Prologue
“Rainbow Dash, are you insane!?” Twilight nearly yelled. “You can’t join the airborne! Think about your responsibilities!”
“I gotta Twilight; Cloudsdale’s been clobbered, and I can’t just sit here on the sidelines, I have to do something!”
“Like join the airborne!? You can help in other ways! Give blood, or bits, or volunteer for nursing, not joining the military!”
“Twilight, it’s the only branch that allows mares in, and they say that they need flyers. I’m the best flyer in Ponyville; it’s where I can help most!”
“What about the Elements of Harmony!? What if we need you?”
“Then I come back, but right now Cloudsdale needs me!”
“What about loyalty, Rainbow? Loyalty to your friends and Ponyville?”
“I’m also loyal to the princesses and my hometown, and Equestria for that matter!”
“Alright everypony, Ah think that we all just need ta calm down now, and talk about this rationally,” Applejack said. The six of them were gathered in the library by Rainbow, and were now witnessing the fallout of her announcement that she wanted to join the airborne.
Twilight wouldn’t let it go. “There’s nothing to rationally discuss! Rainbow shouldn’t join the airborne.” She turned to Applejack for an appeal.
“Well, Ah was actually thinkin’ that she should if she wants ta.” Applejack said matter-of-factly. Twilight’s mouth dropped open slightly.
“What?”
“Ah just think that if she wants ta then she should. Besides, Rainbow hasn’t been able to help out like we have. Ah have mah farm producin’ all Ah can for the Calvary. Rarity has her boutique producing camouflage drab. You are doin’, well, secret stuff Ah guess. Fluttershy is volunteering at the hospitals when she can. Hay, even Pinkies doin’ somethin’, workin’ on that cannon of her’s. All Rainbow's been able ta do is keep the skies clear. Ah think that if she wants ta she should. Hay, it may even be a boost ta morale.”
Twilight wasn’t having it. “That doesn’t matter, right now she’s an asset to national security; we all are. If any one of us were to be incapacitated, then we may not be able to use the elements of harmony to fight off magical threats. Putting her into a war zone isn’t just dangerous for her, it’s dangerous for everypony!”
Rarity piped up. “Twilight dear, I’m sure that Rainbow appreciates your concern, but she is a great flyer, I know better than most. If she’s ever in a dangerous situation, I’m sure she can get out of it in a matter of seconds.”
“But she won’t leave, and you know that!” Twilight said. She turned to Pinkie for support. "You don’t want Rainbow to go, right, Pinkie? ”
Pinkie scratched her shin with a hoof thoughtfully. ”Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell I guess that depends.” She looked over at Rainbow Dash, “Will you write to us, Dashie?”
“Yeah! Every day Pinkie!”
“Okie-dokey-lokey!” Pinkie said with a smile. She turned back to Twilight. “She can go.”
Twilight turned to Fluttershy, knowing that she was losing support fast. “How about you Fluttershy? What do you think?”
“Oh, uh, well, I think that we should respect Rainbow Dashes choice, and support her.”
“So you think she should go.” Fluttershy nodded slightly. Twilight sighed, and looked over to Rainbow. “I’m sorry Rainbow. Fluttershy’s right, I should be supporting you. It’s just, that…” she faltered. “As a princess, I have information that no other pony does, and I know how bad the war is. We’ve lost a lot of good ponies so far. I just don’t want to worry about losing one of my friends.”
Applejack walked over to Twilight. “Ah know how ya feel. Ah’m always worried about Big Mac and Braeburn. But Ah didn’t try and stop them when they volunteered.”
“I know, Applejack. Rainbow, if you want to join the airborne, you can. Just try not to get hurt, alright.” Twilights eyes were watering as she spoke.
“Don’t worry so much, Twilight. I’m too good for the Unicornians to touch.” There wasn’t too much pep in the boast.
“Ya be careful out there, Rainbow.”
“Yes dear, do come back.”
“And don’t forget to write every day!”
Rainbow looked over at Fluttershy. “Um, Rainbow. I know that you’re going to be fighting in the airborne, but if you ever can, try and show them a little kindness. I think that if everypony did that there wouldn’t be a war.”
“Show them kindness, after what they did to Cloudsdale?!”
“Please Rainbow?” Fluttershy looked at Rainbow hopefully. Rainbow lowered her head in defeat. She couldn’t disappoint her oldest friend.
“Alright Fluttershy, I will.”
“Do you promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”