Dashaloo Days: Wonderbolt Flight Training

by RGLloyd


Tag! You're It!

"She's gonna kill us if she finds out, Fluttershy!" Applejack clopped the table, sending the myriad of food laden dishes bouncing.

"Shh!" Rarity looked around at the other Sugarcube Corner patrons, and smiled apologetically for Applejack's outburst. "Applejack, darling, I understand your concerns, but Fluttershy has made a poignant argument."

Fluttershy shrunk into her chair, eying the other patrons in embarrassment over Applejack's outburst. "Oh, it… it really wasn't all that, uhm… poignant, really." She squeaked and popped a carrot cream ball into her mouth, trying to distract herself from the horrors of being in a crowded public diner.

She glanced out the window, taking some solace in knowing the lunch rush would soon be over. Soon they will all leave to watch the Rainbow Dome, and it will all be better. She took a deep breath, calming her nerves, and returned to the conversation at hoof...

"Ah don't like it one bit. I cain't keep secrets from RD, it just ain’t right." Applejack hissed vehemently in a hushed voice. "You know how hard she's gonna take it if we disrespect her pride like that. She's gonna tear into us with a vengeance, an' we're gonna deserve it."

"Please, Applejack, her pride aside she is in no condition to handle this kind of information. It's just simply going to crush her. Have you not seen the mental state she's in right now?" Rarity rubbed her hooves over her temples in little circles, willing the building pressure behind her eyes to subside along with Applejack's stubbornness.

"I understand that, but she ain't some little filly..."

Fluttershy interjected, Applejack giving way to her soft insisting 'ehem.' "Applejack, uhm… I have known Rainbow Dash for a long time, and when she… uhm… becomes overly caring like that. It's because she needs the contact as much as the other pony." Fluttershy wrapped her foreleg across her chest, squeezing her shoulder with a hoof nervously. I don't know if it even matters, why would I say that? Applejack is right. Not telling Rainbow Dash the truth is horrible... Her eye's dodged Applejack's searching gaze.

"Aieee… guess I can see that. She is a bit of a bullheaded rock when it comes to her feelings." Applejack conceded.

Fluttershy smiled and blushed as she popped a rewarding apple cream ball into her mouth. She savored the contrast in flavors as she eyed the lemon cream next.

Rarity took a deep breath, and jumped on Applejack's lost ground before she could stubbornly take it back. "That she is, Apple-dear, and as her friends, we need to recognize when the proper time to tell her presents itself, and this is not the proper time. She is far too stress laiden for us to lay something of this magnitude on her shoulders."

Applejack sputtered, "I-I-Iee… uhh." Apple-dear? When did she start calling me… wait a minute! "Them's a lotta fancy words, an yer tryin' to throw me off with the new nickname aren't ya!"

Rarity balked. "Why I never… how could you? Applejack, please, focus on the problem at hoof." Horseapples! How did she catch on so quick?

"Ahm on to you Rarity, and if you want my consent in this that bad..." Applejack hesitated, the anger ebbing out of her voice as she gritted her teeth through a deep frown. "...I just want you to know I hate the whole idea..." Her eyes went downcast as she propped her head against her hoof, and crushed a cinnamon cream under her other hoof. "...but I'll keep my mouth shut, I guess..." She trailed off, refusing to make eye contact with anypony.

Fluttershy reached over, placing a tender hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I am really sorry about this Applejack. I wouldn't ask you to do it if… if I didn't think it was important." And if it was possible her features softened even further, reaching an inner glow of love that washed over Applejack in a sweeping tide.

Don't look into her eyes! Applejack failing in her own wisdom locked eyes with Fluttershy. The last of her defenses melted away. D'awww... "It's alright Fluttershy, I know you mean well an' all. I won't tell her..." Applejack snapped out of it, regaining control. "...unless she comes a askin'!" Her features hardened. "I refuse to lie to her face. Got it?"

Fluttershy nodded with a smile. Rarity giggled, taking in the whole scene. Well that is one way to deliver a definitive blow, isn't it, Fluttershy? Rarity rolled a dark chocolate cream onto her tongue, savoring the taste of bittersweet victory.

Applejack rubbed a hoof on her forehead in exasperation. "Look, I hate this an all, but if it's gonna work we need to get her out of town. Fast. R.D. isn't stupid, and is gonna notice something's up when she cain't find Twilight."

"Oh that's not a problem." Fluttershy produced the letter Derpy had handed her. "She was called in for special Wonderbolt training. Something about private courses..."

Rarity and Applejack gasped together. "You opened her mail?"

Fluttershy shrank back. "What? Nonono… it's ok. Rainbow Dash hates opening her mail. I come over regularly and do it for her." Fluttershy withered under the unbelieving gaze of her friends.

Applejack face-hoofed. "What was ah thinking… of course we cain't tell R.D. She's about half passed a filly in maturity, and would most likely get herself killed doing something rash." This time, it was Applejack's turn to wither under the exasperated stares of her two friends. "Wha-what?"


Rainbow Dash twitched awake, the unfamiliar and uncomfortable position of leaning against Pinkies bed with Pinkie wrapped around her waist snapped her unforgivingly back to reality. She shook the sleep from her brain as her eyes came into focus. Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy were all bent over her with looks of guilty shock on their faces. Applejack had Pinkie in a headlock with her other hoof over the mares mouth, while Rarity and Fluttershy were both trying to pry Pinkies hooves from Dash. Pinkie's eyes were furious.

Dash shook the sleep from her brain. “This is definitely the most interesting way I've ever woken out of a nap. What the hay is goin on?"

Applejack smiled awkwardly and whipped Pinkie around, trying to drag the enraged mare kicking and screaming from the room. "Ow! She done bit me!" After a few failed attempts to get Pinkie through the door, she gave up and settled for hog tying the mare.

"Dashie! Help me!" Pinkie screamed. "They are..." Pinkie was cut off as Applejack wrestled her mouth shut.

Rarity stepped in front of Dash, blocking her view of Applejack wrestling Pinkie behind her. "Oh, it's nothing dear. Pinkie is just, uhm… having some trouble letting you go is all. Fluttershy, sweetheart, would you like to take over?"

"Oh, right… uhm." Fluttershy fluttered nervously as she sat next to a rather confused Dash. "Well… some mail came for you while you were gone, and I went ahead and opened it for you."

Dash raised an eyebrow, craning her neck to see passed Rarity to the door. Rarity and Fluttershy leaned into each other, enormously goofy grins on their faces as they tried to hide their overwhelming guilt. "You three are up to something." Dash's eyes narrowed in accusation.

Fluttershy jittered. "The letter! It's all in the letter!" She nodded emphatically. "The Wonderbolts called you in for special training!"

Rarity clopped her hooves together. "We were just so excited for you, being as it is such an amazing honor and opportunity!"

"Lies!" Pinkie screamed from the door. "Dashie! Don't listen to the..." Pinkie cut off into a muffled garble as Applejack gagged her.

Dash went to look around her friends, who again gang blocked her. Fluttershy continued. "See! Look, heres the letter. It's signed by Spitfire herself."

Dash's jaw dropped as she took the letter, and scanned over it. "What? Wow, this is… well of course. Why wouldn't they want me, the fastest flyer in Equestria for a little extra training?" Dash grinned, elation flooding through her. "I gotta get ready! They must be ready to graduate me early! I'm gonna be a Wonderbolt!" She jumped up, ecstatically flailing her forelegs. "Not that there was ever any doubt, of course, but now it's actually happening!" She squealed. "This is so awesome!" Dash turned towards the window, getting ready to leap out.

Rarity reached out a hoof curiously. "Wait, where are you going? You aren't supposed to leave until tomorrow."

"I have to get ready! I need to find Scootaloo!" She hesitated, taking another look at Pinkie. "Is she going to be alright? I mean, I guess I could stay for a bit longer if Pinkie really needs me that badly..."

"No!" The other three shouted out. Applejack took the lead. "No! Absolutely not, this is important to you and you should definitely go. Leave Pinkie here to us." Applejack clopped Pinkie on the back. "She'll be juusst fine." She laughed lopsidedly as Pinkie glared daggers at her, her head shaking slowly in disbelief.

Dash's muddled brain screamed at her as she tried to remember back to earlier. "Applejack, you said something wasn't my fault what did you mean? And what did it have to do with Twilight?"

Pinkie bounced on the floor as she growled rabidly through the gag. Everypony turned to Applejack who grinned nervously. She's asking directly… Ahm not gonna lie to her! I won't, I refuse!

She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Dash, you see it's like this..." The other mares in the room held their breath, Pinkie's eyes widened, glistening with expectation. "You see, Twilight went a little nuts and took off on some test with Celestia following her. Pinkie here's been playin' around with her card predictions again, and thinks somethin real bad's going to happen to Twilight, right? Well she's afraid that if you take off we won't be able to find and help Twilight." She stopped, grinning at Dash. "Sorry for keepin' it all from ya, It's just we were worried..."

Dash cut her off. "Is that all?" She sighed exasperatedly. "Gah, and Pinkie had me really worried! I thought something horrible happened. Twilight always goes nuts over tests. She lives for them! Look, next time just keep it simple, and tell me Pinkies just being Pinkie. Please?"

Pinkie's eyes widened, her head lolling to the side in exasperation. The others all stared at Dash, mouths agape. Before anypony could speak up, Dash pivoted towards the window. "Well, then I'll see you all when I get back!" Dash screamed back a little too loudly as she leapt out the window and flapped off.

Pinkie flopped down on the floor, and inch-wormed her way towards the window muffling 'Dashie' over and over through her gag. When it was obvious Dash had left for good, an enraged Pinkie chewed through her gag. "I am so mad at all of you right now!"

Rarity and Fluttershy looked back in surprise, the thought of having to deal with Pinkies rage just now hitting them. Applejack threw up her hooves. "Whoa there Pinkie. Look, we did it for her own good."

"Her own good? Twilight's in trouble, and we need Dashie's eyes in the sky to find her, and you did it for her own good!?" Pinkie screamed hysterically.

"Pinkie Pie! Calm down this instant." Rarity chided. Pinkie eyed her angrily over a pouty frown. "We are all aware of the situation, and while nopony here doubts your ability to predict falling objects or imminent danger, you have yet to prove your tarot fortune reading abilities..."

Pinkie cut her off. "I know that! If anypony knows that I know that. It's just..." Pinkie slumped to the ground. "...Rarity, every time I read the cards they say the same thing. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over..."

"I know! Dear… please understand Pinkie this hurts us just as much as you." Rarity sighed, walking over to untie Pinkies ropes. "We are going to do everything we can to find her. Princess Celestia is already tracking her down as we speak."

Pinkie huffed, and crossed her forelegs. "I know that already. She also said that we were forbidden to go look for her, and that she would call us when she needed us." She looked off to the side grumpily. "M'not stupid, but that many card readings with the death card every single time..."

Fluttershy gingerly wrapped her hooves around Pinkie and pulled her close. "No, of course you are very smart, and an amazing pony that brings smiles to everypony around you." Fluttershy nuzzled her mane soothingly. "But, you know how Rainbow Dash would react to it, right? When we explain to her why Twilight fled, that it was Dashie's own feelings from the soul seeing spell that drove her a little bit crazy. Then, what if you told her that you predicted Twilight would die in your card readings?" Pinkie didn't answer, but slid a little further into Fluttershy's warm embrace. "She would panic, defy the princess, and go off on a crazy search. And what if she got hurt? Dashie wouldn't stop at anything would she? And we can't be sure if Twilight actually is in that kind of danger. How would that make you feel?"

Pinkie's anger deflated, her limbs growing numb from the weight of stress she wasn't used to handling. "Really bad, I guess." She mumbled poutilly as she leaned into Fluttershy, crushing her with all of her weight.

Fluttershy fell back with an 'eep', but kept hold of Pinkie. "Feel a… little… better?" Fluttershy strained under Pinkies weight.

Pinkie smiled, slid off to the side, and wrapping Fluttershy in a tight hug. "Yeah, a little."

"Yay." Fluttershy gasped as she regained the ability to breath.

Pinkie sighed. "We are still going to go look for her right?"

"Of course, dear, were there any doubts?" Rarity smiled with a wink.

"Aww… horseapples!" Applejack stomped the ground.

The others in the room snapped their attentions to Applejack. Rarity cleared her throat. "What ever could be bothering you Applejack?"

Applejack grunted. "It's near high noon, we're gonna miss the Rainbow Dome. We won’t get another chance for a long time."

Pinkie and Fluttershy glanced at each other, an eyebrow raised between them. Pinkie smirked. "Race ya there!"

Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh, nonono, I couldn't possibly..." She leapt out the window, taking flight.

"Hay! No fair!" Pinkie darted out the window after Fluttershy.

"Pinkie! We’re two stories… aww nevermind," Applejack rolled her eyes.

Rarity's reaction, however, was far more dramatic as she flopped over on the bed in a heaping pile of miserably whaling pony. "Of all the things to happen! This. Is..." She paused, looking up, but Applejack, being the last of her audience, had already bolted from the room. "Oh, well I never..."

She sprung to her hooves. "Darlings! Oh, please wait for me!"


Dash zipped through the air, her mind racing with possibilities. ”I wonder which of my qualities singled me out?” She mentally face-hoofed. "Duh! All of them!" She giggled excitedly, doing a quick celebratory roll as she sped home.

Reaching the outskirts of Ponyville in seconds she quickly spotted the crater from the ground impact rainboom. Curiosity clawed at her as she noticed a spectrum of colors glittering around the edges of the bowl, which she had missed that morning entirely from the thick overcast cloud cover. There was a crowd of ponies gathered around it. She banked and sped down, determined to brave the masses to figure out what all the fuss was about.

Dash came to hover just over the bowl. A multitude of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies flapped, stood, and sat in all directions. Some were taking pictures, while others were painting on canvas, still others were sketching or just holding hooves cuddling while waiting.

A loud voice boomed out at her from a couple of hastily set up stage speakers in the center of the bowl. "Hay! You! Get on the outskirts, noponies allowed above the dome! You'll block the light!"

Dash balked, her eyes locked onto a light brown earth pony with a darker brown mane wearing a headset mic. "Hay! You! Are you telling me where to fly on my property?" Dash dropped out of the sky, landing next the earth pony. She proffered her hoof threateningly. "Get off my lawn!"

"Whoa!" The pony threw up his hooves. "S-s-sorry! So sorry, Ms. Dash, I had no idea it was you. Please forgive me!" A sly smile crossed his lips as he eyed dash mischievously.

Dash was used to being idolized. In fact she was used to random fans popping up out of nowhere giving her props and paying homage to her sheer awesomeness. It was expected since she was not just a town hero, but an Element of Harmony. However, Dash wasn't prepared for this. A roar went up from the crowd. Ponies screamed Dash's name in a deafening chant, the ground thundered from the stomping of hooves, and piercing whistles assaulted her ears from every angle.

Dash searched the earth pony standing in the middle of the two hoof-ball field crater for answers.

"Mare's and gentle-colts!" The pony spun in a circle, standing on his hind hooves with his fore-hooves raised high in the air. "And here we are graced by the presence of the creator!"

Another roaring cheer went up from the crowd, sending chills crawling across Dash's coat.

"A true true artist suffering for her art. She is fresh out of the hospital, and returned to us this fine sunny day! Please, Rainbow Dash, you honor us! These ponies are all here for you!" He made a dramatic sweeping motion across the crowd with his hoof.

Dash wasn't sure exactly what she'd done, but decided to bask in the glory while she could. She waved to the crowd around the bowl, making many a colt, and even a few mares, faint just by winking. Yeahahaa! This was overdue!

"By all means you deserve it. Your actions are an inspiration to us all!" The announcers grin widened.

Dash's ear twitched, a warning going off in the back of her mind.


Donny hovered on the outskirts of the bowl, smirking as Dash sucked up the adoration of her fans with the dumbest look of confusion on her face. Her smirk turned to a serious frown as she guessed where things were going to lead to.

“That announcer is here to report on the Rainbow Calamity, not on Dash's crater… err art thing.” Scootaloo bounced on her shoulders sending Donny's ears flat with piercing screams of her own. "Hay, Scootaloo!"

"Yeah Mom?" Scootaloo yelled over the crowd.

"Aren't you on the wrong side of the crowd?" Donny grinned up mischievously.

"What do you..." Scootaloo never got to finish her thought before Donny picked her up, pulled her legs straight forward and back, then her wings straight to the sides where she licked them flat quickly. "Hold that position."

Scootaloo, not one to argue with mom, locked her legs and wings into place. "Mom, what are you..."

"Scootaloo, go give Dash some love!" Donny cocked Scootaloo back, aimed, and launched her downward, angled straight at...


The announcer looked at Dash with a cocky grin. "So tell us Rainbow Dash, what possessed you to create such fine art?"

Trapped, Dash fell back on her confidence, unsure of how to escape the tide of the moment sweeping her forward. "Oh, well, I just did a ground impact rainboom. Was totally easy." She polished a hoof. "Do it all the time." Cheers went up from the crowd. Impulsively Dash bowed to the roar of her newfound fans.

"Outstanding, we can all learn something from this master of art!" The announcer's grin widened wickedly. Sorry kid, but drama sells. "So tell us all Rainbow Dash, was destroying half the town worth it?"

Dash froze, dread creeping across her features. Her mouth hung open in startled shock. Wha-what! I'm such a fool! I should have seen this coming! A certain orange filly took notice of Dash's plight midflight.

Mercilessly, the announcer continued his assault, pantomiming his words for dramatic effect. "Surely a few sacrifices must be made for the creation of such amazing beauty! Tell us Rainbow Dash, how many were you willing to sacrifice? Have you no words for your adoring fans? Or, perhaps, you have found shame here bowing, and basking in the glory of your..."

"I'll destroy you!" The announcer's attack was cut off by an angry autonomous Scoota-drone to the face. His legs flopped wildly into the air as Scootaloo ground her hooves into his jaw, riding his head like a scooter ten leg-spans across the bowl. She leaned down menacingly as they skidded to a halt. "Tag! You're it!"

A stunned silence fell over the crowd, save for one mare who squealed, screaming her bloodlust through a feral giddy howl. "Ahwahauooo-yeah! That's mah filly! Kick his flank in!"


Scootaloo, nose in the air, scratched at the ground with her hind-hooves, sending trails of dirt onto the twitching announcer. She trotted flippantly away from the prone body, the tip of her tail curling to the sides with each step as she pranced over to Dash.

"Saved your flank Dash..." She grinned up at her sister. "...again!"

Dash stared down at the filly, completely dumbstruck. A foreleg slipped around her shoulder as Donny landed next to her. "Isn't she adorable?" She grinned at Dash. "Mommys wavenous wittle dwagon."

"I'll destroy you!" Scootaloo hedbutted her mom playfully. Donny broke out into a round of guffaws as she ruffled up her filly's hair.

Donny threw Scootaloo around her shoulders, her foreleg pulled Dash close as she whispered into her ear. "Don't look now Dash, but I think yer famous." She hoofed at a camera crew hovering high over the bowl. The cameras pointed right at the trio.

Dash turned to stare wide eyed at Donny. "All of Equestria saw that?"

"Don't panic, I know how this stuff works. Been on the news plenty, trust me. The news is going to focus on our little filly here." She gestured up to Scootaloo who was waving, and blowing kisses at the crowd. "She's adorable isn't she? Kids always grab the camera's attention. That bag of wind over there's got nothin on you. All they are going to see is Scootaloo being adorable by protecting her idol. Right? Now smile, kiss the baby..."

Donny proffered a cringing Scootaloo, who Dash hugged, kissed on the forehead, and tossed up on her shoulders. "Good, now just wave for the cameras."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, and deadpanned. "Really? Did you have to do all that on camera?"

"Of course Squee-chi, you are the hero of the day after all." Scootaloo squealed excitedly as Dash looked up, smiling, and waved at the crowds. She leaned over to shout at Donny, a conspiratorial comrade, over the crowd. "Pfftt… of course, I was about to tear into him myself you know." She grinned.

"Sure you were." Donny mocked through a grin, and winked at Dash. "And I expect a full debriefing on the new nickname Squee-chi." Scootaloo froze as she glanced sideways at her mom.

Dash's response, and Donny's laughter over Scootaloo's response, was suddenly cut off by an explosive burst of rainbow colors. Both the mares and the filly were dumbstruck, mouths agape. Surrounding them in every which direction was a solid transparent wall of jumbled dancing rainbows. A dome of kaleidoscopic color swirling against the background of the sky as the sun’s rays filtered through the rainbow crystals, and reflected off at every angle. Impulsively Dash reached out trying to touch the colorful curves of light, but they always stayed just beyond her hoof.

Scootaloo's wings buzzed as she nearly lost balance, and slid off of Dash's shoulders. "It's so pretty..." She reached up for the shifting wonders of light as they danced around her. "It's like they're alive..."

Dash giggled at the wonder in Scootaloo's tone. "Yeah, Scootaloo, it is like they're alive."

"Aww." Donny whispered seductively into Dash ear. "We create beautiful destruction together, don't we? Next time, though, lets go crazy on something we can really rip into. Hmmm?"

Dash's ear twitched reflexively, an excited grin spreading across her lips as she blushed furiously.