*CRASH* She sat up with a jolt, looking around for the source of the sound. *CRASH* She breathed a sigh of relief, it was just a gust of wind knocking a loose shutter against the window. So much for sleep, though she wasn't very deep in it anyway. She sighed again as she climbed from her bunk. It was going to be another one of those nights. She trotted to the barracks' kitchen to tend to her parched throat. As she sleepily filled her glass, she heard hoofs behind her clopping softly on the floor. She knew who it was without having to turn around.

"Another one of those nights huh?"

Quaint, how they seemed to be of one mind at times; though their empathy towards one another should probably be expected.
"Evening, Soarin." Spitfire turned from her water to face her team mate, and best friend. "It's the dreams, I just..."

Soarin placed a wing around her. "I know, we all do. But we've all stuck together this far, and that's not going to change."

Spitfire smiled weakly and rested her head against his affectionately. "I guess that's what matters for now."

She may have been their captain in title, but it was Soarin everyone really looked up to for guidance. He was like a big brother to the rest of them, always with their best interests at heart. Without him they all knew they probably would have fallen apart long before this point.

"Come on, let's get back to bed, we've got a long day tomorrow," Soarin said kindly as he started back towards the bunk room with her still under his wing. She nodded and walked with him silently. Their eyes met knowingly before they climbed into their separate bunks and laid down. The silence in the room was deafening other than the occasional wind gust and the crashing of that shutter. Nobody said anything, but they could all feel it. Nobody was sleeping tonight, as they all lay in their bunks, listening to that damn shutter.

"Come on slowpokes! You ever gonna catch me?" Spitfire was zooming around the clouds on the track with her two best friends. Soarin, a young colt with a mane as dark and blue as the night sky, was her older friend, zipping after her with a fierce look plastered on his face. Of course any other time he would have been cracking jokes or stuffing his face. He was so kind and carefree that it was almost a shock to see him shift into competition mode where his ferocity and determination took over. Then there was Misty Fly, a filly almost Spitfire's age but still the youngest of the trio. Her mane an icy blue with a white streak through it. When she flew it almost looked like it was made of an arctic wind. Her skills had vastly improved over the past few months, but they all had a long way to go if they had any hopes of winning the young acrobat competition in a few months. Their dreams of becoming a world famous flying team had drawn them to each other, and they had quickly formed strong friendships and began pouring their heart into practicing, that is when they weren't goofing off around Cloudsdale.

She cackled and put on a burst of speed as a challenge to her friends. Her mane which resembled a streak of flame was slicked back. As she sped on towards a curve it waved in the wind, looking very much like a live fire. Soarin and Misty glanced at each other and grinned. It was so on! They jetted forward towards their friend, feeling especially energetic today. Spitfire turned her head and was surprised to find her friends right on her tail. A look of shock crossed her face and then a smirk. "Well look at this, I guess-"

"Spitfire look out!" The other two cried in unison.
She turned her head and gasped, but it was too late to avoid it. She put the brakes on and tried to veer but she still slid into the cloud barrier around the edge of the track. She bounced off the cloud wall and came tumbling down into the cloud "floor" of the racetrack, disappearing into it with a *pomf* and a squeak.
Soarin and Misty slowed down in a hurry and dove to where she had fallen. "Whoa are you okay?!" They called out.

"Ungh..." Spitfire flapped back up and rested on the cloud with a sigh. "I guess I still have a ways to go too." She looked up at her friends, "But man! With that kind of speed we're well on our way! When did you two suddenly get so fast?" She fell back laughing and her friends plopped down beside her and joined in the laughter.

“All right everyone rise and shine with the sun! You know what day it is!” Spitfire called out from the doorway, looking in at all the bunks. Ten tired pegasi slid from their beds, every one of them tired from the previous night. Soarin had already been up and was preparing a hearty breakfast for the team, the delicious smells wafting through the barracks helped rouse the ponies a little more as they quickly and sleepily made their beds. Spitfire watched and nodded in approval. “Chow time in ten team, and eat well, we need every ounce of energy we can get for inspection day.” Then she smiled at them and headed out into the common area.

Inspection day. Always such a great relief... when it was finally over that is. She loathed it as much as the rest of her squad, but none of them could really voice that feeling now could they? After all they wouldn't be were they were today without Her Majesty. Though maybe that would be for the better...
She shook her head and glanced around the room, she didn't have time to be daydreaming, there was too much preparation that needed tending to. She checked items off the list on her clipboard as she walked around. “Furniture in a pristine state, check. Windows spotless, check. Floors spotless, check.” She muttered more items to herself, making her way back into the bunk room. All the beds were uniform and perfect, as they should be. Personal affects had been stowed for the time being. Photos, and things of that nature, while not contraband, weren't supposed to be displayed. However on any other occasion she let it slide. Everyone needed some comfort after all.

She sighed as she finished ticking off the last item 15 minutes later. She walked back to her office down the hall from the bunks, at the very end. She dropped the clipboard and quill on her desk and flexed her wings a bit. Gripping that quill was almost a chore in itself. She headed back to the dining area to join the rest of her team who were already most of the way through their meals. Some of them seemed to have less of an appetite however. Spitfire took her place at the large circular table they all sat at together. She felt it more appropriate this way. They were all friends, and more than that, they were like a family. Sitting around the table together made them all equal, nobody at the head or the end.

“Hey guys, eat up, it's going to be a hard day, for all of us and we need the strength. Please?” Fleetfoot spoke up at her family. She was the oldest of them all, her mane was stark white and perpetually windswept. It almost resembled a cloud. She tended to act a bit motherly but never controlling. A few of the ponies glanced up and smiled at her but none said a word. Everyone ended up clearing their plates in the end. They all stood up and shuffled out to have a breather before it was time to suit up. Misty Fly stayed to help Soarin clear the dishes away.

“It's been six months again already. Time sure flies doesn't it?” She posed rhetorically. Soarin nodded solemnly and patted her with his wing while they scrubbed the remainder of the dishes.

“It's just one day, and then it'll be over,” He reassured her gently.

“Yeah until 6 months come and go again,” She replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.
They finished up the dishes in silence and joined the rest of their team in suiting up, as ready as they could be to face the day ahead.

The three friends sat together in the stands, watching the other teams practice their routines, hoping to pick up some pointers from observing. The teams on the field now were the older division so they were up to more advanced flying techniques and stunts. The friends watched in awe as a a particularly showy trio of pegasi flew straight at each other with unmatched speed and precision, then at the last second all three pulled up in unison and shot skyward in an intricate weaving and spiraling pattern in extremely close proximity to one another, parting at the pinnacle of their ascent and spinning off in separate directions before returning to their formation.

“Man, those Razorwings are amazing!” Gushed Misty.

“Mmmhmmph oo faid ith!”Exclaimed Soarin through a mouth full of popcorn. Spitfire chuckled at this. His manners may have been lacking but he sure knew how to enjoy himself.

She shook her head and turned her gaze back to the field where an argument was breaking out amongst one of the teams. Each was blaming the other for messing up one of their maneuvers. They may have been in the junior division, but even the three friends knew that harmony in the team was key to success. Spitfire stood up and stretched her legs and wings out with a yawn as Soarin tipped the remaining contents of his popcorn bucket into his mouth and chomped contently, seeds and all.
“Well fellas, what do you say we head back into the city and get some grub?” Spitfire posed to her friends. Misty stood and felt her stomach grumble.

“Yeah it's getting to be about that time I guess. Soarin you coming?”

“Yeah I could eat!” He exclaimed as he hopped up and tossed his empty bucket into a nearby trash bin. The girls exchanged giggles.

“Gee what else is new?” Spitfire remarked sarcastically with a smile and a roll of her eyes. “Alright let's go then.”

The three ponies took flight and set off towards Cloudsdale proper. Leaving the arena behind them. The arena they all aspired to perform in one day. All the big names did their shows there, as well as the races and other fantastic feats of flying showmanship. They flew along, thoughts of screaming crowds and fans with signs and a life of luxury filled their heads. Before they knew it the elegant buildings and fluffy scenery were upon them, though it was a relatively short flight anyway. They landed in unison and looked around for a second. The “streets” –if you could call the cloudy pathways streets– were usually bustling this time of evening but tonight they seemed quieter than usual. They started off down one of the roads together, following the twists and turns without even thinking about it. They knew this section of the city like the backs of their hooves. Past the fitness center, left at the old bakery that had closed a few years back when the owner was struck ill, down the alley between the camera shop and the “Preen and Clean” salon... The scenery gradually seemed to diminish in quality as they neared the northern edge of the city. Buildings seemed darker and more uninviting, while still somehow maintaining that cheery and pristine look that Cloudsdale prided itself on. They neared their destination and saw an irate looking mare waiting by the front door, tapping her hoof as they approached.
“Uh oh, looks like we're in for it again.” Muttered Misty to the others.

“Well well well, look who showed up, curfew was nearly 30 minutes ago you do realize?” Indeed the sun had lowered beyond the horizon for the most part, leaving the city shrouded in the orange of the waning light, with the darkness of night imposing from the east.

“We're sorry Miss Amble, we were watching the teams practice and- ”Spitfire was cut off by the middle aged mare.

“Well it can't be helped now can it. Just get inside, all of you.” Then she sighed and her tone softened a bit. “You know we just have your best interests at heart, and I don't want to discipline you. So please just keep better track of the time?

“Yes ma'am.” they all replied in an unenthusiastic but respectful monotone.

“Well alright then, supper is about to be served so hop to it you three.” With that they all entered the building under the faded archway, engraved with a once beautiful carving featuring their ruler and protector, Princess Celestia; Her wings around a few young fillies and colts. Under the now worn and faded carving were the words “Her Majesty's Wings of Providence Orphanage.”

Author's Note

This is the first fic I've sat down and worked on in years so I decided upon a pilot chapter to get some feedback and criticism before deciding to fully commit my time to it. So please feel free to critique and let me know what you think, it would really help. <3