//------------------------------// // 26 - Spitfire's Secret // Story: The Storm's Challenge // by OneLonelyPickle //------------------------------// Chapter 26 - Spitfire’s Secret Rainbow, Crackclaw, and Jerri watched the VBI screens as Bushwhacker was recovered from the bottom of the Moving Maw. He appeared to be asleep. It also wasn’t clear if he was breathing. Rainbow looked up at the stands behind her. I hope Fluttershy isn’t freaking out too much – I mean, he’ll be okay, right? Rainbow swallowed deep. She bit her lip and felt a chill run through her. The calm on Bushwhacker’s face, through the screen, scared her. “Hey.” Crackclaw poked Rainbow with a finger. “Let’s stay focused. The first race is about to end, most of the flyers are through.” Rainbow took her eyes off the screen and nodded at Crackclaw. Jerri was nervously biting on the ends of her claws beside the other two. “That’s all for the first race, sportsfans. We had some injuries, but we also had some great triumphs and I for one am staying positive! After all, that’s what the Storm’s Challenge is all about, right Kissie?” Tele-P’s glamorous co-host flashed a round-cheeked smile. “Right you are, Tele-P! Once this race wraps up, the second race will begin in thirty minutes! The Citadel staff need to make sure everything is in working order! In the meantime, feel free to head outside the stadium for food, refreshments AND awesome merch!” The Wonderbolts who had flown in the first race, which had been most of them, slowly returned to their side of the field. Team 117 went over to greet Spitfire, Soarin’, and Fleetfoot, who landed to cheers. “That was amazing!” cried one Wonderbolt. “All three of you were awesome!” cried another. The triumphant Wonderbolt captains waved and thanked their fellows. Rainbow practically pounced on top of Spitfire and shouted. “S-Spitfire! That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! You almost BEAT Zephyr!” Spitfire turned away with an irritated noise. “Yeah, almost. But I didn’t. Maybe if I could have started earlier…” She turned and looked at Soarin’ as if to accuse him. He defended himself. “What, are you going to blame it on me? I was right behind Fancy Free, in second place! Have you seen how good she is at flying acrobatics?” Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Oh, I’ve seen how good she is… good looking!” Spitfire stabbed a hoof at Soarin’. “You’re letting yourself get distracted again by all the pretty, flashy mares around! It’s typical Soarin’ lately!” Soarin’ just about burned a hole right through his fellow Wonderbolt captain. Fleetfoot, exhausted from the race and from constantly dealing with her friends, just sighed and wandered off to get something to drink. Half of the Wonderbolts followed her and the others pretended not to hear or notice their arguing captains. Soarin’ exploded. “Spitfire, you’ve been nothing but a huge jerk lately, you know that?! I’m starting to get really fed up with it! What the hay is up with you?” A sing-songy voice called from behind the group, instantly releasing the tension. “Soary!” It was Lovey Dovey. “Wow, you were amazing in the race! I was watching from the Speed Course! You looked great!” Soarin’ shook his anger away and smiled at his former teammate. Lovey Dovey pranced to right beside him, her teammates in tow. “Thanks, Lovey! You did great too! I’m glad someone appreciates how I performed.” He turned back to Spitfire and returned the sour expression she was showing. Spitfire gritted her teeth, her tail swishing back and forth a mile a minute. “You did great, Soarin’, but you didn’t try your best, did you? I was practically dead by the time I finished the second leg! I don’t recall you looking that tired when you exchanged the necklace with me,” Spitfire said. Lovey Dovey bore into Spitfire with venomous eyes. She pushed herself right next to Soarin’, cuddling up to him. “Wow, that’s kind of, uhhh, rude of you, isn’t it?” Lovey Dovey said, blinking saucily, “You should show a stallion like Soary more respect.” She stepped back and turned to Soarin’. “I think you should come with me and the gang. We can introduce you to some ponies who’d be more than happy to give you the praise you deserve!” Lovey Dovey and her team started to trot away. Soarin’ followed them before turnin back, regret present in his longing expression. Spitfire sneered and turned away. Soarin’ copied the gesture and resumed walking away. Another chunk of the Wonderbolts reluctantly followed him, leaving only a scant few. Rainbow and her team weren’t sure what to do or say. “Rainbow!” Spitfire commanded, inadvertently throwing some of her ire Rainbow’s way. The cyan mare straightened up and saluted. “Sir, what is it, sir?” “I want to talk to you in private. Let’s go!” Spitfire was already in the air and flying away as she said the words. Rainbow looked at Crackclaw, then Jerri, then the other Wonderbolts, and set off after Spitfire. Once the two were in a quiet area, one of the entrances to the field that wasn’t being used, Spitfire turned to Rainbow. Her eyes were harsh and defensive, and she looked rigid like a scared wolverine. “You must have noticed how Zephyr looked when we were racing, right?” Rainbow nodded. “H-He looked totally fine the entire time.” Spitfire stared past Rainbow and sighed. “Yeah. I’ve never seen anything like it. I KILLED myself to catch up with him, and I even got ahead a few times, but eventually I just couldn’t keep it up. The whole time he seemed like he was just going for a leisurely fly.” Rainbow understood how Spitfire felt. Just yesterday she had watched Zephyr beat himself up trying to do the sonic rainboom, and while he did break a sweat doing so, it was only after attempting the rainboom dozens of time. She was still surprised he hadn’t managed to pull it off. “So, what are you saying?” Rainbow asked. Spitfire looked right at her. “I’m saying, I don’t think I can beat him. That’s just the vibe I am getting. But I think you can, and I want to see you do it! It’ll be like the Wonderbolts beating the EFL! That means you absolutely have to pass the race today! You think your team has got what it takes?” Rainbow stared at her hooves for a few moments, then looked up at Spitfire’s fiery expression. “I do,” Rainbow said confidently. Spitfire smiled. “Alright, that’s what I want to hear. Honestly, we might make a proper Wonderbolt out of you once this is all said and done.” Rainbow lit up. “R-really?!” Her wings shot out and she had a goofy smile taking up most of her face. Spitfire nodded, then frowned. “Well, if there is a Wonderbolts team after all this.” Spitfire walked away from Rainbow and quietly spoke. Rainbow tilted her head. “I’ve… been burning a lot of bridges. I know that. Not just with Soarin’, but the rest of the team too, I think. I’ve been pretty crazy…” Spitfire sounded sadder than Rainbow had ever heard. She had never actually heard Spitfire talk so personally before at all. It made Rainbow curious as to what was going on. “I’ve noticed, sir. W-what’s the big deal? Soarin’ DID do pretty good in the Jungle Gym, he was—” Rainbow stopped. She regretted the words and slammed her hooves over her mouth as soon as she said them. She awaited the explosion from Spitfire, but all she heard was a sigh. “I know.” Spitfire practically whispered the words. She half-turned back to Rainbow, head hung low and ears pulled down. “Can I… tell you a secret, Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow blinked a few times, not believing the Spitfire she was seeing was real. One of her biggest heroes looked on the verge of tears. Rainbow replied. “O-Of course, Spitfire! What is it?” Spitfire played with the ground with an absent hoof. Her tail was like a metronome. “Well, the reason I’ve been so… touchy lately, with Soarin’, is because I…” Spitfire looked at the cloud floor and sighed. “I really like him.” Rainbow didn’t understand. Of course you like Soarin’, you guys are… Then the realization hit. Rainbow’s eyes opened wide. “Oh!” She flew into the air and smushed her face with her hooves. “Ohmigosh! You have a crush on Soarin’?! No way! This is, like, wow!” Rainbow was beaming, but Spitfire’s dour mood stayed the same. Rainbow felt silly and came back down, embarrassed. “S-Sorry, Spitfire. My fangirl got the better of me. You—” Spitfire interrupted, letting her thoughts flow out. “Soarin’ and I have been friends since we were little. We went to flight school together, we became junior Wonderbolts together, and then we rose through the Wonderbolts together.” She smiled as she reminisced. “My feelings just sort of… happened over the years. I always felt like we were, you know,” Spitfire sat on her rump and brought her hooves together, “Together, even if we weren’t really. I never told him how I felt, but in a sense, it was like I never had to.” Rainbow sat down next to Spitfire, who continued after a paused. Her cheeks were burning up. “Anyway, in the last month or so I noticed Soarin’ paying more attention to other mares. He’s never been like that before. And it’s been making me… jealous. I just can’t control myself when he looks at a mare or one of them talks to him with the goo-goo eyes like that Lovey Dovey.” Spitfire’s expression tensed up and became angry, then she sighed again and it loosened. She covered her face with her hooves. “I don't want this to tear the Wonderbolts apart, and I don’t like hurting Soarin’, but I can’t tell him the truth. If I tell him and he doesn’t feel the same way, our friendship… everything… it’ll never be the same again. I don’t want to lose that.” Rainbow thought quickly about how to respond. She scratched the side of her head. “Y-know, I’m not really the best pony when it comes to this mushy, romance stuff,” Rainbow said, “But I have a really good friend, Applejack, and if she were here, she’d say you need to be honest to Soarin’ about how you feel, because if you just hold it inside, that just makes things worse, and even if Soarin’ feels differently, you’ll be able to get a huge load off your chest.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Trust me, I’ve been in enough situations to know that holding onto secrets just isn’t worth it.” Rainbow punched Spitfire’s shoulder. “Plus, you’re crazy if you think Soarin’ would ever stop being your friend! Things may change, but I’ve seen you two together! You’ll always be friends!” Spitfire smiled softly. “Yeah… that does sound like Soarin’.” Spitfire looked at Rainbow, her eyes slightly watery. "Jeez, I feel silly now. I really overacted out there. Yikes." Rainbow giggled. "Nothing the Wonderbolts won't forgive if you apologize, which you might want to do sooner rather than later." Spitfire blushed. “By the way, you’re the only pony I’ve told this to.” “Why me?” Rainbow asked. “I guess because I just had to tell somepony, and I know you’ll keep my secret. You have a reputation for loyalty.” Rainbow’s chest puffed out and she smiled as if to agree. Spitfire continued, “And because you’re a really great pony, Rainbow Dash.” The two exchanged smiles. Spitfire lowered her brows and frowned. “But I’m still your boss when we’re out there so don’t be getting any funny ideas!” Rainbow saluted. “No, sir, of course not, sir!” The two mares laughed. Spitfire sniffled a bit, then spoke. “Thanks. I mean that.” “Anytime, sir.” Spitfire got up and ruffled her feathers and cranked her neck from side to side. “I’ll… tell Soarin’ tonight. Honestly, just the thought of getting it off my chest… I hadn’t even thought about it, but it feels like it’s worth it just for that.” Rainbow got up as well. “By the way, sir, I don’t like Lovey Dovey either, sir. She’s way too… you know, cutesy wootsy.” Spitfire lit up. “Right? Like blah! She’s totally phony, too.” The two shared another bout of laughter before they returned to the field. Spitfire tracked down as many of her fellow Wonderbolts as she could while Rainbow looked up at the stands for her friends. Her heart sank when she saw an empty spot on the bleachers where her friends had been earlier. Crackclaw and Jerri came up to her. “Why the long face, Rainbow Dash? Are you okay? Do you need a hug?” Jerri asked, worried. “I… no, it’s just, my friends are all gone.” Crackclaw spoke. “Probably just went to get snacks during the break. Don’t let it worry you too much, the race is—” “Alrighty, folks! It’s time to start the second race! Flyers, get to your positions!” * * * Pinkie looked out from behind a tree, black cloth covering her mane, face and body like a ninja. Spike stood next to her from cover, dressed in the same manner. “Is this completely necessary, Pinkie?” Spike whispered. “It’s not even nighttime… I mean, what’s the point?” Just beyond the tree was a group of tents overlooking Pepperheart Field. The biggest tent, closest to the edge of the bluff, was Pinkie’s target. It was circular like the Carousel Boutique, although it was a deep emerald color with white lines zigzagging along its sides. There was clearly a lot of room inside to hide just about anything. Pinkie scanned the area with all the precision that Sherclop Pie could muster. There were a few guards posted at the tent entrance, other guards lounging around the EFL encampment, and just one who was actually patrolling. The skies seemed clear. Looks like my hunch was right and Maelstrom’s security is slacking! This will be a cinch!