"So you going or not?" Asks the green mare.
"I don't know, it's a tempting offer and all, but I just don't know." Light Crash replies.
"Oh come on dude," his friend, Bright Shine, a blue unicorn, jumps down in front of Crash from his perch in the tree the four friends were resting under. "I may not be a pegasus like you, but even I'd jump at the chance for this." Bright Shine swipes the note from Crash's hands and waves it in his friend's face. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, getting a chance to join the Wonderbolts, why are you considering it? Get your flank out'ta here and show them what you're made of."
Crash takes the letter from his friend's hands back and looks at it for the eighth time today, staring at the paper with the green check mark ribbon. "Come on, think about the advantages you'll get if you pass. Fame, fortune, partying with celebrates, who wouldn't want that?" Boom Powder, Bright Shines big brother asks.
"Well yeah, that does seem pretty cool and all, but I just don't know." Crash says unsure of himself.
"Hey," Serene, the green mare with her yellow mane tied back, she had her arms crossed and looked deep into his eyes. Out of these four friends, the two unicorns were Shine and Powder, the trouble-brothers, and like how Crash was the only pegasus, Serene was the only earth pony. "Remember when we were kids? We said that if either of us would become famous we'de take it instantly? Well this is your chance, so why don't you take it already?"
Light Crash looks down at his hooves, ashamed that he'd forgotten the promise. Without he reminding him, he never would have remembered. He thinks this over a little longer in his head, should he go or shouldn't he? After a minute of silence he comes to a decision.
"You're right guys, this may be the best offer I'll ever get, I don't want to regret this later on in the future." He folds the letter and sticks it in his pocket. "It says that I'll be there for a week. If I pass then I join the Wonderbolts, if I fail, I come back."
"Really? That seems kind of simple." Boom asks in his low voice, knowing that something didn't wasn't entirely right about that.
"Well, if I pass then I'll be relocating homes, and spend most of my time training. I was summarizing okay?" Crash says annoyed that he had to go through explaining, dropping the bomb. Yeah, if Crash passes then he has to move towns, not being able to see his friends as much as he'd like.
"Hey, don't sweat it man. If you, excuse me, when you pass, we'll keep in touch. And we'll visit you as much as we can." Shine puts a reassuring hand on his black-coal friend's shoulder.
"And it isn't like we'll never see each other again." Serene chips in.
"Just don't forget about us little ponies when you become famous." Boom adds.
"Forget you guys? Gimme a break. And Boom, you? Little? Please." Crash laughs an puts on a goofy smile. Boom Powder was not just the oldest of the four, but he was also the biggest. He had to keep himself in top form for his boxing matches. "Okay, I'm going to stop by my place, grab some stuff, and I'll be off." He takes off into the sky and heads to his place.
"Good luck!" Serene calls after him.
"And try not to make a fool of yourself!" Bright Shine yells and laughs as he sees Light Crash give him the finger.
Crash bides his time as he flies over the clouds, still uncertain of this decision. The wind passing through his blue and red mane. His black jacket flapping in the wind as he flies while his plane white t-shirt sticks to his body. He stays lost in his thoughts when suddenly a cyan coloured mare shoots past him, leaving a rainbow spectrum behind her.
'Damn that's fast.' He thinks, getting off topic of what he had on his mind before that mare passed him. He then sees a, well he wouldn't call it a mountain, but a structure of land, in the clouds. There was grass and trees healthily growing on it, and a long paced landing pad stretching from one end to the next. He saw peagsi training to be future Wonderbolts, they raced, tested acrobatic abilities, and pushed their physical condition to the maximum. Slightly above the ground were clouds and buildings molded from the clouds with emblems on them. The cloud area seemed to be for resting as he could he see that all the pegasi on the clouds didn't train and would simply talk amongst one another.
He saw a sign with an arrow saying 'New recruits: That way.' He landed on the ground and stared at the sign a little longer. He could read perfectly fine, but he felt like he needed to stay there for a little bit. He felt that once he'd cross that sign, his life would change, an he was worried about that. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, he pulls one out and grabs his lighter from his other pocket and lights it. He inhales deeply and lets the smoke out. He knew that it was a bad habit, and to be a Wonderbolt he had to take care of his body, but no matter how many times he tried kicking his addiction, he always failed.
After prolonging it long enough, he took his first step and headed in the right direction. He saw seven other pegasi talking amongst one another, waiting for their flight instructor to show. As he got closer he saw a familiar pony in tight grey jeans and a purple tank top. It was her mane style that confirmed his suspicion. "Cloudchaser? That you?" The pony turned away from the pony she was talking to, curious as to who called her. Her expression soon turned from curiosity to joy.
"Crash!" She fling her arms around his neck in excitement, giving him a big hug and minding the cigarette. "I didn't expect to see you here, I don't mean that I didn't think you'd ever make it, but I'm just so surprised. How's it going? How's the old gang?" She asks, excited seeing an old friend again.
"I'm doing good, Serene's still supportive, Boom Powder's still big, and Bright Shine's still an idiot." He jokingly says about one of his closest friend, causing Cloudchaser to laugh. "How's your sis?" He asks joining her in laughter. Back when Crash and the others were in high school, Cloudchaser and Flitter were part of their group. But because of their parents divorce, their mother took custody of the sisters and moved towns, taking them with her. It hurt Crash inside when that happened, Clouchaser too. They thought that they could have a future together.
"You haven't changed a bit. And Flitter's still Flitter. Let me introduce you to my friends. Hey guys, this is my friend, Light Crash. Crash this is Thunderlane and Snowflake." She points me to two stallions, one was about the same size and a shade lighter than Light Crash, his mane was a very light blue mohawk, he wore a yellow tee-shirt under a black unbuttoned over-shirt, and a regular pair of blue jeans like Crash.
"Hey there." He says nonchalantly. The other guy was a huge piece of work, he had bulging muscles bigger than Boom Poweder. He was absolutely ripped, his veins were bulging out in places and his triceps were as big as his head. He wore a white wife beater and red shorts, revealing his vein throbbing legs. Crash didn't even know that it was possible to be this big, he had a ring on his left and kept his mane short.
"Uhh, hey." Crash says trying not to be intimidated by his appearance as he made eye contact with his red eyes.
"YEAH!" He yells back. Before any of them could say anything else, someone from out of the group speaks up.
"Look at me have here." She says. Everypony turned their attention to the owners voice, they instantly turned at attention in a straight line as they realized it was Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts. A stallion and two mares were on the far right side, then Thunderlane, Cloudchaser, Snipwflake, and then Light Crash with two other mares to his left. Something was caught in the corner of his eye and got a quick glimpse of what it was. It was the mare beside him, she was also the mare that passed him on the way here. She had a rainbow mane that was unkempt and looked like it hadn't seen a comb in forever, she wore track pants and a blue hoodie and had a look of confidence on her face. He quickly turned his attention back to Spitfire before the rainbow maned mare noticed him looking at her.
Spitfire was accompanied by two stallions, they all wore military jackets. It was unsurprising to anypony, they knew that the Wonderbolts were division of the Equestrian military. "You all think you're Wonderbolt material, don't yeah?" She asks everypony.
"Yeas ma'am!" They all respond in unison.
"Think you got what it takes to be an elite flier?"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Well them, let me be the first to tell you." She walks up to a mare. "You're don't!" She yell in her face. Crash knew that this was the first part of their training. They would be intimidated and observed. Those that would show fear or didn't look confident would most likely be marked and their chances of pacing would thin out. Psychology 101.
"If you had what it took to be an elite flier you already be a Wonderbolt." She stops at Cloudchaser. "Still think you're something special?" She asks and looks at Cloudchaser in the eyes. Her legs began to shake a little.
"No ma'am." She replies knowing that it was probably over for her.
Spitfire then walks over to Snowflake and eyes him up. He may have towered over her, but he was scared but didn't show it by avoiding her gaze. Crash knew that that was as bad, maybe worse, then fully showing fear, he tried hiding it by looking oblivious. But it was written all over his face.
Spitfire looks at his wings, Crash couldn't believe his eyes. This gargantuan of a giant, had the tiniest wings Crash has ever seen on a full grown stallion. Spitfireflies up so they're eye level, she puts her hands on her hips and gives him a disappointing look. "Yeah think you're hot stuff?" She asks the giant.
"Yeah?" He replies. Unsure of his own answer. Spitfire continues to stare at him, expecting a proper answer. And she receives it, Snowflake shrinks down low to the ground. Scared and embarrassed.
She lands on the ground and walks up to Light Crash next and he put on his best poker face. He feels his heart race fast, he knows that it's a test, he knows the fundamentals and what not to do. But he's only mortal. She looks at his cigarette still in his mouth and glares disapprovingly at it behind her sunglasses and swipes it out of his mouth.
"Do you know what this is?" She asks holing it front of his face.
"I believe the ponies in the Uneighted kingdom call it a 'fag' ma'am." Light Crash gives a smart ass reply.
"Well the Wonderbolts call it a death stick. To be a Wonderbolt you need to always be in top form, and these things will give you countless medical problems. Weak lungs for starters. And a Wonderbolt needs the strongest!" She tosses it on the ground and puts it out with her foot.
"Well ma'am," Light Crash says back reaching into his pocket and pulls out another cigarette and his lighter. He puts the smoke in his mouth and lights it in front of her. "I'm not a Wonderbolt... Yet." She crosses her arms and scoffs, not the kind that you receive when ponies don't believe you and take you for a liar, but the kind that gets approval when others are impressed. She unfolds her arms away from her chest and moves on to the blue mare beside Crash.
"You look like you're the worst flier in the whole academy. You'd probably quit after the first day."
"No ma'am! I never quit ma'am!" She replies without looking at their instructor. Spitfire gives a look of content, glad to find a pony with backbone. Crash too was impressed by her, not showing a hint of fear, of worry. She know why she's here. Without another she moves to the last pony. An light opal mare with yellow and orange hair. She wore short shorts the same color as her coat but a little darker, and a long sleeve white shirt under a grey vest grey.
"What about you?" She asks. "I bet you couldn't get past the first flag pole without getting winded!"
"Try me ma'am." The mare replies. Everyponies attention was on her now, none of them could believe what she just said.
"What's that?" Spitfire asks lowering her shades so their bare eyes looked at one another.
"Le me show you what I got ma'am." She says in full confidence. Crash was impressed, he didn't show his fear, the mare beside him showed her determination. But this mare was showing her confidence, a risky move. Crash knows that if she can't back up your words, she'll get shot down faster than the rest of them.
"Good, now's your chance. Give me five hundred laps. All off you!" The others groaned, except for three. "Now!" Spitfire orders and blows her whistle. The two mare beside Light Crash were determined to be Wonderbolt, won't complain, won't pout, won't be a problem. And, Crash he kept his eyes on the mare opal mare, still surprised at her attitude.
At the sound of the whistle, everypony took off. The cyan and opal mares shot a head of everypony else, leaving them in the dust, while the rest went flew after them. Light Crash kept his eyes on the two mares that impressed Spitfire, impressed himself, and he wondered: what will the future hold for him with those two in it.