//------------------------------// // The Start // Story: Behind the Flight Goggles // by Crystalline Waters //------------------------------// Rainbow sat down in a booth at a restaurant in Ponyville. She smiled at the mare on the other side of the table. "I'm glad we were able to meet up A.K, it's good to see you again." Rainbow said "Yeah, well I was in the area on business, so I decided I might as well, it's been a while." A.K said, and Rainbow smirked. "Right, business." Rainbow replied, stretching the last word in disbelief. "Despite what you might know about me, Rainbow, I really was just on business. I needed to speak to my editor in Canterlot." Daring insisted "Yeah, okay." The two paused as they ordered their food and then began talking together. "So, how are things going for you Rainbow?" Daring asked "Good. The Wonderbolts are the same, as always. Spit's new drills keep us all on our hooves." "I read up on them a little while I was in Canterlot. It seems like your team is pretty much just another military branch. What do you do to train? Fly in perfect synchronization?" "Much more than that. Recently Spitfire's been testing us on this machine called the Dizzitron. It's to help us recover from spinouts. I've got the fastest recovery time, it actually got better, from six seconds to five seconds." "Oh, that's cool. But I guess you guys only talk with each other when necessary, you don't seem that close in public." "Believe me, we're actually a lot closer than the newspapers make it out to be. I mean, we live together five months out of the year, maybe more. We all look out for each other." "Even Spitfire?" A.K asked "From what the newspapers said about her I got the idea she was a no-nonsense kind of leader." "Especially Spitfire. She may look like a tough mare in the newspapers but don't believe it, she's a real softy once you get to know her." "I find that hard to believe." A.K responded as their food arrived. "Well, it's true. Spit may act tough around the fans, and don't get me wrong, she is fairly strict when we're at HQ, but she's still a big 'ole softy. She's kind of like...the HQ's mother." Rainbow explained, taking a bite of her Hayburger. "What kind of mother? Strict or nurturing?" A.K asked. "Definitely strict, but she still cares about all of us, even if it takes certain ponies to get her to show it. High Winds and Sun Chaser are the ones who are the nurturing 'mothers' of HQ." Rainbow replied "Who? You guys all look the same under those flight suits." "Two mares on the team. Both of them are pretty sweet and soft, so they're usually the 'mothers'." Rainbow explained. "You should be yourselves in public more often, I read articles on the Wonderbolts from recent newspapers, and they don't know those things." "Yeah, I guess we should. But how?" Rainbow asked. "Do what I do. Write about it. I've found it's a good way to show others what experiences you've had. Even though they may not know it's the truth." A.K suggested, winking. "I'm not the best at writing. Besides, how would any book written by a Wonderbolt even be seen?" "If you like, I could talk to my editor. I might be able to convince him to review your book. If you decide to write one, that is." "Yeah, that could work. So, would you mind staying in touch with me? So you could give me some advice?" "Not at all. But I may not respond right away, considering my...unique lifestyle." "That won't be a problem." "What would you write about, anyway?" Daring asked as she took another bite of her salad. "Maybe just the daily lives of the Wonderbolts, when we're not performing or practicing." "Wouldn't that be a little boring?" "No way. When you're hanging with the Wonderbolts, things are never boring." Rainbow replied, laughing a little. ------------------------------------------------ "Hey Rainbow." Spitfire said as Rainbow entered Wonderbolt Headquarters' rec room. "Hey Spit." Rainbow tossed her the saddlebags she was carrying. "Got you the groceries, since I was near the Ponyville markets." "Thanks. You know how much I hate shopping. Where'd you go, anyway?" "Just to lunch with a friend." "Who? Pinkie? Fluttershy? Applejack? Rarity? Princess Twilight? Starlight Glimmer?" Surprise began asking, and Spitfire covered the mare's mouth with a wing. "None of them, you guys don't know her. She gave me a pretty good idea though." "What kind of idea?" Spitfire asked her, as Soarin came up to them from where he was sitting. Spitfire passed him the saddlebags. "Thanks Spit. I really felt like putting away groceries today." Soarin commented sarcastically. "You're welcome." Spitfire retorted, not missing a beat. "Like I said, what kind of idea?" "She was telling me about some of the stuff she heard about us in the newspapers-" "Oh not that load of cr** again." Rapidfire commented, rolling his eyes. "Rapid what did I tell you?" Spitfire snapped "No, guys, I was telling her how wrong it is, and she suggested that we correct it." "Small question: how?" High Winds asked "That's a small question High?" Wave Chill asked, and High Winds shrugged. "It's only three letters." "Well, my friend suggested writing a book." "You sure it wasn't the Princess you were eating lunch with?" Lightning Streak asked. "Yes. Though she'd give Twi a run for her money." "What would we write a book about?" Sun Chaser asked, shifting. "Our lives as Wonderbolts, obviously." Rainbow answered. "Why would anypony want to read about that-oh, you know what, I see your point." Fire Streak sighed, looking around at his friends. "Yeah, since when do we not get into highjinks?" Thunderlane agreed. "Well, I guess that is a good idea. As long as it dispells all the wrong ideas ponies are getting about our team. We are noble Pegasi, not a load of ponies who can't fly straight." Spitfire consented, turning to glare at Silver Zoom, who was playing cards with Misty Fly. "It wasn't my fault! Rapid knocked into me!" Silver Zoom objected. "I did not, Silver Doom!" "Yes, you did! I didn't try to crash into the bleachers!" "Could've fooled me." Rapidfire sneered. "Oh, you want to play that game?! Well, you didn't look so great yourself last performance! Your stance was all over the place!" The two stallions began going back and forth with the insults. Spitfire covered her ears with her wings. "How soon can you start that book?" Spitfire asked, almost pleading.