The Gentlecolts Club

Thunderlane flew along in the late afternoon light leaving a light trail of blue dust behind him.  As he looked behind himself and realized the mistake, he slowed just enough to stay aloft.

“This isn’t going to work, but nope.  He just wouldn’t listen.”  He said as he saw the house of Rainbow Dash in the distance.  Flying in, he landed on her front doostep and sat quiet for a moment.  He noticed that the powder on his coat dulled a bit, but it still had the same hue of blue from earlier.

He walked up to the front door and hesitated with his hoof an inch from her door.  Bringing it down, he shook his head in denial.  He really didn’t want to go in and face a mare bent on seducing him.

“We can make it an easy night.”  He said trying to convince himself.  “Maybe some dinner, a book to read, maybe a little fake foreplay…”

He cringed.  “Okay, bad idea with a boss.  I’ll just stick with dinner and tell a few fake flight stories and make up another date to promise her.  A month sounds good.”  He joked then sighed.  “I bet she’ll be there too.”

Raising a hoof, he knocked on the door.  As it opened he addressed himself.  “Hello, I-“  Mid sentence, his expression changed from looking smug to shocked.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of him with a red velvet gown leaning against the door frame.  As she smiled and bit a lip looking at him up and down, she opened the door wide.  “Come on in you…”

“I, ah…”  He started and then remembered to cough.  Doing so, he continued.  “I have laryngitis coming on.  Nothing catching.” He whispered.

“It’s alright.”  She said as she tilted her head and smiled.  “I thought we’d stay at my place tonight for a little something to eat and then something for dessert.”  She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips.  Thunderlane initially shocked quickly changed to a wide grin.

“Sounds good to me!  What’s on the menu!”  He whispered loudly.

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

Soarin flew slowly to the training complex high over Equestra.  He reflected on the last two days and how tired and sick he felt just from events that weren’t his fault.  It was really getting to him.

“What did I do to deserve this?  What!”  He yelled into the air.  With a rubbing of his face with both hooves he let out a strong growl before he yelled.

“Ahhhhhh!” He screamed teeth bared.  With a heavy breath he blinked hard focusing in on the training complex in sight.  Closing in, he landed on the drill pad.  Nopony except the captain would be here at this hour he thought.  Walking over to Spitfires office he knocked.  As he waited, he didn’t hear a reply.

“Captain?”  He said as he opened the door.  “Hello?”

Opening the door wide, he looked around at the mess.  A chair lay upturned on the floor.  A desk lamp lay smashed on the ground.  Even the desk had a letter opener blade stuck into the center of it.

“This…is not normal.”  He said looking around.  On the floor lay pieces of a photo.  Picking up parts of it, he placed a few of them on the desk and with two pieces missing, he could tell it was himself.

Looking over on the desk, he noticed two empty envelopes both addressed to Spitfire.  Looking closer, it appeared to be in his own handwriting.

“I know I didn’t write this.”  He said.  Looking inside both envelopes, he found them empty.

A light bulb went off in his head at that moment as he again looked at one envelope to the other.  His curiosity transformed to fear.

“Oh no…Thunderlane!”  He shouted.  Quickly opening the door, he jumped out and took off into the air.  “I’ve got to get there before she does!”

Trying to push himself hard and fly faster, he felt his heartbeat and his head tipped as the world turned.  “Ah!  Not now!”  He yelled taking in a few deep breaths and slowing down.  His focus returned to normal.  “This cursed head of mine!”  He grumbled as he blinked.

“I’m sorry Thunderlane”  He said as he tried to figure out a plan.  “I’m still on my way, friend.”

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

Thunderlane sat back as he looked down at his empty plate.  Stretching himself out, he hummed to himself with a smile.  “Mmm, that was good.”  He whispered.  “I didn’t think you could sauté wheat grass, carrots, and shredded potato yet have it taste that good.  A little heavy on the butter, but still excellent.”

“It’s just takeout.”  Dash said with a smile.  “I thought I’d try something a little different tonight.”

As she stood up, she came over to him from around the table.  “I also have something new for a dessert.  Tell me how you like it.”  As she came close to him, she nuzzled his nose with hers and kissed him deeply with a soft moan.  As she pulled back with a pop, he shook his head lightly and whispered.  “Wow!”

When he looked at her muzzle, he noticed the dusting of blue.  Looking over at the table, he quickly grabbed a napkin and rubbed her mouth with it smiling.  “Ah, just a bit of sauce here.”

“Oh you.”  Dash said as she got up.  At the rear of her flank was a long smearing of blue across her red dress.  In a panic, he quickly leaned over brushing it with a napkin in hoof trying to get the color off.  Dash looked back at him with allure raising her eyebrows.

“Oh, you are frisky tonight aren’t you?  I may have to cut dessert short for this.”  She came back and locked lips with him again this time going to the floor.  As she straddled him, she leaned up and reached behind herself, unzipped the red dress she wore, pulled it over her head and threw it to one side.

“Good to see you aren’t running away this time.”  She giggled as she came down on him again.

Seconds later, a banging is heard on the front door.  Leaning up, Dash looked at it in curiosity.  “Who comes here at this hour?”  She mumbled.

Thunderlane lay on the floor with a numb look of pleasure and an open smile on his face.  “I don’t care…”  He said as he lifted himself up and burrowed his nose deep into her light blue dust covered underside.

The door burst open as two rear yellow hooves kicked their way through.  Spitfire did an about face and stomped into the room still dressed in her Wonderbolt attire.  Smoke shot from her nostrils a she looked at the pair on the floor.  Angry as a hornet, she screamed at them as she waved a hoof upward in gesture.  “Get up!  Both of you!”

Dash sat up first and stood in front of her.  Thunderlane took his time standing as he pulled himself together.   Spitfire unzipped her suit, pulled out the note and picture then threw them on the floor in front of them.

Spitfire pointed a hoof at Thunderlne.  “You.  You monster.  How could you.”  She said.  Her face of anger trembled as her eyes welled up.

As he quickly glanced down at the picture and the note, he looked back up at her.  “Wait, Spit-“  Thunderlane tried to talk.

“Shutup!”  She yelled as the tears started to flow.  “For three months I wanted you.  I wanted to have you so badly I threw myself on you because I thought you loved me more then life itself.”  Her hoof quivered as she continued.  “You ran from me as if it was some kind of cruel joke and now this.  You promise me your love and I find you with this filly?”

“Hey!  I’m no filly you crackpot accuser!”  Dash yelled back.

“I don’t care!”  She hollered.  “How could you do this to me!?  After all the years we have worked together!?  Why!?  Why do you do this to me!?”  She blurted as she struggled to contain herself.

Thunderlane sat dumbstruck.  As he tried to think of an answer, Rainbow Dash leaned down, picked up the letter and read it.  As her face changed to shock, she bared her teeth as she glared at Thunderlane.  “Why you mare playing cheater!  How dare you!”  She said.  As he turned to look at her, he could only manage to gasp as Dash quickly rotated around and gave it to him with booth rear hooves.

Thunderlane took the kick full force as he flew across the room and into a wall.  Bouncing off, he hit the floor and lay there for a few seconds until he lifted himself and shook his head around.  He groaned in pain as he pushed up.  “Ow…”

“Serves you right!”  Spitfire yelled.  Walking over, she stood over him while she was breathing heavily.  In a tone of disgust, she took another deep breath before she continued.

“First thing tomorrow morning, I’m submitting the paperwork to transfer you out of the Wonderbolts.  I’m not going to have you serve under my command any longer.”  Another tear ran down the side of her face as she wiped it away with a hoof.   “I’m not going to let this happen to any other mare if I can within my power at the facility.  You’ll be lucky to continue weather patrol once this gets out.”

As she took another anguished breath and closed her eyes, she turned around looking at Rainbow Dash.

“You can keep that pony player.  I don’t want anything to do with him at all.  Not anymore.”  She said.

As Spitfire walked out the front door and left, Rainbow Dash came over and looked at the pony also disgusted.  “You never said anything.  I always figured you for a clean cut pony that had nothing to hide.  How wrong I was.”  She said shaking her head.

Thunderlane heaved once still looking down at the floor in pain.  “I…”  He started. “I didn’t plan on this.”

“Plan?”  She said getting louder she yelled at him.  “Plan!?  What kind of plan is that!?  Having two mares at once!?  How did you think this would end!?”

As Thunderlane lifted his head to look at her, Rainbow dash instantly noticed that one eye was amber while the other green.  Her eyes narrowed and her jaw opened as she looked at him closer in curiosity.  “Wait…who are you?  A spy of some kind?”

“What?” Thunderlane said surprised.  Noticing the color of the room had returned to normal, he looked down to see the contact on the floor.  He looked around briefly looking for an answer.  “I…I always wear contacts!”

“Liar!”  Rainbow dash said angrily.  “Wonderbolts have prescription flight goggles!  They don’t wear contacts!”  As she looked around to the dress she wore earlier, a smattering of blue could be seen on it in patches.  Picking it up, she scraped off the dust on the dress then noticed the same dust on herself.

Throwing the dress on the ground, her face twisted angrily as she reached over to the nearby table, pulled off a napkin and vigorously scrubbed at his back flank.  In mere seconds, she could make out the real color beneath and the true cutie mark.  The winged thunderbolt gave way to the grey storm cloud.

“Thunderlane!”  She yelled backing up.  “You!  Of all ponies, you!”

“No!  Wait!”  He said as he stumbled trying to get up.  “I can explain everything!”

“Oh I know exactly what’s going on!  He isn’t stallion enough to face me so he sent you!”  She yelled at him.  “I knew this was a bad idea from the start!”

“Well, you are a little aggressive…”  He muttered.

As she heard the remark, she got even angrier.  “As for you, you’re done on weather patrol!  I’ll be sending in a full report on your delinquent behavior and recommending the full punishment for it!”

“No!”  Thunderlane begged.  “No!  You can’t do that to me!  I was just trying to help!  Honest!  He put me up to this!”  He groveled at her feet.

As she shook her head again, she looked down at him clearly repulsed as she grimaced.  “And to think I kissed you.  I kissed you and wanted…ugh…you.”

Thunderlane thought for a moment a tried to use the idea to his advantage.  “So…ya want to give it another chance?”  He softly spoke as he smiled and raised an eyebrow.

With rage quickly flaring up, she screamed at him.  “GET OUT!”

As Thunderlane jumped up, he backed up as Dash yelled to his face.  “Out! Out! Out!”  As he walked in reverse, he left through the front door just as Dash slammed it on his face hitting his nose.  Reeling back and rubbing it, the door opened again.

“And you tell Soarin I never want to see him again!”  She yelled at him before she slammed her door for a second time.

Thunderlane still half stunned and mouth agape sat thunderstruck on the doorstep from what just happened.

After a few minutes, Soarin slowly flew up and landed next to him.  “Oh good…”  He said as he came up next him trying to catch his breath.  “Before she gets here I have to tell you something.”

Thunderlane still in a trance, looked at him lazily.  After several seconds passed, he replied.  “Huh?  What?”

“Spitfire!  Someone gave her the picture!”  Soarin said as he grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him.  Thunderlane continued to look at him blankly for a few more seconds until he chuckled.  Before long, the chuckle turned into a hysterical laughter as he returned the gesture and held Soarin by the shoulder with a hoof.

As Thunderlane snickered trying to contain himself, he nodded with a comical smile on his face.  “She sure does!”

Soarin looked at him strangely.  “Wait a second Thunderlane I don’t under-“  Thinking for a moment, a thought crossed his mind.  “Oh, sweet mother.“  He whispered as his face changed to shock.  “Don’t tell me she was already here.  Please don’t.”

Thunderlane smiled childishly as he replied.  “You know what I think?  I think I’m ready for some cider.  How about you?”  He said without a care.

“Cider?  Now?”  Soarin looked back blankfaced and blinked.

“Yep!  Come on, I’m buying.  I’ll tell you everything over a bit of cider.  I promise.”  With a leap into the air, he did a barrel roll and hollered back.  “C’mon!  Lets get to Dohnut Joes before they close!”

With a mild sigh, Soarin was pretty sure of what already transpired.  Shrugging, he agreed.  “Why not?  What’s to lose now?”

Jumping up, he slowly followed Thunderlane off into the night sky.  As he caught up, Derpy peeked around the corner of the house watching them leave before she came out from the corner and followed them at a distance.  “Oh, this doesn’t look good…”  She said quietly.

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

The doctor started intently at the page in the book as he ran a hoof down the text.  Muttering the regents listed, he picked up a crooked twig and added it the large pestle and ground it in.  As he ground the powder in the bowl to a fine dust, he tapped the mortar on the side and placed on the table.  Holding up a puch, he poured it inside and shook the bag around.  He placed the bag down on the table.

“Yes, that should do the trick” He said with satisfaction.  Picking up a pocketwatch, he opened it to look at the time.

“Where are those two?”  The Doctor said as he looked at the clock.  “They were supposed to be back hours ago!”

Closing it, he placed it on the bench.  As he returned his attention to the book, a loud knock is head from the top of the stairs.  “”Hold on!’  He yelled going up.  “I’ll be there in a moment!”

As he arrived at the top and walked over to the entryway door, he opened it a crack and looked through with one eye.  A voice is heard in the dark hallway.  “Mr. Brown, Mr. White is here to see you.”

“Hold on.”  The doctor said as he closed the door, undid the latch and opened it wide.  “Nopony else is here.  Come on in.”

“It’s good to see you again doctor.”  Fancy Pants remarked as he entered.  “Unfortunately I bring bad news from Canterlot.”

“It seems to be a common problem around here.”  The doctor said with a sigh.  Dusting off both hooves, he held on out a hoof to the study.  “Would you like a seat and some tea?  Derpy isn’t here so I’ll have to do it myself.”

“No thank you good sir, I haven’t planned to stay long.”  Fancy replied.  “I approached the princess earlier trying to convince her the commissioning in Manehatten should be postponed.  That devilish cur advisor insisted that she go being that I couldn’t supply sufficient proof to support the claim.  The fool.”  Fancy shook his head in disbelief.

“I didn’t think we would be able to get far on support without divulging the existence of the Gentlecolts.”  The doctor said in agreement.  “You’ve done what you can and it appears we’ll be alone in this effort.”

“If you have ideas, I’m open to them at this point.”  Fancy suggested.

The doctor walked over to a nearby table and lay his chin on a knuckle in silence.  A minute passed before he spoke again.  “Of course.”  He said looking up.

“Of course what?”  Fancy said walking over.

“The ship, it’s so obvious.”  The doctor stated confidently.  “If you’re going to do something, why do it on land with so many ponies around?”  He smacked a hoof on the table.  “Whatever is going down has to be on that ship after it’s pulled away from the harbor.”

Fancy spoke up again in rebuttal.  “Perhaps, but that ship is going to be crawling with guards.  Even the top brass of the Equestrian defense forces will be present at the banquet.  How could a threat get in there without being seen?”

The doctor shook his head.  “I don’t know, but we need somepony aboard that ship.”

“I would trust only one.”  Fancy said as he looked at the doctor serious as can be.

The doctor nodded.  “I agree.”  He said.  After pausing, his face reflected a change to instant determination.  “Red.”

Fancy gave a small nod of the head.  “I’ll make the arrangements.  I’ll see if I can get him inside of a crate through Mr. Yellow.  We can only hope he can identify the threat before they strike.”

“Right.  Keep me posted until you’re ready in case of last minute changes.”  The doctor added.  “If we have to go to a plan B, we need to-“

A knock on the main door is heard by both ponies.  In the silence, the doctor waved off Fancy to the cellar whom stepped lightly as his hooves would not be heard.  The doctor walked over to the door slowly and opened it peering outward.  “Yes?”

“Doc!  It’s Derpy!  I know where they went, but I’ll need help!”  She said.

Quickly opening the door, he ushered her inside.  Fancy looked over the top step to see it was no more then the assistant pony that returned.

As Fancy came over the top step into the room, the doctor closed the door and approached her.  “You say you’ve found them?  Where?”

For a moment, the mare looked confused.  “He said something about dohnut, dohnut something…”  Her thought process could visibly be seen as stuck for the moment.

“Joes?”  the doctor added in.

“Dohnut Joe!  That’s what Thunderlane said!”  She said emphatically.

“Ugh, it’s got to be Thunderlane this time.”  The doctor said as he banged a hoof on his forehead.  He looked to Fancy and pointed at him.  “Did you bring your chariot?”

“Like always.  Canterlot is a bit of a ride from here you know.”  He said with a hint of pride.

“We’re going to need it.  I promise to give it back after we return.”  The doctor stated as he tapped Derpy.  “You just lead the way.”

“Right!”  Derpy touted as she gave a short hop.  Before he left, the doctor had a brief thought and approached Fancy.

“If you know anything about magic, I have a circle of banishment spell I need you to trigger.”  The doctor said.   “I’d do it, but a lack of the horn is what troubles me.”  He tapped himself on the head.

Fancy gave a short laugh.  “Well, we’ll see what we can do.”

As he tipped his hoof to his head, the doctor opened the door wide as Derpy flew out with him close behind.

“Common magic.”  Fancy said nearly sneering.  “What does he take me for, a bookworm?”  The unicorn laughed as he casually walked down to the cellar.

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

“Derpy!”  The Doctor shouted in the darkness behind all of the the pegasi in the chariot.  “How much further!”

“Not far!”  She yelled as he briefly scratched her head.  “I think!”

As they approached the outskirts of Canterlot, Derpy pointed to a small spot of light on the ground.

“There!  I saw them go down there!”  She yelled.

The doctor raised a hoof to the two pegasi pulling the chariot.  “Would you be so kind as to park behind it please.”  With a viable nod from the pair, the chariot pulled into a alleyway next to the small building.

Derpy landed next to the doctor as he stepped out and walked around to the front with her close behind.  After the pair stepped through the front door, Derpy dropped a jaw as the doctor groaned when he looked at Soarin and Thunderlane.

Soarin lay still on a cider soaked floor with an empty mug still in hoof.  Thunderlane hooted and hollered as he tried to do a rather clumsy dance on a table with a pitcher on his head.  “Woohoo!”  He yelled stumbling as his hoof slid and he tumbled to the floor.  The crowds of ponies around them at nearby tables were clearly bothered by the pair as the commotion continued.

The doctor briefly astounded, turned to Derpy.  “Don’t say anything.”  He whispered through clenched teeth as he tried to slowly to turn and walk out of the exit.  Thunderlane stumbled to his hooves and noticed the doctor with the pitcher still on his head.

“Hey doctor!  Come join the party!  Woo!”  He yelled as he pulled the pitcher off his head and banged it on a table looking behinf him to Joe.  “Yo Joe!  More cider!”  He yelled as he hiccupped.  Several ponies in the room tuned their attention to the Doctor and Derpy.

From behind the counter, Joe visibly angry yelled over to the doctor.  “Hey!  If you know these two, can you get them out of here?  They’re hurting my business!”

Raising a hoof, the doctor nodded lowly and looked over to Derpy.  “Help me carry these two out, would you?”  He whispered.  He looked around the room as he continued.  “Not to worry, we have this handled.  Please resume your business.”

Heading over to the pair, looks and glares from the other ponies in the room was followed by grumbling and whispers.  As the doctor and Derpy made it to the table, they quickly picked up and pulled on both front hooves of Soarin while leaving out of the exit.  Thunderlane stumbled along while hanging onto Derpy.

In the side alley, the doctor dragged Soarin up onto the chariot.  Thunderlane continued to hoot and holler into the night picking up the pitcher on his head and turning it upwards attempting to sip from it.

“You idiot!”  The doctor growled at him in the dark.  “Get over here already!”  Stumbling over to the chariot, he placed the mug back on his head and fell into the chariot flank first and lay his head back against the headboard.

“I don’t believe this.  I really don’t.”  The doctor said as he leaned forward.  “Drivers, please take us back to my study.”  With a nod, the pair pulled forward, spread their wings and take flight heading upward as the doctor steadied himself on the cart with one hoof and held onto both Soarin and Thunderlane with the other.  Derpy followed close behind.

As the Chariot leveled out, Thunderlane yelled into the night sky and spread his wings.  “It’s so beautiful!  Wow!  Those stars are so beautiful…”  He said as he stumbled a bit.

“Beautiful or not, you keep your flank in the cart, you hear me?”  The doctor angrily said.

“Yeah, yeah you old donkey lover you.”  Thunderlane said with a hiccup.

The doctor stood there fuming.  “This can’t be worth it.  This really can’t be worth the work.”  He said.

Thunderlane leaned over to him and snickered while he clumsily fought to hold on to the chariot.  “Hey…hey doc.  Guess what?”

The doctor turned his head and bit a lip.  “I’m going to regret this but…fine.  What.  What is it?”  He said nearly yelling.

“The world!”  Thunderlane said as he raised both hooves in the air.  “It’s going to end!”

“What?”  The doctor looked at him crazily.  “What on Celestrias green earth are you talking about?”

“Well…”  He started as he pointed one hoof to himself.  “One, My job on weather patrol is done because Rainbow Dash found out I was Thunderlane instead of Soarin.”  His head bobbed as he looked down to Soarin and pointed to him with a hoof.  “Two, Soarin is done with the Wonderbolts because Spitfire came over and told him she going to drop him for good.”  He then backed up and pointed a hoof straight at the doctor.  “And three, when Rainbow dash submits that paperwork and Canterlot finds out who hid the whole thing, you’re all done!”  Thunderlane then chuckled and started to laugh.

As the doctor looked at him, his face morphed into udder terror and shock of what he realized.  As he thought about what he said, he suddenly shook his head madly and looked at Thunderlane in fury.

“I can’t believe you two!  I really can’t!”  He started to rant.  “Of all the useless, hopeless, downright, waste of space ponies I have ever met in my entire life, you two are the worst by far!  How!?  How could you two screw up this bad!?”  The doctor placed his face in both hooves.  “Oh gosh…it’s all done…all that work wasted…”

“Exactly!”  Thunderlane said as he threw a hoof into the air.  “Stick a fork in it, we’re all done!”  He laughed hysterically raising both hooves then leaned forward over the dashboard and coughed.

“I can’t…I can’t deal with this right now…”  The doctor said shaking his head as they continued to fly thought the air.  He leaned forward and spoke to the pegasi pulling the chariot.  “Drivers, please take me home.  I have an awful lot to think about.”  He said as they continued to soar through the night sky.

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

Spitfire lay in her bed wrapped up in a fetal position tightly squeezing a pillow in her arms.    Her eyes were red and dry from the tireless weeping she endured for the last half hour.  The pain waned to where she was only numb now trying to tolerate what feelings lingered from earlier.

“Spitfire?”  A voice outside her open window called.  With a sniff, she crawled out of bed and walked up to the window.  Looking out into the sky, she saw the figure of Rainbow Dash floating in the air under the moonlight.

“Can I come in?”  She said.  “I…I have to talk to you.  I can’t sleep and I have to get something off my mind.”  She said reluctantly.

With a smile and a sniff, Spitfire waved her in as she rubbed her face.  “Yeah.  Come on inside.”

Rainbow Dash came through the Window and landed on the floor.  Spitfire went over to a nearby lantern, removed the cover off and gave it a light tap.  The fireflies inside lept up and gave off a bright glow as the room lit up.  As spitfire walked around the bed to the other side, she did the same as the first giving enough light to see around the room.

Dash came over from the window as sat next to the bed as she looked at the ground forlorn.  Spitfire came over to her and gave her a rub on the back as she could be heard sniffing again.

“Hey, it’s ok.”  She said as she wiped an eye with a knuckle.  She sat down on the bed and patted it with a hoof.  “Come up and have a seat.  Talk to me.”

Rainbow Dash crawled up on the bed and sat next to her while still looking down and kicking a hoof on the floor.

“It hurts.  Doesn’t it?”  Rainbow Dash said quietly as she still looked at the floor.

Spitfire shuffled over and placed both arms around her as Dash leaned back and rested her head on her shoulder.  As she reached around and held onto her, Dash started to choke and let out a soft cough as she buried her head into chest and sobbed.

“Shh, just let it out.”  Spitfire hushed to her as she started to rock back and forth with her gently.  Dash hugged her tight as she choked out into her chest.  “How could he do this to me?  I thought he loved me…”  She said between the coughing as she wept.

Spitfire closed her eyes as her face reflected the pain.  “I know.  I know.”  She said as she lowered her head and provided a nook for which Dash buried her head into.  Bringing a wing around, she pulled her closer as she tried to hold on for the moment between them.

After several minutes, Dash pulled back and Spitfire let go.  “Are you okay?”  Spitfire said as she looked into her eyes.  Dash nodded while dragging a knuckle across an eye and smiled.  “Yeah, I got it.”

Spitfire wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her close head to head.  “I know it’s tough out there.  It’s hard to find a good stallion these days.”  She said as she nudged her.  Dash laughed and smiled as she lightly pushed her away.  “Oh, I imagine you have too many of them after you already.”

“Are you kidding?”  Spitfire said as she poked her with a hoof and chuckled.  “I can’t find one I like that makes the grade.  Most haven’t got a hoof to stand on for me.”

Dash pointed a hoof at herself and gave a short chortle.  “All I‘ve ever thought about are the Wonderbolts.  For me I’ve dreamed about Soarin for as long as can remember.”

“That’s what I thought too for a while.  Then one morning I got that letter I’d shown you.”  Spitfire said opening a drawer.  She pulled it out with both hooves and placed it on the lap of Rainbow Dash.  “He was always a private pony and rather introverted I’d say.  A few months ago I found this on my desk and  since he never went out or talked with any mares, I thought it was the real thing.  Few of the Wonderbolts know anything of his social life.”

Dash nodded as she placed the note back on the nearby dresser.  “I have to tell you something.”

“What would that be?”  She asked in curiosity.

“Tonight at my house when you walked in, that wasn’t Soarin.”  Dash said calmly.  “Thunderlane dressed up to look like him and took his place.  I’m not sure why, but that’s what happened.”

Spitfire looked at her surprised.  “No…Really?”

Dash nodded.  “Yeah.  I had only been with him the night before and I…I sort of couldn’t help myself.”  She said smiling a bit.  “I thought I’d at least try to snuggle up with him a bit.”

Spitfire laughed.  “Don’t feel bad, I tried the same thing a couple of times too.  I really couldn’t help myself when I saw him.  Before tonight, I had no idea you were involved with him.”  Pausing for a moment, she looked at Dash in wonder.  “So he never came after you?”

Dash nodded.  “He never touched me.  Not by his choice anyway.”  She looked botherd as she continued on.  “Thunderlane promised a date with him and I thought I’d try to make a move, but he kept trying to dodge me.  He got pretty angry even with just a little foreplay.”

Spitfire simply looked down at the floor in thought.  As she looked back at Dash, she sounded quite serious.  “We need to find out exactly what is going on here.  Something doesn’t make  sense for a pony to write a letter like that and avoid the both of us.”

“Did you want to do something tonight? As far as looking for him?”  Dash asked.

Spitfire thought briefly.  “No.  I’ll talk to him tomorrow.  He has to stop by for his medical leave check in.”

“He’s on medical leave?  What for?”  Dash asked inquisitivly.

“Well, the first time I tried to kiss him he fainted or passed out.  I’m not exactly sure what happened.  I couldn’t hold onto him and he fell hitting his head on my desk.  I had to make up an excuse and have two other ponies come in to take him to the Ponyville hospital to avoid any questions locally.  I had no idea what else to do at the time.  I couldn’t let the upper command investiage if I had him go in locally.”  She explained.

Spitfire then looked at Dash curiously.  “You said that you had a deal with Thunderlane to get you a date with Soarin.  How did you manage that?”

Dash waved  a hoof as she replied.  “That pony?  He’s been slacking at work so bad that I told him I’d have to write him up to Canterlot after he was late again for work.  Rather then suffer the consequences, he offered me a night with Soarin.  I couldn’t help but take a shot at it…you know…”  She replied with intrest in her tone.

Spitfire snickered as she poked an elbow at Dash .  “I guess we both cornered the poor pony, didn’t we?”

Dash nodded.  “Yeah, I don’t know if you can call him a lucky or an unlucky pony.”

The pair laughed as Spitfire got up and pulled back a beedsheet on her bed.  She rubbed her head and yawned.  “I’m going to get up early and find out what’s going on with Soarin tomorrow.”  She smiled as she looked over and gave a nod to a vacant space on the floor.  “If you wanted to crash here tonight, there’s a spot on the floor.  I can give you a blanket if you want it.”

Dash nodded in agreement before she spoke.  “I’ll do you one better.  Lets go over to the doctor where I think he’s hiding and ask around tomorrow.  I think our answers will start there.”  Dash stood up and pulled the sheet down to the floor with her teeth and folded it before she lay down on top.

Spitfire pulled more of the sheets back and fluffed a pillow.  “That sounds good.  I want to get to the bottom of this.“  She said crawling into the bed.

Both mares called out to one another wishing a good night as a few moments passed until Dash talked in the dark.

“Psst!  Spitfire!”  Dash said with a whisper.

“Yeah?”  Spitfire said back.

“Any vacancies in the Wonderbolts?”  She whispered again with enthusiasm.

In the still of the night, a pause of calm lay heavy until Spitfire spoke.  “We’ll see.”

In the quiet darkness, a squeal of glee is heard before the mares fell off to sleep.