Dash stood awestruck at the sight before her.
It was a white-clothed table big enough for the ring of seventeen chairs encircling it, in which the team of Pegasi sat, conversing, eating, laughing and overall having a good time, with seven empty chairs reserved for Dash and her friends. Platters of food and bottles of champagne in buckets of ice laid centered around the small, simple white vase that held but a single red rose, playing the role of centerpiece for the whole table. One would expect a tall, gilded statuette of a Pegasus with its wings outstretched, but then it would be far too distracting and none of the Wonderbolts would be able to concentrate on dining and socializing.
Still clad in their blue jumpsuits (which may or may not have been to blame for Rainbow's spandex fetish), the Wonderbolts' individual personalities shone simply through the way they interacted with one another. Blaze and Fleetfoot were leaning close to each other, gossiping in mischievous whispers, their context evident by the odd rush of blood to their faces. Silverback simply picked and probed at his food, listening to their conversations while Fire Streak next to him kept bragging about his accomplishments to a clearly uninterested High Winds, who busied herself by absent-mindedly balancing a dessert spoon on her hoof. Lightning Steak and Misty were in the midst of some heated political debate, paying no mind to the clearly intoxicated Wave Chill between them, while Rapidfire payed very close attention to Fire Streak's boasting. And last, but not least, Spitfire was having herself a very good chuckle, engaged in a lively conversation with Surprise, while Soarin' next to her simply stuffed his face in cherry pie almost immediately after finishing off his salad.
"Wow, they sure are casual for a bunch of celebrity heroes..." Rarity remarked, catching up with Rainbow Dash along with the rest of the Mane Six.
"Y'all can say the same thing about us six, Rarity." Applejack retorted.
"See, guys? The Party Cannon truly knows no bounds!" Proclaimed Pinkie Pie.
"I sure hope they don't mind if we join in. That is, if they will allow us to...if they so wanted..." Said Fluttershy.
"Relax, Fluttershy, you've met them before after that thing with the hurricane, remember?" Twilight replied before turning her attentions towards the significantly bolder Pegasus of the six. "I'm so glad you're excited too, Rainbow Dash. I mean, after all, it is your special day... Err, right, Rainbow Dash?"
"Uh huh. Yeah." Said Dash, still starstruck as she had her eyes fixed firmly upon Spitfire's soft, smiling face.
"Well what are y'all waitin' for?! Break the ice, gosh darn it!" Said Applejack, giving Rainbow a firm nudge on her plot to urge her forward. Dash let out a startled meep as she trotted forward a couple paces on reflex, "encouraged" by her orange-coated friend. The slight noise and motion grabbed the attention of the Wonderbolts' captain, her delicate face lighting up like a roman candle once her amber eyes instinctively shifted to the source of the sound.
"Heh heh ha! Goodness, Surprise, you sure are something else! We should to- Hey, whaddya know! The guest of honor has finally arrived!" Said Spitfire, her conversation along with everypony else's brought to a halt by the blue mare's arrival. The captain scooted out of her chair and happily trotted over to an ecstatic Rainbow Dash, throwing her arms open and outright embracing their new recruit and locking her in a tight hug. "How are you?" She added with a sweet tone in her voice.
Rainbow Dash's pupils dilated as blood rushed straight to her cheeks, illuminating them with a hot red glow. Had she not been so prepared for the event, the poor mare would've fainted from pure joy! The very idea of what was going on right now was repeating itself over and over again, trying to ensure that Dash was well aware of what had just happened.
"Spitfire, the greatest Pegasus in the history of Pegasi, is hugging ME."
Despite it being just a friendly hug, the seconds turned into hours as Rainbow Dash savored the blissful feeling of Spitfire's strong, athletic arms gripping her tightly into her warm chest, pressing firmly into the flesh on her back. Taking in the feeling of warmth coming from the fiery-maned mare, along with her hot, spicy scent, Dash reluctantly released herself from Spitfire's grip just as she was letting go as well. Returning to reality and coming face to face with the Wonderbolt once more, Rainbow Dash replied to her idol's friendly greeting, but not before letting a certain thought race through her consciousness.
"That powerful embrace...it's so warm. Just imagine feeling those strong legs in bed with her..."
"Uh...Uh, good! Very good! Excellent, in fact!" Replied a still-blushing Rainbow Dash. "Say, have you met any of my friends yet?" Dash gestured towards the friendly smiles of her friends behind her.
"Why, yes I have, in fact." The Wonderbolt captain replied, looking over Dash's shoulder. "However, I don't think any of us have really gotten to know each other much. Fortunately, we reserved six seats for all you girls, so you want to hang out and eat with us?"
"As if I'd say no?!" Said Rainbow. "Of course I- err, we would love to hang out with you guys, right gals?" She looked over her shoulder back towards her friends to see what they thought of Spitfire's idea.
"Why of course we would!"
"Abso-tooty-lutely!"
"I guess we can join you..."
"Yee-haw, it's chow time!"
"Why, that would be just lovely!"
"I guess that's a yes, then!" Laughed Spitfire. "Go ahead and pull up a seat, guys! The wild rice soup is to die for!"