//------------------------------// // 111. The Wonderbolts Academy - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// The next morning, Thunderlane joined the other cadets in the mess hall for breakfast when he noticed some of them looking at the noticeboard. Must be looking at the squads and who’s who. Setting his tray down, he made his way over, politely excusing himself through, and looked the list over. His eyes fell upon ‘Squad 1: Leader – Lightning Dust, Wing ponies – Rainbow Dash & Thunderlane’. Oh boy, Thunderlane felt his wings limp, Dash is not gonna like this… Then he felt somepony bump into him and he saw it was Rainbow Dash, looking up at the document. “A wingpony?!” “Isn’t it awesome?” They both looked to see Lightning Dust, coming to them, looking excited. “They made us a team! We are so gonna rock the academy!” “Uh, yeah, sure,” Thunderlane said hesitantly, forcing a smile. But he noticed Dash wasn’t quite so… enthusiastic. In the hallway, Thunderlane was following his friend, “Dash, come on, don’t shake the cloud, okay? I get it – You don’t like being labeled ‘second fiddle’. How do you think I felt when-” “When what?” Rainbow Dash whirled around to face him, looking nasty. “When the mayor chose me as Ponyville Weather Captain instead of you?! I made you my co-captain, remember?” “Dash, I’m just saying, Spitfire probably has her own reasons for making Lightning Dust the leader of our squad,” Thunderlane assured her. “Look, even if you’re not leading the team, you can still prove yourself! But questioning Spitfire’s authority and trying to kick somepony out of the limelight they earned isn’t gonna help your case!” “I’m just gonna talk to her, okay?!” Rainbow huffed and continued down the hall, leaving Thunderlane to sigh. He reported to the rendezvous with the other cadets, where Fast Clip and Whiplash were passing out pins to everyone, golden for the team leaders and silver for the wing-ponies,, and they were standing with their teammates. Cloud Chaser was lead pony of her team with Bulk Biceps and Raindrops while Glide had been made lead pony of Wild Flower and Starry Eyes. He saw Lightning Dust and sighed, joining her as she admired her golden lead pony pin. “Yo Thunder, looking forward to showing them what we got?” “Uh, yeah, sure,” Thunderlane chuckled hesitantly. “You uh, see Rainbow Dash around?” “Here she comes,” Lightning Dust pointed out and they saw her approach Fast Clip. The trainer gave her a wing-pony pin and gestured her to join her team. Thunderlane noticed Rainbow looking troubled and decided to ask, “I take it the talk didn’t go well?” “Not exactly,” she whispered, apparently not wanting Dust to hear them. “Spitfire made Dust lead pony because she thinks Dust pushes herself harder than I do!” “Well, technically she did, Dash,” Thunderlane shrugged. “She tried the Dizzi-tron at maximum and got the second best score next to you. I hate to tell you this, but… if it hadn’t been at maximum, she might have even beaten your score.” He instantly knew he said the wrong thing by the look on Rainbow’s face and quickly added, “But that’s only because she has her own style of flying! Everypony does things their own way, and they do it because it works for them. You did what you felt was right and it paid off!” “…Whatever,” sighed Rainbow Dash. “Spitfire say anything else?” Thunderlane inquired. “Yeah,” Rainbow whispered, “I think she’s trying to prove something with our class. I overheard her as I left her office, mentioning something about an inspector.” “That could expl-” Thunderlant started but then Spitfire spoke up. “A-tennnn-shun!” They all stood fast as Spitfire approached, “Today, you will be participating in a flag hunt! You will be divided into three teams, Lightning Dust and hers will represent Team Red, Cloudchaser and hers Team Blue, and finally Glide’s team will be Team Green. Whichever team finds the most flags of the opposing teams’ colors wins.” This training challenge actually had everypony excited but then Spitfire heard Wild Flower whisper to her teammates, “This is gonna be so much fun!” She invaded Wild Flower’s personal space, hissing, “If you think this is gonna be fun, you are sadly mistaken! You are here to train, not to play recess!” Everypony lowered their goggles as Spitfire went on. “Lead ponies and wing ponies must fly together. If any team splits apart, they will be immediately disqualified! Do I make myself clear?!” “Yes, ma’am!” “Then let’s go…!” Spitfire blew her whistle, signaling each team to take off! As the teams got started, they kept their eyes peeled for their opponents’ flags. Team Red noticed Team Blue nearby so Lightning Dust asked her teammates, “Ready to rock n’ roll?” “Let’s!” Dash n’ Thunder nodded eagerly and they pumped their wings. Lightning Dust took point as they flew in V-formation, Rainbow Dash flying on her right, Thunderlane her left, as they zoomed alongside the side of the plateau. Lightning Dust then pulled up, the others following but then she quickly went back down, almost throwing Dash n’ Lane off, but they managed to keep up. Is she so concerned with winning she’s forgetting the rule of flying together? Thunderlane thought irritably. They caught up with her, as she asked, “Either of you spot any flags yet?” “Not yet,” Thunderlane shook no when Rainbow Dash interrupted him. “There’s one!” she pointed down and they followed her hoof. At the foot of the plateau, in a crevice was a red flag, almost concealed by two logs. “Good eye, Dash, come on!” Lightning Dust pumped her wings. They started flying downwards but as the ground raced up to meet them, Thunderlane was about to suggest something but Rainbow Dash took the words right out of his mouth. “We should slow down, I don’t think the three of us can make it at this speed!” “Ha!” Lightning Dust scoffed and ignored her. With no choice, they flew down in a straight line, Dust in front, Lane in the middle, and Dash last. But since Dust was in front, her teammates couldn’t see the ground and wouldn’t know what to do until after Dust did it. Then they saw Lightning Dust do what she did back at the Dizzi-tron – She straightened her body, rear hooves down first, and tucked in all her limbs. Thunderlane did the same, as did Rainbow Dash. However, Rainbow hadn’t pulled in her wing quick enough, and it got smacked onto one of the logs as she fell through the tight space between them. Lightning Dust snatched up the flag and instantly pulled up, heading back to the top of the plateau. Thunderlane followed but over the rush of the wind, he could’ve sworn he heard Rainbow Dash yell, “Ow!” They landed onto the plateau where Lightning Dust proudly presented their flag, Spitfire saying, “Lightning Dust and her team have found the first flag!” Thunderlane felt relieved to relax his pumping heart upon landing but then heard a groan and gasped to see Rainbow Dash massaging her wing. “Dash, are you alright?!” “Sure, just… gimme a second,” she winced but Lightning Dust was already flapping to keep going. “Come on, she’s fine! We gotta find more flags!” “Dust, she should-” Thunderlane started to protest but Rainbow threw him a real stink eye. “I’m fine, Thunder, come on!” Thunderlane was put off by Rainbow’s insistence but he would have to have been blind to not notice the nervous glance she gave Spitfire. The sergeant in turn had given Dash a raised eyebrow. He didn’t want to make Dash look bad in front of their trainer and sighed, following reluctantly. Unknown to them, Glide was flying overhead and had noticed the whole thing, and unknown to the other teams, as well as the trainers, he and his team had already found four flags. Back in Ponyville, Pinkie snorted awake, her poofy cotton candy-like mane frazzled, and she quickly looked into her mailbox, and sighed once again in disappointment to see it empty. She closed her eyes, unaware she was being watched from a nearby alleyway. “She’s still at it!” “She seriously didn’t sleep at all for three days?!” “Nnope.” “What a drama-queen. No offense, Rare, but right now she makes you look downright placid in a crisis.” “No offense taken, dear.” “I just wish we could help her.” “Help me?!” Twilight, Midnight, Applejack, Rarity, Blueblood, Big Mac, and Fluttershy startled to see Pinkie having popped up behind them even though they’d had their eyes on her from the alley. They looked back and as you would expect, she wasn’t by her mailbox anymore. Once again Pinkie defied logic. And sanity, given the bags under her eyes, as she ranted. “The only thing that could possibly help me right now is a letter from Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane! It’s been three days already, they probably don’t even know our names anymore, maybe they don’t even remember our faces!” She popped out of the alley into the open, going, “‘Pinkie Pie I never heard of a Pinkie Pie, who is Pinkie Pie?’” “Pinkie, for the final time,” Midnight growled, “I think you are OVERREACTING!” Big Mac and Blueblood both cuffed him on the back of his head while Twilight said to Pinkie, “Well, if you’re so worried, why don’t you send them a letter first?” “Of course, that’s a great idea!” Pinkie instantly perked, making them all sigh in relief. “Wait, I got an even better idea!” Then she defied the laws of physics again, popping out of her own mailbox, smiling at Twilight, “Why don’t we send them a care package? Y’know, before they forget about us, although, it’s probably too late. But it might jog their memories!” “Pinkie, I am this close…” Midnight groaned with a roll of his eyes, Twilight shushing him. “Pinkie, I’m sure Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane still remember us just fine,” she assured the pink pessimist, “and you’re right! Sending a care package is a great idea!” “A care package it is. I’ll get the stamps,” Pinkie started hopping towards the bakery, Twilight letting out a sigh of relief only for Pinkie to shriek, “Wait! That won’t work at all!” “Why not?” asked Applejack, groaning to see Pinkie once again losing it. “What if it gets lost in the mail, or somepony else gets the package by mistake, and then she remembers us instead of Dashy or Thundy, and then she becomes our new friend and-” An outline of a cursor composed of turquoise mana came out of nowhere and removed Pinkie’s mouth, much to her annoyance as she gave Midnight the stink eye, and everypony sighed. “Thank you, for that, friend,” sighed Blueblood as Midnight gave a look to Pinkie that said ‘Really?’ Pinkie groaned irritably and Midnight said in a calm and even voice with a flat look, “Pinkie... I’ll give you back your mouth if you promise to relax, quit ranting about your outlandish worst-case scenarios, and we’ll even go and deliver the care package to Rainbow and Thunder personally. Deal?” “Mm-hmm,” Pinkie nodded with an agreeable look in her eyes, and Midnight clicked her mouth back on, much to her relief. “We could do with a little trip, eh dear?” Blueblood and Rarity smiled at each other. “I’ll go.” “Count me in!” “Eeyup!” “Me too!” “Me seven!” Pinkie cheered but then she said in a morose tone, “But don’t be surprised if they don’t recognize you at first. It may take a while for their memories to jog.” Twilight facehooved while Midnight had a flat look as he conjured a bucket of water and poured it onto Pinkie. Back at the academy, Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, and their team leader Lightning Dust reported for their next training regimen upon a cloud. Fast Clip blew a horn, announcing they were getting started, making it loud and clear for Spitfire as she pushed the horn away from her ear, Fast Clip smiling sheepishly as he put it away, “Today, you’re gonna fly our famous air obstacle course!” Spitfire announced as some senior cadets poured water into some cloud-machines to create some for the rough weather simulation part of the course while others worked the wind-cannons, which simulated hurricane winds or powerful gales. “The object of this exercise is to work on your precision flying under extreme circumstances! Oh, and don’t worry about winning – This isn’t a race.” Thunderlane noticed Lightning Dust roll her eyes at that comment while Rainbow Dash was paying rapt attention. He understood – Being made a wing pony instead of a leader had been a blow to her ego, and Spitfire had added insult to injury by saying Lightning Dust was a harder worker. But since the capture the flag training yesterday, Thunderlane wasn’t so sure about Lightning as he’d been at first. She’d waved off Rainbow clipping her wing, and although it healed fine overnight, it bothered Thunderlane that their team leader had put winning the training challenge over their teammate. Not that Rainbow hadn’t helped her case by insisting on flying through that challenge despite her aching wing. He understood she was trying to prove herself to Spitfire, but he was starting to wonder about Spitfire’s teaching methods, as well as her standards. “Everypony, on your marks!” Spitfire called, everypony snapping on their goggles and getting ready. Fast Clip blew a whistle as he and Whiplash let each team take off one at a time. First it was Cloud Chaser’s team, then Lightning Dust’s, and finally Glide’s. The flyers flew through cloud rings, designed to look haphazard so they had to fly through them just so without touching the rims, but then they came to the cloud-machines, and Cloud Chaser and Bulk Biceps flew right into one, blowing them off course while their teammate, Raindrops, managed to avoid it, having been flying behind them, leaving her in the lead. Seeing her chance, Lightning Dust gestured to her teammates to fly faster. They avoided the cloud machines but skidded as they caught up to Raindrops. She was keeping a steady pace as she flew, more interested in getting through the course rather than just speeding through it. “Ugh, can’t she go any faster?!” groaned Lightning Dust, making Thunderlane frown at her. “In case you forgot, Dust, Spitfire said this isn’t a race,” Thunderlane said in an almost-scolding tone, Lightning Dust giving him the stink eye but then Rainbow cut in. “It’s not a big deal,” she assured them, “we can still fly in sync show off our stuff to Spitfire!” “I guess,” Lightning sighed. Raindrops always slowed just a bit to adjust herself before flying through a cloud hoop while Lightning Dust and her team flew loop de’ loops through the hoops behind her, and flew well in sync. But then they came to the simulated storm they had to fly through, which definitely slowed Raindrops down, as she flapped her wings like a hummingbird to fight the gale. “What is she, a sloth?!” snapped Lightning Dust impatiently, “It’s only a little weather!” A crack of lightning did well to contradict her but then they saw sunlight as they came to the other side of the storm, revealing the wind-cannons. “Now’s our chance to pass this slowpoke and leave the rest in our powder!” Without warning, Lightning Dust streaked forward, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane following out of the instinct of not wanting to be left behind. They streaked past Raindrops, the sudden slipstream throwing her off and sending her careening into the Glide’s team and her own after they’d managed to get back into the course. The domino effect sent them all crashing into the clouds around them while Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash, and Thunderlane flew circles around the wind cannons and came down, skidding to a halt right in front of Spitfire and the other trainers. “Not bad,” Spitfire complimented as she looked at her stopwatch, “and in record time too! Definitely made the right decision making you three a team.” “Captain,” Fast Clip winged her a telescope and pointed something out. Spitfire looked and sighed. “Looks like the others seem to have had a little trouble with the ‘precision’ part of the exercise. Better go help `em out. You three get some food in you at the mess hall.” “Yes ma’am,” Lightning Dust saluted. But as soon as the trainers left, Thunderlane said, “Lightning Dust. Was that really necessary?” “What?” Lightning Dust asked with a tone that said ‘what’s your problem’. “Zipping past the other teams, leaving them high n’ dry like that?” Thunderlane clarified. “Spitfire said it wasn’t a race!” “Hey, you snooze you lose,” Lightning Dust scoffed. “Besides, Wonderbolts are supposed to be able to recover from spinouts, am I right, Dash?” Both eyes fell on Rainbow and she looked a tad uncomfortable, “Well…” “I mean, you guys saw them all on the Dizzi-tron!” Lightning Dust insisted, “Except for the Glide guy, I think they could use the practice. I mean, it’s not our fault we’re so much better than those other guys, right? Not everypony is destined to be a Wonderbolt. Only the best of the best, right?” And without waiting for either of her teammates’ responses, she flew off to the mess hall, Rainbow and Thunder sharing a troubled look. Later that day, after a good lunch and a quick rest, the class assembled back for another training regimen, something old school yet effective and even fun – Cloud busting! Every weather pegasus learned cloud-busting but the Wonderbolts took it to another level, in skill and speed. This time it was a race - To see which team could bust the most clouds. The teams stood in the center of the plateau runway, eyeing each other competitively, eager to get started, and show the others what they were made of… when Whiplash blew his whistle and everypony took flight! Some teams worked in concert or they chose to divide and conquer. Whiplash watched the challenge like a hawk, keeping score for each team, and it soon became a no-brainer. Lightning Dust’s team quickly took the lead, followed by Glide’s team, while Cloud Chaser’s was last. It wasn’t a surprise really – Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash, and Thunderlane were easily among the best fliers in the class, in speed, skill, and control. Not to mention, Dash and Lane being their town’s co-captains of the weather team made them very much experienced in this challenge. Rainbow Dash flew right through some clouds, making them appear to be sliced cleanly in half before they burst, Lightning Dust busted a cluster of clouds, moving like a pinball in a machine, while Thunderlane preferred a falling-axe style of flying up and coming down hard onto his target clouds. Glide was working with his team, having coordinated a strategy before the challenge started. While they were last, his leadership had definitely helped Wild Flower and Starry Eyes improve. Cloud Chaser and Raindrops were doing well and Bulk Biceps did his best to keep up. His strength made him ideal for cloud busting. Just not for speedy cloud busting. Then Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash, and Thunderlane regrouped when she said to them, “I have an idea about how we can literally blow away our competition!” “But we’re already ahead of everypony else,” Rainbow Dash reminded her. “She’s right, Dust!” added Thunderlane, “Let’s just do this cleanly and-” “Urgh, are you guys in or not?!” Dust demanded. “Not!” Thunderlane broke formation, expecting Dash to follow but then he gasped as he saw her smile at Dust and followed the turquoise mare. He watched as they flew in a tight circle, quickly brewing up a tornado that began to suck in all the clouds in the sky. But Thunderlane could see it at once – They’d given it too much oomph too quickly and any moment now it would literally spiral out of control! “EVERYPONY GET DOWN!!” he screamed to the others and they all yelled as they flew down to the plateau to take cover. Looking up, Thunderlane saw Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash being thrown for a loop and frowned at them as they came down to catch their breath. He trotted over to Rainbow Dash to give her a piece of his mind when he noticed her startling at something above them and he looked and mirrored the startling look she’d made! Something had gotten caught in the tornado besides clouds, and in no time at all was sent flying, then falling. Their sharp pegasus eyes allowed them to see… it was their friends!! “NOOO!!!” Rainbow screamed when she saw Thunderlane zip past her. “DASH, C’MON!!” The two of them dive-bombed down the side of the mountain, seeing their friends falling. Twilight, Midnight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Big Mac, Rarity, and Blueblood. No way the two of them could catch them all with their bare hooves but then Rainbow Dash got an idea! “Thundy! Operation Cushioned Fall!” “You got it!” Thunderlane knew exactly what to do as he followed his co-captain’s lead. They pumped their wings harder and flew down beneath their falling friends and quickly corralled some clouds, compressing them together, and positioning their cloud cushion right beneath their friends. It caught them, literally cushioning their fall, but the compression of so much cloudstuff had a trampoline-effect, sending them bouncing back up! But thankfully, the class was there to catch everypony! Wild Flower caught Twilight, Thunderlane caught Rarity, Rainbow Dash caught Applejack, Raindrops caught Pinkie, Glide caught Big Mac, Starry Eyes caught Blueblood, and Cloud Chaser caught Fluttershy. Bulk Biceps caught the package Pinkie Pie had been carrying. As Rarity shook off the excitement, she saw Thunderlane smiling at her in relief, and gave him a grateful hug, Cloud Chaser let Fluttershy go, who sheepishly smiled as she flapped her own wings, having forgotten about them in all the excitement. But Twilight looked around, saying, “Where’s Midnight?!” “I’m okay!” They all looked to see Midnight in his pegasus form, his magic goggles on his forehead, flapping his wings as he flew over and took Twilight off Wild Flower’s hooves. “Good thing I brought these huh?” “Oh you,” Twilight hugged him as the class brought everypony down safely onto the ground. “Everypony okay?!” panted a worried Rainbow Dash. “We’re all fine, Dash,” Twilight and Applejack gave her a hug while Blueblood was giving Thunderlane the stink eye, having caught that hug his girlfriend had given him while Thunderlane insisted it was just a hug of gratitude. But then Rainbow Dash noticed Pinkie lying on the ground, looking a little out of it. “Pinkie? Are you okay?” Pinkie gaped at Rainbow Dash, her eyes tearing up as she instantly hugged her, whimpering, “You remember me…!” “Of course I remember you, duh,” Rainbow chuckled but then she asked everypony, “but what’re you all doing here?” “We wanted t’ bring you n’ Thunder a care package,” Applejack explained, “didn’t realize y’all would be in th’ middle a some crazy tornado drill.” “That was awesome!” All eyes turned stink at Lightning Dust, having appeared out of nowhere, Thunderlane snapping, “Awesome?! Our friends were almost smashed to pieces!” “Yeah, but they weren't, right?” Lightning Dust scoffed as she flew up and looked around, “Can’t say the same about the clouds though. Dash n’ I? We totally wiped `em out with that tornado! The other cadets will be working double overtime to meet our quota!” Everypony present, visitor and cadet, were appalled at Lightning Dust’s behavior. She’d started a tornado, flagrantly putting everypony at risk and had waved off her actions despite them getting their visitors almost killed, and she was bragging about it! “Y’know, Thunder, I thought you had the drive,” Lightning boasted in his face, “but unlike my girl Dash, you wimped out. I don’t think we need somepony like you on our team, am I right Dash?” She held out her hoof to Rainbow, who smacked it away, to her surprise. “You made me clip my wing, sent half our class into serious tailspin on the obstacle course, you unleashed a tornado that nearly demolished my friends, and if that weren’t enough you’re calling Thunderlane unworthy because he didn’t help you make that tornado!” “Yeah, and?” Lightning Dust said with such a nasty tone. “And I get that you want to be the best. So do I,” Rainbow Dash went on, Thunderlane stepping in, “But you’re going about it the wrong way!” “The Wonderbolts don’t seem to think so,” Lightning Dust reminded them snootily, “After all, Spitfire made me the leader and you two wing ponies.” Rainbow Dash sighed, “You’re right. She did.” “Dash,” Thunderlane said to his friend, “I think this time we see Spitfire together.” *CRASH* Spitfire jolted up and saw Thunderlane had bucked her door open, and she stood up, demanding, “Cadet Thunderlane! What is the meaning of barging into my office?!” Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash walked in, giving Spitfire the stink eye. “And Rainbow Dash? Why aren’t you two out there with your team leader busting clouds?” “I think you’ll find your skies nice n’ clear, captain,” Thunderlane spat. Ignoring that disrespectful tone, Spitfire looked up the time and was surprised, “Already? That’s an academy record! Explain your methods!” “That’s why we’re here, ma’am,” Rainbow stepped in. “Lightning Dust suggested we use a tornado to clear the clouds.” “A bit excessive for cloudbusting… but judging from your time, it was obviously an effective tactic,” Spitfire said in a pleased tone. “Yeah, well that ‘effective tactic’ nearly took out our friends!” Rainbow snapped, much to Spitfire’s surprise. “No disrespect, ma’am, but there’s a big difference between pushing yourself as hard as you can and just being reckless!” “Not to mention I am starting to doubt your ethics, as an officer and as a trainer!” Thunderlane added. “I didn’t question your making Lightning Dust our team leader because at the time I trusted your decision was made out of careful reasoning and experience, and because I had some respect for your authority. But I think I put my trust in the wrong pony. We as cadets trust you, as our superior officer and as our teacher to train us to be the best we can but also to avoid reckless decisions that can put others at risk.” “And if being reckless is what gets rewarded around here,” Rainbow said with a final tone, “if that’s what it means to be a Wonderbolt, then I think I speak for both of us when I say we don’t want any part of it!” “What are you saying, newbies?” Spitfire demanded, and she got her answer as Dash and Lane took off their wing pony pins and slammed them onto her desk as they both said the same thing. “We quit.” And without a word, they turned their backs and walked out the door. Spitfire was shocked! Two of her best students quitting, questioning her authority, disrespecting her?! This was not gonna look good for that inspection. She sighed as she began to digest what they’d said to her when there was a knock at her door. “Who is it?” she hissed. It opened and in walked Glide. “Whattya want, cadet?” she snapped. “I’m not really in the mood.” “I think you mean…” Glide reached into his cadet uniform and pulled something out, and held it up to reveal a badge, “Inspector.” The sight of the badge and this revelation in light of what had just happened left Spitfire with but a single thought. Oh buck me!