Rainbow Dash and a Dinner Party with the Wonderbolts

by divinearcadia


Sky Loved, Chained by the Wind

This Chapter is from Rainbows Point of View

Sky Loved, Chained by the Wind

It had been just over four hours since the Princess made her appearance in the dining hall of the Cloud Stadium. They had left the room in absolute silence with all eyes on the bizarre train of ponies. Twilight had been in a state of shock so the Princess gently encased her in magic and floated her out, which would have been pretty funny if the situation weren't so dire. Now they all sit around the same table they ate lunch at earlier that day, except for Fluttershy, Scootaloo and Twilight who was taken to a different room to recuperate. They sit around the table in silence, not even a peep from Pinkie Pie. They were found and gathered up like a bunch of fillies doing something bad that they didn't even know was bad, put in timeout without so much as an explanation as to why it was bad. Rainbow didn't even know what had really happened before she made it to the dining hall. It was as though she were dreaming the whole time, forgetting it as she would any other dream. To say the least, she is confused. Confused and angry.
I remember that I was really angry about something on my way to the dining hall, but come on! Seriously! Rainbow thinks furiously. It's not like I went ballistic and ripped the wings off somepony. She hopes anyways. One of the castle staff comes in silently with a trolley filled with pastries and tea, breaking Rainbows train of thought. About time... I'm about to starve here since I didn't get to eat earlier. Once the food and drink is placed on the table, she begins to eat with gusto despite her friends barely looking at the food in front of them. She would be right with them if she weren't angry as well as slightly worried. As Rainbow began to work on her fifth pastry, the door opens again to admit Princess Celestia along with three other pegasi, one of whom is Spitfire.
“I apologize for the wait, but we had to wait for the High Archivist from Cloudsdale to arrive to give us what knowledge he can. We will begin shortly.” Celestia says with a slightly weary expression.
“Begin what?” Applejack says. “What's this all about anyways, Princess?”
“Yeah! What gives! I mean, seriously. So I got royally ticked off at somepony, that's my problem. But that's no reason to treat my friends like this, Princess.” Rainbow says with all the righteous anger at her friends discomfort fueling her anger, oblivious to a unnatural stirring of the air.
“I sincerely apologize for that, Rainbow Dash, but I had good reason to get you all to relative safety.” The Princess replies calmly. “The stabilizing effects of being in a stone building being the most important right now. Rainbow, when I said you were loved by the sky, I wasn't lying, but neither did I know everything either. We had to wait for the Archivist to arrive so that we will know all that we can. That he knows of, in any case.”
“If we truly have a Sky Loved, as you believe Spitfire, she will be the first one in over a millennium.” A pegasus with a light brown coat and silvery mane says. “I am the High Archivist of Cloudsdale, keeper of the history and legends of the pegasus race, but you may simply call me Jet Stream. Miss Dash, would you be so kind as to come over here so that we may first verify something?”
“Sure, but just call me Rainbow. What's a Sky Loved anyways?” She asks before hopping off her seat to walk over to the group with a casual toss of her mane. Once she gets there, the three pegasi move around the Princess and sniff quickly around Rainbow. “Hey! What's the deal! I thought you were just checking for something, not seeing how I smell!”
“That's one in the same, in this instance.” Jet Stream says smiling a bit as he rubs his snout with a hoof. “The unmistakable scent of ozone lingers around you, like the smell of a storm on the horizon. Just like the legends say...”
“But still, give a girl some warning...” She says a little heatedly. The air suddenly crackles a bit, like it's filled with static electricity, at her anger. She looks around suddenly at the noise which disappears as suddenly as it came. “What the hay was that?”
“That was your pegasus magic responding to your emotions, Rainbow Dash.” Says the second unknown pegasus who has a verdant green coat with a robins egg blue mane. He extends his wings slightly as though testing the air currents. “I'm called Spring Breeze, I also happen to be the boss of your bosses boss. I'm the lead weather coordinator of Equestria.”
Spitfire steps forward to nudge Rainbow Dash with one of her fore hooves. “I'm pretty sure you know who I am, but you're probably wondering why I'm here anyways, huh? I'm sure you know anyways, but I'm the head captain of the first response fliers in emergencies. I know the strengths and weaknesses of most pegasi and make teams that compliment one another so they are the best they can be.”
“Sooo... Why are you all here? What legends are you talking about and what does it all have to do with me?” Rainbow says a bit worried that she's in it deep.
“It's a legend that not many pegasi outside of traditional pegasus families, like Spitfire here, know about anymore. The legend tells about a pegasus who not only love the sky, but also exceptionally gifted with our innate magic. The legend ends with a pony you should know a little about, even if it was as a part in a play. Commander Hurricane, the last great leader of the Sky Legions. The main reason we pegasi retained our dominance over the other pony races, during this time, was because of her. The unicorns were able to manipulate the weather around their strongholds through their magic, but when the Commander ascended, they lost this ability due to her ability to exert unalterable control over the weather despite how she was helpless in the face of the W indigo threat. The very sky responded to her wishes, her emotional state and she was the closest thing we had to a Princess at the time. The archives have very little actual information about the full extent of her abilities, but we have a few things to go by. The most distinct thing is the presence of ozone around you constantly. The next is the extent that your own magic has increased, which not even the Princesses have that much of in comparison. Thirdly, what has occurred at the Cloud Stadium. We have reports that the entire city of Cloudsdale felt what you did, so strongly you exerted your power. Nopony in living memory has the raw power you possess, Rainbow Dash. It is no exaggeration why the Commander was named as such, by the little snippets we have left.”
“So... What you're telling me is that I am this super-mega-awesome pegasus that has so much power that I could potentially create a storm so powerful I might accidentally destroy Equestria?!” Rainbow says, beginning nonchalantly but quickly rising to a squeak as shock makes her quickly freeze.
“Yes. We are.” Spring Breeze says flatly. At his words, Rainbow simply gives up trying to understand; and promptly faints dead away.


When Rainbow Dash opens her eyes, she finds that she was moved to a guest room somewhere in the Castle. So uncool. She thinks as she remembers fainting in front of everypony. Her embarrassment doesn't last long though, as she remembers what they told her. Tossing her blanket over her head, she curls up underneath it, fear making her shiver. Why me? Nopony should have that much power, but why me of all ponies? I'm not like Twilight who can shoulder that kind of responsibility. Sure, I've never let my friends down when it counts, but now I have to be there for all the ponies of Equestria?! There's just no way I can do that! A knock at the door sounds suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts. She lies there, not saying anything, but the door opens anyways. The soft clack of metal on stone tells her that it's the Princess come to visit her.
“Rainbow Dash?” She says cautiously. “I'm sorry this came as such a shock, but I had hoped to have a little talk with you before something happened like it did. I knew a little of the lore pertaining to what a Sky Loved is, but apparently not enough. Most of my ignorance springs from the rarity of their appearance and that they were from before my time in Equestria. I had no idea you would manifest such strength in so little time and I let not only you, but many others down due to my inaction. It's my job to be able to help all of my subjects, and I let you down most of all.” The Princess turns to leave but Rainbow suddenly tosses the covers off and stands up on the bed, making her pause.
“It's not your fault Princess. Not one bit, so don't you go blaming yourself.” She says hurriedly, stamping her hoof on the bed. “I just don't know what I should do, and it's not like you're supposed to know everything. I mean, suddenly I've changed into this thing called a 'Sky Loved' and I have so much power I'm afraid of what I might do by accident... From getting angry, I caused a mass panic... I mean, that's something I never want to repeat. Ever.”
“Oh Rainbow Dash.” The Princess says, closing the distance to pull the smaller pony into a warm embrace. “I want to help you with this in any way possible. I don't want you to change anything about yourself at all. I hope that we can get all this figured out as soon as possible. But there is one thing I have to tell you that may disappoint you... I've had you removed from the remaining events of the competition.”
“It's okay Princess... I don't know if I'd be up for it anyways since I know all of this now. Maybe it was for the best... Especially since it's not fair to everypony else that's competing. But I can't deny that I'm really sad I'm gonna miss a chance to have dinner with my instructors at the Flight Academy.” Dash replies sadly.
“Oh, I think I can come up with a solution to that at the very least.” Celestia says with a warm smile. “I'll talk to Spitfire about inviting a 'special guest' to their dinner. I know it might not be the way you had hoped to get there, but I think it may be for the best.”
“You'd do that?! Really! You have no idea how much this means to me... But I think I have an apology to make first to a large group of pegasi... Have you found everypony I scared off?” Dash asks looking really embarrassed.
“Yes, we have, and they are none the worse for wear. Though we had to search the longest for Fluttershy and little Scootaloo. They flew all the way back to Ponyville if you can believe it!” She says with a gentle laugh and getting a disbelieving one from Rainbow. “To be honest, once you fainted you wouldn't wake up at all. It's actually a half hour before dawn. We decided it was best to let you get your rest since you had quite the yesterday. I came to visit you because I felt your magic stir. Sorry for barging in like that, but I felt like I should apologize to you as soon as possible.”
“Ugh... That's so uncool...” She says not realizing her statement was ambiguous. “N-n-not you Princess or anything about what you said, I meant about me and my fainting like that. But, do you think it would be possible for me to apologize to everypony before they start the first event of the day?”
“There shouldn't be any problem with that. I'll make the arrangements after I raise the sun.” She says letting go of Rainbow to make her way out to go about her daily duties.
“Princess?” Dash says just as she's about to leave. “Thanks again. For everything.”
Celestia nods with a smile and leaves the room.


Now. Rainbow Dash was nervous. Blow through a race that took the Wonderbolts two hours to finish? No problem. Do a fashion show with your friends hopes and dreams hanging in the balance? Sure thing. Making a public apology to not only your friends, but a large crowd of strangers? That would give anypony a case of cold hooves. But it has to be done, and Rainbow Dash won't let anything get in the way of the things that matter.
Rainbow Dash is waiting just inside the castles main doors with the main courtyard completely filled with ponies, their hushed conversations creating a dull buzz that drones through the air. Rumors and speculation runs rampant through the congregated mass of ponies as they wonder what's in store for them today. Well, it won't be long... Or as long as it takes Dash settles her high strung nerves enough to go out there. Okay... Deep breaths, like Twilight taught me. In... And out. In... And out.
With one last breath, Dash blows it through her nose forcefully and nods to the two guards set to open the doors when she's ready. The doors open slowly, a brilliant shaft of golden morning light landing on Dash which causes her to squint from the sudden increase of light. Once she gets used to the light she steps forward confidently yet lacking any trace of arrogance or bravado. She wasn't here to make something of herself after all, she owed these ponies a sincere apology. She stops at the edge of the top step and swallows audibly as she scans the crowd which has become so quiet you could hear the wind blowing through the courtyard.
“Hello everypony. I'm sure you all know why you're here this morning. Yesterday, something happened that terrified you ponies, something that shouldn't have happened in the first place. It's not my place to tell you everything about what happened, but it was me that caused your panic. I don't know how to show or explain how sorry I am, but I will do everything I can to make sure it never happens again.” She takes a deep breath before she says one last thing. “Everypony... I don't know if you can forgive me right away, but I want to apologize to all of you for yesterday.”
She didn't know what it was that she expected, but the gentle clapping of the amassed ponies certainly was a surprise. Looking out at the crowd, she sees their expressions ranging from a bit grumpy to rueful to even the odd smirk, though most wear a carefully neutral expression. In that moment, Rainbow Dash feels as though a weight is lifted from her. Her heart doesn't quite soar, but she definitely feels better that she is forgiven... For the most part anyways. She isn't quite sure what to do next, but the ponies seem to. Some of them who have duties choose to depart quietly while others begin to walk up the steps to talk to her, so Rainbow meets them halfway. For the most part they talk about inconsequential things and her performances yesterday, both on and off the track. But the one thing Rainbow makes sure of is to apologize again personally to each pony that comes to talk with her. She's not sure how long she spends talking with these ponies, but by the time she's done the sun has risen noticeably and she's ready to take a small nap. As she walks up the stairs again to the castle, she finds all of her friends waiting for her.
“That was very brave of you, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity says as she steps forward. “I'm certain it was daunting to face so many ponies who were so frightened yesterday. Your actions truly make me proud to call you my dear friend.”
“Darn tootin'!” Applejack pipes in. “That took some real gumption.”
“Thanks guys.” Rainbow says as she turns to her three winged companions. “But I still have three more, personal, apologies to make.”
“I-It's okay, Rainbow. W-We know you d-didn't m-m-mean it.” Fluttershy says timidly, moving slightly behind Twilight.
“No, it's not 'okay,' Fluttershy.” Dash says gruffly. “Not only did I cause a mass panic, but I also scared you three senseless... My own friends... That's so not cool. I don't know how I'm gonna do it yet, but I'll definitely make it up to you guys.”
“If you want to make it up to me, really make it up, then you'll just apologize to me. Nothing more.” Twilight says with a moderately stern expression. “I wouldn't be a good friend if I let you bend yourself backwards trying to make it up to me, especially since you never meant for it to happen in the first place.”
“That's right.” Scootaloo says grumpily. “What Twilight said.”
Fluttershy steps out a little bit and nods firmly in agreement.
“Alright... Since that's what you guys want.” Dash says resignedly. “Scootaloo? Fluttershy? Twilight? Can you three forgive me for what happened yesterday?”
They all smile as one and nod in acceptance. Dash smiles happily and she feels as though she's the luckiest mare in the world right now to have such great friends who ask for so little yet give so much. Even if they don't realize it. As a group, they make their way back into the castle to grab a little snack before the next event. Rainbow can't help but remember the Princess' words from earlier and decides to mention it.
“So... Fluttershy... Did you really fly yourself and Scootaloo all the way back to Ponyville yesterday?”
A deep blush and a noncommittal whisper is her only reply.