//------------------------------// // The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday // Story: Too Close to the Sun // by UnweptSchlipps //------------------------------// Years ago, Rainbow Dash stood in an oval-shaped room, her head held high, her eyes glittering as she thought of the future that lied ahead. Framed pictures of pegasi hung all around the room, each one proudly sporting the blue jumpsuit Dash had been looking up to all her life. These ponies were Wonderbolts, but not just any Wonderbolts. They were legends, and Rainbow could easily name every single one of them. She was literally surrounded by greatness, a thought that sent a shiver down her spine. Someday, my face is gonna be on one of those pictures, Dash thought excitedly, glancing about the room with wide eyes. And to make the moment even better, another sure-fire legend stood before her, observing her from behind a pedestal. I wonder why Spitfire called me in here personally. Probably to congratulate me or something. Suddenly, the fiery-maned and recently-promoted commander shouted, “Rainbow Dash!” “Reporting for duty, ma’am!” the pegasus called, giving a salute with a confident grin on her face. “No need for formalities, Rainbow Dash. I didn’t call you in here to drill you. I called you because we needed to talk.” Rainbow Dash put down her hoof, her spirited smile still glued to her face. After all, she had reason to be so confident. About two weeks ago she had completed the Wonderbolt Academy Training Course with Top Honors, the golden medal now dangling from her flight-suit. Then yesterday, she received the letter she had been waiting for all her life, acceptance into East Mount Academy, or as she put it, “the real Wonderbolts Academy”. The pegasus wasted no time packing her bags, and after an emotional goodbye to all her friends, she took off. And now here she was, standing in the building where Wonderbolts were made, and her dreams would come true. She was officially a Rookiebolt now, and Dash knew her life-long goal was within reach. Heck, part of her thought it was only going to be a matter of seconds. While Dash daydreamed about the past few days, Spitfire began speak. “You and I have quite a storied history, don’t you think? You’ve won the Best Young Flier Competition, you’re a trusted advisor to Celestia, you’ve passed the first two weeks with flying colors, and of course, you’ve saved my life.” Yes, yes, and yes, Dash thought, containing the small snicker beginning to turn up on her lips. “You probably think yourself the most qualified pony to be here. Understandably so. And to that, Rainbow Dash, I say…” Gonna make me a Wonderbolt already, Spits? I thought this would be more of a challenge. “You can just get the heck out of my Academy if that’s how you’re gonna think.” Her head snapped towards the commander, her smile now deflated, her eyes seeming to have lost their luster. Dash had felt like she had been jolted, punched in the gut. And she all could muster was a quiet, “W-what?” “You heard me.” Spitfire stood up and leaned over the podium, peering down at the shrunken pegasus. “Don’t think I haven’t been keeping an eye on you, Dash. Frankly, during the Lightning Dust situation, I should’ve kicked both of you square out of the academy. The way you handled it afterwards showed that you’ve got your head in the right place, which is more than I can say for Dust. But how can I trust somepony on my squad if they’ve got a cocky attitude like yours?” Rainbow Dash sat back on her haunches, her ears drooping from Spitfire’s words. She tried her best to keep eye-contact with the stern Wonderbolt, who continued, “When it comes down to it, leading a team isn’t about being its best player. It’s about making sure everypony is playing their best. And that’s something you have yet to show me, Dash. You’re a skilled flyer, maybe even one of the best. But I’m still not sure if you can make others better as well. So you'd best wipe that stupid smug grin off your face.” Pointing a hoof at shocked pegasus, Spitfire stated, “Your past deeds hold no bearings here. This is an unbiased academy; here, you are put on equal grounds as everypony else. And so, you’ll start at square one like the rest of the rookies. You’ve still got a long way to go before I’ll be willing to call you one of our own, kid. All those so-called ‘amazing accomplishments’ you’ve done don’t matter anymore. All that matters is what you do now.You understand me, Dash?” “Y-yes ma’am,” was the reply, barely above a whisper. “Good. Now get outta here, and get to work.” With that, Spitfire turned to some papers on her desk, never giving so much as a nod to the recruit. So Dash trudged out of the room, the framed portraits’ eyes following her out, mocking her. She made her way into the hallway, the door behind her swinging shut. Her eyes, which had begun to well up with tears, never left the floor. She stood there in that lonely hallway for what seemed like an eternity, Spitfire’s words still ringing in her ears. And for the first time ever, Dash felt something uneasy in the pit her gut. For the first time, she felt completely humbled. What’d I get myself into? Dash thought, curling up against the wall, where nopony could see her. There, she closed her eyes, and began to think. All that matters is what you do now. That phrase ran through her mind over and over and over again getting louder and louder each time. Until finally her eyes shot open, a look of realization painted across her face. Rainbow shook her head, wiping away her tears with a swipe of her hoof. She stood up with her chin high and her chest out, a new kind of energy buzzing in her eyes. Spitfire had called her in for a reason, and now she knew why. It wasn’t to bag on her, but to challenge her. And I never back down from a challenge, Rainbow thought. She began to head down the hallway, the cocky swagger in her step replaced by a simple march. Before she left however, she gave a stolid glance at the door separating her and her idol, whispering, “Thanks Spits.” I’ve taken on Discord, Nightmare Moon, changeling, and King Sombra. I can do this too, Spits. I’ll show you. Then she strode away, towards what she knew was going to be a tough, yet bright future. If only she knew just how tough it would be. Two years later, and Dash couldn’t help but feel like things hadn’t changed too much since that first day. Sure, she was a Wonderbolt now. Sure, she had risen up to the rank of squad leader faster than anypony since, well, Spitfire herself. And sure, there was a pretty big difference between training and averting a national crisis. But despite different circumstances, one thing hadn’t changed one bit. Spitfire had issued a challenge. And although most ponies would have backed down from such a huge task, Dash accepted it. Only one big problem. Dash needed some help. The pegasus lay in her cloud home sprawled out on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. In one hoof she held her Top Honors medal, still in pristine condition even after all these years. In her other hoof was a rolled up piece of paper, her list of the ponies she would take along on her mission. At least, it would be, if she could actually make up her mind and write something down. Dash had been staring at the ceiling for about five minutes, dozens of names flowing through her mind at once. She took a pillow and plopped it down on her face, letting out a long muffled groan. Who the buck is insane enough to do this? Rainbow asked herself. Well, besides me. Finally, after skulking for another ten minutes, the pegasus sat up on her bed and stared out her window. She could see the rolling hills of Sweet Apple Acres just over the horizon, soaked in the sun’s warm rays. Normally, in situations like this, Dash would ask her friends for advice. But for the first time, this was a problem Rainbow would have to keep a secret. A task easier said than done. Dash leaned against the windowsill, her head sticking out into the warm air. She closed her eyes and spread her wings, imagining she was soaring high above the clouds, where the cool wind brushed her face like the hoof of an old friend. Dash always could think better when she was flying, her mind as clear as the sky above her. Actually, she probably would have taken off right then and there, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was pretty hard to write a list while hovering thousands of feet above the ground. Right…the list, Dash thought with a sigh, plodding back to her bed. There were about two thousand Wonderbolt members in Equestria, all of them at her disposal. She remembered the swift pegasus that had brought her the message yesterday, and how, although she had flown to Ponyville in less than a day, she hadn’t even skipped a breath. Fleetfoot. Gotta have her, Dash decided, scribbling the name down on the paper. One name down, however-many-left to go. Bravewing? No, too brash. Cloudhopper? But I don’t know her that well. Soarin? The name caused her to bury her face in her legs, casting out a long, slow breath. I don’t have any of my friends to help me out…somepony just give me a sign! Suddenly, a hot blast of wind gusted through the open window, blowing throughout her bedroom. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw something fall off the wall, thudding onto the floor. It was her golden leader pin, glinting with the light streaming from the window. As she seized the keepsake, Dash thought back to her first time leading a team, when she was still a lowly trainee. The group of ponies she had been assigned to wasn’t exactly the fastest, or the strongest. So when her squad was challenged to first ever hundred-lap race around the track, it was no surprise they had finished dead last. And to make things worse, in order to catch up, Rainbow had zoomed too far ahead of the rest of her team, leaving them panting in her wake. When Spitfire confronted her team, she singled Dash out personally, saying, “You wanna be a leader in this business, Dash? Never leave your teammates. Look at me! Do I ever leave anypony behind?” To this, Dash foolishly muttered, “Well it’s easy when you’ve got the best wingponies in the world at your back.” “Now listen here, Dash!” Spitfire told her, stomping the ground to get her attention. “A machine doesn’t work because it’s got the best parts. It works because those parts perfectly mesh together to make a whole. Just because you’ve got the best flyers at your side, doesn’t mean you’ve got the best team too. I make my friends better, and they make me better too. That’s how you win.” The pin had spoken loud and clear. And just like that, Dash knew who would be coming along for the journey. Holding the pencil in her mouth, she scribbled down the names not of the ones who were the swiftest, but of ponies who she knew could get the job done. And not just get the job done, but do it together. At least, that’s what most of them could do. But there was one name that Dash circled, heaving a sigh before she repeated the name over and over. This name had been swirling around since Spitfire told her to find the best of the best, and yet it was only now that Dash penciled her down, and for a good reason. This was the one name that completely went against all the principles that went into picking the other five. The one name that was there simply because it was literally the best pegasus she could think of. She’d send the list to Spitfire tomorrow morning. Most of them were Wonderbolts, so finding them wouldn’t be a problem. But her. She was going to have to talk to her personally. Once again, easier said than done.