A huge crowd gathered on the lawn of the Delta Base, not surprising as the party to celebrate the reopening of SPD was about to begin. The actual ceremony had taken place earlier that day, it was rather lavish but they decided to put of the traditional feast till the party, much to the annoyance of certain nobles. Anyway, the Mane 6, minus Rainbow Dash were rather nervous, the first thing on the agenda was the announcement of the members of A-Squad. They were all coping in their own way, sort of.
Applejack was fingering her hat, while she looked casual to the uninformed eye it was a dead giveaway that she was nervous, and also the reason she didn't play cards with the rest of them.
Twilight was reading the book she used to help Rainbow with the written test, luckily they knew Rainbow's preferred study method ahead of time and Vinyl Scratch had lent them a tape recorder so they didn't have to get all of Ponyville to help, again.
Fluttershy just stood their fidgiting, nerviousness for her friend combined with nerviousness from being surrounded by lots of ponies she didn't know was taking its toll.
Rarity was taking everything in stride, using the party as an excuse to not only model the dress she was wearing, but bragging, in a very ladylike manner of course, that she had a hand in redesigning the uniforms that were going to be used by SPD.
As for Pinkie...
What do you think she was doing?
"Wow this is so amazing I mean Rainbow might become a super duper uper cop and stuff are you nervicited I know I am I don't think I've been this nervicited since Twilight first came to Ponyville and I was all *gasp* and then we went off to get the Elements and we all became bestest friendzies and."
"Quiet down sugar cube," Applejack said, putting her hand on Pinkie's mouth, "looks like we're about to find out."
True to her word, a spotlight focused on a temporary stage, illuminating Cruger. "Welcome fillies and gentlecolts, to the grand reopening celebration of Space Patrol Delta!" He paused as the crowd applauded. "As some of you may know, back in SPD's heyday, there was a group of officers who stood above the rest, fighting the battles that nopony else could. Now allow me to introduce, your new A-Squad."
Cruger brought forth 5 different colored envelopes. "First off, A-Squad, member 5," he removed a card from the pink envelope, "Pearl Spark!"
The crowd applauded as a white coated unicorn stepped forward from behind the curtain. While not as brilliantly as a crystal pony, she seemed to sparkle under the lights.
Cruger opened the yellow envelope, "member 4, Hammer Fist!"
This time a red unicorn with a black mane stepped forward, grinning like he had just won the lottery.
Cruger opened the green envelope, "member 3, Evil Breaker!"
The curtains parted to reveal a massive earth pony, no wonder he got in.
Cruger opened the blue envelope, "member 2, Night Stalker!"
The crowd gasped as a thestral stepped forward, his race wasn't widely accepted just yet.
Cruger opened his last envelope, a red one, "now, member 1, and field commander of A-Squad,
Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty!"
The crowd cheered as rainbow came on stage, only to be drowned out by a massive air horn, no prize to whoever guesses who brought that.
Cruger chuckled, "thank you for that show of support Pinkie. Anyway, give it up, for your new, Space Patrol Delta, A-Squad! Now let's get this party started! DJ, music!."
Music started playing as Cruger did the last thing anypony expected, and started singing.
"Congratulations Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed, "I can't believe they put you in charge."
"What can I say? I'm just that awesome. Though to be honest, Cruger's still the boss."
"Hey, know what this calls for?"
"A party Pinkie?"
"Silly Applejack, we're already at a party for that, what we need is cake! I'll be right back." Pinkie dashed off leaving a cloud of smoke.
Rainbow just sighed, it WAS Pinkie after all.
"Good too see you come so far."
Rainbow turned around to see who had spoken, then saluted so fast it's a miracle she didn't put anypony's eye out. "Commander Spitfire!"
"At ease miss Dash, you don't report to me anymore," Spitfire replied. "Though if you ask me, it wasn't the wrong choice."
"What do you mean?"
"We Wonderbolts were originally formed to replace SPD after Cruger's disappearance, though lately all we do is air shows. We haven't been on a real mission since Tirek, and you know how that turned out."
"But, you're the Wonderbolts! The best flyers in all Equestria!"
"True, but we aren't the best fighters, not anymore." Spitfire's tone turned more thoughtful, "maybe once, but not anymore."
"Don't sell yourself short Spitfire," Cruger had come over, "I read the reports. You were starting to turn them into an actual fighting machine again, not bad." Cruger grinned, "but let us not dwell on the past, I believe that I said that we should get this party started, didn't I. Now," Pinkie had returned, "who wants cake?"