Soarin gritted his teeth nervously as he walked up to the plate. He looked at Applejack, perched sedately on the pitcher's mound. Her hat was pulled low over her brow, and the single piece of hay she was chewing swayed up and down like a conductor's baton. She smiled at Soarin, but he could see the fire behind her eyes. The 'Bolts didn't stand a chance of winning this game.
It wasn't as though they hadn't practiced...in fact they tried to as much as possible. They wanted to put on a good show for the pony public, but they were just so busy with their duties as Wonderbolts. Both the 'Bolts and the Elements of Harmony had become very famous over the years. This was turning out to be a popular opening friendly to a great Equestrian League Softball season!
Soarin didn't want to let his friends down...to let anypony down. "Don't worry, Soarin. Let's all have fun!" said Pinkie Pie, who was crouched behind him in the catcher's position. He smiled weakly at her and nodded. He then looked back up at Applejack, swallowed dryly, and raised is bat to the ready.
Applejack could tell Soarin was shaking in his horseshoes. "It's okay, Sugarcube," she said softly, as she wound up for her pitch. She stood up on her back hooves and slowly touched the ball to her gloved hand. Then, her pitching hoof quickly wheeled back in an expertly thrown fastball. Soarin watch the pitch come in, but tightly shut his eyes as he swung the bat as well as he could.
The ball hit the dead center of Pinkie's glove. "Steee-rike one!" said the umpire. Soarin raised his bat again and tried to concentrate. He stuck his tongue out of one side of his mouth, and looked at Applejack as she caught the ball Pinkie threw her. Everything else seemed to fade away. There was just Soarin and Applejack. He began to think of how strong she was, about her apple farm, about the pies she made...he didn't even swing at the second pitch.
"Steee-rike two!" His team was shouting at him from the dugout. Soarin shook himself out of his pie-related reverie and tried to concentrate once more. This time, his thoughts turned to flying. Before he raised his bat again, he shook his wings out slowly, stretching them. A gentle breeze emanated from him, kicking up dust in concentric circles like ripples in a pond. In the distance, thunder could be heard. Everypony in the stands went silent, afraid the game would be rained out, but it wasn't rain. It was the magic in Soarin's wings. It wasn't complicated: Spitfire had her fire, Rainbow Dash had her rainbow, and Soarin had his stormcloud. Each of the Wonderbolts had powerful magic in their wings.
He squared up and kept his eye on the ball. This time, he didn't even see Applejack. He watched as the ball swung around and came at him. He followed it as it passed in front of him, and he swung his bat when it felt right. Soarin hit a grounder between second and third that barely got him to first base. His running gait was awkward, because he was concentrating too hard on trying not to take off and fly away. Out of the stadium, away from all the ponies watching the game...watching him. Watching the Elements trying to tag him out at first. Fluttershy caught the ball moments after he touched first base, and Angel Bunny cheered her from the batting coach position. He had agreed to take the position for the 'Bolts, if only to be closer to Fluttershy.
Soarin looked down at him, and Angel thumped the ground with his back paw and flashed a grin at him. Soarin returned the grin, and then adjusted his helmet to look at who was next at bat.
