For quite a few days it was just a routine. Report for three different types of training every day, then wind down for the night by watching the Wings Around Equestria, then go to bed.

Progress was being made in training. Lightning was catching on quick to everyone's surprise. She was already starting to understand the ins and outs of natural flight. Thorn was catching on as well, just not as fast as Lightning. Rainbow was struggling the most out of the three.

She just couldn't seem to wrap her head around natural flight. She loved being able to go at the speeds she usually did and now she couldn't. Echo and Bravo were being as patient as possible, but everyone could see they were starting to get irritated with her.

Thorn and Lightning were trying to help as well by showing her techniques outside of training but nothing seemed to be working.

"I just don't know if I'll be able to get this natural flight thing right guys… I'm more set to be a Wonderbolt, not a Jolly Wrench." Rainbow said, one afternoon as they were resting in their barrack.

"You're not giving up are you?" Thorn asked.

The mare gave her a look. "No way in hay am I gonna do that! I'd never live it down! And I am NOT giving up!" If something like Tirek happened again… I wouldn't be able to protect my friends… The mere thought of Twilight having to take on something alone ever again when they could've helped, angered her. If she gave up, then she would be useless when a crisis happened, and she would never let that happen if she could.

"Well… Then we're just gonna have to keep trying. Maybe we can get up early tomorrow… Before wake up call." Thorn looked around quickly to be sure no one was listening. "You need to be able to slow down… Like resist the urge."

Rainbow groaned laying her head down. "Thorn, you have no idea how hard it is… My cutie mark practically stands for speed."

"Then don't listen to your mark." She said bluntly.

"...Are...You..NUTS!?"

"I'm being blunt."

"It's been working for me."

Rainbow looked over to Lightning who hadn't said one word during the whole conversation.

"What?" Rainbow asked.

"I said, it's been working for me, I've resisted my urges, and my mark stands for the same thing, adapting is important, Dash."

Rainbow glared at her. "You're one to talk, you always did things your own way back at the Academy."

Lightning glared back. "I messed up, I know that, but I learned my lesson and learned the importance of working as a team and following orders, I think you're just too used to being a leader instead of a follower."

"So what if I am?" She growled a little. "Y'know maybe if I was leader back then that incident wouldn't have happened… Maybe they wouldn't be so freaking hard on us!"

Lightning stood up. "Oh, you're blaming me now for you not being able to fly the way the Wrenches do? The incident and this have nothing linked to why they're being hard on us!"

Rainbow stood up as well. "Well if you like the Wrenches so much maybe you should just quit the Wonderbolts for good!"

Thorn gulped looking between the two. This is gonna get real ugly real fast…

Lightning was trying really hard not to snap at her… but that hurt. It hurt to the point she had nothing to say in return and just backed down, sitting on her bed. Been in this fight before… not doing it again.

Rainbow shook her head sitting on her own bed. Maybe that was too harsh…

"Rainbow... That was awful… You think you have the right to tell her that?" Thorn asked quietly, giving the other mare a glare.

"... No." Rainbow muttered.

"Then stop acting like your head 'Bolt and fly right… Do you act like this back home?"

Rainbow thought for a moment. "Sometimes… I let things get to my head a lot… but whenever Twilight has plans… I follow them since I know what she's doing."

Thorn's gaze softened a little. "Then trust us the way you trust her...Trust Echo and Bravo… Because we're supposed to be a team here... I know we're not like a fancy council of six like you are back home, but I really want to like you both... But I don't like bullies either… or egomaniacs."

Rainbow smiled a little. "I don't either… sorry for snapping… I guess all the stress just got me…" she looked over to Lightning. "I'm sorry to you too… Can you forgive me?"

Lightning gave a bit of a smile. "Yeah… I understand your pain if that makes you feel better."

"Thanks Lightning…" Rainbow said before giving a sheepish look. "Feels like I'm flying in circles sometimes… Speeding is what I'm used to.."

"We all are, we just had to learn to slow down… and if we can learn, so can you."

"Right." Rainbow nodded a little.

"We'll keep trying to show ya… And let's try not to irritate Echo and Bravo... I'm a little afraid to see what those two will do if they lose their patience." Thorn cringed at the thought. The griffons could be a little intimidating.

"I've seen what happens when a griffon gets mad, I don't want to see Echo and Bravo doing the same…"

"Then let's just agree on being on our best behavior around them during training hours." Lightning said giving a bit of a grim look. "I hear the worst they can do is give the Wrench's punishment… which for ponies, you disrespect a drill instructor you get the end of your tail burned off by the dragons."

Thorn and Rainbow shifted a little uncomfortably at the thought. "Oh goodness… They're allowed to do that!?" Thorn whisper/yelled getting a scared look. "B-but I like my tail!"

"It'll grow back, is all they'll tell you, it's the only thing they can do without seriously wounding somepony."

Rainbow shuddered. "In that case I'm counting my lucky stars they're not allowed to do worse than burning our tails."

"Yep… anyways, how about we just prep for our next training session?"

They nodded. "Sounds good."

"You want to send them to the Metal Birds already?"

Echo nodded. "It's mainly because of Rainbow Dash sir… she needs to be in environment that can prevent her from using her magic… as bad as that sounds… but she needs the extra push, we just need your permission, Commander Stone Flame."

Stone Flame looked down at Echo with concern. "Is it really that bad?"

"Unfortunately yes… and honestly, I'm not surprised… it's what she's used to being around, especially considering whose council she is part of."

"True…"

"I just want to know your thoughts… you guard the portal after all."

Stone Flame shifted a little, stretching his wings.

"Every pony is different… I wish I could understand their struggles, but being a dragon I don't know what it is like to rely on magic to fly. Sending her to the Metal Birds will probably be rough for her since it is a land without magic… but with her two companions she should be fine, they'll just need to exercise caution."

"So… we have permission?"

Stone Flame nodded. "Yes, bring them here when it is time."

Echo saluted. "Yes sir."

Stone Flame watched as Echo flew off to find the ponies. He smiled a little, looking towards the door he was currently guarding.

Maybe the Metal Birds can teach Rainbow Dash what the Wrenches are unable to teach.