Spitfire was beside herself. She had always dreaded that something like this would happen someday. She stared out her office window, taking a deep sigh of remorse. Then the voice over the intercom on her desk announced that Rainbow Dash had arrived.
She pushed the button on the mic and spoke. "Great. Send her in."
Rainbow Dash entered the office as calmly as she could after having been summoned by one of her idols. "You wanted to see me, Spitfire? I mean Ma'am! I mean Spitfire, Ma'am?! I mean-" Spitfire raised a hoof signaling her to stop.
She removed her sunglasses and placed them on the desk, revealing the troubled look in her eyes, which Rainbow caught almost immediately.
"Rainbow Dash, I'm gonna be straight with you." She said. "We need your help."
Rainbow hadn't expected to hear that. "My help? With what?" She asked.
Spitfire walked over to a picture hanging on the wall. The picture depicted a magenta-colored pegasus mare with a black mane, which pointed straight back in three long spikes as if it had been in a hurricane. Her tail was shaped in a zigzag and she was proudly wearing a Wonderbolt uniform.
Rainbow Dash examined the picture trying to place the name of this pony. And then it hit her. "Oh yeah. That's Zoom Blade." She exclaimed. "She used to be a Wonderbolt before she got kicked out."
"Right, but I'm about to tell you the stuff they don't tell you in Junior Flight School." Spitfire stated. "You see..."
*Flashback*
The sky was crystal clear. Perfect weather for having a friendly little race. Spitfire and Zoom Blade were soaring all around just having a blast.
'Zoom Blade and I were best friends in the academy.'
The two of them decided to take a break and land. They congratulated each other with a hoof-bump. Then the Wonderbolts' captain, a big brawny pegasus stallion, came up to them and handed them each their very own official Wonderbolt badges.
'And we were both recruited into the Wonderbolts around the same time.' Overcome with pride and excitement, they both flew straight up into the air and cheered and they hoof-bumped each other again.
-----
Spitfire and Zoom Blade were in the middle of a training exercise with all the other new recruits. They were all flying through an obstacle course as fast as they could. Zoom Blade was simply rushed with adrenaline.
'She was an amazing flyer. But pretty soon, that wasn't enough for her.' The magenta pegasus, fueled by determination, shot straight out ahead, knocking every other pegasus in her path clear out of the sky.
'She became the most reckless, self-centered pony the Wonderbolts ever had. Even worse than Lightning Dust. No discipline, no restraint, no sense of duty. All she cared about was being the best and she would've taken down anyone who got in her way.'
Having completed the course in record time, Zoom Blade landed on a cloud from which the captain had seen the whole thing. Disappointed and angry, he glared at her right the eye and swiped her badge clean off her chest, much to her surprise. 'That's why she was kicked out.'
Zoom Blade was stunned, but then her shock was replaced with fury as she tried to attack the captain. Fortunately, a group of guards jumped in and grabbed her, after which they dragged her away kicking and screaming.
'Needless to say, she wasn't too happy about it. And neither was I.'
Spitfire could only watch on in sorrow. She didn't even recognize her best friend anymore. All she saw now was a monster.
Rainbow Dash was in awe after hearing such a story. "Whoa!" she exclaimed. "So what does all this have to do with anything now?"
"I was getting to that." Spitfire responded.
Rainbow Dash apologized meekly. "Sorry."
"Anyway," Spitfire continued "a few days ago, we got some intel that Zoom Blade had broken into a weapons workshop and stolen a high tech piece of equipment."
-----
Zoom Blade jetted through the sky at top speed with Spitfire, Soarin and Fleet Foot in hot pursuit. She lead them right up to a large rocky mountain side right next to a large cave. She just hovered there, feeling pretty lucky.
'We were hot on her tail and we had her cornered until suddenly...'
"Hold on." Zoom Blade raised her hooves in the air almost defensively. "Before anything else happens, I just gotta say, Spitty, you turned out really well for yourself." The sarcasm in her voice was pretty clear. "I mean, captain of the Wonderbolts? Pretty impressive. For a pigeon." She chuckled.
"Stow it, Zoom Blade!" Spitfire barked. "We've got you surrounded. It's all over."
The fugitive didn't seem fazed. "Sorry, Spitty, but the fun's just getting started."
She pulled out a remote control and hit a big red button. Just then, a pair of bright red lights pierced through the darkness of the cave as something big and powerful looking emerged. None of the three Wonderbolts could believe their eyes.
"What is that?!" Soarin shouted in fear. Nopony was really sure.
'She came at us with some kind of giant machine.'
"We thought we could take it, but that thing was tough. We didn't have a chance."
"Oh man." Rainbow Dash exclaimed with intrigue.
Spitfire continued. "The scientists who built it said it was made for defense, but as long as it's in Zoom Blade's hooves, that thing won't be defending anypony."
"So what do you need me for?" Rainbow inquired.
"To help us stop that machine and bring Zoom Blade to justice."
"Really?"
"I know this is a lot to ask and I'll understand if you say no, but we could really use your help. I've seen you in action and I know you've got the skills, talent and spirit to do this."
Rainbow Dash was happy that the Wonderbolts' captain herself was praising her so much. "You do?"
"Yep. Which is also why, if you do pull this off, I will personally make you an official Wonderbolt."
That last sentence finally did it. Rainbow Dash became so excited she could hardly believe it. All she could do was stand there with a shocked look on her face until she finally had to say something. "An... official... Wonderbolt?!" Was what came out.
Spitfire nodded. "I promise."
Rainbow couldn't keep her wings from flapping in a crazed frenzy powered by all her exhilarated energy. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" She flew up into the air, as she could no longer contain her excitement.
"So do we have a deal?" Spitfire asked.
"Spitfire, you can count on me." Rainbow stated confidently as she floated back down to the floor. "I'll catch Zoom Blade in no time and kick that hunk of metal to the curb."
"Good luck, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire saluted her. Rainbow gave a salute back and trotted out the door, feeling confident as ever. Once the door closed, however, she thought about what she had just gotten into and suddenly, she wasn't feeling quite so good about it.
-----
"WHAT?!"
Everypony was in Rainbow Dash's house as she packed a saddlebag for her mission. Having just informed them of what Spitfire had asked of her, they all thought she was crazy to take on such a favor.
Rarity spoke up. "Wait a minute! You mean she actually wants you to..."
"Go after a crazy ex-Wonderbolt with a stolen super weapon?" Rainbow interrupted, fully aware of how nuts it sounded. "Pretty much."
"Have you lost your ever-lovin' marbles?" Applejack demanded.
"I know it sounds nuts," the blue pegasus responded "but Spitfire promised that if I could bring Zoom Blade in, she'd make me an official Wonderbolt."
She went all around the room gathering items that she figure she might need for her trip. Fluttershy followed her around to make sure she had her attention. "Really?" she asked. "Well that's wonderful and all, Rainbow Dash, but there must be a less dangerous way to get in. Why your flying skills alone should be more than enough."
"My flying skills are exactly why she asked me to do this." Rainbow declared. "Besides, this could be my last chance to become a real Wonderbolt. I have a chance to realize my life-long dream and I'm gonna take it." She finished packing her saddlebag, through it on her back and headed for the front door.
"The Wonderbolts have faith in me and I'm not gonna let them down."
As she started to open the door, a purple hoof stopped it from opening all the way. Rainbow Dash was a little surprised at Twilight's gesture. "Well then, you're not going alone." the purple pony princess insisted.
"That's right." Applejack interjected. "You're one hay of an athlete and all, Rainbow, but you can't handle this all on your own."
"We're best friends and we stick together through thick and thin." Pinkie added.
"We've defeated the most dangerous villains in all of Equestria and we did it together. And that's exactly how we're gonna do this." Twilight declared.
Rainbow Dash looked around at her friends, all of whom clearly felt the same way. She gave a reassured smile, proud to have such devoted ponies to call her friends.
"I was hoping you'd all say that." she said. "I have no idea how, but together, I know we can stop Zoom Blade and save Equestria once again."
All the ponies (and Spike of course) cheered, ready for yet another world-saving adventure. Scootaloo was especially excited.
"Alright! Let's do this!" she declared, but as she started to run out the door, she was stopped by her idol.
"I don't think so, Scoots." Rainbow ordered. "This is way too dangerous for you. You're too young."
Scootaloo was not too happy about hearing that. "What? No I'm not. I wanna help."
"Sorry, kid. I just can't let you come." Rainbow Dash insisted. "But if you wanna help, you can take care of Tank for me while I'm gone." The rudder-propelled tortoise hovered into the room and licked his owner's face happily.
Scootaloo sighed in annoyance. "Okay." she groaned.
"Great." Pinkie Pie proclaimed. "Now that that's settled, let's get this show on the road. For justice!" With that the adult ponies and Spike all headed out the door on their grande mission, leaving the little pegasus filly alone with Tank the flying tortoise. She shifted her gaze towards him as he gave out a silent grunt.