Fueling the Fireby Spitfires voiceChaptersChapter 1: Pilot LightChapter 2: Wings Across EquestriaChapter 3: The First DayChapter 1: Pilot LightA young, bright yellow filly sits on a cloud, waiting in a line, a cloud high up, overwatching an obstacle course. Her mane was fiery orange and messy-, it parted to one side of her head, and to the other side in the back. She waits here on her second to last day of flight school, ready to take on the course. A bulky colt with strong wings watched and blew his whistle each time he let a pegasus take off, his name was Coach Cloud. Wearing a red vest with a red cap, a pearl white coat color, and sky blue mane that was pulled back. Young fillies and colts have been learning with him the last one and a half weeks, going on two weeks away from any parents. The flight coach speaks in a voice of confidence "You ready to do this Spitfire?!?" "Um, yeah... I think so..." with less confidence than her instructor. He shakes his head. "Spitfire, you've improved in your flight skills faster than any other pegasus out there on that course." He gave a friendly smile and rustles the mane of the yellow filly with his hoof. Spitfire smiled and nods with a more confident look. The whistle blows. Spitfire runs forward with full enthusiasm and takes off, she makes it to the first set of cloud rings and makes her way through like she hadn't been nervous at all. It is hard for the others to believe that the pegasus who was bumping into rings on the same course as the pretest day, is now speeding through it with precision, and even adding spirals as she approached the next ring. She comes to the last obstacle, in her head she says, "I'm going for it.", the corkscrew- she pushes along through and nails it, only bumping her leg against the last ring which busted into thin air. Frustrated that it would take five seconds off her course time but, she was still proud. The corkscrew rings were optional for fillies and colts who wanted to challenge themselves. She sets down on the "finished," cloud, where she is greeted by the others who had finished, cheering loudly and calling out to her. Spitfire blushes and turns her head away from the flattery of her fellow fliers. She scratches her mane with a chuckle, "Haha thanks guys." By the time she returns to her room, her fellow bunk mates are already there. They had picked on her after the first day about how bad of a flier she was, but they now remained silent as she walked in. "A conversation gone silent as I walk in the room, that sure is a surprise," spitfire thought to herself, untethered by the reaction she hovers up to top bunk and plops onto the mattress, slowly pulling the covers over as a voice calls up to her. "Hey Spitfire, great job out there on the course." another voice chimes in, "Yeah, sorry we were so mean to you." spitfire smirks. "You almost beat that one colts time too." Spitfire raises her hoof out of the covers and waves it. "Don't worry about it girls, it's whatever. not like it bothered me." she lowers it, thinking about how much they actually had bothered her. "G'night." As the girls continue their conversation, she wonders who was it that had the best time, she knows she has improved, but she still wants to know who's better, if she finds out it'll have to be tomorrow. not worried much, the instructor says he has a special treat for them, and that they'll all be going to the out to the stadium on flight school grounds. He says it's something special for all the classes on their last day. Their counselor comes in and rests in the bed beneath Spitfire and tells them in a sweet voice "Lights out girls." the lights went out and so did Spitfire. On a day as clear as all the other days, the classes make their way outta of their beds. After lunch in the mess hall they all made their way out into the stands outside the school. No pony except the staff really know why this is here for the two weeks, and all the students are about to find out. Spitfire sits in a stand on the farthest end of her class. She waits for what's about to happen in the ring with cloud bleachers and an open sky, it's been here all week but they never used it. what could it be for? It was kept very clean and the school seemed to not talk about it til this day. All the stands had a lightning bolt with a blue stripe running across as well. the next class comes in and then the next, a cloud blue colt, with dark blue that was messy like her's sits down next to her. he is quick to converse, "Hey, I saw you fly." "Oh yeah? when?" spitfire said raising an eyebrow. he smiles cheerfully and chuckles. "The first day," even more cheerfully "you were all OVER that course." Spitfire turned her gaze away from him, and tried to spare him a laugh. "Oh... hehe yeah that..." her tone picked up, "Well? How did you do?" he grinned at spitfire, "Oh? Me? I just got the fastest time in the school." He presses his hoof against his chest proudly. Spitfire bumps his shoulder twice. "Really? that was you? no way..." still chipper. "Yeah way!" He looks over to her. "You like my skills?" Spitfire smiles. "Hehe... yeah I do, but I almost beat them yesterday." He looks at her full on. "R...Really?" "Yup," With a proud smile and her muzzle pointed up, "Coach says he's never seen more improvement." "Well then, ya gotta tell me yer name..." She squints, facing forward and looks at him in the corner of her vision. "It's Spitfire." "Well Spitfire, my naaaame is Soarin', the one and only." She tries to contain her laughter and covers her mouth with her hoof. After regaining her composure, she tells him. "Well, Soarin' the one and only, it's nice to meet you." "You too! Glad I got some competition." Spitfire pauses. "Hey what are we do-" She's cut off and startled by a loud voice over a speaker. Completely jumped out of her seat and in the air, she sets back down and listens. "YOUNG FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS OF CLOUDSDALE COMMUNITY FLIGHT SCHOOL!" A pegasus with nice suit and aviator glasses calls out on a microphone. "PREEEEESENTING.... THE WONDERBOLTS!" A loud roar rush's through the air as six pegasai fly over on each side. Soarin's eyes shoot open and makes a big open smile. "The Wonderbolts are here!" he can hardly sit down as they roar across the sky with trails of lightning clouds. "Can you believe it?" Spitfire looks at him surprised, and he looks back. "Wh... what? You know who they are right?" Spitfire in an objective tone, "Well of course I do... just, you seem really excited." The Wonderbolts woosh over again and preform stunts like spirals around each other in synchronized patterns. As they look up they raise there voices over the roaring crowd and explosive flying. Soarin' leans close to Spitfire so she can hear him. "Well they're the best, and I'm gonna be one of them." spitfire's shocked. "Really, what makes you so sure?" She looks at him again while he continues to gaze. "Cause they're the coolest, and that's where I wanna be. I know I'm little, but it'd... just be so cool! You could do it too, I bet." "you really think so soarin'?" Spitfire looks up at them and admires with him and thinks about what he just said. "Uhhh... thanks." She says with a little bit of blushing slightly, he didn't notice though. "I know I'm going for it, and I'm gonna be up there. Mom says I can. She says I can do whatever I put my mind too." he looks up at them as they're routine picks up, The Wonderbolts perform their finale, and the show was over. After the show she continues to talk to soarin', about flying and the Wonderbolts, they spend the entire day together. he tells her about who the captain is, and how he or she is chosen, by recommendation from others and the decision of the Princess and the Royal Guard Captain, veto'd by the other Wonderbolts if necessary, of course he explains it more childishly. She told him that she was from Canterlot and, he said he was from Cloudsdale. Spitfire's mom talks to Coach Cloud while she is still talking with her new friend in the main building in the front hall, at-least until his mom arrives. "Well, I gotta get going spitfire, I hope we can see each other again." Spitfire frowned at the thought of good bye, and then smiled, thankful for meeting him. "BYE! See ya later Soarin'!" She waved with a feeling of sadness, that she may not see him again. She watched him out the front door, he was telling his mom about The Wonderbolts. She could tell as he jumped up and down, unable to tell her everything fast enough. She was surprised he didn't have his cutie mark with this enthusiasm, he was so sure of what he wanted to do. She goes to find her own mother, walking past her coach's office she overhears him. Up against the door way she tilts her head so her ears face the sound. "That's quite the flier you got there, ma'am." Then the curious filly hears her mom's voice. "Oh I hope she wasn't bad. Did they pick on her?" "Oh no I don't think you understand, she's great, an awesome flier." He reassures her. The filly listens in more and smiles brightly looking around back and forth. "I've never seen greater improvement, ma'am, I can see bright future for her in flying." "Well thank you Mr. Cloud." "My pleasure Ma'am." Spitfire and her mom return to their home in Canterlot, right by the main gate to the city, one of the most modest homes you could find in Canterlot. She hugs her father, and tells him everything she told her mom on the way back. she then trots up to her room, happy and feeling the urge to fly in the morning, more than she's ever wanted before, even to fly everyday, she looks at her room, and thinks about The Wonderbolts, she feels the need to decorate it with their image now, she covers up in her own bed now, feeling inspired by soarin' and The Wonderbolts. "They're soooo amazing." She lays in her blue mattress, in a room that doesn't appeal to what she's feeling now, it's almost all too girly to her now. Her bed is still the same old, same old. Eventually the young fillies' mind full of new feelings of speed and practice, grew too tired and went out like a light. Chapter 2: Wings Across EquestriaSpitfire lays in her bed, sprawled out across her sheets and blankets. A young mare, working hard everyday to be the best flier she can be. It leaves her exhausted at night, and she usually sleeps in rather late. A restless sleeper, but a heavy one too. An alarm clock has been buzzing for the past hour or so, and a white mare walks up the steps and into her room, decorated with Wonderbolt posters and logos. The white mare is a unicorn, with magenta colored eyes, and sharp mane-style, her blue hairs all parted to one side. Streaks of a lighter blue run across her mane and tail. The unicorn slams her hoof on the off button of the alarm clock and nudges Spitfire's side "Spitfire... come on girl, wake up. Let's go..." Spitfire rolls over, away from her. "Ugggh... I dun wanna." she muttered under her breath. The unicorn nudges harder than pulls of the covers with her magic, "mmmm.... fiiiine," She says defiantly, "What are you gonna do tomorrow when that acceptance letter comes in..." After sitting up, Spitfire raises and eyebrow and rubs her head. "Vinyl, I think if I needed to wake up, I could." Spitfire climbs out of bed and smiles at Vinyl, "Now did you need something." She shakes her head. "No... I just got tired of your clock." Spitfire grins sheepishly. "Oh sorry about that." Vinyl nods, "Hey... who said I'd get accepted anyways?" Vinyl almost loses her breath. "You! Not get accepted, come on..." Vinyl taps her hoof in thought, "You've got.... stuff." Spitfire turns red and chuckles. "Don't you mean talent?" "Yeah! You're gonna be a great... uh..." Spitfire smiles at her friend, and finishes her sentence for her. "Wonderbolt." "Right! Hey don't you have a morning warm up you're going to do, you know? that thing you do every early afternoon?" Spitfire nods despite the minor remark to her sleep habits. "Yes I do." Spitfire heads her way to the door of her home, which was obviously shared with Vinyl, it was originally her house, but she didn't hold that against Spitfire. Spitfire has grown into a very precise and fast flyer, she isn't lacking a good head on her shoulders either. She wears her mane differently now too, it stands up, the way the wind keeps it, along with a cutie mark adorned on her flank, a flank which has become full and mature. She takes off into the sky and flies over the wall of Canterlot. she makes her way onto the path outside the city, without a moments notice, in a burst of speed she heads straight up into the sky. Spitfire has performed this routine every day after she wakes up ever since she moved out of her parents place. She flies straight up as far as her wings will take her, the faster she goes the higher. she doesn't stop until she rises above the clouds, and then she let's herself dramatically fall back down and pick up speed, each time seeing how much closer she can get to the ground before pulling up. Eventually she got really good at this, and can pull up very quickly and as close to the ground that she deemed safe, so she added another part to her routine, if the day is not too cloudy that the entire sky is covered but, not clear either, Spitfire busts every cloud, she is Canterlot's cloud buster after all. Doing barrel rolls, swerving and all other kinds of tricks, it took her a while to get this down, and she still doesn't always perform this feat perfectly. Today was different though, today is the day before she goes off to her month at the academy, each cadet has a choice, to either partake in a week after every three months, or to take the full month and by the end, either way, you become a Wonderbolt. It's tough training for the month, to be worked that hard constantly, only those more confident of what they've learned, chose that, even then, some of the best fliers didn't make that choice, friends and family keep them tied. Spitfire made this choice because, she knows somepony else made the full month choice cause he couldn't wait any longer to be a Wonderbolt and was for sure to be there, they were both now eligible age, and she really hopes he'll be there. Spitfire reaches that point high up above the clouds, as far as her wings will take. She fall back into the clouds and twirls so her belly faces Canterlot, she learned she needed to do this when she almost crashed into the princess herself on the balcony of her castle. She spins and crashes through the clouds, moving at a speed so high, that she barely hears anything. She squints as her eyes begin to water, approaching the ground she pulls up hard, she wooshes over the ground, the roar of her speed can be heard by any pony close by, an orange streak in the shape of a "U" close to the ground. Spitfire Stops, and performs a small loop in her excitement, "Yes! Not a single cloud." Spitfire then shoots back into her home town for something to eat. After saying hi to Vinyl again, and telling her she busted all the clouds, she left with her bits and went off to the rest of her day. On her way to her favorite place to eat, she thought again about that friend she had hoped to meet again, and wondered where he is. A colt in a blue mail uniform delivers a package to a an old mare, and a young mare and colt. He's at Sweet Apple Acres, a long running apple farm known to belong to the Apple family. "Here's the package you ordered ma'am." The green mare responded cheerfully. "Welllll... urn't you ah quick one. Thank ya kindly, youngin'." "Got other delivery's to make," He took off with howling speed. Making his way with his mail bag to the last address, one last letter for the day, he reads and rolls his eyes and laughs. "Pffft! what am I doing? this is to me!" he reads it. Dear Soarin' It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Wonderbolt academy, your month of training starts, Saturday of..... "Saturday! That's tomorrow!" Soarin' rushed back to Cloudsdale, he passes over Canterlot and flies straight home, it doesn't take him long at all, nor does it take him long to throw off his delivery uniform and take of his hat, which he hates, "stupid hat..." his mane is wind blown like Spitfire's, but shorter, a general trend among future cadets. He rushes to tell everyone he knows that his constant practice at flying has finally paid off, flying to everypony's house he knew, but he was sad to realize, that was his mom, his dad, and a friend he barely talked too. She congratulates him but, it would have been more satisfying if they were closer. Where did all of his time go? he let out a sigh, still glad to have received the letter that would lead him to the future he's always dreamed, but somehow, he feels down about it. He raises his full, and firm flank, looking back at his cutie mark. Soarin' tightened his expression and went home to prepare for his next day, he decides that when he got to the academy, he's gonna try and make new friends. He's already renowned as the best flier in Cloudsdale, and even the winner of the Best Young Fliers Competition, The Wonderbolts that live at Cloudsdale often compliment him about his skills. How has he forgotten to be social, he was so worked up after getting his cutie mark. Soarin' went out to be friendly for the rest of his day and say goodbye to his town, even if they didn't all know who he was. Soarin', to his surprise, however, sees how word gets around, the first place he goes too, the factories in the sky, he's greeted by pegasai who know his name, they ask him questions, like, "hey, did you get your acceptance letter, soarin'?" and "So you gonna be a Wonderbolt?" He even talks to a mare in a cafe while saying goodbye, she overhears him say he's leaving tomorrow. "oh... soarin' you're leaving tomorrow?" She seemed bummed out about this and soarin' can easily tell that there's a degree of admiration for him. "yeaaah... but, hey!... This is Cloudsdale, a lot of Wonderbolts make residency here, and they perform a lot of show's here, I'll be back." she smiles at his reassuring words. "Well good luck to you. I really hope you become a make it." he waves goodbye, a little more reassured that he has an affect on his home town. Soarin' makes his way back to his house, it isn't big, but it's his. He thinks about it, at his front door, all the good times he has had in Cloudsdale and was sure that it'd always be his home. Soarin' rests there for the rest of the evening, until he finally makes his way to bed. Spitfire sees a pegasus high in the sky while practicing some new tricks, looking up at what she sees, she feels that pony is going fast, very fast. "Hmmm... I wonderrrr..." She shakes her head out, "No way..." She looks at the sky and can tell it's almost time to get back to Vinyl, she's off work soon and Spitfire feels like she should greet her home. She was far from the gate, she had to go in that way, since she made an agreement with the guard, she can leave the city on her wings, but not enter it. She liked the captain of the guard, he's very reasonable, and they struck a conversation once, she was asking about his part in electing The Wonderbolt Captain. He was very helpful, he said how the captain of the guard has the authority to remove The Wonderbolt Captain of his or her title, and even dismiss them from duty. That was quite the power over things, as she trots back and the guard greets her, she realizes their captain looks a lot like Vinyl Scratch, except he's a Colt. Speaking of Vinyl Scatch, Spitfire sees her carrying a cart close to home on the road, she her meets up with Vinyl right at their doorstep, Vinyl notices her and hooves her something, she's pulling the cart with her magic, it has speakers and a turn table on it. "Hey... the mail pony caught me on the way back and gave me this." she handed her a letter, with a pegasus seal on it. in her head she knew what it was, but still the suspense was killing her, then she tells her some other news "Great news, I got a job DJ-ing." "That's great, I'm so happy for you!" Spitfire exclaims. "Pretty sure that's you're acceptance letter too, the colt who gave to me was a pegasus, cute one too." Spitfire rolls her eyes. "Don't give me that, when you're gone, I want you too put yourself out there a little. any pony would be damn lucky to have you." Spitfire's face turns red. "you really think so?" She nods at Spitfire "I know so, you're damn sexy." even more red in the face from Vinyl's, to the point, mannerisms, she smiles at the compliment. "Thanks Vinyl." "Hey no prob." Vinyl and Spitfire both go inside, Vinyl to her room and Spitfire to her's, She opens the letter gently, and reads. Eyes scanning the paragraph as a smile grows bigger and bigger. "AWW YEAH!" she rushes over to Vinyl's room and struts into her doorway. "Looks like they're taking you, I'm gonna miss you y'know." Spitfire stops. "Whaddya mean?" Vinyl pauses for a second. "Wellll, I'm moving someone else into your room. I got someone else who also likes bass that's looking" She slows down because she is about to rhyme, " for... a... place." "Oh... well that's alright...I'll just stay at the academy like a lot of Wonderbolts." Spitfire looks away, "Alright cool..." Vinyl gets up from her bed, and hugs spitfire tightly. surprised, not expecting something like this from Vinyl, Spitfire smiles and hugs her back. "you've got stuff vinyl, I know you'll be a good DJ." Vinyl giggles in the embrace. "don't you mean talent?" they let go of their hug and laugh. "I've seen you out there too, you're gonna knock them off their hoofs." She yawns, "but for right now, I need some Z's mare." "that's a good idea, I do too." as Spitfire is leaving the room. She thought of a less emotional reaction from Vinyl, and she realizes that she's gonna miss her. She decided that once she's a Wonderbolt, she'd stay in touch with her, and meet this new roommare of hers. Spitfire pulls out a carrying bag, to prepare for tomorrow. She lays in her bed and falls asleep. Her clock goes off. and so does Vinyl Scratch. "wake up SP-! MMMPH!" her mouth is covered by spitfire's hoof. Spitfire sits up and smiles, "I'm up, told you I could if I needed too." Spitfire get's her stuff ready and heads out the door, she gives Vinyl another hug, and sets off into the sky, meanwhile, another pegasus of Cloudsdale is bound for the same place, two fillyhood friends who will meet again soon. Chapter 3: The First DaySoarin' arrives at The Wonderbolt Academy, it had been a long trip and he had even gotten lost. Somehow he ended up in a place far away called Appaloosa. He nearly forgets it all when sees the runways and the full blue structure. There are pillars, four of them, two small to the left, and one tall and skinny on the right, in the center a large one stands with the main doors in the front. The bases of them expand outward, and the centers thin out and then back out near the top, it's huge, and shrouded in clouds. Off to the side he can see the cadet training field, he makes his way towards it and flies down onto the field. "looks like they're not starting yet." He looks around with his wings fully spanned out, a young mare, a pegasai like the rest catches a glimpse of him, she doesn't look like a Wonderbolt, her violet-blue with a blue streak in it is more dressed than a typical Wonderbolt. She walks up to Soarin'. "Excuse me? are you a cadet here?" she inquires. Soarin' looks at her, and sees she has, a notepad, glasses, and a studious looking dress shirt with a tie. He hesitates. "Ummm.... yes." Soarin' nods and smiles, but she's quick to catch him off guard again. He was confused as to who she was, her outfit has ribbons and medals on it. "May I take a look at your flank?" Soarin's ears fold back and he raises his front hoof, he grins sheepishly. "Umm... My flank?" She nods and adjusts her glasses. "Your cutie mark to be exact." She makes her way steadily to his backside, Soarin' hesitates again. "Uhh.. my cutie mark? Sure." She studies his side rather analytically, but Soarin's face turns red anyways, she taps his side to call his attention, "yeah?" her eyes now on his eyes. "this is truly iconic, and amazing in design." Soarin'S surprised, proud of his cutie mark he may be, but still surprised, it's just a lightning bolt with a pair of pegasus wings, wings the same color as him. "I am Indigo Sharp. I design all the Wonderbolt posters and uniforms. I've been requested to come up with a new logo, I decided to look at the cadets and see if any of there cutie marks would suffice. Yours is perfect. Would you mind if I got a few pictures." Spitfire flies over the academy in awe of the structure, she flies around the pillars and the structures. Everything was there, all the courses, it was everything she had ever dreamed. "this makes that trip worth it." It was a long flight. Then she spots the training area, forgetting the entire trip she flies towards it casually. She sees ponies with whistles and sunglasses. There's what appears to be a runway, off of ground that somehow just floats in the air. Spitfire sets her hooves on it, and looks around. She see's pegasus without uniforms, looking around like her. Then she spots a crowd, and a familiar face, a mare and a team of colts with camera's are all taking pictures around him. particularly around his backside, she covers her mouth and snickers. After they clear away, Spitfire trots up to him to say hi, but first she wants to know if she remembers her, like she remembers him. "Hey there..." Spitfire says raising and eyebrow. He responds back in a stressed tone. "Hey." he lowers his head, "You want pictures of it too, or my wings and mane?" Spitfire's expression tightens. "What? No." then she giggles. "You already know who I am?" Soarin's ears perk up his neck stands up straight. "I do?" She smiles as he looks closely like his vision is impaired."Sp...Spitfire?" "The one and only, how you been Soarin'?" She grins and tilts her head happy to see him. "I've been great!" he nudges his front hoof closes to her forward. "What are you doing here?" She scowls slightly. "Well I'm a cadet." He bursts in joy, and his voice raises. "Really? that's awesome Spitfire." Soarin' flaps his wings in place in excitement, Spitfire smiles brightly in the process. "I was worried that I was gonna have to make new friends, now I already know I have one. This is great." "I'm glad you're here too." A speaker comes on and a voice can be heard of out of it, it was a rough voice and firm in tone. "all cadets on site report to the front hall, this is your Captain Thunder Clash, all you light weights will be fitted for cadet uniforms, immediately! at 17:00 hours you will all report for duty for your first work out session. LET'S MOVE IT FLIERS!" the speaker goes off and all the ponies turn there attention towards the large building in the sky. Spitfire turned towards Soarin' "Well I guess it'll be time to show are stuff soon." The two of them make there way inside, which is almost as impressive as the outside, the academy ceiling can be seen in the main hall, and all the levels above, walkways all along the sides. Desks, and lounging areas, Portraits of past Wonderbolts captain's and honorable mentions. Two officers in dress shirts adorned in medals and ribbons come with another at there side, they carry a blue uniform. Two are mares and Two stallions. "Alright! I want fillies on this side," she points to her right, "and I want colts on that side." The two lines split at Soarin and Spitfire, each line makes their way into a locker room, each of them in both locker rooms just drop off they uniforms in place for each to grab, Spitfire finds her size and sees that the zipper is very well hidden, she pulls it up, for a perfect fit, while soarin' is the first to get his cadet uniform on. He looks in a mirror and adjusts his mane. Butterflies fill his chest to wear the uniform. All the ponies walk out of the locker rooms in they're uniforms, first the boys, then the girls. Now the lead colt speaks. "Alright fillies if you'd follow those two mares over there." He points to the female directors, "They will lead you to your cadet dorms, Gentlecolts follow me." The colts followed their director, Soarin' pears into a room. as he shows four of them into it, he sees only four beds and five more male fliers left in line, and he sees he is in the back, then the other four are given themselves a room. Soarin' follows his instructors to the next door. "and you're the lucky one." He opens the door, "we have nine boys and seven mares, so... here you are." Soarin' makes his way into his room, a little bummed that he'd be alone all month. He took some comfort that he could talk to Spitfire. He receives his stuff from the luggage drop off and lays unpacks in his lonely dorm room. He sighs and lookes out the window, then glances upward at the clock, it would be 17:00 hours soon. Seven Mares and Nine colts stand in the grass next to the pavement, all arranged neatly in a line. Spitfire and Soarin' on the end next to each other can see a pony in a different uniform then all the rest. He walks with two of the directors they had seen before. A whistle jingles around his neck as he walks. His mane is black, and swept up like many of the cadets, but it comes down in the front a little, his eyes were a dark, cold blue. His coat was a light gray tint. it dawns on everpony that he is the captain and they all stand up straight and tall. He continues to walk but then stops when he passes the line, the other instructor's spread out in front of them. The captain turns around, his mouth opens, his commanding voice shakes some of the cadets. "Well, now.... You butterflies actually got lucky enough to be accepted. Never in my years as Wonderbolt Captain have I seen a less promising lot of pigeons!" Spitfire hears Soarin' swallow, the captain's voice was rough, while it was commanding and firm, it was tamed as well. He walks on, in front of the line, glancing at each cadet. "If you don't know what you're in for, this academy will hit you so hard heads will roll!" He gets really close to the mare next to Spitfire, after flinching, she straightens out once more. "Yes, sir. Crystal clear." He straightens out her posture and passes Spitfire, and then turns after Soarin' "So... you think you can be Wonderbolts, well I'll tell you, standards sure have fallen. Let's see what you're made of! I want one hundred laps, followed by a hundred wing ups! LET'S MOVE!" he blows his whistle and they all take off. flags in the clouds showed the laps they were supposed to take, Spitfire and Soarin' fly close to the lead, the others not far behind, none of them lacking skill. Spitfire passes up Soarin' and flies close in front of him, he keeps up with her but can't help being stuck nose to tail with the mare. With a look of determination on both of their faces they zip past their first lap, a director keeps track on the starting cloud, after a while Spitfire finishes first with Soarin' close behind. Thunder Clash watches and nods, he then walks away after saying something to the one of the directors, while another follows him. The cadets are then left with one instructor to time their wing-ups, Soarin' is the first to finish and Spitfire fourth. the instructor stops the watch at the last pegasus to finish and blows a whistle. "Alright, good work everypony, Captain Thunder Clash said I'd dismiss you once we're done. you're free to go about your day, dinner is waiting for you in the mess hall." Spitfire hustles next to Soarin' who's heading back to the academy. "Hey there... where did you think are captain went off to." Soarin' laughs. "Don't know, he's got quite the mouth on him though." She matches his walking speed and walks next to him. "He's just doing his job, though, I'm sure." Another colt trots along side them with orange hair, and white streaks, his coat was a very light Cream color. "Hey there, names Fire Streak. Where do you think the captain went off to?" He looked at Spitfire as if Soarin' didn't exist, and walked rather close to her side. "Well hello. My names Spitfire, nice to meet you Fire Streak. I was just asking the same thing. Not very captain like is it?" The intrusive colt hovers in front of Spitfire, flying backwards as he talks to her. "You wanna join me in the mess hall, my fellow fiery maned pegasus." Spitfire tries not to laugh at the idea. "You know? maybe I will..." as she thinks about the advice Vinyl gave her. Soarin' interjects in a panic. "Spitfire, I have to show you that thing, remember?" Spitfire objects quickly and confused. "What thing?" "You know," Soarin' nudges his head towards the door a few times while peering at it. Spitfire quickly catches on and nods. "Right, that thing!" playing along, "ugh, sorry Fire Streak, I gotta see this." Fire Streak hovers in place as the two of them gallop off to the main hall in a hurry, baffled and confused. Spitfire and Soarin' get inside as they let out a few breathes, most of the cadets were in the mess hall, so it was really just them along with the actual wonderbolt occasionally walking by. "Man- what a creep." Soarin' Says between breathes. "Yeaaah... admittingly, I thought so too..." She smiles at a confused Soarin'. "If you thought he was being as intrusive as I did, then why did you say you'd eat with him?" She looks up, and then back down at the ground. "Well my friend back home told me I should be more social. put myself out there, Y'know?" Soarin' smiles at her and bumps her chest "Well trust me," rolling his eyes extravagantly. "You don't wanna put yourself out there for that kinda guy." He raises a smirks and nudges her again. "Now silly, are you hungry after out speeding me or what?" "Oh yeah I am." Soarin' and Spitfire eat by their fellow cadets who were late to the party like they were. luckily no Fire Streak in sight. They eat peacefully and talk about what kind of stunts they performed and how hard they have practiced. one of the girls to Spitfire, "Wow cloud buster, me too! I'm from Manehattan." "No, kidding, did you use it to practice?" "a bit... a bit... but it was more of a hassle to me, I used the city as a practice course." "oh yeaaaah? how did that go, Fleetfoot?" Spitfire asks skeptically. "Well, ummm... I broke a lot of windows...." Everypony listening laughed, but respected her as a flier. "We've all crashed I bet." Everypony at their table proceeds to tell each other about there most wild crash. Spitfire tells her story about almost dive bombing the royal princess. Soarin' tells his story and the others tell there's, soon after it was time to clear out the mess hall. "Well see ya tomorrow Soarin'." Spitfire says casually. "Hey yeah, you too, oh and Spitfire." She turns. "Yeah, Soarin'?" He blushes and smiles. "It's really great to see you again." He grins at her. "you too, you're still that hotshot I met as a kid." looking into his eyes that are like two emeralds Spitfire winks at him. His mind goes to deeper places about her. She turns with a smile on her face and slowly moseys on out to her room. Soarin' warm in the face, can't help but stare at the yellow flank of Spitfire as she walks away, he was flying behind it all afternoon. So full and smooth looking, as her muscles in her legs sway beneath the skin, giving the shape a little bounce, he tilts his head a little to see if he can just get a small glance past her tail. He thinks about what it would feel like to place his hoof on it, and rub it, probably soft and warm. Soarin' shakes his head as she walks out the door. Soarin's face flushed and red as a feeling of butterflies in his chest possesses his entire being. An even more prominent feeling pokes it's way through between his legs. He clenches his legs together in embarrassment and quickly gallops his way towards his room, he reaches the mane hall and then the dormitory, with no ponies stopping him along the way he shuts himself off in his room, safe and free of public eye, he relaxes. Soarin' peers his head out of his room with his muzzle facing down to the floor, he looks both ways and then glances back into his room, with an embarrassed expression on his face. Despite his relief, shame still holds over him. intending to explore around a little more, he leaves his room with no fear of the eyes around him. He walks through the academy with only Spitfire on his mind, not just about these feelings he knew he was feeling, but about what she was doing, and about being Wonderbolts together, how crazy it was that she was here. He knew he was getting ahead of himself, a little character trait he had always known about himself. His thought train is interrupted when he bumps into somepony while not paying attention to where he's going. It's the captain. he was talking to a mare who was one of the security gaurds working at the academy. He wears a dark blue uniform with a black tie, decorated in medals and ribbons, with epaulettes on his shoulders. Soarin' quickly apologizes, "Terribly sorry sir, won't happen again." He seems frustrated at first, but then as if he knew Soarin' well, his frustration fades. "At ease, cadet." Soarin' starts to trot away, Thunder Clash stops him with his words. "Cadet..." Soarin' turns back. "You looked good out there today, I see potential in you." Soarin' salutes him. "Thank you, sir." after wondering for another hour or so, Soarin' makes his way to his bed and unzips his cadet uniform. He feels as if it was a good day, assured by his captain, and the return of a friend he had only been seeing for the second time. Like him, it all felt fast, He couldn't wrap his head around Spitfire how he felt about that. He dosed off into sleep.
Chapter 1: Pilot LightA young, bright yellow filly sits on a cloud, waiting in a line, a cloud high up, overwatching an obstacle course. Her mane was fiery orange and messy-, it parted to one side of her head, and to the other side in the back. She waits here on her second to last day of flight school, ready to take on the course. A bulky colt with strong wings watched and blew his whistle each time he let a pegasus take off, his name was Coach Cloud. Wearing a red vest with a red cap, a pearl white coat color, and sky blue mane that was pulled back. Young fillies and colts have been learning with him the last one and a half weeks, going on two weeks away from any parents. The flight coach speaks in a voice of confidence "You ready to do this Spitfire?!?" "Um, yeah... I think so..." with less confidence than her instructor. He shakes his head. "Spitfire, you've improved in your flight skills faster than any other pegasus out there on that course." He gave a friendly smile and rustles the mane of the yellow filly with his hoof. Spitfire smiled and nods with a more confident look. The whistle blows. Spitfire runs forward with full enthusiasm and takes off, she makes it to the first set of cloud rings and makes her way through like she hadn't been nervous at all. It is hard for the others to believe that the pegasus who was bumping into rings on the same course as the pretest day, is now speeding through it with precision, and even adding spirals as she approached the next ring. She comes to the last obstacle, in her head she says, "I'm going for it.", the corkscrew- she pushes along through and nails it, only bumping her leg against the last ring which busted into thin air. Frustrated that it would take five seconds off her course time but, she was still proud. The corkscrew rings were optional for fillies and colts who wanted to challenge themselves. She sets down on the "finished," cloud, where she is greeted by the others who had finished, cheering loudly and calling out to her. Spitfire blushes and turns her head away from the flattery of her fellow fliers. She scratches her mane with a chuckle, "Haha thanks guys." By the time she returns to her room, her fellow bunk mates are already there. They had picked on her after the first day about how bad of a flier she was, but they now remained silent as she walked in. "A conversation gone silent as I walk in the room, that sure is a surprise," spitfire thought to herself, untethered by the reaction she hovers up to top bunk and plops onto the mattress, slowly pulling the covers over as a voice calls up to her. "Hey Spitfire, great job out there on the course." another voice chimes in, "Yeah, sorry we were so mean to you." spitfire smirks. "You almost beat that one colts time too." Spitfire raises her hoof out of the covers and waves it. "Don't worry about it girls, it's whatever. not like it bothered me." she lowers it, thinking about how much they actually had bothered her. "G'night." As the girls continue their conversation, she wonders who was it that had the best time, she knows she has improved, but she still wants to know who's better, if she finds out it'll have to be tomorrow. not worried much, the instructor says he has a special treat for them, and that they'll all be going to the out to the stadium on flight school grounds. He says it's something special for all the classes on their last day. Their counselor comes in and rests in the bed beneath Spitfire and tells them in a sweet voice "Lights out girls." the lights went out and so did Spitfire. On a day as clear as all the other days, the classes make their way outta of their beds. After lunch in the mess hall they all made their way out into the stands outside the school. No pony except the staff really know why this is here for the two weeks, and all the students are about to find out. Spitfire sits in a stand on the farthest end of her class. She waits for what's about to happen in the ring with cloud bleachers and an open sky, it's been here all week but they never used it. what could it be for? It was kept very clean and the school seemed to not talk about it til this day. All the stands had a lightning bolt with a blue stripe running across as well. the next class comes in and then the next, a cloud blue colt, with dark blue that was messy like her's sits down next to her. he is quick to converse, "Hey, I saw you fly." "Oh yeah? when?" spitfire said raising an eyebrow. he smiles cheerfully and chuckles. "The first day," even more cheerfully "you were all OVER that course." Spitfire turned her gaze away from him, and tried to spare him a laugh. "Oh... hehe yeah that..." her tone picked up, "Well? How did you do?" he grinned at spitfire, "Oh? Me? I just got the fastest time in the school." He presses his hoof against his chest proudly. Spitfire bumps his shoulder twice. "Really? that was you? no way..." still chipper. "Yeah way!" He looks over to her. "You like my skills?" Spitfire smiles. "Hehe... yeah I do, but I almost beat them yesterday." He looks at her full on. "R...Really?" "Yup," With a proud smile and her muzzle pointed up, "Coach says he's never seen more improvement." "Well then, ya gotta tell me yer name..." She squints, facing forward and looks at him in the corner of her vision. "It's Spitfire." "Well Spitfire, my naaaame is Soarin', the one and only." She tries to contain her laughter and covers her mouth with her hoof. After regaining her composure, she tells him. "Well, Soarin' the one and only, it's nice to meet you." "You too! Glad I got some competition." Spitfire pauses. "Hey what are we do-" She's cut off and startled by a loud voice over a speaker. Completely jumped out of her seat and in the air, she sets back down and listens. "YOUNG FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS OF CLOUDSDALE COMMUNITY FLIGHT SCHOOL!" A pegasus with nice suit and aviator glasses calls out on a microphone. "PREEEEESENTING.... THE WONDERBOLTS!" A loud roar rush's through the air as six pegasai fly over on each side. Soarin's eyes shoot open and makes a big open smile. "The Wonderbolts are here!" he can hardly sit down as they roar across the sky with trails of lightning clouds. "Can you believe it?" Spitfire looks at him surprised, and he looks back. "Wh... what? You know who they are right?" Spitfire in an objective tone, "Well of course I do... just, you seem really excited." The Wonderbolts woosh over again and preform stunts like spirals around each other in synchronized patterns. As they look up they raise there voices over the roaring crowd and explosive flying. Soarin' leans close to Spitfire so she can hear him. "Well they're the best, and I'm gonna be one of them." spitfire's shocked. "Really, what makes you so sure?" She looks at him again while he continues to gaze. "Cause they're the coolest, and that's where I wanna be. I know I'm little, but it'd... just be so cool! You could do it too, I bet." "you really think so soarin'?" Spitfire looks up at them and admires with him and thinks about what he just said. "Uhhh... thanks." She says with a little bit of blushing slightly, he didn't notice though. "I know I'm going for it, and I'm gonna be up there. Mom says I can. She says I can do whatever I put my mind too." he looks up at them as they're routine picks up, The Wonderbolts perform their finale, and the show was over. After the show she continues to talk to soarin', about flying and the Wonderbolts, they spend the entire day together. he tells her about who the captain is, and how he or she is chosen, by recommendation from others and the decision of the Princess and the Royal Guard Captain, veto'd by the other Wonderbolts if necessary, of course he explains it more childishly. She told him that she was from Canterlot and, he said he was from Cloudsdale. Spitfire's mom talks to Coach Cloud while she is still talking with her new friend in the main building in the front hall, at-least until his mom arrives. "Well, I gotta get going spitfire, I hope we can see each other again." Spitfire frowned at the thought of good bye, and then smiled, thankful for meeting him. "BYE! See ya later Soarin'!" She waved with a feeling of sadness, that she may not see him again. She watched him out the front door, he was telling his mom about The Wonderbolts. She could tell as he jumped up and down, unable to tell her everything fast enough. She was surprised he didn't have his cutie mark with this enthusiasm, he was so sure of what he wanted to do. She goes to find her own mother, walking past her coach's office she overhears him. Up against the door way she tilts her head so her ears face the sound. "That's quite the flier you got there, ma'am." Then the curious filly hears her mom's voice. "Oh I hope she wasn't bad. Did they pick on her?" "Oh no I don't think you understand, she's great, an awesome flier." He reassures her. The filly listens in more and smiles brightly looking around back and forth. "I've never seen greater improvement, ma'am, I can see bright future for her in flying." "Well thank you Mr. Cloud." "My pleasure Ma'am." Spitfire and her mom return to their home in Canterlot, right by the main gate to the city, one of the most modest homes you could find in Canterlot. She hugs her father, and tells him everything she told her mom on the way back. she then trots up to her room, happy and feeling the urge to fly in the morning, more than she's ever wanted before, even to fly everyday, she looks at her room, and thinks about The Wonderbolts, she feels the need to decorate it with their image now, she covers up in her own bed now, feeling inspired by soarin' and The Wonderbolts. "They're soooo amazing." She lays in her blue mattress, in a room that doesn't appeal to what she's feeling now, it's almost all too girly to her now. Her bed is still the same old, same old. Eventually the young fillies' mind full of new feelings of speed and practice, grew too tired and went out like a light.
Chapter 2: Wings Across EquestriaSpitfire lays in her bed, sprawled out across her sheets and blankets. A young mare, working hard everyday to be the best flier she can be. It leaves her exhausted at night, and she usually sleeps in rather late. A restless sleeper, but a heavy one too. An alarm clock has been buzzing for the past hour or so, and a white mare walks up the steps and into her room, decorated with Wonderbolt posters and logos. The white mare is a unicorn, with magenta colored eyes, and sharp mane-style, her blue hairs all parted to one side. Streaks of a lighter blue run across her mane and tail. The unicorn slams her hoof on the off button of the alarm clock and nudges Spitfire's side "Spitfire... come on girl, wake up. Let's go..." Spitfire rolls over, away from her. "Ugggh... I dun wanna." she muttered under her breath. The unicorn nudges harder than pulls of the covers with her magic, "mmmm.... fiiiine," She says defiantly, "What are you gonna do tomorrow when that acceptance letter comes in..." After sitting up, Spitfire raises and eyebrow and rubs her head. "Vinyl, I think if I needed to wake up, I could." Spitfire climbs out of bed and smiles at Vinyl, "Now did you need something." She shakes her head. "No... I just got tired of your clock." Spitfire grins sheepishly. "Oh sorry about that." Vinyl nods, "Hey... who said I'd get accepted anyways?" Vinyl almost loses her breath. "You! Not get accepted, come on..." Vinyl taps her hoof in thought, "You've got.... stuff." Spitfire turns red and chuckles. "Don't you mean talent?" "Yeah! You're gonna be a great... uh..." Spitfire smiles at her friend, and finishes her sentence for her. "Wonderbolt." "Right! Hey don't you have a morning warm up you're going to do, you know? that thing you do every early afternoon?" Spitfire nods despite the minor remark to her sleep habits. "Yes I do." Spitfire heads her way to the door of her home, which was obviously shared with Vinyl, it was originally her house, but she didn't hold that against Spitfire. Spitfire has grown into a very precise and fast flyer, she isn't lacking a good head on her shoulders either. She wears her mane differently now too, it stands up, the way the wind keeps it, along with a cutie mark adorned on her flank, a flank which has become full and mature. She takes off into the sky and flies over the wall of Canterlot. she makes her way onto the path outside the city, without a moments notice, in a burst of speed she heads straight up into the sky. Spitfire has performed this routine every day after she wakes up ever since she moved out of her parents place. She flies straight up as far as her wings will take her, the faster she goes the higher. she doesn't stop until she rises above the clouds, and then she let's herself dramatically fall back down and pick up speed, each time seeing how much closer she can get to the ground before pulling up. Eventually she got really good at this, and can pull up very quickly and as close to the ground that she deemed safe, so she added another part to her routine, if the day is not too cloudy that the entire sky is covered but, not clear either, Spitfire busts every cloud, she is Canterlot's cloud buster after all. Doing barrel rolls, swerving and all other kinds of tricks, it took her a while to get this down, and she still doesn't always perform this feat perfectly. Today was different though, today is the day before she goes off to her month at the academy, each cadet has a choice, to either partake in a week after every three months, or to take the full month and by the end, either way, you become a Wonderbolt. It's tough training for the month, to be worked that hard constantly, only those more confident of what they've learned, chose that, even then, some of the best fliers didn't make that choice, friends and family keep them tied. Spitfire made this choice because, she knows somepony else made the full month choice cause he couldn't wait any longer to be a Wonderbolt and was for sure to be there, they were both now eligible age, and she really hopes he'll be there. Spitfire reaches that point high up above the clouds, as far as her wings will take. She fall back into the clouds and twirls so her belly faces Canterlot, she learned she needed to do this when she almost crashed into the princess herself on the balcony of her castle. She spins and crashes through the clouds, moving at a speed so high, that she barely hears anything. She squints as her eyes begin to water, approaching the ground she pulls up hard, she wooshes over the ground, the roar of her speed can be heard by any pony close by, an orange streak in the shape of a "U" close to the ground. Spitfire Stops, and performs a small loop in her excitement, "Yes! Not a single cloud." Spitfire then shoots back into her home town for something to eat. After saying hi to Vinyl again, and telling her she busted all the clouds, she left with her bits and went off to the rest of her day. On her way to her favorite place to eat, she thought again about that friend she had hoped to meet again, and wondered where he is. A colt in a blue mail uniform delivers a package to a an old mare, and a young mare and colt. He's at Sweet Apple Acres, a long running apple farm known to belong to the Apple family. "Here's the package you ordered ma'am." The green mare responded cheerfully. "Welllll... urn't you ah quick one. Thank ya kindly, youngin'." "Got other delivery's to make," He took off with howling speed. Making his way with his mail bag to the last address, one last letter for the day, he reads and rolls his eyes and laughs. "Pffft! what am I doing? this is to me!" he reads it. Dear Soarin' It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Wonderbolt academy, your month of training starts, Saturday of..... "Saturday! That's tomorrow!" Soarin' rushed back to Cloudsdale, he passes over Canterlot and flies straight home, it doesn't take him long at all, nor does it take him long to throw off his delivery uniform and take of his hat, which he hates, "stupid hat..." his mane is wind blown like Spitfire's, but shorter, a general trend among future cadets. He rushes to tell everyone he knows that his constant practice at flying has finally paid off, flying to everypony's house he knew, but he was sad to realize, that was his mom, his dad, and a friend he barely talked too. She congratulates him but, it would have been more satisfying if they were closer. Where did all of his time go? he let out a sigh, still glad to have received the letter that would lead him to the future he's always dreamed, but somehow, he feels down about it. He raises his full, and firm flank, looking back at his cutie mark. Soarin' tightened his expression and went home to prepare for his next day, he decides that when he got to the academy, he's gonna try and make new friends. He's already renowned as the best flier in Cloudsdale, and even the winner of the Best Young Fliers Competition, The Wonderbolts that live at Cloudsdale often compliment him about his skills. How has he forgotten to be social, he was so worked up after getting his cutie mark. Soarin' went out to be friendly for the rest of his day and say goodbye to his town, even if they didn't all know who he was. Soarin', to his surprise, however, sees how word gets around, the first place he goes too, the factories in the sky, he's greeted by pegasai who know his name, they ask him questions, like, "hey, did you get your acceptance letter, soarin'?" and "So you gonna be a Wonderbolt?" He even talks to a mare in a cafe while saying goodbye, she overhears him say he's leaving tomorrow. "oh... soarin' you're leaving tomorrow?" She seemed bummed out about this and soarin' can easily tell that there's a degree of admiration for him. "yeaaah... but, hey!... This is Cloudsdale, a lot of Wonderbolts make residency here, and they perform a lot of show's here, I'll be back." she smiles at his reassuring words. "Well good luck to you. I really hope you become a make it." he waves goodbye, a little more reassured that he has an affect on his home town. Soarin' makes his way back to his house, it isn't big, but it's his. He thinks about it, at his front door, all the good times he has had in Cloudsdale and was sure that it'd always be his home. Soarin' rests there for the rest of the evening, until he finally makes his way to bed. Spitfire sees a pegasus high in the sky while practicing some new tricks, looking up at what she sees, she feels that pony is going fast, very fast. "Hmmm... I wonderrrr..." She shakes her head out, "No way..." She looks at the sky and can tell it's almost time to get back to Vinyl, she's off work soon and Spitfire feels like she should greet her home. She was far from the gate, she had to go in that way, since she made an agreement with the guard, she can leave the city on her wings, but not enter it. She liked the captain of the guard, he's very reasonable, and they struck a conversation once, she was asking about his part in electing The Wonderbolt Captain. He was very helpful, he said how the captain of the guard has the authority to remove The Wonderbolt Captain of his or her title, and even dismiss them from duty. That was quite the power over things, as she trots back and the guard greets her, she realizes their captain looks a lot like Vinyl Scratch, except he's a Colt. Speaking of Vinyl Scatch, Spitfire sees her carrying a cart close to home on the road, she her meets up with Vinyl right at their doorstep, Vinyl notices her and hooves her something, she's pulling the cart with her magic, it has speakers and a turn table on it. "Hey... the mail pony caught me on the way back and gave me this." she handed her a letter, with a pegasus seal on it. in her head she knew what it was, but still the suspense was killing her, then she tells her some other news "Great news, I got a job DJ-ing." "That's great, I'm so happy for you!" Spitfire exclaims. "Pretty sure that's you're acceptance letter too, the colt who gave to me was a pegasus, cute one too." Spitfire rolls her eyes. "Don't give me that, when you're gone, I want you too put yourself out there a little. any pony would be damn lucky to have you." Spitfire's face turns red. "you really think so?" She nods at Spitfire "I know so, you're damn sexy." even more red in the face from Vinyl's, to the point, mannerisms, she smiles at the compliment. "Thanks Vinyl." "Hey no prob." Vinyl and Spitfire both go inside, Vinyl to her room and Spitfire to her's, She opens the letter gently, and reads. Eyes scanning the paragraph as a smile grows bigger and bigger. "AWW YEAH!" she rushes over to Vinyl's room and struts into her doorway. "Looks like they're taking you, I'm gonna miss you y'know." Spitfire stops. "Whaddya mean?" Vinyl pauses for a second. "Wellll, I'm moving someone else into your room. I got someone else who also likes bass that's looking" She slows down because she is about to rhyme, " for... a... place." "Oh... well that's alright...I'll just stay at the academy like a lot of Wonderbolts." Spitfire looks away, "Alright cool..." Vinyl gets up from her bed, and hugs spitfire tightly. surprised, not expecting something like this from Vinyl, Spitfire smiles and hugs her back. "you've got stuff vinyl, I know you'll be a good DJ." Vinyl giggles in the embrace. "don't you mean talent?" they let go of their hug and laugh. "I've seen you out there too, you're gonna knock them off their hoofs." She yawns, "but for right now, I need some Z's mare." "that's a good idea, I do too." as Spitfire is leaving the room. She thought of a less emotional reaction from Vinyl, and she realizes that she's gonna miss her. She decided that once she's a Wonderbolt, she'd stay in touch with her, and meet this new roommare of hers. Spitfire pulls out a carrying bag, to prepare for tomorrow. She lays in her bed and falls asleep. Her clock goes off. and so does Vinyl Scratch. "wake up SP-! MMMPH!" her mouth is covered by spitfire's hoof. Spitfire sits up and smiles, "I'm up, told you I could if I needed too." Spitfire get's her stuff ready and heads out the door, she gives Vinyl another hug, and sets off into the sky, meanwhile, another pegasus of Cloudsdale is bound for the same place, two fillyhood friends who will meet again soon.
Chapter 3: The First DaySoarin' arrives at The Wonderbolt Academy, it had been a long trip and he had even gotten lost. Somehow he ended up in a place far away called Appaloosa. He nearly forgets it all when sees the runways and the full blue structure. There are pillars, four of them, two small to the left, and one tall and skinny on the right, in the center a large one stands with the main doors in the front. The bases of them expand outward, and the centers thin out and then back out near the top, it's huge, and shrouded in clouds. Off to the side he can see the cadet training field, he makes his way towards it and flies down onto the field. "looks like they're not starting yet." He looks around with his wings fully spanned out, a young mare, a pegasai like the rest catches a glimpse of him, she doesn't look like a Wonderbolt, her violet-blue with a blue streak in it is more dressed than a typical Wonderbolt. She walks up to Soarin'. "Excuse me? are you a cadet here?" she inquires. Soarin' looks at her, and sees she has, a notepad, glasses, and a studious looking dress shirt with a tie. He hesitates. "Ummm.... yes." Soarin' nods and smiles, but she's quick to catch him off guard again. He was confused as to who she was, her outfit has ribbons and medals on it. "May I take a look at your flank?" Soarin's ears fold back and he raises his front hoof, he grins sheepishly. "Umm... My flank?" She nods and adjusts her glasses. "Your cutie mark to be exact." She makes her way steadily to his backside, Soarin' hesitates again. "Uhh.. my cutie mark? Sure." She studies his side rather analytically, but Soarin's face turns red anyways, she taps his side to call his attention, "yeah?" her eyes now on his eyes. "this is truly iconic, and amazing in design." Soarin'S surprised, proud of his cutie mark he may be, but still surprised, it's just a lightning bolt with a pair of pegasus wings, wings the same color as him. "I am Indigo Sharp. I design all the Wonderbolt posters and uniforms. I've been requested to come up with a new logo, I decided to look at the cadets and see if any of there cutie marks would suffice. Yours is perfect. Would you mind if I got a few pictures." Spitfire flies over the academy in awe of the structure, she flies around the pillars and the structures. Everything was there, all the courses, it was everything she had ever dreamed. "this makes that trip worth it." It was a long flight. Then she spots the training area, forgetting the entire trip she flies towards it casually. She sees ponies with whistles and sunglasses. There's what appears to be a runway, off of ground that somehow just floats in the air. Spitfire sets her hooves on it, and looks around. She see's pegasus without uniforms, looking around like her. Then she spots a crowd, and a familiar face, a mare and a team of colts with camera's are all taking pictures around him. particularly around his backside, she covers her mouth and snickers. After they clear away, Spitfire trots up to him to say hi, but first she wants to know if she remembers her, like she remembers him. "Hey there..." Spitfire says raising and eyebrow. He responds back in a stressed tone. "Hey." he lowers his head, "You want pictures of it too, or my wings and mane?" Spitfire's expression tightens. "What? No." then she giggles. "You already know who I am?" Soarin's ears perk up his neck stands up straight. "I do?" She smiles as he looks closely like his vision is impaired."Sp...Spitfire?" "The one and only, how you been Soarin'?" She grins and tilts her head happy to see him. "I've been great!" he nudges his front hoof closes to her forward. "What are you doing here?" She scowls slightly. "Well I'm a cadet." He bursts in joy, and his voice raises. "Really? that's awesome Spitfire." Soarin' flaps his wings in place in excitement, Spitfire smiles brightly in the process. "I was worried that I was gonna have to make new friends, now I already know I have one. This is great." "I'm glad you're here too." A speaker comes on and a voice can be heard of out of it, it was a rough voice and firm in tone. "all cadets on site report to the front hall, this is your Captain Thunder Clash, all you light weights will be fitted for cadet uniforms, immediately! at 17:00 hours you will all report for duty for your first work out session. LET'S MOVE IT FLIERS!" the speaker goes off and all the ponies turn there attention towards the large building in the sky. Spitfire turned towards Soarin' "Well I guess it'll be time to show are stuff soon." The two of them make there way inside, which is almost as impressive as the outside, the academy ceiling can be seen in the main hall, and all the levels above, walkways all along the sides. Desks, and lounging areas, Portraits of past Wonderbolts captain's and honorable mentions. Two officers in dress shirts adorned in medals and ribbons come with another at there side, they carry a blue uniform. Two are mares and Two stallions. "Alright! I want fillies on this side," she points to her right, "and I want colts on that side." The two lines split at Soarin and Spitfire, each line makes their way into a locker room, each of them in both locker rooms just drop off they uniforms in place for each to grab, Spitfire finds her size and sees that the zipper is very well hidden, she pulls it up, for a perfect fit, while soarin' is the first to get his cadet uniform on. He looks in a mirror and adjusts his mane. Butterflies fill his chest to wear the uniform. All the ponies walk out of the locker rooms in they're uniforms, first the boys, then the girls. Now the lead colt speaks. "Alright fillies if you'd follow those two mares over there." He points to the female directors, "They will lead you to your cadet dorms, Gentlecolts follow me." The colts followed their director, Soarin' pears into a room. as he shows four of them into it, he sees only four beds and five more male fliers left in line, and he sees he is in the back, then the other four are given themselves a room. Soarin' follows his instructors to the next door. "and you're the lucky one." He opens the door, "we have nine boys and seven mares, so... here you are." Soarin' makes his way into his room, a little bummed that he'd be alone all month. He took some comfort that he could talk to Spitfire. He receives his stuff from the luggage drop off and lays unpacks in his lonely dorm room. He sighs and lookes out the window, then glances upward at the clock, it would be 17:00 hours soon. Seven Mares and Nine colts stand in the grass next to the pavement, all arranged neatly in a line. Spitfire and Soarin' on the end next to each other can see a pony in a different uniform then all the rest. He walks with two of the directors they had seen before. A whistle jingles around his neck as he walks. His mane is black, and swept up like many of the cadets, but it comes down in the front a little, his eyes were a dark, cold blue. His coat was a light gray tint. it dawns on everpony that he is the captain and they all stand up straight and tall. He continues to walk but then stops when he passes the line, the other instructor's spread out in front of them. The captain turns around, his mouth opens, his commanding voice shakes some of the cadets. "Well, now.... You butterflies actually got lucky enough to be accepted. Never in my years as Wonderbolt Captain have I seen a less promising lot of pigeons!" Spitfire hears Soarin' swallow, the captain's voice was rough, while it was commanding and firm, it was tamed as well. He walks on, in front of the line, glancing at each cadet. "If you don't know what you're in for, this academy will hit you so hard heads will roll!" He gets really close to the mare next to Spitfire, after flinching, she straightens out once more. "Yes, sir. Crystal clear." He straightens out her posture and passes Spitfire, and then turns after Soarin' "So... you think you can be Wonderbolts, well I'll tell you, standards sure have fallen. Let's see what you're made of! I want one hundred laps, followed by a hundred wing ups! LET'S MOVE!" he blows his whistle and they all take off. flags in the clouds showed the laps they were supposed to take, Spitfire and Soarin' fly close to the lead, the others not far behind, none of them lacking skill. Spitfire passes up Soarin' and flies close in front of him, he keeps up with her but can't help being stuck nose to tail with the mare. With a look of determination on both of their faces they zip past their first lap, a director keeps track on the starting cloud, after a while Spitfire finishes first with Soarin' close behind. Thunder Clash watches and nods, he then walks away after saying something to the one of the directors, while another follows him. The cadets are then left with one instructor to time their wing-ups, Soarin' is the first to finish and Spitfire fourth. the instructor stops the watch at the last pegasus to finish and blows a whistle. "Alright, good work everypony, Captain Thunder Clash said I'd dismiss you once we're done. you're free to go about your day, dinner is waiting for you in the mess hall." Spitfire hustles next to Soarin' who's heading back to the academy. "Hey there... where did you think are captain went off to." Soarin' laughs. "Don't know, he's got quite the mouth on him though." She matches his walking speed and walks next to him. "He's just doing his job, though, I'm sure." Another colt trots along side them with orange hair, and white streaks, his coat was a very light Cream color. "Hey there, names Fire Streak. Where do you think the captain went off to?" He looked at Spitfire as if Soarin' didn't exist, and walked rather close to her side. "Well hello. My names Spitfire, nice to meet you Fire Streak. I was just asking the same thing. Not very captain like is it?" The intrusive colt hovers in front of Spitfire, flying backwards as he talks to her. "You wanna join me in the mess hall, my fellow fiery maned pegasus." Spitfire tries not to laugh at the idea. "You know? maybe I will..." as she thinks about the advice Vinyl gave her. Soarin' interjects in a panic. "Spitfire, I have to show you that thing, remember?" Spitfire objects quickly and confused. "What thing?" "You know," Soarin' nudges his head towards the door a few times while peering at it. Spitfire quickly catches on and nods. "Right, that thing!" playing along, "ugh, sorry Fire Streak, I gotta see this." Fire Streak hovers in place as the two of them gallop off to the main hall in a hurry, baffled and confused. Spitfire and Soarin' get inside as they let out a few breathes, most of the cadets were in the mess hall, so it was really just them along with the actual wonderbolt occasionally walking by. "Man- what a creep." Soarin' Says between breathes. "Yeaaah... admittingly, I thought so too..." She smiles at a confused Soarin'. "If you thought he was being as intrusive as I did, then why did you say you'd eat with him?" She looks up, and then back down at the ground. "Well my friend back home told me I should be more social. put myself out there, Y'know?" Soarin' smiles at her and bumps her chest "Well trust me," rolling his eyes extravagantly. "You don't wanna put yourself out there for that kinda guy." He raises a smirks and nudges her again. "Now silly, are you hungry after out speeding me or what?" "Oh yeah I am." Soarin' and Spitfire eat by their fellow cadets who were late to the party like they were. luckily no Fire Streak in sight. They eat peacefully and talk about what kind of stunts they performed and how hard they have practiced. one of the girls to Spitfire, "Wow cloud buster, me too! I'm from Manehattan." "No, kidding, did you use it to practice?" "a bit... a bit... but it was more of a hassle to me, I used the city as a practice course." "oh yeaaaah? how did that go, Fleetfoot?" Spitfire asks skeptically. "Well, ummm... I broke a lot of windows...." Everypony listening laughed, but respected her as a flier. "We've all crashed I bet." Everypony at their table proceeds to tell each other about there most wild crash. Spitfire tells her story about almost dive bombing the royal princess. Soarin' tells his story and the others tell there's, soon after it was time to clear out the mess hall. "Well see ya tomorrow Soarin'." Spitfire says casually. "Hey yeah, you too, oh and Spitfire." She turns. "Yeah, Soarin'?" He blushes and smiles. "It's really great to see you again." He grins at her. "you too, you're still that hotshot I met as a kid." looking into his eyes that are like two emeralds Spitfire winks at him. His mind goes to deeper places about her. She turns with a smile on her face and slowly moseys on out to her room. Soarin' warm in the face, can't help but stare at the yellow flank of Spitfire as she walks away, he was flying behind it all afternoon. So full and smooth looking, as her muscles in her legs sway beneath the skin, giving the shape a little bounce, he tilts his head a little to see if he can just get a small glance past her tail. He thinks about what it would feel like to place his hoof on it, and rub it, probably soft and warm. Soarin' shakes his head as she walks out the door. Soarin's face flushed and red as a feeling of butterflies in his chest possesses his entire being. An even more prominent feeling pokes it's way through between his legs. He clenches his legs together in embarrassment and quickly gallops his way towards his room, he reaches the mane hall and then the dormitory, with no ponies stopping him along the way he shuts himself off in his room, safe and free of public eye, he relaxes. Soarin' peers his head out of his room with his muzzle facing down to the floor, he looks both ways and then glances back into his room, with an embarrassed expression on his face. Despite his relief, shame still holds over him. intending to explore around a little more, he leaves his room with no fear of the eyes around him. He walks through the academy with only Spitfire on his mind, not just about these feelings he knew he was feeling, but about what she was doing, and about being Wonderbolts together, how crazy it was that she was here. He knew he was getting ahead of himself, a little character trait he had always known about himself. His thought train is interrupted when he bumps into somepony while not paying attention to where he's going. It's the captain. he was talking to a mare who was one of the security gaurds working at the academy. He wears a dark blue uniform with a black tie, decorated in medals and ribbons, with epaulettes on his shoulders. Soarin' quickly apologizes, "Terribly sorry sir, won't happen again." He seems frustrated at first, but then as if he knew Soarin' well, his frustration fades. "At ease, cadet." Soarin' starts to trot away, Thunder Clash stops him with his words. "Cadet..." Soarin' turns back. "You looked good out there today, I see potential in you." Soarin' salutes him. "Thank you, sir." after wondering for another hour or so, Soarin' makes his way to his bed and unzips his cadet uniform. He feels as if it was a good day, assured by his captain, and the return of a friend he had only been seeing for the second time. Like him, it all felt fast, He couldn't wrap his head around Spitfire how he felt about that. He dosed off into sleep.
