Sparkle's No. 1 Assistant

by Wanderer D

Loyalty Mission 3: Loyalty Earned - Pt. 2

Rainbow Dash tossed and turned in her bed, trying to relax enough to fall asleep, but Twilight's words kept repeating in her mind. How many times had she sent application letters to the Wonderbolts? Sixteen? Ever since coming of age, she had sent a letter requesting to at least take a test to join the reserve team.

Could it be true that Spitfire was simply making her beg more and more for her own amusement?

She didn't want to believe it, but Twilight had seemed so sure!

With a sigh, Rainbow Dash lay on her side, eyes looking out her window at the starry sky. According to Twilight (and Wrex) there were thousands of inhabited worlds out there, far from Equestria. One day, it would be the pony's turn to step into that unknown universe... and the first ones there would not be the Wonderbolts, the Royal Guard, or even the Archmages of Canterlot.

It would be Twilight's team.

She turned away, staring at the wall opposite the window. Posters of the Wonderbolts covered every inch of the wall, depicting pictures of the team performing amazing stunts. She even had a 'History of the Wonderbolts' timeline poster going back a thousand years and marking every single achievement they had accomplished in their long careers. She couldn't help noticing the achievements dwindled away as time advanced up to them being one every few hundred years.

So those were her choices. A window into the universe or a wall of past glory.

Rainbow groaned and buried her head in her pillow. Things weren't that simple! She needed to make sure what Twilight said was true. Her faith in the Wonderbolts would never diminish!

Reassured by that thought, Rainbow Dash slowly drifted to sleep, although she had one last coherent thought before she was welcomed into Luna's realm.

But then, why have they never replied to my letters?

The sunlight in her eyes made her squirm and shuffle around, until she was facing away from the window. Then she smelled something delicious. She couldn't identify the smell, although it was still making her salivate.

"Come on, Rainbow Dash!" she heard a voice call. "Wake up and smell the bacon!"

"Bacon?" Rainbow Dash mumbled. Then her eyes widened. "Bacon? What do you mean bacon?" she asked, jumping onto her hooves. "Why is somepony cooking bacon in my house?!"

She flew downstairs to find Twilight Sparkle and Wrex sitting down at her table, eating pancakes and strips of something she was aware existed, but had never actually seen before—and if Gilda was to be believed, tasted just as glorious as it smelled—and could only be bacon.

"What? Twilight? Why are you here?! How did you get in? Are you actually eating bacon? Do you know what that is? How are you two even able to step on my cloud? Are those blueberry pancakes? Why are you here?!"

"To answer your questions in order: Breakfast. Yes. Because we're going early to meet with Spitfire. I broke in. Yes I am. It's pork and it's delicious. I cast a spell. Yes and there's enough for you too. I already answered that question." Twilight took another bite of her bacon, while Rainbow Dash stared in a strange mixture of awe and disgust.

"Wait, we're going today?" Rainbow Dash asked, then frowned as she thought about Twilight's answer. She looked down at the rapidly decreasing pile of bacon sitting on a plate in the middle of the table. "B-but that was a living, thinking being! I've talked to the pigs in Applejack's farm!"

"Ha!" Wrex shook his head. "If we were to worry about what every piece of lunch thought or how they felt, we would never be able to finish a meal."

Twilight hoof-bumped the krogan.

"I just... ugh. You're the only pony that does this Twilight, I swear." Rainbow Dash muttered, slumping onto her chair and pouring some syrup over her pancakes.

"You clearly haven't seen Rarity around fruit bats," Twilight pointed out.

"Not to mention," Wrex spoke up, grinning. "If I remember correctly, Joker loved himself some pork chops with apples." He tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Word is that apples and pork go together quite well. It might just be a coincidence that your friends the Apples have pigs in their farm."

Rainbow Dash's ear perked at the mention of the legendary pilot, but settled down and gave him a glare. "Applejack doesn't eat her pigs."

"What does she do with them, though?" Twilight asked. "I get the cows and sheep and goats... for milk, wool and milk and weeding, but what are the pigs good for in that relationship if not for the meat?"

"Applejack doesn't eat the pigs!"

The table was quiet for a moment.

"Do you want some bacon?" Twilight asked.

"No."

"It's applewood smoked bacon..."

Rainbow Dash took a big bite of her pancakes.

"It's the last one," Twilight pointed out. "If you don't eat it, I will."

Rainbow Dash glowered at Twilight. "Applejack doesn't eat the pigs."

"Okay, I believe you, but do you want the bacon?"

"...fine."

Wrex wiped a tear from his eye. "They grow up so fast."

Spitfire's office was a homage to her career. A large glass display held several trophies with her name engraved on them, framed articles singing praises to her, a bookshelf with matching busts of herself as bookends, holding between them texts ranging from military operations to her biography to the three books she had written, as well as the "Wonderbolts Junior" series she had co-authored. A large painting of her in mid-flight hung behind her desk, while the two windows on either side of it gave a perfect view of the training grounds behind her.

"Wow," Twilight muttered, glancing about the room as she marched in, followed by two Wonderbolts. "Is this where you conduct your interviews?"

Spitfire glanced at her and motioned with her head for the pair to leave them alone. Once they were gone, she grinned. "Of course not, I have a smaller office on the ground level that I use for interviews and to talk to new recruits during training season."

Twilight shook her head, sitting down on one of the chairs across from Spitfire. "Huh. Your desk and chair are slightly higher than these. I guess it must help with intimidation."

"For most ponies," Spitfire said, looking at Twilight with a raised eyebrow. "Clearly not with you."

Twilight sighed. "Look, Spitfire, let's cut to the chase. I want to be less here than you want me to." She looked at the Wonderbolt with a frown. "I don't appreciate you trying to take away my teammate out of spite."

Spitfire's smile vanished. "The way I look at it, Sparkle, is that Rainbow Dash has been applying for a position with us for far longer than you've known her."

Twilight leaned forward. "Then why did you wait until now? Did you have no positions until now, or were you just basking in another young pegasus' dreams and having control over them?"

Spitfire frowned. "To choose who applies is my prerogative as captain of the Wonderbolts. If I choose to wait I can do it for whatever reason I see fit. Don't forget who you're talking to."

"You forget who you're talking to, Spits. We've known each other long enough for me to know that you're doing it because you know you're taking somepony away from me. Again."

Spitfire smirked. "Aww, are you still sore about Soarin?" She leaned forward as well, glaring straight into Twilight's eyes. "Too bad he decided to stick with me, his superior officer."

"More like you threatened to kick him out if he didn't," Twilight muttered. "I don't think you would let me see him, would you?"

"I'm afraid Soarin' is currently unavailable, but that has nothing to do with Rainbow Dash, so let's stick to the topic."

"I'm sure," Twilight growled and stood up. "Fine. I guess she's coming here to see your mess. I don't doubt she'll choose to stay with me and do truly daring things, rather than join your circle of stunt ponies."

"Don't be so sure, Sparkle," Spitfire retorted. "Ponies cultivate the dream of becoming a Wonderbolt. That's why we can afford to pick and choose the best, unlike you."

Twilight smirked and stepped back. "Captain, I'd bet any of my team against your whole team in a heartbeat. And my team would win. Again."

"I think you've overstayed your welcome, Commander," Spitfire growled.

"Nothing else left to say," Twilight said, turning around. "I'll see myself out."

"Make sure you do," Spitfire muttered, watching the Princess' student walk out. She waited a few minutes, then pressed a button. "Corporal, where is Twilight Sparkle?"

"Just boarded her chariot and took off, Captain."

"Excellent."

Letting go of the button, she sighed and stood up. "Bitch."

Spitfire trotted to the door and opened it, walking down the hallway to the training room. Consisting mostly of equipment to build stamina and strength, the room was currently occupied by the main core of the Wonderbolts, all busy working out. When she stepped inside, all movement ceased and all eyes turned to her.

"I just had a visit from our dear Commander Sparkle." She sneered, then looked at one of the Wonderbolts. "And no, Soarin' she didn't ask about you."

Soarin', who had his mouth open shut it and glared at Spitfire. "I wasn't going to ask."

Spitfire sniffed. "I don't care. In any case," she said turning to look at the others, "Rainbow Dash is showing up tomorrow for an interview. Fleetfoot, I don't want any of the injured recruits visible during the tour."

The white maned pegasus grimaced. "That last stunt you pulled on them left at least three fourths out of commission. The infirmary is packed. Can't you just explain to her what hap—"

"No." Spitfire slammed her hoof on the floor. "She doesn't see them. I want to make sure she comes to us and seeing a bunch of broken rookies will not help."

Fleetfoot sighed. "I suppose I could move them over to the west wing. There's a few unused rooms there."

Spitfire nodded with a smirk and turned to look at another pegasus. "Rapidfire, gather up the best cadets and send the wimps out to take a day off or something."

Rapidfire raised an eyebrow. "What about Search Light? She's one of our best, but the others keep bullying her. At this rate she'll be gone in a week. She'd do a good show if we can convince them to leave her alone, or boost up her confidence."

Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Whatever. If she can't take some bruising she doesn't belong in the Wonderbolts."

"I don't think—"

"If she can't handle it, she's out."

Rapidfire bit his lip, but nodded.

Spitfire glanced at Soarin. "You, buddy, are going to make sure the whole east wing is spotless. Use the non-flying recruits to clean up. We won't need them tomorrow."

Soarin sighed and nodded. "This Rainbow Dash must be one amazing flyer."

"She is," Spitfire nodded. "But more importantly, she belongs to me. Not to Twilight Sparkle's group of mercenaries." Spitfire grinned. "We'll get her for sure."

She turned to go, but glanced over her shoulder at the others. "Also, good job opening the window for once. This room won't reek this time around."