Thunderspite

Thunderspite and Blitzwing met on the south lawn in the pre-dawn morning, where their balloon sat moored and waiting. Star Strider and a squad of his unicorn Guards were already hard at work, assisting with the ropes and loading the last of the supplies.

The balloon they were to be traveling in was a special affair the Princess had loaned from a local balloonsmith, made especially for long-distance travel. The balloon itself tapered sharply at both ends, to make for more aerodynamic towing. It also had a large enclosed gondola, big enough to comfortably accommodate three ponies, if only just. The Gondola also featured a single stateroom that was to be Dawn Glimmer’s accommodation for the trip.

By the time dawn broke, the preparations were nearly complete. Dawn Glimmer’s coach arrived right on schedule, and as it came to a stop Thunderspite trotted up to meet her. As he helped her down from the coach, she smiled broadly at him, though she looked very tired.

“Good morning, Miss Dawn Glimmer. Sleep well?” said Thunderspite.

“Not especially,” she said with a yawn. “You don’t look like you got much sleep either.”

“Well... no. But I’m used to it.”

“I suppose so,” she said with the same smile she used last night. What is that about? Thunderspite thought to himself.

“You’ll be sleeping in the ship’s stateroom. The corporal here will help you with your bags. Feel free to get settled. We should be departing shortly.”

“Thank you captain.” And with that, she let the unicorn corporal lead her to the airship. Thunderspite watched her go for a moment, then turned back to his preparations.

While the other two Captains oversaw the last of the preparations, the palace chef brought breakfast for the travelers, who quickly ate the simple meal of fruit and oatmeal. They had just finished their meal and were about to board when Princess Celestia strode onto the lawn, escorted as always by two guards.

“Royal on deck!” someone called, and the entire company stopped and bowed.

“Please carry on, everyone,” the Princess said with a smile. “I’m just here to see off our travelers.” Thunderspite, Blitzwing, and Dawn Glimmer trotted up to her.

“Your majesty,” Thunderspite greeted for the group, and they all made their bows again. The Princess smiled down at them, but Thunderspite knew right away she was putting on a brave face. She looked as if she hadn’t slept well either.

The Princess took a moment to look each of them in the eye. “I don’t need to tell you how important this mission is.” The Princess began. “Many will die if the wraiths wage war on Equestria. Determine the wraith's intentions, and secure a peace with them if you can. But whatever happens...please stay safe."

Dawn Glimmer lifted her head proudly. "Don't worry, Princess. We'll secure a peace and be back in time for the Summer Sun Celebration."

The Princess smiled at that, and she and Dawn Glimmer touched horns for a moment. She accepted the bows from both Thunderspite and Blitzwing individually, somewhat more deliberately than usual. She then turned and walked off the lawn.

At last, the time came for the trio to depart. Dawn Glimmer went inside the gondola, while Thunderspite and Blitzwing hitched themselves up to the reigns. The ground crew released the ropes, and the balloon floated into the sky.

* * *

It took the two pegasus ponies just over half an hour to tow the balloon to a good cruising altitude just above the cloud layer. As they leveled off their ascent, the towing got much easier. The two Guards let the ropes go slack for a moment as they had a brief conversation.

“We’ll tow in shifts,” Thunderspite said. “Four hours each, with lunch break at midday. We’ll land and make camp two hours before sunset.”

“Very well, sir. I’d like to take the first shift," said Blitzwing.

Thunderspite eyed him suspiciously. “Any particular reason, lieutenant?”

Blitzwing looked at the gondola, then back to Thunderspite, grinning broadly. “Just like to stretch my wings a bit, sir.”

Thunderspite glared at him a moment, then unhitched himself and made for the gondola. He was already getting tired of Blitzwing’s little winks and nudges.

Thunderspite flew back to the gondola, coiling his tow rope and harness as he went. Opening the door, he stepped inside and hung the gear neatly on the wall. Dawn Glimmer sat in the main area of the cabin, her legs folded under her on the wide couch that stretched completely around the back of the gondola. An open book hung in midair in front of her, but she had apparently stopped reading to watch him with her typical smirk.

“We’ve reached cruising altitude, ma’am. We’ll fly until about two hours before sunset, then land and make camp for the night.”

“Very good, Captain,” she said. Thunderspite thought she might be mocking him.

Thunderspite crossed the cabin and started digging through his pack. Though her book still hovered in front of her face, Thunderspite could feel Dawn Glimmer's eyes following him. From his pack, he produced a book of his own, then sat on the opposite end of the couch and opened it to his bookmark.

“Whatcha readin’?” Dawn Glimmer snatched the book from his hooves with her magic.

“Hey! I was... ” Thunderspite protested.

Holding the book in front of her, Dawn Glimmer read its title in a mock-serious tone: “Aerial combat in support of infantry operations. By Lightning Crasher. Captain. Her Majesty’s Royal Pegasus Corps." She turned back to him. "I suppose this is your idea of a good read, Captain Thunderspite?"

Thunderspite was indignant. “I... it’s my duty to be the best commander I can, ma’am.”

“Duty. Honor. Courage,” Dawn Glimmer said in her mock tone again. “Do you ever have any fun, Thunderspite? Is there a real pony underneath that uniform?"

A pang of remorse shot through Thunderspite like an arrow. Dawn Glimmer’s words were almost identical to what Sky Dancer had said to him, right near the end.

Thunderspite’s face must have betrayed him. “Oh,” she said. She closed her book, stood, and walked over to him, looking him in the eyes. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not the first one to say that to you.” She phrased it as a statement, having already guessed the answer. Thunderspite opened his mouth a moment, but said nothing.

She considered him a moment longer. “Hmm.” She brought the book he had been bringing over to her, biting her lip. Then, she apparently had an idea. “I’ve got just the thing.” She trotted over to her bag, rifling through the dozen books before she found the one she was looking for. “Aha! Here it is.”

She brought the book to Thunderspite and placed it in his hoof. The title read, Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.

“What’s this?” asked Thunderspite.

“This,” said Dawn Glimmer, “Is fun. Captain Thunderspite, consider this a direct order. For the duration of this mission, you are not to read any more combat manuals. I am ordering you to read this book, and I’ll checking in regularly on your progress.”

“Miss Dawn Glimmer, I... ”

“And if you ever want to see your precious combat manual again, you’ll stop with all this ‘miss’ and ‘ma’am’ business. ‘Dawn Glimmer’ or ‘Dawn’ will be sufficient. Am I understood?”

Thunderspite looked at the book dubiously. The cover pictured a pegasus swinging from a vine above a crocodile-infested river, holding some sort presumably ancient artifact.

“... as you wish,” Thunderspite said. He was more than a little annoyed that she had taken his book away, and even more irritated at her insistence on informality.

“Best get to it, Captain. I want at least three chapters by the day’s end.” Dawn Glimmer resumed her seat on the other side of the gondola, her book hovering in front of her. Looking at him, she gestured at the book in his hooves with her eyes. Begrudgingly, Thunderspite opened the book to the first page.

The two read in silence for a while. Thunderspite had just gotten to the part where Daring Do had found the ancient, moss covered temple when Blitzwing flew into the gondola and began unharnessing himself.

“Something wrong, Lieutenant?” Thunderspite asked.

Blitzwing blinked. “It’s 10 o’clock, sir. Time for your shift?”

“Oh…” Thunderspite looked at the clock. “Oh. So it is.”

“Enjoying your book, sir?” Blitzwing said with a smirk, pointing at the book in his hooves.

“I... ” Embarassed, Thunderspite quickly stuffed the book into his pack. “I was just... ”

“Mind the cross-breeze sir. 10 knots or so, from the north.” Blitzwing smiled wide and handed over the harness.

Across the gondola, Dawn Glimmer tittered. Thunderspite snatched the harness from Blitzing and hitched himself up. On his way out, he shut the cabin door a little harder than necessary.

Thunderspite took a reading from his compass, then began to tow. It was only difficult for moment, while the balloon got up to speed, but once there, he hardly felt the drag of the balloon behind him at all.

He quickly lost himself in the zen of flying, and his mind darted from one subject to another. He thought about the mission, and about the adventures of Daring Do. He also thought about Dawn Glimmer, and how her words had reminded him of Sky Dancer, and how Dawn Glimmer had apparently picked up on this fact.

He was so absorbed in thought that he didn’t notice his shift was over until Dawn Glimmer opened a window and shouted at him. “Thunderspite! Lunch is ready!”

Thunderspite slowed the balloon to a stop, then anchored it to a nearby cloud and went inside. The other two were already seated on the floor, enjoying tasty-looking sandwiches. Looking at him between bites, Dawn Glimmer patted the empty carpet next to her, where a third plate sat waiting. Thunderspite was somewhat uncomfortable with her close proximity, but to move his plate elsewhere would be rude, so he sat.

Blitzwing was making short work of his sandwich, with table manners not at all befitting a Royal Guard. Thunderspite shot him a look, but Blitzwing seemed oblivious. “Mmm!” Blitzwing moaned. “Dawn Glimmer, this Sandwich is delicious! What’s your secret?”

Dawn Glimmer grinned. “I’ll take it to my grave, Lieutenant.”

“Isn’t this the best, Thunderspite?” Blitzwing asked around another bite.

Thunderspite nodded and dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “Yes, very good. Thank you, Miss... .” Her mouth still full, she leveled a butter knife at him. “…that is, uh, Dawn Glimmer.” She smiled in satisfaction, then resumed chewing.

The rest of lunch passed by pleasantly enough, with Dawn Glimmer and Blitzwing carrying on like old friends, and Thunderspite saying just enough to not be rude. When they had finished, Thunderspite volunteered to take the next towing shift, giving the reason that the other two shouldn’t have their lively conversation interrupted. The other two seemed to hardly notice he had left.

Thunderspite cleared the mooring line, took a reading from his compass, then resumed his place at the harness. He wasn’t ignorant, of course. He knew that Dawn Glimmer was interested in him, but he didn’t want to be involved with her, because... well actually, he wasn’t exactly sure why not. She was certainly beautiful, and kind, and she must be very talented if Princess Celestia herself had taken her on as a student. What then, was the problem?

Thunderspite searched his feelings as he flew, but was no closer to an answer when his second shift ended. When he entered the gondola again, Blitzwing and Dawn Glimmer were in the middle of a boisterous round of laughter, which they both tried unsuccessfully to contain when they saw him.

“Time for my shift, eh Cap’n?” Blitzwing said as seriously as he could manage. “Off I go then.”

When he was harnessed and out the door, Thunderspite crossed over to the couch, feeling Dawn Glimmer’s eyes on him as he went. He took the book he gave her out of his bag and opened it to his place. He pretended to ignore her gaze.

“So, Thunderspite. Blitzwing tells me you’re quite the vocalist.” She could barely contain her laughter.

Thunderspite groaned. Blitzwing had apparently told her of the embarrassing incident in basic training, when he had been made to sing the Guard Pony’s Hymn, nonstop, for an entire day. Apparently finding his irritation hilarious, Dawn Glimmer burst into laughter.