One, two. One, two. Soarin' pumped the air in front of him with his front hooves. The whole team was getting fired up for the upcoming event. They had done such performances countless times before but Soarin' knew that this one was going to be different. Spitfire had gotten them in line to push their limits and the former head-wing stallion knew that he was going to be the one to blow her away. He felt good about himself.
In fact, Soarin' might even say that he had never felt so good in his entire life. He actually had mentioned it to Silver Lining, who was often away with Spitfire (special training no doubt). But even Silver's improving physique couldn't leap ahead of Soarin's own regiment. The stallion was adding ten laps and fifteen wing-ups per week. He calculated his sleep and diet while calling on natural born talent and determination. Spitfire had already taken notice that something fundamental had changed in the pegasus. But perhaps it wasn't that something changed. Maybe something had just been ignited.
Time for water and veggies, Sorain' thought to himself. He laughed aloud carelessly as he nearly bounced back into his hotel room. The other 'Bolts sometimes kidded him about his ridiculous routines and meal choices but he let them. After all, he was not going to have the last laugh. He already was laughing because he had long surpassed his teammates in physical ability. Only four of the Wonderbolts matched or exceeded what he could now do in the show. Spitfire and Surprise held a firm advantage over him. Misty was barely out of his reach and Silver Lining was now his peer. That was another laughable point. Silver Lining, the stallion concerned with his dress and mane, was his stunt-flying equal. That 'Bolt didn't used to have such tenacity...not before Spitfire started drilling him.
Doesn't matter much, he continued to think as he snatched a water bottle off of the kitchen counter. What had changed had been for the better. Looking back, Soarin' wanted to kick himself for being so laid back and never pushing himself. It was like some sick kind of joke that being half-baked in life made one think that being half-baked was the way to go. In reality, he only snapped out of that pathetic way of thinking because Spitfire had gotten stricter with the team. To just think what he would be today if he had been so determined in the first place...
The captain had become a more straight-up kind of mare at exactly what point? It was most likely that she had started expecting more from her team when she started expecting more of herself. As her own abilities increased as a result of her training, so did her belief that her team could do more. But that point was a bit beyond Soarin' level of reasoning - at least as he currently was.
Soarin' crunched on some celery as he took a seat at the kitchen table. For a hotel room, it was a large kitchen. In fact, the "room" was more like a small house. It probably had something to due with the fact that it was a fancy hotel and the Wonderbolt rooms were some of the best. Maybe he took the place for granted but, then, he figured he was a hard worker and deserved it. It was the kind of self-serving attitude that came as a side-effect of his more active self-determination.
The stallion enjoyed his snack as he contemplated what he was going to do with himself.
"Red...or blue?"
The store clerk raised a brow and then tiredly shook her head. This mare is better off by herself, she decided as she sauntered off.
High Winds was in the tight grip of despair as she was forced to make the tragic decision between two fabulous colors. The blue sash would be a good addition to her already blue uniform, as it would make it seem to flow better. The red one, however, would give a spicy contrast and bring attention to her speed as it highlighted her as a red blur. Which one to choose?!
Suddenly, she felt a hoof slam into her shoulder. The force was enough to startle her but not knock her down. She twirled around to address the pony who dared interrupt her feverish concentration. "Who-"
"Hi, High," the chipper female 'Bolt greeted.
"Misty? I thought you were off with Spitfire!" High Winds couldn't hide her surprise. She had gotten more used to being alone or with Fleetfoot. She didn't see the other girls as much as she used to.
"Heh," Misty replied. "I was. Finished, though. Thought I'd catch up with you before I pass out," she gave a light chuckle.
"Well," Winds stated rather absolutely as she held out the two sashes for her friend to see. "We'd better start with getting caught up with this."
Misty gave a complicated look in return. Fashion had always been more the other mare's speed. She doubted she could be much help in any decisions pertaining to clothes or accessories. She had heard others call her the "sporty" type and, though she wouldn't agree, she didn't have anything contrary to say on the subject.
"Flare or unity?"
What was that supposed to mean? Was flare supposed to be the red one? Misty called on her hidden super power that she often used around the mysterious Wonderbolt. It was a power that no one knew of but herself. It was the power of random selection! "Flare!"
"Of course! You're right!" High Winds nearly squealed. "I knew I was on the right track!"
Potential disaster averted, Misty thought to herself.
"So," the other pegasus continued. "I'll get this checked out and we'll have some tea together. Sound good?"
Nodding pleasantly, the yellow mare found her way back to the store front as her fellow teammate bought the item. It was only a short moment before they left to find a nearby cafe. The place was owned and operated by a non-Canterlot family, which made it considerably less posh than most. High Winds chose it because it didn't serve the "nasty over-priced" tea that the specialist cafes and restaurants did.
"You never were much for blowing your bits. In spite of that one habit of yours," Misty remarked as the two mares took their seats at one of the cafe's outside tables. She gave a loose gesture to the sash that now hung tidily around her friend.
High Winds simply gave a "psh" of dismissal. "Bits has never equaled fashion. Or quality for that matter. It's nothing more than a mindset perpetrated by the privileged to make them feel better about themselves."
"A bit harsh don't you think?" the sunny-colored mare countered.
"Misty," the pale white mare gave a determined look as a waiter started towards them. "Some of the most fashionable ponies I've ever seen were nameless Earth ponies from backwater towns - and I don't mean that as a bad thing. Money has nothing to do with good sense...though it does seem to ruin it often enough."
"May I help you?" the waiter asked kindly. He was an Earth pony with a short-cropped mane. His eyes were narrow, though he was certainly not glaring at the two customers. His dark brown coat was an easy contrast with the white apron he wore, which featured the cafe's blue logo and mascot.
"Two cups of tea," High Winds started in response. "South Seas. No additions."
The waiter smiled, bowed, and left to enter the cafe's kitchen.
"Not like I can argue that. I don't really get into the high-class stuff anyways," Misty said and turned her head to the other tables. "There aren't any others here..."
"Oh, it's a slow and quiet place. Very relaxing," High Winds sighed faintly as she sunk into the chair. "A very good contrast."
"To what?"
High Winds giggled. "I think life is much like a dress or outfit. It gets tiresome when you only wear a single color." She slid a hoof over her new sash. "A change of pace can be so refreshing, don't you think. The excitement we get in the sky is made even sweeter by these moments of rest and tranquility on the ground."
Misty grinned. "Well geez, Windy. I didn't take you for a poet."
"You think that was poetry? I'm glad Wave Chill wasn't around to hear that."
The friends shared the cheerful mood as the waiter returned with the tea. He set the cups in their proper places, informed them to call him at their most miniscule need, and then returned to the cafe interior. Only a half dozen or so ponies were within the vicinity - merely walking leisurely across the adjacent road. The cafe was a quiet stop on a quiet block, indeed.
"So what's bothering you?" the fashion-centered pegasus finally asked after they enjoyed a moment of tea-sipping relaxation.
"There's something bothering me?" Misty frowned.
"Oh, come now. I've been around you enough to know when you're trying to cover up stress. I think you just might have hunted me down to talk about it..."
Misty knew deep down that High Winds was right. Yes, she wanted to catch up with her friend and fellow 'Bolt, but she needed advice as well. Now that the other mare had brought it up, she found herself oddly reluctant. Somehow her resolve had fled her and she felt embarrassed about the whole matter. "I'm not sure if I want to talk about it..."
Her friend gave a serious expression of concern. "That bad, huh?"
"It's kind of personal."
High Winds kept her tone for the sake of Misty's feelings. She was not one to kid or make fun at the wrong moment. "I imagine it would be. But I want you to know that I wouldn't gossip or share personal matters with anypony else. I take those things seriously, Misty."
Misty looked up from her tea to see a warm smile on the other mare's face. There was a very trusty aura about it, as if she were family rather than a mere friend. Perhaps that was why the yellow pegasus felt compelled to speak to High Winds about her predicament rather than any of the others. High Winds had a certain presence about her that was akin to a caring older sister. Maybe she seemed that way because she had been a Wonderbolt longer than Misty or maybe it was because she simply carried herself in a subtly more mature way. Regardless, Misty was encouraged to relate her troubles.
"It's the special team that Spitfire has me training in..."
"Mhm," High Winds nodded.
The sun-colored mare frowned once again but her voice held an unstable waver. "You don't seem surprised."
"It was the only thing I could think of that would be an issue. We still train together outside of your special activities, after all," the mare remarked in return.
"Well..."
Misty paused and High Winds felt that something was stirring in her friend's heart. It was something very big and important. The mare's eyes weren't looking forward anymore and instead held a firm gaze over her tea. But even so, High Winds could see the mist in them. Misty hadn't been the first teammate to confide something serious to her. Fleetfoot had also trusted her with some personal issues. Even Silver Lining had talked to her about some things that were best left confidential - though the stallion's secrets were of quite a different matter than Fleetfoot's. High Winds didn't know why she seemed to be a magnet for her troubled teammates. It could be hypothesized that it was because High Winds had been born and raised in Canterlot, which gave her a sharper sense of social competence. Or perhaps it was related to the fact that she never had brothers or sisters. She had always wanted one or two and the desire led to her treating some of her friends as a sort of extended family.
High Winds got up from her seat instinctively and rounded the table just in time to catch Misty in her hooves as the mare began crying bitterly. Fleetfoot had done something similar and High Winds had caught on that her female teammates had a habit of keeping matters bottled in until they simply had an emotional breakdown. The calmer of the two pegasi held her friend dearly, rocking and hushing her to tell her that it was going to be okay. When Misty had cried herself dry, she attempted to speak her mind.
"There's somepony I like but I can't do anything because things will just get awkward..." she managed to say between sniffles. Her blood-shot eyes laid closed as Misty held her friend's embrace a moment longer.
"It's one of our teammates?" High Winds asked gently.
The other mare just nodded solemnly as she leaned back from the shoulder of her friend.
"Do you want to tell me?" the near-white mare offered, as she continued her soft approach.
Misty simply nodded a second time and took a deep breath.