Wings of Hope

Star took a seat in one of the middle rows in the lecture hall. She looked around as the rest of her division came in, and found their own spots. Many of them had small bandages and medical patches on them.

"At least I wasn't the only one." She said to herself.

Quinn took the seat next to her, and they began waiting for the general Hills to enter the room. Most of the ponies carried on with chitchat but soon it became awfully quite. Star looked at the clock on the wall that read that class had began five minutes ago. Suddenly, and without warning, the colt bursted through the door with a thunderous sound.

"Afternoon! Heart's division right?" He said looking them in the eye.

Star was taking back at this pony's appearance. For a general he really didn't have the clean cut look of one. His mane was all frizzy and he had a wild look in his eye. The room full of ponies didn't responded.

"Typical that you youngsters don't answer my first question." Hills said walking back and forth. "So Hearts division is a bunch of quite and shy ones eh? Well thats what happens when you haven't been around as long as I have. He may be a smart young officer, but I got something that young gun doesn't have. Does anypony know what that is?" Hills asked looking for an answer.

There was no response.

"Experience! Experience is the key." Hills said sliding into the chair that sat behind a big wooden desk. "Now I know what you are all thinking. Experience? What does this have to do with anything? I tell you what it has to do with this class and its everything."

"This colt is out of it." Quinn whispered.

Star sat in confusion at the words that came from the colt's mouth. "I think all that 'experience' has gone to his head."

The colt rambled on about a few things before taking a deep breath. "Sorry about that. Where on earth are my manners. My name is 'General Author Hills'. This class is about the 'Dangers in the sky and How to deal with them'. So lets get started shall we?. We shall start with threat levels based of the academy." He said writing something down. "When flying we may come across several different kinds of species. Some are nice and others are not so nice. We here at the academy have a colored scale to represent natural threat levels. Blue being the smallest and red being the most dangerous. Can anypony tell me what creature would be involved with a red code alert?"

Several ponies raised their hooves to answer.

"Put you're hooves down this isn't kindergarden!" Hills snapped scaring all them. "You're in the military and are future soldiers. Shout when you're in my class got it? Now again, can anypony tell me what creatures are involved with a red code alert?"

"Dragons sir!" Several shouted.

Hills jumped from his seat and pointed to one of the ponies who answered."Thank you, yes the dragon. Now can anypony give me a brief description of said dragon."

Star noticed Quinn lifting her head up. "They are large reptiles that have scales. Also they have wings which baffles most cause many of them can fly even though their body type would suggest differently. They also breath fire when engaging in combat. Sir!" Quinn said.

"Good job number um." He went over to his sheet lying on the desk.

"2390, Sir." Quinn said.

"Yeah good job number 2..... whatever the rest was. You are certainly right. They are indeed a fearsome creature to behold. With the fire, and the teeth. Many of times when a dragon comes to Equestria, we here at the academy send the strongest of ponies to deal with it. That reminds of something that happen to me a good while ago." Hills said.

"Here we go." Quinn whispered.

"Students, I came across a dragon durning my final days of being a trainee here. Me and my squad were sent out to investigate disappearances in the northern mountains not far from here. Turns out that the cause of it was a terrifying dragon." He said making a show of his words. "It was the size of a mega cloud, maybe even bigger. It breathed fire that filled the sky with smoke, almost like a tidal wave hitting against the shore. Though I was acting brave believe me I was scared out of my mind. I will not tell you that I fought the thing for I am afraid that I was still young, and was still 'stupid' as they say. If it wasnt for my superiors I would have been a deadcolt."

The stern soldiers in the room quickly became ten years younger. They seem so fascinated with his story, and they began shouting questions.

"Who long did it take to bring it down?"

"Was it like the stories said they were?"

"Can you tell how big it actually was or how old?

"Who were you're superiors and how did they defeat it?" One pony shouted above the others.

"Ah, now thats something to really talk about. You see these days all the greats are now like me, old. There was a time where all you're teachers and officers were once just like you. In a division and had no clue what their futures would hold. Some had it and others faded away. I had the pleasure of serving under some of the greatest flyers in pegasus history." Hills stopped for a moment. " Including general Laz though he was officer at the time, and of course the 'Wonderbolts'." He said almost bragging.

The room erupted with excitement, which was followed by many others shouting questions.

"How did you're squad survive against dragon?" A pony asked.

Hills looked up slowly. "Sadly I have to say that not everypony did survive. Two in fact I still can clearly remembered saving us all before...."

"Before what?" a mare asked.

Hills looked at her. "The two saved us and sadly could not return."

Star froze up at these words. Her heart began beating furiously and soon her body began shaking.

"Hey Star? You feeling alright?" Quinn whispered.

"Dragon.........two." Star said with her mouth barely moving.

"Star?" Quinn asked out loud.

"Um is something wrong number...." Hills went back to his desk. "Number 2....?"

She was taken back to a moment that she tried for years to block out.

"The end." Her grandmother said closing the book. "So what did you think of the story?"

Star yawned. "It was good, but it was sad how the duck couldn't find his way home."

"But he did in the end." Her grandmother said.

"Yeah, but he had to go through a lot just to get back." Star said sleepily.

"Ha, told you. She's just like her mother, always having to look at all the hardships which spoils the ending." Her grandfather laughed.

"I can't deny that." He grandmother said. "Say its getting late isn't Star?" She asked.

"Nah, I am not tired yet." Star said almost falling asleep right then and there. "I can stay up for a little bit longer."

"That makes one of us." Her grandmother said smiling.

Just as she was about to say something a sudden knock came at their door jolting Star awake. Her grandfather open the door, and quickly became silent. Star could tell something was wrong.

"Honey take Star upstairs right now." He said.

"Carl is something wrong?" She asked.

"Just do it honey." He said calmly.

"Come on Star, lets go tuck you into bed." Her grandmother said as she caught a sight of who was at the door.

She quickly took the small pegasus to her room, and placed her into the bed. Tucking the blanket in she kissed her on the forehead.

"Be right back with you're water." She said leaving the room.

Star listen closely to the outside noise that came from the living room. It was silent at first but soon she heard voices murmuring then followed by the sound of somepony crying.

"Grandma?" Star said getting up.

She quickly went to her door and was now at the head of the stairs overlooking the living room. Something inside of her told her to stay there and just listen. Her grandmother was on the couch crying with her grandfather holding her. Despite his composure, Star could see that he was also in deep grief. The thing that caught her eyes were the two pegasus guards sitting in the chairs across from them.

"We are so sorry to have to tell you this." The one on the right said.

"Is that it? Is that you all you have to say?" He grandmother said angrily while continuing crying.

"We are sorry for you're loss ma'am, but I don't know what else to say. They were close friends to us and we feel sadden by this tragic event." The right one said.

"Why? How could you allow something like this to happen?" Her grandmother said shaking.

"We couldn't have stopped the situation ma'am, it was out of our hooves." The left one said.

"I can't believe my baby is gone." She said breaking down.

"Grandma is something wrong?" Star asked.

All for ponies turned to looked at the small pegasus who had stood at the head of the stairs. Her grandfather quickly came up and swooped her up in his hooves.

"Star you should be in bed sweetie." He said weakly.

"Is grandma okay?" She asked.

"No, but don't worry she'll be fine." He said.

"Are you okay grandpa?" Star asked.

Her grandfather placed her on the bed and tucked her in. "I'll be fine, now I need you to go asleep."

"But I am confused why were those two ponies here, and why was grandma crying?" Star asked.

She looked up at her grandfather who had tears coming from his eyes. "I'll explain it to later now good night."

"Good night grandpa, and I hope you figure out how to fix whatever it is thats wrong." Star said.

He stopped for a second and smiled. "I hope so too."

"Hello? Is something wrong ?" Hills asked.

Star stared wide eyed into the air not saying a word.

"Solider please responded!" Hills said walking over to her. "Dear heavens you're sweating like a work mule."

"Star come on, snap out of it." Quinn said shaking her friend.

"Dragon....." Star said trembling.

Hills stooped down beside her to examine her tag.

"2404 huh?" He said taking a sheet from his pocket. Gazing over it he stopped once his eyes saw her name. "Star Wonder." He read to himself.

The whole room turned to her at the mention of her name for Hills said it very quietly.

Star looked at him. "What?"

"You're Star...." Hills he stopped when he noticed the room's attention was on her.

Star looked as the rest of the class was now staring at her, ready for her to responded. "Sorry sir and yes my name is Star Wonder." She said as soft as she could say.

Hills mouth hung open for a second before pulling himself back together. "There isn't a chance that you are related too...."

"Yes sir they were my parents." Star said quickly hoping that nopony else could hear.

"Wow, I mean......I am sorry for telling that story." Hills said.

"No it's alright you didn't know." Star said trying to get the general to move on.

"Um...right back to the lesson. Now class other threats that are included in the skies go far beyond animals and ponies." Hills said walking away.

"Hey Star you all right?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah I'll be fine." Star said calming her nerves.

Hills went on with his lesson without anymore stories or interruptions. Star noticed that he kept glancing over in her direction from time to time. Every time he had a worried look on his face that showed that he wanted to say something to her. Finally the hour slowly passed, and Hills dismissed them. Before Star could move out of her seat she was approached by Him.

"Um Star? May I have a few words with you before you leave?" He asked.

Star looked at Quinn. "See you in the next class." Quinn said walking out of the room.

Soon it was just the two pegasus sitting in silence.

"Star, I would like to apologize for bringing that story up. It must have been very upsetting for you to hear it again." Hills said rubbing the back on his head. "I apologize a thousand times over."

Star sighed. "It's alright sir you couldn't possible have known that I was even here or who I was. But tell me one thing, did you actually serve with my parents?"

Hills smiled. "Indeed I did, though I was a rookie and wasn't close to them like the others. I was actually under the mentorship of you're father. He saved me from dropping out several times." Hills stopped for a second. "He always said that I was going to be a teacher of or something like that" Hills chuckled. "I am getting off subject again. I once again apologize for reminding you of that unpleasantness. In the future I'll be careful when talking about certain parts of my life. I hope you feel better after this. " He said. "Just remember, even when it rains theres a rainbow."

Star smiled for she knew that phrase well "Yes sir, there is." she said.

"Well I hope that I didn't ruin you day." He said getting his things together.

"No sir you didn't." She said almost bolting out of there.

Down the hall Quinn stood waiting for her. "So what did he say?"

"Not much he just apologize and that was it." Star shrugged.

"Oh, I would have thought that he would have broken down and start crying." Quinn said. "He seemed like he was going to pass out once he saw your name."

"Nah, but he seemed to be very sensere about it, anyway we should head to the next class." Star said.

The week went slowly by as Star went through her classes. Each on gave her some important details about the art of flying, while others seemed a tad bit waste of time. Hills's 'class' was a joke for all the stories about him came out to be true. He went on and on about things that had nothing to do with the subject. Besides that, all her other instructors seemed to be very bright and willing to teach. Another thing that she was glad that happen was her friendship with Quinn. When she first arrived at the academy she felt alone and socially isolated. Now that she had a somepony to call a friend, made it all seem easier to go throughout the day. Her wings still felt numb but she was glad for she rather feel nothing than feel anything like the pain she felt that night. As the day of rest came all the ponies relax and the whole academy became still. She was glad that each week they would switch off between flying and lessons. Then it accored to her that since she couldn't fly what was she going to do? Just sit with there while everpony else flies? Maybe not, but now she had to sit with her office while others went off to fly was now become her new nightmare. The only thing she was worried about was how awkward it was going to be just sitting there. Soon monday came, and it was time for the flying training to take over the campus. Star meet at the spot where her squad meet, awaiting they're commander.

"Attention!" Iron Heart shouted from behind.

All the ponies instantly stood at attention and saluted.

"At ease." Their officer said walking in front of them.

"Today, since the weather looks promising we are going to do basic flight patterns. As a warm up you will give me a lap around the academy grounds. All of it, no cutting corners. NOW GO!" He shouted.

All them at once took off causing a jumbled mess. Eventually they figured it out and took off to carry out the tiring task.

"2404! Condition of injury?" He asked.

"Doctor said left wing is healing faster than right Sir! Should get feeling into them by next week Sir!" She shouted.

"At ease, no need to talk to me like that when no other pony is around." Iron Heart said in his normal tone. "Feeling back in them by next week huh? You think you'll be ready for the first trail test?"

Star looked down. "I don't know if I will be."

Heart smiled. "I am sure you'll be back and flying in no time."

"I know sir it's just that I know how important that test is, and I know I can't afford to fail it." She said. "Anyway what will you have me do?"

"Excuse me? Have you do what?" Heart asked.

"What will you have me do since I can't fly with the others?" Star asked. "I am not going to just sit here am I?"

Heart looked around. "Well that was kind of the plan actually. Theres not much a wingless pegasus can do in flight training. Just focus on relaxing and all the lessons you'll already learned."

Star looked to her sides so that she could see the bandages that held her wings. "Yes sir."

"Good, now how are all you're classes and instructors doing?" He asked casually.

"There all good I supposes except for general Hills class." She said.

Heart let out a laugh. "I am glad I don't have to sit and listen to him anymore. As much of nice pony he may be, he needs to learn when to stop talking about himself."

"Yeah." Star said growing quite.

The two of them soon just sat there in an awkward silence untill Star thought of something to talk about.

"Hey Sir. I had a question. Not that I am judging but how come you are so much younger than all the other officers? I mean you're probably three years older than me but still."

Heart smiled. "I guess that I just had an act for flying since I was born. My father was also a military colt and he took me to the youngsters squads and I surpassed all they're expectations. Then I trained really hard, and they let me in the academy. Mind you I was seven years younger then. I tell you what though, them letting me in at the age was unheard of. Many ponies threw a fit about me being 'unable' to keep up the physical toll that was to come. But I showed them all wrong didn't I? Once I became a official solider I just worked up the latter and two years ago they made me an officer. Pretty spectacular if you ask me"

"And you said Hills talked about himself highly." Star smirked.

"Hey now you asked, he doesn't care if you do." He said.

Heart looked off into the distance as some of the pegasus came into view.

"He cheated, she cheated, those two did to." He said pointing at some in the crowd.

"How can you tell?" Star asked staring intently.

"My eyes have seen nearly a thousand flyers fly that course and I can tell how tired they would be. Just another little thing you come to learn. Once they get back I'll run a few more basic training exercises, then call it a day. Besisde you must be tired from all that work you did out there." He said with sarcasm lacing his words.

"Ha-ha, once I get these things off and heal I'll bet you I can out race you." Star said.

"Bold words, I might just hold you up on that." He said.

The first of the ponies landed in front of them.

"Now back to work." He said to himself.