//------------------------------//
// Actions Have Consequences 
// Story: Rainbow's Repercussions 
// by Metool Bard 
//------------------------------//

	I'm doomed.  I'm just straight-up doomed.

This was the only thought on Rainbow Dash's mind as she was led through the Wonderbolt Academy.  Her eyes remained glued to the letter she received the other day, telling her to report to the Academy immediately.  She understood what it meant, and she didn't like it one bit.  With every step she took, she desperately fought the urge to panic.

They were going to find out eventually, she thought. There's no use fighting it.  Just take it like a mare and save the crying for when you get home.

She took in a deep breath as one of her escorts knocked on the door.

"It's open," came a sharp voice from inside.

The door opened with a ghastly creek.  There was Spitfire, sitting behind her desk with her hooves pressed together.  The blinds in the office were drawn, and the lights were dim.  The only real source of illumination was Spitfire's desk lamp, which revealed a closed folder sitting on her desk.

"Private Rainbow Dash, come inside," said Spitfire brusquely. "Fast Clip, Whiplash.  Some privacy, please."

The two escort ponies saluted and left, closing the door behind them.  Rainbow Dash's heart pounded, and she swallowed.  For the longest time, the only sound she heard was the ticking of the clock on the wall.  Finally, Spitfire cleared her throat.

"Do you know why you're here, private?" she asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yes, ma'am.  You wanted to speak to me about the Weather Factory incident that happened a couple of days ago."

"Correct," said Spitfire, tapping the folder on her desk. "I already got the full report from the engineers, but I was hoping you would shed some light on the subject."

Rainbow Dash sighed deeply. This is it, Rainbow.  No turning back.

"It was me, ma'am," she said. "I broke into the Weather Factory."

Spitfire's eyes widened for a split second; too quickly for Rainbow Dash to notice. "Explain yourself, private."

"I-I was trying to stop winter from coming to Ponyville, ma'am."

Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?  Dare I ask why you thought that was a good idea?"

Rainbow chewed on her lip. Don't cry in front of the captain, don't cry in front of the captain, she chanted mentally. "I-it was for my pet tortoise.  H-he has to hibernate, b-but I couldn't accept that.  I-I didn't want him to go away, so I thought if I stopped winter, he could stay with me."

Spitfire gave Rainbow Dash a blank stare. "Let me get this straight.  You infiltrated the Weather Factory, demolished the Winter Lab, and royally screwed over the entire winter schedule, just for a pet tortoise?"

Rainbow Dash sighed. "I-I didn't want to.  I understand how important the weather is to Equestria.  B-but I felt like this was the only way to keep Tank from l-leaving me."

"Tank?"

"M-my pet tortoise, ma'am.  Look, I know this sounds stupid, and honestly, it is.  He's much better off getting the rest he needs.  I-I was just too dumb to realize that.  Even if it meant ruining winter for everypony, I-I couldn't bear the thought of him going away.  H-he's special to me."

Spitfire looked down at Rainbow Dash from her desk. "So basically, what you did was wrong, you knew it was wrong, but you did it anyway."

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

Spitfire took the folder from her desk and slipped it into the drawer. "I appreciate your honesty, private.  It saves me the trouble of dragging the truth out of you.  However, I have a few things to add."

"Ma'am?"

Spitfire rose from her desk, glaring at Rainbow Dash. "You are a member of the Wonderbolt Reserves, Rainbow Dash.  Do you understand what that means?"

Rainbow Dash gulped, unsure of how to answer the question. "I, um..."

"It means you can't be pulling stunts like this!" Spitfire boomed, slamming her hoof down on her desk. "You have a duty to Equestria and its weather, both as a weatherpony and as a member of the Reserves!  You directly and deliberately defied that duty!  That right there is grounds for a court martial!  Some of Equestria won't be getting their winter for another month because of you!  Do you realize that?!"

"Y-yes, ma'am," Rainbow Dash whimpered, averting her eyes from Spitfire's piercing gaze.

"This kind of short-sighted irresponsibility is not tolerated in the Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire continued. "You're lucky the damage was only contained to the Winter Lab!  Imagine what would've happened if you destroyed the entire factory!  Several innocent ponies could've been seriously hurt, or worse!  Do you think that would've been worth keeping your pet tortoise awake?!"

"N-no, ma'am," said Rainbow Dash with a sniffle. C'mon, don't cry in front of the captain, don't cry in front of the captain...

Spitfire turned away from Rainbow Dash and walked over to the window, peeling down the blind. "But do you know what really gets to me, private?"

"Wh-what, ma'am?"

Spitfire turned her head, a dark expression on her face. "That it was you of all ponies that did this," she said, a melancholic undertone seeping into her voice. "You, the one who mastered the Sonic Rainboom.  You, one of the most talented flyers ever to grace the Academy.  You, the one who taught me a thing or two on how to be a better pony!  And then you turn around and do, this!"

She tore open the blinds and pointed out the window.  In the distance, Rainbow Dash could see Cloudsdale moored above the Academy.  Black smoke and grey clouds billowed from the Weather Factory, darkening the sky above.  Rainbow Dash cringed at the sight.

"Words cannot express how disappointed I am in you right now, Rainbow Dash," said Spitfire coldly. "It doesn't matter what your reasons were or what state of mind you were in at the time.  This is totally unacceptable."

"I-I know, ma'am," Rainbow Dash mumbled.  She scrunched her eyes shut, trying desperately to stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. "I-I was being stupid and stubborn.  I tried to stop something out of my control, but all I ended up doing was making a big mess."

Spitfire sighed. "You do realize that your actions cannot go unpunished."

"I know, ma'am.  And I totally deserve it."

Spitfire nodded. "Good.  At least you understand that.  Follow me."

"Yes, ma'am."

Spitfire walked out the door, and Rainbow Dash followed.  Like a prisoner being led to the gallows, she marched behind Spitfire, her head hanging low.

Way to go, Rainbow Dash, she admonished herself. You blew it.  Because you were a stubborn idiot, you just kissed any chance of being a Wonderbolt goodbye.  This is the worst winter ever.

These dark thoughts continued to plague her as Spitfire led her outside.  Neither of them spoke a word for the longest time.  After a few minutes of walking around the tarmac outside, Rainbow Dash noticed something.

Wait, why are we going towards that building? she wondered. That's the mess hall, isn't it?

She opened her mouth to ask Spitfire what was going on, but immediately thought better of it.  The two of them made their way inside the building.  Just as Rainbow suspected, it was indeed the mess hall.  They walked through the empty dining room until they came to a large, metal door.  At this point, Spitfire stopped and turned to Rainbow Dash.

"According to your dossier, you can apparently clear the sky in ten seconds flat," she said. "Do you still maintain that to be true, private?"

Rainbow Dash blinked in confusion. "Um, yes, ma'am."

Spitfire nodded. "Well then, let's see how fast you can finish these little tasks."

With that, she pushed the door open.  Inside was a mountain of potatoes piled all the way up to the ceiling.  As Rainbow Dash ventured into the room, she noticed stacks upon stacks of dirty dishes sitting next to a basin filled with soapy water.  She tilted her head.

"What's all this about?" she inquired.

Spitfire snorted. "Rainbow Dash, as your commanding officer, I am assigning you to KP.  For every day the Winter Lab is out of commission, I expect you to report to this kitchen and help the staff with whatever they need."

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped as her mind struggled to process what was going on. "W-wait.  Y-you're not kicking me out of the Wonderbolt Reserves?"

A ghost of a smile crossed Spitfire's face. "Why would I do that?  Despite all the damage you caused, it really could've been a lot worse.  Nopony was seriously injured, winter still came to Ponyville, and it will come to the rest of Equestria eventually.  We're just going to be behind schedule, that's all."

"Then, why did you make such a big deal out of it?"

Spitfire's smile disappeared. "Because it is a big deal.  Rainbow Dash, just because it's not the end of the world doesn't make your actions any less grievous.  You acted irresponsibly, and I'm disciplining you for it.  End of story."

Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Um, actually, ma'am.  I kinda have other stuff to do.  Friendship stuff.  It's kinda hard to explain."

"I already cleared this with Princess Twilight, private.  I will excuse absences as long as you bring in a letter from her," said Spitfire. "Any other questions?"

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment before shrugging. "I guess not, ma'am."

"Good.  Then get to work.  I expect all of those potatoes to be peeled and all those dishes to be clean by nineteen hundred hours."

"Yes, ma'am," said Rainbow Dash with a salute.

Spitfire nodded and left Rainbow Dash to her work.  Rainbow Dash sighed as she started in with the dishes.

Mental note: Never make Captain Spitfire angry ever again, she thought.