Sparkyll & Hyde

Soarin bolted through the evening sky, constantly checking the watch on his leg. The wind blew in his mane as he glided over the plains, on his way to Canterlot.

Shoot, Silver's gonna kill me, he thought.

Silver Mist was an employer for his career as a Skydancer. He had no doubt that she was backstage, cursing and swearing over his lateness. He checked his watch again, feeling irritated.

Yep, she's gonna kill me. If she doesn't, maybe Glider will.

Glider was another employer of his. Actually, she was the head of the team that Soarin was working for, The Skydancers, with Silver Mist as her second-in-command. Like the Wonderbolts, the team was a group of pegasi that performed by soaring through the skies, and executing various maneuvers. Unlike the Wonderbolts, though, they often told stories with their performances.

Despite Soarin's claim to fame was being a member of the Wonderbolts, his career with them was over. A couple months ago, he crashed into, and destroyed a blimp during a Wonderbolts show, ruining the whole performance. After arguing for over an hour with the mayor of Manehatten, Spitfire was given no other choice but to discharge Soarin from the Wonderbolts, leaving him without a career. So when Silver Mist and Glider offered to recruit him to the team, he accepted.

However, there were two problems with his new career. First his employers. Silver Mist was extremely strict, and often gave him a hard time. And Glider was, simply put, a mean-spirited mare who was all work and no play. A mare who controlled the Skydancers with an iron hoof.

When Soarin first joined the team, what he found out the hard way was, once you sign up with the Skydancers, you can't quit. If you ever try to leave, they just blackmail you. Sometimes they just take your next pay. Sometimes they find and threaten to expose your darkest secrets, something which Glider could do with the greatest of ease. But in very extreme circumstances, they'll even give death threats. Although, the threats aside, being a Skydancer was actually pretty fun, and very rewarding. Audiences were always permitted to give the Skydancers money, and for Soarin, he got a lot, due to his former popularity as a Wonderbolt.

The second problem was, shortly getting kicked out of the Wonderbolts, he took a hard look at his life and realized, he didn't know who he was. Sure, he was an strong pegasus and handsome stallion. But nothing more. Soarin longed to know what his destiny was, now that he was no longer a Wonderbolt. Was he an athlete? A student? A gentlecolt? Or just, simply, a nopony? A pony who doesn't matter, who isn't meant to have a future? All he knew for sure was that he wasn't going to find out by sitting around, waiting for opportunity.

Soarin had been working hard on a skydance routine for several weeks. A routine that he was certain of, would show Silver Mist what he could do. Surprisingly, he had impressed both her and Glider, with his work. He was given permission to perform it tonight, with one other pegasus. But that wasn't going to happen if he was late!

He flew with new bursts of speed, approaching Canterlot's district. Soon, the grass field, where the Skydancers' show was being held, came into view. In the middle of the field, was a stage, and behind it, a small tent, the so-called "backstage". The bad news was, the show was well underway. There was already a large crowd gathered. The good news, though, his main routine was to come last. Feeling satisfied, he landed a ways behind the crowd and sneaked quietly to the backstage. But not before bumping into a grey mare with a ruby red mane, who was waiting for him just outside.

"Where were you?!" she cried out. "The others had to fill in for you!"

"I'm sorry, Silver Mist." Soarin said. "I really am. I lost track of time and-"

"No excuses! Get in there, now!" Soarin entered the tent without hesitation. Inside was an oval-shaped mirror, and a table for performers to put their saddlebags. The tent was lit only by a few small candles placed near the corners. Three pegasi were standing inside when Soarin came in.

"Well, well, well, Soarin," Thunderlane, a black stallion with a blue-silver mane said. "It's about time you showed up."

"Ah, look who it is; his royal highness," Midnight Strike, a black mare with a black and yellow mane, teasingly joined in. "The Prince of the Skydancers."

"I'm really sorry, guys," Soarin apologized as he threw his watch and saddlebag on the table.

"I tried to get here as soon as I could." Just as he said this, Silver Mist walked into the tent, and glared at Soarin.

"You are in trouble, Soarin. We are running late, and Glider is in a foul mood."

"Ooh, that'd make a nice change around here," Soarin remarked sarcastically.

"Oh, don't upset her, Soarin," said Wildfire, a cream-colored mare with a chocolate brown mane. "You know what Glider can do." She tossed Soarin his uniform, a simple black leotard with his cutie mark stitched on the flank, and a pair of black goggles.

"So, where were you, Soarin?" asked Thunderlane, as he adjusted his outfit. "I suppose you were back in Cloudsdale, listening to one of those speeches again?"

"And what's wrong with that? I like to listen," Soarin said as he slipped his outfit on. "I just want to learn."

"I dunno, Soarin," Midnight Strike began. "Filling your head with all that rubbish could get you killed someday." Thunderlane murmured with agreement, and Wildfire remain silent, neither agreeing nor objecting. Silver Mist ignored Thunderlane and faced Soarin.

"All you need to learn, is to be on time. Now you get out on that stage in two minutes." She went over to the mirror, brushed out her red mane, and turned to leave the tent.

As she walked away, she began to say, "I don't know who you ponies-"

"Think you are!!" the four pegasi finished in mocking unison. Silver turned around slowly and glared at them.

"....Think you are."

"Well, don't worry, Silver," Soarin replied. "Nor do we." As laughter filled the tent, Silver scoffed angrily at him and left.

"Ah, I'd rather be a nopony than her," Soarin said as he stretched out and flexed his wings.

"Oh, cheer up, Soarin," Wildfire said with a compassionate voice. "You're the nicest, most amazing nopony that I know. And besides, after your performance with Thunderlane tonight, I'm sure things will be different around here."

Soarin smiled at her. When he first joined the Skydancers, Wildfire was the first to greet him. She showed him the basics of Skydancing, and how to generally please Silver Mist and Glider. The two quickly became best friends, and started practicing together. In fact, she was the one who inspired Soarin to create his Skaydance routine.

Soarin was also became good friends with Midnight Strike and Thunderlane. Soon, the four pegasi started hanging out together on the weekends, going to the theater and playing board games. On one occasion, Midnight Strike brought a karaoke machine, and the four sang together. Somepony actually called guards on them, and almost got them arrested, but even then, the four friends had fun that night.

"Thanks, Wildfire," Soarin began. "But that still doesn't change the fact that I don't know who I am." He walked over to the mirror and straightened out his mane.

"It's such a shame. Spitfire told me that I had so much potential. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for that stupid blimp." Wildfire put a hoof on his shoulder and tried to give comforting words.

"I know it's been hard, Soarin. I know that being a Wonderbolt was your passion."

"Not helping," Soarin said as he glanced at her.

"Sorry. My point is, I think that there was a purpose for all this. I think that something good will come out of this. " Soarin smiled again and looked back at his reflection.

"I dunno, Wildfire. All I want to know is what my destiny is. I mean, am I meant to be the face of the future? Of the past? Or am I just some....loser who isn't meant for anything?" Thunderlane and Midnight Strike joined Soarin's side, trying to cheer him up.

"I wish that I could find my destiny," he continued. "But honestly, even if I found it, besides you guys, who'd ever give a damn? I just gotta face the facts. Nopony, not me, not you guys, not even Princess Celestia. Nopony....cares who I am."

Silver Mist walked in and tapped her hoof on the ground.

"Soarin, Thunderlane, get onstage now!" She stormed out of the tent, fuming.

"We'd better go, Thunderlane," Soarin said.

Then he added with a grin, "Before she flies away on her broomstick." Wildfire chuckled quietly.

"Go get em', tiger," she said with a wink. Soarin walked over to her, and kissed her forehead gently.

He ran out of the tent, and onto the half-darkened stage. Silver Mist stood on the other side, with the limelight beaming down on her. Mares and gentlecolts alike were gathered in the meadow. The audience was spilt in two sections: Public seating, which was about thirty feet from the stage, and the V.I.P. section, twelve feet away. Thunderlane stood near the stage; His part of the performance started in the middle of the routine. Soarin quickly scanned the crowd, in curiosity of whether or not one of the Wonderbolts came to the show.

That's when he saw her. Seated in the front row, in between a light blue pegasus and an orange earth pony, was a purple unicorn with dazzling, violet eyes. Her mane was a very dark blue, with a streak of pink in the middle. Soarin felt his breath taken away by this stunning mare. Good thing the lights weren't on him yet, because he could tell that he was smiling like an idiot. He forced himself to stop smiling, and tried to look professional.

"And now, our final act of the night," Silver Mist announced to the audience. "I proudly introduce, our finale, performed by Soarin!"

Silver Mist leaped off the stage, and the limelight fixed on Soarin, unveiling the pegasus. He cleared his throat, and looked at the unicorn mare again. Her eyes met with his. She stared at him and smiled with raw excitement.

His mind was made up.

Nopony or not, he mused. This is my moment. This is my chance. And I'll show her, and all of Equestria, who I truly am.

The music began, and he spread out his wings and took flight, ready to amaze the beautiful mare that watched him soar.