Twilight always prided herself on being the kind of mare who would always be there for her friends, with whatever they needed. Be it a large problem or a small one, she would do her best to make sure her friends were helped. And so it was today that she found herself very far from her home in Ponyville. Instead, she stood on the edge of what was unmistakeably a runway, high in the mountains, with blue skies all above her. Standing beside her was the transport she so often used; her hot air balloon, a gift from Princess Celestia during her studies with her. But, it was what lay before her that was truly worth noting. For there, standing tall and proud in the distance, was the famed Wonderbolts Academy, the training ground for all those hopeful pegasi that sought fame by joining the most prestigious fliers in Equestria. Looking around, Twilight noted the many young pegasi, mares and stallions alike, that now littered the sky before her, training, going through their various drills, or even studying the certain aspects of the flying manoeuvres they would have to know to pass the rigorous examinations here. Now, one would think that, being a unicorn, Twilight had no real place here, at a training ground for fliers. And yet, those who assumed that would be very much mistaken.

Letting out a sigh, Twilight turned to her balloon, lighting up her horn and causing an object within to levitate towards her. It was an already-opened letter, and upon it were words written in hoof-writing that Twilight recognised immediately as that of her friend, Rainbow Dash. She read the words over, as she had done many times before on her journey here, and let out a sigh. Putting the letter back into the balloon, Twilight instead turned to the academy, and began to scour the distance for any sign of the one she'd come here for. She was in luck on that regard, for it was mere moments later that her eyes widened, because Rainbow Dash herself was now flying towards her, right from the main barracks of the academy. Even from this distance, Twilight could tell she was decked out in the traditional garb of Wonderbolts trainees, that of a lightning-proof suit with the blue and yellow of that elite team. However, it was upon Rainbow's landing that Twilight noted the silver badge she wore upon her chest; a symbol of wing-ponies. But, rather than dwell on this, Twilight instead put on a smile for her friend's benefit, and began to approach her. Likewise, Rainbow too was smiling, and embraced Twilight in a hug as a matter of greeting. When the two parted, it was Rainbow who broke the silence.

"I'm glad you came. I wasn't sure you got my letter."

Twilight nodded.

"Don't worry, it arrived safely. I got here as soon as I heard you wanted to see me. Though...I'm surprised you'd call after only a week here."

After hearing that, Rainbow's expression became a sour one, as she looked over her shoulder to the academy behind her.

"Let's just say that...things aren't all that great right now."

Twilight's face became one of worry as she looked to her friend, seeing the angry look in her eyes as she regarded that school. In her heart, she had a terrible feeling of where this was heading, as it was, in fact, something she'd been worried about ever since Rainbow first set off for this place. After all, her cyan friend had made it very clear that her hopes were not high for this place. Could it be that she had already grown tired of it, after just one week? While these thoughts ran through her mind, Twilight kept silent, instead watching as Rainbow looked back to her, and then spoke up.

"Twilight...things here are...not right."

The young unicorn tilted her head slightly at that, showing confusion at her friend's words.

"Not right? What do you mean?"

Rainbow thought long and hard on that, after which she let out a sigh, gesturing to the field beside them with her head. Getting the message, Twilight nodded in response, and soon afterwards, the two mares were walking together, right along the edge of that field, all while Rainbow looked to the academy as she spoke.

"It started a few days ago. Spitfire was splitting us into teams of two, leaders and wing-ponies. I was made a wing-pony to another mare, Lightning Dust."

Twilight winced after hearing that name, remembering all too well the kind of trouble she got into the first time around. But, as before, she kept her mouth shut as Rainbow talked.

"At first, things seemed fine between her and me. But...stuff started going wrong soon after. The way she acted...the way she talked about our fellow cadets...there was just something...off about it. It was like she didn't even know they were there most of the time."

Looking forward, Rainbow let out a snort after considering that, at which point she turned to Twilight.

"When I began to realise she wasn't the kind of pony I really wanted to be around, I tried distancing myself from her, which was pretty hard, considering we were on the same team. Then...then things got really bad."

Her eyes narrowed as the memories of the last few days came back to her.

"During a training exercise a few days ago, me and Lighting were way ahead of the other cadets. But then she had an idea; create a tornado to blow them away and ensure our victory."

Twilight's expression was one of genuine shock, even knowing as she did that that's what happened the first time. Because even now, hearing about it, it was hard to imagine anypony deliberately wishing harm on they who served alongside them like that. Rainbow looked to her, seeing the look on her face, and gave a grim nod, a silent show that she shared that sentiment.

"I know, it was pretty bad. I told her then and there that I wanted nothing to do with it. We got into a fight and I just flew ahead. But her? She stayed behind and tried doing what she set out to do. She made her tornado, and like she planned, a lot of the other cadets were taken out of the running."

With those words, Rainbow stopped walking, and turned to Twilight, a look of sadness in her eyes.

"About half a dozen pegasi were put in the infirmary because of that."

Twilight stood there, aghast at what she was hearing, but stayed quiet as Rainbow looked down at the ground. There was silence from both of them at this point, as the young pegasus seethed with anger over what her partner had done. Within moments, and to Twilight's shock, Rainbow struck at the ground with her hoof, letting chunks of soil fly away in every direction. She let out another snort in a display of her anger before speaking up again, her words filled with frustration and fury.

"It was pointless! Lightning could have been happy with that victory we already knew we were going to have! But no! To her, she wanted her opponents to be worse than losers! She wanted them crushed! And that's exactly what happened!"

As the moments passed, and Rainbow's anger began to subside, she took a few breaths before looking back to Twilight.

"By the time I'd realised what was going on, I was already at the end of it. I went by the infirmary to see how everypony was, and it was there that they told me what Lightning had done."

Twilight looked to her with concern plastered all over her face.

"What...what did you do?"

Hearing that question, Rainbow found herself narrowing her eyes again.

"I went straight to Spitfire. Told her everything that happened. Told her how many ponies were hurt and why Lightning had done it."

Twilight took a step towards her friend, her expression bearing a sliver of hope in it.

"And? What did she say?"

Rainbow said nothing, instead starting to grind her teeth somewhat, which prompted Twilight to speak further.

"Did...did she reprimand Lightning?"

Yet further silence.

"Did she kick her out of the academy?"

Yet further silence.

"Did she say anything bad about her?"

Only now did Rainbow speak out, her voice filled with anger.

"She was impressed!"

Twilight took a step backwards at her friend's word, and watched as Rainbow brought a hoof right up to her forehead.

"I mean...I couldn’t believe it! Spitfire practically admired Lightning for her, as she called it, initiative. She didn't even ask about how the other cadets were doing!"

She turned, looking right into Twilight's eyes.

"As soon as I realised that, I left."

Twilight looked to her, seeing the utter disillusionment in her friend's eyes, and knew that her experience here had forever damaged what she used to think the Wonderbolts were like. But, she kept quiet as Rainbow turned once more, looking upon the academy far away from them.

"Before I came here...I had my doubts. I thought to myself that there was nothing here but show-offs. But...the reality? It's far worse than I could have thought."

She looked over her should to Twilight before continuing.

"What happened with Lightning and Spitfire is just the tip of the iceberg, Twilight. There's been plenty of other stuff going on here that you wouldn't believe. I've seen instructors actively encourage cadets to try and undermine one another! I've seen full-fledged Wonderbolts talk about nothing but how the uniform is going to get them bragging rights back home. I've seen how a cadet can injure their wing, and not one word of sympathy is thrown their way. And as for the higher-ups, they're so preoccupied with their own stuff that they don't even know about some of the things that go on in these grounds."

Looking back to the academy, Rainbow narrowed her eyes at it.

"When I was younger...I thought those guys were the best of the best. I mean...they were the Wonderbolts! They have a history that stretches back almost a thousand years! A history that has some of the greatest names the pegasi people have ever produced."

A look of nostalgia crossed her face before she continued.

"Firefly, the brave. General Flash, the shield. Fairy Flight, the swift."

Her eyes narrowed when she carried on.

"But, the ponies who've risen up in this day and age to replace them? Mud! There's arrogance. There's carelessness. There's no trace of empathy for those we're supposed to be helping. Heck! There usually isn't even any mention of helping others!"

She span around, raising a hoof and planting it square in Twilight's chest.

"The Wonderbolts are nothing now! Nothing but corrupt, and self-absorbed."

At long last, Rainbow stopped, and she began breathing heavily. All of these things she’d said against her once-idealized flying team had clearly been building up over the last week or so. As Twilight turned, seeing some of the other pegasi flying about, she noted little details here and there. Lots of showboating, with instructors barely paring attention. Mares and stallions talking big games, regardless of whether or not they'd actually done any of the things they were talking about. The message was clear from this picture; the glory days of this once-proud organization was gone, and Rainbow had witnessed what it was now first-hoof. Whatever shreds she still bore of her fillyhood dreams was now gone and buried forever thanks to this place. And so Twilight watched as Rainbow hung her head low, an utterly despondent look upon her face. Seeing this, Twilight steadily approached her, placing a hoof upon her shoulder and gaining her attention.

"Rainbow...I'm sorry. Do...do you want to leave them?"

The pegasus looked up at her, then turned and looked back to the academy, before turning back to Twilight. There was silence between them, and during that, Rainbow, to Twilight's surprise, actually broke out into a small smile.

"No...I'm staying."

As one would expect, Twilight's eyes widened with shock after hearing that.

"Staying? But...but...all the things you said!"

Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah, I know. They've fallen far. But they were great, once. They may not be that now, but they have many years of good work behind them. Back then, they were heroes. Legends. And while those here today can't ever compare to that..."

Turning, the cyan pegasus looked once more upon the academy.

"...there's no reason that it can't become great again."

She let out a sigh and slumped her shoulders somewhat.

"But...I'm never going to be able to make that happen if I quit. In the past, I would have wanted nothing but to use this group to make me famous, and have ponies cheer my name. But now?"

A small smile crept onto her face.

"Now...I know I can do some real good here. Change can happen, Twilight. But it has to come from inside. It has to be the Wonderbolts themselves who choose to change. And to do that...I'll first have to become a Wonderbolt."

Twilight stood there, very much taken aback by what she was hearing.

"Do...do you think you can?"

Turning to her, Rainbow put on a wider smile than before.

"If there's one thing I've learned from watching you the last few months, Twilight...it's that a pony can do anything if she puts her mind to it. The Wonderbolts can be heroes again, I just know it! They can be something Equestria can be proud of. They can be...they can be something that actually deserves to have colts and fillies look up to them and dream about them."

Stepping forward, Rainbow placed a hoof upon Twilight's shoulder.

"I haven’t felt this kind of fire in a long time, Twilight. And if it wasn't for you...if you hadn't convinced me to come here...I'd have never understood. I used to think I could join this group just to prove I was great. But now? Now...I think I can make them great. And for that...thank you."

Before Twilight had the chance to react, Rainbow moved forward, embracing her in a hug, although taken aback by this, Twilight nevertheless smiled and returned the embrace. However, as the two mares stayed together, they began to hear a sound off in the distance. It was a whistle of some sort, and one that caught Rainbow's attention immediately, causing her to part from Twilight. Although initially annoyed by this, the cyan pegasus looked to her friend and gave an appreciative smile. Twilight returned it, and watched as Rainbow spread out her wings and began to fly off, no doubt to head to where that whistle had been blown from. It was some new training exercise no doubt, but regardless, Twilight just felt joy in her heart now. The passion that for so long had been doused in Rainbow was blazing once more, and she was following her dream, perhaps for the best reasons a pony could have. Needless to say, it brought a massive smile to Twilight's face, and soon afterwards, the young unicorn found herself walking back, heading straight for her balloon. When she finally reached it, she turned, looking upon the academy one last time, before speaking in a hushed manner.

"Good luck, Rainbow. I wish you success."