> The Wonderbolts
>  by Captain Dash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blood.

That’s all he could taste as his cloudy senses began to return to him. Trying to clear his foggy vision, he made a vain attempt to move.

Pain.

It seared through his body like a lightning bolt, causing him to clench his eyes close and scream out in agony. Never in all his days had he felt this kind of anguish.

After several seconds of tears that forced their way out of his strained eyes, he attempted to compose enough to focus. The first thing he noticed was that he was lying face down in the dirt. Mustering up the courage to fight what he knew would be an onset of incredible pain, he drew in a sharp breath, preparing to try and roll over. Another shout of despair pierced the air as the seemingly lifeless mass flipped itself over. Gazing into the sky, he realized that night was just beginning to set, with Luna’s crescent moon decorating the starry landscape. A roll of thunder emanated from the distance.

“What happened?”

Slowly tilting his head to each side, he discovered he was alone. Upon further inspection, he realized he was on the first part of the descent of a large, rather barren hill. As the weight of the situation hit his gut like the boulders dotted along the hillside, everything began to click into place.

The war.

He had been left there, probably presumed dead by the opposite forces. He vaguely tried to recall how he had been injured, but nothing came to mind. He tried to dig deeper, but his mind kept repeating the same thing:

“You have to go back. You have to know.”

With an agonizing grunt, he pulled himself into a sitting position. For the first time, he glanced over his body. Blood was oozing out of his side and legs. His wings were indefinitely broken, and his ribs ached with an insatiable tightness. 

“You have to go back. You have to know. You can’t give in yet.”

The thought was driving him at this point. Getting onto all fours, he began to claw his way up the hill. As the slope evened off to a flat plateau, a view of what lay on the other side began to take place. The dryness in his throat increased as he glanced at the scene before him. 

The night was darted with a burning glow of red, emanating from the fires that danced from the buildings of the city below. The reflected fire in his eyes died as they were doused by watery tears. The gruesome sight told him all he needed to know, as memories before he passed out began to flood back. The war was over, the battle was lost, and the city was ablaze in the fiery aftermath. Not any city, his city. The site of the final stand.  

“You have to go back. There’s not much time. You have to know.”

Cautiously trudging forward, he began his descent. Moving much more rapidly, he silently hoped the way down would prove much easier. The slope proved to be more than he could handle, as he lost his footing and tumbled down the unforgiving rugged hillside. He lay, curled in agony at the foothold of the hill, weeping aloud. The wounds had made themselves known, bleeding much more profusely now. 

“It’s not much further. There’s not much time. You have to know.”

Picking himself up again, he bitterly began to trudge through the razed city. The fires were slowly being put out, as others raced around help where they could. He paid no mind to the shouting and wailing that seemed to echo from every way. In turn, no one stopped to help him, racing on by to tend to their own problems. The physical strain of moving alone was enough to keep the blood dripping from the open wounds. The mental haze grew as he began to grow dizzy.

“You’re almost there. You’re almost done. You have to know.”

His breathing had become very labored as he thinly drew into focus the house before him. It was on a lot of its own, slightly separated from the urban city. A thin smile crept onto his face. The whole lot was intact, spared from the blaze. It seemed to stand alone, set aside, special. Forcing the last of his strength, he dragged his beaten body up to the doorstep. He was shaking intensely as he fumbled with the doorknob. Pushing the door open in victory, he dragged himself over the threshold and inside. Blood was starting to pool in his mouth again as he hazily found his finish line. At the end of the hall way, a door was slightly parted open. Each breath became a sharp gasp as he clawed his way closer and closer to the room.

“You have to know.”

With a final push, he thrust himself into the room. Moonlight beamed through a window and into the room onto him, as he lay there with a red pool forming around his body. With deep rugged breaths, he forced his eyes open. His were met with another, gazing back. 

Those eyes couldn’t understand. The figure across from him was trapped in a playpen, staring blankly; innocently.

“Now you know.” he thought to himself. “How will he be raised without a mother or father?” He quickly dispelled the thought. “No, none of that matters now. He is safe.” One final smile found its way to his lips. “Your son is safe.”


Coming to terms, he forced the last bit of energy his body would allow. Reaching to his crippled wing, he gingerly plucked a large feather. Two little eyes gazed at the phenomena, not yet old enough to understand the traditional act taking place. 

The act was older than his time. In the passing of a parent, the offspring would receive a feather from the wing, as a symbol of guidance and remembrance. 

He was a warrior, a leader and head of the rebellion. His career was put into the protecting the young life across from him. With one final breath, he extended his hand and opened his talon. The feather lay there in the open claw, the last semblance of his soul, waiting to be given. 

It was, of course, griffon tradition. 

> Dawn of a New Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spitfire drew in a sharp, calming breath, trying to rid the butterflies in her stomach. Her eyes were closed, trying to envision every technique she had taught herself. Deciding she was ready, she silently counted down from three, and allowed herself to fall off her high cloud perch. A mental image began to appear in her mind. She could see herself in a free fall, back parallel to the ground, waiting. As the wind swept rapidly by her falling body, she could feel the time coming. The ground was quickly approaching, but Spitfire was one step ahead. She knew what she needed to do, and was set on nothing less than perfection.

A smile crept onto her face, as she perfectly pictured where she was in respecting to the earth. Spitfire jolted her eyes open to the bright sky and did a barrel roll. Within an instant, her powerful wings had shot open, using the momentum of the fall to propel her nearly straight forward at a ninety degree turn. The bank occurred just quick enough to save Spitfire from a grueling match with the ground. Her wings beat at a rapid pace, rocketing her forward. The speed from the free fall turned into the straight away was enough to form a flowing fire trail behind her, leaving the grass just inches away ablaze. She was near sound shattering speeds; a fiery bullet to anyone watching in the distance. With a smirk of determination, Spitfire banked hard left to right several times, leaving a burning trail in her wake. Deciding work was done, she shot straight into the sky, losing some momentum.

“Woo-hoo!” Spitfire yelled loudly over the wind, doing a loop-de-loop as the flame behind her began to fizzle out.

Spreading her wings to a full extension, she slowed herself and drifted onto a lower-leveled cloud. Peering over the edge of the white fluff, Spitfire admired her work. An amateurish lightning bolt was still visible in the grass below. 

A small giggle escaped Spitfire’s lips as she turned her attention back towards the sky. Her golden fur reflected brightly in the sunlight. Celestia had just begun to raise the sun and bring in a new day. Amber eyes gazed confidently off into the vast sky, her mind wandering as free as the expanse. 

If Spitfire were to be honest, she didn’t really like waking up early, but today was no ordinary day. She hadn’t slept much the night before anyway. Her morning flight routine had done well in calming some of her nerves, but there was still a feeling of uneasiness deep inside. 

“What if I’m not good enough?” Spitfire thought aloud. Ever since she had gotten her cutie mark, she knew flying was her future. It’s where she felt free, and it’s what she loved to do most. Still, Spitfire couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy at the prospect of what today brought. 

Closing her eyes once more, Spitfire thought back to the day she had received the letter in the mail. The elation from opening it to find that she had been accepted into the training academy for the Pegasus Division of the Protective Pony Platoon filled her senses as if she were in that moment again. The E.U.P. Guard was not a thing to be taken lightly, and Spitfire knew that only the best made it in.
Shifting mental gears, Spitfire thought about the summer that lie ahead. She knew that it would be a hard couple months of drills, strenuous flying, and challenging tasks. Spitfire grinned at the prospect. She accepted it as a challenge, barely now able to control her growing nervous excitement. 

“This is it,” she thought to herself. “It’s time to put my training to use.”

With a kick and a flap of her wings, she darted off the cloud.

“Today’s the day!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Beep! Beep! Beep!

An annoying alarm filled the quiet morning atmosphere. Groggily opening his eyes, Soarin’ looked at the accusing device. Taking a glance at the clock, his heavy eyes flew open, as he bolted upright in shock. 

“No, no, no, no, no!” he stammered. “I’m so late!” Throwing the sheets off him and slamming the alarm off, he darted out of bed. Within an instant, he had raced down the hall and into the bathroom. “Come on, come on, come on!” he grumbled, waiting for the cold water of the shower to warm up. Deciding that there wasn’t enough time, he tossed his towel on the floor and plunged in anyways. His body quickly tensed up under the cold water, as he began to rapidly scrub himself clean. 

“Stupid water always taking forever to warm up at this altitude,” he mumbled to himself. “How did I sleep in this long!” he exclaimed out of frustration. “Stupid, stupid, stupid…” Soarin’ muttered, as he banged his forehead against the shower wall a few times. “I have to be there in an hour!” 

Expertly using his wing to turn off the water, he stepped out of the shower – and straight onto the towel. The towel flew out from under him as he lost his balance and slipped, causing him to fall forward at the door, smacking his left eye of the doorknob. “Celestia dammit!” he yelped, as he lay on the floor, filled with pain and embarrassment. He could almost feel the ring forming around his eye. “Great, just great,” he slurred, getting back to his feet. One look in the mirror told him all he needed to know. He swiftly combed back his long navy blue bangs and disheveled mane and stared at his growing black eye. 

“It’s going to be a long day, isn’t it?” he thought to himself. He shook his head as to clear the negativity and tried to reach a better mindset. Forcing a small smile to his face, he closed his eyes in thought.

“Today’s the day!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soarin’ couldn’t have had a worse morning. Fortunately, he had spent the last week packing and making sure everything was in order for him to walk out the door. His clothes were packed, his papers were in order, and his apartment was almost effectively powered down. 

“Okay,” he thought, munching on some oatmeal, “If I leave here in fifteen minutes, check out, and power down my apartment, that should leave me with thirty-three minutes to get out to the academy. It’s a thirty minute flight so…” 


Coming to this realization, he tried pouring the rest of his breakfast down his throat. “I gotta get going now!” he mumbled through his mouthful of food, sputtering some every which way. He quickly grabbed a sheet lying across from him, and went over the checklist again.

“What to do on check-in day: A checklist,” Soarin’ read aloud. “Step One: Check in at the front desk of your appointed dorm by eleven o’clock. They will give you a key to your room. Step Two: Find your room and roommate. Step Three: After accommodating, make your way to the Cloudiseum for the introductory ceremony and meeting.” 

“Easy enough,” he said, tucking the sheet into a satchel. “Time to get moving!” He began buzzing from place to place around the apartment, giving it one last glance before he would have to lock it up for the summer. He gathered up his luggage – a suitcase of clothes, another suitcase of personal items, and a satchel full of necessary papers – and placed them out in the hallway. Deciding that his work was satisfactory, he closed the door and locked it. 

“I don’t think I’ll be missing this place any time soon,” he chuckled to himself. Soarin’ let out a happy sigh as he grabbed his luggage and took off. He flew down the hallway and several flights of stairs in a hurried frenzy, coming to a screeching halt in front of the front desk. The mare in behind the desk looked up, and gave him a quizzical look.

“Can I help you?” she asked, looking at his injured eye with a raised eyebrow. 

Soarin’ wiped the mirthful grin off his face remembering his black eye. “Umm, I need to make sure everything is locked up and shut down for apartment 357. I’ll be gone for the summer.”

Looking annoyed, she got up from her chair and stated “Just one moment, sir” very monotonously. Soarin’ tapped him hoof impatiently as she returned with a folder and some papers. 

“Soarin’ I presume?”

“Guilty as charged,” he smiled innocently.

She gave him an unamused look. “Sign here.” Giving a sloppy signature, he shoved the paper back across the desk. “We’ll make sure your apartment is kept safe,” she said flatly, walking to the back room again. 

“Am I done, or…” Soarin’ drawled out. No reply came. He bit his lip and glanced back and forth between the clock on the wall and the front door. “Screw it.”

Soarin’ quickly gathered his stuff and raced out the door. He took off in the direction of the city, zooming down the main street, taking in the sights of the city as he flew by. Cloudsdale was growing at a fast rate. New, large buildings, made from industrial strength cloud material seemed to popping up each month. Cloudsdale was now one of the leading cities in weather operations as well, with factories dotting the outside of the floating cloud metropolis. Soarin’ quickly flew down several streets, taking the shortcuts he knew. Someone gave him an angry yell as the blue blur sped in front of him. He didn’t pay any mind; it wasn’t the first time it had happened. Construction workers were always grouchy, even if he may have flown a little too close to the growing structure. The academy campus was on the complete opposite end of town, built on its own cloud on a higher altitude slightly apart from the city. As Soarin’ reached the outskirts of the city, he began to ascend upwards. The suitcases staggered his flight, but with some reluctance, he soared to an altitude above the clouds, spotting the giant fortress in the distance. The Cloudiseum was standout enough, but Soarin’ couldn’t help but gawk at the sheer size of the academy. He had been there only a few times, and never once inside. Liquid rainbow flowed freely off the cloud. Dozens of buildings came into focus as he neared his destination. The Cloudiseum was centered at the heart of the complex, with what he figured were dorm rooms and other training facilities around it. 

“Wow,” he thought to himself. “This place is incredible!” He noticed several other pegasi flying in, also in a frenzied hurry. Remembering that he was close to being late, Soarin’ pushed his giant wings forward with long strides. Coming down with a soft “Pomf” on the cloud landing area, he took in his surroundings.

There was a large, golden arch, inscribed with “Protective Pony Platoon Training Academy” over a pathway that led to a building that read “Welcome Center” above its door. Soarin’ took a tentative step forward, breathing out a heavy breath he hadn’t realized he was holding in.

“This is it,” he thought nervously.

Swallowing a lump in his throat, he forced a confident look on his face. He picked up his suitcases once again, and crossed under the golden arch.

> Roommate Rumination
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spitfire couldn’t help but feel a little small as she walked through campus. The place was bigger than she would have ever imagined. Spitfire passed by building after building, briefly trying to file all the new information. Paths crisscrossed every which way in the cloud terrain, with many posts containing lights or speakers atop of them. Spitfire reached a rather large clearing, centered between many buildings. There were other pegasi flying and walking in groups everywhere. Some were playing catch, others showing off their various flying moves. The first thing she noticed was that every pegasi was with another. She was alone, and didn’t know anyone. 

“Well at least I’ll have my roommate,” thought Spitfire to herself. The thought brought a slight nervous feeling to her stomach. “Come on Spits, get it together. You’re usually confident and outgoing, so why do you feel so nervous about this? Well, what if she doesn’t like me,” Spitfire argued with herself.

Spitfire’s line of thought was cut off as she stopped in front of her destination. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a map and some papers to make sure she was at the right place. Glancing up, she noticed that “Willow Hall” was inscribed in large letters on the side of the building. 

“Oh, right,” she grinned sheepishly, tucking the papers back in her bag. “I guess I’m here.” Slowly opening the front door, she headed inside to find an array of ponies everywhere in the foyer. Spotting the front desk across the room, she maneuvered her way through the crowd. 

“Name and papers please,” a voice from behind the desk called out, as Spitfire approached the desk. A light green stallion starred back at her, with one hoof supporting his head, and another stretched out motioning for her papers. 

“Spitfire,” she replied as she shuffled through her bag for her authorization notes. The light green stallion took her papers, and stamped something onto it. Picking up a highlighter in his mouth, he shuffled through the papers before picking up his own and crossing her name off the list. 

“You’ll be in the east side of the hall,” he explained as he turned around. “Further down this main corridor, the hall splits into two separate sides, east and west. You’re room number is 107,” he continued, grabbing a key off a giant key rack. “If you need anything, you can get it here at the front desk,” he said, handing Spitfire the key.

“Thanks!” she said cheerfully, putting the key on her lanyard. 

“And don’t forget to be at the Cloudiseum by noon!” he called after her, as she began to walk away.

Spitfire wasn’t even thinking that far ahead. As she approached the fork in the hallway, the nervous tension began to creep up on her again. Turning the corner, she was met with a long hallway full of doors. The tension only rose as she neared her room. She sat down on her haunches in front of the door labeled “107” and let out a nervous sigh. Biting her lip, she gently reached for the doorknob. It gave a slow twist open. “Well, whoever my roommate is, she’s in there,” Spitfire observed excitedly.  Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door the rest of the way open. 

Spitfire took a moment to observe her new living space. It was small and pretty cramped. The walls and ceiling were obviously old, completed with some seeable cracks. There was a large window on the opposite side of the room. Spitfire stood next to a small entryway, with a mirror on her right and cabinets to her left. It also seemed uncomfortably hot, making the tension in the room seem even thicker. Spitfire immediately noticed that half of the dorm room had been well covered with pictures. The room was complete with two dressers and two desks, tucked neatly under two bunk beds, each separated on split sides of the room. Atop the other bed, another pony lay there, reading a magazine. From what Spitfire could tell, her fur was a cloudy white color. Slowly, she peered over the magazine before closing it and setting it aside. Gently, she jumped off the bunk and floated down. 

“’Sup,” she said chirpily, with a tilt of her head. “I’m Aerial.”

Her white coat was barely contrasted by her wispy light blue mane and tail. Her tail had a light, seafoam green stripe running through it. Spitfire traced it up to her flank, where a cutie mark of three gray lined swirls depicting wind stood out. She was smaller like Spitfire, but had rather large wings with transitioning white to light blue feathers around the edge. For some unknown reason, there was something about her that Spitfire couldn’t quite place. She seemed…light. When she had leaped down from her bunk, Aerial seemed to just….float, like a feather. Sapphire eyes gazed back at Spitfire, as Aerial stuck out her leg, awaiting a hoof bump.

“I assume you’re Spitfire?” 

“Yeah, that’s me,” Spitfire forcefully laughed, bumping her hoof against Aerial’s. 

“Cool,” she stated, turning back to our side of the room. “I don’t bite, so you can stop being nervous and come in. You should really get yourself unpacked; we only have an hour before we have to head off to the Cloudiseum.”

“Oh, right,” Spitfire said, putting her bags down in front of the dresser. Her nervousness from before was slowly wearing off. Aerial’s lofty spirits had quickly given her a peace of mind. “So,” Spitfire began, unpacking her clothes, “Tell me about yourself Aerial.”

“I’m from Las Pegasus. I lived on the edge of the unforgiving desert with the ocean close too. I know EVERYTHING about the weather,” she stressed. “It can get bad out there, with sandstorms, twisters, even the occasional hurricane. If you couldn’t tell from my many posters, I love music. There’s really not too much else you need to know.” Ducking behind her magazine so that only her eyes could peer over, Aerial smirked and continued. “Oh! I should also probably mention that I’m into mares.”

Spitfire slammed the drawer closed slightly harder than intended. A blush began to appear on her face as she turned around. “Oh….that’s cool,” Spitfire stated very slowly, avoiding eye contact, not really sure what to say.

Aerial burst out into a fit of laughter, unable to keep up the façade. “Your face….right now,” Aerial cried, giggling uncontrollably as she peered over the edge of the bed. “It’s so…RED!” Spitfire turned away trying to get her blush under control. 

“Relax Spits, I’m joking. I just wanted to see how you’d react,” Aerial managed through, wiping away tears. 

“Ohh that’s how it is, is it?” Spitfire thought deviously. “Two can play that game.”


“It’s rather unfortunate you feel that way…” Spitfire said as she turned around and looked Aerial right in the eye. “…because I thought that we…” Spitfire continued, flying up to Aerial’s bed. “…were about to get off to a better start than I had ever imagined,” Spitfire purred, trying to give Aerial her best bedroom eyes. 

It was Aerial’s turn to blush. “Spitfire…I….I….” she stammered. Aerial seemed to be trying to make herself small, pushing herself back up against the wall. Spitfire continued hovering there for another dramatic seconds, hoofs folded behind her back. 

“Gotcha!” Spitfire exclaimed, punching Aerial in the shoulder before dropping back to the floor.

“Not funny, Spits!” Aerial shouted from above. “You were almost too convincing!”

“Whatever lovebird,” Spitfire shot back with a smile. “I’m all settled in, so we should probably head over to the Cloudiseum.”

Aerial leaped off her bunk and floated down in front of Spitfire’s path to the door. “You know, I was a little tense about this whole roommate thing earlier, but you’re pretty cool Spitty.” 

“Oh stop it,” Spitfire said with a wave of the hoof. “You’re gunna make me blush again.”

“Ughhh…” Aerial groaned, smacking a hoof to her face. “Is this what it’s going to be like all summer?”

“Oh don’t be so dramatic,” Spitfire gagged, flying over top of her and opening the door. “I’m a delight!”

Aerial dragged the door closed with her wing on the way out. A swift turn of the key locked the door, as Spitfire began to walk down the hallway. Hearing no hoofsteps behind her, she turned around to find Aerial checking the locked door. 

“Have you always been this fascinated with doors?” Spitfire joked curiously.

“Ha-ha,” Aerial mockingly laughed back. “I’m methodical okay? I want to make sure it’s closed.”

“Are you like this with everything?” Spitfire enquired, half serious as they made their way to the fork in the hall.

“Usually. I do everything in a systematic fashion. I like to be thorough.”

After a short walk, the two made their way outside into the bright sunlight. “Celestia, it sure is hot out today!” Spitfire sighed. “I hope it’s not always like this up here.”

“Well your hair is on fire,” Aerial grinned.

“What?!” Spitfire panicked. 

“Calm down Spits, it isn’t. Your mane does have a really fiery look though. Does this mean you’re a hothead?” Aerial laughed at her pun.

“Real funny,” Spitfire drawled. 

No sooner had the words left her lips when the speakers at the top of poles came to life. “INTRODUCTORY MEETING IN FIFTEEN MINUTES!” the speaker shouted. Spitfire and Aerial quickened their pace. They had been trotting in silence for a few minutes, when a Pegasus zipped in front of them. From out of nowhere, a satchel dropped from the blazing blur. 

“Huh,” Spitfire mused, picking up the dropped item. “Poor thing must be running late. I guess I’ll hold on to it and return it later.” Aerial gave her a shrug as she threw it on. 

“He’s never going to make it,” Aerial stated with a joking laugh, as they made their way to the Cloudiseum.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m never going to make it,” Soarin’ groaned as he flew up to the Welcome Center. A bell chimed as he pushed his way through the front door. “I need to know how to get to Willow Hall,” he said hurriedly. 

“Go straight on the path once you exit the other side of this building, then take a right on the large intersecting path once you near the Cloudiseum,” came a nagging voice behind the counter. The mare had clearly had a long day, and wasn’t even glancing in Soarin’s direction. “And for the love of Celestia, please take a map on the way out. I don’t think I can handle another confused, lost pony today,” she sighed. She looked up to see a blue trail lingering behind the closing door.

Soarin’ bolted down the path. In his frenzy of scrambling out the door, he had forgotten to throw his satchel back over his neck, struggling to keep ahold of it in one hoof with his suitcase. “INTRODUCTORY MEETING IN FIFTEEN MINUTES!” a speaker barked nearby. Startled by the sudden voice, Soarin’ began to slightly lose hold of his luggage. Nearing the Cloudiseum, he spotted the next path and made a sharp turn right. The force of the turn made his satchel slip out of his grip. 

“I don’t have time for this!” Soarin’ inwardly cursed. Figuring that he would receive it back eventually, he flew on. He was so distracted by his lost luggage that he nearly had time to fan his wings, stopping him near inches from the words “Willow Hall”. Soarin’ swooped down through the front door and up to the front desk, throwing his suitcases down on the floor.

“Well I thought I had seen the last of them,” a light green stallion moaned. “Name and papers please.”

“Uhhh…” Soarin’ hesitated, remembering his dropped satchel. “I dropped them along the way.”

Soarin’ gave a small pout to the tired stallion. “Oh whatever,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “By the look of your eye I’d guess that you’ve had a pretty bad day. Just tell me your name.”

“Soarin’”

“Alright Soarin’,” he said through a mouth full of highlighter. “You’re in room 260 on the west side.” He tossed him a key from the key rack behind him. “Take a left at the fork in the corridor, and you should probably step on it.” 

Soarin’ didn’t need telling twice. Grabbing the heavy suitcases, he snatched the key with his teeth and rocketed out of sight. Sweat was gently forming under his wind swept mane as he rounded the corner. He forced himself to slow down and read the room numbers. 

“258…259…260!” Soarin’ didn’t even give a second thought to what he might find on the other side of the door as he slid the key in and shoved it open. He burst through the door to find…..nothing. The room was pretty empty, completely devoid of another pony. Two sets of dressers and desks sat respectively on opposite sides underneath bunk beads. All that sat in the room was a single, closed and unpacked suitcase by the desk on the right side of the room. Soarin’ gave a quick thought to inspect it, but remembered his time constraint. Tossing the suitcases up onto his bunk, he rushed to the window. “I guess I’ll have to meet my roommate later,” he thought to himself. Wasting no time, he unlatched it and jumped out, flying as fast as he could to the Cloudiseum. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soarin’ could hear hundreds of voices swirl into a deafening wave as he floated down in front of one of the Cloudiseum’s many entrances. The doors were still open, leading to a stairway. “Looks like I made it,” Soarin’ sighed, relaxing a little. He quickly climbed his way to the top of the glassy cloud stairs, eyes growing wide at the sight. The place was ginormous, with thousands of seats around the circular arena. He quickly scanned for an open spot, settling on the second to last on the end of the row near the stair exit. He had enough excitement for one day, and wasn’t quite ready to be social. The chair choice had empty seats to either side. 

He allowed himself a moment to take everything in. The sun was beating down feverously, causing intense glares off the glassy structure. Every part of the building had been made with a material unfamiliar to Soarin’. He thought it looked most similar to the ice he had seen at the cloud factories, but it had a rough, warm texture. Oddly shaped creatures patterned the top ring of the arena, spewing rainbow liquid from their sculpted mouths into rivulets that ran down to the ground between seats, pooling into a ring at the bottom. The bottom part below the seats, which Soarin’ observed as the stage of the arena, looked like the cloud walking paths he had been on early. However, in the dead center of it all was a wide open hole of nothing but air. Soarin’ shifted up in his seat, and truly saw the ground from a bird’s eye view. Still overwhelmed at the complexity of the Cloudiseum, Soarin’ sunk back down in his seat. He was about to stretch out his tired wings over the empty seat, when a gold streak flew from the stairwell and plopped down in the seat next to him. 

“Woah there partner,” the stallion said, removing Soarin’s wing from around the back of the seat. “You have to at least ask my name before you try to pull a move on me.”

“For the love of….alright, what’s your name?” Soarin’ said, giving up. 

“The name’s Blaze,” he replied, polishing his hoof on his chest. “And it looks like I got here too early.”

“The ceremony is going to start any second,” Soarin’ stated. “Weren’t you worried about being late?”

“Psssh, whatever. I wasn’t even going to go to this stupid thing anyways,” Blaze responded noncommittally.

Soarin’ smacked his forehead. This last thing he needed was a dingus like this during the ceremony. Soarin’s eyes darted to the right. Blaze was a lot smaller than he was. His orange, sunburst hair shined fiercely with his golden coat. His ruby red eyes gazed out at nothing in particular, as he continued to look bored. A ruffle of his wings revealed intense muscles, bulging out in complement to his toned body. Soarin’s eyes veered south to find a cutie mark that looked a lot like a lightning bolt on fire. 

Blaze turned his head and caught Soarin’ looking at his flank. “Couldn’t wait for me to get up to stare at my….woah, dude, did you already get into a fight?” Blaze questioned, reeling half way through his joke. Soarin’ realized that his bruised black eye was opposite to where Blaze was sitting. An embarrassed look fell upon Soarin’s face as he quickly turned away.

“Not exactly…” he said slowly. 

Blaze didn’t hear him. “A fight before the first day of training? That’s badass!” Blaze turned and smirked, “I think I can get past you ogling over my awesomeness if you tell me the story!”

Soarin’ raised a hoof to the back of his head, still avoiding eye contact. “Well…I kind of had a disagreement with a doorknob.” Blaze’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Well you see….I kind of….” Soarin’ staggered, unsure of how to explain his own misfortune. Sighing loudly, he decided to just say it. “I slipped on my towel on my way out of the shower and fell face first into the doorknob.” There was an awkward pause. Struggling to keep a straight face, Blaze burst out laughing. 

“You….shower….towel….doorknob….” he sputtered out between laughing fits. “That is the most priceless thing I think I have ever heard! Wait till everyone finds out…” Blaze cut himself off, realizing he didn’t know Soarin’s name. “Uh so, awkward question, but what’s your name?”

“Ohhh no, I’m not telling you,” Soarin’ grinned.

“I’ll leave you alone if you tell me.” 

Soarin’ mulled over the proposal. “Fine, it’s Soarin’.”

“Alright,” Blaze answered quickly. There was a long pause. Soarin’ had figured he was actually keeping his promise, when he spoke up again. “Yeah…..I’m not gunna leave you alone.”

“Ughh….Celestia help me,” Soarin’ cried, covering his face with his hooves and sinking lower into his chair.

“Would ya quit your whining?” Blaze giggled, amused. “This stupid ceremony is about to start.”

> The Satchel Swap
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trumpets sounded loudly from the arena stage entrances. As the fanfare progressed, pegasi in leather brown jackets began to fly in to the arena. They came in groups – some from above, others through the hole at center stage. A few more came rocketing from the tunnels, with a final group blazing overhead before entering as well. As each pegasi flew in, they carried with them a piece of cloud. Each one proceeded to pack their piece in with the rest before flying over to the others. As each piece of cloud was added, a walkway was beginning to take shape, leading to the dead center of the arena.

“Wow, they can really fly!” Soarin’ remarked as the last of the pegasi flew in. 

“They seem pretty slow to me,” Blaze sighed with a roll of his eyes. 

“Sarcasm?” Soarin’ questioned, turning his attention to Blaze.

“Uh, no,” Blaze said, “I’m the fastest pony alive.”

It was Soarin’s turn to roll his eyes. “Whatever you say Blaze.”

The trumpets ended their piece as a new figure emerged from the tunnel and walked out to center stage. Over top his purple fur was a jacket, beaming with badges. A pegasi flew over a microphone to center stage. 

“Welcome to the academy for the Protective Pony Platoons for Pegasi!” he shouted into the microphone. “I am Commander Easyglider, and I will be leading most of you in your drills throughout this summer.” His voice was extremely rugged and bitter. 

“Wow, a purple pegasi for a drill instructor? That’s rich!” Blaze laughed. “I don’t think I’ll be able to take him seriously!”

“I would personally like to welcome you, ALL of you, to the academy,” he said, putting a weighted emphasis on the words “all of you”, and cocking his head straight left. 

“What the heck was that?” Soarin’ asked.

“Soarin’, look over there!” Blaze exclaimed, throwing out his hoof in front of Soarin’s face. Soarin’ turned his attention to where Blaze was pointing. It was hard to pick them out from a distance at first, but Soarin’ noticed two griffons sitting next to each other. As if they weren’t noticeable enough, no one sat near them. The crowd formed a neat ring around them, more than several seats away, avoiding them like the plague. 

"That's odd," noted Soarin'.

“Without further ado,” Commander Easyglider continued, “everyone stand in salute to General Flash!” Everyone in the Cloudiseum got to their hooves as another figure walked slowly out to center stage. 

Soarin’ studied him from a distance. A lightning bolt inside a shield stood out on his flank in comparison to his dark brown fur. His black mane was hinted with a touch of gray, giving a slight indication at his age. No one made a sound as they quietly returned to their seats. He stood at the microphone, gazing at the crowd, seeming to command everyone’s attention. 

“Welcome,” he said, with a gruff voice. “I am General Flash, president of this academy. You will be seeing a lot of Commander Easyglider and me throughout your stay. In addition to being Commander, Easyglider is also my Lieutenant, second in command, and your drill sergeant,” Flash explained. “Let me briefly explain what your life will be like here,” Flash continued. “You will struggle. It will be difficult. Most of you will drop out. Even more of you will simply fail. If you are lucky, you will make it onto the reserve list. But a few of you,” he said, after pausing for a few seconds, “will earn the right to wear one of these brown leather jackets, like these fine pegasi over here.” An uncomfortable silence plagued the Cloudiseum as Flash took a pause in his speech. “Only the best will survive here,” he stated, almost with a warning tone. With that, he left his spot at center stage, and walked out of the arena. Commander Easyglider followed right behind him, holding his head high. 

The pegasi who put out the microphone came forward and took center stage. “You have the rest of the day to yourself,” he said in a much more peaceful tone. “Take time to accommodate yourselves, explore the academy, eat, and rest up. Further instructions for tomorrow will be posted tonight in your dorm’s dining hall.”

“That was depressing,” Soarin’ stated flatly, as everyone began to get up and leave. 

“Yeah, no kidding,” said Blaze. Even he seemed a taken aback. 

The two got up and headed down the glassy stairs. The sun beat down as they exited the Cloudiseum. They were both lost in their own thoughts as they walked side by side down the cloud walkway. Soarin’s mind wandered back to his dorm room and roommate situation. Realizing that he and Blaze were simply walking in silence, Soarin’ decided to break the quiet atmosphere.

“Well I don’t know about you, but I have to head back and unpack. I was running behind earlier,” Soarin’ stated, half expecting Blaze to take off.

“What hall are you in?” Blaze questioned, snapping out of his quiet haze.

“Willow Hall,” Soarin’ replied. 

Blaze suddenly stopped walking. “No way! Me too,” he laughed. “I guess we can keep going the same way.” The two traveled in silence for a little while longer before Blaze spoke up again. “Mind if I just come chill in your dorm room for a while? I haven’t unpacked either, but all I have is a single suitcase,” he said noncommittally. “I can take care of that later tonight.”

Soarin’s mind thought back to earlier today. “Willow Hall…single suitcase…hasn’t unpacked…” he thought to himself, putting pieces of the puzzle together. “Oh Celestia, is Blaze my roommate?”


Soarin’ stopped walking. Blaze turned around and gave him a confused look. “Blaze, I think we’re roommates,” Soarin’ said. Blaze responded with a laugh.

“I wish,” he stated flatly. “I already met my roommate. I’m probably just further down the hall.”

“Hmmm….” Soarin’ pondered. “I wonder who my roommate is.”


“You comin’ or what?” Blaze asked, smirking. Soarin’ realized he had been sitting there on his haunches in thought. 

“Calm your pinfeathers,” Soarin’ smiled, getting back on his hooves. “Even if I don’t know my roommate, at least I have Blaze,” Soarin’ thought to himself. “I guess he’s not that bad.”


The two continued to Willow Hall, talking about the introductory ceremony. Their laughter filled the corridor as they neared their wing of Willow Hall. Soarin’ stopped them in front of room 260. 

“Home sweet home.” he said lowly, wondering if his roommate would be on the other side this time. 

“You’re pretty close to me. I’m in 269,” said Blaze, glancing down the hallway as Soarin’ opened the door. The two walked into an empty room. The suitcase was still in the same place, unopened and unpacked. “Looks like it’s just us,” Blaze stated.

“I still have no idea who my roommate is,” Soarin’ replied as he flapped up to his bunk. He grabbed the suitcases and tossed them down to Blaze. 

“Well he can’t hide from you forever,” Blaze said with a laugh. “I bet he’ll come knocking on the door any minute now!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Well that was a rather….interesting ceremony,” Aerial stated slowly as her and Spitfire exited from the Cloudiseum. 

“I know,” Spitfire replied. “It seemed more like a warning than a warm welcome.”

Aerial jumped into the air, perfectly catching a breeze beneath her outstretched wings. “So what’re you going to do with that satchel?” 
Aerial asked as she floated alongside Spitfire.

“Well I should probably find its owner,” said Spitfire as she examined the cutie mark stitched into the bag. “I shouldn’t look inside, but there will probably be some indication in there,” she continued, sitting down on a fluffy cloud bench.

“You could just walk around looking at every pony’s butt,” said Aerial with a giggle, as she landed in front of Spitfire. Aerial snatched the satchel from Spitfire’s hooves playfully and took out a paper from inside. “Lucky for you, it’s a stallion. Looks like you’ll need to find the ass belonging to one Mr. Soarin’,” she said with a big grin on her face. 

“Hey, gimme that!” Spitfire exclaimed, snatching the paper back with a slight blush on her face. “Hmm…” she drawled out. “It looks like he’s on the other side of Willow Hall! I think I’ll stop there on the way back.”

“Alright, I’m going to go check out the practice field.”

“Meet back at the room in half an hour?”

“Deal,” Aerial said, catching another breeze and drifting away.

Spitfire got up from her cloud bench and walked into Willow Hall. She noticed the same light green stallion was working the front desk. “What can I do for you?” he asked sleepily, slowly rolling his eyes up to greet Spitfire’s. 

“I need to know what room…Soarin’ is staying in,” she said, pulling out the paper as a double check.

“Oh, yeah!” he replied. “I remember that guy. He was running late and said he didn’t have his papers. I’ll take that and file it for him. Soarin’ is in room 260 of the west wing,” he said, taking the papers from Spitfire.

“Thanks!” Spitfire replied happily, starting off down the hallway.  She slowly counted as the numbers grew to room 260. Locating it, she sat down in front of the door with a pause. “Let’s get this over with,” she thought, letting out a loud sigh.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m just saying, I seriously am the fastest.”

“There’s no way you’re the fastest pony here Blaze.”

“No, I’m the fastest. Period.”

“Whatever,” Soarin’ said with a wave of the hoof. “You know there’s a lot more to flying than just being fast.”

“Said someone who’s not the fastest,” shot back Blaze with a chuckle.

“Whatever featherhead,” Soarin’ laughed, as he whipped a pillow up at Blaze, who was lying on Soarin’s bunk with his eyes closed. “We’ll see how well you do against me in the drills tomorrow!”

“You?” Blaze laughed hysterically. “You’ll probably hit your face on the ground during a wing-up and give yourself another black eye!” Blaze continued, half hanging over the edge of the bunk. Soarin’ was about to throw another pillow at him, when a knock at the door interrupted him mid-swing. Both ponies looked at each other, then back to the door. The knock came again.

“I told ya’ your roommate would be here soon! Better go get that, dude,” whispered Blaze.

Soarin’ tentatively walked towards the door. “Why would my roommate need to knock?” he thought, reaching for the doorknob. 
Throwing it opened, he was greeted with a mare sitting on her haunches. Emerald eyes met amber as the two stared, neither knowing what to say. Spitfire’s glowing golden fur reflected in Soarin’s eyes as he traced Spitfire’s physique. He noticed her tail swaying slightly from side to side, showing off a golden streak in her orange hair. A satchel lay over her back, resting next to the firebird on her flank. He shifted his gaze back up to meet hers, but didn’t find them. Spitfire’s eyes had also wandered, slowly making their way up Soarin’s muscular back. She could see the definition in his well-trained wings. They were neatly tucked at his side, ruffling slightly as she traced her way up. Her gaze gradually ascended back up his navy blue mane. Spitfire noticed that he was staring blankly back into her eyes. Her eyes were nearing the end of their journey, gently making their way back to meet his emerald stare...

“What happened to your eye?!” Spitfire blurted out suddenly. She hadn’t realized how awkwardly quiet it had gotten. “Way to go Spits,” she inwardly hissed, mentally chiding herself. Soarin’ shied away a little bit, his face turning a light crimson color. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Spitfire began, before being cut off by a riotous laughter coming from somewhere in the background. Spitfire had been completely oblivious to the pony half-hanging over the bunk. He had been watching the whole scene, apparently amused. 

Blaze was laughing so hard that he fell off his bunk. “Uhh…ignore him,” Soarin’ began with a cough. “Can I help you?” he said, hoping his forced smile would hide his growing blush. 

“I…I found your satchel after you dropped it,” Spitfire replied shakily, removing the satchel from over her neck. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting so nervous?” she thought, fumbling with the satchel.

“Oh! Thank you,” Soarin’ squeaked. His voice seemed to jump an entire octave. He mentally punched himself for the embarrassing voice crack. “Did that really just happen? You sound like a freakin’ filly!” 


Blaze began laughing uncontrollably as Spitfire handed the satchel to Soarin’. Blaze composed himself slightly, and bolted over to Soarin’s side. “Soarin’ watch out! It might attack again!” he exclaimed throwing one hoof around his back, and the other pointed accusingly at the nearby doorknob. He couldn’t keep up the dramatic act. Blaze fell to the floor in laughter, rolling from side to side. Spitfire stifled a small giggle as she watched the theatrics. If Soarin’s face wasn’t noticeable before, it was now, sporting a deep shade of red. Blaze got to his feet, and began flying back to his perch on Soarin’s bunk. “So classic,” he muttered between laughs, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Soarin’ stole a glance at Spitfire, whose face displayed a mix of confusion and amusement. “I uh, kinda slipped face first into a doorknob this morning,” Soarin’ muttered quietly, turning his head away again in embarrassment. Spitfire lifted a hoof to her mouth in an attempt to stifle her giggling. 

“So Soarin’, is that your roommate?” Spitfire said, trying to shift the things away from the stallion’s obvious embarrassment. 

“Thank Celestia no,” he said with a roll of the eyes, relaxing a bit. "That's Blaze. I met him at the Cloudiseum."

“Making friends already,” Spitfire smiled, raising an eyebrow.

“I like to think of him as more of a parasite.”

Spitfire gave an unnecessarily loud girlish laugh at the joke, feeling her face heat up. “Are you blushing?! What’s wrong with you?” 


“I never caught your name,” said Soarin’. He thought he could see a slight pink tint on her cheeks as he extended a hoof. 

“S-Spitfire,” she stuttered quickly, shaking his hoof. 

“Well Spitfire, thank you for returning my satchel,” said Soarin’ with a small grin.

“No problem! I’ll catch you later!” Spitfire got up and briskly walked away. It turned into a trot as she neared her side of Willow Hall. Spitfire was still trying to control her blush, more than happy to be out of there. She came to halt in front of her door. She threw herself into her dorm room, panting as she leaned against the inside of the door on her hind legs. 

“You look like you saw a ghost Spits!” said Aerial from her desk. “I take it the satchel exchange didn’t go well?”

“It was amazing,” Spitfire instantly thought. She shook her head, quickly clearing the thought. She forced herself to calm down, and slowly walked over to Aerial. “It was fine,” she said coolly. “I’m going to take a quick nap,” she said, flying up to her bunk. 

Spitfire swiftly buried herself in her sheets, throwing them over her head. Her head was swimming with thoughts of the pale blue stallion. “What the hell just happened?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What the hell just happened?” thought Soarin’, as Spitfire turned and bolted down the hallway. “That was really weird,” he thought aloud. 

“More like hysterical!” Blaze chirped in from behind him.

“You’re such an ass!” Soarin’ said with a smirk, whipping his satchel at him.

“You’re the one that made an ass of yourself!”

“Shut up! It’s not easy when you embarrass me like that!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Blaze said floating down off the bed. Soarin’ shot him a confused look. “Dude,” Blaze said with a roll of the eyes, “she was really hot! You should have asked her to dinner or something.”

“Are you kidding me? You saw how fast she left,” said Soarin’, slightly dejectedly.

“Well at least you have me!” Blaze said, grinning. 

“Oh yeah, perfect.”

“Come on, don’t you want to get to know me over dinner?” Blaze said slyly, draping a wing across Soarin’s back.

“Celestia, you’re terrible,” said Soarin’, shoving Blaze’s wing off him. “Let’s go eat before I kick your flank!”

“Like you could!” laughed Blaze, flying over top of Soarin’ to the door.

“Hey, I was already in a fight, remember?” Soarin’ chuckled, pointing to his black eye. “I’m one tough stallion!” he said, closing the door behind him. 

“You’re a freakin’ marshmallow!” Blaze laughed back, punching Soarin’ on the shoulder. 

“Oh excuse me for not being so brash, “Mr. Fastest Pegasi Ever”,” Soarin’ said with his best impersonation of Blaze.

The two continued to playfully joke at each other’s expense as they walked down the hall to the cafeteria. Despite what Soarin’ had previously thought, he was quietly enjoying Blaze’s company. The prospect of having to handle camp life alone suddenly seemed daunting to him. With Blaze he had someone to laugh with; someone to keep relaxed in this new experience. 

The two wandered into the large mess hall, taken aback at the quality. Soarin’ had quietly expected a dirty, old cafeteria that served some nasty mush. The place was actually rather open, complete with a glass roof.  Two wooden sets of stairs on the outside of the eatery ran up the walls to a second floor patio that overlooked the rest of the cafeteria. The dinner line stretched up to serving stations, complete with hanging fruit baskets. Ivy vines covered the walls of the hall, complementing the flower pots dotted around the cafeteria. Soarin’ and Blaze snaked their way up to the end of the line.

“Customizable sandwiches and hayfries? Hay yeah!” said Blaze excitedly, giving a hoof pump into the air. “This place rocks!” 

“Everything smells so good!” said Soarin’, with an audible grumble from his empty stomach. 

Soarin’s eyes grew wide as he saw the array of options for his sandwich. By the time he had placed and received his order, his mouth was watering. He carefully balanced the tray on his wing and made his way to a table in the back. Blaze quickly joined him, barely able to contain himself from slamming his face into the food. 

“I don’t even care if I get fat!” he exclaimed, pulling up for a breath of air between bites. 

“This is better than anything back home!” said Soarin’ through a mouthful of food. He chewed thoughtfully and swallowed his large bite. “You never told me where you’re from.”

“So you do want to get to know me?” Blaze said, giving Soarin’ a sneaky smile. Soarin’ smacked his hoof on his forehead, cursing his curiosity. “I’m from a town called Windsoar,” said Blaze, turning back to his food. “It’s a pretty small place that doesn’t have much. It’s nothing like this. Cloudsdale is right next to here, and it’s huge! I’ve never really been to a big city like this.”

Soarin’ noticed his shift in demeanor. “This is actually a big deal to him,” Soarin’ thought between chews. “He probably needed someone like me…” “Well it looks like you’ll have to suffer through it with me!” Soarin’ finally replied. Blaze didn’t say anything, but a noticeable smile grew across his face as he went back to his food.

The two ate in silence for a while. Soarin’ was deep in thought when Blaze started shaking him excitedly. “Look over at the line!” Blaze exclaimed. He could feel the heat rising to his face as he glanced over. “Alright, second chance! You can ask her to sit with us!” 
“No way Blaze! She’ll probably just be creeped out.”

“Come on Soarin’! Grow some stones!” Soarin’ was glaring daggers at him.  “If you don’t say something to her, I will for you,” Blaze threatened.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“You better make up your mind quick, she’s headed this way!”

Soarin’ began to panic. “Blaze, come on! I don’t like her or anything, just leave it be!”

“I saw you earlier! If you don’t say something I will, and it won’t be pretty.”

Spitfire was a couple tables away, focused on the tray on her outstretched wings. She was almost at the table when Blaze opened his mouth. “Hey Spi-“ was all he managed to get out before Soarin’ stomped his hoof on top of Blaze’s.

Unfortunately for Soarin’, Spitfire had directed her eyes up at him. “Hey Spitfire!” he began nervously. “I was…umm you know…wondering if you wanted to….I mean if you don’t it’s fine…” Soarin’ sputtered.

“Wanna sit with us?” Blaze chirped from behind Soarin’.

“Sure!” Spitfire said happily. “Mind if my roommate joins us?”

“More the merrier,” Blaze said, winking at her.

As Spitfire went back to find her roommate, Blaze jabbed Soarin’ in the side. “What the hell man! That killed my hoof!” 

“You deserved it!” Soarin’ hissed quietly. “Why’d you interrupt me?

“Because you’re a nervous train wreck!” whispered Blaze.

The two were quietly whispering jeers at each other as Aerial and Spitfire approached the table. Noticing, they instantly stopped, sitting up straight with large smiles, trying to appear well behaved. 

“Hey guys! This is my roommate Aerial!”

“You suck!” hissed Blaze to Soarin’, through his clenched smile.

“Please to meet you both,” Aerial said, sitting down across from Blaze. Spitfire followed suit, sitting across from Soarin’.

“I’m going to kill you later,” Soarin’ hissed back, kicking him again. 

Blaze gave an audible grunt. “What was that?” asked Spitfire.

“Nothing!” Soarin’ said with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Aerial. I’m Soarin’.”

“And you are?” Aerial questioned, glancing at Blaze.

“That’s Bl-“ Soarin’ began to say, before grimacing in pain. Blaze had thrust his elbow into Soarin’s side.

“I’m Blaze!” he said happily. “So you two live in Willow as well?”

“Yeah…” Spitfire said slowly, observing Soarin’, who was doing his best to not show any pain. “Did you guys looks at the schedule for tomorrow?”

Blaze was reeling for another quick jab, but was interrupted as Soarin’s hoof grabbed his, stopping it in its tracks. “Nope! Why?” Soarin’ replied, as if nothing was happening under the table.

“Are you two alright?” Aerial asked.

“Uh yup, fine,” said Blaze. Both sat up straight again with large smiles.

“Truce?” Soarin’ whispered, as Aerial and Spitfire began eating.

“Screw you.”

“Come on.”

“Fine,” Blaze hissed, giving in to the stalemate. 

“What are you two whispering about?” Aerial questioned with a smirk.

“Whispering? What whispering?” Soarin’ said nervously, his eyes quickly darting from left to right. 

“Anyways,” Aerial continued, “The schedule for tomorrow is up on the wall.”

“We should take a look at that,” said Blaze.

“No need,” Aerial interrupted. “Since we’re all in Willow, we’ll be in the same line of drills all summer,” she stated knowledgeably. “Wake up is at six A.M., with drills starting at the fields behind this hall at seven.” 

“Damn, that’s way too early,” said Blaze with a sigh.

“Hey, what happened to your eye Soarin’?” asked Aerial out of the blue.

Soarin’ responded by dropping his forehead down against the table with a loud groan. Blaze burst out laughing. “Captain Klutz over here hates doorknobs!” Aerial shot him a confused look. Soarin’ groaned again. “No, let me tell it this time!” said Blaze excitedly. 

Soarin’ and Blaze began telling the story, with Aerial laughing along the way. No one noticed Spitfire, seemingly lost in her food. Taking opportunities as they came, she kept stealing glances at the stallion across from her. “He sure is muscular…” she mindlessly drawled. Spitfire didn’t notice she was staring at Soarin’ until he turned and caught her looking at him. “Oh crap,” she thought, instantly averting her eyes back to her food. 

Soarin’ looked back down at his plate, caught off guard by the act. “Was she staring at me?” Blaze and Aerial continued talking, unaware of the tension right next to them. Spitfire and Soarin’ awkwardly kept trying to steal glances at each other, each attempting conceal their subtle blushes. 

Soarin’s ears tuned into the conversation next to him. “Well, I’m done eating,” said Blaze, rubbing his belly.

“Me too!” said Aerial tiredly. “Are you ready to head back Spits?”

“Oh, uh yeah,” Spitfire said, forcing a smile to her face. “See you boys tomorrow!” she parted, getting up from her seat. Her gaze seemed to linger on Soarin’s eyes as she got up and walked away.

“See you then,” said Soarin’ quietly, barely audible.

“You really like her, don’t you!” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Whatever you say hombre,” said Blaze with a laugh, getting out of his seat. “I’m going to head back to my dorm room. I’ll catch ya’ during drills.”

“Later,” Soarin’ replied. He decided to sit there for a bit, lost in thought. “Did she really keep glancing at me, or am I imagining things?” he thought, looking up at the glassy ceiling. The sky was clear, dotted with bright little stars, shining in the distance. Soarin’ thought the night looked very picturesque from this altitude. Deciding that he should get to bed, he got up and deposited his tray. Soarin’ was so lost in thought that he didn’t even think twice to when he opened the door to his room. He mindlessly walked in, halting in his tracks when he heard a noise in the dark. A mysterious figure hopped down from the bunk on the right as Soarin’ flicked on the lights. 

Light gave definition to the shadowy character’s features. He was taller than Soarin’, looking down at him. His wings were large and showy, with bright yellow highlights on the tips of his dark brown wings. His wings matched his fur, with a thick, dark brown coat. Sticking out from his behind was a long, thin tail, with a white to yellow transitional fluff at the end of it. The yellow fur from his neck up sharply accented against his dark brown coat. Blue spots were dotted in pattern under his sharp, golden beak. He sat on his hind legs, with a gray talon stretched out in greeting. Light blue eyes stared sharply at Soarin’.

“Hi. I’m your roommate Gale, Gale the Griffon.”
> Day One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Captain, you know I fully trust your judgment, but do you really think it’s a good idea to go forward with this?

Easyglider stood on edge as Flash slowly turned around from behind his desk. He let the moment of silence play before speaking. Flash’s solid blue eyes glared at him with a burning stare. Easyglider knew that he himself was the most feared person around the academy, but even Flash made him stand on a nervous tilt. The emerging stubble on Flash’s face added to his gruff, experienced personality. His eyes loosened a bit as he finally spoke.

“I do. Sit down, lieutenant.” Easyglider gratefully took the nearby seat, happy to be off his shaky hooves. “Let me explain something to you,” Flash began, turning his back on Easyglider. He stared out his backdrop window at the wide, starry expanse. Luna had expertly crafted a scenic nightscape. The moon was high in the night sky, big and golden, casting a resilient light into the dimly lit room. “The Griffon War was over fifteen years ago now,” Flash continued, closing his eyes as if trying to recall the memory. 

“It was bad out there, Easyglider,” said Flash. He was talking rapidly now, as if he were back in the moment. “I was so excited when I was first promoted to Captain. The glory, the military power; it was amazing. Let me tell you something, lieutenant: it’s only amazing until you have to use it. When the griffons attacked, everything came down onto my shoulders. I went from behind the desk to the heat of the battlefield. There are some things you don’t want to see in life, lieutenant, and the gore of battle with those bastard griffons is something that is deeply scarred within me. Those days haunt me as if a knife has carved them into my darkest nightmare. I grew to hate those creatures, more than I hated the war itself.”

He was fuming now, clearly growing distraught from recalling the memory. Flash spun around rapidly, slamming his hoof on his desk and leaning out in front of Easyglider’s face. “You think you don’t want those two misfits here?” he shouted. “Imagine how much I don’t want them in my academy! IF ANYBODY DOESN’T WANT THEM HERE, IT’S ME!” he shouted with a deep, gruff voice. 

“I’m sorry sir,” said Easyglider, with a bowed head. 

Flash breathed ruggedly for a moment, composing himself. Forcing himself to relax, he sat down behind his desk. “Times have changed, lieutenant,” he said calmly. His entire demeanor shifted, the words almost coming out quietly. “This comes from beyond me.”

“How do you mean, sir?”

“Please, Easyglider, enough with the formalities. You’re my second in command; my partner, not my subordinate.” He let out a sigh and hung his head slightly. “This comes from Celestia herself. She wants to demonstrate peace with the Griffon Kingdom, using this as a leading example. If these two griffons can join our military, it’ll be a sign that we are partners with their country, and an unwavering powerhouse to any future threats.”

“Future threats?”

“Like I said, times have changed. Celestia told me that political peace is becoming difficult to sustain. She wants us to keep an eye on other bordering nations.”

“Is Equestria in danger?” asked Easyglider.

“No,” he replied slowly, his expression matching the confident tone in his voice. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soarin’ stared at the outstretched talon. “How do I shake this thing?” he thought as he slowly reached out to accept the greeting. “Nice to meet you,” he said gingerly as the griffon gently shook his hoof. “I’m Soarin’.” There was an awkward air of silence, neither knowing how to approach the other species. “So, I take it you’re from the Griffon Kingdom then?” Soarin’ asked in desperation. 

“Yeah.”

“Not much of a talker,” Soarin’ observed. “Well,” he started, trying to find an out to the conversation. “I think I’m going to head to bed. It’s getting late.”

“Yeah,” Gale replied, before flapping back up to his bunk.

“Of all the roommates, I would get a griffon,” Soarin’ grumbled to himself, flipping the lights back off. The streaming white moonlight contrasted the darkness, guiding Soarin’ up to his bunk. He could hear Gale already snoring as he tried to get comfortable in his new bed. No matter how hard he tried, sleep eluded him. Soarin’s mind was far too busy, swimming with replays of the busy day’s events. It seemed like forever ago that he had woken up late to the piercing alarm. So much had happened between now and then. He began to mentally repeat his journey as he tossed and turned in the bed. Slowly, he began to get drowsy, his mind leveling off to one single thought. His eyes gently closed on the long day, his mind stalling on the thought of amber eyes and golden fur. 

Beep! Beep! Beep!

A loud alarm cut through the morning air, scaring Soarin’ out of his slumber. The alarm had startled him so much the he nearly fell off the bunk in shock. Soarin’ slowly opened his eyes to Gale below him, shutting off the alarm. 

“We start drills in an hour,” Gale said, noticing Soarin’ was awake. “I’m sorry for the alarm.”

“It’s probably a good thing you did,” Soarin’ said with a groggy chuckle. “I was late yesterday. I don’t need a repeat of that mess.” Soarin’ lazily rolled off the bunk and let his wings float him down to the floor. 

“I’m going to get some breakfast,” Gale said quietly, making a move towards the door. 

“Yeah, I’ll probably head down soon as well,” Soarin’ replied, still hardly awake. He wasn’t even aware that Gale had swiftly left the room, not caring for Soarin’s reply. Soarin’ sat down in his desk chair, feeling his eyes droop as he gazed out the window. Celestia had barely begun to raise the sun; a slight tint of bright orange and red coloring the horizon. “Just five more minutes,” he thought, closing his eyes and letting his head fall to the side. 

A loud knock came from the door, startling Soarin’ awake again. “Huh…what?” Soarin’ muttered sleepily, jolting awake. He walked over and opened the door to find Blaze, who was leaning against the outside wall with his eyes closed. 

“It’s so bucking early!” he whined, still slumped against the wall.

“I think we need some breakfast.”

“If they don’t have coffee, I’m never going to survive today.”

“If they don’t have coffee, I won’t even make it out of the cafeteria,” Soarin’ laughed. The two stumbled down the hall towards the cafeteria, with half opened eyes. The duo managed to find the end of the breakfast line, guided by the aroma of food and coffee beans. 

“I can literally feel bags forming under my eyes,” Blaze complained.

“I smell coffee!” Soarin’ said, perking up from the thought alone. Both stallions received a plate full of pancakes and fruit before heading over to the coffee station at the end of the line. Soarin’ slowly made his way across the cafeteria, and plopped down next to Blaze. Unable to wait any longer, he lifted the hot mug up to his muzzle, taking in the strong aroma. The warm liquid was like a wake-up call to his body, both relaxing and rejuvenating. Setting the mug down, he turned to Blaze, who was slurping his coffee loudly. He was bent forward, face first into his mug, muzzle buried in the coffee, as it sat on his tray. 

“Do you do anything like a normal pony?

Blaze lifted his head, coffee dripping from his lips. “Say what now?”

“Oh, nothing,” Soarin’ said sarcastically. A grumble from his stomach scolded him, as he started to dissect his pancakes. Chewing happily, he turned back to Blaze, who was already on his second cup of coffee. “You’re going to be a jittery mess out there!” Soarin’ laughed.

“I like to think of it as a speed boost,” he said with a grin. “What do you think they’ll have us doing today?”

“I dunno,” Soarin’ said between bites. “All I know is that I’m definitely not ready for a full day workout.”

“I don’t know anybody who likes to be awake at this time.”

“My roommate sure seemed ready to go,” said Soarin’ thoughtfully, remembering back earlier.

“Oh yeah! Who is your roommate? I didn’t see him when I came to the door.”

Soarin’ scanned the cafeteria, hoping that Gale was still eating. He found him at a small table across the room in the back corner, eating with another griffon. “See those griffons over there?” Soarin’ said with a flash of the eyes, “the dark brown one is my roommate.”

Blaze nearly choked on his pancake. “You’re roommate is a griffon?” he asked, with a dumbfounded look. “That’s so…” he started, not sure what to say.

“It sucks,” Soarin’ finished for him. “He won’t talk to me, and I’ve never met a griffon before. I don’t know what they’re like or how they act. I don’t even know why they’re here!”

“I was wondering the same thing,” said Blaze. “This is a pegasi branch of the military after all.” Blaze took a rather large bite of pancake, still staring across the room. “Any idea who the other fellow is?”

Soarin’ turned to get a good look at the griffon across from Gale. His back was turned away from them, only showing his large, black wings stretching out of his gray fur. “No idea,” Soarin’ said noncommittally. 

“Well it looks like we’re about to get a good look at him,” Blaze said as he turned back to his food.

Soarin’ looked up from his breakfast and peered over his shoulder just in time to catch Gale and the other griffon walk past them. The unknown griffon’s eyes met Soarin’s in a deathly glare, sending a shiver down Soarin’s spine as they walked on by. He was much larger than Gale, with muscles seeming to define every limb. His dark black wings matched his pure black face and neck. His black hair transitioned to red on the tip of his bangs. Hiding behind the tips of his hair were two, blood-red eyes. His deadly ambience was even more exemplified by the red, diagonal scar over his left eye. Sticking out of his metallic, dark gray fur were two, large black talons.  Time almost seemed to slow as the two observed each other out of the corner of their eyes. Soarin’ stared blankly at the black ball of fur at the end of his tail as he walked away. A shiver rolled down Soarin’s back again, almost as if a cold wake had been left from his presence. 

“I think death just walked by,” Blaze said in a joking tone. 

Soarin’ was about to make a sly remark when a voice came over the speaker system. “ALL CADETS REPORT TO THE TRAINING FIELD! DRILLS BEGIN IN 15 MINUTES!” the voice boomed. 

“Aww shit!” Blaze exclaimed, waffling down the rest of his pancakes and washing it down with the rest of his coffee. Soarin’ couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, as Blaze let out a few rough coughs. “Good to go!” he said weekly, pointing a hoof to the air. Blaze was nearly bouncing in place as they waited to return their trays. He put his tray on the slide and began punching the air, bouncing on his hind legs. “I’m ready, I’m ready!” he said repeatedly. 

“Dude, calm down,” Soarin’ laughed. “You had way too much coffee.”

“You had too much coffee,” Blaze said mockingly, as they walked out of the cafeteria. 

“You do know where to go, right?” asked Soarin’ tentatively as he pushed open the doors of Willow Hall. 

“Um, no. I thought you did!”

“Celestia dammit Blaze! Let’s just start walking and see if we can follow someone there.”

“Do ya’ think we should charge them for directions?” a voice said from behind.

Soarin’ turned around to find Spitfire giggling mirthfully, holding a hoof over her mouth. “I think it’s appropriate if they want a tour,” she replied.

“Hardy-har. We’re all gunna be late if we don’t get going soon!” whined Blazed, jumping into the air with a powerful flap of his wings. 
Aerial followed suit, pouncing into the air after Blaze. Spitfire walked over to a sitting Soarin’, both sprouting smiles.

“Mind showing me the way?” Soarin’ asked as she walked over.

“Only if you say please,” Spitfire teased.

“Pretty please?”

Spitfire walked passed Soarin’, gently letting her tail brush noticeably across Soarin’s side. “Come on, featherbrain. We don’t want to be late on the first day!” 

A shiver bulleted down Soarin’s back as the fiery tail made contact with his side. His wings fidgeted excitedly as he tensed up from the unexpected touch. His smile broadened as he got to his hooves, rushing to catch up to Spitfire. The two traveled side by side silently as Blaze and Aerial floated above. Soarin’s mind was still trying to catch up to him. Absentmindedly, he accidentally drifted closer to Spitfire, until he gently brushed up against her side. Startled, he backed away slightly, blush gently coloring his cheeks. He was too shy to notice the slight tint on Spitfire’s as well. A minute passed, before Spitfire decided to test the water. She held her breath under a hidden smile as she returned the bump to Soarin’s side. Spitfire felt a nervous sensation as her fur momentarily blended with his.
Blaze and Aerial, who had seemingly disappeared for the walk, landed down a few feet in front of the pair, snapping them out of their trance. “Looks like we’re here!” Blaze said excitedly, still obviously buzzing from his morning coffee. 

Soarin’s mind had been too busy elsewhere to notice their destination. A large fence was swayed open in front of them, displaying a perfectly manicured cloud field. At the far end away from the gates, a bunch of pegasi buzzed excitedly. The group made their way over just in time. Commander Easyglider made his way out of a tunnel from the building connected to the field.

“EVERYPONY LINE UP!” he barked. No one dared disobey the booming voice. Soarin’ found himself standing next to Blaze in line, separated from Spitfire’s side in the frantic shuffle of pegasi. Easyglider began to pace down the line, gazing mischievously at each pegasi as he walked by. 

To Easyglider, he loved this position. He could smell the nervous fear as he walked down the line of recruits. He stood taller than all of them, imposing himself as he walked in front of their faces. Some looked week at the knees as he walked by, others ruffled their wings in anxious anticipation. Easyglider fought back a grin, wondering who would crack first under the impeccable morning silence. “There’s always one,” he thought to himself mischievously as he passed a pale blue pegasi.

Soarin was trying his best to not show any intimidation as Easyglider neared. He stared straight ahead as the Commander passed over him and continued walking. Soarin’ was about to let out a breath he had been holding, when he heard a snicker coming from his left. Blaze was holding a hoof over his mouth trying his best not to burst out laughing. “What in Tartarus is so funny?!” Soarin’ hissed. 

“Our…drill sergeant…is…purple!” Blaze sputtered out. He was nearly chocking trying to fight back his laugh. It proved to be too much, accidentally letting a loud laugh slip into the quiet air. 

“Dude, shut up!” Soarin’ chided. Only after he said it did he realize his mistake. Soarin’ watched as Easyglider stopped in his tracks. Within an instant he was muzzle to muzzle with the purple drill sergeant. 
“What’s so funny, cadet?” barked Easyglider to Soarin’s face.

“N-nothing, sir,” Soarin’ replied. 

“Do you think it’s funny because I’m purple? I think it’s funny that you’re still standing! Drop and give me one hundred wing-ups!” Easyglider yelled.

“One hundred?” Soarin’ questioned weakly.

“NOW CADET!” Easyglider barked directly into Soarin’s ear. 

Soarin’ didn’t need telling twice. He could feel Easyglider’s gaze coming from above him as he fell to the ground. His wings propelled him back up and down, thundering through the reps. 

“That’s twenty son, LET’S PICK UP THE PACE!” barked a voice from above him.

Soarin’ could feel everybody’s eyes on him. His muscles were beginning to groan in protest, breath becoming staggered. 

“Half way there, cadet! Do you still think it’s funny?” Easyglider jeered.

“No, sir,” Soarin’ breathed out under gasping breaths. Sweat was beginning to form under the heat of the rising sun. Soarin’s pace had slowed to an agonizing struggle as the voice continued to assault him from above.

“That’s eighty!” Easyglider shouted, dropping down to yell in Soarin’s ear again. “You look like a quitter to me! I bet you’ll drop out within the first week! In fact, I think I’ll kick you out myself if you don’t make it to one hundred!”

Soarin’ wasn’t the only one breathing hard. Down the line, Spitfire watched the display. Her face held the hard exterior expected of the trainees, but Spitfire’s eyes told a different story. Beneath, she was worried for the poor stallion, hoping he could persevere through Easyglider’s tirade.  “Come on, Soarin’.”

“Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!” Easyglider counted. Soarin’ collapsed to the ground, breathing hard beneath the commander. 
Spitfire slowly let out a deep breath between her lips. While the scenario had her on edge, she couldn’t help but feel a growing admiration towards the stallion. She admired the way he persisted and fought for what he wanted. Spitfire knew, then, that he wanted this as much as she did. “He sure is courageous,” her mind wandered. “And handsome.” She shook her head, snapping out of the trance. Spitfire hadn’t even noticed that she had let her demeanor down, staring dreamily at the panting stallion on the ground. 

“On your feet, son!” commanded Easyglider. Soarin’ jumped to his feet with the little energy he had left. “Was that fun?” asked Easyglider mockingly.

“No, sir,” Soarin’ replied weakly. 

“Well,” Easyglider began, trotting some distance away from the line “You did pretty well with the first set. I don’t think everybody else here knows how much fun wing-ups are!” Soarin’ felt a knot grow in his stomach as Easyglider continued. “Why don’t you come out here and lead this sorry bunch in another one hundred wing-ups!”

Soarin’ gulped, trotting out to where Easyglider was standing. “Why me? I am so going to kill Blaze for this.” Soarin’ thought to himself. “I’m never going to be able to do another set…” he thought worriedly. He walked up to Easyglider and turned to face the line of cadets. Down the line, he saw Gale, already in position for the wing-ups. Shifting his gaze, he saw Blaze trying to mouth “I’m sorry” to him. His eyes finally spotted Spitfire, who gave him a reassuring smile. It was all he needed. 

“You will all follow Soarin’s count through one hundred more wing-ups!” Easyglider barked to the crowd. “If any one of you cannot complete the task, you will be asked to leave! Any of you,” he said again more quietly,” turning to Soarin’. “GET TO IT!”

Soarin’ allowed himself a smile as he dropped to the ground. “One, two, three…” he counted loudly. He looked up between reps at the line following his every move. Easyglider had taken to the line, occasionally screaming at somepony who was struggling with the exercise. The weight of all the wing-ups finally got to Soarin’ as he neared seventy. The strain was apparent in his voice with each push back up. Easyglider wandered by his side again, but chose to say nothing and observe the struggling stallion near his two hundredth wing-up.

Soarin’s heart was pounding now; wings throbbing in resisting pain. Sweat was nearly pouring out of his tired body. He forced himself onward, knowing that everyone was following his move. He couldn’t give up.

“Two hundred!” Soarin’ shouted in triumph, collapsing to the ground. Everyone else did the same, spent from the tiresome wing-ups.

“On your feet, cadet!” Easyglider commanded, all too soon.

“That’s a lot to ask for at this point,” thought Soarin’ sardonically. He reluctantly followed the command, coming face to face with the drill sergeant. 

“What’s your name son?” Easyglider barked in Soarin’s ear.

“Soarin’,” he replied tiredly.

“Well, Soarin’ that was a DAMN FINE DISPLAY OF LEADERSHIP!” 

“Thank yo-“ Soarin’ began to say, before being loudly cut off.

LISTEN UP!” he shouted, turning around to the line. “Tomorrow, you will all be put through a speed test to see who the fastest fliers are. It will be the only event of the day, so look for your time in the cafeteria. Also, there will be a curfew for eight o’clock from here on out.” He paused, letting everything sink in. “Now,” he began slowly, turning back to Soarin’. “I want you to lead this sorry bunch for one hundred laps around this field.”

“You mean in the air or on-“

“NOW!” Easyglider yelled at the top of his lungs, practically scaring Soarin’ into the air.

Soarin’ took to the air, making his way to the edge of the field. He looked back to find eveypony else leaping into the air after him. He let out a needed sigh, happy to be off the ground and away from Easyglider. Soarin’ let his mind ease, counting the laps as they went by. He glided with the wind, allowing his tired wings some respite. 

“I am SO sorry,” a voice said, snapping him out of his happy flight. 

Soarin’ turned to look at Blaze with deep glare. “I hate you so much. That should’ve been you out there.”

“Well at least you got a compliment out of it!” Blaze tried weakly. Soarin’ decided not to reply. “Oh, come on Soarin’! I’ll make it up to you!” Soarin’ turned to look at him again with a raised eyebrow. “I promise, I owe you a solid.”

“I’m holding you to that,” Soarin’ replied, giving Blaze his most devious smirk. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spitfire let the warm water run down her tired body. The first day had been much harder than she expected. Her wings lay limp at her sides, far too tired to move. Steam began to flow up from the locker room shower floor, enveloping her in a cloud of smoke. Spitfire lost herself to the day’s events, mind wandering free after hours of strenuous work. “You did well today, Spits,” she happily complemented herself. She paused mentally, before continuing the train of thought. “Not as well as Soarin’. He’s a natural leader…I’m nothing like that.” 

Spitfire shut of the shower, sighing at the thought of the stallion. Snapping back to reality, she trotted back into the locker room, passing by dozens of pegasi discussing the first day.  At the far end, she spotted Aerial, sitting on a bench by herself.

“Bout’ time Spits, I’m ready to get out of this place.”

“Yeah me too. I’m famished,” Spitfire said, throwing her towel in the nearby bin. The two talked avidly about the day as they walked back to Willow Hall. Driven by the smell of food from down the hall, they quickly made their way to the bustling cafeteria. 

“Sweet Celestia, it’s pizza today!” Aerial exclaimed from in front of Spitfire.

Spitfire wasn’t paying attention. Amber eyes darted around the eatery, searching for pale blue and emerald. 

“Whatcha want,” a sassy voice called to Spitfire.

“Oh, um, I’ll have the pineapple pizza,” said Spitfire, remembering that she was in line. The server slapped a large slice onto her tray before promptly turning to the next in line. 

“I’m assuming you want to go sit by Soarin’ and Blaze?” Aerial questioned, once out of the line.

“I don’t think they’re here,” Spitfire said, a little too disappointedly. 

Aerial laughed, catching Spitfire’s tone. “They’re sitting over there,” she said, pointing her free hoof. 

“Oh right, same spot as yesterday,” Spitfire thought with a roll of the eyes. “If you want to, we can,” Spitfire replied.

“Right, if I want to,” Aerial emphasized with a grin, walking towards the table. Soarin’ and Blaze noticed them heading their way. “Good evening Mr. Blaze, Mr. Troublemaker,” Aerial said jokingly, taking a seat.

“Hey guys,” Spitfire smiled, sitting across from Soarin’.

“I’m sure Blaze would be happy to tell you about how much of a troublemaker I am,” said Soarin’.

“I said I was sorry!” 

“I take it that the wrong person was punished?” Spitfire grinned. 

“I did nothing wrong!” Blaze said, throwing up his hooves in innocence. 

“You laughed at him right after he walked past.”

“I wish this place wasn’t so serious,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Well, I was told that the cadets in Willow Hall were the best recruits. You’re expected to be serious,” Aerial chimed in knowledgably. 

“Stupid Willow Hall,” Blaze muttered grumpily. “Why’s this place named Willow anyways?”

“I heard that there’s a really large willow tree below the building on the ground beneath the academy,” said Aerial. 

“Do you know everything?” asked Blaze.

“Basically.”

“We should go check out the willow tree!” said Spitfire out of nowhere. 

Soarin’ and Blaze exchanged a devious look. “I guess I have a name for getting into trouble,” Soarin’ laughed. “I’m in.”

“I’d like to actually be a troublemaker. Let’s do it!” said Blaze.

“As long as we make the curfew, I’m in,” chimed Aerial. 

The four exchanged smiles, forgetting about their supper. They nonchalantly dumped their trays off and made for the front door. The moon was beginning to rise into the sky, sunset projecting four long shadows flying off into the distance.