Soarin paid attention as Twilight quizzed him one fine mid-morning in Ponyville. Tomorrow, he would take an exam at Canterlot University that would count for ninety-percent of his grade!
No pressure.
“Alright Soarin, what can you tell me about the key properties of the Nimbus cloud and its-”
WHOOSH!
“HEY!”
“DA-ASH!!”
Twilight groaned while Soarin sighed yet he couldn’t help but chuckle as Twilight gathered the scattered papers flipping about from Rainbow’s fly-by.
“How in Equestria does that pony expect to pass her Wonderbolts exam tomorrow if she wastes her time flying?!”
“Oh cool it, study-buddy,” Soarin said in a ‘no harm, no foul’ tone as he helped her. “My Dashie’s just getting hyped. She passes this exam, she earns a spot on the Wonderbolt Reserves!”
His relaxed smile faded when Twilight pulled a smirk and said, “I’m just gonna fly right up to her and tell her what I think” - Soarin hesitantly followed Twilight as she slowly lifted herself higher while gathering the papers - “about what I think of her lackadaisical approach to studying.”
“Uh, Twi?” Soarin tried to talk but Twilight kept flapping, not paying attention.
“Won’t she be surprised?”
“SURPRISE!”
“WHAT?! Huh?! How did you-” Twilight startled, seeing Rainbow appear right in front of her.
“Tried to warn ya,” Soarin shrugged as his Dashie chuckled.
“Puh-lease, Twilight!” Rainbow laughed as she floated down onto a cloud, Twilight and Soarin joining her. “That was the worst sneak attack ever!”
Soarin chuckled as he sat on his plot, the cloud extra comfy to his flanks, Twilight steadying her footing. She was still new to walking on clouds; it was like standing on a slightly damp mattress.
“What? But-”
“I saw you giving me the stink eye from the ground, “Rainbow boasted, “and heard you flying towards me and muttering from a mile away!”
“Heh, ya can’t avoid the pegasus eye and ear so easily, Twilight,” Soarin agreed, stifling a chuckle at the indignant look on the princess’s face.
“Well! If you heard me muttering, you must know what I was muttering about,” Twilight said in a somewhat scolding way to Rainbow while rolling her eyes at Soarin’s comment.
“Yeah, yeah, the Wonderbolts History Test,” Rainbow shrugged it off as she let herself fall off the cloud while casually saying, “No big deal.”
Twilight rolled her eyes as Soarin chuckled and followed Rainbow Dash’s example. She flapped after them, saying, “No! Big deal- Really big deal! It’s a test! A test that could determine if you can join the Wonderbolts Reserve! Soarin, tell her!”
Sighing in a good-natured way, Soarin added, “She’s gotcha there, angel. Joining the Reserves will get you even closer to becoming one of the Wonderbolt Elite.”
“This is the most important test of your life!” Twilight butted in, disturbing her two friends.
“Twilight… not everypony gets all freaked out about tests like you,” Rainbow responded in a blaśe tone.
“I do not get all freaked out about tests!” Twilight protested in a somewhat foalish way while waving her hooves before crossing them.
But then she noticed the “seriously?’ looks Rainbow and Soarin were both giving her.
…
…
…
“Fine… I may tend to take my tests a tad too seriously,” Twilight admitted, “but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be studying for yours!”
But then a dawning look of giddiness spread across Twilight’s face, “Ah! And I know just the pony who can help you!”
“Yup!” Rainbow nodded before flapping over to nuzzle up against her boyfriend to his and Twilight’s confusion. “And he’s right here!”
“Say what?” Soarin said with a dumb look, Twilight looking indignant.
“I was talking about me!”
“No offense, Twi, but I think I’m in good hooves with Soarin,” Rainbow waved her off. “After all, he used to be a Wonderbolt!”
“Uh, yeah…” Soarin said awkwardly, to Rainbow’s confusion. “Sorry, angel, but… I’m afraid that’s not gonna work out.”
“Huh?!” Rainbow gave Soarin a look that demanded an explanation.
“I have a test too,” Soarin explained, “Twilight was helping me study when you whooshed by. It’s tomorrow, and it counts for a BIG part of my grade, and I gotta go to Canterlot University to take it!”
“But- But-” Rainbow stuttered, looking stumped.
“No worries, Dash!” Soarin said reassuringly, “I’m sure Twilight will help you just fine. Meanwhile, I’m gonna take the studying material she collected for me, and leave you to your own.”
“But Soarin!” Rainbow called after him as he flew down to grab the books Twilight had left on the library porch, only to feel Twilight grab her from behind.
“This is gonna be so much fun!”
*FLASH*
Rainbow looked around, a tad startled from the sudden teleportation and found herself seated at a desk before Twilight and a blackboard inside the library.
“Sure, fun…” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“Sorry about the noise Thunder, I just need to finish packing and I’ll get out of your mane and let you study.”
“Thanks Soarin. I just find study in a quiet environment by myself is so much easier for me than when there’s a bunch of distractions going off.”
Soarin gave a nod to his friend and roommate as he finished packing his overnight bag for the trip to Canterlot. He’d left his pet winged serpent, Skye, with Fluttershy, along with Soundwave, Thunderlane’s pet bat while Rumble had headed over to Button’s house for a sleepover. This was all to help Thunderlane, who like Rainbow Dash, was preparing to take the Wonderbolts History test. The mohawked stallion had always been good at studying and research, but he’d discovered for a while now that he always took more in when he was left alone in a quiet space than in a more public or loud environment.
“It’s a shame our tests are on the same day or I’d join you and Midnight in Canterlot. This is a big day for me, but it’s just as big for you and I wish I was there to see how you do.”
Soarin just smiled at his friend as he zipped up his bag, before turning and giving him a bro-hoof.
“It’s fine, Thunderlane, I feel the same way about you and Dashie’s test. Still, when I get back we can all compare our results and have a party. You just know Pinkie and Cheese will be itching for one when we get back.”
Thunderlane just gave a chuckle and pat his friend on the back while Soarin shouldered his bag. Finally there was nothing left but to meet up with Midnight, whom was also going to Canterlot for some royal business with Celestia and Sombra, and take flight.
“Good luck to you, Soarin. I’ve seen how hard you’ve been studying with Twilight. I know you’ll do great.”
Soarin nodded in thanks. “You too, Thunderlane. With somepony as dedicated and hardworking as you, the Wonderbolts will be begging to have you join them.”
Thunderlane just chuckled and led Soarin to the front door. However as the door opened, Soarin found his way barred.
By a rainbow maned mare who really should have been studying right now.
“Soarin, what do you mean you can’t help me study because you’re doing a test?! It’s the test to join the Wonderbolts Reserves and I need to pass!”
Seeing she was in a bad mood, Thunderlane decided this was none of his business and backed out of the room and into his kitchen. He had to deal with an angry Rainbow Dash at work all the time. No way was he going to deal with it right now when he needed quiet time to study.
Soarin stepped around Dash and further into the front yard, adjusting his bag so it wouldn’t disturb his wings during flight. “I’m really sorry, Dashie. I know how important this test is for you, really I do. But this is one of the most important exams for my weather course yet, and it covers over half of my grade! I’m confident I’ll do pretty well on it, but I have to go to Canterlot to take it. If I don’t, I’ll fail my course and I’ll lose my chance at getting a good job in the weather bureau.”
Soarin had hoped his explanation would calm Dash down, but instead it just seemed to make her angrier. “But it’s just a stupid weather course! I didn’t even need to go to college to get on the Ponyville weather team and now I’m Captain of it!”
“Co-Captain, thank you!” corrected Thunder from inside the house, making Rainbow roll her eyes but keep talking. Or griping, if you wanted to be honest about it.
“Your test isn’t anywhere near as important as the Wonderbolts Reserve Test. When I pass I’ll become a Reserve Wonderbolt! If there’s ever a reason a `Bolt isn’t able to make a performance or do their duty, I’ll get a chance to fill in! But I’ll only make it if you help me!”
Sorain just gave a sigh as Dash stamped her hooves angrily, a sign she was going to be stubborn about this.
“Look, Rainbow, the area of weather I’m looking to work in is different to yours. I’m hoping to eventually take on a high level managerial role in the bureau, not just manage the local team. To do that, I need to complete my studies and pass my exams. This is a big deal for me to and it is important. To me! Besides, wouldn’t it be better for you if you passed the Wonderbolts test on your own then just using the help from an ex-Wonderbolt? Heck, I saw Twilight drag you into the library for a study session to help you before I left! Why aren’t you there studying right now?”
Dash suddenly got a shifty look to her eyes.
“Uhh….”
Back in the library...
“So as you can see Rainbow, the EUP is a very important part of Equestrian history and even more so to the Wonderbolts that came after them. Do you have any questions so far or should we dive into the textbook I provided you and start going over some of the key historical dates in…”
Twilight turned around from her black board to discover that instead of a rainbow maned pegasus sitting in her desk listening intently, a crude cardboard cutout with a picture of Rainbow’s face pasted to it, stood on top of the desk.
Until it fell over.
Twilight just groaned in annoyance.
“Heh heh, well… she was boring, okay? And I’m not going to learn anything from her, it needs to be you, Soarin!”
Soarin just rubbing his brow with a sigh seemed to ignite Dash even more. The mare had known ever since school she was a terrible study. It was a miracle she’d passed flight school! She knew Twilight spouting off facts at her would never get her to pass. But Soarin, having been a Wonderbolt, and therefore knowing all the answers, would guarantee she would pass and achieve her dream! She just needed to get him to drop this stupid exam!
Forcing herself to calm down, Dash decided to try an avenue she rarely, rarely ever used. She gave Soarin a sad pathetic look, and made sure her eyes were big and watery. Immediately Soarin’s breath hitched and he looked very conflicted, so Dash went for the kill.
“Please Soarin! I really need you right now.”
Soarin struggled for a moment, his love and care for his Dashie fighting against his desire to do well and achieve his dream. Finally, he looked down and his his ears dropped.
“I’m.. I’m sorry, angel. But I just can’t. This test is too important. I know the Wonderbolts reserve test is important to you. I know getting to fly with them, to be a part of the team is your dream. But I have my own dreams too. But you are alone here. The rest of our friends are here and I know they’ll all help you. Thunderlane wants to be a alone for a little while to do some studying of his own, but I know he’d be happy to help you later. And Twilight is already psyched to impart some historical knowledge, she knows everything you’ll need for the test. The rest of our friends can all help you to study, Dashie. I know you can do this! I’m sorry I can’t help, but I know you will be able to do this without me.”
Soarin poured it all out from his heart, wanting to reassure her and help and her and just love her with all his heart. But despite his powerful speech, Rainbow’s sad pouty look suddenly became a piercing glare and her teeth clenched tight as she growled.
After stewing there for a moment, her anger just too much to even think, she started to speak.
“I can’t believe you! You’d rather do some stupid weather test then help me. The Wonderbolts are my dream! To get there I need you! But all you care about is getting some dumb weather job! I have a weather job, Soarin! An important one! And I can’t wait to leave it behind as soon as I get an invite into the `Bolts! And you know why? Because weather work is for lame idiot pegasi with no passion and drive!”
She took one step forward, her raging magenta eyes locked with his wide and tearful greens.
“I can’t believe a quitter like you ever made it to the Wonderbolts. You never deserved to fly with ponies so much better then you’ll ever be.”
Soarin could say nothing. He felt so much hurt and pain inside. That was maybe the cruelest thing anypony had ever said to him.
I can’t believe she just said that! ...But… doesn’t mean it’s not true…
He fought to hold back his tears as he spread his wings and took to the sky, his eyes snapping from hers to the ground below.
It hurt too much to see her right now. To see the eyes he loved looking at him like he was the most pathetic pony in Equestria.
Maybe… maybe I am…
As Soarin disappeared from her sight, Rainbow Dash felt the anger just ebb away, being replaced with a tidal wave of shame and guilt.
That was… that was one of the most horrible things she had ever done. So filled with anger, so disgusted in her own inability to study without her ex-Wonderbolt cheat sheet, she had just lashed out in rage. She knew she had a temper, and more then once it had gotten her into trouble.
It had never left her feeling so ashamed of herself before.
She knew if she’d said those horrible words to anypony she’d have felt disgusted with herself.
But to my Soarin…
She had told the pony she loved that he was a pathetic joke. That his dreams and desires were worthless and that one of his biggest accomplishments in life had never been deserved.
She felt like he biggest pile of horseapples. Like the lowest, scummiest thing in the world. And that feeling only got worse as she turned to see Thunderlane glaring at her from the doorway of his house.
“Ya know, Dash, you really should go back to Twilight’s and study. Because a selfish brat like you needs to learn to grow up!”
Then before anything else could be said, he slammed the door so hard she almost fell over from the force. Rainbow just stood there for a moment, before she turned and started slowly trotting off towards Twilight’s library, her limp tail dragging through the dirt behind her.
What was the point of studying for the Wonderbolts now.
Did she even deserve to be a `Bolt anymore…?