The Letter
It all started with a letter.
Rainbow Dash checked her mailbox for the tenth time that day, hoping that a letter would arrive soon, as she entered her cloud house. It had already been two weeks since the Wonderbolt Academy graduation ceremony, Rainbow Dash obviously the top of her class (and shattering several academy records in the process) was what she already remembered as one of the happiest days of her life.
After the ceremony, Spitfire had pulled Rainbow aside to tell her that she thought without a shadow of a doubt that Rainbow Dash was destined for great things and would put in a good word with the management to get her a private audition. Spitfire told her that in coming weeks She would most likely receive a letter detailing a routine that she had to memorize and perform for a chance at joining Equestria's greatest flying team, the Wonderbolts. Dash could hardly contain her excitement at the opportunity and knowing that she could 'wow' the judges, but she would need to pull out all the stops for her awesome performance.
After a full two weeks of restless nights and sleepless days filled with nothing but excited fidgeting and checking her mailbox, she could barely focus on weather duty. The mere thought of a real chance to show her stuff and prove that the one and only Rainbow Dash was the greatest flyer in Equestria was nearly too much for the blue pegasus to bear.
Rainbow Dash tried to settle down in her favorite chair and enjoy the latest installment in the Daring Do series, but she kept fidgeting and had trouble focusing on the words on the page. *Ding-Dong* The cyan mare's head snapped up at the sound of the doorbell, she dropped the book and had the door open before it even hit the ground.
Standing in the doorway was the local mail-mare Derpy Hooves clutching a stack of letters in her mouth, she deposited the letters onto her hoof before speaking. "Hi Rainbow Dash! Here's your mail. How have you been? You haven't been to the weather station for a couple days, and everypony is a little worried."
The rainbow-maned pegasus grinned at the blonde mail-mare. "Hey Derpy, and I've been better. I haven't been sleeping well the past couple of weeks. Figured I'd use up some of those vacation days that I never use, no use going to work and not being able to focus. Remember the thunder cloud incident? Plus, I've been expecting a letter from THE Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash allowed herself to gush at the end, hardly noticing the shudder that passed through the grey pegasus at the mention of thunder clouds.
The cross-eyed mail carrier smiled, her snout crinkling slightly "Okay, Rainbow Dash, I'll tell the others. See you around, and good luck!"
"Thanks Derpy. See ya later!" Rainbow Dash grinned and took the stack of letters from the mail-mare, before darting back inside.
Derpy reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a muffin, turning back around in time to see a chromatic tail disappear into the cloud house followed closely by the large fluffy door slamming shut. The cross-eyed mare tilted her head slightly as she looked at the closed door, before turning to face the clear blue sky and flying away to her next delivery,the muffin clutched in her hooves.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door the cyan pegasus shaking with anticipation as she looked at a letter from an office in Canterlot, her wings flared out behind her as she saw letter's seal which she recognized immediately as the official seal of the Wonderbolts. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh, It's here!!!" She hugged the letter to her chest happily as she threw the other letters onto the low coffee table in the living room of her slightly messy home. The eager mare gingerly opened the envelope and removed it's precious contents. Laying the letter down on the table she began to read.
Dear Rainbow Dash,
I hope this letter reaches you well, and on behalf of the Wonderbolts I proudly inform you, that you have been selected from your group of cadets for a chance to join the Wonderbolts. We hope you would still like to get this opportunity. We at the Academy have seen the qualities of speed, adaptability, precision, control, and most importantly leadership.
You WILL be required to memorize the flight routine on the second sheet of this letter, but feel free to add your own flair.
Best of luck to you.
Spitfire and the Wonderbolts.
p.s. Soarin' says thanks for saving his butt back in Cloudsdale a few years back.
p.p.s. I really look forward to seeing your performance.
Rainbow dash did a quick lap around the bottom floor of her cloud home, unable to stop an enormous grin from spreading across her face. Overcome with joy as she read the letter again and again, hardly believing her eyes.
The elated Pegasus hugged the letter to her chest and looked at the clock quickly, hardly daring to take her eyes off of the letter for fear it would disappear at any moment. Rainbow suddenly remembered today was the weekly pet play-date causing her to facehoof in exasperation at her near blunder. "Ahh! I almost forgot to get Tank ready!" Dash reprimanded herself as she flew into the her bedroom to grab tank and his magical propeller.
"Tank! wake up, or we'll be late!" She exclaimed as she strapped the magical propeller onto the sleepy tortoise, who poked his appendages from inside of his dark green shell covered with spots of yellow-green inside a circle of light green than the surrounding area. Tank blinked a few times, his slow nature obvious as he slowly peered around the room before Rainbow Dash picked him up with her hooves and pressed him to her chest before flying straight out the window. A vibrant rainbow streak in the sky behind her as she flew toward the park.