//------------------------------//
// Social Interactions 
// Story: Of Mail and Wings 
// by Wiz Ahmad 
//------------------------------//

Shane was onto me as soon as I crossed the yellow waiting line, not waiting a moment for me to even speak.

"Why did you let the bogey in on your squadron without proper identification?" he snapped. 

I gulped and let out a short sigh. "Because it didn't come across as a threat. I haven't heard of an enemy who'd attempt to make radio contact requesting for permission to join a flight team. And... I actually know her."

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Fleetfoot – a blue and yellow figure standing by the hangar doors. Before Shane or I could say or do anything in response, she came running over, and looked at Shane straight in the eye, causing him to lean back in surprise.

"You were..." he began.

"Yes sir," Fleetfoot replied. "I was the bogey. And Brian here," she added, putting a supportive hoof around my leg, "is my caretaker."

For once, Shane was left starstruck. Forcing myself not to smile, I looked down at Fleetfoot.

"How on earth did you get into contact with us?"

Fleetfoot simply unzipped her flight suit and pulled the head-cover part of it back to reveal a radio headset over her ears and a small transmitter on the back of her neck. "With these."

"How'd you find those?"

"In your room," she replied with a smug smile. "Batteries were dead, so I replaced them, and used your laptop to find a median range of the pilots' operating frequency. Entering the flight zone, I kept tweaking the transmitter until I could pick up a signal. Then I took off and chased down a group of fighter jets I saw attempting to perform together."

Shane turned to her, and I noticed his face changed. He didn't look angry, but more confused and slightly fascinated. 

"A pegasus... on the Air Force base... this is just too much. C'mon, we must talk."

Rather forcefully, he led me and Fleetfoot towards the hangar and into the meeting room beside the locker room beyond. I stood while Fleetfoot sat on her haunches on a chair.

"So you deliberately refused to inform me first when Fleeter—"

"Fleetfoot, sir," the pegasus corrected.

"Fleetfoot," Shane continued, a streak of lividness in his voice, "entered the airspace?"

"Yes, sir," I replied. "I feared she'd be ordered to be shot down otherwise. I let her approach, then once I recognized it was her, I proceeded, figuring I could inform and reconcile after the flight session."

Shane's eyes shifted over to the blue-and-yellow clothed pegasus, who was looking rather innocent and adorable sitting on the chair like a dog, her eyes sad and pitful.

I kept a straight face as Shane's eyes softened, and he turned back to me. "This is your last chance. Any more violations and your wings are stripped. You got that?"

"Yes, sir," I replied firmly.

"Good." His gaze shifted again to Fleetfoot. "You may not have the armament, but you showed a lot of guts and respect to avoid conflict. I saw that low pass – you were more on point than Steve. To be honest, it still amazes me how such a small pegasus as you can fly so fast. You may not be able to become a complete member of the air force, but you surely can be an amazing assistant in training pilots. Mind coming in tomorrow at dusk to discuss further plans?"

"I don't see why not, sir," Fleetfoot replied with a salute. "And thank you for being kind and respectful."

"You're most welcome, Fleetfoot." Shane's face changed again – he looked serious, but satisfied. "All that needs to be said has been said for now. You both are dismissed."

We walked down the hall back to the locker room to change and get ready for the day, but as soon as we entered, Ace, Delta, and Viper were all immediately upon us, words tumbling from their mouths like a spilled bucket of berries.

"Oh my gosh, she looks so cute!"

"What's your name, cutie?"

"Were you really the bogey all along?"

"Damn, you can really fly fast!"

"HIT THE BRAKES!" I bellowed, holding out my hand. "One at a time. Yes indeed, everyone – this is the bogey. Her name is Fleetfoot, and she's my best friend. Not a pet, in case you might speculate. She is now part of our team, and I say this from Shane's mouth, not my own."
It was as if I'd taken control of time and space itself and hit the pause button. Everyone just froze in place, totally stunned by what I had just said. So, Steve shattered the silence. 

"Can we ask a few questions, Fleetfoot?"

"Fire away, my fellow fliers," Fleetfoot replied with a proud smile.

So the pilots asked her various things – where she was from, her flying capabilities, and how she managed to achieve radio contact. I acted as a moderator, making sure that nothing got out of hand.

Eventually my phone in my duffel bag buzzed, indicating it was 3:00. I swore. "Fleetfoot! We gotta get going now!"

Her face fell slightly in disappointment, and I could see all the other pilots trying to hold back their "cuteness" emotions. It was rather funny to see them get all soft on the inside over the presence of a winged pony in a blue and yellow suit. 

"I must be going now everyone," she said, shaking her head. "However, I can't leave without thanking you all for your cooperation in our formation flight and for being so kind... albeit enthusiastic. Now get down on your knees and give me what I'm sure you all wanted to do the instant your eyes laid upon me – a hug."

"Awww, thanks!" Steve said sympathetically, gently wrapping his arms around Fleetfoot. Viper's was more casual, but Ace clutched Fleetfoot and cuddled her like she was his child. I felt rather uneasy at this excessive gesture, finding it rather obscene and inappropriate. Luckily, Fleetfoot didn't seem to mind. She even gave him a kiss on the cheek, which resulted in a slight blush. Finally Fleetfoot slide back onto the floor and we walked out of the building together and across the parking lot towards my car.

"Why did you kiss him?" I retorted as we made our way back home through busy traffic. 

"Because everyone deserves love," Fleetfoot shot back.

That shut me up like a slap. She was right though. Even while my inner emotions felt that Ace's actions were wrong, love shouldn't be something to be held back or denied. With the way she looked and acted, it made complete sense why my fellow pilots would take a liking to her.

As I neared our neighbourhood street, my phone buzzed again, signalling my second notification for my arrival at the post office. I let out a long, distressed sigh.

“Unfortunately, it looks like I’m going to end up being late to work this time. I could just let you out here with my house keys and just zoom off to the post office, but I can’t risk you being seen. At least, not yet.”

“How about I simply enter through the patio door at the back of the house?” Fleetfoot proposed. “I’ll be in and out and back inside again before anyone has a chance to even turn their heads.”

I sat back in my seat at a red light and pondered over it. “That’s a pretty good idea, Fleety. Are you sure you’ll be able to fly fast enough?”
“Flying is part of my blood,” Fleetfoot boasted, already clambering over to the car door and readying herself. 

Gently easing the car into first gear right at the sight of a green light, I unlocked the passenger door, and Fleetfoot pushed it open – whilst I was still driving slowly. Before I could think twice about it, she jumped out and flew up into the air with a loud whoosh. I shut the door and sped off to the post office, hoping she’d stay obvious for as little time as possible.