Rainbow Dash was nervous, possibly more nervous than she had ever been in her whole life. She remembered when she competed in the Best Young Flyers competition in Cloudsdale some years ago, how she had been reduced to a shivering wreck at the thought of failing miserably in front of her life long idols the Wonderbolts. But now, on a snowy winters evening in Canterlot, she was waiting for some of those very ponies.
Rainbow Dash looked down at her half empty cup of now cold coffee. She had been sat in this café with Rarity and Pinkie Pie before inspiration drew the former away and a bright, quick moving light drew away the latter. That was ten minutes ago as Dash consulted her watch, wondering if the Wonderbolt were intentionally late to see if she did fall apart again.
“Rainbow.” Came a voice from behind her that caused her to jump. Rainbow spun around, knocking her chair over as she saw the flaming mane and body of Spitfire stood there, looking vaguely amused.
“Ma’am!” Dash quickly saluted, stood fully to attention. Every pony in the café looked over to see what was going on and Dash blushed slightly.
“At ease, cadet.” Spitfire smiled. Rainbow Dash did so, quickly picking up her chair and sitting down, acting as if nothing had happened. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Fleetfoot’s a nightmare some times.”
Dash looked around before asking. “Where is she?”
“Coming, I hope. Just watch out for some pony wrapped up thicker than a Fluffy Pony seeing as she’s a wuss when it comes to cold weather.” Spit said, quickly glancing out of the window.
A fresh flurry of snow was falling in the street outside as ponies, wrapped up warm, hurried back and forth as they prepared for Health Warming. Before receiving a letter from Spitfire asking her to meet her in this café, Rainbow Dash and her friends had just come up from Ponyville to visit Twilight Sparkle.
“Er, would you like a coffee, ma’am?” Rainbow suddenly asked.
“Actually some tea would be nice, thank you.” Spit smiled. Almost as if he was waiting for that very line, a waiter placed a pot of tea, cups, milk and sugar on the table and disappeared as quickly as he had arrived. While Dash digested the sudden appearance of the tea, Spit poured her own out and added milk and sugar. Dash went to take a sip of her coffee before realizing it was stone cold. While no one was watching, she emptied the cup into a nearby plant pot.
“So tell me, cadet,” Spit started as Rainbow quickly returned the cup to the table and tried to look innocent. “You didn't tell me at the time, but how did you find your time at the academy?”
Dash thought for a moment before answering. She couldn't help but suspect the question was loaded, so she let the first and vaguest answer she could think of out of her lips.
“I enjoyed it, ma’am.”
“You know what; you may as well just call me Spit. Never did like being referred to as ma’am.”
“Er, of course ma- er, Spit.”
“Anyway,” Spit started, pausing for a moment to take a quick sip of her tea. “you certainly did look like you were enjoying yourself, but you weren't perfect.”
Dash froze solid at the criticism, her mind flooding with exclamation and question marks at the sound of her idol telling she may not be good enough.
“Don’t take that the wrong way, Rainbow. I think you’re one of the most naturally talented fliers I've ever seen, but you’re terrible in formation.”
“Er, how so?”
“Well, I noticed that if you were in any position other than lead that you’d drift side to side and you spent most of your time actively watching your team mates.”
“Er, well… erm…” Dash started, trying to think of a defence. While it didn't sound like she was, Spit was outlining Dash’s faults and they may well be faults big enough to ensure she wouldn't get a spot on the team, she thought.
“However, I believe I know how to ‘cure’ that, so to speak.” Spit smiled warmly. “Ah, Echo, glad you could make it this side of the Summer.”
Dash looked over her shoulder to see Echo Fleetfoot, another of her Wonderbolt idols, coming towards them wearing what looked like five thick coats and hats. With so much on, she was having difficulty navigating her way between tables and apologised to an old couple when she knocked their drinks off the table.
“Sorry I'm late.” She smiled once she’s finally gotten to the table after paying for new drinks for the old couple.
“Only ten minutes late. You’re getting better at least.” Spit smiled.
“Have you told her anything?”
“No, didn't want to steal your thunder.”
Rainbow Dash wondered what they were intending to tell her, slightly worried they’d say she wasn't ready for the Wonderbolts as Fleetfoot disassembled herself from her huge number of coats.
“Blue over pink over purple?” Spitfire randomly injected. “What sort of fashion disaster are you?”
“Not as much as a disaster as that peach-” Fleetfoot started before Spit cut her off so fast she nearly created a sonic boom.
“Do you want another drink Dash?”
“Er, I'm fine, thank you.” Dash shrugged with an awkward grin.
“Right, well, if you’re ready Echo?”
“I am.” She smiled, sitting the last of her coats on the floor which revealed she had a saddle bag on underneath. She sat down and regarded Dash for a moment. “She was wearing this peach dress with pink-”
“The league, Echo.” Spit said forcefully, causing Echo to laugh. Dash just frowned in confusion.
“Yes, well, I'm sure Spit told you what she thought of your group flying skills?”
“She did.” Dash replied, trying to keep her expression neutral as she felt she was in some sort of interview from tartarus.
“Well, don’t feel so bad, I heard much the same thing when I first went through the academy, though at the time it was more along the lines of ‘you’re useless’. So, in order to improve myself, I spent a couple years in this.”
Fleetfoot reached into her saddle bag for something, but Rainbow Dash already knew what she was going to say. Dash had read the whole history of the Wonderbolts, especially the current team and as the poster was slapped down on the table in front of her she knew exactly what they were going to suggest.
“The Equestrian Cloud Racing League?”
“The Equestrian Cloud Racing League. I learnt more about precision flying in one year there than I ever could from a lousy teacher like Spit.” Echo smiled.
“I’ll remember that next time you ask for a pay raise.” Spit replied before turning to Dash. “We’re planning on a joint venture with another flight team and we’d like you to be the second member of the team.”
Dash absorbed what they were asking her to do. They wanted her to race in the most prestigious, expensive and pompous competition in the world, something she’d always avoided doing. Professional racing never appealed to her, but she knew they were right about the requirement for precision flying and sometimes being thrown in at the deepest end one can find was a good way of learning.
“Wait,” Dash suddenly realised. “second team member?”
“Of three, yes. I won’t spoil the surprise by telling you who they are but you will be familiar with at least one of them. If you’re interested, then I want you to meet them tomorrow at ten AM in hanger number 15 on the Canterlot Air Field. That’s if you’re in, of course.”
Rainbow Dash thought for a moment as the two Wonderbolts observed her. She pictured herself stood on the starting grid on the pole position and disappearing into the lead, the pursuing, self-obsessed ponies gawping in awe of her speed and grace and later standing on the podium with a giant trophy before the Wonderbolts descended and gave her the bumps. She smiled at the image of doing poses as the team threw her up into the air and her mind was made up.
“I'm so in.” Dash said simply.