//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Blazing Wings 
// by FriscoPony 
//------------------------------//

Hurricane stretched his wings, preparing to make the flight of his life on his starting mark. He did not want his wings to “fall apart like Icicles from a roof siding” as Winter would say. His mind was fiercely intent on being the first to cross the finish line, which was set up right behind him. “For all Equestria,” he chanted in the back of his mind. He knew the motto well, as it belonged to the Air Brigade academy. This ambition of his, he was extremely close, and he was not about to let anyone get in his way of reaching his colt hood dream, even if that something was his best friend. “I must win,” he said to himself. He then turned around to look at winter, avoiding eye contact with him. “I’m sorry Winter, this was our dream, but in the end, it’s about who wants it more right? Let’s do our best, both of us.” After which, he returned to stretching his wings, preparing for the long flight ahead.
Winter stretched himself forward to give himself an extra stretch forward for the finish line. He was “breaking the ice” as he called it. He was trying to get rid of all the stiffness in his body as to not slow himself down. It was a technique that Hurricane had taught him when they first started flight camp years ago. 
“That’s right, stretch all the way out!” he remembered Hurricane saying when they were younger. “Break the ice in your bones, or else you’ll fall to your doom in the sky!”
“Break the ice…” said Winter continuing his stretches. “I like that idea.”
Winter couldn’t even begin to count all of the times that Hurricane had helped him out in their endeavors for the air brigade. On the other side of that coin, he also couldn’t count how many times Hurricane had gotten both of them into trouble. Yet, despite of all of their adventures, now was one of those moments where he wished that this couldn’t happen. Winter noticed Hurricane looking towards him trying to say something. He tried to turn away, but it was difficult to not see his friend’s sadness. “We will do our best,” he said, “both of us.”
Coach looked at the clock tower by the dorms and grabbed his whistle. It was 11:59 pm. “Alright everypony, prepare to start!”
The row of pegasi quickly took their readiness. Hurricane bent his wings outwards, up, and to the side. His eyes were set on the horizon and the clouds that he had to break. He had to keep his mind off of everything if he wanted to win but winter could not escape his mind.
“Set!”
Winter stood ready as ever, his wings closed as he wanted a galoping start for a better chance of speed. His eyes were on the advancing course around the school. He was more relaxed, but his looks could fool a strong stallion, like Hurricane. He was determined to not let Hurricane ruin his chances, but he couldn’t get the thought of the two stallions dreams of going to the Air Brigade as they both needed a signature from coach, but he tried to remain focused on the task at hand.
“Go!”
From the starting line, two streaks – one of baby blue and white, the other of dark gray and black, thundered from their respective marks. Winter and Hurricane quickly proved themselves neck and neck. The two stallions didn’t look at each other; they just looked ahead at the clouds they had to break 10 clouds each; if the clouds were in the right positions, one by one they would fall like dominoes from the resulting speed. Winter broke left for a row of 10 clouds that were straight and all in a line. Hurricane broke right for a path of 10 clouds that would provide the pinball effect where he would zip past one, to another, to another.
I have to get this right, thought hurricane looking at the 10 clouds, Closer and closer he approached them. 
POOF!
One gone.
PFFT!
Another soon followed.
Before he knew it, all of the clouds were gone, and he had also gained extra speed off of the last cloud. He was very satisfied with the results of his high speed endeavor as he thought he would power his way through the air currents and not just maneuver through them. 
Winter looked from not far behind and noticed Hurricane’s streak heading towards the Air current generators. “He’ll get blown away if he goes into those too fast…” Winter said to himself. “Please be careful Hurricane.” Winter then slowed down slightly to prepare himself for the air current generators.
Hurricane looked at the Air current generators with great ambition, faster and faster he went, building his speed. At this rate, he thought, I’ll break a sonic rainboom just like Rainbow Dash! He was thrilled at the very thought of this, but at the same time, he wasn’t paying much attention to how close he was flying to the generator outputs. “This is it!” he yelled flying into the first current generator. However, his plan had backfired. Now Hurricane was flying in the direction the air current was blowing, way off course. “HELP ME!” he cried. “I can’t stop! Somepony! Anypony!”
Winter looked out to see where the sound was coming from. He then saw Hurricane flying without control towards the side of a mountain. “Don’t worry Hurricane,” called Winter stopping in his tracks. “I’m on my way!” With a quick dash, he charged towards Hurricane.
Hurricane could only watch the mountain side get closer and closer. “So this is how it all ends for me…just because of a stupid mistake…” said Hurricane. He then closed his eyes and his wings, and began the long plummet down to the ground. Just as he thought that this would be his curtain call, something grabbed him. “What the?” said Hurricane looking down to see Winter lifting him. He then gained control of his flight path again. He then noticed blood on his face from the impact. “And you’re hurt too…” said Hurricane, looking guilty. Winter only smiled. “We stick together,” he said, “Whatever the weather. Don’t worry about me, I’ll make it.” The duo then flew back to the camp grounds, hoping that they did not fail the training session. 
They returned to see a different Pegasus had been the first one back. The two stallions both were certain that neither of them was going to the Air Brigade after this stunt, but they were both just happy to still have all four hooves. Coach Sky looked over at the two with a rather disheartened face. He did not look sad, he just looked disappointed. “Winter Chaser, Hurricane,” he called to them. 
“What is it coach,” they replied.
“Both of you need to go to the nurse to make sure you both are okay. Afterwards, meet me in my classroom,” he said turning away. “We need to talk.”