Raining Fire

Written by: Alex A

Chapter 6: The Grand Galloping Gala

On the streets of Cloudsdale next to the sky city's central park, Spitfire and Soarin trotted alongside each other as they reached a café in the center of the cloud city.

Soarin pushed open the wooden door revealing the inside of the simple café restaurant, many ponies turned and looked to see the two famous ponies trotting into the restaurant and stopping in front of the counter.

The owner of the store turned around and her eyes widened when she saw the two Wonderbolts in her cafe. Before she could say anything Soarin spoke up, “Can we just get one americano and a latté please,” he asked plainly.

The owner nodded and quickly made two cups of hot beverages. Soarin took the items and thanked the mare before he trotted over with Spitfire to a nearby table.

Soarin and Spitfire sat down opposite each other. Soarin let out a sigh before speaking, “Spit, you need to tell me whats been up with you lately,” the stallion asked concerned.

Spitfire held her cup of favorite coffee sheepishly and tried not to make eye contact with her friend. Soarin let out another sigh before trying again, “Come on Spits, it’s only a few more hours till the Gala, and for the past two weeks you’ve been in this jumpy… almost scared state. Please, just tell me what's been bugging you so much,” he asked with concern.

Spitfire sighed heavily before speaking in a quiet tone, “Well it’s about…” She looked around; making sure nopony was close enough to hear her. “Rainbow Dash.”

Soarin's complexion brightened, he was relieved that there wasn’t a major problem with Spitfire, but Soarin could still tell that something more was bugging her.

Pushing his latté to one side, Soarin leaned over on the table with a grin. “So why don’t you just ask her out already?”

Spitfire blushed. “That’s easier said than done, because unlike you I’m not just looking for a one night stand.”

Soarin raised his hooves in acceptance. “Well you got me there, but if I know anything about you, Spits, it’s that you’ll do anything to get what you want… so why haven’t you done it?”

Spitfire fumbled with her hooves as she leaned back on her chair slightly. “I’m just not sure she likes me back, plus… it’s the first time I’ve ever had a crush on anypony,” she said, letting part of the truth come out.

Soarin, however, shook his head playfully as he muffled his own laughter, which surprised the yellow mare. Soarin collected himself before he spoke, “Spits, come on, that has got to be the worst excuse I’ve ever heard. You have to try or you’ll never know,” he said, hoping his new resolution would have an effect on the her.

Spitfire pondered on this thought, the light blue stallion did have a point, and his words of support sure helped raise her spirits. But one big problem still remained in the back of Spitfire’s mind.

Spitfire looked away again as she spoke. “My parents wouldn’t approve of me being in love with another mare,” she said, a hint of sadness in her tone.

Soarin was shocked by this. “What do you mean they wouldn’t approve?” he asked confused as he raised an eyebrow.

Spitfire rubbed the back of her neck hesitantly. “I guess they're just one of those couples. Both you and I know they wouldn’t approve of their own daughter being a...a fillyfooler,” she said dejectedly.

Soarin again leaned over the table slightly and lifted the golden mares head to his level. Soarin put on his trademark grin. “I know that the real Spitfire wouldn’t care about anything to get that goal, even if it meant enduring anything.”

Spitfire thought over this new idea. “Well… you do have a point,” she said, grinning slightly.

Soarin smiled widely. “There you go,” he said sitting back on his chair and drinking the now slightly warm latte.

Spitfire was happy that her friend had convinced her and given her that last bit of courage that she needed to ask Dash out on a date. However, she was still slightly concerned about what Dash would say to that idea.

Spitfire thought hard on this. It was like she was waging a war in the deep recesses of her mind. But she knew one way or another even if she did keep the truth in, it was bound to come out at some point and then what would the Wonderbolt have to say then.

Soarin finished off his drink and looked over at the clock tower which stood centered in the middle of Cloudsdales Central park - which was situated besides the cafe. He then quickly turned back to Spitfire before speaking, “We need to start heading off, Spits, or will be late to the castle in Canterlot."

Spitfire came back from her current mind war. She shook her head before nodding. “Oh! Of course, let’s get this show on the road,” she said as they both started trotting away from the cafe.

Spitfire knew that tonight would be one of the biggest nights in her life, she just hoped that it all went well…

As Luna’s moon rose into the dark night sky, many ponies flocked to one place in particular in Canterlot and that was the Grand Galloping Gala.

Spitfire and Soarin landed on the grounds of the castle where they had arranged to meet with the rest of the team. Spitfire could already hear the sounds of ponies waiting eagerly outside of the castle for the big night to begin.

Personally, Spitfire had never liked the Gala, she thought it was way too classy for her style. Still, she did like the part about performing, and that’s what she was looking forward to tonight.

Spitfire and Soarin trotted round the the back of the castle to where they would start the performance. As the rounded the corner they saw some of the team already waiting for them.

Blazing Fire turned around to see his sister. “Well there you are, Mrs. Captain.”

Spitfire rolled her eyes playfully. “Sorry, but we took our time flying over here because we didn’t want to sprain anything,” she said knowingly.

Blazing Fire’s face brightened as a smirk appeared on his face. “Oh really?” he said with a sarcastic voice.

Spitfire mumbled something under her breath when a small "thud" could be heard from behind her. She turned around to see Dash wearing her uniform in proud stance.

Spitfire’s face filled with happiness. “Hey Dash, glad to see you're here,” she said gleefully.

Dash returned the smile. “Yep, I’m ready to do this thing,” she said, flaring her wings.

Soarin turned to the three ponies with a confused look on his face. “Wait... where’s Rapid?” he asked.

All the Wonderbolts looked at each other. Spitfire caught her brother backing away slightly, her eyes narrowed on him as she spoke up, “Blaze… where is he?” she asked, punctuating every word.

Blazing Fire held a very sheepish smile as he spoke, “Well… to tell you the truth...he might just be slightly tired,” he explained backing up even more.

Spitfire closed her eyes trying to keep the rising anger within herself. “Where is he?” she asked as her tone turning more dark.

Blazing sighed heavily. “He’s passed out in his bed, we um… drank too much.”

Spitfire let out a heavy sigh, she opened her eyes again and looked over towards the rest of the team with fearful eyes. “We’re one pony down… I don’t think we-”

Spitfire was cut off by the sky blue mare. “No, we can do it, we just have to work harder,” she said stomping her hoof on the ground.

Spitfire watched Rainbow as she continued to speak, “We just need to work with the routine a bit, we don’t need any other pony to do this.”

Spitfire thought hard about this, she knew Dash wasn’t going to be put out of her first ever performance as a Wonderbolt that easily. She smiled at the mare’s enthusiasm though, and it seemed to help her own self moral. Finally, Spitfire reached a decision. “Okay, Wonderbolt’s into your positions double time… we’ve got a show to bring.”

Dash’s face lit up with excitement when she heard Spitfire say those words and quickly got into the formation with the rest of the team.

Spitfire smiled as she flared her wings… the last thing she heard before taking off was the roar of the crowd…

To be continued...

Author's Note

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Okay, so can I be the first to say sorry for the long awaited update, both me and my brother have been really busy over the weekend and we weren't certain we'd even get a chapter done, but we have and well there you go.

Just as a note as well, the next chapter will be 5 to 6k words long and hopefully should be out in the next 2 to 3 days and I'm happy that most people are enjoying the story so far. We are getting ever closer to the romance part so just bear with me guys only one chapter left now.

So as you all seem to enjoy, a quick summary.

1: Spitfire has finally made her life changing decision will this bring good or will Canterlot be destroyed?
2: Blaze is being 'that guy' we all know again
3: Soarin is one heck of a friend !

~ Alex

I have gotten 5 hours total of sleep in the matter of 4 days... I'm probably going to pass out on my keyboa oidflakbjsfakjsdbfawueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedks

~ Michael