> Too Close to the Sun
>  by UnweptSchlipps
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Dead Air
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a brief moment of static, the close-up face of a pony appears on the screen. The picture zooms out, revealing the face of a young, gray-furred stallion. Behind him is a backdrop of dark brown mountains silhouetted against the clear blue sky. The stallion wears a familiar blue and yellow jumpsuit, and his goggles perched clumsily on his wind-blown mane. As he sets up the camera, he begins to whistle a short (and moderately off-key) tune, letting out a few annoyed scoffs as he worked. Finally, placing the device on a table across from his position, he leans back on the railing of the watchtower, unfurling his wings which have been aching for some action.

His whistling soon ceases, and is replaced by a snarky grin. Taking time to try and fix his permanently scruffy mane, the young pegasus begins, “So since I’ve got nothin’ better to do, I figured I might as well record myself on the job. A little shout out to the folks back home, y’know?”

The stallion has a slight Manehatten accent, tinged with boredom and restlessness. He checks something off-screen before continuing, “So today is…June 13….Friday the 13th, actually, if you believe in superstition. Been only a week since I graduated the Academy. Second day on the actual job.” Rolling his eyes and letting out a huge sigh, he adds, “And not surprisingly, I’m stuck with watchtower duty.”

He turns his gaze to the open sky, as though trying to follow through with his assigned post. But after some time, he just shakes his head and turns back to the camera, which is still rolling. “Me an’ my pal Stormspike are the newest recruits ‘round here, so everypony’s been callin’ us the ‘Rookie Blues’,” he iterates, shrugging. “It ain’t so bad, I guess. The Wonderbolts treat their newbies pretty nice, considering the whole military aspect.”

“I asked somepony when was the last time this place has been in any real danger. He said about seven years ago, back when Discord broke loose. Seven years, man!” The pegasus gives a sarcastic chuckle, shaking his head. He soon settles back down, closing his eyes as he leans his head back against a metal post. With his hooves tucked calmly behind his head, he says quietly, “I guess I can see why newbies get stuck with guard duty and all that. But would it kill ‘em to give us some sort of action-?”

Suddenly, a loud crash resounds from off-screen. The stallion shoots up, startled, glancing around the watchtower for the source of the noise. “What was that?” he asks. Calling out to another tower across from him, he says, “Yo, Stormspike! Did you see where that came from?”

Before he could get a response, another metallic crash happens, ending with a deep thud and the sound of snapping wings. “STORM!” the Manehatten stallion cries out fearfully, readying his wings to take off.

But he would never get the chance. A loud explosion is heard coming from the base of the watchtower. The boom rocks the metal structure, forcing the young stallion to stumble to the floor. The camera is shaken off the table, but not before catching a glimpse of dark shapes appearing in the sky. There is a creaking noise, which slowly builds and builds into a crescendo of metal scraping along metal. The camera is able to catch just a second of free-fall, tumbling through the air, blending the sky and earth into a single blur. A scream of terror can be heard falling next to it, the sound of a young pegasus caught in a helpless somersault.

But the yell is cut short. And the picture…static once more…

Spitfire held the partially trashed camera loosely in her hooves, the cracked screen showing the face of the young Manehatten stallion smirking into the lens. She had watched the tape, oh by Celestia’s mane how she watched that tape! The commander had viewed it over and over again, looking at the face of the recruit she had sent on his way only a week before. Now, the video was stuck on one single line in particular, being replayed over and over.

 “June 13…Friday the 13th.”

Today’s date: June 14.

The base she now stood in was simply called Equestrian Border B. The Wonderbolt had been there many times before. Even now, with all the buildings crumbled to dust and rubble, she could still point out where things once stood. The Mess Hall…the barracks…even the gym…, she thought as she casted her gaze amongst the smoldering rubble.  Everything…destroyed.

Whatever had swept through had done its work on the Wonderbolt-run military base. Heaps of broken rubble and ashes littered the ground, thrown everywhere due to the explosion. Twisted metal working lay collapsed, showing signs of where watchtowers once stood. And worst of it all? The sheer amount of body bags laying wherever flat ground could be found. Bare corpses were still scattered throughout the ruined airbase, faces of ponies Spitfire knew.

Although nopony could see past her thick aviator sunglasses, Spitfire’s eyes began to glisten as sadness overtook her mind. Both sadness, and evidenced by the grinding of her teeth, anger.

She was so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed the pegasus touching down behind her. The landing pegasus slipped off her goggles and rubbed her eyes sadly. Tentatively approaching the fiery-maned commander, the mare said, “Hey, Spits?”

Spitfire slowly turned around, her brows raised in surprise. “Wha—oh. It’s you, Fleet.”

The two longtime members stood amidst the rubble in silence. The attack had hit both pegasi hard, and neither veteran knew exactly how to respond. Fleetfoot noticed the device dangling from Spitfire’s back, and she muttered, “So, you saw that video too, huh?”

Spitfire responded with a nod, keeping her features hardened despite the boiling sensation in the pit of her stomach. Fleet continued, “That’s one of the only videos we’ve got of this…massacre.” The last word shot off her tongue as though it were a poison. It was an unspeakable word, unthinkable, impossible. And yet here they were, the proof laying all around them in over a hundred body bags.

“Most of the video cameras were completely destroyed except the two in the back lot, which only caught a few pieces of flying rubble,” Fleetfoot relayed, faltering a bit as she spoke. “Whoever…or whatever did this, they knew what they were doing.”

Spitfire gave another slow nod, turning her head towards a large hole in a concrete wall. Her mind kept going back to the camera hanging off her back. “Poor kid. Had no idea what he was getting into.”

“What?” Fleet asked.

Still facing away, Spitfire continued, “These were our friends, Fleet. Man…I sent most of them here myself. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything so…devastating. And we don’t even know who the hay came in and killed them!”

Fleetfoot tilted her to the side. “Spits, that’s the other thing I need to tell you. The attack--”

But Spitfire either didn’t hear or didn’t care, and the fiery mare continued to speak. She turned her head slightly towards her companion, the noon sun reflecting sharply off her sunglasses. And frankly, she had know Spitfire for so long, Fleetfoot didn’t need to see her face to know that she was fuming. And the vet also knew that when Spitfire got riled up, nopony was safe.

With narrowed eyes and a voice sharp enough to cut steel, the Wonderbolt leader said, “But whoever did this…whoever killed my team…they’re going to pay. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure of that.”

“Then I think you’re going to want to see this,” Fleetfoot stated, pulling out a small package from a pouch in her uniform. “Found it in the middle of the landing pad, on top of a crate. Almost like…they wanted us to find it.”

She handed the package over the Spitfire, who gingerly held the box in her hooves. It was a tiny, seemingly innocent little black box, the kind might hold jewelry. But needless to say, when Spitfire flipped the lid open, she wasn’t greeted by a shimmering jewel. What she did see, however, was enough to make her jaw drop in shock. She slammed the lid shut, squeezing the box tightly as she grinded her teeth.

“Get me a messenger,” she commanded urgently.

“Who should I send?” was Fleetfoot’s answer.

“The fastest you can get.”

Giving a self-assured chuckle, Fleet saluted and replying, “Just tell me where to go, ma’am.”

“Ponyville. You know who.”

“Then it looks like I’m off.” With that, Fleetfoot shot off into the sky, living up to her name. Within seconds, the pegasus was but a speck on the horizon, leaving Spitfire in the ruins of Border B. So this is what the world’s come to, huh?, she thought, slowly flourishing her wings. She gave a short flap before slowly ascending into the air, away from the smoke and the commotion, to a place where she could clearly think.

As the commander flew up to the very same spot where the young stallion had stood a day earlier, she looked out at the horizon. And to her surprise, the picturesque backdrop remained the same, perhaps the only thing that hadn’t changed that day.



> It Only Takes a Feather...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dash...there's trouble. I know this is going to sound crazy...

Rainbow Dash’s mane was hectic, or at least more hectic than it usually was, especially with her goggles pinning her forelock back messily. Her Wonderbolt uniform was tied in a bundle on her back. After all, judging by Fleetfoot’s urgent message, the cyan mare couldn’t waste any time dressing up. She had raced all the way to Wonderbolt Academy, never slowing down along the way.

Now the pegasus trotted down the familiar halls, trying to remember the layout that had been burned into her mind from all the training. It actually felt quite odd, considering she hadn’t stepped hoof in the training facility since she had graduated almost...was it five years now? However, now circumstances were quite different from when she was a cadet; now, there were to be no warm welcomes.

Finally, the rainbow-maned pegasus found her herself standing in front of Spitfire’s quarters. It’s been a while, she thought as she stood before the mahogany doorway, her now-commander’s name emblazoned on the front. She couldn’t help but remember the time when she had stormed out of this very same door, almost giving up her dream. And yet here she was years later, a Wonderbolt. And not only that, but a sergeant as well, one of the organization’s best. 

Puffing out her chest, the mare pushed through the door, saying, “Spitfire! I came down here as soon as I could.” 

Spitfire was slouched over her desk, the little black box still held tightly in his hooves. Upon Dash’s brash entry, she quickly sat herself up and stated, “Rainbow Dash, I’m glad you made it. This is a--”

“Fleetfoot told me about what happened down at the border,” Dash interrupted, a look of worry printed on her face. “Everything she said…was it true?”

“I don't know what Fleetfoot said, but I can assure you this is a dire--"

“How many were killed? Who could have done this? How did those monsters--?”

“Rainbow Dash!” the commander shouted, pounding her hooves on the desk. Dash could almost feel her eyes piercing through her thick sunglasses, a glare she had seen many times before. Settling back down, Spitfire continued, “I will tell you everything you need to know. Just stand still and be quiet.”

“Yes ma’am,” Dash piped.

Spitfire slowly removed her aviator glasses, a sure sign, Dash knew, that she meant business. The cyan pegasus looked into her superior’s eyes, which seemed to burn just like her fiery mane. And whenever that happened, it usually meant a bad time for whomever it was directed towards.

Spits began, “So Fleetfoot has already filled you in on what happened?” Dash responded with a curt nod. “Then you already know things are looking grim,” Spitfire said gravely. “We have been attacked Rainbow Dash. Our base near the northern borders has been destroyed. Almost two hundred were killed. All of them were either Royal Guards or our own.” After pausing to let out a deep sigh, the superior continued, “Sixty wounded, all of whom have been transported in critical condition. The rest of them, about fifty ponies in all, are missing in action.  Captured. Including…Soarin.”

“They got Soarin?” Rainbow Dash asked in disbelief.

Sadly nodding, Spitfire began to rub her temple. “But, even stranger, there was no sign of enemies. Whoever did this left no trace of who they were. The only thing they left was a destroyed base and two hundred of our comrades dead.”

“Then we don’t know who did this?” 

“Well, I suppose what I said wasn’t entirely true,” Spitfire answered. “They did leave one thing behind. This.” She tossed the box over to Dash, who deftly snatched it out of the air. Rainbow flipped the box open with her snout, revealing a slender feather, painted dark red. The pegasus stared at the seemingly harmless feather with raised eyebrows, obviously not quite getting what Spitfire meant.

Right on cue, Spitfire asked, “Do you know what that is?”

“A…painted feather?” Dash replied sheepishly. 

“Well yes…but do you know what that means?”

After taking a moment to ponder, the cyan mare shook her head and replied, “Sorry Spits…er, ma’am. I don’t.”

“Never were one for history, kid,” Spitfire said with a half-hearted chuckle. “Back when Equestria was on its first legs as an empire, painted feathers was used by the old pegasi tribes to symbolize many things. Green usually meant it was harvest time. White meant peacetime. And red…” Her voice trailed off, as though she couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought. Finally after a short pause, she let that single taboo word slip off her tongue: “War.”

“So whoever sent this is trying to declare war? On…us?” Dash asked in shock. Her wings were spread out to the side, rigid as planks. Her striking magenta eyes told it all; a story of anger, disbelief, and just plain fear.  She cried, “But Equestria hasn’t fought a war in, like, hundreds of years!”

“Exactly, Dash. This kingdom, no matter how large it might be, isn’t ready for war. Heck, Canterlot could barely stand up to a bunch of shape-shifting bugs.” Spitfire stood up from her desk and began to pace back and forth, her eyes shifting along the floor, and her lips pursed lightly. “When the status quo’s been peace and love for the past few centuries, going into battle ain’t going to be easy for anypony. And this isn’t an ordinary feather either. Does it look like a pegasus feather to you, Rainbow?”

The cyan pegasus began, “Well no, now that you mention it. It looks more like a…a…” She began to inspect the slim feather in the box, holding it up for closer scrutiny. The pointed edges, the blade-like shape, the barbed end, not to mention the fact that it was much larger than a normal pegasus. Dash began to search her memory for the creature that this feather belonged to, and frankly, she didn’t have to look very far. All she needed to do was remember a certain loud-beaked former friend from flight-school.  “It’s a griffon feather,” Dash uttered, placing the feather back in its container.

“Unfortunately, that’s correct,” Spitfire responded. “I don’t know if you’ve been aware of this, Rainbow. But our northern neighbors, Lunavut and Venieghzuela, have had unrest brewing for the last few years. And amidst all the craziness, one face has risen to the top. The new face of the revolution. A griffon who calls himself General Razorbeak.”

The commander reached into a cabinet in her desk, pulling out and placing a small, grainy photo on top. The picture was of a disarmingly small griffon, probably only as big as a regular stallion. But despite his stature, his legs were tree trunks, chiseled and thick. The griffon’s wings were spread proudly, revealing a very conditioned (and huge) pair of flyers. He wore a steel helmet, not unlike the kind the Royal Guards wore atop his head, decorated with a few stars and what seemed to be an animal bone. But what captivated Dash most of all was his sharp blue eyes, shining with the confidence to go along with his smug smile. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, Dash might have thought she and him had that much in common at least. But Dash just shook her head, mentally scolding, He’s a murderer. A savage. I’m not.

While she observed the photo, Spitfire continued, “As you know, Lunavut is griffon territory. A while back, they helped overthrow the rulers in Veneighzuela, placing Razorbeak in command of both countries. And now, with two countries at his back, I’m afraid he’s got his sights on even bigger prey.”

“Equestria,” Rainbow finished.

“Exactly. And this massacre was his first message.” 

Those words began to sink into both pegasi. Leaning on her table, Spitfire said grimly, “We won’t win a head-on fight against those griffons, Rainbow Dash. From the moment they are hatched, those beasts are trained to go to war. They are savage, ruthless, cunning...and that’s only when they fight against each other. Now that they’re all united under a single leader, there no telling what they’ve got in store. Combine that with the fanatic ponies of Venieghzuela…”

“It’s an invasion waiting to happen,” Rainbow Dash finished once again.

“Yes…exactly.” The yellow pegasus began to twirl her sunglasses in her hooves, glaring at Dash intently. “Razorbeak is as smart as he is dangerous. That is why I need a team to keep tabs on the bird. Watch him closely, figure out his plans, and sabotage his army if they can. If we’re going to even stand a fighting chance, let alone prevent a war, we need to go in there now. Destroy his army from the inside out. Wreak havoc in the country and destroy their morale. We’re playing a mind game right now, and that’s a game I know we can win.”

The cyan mare raised her brow, asking, “So who’s going in? You?”

Shaking her head, Spitfire replied, “No. I’m needed here, so I can prep our men for whatever’s going to happen. Celestia’s orders.”

“Then…who’s going?” Dash inquired unknowingly.

Slowly placing her glasses back on her desk, Spitfire uttered, “It’s you, Dash.”

At first, Rainbow Dash could only raise her brow, waiting for Spitfire to say she was joking. But when all she got from her commander was a stern glare, the cyan pegasus’s shot wide open. She took a step back, her jaw slowly opening as what Spitfire said continued to sink in. Quite a few words began to run through her mind at that moment, and none of them were very good or, frankly, appropriate. But the only one Dash could bring herself to say was, “W-what?”

Unfazed, Spitfire replied, “You’re going to be the one spearheading this. You’re the only one who can.”

Trying and failing to remain as cool and collected as possible, Rainbow Dash stammered, “But-but Spits! Are you sure?”

Clearing her throat and lowering her voice to mask her surprise, she continued, “I mean, it’s not that, y’know, I don’t want to or anything. But what about the other officers? I’ve never led my own team on a mission like this before! And-and…if I fail, this could plunge Equestria into a war!” And although she’d never say it out loud, another thought lingered in her mind:  I don’t know if can handle it.

Spitfire could sense Rainbow’s apprehension, even if she tried her best to mask it. Spitfire knew Dash was nervous, and rightfully so. After all, it’s not every day somepony gets called to prevent a full-scale war. However, Spitfire remained adamant in her decision, saying, “Dash, I called you here because you are the only one who could do this. You’ve got a kind of speed, stamina, and strength unparalleled by any of my officers. And not only that, you’ve got the leadership to pull this off. And that’s a combination I’ve only seen in a handful of ponies my entire life.”

Staring into the cyan mare’s eyes, the veteran flyer spoke, "Listen to me, Dash. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you. This is a dangerous mission. You’re going deep into enemy territory with nothing but a small team of pegasi at your back. I want you to know that if you or anypony else gets caught…we can’t help you. You’ll be on your own.” 

With a soft voice not usually heard from the hardened commander, she continued, “But you won’t fail; I know you won’t. I’ve only the utmost confidence in you. You’re one of the best Wonderbolts I’ve ever had the pleasure of commanding. And I know that a few months from now, you’ll be coming home a hero.” Extending her hoof, Spitfire asked, “So Rainbow Dash? Will you do it?” 

Rainbow Dash hesitated, glancing around the room for some kind of sign. First, she saw the picture of General Razorbeak, his smug blue eyes seeming to taunt her, goad her. She looked at the red feather now fallen on the ground near her hooves. And finally, she found Spitfire’s brilliant orange eyes, which resonated with confidence. Confidence that could only be directed for her.

Rainbow Dash could feel hundreds of thoughts racing through her mind at a million miles per second. But through that muddled cloud, one thing was clear. Equestria, her home, her friends were in danger. And frankly, that was all the reason Dash needed.

Grasping her commander’s hoof, the cyan pegasus stated valiantly, “Yes ma’am. I won’t let you down.”

“Good then. I know you won’t,” Spitfire answered. Giving a confident smirk, she added, "You never were one to back down from a challenge, Dash."

Sitting back behind her desk, the yellow pegasus whipped on her glasses once again, asserting, “But first things first, there’s the matter of selecting your team. You’re the leader; it’s up to you to choose. But remember, this is a mission for the best of the best. Choose wisely, then report to the base at Bronco’s Bluff so we can brief you.”

“Wait, you want me to pick out my team?” Rainbow asked.

“That’s right. I don’t care who they are. I just want the best you can find.” Saluting, Spitfire commanded, “Dismissed.”

Returning the salute, Rainbow Dash began to exit the office. But just as she was about to slip out the door, Spitfire called, “And Rainbow Dash?”

“Yes ma’am?” 

“I think this should go without saying, but this is a classified mission. I know how close you are with your friends. But you can’t tell anypony, understand?”

Pausing for just a few seconds, Dash then nodded her head, replying, “Of course, Spits.”

Dash exited into the lonely hallway, where nopony could see the fact that she was actually nervous. It didn’t happen often to the normally brash and confident pegasus. But then again, she had just accepted a mission that could threaten the lives of both her and her team. Not to mention the fact that, should she fail, the lives of all the citizens of Equestria would be endangered as well. No pressure, she thought cynically as she began her lonely march down the dim corridor.

Taking a deep breath, Rainbow Dash thought to herself, Gotta take things one at a time, Dash. One at a time…

And the first thing on her list of duties? Finding a team of ponies skilled enough, and willing enough, to accompany her.

> The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Years ago, Rainbow Dash stood in an oval-shaped room, her head held high, her eyes glittering as she thought of the future that lied ahead. Framed pictures of pegasi hung all around the room, each one proudly sporting the blue jumpsuit Dash had been looking up to all her life. These ponies were Wonderbolts, but not just any Wonderbolts. They were legends, and Rainbow could easily name every single one of them. She was literally surrounded by greatness, a thought that sent a shiver down her spine. Someday, my face is gonna be on one of those pictures, Dash thought excitedly, glancing about the room with wide eyes. And to make the moment even better, another sure-fire legend stood before her, observing her from behind a pedestal. I wonder why Spitfire called me in here personally. Probably to congratulate me or something.

Suddenly, the fiery-maned and recently-promoted commander shouted, “Rainbow Dash!”

“Reporting for duty, ma’am!” the pegasus called, giving a salute with a confident grin on her face.

“No need for formalities, Rainbow Dash. I didn’t call you in here to drill you. I called you because we needed to talk.”

Rainbow Dash put down her hoof, her spirited smile still glued to her face. After all, she had reason to be so confident. About two weeks ago she had completed the Wonderbolt Academy Training Course with Top Honors, the golden medal now dangling from her flight-suit. Then yesterday, she received the letter she had been waiting for all her life, acceptance into East Mount Academy, or as she put it, “the real Wonderbolts Academy”. The pegasus wasted no time packing her bags, and after an emotional goodbye to all her friends, she took off. And now here she was, standing in the building where Wonderbolts were made, and her dreams would come true. She was officially a Rookiebolt now, and Dash knew her life-long goal was within reach. Heck, part of her thought it was only going to be a matter of seconds.

While Dash daydreamed about the past few days, Spitfire began speak. “You and I have quite a storied history, don’t you think? You’ve won the Best Young Flier Competition, you’re a trusted advisor to Celestia, you’ve passed the first two weeks with flying colors, and of course, you’ve saved my life.”

Yes, yes, and yes, Dash thought, containing the small snicker beginning to turn up on her lips.

“You probably think yourself the most qualified pony to be here. Understandably so. And to that, Rainbow Dash, I say…”

Gonna make me a Wonderbolt already, Spits? I thought this would be more of a challenge.

“You can just get the heck out of my Academy if that’s how you’re gonna think.”

Her head snapped towards the commander, her smile now deflated, her eyes seeming to have lost their luster. Dash had felt like she had been jolted, punched in the gut. And she all could muster was a quiet, “W-what?”

“You heard me.” Spitfire stood up and leaned over the podium, peering down at the shrunken pegasus. “Don’t think I haven’t been keeping an eye on you, Dash. Frankly, during the Lightning Dust situation, I should’ve kicked both of you square out of the academy. The way you handled it afterwards showed that you’ve got your head in the right place, which is more than I can say for Dust. But how can I trust somepony on my squad if they’ve got a cocky attitude like yours?”

Rainbow Dash sat back on her haunches, her ears drooping from Spitfire’s words. She tried her best to keep eye-contact with the stern Wonderbolt, who continued, “When it comes down to it, leading a team isn’t about being its best player. It’s about making sure everypony is playing their best. And that’s something you have yet to show me, Dash. You’re a skilled flyer, maybe even one of the best. But I’m still not sure if you can make others better as well. So you'd best wipe that stupid smug grin off your face.”

Pointing a hoof at shocked pegasus, Spitfire stated, “Your past deeds hold no bearings here. This is an unbiased academy; here, you are put on equal grounds as everypony else. And so, you’ll start at square one like the rest of the rookies. You’ve still got a long way to go before I’ll be willing to call you one of our own, kid. All those so-called ‘amazing accomplishments’ you’ve done don’t matter anymore. All that matters is what you do now.You understand me, Dash?”

“Y-yes ma’am,” was the reply, barely above a whisper.

“Good. Now get outta here, and get to work.” With that, Spitfire turned to some papers on her desk, never giving so much as a nod to the recruit.

So Dash trudged out of the room, the framed portraits’ eyes following her out, mocking her. She made her way into the hallway, the door behind her swinging shut. Her eyes, which had begun to well up with tears, never left the floor. She stood there in that lonely hallway for what seemed like an eternity, Spitfire’s words still ringing in her ears. And for the first time ever, Dash felt something uneasy in the pit her gut. For the first time, she felt completely humbled.

What’d I get myself into? Dash thought, curling up against the wall, where nopony could see her. There, she closed her eyes, and began to think. 

All that matters is what you do now.

That phrase ran through her mind over and over and over again getting louder and louder each time. Until finally her eyes shot open, a look of realization painted across her face. Rainbow shook her head, wiping away her tears with a swipe of her hoof. She stood up with her chin high and her chest out, a new kind of energy buzzing in her eyes. Spitfire had called her in for a reason, and now she knew why. It wasn’t to bag on her, but to challenge her. 

And I never back down from a challenge, Rainbow thought. She began to head down the hallway, the cocky swagger in her step replaced by a simple march. Before she left however, she gave a stolid glance at the door separating her and her idol, whispering, “Thanks Spits.”

I’ve taken on Discord, Nightmare Moon, changeling, and King Sombra. I can do this too, Spits. I’ll show you. Then she strode away, towards what she knew was going to be a tough, yet bright future. If only she knew just how tough it would be.

Two years later, and Dash couldn’t help but feel like things hadn’t changed too much since that first day. Sure, she was a Wonderbolt now. Sure, she had risen up to the rank of squad leader faster than anypony since, well, Spitfire herself. And sure, there was a pretty big difference between training and averting a national crisis. But despite different circumstances, one thing hadn’t changed one bit. Spitfire had issued a challenge. And although most ponies would have backed down from such a huge task, Dash accepted it.

Only one big problem. Dash needed some help.

The pegasus lay in her cloud home sprawled out on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. In one hoof she held her Top Honors medal, still in pristine condition even after all these years. In her other hoof was a rolled up piece of paper, her list of the ponies she would take along on her mission. At least, it would be, if she could actually make up her mind and write something down.

Dash had been staring at the ceiling for about five minutes, dozens of names flowing through her mind at once. She took a pillow and plopped it down on her face, letting out a long muffled groan. Who the buck is insane enough to do this? Rainbow asked herself. Well, besides me.

Finally, after skulking for another ten minutes, the pegasus sat up on her bed and stared out her window. She could see the rolling hills of Sweet Apple Acres just over the horizon, soaked in the sun’s warm rays. Normally, in situations like this, Dash would ask her friends for advice. But for the first time, this was a problem Rainbow would have to keep a secret. A task easier said than done.

Dash leaned against the windowsill, her head sticking out into the warm air. She closed her eyes and spread her wings, imagining she was soaring high above the clouds, where the cool wind brushed her face like the hoof of an old friend. Dash always could think better when she was flying, her mind as clear as the sky above her. Actually, she probably would have taken off right then and there, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was pretty hard to write a list while hovering thousands of feet above the ground.

Right…the list, Dash thought with a sigh, plodding back to her bed. There were about two thousand Wonderbolt members in Equestria, all of them at her disposal. She remembered the swift pegasus that had brought her the message yesterday, and how, although she had flown to Ponyville in less than a day, she hadn’t even skipped a breath. Fleetfoot. Gotta have her, Dash decided, scribbling the name down on the paper. One name down, however-many-left to go.

Bravewing? No, too brash. Cloudhopper? But I don’t know her that well. Soarin? The name caused her to bury her face in her legs, casting out a long, slow breath. I don’t have any of my friends to help me out…somepony just give me a sign!

Suddenly, a hot blast of wind gusted through the open window, blowing throughout her bedroom. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw something fall off the wall, thudding onto the floor. It was her golden leader pin, glinting with the light streaming from the window. As she seized the keepsake, Dash thought back to her first time leading a team, when she was still a lowly trainee. 

The group of ponies she had been assigned to wasn’t exactly the fastest, or the strongest. So when her squad was challenged to first ever hundred-lap race around the track, it was no surprise they had finished dead last. And to make things worse, in order to catch up, Rainbow had zoomed too far ahead of the rest of her team, leaving them panting in her wake. 

When Spitfire confronted her team, she singled Dash out personally, saying, “You wanna be a leader in this business, Dash? Never leave your teammates. Look at me! Do I ever leave anypony behind?”

To this, Dash foolishly muttered, “Well it’s easy when you’ve got the best wingponies in the world at your back.”

“Now listen here, Dash!” Spitfire told her, stomping the ground to get her attention. “A machine doesn’t work because it’s got the best parts. It works because those parts perfectly mesh together to make a whole. Just because you’ve got the best flyers at your side, doesn’t mean you’ve got the best team too. I make my friends better, and they make me better too. That’s how you win.”

The pin had spoken loud and clear. And just like that, Dash knew who would be coming along for the journey. 

Holding the pencil in her mouth, she scribbled down the names not of the ones who were the swiftest, but of ponies who she knew could get the job done. And not just get the job done, but do it together. At least, that’s what most of them could do.

But there was one name that Dash circled, heaving a sigh before she repeated the name over and over. This name had been swirling around since Spitfire told her to find the best of the best, and yet it was only now that Dash penciled her down, and for a good reason. This was the one name that completely went against all the principles that went into picking the other five. The one name that was there simply because it was literally the best pegasus she could think of.

She’d send the list to Spitfire tomorrow morning. Most of them were Wonderbolts, so finding them wouldn’t be a problem. But her. She was going to have to talk to her personally. Once again, easier said than done.

> Dashes to Dashes, Dust to Dust
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was early in the morning the next day, way too early for Dash’s liking. The sun had barely peaked over the horizon, and the air still held that crisp early morning chill. In fact, if it were any other day on any other month under any other circumstances, she’d still be lying in her cloud home happily dozing off the morning. That was the life of a Wonderbolt on extended leave. And unfortunately for her, that life ended yesterday.

She stood in the empty Ponyville square, leaning against the post office wall. Anxiously tapping her hoof on the ground, she glanced around the scene, scanning for a certain somepony. She repeatedly looked down at an imaginary watch, only to shake her head with a perplexed frown. Dash had been working on her patience the past few years, and yet the events of the past few days basically threw all that out the window.

Just when she was about to take off herself, she spied a shape rising up from behind the buildings. The gray pegasus moved erratically, her wings were beating to their own clumsy beat. Of course, it probably didn’t help that her eyes were closed, her head swaying back and forth with not a care in the world. A bag stuffed with letters hung precariously at her side, the flap barely managing to stay clipped shut.

Finally, and not really to Rainbow’s surprise, the gray pegasus clipped one of the buildings, sending her tumbling to the ground. The mare let out a small yelp, sending a few letters flying as she spun in the air.  Then she slid across the floor on her back, coming to a stop right at Dash’s hooves. She opened her eyes to reveal a pair of misaligned orbs, still shining with glee.

Rainbow stared down at her old friend with mix of embarrassment and delight. With a hint of a smile on her face, she said nonchalantly, “Well it’s about time Der—uh, I mean Ditzy.”

Picking herself off the ground, Ditzy Doo replied, “Oh hi, Rainbow Dash! Wow, what’cha doin’ so early in the morning?”

“Listen Ditzy, I don’t really have much time to talk. Can you do me a favor?”

“Well of course, Rainbow Dash! You can count on me!” Ditzy replied, beaming with pride.

“I need you to make sure this letter gets sent out ASAP, okay? It needs to get there today.” She placed the note in the overflowing bag, adding, “And make sure you don’t lose it.”

“Pssh, come on! Why would I do that?” the mailmare said, quickly whirling around. In doing so, the postage bag smacked against a mailbox, sending a few letters up into the air like confetti. Dash reacted swiftly, shooting forward and scooping up every last letter, including her own note. The Wonderbolt gave Ditzy a slightly-annoyed glare, which was replied with a scratch of the head and a whispered, “Huh, I just don’t know what went—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know you don’t. Just make sure you hurry up, Ditzy. This is important.” After stuffing the letters into her friend’s pack, Dash watched as Ditzy slowly but surely took off into the sky. Rainbow couldn’t help but let out a sigh as the mailmare continued her awkward, inept ascent. However, the Wonderbolt knew Ditzy would always get the job done, and that there were more important things to worry about. Like, for example, getting ready for the dreaded talk with her. 

Rainbow crouched low with her wings spread wide. Her eyes narrowed just as they always did when she prepared to take off right before an important race. Her sights were set on one place, on one pony she’d hoped she would never have to see again. With a racing heart, she leapt up into the air.

And unfortunately, that was all she could do before she was interrupted by a pink head popping out of the mailbox. Dash narrowly stopped herself from zooming straight into the pony’s face, landing squarely on her hooves. 

Pinkie Pie, with her signature panoramic smile painted on her face, cried, “Oh, whatcha doing, Dashie?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and let out a tired scoff, directing her impatient glare to her hyperactive friend. But just as she opened her mouth to reply, Pinkie babbled, “I saw you and Derp—oops, I mean Ditzy talking. What was it about? Ooohh, was that a letter you gave her?”

“Uhh, well…yeah?” 

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie’s face shot closer to Dash’s, who leaned back in surprise. “Is it for your mom? Dad? Aunt? Second cousin twice removed of your uncle’s wife?”

“Pinkie!” Dash shouted, shoving her hoof in her friend’s mouth. Looking around for anypony nearby, the pegasus said in a hushed tone, “It’s just a letter, ‘kay? It’s nothing important.” 

She tried to bolt out of there, but Pinkie continued, “Why are you going so fast, Dashie? Wait, usually you’d still be sleeping right now! Maybe that’s why you look all jumpy! You probably didn’t have enough sleep yesterday. Why didn’t you have enough sleep, huh, huh?”

Finally, Rainbow’s patience wore thin, and she blurted, “I’m flying away to…no, no, wait! I mean—”

“You’re flying somewhere? Why didn’t you tell me sooner!” Pinkie’s eyes widened with excitement, bouncing around much to her friend’s chagrin. “I have to arrange your going-away party, get you gifts, send out invitations…”

“Pinkie!” Dash cried, grabbing hold of Pinkie’s tail. Through a clenched jaw, she hissed, “Listen to me. You can’t tell anypony about this okay? You cannot tell our friends that I’m leaving!”

“But why? Don’t you want us to say goodbye?”

“Well…yes…but…”

Dash couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence, not to the face of one of her longtime friends. Pinkie’s grin had faded away, leaving her lips to curl into a worried pout. Her brows were raised over a pair of orbs that seemed to grow in size. With a hint of confusion in her voice, Pinkie muttered, “We’re your friends. We have to say goodbye, right? That’s what we’ve always done.” 

Dash looked into Pinkie’s eyes, which begged for her to relent. Frankly, Dash had never seen anything as sincere as the tiny frown on her party friend’s face. In the end, the pegasus let out a guilt-ridden sigh and nodded, the Element of Loyalty still holding true. “Okay Pinkie. But not the whole town, okay? Just the others.”

“It’s a deal Dashie,” Pinkie answered, her grin restored. “I’ll go tell the rest of them! When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Then that’s when it’s going to be! See you then!” And with that, the pink pony simply bounced away.

So it was settled. Tomorrow, she’d get to have one last goodbye before her long trip ahead. One last moment to share with her best friends. Frankly, Dash didn’t know whether that would be a blessing or a curse. What if I break down right there?, she thought, trembling just thinking about it. But then again, I don’t know when…if…I’ll get to see them again. And that thought terrified her even more.

But just as she said yesterday, take one step at a time. And there was still one crucial member to her team that she needed to talk to. So after shaking the bad thoughts out of her head, she took off into the sky, headed towards a destination she had scrawled hastily on a notepad just the night before.


xxx


Arid Cloudyard. This is the place…I guess. Dash took in the scenery below her, or at least, what little there was to see. The wasteland certainly lived up to the first half of its name, but the second half, not so much. The ground was practically bleached white, the dirt was cracked, the whole place seemed like it hadn’t seen rain in years. Dried shrubs and cacti dotted the land, small spurts of color in an otherwise bleak desert. 

The rainbow-maned Wonderbolt hadn’t seen any sign of civilization for miles, so naturally she began to wonder if she was headed in the right direction. The last thing she needed was to get lost. This isn’t any place for a pegasus to live, thought Rainbow, unused to the lack of clouds floating next to her.

Finally, after flying for another ten minutes, she spied a small building up ahead. A peculiar white cloud hung over the small abode, covering it from the sun’s blistering rays. The house itself looked out of place, mostly because it was literally situated in the middle of nowhere. It was made of wood despite the fact that there was no tree in sight. Other than that, it seemed to be just a plain old house, nothing fancy, just sturdy enough to survive the heat.

Dash made her way to the front door, touching down gingerly on the porch. She gulped, rubbing her mane nervously as she stared at the door handle. During her flight Dash kept her mind off of this little confrontation, never once thinking she would be this anxious for a stupid little talk. She began to mumble the things she would say over and over, praying that she wouldn’t end up looking like an idiot. Especially not in front of her. Not after everything that went on between them.

Finally, before she could talk herself into insanity, she quickly rapped her hoof on the door. Rainbow bit into her lip, waiting for the handle to swing open. After a few seconds, she knocked on the door again. This time, a muffled response could be heard, “Hold on, I’m coming.”

It was as if the reality of whom she was about to speak with hit Dash, knocking the wind out of her like a punch to the gut. She tensed her body, her ears perked up, her wings folded rigidly at her side. Oh boy…here we go. One last breath escaped her mouth just as the knob began to turn.

The door swung open, and the sky-blue head of a mare peaked out. Her bright yellow mane was messy, as though she had just gotten out of bed. Dark bags and wrinkles hung underneath a pair of eyes that matched the color of her mane. The mare was squinting, sensitive to the hot, shining desert sun, almost as if she hadn’t been outside in ages. She arched her eyebrows, befuddled by the fact that a stranger would come all the way out in the wasteland to find her. However, the tired look and her aged features couldn’t hide the fact that this was pony Dash had been looking for. And for some reason, words failed to come out of the cyan pegasus’s mouth.

But Rainbow Dash wouldn’t need to say anything. Because after getting a good look at her visitor, a wave of realization hit the other pony. Her yellow eyes narrowed, and her face pulled down into a resentful scowl. She growled, “What the hay are you doing here?

And to this, the normally cool Rainbow Dash could only give a sheepish smile and stutter, “Uh…h-hey Lightning Dust…”


xxx


Dash had been on top of the world many times before. But never had she really been on top of the world quite like this. Heck, being promoted to team leader by your very own idol tended to do that to a pony. Sure, it was only for the remaining week she’d have at the Academy. But heck, considering she was in a Wonderbolt uniform with her own wingponies at her back, Rainbow was in no mood to complain. Dash couldn’t help but be amazed at how an almost-disaster had turned into a great opportunity.

It was dinnertime at Wonderbolt Academy, almost twelve hours since a twister had almost sent Rainbow’s friends spiraling to their doom. Luckily, now they were safe and sound in the visitors’ barracks, while Dash went to grab some food.

She strutted into the room with a hop in her step and a smile on her face, making sure her golden pin was visible on her chest. Another mare, whom Dash only knew as Something-Spire, noticed this, and said, “Guess it’s true, then. You got a promotion.”

“Yeah,” Dash replied smugly. “Good thing too. Now I can get to show Spits just how awesome of a leader I really am.”

With a snicker, Something-Spire rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah…I don’t doubt it. She must really like you. You’re the talk of the Academy.”

“You know, I was about to walk outta here after what happened today. Good thing Spitfire stopped me from going. Guess she really didn’t want me to go.”

“Wish I could say the same for Lightning Dust.”

Rainbow Dash’s ears perked at the mention of her partner’s name. Confused, she inquired, “Wait, what do you mean?”

A snarky grin slowly appeared on Spire’s face, almost like she had been anticipating this moment. Not even trying to hide her delight at Rainbow’s confusion, she answered, “Nopony told you? After getting demoted, Lightning kept complaining to Spitfire about how unfair it was. Your name popped up in the argument a few times as well. Eventually Spitfire got sick of it and gave her the axe right then and there. No redemption, no nothing. Just kicked her out.”

“Lighting’s…gone?”

“That’s right. Your partner’s outta here.”

Rainbow Dash let the news sink in for a moment. Her partner, the one she had broken records with was now gone. Sure the two didn’t see eye to eye, but Dash didn’t think she deserved to be kicked out for it. And what’s more, Rainbow didn’t even get a chance to talk with her one last time. This was her dream too… 

Her confidence suddenly waned, and she put a hoof to her face, saying, “Oh no…I never wanted her to get booted. Just, y’know, a reality check or something. Jeez, I feel terrible.”

“Lucky is what you should feel. Dust tried real hard to get you booted too, you know. Screamed your name all the way out of the runway. Accused you of throwing her under the bus, of slandering her name. And frankly, I think Spitfire came pretty close to listening. But I guess she decided to keep her promise or whatever, right?”

Suddenly, Dash seemed to have lost her appetite. She slowly began to back away, muttering, “Y-yeah. Right. I gotta go. Catch ya later, okay Cloudspire?”

As she trotted out of the mess hall, her companion shouted, “My name’s not…whatever.”


xxx


So now Rainbow stood there in front of her former partner, that missed goodbye still weighing on her mind. And Lightning Dust certainly didn’t like her better for it, hissing, “’Hey Lightning Dust’? Is that all could come up with?”

“Well, I, uh…”

Dust inched out of the doorway, just so she could point and accusing hoof at her rival. “You think you can just pop up out of the blue and talk to me, after what you did? Get outta here, Dash. And don’t you ever show up at my cloud again, otherwise I won’t be so nice.” With that, the door slammed shut, leaving a very confused pegasus standing in the smoldering heat.

Rainbow feebly tapped on the door once again, and a muffled voice replied, “I told you to go away!”

“Dust, just hear me out,” Dash replied in a subdued voice, pressing her cheek against the door.

“You expect me to listen after everything you’ve done?” 

“I know…I know you probably hate my guts.”

A scoff was heard on the other side of the door, followed by Dust shouting, “Hell, you’ve got that right.”

“Spitfire gave me a mission, Dust.”

“So old Firebrand thinks she can trust you, huh? Obviously she doesn’t know what it’s like to be stabbed in the back!” Lightning hissed, smacking the door angrily.

Dash jolted back a little, searching for something else to say. “She told me to look for the best of the best. And you…you’re one the best flyers I’ve ever met.”

The compliment fell on deaf ears, and Rainbow could practically sense Lightning getting riled up. “Oh really? Wasn’t it you who told Spits I wasn’t a team player? Gimme a break.” Raising her voice to a yell, Lightning Dust shouted, “Seriously Dash, fly the buck home! Don’t make me have to kick you outta here!”

Stubborn as always, Dash stood firm and replied, “I’m not leaving until you hear me out.”

“Then I hope you brought some sunscreen, Dash. It’ll be a long—”

Finally, Rainbow Dash couldn’t take it any longer. After all, she had not flown many miles, crossed a barren desert underneath the blazing hot sun, just to be turned away before she’d get to explain herself. Putting his face right up to the tiny peephole, Dash commanded, “Jeez, would you just listen to me for one freaking minute, Dust? I’ll tell you what I have to say, and if you say no, you never have to see my face ever again, okay?”

Rainbow backed away, and for few minutes, it was just silence. Suddenly, the sound of a lock clicking open broke the eerie quiet. The door slowly swung open, and Lightning Dust finally revealed herself to the Wonderbolt for the first time in ages. Despite her weary-looking face, her wings looked extremely fit, still in tip-top shape since the Academy. Dash noticed a jagged scar running down her side, partially covered by her wing. However, she decided not to glare at it for long. Lightning leaned against the doorway, narrowing her eyes and uttered, “Fine. But make it quick.”

A warm wave of relief rolled through Rainbow’s body, and all of a sudden, the words began to come to her. The sergeant began, “This isn’t some routine scouting mission, Dust. This is the real deal, Equestria-is-under-attack kind of mission.  It calls for the fastest, bravest, most skilled pegasi in the country. I know you and I don’t have the best track record. I know you probably never wanted to deal with me ever again. But…but now I’m begging you to put that behind us. This isn’t about me, or you, or the Wonderbolts. This is about Equestria, and like it or not, it’s your home just as much as mine. This mission is going to be dangerous, and despite everything we’ve been through, I know you’re one of the only ponies who can handle it. I need your skills, your speed…and your guts.”

Lightning could only give a half-grin, shaking her head in disbelief. “You know how to stroke a gal’s ego, Rainbow Dash, I’ll give you that,” she muttered, stroking her own mane tiredly. “But what exactly makes you think I’d join you? After you’ve embarrassed me in front of my idols, destroyed my chance at my dream, disgraced me out of my hometown; why’d you think I’d help you?”

Rainbow stared into Dust’s eyes, channeling her own fire, just as Spitfire would do. Giving a hardy glare and a stern poke in the chest, Dash replied, “Because it’s a challenge, Dust. And I know you can’t resist a challenge.”

The yellow-maned pegasus raised her eyebrows, as though she were caught off guard. She turned her gaze to the floor, pursing her lips in thought. She kept staring at the ground in silence, while Rainbow waited for a response. It seemed as though the roles had been reversed; Dash was the one standing tall, puffing out her chest, giving a commanding glare, whereas Dust seemed to have shrunken, still leaning half-heartedly on the doorframe.

Finally, after letting out a long reluctant sigh, Lightning whispered, “If I do help you…will I get another shot at the Wonderbolts?”

“I promise you, I will do everything I can to convince Spits to let you back in. You have my word.”

But Lightning shook her head, saying, “Swear it on your wings, Dash.”

“What?”

“I said…swear it on your wings.”

To this, the Wonderbolt raised an eyebrow in surprise. The phrase wasn’t just something ponies threw around willy-nilly. To a pegasus, swearing on your wings was practically taboo, the heaviest promise a pony could make, especially to an avid flier like Dash. But in the end, Rainbow decided none of that mattered if it meant getting her team together. “If that’s what it takes to get you on board, then I swear…on my wings. I will get you back into the Academy.”

Giving a soft chuckle, Lightning extended her hoof, saying contentedly, “Then it’s a deal, Rainbow. Good to be back in business.”

The two shook hooves, and Rainbow couldn’t help but feel just a tad bit happy. Her team was finally set. Now it was time for the next part, getting ready for the long journey ahead. “Awesome. We meet at Bronco’s Bluff, six in the morn—”

The door slammed shut, leaving Dash shaking hooves with thin air. But frankly, with the dust finally cleared, Rainbow couldn’t really care less. With her team assembled, the Wonderbolt took off for home, her mind set on the briefing tomorrow morning.

> Not Your Everyday Goodbye
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

She arrived home around seven o’clock that night, exhausted after a long flight across the desert. She touched down at the door, mentally prepping herself for the upcoming briefing. Luckily, she had found the time to pack her stuff already, so there was nothing to do now except get a good night’s rest. Heaving a long yawn, she rattled the knob and slowly swung the door open.

“Surprise!”

Dash’s eyes suddenly shot open, and she hopped back a foot or two from sheer shock. Her eyes widened even more when she saw five ponies standing inside her house, holding a huge banner reading “Goodbye Dashie”.

“W-what are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash stuttered, her exhaustion apparently shocked out of her.

Popping up over the banner, Pinkie Pie answered, “Twilight cast that whole cloud-walking spell so we could visit you!”

“Why?”

“Well don’t you remember, silly? I told you we’d throw you a going away party!”

Stepping forward, Twilight Sparkle embraced her pegasus friend, prompting the others to follow suit. “Pinkie told us you were leaving tomorrow morning, so we knew this would be the only chance to bid you farewell!”

Rainbow Dash stood in the midst of her friends loving embrace, frozen in place, unsure of what to do herself. Her eyes darted around the room, towards the colorful balloons strewn about her home, towards the crudely painted-yet-heartwarming banner, and lastly, towards a tiny photo of all six of them she had placed on one of her cabinets, in almost the same position they were now. And slowly but surely, she closed her eyes and let her friends’ warmth consume her, trying to wrap her hooves around all of them and never let go. And it was a good thing their eyes were closed too, because Dash didn’t want them to see she was on the verge of tears.

Her lip starting to quiver, she whispered, “I’ll gone for a while girls, and I…I don’t know when I’ll get back.”

“Where are you going?” one of them asked, it didn’t matter who.

“Far away. Waaay far away….too far.”

A voice—Applejack’s judging from the accent, replied, “Well wherever you go, sugarcube, you know we’ll be right here, cheering you on.”

“Yeah, we’ve got your back, Dashie! Even when we’re all the way over here!” another one replied.

Finally, the six released their grip on each other even though Dash would have rather kept on holding them tight. While her friends went to put the banner up on the wall, she quickly turned around and wiped her eyes. Trying her best to stop her body’s trembling, Rainbow Dash inquired, “Girls. You…you mind hanging here for the night? You know, like old times?”

“Twilght?” Applejack said.

“Don’t worry, this cloud-walking spell will last the night.”

“Then a’course we can, RD! It’ll be jus’ like old times.” Applejack came up to her cyan friend, letting a friendly hoof dangle around Dash’s neck. Then, with a wide smile, she added delicately, “C’mon, wipe those tears away, Dash. That ain’t the RD we know an’ love!”

Giving a soft chuckle, Rainbow replied, “Yeah, right. It’s just…I’m gonna miss you girls.”

“And we’ll miss ya too, Dash. We’ll miss ya too.”


xxx


After a long night of partying, game-playing, Rarity makeovers and absolutely no sleep, Rainbow Dash stood outside her home with suitcase in tow. Her Wonderbolt uniform was tucked safely in her briefcase, away from her friends’ eyes. As Dash positioned herself at the edge of the cloud, each of her friends came up and gave her one final hug. The Wonderbolt had a look of a steeled veteran, certainly hiding the fact she felt sick to her stomach as she bid farewell.

As Fluttershy hugged her longtime friend, she muttered, “Good luck and be safe, Dash. I know you’ll do fine.” And to this, Dash couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows, wondering what Flutters had meant.

But alas, there would be no time to stick around and wonder. It was already five o’clock, and the briefing was supposed to begin at six. So with a final salute, Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and shot off the cloud, headed towards the horizon. Giving one last wistful glance back, Dash could see them waving back and shouting, “We’ll be waiting for you, Dash! Be safe! Have fun!”

And to this, she could only shake her head, thinking, Have fun? Yeah right…


xxx


A single cyan pegasus decked in her Wonderbolt gear sat at the end of the conference table, her goggles stretched over her eyes. Resting her head upon a hoof, she let out a long yawn, her eyes drooping beneath the reflective specs. Underneath the table, her legs were fidgety and restless, the thudding of her hooves against the carpet seeming to resonate in the empty room. She cast a tired glance up at the clock. Five-fiftynine. Almost time. And of course, these sixty seconds seemed to stretch on forever, as Rainbow Dash’s mind drifted off to the sunny rolling hills of home.

But suddenly, she heard the doorknob click, snapping her back to her senses. Dash immediately scrambled to her hooves, thankful that her goggles hid her tired red eyes. The first to enter was none other than Spitfire, still wearing her opaque sunglasses. Rainbow raised a leg in salute, and to her surprise, the commander took a spot next to her. Casting a quick glare at Spits, Dash immediately turned back to see her team—yes, her team, marching through.

The first to walk in was the veteran Fleetfoot, whose hood was pulled back to reveal a snowy white mane and striking silver eyes. Despite her years of experience, her face still looked quite youthful and confident, aside from tiny wrinkles on her forehead.

Next was a stallion officer named Firestreak, whose lively red mane certainly lived up to his name. His mouth curled slightly downwards, and whether it was from annoyance or sadness, Rainbow Dash couldn’t really tell. In fact, she didn’t know much about the stallion, except that he had been Fleetfoot’s partner for quite some time.

And finally, two ponies marched in one after the other, two ponies which Dash knew extremely well. Both their goggles were pulled over their heads, revealing two pairs of eyes that glimmered when they saw their old friend. The first pony was a mare with rose-colored eyes and a pale blue coat. Her icy-blue and white mane had changed since Dash had last seen her, pulled back into a simple messy braid instead of her once-signature poofy style. Cloudchaser took her seat next to Firestreak, clearly unaware of what was going on, yet happy to see her weather patrol captain nonetheless.

The other pony was also a former weather patrol member, a stallion whose light blue mohawk jutted out from his head. He waltzed into the meeting room with his chin held high, wearing his Wonderbolt suit proudly. Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but slightly shake her head, realizing just how far Thunderlane had come from being that stallion she accused of faking the feather flu.

Dash glanced at the door expectantly, only to find Thunderlane and Cloudchaser to be the last ones coming in. Although she felt disappointed, the Wonderbolt simply bit her lip and turned to meet her incomplete team. The two took their seats next to each other, and Thunderlane stated, “Reporting for duty, officer.”

Although the word officer sent a giddy tremor through her body, Rainbow Dash simply chuckled and replied, “No need, Wonderbolt. This ain’t the Royal Guard; no need for formalities.” Hardening her voice in a manner quite similar to Spitfire’s, the cyan officer began, “As you all have probably heard, I’m the one leading this mission. Before we can get to know each other, however, Spits here will give you all the information you need. I’d advise you to pay attention, ‘cause typically I’d like a squad that actually knows what they’re doing. Spitfire, you may begin.” 

The commander stood up and turned off the lights, letting a projection illuminate across a barren wall. “First of all, the one we’re keeping tabs on is this bird,” she stated, pointing to a picture of a minute yet muscular griffon. “His real name is Sigmund Ferran, but his troops and the people of Veneighzuela know him simply as ‘Razorbeak’. Started off as the son to a lowly guardskeeper for one of the griffon tribes. However, despite his small stature, he is a natural fighter and a brilliant tactician. The hawk’s a living legend, the one who used his skill and might to conquer the griffon tribes and unite them into one big country under one ruler. To them, he’s a hero.”

“Except he ain’t,” Fleetfoot murmured bitterly, the massacre at Border B still fresh in her mind.

Spitfire only nodded sadly, and continued, “This newfound power and army, combined with Veneighzuela’s economic struggles, allowed Razorbeak to easily take over their neighbor as well. He overthrew the old leader, and established a new ‘government’ in its place. Officially, he is the monarch of Lunavut, and as for Veneighzuela...”

Spitfire changed the slide to reveal a savvy looking bearded stallion wearing a suit dotted with gold medals, shaking hooves with Razorbeak. “This pony, Bronze Dime, is the prime minister of Veneighzuela. But don’t let that fool you. Bronzey is just a puppet; Razorbeak runs the show.”

“Some show. Guy’s got half the continent under his wing,” said Firestreak, who possessed a  deep voice that seemed to reverberate throughout the room.

“And that’s why we’re sending you out there. In case you haven’t heard, a few days ago a massive attack was launched on one of our bases near Lunavut. Most of the soldiers were either killed or taken captive. And this,” Spitfire said, taking out the painted feather. “Was left. A declaration of war.”

A united gasp was heard around the room, followed by a few murmurs between the crew. Spitfire let them settle down before continuing, “As we all know, Equestria isn’t ready for a war. Haven’t been for years. Heck, the Wonderbolts haven’t even been called to military service until a couple years ago. If Razorbeak launches a full scale assault right now, there is no way we could hold up. Not without losing thousands of lives in the process. That is where you come in. Your job is to—.” 

Suddenly, Spitfire was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Letting out an exasperated gasp, Spitfire asked gruffly, “We’re in the middle of a briefing, Wonderbolt. What is it?”

“I’m s-sorry, commander,” a timid voice called from behind the door. “But there is a pony here insisting that she meet up with a pony named ‘Rainbow Crash’!”

Slipping off her goggles, Dash exchanged glares with Spitfire, and even though she already knew the answer, she asked, “What’s her name?”

A brief murmur was heard, and then the soldier said, “Lightning Dust.”

“Lightning Dust?” Thunderlane repeated. “W-what is she doing here?”

“That’s the mule who drove me into the clouds years ago!” Cloudchaser piped, smacking her hoof on the table. “You remember, Dash! Tell her to take a hike!”

The mare started to sound off her complaints, while Rainbow’s eyes darted back and forth from the door to her group. Finally, as the incessant noise started to build up, Rainbow Dash shut her eyes and shouted, “Quiet the buck down, Cloudchaser!” Then, motioning her hoof toward the door, Dash called, “Permission to enter, Lightning.”

The door slowly crept open, and the bright blue pegasus swaggered in with a smug smile playing on her lips. Her eyes were concealed behind a pair of shades, and a black bandana hung around her neck. She glanced about the room and, seeing the confused and furious glares directed at her, she uttered, “Huh. Well nice to meet you guys too.”

“Take a seat Dust.”

Scoffing, the brash pegasus replied, “Naw, I think I’ll do just fine standing, Crash. Besides, I don’t think they’d like me sitting next to ‘em anyway.”

Deciding not to push further, Rainbow sat back in her chair and said quietly, “Please. Continue, Spits.”

But Cloudchaser pounded a hoof on the table and jolted up, eyeing Lightning Dust with a fiery glare. “You can’t be serious, Dash! Why is she here? She got kicked out, and it oughta stay that way.”

“Maybe you ought to have stayed in that cloud, featherbrain,” Dust replied, remembering the windy-maned pegasus all too well. “I could beat ya in a race twenty times over back then, and I probably could still do that now.”

“You’re not one to talk, Dust. I’m not the one who flunked out.”

“That’s enough!” Rainbow Dash shouted, throwing off her goggles, revealing a set of intensely burning orbs. Pointing at Cloudchaser, Dash said, “Lightning Dust is on this team, you hear me? My orders! And you are going to show her some respect.” Then, turned her hoof towards Lightning, she continued, “Just like you, Lightning, are going to show us respect. You’re already late, don’t make me already regret picking you up. We ain’t even been together for two minutes. Two minutes! And this is how we start things off?” She watched as the two shrank a bit, Cloudchaser back into her seat, Lightning Dust back against the wall. Giving one last stern glare at all her subordinates, Dash whispered, “Continue Spits.”

The stone-faced commander simply raised an eyebrow, and continued, “Like I was saying, Razorbeak and his army are on the brink of war. He’s got the numbers and the power to take us head on. You guys are going in there to do whatever you can to delay that war. If you can figure out how to stop it, then bravo. But your most important priority is to buy us time to gather ourselves and prepare for the upcoming battle.”

Spitfire switched the slide, showing a picture of a map of Veneighzuela with tiny Xs strewn about the landscape. “Above all, this is a sabotage mission. Burn their camps to the ground. Destroy whatever weapons they’ve got. Make a set of plans somehow go missing in the middle of the night. This is where your stealth and speed really comes into play. In order to do these infiltration missions, you’ve gotta be able to go in quick, get what you’re looking for, and get the hell outta there before things get nasty.

“Second, I need you to get as much info on Razorbeak, Bronsy, his army, whatever you can get your hooves on. We need as much intel as we can for when you return.

“And finally, and this just might be the trickiest part of all, you must get into the minds of the citizens of Veneighzuela. You need to sway their opinion, stagger their support for the war, make them doubt the idea of an upcoming invasion. Because without the support of the Veneighzuelans, Razorbeak loses half of his popularity and his army.”

“How exactly will we do that?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Well, I’d like the think watching their bases burn down would put a damper on things,” Spitfire replied. “However, if you have to go incognito and spread some...unflattering words and rumors, well, so be it. I want those ponies to see just how evil this griffon is.”

The commander took off her sunglasses to get a good long look at the squad sitting before her. Lowering her voice, Spitfire uttered, “Listen. I don’t think I need to tell you this, but this mission requires absolute perfection. Anything less than that, and you could be captured, tortured…or worse. And if you do, we can’t get you back. You get caught, then we had absolutely nothing to do with you. I don’t want that to happen, and I’m sure Dash doesn’t want that to happen too. But that’s why she chose you all, because she…” 

Spitfire shot a glance at Lightning Dust, who returned the eye contact. “We think you’re the best ponies for the job. But if you’re going to do this, you have to be able to keep it secret, stay focused, and never forget what’s at stake. Because if you do…it’s war.” Gathering up her papers, she shut off the projection and finished, “You’re all dismissed. Get ready. You leave tonight. Rainbow Dash, stay here.”

The squad scuffled out of the room, but not before Cloudchaser snarled at Dust, who simply scoffed and smirked. Thunderlane was the last one to leave, but not before whispering to Rainbow Dash, “You sure about this? Bringing her?”

“That’s my decision, Thunderlane, and I’m sticking to it. Just…make sure they don’t kill each other, alright?”

“I’ll do my best, Dashie,” the stallion whispered with a slight grin. “But no promises.” Then he slipped out of the room, leaving Spitfire and Rainbow alone.

“I’m going to cut right to the chase here,” Spitfire began, her voice slightly tinged with skepticism. “I think you’re crazy bringing her along. When I saw that sheet you sent me…needless to say, I was in shock. I half-expected her not to show up.”

“You said to find the best there is. She’s one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Dash countered. “You’ve gotta admit it yourself, Spits. She broke Academy records, some of which was your own!”

“Please...don't remind me. I know she’s a great flyer, Rainbow. But you saw what happened here. She’s got an attitude, and she doesn’t play well with others. Just look at Cloudchaser. She still resents her for that tornado fiasco.”

The sergeant nodded her head, recalling that disastrous partnership years ago. But despite this, she stood firm and replied quietly, “I understand your concerns, ma’am. But my decision still stands.”

Thrusting her tongue into her upper lip, Spitfire asked reluctantly, “You sure?”

“Yes ma’am.”

Casting a long sigh, Spitfire stood up and slinked towards the exit, saying , “Okay Dash. This is your team; I’ll let you make the call. But you need to get them to work, because once you’re in Veneighzuela, just one mistake could cost you your life. Got it...Lieutenant?”

“Understood,” Rainbow answered, surprised by her sudden change in title. But although she understood the fact that she had to make it work, she still wasn’t sure how.

> Prep Talk
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

”So what’d Pinkie call you back there? Dashie?” Thunderlane remarked jokingly.

He had come upon a lone pegasus sitting at the edge of the Wonderbolt Academy, and together they watched the pink hot air balloon be swallowed up by the clouds and disappear from view. Dash idly dangled her legs over the edge, staring longingly at the spot where the balloon had been sucked up. It was almost as if Thunderlane didn’t even exist. She was dazed, like she had been taken up by that tornado and spit out miles and miles away from home.

“Maybe I ought to start calling you that, eh Dashie?” Thunderlane said, hoping for a slight smile.

This time, Dash replied, “Naw, don’t. It’d be weird.”

“I think it’s cute.”

This time Thunderlane got the tiny smile he wanted, and Rainbow answered with a chuckle, “And that is exactly why I don’t want you calling me that.” But after she had spoken, she turned her head back to the clouds and continued to stare at that spot.

The stallion decided to sit down next to her, following Dash’s melancholy maroon eyes to that spot. “So I’m guessing this was pretty unexpected, huh?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah, they wanted to send me a care package personally. It was filled with all this awesome food and stuff…it was…really nice.”

“You don’t sound too excited about it.”

Rainbow Dash lilted her head down toward the sharp cliff below her, letting her hooves hang limp. So limp, in fact, that they seemed ready to just fall down into the abyss and disappear. Her voice barely above a whisper, Dash said, “I don’t know. Is it…is it bad that I hadn’t even thought of them once since I got here? I love ‘em to death, but I just got so swept up in all this nonsense. And the first time I think about ‘em…is when they almost die. That can’t be good, can it?”

“Oh, it’s fine, Dash. Considering the nonstop training we’ve been doing and the whole Lightning Dust fiasco, it’s hard not to get caught up in the adrenaline. They’re your friends, Dash. Of course you’re not going to forget about them after a week.”

"I just can't get that moment out of my mind, Thunder. Maybe...if I had stopped Dust, they wouldn't have been in danger. And Dust..."

"Don't do that to yourself, Rainbow!" Thunderlane exclaimed, suddenly jolting. Then, as though he had startled himself, he slowly sat back down and said quietly, "You're a real good friend, Rainbow. And that's what matters, not the mistakes you made before. I know you'd give your life for your friends. And I also know that they know that as well."

Heaving a sigh, Dash whispered, “Thanks, T. You’re probably right.” Slowly standing back up, she admitted, “But now that they paid a visit, I’m gonna start missing them again.”

Showing off a huge, upbeat grin, Thunderlane replied, “Then I guess we’ll just have to keep you company ‘til then, don’t we?

“I guess you do,” she said with a laugh.

“Don’t you worry, Dashie. I’ve got your back.”

“You know I’m not going to let you call me that around the others, right?

Placing a hoof on his friend’s shoulder, Thunderlane joked, “Then I guess I’ll just have to say it now. Dashie, Dashie, Dashie…”


xxx


“…Dash? Dashie? Helloooo Dash?”

The sing-song voice brought the lieutenant back to reality. Blinking her eyes, Dash turned to find that very same mohawked stallion peeking into her cot. “Thunderlane! Sorry, I just blanked out for a second.”

“S’okay. Happens to the best of us,” he said, shrugging it off. “Although I certainly hope that doesn’t happen to often while we’re in Veneighzuela.”

Giving a light-hearted smirk, Dash perched herself comfortably on her temporary bed and asked, “So what’s up?”

“Well, I finished up packing a long time ago, and since Cloudchaser isn’t exactly in the mood to talk, I figured I’d pay a visit our little staff sergeant.”

“Actually, it’s lieutenant now, Thunder.”

“Whatever, Lieutenant Dashie.” Thunderlane’s gaze softened and Rainbow Dash could tell that he wasn’t there just for conversation. He seemed to make a move to sit beside her, but in the end he stayed put, standing awkwardly across from the bed. Speaking softly, the stallion muttered, “I just…wanted to see how you’re holding up. I know this ain’t something you’ve ever done before. Actually, I’d wager you’re feeling a lot like us right now. When I signed up for the Academy…I thought it was just going to be shows and fireworks. Never thought they’d make us a part of the military too. But you know, I’m taking it the best I can…I suppose you are too.” 

“Yeah, best I can,” Dash repeated half-mockingly. “This morning, I had to say goodbye to my friends back at Ponyville. It was pretty hard…telling them goodbye without telling them where you’re going. It’s…it’s tough.”

Trying to give a warm smile, Thunderlane stated, “Well Dashie, don’t you worry. We’ll keep you company ‘til then. And we’ll get you back safe and sound, just like we know you’ll do for us.” He paused for second, as though he were holding something back. But in the end, Thunderlane added quietly, “I—we got your back.”

Rainbow Dash felt a little comforted by her friend’s words, her maroon eyes brightening up a smidge. Giving a friendly chuckle, Dash raised her chin and replied confidently, “And I know you do.”

Outside, the two could hear a series of grunts followed by hooves stamping along the ground in rage. Peeking outside, Thunderlane stated, “Uh-oh. Looks like Cloudchaser’s coming. Better get out before the firestorm comes. Good luck Dash.”

He slipped out of the tent, and found himself face to face with the angry Wonderbolt. Dash could hear them talking outside.

“’Sup Cloud—.”

“Get out of my face.” Then a loud smack was heard, followed by the clashing of a trash can being knocked over. 

Then, right on cue, Cloudchaser stormed in, huffing and puffing, her face scrunched into a scowl. “Rainbow, you cannot be serious,” she uttered, her eyes shining with hatred.

But Dash still sat coolly, replying, “Sure, I may joke around sometimes, CC, but right now it feels like I’m being too serious.”

Speaking through clenched teeth, Cloudchaser uttered, “You know how I feel about having that miserable mule on our team!”

“Well, if I didn’t know before, I certainly know now.”

“Oh ha ha, and I thought you said you weren’t joking,” Cloudchaser answered, rolling her eyes. “You can’t let her join, Dash. You know what happened back at the Academy. She ruined everything. She almost killed-.”

“And that was in the past, CC. She’s make her mistakes, as have you and I. But I see something else in her, something that would make me a fool not to have her. She’s going with us, CC. Whether you like it or not.” 

Letting her words hang in the air, Dash walked over to a small table, sifting through a few papers stacked on top. But behind her, an ireful voice uttered, “Then…then I can’t do this.”

“What?” Dash asked, quickly turning her head.

“I can’t go on this mission. Not while we share the same team.”

“Come on, CC.”

“No, not while she’s around. I can’t let myself share the same team as her. We don’t get along, Dash! A few minutes ago, I was about ready to bust her skull through a window. This is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s either her…or me.”

Raising her eyebrows, Dash slowly turned around, dropping the papers she held in her hoof. She scoffed, and with a grimace she uttered, “You selfish brat.” Thrusting her snout in her subordinate’s face, Dash jabbed her in the chest and said, “We’re on the brink of war, CC. This mission is all that’s standing between that and peace. And you dare to sabotage that just because you can’t settle some petty differences you and Dust had years ago? Huh? Does that sound fair to you?”

Giving a light push, Rainbow quickly wheeled around, punching a hoof into the air. Not even looking back, she whispered, “You know what? Fine, go home. Never had a coward on my team, and I ain’t going to start now.”

Cloudchaser, however, remained fearfully still. She opened her mouth to reply, but a gritty cough was all that came out. “Well? What are you waiting for, Cloudchaser? Get out of here! Go home!” Still no response. The fire in CC’s eyes had suddenly been extinguished, leaving her standing there with a slightly opened mouth and nothing else to say.

“Then quit your whining and kiss and make up!” Dash commanded, picking up the papers she had dropped on the floor. Although part of her felt guilty for yelling at her friend, she retained her rough composure, knowing this wasn’t the time for hugs and apologies. The voice of Spitfire echoed in her head. ’All that matters is what you do now’. And if that means being the bad guy, then that’s what I’ll be.

Suddenly, a timid voice caught her attention, one that was quite different from the passionate voice that came from Cloudchaser only a few seconds ago. Training her eyes awkwardly at the floor, she muttered, “I…I don’t want to quit, Dash. You know that. You know I’m not a quitter. I-I’m sorry for even saying something like that.”

“No need to be sorry, CC. Just try and make it work, yeah?”

“But,” Cloudchaser added. “If you want me to tolerate her…then could you please do something for me? Please. Just so I can make this thing a bit more bearable.”

This time around, Cloudchaser’s words didn’t sound like a hefty demand. This time, it sounded more like a humble plea—soft, reluctant, almost sad. Dash looked back up from her papers to see that her thin lips were pursed tightly, and her eyes were pleading.

Expelling a slow breath, Rainbow Dash asked, “What is it?”

Some bad guy I’ll turn out to be…

> Lift
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Okay, listen up,” Rainbow Dash commanded, her voice ringing out across the dark plain. She and her squad stood at the edge of Bronco’s Bluff, the moon shedding a pale light onto their faces. They weren’t wearing the bright blue and yellow flight suits the other Wonderbolts usually wore. These were dark gray, sleek, skin-tight, and yet able to allow the squad to move their limbs freely. The pale moon glared off each of their goggles, which matched the color of their suit. Each had only a small satchel at their sides, carrying only a small amount of food and whatever essentials Spitfire had deemed necessary. 

Dash faced her team with a stern glare, stating, “Fleetfoot will be my wingpony. Same with me, anything she says, goes. Also, in case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve increased our group by one.” She nodded toward another mare, who looked remarkably similar to Cloudchaser in mane and color. In fact, if it wasn’t for the pink bow pulling her hear back into a ponytail, the two would have looked identical in their uniforms. “This is Flitter. Another good friend of mine. She ain’t a Wonderbolt, but she’s a whiz with medicine. She’ll be the team’s medic. Whether you get a papercut or a knife in your eye, she’ll be able to patch you up.”

“But you know, try your best not to,” the medic said with a wink.

“Okay then, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” Dash continued, trying to brush off the new member’s arrival. “You all know what’s at stake here. Remember, I don’t give two bucks about whatever past history we’ve had with each other. There is no room for error. We’re going to do this mission right, and we’re going to hit ‘em so hard and fast, General Razorbeak isn’t going to know what hit him. But if all of you want to make it back in one piece, you better follow Fleetfoot’s and my orders, understand?”

“Yes ma’am!”

With a cool smirk, Dash nodded and uttered, “Awesome.” Then, slipping on her goggles, she commanded, “Alright Wonderbolts, form up! Fire Streak, take the rear!”

The seven pegasi lined up on the runway in pairs, with Fire Streak flying solo in the back. Fleetfoot positioned herself to the right of Dash, and two began to crouch low in takeoff position. The rest of the team followed suit, with Lightning Dust being the last to prepare for flight. Rainbow cast a fervent gaze at the dark horizon before her, sweat forming on her forehead, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Finally, she turned her head towards Fleetfoot, who simply nodded.

Extending her wings, Dash uttered, “Let’s fly.”

Pair by pair, the team leapt off of cliff side. The group carved a low arch into the air before curving upward, beating their wings almost as one. Moving like a graceful snake, they climbed higher and higher into the sky. The wind blew back their messy manes, and the cold night air nipped at their exposed snouts. Further and further they climbed, until the moonlit trees below them were just tiny dots upon a gray landscape. Then they leveled out, and the squad flew onwards with only the moon as their companion. Their direction: north, toward the faraway land of Veneighzuela.

Fleetfoot inched herself closer to Rainbow and inquired, “So what’s with the new recruit?” She motioned her head towards Flitter, who was unsurprisingly conversing with Cloudchaser.

“Flitter?” Rainbow began. She began to recall just how difficult it was convince Spitfire to get her, how adamant the commander seemed about letting another pony in on the mission. However, after much debate, prodding, and a slight bit of groveling, Spitfire finally relented, repeating that “it’s your mission Dash. I’ll let you make the decision”.

“Cloudchaser requested her, so I got her. But don’t worry, I’ve known her as long as I’ve known CC. She’s a good flyer, but an even better medic. I know she’s isn’t a Wonderbolt, but she was a cadet once; she knows how this works. If this mission’s as dangerous as it seems, we’ll need her.”

“Medicine, huh? That’s fine and all, but don’t you think that, with the things going on between CC and Dust, giving CC another friend would be…troublesome?”

“If it comes to that, I’ll handle it. But Flitter isn’t as hot-headed as Cloud. I don’t think she’ll be a problem.”

Satisfied, Fleetfoot nodded and turned her head forward. Keeping her eyes straight, she added, “One more thing, Rainbow…I know the past history you and Soarin have together, but you cannot let that get between us and the success of this mission. You’ve got quite a brash history behind you, Dash, and I just wanted to make sure you understood that.”

Underneath her goggles Dash couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows. Keeping her voice in check, Dash simply pretended to shrug and say, “Of course. That’s all in the past, anyway.”

“Oh I know,” her second-in-command replied. But with a quiet, grave tone, Fleetfoot warned, “It’s just that some ponies…don’t let go of the past real easy.”

“Maybe sometimes,” Dash began, her voice trailing off as she thought about it for a little while. “I don’t know…maybe sometimes it’s okay to hold on to it.”

“Well, I’m just saying, Rainbow. Think about it.” Then, with a light-hearted smirk, Fleetfoot added, “After all, once we get to Veneighzuela, we won’t have any time to think.”

Rainbow Dash wanted to chuckle at that statement, but in the end, she figured it would have only sounded fake.

xxx

As the fast-moving squad jetted further away from home, Spitfire stood next to a large window in her office, watching the clouds drift across the sky. A few minutes ago, she had witnessed the seven take off in the flight pattern that she herself had taught them. Her body was slightly trembling, and her face was warm and covered with sweat. Her sunglasses hid a pair of blank eyes, which continued to stare far, far off 

“So they’ve gone then?” a voice said from behind her.

“Yes. I hope we hear back from them soon.” Spitfire slowly turned around to sit back at her desk. Before her was an armor-clad stallion, sporting a pair of emblazoned wings on his chestplate, which meant he was a colonel. He had a rugged beard spread across his chin, and his striking green eyes glared sternly at the Wonderbolt.

“I take it they don’t know?” the stallion said gruffly.

“About what?” Spitfire responded, staring back over the top of her sunglasses.

“Don’t play dumb, Spitfire. Do they know about what you’re doing here?”

“What I’m doing is preventing a war, Colonel. They know about Border B. They know what happened.”

Suddenly, the stallion slammed his hoof on the desk, sticking in nose in Spitfire’s face. The Wonderbolt could smell the scent of cider wafting from his mouth, and see the bits of lettuce still stuck to his teeth. “Dammit, Spitfire, you know that’s not the whole truth,” he uttered. “You’re doing this without Celestia’s authorization. If they don’t come back, then you’ve got to explain why some of our ponies were found dead far across the border. That is, if you’re not already busy fighting a war that you started. This whole thing could be the catalyst for—.”

“To Tartarus with Celestia’s authorization!” Spitfire yelled, causing the stallion jump back in shock. She stood up over her desk, toppling a lamp and scattering papers across the floor. With a low, spiteful voice, she uttered, “She’d never do anything until it’s too late! In my opinion, it’s already too late! My fliers were massacred, Colonel Stinger. How do you expect me to not do anything about it?” 

“My men were killed too, Spitfire,” the colonel countered. “And I would do anything to see that griffon dead. But this…this is only going to make things worse!”

“The plan’s going forward, Stinger, and that’s final!” Pointing an accusing hoof at the stallion, Spitfire whispered, “You’re in this just as much as me, and unless you want to lose that armor of yours, I suggest you stick with the plan and shut up. Those griffons have been planning a war for years now, and we’ve done nothing but keep Equestria in the dark. But we waited too long. Now, this isn’t just about war.”

“Then what is it about?”

Sitting back in her seat, the Wonderbolt readjusted her glasses and answered, “I’ll give you one letter to figure it out…”

xxx

Meanwhile, a heavy fog began to surround the team of pegasi, making the already dim night even more opaque. Thanks to Fleetfoot’s expert navigation, however, they continued on their path to Veneighzuela, never even pausing for one second.

In the middle of the pack, a pair of lifetime friends was conversing. Flying a bit closer to each other so they could speak over the wind, Flitter said, “I totally, like, never thought I’d fly with the Wonderbolts again, CC. And when Dash called me, I was like, ‘No way!’ It was pretty crazy.”

Cloudchaser couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Flitter still talked in the same way they did years ago. “Yeah, it’s been awhile, Flitters. I’m kinda sorry this isn’t exactly the ideal way to meet up.”

“No prob.” Casting a reluctant glance behind her, Flitter leaned in close to her friend’s ear and whispered, “So is that…?”
Letting out a sigh and rolling her eyes, Cloudchaser uttered, “Unfortunately.”

“Hey! You girls know I can hear you back here, right?”

“Back there!” Dash called. With a smirk, she shouted, “Less talking, more focusing! If were you, I’d enjoy the peace and quiet, ‘cause chances are it’s gonna be a long time until we get any more.”

Flitter and Cloudchaser sunk back into obedient silence, flying onwards without so much as a glare at each other. Lightning Dust, on the other hand, wasn’t too keen on obedience. With a quiet snort, she muttered to nopony in particular, “Yes, oh brilliant captain of ours…”

Turning to her flying partner, who happened to be Thunderlane, she said, “So, Mohawk, not much of a talker, huh?”
Keeping his eyes forward, he replied dully, “Just got a lot on my mind.”

“Well, I’m no therapist, so don’t go telling me now,” Lightning Dust answered, a sarcastic smirk plain her face. And unless her goggles were smudged or broken, she could have sworn there was a grin on Thunderlane’s face too.

Up at the front of the formation, Rainbow said to her second-in-command, “So how long until we hit the border?”

“Well, we oughta be hitting the mountain range right about…now!” Suddenly, a giant rock face appeared out of the thick fog, almost invisible in the darkness. With its jagged edges quickly approaching, Fleetfoot hollered, “Whoa, whoa, slow it down!”

Being the highly-trained pegasi they were, the team stopped on a dime at Fleetfoot’s command. It was a good thing she had called out when she did, otherwise they would have had a head-on collision with the mountain standing just a few feet in front of them. Rainbow Dash surveyed the rock before her, finding a thin crevasse almost obscured by the fog and overgrowth. Gesturing towards the passage, Dash said, “Fog here’s pretty dangerous. Let’s take it slow. Single file. I’ll lead.”

With an adventurous grin, Dash ventured into the dark, uneven crevasse with her squad following closely behind. The crack was barely wide enough to fit their wings through, every now and then scraping them against the ragged sides. Their breath began to condense in the chilly air, forming little puffs near their muzzles. Although there was no snow, the air still tingled against their flesh, and an ominous wind weaved throughout the passage. When the group looked up, they would see bits of brush poking through the rock, the shadowy night making them look like specters in the fog. A shiver ran down Thunderlane’s spine, and he uttered, “This place gives me the chills.”

“Already?” a deep voice responded in the back. “And we ain’t even been to griffon territory yet.”

“You’ve been?”

The stone-faced Fire Streak replied, “Once. Hoped I’d never have to go back there again. Obviously, I ain’t too lucky.”

The group continued to snake through the mountain, often times having to fly underneath rocks that seemed unsteadily balanced between the two sides. However, after about an hour of flying, the crevasse opened up into open air. The team had made it through unscathed, aside from a few ruffled feathers and damaged personal space bubbles.

“Glad to be outta there,” an upbeat Cloudchaser commented.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Can’t handle a few bushes?” Lightning Dust replied, only getting a look of scorn from CC in response.

Before either pony could make another snide comment, Dash wheeled around to address her team. “Congratulations folks. You just flew across your own country without dying. Whoop-de-doo.” Moving down the ranks, she continued, “That was the easy part, ladies and gentlemen. But now, things are gonna get a whole lot different.”

The steely lieutenant turned back, casting her gaze upon the jungle that seemed to expand far past the dim horizon. Fog seemed to twist and turn throughout the foliage, like some kind of unknown entity engulfing the land in its wicked trap. And here, the stars seemed to shine less, as though they knew something was about to transpire.

“Welcome to Veneighzuela.”