What In Equestria Is The Best Young Flyers Competition?

Sunset flicked her tail aside as she and Silver Spanner shared a bench, the two holding an ice cream in their magic auras, Sunset’s a light blue and Silver Spanners a grayish pink color.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Silver Spanner commented and she looked around the pond at some swans swimming and she gave her ice cream a lick. A colt went running past laughing and she smiled at him for a moment. “Where’s your guard buddies at, anyway Sunset?”

“All three of them have mandatory retraining at Fort Dodge. It’s something the entire royal guard is doing at the moment except the castle guards. Apparently they’re doing drills if Equestria ever gets invaded,” Sunset answered and licked her strawberry ice cream. “And yeah, it’s pretty out.”

Silver Spanner started eating her ice cream cone and started wiping her face off with a stack of wet napkins, tossing them into a trash can next to the bench.

Silver Spanner rested a foreleg on the foreleg rest, looking up at some geese flying over head. The two were out of school for a week due to some apparent renovations the school was getting.

The two would have invited Twinkleshine out with them, but apparently she was out town with her parents and Lemon Hearts visiting Las Pegasus. Twilight and Moondancer were holed up in the library, Minuette had work and Lyra was on some music trip with the school band.

“What do you and your parents got planned? Anything?” Sunset asked curiously and Silver Spanner shook her head.

“Nah. They both got work and stuff, but at least I got my best friend,” Silver Spanner shrugged with a grin and winked at Sunset. “What about you?”

“Well, Mom and I are headed to Cloudsdale in a few days. We got asked to be judges for the Best Young Flyers Competition along with three of the Wonderbolts,” Sunset answered and Silver Spanners face fell.

“Oh. Well, I guess I’ll be by myself then this week,” Silver Spanner used her magic to skip a rock across the pond.

“Actually, I was gonna ask if you wanted to join us. It could be fun and Cloudsdale is always cool. It’s a bit terrifying at first being that high up, but you get used to it after a few hours,” Sunset waved a hoof dismissively in the air and Silver Spanners expression brightened considerably.

“Really?” Silver Spanners tail wagged for a few seconds and Sunset nodded. “I’ve never been to Cloudsdale before.”

“Oh, it’s awesome. Lots of good stuff up there. The weather factory is cool. I might be able to pull some strings and get us a tour of the facility. It’s usually closed to the general public but well, I am a Princess, after all. I can be quite persuasive when I need to be,” Sunset smirked and the two shared a laugh.

Sunset tossed her trash away and the two started trotting down the path, walking around two foals playing on the sidewalk. Sunset had to admit, it was a breath of fresh air to not have royal guards following her every move. Obviously, she loved Comet, Thunder and Cobalt like family. They had been there ever since she was born, after all. But it was still nice to be able to walk around Canterlot like a normal pony with her friend.

“Just one question,” Silver Spanner twirled a flower in the air with her magic. “What the hell is the Best Young Flyers Competition?”

“Every year, Cloudsdale hosts a competition to find the best and fastest pegasus Equestria has to offer. They have to do something crazy impressive to win. Like, a good trick or something daring. Whoever wins gets to spend a day with three Wonderbolt judges, myself and mom. I think this year it’s Misty Fly, Spitfire and Soarin. Ah, Soarin,” Sunset sighed and Silver Spanner slowed to a stop, staring at Sunset.

“Oh my god.”

“What?”

“You like Soarin the Wonderbolt,” Silver Spanner covered her mouth with a hoof. “Oh my stars. I never thought I’d see the day Sunset admits she likes somepony.”

“I like lots of ponies. I like you, mom, Raven, my guards, Twinkleshine, Lyra. I go on and on,” Sunset waved a hoof dismissively and Silver Spanner snorted.

“Oh totally what I meant. If you don’t like him, then why are you blushing?” Silver Spanner pointed out with a smirk and Sunset growled softly.

“Stupid cheeks,” Sunset grumbled and shrugged. “Fine, Soarin is cute. There, I said it. So what?”

“Oh nothing. Isn’t he like, twenty six?”

“Yeah, I know. Nothing will ever happen because age difference. But a mare can dream,” Sunset sighed and kicked some loose pebbles down the sidewalk. “Besides, nopony would take a risk dating Princess Celestia’s daughter. High Winds isn’t so bad herself.”

“I guess,” Silver Spanner shrugged. “I’m straight, I guess so I don’t really have an opinion on her. Hell, I’ve never even met a Wonderbolt once in my life. Always wanted to, though.”

“Meh, fair enough. You’ll get your chance this week. I just gotta talk to your parents. Once they hear Mom is coming with us, surely they’ll say yes,” Sunset chuckled and stretched out her forelegs. “I’ve never even dated at all, except for apparently two days in kindergarten when I swore I was gonna marry that colt in class.”

Silver Spanner had a feeling there was probably a very long and funny story related to that. She was definitely going to pry it out of Sunset later after they finished their run around the park.

“Are we just doing a jog around the park today or we racing?” Sunset asked and Silver Spanner bounced on her hooves.

“Meh, just a jog. Nothing too crazy today. My back aches like a mother after being on my back under that carriage all day yesterday trying to fix the axle system. We can go get lunch after on me. I really need a job.”

“Donut Joe’s is hiring.”

That was a tempting offer. Silver Spanner and Sunset did spend a fair amount of time there, so she already knew the owner and his wife fairly well. Only downside was Lemon Hearts, who Silver Spanner had little interaction with.

“I should lay off the donuts,” Silver Spanner stretched her hindlegs. “Gotta look after my weight.”

“You realize you’re only ten pounds lighter than I am and I’m one sixty five, right? That’s not a bad weight and speaking platonically, you look really good,” Sunset examined her briefly.

“Damn right I do,” Silver Spanner agreed with a smirk and Sunset rolled her eyes, flicking her with her tail.

“And ponies say I have an ego,” Sunset scoffed as the two started trotting.

Sunset flopped onto her bed, panting as she levitated a bottle of water to her mouth. Silver Spanner always had a crazy amount of stamina when it came to pretty much anything the pair did, from random exercising to carrying heavy items Sunset wouldn’t even dream of attempting. Sunset idly wondered how in shape she really was if she was left out of breath and exhausted after every run. The only pony to be more exhausted is Twinkleshine the few times she’s went out with them. Sunset had to carry the mare home after that day.

Silver Spanner always seemed up for more compared to Sunset and Twinkleshine. Sunset assumed it was from her earth pony parents.

“What’s up with you?” Celestia asked as she trotted passed, peering into the open door.

“Silver Spanner running me ragged, that’s what,” Sunset answered with a pant in between each word before taking another long sip of her water. “What’s up with you?”

“Finishing up planning the trip to Cloudsdale. Spent all day waiting for my temporary replacement to fill the spot on the throne until we return,” Celestia answered and trotted inside Sunset’s room, sniffing the air and grimacing.

Sunset’s room reeked of sweat and exhaustion as Sunset wiped some sweat off her forehead with a hoof.

“Oh yeah? Who did you get?” Sunset asked curiously and rolled over onto her side. Most likely Raven. Raven was always the one left in charge when Celestia and Sunset weren’t in Canterlot. Benefits of being one of the most trusted ponies Celestia had.

A pink unicorn trotted in, folding her wings against her side and Sunset sat up with a raised eyebrow.

“Hey Cadance,” Sunset waved and rolled off her bed, hugging the mare. “Been a long time. How’s the Crystal Empire treating you?”

“Tiring. I have a whole new respect for Aunt Celestia running Equestria. It’s not easy and quite a lot of work,” Cadence answered and rubbed a hoof against Sunset’s mane. “Geez, you are insanely sweaty.”

“Exercising with Silver Spanner.”

Cadence didn’t entirely know what that meant nor how to respond to that. Sunset yawned and cracked her neck as she flopped back on her bed.

“I’m gonna take a nap. I’ll catch up with you two later. Feels like one of the Wonderbolts just tossed me through a freaking Royal Guard training session. My entire body feels like jelly,” Sunset leaned against Celestia as she pressed her face in Celestia’s chest and the two alicorns made out a snore coming from the unicorn.

“One of her friends,” Celestia answered as she carried Sunset to her bed and set down on it, levitating a blanket over the mare. “I told you about her in a letter last month.”

“Oh.”

“We can talk in my room. Let’s let her sleep,” Celestia suggested as the two watched Sunset sleep for a few seconds as Cadence flicked the light off, Celestia kissing Sunset’s forehead before retreating out of the room and shutting the door.

“She’s gotten bigger from when I last saw her,” Cadence mused as the two trotted down the hall. “Last time I saw her, she was up to my chest and now she’s almost taller than I am.”

“She is growing up fast,” Celestia agreed as the taller alicorn used her magic to adjust a sideways painting on the wall. How that one painting always got turned sideways, she’ll never know. “She’s almost sixteen, can you believe that?”

“Not really,” Cadence admitted and the pink mare flicked her mane aside. “Foal sitting her and Twilight was a long time ago.”

The two had been Cadence’s favorite fillies to foal sit. Though, Sunset had been a bit wilder than Twilight even had been. Twilight had been fond to sit and just read books or play or be on the swings. Sunset on the other hoof wanted Cadence to explore Equestria with her.

Or plan out ways to invade foreign countries with her toys. Sunset was scarily effective at overcoming enemy resistance in simulated war scenarios.

“Hey Cadence. Look,” Sunset waved a hoof as she laid on her stomach with her toys in front of her in her bedroom. Twilight was hiding under Sunset’s bed with various books, her hind legs sticking out.

“What’s up Sunset?” Cadence sat down next to the filly and wrapped her wing around the tiny pony.

“See, I built Griffonstone out of Legos. Griffonstone threatened Equestria, Equestria responded with force. See here, I cut off their supply line with the Royal Guards, effectively crippling their soldiers and with my Royal Guards surrounding the city till the food and water runs out to make the enemy soldiers surrender, making Griffonstone effectively Equestrian territory. Cool, right? Are you proud of me cousin?” Sunset grinned up at Cadence and nuzzled the shocked mare. “Cadence?”

“That’s uh very impressive, Sunset. You’re a very smart and talented filly, Sunny.”

“What about me?” Twilight’s head popped out from under the bed and Cadence rubbed a hoof against her head.

“Yes, you too Twily. You’re both very impressive, smart and talented. You’re both going places.”

Twilight yawned and climbed onto Cadance’s lap next to Sunset and the two both yawned and fell asleep on her chest as Cadence yawned.

“Nap time you two.”

Sunset was Cadence’s only cousin that Cadence actually liked. The two usually spent most of their time out playing video games or watching movies.

Most ponies were surprised to find out the Love Princess was an avid gamer. And she admittedly occasionally got very angry and cursed up a storm. Sunset could confirm that happening a lot of times. Probably more times than Cadence could keep track.

Sunset was mindblown that the Princess of Love cursed so much at the time. She was just glad the media and newsponies had been there to hear it. Sunset had laughed for almost an hour straight at Cadence’s angry expression.

“So, I take it I can sit on your throne?” Cadence grinned at Celestia. “If I’m temporarily running Equestria and the Crystal Empire.”

“Hmm,” Celestia tapped a hoof against her chin and grinned down at Cadence. “No.”

“Aw, damn. What you don’t know doesn’t hurt you,” Cadence winked at Celestia and Cadence waved her forelegs in the air. “I gotta say, it’s nice to be back home. I miss seeing you two and Raven on a daily basis. Is my room still as I left it?”

“Weird pop posters and all, yes,” Celestia snorted and used her magic to open her door. “I don’t need to go over everything to do. You know how to run an nation successfully. We leave tomorrow morning at seven am. I know you will do good work, Cadence.”

“I know,” Cadence flopped onto Celestia’s bed and propped her head up with a hoof, grinning at her. “Gotta say, I’m really looking forward to sleeping in the royal bed. I remember vividly how comfy this bed is. I will be sure to take full advantage of this, paid spa trips and all, believe me. I’ve had a pain in my back I’m quite eager to see gone. All jokes aside, I’ll keep an eye on things around here. Things will be just fine.”

“I know. You were the first pony I thought of. Normally it would be Raven, but she’s sick and I forced her to stay home till she’s good again.”

Raven had fought her hoof and nail on the matter. That was probably the maddest Celestia had ever seen Raven. And Raven almost never got mad as a rule. A rule apparently Raven had given herself. Celestia could relate. She didn’t get mad, she wasn’t capable of anger. Anger was beneath her as a princess. Not even Sunset’s antics as a filly had gotten her angry.

“Come get me when Sunny wakes up. I want to have dinner with you two. Breakfast too, if I’m lucky. And meet this Silver Spanner properly,” Cadence slid off of Celestia’s bed. “I’ll go relax in my room. Say, is Sergeant Shining Armor around?”

“I believe so. I believe he’s on patrol in Canterlot somewhere. Why?” Celestia gave her a confused look and Cadence gave a nervous laugh as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

“Oh uh, just curiosity. I’ll uh go to my room now!”

Cadence shot out of the room, doing a loop down the hall over some guards and castle staff heads.

That was weird, Celestia mused to herself.