The Gentlecolts Club

The Gentlecolts Club

By Limerick

The light blue pegasi with the dark mane looked deep into the tankard of cider before him.  In the center between the froth that outlined the inside, he could see the faint reflection of his own tired eyes and dark mane displaced by the shimmer as the liquid shifted within the mug.  For the moment, his empty mind looked deeply into an image that did nothing more then look back.  Slowly, his eyes closed and his mind faded on the image.  Sleep began settling in as the world faded away.

“Soarin buddy, are you done yet?”  Joe called back from behind the counter while rubbing out a glass with a hoof.  “We’re closing in five minutes.  Last call if there’s anything you want.”

“No”  Soarin choked out as he jumped trying to fight off the sleep by shaking his head around.  “I’ve had enough tonight.  It’s been a busy day.”  With a sigh, he drug a hoof up over his head and back over his mane.  “I have a long day coming for tomorrow as well.  There’s just too much to do and not enough time.”

“Alright, but take care of yourself.  You look beat.”  Joe called while moving toward the back of the shop.

Soarin yawned, looked up and gave a faint smile.  “Yeah.  I’m working things out.  Job is just busy as usual.”  He stood up from the table and made his way over to the door.  With a single wave of a hoof to Joe, he moved out the main entry and slowly walked into the center of the street.  By this time it was fairly late at night and everything else is closed.  Soarin realized that home was the only place left to go at this point, but he just didn’t want to go back.  Not right now, not for any mare and especially not her.

With a grunt he leapt into the air, spread his wings, and followed the stars back home.  The trip was short, but he already knew that he still might meet confrontation before a decent rest.  At this point, he realized the situation was unavoidable if it should occur.  His mind was set no matter what happened.

As Soarin approached an outside window to his room, he briefly looked around, gave it a light push and landed inside.  Just as his hooves sunk into the cloud, the faint glow of a firefly could be seen on the other side of the room.  Just as one had lit up, another and another followed until a brighter light emerged.  Colors of gold and orange could be seen on the pony stranger as the light became brighter.  As a face emerged, he could make out a lantern being held by Spitfire in the dark.

“I was wondering when you would come home.” she said with mild but friendly contempt.  The light now brighter from the lantern, she could easily be seen moving while in between his bed covers and a smile could be seen on her face.   “It’s been cold and lonely here without you.  Come on in and warm me up.”

Feeling his heart skip a beat, the stallion gulped, took a deep breath, stepped forward and asserted himself to the best of his ability.  This was what he was expecting.  “I’m tired and I’ll make this as simple as possible Spitfire.  This is my room and I want to get some sleep.  Either you go elsewhere or I go elsewhere.  Either way, I don’t want to be near you tonight.”

Lowering the lantern, the mare illuminated the bedsheets and rubbed a hoof over it.  “Soarin, we’ve known each other a long time.  We don’t see much of each other to find out more of what we really are.  Outside of work I mean.  Why don’t we get to know one another a little better?”

His heart thumped and he took another deep breath.  “No.  The last pony I want to see right now is you.”  With that he turned around and moved back toward the window.

A look of pain crossed the face of Spitfire as she slid out of the bed.  The pegasi walked around the bed and over to him with the lantern in her mouth.  Once side by side, she lifted the lantern up with a hoof so both of their faces could be seen.

“Why Soarin?  Why do you keep walking away?  I thought this is what you would want.” she said with frustration in her voice.  Trying to gain ground, Spitfire took another step only to have Soarin take a step back.

Soarin just shook his head.  “I don’t want to get close no matter how much you may want to.  This is not something I want to take a chance with over the Wonderbolts. ” With that, he placed his hooves on the window sill in preparation to jump out and looked back to Spitfire.  “I also want to be left alone.”

“But, I just don’t understand!  Just one night even!”  Spitfire pleaded edging closer.  “Come on down and just talk to me.  Please.  For me?”  Her face brightened up a bit as she gave a smile and a wink.

Soren looked down and sighed.  “You don’t understand and I don’t know if you can.  I’ll be back in the morning for training.  Above all, please don’t follow me.”

With that, he leapt out and dove hard towards the ground hoping that if she attempted to follow she couldn’t track his movement.  After a few brief seconds, he cut hard to the left then to the right in the dark.  After straightening out and looking back, he could see the lantern in the window.  Soarin could easily tell she decided to stay after all.  Before long, the glow faded to match the darkness of the night.

“Thank you for that much” he whispered to himself as he continued on hoping to find refuge at the dwelling of an old friend.

**************************************

Soarin knew it had been quite a while since he talked to Thunderlane.  The years went by without a thought.  At first it wasn’t so bad, but over time with the job of upholding the duties required by all Wonderbolts keeping in touch with any friends became harder until no time could be made.  It had been a long while since they’d fooled around at flight school even though they were several years in age apart, but the times were good to them while it lasted.  He only hoped their old friendship would still be strong enough that Thunderlane could help him out at such an unexpected hour.

Arriving tired and fatigued, Soarin squinted in the dark to make out his window.  With a light tap of the hoof, the glass rattled just enough to be heard by himself.  With the faint glow of a firefly lantern, Thunderlane could be seen approaching the window from inside and opened it wide.  Raising the lantern to the outside and rubbing an eye with a knuckle, he squinted to see Soarin floating midair.  A mild look of shock could be seen on his face.

“S...Soarin?  Is that you out there?”  Thunderlane said with a yawn.  “Do you know what time it is?”

Looking at him with a tired face, the floating pegasi nodded.  “Yes and I’m sorry to wake you at this hour, but I really need your help.   I can’t go home and need a place to stay just for tonight.”

Thunderlane gave an inquisitive look at him which faded.  After the brief awkward moment, he gave a mild shake of the head.  “I’m not sure what you’ve got yourself into, but you’re welcome to stay.  Come on in.”

Moving aside, Thunderlane cleared the way for Soarin to land inside.  After rubbing his head, he pointed at the floor.  “It’s not much, but it’s all I got unless I throw Rumble out of bed.  You wouldn’t fit it anyway.”

With a low grumble, Soarin walked over and lay down on a nearby thin carpet.  “It’s more then I was expecting and I thank you for it.  I didn’t want to chance any wild animal encounters out on the ground in the dark and I’ll need all the sleep I can get.  I owe you and I repay my debts.”

“Don't worry about it.  If anything, this is probably the first time we’ve done anything together in years.”  Thunderlane said while climbing in bed and covering the lantern.

“Together in years…”  Soarin repeated while lying down on the floor.  After a silent moment Soarin spoke out in the dark.  “Come to think of it, how did it get away from us?  You know, the free time we used to have to just get away from it all?”

Thunderlane could be heard giving a low chuckle in the dark.  “Work I suppose.  I had weather duty and you had the Wonderbolts.  Everypony expected more of us and we had less for ourselves.”

Soarin reflected on the last part.  “Less for ourselves.  Yes….I can say that for certain.  Sometimes it’s nothing or no choice at all for some ponies.  Some days I wonder what I got myself into…”

Thunderlane sounding confused called back in the dark.  “What are you driving at anyway Soarin?”

For a final time that night, Soarin let out a long sigh.  “Something better left for another day.  Trust me on this one.”  With that he closed his eyes.  “G-night Thunderlane”

Thunderlane shrugged.  “If you say so.  G’night Soarin.”

With that, both ponies drifted off to a deep and well earned sleep.

**************************************

Dawn has broken and all of Equestria is waking to a new day.   The orange sunlight filled the room where Thunderlane and Soarin lay.   Both are still soundly asleep until Rumble bursts in unannounced.

“Thunder!  Get up!  You’re gonna be late for your shift!”  He calls while running up to the bed.  Hopping up and pushing with both hooves, he gave Thunderlane a rough shake until he mumbled and turned over.  Rumble undeterred made his way to the other side.  “Thunder!  You have to get up or you’ll- OOF!“

Unaware, Rumble runs headlong into the flank of the unaware pony.  Half awake and startled, a dreary Soarin stumbled sideways into the wall unable to stand up.  Still dazed, he calms down and looks sleepily at the small foal.  Rumble lost for words in the moment instantly does a double take upon having seen the cutie mark on Soarins flank.

“Wait….you’re…you’re one of the Wonderbolts!  I’ve seen you before!”  Rumble shouts in elation.  Hopping over, he pokes a hoof into the wing of Soarin.  “WOOOOW!  Wait till class hears about this!”

Thunderlane still in bed opens an eye and looks down at Rumble with a furrowed brow.  “You had better not or I’ll tell your friends you’re making up stories again.”  With that, he rolls over in bed again.

“Stories or not, he is here and I want to know why.  I’ll find out on my own if I have to.”  Rumble blurts out.

Quickly thinking and regaining composure to explain himself, Soarin wearily stood up and does his best to impress.  “Yes young one, it is I Soarin of the Wonderbolts here to…to…ah…”  Soarin stumbles to find a reason.

Rumble looking confused interjects.  “To what?”

Thinking quickly, Soarin announces the first thing that comes to mind.  “I’m here to announce that Thunderlane will be given a royal escort to weather duties today due to his hard work while on weather patrol.”

Thunderlane quickly sat up and looked shocked at Soarin.  “You’re WHAT!?”

Rumble squeals in elation and runs out of the room.  “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, THUNDERLANE GETS AN ESCORT FROM THE WONDERBOLTS!”

Thunderlane clearly unhappy looks over directly at Soarin.  Lost for words, Soarin can only give a squeamish smile.  “Uh, right?”

A moment of silence passed while Thunderlane stonefaced glared at Soarin until he finally spoke.   “Bah.  I may lose some sleep, but at least you aren’t dressed like a Wonderbolt so the only one that knows is Rumble.”  Stumbling out of bed, Thunderlane grumbled sleepily.  “Cmon, lets go before all of Equestria starts poking around.  I doubt anypony will listen to him, but you wouldn’t believe how fast he can spread the news.  I mean, can you imagine trying to explain that you of all ponies were in my room here last night?”

Thinking about it for a moment, Soarin nodded.  “Good point.  Lets get moving.”

**************************************

High up in the air, Soarin and Thunderlane flew side by side.  Looking quizzical and concerned, Thunderlane looked over and decided to break the silence unannounced.  “As I remember you used to be a lot more upbeat then you are now.  What gives?”

Soarin still thinking about the night before had to clear his mind for the current conversation.  With a shake of the head, he looks over. “Sorry, what was that?”

“What gives?  As in what is going on?  With you?  As of right now?”  Thunderlane said slowly trying to jog his memory.

Soarin blinked twice and continued looking forward on the current flight path.  “It...it’s something I’d rather not talk about.” He said in a low tone.

“Ugh.  We have twenty minutes till we get there and you don’t have ANYTHING you want to say?”  Thunderlane retorted with a disappointed look.  “You said you’d talk about it.  C’mon.  Spit it out!”

Soarin still fighting off mixed feelings deliberated with himself for several minutes until he came to a conclusion.  “Thunderlane”  He said in a grave tone.  “What I tell you, NEVER gets further then us ponies.  Do you understand?  If anypony hears about this, I’ll be done with the Wonderbolts.  I know it.”

Thunderlane could only look back with a blank face.  At one time long ago they were the best of friends and the trust ran deep.  Having seen on old friend is one thing, but for one to be as so desperate to reveal personal secrets to someone he hasn’t seen in ages is quite another.  The problem had to be quite serious as to tell it here and now after the long time they’ve been apart.

“Soarin” He said in the most serious tone possible.  “I promise that what you say will go no further then between us.  For old times, cross my heart, hope to die, stick a thousand pine needles in my eye.”

The tension could be felt by both ponies while they flew through the air.  Cloud city could be seen in the far off distance and time was running short.  Soarin had his chance for the first time in what felt like years to open up to somepony about the misery he couldn’t endure.

“Thunderlane”  Soarin started then gulped.  “I…I…”  The tension built like a rope ready to fray and unwind.  A bead of sweat could be seen streaking across the head of Soarin as he struggled with his emotions.

Thunderlane clearly irritated looked over and gave Soarin a light kick with a hoof.  “Spit it out already!  You’re killing me here!”

In reaction, Soarin blurted out the first thing on his mind.  “I‘m scared of the lady ponies, alright!?”

The reaction by Thunderlane was priceless.  His jaw dropped as he looked back wide eyed.  “Fillies and mares?  Female ponyfolk?  Is that all?” He said in a comical tone.  “By Celestia, I thought you burned down the cider barn at Apple Acres!  How in all Equestria can being fearful of fillies and mares be a problem?”

Soarin looked Thunderlane dead in the eye.  “It’s more complicated than that.  You have no idea what it’s been like for me over the years.”  Slowly looking down, he continued in a strained tone.  “Ever since I started with the Wonderbolts, the amount of affection I get with some of them.  I just can’t handle so much of it.  In Ponyville I have a good time around the stallions and colts because I can laugh and relate, but I just can’t take being around…well…these lady ponyfolk.  I feel smothered when they get as close as they do and in all the years I trained for the Wonderbolts, I never expected this at all.”  His tone wavered as he tried to hold his composure.  “A few of them say things that really scare me.  Something just doesn’t feel right.”

When Soarin choked on the last part, Thunderlane could see how honest he was about the problem.  He gave a mild nod in understanding.   “Alright.  Maybe it’s something we can fix.  After your practice and my factory duties, maybe we can find someone that knows more about this sort of thing, OK?  The doc I've heard of has patient confidentiality and he won’t say a word of this. ” Thunderlane replied.

Soarin still visibly bothered continued on.  “I don’t know.  I have to think about it, and right now we have work to do.   I’ll meet over at your place later tonight just before sunset so we can talk more about this later.”

Looking back with a smirk, Thunderlane gave a shout in jest.  “Ha! If I could have half the attention you get from them, I sure wouldn’t be worried about it!”

Closing in Cloudsdale, both ponies knew it was time to split up.  “Don’t let it get to you Soarin!’  Thunderlane called out while drifting away.  “We’ll work this out later!”  With that, Thunderlane dove off into the clouds.

“You have no idea.”  Soarin thought to himself.  “What I wouldn’t give to get away today is the better question.”

**************************************

On approach through the clouds, Soarin looked down and dove towards the Wonderbolts training facility.  Approaching slowly, he landed on the main drill pad and looked around.  Several wonderbolts are stretching and warming up for practice.  Thinking of preparation for the day, he trotted over to the main complex for dress and program rehearsal.  Just before he made it to the main door, Spitfire in full Wonderbolt attire met him face to face.

“Suit up Soarin.”  She said with a flat tone.  “We have a lot of rehearsal today.”  Walking past him, she turned around just before he made it inside the door.  “You had better not disappoint me today like you did last night.”

Soarin simply grit his teeth and closed the door as he went inside.  Making his way over to his locker, he sat down and rubbed his face with both hooves.  After a short pause, he opened his locker and pulled out his suit while looking at the old pictures inside of the door.

Many of them were from his old days back in flight school and with the colts he met while in Ponyville at the time.   One at the bottom is with him at Dohnut Joes with Thunderlane enjoying whatever party was there at the time.  Several unknown ponies could be seen in the background.  It had been so long since then, he’d forgotten what the occasion was.  A birthday party, a festival, or who knows.  It had been too long ago.  He gave it a long look and wondered how they were after so much time.

Soarin grabbed his suit and pulled it on while closing his locker.  Hearing the formation bell he turned, ran out of the complex and joined the ranks while able to pull on the rest of his suit while zipping it up.  While adjusting his goggles the right hand mare for the Captain, Fleetfoot gave a shout out of the blue.

“FALL IN!”  She yelled.  With a mad dash of gold and blue, all of the Wonderbolt ponies scrambled to the center and lined up in a perfect row.  Once all has become calm, she did an about face and gave a salute to Spitfire.  Returning the gesture, she sounded off.  “All present and accounted for ma’am.”   With a nod from Spitfire, both ponies salute each other again and Fleetfoot runs to the end of the line rejoining the ranks.  Moving forward, Spitfire takes to the center of the pad directly in front of the formation.

“Good morning Wonderbolts!”  Spitfire shouted with enthusiasm.  “Good morning Ma’am!”  All Wonderbolts replied in unison.  Looking up and down the row, spitfire nodded in agreement.  “All ponies are present and accounted for.”

Walking over to the first pony, Spitfire turned and started her walk down the row of Wonderbolts.  “As all of you fillies and gentlecolts know we have several events over the next two weeks we must train for.  As you already know, Manehatten has requested a performance in three days when the new naval vessel Celestia 2 is commissioned.  The princess herself will be there to commission it so I want all of you to be ready and steady as the jet stream flows.  Do I make myself clear!?”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am!”  All of the ponies in formation shouted.

As she continued walking, Spitfire started up again.  “Now, the following week we have another event to show up for in Phillydelphia.  The Mayor there asked for our support during her inauguration ceremony.  The schedule will be tight for training for the Canterlot Parade after the Manehatten performance, but I know we can do it.  We’re the Wonderbolts!  When we to do a job, where do we aim?!”

“Aim high!”  The ponies shouted back.

“I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” Spitfire yelled at top of her lungs.

“AIM HIGH!”  All Wonderbolts shouted in unison.  An echo could be heard faintly in the distance.

Making her way to the end of the row, Spitfire turned around to the backside of the last pony and continued her speech while walking down the line.  “This week will take work.  It’ll take a lot of time and it’ll take everything you’ve got to make us or break us.  You are the elite, you are the best and you are everything the Wonderbolts are made of.  Give all you have and by Celestia she will give back to you.”

Walking along the line beind the ponies, Spitfire stopped behind Soarin.  With a smile, she slowly leaned over and bit hard into his flank.  In pain and shock, the stallion lept forward from the ranks.  “Yeow!”

With a shout Spitfire yelled out. “Soarin!  How dare you break from formation!”

Stunned and surprised, he looked back at the line as he rubbed his rump and gasped to see Spitfire where he initially stood.  Walking around him into view, she looked directly to him face to face.  “So, you think it’s funny to step out of rank during my announcements?  Get back in line!  After formation, you WILL report to my office!  Is that clear!?”

Soarin gulped and with a nervous look, he scooted back into position. “Ye…yes ma’am.”

Waiting until he regained composure, she continued down the line with a mild smirk.  “Ahem.  As I was saying, Celestia will give back to you what you give to her.  All ponies of Equestria look up to us as we set the example.  Today we train and tomorrow we impress!  Let none other best us!  Wonderbolts, are you ready!?

“Ma’am, yes ma’am!’ The formation cried out with enthusiasm.

Standing up, Spitfire raised a hoof into the air.  “Flight is Dismissed!  Wonderbolts away!”  With that, one by one the ponies in line break formation and leap into the air with a trail of smoke behind them creating twists and swirls as the aerobatics begin.  Spitfire lowers her hoof at Soarin just as he gets off the ground.

“You!  My office!  NOW!”  Spitfire called from across the pad.  With a nervous sigh, Soarin swallows deep and floats to the ground.  Turning around, he slowly walks towards her office.

Soarin had a feeling this was a setup.  ‘I have to tell her’ he thought to himself.  ‘If I don’t get it through to her that it’s not going to work, this isn’t going to stop.’

His mind runs with fear and what he can do.  He starts with quick rehearsals doing his best to prepare at such a short notice.   He already knows what she has in mind and the tension winds up tight within him again only stronger then last time.  Making his way to the door, he lays a hoof on the handle and hesitates before opening it.  Following him inside, Spitfire quickly closes the door and locks it behind her.  Lifting a hoof to both nearby windows, she lowers the drapes.  Soarin turns and lifts a hoof to point directly at her.  “Now listen Spitfire.”  He started in a nervously irritated tone.  “I’ve had about as much as I can take of this.  Leave me alone.  Period.”

With a light chuckle, she looked intently at him. “So…”  Spitfire cooed while slowly walking over.  “You think you can step out of my formation without my say so, do you?”  She briefly waved a hoof back and forth in front of her.  “That’s a big no-no and you’ll need to face the consequences I do believe.”

Soarin instantly had his heart pumping a mile a minute.  Shaking, he backed up into the nearest wall until no more room was left to retreat to. “You…”  He started with a stutter.  “You can’t keep doing this Spitfire.”  Coming closer, she came within inches of his muzzle and he could feel the warm breath as she exhaled.  “You…”  She whispered while lifting a hoof and running it down the front of his chest.  “…aren’t going to get away from me this time.”  Finding the zipper, she pulled it slowly down and started to rub the light blue fur underneath with the knuckle of a foreleg.

Soarin instantly stood up and lay flat against the wall.  His mouth went dry, his eyes went wide and his mind was racing while his body was convulsing.  “Spitfire please.” he choked and blinked hard.  “I…I can’t…h-handle…”

Spitfire lept up and grabbed his face with both hooves so his eyes were looking in hers.  “I’ve wanted you for longer than you can imagine.”  She said with a mild smile running a hoof over the top of his head and through the long hair.  Touching nose to nose, she looked deep into his eyes with hers as friendly as can be.  “I’ve already waited too long.  Are you finally ready for me?” she whispered again.  Before he could answer, she wrapped both hooves behind his head, pulled him close and kissed him hard inhaling deeply as she thrust herself at him into the wall.

With a strong wave of dizziness and becoming light headed, everything faded to black for Soarin as he went limp and tilted forward.  Falling head first through the arms of Spitfire, his head made contact with the corner of her nearby desk as he crumpled to the floor.  Watching him as he fell and unable to hold him from his weight, her expression changed from surprise to pain as she sat down beside him and again ran her hoof through his mane.  She shook her head in disbelief as she spoke.  “No…Soarin…”

Spitfire lightly choked as she leaned in and nuzzled his neck. “Oh Soarin, why…why do you do this…” she whispered softly as a tear ran down her cheek and soaked into his suit.