"Faster!" Spitfire barked with her usual harsh voice, making me squint my eyes and push on faster and faster. It was a Monday night, and I wanted more than anything to just go home. But I still had twenty laps to do.
"You alright?" I glanced over my shoulder and saw Lightning Streak fly up to me with a caring look in his eyes.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I tried my best not to look weak, despite how tired i was. I had been practicing all day.
"No reason," Lightning Streak shrugged and acted nonchalant. He knew not to mess with me.
"You two! Quit the chatter and finish up!" I groaned as Spitfire continued to order us until, at last, we crossed the finish line for the hundredth time that day.
Soon, every Wonderbolt was packing up their things and flying away. My best pony friend forever, Misty Fly, stayed behind to wait for me.
"I'm going to ask Spitfire for the day off tomorrow. I just can't do this every day!" I told her as she landed next to me.
"Do you think she'll let you?" Misty Fly questioned, raising her eyebrow.
"She can't force me to come," I rolled my eyes and trotted to Spitfire's office. After knocking on her door, I waited patiently. But no answer came.
"Spitfire?" I called, opening the door just a crack. The office was empty. But the window was open.
"Why would she fly out the window instead of using the exit...?" I wondered out loud. "Maybe she didn't want anypony following her..."
I was interrupted as a loud voice boomed. "WHAT do you think you're DOING?!" I spun around with wide eyes and saw Spitfire walking through the doorway. I noticed she had a twig stuck in her mane and... Was it just my imagination, or were her eyes... Red?
"S-sorry," I stammered. I knew how angry the captain could get if I didn't play this right. "I shouldn't have come into your office. I just wanted to ask you for the day off tomorrow."
"Ha! You think I'll give you a day off for being the weak pony you are? Think again!"
Her comment stung. Sure, I was small for my age. But that didn't mean I was weak. Or did it?
"Sorry for asking, captain," I looked at the ground. "Where were you anyway? Why weren't you in your office?"
"Oh, i was... Thats none of your buisness!" Was that alarm i saw in her eyes?
"Her eyes were... Red?" Misty Fly asked me on our flight home. "You're sure?"
"Misty, I know what I saw!" I snapped at her.
"But it could've just been the lightning... And orange can look an awful lot like red."
I was about to defend myself when the presence of another pony became clear. Turning around, I saw Lightning Streak hovering beside us, smiling.
"Hey, um, Misty?" He began awkwardly. "I was wondering if maybe I could speak to Fleety... Alone?"
"Oh, of course," Misty Fly winked at me as she flew down a few yards. She knew I had a massive crush on Lightning Streak.
"Well , you see... I was just wondering if..." He scratched his neck. "You wanted to go out sometime with me? Say, tomorrow night?"
I stared at him in shock. Had he really just asked me out?
Unfortunately, I stared for too long, causing him to get the wrong picture.
"Oh, sorry. I should've known you had something better to do..." He sighed miserably and turned away. Before he could get far, I overcame my surprise and called out to him.
"Wait! Lightning!" He slowly turned his head to me. I'd love to go out with you."
-
"Ugh... I HATE washing my mane!" I sighed. It was a few hours before my date with Lightning, and Misty Fly had insisted on doing my mane. I was already forced into taking a bath with scented shampoo, and now I had to sit there while she sprayed all this girly smelling stuff in my mane.
At last, she completed the task, and sat back while I started in the mirror. My mane, instead of being blown back, was straightened down so that it nearly reached the floor, and a skinny braid tied with a silver ribbon fell loosely half way down. For once, my mane looked white instead of brown or grey from the things I picked up in it while flying.
"Misty..." I breathed.
"Come on," she spun me around from the mirror. "Time to pick out what to wear. Chop chop."
Groaning, I followed her into her closet, where several dresses and skirts were already laid out. A particular dress caught my eye.
It was a beautiful grey silk dress. Black ribbon hung from underneath it, and the sleeves came almost to the end of my hooves. Grabbing it and putting in on, I couldn't help but admire myself in the mirror. It looked gorgeous on me.
"Well, that was fast," Misty Fly commented, tying the loose ribbons at the end of the dress with her wings. "I think we've found the one."
-
"Shouldn't he be here by now? What if he doesn't show up? What if he doesn't like me?" I continued to fret over simple things as I waited with Misty Fly in the parking lot. Lightning Streak should have been here three minutes ago!
"Chill, Fleet," Misty Fly chuckled. "He'll be here soon, I'm sure.
As if on cue, Lightning Streak came trotting up to us, dressed in an elegant black suit. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw how nervous he looked.
"H-hey, Fleety," he wiped some sweat off his forehead.
"Lightning, it's ok," I comforted him. "No need to be nervous." I wished I wasn't so nervous myself.
"Well, you two have fun," Misty Fly nudged me. "I'll catch ya later, Fleet." With that, she took off.
"Shall we?" I asked Lightning, who was beginning to trot over to a huge glass structure.
It was beautiful. A huge garden was placed in the center, where a giant fountain ran. Ponies were gathered around in fancy clothing, talking and having fun. Roses were planted nearly everywhere, it was hard not to trot on them.
"OH MY GOSH, LOOK EVERYPONY! IT'S FLEETFOOT AND LIGHTNING STREAK!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at us. Soon, they came racing up, asking for autographs and pictures.
We had expected this. But, we were used to the publicity. We politely ignored everyone and stepped through the crowd and into the building. Inside, a large classical music band was playing in the corner, and yet another fountain was displayed in the center. More ponies stopped and stared at us.
"Table for two, please," Lightning Streak told the stallion at the front desk. He looked up and froze.
"O-h, right this w-way!" He stammered and led us to a large table next to the garden. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
"I will be right back with your orders, Wonderbolts," the waiter told us after taking our orders. Some ponies looked annoyed, as they had been waiting for nearly an hour and still hadn't received their meals.
"Lightning Streak..." I began. "This isn't us. We aren't fancy, tuxedo and dress wearing ponies. We shouldn't have to change for each other."
"Yeah... You're right. And I cant take wearing this piece of shit," I giggled as he squirmed uncomfortably in his suit. "I dunno why I thought this was a good idea. I would much rather go for a flight."
"Now that's an idea!" I said a bit too loudly. Others turned to stare at us.
"Heh. Alright then," Lightning Streak unbuttoned the suit and threw it on the ground. "That's better."
I took my dress off as well. "Now what?" I asked him.
"Follow my lead," he answered, raising into. The air and zooming out the front door, causing dishes and plates to tumble to the ground. Ponies sat back, astonished. Rolling my eyes and chuckling at Lightning Streak's stupidity, I zoomed after him, enjoying the gasps from our audience.
The rest of the night was how it should have been. Talking, laughing, flying... If only i didn't still have a concern about Spitfire.