December 12th 2012
9: 51AM
A Field of Striped Fire
A ZecoraFire Shipping
Written by ForlanceAbice
“Somepony is about to have a bad bucking day.” Spitfire face hoofed, looking down pitifully at her fellow wingmate Soarin, known by his title as “Daredevil of the Sky” for his outrageous, sometimes reckless stunts that the Wonderbolt would preform, pulling off dangerous stunts with a flick of the dime. At the present however, Soarin had been reduced to a moaning wreck. Sweat was pouring down his pelt by the liter, with saliva pouring down onto the hospital sheet that covered him, panting with profuse distress. His fellow Wonderbolts could do nothing but provide emotional support as Soarin suffered through painful cramps in the legs, spasms in the wings, and a splitting headache to boot, waiting for the doctors to come back with the medicine that he desperately needed. The ice pack that was strapped to both his wings and head did little to alleviate the pain which coursed throughout his body.
“Oh fuck me, I feel like somepony wired my gut up to explode with hot iron!” Soarin said, rubbing his stomach in a vain attempt to soothe the painful stimuli that was assaulting his brain. Spitfire could only roll her eyes in exasperation as she pondered how Soarin managed to somehow bucked up his body this time. Apparently Soarin bought a few pieces of pie from some traveling merchant cart called the “Flim and Flam's Delicious Deluxe!”, whose sellers promised that the pie responsible for his current condition would enhance the performance of anypony who ate (Or in the case of Soarin, devoured whole) only just a portion of the tasty treat. They claimed that it gave the user both stamina and the muscle to run a whole marathon without breaking a sweat. Being a self proclaimed connoisseur of pies everywhere, it was to nopony's surprise Soarin obeyed his stomach and bought it without question. Nearly half an hour later, Soarin began to complain about a sudden weakness in his muscles, which was shortly followed by a worsening nausea, horrible cramping, and then finally humiliating himself by crapping himself during the Wonderbolt's night debriefing only two hours before.
A silver maned pegasus walked up to Spitfire and chuckled.
“Damn Spitfire, for once I don't envy your position as Captain of the team.”
“Put a zip on it Windstream, I am NOT in the mood to hear it. Oh my Celestia, I don't even want to imagine how much of a public relationship nightmare this is going to be, plus the fact I sincerely doubt that the higher ups are going to be lenient about this once word get's out.” Spitfire sighed, clutching her head as a headache began to worm its way through to her brain. What could she do now? It wasn't like Celestia would come out of nowhere and fix this problem, it was never that easy.
“Soarin, what the hay am I going to do with you?” She said, leaning against the bedpost railing besides Soarin.
“Ugh, I think I am gonna hu- HGHHMP!”
Spitfire had just enough time to blink before she recoiled back in utter shock, covered in Soarin's stomach bile.
All conversation in the room went dead silent as patients, doctors and her teammates alike stared at the aftermath of the scene which had just transpired. Nopony dared to make a comment.
“... Ugh... Applejack isn't going to be happy about this.”
“Oh I doubt anypony would be happy about being puked on Soarin. This can't get any... Wait... Did you say Applejack?”
Soarin nodded his head weakly. “Eeeyup...”
It took Spitfire a minute to process what she just heard. Oh, she knew the name of Soarin's marefriend. The Captain had even personally been invited to one of their dinner dates at Sweet Apple Acres. What she remembered the most though was the impression she got from Applejack's applebucking. Apparently the Apple family only bucked at quarter of their potential. Spitfire knew by how much Soarin talked about her that Applejack, though usually a reasonable and honest pony, was literally a terror to whomever had the misfortune of earning the ire of her wrath. To clarify, she managed to break the bones of several stallions that tried to tango with them while they were in Fillydelphia. They ended up being treated for internal hemorrhaging.
The windsweapt mare realized that she was beginning to hyperventilate.
“SPITFIRE!” She blinked, then realized that Rapidfire was waving a hoof in front of her.
“I suggest that you get yourself washed up, then meet me at Emerald Street. We might be able to find out the basterds that manage to land poor Soarin over there in the ER.”
“... Actually, I think I will do this alone. You just stay here and make sure things don't go to hell in a haybasket. You're third in command now.”
“But-” By the time the word left his mouth, Spitfire was only just a blur in the sunset sky.
He also saw the papparazzi ponies beginning to gather at the outside square.
“... Spitfire, you owe me one.” Rapidfire said, banging his head against a column.
A Black Lotus Blossom to Yellow Copper Sheen
The First Official Shipping
of
Spitfire and Zecora
November 14th 2012
7:47 AM
(Songs used during production: This Day Aria (Victor Frost Male Vocals)
For The Solar Empire (Dr. Dissonance)
“This isn't working.” Spitfire thought with a groan. Tried as she might, the famous “Yellow Flare” in the sky couldn't get to sleep. Her latest attempts that involved counting sheep only served to bore her, Spitfire feeling too restless for that to work. But nopony could blame her, considering how aggravated she had been the past few months in terms of juggling between managing her stress level to a somewhat safe level and keeping the Wonderbolts in tip top shape for performance. Lately however, their airshows have been somewhat... Lacking.
Sure, they had been performing exceptionally as usual, or they wouldn't have been in the position they occupied in the first place. But there was a certain something that didn't flow like that it naturally should.
“And what's worse, I don't even know what the damn bucking problem is exactly!” Spitfire shouted out, tossing herself off the cloud bed. Though this fact was overlooked, considering that the fliers were on break after the upcoming season had been canceled due to some foal bucking up in the higher end of the management department for their team. However, this graciously allowed the overworked team a reprieve that they wouldn't otherwise usually have access to, considering their rigorous stunts done in these performances.
A month long break from doing airshows daily wasn't something that the average Wonderbolt had the luxury of getting in a year. After all, why else would they be held in such high esteem from the general public? That isn't to say they didn't practice, far from it. Skills are as perishable as the much as the user allowed them to, and Spitfire would be damned if her squad went soft because of even easing up slightly on their day to day practice. Though despite being hard pushed by the devoted captain, Spitfire's efforts shined in the fact that they rarely, if ever bucked up a major performance.
But lately however, something just didn't feel right. Oh sure, their performances were stunningly flawless as usual, but they were lacking the usual ooomph and flair that they were usually known for, (At least, for the Squad Captain.) which irritated Spitfire to no end. Though nopony seemed to notice this, it bugged Spitfire for days on end, much more than usual. Normally these gut feelings occurred periodically throughout the year, though they usually passed over in a couple hours, then it was immediately back to the jubilant flying as like normal. But Spitfire's current mood dip has been lasting for up to a week now.
“I just don't get it. We have been near perfect in our stunts like normal, but why does it feel like something is missing? Nopony seems to notice but me! Ugh!” Spitfire knocked over a cloud protected lamp in frustration, though only a soft “POMF!” was heard as it hit the ground. At least clouds make for good absorbers for acoustics. This went right over Spitfire's head as she made her way to the study room, scowling in frustration as she stomped with every hoofstep.
Finally, she came upon the room that laid claimed to it's title. The area itself was surprisingly small, with only a desk set up front of a window, a filing cabinet set to the left of it. On the right closest to the magically enchanted furniture was both a side table and a lamp that illuminated itself automatically upon a pony entering. Further still were shelves of various books that were stacked neatly into rows according to what genre they belonged to, be it adventurous Daring Do comics and novels, skill books listing how to be an effective manager, topping skills their skill, archived newspapers and what have you. None of the books were taken as Spitfire pulled up a chair and rested her hooves on the hickory desk, gazing up at the moon as its rays of light flowed into the room that it overlooked. A sigh escaped the captain's lips as she dug a circle absentmindedly into the flat surface, not caring if it she left hole on the writing surface.
“I just don't get it. We're doing everything by the book, yet I still feel there is something missing... All of it just feels mundane now, like I have lost the spark for igniting an inferno. I mean, my name IS Spitfire after all! Doesn't that imply that I am a pony who is both decisive and efficient in her work? Yet here I am, sitting on my flank doing absolutely nothing!” Spitfire slumped on the fine woven leather chair as she brought her hooves to her temples, rubbing them to relieve some unseen headache.
“C'mon Spitfire, get a grip! It's probably the stress getting to you, that's it. All you have to do is relax a little more. Your squad isn't going to fall apart the minute you take your eyes of them. They are perfectly capable ponies who can take care of their duties without help! And it isn't like bucking up the next show is going to lead to a massive hit to our reputation....” Spitfire's grin lasted up for about fifteen seconds before it drooped into a frown.
“Oh who am I kidding? The year is going to buck up, I can feel... No, RELAX! You can't lead the team if you stress yourself out Spitfire, just gotta take it down a notch.” She then scanned the shelves for anything that she hasn't yet read completely. Not many ponies knew this, but Spitfire was actually an avid reader, even if she didn't show it during her middle-high school years. She just didn't like being bombarded with books that she couldn't get behind. If asked why, she'll respond “I despise books that both bore me and I am force to write an entire essay on! Nopony should be forced to read what they don't want!” Then promptly threaten anypony who dared to insult Spitfire's intelligence. She was an egghead and proud of it damn it!
“Let's see... Daring Gambit? Nah, I've already read that twice over.... How to Bake an Amazing Pie in Ten Minutes..... Nope! Soarin ain't getting his booty after dumping that blue stuff that dyed my mane into some light blue color.... Swimming with the Mocking Bird... Why do I even have that book again? I remember hating it with a passion back in middle school.... Huscarl no, Dancing With Angels no, Fighter Lance VS Street Fighter no, Twilight Moon...” Spitfire blinked, then she scrunched her eyes in anger as she promptly ripped out the book and slammed it on the floor. With a few well placed stomps, the book was thoroughly smashed, leaving an indent in the floor.
“How the hell did that piece of crap get into my collection!? I swear I am going to thrash Gentle Breeze for bringing this 'book' into my own household! I'm not just going to throw it away.” She then picked up the "book" and aimed. “I'm gonna HURL it out!” She said, words muffled by the object she held.
About thirty seconds later
“Get out of my way, you worthless peddler! I don't have time for this!” Blueblood then proceeded to bash a poor earth pony mare to the ground as the Prince waltzed up to the restaurant called “Fluer's Cakes and Surprise's Candy Emporium”. He was about to storm inside when a white face popped up right in front of him.
“Hiya! Whatchha doing here Mister? We're close for now, but if you want sweets and candy, then come back at eleven sharp to-”
“SILENCE!”
Surprise remained unfazed, even as Blueblood's Royal Canterlot Voice shook the building's foundation.
Still smiling, she looked on as Angry Blueblood stood there fuming.
“I demand a full refund from your restaurant’s manager! Where is he!?”
“Right behind you.” A low feminine voice growled.
Turning to face the source of the voice, Blueblood saw an even angrier Fluer De Lise supporting the earth pony mare that he knocked down earlier.
“Good to see that you are on the spot, now I demand that you return me my bits, you thieving rats! I am appalled at the worm infested filth that you dare to call proper cuisine for nobility. Why, I should have you shut down for this trecha-"
"There will be no such thing, you ill felt colt! I will NOT have you threatening MY employees while you stomp around with a louche!" Fluer seethed, an edge cutting into the thick night air like a knife through butter.
"H-how dare you! I will have you imprisoned within the dun-:"
A book slammed into Blueblood's thick skull at a reasonably high velocity, rendering him unconscious. Blueblood would find out later in hospital that, much to his horror, have a giant wart sticking out the side of his head for the next few months.
Both unicorn and pegasus pony looked on in bewilderment.
“... Well, that takes care of him I suppose Sunrise. I'm sorry that he had to make you victim of his tirade.”
“Not a problem at all ma'am, but shouldn't we try um, try to wake him up?” The timid earth mare replied, pointing at the KO'd prince. Fluer's lips curled up in a wicked smile.
“Oh I have a better idea. Now help me get this oaf up Surprise. We need to properly “repay” His Highness for our mistake.”
Swooping in, the pegasus picked up Blueblood with no problem and saluted.
“Right away, mon captain!”
