The Curvature of Fire

“Rise and shine, newbies!”

Soarin’s eyes snapped open from his sleep when the words reached his ears at a shockingly high level. He groaned as his body tried to wake itself up quicker than usual. Soarin’s eyes travelled down to the foot of his bed to see the cluttered room in front of him. Last night’s unpacking was only half finished.

“I said ‘rise and shine’, so rise and shine! Or would you like me to come in and throw you all out here myself?” the voice echoed again.

Soarin finally found the strength to push the covers off his body, sending a shiver down his spine from the cold air. He pulled himself out of the lush cloud mattress which he forced himself to leave and made his way towards the door of his new room. Opening it revealed the same pink mare he’d seen the previous day. She stared at him with a questionable look and said, “I would have thought you’d have come out in your uniform, 'Bolt?”

Soarin stammered half awake and half nervous, “I-I...uh…”

Firefly rolled her eyes. “Turn that flank around and get that uniform on!”

With that, Soarin did as he was told. He went back to collect his uniform. Once he had finally got the fur-tight clothing to fit, he made his way back outside to see Fleetfoot and Spitfire emerging from their own dorms with their uniforms on. Firefly smiled once she saw the three were ready to go. She began pacing between the three ponies as she spoke, “Okay newbies, since you haven’t yet performed in a Wonderbolts tour, we need to get you ready for one. This will involve a ton of training, but these won’t be your usual wing-ups. This training is based solely on the flying aspect. You’ll be perfecting tricks and working together as a team while you form a routine fit for a Wonderbolts show.” The mare said as she stopped and turned to the three. “Any questions?”

Soarin looked between Spitfire and Fleetfoot, none of them making a noise. After a few moments in silence, Firefly spoke up again. “Great, let’s get started,” she said motioning for the three ponies to follow her as they trotted down the hallway.

“So, I’m guessing you’re gonna be our trainer?” Fleetfoot asked, raising an eyebrow.

Firefly nodded. “Correct. I’ll be overseeing your training to make sure you don’t start slacking off and eat all the pies in the mess room,” the mare said, eyeing Soarin as Spitfire let out a giggle making him blush madly.

“H-how did you-” Soarin started.

“I don’t just oversee the training in the Wonderbolts, Soarin. And not to mention, that was one of the biggest stunts I've seen in my career,” Firefly answered to the stallion who just kept his head down in embarrassment. Firefly smiled teasingly as she trotted forward, but Soarin didn't notice. The other two mares snickered. Especially Fleetfoot, who had known about Soarin's deep love for pie.

Soon the four ponies reached the the back of the Wonderbolt building, which housed a large training ground. However, what was different about this training ground was that it wasn't like the training ground that Soarin and the others had seen in the academy, which was on a plateau. Instead, this training ground consisted of an open area of cloud, with the downtown buildings of Cloudsdale on either side. At the end of the ground was a drop, where the edge of the city was, overlooking the plains of Equestria.

“So...where do we start?” Spitfire asked as Firefly turned around to face them.

The veteran ‘Bolt smirked. “I know you're all probably wondering why there aren't any giant hoops or obstacles. This is because the Wonderbolt Academy trained your physical skills, but this training, as I explained, will be very different. You’ll be training on your mental ability to stay alert and remember moves at the correct timing. You don’t see any obstacles in a Wonderbolts show, do you?” she asked looking around the three ponies who were starting to catch on to the idea.

“So, we just go up and start flying?” Fleetfoot asked.

Firefly shook her head. “Not just yet. First you need to have a look at the routine you’ll be practicing. I want each of you to take turns to do a simple figure-eight routine in the sky. This will be the start of your proper routine,” the older Wonderbolt explained, “How about you go first, Spitfire?” the mare asked.

Spitfire nodded and trotted a few steps forward before spreading her wings and shooting off into the air. Fleetfoot and Firefly watched Spitfire closely, watching her routine. Meanwhile, Soarin looked at the flying mare with intrigue. A goofy grin started to form on his lips as Spitfire started to perform the simple routine. The way she curved around in the figure-eight mesmerized the stallion. Fleetfoot noticed Soarin’s longing look at Spitfire. The mare was about to mention something teasingly, but before she could speak up, Firefly turned around and pointed at Fleetfoot to take Spitfire’s place as the fiery-maned mare came back down to land. Fleetfoot took one last look at Soarin before taking off.

The training had gone on a little longer than expected for the three new Wonderbolts. They all came into the mess hall for a late breakfast, wiping a few beads of sweat from their brows as they made their way into the large hall.

Fleetfoot looked around in confusion, “Where is everypony?” she asked. Spitfire shrugged, looking over to Soarin, who had suddenly moved. Both mares then saw the stallion, whose face was pressed up against the window of the canteen area, where a few pies were left only a few inches away from him. Fleetfoot shook her head playfully as she and Spitfire trotted up to join him.

Soon all three were plated up and sat down at one of the many tables around the hall. Soarin quickly dug into his meal while Fleetfoot went for the more polite approach of eating her meal one piece at a time. “Soar, you really are one of a kind, aren’t you?” Fleet asked raising an eyebrow.

Spitfire took off her goggles and shook her head before eating. The colours of Spitfire’s mane caught Soarin’s eye. He momentarily stopped eating as he watched the mare longingly.

“Uh, Soar?” Fleetfoot asked. Soarin had no response. He continued to look at Spitfire. “Earth to Soar, come in, Soar!”

“Huh?” Soarin responded as he turned to face Fleetfoot. He instantly stiffened up and felt a blush come on his face.

“A little lost in thought, there?” Fleetfoot asked the stallion.

Soarin took one quick glance back at Spitfire, who was focused on her meal. He then turned back to Fleetfoot, replying, “Yeah, I guess. Just a little tired from this morning’s practice.”

“I see,” Fleetfoot answered unconvincingly as she continued to eat her own food.

Soarin, not wanting to create any weirdness between himself and the two mares, decided to focus on the plate in front of him. But as he took his first bite of the meal, the door shot open, revealing the three current Wonderbolts. Severe Wind, Firefly, and Star Flare trotted in the room, all talking quite loudly to each other.

“Hey, newbies,” the captain said as he trotted by the three ponies eating. “Did Firefly break you today?” He stopped while the other two went on to go get their food.

Spitfire gulped. “Not at all, sir,” she replied sternly. Soarin and Fleetfoot nodded their heads in agreement.

“Good,” Severe Wind responded. “Because things will only get tougher from here.”

Soarin’s eyes widened at the sound of that. His wings were already a little tired from practicing solo flying for the entire morning.

Severe Wind sat down at the table, continuing, “Star Flare will take you three out this afternoon for some team training. You will expand on what you did this morning, but only while all doing it together. Your task is to perform your own routine while not colliding with another member.”

The three new Wonderbolts all nodded in confirmation. Severe Wind smiled before getting back up and leaving the three to finish their meals. After a few moments had gone by and Soarin had stocked up on his latest filling of pie, another voice sounded over to them, causing their heads to turn.

“Hey guys, time to get up and get going!” Star Flare shouted from the opposite end of the room as she leaned on the open doorway into the training area. Soarin, Spitfire and Fleetfoot each gave out tired sighs as they pushed themselves back up onto their hooves and made their way over to the training grounds once again.

“So, I’m guessing Severe Wind gave you the info on our team training today?” Star Flare asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, he did,” Spitfire confirmed. “Something about not colliding with members.”

Star Flare nodded confidently, “Exactly. It’s a big part of the routine to not cause any collisions or hiccups, shall we say, in a routine,” the veteran Wonderbolt explained as she flexed her wings slightly expanding them outwards. “You want to give your closest member about half a wing of space between you both at all times, no more and no less,” the mare informed.

Soarin looked between Spitfire and Fleetfoot, the three spreading out to form a space of about half a wing apart. Star Flare grinned as she spoke, “Good job, now let's see if you can handle it in the air,” she said motioning for them to hit the skies.

The three Wonderbolts shot into the air at high speeds, making a quick loop around in the air, before coming level with one another in the air. They looked down at their trainer, who shouted towards them, “Need to move a little closer!”

The three pegasi did as instructed and moved closer together. Once they were at the correct distance, they looked back down to await further instruction. Instead, they found no Star Flare. A moment of confusion was held before the mare in question shot past them before turning around, flying upside-down in front of the ponies, “Okay, good job, now I want you to see if you can move between one another to see if you can quickly pass each other without colliding with anypony.”

Soarin looked to Fleetfoot as the pair slowly but surely slipped past one another as smoothly as they possibly could. This brought Soarin into the middle of the formation, which gave the stallion a perfect view of the fiery mare on his left. The three of them continued flying forward in unison toward the edge of the course.

“Great!” Star Flare shouted out from the other end of the course. “Now, turn around together, and don’t hit each other!”

Spitfire, being on the left side of the three flying ponies, tilted downward. Soarin and Fleetfoot followed suit. However, as the wind blew Spitfire’s mane, Soarin found himself distracted once again. Strands of the mare’s hair were about a centimetre away from the stallion’s face. He took a deep breath through the nose, taking in the mare’s aroma. She smelled fresh and clean. Soarin closed his eyes with a smile as the three of them continued to turn.

Only a second later, however, Soarin felt a bump on his right side.

“Hey, what gives?” Fleetfoot yelled out, causing Soarin to open his eyes wide.

“S-sorry, Fleet,” Soarin responded.

“We’re in mid-flight!” Fleetfoot shouted back over the sound of the wind. “Pay attention!”

“I will!” Soarin yelled back.

The three of them straightened out again, flying back towards their instructor.

“Are you distracted, or something?” Fleetfoot asked as they started to slow down, approaching the end of the course, where Star Flare was watching.

The three of them spread apart a little more and spread out their wings to create drag, slowing them down.

Soarin looked back at Fleetfoot and shook his head. “N-no. Just a little tired, I guess,” he responded as they finally landed back on the soft cloud.

Fleetfoot, who landed right beside Soarin, responded, “Fine, just make sure you keep your eyes level, Pieboy, or you’ll be falling face first into something a lot harder than pastry the next time we fly!”

“I’m sorry! It won’t happen again!” Soarin defended as the three ponies turned towards their instructor.

“I see you have some issues to work out,” Star Flare commented.

Spitfire shot a glare to her two teammates. “I guess we’re just a little out of practice,” she replied. “We’ll get it next time.”

“Even if you do,” the current Wonderbolt responded, “you'll still have to do it many more times. You three have to be able to fly together perfectly to even think about continuing in your training.”

For the next few hours, the training continued. The simple tasks they performed on this day tired out all three Wonderbolts. He was more tired on the first day than he’d ever been back at the academy, and he knew he was speaking for Fleetfoot and Spitfire too when he felt like that. Knowing this was only going to be the first day of many to come, things didn't seem to be looking like plain sailing for the three new pegasi of the Wonderbolts’ team.

The sound of tired hooves echoed throughout the hallways of the Wonderbolt building as Soarin, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot made their way through the corridors at a much slower pace than they had the previous day. Their energy and some of their dignity had been depleted, with their minds and bodies in need of some well-deserved rest.

While no words were spoken between the ponies, their thoughts about the day so far were going through their heads. Soarin particularly was taking most of the blame for fumbling early on in the day. The stallion wasn't too sure if he’d managed to upset his friends to the point where they’d start not wanting him around.

As they reached the doors Soarin turned to the two mares and said. “Hey, I’m sorry for messing up again,” Soarin admitted as he looked down.

Fleetfoot nodded before heading into her room. Soarin sighed as he turned,, but then he heard a voice speak up.

“Everyone makes mistakes, Soar. You’re alright,” Spitfire said with a small smile as she headed towards her room. He watched as she opened the door, turned her head around, and gave Soarin a light smile. Soarin replied with a happy grin of his own as she closed the door. He didn't respond to her, but he didn't feel the need to. After she closed the door, Soarin's smile was from ear-to-ear, and he pumped his hoof in the air.

Soarin's heart lifted from hearing Spitfire's words. It wasn't an easy first day of training, but Soarin knew that it wouldn't get easier. He knew that he'd have to take the positives out of every single day. The stallion trotted into his room and threw himself onto the bed, letting his muscles finally relax for the day.

Even though his muscles and mind were sore, there were happy thoughts in his head. He was on his way to becoming a full Wonderbolt. Not only would he get to see Spitfire for a long period of time, but she also said some encouraging words to him. He slowly closed his eyes, with the image of Spitfire's smile on his mind.

There wasn't too much to be happy about so far. Tougher days were still ahead. But Soarin survived his first day, and he hadn't made a complete fool of himself as of yet, which were two things that he could take out of the day. And those two things were enough to make him happy.