//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Mare-Do-Well vs the Rainbow Menace // by Godzillawolf //------------------------------// The stadium was a bustle of commotion, as to be expected when a rather loud super sonic brawl had occurred in a populated area, followed by the Royal Guard being called in. Twilight even had to contend with some small foals who'd come despite, or perhaps because, it being far past their bed time, getting excited about her Princess status, which Pinkie insisted on calling a 'call forward' for some reason. The 'mare of the hour' was currently still restrained, both by the mane six's methods and by the Guard. The Mare-Do-Well stood nearby, trying to stand strong and heroic at her victory...despite having a black eye and a good number of other injuries beneath her suit. Fluttershy had done her best to patch her up, but time had been of the essence and she was a vet, not a nurse. Rainbow Dash was grateful for all those crashes building up a high tolerance for pain or she'd probably not be able to move right now at all. Naturally, Rainbow Dash, being Rainbow Dash, only agreed to stay back (revealing her before they cleared everything up with the guard could easily cause more harm than it would good) because standing mysteriously off the side made her MORE of the center of attention. After all, what pony wasn't interested in a mysterious superhero standing victorious? Especially the foals who wanted to talk to her. Thankfully the damage from the 'superhero fight' (as Pinkie Pie had been calling it) to the stadium had been minimal. Mostly contained to the stands and the royal balcony. Despite a bout of momentary panic from Equestria's newest Princess, Princess Celestia's response to being informed of this by dragon mail was 'that's fine, I wanted to get the old thing redone anyway.' Regardless, the Wonderbolts show would still go on as scheduled and with no serious problems. (much to Dash's relief), just with some damaged chairs. “Alright,” said Guard Detective Private Eye, trotting up to the group. “I see ya managed to catch our little baddie here huh?” The Detective looked closely at the bound pegasus. “Definitely ain't the real Rainbow Dash,” he said, noticing the unaligned Cutie Mark, orange eyes, and now very smudged fur dye. “Question is who is it?” Pinkie Pie blinked. “You haven't figured it out yet?” “Uh, no, do you have any idea how much paperwork arresting Storm Raver came with? I've got some suspicions, but I was busy,” The pink party pony gave an annoyed look. “Did the author even read the rules of this kind of a detective story?!” she asked, earning her a number of confused looks. “What? If he's not an incompetent detective, then he's a competent one! The competent detective is supposed to make a big summation of how they figured out the bad guy was the bad guy! It's in the rules!” “Uh, the Detective already did that with Storm Raver...” said one of the guards that had been with him earlier. The pink party pony blinked, then tapped her chin. “Oh...Okay! So he was the main character in a side story solving a different but connected mystery! Now it all makes sense!” “...Is she always like this, Princess?” Private Eye asked Twilight. Twilight nodded. “Yeah, that's just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. You should have seen her the last time we had to solve a mystery...” Fluttershy, Rarity, and (under her mask) Rainbow Dash all winced at that mention. The Cakes hadn't taken that very well and they'd ended up 'working' at Sugar Cube Corner for some time to pay them back. It had not been the most pleasant of experiences, but they had harmed a friend and all agreed their kindness, loyalty, and generosity had been lacking a bit that day. “Oh! That reminds me!” Pinkie stated, pulling out a Sherlock Holmes style hat and bubble pipe and handing it to Twilight with an expectant look. The Princess gave a sigh. “...Fine...” Twilight Sparkle floated the hat onto her head and took the pipe. She noticed Private Eye raise an eyebrow. “It's a long story...” “Eh, I'm dressed like Bit Tracy, so who am I to judge?” the Guard Detective asked with a shrug. The lavender Princess composed herself. “You see, originally we believed Storm Raver was the culprit, as she seemed to have a vendetta against Rainbow Dash, as well as having been the previous holder of the academy records, and thus was one of the few pegasi that could potentially be fast enough to match Rainbow Dash's speed well enough to impersonate her. But after the Mare-Do-Well's fight with the impostor at the Academy, we learned several important clues. First; the fake wasn't a natural cyan and was using fur dye to disguise herself. That meant it couldn't be Storm Raver who wouldn't need the dye. Second, we learned that their natural eye color was orange. With Storm Raver no longer a suspect, that meant the only other ponies it could be were other athletes who could rival Rainbow Dash's speed. And more importantly, whoever did it must have ha a pre-existing grudge on Rainbow.” Twilight looked to Private Eye. “However, the biggest question was why Storm Raver's actions coincided with the impostor's attack, if there was a reason. That question was answered by a letter found in Storm Raver's desk. Only one other pony was both close to Rainbow Dash's speed, had a matching description to what we knew, had a grudge on Rainbow Dash, AND had a reason to strike NOW.” Twilight nodded to Pinkie Pie, who poured a bucket of water on the fake...and then when that wasn't enough to get the dye all the way out, went into a full on washing montage. When the Pink Pony was finally finished, the culprit stood revealed in her true colors as lightning flashed dramatically in the background. “Derpy!” “Sorry...” the pegasus was jumping on another lightning cloud nearby. “The Guard said they needed some help clearing the lightning from the clouds...” Twilight gave an annoyed sigh. “As I was saying. The true culprit is...” The Princess used her telekinesis to rip the fake's Cutie Mark off to reveal a lightning bolt striking three stars. “Lightning Dust!” The light blue pegasus with an orange mane snarled in rage. “Yeah, it's me, Princess...” Pinkie Pie looked at the unmasked supervillain expectantly. “...What?” “You're not going to say it?” “Say what?” “'I would've gotten away with if it weren't for that meddling superhero' or something like that! That's what the bad guy is always supposed to say when they're unmasked!” Twilight grabbed Pinkie Pie with her telekinesis and pulled her back as Lightning Dust glared daggers at her. “Pinkie, not now!” “But when else am I going to have the chance to hear somepony say that?!” the Pink Pony said in disappointment. “We don't get a mystery episode in season four!” “Can't I even get beaten without somepony stealing the moment from me?!” Lightning Dust asked in a...surprisingly sad tone. She looked down at her hooves. “It's all I bucking have left!” The group looked at one another in surprise. Mare-Do-Well flew down, giving a groan from the pain. “...Lightning Dust...why did you do this?” The mare gave an almost broken sigh. “...After I got booted from the Wonderbolts' Academy...I didn't know what to do...the only thing I'd ever wanted was to be a Bolt, it was my dream...and then it was over! Not with me getting hurt doing some big stunt that'd at least leave something for ponies to remember! Not retiring in glory...but getting my badge ripped off and sent home for some stupid mistake!” Rainbow Dash gasped under her mask. The story sounded...strangely familiar, up until that last bit. Rainbow has the same ambition more or less. The Bolts were the thing she'd aspired for since she was a little foal. It was all she'd ever wanted in her entire life. The idea of it just being gone was the thing that'd scared her the most throughout this entire thing. That some random twist of fate she had no control over had robbed her of everything. “...I...I tried to do better, I really did...” Lightning Dust actually started crying. And it was every bit as wrong feeling as Rainbow Dash breaking down crying had been. “I know I screwed up. I know that I let my ego get the better of me...I thought if I just tried, maybe I'd be able to convince them to give me another chance...I'm sorry, I...I really AM sorry. I never meant for anypony to get hurt...But then...” The blue pegasus gave a furious snarl, managing to slam her hoof into the floor of the stadium in rage and sorrow despite how heavily she was restrained. “...It didn't bucking work! Nothing I did changed anything! They still rejected me! I...I lost my dream...I...I was so angry...I...I decided to make them pay for robbing me...for taking away my dream and refusing to give it back!...So I started trying to ruin all the Wonderbolts stuff I could find! I felt like payback was all I had left!” Rainbow Dash felt sympathy for her doppelganger. After all, how cheated and robbed had she felt when Storm Raver's bogus letter came in the mail for her? Who wouldn't feel cheated when they tried that hard and got rejected? Especially when you realized you were a bad pony and had actually tried to change for the better? Heck, even Discord got a second chance when he turned good, and while Rainbow questioned how wise it was to trust him, it still seemed...wrong for somepony who wanted to change for the better get shut down after that. Then there was Trixie. Yeah, Rainbow questioned just how much the girl had changed, but Trixie hadn't tried to screw her over once that time she'd had to help her escape that Diamond Dog kingdom, and then it turned out Trixie had taken up helping police set up stings for diamond thieves. While Rainbow would be the first to mistrust somepony that'd gone from bad to good, there was just a sense of...wrongness at the idea of somepony wanting to change not being allowed to. It just wasn't the pony way. Twilight gave a sympathetic look. “I can understand why that would make you so angry, in fact it'd be more surprising if you weren't...but why did you frame Rainbow Dash? I can understand hurting the Bolts, but why her?” “...Because she was the one that turned me into the Bolts! She stayed at the Academy while I got the boot! I was angry, payback was all I had left! Put two and two together brainiac!” “...You hated all the Bolts, not one of them...so your hatred needed a face to take it out on...” Private Eye gave a sigh. “Look kid, I hate to break it to ya, but Rainbow Dash got screwed over just as bad before you did a thing.” Lightning Dust's eyes went wide. “W-What?” “Same pony that sent ya that letter did the exact same thing to Rainbow Dash,” Private Eye repeated. “Sent her a letter saying she'd never be a Bolt. I saw it with my own eyes.” The defeated pony's expression was one of absolute shock. “B-But...t-that...w-why...That's not fair!” “...Not fair to her, or not fair to yah?” Applejack asked. “Is it not fair that Rainbow Dash got hurt too or is it not fair because yah can't be jealous of her anymore since she got the raw end of the deal just like ya?” Lightning Dust looked down at her hooves in shock. “I...I...I don't know...” Applejack noted some surprise of the others. “...Element of Honesty, remember? Somepony had tah ask. Now is anypony gonna tell her the whole truth or should I?” “What?” Private Eye sighed. “Look kid. I know ya didn't have the best opinion of Storm Raver, considerin' ya attacked her.” “...She was a Wonderbolt, she was there...” “...Storm Raver faked those letters to yah both. Spitfire never saw 'em.” Lightning Dust's face fell like the moon had just fallen on her head. “W-What?” “...Storm Raver was jealous of ya both for breaking her old academy records,” the detective explained. “I talked to Spitfire after I arrested the old snake, she said she'd have never sent either of those letters. That includes the one to you.” Lightning Dust seemed to just shut down. Like that one paragraph had broken her. “...But...that...that means I...all this...it was...” “Not only that, if Storm Raver hadn't been the one who wronged you, you'd have attacked a completely innocent Wonderbolt,” Twilight pointed out, then looked sympathetic. “...Believe me, I know how THAT situation feels...” “I...I didn't...That...that's right...but I...” Lightning Dust didn't even seem to know what sentences she COULD say in response to that. Mare-Do-Well looked at the broken mare. Yes, she'd tried to ruin her life...but if Storm Raver had never screwed them both over and made her snap... “...I think we need to tell Spitfire about all this in equus,” the masked mare stated. --- Shortly there after, the arrested Storm Raver stood in the Wonderbolts' main office, Spitfire listening to everything that had been said with the utmost, calm attention. Private Eye and the Bearers were also all present, with the Mare-Do-Well watching covertly through the window (Rainbow Dash knew everypony present knew the Mare-Do-Well was there, but Batmare-like superheroines were Batmare-like superheroines). “So...what you're telling me is the entire reason for all this damage is because of Storm Raver's little fit of jealousy?” she asked, her tone calm and collected, her face emotionless. Twilight nodded. “Yes, Spitfire. Lightning Dust's rampage was because Storm Raver's actions convinced her revenge was all she had left...It by no means excuse anything she did, but she really did try to change and given the circumstances, it's my opinion the extenuating circumstances make this a...unique situation.” Private Eye put a folder on the table. “Had some research done. Lightning Dust has been doing community service and other stuff, trying to change. She really was on the right track until Storm Raver's little tantrum sent her backsliding. Classic case of 'reformed but rejected.'” Spitfire looked to the bound Lightning Dust. “...Is this true?” The mare was barely responsive, but nodded. Spitfire trotted over to Storm Raver, giving her a glare that nearly made the old mare's heart stop. She grabbed the mare firmly and walked her over to look Lightning Dust right in the eyes. Storm Raver tried to look away from the broken mare she'd hurt. “What's a matter, Storm Raver? I thought this was what you wanted isn't it? Lightning Dust ruined! Take a good long look at her! Maybe take a picture and put it on your prison cell wall!” the Wonderbolts' commander barked with all the harshness and authority of a Drill Sergeant. Storm Raver looked, seeing the broken eyes of a mare who'd lost everything...all because of her. “I...I...” “What's wrong? Can't look your handiwork in the eyes now that it actually has a face instead of being just words in a letter?!” Spitfire forced Storm Raver to look her in the eyes. “She might have made an inferno, but you're the one who intentionally started it! You've betrayed EVERYTHING the Wonderbolts stand for! You make me sick!” “I just didn't want to be forgotten!” Storm Raver finally snapped, now she was the one crying. “Forgotten?! Reality check, you still were a former holder of the Academy records! You'd have gone down in the history books! You'd have retired with honor and never been forgotten! We'd have remembered you and them!...Well guess what, you still won't be forgotten,” Spitfire stated, the captain finally letting Storm Raver go. She then ripped the Wonderbolts insignia off of her flight suit and threw it to the ground. “Just not how you planned. Now get her out of my sight!” Storm Raver lowered her head in shame as the guards lead her out. She looked back to Lightning Dust. “...Sorry kid...I guess I know what it's like to let your emotions screw you up...” After the disgraced Wonderbolt was escorted out of the room, Spitfire turned to Lightning Dust. “...Look, kid. Don't you dare think that I'm just going to say 'she screwed you over so everything you did was right,' because it's NOT. You messed up royally.” “...I know...” Lightning Dust said in a whisper, having had time for the full weight of everything to hit home. The Wonderbolt Captain looked to Private Eye. “Detective, do you have that letter Lightning Dust sent in?” “Got it right here,” Private Eye produced it and hoofed it to her. “It was evidence after all.” Spitfire took the letter out and read over it. “'Hello, my name is Lightning Dust. I attended the Wonderbolts Academy earlier this year, but was expelled for actions unbecoming of a Wonderbolt, including treating my teammates in ways no Wonderbolt ever should have. I know that now. I still want to be a Wonderbolt and it means the world to me. What I did was wrong and I admit it. I'm sorry. I've sincerely been trying my best to change and become a better pony than the one that got kicked out of the Academy. I've been doing community service, included is a list of places I've gone to. I've been working more with other ponies and trying harder to be a team player. Please give me a second chance to become a Bolt, I'm willing to do anything you ask of me to earn it. Sincerely, Lightning Dust.'” The Wonderbolt Captain looked to Lightning Dust. “...So, you meant every word of this?” Lightning Dust gave a silent nod, looking down at her hooves. “...Princess Twilight, were you and your friends the ones that got caught in Dust and Dash's tornado?” Twilight nodded. “Yes, that was a long time ago,” the Princess replied. “We were on our way here to deliver a care package to Rainbow and give her support when it happened.” “...And had Dash not rescued you?” “...We might not have survived...” Spitfire trotted up to Lightning Dust and looked her in the eyes. “I think you owe them the apology, not just the Bolts.” Lightning Dust looked up at Spitfire. She then slowly looked over to the group. Yeah, they'd stopped her from taking her revenge...but now she knew that her 'revenge' had done nothing but hurt her right back. She'd only happened to hurt the one that'd actually wronged her by pure accident. “...If you're really sorry, why should it matter if you got what you wanted?” “...I'm sorry...I let my ego get the better of me...I wasn't acting like a Wonderbolt, I was only looking out for me...I'm sorry...” “And are you sorry you framed Rainbow Dash?” “...Yeah...she didn't deserve this...” Fluttershy trotted over and put a hoof on Lightning Dust's shoulder. “I forgive you...” Lightning Dust looked at her in disbelief. “But...but...I...Rainbow Dash...” “And that was very bad, you should have known better, young lady,” Fluttershy stated in a stern voice, like a mother chastising a child. Her face then softened completely. “But I forgave Discord, he's one of my friends. Why would I hold a grudge on you?” Applejack trotted up. “We're ponies, and trust us, we know you got the raw end of a deal, Sugarcube.  Are we mad yah framed are friend? Tartarus yes! And Ah ain't sayin' yah don't deserve to go to jail. Yah do.” “Applejack!” “Sorry, Flutters, but Ah ain't 'Element of Sugarcoatin'.' But as Ah was sayin', we're still ponies, we don't hold grudges easy. Heck, one of our Princesses was Nightmare Moon!” Lightning Dust looked like she was at a loss for words. “...I...I...” Spitfire cleared her throat to get everypony's attention. “While Lightning Dust IS going to jail, Storm Raver's actions WERE way out of line and Dust was a victim too...Given the extenuating circumstances surrounding her actions, I believe some measure of mercy is in order. So, after she serves her time, she might get another shot at the Academy.” The defeated pegasus' eyes went wide. “What? But...I...” “BUT,” the Wonderbolts captain stated seriously. “If she causes any trouble at all while serving her time, she's out of horseapples out of luck. And her community service WILL be fixing all the damage she's caused. No if, ands, or buts about it. You'll fix the damage to the campus, you're going to be repaying what you owe the Weather Factory, you're going to repay your debt to Cloudsdale, and you're going to do all of that BEFORE you get your second chance. Are we clear?!” Lightning Dust's eyes misted up. “I...I...thank you...” “Don't thank me yet, kid, you're going to have to EARN it. But if you really want it that bad, then you won't have any problem,” Spitfire stated, giving a smirk. She then turned to the group. “And also, somepony find Rainbow Dash and tell her her name is bucking cleared already!” she barked, unaware said mare was presently watching through the window in a superhero outfit the entire time. “Yes ma'am!” replied everypony with a salute. --- Not long after, Lightning Dust set in her cell at Cloudsdale's (very underused) prison, thinking over what had happened. The second chance she'd been given. Her mind was in a whirl of confusion and guilt. She blinked as somepony opened her cell. “Got a visitor, Dust,” the guard stated. The mare was lead to the visitor room and gasped at who waited for her. A rainbow colored pegasus with a black eye. “R-Rainbow Dash?” “Hey Dust...mind if we talk a bit?” Soon, the two were sitting at a table, Lightning Dust not even looking at Dash, seemingly finding the floor much more interesting. “So...uh...how are you doing?” There was no answer. It became apparent rather quickly where this was going. “Silent treatment, huh?” Still silence. “Ugh...Look...ugh...this isn't easy for me to say but...” Rainbow Dash said, rubbing her head. “...That I deserve this? I know that's what you want to say so just say it!...You're right...” “No...that I know how you feel...” Lightning Dust blinked, looking up. “What?” Rainbow Dash looked down, mentally acknowledging the irony of situation. “...Well, not to be locked up...but how you felt back at the Academy...your head gets so big you forgot the world doesn't revolve around you until it finally gets popped...then the world comes crashing down and you realize 'I could've really hurt somepony...' I've been there...” Lightning Dust looked like a computer hit with a logic bomb. “What...when...how...” “Long story short, I saved some ponies and my ego just kept getting bigger and bigger. I thought I was a superhero.” “...You aren't?” “Oh, I AM, but...that's the thing, I thought I was. I was so drunk on the crowds cheering my name that I forgot that being a hero isn't about ME, it's about the ponies that the hero is protecting...and until my ego got popped like a balloon, I made mistakes and it nearly got ponies hurt or worse...So yeah, I've been there...” the rainbow maned pegasus said with a sigh. “...You shouldn't have gotten the short end of the stick. I'm sorry you did...and I hope to fly with you someday...” “I...I...I don't know what to say...” “...How about 'see you in the Wonderbolts?” Rainbow Dash said, giving a confident smirk. “After all, we never got to really see who's the best back at the Academy, and there's no way I'm letting that slide.” “...Hehe...me neither...thanks...I...I'm sorry Rainbow.” “Apology accepted, we can all be jerks sometimes,” the rainbow maned pegasus replied. “...Drop me a letter when you get out, we can have a race, deal?” “...Deal...” --- Storm Raver blinked, finding herself staring at a cream colored pegasus across the visitor's room table from her. “...Why did you come here?” Fluttershy smiled. “...Because I don't believe there are bad creatures, just ones that made bad decisions...if I didn't come, who would?” “...But your friend...After what I did...” “You were a very naughty pony...but you felt bad for what you did...that means you can still become a good pony...” “...That's...quite kind of you...” “...I wouldn't be me if I wasn't...and someequs taught me that sometimes all a bad creature needs to change is a friend...” --- Rainbow Dash finally laid in her bed at home, resting. Even to the athletic pegasus, the events she'd gone through had been rough. She still had a black eye and a lot of bruises. But at least that nightmare was finally over. And Lightning Dust was on the road to getting her own progress in becoming a Bolt in. Rainbow had to admit, the idea of working with Lightning Dust one day actually didn't annoy her as much as it would have otherwise. She chuckled, thinking back to the Wonderbolts Academy and imagining the same situation with a NICE Lightning Dust. Fluttershy was also trying to get through to Storm Raver. Rainbow Dash hadn't forgiven that mare completely yet, but if anypony could redeem a baddie, it was the gal that'd reformed Discord himself. The pony groaned as there was a crash outside (as hard as one can make hitting a cloud house). She forced her battered body off the bed and trotted over to the door, opening it to reveal a certain lavender Alicorn...who from the looks of things had crash landed almost into her door. “I really need to give you more flying lessons.” “Not why I'm here!” Twilight replied, getting up and shaking herself off. “...I just came to check on how you're doing...” Rainbow Dash stretched a bit. “Yeah, it feels good not to be on the run from the law, even if it was kind of fun being a superhero.” Equestria's fourth Princess gave a small chuckle. “I thought you didn't want to be the Mare-Do-Well...” The Rainbow maned Pegasus gave a flat look. “No, I didn't like being Mare-Do-Well, I liked being a superhero. There's a difference.” Twilight gave a nod. “I get it...I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.” “Yeah...and thanks for...you know, helping me clear my name and all...” “No problem, Rainbow, that's what friends are for, right?” Twilight replied, giving a smile. “You'd do the same for us.” “Duh! I'm not the Element of Loyalty for nothing,” the mare replied with smirk. Twilight replied by rolling her eyes, but giving a smile. “Glad you have your life back to normal, Rainbow.” The two ponies hugged. “You and me both Twi.” After Twilight left, Rainbow Dash trotted back into her house and lead back down to go back to relaxing...when there was a knock on her door. “UGH!” She trotted over to the door and opened it to reveal Derpy with a mailmare uniform on. “Hey Derpy.” “Hey Rainbow Dash! Mail for you!” said the mare, hoofing it over and flying off. “...She still looked at me weird...” Rainbow Dash stated. She looked at the letter. “Wonderbolts?” Equestria's fasted Pegasus hesitated for a second. Remembering the LAST letter she got from there and the heartache that ensued. That hesitation lasted for two seconds. Since when did Rainbow Dash let things get to her?! She opened it and read through it...and her smile grew larger with every word. “YES! I'm testing to get into the Wonderbolts Reserves! All right!” Rainbow Dash read it again just to ensure she wasn't hallucinating. “I've got to go tell the girls!” Her excitement was stifled by a yawn. “...Maybe after a nap...” Rainbow headed back to her bed and laid down, now having good dreams to fill her slumber. After all, she'd defeated, and redeemed her doppelganger, saved Cloudsdale and the Wonderbolts from a mass vandal, got to be a superhero, and, best of all, was now one step closer to her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt. Could anyone argue she didn't deserve it? As she was about to go to sleep, she noticed the Mare-Do-Well suit she'd thrown in her closet. Would she ever wear it again? Sure, she wasn't a fan of the memories that suit held, but she HAD enjoyed being a masked superhero and wouldn't mind doing that again...A mare could dream, couldn't they? The End