My Little Pony: Third Gear

Chapter 11: Enter the Arena

There was no doubt in High Winds’s mind that she was bored waiting for the war game to start. There was also no doubt that the Wonderbolts’ more experienced flyers would win the war game: they always won, and not just because they knew the arena better. They simply came together more smoothly for better teamwork than the cadets, and they had the better plan.

The fact that the Wonderbolts had time in which to set things up inside the arena didn’t bother High Winds, because they were responsible for its construction and maintenance each season. In order to ensure no single member knew the entire layout, different Pegasi took on the arrangement of different sections within the arena, and they all came to change and fix things at different times.

This time the Captain had decided to wait until the final fifteen minutes of prep time before sending Fast Clip and Whiplash to deliver the arena’s coordinates to the cadets. This would give them minimal time to fly out and get inside before the doors closed. They might not even have any time in which to plan their strategy, if they had not done so already, and they certainly would not get much of an opportunity to do any planning once they were inside.

The Captain had assigned pairs from different Flights to watch each of the entrances for the cadets. High Winds and Silver Lining had high overwatch of the main entry on the cadets’ side, and expected them to enter at any moment. Until now, nothing had happened, but then they had a fairly unusual group of cadets this season.

While the cadets’ teamwork did not concern High Winds, some of its members had performed outstandingly this season according to the Captain’s dossiers on them. Of course there was Rainbow Dash, winner of the previous Best Young Flyer Competition. While she was fast and competitive, she had also shown a lot of understanding for her fellow cadets – unlike Lightning Dust, who was purely competitive. The below-average performers were Fluttershy, Flowershine, Lime Jelly, Sightseer, and Snowflake. They were still doing minimums, but only Fluttershy stood out – and that was because she had caught Prism with her Stare in the previous war game.

Rainbow Dash and Gearhead were this year’s wild cards, although the Captain had also advised that they watch out for Fluttershy, Cloudchaser, and Wild Fire. Dash’s strong suits were speed and agility, but she was also beginning to develop as a leader. Fluttershy was becoming a stronger flyer all the time, where Cloudchaser and Wild Fire were already strong flyers who could adapt quickly to new roles. It was Gearhead who concerned High Winds the most, not knowing what he could do with all of his equipment and magic. All anypony could do was to try to prepare for everything he was known to be able to do. To that end, everypony had reviewed the Earth Pony’s performances during his two races, the Changeling Invasion, and his entire career in Basic.

High Winds was going through it all for the hundredth time in her head when ponies started to stream through the large, open gate. They flew at speed, in conical formation where quite a few of the flyers were not evenly spaced, making it harder to take a definite count. High Winds tried anyway, despite the distraction that came from trying to make sense of their odd helmets and armour. The cadets split into three Flights just as they were approaching the cluster of tunnels in the wall, one going far left while the other two Flights chose tunnels that were slightly off from the center.

High Winds counted to three before she started to look for Silver Lining, who winged his way over to High Wind’s ledge. “Twelve?” The mare asked.

“No less than. Maybe even all,” Silver Lining said.

“Twelve to fifteen, then, but I’ll stay just in case.”

“Agreed. You spot Rainbow Dash?”

“Hard to say with those helmets, but I think not.”

“Me neither. But Gearhead was an easy spot.”

That was true. “It’s hard to miss that trail,” High Winds said.

“I’ll go now to report in, and send Rapidfire your way,” Silver Lining said, taking off.

“Appreciated,” High Winds said, then she watched him accelerate into one of the tunnels on the far right. It was the most direct one to the middle section of the arena, where the Captain had set up their forward base. The mare returned her full attention to the gate. Bored, she thought.

* * *

Gearhead kept a good part of his focus on his HUD as everypony’s sensor readings constantly helped to build a map of the maze within the arena. The tunnel he and his cohorts had chosen had a good amount of curvature in it, making them focus on how they were flying as they progressed along its length. Judging by the readings from the others, each of the tunnels was wide enough for three Pegasi to fly abreast, even with wings fully extended, however to do so would greatly reduce their agility in case of ambush.

It was because of these readings that Gearhead quickly realized that Four Flight was not heading toward the leftmost sector despite having chosen the leftmost path: they were starting to curve back toward the center, where they would probably rejoin the doubled-up Flights.

Ahead, the tunnel opened into a chamber that had many more tunnels feeding into it. When nopony attacked after everypony had flown into that more open space, Gearhead flew ahead of the others. Because his cores could generate their own energy, he did not hesitate to use an active sensor pulse close to each of the entries to help build their map more quickly. And since everypony on the squadron was getting the same readings from the sensors, Five Flight did not hesitate to take the tunnel that would take them around to the left.

Gearhead made a circular motion above his head, then pointed directly ahead of himself. The others split into their Flights, each one choosing a tunnel, and proceeded ahead without breaking their momentum. Gearhead rejoined Pizzelle and Flowershine to do the same, still selecting one of the more central tunnels: his objective would be to gather as much of their opponents’ attention as possible, a task made easier with his particle trail.

* * *

“Ma’am,” Silver Lining trotted into the central room, still catching his breath.

“Report,” Spitfire kept her tone light but business-like, and her subordinate knew to slow down and breath deeply.

“We have 12-15 of them, through their gate. We didn’t spot Rainbow Dash, but Gearhead’s with them. They took three tunnels.”

“So, we could have three Flights of four to five, or just a ruse if they suspected we would place sentries.”

“That, and they’re early,” Soarin’ said. “Apparently we don’t need to bother with the flimsies now.”

“Too late for that,” Spitfire said. “Still, I wonder where Dash is.”

“High Winds is still watching the gate, and I sent Rapidfire to back her up.”

“Good work, Silver Lining. Go get some rest while you can: I’m sure we’ll need you back out there soon enough.”

“Yes ma’am,” Silver Lining saluted and left.

“You think they’d try for a second gate?” Soarin’ asked.

“It’s possible,” Spitfire examined the big map that was spread out on a table, with colour-coded blocks to mark her ponies’ positions. “The bottom gate is too exposed for a traditional entry, but it would be possible for Dash, if she wanted to go for it. Some of those cadets might advocate for a sneak attack from behind, if they thought that would be enough. That just leaves the top.”

“But we can’t just discard the others as possibilities,” Hasty Hoof said. “That’d be what they’d want, if they’re going for a fake-out at all.”

“They could even use the front gate again,” Soarin’ said.

“Only for the next couple minutes,” Spitfire said. “In or not, the arena’s about to be sealed shut. And then the only way anypony can get in or out is for one side to win.”

* * *

In order to keep herself alert, High Winds kept rapidly switching between looking at the gate, the tunnel reinforcements would use, which the Wonderbolts called ‘the Messenger Run,’ and a couple of the other tunnels. High Winds doubted she would see any of the cadets return, but they could easily get turned around in the tunnels, and come back out in this first main cavern.

High Winds yawned, hoping something would happen, or at least that Spitfire would send a message saying everypony could regroup at the base, when somepony came out of the tunnel on the left-side wall. High Winds startled because the only reason she could expect such a thing to happen was if the cadets wanted it to. And the only reason they would want to come back was if they suspected their entry had been monitored, which meant that they had returned to check for ponies like High Winds, who was waiting to see who else would be coming through after Wild Fire. The answer appeared to be a light yellow-coated redhead who was flying backwards close on Wild Fire’s flank. A moment later, another stallion, this one grey-coated with a dull purple mane emerged from the tunnels.

After a moment the first stallion flipped to face front. While the second stallion continued to lag behind, Wild Fire and her direct escort accelerated directly toward High Winds, brandishing their short, wooden swords in their mouths. High Winds took off, but a moment later she heard a slight “PFFT,” and then she was wrapped in uncompromising metal cables, her legs secured snugly to her sides and her wings held straight back. There was even a strand wrapped around her muzzle, preventing her from raising the alarm.

Unable to fly, High Winds screamed as she plummeted toward the ground. The first stallion caught her, though, and returned her to her high perch, which now seemed much more like a ledge. “We’ll release you after, promise!” The stallion said as he rushed off to rejoin the others.

High Winds could only watch as Wild Fire’s Flight wheeled toward the Messenger’s Run, from which Rapidfire was only just emerging. He took one look at the trio of Pegasi who were charging at him and decided that the whole squadron was better off if he could divert his attackers down another tunnel, even if he couldn’t get away. Unfortunately it only took a moment before another “PFFT” resonated down the tunnel.

Ahead and to the left of High Winds, the great gate clanged shut, signalling the official start of the war game. Of course, the fact that the Wonderbolts already had two flyers down without even knowing it did not indicate what the rest of the exercise would have in store. If the Captain had anything to say about it, none of the others would fall prey to Wild Fire’s tactics.

Of course, High Winds’s own main concern was staying up on her ledge.

* * *

“Five Flight, Phase One complete,” Wild Fire said through the comms.

“Two Flight acknowledges,” Gearhead heard Cloudchaser say. Originally she had been the one who wanted to double back and check for observers, but the tunnels were not laid out the way they had expected. When Two Flight arrived at the same switch chamber that the others had been through earlier, they chose another unused tunnel. Now they were continuing to explore the tunnels, their guards raised against any attack.

“All Flights, please proceed to Phase Two,” Dash said.

“Acknowledged,”

Gearhead led Flowershine and Pizzelle out into a large cavern populated mostly by a number of squat, square buildings that sat on various grades, all the way down a hill that gradually became steeper. These were mirrored on the other side of an open, circular area. In all, this part of the arena was five hundred meters across, plenty of open space in which to get caught. Gearhead fell into the middle of his formation, so he could cover both Pizzelle and Flowershine when the need arose.

* * *

Lightning Streak startled at the sight of Gearhead’s distinctive particle trail so close. He glanced across at Fire Streak, similarly watching through the windows, which were just large enough to fly through. By the time either was looking back out the window, Gearhead had flown out of easy strike range, but now that they knew where this priority target was, they couldn’t just let him go!

Lightning Streak brought a long tube up to his shoulders, bracing it between his wings, and fired high into the air. The specialized cone-shaped round flew high and fast, although silently, and burst apart in a display of slowly cascading light. The signal given, Lightning Streak, Fire Streak, and Misty Fly, who had been sitting near the rear doorway, got up to make their retreat.

* * *

“What kind of signal is that?” Pizzelle asked.

“A beacon?” Flowershine asked.

“Correct. Captain Spitfire must have set priority targets on some of us,” Gearhead said, slowing down to scan the immediate area.

“Which basically means you,” Pizzelle said, while she and Flowershine followed suit.

“There, twenty degrees from where we came in,” Flowershine said. “Lucky we were going as fast as we were, or they could’ve sniped us,” she said when her sensors picked out two targets, both retreating.

“Not luck,” Gearhead said, turning around, “movement is safety.” And then he went straight to full thrust, leaving a double-halo behind himself as he charged toward the building where Spitfire’s spies had been watching them. As soon as he was through a window a moment later, he turned the cores and the wings surrounding them directly on the two closest Pegasi. Showered in particles and temporarily blinded, they stumbled and began to shout at each other. Gearhead turned his attention directly ahead in time to see a light blue tail disappear around a corner.

Flowershine and Pizzelle burst into the room through the windows and sighted on the two remaining Pegasi with the gems in their chestplates. With a slight puff and a bit of a glow, a single thick cable appeared in the air between the shooters and their targets. The rear sections of both lengths began to open up and curl forward almost immediately even as the cables flew toward their targets. They continued to curl forward, spinning slightly, as they wrapped around their targets, their force bearing them down to the ground.

“There was a third,” Gearhead said, inspecting the lines to ensure neither stallion could force his way free. They were, he quickly realized, secure.

“Two out of three isn’t bad,” Flowershine said.

“He, or she,” Gearhead noticed Lightning Streak’s ear twitch slightly at that second option, “will likely carry word of our strategy to Captain Spitfire. We should consider the element of surprise lost to us.”

“Also, thanks to that beacon we should expect incoming,” Flowershine said.

“I doubt we will be able to get clear before they arrive, so let us go see what they have for us, shall we?” Gearhead took to flight again, exiting through the windows they had just used to get inside. Flowershine shrugged, and then followed. Pizzelle gave Fire Streak a little pat on the shoulder, and also left.

* * *

“Looks like we have contact,” Hasty Hoof said, pointing out at the beacon.

“I wonder who it is,” Soarin’ said.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Spitfire said. “The sentries should be returning soon.”

“Strange how we haven’t heard anything about Rainbow Dash,” Hasty Hoof said.

“Maybe she snuck in from below after all,” Soarin’ said.

“Not her style,” Spitfire said. “I don’t know, and I don’t like it.” She turned to Crescent Moon, a brown stallion. “Get me Silver Lining. I want to know what’s going on at those gates.”

“Yes ma’am,” Crescent Moon saluted, and was off. While he wasn’t a fighting member of the Wonderbolts, he was central in ensuring the elite unit had everything they needed.

* * *

Wave Chill, a blue-coated stallion with a dark blue mane, looked down at the signal, wishing he could go. At the moment he was seated in a small alcove specially shaped to lie right underneath the access corridor to the top hatch for the arena. He had his constant Wing Pony, Blaze, sitting in a companion alcove across from him, while Surprise, the final member of their Flight played the messenger.

Wave Chill suddenly became aware of a faint floral scent, and then a cable was wrapping around him from out of nowhere. “I’m sorry I have to do this,” a feminine voice said, and Wave Chill looked up to see a pink-maned Pegasus standing on a lowered metal ramp, which was slowly sinking more and more into sight.

“I’m not sorry,” Rainbow Dash said, similarly reeling Blaze in from beside the ramp. Both captured Pegasi looked up to see Gearhead’s ship, the Silver Wind slowly descending through the access shaft. “I don’t see anypony else here,” Dash said.

“Then we’d better get back to the controls,” the other Pegasus said.

“You really think it’s safe to take these two with us?”

“Oh, I’m sure they won’t do anything bad,” the pretty one said, looking each in the eye in turn. Wave Chill nodded, stunned.

“I guess they’d want proof we’re not cheating, too,” Dash said as she and her companion pulled the bound Pegasi up the ramp, which Fluttershy quickly, and gladly secured.

Dash and her Wing Pony led the unresisting prisoners forward, until they came out in the cockpit. Wave Chill looked around and saw Dash’s friends all sitting at stations, watching, but not touching anything. He could see different things being displayed on the monitors, but he was not close enough to pick out any details.

Dash went and secured the loose end of both cables to a pair of hoofrails so Chill Wave and Blaze would not be able to go anywhere, and then vaulted into a station. The other pony went to the pilot’s chair and started pushing buttons.

“As you can see,” a purple Unicorn said, “we haven’t been touching anything.”

“Although to be honest it’s a bit unnerving just watching,” a tan Earth Pony said.

“Mm?”

“You hungry? I don’t blame you,” a pink Earth Pony said.

“We’re not going to feed Rainbow Dash’s opponents,” the first Unicorn said.

“Aww,”

“Besides, we should just place them in the back where they can’t interfere,” the first Earth Pony said.

“Not that we can interfere,” the other Unicorn said.

Oh, these must be those friends of Rainbow Dash’s. The ones who almost got caught in the tornado. So they came along, Chill Wave thought.

“By the way,” the white Unicorn got up and approached, until she was nose to nose with Chill Wave, removing his hood and goggles. “Don’t you think it was unsporting to come in here ahead of the cadets?”

“Mm!”

“Oh sorry, we can’t undo any of your bindings until this is over. Gearhead’s orders.”

“Need quiet, please,” the piloting Pegasus said.

“Sorry, Fluttershy darling.”

“No, it’s fine, Rarity. I have this under control.”

So that's Fluttershy, Chill Wave thought. That’s suitable. He remembered the faint scent she carried, despite having been in training for weeks.

* * *

“Ah no,” Gearhead muttered as he hovered between his wingmates and most of the forces that had caught up to them, because some of the others had ringed around behind them as well. Prism, Rook, and Contrail had cut them off from the front, with Misty Fly and Surprise being the flanking units. The only ones missing were the elite’s Top Three and Silver Lining, and they could be on their way at any moment.

Just Prism Flight was enough for Gearhead to consider Three Flight’s odds of surviving the encounter as long. Getting out without suffering a loss? Impossible, without a trick, and he did not like the look of the long tubes that most of the elites were carrying. “Exit please," he whispered into the comm.

“I think you need some sort of distraction,” Dash said.

“And go directly backwards,” Fluttershy added. “I’ll guide the others to a rendezvous point.”

“Please and thank you,” Gearhead said.

“If he so much as says one Latin word, you’re free to open fire,” Prism said. There was a lot of clicking from those unidentified tubes.

“In that case,” Gearhead said, “I shall be careful not to cast a thing.” But he would angle his cores at each other between his wings and engage OverBoost Mode. The particles expanded explosively, Flowershine and Pizzelle launching themselves into the air as soon as they saw it start to happen. The elites had to cover their eyes, and by the time they started blinking the light from their vision, Three Flight was already fleeing at full power. They gave chase anyway.

Gearhead fell to the back of the formation so he could shield the others from their pursuers’ attacks. They continuously wound their way through the streets, between and through buildings, and even through a tunnel network. At one point Fluttershy had to guide them through a section based on sensor data alone, as they dropped and doubled back after coming out of a tunnel, squeezing between cracks to get into a building. They rushed down a stairwell, and found a crack into which to vanish behind the building. From there they traveled underground a short distance before coming back up in a clearing that had only two tunnels. One of them took them to an exchange room, where the rest of Quick Silver Squadron was already assembling.

* * *

“How do they do it?” Spitfire asked after Prism and Misty Fly reported in. After losing Gearhead’s Flight, Prism had decided to call a tactical retreat. “It’s like they know where we are and exactly when we’re there.”

“Silver Linings, Misty Fly, and Surprise are the only survivors from their Flights, so we can form a new Flight from the three of them,” Hasty Hoof said.

“Their teamwork won’t be all that bad, since we’ve all worked as a full squadron before. We’re all familiar with each other’s styles,” Soarin’ said.

“We can’t afford to send anypony out alone. Not in pairs, and maybe not even in Flights at this point,” Spitfire said. “We need to strike the cadets together.” She chuckled. “To think they were good enough to push us to this point.”

“Their planning is fundamentally different compared to the way it was before,” Prism said. “They’re taking this seriously now, and using everything they’ve got. Can we do any less?”

“If only we knew how they were getting their intel,” Spitfire said. She walked to the window and looked out at the empty square below. An even field, no tricks. That was the sort of thing they needed to win, unless they could sneak up on the cadets. But that was a last resort. One thing was certain: they wanted the cadets where they could see them. “Set off a signal flare over the square,” Spitfire said, “the brightest one we have. Lets see how the cadets respond to a direct invitation.”

“Yes ma’am,” Crescent Moon hurried off.

“Got any stealthy ideas, Prism?” Spitfire asked.

“Not unless we know how they’re discovering our position,” Prism said. After a few moments, the signal flare took off on a rocket of smokeless fire. The light from it went everywhere, reflecting in everypony’s eyes. And on the bottom of some streamlined metal that should not have been in the sky. Spitfire could see Prism looking more closely, and did the same. She laughed.

“That’s how they did it, and that’s why we’ve never had any word of the full compliment.”

“But to think Rainbow Dash, of all ponies, would agree to restrict herself to flying a ship,” Prism said. “They took a huge gamble with this, removing one of their best flyers.”

“The Silver Wind has two ways to get aboard it, right?”

“Yes, but I doubt even Fluttershy would just open the door for us.”

“If we can catch it, we can let ourselves in. And we shouldn’t restrict ourselves to just support once we’re inside.”

“This plan is a massive gamble, ma’am.”

“We’re flyers, Prism. We always gamble. Gather everypony: it’s time for one last play.”

* * *

“Now what’re they doing?” Rainbow Dash asked, staring at her monitor.

“It looks like they’re coming right at us,” Pinkie said, prancing over.

“Why are they coming at us?” Twilight asked. Rainbow realized that she was right: it wasn’t as if the elite could force their way aboard... right?

“Doesn’t this mean they’ve seen us?” Rarity asked.

“Oh, they’ve seen us alright,” Dawn said. “That’s why they’re coming here, although what they’ll do once they get here I’ve no idea.”

“I could fly us back to the access way,” Fluttershy said. “There’s not a lot of room in there where they could make trouble for us.”

“I don’t think they’ve got a weapon that could get through our shields or armour, but if this situation was real, I wouldn’t want to give them the chance,” Rainbow said, thinking hard. “I’m thinking we go down and across, and keep crossing so they don’t catch up.”

“For how long?” Fluttershy asked.

“As long as we can, and for as long as they’re still interested. Just keep the engines pointed at least a little at them. And while you’re doing that, I’ll let Gearhead know what’s up.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy said, and she rotated the Wind clockwise slightly before putting power to the thrusters. Another small adjustment put them into a slowly-declining flight path.

* * *

“Gearhead, Silver Wind,” Dash’s voice came through the comms. It was the first time they had openly mentioned the ship, and that had to mean something. The rest of Quick Silver was holding an impromptu meeting in the tunnels, trying to come up with a strategy for dealing with the elite’s newly-united front.

“Gearhead here. What is your situation, Wind?”

“The elites just launched right at us. All of them.”

“Are they carrying long tubes?”

“One second... yes. Is that bad?”

“I do not know: we fled before we would give them a chance to use them. Of course, they are probably meant for us rather than for the Wind.”

“Or more particularly for you,” Dawn said.

“Did you say all of them had come out?” Cloudchaser asked.

“That’s right,”

“Then we know where they are now,”

“Yes...” Dash paused, and they all thought about what that meant: all of the remaining members of the Wonderbolts elite were flying toward the Wind. Did they mean to try to knock it out of the sky, now that they had probably concluded that Quick Silver was using it to watch everything? Did they intend on trying to force the doors open, board, and take the ship for their own? Or was it all a simple trap to lure Quick Silver into the open and finally turn the tables on them?

“We know where they are, but we do not know about all of their armaments,” Gearhead said.

“It’d be a big risk going out there,” Midnight Strike said.

“But a bigger risk not to,” Thunderlane said.

“YEAH!”

“Well, planning seems to have helped us on the ‘risk’ count,” Lightning Dust said. “I say we plan us much as we can, then we go after them.”

“Well then,” Gearhead said, mentally raising an eyebrow that it was Lightning Dust who was suggesting planning and acting together. She has learned in these few minutes – not even an hour since we started, really. This seems promising. “Shall we put it to a vote?”

“I’d record, but I’m sort of busy at the moment,” Fluttershy said.

“No need to apologize,” Gearhead said. “Thank you for keeping the elite occupied chasing your tail.”

“Um, yes.”

“Lightning Dust?”

“I move that we plan for five minutes, then strike,” Lightning Dust said.

“Second,” Cloudchaser said.

“All in favour?” Gearhead looked around quickly. “Motion passes unanimously. Let us get started.”

* * *

It took seven minutes to match altitude with the Wind, and even then everypony could tell that it was moving away from them. The pilot would fly the ship across the open cavern, bank to come about, and then dash in the other direction. The Wonderbolts pushed hard to close the distance, but the ship remained just out of reach as long as they continued to try to save their energy for combat.

Prism Flight could probably catch the Wind by using Contrail Booster, but then they would catch the ship alone, and without direct support from any direction. There was a simpler, less expensive way to force the pilot to change their course of action, so Spitfire sent Silver Lining, Misty Fly, and Surprise across the cavern on an intercept course.

If the Wind’s pilot tried to hug the wall to try to sneak past the Wonderbolts, they could force it even closer to the wall and into a choice between a collision and slowing down, allowing the Wonderbolts to catch it. If the pilot tried to fly over the center of the cavern, Spitfire could dispatch Prism Flight just as she had Surprise Flight.

When the pilot noticed that her pursuers had decided to split in two, she gamely increased speed and tried to rush between the two groups. Spitfire signalled to Prism – and that was when turquoise particle blasts started to pierce the air between the Wind and the Wonderbolts, wherever they had started to get close to the ship. Spitfire looked to see Gearhead and his Flight approaching from almost directly below, supported by the rest of his squadron, although none of the others opened fire.

In fact, they all seemed to be armed with some variant of sword, apart from the gems embedded in their armour that carried the capture spell Misty Fly had mentioned. The Wonderbolts momentarily forgot about the Wind in order to evade the blasts from Gearhead’s bladecasters even as they tried to get into position ahead of him.

* * *

Forcing the elites to stop pursuing the Wind was the easy part: with their opponents right in front of them and willingly throwing themselves into the trap, of course the elites would engage them in a head-to-head battle. Now, though, Quick Silver had to force the elites to fight on the former’s terms, and not on the latter’s own terms – not an easy feat when the elite had had over an hour in which to set the arena up to their liking.

The battle was thirteen to nine, so by the numbers the odds favoured Quick Silver Squadron. The nine flyers remaining to the elite, however, were their strongest and most experienced flyers. Quick Silver had therefore agreed to come at their opponents with non-traditional means, so their experience could be used against them.

One such non-traditional means was to force an immediate reaction to a rapid storm of fire from Gearhead’s bladecasters. Regrouping on one flank fell within one set of predictions, so Quick Silver followed Plan A, and regrouped around Gearhead, drawing their swords for close-quarters combat.

“Quattuor Magnae Spiritus invoco. Spiritus Fulgor, evoco ex vacuo et percutiam me inimucus. Fulgor Securis!” As the streak of lightning forked its way directly at the heart of the elite’s formation, Gearhead expected them to scatter, or to try to scatter: lightning was too fast for all of them to evade it completely. Bunching more closely together was most unexpected, since that would mean more of them would get caught in the blast. "Something is not right," Gearhead said.

The elites lifted their tubes, and there was a puff of smoke from all of them as they fired. The whole thing rubbed Gearhead the wrong way. “Scatter!” He shouted, reinforcing his magical shields and pushing his cores into their forward position to deploy the particle shield.

A moment passed, and the tubes’ payloads became visible: dull grey and blue disks that flew through the air at a speed that anypony should be able to avoid, and which seemed perfectly harmless if avoided. They exploded in mid-air, scattering blue and grey dust everywhere. Gearhead’s Lightning Axe came apart and vanished, and in another instant the dust was enveloping him, even as he tried to escape it. He watched in amazement as it seemed to float through and overwhelm both his shields, and it repeated that as it went though his second skin shields as well.

Suddenly Gearhead’s HUD showed him that his cores did not have enough particles to release them, and he was falling. But the circular meter in the bottom right corner of his big visor was quickly refilling, so he did not panic even as he fell. “Keep fighting!” He said through the comms, and the fact that it was still functional should have told the others a lot about their situation.

* * *

Cloudchaser watched, dumbfounded, as Gearhead fell out of the sky, but then his shouted order helped her snap her attention back into the here-and-now. “Regroup,” she said, forcing her voice to come out as calmly as possible. After Rainbow Dash and Gearhead, she was Squadron Leader, regardless of what might be happening to Gearhead. Also, there were his orders to carry out. “Charge! Don’t let them reload.”

Pizzelle and Flowershine joined the others in formation, and together they flew directly at the elites’ formation, watching carefully for those tubes to be raised again. They never did. Instead, the launchers followed Gearhead out of the sky, and the elites all opened fire with the bows attached to their right forelegs.

Quick Silver, in turn, took turns with each leading Flight member furling his or her wings in front of the whole group to deflect the missiles on their armour. They closed the distance and engaged, locking wooden sword against bow shaft, lance, or sword. Since the numbers still favoured the cadets, some of them doubled up on their opponents. Cloudchaser got to go up against Spitfire for a moment, but the veteran forced her back – until Dash dropped in.

“Thanks, Cloudchaser. I’d like to take it from here, if you don’t mind.”

“What about the ship?”

“Fluttershy’s handling it,” Dash said.

“In that case, Captain Spitfire’s all yours,” Cloudchaser said, and she turned to look for another opponent.

Prism Flight presented itself, still flying together and forcing its way through Quick Silver formations, which were doing well to protect each other despite the pressure. Eight more energy blasts split the air, and in the instant they were not paying close attention, Surprise Flight and Soarin’ got themselves captured. The opponents who did the capturing swooped in to catch them before they could fall too far, and did them the honour of making sure they landed safely.

“You’re fighting by numbers, not fairly,” Spitfire said to Dash.

“That’s because we’re treating this as a war, and war isn’t fair,” Dash said, trying to force Spitfire’s sword out wide with the ferocity of her slashes.

“Planning, intelligence, teamwork. Seems your group’s taken all of our lessons to heart.”

“Thank you for saying so, but flattery’ll get you nowhere, Captain,” Dash said.

“Ah, keeping your guard up. Excellent.”

* * *

“Hello, Gearhead,” Rook said, blocking the former’s attempt to get through to Prism.

“Rook,”

“Don’t forget me,” Contrail charged in from Gearhead’s left flank.

“Hard to,” Gearhead said, flipping and inverting. His tripled slashes from all three of his weapons came in across Contrail’s back, but Rook and Prism helped him defend himself.

“The dust was supposed to suppress your magic,” Prism said with a straightforward thrust.

“It did,” Gearhead blocked with his left bladecaster.

“So... this isn’t magic?” Contrail asked, aiming a series of seven slashes at his opponent.

“Correct,” Gearhead evaded the first three attracks, and deflected the rest with the Geargem Dagger.

“Technology,” Rook grunted. He charged with his whole body, but only managed to clip Gearhead’s left rear leg, and he never got past the particle shield. Pizzelle and Flowershine were waiting on the other end of the charge, and while Pizzelle’s three capture cables missed, two of Flowershine’s hit Rook directly. Both mares had to slow Rook’s descent, leaving Gearhead to fight on his own.

* * *

Rainbow kept her thrusts short and her slashes fluid, each one leading into another attack in order to keep Spitfire on her hooves and, more importantly, on the defensive. They both knew that Spitfire was the more experienced flyer, however Rainbow had been involved in more real life-and-death battles, especially lately.

Rainbow was starting to see how her own experiences and skills could bridge the gap with Spitfire’s skills and experiences. The younger mare had always placed the Wonderbolts, and their captain in particular, on a high pedestal, but now she was matching moves with her idol in her efforts to become a Wonderbolt. It made her chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Spitfire asked as she fended off another series of four thrusts,

“I’m just thinking about how I just use to wish about becoming a Wonderbolt. It was always just a dream, something to aspire to. And you and the others were always the ponies I looked up to the most.”

“And now?”

“Now I know that you’re where you are ‘cause of a combination of ability, skill, and hard work – exactly like anypony else. Which means if you could do it, so can I.”

“Well, you’ll have to beat me first,”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,”

“Come again?”

“I don’t have to beat you to defeat you. I mean yeah, it used to be all about the competition and being the best, getting the glory and everything that comes with it. But if this was a real war, the only thing that’d matter is ‘how many lives can I save from disaster before this is over?’

“Good lesson. You gonna stop talking and fight now?”

“Yeah, you’re just about done.”

“Me?”

“You,” Rainbow raised one wing, catching Spitfire’s blade between her feather-shields. The metal dug into the wooden blade as Spitfire tried to yank her weapon free, but Rainbow pumped her free wing harder, putting her barrel to barrel with her idol. And then she fired her capture cable. “It’s not about beating you, just stopping you,” Rainbow said, flying Spitfire down for a safe landing.

* * *

“Did you ever notice how many of them there still are?” Contrail asked as he kept turning and fending off attacks from different mares and stallions.

“A bit busy,” Prism said, trying to get some distance from Gearhead’s furious three-bladed attacks. With him, distance was good because he obviously had not thought to include a gem with the capture spell in his harness, and his magic was still negated. “You don’t have a capture spell, do you?”

“I have not needed one,” Gearhead said, and with the distance he switched to gun mode on his casters. He used his blasts not to hit Prism, but to put her where he wanted her. “I do not have a single capture to my name.”

“You’re holding back again,” Prism flipped, evading perfectly. “I thought we promised not to do that.”

“Yes, well, I am not used to being the one to deliver the knock-down blow.”

“Maybe you should get used to it,” Prism said.

“Very well,” Gearhead charged a blast between his bladecasters. Prism ascended rapidly to evade it and put her at a higher altitude, but Contrail gurgled as the strike knocked him unconscious. “That was odd,” the Earth Pony said as Thunderlane went to catch the faster flyer.

“Guess it’s just you and me now, huh?” Prism set herself up for a charge.

“No, it is not,” Gearhead said, indicating the other Pegasi with a flick of his tail.

Prism looked around. “I could still win,”

“How?”

“Bring in your friend, Fluttershy, and we’ll see.”

“I think we have the superior numbers here,” Gearhead said.

“Then bring it on,” Prism said.

Gearhead shrugged, then came in with a spinning underhead thrust, which Prism met. The instant their weapons touched each other, however, Prism was wrapped in capture rope from the closest Pegasi.

Again? Prism’s expression said as Gearhead caught her.

“In war, it does not matter who strikes the final blow, least of all on an individual level.” A gong sounded three times, signalling the end of the war game.

* * *

Over the following week, the cadets continued to go through exercises and a regular training routine. The only difference was that now they were united as a squadron. Almost: While Lightning Dust had become better at playing with others, she still had a hard time slowing down for her wing-mates when they needed her to slow down. It took time to learn the different paces, however the competitive mare was slowly learning patience as well.

Spitfire ran another squadron-level war game, only this time Prism Flight was with the cadets, and they were pitted against the visiting Shadowbolts, Luna's new elite flying group. The Shadowbolts were more aggressive and improvisational than the Wonderbolts, however they were also more vulnerable to Gearhead’s light-based techno-magic, and he played a major role in overcoming their force this time.

* * *

At the beginning of the following week, everypony was assembled for a presentation in dress uniform. Spitfire stood on a raised platform, flanked by Soarin’ and Hasty Hoof. Everypony else stood in the audience. “Cadets and officials, welcome to this ceremony for the Class of Spring ’13,” Spitfire said. “We’re all busy so I’ll keep this short.

“Over the past couple months you have been shown the values that best reflect the Wonderbolts spirit. Most of you were able to reflect that spirit right back. Some of you performed better, and others took more time to learn. You should all be proud of what you’ve accomplished here.

“That said, there is much more to do. This was only Basic Training, and Advanced Training is yet to come. I highly recommend that you attend, however the choice of whether or not to continue will be yours. In addition to Advanced, there are other programs that would prepare you for duty as a Wonderbolt. Some of you will have my recommendation for some of these programs.

“It has also come to my attention that our current active roster is insufficient for some situations. We are therefore investigating the possibility of a reserve unit to back us up, and many of you will be among the first candidates for consideration. You will, however, be required to attend further courses and undergo further testing before you will be allowed to join.”

Spitfire half-turned away, gesturing to where Soarin’ and Hasty Hooves were pushing a lectern full of scrolls to their captain. “I will call your name and assign rank and commendations. When I do, come collect your award.

“Azure, Prism. Captain. Commendation to complete Advanced. Blue, Contrail. Lieutenant. Commendation to complete Advanced. Cloudchaser. Officer. Commendation to Advanced and Command School. Dash, Rainbow. Officer. Commendation to Advanced and Command School. Dust, Lightning. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. Congratulations on earning back your wings.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Lightning Dust returned the salute, and everypony applauded.

“Eyes, Starry. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. A little more time, maybe. Fire, Wild. Officer. Commendation to Advanced. Flowershine. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. Fluttershy. Officer. Commendation to Advanced and Special Support Corps Academy. Jelly, Lime. Officer. Commendation to Advanced. Pizzelle. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. Sapphire, Rook. Captain. Commendation to complete Advanced. Sightseer. Officer. Commendation to Advanced. Snowflake. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. Starburst. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. Strike, Midnight. Cadet. Commendation to Advanced. Thunderlane. Officer. Commendation to Advanced and Command School. Thirdson, Gearhead. Officer. Commendation to Advanced, Command School, and the Special R&D Corps.

“Some of you have not yet had the opportunity to achieve the level of commitment and performance required to go beyond the rank of Cadet. I believe that with a little more time, you might do so. Advanced Training could be seen as an opportunity to do just that.

“Your training has just begun, and should you complete it, I will look forward to serving with you.” Spitfire saluted the assembly, which responded in crisp kind. “Dismissed.”