Little Uncertainties

Hello,

I have to apologize. My job is at it's busiest at the moment so I will not be able to update as quickly like I did with my first few stories. Please be a little patient with me, but I didn't want any readers thinking that I was not planning on continuing the story of the Triad. I do promised that I will not drag this out for months so just give me a little time.

For new readers, this is the fifth story in the "Crystal Dreams" universe. This is part of a series and really needs to be read after the first four stories to make any sense.

Yours truly,

rainbow-leaves

Please do not post my work on other sites. Plagiarizing is wrong.

I do not own any rights to any characters. Ever. Damn.

Prelude

Royal guards were always a regular site to see in Canterlot. The guards roamed across the royal grounds, the castle interior, and did regular patrols throughout the city. You would have thought that there would be no possible way for anything to sneak into the Royal Garden, but one such intruder did. He stealthily crept from one hiding spot to another using the shadows as cover. The intruder examined each statue in the garden until he found the one he sought.

"I will avenge you," the stranger whispered as he gazed up at the statue, "I will make the ponies that did this to you pay!"

Sounds from behind made the intruder scuttle behind another, nearby statue. A passing guard paused in his surveillance. The stallion had thought he had seen something move, but after several moments of continued peace the guard moved on in his patrol.

"I will not have to wait in the shadows for long," the intruder hissed as he crept away from the garden, "Just you wait and see ponies."

Chapter 1

An in-uniform Rapidfire peaked out from behind the curtain to get a feel for the crowd. The Wonderbolts were just about to put on their new show. The whole team had been very grateful that both of their co-captains were back in action. Spitfire had had to take a medical leave of absence because of her accident caused by an inept paparazzi and then another leave to deal with depression. The new show wouldn't have been the same without her.

"I'm so glad that everything seems to be going well for Spitfire and the rest of the Triad now," Rapidfire thought as he watched and listened to the crowd, "I am also happy that Princess Celestia made a royal decree that any reporters or paparazzi must stay within the stands and not around the performance skies."

The stallion froze when he noticed something outside and began to laugh out loud.

"What's so funny?" a voice said from behind Rapidfire making the stallion gasp and spin around to see Spitfire and Soarin' with the rest of the team.

"Our 'cheerleader' is back," Rapidfire giggled as he pointed a hoof towards the crowd that filled The Wonderbolts' stadium.

The team all peaked outside and burst into laughter. Rainbow Dash was down in the front of the crowd leading all the ponies in the stands in Wonderbolt cheers. The team could hear the cyan Pegasus all the way to the backstage and were greatly amused by The Wonderbolts jersey she was wearing.

"The Wonderbolts are the best!

They can pass any test!
They are awesome day or night!

Don't you want to see their flight?
Yell for the team that gives you jolts!
Come on ponies yell for The Wonderbolts!

Yeah!"

The crowd answered the rainbow-maned pony with a large cheer and then joined Rainbow Dash in repeating the verse before breaking into "The Wave" that ran around the stadium; which just so happened was being orchestrated by the young mare. The whole Wonderbolt team felt a thrill roll through them when the crowd, led by their unofficial cheerleader, began chanting over and over again.

"You've got to rock with the gold and roll with the blue!

Hey Wonderbolts!

You know what you've got to do!

You've got to rock with the gold and roll with the blue!"

"Aw!" Soarin' cooed as he avidly watched his youngest life mate in action, "Baby is so cute."

"That she is," Spitfire chuckled out as she rolled her amber eyes, "Rainbow Dash certainly has a way with the crowd. She'll be quite a show-mare one day."

"If you can rein in that ego," Fleetfoot added before stepping back in surprise when her two co-captains whirled around on her.

"Baby, is young," Soarin' defended angrily as his golden life mate glared at their teammate, "She does have a little too much confidence, but most of that is just a shield to hide her insecurities. Watch your mouth!"

"Everypony on this team has had moments that their egos needed to be reined in, Fleetfoot," Spitfire stiffly explained, "Don't judge our life mate before Rainbow Dash has even had a chance to fully mature yet. There is a lot more to that little filly than you think there is."

"Hold up. Hold up," Rapidfire interrupted as he stepped in front of the smaller mare, "Leave Fleety alone."

"Calm down," Lightning Streak gently ordered as he cantered over, "You know Fleetfoot really likes Rainbow Dash. I don't think she meant anything bad."

"I didn't! Really," Fleetfoot interjected as she waved a calming hoof at her co-captains, "I just meant that she has great confidence in herself and takes on too much too fast sometimes. Just like when she tried your trick last month and ended up having to stay in the hospital, but at least you two said that convinced her that reading was good."

Soarin' and Spitfire looked at one another and gave their teammates sheepish smiles.

"Sorry, Fleet," Soarin' offered making the smaller mare smile brightly at the stallion, "It's just that Baby is very special to Spitfire and I and we don't like it when ponies misunderstand her. Baby is really a very kind and resourceful little pony, but we do understand what you mean. Rainbow Dash does act a bit rash at times, but you have got to admit that she has improved a lot since you all got to know her."

"Absolutely," Ice Wind agreed as she came over to join the conversation, "Rainbow Dash has certainly made things very interesting around here, but don't you think we need to get to opening positions. It's almost time for the show to begin."

The Wonderbolts all looked at one another with panicked eyes when they realized that Ice Wind was correct and quickly formed ranks. Spitfire stood next to Soarin' and grinned happily at him. It was great to be performing again. The opening notes of the introduction music began to play and the show began.

Rainbow Dash watched the show eagerly. No matter how many times she saw a Wonderbolt's show it never left her without the giddy excitement that fluttered in her chest and stomach.

"One day…" Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she watched her life mates perform their double act, "One day I'll fly with The Wonderbolts too. I can't wait!"

The cyan Pegasus screamed the loudest after the breathtaking show ended. Spitfire had really outdone herself on her choreography this year. Rainbow Dash impatiently waited her turn to fly out of the stadium. That was the problem with having a front row seat. A pony got to see the show first hand, but got to leave dead last. Finally, the young mare was able to get out of the stand area of the stadium and was just about to head towards the door to the backstage area when a voice drew her up short.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash!"

The rainbow-maned pony turned to see her friend Derpy trot up with four other Pegasi.

"Hi, Derpy," Rainbow Dash greeted as she eyed the other ponies curiously.

"These are some friends of mine," the grey mare said as she gestured to the three mares and a stallion, "The pink mare with a white mane is Cherry Blossom, the beige mare with the black mane is Coffee Cake, the orange mare with the pink mane is Setting Sun, and the navy stallion with the red mane is Jet Flight. Everypony this is my friend, Rainbow Dash."

"Hi," the cyan Pegasus drawled, "It is nice to meet you."

"Old Derp has told all of us a lot about you," Jet Flight remarked and then staggered back when Derpy playfully punched him on the side making the rest of the mares laugh as the stallion made a funny face.

"Serves you right. You know that Derpy doesn't like to be called 'Derp,'" Coffee Cake giggled out before turning to the rainbow-maned pony, "We saw you leading the cheers down front. So you must really like The Wonderbolts?"

"Like The Wonderbolts? I love The Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash crowed, "I'm their biggest fan. I so can't wait until I get old enough to try-out."

"Same here!" Setting Sun and Jet Flight chorused before turning to one another and laughing.

The cyan Pegasus perked up in interest. She had never really been able to hang out with any other Pegasi that had been interested in trying out for The Wonderbolts before.

"What about you two?" Rainbow Dash asked Coffee Cake and Cherry Blossom, "Do you two want to be Wonderbolts too?"

"Oh, not at all," Cherry Blossom denied with a soft voice as Coffee Cake shook her head in agreement, "But Coffee and I do so love watching the team. The shows are wonderful. Spitfire and Soarin' are probably the best captains The Wonderbolts have ever had."

Rainbow Dash swelled in pride at the compliment to her two life mates. She so wanted to brag about her bonded, but the cyan Pegasus kept her mouth shut like Spitfire and Soarin' instructed her to do. The young mare really liked these new ponies and before long the whole group was chattering about what it would be like to be a part of a flight team like The Wonderbolts.

"I can't wait to wear the uniform one day if I make the team," Setting Sun gushed as she stared dreamily off into the distance.

"Well, I know that I'll wear the uniform one day," Jet Flight bragged with a playful smile, "I'm the best flyer there is."

"No you're not," Derpy piped up, "Rainbow Dash is the best flyer. She has done a sonic rainboom twice and won The Best Young Flyers Competition. You are all looking at a future Wonderbolt."

Rainbow Dash blushed when the ponies all turned to give her a look of awe. The cyan Pegasus grinned cheerfully and was about to say something when a voice interrupted what she was about to say.

"Of course Rainbow Crash will be a Wonderbolt."

The whole group looked up and saw three stallions heading their way. Rainbow Dash groaned as her filly-hood, tormentors Dumb-Bell, Hoops, and Score cantered up to the group.

"Oh, go away," the cyan Pegasus whined as she turned her back on the three, "This is a 'A-B' conversation so 'C' you later."

"Whatever, Rainbow Crash," Dumb Bell growled out before turning to the rest of the group, "This mare will absolutely be a Wonderbolt one day. Do you want to know why?"

"Why?" Setting Sun asked as the rest of the group looked curious while Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes angrily at the three stallions.

"You're looking at the life mate of Soarin'," Hoops spat in disgust, "Rainbow Crash is going to be a Wonderbolt just because she gets special treatment."

"Wha?" the cyan Pegasus sputtered as the rest of the group except for Derpy looked at her with shock, "How did you….when did you…That's none of your business who my life mate is! Plus, Soarin' would never give me preferential treatment. He already told me that I'm not ready to be a Wonderbolt yet."

"You are the life mate of Soarin'? Soarin' of The Wonderbolts?" Jet Flight gasped as he backed away, "For how long?"

"Jet Flight!" Cherry Blossom reprimanded, "That's not our business."

"Well, maybe it is," the blue stallion snapped as Dumb-Bell, Hoops, and Score grinned happily at one another, "That's not fair that Rainbow Dash has a leg-in already. Maybe she even cheated at The Best Young Flyer's competition. You know that The Wonderbolts' were the judges, right?"

"I did not!" Rainbow Dash denied as she saw to her horror that the three mares were now starting to glare at her as well, "Soarin' and I didn't bond until months later and I am not assured a spot on the team. I promise."

"Stop it," Derpy ordered her friends as she came to stand beside the cyan Pegasus, "Rainbow Dash is a great pony. She is an Element of Harmony and everything. Don't let these three Meanies make you think badly of her."

'I'm sorry Derpy, but this just isn't fair," Setting Sun groused, "I am not interested in being friends with a cheater."

Rainbow Dash watched sadly as the four ponies took flight as fast as they could in the opposite direction.

"Let me talk to them," Derpy said as she patted the cyan Pegasus on her back, "Jet Stream and Setting Sun just have a bad temper. I'll get them to come around."

Rainbow Dash watched as the grey Pegasus took off after her four friends. The rainbow-maned pony whirled on the three stallions that were laughing hysterically behind her.

"How dare you!" Rainbow Dash spat, "That was totally un-cool. Why would you spread lies like this? How did you even know about Soarin' and I?"

"My cousin was at the Hearth's Warming Ball and witnessed your little interaction with that Brit-trot-onia Lord," Dumb-Bell chortled out, "Must be real nice to know that you don't have to work hard to be a Wonderbolt, Rainbow Crash."

"Yeah," Hoops agreed as he bro-hoofed with Score, "Loser!"

"Excuse me? What did you just say?" a voice said from behind the three stallions.

To be continued…