The Wonderbolt Scout

Raindrop returned to her hotel after a nice day exploring Las Pegasus. She had found a nice little cafe with a great lunch deal which she would definately return to."Better get some sleep, I've got to be up early and meet Nitro at the pitches for more training. At least this time he doesn't have to train till he nearly passes out". She was heading over to her room when she heard a knock on the door."Aww feathers who would be calling this late at night". She went to the door and opened it and was greeted by a familiar face."Thunderlane".

"Hey Raindrop, how goes the scouting, any stallions I need to worry about".

"Just about any colt that can fly should be a worry to you" she teased him.

"You really know how to make a friend feel good" he said sarcastically.

"Come on in, do you want something to drink".

"That would be great I just flew in from Cloudsdale, I am exhausted". He flopped onto the couch."I'll have an Applejack Daniels with extra ice".

"This late at night, with you flying, your getting some nice apple juice". She got a groan as a response from him."So what brings you out to Las Pegasus".

"Like you I am also here on Wonderbolt business, I'm looking into which arena to have the Las Pegasus show for our next tour across Equestria".

"How long are you staying for".

"Two days then I'm off to Vanhoover". She trotted over to him and handed him the apple juice."Thanks".

"No problem, so how are things back at the base".

"Do you want the facts or the gossip" he said with a sly grin on his face.

"Facts first then gossip".

"Okay, the new recuits could be a lot better, we have a new trainer brought in to help out each Wonderbolt personnely with gym training and Rainbow Dash got promoted to 2nd lieutenant".

"Is the personnel trainer good looking" Raindrop quizzed him with a sly grin on her face.

"Oh she is definately good looking" Thunderlane responded with a laugh after seeing her reaction.

"Okay, what's the gossip".

"Let me think, Soarin is still trying to hit on Rainbow Dash, Fleetfoot broke up with her coltfriend and Spitfire has a secret admirer".

"WHAT". Raindrop nearly choked on her water."Since when does Spitfire have a secret admirer".

"Since she found a letter left in her office. What about here any gossip with you".

"Not a single piece sadly".

"Well that's a shame, anyway I better head to my hotel, the wonderbolts have put me up in a cheap 3  star hotel down the road, can you beleive it".

"Yes I can, we should meet up tomorrow for lunch"

"That sounds fun, I'll meet you in the lobby around 3"

"See you then Thunderlame" she said jokingly as he left the suite. She went to her bed and fell asleep within a few minutes.

Nitroblast got up the next morning feeling pretty tired."How am I going to be able to train if I'm this tired". He got out of bed and got his bag ready. He gobbled down a bowl of oats before he left and headed for the pitches. When he got there Raindrop was nowhere in sight. He waited for about five minutes before he saw her in the distance.

"Sorry I'm late I didn't get to sleep that early".

"Same here" Nitro responded with a loud yawn."Please don't tell me we have to do the same as yesterday".

"Don't worry, yesterday was a test to see what your limits were. Now that I have a good idea of your skills we can start the real training. Now what's the first things a good wonderbolt needs".

"Skill".

"No a wonderbolt needs to be able to think. Being a wonderbolt means being part of a team, and if you can't think then you shouldn't be part of a team. if you don't think you put your team at risk, I know this from first hoof experience with a cadet I trained with".

"Working in a team is easy for me, I do it all the time".

"I know that, but you need to know the things being a wonderbolt involves. Now what's the next things a wonderbolt needs".

"To know what to do".

"It's skill, wonderbolts aren't Equestria's best fliers for no reason, it's because they have skill which I also know have".

Nitroblast let out another yawn."Is there anything else a wonderbolt needs to be able to do".

"Being able to react to any situation. Wonderbolts aren't just show ponies, we are also an elite branch of the Equestrian army and if we are called to serve we need to know how to react".

"Well I'm pretty sure I can do all those things".

"Of course you can, otherwise we wouldn't of scouted you, my job is to help you hone your skills so that when you go to your official trials in Cloudsdale you will pass with flying colours. Now we have 6 days in which to hone these 3 skills. We will spend today working on your flight skills. Then the two after that on your thinking, then the last three on reacting to situations. Now letss get started with some drills.

After a two hour session of working on flight skills Nitroblast had a huge adrenaline rush. His teachers were supirsed to see all this energy from the stallion who was normally very quiet in class. After classes he headed out to the pitch for football training.

"Nitroblast I want you working on different plays with Ironhoof. The rest of you will be doing tackling drills, let's get to work".

Nitro went through some basic techniques with Ironhoof, the teams Quarter back, and when they felt like they could do then blindfolded they moved onto the harder stuff.

"So what's the real reason you can't train in the mornings Nitro".

"Excuse me".

"You are the teams most dedicated player, you wouldn't miss practice just because you have to look after your sister, you'd bring her with you. What's the real reason".

"You promise not to tell anypony".

"You got it bro, now spill".

"I got scouted by the wonderbolts and I have training sessions in the morning".

"Man your pulling my tail, are you serious. Why would you keep that a secret".

"Because if the coach finds out I lose my scholarship".

"Damn, well I won't say a word".

"Thanks man". They continued with the techniques for the rest of the training session.

After training Nitro went for a bite to eat with Flarestreak. After saying goodbye to Flare he took the scenic way home. When he got home he was suprised not to find his mother in the garden."She's probably inside making dinner" he thought to himself. He went into the house and entered the kitchen to find his mother and father. His mother got out of her chair and turned to face him.

"Your father needs to talk to you". She left the kitchen. As she was leaving Nitro noticed a tear roll down her cheek. He sat down opposite his father.

"Well just like I said you blew it".

"Blew what".

"Your scholarship, I got a letter from the school less then an hour ago saying that they found out you were training with the wonderbolts. They have requested a meeting with them tomorrow".

"How could they have found out" Nitro thought, the only ponies I told were Flarestreak who would never tell on me and Ironhoof who was also a close friend.

"I can fix this dad".

"No, I'm going to fix this. We are going to go to that meeting tomorrow and you are going to tell them that you have quit the wonderbolts as you realised your scholarship is more important. Do you understand". Nitroblast glared at his father.

"I said I'm going to fix this". Nitroblast got up from his chair and left the house.