A Certain Romance

The Good Times Are Killing Me

The stadium was littered with trash left over from the day’s main event: The Wonderbolts. A few hours earlier, ponies from all over had come to watch the legendary pegasi aerial acrobatics group perform their dangerous and stunning tricks. Now, nopony was in the stadium except the janitors who grumbled as they swept up the trash of several unknown ponies. It was around 9:30 at night when the Wonderbolts departed from their nearby training ground. Most of the pegasi were cheerful, sharing raillery between each other, but one in particular wasn’t feeling as high. Soarin walked slowly out into the night and let out a heavy sigh. The Wonderbolts was starting to take a toll on him. It’s not that he didn’t enjoy being a Wonderbolt, he was living his dream, but he hadn’t had a vacation in years! Soarin tiredly reflected on the day’s performance and how all the ponies in the crowd were mesmerized by the show. After their performance, he and his fellow teammates were met by swarms of autography hungry ponies.

“Wow,” laughed Wonderbolt captain Spitfire, “they’re like a bunch of starving little fish!”

“Yeah,” said Soarin plainly, “just like a bunch of fish.”

Soarin signed a few autographs and took a few pictures, basically making a little filly or colt’s dream come true, but it began to tire him out. He’d been doing the same thing for such a long time now. He was tired of hearing about how all the mares wanted him and how all the stallions wanted to BE him. Who could blame him? Practices were probably the worst part of it all for the pegasus. He loved Spitfire’s leading abilities, but sometimes she just didn’t know when to stop. She could make her talented flyers feel like a bunch of amateurs. He knew she was doing it just to make them better, it was her duty as captain, but Soarin was reaching his breaking point. He stopped walking and contemplated for a minute. He was one of the Wonderbolts’ best, so he surely deserved a vacation. Would Spitfire actually let him take one? Probably not. Celestia knows he needed one. His wings were getting stiffer every week. Even athletes have their limits and he was reaching his. Soarin ultimately decided to go and ask Spitfire if he could take a break from the Wonderbolts, he hoped she would approve of his desire, but he never knew with her. Her personality was like her mane in the fact that she sometimes had a flaming temper.

“Well, what have I got to lose?” Soarin asked himself as he made way towards Spitfire’s office.

The room was mostly dark with the exception of the glare from the television. Spitfire sat at her task steadily taking notes on the Wonderbolts’ routine that had happened several hours ago. When Soarin approached the door, he didn’t seem to notice any lights on. Presuming that Spitfire had left, he turned around and began to leave when he heard shouting coming from the room. Soarin realized she must be analyzing their routine; he couldn’t remember if he had made any slipups or not. He made his way back to the door, desperately trying to think if he made a mistake.

“Dammit Rapidfire! I don’t know how many times we practiced that move in training! Why can’t you just stay in sync with the rest of us?” Spitfire vented.

She would’ve continued with more expletives and criticisms had she not heard a knock on the door.

“Spitfire? It’s Soarin. Do you think I could have a quick word with you?” the bluish-white Pegasus asked from outside the door.

“Sure, just gimmie a quick second!” Spitfire replied while pausing the video that would be her date for the rest of the night.
Spitfire rose from her chair and opened the door.

Soarin walked in and took a seat on the couch that sat in Spitfire’s office while she flicked on the lights.

“So, what’s up? Why didn’t you go out for drinks with the rest of the group?” the Wonderbolt captain asked as she walked back to her desk and took a seat.

“Well, I’ve been pretty stressed lately. I’m starting to get more and more distressed. In the past few weeks, I haven’t really felt like flying at all.” Soarin explained.

Spitfire nodded as she listened to what Soarin had to say. She could tell something was bothering him. As captain, she knew her flyers in and out and Soarin stood amongst the best. His recent performances, however, haven’t lived up to his standards.

“I’ve felt as if…as if I’m falling out of love with flying.” Soarin said.

“You’re one of the hardest working flyers we’ve got in the Wonderbolts. What makes you feel this way?” Spitfire asked, trying to get to the source of Soarin’s problem.

“To be honest,” Soarin said hesitantly, “I think it’s the whole Wonderbolt life. Our schedule is so busy, that I never have any time to relax. Before, this wasn’t a problem, but now it is. I just need a break, Spitfire. The last thing I want is to lose my love of flying. When I would fly, I would felt free. Now, I just feel caged.” Soarin continued.

Spitfire didn’t know that the Wonderbolt lifestyle was having this kind of effect on Soarin. She always thought, because of his work rate, that he didn’t mind being pushed further. However, she thought differently now. Spitfire didn’t think less of him; in fact, she admired him for admitting his feelings and expressing his concerns.

“Spitfire,” Soarin said leaning out of the couch almost as if he was pleading, “I need a break, a vacation, a sabbatical, an anything! Whatever it is, I just need to clear my head for a bit” Soarin concluded.

Spitfire leaned back in her chair and looked Soarin over. All she could think about was fatigue and how worn out he looked. His eyes weren’t his normal emerald green; the color was much more faded than usual. It made her question her leadership abilities. Perhaps she’ll start to ease up on the group and give them more breathing space. If it was anypony else, she would probably ponder the request, but Soarin was a close friend. Spitfire wanted to help him, not as his captain, but as a friend.

“I’m glad you came to talk to me, Soarin,” Spitfire said, “I can tell you definitely need a break. Normally, I wouldn’t allow ponies to take vacations when we have upcoming shows, but your case makes me worry your health, which will always be more important than our routine. You have my permission to take a vacation.”

Soarin’s heart skipped beat. Spitfire was always good to him, but he was still surprised she granted him his request. He already felt relieved. He shot up out of the couch with speed that he was so well-known for.

“Really? Thank you so much, Spitfire!” Soarin exclaimed as he rushed over to Spitfire and gave her a giant hug.

Spitfire couldn’t help but notice the fine muscles of Soarin’s arms and his overall strength as he hugged her. Soarin always was a handsome stallion, but she didn’t think of him that way. She felt herself beginning to blush. To avoid any more awkward situations, Spitfire simply coughed. Soarin, blushing a bit too, received the message just fine and quickly let go of the pegasi’s fit body.

“Ummm, yeah, thanks a bunch Spitfire. You really helped me out!” Soarin said somewhat embarrassed.

“Don’t mention it,” Spitfire retorted while waving her hand through the air as a symbol of forgetting Soarin’s personal display of affection, “But, when you return, I expect you to be in tip-top shape!”

Soarin felt a bit uneasy at the thought of more practice, but he didn’t show it. He simply nodded and left Spitfire’s office. After Soarin closed her office door, Spitfire resumed watching the video.

“All work and no play makes Soarin one dull stallion,” Spitfire smiled to herself.

Back home, Soarin began to pack up for his long-awaited vacation. He took most of his clothes with him. Spitfire never told him how long his vacation would be, but he just assumed it would be a week long or so. Only problem was, he didn’t know where to go. Cloudsdale started to bore Soarin since he’s lived there all of his life. He didn’t want to travel all the way to Fillydelphia or Manehatten; he never had a thing for big cities anyway. Then it hit him like a rock.

“Ponyville! I’ll go to Ponyville! It’s a quiet, small town that’s just the thing I need!” Soarin said happily.

After he had his entire luggage ready, he set his alarm clock for 7:30 am. Ponyville wasn’t very far away, so he didn’t need to worry about waking up at the crack of dawn and traveling all day. He climbed into bed and glanced at his clock and then towards his luggage. Soarin couldn’t wait to get out of Cloudsdale and unwind in Ponyville for a little bit. Images of the cute little town started to penetrate Soarin’s thoughts and he drifted off to sleep. The vacation was going to be a great one; Soarin knew it.