The wind pressed hard on Vapor Trail dived straight for the ground. She wanted to peak at her teammates, wondering if they followed her lead. But remembering what Spitfire had enforced into the daydreamer’s head, she rather not be distracted; especially by Sky Stinger. The air bit at the mare’s ears as she picked up speed, the ground growing as she dived downward.
“NOW CLIMB!” Spitfire yelled in her megaphone. Fanning out her wings, Vapor Trail bent her body outward, pulling herself up into the air. The ground came close to the mare, but that was intended; the Wonderbolts were known to perform dangerous stunts most pegusi wouldn't dare to attempt.
Spitfire watched her team members shoot up into the atmosphere with streaks of hues and smoke trails as she stood on the grass alone. “Flying colors,” the captain muttered to herself. “Just the way I like em’.”
“Break formation Wonderbolts!” Spitfire called, not yelling at her normal volume. “Practice is dismissed!”
At once, the stunt ponies slowed their movements and scattered about the sky. Some landed on the clouds, taking deep breaths and enjoying the cool moisture within the white platforms. Others touched down with a slow pace, such as Vapor Trail.
Looking skyward, Vapor Trail looked to see where her friend was. In the air, she caught a glimpse of Sky Stinger’s dark and light- turquoise streak as it shot across the sky. Beside him were two other trails beside him. One was rainbow, and the other, a dark smoke trail that spat out small lightning bolts. It took Vapor Trail a moment to figure out what was going on: Sky Stinger was racing against Rainbow Dash and Soarin.
All three dove for the runway at fast speeds, and soon, others started to notice the racers as well, and began to cheer them on.
“Let's go, Crash!”
“Come on, Soarin!”
“Go Sky!” Vapor Trail cried out with her wings fanned out. Her voice cracked loudly as she rooted for her friend. A hoof nudged the mare’s ribs and caused her to flinch, and she quickly clenched her wings back to her sides. Looking to see who was grabbing her attention, Vapor Trail saw Fleetfoot wearing a sneer.
“Nice cheering, Daydreamer,” she winked. Fleetfoot shook her head when she turned back to the racers, “Soarin’s going to win.”
Insulted, Vapor Trail blurted out, “How do you know?! Sky is in the lead!”
Watching the streaks, Sky Stinger was now right in front of Soarin with Rainbow Dash slightly beside the veteran flyer. Both Rainbow Dash and Sky Stinger were quickly flapping their wings; however, Soarin’s was at a much slower rate. “Soarin is in your friend’s drag,” Fleetfoot answered. “Sky Stinger and Rainbow Dash are using an excessive amount of thrust, burning their energy faster than need be. And considering how we just finished a routine, I am sure all three are tired.”
Vapor Trail was starting to understand Fleetfoot’s logic, “So because Rainbow Dash and Sky are exhausting themselves against natural air…”
“...Soarin is conserving his energy for the kill,” Fleetfoot smirked, watching her friend dive underneath Sky Stinger. Soarin gained an insane amount of velocity, leaving his competitors in his dust; or rather, his black cloud trail. The trail’s lightning bolts bit at Rainbow Dash and Sky Stinger, giving them small shocks for flying too close to the clouds. “He also has a bit of a trick up his sleeve that keeps others from wanting to pass him.” Vapor Trail grumbled at the dirty tactic as she witnessed her friend lose speed upon getting electrified.
With the runway right below his hooves, Soarin touched down and skid on the asphalt with an ’errrt!’ He watched his opponents come for a slow landing as several Wonderbolt’s cheered and wooted for the winner.
“Nice one, Clipper!”
“Great use of your smoke trail!”
“Looks like you are buying lunch tomorrow, Daisy!”
Aside from Misty Fly cursing at Surprise for getting her to bet on the race, everypony else clapped in support of the friendly race. Vapor Trail briskly walked up to Sky Stinger, watching him breathing heavily and fan himself with his wings to keep cool. “You did great Sky,” she said with encouraging pat on the back.
“Thanks,” was all the pegasus could wheeze out, but he smiled nonetheless. “He just got lucky. If he didn't have that smoke trail, even Sorin would have to ask why I beat him.”
Vapor Trail could tell salt was on his wound and she wanted to help Sky feel better. She pulled him close and pressed her cheeks against his, “You are always a winner to me.” As she clung to her friend, Vapor Trail saw Spitfire and Fleetfoot looking at her. They gave the pegasus individual winks before turning toward each other.
“Again, thanks.” This time, he reached an arm around Vapor Trail, appreciating the support. He flashed a smile she could see and the mare grinned back.
“Good race, Soarin,” Rainbow Dash spoke, causing Vapor Trail and Sky Stinger to look at the other racers. “That was some fine flying. And nice smoke trail.”
“You and Sky Stinger did a good job keeping up.” Soarin looked between his opponents, not wanting to have any negative tension. “If you want racing tips, just ask Fleetfoot. She is the one no one can beat.”
In a blur of colors, Rainbow Dash flew to Fleetfoot with an eager gaze. “Tell me your secrets!” It was no secret to the Wonderbolts, including to Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail, that Fleetfoot was an incredible racer who regularly participated in derbies. Whether it was on hoof or by wing, Fleetfoot would always want to show she was the best racer.
As Rainbow Dash and Fleetfoot mingled about techniques, Vapor Trail wanted to get out of her Wonderbolt’s uniform.
“I am going to hit the spa, Sky,” she spoke, hoping he would accompany her based on her statement. But his attention was elsewhere; toward Fleetfoot. Without paying any attention to her, Sky Stinger went over to the race pony, in hopes to get some pointers.
All alone, Vapor Trail frowned and started to trudge to the poolroom by herself. “Hey, Daydreamer!” The voice of Spitfire made the fur on Vapor Trail’s neck stand up.
“Yes captain?” she stiffened and turned to see Spitfire wearing a calm grin.
“Where are you headed off to?”
***
Spitfire and Vapor Trail purred as the hot water relaxed their muscles. The jets shot at their backs, leaving them in a happy sensation of relaxation.
“You did well, Daydreamer,” Spitfire spoke, her voice slightly distorted by the waterjets hitting her spine. “Keep it up and you will move through the ranks quite…” The captain slid from her seat, sinking shoulders below the hot surface. “...nicely…” Spitfire whispered as the water comforted her once cold shoulders. Only her head was above water.
“Thanks,” Vapor Trail nodded, her wet mane bobbing in front of her eyes. “All I did was what you told me. That's all.”
“If only everypony else would just do what I told them.” Spitfire rolled her eyes, wondering why nopony seems to listen to her. “Speaking of you listening…” The captain began to sit up again. “Have you tried talking to your boyfriend and-”
Vapor Trail hissed at Spitfire, begging for her to be quiet. “Not so loud, please!” she whispered with flushed cheeks. “I don't want others to know. Besides, he isn't my boyfriend yet.”
Letting out a bothered sigh, Spitfire said, “Others are going to know eventually if you two become a thing.”
“Not unless it becomes official.” Vapor Trail’s eyes darted around to see if any nearby ears caught Spitfire’s words. “Just please, don't be open about it or tell him. I want to be the one to tell my feelings to him.”
“I never said I was going to tell him.” Spitfire shrugged, not sure why Vapor Trail was getting defensive. Speaking low to avoid spying ears listening in, the yellow mare spoke, “What I was trying to say was have you tried asking him out again, but clearly you two are not together yet.”
Hanging her head low, Vapor Trail let out a defeated sigh. “I tried, but he was again oblivious to my confession.” The pegasus didn't want to go into detail and how Sky Stinger allowed her to practice her confessing skills in him.
“I swear, if you try to ask him out again and he still doesn't take the hint, I will personally take my megaphone, shove it in his suborn ear, and tell him for you.” Spitfire gave Vapor Trail a look that didn't tell a lie. She was going to do it.
Vapor Trail giggled a little, almost hoping her captain would do that. “If it comes down to it, then I won't mind the assistance.”
“Good.” Spitfire sneered at the pegasus. “Because I love to yell at others with my megaphone. Just let me know if and when.”
Now starting to get overheated, Vapor Trail stood up and got out of the jacuzzi. “I'm going to go to the showers to wash off the chlorine.”
“Alright,” Spitfire waved before closing her eyes. “Good luck, Vapor Trail.”
Vapor Trail smiled a bit, glad to have her captain call her by her real name and not Daydreamer. After drying herself off with a towel, she made for the showers.