//------------------------------//
// LP48: In a Rush [Slice of Life] 
// Story: Half Hour Horses: Legacy Prompts 
// by HoofAndQuill 
//------------------------------//



The Prompt: In a Rush



The Cloudsdale anthem had never felt longer.

Rainbow Dash shifted her weight from hoof to hoof, caught herself doing it, and forced herself to stop.  After only another few notes she caught herself doing it again.

Why did this have to be today?  This was taking too long.  But it was only starting, she had time.  Sure she had time.

So Rainbow Dash stood in front of everypony.  Only a few dozen really, here at the Wonderbolt Academy grounds.  They had to host this here, instead of Cloudsdale, because some of the pegasus ponies had non-pegasus parents.  No parent would miss their offspring being inducted into the Wonderbolts.  Rainbow could even see her parents in the crowd.  Her dad was on the left side of all the seats, and her mother on the far right.  Still though, both here at least.

Twilight-- Princess Twilight Sparkle took a few steps up to the podium and started her introduction.  Rainbow immediately tuned her out.  Twilight was a good friend and all, and she was pretty awesome when she had to be, like when they all had to save Equestria or whatever, but she loved this nerdy speech-giving too much.  But she was a princess, and even though Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were here too, she was the one giving the address.  Maybe Rainbow was going to be late after all.

Rainbow tried not to fidget as she looked up at the sun.  It was still morning, of course.  She still had time.

It was only a minute or two before the words "without further ado" caught her ear, and another moment later Twilight stepped down, giving a little smile to Rainbow as she passed.  Yeah, yeah okay.  Being an egghead was good sometimes, Rainbow had to admit.  At least Twilight remembered important stuff.

Captain Spitfire took the stage, and sorted the papers on the little podium.  Rainbow Dash stood up tall.  This was important, even if she wished it didn't take so long.  This was the most important day of her life, probably.  Sure, Elements of Harmony or whatever, that was pretty important.  Defeating Discord, yeah.  Whatever.  But the Wonderbolts!  This was her dream!  So for the moment, Rainbow Dash stood tall, and listened to the names being called.

It was a little bit like a graduation from school.  They had to go through each new Wonderbolt, call him or her by name, and the new Wonderbolt stepped forward to get their new badge.  Not that it mattered much, the badges didn't get much wear except at formal events like this one.  Still, it was symbolic or something.  Symbolic and slow.  Captain Spitfire was taking her time with the list, going pony by pony.  Even though the hopefuls had been cut from over a hundred pegasi at the start to only twenty actual finished recruits, it still felt like it was taking forever.

Still, Rainbow Dash tried to stay still and look every bit the professional Wonderbolt that she was, now.  No fidgeting around like an excitable filly.

For a moment, when her name was called, the date didn't matter.  She wasn't pressed for time.  Rainbow Dash stepped forward, looked Captain Spitfire in the eye, and received her badge.

She was a Wonderbolt, officially.





Official Wonderbolt status meant that she couldn't leave until she was dismissed.  Everypony was milling around in the little reception area after the ceremony.  Most of the pegasus ponies were with their parents, or their friends.  Rainbow's parents had already come up to her, separately, to congratulate her, and then had taken off.  Her friends were all busy with whatever back in Ponyville, and even though Twilight was here, she was being mobbed by ponies who weren't used to seeing the newest Princess in person.  Rainbow was late.  Late late.

But Rainbow still couldn't just leave.

"So Dash, you finally made it!  Or I guess it's Wingpony Dash, now."

Rainbow couldn't help but grin as Captain Spitfire approached. Still, she didn't forget to salute, only lowering her hoof after Spitfire returned the gesture.  "Yes Ma'am.  I'm proud to finally be a Wonderbolt, Captain."

Captain Spitfire grinned at her, but after a moment lowered her voice and spoke without the official tone.  "So, speaking freely, Dash.  You look like you're itching to fly out of here as quick as you can."

Whoops.  "Uh, sorry, Captain.  I sorta... have a party, I'm supposed to be at.  You know, back in Ponyville."

Spitfire only raised an eyebrow.

Rainbow Dash looked aside.  "You know, uh.  Somepony special, kinda, and... I'm a little late for her party."

Captain Spitfire grinned.  "Oh, I see.  Special somepony, huh?  Go on, Dash, go see 'er."

"Wait, no, not like that!  She's not, I mean, I'm not even... I don't go for that sappy stuff!"

Spitfire only shook her head.  "I thought you were flying solo these days.  But seriously, the important part is over.  Go see her.  You're dismissed, Dash."

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in front of her.  "Really, not like that, she's-- wait, what?"

Captain Spitfire's brow furrowed slightly, and her tone grew sharper.  "You're dismissed until tomorrow at sunrise.  Go on, Dash."

Rainbow Dash saluted again.  The words barely left her lips before she was airborne and flying at full speed toward Ponyville.  "Yes, Ma'am!"

About ten seconds into her flight, when the air pressure started to crackle in her ears, she realized that full speed might be a little too much.





The party was in full swing around them, but it didn't quite seem to reach the three fillies.  Pinkie Pie had done an excellent job, as always, with the decorations and catering.  Fillies and colts from their class were all around, enjoying the food and the games, and several adult ponies were there as well, having fun with their little brothers and sisters, or just enjoying the party regardless of the target age.

But still, none of that got to Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom put a hoof on her friend's shoulder.  "Come on, Scootaloo.  You know what it is today.  It ain't like she had much choice."

Sweetie Belle spoke up a moment later.  "Besides, the party is barely started!  I'm sure she'll show up!"

Scootaloo just looked aside, at the floor, and grumbled.  "Yeah right.  She's always got Wonderbolt stuff to do.  I see her less now than before we were sisters."

Apple Bloom sighed, but whatever she was about to say was lost as a flash of light from the windows caught everypony's attention.  A dozen fillies and colts rushed over to see the streaks of rainbow colors flashing through the sky, and a moment later they squealed in excitement and awe as the thundering boom washed through Ponyville.  Rainbow Dash came swooping down in the midst of the noise, and aimed perfectly through the window, entering the room in a flash of color and sound.

Scootaloo heard her classmates shouting in excitement, and she knew they were all crowding around Rainbow.  But all she cared about was her big sister's hooves around her, giving her a birthday hug.  Yeah, her classmates saw the Wonderbolts uniform, the new badge.  Yeah, they would be talking about that awesome sonic rainboom for a while.  But the important part was that she was important enough to Rainbow Dash that Dash would cut out of her special ceremony early just to see her.

Scootaloo just grinned and hugged her sister tighter.