The Pegasus did several more training exercises, all of which she completed perfectly, always either narrowly trailing a new record or setting a new one. At the end of the day she was exhausted; she collapsed on the grass just as she finished the last exercise.
Spear walked over to her and offered a hoof. “We’re done, Spectrum. I’ll make sure you get a tent so you can get some shuteye.” He nodded to one of the stallions in the crowd, who went back to the camp to prepare a tent.
Rainbow looked up at Spear before accepting his hoof. “Spectrum?”
Spear’s gaze moved from the clipboard to her. “Yeah. Nice nickname, don’t you think?”
Rainbow closed her eyes. “‘Spear:’ is that your real name?”
Spear chuckled a bit. “Nah, it was a nickname given to me.”
Dash opened her eyes. “How did you get it?”
Spear looked back to the clipboard. “I’ll tell you another time,” he replied coolly as he was approached by a colt.
“The tent is ready, Sir.”
Spear nodded and clapped the colt on his shoulder. “Good job.”
spear than turned to Rainbow Dash, who once again lied in the grass, almost asleep. “Spectrum. Tent. Shuteye.”
Rainbow opened an eye. “Huh?”
Spear walked over to her and helped her up once again. “Get your flank into your tent and sleep!”
Rainbow Dash stumbled towards the camp, swaying as she walked“Okay, okay, I’m going.”
Spear rolled his eyes and looked at the clipboard again. The results amazed him; he had never thought she would have results this impressive. His eyes moved from the clip board toward the direction of the camp. “Spectrum is probably able to get into the first battalion.” He trotted toward the camp to get some rest as well.
Rainbow Dash had been in the army for 2 weeks; she trained with the others and had gained some respect from all her achievements. She was also known for her prancing and joking around. She was called to the general tent, however, due to her latest prank. Which contained a magical bomb in the food hall.Rainbow Dash waited outside the tent and studied the guards from their hooves to their manes. Suddenly one of the guards opened the folder to the tent.
“You may enter, Spectrum.” Dash had gotten used to the nickname and walked in; in front of her she saw a dark grey Pegasus with a dark blue mane and tail. He looked up from the desk and at Rainbow Dash.
“Rainbow Dash.” Dash walked to the front of his desk and stood still. “Take a seat.” Rainbow did as she was told and sat down on her haunches. “Do you know why you are here, Rainbow Dash?”
Dash opened her mouth, pausing momentarily. “Is it because of the prank in the food hall? If that’s it, I can explain.”
The general waved a hoof. “No Rainbow Dash, that is not the reason at all” Rainbow looked dumbfounded for a moment before the general spoke up again, his golden eyes locked with hers. “You’re no longer in Irons company; you’re no longer in THIS army.”
Rainbow Dash looked at him in shock. “W-what are you saying? Does that mean I'm free to go?” The general was cut off as Rainbow continued her ranting “But if i leave doesn't that mean another one of the element will have to take my place!?, Y-you can’t do that! I mean...you can do it but please don’t do it!”
The chuckle of the general stopped her from continuing her ranting.
The general spoke up. “You are no longer in this army, Rainbow Dash; the results from your physical training came in with new orders.” Rainbow looked down at her hooves embarrassed of her reaction. “You are being transferred into my battalion.”
Rainbows eyes shot open. “B-b-but you’re the g-g-general of the f-first battalion.”
The general reached out his hoof. “Congratulations. You made it into Princess Celestia’s hoof-picked elites.” Rainbow, still in shock from the news, just sat there taking it all in. It took her another minute to let it sink in. She grabbed his hoof and squeezed it.
“Your behavior needs to change as you get into the first how ever. We are the face and pride of Princess Celestia, no more prancing and no more stupidity.”
Before Rainbow Dash left the tent did she arrange another meeting. She meets Spear on the way, “congratulations Spear” Spear didn’t seem to understand and sent her a questioning look and went into the tent. Rainbow Dash was in her tent packing everything she had with her, she turned to walk out but just as she was on the way out did a white unicorn enter “YOU got me promoted into the first battalion!” Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure if he was angry at her or happy until he broke down laughing. “Do you know how proud my parents will be when they hear this!” Rainbow let out a chuckle “I got an idea, after all, your family supported your decision as you joined the army” Spears looked down “Well, everyone knows, except my sister. Rainbow looked at him a bit confused “What do you mean except you’re sister?” Spear looked up from the ground “I haven't talked to her in a very long time, she should be the same age as you when I think of it” Rainbow lay hoof on his shoulder “I’m sure she would be proud of you.” Spear smiled from ear to ear, “Thanks, Spectrum” Dash smiled in return “your welcome, and the best is. We no longer need to take the crap from Iron!” Spear nodded and walked outside “I’ll start to pack my things” Rainbow walked out of her tent and closed it behind her.
Rainbow Dash waited close to a bone fire for Spear to return, she glanced over her shoulder every so often to try and catch sight of her friend. She closed her eyes and let out a sight as this was probably the sixth time she looked over her shoulder while waiting. “Waiting for somepony?” Rainbow jumped as the sudden voice came from behind her. Rainbow spun around almost knocking her head into his chest as she turned “Where in Equestria have you been! You use even longer time than Rarity to pack you’re stuff” Spear couldn’t help but burst out laughing as this was exactly the reaction he had anticipated from the Pegasus.
Spear got to his hovers wiping a tear away from his eyes “Sorry, i couldn’t resist.” Rainbow shoot him a annoyed glare “What took you so long anyway?” Spears smile faded “New reports from the front line, i had to give out a few orders before i could make it here”
Rainbow dash looked up “ You know it’s night already, why didn’t you just send a messenger to tell me....I could have taken a nap you know?” Spear smirked “How a lazy flank like you got into the first is still a mystery to me” Rainbow glared daggers at him “After all this waiting you at least owe me telling me your name!” Spear shocked his head “Nope, not today not tomorrow Missy”
Rainbow trotted off in the direction to Canterlot. Spear followed close after.
Rainbow Dash and Spear followed general Red mane through Canterlot court yard, Rainbow kept a steady pace “So, where are the 1’st battalions stationed?” Red mane looked over his shoulder “The 1’st battalion have it’s training ground inside the castle, together with our barracks. Spear stopped for a second “ Are you telling me we are going to the 1’st battalions training ground?” Red mane looked forward again and opened another door “No,” just as he opened the door did the throne room come into view “Princes Celestia will have to judge if you two are capable of entering the 1’st battalion. We are her hoof picked elite for a reason” “Indeed you are general Red mane” all eyes turned to the staircase, Princes Celestia stood on top of the stairs, a smile on her muzzle “It’s good to see you again Rainbow Dash” her soft and kind voice made echo through the throne room “And you, Shining armor” Rainbow had to resist the urge to laugh as Princes Celestia had told her his name, something she had been asking about for weeks.
All three ponies bowed in respect before they stood up again.
Celestia walked down the staircase and in front of both ponies, Rainbow Dash and Shining armor stood still as Princes Celestias horn touched Rainbow Dashs forehead first, a bright light erupted from Princess Celestias horn, Rainbow felt her knees get week under the magical pressure. Princess Celestia removed her horn from Rainbows forehead and nodded, “She is capable, no doubt” She then moved to Shining Armor and touched his forehead with her horn. The same reaction happened, Princess Celestia smiled at Shining armor “I will be expecting great things from you Shining armor” Shining armor returned the smile “I’ll try to not disappoint you, you’re majesty”. She gave each of them a smile “They are both capable and have the ability to be in your squared general Red mane.” Red mane nodded “We are your shield Princes,” Princes Celestia watched as the three ponies that just had entered her throne room walked out the very same door they came in with.
Rainbow couldn’t help but nudge her friend in the side “So, Shining armor, what do you think of your new position?” Shining armor just glared at her “You may know my name, but I still prefer Spear” Rainbow Dash got a sly smile “Sure things, Shining armor!” They walked down a stair and through a long corridor the only light source were the torched that were lined up against the wall on both sides, each torch provided a light with dancing shadows on the wall. Rainbow Dash nor Shining Armor had been in this part of the castle before. They came to an old oak door, General red mane pushed his hoof against the door, the door opened with agony, the door revealed what was inside. The hall was filled with all sorts of ponies, all from Pegasi, Earth ponies, Unicorns. Each race training different kind of combat technique. Rainbow noticed a few of the unicorns threw something that looked like ice spikes at some dolls at the other side of the room, especially one of the unicorns stood out to Rainbow, he sent out a dark blue ice spike that hit the ragging doll directly in its head before it exploded with a magnificent blue light The head was gone, and Rainbow watched in shock as she though this kind of magic didn’t exist.
Spear managed by a second do duck as two armored Pegasi raced over his head,a sudden loud crash got both attentions as they saw a group of Earth ponies in a circle with armor from top to hooves. It seemed as they were wrestling as the sight of a armored earth pony lied on his back, with a swift move he kicked him self to his feet again and was back in the game again.
General Red mane walked into the middle of the room before he spoke up “This is our new recruits, they will be treated with the same respect as everyone else. They both have worked hard to get here. Just as everyone else in this room” He paused for a moment “Get this two into a set of armor and see what they can do” All the sound had stopped the moment the General red mane spoke, all eyes were on them. Rainbow Dash sent Spear a nervous glance as she received just the same.
One of the Pegasi walked toward Rainbow Dash as a rather large pony walked towards Spear.
The Pegasi had a dark blue coat with a blue mane, almost like Dash’s own. Her eyes was how ever emerald green, which reminded Dash of a very close friend back home. Dash only noticed that the earth pony had a dark brown coat and black hair, the Pegasi stood in front of her and made eye contact. “Name is Lightning twist, I’m here to see what you got” Rainbow liked her attitude, straight forward and not going around the topic. Rainbow Dash followed Lightning twist to another part of the hall and into a side room that apparently was the armory, Lightning twist turned “Light, medium or heavy?” Rainbow Dash looked from the different armors, Light armor were mostly a leather armor reinforced with iron, the medium armor was an combination of Iron and steel, and then it was the heavy, a pure steel armor that covered a pony from the tip of their tail to the end of the snout. Rainbow smiled to herself, “This looks 20% cooler than anything else in here” she though to herself. “Heavy” Lightning twist raised an eyebrows “Really? i though you more of a light armor” Rainbow sent her a cocky smile. Lightning twist helped her with to get the armor on, the cold metal against Rainbow Dashes coat wasn’t exactly pleasant, but she could manage it. Lightning twist grabbed the medium armor and got it one with ease. Lightning twist walked up beside Rainbow, “Let’s see what you got kiddo” Rainbow sent her a annoyed glance.
Lightning twist jumped and flew straight up with ease yet again. “Are you coming or not?” Rainbow smiled, she jumped and flew up past Lightning twist with ease. Lightning twist flew up beside her “Let’s do a basis test, I guess you’ve had your fare share of flying in Circe, after all. You was in Irons platoon. So let’s do something different, It’s mostly just tag, but it can be a challenge with armors on, and it is a great way to see how much endurance you got” Rainbow looked from the medium armor from her own “So that is why you choose med” Lightning twist smiled “Now you got it, ok since you are new I’ll start” Rainbow was about to reply before a hoof pressed it firmly against her chest “You got it” Lighting twist comment earned a few chuckles from the group below.
Rainbow Dash was right behind Lightning twist. The game had endured quiet a while now, ending with Lightning twist and Rainbow Dash all over the place. Rainbow Dash could feel each mussel in her body tense as she was at her limit, the heavy armor had taken its tole on her, but she wasn’t about to let her win. Rainbow dash mustered the last of her strength and pushed on, she just barely got up side by side with Lightning twist, Rainbow Dash nudged her shoulder “You’re it!” Lightning twist turned but Rainbow Dash had already dropped down towards the floor of the big hall.
Lightning twist landed not long after beside her, sweat dripping from her body as well, Rainbow Dash tried to get control of her breathing. Lightning twist removed her helmet and exposed her drenched mane. “Good job Rainbow, I had my doubt you'd even manage to take of with that armor but you managed yourself well. And you kept you self in the air for a good amount of time as well. Congratulations” Rainbow smiled “ You’re not to bad your self” Lightning twist smiled “Follow me and I’ll show you, to your bed and the shower. Because right now, i’m sure you need a show” Rainbow glanced at her “Looks who’s talking” Lightning twist helped Rainbow Dash out of her armor and showed her to the bed room. It was a small room, the main room was formed as an b It was more or less only a corridor with a bathroom and shower together with two beds, Rainbow glanced at Lightning twist “You got a room mate as everyone else in here, my bet is that you’ll get together with the friend of yours” Rainbow’s gaze moved from the beds and to the door on her right side that was the door to the bathroom. She was barely able to turn around once she got in. “This place is small as hell...” Lightning twist chuckled “ You’ll have to get higher in grades if you want anything better than this” Rainbow yawned “I figures, I think i’ll just take a quick shower and hit the hay” Lightning dust smiled and was about to go out the door before she turned “Me and some of the boys are gone play poker tonight, If your inn.” Rainbow smiled “Not today, but how about next time?” Lightning twist nodded and walked out the door.
Rainbow bolt up in bed as the door was slammed shut. Spear walked to his bed and fell into it. “Hard day?” Spear grumbled something under his breath before he fell asleep Rainbow Chuckled before laying hear head back down on the pillow, turning a few times trying to get comfortable in the bed. “Clouds are way better than beds....” she yawned and closed her eyes. She already knew it would be many hours before she could get some shut eye herself.