Rainbow Dash stared at herself in the mirror and sighed, lowering her head. For a mare of such pride and reputation she'd sure let herself get into a mess. Her once unmarked body was now a canvas of scars and bruises, even her face hadn't escaped the fate of her body, a long scar running from her cheek to her eye after her visit to The Bone Doctor, the mare thankful there was no lasting damage done to her sight. She'd been dresses in her formal attire, donning her medals from passed battles, today was the day she would officially be promoted and presented yet another medal by Princess Celestia, this time the Iron Hoof, the most prestigious of all medals, showing sacrifices and courage in the face of doom. She was kinda surprised her and the other elements didn't already have a collection of them, but she was still proud nonetheless, even if the occasion was marred by other thoughts.

Dash didn't lift her head at the sound of someone attempting to sneak up on her, whomever they were weren't as good as they thought they were at stealth, and had definitely picked the wrong pony to try it on. "What do you want?" She muttered "I'm not in the mood"

"Ah, Cmon Dash. When did you get boring?" Soarin grinned, running his hoof along Dash's back and over her mane "You look kinda good. Except that" He jabbed the scar on her face.

Dash gritted her teeth under his hoof, not wanting to think back to the last time a male had touched her in such a way, growling at the unceremonious way he jabbed her face "And you still look like a rat" She grinned, pushing him hard "Now fuck off"

He fell back onto his haunches, rubbing his chest "I could... Or I could go to this thing with you" He winked "Seen as you're supposed to take someone and you're going alone~"

Dash raised her eyebrow, looking down at the stallion "Excuse me...?"

He stood, brushed himself off and chuckled "Spitfire said no, so I thought you'd do. You're not really the sort to seek a partner, and the stallions are terrified of you, so here I am!"

She rolled her eyes "Perhaps you should take notes from your fellow sex" She grumbled, attaching her last medal to her breast and admiring herself "And anyway. You do not appeal to me in any way at all"

"Well thats rude" He grinned, circling her "But Spitfire ordered you to be respectful and obey the rules... So I'm taking you"

"If it is that important to Celestia that I must be forced into taking a partner, and Spitfire wants to keep me in check I'll just go with her, or failing that Twilight" She grumbled, whipping the stallion with her tail "Go pester Fleetfoot"

He shrugged and huffed "Come on... What can I do to make you come?"

"Become a mare?" She laughed, turning and walking from the room in a swift gallop. She was trying to get away from him, his advances were starting to piss her off and she really didn't want to punch a superior...

"We have the same views Dash. I'll help them flourish" He called after her.

She stopped, sighing and turning "Fine. But we are only going together because I need someone. If you so much as touch me I swear on Commander Hurricane's grave...."

Soarin grinned and stroked her scar "This is going to be fun..."

It was midday by the time the two arrived at the castle, the majority of the important ponies already there and talking with one another. Dash kept her eye out for Spitfire, but didnt notice her anywhere yet. Despite this, she kept to her word to remain respectful and civil no matter how much it infuriated her the way the noble unicorns went about eating and laughing, the war obviously not having an effect on their wealth and status.

She sat herself down out of the way and sipped a glass of water, eyes scanning the room.

"Well, this is boring. I thought being with you was going to be fun..." Soarin sighed, flopping down next to her.

"I'm sorry that you aren't having a good time. Want me to go ask Celestia to mix it up a little?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head "Idiot..."

"Go for it. Walk up to Celestia herself and tell her its your party and you want it livened up a little" He laughed, brushing his hoof through Dash's mane teasingly.

She raised and eyebrow before standing with intent, marching her way through the crowd towards the Princess. The small mare had to physically force her way to the deity. "Princess Celestia" Dash grumbled, slowly bowing "Can we please get on with the ceremony? I don't feel this is right, dining and partying whilst we're in such a... situation..."

Spitfire saw Dash march over to the Princess, gritting her teeth and herself marching over, yanking Dash by the mane "What did you do? What did you say?"

"Commander Spitfire, please" Celestia frowned at the Commander "That is unnecessary. The soon to be Commander Dash was only highlighting the unnecessary feasting at such a time"

Spitfire dropped Dash and straightened herself out, glancing around the crowd that had formed, slowly bowing "I..."

Dash stood and straightened herself up, readjusting her medals "It's fine Commnader" She nudged Spitfire "Come on, I'd hate for these Unicorns meals to go cold" She grumbled, nodding to the Princess and walking back to Soarin "Happy?"

He gulped as Spitfire followed Dash to Soarin "I guess?"

"Listen, the pair of you" Spitfire hissed "Act your age and your ranks, I'm not your babysitter"

Dash frowned "You're the one starting fights, Commander. And we're the same rank now, don't talk down to me"

"We both know I'm in charge here. Just because I made you a Commander, doesn't mean I wont take it away... Or make you disappear"

Dash stayed silent for a moment, not looking at Spitfire "Don't threaten me, Spitfire. I'm not your enemy. The last thing we... Equestria... needs is the two of us going head to head. I'm not challenging you Spitfire, you dont have to worry about that. All I want is to go home after all of this is fucking down with, ok?" She sighed and held out her hoof.

Spitfire returned the silence, before slowly nodding "Good" She bashed hooves "Try not to get too drunk" She grinned, turning and talking and walking with someone else.

"Fuck me she's scary..." Soarin muttered

"Tell me about it" Dash gulped her drink and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading!