The room was very warm for this time of year and the atmosphere was very oppressive. Glancing over the wall was a small window. Spitfire wished she could stroll over and open it up but she knew she couldn't so she let her vision return to the center of the room. A long table stretched out before her on which were mugs of coffee and orderly paper work. The six ponies shuffled through the paper work only taking a break to whisper to each other and to take sips from their mugs.
Spitfire felt as though time was at a standstill and although she was accustomed to standing at attention for long periods of time her legs were starting to get that pins and needles feeling. Her wings were no better but instead of tingling they just felt heavy. But, the weight of her wings was nothing compared the the weight of her heart.
Standing just a few feet from her was another mare. Unlike Spitfire she was far from composed. She too was standing at attention but her head hung low and tears rimmed her eyes.
She wanted so bad to embrace the younger mare; to gently stroke her back and say that everything was going to be OK. She sighed, that was what had got her in this mess in the first place. She glanced to her left to look at the other pony in the room other than the military personal board. He was a stoic individual with a cinnamon coat and a brown graying mane. Although he was a bit older than her he had a fire in his eyes like some colt who just learned what if felt like to win. There was something about this stallion. She couldn't place her hoof on it but he felt...shady. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a pony clearing their throat.
"We the board of military personal have come to a decision. Spitfire given your excellent record we cannot give you a dishonorable discharge based on your first breach of military code. However, a officer becoming romantically involved with an enlisted pony is a grievous misconduct. So we are going to give you a choice. You can ether continue with your relationship and receive a dishonorable discharge or you can agree to never see this pony again and spend the rest of your commissioned contract flying with the Wonderbolts. The choice is yours to make." said the Chief of Airforce Personal.
Spitfire thought for a moment and then turned to look at the pony standing beside her. The young mare was still looking at the floor. Her breathing was slow but steady. She could help but notice that the floor was damp. Had the mares tears done that she wondered. A question formed in her mind and she had to know the answer. "Honored Pony's I thank you for your time and I now ask for your patience. Before I make my decision I have to know what will happen to her?"
The Board members traded looks and then the Chief spoke again. "She will be given a dishonorable discharge and will serve out the rest of her enlistment in community service."
The mare lifted her head and look at the board. A slight smile came to her lips and she turned to Spitfire. Her tear stained cheeks looked strange against the backdrop of her hopeful eyes. "Spitz it could be worse; at least we will be together." she said in a wavering voice.
A goofy smile crossed Spitfire's face as a her cheeks started to go crimson. She started to speak when she was interrupted.
"Think about your future Miss Spitfire. You joined the Air Force because all you ever wanted to be was the best flyer in the world. You wanted the honor and the glory. The Wonderbolts can give you that but if you choose this fillyfooler you won't have any of that. You will be a joke and a nopony. Do you want to disappear into obscurity?" said the Cinnamon Stallion.
She felt her world spin out of control. If she chose her marefriend it could be a great adventure; on the other hoof if she chose the Wonderbolts she would be the envy of every pegasi ever born. She would be the dream every foal desired. She would be awesome.
"Glitterboom hand me the contract, I'll be a Wonderbolt." she said lowly.
"What was that? I don't think I heard you." cooed the cinnamon stallion.
"I'll be a Wonderbolt. So, give me the Damn Contract." shouted Spitfire.
"Watch your tone, Spitfire!" commented the Chief. Spitfire bit her lip and nodded her head in agreement.
Spitfire hastily signed the contract without even looking it over and then glanced over to the mare.
The look on her ex-marefriend was nothing short of broken. The warmth left her eyes and she seemed so hollow. Her eyes fell to the floor and she started to sob and shiver.
"Spitfire you will not regret this!" said Glitterboom with a wide smile on his face.
He walked over and took the signed contract and placed his hoove on Spitz shoulder and said "Don't worry she will get over it." as he motioned to the mare.
The two started to walk to the door and just as Spitfire walked through she heard the mare wale in misery and yell "You don't deserve me!"
She woke in a cold sweat. It had been years since she had that dream and it could only mean one thing. Something was about to change.
Spitfire had just poured a cup of coffee and was just starting to enjoy the solitude of the early morning. She played the dream over and over in her head.
"It was just a stupid dream about a stupid memory" she said to herself. But, it wasn't very convincing and it did nothing to ease the twinge of guilt that was welling up. She picked up the morning paper she had retrieved earlier and started to read the headlines. The dream was slowly starting to retreat to the recesses of her mind and thoughts of what she was going to do for the day claimed the majority of her thoughts when a knock shattered her bliss. She didn't even make it to the door when a baby blue mare burst through the door knocking spitfire off her hooves and spilling coffee on her plush red carpet. She started to pull her self up when she was stopped by something. She found that she was nose to nose with the intruding mare.
"It's awful. It really is just awful! My little sister will never win. Not like this! It just can't happen! It won't happen not if I can help it! Spitfire we gotta do something we gotta save her. We can't just let anypony..." She was cut off by a hoof pressed to her lips.
"Agh..." Gasped Spitfire. "Fleetfoot shut-up and think for a second and then tell me again what the problem is and this time make sense."
Fleetfoot sat down and tried to collect her thoughts as Spitfire went to get something to clean the coffee up with. Spitfire soon returned and just she started to clean up the mess; Fleetfoot took the towel from her and started to mop up the mess.
"Sorry Cap... You know how I get sometimes" she said which was followed by a awkward chuckle.
Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Go on."
"Well, you have heard about the featherflu outbreak in Fillydelphia?" Spitfire nodded yes.
"The Fillydelphia Amateur Flight Team got hit hard with it and they are having to let some of the alternate's alternates dress for the Equestria games." added Fleetfoot.
"I was just reading about it when you interrupted me" replied Spitfire motioning to the paper on the arm of her couch.
It was no secret that Fleetfoot couldn't really multitask very well and while talking she had stopped mopping. So Spitfire pushed Fleetfoot out of the way and took over the cleaning work.
"Thanks Spitfire, I really wanted to clean this up for you since it was my fault but I can't do that and talk too. What was I saying?"
"You were saying that the F.A.F.T was without its top talent" answered Spitfire, now feeling just a litte annoyed.
"Oh, right yea. That wouldn't be a problem but my sister Dainty Dancer's wingpony Quick Shiver is grounded and his alternate can't keep up with Dainty." said Fleetfoot just almost to rushed to understand.
"If the alternate can't keep up why hasn't Dainty said anything to her manager?" asked Spitfire.
"Well, uh... you see." rambled Fleetfoot.
"Spit it out Fleet! I hate it when you do that" said Spitfire.
Fleetfoot watched as Spitfire face started to redden with anger. "She won't say anything because she doesn't want to hurt the ponies feelings! She is such a softy." said Fleetfoot. She pulled her hooves up to her mouth hiding the embarrassment of revealing her sister secret.
"I understand that she is your sister and you want her to do her very best and she really can't because she doesn't have anypony that can keep up with her on the team but how is that my problem?" shot Spitfire.
"You said that if any of the Wonderbolts had a problem you would make it your Problem too! You are not making yourself a liar are you Spitz!" shouted Fleetfoot sounding rather huffy.
Spitfire did remember saying that countless times even going so far as to do just that but this was different and it was to early for problems on her off day. "Ok, assuming I can do something about it do you have any suggestions?
"What about one of us Wonderbolts? Any of us could make a good wingpony for her?" spouted Fleetfoot.
"The only ponies that can enter the Equestria games are amateurs. They have to be ponies who have never flown for bits. You should know Fleetfoot you have participate before." Answered Spitfire.
"I just kinda forgot" muttered Fleetfoot who now felt stupid.
"Ok, what Dainty needs is the best amateur flyer there is left and one that would make an excellent wingpony. I know it is late with the Games being a little more than a month away but I don't want my sis to lose just because her wing pony couldn't keep up. She needs a wingpony that can both keep up with her and have concern for her." Said Fleetfoot pleadingly.
Sitting back on her haunches Spitfire started to tap her temple with her hoof trying to come up with an idea that might just work. Fleetfoot opened her mouth to speak but decided that was a very bad idea given the look on Spitfires face. A few minuets passed by and Fleetfoot started to grow impatient that she started to bite her lip. That didn't work to pacify her so she started to pase. Fleetfoots movements broke Spitfire's concentration. By this time Fleetfoot had made her way to the bay windows which she promptly pulled open to reveal the rising sun. Spitfire just happen to turn just as the rays of the sun assaulted her dimly let room. She covered her eyes and fell to the floor.
"Fleetfoot I cou...." She started to say when she heard Fleetfoot say "Wow, a sunrise and a rainbow. So pretty..." Spitfire chuckled to herself. Fleetfoot and answered her own question.
"Fleet I know just the pony." announced Spitfire triumphantly. Fleetfoot turned to face Spitfire and started to prance in place but she stopped just a quickly as she had started and shot Spitfire a quizzical look.
"Who?"
"Leave it to me, Fleet!" The easy part was over she knew. Finding a pony who was just as good as Dainty Dancer was hard considering that there were very few amateur flyers of her caliber who weren't already part of a team. The next part was going to be harder and considerably more dull. There was nothing Spitfire hated more than bureaucracy.
