Blue Bird

by Horizon Sky

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Spitfire, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Soarin, Rainbow Dash
Length: 5266

A colt has just won the Wonderbolt Filly Race, but who is he really?

The Wonderbolt Filly Race has just finished with an outsanding preformance. The three placers stand high of the podium with their metals. The colt in first place seems to be lost in thought while he looks out to the crowd. Who is this colt and what is his identinty.

This was written for the 2024 Wonderbolts Sitewide Contest

Published 2024-04-30 03:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-04-30 03:50:00 UTC

Name

As the foal sat at the top of the podium stand. He looked out to the crowd that cheered for his win. The ponies in the back of the crowd waved flags and threw streamers in the air. The ones in the front of the crowd used their press camera to picture the three placers. Each flash stunned the foal as he looked out. But he didn’t care for the crowd that cheered for him or the press that wanted to commemorate the moment.

He just wanted to find his brother. The one that promised to be there for him. From the starting line and at the finish. His brother was meant to be there. And yet he wasn’t.

The foal looked to his left to see if his brother was in a strange location. He glanced down to see the filly that sat in third place. The bronze medal that rested of her bright pink chest was shown proud for everpony to see. Tears ran down her cheeks. She rubbed away the tears to show to wobbled smile to the crowd.

The filly looked to his right and still couldn’t find his brother. His eyes locked with the colt that sat on the second place spot. With the silver medal in his right hoof, the coat stared at him with a gaze only studied to be called hatred. And the metallic shine from the second place metal gleamed onto the runner-up white coat.

The foal looked out once more into the crowd in front of him. Yet his brother was not there nor anywhere. A stallion walked up to the podium with a carbon microphone in his right hoof. A small entourage of camera ponies followed behind him, all still snapped photos at each and every second. The stallion spoke in a jubilant voice into his microphone “Amazing! Absolutely Amazing I must say. These racers her today have brought one heck of a flying spirit for the filly recruit race.” As he spoke his left hoof moved in gestures that the foal couldn’t understand. “From the third to first place each racer gave it their all. Especially our first placer right her” he trotted closer to the podium stand and stood in front of the foal “Son you have done an outstanding job today in the race, you started the race last and yet someone still managed to get first with a lead. Say son what is your name for the folks back home!?”

The foal looked at the microphone. He hesitated to speak into it. He didn’t know what to say to it. For what could he tell to the ponies that listed to this stallion. “My…name…” the foal started. Still unsure what to say.

“Yes son your name, what is it?” said the stallion

“My name is Blue…-“ the foal looked around once more to find his brother, yet he still was not found “-…Blue Jay.”

Starting Line

Blue Jay stood on the streets of Canterlot with the crowd of fillies. All of them waited for the same thing to happen. Blue Jay dressed in his flyers suit, one that resembled of a Wonderbolt cadet with even its own stitched lighting bolt looked around the crowd to see if he could find the one that promised to be there.

He looked and saw other fillies with their families. Parents adjusted the gear of their child as siblings cheered for them to win. And yet in this crowd the only one alone was Blue Jay. But that didn’t not stop him on his search.

He knew that his greats friend, somepony he would call his brother would be here soon. A brother that would adjust his gear and gave him encouragement to win the race. So, he looked and found that his brother was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe he is running late thought Blue Jay. Since his brother is a Wonderbolt he would need to be on post till some other Wonderbolt swapped with him. But his brother should have been prepared for this. His brother wrote to him before and said that he would need to go on a mission somewhere far for the Wonderbolt’s, but that he would be on back for the race. He wrote that he would watch Blue Jay at the starting line and at the finish line. So Blue Jay knew his brother would be there, he knew his brother would not lie to him. But he was still alone.

A Wonderbolt in full uniform with a rainbow mane trotted up to the crowd. With a loud and rasped voice she yelled out “Racers! Prepare to fly!”

Families next to their racing kin rushed to give their last goodbyes and goodlucks as they left them to go join the rest of the ponies that watched from the street.

Blue Jay panicked from the prep call, which caused his search to become more frantic. But his vision was blurred as he lowed his aviator goggles down on his eyes.

“Get Ready!” yelled the Wonderbolt. Each filly assumed a starting position that differed from the rest. The only one that stood out of place was Blue Jay with his neck stretched high as he looked around at the spectators.

The sound of fast paced flying could be heard behind the group of fillies. Some looked back to see the flock of pegasus who all wore the Wonderbolt colors fly over them.

The rainbow maned Wonderbolt watched the flock fly over head and waited till they cleared a street block “Set!” she yelled out. Which grabbed the attention of the fillies that watched the flock passed by. Blue Jay still searched for the one that promised. The Wonderbolt breathed in a large breath and with out a hesitation yelled at the top of her lungs for all to her “GO!”

Blue Jay’s perception slowed to a crawl as he watched the new flock of filly racers launch into the air. They gained altitude equal to that of the flock that past just before. Each and everyone of them pushed their small wings to carry them in front of the flock. Although they did not posses the power of the previous flock, each racer gave it their all.

Blue Jay stood on the street alone now and just stood into the empty air that the flock just occupied a moment ago. His vision started to blur as his consciences slipped out of existence. He did not know what to think or how to think. He started to Invision the one that that promised to be there, who still wore the Wonderbolt uniform The one that he had not seen for a year now. The one he called brother.

Blue Jay was shooked from his vision back into reality with the rainbow maned Wonderbolt in pace of his brothers. Her googles were lifter up onto her mane and her magenta eyes stared intently into Blue Jay’s. She spoke to him in a calm voice that sounded nothing like what she did before. “Fly kid. Fly for him. Fly for Soarin.”

It was enough for Blue Jay to flap his wings and gain air. His speed from take off rivaled the first flock that passed long before. And his place as he flew into the race was a blue blur.

New Race

The pair were in the same restaurant as the year before. In fact they sat in the same booth, in the same positions, and ordered the same meals. Soarin with a mouth still filled of food leaned over to Blue Jay “So how did you make the bits to pay for this meal huh?”

Blue Jay copied the manner of Soarin and responded the same way the question was asked “The orphanage helped me find a part-time job with delivering news papers after school.”

“Ah,” said Soarin after he took another bite from his hayburger “And the orphanage, how’s that?”

“It’s good. I made a lot of friends there already. Mostly because they think I’m your long lost brother” said Blue Jay

“You do have the same good looks like me.” bragged Soarin as he elbowed Blue Jay

“Yeah, yeah keep dreaming. Maybe one day a mare would look at you” joked Blue jay

Soarin punched Blue Jay on his shoulder in a soft yet strong way that pushed Blue Jay closer to the window. “Shut up” said Soarin

Outside the crowd on the street started to erupt in a cheer. The pair looked out the window to see a Wonderbolt racer with a golden yellow mane blitz by. A streak line of turquoise with a zig-zag yellow in it followed them. Only a few seconds later did the rest of the flock followed suit.

“The lead wasn’t that flashy like last year’s” said Blue Jay as he watched the last of the racers go by.

“A racer doesn’t need to be flashy,” said Soarin as he picked up his hayburger “If a racer knows how to fly and has the skill to prove it. Then doesn’t matter what they look like when they win.”

Blue Jay slowly nodded from Soarin’s lesson and looked back at his food. He stared at it and said “Is that why you have so may notes in the book you gave me.”

“Yep,” said Soarin with one final swallow of his meal “Those are lessons I’ve learned from slying with higher leveled racers than myself and things I’ve learned personally. I wrote them down so in case I need a refresher I would have them.”

“So then you came up with the ‘Blue Blitz’.” asked Blue Jay

“Yep, one hundred percent my idea.” Soarin responded

Blue Jay sipped on his straw to make a load empty sucking sound and said “Right because a smart flyer wouldn’t come up with the ideato fly an inch from the ground, that’s why you came up with it.”

Soarin punched Blue Jay on the shoulder again. This time he added more strength to it. Which cause a load thud to sound off of Blue Jay. “Shut-Up-“ said Soarin

“What it’s true” said Blue Jay with a teased sound in his tone.

“You have to take risks some time. And if flying so close to the ground cuts you on your chin for the sake of full speed without liftoff then so be it. I can take the book back if you want.” said Soarin

Blue Jay pouted from the reply and said “No, I want the book.”

The crowd outside started to erupt in a cheer once more. But Blue Jay knew that there was only one group of racers that fly for this event. “What is a split group of racers that far behind.” asked Blue Jay

“Not a recruit racer group” replied Soarin

“Huh!” Blue Jay said and he looked back at Soarin from the strange response

“Just watch” said Soarin

Blue Jay looked back out the window to see a second flock of racers in the air. But this flock was different from the rest. They were slower, less skilled, and some quit as he watched. But biggest fact he saw in the flock was that they were all fillies. “Since when can fillies be in the race!” yelled Blue Jay as he started to shake Soarin “And why didn’t you tell me!”

“Calm down Blue there’s a reason for both” said Soarin as he grabbed Blue Jay’s hooves “This is a new program for the race that allows fillies to participate in it.”

“So, they started at WRC?” asked Blue Jay while he peered back out side to watch the flock go by

“No they started once the racers passed Canterlot walls.” said Soarin

Blue Jay watch the flock of fillies flew with all their might. As they moved through the air he saw a bright pink filly that struggled in dead last. Her wings fluttered in the air with all the force she could give, her yellow mane kept getting on her aviator goggles that she had to clear away almost every few seconds. “So whay didn’t you tell me?!” said Blue Jay

“Because Blue Bird this was a test race ad certain ponies only wanted their kids in the race.” said Soarin

Blue Jay looked back to Soarin and looked at him as if he had a second head. “What?” said Blue Jay

Soarin took a deep breath and look straight into Blue Jay’s eye. Their eyes locked and for the pair it was almost if they were to look in a mirror to see their own eye. Soarin said “Ponies of high society, like rich ponies paind for their kids to be the only ones in the race”

“Oh…” said Blue Jay with a distraught look. His eyes moved away from Soarin’s gave and ending at the booth’s seated cushion. “Oh…ok” said Blue Jay

“Hey but don’t worry about it,” said Soarin in a frantic tone “Because next year there will be a rule that anypony can compete in the race.”

“So, I can race next year?” asked Blue Jay as he looked back up to Soarin

“Yep you can!” said Soarin as he raised Blue Jay’s chin higher with his hoof “So make sure yoy train hard this year so you can be the best next year. Ok.”

Blue Jay smiled and hugged Soarin. “I will, and you’ll watch me right.”

Soaring hugged Blue Jay back and said “Of course I’ll watch you Blue Bird. I’ll watch you at the starting line and will see you at the finish line.”

Long Time

Blue Jay made his way through the streets of Canterlot. He weaved around the crowds that awaited for the racers that would fly above the city streets. He had strapped a satchel around his body that held his contents. On the outside of the satchel was a golden pin with a pair of wings and faded lettering. He made his way over to a temporary created guard post where a familiar Wonderbolt Stallion stood guard.

Although Blue Jay was the size of a filly, he was able to stand on his hind legs and propped himself onto the wood side panel of the guard box.

“Excuse me mister Wonderbolt,” dais Blue Jay in a deep and professional voice “I would like to report a foul act.”

The Wonderbolt chuckled while he stood still to watch the passing crowds and said in a copied tone as Blue Jay’s “And what foul act is that?”

“That some how Soarin, the greatest Wonderbolt of all time. Was beat by some rookie cadet in his last race. I call cheating and foul play.” said Blue Jay

“Well maybe Soarin was sick that day, had a mirror left wing fractur from a injury the month before, and didn’t sleep the night right before the race.” said the Wonderbolt as he lifted his aviator goggle to reavelk his emerald green eyes. He looked over to Blue Jay and said in a sarcastic tone “Maybe that’s why Soarin was beat AND only got second place in the race.”

“They didn’t say you had any lack of sleep.” said Blue Jay with a curious look to Soarin .

“I was sick with hay fever for the whole week and that night was the worst of them all.” said Soarin. He reached out to wrap his left hoof around Blue Jay’s neck and with his right hoof he started to nuggie Blue Jay’s head. “And how’s about a hello, long time no see, sorry I didn’t write back, huh?” said Soarin

Blue Jay struggled to break free from the hold but wasn’t strong enough to break Soarin’s grip. “Ok, ok, hello let go of me now,” said Blue Jay which caused Soaring to loosen his grip around his neck. Which Blue Jay used this to escape and said “And I did write back to you”

“yeah, once and your writing was chicken scratch. I had to bring it to a decipherer on base just to know what you wrote.” said Soarin

“Really?” said Blue Jay with a surprised tone

“Yeah and they keep it now to use as reference in case chickens start to go to war with us.” chuckled Soarin with a wide grin

“What? That’s not true, chickens can’t go to war.” said Blue Jay with a confused look

“Ah you got me. I still have your letter.” said Soarin in a defeated tone

“Good!” replied Blue Jay

“But the decipherer did have a hard time reading your letter.” said Soarin

Blue Jay shot at glance to Soarin’s natural demure and said “Wait that was actual true?”

“Yeah, your writing is bad.” Dais Soarin

“Shut up,” snapped Blue Jay “Any way I’m not here to talk about my writing. I wanted to ask if you get off your shift soon so we can eat together.”

Soarin chuckled at Blue Jay’s childish attitude and said “What you want me to pay for you again?”

Blue Jay grinned at Soarin from his comment and said “No actualy, I’ll be paying this time.”

“Well that’s good I’m hunger and my switch will be here soon. Plus I got to save my bits somehow.” said Soarin

“Make sense,” said Blue Jay as he kept the wide smile “Washed up Wonderbolts that lose to rookies don’t make that much.”

“Hey!” said Soarin

Lessons

“Wait!” Blue Jay cried as he walked down the city street. The crowd proved to be difficult for him since he never moved with this many ponies before. He called out again “Wait!” but his voice only reached so far with the rest of the crowds noise.

“If you want to be a Wonderbolt then here’s a lesson for you. Don’t let others get in you way.” Said Soarin as he continued down the crowded street.

Blue Jay pouted from the response and stated to increase his pace. It was new for him to be by so many ponies. He thought they would look at him strange for who he was, but even if they saw him they only smiled. Soon he was able to catch up to Soarin but struggled to keep pace. He watched Soarin who had a determined face to make it to his destination. “Why do you have to go this place?” asked Blue Jay

“Because Blue Bird, I was instructed by my commander to go there.” answered Soarin

“But why?” asked Blue Jay

Soarin glanced over to Blue Jay as he moved along the busy street. He sighed and said “Because Wonderbolts aren’t just a group of normal pegasuses. We are a special military force that serves Equestria. So, if I’m told to guard a place I must guard it.”

Blue Jay with a puzzled look asked “But why here?”

“This festival is for the Wonderbolt recruit racers. They’re racing from WRC to here in Canterlot. Us cadets have to watch the race so no interferences happen.”

“When can I become a recruit?” asked Blue Jay

“Not till you’re old enough and have a proper ablility to fly,” said Soarin. He stopped in his tracks to stare at Blue Jay and said “You can fly right?”

“Yeah” said Blue Jay as he started to flap his wings. After a few strokes his small body lifted off the ground. He flapped a few more times to gain enough height to be over Soarin’s head and glided over him. Blue Jay landed in front of Soarin as he rapidly breathed.

“Not bad kid for a display,” said Soarin as he continued down the street “But sadly it will take more than that to become a cadet.”

Blue Jay pouted again from Soarin repose and followed him. Soon the Soarin made it to a pile of crates where another pegasus stallion lounged and watched the crowd. Soaring gave stallion a nod who the other nodded back. After the exchange the stallion stood up and walked off. Soarin reached behind a create the close to a brink wall to pull out a leather satchel. “I thought that flying for an hour would make me the best Wonderbolt out there. But I was dead wrong.” said Soarin

“Then how can I get better?” asked Blue Jay

“By learning the needed skill to be better.” said Soarin as he pulled out a grey book from his satchel. Blue Jay tried to read the text on it but was unable. “This is my that I got from WRC. If you learn what’s in it you may become a placer when you compete in this race.”

Blue Jay grabbed the book with his two hooves and stared at it. He looked up to Soarin and said “But I can’t read.”

The crowd that littered the street started to cheer to the sky when a thunderous sound sounded in the air. “Well Blue Bird I have one more lesson for you,” said Soarin as the wind picked up “Become the best you can,” as Soarin spoke the words a streak of rainbow appered right above them. Blue jay staired at the prismatic line and watched as more pegasus flew threw the air. “Learn to read Blue Bird. And then maybe you can become the best Wonderbolt outthere.”

Blue Jay started down from the sky to meet Soarin gaze, their emerald green eyes locked together. Blue Jay had on possible word to say to Soarin from the the lesson he told him. All he knew was that thing pegasus stranger could be the closest thing he could call a brother.

Meal

Blue Jay sat in the restaurant booth with the stranger he had just meet in the alleyway.

Back only a few minutes ago had the Stanger introduced himself to Blue Jay. He asked Blue Jay again about an autograph, something that he didn’t understand. Blue Jay never answered his question, but a response did come from his stomach when it gurgled for food. Soaring asked Blue Jay if he wanted some food and to talk. Blue Jay shook his head yes.

Now the pair sat together in a booth side to side, with Blue Jay next to the window and Soarin on his left.

For the pair it was strange when they both looked at each other. For both thought that they stared at a mirror that changed their age. Even the restaurant staff asked a few times if the pair were related. Which for some reason Soarin would say yes. Blue Jay wanted to say no once Soarin answered but he didn’t know why.

After some time of silence between the two their food was served, both got the same hayburger with extra grass. At first Blue Jay didn’t eat his meal and would only stare at it. Soarin noticed his hesitation to eat and put a hoof on his shoulder. “It’s ok, you can eat it.” said Soarin.

Soarin watched Blue Jay eat his meal in a snails pace, as if to savor every bite. He started to eat his as well with the occasional glance back at Blue Jay. After he took his first bite out of his hayburger Soarin spoke again “So, where’s your parents?”

“Don’t know” said Blue Jay as he continued to eat

“Do you know your parents?” asked Soarin with a hesitate tone

“No” answered Blue Jay

“Jeez, this is going to be hard.” mumbled Soarin to himself. He looked around the restaurant to see if anything could help him with Blue Jay. “Do you know who or what I am?” said Soarin as he looked back to Blue Jay

Blue Jay shot a glance to Soarin with a confused look. He raised his right wing to and said “A pegasus?”

“Yes I’m a pegasus but that’s not what I meant,” said Soarin in a annoyed tone “Do you know what a Wonderbolt is?”

“No” answered Blue Jay

“Huh,” said Sorain in a mutter “Well that’s something.”

A thud sounded from the grass window. As the pair both looked to see the cause of the noise they saw a yellow pegasus mare with a fiery orange mane that stared directly at Soarin. She started to walk over to the entrance of the restaurant. Beads of sweat rolled down Soarin’s forehead as he looked at Blue Jay and said in a frantic tone “Ok you are not going to say a word, I’m going to do all the talking got it?”

Blue Jay shook his head in a agreed manner.

The mare entered the restaurant and marched straight toward. With a fierce and loud voice she yelled “Sorin! You better have a good reason for leaving your post!” all the ponies in the restaurant watched the uproar.

“Captain, I was heading back to my post but was stopped by this colt who challenged me to a low air stunt off, for...for a meal with meal with me if I lost.” said Soarin in a frantic tone

“And you lost!” yelled the mare with a look of disappointed anger “Well then I he’s so good to beat a cadet like you then I best recruit him now when he’s young. Say kid what’s your name?”

Blue Jay stared at the fierce mare with a scared demeaner. He didn’t want to say anything to her because couldn’t tell if she would to yell at him also. Soarin spoke first “Captain, his name is Blue Bird.”

She huffed as a response to Soarin’s answer and reached into her coat. Her hoof rustled around counts that the pair couldn’t see. As she pulled her hoof out of her coat she produced a gold pin of two crossed wings. She put the pin on the table and slide it to Blue Jay. “Here kid, if your able to beat a cadet like Soarin your able to earn your own wings. Just make sure to join the Wonderbolts when you’re old enough.” said the mare. She looked at Soarin and the two exchanged a solute with each other after the mare said “Make sure you’re at you post in ten minutes.”

As she exited the restore Soarin skunked into the booth chair and drew a heavy sigh. He looked out the window to she the mare pass by and said “Well that went better that I hoped for, good going Blue Bird.” Soarin nudged Blue Jay on his shoulder “But I’m sorry, I have to leave you now to get back to my job.”

Blue Jay stared at Soarin with a confused look and wanted to say something but didn’t know what.

“It was nice knowing you, I’ll see you whenever.” said Soarin as he started to leave the booth seat. His exit was stopped when he felt small hooves grab on his should. He turned around to look once more at Blue Jay.

“How…how can I become a Wonderbolt?” asked Blue Jay with the widest eyes Soarin has ever seen in his life

Soarin chuckled while he lowered his head and said “You really are something. Come, take a walk with me.”

Alleyway

The colt shifted though the alleyways as he hoped nopony would see him. From some reason that he couldn’t understand there were more ponies on the street today than any other. He heard them cheer and yell for things he could not see when he moved through the shadows. He looked past the opening of the street to see a herd of ponies that trotted down the street opening to the next alleyway.

He waited till they all passed. By the use of his small wings he darted across the street. He looked back to make sure nopony saw him. Once he felt safe he moved deep into the alleyway and found what he wanted.

He trotted up to a set of garbage cans that were set against a brink wall. The smell of cooked foods remised by them as he got closer. He opened one of their lids and started to rummage through it. Cheers and shouts could still be heard from the other side of the building he was behind. The garbage can he searched through came with no reward, so he looked through next one.

He shuffled through the crushed papers that filled most of the can and still found nothing of use. As he exited the second garbage can and looked at the third his stomach gurgled with hunger. It had been a while since he ate. And when he begged for food, nopony would give.

He moved to the third can and popped its lid off. But this one had nothing to look through. He bucked the can to knock it over and the sound of crash metal rung in the alleyway. Defeated he laid against the brink way next to the three cans. He shuffled through the papers that he threw out of them and started to look at them.

Each paper had the same design of three pegasus with puffed chests and three others that flew through the sky as streaks followed them. The pegasi all wore the same blue suit that displayed a yellow jagged pattern down the middle and each one had the same goggles over their eyes.

Of the pegasi on the paper there was one that stood out the most to the colt. One pegasus that had the same dark blue mane as him and a pale blue coat. If the colt grew his mane out more, he could say that the picture was his but just a older version. The colt stared at the photo for a while now as he tried to read the words on it. But to his greates attempts he wasn’t able to. He grew tired of the position that he sat in and stood up to leave. Only to collide with something he didn’t see.

As the colt laid on his back, he looked up to see a what he collided with. He thought it was the garbage can that kicked over before but found out it was something much more. Towered over him was the pegasus stallion on the paper that looked just like him. The stranger started at him and reached a front hoof out to pick the colt back up. He dusted off his back and said to the colt “Sorry I didn’t see you there. I heard a load sound that came from this alleyway and just wanted to check what happened. Are you ok?”

The colt just stared at the stranger with awe. The piece of paper that had once been in the colt’s hoof had now just floated back down from the air. The pair looked at it and back to each other. Their green emerald eyes stared into each other’s. Both thought that this felt they looked in a mirror. The stranger spoke out again “I’m sorry, did you wanted an autograph?”

The pair stared at each other for a little while longer. The stranger shook his head and made an expression that he came up with any idea. “My bad I should have asked you name first, mine’s Soarin. What’s yours.” said the stranger

The colt acted timid by the question and started to mumble “My name is…Blue,” he started to look around the alleyway for anything. His eyes stopped back on the piece of paper with the pegasi on it. He stared at the three that flew threw the air and thought what it felt like to be high in the air like them. He continued his mumble “Blue…Bird. My name is Blue Bird.”