My Little Pony: Third Gear

Chapter 8: Basic Training

Spring Flight arrived in Ponyville a mere two days after the Elemental Six and Gearhead returned. Fluttershy, Gearhead, and Dash had met Spring and Radar before, but Torrent Sapphire was an entirely new face, and all three were new faces to Pinkie Pie. The welcome party quickly turned into a ‘Hurray For Being Accepted Into the Wonderbolts Academy’ party.

Torrent was not as bulky as his older brother, but he still had wiry muscles in his more compact frame. His coat was the same tone of blue as the open sky in midday. His navy blue mane was swept back, with a shock of fiery-red running down the center. The impression, whether or not he was wearing his dark blue flight suit when he flew, was of a meteor falling. If anything, that meant that the type of torrent he represented was a fire storm.

While Spring Flight appreciated the fact that they had accommodations waiting for them upon their arrival, and that Dawn could act as the receiver when Dusk started to send their meagre luggage through a portal so the bags could go exactly where they should, they made some changes to Gearhead’s and Dawn’s original set-up.

First, Spring and Torrent wanted to bunk together, neither using a lot of room individually. Since they were like brothers as wingponies, that was not a problem.

Second, this allowed Radar to take up the room across from the one the young stallions were using. Apparently if they could have chosen a place for themselves, they would have made it out of clouds like Dash’s cloud castle. The top floor of a building was always second-best to a Pegasus, but it still worked.

Since Spring Flight had relocated entirely to the top floor, that meant Dawn could use the entire basement as her own space – and converted the second bedroom into her own laboratory.

Gearhead let Dash and Fluttershy give the three new Pegasi a tour of Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres, while he set things up with Dawn. When Spring Flight returned, Gearhead and Dawn gave the three of them a tour of Gearhead’s Gadgets.

“I would like you to find ways in which to make the best use of your talents,” Gearhead told them, “so I will not restrict you to the shop when you are working. Rather, I think you might be effective in searching out the types of resources we use for all the different gadgets.” They knew what these were from looking in the storage bins in the Workshop.

“I might be able to detect them,” Radar said.

“You did find illusions and traps in the maze section of the race,” Spring said. Although Spring Flight had been moving more slowly than a lot of the other teams and racing individuals, because Radar could easily find a sure path through any obstacles, they had finished the Hoofington F1 in seventh, eighth, and ninth place. Only Prism Flight, Gearhead, and two other hard flyers had beaten them out – which was a great showing for the youngest of the Azure’s flights.

“Just in case, I can make up a pair of goggles or glasses to augment your ability,” Gearhead said.

“I rather like the glasses,” Radar said, grinning.

“Then I shall see that you have a pair before I leave,”

“Don’t let Big Sis beat you too badly,” Spring said.

“I cannot make any promises, provided our training overlaps.”

“Hedging your bets?” Radar asked.

“Sounds smart to me,” Torrent said.

“In any case, you three will be discovering what you can do as you go, however you will always be helping Dawn out in the running of the shop. I do not know how you did it at the Azure, but you might find you get more out of the experience the more you learn you can do.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Spring said.

“In that case, let us get started while I am still here to give advice.” They returned to the shop floor.

* * *

The invitation for Fluttershy had been a surprise to everypony except for Gearhead, who kept seeing and mentioning improvements whenever they went to the Butterfly Glade together.

This was a clearing within the Everfree Forest that was full of vibrant flowers and small wildlife. The clearing centered on a large flower whose petals were shaped like a butterfly’s wings, shimmering soft pink with blue filigree. When Gearhead had first taken Fluttershy there, it had only had flowers. Now it had a greater variety of flowers, plus insects and other small fauna, giving the impression that it had only truly come alive with Fluttershy’s presence. The Glade had even seemed to regress during the time when she and Gearhead had not been in a relationship, and thus Fluttershy had not asked him to take her there.

The Glade was Fluttershy’s favourite place to relax, however one could only easily access it by flying over the forest, and because it was in the Everfree, of all places, Fluttershy never flew there alone. Whenever she and Gearhead did go, the latter made it a point to make a game of the flight over. They twisted and turned, spun and flipped, climbed and dove over the trees. Gearhead was constantly looking for ways in which to push Fluttershy’s abilities, both in fast and slow flight – and Spitfire had taken notice, perhaps in overflying the forest on her way to complete a mission with the other Wonderbolts.

Fluttershy and Gearhead had stopped in at Dash’s castle to ask if she wanted to fly to Wonderbolts Academy with them, but she said she wanted to make one last check of her gear before she left Ponyville, and would catch up later anyway. Fluttershy was still unsure of her speed, so she agreed that leaving earlier would be better for her. She and Gearhead left with only two saddlebags, lightly-packed. Gearhead also had his Twin Engines, the Geargem Dagger, his glasses, three Anklets, and a comm clip that he could use to keep in touch with the others.

According to the training invitations, the first test was to make it to the site under their own power. This meant that even though it was available, they would not be using the Silver Wind to get there. Gearhead went even further, using his Wind Wings to fly instead of the Twin Engine, although he wore it just in case its power did end up being needed. When Fluttershy expressed her surprise at this change, Gearhead just said, “I already know I can use the Engines to fly between Ponyville and Hoofington, so this is a test of my magic wings.”

There were times when Fluttershy’s stamina flagged, and she seemed like she might quit, but Gearhead was right beside her with some encouraging words – and alternatively to catch her if she did suddenly lose whatever strength remained to her.

And then Dash caught up. “Hey, not bad, you guys! Now I know why Captain Spitfire invited you, huh Fluttershy? Been hiding some of your skills?”

“No, not at all...”

“Don’t forget that you made a major difference in getting that water to Cloudsdale. You won’t do yourself any favours selling yourself short.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy said, quietly.

“Look, there it is,” Gearhead said, pointing ahead as they passed through a cloud bank. The camp was a large cluster of clouds, the largest of which held runways, barracks, offices, and hangars. There was a significant amount of flight activity already underway, and Pegasi were still arriving by the minute. Dash took the lead, and followed the traffic controllers’ signals to land using the central runway. The three friends then proceeded to check-in with administration at a row of three tables set up for this purpose. They were then directed to make their way directly to the mid-left field for orientation.

“Remember, Fluttershy,” Dash said, “Spitfire will probably do the Nasty Drill Sergeant thing, but she’s always been cool otherwise. Think you can tough it out?”

“I’ll try, Dashie.”

“I think you can do better than ‘try,”

“Really?”

“Otherwise there’d be no point in you coming. Prove there’s a reason Spitfire invited you.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy whispered. Gearhead gave her an encouraging, soft pat on the shoulder.

* * *

Fluttershy, Gearhead, and Dash joined a line of seven other stallions and mares, all of whom at least glanced at the newcomers. Chances were high that some of them recognized Gearhead, Dash, or both of them. It was also likely that they were curious about what could bring an Earth Pony to train with them. Looking down the line, Gearhead recognized Cloudchaser, Snowflake, and Thunderlane from Ponyville. He also recognized Lightning Dust, the mare who had cut him off during the Hoofington F1. Maybe she turned her act around enough to get an invitation, Gearhead thought.

“Alright, listen up,” Spitfire advanced on the newcomers with two stallions backing her up. Spitfire was in dress uniform, and the stallions appeared to be accompanying her for more administrative purposes, carrying clipboards and forms which they turned over to the assembled recruits.

“The Wonderbolts is one of Equestria’s elite flying squads. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna call on us for the dangerous missions that nopony else dares. You may think that you’re special,” Spitfire glared at Snowflake, who wilted visibly, “and you may think that you’ve got what it takes,” she turned her glare onto a pink-coated mare, “but I’m here to tell you that you don’t. If you had what it took, you’d already have been a Wonderbolt!”

“Yes, ma’am!” The recruits responded, exactly as their invitations prompted them to have done.

“And you,” Spitfire turned her attention onto Dash. “I bet you’re the worst flyer of them all. I bet you’ll quit on the first week.”

“No, ma’am! I’d never quit.”

Good for you, Dash, taking the grilling in stride. Gearhead knew that Spitfire was doing this for the sake of form and to avoid any perception of favouritism, because contrary to her accusation she already knew that Dash was capable of both as a solo act, and as a team leader.

“What about you?” Spitfire turned her Drill Sergeant act onto Lightning Dust. “Bet you don’t have anything left in the tank after flying up here. Bet you’re used to being on the ground.”

“Try me, ma’am,”

Spitfire’s expression turned to steel. “’Try me?’ Listen and listen well, recruit: If you want to make it as a Wonderbolt you’ll have to prove that you have nothing you want to prove. You want to push and test yourself, fine. Do it on your own time, because at the end of the day this is a team. You can’t work with your team, you’re out. That includes knowing how and when to follow orders. Insubordination of the type you just displayed will get you ejected faster than Hasty Hoof’s top speed. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lightning Dust did not quite appear to be repentant, in Gearhead’s opinion, but maybe they had a starting point now.

“You think your machine can replace real wings and real heart?” Spitfire came to Gearhead.

“No, ma’am,” Gearhead said.

“Well then, lets see what heart all of you have. Give me five hundred laps, and give ‘em to me now! That means you move, recruits!”

Some of the others groaned, but everypony was soon in the sky. Dash and Lightning Dusk took the lead early on and never let anypony else come close. Gearhead stayed with Fluttershy and ran a two-pony draft with her. He also used the time to recover some more of his mana by using his Twin Engine to fly this part.

Once everypony had completed his or her five hundredth lap, Spitfire sent them to the barracks to claim the bunks they would be using for their stay in the camp. It was also an opportunity for them to stow their gear, which Spitfire’s assistants, Fast Clip and Whiplash, had inspected for contraband during the recruits’ flying laps.

* * *

When the cadets reassembled on the field, they were dressed in the half-suits assigned to them. Each of them also had a pair of flying goggles as well, since they would naturally need them against high winds and other irritants. The new kit was not a problem for the others, but Gearhead had some issues.

Gearhead understood the importance of the concept of a uniform, thus he wanted to avoid using his non-standard equipment as much as possible. He could stow his glasses away and use the goggles easily enough, but since he decided not to use the Twin Engine to fly, he would have to rely on his magic instead.

Casting spells without a spell medium was not impossible, but it was extremely difficult and tiring, costing a part of one’s vitality if one was not going to use a Unicorn’s horn or a substitute like a wand, or the Geargem Dagger. Unfortunately the cadet flight suit did not have any pockets on it. Gearhead could sew on some of his own, but they had to be fairly small, and none of them could accommodate the Dagger’s scabbard, as small as it was. Fortunately, it seemed that Gearhead could use the spare Elemental Anklet as a substitute spell medium, and what was more, it would not occupy his mouth or tail the way his Dagger did. He put it on under his suit so the effect on his aerodynamics would be minimized.

“Not using your Engine to fly?” Spitfire asked him discretely.

“I have my magic for that, so please do not worry.”

“For your sake I hope you’re right.”

Once Spitfire had everypony’s attention, she nodded over her shoulder at a large mechanism standing in the middle of the field. “This is the Dizzitron. It will make you very disoriented. Spin-outs happen all the time, and you will be responsible for your own recovery when it does. Your first task, cadets, is to demonstrate how well you can recover from a spin-out by regaining control and landing back here. Who’s first?”

Dash and Lightning Dust both raised their hooves, but Spitfire chose Flowershine, the mare standing at the right-most end of the line. “You’re up,”

“Me? Okay,” Flowershine hesitantly lowered herself into the middle of the Dizzitron, where a bar and centrifugal force would be her only support.

“Ready?”

Flowershine swallowed, then quickly lowered her goggles into place. “I think so,”

Despite the expressed uncertainty, Spitfire signalled for Whiplash to start the machine. The big wheel spun the smaller wheel on a track, while the smaller wheel, surrounding Flowershine, spun her even more. “Now!” Spitfire called after a couple of seconds, and Whiplash pulled a lever that released the bar holding Flowershine inside the ride.

Flowershine shot off, spiralling crazily into the sky. She struggled against the forces still acting on her, and after a couple of seconds she managed to regain control. Sort of. Still dizzy, she did the flying equivalent of stumbling back to the tarmac and landed.

“Oh... my...” Fluttershy shuddered.

“Just pretend you’re rescuing a critter friend and you’ll be fine,” Dash whispered.

“I’ll try,”

“Fair,” Spitfire said, and Fast Clip made a note.

Dash was next. She was able to quickly gain control, landing with a six-second record. “That’s pretty impressive, but watch this,” Lightning Dust said as she flew away to get into the Dizzitron. “Ma’am, could you set the Dizzitron to its maximum setting since this isn’t a group exercise?”

“That’s true,” Spitfire said. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’d like to really test my limits.”

“Your funeral,” Spitfire said, nodding to Whiplash, who pulled the lever to set the machine to its third and hardest setting. Soon Lightning Dust was away in a blue and yellow streak. She went with the spin before pulling out, folded her wings to drop to the deck, and came back to a firm landing like a screaming bat. “Six point five seconds! Not bad, newbie. Cadet Fluttershy, you’re up!”

“Oh, I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” Fluttershy said, shaking visibly. Gearhead mimed taking a long, deep breath, and Fluttershy did exactly that three times. “Okay,” she said, more steadily before getting into the Dizzitron. “Um... might there be a minimum setting, please?”

“Right,” Whiplash said, switching back to the normal setting.

“Oh, I--!” Fluttershy cut herself off as her comment turned into a quiet yell. For a pair of moments Spitfire just blinked, perhaps in disbelief that such a thing was possible. Finally, she shouted “Pull!” and Whiplash was able to release Fluttershy.

Startlingly, once she was airborne it was like she knew exactly what to do. Fluttershy kept flapping just the wing that was oriented to the left if she had been flying upright the whole time, until she pulled out of her spin. Then she entered a steep dive, pulling a hairpin turn just as she reached the halfway point. She continued her descent, and landed right in front of Spitfire. She looked at her empty hooves, but sighed in relief.

“Good job, Cadet,” Spitfire said. As Fluttershy returned, blushing, to the line, Gearhead noticed that except for himself and Dash, the rest of the Ponyville contingent had to pick up their jaws. “Now, lets see if the wingless wonder can do as good.”

“How’re you even gonna get up there?” Cloudchaser asked.

“Oh, I plan on asking for a boost,”

“Huh?”

Gearhead started walking up to the Dizzitron, and heard Fluttershy gasp in realization behind him: she had just spotted his zipped-up horseshoes. Naturally they were the only non-standard equipment he absolutely could not do without. As Gearhead approached his target, the tarmac underneath his hooves suddenly became very springy. He jumped once, twice, thrice, and then bounded with a flip that landed him almost precisely behind the bar.

“You’re absolutely sure you’re going to fly?” Spitfire asked.

“Oh yes, I would not want you to feel responsible for a pavement splat – which I shall not do.” Gearhead put his goggles into place. “Ready! Oh,” he added to Whiplash, “is there anypony you would like me to put in her place?”

“Just for that...” Whiplash switched to the medium setting. As soon as Spitifire gave the command, Gearhead made an image in his mind’s eye of the magic circle for Wind Wings. As long as it was a long-duration spell he commonly used, he could cast it this way instead of using the incantation. The idea had come from Snowbelle and her ability to transmit her needs through impressions just after she hatched. If the baby dragon was able to use that method for communication with a member of a completely different species, why not use it to cast spells? But that still proved to be beyond Gearhead’s abilities with combat magic.

The Wind Wings expanded from Gearhead’s back, becoming larger as they caught the gust created by the spin and rotation in Gearhead’s ‘flight.’ The large wings carved into the air, and within three beats he had enough control to use the rotation that remained to turn himself back around, and descend for a landing. With his zippered hooves back on the tarmac, Gearhead inhaled deeply. His wings furled before being absorbed back into himself. When he exhaled, eyes open, they were completely gone.

Most of the others were slack-jawed in shock. “I did not know he could do that,” Thunderlane said.

“YEAH!”

“Yay,” Fluttershy said, clapping her forehooves gamely together.

“Yeah, I did too,” Dash said. “Guy never loses a morning of training, after all.”

“That’ll come in useful,” Spitfire said. “You cadets wake at the break of dawn for training each day.”

Most of the cadets groaned, including Dash. For Gearhead this was not any different from the usual. If he needed extra time for his usual training, he would wake up even earlier.

“C’mon you slugs, lets finish this off!” Spitfire heckled the remaining ponies into motion. When the exercise was complete, the top performers were easily visible. “Decent job, all of you. Make your way to the mess hall for the meal you deserve. When you come back, we’ll break you up into the teams you’ll be training with for the rest of your session here. Dismissed!”

* * *

“Now that you’re all back, I can introduce you to your new team of leaders, Lieutenant Prism Azure and Second Lieutenants Rook Sapphire and Contrail Blue.” The three Pegasi landed just as Spitfire called their names. Each wore the full Wonderbolts flight suits. “These three will be in direct charge of your training from now on. You obey and respect them as you would me. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“They’re all yours,” Spitfire stepped back.

“Thank you, Captain,” Prism said before turning to the assembled cadets. “Teamwork is extremely important, whether what we’re doing is putting on an air show for the Princesses and the Canterlot elite, busting clouds, or intervening in a conflict or disaster.

“The remaining exercises will test your teamwork as well as your individual limits. At the end of each week we’ll test what you’ve learned in war games on a squadron versus squadron level. Your challenge will be to master in weeks what Contrail, Rook, and I had years to accomplish growing up in Azure Wing.

“We’re dividing you into three squadrons, and the three of us in Prism Flight’ll each take command and oversight of one squadron. Your performance in the upcoming exercise will determine your squadron line-ups.

“The exercise in question is Capture the Flag. You’re first divided into two teams, Red and Blue. Your objective will be to find as many of the opposing team’s flags as possible, bringing them back here.

“There are some rules to keep in mind: One – you will be divided into pairs within your teams. Each pair can only carry one flag at a time. Two – the pairs must stay together at all times. Get split up and any flags you find won’t count, until after you get back together. Three – you’ve been divided into Lead Pony and Wing Pony for the exercise. Conduct the entire exercise according to your understanding of those roles.”

“The pairs are as follows, with the first in a pair being Lead Pony,” Rook said, picking the instructions up from his commander. “Blue Team: Cloudchaser and Snowflake. Thunderlane and Flowershine. Starry Eyes and Pizzelle. Red Team: Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash. Gearhead and Fluttershy.”

“If you have any objections over your pairing, you can either see Captain Spitfire now or, as I’d recommend, after the exercise,” Contrail said. “Time’s a-wasting, though, so take off and get to it!”

“Exercise, start,” Prism said.

“C’mon, what’re you waiting for?” Gearhead turned to see Lightning Dust waving Dash to come over so they could get started. Dash shook off her hesitation while muttering something, and then Lightning Dust leaped into the air ahead of her. Dash had to follow her quickly, or any flags they did spot would not be of any use to them.

“Is everything alright?” Fluttershy asked.

Gearhead turned back to her. “I am uncertain as to how Dash’s and Lightning Dust’s teamwork will work out, but I guess we shall soon find out.”

“Why is it a problem?”

“That is the mare how cut me off at the Hoofington F1. If she is as reckless with Dash as she was then, and with the Dizzitron, it could turn into a problem.”

“I hope it doesn’t,” Fluttershy said, and Gearhead could see that all the other pairs had taken off.

“Something the matter, Cadet?” Prism asked, winking so only he and Fluttershy could see.

“You may want to keep an eye on Lightning Dust, Lieutenant.”

“And why would that be? Nothing personal, I hope?”

“Well, we shall see.” Gearhead called upon his Wind Magic again, and as soon as he had his wings he led Fluttershy in taking off.

Since they were on the Red Team with Lightning Dust and Dash, Gearhead and Fluttershy had to find blue flags. Up here there were not any birds to help Fluttershy locate them more quickly, and Gearhead could not be certain that he would only tag blue flags if he tried to use his magic. Besides that, it would be cheating. Gearhead made certain Fluttershy was right on his wing as they swooped hither and yon looking for a splash of blue somewhere on the ground.

An air horn signalled the recovery of the first flag. While Gearhead wondered which team had drawn first blood, he continued to focus on scanning the ground for a target.

“Over there,” Fluttershy said, pointing.

“Alright, let us take it nice and slow,” Gearhead said, banking into a descent. Fluttershy followed him down until they were lined up to fly underneath the rock outcropping under which a blue flag was just barely visible. As Gearhead swept by, he tried and failed to knock the flag loose with his right-side hooves, and then his tail. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, did get the loosened flag. “Good job,” Gearhead said, and then they ascended so they could make their way back to the airstrip where Prism was waiting.

When they landed, Fluttershy and Gearhead saw that there was one blue flag already waiting in a stand, so the horn had obviously been for Lightning Dust and Dash. As Fluttershy surrendered the flag she had brought back, Gearhead thought that the other pair’s teamwork must have been working after all – until they came diving in, and it was visually obvious that Dash was favouring one wing.

“Alright, three to one!” Lightning Dust said as she dropped her second flag onto the table. “Not bad, you two, but lets get the lead out so they can’t catch up!” She went right back into the air. Dash looked back at the others, then followed.

“Is it just me,” Gearhead said, “or is Lightning Dust missing the point of the exercise?”

“She probably is,” Rook said. “I’ll let the Captain know to keep an eye on her.”

“Thank you,” Gearhead said as Fast Clip blew the horn two more times. The Earth Pony nodded to his partner, and then led her back into the air.

The game ended seven to two in favour of the Red Team, however Dash appeared to be both injured and winded. “Do you want to talk it out with Spitfire?” Fluttershy asked her.

“I think I’ll try to tough it out a little longer,” Dash said. “I’m sure Lightning Dust’s just not used to being in a leadership role yet. She’ll figure it out.”

“I guess we shall see,” Gearhead said. He wondered, though, if he was saying that a little too much lately.

“Good job everypony,” Prism said. “Now go grab some dinner. We start our exercises bright and early tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”

* * *

If Gearhead had been concerned about losing even part of his normal training time, Prism allayed them by telling him exactly when she and the others would be giving the cadets their wake-up call. A single extra hour allowed him to get his full training routine in, and the cool pre-dawn air dried the lather from his coat.

On the field, Prism led everypony in morning warm-up stretches and exercises. Over the groaning when that was finished, she called for everypony’s attention again. “We’ll now be assigning you to your squadrons. Listen for your name from your commanding officer.”

“Listen up,” Contrail said. “Cloudchaser, Snowflake, Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash, and Midnight Strike are Slipstream Squadron under myself.”

“Who’s Midnight Strike, sir?” Cloudchaser asked.

“Oh, we may have forgotten to mention: just the eight of you don’t come close to even single-squadron strength, so we’re pooling from other cadet groups so we have enough flyers for the three squadrons we need. We still fall short, but at least we’re balanced.”

“Understood, sir.” As Cloudchaser spoke, six more Pegasi arrived. Tha black one with a yellow stripe had to be Midnight Strike.

“Then I shall continue,” Rook said. “Pizzelle, Starry Eyes, Fluttershy, Gearhead, and Sightseer are Fortress Squadron under my command.”

“Which leaves Flowershine, Thunderlane, Starbust, Wild Fire, and Lime Jelly with me as Illusive Squadron,” Prism said. "By default your assignments as Lead and Wing Ponies are still in effect, however you’ll have to decide for yourselves how your new group dynamics work. Contrail, Rook, and I command only in so far as keeping everypony on track to the objective at hoof. You decide how well we do, and even whether we pass or fail an exercise.”

“First exercise of the day,” Contrail said. “As weather manipulators it’s essential that we provide entire regions with the weather that’s needed for the day, whether that’s rain or shine. Those of you who’re already on weather management teams already know that to do this we have to get up early, most often before Princess Celestia raises the sun, to get the job done.

“Your first exercise as a squadron, even if it is at half-squadron strength, is to coral a group of errant and misbehaving clouds into a defined area. Any questions? In that case, all squadrons follow your Lead to your rally points. Dismissed!” Contrail said, then he, Rook, and Prism took off in three different directions.

Gearhead and Fluttershy left Lightning Dust and Dash to follow Contrail, while they went after Rook. Gearhead was still a little surprised that Prism had not put him on her squadron, but then, if anypony else knew about their friendly relationship prior to this, she might have been accused of favouritism. The choice also reflected Prism’s decision in letting Gearhead go in order to pursue her potential as a ‘Bolt.

Looking past Rook, Gearhead pointed out the cluster of white, fluffy clouds that were, even then, drifting further apart in all directions. There was also a floating square outlined in bright yellow and orange where they were clearly supposed to place the clouds. A thunderhead floated five meters above it, rumbling and ready to unleash its lightning bolts at the unwary.

“How’re we supposed to catch that?” Sightseer, who had a telescope cutie mark just like Gearhead, asked.

“Carefully, probably,” Pizzelle said.

“So, Fortress Squadron, what’s our first order of business?” Rook asked. That triggered the first problem that Gearhead knew was coming, as Pizzelle and Starry Eyes tried to talk over one another.

“Those clouds are not getting any closer together,” Gearhead said, “however I have never seen Rainbow Dash’s weather team coral clouds as solo flyers.” He carefully glanced at Fluttershy to keep her quiet about doing just that with Discord’s cotton candy clouds. That had been an unusual circumstance anyway.

“Then I suppose you have a plan?” Starry Eyes asked.

“It is more of an idea at this point,” Gearhead admitted.

“It better not be just to ask Second Lieutenant Sapphire for an order,” Starry Eyes said.

“Maybe we should consider that Plan B?”

Fluttershy stifled a giggle.

“What is your idea?” Pizzelle asked, when nopony else spoke up.

“Since we are already used to working in pairs, we would split up and start herding the clouds back toward the box. We would deploy in a crescent, and move slowly, so the clouds should be unable to escape.”

“Using those windy wings won’t blow them all away?”

“Fair point, Sightseer,” Gearhead said, and with a few muttered words, he switched to Light Wings, dismissing the Wind Wings once the second set was summoned so he would not fall.

“Then it seems like a good plan to me,” Sightseer said, and one by one the others began to agree.

“You shall be with me,” Rook said, grabbing Sightseer, who nodded in assent. You just didn’t refuse the big Pegasus, at least not without a working plan.

If their efforts did not go quickly, at least they went smoothly – right up until they drew close to the square, and the thunderhead boomed a warning. “Looks like it won’t just let us do this,” Pizzelle said. “What’s the plan?”

“I can put up magical shields, so I will act as the decoy,” Gearhead said. “When it is clear that that thunderhead is focused only on me, somepony fast should come in and knock the thunder right out of it.”

“The rest of us can try to keep the clouds we’ve already gathered contained,” Starry Eyes said.

“Oh, I don’t like this,” Fluttershy said. “What if somepony gets hurt?”

“We have medics available to treat any and all lightning burns,” Rook said. “In fact, they expect to have to.”

Gearhead looked more closely at Rook. “You have done this before, have you not?”

“I have,”

“Then it is possible to do it without magic,”

“It is, if you think like a Pegasus, or rather, if you think like an Azure.”

“You are the team’s Shield,” Gearhead said. “Your talent is protection, including of yourself.”

“What are you thinking?” Fluttershy asked.

“A decoy with two flyers will be far more effective than with one,” Gearhead said. “Will you join me, Lead?”

“If this is the plan to which you all agree,” Rook said.

“Are you both so sure this’ll work?” Pizzelle said.

“This is not my first dealing with magical lightning, although it is my first time with the weather. I am not ‘certain’ of anything.”

Rook grinned. “Who shall be the Striker?”

Pizzelle, Starry Eyes, and Sightseer exchanged glances. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt,” Fluttershy said, “even a little.” The other three looked downcast. “I’ll do it,” she said, and they looked back up at her, shocked.

“Then let us set it up,” Gearhead said, patting Fluttershy.

In moments, Gearhead and Rook were flying circuits around the thunderhead, just outside its established range. Fluttershy, Pizzelle, Starry Eyes, and Sightseer all worked together to get the clouds they had been herding back into position, because they had started to wander again while Fortress Squadron strategized. The rearguard four pushed the clouds into position just out of the thunderhead’s reach, and that was the signal.

Gearhead and Rook both angled in toward the cloud, speeding up as they streaked past. The storm cloud immediately began slinging its lightning bolts at them, so they juked left and right, spun and dropped to keep from getting hit and shocked. The more they manoeuvred and the closer to the black cloud they managed to get, the more defensive it became.

Soon Gearhead had to focus more completely on his own efforts to evade the bolts. “Cantus Bellax,” he said, hoping to bolster his defensive shield. And then he was finally too close to evade every bolt. The cloud rumbled in satisfaction when a bolt lanced directly toward Gearhead, and he did not have any hope of evading. The bolt splashed against his barrier-shield, sending little tendrils of electricity all over the orb. Gearhead rolled, then poured on the power to close even further.

Rook came from the other side, lightning spiderwebbing across his chest but seeming not to have any effect against him. The cloud hit him three times in a row, then Rook also rolled and dove to pass under the cloud. It shot a mad storm of lightning directly out from underneath itself, trying to catch the two offensive flyers where they would not have any protection.

Which was when Fluttershy hit it at her full speed, pressing her forehooves into the cloud. According to her plan, she had been sneaking closer and closer to the thunderhead as the stallions distracted it. Once she ran out of clouds to use as cover, she merely glided closer to it, moving so slowly that the air did not even stir around her. Compared to Gearhead, with his Light Wings shining in the air, Fluttershy had not had any presence at all, at least until she was five meters away, and pushed with all her might to charge the storm cloud.

Fluttershy pressed the wind right out of the thunderhead, and shuddering, pulled it closer to her. Several thunderbolts dropped straight down, and the cloud shrunk within her embrace. It dropped right into the box, and when Fluttershy looked the cloud could barely be called grey. She sighed in relief, the cloud having been defused.

With the threat removed, Fluttershy joined the others in bringing the rest of the clouds in. The exercise became simple, and they were even able to finish it more quickly, adapting their speed to individual clutches of clouds instead of always moving at a crawl. The box glowed bright green once all the clouds were inside, and a group of monitoring Pegasi came to remove the apparatus.

“Congratulations, Fortress Squadron,” Rook said. “You have just completed your first group exercise.”

“I think you mean ‘we,’ Lead,” Sightseer said, and the others cheered.

“Actually, I do,” Rook said. “Now, do you want to go see how the others are doing?”

“Does it really matter? I’m sure they’ll tell us after,” Pizzelle said.

“Oh, I just hope everypony’s safe,” Fluttershy said.

“We could go quickly to check in on them,” Gearhead said.

“Oh, but then that’d mean we didn’t believe in them enough,” Fluttershy said, and her expression, which had just brightened, darkened again.

“Then lets go wait for them,” Starry Eyes said.

* * *

Illusive Squadron was next to return to the mess hall for lunch after Fortress Squadron. All six Pegasi had gone in to distract their thunderhead, creating the opening that Thunderlane and Wild Fire needed to charge it, instead of the other way around. They had then gathered their clouds. Starburst and Lime Jelly looked a little singed, the latter just on her tail, but otherwise they were fine and able to laugh it off as they traded stories with Fortress.

Slipstream Squadron was the last of the three to return. Lightning Dust looked like she had gone three rounds with a full storm, and it stood to reason when it turned out she had tries to take on the thunderhead on her own. A couple dodges did not make a victory, however, and she was struck down before she could touch the cloud. Dash had had to go after her, making sure to wait until the lightning stopped flickering all over her Lead Pony before catching and carrying her back to the others.

While they tried to come up with a strategy for taking on the thunderhead, the rest of the squadron worked on gathering the clouds in. Dash realized that while Snowflake could act as Slipstream’s tank, he did not have enough experience taking the sort of hits he would have to for the exercise.

The only option left to them was the sort of dash that would be too fast for the thunderhead to catch – like lightning itself. A Sonic Rainboom might have done the trick, if they were not worried about busting the clouds they were gathering in the processes. Lightning Dust, having recovered, wanted to bust some clouds anyway, just out of frustration over embarrassing herself earlier, but Cloudchaser would not let go of the objective and stopped her cold.

That was when Dash remembered that they had another option available: Contrail Booster. With Contrail’s skill, any team member could be super-accelerated to extreme high speed in moments. It was an ability that could only work on other ponies, ones whom Contrail trusted, so it was not suited to Lightning Dust’s current attitude. Dash did not want to risk creating a powerful shockwave, so she was out as well. Snowflake was out because he was too big. That left Cloudchaser or Midnight Strike, and given the time of day, Midnight Strike might be more visible to the cloud.

While the others waited with their clouds, Contrail set up with Cloudchaser on a short run toward the thunderhead. Dash had only seen the Contrail Booster work a couple times, but it was enough to know what was required to use it. She acted as the loader, pushing Cloudchaser onto Contrail’s tail until she launched.

Cloudchaser busted through the thunderhead in a single pass, and Slipstream was able to complete the exercise, but Contrail insisted on sending Lightning Dust to the medics to get looked after before returning to the mess hall for a late lunch.

“Thank Celestia nopony was seriously hurt,” Fluttershy said, sighing in relief.

“We cut it a bit close,” Cloudchaser said.

“If I’d have been a little faster I could’ve done it,” Lightning Dust said. Gearhead and Dash exchanged glances: if Lightning Dust did not curb her competitive tendencies, she could put Slipstream in danger. They both hoped that if they had not been watching her before, Prism and Spitfire were watching her closely now.