Fleetfoot trotted into the Cloud Bar, a soft hum of chatter and the clinking of mugs greeting her. The place was lively, with soft lights casting shadows on the wooden beams above. It was a favorite hangout for the Wonderbolts, a spot where the team could unwind after a long day of practice, and tonight, it was buzzing with energy.

Spitfire and Ray walked just a step behind her, the two mares exchanging quiet words as they made their way through the crowd. There was something different about the way they moved—close, but not overly obvious. Spitfire had a small smile playing on her lips, her usually sharp and commanding aura softened tonight. Ray, for her part, seemed just as relaxed, her usual laid-back demeanor making it clear she was enjoying the moment. Fleetfoot couldn’t help but glance back at them. The way Ray and Spitfire leaned toward each other in conversation felt almost too natural, like they were the only ones in the room. She gave a soft chuckle to herself, turning her attention back to the bar as she waved her wing at Soarin, Blaze, Surprise and Misty Fly, who were already seated at their usual table, chatting and laughing.

“Hey! Looks like you two are making good use of your time.” Fleetfoot called out, sliding into the booth next to Blaze.

Spitfire and Ray took their seats across from Fleetfoot, but there was something else in the air between them—a relaxed sort of chemistry that only came with time and familiarity. Ray smiled at Fleetfoot as she sat, her eyes still on Spitfire. “You know, I might be getting used to this,” she said, her tone playful but sincere.

Spitfire, glancing at Ray with a wink, nudged her lightly. “Good thing, too. We’ve got a lot more fun ahead of us, don’t we?”

As Spitfire and Ray settled in, Fleetfoot turned her attention to the rest of the group. Misty Fly and Rainbow Dash were deep in conversation, and Fleetfoot couldn’t help but overhear the high-pitched excitement in Dash’s voice as she waved her hooves around.

“…I’m telling you, Misty, a drink named after me would be amazing! We could call it the ‘Rainbow Rush,’ or maybe the ‘Dash-Topper,’ you know? Something that screams ‘cool,’ like me!”

Misty Fly raised an eyebrow, trying to keep a straight face. “Oh, I’m sure your drink would be just as fast as you, Dash. What would be in it, a mix of rainbows and cloud fluff?”

“Exactly! And a little bit of strawberry pop! Maybe we could get Fleetfoot to help market it. She knows all the flashy moves, right?”

Fleetfoot couldn’t help but laugh, leaning back as she sipped her drink. “Oh, Dash. I can’t be the face of every crazy idea you come up with, you know?”

Just then, Rainbow Dash’s eyes landed on Ray, who had just sat down beside Fleetfoot. She did a double-take, her attention suddenly completely on Ray.

“Whoa, hold up… Who’s that?” Rainbow Dash asked, nudging Misty Fly and pointing at Ray with her hoof.

Misty glanced over and smiled. “That’s Ray Dancer.”

Dash squinted at Ray, clearly curious. “She must be a big deal if she’s here hanging out with all the Wonderbolts. I mean, you don’t just casually sit with the team unless you’re someone important.”

Fleetfoot watched with amusement as Ray noticed Dash’s gaze and flashed a friendly smile. “Oh, me? A fan, of course. A huge fan,” Ray said in her usual witty, laid-back way. “I’ve been following you all for years. You’re… legendary.” She added the last word with a teasing lilt in her voice.

Fleetfoot could barely hold back her laughter, watching Rainbow Dash puff up her chest in pride. “I mean, yeah. I am pretty awesome,” Dash said with a grin, giving Ray a playful wink. “But seriously, you really follow the Wonderbolts?”

Ray chuckled, leaning forward slightly. “Oh yeah. When you’ve been a part of this world, you kind of can’t help but pay attention to how things are going. I’m basically a professional fan.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the playful exchange. “Alright, well, I guess I’ll take that as a compliment, even if you’re a little late to the party.”

Ray laughed softly, her red eyes sparkling as she shrugged. “What can I say? I’m just here for the show. And you… well, you’ve got a lot of show in you.”

Fleetfoot chuckled to herself, leaning back in her seat. “Careful, Dash. I think Ray might be a bigger fan than you thought.”

Dash shot Fleetfoot a look, but then quickly turned her attention back to Ray, clearly warmed by her easygoing attitude. “So, wait, what’s your deal? How do you know Spitfire?”

Ray smiled, her tone light but with a hint of seriousness. “Oh, I’ve just known Spitfire for a while now. We go way back.”

Soarin piped up, “Are you leaving soon, Ray? Or sticking around for a while longer?”

Ray’s expression brightened again, though it was tinged with a bit of nostalgia. “No, I’ll be heading back to Crystal Empire tomorrow. I was just here to visit my uncle”.

Fleetfoot, watching Spitfire, noticed the subtle shift in her expression—a brief flicker of something between sadness and understanding. Spitfire quickly masked it with a smile, but Fleetfoot could tell the mention of Ray leaving soon was weighing on her, even if she didn’t show it outright.

Rainbow Dash, still curious, leaned in. “Wait, so you’re just hanging out with the Wonderbolts? That’s it? No big plans?”

Ray shrugged, smiling. “That’s pretty much it. Just enjoying the company”

“Well, some of us have to keep things exciting,” Fleetfoot added with a wink, leaning back in her seat as she surveyed the group. The conversation shifted again, everyone getting lost in their own banter, but Fleetfoot couldn’t help but notice how natural everything felt with Ray in the mix.

As the group fell into relaxed chatter, Fleetfoot caught another small exchange between Ray and Spitfire. For a brief moment, Spitfire’s eyes softened as she listened to Ray. Fleetfoot leaned toward Soarin and quietly teased, “Looks like they're are at it again.”

Ray turned to Fleetfoot, a cheeky grin spreading across her face. “Oh, come on, Fleet. No need to make it that obvious.”

Fleetfoot shrugged with a mischievous grin of her own. “Well, when Spitfire’s in the room, it’s kind of hard not to notice.”

Ray shook her head with a laugh, and Fleetfoot couldn’t help but feel that, despite all the years and changes, the Wonderbolts were still as tight-knit as ever. It wasn’t just about the performances and the fame; it was about the bonds they shared—whether it was in the air or at a table like this.

***

The night at the Cloud Bar stretched on as the laughter and chatter of the Wonderbolts echoed around the cozy space. Fleetfoot, Spitfire, Blaze, and Ray had nestled into one corner, leaving the rest of the group to their own conversations. The mood was light, filled with the comfort of old friends reunited, and the four of them quickly fell into easy conversation, teasing each other with old stories and catching up on everything that had happened since their last encounter.

Fleetfoot leaned back in her chair, sipping her drink with a relaxed smile. “So, Ray, I’ve gotta ask,” she began with a playful glint in her eye. “When’s the next big stunt you’re planning to pull? I mean, you’ve got all these Wonderbolts on your side now, so I figure it’s about time you show us how it’s done.”

Ray chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, Fleet. I’m retired. No more high-flying stunts for me. I’m just here to watch you all be amazing.” She gave Spitfire a warm look. “And maybe keep an eye on my old friend here.”

Spitfire raised an eyebrow but smiled, leaning forward slightly. “You always were the one with the crazy ideas. You sure you’re not planning anything behind our backs?”

Ray just grinned. “Well, maybe a little bit of mischief, but nothing that’ll get me back in the skies. I’m enjoying the view from the ground, thank you very much.”

Blaze, who had been quietly observing, let out a soft laugh. “I always forget how much of a troublemaker you were, Ray. You and Spitfire were something else back in the day.”

Ray rolled her eyes playfully. “You make it sound like we were a disaster.”

“Well,” Blaze continued with a smirk, “let’s just say that if things went wrong, it was always more fun with you around.” She winked at Spitfire. “You two had a way of making chaos seem… fun.”

Fleetfoot chuckled, nudging Spitfire with her elbow. “You were partners in crime, Spits.”

Spitfire’s lips curled into a small but knowing smile, her eyes briefly flicking to Ray. “Let’s just say Ray and I knew how to make anything exciting.”

There was a comfortable silence for a moment, just the four of them smiling at each other, basking in the glow of old friendships and the familiarity that came with them. It felt easy, almost as if time hadn’t passed at all. Ray shifted in her seat, glancing down at her watch. She sighed, sitting up straighter. “I think it’s about time for me to head out,” she said, her tone softer than before. “I’ve got a train to catch in the morning, and I still need to pack my things.”

Spitfire’s expression faltered for a brief second, and Fleetfoot noticed the slight change in her friend. She could tell Spitfire wasn’t quite ready to let go of this moment. The two of them had spent hours chatting and laughing, but the reality of Ray leaving was starting to sink in.

“Already?” Fleetfoot asked, her voice a little surprised. “You sure you don’t want to stick around for one more round?”

Ray smiled warmly, shaking her head. “As much as I’d love to, I’ve got an early morning ahead of me.” She looked at Spitfire, her gaze softening. “But this has been great. Really, it’s been good to catch up with you all.”

Spitfire nodded, but Fleetfoot could see the small shadow of sadness in her eyes. The connection between them was undeniable, and Ray’s departure was hitting harder than Spitfire let on.

“Yeah,” Spitfire said, her voice quieter than usual. “It’s been… too long.” She gave Ray a small smile, but there was something wistful about it.

Ray stood up, stretching her wings slightly. “I’ll see you all around, alright?" She turned to Spitfire, her voice lowering just slightly. “I promise not to be a stranger again.”

Spitfire stood up too, her usual commanding presence softened by the quiet moment between them. For a moment, she hesitated, as if unsure of what to do. Should she just say goodbye? Should she offer a hug? Fleetfoot could see the hesitation in Spitfire’s eyes, the conflict between wanting to keep things light and the obvious longing to hold onto this fleeting moment.

Before Spitfire could decide, Ray—being Ray—closed the distance between them in an instant, wrapping her hooves around Spitfire in a quick but heartfelt hug.

“Hey, don’t look so down,” Ray said with a teasing grin. “It’s not goodbye forever.”

Spitfire hesitated for a moment before returning the hug, her usual confidence replaced with a rare vulnerability. “I’ll hold you to that,” she murmured, her voice almost soft enough that Fleetfoot could barely hear it over the music in the background.

When they broke the hug, Spitfire looked at Ray with a small smile. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

Ray nodded, her red eyes filled with a mix of warmth and something deeper. “Always.”

As Ray turned to leave, Fleetfoot could see Spitfire standing there, watching her go with a quiet, almost longing gaze. It wasn’t like Spitfire to show much emotion, but Fleet had known her long enough to recognize it. There was something about Ray that had touched Spitfire in a way Fleetfoot couldn’t quite explain. Blaze, sensing the shift in mood, stood up as well, stretching her wings. “Well, let’s not just stand around, huh? We’ve got a night to enjoy still.”

Spitfire turned back to the group after a long pause, her usual fire returning to her eyes, but Fleetfoot could still see the traces of sadness behind the mask. As she walked past Spitfire, she leaned in just slightly, whispering with a teasing smile, “You’re going to miss her, aren’t you?”

Spitfire shot her a look, but the faintest smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Fleetfoot grinned. “Sure, sure”

Spitfire’s eyes flicked toward the door one last time, as if making sure Ray had truly left. And with that, the four of them—now three—joined the rest of the team, but Fleetfoot couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted in Spitfire. There was a lot left unsaid, but Fleetfoot knew that it wasn’t the end for Spitfire and Rey. Not yet.

Author's Note

Hiya, hope you enjoyed it! As I have almost the entire story written and edited (just struggling a bit to make the ending pop, but I'll get there soon) I'll be posting chapters quite quickly one after another :)
See you in the next one. xoxo