The Gentlecolts Club

“I should have known.  He’s already late again.” Rainbow Dash grumbled while looking up trying to guess the position of the sun and shading her eyes.  Looking down, she continued on while kicking a hoof on the ground.  “Ugh!  I must be crazy.  Of all ponies I choose to trust, why did it have to be Thunderlane?  Anypony is more reliable than him!  I must be crazy to believe Soarin would be here.”

She had already been at the house for a while and the initial glee waned to happiness and eventually curiosity.  If it wasn’t for the chance to see Soarin, she would have left long ago.   Looking back into the air, she could see a speck in the distance getting closer.  By the deeply grey colored coat as it closed in she knew it was Thunderlane.  Her heart jumped in excitement as she looked around him in the air for Soarin, but couldn’t see any sight of him anywhere.

Thunderlane came in low, flapped his wings and landed a few feet from her.  Having seen her he trotted on over.  “Heya Dash!  Glad you could make it!  So where Soarin?”  He stated looking around.

Looking down from the sky, her heart sank as disappointment set in.  Looking over, she replied to him in an irritated tone.  “I thought he was with you.  I’ve been waiting here for the last thirty minutes or so.  Either he’s really late, or you’re hiding something.”

Thunderlane quickly thinking in reaction looked for a way out.  “N-Now, just wait a minute.  It’s not my fault he isn’t here yet.  He must have been held up at work.  Yeah!  That’s it!”  He stumbled looking for an answer.  “You know how schedules for the Wonderbolts are!  Pretty busy!”  He put on the best smile he could.

“Uh-huh.”  She muttered as she chewed on the edge of a hoof.   Looking up, she peered at him with a raised eyebow.  “So now what?

“Not to worry, I’ve got this!  I’ll just let you in so you can get comfortable while I fly back over to the training facility to see how he’s doing!  I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”  Thunderlane nonchalantly waved a hoof in gesture.

Rainbow Dash could clearly be seen growing angry.  “I’ve already waited longer then I wanted to today.  Now YOU’RE going to wait a second.”  Dash started up walking ever closer to him.  “I went out on limb for you not once but several times but this one takes the cake.  I made good on my end and I hope for your sake you hold up yours.  I still have everything on report ready to go if you don’t follow through on this.”  She was nearly nose to nose with him barely an inch from his head.

Thunderlane backed up a step.  “No!  Seriously!  I have it all taken care of.  I know It’s been a hard day for both you and I and I wan’t to make this up to you!”  He opened the door to the house, went inside and made his way to a nearby table where scribbled on a pad.  “This details everything I promised to you and when he sees it he’ll  take care you.  The best, I promise!”  Handing out the note, Dash took it slowly by her teeth, placed on the same table and read it.

Soarin buddy!

Take Dash out.  Have fun!

• Thunderlane

Rainbow Dash looked up at him half between disappointment and disgust.  “That’s’ it?”  She tapped on the note.  “I would think you’d have a bit more to say then that.”

Raising a hoof and scratching his head, he scribbles a few revisions and gave it back.  Dash took a second look at it.

Soarin  buddy! GREAT buddy!

Take Dash out.  Have fun! I’m begging! PRETTY, PRETTY PLEASE take Dash out for me.

                                                   We’ll talk later.

                         - Your old pal Thunderlane

She looked up at him rolled her eyes.  “In all of Equestria I can only imagine that you would write something like this.  I don’t know how you two even know one another.”

“What!?” He exclaimed looking confused.  “It does the job, doesn’t it?”

She just glared at him while he tried to look as innocent as possible.

He started up again as he walked toward the door.  “Anyway, either he comes here before I return and knows what to do or I come back with him.  You can’t lose Dash!”  Thunderlane gave a quick tap of his foot on the floor.  “It’s all taken care of.  If you also need anything like cider in the cellar or food in the kitchen, feel free to dig in.  I stock a lot of good stuff.”

“Yeah, sure.”  Dash yawned.  “If I wasn’t already tired, I’d be inclined to think otherwise.”  Crawling over onto a nearby couch, she sprawled out getting comfortable.  “Alright, I need the rest and you need some time.  That’s good enough for me.”  Fluffing the pillow, she tucked in and drifted off to sleep.

Thunderlane opened a nearby drawer and brought out a bag of bits and a pamphlet for a restaurant.  “This should over any expenses and this one of my favorite places to go so you’re all set.”  Heading to the exit, he looked back as he gave an upbeat perspective.  “ If I’m not back, you two have a great time, ok?”

Waving him off from the couch, he turned and walked out the door closing it behind him.  Leaping into the air, he took flight and thoughts already raced through his head.  “This is bad, bad, bad.”  He repeated to himself.  “I told him!  We even talked about being back at my place!  I’ve got to find him!”

Frantically thinking, Thunderlane quickly gained speed as he pushed himself hard trying to make his way to the Wonderbolt training grounds as fast he possibly could.

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

In her office, the golden colored pony sat behind her desk with her head on her leg outstretched.  Looking across at the other arm, she toyed with a pencil pushing it forward and pulling it back.  Under the pencil lay the papers detailing the medical leave for Soarin which she stared at lazily with disdain.

From her office door a knock is heard.  “Come in.”  She called with a long drawn out sigh.

Entering through the door, a pony marched forward and stood at attention directly in front of her desk.  “Lieutenant Fleetfoot reporting ma’am.”  She stated with professionalism.  Spitfire took a deep breath, sat up and calmly looked at her.  “At ease.  Status report.”

The pony relaxed and talked in a calmer tone.  “Captain, scheduled training is finished for today and plans for next two events have been outlined in detail to the flight.  The formation is prepared on the pad.  Are there any further orders?”

Standing upright and looking stoic, she cleared her throat and looked directly at her.  “No.  Lets get this day over with.”  Walking around the desk, Spitfire headed towards the door just as Fleetfoot ran at it and opened it for her.  Once outside, Spitfire continued towards the drill pad just as Fleetfoot ran and stood at attention in front of the line of ponies.

Looking up and down the row, Spitfire walked up to Fleetfoot just as she saluted her and Spitfire saluted back.  “All present and accounted minus one ma’am.”  She stated calmly.  With a nod from the Captain and a second salute from both, the Lieutenant turned around, ran to the end of the line and stood at attention.

“At ease Wonderbolts”  She called as the flight relaxed.  “As you may already know, one of our own has injured himself earlier today while on a personal detail.  As a consequence, we will be short a pony for the next ten days.”

Commotion broke out along the line after the news was heard.  Questions and remarks scattered along the line among the rabble and one sounded off louder than the rest.  “Captain ma’am!”  It came from the center.

Looking over, Spitifire saw the pony with an upright hoof in the air.  She pointed at her and nodded.  “Go ahead Wonderbolt, what is it?”

Lowering the hoof, the filly started up.  “Second Lieutenant Divebomb ma’am.  In regards to being in the parade after the performance at Canterlot, how will fill the empty spot when we participate?  Won’t there be an empty slot?”

“Not a problem.”  Spitfire replied.  “Following the performance we’ll have a stand in during the parade to follow us in suit and flight goggles.  Nopony will know the difference.”

Another hoof went into the air.  The Captain pointed it out.  “Go ahead.”

A red, fluffy haired stallion piped up.  “Lieutenant Skyline ma’am.  Do we have a plan for which pony will replace Soarin for the event in Manehatten?  We’ve trained for the last three weeks and we only have a few days until the performance.”

“Of course.”  She spoke aloud.  “We’ll use Jumpstart for the first half of the show and Ripcord for the second.  The crowd won’t notice the difference between the two ponies that look similar for both halves.  Keep in mind that even though both of you will only have half more to do then double duty, you’ll have to train on top what you’ve already prepared for.”

With that, another hoof went up, then another, and another.  With a look of concern and a voice of strain, Spitfire shook her head.  “Everypony, please.  It’s already late in the day and this has been trying for all of us.  I don’t have all of the answers for all questions tonight, but let me think things over for tomorrow.  I’ll have it then, I promise.”

With a nod to Fleetfoot, the pony ran out in front and saluted her.  Saluting back, Spitfire turned and retreated to her office while Fleetfoot could be heard sounding off at the flight.  As Spitfire made her way into her office, closed the door and looked out the window, the line of pones slowly scattered and the group could be seen making their way to the locker room.  Sounds of concern, anger, and frustration are heard among the talk.  Walking away from the binds, Spitfire made her way back to her desk and sat down.

Opening a drawer she rifled through it until she found an open envelope near the bottom.  Pulling it out, she looked at the beautiful calligraphy that spelled her name on the front envelope.  Pulling out the letter, she slowly unfolded it in front of her and reading it as the seconds passed.   Her eyes slowly welled up and pain could be seen on her face.  Tossing the note to one side, she slammed a hoof down on the desk breaking a pencil in half.  “Why?  Why do you do this to me Soarin?” she burbled as she buried her head in her arms and wept.

After a moment, the door to the office flew open suddenly and unexpectedly creating a bang as it hit the back wall.  Thunderlane stomped in and made his way up to the desk just as Spitfire caught off guard had jumped and fumbled with the paperwork along with the letter on the desk.  Straightening them and thinking quickly about the mess of her face, she grabbed the flight goggles on her head and placed them over her tear soaked eyes just as she tried to dry her nose on the sleeve of her flight suit.

“So!  You’re the one they call Spitfire!  Where is Soarin?!”  He demanded while stomping over and pounding a hoof on the desk while breathing heavily.  Appearing to be heavily stressed and fatigued, he spoke the words while trying to draw air between every few words.  “I just flew faster than I ever have before just to get here and I find that nopony around seems to want to tell me what I need to find him right now!”

“How dare you barge in here unannounced young colt!”  She snapped back with a crack in her voice and continuing to wipe her nose with a hoof.  “I should have you locked up in the Canterlot dungeon!”

“That’s the problem!”  He shouted in panic.  “I will be if I don’t find him!”  Looking around, he caught sight of the stack of papers on the desk and noticed his name at the top.  Quickly scooping them up with a hoof, he rifled through them.  Spitfire slow to react reached out and lunged on top trying to hide them.  “Get off!”  She shouted struggling to keep them away.  “Those documents are private property!”

As the stallion tightened his grip on the papers from under her, he yanked hard scattering them everywhere in front of the desk.  Landing with his rump on the floor, Spitfire looked all around reaching out trying to catch the papers one by one as they twisted through the air.  Thunderlane meanwhile looked down and saw the strange letter on the floor.  Picking it up, he started reading it.

Spitfire my love,

Every day I see you standing so proud before us, my heart throbs with pain as I struggle to contain my feelings for you.  It tears me apart to hide my burning desire as I want so badly to be in your arms.  Each night I dream someday to have my hooves around you and kiss you so deeply that to drown in your love is what I fly for, what I fight for, and what I would die for.  Your golden mane as radiant as the sun, your eyes as topaz gemstones that sparkle, you alone are the most beautiful creature in all Equestria to me.  Even for Celestia I cannot tear my attention away.  For you and only you, I would give everything.  My one, my only, my Spitfire.

Your greatest admirer,

• Soarin

Having finished reading the letter, Thunderlane sat dumbstruck.  “Sweet mother of Celestia.  He wrote this?”  Looking up from the ground, Spitfire still lay across the desk with several papers in her hooves and dropped them.  With her flight goggles still on, tears filled the base until they leaked and ran down both sides of her cheeks.  Pulling herself back off the desk, she sat on the ground behind it.  Thunderlane stood up, walked around and sat beside her as she started to sob.  Trying to reassure her, he sat close and gave her a rub on the back of her shoulder while speaking.  “Spitfire, me and him a go way back.  Things have been apart for a while, but recently he didn’t even tell me.  I had no idea.”

“It’s been like this for the last few months me and Soarin.”  She muttered while digging a hoof into the floor.  “At first it was just the letter, but then the flowers and gifts came.  I let him in and I couldn’t let go.”

As she raised her hooves and lifted off her goggles, a pouring of water streamed down the front of her suit.  She looked at Thunderlane with the same soaked eyelashes from earlier.  “To have a pony to hold me and love me with my job is something I searched for a long time.  Each day I work hard and after the letter, I wanted it to be him so badly after being so lonely for so long.  I couldn’t say anything for fear of losing my position with the Wonderbolts.  Nopony can know.  I just couldn’t say anything.”

Spitfire leaned over and slowly hugged Thunderlane.  “Please, you can’t tell anypony.  I don’t know what to do about this anymore.”  Choking on the last sentence, she continued to cry on his shoulder.

From the corner of his eye from a window, something moved.  Trying to lean up under the mare, he didn’t get far as it shifted away from view.  Still taking in the current situation, he let it go.

Thunderlane leaned his head back until it tapped the wall with a light thud.  He spoke aloud all he could think while still trying to understand what to do next.

  “Oh boy.”  He whispered as he closed his eyes.

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

As Soarin arrived at the house of Thunderlane still dressed in his makeshift disguise, he stumbled a bit on his landing as the dizziness still didn’t fully wear off from earlier.  Taking a moment to rest, he looked afar at the landscape and hills.  The shadows grew long as the day was coming to a close as the sun was sat low on the horizon.  “What a day.”   He muttered looking around.

Taking a deep breath, he walked up the front door and gave it a double knock.  Having a seat, he raised a hoof and touched the area under his hat around where he had hit his head.  The knot still stung and sore to the touch and he poked it.  Grumbling, he talked to himself.  “Of all the rotten, dumb luck-“

The door cracked open and Rainbow Dash stuck her head out.  Quickly noticing her, he pulled his hoof out and brought it over his head to pull down on the hat.  Looking him over, she gave him a strange look.  “Who are you?”  she said quizzically.

Thinking from earlier, he replayed his role.  “Ah, Sailing Jack ma’am.  Is Thunderlane at home?”  He spoke a in a mildly gruff voice and lowered the brim of the hat while pulling his hoof back under the overcoat.  As she squinted at him thinking hard, the young mare still tried to figure out who the mystery subject was.  “I don’t recall you being around these parts before.”  She remarked.  “How do I even know you’re telling the truth?”

Struggling for an answer, he offered what little he knew hoping for a break.  “Well, I can tell you I talked with him this morning and I do believe he was late for work.  I also know he’s not the most reliable pony, but he means well.”

“Bah, anypony knows that.”  She nonchalantly replied.  “Thunderlane isn’t in at the moment anyway.  If you come back later, you might catch him when he returns.”  As she started to close the door, Soarin stuck a hoof in the doorway and put his beard covered muzzle close to the door as he spoke.  “Please.  I really need to come inside.  We spoke earlier when I sought his help.  Just a moment to rest would help.  That’s all.”

“Now you listen here mister…” she started as she looked down at the light blue hoof.  Pausing for a moment, she stalled remembering that Soarin having a coat the exact same color.  Looking up at his head in curiosity, she noticed the dark black mane under the hat that matched his color too.  Drawing in an excited but muffled breath, her face lit up as she slowly opened the door.  “Oh, oh yes!  Now I remember.  He said you’d be here…er…Jack.” A smile had grown on her face as the excitement built up.

Mildly nervous at the hasty change of mind, he replied in the same gruff tone.  “Well, thank you.  I just need to rest for a while.”  Walking halfway into the room, he sat for a moment breathing deep trying to get the world to focus.  He knew more time would be needed until things would return to normal and a good night’s rest would do the trick.

“Can I get you anything?” Dash called from the next room poking a head around the corner looking at Soarin with a gleeful grin.  Looking up and blinking, he rubbed an eye with a knuckle.  “Perhaps just a bit of cider if any is around.”  As her expression changed to a devilish grin, she egged him on.  “Just regular or the good stuff?”

After a day like today, a decent drink sounded rewarding to him.  “If possible, I’m ready for Equestrias finest.”  Biting her lip, Dash disappeared and called from the next room.  “Coming right up!”

Looking over at the couch, Soarin climbed up and stretched himself out while draping the overcoat across his hindquarters.  He rested his weary head down on a pillow just as Rainbow dash came back with a tankard in hoof placing it on the table.  With a yawn, he nuzzled himself into the armrest.

Dash crawled up next to him on the couch.  Holding her upper lip with her tongue, she snuck a hoof under the overcoat to pull it up.  As she did so, Soarin groaned and stirred.  She backed off as he opened an eye, saw the tankard and spoke with a yawn.  “I just…..I just need a moment.”  He nodded off again.

Seeing her chance, she ran a hoof under the overcoat again and lifted it ever so gently while looking underneath.  In the waning evening light, the cutie mark thunderbolt with outstretched wings could be seen under the coat.  Pulling her hoof out, she leaped up in elation as quietly as she could on the floor.

“Ohmigosh!  It’s him, it’s him, it’s him!”  She stifled a scream with both hooves over her mouth.  Trotting around the table in front, she sat right in front of his head and gently placed a hoof on his nose.

Opening an eye, he stared face to face with Dash.  Looking at him through the sunglasses, she whispered at him almost nose to nose.  “Boop!  I know who you are, Soarin!”

Soarin in shock stumbled up and did his best to gain footing on the couch, but the cushion underneath slipped out from under him beneath the table as Dash held up the note to his face and placed on his muzzle.

“We’re going out on a date!  Me and Soarin!”  She chimed running around.  Still on a couch without a cushion, he sat up and placed the note on the table to read.

A feeling of disparagement filled him as he read through the text from his old friend.  This was a day filled with nothing but bad news to beat everything before all and perhaps everything to come.   Thunderlane just added the cherry on top.

Soarin placed his hooves on his face as Dash came side by side and leaned up against him.  Growing uncomfortable and nervous, he scooted over as he picked up the cider.  “We’re going to have the best time!  I know it!”  She exclaimed as Soarin took a nervous breath and drank the mug of cider in one long gulp.  Looking back at the note, he grumbled as he put the mug back down.  Shaking his head, he spoke on a forlorn tone.  “When will this day ever end?”

As the two sat on the couch with Dash trying to snuggle near Soarin and him pushing her away, four small heads looked down at them from the top of the nearby stairwell.  A snicker could be heard as the four pulled away and Soarin turned his head behind him.  He looked around curiously unable to find the source.  With a smile, Dash bit her lower lip looking at him.  “Psst, I’m right here!” she whispered comically.  Soarin glanced over and just rolled his eyes.   At the top of the stairwell however, the group were hiding while watching the spectacle.

“Applebloom!  You nearly blew it!” Sweetie Bell whispered to her in the waning light.  Looking over at her, she whispered back.  “I couldn’t help it!  Look how cute those two are!”  Looking around the corner, she held a hoof over mouth as she stifled another laugh.

Rumble sat the furthest back doing his best to stay away from the stairwell.  “Guys, I know you want to get proof of this, but it’s getting late.  I don’t want you all to get in trouble.”  His expression easily showed his concern.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got this.  We’ll have a picture and we can clear your name!”  Sweetie bell whispered in high spirits to the colt.

Scootaloo sat nearby fumbling with a camera.  “Guys!  I didn’t check this before we left.  Is there film in it?”  While trying to push various buttons with it the wrong way around, the bulb faced her as it flashed.

Soarin looked around.  “Did you see that?”  He stated looking behind him.  Dash edged in closer.  “See what?  Me?”  With a groan and a new look of discontentment, he scooted over again and placed a pillow between himself and her.

“C’mon Scootaloo!  Turn the flash off!”  Sweetie Bell hissed at her as she looked around dazed from the bright light.  Shaking her head and blinking, she fiddled with the blub then handed the camera over to Applebloom.  “I think it’s ready.”

Applebloom snuck around the corner and focused the camera in close to get a good picture.  Just as she was about to take a shot, Dash spoke out from the downstairs room.

“Soarin, take all that ridiculous stuff off!”  The mare joked while poking a hoof at the beard.  Pushing it away, he sighed mumbling a groggy reply.  “Fine.”

Taking off the hat, sunglasses and beard, his black mane could be seen as he scruffed a hoof through it.  Dash elated at the sight lunged at him wrapping her hooves around his neck.  “I knew it was you!”  She squealed.  A surprised Soarin caught off guard didn’t have the time to react only being able to turn his head as Dash came at him full force.

Applebloom still focused on the two just as Dash jumped on Soarin pushed the button and the shutter clicked.

Soarin lay on the floor half dizzy and panicked with dash on top of him half on the couch and half off.  Looking down at him she pulled herself in close muzzle to muzzle.  Bringing a hoof up around the top of his head and wrapping it around his neck, she touched nose to nose as she lightly kissed it.  She looked deep into his eyes as which were wide as could be and giggled lightly.  “You are by far the most incredible stallion I have ever thought about.”  She whispered still smiling and visibly biting her lower lip.  Wrapping a hind leg around his, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she pulled herself closer and snuggled into his neck with kisses.

Soarin terrified at this point scrambled from beneath her and out of her grip across the floor fumbling backwards.  Bumping into a table knocking over a lamp, he held up a hoof in protest.  “Wait!  Wait!  I thought this was just a date!”

Dash got up looking at him smugly and walked toward him much like a shark swimming through the water.  “The date can come later.”  She calmly whispered as she lay down on the carpet and crawled up to him.  “You and I on the other hand have lots of time to be close until then.”  As she pulled herself close up between his legs and past his stomach, she nuzzled her nose into his belly and inhaled audibly as she nipped at his chest.

“Hey!  Stop!”  Soarin spat trying to pull himself away and get footing as he stood up backing into the nearest wall.  He hyperventilated as he fought the spinning of the room by holding a hoof to his head and stuck out another as angry as can be at Dash.  “I said STOP!  Whatever was said between you and Thunderlane with this date, I’ll do it!  BUT DON’T YOU TOUCH ME!”  Soarin yelled.

Rolling over on her back and pouting, she beckoned at him with a hoof in the air.  “Not even a belly rub?”

Shaking, Soarin crouched down on one leg leaning up against the wall while catching his breath.  After a moment, he picked himself up and unsteadily walked around Dash to the couch picking up his attire and dressing himself.  “I want to get this over with.  Lets go.”  He calls to her while mildy upset and opened the main entry door.

Dash slowly getting up and walking over, she follows him out the door as it closes behind them.

At the top of the stairs, Applebloom stared wide eyed and jaw hanging at what she had seen.  Sweetie belle called to her in a whisper further up.  “Hey!  Did you get a picture?”  She called.

Still stunned, Applebloom nodded and shook her head as if trying to come out of a trance.  Looking up at the trio above, she blinked in astonishment.  “If this doesn’t give us cutie marks, I don’t know what will.”

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

Walking up to the door, Thunderlane lifted a hoof and pulled out the card from his mouth as given to him several minutes earlier from the hospital.  Comparing the address to the door, he then slid it in between his ear and mane on his head then knocked on the door.  While waiting, he heard muffled whispering and shuffling as something or someone was moving around.  As all was quiet for a few seconds, hoofsteps are heard as they came nearer to the door.

With a turn of the latch and handle, the door slowly creaked just wide enough to see one eye and half a pony head through the narrow gap on the other side.  “I’m closed for today.”  The light brown pony inside calmly spoke.  “I have time during regular hours tomorrow if you need to see me.”

Thunderlane edging closer to the door replied in a hurried tone.  “Doctor H. I don’t believe we’ve met, but I need some critical information from you.  I have to find a friend of mine Soarin in an awful hurry and if you-“

The pony perked up on hearing the name.  “Wait.  Soarin you say?”

Thunderlane nodded.  “I’m just trying to find him if you-“

The door closed and the hoofsteps walked away.  More movement and whispering is heard as he waited at the door.  Taken aback from the sudden action, he had started to wonder if he had the right address as the steps came back.  As the door opened a second time, it came wide open and the light brown pony provided an outstretched arm inside.  “Do come inside Thunderlane.”

Walking in, a slow wave of suspicion came over him as he looked curiously at the Doctor.  “Doctor H. I have little time and-“

Briefly looking back, the host closed his eyes and waved a hoof.  “Please, just doctor.  I only included the H to for the sake of the printing press.  It had to have something more than just the word doctor.”  Turning, he pointed to a pillow.  “Please have a seat.  We have much to discuss.”

Thunderlane tilted his head at him in confusion and frustration.  “Look doc, doctor, quack, fraud or whatever you want to call yourself.  I have a pony to find and I’ve already wasted too much time.  Can we hurry this up?”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that for the moment.”  The doctor grumbled in displeasure as he walked over to one pillow and lay down.  He extended a hoof to the one next to him.  “Now please sit.”

Thunderlane grunted and plopped on the pillow looking as stern as can be.  “Can we move on with this now?”

Nodding, the host agreed.  “Your friend Soarin I recall is a rather interesting case with his problem.”

Thunderlane interrupted.  “Yeah, yeah.  We talked about that this morning.  Did he say where he was going?  Anything at all?”

Hoof over mouth, the doctor thought methodically.  “Well, that all depends.  Where he is now depends on what you know if I’m correct on what he said.”

The pegasi paused in thought.  “What do you mean?  What did he say?”

“Sorry.  Doctor patient confidentiality.” He replied.

Thunderlane pounded a hoof as his face contorted.  “Come on!  I don’t have time for games!  Where is he!?  I want answers right now!”

The doctor looked sullen, closed his eyes and nodded.  “Alright Gentlecolts.  Do it.”

Thunderlane reacted in confusion.  “Wait, do wh-“

A bag suddenly flipped over his head and wrapped tight around his lower neck.  What felt like a team of ponies scuffled in the dark holding him down by each leg and his head.  One voice called out.  “Use the chloroform!”  Seconds later, a hoof came over his nose with a damp cloth and the fumes violating his nostrils.  Thunderlane coughed and went limp as his consciousness faded to darkness.

Inside the mind of this unconscious pony, he found himself alone in the dark.  Rumors spread around him as whispers while he stumbled to his feet and wandered around in a daze.  An image of Rainbow Dash could be seen screaming at him.  “You’re late again!  To the Dungeon!”  He backed away in horror running only to see another image face him.  “How could you!?  I love him!”  Spitfire shouted down.  Thunderlane turned and ran full blast dizzy and confused.  As he looked around the image of Soarin lit up in front of him.  “My old friend.  What happened?  What did you do to me?”  Howling, Thunderlane darted in all directions.  He flopped his head around as he fought off the images.  Feeling the weight of his head move, he tried to stare at another only to find it as a source of light.  The shape took on a clearer form of the light from the fire in the study as his head pounded in pain.

“Wake up!”  A clear voice in the shadow of the flickering light called to him.  He continued to give his head a mild shake.  “Can he hear us?”  another said.

“Hold on, let me take a look.”  Thunderlane focused in on it as the other figure left.  Another hoof came up to his head and pulling an eyelid downward.  “Yes, he’s quite alright” it said again.  The familiar voice sounded like the Doctor at a distance.

Thunderlane bobbed his head around as he looked down to see his dimly lit body and legs tied to a chair.  Still in a heavy daze he called out.  “Wh-what hav-have I done?”  Wh-why ammm I her-here?”

One voice from the back called out.  “WE ask the questions.  YOU give us answers.  Understand?”

Thunderlane trying to comply nodded his head.  “Good” the voice said at a quieter level.

A hoof came up in the light and pulled his head in one direction allowing him to see one half of the face of the doctor.  Looking at him, he spoke slowly.  “Thunderlane?  The effects will take a little time to wear off.  You’ll be OK.  We have several very important questions that we need you to answer.”

Thunderlane took a deep breath while closing his eyes.  The spinning was winding down, but the headache remained.  Coughing, he spoke.  “Just…just ask.”

“First of all, why are you here?”  A voice called out.  With a couple of deep breaths, he replied wearily.  “I have to find Soarin.”

“We know that already.”  The voice replied.  “We want to know why.”

Nodding he continued.  “I…I set him up with a young mare on a date as part of a deal to get me out of hot water for being late to work and slacking too many times.  I had to find him or the deal was off.”

“It’s interesting you would set up a date with a friend that has a fear of mares.”  The doctor asked quizzically.

“I was only trying to help him be a little more comfortable around just one.  I really had to get out of a bind and didn’t have any other option at the time either.”  He hastily replied.

A dull groan could be heard in the background as the voice continued.  “We’re wasting our time here.”

The doctor looked above Thunderlane in protest.  “Hold on, there may be more.  Let him tell his story if he can.  This is seriously important.”

Gathering his thoughts, the pegasi gave out all he knew.  “Last night, Soarin came to my house late looking for a place to stay.  We just happen to be old friends that haven’t seen one another in a long time.  I let him stay the night and when we went to work the next morning, I was late having lost track of time again.  I made the deal with Rainbow Dash at work and at the end of the day when I was at home I had to track him down from the office of Spitfire to the hospital and now here.  That’s it.”

One voice called out with a tone of interest.  “Wait, did you hear that?  He said from the training complex.  Remember…”  Another pony nearby interrupted him.  “Shush!  Don’t talk about it!  Not now!”

The first voice answered.  “I understand.  That would make sense perhaps, but there’s nothing to tie it in.  Is there anything further doctor?”

Nodding, the doctor agreed.  “Thunderlane, we need to know as much as you can tell us about the training complex.  What you saw, what happened while you were there and anything you can remember.”

Thunderlane started to sweat.  “I saw…I saw…”  Stalling, he tried to think how to work around his encounter with Spitfire.  Looking around he spoke. “I just…asked where he was and she told me the ponyville hospital.”

Picking up on the lie, a mystery pony stomped out from the shadows and quickly placed a hoof under his chin raising it up.  From what Thunderlane saw, the arm colored a deep red fur had scratches and light cuts.   “He knows something!”  The voice called out angrily. “Lemme knock it out of him!”

“No!”  The doctor yelled looking away.  “I will not have that brazen fighting here! Let me continue.”  The hoof disappeared into the dark and the figure moved away with a gruff snort.

The doctor turned back to the captive pony in the dim light and he placed a hoof on this shoulder.  “Thunderlane, I don’t want to say much, but I can tell you this.  We have a serious problem and what you know may help us prevent a disaster.  We only do this for our own protection and yours.  Trust us and we will trust you.”

Thunderlane sighed heavily.  Shaking his head fraught with emotion, he spoke out.  “Those two love each other and I can’t figure it out.  I went to the office of Spitfire looking for answers and initially I didn’t see it because she had her flight goggles on, but she wept for him.  I found the note in the hospital paperwork on the desk when I grabbed it tying to find him and she fought me  I think she didn’t expect me coming and didn’t have time to hide it.  Soarin told me he’s terrified of the lady ponyfolk this morning, but his name was on that letter.  I can’t figure it out.”  Shaking his head, he looked down.  “I’m so sorry Spitfire.”

The room went silent.  The doctor stood and walked over next to the fire.  Propping himself by the mantle, he brought up both hooves and tapped then together.  Resting his chin on them, he nodded.  “Yes.  I see how it ties in.”  Looking back at Thunderlane , he gave a sigh of relief.  “Our friend here isn’t a threat.  I’m certain of it now.”

A voice came out from the dark.  “So doctor, what do you propose now?”

“I believe transparency is the best bet.”  He replied with a warm smile and extended a hoof out to Thunderlane still tied in the chair.  “Can one of you please untie our guest?”

The ropes around the dark grey pegasi went slack as the knot was undone behind him.  Still weary, he slid out of the chair and onto the ground.  He looked around barely making out the figures in the dark room.  Still leaned up against the fireplace, the doctor spoke.

“Thunderlane, I present to you the Gentlecolts.”  Four figures then emerged from the darkness into the light of the fire.