//------------------------------//
// A week later 
// Story: Getting Butterflies 
// by SpikE-dog 
//------------------------------//

Almost a week has gone by since Soarin's encounter with the yellow mare by the Everfree. Since then, the Wonderbolts had trained hard all day every day to prepare for the upcoming tour, especially, a stop in Ponyville. This also had the unfortunate side effect of leaving Soarin and every other Wonderbolt completely exhausted by the end of each day, leaving no time for relaxation of any kind apart from a brief water break every few hours.

But in those moments Soarin's mind wandered to the events that occurred on the outskirts of ponyville.
Soarin had met many a beautiful mare, being a Wonderbolt had its perks, but for some reason this one mare was all he could think about. Something about her was just...kind. The way she cared for her animals and her friends, and the way she spoke.

"Soarin..."

"SOARIN!!!!" The loud, unmistakable voice of Wonderbolt captain Spitfire rung into Soarin's ears. Recovering as quickly as he could from his daydream, Soarin scrambled to his hooves, standing at attention in front of his captain.

"We're you even listening at all?!" Spitfire continued.

"Sorry Spitfire." Soarin replied.

"That's Captain, just because we're friends doesn't mean you can call me different." Spitfire sighed. "If you would have been listening a few moments ago, you would have heard we made a few adjustments to the Ponyville routine. You will be leading in B-squad instead of Fleetfoot." With that Spitfire shoved a clipboard covered in flight patterns into Soarin's chest.

"Really?!...uh..I mean, Thank you Captain." Soarins grin however failed to hide his enthusiasm.

"Don't get to excited, if you keep daydreaming like that you'll end up ruining the show. Now get your flank in gear!" Spitfire ordered as she fluttered over to another group of Wonderbolts. 

"Thank you Captain, I won't let you down." Soarin sat back down and attempted to look at the new flight plans, but again his mind wandered off to thoughts of that wonderful mare and the Zap Apple pie.

"Fluttershy..."

_________________________________

Meannwhile in Ponyville on that very same window was yet another fresh baked pie sat on the windowsill, it's scent caught in the wind as it had every day this past week. 

Behind that pie though was the same mare, wearing the same apron. 

Fluttershy had hoped that she might get another visit from her surprise guest if she left another treat to catch his nose.

*sigh* Fluttershy peered out the window but was only greeted by the same grassy fields she always saw.

"Are you alright dear?" A voice called out from her living room. It was an elegant, canterlot style voice, that belonged to her dear friend Rarity.

Fluttershy hurried out to the living room. "Oh...um, yes. Everything's fine...your pie will be done cooking in a few minutes." 

Rarity levitated a tea glass up to her mouth and took a small sip. "Honestly Fluttershy, you didn't have to go out of your way to make a pie for every single one of us. Giving Rainbow Dash those tickets for the Wonderbolts show was more than enough of a gesture."

Fluttershy simply smiled, while she hid her guilt for luring about why she really baked those pies. "It's no problem...the jam was going to go bad soon anyway."

Rarity simply say there and continued to sip her tea. "Well, regardless of your reasons, it seems such a shame that you keep your talents restricted to just your close friends." Rarity continued to speak as she rose from the sofa. "You said it yourself that you enjoyed singing with the ponytones, I don't see how baking would be any different."

Fluttershy attempted to respond "oh no...it's really quite alright..."

"Nonsense darling! Im going to speak to applejack tommorow about helping you start a bakery cart so everyone can enjoy your talents." With a nod and a brief farewell Rarity picked up her things and began to leave. "And who knows Fluttershy..." Rarity turned to give her friend a last farewell. "You might just attract the attention of some lucky colt." 

Fluttershy's face almost instantly turned a light pink. "What...I...oh my..."
_________________________________

Training ended somewhat earlier than usual, but everypony was still tired. The Wonderbolts retired to the the locker room and packed up their things to head home. 

"ATTENTION EVERYPONY!!" There captain blasted into the locker room. After a few moments of silence she continued. "As you know, the original plan was for us to stay the night after our show in Ponyville and leave bright and early the next morning." A collective groan was heard throughout the room. Spitfire just rolled her eyes and continued. "But, due to some technical problems at Cloudsdale's stadium we are going to be spending an extra day in ponyville."

A few celebratory nickers and neighs filled the room. But one pair of ears perked up in particular. Soarin hadn't been interested in what his captain was saying until the last bit hit him. Another whole day in ponyville?! While the rest of his team listened to their captain droll on about the details, Soarin sat there fidgeting, the normal after practice fatigue and drowsiness leaving him instantly. 

"Another day?" Soarin's head swam with a lot of things, but many of those related to Fluttershy. He continued to 'listen' to his captain until she finished up her lecture.

"...and NO heavy drinking. We don't need another...incident." Upon that several pairs of eyes fell on a neon blue Pegasus in the corner known as Fleetfoot. 

Fleetfoot quickly noticed the growing sets of eyes..."C'mon guys, it was one time, and that flirty colt was asking for it."

Another male Wonderbolt just smirked, "He was offering you a drink." The room lit up in a brief uproar of laughter. Fleetfoot just hugged and continued to pack her things for the day. 

"I'm hoping for a clean tour this year everypony. I hope you'll all be on your best behavior." She took one final glance around the room at her team. Many of them had their bags slung over there backs, wings erect. Letting a slight smirk creep across her face she finished the same way they did everyday... "That's all for today, see you tommorow. Wonderbolts OUT!!!!"

And with that, half of the room cleared out in a whirlwind. Leaving only a handful of Wonderbolts and their captain with her signature sunglasses just barely remaining on her face as they now tilted awkwardly to the side. 

Spitfire readjusted her glasses and placed them on her head rather than just on the brim of her muzzle. She turned with a sigh to leave when her eye caught Soarin, sitting on the bench, apparently deep in thought.

Curious why one of her usually more focused Wonderbolts was daydreaming more and more lately, she trotted over to him. "Hey, Soarin?"

Soarins ear twitched as he snapped out of his daze and turned to face his Captain. "What is it Spi--Captain?"

"Are you feeling okay there? You've been pretty distant lately."

Soarin shook his head. "Sorry, I've just been thinking a lot lately"

Spitfire seemed to think for a moment before continuing. "Mind if I give you one more thing to think about?"

Soarin just gave his captain a puzzled look.

"I know you usually head right home after practice, but I'd like to talk to you about something if you don't mind..." 

"Sure, I'm happy to stay an--."

Spitfire cut him off before he could continue. "Good soldier, freshen up then meet me...in my office."

Soarin gulped. Anytime a Wonderbolt was called into her office it was usually for a loud scolding, or worse.
He just nodded "Yes captain."

As Spitfire left the locker room, Soarin noticed one of his fellow wonderbolts across the room, who had obviously heard the conversation, looking at him. When the captain left the Wonderbolt sitting across the room took his hoof and drew a line across his throat.
.
.
.
________________________________

It hadn't taken long to freshen up, but Soarin took his time walking to his captains office. The previous joy about his extra day in ponyville nearly faded and replaced with the worry of losing the one job he truly enjoyed doing. He ran through possible reasons as to why Spitfire would be calling him to her office. 

Soarin thought "Is it that prank Silverquick and I pulled two weeks ago...no she would have already talked to us about that...*gasp* did she finally notice the missing pie in the break room fridge..." His thoughts reached an abrupt end as he found himself standing outside his captains office. "Well...here goes nothing."

Soarin gingerly knocked on the door and found that it creaked open, so he pushed it open just enough to slip in. "Captain?" Soarin had only been inside her office a few times before, usually when he was assigned to show new Wonderbolts around the facility. It was dimly lit, with a large blinded window facing the training grounds. But as it was late, the room was only lit by two lamps, one on her desk in the middle of the room and another on the file cabinet. He spotted his captain sitting at the chair behind her desk, but something was wrong.

She looked...sad.

She had her head in one hoof and was holding a photograph in the other. Her expression was sad, but it was also somewhat angry. Soarin had never seen his captain like this, usually she was so bold and forward. But now she just looked broken.

"Spitfire?" Soarin tried.

Spitfire just sighed "Did you ever make a decision that you immediately regretted, but it was too late?"

Soarin just stood there, confused. "Was this a test?" Or was his captain really showing...emotions?

"Um....I'm not sure I understand cap-" Soarin started but silenced himself when he noticed Spitfire rising from her chair.

"You can drop the Captain bit; and sorry about the whole scene I caused i the locker room." Spitfire moved over to her file cabinet and began to rummage through one of the higher up drawers. "I asked you to come because I have something very important to ask you."

*gulp* Soarin thought "Oh great, here it comes." Soarin closed his eyes and waited for Spitfire's voice to blast into his ears and tell him off for who knows what...but it never happened. Instead a uncommon silence filled his captains office. 

Curious, Soarin mustered up the courage to open his eyes and now found his captain just a few hoofs distance from him wearing a confused expression, holding something out to him. He glanced down at the small metallic object in her hoof, it was gold, a metal pin in the shape of a lighting bolt with two wings coming out of either side. He knew exactly what it was.

"But I thought I was in trou-" Soarin managed to start.

"Trouble!? For celestia's sake Soarin, I'm asking you to be my co-captain!"

"Heh..." Was all Soarin could manage before he passed out.