Tears fell down Rainbow's cheeks, the mare not bothering to try to stop them, she knew she couldn't anyway. She'd found herself a quiet corner away from the recovering encampment and broken down into floods of tears, the warm salty drops flowing down her cheeks and onto the floor. Twilight was right, when wasn't she? Dash had bitten off way more than she could chew and had almost paid the ultimate price for it - her life.

She thought of what she wouldn't give just to be back in that old, boring library with the Princess, safe and happy, but every time she closed her eyes the sight of the dying scout in her hooves can flowing back, the desperate last breaths and mangled flesh of the pony that knew she wasn't going to make it home to whomever was waiting for her there.

Dash sniffled and rubbed her eyes, blinking long and hard, trying her best to compose herself. She couldn't just leave the army now, not anymore. There were only two ways of her getting out now, one being winning the war, the other... Well she didn't really want to think about that option. She slowly got to her hooves, brushing the dust off of her armour, flank and tail and taking a few long, relaxing breaths. Her mind quickly wandered to why Fleetfoot had told her to claim the kill for the big Griffon, despite Fleetfoot's solo effort on the giant and saving Dash's life.

She knew she owed a lot to the Commander, taking a slow walk through the encampment towards her tent. She passed Pegasi drinking and chuckling, whilst others were tending to wounds or mourning friends and comrades. It only took the mare a matter of minutes to arrive at Fleetfoot's personal tent, stopping before the guards on the door.

"What is your business here?" One of the two large stallions questioned, looking down at the smaller mare. "The Commander is busy"

"I know, I just needed to say thank you..."

The other snickered "Well why don't you call her PA and make an appointment?"

Dash chuckled softly, licking her teeth "Very funny guys, now can I come through please?"

"I told you. She's busy..." He leaned closer to see her rank and sneered "Lieutenant"

Dash was starting to lose her patience with the lack of respect they were showing her. Sure, she wasn't a Commander, but she wasn't exactly being rude or unreasonable. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

"Lemme guess" He grinned "Killed a griffon and now think you're the toughest in the army, huh?"

"Rainbow Dash, actually" She grumbled, stepping closer to the stallion until their muzzles almost touched "THE Rainbow Dash, saviour of Equestria about a dozen times, Wonderbolt, personal friends of the Princesses... Do I need to continue?"

He pushed his muzzle against hers, noses pressing together and using the strength in his neck to push her head back "Well here you're nothing but a fucking Lieutenant, got it? I couldn't give a fuck what you've done"

She grunted, pulling her head back a little bit, only to drive her forehead hard into his nose, presumably breaking it from the brutal crack and stream of blood, then in one movement bucking out hard, connecting with the other guards temple and sending him sprawling. Dash was shaking with anger, leaning down to the guards ear "I'm coming for you, one day, no matter how long it takes. You'll be begging me for mercy and I'll ask what you've done in your life" She hissed, ignoring the crowd around the scene and marching into the tent.

Dash froze as she got deeper inside, however. It turned out the Commander was just a little busy. Fleetfoot stood around a map of Equestria with Captain Scorcher, Commander Spitfire and Commander Soarin, all four turning to look at the new arrival. Dash gulped, slowly backing away "N-nows a bad time, I guess..."

Fleetfoot shook her head "No, now is fine. Perhaps you can explain what those noises were about outside?" She pointed to the end of the table, all four others staring her down as she approached the spot.

"Um..." She chuckled, running a hoof through her mane "Well, you see..." She let out another nervous chuckle, looking across the table and seeing the hard looks she was getting, giving Soarin a 'gimme a little help' look.

"Well?" Spitfire frowned, raising an eyebrow. She was wearing her armour, her helmet resting on the table. The three Commanders armour was very exquisite, similar to Dash's in design, but due to their rank their design and patterns were much more extravagant.

She sighed and nodded "Well I came to see Commander Fleetfoot to thank her for well..." She trailed off as she saw the mare giving her a hard look, slowly shaking her head. "For giving me the chance to fight for Equestria!" She lied, getting a small nod from the Commander. "But the guards on the door were getting a little rude, so I put them in their place"

"Subordination, Lieutenant" Scorcher finally spoke, looking down his nose at the mare "This is a tent. The walls aren't exactly soundproof"

"I didn't know the Commander was so occupied, Sir" She gulped "I presumed they were picking on me for a bit of fun"

"You were being made fun of so you attacked and harmed superiors?" He frowned, raising an eyebrow.

Soarin finally spoke up, tired of Scorcher making Dash squirm "She's high on adrenaline after fighting her first fight, and an important one at that. Commander Fleetfoot even confirmed that the mare before you killed a Griffon High Lord"

"Well, I cannot-"

Spitfire lifted a hoof and silenced Scorcher, butting in. Dash was surprised at that, but didn't speak up "I have already discussed with the other Commanders, we are all in favour or rewarding Lieutenant Dash in the proper way. Even if you refused our decision is final, it is nine to one. Now you can either be a respectful and proper leader of your army and congratulate your solider, or you can leave now and we will see you back in Cloudsdale after the two Commanders and I have finished overseeing the clean up of this encampment"

Scorcher gritted his teeth, walking toward the door "Congratulations, Lieutenant" He grumbled, before flying away.

The room fell into silence for a long minute, before Spitfire spoke again "Dash. It's been a while, stay with the Commanders and I for this evenings celebration, will you?"

Dash straightened up a little, smiling but sighing, shaking her head "It would be a privilege, it truly would. But I feel my squad needs me more than you do tonight. Not all of us were fortunate enough to make it back, and I feel I need to be there with them"

Spitfire nodded, smiling "Exactly what I wanted to hear. Rainbow Dash, it is with pride that I offer you the role of Colonel" She beamed "The Commanders have decided that this role would suit you well, skipping straight past several other ranks. Not only have you displayed the ability to train a group to perfection, you have also displayed compassion and fighting ability. Commander Fleetfoot was extremely pleased with your tactical suggestions too"

Dash bit her lip, looking between the three Commanders. They all seemed pretty serious, yet congratulatory "You're not joking..." She muttered, saluting "It would be an honour, Commander" She grinned wide.

"Your post will begin on your return to Cloudsdale, where you will fin your new quarters, role and of course armour. You're also saying in Soarin's lot for now. I suggest you take whatever time you need with your squad now, but dont forget to drop by every now and then to see us" She smiled, dismissing the other two Commanders.

Dash watched them go, standing alone with Spitfire. It was obvious that despite the shared the same rank, Spitfire was very much in charge of the other Commander, even Captain Scorcher. "Can I ask you a question, please, Commander?"

Spitfire simply nodded

"Why does Captain Scorcher hate me? Did I sleep with his daughter or something?"

She chuckled softly, shaking her head but remaining serious "Scorcher, plainly, is a cunt" She shrugged "He has no idea what he's doing, but for some reason he was given the role of Captain and gets to lead our army. And when I say lead, I mean from the back. The very back."

"He hasn't fought yet?"

"No. Celestia put him where he is an he's determined to stay there. The reason you weren't approached as a Commander from the very beginning is because you were so new to the 'Bolts, and Scorcher fought hard to make sure you weren't there. He said from past experience you're too... Brash. A hothead. He got it into Celestia's head that you were too valuable to Twilight and the Elements too"

Dash sighed, obviously annoyed. "Thanks for the help, I guess. I'm with the others, you should be Captain. You're the second best flier in Equestria and a proven leader"

"Second?"

Dash chuckled and blushed "Sorry... Habit..." Dash liked Spitfire, before the war they were quite close from being together for sustained periods of time in the Wonderbolts, the flawless teamwork and wordless connection whilst in flight they'd developed had led to some outstanding performances. Both post and pre the put break of the war she was quite... well... scared of Spitfire, the way she commanded with an iron hoof and took no rubbish, known for snapping at a pony at any moment for any little thing.

"I'll be keeping a close eye on your progress, Dash. When a Commander spot opens up you'd better be ready" She said, walking out of the tent, leaving Dash all alone

"Yes Ma'am..." She muttered, holding back a cheer.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading!