Star Ponies: The Original Series

6 years ago...

“Hey Forest!” Rainbow Dash called out to her doctor friend from across the quad at Starfleet Academy. Starfleet was started by Princess Luna, who upon discovering the great expanse, wanted ponies to move beyond their planet of Equestria and seek out new life. Rainbow zoomed across the quad and crashed into her friend. He scoffed at her and pushed her off.

“Damn it Rainbow, watch where you're going you crazy-” He was cut off by a hoof that Rainbow slammed into his mouth.

“Listen, I need you for tomorrow.” She pulled the hoof out of his mouth. “I'm taking the test again.”

“Again?! Dash are you insane?!” Rainbow rolled her eyes.

“I knew you'd react like this. C'mon, I need you there tomorrow.” Forest lightly bonked Rainbow on the head.

“Dash, it's the Kobyashi Maru test. You failed it once, you failed it twice, and now you're going for three? Nobody passes that test!” Rainbow bonked him back.

“Well I'm going to pass it tomorrow, and I want you there on the science station.” Forest rolled his eyes.

“Why not get one of those science brains from the Celestial Class? All they do is study all day long, I'm sure they need a break.” He pointed over to the part of the Academy that held most of the high achieving Science students who signed up only to become teachers or researchers. Their time as commissioned officers was brief. “And besides, it never occurred to you that I was busy?”

“Well yeah, but then I remembered you owed me one after I helped you out with that business involving a certain Orion Pony-” Forest stopped Rainbow from continuing. He knew he was beat.

“Point taken, I'll be there. He looked down sullen. “What time?” He asked.

“10:00. Be there!” Just then, Rainbow turned to see a yellow pegasus mare with light green eyes floating around. “And it looks like I've got my project for today. See ya later!” With that, Rainbow zoomed off to get her latest target. She was known to get around a lot. And it wasn't just mares, it was with colts too, and she was always cool and in control.

“What a load.” Forest said as he went back to his book.
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Rainbow was ten minutes early, just sitting in the simulator room, waiting to begin a test that was deemed, “unbeatable”. She was determined to beat the unbeatable test. Many other cadets entered the room shortly after-wards, followed by Forest, who took his seat at the science station.

“You ready for this Rainbow?” Forest asked while logging into his terminal. Rainbow smiled.

“I'm always ready Forest.” She reclined in her chair. “This is where I belong.” For the longest time, Rainbow had dreamed of taking to the skies, and when other worlds were discovered and were made reachable, she dreamed of going there, being the best of the best. The intercom crackled, announcing the beginning of the test.

“The simulation is about to begin. Ready yourselves.” This was it, the moment, the start of the dreaded Kobyashi Maru. The lights dimmed, and on the screens in the simulator room showed the great expanse of space. The cadets heard a loud beeping from the Comm system.

“Captain, we're receiving a distress signal.” The Communication Cadet sounded bored in her position. Maybe because she had seen cadets fail so many times it was as much a routine as brushing her teeth. “It's from the Kobyashi Maru Ma'am. It has lost power and is requesting aid.” Rainbow turned to Forest.

“What's their position Mr. Forest?” She seems really into it. Forest thought.

“Inside the Saddleon Neutral Zone-” Before he had a chance to finish, Rainbow slammed her hoof down on the arm rest of the chair and yelled,

“Take us in there!” Or maybe not. The senior officer in the simulator room turned to Rainbow.

“May I remind the Captain if we enter the Neutral Zone that we will be violating the treaty that-”

“I'm aware of that Mister, carry on.” Rainbow's face had a look of certainty, just like she always did.

“Entering the Neutral Zone Captain, we are now in violation of the treaty.” The monitor then displayed a ship a drift in space. Heavily damaged, leaking plasma, a situation no Captain would ever want to see their ship in.

“Hail the Kobyashi Maru.” The communication officer tapped a few buttons but the console only replied with negative beeps.

“Ma'am, the Kobyashi Maru isn't respond-”

“Captain! Saddleon Warbirds decloaking!” The monitor showed three ships around the Kobyashi Maru. The Saddleon Empire was a war machine. Combat was their life, war was their creed. “They're firing on us Captain, our shields are up!”

“Alert sickbay to prepare for casualties.” Everybody turned to Rainbow. No one ever ordered that. They always had the Saddleons on their minds first. Forest was the first to speak.

“What about the Saddleons Dash? We've got to take them down, and their shields won't make it easy.”

“Are the shields up Mr. Forest?” Forest turned to his console, the shields on the ships were in fact down.

“No, they're not.” Forest turned to Rainbow who still had that determined look of hers. You could say that was her poker face, because she had it on in every situation she found herself in.

“Fire on all enemy Warbirds, use as much ammo as you need Tactical.” The tactical officer was smiling, he never had a chance to fire on Saddleons in the test. Payback time.

“Yes Ma'am.” With that order, the monitor showed the destruction of the three Saddleon ships. All that was left was the Kobyashi Maru, waiting to be rescued.

“Begin rescue operation. So, we took out three Saddleon ships, no crew members were injured, and the rescue of the Kobyashi Maru is underway.” Rainbow pulled out an apple and took a bite out of it. The intercom blared,

“Rainbow Dash, please report to the Headmistresses office.” Forest just stood shocked as he watched his friend leave the Simulator to go face the wrath of an enemy far worse than any Saddleon. Princess Luna could make or break Rainbow Dash's career.

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Luna looked at the Pegasus she had in front of her. She was looking for words to describe the aura this Cadet had. Smug? Maybe. Arrogant? Close. Confident? Yes, she displayed confidence that few students ever display.

“Cadet Rainbow Dash, I'm sure you know why you're here.” Rainbow, who was standing at attention, gave a simple answer.

“No Ma'am.” Luna shook her head.

“You're here because you committed an academic vernacular. You cheated.” Rainbow continued standing there, words not even phasing her. “Why did you cheat?”

“Because Ma'am... I don't believe in a No-Win Scenario.” Luna got up and slammed her desk.

“IT'S A TEST OF CHARACTER CADET!” Luna was using the old Canterlot voice, she only used this to get a point across. “How we deal with death is how we deal with life.”

“I don't believe in losing ma'am, and between having my crew live or having them die I'd gladly cheat again.”Luna was surprised by this answer. She did have a point. She cheated on the test, but she also cheated on the test which was in it of itself a cheat. Luna sat back down at her desk.

“You're dismissed Cadet. I'll call for you when I reach my judgment.” Rainbow saluted and left the room, leaving Luna alone with her thoughts. “How do I give a commendation for cheating?”