History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy

* [[spoiler:AbsenteeActor: This is the first episode of season 3 where all of the Mane Six appear, but Spike does not.]]

** [[spoiler:Debatably an aversion. At no point does Lightning Dust indicate she strives to best Rainbow Dash; likewise, Rainbow Dash doesn't strive to be better than Lightning Dash herself, but rather to prove to Spitfire that she's just as much a leader as Lightning Dust.]]

* {{Jossed}}: [[spoiler:We see Spitfire's cutie mark (a surprisingly complex-looking flame resembling a phoenix) for the first time in this episode, which overrides both the Enterplay trading card's depiction of her cutie mark as being identical to her Wonderbolts insignia, as well as the {{fanon}} concept of it being a flaming lightning bolt.]]

* [[spoiler:LaserGuidedKarma: Lightning Dust's attempts at pushing herself, which earn her rank as team leader, eventually cost her that rank.]]

* [[spoiler:NoKillLikeOverkill: Lightning Dust, despite already having a massive lead at the cloud-clearing exercise, attempts to best the others even more by causing a twister to eliminate the remaining clouds.]]

* [[spoiler:DeathGlare: Lightning Dust's entire class does this at her LackOfEmpathy at the tornado disaster, indicating her ZeroPercentApprovalRating.]]

* [[spoiler:OffscreenInertia: Early on, we see Pinkie Pie checking the mailbox every few seconds. We cut back to her later, still doing it...''three days later'' and showing the starting stages of a MadnessMakeover. Her friends are, naturally, concerned.]]

* [[spoiler:TenMinuteRetirement: Not even ''two'' minutes since it happens right before the episode's end, but Rainbow Dash quits the academy--and her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt--when she feels Lightning Dust's reckless behavior is being tolerated too much. When Spitfire rectifies this by punishing Lightning Dust and letting Rainbow Dash stay, Rainbow Dash is more than happy to come back.]]

* [[spoiler:KarmaHoudini: Though using the tornado is Lightning Dust's idea, Rainbow Dash still willingly helps her make it because she thinks it'll impress Spitfire. And while Rainbow Dash does prevent ponies from getting hurt or killed by the twister, Lightning Dust still gets all of the blame.]]
** [[spoiler: On the other hand, it also nearly killed her friends. Considering how much they mean to her, it's kind of like karma already bit her. Lightning Dust, on the other hand, shows no empathy nor care for her actions, while Rainbow Dash most assuredly regrets her own. ]]

* [[spoiler:InsaneTrollLogic: Twice by Pinkie, who assumes the most contrived worst-case scenarios if events don't unfold exactly to her original intent.]]

* [[spoiler:[[CurbstompBattle Curbstomp Competition]]: Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash dominate the cloud-clearing exercise. Before the twister destroys the scoreboard, they had a recorded score of 70; the next highest score was 20.]]

* [[spoiler:BreakTheHaughty: The smug Lightning Dust is quite visibly heartbroken after Spitfire strips her of her team leader badge.]]
** [[spoiler:Also Rainbow Dash spends the first half of the episode bluntly overconfident of her abilities, until she is placed as Wing Pony to Lightning Dust. When she complains to Spitfire, she is very quickly put in her place.]]
* [[spoiler:BrokenPedestal: Spitfire and the Wonderbolts overall for Rainbow Dash, on account of them approving of Lightning Dust's recklessness. [[TenMinuteRetirement It doesn't last long]], as Spitfire chases after her to give the response that Rainbow Dash didn't stick around for.]]
* [[spoiler:CallBack: Rainbow Dash's repeating "[[{{Squee}} Omigosh!]]" line from "Sonic Rainboom".]]
** [[spoiler: It takes a while, but in the end [[FanNickname Snowflake]] lets out another "YEAH!"]]

* [[spoiler:EvilCounterpart: Lighting Dust is basically Dash, but with an even bigger ego and no concept of loyalty.]]

* [[spoiler:LackOfEmpathy: Lightning Dust doesn't care at all that she nearly killed five bystanders, which is the last straw for Rainbow.]]

* [[spoiler:TheLeader: Rainbow Dash is deemed a Type II variety by Spitfire at the end of the episode.]]

* [[spoiler:[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone My Celestia, What Have I Done?]]: Rainbow Dash's expression briefly expresses this after she drops out of the Academy.]]
* [[spoiler:NeverSayDie: Rainbow Dash says her friends could have been "smashed to pieces", "taken out" and "demolished" by the twister.]]

* [[spoiler:OffscreenInertia: Early on, we see Pinkie Pie checking the mailbox every few seconds. We cut back to her later, still doing it... ''three days later'' and showing the starting stages of a MadnessMakeover. Her friends are, naturally, concerned.]]
* [[spoiler:TheOtherDarrin: Spitfire was voiced by Maryke Hendrikse in Season 1 (E16,26), and either Maryke or Ashleigh Ball in Season 2 (episode 22), but in this episode, she is voiced by Kelly Metzger, sounding a bit higher.]]

* [[spoiler:RecklessSidekick: {{Inverted|Trope}}; Rainbow Dash is assigned to be the wingpony of the reckless one.]]

* [[spoiler:SecondPlaceIsForLosers: Rainbow Dash considers ending up the wingpony to Lightning Dust this. This is also Lightning Dust's philosophy. She's willing to come in first place even if it means sabotaging the other competitors to get it, regardless of whether she's ahead or not (or if it even matters). [[InsigniaRipOffRitual This costs her dearly in the end]].]]

* [[spoiler:StatusQuoIsGod: Subverted: Rainbow Dash prepares to quit the Academy and return to her friends. At the very last minute, Spitfire keeps Rainbow Dash from leaving and makes her Team Leader for her class -- meaning that RD as a Wonderbolt cadet is here to stay!]]

* [[spoiler:WhatTheHellHero: A minor example, but after quitting the academy, Rainbow Dash is stopped by Spitfire, who proceeds to call her out on storming out of her office and not giving her a chance to respond.]]

* YellowLightningBlueLightning: Lightning Dust's colour scheme, having light blue fur with a yellow mane. The motion trail she leaves behind reflects this, even having a yellow, zigzagging distortion reminiscent of a lightning bolt.

* CoolShades: Spitfire and her staff don these [[spoiler:for most of the episode]].

* FriendlyRival: [[spoiler:Lightning Dust]] becomes one to Rainbow Dash, [[spoiler:at least before she starts blowing everyone else off and nearly kills Dash's friends.]]

* YellowLightningBlueLightning: [[spoiler:Lightning Dust]]'s colour scheme, having light blue fur with a yellow mane. The motion trail she leaves behind reflects this, even having a yellow, zigzagging distortion reminiscent of a lightning bolt.

Clips from this episode can be seen in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyf2RsYu_H8 these]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vONPbjUjc-A two]] [[Creator/TheHub Hub]] promos, and a background for this episode can be seen [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8dmp6mFrgwo/UF1kROEiReI/AAAAAAAA5fQ/-b4IINsM-VQ/s1600/wonderbolt_academy_flying_field.jpg here]].

* [[spoiler:TheCameo: Some of the pegasi from "Hurricane Fluttershy" make an appearance, including Cloudchaser, Thunderlane and [[FanNickname Snowflake]].]]
* [[spoiler:CharacterizationMarchesOn: [[DrillSergeantNasty The Spitfire in this episode]] is a far cry from the laid-back and friendly pegasus she was [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom in]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E26TheBestNightEver previous]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E22HurricaneFluttershy episodes]]. Of course, she ''is'' on duty in this episode, and they ''are'' at a boot camp, so it's {{justified|Trope}}.]]

* [[spoiler:DrillSergeantNasty: Spitfire likes to scare the new recruits with this.]]

* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding: While Rainbow Dash eventually joins the Wonderbolts, Pinkie Pie is sad that Rainbow didn't open her care package.]]

* [[spoiler:NeverSayDie: Rainbow Dash says her friends could have been "smashed to pieces" and "demolished" by the twister.]]

* [[spoiler:TheCameo: Some of the pegasi from "Hurricane Fluttershy" make an appearance, including Cloudchaser and [[FanNickname Snowflake]].]]

* [[spoiler:StatusQuoisGod: Subverted: Rainbow Dash prepares to quit the Academy and return to her friends. At the very last minute, Spitfire keeps Rainbow Dash from leaving and makes her Team Leader for her class -- meaning that RD as a Wonderbolt cadet is here to stay!]]

** Also Rainbow Dash spends the first half of the episode bluntly overconfident of her abilities, until she is placed as Wing Pony to Lightning Dust. When she complains to Spitfire, she is very quickly put in her place.

** [[spoiler: It takes a while, but in the end [[FanNickname Roid Rage]] lets out another "YEAH!"]]
* [[spoiler:TheCameo: Some of the pegasi from "Hurricane Fluttershy" make an appearance, including Cloudchaser and [[FanNickname Roid Rage]].]]

This episode will air on Creator/TheHub on [[http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-wonderbolt-academy/EP013304160060 December 15, 2012]].

* AbsenteeActor: This is the first episode of season 3 where all of the Mane Six appear, but Spike does not.

* BootCampEpisode: With the eponymous Wonderbolts Academy as said boot camp.

* [[spoiler:CoolShades: Spitfire and her staff don these for most of the episode.]]

* [[spoiler:ForgotICouldFly: Not surprisingly, Fluttershy's wings lock up in fear when Dust and Dash's twister destroys the balloon. She's rather sheepish when she remembers she has them.]]
* [[spoiler:FriendlyRival: Lightning Dust becomes one to Rainbow Dash, at least before she starts blowing everyone else off and nearly kills Dash's friends.]]
** [[spoiler:RivalsTeamUp: The two are paired together to compete in later training events.]]

* [[spoiler:InnocentBystander: The rest of the Mane Six find themselves showing up at the worst possible time to deliver their care package to Rainbow Dash as their hot-air balloon is caught in an out-of-control twister, prompting Rainbow Dash to promptly rescue them]].

* TheOtherDarrin: Spitfire was voiced by Maryke Hendrikse in Season 1 (E16,26), and either Maryke or Ashleigh Ball in Season 2 (episode 22), but in this episode, she is voiced by Kelly Metzger, sounding a bit higher.

* [[spoiler:YellowLightningBlueLightning: Lightning Dust's colour scheme, having light blue fur with a yellow mane. The motion trail she leaves behind reflects this, even having a yellow, zigzagging distortion reminiscent of a lightning bolt.]]

* [[spoiler:StatusQuoisGod: Rainbow Dash quits the Academy and returns to her friends. Averted at the very last minute (literally) when Spitfire keeps Rainbow Dash from leaving and makes her Team Leader for her class -- meaning that RD as a Wonderbolt cadet is here to stay!]]

* TheOtherDarrin: [[spoiler:Spitfire was voiced by Maryke Hendrikse in Season 1 (E16,26), and either Maryke or Ashleigh Ball in Season 2 (episode 22), but in this episode, she is voiced by Kelly Metzger, sounding a bit higher.]]
* [[spoiler:PowerIncontinence: Lightning Dust is capable of making a twister with ease, but actually ''controlling'' it is beyond her skill.]]

* [[spoiler:SecondPlaceIsForLosers: That's Lightning Dust's philosophy. She's willing to come in first place even if it means sabotaging the other competitors to get it, regardless of whether she's ahead or not. [[InsigniaRipOffRitual This costs her dearly in the end]].]]

* AnAesop: [[spoiler:It's fine to push yourself just as long as you don't neglect your friends]].

* BootCampEpisode