A Blaze of Glory

“Hey, look at the newbie.”

“Dude, that’s just wrong. You should not look that hot. Ever.”

“Yeah, she’s a looker, but have you seen her fly? Worst thing ever.”

Rainbow looked up from her nap. The constant chatter of the crowd had begun to grate on her nerves, even while the filly slept. There was absolutely no reason for them to be making this much noise. Who cared about some new student? Rainbow needed her midmorning nap, and by Celestia, she was going to get it.

“Yeah, but you know what they say right?”

“What?”

“All the hot ones are gay as a rainbow.”

Rainbow felt a blush rise, coloring her cheeks as she turned her head from the group. She still needed her nap, but it looked like there was no chance of that happening. Then, every thought of sleep left her as a shoulder rammed into her stomach, knocking her out of the bed.

“Hey, Rainbow Crash.” It was the usual three colts. Rainbow honestly thought that their mission in life was to make hers a pain. “Stay away from the new filly, got it? One fillyfooler is bad enough, two would be stupid.”

“I TOLD you like a MILLION times, I’M NOT GAY!” Dash’s voice cracked under the stress. She had been taking the insults and accusations since she had entered flight school. Everypony thought just because she had a rainbow mane, and was tough, that she just had to be gay. Honestly, it was stupid and annoying.

“Yeah, whatever. Just stay away from her.” The brown colt walked past, brushing past his friends and out the door.

“Please. What an idiot. I have better things to be doing.” Rainbow scoffed at the retreating backs. “Ugh, I need my nap now, thank you.” Settling down on the soft cloud she set her mind to its second favorite activity.

“Hey Dash, what did those losers want.”

Yep, no sleep for me. “Gilda.” Dash whined, covering her head with her hooves. Her friend knew better than to think that Dash meant it.

“Shut up Dash, it’s almost time to go anyway. Unless you want to be one of the losers that don’t get to talk to Spitfire?” The griffon asked, shining one talon on her chest feathers. As expected, Dash slammed into her from her recently supine position, apparently trying to squeeze the life out of her.

“What! Spitfire’s HERE! Ohmygosh. Oh, do I need to go shower? I probably have bedhead. Oh Gilda, where is she? How long will she be here?”

Gilda grinned at the ridiculously overexcited mare. “Calm down Dash, you might scare her.”

“Huh?”

“So you must be Rainbow Dash, the ‘Fastest Flier in Equestria’. How you doing kid?” Dash froze halfway through Gilda, the griffon squirming, trying to breathe through her laughter and the crushing hug. Slowly her head ratcheted around, looking over her shoulder. Standing there in her graduating class uniform, was Spitfire. “Gilda’s been telling me about how you want to be a Wonderbolt. You look fast, but I just don’t think you can cut it kiddo. Maybe you’ll be good enough to join when you graduate.”

“What?” Rainbow asked, dejection and perverse nature warring over her idols words. “I am totally good enough to join. Come on, I’ll race you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“Fine, first one to the mess wins, a teacher stops you, you lose. On you marks.”

“Get set.”

“DASH!” Gilda stood next to her friend, shouting in her ear. Dash tumbled from her perch, and slamming into the floor. Say what you will about clouds being puffy and soft, if generations of pegasi walk on it, it compacts almost like rock. Rainbow could almost feel the bruise starting to spread along her side, a perfect match to the one her pride was now sporting. “You need to get up. It’s almost time for class to start again. Do you want to get yelled at by those lame teachers?”

“Gilda. Could you try not shouting in my ear the next time you want me? It hurts like hell.”

“So? Come on, we’ve got about two minutes left.” The pony groaned, the walked over and donned her uniform. It was green, and styled loosely off of the Wonderbolts. Instead of a lightning bolt along the side though, the uniform had a line of little white stars. Every student in Flight School had a uniform. They all looked pretty much the same, the color and stars changing a little every year. Dash was a first year student, but some, like Spitfire, were almost done here. They got recruited by some of the most prestigious groups around, from Canterlot Weather Control to the Wonderbolts. Instead of a set uniform, they were supposed to wear the uniform of their next job, or the gold and blue uniforms, the inverse of the Wonderbolts.

Spitfire though, she was already accepted into the Wonderbolts. She had been recruited almost a year ago, making her the youngest flier the Wonderbolts had ever drafted, even if she was just backup. Rainbow Dash was going to beat her, she just knew it. She was the best flier in five grades, and it was only a matter of time. A short matter of time. After all, The Dash did everything fast.

“Alright, come on featherbrain.”

“What took you so long? The thought of me make you need to rub one off?”

“Shut up catbutt.”

“You must still be asleep, the Great Rainbow Dash could not have said something that lame. Come on, race ya.” The gryphon shot forward. She had Dash up on distance flying, but only because she had wings that were about the size of Dash’s entire body. The massive wingspan let the gryphon use a lot of power in each wingbeat, and they let her glide. But Rainbow Dash was the fastest. By a lot. The pegasus crouched down, and stretched out her wings. Once the gryphon was halfway down the hall, Dash sped forward. And then she hit something. Hard. A frightened squeak sounded before a moan as the pair slammed into the wall at the end of the corridor.

Dash shook her head, trying to clear her blurry vision. She had flipped over the pony she had rammed, taking most of the force of the walls impact with her side. She stretched out her wings, rotating them in their sockets to make sure they still worked. Satisfied that they were nothing more than a little sore, she walked over to the other pony.

“Hey, sorry about that. You okay?” Rainbow asked, holding out a hoof to the little yellow mare.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been wandering around. Are you hurt? I’m so very sorry.” The voice was soft but clearly audible.

“What, a little thing like that hurt Rainbow Dash, the Fastest Flier in Equestria? I’m fine, it’s you I’m worried about.”

“What, oh me? I- I’m okay.” The voice got even quieter as the little filly lost the panicked edge, retreating back into her shell.
“Hey, I don’t bite. Come on, we need to hurry or we’ll be late.” And, with timing that only a school can have, the words were punctuated by a long, ringing bell. “Then again, maybe we should take it easy?”

The little yellow mare giggled, taking Dash’s proffered hoof. Hauled to her feet, Dash was surprised to see that the little mare was the same age, and almost the same height. Waves of the pale pink mane rolled over her back and in front of one eye.

“So who are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.”

“Oh, I just started going here. I just came in this morning. I’m Fluttershy.”

“Rainbow Dash. The –“

“The fastest flier in Equstria?”

“Hey how did you know that?”

“You just told me.” Fluttershy replied, breaking into another fit of giggles.

“Oh. Well, whatever. Hey, what’s your next class?” Rainbow found her usual nature asserting itself as her body began to float a few inched above the floor. Fluttershy paced easily beside her, though she kept her hooves firmly planted on the hardened cloud, the clopping of her hooves echoing through a hall that rarely heard such noise.

Every pegasus was bred to fly, and almost every single pony at Flight School sped from class to class, using the time to hone their wings even more. More than that though, it was almost an insult to the school to walk instead of fly. Walking was for earth ponies and unicorns. Pegasi were better than that, the ground only received what they determined it should. Rainbow managed to contain her annoyance at the little mare. It was just rude to walk around the school.

“Oh. I have Basic Flying, with Sky Kicker.”

“Basic Flying? Oh, right. Most ponies start in basic when they come in. Sorry. Hey, I’ll be on the other side of the practice field. Spitfire’s going to be doing a private training session.”

“You got into one of her training sessions? Wow. You must be a very good flier.”

“What can I say? The Dash is the best here, except maybe Spitfire herself. And I’ve got a few years to just keep getting better.”

“That sounds wonderful. But shouldn’t you be going? Spitfire really doesn’t like ponies who are late.” At the words, Rainbow’s usually cyan coat blanched to almost pure white.

“HORSEFEATHERS!” She yelped, rocketing forward again, leaving the little mare ambling gamely along behind, smiling at her new friend.

That had been the day Rainbow had first met both of them in person. Fluttershy had been this gangly little filly then, all leg and no muscle. Not that she really had muscle now, but at least now her legs weren’t almost painfully thin and way to long for her body. It was also the first day Dash had met Spitfire. Suddenly reminded of the fact, the cyan pegasus rolled over, wrapping her hooves once more around the warm mare lying next to her.

“Dash, it is way too early for you to be waking me up.” Rainbow grinned, burying her face in the coppery mane. She lost herself briefly in the simple pleasure of her Captain’s scent, the sharp biting cinnamon layered with soft vanilla.

“Sorry Cap. I thought you had something in your mane. I was trying to get it out.”

“Oh really? Well you had better make sure you get it. Can’t have something in it for today’s show now can we?” The Wonderbolts Captain asked, arching her neck into Dash’s nose. The cyan mare grinned, and began to nibble at the mane.
Starting at the very base of the mane, she nipped as the hair, pulling it through her teeth. Spitfire’s hair straightened as she did so, the faintest sheen of moisture clinging to the hair. Gradually, Rainbow Dash worked her way down the arched neck, preening each strand. Then she made her way back up, and Spitfire moaned softly. Rainbow had found her lovers strange affection for grooming early on, but only recently had the pair of them discovered this. It would set Spitfire ablaze, and her wings to straighten out ruler perfect, if as she was groomed, Rainbow bit lightly on the flesh near the mane.

The Wonderbolts Captain silenced her rising moans by the simple expedient of biting down on Rainbow’s shoulder. Biting very, very hard. And answering groan came from Rainbow, who finished, pulling back from the mare beside her.

“Well. I think we had better look each other over. Wouldn’t want to be dirty on a show day.” And with a cocky grin, licked the side of Spitefire’s face. After which, neither party felt much need to speak in full words, confident that the mare next to them knew exactly what they were doing.

An hour later found the mares in the showers, laughing and talking, Rainbow occasionally smacking her marefriend’s admirably firm rear, receiving the same. After almost five minutes of this, interspersed with nonstop giggling and an occasional shriek as a wet snap heralded another hit, both mares finished cleaning themselves, with admittedly more aid than was actually needed.

Soarin’ stood just outside the showers, a smirk firmly in place. “You know, the point of a shower is to get clean, right?”
“Oh but Soarin’.” Spitfire said, rubbing along the stallion, flicking his nose with the very tip of her tail. “Where better to get dirty than where you can get clean right away?”

Rainbow, dutifully manning the stallions other side, smiled. “Yeah, think of it like pie. It’s just so good to eat, you just have to clean your plate.”

“Oh honey, I doubt there are any pies in the world that are as… colorful as you two. I never knew fires burned in that many colors.”

“Oh shut it, you old pervert.” Rainbow said, laughing and losing the sensual rub along the stallion, as Soarin’ had intended, thank you very much.

“Old!” He shouted, anger as obviously faked as the mares’ seduction tactics. “If I’m old, then what is Spitfire? She’s like two years younger than me.”

“Yep, and she’s in the prime of her life, in every way.” The prompt reply from Rainbow came, earning a radiant smile from her Captain.

“And what about in two year?” Soarin’ was all for favoritism, but that was just mean. Cut out of his prime, by two years at that.

“You’ll still be old, and I’ll still be in my Prime, won’t I Dash?” Spitfire asked, pecking Rainbow’s cheek. No matter how many times she did it, it always made the younger pegasus blush.

“So I was young two years ago?”

“Yep.” Dash said, returning the kiss. “And Spitfire was a virgin.” She ducked out from next to her lover, and shot off, outpacing the yellow mare, and shooting out into the wide courtyard. Today was finally the day. From all over Equestria, the best pegasi would be gathering here today. It was finally time for the Wonderbolts to recruit another member. White Streak had retired, the poor stallion had taken one too many tumbles, and his sixth broken wing had proven to be his last. Not it was time for the best, if not the brightest, fliers in Equestria were winging their way to the capital.

Rainbow felt the first stirrings of the excitement that always accompanied the moments before she did a particularly amazing trick. Almost like she couldn’t breathe, time frozen near her, and racing away everywhere else. That was the feeling she lived for, that one moment when there are no problems, no worries. There’s just her, and the endless blue sky.

“You were amazing sweetheart. You didn’t even use a Rainboom.” Spitfire murmered, face pressed hard into her lovers side. The orange yellow fur of her neck pressed into Rainbow’s back, rubbing softly along the blue mare’s spine.

“Yeah, well. You’ve all seen that before. I need t keep things interesting don’t I?”

“Well, I doubt anyone expected you to pull a lightning bolt and throw it at Celestia. How did you do that anyway? I mean, I’ve seen some really cool tricks, but that…”

“Ha. Well, I basically just built up static. Then I did some thinking. When lightning strikes from cloud to cloud, its almost always positive. You know how pegasi can jump on a cloud and make lightning hit the ground?” Rainbow looked over at her marefriend, a questioning tilt to her eye.

At the Wonderbolts nod, she continued. “Well, cloud to ground lightning has a negative charge. So to our hooves. It’s not a lot, but that’s the only way I could think of that it would push the lightning out. Well, it’s kinda like how we can walk on clouds. Our magic just does it, and we don’t think about it. I just practiced focusing on it, and making the charge stronger. The positive lightning followed the charge. You saw how I backwinged? That wasn’t just cause it looked cool, if I hadn’t I would be a lot less awesome and a lot more dead. I tapped my hoof on the ground, and that grounded the charge, so the lightning just fed into the ground.”

“Wow. That’s, kind of hot actually. You really are sexy when you get all smart.”

“Yeah, well what can I say? HEY!” the indignant mare yelped as she realized the insult hidden in the compliment. “You little.” She giggled, feeling Spitfire laughing above her. Rainbow flipped over, wrapping her hooves around Spitfire’s neck. She pulled her Captain’s mouth to her own, and they shared a smile, and so very much more.

Later, both mares were covered in a fine sheen of sweat. One of the benefits of the Wonderbolts training, and the personal hell that Spitfire put Rainbow through daily, was that they were both very fit, meaning that any activities that they engaged in were both strenuous and very athletic. Spitfire lay there, panting beneath Rainbow, a sloppy smile on her face.

“Who’s smart now?” Rainbow asked, leaning forward once more. She drew the mare into a gentle kiss, the violence and passion of the moments before seemingly forgotten.

“You are my love. You just hide it well.”

“What can I say? If people knew I was smart, cool, and this good looking, how would you keep me?”

“I’d tell them that you snore in your sleep, you always eat or sleep, and you do everything fast.” Spitfire kept her face smothered in the blankets, and her smile hidden from Dash. She stretched, almost catlike, on the bed.

“I, I do?” The newest Wonderbolt asked, nervousness entering her usually confident tone.

Spitfire let Rainbow see her smile as she arched her neck to look over her shoulder. “Oh course not love, but they don’t know that. And they will never find out how good you are in bed. You’d have to beat them off with sticks." Rainbow grinned, mollified and hummed contentedly. She curled up next to her lover, and together they fell asleep.