The Honorable Discharge of Lieutenant Rainbow Dash

To the city, it was only another wave of refugees, another crowd of mouths to feed and broken hearts to litter the streets. But to them, it was a miracle.

Rainbow Dash watched with a hollow smile as the last clumps of the group walked down the streets, off to search for family, to find a place to sleep, to try and make a difference. Things were still far from okay, but at the very least, it was salvageable.

“I guess this is goodbye?”

Dash jumped in slight surprise, turning to glance back to Fluttershy. The small yellow pony was smiling, despite the dark shadows under her sad eyes. “What do you mean?” she asked, her tone coming off almost accusatory.

Fluttershy paused pulling back slightly at the sudden question. “Oh, well, you’re going to go register for the army, right? I mean, Cloudsdale is supposed to move out soon, at least, that’s what I heard, and I’ve volunteered to help with the effort here in the city. And I’m already a few days later than I told them I’d be,” she said, shuffling her hooves.

Pausing, Rainbow blinked, wilting slightly. “Oh. Right.” There was a moment of tense silence, and they stood on the corner of the sidewalk, glancing at each other. “You wouldn’t mind-you wouldn’t mind if I wrote you letters? See I-” Rainbow Dash grimaced, hating how awkward she was coming off. “I don’t have any family to write to. If not, I mean, it’s cool, just, yeah.”

The pastel yellow pony blinked in surprised, then smiled, nodding slightly. “I think I’d like someone to write letters to too.”

They waited a while longer in silence before getting everything in order, each hesitant to go back to facing what lay ahead on their own. But finally they managed to go their separate ways with an awkward goodbye.

Time passed faster than it had in a while, or maybe it simply felt that way after the seemingly endless trek to the city, but all the same, she hardly payed attention as she flew up over the city to the massive cloud where her home city loomed. Soon she was registered, assigned, and on her way to the barracks.

Hesitant, she landed on a small stray cloud next to the weather factory. In the warped metal walls of the factory, she could see her own reflection, and if it weren’t for the bright colors of her hair, she wondered if she would have recognized herself.

Her mane was cut short now, which was strange in and of itself. She’d worn it long as far back as she could remember, but it wouldn’t have been well-suited for what was to come. It was probably better short, so she wouldn’t have to worry about it getting in her eyes. Pausing, she turned, eyes tracing the curves of the pegasus division uniform. The blue-gray cloth was skintight, the armored torso, unbearably uncomfortable. She straightened, adjusting her posture. She looked the part of a solider.

But she didn’t feel like one. How was she supposed to protect her country when she couldn’t even protect one pony?

“Hey Soarin’ I was wondering-oh, wait,” an unfamiliar landed on the cloud next to Rainbow Dash, snickering. “Sorry, sorry, thought you were a guy I know! Geez I sure can be dense. You one of the new cadets?”

Rainbow shrugged, managing a grin in greeting. “Yeah. Hey, don’t sweat it, not the first time someone mistook me for a guy! The name’s Rainbow Dash, you?”

“Officer Lightning Dust, but everyone calls me Dusty. I’m captain of the seventh division Thunderheads,” she said with a bright grin. “We handle the weather based combat. You?”

“I think the stallion said I was signed up as a Striker, I wrote the division down somewhere,” Rainbow said, annoyed she’d forgotten. “That’s air to ground, right?”

“Yep,” Dusty said with a nod, shrugging. “Too bad we aren’t in the same division Rainbow Dash, you seem like you’d be fun to fight next to. You got started on training yet?”

They took off, flying in the direction of the stadium where everyone was being put up for the night while the barracks were reconstructed. “Not yet, only just got here today, actually. There was an accident with the train,” Rainbow admitted with a wince.

“I think I heard about that. Huh. Anyway, you’re in for a real treat,” Dusty said with a teasing grin. “We get up at four in the morning, eat mush, don’t go to bed until you feel ready to die, then do the same thing for what, nine months? Conditioning to make sure you’re battle ready is one thing, but I’m glad I’m done with that,” snorted the pegasi. “Word of advice, keep your head down, don’t argue. A couple instructors I know make you do night watch if you don’t listen, and nothing’s more miserable them sitting awake in a dark stinky room after training all day.”

“Thanks for the tip, but I think I can handle myself,” Rainbow said casually as they flew down into the open roof of the stadium. She shivered slightly as they passed through the magic field, static shock tingling through her. Ugh, maybe she had magic allergies.

Dusty smirked, raising a friendly eyebrow. “That’s what everyone says when they first show up. Me included. I don’t expect you to listen, but you really rather oughta.”