The Wonderbolts.
Equestria’s finest flying force. For generations, they have flown over the battlefields and wreaked havoc upon enemy ground and air forces alike. They were the best that the pegasi had to offer and Spitfire couldn’t be prouder to be a part of them.
She was still a young mare and hadn’t been in the Wonderbolts for that long but she was eager to complete this mission. She couldn’t help but feel giddy, thinking about the rewards and promotions she would receive by the end of it. She eagerly tapped her hoof onto the metal confines of the blimp she and her comrades were inside of.
“Alright, bolts.” Captain Thundercloud, leader of the Wonderbolts, spoke up. The old stallion cast his eyes over his troops. “I know a lot of you are new to this, so I know you’re nervous. This isn’t training. This is the real thing, but that’s good. The battlefield has a habit of honing your skills. I’d normally grab myself a few of your superiors, but time is of the essence. You’re rookies, but you’re what I need right now.
In a few moments you’ll be departing to fight the Diamond Dogs. It’s only a small tribe of them, but they’ll fight something fierce. Use your aerial advantage and you’ll do great. I expect great things from you, bolts. Don’t let me down. If you do, we’ll bring you back in a casket. Understood?”
“Understood, sir.” All of them shouted, none more exuberant than Spitfire herself.
“Can you believe it, Soarin?” Spitfire nearly squealed. “Our first mission.”
“I can believe it,” Soarin shuddered. “Why’d it have to be against the Diamond Dogs though?”
Spitfire snorted, “Oh please, those big lugs can’t do anything to us. They’re too slow and stupid. Honestly, I’m a bit disappointed but,” she grinned. “It’s going to be awesome.”
“Wish I had your enthusiasm,” Soarin rolled his eyes.
“You will soon,” Spitfire smirked. “Just keep up and maybe you’ll get some of the glory.” She used her wing to fold two feathers together to an inch of each other, like one would two fingers. “Just a smidge.”
“I’m so privileged,” Soarin sarcastically remarked. Before Spitfire could respond, Thundercloud spoke up.
“Alright bolts,” Thundercloud’s shouting was starting to be eaten away by the sounds of explosions from below. “Get ready. Keep an eye out for civilians. The damnable dogs got here so quickly we might not have gotten everyone out. So if you find anyone, do your best to escort them to the refugee camp outside of the town. Remember to use that map that was assigned to you and good luck.”
He kicked open the side, “Move. Move now!”
The bolts rushed passed him. Each one of them dropping a short distance and then flying to face the enemy. Spitfire wasn’t the first one out, to her agitation. Still, she couldn’t help but grin as she soared over the battlefield. This was everything she had ever wanted. The glory and thrill of going into battle.
The stench was something she could live without though. It smelled of soiled dog and burning wood and flesh. Small parts of the town were up in flame, either from the efforts from the dogs or other Equestrians, she didn’t know. She just knew it was time for her to kick butt.
The roars of Diamond Dogs could be heard everywhere and that made her itch. The blade at her side was the answer to that itch and she couldn’t wait to scratch it. She spotted one of the diamond dogs nearby and broke from the others.
“I’ll meet you guys later,” she shouted.
“Spitfire!” Soarin shouted back. “We’re supposed to stick together.”
“Sorry,” Spitfire smirked. “Can’t hear you.” That was the plan. This unit was meant to stay together and pick apart the enemy. They were all fresh recruits and weren’t expected to do any fierce fighting. Spitfire wouldn’t have any of that.
She drew her sword. The dog wasn’t paying attention to her. It was just trying to break into a house. She didn’t know why nor did she care. She just gave a fierce battlecry before plunging the sword into the back of the dog’s head. The creature was dead, slumping to the ground as she pulled it back.
It wasn’t as big a creature as she was hoping for her first kill, just about twice her height. Still, it was so satisfying and she couldn’t wait to jump into the fray and kill more.
“Go away!” A young colt’s voice shouted from inside.
Spitfire blinked in confusion, before she remembered what Thundercloud had said about civilians. She grit her teeth, baring her fangs in annoyance. She’d have to take the kid to safety, which meant others would get her glory. A part of her wanted to just leave the kid. There weren’t any dogs around. They’d be fine.
Another part of her said that was stupid and that she’d get her chance anyways. Either way, best let the kid know she was there. “I’m not a damn dog, kid. Also, you’re welcome by the way.”
She flared her wings, but before she could make a choice, the door swung open. It wasn’t a kid that opened it. It was a full grown mare.
“It’s a Wonderbolt,” she said in awe. “Praise Celestia, it’s a Wonderbolt.”
There were other murmurs from inside. Before she knew it, she had about a dozen ponies before her. A third of them were children. They couldn’t help go up to her and shake her hooves, thanking her for coming.
Spitfire smirked, “No need to thank me. Just doing my job. So just go back inside and make sure you stay safe. I’m going to take out the rest of these dogs.”
“You can’t leave us,” the mare responded, with a look of panic. The others nodded. “This place is crawling with dogs. They cut us off before we could make it out of town with the rest.”
“That’s your problem,” Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Again, there aren’t anymore dogs around her. I know. I flew over this place. You’re safe.”
It was at that moment, two dogs burst out of another building. Their makeshift armor and crude axes made them look like the simpletons she had read about. Still didn’t help that they were still frightening. The two dogs looked in their direction and then raised their axes. They didn’t charge. They just waved them around and shouted something she really didn’t want to hear right now.
“WAUGH!”
Spitfire gritted her teeth. Normally this would excite her, but that cry would attract other dogs. More dogs meant that these ponies weren’t safe here. This meant she had to take them to safety and leave the battlefield. A surge of anger came over her, fueling her inner fire. The air around her grew warmer as she glared at the two dogs.
“You pieces of dung,” Spitfire shouted. “You had to do that, didn’t you?”
The two beasts then charged, wanting nothing more than to tear her and the others apart.
They only got halfway.
Pegasi are naturals when it comes to bending the elements to their wind. Normally, it is things like water, air, and electricity. Spitfire however, was a firebender pegasus. This gave her ample skills. Most notably-
Breathing fire.
Taking a huge breath, Spitfire, living up to her namesake, unleashed her fiery temper upon the two dogs. Their battle shouts turned into agonized screams. The flames ate away at their flesh, causing the two beasts to fall and scream as their lives ebbed away from them.
Turning back to look to her entourage, she urged them forward with a wing. “Follow me.” This whole situation still irked her. She’d fume later though. Right now, she had her orders. She broke them once, she wasn’t going to break them again.
Captain Thundercloud would kill her if she did. Perhaps not literally, but her status as a Wonderbolt could be in peril.
The next few moments were agonizingly quiet. She wished more of those dogs would come to find her, but they weren’t nearby apparently. They were either fighting the troops in another part of town or the rest were checking out the last location of the battlecry of their comrades. Spitfire didn’t know which, but either way, she had nothing to vent at.
“Miss Wonderbolt,” a light greenish earth colt spoke up to her. The same one that had shouted before.
“Yeah, kid?” Spitfire grumbled. Kids were not her forte. She was terrible with them.
“How’d you do that?” The colt asked. “The breathing fire. I only thought dragons could do that.”
“Pegasi can control the elements,” Spitfire explained. “I learned to control fire.”
“Can I learn?” The colt asked. “‘Cause that was so awesome. You were amazing back there!”
Spitfire smirked and patted his head, “I was, I know. Also, no. I can’t teach you.”
“Why?”
Spitfire groaned, “Because you’re not a pegasus.”
“B-But I want to learn,” the colt looked dejected.
Spitfire sighed, “I’m sure there’s some way, but don’t ask me. I’ve got no clue how you’d do it since you’re an earth pony.” She held back the bite around the words. She wasn’t a fan of the other pony tribes, but she kept that to herself. Wouldn’t do her any good if ponies knew about that. Well, the wrong ponies anyways. “Just go back to your mother.”
“But I want to stick by you,” the colt said. “I want to help.”
“You’re a kid,” Spitfire snorted. “You’re not going to be any help if you just throw yourself into danger like an idiot. Rushing in doesn’t…” She shut her mouth as she realized the irony of her statement. If she had kept to formation, she’d be getting her glory and not babysitting.
“But I want to help.”
“If you want to help,” Spitfire rubbed the base of her temple with a wing. “Go back to your mother and make sure she’s safe, alright?” The colt, thankfully, nodded and went away. She let out a sigh of relief at that.
Which was then replaced by a ‘oomph’ as a diamond dog barrelled into her. The two crashed through a fence, tumbling over a yard. Spitfire pushed herself away and growled at the dog.
“Do you want to burn too?” Spitfire asked, the air around her warming up.
“Stupid pony,” the dog growled, gripping the air with its oversized fists. “I’z squish you.”
“Try it,” Spitfire motioned for him to move with her hoof. The dog howled and rushed forward. It was faster than she anticipated, so she didn’t have enough time to warm herself up enough. So she dodged. The dog was still quick as ever and grabbed her tail when she made to move out of the way.
She yelped as she was smashed into the ground. Then again. Then again. The dog laughed as it tried to break her. It’s laugh turned into an anguished cry as she threw her sword into his shoulder, causing him to release her. She gritted her teeth. Diamond Dogs were understandably strong, so all that thrashing made her body ache.
Still, she pushed herself to her feet. “Is that all you’ve got?”
The dog growled and pulled out the sword, “No pony. You’z ‘bout to see some good fightin’.” It rushed her, ignoring its pain. She rolled out of the way and grabbed her sword, slashing the palm of his hand as he tried to get to her. It howled and drew back, but pushed forward again. Thinking fast, she flapped her wings. She wasn’t warm enough to do any great fire skills, so all she was able to do was send out a number of embers into the beast.
It was enough to confuse it and make it back up. It growled and tried to bat away the flames that licked about parts of its body, forgetting about her for a second. That gave her enough time. She smirked and drove her sword forward.
“Don’t forget about me,” she smirked as it cut into the dog’s chest. It howled in agony, before toppling back. She pulled her sword free and kicked the dog’s head. “That’s what you get for messing with me.” The ground around her erupted before she could celebrate
“Watch out!” A villager shouted.
She yelped as the dog grabbed her, using both its hands to pin her down. It grinned at her savagely, reeking of piss and rotting flesh. It started to crush her with its hands.
That is, until a number of objects collided with it. It looked over to who was throwing the bits of stone and sticks to see the villagers attacking it. It growled and then felt a little something slam into its leg. It looked down to see a little colt pulling at his leg. It moved a hand away to try and swat him.
Spitfire’s sword hoof was free now so she buried it in the dog’s neck. It gurgled and died above her, falling on top of her and nearly crushing her with the weight. “Thanks…” She called out to the villagers. “But could you get this guy off?”
Another round of applause and thanks from the villagers later, she pushed on. They were close to the end of it. Almost out of the town. She was at the back of the rest of them, when she saw it.
The Alpha. It was sticking her, she thought it was a her, head and upper body out of the ground as though it had popped out like a mole. Probably had dug her way to this end of the town to do something. This was Spitfire’s chance to end it. To get her glory. Yet, she also noticed the dozens of dogs that were around her.
They’d be upon the villagers if she fought the Alpha. No doubt there were more. They were lucky they were in the middle of an alleyway or they’d have been spotted.
She gritted her teeth. This was her chance. She couldn’t let it slip away.
All the glory she could ask for. All for her. She’d be promoted and live the good life where everypony knew her name. She’d be one of Celestia’s finest in no time. All she had to do was kill that Alpha. They’d understand a few deaths. Ponies died all the time.
“Miss Wonderbolt,” the colt looked up to her. “Did you see something?”
She turned to look at him and then sighed. She couldn't do it, “No, no I didn’t.” With that, she moved on.
She wanted to kick her butt for this.
______________________________________________________
“Can you believe it?” Soarin grinned, stoked from the battle. “I helped take down the Alpha. I mean, I didn’t strike him down, but I helped stun her long enough for Captain Thundercloud to kill her. Oh you should have been there, it was awesome.”
Spitfire sighed and didn’t look at him. She sat there dejectedly inside the blimp. “Sure, I believe you.”
Soarin frowned, “I know you’re bummed out about not being there. I mean,” he blushed and rubbed the back of his head. “It wasn’t that awesome now that I think about it. Pretty unimpressive.”
“Don’t start that with me,” she huffed. “I’m sure it was awesome.”
“Hey,” he put a sympathetic hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t be like that. I’m sure you’ll get to do something great next time.”
“Yeah,” Spitfire sighed and took out a piece of parchment from her little rucksack. It was a crude drawing of her with a sword, atop a downed dog. It was silly and not well drawn.
But it made her smile. “Maybe next time.”
