//------------------------------// // Fleetfoot -- What's the Rush? // Story: The Album // by Peregrine Caged //------------------------------// Written by: Deathscar Rated Everyone “Oh gosh I’m awake! I’m awake! This is awesome!” Fleetfoot spoke, her eyes closed shut. “Alright, a whole new day! A whole new day to live!” Her eyes shot open, staring up at the fluffy cloud ceiling in her room. “And... I’m up!” Fleetfoot leapt up into the air, shooting through the sky and landing at the foot of her bed. With a large smile on her face, she gazed out of her window just in time to see the morning sun rise over the horizon, bathing Cloudsdale in its glorious sunlight. “What a beautiful day to get to training!” Fleetfoot wasted no time, darting over to her bathroom sink before filling it up with water. Once the sink was filled to the brim, Fleetfoot sunk her head in briefly before pulling her head out. Her snow white mane fell flat over her eyes. Quickly, Fleetfoot brought her hooves up to part her mane, allowing her to see herself in the bathroom mirror. “Oops!” Fleetfoot let out a cheerful giggle before extending her right hoof out and opening the mirror, revealing a collection of medicine and make-up. Swiping a bottle of wax inside the cupboard, she squeezed a generous amount of it on her left hoof before running it through her mane, styling it like every other Wonderbolt. “Just a little here and... ta-da!” Fleetfoot shouted out triumphantly, gazing back into the mirror where she stood. “Alright, now to get dressed,” she told herself before racing out of the bathroom and snatching one of the many Wonderbolt suits which hung in her wardrobe. Swiftly, she zipped up the suit which stuck to her body tightly. “Great morning! Great day! Time to make sure we get a great training session!” Fleetfoot recited the phrase she had been saying to herself every day as she opened her main door. Spreading her wings, Fleetfoot rocked off into the sky, her eyes set on Cloudsdale stadium. Only a few minutes later did Fleetfoot’s hooves touch the stadium’s cloud floor. She darted her eyes around her surroundings, only managing to catch Spitfire and Soarin' present a few feet away on a bench. Just then, Spitfire had also met her gaze with Fleetfoot’s. “Heya, Fleet! Early as usual! Just wait for about half an hour more for the rest of the Bolts to get here Fleetfoot gave a firm nod when suddenly, a voice rang out from behind her. “Oh, come on! You’re still earlier than I am!” Fleetfoot spun around and was greeted with the familiar cherry-red mane of a stallion. He too was dressed in a Wonderbolt suit, his ashen-colored coat visible under the rubber-like material. Fleetfoot’s smile grew into a large grin as she jumped at him, putting her hooves around his neck. “Firestreak! It’s so good to see you!” Fleetfoot yelled as she tightened the hug around the stallion. “Heh, nice to see you too, Fleety. We just met each other yesterday.” He broke off the hug. “You don’t need to get all hug-crazy on me!” Fleetfoot giggled softly, lifting her left hoof up to her mouth. “Sorry!” “Anyway, I can’t believe you’re still earlier than me!” “Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, there’s so much of the world to see!” Fleetfoot’s words started to increase in pace. “If you spend most of your time sleeping, you don’t really get to see much. However, if you do get up early, you get so much to see! The sunrise! The sunset!” Firestreak stared at the animated mare as she continued her rambles. He was strangely interested in Fleetfoot’s explanation, even though he had heard it many times before. He trotted to a nearby bench, knowing she would follow him. He sat down, watching her do the same as she continued her speech... “Alright everypony, get in line!” Spitfire commanded in a booming voice. It took only a few seconds for all eleven Wonderbolts to stand perfectly still in a line, all of their eyes staring ahead. “Now! I want one-hundred wing-ups! Is that clear!?” “Ma’am, yes Ma’am!” all the Wonderbolts replied simultaneously. “What else, Bolts!?” “No slowing down! Nothing but our best!” “Good! Now get down on those wings, and show me that you aren’t all weaklings!” Spitfire screamed. Immediately, all the Wonderbolts got on their wings, each of them doing wing-ups. The Wonderbolts started to chant together in one deafening voice, “One! Two! Three! Four!...” “One hundred!” the Wonderbolts screamed as loud as they could before leaping up onto their hooves. “Track! One hundred kilometer flight!” Spitfire’s voice echoed through the stadium. “Yes, ma’m!” the bolts shouted in unison before taking off to the track, circling it at a blurring pace. After mere minutes, Fleetfoot landed on the track, a smile on her face. “Done already, Fleet?” “Yes, ma’m!” Fleetfoot saluted. “Well, you can go rest while the other finish up.” Fleetfoot gazed upwards to the other Wonderbolts and noticed that some were struggling. Spreading her wings once more, she took off to the track, flying right beside the struggling Thunder Star. “Come on, Star! You got this! Only a few more laps! Come on!” Thunder turned to see Fleetfoot flying beside her, a large smile on her face. “Star! Don’t give up! I’ll fly you to the end!” Thunder gave a short nod before turning her gaze back in front, pushing herself as hard as she could. Giving a few flaps of her wings, she started to soar forward, Fleetfoot keeping up beside her. “Almost... almost!” Before she knew it, Thunder heard Fleetfoot shout once more, “You did it! You did it!” Thunder’s mouth grew into a wide grin as she raised her wings vertically, slowing her speed down as her hooves descended onto the soft grass again. “Thunder, that was awesome!” Fleetfoot yelled, jumping towards Thunder and giving the mare a big hug. “Heh, couldn’t have done it without you!” Thunder Star remarked in between gasps of air. Unbeknownst to either pony, Spitfire and Soarin’ stood with a smile on their faces, gazing at Fleetfoot. “That mare’s a true Wonderbolt, isn’t she? She’d do anything for her teammates.” Spitfire’s eyes followed Fleetfoot as she zipped up to help the others. “Sounds like a pegasus I know,” Soarin’ replied with a wink and a smirk. Spitfire didn’t react as she waited for the rest of the Wonderbolts to finish the laps before she trotted in front of them once again. “Alright, Bolts! I need all of you to take drink before we begin our next exercise! Team flight paths! Do I make myself clear?” “Ma’am, yes Ma’am!” the Wonderbolts screamed in unison. “Good! Now go!” The sun had started to set over the horizon, coloring the sky a beautiful orange. “Good training, Bolts! You are all dismissed!” “Ma’m, yes ma’m!” With a final salute, the Wonderbolts went their separate ways. Some stayed to chat while some flew off, no doubt having plans on their own. Fleetfoot took a deep breath in, taking off lightly into the air before flying away. Firestreak flew up into the air, trailing her. Fleetfoot landed on a soft cloud, facing towards the sunset and its brilliant orange glow. She let out a soft sigh, a warm smile on her face. Soon enough, Firestreak landed beside her, both of them silent, their gazes locked onto the setting ball. “It’s okay if I join, right?” Firestreak asked. Fleetfoot laughed heartedly. “You ask that question every single evening!” Her speech was much slower than it was mere hours ago. Both of them returned their gaze to the horizon. “Hey, Fleet.” “Hm?” “Why do you always move so fast? Talk so fast?” Fleetfoot giggled, turning her attention to Firestreak. “After all these years, you’re asking that now?” “Heh, I guess you’re not gonna give me an answer?” Fleetfoot paused for a moment, before returning her gaze to the sky. “I move so fast because I keep thinking ‘What if today’s my last day?’” she explained slowly. “What if there is no tomorrow? Would I regret what I’ve done? What I’ve been doing? We only have one life. I find it odd that ponies won’t rush from day to day! Each day is a day to accomplish something!” “Then why slow down now?” “Because night...” Fleetfoot lifted her hoof, pointing towards the sun, which only had a little bit peeking out from the clouds. “Isn’t day any longer.” Firestreak grinned, laying on the cloud as the last traces of light disappeared from the sky. As soon as the twinkling stars showed, Fleetfoot stood up. “I really gotta go, Firestreak. See you tomorrow!” Fleetfoot explained, taking off into the air. “Night, Fleety!” Fleetfoot snuggled comfortably in her bed and blanket, bathed and out of her Wonderbolt uniform. She lifted a small framed picture on her bedside, bringing it up to her face. The picture was that of a small filly being thrown up into the air by a silver-maned mare. “You always told me to live my life to the fullest. I guess sometimes I just forget to slow down... Love you, mum.” Setting the picture back down, Fleetfoot closed her eyes, preparing to drift off to sleep. Though, just before she did, she muttered softly. “One more day... fulfilled.”