"Alright, fillies and gentlecolts, today we're going to be trying a competitive team exercise. With that being said, I need you all split into two teams. I'll leave you all to it and explain what we're going to do once you're all settled."
The whole classed nodded with a bland 'yes mam' in response and began grouping up..
Behind the group of unexcited students was a yellow filly, who was stretching her wings and preparing herself for the chance to prove her prowess against her teammates. She sported a messy orange mane, mixed with large streaks of a dark, mustard yellow color and orange eyes to match. This filly was quiet and a bit shy, but would spark up a conversation with anyone who talked to her. However, despite her timid natures, she was a competitive mare at heart, and would show no signs of her once shy self when she took flight.
She had been waiting for this exercise for a while, and couldn't wait to finally strut her stuff to the Wonderbolts, who had been looking for recruits around the school for about a week now. They were supposed to be viewing the exercise today, and Spitfire couldn't help but feel nervous and pumped as she backed up into a random team and watched the instructor come by with the details for this test.
"Alright, you've all settled into your teams? Good. Now, if you'll look behind me, you'll see the obstacle course ahead. However, the Wonderbolts have been searching for recruits at our school lately, and has chosen our class to view over." The class gasped. "So, in light of this situation, we will be trying a different course, where teamwork will be essential to your victory. Your goal of this exercise is to cross the finish line with the team you've chosen. Now, if you'll follow me to this course, we can begin."
The class followed directions and trailed the instructor around, talking amongst themselves while Spitfire chose to take the opportunity to meet the Wonderbolts, whom she recognized as Feather Flyer, Light Speed, and Supernova, chatting with each other behind the group of kids. She slowed her walking pace and stopped just as she stood beside Light Speed, who was one of her favorites.
"Do you think I could get your guys' autographs after this? I'm a real big fan of yours, and I want to be part of the Wonderbolts when I grow up!" she grinned.
Light looked down at her and smiled.
"Sure thing, kid. It's always nice to meet another fan." He turned to the other two, "Say, any of you guys got a pen for this little filly here?" he asked.
"Nope."
"Sorry."
He stopped and looked at Spitfire, who was disappointed beyond belief. He tapped his head for a second before taking off his goggles and handing them to Spitfire.
"It has my name engraved onto the side. Is this good enough?" he asked her.
She couldn't help but gasp and hold them in her hooves gently.
"R-really?" she stuttered with excitement.
"Yeah, why not? Next best thing, right?"
Not thinking, she jumped and hugged him, constantly telling him how thankful she was as she shed tears of pure happiness on his shoulder.
"....Where's Spitfire?" the instructor called.
She was brought back to attention by the mentioning of her name and thanked Light once again before running back into the group.
"THANK YOOOU!" she yelled.
"...Well, well, looks like you got another fangirl on you." Supernova sneered.
"Yeah, I have that effect on the ladies." Light responded.
"Oh shut up." he chuckled.
"...Dude, you know the Commander's gonna kill you for giving away your goggles like that." Feather pointed.
"...Aw man."
Spitfire ran back into the group, now wearing the souvenir she had just gotten and certain this was the best day ever.
"Alright, class, now that we've arrived, we can begin. Get into your teams and split up across the two courses."
Spitfire did as she was told and grouped up with her team, most of which were shaking under pressure. She was calm and collective, certain she'd destroy the other team. The obstacle course ahead wasn't even that bad, and really only consisted of a few loops and pillars. It looked extremely simple, but having the Wonderbolts examining everything was what had most likely brought everypony trembling. The two teams lined up by the starting line and waited for the signal to get moving. She started zoning out and spotted a race going on not far from the course in the distance.
"On your marks, ready, set, GO!"
She threw herself forward and caught an amazing start, going through the hoops and around the pillars with ease. It was only a matter of seconds before she was near the end. She was confident she was going to win, and flew slowly around the last pillar, before hearing a loud crackling sound across the air and being assaulted by a blinding rainbow colored light that blew by her goggles. She heard a load of cries and groans as she looked back to see her team all blinded by the explosion. The team nearby seemed to have been unaffected by the light, and was quickly zooming past the course. She saw her team stumbling and struggling to fly straight and soon realized that this race wasn't just about her anymore. She flew back to her team and helped them all up onto a single cloud. They were all moaning and still rubbing their eyes. She only had one chance to win this race, and in order to do so and impress the Wonderbolts, she had to think of what to do quickly.
The light bulb in her head clicked moments later, and she dove right into her plan.
"Alright, if you can hear me, raise your right hoof up!" she commanded.
Everypony did as they were told, and Spitfire stepped onto the cloud at attention.
"Alright. All of you just keep your eyes closed. I'll guide you through this course if you just listen to me."
"W-who's telling us this?"
"Someone you'll know soon enough. Now everyone UP!"
The five members of her team obeyed and stood on top of the cloud.
"Good. Now, start flapping!"
They did as they were told again, and slowly began rising above the cloud.
"Okay. Now, slowly follow my voice. I'll pick you up if you fall."
The five carefully did so, starting to panic as they left the cloud in the process.
"It's gonna be alright guys. If anything bad happens, remember we have three members of the fastest flying team in Equestria to help."
The team nodded and calmed a bit, slowly flying her way. Soon enough, she led them back into the course, and saw the other team had already blazed past the finish line. Shaking off the pressure of ever winning, she brought them to the pillars and flew behind the group.
"Alright. Now we're at the pillars. I'll just tell you were to fly, and you'll fly there. Once we get past one, I'll tell you guys. Now come on, go right!"
The five did so and flew to the right.
"Forward a bit.. LEFT! First pillar down! FORWARD! RIGHT! FORWARD! LEFT! SECOND DOWN!"
After minutes of struggling around the pillars, Spitfire had gotten the group to land safely on to the finishing platform. They retracted their wings and slowly started regaining their vision.
"Did, did we win?" one filly asked.
"Y-yeah. We did." Spitfire responded.
The instructor came by not too long later, accompanied by the same members of the Wonderbolts she had seen earlier. The instructor helped the five fly back to campus, while the three Wonderbolts approached Spitfire.
"Wow. That was, pretty good, kid." Supernova said.
"Pretty good? We lost!" Spitfire frowned.
"Yeah, but you helped your team out when they needed it, and didn't leave anypony behind. Those are good Wonderbolt attributes if you ask me." Light smiled.
He dug around, pulled out a pamphlet from under his wing and handed it to her.
"Listen, if you ever have the time, you should try out for us. You've got what it takes kid, and hey, you might even become a captain of the team yourself. Hopefully less mean, though." Light snickered.
She took the pamphlet in her mouth and grinned.
"Now listen, we'll catch you later, alright? We gotta go check out the source of that explosion earlier."
The three waved and flew away. Spitfire opened up the pamphlet and saw a VIP season pass for all their future performances and a note, which had Light Speed's signature crudely engraved into the Wonderbolts Academy logo. She gave a long, hard look at the logo before feeling something funny, and looking down at her flanks to see a newly developed Cutie Mark on them. She couldn't help but squee and hold the pamphlet in her mouth, eager to tell her family about today.
It was the best day ever.
+++++
"Where's the one who made the Sonic Rainboom!?" Light panted, being quickly accompanied by the other two.
The cloud was empty.
"Shoot! We could've placed whoever did that in a heartbeat."
+++++
"...It still was the best day ever." Spitfire smiled, looking at the pamphlet and goggles resting inside her display case. She turned to look at the window, seeing all the new recruited members of the academy flying around outside her office window.
"Well Dad, I told you I'd do it..."
"..I became a Wonderbolt."