Silver_lining 
"[@shitsandgiggles":](/1698153#comment_7025736
[bq="shitsandgiggles"]) "
> [@Silver_lining":](/1698153#comment_7025394
)
> Starlight, Trixie, Sunset and Fizzlepop Berrytwist did way worse[/bq]
Doesn't excuse Lightning's callousness about the situation.
"
[@Badumsquish":](/1698153#comment_7025811
[bq="Badumsquish"]) "
> [@shitsandgiggles":](/1698153#comment_7025736
)
> She doesn't even need a redemption I don't think, like"[@genervt":](/1698153#comment_7025437) said her actions were entirely circumstantial. Her wanting to push herself and "be the best" was only wrong due to very specific occurrences and some honest wrongdoing by Spitfire (Allowed and encouraged it), Rainbow Dash (Went along with it), and Dash's friends (Don't enter a military training zone during a live exercise). She just needs a better environment :D [/bq]
If a soldier nearly shot you or blew you up during a training exercise, especially with non-standard weapons and tactics, even if by accident, regardless of the legality of your presence there, and then shrugged it off, how would you feel? No matter the circumstances, a soldier charged as a protector should be expected to value innocent lives, particularly those of the people they are charged to protect. The whole tornado mess is the equivalent of clearing rubble or demolishing a building using military-grade weaponry, then shrugging when non-authorized personnel close to the blast zone nearly get killed.
I won't deny the faults of the other characters in the situation (save for RD whose fault here is "trying to follow orders", with reluctance no less), but wanting to push yourself and "be the best" doesn't excuse blatant disregard for civilian life. Let's say Lightning destroyed a family's house using her tornado method; would she just shrug it off like she did for RD's friends? Or how about if some ponies under her watch were in trouble, even if due to their own stupidity or recklessness? Does a charged protector have the right to just shrug it off then? How long before Lightning endangered her own comrades with the same callousness? Granted, Lightning's personality flaws obviously go back before Spitfire's negligent leadership. I suspect Lightning's_*parents_* screwed up there, perhaps by setting a bad example for their daughter.
And I don't think Rainbow Dash carries a lot of fault here; she opposed Lightning being the lead (even if it was out of pride moreso than concern for safety, this_*is_* RD we're talking about after all) and was told by Spitfire that Lightning was better suited for the lead position, essentially being told to follow Lightning's lead. RD was trying to follow orders, the tornado was ultimately Lightning's call given the team arrangement (had RD protested, she would have been accused of opposing Lightning out of ego thanks to her talk with Spitfire), and when Lightning callously dismissed the danger to her friends, RD's indignation was justified, and served as a lesson in responsibility.
The reason Lightning got kicked from the Bolts isn't because of the tornado mess itself but the blatant disregard she showed for potential casualties after the fact. Lightning should have shown stern concern for RD's friends and verbally reprimanded them for endangering themselves, showing repect for rules and an underlying desire to keep them safe. Had Lightning showed concern for RD's friends, RD and Spitfire might have been more sympathetic to her and she might have been allowed to stay on the force, albeit incurring disciplinary action.
In short: Spitfire was an irresponsible leader who should have established boundaries for Lightning in the first place and who should have immediately opposed the tornado idea when RD brought it up to her, RD's friends should have cleared their arrival with Spitfire first to ensure there were no incidents or false alarms (say, in the event they happened to be spies from an enemy nation), and Lightning was inexcusably callous about the danger her actions posed towards civilians.
This all said, I do feel a twinge of sympathy for Lightning here, and if they could have her show genuine concern for others in her next appearance, I would accept her joining RD on the Bolts.
[bq="shitsandgiggles"]
> [@Silver_lining
> Starlight, Trixie, Sunset and Fizzlepop Berrytwist did way worse
Doesn't excuse Lightning's callousness about the situation.
"
[@Badumsquish
[bq="Badumsquish"]
> [@shitsandgiggles
> She doesn't even need a redemption I don't think, like
If a soldier nearly shot you or blew you up during a training exercise, especially with non-standard weapons and tactics, even if by accident, regardless of the legality of your presence there, and then shrugged it off, how would you feel? No matter the circumstances, a soldier charged as a protector should be expected to value innocent lives, particularly those of the people they are charged to protect. The whole tornado mess is the equivalent of clearing rubble or demolishing a building using military-grade weaponry, then shrugging when non-authorized personnel close to the blast zone nearly get killed.
I won't deny the faults of the other characters in the situation (save for RD whose fault here is "trying to follow orders", with reluctance no less), but wanting to push yourself and "be the best" doesn't excuse blatant disregard for civilian life. Let's say Lightning destroyed a family's house using her tornado method; would she just shrug it off like she did for RD's friends? Or how about if some ponies under her watch were in trouble, even if due to their own stupidity or recklessness? Does a charged protector have the right to just shrug it off then? How long before Lightning endangered her own comrades with the same callousness? Granted, Lightning's personality flaws obviously go back before Spitfire's negligent leadership. I suspect Lightning's
And I don't think Rainbow Dash carries a lot of fault here; she opposed Lightning being the lead (even if it was out of pride moreso than concern for safety, this
The reason Lightning got kicked from the Bolts isn't because of the tornado mess itself but the blatant disregard she showed for potential casualties after the fact. Lightning should have shown stern concern for RD's friends and verbally reprimanded them for endangering themselves, showing repect for rules and an underlying desire to keep them safe. Had Lightning showed concern for RD's friends, RD and Spitfire might have been more sympathetic to her and she might have been allowed to stay on the force, albeit incurring disciplinary action.
In short: Spitfire was an irresponsible leader who should have established boundaries for Lightning in the first place and who should have immediately opposed the tornado idea when RD brought it up to her, RD's friends should have cleared their arrival with Spitfire first to ensure there were no incidents or false alarms (say, in the event they happened to be spies from an enemy nation), and Lightning was inexcusably callous about the danger her actions posed towards civilians.
This all said, I do feel a twinge of sympathy for Lightning here, and if they could have her show genuine concern for others in her next appearance, I would accept her joining RD on the Bolts.