I woke up and felt extremely sore, to the point where It hurt just to sit up in bed. I looked at the time and it was already 9:55! We were supposed to be there to hear from the captain at 10:00 AM! I quickly got out of bed and rushed to get myself ready. I got out of my house at 9:57 and I was rushing to get there.
"Oh I really hope I make on time! So stupid of me to not set an alarm!" I said to myself while I was flying as fast as I could to get to the academy. When I got there, I made it just as the captain came out of her office. I stopped In the middle of the crowd and I was breathing hard, but I still was there to listen to what the captain had to say. I couldn't see Rainbow Dash anywhere just yet.
"Alright ponies. After seven excruciating hours of challenges yesterday, and a whole night of decision making, I have a list with our next ten Wonderbolts." Said the captain. "They way it is formatted is that there will be nine normal positions where you are a regular Wonderbolt, and there is one hot seat position that I had created." We all looked at each other and were confused. "The hot seat position is the one I thought was the best Pegasus in this whole try out. They get the privilege of starting as a lieutenant in the Wonderbolts and will be my wing pony." said the captain. We all were blow back by that statement.
"But wait, why would you want a Pegasus that you don't even know to be your wing pony and lieutenant if you could just chose a pony that is already a Wonderbolt before this whole thing happened?" I looked over to see who said that, it was Rainbow Dash. She walked up next to me while she asked that question.
"Great question recruit. You see unlike the normal chain of command as you explained, I wanted a pony that I know nothing about because I want raw technique that hasn't been refined by me yet, and in order to get such raw technique, I needed to find a Pegasus that is already good, but has a technique in flying that isn't mastered like mine." Said the captain. It made sense in a way to me. By the looks on the other ponies faces, it looked like it made sense to them too. "That answer your question recruit?" She asked dash.
"Yes ma'am." Rainbow replied.
"Good, now lets get this started then." The captain said. We were all very nervous and so was I. I was sweating and I could feel the nervousness and I could just hope that I was on that list. "I will announce the first nine, then the hot seat winner." Said the captain. She then cleared her throat and began reading off the names. "Rapid fire you are first." Everypony looked at her and she walked up and the captain gave her a medal and a sheet of paper that had her name on it and the hoof print of the captain. "Congrats." Said the captain and she walked off to the barracks proudly. "Next is star flare." Said the captain. She ran up, got the paper and medal and ran into the barracks happily. "Next is fleetfoot." She flew up, took the paper and medal, saluted the captain, and flew off to the barracks. "Up next, we have nova." He flew up and got the paper and medal and ran to the barracks with a smile on his face. "Next up is hurricane." He came up, got the paper and medal, saluted the captain and dashed off to the barracks. I was getting more nervous the more names she called. "Next is sonic boom." He dashed up to the front and took his medal and paper and, like the rest, went off to the barracks. She called the next four and I wasn't any of them. I became extremely nervous. Me and rainbow were standing right next to each other and I had a feeling the hot seat belonged to her.
"This isn't good, that means even if one of us gets in, it'll only be one." I said to Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah I know." She replied. We both got nervous.
"And not for the hot seat winner, whom which will become my wing pony and lieutenant of the Wonderbolts is......." Everyone got a little closer and it was silent, you could hear the wind in your ear and no one dared to make a sound. The captain looked at the list one more time and said, "Soarin." Everypony stared at me and I just stood there in complete shock. I then shook my head and flew up there to get my medal, but the medal was a golden one, unlike the others and along with my papers, I got a light blue shirt like hers and a dark blue tie and two small medals were on the collar and they symbolized being a lieutenant in the Wonderbolts.
"As for the rest of you, thank you so much for sacrificing your time for us and I'm sorry if you didn't get what you expected." Said the captain. I looked for Rainbow Dash and I saw her leaving the crowd and getting ready to fly away. I put my stuff down and bolted over to where she was.
"Hey don't be sad, I'm really sorry you didn't make it. To be honest I think you deserve to be on the bolts more than me." I told her. She looked over at me and you could see the jealousy in her eyes. It was sad to watch her hopes be crushed right there.
"It's ok go ahead and have fun with the Wonderbolts, you deserve it." She responded in a saddening tone. I felt horrible by this time.
"Here let me make it up to you or at least make you feel better by taking you somewhere to eat later today? What do you think?" I asked her. I know it was a stupid question to ask that after what had happened but I wanted to make her happy somehow.
"Thanks, but I think I'll just leave right now." She responded.
"Come on, it's the least I can do for you." I said to her. As I had said that, I reached for her hoof and held it with mine. She looked up at me and I could see a somewhat smile appear on her face for that brief moment.
"Well...ok then I guess, but only if you promise not to talk about the Wonderbolts unless I bring it up ok?" She said to me. I nodded in agreement and I let go of her hoof and smiled at her.
"Ok see you then I guess." I told her.
"Ok goodbye for now Soarin." She said. She then flew away and I turned and flew into the barracks. The other nine ponies in there were talking and all happily relieved and, to be honest, I was too. We no longer had to prove anything to anyone for training.
"ATTENTION!" Said a Wonderbolt and we all stood in order and were saluting the captain as she walked in.
"We'll Fillies and Gentlecolts, you made as Wonderbolts. Now this doesn't mean you get to relax from now on. There are a set of mandated rules to follow and should be followed strictly since you are now flyers of Equestria. No more fooling around with each other. We are a team and henceforth will function as a team and nothing less. From now on you are to live in the designated barracks we provide. In flight, the wingpony is to always stay with the lead pony under any circumstances. The lead ponies will be chosen by me tonight and we will begin training for our first event tomorrow in the morning. My name is spitfire and I am the leading captain of the Wonderbolts. Is that clear?" She said
"Yes ma'am!" We all responded in unison.
"Any questions?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am, what is our first event?" Fleetfoot said.
"Our first event is in one week and it is at the Grand Galloping Gala. So you have this week to train with your wingponies and make sure your performance is solid. Soarin you are my wingpony as I explained earlier." She said. I saluted her and nodded to let her knew I understood. I couldn't believe our first performance was going to be at the gala! Out of all places, the gala! Princess Celestia herself will be watching our opening performance! That is big time pressure! To top it off, I'm being a wingpony of our captain! I was feeling very nervous, but at the same time I felt pride because Celestia was going to watch me preform!
"You can feel free to go home tonight, pack all your things and tomorrow, you will officially move onto the base and begin flight training for the gala. You will get your flight suits and goggles tomorrow." Said the captain. "Go ahead, you are dismissed."
Spitfire said as she walked over and looked out of a window. We all saluted her and exited the barracks. That kind of shocked me that we had to live at the base, but the Wonderbolts does require dedication and talent. I walked outside and waited at the entrance of the base to see if Rainbow Dash was to come back so I could at least try to make her day a little bit better. At first, I couldn't see her anywhere then, I heard a voice.
"Hey Soarin, over here." She said. I looked up and she was flying above me and had a smile in her face. I smiled back and flew up next to her.
"Hey, so you ready to go? I'm starved and could really use something to eat." I told her. She nodded and we both flew off to eat at a restaurant. When we got there, I could still tell she was disappointed of what happened earlier today.
"So, how was that stupid meeting with the captain?" She asked. I could tell she was mad still, so I didn't really want to answer.
"It was....boring for the most part. Not as good as I thought it would be. But let's get off that subject." I told her.
"Ok then I agree, but I really don't mind it anymore because after thinking about it, I guess I really don't care." She replied. She had a smile on her face, but I could tell she wasn't too happy, so I tried to make her happy.
"Well, can I ask you something? If its alright with you?" I said.
"Sure go ahead." She replied. I looked up at her and cleared my throat.
"When we did that duel performance, did anything feel...weird or off to you when we looked at each other? I mean did something like click when that happened?" I asked her. I was nervous to ask her this because I thought I was crazy to ask her this because I'm pretty sure it only happened with me. She looked at me weird, leaned back a bit, and looked at her hooves.
"Well actually, I kind of...did to be honest. I felt like I could go all out and you would be able to keep up no matter what. But how did you know I felt like that?" She said. It shocked me that she felt the same way I did. I thought it was only me, but it wasn't. It happened to us both.
"I only ask because, well, it happened to me too. When I looked into your eyes, I felt like any move you pulled off, I could do in sync. I could see your moves before you did them in a way." I responded. We both looked at each other and I could tell, I was starting to blush. She was too but she quickly turned away.
"Yeah, that was pretty amazing I guess." She said. For the rest of the time at the restaurant, we were laughing and telling stories about each other and I could tell her mood was generally happier, which made me happy. By the time we were leaving, she was happy and so was I.
"Well I guess I should get going, I have to pack my stuff for the move in tomorrow. Also got a big day too." I said.
"Yeah I guess you should go because you have to have as much practice for that gala of yours huh?" She asked. That reminded me of the gala and the stress I had to put up with.
"Yeah haha the gala...and what not. Speaking of that, I was...well wondering if you wanted to maybe...go to the gala?" I said nervously. I was almost shaking in a way. She looked at me and I just smiled. I could tell I was easily blushing.
"I wish I could go, but why would a mare like me go without a stallion to take me?" She said. She looked at me and I swallowed, or at least tried to, my nervousness.
"Well, I could be that...umm stallion after we are done with the performance if you would let me?" I said. I have to admit, I was never this bad at asking a mare out before, but this time, it was bad.
"Well I'll have to see what I'm doing that day. I mean I usually am busy." She replied. I just looked down a little but and nodded.
"But for the most part, it's a yes." She said as she smiled. She then hugged me out of nowhere and flew away. I was just standing there with my eyes wide open and my face was red and I just started laughing as I left to my house to start packing.
--------------------The next morning
I was already packed and ready to leave to the base. I had my lieutenant shirt and tie on. My shirt looked blank compared to spitfires shirt, but I still love my shirt. I was ready to leave, and this time I was going to make it there early. When I arrived, everypony was there and we all stood in a line and waited for the captain to come out.
"Well there you are, recruits. Since I need to show you where your living quarters will be, might as well take a tour around the base so you know what's here." She said. She then started walking and we saw what was on the base. "We have an airfield, gym, mess hall, officers club, barracks and locker rooms, tower, and high command quarters." Spitfire said. We all looked around. The base was huge! You had Wonderbolts in the air at all times, and the tower could spot them all and accurately tell who was who and know where they were going. We were all shocked. The place was pretty big and the living quarters was big too. There were about seven to ten houses on the base. I walked over with the other Wonderbolts too the living quarters, but the captain stopped me.
"Woah, where are you off to Soarin? You are a lieutenant, you live in the high command quarters." She said to me. I was shocked. Spitfire turned me around and there it was, there were about three to four houses and they were huge!
"I...I get to live in one of those?" I asked her. I was shocked to hear her say yes. I just walked over to the house and was still in shock that the Wonderbolts had better houses then the one I used to have! I walked inside and it was a two story house with all the bells and whistles. It was very luxurious. I had ample amounts of food in there along with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. I had so much and didn't really need it, and...I...loved it!!!!! I jumped on the bed in the master bedroom and was just laughing.
"Wow this is just....jaw dropping that I get a house like this to live in forever!" I said to myself. I had forgotten that we need to report for training, so I took off my lieutenant shirt, and put on the infamous flight suit and goggles. I was amazed that I have the suit and goggles to keep and I have become a Wonderbolt. I then ran off and got to the designated meeting spot. We all saw spitfire coming and we saluted her.
"At ease bolts. We've got work to do." She said. We all put down our hooves and waited for her instructions. "Everyday you will report here at eight A.M. Sharp! We will then run training exercises everyday until the gala. Now time for the lead and wingponies. The lead ponies between all of us are as follows: rapid fire, fleetfoot, and me spitfire. The wingponies are the rest of you, now who you decide to go with is all your choice. Soarin come on, your with me. Time for some training." I looked over at her, then back at the other pegusai, they were all getting in groups and I followed spitfire. A million thoughts were running through my head at that moment. I tried to clear my mind and listen to what we had to do.
"What is our procedure captain?" I asked her. She stopped and looked back at me.
"We will do our main fly by with the lightning clouds and you and I will break off and do the bolts hearts out move and proceed to the main floor of the gala where we get acknowledged and ponies see us and after that, we leave the center stage and get into our gala apparel and just enjoy the rest of the night." Spitfire replied. To be honest, it didn't sound too hard to me. Mostly just a night of relaxation and fun, but I didn't know what the bolts hearts out move was. I had never heard of it and, to my knowledge, had seen it in action either, so that would explain the reason why I thought it was easy.
"Doesn't sound too hard, if I may say so captain." I said to her. She looked back at me with a smirk.
"Just wait kid, when you do the actual stunt, you'll be wishing you never had to do this stunt." She replied. I felt a little nervous when we both got ready and we did a fake fly by so we could have an accurate practice and right as we finished the fly by we went right into the stunt. The stunt required both of us to fly straight up and right as we get to a certain altitude, we both separate and do one half of a heart so that they both connect and right as our "heart" connects, fireworks are shot up into it. The trick sounds simple, but I can't stress how hard it actually is. You have to know when to fly up and what altitude to start your half of the heart. I had a week to master it so I think I could handle it. After the practice on the first day I was tired, but I wasn't too tired. We ran through the same thing about five times on that day and just as I left the mess hall, still in my flight suit, I was in for a surprise.
"Hey, Soarin." Said someone. I looked to my right and I saw Rainbow Dash. She flew up next to me and hugged me.
"Hey Dash. What are you doing here?" I asked her. I was actually happy to see her right now because after a long day of practice, I needed someone to relax with.
"I was just in the area and decided to stop by. Nice flight suit, by the way." She replied.
"Thanks and that's cool. Hey while your here, you want to hang out for a bit at my house here on base? I could have some other Wonderbolts come over so I can introduce you to them." I said. I wanted her to stay over for a while only because I felt like unwinding at my house talking to someone. She nodded her head yes, and she followed me to my house. When we got there she was in total shock that I had a house that big just for being a Wonderbolt. Her reaction was the same as mine.
"I called over fleetfoot and Rapidfire to come meet me here, so they will be here in a couple of minutes." I told her. She looked at me and was happy, you could tell because her face lit up when I said that.
"Hey thanks for all of this. I would have never guess I would personally know a Wonderbolt and he would let me see his house on the base and invite other Wonderbolts to talk with me." She said to me. While she said that, she walked up to me and hugged me, for a while too. I could tell although I was a Wonderbolt and she wanted to be one, that she was actually grateful for what I had done for her. After the hug, the day sort of passed by and all of us had fun laughing and telling stories about our first day in training while Rainbow Dash listened. When the night was over, I walked Rainbow out and she told me she had an awesome time. I was exhausted so I decided to call it a night that night and anticipate what would come the next day.