A Dash Of Obedience

After returning to the Wonderbolts Academy, Rainbow had been paired with Lightning Dust. Both ponies continued the training regime that Spitfire had instilled for all cadets. Unlike her previous sojourn, Rainbow was now the lead pony, while Lightning was the wing pony.

Spitfire, the Wonderbolts Captain, stood stoically in the middle of the tarmac covered runway and observed all cadets. She paid special attention to the team of Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust. Despite her austere ponysonality, the yellow pegasus had a soft spot for the azure mare, as Dash had impressed the Wonderbolts Captain on numerous occasions.

“What’s with you? Back for one day and struggling to complete the exercises?” Lightning asked.

Following several deep breaths in an attempt to put air into her lungs, Rainbow told her wingpony that she had a brief reprieve and needed time to get back into the swing of things. The gray-maned pegasus clutched her ribcage and furiously gasped.

“But we don’t have time for a break.” Lightning warned. “We’re falling behind and losing our lead.”

Rainbow quickly turned her head and was alarmed to see the other cadets were passing their position in the obstacle course. She glanced at Lightning Dust and noticed the turquoise pony raise an eyebrow.

“Well? C’mon! We’re not gonna retake the lead if you’re just listlessly airborne.”

Grunting, and with extreme effort, Rainbow aligned her body to be parallel with Lightning’s own. She continued gasping while flying synchronously. The azure pegasus’s vision was starting to become fuzzy and blurry.

After watching Rainbow Dash collide with an altocumulus cloud, Spitfire sighed. She had kept a keen eye on Rainbow’s behavior upon her return. The results were baffling, aggravating, and worrying. Constantly resting between exercise sets, slower flight speeds, and even her mane and coat color had changed.

The drill sergeant loudly blew into her metallic whistle. The discordant sound permeated through the air and caused every cadet to halt their progress of the flight exercise. They stared down at the Wonderbolts Captain.

“Rainbow Dash! Come down here immediately! We’re gonna have a little chat. As for the rest of you, until I return, my assistant, Gust Drifter will take over drill instruction.”

The loud, booming and commanding voice of Spitfire pervaded into the heads of all cadets. Aside from Rainbow Dash, who was slowly drifting to the tarmac, they collectively saluted the drill sergeant.

Rainbow Dash gulped nervously after landing next to Spitfire.

Spitfire glanced at the cadets for a fleeting moment, then turned towards Gust Drifter. She saluted the stallion, who reciprocated. After the protocol, her stare was focused on Rainbow Dash. With scrutiny, the yellow pegasus regarded the gray-maned mare. Spitfire extended her hoof and beckoned Rainbow Dash to accompany.

The drill sergeant opened her office and sauntered inside. Rainbow followed, and closed the door behind her. Spitfire sat in the leather chair behind her desk, while Rainbow lowered her haunches to a small office chair in front.

Spitfire wasted no time. With a furious slam of her yellow hooves on her white, mahogany desk, she demanded to know what was going on.

“I gave you a small break, cadet. I expected you to get some R&R in. Yet, what I didn’t anticipate, was you’d return, and look like a newborn pegasus foal learning to fly. Hell, your mane and tail is completely-gray. Not a speck of color in your coifs. What has happened, Rainbow?”

The lectured criticism of vituperation took Rainbow by surprise. Her ears flattened against her head and she gave a small squeak at Spitfire’s invective. Hesitating, she allowed herself a small peek at the Captain’s facial features.

The yellow pegasus sat firmly in her chair. Her shaded eyes ferociously glared at Rainbow. Arching an eyebrow, she cleared her throat.

“Well? I’m waiting for an answer, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow placed two hooves under her eyelids and stretched them downwards. She released a small respire and shook her head. The mare knew she was in trouble, and, judging by Spitfire’s increased ire, it wouldn’t be a simple slap on the hoof.

“Ma’am. I’m sorry that I haven’t been performing well.” Rainbow began.

“Performing well? Cadet, you’re barely performing at all. I have two-month-old nieces that fly better than you.”

Another slammed hoof on her desk jolted Rainbow’s attention. She jumped from the unexpected noise, though was still sitting.

“Explain yourself!”

Rainbow gave another small squeak. Normally, she could match Spitfire’s energy, and would respond angrily or defiantly. However, Dash knew there’d be no point.

“I don’t know, ma’am! But I assure you that I still want to be a Wonderbolt and haven’t given up my dream. Whatever is happening isn’t only affecting my ability to fly and be a cohesive unit on the team, but is causing you vexation. I’m sorry, ma’am!”

Spitfire sighed. The yellow mare reached her fetlock to her sunglasses and removed them. After she furled the temples of the glasses down, she placed her hooves over her face and began to massage her forehead.

Rainbow silently watched. The tension was increasing and the pegasus was worried for whatever would come next. She understood that her current performance wasn’t a good look.

The drill sergeant slid her hooves from her forehead, down her cheeks, and rested her mandible on top. Then, she gazed studiously at Dash.

“You’re putting me in a really tough position, cadet. Your performance is beyond unacceptable levels. Four days ago, you were vivacious, bubbly, and eager. You demonstrated the drive and resolve that impressed me. Moreover, you were the fastest cadet and stood out from the crowd.”

Spitfire sighed again.

“Now, you’ve done a total 180. You can’t even perform a few laps around the track without becoming winded. Hell, you couldn’t achieve ten wing-ups during pre-workout stretching. I don’t know what has affected you, Rainbow, but I’m tremendously disappointed.”

Rainbow cast a forlorn gaze at the white linoleum floor and remained muted. The diatribe from Spitfire was causing emotions of regret, sadness, and anxiety.

“You leave me no choice, Rainbow Dash.”

The gray-maned pegasus quickly averted her gaze from the floor and locked eyes with her Captain.

“Don’t expel me.” Dash pleaded.

Spitfire raised an eyebrow at the entreat.

“Expel you? Rainbow, are you beseeching me to not boot you out of the Wonderbolts Academy?”

The mare nodded in response. Her breathing quickened as her heart raced. Suspecting that she was about to be disbarred, she pleaded again.

“Captain, I know my deterioration has caused a hooful of problems. I’m a handicapped liability to the team. I’m unable to perform my duties and commands. Worst of all, I’ve dismayed you and let you down, ma’am.”

Spitfire’s expression slightly softened at the resigned and accepted tone of Rainbow’s statements of veracity. She remained observant and stoic.

“Go on.”

“And, you have every right to expel me. Not just because you could, Captain, but because my regression warrants it. I don’t want to cause any dishonor for myself, the rest of the team, or you.”

Spitfire gave a small nod.

“Noble. So, you’d accept my decision if I elected to oust you from the academy?”

Rainbow paused. She would hate to be kicked out, as being a Wonderbolt was her dream. Though, she meant her words. Causing the team and Spitfire dishonor wasn’t something she wanted.

“I would, ma’am. Though, of course, I don’t want to get booted. Please, ma’am. I’ll clean the barracks. I’ll go over the runway with a fine-tooth comb and remove every speck of dirt or dust that I see. Demote me to a custodian, until whatever’s going on with me has ended.”

Spitfire was taciturn as she observed Rainbow’s words. The Captain understood the mare’s dedication and desires. She was impressed that Rainbow volunteered to even do janitorial duties as it showed her commitment to the team and organization.

Both mares held eye contact for a minute and were equally unwavering.

“Alright, Rainbow. I’ve made my decision.”

The gray-maned pegasus took a deep breath before asking what the verdict would be.

“Yes, ma’am. Lay it on me.”

“I’m not expelling you from the Wonderbolt Academy. Additionally, you’re not required to do custodial duties.”

Sighing in relief, Rainbow was just about to thank Spitfire, but a raised, yellow hoof, kept her silent.

“However…” Spitfire trailed.

Rainbow shifted in her seat. She locked eyes with Spitfire and inclined her head.

“However?” Dash repeated.

“I can’t allow you to remain on the team with such terrible performances. Doing so would be an insult to the other cadets who bust their plots. It’d also reflect badly on how I oversee this team. Nepotism won’t fly under my jurisdiction. I’m sure you understand, Dash.”

“I do, ma’am. So, what now?”

Spitfire donned her sunglasses before scratching her snout. Then, the announcement came.

“Suspended. One week. During that tenure, you’ll be listed as ‘inactive’ on the roster, but still a member of the academy. However, since you won’t be active, you won’t be allowed to remain on grounds.”

Rainbow gripped the armrests of the office chair she sat in. The news of her suspension was upsetting, though, she definitely preferred it over a flatout expulsion.

Spitfire continued speaking. With a warm and affectionate tone, she informed Rainbow that the decision hurt her too, as she was losing such a strong candidate with high willpower.

“It pains me to see you this way, Rainbow. Whatever is going on, I really hope you can rectify it before returning next week.”

“This,” Spitfire continued, while gesturing her hoof to the azure pegasus. “This is not the Rainbow Dash I know.”

The proclamation made Rainbow’s ears flatten against her head. She felt contrite. Repentant, she stared sadly at the drill sergeant.

“I… appreciate this mulligan, ma’am.”

Spitfire pointed a yellow hoof towards the other pegasus. With a jarring tone, she announced that it’d be the only one Rainbow would receive.

“I don’t give second chances. One week. That’s ample time to fix whatever is going on with you. Dash, I pray to Celestia that you can. It’d be greatly upsetting to have to cut you loose. You’re a phenomenal flier and stupendous talent.”

“Th-thank you, m-ma’am.” Dash stammered.

With a short sigh, Spitfire stood up. Rainbow followed suit and the yellow pegasus walked towards her office door. After opening it, she softly raised a hoof and gestured for Rainbow to leave her office.

Stepping past the Wonderbolt Captain, Dash stood in the doorway. She turned on her hooves and looked at the drill sergeant.

Spitfire put a comforting hoof on the mare’s shoulder.

“Think hard. Have you done anything differently as of late? Something in your diet? Perhaps lack of proper sleep?”

Rainbow solemnly shook her head.

“No, ma’am. Those have been normal.”

Spitfire nodded sadly and offered a small, warm smile to the gray-maned pegasus.

“You’ll figure it out. I have confidence in you, Dash. Nip this problem in the plot and come back, yeah?”

Rainbow saluted the Wonderbolt Captain and agreed to the request.

Spitfire closed the door and Rainbow stared at it. She stood silently and was pensive. As she became deep in thought, her head lowered.

I don’t understand. My passion hasn’t decreased. I’m still the same awesome Rainbow Dash. The mane and tail discolor and lack of energy didn’t happen until Scootaloo reused the bangle.

Rainbow’s head craned upwards as the epiphany came. Her eyes widened and she repeated the words in a low, conspiratorial whisper.

“The bangle…”

Taking a deep breath, she galloped out of the corridor and soon reached the front door. Rainbow placed a shaking, azure hoof on it, before pushing the door open. The mare stepped outside, then closed the door.

Mistress…. The bangle…. That thing did something to me!

With difficulty, she flapped her wings to become aloft. After ascending a few dozen feet, she turned her body in the direction of Ponyville. Gritting her teeth, she took off towards her destination.

“SCOOTALOO!” Dash yelled.

The mare flew towards her objective. She was seething, and couldn’t wait to find Scootaloo and get to the bottom of everything.