The New Recruit

With some quick coaching to Fleetfoot, Soarin helped show off most of Ace's tricks to Spitfire, along with a small crowd of other spectators that had all showed up. A few of them clapped, but most of them were silent. Peregrine even whistled, rushing up to him as Ace came in to land.

"Incredible slide, dude! Did you come up with that because of that tunnel section in our Capture the Flag test?"

Ace shrugged. "Same concept, just a different execution. But I must say, I probably wouldn't have figured out this if I hadn't tried that."

"Glad I could be there to help." His eyes glided across Ace's Wonderbolts uniform. "Looks like you're movin' up! I've been wondering where you've been. I was afraid you'd up and quit for the first week."

"He's been on tour," noted Spitfire, "much to my chagrin. Though he seems to have taken to it quite well."

"And a spiffy uniform, to boot!"

"You might want to keep a bit of a dithtanth, though," warned Fleetfoot, landing nearby. "Remember how your rep fell when you were firtht partnered with him? A thubthtantial thelection of thtudenth think he'th bad newth."

"Et tu, Fleetfoot?" questioned Spitfire.

Fleetfoot just laughed. "If I thought he wath going to tank my career, would I go up in the air with him to make hith thtuntth work?"

"He's not going to tank anypony's career," assured Soarin. "I've been working with him closely, and he's really good at what he does."

Ace lowered his head. "Thanks, but... I came back because I needed more training. I need... I need to be better."

"I'm jutht thaying, keep your head on a thwivel," warned Fleetfoot. "You're capable, Athe. But a lot of ponieth hate you. Tho be careful."

Spitfire sighed. "She's right, actually. While I'm glad you're back, I don't expect things will be easy for you. As she said, a lot of ponies don't like you. I'd suggest laying low for a bit."

"Don't worry," smiled Soarin, placing a hoof on Ace's shoulder. "We're going to focus on his training. He has to pass all of his tests, still."

"Oh, I'll partner with him," offered Peregrine.

Soarin shook his head. "You should already have a grade. Right?"

"Yeah, but--"

"Go enjoy your time off. I'll be his partner for now. Partner, trainer; same difference."

Soarin spent the rest of the morning training with Ace. Since Soarin had spent a lot of his first three years as a wingpony, only advancing to lead pony in his final year, he was quite accustomed to playing second fiddle. He would outline the parameters of the test, explain the normal method, and then he'd ask Ace if he wanted to do anything different. There was a little bit of time for practicing, and then they went to lunch. They went separately, as Soarin had to see Spitfire about the use of a cloud generator for the tests. Just as well; Ace felt like eating alone, anyway.

And yet, ponies sat down with him. None of them had food, which was odd, but it was already a different experience, as none of the other students liked to sit near him, especially in an otherwise empty cafeteria. "Do you need something?" asked Ace.

"We heard that the earth pony who wished to be a Wonderbolt was back at the academy," noted the small black one. "You know, it's dangerous for you up here..."

Ace nodded. It was to be threats, then. He owed Fleetfoot an apology; he should have been a bit more careful. "I'm sorry to have offended you, sir; that was not my intent."

"This academy is for ponies who wish to save lives, not end them. How do you sleep at night, knowing that innocent blood is on your hooves?"

"Not well," admitted Ace. "It's been quite upsetting, and I'd rather not think about it."

"I'm sure most of them would rather not think about it. But they have to. Every time they look in the mirror, they have to see their scars. Every time they try to grab something, they're reminded that their leg is broken. How does it feel to know that you've ruined their lives?"

Ace couldn't answer. He felt truly awful.

"You're a failure," he continued. "You've killed more ponies than you've saved. You should give up now and go home before you end up responsible for anypony else's death."

"Oh?" came Spitfire's voice from the door. Soarin was with her. "And how many lives have you saved, Eight Ball? I don't recall you revising your training schedule to keep watch. As I recall, you were implicated in drug trafficking. How many deaths are you responsible for, hm?"

Eight Ball snorted and stood up. "She won't be around to protect you forever, earth pony..."

As he and his crew trotted off, one stayed behind for a moment. He glared at Ace for several seconds before trotting away.

"Let me know if they start bothering you again," sighed Spitfire, sitting down. "You have proven that you have just as much right to be here as they do. You've even proven that you can make it as a Wonderbolt."

Ace swallowed. "I still feel responsible..."

"You're not. Trust me." Spitfire could see that her words weren't coming through. "Did I ever tell you what happened to my dad?"

Ace shook his head.

"He collapsed while I was a student at the academy. When I heard the news, I cursed myself for being here, rather than at home. I thought I'd killed him, because when he needed me the most, I was off at school, drinking and being the reason the hot tub has so many rules now. I was having the time of my life at the same time his lungs collapsed. How dare I be so carefree when the stallion that needed me most was dying of pneumonia? I believed I couldn't save anypony. And look at me now!"

Ace wiped his face. "What if I can't?"

"Then you'll have tried. Now, hurry up. You're allowed to use the cloud generator, just this once."

As she and Soarin walked off, Soarin whispered to her, "I didn't know that about your dad. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she whispered back. "My dad's probably tending to his flowers right now. Still kicking, living in Canterlot. I'm trying to connect with him to make him feel less alone."