The Misfortune of Clover the Clever

Storm Chaser maintained his smug grin as he faced down his opponent. Clear skies above, the wind blowing through his mane, and his wings spread proudly for anyone who might be watching. This is how things should be, especially if he can put on a good enough show for the mares watching. His herd could always use at least one more.

He dove out the way, lightning now filling the space he had just been, and ducked beneath the clouds. He had used this maneuver in their bouts before, so he wasn't too surprised when an additional bolt or two followed him through the cloud layer in an attempt to snag him before he regained his balance.

However, Storm Chaser seldom lost his balance, if ever. It was a simple feat for him to dodge these ones as well, all while keeping one hoof on the clouds so he could easily swing himself back up.

He never lost his confidence as he emerged from the clouds to meet the smile plastered on his opponent's face. Silk Sky wasn't a slouch when it came to playing with lightning. She already had an arc rippling down her snow white pinions ready to knock Storm on his rump, and finally scoring her a win.

It wasn't to be. In a display very few could match, he extended a wingtip and caught the bolt from the air before it could strike its target. Almost as if he were dancing with it, he spun around and guided it down the length of one wing and up the other. With a force greater than he had received it, he returned the shot, striking Silk in the chest before she could dodge.

She went sprawling through the air, skidding on contact with the cloud layer before finally coming to a stop on a particularly thick bank of cumulus.

Shouts and cheers came from everyone watching. Storm Chaser himself puffing out his chest upon hearing a few of the higher pitched voices in the crowd. Silk, having finally recovered from her loss, only shot him a dirty look as she picked herself up and shook the stray cloud out of her white mane.

"You said you weren't gonna do that this time," she complained.

Storm met her gaze with a sly grin. "I didn't say I wasn't not going to use it," he said in turn.

"Don't mince words!" She shouted back. "You cheated and you know it!"

"No such thing as cheating on a battlefield," he said. "Is that gonna be your excuse when one of those horned devils gets ya?"

"It's not the same thing!" She fumed. "Come on guys," she called to the many spectators. "Back me up."

No one answered though. Neither to support her claim, nor condemn her complaint. Instead, every pony on the cloudy expanse was standing straight with a hoof raise to their brow in a salute. When they spotted the cause of everyone standing at attention, both Storm Chaser and Silk Sky quickly adopted the same position.

"At ease," said Commander Zephyr as he strolled out into the field. It was rare to see the commander outside the command center, even rarer for him to actually be out on the training ground as well.

"He's right," he said as he made his way to the two combatants. "You can't expect an enemy to play fair or even keep their word. Elysium has made that perfectly clear over the last several years."

The old pegasus began to trail off as his thoughts took him elsewhere, probably the main reason he never directed any troops directly. He quickly came back to himself, shaking free of his reverie. "Anyway," he said as if nothing had happened. "You are both fine combatants and very skilled flyers, even if... even if one of you like to get a little carried away."

The pointed look he gave was very clearly meant for Storm Chaser. The young pegasus didn't recoil under scrutiny. Far from it. He actually seemed to be standing a bit straighter than he had a moment before.

Zephyr made a slow turn to Silk Sky and offered a light bow. "Forgive me, my dear, but I'm afraid I must borrow your sparring partner. I hope you don't mind."

"No sir!" She saluted again before flying off to join the others.

This did finally elicit a look of confusion from the cocky youth as he now found himself alone with the leader of what remained of the pegasus army. "Me, sir?"

"Walk with me," the elderly flyer said. Storm Chaser quickly took up stride beside him and followed along as they made their way around the edge of the clouds.

"What are your thoughts on the war?" Commander Zephyr asked.

"Sir?" Storm Chaser's confusion was apparent on his face. Why was he asking him?

"Don't pick now to start withholding your opinion," he said. "I promise I won't take offense."

"Sir," he relaxed only slightly. "With all due respect. I don't see how we can win."

"What do you mean?" Zephyr clearly was looking for more of an answer.

"Well..." Storm Chaser searched for the right words. He wasn't sure what answer the old pony was looking for. Heck, this was probably harder than putting the moves over on some sweet young thing. "Every attempt we've made to take back Mount Boras has left us either with casualties, those who've become too injured to fly, or..." He paused for a moment, this was hard for even the most seasoned veterans to talk about. "Those who've been captured and forced to serve our enemy."

"Go on," Commander Zephyr said. He didn't even flinch at him mentioning the worst fate that could currently befall any of them. A testament to his fortitude.

"Despite our efforts," Storm continued. "We've failed to make any discernible progress retaking lost ground. Supplies are low, as is morale, and it would take nothing short of a golden opportunity or a miracle to improve both."

Storm Chaser winced as he finished. He was expecting a reprimand for being so forward. He might be a bit cocky, but even he wasn't stupid enough to know he shouldn't piss off the pegasus commander.

However, he received an unexpected surprise when the commander just smiled in return. "I couldn't have said it better myself," he said. "And if there such an opportunity were to present itself, could you take command of a squad and make good on the chance?"

Storm's ears perked up. He hadn't just heard that, had he? "Sir?"

"Captain Firefly's been training you to fill her shoes despite being on maternity leave, hasn't she?"

"Yes sir, she has." He wasn't dreaming, was he? This was really happening, wasn't it?

"Then see to your troops, captain," the commander ordered at last. "I want you all ready to deploy by moonrise."

Storm Chaser's eyes widened. "A night flight, sir?"

"Yes, son. I know it's dangerous, but I have it on good authority that the enemy's supply lines have recently been plagued by thestrals." He spared a wink in Storm Chaser's direction. "They won't be expecting a force of well trained pegasi led by one of the most talented Storm Wings ever born. So tell me soldier, do I have the right pony for the job?"

"Yes sir," Storm Chaser gave a firm and proper salute, an excited smile on his face.

"Then you have your orders, captain. Make us proud." Zephyr saluted the newly promoted pegasus and then turned to leave, confident he made the right choice.

Storm turned to find all his colleagues, now his squad, watching and talking amongst themselves. To the surprise of no one, they had definitely been listening on him and the commander's talk.

"All right, you layabouts!" He shouted at the top of his lungs as he marched briskly in their direction. "Quit gawking and form up! We have orders."

Storm Chaser entered the little hole in the clouds he called home feeling like he was on cloud nine. It had felt good to bark orders and actually have the authority that they had to listen to him.

Still, he wasn't so delusional that he was blind to how tiring a night flight was going to be. Fortunately, it was still early in the day. After briefing his new squad on their orders, he dismissed everyone with their only orders being that they rest up and be ready for the mission.

That's what he was hoping to do as well. Cuddle up with his girls and sleep the day away. Assuming they let him this time. Speaking of which...

"How's my little Firefly?" He said as he plopped down and rested a hoof on her rose-colored rump.

Firefly's nose poked up through her blue mane before slowly sitting up, her distended belly making the action difficult. "Are you ever going to get tired of saying that?" She said with annoyance. "Do I look little to you?"

"Probably not," he said with a smile. "But you're just so cute when you get worked up."

"Laugh it up, cadet," she said before laying her head back down. "It's your fault I'm like this."

"Guilty as charged," Storm said as he rested his head on her belly. It had recently become his favorite spot, even if the little one occasionally kicked him in the head while he was there.

"So what're you doing back so early?" She asked, blushing a bit at the contact. "You couldn't have been gone more than a few hours."

"We've got a mission later tonight," he said. "So everypony's on leave 'til then."

"A night flight?" Firefly looked back at him. "Who'd they get to lead that?"

Storm Chaser sat back up and puffed his chest out proudly. "I am," he said. "You're looking at the newest captain of the Storm Wings."

Instead of acting all surprised or congratulating him, Firefly instead let out a long and heavy sigh. "So it's finally happened," she said. "We've really reached the end of the line if they'll make just anypony captain."

The newly promoted pegasus' face fell and he looked back at her a little crestfallen. "I thought you'd be happy for me."

"Don't get me wrong, I am," she said. "But it shows how desperate we've become when ponies so young are put in charge. It wasn't that long ago..."

"That ponies like me would still be fresh out of boot camp," he finished for her with a roll of the eyes.

She just stared at him with a tired look on her eyes. "I guess I have given you that talk a little too often. The point still stands, I just wish I didn't have to worry about the future so much," she bemoaned as she absentmindedly rubbed at her belly.

"I won't let anything happen to you or our little Storm Havoc," he said. He went in to nuzzle her, but instead found himself held at length.

"I'm still not calling her that," she said with a playful grin. "It's cheesy."

"You still seem so certain it's a filly."

"I told you before," she said warmly. "I've got a good feeling it is."

Storm Chaser relaxed a bit at her smile. As much as he wanted to prove himself in the battlefield, part of him still sort of wished the war was over so they could focus on other things.

"But enough about me," Firefly sounded a bit more cheerful, like she had finally found her second wind. "What all else happened this morning? You and Silky looked like you were about to go at it this morning."

"Oh, we still did," the new voice announced themselves as Silk Sky trotted in, the annoyed look from earlier still on her face. "And I'm not about to let you get out of cheating during our match."

Storm saw the look in her eyes and turned to make his escape, but Silk wasn't the only mare who was on to him. With a savage grin on her face and strength to match, Firefly delivered a swift kick with her hind leg that sent the stallion sprawling in the direction of the newcomer. Silk for her part, was ready and waiting for such an opportunity. She caught him in mid air, swung him over her back, and finally brought him down onto the firm cloud that made up the floor of their home. Once there, she straddled his back, wrapped her hooves around his chest, and bit down hard on the closest ear.

"Ow!" Storm Chaser cried out. "Uncle! Uncle!"

"Your uncle has nothing to do with this," Silk retorted before squeezing him harder. "And don't give me that "in a real fight" line again."

"Alright. Alright," Storm Chaser finally conceded. He knew when he was beat. "I'm sorry for cheating."

"That's better," Silk said before finally releasing him.

He practically sank into the cloud once she let him free. Silk had always been the one to play a bit rough, ever since they were little. His father had told him that's one of the ways you know a mare likes you. His father... He really wished he had gotten the chance to know him better.

"So how's the old lady doing?" Silk said as she plopped down beside him.

"Heh," Firefly gave a weak laugh. "Just you wait 'til I'm back on duty, or better yet, when it's your turn to be lying here waiting for this part to be over."

"I think I'll pass," Silk Sky said in response. "It doesn't look like it's worth all the trouble."

"You won't be thinking about that when mating season rolls around again," said Firefly.

"You're probably right," Silk said as she clung to Storm Chaser's side. "At least I've got my stallion ready to take care of me when that happens."

Storm Chaser rolled over Silk, surprising the young mare as she quickly found herself pinned beneath him. A mischievous grin played on his face as he nuzzled into her neck.

A blush flush across her face as she tried and failed to push him off. "Not right now, you big goof," she said with a playful laugh. "I have trouble flying straight afterwards."

Storm Chaser paused for a moment, deciding whether or not it would be worth pushing a bit further. Then again, they did have that super dangerous mission tonight. He'd never forgive himself if he got her killed by having a bit too much fun beforehand. So reluctantly, he climbed off of her, but not before making one last nip at her neck.

They needed to rest up, that was the most important thing they could do right now. So without much more being said, the three of them curled up for an afternoon nap.