4. Flight Training Continues
By: Sango-Blazer Skies

After a few minutes of flying like usual, Thundershine flew just above Flight Camp, with Soarin and Spifire still on her back. Rainbow Dash caught up with her afterwards. The female wonderbolt flew down quickly as the rainbow-maned filly followed alongside her. Thunder closed her wings, and opened them again to position her landing. She flapped both her wings at the same time, slowly, as she landed diligently onto the ground of the aerial course. Soarin and Spitfire still held onto the mare's back, while Rainbow landed gracefully onto the ground. Thunder put a wing down to let Soarin and Spitfire slide off her back. "Whee!" they both said excitedly, as they slid down her wing.

Once Spitfire and Soarin were on the ground, they both laughed. The Co-captain of the Bolts laughed along with them. "Did you both enjoy going out to eat lunch with me? At least one of you got to see your parents", Thundershine said, as she smiled at the three friends. Soarin, Spitfire, and Dash smiled back at her.

"I enjoyed eating lunch with you ma'am", Soarin said.

"Me too", Spitfire said.

"Me three", Rainbow Dash chimed in.

The wonderbolt giggles. "Well, I'm glad. Ready to continue where we left off in our training? Remember rookies, you're stuck with me until 1:30 in the afternoon today. Oh, and Rainbow, you can just sit down and watch."

The rainbow-maned filly nodded and went to find a close bench to sit on.

"Spitfire, Soarin. You two were next, remember?" she said. Both of their ears perk, Soarin and Spitfire immediately run towards the mare to closely listen to her instructions.

"Alright you two, follow my instructions carefully. First, open your wings. This is the most basic part you have to do when you're starting to fly for the first time."

Soarin and Spitfire both did as they were told and unfolded their wings, opening them afterwards.

"Alright, moving on. Start flapping your wings at the same time, but slowly". Both of them tried flapping both of their wings as slow as possible, but Spitfire ends up flapping her right wing more than her left. While Soarin was able to kind of get the hang of flapping both his wings at the same time.

Thundershine notices Spitfire mistake. "Spitfire, you're flapping your right wing more than your left wing. Your wings are stunted as well, what caused the muscles in your wings to not flex?"

Spitfire shrugged. "Ma'am, I think it's because I've never exercised my wings."

Thundershine give the filly a worried look. "Spit, it's important that you always exercise your wings before you fly. If you don't, then your wing muscles begin to cramp."

"Lay down for me, I'm going to massage your wings. This should help get the cramp and soreness off your wings".

Spitfire lays down on her back and stretches out on the ground.

"Does that feel better Spitfire?" The orange filly just nods. The wonderbolt massaged the most painful part of the bright yellow filly's small wings until each was erect. After she was done massaging her wings, Spitfire gets up from the using her two back hooves to lift herself up. Relieved, the bright yellow filly says, "Ah, better".

Spitfire continues practicing on her own, while Thundershine went to check up on Soarin's flight progress.

"Soarin, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing okay now, thanks to your helpful tips", the pale blue colt said happily. Soarin was flapping his wings this time at a steady pace. With Thundershine's massage being able to help relieve the pain in his wing muscles, he was able to fly better.

"I'm glad my wing massage helped your wings a lot. " To thank the wonderbolt, Soarin hugged her. Thunder, who was blushing at the little colt's action, immediately hugged him back. 'Why am I starting to care for this young pale blue colt?' the wonderbolt wondered to herself. After a few seconds, Thunder and Soarin let go from each other's embrace.

"Soarin, why don't you go and practice your flying skills while I train Spitfire?" Thundershine said, as she signaled him to find a space somewhere outside. The young colt nodded and flew to find a space to practice.

The wonderbolt turned to look at Spitfire, who was still standing a few inches away waiting for her. Thundershine walked over to the filly and continued her sentence. "Okay, where were we? Oh, right. Spitfire, ready to continue flight training?"

"It's time that we work on taking off from the ground for the first time. Don't you agree?" the female wonderbolt asked, still facing the filly in front of her.

"Ready for anything ma'am", Spitfire said, pretending to salute. Thundershine laughed at the bright yellow filly's action, and pretended to salute back.

"Now, like I said. Prepare to open your wings. Second, flap your wings slowly at the same time. If you flap your wings too fast, you get tired easily. Here, I'll demonstrate for you first". The female wonderbolt opens her wings, and slowly begins to flap them. Since she was already an experienced flyer, she immediately flapped her wings a little faster. Thunder leaned straight, after a second, she flipped over flying on her back. As she was flying, she twisted her body into a quick circular motion. The circular motion she made formed a black cloud lightning trail behind her, as the trail itself emitted from her tail and mane. She stopped twisting her body in a circular motion, flew up quickly, and flew down as the black smoke trail continued to emit from behind her. Particles from the black smoke trail she created were starting to clump together behind her, as the particles of black smoke twisted together. Blazes of lightning emitted from around the mare and the trail she created. Then BOOM! Blazes of lightning turned into a twister-like form, flashing before the bright yellow filly’s eyes. The female wonderbolt just showed her the Artist Flash, one of Princess Celestia’s favorite routines by the Bolts themselves.

’ What trick did she do just now? I have never seen a trick like that before,’ Spitfire thought, as her mouth opened in shock.

Thundershine landed and flew down to where Spitfire was standing. Noticing her shocked expression, she begins chuckling, snapping the filly out of her thoughts. Once Spitfire came back to reality, her mouth opens to say something. “Uh, um, what trick did you just to do after you demonstrated for me?” she asked. “Spitfire, the spectacular feat I just did is one of my team’s most favorite tricks to do in our shows, the Artist Flash”, Thundershine told the young filly. “Sorry if I got carried away there. I was only suppose to demonstrate on how you should lift yourself off the ground with your wings.”

Spitfire put a hoof to the mare’s chest. “It’s okay, I didn’t mind at all.” Thunder looks at the filly affectionately. “Thanks kid.” ’Oh no, it’s happening again. You’re also starting to care for this young filly’, said a voice inside the wonderbolt’s mind. ’She does seem kind of familiar, don’t ya think?’ The female wonderbolt quickly snaps out of her thoughts, bring herself back to reality.

“Anyway, let’s get back to training Spit”, she said. Spitfire nodded.

The wonderbolt continued her sentence. “Now that I demonstrated for you, it’s your turn to show me what you can do”. At hearing that, Spitfire’s legs start shaking nervously. To calm her down, the wonderbolt walked up to her and gave her a hug like Soarin did with her earlier. Thundershine patted the filly’s back, calming her down a little. “It’s okay Spitfire, there’s nothing to be nervous about. I’ll be right here in front of you, just think happy thoughts as you fly”.

Spitfire felt a little better at the reassurance the wonderbolt gave her, her four hooves stopped shaking after that. “Okay”, the bright yellow filly nodded. Spitfire unfolded her wings, got down slightly on all four hooves, and began to slowly flap her wings. Once she was able to get the hang of flapping her wings at a slow pace, Thunder told the young filly to flap a little faster. Spitfire did as she was told and flapped her wings a little fast. Thunder smiled. “Good job, you’re getting it. It seems my wing massage helped your wings a lot. How do you feel now?”

“I feel amazing, thank you”. Spitfire flew straight towards her, embracing the wonderbolt into a hug. Thundershine’s cheeks reddened again at her actions. “Y-y-you’re welcome”, she stuttered, as she hugged her back.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin, who were sitting on a bench just below them awed at the two. Thundershine turned from her embrace and beckoned a hoof at Spitfire’s two friends. “Why, don’t you two join us for a group hug?”

“Sure”, Soarin and RD said in unison. Together, they both flew from the bench they were sitting on and joined into Thundershine and Spitfire’s embrace.

The female wonderbolt smiled at the three, as they let go from one another. “I’m so proud of you three. Not only did you guys follow my instructions wisely, you also chose to be dedicated with what I taught you. The flight tips I gave you are the key things you’re gonna have to remember as you three get older. Even for the rest of colts and fillies that are part of your camp group.”

The three friends nodded.

Thunder paused for a second, then continued. “Anyway, do you want to continue training or call it a day?”

“Let’s call it day”, Soarin said, feeling exhausted.

“I agree”, Rainbow Dash said.

Thundershine, Soarin, Rainbow Dash, and Spitfire flew down from the blue sky and landed on the ground. The four folded their wings with a relieving smile on their faces. The female wonderbolt looks at the clock on the camp’s entrance frontier, it was 1:25PM in the afternoon. ’It’s 1:25 in the afternoon, I should probably tell those three youngsters I have to go soon.’

While the wonderbolt was deep in thought, a delivery pony flies down from above her. To get Thunder’s attention, he puts a hoof close to his muzzle and whistles loudly. Thundershine jumps in surprise, and turns to face the pegasus mail pony.

“Co-captain Thundershine, I have a letter for you”, he said. He read the front of the envelope. “It’s from your brother, Captain Flash”.

“Thank you”, she said, as the mail pony flew away to continue his deliveries. ’Why would my brother send me a letter at this time?’ Thundershine wondered. Sealed at the flap of the envelope was the wonderbolt’s seal. To not damage the delicate seal, she slowly peeled off the paper flap until it came off. Inside the envelope contained a note on a small piece of paper and three tickets and backstage V.I.P passes.

’Who are these tickets and passes for? Might as well read the letter to found out’.

Dear Thundershine,

In this envelope, there are three tickets and three backstage V.I.P passes I booked for Soarin, Spitfire, and Rainbow Dash. I booked these just for the three youngsters because they’ve been so good to you little sis, I’ve already started taking a liking to them. As a generous brother, I thought why not invite them backstage after the show since their such dedicated fans. But anyways, it’s best that you arrive at practice early, the rest of us are waiting for you at the Outdoor Cloudimonium. Hope to see you there!

Oh, and one more thing! Please attend the autograph signing, you haven’t been attending any autograph signings due to the big load of paperwork you have back in your office at the academy. Stay cool as always!

Sincerely,

Captain Flash

Of the Wonderbolts

After reading the letter, she looked at the piece of paper with a shocked expression. ’I’ll tell Soarin, Spitfire and Dash right away!’

“Soarin, Spitfire, Dash! I’ve got a surprise for you”, Thundershine called to the three friends. The three of them trotted over to her, looking at her with confusion.

“What is it?” they three of them said at the same time.

She showed them three backstage V.I.P passes and tickets from behind her. “Look for yourselves”.

“Ohmygoshohmygosh!” Rainbow Dash said, as her eyes glowed. “How did you get these?” She pointed to the three tickets and passes the female wonderbolt was holding in her hoof.

“My brother booked you three tickets to see our 2PM show at the Cloudsdale Cloudimonium today”.

“It’s almost 1:30, we should get going”, Soarin suggested.

“What about the other fillies and colts? Will they be going?” Spitfire asked.

Thunder shook her head at Spitfire’s question. “Maybe, it depends on them. Don’t mind them”.

Thundershine walked away from the three to find her teams’ saddlebag lying outside on the bench. She grabbed it with her mouth and trotted back to the three friends. The three looked at her, wondering what she was doing. She rummaged through her bags, taking out extra made wonderbolt uniforms, snacks, extra cadet uniforms, and her team’s printed water bottle and towel. Her bag was almost empty until she spotted what she was looking for; three actual wonderbolt flight goggles. She took them out of her saddle bag, then putted the items she took out of her saddlebag back in. After that, she made her way back to Soarin, Spitfire and Dash.

Once she arrived at their sight, they looked at what she was holding in her mouth.

“Before we go to see the show, I want you have these.”

The three friends’ mouths gawked open.

Thunder laughs. “Hehehehe, you three should really stop doing that.” She gives them her team’s goggles one by one. They separately put the goggles on their heads. After a minute of struggling to put the goggles on, they finally tightened the yellow bands around their ears.

The wonderbolt began to fly into the cloud filled sky. “Let’s fly to the Cloudimonium rookies”, she said, beckoning her hoof at them. They flew after her. Thunder flew in front as the three flew beside her, as they headed for the Cloudimonium.

Author's Note

Here’s Chapter 4, the continuation of Soarin, Spitfire, and Dash’s flight training with a wonderbolt. This chapter took me forever to write, I’m such a slow writer. I only update chapters once a week, just to let you know. But anyway, enough about the chapter updates.

Enjoy reading! Next chapter will be out eventually, release date has not been decided yet. I need time to plan the release date of chapter 5 as much as I need inspiration to write the next chapter.