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// 6: Ensign Rainbow Dash, USN 
// Story: Core 
// by totallynotabrony 
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Chapter 6: Ensign Rainbow Dash, USN


After being out late with her friends the night before, Dash found it slightly hard to get up for one last PT session.  The alcohol was part of that, but she had also realized how much she’d missed them.  Leaving them again for her future military job would not be easy.
There were things to take care of in the present, however.  She put on her PT uniform and gathered with the rest of the class on the road beside Nimitz.
The Victory Run was a spectator event.  Most of the guests had turned up, standing around in the cool morning air.  While she had the opportunity, Dash glanced towards the bridge.  The bright lights that illuminated it in the predawn darkness called to her like a beacon.  Just a few more hours and she would be on her way across it.
At the scheduled time, the Victory Run began.  It was only a short jog, more of a demonstration, really.  The real spectacle was to come.
After running, the class gathered in the SUYA for a public RPT session.  The whole class good-naturedly went along with it.  As Dash screamed her responses and pounded sand, she saw her friends looking slightly terrified.  It was hard to believe that her daily life had changed in only a few weeks to become something that actually scared other ponies. 
After the workout, the class ran through proper chow hall entry procedures and demonstrated eating by the numbers, complete with screaming class team.  After that, they were allowed to eat breakfast with their guests.
Dash’s stories about OCS the night before had been entertaining, but this was the first time any of her friends had seen for themselves what it was like.  She wasn’t sure how they would react to how much she’d changed.
Fortunately, the conversation was kept light.  After breakfast, Dash parted company with them.  She and the rest of the class had to prepare for graduation.
The mood in Nimitz was jovial as they put on their uniforms.  Everyone talked and joked.  Dash took a short while to pack some of her things.  The sooner she was ready to depart after graduation, the better.  
At the appointed time, the class made final checks and walked out of the building to Kay Hall.  They formed up behind the curtain.
Dash stood with the rest of the class.  Her dress whites were perfectly groomed, her mane was actually under control for once, and she was ready to graduate.
She wasn’t nervous.  There had been too much practice for that.  Instead, she was excited, and could tell from the quiet conversation among her fellow Candidates that they felt the same way.
The red and yellow National Defense Service Medal was the only thing that adorned the front of her uniform.  The jacket had been expertly tailored by Rarity and given a quick once-over by the Leest that morning.  Dash looked as perfect as she could.
Gunnery Sergeant Johns walked by in his green dress uniform.  There was the barest hint of a smile on his lips.  He checked to make sure the class was ready to go.  While there was time, Dash spread her wings and lifted off the floor, giving her legs a moment to rest.  She crossed and uncrossed them to stretch a bit.  The DI saw her.  “Left over right, Dash.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
To her surprise, he went on.  “We’ve been making you do that because left over right is how you rest a rifle on your legs for shooting from a sitting position.  Remember, everything is for a purpose.”
It’s graduation day, and I’m still learning, thought Dash.  OCS crammed as much into twelve weeks as possible.  Every single thing was about changing Candidates to better suit the needs of the military.
Marching music began to play and the Class 19 filed out.  The stage had the giant flag hanging behind it, and other decorations had been placed for the occasion.  As practiced, each of the Candidates found their seats.
The two class officers gave short speeches and then it was time for the Admiral to speak.  After the first five minutes, Dash’s mind had wandered.  She reviewed the last twelve weeks in her head.
A lot had happened.  Dash had been trained.  She now responded to commands instinctively.  She’d developed new muscle memory and habits.  Everything about her had changed.
She was organized and given skills to lead.  She had a chain of command both above and below her.  She was no longer on her own program, but was part of a team.
Dash swallowed nervously.  She had the responsibility to think of more than just herself.  Those in her chain depended on her to do exactly what she should, not what she wanted.  This was not so simple as flying jets.  It went deeper, and more personal.  The welcome speech on day one had promised to push her hard, to improve her, to teach her to be an officer.  That had happened, sure enough.  How deep had the training gone?  Had she been left an empty shell, only capable of robotic dedication?
Dash moved her eyes fractionally to the side, spotting her friends sitting in the attending audience.  They were happy for her.  They believed she was doing the right thing.  Dash relaxed a little.  It was always nice to have true friends.  Ironic that she would likely be more cohesive with her Class, though.  She wasn’t friends with all of them, and didn’t even like a few of them, but they had learned to work together like a machine.  But I’m not a machine…
The Admiral finished up.  The OCS Commanding Officer stepped up to the podium.  “Now I’d like to recognize each Candidate individually.”
He began reading.  Each Candidate was introduced by name, hometown, and service selection.  In no time at all he announced, “Rainbow Dash; Cloudsdale, Equestria; Pilot.”
Dash mounted the stage.  She was greeted by Lieutenant Crossing and the Admiral and given a diploma.  They were both smiling and congratulated her.  The audience clapped politely.  Rainbow heard a faint cheer that sounded like Pinkie.  She walked off stage and returned to her seat.
The rest of the class cycled through, and the Commanding Officer returned to the podium.  “All rise.  By the authority vested in me by the President of the United States, I hereby give the oath of office to these new commissions.  Repeat after me.”
The class got up.  Dash raised her right hoof and followed prompting.
“I, Rainbow Dash, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; 
That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.  So help me Celestia.”
“Class dismissed.”
“Aye, aye, sir!”  As they had practiced, the whole class about-faced and tossed their headgear into the air as the audience applauded.
The new Ensigns broke out of ranks and joined their guests.  Rainbow met with her friends and family and spent a few minutes trading congratulatory hugs.  She couldn’t help but smile with so much congratulations being poured upon her.
There was one last piece of tradition to fulfill.  The combined crowd exited the building and headed towards the bay.  There, the class teams were assembled with the bridge in the background.  Each Ensign formed up to receive their first salute.
When Dash’s turn came, she stepped up in front of Gunnery Sergeant Johns and Chief Valdez.  Together, they saluted her.  As officership required her to, Dash returned their salute.
She shook with each of them, presenting the silver dollars.
“Welcome to the Navy, ma’am,” said Chief Valdez.
“Let everything you do be for a purpose, ma’am,” added Gunnery Sergeant Johns.
Dash nodded.  Despite any underlying convictions she might have had, completing the hardest twelve weeks of her life was worth some emotional reflection.  Fortunately, her mouth automatically responded, “Thank you, gentlemen.”
And it was over.  OCS was finished.  Dash took a last look at the bridge and turned away.  She would have to go change uniforms and get a military Common Access Card with her new rank on it.  The CAC was used as identification and also clearance for government computers and electronic verification.  She would also need to pick up her medical records and get a copy of orders for her assignment to flight school.  It sounded like a lot, but she would be out of Newport soon.
Her friends wished her goodbye.  Dash would have a little time before reporting to Pensacola and would see them again soon.  Her parents waited with empty suitcases to transport all the gear she had been issued.  It was too much to fit in the saddlebags she had brought twelve weeks before.
Dash went over to Callaghan Hall to the offices on the first floor.  The civilian secretary processed her paperwork and then had her sit in front of a camera for a picture.  The ID machine spit out her new CAC a few minutes later.
It looked completely unlike her driver’s license.  It wasn’t even the same format, being flipped vertical.  Her rank was clearly called out, but in larger letters was her name.  Rainbow Dash.
Her expression, manecut, and uniform were completely different from her other identification photos.  And yet, it was still her identification.  Her face, her name.  Those were things that hadn’t changed, nor had OCS attempted to.
I’m still me.  That was a comforting thought.  She still had her own ideas, personality, and friends.  She may have been trained and declared fit for service, but nothing had been taken from her.  It hadn’t replaced anything she used to be.
The training had strengthened her core as promised, giving her a stronger foundation, but it hadn’t replaced it with something different.  In her heart, she was still her own pony, and nothing could ever change that.
She had learned how to become an integral part of a group and do her duty, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still be herself.  While now a member of the military, she was still Rainbow Dash.
All the way to the core.



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