“Rainbow Dash, get over here, it’s nearly time to go!”
Soleil smiled at his daughter puttering around the yard, trying to fly but not being able to get quite off the ground. “Get going, you foal,” he smiled teasingly. “We’re going to be late.”
He nuzzled against her rainbow mane to get her going. Dash smiled adoringly up at him and they began trotting together towards the center of Whinnypeg. Soleil’s attitude got progressively dimmer as they got closer to their goal, his face a blank slate when they finally arrived at the cemetery.
Dash trotted ahead of him with flowers in her mouth, always happy to see her mother. She dropped the flowers next to a gravestone marked “Prism” and plopped right next to them, eager to share her day. She told Prism all about learning how to fly, and how she could scoot herself around with her wings now, and school.
Soleil sat behind her, wondering what life would be like if Prism were still there. Just like he did every morning, when they visited her grave.
Dash looked up at him. “Are you going to say anything, daddy?”
“No, not today. I think she knows what I would tell her already,” Soleil said.
“Okay. When’s your next performance? I wanna go this time, not to stupid school.” Dash had started school just a week before, and already hated the confines of the classroom and sitting in the desks. “I’d rather learn with you,” she whined.
“I can’t let you miss school,” Soleil said, smiling, “but I do have a practice today. It’ll be mostly routine work, but I think you’ll still like it.”
“Yay! Bye, mommy.”
Rainbow Dash galloped ahead of him, screaming in delight when she beat him to the arena where the Wonderbolts practiced, and Soleil pushed her over playfully. “Go run to the bleachers then, and me and the rest of the Wonderbolts will be out in a minute.” He watched her get over there, and he went to get into his practice uniform.
The uniforms they wore for practice were considerably less flashy, a simple gray and old goggles so they could have less wind resistance without ruining their real suits in a trick gone wrong. Soleil changed, his orange and red mane flashing in the sun and looking impressive next to the stormy gray. The rest of the Wonderbolts were lazing around or changing as well, waiting for the meeting to start. A couple talked about the last performance, which had been in Manehatten for some sort of Orange festival.
Storm, the pony in charge, walked in, her gray curly mane a mess from flying. The silver streaks in it flashed as she walked, and it always dazzled Soleil how it really did look like an impending storm cloud.
The rest of the Wonderbolts clustered around her, happy to see what new tricks she had since last season. Instead of her usual happy note, she just looked around at them grimly.
“Psyche quit.”
A few exclaims came up from a few ponies, but most just shrugged, knowing that this was coming. Storm and Psyche were having problems- Storm a more subdued flyer- preferring subtle ways to show off- and Psyche flashy, always wanting more flips or lights, and they were constantly having to split up the performances because of arguments.
“I know this is sudden, but we need a new co-captain. Someone who can work more on the actual ideas for the acts and find new recruits, rather than perform themselves. They’ll still be in the main group, but if there’s a clash for recruitment and a performance, they’ll be the ones to miss out on flying with us that day.
“They’ll also have more responsibility, so I chose our four senior members and will let them decide if they’re willing or not. Then we can all confer on which will be the best for the team.
“Marcher, Soleil, Twister and Gray Chaser, please decide if you would like to take this position.”
Soleil blinked at how sudden this was. Gray Chaser, from beside him, automatically pitched in, “I don’t really have an eye for new tricks. Soleil and Marcher are good at training, though. Twister’s good at new ideas.”
Marcher shook his head. “No, I don’t think I’d like to do that. I’m not good at, um, decisions. Or really anything other than performing.”
Twister grinned at Soleil, shaking out her brown mane. “Guess it’s between me and you, old man.”
Twister was a skilled flyer, and one of the younger ones, but she was also Storm’s daughter and been hanging out and flying with them ever since she was old enough. She was considered an elder member because of her skill at choreographing them, even as a young pony, but she didn’t have the same patience as the rest of the older members.
Soleil laughed softly. “I guess I am getting a bit old to be flying around so much. I’ll take the job, if I get selected.”
Storm nodded. “All right, please leave the room. The rest of the team needs to talk about it- while you’re outside, though, you can meet the new recruits.”
The pair walked out into the sunlight. Soleil pushed Twister. “That’s for that crack about my age,” he said, but he was smiling. “You know, I’m not much older than you.”
“Whatever,” she laughed, “you’ve been on the team since I was a filly. I really do think they’ll pick you, though- they only mentioned me because I’ve come up with some new moves, but I help my mo- Storm with that anyway, so it’s not like my skills will be wasted if I don’t get it.”
"Mm," Soleil hummed in reply. "You are good at that. The double twister dash? Brilliant. I still think we should have used that at the Gala last year, but Storm's in charge, I guess."
They stopped at the recruit room. Twister nudged the door open, and inside were the five new members.
Twister and Soleil met each one, introducing themselves and chatting pleasantly until Marcher came to get them. "Hey, you can come back now. You all stay here," he added, nodding to the recruits.
The three of them walked back up the hallway, the tension building and keeping them quiet, until Twister finally said, "Those guys were pretty cool. Except the green one, he was way too cocky. But the rest were cool."
"Really? He reminds me of you when you first joined." Soleil grinned at her and she butted him in the side.
"Shut up, I definitely wasn't that bad."
They had reached the door. Soleil shook a little, not having realized until just now exactly how much he wanted the job... Marcher smiled at both of them and opened the door.
The Wonderbolts were standing in formation, with Storm in the very front, holding the co-captain's pin. Marcher took his place in line while Twister and Soleil walked to stand in front of Storm. She smiled at them.
"Now, you are both fine, hard workers, and excellent fliers. This job requires someone who is experienced, has an eye for new members and routines, and can work alongside me when I need them. While you both have these traits, we have decided... that Soleil best fits these requirements." Twister nodded in acknowledgment, and turned to hug him.
"Good job," she whispered. Soleil smiled down at her.
"Soleil," Storm said, putting the pin on him, "You are a magnificent flier, and you have been from the start. This team is important to you- that much is obvious to us all- and we have realized how important you are to the Wonderbolts. So we've decided to give you this to honor that dedication."
Soleil smiled proudly, and the rest of the pegasi clustered around him, offering praise and congratulations. When it was Twister's turn, she just grinned at him. "I didn't really want it, you know. Just wanted to make it more competitive."
"Right," Soleil replied, and nuzzled the top of her head. Twister was like his sister, and he knew he could always count on her. "I bet it was a close vote, though."
"No doubt."
After everyone had their say, Storm trotted to get the recuits while everyone else walked into the arena.
This arena was relatively small, compared to the official ones in Canterlot and Cloudsdale where they performed. It had a high ceiling, which had skylights so the sun could light the inside while protecting them if it rained and from wandering eyes. Sometimes show teams, amateurs or professionals, would try to find out what the most elite team in Equestria was doing to copy their moves, and that just wasn't allowed. The seating was sparse- enough for only about a hundred ponies, so family, friends, and retired or injured Wonderbolts could watch.
Soleil flew up to where his daughter had fallen asleep in the bleachers. He nudged her side, and she woke with a start.
"Wha- I didn't miss your practice, did I!?"
Soleil chuckled. "No, don't worry. I just wanted to wake you up so you wouldn't miss it."
Dash noticed his pin, and her eyes grew wide. "Hey, whuzzat?"
"Rainbow Dash, you are looking at the new co-captain of the Wonderbolts."
"Whoa! Really? What does that mean? Do I get to miss school? This is awesome! What's a co-captain?"
He chuckled. "Yes, really. It means I get to help find new recruits and figure out new tricks. You can't miss school. Well... Actually, Rainbow Dash.... What do you think of moving to Cloudsdale?"
Her eyes lit up, and Soleil knew it was the perfect thing to do.