When things get to hot to handle at the Wonderbolt Academy, Spitfire is finding herself in the firing line. With the help of Rainbow Dash and friends, can they find the culprit behind the attacks before it's too late for Spitfire?
Fire is giving. It gives warmth, light and company. But it also takes away, destroying everything it touches. Just because Spitfire’s talent is being a pyromaniac, doesn’t mean she’s not flammable. But being Captain of the Wonderbolts requires guts, fearlessness, bravery and nerve in the face of danger. So why is it that she is so terrified she is unable to trust anyone? That is, anyone except for the one person she knows has the utmost loyalty. Although the issue at hand will have to be handled with metaphorical oven mitts, she wouldn’t want Rainbow Dash to get burnt.
A small chink of metal and the lighter fluid ignited, the small flame dancing innocently against the backdrop of the nightlife of Canterlot. The small light suddenly became a much bigger light, catching onto a fuel soaked cloth.
‘I can’t believe she’s doing this,’ Soarin’ whispered in his friend’s ear.
‘You dared her to,’ Whip Flash whispered back.
‘I didn’t realise this was actually her talent.’
‘What else does the flaming cutie-mark tell you?’
‘Will you two shut up?!’ Fleetfoot hissed, giving Whip a good elbow in his side. ‘I haven’t seen her do this before!’
‘Woo! Go Spitfire!’ Surprise called, clapping madly.
Spitfire took a deep breath. This was something she knew she could do – her special talent. Why should it be so difficult to do in front of her friends? She rubbed a damp cloth over her wings – it would be so embarrassing if she just caught fire. Dropping her cloth on the ground she took a moment to look out over the lake, her toes scrunched to feel the texture of the wooden pier, the scent of kerosene lingering in the air.
She closed her eyes, raised her fire sticks, spread her wings and danced.
The company sitting on the edge of the lake watching her fell silent, in awe as Spitfire moved fluidly with the fire, almost as if she was fire herself.
After several minutes, Spitfire ended up with both fire sticks in one hand. She deftly took a draft of kerosene into her mouth and blew it across the flame and into the air. The kerosene ignited in an orange blossom and lit up the surface of the lake, drawing a gasp from the others at the beauty and danger of it.
‘That was amazing!’ Fleetfoot walked up to Spitfire as she dismantled and disposed of her temporary equipment. ‘Why haven’t you done that before?’
‘Firefly hates show offs,’ Spitfire said simply before gargling water and spitting it out. ‘Oh Celestia, where’s the beer?’
‘Do you need a shower or something? You reek of petrol.’
‘Streamline, first of all it’s kerosene.’ Spitfire showed her the little bottle before dropping it into the bin. ‘Second of all, where am I likely to find a shower at this time of night? Should I just walk into someone’s home and be all like; “Hey, can I borrow your shower?”’
‘I was saying,’ Streamline started indignantly at Spitfire’s mockery, ‘that we go back to the hotel and you have a shower there...’
Everyone scoffed in disbelief.
‘It’s only eight o’clock, Streamline, the night is young...’
‘No Wonderbolt training duties.’
‘We still have two cases of beer, and you want to go back now?’
‘’Sides,’ Spitfire said, after she had a good gargle of water. ‘Showers at Wonderbolt hotels are crap in Canterlot, following all the water-saving rules.’ She paused to spit out a good gob of kerosene flavoured saliva, it obscenely splatting on the ground making Streamline wince. ‘I’d rather stay somewhere like the Prancing Pony – Earthern style showers are amazing.’ Spitfire spat again, trying to be rid of the flavour lingering in her mouth.
‘That can’t taste too good.’ Soarin commented, his nose wrinkled at the smell.
‘Why? You wanna taste?’ Spitfire asked, looking at him through half lidded eyes as she cracked open a can of beer and seductively licked the foam off the edge.
Soarin’ suddenly became very flustered as everyone around them began catcalling.
Spitfire grinned at him and took a big gulp of beer and much to Soarin’s relief turned her attention elsewhere. ‘You not drinking, Streamy?’
Streamline glared at the nickname. ‘I don’t drink.’
Spitfire paused, retrieved a new can from the case and held it out. Everyone fell silent, watching as Streamline looked between the proffered beer and Spitfire.
‘Dare you.’
‘Are we still playing that stupid game?’ Streamline said, uncomfortably.
‘Everyone else has done something, Streamy, come on, I know you don’t like these sorts of things, this isn’t embarrassing or difficult.’
‘She’s got it easy.’ Fleetfoot grumbled, still slightly miffed about having to streak down the main street of Canterlot.
After a moment’s hesitation, Streamline took the cold can in her hand and weighed it up. Slowly, she opened it, her cheeks aflame as she felt very much in the spotlight as several pairs of eyes were on her. Cringing she lifted the can up, tipped in a mouthful, swallowed and choked.
Everyone gave a whoop, and Spitfire clapped her on the back. ‘Ah, you’ll get used to it.’
‘Right.’ Streamline said, unconvinced and pushed the can back at Spitfire. ‘Besides, someone needs to stay sober and watch you make idiots of yourselves, not that you need beer to do that.’
Smirking, Spitfire accepted the can back, polishing off her previous one. ‘Your turn.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Dare someone to do something.’
Streamline gave a heavy sigh. ‘Uh, I dunno what...’
‘Come here.’ Spitfire put an arm around Streamline and pulled her close.
Streamline tried not to choke on the strong scent of burnt kerosene and alcohol, and tried to ignore the feel of Spitfire’s sweaty, kerosene-y sheen that coated arms from her earlier activities.
Spitfire led her away from the group a little bit, facing them out over the lake. ‘Look at your surroundings, and then think of something that you really don’t want to do.’
Streamline shivered at the breeze coming off the lake and shivered, pulling her wings closer to her body to shield it. ‘I don’t want to go for a swim.’
‘Ok, now we think of someone else who might not want to do that.’ Spitfire rotated them around so they faced the group of friends that were talking in hushed tones to each other and casting nervous glances their way.
Streamline looked around and noticed how each of them refused to look her in the eye. That is, everyone except Surprise who was more focused on eating the cookies Streamline had brought along to be shared with everyone. Her eyes narrowed. ‘Surprise.’
‘Aww, not one of the boys?’ Spitfire gave a slight head nod to Soarin, Whip Flash and Blazing Zip. ‘Alright, well because it’s Surprise you need to up the ante.’
Streamline raised an eyebrow.
‘She would be fine with the cold and wet. Best make her do it naked, and she has to swim to the other pier...’ Spitfire pointed. The other pier, clear across the lake was backing onto the Prancing Pony hotel Sptifire had mentioned earlier. The hotel’s bar was on the lower floor on the edge of the lake, the windows open to let the fresh breeze in and for people to lean out and look out over the water.
‘They’re going to get a surprise.’ Streamline said shakily.
‘A very naked Surprise.’
Streamline got the giggles, this was very unorthodox, but then again it was good, the stress of the evening melted away slightly – perhaps a beer and a bit of fun was in order.
‘Alright.’ She said to Spitfire, ‘OK.’
‘What are you two scheming?’ came the nervous voice of Whip Flash.
‘Don’t let Spitfire into your head, Stream!’ Fleetfoot was quick to add. Spitfire’s gesturing in the direction of the large gathering of people put her on edge; she’d already been humiliated that evening.
‘Surprise,’ Streamline called.
‘Mmmph?’ Surprise looked up, hand caught in the cookie jar quite literally. Everyone else managed to breathe a sigh of relief.
‘Am I going for a dip?’
‘Uh – yeah?’ Streamline was taken aback, how did she even know?
‘Alright.’ Surprise pulled her socks and shoes and Wonderbolt blazer off. And walked to the end of the pier.
‘Oh, um, it’s a skinny dip.’
Surprise paused as the group broke out into cheers and cat calls.
‘Seeing Fleetfoot and Surprise nude in the one night,’ Whip Flash whispered, giving a small fist bump to Soarin and Blazing Zip.
‘And Surprise? You have to swim to the other pier and back.’
‘Take it off!’ Blaze yelled, impatient that Surprise was standing stock still with her back to them, processing the information. Everyone hollered as, with a smile, albeit a “Spitfire, you’re dead” smile but a smile none-the-less, Surprise turned and faced them and promptly stripped as if several pairs of eyes weren’t watching her. Turning her back on them, with a slight sway to her hips, she reached the end of the pier, paused, raised her hands and dove.
The cheer started anew as Surprise swam skilfully across the top of the water, fast headed for the other side.
Soarin exhaled, having expected Surprise to have acted like Fleetfoot, all shy with her arms across her chest and keeping her back to them. Aside from a red tinge in her cheeks, Surprise had not been embarrassed at all, but rather enjoying the opportunity to show off her bodacious curves and accepting of the fact she was stripped of all modesty. ‘Well that was something.’
‘Like what you saw?’ Spitfire was quick to retaliate.
Soarin’ blushed. He hated when she did that to him, why’d she have to put him on the spot like that? ‘I-I – um.’ Truthfully, yes. Surprise was fit but curvy, she had trimmed down a lot and lost all her excess weight due to high intensity cadet training, but there was still a healthy weight where it counted, and damn did she look good. ‘No?’
Sptifire rolled her eyes, a slight look of disappointment on her face. What did he say wrong?
‘I-I mean, she looked good...’ Soarin’ faltered as Spitfire’s sharp eyes focused in on him.
‘Bail! Bail!’ Whip Flash hissed at him.
It wasn’t helping that Fleetfoot was making a hole-digging motion behind Spitfire.
‘But she’s not my type.’
‘Huh.’
Soarin’ couldn’t read Spitfire’s expression, wondering if she was mad or not.
‘I thought she was totally hot,’ Spitfire said, nonchalantly. ‘I would totally tap that.’
‘Ooh, I would pay to see that.’ Blaze sat back and tried to imagine it.
‘Pay to see what?’ Panting and with wings held wide to dry, Surprise stepped out of the water.
No one answered her, all watching as she did a peculiar shake thing to empty the water from her ears.
‘Does anyone have a towel?’
~
Bundled in everyone’s blazers, Surprise sipped from the warm coffee. Soarin’, Fleetfoot, Surprise, Spitfire and Streamline sat in the heated outdoor cafe in a bid to warm Surprise up, the others having to leave – they had to make it back to Cloudsdale having not found accommodation.
It was kind of cruel really, Pegasi could withstand cold temperatures and rain in the air, their feathers quite good at repelling water, but dunk them in a cold lake and soaking their wings to the bone meant flying was hindered and the cold took them.
Spitfire was feeling a little guilty she had planted the idea in Streamline’s head.
Was.
‘Spitfire, kiss Soarin’.’
‘What?’
‘I dare ya.’
Saved by the bell, or at least, a pager.
‘Sorry guys, gotta take this, it’s mum. I think she expected me home about ten minutes ago.’ Streamline looked rather nervous as she rose from the table, her palms noticeably sweaty as she tried pull out money to pay off for her tea.
‘Relax, Streamy,’ Spitfire patted her on the arm, ‘It only takes, what five minutes to get to your house from here?’
Streamline had a thin lipped smile on her face. ‘Something like that.’ Streamline walked out, casting a nervous glance behind her.
‘Are here I thought we got little miss uptight all loosened up.’
‘Spitfire, don’t change the subject.’
‘Yeah, kiss Soarin’ already!’
‘She doesn’t have to if she...’
‘Soarin, shut up.’ Spitfire snapped and sighed. ‘Fine.’
‘Do it properly!’ Surprise said as Spitfire rose from her seat and plopped herself down on Soarin’s lap. ‘I wanna see tongue!’
Spitfire promptly stuck her tongue out at Surprise, causing her to giggle.
If Soarin’ wasn’t already blushing before Spitfire took his head into her and hands and practically smashed her lips on his, he was glowing now. He moaned softly as her tongue pushed against his, she tasted of beer, coffee and kerosene and her mouth was so hot and pulled away far too soon, almost taking his bottom lip with her.
‘Sweet Celestia, Spitfire!’ Fleetfoot said in shock, ‘She said kiss him, not eat him!’
‘Eh, go hard or go home.’ Spitfire sat back in her own seat, her slightly swollen lips parting to sip at her coffee, her cheeks stained pink in the most delightful way, Soarin decided. Her amber eyes glancing up to connect with his for a moment.
A loud, sudden rumble caused them all to jump in alarm.
‘Is Canterlot due for a thunderstorm?’
They all glanced at each other, listening for rain, looking at the things on the table as they rattled.
‘Earthquake?’
‘GUYS!’ Streamline came flying in, looking stricken, ‘Fire! At the Wonderbolt Lodge!’ She glanced at her phone. As the others all leapt to their feet. ‘The schedule shows there are several families staying there tonight, including Captain Firefly...’
Streamline found she had to abandon her explanation in the sudden rush for the door. They all took to air and made a beeline for the Wonderbolt Lodge, feathers beating against the night air. Spitfire felt her stomach drop at the sight of the burning building – normally she’d love a fire rescue, it was her specialty. But here she was in a tank top and shorts and covered in kerosene. She licked at her dry lips and pounded her wings to try and keep up with the speeding Fleetfoot, praying to Celestia that Cap’ had made it out in time.
The fire department was already on the scene, and considering the firehouse was situated right next door, it would be ridiculous if they weren’t, but the fire was raging out of control. Spitfire and Fleetfoot flew around the building a few times, pulling people from windows, keeping an eye out for their Captain. It was a good minute before the others showed up, Streamline and Soarin’ having had to assist a wet-winged and blazer-encumbered Surprise to fly.
‘No sign of the Captain.’ Fleetfoot stated worriedly landing in front of the others. ‘Are you sure she’s in there?’
Streamline tried to go through details she could access on her phone – being a cadet with an administrative slant had it perks to access certain things. Her hands were shaking, ‘She booked Room 7B... And she checked in ten minutes ago.’
‘She must be in there!’ Spitfire grabbed a blazer from Surprise and took off.
‘Spitfire – wait!’
Spitfire purposefully shot through the firehose’s high-pressure stream, drenching herself and the blazer before flying directly into the seventh floor through a smoke-blackened window.
Wrapping the wet blazer around her, protecting her wings Spitfire rolled on the floor, causing some of it to crumble. She was on her feet soon enough and stepping lightly to avoid weak points and flames leaping up out of the floor.
‘FIREFLY?’
‘SPITFIRE?! HELP!’
Relief flooded through her. ‘I’m coming, hold on!’ As she drew closer to where the voice was coming from, she heard crying and her victory was short-lived as she rounded a burning wall; Firefly was pinned-down at the waist by a collapsed section of ceiling. With her, a small girl – and Spitfire’s heart leapt as realised this was Firefly’s daughter.
Firefly kept work and family very much separate – Spitfire had never seen the child before, and from the way Firefly held onto the girl tightly, she knew she was precious to her. The young girl was pulling desperately, in a futile attempt to pull her mother free. Spitfire knew she was about thirteen – although she was short for her age and could easily be mistaken for a seven year old. But at that moment, Spitfire had more pressing concerns than the girl’s age.
Spitfire was over, quick as a whip, and tried to lift the ceiling that was crushing Firefly. It was hot and burned her fingers.
Firefly grabbed her arm. ‘GET. HER. OUT.’
‘But...’
‘Leave me, newbie! Get my baby to safety!’
‘But...’
‘If you don’t go, we’ll all burn!’ She shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks. She grabbed her hysterical daughter and kissed each of her cheeks. ‘I love you, baby, be good.’
‘Firefly stop being ridiculous!’
The younger girl screamed as the stack of debris resting upon her mother burst into hot flame.
‘Spitfire:' Firefly spoke with a commanding tone. 'Get. Her. Out. Of. Here. – that’s an order!’
Spitfire ran blindly as she held her precious cargo. Her cargo, Firefly’s daughter, did not want to cooperate. Despite being wrapped up in an oversized wet Wonderbolt blazer, she squirmed, kicked and screamed bloody murder in Spitfire’s ear.
Spitfire had other problems to worry about. The route in which she had entered had now collapsed as the building crumbled around them. If she wanted to get the girl out and then go back in for Firefly she had to move fast to find an available exit.
She had no other option except to fly, the stairs were far too weakened, and from the way the child was connecting each kick with her thigh, the leg might go out from under her. She took off, praying that her wings won’t catch fire.
With a start Spitfire realised the child had stopped kicking, and instead buried her head into the crook of her neck, accepting her fate. She felt her heart break as the child began wailing, calling for her mother.
Spitfire cursed as she came to the fire exit: It was on fire.
The child suddenly started coughing, violently. It was only then did Spitfire notice the dense strata of smoke filling the room – they needed to get out. Now.
Clutching the child close to her chest, she made a run for the fire door and connected, shoulder first. Pain ripped her arm as fire flicked all around them.
The girl jumped in fright at the impact and the sudden rush of heat.
~
Rainbow Dash sat up sharply, hyperventilating. She was drenched in a clammy sweat and suddenly felt freezing cold as the cool night air gently blew through the room. Rainbow exhaled as she remembered where she was; Wonderbolt Academy. It must have approaching dawn; the room was dark still and all the occupants of the bunk beds were fast asleep. She rubbed her shoulder and glared up at the person that had poked her quite hard.
‘Y’alright Dash?’ Lightning Dust hung upside down from her bunk above Rainbow.
‘Y-yeah, I’m good.’ Rainbow quickly turned away from her, conscious her cheeks were wet with tears.
The weight of the bed suddenly shifted and Rainbow was suddenly very aware that Lightning was lying next to her.
‘You were crying in your sleep.’ She said, matter-of-factly.
‘Get out of my bed, Left-in-the Dust.’
‘Make me, Rainbow Crash.’
Rainbow’s eyes narrowed – well she asked for it.
Lightning squealed as fingers assaulted her, digging into every known ticklish spot. With as much as she could muster, Lightning managed to hook a finger underneath Rainbow’s knee in an attempt to retaliate. The result was immediate, Rainbow’s squeal was louder than her own. Their laughter reverberated through the dorm and several voices joined their own; they had managed to wake up the entire dorm – although really, it would have been a miracle to sleep through the ruckus.
The lights suddenly came on, blinding everybody. ‘What the hell?’
Rainbow and Lightning froze from where they had ended up on the floor. That voice meant trouble.
‘Rainbow started it!’ Lightning was quick to blurt,
‘Lightning...!’ Rainbow tried to retaliate.
‘I DON’T CARE!’
Everyone winced as Spitfire unleashed her fury, the girls falling silent.
‘...who started it.’ Spitfire continued as if she hadn’t reached a deafening volume just a few seconds ago. ‘The entire bunk can go outside, dressed as they are and do laps until I say to stop.’
A communal groan echoed, but Spitfire wasn’t budging. Standard punishment, the entire team took responsibility. That’s how the academy operated and that’s how things run around here.
~
Spitfire fought the urge to apologise and change that rule. Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust were running rings around the others, and had no sign of slowing down even after an hour of continuous flying. The others, weary from little sleep, and hindered by some, frankly ridiculous, nightwear and were struggling to stay in the air, some of the girls having had tucked their nightgowns between their legs.
But Spitfire set on her poker face and blew the whistle sharply.
Two thuds in succession and Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust stood at attention. Spitfire found herself highly amused as their nightwear was matching, both wearing boy-cut underwear and a tight singlet that, quite frankly, left nothing to the imagination. Not that Rainbow Dash had much to show off, mind you. Lightning was definitely the bigger of the two, although not by much.
Spitfire shook herself out of her thought trail as the others collapsed in front of her. ‘Breakfast is in an hour.’ Spitfire said, focusing on maintaining a straight face, praying she wasn’t blushing and that Rainbow and Lightning were oblivious to her inspecting their “form”. ‘This morning’s little exercise does not exclude you from normal training regime.’ Spitfire paused, allowing for the inevitable groan. ‘Your regular trainers will be informed of what has transpired, and that if you do not turn up then you have me to answer to. You two.’ Spitfire pointed at the culprits. ‘You have five minutes to put your uniforms on and report to my office – dismissed.’
‘Yes ma’am!’ Lightning and Rainbow yelled in unison and shot off in the direction of the dorms as everyone else lumbered clumsily through the air.
~
‘This is ridiculous.’ Rainbow grumbled, her stomach growling in agreement.
Rainbow and Lightning had been assigned to Spitfire’s office to sort and file paperwork, unable to leave until they finished or were dismissed by Spitfire. It was plain to the two girls that the mountain of papers were not going to be done in a hurry, both of them hoping in vain that Spitfire would be back after breakfast to tell them to come to morning drills.
Breakfast passed, and the faint distant sound of whistles and shouting signified that training was in full force.
‘This is going to take forever!’ Lightning whined, her fingers tapping at the computer’s keys far too slow for her liking.
‘I know.’ Rainbow deposited a stack of paper onto the documents Lightning was entering into the system. ‘And I’m sorry, this is my fault.’
‘I know.’ Lightning echoed, sounding irritated, ‘I’m sorry for being concerned for you – I’ll ignore you next time.’
Rainbow stood there for a moment, not sure how to respond. In the end she turned and went back to paper sorting and filing.
The girls worked in relative silence, only being interrupted twice with things being delivered to Spitfire’s desk. One was the Wonderbolt in charge of admin. She brought in another box, and set it by Rainbow without a word, despite a meek “Hi” and “Thanks, Ma’am” from Rainbow.
‘Gee, uptight much?’ Rainbow asked Lightning after she had left.
Lightning chuckled. ‘I think Streamline is a rather straightforward person. Likes to get things done.’
‘You worked with her before?’
‘Yeah, after the incident.’ Lightning said, sadly.
‘Oh.’ Rainbow chewed her lip. Lightning was referring to when she had nearly killed Rainbow’s friends, and the whole drama that happened after. Rainbow knew that after she had been promoted to Lead, Spitfire had brought down a heavy punishment on Lightning before she was instated as Rainbow’s Wingman. Rainbow thought she was rather subdued afterwards and Lightning didn’t really want to talk about any of it.
‘I don’t think she likes anyone much – very much a rule stickler. I saw her give Spitfire the greasiest glare I’ve ever seen when Spitfire gave her a whole lot of papers that she had signed and wasn’t supposed to without being witnessed. And I believe Spitfire gave her the disbelieving look you’re giving me now.’
The door handle suddenly turned and both girls whipped around quickly to focus back on task; they didn’t want to get into trouble for talking when they supposed to be working.
They didn’t need to fret though, the person wandering through the door wasn’t a Wonderbolt – heck she wasn’t even part of the academy.
‘Derpy?’ Rainbow asked in surprise.
‘Rainbow Dash!’ Derpy’s face, although it had been cheery before, stretched into a wider grin. ‘Wasn’t expecting you here. How’s training going?’
‘It’s, um, not.’ Rainbow said, holding up a pile of documents. ‘We’re Spitfire’s personal pen-pushers for the day.’
‘That would be awesome – oof!’
‘Careful, Derpy!’ Rainbow said in alarm as a chair fell over with a clatter.
‘Ah, it’s alright, I always walk into that.’ Derpy stopped to look, cross eyed, at a stack of letters she held in her hand.
‘Doesn’t the mail go through the security downstairs?’ Lightning Dust asked, frowning as Derpy placed several letters and a package on Spitfire’s desk.
‘Not on Fridays.’ Derpy said airily. ‘Seeya Rainbow!’
‘Derpy look-‘ Rainbow cringed as Derpy ran headlong into the doorframe. ‘-out.’
‘Oop, my bad.’ And then she was gone.
‘Who was that?’
‘Derpy Hooves – she’s a postgirl, and a weather-worker, and, well, any odd job she’ll take – whether or not it’s done well is a different thing.’ Rainbow shrugged, ‘She doesn’t mean any harm, trying to support her family and whatnot.’
‘Spitfire’s coming!’ Lightning hissed, voices echoing through the open door.
Rainbow turned to her pile and felt very anxious at how little she had seemed to have gone through. She ducked her head and put pen to paper. The voices passed the door, obviously not Spitfire.
‘Don’t do that to me.’ Rainbow hissed.
‘Shut up and let’s get this done.’ Lightning said, obviously feeling the same as Rainbow.
For the next hour the only noises in the air the typing of the keys and the scratching of Rainbow’s pen were only heard. Both girls were highly bored, but pushed through in hopes that Spitfire would come and relieve them. That was, until the ink in Rainbow’s pen ran out.
‘I’m out of ink.’ She commented.
‘So get another pen, Crash.’
‘Where?’
‘Spitfire’s desk, I dunno.’ Lightning was hunched over the keyboard, punching out numbers a bit harder than she needed to be.
Feeling a bit conscious, Rainbow picked up the few pages that needed filling out and walked non-chalantly around Spitfire’s desk. It felt weird to be on this side of it. Feeling daring, Rainbow pushed the mail to one side, placed the papers down, picked up a pen and with a deep breath sat down on the big chair.
‘You did not.’ Lightning looked at Rainbow in disbelief, a grin growing on her face. ‘You cheeky...’
Lightning was interrupted by a voice outside Spitfire’s office, literally just outside. As a reflex, Rainbow and Lightning leant over their work and furiously typed and wrote. Rainbow realised too late it was the wrong reflex to have, Spitfire and Surprise were already in the room, madly talking about their plan of action for their newest Wonderbolts.
‘You comfortable there, newbie?’
‘No Ma’am, sorry Ma’am.’ Rainbow, red-faced was quick to reply, practically leaping to her feet and scrambled to the other side of the desk, realising too late she’d left the forms behind.
Spitfire was observant though and handed them to her with a chuckle. It abruptly stopped. ‘What’s this?’ Spitfire picked up the package Derpy had left on her desk.
Rainbow saw the postal address was the only thing on it. No return address, no processing marks, no name. Rainbow saw Spitfire and Surprise exchange a fearful glance out of the corner of her eye.
‘I’ll take it.’ Surprise said, grinning forcedly. ‘I love me a surprise.’ She threw a wink at Rainbow and promptly left.
‘Front and centre – both of you.’
Lightning and Rainbow clambered to stand in front of Spitfire.
‘Now,’ Sptifire took off her aviators and leaned against her desk, ‘What was this morning all about?’
~
Rainbow Dash felt frustrated and betrayed. She didn’t want to cause a fuss over something so trivial and yet here Lightning poured out every last embarrassing detail, even the parts she didn’t know, like how she had been thrashing in her sleep – fighting against the blanket that had been tucked around her.
‘Was there anything you wanted to add, Rainbow?’
Rainbow couldn’t look at Spitfire, the gentle, concerned tone too much for her. She shook her head.
‘OK,’ Spitfire said, understanding. ‘I don’t want this to happen again, I’ve got more important things to deal with.’
‘Yes Ma’am.’
‘Shoo.’ Spitfire waved a hand dismissively before turning and settling into her chair.
Lightning had high-tailed it out of there quickly, but Rainbow had to put back the papers and as she saw Spitfire turn over the mail in her hands, her mind brought forth the earlier exchange between the Wonderbolts and she hesitated in the door.
‘What is it, Rainbow Dash?’ The voice was weary, not like Rainbow had heard before.
‘I was wondering about that package...’
‘Not your place, Dash,’ Spitfire said, warning clear in her voice.
‘Are you in trouble, Captain?’
‘Dismissed, newbie.’
Dash searched her captain’s eyes for a response, but all she got was blank silence.
With a half-hearted salute, Dash walked out. Whatever the issue was, Spitfire didn’t want her to know about it, and with a bowed head she decided to respect that.
~
Rainbow Dash couldn’t sleep.
When she closed her eyes all she could see was flame, all she could hear was the screams of someone burning. She found herself hyperventilating and overheating.
Rainbow swung her feet over the side of the bed, her toes coming into contact with the cool floor. The boards creaking under her small weight, she stole to the doorway, briefly glancing over her shoulder to see that no one had stirred, everyone tired from the extra work they had had to put in yesterday.
She was envious that they could sleep so peacefully. Desperation for sleep drove her to the empty bathroom across the hall. No one really used this bathroom, except for perhaps morning ablutions. Everyone showered at the shower block closer to the training grounds, it meant no one had to wait, and you could enjoy listening to Fleetfoot’s trainees have a whine about how much of a hard-assed trainer she was.
Rainbow couldn’t look at her reflection, she knew she looked small and pathetic, that her eyes would be dark and hair limp and unusually faded. She knew if she didn’t feel awesome, then she probably wouldn’t look awesome too.
Her eyes drooped heavily, begging her to close. But Rainbow wanted to clear her head before she attempted sleep. Her hands fumbled around the numerous bags under the sink before finding her own hidden up the back. Her hand slipped in and closed around a familiar shaped bottle.
The golden apple cider slid easily down her throat and settled warmly in her stomach, a nice contrast to the cold water beating down on her. She gasped in relief, and slid down the wall of the shower until she sat in the puddle at the bottom. Her eyes closed, visions of fire were ebbing away as the cold water cooled her down and calmed her. Another swig of cider and Rainbow felt herself relaxing, every droplet of water felt like a massage on tired muscles. Her sleepwear clung to her, hugging her wings and hips tight, holding her together.
Her wet tongue ran around the edge of the bottle, tasting cider and fresh cloud-water. It was certainly refreshing, reminding her of her friends at home, reminding her that she was not alone.
‘Rainbow Dash.’
Rainbow’s eyes flew open.
Spitfire stood, arms crossed, leaning against the open door of the bathroom – she had forgot to lock it.
Rainbow cringed - she had been caught consuming alcohol in the shower when she was meant to be in her bed. That was breaking at least three academy rules, and she knew others had been suspended for less.
‘Are you having nightmares again?’
Rainbow hadn’t been sure what Spitfire was going to say, but she certainly wasn’t expecting that. ‘Uh, no?’ she said hoarsely. Spitfire opened the shower and turned it off and held out her hand.
With a sigh, Rainbow made to hand the half empty bottle of cider over, but much to her surprise, Spitfire took her by the arm and lifted her to her feet.
‘Does anyone know you’re in here?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Good. Now as much as I hate to see a good half full bottle of cider go to waste, you’d better bin that before I report you.’ Rainbow looked at Spitfire in surprise, why was she being so lenient? ‘Yes, ma’am?’ The bottle slid into the bathroom bin with a clunk.
Spitfire turned the bathroom light off and glanced up and down the hall. ‘Alright, listen carefully – go get dressed, I don’t care what in. Just do it quickly and quietly and be back here ASAP, hurry up, we only have an hour.’
Thoroughly confused, Rainbow Dash tip-toed quickly back into the dorm. With a quick flurry of a towel and only the sound of rustling feathers, Dash quickly donned shorts and a t-shirt and crept back out.
Spitfire immediately took her by the arm to the end of the corridor and into the main academy building.
Rainbow Dash knew the academy by night, several trips to the ice cream fridge and a few dares to visit the boys dorms, but Spitfire obviously knew it better and didn’t slow down, even in patches of zero visibility, even taking Rainbow through some secret passageways. It took Rainbow a moment, but then she realised the route Spitfire had taken meant that they were completely hidden from any security cameras.
A thousand questions ran through Rainbow’s mind, but she kept her mouth shut and let herself be pulled along, blindly. After several twists and turns and down staircases, Spitfire drew to a halt. She placed a finger to Rainbow’s lips and bade her remain quiet. She pulled out a key and inserted it into a hidden crack in the wall.
Rainbow heard a soft click as she turned it. The crack that ran from the roof to the floor widened, Rainbow’s eyes followed suit. It had already been a strange night, but now it was getting ridiculous. She peered into the gap; it was pitch black, ominous.
‘Stick close,’ Spitfire whispered. ‘I don’t know what surprises are in store.’
‘You haven’t been here before?’ Rainbow asked dubiously.
Spitfire shrugged a little too nonchalantly for Rainbow’s tastes, and without second thought slid through the gap and disappeared into the black.
‘Spitfire!’ Rainbow leapt in behind, her hand reaching out for her, but only finding air.
SLAM! Rainbow swirled on the spot and put her hand on where she had come through – it had closed over, leaving her in complete darkness. ‘Spitfire?’ Rainbow’s breaths echoed against the emptiness.
Rainbow tried to calm herself, and she stepped forward, her hands raised in front of her. Suddenly she felt a presence, it was like another sense, that she realised she was not alone in this room, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
We’ve walked into a trap!
‘Who’s there?!’ Rainbow said steadily, ‘Show yourself! What have you done with my Captain?’
Hands suddenly gripped her wrists with surprising force and twisted them behind her back. With a soft chink and the cold bite of steel, Rainbow knew she was in handcuffs. Well she wasn’t going to have any of that. She tried to fly out of their grip – “tried” being key word as the hands gripped her ankles and brought her back down to the concrete ground – off balance.
Rainbow tried to use the hands that attacked her as leverage, but found herself on a crash course toward the floor. Rainbow reflexively winced but cried out in surprise as she landed on something that was very soft and not the concrete floor she was standing on seconds ago.
Rainbow seized up and twisted, flapping madly and kicking as the hands grabbed her wings. For a moment, Rainbow felt like she succeeded as the hands let go, but her victory was short lived, the hands grabbed her again and someone heavy sat on her so she couldn’t move, skilled hands clamped her wings together and tied a blindfold around her eyes – rather pointlessly as she was already blinded by the total darkness.
Rainbow’s brain was on overload, if she couldn’t fight her attackers, maybe she could reason with them. Most importantly though, was her concern for Spitfire, she hadn’t made a sound since entering, what if she was hurt or something? ‘Spitfi-mmph!’ Rainbow almost choked as the gag was shoved in her mouth.
Rainbow heard an echo in her head that sounded a lot like Applejack. ‘There ya are! Trussed up like a turkey, a turkey that can’t fly...’ Rainbow gave a grunt and lashed out with the thing her attackers had forgotten; her legs.
Her first kick connected, and the squeak that it caused confirmed in Rainbow’s head that at least one of them were female. With a flick of her legs and a clever roll with her body, Rainbow managed to be up on her feet, ready to karate kick anyone that laid a hand on her.
She momentarily wondered why her attackers had backed off when suddenly something cold, metal and very gun shaped pressed into the back of her neck.
‘Shhh.’ An unsettling cheerful voice hushed in her ear. ‘This is just a test, Rainbow Dash, cooperate and no one will get hurt.’
The voice, Rainbow noted, had a thick accent she couldn’t place, this only drew more fear – what country had a vendetta against her? She felt the gag loosening and with a quick jaw-jiggle she managed to free her mouth. ‘What have you done to Spitfire?!’ she yelled.
The gag was back on, being pulled tight and Rainbow felt it being knotted better than it had been. She stood still as the barrel of the gun pressing into her scalp.
‘Oh she’s fine.’ The voice said cheerfully. Dash suddenly realised that the woman was trying not to sound cheerful, but vague and threatening. They weren’t doing a great job, but the gun however, was. ‘Walk.’ A hand pushed her and Rainbow stumbled forward.
Walking took a good several minutes, the guiding hand on her shoulder gentle, but the gun resting on the nape of her neck kept her tense, and for some reason dizzy.
‘Sit.’ The gun was pulled away as Rainbow was shoved down onto a chair. Ropes dug into Rainbow’s skin as she was bound to the armrests. Hands worked at the back of her head and the gag was pulled away.
‘What’s going on?’ Rainbow’s voice cracked in desperation as she tried to replenish the moisture the gag had taken out of her mouth. ‘What do you want with me? Where’s Spitfire? What have you done with Spitfire?’ Rainbow kept shouting all the questions that had been circulating in her head for the last several minutes, that was until she realised that no answers would be forthcoming because she was spewing them at Pinkie Pie levels of speed.
She fell silent, breathing heavily.
‘Relax.’ The gun holder’s voice said cheerily from directly in front of her, making Rainbow feel like she wanted to do the exact opposite. ‘I just wanted to ask you a few, questions.’
‘Spitfire...’
‘Shhh,’ the voiced hushed her, or rather the press of metal to her lips did. ‘She’s fine, maybe a little bit in shock, she was caught by surprise.’ The woman drawled in her peculiar accent and giggled.
‘But it’s just you and me, dearie.’ A hand patted her patronizingly on the head. ‘And we’re going to have a little talk and you can tell me anything you want to...’ Rainbow tensed as she smelt the sickeningly sweet perfume as the stranger drew close to her. ‘It can be our little secret.’
Rainbow shuddered as the woman’s breath washed over her ear. ‘I’m not telling you anything!’
The woman laughed, heartily and began walking around Rainbow in circles. ‘Oh dear, you amuse me so, ooh, a little birdie told me something interesting about you today – tell me, sitting in the Captain’s chair, it felt good didn’t it?’
Rainbow bit her lip.
‘You can tell me, Rainbow Dash.’ The woman’s voice was no longer teasing, it took on a serious tone. ‘Did you sit there and for a moment pretended you had an army of Wonderbolts at your command. That you could shape the way Equestria’s defence force operates? Did you feel that Rainbow Dash? Can you taste it?’
Rainbow trembled where she sat as hushed words rushed over her.
‘The power, the respect, the security, the money – Dash – Captain of the Wonderbolts is employed and paid for by Celestia, you could get whatever you wanted... That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?’
Silence seemed to ring in Rainbow’s ears. She caved, ‘What does?’
‘Captain Rainbow Dash,’ the voice cooed sweetly, enticingly. ‘You’d like that wouldn’t you? You can tell me Rainbow Dash – would you like to be Captain of the Wonderbolts?’
The question hung in the air almost menacingly.
Rainbow swallowed, her throat dry, ‘Maybe?’
The person hummed in response, as if they knew that it was very appealing to her.
‘What would you do to be Captain Rainbow? What would you have to do? What lengths would you go to?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What stands between you and the Captaincy? Who would you have to get rid of?’
Rainbow’s heavy breathing filled the space, speeding up in a panic. ‘What have you done with Spitfire?!’
‘Shhh...’ the gun traced Rainbow’s collarbone. ‘Listen very carefully, Rainbow. I’ve got a very sweet deal to offer you – all hypothetical of course.’ The gun suddenly tucked under her chin. ‘There are no wrong answers, only stupid ones.’
Rainbow gasped as the gun was pulled away.
‘If I asked you for silence, would you give me it?’
‘What do you mean?’ Rainbow asked, panicked.
‘If Spitfire were to suddenly, oh I don’t know,’ The gun was pressed against Rainbow’s forehead. ‘Bang.’
Rainbow could feel the sweat dripping down her neck.
‘What would you do – answer carefully now.’ The gun gone, and Rainbow had no clue as to where the woman was in the room.
‘If you want to kill Spitfire, you’re going to have to deal with me first.’ Rainbow said, her voice wavering. ‘I want to know where she is, what have you done with her?!’
‘Rainbow Dash, with Spitfire out of the way you could step into the Captaincy – all I ask for is your silence.’
‘I’m not understanding you...’
‘Will you sell her out?’ The drawling voice was now in Rainbow’s ear, making her jump. ‘…And look the other way, just to guarantee your own success...?’
‘NEVER!’ Rainbow cried, trying to wriggle her way out of the chair. ‘How DARE you question my loyalty – do you even know who I am?’
‘Rainbow Dash...’
‘I would NEVER sell ANYONE out to better myself! And I won’t let you hurt Spitfire!’
‘Oh thank Celestia, that accent was hell on my throat.’
Light flooded Rainbow’s vision and she found she was no longer bound. Hands gently cupped her cheeks and Spitfire’s concerned expression swam into view. ‘Are you alright?’
Rainbow blinked rapidly, trying to adjust. ‘I-what-you...’
‘Shush.’ Spitfire’s finger gently wiped at the tears in the corners of Rainbow’s eyes. ‘It’s alright, it’s ok, you’re safe here – I promise.
A loud clang alerted Rainbow to Surprise standing over at a table on the wall, guzzling water greedily, spinning a thin piece of metal pipe in her free hand – there was never any gun.
‘I’m sorry for what I just put you through.’ Spitfire said, clutching at Rainbow’s hands, rubbing where the cuffs had been. ‘But I really needed to know where you stand.’
Surprise had brought over a glass of water for Rainbow, which she took reluctantly.
‘You should have just asked – that was really unnecessary, and mean.’
Spitfire bowed her head in apology.
Rainbow shakily sipped at the water, now able to see clearly in the room. The secret door from which they had entered was only a few feet away, the room was relatively small with a high ceiling. The floor was concrete but Rainbow spotted the overlarge pillow she had fallen into earlier. On the table where the water sat was two sets of night-vision goggles. It was then Rainbow realised what they had planned; she was never in danger of actually being hurt, in fact she should have realised something was up the moment they stepped into the room – even falling on such a soft pillow was a dead giveaway, she should have felt that they had walked in a large circle for several minutes – no wonder she felt dizzy. Heck, Surprise herself hadn’t been able to keep from being herself.
‘Caught by Surprise.’ Rainbow muttered dryly in disbelief. ‘Why... all this?’
Spitfire was still staring at her folded hands in her lap, looking forlorn.
Rainbow was about to ask her again, when Spitfire looked up at her, her golden eyes wet with unshed tears looking as vulnerable Rainbow had ever seen her.
‘I’m afraid, Rainbow Dash. You were right, I think I am in trouble.’
~
Rainbow yawned widely, feeling the strain of not having had enough sleep. Annoyingly enough, the yawn was cut short as Rainbow had to dodge Lightning trying to squirt her with her water bottle – the water missing its yawning target and splashing Rainbow in the cheek instead.
Lightning had to move rather quickly as Rainbow made to grab the offending water bottle, her fingers managing to grip the bottom. A small battle of tug-of-war between the two broke out as they stood in line.
‘Hey!’ Spitfire was walking down the line saddled up with her own travel bags, making sure she swat her rolled up papers over both of their heads. ‘Be-have.’ She punctuated with each strike.
Rainbow failed in pulling the bottle from Lightning’s grip. She huffed at a smirking Lightning, wiping the water with the back of her hand off her face and turned to stand in line properly, making sure her bag hit her partner as she turned around.
Lightning just shoved Rainbow’s back.
There wasn’t any more time for tomfoolery as the exit was upon them. Rainbow placed her bag down on the conveyer, Lightning, throwing hers on top. Rainbow fixed Lightning with a glare, which was interrupted by a yawn.
‘Gee, Rainbow. Did you not sleep last night at all?’
‘Not much.’ Rainbow gave herself a little shake and walked through the scanners, Lightning right on her heels as they walked over to wait for their bags to appear.
‘Neither did Spitfire so it seems.’ Lightning gestured to their captain who had walked through the only scanner that wasn’t clogged up by cadets.
Spitfire, with her bags hitched up, was covering her own yawn as she took off in the direction of Cloudsdale.
‘Hey, where’d my bag go?’ Rainbow asked, staring at the conveyer belt. Lightning’s had come out, as had the one behind it, which Wild Flower grabbed, briefly glaring at them, still not forgiving of the rude awakening two nights ago.
‘Calm your tits, Crash, it’s there.’ Lightning pointed as Rainbow’s bag rolled out. ‘They probably had to open it ‘cause your unwashed uniform set off the toxin scanners.’
Rainbow swung her bag at her partner before trying to settle it in a comfortable position for flight. She obviously hadn’t packed it as well as she thought there was something sharp poking her in the side, but others had already taken off, whether under their own steam or alongside families that had come to greet them and assist them home after a gruelling boot camp.
‘Don’t leave me hanging.’ Lightning stood waiting for a fist-bump goodbye.
Rainbow grinned and bumped fists and turning slightly for a little slap with their wings. ‘See you in a month, although it wouldn’t surprise me if they promoted us early.’
‘I hope they do, I’m sick of being called “newbie”.’
‘There’ll be new newbie cadets for us to pick on next time.’ Rainbow said, rubbing her hands together, remembering all the applications she had to go through yesterday.
Lightning Dust flashed her a grin. ‘See ya, Dash!’
‘Later, Dust!’
‘Hey Dash!’
Rainbow gave a start and noticed Thunderlane and Cloud Kicker hovering above her, waving.
‘Wanna do the fly home together?’ Cloud Kicker asked.
Dash sighed, that meant a slower trip. ‘Yeah, whatever.’
Thunderlane and Cloud Kicker chattered as they ambled at such a slow pace, Dash didn’t have to flap, she could just glide and think. Last night had been, well, strange, and quite exhausting really. Spitfire had shared her concerns and said she would contact her with something she wanted someone on the outside of the academy to know. In the meantime, she had said, to just get on with life as normal.
'Normal' Rainbow chuckled dryly, she was part of the ‘Elements of Harmony’, she had a princess for a best friend, she lived in a town on the edge of the Everfree Forest and she was a Wonderbolt about to enter the final stage of her training. She wasn’t normal, she didn’t have a normal life, normal was boring anyway.
Although, speaking of normalcy, she had weather duty the next afternoon, she realised with a groan.
She crossed her fingers behind her back as she rose up peering around a mountain in hopes that the emergency weather team hadn’t completely thrown the weather out of whack. A little bit crooked and uneven spread, the attempt at ‘partly cloudly’ over town was fine, for a bunch of novices. Rainbow could see where Derpy had been; on the woodland out of town were perfectly shaped clouds, but they ranged from cumulus congestus to cumulonimbus. Thankfully there weren’t any buildings on the outskirts for Derpy to destroy.
Applejack’s farm however, had a light shower happening, although Dash had the feeling it had blown in from the Everfree Forest and happily parked itself there. Still, AJ would be happy for rain, it was something she had complained to Dash; her crops loved the water and Cloudsdale’s distribution rations weren’t enough for her.
Rarity would always complain about the rain, and how it mussed up her hair. Twilight was more or less indifferent and would often say something science-y about weather. Fluttershy would inject about how rain refreshed everything and then Pinkie Pie would say something completely random and then go of on an irrelevant tangent, inevitably arriving at the idea that they should have a party.
Dash suddenly realised she was pumping her wings, leaving Cloud Kicker and Thunderlane far behind. She was so eager to get home and see her friends. Lightning Dust had become a great friend, albeit a little bit arrogant – Spitfire had mostly beaten that out of her though. But she couldn’t replace her best friends, as stubborn, stuck-up, shy, egg-headish or random as they were, she had a special connection, a magical connection, a friendship like no other.
She arrived at her house in no time at all, dumping her bag onto her bed before ripping it open and rummaging for her lead-pony badge and the two awards she had received while she had been there to show her friends. What’s a little show-boating between friends?
Rainbow paused, her hands wrapping around a rather bulky package and pulling it out. It was wrapped up in birthday paper, a little card attached to the top with her name in it – in Spitfire’s handwriting. She tore into the paper and found a proper note underneath.
Rainbow Dash, this package contains information for you and an item I have placed in your care. I don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands. May I suggest you do this after any celebrations you have, or even after recovery from any celebrations you have. You’ll need to be able to focus and think clearly. Although don’t leave this too late.
Permission to party hard was granted, between the lines. Feeling very much awake now, Rainbow dashed through a quick shower before tearing towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Unknown to her, she was watched as she sped away from her unguarded house.
Rainbow Dash found Sweet Apple Acres to be completely devoid of Applejack. Fluttershy’s cottage was empty, save for a few mice.
Rarity’s Boutique was closed for the day.
‘Sugarcube Corner,’ Spike directed her after he made her pick up all the books she had knocked off the shelves when she had come bounding in.
‘Y’know, if they wanted to be subtle about a surprise party, they shouldn’t have all gone into hiding.’
Spike shrugged. ‘You know Pinkie Pie.’
‘Indeed I do,’ Rainbow said. She stood in front of seemingly dead Sugarcube Corner with a mix of fear and anticipation. Bracing herself slightly she stepped over the threshold into the darkened store.
A loud hushing noise relieved her tension a bit.
‘Oh gee, why is it so dark in here?’ Rainbow said loudly.
Her question was answered with a bad attempt to hide giggles.
‘Pinkie Pie? Are you home? Helloooooo?’ Rainbow flicked at the light switch with her wing, the lights revealing a “WELCOME HOME, DASHIE!” banner in the centre of the store, balloons and streamers and mountains of food were a welcome sight – but none more than the five grinning girls who stood under the banner. ‘SURPRISE!’ A communal shout greeted her.
Quickly followed by a pink blur and a tackle to the ground.
‘Pinkie Pie, get off of me!’
‘Let ‘er up, sugarcube.’
‘Didja miss us? Huh? Huh? Huh?’
Rainbow stood up to give Pinkie a proper hug. ‘Course I did, Pinkie Pie.’
It was a minute before Pinkie could be pried off of Rainbow Dash, but any over-squeezing and friend-hogging was forgotten as they indulged in food, punch, stories and each other’s company.
~
Rainbow groaned, her hangover was absolutely killing her. What had Pinkie put in that punch?! She debated going back to sleep, she had had so little in the past few days, and her head was really too heavy to even think about lifting. Or thinking.
Rainbow dozed, revelling in the comfort of her own cool bed; Wonderbolt bunks were too hard and hot. Thunderclouds rumbled softly and wind blew gently through her house, creating a rocking effect as her house gently tugged on the magic that kept it in one place.
Rainbow drifted in and out of consciousness. The gentle breeze that washed over her was relaxing and the sound of the storm was comfort to her ears. She preferred the cool over the heat, more moisture in the air to work with; the rainbows she created lingered in the sky longer.
The hangover ebbed, just leaving her with a dull headache and parched mouth. Rainbow debated whether it was worth getting up or whether she should try to drink her pillow. She buried her face in the packed cloud, water droplets formed on her face from the action. After poking her tongue out into the cloud pillow for a moment, she decided that getting up was less effort.
She stretched, cracked her neck and sat up, and almost lay back down again at the sight of her untidy house that greeted her. That is, until, she spotted the package Spitfire had sent sitting among the mess.
After several glasses of water, two cups of coffee, her morning wing-ups, apples and bran for breakfast, a glass of juice, a trip to the bathroom, and a bit of a tidy up (something more akin to “shove everything into a pile”) later, Rainbow sat at the bench, fingers nervously tapping as she stared down the package.
She had re-read the note, and it really hadn’t given anything away or any warning as to what it contained. Rainbow sipped at her third cup of coffee and slipped her fingers under the tape that held the wrapping together with a lot more caution than she had yesterday.
There were several items in there, most notably a case file that had looked as if the status of the case had changed so many times, marked from “TOP SECRET” to “SOLVED” to “REISTATED” to “INCONCLUSIVE” to what appeared to be the most recent “COLD CASE”. Putting that aside, Rainbow saw other folders, full of papers and clippings.
But the thing that caught Rainbow’s attention the most was the plain brown box – the exact same box that had been delivered to Spitfire’s desk. It had been opened and resealed and this time a proper note was attached, albeit it had been hastily scrawled on – Spitfire had obviously been in a hurry.
Rainbow Dash, Sorry to be so secretive, and I’m sorry I had to push this on you, but I don’t know who to trust in this situation. As I have already told you, I have been receiving threats against my life. Of course, threats to the Captain of the Wonderbolts are a common occurrence, but the recent threats appear to be from someone within the Academy and they have hidden themselves well in plain sight. I don’t know who to trust anymore, but I don’t intend to run from this - I have a sworn duty to Celestia that I intend to keep. However, this menace is starting to get very real and cracks in the academy are starting to show. I want to stay ahead of any enemy, be ready for them and stop them before they carry out their threats. I’ve been doing some investigating of my own, and it turns out there might be a connection to another incident that happened when I was a cadet. The copies of newpapers and reports are in relation to these events. I know it says ‘accidental’ but I don’t believe in coincidences. Spitfire PS: This package is the same one you saw being delivered. I’m not sure what it does, and to be truthful I’m a little creeped out by it. I really don’t want to keep it here. Find out more about it? PPS: I trust you with all this information, please make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. PPPS: I’ve got your footprint as a bruise from the other night and it’s multicoloured like you. It’s a lovely testament to how well I’ve trained you.
Dash felt a stab of guilt, kicking your superior perhaps wasn’t the best thing to do, but then again at the time she was under the impression that she was being kidnapped.
Focussing back on the box, Rainbow cautiously opened it, slightly wary if it creeped out Spitfire.
A faceless, wooden doll slid out into her waiting hand. For a second she scoffed, was this some kind of joke? She held it up to the light to inspect it and gasped.
The doll had tiny intricate patterns drawn onto it, almost like it was another language written on it. Turning it over in her hands, Rainbow found that all the limbs rotated, a hole in the top, as if meant for hair. Rainbow held it at arms-length, feeling the unease Spitfire was talking about. The doll held an air of expectancy, of barely-restrained power.
Should she take it to Twilight? But then Twilight would want to know why she had it in the first place. Best to find someone who wasn’t as nosy. Who was good with strange artefact stuff?
Rainbow gave a start – she knew exactly who was good with this sort of thing. Should she go to her, or would that raise too much suspicion? Rainbow cast a glance over the other documents – she had her work cut out for her here, she could outsource this to someone who would be interested in the “what” and not in the “why”.
The box was resealed for the second time, Spitfire’s note removed and Rainbow wrote one of her own and after rummaging through some drawers (did I really leave this place this messy when I left?) found some stamps and set to work licking.
~
Rainbow rinsed her mouth with coffee – next time she bought stamps, she’d get the more expensive self-adhering ones so she didn’t need to lick them. She set the box aside and spread the documents out over the bench.
They all had sticky notes on them, Spitfire giving a little commentary on each item. The one that caught Rainbow’s eye had an old newspaper sticking out of it – the little note provided read “All the newspaper reports on the fire – I still need to find that young girl.”
Rainbow opened up the folder and promptly dropped her coffee with a gasp. The hot liquid splashing against her leg as the mug bounced on the cloud-packed floor. Rainbow didn’t notice as she leant down to inspect the front cover. A younger looking Spitfire was protectively holding the small girl against her.
‘It can’t be!’ Rainbow’s fingers ran over the faces in the picture. ‘Cadet Spitfire rescued a small child from the burning building that Wonderbolt Captain Firefly tragically died in,’ Rainbow read softly to herself. ‘What is Spitfire having me look at?!’
Rainbow flipped open the folders to reveal document after document of Firefly’s death – the case file contained reports on the fire, the other documents were statements given by witnesses, reports and theories on how the whole thing wasn’t an accident but a murder, all the information on Firefly, all the information on Spitfire, all the threats to Spitfire pointed back to Firefly.
Rainbow’s knees gave out on her and she fell onto the floor. Tears splashed down her cheeks. A newspaper clipping slowly trailed down after her, turning gently in the air. It was the photo she had first seen, Spitfire, holding the girl tightly.
~
Spitfire was in considerable pain, her shoulder still aching from barrelling through the shut doors. But they were outside. She would have felt joy at making it out had she not been met by the paparazzi.
‘GET BACK!’ A voice roared and suddenly there was water. Water all over their precious cameras and notebooks. Spitfire would have to thank Fleetfoot later.
The young girl now clutched at Spitfire, her cries punctuated with coughing and hiccups. Spitfire was glad when Surprise came at her.
‘Get her to an ambulance,’ she said, thrusting the girl into Surprise’s arms ‘I’m going back for Firefly.’
~
‘Hey, Dashie!’
Rainbow jumped, and hastily shoved the package into the mail box, the last thing she needed was Pinkie getting involved. ‘Hey, Pinkie.’
‘Whatcha sendin’?’ Pinkie said in a sing-song voice.
‘Uh - mail.’
‘Ooh! Is it like a super-duper-top-secret package from the Wonderbolts that you need to know what it is to see if it can help you solve a super-duper-top-secret cold case that you’re ...’
‘Pinkie.’ Rainbow hissed.
‘Oops, sorry, top secret.’ Pinkie made a motioning of zipping her lips, paused, unzipped her lips. ‘Super-duper.’
‘Will you cut that out?’
‘I dunno, you got any scissors?’
Rainbow groaned. ‘Pinkie Pie, can we not talk about it, or mention it – please.’ Rainbow turned to walk down the street.
Pinkie fell into step beside her ‘Ok, how abouts we talk about the super-duper-top-secret Surprise party instead?’ Rainbow stopped in her tracks. ‘What party?’
‘Oh, I can’t talk about it, silly, it’s a secret.’ Pinkie hummed through a grin while Rainbow briefly tried to puzzle out what her friend had just said.
She decided, for her sanity’s sake, to just pin it down to Pinkie Pie just being Pinkie Pie.
While she had the chance, Rainbow changed the topic. ‘So, what did I miss while I was gone?’ Inwardly she cursed herself for not picking a different question to ask and braced herself for the onslaught of words that Pinkie’s excessively large intake of breath forewarned.
‘Well, at the bakery we had seven special cake orders, and that’s not including the regular order for blueberry muffins for Derpy or the bran cookies for the retirement village. You should have seen the cake I made for Berry Pinch’s birthday, it was five-tier, each layer with a different berry flavour all frosted in creamy chocolate frosting.’ Pinkie shivered, ‘It was heaven Rainbow Dash.
Oh and the party was so sweet! It was one of six... or maybe seven parties I helped with while you were gone? Maybe seven cause I don’t remember being at the party, but I must have and I tested my new punch and I think it may have been a little too strong, cause I don’t remember the party but I woke up and I was upsy-down in a barrel, with a rather fetching sharpie moustache – oh I was tangled in a fishing net with two champagne bottles and a rather nice man – he was dressed in a police uniform, oh but he wasn’t a policeman, he was just dressed like that for fun.
We were handcuffed together, but he was still passed out, and now that I think about he was kinda cute like that, he had really defined muscles and a cute butt and he was obviously packing a very big...’
‘PINKIE PIE!’ Rainbow yelled, her face red. ‘Too much information!’
‘Gee Rainbow, I was going to say ‘gun’.’
‘Oh my gosh Pinkie, look...’
‘Ooh, you’ve got to pop in and see Rarity, she’s got this new fashion line that’s all about the sky and the weather and it’s really breezy, you’ll like it. Ooh, and she’s made little blankets for Fluttershy to make beds for her little critters, she had this cute little chipmunk and it so sick, but Fluttershy saved it and nursed it back to health.’
‘Of course she did.’ Rainbow mumbled.
‘Um, what else about our friends? Oh! Twilight got the new Daring Do book, and Applejack said she had some issues with a trespasser and people sneaking around the farm...’
‘Whoa! Backup, what did you say?’
‘There were people trespassing...’
‘No, before that, a new Daring Do?! Why didn’t you say?!’ Rainbow Dash turned heel and flew off fast.
Pinkie waved goodbye ‘Because you didn’t ask, silly! Oh no, wait, you did, sort of? Now what was I doing?’ Pinkie blinked and glanced around, the street was rather empty, save for Derpy emptying the Post Box. ‘Hi Derpy!’
‘Hi, Pinkie!’Derpy smiled back and Pinkie felt a little shiver of satisfaction.
‘It’s great to see you smiling, Derpy, you were looking slightly put-out this morning when you came for your usual morning muffin.’
A frown settled over Derpy’s features. ‘Yeah, someone broke into the post office last night. Everything was all-over the place! Ugh, not again...’ Derpy glanced down at the large package, the one Rainbow had put in moments before. ‘I’ve already been to Prance twice this month. I was really hoping for a trip to The Crystal Empire this week.’
Pinkie eyed the package. ‘Well, it looks important, like “deliver-me-now” important. Would you like a muffin for the trip?’
