//------------------------------//
// Soarin' 
// Story: How to Disappear Completely 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	"Where'd you say you were from again, Brad?" Soarin' asked, adjusting his goggles over his head.

Flash Sentry stood casually against the port side railing of the Midnight Oil.  After mulling a bit over an answer, he eventually shrugged and said, "Far far away.  Like..."  He looked up.  "Too far to get there and back easily by wing."

"Huh..."  Soarin' rubbed his chin in thought.  He kept an eye on Blueblood and Canterloy from a distance.  "You must be from across the ocean.  And here I thought most equines from overseas had accents.  Like those from Trottingham or Saddle Arabia."

Flash smirked.  "Sorry to disappoint you."

"No big dealio," Soarin' said, stifling a yawn.  "You don't have to divulge anything.  I'm not meaning to pry."

"I didn't think you were."

"Nice to hear you made a stop by Ponyville," Soarin' said with a genuine smile.  "Lots of swell ponies come from that part of Equestria."

"Judging by the name, I would hope so."

"Heheheh."

Flash tapped the headphones around his neck.  "I gotta go back there eventually.  These belong to somepony special."

"It's a long, long flight at this point," Soarin' said.  "Even for a Wonderbolt."

"Oh, I figured.  So long as I wasn't bothering anybody, I figured I would hang out... y'know?"  Flash stared at the mountains drifting below the ship.  "Fancy Pants has a cool operation going on here.  I'd like to see how he manages to make friends with these 'Diamond Dogs.'"

"Mmmmm... I get the feeling that it'll go just as well as it has on previous occasions."

"Oh?"  Flash looked over.  "How's that?"

"Horribly," Soarin' muttered.

Flash's ears drooped.  "He's been that unlucky, huh?"

"Last time they breezed by these parts, they didn't have the Wonderbolts to escort them," Soarin' explained.  "Fancy Pants' ship came back to dock in Canterlot with several holes punched in its hull."

"Whoah..."  Flash grimaced.  "So you dudes do go to blows..."

"Huh?" Soarin' looked over.

Flash coughed and spoke:  "Well, with you Wonderbolt guys and gals around to help out, maybe things will go smoothely."

"Captain Typhoon doesn't seem to think so," Soarin' said.

"Is that a bad sign?"

"Let's just say that if Typhoon is seeing cloudy weather, then it's probably best to go into hiding."

"But we're doing the opposite of that," Flash said, gesturing westward.  "We're cruising straight into the canine skies."

"Yup."

Flash smirked.  "Sounds adventurous.  Should be super exciting!"

Soarin' looked at him... then eventually smiled.  "Yeah.  Sure, Brad.  I like your attitude."

Flash chuckled.  "I try."

"Well, this sure beats doing paperwork back at the Academy, anyway," Soarin' said, hovering a bit to stretch his wings.  "Also, it's been a while since I had to practice my combat skills... not that I want to use them against any Diamond Dogs, but still... c-could use the exercise, I suppose."

"Is that you guys are?"

"Huh?"

"The Wonderbolts," Flash asked.  "Are you some sort of... military defense unit?"

Soarin' waved his fetlock from side to side.  "More or less.  It depends.  A lot of that stuff is... pretentious mumbo jumbo.  And let's face it: Equestria hasn't gone to war in nearly a thousand years.  Since the Lunar Rebellion."

Flash blinked.  Hard.  "Wow.  That's something."

"Aaaaaaaaand whenever we do face a really nasty threat, it's Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony that come to the rescue," Soarin' explained.  "The Wonderbolts barely get the chance to intervene."

Flash felt his throat go dry.  "You don't say..."

"But... uhm..."  Soarin' squinted at the horizon.  "...something happened to the Elements of Harmony.  Like... they returned to a giant crystal tree?  Or they became crystal necklaces?  Well—one before the other.  Or maybe they turned into Princess Twilight's crystal palace.  Eugh... I can never keep track."

"You ponies sure do have a lot of 'crystal' stuff, huh?"

Soarin' giggled—in a way that only stallions of that land could afford to.  "What's with the 'you ponies' bit?"

Flash winced slightly.  "Erm... what I mean to say is—"

"What I wouldn't give for one day... one moment where the Wonderbolts get to save all of Equestria."  Soarin' smiled proudly, flexing a forelimb.  "Like old times, y'know?"

"Isn't it awesome enough to be a Wonderbolt as it is?"

Soarin's features noticeably sank.

Flash saw it.  "What's wrong?"

"Nothing.  I mean... it's just that..."  Soarin' adjusted the collar of his jumpsuit, gazing blankly into the bright sunlight.  "So much of it has become routine.  And—I don't mean to brag—but I've been one of the top wingponies for... well... forever.  It's a position that hundreds if not thousands of Equestria's best fliers would die for.  And... yeah... it's super cool!  But... when you do the same sort of thing every day... no matter how cool it is..."  He blew out the side of his muzzle, wings limp.  "...it sort of loses its pizazz, y'know?"

"Is there something else you'd rather be doing?" Flash asked.

"No.  Well..."  The hint of a smile tickled the edges of Soarin's blue muzzle.  "I love flying.  I absolutely love it.  In fact... the only thing I love more than flying is teaching other ponies how to fly."

"Cool beans!"  Flash smiled.  "You're in the best position to do that!"

Soarin' gave him a curious look.

Flash blinked.  "Well, aren't you?"

Soarin' chuckled breathily.  "The best I can do in my position is yell and bark at young cadets.  Muscle them into shape.  Put the fear of the Goddesses into them and chisel them into Grade A Wonderbolt material."

"You... make that sound like it's a bad thing."

"Not bad... just... pmffft... abrasive," Soarin' clarified.  "Spitfire enjoys doing it.  Me?  Not so much."

"Spitfire's your leader, right?"

Soarin' nodded.  "Mmmhmm."

"I imagine she's been doing it longer than you," Flash said.  "Maybe she knows some secret to enjoying it that she can share."

"Nope."

"Huh?"

"I mean..."  Soarin' looked aside at the teenager.  "Spitfire joined the academy five years after I had become a wingpony."

Flash did a double-take.  "You mean she's been at it way less than you?"

"Uh huh."

"That's... that's whack, dude!"

Soarin' gave him a look of sincere confusion.  "What do you mean?"

"Don't you deserve to be leader of the Wonderbolts with that sort of experience?"

"Ehhh..."  Soarin' chuckled helplessly, waving a hoof.  "Not exactly my thing."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not leader material!  Not like Spitfire' has been from the start!"  Soarin' scratched the back of his neck.  "Besides... I-I much rather enjoy following the lead... looking after the other wingponies and keeping everyone in line, y'know?  If I was the head of the flock, I just wouldn't know how to carry myself.  I wouldn't gel... and it'd affect the whole group."

Flash exhaled.  "Yeah, okay.  I can respect that.  But still..."  He winked.  "I bet if push came to shove, you'd be the best Wonderbolt there ever was."

"Hah!  Listen to you..."  Soarin' shook his head.  "Nah... I'm afraid that title would go to another pony."

"Who, Spitfire?"

"Nope."  Soarin' smirked devilishly.  "Rainbow Dash."

Flash's ears twitched.  "... ... ...really?"

"Uh huh.  A bit rough around the edges, but she's the most talented pegasus I've seen in a long... lonnnnnnnng time.  Once she hones in on her teamwork skills, I know she'd make a great wingpony.  Heck... even wing leader!"

"Assuming that position ever opens up anytime soon."

"Yeah, well... Spitfire's at her best when she's in control of things."

"Maybe.  But I bet she depends on you a lot.  Same with Rainbow Dash."

"Well, we are a team."

Flash nodded.  "And a team is at its best when every member is happy, don't you think?"

Soarin' glanced aside.  "What are you getting at?"

"Seems that Spitfire loves being a Wonderbolt, and Rainbow Dash has a bright future ahead of her.  But what about you?  What will it take to make Soarin' enthusiastic about the team again?"

"Eh... who cares about me."

Flash shrugged.  "I care about you."

"Pffft.  You hardly even know me, dude."

"When's knowing got anything to do with it?"  Flash took a deep breath.  "If there's anything I'm starting to discover about life... it's that we waste a whole lot of time waiting for the world to care about us when we should maybe start caring for it instead."

Soarin' stared at Flash contemplatively, then at the clouds dissipating overhead.

"And you know what I'm starting to learn about happiness?" Flash remarked with a calm smile.  "It takes change."  He gulped.  "Sometimes dramatic.  Even risky.  Routine can just as much a poison as a blessing."

Soarin' leaned against the railing of the Midnight Oil.  A soft, meditative expression crossed his muzzle, leading him to smile.  "Flying lessons?"

"Hmmm?"

"I would love to give flying lessons," Soarin' confessed.  "Classes.  Lessons.  Seminars.  Only—"  He turned to face Flash with the brightest grin yet.  "Young foals!  I wanna teach fillies and colts how to fly!"

"For real?"

"Yeah, dude."

"Hey, that's awesome!"

"Especially ones who... y'know... struggle to catch the wind under their wings," Soarin' said warmly.  "It's a shame for a pegasus to live a long life and... not know what it means to be free.  It's a great feeling.  It's totally worth showing off."

"So, what's stopping you?" Flash asked, shrugging.  "Maybe you could start teaching classes!"

"And what?  Quit the Wonderbolts?"

Flash's eyes narrowed.  "I never said that, dude."

"Oh..."  Soarin' blushed slightly.  "Right..."

"Just... find some time on the side, y'know?  I'm sure Spitfire would understand."

"Ehhhh..."  Soarin' fidgeted in his jumpsuit.  "I hope so."

Silence, save for the wind and the distant commands shouted between Typhoon and Fancy Pants' crew.

Flash looked around thoughtfully, then glanced at Soarin'.  "Would you... like to teach me some lessons?"

Soarin' gave him a double-take.  "You?"

"Sure!  I mean..."  Flash smirked.  "I'm no foal, but I promise you that I've got an elementary school level of flight knowledge."  He pointed across the deck.  "And I doubt you'll be teaching Prince Chuckles how to fly anytime soon."

"Heh... yeah, let's not be tossing Canterloy around anytime soon," Soarin' said.  "I'd gladly give you a few lessons over that anyday."

"Well, what are we waiting for?"  Flash flapped his wings, taking off from the deck.  "Let 'er rip!"

"What, now?"

"Pfft!  Why not?"  Flash gestured.  "We don't have to stray too far away from the Midnight Oil.  You'll do a better job keeping an eye on the deck from up high anyway!"

Soarin' chuckled.  "You're an impulsive weirdo, Brad.  I dig it."  He levitated beside the teenager.  "That's about as pegasus as 'pegasus' gets."

"You'll have to explain that to me," Flash said.

"Heh... if you say so."

"And something else... something I'm too afraid to ask Fancy Pants or that straight-faced Captain."  Flash hovered close enough to murmur so that only Soarin' could hear.  "Why's that kid next in line for the throne?  Couldn't his Uncle have a colt or filly of his own?"

"I know it's none of my business'n'all... but..."  Soarin' looked around, then leaned in towards Flash.  "The Wonderbolts and I have this running gag."

"Yeah?"

"That he's called 'Blueblood' for a reason."  Soarin' winked.  "Cuz there's more than just his blood that's 'blue.'"

"Pffffffft..."

"Heh heh heh!"

"Dude... I can't believe I didn't see that from a mile away!" Flash exclaimed.  "You ponies have some hope yet!"

"There it is again!"

"Hahaha!"