A Dash Of Obedience

Before looking for her friends, Rainbow Dash stopped by Sugarcube Corner. She hadn’t received any actual nourishment and she was famished. The pegasus stood on the purple-marbled steps, looking inside the bakery. Many ponies were inside, business booming as usual. She curiously sniffed as odors of cakes, cookies, muffins and more wafted to her nostrils. Rainbow licked her muzzle expectantly. All of it smelled scrumptious.

Stepping inside, she was pleased to find there was nopony in line. She moseyed to the counter, gazing longingly at the decadent dessert display of many confectionary creations. Carrot cake slices, marzipan mascarpone meringue madness slices, oatmeal cookies, banana nut muffins. The pegasus wiped a trail of drool from her muzzle and was promptly greeted by Mrs. Cake.

“Good morning, Rainbow Dash.” greeted Mrs. Cake.

“Morning, Mrs. Cake! Surprised to see you. Pinkie’s always the one manning the shop whenever I stop by.”

“While true, dearie, Pinkie isn’t around. She zipped out about an hour ago. I’m not sure where she is.”

Rainbow shrugged, feeling nonchalant. “That pony is as unpredictable as the weather in the Everfree Forest.”

The older mare chuckled at the simile and nodded her agreement.

“Did you come by to see Pinkie or was there something I could perhaps get for you, dearie?”

The speedy flier gazed yearningly at the display case again and eagerly bobbed.

“I’ll take two banana nut muffins, one slice of carrot cake and a small hay and oats smoothie please!”

The light-azure Earth Pony smiled politely and quickly retrieved Rainbow’s order. She bagged the treats together then blended her smoothie. From the time she had ordered to when she received her order took less than two minutes.

“That’ll be eight bits, please!”

Rainbow removed eight bits from the pouch she kept around her hoof and paid. After Mrs. Cake put the cash in the drawer, she slid the bag and smoothie to the cyan pegasus, who took them gratefully.

“Here you are, dear. Thank you for your business! Please come again!”

“Will do! Have a great day, Mrs. Cake!”

Both ponies said a farewell and Rainbow plodded outside. She reached a hoof into the bag and took one of the banana nut muffins, chomping it greedily and devoured the treat quickly. The weathermare flapped her wings, gliding upwards and focused her destination on a small stratus cloud, floating listlessly, about eighty feet above. It took less than ten seconds before she landed on the stratus and sat on her haunches.

I’m not sure what I’m more nervous about. Twilight laying into me, or the news of my Wonderbolts Academy letter. Both are pretty scary, especially when I think about the worst case scenarios.

She sipped her hay and oats smoothie slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. Rainbow gazed at the square, noticing the townsponies thronged and strewn about. A few greeted each other. Some walked past, fixated on their objective or destination.

The speedster surveyed the horizon, spotting the Golden Oaks Library in the distance. She released a low soft sigh, knowing what would be imminent. Her hoof traveled inside the bag again and she pulled out the slice of carrot caking, altering between small nibbles and sips of her smoothie.

She sat atop the cloud while basking in the warmth of Celestia’s sun. After gobbling the carrot cake and slurping her hay and oat smoothie, Rainbow bit down on the take-out paper bag that still contained one banana nut muffin. She wanted to do some flight exercises before facing the music that Twilight would orchestrate. RD flew to the ground again, throwing away her empty cup in a waste bin. Before she could make the journey to the library, she was stopped by a half a dozen colts and fillies that comprised a portion of the Rainbow Dash fan club. She stared at them questioningly, wondering what they wanted.

One spoke up heartily. “It’s Rainbow Dash! Wow! We’re such big fans of you!”

Another added “Yeah! You’re the coolest pony in Ponyville!”

A third piqued “Please show us some of your awesome moves, Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow dropped the bag in surprise. It fell from her muzzle with a small crinkle as the paper met the cobblestone. She did have somewhere to be, but couldn’t pass off an opportunity to show off.

“Gosh! I don’t know. I am running behind schedule for something important. I don’t really have the time.”

All six looked dejected and crushed. It made Rainbow upset to see such young ponies in sad spirits.

“But, I suppose for such big fans, I can make some time!”

Hearing this, the colts and fillies cheered gleefully, audibly shouting with excitement. Some stomped their hooves. One whistled loudly in celebration.

“Don’t blink. I don’t want you to miss this!” Rainbow said, puffing out her chest with pride, before taking to the sky.

Dash was cheerfully flying around, doing different flying tricks such as barrel rolls, immelmans, and chandelles. The pegasus laughed heartily, enjoying showing off her repertoire of aerial maneuvers. Aside from the initial spectators, many townsponies were staring at her in amazement.

Rainbow grinned with exuberance and descended rapidly, towards Ponyville. She was in a nose diving position, her mane billowing harshly by the whipping of wind she soared through. With less than thirty feet before impact, Rainbow pushed herself steeply upwards, trading the kinetic energy of her forward motion, for potential energy of altitude. It worked and she zipped upwards with great velocity. A successful zoom climb.

The ponies began to stomp their hooves and cheer for Rainbow in awe of witnessing such a perilous stunt. Rainbow Dash, naturally, relished the chance for more adulation from the crowd, pumping them up, telling them to cheer with more passion.

“Rainbow Dash!” Shouted a group of townsponies, including the members of the Rainbow Dash fan club.

“Louder.”

“Rainbow Dash!!!”

“Louder!”

“Rainbow Dash!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“LOOOOOOOOUDERRRRRRRR!”

“RAINBOW DASH!”

The townsponies weren’t the ones who called her name that time. Rainbow knew that voice and she gulped. The pegasus peeped at the ground, towards the lavender unicorn who had shouted her name.

Oh boy. There’s Twilight. And she looks pissed!

Rainbow Dash landed next to the unicorn, giving her a small smile. Twilight gave the pegasus a glare in response. Rainbow was about to speak but Twilight prodded her friend in the ribcage, hushing her.

“You swore you’d attend my stargazing event last night, but you never arrived. The last thing I want is to hear any excuses.”

Rainbow said nothing, her ears lowering in sadness, having expected Twilight’s reaction. The unicorn was clearing out the townsponies, telling the crowd they had nothing to see here, and to go on their way. The citizens quickly left, not wanting to get an earful of the squabble or fracas that may arise.

“I stayed awake all night, naturally, and kept telling myself that you were just running a little late, and you’d be there eventually. I held out hope until Celestia raised the sun. Then I had to admit that you let me down.”

Dash gave a crestfallen gaze at the ground, her head hung low, offering no quips back. Twilight was right and it made the pegasus feel terrible.

“What do you have to say for yourself, Rainbow Dash? Besides some nonsensical excuse that is.”

The excuse that had popped in her mind earlier in her workout room dissipated. Rainbow could tell how scorned Twilight was and didn’t want to exacerbate the situation.

“I’m sorry, Twilight. You’ve every right for being upset at me. I promised something, didn’t deliver and let you down. I’m an awful friend.” Dash said emphatically, not even looking at the unicorn.

Her eyes stared still at the ground, unblinking, her head hanging even lower. She felt terrible but knew Twilight’s anger was warranted.

Seeing this side of Rainbow Dash was alarming to the studious unicorn. For the time Twilight knew her, the brazen weatherpony seldomly took responsibility, much less with this much maturity. The emotion Rainbow gave off was one of regret and it was very palpable. Twilight could empathize and understand Rainbow felt remorseful. Her glowered scowl lowered, replaced with one of acceptance and friendship.

“That’s not true, Rainbow Dash. You’re just distracted sometimes. I don’t think of you as a bad friend, and that’s a terrible thing to say about yourself.”

Rainbow glanced at her bookish nerdy friend. The unicorn offered a small smile but Rainbow didn’t reciprocate.

“But I let you down. What kind of friend does that? It’s not the first time somepony said that to me either, Twilight.”

Twilight stepped forward and wrapped the show-off brash pegasus in a hug. The unicorn gently patted Rainbow’s back, in a sign of forgiveness.

“Dash, you’re being a bit hard on yourself. Sure, you didn’t follow through with your promise but that doesn’t mean you’re an awful friend. Nopony is perfect, not even the ‘flawless’ Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow sniffled, touched by Twilight’s words and gave a hug back to her friend. The two embraced a moment before Twilight broke it, stepping back and warmly smiling again.

“Come on, Rainbow. The rest of our friends are waiting at the library. I was with them, till I came into town to find you.”

Rainbow replied, feeling chipper again, “I bet they’re excited to hear the news I’ll get from my letter later.”

“We’re all confident that you’ll get accepted into the Wonderbolt Academy, Rainbow Dash. It is your dream and we’ve all agreed that you’re the best flier we know.”

“Thanks for the compliment Twilight. I know I’m pretty awesome. There’s no way they’re not gonna offer me a spot at the academy!”

Twilight tittered from Rainbow’s brazen confidence and Rainbow shot her a happy grin. The two made up quickly and Rainbow was thankful.

Before she walked off, Rainbow Dash grabbed the take-out bag. She offered the contents to Twilight who gratefully accepted. Twilight cast a levitation spell and floated the item out of the bag. Her eyes sparkled when she recognized the cuisine. She shot an appreciative look towards Rainbow and happily munched the muffin. Rainbow watched as her friend ate, giggling at her mannerisms. Twilight chewed ravenously and gulped it down before licking her muzzle clean of the crumbs. Rainbow snickered louder and Twilight flushed from mild discomfiture.

Both ponies walked out of the town square towards the Golden Oak Library. It was a trek of around ten minutes. Upon arrival, Twilight used her magic and a violet shade glistened from her horn to envelop the metallic brass doorknob of the library. With a small jerk of her head, the door opened. No sooner had the two ponies entered and the door shut did a squeaky excited cheer fill their ears.

“SURPRISE!” Pinkie Pie shouted zestfully.

Rainbow Dash blinked a few times at the scene. All of her best friends were there. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy. Spike joined the equine ungulates and waved to Rainbow Dash.

It seemed Pinkie Pie had bedecked the library. Colorful streamers, intertwined perfectly in the middle prettified the wooden wall next to the bookcase of mystery novels. Rarity had festooned garlands alongside the eastern wall, near the bookcase of fiction books. Letter signs spelling “Good Luck Rainbow Dash” were accumulated onto the colorful streamers Pinkie had graced.

The decoration didn’t end there. There was a double layer vanilla cake with strawberry frosting. It was covered in chopped oats and an edible Rainbow Dash, made of colored icing sat as the figurehead atop of the decadent dessert. A large punch bowl was inert above a rainbow colored tablecloth. Apple slices, chips, pretzels, and other snacks were grouped together in different colored bowls. Balloons of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet were inflated and floating listlessly wherever the draft brought them.

“Wow! This is amazing! Pinkie, you’ve really outdone yourself with this one!” Dash complimented.

Pinkie gigglesnorted and thanked her pegasus friend.

“I also assisted, darling. The garlands on that wall there came from yours truly!” Rarity supplied.

“The flowers are pretty too, Rarity! Thank you!” Rainbow gave the unicorn a smile.

“But of course, darling. You know I prioritize and accessorize.”

The rhyme earned a chuckle from Twilight and Fluttershy.

“I appreciate this, everypony, but I haven’t even gotten the letter yet. You’re all so confident that I’ll get accepted.”

Applejack gave her a stare of skepticism. “Ya ain’t confident they’ll accept ya, sugarcube?”

“No! I mean, yes! I mean…” Rainbow trailed off before resuming her thoughts.

“The Wonderbolts are the most prestigious fliers in all of Equestria. Not every pegasus who dreams about joining them will get accepted. They are the most elite aerial team in all the land. It’s not a matter of confidence.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Bu’ ya got the talent ta back up yer braggin’ too. That’s gotta count fer summin!”

Her other friends nodded their supportive agreement.

“Of course you’ll get in, Rainbow Dash. Like I told you at the square, we all say you’re the best flier we know..”

Dash blushed at the adulated praise and rubbed the back of her mane in embarrassment, though she appreciated it.

“Thank you girls. And Spike too! I wouldn’t leave you out of gratitude!”

“Aw shucks, Dash. Just being a good friend. Nothing to thank me for.” Spike replied, waving a small claw dismissively.

At that moment, Pinkie Pie put a vinyl in the gramophone prompting everypony and one dragon to form a conga line. Pinkie was antsy to get the party going and she knew the classic conga track was the perfect way to make the celebration underway!

“COME ON! LET’S GET PARTYING!” Pinkie shouted with exultance.

They did. The order was Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, with Pinkie bringing up the caboose. Each pony and Spike congaed perfectly, cheers and laughs were given and received by all in attendance.

After the impromptu dance ended, Rarity excused herself to get some punch and Applejack munched a hoofful of apple slices. Fluttershy was chatting with Twilight and Spike while Rainbow and Pinkie were engaged in a conversation of their own.

“I’m so proud of you, Dashie! You had a dream to become a Wonderbolt and you’ve got a hoof in the door! Soon, all your desires will come true!”

Dash smiled at her jovial companion, nodding her head in concurrence.

“I met them before. At the Gala last year. We talked a bit, but now I have the chance to actually wow them with my awesome aerial skills and speedy abilities. I should be a horseshoe in, no sweat!”

Pinkie hugged her friend joyously and Rainbow reciprocated. A moment later, the two were joined by Applejack.

“Ah’m confident ya’ll gunna be swell n’ dandy, Dash! Now, ah’m tryna be a might modest, bu’ with the way ya’ll push yerself, what with yer constant trainin’ n’ all, ah reckon ya can handle whatev’r them Wonderbolts throw at ya!”

Pinkie went to the gramophone, now playing a polka instrumental vinyl. The oompah music echoed around the library and the boisterous pink pony bobbed her head to the beat, bouncing gleefully with a spring in her step. She joined Applejack and Rainbow Dash, jumping to the beat.

Dash beamed at the farmpony, both for the compliment and praise. Hearing the commotion, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity and Spike strolled towards the three others. The Mane Six and Spike joined together for a big group hug. Rainbow was in the middle, surrounded by her best friends, feeling convivial. Each of them gave Rainbow words of encouragement that only boosted her determination.

“You’ll be great, darling!”

“I’ll cheer for you from Ponyville! ʸᵃʸ”

“Show ‘em what ya can do, Rainbow. Wow ‘em!”

“DO YOUR BEST RAINBOW DASH!”

“Stay awesome, Dash.”

“Best flier in all of Equestria!”

After another hour of partying, they all cut the cake, Rainbow opting to take the slice that had her icing head adorning in. The seven friends enjoyed the product of Pinkie Pie’s excellent baking skills, commending her on another luscious exquisite dessert.

Moments after they had all relished in the cake, Rainbow Dash glanced at one of many time-telling devices Twilight kept in the library to stay organized and punctual. She did a double take when she noticed it was nearly noon. Dash gasped.

Rarity was the first to notice Rainbow’s reaction and asked why she seemed suddenly jumpy. “Is everything alright, dear?”

“The mailpony! He could deliver that important letter any moment! We should go, girls. I want to be there to ponysally receive it.”

Pinkie gasped, realizing they all lost track of time. Fluttershy emitted a nervous squeak.

Twilight spoke up. “Come on girls! Rainbow Dash, we’re right behind you. Spike, stay here and clean up please. I’ll be back once Rainbow gets the news. Hope you’re not tired because it’s reshelving day.”

This earned a groan of agitation from the baby dragon, but a jeer by Twilight stopped his complaints. “Fine, fine. I’ll have this place spotless by the time you return.”

With an appreciative smile, Twilight and the others left the library, heading towards Rainbow’s house. The six best friends trekked for fifteen minutes till they reached the destination.

Upon arrival, Rarity hastily magicked some items to make the event more spacious. A picnic quilt was carefully and precisely placed over a large grass area. An umbrella came next, casting the six friends in an umbratic seclusion. Rarity cast another summoning spell, and a large punch bowl appeared, alongside six cups. She also materialized a small fruit platter. Twilight magicked a book about Equestrian history and was reading with ardor. They all waited together.

“Oh! I almost forgot the pièce de résistance.” Rarity uttered, before a blue flash of light appeared. When it dissipated, she was wearing her latest autumn fashion sunglasses.

“Much better!” She added, causing Rainbow and Applejack to roll their eyes at the dramatics.

Rainbow Dash was underneath her Cloudominium, joined by her five best friends. Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity. The six friends were having a picnic. Sans Pinkie Pie, all were loafing on a checkerboard picnic quilt. A rainbow umbrella casted a shadow on Twilight and Rainbow. The unicorn was reading, her muzzle invested in a book, and Rainbow was focused on Pinkie Pie, currently hopping impatiently around the pegasus’s mailbox. Applejack was munching on an apple. Rarity, donning her autumnal season sunglasses, sipped on some punch. Fluttershy was silent, just enjoying the company of her friends.

“Oooh! I wish the mailpony would just come already! I can’t wait another minute to find out if Rainbow Dash got in or not!” Pinkie buzzed.

The six friends watched Pinkie’s antics, the Earth Pony now laying in front of the mailbox, chewing on her hooves nervously. Twilight spoke up.

“Pinkie Pie. You’re more nervous than Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow shook her head without hesitation, boasting proudfully. “I’m not nervous at all. When I get into the Wonderbolt Academy…”

Pinkie suddenly appeared and grabbed Rainbow Dash by the neck, shaking her a bit roughly. Rarity raised her sunglasses to witness the scene.

“IF you get in! IF you get in! Don’t jinx it!”

Pinkie released her hold on the pegasus and Rainbow shook her head quickly to regain her bearings. She put a hoof gently on Pinkie’s chest, trying to calm her friend down.

“I’m telling you. It’s in the bag.”

“Don’t jinx it!” Pinkie again spoke, more earnestly and squeaky than last time, pressing a hoof roughly into Rainbow’s chest.

Applejack took another bite of her apple, looking at her two friends with mild amusement. “Sugarcube, she is the best flier in Ponyville.”

These words made Rainbow Dash puff out her chest with pride, and she quickly soared past Applejack, bursting into the air, her rainbow trail following her movements. She stopped next to a large cirrus cloud, staring at her friends with cockiness.

“In Ponyville?”

Rainbow quickly flew around the cloud at supersonic speed, rainbows appearing at all angles of the cloud as she worked to morph it into a slide. The cloud conformed to the pegasus magic and took on the shape. Rainbow squeed and stood atop the cloud. She grinned at her friends, laying on her back and pushed off, descending down the cloud slide.

“I’m definitely the best flier in all of Equestria!” Rainbow boasted.

She flew upside down, passing her friends, gliding mere feet besides them. She viewed their expressions as they passed.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they just went ahead and made me a Wonderbolt on the first day.”

Rainbow closed her eyes, still flying upside down, her hooves positioned behind her head as she relaxed, enjoying the flight.

Her head collided with a solid object and she fell only a foot to land on the patchy tufts of grass below. This made the mare open her eyes in confusion, and she looked upwards towards the object. It was the mailpony, looking down at her, smiling. He donned a blue and black cap which was adorned with the Wonderbolts insignia.

“Got a letter here for Rainbow Dash.” he said, hoofing the letter over.

Rainbow shot up, took it eagerly, and hastily ripped the envelope open with her teeth. Her wings flapped as she read the letter. It only took a few seconds for her ecstatic expression to become wistful. Her ears slid sadly against the top of her head and her eyes didn’t sparkle, but looked waned.

“I… didn’t get in.” Rainbow muttered in disbelief, looking at her friends with a melancholy look.

Pinkie put a hoof to her mouth in surprise and gasped. Fluttershy raised a hoof to her eye and blotted some forming tears. Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight raised a hoof in surprise, all three friends sharing the same solemn expression of incredulity.

Rainbow looked again at the letter, reading another line before dropping the act, smiling at her friends.

“Gotcha!” Rainbow squealed excitedly, blinking and giggling in a friendly way.

Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity stared at Rainbow with a wide smile, happy at the good news. Twilight and Applejack gave their friend a small joking scorn at having been tricked, but both were very excited for Rainbow Dash. All five of her best friends stood in front of her, all hooves on the ground, sharing the moment together.

“Ha! You guys are so gullible. Like I wasn't gonna get in!” Rainbow taunted, putting a hoof on her hip, about to cackle at the prank she had pulled over her best friends.

A pink blur tackled Rainbow Dash out of the sky and the pegasus dropped the letter. The parchment floated listlessly from the breeze, landing upright with the green emblem of the Wonderbolts visible.

Pinkie was the cause of the blur and she wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash, sending the two friends tornadoing down a hill. Pinkie lifted Dash up and embraced her in an iron grip of a hug, nuzzling her excitedly.

“I am just soooooooo happy for you!” Pinkie squealed, putting her cheek on Rainbow Dash’s.”

“Uh, thanks?” Rainbow said, both as a compliment and a question. This was starting to feel slightly awkward.

Pinkie redoubled her effort on the hug and it was starting to hurt Rainbow Dash. She quickly spoke up to escape.

“Uh, Pinkie Pie? I kinda gotta start packing, okay?”

The pink Earth Pony gave one last super tight hug that made Rainbow gasp with pain and eyes bulge before Pinkie dropped the hug, and her friend, causing the pegasus to fall on her haunches.

Rainbow stood back up and inhaled a few times, rubbing her side where Pinkie had caused discomfort.

“Okay. I’m done!” Pinkie stated before she turned around and bounced away happily.

Dash flew back into the air and gushed excitedly. “The sooner I’m there, the sooner I get to show them my stuff!”

The weathermare flew towards Applejack and Rarity, who had lifted Rainbow’s saddlebag in their muzzles. Rainbow flew between them, and looped the saddlebag around her neck, shifting the accessory to her lower side. She then went to grab her acceptance letter, tucking it safely in a pocket of her saddlebag.

“See everypony later!”

“Good luck!” Applejack quipped.

“Won’t need it!” Rainbow cockily responded.

The other five sat together, waving at Rainbow Dash as she flew back inside, and began packing.

Rainbow Dash didn’t have much. She took her cyan bag and filled it with a few sundries. A toothbrush, mane shampoo, a hairbrush, her Wonderbolts penchant. The last thing she needed was a portrait of her and her five friends posing together. They all had the same photograph, getting six prints of it developed. She stared at the picture for a few moments before stuffing it in her cyan bag, grabbing her saddlebag too, and departed.

Pinkie Pie saw Rainbow Dash leave her Cloudominium and pulled out a megaphone, seemingly out of nowhere. She cranked the volume to maximum and shouted towards Rainbow Dash as she flew back to town.

“DON’T FORGET TO WRITE!”

The loud echoed cacophony shook the mountains, ground, and the sky itself seemed to tremble at the audio Pinkie had bellowed. The force of the acoustics sent Rainbow Dash into a cumulus cloud where she laid motionless, her head ringing.

After a while, the echoing had subsided and Rainbow Dash made a fast zipline towards town, her head ringing also abated.