//------------------------------// // Retrospect 2: Certainty // Story: The Conversion Bureau: Last Minute Thoughts // by Pencil Sketch //------------------------------// It was always a sad sight to watch pegasi try to fly and fail with their faces in the dirt. It was shameful, disappointing, and just embarrassing, but it was a job to teach newfoal pegasi to fly. Specifically, it was the job of two volunteers from Equestria. Soarin couldn't get enough of the ironic humour behind watching a pegasus hover ten feet from the ground, then propel themselves right into the earth when they tried to move about. It was like watching a bad stage comedy, a really bad stage comedy. Though, while Soarin would get his chuckles, Spitfire, his long-time colleague and flying partner from the Wonderbolts, would walk away on the verge of buckling from frustration. It was a hard job for her. She tried all she could to teach what just came naturally to her. Out in the old soccer field that was located a block from the bureau, she kept up a strict attitude, keeping the newfoals all in line, making sure they flap their wings in a steady beat to lift their bodies. There were a few that understood how flying worked, and didn't even need to go through the tedious basic training, but those individuals were often former pilots or physics nerds. But after teaching a lineup of anywhere between fifty to one hundred novice newfoals for a month at a time, she would go back to her apartment, sucking in all of her emotion until she bucked the door shut, then sob, letting loose all of her disappointment. She was grateful that Soarin would often be the one that would go easier for them. It was the same pattern today. It was a smaller group of pegasi, numbering to be thirty-two, but numbers didn't matter when the students couldn't overcome the idea of having an extra pair of limbs sprouting from their back, never mind knowing how to control them. They've been in the class for two months "Okay, everypony, pre-flight stretching is over," Soarin would take the lead on the lessons, hovering about the line of amateur pegasi, "You know how it starts. Just think happy thoughts." A few would, though nothing happened aside from the four having their wings extend, making Soarin break out in fits of laughter. "Are you guys excited, or just happy to see me?" He joked, watching those wings quickly snap back against their respective bodies, "I'm just joking. It takes a little more than a little Peter Pan logic to fly. It was a good movie though, loved every minute, mind you." The lesson would go on for roughly five hours at a time, with little improvement from the prior lesson. Spitfire would take charge the second progress was seen in a pony. She would teach them how to run as soon as they could crawl, so to speak. It was her preferred method of teaching, and it worked for most. When they could hover about and adjust altitude, she took them high above the field. Their wings would strengthen with the effort needed to climb, though it would also tire them out. A couple years ago, doing what she was about to do proved futile, causing her to free fall for a moment, then pull out. The clouds weren't dense like back home, she couldn't stand on them, they couldn't support her. Now, that was different. Equestria has been around for some time, and the reach of it's magical influence had finally reached this spot of civilization. When she rested on a cloud, the newfoals would recognize that it wasn't some insane stunt, and relax their wings a while. "Alright, recruits, you have a minute to get some feeling back before I teach you all how to move around faster than you could on legs," She said, a little pep in her voice to encourage them. She stood up on the cloud and trotted about the tuckered-out pegasi, "Who would like to volunteer for the next lesson." The group of converts looked to each other with some uncertainty, debating whether or not they were ready to do anything. Though once the teacher began humming and looking amongst the group, some got nervous, and one raised their hoof above their head. "I'll go," said a trembling violet filly. Spitfire grinned, this was the perfect candidate for the lesson she had in mind. "Great! Could you come to the edge of the cloud here with me?" She said, leading the student up to the edge, "Now don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to jump from up here, given how high we are." "Really? That's good, I thought-" "We're both going to fall." "What?" And without a moment's hesitation, Spitfire stamped her hoof down against the cloud, causing the small section to decompress and vanish underhoof. The filly let out a scream as the two fell. "Open your wings!" The yellow pegasus shouted over the screaming. The filly opened her eyes a little, seeing the instructor with a calm expression on her face. It seemed to calm her down to a degree, though adrenaline pumped through the little pony's veins. She extended her wings and shut her eyes again. The teacher did a few quick maneuvers in the air, getting behind the filly and adjusting her wings. They caught the wind, making her level out and glide at a quick speed. Spitfire flying right by her side. "You can open your eyes now," The teacher said, flying upside down with ease, "You're flying." The filly opened her eyes and gasped in astonishment, watching the ground below parallel to her. "I-I am! Oh my gosh!" The other ponies atop the cloud cheer from above, some even taking the initiative to try on their own, and succeeding. The day ended with strong smiles and weak bodies, and Soarin and Spitfire left behind to clean up some equipment that was used. "So we got about half the class to earn their wings, I'd say that's the best percentage we've ever seen," the stallion beamed proudly, putting away a few poles he had to use to lift the amateurs higher, "And you didn't even break down this time!" "Thanks, Soarin. I think I'm getting better at working with ponies that haven't been flying since they were foals, but I still don't know how you do it." "That's easy, Spits," He said with a smile, using the nickname that he knew annoyed her greatly, "I come in every day, certain that at least one filly or colt will be ready to fly on their own." The mare stopped in place and pondered the idea, her eyes widening with realization. "You're right. There is always one pony that's ready to leave." "And it's that one pony that makes the day totally worth it." "Ya..." "Well, we're done here. Wanna head back to the apartment and watch some human films? One of the students suggest I see this one called Spirited Away." "No thanks, Soarin. I was planning on hanging out with Vinyl tonight."