Beneath the moonlit night sky of the ballroom's opened roof, opulence and fine-dining was the order of the day for Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt initiation party. There was an orchestral quartet led by Octavia on the left corner of the stage with Celestia and Luna discussing various political matters in two large armchairs stage right. The cool night air flowing into the room was complemented by the resonant drone of the crowds' incessant chatter and the harmonic uplift of the band's slow, symphonic waltz, completed by the giant "Welcome to the Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash!" banner stretched from wall-to-wall over the stage - which lifted the mare of its namesake into a feeling of unmatched accomplishment and elation.
But below the ethereal haze of grace and glory sat the Mane Six and their Wonderbolt peers at the island-like VIP table literally in the middle of it all - an oasis of casual intimacy shielded by and from a sea of snobs and socialites alike. The mood was set for what was guaranteed to really be the best night ever, already in progress as evident by even the most fleeting glimpses into the delightful dialogues shared between the two teams.
"...But enough about me, more about you..."
"...Has it really been two years since we first met?"
"...Hey, did I ever tell you about my party cannon?"
"...That's okay, I think you already did, Pinkie..."
"...Don't say that, 'Shy, you really did do good in that hurricane..."
"...I must say that your uniforms are quite...dashing if I do say so myself..."
"...And this one time at flight camp..."
"...Soarin', please don't talk with your mouth full..."
"...Sometimes ah wish ah could be a Peg'sis like you, Soarin'..."
"...You guys should've seen the look on Rainbow Dash's face when I told her the good news!"
"...Um, may I have some more wine please, if that's okay with you?"
"This truly is the best night of my life!" Rainbow Dash declared, contently slouching in her chair after finishing off her soup with a satisfied burp. "Urp...I should probably start signing autographs come morning..."
The grin that crept across her face like a lost ant slid away in surprise as soon as she noticed that Spitfire was staring at her rather intently. In response, Dash panicked, sucking her stomach in and straightening her posture like an unfurling magazine centerfold.
"Y'know, Rainbow Dash, it's not polite to slouch like that in fancy company..." Quipped Spitfire, with a snarky smirk on her face. By the way she placed her chin on her hooves and that glare she gave, Dash would have surely known that she was checking her out had she not known better. The fact that it always looked like she had bedroom eyes whenever her eyes glazed over did not help at all.
Trying to make a comeback after regaining her composure, Rainbow Dash offered her attempt at a retort. "Yeah, well...you should...oughta...keep your elbows off the table!" She said, pointing out her fire-haired friend's hunched posture.
"Oh, does it really bother you that much?" Spitfire replied, giving the new recruit a very smug, punchable look. "Well, if that's the case, then I might as well take them off the table..." Which she did, slowly and deliberately. "...and help myself over to the last slice of pie!" With all deftness and swiftness, she stood up and loomed right over the rainbow-maned mare sitting next to her, quickly snatching the lonely, cherry-filled delicacy off its silver platter and planted her firm plot back in her own chair, holding her prize aloft like a barbel.
Caught off-guard by the captain's sudden, uncouth maneuver and mannerisms, Rainbow Dash was quick to point an accusing hoof at the yellow mare. "Hey, what gives you the right to do that?!" Hollered Dash. "I hadn't had a slice of pie yet!"
"Pie?" Spitfire said, feigning surprise. As a daredevil, hero and aerial acrobat, Spitfire knew many, many tricks - and her next trick was one that she learned at a very young age. With a look of brazen arrogance, the golden girl unhinged her jaw and violently crammed the entire slice into her mouth, cheeks swollen and taught with crusty, gooey goodness. "Ah uhn no 'out any pie!" She added, letting a couple crumbs drop from her half-shut muzzle.
Dash's face contorted with shock and disgust at such a despicable act of debased, dessert-based depravity; Spitfire's actions would not go unpunished! "You...You did not just eat that whole thing!" Choked Dash, trying her hardest to suppress a shout, if not an out-of-control laughing fit. "What the hayseed is wrong with you?!"
After a few seconds of careful chewing, Spitfire dumped the sugary contents of her cheeks into her gullet with a loud gulp, teary-eyed from such a gastronomical feat. "What? Can't a mare have a bit of fun?" Spitfire quipped, wiping her eyes and giving Rainbow a very bratty grin. "Besides, being a Wonderbolt means always expecting the unexpected and possessing lightning-fast reflexes..." Spitz paused, taking a quick sip of red wine. "...So are you really sure that you're Wonderbolt material?" She added with a teasing tone to her voice. "Wait a sec, where's the rest of my soup?!"
Her answer came with the sound of loud slurping, turning around to find Rainbow Dash gleefully swilling the rest of Spitfire's wild rice soup, letting a little bead of vegetable broth trickle down her chin. Finishing its contents, much to the Wonderbolt captain's ire, Rainbow daintily wiped her mouth off with a napkin-draped hoof, glancing back at Spitfire with the most dirt-eating smirk on her face that she could possibly pull off. "So I'm not Wonderbolt material, am I now?" She teased, her grin becoming more like that of a shark. "Maybe I'm the one who should be captain around here..."
"Ohhh no, I'm the one who calls the shots around here!" Retorted Spitfire, starting to get into the little game that Rainbow seemed to be playing. "And as the official captain of the Wonderbolts, that gives me special privileges. Like say, for example...oh, I dunno...wine privileges!" As soon as she said that, she carefully yanked Dash's goblet away from her and swilling its full-bodied contents, placing a hoof on the cyan mare's forehead to keep her from reclaiming her alcoholic prize, arms flailing towards the grail like a bullied foal.
"Ack...Hey! G-gimme that back!" Cried Rainbow Dash, reaching towards the ceramic goblet that held the last remaining drops of Chateau Punch 998, which slipped between Spitfire's soft lips and down the inside of her tender throat.
Setting the empty chalice down onto the table, Spitfire let out a petit hiccup, finishing off what remained of its contents, leaving only a little spot of sanguine liquid at the very bottom of it. "Gimme-gimme-never-gets, Dashie..." She teased, licking her lips.
Dash gave her idol an almost murderous look before softening into a mischievous gaze upon realizing that Spitfire was simply living up to her name - wild, feisty, sassy and with nary a fear in the wide world. Finally abandoning the sense of etiquette that Rarity had engrained so deeply into the mare's psyche, Rainbow Dash decided to join the game that her hero was playing; One without admins, moderators and plenty of cheats. "Okay, then..." She said deviously. "...if you're so keen on sharing, then why don't I help you get a little more fiber into your diet!" Dash then playfully inserted a bread roll into Spitfire's mouth, plugging her muzzle like a cork.
Either because of her moderate blood alcohol level or the fact that she and Rainbow were simply so wrapped up in faffing about at the dinner table, Spitfire tore off one half of the roll and ate the part that was in her mouth before happily stuffing part of the roll into the blue daredevil's jokehole. "See? I am keen on sharing, Dashie..." Chimed Spitfire. "...But in all seriousness, I think that's enough playtime for now." She added. As childish as their little food-skirmish had been, Spitfire had to admit that fooling around with her fan like that did turn her on a little. But then again, that may still be just the wine talking.
Chewing and swallowing the scrap of wheaty fiber forced into her mouth, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but let out an usually loud burp, turning her face a deep, wine-red color. "Whoops! I guess that is enough fooling around for tonight..." Giggled the mare. Spitfire soon failed to resist bursting into a fit of laughter, with Dash soon joining her and before long, they were both hanging an arm over each other's shoulders, chortling like a couple of drunken barflies along with Pinkie Pie, who simply invited herself over to laugh with them. Although the other Wonderbolts were busy chatting with the rest of the other Elements of Harmony, there were two pairs of eyes looking at the three mares across the table with exasperation.
"Honestly Applejack, have you ever seen a more uncouth couple of mares?" Scoffed Rarity between dainty sips of wine. "They're both talented daredevils - world-class athletes, at that! And yet there they are, snatching each other's food off their plates like this was a grade school cafeteria. This party's all about the, so don't you think they should be acting more their age?" She added. "Besides, Canterlot is a very esteemed and sophisticated place for esteemed and sophisticated Ponies, so they should at least try to act as such."
"Yep, ah do agree that they're not the couthest of Ponies..." Sighed Applejack, watching the two with a melancholy look on her face. "But then again, this is their big night, so ah suppose they have every right to fool 'round a bit." Jack continued to pick a bit at her salad, looking rather moody.
"Are you alright, Applejack?" Rarity asked, taking notice of her friend's somewhat gloomy demeanor. "This is a party to celebrate Rainbow Dash finally fulfilling her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt, so why the long face?"
The countryborn Pony let out another exhausted exhale. "I guess ah'm just worried that ah might never get to spend time with Rainbow Dash once she becomes a true, blue Wonderbolt. Ah s'pose ah'll miss those days where she'd sleep away the afternoon as ah bucked apple trees before they started goin' outta season. Or the times we'd play games on rainy days or wrestle 'round in the mud..." Applejack stared at her reflection on the nearly clean plate she ate her salad off of, taking note of her sad expression. "...Ah don't want the good times t'end just 'cause Dash became a celebrity. Ah wanna still hang out with her without havin' to go through crowds o' fans, bodyguards to ultimately find her too tired to do anything. Maybe ah'm just not cut out to be her best friend." The farmpony sniffed, holding back a couple tears.
Rarity placed a hoof on the workhorse's shoulder. "Don't ever say things like that, darling!" She said reassuringly. "You must never beat yourself up over things that aren't your fault at all! Rainbow's the element of Loyalty, so there's no way in Tartarus that she would ever abandon you, I or anypony else she's friends with, it's just not natural for her to do something like that. Besides, we all arranged for a special agreement when Rainbow Dash first signed her contract with the Wonderbolts so that she is free to do what she pleases until she's needed by the rest of the team, whom they'll call if they do. That way, you can have your cake and eat it, too! Metaphorically speaking, that is..."
"Yeah, ah s'pose you're right, Rarity." Said Applejack, looking back at her Unicorn friend, giving her a warm smile. "No matter where we go, we'll always have Rainbow Dash to be by our side through thick n' thin. 'Sides, ah really shouldn't scorn her fer followin' her dreams, anyway - She's got herself a rendezvous with destiny."
"That's the spirit, darling..." Rarity praised, giving Applejack a good pat on the back. "In the meantime, I'd like to chat with some of the Wonderbolts..." She looked over at some of the male members of the team, giving them a good scan with her sparkling eyes. "...they've got themselves some thick stallions that I'd just love to--"
Before she could finish her sentence, however, the loud, blaring clarion call of the Royal Canterlot Voice drew the attention of all partygoers save for the guards, who swiveled their heads to the source of its incredible treble and bass. Startling more than a few Ponies, the blistering thunder of the voice was almost loud enough to crack glass and Octavia's band slowly wrapping up their symphony as a subtle warning to what was to follow did little to prepare the ears of the poor souls that were closest to the stage.
"HEAR US, CITIZENS AND ARISTOCRACY OF EQUESTRIA!!" Boomed Luna, floating steadily above the edge of the stage on her navy wings, despite her voice practically being loud enough to shake a rivet loose. "YOUR TIME OF FEASTING AND MERRIMENT MUST BE POSTPONED FOR NOW, FOR THE WONDERBOLTS ARE TO ANNOUNCE THEIR NEWEST COMERADE, RAINBOW ALBERGHETTI DASH OF CLOUDSDALE!!! WILL THE WONDERBOLTS PLEASE TAKE CENTER STAGE IMMEDIATELY, FOR LADY SPITFIRE IS TO DELIVER HER WELCOME SPEECH IN HONOR OF THE ELEMENT OF LOYALTY!!!
Energy surging through their bodies with anticipation as soon as their names were announced, the ears of Spitfire, Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Wonderbolts perked up to a flawless ninety-degree angle. This was now the moment of truth - The time Dash would finally fulfill her lifelong dream of being among the greatest aerial aces of the Pegasus race.
"Ready for your big show, Rainbow Dash?" Said Spitfire, giving her a friendly smile.
"As if I wouldn't be?!" Dash replied. "I am ready to fly!!" She declared with a voice-cracking shout, rearing up on her hind legs to express her boundless enthusiasm and energy, laughing like a sugar-charged six-year-old.
"That's the answer I was looking for!" Assuming their launch positions, Dash and the Wonderbolts went down on a knee and two front hooves with their heads pointed towards the ceiling and wings erect, ready to take off. "Alright, Wonderbolts!" Barked Spitfire towards her teammates. "Form up on my wing, pattern Delta! U-turn at T+ two seconds and vert-corkscrew onto the stage facing audience! Wonderbolts...LET'S GO!!"
And with that shot, Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts rocketed into the air at breakneck speed, sending loose napkins flying and knocking down anything not nailed to the floor within a five-foot radius. Fortunately, the ballroom had a high enough ceiling to allow room for their stunts or else they would have left in an ambulance. Zooming higher and higher into the air and in perfect sync, the 'Bolts pulled upwards just before touching the ceiling until they looped and found themselves rocketing towards the stage before an amazed audience. With a sudden shift in weight, the Wonderbolts somersaulted en route to the hard marble floor and hitting it hoof-first facing towards the audience, delivering a shockwave that sent the nearby band onto their backs and beneath their instruments, Octavia getting a face full of bass and Lyra getting her head stuck in a harp. Thanks to her athletic abilities and years of practice, Dash pulled off such a breakneck stunt with ease, standing on her rear legs and hooves over her head in triumph along with the other Wonderbolts as their ears took in the wild cheers, screams and clops of applause of their audience, soon barraged by a full salvo of roses and nosegays.
Taking a bow and approaching the mic, Spitfire gestured Rainbow Dash to step forward, of which she gladly did so. "Thank you, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia for your support in making this all possible and for the...err...Royal Canterlot Voice." She said into the microphone standing before her.
"It was an honor." Said Celestia.
"We are most grateful." Replied Luna.
"Hey!" Cried a high-pitched voice from the central table.
"Oh! And thank you, Pinkamena Diane Pie, for using the Party Cannon to help set this all up so quickly..." Spitfire added sheepishly. "It is truly a breakthrough in...confection-based...ballistics..."
"Never leave home without it!" Pinkie added, prompting a hearty chorus of laughter from the audience and those on stage.
After allowing for the laughter to die down, Spitfire spoke again. "But above all, I would like to congratulate our newest member, Rainbow Dash..." The spotlight shone on an ecstatic, grinning Rainbow Dash standing tall and proudly before the wild cheers and applause of her audience, confetti falling upon her like fine snow. Cheeks turning rosy, Dash could not help but feel tears of joy well up in her eyes upon realizing that right now, right this minute, she had accomplished her lifelong dream after years and years of practice and achievement. She felt like climbing the tallest mountains in the world and shouting "I am a Wonderbolt!" at the top of her lungs atop their summits, unearthly strength and pride swelling up in her flesh and blood, feeling powerful beyond reckoning like the gods of ancient myths. This was her dream and this was her time and there was nothing that could possibly go wrong!
"...Who, by saving the lives of Soarin', Rarity and myself, demonstrating untold courage and bravery in the face of adversity, displaying feats and acts of heroism, skill and loyalty towards her fellow Equestrians, has earned her the title and privilege of flying amongst the greatest flyers the world has ever known: The Wonderbolts!" The crowd burst into another polyphonous round of thundering applause as Rainbow looked towards her hero with awe and admiration, adoring everything that Spitfire was and stood for.
Meanwhile, the guard in charge of bouncer duty, had ended his shift for the night, mainly because of a nasty earache caused by both Rainbow Dash's fangirlish squeal and Luna's trademark Royal Canterlot Voice. Walking down towards the exit by the left side of the stage to punch out for the night and head straight to bed, the guard groaned quietly from the toll that a day of guard duty, frisking, close observation and rigid posture had taken on his muscular frame, his many bones and tendons caught in painful knots of aches and cramps.
"Ugh...another day another Bit, I suppose." Moaned the guard. "At least posing for Equestria After Dark helps pay the bills. Sometimes I wish that I got a Cutie Mark for that instead of guard du--WHOA!!"
With a loud clang, the guard had slipped and fallen onto his back, cushioned only by the cold metal shell of his body armor. Getting back onto his legs and trying to shake off the many stabbing aches and cramps from both the his fall and workday, the toned Pegasus stallion clutched his head in pain.
"Owww...What in the hay did I slip on?" He said, still seeing a few stars. His question was soon answered by a small, shiny something he found on the ground. Realizing that this had to be what he slipped on, the guard walked closer to the mysterious object to investigate.
"Huh? What's this?" Picking up the source of his future back problems, the guard couldn't help but take a mental note of the object's curiously enticing odor.
"A marble? What in the world is a marble doing here?" He asked himself.