Soarin was literally walking on air when he left the training grounds. (Well he technically was...but you get the point alright!) Aside from losing consciousness about halfway through for a few minutes, his meeting with his former Captain, and now co-captain had gone rather smoothly. Just before taking off from the cloud floor he took a moment to glance down again at the badge that had been given to him just moments ago.
The badge was the signature mark of the Wonderbolts. It was a lightning bolt with a pair of wings attached to the back of it. The badge itself wasn't a rarity as you could easily find a knockoff version in the home of every filly, colt, and Wonderbolt trainee in Cloudsdale and Soarin knew that. But what made this one special was that it was given to him by someone who was his long-time friend and mentor. Also the fact it was made from pure gold didn't hurt.
Soarin hugged the badge tightly as he thought back to the events that had unfolded in Spitfire's office after he had regained consciousness.
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Soarin's eyes fluttered open as he noticed Spitfire standing above him with her hoof over her face.
"Should of figured you couldn't take it like a stallion." Spitfire groaned to herself as she helped her friend into one of the chairs beside her desk. She helped him into one then began to walk across her office towards the water cooler.
"..wh-What?" Soarin groggily responded as he finally began to pull himself together.
"You okay in there?" Spitfire prodded, practically shoving a small paper cup of water she'd retrieved into his muzzle.
Soarin hungrily drank up the small amount of liquid then looked up at Spitfire from his slightly lower position. "Are you seriously making me..I mean I'm flattered and...but..I...why?"
"Honestly I'm still asking myself that question a little." She responded with a slight grin, and reached onto her desk, picking up the golden badge that she had offer to him before. "Your not the fastest, and not exactly the brightest..." spitfire tapped him lightly in the forehead.
"Hey!" Soarin began in protest. Spitfire chuckled .
"...Your late, often, you daydream, and you tend to eat the last of the pie in the break room." She shot Soarin a sideways glare. Soarin audibly gulped. "But, I saw something in you that I haven't seen in a flier out there in a long while..."
"And what's that?" Soarin asked, genuinely curious.
She turned away from the desk to completely face him and, with a warmer smile then he had ever seen on his captain, simply said "Me."
The room fell silent for a few moments. "........Huh?" Soarin stated blatantly. Spitfire's hoof immediately decided to have a conversation with her face as her smile left and Spitfire let out her typical 'annoyed' groan.
"OH, for bucks sake Soarin!" She blasted, but then swiftly lowered her voice once again. "It's been some time since I've seen someone that all the other members of the team look up to, aside from myself. Even when they listen to me, sometimes it's only because I'm captain." Spitfire stared directly into Soarin's eyes. But ponies care about you Soarin...a lot. And I think they'll have an easier time if there orders come from someone they actually like to talk to."
"But I don't even know the first thing about being a leader, I'm just a wing pony." Soarin replied still somewhat shocked.
"Hence the Co- part Soarin, I'll help you learn what it takes, trust me...you'll be a natural."
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After staring down at the badge for a few more seconds he tucked it away safely into his bag and lifted himself off the cloud bed with a mighty flap of his wings and began the exhausting journey home.
It was just pushing on dusk as he left the stadium. The rest of the sky was completely abandoned as most of his teammates had already gone home to get what rest they could before tomorrow's training session at daybreak. Usually the Wonderbolts trained for a good portion of the day leaving only the early morning and late evenings for any free time, but with the Ponyville show the day after next Spitfire thought it would be 'generous' to end tomorrow's training session early so the team could be fully rested for the one o'clock show.
Soarin glided peacefully across the cloud floor as he made his way towards his humble cloud abode. As he glided along his mind drifted to the same thing that has got him in this situation to begin with.
"Why can't I stop thinking about her?" Soarin thought to himself. "I mean, she's really pretty and kind but..." Soarin's train of thought was cut off when he collided with something other than a cloud. Soarin and the gray object landed into the soft clouds about a foot below. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Soarin flew down to the pony he had collided with. He offered a hoof to help him/her up. "I'm so sorry, I.." Soarin was cut short when the mare sat up and turned to face him. She had a grey coat and was looking at him with one eye, while the other was looking elsewhere.
"Ditzy?" Soarin asked. The mare's face lit up with a smile as she bear hug tackled Soarin to the ground. "Soarin!!" Ditzy squealed. "I haven't seen you in forever!"
Soarin broke the air tight lock and sat up. "Y-yeah, you too. Haven't seen you in years, how've you been?"
Ditzy smiled and replied "Well obviously not as good as you, 'Wonderbolt'." Ditzy put emphasis on the last part.
"Oh yeah well, it's definitely a change. But how about you? Still a mailmare?"
"That's Chief Mailmare to you sir." Ditzy giggled. "Need anything delivered ASAP just let us know."
Soarin thought for a sec "Will do...in fact...can you stop by to pick up a letter I need delivered after practice tomorrow?"
"Sure!" Ditzy began to flutter away in glee. "One outgoing letter, you got it!" Ditzy hardly waited for a reply before she began to fly off.
Soarin called after his friend. "I haven't told you where I want to send it!"
Ditzy stopped mid flight and turned her head back to him "Oh yeah, where do you want it sent again?"
"Ponyville."
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The next day's practice session went by rather quickly. Despite more than one member of the squad coming in hungover, as was the usual.
Spitfire kept unusually quiet towards the end of practice, not saying anything after blowing her whistle to signal the end of practice. Slowly every wonder bolt gathered into the main locker room for the after practice meeting, as was the usual. Soarin sat at the edge of one of the bench's with his suit pulled back so it rested on his lap but still clung to his lower body by the sweat of a good days work. Several other ponies had already removed their suits entirely while others just sat exhausted on the benches waiting for their captain to arrive.
As spitfire entered the room it fell silent as the few conversations ceased.
"Good work out there today Wonderbolts!" Spitfire stood in the middle of the room. "I want to see that same fire I saw today in every single performance of the tour!"
Some ponies let out a sigh of relief, knowing they were safe from an extra set of laps had it been a bad day.
"There's one more order of business to attend to before you all head home to rest up for the tour." Spitfire shot Soarin a sideways glance over her signature sunglasses. Soarin sat up at attention reflexively before realizing what his captain, soon to be co-captain was about to say.
"After giving it much thought, I've decided that I can't manage all of you flyers alone. I've decided to appoint one of our most diligent wonderbolts, Soarin, as your new co-captain!" Spitfire finished her statement by pointing a hoof directly at Soarin. After a moment of silence Spitfire added. "That will be all, WONDERBOLTS OUT!!" But there was no whirlwind of ponies that shot past her. Instead everyponies eyes were fixed on Soarin.
Soarin just sat there, frozen. At least two dozen pairs of eyes had turned to look at him. All with the same exhausted and surprised face save one, Spitire just gave him a smirk as she turned and exited the room.
The awkward silence held for another few seconds before a thunderous amount of cheering and shouting broke forth as Soarin was mobbed by his teammates. Most of them just congratulated him, a few hugged him, one a little too tightly. Soarin thanked all of them, and as the majority of the wonderbolts all gathered their stuff and left, Soarin was left by himself in the locker room.
Soarin got up from the bench and started to gather up his things, which had been scattered when his bag fell during the chaos. Once he'd grabbed the last of his things he heard a familiar voice over his shoulder.
"Well the troops were...enthusiastic."
Soarin turned around to see Spitfire standing in the doorway. "Well that's one word for it." Soarin chuckled.
"How do you feel?" Spitfire asked as she entered the empty locker room.
"Honestly...terrified." Soarin looked up at Spitfire "I'm just worried I'll let everyone down...or mess up..or..." Soarin was silenced when his friend moved toward him and wrapped her hooves around him in a firm embrace.
"You got this." She simply stated. Just as quickly as the moment happened it ended and Spitfire regained her composure of the strict captain as she made her way to the door. She glanced back over her shoulder one more time. "And don't think for a minute just because we have the same paycheck that you can slack off!"
"No Mam." Soarin replied instinctively as he stood up at attention. But immediately realized that wasn't necessary anymore and simply restated "No problem Spitfire."
Spitfire gave him a warm smile as she disappeared from view, leaving Soarin alone in the cold locker room. Soarin picked up his things and followed her out, closing the door behind him.___________________________ _____