Thunderspite

It was early evening the next day, and high in the skies above Sweet Apple Acres, Thunderspite and Rainbow Dash were engaged in fierce air-to-air combat. When they heard the the strange noise, Applejack and Apple Bloom had come outside to investigate, and they now stood just outside the house, looking directly upwards at the spectacle.

Twin trails of flight-magic hissed their way through the sky: one rainbow colored and the other a trail of small black clouds. They repeatedly formed a wide figure-8 pattern, circling around and around. Where they met, each streak quickly changed direction, glancing off each other at an angle, and a few seconds later the dull ringing sound of steel on steel would reach the ground. Applejack watched this go on for half an hour, and eventually she was joined by the rest of the gang, who had all been in town and also been drawn to the spectacle.

“Goodness!” said Rarity. “How long have they been at it?”

“Almost an hour,” Applejack remarked. “They’ve gotta be getting’ worn out by now.”

“I’m getting dizzy just looking at them!” said Pinkie Pie, nearly falling over as the two pegasi streaked overhead.

Presently, it became clear that Thunderspite was slowly gaining the upper hoof. The figure 8 pattern began to turn on its side, with Thunderspite coming slightly from above on each pass, and Rainbow Dash striking from slightly below, being forced lower and lower with each pass. The clang of their swords became louder and louder, and before long the battle was just above the treetops. Rainbow Dash tried one last, desperate feint in an attempt to turn the tables, but Thunderspite again managed to prevent her from regaining any altitude, and Rainbow Dash was forced to the ground.

“Aaah!” Rainbow Dash did not quite manage to pull up in time, and struck the ground hard at a shallow angle, tumbling a few times between a row of apple trees before coming to a stop. Meanwhile, Thunderspite was looping back around for another pass. Rainbow Dash quickly stood up, tossed down her sword, and crossed her arms. “Okay, okay! I give, I give!” Thunderspite waved off his attack run and instead landed beside her, sheathing his sword as he landed. The others quickly trotted over.

“Oh, Rainbow! Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Fluttershy rushed to her friend’s aid.

“Ah.” Rainbow Dash slowly stood, one hand on her back. “I’ll make it. But boy am I going to feel that tomorrow. She gingerly flexed and folded her aching wings. “How’d I do, coach?”

“Not bad at all, rookie." Thunderspite painfully flexed his own wings. "I haven’t flown like that in years.”

“That was awesome! Super-amazing zoom-zoom cling-clang!” Pinkie Pie bounced incoherently.

“Say, as long as we’re all here, y’all want to go into town for some milkshakes?” Applejack proposed. There was a round of general agreement from everyone except Rainbow Dash.

“Sorry guys, but coach here’s got me up bright and early training again tomorrow.”

Thunderspite waved his hoof. “Nah, take the day off, rookie. You’ve earned it, and we could both use a rest.”

“Really?! Alright then, count me in!” said Rainbow Dash.

“What about you, Thunderspite? You comin’?” Applejack asked.

Thunderspite quickly sobered. “Oh, uh, no thank you. I think I’ll just... ” Just then, Thunderspite’s gaze wandered over to little Apple Bloom, who was looking at him expectantly. He looked at her a long while, then back at the others. “Actually, yeah. I’ll come along.”