Wings of Hope

2 Weeks Later

"There we go." He said snipping the last few pieces off. "So how do they feel?" The doctor said putting the bandages into trash.

Opening her eyes she could see that her body was no longer mostly white. The first things she noticed was the new feeling of soreness protruding out of her back. Then the feeling of blood rushing into vains came, and soon she had feeling in her wings again. Star slowly brushed her hoof against her right wing making sure not to put to much pressure on it. It stung a little as she felt her feathers. She was just glad that she was able to feel anything in them.

"Sore." She said. "But I am sure thats going to stick around for a while huh?"

"Well you should be able to make a full recover, as long as you don't plan on crashing down into anything else." The doctor said with a chuckle.

"You don't have to worry about me ever doing that again." Star said hopping off the examining table. Without hesitation, she stretched both wings out at a snails pace. They ached greatly as she extended them to full length. A sense of triumph came over her as she stood there with her wings out finally. Then an urged suddenly came over her, making her feel antsy all over.

"Don't move to fast now, you don't want to hurt them again." The doctor said almost concerend by her sudden action.

Star floded the back in slowly. "Yes sir." she said smiling to herself. "I'll be sure to take it slow."

She walked down the stairs leading away from the medical hall and headed right to the training grounds. It was a little after four so she knew that nopony was going to be there hopefully.

"Got to get back in it." she said to herself. "Got to train every single day."

Soon she came to the empty field of clouds that rested calmly in the sky. Stretching her wings, she felt them catching the soft breeze that now joined her there.

"Here we go." She said to herself.

Instantly, she raced off into the sky and began soaring up. Her body ached, but it didn't matter to her. As long as she was flying that's all she needed. Every single thing she could think of was now with reaching distance. Rushing past the clouds, the wind in her mane,the feeling of being free were her's once again. She gazed at the ground as she glided along through the air. Living at the academy made it seem so distant but seeing it from there made it seem like a whole different world.

"It so far away." She said to herself. "Lets change that."

Without thinking she dove straight down, setting her sights for a cloud to land on. The wind currents pushed against her, slowing down her speed.

"Oh, no you don't." She said and pressed harder on.

She speed towards the cloud, and as soon as she came within a few yards of it she acted. Both of her wings came out, violently jerking her up. It hurt but she didn't mind as she came gently down into contact with the cloud. The feeling that came over her was overwhelming.

"I did it." She said out loud. "I was able to fly perfectly. Take that five weeks!" She shouted

A slow clapping sound erupted into the air following her joyful eruption. Turning around she saw Iron Heart standing in the distance by the academies walls.

"You know that you're not suppose to be flying right?" He shouted.

Star immedialty flew over to him almost at an alarming rate. "I feel fine sir." She said stumbling before him.

"That doesn't matter, you know full well that you were not to engage in any flight activity for at least another five weeks. I can't have you flying around and getting hurt again. Understand?" Heart asked.

"Yes sir." Star said with a salute.

"Good now don't let me catch you out here again until you are cleared." He said begging to walk away. "On a side note your form was good but you opened up way to late. Thats probably why your wings are killing you at the moment." He said turning back around.

Star brushed off the cloud residue that remained on her. "Nah, they feel fine actually. At least better than what I thought they would be." She said nervously

"Right." Heart said leaving Star by herself. As soon as she was sure that he was gone she gridded her teeth.

"Going to feel that in the morning." She said as both her wings ached.

1 Week Later

"Star wake up!" Quinn's voice echoed.

"Huh? What?" Star said rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"You're going to be late for air current maneuvers, now come on." Quinn said.

Star rolled out of her small bed and began preparing herself for the day.

"Come on you're taking forever." Quinn said looking at the clock.

"It takes awhile for me to achieve full perfection." Star said sarcastically while brushing her mane. "Beside its the first class in this subject, I am sure being a few minutes late won't kill us."

"Do you know who's teaching it do you?" Quinn asked on a serious note.

"No, should I?" Star asked.

"Yeah, the class is taught by 'Doc' Rolling." Quinn said hoping her friend would know.

"So what's the big deal?" Star asked.

"The big deal? The big deal is that he is one of the most strictest and most short tempered pegasus around. I heard that if you are even a minute late he makes you run laps around the academy. Frankly I don't feel like running today so lets go." Quinn said almost dragging Star with her.

The two made there way to the hall where the lecture was to be taught. The clock on the wall showed that they had a minute left before being considered late. Star and Quinn both entered the hall which to their surprise was dead silent. The rest of their devision were already sitting down and now looked at the two of them. Quinn looked over to the clock on the wall.

"We still have a minute before class starts right?" She asked Star.

"Wrong." A booming voice came from the front of the room.

Star eyes immedialty fell on the large pegasus standing in front of the class. This had to be 'Doc'. "You happen to be a solid minute and a half late."

Quinn looked in confusion. "But the clock says..."

"My clock says that one is wrong and I happen to know that the time you entered was over a minute and a half then the time I planned." Doc said very demeaning to them. "So would you care to explain why you are late?"

Star stepped forward. "Sir I would like to offer that it was...."

"I don't need to hear it actually cause it not going to change what is about to happen. Running late is strictly cheating yourselves out of valuable information. Information that will certainly come in hoofy. Now for those who are running late to my class will have to a different kind of running. You two are going to join the other member of your division who also came in late. You'll find them outside somewhere. Have fun and see you tommorow, on time." Doc said waving his hoof as if to shoo them out.

Quinn was about to protest but Star nudge her to let it go. The two walked out the door.

"I can't believe the nerve of him!" Quinn said with frustration.

"It's my fault Quinn." Star said.

"No, you're fine its just that he acted so snobby about it, he treated us like we were idiots." Quinn said. " I mean 'Those who run late will be doing a different kind of running'." She said mockingly. "Besides how is he suppose to make sure we running the whole time? I mean he's in there and we're going to be out here." Quinn said pushing the door open leading outside.

The sun hit both of them with it's bright glare.

"I guess he doesn't. So I think its safe if we just walk until the bell rings." Star said shrugging.

"I guess so." Quinn said.

They slowly started to walk around for awhile until something caught both their eyes off in the distance. From what Star could tell it was a pony running, and running pretty fast at that. This must have been the other member who Doc sent out. Within a few minutes the pegasus came into view. The pony had a light purple coat but its mane and tail is what caught both of their attentions. It was two different colors, one being yellow and the other being a light blue. It stopped just before them.

"Well hello there." Quinn said kindly. "You must be a part of Iron Hearts devision right?"

"Yeah." The pegasus said painting.

Star shook her head in disbelief, but she made sure that she didn't make it seem obvious. She didn't want to be rude but the voice didn't match the bright colors of the pony.

"You must have been sent out here too huh?" The pegasus said in between breaths.

"Yeah, we were late by a minute and a half apparently, you?" Quinn asked.

"Twenty seconds." The pony said. "By the way the name is Randall but everypony calls me by my last name 'Steps'. And you are?" He asked.

Quinn giggled.

"What?" He asked.

"It's just that 'Randall is short of a colts name." Quinn said. "Not that there anything wrong with it."

Star tried not to show that she was amused, but it was hard not to be. This confirmed what she was thinking anyway.

"Yeah its a colt's name because I am a colt." He said looking at the ground.

The look that came over Quinn face was one of horror. "Oh, I didn't mean to, I am so sorry."

"No its alright, I understand it happens more than I like to say. With my mane and my coat I get ponies confused all the time." Steps said. "You're certainly not the first and probably not the last."

"Sorry again, My name is Quinn Firelance." Quinn said blushing from her mistake.

"And you are, hey I know you. You're the pegasus who freaked out in Hills lecture awhile back right?" Steps asked Star. "You had everypony worried there for a second. Anyway I never caught your name. Started with an 'S' right?"

"Its Star." She said embarrassed that he brought that up.

"What no last name?" Steps asked.

"Prefer not to say." She said.

"Gotcha" He said stepping back. "No need to ask if you don't want to tell. Anyway I guess we should get started." He said strecthing out his hooves as if to begin running again.

"Why?" Quinn asked.

"What?" Steps asked.

"I mean we don't have to run, its not like he's out here wacthing us." Quinn said.

"Oh, I know that but I am doing it anyway." Steps said.

"You mean you actually want to run around the building pointlessly?" Star asked.

"Why not?" Steps asked. "Running is fun."

"Fun?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah I mean who dosent like it? With the wind rushing through my mane and everything zooming by." He said closing his eyes taking in his own imagery. "Running and flying are my favorite things to do." Steps said. "Thats why I made sure that I was late."

"Wait, you came in late on purpose just to get to the chance do some extra running?" Star asked.

"And flying." Steps said.

"Oh, of course can't forget flying." Star said while rolling her eyes.

"Got keep up my training you know?" He said flexing a little. "Besides I got a reputation to hold up."

"What reputation?" Star asked.

"Oh, you don't know?" Steps asked ready to explain. "Tell me what did you make on the entry exam?"

"A 3.2 on overall speed and a 2.8 on accuracy." Star said causally.

"3.5 and 3.3." Quinn said sheepishly.

"Would you like to hear what I got on mine?" Steps asked. "Overall speed 2.1, accuracy 2.2."

Star gasped a little. "Thats, thats incredible."

Quinn laughed. "Ha, there is absolutely no way you made a 2.1 in speed. You would have to train your whole life in order to get anywhere near that."

"Oh, really?" Steps asked. "See that post down there by the wall?" He asked pointing forward.

The two squinted there eyes to see a wooden post stuck in a cloud. Just by there vision it was still a far ways off.

"Yeah." Quinn said.

"You mind counting Star? It won't take long." He asked.

"Sure." She said.

"Okay then when I say go start counting." He said stretching out his wings. "You might want to back away a little."

Star and Quinn both took a couple of steps back as the pegasus was preparing to bolt.

Steps got into position. "Ready.......set......go!" He shouted.

Within a second he leaped forward, racing through the air at an incredible speed.

"1,2,3,4." Star began.

"He's fast, like really fast." Quinn said aloud.

Star counted as the Pegasus was now racing back towards them. "8,9,10"

As soon as she hit 10 he landed about three yards before them, sliding along the cloud to where there were. The two of them sat there in disbelief at his performance.

"Ta-da." He said proudly. "What was my time?"

"10 seconds." Star said slowly still not sure how he was able to do it.

"Ah, I could do better." He said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "Got to get it lower you know? I just got to."

"Why? I mean its pretty obvious that your the fastest pony in our whole division. Heck you're probably that fastest pony in the who academy." Quinn said.

"But I am not the fastest though." He said taking a deep breath. "I was this close, this close to beating the record for the entrance exam." He said measuring with his hooves. "I missed it by one point but I am going to break that other record, just you wait."

"What record?" Star asked.

Steps let out a sigh. "I want to break the academies speed record for the fastest time in the first trail test. Yes I know that sounds impossible but hey a colt can dream right?"

Quinn and Star both looked at each other and then back to Steps.

"What?" He asked. "I am not that crazy am I?"

"Its just that, thats a pretty high goal you're setting for yourself. I mean no offense you're fast but I don't think that you're that fast." Quinn said.

"But I believe I can and thats all I need." Steps said. "If I don't at least I can say I tried."

Star looked at the ground trying to hide what she was thinking.

"What?" Steps asked.

"Its nothing, its just that you know how many ponies have tried to beat that record?" She asked.

"Yeah, 37 I believe." He said with a laugh. "And 0 have come nowhere near it. I guess that old Sky 'Wonderbolt' must have trained pretty hard to raise the bar that high. Boy to be there when she timed that must have been a sight to see."

Quinn looked at Star for she knew why her friend was now acting funny. She tried to make a quick glance but Steps caught it.

"What, its not like one of your family members attempted it did they? I didn't mean any disrespect." Steps said.

"No, I am just thinking about other things." Star said.

Steps looked at her. "Hey Star, I know you said you didn't want to but why can't you tell me your last name?"

"Reasons." Star reposnded.

"Please, I mean you started to acted funny once I answered your question about the number of attempts. I mean your body language kind of already tells me your hiding something." He said.

"So." Star said bluntly.

"Come on what does somepony like me have to do to get your full name?" He said with a smile." Say, if you can beat me to that post down I promise not to ask again."

"And If you get there first I tell you?" She asked.

"You got it, so what do you say?" He asked.

"Star I don't think that you flying is such a good idea. I mean your wings are still probably sore and you need to rest them." Quinn said interrupting.

Star flapped her wings in response. "They will be fine." She said. "Ready whenever you are." She said to Steps.

The two lined up beside each other, waiting for the other to signal go.

"Ready, set, go!" Steps shouted.

The two took off, speeding down towards there goal. Star kept her mind focus so to avoid feeling any pain that was to come from her wings. At first it seemed that she was going to win but every eye turn she could see that Steps was right beside her. It was almost as if he was playing with her.

"Well lets see how he likes this." She said to herself.

She clenched her teeth and put all her might into moving forward. All of her focus was now on that post. It was almost over, and her goal was within grasp. Then, like a lighting bolt, Steps zoomed past her and landed beside the post. He poked it mockingly as if to show that he knew he was going to win. Star landed on the other side.

"How?" She said out of breath.

"Shouldn't have agreed to race me." He said blowing something off his hoof. "Now a deals a deal, whats your full name."

Star looked at him. "'Wonder, Star Wonder." She said.

He immedialty froze upon hearing it. Then a smile crept along his face. "Okay enough with the jokes, now come whats your real name?"

"Star Wonder." She repeated.

His smile disappeared. "Your being serious aren't you."

Star nodded her head.

He swallowed before asking. "Don't tell me that your directly related to....."

"Yes." She said gasping for air.

Then instantly he started trembling, not form fear but of excitement. "Wow, really thats amazing! I mean its a honor to be even talking to you right now. I hope you didn't take me being disrespectful by toying with you in our little race." He said laughing nervously.

"No its fine." Star said.

"Star are you all right, your wings aren't hurting are they?" Quinn asked coming up to her. She began examining each wing carefully.

"They're all right Quinn, no need to go all doctor on me." Star said with a laugh.

The bell in the courtyard alerted them that the class period was now over.

"Hey now that isn't lunch time is it?" Steps asked looking for a clock. "Cause for some reason I am starving like a dog right now."

"Yeah we should get back and report to general Doc that we had completed our extra duties. Besides you and Star look the part." Quinn said.

"Thats probably a good idea." Steps said stretching out his wings one last time. "Don't want to make our reputations with him even more lower do we?"

"Yeah lets get going." Star said nodding to Quinn.

"It was nice meeting you Steps." Quinn nodded to him.

"Hey wait, um you gals mind if I tag along with you? Its just that you know I don't know many of the ponies in our division and its nice always to talk to somepony." He asked shyly.

Star and Quinn looked at each other.

"Sure the more the merrier." Quinn said with a warm smile.

Soon the three headed off to report back and continue on with the rest of their day.