Learning your wings

Chapters

Prologue: Fate does not favor the uneducated
1st period: You're never too old to learn new tricks...
2nd period: But you are too old to avoid the 'special' treatment

Prologue: Fate does not favor the uneducated

Cloudsdale stadium was as towering and impressive as always. The high rising columns of pure white were laced with decorative gold and blue banners and a huge line of pegasi stretched from the main entrypoint to ten blocks away. And standing somewhere in the middle of that line was a cyan rainbow maned daredevil and her yellow animal loving friend.

"Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy," Rainbow trotted in place giddily as Fluttershy did her best to keep from self-consciously hiding behind her mane as stares were drawn to the overeager bundle of excitement. "What time is it now?"

"Um, 8:58."

"STILL?! Your watch must be broken because that's the answer you gave me last time, which was what, twenty minutes ago?"

"Actually, it was twenty seconds ago."

"Same thing! Why can't they just let us in already? It's not like anypony else is going to be coming."

"Hey, kid," the orange stallion with a winged horseshoe on his flank called from in front of the two. "Simmer down. It's just a tryout."

"Just a tryout?!" Rainbow immediately switched from psyched to outraged. "Buddy, this is not 'just' a tryout. This is the annual auditions for Wonderbolt recruits, THE greatest air team this side of Equestria! They have been the pinnacle of aerial acrobatics and speed for countless generations, and today is the day, the one day of the year that they hoofpick the best of the best to add to their ranks of greatness. Five hundred of the fastest and strongest flyers are gathered here today, but only half a dozen of the most awesomest, amazingest, mind-blowingest ponies are going to be flapping out of that stadium wearing the super cool uniform that is the Wonderbolt! So don't just tell me this is 'just' a tryout. Cause if that's your attitude, you might as well take off now and head home since you're clearly not 120% awesome sauce."

The stallion rolled his eyes at her and gave a small shake of the head. "I take it this is the first time you've been selected to audition?"

"You know it! It's about time my awesomeness was recognized too."

"And you think you're going to be one of those lucky few to make the team?"

She puffed her chest out even further. "I don't think, I know!"

"I don't think you know either."

Every pony within earshot chuckled and giggled at the zinger Rainbow Dash just walked into. Her cheeks burned red as she stuck her face right into his, their noses touching. "You testing me, pal? You want a piece of the Rainbow Dash?!"

"Take it from a pony who's taken this thing five years in a row," her verbal tormentor continued cooly, "Nopony ever passes the first time they try."

"No pony except me," she smugly retorted. "In case you didn't get the memo already, I'm Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, element of loyalty/awesomeness, and sole practitioner of the patent pending 'Sonic Rainboom'."

"I know, I was at the young fliers competition last year," he replied dryly. "And I speak from experience when I say, those accomplishments aren't going to carry as much weight as you think they will, not in front of the proctors."

Rainbow Dash was ready to give yet another harsh rebuttal, but her train of thought was interrupted when she noticed the line was beginning to move. The argument was officially five seconds ago as she once again shuddered and shook in anticipation.

"Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy! It's finally time! I'm going to be a Wonderbolt! I'mgoingtobeawonderbolt!"

"Um...Rainbow?" her meek friend softly piped up. "M-maybe you are being a...teensy bit over-assuming? Uh, I mean. Everypony else here wants to be Wonderbolt too, and I'm sure they're very skilled as well in their own way. That is, if you don't mind me saying."

"Hey come on, Fluttershy. You know I'm not knocking them down like that. But I mean, comeon! I've saved the world, like, twice already? I can't even begin to count all the ribbons and medals I got in my trophy case. Oh yeah, and a couple of the Wonderbolts actually owe me their lives, literally? These tryouts are pretty much just a formality at this point. I got speed, dexterity, power, stamina, style(don't let Rarity tell you otherwise), and above all, awesomeness. What else do I need to be Wonderbolt material?"

"Um...well..."

"Now come on. I didn't bring you here just so you could be a neighsayer, now give me that good old fashioned Rainbow Dash is best pony cheer!"

"Oh, okay." Fluttershy sucked in her breath for a full three seconds, reared up with wings spread, and let out an ear-splitting, blood-boiling, soul-shattering...

"Yay."

Rainbow Dash groaned loudly. "Not this again..."

Rainbow Dash sat with about fifty other pegasi in a large lobby. A large door was only other notable feature in the crowded gray room. She had been divided amongst the participants into several large groups while Fluttershy and the other non-participants waited outside and then ushered into the rooms where she had sat and waited for about at least five hours while a pegasus was called in through the door about once every twenty minutes.

"Why aren't we in the open air? Isn't the purpose of the tryouts to be, I don't know, showing off my awesome airtime prowess?"

"For your information first-timer, if you bothered to study the tryout pamphlet that came with the letter, you'd know there are several stages to the process. This happens to be the interview stage, where you will directly interface one-on-one with a member of the Wonderbolts' managerial committee. FYI, this is the part where most newbies to the tryouts fail."

Rainbow scowled at the orange stallion sitting directly next to her.

Why couldn't he have been put in a different group?

"Fine, I need to get on the boss' good side first? No sweat, I'm a ponies mare. Charisma is my middle name. Give me five minutes in that room, and that guy will be eating out of my hoof, no sweat!"

"Next."

A green mare with a purple mane and a baseball cutie mark exited from the door, while a monotone voice sounded off beyond it.

"Rainbow Dash."

Confidently, she burst out of her seat and strode to the door, her tail making a flick at her neighbor as she passed. "Time to show you what this newbie can do."

The soundproof door shut behind her as she approached the single desk where a black, rose-maned stallion with half-moon glasses stood next to. His cutie mark was a clipboard with a large green check on it.

"Hey there, boss pony."

"Greeting miss Dash. I'm proctor Standard Set and-"

He paused as Rainbow ignored his outstretched hoof and flopped down in front of the swivel seat before the desk.

"...You may take a seat."

The stallion adjusted his spectacles and sat down to meet Rainbow eye to eye. "So, miss Dash. This is your first time auditioning, according to the files?"

"Yep." Rainbow Dash leaned back on her seat, her lower hooves placing themselves on the desk rim while her upper ones curled around the back of her neck.

"Then I'll need to ask a few additional questions about your background before we can actually begin, just for our records of course."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. You need to know just how awesome I really am. So, what do need to know? How many first place trophies I've won? My list of signature moves?"

"Your academic profile."

"Huh?" The proctor now had Rainbow's full attention as he pulled out a folder from his file cabinet.

"We've done a extensive background check beforehand, but for some reason we can't seem to find your flight school diploma on any of the educational facilities within the area. Tell me, what flight school did you attend?"

"Uh, Cloudsdale High."

"Really? That was the first place we checked. Perhaps we can double check with some additional information to narrow our search down. What year did you graduate?"

Rainbow Dash was suddenly starting to feel surprisingly uncomfortable. "Uh, graduate? I...uh...didn't."

There was a dead silence for a full minute. Standard Set pushed his glasses back from the bridge of his nose as his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"You...didn't graduate? As in, you did not complete your education?"

Sweat began to form on Rainbow's brow. "Well, sure. It sounds bad when you put it like that. But I got all the know how I needed when I left. I mean...seriously, you don't really need to be an egghead to be a Wonderbolt, right? Stunt flying and aerobatics are all about athletics. That's where I'm top notch in. What would a Wonderbolt need to know about book smarts?"

A lump began to form in her throat as her interviewer stared her down. "You are performing in a stadium with a base radius of 5000 meters and height of 1000 meters. Assuming cruise speed is 100 meters per second, turning speed is half that amount, and it takes at least 3 seconds to perform a full 90 degree turn in any direction, at what point in the stadium must you begin a curve to avoid collision with a wall?"

"Huh? What kind of question is that? Besides, I can turn a full 180 in half a second and-"

"What point in the stadium must you begin a curve to avoid collision with a wall?"

Staring into the cold, unfeeling gaze of the proctor, her body went rigid and her mind blank. "I...I...don't know?"

"A wind of a velocity 50 meters per second is blowing from a northeast heading of 15 degrees. If you are performing an Immelmare turn in the direction of 0 degrees north to 35 degrees to the southeast at a speed of 220 meters per second, by what magnitude vector must you adjust your heading to take into effect the wind?"

"...what's a magnitude vector?"

"What is the ratio of ice to water in a cirrus cloud?"

"Seven?"

"What is the acceleration of gravity?"

"Aha! I know that's a trick question! Gravity can't accelerate, it's a concept, not an object!"

Her stomach was now actively twisting and re-twisting itself in knots as she watched Standard Set jot a few notes into a file in the folder, place it back in the cabinet, and stand up, casting a shadow over her.

"Thank you miss Dash. You may leave."

A feeling of dread washed over the nerve stricken mare. "Huh? But, we didn't do the interview yet."

"You may leave miss Dash," he repeated.

Slowly trudging towards the door, she opened it, only to find everypony staring at her like she had just grown a fifth leg. The amount of eyes on her only unsettled her more.

"Next."

She turned her low hanging head away from her senior tryout participant as she passed, knowing all too well the expression he was wearing on his face right now.

"Wow, I have to say. You certainly do know how to make an impression. That only took you four minutes."

Rainbow Dash solemnly walked towards her mailbox with a grim outlook for the day. It had been three days since the first stage of the tryouts. Today would be the moment the notice would be delivered to her, whether or not she had passed and proceeded to the second stage of the tryouts.

Sure enough, there was a large envelope in gold and blue in her box, just like the invitation she had gotten to come to the tryouts last week. She retrieved this one with reluctance as opposed to elation from before. She already had a gut feeling what it was going to say inside.

Ripping open the envelope, she scanned over the formal document inside, eyes skipping over every other word until it finally caught the phrase she dreaded.

...unfortunately, we have selected other educated candidates more suited to our requirements for the next stage of our auditions. Please continue to work harder and apply again next year...

Grouchily crumpling up the paper, she threw it as far as she could behind her. It had all been the perfect. All she needed was a chance to show them how awesome she was, and she never got it, all because of one simple word that flashed again and again in her mind.

Educated.

She glided down towards Ponyville square. Another year of pushing clouds and watching from the stands. Sure, this past thought always coursed through her head every year the tryouts rolled around. But this time it felt different, more bitter. She had actually had a chance this time around...or at least, she thought she did. How was she supposed to know so much math and science went into airshows? They were meant to entertain, not teach!

Maybe something sweet will put me out of this sour mood. And with that in mind, there's only one place to go.

The gingerbread building of Sugarcube Corner came into view as she touched down. Cantering over to the front door, she reached for the handle and-

"SURPRISE!"

Confetti and streamers sprayed all over her as she pulled the door open. Her five friends were all smiling in the center of the room with a huge cake on the table. Looking up, Rainbow Dash saw a big banner decorated in rainbow glitter.

CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING THE WONDERBOLTS TRYOUTS FIRST STAGE RAINBOW DASH

Pinkie Pie bounced right up to her flabbergasted face. "You like it, Dashie? This party's just for you! And you can bet your bottom bit the bash we throw for you when you pass the second stage will be even better!"

Her hardened, curdled face looked ready to erupt, and with a tremendous heave, Rainbow Dash slammed the door on Pinkie's nose and took off screaming.

"RUB SALT IN THE WOUND WHY DON'T YOU?!"

Pinkie rubbed her nose and turned to the other four mares, their mouths open in a state of shock.

"Was it something I said?"

1st period: You're never too old to learn new tricks...

Carrot Top shook her head at Applejack as she paused from her harvesting. "Rainbow Dash? No. I'm afraid I haven't seen her around today."

"Thanks anyway CT, see ya later."

"You looking for that slacker too? She never clocked in for duty today. Not that she ever comes in on time anyways, but seriously, sometimes she just me want to...agh!"

Fluttershy nervously backed away from the frazzled Raindrops.

"If you find her before me, let her know she's got one vacation day less. Got it?"

"Um...okay."

"Rainbow Dash is missing?"

"Oh my! You don't suppose this has anything to do with the missing mare reports from Neigh Orleans?"

"You mean the one the wife of my cousin's second best friend's tax accountant said is linked to the serial foalnapper?"

"That same pony that escaped the fabled Canterlot crystal dungeons my penpal wrote to me about?"

"I heard from a friend of a friend of a friend of my caterer that's it's not actually a pony at all. It's some alien creature wearing some other pony's skin! That's why the rumored abductions have been all the way from Appaloosa to Baltimare. It has a mothership in outer space that take it anywhere in the blink of an eye!"

"And now it must have come to Ponyville!"

"You don't suppose it gets its skin by taking it from the abductees do you?"

"I bet it does! That way it can bring more of it's kind and assimilate into our society! And then it'll be a full on invasion!"

"Oh no! What if we're next?! Worse! What if I'm already an alien?!"

"The horror! The horror!"

"Okaaay. I think I'll just leave you three to your usual spiraling out of control gossip and ask somepony else a little less paranoid."

Rarity backed away from the flower stand slowly, and once she was out of sight from the trio, galloped away at full speed.

"Have you seen Dashie?"

"No."

"Have you seen Dashie?"

"Nnnnnope."

"Have you seen Dashie?"

"Not since yesterday."

"Have you seen Dashie?"

"Pinkie, why are you asking me? I'm looking for her too!"

Twilight gently pushed the pink party pony out of her personal space. "And I think we need a more systematic approach to this than just asking every pony that passes us by. Perhaps if we had a clue to her whereabouts we might be able to narrow our search down."

"Okay then. Look Twilight! A cookie crumb trail! Is that a clue?"

"One, that's not a clue. Two, that's your cookie crumb trail."

"Oh, right." Pinkie wiped the chocolate chips from her cheeks. "Is this crumpled piece of paper a clue?"

"No, that's trash. Now quit picking up random stuff and throw that...wait a minute."

Twilight smoothed the paper out to find that it was a letter. "To Rainbow Dash. We are pleased and grateful for your participation in last week's tryouts, unfortunately..."

As Twilight read on, Pinkie continued her 'investigation' on a little berry pink unicorn filly by the name of Ruby Pinch.

"Have you seen Dashie?"

"Uh huh, I think she was heading to mommy's place when she passed by."

Twilight's head perked up and joined Pinkie's. "The winery? Why would she go there?"

"Hey Berry, another glass. And this time leave the bottle."

Berry Punch skeptically looked at the slightly sauced rainbow-maned pegasus, her head flat against the counter with four empty glasses beside her.

"You sure about that? Even I don't dip in that heavily this early."

"It's three o' clock somewhere."

"The phrase is five o' clock. Didn't you learn your time tables in school?"

"Do not, talk to me, about school!" Rainbow's angry voice had a slight slur to it, and Berry Punch decided not to press the issue. She did however, have the pragmatism to water down the next mix when her only customer at this hour wasn't looking.

Her ears perked up at the sound of her door creaking open as she slid the glass over. More patrons before noon? What was this, national drink your flank off day? The only days her place had this much business in the morning was during the clover derby week, when all the Connemara relatives came to visit.

Her concerns were alleviated when she saw it was just the rainbow pegasus' friends here to fetch their companion. The cyan mare at the bar didn't even hear or notice their approach until Applejack poked her square in the side of her ribs.

"So this is where y'all been."

Rainbow Dash's head swerved as she blinked bleary for moment to focus, then returned a dull frown and rested her head against the counter once more.

"Unless you're joining me or buying for me, I'd like to be alone if you don't mind."

"Rainbow Dash. We don't drink," Twilight brusquely voiced her concern. "You don't drink! Why in Equestria are you inebriating yourself like a...like a..."

"Like a week old pickle in mah granpappy's famous seasalt brine?" Applejack finished Twilight's alliteration for her.

"Take a wild guess," Rainbow harrumphed back as she finished her fifth glass.

"Okay then, does it happen to have anything to do with...this?"

Twilight slapped her hoof on the counter with Rainbow's rejection letter in it for everypony to see.

I knew I should have burned it instead.

"Fine, then you already know and there's nothing we need to talk about. Hey Berry, where's that bottle?"

Rainbow's attempt to reach another glass was thwarted by a slap on the foreleg from her farmer friend.

"You ain't touchin' another drop o' that stuff, and yer certainly not brushin' us off til we've had our own piece a mind in this!"

"Oh come on! Just what is there to say, huh?!" Rainbow leapt onto counter, looking down angrily into everypony's eyes as she over-dramatically gestured. "Rainbow Dash, the most coolest and awesomest pony around has just been permanently denied access to her lifelong dream because in the eyes of everypony around her, she's as dumb as mud!"

"Oh, come now darling. I think you're exaggerating just a tad there. I mean, we don't think any less of you just because you've had a formal lack of schooling," Rarity reassured her.

"Yeah, your sympathy means so much to me right now," Rainbow grumbled as she slid back into her seat, her cheek rested squarely on her hoof.

"Glad we could help Dashie!"

Her lips curled into a sour disposition at the oblivious, bubbly mare. "Sarcasm is still a foreign language to you, isn't it Pinks?"

"Maybe I'd know more about it if I could just find Sarcas in the Equestrian Atlas!"

Groaning, Rainbow turned her head away and dejectedly fished her hoof around in the bowl of mixed nuts next to her. "If we're done with the whole 'cheer up Rainbow Dash because she's going to be pushing clouds til the day she dies' rally, can you leave me alone now?"

Twilight propped herself up in the seat next to her with a worried look. After a moment of silence, she sighed and turned her head to the bartender.

"Berry, a Virgin Maregaretta please."

Berry Punch obliged as she shook her mixer and passed the unicorn the non-alcoholic drink. Twilight sipped her glass as she faced Rainbow, a sad smile on her face. The others soon caught on to what Twilight was doing and took a seat as well.

"Hey, Berry? You still got some of that aged cider I sold you a couple months back?"

"I'll take a light strawberry daiquiri, please."

"One ginger ale!"

"Um...uh...the limeade looks good, if that's okay."

Berry smiled as she procured some fresh ice from the box under her counter, fondly reminded of her own bar-hopping days in college with Cheerilee, Cloudkicker, Bon Bon, and Lyra. Ah, those were the times. Whether it was one of CK's stallion hunts, Cheerilee's one bad grade depression blasting parties, or even Bon Bon's stress managements, a drink of any kind always tasted better with somepony else.

She then ended her nostalgia with a strict glance into Rainbow's eyes as she set the last drink down. "Either take one, or hooves out of the bowl. Other ponies prefer the nuts as germ-free as possible, thank you."

Rainbow obeyed, and proceeded to occupy her hooves by spinning them around the rim of the glasses. Minutes passed as the others sipped their beverages in silence. After getting her glance caught by them for a third time, Rainbow sighed with a calm dejection that was lined with a ring of thankfulness as the smallest of smiles cracked the very edge of her lips.

"All right, you guys win. Sorry I went all jerky on you for a while."

"It's fine, Rainbow dear. We all have moments like these," Rarity sagely nodded.

"I just can't believe being a Wonderbolt meant you had to be an egghead as well as an athlete."

"It's not as uncommon as you think Rainbow," Twilight said before finishing off her glass. "A good education is essential for everypony's career and knowledge is the keystone of Equestria's infrastructure, physical, social, economical, and hierarchical. A degree is perhaps the most valuable and self-fulfilling trophy you can earn."

"Coming from the eggiest of eggheads with five masters from Celestia's gifted unicorn school," Rainbow jokingly remarked.

"Three masters, a doctorate, and a PhD actually," Twilight corrected.

"What Twilight's trying to tell ya, sugarcube, is that it ain't just book smarts school will teach ya." Applejack waved her mug a bit to ask Berry to tip her off. "Even me an' Big Mac got a diploma hangin' by our bedsides. Do I ever use that chemistry know-how I got in science class or even remember half o' those equations? Heck no! But you know what I do remember and use? Them work values and stick-to-itiveness those teachers hammered into our heads with every homework assignment. When it comes to life lessons, a teacher's second only ta family. And workin' them facts and figures in our accounts is sure a lot easier when you actually know how to chart it."

"I have a certification in fog specialty," Fluttershy said. "But I never really use it. It's just that the Equestrian Revenue Service gives tax breaks to my water and heating because I'm qualified to provide a public service. Uh, what I'm trying to say is, a proof of education can be beneficial to you even if you never use it. I know I never will...I think."

"Proper tutelage is also a very mandatory front for a pony's reputation. I mean, could you imagine the type of clientele I would attract to my boutique if everypony thought I was an uncultured dropout? A diploma is more than a symbol of academic achievement, it's a sign that you are smart enough to be trusted with tasks by others. I probably never would have gotten the loan to start my business had I not finished my studies beforehand."

"Yeah! Learning can be fun too! You wouldn't believe all the neat stuff I made when I was working on my thesis!" Pinkie chirped.

"Wait, you went to college?" Twilight asked.

"What did you get your degree in? Baking?" Rainbow Dash teased.

"Actually it was in contraptionology,"

"Ca-tra-whoist now?"

Pinkie zipped Applejack's lips. "You know what? Let's save that tale for later. This is Dashie's story, not mine!"

"So you all have some kind of egghead certificate except me," Rainbow said. She motioned for Berry to pour her another glass before her mood started to fall again. "That's what you're saying, right? Cause if you are, you might want to retake that class on how to make a pony feel better."

"Hey, that's an idea! Why don't you just retake your classes?"

Berry Punch annoyingly wiped herself of the spray of Rainbow's spit take.

"W-what?!"

"That's actually a brilliant suggestion, Pinkie Pie! Rainbow Dash can simply finish her education from where she left off!"

Needless to say, Rainbow's mouth hung open in a very crooked and awkward way at Rarity's agreement. Then with a shake of her head she x-crossed her hooves to her chest.

"Uh uh! No way! Are you even listening to yourselves? Me? Go back to school? At my age? Forget it!"

"There's no age restriction in the educational facilities Rainbow," Twilight explained. "Why, technically speaking, I'm still a student myself."

"Well duh, no one's gonna talk smack about you if your teacher's a princess! But come on! This is flight school we're talking about! The only place in Equestria that has a more judgmental community than the Canterlot snobs!"

Rarity seemed rather miffed at that last comment as Rainbow continued. "Do you know what's going to happen when all those students see a full grown mare walk in with a backpack slung over her shoulders? I've already lost my dreams, I'm sure as hay not gonna throw away my dignity too!"

"Oh, stop being such a silly filly, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie patted her hoof over Rainbow's mane. "There's no way every pony in school can be a meanie mean pants just because you're a little late to finish!"

"Pinkie's right, Rainbow. Even if you are teased a little bit, wouldn't getting the qualifications needed to keep pursuing your goals be worth it?"

"Says the pony whose greatest fear is being sent back to magic kindergarten!"

Twilight's face went bright red. "T-that's different! A-anyways, back to matter at hoof. When did you stop going to classes?"

Rainbow scratched her head for a second. "Towards the end of my junior year."

"Well, then that's great! You'd only have to go back for one more year! Surely you can handle that much."

"It wouldn't be...cool if ya couldn't," Applejack said with a smirk.

"Woah woah woah! Wait. Not cool?" Rainbow's anxiety was immediately replaced with indignation.

"Eeyup. Gotta say, I never pegged ya to be the type of mare who believes that whole 'too cool for school' spiel. In mah opinion, that is, by far, the lamest thing, ever."

"Seconded."

"Indeed."

"Yuppers."

"Mm...mm hmm."

"If you'll allow a humble wine connoisseur to throw in her two bits as well, you might as well stick a stamp on your flank and mail yourself to loser-ville."

Rainbow Dash's wings flared out as she abruptly emerged from her seat. "Oh yeah? Well, news flash for you, girls! This mare's not only going back to school, she's gonna ace every course in record time! And when she's reaching for that diploma at the end of the year, the bleachers will be swarming with every Wonderbolt agent in Equestria, begging for forgiveness and pleading for me sign up!"

She held her head high as she marched for the door. "You'll see! Equestria will see! I'm not giving up on anything! I'm gonna get my study on! I'm gonna prove I'm awesome, even at learning! I am going to MAKE. SCHOOL. COOL."

Everypony, even Berry, shared a wink as Rainbow Dash took off.

"Welp. Look like we gots ourselves a very interesting year a 'head of ourselves if RD gonna start being the brainy one of the group."

A giggle was shared before Twilight cleared her throat.

"But in all seriousness, girls. Rainbow Dash is going to need our full support if she's to see this through. We need to help her in any way we can so she doesn't give up on this."

"That's a given," Rarity said as the group proceeded to exit in a similar fashion. "She'll need the most chic school ensemble."

"An' plenty of them school supplies."

"And tasty, wholesome lunches!"

"And...um, someone to cheer her on?"

"And of course she'll need-"

"Somepony to pay her tab."

Twilight was yanked back as Berry Punch held a bill in front of her face. "Just so you know, she ordered from the 'vintage' list. Very pricy."

"Oh. Oh, of course. Uh, girls. Would you mind-"

A closed door was all that greeted her as she turned her head around. The deep plum pony lifted another sheet to Twilight's face.

"And here is yours and the others."

"And this is why we never include drinking among our social activities."

2nd period: But you are too old to avoid the 'special' treatment

"Okay, let's go over the list one more time. Number two pencils?"
"Ugh, check."
"60 page doubled lined notepad?"
"Yes..."
"Compass? Ruler? Sextant?"
"Uh huh..."
"Clear professional plastic binders?"

"Twilight! I'm going back to flight school, not preparing for a graduate thesis!" Rainbow stuffed the last of her bookworm friend's 'necessary' supplies that she graciously lent to her in her already bulging backpack.

"Okay, okay! But there's still an hour before the first bell. Maybe I can run some flash cards for you to help you warm up? Who knows? There might be a pop quiz."

"On my first day? Twilight, I know you want to help, but can we be a little more moderate with a touch of common sense?"

Rainbow groaned as a stack of textbooks were levitated on top of her back. "A pony's desire to learn is defined by his or her study habits. If you're going to ace your courses, we need to get you on a daily regime as quickly as possible."

"Why couldn't I have just gone supply shopping with Fluttershy instead?"

"Hey, I did warn you," Spike said as he finished spreading a PB & J for the paper bag lunch he handed to the mare.

"She seemed like the obvious choice for help," Rainbow weakly argued as she struggled to get airborne with her full load. "I mean, she did make the arrangements for my enrollment mid-semester."

"Too obvious. A mare who alphabetizes her pantry and broom closet should send a pretty clear message on what topic of conversation to avoid in general."

"Yeah, I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I'm looking for somepony to help me with my homework."

"Homework?" Twilight poked her head out from behind the selves with one of the fattest hardcovers Rainbow ever saw titled: 'A brief history on the theorems of Trigonometric Applications'. "That's right! We need to get a tutoring schedule put together as well. We can start after four, and have an hour for each subject, plus an additional thirty minutes to read ahead on the course of your choosing-"

Spike leaned over and whispered to Rainbow with a covered claw. "I'll hold her off, you make for Cloudsdale High, now!"

Rainbow did not need further incentive to get to class early. With a flick of her wings, she was out the door, determined not to let the little dragon's noble sacrifice be in vain.

Cloudsdale Flight Academy, it was just like she remembered it. The majestic, swirling clouds that supported the campus buildings floated high and proud above the rest of the city on the east end of the metropolis. The faculty building greeted her from the northwest gate, and dozens of school flags pegged every roof and puff. Flying towards the center quad, she looked up at the letters that named the building along with the ancient pegasi symbols that defined it. Skydancer Hall, her old homeroom building. Boy, did she have some memories on these steps. That one night she set up that fake date for the school's Starlight dance came to mind, that was one feathery mess to look back on and laugh. If it hadn't been for her old friends-

Rainbow Dash suddenly felt rather uncomfortable waxing nostalgia as more unpleasant memories came to surface. Her school chums. True, she hadn't had a lot. But the ones she did have...she left them on a bad note, and she had been a real jerk about it. Now that she thought back, before she had met Twilight and the others, she had been a real self-centered pony. It had never been the studying that was the hardest part of school, it had been the ponies around her. Maybe...just maybe...if she hadn't taken so much of them for granted...she never would have...

A blaring ring of the bell snapped her out of her stupor, and she made for the double doors before they could close on her.

Rainbow blinked at the tall, narrow metal repository before her. Was this? Was this really? She checked the bottom-right edge of the door for the tiny dent that never seemed to buff out, then for the tiny rusty streak on the second vent from the top. It was.

It was her old locker. Now this couldn't be a coincidence. Wow, Twi. I knew being the princess' number one egghead gave you quite a bit of leverage in education, but I didn't believe you'd pull this many stops out for me.

She then thought back to the mountain of flash cards Twilight made this morning. On second thought, yes I can.

Taking a moment to refigure her combination, then stuffing her backpack inside, she trotted over towards the homeroom class she had been assigned to. She double checked the schedule handout when she reached the door to see if she was at the right room. As she did, she heard a warm matronaly voice through the hickory wood. "-we have new student joining us today-"

Rainbow slicked back her hair and rubbed her hooves together after fastening a pair of her favorite shades on. Okay, showtime. Last time she was the new student, she ended up missing her shot to make an impression on the in-crowd by trying to snap roll her way in and ended up knocking out the teacher when her biology book slipped out of her hooves on the third spin. She wasn't going to make that mistake this time. Nothing flashy, just play it slow...and cool. Pushing the door open, she cantered towards the velvet red mare in front of her, then casually threw a glace at the seated pegasi. "Hey, 'sup peeps?"

"This is Rainbow Dash. She will be attending this homeroom for the remainder of the semester."

A moment of silence passed as everypony sat still, staring at the new arrival. Finally, a young lilac mare in the second row with two jade ponytails raised her hoof. "Uh, Mrs. Brightbulb? Did you say this was a new student?"

"Yes, Emerald Dew, I did."

"Then why is she so old?"

Rainbow's shades fell lopsided across her face. Annnnnnnd here we go. She grimaced. This was going to be a long semester.

"-so governor general Faron Winds established a regulatory system that limited the amount of sea water to be used in cloud production based on the levels of foliage in the area to avoid sediment deposits from building up and damaging fertile soil. Of course, while this stopped the San Palomino desert from spreading, it directly counteracted the Zephyr economic plan as fresh water purification requirements raised tax rates-"

Rainbow was doing her best to take notes, she really was. But halfway through the class, she began to notice quite a few classmates whispering and passing notes to their neighbors. More importantly, every so often, they seemed to look in her direction, which was a tad disturbing. Between that and the immensely boring history lecture, it was rather hard to keep Mrs. Brightbulb's words tuned in at all times. What's more, the fact she had gotten up at five to get ready, about four hours earlier than she usually got up, was finally starting to kick in. As the teacher began to draw a diagram on the blackboard, her mind gave a sigh of relief at something she recognized.

Oh good, she's going into the evolution of cloud assembly line. I already know that part like the back of my hoof. Maybe...I can...rest my eyes just a little bit to...get that groggy feeling out of-

A bustling cheer encompassed Cloudsdale stadium as a trio of pegasi in Wonderbolt uniforms spiraled in from above, Rainbow Dash leading the pack. She touched down in swooping fashion at the end of a large walkway flanked from both sides by pegasi in black and gold graduation caps and gowns. They parted a ways back, kneeling as she passed with a confidant gait in her strut. She approached the huge podium at the end of the path, her Wonderbolt escorts parted to the left side of the stage behind the stand, where the entire squadron stood proudly. On the right, a large band of aged scholars and professors had gathered. The frontmost one approached her as she took her spot on the podium, a shiny golden scroll in hoof.

"Rainbow Dash," he majestically proclaimed. "In all my years of teaching, I have never met a more awesome student like you at our school. You have completed your studies with a perfect grade point average, made honor roll, and acquired every varsity letter we've had to offer in only a week."

"Well, I could have done it sooner, but I had to make time for those extra community service hours, all 167 of them!"

"Which is why, I am honored to present to you the greatest academic degree in the history of all flight schools. The super mega diploma of pure win!"

The rolled of paper unfolded before Rainbow as she took her certificate and lifted it up high above her head. It literally shone with luminescence of Celestia's sun as everypony around her ooh'd and aah'd. "That's right! In your faces, player haters! Rainbow Dash is awesome at EVERYTHING she does! And this makes it official!"

"That's not the only thing it makes official." Rainbow felt her heart race as Wonderbolt captain Spitfire paraded up to her, smiling broadly. "Rainbow Dash, even I, have never been able to achieve the super mega diploma of pure win in all my years at Cloudsdale High. You might even be the very first pony ever to have achieved that greatness. There is no doubt in my mind what you would be capable of if you were to add to our team with your sheer amazingness. And so, there is only one thing I have to say to you."

Rainbow danced on the tip of her hooves, giddy with anticipation. "Really? Omigoshomigoshomigosh! What is it?"

"Nimbustown."

"Huh?"

*SMACK*
"Nimbustown, Miss Dash. The first integrated griffon-pegasi colony to be established within the eastern borderlands!"
"Wha-? Huh-? Uh, 42?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open to stare pupil to pupil with a scowling Mrs. Brightbulb and her shaking ruler. She could hear a fit of giggles in the rows behind her as it dawned on her that she might have kept her eyes closed for just a little too long. Shrinking down into her seat, she smiled nervously as her professor narrowed her eyes and arched an eyebrow.

*RIIIIIIIIIIINNNNG*

Mrs. Brightbulb gave a sigh of resignation and turned back to blackboard as Rainbow gave an equally large sigh of relief. Saved by the bell, how cliche was that?

"Read pages 21 to 36 tonight ponies, we'll be discussing them tomorrow."

The students shuffled out into the hallway as the teacher began to erase the board. As Rainbow kept her head low through the rows to the door, she felt herself step on a crumpled ball of paper under one of the desks. Unfolding it, she realized it was one of the notes she had seen the other students passing among themselves.

Bet you 20 bits she's one of those 'special' ponies.

Rainbow crumpled the note back up bitterly. This was going to be a long, long semester.

Rainbow Dash fidgeted with the handle as she undid her combination lock. Forgot this locker can be a little finicky sometimes. With a sudden jerk, her door popped open for an avalanche of papers and books to tumble out on her. She swore she could hear laughter from the other side of the halls as she dug her way out of the pile.

"Hey there. Are you okay?"

Rainbow eyes came into contact with what appeared to be the geekiest pegasus she had ever laid eyes upon. His crooked glasses had at least two tape fixes, and his outfit consisted of a green and brown plaid sweater vest with a color matching polka dot bowtie. The color scheme alone would have enough to send Rarity into a fainting spell, so it clearly didn't help that it obviously clashed with his albino coat and orange freckles. And the shaggy bowl cut in his tawny mane left an impression that he had just looked in the mirror with a pair of scissors for about fifteen minutes. Even his cutie mark shouted 'swirly me!' as it depicted an abacus and stencil sheet. Who on Equestria used those old things anymore when calculators went for only three bits these days. For that matter, did any still exist? Well, maybe Twilight had one stashed away somewhere, but she was an exception.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Textbooks have actually been the softest thing I've had pelted at me in a while."

"Well here, let me help you with thes-by the great Gallopsby!" He yanked a green hardback out of the pile while Rainbow resisted the urge to facehoof. Even his turn of phrases...please don't tell me this is my lockermate!

Her fears were realized as the colt opened the locker right next to hers, all the while still having his eyes glued to the book. "Is this professor Brain Trust's Exploration in the Algebraic Dimensions, SPECIAL PREMIUM EDITION?! I can't believe this! Only a hundred and twenty-two copies of this version are still in circulation! I never thought I'd gaze upon this amazing, unedited primer of advanced mathematics!"

"Uh...yeah. A friend of mine lent it to me. Can I have it back now? I need it for my next class." Rainbow could already tell that even the brainy kids would consider this one nerdy, and the longer she stayed within his vicinity, the better her chances of accumulating minus social points were.

"Oh, certainly! Are you in Mr. Weighted Scale's precalc? Cause if so, we can walk together! I've always wanted to touch base with another intellectual who can appreciate the value of vintage educational reading. Everypony says there's no big difference between the editions, but they don't realize just how much of the original author's actual work is lost in those standardization processes and-"

"YeahsoundsfunI'llaskTwilightifshehasanothercopyNowIgottagobye!" She snatched the textbook from his hooves, slammed her locker shut and turned to floor it-

-right into her left lockermate. Landing head over hoof on top of the mauve pegasus, Rainbow found herself muzzle to muzzle with her sassy grin. "Oh, hey there! Poindexter! You never told me you had a new friend! And a very cool looking one at that!"

Rainbow heaved herself off as her new acquaintance circled around her. "Very cool indeed. Oh, look at that mane! Why didn't I think of dying my hair rainbow? That would be so neat!"

"What? This? Oh no, this is my natural color," Rainbow said as she flicked a hoof through her hair. "I was born cool, don't you know?"

"Then you are one very lucky filly." She circled Rainbow one more time before opening her own locker, eying at her own long silver hair in a small mirror.

"I think she's the new student that arrived today. She's been assigned to our locker row. She also seems to have access to unfurnished publishings, and has even agreed to lend me a few later on. She's amazing, right?"

"Is that so?" The teenage mare leaned in close to Rainbow as to put their conversation in private setting. "You've really hit it off with Poindexter, haven't you?"

"Yeah, it kinda just...happened."

"Well I got to say, I'm really touched you let him reach out like that. Aside from me and Pom Pom, nopony else here will even give the poor guy the time of day."

*Clatter* *Crack*
"Ah, superfudge! I stepped on my specs again!"

Rainbow glanced at the now half-blind nerd applied scotch tape to a cracked lens out of the corner of her eye. "Can't imagine why," she deadpanned.

The neighbor then stuck out her hoof. "Prism Lightcatcher."

Rainbow looked at it for a moment, then gave it a hoofbump. "Rainbow Dash." Well, at least she seems decent enough.

"Oh, gee. I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I cannot stop saying how neato your mane is!" Prism giggled. "Talk about standing out in a good way. I'll bet you put a lasting impression on the peeps in homeroom, right?"

Rainbow scratched the back of her mane. "Yeeeeaaah, hopefully not too lasting..."

Prism's eyes then lit up. "Say, crazy idea. Have you gotten any club invitations yet?" She dug through her locker looking for something fervently.

"Uh, no. Clubs aren't really my thing anyways. I'm more of an athlete than a school spirit type." Rainbow had a feeling what was going to come next. "And FYI, cheerleading is not a sport."

"Oh, Rainbow Dash," Prism giggled. "I'm not a cheerleader, Pom Pom handles that kind of rallying. I represent the Pegasus Pride Group." She closed her locker and hoofed Rainbow a flyer with the cover art of two mare silhouettes standing flank to flank with a foreleg raised to a shooting star background. "It's our job to fight for the rights of every mare in the world, starting with this school. You wouldn't believe how many choices we're denied outside these school walls. And of course, we're not bigots, so we welcome males willing to support the cause too, like Poindexter here."

The white nerd paused to wave as he started on the other lens.

"And if you were to join the PPG, we would finally have the four member requirement to make our movement official to the school!" she continued. "And I just know with you as our image, we would garner the entire student body within a month!"

Rainbow examine the flyer being extended to her. So, these two were part of some feminist/racial activist group, huh? Well, Rainbow did have strong feelings towards unfair treatment, and from the rumors she heard back at the weather station, equality was getting to be a popular topic among the schools. Clubs and extracurricular, this wasn't exactly her thing. The only activity she ever tried was signing up for the stormball team, and that was only for the scholarship, which she never got. But...maybe if she got a little more involved in improving school life, her own would improve as well. Teachers always did like the more noble routine, and it could give her a chance to polish her image a bit. It certainly needed it after seeing how well her first impression was in only one classroom.

Of course, if king of the nerds behind her had been made a member, it couldn't be that awesome. Still, these two were going to be near her for pretty much her entire stay here. Having the good side of neighbors and roomies was always a plus in making school life bearable. And now that she thought about it, if she hung with Poindexter, she'd have a good excuse not to have queen egghead as her personal tutor 24-7. A brainiac buddy could come in handy while in school, so long as they didn't get too personal.

"I'll...think about it. Maybe."

"That's good enough for me! Trust me, come around to our clubroom at lunch today, and I promise you won't be sorry." She jammed the flyer in Rainbow's hooves. "Here, you can hold on to this for now while you make up your mind. The more ponies that see that and know about us, the better!"

As luck would have it, as soon as she let go, a nearby custodian opened the nearest exit to sweep the steps, and a short whiff of air puffed down the halls and snatched the paper.

"Oh. I got it! I got it!" Rainbow made a quick flying leap into the air to steal the flyer back. Cutting ahead of it, she made a perfect catch in her mouth. Turning her backside though, while still under the effect of inertia, was not the most prudent of actions. And she soon paid for it with her noggin denting an open locker door. Sliding to the ground, she rubbed her head to the sound of mocking laughter. Wait, laughter?

"Well, well. Looks like all the rumors I've heard about the infamous Rainbow 'Crash' are true." An olive stallion teen peered over her as she lay flat on her back. "Oh? And what's this?" He yanked the pamphlet out of her mouth to get a better look. "Not even an hour into your first day back, and you're making nice with Prism. Guess that's one more innuendo that's been confirmed."

Rainbow was still trying to indignantly digest that first remark before she could even wonder about what that last sentence meant. How had that name managed to survive after all these years? How many else knew about it? And who did this jerk think he was, spouting that insult out so blatantly?

"Hey! Punchout!" Rainbow lifted her chin enough to see Prism step forward with Poindexter hiding behind her. "Step off. It's way too early for your hassling."

"And if it isn't the pastiest of mommas boys too. You chummy with him as well? That's a riot." He closed his locker door as he flicked Rainbow's face with a feather on his wing. "Just so you know, they stopped holding competitions for the biggest school loser when the reigning champ made her title permanent by becoming the only dropout in the school's history."

Rainbow twitched at the implied statement as a quizzical frown appeared on Prism's annoyed face. "What are you talking about, Punchy?"

"What? You don't know? Oh, that's right. your family's from Whinnychester, where it's legal. Of course you don't know the legend of Cloudsdale High's greatest shame." The pony called Punchout dismissively waved her off, but Prism glared hard, undeterred.

"It's legal everywhere, jackanape. There's no law against it and you know it!"

Rainbow was starting to get confused. Legal? Did Prism have relatives with a record against them?

"There's no law for it either! And you know why? Cause it's just not natural. But hey, I'm not hating here. Heck, mare on mare action is pretty funny to watch as a matter of fact. And now that you've found yourself an actual partner, maybe you can finally get fitted for a dress to homecoming! Something scantily clad I'll bet."

Rainbow's eyes began to widen. Partner? Mare on mare action? No, no! It couldn't be! She shot another peek at the flyer, staring at the two mares. The two mares whose flanks bumped each other rather precariously.

The PPG isn't some feminist group...it's...IT'S A...

"That's all we are to your type, aren't we? Some sick joke you like to get high on because of your own insecurities and failures with mares, despite the fact that their ratio to stallions is three to one!"

"There's a reason the word fool is in fillyfoolers. See you in biology, Prism 'dyke'catcher."

Prism stomped her hooves and held her head high as Punchout trotted away snickering. "FILLYFOOLER AND PROUD OF IT!!"

FILLYFOOLER?! Rainbow Dash's head swam as she mushed it with her hooves. Not again! Not again! Oh Celestia and all things holy! NOT AGAAAAAAIN!!

But it was again. The forbidden label that she sought so desperately to be rid of all those years ago was back on her forehead. This was going to be a long, long, long semester.

She felt a soft hoof touch her shoulder, and met Prism's reassuring face. "Don't let Punchout get you down. He's a bit of jerk to everyone, even his jock posse. Don't worry though. Just stick with us, and he'll be little more than a nuisance."

Rainbow's eyes twitched. It was just like before all those years ago. She fell in with the wrong crowd, got misunderstood, and would end up scrounging around the bottom of the totem pole. Why? Why was she always the one singled out?!

Buck the lockermate code, these ponies weren't going to help her get through the year.

"Stick with you?! I want nothing to do with you! I did not come back here to get sucked into my old loserdom status all over again! And that's exactly what hanging around you is going to do! Scram! Both of you!"

Surprised by her sudden outburst, Poindexter took off like a mad dog was after him, while a shocked and dazed Prism followed behind.

"And you can forget about me joining your stupid club!" Rainbow threw the flyer in their general direction. "Because I'm NOT A FILLYFOOLER!"

After panting for a few moments. She glanced across the empty hall as the bell rang again. Great, now she was late. Her head drooped down as she sighed. A rotten feeling welled up from within the pit of her stomach. Okay, maybe she was a victim of circumstance again, but taking it out on them? Well, now everypony was miserable, but it didn't fix anything.

"Come back..." she dejectedly muttered. "I didn't mean it..."

"You never do. But it still hurts regardless.That's why you should be telling it to them in pony instead of half mumbling it to me from behind."

Rainbow Dash's head shot up. "That voice..."

"But all in all, it's good to see you. It's been a long time, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow spun around to see who was speaking, and her jaw nearly touched the floor.

"YOU-?!"

Author's Note

After this chapter, I will be focusing my all to my main series, A future of friendship, a history of hate for awhile. Being that the next chapter will tie in to events after the episode: Griffon another chance. I recommend checking it out if you haven't yet. Thank you.