It was late at night in Equestria. The barracks of the Wonderbolts was bare, and silent. Save for one pony. A weathered Pegasus with a striking yellow coat and a fiery mane stood inside, withdrawing items from the inside of a metal locker. She held each object with utmost care as they were placed in her saddlebag.
A folded up Wonderbolt flight jacket, a metal whistle, a worn uniform, a pair of sunglasses, and a faded photograph of a group of cadets.
Spitfire paused to examine the picture. A smile worked its way across her face as she felt a wave of cold nostalgia wash over her.
"Thought you could just slip out?"
Spitfire's ear perked at the sound of an unseen visitor. She knew exactly who its owner was.
"You're up late, Clipper."
Soarin appeared from the shadows next to Spitfire. He was indeed noticeably tired.
"I had a sneaking suspicion that you were gonna try to back out quietly."
Spitfire nickered. "No reason to make a big deal out of it. I'm just retiring. Happens all the time."
"Yeah, but you're the Wonderbolt Captain!" Soarin protested. "Come on, you really think we're gonna let you go without saying goodbye?"
Spitfire shook her head, sighing in exasperation. "You are welcome to do so at the ceremony."
"Where's the fun in a boring, half-hearted military speech?" Soarin held up a foreleg, gesturing as he spoke. "Come on, it's better when we do it out of uniform. Not just as a team, but as friends. It's more personal."
Spitfire glared at Soarin impatiently. "Lieutenant Soarin, I am ordering you to relocate from the premises, before I have you court-martialed!"
"For what?"
"Insubordination."
"You're retired." Soarin stuck out his tongue, grinning mischievously. "Wow, I haven't done anything like that in a long time. Insubordination is fun!"
"Well, you seem to be enjoying this scenario." Spitfire tossed as she resumed her packing.
"Ah, don't get mad," Soarin chuckled. "I'm probably right behind you." He took a second to ponder. "You know, this is actually pretty nice. Right now, I mean. I hardly ever get to talk to you as just... Spitfire."
Spitfire's forehead creased. "Nope, sorry. You're stuck with grumpy drill sergeant Spitfire for the rest of your life."
Soarin took a step back. "Oh-kay. You're mad."
"I'm not mad, Clipper." Spitfire groaned. "I'm just..."
Soarin waited, curiosity hooked. "What?"
Spitfire shrugged. "I dunno. I guess, I just don't want to let go of this place. I worked so hard to get here. This was my dream, and my passion. I know that it's time for me to go, but I barely felt the years go by. It feels like, giving up, almost."
Soarin whistled in bewilderment. "That sure is tough." He rubbed one foreleg awkwardly. "Look, I know this meant a lot to you, but that’s why we want to get together one last time. To show you that you mean a lot to us."
"I appreciate it, Soarin," Spitfire exhaled, shutting her locker. "But I don't think I'm up for it."
She trotted past the stallion, making her way out the door. She was stopped when once again, Soarin spoke up.
"This is us, isn't it?"
Spitfire turned her head back. Soarin was holding a photograph in one hoof. Her photograph.
"Hey, how did you-"
"You dropped it." Soarin explained. His eyes examined the details of the picture carefully. The dozen Pegasi lining up bore stoic expressions as they saluted. Except for one cadet, practically still a foal. He made a cross-eyed face as he jabbed at the young mare to his left, who seemed to be doing her best to curb her temper.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's us."
Soarin smiled thinly. "It's kind of a bummer. Out of all of our squad, you and I are the only ones that made it."
Spitfire shuffled uncertainly. "Not everypony is Wonderbolt material."
"True." Soarin nodded in agreement as he trotted over, offering back the photograph. Spitfire accepted it, unclasping a saddlebag to deposit it in. "So, where you off to now?"
Spitfire shrugged. "I'm going home."
"I'll come with you."
Spitfire held up a hoof to his chest. "That is not necessary, Lieutenant."
"Oh, I know." Soarin grinned. "I'm just still savoring this moment."
"Whatever." Spitfire shook her head as she took to the air. Sure enough, Soarin was quickly at her side, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he flapped.
"I get that it's hard, Spitfire, but we're really gonna miss you. You know how far our morale will drop if you just disappear in a flash?"
"This again?" Spitfire rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious," Soarin insisted. "You're the best Captain I've ever had!"
"I'm the only Captain you've ever had."
"Exactly. You've been our leader for fifteen years. Please, just let us show our respect."
"Fine." Spitfire rolled her eyes. "But only to get you to shut up."
"I'll take it." Soarin grinned his goofy grin.
The two Pegasi flew in relative silence. They cut through the air as they went deeper into Cloudsdale. Soarin stole a look at his former Captain.
"Have you told Rainbow Dash who you've selected to take your place?"
"Nah." Spitfire's lips curled into a devious smile. "I want to see her face at the ceremony. I think she'll be too shocked to move."
Soarin chuckled. "Yeah. She sure earned it, didn't she?"
"She is the best flier in the world."
Soarin nodded in agreement. As the buildings became more packed together, the two ponies drifted slowly down to the cloud street. They touched down, folding their wings.
"You know, all these years, and I have never been to your house." Soarin prompted. "I don't even know where you live."
"There might be a reason for that." Spitfire muttered.
Soarin made a pouty face. "I'm not pretty enough to show off to mom and dad, am I?"
Spitfire snorted. "I've had you fly entire courses for saying less."
"I know!" Soarin chirped. "It feels good!"
The Pegasi came to a stop in front of a modest cloud home.
"Boy, this sure isn't what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Spitfire inquired as she trotted up the stairs.
"I don't know. A barbed wire fence. Pitfalls. Trip wires."
Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Lot of good those will do against, oh, I don't know, a Pegasus."
Soarin tapped his chin. "So, these are things you've at least considered?"
"Goodnight, Lieutenant." Spitfire firmly expressed her interest in ending the conversation. She shoved open the door, trotting inside. Soarin's voice came calling again before she could shut it.
"Wait, I gotta ask you something!"
Spitfire let out an exhausted sigh. "What is it, Clipper?"
Soarin moseyed up the steps to meet Spitfire's eyes.
"It's been almost seventeen years since the last time I asked, but would you like to go out with me sometime?"
Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me out on a date?"
Soarin smiled innocently. "Maybe just grab a coffee, talk about weather and family. Something nice."
Spitfire was genuinely taken aback. Soarin had been very clear with his affection when they were cadets. Even as Wonderbolts, but Spitfire thought that was just reverence of a valued teammate.
"You haven't moved on?"
"I did for a while," Soarin admitted. "But who's to say that I can't move back?"
"You want to date a dusty old mare that's past her prime?"
Soarin cocked his head. "Come, come. You're only just retired, don't get all senior citizen-y on me."
To this, Spitfire only scoffed.
"So?" Soarin wiggled his eyebrows. "Don't leave me hanging, grandma!"
Spitfire finally cracked, allowing a humored smile to escape. "After the ceremony... you can take me out for coffee. And then you're gonna do fifty push-ups."
"You like watching me work out, do you?" Soarin teased, nuzzling Spitfire playfully.
Spitfire tsked. "Oh, the things I could have you do if I were still your Captain."
"But you're not." Soarin winked. "That's okay, I'll still let you order me around. Gotta ease you back into civilian life."
"Keep thinking that." Spitfire chuckled.
"So, it's a date?"
"Yes," Spitfire turned, lightly flicking Soarin with her tail as she withdrew into her home. "It's a date."
