Once A Shadow - From the other side

Flashback time!

Wonderbolts Academy, Equestria

1 month from present day, Day 1/7 of academy training

I stood in line with the other initiates, watching and waiting as the flame haired pegasus known as Spitfire trotted towards us. Her stern and unforgiving stares sent panic and fear into the hearts of those she looked at.

"Alright you fillies, day one of your training starts now!" She shouted. "I'm going to be straight forward with you. This will NOT be easy for you. Most of you will not complete training, some of you may even die. Before we get started, I have one question," She walked over to me. "do you have what it takes?! Well, do you?!"

I straightened up. "Not yet ma'am!"

"And why is that?!" She asked.

"Because I have not completed training, ma'am!"

"Exactly! Everypony follow his example. Until you have completed training, IF you have completed training, only then will you have what it takes to be a Wonderbolt. Am I understood?!"

"Yes ma'am!" We all said.

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you!"

"YES MA'AM!"

She blew a whistle. "Alright, Everypony do 500 laps NOW!"

We nodded and flew off.

After I finished the last lap, Spitfire walked up to me. "This was a TIMED event, not a casual flight! Shape up, or ship out!" She then looked around to see the others completely exhausted, while I stood there at attention. "Hmm, it seems you have some endurance in you. But don't think just because I said that means you're 'special' or 'talented'. Endurance isn't everything, you also need speed and manouverability." She turned to everybody else. "Alright everypony, break time! Head to the mess hall and get fuelled up, then report back here in 15 minutes!"

We all walked over to the mess hall, grabbed some chow and sat down. They all sat in groups, most likely discussing about what will happen next. Strangely though, they all seemed to avoid me. Whenever I walked close to them, they would either stop and chat to someone or walk faster to get away from me. They never sat near me during lunch breaks, they never talked to me, sometimes they even just turn their heads at me. I never got why they did that, but then again it might be because of my appearance. I mean, red eyes and a red and black mane aren't exactly the most attractive mix around. It doesn't really matter I suppose, I'm used to being a 'lone wolf' anyways. After lunch, we walked back out to the training area.

"Alright, no wasting time, we're getting right into it. I'm assuming you all looked at the notice board to see who's with who?" Oh shit, I didn't see who I was with. Just stay calm, keep relaxed and wait. Maybe someone else will mention who my partner is. "If you didn't, and I'm not sure why you wouldn't, I have the list here. Alrighty, first is Triple Trick as lead pony and Sea Sparrow as wing pony. Next is Flitter as lead pony with Hornet as wing pony." Thank goodness, I was worried there for a second. Flitter, huh? Well it's unexpected to say the least. I walked over to Flitter and got handed my wing pony badge.

"Hi, Flitter. Nervous?"

She turned her head and blushed. "I'm kinda nervous, w-what about you?"

"Not too nervous, we've just go to work together okay?"

She perked her head up. "Okay."

"Don't worry, I''ll be right behind you all the way." We stood to attention as the last of the group got handed their badges.

"Alright, Listen up! You'll be doing laps of the obstacle course. You need to stay close to each other and follow your head pony's commands. If either of you get separated, you're out. You keep doing laps until one team remains. Any questions? Good. Get going!"

Flitter and I breezed through the obstacle course, the only problem we had was the other teams. Especially Triple Trick and Sea Sparrow. Those two really don't like me and the others. As we went through the third lap, Triple Trick and Sea sparrow went past us, taking a swipe at us on the way through. It knocked Flitter off course, causing her to fall. Seeing this, I quickly grabbed her hoof, yanking her up. She then proceded to do a barrel roll (do a barrel roll!) over me, putting her back to her original position.

"Th-thanks." She stuttered.

"No problem, just looking out for my team-mate. Now, what do you say we get some payback?" I said. She smiled and nodded, before taking off after Triple Trick and Sea Sparrow, with me right behind her. We snuck up behind the two, and when Flitter gave me a signal we rushed right past them, knocking them off course. They didn't take it too well, as they quickly corrected themselves and came straight for us. I braced myself for an impact, but strangely it never came. I looked around to see they were attacking Flitter. "You bastards, that does it" I thought. I steeled myself to get ready. I then slammed on the brakes, crashing into Triple Trick, before barrel rolling above Sea Sparrow and spearing him from above. After admiring my handywork, I quickly rejoined Flitter. "Are you okay Flitter?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm okay. Thank you for saving me."

"Don't worry about it. It's like I said, I'm just looking out for my teammate." Just then, Spitfire blew her whistle to signal us to stop. We flew over to her, and she had a nasty look on her face.

"My office, now." She said. We started to walk away when she stopped us. "Not you, just Hornet." Flitter nodded and walked back to the rest of the group. I followed Spitfire to her office and sat down. "I don't know what you were thinking back there, but that was a very risky thing you did. Why did you do it? Why did you do that to Triple Trick and Sea Sparrow?"

"Because they were endangering my teammate. Had I done nothing, Flitter would most likely have been injured, and also would put both her and me out of the competition, Ma'am."

She took off her sunglasses. "I'll be honest, this isn't the first time I've seen somepony do something like this, helping their teammate like that. But for some reason, you manage to pull it off in spades. You have endurance, but doing what you did also shows me that you have speed and manouverability. However, most importantly, you've shown me something that almost nopony here has; teamwork skills. You have the ability to work well with others, no matter who it may be. I admit, you did good. You can take the rest of the day off Hornet. I'll also send Flitter to the infirmary, just to be safe. Don't think I'm going soft on you though, you'll still be doing the full training course."

I saluted to her. "Yes Ma'am!"

"Good, Dismissed." I started to open the door on my way out when she spoke again. "By the way, where did you learn those moves?" She asked.

"I was in the Equestrian Guard for a few weeks, but mostly I learned from watching the best; you." I said as I left. Had I stayed there for a few seconds longer, I would have seen the great and mighty Spitfire blush. Now that would have been something to remember.

As I was heading over to my quarters, I noticed some of the other ponies looking at me strangely. I quickly dismissed it for their usual behaviour. Boy was I wrong. I walked into my quarters, who should I find but Triple trick and Sea Sparrow, both with angry looks on their faces.

"What's the matter you two, are you that sore losers that you wanted payback for something that was your own fault? " I said.

"Shut up!" Triple Trick snapped. "You made us look bad, in front of everypony. Now we just want to return the favor. Don't worry, we'll go easy on you, that way you can spend some time with your marefriend Flitter in the infirmary." They both laughed.

"So that's the way it's going to be? Bring it on then, if you've got the balls." I said, taunting them.

What I expected them to do was blindly attack in rage, which is what they did. What I did not expect however was Triple Tricks quick reaction time. Within two seconds his smile had turned into an angry face, and he was already going in for an uppercut to the gut. It landed with a solid thud, and using me being temproarily stunned to their advantage, Sea Sparrow came up from behind and got me into a lock. Triple trick then started to barrage me with punch after punch, until I was batterd and bruised all over. After several painful minutes, he stopped. "Come on Sparrow, we're done here." Triple trick said. sea Sparrow released me and they started to walk out fo the room. I then rushed up behind them and smacked their heads together. I then punched Triple Trick in the jaw, and before either could react, I applebucked Sea Sparrow.

"Where do you think you're going?" I said. "I just want to return the favor." I then punched both of them multiple times before they finally scrambled out of the doorway. "And stay out!" I shouted at them as they cantered down the hallway.

I sat down on my bed, panting and examining my wounds. Multiple bruises along the gut and face, along with a black eye to liven up my complexion. Oh well, what's something like this without a few memories? Painful memories they may be, but memories nonetheless. I layed down in my bed and pulled over the covers. What a day it's been, and it's only day one.