Blitz

1

The newly risen sun drenched the cyan mare's face with its warmth, causing her to grumble irritably while pulling the thin sheet over her head. Her mind began the slow process of awakening, piecing together the events of yesterday. Her eyes snapped open and the cover was tossed back as she rolled out of the bed with sudden vigor, the promise of a full day with her young new friend sitting on the forefront of her mind.

Rainbow Dash stretched her wings out, dispelling the soreness that had settled in during the night. Every muscle in her wings burned with a dull throb from the strenuous flight of yesterday's show; even the practice sessions seemed like foal's play in comparison. Her jaw popped uncomfortably from a wide yawn, the expulsion of air from her throat audible in the silence of the private room. She gave herself a once-over in front of the dresser mirror, untangling the knots in her mane, but retaining the small touch of unruliness she had always been fond of. Satisfied, the freshly groomed pegasus stepped out of her room and into the Cloudiseum's private lounge.

The fair sized lounge held a relaxed atmosphere this morning as the Wonderbolts took full advantage of their day off. Rainbow Dash glanced to her right, observing the team's oldest fliers locked in a tense game of chess. A stocky, crimson-hued pony with a smooth, jet-black mane wielded the white army, his cherished lucky scarf coiled around the base of his thick neck. He was the silent type; Dash only knew that his name was Baron Von Himmel, and he had come from a land east of Equestria.

Opposite Baron sat Thunder, controlling the black side and rivaling the age of his red friend. His coat bore a steel tint, with his mane a lighter shade. They had been in the group, as well as the best of friends, for over sixty years apiece, their careers having begun under the tutelage of the legendary Starfire. The end of this season would mark their official retirement, appropriately ending under the leadership of the renowned pegasus' granddaughter.

Turning away, Rainbow Dash scanned the rest of her surroundings. Soarin' was mowing down his breakfast gleefully, sparing any table manners to fill his stomach as quickly as possible and get on with his day of relaxation. The pony she had been looking for, however, was carefully sorting the team uniforms.

"Hey Spitfire!" Dash trotted up to her query, mind still trying to formulate exactly what she would say.

"Well well," Spitfire smirked, a playful tone accenting the small grin she wore, "look who finally woke up. I'm surprised you're not going to sleep the day away. You did return pretty late, after all."

"I spent most of the night with a certain fan..." her tone dropped noticeably, "who felt very ignored." She hoped the hint would be taken. It must have had some impact; a suit floated to the ground as Spitfire turned to face her accuser.

"I don't know what you mean, Dash. We never got approached yesterday." Her eyes were glazed with confusion; last night's after-show had been pretty routine. The usual fanfare of cameras and comments.

"I mean, the special Meet and Greet ticket! The colt who had it was completely hurt; nopony paid attention to him except for me!" Frustration began to make its way into Dash's tone.

"Well I'm sorry, but I didn't see anypony out of the ordinary." Spitfire was becoming increasingly irritated at the rookie who was now treading a very thin line. She kept her voice as professional as physically possible, knowing it would be futile if this conversation lasted any longer.

Rainbow Dash scoffed, pushing the limit of Spitfire's patience in the process. "That's because you were too busy being a camera hog!" There. It was out in the open; Dash couldn't back down now even if she'd wanted to. Judging by the look on Spitfire's face, she had gone too far this time.

Choking sounds were heard to their side as Soarin's breakfast caught in his windpipe. The rookie was playing with a very volatile fire. He had seen Spitfire mad once before - the result of which involved her back hooves and some poor stallion being sent to Canterlot General with an 'unofficial' castration.

The Wonderbolt captain's body trembled from an equal amount of wounded feelings and explosive anger as she began her reply. "Do you... really... think I LIKE having a microphone forcefully shoved into my snout!?" Dash recoiled as Spitfire flared her wings out to their fullest; she had expected an outburst, but not like this. "Do you honestly believe I enjoy being bombarded by a hundred questions?" Rainbow Dash was still in shock; the tables had been turned completely. She was the one being scolded now.

"Look at my eyes, Dash." Spitfire raised a hoof for emphasis. Dash did as she was told; seeing a pair of bags and various lines that were mapped across the angry pegasus' face. "I haven't taken a vacation since I became the captain! Do you think this is easy!? Do you think being the captain is all glamor and fame!? Well it isn't! I bust my bucking flank keeping the Wonderbolt image pristine!" Spitfire breathed heavily; more from exasperation than exhaustion. "In fact, I have something for you. Something I really think you need, and I definitely know that I need." She spun around. Dash gulped, believing she was about to get her flank, quite literally, kicked. Instead, Spitfire reached down, grabbing the Captain's uniform in her teeth and throwing it at the unsuspecting blue mare.

The suit struck her softly in the face, her having no time to react. She reached for it with her hooves, pulling it away to examine it closer. It was just the standard Wonderbolt flight suit, the only oddity being the captain's emblem that sat on the left breast. Her eyes moved cautiously between the suit and its owner, herself not daring to speak for fear of escalating the situation further.

"Congratulations, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire's tone was heavily laced with sarcasm. "You're the new Wonderbolt Captain. For the next show, at least. Let's see how you like it for once. Of course, I'm sure you can handle the pressure just fine. I, meanwhile, am going to take a very long overdue vacation. You'll be able to find me at the Canterlot Spa." She turned, lowering her wings into a more suitable take-off position. "Oh, and don't forget to tell Flash about this changing of the guard. He's down in Ponyville with his wife." With that, she left a stunned Rainbow Dash sitting on her haunches, still trying to comprehend exactly what just happened.

2

Winter hummed a soft tune as her hooves wove around the wax, shaping another candle to sell. She had lost count after the fiftieth one, opting to let her body take over the work while her mind relaxed - the inventory could always come later. The house was lit only by her own work, the shades drawn tightly. She preferred to work in the soothing atmosphere that only lit candles could offer.

Her almost-meditative trance broke when a knock came from the front door. She stood, careful not to disturb her work-in-progress as she moved with a natural grace to answer the call. She opened the door before another series of rasping could begin, before her standing a cyan pegasus who wore a nervous smile.

"Hello, Miss Dash." She maintained a soft, almost motherly tone. "I assume you're here for Blitz? Please wait a mo- or nevermind." The violet colt had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, eager to get his day started. He did not notice what his mother had seen.

"What's the matter, dear?" Winter kept that same tone, adding in a bit of concern for good measure. "You look rather distraught."

"Well... um..." Dash didn't know how to begin. She was afraid of either of their reactions, but did what she always had done when in doubt - muster up her courage and barge through it like a train. "I promised Blitz an entire day, but something came up and I have to make a trip into Ponyville... and I wasn't sure... if he... would be allowed..." The momentum she had built up crashed to a halt as Winter raised her hoof, looking between the scared mare and the now-worried colt.

"Ponyville, you say? I've been there quite a few times myself - very nice place if I may say so. And I assure you, dear, your fears are unfounded. I absolutely trust that my Blitz is in perfectly capable hooves. So, in short, he may accompany you. You did promise him a full day, after all." She smiled wryly at their unbelieving faces, knowing neither had expected such an easy victory.

Blitz was the first one to regain his composure. "Well, Dash, what're we waiting for? Let's go!"