Practice. Every Wonderbolt that ever was a Wonderbolt had to do it. Spitfire, though captain of the fast flyers, was no exception. Everyday, the same routine: through hoops, around obstacles, formations, speed runs, time trials, and stretching; and to be honest, it got really repetitive. Soarin, the Wonderbolts 2nd in command, had asked Spitfire to help him with some new moves to add to the routine they were going to do at the Equestria Games. Though reluctant, seeing as it was night time and they had all worked particularly hard that day, she agreed.
Spitfire yawned and grumbled,
"Soarin, can't we wait until morning? And didn't we make a new rule about closing the training area after sundown?"
Soarin just smiled and said,
"Aww, come on cap! Pleeeeease? You said we had drills all day tomorrow, and this is the only chance we all get to have any free time. Besides, tomorrow is a deep cleaning of the whole facility. I mean we'll probably just delegate it to Thunderlane or Rainbow Dash, but...that's why free time is the best time to practice, on top of normal practice!"
Spitfire just smirked at him and rolled her eyes and said,
"No, because tomorrow you'll complain to me about how sore and tired you are and lay around all day and eat pie, like normal. And no we will not delegate it to Thunderlane or Rainbow Dash. In fact, I have half a mind to make you do it yourself tomorrow." She stood firm in her decision at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized he had a point.
Finally, she cracked. They had been friends for a long time, and Soarin had a way with "puppy dog eyes."
"Fiiiine...we'll do it. And no complaining tomorrow, or I'll throw you off a cloud with your wings tied to your back."
She chuckled, knowing that they would never really harm each other and if they did, it was just for play.
"YES!!! Spits, you're the best" he said. And with that, they flew off to run through the routine.
About 30 minutes into their routine, Spitfire noticed her eyes were getting heavy, but she wanted to keep an eye on her teammate, just to make sure he didn't pull a boneheaded move or doze off himself. Soarin was into his move, he barrel rolled into a backflip then straight into a dive. Just as he was coming out of his dive, he saw Spitfire flying quickly towards the rings. Her eyes were closed for a split second, but that was all it took.
"Spitfire!!! No!!!!!" he yelled, as Spitfire crashed into one of the rings with her wings caught on both sides. A sickening riiiiip was heard and blood gushed quickly from where her wings used to be. She had, thankfully, been knocked unconscious after hitting the second ring head on. Her wings hung there, dripping with blood, staining the practice rings and spattering all over the field.
Soarin rushed down to her, cradling her lifeless body and weeping.
"Spits, no. Please be okay. This is all my fault! I'm so sorry..."
Tears stained the commander's cheeks as blood pulsed out of the stubs that were once glorious orange wings.
"We have to get you to the infirmary! Fleetfoot, Rainbow Dash, everybody! Spitfire's hurt!!!!"
The other Wonderbolts ran outside, the cadets in tow. Shock on their faces as they saw their broken leader, pools of blood surrounding her and all over Soarin's hooves. Surprise had raced down to Ponyville to get Nurse Redheart to see if she could help.
They picked her up and carried her into the infirmary, Rainbow Dash blabbing like an idiot going
"OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!"
Fleetfoot slapped Rainbow across the face and said
"Get ahold of yourself, rookie! The last thing the captain needs is for us to breakdown right now! We all need to be there for her!"
Rainbow looked at Fleetfoot with tears in her eyes and meekly asked,
"Is she gonna be okay?"
"I don't know, Dash. I just don't know."
Soarin stood in the hospital room, holding Spitfire's hoof and sobbing.
"Cap, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have tried that stupid trick! This is all my fault!!!"
Nurse Redheart had just walked into the room and said
"Commander, we need to perform surgery, I think you should go out there and comfort your team. They need you."
"Okay, I'll go. Oh and Nurse Redheart? Please, she means the world to all of us, but especially to me. Please."
"Commander, I assure you that with every fiber of my being, I will do everything I can to save her. I promise you."
Nurse Redheart pulled him into a hug as he wept on her shoulder, as she comforted him, as best she could saying,
"Shhhhh, shhhh, she'll be okay. She's in good hooves. Shhhh."
As he got to the waiting room of the infirmary, all of the other Wonderbolts rushed up to him, all smothering him with questions.
As he hushed them all, Fleetfoot spoke up and asked,
"Is she gonna be okay? Please tell me she's gonna be okay!"
He put his foreleg around his teammate and said,
"I don't know, Fleet. Nurse Redheart said they were doing surgery, but I didn't really get much more than that."
They all waited in agony, wondering what would become of their beloved captain. But Spitfire was not just a captain; she was a leader, a mentor, a teacher, and for Soarin, a good friend, almost like a sister, and a lover.
As the waiting continued, Nurse Redheart and a doctor pegasus pony, possibly one of the doctors at the facility, walked in holding a clip board.
"Whats the status, doc? Is she gonna be okay? Please, please tell me she's gonna be okay!"
The doctor put his hoof on Soarin's shoulder,
"She...she may never fly again, son. I'm sorry. Looks like your captain of the Wonderbolts now. Congratulations."
Soarin flew into a rage, grabbed the doctor and threw him to the ground, smashing his hooves into the doctor's face, splattering blood everywhere, all over the infirmary!
It took all of the cadets, the rest of the Wonderbolts, and Nurse Redheart rubbing Soarin's back to pry him off of the helpless doctor. Seething with rage, Soarin managed to say through clenched teeth,
"The BEST Wonderbolt captain that has ever been may NEVER fly again and you're telling me CONGRATULATIONS!? GAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!"
Soarin lunged at the doctor again, but Rainbow Dash stood in front of him and said
"SOARIN! This isn't what she would want! Fleetfoot said we need to ban together! Do you think pummeling this doctor is going to make her fly again?! I know how hard it is for you, and it's taken a toll on us too, but WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!"
Rainbow grabbed Soarin by the face as his lip quivered and he fell into her arms, while she stroked his mane saying,
"She'll be okay. She'll still be our captain no matter what, but we need a leader right now. We need you, Soarin."
Soarin gulped, his eyes red and wet with tears and managed to get out,
"O-okay, I'm sorry. And I'm sorry to you too doctor."
The doctor looked at him and said,
"It's okay son. I should've been more delicate and for that, I apologize."
Nurse Redheart took the doctor to get bandaged up and cleaned up so he could operate, while Rainbow Dash held Soarin as he meekly sobbed, while the rest of the Wonderbolts gathered around in a group hug.