//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Golden Ticket // Story: The Pressures of Being a Wonderbolt // by Spittyfire //------------------------------// Spitfire was relieved that it had finally been summer, a time to finally relax from studying. She had no care for studying math or reading. She wanted to fly in the clouds like the birds below. They chirped and sung the songs she would hear on her radio, which she had found at an antique shop. As she closed her eyes and sat in the beaming sun rays, she opened one eye to see her old foal mate, Thunderlane. "Thunderlane," she smiled, "What are you doing here?" She sat upright and Thunderlane landed by her side and held a little pouch in his mouth. He dropped it on her lap, and smiled as he waited for her to open it. Before Spitfire opened it, he whispered to her, "You've been doing a lot for me recently, after helping my sister recover from her cold, I have been searching for the right thing to give to you, as a thank you." He nudged the pouch, again. Spitfire's eyes dazzled, she felt so flattered. She opened the pouch and inside were two tickets. Spitfire read the back of one of the tickets aloud. "Congratulations! You are going to attend a wonderful show between the brand new team, titled, the Wonderbolts!" The ticket was worded in gold lettering, and the edges were dark blue. Spitfire couldn't feel anymore happier. She was attending a stadium filled will pegasi. She would taste a fancy hot dog, and those fast food treats her mother would never let her chew. Everything had to be organic in Spitfire's house or it was sent to the trash. Spitfire looked into Thunderlane's eyes. "Thank you," she held onto her ticket tightly, "I couldn't be any luckier, but I must ask. Who are the Wonderbolts?" She asked a bit curious of who these ponies were. Thunderlane looked at her as if Spitfire had three heads. He lstared at her again just to make sure she wasn't sick or out of her mind. "The Wonderbolts are a special group of pegasi, who do amazing tricks. They have just started their group, and you would never believe how amazing they truly are." He grinned picking up his ticket and keeping it in his mane. He stood from the cloud and jumped into the air. Spitfire waved to him and called. "Thunderlane, thank you for my ticket! I'll be sure to attend this race with you," she called. "No problem Spitfire. I'd do anything for you," he responded and flew away into the clouds. Spitfire blushed for some reason. Her cheeks becoming the color of her mane. She flew inside as fast as she could. She slammed the door behind her and leaned on it. Had she liked Thunderlane? No. She didn't like him at all. He was just her old foal mate. As she leaned on the door, a newspaper slid from the window onto her head. She picked it up, still embarrassed. She read it to herself. "Upcoming Wonderbolt race will be showing soon! Bring your best friend, your family, or even that special some pony!" Spitfire shredded the newspaper. She didn't want to see herself with Thunderlane at all, but then she wondered. Is he really more than a foal mate? ------------------------------------------------ She looked at one of the shredded pieces to see a face. It was a familiar face, yet she had never seen it. She lifted the piece to see a pegasus who had a light blue body color, and a navy blue mane. He was very handsome. Spitfire lifted the piece and carried it to her room. Shelves were filled with golden trophies from her sport activities. She opened her curtains and looked at the picture of the stallion pegasus. She sat on her messy bed and fixed her mane. She had a happy feeling about looking at this picture of the stallion. She grabbed scissors and cut a frame around it. The picture was so tiny that it barely fit in her hoof. It was probably the size of a stamp. She went into her closet and unzipped one of her hoodies. She placed the stamp sized picture inside of a pocket and it smelled of pine needles from the trees on the ground. She would find out who this stallion was one way or another, and seeing a picture of him wasn't good enough. She would have to go to the market and find out who he was. So she flew out of her home and soared to the market. The market was filled with so many pegasi. So many it was hard to tell if everyone from Cloudsdale was at the market. She landed on the clouds on four hooves. Spitfire flew to the nearest magazine stand and picked up a magazine titled "Meet the Wonderbolts". She paid the correct price for the magazine, and flew to the nearest corner shop restaurant. Spitfire tried her best to hide the magazine. She didn't want all of Cloudsdale to know that she was a fan-pony. Usually, she played the games instead of cheering for the players. Spitfire stood in the line of hungry pegasi. As she was in line she bumped into two of her friends from fly-school. One of her friends was Flitter, and the other was Cloudchaser. Cloudchaser had a spiked up hairdo and looked a lot like Flitter. Flitter had a big pink bow in her hair, and was a slower flyer compared to Cloudchaser. "Well, well, well. It's Spitfire, the fastest flyer in our class!" Cloudchaser smiled, next to Flitter. Flitter fixed her bow and grabbed a tray, picking up a banana nut muffin. "Have you caught up with any pony, you haven't called us in ages." "I'm sorry guys, I've had to think a lot lately because I still don't know what I'm going to do for a living," Spitfire sighed, responding to Flitter. Spitfire picked up some bread and some strawberry butter. She lifted a pack of some goat cheese, and a lavender tasting tea. Cloudchaser examined Spitfire's tray and placed her potato chips back. "Would you like to sit together?" Cloudchaser asked. Spitfire hesitated. She looked at her magazine and then her old friends. "Of course! We should really catch up!" Spitfire looked at both of them with a smile. The three mares paid for their lunches and sat at a table for three. As Cloudchaser poked her salad around with her fork, Flitter chewed on a "Haywich" which was the special of the day. Spitfire had to ask the question about this Wonderbolt figure. She finished chewing a piece of goat cheese spread bread, and asked. "Did you guys here about the Wonderbolts?" "Who hasn't?!" They said in sync. "I was wondering if either of you knew the one with the navy blue mane and light blue coat," Spitfire tried her best not to blush. "His name.." Cloudchaser pondered, trying to wonder what his name was. "We don't know yet, but a local magazine stand is selling magazines all about the Wonderbolts!" Flitter smiled pointing out the window with her hoof. Spitfire chewed faster and faster, until her tray was empty. "Hey, I'll catch up with you guys later, I have some business to do," Spitfire said taking her empty tray to the counter and flying out the door in a breeze. Spitfire turned to see Cloudchaser with a grim face, it seemed that the two were upset that she hadn't stayed longer. Spitfire continued to fly through the Cloudsdale market until she stopped towards a poster saying, "Sign Up to Become a WONDERBOLT". Spitfire couldn't resist and she flew home with a sign up sheet, to join the Wonderbolts. She reached her home, and sat on her roof and starred at the clouds flying by. As she sat on the roof and watched the stars, she seems them. These so-called "Wonderbolts" flew by her home and she saw one Wonderbolt in particular. She saw the stallion with the navy-blue mane and the light sky blue body. She took out her magazine and starred at the one Wonderbolt on the cover. He was so close to her. Spitfire stuck her sign up sheet, inside her magazine and starred at the handsome stallion. He was stunning! As soon as she blinked, Thunderlane was by her side. "What's that you got there?" He asked out of no where. Startled, Spitfire fell off the roof and landed on a cloud. Thunderlane soared down to help her up, but as soon as he went to lift her arm. He saw the magazine and the sign-up sheet. Shocked, he looked up and was face to face with the blue coated "Wonderbolt." ------------------------------------------------