Chapter 16 - Meeting Your True Idol

The long await had finally arrived. It was the night of the Grand Galloping Gala and everypony was excited to be going even after last years event which ended in a riot and one very ruined castle.

Spitfire was getting Scootaloo ready for the night whilst Dash checked herself over in the mirror, Suddenly to their surprise there was a knock at the door.

Spitfire left Scootaloo and got up off the floor to open the door. When she did her eyes widened and her throat became dry as she tried to find the words that didn't seem to come out.

"F-Firefly?" Spitfire said in an astonished tone. The pink and blue mare at the door smiled

"Hey Spit, its uh been awhile hasn't it" she said with her trademark smirk. Spitfire smiled and embraced her idol. Firefly was only too happy to return the favour.

"I thought I'd never see you again, why are you here ?" she whispered as she held the old friend close.

Firefly smiled "well I got a new job" she explained.

Spitfire raised an eyebrow, "what could be a better job than the manehatten's air force commander?" she asked chuckling slightly.

Firefly laughed in return and shook her head playfully,"Its not that Spit, its just I'm getting a bit bored of it" she said jokingly. She had actually left because she felt to old for the job, but she wasn't going to tell anypony about that.

Spitfire giggled as she relaesed the embrace to face her idol, "So what job is it?" she asked curiously.

Firefly grinned, "I'm cloudsdales new weather manager!" she said happily.

Spitfire smiled, just then Scootaloo and Dash walked up behind her.

Dash was just as surprised as Spitfire when she saw the pony at the doorway, "Spit, is this who I think it is?" she asked.

Spitfire smirked, "yeah, guys this is Firefly, she's.... well my idol" she said happily.

Rainbow's mouth dropped slightly, "You mean the greatest Wonderbolt Captian in History!" she asked in shock, trying hard to keep herslef from squealing like a school filly.

Firefly giggled, "Yeah, thats me, but I think I still left with a great successor to take my place" she said getting Spitfire in a headlock and ruffling her mane.

Spitfire smiled, "It was a shame I never got to see you at the Wonderbolts though" she said with a slight sadness in her tone.

Firefly stopped grinning and nodded her head solomly. Just then Scootaloo spoke up, "So wait is this the pony you talked about when you said you where an orphan?" she asked.

Scootaloo didn't realise what she had just said and quickly moved a forehoof to her mouth, but it was too late. Spitfire lowered her head as Firefly's jaw dropped.

Firefly looked over to the yellow mare who was once the energetic filly that she used to know, "S-Spitfire, you were an o-orphan" she asked astonished. Spitfire nodded her head slowly.

Dash was still in shock from the entire thing but managed to find a few words, "You never told her did you" she said in a quiet tone. Again Spitfire replied with a small nod.

Firefly tried to find the words to speak, "Kid, this is.... why didn't you tell me?" she asked curiously.

Spitfire sighed heavily as she let the truth finally come out, "I-I never had anyone who liked me when I was little, I didn't even know who my own parents were. At my orphanage, I was bullied and thats when I became homeless. You were the first pony who actually liked me, you actually cared for me and I didn't want to tell you because...beacuse" she couldn't finish the rest as she closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears inside.

Spitfire didn't expect for Firefly to embrace her and muffled a squeak as she was pulled into the hug. Firefly nodded in understanding, "becuase you were afraid that I would abandon you didn't you" she whispered finishing Spitfire's story. The yellow pegasus wiped a few lone tears from her cheeks as she nodded in approval.

Firefly sighed as she looked over to the other two pegasi in the room, "Could you give me and Spit here a moment please?" she asked kindly. Dash nodded and picked up Scootaloo before heading out of the room. Firefly closed the front door and brought Spitfire over to the couch in the living area.

Firefly looked over at Spitfire, "Spit, I'm gonna tell you something okay, do you remeber on the last day you and me were together and you brought me a peach from the orchard just down the road" She asked.

Spitfire looked at Firefly as she remembered the day clearly in her head

                                                           -Flashback-

The little yellow filly galloped up a small grassy slope to an old oak tree that looked over a small lake. She had been brought there that day by Firefly and she wasn't sure why, but took the opertunity to spend time with her idol.

Sitting at the base of the tree was the pink and blue mare. she had her Wonderbolts uniform on but her head piece was left to the side of her hind leg revealing her face.

Spitfire smiled as she trotted up to the mare. Firefly turned to the small filly and smiled, "Hey kid, come and have a seat" she said patting a hoof on the ground next to her.

Spitfire trotted up to her assigned spot next to her idol and sat down as she passed a peach into Firefly's lap. The mare smiled, "Thanks Spit" she said ruffling the filly's mane as she giggled.

A few moments of silence passed between the two as they listened to the sound of nature whilst they ate there fruity snacks. Firefly sighed and finally felt the need to speak up, "Kid" she said making Spitfire quickly turn to face her. The yellow filly stared at her idol intently as she waited for the words to come.

Firefly continued, "Kid, I-I'm moving away" she said plainly but with sadness in her tone.

At that moment Spitfire's heart snapped, tears just seemed to start leaking out as Firefly continued to explian, "I um, I'll be moving away for a little while okay, and um I-I'm not sure when I'll be back" she said.

Spitfire just exploaded into a mass of tears as she cried, her insides were screaming at her, forcing her to tell the truth, but somehow she managed to keep her voice at bay and just simply cried.

Firefly leaned over and embraced the filly as she balled into her chest, matting her fur, "shhh hey, its okay Spit" she cooed trying to get the filly to stop crying.

Firefly smiled warmly, "Its okay Spit, I'm sure your mum or dad will teach you the rest of your basic flying lessons" she said as Spitfire continued to cry.

Spitfire's insides were on fire, her inner self was forcing her to say something, anything. Still she managed to keep at bay, but it only made more tears as she continued to ball.

Firefly sighed, "Kid, I want you to look at me" she said plainly  as she set the filly on the ground.

Spitfire looked up at Firefly through her waterlogged eyes. Firefly wiped away some tears from the filly's eyes before she spoke, "Spit, I will never abandon you okay, If you ever need anything you tell me, even if its something stupid like I cant reach the top droor in my kitchen" she said as they started giggling.

Spitfire nodded, "okay Firefly" she said as a ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. Firefly smiled back and hugged the filly tight as silence fell over the hill top once again.

                                                                       -End of Flashback-

Spitfire nodded, "yeah I remeber it" she said as the last few images left her mind.

Firefly nodded, "Me too Spit, I remember it clear as day and everything I said to you on that day" she said as a lone tear made its way down her cheek.

Firefly breathed in a lung full of air before continuing, "and now that I know the truth..... I feel like the worst pony in history" she finished meeting Spitfire's eyes.

Spitfire was quick to respond, "hey Firefly its not your fault, I never told anyone until a month ago Its my fault for not telling you" she said plainly as she pulled the older mare into a warm embrace.

Firefly sighed, "I'm sorry Spitfire, I should have been there for you when you needed me, I'm going to make this up to you somehow, I promise" she said truthfully as she metally kicked herself for all the times she should have been with the yellow pegasus throughout her life.

Firefly wrapped her wings around the yellow pegasus as she sighed into her shoulder. Spitfire smiled, "well I'm glad you found out, even if it was in a way I didn't expect" she said. the two mares let out a chuckle.

Firefly nodded, "yeah, but promise me you wont lie to me anymore though" she said meeting eyes with the mare again.

Spitfire nodded, "I swear" she said truthfully. The pair shared another embrace until they heard a voice.

"Mum, Dash says its time to go" Scootaloo said as she looked up towards her mother. Spitfire smiled and leaned down to pick up the filly as she nuzzled her gently

"Okay then, are you ready sweetie?" she asked. Scootaloo nodded and Spitfire let her down before she turned to Firefly

"Are you coming to the gala aswell?" she asked her idol curiously.

Firefly smiled and nodded, "yeah, I'm ment to meet the mayor of cloudsdale there tonight actually about my new job" she says rolling her eyes.

Spitfire got up with Firefly as they made there way to the door. Firefly spoke up, "So um is she your daughter?" she asked refering to the little orange filly.

Spitfire giggled, "its a long story, mind if I tell you on the way?" she asked.

Firefly smiled, "Sure" she said, and with that the four pegasi left as they headed towards Canterlot for the biggest night of their lives.

                                                               -Meanwhile at the castle-

A stallion trotted up and down the hallway as he patiently waited for the gala to start. He quickly glanced a check at his bag of 'things' when the guard wasn't looking, he smiled as he thought 'I hope you enjoy this night Scootaloo, for it will be the last you ever see of it" he said before chuckling darkly to himself.