Four young stallions sat in the corner of the mess hall at Zephyr Heights Academy. The last of the suns rays played on the wall above the three who sat against the wall.
“Bro, how did you get so fast?” A burned yellow stallion with a flowing orange mane asked his green friend as he reclined against the hard bench.
Thunder’s cheeks flushed a darker shade of green as he smiled bashfully. Suddenly being the pony right in the corner felt like a bad idea. It was getting hot in here.
“What’s this guy blushing for, aye?” Waterfyre, a light blue stallion with a fiery red mane playfully ribbed his friend.
“Can’t be anything too fun.” Blackout, a jet black stallion joked as he eyed the corner bound trio of pegasi.
“Why not?” Thunder retorted playfully.
“Because you’re the only one here who doesn't seem interested in mares... or any of that fun stuff like us,” Blackout replied.
Thunder sighed, a faint, secretive smile on his lips. “Yeah. But maybe I don’t need to do any of that.”
Bumblesweet laughed, his yellow forehooves fell on the table with a loud clop as he leaned toward his blushing friend. “Alright, alright... So says the blushing stallion who’s never even been on a date before. Tell us your secret.”
Waterfyre laughed, "yeah. This has gotta be good, coming from you."
Thunder held up his forehooves defensively, “okay fine. You guys really wanna know my secret for how I keep up with the front of the pack for the last runs?”
“I think you’re obliged to share with the boys.” Blackout shot back.
Thunder leaned in closer to his friends, his cheeks now clearly sporting a hot blush that made his whole face turn a darker green. “Alright. So when the going is getting tough and you’re getting tired... you simply pick a nice bum and keep that in view.”
The three other stallions stared at their friend like he had grown a second head.
Suddenly Blackout laughed. “That sounds like a plan I could get behind. A shame the hottest mare here is a bit slow...”
Bumblesweet smirked, “and who’s flank have you been looking at while we’ve been on these tough runs?”
Thunder tried his best to shrug innocently, “uh...” The suddenly shy stallion muttered something too softly for his friends to catch.
“Any quieter and I’ll think you’re a mute.” Blackout commented dryly.
Waterfyre sniggered. “I wanna hear who this amazing flank is that’s got you realizing you're a stallion all of a sudden.”
“Or you know... maybe it’s a stallion’s ass and that's why you're so embarrassed all of a sudden,” Bumblesweet added with a smirk.
Thunder gave the yellow stallion a dark look. His gaze returned to the table. “Zoom...”
“Wait, you’re not gay?” Bumblesweet stared back at Thunder, shocked by his friends' admittance.
“Of course not.” Thunder huffed.
“Oh. But your best friend is a girl and you never made any moves on her... So I naturally assumed...”
“I’m not gay.”
“We know that now...” Bumblesweet lent back then laughed. “Oh, I can’t believe that you really have the hots for your best friend but lack the balls to ask her out.”
“Hey.” Thunder retorted.
“It’s true,” Waterfyre added.
“Oh yeah, everypony pick on Thunder. Some thanks I get for sharing.” Thunder huffed and folded his forehooves.
Bumblesweet barked out a laugh and twirled his mighty fine mane, “I coulda told you back in school that a sweet view is always good.”
“Well, I know whose ass I’m gonna try follow.” Waterfyre piped up. “Trouble is... she’s a speedy one like your Zoom.”
“Should be a good challenge then,” Thunder smiled back. “But now that you know my secret, will it really help you guys?”
“What I wanna know is... are you going to get caught yet?” Bumblesweet smirked. "You've been picking up the pace for a while so I'm guessing you musta risked getting caught a few times already."
“Zoom would never expect Thunder to be checking out her flank. He’s too innocent.” Blackout replied.
“You know... maybe I should tell her.” Thunder retorted.
“What, that you like her ass?” Bumblesweet shot back.
A cheeky smile tugged at Thunder’s lips before he forced his face into a frown. “No. That I like her... like... more than as a friend.”
“And finally he admits it.” Waterfyre spread his wings wide then let them fall slowly.
Thunder fought off the descending wing on his side and shot the light blue pegasus a dirty look.
“What? Don’t wanna cuddle?” Waterfyre grinned as he leaned closer as if about to give Thunder a nuzzle.
“Dude!” Thunder shoved the cheeky stallion away.
Laughter broke out from the trio.
“Who are you two going to try and trail tomorrow?” Thunder pointed out Bumblesweet and Blackout.
The pair quietened down and shared a glance.
Bumblesweet shrugged. “I dunno. There’s enough eye candy around that I guess I’ll pick on the day. If I decide to try your idea.”
“What about you?” Waterfyre asked.
Blackout sighed. “Well, I don’t wanna come right at the back of the pack.”
“Oh, I dunno what Snowflake is doing here,” Bumblesweet admitted. “Maybe you should ask her out then you can give her a little boost out on the course.”
Blackout shot the cheeky yellow stallion a look. “No.”
Bumblesweet looked ready to continue but was cut off by Thunder standing up. He had spotted Zoom entering the room.
Waterfyre moved aside to allow his friend passage. The remaining trio shared knowing smiles as they watched the two pegasi meet in the middle of the room. Thunder left with Zoom without so much as a look behind him.
“And now it’s clear, our boy has it bad.” Waterfyre commented softly.
“We should do something,” Bumblesweet added.
Blackout shook his head, “let them do things in their own time. Somehow I don’t see it ending too good if we force it. Besides... do you guys really think Thunder should be getting himself mixed up here at basic?”
“It will be fine...” Bumblesweet waved the dark stallion’s concerns away. “It’s only like they need to leave the castle for like... a few hours. Our drill sergeant does not need to know.”
“Much as I don’t like what you're suggesting.” Blackout sighed, “The weekend is a perfect time for that.”
“Ha, like he would make a move while they are enjoying some home time,” Waterfyre exclaimed with a discrete look at his departing friend. "That colt is too busy enjoying mama's food and friendship."
"Maybe that will change." Blackout shrugged and casually eyed the departing pair.
"But maybe it won't." Waterfyre shot back.
As Zoom and Thunder left the mess hall together, Zoom glanced behind them and caught the trio’s fugitive looks their way. “Your friends look like they are up to something.”
“You know them...” Thunder did his best to sound casual while his heart beat like crazy and his mind raced.
“Some days I don’t know if that's a good thing or not.” Zoom gave her companion a pointed look.
Thunder laughed nervously. “You might be right there...”
The cold winter chill burned Thunder's throat with every breath as he ran with the first of the suns rays to illuminate his way. Despite being hardly awake, his fur was freezing, and his breath and the exhale of the ponies in front were giving off soft vapour clouds. Despite the beauty of the sunrise on the hillside, the young stallions focus was entirely on the bouncing and swaying hindquarters of his best friend, Zoom.
With every frantic hoof fall his body cried out for him to slow down before he collapsed. Yet he persevered, sure that they had to be stopping sometime soon.
Time stretched painfully onward for the young stallion. With a surprised yelp, he tripped and nearly fell on a rock that had come out of nowhere at him. He quickly checked his left foreleg to make sure he hadn't injured himself. With a shuddering breath of relief, he looked up and saw Zoom disappear into the mist.
The young stallion’s eyes widened in alarm and he hastened off as fast as his tired body could manage. He passed a few fellow trainees who had caught up, ignoring the surprised looks at his sudden burst of speed. With his sides burning and forehooves sore, he slowed down as Zoom came back into view.
Unfortunately for Thunder, his target chose that moment to hasten her own steps and within moments she began to slip away into the early morning mist.
Despite his best attempt at more speed, his body simply had no more to give. With no tantalizing sight to draw him onward, the stallion felt his speed ebb. Thunder wished that he could just end their morning run then and there. His wandering mind was returned to reality by hoofsteps from behind. A bright purple mare stormed past, Waterfyre hot on her tail.
The light blue stallion gave his friend a brief smirk before snapping his attention back to the mare in front.
Thunder slowed to a light canter as the pair vanished into the fog. Did Waterfyre want to get caught looking? He seemed extremely close...
Thunder shook his head to clear the unwanted thoughts away. No time for whatever antics his friends were up to. He had to keep going.
Forcing his body to pick up at last some speed, Thunder wished he had been allowed to take his music with him. He could really use a rousing beat about now.
For the first time, Thunder finished the morning run in the middle of the pack, much to the amusement of Waterfyre who stood panting at the finish line, a wide smirk on his face. Thunder shot the grinning stallion a warning look before wandering up to Zoom who was stretching.
The green mare was quick to notice her best friend, “you slacked off.”
“I- did?” Thunder stared back at his best friend, surprised by her comment.
“Thought I heard you trip over something back there then you vanished.”
“Yeah... I kinda did.” Despite the cold, Thunder’s cheeks warmed.
“Are you okay?”
Thunder felt himself melt under her tender gaze. He lifted his left forehoof and gave it a light shake. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Good.”
At that moment a buff grey stallion came panting over the line and almost collapsed. A bright orange mare and Bumblesweet were not far behind.
“Normally your fourth would be close behind,” Zoom observed quietly.
Thunder nodded. “Yeah. Maybe he's having an easy morning.”
Bumblesweet smirked in Thunder's direction for a moment, gave his friend a quick nod, and then wandered over to chat with Waterfyre.
“I feel like both your friends have gotten faster this morning, while you got slower.” Zoom wondered out loud.
Thunder grunted in response.
Zoom leaned in closer, a cheeky grin on her face. “Did poor widdle Thunder hurt his hoof?”
The green stallion gave his best friend a dry stare.
She smirked back. “Need to take some time in the med bay for it?”
“I’m fine Zoom.”
“You sure? I could kiss it better.” Zoom teased as she leaned in a little closer.
Thunder felt his wings twitch as his cheeks burned. “I...”
“Alright you lot!” The sergeant spoke up, “I’m feeling a little bored. How about you all to give me wing ups until everypony arrives!”
Many present groaned.
Zoom and Thunder shared a disgruntled look.
“Killjoy,” Zoom muttered as she flexed her wings.
“What is the point in wing ups if we can't even fly?” Thunder complained as he joined in.
Their drill sergeant’s piercing gaze hit the grumbling colt and Thunder quickly tried to act like he had said nothing.
“Am I hearing a request to do extra wing-ups?” The officer asked.
“No sir.”
“Then shut up and give me some wing ups!”
Over forty gruelling wing ups later, the last group of ponies including Snowflake and Blackout finally crossed the line while the sergeant yelled at them. Despite his burning wings, Thunder couldn’t help but share a grin with Blackout.
Alone in their little corner of the mess hall, Thunder and his male friends were in a tight huddle around the table as they discussed important matters.
“Whatever, I tried to get her to speed up you know.” Blackout crossed his forehooves.
“Bro, you coulda ridden her to the finish line faster than she was running.” Bumblesweet shot back.
Blackout gave the yellow stallion a shove. “No.”
Waterfyre cautiously glanced between the two friends then leaned forward, his hooves resting on the table. “Anyway, I’m proud to announce that my choice of mare, Fleetfoot, was in fact so quick that she helped me achieve my fastest time.”
“My guy.” Bumblesweet held up his forehoof. Forehooves clopped together as he was met in the middle by Waterfyre.
“So, which cute mare did you find to chase, Bumblesweet?” Blackout asked.
Bumblesweet looked around the assembled stallions “Oh, did we need to be looking at mares butts in particular, or just the best butts?”
“What?” Thunder wondered.
“You’re joking, right?” Blackout dryly stared at the yellow stallion.
“Wait, did you go for some bait and tackle?” Waterfyre’s smile was threatening to break into full blown laughter.
Bumblesweet shrugged. “Best butt is best butt. What can I say? The morning run felt faster.”
Thunder stared back in disbelief while Waterfyre’s laughter ran out across the mess hall. Blackout had a strange smile on his face as he looked between the light blue and yellow stallions.
“Alright, what’s so funny?”
Thunder’s wings shot up. A curious Zoom poked her head in between the green feathers, her head almost resting on Thunders. “Hey look at that... I snuck up on Thunder.”
Between the raised wings, Thunder’s shocked face and Zoom's growing smile, the other three stallions at the table broke out into fits of laughter.
Blackout was the first to cool down. “Hello Zoom, glad you could join us.”
Thunder tried to stand but found his head met by a gentle push downward under Zoom’s chin. The normally strong, capable stallion totally failed to push his oppressor away. Green cheeks darkened as one of Zoom’s forehooves ticked his still spread feathers.
More giggles from Bumblesweet and Waterfyre followed. Zoom glanced curiously at Blackout, “I’m curious. What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing.” Blackout quickly replied.
“Really? It looked like some ponies were having a great laugh before I showed up.” Zoom casually commented as she continued to stroke her friend's feathers.
“Uh, huh...” Thunder agreed stiffly.
“We were discussing the morning’s run,” Waterfyre smirked as his mind wandered back to earlier.
“What was funny about that?” Zoom wondered.
Waterfyre pointed to the pinned stallion, “the fact that I passed him for one. Although I guess that happens when you lose sight of the target.”
At the panicked look on Thunder’s face, Bumblesweet snickered. “I would say that is all thanks to a little secret that our good friend, Thunder dropped.”
Zoom slipped off Thunder’s head and rounded on him. “What are they talking about?”
“Um... Well...” Thunder fidgeted.
“He gave us great advice; you just pick a nice butt and keep that in view. Worked for me, my morning workout was a lot faster and more intense.” Waterfyre admitted proudly.
“That was guys only information,” Blackout muttered loudly.
“Don’t worry, she’s Thunder’s problem, right?” Waterfyre smirked back at the blushing stallion.
“That sounds more like something you would say, Water.” Zoom stood in defence of her best friend.
Bumblesweet lent forward, a keen smile on his face, “oh you better believe that your buddy Thunder told us that.”
Zoom rounded on Thunder, “have you been staring at mares' flanks while we are out there?”
“Well...uh...”
“Only the best butt, right Thunder?” Bumblesweet chuckled. “Hottest ass all the way!”
With a sharp look at the grinning yellow stallion, Zoom returned her sights to the nervous green stallion at her side.
“Not helpful Bumble.” Thunder caught his best friend’s eye and sank down till his head rested on the table. “And it’s only been one.”
“One what, Thunder?” Waterfyre smirked knowingly as he settled back in his seat.
“You guys are gonna get it later, you know that?” Thunder stared around the table.
“Hey, I said nothing.” Blackout shot back.
“Then it's the other two shouting us drinks then.”
Blackout grinned back at Thunder’s response.
“Hey.” Zoom once again announced her presence.
Thunder shrank back almost sliding off the table.
Zoom rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me start cracking heads, you idiots.”
At the blue mare’s tone, the group of young stallions wilted. Suddenly Waterfyre and Bumblesweet seemed to find the whole thing a lot less funny.
With an unamused snort, Zoom rounded on her longtime friend. “Now, Thunder... who is that one mare?”
Thunder gulped, hopefully, his next words to his best friend would not result in major damage to their relationship...
“Well?” Zoom demanded, her impatience rising.
“Yours.”
“Huh?” Zoom blinked. All anger vanished in a heartbeat.
“The first time we were running, I was struggling... I picked the best looking butt and kept it in view regardless of how hard it got to keep up and it just happened to be yours. I... I really do think my best friend has the best butt out there.”
As Thunder tentatively looked up. He met Zoom’s eyes and noticed a fire smouldering within.
“Come with me.” Zoom turned and her wings slipped into place at her side with military precision.
“What?” Thunder stared at Zoom with wide eyes.
“Now!”
Thunder shared a confused look with the other guys who promptly burst with poorly suppressed mirth.
Two of the guys even wolf whistled as the pair marched away.
Once in the corridor leading to the barracks, Thunder noticed Zoom had slowed down to wait for him. He tentatively wandered up alongside her and tried to give a convincing smile. “So...”
Zoom came to a stop and stared challengingly into her best friend’s eyes. “You’ve been staring at my ass every single morning run?”
“Um... Yeah... Since- well... since that time I started keeping up with you I kinda have...” Thunder admitted softly. He flinched as powerful blue wings rose, almost as if the tough mare were about to strike.
Zoom gave him an odd look. “Put your wings down, I’m not gonna hit you.”
“Okay?” Green wings refused to fold in light of the display before Thunder.
The tough mare cast a quick glance around to check that they were alone in the hallway. She drew close and her wings lowered slowly. Blue feathers ticked the green stallion’s back as they landed and clashed with his slowly lowering wings. A goofy grin invaded his face.
She chuckled, it was clear he still liked her winged hugs, even if this one was rather loose. “What I want to know...” Zoom trailed off as she started walking again.
Thunder startled as blue feathers slipped over his snout. She was on the move! He hastened to follow and tried to pull himself together, fighting the rising excitement from within. His whole back still tingled where her feathers had rested moments before. ‘What is going on!?’
“So I think I’ve just confirmed that you are acting a little strange around me. Care to tell me why?”
“Um... Y-yeah.”
“Let me guess... It has something to do with you staring at my butt every morning?”
Thunder nodded, too choked up to respond.
“Hmm...?” Zoom mused out loud. The tough mare would not admit it, at least right now, but she was feeling butterflies in her tummy. An unusual nervous bubbling was building and the handsome colt at her side was the reason.
The pair wandered into the lower levels of the castle, collected their scarves and left the small side gate. Now in a courtyard that connected the workers open air training grounds to the rest of the city, Zoom took a breath of chill winter air to steady herself.
Zoom glanced around and noticed a few of their fellow guards in training were lounging around in fluffy winter attire. She noted it was still not yet cold enough for snow. A few other palace staff were relaxing too. None paid the two friends any heed as they left the training grounds. A board guard nodded to them as they left and closed the gate behind them.
The city of Zeyphyr Heights lay before the pair.
The two pegasi shared a smile. Zoom noticed that Thunder was less nervous looking than before. That was good. Her butterflies were mostly gone too.
Thunder allowed himself to be led through the city. “Say Zoom, where are we going? It’s not the weekend yet.”
“I know. But I figured a walk would do us both good after that little revelation.”
“Oh, yeah...” Thunder chuckled nervously.
The two friends fell into a comfortable silence as they meandered along. They let the hustle and bustle of the busy city flow over them. Zoom picked up the pace as a park came into view. She strode purposefully along the grass toward the edge of the field.
The tough mare settled down right under an old tree that gave the duo plenty of shade. A small group of young pegasi were playing in the sandpit and the swing set some way off.
Thunder was busy watching the foals playing happily. A smile danced on his lips. “I remember bumping into you right there...”
A grin slipped out onto Zoom’s lips. She could vividly remember the playground incident that led to her playing with Thunder and his toys in the large sandpit. “Yeah.”
“Who would have thought, you would turn out to be my best friend?” Thunder briefly glanced at Zoom.
“I guess girls don’t have cooties?”
A laugh broke forth from the stallion. “Once we started playing, that never crossed my mind.”
“Your other friends used to tease us though.”
“Don’t they still?” A fond smile crept across Thunder’s lips.
Zoom shrugged. “Not as much. But...” The tough mare shifted to look her stallion right in the eyes. “Today I found out that my best friend has been staring at my butt every morning. I want to know why.”
Thunder sighed, his gaze fell to his hooves and he scuffed the ground, slyly. “Alright, yes. I like a whole lot more than your butt. I- I like all of you. Like... more than just as a best friend.”
Zoom continued to stare intently at her friend, “and you’ve waited till I cornered you because...?”
“I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
Thunder took a deep breath to try and steady himself, “what if you didn’t like me that way back. Wait-” The nervous stallion caught a strange look in his friend’s eye. “Do you... um... like me?”
Zoom chuckled. “I admit, I really do quite like you. I dunno if I would call it a burning ball of passion like you have for my flank.”
Thunder’s blush intensified.
A lightly grinning Zoom lent in closer, “But if you were ever brave enough to ask me out... I maaay say yes.”
Thunder immediately perked up. “You will?”
Zoom scoffed, “Gotta ask first, doofus.”
“Right, uh... Zoom, would you... uh... go out with me?”
“Yes! Of course, I will.” Zoom exclaimed happily as she wrapped her stallion in a loose winged hug.
A great sigh of relief escaped the stallion and he sagged into the strong hold of his mare. She said yes? A goofy smile took hold as Thunder slipped his wing out to try and return the strong winged hug. He felt so bubbly, so lightheaded and so wonderful. The young stallion wished this little moment could last forever.
This was perfect.
She was perfect.
Right at this moment... everything felt perfect.
Author's Note
So I started this as a joke after getting a dumb, funny idea while running.
The current plan would make this end as a three chapter short story.
