The Light Behind the Darkness

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Ah!” I fell out of bed with a thud.

Somepony was banging on the door. “Com’on cadets!” the voice of Spitfire commanded, “We may not be training today, but that doesn’t mean you should still be asleep!” She kept banging on the door.

“We’re up, ma’am!” I heard Melody scream, the obvious annoyance in her tone showing she is not a morning person.

Spitfire stopped banging on the door, “Breakfast starts in an hour! Show in a better attitude.”

“Yes ma’am,” I say groggily, rubbing the sleep from my eyes with my hooves. I soon hear footsteps leading away from the door.

I look at Melody. She didn’t look to happy, she had a look with the full intent to kill the next person she sees, which scared me a little. I look away from her to see to the time. 5:01 AM. Wow. Well, this should be a fun stay.

I get to my hooves and straighten out my bed since my blanket fell with me. After my bed was made, I turned to see if Melody had cooled down a bit. “Morning, Melody,” I tell her. She just turns around giving me the evil eye.

She groans, “I hate getting up.” She looks at the clock, and groans again.

“What do you want to do to pass the time?” I ask.

“Sleep,” is all she says.

I chuckle a little, but immediately regret it when Melody give me the deadliest look that could beat King Sombra’s bloodthirsty stare. I back away with my ears folded back at the gaze she was giving me.

“I’ll just leave stop talking now,” I say awkwardly, and slowly turn around to face my bed.

A few minutes pass before I her Melody speak with a much calmer voice, “Sorry, I’m not really a morning pony.”

I nod. “I can tell,” I say.

“Do you want to talk while we wait to eat?” she ask.

“Talk about what?” I ask.

Melody grins mischieviously, giving me a bad feeling, “How did you and Soarin meet?” There it was, I knew she would ask me sooner or later.

I sigh, “Okay,” and I start my story. “About two years ago, I competed in the Best Young Flyers Competition so I could hang out with the Wonderbolts if I won. I did win, but not how you would expect.”

“How did you win?” she ask.

“Well my friends had come to support even though they are not pegasi. My friend, Twilight, used magic to give my other friend wings and the rest the ability to walk on clouds for three days. Rarity’s wings got her a lot of attention so she signed up for the competition. So me and Rarity had to share a turn due to the time.

“During her routine, Rarity’s wing had evaporated, making her fall to death. The Wonderbolts had gone to save her, but were knocked out in process. When I saw them falling, I disregarded my routine and chased to save them. The only I could to them was to break the sound barrier, and I did, making a sonic rainboom in the process. I saved them and won the contest. I got to meet all the Wonderbolt, but I mostly hung out with Soarin since the rest seemed to be busy or didn’t give much mind to me.”

Melody smiles, “Did you meet any other times?”

“Yeah, I went to the Wonderbolts Academy and he trained us with a few things like combat. I also hung out with him at the Canterlot wedding, we even danced,” I pause, looking at Melody, and the shocked expression she was giving me. “My friend’s brother was the one who was getting married. I also got to perform the sonic rainboom,too.” I get back to the topic when her face turns back to normal, “We also met up at the Equestria Games Tryouts.

“Spitfire and Fleetfoot wanted me to fly with them and take Soarin’s place. They told me Soarin was still healing from an injury, which was a lie, but I didn’t know that.” I look down in regret, “I wanted to fly with them, but I also didn’t want to let Ponyville down because I went with the better team. I couldn’t decide, so I faked being injured.

“I met Soarin in the hospital, where we learned we had both been deceived. I realized I couldn’t let down my friends or hometown, especially with a team that would lie to their own comrade. I did hesitate, but I ended up telling Soarin I wasn’t injured. I thought he would be mad, but he was actually quite understanding, and we both got to compete in the Games, where we also got to hang out.”

“Wait, you competed in the Equestria Games? Thats… how… why…” Melody looked at me questionably, “How are you not a Wonderbolt already?”

I smile, “I guess you could say I am, I’m a reserve actually, but I want to be a full fledged Wonderbolt,” I explain.

Melody just nods, then looks at the clock again. I look, too. It read 5:40.

Melody turns to me, “I you want to head to the mess hall for breakfast?”

I nod walk to the door with Melody right behind me.

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In line for breakfast, I got eggs, wheat toast, hash browns, and grits. Melody and I are the first ones here, so there were plenty of empty tables. We chose one and sat down to eat. I started to eat my eggs, when more ponies started arriving.

I heard Spitfire say during the announcements, that ten ponies made it to this camp. I my goal today would be to meet and get to know the ponies I would be training with. I have already met three of them, which meant there were still six ponies to become acquainted with. Of course we save the two vacant seats for Steel Wings and Flaming Shield who were coming this way.

“Hey guys,” I greet them.

Shield waves, “Hey.” He  puts his tray on the table and sits next to Melody.

“Sup girls,” Steel winks at at us. “I mean to bale on you guys, but I’m going to sit with the other cadets,” and he leaves.

“Okay, well see ya around,” I say to nonexistent presents. I turn to Shield, “We didn’t talk much yesterday.”

He looks at, “No we didn’t,” he smirks, “You were to busy talking with a famous Wonderbolt, I must know how you know him.” I groan, but Melody tries not to laugh, but fails and starts cracking up.

Melody starts to calm down, at least enough to get some words out, “I just asked her that in the room.” She starts bursting with laughter again.

I glare at Melody, “Honestly, Melody, it’s not that funny.”

Still laughing, she gets out the words, “Yes it is.” I groan.

Shield uses a hoof gesture that says I’m waiting. In defeat, I tell Flaming Shield what I told Melody. Once I finish, I chuckle a little at the face he is making. It looked a lot like Melody’s.

“So let me get this straight,” he begins, “you save the Wonderbolts by performing a sonic rainboom, went to the Wonderbolt Academy, danced with Soarin at the Royal Canterlot wedding, tried out for the Equestria Games, and flew in them?”

I chuckle, “I don’t know, I actually know them on a personally and they know my talent. Oh and I forgot to say Ponyville won the Equestria Games with 37 medals.”

Both Shield and Artistic Melody stare at me in awe.

“Forget the Wonderbolt, just create your own team or at least join one that lets in talent.” Shield says.

I start to eat my eggs, when a ball of green fire and the sound of flames catch my attention. I am over the moon when the note pops out of mid air. The action did not go unnoticed when everypony, including the captain, appear at our table with confused looks. I blush in embarrassment.

Spitfire glares at me, “Explain cadet,” she commands.

“Sorry ma’am, it is a letter from loved ones,” I explain.

“Okay,” she holds out a hoof, “Care to let me verify that.”

“Yes ma’am,” I say, hoping she doesn’t read it out loud.

My wish came true when she started mumbling  the letter to herself. Her eyes widen, then go back to normal. “Sorry, I forgot you were close friends with Princess Twilight,” I really wish she didn’t say that out loud. Now everypony will ask how I know a princess. I can’t tell them about the elements because, as public as they may be, Celestia thinks it would be better to keep me and my friend’s identity's from the public. “I let you read your note now,” says Spitfire as she gives me back my letter.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I mumble and leaves, leaving me to deal with everypony.

There was silences, just all the cadets staring at me, as if I have two heads. And then… they all bombard me with, “How do you know the Princess of Friendship?!”