The ground was dry, long since burned by the sun’s scorching torment, blessed not by the cool of the rain, ground of which would be trodden underfoot without a thought, if it weren’t for the pony inspecting it, Spitfire’s inquisitive amber eyes flicked over the dirt-base ground of the Centre as she hoped the Weather crew was planning rain soon, the whole of Equestria was suffering. Spitfire glanced around her; the sun was beating down on her back, declaring the midst of summer.
Spitfire barley considered that none of the other Wonderbolts were here yet. That didn’t surprise her. They were never here on time, yet, somehow, Soarin’ and Fleetfoot always arrived at the exact same time. She would have happily thought that they were chilling out together, but she knew better then to think they were good enough friends to do that.
Spitfire’s gaze left the floor and drifted over to the Wall of History, as she called it, although, many others would have simply called it the wall of Fame. Spitfire’s eyes darted over all the past captains of the Wonderbolts. The first was a grey Pegasus stallion named Greywing. Greywing had kind blue eyes and a bright orange mane, he had been the founder of the areal team, Spitfire had read his biography numerous times, and apparently he had never thought the group would get so successful.
The next photo was of a white Pegasus with a lime green mane, she had purple eyes and her name was Greenfire. She was, in face, Greywing’s daughter. Spitfire’s eyes scanned photo after photo, recognising name after name. She reached the second last frame, a light blue Pegasus stallion, almost the colour of Soarin’ grinned out at the camera. His mane was the exact same colour as Fleetfoot’s. Spitfire’s eyes finally settled on the last photo, the most recent captain of the Wonderbolts. It was her. Spitfire was looking at the camera, smiling, and her eyes half closed as usual.
Spitfire turned away, “where are they? She thought, glancing over her shoulder to the entrance. “They should be here by now”
Spitfire trotted into the middle of the grounds, figuring there was no better time to start warming up than now. She began her stretches, stretching each individual limb, any pony would laugh if they saw her do this. She was incredibly flexible, possibly even too flexible, that wasn’t a good thing. Spitfire arched her back as a cat might, before standing to her full height. She glanced once again at the door. What if something had happened? What if Fleetfoot or Soarin’ needed her?
“No.” Spitfire hissed to herself. “Just start to practice. What could go wrong? If they need you one of them will come to get you.” Spitfire told herself sternly.
Spitfire took off into the air, gaining height faster than most Pegasus ponies could even dream of. The yellow Pegasus mare looked down, a sick feeling in her stomach, she had the feeling something bad would happen.
“Heh, Spitfire! Your captain of an areal team and you’re afraid of heights?” Although, she knew it wasn’t the height that was the problem. It was the move.
The team was getting ready for an upcoming performance, which was usual, of course. But this one was hard on Spitfire. Most of her routine was relatively easy, but she had one move, one move that she was scared of. She had to free fall a couple hundred feet, before spreading one wing, which pulled her out in a corkscrew. She then had to flatten herself out and rocket back up into the air. It seemed simple enough, but it took a great deal of strength, speed and control.
Spitfire frowned up at the sun. Why did it have to be so hot? She wiped sweat off her brow and once again, and flew around, just in a circle. It was a part of her routine, though simple, it turned out effective when incorporated with the rest of the team.
Spitfire drew to a halt, the world spinning slightly around her, already she was dehydrated. Somehow she thought training would be cancelled.
Spitfire flew over to the side of the grounds. It was about the size of the Cloudsdale coliseum, and, likewise, was made of clouds. Hastily, Spitfire grabbed a single cloud and pulled it out of the wall, planting her backside on it. She took only a moment to rest, before leaping off the cloud. She was thirsty, to put it simply.
Spitfire frowned. Why not? She thought. She was at the perfect height to practice it, and what could happen? She could only begin to imagine….
”No” Spitfire told herself, “You’re Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts. You can do this.”
Spitfire glanced over at the cloud, she’d leave it as a marker, to see how much height she had gone from, proud of herself for thinking that, Spitfire began her decent. She smirked slightly as she dropped the first hundred feet, then, as she felt as she had enough speed, spread her left wing,
Spitfire began to corkscrew with a satisfying speed. No, she was going too fast. Spitfire gasped as she tried to pull up, but she only managed to wriggle in the air. Both her wings locked into her side. Her head hurt… Spitfire again attempted to spread both her wings, but to no anvil. The ground wasn’t far from her now. A hundred feet… ninety feet… eighty feet, Spitfire felt as though her head might implode… seventy feet, spitfire groaned, giving up on making her wings work… Sixty feet… fifty feet, wait, no, WHAT? She couldn’t give up- a fall like this could kill her… forty feet, her wings refused to budge… thirty feet, why were they doing this? Twenty feet, Spitfire screamed… ten feet, it only lasted a second, her body twisted to the side in one last attempt….
*THUD*
Spitfire winced, pain shot up her whole body. For a second she gagged. The pain was blinding her… She attempted to move a hoof in front of her, but only succeeded in making the pain intensify to the point she could hold it in no longer. Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts and one of the best flyers in all of Equestria, drew a ragged breath. Her lungs felt like they were being squished, like they were been held like an iron fist.
“Spitfire!” The voice echoed in her head, it was coming from all directions. Spitfire painfully moved her head to the left, though the slightest movement caused agony she had never felt before.
“Don’t!”
The voice is so loud, why is it so loud? Thought a desperate Spitfire, she managed a last breath before she was plunged into darkness.