Ascension

Mirage:

It had been three months, just three months since we visited the bank, and I already had a small bulge in my belly, not noticeable unless you were looking, but noticeable to me and Spitfire. I had it put inside of me surgically, the way was supposed to be easier, and it was the way I didn't want, but eventually agreed to.

Now, I find myself at the Wonderbolt academy, surrounded by new ponies, that think they're eligible to become a Wonderbolt, an Elite flier.

That's what she told me to say.

Spitfire was currently screaming at the new recruits for the first day in a week.

I noticed one immediately, Rainbow Dash was there. Wasn't a big surprise to either of us, really, I thought Spitfire would have gone easy on her, but I was sadly, sadly mistaken.

"Think ya got what it takes to be an elite flier?" She asked the crowd in a low voice.

"YES MA'AM" The crowd roared.

"Well then, let me be the first to tell ya." She said, getting up in a cream colored pony's face, bumping muzzles with her, "YOU DON'T, If you had what it took to be an elite flier, you'd already be a Wonderbolt."

She got up in another's face, a light grey pony with a multicolored blue and white mane. "Still think your something special?!" She yelled at her.

"N-no Ma'am" The pony cowered.

She moved onto Rainbow Dash,

"You look like your the worst flier in the whole academy, you'll probably quit after the first day!" She yelled.

"No ma'am, I never quit ma'am." Rainbow Dash replied strongly.

"What about you?" Spitfire said, turning to the last pony in line. "Bet you couldn't even fly past the first flag pole without getting winded."

"Try me ma'am." the dark teal pony said, her mane almost matched Spitfire.

Somepony gasped.

Nopony had ever talked to Spitfire like that.

Spitfire looked amused.

"What's that?" she said, flipping her set of Aviator glasses down.

"Let me show you what I've got ma'am."

"heh, you want a chance to prove yourself huh?"

"Yes ma'am"

"Well then, now's your chance." Spitfire said. "Gimme 500 laps. ALL OF YOU!"

The crowd sighed, but made Spitfire angrier.

"NOW!" she screamed, blowing her whistle.

After the group took off, she returned to the group of us.

"How are they doing?" Soarin asked, walking out of the main building.

"Like normal." Spitfire said.

"How are you two doing?" He asked.

"Like normal." She repeated. "Only with a new addition." She nudged me on the side.

I blushed and rubbed my stomach, smiling warmly.

Soarin bent down, beginning to talk to the bump.

"Hey little man... or girl..." he began

I looked over to Spitfire and rolled my eyes, she chuckled.

"You take good care of your mama and... mama." He said awkwardly. "And when your here, I'll hold you first and you'll be able to fly before you can walk."

"Yeah, no." I said, "I get to hold him or her first."

"Aww." Soarin said, giving me a hug. "But he or she is gonna fly better than he or she can walk."

"You know she is." Spitfire said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." We had both wanted a girl, neither of us knew why, we had just decided right on the spot.

It was all luck of the draw now.

"I'm gonna go lay Mirage down, you tend to the newbies." Soarin said.

I walked idly next to him, I didn't need to be laid down like a foal, but I didn't have anything against sleep right now, I was supposed to help Spitfire when she needed it. She obviously needed no help though. They were already significantly afraid of her.

"So." Soarin said, walking through the halls of The academy HQ.

"So." I said back.

"How's it going?" He asked.

"Fine." I said with a smile.

"Is anypony bothering you?"

I knew where he was going with this.

"Celestia said she'd take care of him, Soarin." I assured him.

He stopped me in the middle of the hallway.

"Mia, she hasn't taken care of it yet though, he's still out there." He said. "He's still looking for you two."

"Soarin..."

"No, because with this..." He touched my belly, indicating to the foal. "You have to be sure."

"I can handle it, I'll talk to her-"

"No, no, no." He said, walking along with me again. "You need to stop talking, she needs to get up off her royal ass and go find him, or someone else should." He said.

"Who's gonna do that?" I chuckled.

Soarin looked at me, his eyes burning with an unintentional rage. He stared for a few moments, then sighed.

"I dunno." He said, walking away. "C'mon, lets get you in bed.

Hours Later...

I dreamed of him

Sleep was filled with horrifying dreams. Dreams of pain, fire, sadness, and more fire. I remembered the pain before I went out, the excruciating, terrifying pain of the blowtorch searing into my flesh, over and over again.

She woke me up.

"Mia, you were screaming and crying. I had to-"

Before she finished her sentence I locked her in a death grip, crying my eyes out as she slipped out of her uniform and into the bed beside me, all while not having me let go of her. My cries were muffled in her soft, warm coat which was now getting drenched in my tears. Somewhere in between my cries and screams someone came in, but she quickly waved them off. After about ten minutes I ended up pulling away and looking at her.

"He can't hurt you anymore Mia, he won't get close to you." She said.

She kissed me affectionately, rubbing her hoof through my mane and holding me tight.

I opened my eyes when she pulled away, I had wanted it to last longer, but staring into her fiery orange eyes was just the same.

"Don't be afraid."

I tried to stay strong, but had to hug her again so I wouldn't cry.

I looked at my hooves wrapped around behind her back.

Seeing my claws slowly disappear back into them.