The Quiet Kid: Day by Day

by aegishailstorm


Discount Air Force

William walked down a road with a rifle in his hand, humming, "My Little Armalite." Without a care in the world, after all, he had just won a big legal case a few days earlier. Joey had taken quite well to it as well, and the majority of Ponyville's residents had either backed off or apologized. All of with he gladly accepted. Kicking up the dust around him as he walked. His eyes wandered to the surroundings he had seen many times by now. There weren't many ponies, or other creatures for that matter out on the road this particular morning. So he walked alone, as he always did.

As he drew closer to the town school house, he was suddenly passed by by a group of ponies wearing what appeared to be... Rainbow Dash merchandise? "The ####?" He murmured to himself, momentarily he scratch his chin, and blinked. "Hey, why in the name of all that is good and sane are you wearing that?!" William shouted at the group passed him by. "We're part of the Rainbow Dash fan club!" They responded, galloping off down the road. Leaving a confused William in his wake, he thought back to a particular 'fandom' from his time back on earth as he stood there.

"Very well then. I guess I ought to figure out what the #### is going on." He looked forward to see the actual Rainbow dart inside a building. He followed close behind. Stopping just beyond the doorway to listen in, "Oh hey Scootaloo, I was just in the neighbor-oh, what's this? She flew further inside. Forcing William to follow.

"What's going on?" He asked. His tone was reminiscent of a soldier interrogating their foes after a battle. "-Interrupting a fan club meeting?" She continued, in front of her, standing on her hind leg. Was her step sister. Holding a poster, trying to keep it out of view of Rainbow. " Hey, happy family. It's me, Quiet Kid. Explain." He let his rifle fall to low ready, and folded his arms. Awaiting a response.

"Well, here it is." The filly unfurled it, revealing a green tinted image of a pegasus, wearing a flight helmet. "This is what you were concealing?" William fought back a snort. "Eh, it's not actually that bad." Rainbow on the other hoof...

"What is the... Washouts?" William facepalmed, "It's Military slang for failures. Don't sweat it Rainbow, let her have her hobby." William couldn't care less, he was staring at a flightless pegasus. It was, sad, in a comedic way. "It's only the newest, greatest, and only stunt troop in equestria." His eye twitched. " You'd think that in a world like this, there'd be more of them." But no, Rainbow seemed to fall in with it. Disregarding his warnings completely.


" Stay calm William. Don't shoot them." He breathed in and out, and pated the sidearm at his side. " I'm gonna be leaving now. Don't follow me." He spun, and jogged out of the room, slamming the door in his wake.


So, what's this washout thing?" He looked down at a poster as he walked through town center. "Let's see...Hmm, let's see, ah. They're doing a show this weekend? Why the #### would I ever go to that?" He turned to search for a trashcan, only to be headbutted by an alicorn.

"Ahhh!!!That hurt man! The hell's wrong with you?!" William shouted, scratching his forehead. The Kevlar helmet had weathered the majority of the impact. But the most painful part of it had come from Joey's horn. which, despite the pain it had just caused him, had just barely scratched the helmets paint job.

"Oh, you think you have it bad?" Joey asked, pushing himself back up onto all four hooves. He had flown right into William, who noticed that the same poster in his hand that he did. It took only a moment for him to put 2 and 2 together. "Let me guess, you wanna go?" Joey nodded." They're called the washouts, you are aware of what that slang means?" Joey nodded a second time. "Yeah, I do. But that aside, you know I'm always up for trying new things-" William cracked the knuckles of his gloves. "And you know that I despise it."


"Well yeah, but-"William stopped him again, "I feel it to be important, so I shall go with you." He said it in a loud, comedic tone. Yet in a way that Joey couldn't quite tell whether he was joking or not. William crossed his arms. Shook his head in a gesture of, "What the #### am I doing with my life?'" And walked away to spend the rest of his day out in the everfree forest in solitude. Blowing up trees while listening to country music. One of his favorite pastimes.

Several days later...


"Well, I'm here." William entered an open area filled with colorful tents, to his direct front, was an open dirt field, to it's sides where rows of metal risers, ornately decorated with banners and streamers. Beyond that, was the treeline. There was a slight wind blowing today, quite odd. As natural wind is, to put it simply. A very, very uncommon sight outside of the everfree forest. Personally, he liked it. And for the first time in a long while, wore a patrol cap over his head rather than his typical ballistic helmet. The stands themselves where quite crowded. Clearly, whoever these, "Washouts," where, they either had a very good name for themselves. Or they where scamming the entire audience. Then again, there was no fee for visiting this event, at least. Not for William, but he. Unlike the hundreds of ponies here, was 6' tall, covered in muticam Fatigues and armor, armed to the teeth, and carrying a reputation as a one creature army on his shoulders. All combined with a pair darkened tactical sunglasses. It could have just been that. He slowly walked through the tent area, eyes shifting back and forth, searching for Joey. A few ponies attempted to strike up conversation with him. But he just stood silent until they went away. Yet still, a small crowd always seemed to follow him wherever he went.


"Ah, there he is." William spotted his friend, being haggled by the crowd. All amazed by the sight of another alicorn. Most paid no heed of him. Being that they had seen him around town before, regardless. Joey was still far more talkative then he was. Calmly and firmly, he approached him, and snapped his fingers. "Hey, what are you doing?" Joey froze for a moment, and looked over. William groaned in annoyance, this wasn't the first time he had dealt with this. He jabbed a thumb behind him, "The six are right over there, snap out of it. We got work to do." Joey gave him a nod. And the 2 of them approached the six, not conversing with them. But being sure to remain within earshot.


"Well, good news is, they don't seem to be that interested in it, Scottaloo being the only exception. And of course, Pinkie, who was busy going around distributing a new batch of cupcakes she had made. William didn't take one. Going straight to the first open seat he could find in the stands. He sat down, drawing the attention of a few more ponies in the crowd. Whom he waved away. "Look at this, it's a total Wonderbolts ripoff!" He heard Rainbow call out from a few rows down, he just shrugged. "Eh, hat 'em both, don't care. I'm only here because I got a gut feeling I should be." He murmured to himself, setting his legs up. He looked out onto the field. And was immediately thrown into a fit of irritation as what sounded like an equestrian attempt at copying his own music blared over the speakers.


"Ah hell no, y'all ain't ruinin' metal for me." With aggressive swiftness, he racked back the the bolt of a Delta 5 Daniel defense sniper rifle, chambered a 6.5 mm Creedmoor round. And blew out the loudspeakers with a single well placed shot. It sparked, and fell to the ground, regardless, it didn't stop the show. The field was filled with a green mist, and a moment later, a group of pegasi wearing black and green flight suits appeared out on the field. Much to moth William's horror, amusement, and confusion.

"Dafaq am I looking at?" A few of the ponies shushed him, then looked back at the pegasi on the field. He kicked back, threw a pair of headphones on over his head, set "Cowboy's on the Run," To blast on full volume. And closed his eyes.


Slowly, he stood up, pulled the headphones up from over his ears. Grabbed his rifle, compulsively racked the action, and headed down the stands. He was headed right for the so called, "Washouts," He stomped his way across the field to them. As he did, he was interrupted by a crowd of ponies awaiting autographs. He gave a quick whistle. And they all cleared out, leaving just him, the six, Joey. And of course, the Washouts. He made a beeline right for them, until they where all engulfed by his shadow. "Explain." He said flatly. Looking right into their eyes. There were 3 of them, it was quite apparent they were scared of him.

"Explain what?" One of them asked, this one was a mare with sky blue fur, and a yellow mane. William tapped his foot. "Well, perhaps we should start on the reason behind you being referred to as, the Washouts?" They looked at his face, then down at his rifle. "Well, we're called that because we're all former Wonderbolt's. Name's Rolling Thunder, we've heard quite a bit about you." He didn't move. "Hmmm, ok. And... Wait a moment, I recognize you. You're Lightning Dust? Right?" She nodded, "Yes..."

"Rainbow Dash ain't gonna be to happy when she sees you. Might wanna go easy on her thought, she's got her little sister with her. Or don't, yell at her as much as you please. I don't give a ####." He folded his arms, and watched as the 2 of them began frivolously bickering away. Then they turned to him. talked a bit more, though he couldn't quite make it out from there. Eventually, Lightning gave Scottaloo the autograph, and the 2 talked some more. That was at least, until Rainbow got angry for some reason or another scooped her up. And flew off.

"Y'all best not press the issue." William turned to walk away. Thinking the conversation over, clearly. These "Washout's," Wanted more from him. Completely out of nowhere, Lightning asked, "Hey, how 'bout you. You wanna join? We've got one more sot on the team." He shook his head, "Me, with a bunch of failures? No. Just no."

"Well, I mean, it's not like you could anyway. Unless you're hiding a pair of wings behind that armor?" The 3 of them flew off, laughing. William scowled, and turned to Joey. "What do you want me to do about it?" William groaned, and rubbed his forehead. He clenched his fist. Then waved his hand at the pegasi flying off in the distance.

"Turn me." Joey raised an eyebrow, "Turn you back into a pony? Here?" William nodded. "Yes, now." Joey flinched at this, "Well, ok then. Might wanna move somewhere a bit more discreate. It's a tad bit...Ugly when you're awake." William's eyes widened. "Ok...Well, how painful is it?"

"Never experienced it myself. It shouldn't hurt that much. Maybe just a little itch." William gave a thumbs up, and made for the treeline. Joey followed close behind, hi shorn lit. A half minute later, William's screech of pain echoed through the trees.

"Oh man, it feels good to be back!" William stood up, and ruffled his mane, and gave his neck holster a tug. Much to Joey's concern. "So, what now?" William clapped his hooves, " I go teach those idiot's a lesson." He spread his wings, and took off. "Don't kill them!" The words had just barely left his mouth before William had already left the local airspace. Joey took off after him.

"Hey, you!" The 3 pegasi turned looked up at the sky, above them, silhouette highlighted by the sun. Was an armored pegasus. A set of flight googles and a ski mask covered his face. He flapped his way to the ground, setting himself down before the 3. His mask hid a wide grin of anger and superiority. " Uh... Who are you?" Rolling Thunder asked him. He towered over them.

"Oh, you don't remember me? It's me, the quiet kid. William? You mocked me, said I couldn't fly." They all looked at him, bewildered. " But, you were a-" He shook his head, "Oh no. I can fly, when I want to. Here's a warning, never, ever, say something like that to me ever again." He took a single step forward. "I'll leave you with that, don't go following me." He spread his wings in a display of force. And flew off. Leaving the group with far, far more question's than answers. William meanwhile, was off to the everfree forest. For what? Country music, and firearms. Combined with wings, it was more than he could ever have asked for. So he didn't he just did it himself.