The Light Behind the Darkness

We walk alongside each other as me and Artistic Melody headed towards the mess hall for some food. We pass some ponies, either Wonderbolts or cadets. It was quiet on our way to dinner, so I thought I’d start off with some small talk.

“So, any family back home?” I ask.

She nods, saying, “Yes, I’ve mentioned my dad and little sister. I also have a mom and two dogs back home. What about you, anyone missing you?” Melody ask all of a sudden.

“Oh,well… in Ponyville, I left behind some amazing friends who I would consider family.”

“What about a dad or mom?” I flinch at the word mom, which she takes full notice of, “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry if I brought up a bad subject. Just forget I said anything,” she says frantically.

I shake my head and hold a hoof up, “It’s okay, you didn’t know,” I sigh deeply then begin, “My dad is here in Cloudsdale, but my mom is…” I hesitate, “gone, it was cancer... that took her.” I finish.

Melody looks at me weakly, “I’m sorry, we can change the subject...uhm… any pets?” I smile at her understanding of how the subject of my mom hurts. I really am glad to have a roommate like her and not some feather brained, idiotic jerk.

“I have a pet tortoise named Tank.” I tell her.

She stops and stares at me with a confused look showing across her features, “Really?” she trots up to me to catch up. “I would love to her how you acquired a pet like that,” and I begin my tale of how Tank to be in possession.

***************************************************************************************************************

“And so I got some magical propellers to help Tank get up into the sky and so I wouldn’t have to stay grounded,” I finished my story as we entered the mess hall, finally. We head to the lunch line to grab some food as we continue conversing.

“Wow, Tank sounds like an extremely loyal pet,” says Melody, placing carrots on her tray.

“He is, and I’m lucky to have him,” I sigh as I go for the hay fries and grab a carrot dog.

“It certainly sounds like it,” we go to find a table. Melody points one out that is occupied by two stallions. “That table is already taken,” but she ignores me and heads over there anyway. I sigh and follow suit.

She waves as we get closer yelling out, “hey.” To my surprise, one of the stallions waves back.

We make it to the table. “Hey, Shield, these seats taken?” she asks the stallion. So this must be her best friend she was talking about.

“Nope, go ahead and sit,” he says, gesturing to the a pair of seats at the table. Melody sits next Shield while I sit across from her and next to the stallion Shield was conversing with.

Flaming Shield is a pretty buff looking stallion with a white coat. His mane is brown with tints of orange in a spiked style. His cutie mark was a blue shield engulfed in flames. His friend that I am sitting by was not as muscular as his friend, but still looks strong. His coat is black, and his mane is short and wavy with a shade of admiral. His cutie mark is metal wings.

“Shield, this is Rainbow Dash, she is my roommate,” Melody introduces me.

We both shake hooves. “Nice to meet,” he says, still shaking my hoof.

“Like wise,” I say as we stop shaking.

Shield then points to the stallion next to me, “This is Steel Wings, he is my roommate.”

“Hey, what's up?” Steel wings holds out a hoof for someone to bump it.

I give him a hoof bump. “Nothing, much.”

“So you want to be Wonderbolt?” Steel Wings asks, smirking, and I know where this conversation is heading.

I smirk as well, “Yup The only thing the Wonderbolts have been missing is me.”

He nods, still smirking, “ Well, we’ll see if that is true, but who knows,” he looks directly into my eyes, a cocky, determined look in them, “I might just be the what they really need.

I return his gaze, “Keep telling yourself that.”

We hold our gazing contest for a moment before something catches my ear, “Hey Rainbow, long time no see.” I knew that voice from anywhere. I look away from Steel Wings to see a cauliflower blue stallion with his windswept navy blue mane out of uniform, trotting in my direction. The others just stare as stops at the edge of the table.

I smile and give a small wave, “Hey Soarin.” Everypony a the table was now gaping at me. I can only imagine the mind process they all are going through right now. “I haven’t seen you seen you since the Equestria Games. How have you been?” I ask.

He smiles at me, “I’ve been fine. How about you, anything interesting?”

“Well besides, my life goal finally being achieved, to much,” I say shaking my head and thinking about the most recent monster me and my friends have fought and the places the map sends us.

He nods, taking note of my behavior, “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Yeah.” I then wonder out of curiosity, “How has Spitfire and Fleetfoot been treating you?” His demeanor slightly changes and his smile slightly shrinks, looking more forced, making me wish I hadn’t asked.

“They aren’t as bad as they were during the Equestria Games Tryouts, but they are still hard on me during speed and agility training,” his tone is a bit more quiet and not as energetic when he greeted me.

I smile at him, putting my hoof on his shoulder, “I’m sorry I brought it up.”

His smile changes from forced to genuine as he looks at me, “It’s okay, not everypony can be as understanding as others.”

“True,” I say, thinking of my fillyhood.

“Well, I should go, Spitfire should begin giving the announcements soon, bye Dash,” I starts to leave.

I wave, “Bye Soarin.” He waves back then trots away.

I look around the table, for I had forgotten there were other ponies. I blush in embarrassment. They were all staring at me, and I could tell they were trying to figure out why Soarin just walked up to me and had a casual conversation.

I laugh awkwardly. Melody is the first to reside from her shockened state, “Okay, how, what, where, and when?” is all she says.

“It’s a long story,” I really don’t want to explain how I know the Wonderbolts, there is just way too much detail to go into.

“I would still like to know how you a know a Wonderbolt?”

We are interrupted as the screech of a microphone and voice of Spitfire, the captain of the Wonderbolts. “Welcome to the Wonderbolt Boot Camp cadets. I am Captain Spitfire, while you are here you are to address me as ma’am,” she said in a strict, commanding voice. “Now, your stay here will not be easy, in fact it will mostly be training to see if you can handle the life of a Wonderbolt. You were all accepted to come here because you have a talented background, don’t make me regret accepting you.

“Now you may think that being a Wonderbolt just racing derbies, aerial performances, fame, and fans, but that is only part of it. The Wonderbolts are part of the Equestrian military and must be ready to fight when duty calls for it. You need to be prepared to defend Equestria and the citizens within our country. This means you need more than skill and physical strength, you need to have bravery, strong will power, and undefiable loyalty to your country and comrades. You will need to be a leader and a follower. You will need to be dutiful.

“There were many ponies who sent applications to be part of this boot camp, roughly 30 letters were sent. Out of those 30 ponies, only ten fit the bill. You are the ten ponies who have the skill and talent to become a Wonderbolt. Know how lucky you are. Not many ponies have what it takes to be a member of our team.

“Now with that said, I have information to give. First, the cadet uniforms should now be your closets and with your names on them. You need to try them on to see if they fit and if there are any problems that need to to be fixed with it. Second, I figure you will want to send letters to your families and friends, so we have a mailmare that is here everyday at 7:00, that is also the time dinner will end, so I advice you to bring your letters with you when heading to eat. Third, you are to follow our orders and show your commanding officers respect. Fourth, if you are reckless and cause damage and/or injure anypony, you will be kicked out. Fifth, if you have any questions or comments, you may come to me of any other members. Remember, we want you to join our ranks and the only way for that to happen is for us to be hard and push you over your limit. That is it.” She turns to leave the stage, but turns back to use, “Also, training will begin the day after tomorrow so you can settle in. That is all,” she turns and leaves.

I look at a clock posted on the wall. It reads 6:20, which gives me just enough time to finish eating and right a letter to my friends. I eat quickly, leaving the table at 6:35, head to my room, find some paper and a quill, and write my letter to my friends.

‘Dear Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, AJ, Rarity, Spike, and Scootaloo,

Well, I’m finally here, I’m finally on my way to become a Wonderbolt. I’m really excited to be here, but I wish I didn’t have to leave you guys. It hasn’t been a day yet, but I already miss you guys to death. I can’t wait until we see each other again.

The camp is fine, I met my roommate and we are already good friends, she introduced me to her friend, Flaming Shield. I didn’t get much time to talk to him, but I’ll make sure we get to know one another. I saw Soarin and we caught up a bit, it was great to see him. You know how we become close friends at the Equestria Games. It’s good to know I have some friends here to hang with, but they still aren’t you guys, know that.

We start training the next day, so I’ll let you know you know how training is then.

Yours Truly,

Rainbow Dash’

After signing my name, I put the letter in an envelope, write down the needed information to send it, and head down to the lobby the lobby to give my letter to the mailmare. I enter the lobby area to be greeted with a wonderful sight. A grey pegasus mare with a blond mane, a wall eye, and bubbles as her cutie mark, was standing at the door, eating a muffin.

“Derpy!” I cheer happily,as I zoom toward her for a hug. She turns around and smiles as my forehooves are wrapped around her in a hug.

“Rainbow Dash!” she cheers, too, as Derpy returns the hug.

When we soon release I just stare at her in amazement that she is here. “What are you doing here, and why didn’t you tell you would be here when I said goodbye?” I ask.

She giggles, “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know which camp you were attending,” she explains.

“Okay, well, what are you doing here?” I press, curious as to why she is here.

“Since I’m a mailmare, I work the routes in Ponyville, Canterlot, and Cloudsdale.”

“Oh, well I came here to give you my letter to my friends back at Ponyville.” I hand her the letter, which she gladly takes.

“I’ll make sure to get it them as fast as I can,” she smile.

I hug Derpy one more time, “Thank you, Derpy.”

We say goodbye to her and head to my room. Melody is already there, “Where did you run off to?” she ask.

“I had to hurry down to the lobby to send a letter to my friends,” I explain.

She nods as I climb onto my bed. Once settled, I grab the picture of my friends, and set it back on the nightstand. I place my hoof on the locket just to check incase it fell off, even though Twilight enchanted it to never be lost. I then grab a Daring Do book to read until I go to sleep. I got to chapter 15 out 25 before Spitfire came to tell us lights out.

I now lay in bed, cover over body, staring at the ceiling, Melody slumbering peacefully I am here… I am finally here... This is not a dream… This is reality… I am on the path to become a Wonderbolt… I just wonder why I’m not as ecstatic as I thought I would be.