Rainbow Dash was waking up, bright and early in the morning, again. She admits to herself that she is starting to get used to it. Getting up early, tackling the day right away and going straight through without a nap. This could be a new start for her, she thought as she yawned and stretched. Then again, maybe not.
“Hey, Spitfire, you awake?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Spitfire groggily answered, yawning and smacking her lips. “So, where are we off to this morning? We’ve already burned through your five mane friends. I hope you’ve got another one hidden away somewhere.”
“Well, about that, I’ve been trying to figure that out since last night. Honestly, I thought we’d have been caught by now,” Rainbow laughed while Spitfire shot her a very unamused look. “I thought about flying up to Manehattan and try to hide with my friend Gilda. The only thing is, that’s a long flight, and Gilda and I didn’t part under the best terms. She could turn you in just to spite me.”
“Yeah, let’s not go there. I just have to hold out until sunset. Then, I’m free.”
“Rainbow Dash! Spitfire! We know you’re in there. Come out now. You’ve got nowhere left to run.”
“What the hay!?” Rainbow shouted as she and Spitfire ran over to the barn’s loft door. Carefully peeking through the boards, they saw the source of the command.
“Royal Equestrian Guards?” Spitfire said.
Looking back out at the guards, Spitfire saw four of them were busily holding Applejack and Big Macintosh back. At least the Apples weren’t the ones responsible for this.
“Pegasi, we have orders from her royal majesty, Princess Celestia, to bring you both back to Canterlot, immediately. Please come out of the barn now.”
“I knew it! Either the Cakes or your precious Twilight sold us out!” Spitfire hissed between her teeth.
“Whoa! The Cakes maybe, but not Twilight, never Twilight.”
“Pegasi, you have two minutes to exit the barn or we will be forced to come in after you.”
“Oh wow, we’re in a tight spot,” Rainbow replied as she panicked a little for the first time.
“Snap out of it, Rainbow! How are we going to get out of here?”
Suddenly the loft doors on the other side of the barn burst open as Apple Bloom jumped into the loft. “Rainbow, Spitfire, y’all can fly out this way. There ain’t no guards over here.”
“Apple Bloom, you’re a life saver!” Spitfire said, causing the filly to blush at the compliment.
“Wait, we need to distract the guards or they could see us flying away,” Rainbow said. “How many guards are out there?”
Spitfire took one last peek to get a count and to see Applejack and Big Macintosh each buck a guard in the side trying to break free. “There are six. Four earth ponies that are trying to hold back Applejack and Big Macintosh and two unicorns shouting at us.”
“No flyers?” Rainbow asked.
“No, there are no flyers.”
“Good. I’ve got a plan.”
“Pegasi, you now have thirty seconds to exit the barn.”
“Okay, okay, we’re coming out!” Rainbow yelled back to the guard. “You ready?” she then asked Spitfire.
“Let’s do this!”
Spitfire walked to the loft doors. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as she quickly turned around, bucked the doors open, and immediately dropped to the floor. Two bucked bales of hay flew over her head and toward the guards below.
“Way to go, kid,” Rainbow said as she watched her and Apple Bloom’s bales go flying. Just as she finished her sentence she and Spitfire took off, flying out the other side of the barn. They looked back to see Apple Bloom waving, the guards dodging bales of hay and yelling more commands at the barn.
“I don’t think they saw us leave,” Spitfire yelled over to Rainbow.
“Told ya it would work, distract them one way and run the other,” Rainbow answered proudly.
“Another Daring Do inspired plan?”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
As the two pegasi flew off, the guards lost all patience and broke into the barn looking for their quarry.
“Y’all gonna pay for that door you just broke!” Applejack yelled.
Once in the barn, all the guards found was a small filly sitting by the loft door with a smug look on her face.
“Where are Rainbow Dash and Spitfire?!” one guard yelled.
“They ain’t here,” Apple Bloom answered calmly, just before giving both unicorn guards a raspberry of defiance.
“Send a message back to Canterlot. We need flyers.”
As Rainbow and Spitfire flew away, they thought they had gotten away, until they heard more voices shouting commands at them.
“Rainbow Dash and Spitfire, by order of their Royal Majesties, you must come with us back to Canterlot immediately!”
“More Royal Guards - Princess Luna’s flyers, even!” Rainbow yelled over to Spitfire. “That’s it! I didn’t want to have to do this but…” Rainbow glided over to Spitfire so she could talk to her without yelling so loudly the guards could hear. “As fast as you can, head straight to the old castle in the Everfree Forest. We’re going to split up, one will follow you and one will go after me. Once you get to the forest, you can lose your guard in the trees and then hide out in the castle until I get there.” Without giving Spitfire time to voice her protest over the plan, Rainbow split off from her, yelled a quick insult at the guards, and got one to chase after her.
“Okay Spitfire, pour it on! Show this royal goon what you’re made of!” Spitfire thought, lowering her head and pushing herself to fly faster straight toward the forest. She took one quick glance back to notice that her guard was gaining on her. “How is that possible? He can’t be faster than me! Even Rainbow is just barely faster than me on her best day. What’s wrong with me?” she thought. Then the answer slapped her on her flank, her cloak! Rarity’s wonderful cloak was slowing her down. “I’ve got to lose it. Oh, I hope Rarity will forgive me.” As she quickly undid the clasp, the cloak flew off her back, and as an unexpected bonus of generosity, it flew right into her pursuing guard’s face. Engulfed in a net of fabric, the guard began to fall. As he fell, Spitfire thought she heard him shout one last time: “Dumb fabric!”
Now with nopony following, Spitfire slowed down, taking a breath and letting out a deep sigh of relief, just as a blinding flash of light enveloped her and she disappeared from the sky.
Spitfire woke up with her head hurting again. Her eyes were burning from the bright flash. Eventually the pain in her head and eyes started to ease. She started to look around and see she was in a new strange room again. Nopony else was with her. She was alone, not in a cell, just a normal room, possibly somepony’s guest room. There was a small bed, a desk, and a dresser. Over the desk, there was one window.
“Might as well take a look and try to see where I am,” Spitfire said to nopony.
Looking out the window, she quickly realized where she was. “Canterlot!”
Grabbing the desk chair in her mouth, she threw it at the window hoping to break it to freedom. Unfortunately the chair bounced off the window, neither broken, thanks to an unseen enchantment.
“HORESAPPLES!” Spitfire screamed as she turned and threw herself onto the bed, wishing with all her might that she was somewhere, anywhere else. Spitfire was snapped back to the reality of the room by another bright flash and pop as another presence came into the room, Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow was squinting her eyes and rubbing her head as she tried to figure out what happened.
“Rainbow!” Spitfire yelled as she jumped up and hugged her friend’s neck.
“Spitfire? Where are am I? I mean, where are we?”
“I’m not totally sure, but I think we’re in a tower room in Canterlot Castle. Take a look out the window and see what you think.”
Walking slowly over to the window, Rainbow looked out and saw all of Canterlot before her. “Yeah, that’s Canterlot out there, but how the hay did we get here? I had just lost my guard and turned toward the forest, then bang, here I am.”
“Same story here, I’m guessing we were magically teleported. Those were Luna’s guards chasing us. I know they’re enchanted to make their wings look bat-like. I bet there is a similar spell on them that allows a magic user to locate somepony through them, like a magical tracker,” Spitfire said looking out the window with Rainbow. “There aren’t many magic users in Equestria that could pull something like that off. I think your friend, Twilight, could, but why would she? That basically leaves the princesses.”
“But, why would the princesses want us so badly?”
Spitfire and Rainbow turned toward the door as they heard the lock rattle as somepony unlocked it.
“I don’t know, Rainbow, and I don’t want to find out. You follow my lead this time.”
“Spitfire, Rainbow Dash, you will follow me to the Royal Throne Room, the princesses…”
The guard was cut off as Spitfire’s hooves bucked him on the chin, knocking him out.
“RUN!” Spitfire yelled.
Rainbow and Spitfire tore out of the room and down the hallway.
“Where are we going, Spitfire?”
“No idea, just down and then hopefully out. Just keep running!”
As they rounded one corner, a group of guards stood in their path.
“Back, back the other way!” Spitfire directed as she slid trying to turn on the tile floor.
Rounding another corner, a lone guard managed to magically grab hold of Spitfire. His spell didn’t last long as his concentration was broken by a buck to the ribs from Rainbow Dash.
“Let her go!” Rainbow shouted, bucking the guard again for good measure.
Each hallway the two went down, there were more and more guards. Panic was beginning to talk hold as the swarm of guards grew.
“We’re running out of halls, Spitfire!”
“I know, I know! Over here! Through this door!”
As they burst through the door, a group of no fewer than a dozen guards stood in the middle of the new room. Each exit door was blocked, and the patrol of guards chasing closed off their only escape route. They were finally trapped.
“Fly over them, now!” Rainbow yelled, and kicked off the ground, only to be slammed back to the floor as two magical guards grabbed her.
“Alright! You’ve got us. Please, let her go. We give up.” Spitfire said dropping her head and panting heavily.
The captain of the guards strode forward, looking at the two pegasi.
“You gave us a good chase, but when the princesses want to see someone, we get them.”
“Wait, did you say ‘princesses’?” Rainbow asked.
“Yes, you have an audience with Celestia and Luna. All your running, this whole mess you’ve created, this all ends now.”
The Captain and several other guards lowered their heads and focused their magic at Rainbow and Spitfire. Magical energy surrounded them and levitated them into the air. The energy continued to build to its blinding flash, deafening bang, and the disappearance of the two pegasi.
“Alright, I am getting really sick of this,” Spitfire grumbled with her head and eyes hurting again.
“I know, you’d think there would be a less painful way of putting us back in our room.”
“I’m sorry, my little ponies, but my guards did not send you to your room, and I will recommend that they increase their teleportation practice.”
Looking for the source of the new voice, Spitfire recognized the historical stained glass windows, the defeating of Nightmare Moon, imprisoning of Discord, all were there. The banners of the Royal Family were fluttering over her head, leading her eyes to the voice.
“Princess!” Spitfire immediately bent her knee and bowed her head before her ruler.
“Princess?” Rainbow was confused by her now bowing friend. Forcing her eyes to clear and focus, she realized Princess Celestia’s presence and joined her friend by bowing as well.
“Rise, my little ponies, we have a lot to discuss.”
Rainbow and Spitfire rose and gave each other concerned glances.
“Princess, if I may be so bold, I’m very sorry for running from your guards. I was frightened and I made Rainbow follow me,” Spitfire apologized.
“And for the guards you assaulted?” another voice spoke from the curtains behind Princess Celestia. Princess Luna walked forward looking at Spitfire for her answer, but her presence caused both ponies to bow again. “Rise, and answer my question.”
“Yes, Princess Luna, I am sorry for the guards we assaulted, too. This is all my doing. I must take full responsibility. Rainbow Dash was just trying to help me.”
“And what was Miss Dash helping you with, exactly?” Luna asked.
“Princesses,” Rainbow spoke up stepping in front of Spitfire. “You’ve gone through all of this to bring us here and you don’t know why we were running?” Rainbow said, showing her signature brashness.
“Well, Rainbow Dash, you are partly correct. We know many things about this situation,” Princess Celestia answered as a side door to the throne room opened, and a guard escorted in several new ponies. Spitfire recognized Balance Sheet, the head of the Wonderbolt’s finance department. There were some other administrative ponies that Spitfire had met with but did not know their names. Lastly, Mr. Dean Curator, the chief executive of the Wonderbolts and his lawyer. Spitfire guessed she was now meeting Mrs. Cake’s father and the architect of their capture.
“There is a very serious dispute going on in our kingdom. We have heard arguments from Dean Curator and the other Wonderbolts’ representatives. We’ve heard your side of the argument second hoof, but we have still yet to hear your side from you.” Celestia spoke.
“You’ve heard my story, ‘second hoof’, how?” Spitfire asked.
Princess Celestia and Luna stepped apart from one another as yet another pony entered the room through the curtains behind the throne, Twilight Sparkle.
“But…but…but…” was all Rainbow could say. The look of shock and betrayal in her eyes caused Twilight to drop her head in shame and tears started to roll down both ponies’ cheeks.
“You promised! You promised me! I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you!” Spitfire was angrier than she had ever been. To her, Twilight had proven she was nothing more than a puppet of the princesses. “You broke your Pinkie Promise!”
Silence engulfed the throne room. A strange wind started to howl outside the windows. Then, without warning, the main grand doors to the throne room burst open, revealing a small pink earth pony.
“Twilight, you broke a Pinkie Promise!” Pinkie Pie screamed, her eyes burning filled with rage.
The sudden appearance of this rage filled pony caused even the princesses to step back. Their guards stepping in front of the princesses, but filled with doubt that they could provide much protection from this new source of anger and rage.
“You broke a Pinkie Promise,” Pinkie Pie screamed again, stalking forward toward her victim.
Twilight slowly raised her head, revealing the tear stained tracks down her face, seemingly oblivious to the anger filled pony walking toward her. “No, Pinkie, I didn’t break my promise,” tears falling from Twilight’s eyes as she spoke. “But I did betray not just one friend, but two.”
“But, you never broke your Pinkie Promise?” the earth pony asked, starting to calm from her rage.
“I did not. I promised not to tell Princess Celestia,” Twilight answered.
“Twilight sent me a scroll detailing the situation and asking me for guidance,” Princess Luna spoke from behind her guards.
“Oh, well if that’s the case, okay, bye everypony,” and Pinkie Pie simply bounced out of the throne room singing to herself.
“Nice loophole, Twilight, but you still betrayed me and Rainbow. We trusted you.” Spitfire snarled.
“I know I have. I don’t expect anypony to understand, but I hope you’ll eventually forgive me,” Twilight sobbed.
“WHY?! Why, Twilight? After all we’ve been through, you’ve been one of my closest friends ever. I would have trusted you with my life!” Rainbow shouted through the tears.
In all the years that Twilight had known Rainbow, she had never seen her so heart broken, and she knew it was her fault. “I just wanted to help. I knew Princesses Luna and Celestia could help. I knew they would want to know…” Twilight’s words trailed off into silence as she realized her words were falling on deaf ears.
“Alright,” Spitfire spoke up, “So, you want to know my side of the story? Well here it is…” Spitfire proceeded to tell her side of the story. How she complained about the treatment of some staff members; about how under orders from Dean Custodian, her pay was docked by Balance Sheet and her staff; How Dean Custodian threatened that she would lose her spot on the Wonderbolts if she didn’t shape up; About how she just wanted out of the Wonderbolts, but was trapped by her contract; About crushing Rainbow Dash’s dreams by asking her to help; About why Rainbow, Twilight, and Source Code all worked to help get her money from the Wonderbolts bank; Lastly about how she hoped one day to help correct these issues with the Wonderbolts.
“That is a very interesting story Spitfire. If there is any truth to it, it is also a very damaging story,” Celestia spoke. “Mr. Custodian, what do you think of Spitfire’s story?”
“Like with most stories, there is some truth, and a lot of fabrication,” Dean Custodian answered. He went on to dispute Spitfire’s story, point-by-point. The pay deductions were a punishment for contract violations and poor performances. The threats to be removed from the team were for other various rule violations. Each time, Custodian would point out exact examples of behavior and lines from the contract that held up his argument.
Spitfire felt her stomach sink. She felt like she was losing. Everything was being made to look like she was a delusional pony. She was losing her battle to a bureaucrat of all things, the same bureaucrat that built the system.
“You make a very strong argument, Mr. Custodian,” Luna said. “Mr. Advocate, how does all this hold up in regards to Miss Spitfire’s contract and legality?”
“Mr. Custodian is 100% accurate in his interpretation of the events and according to the contract and current employment law, he followed a proper course of action. According to Miss Spitfire’s personnel file and contract here,” Barrister Advocate levitated the documents from his briefcase, “She has had a history of behavioral problems and, in my opinion, is simply lucky to still be on the lead team. If she does not sign this contract by moonrise tonight, she will no longer be a Wonderbolt, and all her belongings at the compound will become the property of the Wonderbolts.”
“It’s not fair,” came a sobbing reply. “It’s not fair to treat Spitfire like this,” Rainbow continued through the tears. “We’ve worked so hard to help her and the only reason so many ponies have gotten hurt in all this, is because this is just not fair. She earned everything in that compound. What are they going to do with the pictures and other souvenirs in her room? Every time she performed, she put her life on the line. She earned every bit in that bank. It’s not fair that just because she wants to leave, she has to start over with nothing.”
“Hmph…fair or not, Miss Dash, it is all legal and Spitfire knew what she was getting into when she first signed this contract,” Advocate countered.
“ENOUGH!” boomed Luna in her Royal Canterlot Voice. “You have all made your points. My sister and I will now discuss this issue in private and then render our decision.” Luna and Celestia rose and exited the room, leaving all inside in an awkward silence, except for the sobs from Rainbow and Twilight.
After a few moments, Twilight slowly started walking over to Rainbow and Spitfire. Spitfire was trying her best to console her broken-hearted friend.
“Haven’t you done enough, Twilight Sparkle?” Spitfire snarled. “Isn’t it bad enough what I had to put Rainbow through just a few days ago, and now you, her closest friend, goes and betrays her and breaks her heart all over again?”
“Its…its okay, Spitfire,” Rainbow softly said. “I want to talk to her, alone, if you don’t mind. I need to hear her for myself.”
Reluctantly, Spitfire walked away a few paces, giving the two ponies what privacy she could.
“You hurt me, Twilight.”
“I know, and I can’t say ‘I’m sorry’ enough to make up for it. I hope you’ll just give me a chance to explain and maybe someday forgive me.”
“I already do forgive you, Twilight. I don’t have a choice but to forgive. I know you were only trying to help. I just wished you had trusted me to take care of things, like how I trust you.”
“How can you already forgive me, after what I did, after how badly I hurt you?”
“I can and have to forgive you, Twilight, because I …”
“Now, Miss Spitfire, why don’t you just sign this contract and we can put all this mess behind us?”
Spitfire’s focus on trying to read her friends’ lips was broken by Advocate’s suggestion.
“What part of ‘I don’t want to be a Wonderbolt anymore’ don’t you understand?” Spitfire snapped back.
“Miss Spitfire, the princesses are deliberating purely as a formality. The contract is iron-clad, as you well know. Let’s just end all this. I’m sure we can find a nice position for you in the front office.”
“Right, a position that I’m guaranteed to screw up and then get demoted again and again until I end up on the pyro team, I see how this all works.”
“We don’t operate that way, Miss Spitfire. The timing of your complaints, fines, and corrective meetings were all just coincidental. The ponies on the pyro detail all volunteer for that post, and they are paid quite well for the dangers they face.”
Spitfire was caught off guard by all this. Had it all just been strange timing? Had she blown it all out of proportion? But what about the contract, it was real and she was still trapped by it, right? No! She knew her truth, and she had to stick to it. Too many ponies had been hurt for her to start doubting herself. What would happen to Rainbow now if she caved and signed her contract?
“Mr. Advocate, you can take that contract and shove it up your…”
“Attention everypony! The Royal Sisters have returned!” the guard announced.
The Princesses strode through their throne room taking their place overlooking their court.
Spitfire walked back over to the still crying Rainbow and Twilight. She noticed that Rainbow had placed her wing over Twilight, likely trying to comfort her, but she was still sobbing.
“Everything okay over here?” Spitfire softly asked.
“Yeah, we’ll be okay. A lot just happened right now,” Rainbow answered. “I just want you to know that Twilight did what she did because she was trying to help, that’s all. I’ve forgiven her, and I really want you to forgive her too.”
“Attention, my little ponies, my sister and I have reached a decision,” Celestia announced. “Mr. Custodian, Mr. Advocate, legally you left us with few options. Spitfire is a contracted Wonderbolt and if she continues to refuse to sign her contract renewal, she will forfeit all belongings back at the Wonderbolt’s compound. However, Mr. Advocate, would you please read section 7, paragraph 6 of Spitfire’s contract?”
After much paper shuffling and whispering Advocate answered, “I’m sorry, your Majesty, I cannot read that section. It appears to be written in some ancient script that no one knows.”
“So, you’re using a contract that even you do not fully understand, Mr. Advocate?” Celestia replied with a distinct tone of displeasure. “That section is written in Ancient Equestrian. Few today can still read Ancient Canterlot. I’m very surprised you haven’t rewritten the contract without that little piece. However, I digress, there is one here that is still very fluent in Ancient Canterlot: my sister Luna, are you not?”
“Yes, sister, we...I am,” Luna answered.
“And we’re just supposed to take it on faith that you still speak and read Ancient Equestrian?” Advocate asked, his lawyer training getting the best of him.
“YOU DARE DOUBT YOUR PRINCESS?!” Luna fired back in her Royal Canterlot Voice. “We were banished to the moon over 1000 years ago, a time when what you now call Ancient Equestrian, was the chosen language of the royal court,” Luna spoke these words in Ancient Equestrian, causing all doubt to be erased, once Celestia translated.
“Now, Luna, would you kindly read section 7, paragraph 6?” Celestia asked again.
“Ahem,” Luna said to clear her throat, “If, at any time during a Wonderbolt’s contract of service, any member of the Royal Family believes that said Wonderbolt is not fulfilling their contractual duties, either by choice, injury, negligence, or incompetence, then that Royal Family member can dismiss the Wonderbolt by declaring their contract null and void.”
“Spitfire, when does your contract expire?” Celestia asked.
“Tonight at moon-rise, your majesty.”
“So, then you are technically still a contracted Wonderbolt?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Because you ran from your duties and your fellow Wonderbolts; because you have been negligent in your duties resulting in fines and corrective meetings with your supervisors; because you have clearly expressed a desire to be removed from the Wonderbolts, I declare that you are no longer fit to wear the uniform and that your contract is void.”
Once Celestia finished speaking those words, Spitfire’s contract vanished in a plume of fire and smoke.
“As such, you know have one week from today, to return to the Wonderbolt’s compound and remove all your belongings. This is my royal decree.”
“Yes, your majesty” was the reply from everypony in the great hall.
“Now, Mr. Advocate, do you by any chance have another copy of the standard Wonderbolt contract?” Celestia asked.
“Yes, your majesty, I do,” Advocate levitated an unsigned version of the contract from his briefcase.
“Would you please read section 7, paragraph 3?”
“It would appear that section 7, paragraph 3 is also written in Ancient Equestrian,” Advocate sighed.
“Luna, would you kindly translate for us, again?”
“If, at any time, a member of the royal family believes it necessary, this contract for service in the Wonderbolts organization, may be revised or rewritten.”
“Now, Mr. Custodian, since I was one of the original architects of this contract,” Celestia began, “I know that it was never intended to be used as a weapon or a trap. The automatic renewal was put in place to make it easier on a busy Wonderbolt, that is all. However, I also choose to believe that you and your staff never intended this to be used as a trap, like in Spitfire’s case. I choose to believe that you simply got lost in the ‘big picture’ of the Wonderbolts. If one of your star flyers chooses to leave, then you have the problem of how to announce their departure and training their replacement. This can cause so many issues and poses a risk if the replacement is pushed too hard too soon.”
“Yes, your majesty, those are legitimate concerns I’ve had in regards to any member of the Wonderbolts leaving or retiring. Especially since the contract does not spell out a proper method for somepony to leave the organization,” Dean Custodian replied.
“That is why I am going to use my option to re-write this contract. Tomorrow afternoon, you, Miss Balance Sheet, Mr. Advocate, Luna and myself will all sit down and clarify these and the other issues I discovered in my visit to your facility, in a new Wonderbolts service contract,,” Celestia decreed. “Now, if there is no further business, I have a sun to lower, and Luna has a moon to raise. Good evening, everypony.”
As Celestia and Luna left the throne room, “Oh, one last piece of business: Spitfire, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight, you three will join Luna and myself at dinner this evening.”
Dean Custodian slowly walked over to Spitfire, with Balance Sheet in tow. “Miss Spitfire, I am very sorry for this...misunderstanding. If you will come to the compound in the morning, I will have an escort at the door to help you collect all your belongings. If you have an account number now, please give it to Miss Balance Sheet and she will transfer your funds, otherwise she will write you a check for the balance in the morning.”
“Thank you Mr. Custodian,” Spitfire calmly replied. “I don’t have a new account yet, so, I guess I’ll have to take the check in the morning.”
“I know you think I’m a monster, and there is likely nothing that I can say to change your opinion, but everything I did, I did for the greater good of the Wonderbolts organization. I cannot allow myself to get caught up in the affairs of one of my flyers, the whole of the organization must come first,” with that, Custodian and Balance Sheet turned away leaving Spitfire to rejoin her friends.
“I’m glad you two have finally stopped crying,” Spitfire tried to joke.
“Sorry about that. It’s been a really...eye-opening time,” Rainbow replied.
“Spitfire, I am so very sorry. I honestly just wanted to help. I knew the princesses would have a solution. I just didn’t expect it to play out so dramatically. I hope you can forgive me,” Twilight said still hanging her head, afraid to make eye contact with Spitfire.
“I know you did, Twilight. I know you did. I earned that nickname from Pinkie of ‘Hot Head’. I do have a tendency to react and then find out the facts. I wish you had just let me and Rainbow figure this out, but, I am glad you got the princesses involved. It actually worked out even better this way.”
“Well, you’re out, completely free, you’ve got all your stuff and your money, what’s next?” Rainbow asked.
“I don’t really know. I’ve not thought that far out. I guess I never thought I’d really make it this far, let alone make it out with everything. I guess I could pretty much do whatever I want. Probably should find some place to live first.”
“Well, Ponyville is a really nice place to live,” Twilight suggested.
“Yeah, I’m even thinking of moving a little closer to Ponyville, now,” Rainbow said.
“Really, why?” Spitfire looked confused by this new idea.
“The way I look at it, I’ve stayed in or near Cloudsdale just to be ready for the Wonderbolts. Now that they’re out of my future, I think I might try and really focus on my Weather Pony career. I’m pretty sure I could get a position as Chief Weather Pony for Ponyville pretty easy.”
“Wow, Rainbow Dash settling down and focusing on a career that isn’t the Wonderbolts. Now I’ve heard everything,” Twilight joked.
“I do know more ponies that are in Ponyville than I do anywhere else. I’ve got a lot to think about,” Spitfire said as she gazed out the window at the sunset. It was her first sunset as a free pony. A tear fell from her eye as she thought about all that had happened over the last seven days. She had left her Wonderbolts family, but gained so much more: her freedom and six of the best friends she could ever ask for.
As the three left the great throne room, Spitfire turned to Rainbow and Twilight, “You know, that one guard was right, it all has ended, but so much is just starting.”
<h2>Day ??? - For Every Ending, There Is A Beginning - Epilogue</h2>
Outside of Ponyville, near the Everfree Forest, there used to stand a lone cottage. That cottage now has a neighbor. Spitfire did decide to move to Ponyville, and built her home near the clearing in front of the forest, the same clearing that she and Fluttershy flew through that one afternoon, nearly a year ago. Spitfire was standing in this clearing, looking up to the sky, blowing on a coach’s whistle.
“Alright, everypony, bring it in,” she shouted up to the sky.
Seemingly from out of nowhere, filly and colt pegasi, some blank-flanked, some not, flocked to Spitfire’s position landing in a straight line in front of her.
“Very good, my little ponies. You’re all progressing in your flying skills nicely,” Spitfire commended each student. “However, there is still too much horseplay when you think I’m not looking, and some of your thermal work is still sloppy. You need to remember to work with the thermal; don’t fight it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the crowd of pegasi answered.
“You’re all dismissed, except for you,” Spitfire pointed her hoof at a specific pony, “You stay here. We have something to discuss.”
This caused a wave of whispers and “ooo”s from the departing pegasi. Nothing good ever came from having to stay after one of Spitfire’s classes, unless you liked do wingtip push-ups until you thought you’d pass out.
“Scootaloo,” Spitfire addressed the pony as she was staring straight at the ground, “I want you to take this scroll to your parents, have them sign the scroll, and then return them to me tomorrow. Scootaloo, if your mom or dad aren’t available tonight, I understand. Have your guardian, Rainbow Dash, sign it.”
“Yes ma’am,” the shamed pegasus answered.
“This is very important. If I don’t have that permission slip signed, you won’t be able to advance to my next class ahead of schedule.”
The young pegasus raised her head and gave a very confused look to Spitfire.
“Yes, that’s right. You’ve shown such fantastic improvement over the last month, I want you in my advanced class right away. You’ve the makings of a great flyer, maybe even a Wonderbolt.”
Now Spitfire had lost all control over the filly, as she jumped and cheered at not only the fact that she wasn’t in trouble, but apparently doing really well in Spitfire’s flight school.
“You gave her the permission slip, didn’t you?”
Spitfire jumped with a start as a new voice spoke right beside her.
“For Celestia’s sake, Rainbow, you scared me to death, and yes, I gave her the permission slip,” Spitfire said, holding a hoof to her chest feeling her heart pound.
“I know some ponies that will be so proud of her,” Twilight said.
“Twilight, I didn’t even see you there. What are you two doing here anyway?” Spitfire asked.
“I’m here just to walk the little squirt home and Twi just came along. Although, it’s hard to call Scoots a squirt anymore. She’s really been growing up a lot lately,” Rainbow answered.
“Her parents still out of town?” Spitfire asked.
“Yes, and we have no idea when they’ll be back,” Twilight answered. “I’m just glad we got them to let Rainbow be her legal guardian. It’s made her life a lot easier.”
“Hers, yes. Mine, no,” Rainbow countered.
“How is the Weather Center treating you these days?” Spitfire asked, trying to carry the conversation while they let Scootaloo burn off her excitement.
“It’s going pretty good. I got the position to work just Ponyville, and Twilight is letting Spike receive my instruction letters, so that makes things a lot easier,” Rainbow answered. “I heard you say Scoots could be a Wonderbolt. Does that mean you’re okay with your past ‘family’?”
“Yeah, it’s been a year now, and that new contract that the princesses help put in place has really turned that place around. I’ve even gotten back in touch with some of the other members. Did you know that Soarin and Fleet Foot retired and are now running a flight school in Los Pegasus? Turns out I wasn’t the only one burned out.”
“Well, I guess everything worked itself out. I’m just glad you were able to forgive me,” Twilight said.
“I still can’t believe that Luna and Celestia actually conspired to help us. That whole visit to the compound angle was just to provide a distraction and help us out. It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t sent that scroll. Besides, I can’t stay mad at such a good friend. Plus I think Rainbow here would beat the grudge out of me if I even tried to hold onto one,” Spitfire joked.
“Scoots, come on, it’s time to go! We’re supposed to be at the Apples’ in 10 minutes,” Rainbow yelled, oblivious again to the conversation going on in front of her.
“Oh, yeah, that reminds me. I’ve got to get to Fluttershy’s, like, right now. Bye you two. Say hi to Applejack for me,” Spitfire shouted as she flew off towards Fluttershy’s cottage.
“Well, that was certainly abrupt,” Twilight commented.
“Yeah, well they’ve been hanging out a lot, lately,” Rainbow said, watching Spitfire fly away.
“How much is a lot? Are you suggesting something is going on between them?”
“I don’t know, Twi. You know how strange things can get here in Equestria,” Rainbow joked, giving Twilight a playful nuzzle on the cheek.