//------------------------------//
// The Cadets' Homecoming 
// Story: Let it Rain 
// by Metool Bard 
//------------------------------//

	It was a beautiful, breezy afternoon in Ponyville as a group of ponies congregated at the outskirts of town.  Some watched the skies expectantly while others paced back and forth impatiently.

"She said the session ended this afternoon," mused Flitter as she looked up into the sky. "I hope they're not running late."

"Are you alright, Flitter?" asked Rumble, giving his foalsitter a worried look.

Flitter looked down at Rumble and smiled weakly. "I'm fine, Rumble," she said, patting the young colt on the head. "I guess, I'm just excited that they're finally coming home.  It's been a long week, after all."

"Yeah, I think I understand," said Rumble.  After a pause, a wide smile appeared on his face as he began to prance around Flitter. "I can't wait to see my big bro!  He must have a lot of great stories!"

"I'm sure he does," said Flitter with a chuckle. "And I'll bet he's just as eager to see you again.  Actually..."

"Hey, I see 'em!  They're coming in!"

Flitter's thought was interrupted by an overly-exuberant Scootaloo bouncing up and down and flapping her wings.  She looked up into the sky, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder.

Five pegasi streaked across the heavens, all of them lined up in a V formation as they passed over the ponies below.  They quickly looped around and landed in front of the spectators.  Each of them wore a blue uniform decorated with bolts of lightning as well as badges of gold and silver.  As soon as they touched down, Scootaloo and Rumble bounded up to them.

"Rainbow Dash~!"

"Big Bro~!"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but chuckle as she caught Scootaloo in her forelegs and gave her a warm embrace.  Thunderlane, however, was caught off-guard as his younger brother nearly tackled him to the ground.

"Oof~!  Easy there, little guy!" he said with a laugh.

"It's really good to see ya, Big Bro!" said Rumble cheerfully.

"Heh.  Yeah, same here," said Thunderlane, finally returning Rumble's hug.  Flitter giggled a bit as she watched the display of affection.

"Oh, don't act like you don't wanna join in, Flit."

Flitter's ears perked up as a familiar voice made itself known.  As she shifted her attention from Thunderlane and Rumble's tender reunion, she saw her sister Cloudchaser approaching her with a knowing smirk on her face.  Flitter smiled back.

"You know me too well, Cloudy," she said as he wrapped her forelegs around Cloudchaser. "I really missed you."

"Same to you and more of it," said Cloudchaser as the two sisters nuzzled noses.

"So, you're a Wonderbolt now, huh?" said Flitter as she released Cloudchaser. "What's that like?"

Cloudchaser snickered. "Oh, we're not Wonderbolts just yet.  We're still just cadets," she said. "That being said, it feels pretty awesome.  Spitfire even made me a lead pony!"

Flitter's eyes went wide. "No way!"

"Way," said Cloudchaser, pointing to the gold medal pinned to her uniform. "Heh, guess all that nervousness I felt before was for nothing, eh?"

"You were nervous?" said Flitter, tilting her head. "You could've fooled me.  When you got that acceptance letter, you were practically jumping for joy."

"That was before I got to the Academy," said Cloudchaser. "Trust me, Flit.  Spitfire is not a pony you want to mess with.  If she tells you to jump, the first thing outta your mouth better be 'How high?'"

"Yeesh," said Flitter with a shiver. "And you had to deal with that for the entire week?"

"You get used to it after a while," said Cloudchaser with a shrug. "Hey, if it means becoming a Wonderbolt, it's totally worth it."

"Heh, I suppose," said Flitter, taking a look around. "Hey, where's Milky Way?  Didn't he go with you guys?"

A sly smile formed on Cloudchaser's lips. "Yeah, but I doubt he's coming back to Ponyville.  He got paired up with this mare named Wild Flower at the Academy, and the two of them were pretty much inseparable.  And I mean more than usual."

"More than usual?"

"The rule at the Academy is that wing pairs have to stick together no matter what," explained Cloudchaser. "Of course, that's only for training exercises.  Ever since the pairings were listed, I kept seeing Milky Way and Wild Flower having meals together and just staring into each other's eyes."

"Oh wow," said Flitter, leaning in with interest and dipping her voice. "You think they're..."

"No doubt in my mind," said Cloudchaser with a giggle. "Milky Way kept insisting that he wanted to go to Las Pegasus so that he could get some more training time with his wingpony, but I know better."

"Huh.  I never took Milky Way for the romantic type," said Flitter. "Wait until Blossomforth and Cloud Kicker hear about this.  They're gonna have a field day."

"I know I did.  At least in my head," said Cloudchaser. "Seriously, I don't think I would've gotten away with spreading gossip at the Academy.  Spitfire would've busted my flank."

"Well, good thing we're not at the Academy then," said Flitter with a laugh.  She then gave Cloudchaser a knowing smirk of her own. "Hey, speaking of romance, what was it like flying with Thunderlane?"

Cloudchaser blinked. "What?"

"Oh, don't act coy with your little sister, Cloudy," said Flitter playfully. "I know how much you like him.  I saw your eyes light up like a Hearth's Warming tree when you found out he was accepted into the Academy along with you.  Heh, I'll bet Spitfire says that you two have great chemistry as a team.  That or she chewed you out for staring at him with that dreamy smile you get when he..."

"Quit it, Flit~!" Cloudchaser hissed, her face turning beet red.

"Huh?  What's the matter?" inquired Flitter. "I'd wager that more than half the town knows that you like Thunderlane, Cloudy.  It's nothing to be embarrassed over."

Cloudchaser sighed. "It's not that, Flit.  I, wasn't paired with Thunderlane."

Flitter gasped. "For real?  But you two are great together!"

"Spitfire didn't think so," said Cloudchaser bitterly. "She actually made him a lead pony, too."

"Oh," said Flitter sheepishly. "So, who'd he get paired with then?"

"Raindrops."

Finding herself a bit perplexed, Flitter turned to look at Raindrops, who was busy talking to Derpy Hooves. "Raindrops?  Why did Spitfire think she of all ponies would make a good match for Thunderlane?  They're nothing alike."

"Well, to be fair, they do make a good team," said Cloudchaser. "And if they fly well together, who am I to argue?"

Flitter raised an eyebrow. "You were just afraid of complaining to Spitfire, weren't you?"

"H-hey!  It's not that!" insisted Cloudchaser. "Th-the Academy's not really a place for romance, anyway.  Besides, Rainy's just a wishy-washy klutz that Thunderlane would never fall for in a million years.  I mean, she's a good flier and all, but she's not a good match for a stallion like Thunderlane."

Flitter's expression became deadpan. "You are so jealous of her."

"Am not~!" Cloudchaser whined. "I-I don't think she's even interested in Thunderlane!  Heck, I'm sure she doesn't even swing that way!"

"Cloudy, you're overreacting," said Flitter with a giggle. "I'm just teasing you."

Cloudchaser let out a strained groan. "Very funny, Flit," she growled.

"Consider it my 'Welcome Home' present," said Flitter. "In all seriousness, I think you're right.  I highly doubt that there's anything going on between Thunderlane and Raindrops."

"Yeah," said Cloudchaser, looking over at Thunderlane with a whimsical smile. "I know that tomorrow, it's gonna be business as usual.  Thunderlane and I are gonna have our usual Sunday stroll in the park."

Flitter gave her sister a look. "Cloudy, it's bad enough that you leave me alone with Rumble every Sunday to flirt with Thunderlane, but I had to look after him the entire week you were gone.  How about helping me out for once?"

"Sorry, Flit.  I'm just doing what my heart tells me," said Cloudchaser, giving Flitter a pat on the head. "When you fall in love, you'll understand."

Flitter sighed. "And here I was hoping that the Wonderbolt Academy would teach you something about responsibility," she muttered.  She then looked up. "Hey, by the way.  If you didn't get paired up with Thunderlane, who did you get paired with?"

Cloudchaser's eyes went wide for a moment before she flattened her ears and twiddled her hooves. "Um, nopony.  Nopony you know, that is.  Look, can we talk about...?"

"YEAH!"

An all-too-familiar exclamation interrupted Cloudchaser's train of thought.  She whipped around to see her wingpony, Bulk "Snowflake" Biceps, talking to his little brother Featherweight.  Flitter stifled a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Cloudchaser snarled.

"Snowflake's your wingpony, and you're embarrassed to admit it," said Flitter. "I'm calling it right now."

Cloudchaser sighed. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Nope!" said Flitter with a grin.

Cloudchaser groaned. "Look, I know he has a reputation in town for being Mr. Macho Pony, and honestly, I had no idea how he got into the Academy when I first saw him.  But really, he's not a bad flier.  And we actually do make a good team."

"Or you're just too chicken to complain to Spitfire."

"I'm serious!"

Flitter let out a hearty laugh. "Lighten up, Cloudy.  Jeeze, don't tell me all that time at the Academy did away with your sense of humor."

Cloudchaser rolled her eyes. "Let's just drop it, alright Flit?  There was a lot more to the Wonderbolt Academy than just my love life, y'know."

"Yeah, I know," said Flitter. "Consider the matter dropped.  For now."

"Good," said Cloudchaser. "Now how about we go get some food?  I'm starving."

"Sounds good to me," said Flitter. "But you're buying."

"What?  But I just got back!"

"It's either that, or you help me foalsit Rumble tomorrow."

"You fight dirty, Flit."

"Heh, I know."

As the sun began to set and all the ponies began to go their separate ways, Cloudchaser couldn't help but look at Thunderlane out of the corner of her eye.

There's nothing to worry about, she thought. Tomorrow we'll have our date in the park like we always do.  Just because he's flying with Raindrops doesn't mean they're dating.  Yep, no use getting worked up over nothing.  Everything will be back to normal by tomorrow.