The New Recruit

Spitfire blew her whistle, bidding everypony to line up. Today was the last day of open enrollment to the Wonderbolt's academy, and she had made up her mind. Ten of these forty-eight ponies would be accepted into the academy as cadets, and the rest would be sent home.

The Wonderbolts took their recruits from all over. The top five contestants in the Best Young Flyer competition were offered a position if they graduated (a technicality that had held Rainbow Dash back because she dropped out after failing her history exam twice), they kept an eye on a lot of the flight school standouts, and then there were events like these where anypony could show up, as long as they had a proper education.

To be fair, everypony here would be sent home. She was to confirm their names and mailing addresses today, and then send them home. To the ten that had earned their spot, she would send letters of acceptance. To the rest, letters of consolation and the invitation to try again next year. With the rejection letters, she would also send regimens for training, that they might practice and do better next year.

She took her place in front of them and grabbed a clipboard from her aide. "Feather Bluster, step forward!"

A young pegasus mare moved up to Spitfire and saluted... with the wrong hoof.

"Please confirm that this is your mailing address."

"Yes, ma'am. That is correct, ma'am."

"Excellent. Dismissed."

As Feather Bluster flew away, Spitfire wrote down a few quick notes in the associated section. Lacks focus, but otherwise fine. She was going to be accepted into the training program. Whether she would last was another story, but that would depend entirely on whether she could learn the difference between right and left. "Lead Hoof, step forward!"

A middle-aged pegasus stallion walked up and just kind of waved. "Hey."

"Please confirm that this is your mailing address."

"Yuh-huh."

"Excellent. Dismissed."

"So, did I make it in?"

Spitfire glanced at him through her eyebrows. "Your application will be reviewed with your performance, and a letter will be mailed to this address with notice as to whether or not you have been accepted at that time."

"So I'm in. Awesome."

As he walked off in celebration, Spitfire went to her notes. Very lazy. Did not complete a single task. Prideful with no evidentiary support to back that up. He was going to be rejected. There was no way Spitfire was going to let somepony like that besmirch the good name of the Wonderbolts or their academy. "East Wind, step forward!"

The submissions continued on in that manner until they came to the thirty-sixth applicant. He'd shown promise in most of the tasks, but had been lacking on any tests involving flight. In fact, he usually made his teammates look good, as well. He was physically fit, played well with others, and was a prime candidate for the Wonderbolts Academy. Except, there was a problem with him that she didn't want to address in front of the twelve remaining applicants.

"Actually, Mr. Ace of Clubs, please step back. We'll handle your case last. I want a word with you."

He saluted, properly. "Yes, ma'am." He stepped back into line, trodding on a whoopie cushion that somepony else had placed behind him. The applicants began to crack up at the implication until Spitfire glared at them.

"Since you have time to giggle like schoolfillies, I would say that you have time to run three laps."

Four of the remaining thirteen, including Ace of Clubs, turned and ran back to the track to pay forth their laps.

"Now!" barked Spitfire, indicating that she was serious.

Eight of the remaining nine reluctantly turned and trotted off to run their laps, while the last one just turned and flew off. He would not be accepted into the academy. He couldn't even be sent a notice of acceptance, as his mailing address had not been confirmed. What a shame, too, as he was one of the ten that had been selected. Now she'd have to add somepony else.

Once all three laps were completed, more or less, everypony returned to the line. The one that had only run two laps was not being accepted for not being able to follow instructions, and the one that had walked the laps when she was told to run was not being accepted for not being able to follow instructions and for wasting time. She might not have had anywhere she needed to be, but Spitfire was taking the rest of the day off after this, and she'd like to be done with it already.

She made short work of everypony else, until only Ace remained. "Ace of Clubs, step forward." Rather than barking it at him, she just spoke it. He was the last one remaining, and he had been compliant with her rules and regulations. Even now, he was saluting her as if he was already in the academy and addressing an officer.

"At ease, kid," she sighed. "You do realise what this program is meant to look for, right?"

"You're looking for ponies to join the Wonderbolts Academy, ma'am."

"That's correct. Do you think you'll fit in at the academy, Mr. Clubs?"

"I believe that I'm very flexible, ma'am. I'm sure I can find agreeable ponies at your academy."

Spitfire shook her head. "This has nothing to do with your ability to make friends, Mr. Clubs."

"You can call me Ace, if you wish, ma'am."

"Ace... Do you know what the Wonderbolts are most well known for?"

"Ma'am, the Wonderbolts are best known for protecting Equestria and its citizens. In addition, they are known for protecting Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and now, Princess Twilight. The Wonderbolts are a prestigious group of public servants that anypony would be proud to join, myself included. Ma'am."

"And what else?"

"They are also known for their shows, ma'am."

"Yes. And what kind of stunts are performed at those shows?"

Ace paused for several seconds, looking very uncomfortable. "...Aerobatics, ma'am."

"That's right," nodded Spitfire. "Look, I love that you did your best, I appreciate that you want to serve Equestria, and you honestly impressed me with your display of skill. If you could fly, I'd have you at the top of my list for viable candidates. However, since you're an earth pony..."

Ace lowered his head, looking ashamed. "I can't control what I was born as, ma'am..."

"I know," nodded Spitfire. "What choices you have made are good choices, and I'm sure the royal guards would be happy to take you in. Hells, I'd be happy to take you in, myself, if you were capable of reaching the academy. However, since you're not able to come to my office on your own power, I'm sad to say that I must reject your application. I'm sorry."