The sights of nature were breathtaking. Spitfire wondered if that's why she was there. Actually, she knew why she decided to go to this particular place, but her mind consciously blocked out the words related to her reason. Regardless, nature provided a serene location for her to trot along, thinking about life and its many hardships.
The fields near Ghastly Gorge fit the definition of nature at its most beautiful, or that's how Spitfire saw it. The sunlight peering through the small openings of the trees hanging overhead lit the area in a bright sheen. As she trotted along, leaves crunching under her hoofsteps, she was curious as to why she had never visited this place before. The chirping of the birds was melodic, the roaring of the waves in the distance setting the mood, and the natural scent of nature pleasing to the nostrils. Normally, Spitfire would feel a rush of ecstasy, but today was not the case.
Spitfire was her own worst enemy. An eventful life with a sprinkling of terrible luck and silly mistakes sucked all the joy out of her and left her as a depressed shell. Whenever she saw or heard about Rainbow Dash or Soarin, thousands of needles would pierce her heart. Memories she wished she could forget would cloud her mind. It was part of the reason she decided to visit Ghastly Gorge, as she knew they wouldn't be here.
Weak. Useless. Evil. Blunderbolts. Those were the words permanently glued to Spitfire's mind as she kept trotting. Each repetition of these thoughts sunk her spirits lower than anyone could have imagined, but all of these thoughts stopped upon noticing a glinting object partially covered in the dirt.
Spitfire trotted up to the object and carefully observed it. Noticing nothing out of the usual, she extended her hoof, shrouded by her blue and yellow flight suit, towards the object and picked it up. It was a small piece of gold, shining brightly under the sun. The substance brought back one of her memories of the past. A memory that filled her with a mixture of gleeful nostalgia and sadness. Her mind formed the image of the school from her youth, as the various pieces related to that day formed in her mind rapidly until the memory was complete.
*****
Spitfire stood on the wide field of Cloudsdale High School, a huge establishment with tall ionic columns for decorative purposes and carefully placed windows, all spread evenly apart on the four floors of the building. Pegasi and griffons of all shapes and sizes buzzed around the school, many of them carrying supplies on their backs, hooves, or talons. It was an impressive sight for those unfamiliar to the constantly busy workings of the school, but Spitfire was used to the rush of students trotting or flying around and didn't think much of it.
Spitfire watched as everyone went by before looking up at the clear sky above her. The sun was shining brightly as usual and the temperature was warm, but pleasant. As her mind entered a state of contemplation, she felt a faint tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw a pegasus mare with a crazy white mane that made her fiery mane look bland in comparison.
"Hey there," the pegasus asked, a feeling of compassion coming from her tone. "What's going on?"
"Just waiting for the race," replied Spitfire, her lips as linear as possible. "I'm a bit nervous."
"Me too. Well, I'm Cloudchaser. What's your name?"
Spitfire jolted ever so slightly as though she were shocked by an electric current. "Um, my name is, um, Spitfire."
"Spitfire. That's a cool name." Cloudchaser smiled, which caused Spitfire to faintly smile herself.
"Um, thanks."
"By the way, every time I see you, you're always studying. How about you take a break and we can do something fun together."
"Huh?" Spitfire stepped back, her face that of confusion. "W-why? We barely know each other, what if I'm mean?"
"You're not a mean pony." Cloudchaser gently wrapped an arm around Spitfire. "I asked you because, as Celestia's motto goes, "Friendship is Magic". It'll also be lots of fun."
Spitfire's eyes averted Cloudchaser's gaze and looked at the green grass beneath her hooves. "I, well, I, um, I—"
"I don't bite, but if you don't want to go, I won't make you. I'll understand."
Spitfire returned her gaze to Cloudchaser's eyes. A faint smile formed across her face. "I'll join you." Spitfire responded unconsciously, as though her heart was beckoning for her to hang out with Cloudchaser. She seemed friendly, and the students that knew her, from what she was told, all had nice things to say about her, so to her, there wasn't much to lose.
"Great. I'm glad you're able to join me."
"Attention athletes," a voice on a loudspeaker announced. "The race will begin very shortly. Take your starting positions and we will begin."
"Well, looks like we've gotta race first," said Cloudchaser. "Good luck, Spitfire."
"Same here, Cloudchaser."
As Spitfire trotted towards the starting line, she contemplated her actions with Cloudchaser. Was it the right thing to do? Did she act appropriately? How will she interact with the other ponies there?
All of these questions and more circled in Spitfire's brain, and once the tips of her hooves were at the starting line, her mind shifted to the race at the drop of a pin. She and the other competitors looked at the race course, which was comprised of floating rings with numbers on them. The fliers would have to go through the rings in order, so knowing the layout was a key to victory. Spitfire looked at the eleven competitors by her, some shaking ever so slightly, and looked back ahead.
"Three," a voice announced.
Spitfire did one last look over the course, her eyes darting back and forth like a pinball.
"Two."
Spitfire closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her body tensed up, eager to start the race.
"One."
Spitfire opened her eyes and clenched her teeth, her body leaned down into a take-off stance.
"Go!"
The twelve pegasi rocketed into the sky with a loud boom, some of the spectators covering their ears in response. Spitfire took the early lead and as she flew, she only looked on ahead, shutting out the world behind her. Weaving in and out and flying through the rings, Spitfire completed lap one of three 1.9 seconds ahead of second place, according to the announcer.
One of her rivals, a red pegasus stallion with a white mane, flew right next to her. The two were neck and neck through the rings, but try as her rival might, he couldn't get past her. The fliers passed over the start/finish line once again. It was the final lap. Spitfire pulled away from her opponent, and she looked to be in the clear. Completing her last lap in record time, Spitfire crossed the finish line in first place. A wave of confidence passed through her as she smiled to the crowd, but as she slowed down to rest, she heard a loud thud.
Turning her head to the source of the noise, she noticed the red pegasus from before rubbing his wing as he winced in pain, and down below she noticed the mare she talked to before falling to the ground, her body motionless. Spitfire's spine froze briefly and a loud gasp escaped her throat.
Not wasting any time, Spitfire dove towards the falling Cloudchaser. Her heart thumped louder and faster as anxiety consumed her soul, but her determination fought on to combat it. With a lot of time to spare, she caught the unconscious mare and using all of her strength, lifted her to the platform above.
Landing on the start/finish line, Spitfire gently placed Cloudchaser down and waved to the ponies hurriedly, her nerves tensing up even more.
"Don't just stand there doing nothing, help her!" she screamed.
Four medics approached the two on cue and just as they were about to grab Cloudchaser and lift her onto the stretcher, she groaned faintly and slowly opened her eyes, the sight putting a smile on Spitfire's face, the tension loosening in her muscles and her chest feeling like it could breathe freely again.
"Ungh. W-where am I?" asked a dazed Cloudchaser.
"You're at Cloudsdale High School's field," Spitfire replied. "You were knocked out after you crossed the finish line. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine. Let me try and get up." Cloudchaser, using every ounce of strength she had, slowly got up on her hooves. She nearly collapsed onto the floor, but Spitfire, reacting quickly, caught her and helped her up. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"I remember getting second place. So then, shall we go and get our medals?"
"Okay, but let's make it quick. We need to get you to a doctor as soon as possible."
"Fine with me."
Spitfire, slowly carrying Cloudchaser to the podium, looked on at the other pegasi watching them. While it warmed her heart to be the hero, she wondered why nobody else bothered to help. She also wished that such ignorance of a pony in peril would not happen again. It was an eventful day for her, and she couldn't wait to relax for once.
*****
Spitfire's mind returned to the present, no longer staring blankly at the piece of gold in front of her. She felt a tingling sensation inside of her and heard something inside of her mind. Spitfire could have sworn that she heard her own voice asking for happiness, but the roaring of the river blocked out her thoughts as though the river was doing this on purpose.
Trees became slightly more common as Spitfire walked, some of which sprouted in the middle of the pathway, oblivious to the workings of the sentient world around it. Coming up to a tree, Spitfire noticed a green snake, its coloring and body shape indicating that it was harmless to her, slither up the tree. The snake reminded Spitfire of another memory of her's. It was a memory of accomplishment and anxiety, the mission that made her the Captain of the Wonderbolts, a position she still holds to this day. The memory returned to her, remembering where she was that day and the scarred landscape around her.
*****
The Everfree Forest. A dark, mysterious place that only the boldest and bravest of ponies dare travel through. It is the home of the Jungle Leviathan, a long, snake-like creature, and one of these monsters had slithered into Ponyville, terrifying the populace.
Spitfire looked on with her two teammates, Captain Silver Lining and Soarin. The three of them were sent by Celestia with the sole purpose of taking out the monster. They hid behind a mountain, it's edges perfect for someone her size staying out of sight. Unfortunately, as far as Spitfire knew, their blank expressions suggested that neither of them had any strategies of taking the beast down.
"Listen up," said Silver Lining with a touch of confidence. "We go out there and try to slash it up. Ready?"
"What? No," interrupted Spitfire, her hoof blocking Silver Lining. When she noticed Silver Lining stop moving, her spine thawed ever so slightly after she prevented him from putting themselves in danger. "We need to think about what we're dealing with."
"How so?"
"It's something I learned in my studies. See, the Jungle Leviathan has an extremely thick outer shell that even the sharpest of known blades cannot crack. However, it does have a weak point."
"What would that be?" inquired Soarin.
"The gaps between its armor. It needs those gaps to move around, and behind that armor is a soft tissue that if pierced, causes a lot of damage."
"I really should have paid attention in school."
"However, if we charge at it, I feel as though we'll be spotted, thus making it harder to damage it. So I have an idea."
"I'm the captain," responded Silver Lining, scowling at Spitfire. "It's my job to think of the ideas."
"Can you please listen to me?"
"We're gonna do things my—"
"Captain, I object to your decision," interrupted Soarin. The three fell silent for a brief moment. "Spitfire, when you introduced yourself, you did say that you studied a lot, correct?"
"Um, yes," replied Spitfire. She had an idea of where Soarin was going, but a number of questions circled in her brain. Why is he helping me?
"Since you have the brains, we'll do things your way." Soarin turned to Silver Lining. "You're outnumbered two to one, so I think it's time to concede. You know Spitfire is right."
Spitfire looked into Silver Lining's eyes, which were wide open and slightly bloodshot. It was there she knew that Soarin was correct about him. "Okay, we sneak up on the monster, using the buildings as cover. Then, when he isn't looking, we deliver the blow. Understand?"
"Understood, ma'am." Silver Lining failed to utter a single word. "You understand, right?"
Silver Lining sighed. "You're right, Spitfire. I understand."
"Okay then," said Spitfire. "Let's be careful and take this guy out, but we want to make sure everybody is safe."
Silver Lining and Soarin both nodded. "Understood," they both said.
The three pegasi scrambled, flying low, as to avoid detection. Spitfire put her weight against the back of a building upon reaching town and peered outward to check if it was safe to move out. It seemed that nobody was watching her and the air felt still, but she took her time, just to be safe. Once she felt certain, she darted to the next building, her progress slow, but steady. After some time, she was within spitting distance of the Jungle Leviathan, flailing about. Waiting patiently, she peeked from behind, but to her annoyance, the beast didn't turn its back towards her.
The monster swung its tail towards Spitfire, who dodged before it made contact with her. Spitfire gasped upon seeing how close the tail was to hitting her. The swipe cut part of the building she was behind off, but when she noticed that she was still out of sight, Spitfire could feel her nerves calm. Creeping to the opposite side of the building, conscious of any noise she might make, Spitfire finally got a good look at the beast's back and flying stealthily to where its heart was approximately located, she took the razor thin blade attached to her wing and drove it into the beast.
The Jungle Leviathan bellowed and winced, and as Spitfire quickly flew away, the monster fell down to the earth with a thud, dust kicking up into the sky. Spitfire, hiding behind the building once again, looked at the still body of the beast. Not wanting to take any risks, she watched it from a distance. The monster coughed, Spitfire's heart rate rising, and when she noticed the Jungle Leviathan's eyes dim out, she took a deep breath. Ponyville and its residents were saved.
Spitfire trotted up to the Jungle Leviathan, its body motionless and giving off a scent that caused Spitfire to cringe. Soarin and Silver Lining followed closely behind, their eyes gazing at the monster. A number of once frightened witnesses joined them with expressions of relief. Everyone's eyes locked onto Spitfire, who felt an uneasiness about the whole situation. While she knew that being a Wonderbolt garnered attention, she never imagined it would be like that.
"Spitfire," said Silver Lining, his lips frowning and his shoulders sagged. "You were right. I'm hereby promoting you to captain. The position suits you much better than me."
Spitfire gasped, her hoof covering her mouth for a brief moment. "C-captain? You want me, some shy pegasus who is still very young, to become the Captain of the Wonderbolts?"
"Yes. I'm making it effective immediately."
Spitfire knew why Silver Lining did what he did, but the words inside of her refused to come out for a short time and came out stuttered when they finally did. "B-but I'm not sure what I should do. I-I've never had that much power before."
"It will come with time." Silver Lining patted Spitfire's back. It felt slightly reassuring to her, but the nerves were still present. "Let's clean up this mess and return to base afterwards. Right, captain?"
"R-right." Spitfire felt her nerves loosen, her speech no longer felt clogged. "But before anyone leaves, was anyone hurt?"
"Not at all," a pink earth pony named Pinkie Pie replied in a chipper tune. "Everybody is a-okay!"
"Are you sure about this?"
"Of course I'm sure! I had my nose twitch, my shoulder itched, and I almost tripped!" Pinkie paused briefly to reflect. "Or was that for rain?"
Oddly enough, a relieved look passed among the the rest of the crowd, and they started to disperse, leaving Spitfire standing there in bemusement.
"That's, um, something I've never seen before. Come on team, let's get to work."
*****
Spitfire's mind returned to the present once again. Her mind felt satisfied upon recalling the memory as it produced the faintest of smiles, but replacing it without warning was an even more important desire. It was the desire for a friend. Spitfire couldn't hide from it any longer and she let the crushing weight of loneliness pile on top of her. However, did she already have a friend she could share this with?
Spitfire shook her head back and forth as tears formed in her eyes. It was an answer her heart believed to be correct, but there was a kernel inside of her soul desperately trying to tell her the truth. As hard as it tried, the truth failed to make it to her mind and all that Spitfire could do in response was let out a deep sigh.
Spitfire felt as though she needed to keep trotting forwards. As she progressed, thoughts crept in her mind at a constant pace.
Why am I still the Captain of the Wonderbolts? Why did they accept me into the Wonderbolts in the first place? I'm nothing special. Rainbow Dash is a much better pony than I'll ever be. Why is Celestia not letting me bump her up to the final tests? Does she not want her to become a Wonderbolt? Is her relationship with her friends more important for Equestrian society? I'd understand that, since I do envy Princess Twilight Sparkle, but it does make me a little jealous.
Spitfire's thoughts came to a halt when she noticed a long, curly, purple strand of a mane or tail resting on the leaves below. Shuddering at the familiar sight, Spitfire looked around feverishly. Nobody seemed to be with her at the moment. She knew the owner of that strand. She'd never forget it as long as she lived. Memories of the Best Young Fliers Incident of 1000 YAB (Years After Banishment) returned to her as tears filled in her eyes. Her chest tightened more and more as the memories became clearer. Unable to fight the memories away, Spitfire's mind vividly repainted the scene of that day.
*****
Screaming. That's all Spitfire could remember when she regained consciousness. She looked around and noticed two of her teammates were also on beds, fully awake. A team of nurses surrounded each of the three, each one carefully tending to them to make sure they were okay. Spitfire's image focused, able to make out the details of the small, featureless, white room around her.
"W-where am I?" she asked in a dazed tone.
"You're in the medical room," answered the nurse. "You were knocked out trying to save the life of a falling pony." The nurse cleared her throat. "Another pegasus saved the four of you. You should go thank her once we make sure you're okay."
Spitfire's eyes went from squinting to fully open in under a second. "R-really? How long was I out?"
"About ten minutes. You're partners have been awake for four minutes. They were really worried about you."
"Still though, this is what I've been trying to communicate when I say I'm not a good fit for Captain of the Wonderbolts." Spitfire's cheeks blushed. Her mind couldn't process why she told that to a nurse of all ponies.
"Are you joking?" The nurse's tone sounded shocked, as though she never expected to hear that. Spitfire looked at her with a raised eyebrow, confused by her reaction. "Kid, you're the youngest captain in their history, and you've shattered the record of most consecutive successful missions. Does 70 in a row, some of those against huge threats, sound like something someone undeserving of the position would do?"
Spitfire let out a deep sigh. Her vision became blurry and a cascade of tears fell onto the bed beneath her. "I just make out the plans. I'm weak."
"You're not weak," a familiar voice interrupted. It belonged to Soarin, who trotted up to Spitfire with a determined visage.
"Soarin's right," said Misty Fly, who then revealed herself. "You're not weak. You're a strong pony with a good heart. We all mess up sometimes, and that's okay."
"I-it's just." Spitfire could no longer hold in her tears as they clouded the goggles she still wore. "It's just one punch to the face shouldn't do that to me."
"Don't fret on it," remarked Soarin. "Besides, that unicorn is supposedly a black belt at mixed martial arts. She kicked a Manticore in the face and dazed it. She's a strong one, I'll give you that."
"Oh, I see." Spitfire felt marginally better upon hearing the unicorn's background, though shame still filled her heart. "By the way, who was the pony who saved us?"
"A pegasus named Rainbow Dash."
Spitfire's eyes widened. "The Element of Loyalty?"
"I don't know much about the books and newspapers you read, but something like that."
"Listen, once this embarrassing day ends for the three of us, we'll try to vouch her to Celestia and get her into the academy. You're the one teaching that particular one, and I think she'll get along great with you."
"I hope she responds to her mail."
"I hope so too." Spitfire climbed out of her bed and dusted herself off. Almost collapsing upon touching the floor, she regained her balance and slowly trotted with her teammates out of the medical room. Waiting for them outside were the other Wonderbolts, all with relieved expressions on their faces.
"What was that all about?" asked Fleetfoot. Her insensitive tone drove a dagger into Spitfire's heart.
"Fleetfoot," shouted High Winds in a sharp tone. "That was very rude. Apologize this instant."
Fleetfoot blushed ever so slightly. "Oh, um, sorry."
"Anyway, we're glad to see you unharmed," commented Blaze. "Listen, let's make sure we treat Rainbow Dash with respect, because she deserves a ton of it right now."
"That's a good idea," replied Soarin. "Actually, we were going to thank her right now." Soarin turned to Spitfire and noticed her blank expression. "Are you okay, captain?"
Spitfire didn't respond. All she could think about was one word: Weak. The weakest pony of them all. A disgrace to those around her. It was no wonder to her why it felt like nobody liked her, though it was one of the few things she refused to reexamine. Instead of seeing faces of compassion and caring, she heard voices of mockery ringing in her ears. Such beliefs caused her heart to sink further and further into the abyss. She shut out the world around her until a hoof waved in front of her. Spitfire quivered slightly and looked over to Soarin.
"Spitfire?"
"Oh, um, yeah. I'm fine. I'm just a little dazed is all."
"I get ya. Come on, let's not keep Rainbow Dash waiting. We'll meet up with ya soon."
"Sounds good," said Fire Streak. "Hope things go well next time."
Spitfire, Soarin, and Misty Fly trotted towards the center of Cloudsdale Stadium, where Rainbow Dash would likely be waiting for them. Self-loathing still consumed Spitfire's heart, which yearned for something to cheer her up. While she knew what she needed to do to hide it from the bold hero, she didn't know how long she could keep up her masquerade, and that frightened her even more.
*****
Finally forcing her to bring her mind to the present, Spitfire abandoned the purple strand and continued her seemingly aimless journey. The trees in her path became less common as she went along until all that she saw were rocks and small pebbles around her. The crunching of leaves was replaced by the sound of covered hooves stepping on the tiny pebbles beneath her. She kept going and going, feeling refreshed that there was nothing else to remind her of days best left forgotten.
However, that quickly changed when she saw a distant rainbow in the sky. Her worst memories returned to her. She knelt down, defeated, and without even resisting, the memories attacked her mind without holding back. A more intense cascade of tears flowed down her cheeks, refusing to slow down or stop. She remembered the day best left forgotten. It was the day where her feelings of loneliness dominated her soul, all because of a huge mistake. She remembered the events that took place at the Equestria Games tryouts.
*****
Spitfire pressed her weight against the wooden wall of the humble cabin she and her teammates stayed in for the duration of the tryouts, looking at the outside world. She sat on a green couch, which felt nice against her body. Her face was glum, her shoulders sagged, and a guilt inside of her so heavy that she felt as though she'd sink into the abyss.
The tryouts just ended, and as Spitfire stared blankly at her qualification medal, one phrase was all she could repeat in her head. I'm evil.
Spitfire thought of nothing else as the figurative weight on her shoulders kept on growing. As she continued to beat herself up, a light blue pegasus stallion sat next to her. Spitfire turned to him and upon seeing Soarin right next to her, she turned away in shame, fighting back the tears.
"Spitfire, I know you said it was your fault, but I now know it isn't," said Soarin in a comforting tone. "I wish I noticed it then, but I distinctly remember looking outside the window of the hospital and seeing you glance over to where I was from time to time." Spitfire blushed, her eyes darted around. "Look, I know why you did what you did. You wanted Cloudsdale to qualify, and you were willing to sacrifice everything to make sure it happened."
"You said that nobody ever visits you," interrupted Spitfire, her melancholy palpable as she struggled to speak clearly. "Rainbow Dash told me everything. I was a monster, and you have every right to hate me."
"But I don't hate you." Soarin's hooves touched Spitfire's shoulders and felt surprisingly warm against her body. "You're my friend. I even think I might, I, um—"
"Why are you still my friend?"
"Because aside from this, you've been so awesome. You're smart, kind, and have tons of accomplishments to your name."
"Are you trying to make me feel better?" Spitfire knew the truth and her heart wanted it, but she couldn't bring herself to admit it.
"Of course. I, and our fellow teammates, want you to be happy."
"What about Fleetfoot?" Spitfire sighed and buried her head into her arms, the emotional pain inside of her sharper than ever. "I should have never gone along with her idea. It was doomed to failure. Why can't I be strong?"
"But you are—"
"I'm not. Please leave me alone."
Soarin rubbed Spitfire's back and the motion caused her to smile slightly. "I want to see you smile. Can you do that for me? Then I'll leave."
Spitfire looked at Soarin in the eyes. As tears rained down from her eyes and to the couch below her, she used every last fiber of her being to form a smile, and when her lips made the arc, Soarin tightly hugged her and whispered "I've got your back," before leaving.
Looking out of the window, Spitfire contemplated how the Equestria Games would play out. Knowing Rainbow Dash's luck, and by extension the other five's luck as well, she knew that by some twist of fate, they'd come out on top. As much as it hurt her, getting the gold medal seemed almost out of the question.
*****
Spitfire shook her head violently, trying to kick herself out of the memory as though she was a wild bull and the memory was a cowboy. Galloping even faster than before, she noticed the rocks getting more and more common. She saw a sapphire dropped on the path, but chose to ignore it. However, she didn't have any memories of sapphires, or anything related to gems in the first place, so it wouldn't have mattered.
Getting closer to her destination, she saw another gold piece, this one even larger, off in the distance. This sight forced her to screech to a halt as yet another memory entered her mind. It was the memory of the Equestria Games, and how she was made to look pathetic in comparison to Rainbow Dash. Spitfire let out a deep sigh and as before, she let the memory consume her, noises of an enthusiastic crowd echoing in her thoughts and the unmistakable form of the Crystal Colosseum returned to her eyes.
*****
The five teams that made up the relay race event of the Equestria Games gathered on the side of the grassy field, all of them looking up at the hoops they would have to pass through. Even without the cheering, the Crystal Colosseum, its reflections so bright under the sunlight that anyone who was near it stared at the stadium with shimmering eyes, was especially loud. It felt as though everybody in the known world was in attendance. All of the competitors were eager to race the day before, but today, only one team seemed to retain their anticipation, and Spitfire's growling stomach let her know that it wasn't her's.
"Is this some sick joke?" Fleetfoot whined. Supposedly, every team was not given breakfast the day of the race. It was due to a food shortage, from what they were told, but Spitfire had an inkling that it was a lot more than that. However, she lacked any evidence to support her superstitions.
"We're gonna be starving by the time we take to the start line," said Soarin, his stomach also shouting to be fed. "The fans around us are gonna see a race in slow motion, aren't they?"
"I guess so," replied Spitfire. "We'll have to do our best, even with our stomachs running empty." Her teammates nodded simultaneously. "Let's take our positions."
The three went their separate ways for the time being. Spitfire was assigned the last leg of the race, so she went to the area marked as such. To her dismay, she'd have to race against Rainbow Dash, likely the fastest flier known to ponykind. Spitfire bit her lip and tension gripped her entire body. Glancing over to her rival, Spitfire could feel her chances of victory slipping away, and if the other competitors' faces were anything to go by, they felt the same.
Spitfire tried to think of a possible strategy, but her time was cut short when the starting horn blew, and the first leg began. All she could do now was watch her teammates attentively and wait for her turn. Despite only being a few minutes, it felt like an eternity to her. Counting each second in her head, she saw Soarin flying towards her.
Soarin handed the horseshoe over to Spitfire, who flew away like a fired cannonball. She had a 2.8 second lead over Griffonia, and based on her senses, she was pulling away. The gold medal was in her sights and a smile formed on Spitfire's face. For the first time in a long time, she felt as though she had something to be proud of and her eyes shone brightly. However, much to her expected disappointment, Rainbow Dash had made up a thirty second deficit and climbed her way to second with ease. Spitfire clenched her teeth and cringed as she accelerated. The two were neck and neck for the longest time.
The finish line was in sight, and miraculously, Spitfire edged out Rainbow Dash to take the gold medal. Spitfire knew she won, but everything inside of her told her a different story. The two stopped after finishing, stared at each other for a split second, and politely shook hooves. As the two descended back to the field below them, Spitfire's heart ached. She knew she was the first athlete at the Equestria Games to frown after winning gold, but after almost losing to Ponyville, she felt that she had every right to. To make matters worse, her stomach growled more intensely. Her legs wiggled as though they were made of jelly, and collapsed onto the grass below.
Opening her eyes, Spitfire regained consciousness and despite embarrassment consuming her soul, she got herself up under her own power. She looked at a concerned Rainbow, whose frown turned into a slight smile.
"You've won," said Spitfire, her eyes avoiding Rainbow's. "Go on, celebrate."
"No," replied Rainbow Dash. "You did. Come on, we'll both celebrate."
"Oh, um, okay," Spitfire walked with Rainbow Dash to the podium to take in their accomplishments, but unlike everyone else, Spitfire felt no reason to celebrate. All it was to her was a reminder that she was worthless, and the depression hurt significantly more than the physical force she exerted.
*****
The memory ended, and Spitfire returned to her walk, her heart aching more than ever with inadequacy as well as loneliness. The pain inside her soul kept getting sharper and sharper, but she thought to herself that the pain would soon go away. However, the words relating to exactly how the pain would disappear refused to make themselves known in Spitfire's head.
Spitfire's destination was in spitting distance, but as she progressed, she found another object, an abandoned falchion, its blade wedged deeply into the dirt. Spitfire looked on, puzzled at its presence, but at that moment, another memory returned to her. This one, while not the worst, was the most horrifying of all. A grimace formed on Spitfire's face and her vision became blurry. She remembered the day she, and millions of others, nearly died. Her face visibly cringed, feeling like the falchion before her pierced her chest. She felt her heart sink as despair assaulted her mind with the memory of that fateful day.
*****
An army of five thousand pegasi hid behind bushes, trunks, and whatever else they could find. All of them had their eyes on two enemies. While such an instance might seem like overkill, it was who they were dealing with that was the problem. It was Discord and Tirek, two of the most powerful beings ever known to have existed.
Spitfire, hearing the failed attack by Soarin, Fleetfoot, Blaze, and ten thousand other pegasi, peeked at the two with High Winds, Fire Streak, and many others. With Celestia's favorite strategy of throwing enough ponies to make the problem go away out of the question, they would have to resort to more clever tactics, but with the tension in the air becoming tighter and tighter, they were running out of options.
"Captain Spitfire," whispered High Winds. "Any ideas?"
"I think I have a plan," replied Spitfire. "What's the size of our army?"
"About 5300, ma'am."
"Okay then, here's the plan. When their backs are towards us, we slice up Discord. When he's out of the picture, we'll deal with Tirek. He might be powerful, but I don't think he can aim at five thousand pegasi and not get hit by one or two, thus interrupting his magic drain."
"That's brilliant," said Fire Streak. "Now then, let's wait for an opening."
Minutes went by, and the opportunity seemed to never arise. The air became so tense to where Spitfire felt like it would squeeze her. She then noticed a pegasus by the name of Lightning Dust scrunching her face, tapping the ground with her hoof. Spitfire gulped, knowing what was to follow. Her heart rate skyrocketed as she watched Lightning Dust fly at the two. As predicted, Lightning Dust's magic was drained, her body seemingly lifeless upon hitting the ground with a thud.
The entire army cringed simultaneously. Their cover was blown. Discord uncovered the army with his magic and formed a devilish grin that could make even King Sombra shudder. He then paralyzed the entire army with the snap of his fingers, and in an instant, their magic was taken next. The last thing Spitfire thought of before losing consciousness, I'm sorry, Soarin.
*****
Spitfire's mind returned to her time once more. At last, Spitfire was at her destination, the deepest part of Ghastly Gorge. She looked down at the river below, roaring as it violently whipped up and down. The rocks below looked razor sharp, and it all made her smile. This was the place for her to end the story, the story called her terrible life. Nobody liked her. She was better off not existing. She was going to give them the wish she believed they wanted.
Spitfire dove from the cliffs, an expression of relief on her face. She let gravity do the rest, but a familiar scream rang in her ears. Looking up, she saw Rarity falling from the cliff, violently flailing about. Was she hallucinating? But why did it feel so real? Lifting up, Spitfire flew over to the unicorn and expected her to give her a punch to the face as before.
Only that didn't happen. Spitfire caught Rarity and lifted her up to the top of the cliff. A filly with a curly mane looked on with her mouth agape and stepped back as Spitfire gently placed Rarity back to the flat earth she stood on.
"T-thank y—" Rarity looked at her savior and gasped. "Y-you saved me?"
"Y-yes," said Spitfire, her face putting her anxiety on display.
"Why are you here?"
"I wanted to end it all."
Rarity gasped. She got off of the ground and placed her hooves on Spitfire's shoulders as she glared at her. "Don't ever think that. Too many ponies adore what you've done."
"But I don't have a place in the world."
"That's not true. I've read the newspapers, and you're saving so many lives. So what if we make mistakes down the line. We just keep on going, even if life treats us like dirt. I learned that. My little sister has learned that. I pass my words on to you."
Spitfire knew Rarity was right. However, her mind refused to accept it and her head throbbed as though a jackhammer bashed it. "Y-you're, um, you're right." Spitfire took a deep breath as she walked to the edge of the cliff. "But I still don't deserve to live."
"Fine. Kill yourself if you want, but are you really going to do that in front of a filly?" Rarity pointed to her sister, Sweetie Belle, who was shaking violently. Spitfire looked at the filly, full of life and potential, unlike herself. She paused and her eyes became fixed on the filly's. The filly bit her lip and tears formed in her eyes.
"If you think nobody cares about you, you're wrong," said Sweetie Belle, fighting back tears. "You saved my sister. If it wasn't for you, she'd be gone. You're a great pony, and I care about you."
Sweetie Belle extended a hoof to Spitfire, who stared at it intently. She had been given a choice. Either end it now, or keep on living. Spitfire could feel Sweetie Belle's emotions just from her focused expression. She looked back at the cliff. Feelings of inadequacy still plagued her, the voice in her head still telling her to go through with it.
But when she turned back to the filly, there was something about her. Something that spoke to her. Spitfire's heart warmed up bit by bit, telling her that hope did come to save her. And hope took the form of a small, white filly. Spitfire firmly grabbed onto Sweetie Belle's hoof, the emotions of a new era.
"You've come around, darling?" Rarity asked as she touched her chest.
"I have," replied Spitfire, her tone more jubilant than before. "I've known about this for a while, but the thing with Tirek was too frightening."
"I was scared myself, dear."
"Rainbow Dash upstaging me a lot didn't help matters."
"She's even upstaged Princess Twilight before."
Spitfire's pupils dilated and her eyes widened. A light went off inside of her mind. "So what you're saying is—"
"That you do have a place in this world? Yes, that's what I'm saying, dear."
"Okay. Thank you Rarity." Spitfire slowly trotted towards Rarity and patted her shoulders. "Not only did I save your life today, you also saved mine with the help of Sweetie Belle. I cannot thank you enough."
Rarity's lips formed a wide smile and tears dripped down her cheeks. "You're welcome."
"Me too!" Sweetie Belle added.
"That you are. By the way, why are you out here?" asked Spitfire, feeling the burden on her shoulders vanish. "You did ask me, so it's only fair that I ask you."
"Sweetie Belle wanted me to go camping with her," answered Rarity. "We were going to meet up with our friends. Did you want to join us?"
"No thanks. Besides, there's a pie-loving pegasus I want to talk to."
"Okay then. Goodbye, Spitfire."
"Goodbye, Rarity. Goodbye, Sweetie Belle."
Spitfire took off into the sky and waved at Rarity and Sweetie Belle. While she still felt a tad depressed, she realized that ponies do care about her, and that even if the light fades, she has to keep on flying. For her, for her friends, for her teammates, for Equestria, and for the world.
