In the weeks to come, Rainbow Dash and Twilight both settle into their respective new routines. Normal csses at the Canterlot Cadet Academy or Celestia's School of Magic, together with tutoring from Celestia whenever the princess can make time; usually, early in the mornings. Twilight gets to go home on the weekends, while Rainbow Dash simply has to stay at the pace full time.

  That is not to say that studying is all they do, of course. Even if Twilight may have preferred it that way, circumstances had come to grant the unicorn certain responsibilities; most of her free time ended up being spent on taking care of Spike and researching as much as she can about dragons. And much to her chagrin, she would soon learn that Celestia's tutoring involved more than just spellcraft and academics; several of her csses had her attending the cadet academy, mostly for physical fitness and form.

  For Rainbow Dash's part, the combination of Silent Serpent's exercises and Celestia's flight lessons work her to a point of exhaustion that she almost doesn't mind the distinctly civil nature of all of her csses. Almost. But even as tired as Rainbow Dash is from the much harsher training regimen than she is used to, the memory of a promise to teach her survival and fighting skills remains at the forefront of her mind.

  Despite attending csses at a military school, Rainbow Dash finds to her great disappointment that it really is not that different from normal school, most of the time. Celestia even has her attend some csses at the School of Magic, as apparently the academics there are second to none even outside of the schools primary focus.

  Rainbow Dash groans in dismay, staring down at the worksheet before her and wondering, not for the first time, if she had made a mistake coming here. I got here for my flight skills, not my test taking abilities! What gives? Rainbow Dash rubs her face, groaning. To be fair, it isn't like she could learn new flying techniques much faster than she already is, without risking athletic injury. But shouldn't she be able to just rest and chilx, then?

  "Can you keep it down over there? You'll wake up Spike." Twilight compins from the other side of the table, not even gncing up at Rainbow Dash as her eyes remain glued to the manuscript below her, her body tightly coiled around the young dragon. Rainbow Dash just blinks at her incredulously; the unicorn filly had finished all of her homework in about twenty minutes, and then went right back into studying. Meanwhile, Rainbow can barely bear to stay still long enough to even read the worksheets. All the words just seem to float around in her jumbled mess of a brain, she can't even parse what it is talking about.

  Before Rainbow can reply to the unicorn with something suitably snarky, the doors to the library open with a faint clicking sound. The two students generally have the space to themselves, which is good because if she went back to her own room, Rainbow Dash knows she would just start napping instead of studying almost immediately. So if somepony is entering, then it's most likely...

  "Princess Celestia!" Twilight hastily gets up to her hooves and bows her head, while Rainbow Dash instead makes a move to cover her worksheets in embarrassment. The alicorn has to duck their head to enter the chamber, looking around in mild bemusement as they sit down.

  "Greetings, my two students. I had a moment to spare, so I thought I would check up on you. How go your studies?" Celestia asks in an egregiously casual tone.

  "E-excellent, your highness! Better than excellent!" Twilight blusters. "The pace's archives are simply fascinating!" The anxiousness of the unicorn's voice quickly gives way once she starts talking about her studies, and she opens her book to show Celestia. "For instance, did you know that tuatara have a sort of third eye on their forehead? Its a photoreceptor used to discern day-night cycles, but it can't actually form images, its located under the skin, and its called a 'parietal' eye!"

  Rainbow Dash groans and smacks a hoof into her face. "Precisely why would anypony need to know that?" Rainbow Dash asks, pointedly.

  Twilight bristles in response, looking offended. "Knowledge is valuable for its own sake!" She protests, looking up to Celestia as if for confirmation.

  Celestia nods. "Of course, Twilight Sparkle. I assume you completed your assigned work, before you began reading up on reptilian biology?"

  Twilight nods again. "Of course! I just thought that maybe information on reptiles could help me understand how to help this little guy." Twilight squeezes the sleeping dragon curled up between her legs. "But the more I learn, the less it seems like dragons have anything in common with reptiles. I think they're actually closer to birds, despite appearances."

  Celestia smiles. "Quite the dutiful caretaker you are, Twilight. And how is your young charge faring?"

  "I... Think they're doing well." Twilight offers, cautiously. "They sure sleep alot. But whenever they're awake, they're very well behaved. We've been feeding them a diet of gemstones and carnivore feedstock." Twilight winces, trying not to think too much about what exactly went into carnivore feed. The little dragon is, after all, not the only meat-eater that ponies kept as pets. "It seems to be working, they shed their scales for the first time a few days ago and the new coat is really shiny and healthy looking."

  Rainbow Dash sighs, mind bnking out again. She guesses she can't give Twilight too much of a bad time for that, taking care of a little dragon is a big responsibility and learning all she can about it does seem warranted. Just as she is ready to completely mentally check out, however, Celestia turns to her. "And how about you, Rainbow Dash? You look troubled."

  "Uh, Troubled? I guess you could say that." Rainbow Dash motions at her worksheets in consternation. "I thought I came out here to learn how to fly, fight, and navigate with the best of them! Not learn math!" Rainbow Dash grumbles in irritation.

  Celestia watches the young pegasus carefully for a moment, selecting their words carefully. "I know you may not be interested in these subjects, but I promise you, having a wider breadth of knowledge will open up many doors to you in the future. You may find yourself thankful you learned these things, one day." Celestia steps closer, and Rainbow Dash defensively hides her worksheets.

  "Doors, schmoors! What does an awesome flier like me need with all this carp?" Rainbow Dash blusters, triggering a gasp of horror from Twilight at the outright insubordination of the other filly. "I should be out there giving threats to Equestria what-for and inspiring ponies with my flight skills!"

  Celestia raises a brow. "Oh? So what you're saying is, you believe that you are too good for studying?" Celestia gives Rainbow Dash a sly smile. "I'll tell you what. If you can prove that you're as awesome as you say, then I will allow you to focus only on your athletics. Shouldn't be a problem for a pony of your talents, I'm sure?"

  Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise, not expecting to actually get her way. Hopping up out of her chair, she looks up at Celestia, suspiciously. "And, what exactly do I have to do to prove it?" She questions.

  Celestia's smirk only grows. "Just nd a single hit on me. If you can do that, then I will relent, and acknowledge that such a brave warrior has no need for academics." Twilight shoots Celestia a horrified look at that suggestion, while Rainbow Dash just grins, cracking her front hooves.

  "That's all? Oh, this'll be too easy! Just you watch!" Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes. I'm the fastest pony there is, all I have to do is strike at full speed and they won't know what hit them!

  "Not in here!" Twilight shouts, startling Spike awake and Rainbow Dash out of her focused stance, as Twilight dives to cover her precious books as well as possible. "If you're really going to do this, go do it somewhere that won't destroy all the books!"

  Celestia giggles, horn lighting up. "Rex, Twilight. I will shield the books from harm. Well, Rainbow Dash?" She offers to the pegasus.

  Rainbow Dash makes a concerted effort to rex her muscles, appearing as though she isn't going to make a go at it, before diving full bodily through the air at Celestia, bolting from the ground with every single ounce of speed she can muster. Much to her surprise, she ends up flying straight through an empty space before colliding with the dim yellow pulse of a shield over the books. She hadn't even seen Celestia move, and they certainly hadn't teleported; Rainbow Dash would have heard it.

  Thinking quickly on her hooves, Rainbow Dash sprinboards from the shield spell-it somewhat reminds her of how clouds feel, slightly spongey and estic-back towards Celestia's new position. The alicorn princess simply yawns and shifts the bare minimum amount required to not be clipped by Rainbow Dash's wing, the alicorn's own broad white wing stretching out casually above the hurtling pegasus. Rainbow Dash growls in frustration and twists in midair, bringing her hoof down from above, only for Celestia to lean back out of reach.

  Twilight just watches from the sidelines, wincing and tensing up every time it seems like Rainbow Dash might nd a blow on either Celestia or the books around her. Celestia's casual show of making every blow just barely miss is interrupted when Rainbow Dash unches a flying kick right after feinting with her right forehoof, forcing Celestia to spring sidewards with remarkable agility, nding on their hooves to the side with an approving look. Finally, as Rainbow Dash surges forwards once again, swinging her left wing down towards Celestia, the alicorn catches the pegasus's wing and, ducking beneath it, hurls Rainbow Dash all the way across the room, swiftly catching her in their magic before she can get hurt, and lightly setting the exhausted pegasus down on the ground.

  "Well, I am suitably impressed." Celestia admits. "You made me actually dodge. Still, a deal is a deal, and I don't believe you managed to nd a strike on me."

  "Figures..." Rainbow Dash compins, in between panting breaths. "Nopony has... Given me any... Combat lessons... Yet."

  Celestia cocks their head to the side, appraising the young pegasus. "You wish to learn how to fight already? Hrm. I was pnning to wait until you were older but, if you are so eager, perhaps we can see about starting lessons." Celestia gives the pegasus a pointed look. "After you finish your existing work. If we are to begin combat training, I will be certain it won't impede your civil csses first."

  Rainbow Dash bolts up eagerly. "Really? You mean it? When can we start?" Seemingly the pegasus had not heard anything past 'starting lessons'. Celestia holds up a hoof, patiently.

  "We may start once you have completed your schoolwork. Today, if you are able to manage it by then. But only once I am satisfied that you understand it." Celestia instructs, firmly.

  Rainbow Dash wilts, gncing back at the worksheet. "Might as well be a year from now, then..." Rainbow Dash mumbles. The pegasid's stupor is interrupted by the feeling of a wing draped over her, and she looks up in surprise to see that Celestia has sat down next to her, smiling encouragingly.

  "I believe that, given proper motivation and guidance, you may surprise yourself. From what I have seen, you possess a remarkably detailed memory, you just ck focus. Allow me to see if I may remedy that." Celestia delicately brushes Rainbow Dash's hooves from the mostly empty worksheet, revealing the various doodles and scribbles which had filled the margins.

  Other than a smirk of amusement, Celestia resists reacting to the haphazard 'artwork', and focuses only on the pegasid's unfinished work. "And if you ever need help focusing when I am not around, I am sure Twilight would be eager to assist. But, since I can see that you are struggling, I shall see about giving you more tutoring time. Now, if you look at this problem here..."