Embracing the Fog

by SunnyDays


5 - Flying Low (Edited)

“So...why’d you call me in here, boss?” Blitz shuffled a bit on the office chair. Nightshade sat across from her with a rather concerned expression for her fellow saboteur.

“Well, Blitz… What’s up?” She asked, “You’ve been acting quiet lately, and that’s downright uncharacteristic of you.”

“Well...I’ve been thinking about stuff.” She shrugged, looking down and blinking a bit, “Just...stuff, you know?”

“Anything you need to talk about?” Nightshade leaned back in her chair, “Blitz, your lack of energy is pretty concerning.”

“If you’re worried I’ll underperform in training or on a mission, don’t worry, Nightshade.” Blitz offered a small smile, “I’ll be fine. Just because I’m taking some time to...power down, doesn't mean I’m out of the game.” Even so, the metaphorical raincloud hanging above her spoke wonders.

“No, Blitz, that isn’t what I meant.” Nightshade insisted, looking over at the downtrodden blue-purple mare, “I’m worried about you as your friend. You’re upset, everyone can tell. So what’s the deal?”

“Well...same reason you’re mad! Spitfire was a bitch!” She hung her head, pouting, “I know it's more personal for you and everything but seeing someone I called ‘BFF’ acting like this really just…” Blitz sighed, “It just kinda hurts. Worries me.”

Nightshade simply shook her head, frowning down at her desk. “Me too, Blitz, me too. Might I suggest making a new BFF? Shitflyer clearly isn’t worth a rat’s ass.”

Blitz didn’t respond at first, just keeping her gaze locked on the floor, “...yes, captain.”

“Blitz. Do you still trust Spitfire?”

She didn’t reply to that, “Do you need me for anything else, Nightshade?”

“...Is that all you have left to say?”

“Yes, ma’am. Do we have any upcoming missions or important training exercises?” Blitz asked, standing now.

“Not that I know of at the moment. You need some time to yourself then?” Nightshade asked in turn.

“Permission to leave the bunker for a short while? I think I owe my big brother a visit back home.” She nodded, ‘And a certain someone else as well…’

“Absolutely, I want you back in a week, though.” Nightshade said, “If not earlier. I know being down here is a drain on us, but be ready to spring into things should we need you back.”

“Won't even be a week. I'll be back at the crack of thunder if you need me sooner!” She saluted.

Nightshade nodded at her, appreciating the respect, “You’re dismissed. Go get some rest.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Blitz nodded, trotting out to pack. Once she had gone, Nightshade allowed the worry and doubt to creep back into her expression. It seemed the only way Blitz was going to deal with her issues was confronting them head-on. It was just a matter of hoping there wouldn't be much collateral damage afterward. And knowing Blitz? That was a hit-or-miss call.

Blitz, meanwhile, had nearly run straight into Soarin as she exited the office. It just so happened that she was trotting out as he was bracing to go in.

“Oh! Whoops!” She hopped to the side, dancing around the lighter blue stallion, “Sorry about that, Soarin!”

“It’s alright.” He smiled at her, “Guess it’s not that hard to run into each other in here, is it?” He asked, straining his neck to look up at cement ceiling above them.

“Yeah...speaking of, I’m heading out. Few days leave to visit home. Might give the time I need to clear my head.” She chuckled, clonking a hoof against the side of her head for example.

“Oh well, have a good time then, and tell your brother I said hi.” Soarin nodded at her. As she pushed past him and he put his hoof on the door, he suddenly froze. “Blitz? Is this about Spitfire?” He asked, turning back around to face her.

Blitz paused at his question. She was just glad she was looking away when he asked, “You said it yourself, we pegasi get stir crazy down here. How do you think I am?” She laughed awkwardly, trotting onwards.

That was all Soarin needed to know. Shaking his head at her retreat, he knocked on Nightshade’s door.

The sigh could be heard from there, “Come in.” Seems Nightshade was annoyed already. Soarin couldn’t possibly imagine why.

Soarin poked his head in first. “Heya, Shadey. Uh, I need to talk. You busy?”

“No, no, I’m not busy.” She breathed, painting a smile back on her face, “What do you need, Soar?”

“Umm, well, I wanted to talk about your offer.” Soarin pulled himself into the chair in front of Nightshade’s desk, scooting over towards her noisily. “...This place is echoey.” He pointed out with a blink.

“Are you sure? It hasn’t been very long since we offered in the first place.”

“Well, actually, I want you to make your case. You said it yourself, the Wonderbolts have always been a foalhood dream of mine. And, as much as I’m angry at Fleet and Spitfire, I’m still not entirely sure about the rest of them.” He sighed. “They’re, ya know, still kinda my team. Not in any sense except emotionally now. Should I just leave that all behind me? Besides… Do you really think I have what it takes to be an assassin, Shade? Me?”

“You have to remember that being an assassin is a piece of the job, not the whole thing. A small piece at that. Covert operations, infiltration, scouting, we’re saboteurs.” She gestured, “Just because we’re trained to kill doesn’t mean we have a quota to fill.” She chuckled, “And there are some on the team more qualified to do so than others.” Nightshade paused, musing thoughtfully, “I left them behind...but you have a different connection to them, deeper I suppose. No one says you have to cut ties with every last one of them.”

“I see.” Soarin frowned, “I already know I’m not bad at scouting and such…”

“Like I said before, we can put you through some paces to test your strengths and weaknesses. After that, we can talk more.” Nightshade smiled, “Right now, it's hard to tell anything without knowing where you’d fit anyway.”

He nodded in understanding, “...Hmm. Alright then, I’ll let fate guide the rest of this. It’s kinda a gamble, I guess.”

“Well worst case scenario, you stay our cook?” She chuckled, shrugging with a loose grin.

“If fate should have it that I bake and cook, then so be it!” Soarin laughed, “Just like Mom, eh Shadey?”

“Yeah…” To Nightshade’s credit, her painted on smile looked at least half convincing, “But I’m sure your skills would put her to absolute shame.”

Soarin didn’t notice this, chuckling to himself, “Heh, yeah. That’s undoubtable, Mom’s pies were the only good thing she ever really made.”

“No joke..” Nightshade nodded tersely, finding the room surprisingly more claustrophobic than normal all of a sudden, “Hey...uh, wanna go for a quick flight? It’ll have to stay below the tree lines, but it sounded like you needed it earlier. All the talk of confinement and the like.”

Soarin stretched, falling out of his chair oh so gracefully, “Sure, I could always go for a fly. It’ll help us catch up, you know?”

“I do. Fresh air always does the body good.” She nodded, stretching her wings and shaking out her feathers with a relieved sigh.

“You’ve been locked down here for weeks on end, right?” Soarin asked, “Some fresh air will definately do you good.”

“Don’t get too used to outings, okay Soar?” Shade chuckled, “This is a special occasion.”

Soarin hung his head, “Okay, I won’t. I guess this is just the price I’ll have to pay.”

“Don’t get all mopey.” She elbowed him with a grin as she walked towards her door, “Else I’ll have to find ways of keeping you busy, and when I say ‘I’ll have to’, I mean Stratus will.”

“...So drills then.” Soarin replied.

“You don't sound scared.” Nightshade snickered, “We’ll see if that changes given time.”

“I probably should be scared.” Soarin shrugged with a grin, “But hey, I’m your brother, I can do this, right?”

“Confidence is good too. It’s gonna happen one way or another, repeatedly at that. So it's best to get used to it, be that the fear or the repetition.” Nightshade nodded, leading the way up the compound to the front entrance.

Soarin followed, trotting eagerly next to her, “Sooo… How’s life, Shade?”

“Little hectic, little peaceful…” She shrugged, “Charger flew into a street light while ogling a mare in Manehatten two weeks ago.”

“Mmm, what else is new?”

Nightshade just snickered, “Same old, same old. Though I suppose that’s comforting, during our own roaming ‘off season’, as it were.”

“What, that you get to have lives?” Soarin joked.

“The normal helps balance out the crazy whenever it starts up.” Nightshade spoke simply, “I can only imagine what so much constant stress can do to a pony, especially when they have to deal with a group like mine.”

“Where do you end up going?” Soarin asked, “With our parents gone and all, do you have a place to stay?”

“I stay here.” She stiffened for a moment, relaxing as the door began to open with her passcode, a simple 5 digit punch into the keypad, “As does most of the team.”

“That sounds kinda horrible. Why willingly subject yourself to this tomb?” He trotted out into the cool, damp forest. As before, he could barely see his hoof in front of his face.

“What sounds kinda horrible is calling it a tomb.” She deadpanned back, checking that the door behind them slid heavily into place. “I live here. I never said I spend every waking moment inside, dude.”

“You sure you’re not a purple, gold, and black zombie?” Soarin asked, a dumb grin plastered on his face as he took to the air. “Those bags under your eyes are new though. ...You sleeping okay?”

“That’s a purple, gold, and gray zombie, and the bags under yours aren’t. Are you still sleeping bad?” She fired back.

“Ooohhh no, it’s a whole Shade lighter! Is it in our genetics to just always look tired? Because I sleep just fine.” He chuckled, circling around her in the air like a hawk.

She snorted, hopping into the air after him, “Yeah, yeah. I guess you’re just getting old then, big brother.”

“I am not!” He huffed. “...Maybe just a little?”

She giggled, “Easy bro, only joking. We both have years left in us yet.”

“I know.” He chuckled along, flying at an even clip with her, “It’s just weird to think about all this, isn’t it?” He watched what he could see of the ground through the dim light with a scowl, “A few days ago, I would’ve slapped someone for insisting Spits would turn on me like this. ...I thought we had something special, you know?”

“Yeah…” Nightshade watched the flickers of light dart by as they glided through the treeline, an eternal night emulated by the thick foliage, “I dunno, ponies change I guess.”

Soarin went entirely quiet, just staring ahead as they flew. He didn’t feel anything or want to say anything unless Nightshade did, and there was a great weight in his chest that threatened to pull him to the dark ground below. He didn’t like it at all, but couldn’t stop the feeling.

“I’m not sure what to say, Soarin. Spitfire pulled an utter asinine move that both hurt you and pissed us both off.” She snorted angrily, “Whatever her reasoning was, she put some dumb competition ahead of you.”

“Yes. Yes, she did.” Soarin said forcefully, “And screw her for it! Screw Fleet for it! Screw everyone who sat there and watched me plummet!” He exclaimed, growling.

“So what’s the issue then? Just need to get some anger out? You seem pretty complacent on where you stand with the situation.”

“I’ve been holding it back.” Soarin sighed, “Better now to get it off my chest.”

“Well feel free. Best not to bottle it all up. Otherwise, it’ll come to a head when you least want it to.”

“You’re right...I think a part of me doesn’t want to see me agree to be a Shadowbolt just out of spite.”

“Then don’t join out of spite, that was never the idea on our end.” Nightshade shook her head, “This isn’t about getting back at anyone.”

“It was just a feeling. That’s why I needed to let it all out before I agree officially.”

“Well, are you feeling better then?”

“Yeah.” He smiled at her, “Talking to you does that.”

“Glad I can always help in that regard.” She smiled back at him, enjoying the serene environment for the moment, “It's damn pretty out here. Hope you’re not having too much trouble seeing in the dark.”

“Well, it takes a moment, but I can see shapes.” Soarin said, “I guess the darkness helps you guys as much as the thestrals, huh?”

“We’ve adjusted.” She nodded, “You get used to it...and the night vision goggles, those help too.”

“Oh. Night vision goggles would be great.” Soarin glanced at what shapes of the town that he could see.

As he had seen just a day before, they were elevated huts, hung high in the trees. There was no artificial lighting that was needed, naturally, with the thestrals being nocturnal. It was a relatively short flight from here to Canterlot, and come nightfall Soarin knew the Nightguard would coast over to the castle to assume their duties. It was funny to him how these devoted commuters were more effective than the various members of the day guard.

Just like the Shadowbolts were more effective than the Wonderbolts. The Wonderbolts couldn’t save Equestria. Tartarus, they didn’t even try to save him. This mind wandered farther, thinking of the dragon attack that Surprise, High Winds, and Blaze had nearly been killed in. Who was going to save them if something worse came their way?

“...Yes.” Soarin said finally, so quietly Nightshade strained to hear him.

“Yes?” She glanced over, “Are you certain?”

Soarin nodded slowly, “Not out of spite for Spits and Fleet, not because of the pride… I just want to help. If this is the best way, then so be it.”

“Whatever your reason, we’re glad to have you. Now we just need to see how you hold up in training.” She smirked.

Soarin smiled, “I should be able to hold my own. I wasn’t the Wonderbolts’ trainer for years for nothing.”

Nightshade nodded, “Of course, but that can come later. For now, let’s just enjoy the open air.”

“Right.” Soarin took a long breath of the cool air, letting it run over his wings, coasting along it just to enjoy the breeze. He knew it’d be awhile after this before he’d feel it again.

---

Blitz came in for landing in an alley off to the side of the street, the crowded walkways of Salt Lick City being too much to land in directly. She trotted out into the crowd and down the concrete path for awhile until she found the other ponies thinning out as she approached a familiar part of the city. While the crowd thinned out slightly, she was able to turn down another path and into a self-contained plaza. City rulings had a hard no-fly zone over the area. Something about keeping things looking nice. It never made much sense to Blitz. It's not like pegasi were pigeons.

Speaking of getting business done, Blitz smiled as she spotted the building she had been searching for. Strike-Up Bakery, the place of business of one Static Spark. A bell chimed as she trotted inside, looking around and keeping her eyes off the dishes for once. Didn't stop her from relishing the scent of baked goods as it drifted her way through.

“Heeeelloo, and welcome to- Heeeey! Blitz!” The yellow stallion waved from behind the counter, “You’re home unexpectedly.”

“As I tend to do most things!” She giggled, trotting up to the register, “Slow day today, bro?”

“Eh, that’s a Tuesday for ya.” Static shrugged, “So, come on, I’ll start closing up.”

“Oh, I’m not staying long, not today at least.” She shook her head, a slight frown growing on her face, “I need some advice.”

“Okay? Well, what’s up buttercup?”

“It's about my B-well...it's about Spitfire.” She sighed, “Did you hear about the thing that happened over at Rainbow Falls?”

“The thing about Soarin quitting and nearly dying, not in that order? Uh, I don’t know who hasn’t at this point. The big news is slandering Spits’s name left and right.”

“Yeah, well...I was thinking maybe I should go...see what’s up?” She frowned heavily at her own phrasing, sitting down and rubbing her face, “I don’t know, I just...this doesn’t seem like something she’d do!”

“Well then, yeah.” Her older brother nodded, “Maybe she has a good reason or something.” He held back the ‘I mean, I doubt it.’ for Blitz’s sake.

“Well...I can’t picture there being a good reason for doing that to Soarin. He’s such a nice guy!” She deflated a bit, “I’m just wondering if I should bother going at all. If this many ponies are all getting mad at her like this, maybe...I don’t know.”

“All I can say is that if she’s your BFF, don’t you think she needs somebody to lean on while everyone else hates her?”

“Well...what if those people are right?” She gulped, looking up at him, “Ponies already gave me that treatment, for a much more personal reason at that.” Her mane sizzled with electricity for a few moments as she sniffled lightly.

Static clambered over his own counter to stand by her side, “The thing is… Do you believe them?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to believe it, but that wouldn’t make it not true.”

“...Well, isn’t there only one way to find out?” Static asked her.

Blitz nodded, “Yeah, you are kinda right, but that’s why I came to you!” She smiled brightly, “A second opinion I can trust.”

“Well, I’m glad that I could help.” Static smiled, giving his sister a hug before scrambling back over his counter. He settled back to where he was when she arrived.

“Mind if I leave my stuff here for now?” She dropped her saddlebags down on the counter before he could respond, “I’ll be back before my leave is-up-so-we-can-hang! Promisseeeeeee!” And with that, Blueball Blitz had left the building, doors swinging open and staying as such from the gust of wind.

“Annnd ladies and gentlemen, she is off to the races!” Static blew out a quick melody on an imaginary trumpet before chuckling to himself and pulling her bags behind the counter. She was clearly on a flight path in the Cloudsdale direction.