Prologue: Out of the Question
“You know the team isn’t going to look upon this choice too kindly” a brown Pegasus remarked as he strode alongside a grey toned Pegasus. The two pegasi walked down the hall which was riddled with countless objects amongst the walls. The walls displayed newspaper articles, flags, medals and other various trophies. The grey Pegasus snorted at his companion’s comment and shook his mane.
“It too soon to look for recruits McGraw. It’s only been 3 days since we’ve lost one of our initiates and you’re already scrambling to find another replacement!” the brown Pegasus added, quickly glancing at the left side of the hall to make out a photo framed on the wall. It showed seven ponies; four pegasi, two unicorns, and an earth pony all huddled in a circle, brandishing their smiles at the camera.
“I know the team isn’t going to like my decision. Then again, half the decisions I make for my team are for the best of us” the grey pony finally remarked, glancing at his side to see his brown coated companion looking back at him with worried eyes. The brown Pegasus had a combed black mane with dark brown eyes and his body’s definition matched that of a small bull. Still, his size was feeble compared to McGraw’s massive frame.
“What do you honestly plan to do then Major?” the Pegasus asked, knowing that McGraw’s words held some true. ‘McGraw may be using this excuse against me, but his decisions never fail’ he thought to himself as he turned away from the Major to face the door in front of him. The two reached the end of the hall which led them to the Major’s personal office.
“Come on in, I’ll elaborate more on the situation Chavez” McGraw responded, holding the door open so the brown Pegasus can walk in first. With a nod to show thanks, Chavez walked into the office which was only luminated by the lamps occupying the room. As Chavez made his way past the doorframe and into the room, McGraw followed, closing the door behind him.
Chavez looked around the office, trying to make out the details but he could barely do so because of the lack of lighting. The only things he could make out within the place were a couple of bookshelves, a computer, a couple of medals, and finally, the office desk residing at the far end of the room.
“Damn McGraw, will it kill you to keep this place a little more positive? I feel like I’m standing in Death’s house” Chavez commented as he walked to the nearest lit place which happened to be a bookshelf. He drew out the first book he saw and stared at it for quite some time. The book was called, The Art of War.
McGraw’s hospitality quickly left his body as he glared at Chavez from afar. “Do not make jokes about death in my office ever again” He shot, causing Chavez to lower the book and look back at his commanding officer. The intensity in McGraw’s eyes was just as strong as 50.Caliber bullet plummeting straight through his eye socket. Chavez knew the major’s reason for doing this. Chavez knew he deserved every moment of this.
“I’m sorry Major. It was too soon…” Chavez apologized but was cut short.
“Damn fucking right it is. You know I don’t tolerate bullshit like that.” McGraw snapped, walking closer to Chavez who still stood by the bookshelf. They did not break eye contact.
“…Especially when we just lost one of our recruits. It pains me to replace a damn fine Initiate like him.” McGraw continued standing two paces away from Chavez. Chavez stood there in silence, knowing anything he would say would simply prolong the situation. The grey Pegasus body was rigged with anger. He decided to stay silent and let the Major continue on. He knew he could not waste time by arguing though. There was much work to get done.
McGraw quickly dropped the matter, thinking the same thing as Chavez, and dropped his cold stare. Chavez watched as his major turned around and began to walk over to the desk towards the end of the room. Chavez placed the book in his possession back in the bookshelf and followed after, knowing that there were certain matters that needed to be discussed.
As Chavez approached the desk he began to notice a bizarre amount of files and paper work scattered across the desk. The brown Pegasus instantly knew that McGraw was trying to bite off more than he could chew.
“Major, you really need more soldiers in the desks rather than on the field or training” Chavez remarked walking closer and narrowing his vision down on the papers. McGraw was behind the desk now looking at all the papers in front of him as well. The grey pegasus’ blue eyes looked tired and drained.
“No, this isn’t difficult paperwork Chavez. I just simply haven’t got around to it.” He sighed as he rummaged his hooves around the papers on the desk before him. Chavez watched with curiosity as he saw McGraw actually trying to file paperwork. The Pegasus was always a fighter at heart, and just the thought of him being posted as a desk clerk made Chavez smirk on the inside. McGraw still rummaged through paperwork, grumbling and muttering to himself.
Chavez continued to watch McGraw, waiting for him to bring up the topic he wanted answers too, but it seemed as if his commanding officer was caught up in paperwork. Chavez knew that in order for this conversation to go anywhere he was going to have to be the one to get it started.
“Sir…” Chavez addressed, ceasing the attention of McGraw. He looked up at him with a file in his mouth and winced his eyebrows upwards in approval. “…If it pains you to bring in another initiate, and its clearly to soon, why do so?”
McGraw took one deep sigh and dropped the file from his mouth onto the table. He shook his mane and looked up at his partner to answer his question. “I need to fill in the gaps…” he said stiffly. Chavez lifted a brow in confusion. ‘The gaps? What gaps needed to be filled?’ he thought in confusion.
“Sir?” Chavez asked, hoping McGraw could elaborate on what he said.
“Celestia has been breathing down Rainbow’s back ever since the Canterlot Wedding incident…” McGraw grumbled as he looked at Chavez with stern eyes. Chavez’s eyes lit up at the remembrance of the events leading up to the incident. He could recall the creature’s that terrorized the place and the destruction they caused. ‘That’s one of the three incidents we let slip by our grasp’ Chavez thought to himself, feeling an ounce of his self-esteem dwindle.
McGraw snorted and neighed. “If the princess herself couldn’t even detect such an incident like that, what makes her think we have an even better chance at finding that out ourselves?” he spat. Chavez stood on the other side of the desk and listened to him ramble. He knew that McGraw was right, considering how they gain most of their Intel from the princess or their operations. At the time, neither of the two would’ve proved much of a help against the changelings.
“..What does she expect us to do? Go and save her, guns blazing?” McGraw added, becoming more furious at the second. “Damn, our organization is above classified and she expects us to blow our cover?”
McGraw grumbled a bit more. “Fuck, not even her sister Luna is aware of our existence”
Chavez nodded his head in agreement and finally pitched in. “Where was the Royal Guard and the Thunderbolts?” he asked dryly. He was only mocking the two other branches of military. McGraw shook his head, ignoring the question for he knew it was a rhetorical one.
“When Celestia established this organization, she established it on one good moral: Harmony” McGraw started placing both his hooves on the table. Chavez grumbled at hearing the term harmony. He had many problems with the term he knew he would never get to enjoy. This has always angered him and left a strong hatred deep within him towards all those that were not a part of his team.
“If word were to ever get out of our organization, there would surely be no harmony left to preserve. Ponies would go mad with fear and Equestria will possibly tear itself apart” McGraw added, looking to his right which showed a full scale map. It was not only Equestria displayed on the map though. It was other foreign nations; most which Nopony would’ve thought even existed. ‘If word were to ever get out to the ponies of Equestria that there was a fight almost every day to maintain peace here, there would surely be hell to pay’ Chavez thought gloomily as he gazed up at the map as well.
“It’s funny how the Royal Guard and the Thunderbolts gain praise from ponies all around for not doing shit.” Chavez started laughing dryly. McGraw stood in silence, knowing Chavez’s way of thinking. After being partners with him since the creation of Rainbow, McGraw knew not to intervene when Chavez vented out his thoughts. McGraw felt this was not the right time to do so though.
“…But us,” Chavez started shaking his head, “…We bust our asses trying to bless these ponies with harmony and all we get in return is an unmarked tombstone”. McGraw shook his head in response to Chavez words. Chavez was a strong Pegasus who has been fighting for his life. McGraw knew his partner was speaking in a paradox. In fact he knew that Chavez knew too.
“Chavez, we created Rainbow for one specific reason: to maintain peace. We do not care for fame and we do not care for glory. You of all ponies should know this.” McGraw started eyeing his partner. Chavez lowered his head momentarily and looked back up. He looked at the grey Pegasus and cursed at him silently for being right. Chavez knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he joined this organization. He knew he should not mope around and complain for a price he knew was surely worth paying.
“The only gift we should care for Chavez, is to grant Equestria peace and protect the ponies here.” McGraw continued. Chavez looked up at his close companion and nodded his head. He knew that the chance to save hundreds of ponies’ lives was worth more than any other selfish ordeals. Chavez remained silent after that and did not mutter a word to McGraw. McGraw returned the silence and merely peered down at the desk in front of him.
“Now, we need to strengthen our ranks once again…” McGraw stated flipping a file outwards and plopping it on the desk. Chavez looked at the file in front of him quizzedly. He knew this was an information folder, but something about this fie seemed odd. It had no stamp or seal of authenticity from neither the Royal Guards nor the Thunderbolts. As Chavez examined the folder a bit closely, he began to notice there was no seal but two words branded in black:
Civilian Records
Chavez raised his gaze up at McGraw, trying to find a reason why he would have a civilian record propped on his desk. Did he need me to interrogate this pony? Was the pony of interest a target? Did we have to secure their safety?
Finally McGraw spoke up to break Chavez out of his thoughts. “I need you to find this particular pony” the Major disclosed as he flopped the folder open. In the folder were papers and a picture of the pony the file belonged to. Chavez walked closer to the desk and peered at the folder before him. The folder was facing towards McGraw so Chavez could not exactly see the contents right. He turned the file around with his hoof so he could see everything in the folder with ease.
What he saw was a picture of a light blue Pegasus with pink large eyes. Chavez lifted a brow as he saw the color of her mane. It was purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. ‘Just like a Rainbow…how coincidental’ Chavez thought to himself. He then moved on to the description of the Pegasus.
Age: 9
Sex: F
Name: Rainbow Dash
Hometown: Ponyville
That’s all Chavez found useful for the rest was either blank or useless. Her name seemed to suit her apparently but Chavez couldn’t help but feel that McGraw was interested in this particular Pegasus because of that. Chavez looked away from the folder and looked at McGraw puzzled. What did he want him to do with this young mare?
“So…what is it that you exactly need me to do?” Chavez asked shaking his mane a bit which cause it to turn from a nice combed mane to a shaky mess. McGraw sighed and clopped his hands together.
“Chavez, I need you to recruit that young mare” McGraw ordered. Chavez stared at him for a long time. There was a long silence in the room.
After a while Chavez broke out into laughter and stomped his hoof on the ground. “Yeah, that’s a good one McGraw you really got me going…”
“I’m serious” McGraw shot, causing Chavez to stop laughing and give him a shocked look.' He can't be serious' Chavez thought to himself.
“Are you sure you weren’t mesmerized by a unicron from our last operation? Because what you ask…”
“First of all, our last operation was with Griffin mercenaries who were trying to smuggle weaponry and war criminals into Equestria.” McGraw said stiffly, staring directly into Chavez eyes. “Secondly, I’m dead serious about this Chavez.”
Chavez couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The head of Rainbow Six was asking him too actually recruit a civilian. A young civilian actually, to make matters worse. Surely McGraw was just stressed out from all the Bullshit Celestia was giving him.
“What you’re asking for is unreasonable” Chavez stated shaking his head. McGraw lifted his brow, intrigued by Chavez words. Chavez continued as the Major’s blue eyes watched him like an eagle stalking his prey. “At the least you can choose an initiate from either the Thunderbolts or the Royal Guards.” The brown Pegasus added.
McGraw steadied his gaze on Chavez. “How so?” he asked. It seemed odd to Chavez that McGraw was actually asking him to explain the situation. The war veteran would’ve pointed out all the issues in an instance.
“Well sir, for one, she is a civilian who so happens to be a minor!” Chavez started glaring straight into of the eyes of the head of Rainbow Six. McGraw nodded his head, urging Chavez to continue. Chavez couldn’t believe he was actually doing this. “Second, she has no fighting experience whatsoever, so who knows how she’ll hold up in combat…”
“We got Dieter” McGraw said swiftly, not changing his facial expression. Chavez knew the teaching capabilities the dark blue Pegasus known as Dieter possessed, but it still would not change the fact that they’re taking in a little filly. Dieter was quite the silent type as well so this ‘Rainbow Dash’ would have no apparent clue what to do. He was also not very patient.
“Yes, we do have Dieter, but that is not the point Major” Chavez snapped, finally beginning to get fed up of this joke. McGraw seemed to have lost his patience a bit as well.
“Then what is the point?” McGraw asked, rising up on his hindlegs and slamming his forehooves down on the table in front of him. Chavez glared at McGraw as if he was mad.
“Because she’s inadequate to join Rainbow and you know it!” Chavez barked. ‘I bet she’s never even seen a battle saddle’ Chavez thought to himself. McGraw shook his head in disagreement. Chavez was breathing heavily, enraged by the Major’s sudden Ignorance. He would expect another pony, but never McGraw, to make such a horrible decision.
“She’s also too…colorful” Chavez added in disgust. “Rainbow is a secret operation and we don’t need to attract any attention with our ‘newest member’.”
McGraw lowered his body from the table and gave Chavez a smirk. “You know as well as I do that we never enter the field without equipment” he retorted. They’re equipment consisted of a fully clothed black armored suit capable of stopping 9mm bullets, flexible as cotton, and impervious to certain spells. The best their privately funded money can buy.
McGraw finally managed to regain control of his patience. The same could not be said for his friend. Chavez was still breathing heavily through his nostrils. “Read the file again Chavez” McGraw ordered, nudging his head down. Chavez stared at the file again, wondering why he would need to read it again.
Without another word though, Chavez turned away from McGraw to scan the file a second time. As he ran his eyes over a second time, he saw the same content he saw the first time. If anything, this just angered him a bit more. He was not going to let a little mare be put into harm’s way she isn’t even capable of displaying any valuable-
Chavez ceased all his thoughts as his eyes scanned the bottom of the file. Apparently there was a portion of the documents he missed out on. And he couldn’t believe what he was reading. McGraw could see Chavez’s reaction as well, for he finally shifted from around the desk and came to the right side of the brown Pegasus.
“So…she…was capable of performing a Sonic Rainboom?” Chavez asked looking at McGraw puzzled. He had no apparent clue what that was. Luckily, McGraw was able to inform Chavez on the situation.
"Yes, apparently it's when you break the sound barrier and you leave a trail of a rainbow" McGraw informed. Chavez couldn't elieve such a thing. Breaking the soundbarrier? such an act will surely kill and pegasus. Yes Rainbow Six did have it's fleet of aerial combatants who were swift and agile, but none were capable of breaking the sound barrier.
"Oddly shes the only pegasus to possess an ability like this" McGraw added, just as stunned as Chavez. 'At that age she was capable of perfoming an act that was unbeknowest to most pegasus? That sounded like an aspect we're going to need in Rainbow for a quick getaway in case an operation went wrong (which won't possibly be anytime soon)' he thought to himself. Still, Chavez still couldn't manage to get a benefit out of that either. If she is the only pegasus known to do such an act, won't that make her a known target if she were ever to display it on the field? That would surely blow their cover.
"Yes indeed.” McGraw nodded. “Apparently she’s the talk of the Royal Guard Pegasi and is a highly recommended choice amongst the Thunderbolts. Such a waste it would be to let potential like that slip through our grasp.”
Chavez couldn’t believe that a pegasus her age was already being recommended for the Thunderbolts. In a sense, it will be a shame to let a gift like that be used for entertainment purposes. 'The Thunderbolts are hardly ever used for combat anymore, morseo like show monkeys' he grumbled in his head.
“As far as intelligence states there is more to her then the documents say.” McGraw continued, eyeing the file still lit by the desk lamp.
“Such as?” Chavez asked lifting a brow at McGraw. There was more to this Pegasus?
“It is said she helped put an end to two major threats in Equestria. The first being Nightmare Moon and the Second being Discord.”
‘She put an end to two evil legends we possibly would have no chance against.’ He thought as he rummaged the thought in his mind. He knew monsters like that could not be stopped with sheer firepower alone. ‘So she does have some fighting capabilities’.
“They also claim she is the fastest Pegasus out there” McGraw continued. Chavez snorted. ‘Yeah, just wait until she meets Dieter. That Pegasus will wipe her out of the sky.’ He thought. McGraw took notice of the snort and challenged Chavez.
“You think you can fly faster than her?” he asked, nudging the brown pegasus by the side. Chavez smirked.
“If I get beat by a filly it will be the last day I show up here again” Chavez grunted as he flexed his wings outwards. McGraw laughed and patted Chavez on the back.
“That’s great to here, because your next sets of orders are to present the offer to her personally”
Chavez immediately dropped his wings. “Wait she doesn’t know?” Chavez asked stunned. ‘This was getting completely ridiculous now; McGraw is starting to get completely slop-‘
“Intelligence says she has a habit about boasting matters”, McGraw added. Chavez thought to himself, ‘if she has a habit of boasting I think she’ll fit perfectly into the Thunderbolts’. McGraw continued on with the subject. “We needed to find a method that will prevent her from doing so.”
Chavez gave his objective some thought. He wasn’t sure he wanted to recruit this mare. Yes, there was much promise to let the light blue pegasus into their ranks, but they were a lot of flaws as well. This pegasus has no idea what is to come her way so how am I to tell her about Rainbow and not have her blow our cover if she denies it?
“McGraw, how do you want this to plan out?” Chavez asked the grey pegasus who was by his side. He then walked over to the otherside of the desk and pulled out yet another set of documents.
“Since we cannot risk her blowing our cover, I’m going to need you to gain her trust first. Once you’ve been able to do so you can then debrief her on the offer. If she denies, I’ll send in Mercy for cleanup.” McGraw informed Chavez. Chavez shuddered at the name of the interrogating unicorn. She had a way to get things out of your mind that nopony will ever enjoy.
“And how am I supposed to gain her trust?” Chavez grumbled, finding the time and effort invested into this pegasus to be rather wasteful. McGraw shot a glance at Chavez and grunted.
“Have you not heard a word I said? Challenge her in any way” McGraw offered. Chavez sighed, knowing he was not up to play childish games. His innocence died long ago.
“Be a good sport and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to befriend her.” McGraw finished, and began to fumble his hoof through the files still abundant on the desk.
“Is...There another way?” Chavez grumbled, wiping his forehead with his hoof. McGraw stopped moving the papers around.
“Look, if you got a problem trying to handle this simple task, I’ll have Blitz join you as well. At least she’s got some energy left in her.” The major grunted and began to turn back to the papers on the desk. He then placed his hoof on the desk and slid the ‘Pony of interest’s’ file on the floor.
“You have your orders now corporal. Get a move on now” McGraw grunted, pointing his hoof at the door. Chavez looked back at the door which was closed.
“Like I said Major, no one is going to like this plan” Chavez stated staring at the door. McGraw did not stop what he was doing, but still responded to the corporal’s words.
“We have tough times ahead of Equestria, Chavez. There have been more attacks recently and soon I feel we’re going to need every ounce of talent we can get into this organization”, the grey pegasus reassured, shaking his head while organizing the files.
Chavez looked at the fumbling grey pegasus still not comfortable with this decision. ‘No matter what I find to make this seem like a good idea, it just ends up like a pile of shit. Just like where this plan is headed’ he thought to himself as he placed the documents in his mouth. There’s this feeling in my gut that’s telling me to turn back now and disobey orders, but going AWOL isn’t an act looked upon so kindly here’.
Next thing on Chavez’s list of works was to have Blitz accompany him in meeting Rainbow Dash. He was sure the file provided by the Major will inform the two on where to go and how to find her. Blitz was always a hyperactive pegasus, but she was also a resilient fighter, and Chavez respected that. He had no problem teaming up with the fast agile pony.
As Chavez passed through the dark room and its contents, a thought reached into the brown pegasus’ mind. ‘Why didn’t McGraw point out any noticeable flaws the entire time? If I was able to do so, how come McGraw could not?’
Chavez reached the door once he made up his mind on what to do next. He placed the file record on the floor and swerved his head to the side to see the grey pony finally finish organizing the papers. McGraw watched Chavez wait by the door and tilted his head to the side.
“What are you waiting for Corporal?” McGraw ordered at Chavez. Chavez took a deep breath and prepared for yet another unfathomable answer given to him by the Major himself.
“Will this surely work, McGraw?'' he asked, with a major tone of disbelief. McGraw stood across the room with his hooves crossed on the desk before him.
“If you play your cards right Chavez,” McGraw started, “and all goes according to plan, you have my word everything will run smoothly.” The major was smiling, but Chavez still had a hard time believing.
“How do you know this?” he asked, raising the tone of his voice so he could be head across the room. Chavez really wish he heard the Major admit he was mad and this was all a joke.
McGraw let out a small laugh and nodded his head. “Trust me, it will turn out for the best…”
The major stopped laughing and directed a gaze at Chavez. “…We will train her her and teach her to be part of the family. She will soon grow acustom to our ways and move about like us in no time..."
McGraw smiled slightly.
"...After all, she is the Element of Loyalty.”
