Wings of Hope

"All right is everypony good? Now go!" Heart shouted. "Go! Go!"

The crowd of ponies took off into the sky to begin their daily training. Once again Star sat there only to observe the others. Her wings ached to join them.

"So your rehab has been going good. Doctor said you'll be clear for flying in about 3 weeks." Heart said encouragingly.

Star looked at the ground for a moment.

"Whats wrong?" Heart asked.

"Nothing sir its just that I have some concerns regarding my time rehabbing. Not that its taking to long, I am worried about the first trail flight. I mean I can't take part an any official flying excursus for the next 3 weeks. That being said the first trail test is in 2 weeks so, what am I suppose to do?" She asked.

"I was thinking about that actually." He said pondering. "I talked about it with some of the generals and they told me they would think about it pushing it back. Don't worry, I said that several of my trainees weren't ready and had other injuries. Didn't want them to think it was all because of one pony. They would have probably have known who it was, and I know you would just love that." He said with a smile.

Star let out a chuckle. "Thanks." She said.

"Now I don't know if they will push it back, but I should hear from them soon. In the mean time you should focus on your rehab and when it comes time you can fly again." He said.

"Yes sir." She said. "Um sir?"

"Yes?" He asked.

"I was just wondering, how is the first trail flight?" She asked nervously. "I heard that its extremely terrifying. I am a little intimidated actually. Can you sort of describe for me?"

Heart's face grew stern. "Not that I am trying to scare you but its absolutely terrifying. Especially since every pegasus from afar gathers and watches all the trainees go through it. I remember my fly through very well. Now I tell you what I was sweating like a pig that day."

Star looked back down on the ground. "Oh."

"Hey now, don't let me make it seem all that bad. Once you start all your fears will melt away, and it will be over before you know it." He said.

"But how do you let all your fears go during that? I don't think I can do it with a bunch of ponies watching me." She said. "I mean, how was it for you?"

Heart pondering for a moment, trying to recall the experience. "Star have you ever been swimming?" He asked.

"Like one or twice." She said.

"Did you go under the water then quickly went back?" He asked.

"Yeah." Star.

"Why?" He asked.

"Cause I didn't want to drown." She said sarcastically.

"Well that feeling you had whenever when you didn't want to drown was terrifying right? Thats the same feeling I got when I had to take part in the trail." He said. "Thats how it was for me at least, and I probably was one of the braver ones there. Some ponies looked like they were on the verge of passing out." He chuckled.

"Did any of them fail?" Star asked.

"None in my division did but there was one who did two years prior. I can't remember what division he was in but he just couldn't handle it, from what I heard." He said.

"What happens if you fail?" Star asked.

Heart laughed. "I wouldn't worry about that its actually hard to fail the trail. The judges are usually fair and don't judge to harshly."

"But what if I do, what if somehow it does happen." Star said growing concerned.

"Like I said I don't think you have to worry about it but if by some chance you do theres two options. One, you'll be asked to see if you want to be moved to a division know as 'zero'. Division zero is a where soilders take care of the academy's  grounds and do odd jobs for officers." He said looking off in the distance.

"So their janitors?" Star asked.

"Thats a little demeaning but its not as bad as it sounds. If you do get sent there you can eventually be up for evaluation, and hopefully you can reassigned to a real division." Heart said.

"Has anypony every actually done that?" Star asked.

Heart looked around so that no other pony would over hear him. "There is one pony who is still around here that did it."

Star perked back up. "Really who?"

"Why don't you ask general 'Doc' sometimes, I am sure he will be glad to answer any questions." He said sarcastically.

"Wow, Doc failed the first trail? After all his talk about being on time, and his overall strictness seem kind of hypercritical though." Star said to herself.

"He's not that bad, but yeah I remember when he was in zero. The first day I saw him was something else, he had something the others who failed didn't. A fire was in his eyes that showed that he wasn't ready to give up. Going through the zero division changed him and made him the colt he is today. I kind of wished I could have failed, and went along with him for he is twice the colt I am." Heart said.

"Really?" Star asked. "I mean he's a good commander from what I heard but you're just as good."

"Not even close. He went through so much, a lot more than we did. Thats the thing about the zero division that can change a pony. In the eyes of regular divisions the zeros are scum, and are treated as such. They receive disgust from their fellow solider and get harassed. Its not suppose to be that way, but its just how it been viewed by the troops. I remember myself even taking a few shots at Docs expense, just so that I could get others to laugh. If I only knew that every time we made fun of him it was only making him stronger. Then one day he was gone, no chores, no cleaning, nothing at all. We couldn't find him anywhere or any place he was usually assigned. I thought he had given up but that wasn't the case." Heart said.

"He got moved to a real division?" Star asked.

Heart nodded. "Lucky him, general Laz picked him to be under his division. At the time do realize that being under general Laz was the highest honor. I can't even begin to describe the look on our faces when we saw him wearing those colors." He said with a laugh. "But the point is that even if you do fail its not the end of world, unless you make it."

Star nodded and looked up at the sky. "That makes me feel better about all this." She said.

"But like I said, barely anypony fails it so don't worry about it." He said nudging her. "You'll be fine."

"Thank you sir." She said. "Hopefully they will move it up so that I can preform."

"We'll just have to wait and see." Heart said.

"So as of today the fist trail test has been moved up 2 more weeks from the original date. This is to ensure that all particapents  are able to preform to the best of their abilities. We also wish to all of those who are participating to keep working hard and be the best you can be." The mare said with a smile. "Now you may return to your free time and have a great rest of the day."

"Well she's just a bundle of joy huh?" Steps said taking a bite of an apple.

"Oh stop." Quinn said pushing playfully him. "She's just doing her job."

"I am just saying every time she makes an announcement she seems too......excited about it." He said finishing off the piece of fruit. "Anyway you guys looking forward to the trial? I can't wait for it."

"I am terrified." Quinn said softly.

"Hey now you'll do fine." He said with a smile. "And me and Star will be there to cheer you on, right Star?"

Star was looking in the opposite direction, obviously not hearing his words.

"Star, earth to Star." Steps said.

She still didn't hear him.

"Star!" He said a little louder.

"What!" She said jumping at his words.

"Did you hear anything I just said?" He asked.

"Sorry, I was thinking about something else. What were we talking about?" She asked.

"We were discussing the trail." He said.

"Oh, yeah right." She said.

"You nervous too Star?" Quinn asked.

Star nodded. "To tell the truth I am. I know I shouldn't be but for some reason I just am." She said sipping some water. "The last few nights I have been having nightmares of failing playing over and over again."

Quinn rested her head on the table. "I've had the same dream but its a little different probably."

"Come now, you two will pass with flying colors." Steps said trying to cheer them back up. "Now stop with all this gloomy talk and lets go find something to do. I swear if I wasn't around you two would sit around all day and mope about this."

Star smiled. "You're right we can't think negatively about this. We are going to do great, right Quinn?"

"I guess." She said trying to catch what her friends just caught.

"Anyway you guys here who's coming this year to the trail? Steps said almost bursting from excitement.

"And you said that mare was overly enthusiastic ." Quinn said chuckling.

"I don't get that excited about little things like that." He countered.

"Yeah you do." Quinn said.

"When?" He asked.

"Oh, you guys hear about the other day when I figured how to beat officer Vigs obstacle course in less than a minute." Quinn said mocking his mannerism. "Or, hey you guys think that my mane would look more colty if I dyed it."

"Hey, thats a serious question." Star said. "We have to figure out if green is truly the color of a real colt." She said laughing.

Steps sat there while both mare laughed between each other. "Well it would make look less of a mare." He said crossing his hooves.

"I am sorry Randy, please what where you saying." Quinn said.

Steps looked at her as if she committed a crime. "Please don't call me that. You know how I feel about that nickname." He said.

"Sorry Randy, it won't happen again." She said.

"You're really pushing it Quinn, I think Randy is getting mad." Star added.

"I am sorry Steps, really I am. Now what were you saying about somepony coming?" Quinn asked.

He sat there for a moment, none to pleased.

"Oh, come on don't be such a baby." Quinn said. "We were just joking. Can you ever forgive me?"

"You're lucky you're cute." He mumble to himself. "I was trying to say that princess Celestia herself was going to be in attendance. I mean the princess herself is going to be here, here. Isn't that amazing?"

Star and Quinn looked at each other and began laughing again.

"What?" Steps asked.

"It's just you're getting excited over a princess coming thats all." Star said.

"The big, bad, solider is all jumping when the princess is coming." Quinn laughed.

"I can't win anything with you two." Steps said lying his head on the table.

"2404, 2397, 2390 I hope you are ready for the assignment we are having today." Officer Heart asked walking by their table.

They all quickly responded with a salute. "Yes sir!" They said in unison.

"Good see you in two hours." He said walking off.

"Well that was random." Steps said while watching the leaving officer. "I didn't even see him coming."

"I guess thats a skill you pick once you become an officer." Quinn said. "Anyway I feel like going for a walk now, anypony care to join me?" She asked.

Steps and Star both stood up to signal that they were in.

"And Go! Go!" Heart shouted to his troops.

Once again it was just him and Star standing there.

"Well I guess you already heard about the trail being moved up. I bet you're excited huh?" He asked.

Star nodded. "I am actually, I feel better now I can actually participate."

"I am just glad that they didn't give me such a fuss over it. But then again they're suppose to keep the safety of the ponies above everything." He said. "I just hope nothing bad happens." He said hinting at something.

"Like what?" Star asked.

"You're friend, Randell is it? A little rumor has been flying around that he plans on breaking the speed record. Is it true?" He asked.

Star nodded. "He seems quite sure of himself."

"I would advise him not to attempt it. To many have tried and all have failed. Each one also fails the trail too, making the whole thing a waste of time." Heart said.

"Well maybe he's different, maybe he can do it." Star said.

Heart closed his eyes. "You and him both think so. I know that he came close to breaking the entry exams record but this is going to be different. Its good to practice but its different once you're in front of a thousand other ponies."

Star kept thinking positively. "He'll be fine and besides I know he can do it. I mean every time we practice or race....."

"What do you mean race?" He asked sternly. "You've better not have been flying before your cleared."

Star instantly grew still. "No sir." She said trying to retract her words.

"Good." He said. "Didn't want to think you were disobeying me." He looked around for a second. "So how do you match up against him?"

"Sir?" She asked.

"How do you fair against him, does he beat you fairly easy?" He asked.

Star looked around as if to see if he was joking. "I am not suppose to be flying, like you said that would be disobeying your orders." She said. "He doesn't beat all the time actually. I don't know how but sometimes I can beat him but its rare."

"Huh, well then I guess you have made a quicker recovery than I thought." He said to himself. "Though you really shouldn't have been doing any activity like that you know?"

"Yes sir." She said hanging her head a bit. "Its just that I couldn't stand not to. I felt that if I didn't I would go insane."

Heart nodded his head in understatement. "Well I guess you'll be fine as a fiddle when the trail comes around then. Just to make things clear though, next time when I give an order obey it. I may have let this slide but as a future solider you have to listen to your commanders orders. Being a great flyer sometimes requires being able to understand that others are there just to try and help you."

"Sorry sir it won't happen again." She said.

"Good, now come along we have to start setting up for todays assignment." He said.