“Hello! I’m Sundew, from the Cloudsdale Flight Academy," the pink pegasus mare on Rainbow's doorstep said with a wide smile. "Are you Ms. Rainbow Dash?"

"Yeah?"

Sundew straightened her gray suit jacket. "I was wondering, when would be a good time to schedule your make-up classes?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Is this something Rarity signed me up for?”

“No, this is to get your diploma from the Cloudsdale Flight Academy.”

“Oh. No thanks.” Rainbow started to close the door, but Sundew’s hoof was in the way.

“Ms. Dash, every pegasus needs a flight school diploma.” She frowned.

Rainbow smirked. “I’m in the Wonderbolt Reserves, I have a throne in a castle, and I’ve done three sonic rainbooms.”

Sundew nodded. “But… you don’t have a diploma.”

“Yeah, and I don’t need a diploma.”

“It’s an attractive document, you know. It’s suitable for framing and looks very impressive hanging on the wall.” She wiggled her eyebrows with a smirk that made Rainbow wonder if she was hitting on her.

“That’s great and everything, but… pass.” Rainbow tried to close the door.

The pink hoof stopped it again. “It is great, though. You admitted it. And, well, I suppose it’s possible that we could wave the remaining requirements. We wouldn’t want you to miss out because of a technicality…”

“I dropped out,” Rainbow pointed out.

“Technically you dropped out,” Sundew admitted. “But you clearly continued your flight training!”

“Sure!” Rainbow nodded. “But… not at flight school. Which is where you get a diploma.”

“As I said, a technicality.” She waved her hoof, then pulled out a piece of paper. “All you have to do is fill out your application for graduation and we’ll send you your diploma!”

“But… I don’t need one. I’d only be taking it ‘cause you’re throwing it at me.” Rainbow gestured at the form.

“We are not throwing it at you!” Sundew stood straight and tall. “It’s a very important achievement, one you’ve more than earned!”

Rainbow fixed her with a flat look. “I. Dropped. Out.”

“Technically.”

“Yeah, I technically dropped out.” Rainbow nodded, crossing her forelegs. “And I technically trained myself, and now I’m technically in the Wonderbolt Reserves. So, technically, a flight school diploma isn’t that important.”

They stared at each other for a long moment before Sundew deflated.

“Okay, fine. It’s not that important. Just fill out the form, and we’ll send you one.”

“Fine.” Rainbow nodded and reached for the form, then she stopped and looked at Sundew. “Wait, why?”

“It’s not a very long form,” Sundew said. “In fact, you can just sign here.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Why do you want to give me a diploma?!”

“We don’t want to give you a diploma, Ms. Dash. We feel you’ve earned a diploma. You’re one of the best flyers in Equestria. Surely at least some of that was aided by our expert trainers, and you’re going to apply whatever that was to your future endeavors. Please just sign the paper!” Sundew begged.

“But—”

“You can keep the pen!” she added.

“WHY?” Rainbow shouted, waving her hooves for emphasis.

Sundew frowned and sighed. “Our brochures say that since our founding, every Wonderbolt has graduated from Cloudsdale Flight Academy. When you become a Wonderbolt, our brochures will be technically incorrect.”

Rainbow blinked. “So? Change the brochure!”

“Do you know what that entails, Ms. Dash?” Sundew raised an eyebrow. “We can’t simply change the brochure. There will be… a committee. A committee with ideas...” She shuddered.

“And… meetings. Content meetings, budget meetings, layout meetings… hours and hours of meetings.” Her face grew haunted. “Then somepony will have to approve it! They’ll be held responsible for whatever the committee changed or didn’t change! Teachers will complain that their classes weren’t represented, students will complain that their associations weren’t represented, and if there’s a grammatical error… Celestia have mercy.” She looked to Rainbow, her eyes wide. “You seem like a kind, decent pony. You wouldn’t wish that on us, would you, Ms Dash?”

Rainbow blinked. “Uh… I guess not.”

“So, you’ll let us give you a diploma?” Sundew asked.

“Sure...” Rainbow said slowly. “If it’s that big a deal.”

“Thank you!” she said, thrusting the application into Rainbow hooves.

“No problem.” Rainbow took up the pen and signed it, then handed it back. “Here you go.”

Sundew tucked the paper away, straightened her jacket, and dusted herself off. Finally she nodded to Dash.

“Congratulations on your academic achievement.”

Then she turned and flew away.