Aegis Shield had hobbies other than writing. Why, some nights he would sit and read books while enjoying the serenity of a moonlit evening. We was a big fan of things like Forgotten Realms, The Wheel of Time, and certainly Harry Trotter and World War Z. He had a meager little bookshelf in his apartment, not full of books but certainly lovingly cared for.
Once, while getting ready to take a break from writing for a little while, the Lunar Stallion wrote a story about taking a break. It involved the famous flyer from the Wonderbolts, Spitfire. He had a pinup of her on his wall (him and several hundred thousand other stallions), and thought she was pretty hot stuff. But surely the celebrity life could get to a pony now and then, right...?
Looks like Aegis is still sleeping, let's have a look at this next one:
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Enjoying the Quiet Life
Spitfire walked out of the manager’s office, a massive weight having been lifted off of her shoulders. She stared around, quietly, feeling the open air on her fur. She’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be outside that blue and yellow suite. Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts, had just quit her job.
She was sick of it. Sick of it all. She was tired of the flashing cameras. Tired of the random fan that snuck in to watch her shower that one time. Tired of being stared at, of being asked for autographs and filmed everywhere she went. The yelling crowds that always wanted more and were never satisfied. The endless stands of brainless ponies that thought she was hot stuff because she was the famous leader of the Wonderbolts. Half of them had never even seen her face, or even looked into her eyes.
She walked slowly down the hall of the Canterlot stadium, looking around like she was seeing it for the first time. Sure, it had been fun at first. The money was excellent, she had her face on T-shirts and posters and mugs… mares wanted to be her and stallions wanted to be with her. She was treated like a high-flying movie star, neigh, a princess! And all she had to do was give up every ounce of privacy or intimacy she’d ever had. She knew it had turned bad when she looked forward to being on the toilet more than most things. That was one of the very few places that the cameras and screaming fans wouldn’t follow (the shower was certainly not safe, these days).
The mare was in her prime but she felt so very, very tired. Emerging out into the practice field, she saw Soarin’ stuffing his face on a sideline. He looked up, sensing her eyes on him. He blinked a couple of times, chewing—what was that, pie? The stallion ate like a pig, Spitfire had no idea how he stayed so slim and trim. She sighed a little. There was something else she could never have as a Wonderbolt captain; a stallion. There was no dating allowed amongst the team and, being Captain of the Wonderbolts, she was also a sexy symbol of male fantasy. So, there was no hope for a legitimate relationship anywhere. It wasn’t like she could go out to a bar or something and flirt. It’d be twenty minutes tops before the first camera showed up and she’d have to flee back to her private rooms with the rest of the team.
Soarin’ came over while she was thinking. “Hey Spitfire.” He said cautiously. “You look… off.” He said, leaning to eye her up and down. “Is something wrong?”
“I quit today.” She told him softly. He gasped, eyes widening. Leaning into her saddlebag, she produced the golden goggles. The symbol of the flight captain, only ever worn by the leader of the Wonderbolts. “You’re in charge now, Soarin’.” She smiled apologetically. “I’m getting out while I still have my sanity.”
“But what about your contract?! All the merch that’ll go to waste?!” Soarin’ said. “The legal department will eat you alive!”
Spitfire smiled gently. “They already did. My bank account’s been practically cleaned out, and pretty much all my stuff is gone except what I’ve got here.” She gestured to the bulging saddlebag. “All I’ve got is my retirement stuff and a little mound of bits.” She smiled in a more strained way as she said it. All the dedicated years of service, and they were turning her out inside out for all she was worth. So much for company loyalty.
“But what’ll you do for a living?! Where will you go?!” Soarin’ had draped the goggles around his neck, but he was following her across the field.
“Someplace peaceful…” Spitfire smiled dreamily. “Someplace where I can hear myself think and the cameras won’t find me.” Just the thought made her shiver. “Someplace… green.” She said, chuckling a little.
“You mean like the countryside?” Soarin’ tilted his head. “But there’s nothing out there! We live in Canterlot, Spitfire! The capital of Equestria and the home of the royal sisters!” he trotted as she increased her pace. “Anyplace you go, noplace is as good as this!” he gestured wildly to the sweeping towers and giant stone buildings.
“That’s exactly why I’m going.” Spitfire smiled in a tired way. “Someplace quiet, and out in the middle of nowhere. Someplace I can rest…” she trailed off. “Who knows, maybe buy a little house and settle down, y’know?”
“What about us?” Soarin’ said in a hurt way, stopping. “What about the Wonderbolts? You’ve always been our leader, as long as I’ve been here…” he tilted his head down and looked at the golden goggles around his neck.
“Most Wonderbolts leave when they’re too old, or when they get injured.” Spitfire smiled painfully. “Me? I’m the smart one. I’m leaving while I’m still on top.” It was her ego talking and they both knew it, but it was true. The price of Spitfire merchandise would shoot through the roof. Ponies would wonder where she’d gone. She’d become an urban myth, the Wonderbolt that vanished in her prime. She smiled, reveling in the idea. Stopping in an alcove on the edge of the practice stadium, she stepped into shadow. Soarin’ heard a series of unzipping, wiggling sounds that could only mean she was getting out of her Wonderbolts outfit. He stared at her like a stranger when she emerged. He’d honestly never seen her completely naked. Her yellow fur and fiery mane complimented each other, and the lightning bolt that was on fire on her flank complimented her. “Yes Soarin’, I have a cutie mark too.” She teased him for staring and he blushed, looking to one side.
“I’mma miss you, Spitfire.” He said a little meekly, looking down at his hooves and scuffing the ground a little. She playfully tossed her old outfit over his head. “Hey! You should keep this! You’ll want it for the memories!” Soarin’ pulled it off and tried to give it back to her.
“Uh uh. I’m starting fresh, remember? I’m not taking any Wonderbolts stuff with me. Just give it to the mare that takes my place on the team.”
“It’s tailored to your body, though.” He tilted his head, cocking an eyebrow.
“Then just sell it or something! Some collector will go gaga for it.” Spitfire laughed, then threw her arms briefly around him. He smelled of burnt rubber and stallion sweat. “I’ll miss ya, Soarin’. I know you’ll make a good team Captain.”
“Goodbye, Spitfire…” he said, wilting at her as she turned to go. He looked down at the outfit in his hooves, then slowly hugged it to his chest.
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“End of the line, missy!” said the old train conductor, poking the sleeping Spitfire. She’d fallen asleep riding the train ‘wherever the tracks took her,’ and soon discovered the grand circle that the thing went in. She’d seen the same towns twice now, and if she didn’t get off now she’d end up back in Canterlot all over again. “Need help with any bags?” the mustached stallion asked, helping her onto her hooves while she rubbed her eyes.
“Nah thanks.” Spitfire said, stepping off of the train and onto the station. She peered about blearily. The town looked small, rustic, and perfectly picturesque. She’d been here before to supervise a wing-powered water transfer to Cloudsdale. This was Ponyville. Spitfire found herself smiling just a little. It was like some foal’s fairy tale, or something you saw on a post card. Everypony smiled at everypony, the market was small and busy… it was perfect.
The former Wonderbolt stepped off of the platform and onto the dirt road. Birds. She could hear birds! No cameras. No screaming crowds or shouting reporters or creepy stalker fans. No pony on the street stopped to stare at her. She was completely anonymous. Spitfire didn’t fight the slowly growing smile on her face, not one bit. She heaved a great sigh of relief, and cantered down the street.
What did she want? She could do anything, be anything! She could go where she wanted, eat where she wanted, talk where she wante--- whoa, he was big! Spitfire stopped and stared at a crimson stallion selling apples on a market stand. Curious, she approached and his big expressive eyes moved to her. She smiled in awe, for he was almost a head taller than she. Not that she was desperate to flirt with the first stallion she saw with her new-found freedom, but he wasn’t half-bad looking. “Hi there.” She said. “I’m—I’m… new in town!” she would need to be careful with her name, she decided. The barrel-chested pony smiled politely, bobbing his head into an informal bow. Well then! Tall, dark red and silent type wasn’t he? “How much for an apple or two?” He cast his eyes skyward, and Spitfire tilted her head back. But then he lifted his hoof and tapped the sign on the stone. “Oh.” She said embarrassedly. It was three bits for an apple, and ten bits for a set of four. Not bad pricing really, considering small fruits like cherries went for one bit each. Spitfire opened her saddlebag with a curl of her wing, producing said bits. She bought two apples, and after he’d hoofed the money into a strong box he gestures so she could pick whatever she liked from the display. Spitfire peered into the labeled baskets. Granny Smith. Golden Delicious. Red Delicious. Big Macintosh. What was the difference? The city pony had only ever had red apples before, so she knew the red delicious sort well enough. Heh. Here she was only a few hours out and her biggest problem was picking what sort of apple she wanted to eat. She giggled, jittering a little. She pulled a Big Macintosh and a Red Delicious from their baskets, putting one in her saddlebags and keeping the other out to eat. “Thanks big guy.” She winked a little flirtatiously.
“Eeyup.” said the massive stallion stoically, smiling and bobbing his head once. Spitfire smiled at his deep and burly voice. It vibrated like a great bronze bell—it was comforting. If all the stallions around here were like that, she could certainly see settling into Ponyville.
Spitfire started away, crunching idly into her apple as she admired Ponyville on the whole. Straw roofs, rustic architecture, normal-looking ponies milling about and minding their own business—“I think I’m gonna like it here.” She smiled slowly, seating herself at a picnic table to finish her apple and pony-watch. When she was done and the core yielded no more deliciousness, she decided to head to the nearby park.
The park was filled with frolicking foals, laughing picnickers and shy couples enjoying themselves on the edges of the lake. Maybe she’d died, she wondered briefly. This place, Ponyville, was like a little paradise. If Spitfire had ever been asked to describe heaven, she imagined it would be something like this. Quiet, peaceful, green—she fell asleep sunning herself on a park bench, a happy smile on her face. This was gonna be a great new start for her.
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Having written that piece and then gone on vacation from writing, Aegis Shield couldn't really bring himself to continue on it. He thought it was an interesting concept, but he just didn't have the desire to keep going with it. After all, if the story was all about settling down and taking it easy, it wouldn't be very interesting for very long, would it? Sure, mellowing out and relaxing was great for anypony, buuuut... it didn't make a very good story idea to put a lot of effort into. He never finished that one.
End of Part 2