The Curvature of Fire

The room was deathly silent as Spitfire, Soarin and Fleetfoot all held their breaths, awaiting the Wonderbolt captain's answer. Everything in their current lives had lead up to this moment, and it was the next few words that would decide if their dreams were to become a reality right away.

“So...the three of you are going into…” Severe Wind announced as he looked at the folders. Spitfire felt slightly confused when she saw a smirk forming on the stallions lips, not knowing what the result would be. Suddenly, to the surprise of all three new recruits, the room erupted into laughter as the three current Wonderbolt stars burst out laughing. Severe Wind had to wipe a tear of laughter from his eye as they came down from their giggling fit, leaving the three new flyers now confused beyond belief.

“I’m sorry guys, but seriously. Did you really think you’d just be replacing us like that?” Severe Wind asked with a chuckle.

Spitfire looked between Fleetfoot and Soarin who both held anxious expressions on their faces. “Uh...yes, I mean, no sir...I mean,” Spitfire was surprised. Ever since getting her acceptance letter into the Wonderbolts, the rest of the journey up until this point was a roller coaster ride. She, along with the other two new recruits, weren't told what their roles would be.

Soarin was also confused, having conflicting emotions. He received his acceptance letter in the mail a few days ago, and had been on cloud nine ever since. His parents threw him a party, and his whole life was now ahead of him. But so many questions still remained.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Firefly spoke up, “You’ll need to do better than the academy to replace us guys,” she said with a smirk as she and Star Flare got up and left the office, leaving three very shocked candidates standing in the middle of Severe Wind’s office.

“So…what will happen to us?” Fleetfoot asked with a cautious look on her face.

Severe Wind chuckled again, “Don’t worry, you're not going to be rejected, you're still on the team. However, before you can take over the team, you must complete a full tour with us current Wonderbolts, performing at various shows and events until you know how to perform like a team on your own. You're a reserve team for now. But only when you have the right qualities will I consider letting you three take over the main team,” Severe Wind said informatively.

Soarin, Spitfire and Fleetfoot nodded to the stallion before he continued. “Your dorms are in level A and are numbered four, seven and eight. Make your way to them and get settled. You’ll have the rest of the day to get yourselves accustomed to your new life. Training begins tomorrow morning at 0800 hours.”

With that, the three new Wonderbolts dispersed from the office and slowly made their way down the corridor. Soarin finally had the chance to breathe a sigh of relief from the tension, as did the two mares. He never thought things would go the way they did.

“Buck that!” Spitfire said in a grumpy tone, stamping her hooves down as she trotted with them. “I can’t believe he tricked us like that!” she said in a very angry tone.

“Hey, come on Spit, it was just a joke anyway,” Fleetfoot replied in a friendly tone trying to help the fiery-maned pegasus from busting a nerve.

“A joke about our biggest dream!” Spitfire said as the three trotted into the hallway which the Wonderbolt captain had directed them to.

“Uh...can we just choose which one we go in?” Soarin asked as they all looked at the three numbers which adorned the three doors. Fleetfoot shrugged and trotted over to room number four, making her way into the room and closing the door behind her. Soarin looked over to Spitfire with a curious look, she still had an angry look on her face.

Spitfire snorted out her nose, hoping to get a little bit of frustration out. Soarin put his hoof around her shoulders.

“Spitfire, I know you’re upset, but look at the bright side! We’re here, we’re Wonderbolts, and we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us!” Soarin said to try and comfort the mare.

“Geez, Soarin, since when did you get so mushy and positive?” Spitfire asked while moving away from Soarin’s hoof.

Soarin could feel a slight blush come across his face. “S-sorry, Spitfire. Just trying to make you feel a little better, is all. I mean, we're still here, and it'd probably be too hard to just get thrown in there and become the full Wonderbolts right away, you know? Being on a reserve team will help us learn from the best.”

Spitfire let out a soft sigh. “Thanks, Soar. I know you're right. You’re a nice guy,” she replied with a smile. “But, you also know me. I expect the best from myself. I don’t know, I guess I just wanted to start performing right away, you know?”

“I get that, Spitfire. Me too. I guess I just didn't know what to expect,” Soarin replied with a smile. “I mean, I really should have expected not to just replace the current main team.”

“Yeah, I know. Me too,” Spitfire replied while still showing some frustration.

“But hey, training starts tomorrow, and we’re well on our way,” Soarin added with high hopes. “We’ll be full Wonderbolts in no time. Just take some time to get settled in for now.”

“I will, Soarin,” Spitfire replied. She looked up and smiled back at him. “I think I’m gonna enjoy working with you.”

Soarin could feel a few muscles in his body tense up as he looked on her wonderful smile, which looked as if it could bring light into even the darkest of rooms. He watched as Spitfire turned around and made her way to room number seven, her tail and firm flanks bobbing with every hoofstep.

Soarin took a deep breath and let the air out of his mouth. He made his way over to the room beside Spitfire’s, number eight, which would have to be his new room for the foreseeable future. He slowly opened the door, revealing his new living space.

It was moderately sized, with two big windows overlooking the city, a bathroom, a small kitchen against the wall beside the main door, and cloud furniture, including a soft, luxurious bed, a desk with a phone, computer, and chair, a dresser, a dining room set, and a couch that was facing a television. It wasn't too much, but everything was well kept and new, and it was more than Soarin would have had if he had gone to the University of Cloudsdale. And best of all, it was all free, included with the job.

He let out a sigh and trotted over to the bed. With his hooves outstretched, he fell backwards onto the soft bed letting the soft cloud cushion his fall. Soarin kept his eyes towards the ceiling as he let his mind slowly start to tick over.

Suddenly a knock sounded at the door. Soarin’s head bolted up to see Fleeftoot and Spitfire, trotting into the room. He smiled seeing his friends, “Hey guys, long time no see?” he said jokingly, letting out a chuckle.

“Hey Piepony,” Fleetfoot said teasingly as she and Spitfire entered the room and started looking around.

“Yeah, I still need to go back to get my stuff from my old room to bring back here,” Soarin said as he got back up from the bed. Spitfire shot the stallion a smirk, to which he blushed at the sight.

“Oh, you mean at your parents’ house?” Fleetfoot asked with a grin. She snorted out some air with a snicker. “You gotta go back home to say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy?”

“Fleet, I already said bye to them,” Soarin said defensively. “No, I just have to grab some clothes and stuff. After all, I gotta get settled in here,” he said looking around the mostly empty room.

“Well, okay, don’t let us stop you. Or do you need somepony to hold your hoof?” Fleet asked, keeping up her assault. Soarin just shook his head playfully as he trotted out of the room as he made his way towards his parents' home.

Soarin flew over the skies of Cloudsdale, looking down below. He made out the rows of houses that surrounded the area he was flying over. Finally a grin spread across his muzzle as he spotted a familiar mare sitting on the porch of one of the many cloud houses.

Diving downwards towards the home, he landed close to the mare who turned to face the colt she had given birth to many years ago. She smiled widely when she saw him proudly trotting up to her in his uniform. “Hello, my baby boy,” she said trotting over and meeting him halfway as the pair shared a tender, loving hug.

“Heh, hey, Mom,” Soarin said softly as he wrapped his hooves around the mare. “I came to get the last of my stuff,” he said.

“Oh, really?” his mother said in a rather shocked tone. “You know, baby, you don’t have to if you feel like you need to-”

Soarin cut the mare off with a chuckle. “Come on, mom, you gotta let go eventually,” he said.

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. You’re right,” his mother responded. “Even though you’ve only been gone a few hours, if feels like years!”

Soarin’s mother got up and gave her son a huge, wet kiss, which caused him to cringe.

After wiping his cheek and shaking it off, Soarin replied, “Where’s Dad? He’s gonna want to hear how things went today.”

“He’s in the backyard. You go upstairs. I’ll bring him up.”

“Cool, thanks, Ma,” Soarin replied as he entered the house and flew up to his bedroom.

Upon his arrival, he landed, and took a few steps forward. Everything happened so suddenly. He was a Wonderbolt now, and he had a new home. His old room, his home for the first twenty years of his life, was not going to be his home anymore. He looked along the walls, where Wonderbolt posters all hung ever since he was a young colt and his father took him to see a Wonderbolt show. He let out a sigh as he began to look for a few items that he’d bring with him to his new place.

He grabbed his trusty bag and put it over his head and around his side. It was empty for now, but it would soon be filled with mementoes. He grabbed his old toy Wonderbolt plush toy, which was made to look like Tornado, one of the long-retired stallions of the squad. He grabbed some more items that had sentimental value to him, and continued to look around his old room.

Eventually, as his bag started to get full, he found an old picture of him as a colt with his parents. It was taken after the first Wonderbolt show he saw, when his parents took him on a trip to Manehattan. He saw a poster advertising the show as a young colt, and begged his parents until they brought him. And thus started his obsession with the flyers of Cloudsdale.

Soarin smiled as he saw his happy face in the picture. His father bought him a pair of Wonderbolt goggles, which he still had, and also threw in his bag. The couldn’t fit him anymore, but they still meant so much to him.

He looked at the wooden frame, where there was an inscription on a gold plate at the bottom, which read, “Never forget where you came from.” He held the picture frame against his chest, and smiled softly.

“Hey, Soar,” sounded a voice from the doorway.

Soarin turned his head. “Hey, Dad! Just grabbing some stuff to take with me,” he replied.

Both his parents came up to him and gave him a big hug. Soarin stiffened up at first, but knew that he couldn’t resist, so he eventually gave in.

His mother, who looked like she had a tear in her eyes, said towards her son, “Soar, look at you! You’re all grown up! You’re living your dream.”

Soarin sniffled a little too, but didn’t tear up. “Yeah, thanks to you guys.” He took a look at the picture in his front hoof. “You guys made life good for me. I hope I’ll never let you down.”

Soarin’s father put a hoof on his son’s shoulder. “You’ve always made us proud, and you always will,” he said. “Enjoy yourself, Soar. You’ll do great.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Soarin replied happily. “Fleetfoot and I are teaming up with Spitfire from the academy, and we’re gonna go on a tour soon with the current Wonderbolt team. We’ll eventually replace them when we’re ready.”

“Oh, my baby,” Soarin’s mother said while tearing up and giving her son a hug again. Soarin rolled his eyes. “Don’t forget about us when you’re rich and famous!”

“Ma, I couldn't forget you even if I tried,” Soarin said reassuringly.

“But, Soar,” his father interrupted, "be careful. There will be many mares who want to get attention from you, and you can’t let that distract you. Not even Fleetfoot.”

Soarin chuckled. “I know, Dad, I know. Don’t worry about that. I’m focused on my job.” He then pondered for another second. “And don’t worry about Fleetfoot. She’s just a friend.”

Besides, Soarin had his eyes on another, much more stunning mare.

“Okay, baby,” his mother replied. “We won’t keep you any longer. Call us every night!”

Soarin smirked at his mother. “I’ll try to, Ma. I promise.”

After one more hug given to his parents, this time willingly, Soarin was on his way back to the Wonderbolt Headquarters, his new home.