//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10a: Standoff in the Skies 
// Story: Ace Combat: Wings of Unity 
// by PolishValsion 
//------------------------------//


The children of skies have assembled,


They are prepared to defend the city in the clouds.


In a time of a great trial


One must stand up to the challenge.



Chapter 10a


Standoff in the Skies


June 22nd, 2021
1500 hrs
Cloudsdale airspace

As soon as Spitfire assembled a group of over 150 pegasi, they quickly took off in the direction of Cloudsdale. Initially, she planned to split them into smaller groups to make sure they wouldn’t draw too much attention to potential enemy units. Spitfire didn’t receive any reports about a larger Exile group however, so she decided to keep her own in three separate units. Spitfire lead the first unit, Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker lead the second, and Sunburst and Flare Star lead the third.

Within the next few days, the pegasi from EAF encountered some enemy squadrons, but they could not stop their advance. When Spitfire got the news of an enemy group in the area, she wisely decided to keep two of her own in the rear and send only one to do battle. That way the Exiles would not be able to learn how many fliers the Wonderbolt captain’s been actually leading and this allowed the EAF pegasi to continuously attack potential enemies with constant element of surprise.

On the fifth day, Spitfire finally confirmed that they were approaching Cloudsdale’s vicinity. She decided to send Cloud Kicker ahead to scout the area to see if there were any Exile pegasi already engaging the defenders. Soarin’ noticed that, despite several smaller clashes, the enemy resistance had been less than threatening.

        “You know, if they consider Cloudsdale to be a key target for their conquest… you’d think they would try harder to conquer it, huh?” the blue flier asked Spitfire.

        “Normally, they wouldn’t be so cautious,” she replied. “But I’m guessing it’s because of the losses they suffered on Winterbliss Fields. They don’t want to risk another all-out attack, now that they know the Princesses may be involved in the battles, too.”

        “I bet that Aurora is pissed at the moment,” Fleetfoot remarked. “Wonder if she’s planning somethin’ now…”

        “Who knows…”

Spitfire reached for her communicator to contact Cloud Kicker.

        “Sunny, what’s the situation at your end?”

After a brief silence, Cloud Kicker’s voice replied:

        “There are no Exile units in the area. I repeat, no Exile units. The coast is clear. I think it’s OK for you to proceed, Wonderbolt 1.”

        “Roger that. Once we get to the city, I’ll contact the HQ.”

        “That won't be necessary,” said Cloud Kicker. “The operator contacted me as soon as he saw me approaching on his radar. He’s got a message for you, ma’am. I’ll patch it to you now.”

A few seconds later, Spitfire heard a dull, male voice.

        “So, I heard you’re close to Cloudsdale. You sure know when to show up at the right time. Be sure to give an old friend a visit before you start kicking Exiles out of the sky, eh?”

Spitfire smiled a little. She knew that voice very well.

"Well, what do you know… It’s been ages since... “

The yellow pegasus replied back to Cloud Kicker.

        “Tell him I’ll get to HQ as soon as we reach Cloudsdale. You and Thunder better come with me, too. You’re gonna meet a real Wonderbolt veteran.”

        “Roger.”

-----------------

1520 hrs
Cloudsdale

The arrival of Spitfire’s group was warmly welcomed by the pegasi of Cloudsdale. Those who were organized into squadrons were more than glad to see the Wonderbolts themselves leading new fighters. Excited voices could be heard as they passed them by.

“That’s a formidable force. The Exiles will have nothing on them. No way they are going to breach into the city now.”

        “Look, those two mares look familiar,” one of the fliers pointed to Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker. “You think they are…”

        “Yeah, no doubt about it. They are the Angels of Equestria. Praised are the sun and the moon!”

Spitfire landed before the Equestrian Air Force Headquarters building and said to Soarin’:

        “You’re in temporary charge until I come back. If the enemy shows up, inform us immediately. Thunder, Sunny, let’s go.”

Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker followed Spitfire inside, feeling excited to meet a veteran Wonderbolt flier. 

“Wonder what Rainbow would do to be in our place, he he…” Cloud Kicker snickered. 

The three passed a few corridors before they reached a door with an emblem that looked like a pegasus head with two wings extending from it: a classic Wonderbolt mark, used all the way since they were formed by Princess Celestia long ago.

Spitfire knocked on the door.

        “Enter,” the male voice said calmly.

A single dark-blue pegasus with silvery mane, wearing the Wonderbolt costume and a pair of goggles that covered his green eyes, sat behind a desk and lifted his head up when Spitfire came into the room. She was baring her teeth.

        “It’s been a while, huh, Heavy Cloud?” she asked.

        “Most certainly. You haven’t changed at all, though. It’s good to see you again, Spitfire.”

The two shared a hug.

        “I’ve heard about Firebolt. It must’ve been hard for you…” the pegasus known as Heavy Cloud started.

Spitfire backed her sight away, not feeling like talking about it.

        “Sorry. Shouldn’t have raked over it... “

Trying to change the topic, Heavy Cloud said,

        “Say, I heard there are some crystal ponies in your ranks. Is that true?”

“Uh-huh,” said Spitfire. “They are rookies, but we gave them a few quick training sessions. I think they will be OK as long as they don’t get carried away.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to working with you again.”

Spitfire felt glad Heavy Cloud did not want to drag the issue. Her tension loosened up.

        “Same here. Still as calm as ever, aren’t ya?”

        “Nah, not this time. Recent days have been keeping the pegasi on their hooves all the time, with the Exiles attacking us. We ain’t got time to relax at all. And I need keep my eyes on this mess. It ain’t easy, I tell ya.”

Heavy Cloud snickered with laughter. Spitfire accompanied him, but Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker stood outside, looking at each other in confusion.

        “That’s a veteran Wonderbolt?” Cloud Kicker wondered aloud. “Funny, I thought he would be a little more serious…”

        “Keep it to yourself,” Lightning Bolt whispered to her.

        “Hey!” Spitfire called out to them. “Don’t just stand there, come in!”

When they entered the room as well, Heavy Cloud rose his left eyebrow.

        “Well, what do we have here… Are those two mares suppose to be…?”

        “No, no,” Spitfire snickered again. “I know what you are thinking about, but you get the wrong idea.”

“Oh… that’s too bad…” Heavy Cloud sighed. “I wouldn’t mind going out with them.”

Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker widened their eyes in surprise. Spitfire barely managed to hold a laugh, then breathed out loud.

 “In all seriousness, I’m sure you’ve already heard about the Mirage squadron. I’d like you to meet two of its members. These are Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker, TAC names ‘Thunder’ and ‘Sunny,’ respectively.”

The white pegasus bowed her head a little, while her friend waved her right foreleg at the operator, adding a cheerful “Hiya!”. Heavy Cloud took his goggles off to get a better look at the two fliers.

        “Ah, I see. So, you are the young angels from the team I’ve been hearing so much good about recently. They say you give the Wonderbolts a run for their money. I’d like to see that with my own eyes.”

He gave the two ponies a quick wink with his right eye. Lightning Bolt regained her composure.

        “You… can always count on us, sir.”

        “Come on, no need for formalities. Call me Heavy Cloud, ok?”

The white pegasus nodded. Cloud Kicker felt the urge to speak her mind.

        “I don’t want to sound rude, but… You do realize that the enemy could attack us at any moment? We’re at a war with an enemy pony army that have dragons as a support! You don’t feel even a tiny bit of pressure? Or maybe you don’t understand what’s going on here--”

        “Cloud Kicker!”

Lightning Bolt walked up to her friend, grabbed her tail with her teeth and dragged her out of the room to the corridor. Surprised, the purple pegasus yelped.

“Waaa!”

        “Oh boy, here we go…” Spitfire whispered to Heavy Cloud.

When Lightning let Cloud Kicker go, she looked upset.

        “Hey! Why'd you do that?” she asked.

        “What did I tell you?!” Lightning exclaimed. “You really need to work on your manners. I know you sometimes speak before you think, but that’s not how you should talk to your superiors!”

        “What did I do? I was telling the truth,” Cloud Kicker still felt confused.

Before Lightning could scold her some more, she heard Heavy Cloud’s laugh.

        “Indeed, she was. No need to be so strict on her. Chill out, Thunder.”

        “But, sir… I mean, Heavy Cloud…” Lightning Bolt started sheepishly.

        “A lot of ponies that meet me for the first time say similar things,” the dark-blue pegasus said. “They think I’m not being serious. But that’s fine. When they get to know me better, they change their opinion. They don’t really know me and didn’t seen things I did or been to places I’ve been to.”

The awkward situation had been eased. Lightning and Cloud Kicker re-entered the room. Spitfire was observing their little quarrel with mild amusement. She explained everything now.

        “Heavy Cloud has been with the Wonderbolts for nearly 30 years. He helped in training a new generation of acrobats and fighters alike… including me and Soarin’. Despite his lighthearted attitude, he always knew what to do when the going got though. Back in the days, he was considered to be the actual Wonderbolt leader, even though he never felt like one.”

        “You know me,” Heavy Cloud interjected, “I don’t really like taking glory from the others. But, somepony had to step in and maintain order in the unit when our old leader couldn’t handle the stuff sometimes. I just happened to be the guy for that job. I’ve had my share of crazy adventures and wild journeys… Too bad the age started to take its toll.. my wings couldn’t keep up with the recruits anymore. I should’ve been on a retirement for two years now, but because of this new conflict, I’ve decided to return and help. The Wonderbolts will not get rid of me that easily. If I can’t fight, I’ll be an operator. Maybe that way I can put some of my experience to good use.”

        “Right,” Spitfire added. “In any case, he’s the guy who taught me all I know today. I owe him a lot. When things were getting tough, he acted almost like a big brother to me and the rest of the unit,” the yellow pegasus let out a chuckle.

        “Aw, cut it out. You’re gonna make me blush.”

        “Hah… You can’t take a simple compliment anymore? You really are getting old.”

Both of them shared another laugh. It was clear to Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker that they were liking each other very much. The purple pegasus asked another question:

        “You say you’ve seen a lot of stuff in your life, Heavy Cloud. Does that include the dragons that are supporting the Exiles, too?”

Lightning Bolt glared at her again, but Heavy Cloud didn’t seem to mind.

        “Oh, yeah. And let me tell you; a few years back I’ve actually got a chance to visit their own country, Drakonia. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s located far to the west of Equestria, beyond Ceres Ocean. I’ve been there with a reporter from one of Equestrian press agencies. He was trying to abolish the myth of dragons being mindless monsters as some ponies perceived them to be, and asked me to assist him on the journey. Turned out he was right. In fact, the dragons seemed to be quite an organized society, much like us or the griffins. The only difference is that they don’t build cities, but instead prefer to live in mountains, caves, on the cliffs or even inside dormant volcanoes. ”

        “Whoa…” Cloud Kicker blurted out after hearing that last statement.

        “Yeah. A real sight to behold…” 

Heavy Cloud then shifted his sight to Spitfire. His expression became more serious.

“To move on… I’m really glad that you and the rest of your squadrons are here. Those Exile buggers had been bothering us for long enough and I think it’s time to show them they are not welcome in Cloudsdale not now, not ever.”

        “Good idea, Heavy Cloud,” Spitfire agreed. “So, what’s the plan?”

The Wonderbolt operator motioned the three pegasi to come closer. He showed them a paper map that displayed the entire Cloudsdale region, with the city being in its center.

        “The way things stand now, it’s safe to say the Exiles are playing a game of cat and mouse with us. For the past three days, they were sending several squadrons in the direction of the city, probably wanting to make us leave our posts and go pursue them, provoking us. We’ve managed to fend them off so far, but couldn’t give chase. Reports from yesterday claim that one of those aforementioned dragons is in the area. He’s probably waiting for the main offense to commence, so he can join in and wreak havoc among our forces. We got data about him from Gale. Based on it, we’ve managed to identify the dragon as Gleipnir; one of King Aigaion’s Drake Generals.”

        “That means…” Spitfire thought aloud.

        “Correct. Somehow the Exiles gained the help from Drakonia and the Dragon King sent the most elite of his kind to help them. I still don’t know why would they do it. The dragons never really looked kindly upon the ponies for some reason. Maybe we’ll get to that eventually and find a solution to that problem…”

Heavy Cloud carried on with the explanation.

“Based on the actions of the Exile squadrons from the last couple of days, we can assume that they will send a few squadrons as a scouting party, to test our mettle, again. We can turn it against them easily, but then we might end up facing more than one hundred enemy pegasi, once they commence an all-out attack. They’ve been rounding themselves up recently in an area about 10 miles to the south from here.”

“If we could take them down, will Cloudsdale be safe?” Cloud Kicker asked.

“Yes, at least for the time being. I’m sure you guys can handle the enemy teams, but our main problem is Gleipnir. Whatever it takes, we must prevent the Exiles from making an opening for him. There is a risk he may go straight for the city and attempt to destroy it. Cloudsdale doesn’t have any static defense, sides for a few anti-air turrets we have constructed a few weeks ago, just in case.”

Spitfire rose her right eyebrow.

        “Built with the griffin technology, I assume?”

        “That’s right. And before you say anything: I heard that Princess Celestia is actually considering sending a messenger to the Griffin Kingdom, to inform King Valdar about Operation Eternal Liberation. Though I wouldn’t be counting on their help just yet. Since the rebellion in Neue Gryphus, they have been struggling with rebuilding its capital city, Sudentor, and some of the griffins aren’t too willing to get dragged into another war. Seems like their so-called warrior spirits had been diminished,” Heavy Cloud commented.

        “My team’s been there. We saw everything. You do not forget this kind of stuff,” Spitfire reminded him. “We can’t blame the griffins for refraining to help us. Let them do their stuff, we’ll handle things here. In time, I’m sure we’ll join forces and drive the enemy away.”

        “We can only hope. In any case, you know what to do. Once the attack on Cloudsdale begins, do whatever it takes to defeat as many of them Exiles as possible to weaken their offensive potential. If Gleipnir will show up, we will be in trouble,” Heavy Cloud pointed out.

        “Shouldn’t we prepare an alternate strategy in case the dragon shows up?” Lightning Bolt asked.

        “I’ll get right on it,” the Wonderbolt operator assured her. “You just focus on eliminating the Exile fliers. If my prediction is correct, their estimated time of arrival is…!”

Spitfire’s communicator then gave out a beeping sound. Heavy Cloud sighed and finished:

“... right about now, dang it."

Spitfire answered the call.

        “Report, Soarin’.”

        “Our radars picked up several incoming contacts. Seems to be a group of three or four squadrons,” Soarin’ replied. “They are heading for Cloudsdale. Should we intercept them?”

        “Stay where you are. We’ll be right there. If they get too close, you have permission to engage,” Spitfire ordered.

        “Roger that.”

Spitfire cut the link as her sight rested on Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker.

        “Let’s move it, girls!”

        “Yes ma’am!”

Lightning immediately followed the Wonderbolt leader, but before Cloud Kicker could follow her, Heavy Cloud kept her in place.

        “Say, you seem to be getting along with your friend here. But, I’ve got a question: is she always so serious about everything?”

Though that question seemingly came out of nowhere, Cloud Kicker answered it.

        “Most of the time. There are times when we may argue, but I still like her very much. She’s my bestest friend ever…”

        “Hmm… you’re a lucky mare…”

        “Cloud Kicker! Hurry up!” Lightning’s voice sounded from the corridor.

        “Coming!”

Cloud Kicker waved to Heavy Cloud before she ran to catch up with Lightning. The veteran Wonderbolt saw her off with a little smile on his face.

        “Mirage… Yeah, those two seem to be very likeable, indeed,” he though to himself. “If the others are as determined as they are, then all those stories I’ve heard of them may actually be true. We shall see, yes… Well. Time to get to work.”

Heavy Cloud sat behind his desk, put headphones on and turned his radio on, adjusting the frequency to keep his eyes on the battlefield. He noticed on his own radar that the enemy air units were getting closer…

-----------------

1548 hrs
Cloudsdale airspace

One of the scouts reported to Soarin’ that the Exiles were getting closer and had no intention of turning away. He quickly made a decision. Most pegasus defenders remained in the rear; some were told to hide among the thick clouds that covered the sky. When the Exile scouts approached the city, they only saw about 20 pegasi from EAF waiting for them. Some fliers believed it was a trap and advised the flight leader to call for reinforcements. But the lime green pegasus ignored his wingmates.

        “I’m getting tired of this stalemate. We can take them. Let’s go, everypony!”

While not entirely convinced, the other scouts didn’t want to be labeled as cowards, so they followed him. Soarin’ saw them switching to attack formation.

        “Guess they want to fight anyway. Hornet squadron, Phoenix squadron, you’re coming with us! Time to bruise!”

        “This is Steam Tinker, Hornet 1. Roger that, Lieutenant Soarin’!” the mango-colored pegasus stallion responded.

        “This is Sunburst, Phoenix 1. We got you covered, sir,” said the orange pegasus from the other team. 

        “This is Emerald 1, understood. We’re on standby, call us anytime,” one of the crystal pegasi reported his readiness as well.

Along with the Wonderbolts, they headed out to confront the Exiles.  

Sunburst was more than eager to display his fighting ability once more, and in front of the Wonderbolts no less. The second he engaged one of the enemy teams, he managed to break through their formation with his speed, distracting two fliers and allowing his teammates to defeat them easily. Sunburst then went straight for the leader of the group, but had to abandon his attack when he noticed that the leader had machine guns strapped to his back. Attacking straight on would be a suicide. Instead, the orange pegasus baited the leader to try and follow him. He came under fire from the guns and had to use his agility to avoid getting hit. In his confidence, the enemy leader started flapping his wings faster, catching up to Sunburst and going in for the kill. But just then, Sunburst performed a quick, upward backflip, now being directly above his opponent. He immediately dived, latching onto the Exile’s back.

        “Got off me!” he yelled.

        “Fine,” Sunburst replied. “But first…”

The orange pegasus used his teeth to grab the belt that held the strapped machine guns together and started pulling sharply. A few seconds later, he tore it away from his opponent’s body, leaving scraps of metal flying away.

        “I don’t think you’ll be needing those anymore.”

With that phrase, Sunburst delivered a knockout punch to the Exile pegasus and sent him flying down to the ground. Sunburst’s wingmates swiftly dealt with the group leader’s comrades. The orange pegasus seemed pleased with his team’s performance so far, as was Soarin’.

        “Nice job, Phoenix 1. But there are still some stragglers left.”

        “We’ll take care of them, too,” Sunburst assured him.

In the meantime, Hornet squadron fought against the other scouting team. Steam Tinker’s squadron wasn’t exactly specialized in any particular strategy, but could easily adapt to the situation and deliver quick, precise attacks. Their opponents weren’t equipped with machine guns, so the pegasi were not afraid to fight head-on. Steam Tinker engaged one of the enemy fliers, delivering a quick kick to the face. Another pegasus took the opponent down with a series of rapid punches, ending with an uppercut. 

The fight was heavily in favor of the EAF pegasi and the enemy scout leader soon realized the folly he made by ordering his wingmates to attack. He was completely unprepared for this confrontation. Turning his back on the few remaining fliers from his squad, he attempted to save his own life. Soarin’ noticed him fleeing.

        “Don’t let him get away!” he called to the others.

Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker were approaching the battlefield themselves and were ready to stop the Exile from escaping. However, a female voice sounded in their communicators.

        “Don’t worry. I got this.”

The next moment, something speeded by the two Mirage fliers and headed straight for the Exile at breakneck speed. It was Spitfire. She left a trail of smoke and electricity behind her, which the Wonderbolts always make during their aerial shows. When the Exile noticed a single contact coming at him, he let out a horrifying scream, as he now knew he was done for. But right before Spitfire caught up to him, she quickly descended, disappearing from his sight. Before he could react, she flew up and delivered a powerful kick to the pegasus’ gut, stunning him. Then she followed it with two punches in the face. He fell down.

None of the Exiles that were in the scouting group got out alive. All of them were defeated by the three squadrons. When Spitfire rejoined her team, Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker were still staring at her in amazement.

        “Wow!” Cloud Kicker exclaimed. “Did you see that?! She came at him outta nowhere, like a rocket, and WHAM! That guy never stood a chance!”

        “Yeah. He made the last mistake of his life,” Lightning added.

Heavy Cloud’s voice sounded in everypony’s communicators.

        “That was some impressive display, guys. But don’t get too comfortable. Once the Exiles stationed to the south fail to receive a status report from scouts… They will come.”

        “Let them try,” said Sunburst. “We’re ready for them.”

-----------------

1605 hrs

A group of nearly one hundred pegasi were awaiting for the order to attack Cloudsdale. Their leader, a stallion that sported a maroon-colored spiky mane, brown coat and silver eyes, was attempting to contact the scouts he sent about half an hour ago. But no pony answered his calls.

        “This is Shadow 1. Come in!” he pleaded again. “Come in! Does anypony hear me?”

All he heard was static. The pegasus snorted in anger.

        “Damn! There is no response. Were they all defeated…?”

        “I told you we should’ve gone with them, Bolt Burst,” a female voice sounded behind him.

The stallion turned around and saw a beautiful mare. She had a curly, light orchid mane, with eyes in the same color and a turquoise coat. She was wearing a red vest with a rose emblem on it.

        “Pearl Eyes…” the stallion whispered. “You’re not even supposed to be here. You don’t have enough battle experience…”

        “Says you!” the mare exclaimed. “A few days ago, I was just another flier, serving under others. Now I am a squadron leader myself. I’m not going to waste this chance to prove myself worthy to Lady Aurora! And you will not stop me.”

Her voice was filled with determination. Bolt Burst sighed.

        “No… I won’t. I know you. Once you’ve made up your mind, not even your own mother could stop you.”

Pearl Eyes’s sight dropped. That bitter memory still gnawed her inside her mind. On the day when her mother died from old age, she received a small locket from her and was told to keep it, as a memento. Pearl could never forget the last words her mother said to her before she passed away.

Be brave.

The brown pegasus walked up to her and touched her cheek with his right hoof. A sense of compassion spoke through his words.

        “Forgive me, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just that…”

        “It’s fine,” the mare responded. 

After a moment of awkward silence, the two came into agreement that they should not hold back with their offense any longer. Bolt Burst contacted Aurora.

        “My Lady. We are about to commence an all-out attack on Cloudsdale. Your orders?”

        “Eliminate anyone who stands in your way. Make them suffer,” Aurora replied coldly.

        “Yes, my Lady. Any chance we can count on that dragon, Gleipnir, to aid us?” the pegasus asked with a slight tone of uncertainty.

        “I will inform him about the offense. He should arrive within two hours. But do not count too much on him. It is up to you to win this battle. Don’t forget this.”
        
“Understood, Lady Aurora.”

Bolt Burst ended the conversation. Then, he changed frequency in his communicator to address other fliers that accompanied him.

        “Attention all units! This is Shadow 1. We are setting course for Cloudsdale. Our time has come! We will show Celestia’s dogs our true might. Spare no pony! Let’s go!”

All pegasi present in the area quickly ascended and started to fly in the direction of Cloudsdale. Pearl Eyes flew beside Bolt Burst, her own callsign being Rose 1. She was leading her own team, comprised entirely of mares, just like she always wanted. From time to time, Bolt Burst was taking a brief glance at her, secretly admiring her beauty and sharing the joy she felt. Yet, at the same time, he was worried if she was truly ready for this battle…

==========

1618 hrs
Cloudsdale

Heavy Cloud contacted the defenders of the city. Over twenty squadrons were prepared to meet the enemy in battle, with Spitfire leading them.

        “My radar is picking up numerous unidentified signals coming at you. Spitfire, you get the same thing?” the operator asked.

        “Uh-huh. Looks like they decided to come out and face us openly. All air units! You have permission to engage the enemy. Remember, try not to tackle an entire squadron on your own. Focus on collaborating with your teammates!”

        “This is Phoenix 1, roger that,” Sunburst responded.

        “Dragon 1 here, I gotcha,” Flare Star spoke.

        “This is Mirage 3. Me and Sunny are ready. Give us a call if you need assistance,” Lightning Bolt added.

        “All right! Let’s go, everypony! Take’em down!” Spitfire ordered.

“May the sun and moon shine upon us!” 

That phrase sounded from the throats of over 120 pegasi. What started as a squadron-specific battle cry, made up by Cloud Kicker for Mirage squadron, now became a common method of saying “good luck” to fellow soldiers. The pegasi flew ahead. About a minute later, they came across first few enemies.

Bolt Burst noticed many signals appearing on his radar, too.

        “So, the EAF wants to play? Fine, then. This is Shadow 1! All units, engage and destroy the enemies!”

        “I’m with you, Shadow 1!” Pearl Eyes assured him.

        “Good. Stick with me and you’ll be just fine,” the brown pegasus added.

        “Only if you promise not to babysit me. I can take care of myself,” the turquoise-coated mare told him.

        “I sure hope so.”

Within the first few minutes of confrontation, the pegasi from EAF quickly gained the advantage. Their opponents were certainly hardened fighters, willing to fight until the bitter end, but the experience most fliers gained during the Equestrian War allowed them to employ more tactics to catch their foes off-guard. Heavy Cloud watched the whole battle on his monitor and felt pleased to see Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts overpowering one enemy squadron after another. Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker were fighting alongside them, too. They would handle this situation.

Flare Star and her Dragon team had no problems either. The Exiles couldn’t match the green mare’s speed, as she, along with Wind Whistler and Rainfall, kept on forcing the enemy pegasi to back away to not risk dying. Pearl Eyes noticed her among the crowd and decided to engage her with her own squadron. She did so without telling anything to Bolt Burst, hoping he could fight on his own and keep the whole operation under control.

Flare Star had just knocked out another enemy pegasus and let out a satisfying sigh before shouting to the remaining three fighters:

        “Come on, guys! Is that the best you can do?! Where can I get some real competition?”

At that moment, Pearl Eyes’s squadron came from above.

        “Think you’re so tough? Let’s see how you will fare against me!” the turquoise mare exclaimed.

Seeing this new challenger, a smirk appeared on Flare Star’s face. She turned to Wind Whistler and Rainfall.

        “Hey, you guys can handle her teammates?” she asked.

        “Sure thing, Flare,” Rainfall replied.

        “Good. I’ll take on the leader.”

She darted upward, while Wind Whistler and Rainfall headed toward their foes from the sides. One of her wingmares looked at Pearl Eyes.

“Ma’am! They are coming!”

“Don’t worry, there are only three of them. You are free to attack in a manner of your choice. Move!”

Flare Star met Pearl face to face. She didn’t seem like an experienced fighter to her.

        “What’s up, missy? You’re looking for trouble, I hope,” Flare Star taunted her.

Pearl Eyes growled in response.

        “Don’t you dare mock me!”

She flew straight, trying to hit Flare Star in the face, but she easily dodged the punch. The green mare caught a glimpse on the symbol of a rose on her opponent’s vest. With quick ascent, she taunted her again:

        “Come on, try and catch me!”

        “Get back here!” Pearl Eyes shouted.

She started chasing Flare Star, but before she got closer, the green pegasus performed a quick descent. Pearl Eyes’s irritation and frustration grew.

        “Why are you running away? Are you afraid to fight me?” she asked.

        “Nah, I’m just messin’ with ya,” Flare Star responded with a snicker. “You’ve got some guts, I’ll give you that. But it will take more than just courage to beat me, missy.”

        “Stop calling me that!” the turquoise mare exclaimed. 

“Oh, ok. Then how should I call you?”

“I am Pearl Eyes, leader of the Rose squadron, and I won’t be beaten by the likes of you!” the young mare proclaimed.

Flare Star was not impressed.

        “Oh, I see… It’s like that saying: ‘Every rose has its thorns’. How cute… Too bad for you, I am a squadron leader myself. Name’s Flare Star, and your wingmates will be trounced by my Dragon team!”

        “We’ll see about that!”

Pearl Eyes charged at her again, but Flare Star easily parried her attack and delivered a successful punch to the face herself. She seemed surprised that Pearl did not dodge her attack.

        “What’s with you? Your fundamentals are all over the place,” she said. “Who put you in charge of the squadron, rookie?”

Instead of replying, Pearl Eyes simply darted toward Flare Star once more.

        “I’ve got you now!”

But, just as she was about to punch her in the face, the green mare dodged the blow, leaving her opponent completely surprised.

        “Too slow, missy!”

Flare Star delivered a painful kick to Pearl Eyes’s stomach, stunning her and making her gasp for air. Seeing her opponent utterly helpless, Flare Star teased her some more.

        “Come on… I was hoping for a good fight. Hate to say it, but you don’t stand a chance against me, missy.”

Pearl Eyes growled again. She could not comprehend why she couldn’t even hurt her opponent. As a squadron leader, she should be stronger than the others…

        “I don’t really have time to play with you anymore,” said Flare Star. “I’ve got some real opponents to beat. So here’s the deal: I will spare your life if you’ll just tuck your tail between your legs and get outta Cloudsdale along with your team. Come back when you get some more experience. What do you say, rookie?”

She only heard Pearl’s gasps at first. Flare Star leaned closer.

        “What’s that? Say it again, will ya, rookie?”

With a loud yell, Pearl Eyes delivered a successful punch to Flare’s face, sending her flying backwards. She had enough.

“Stop calling me a rookie! Lady Aurora herself has put me in charge of a squadron! She said I am ready to lead my own squadron, and I am here to prove it!” Pearl Eyes replied.

She felt satisfied at being able to finally land a blow, but when Flare Star recovered, the expression on her face wasn’t relaxed and playful anymore. She was angry.

“Huh… Figures,” Flare Star sighed. “Listen, girl, you shouldn’t believe in everything you hear from an alicorn full of hang-ups. She thinks she’s better than everypony else. We will bring her down… and you, Exile scum, along with her.”

“Do not insult Lady Aurora!”

Pearl charged at Flare Star again. The green pegasus was getting tired of her foe’s attitude.

        “You little punk… You asked for it!”

In a flash, Flare Star attacked Pearl Eyes. Before she knew what was happening, she was halted in place with a powerful punch in the ribs. Though it did not stop there. Flare unleashed a whole barrage of quick, yet strong punches at Pearl’s ribcage, making her yelp in pain every time. After hitting her about twelve times, Flare Star sent her flying with a kick to the face. Pearl Eyes pierced through some clouds before she landed on a dense one. She tried to stand up, but only coughed and spat some blood. Seconds later, Flare Star appeared right above her.

        “This is your last chance. Get out of here, or I’ll teach you a painful lesson!”

Pearl Eyes finally regained her balance. Flapping her wings, she tried to ascend.

        “I’m not scared of you!” she exclaimed.

        “Then why are you flying away?” Flare Star thought.

When she stopped, Pearl looked down to keep track of her opponent. However, Flare Star wasn’t there. In confusion, the young mare kept rotating her head around, trying to locate Flare Star.

        “Where did she go?” she wondered.

Just then, the green pegasus appeared right before her eyes, completely surprising her.

        “Over here!”

With a quick lunge, Flare Star grabbed Pearl Eyes and immobilized her in a tight grip.

        “You’re not getting away now!”

        “L-Lemme go!”

Pearl started to kick her rear legs, struggling to release herself. But Flare Star only tightened the grip, causing pain to the young pegasus.

        “Quit it! You’re just making it worse for yourself!” said Flare Star.

        “Lemme go!” Pearl Eyes reiterated in a squeaky voice.

        “You can’t beat me. Give yourself up!”

        “N-Never!”

Pearl tried to headbutt Flare Star in the face. That failed attempt only annoyed her more.

        “Ugh, you’re so stubborn,” the green pegasus grumbled. “You really want me to hurt you? Fine!”

She increased the strength of her grip furthermore. Pearl screamed in pain. She could almost hear her ribcage and arm bones cracking under the pressure. Then Flare Star heard Wind Whistler’s voice in her communicator.

        “Dragon 1, come in!”

“What’s up, Dragon 2?” Flare Star chuffed.

“We need your help. The enemy called for reinforcements. We’re engaged with another squadron.”

        “Gimme a moment…” Flare gasped in response. “I’m almost done. Contact… Rainbowshine… and the Sorcerer squadron.”

        “U-Understood!”

Pearl saw no other option for her.

        “HELP ME! Somepony, help me!” she screamed, having faint hopes that her plea will be heard.

Flare Star seemed disappointed now that her opponent started calling for help.

        “You know what? You’re the first Exile that I don’t feel like killing. But you’ve brought this on yourself. No hard feelings, missy!”

She further increased the pressure of her grip, trying to snap Pearl Eyes’s bones, as the mare kept screaming.

        “S-Stop! No! Aaaaahhh!”

Flare Star suddenly received a powerful blow to her back. Taken by complete surprise, she released Pearl Eyes and tried to locate the attacker.

        “Wha…? Who…?” she wondered aloud.

She noticed another pegasus, a brown stallion, helping Pearl remain in midair. 

        “Wow, where did he come from?” Flare asked herself in thoughts.

That was Bolt Burst. As his squadron engaged the Dragon team, he heard Pearl’s desperate cry in his communicator and rushed to help her immediately.

        “Are you alright, Pearl?” he asked.

She coughed a few times in response before replying.

        “I-It’s nothing… I can still fight.”

        “No, you can’t. You’re in no condition to fight. Retreat back to Canterlot with your team. We will handle the rest,” Bolt Burst told her.

        “You can’t do this to me!” Pearl Eyes exclaimed.

        “I am in charge of this operation. You are only following my orders,” the brown pegasus reminded her. “Do as I say. Go!”

        “But…”

        “Just go!”

Pearl Eyes looked at him in disbelief for a few seconds before she lowered her sight.

        “... Fine.”

She turned her communicator on.

        “Rose squadron, disengage. We are returning to Canterlot.” 

The young mare then turned her sight to Bolt Burst.

        “Kill her for me.”

Flare Star saw her flying away.

        “Hey, where do you think you’re going?!” she exclaimed.

She tried to chase after her, but Bolt Burst appeared right before her, stopping her advance.

        “Leave her alone. You’re fighting me now!” he said.

Flare Star got her playful attitude back.

        “Oh, could it be that I’m against a knight in black armor?” she commented, pointing to Bolt’s black vest. “That was quite honorable of you. And here I thought all Exiles are obnoxious bastards.”

Bolt Burst smirked in response.

        “I’ll take that as a compliment. Don’t worry, I’ll be more than a challenge for you.”

        “Hah! Good! Feel the excitement, buddy!” Flare Star exclaimed as she rushed toward Bolt Burst.

-----------------

1700 hrs

Heavy Cloud informed the pegasi of the EAF that the enemy threat level has been reduced to 60%. It appeared that the Allies Forces were in control of the situation. Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker were constantly fighting back-to-back, supporting each other. When one of the Exiles that wore machine gun straps tried to shoot Lightning down, she made a quick dodge upward, landing on a cloud. With a single stomp, she released a bolt of electricity flying at her foe. The bolt struck his guns, causing a contraction that ended in the guns exploding, sending the wounded pegasus to his doom. Lightning Bolt quickly relayed this new discovery to Spitfire. By using thunderclouds, the EAF pegasi could fight the enemies equipped with machine guns in a much more secured way. One hit was all it would take to destroy the guns and cripple their opponent.

In a matter of minutes, about twenty more foes were knocked out of the skies. Steam Tinker and his wingmate from Hornet squadron, who was using machine guns of his own, defeated another Exile wearing them. The mango-coated pegasus then asked his wingmate to let him borrow these guns, so he could test their efficiency. It took him a moment to get used to increased weight. Since he had been experimenting with earlier models that were not mass-produced or imported, Steam Tinker was no slouch in weapon department. He gained additional advantage for his team and even helped Emerald 1 by shooting down the Exile pegasus that was trying to take down the crystal pony. He thanked him warmly before rejoining the battle alongside his team.

Flare Star was still fighting against Bolt Burst. He indeed proved to be a dangerous opponent, managing to trick Flare more than once and nearly delivering a crippling blow to her spine. Luckily, the green pegasus managed to perform a quick side roll and only got hit in the face. She used the brief moment to catch some breath.

        “Hah, you are pretty good,” she said to Bolt Burst. “It’s too bad we can’t play any longer. If I were you, I’d tell your fellow Exile scum to leave. You’re about to get annihilated.”

Bolt Burst knew that he lost nearly 70% of his forces, his Shadow squadron itself losing two members out of seven. His only hope was to stall the battle and wait for Gleipnir to arrive. Dodging another of Flare Star’s punches, he said to her:

        “Your overconfidence will become your downfall. This battle isn’t over yet!”

Barely a minute later, Cloud Kicker’s noticed a large shape appearing in the air. She knew exactly what it was. She immediately informed all remaining defenders.

“This is Mirage 4! The optical camouflage… It’s wearing off! He’s here! It’s Gleipnir!” she exclaimed, pointing her left hoof to a big, scaly body that just revealed itself.

“Crud, so that’s how the bastard snuck in…” Heavy Cloud whined. “Not good…” 

Gleipnir’s gem, located in his armor, started pulsing with a faint white light. He then flapped his wings in a rapid succession, sending shockwaves from it. All unlucky nearby fliers, both the Allied Forces and Exiles, were knocked away. Some managed to recover and remained in midair, but others weren’t that lucky, landing hard on stone columns or failing to regain altitude and falling to the ground below.

Bolt Burst felt relieved seeing Gleipnir in action. He turned to Flare Star.

        “You are strong, indeed. But this dragon will finish all of you. Farewell!”

He turned around and flew away, to meet his comrades. Flare Star did not bother following him, as she was a bit exhausted from the fight. She reunited with her team as well. Wind Whistler and Rainfall, aided by Rainbowshine’s Sorcerer squadron, managed to stall both enemy teams and forced them to retreat.

Lightning Bolt contacted Heavy Cloud.

        “Sir, please tell me you have some kind of strategy against that dragon.”

        “Swarming him is not an option,” said Heavy Cloud. “That shockwave attack can decimate our ranks quickly. We have to find another way.”

Gleipnir’s gem begun pulsing again, catching Lightning’s attention. This time, the light was colored blue. The dragon targeted one of the pegasi from Phoenix squadron and fired a beam of blueish energy at him. The flier did not react in time. He was killed on the spot and his lifeless body fell down.

        “Phoenix 3! No!” Sunburst shouted. “Damn that dragon, we have to stop him!”

        “But how…” Heavy Cloud wondered.

Before the pegasi could even engage him, the gem on the armor pulsed with white light again and the dragon vanished from sight, using his optical camouflage.

        “This isn’t good… Lightning, we gotta do something!” Cloud Kicker said urgently to her friend.

        “I know… If only we could… Wait!”

Lightning Bolt had a sudden realization. She clapped her front hooves together.

        “That’s it! I’ve got it!”

        “Whatever you’ve got, I hope it’s not contagious,” Cloud Kicker remarked.

The white pegasus ignored Cloud Kicker’s sentence and quickly contacted Heavy Cloud.

        “Sir, this is Mirage 3! I have an idea.”

        “Go ahead.”

        “Have you noticed the gem in the dragon’s armor? It seem to pulse every time he uses uses the optical camouflage, that shockwave attack or that laser breath. That gem must be his power source. If we could destroy it…”

        “I see what you mean,” Heavy Cloud interrupted. “But how exactly you want to do this?”

        “We will have to reveal his location first. Our radars won’t be much of a use until we get rid of the optical camouflage system. We have to follow the waving air.”

“Waving air, huh? Good point. Alright then… All air units. Time for an alternate strategy. Ignore the Exiles. Keep your eyes open and look for waving air. The dragon may be invisible, but he is still there. Once you locate him, inform the fliers with machine guns. Be on standby and open fire as soon as he is found. If we inflict enough damage, his cover should be blown.”

“I sure hope this works,” said Steam Tinker. “All right, let’s do this!”

Cloud Kicker managed to trace the waving air. Moments later, Steam Tinker and the other fifteen pegasi wearing machine guns started a barrage fire in that direction. Gleipnir felt the stinging as the bullets struck his scales and armor, partially piercing through and forcing him to get rid of his cover.

        “Grrr… Optical camouflage system critical,” he growled.

His huge shape reappeared again.

        “Alright! It worked!” Steam Tinker exclaimed. “Now we need to destroy that gem.”

Gleipnir had no intention of being an easy target. His gem begun to pulse in faint white light again. Lightning knew what was coming and so did Heavy Cloud.

        “It’s dangerous to be close to Gleipnir when he is charging that shockwave attack. Try to stay lower than him,” he advised the other fliers.

Gleipnir’s shockwave attack ended up being a complete miss. But the grey dragon wasn’t discouraged. He already devised a new move.

        “Hah! Let’s see how valorous you will be once I obliterate your precious city!” he roared.

An intense blue light began to shine on his armor. Gleipnir opened his mouth and started to gather energy. He was preparing to use his Shock Cannon. Heavy Cloud quickly realized what was going on.

        “That dragon is trying to destroy Cloudsdale! All air units, attack him! Keep him distracted! Don’t let him charge up the energy!”

It sounded like a desperate call, but Lightning Bolt told the pegasi to do as the operator said. When Spitfire asked her why, she replied:

        “I’m going to use my Shining Spark to destroy that gem. But to do that, I have to gain enough speed and I need time for that. Try to keep Gleipnir distracted as long as it takes.”

        “Huh… Sounds risky to me. What do you think, Spitfire?” Heavy Cloud asked.

         “At this point anything is worth a try. OK, everypony, we’ll do as Thunder says. Swarm that dragon!”

Nearly seventy pegasi started to fly around Gleipnir. Some tried punching or kicking him, others tried shooting him with machine guns, but all that only angered Gleipnir more. He started flapping his wings rapidly.

        “Annoying little ponies… DIE!”

He released his shockwave again, but most pegasi managed to avoid it, remembering Heavy Cloud’s advice. The operator quickly calculated how long it will take for the dragon to gain enough power to attack and he relayed that data to the others.

        “Gleipnir will fire in three minutes! Hurry, Thunder! It’s all up to you!”

Lightning knew that a great responsibility was reposed on her, but she was ready to do it. Cloud Kicker seemed anxious.

        “Lightning…” she said with uncertainty.

        “I’ll be fine! Go and help the others!” Lightning Bolt replied.

She flew away to gain enough distance so she could gain the speed necessary for her Shining Spark to be performed. The white pegasus mare kept her radio on the whole time, to hear how the situation was developing. Though the defenders kept distracting Gleipnir, they were tired after the battle, and the next time Gleipnir used his shockwave attack, most fliers were sent flying away. He was in clear position to use his Shock Cannon and turn Cloudsdale into ruins.

        “120 seconds remaining! Hurry, Thunder!” Heavy Cloud urged her.

When Lightning was 10 kilometers away from the dragon, she quickly changed direction and started flapping her wings like crazy and zipping from left to right, heading at Gleipnir and gaining effective speed. There were only 90 seconds left. Cloud Kicker suddenly appeared before the dragon, and, seeing no other way to catch his attention, she shouted at him.

        “HEY! You big, ugly lizard! Bet you’re ain’t gonna hit me! Na na-na-na nah!”

She started flicking her tail before his nose. Angered, Gleipnir ascended a little and swung his own, massive, spiked tail.

        “I have no patience for fools. Get lost!”

Cloud Kicker was struck by the tail. Her scream could be heard clearly in the silence. Though she tried to regain control of her wings, she was sent flying toward a stone column and hit it with her head. She fell on to a dense cloud and remained motionless.

        “Mirage 4 down!” Heavy Cloud gasped.

That information not only scared, but also infuriated Lightning Bolt. She started flying even faster, much faster than ever before. The air around her began to crackle with electricity.

        “You fiend… You’ll pay for that!”

        “30 seconds left!” Heavy Cloud’s voice sounded again. 

He was on the verge of panicking.

        “Hahaha!” Gleipnir roared with laughter. “You cannot stop me! This city is history!”

The dragon almost gathered enough energy to attack. Just then, he noticed a single pegasus coming at him.

“… Huh?”

That was Lightning Bolt. He didn’t have time to react and keep her away, as he had to stop charging up energy to do so. The white pegasus rammed into his armor at full speed, screaming at the top of her lungs. Gleipnir felt the force of the blow. It was strong enough to make him recoil back a little. The gem on his armor cracked several times. He could not hold this amount of energy for much longer and unleashed his Shock Cannon. 

However, due to Lightning’s attack, his aim had been altered, and he fired it downward instead. The cracked gem lost some of its fragments as they fell off and Gleipnir roared in pain. Seconds later, a powerful explosion shook the area.

        “Heavy Cloud! Status report!” Spitfire ordered.

        “... Cloudsdale is safe. The beam struck the ground below us instead,” the operator said.

        “Graaaagh… I don’t believe this!” Gleipnir roared. 

He then heard a voice in his own communicator that the Exiles gave him prior to this mission.

        “Gleipnir…”

        “My king!” the grey dragon recognized Aigaion.

        “Your energy is decreasing. Return back to the castle.”

        “My king… My gem is damaged,” Gleipnir growled.

        “We will deal with that issue on the premises. Get back here, now,” Aigaion ordered.

Bolt Burst saw everything that happened and noticed that Gleipnir turned around and began to ascend with an intent to leave the airspace. He could not comprehend what just happened. All he knew was the the Exiles lost their advantage, and if they will not retreat, they will all die. He didn’t wanted to take that risk.

        “This is Shadow 1! All air units, retreat! Retreat, back to Canterlot!”

His comrades were eager to comply after witnessing Lightning Bolt’s feat. She hovered in the air, slightly dazed from the strength of the impact, but she ignored the EAF pegasi that tried to congratulate her. Instead, she descended to where Cloud Kicker was lying unconscious. Her forehead was bleeding.

She nudged her body, pleading:

        “Cloud Kicker, come on… Wake up, please…!”

She did not react at first. A note of fear sounded in Lightning voice.

        “What if she’s…! Oh no! Cloud Kicker, say something! Say something!” she yelled.

The purple pegasus winced and groaned in pain as she slowly opened her eyes.

        “Owww… My head… Lightning…? Is that you? Did you…!”

Lightning hugged Cloud Kicker, feeling like a great weight was lifted from her heart.

        “Oh, thank goodness. What a relief... Are you all right?”

        “My head hurts…” Cloud Kicker reiterated. She touched her forehead and noticed the blood on her hoof. “Ow… Guess I got whooped again…”

“Hold on…”

Lightning helped her stand, but then Cloud Kicker winced again, quickly folding her right wing.

“What’s wrong?” Lightning asked.

“My wing… I can’t move my right wing. I think it got dislocated…”

Cloud Kicker let out a couple of whimpers as Lightning upheld her body.

        “Don’t worry. You’re going to be OK. Just don’t do any sudden movements… Heavy Cloud!” Lightning contacted the operator. “Mirage 4 is alive, but she requires medical attention.”

        “Guess it could have been worse. She’s got a thick skull, I’d say,” Heavy Cloud remarked. “Bring her to the medical wing. We’ll help her and any other wounded fliers.”

        “Roger. Okay, Cloud, grab on to me…”

Lightning Bolt took Cloud Kicker on her arms and together, they headed for the base, as did other pegasi fliers. The purple pegasus had her arms wrapped around Lightning’s neck. She herself had a bit of trouble keeping a straight flight path.

        “Are you alright, Lightning?” Cloud Kicker asked.

        “Yeah… I’m just tired, that’s all,” Lightning replied. “I’ve used most of my energy to perform the Shining Spark.”

        “So you really did force that dragon to retreat? That’s awesome!” Cloud Kicker said with enthusiasm. “I knew you could do it.”

        “Well, you almost gave me a heart palpitation! I thought you were dead,” the white pegasus scolded her friend. “What the hay were you thinking?!”

        “You wanted me to help the others, so… I did…” Cloud Kicker replied sheepishly.

Lightning gave her a stern look, but then… she laughed. That heartfelt laugh calmed both mares down.

        “Oh, you silly filly… Well, at least you’re still alive. Don’t worry, the doctors will fix you up quickly, I’ll take a quick rest and we’ll be back in the action within a few days.”

        “Yeah…”

Spitfire watched the two friends fly toward the city. She contacted Heavy Cloud.

        “So, what do you think of them?” the Wonderbolt captain asked.

        “Rumors turned to facts, I’d say. You were right. The pegasi from Mirage squadron are special,” Heavy Cloud replied. “If the others are just as brave and skilled as Thunder and Sunny, then I think we have a very solid support on our side.”

        “You got that right.”

        “Well, it seems that we’ve managed to survive another day. Keep it up next time, too. You guys deserve some rest now. Let’s hope we can celebrate more victories like that.”

The entire battle for Cloudsdale ultimately ended in a success for the Equestrian Allied Forces. From among over 150 pegasi who participated in Operation “Crossbow.” about 35 were killed, and more than 70 were wounded. The enemy also sustained heavy casualties, losing over 70% of their forces. Heavy Cloud additionally informed the pegasi that their valiant efforts will allow any future operations in this region to proceed more smoothly. 

Not only that, the few fragments of Gleipnir’s fractured gem were recovered as well. Steam Tinker devised that analysis of these fragments will help the ponies in learning the secret behind the dragons’ power and in creating a countermeasure for them. Lightning Bolt listened to these news alongside Cloud Kicker. She was already feeling better and had a bandage wrapped around her head. Now, away from danger, the two were planning to join the other pegasi on a celebration on the occasion of their successful mission, while at the same time wondering how Rainbow Dash and Firefly’s groups were doing.

==========

2314 hrs
Canterlot

Pearl Eyes stood alone on one of the castle’s balconies. In her mind, she was still reminiscing her battle with Flare Star and the painful defeat she experienced. Bolt Burst came along when he noticed she wasn’t present with the rest of her team.

        “There you are, Pearl,” he said. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

        “Bolt…” she whispered.

The pale light of the moon was obscured by the dark clouds. Only a couple of city lights glimmered in the dark.

        “How are your ribs? Do they still hurt?” Bolt Burst asked.

        “A little…”

        “We should go to sleep. It will be midnight soon.”

When he came closer, Pearl Eyes whispered:

        “Why…? Why, Bolt? Why couldn’t I beat her?”

She looked into his eyes with her own, as if she was trying to find the answer there. But the brown pegasus remained silent.

        “I should have been on equal hooving with her, as a squadron leader. I mean… Lady Aurora would not designate me as one if she wasn’t certain that I am ready… right?” the turquoise mare asked hesitantly.

Bolt Burst spoke with a stern tone.

        “No, of course not. You simply fought against an opponent who was stronger and more experienced than you. It’s a small wonder you have lost. Next time you should pick your opponents more carefully. Consider yourself lucky that you are still alive. Some of our comrades would probably want to be in your place now.”

That last sentence sounded like he was rubbing salt in Pearl’s wound. She lowered her sight, her ears flopped. Then she spoke with a broken voice:

        “I wanted to obtain my first victory today… but I failed… miserably… I’m sorry… That pegasus… She humiliated me, made me look like a weakling...” she sobbed. “I won't forgive her for this… Next time, I will kill her!”

She was on the verge of tears. Bolt Burst’s expression changed. He felt remorse. He came closer and wrapped his arm around Pearl’s body.

        “Pearl… don’t trouble yourself about her now. What matters is that you survived. I’m sure we will have another encounter with our enemies someday. Listen… I promise you: I’ll help you become stronger. But only if you will remain close to me. I don’t want to lose you…”

His voice sounded compassionate. Pearl looked at him in surprise.

        “Bolt… You’ve never been this kind to me. Why…?”

        “I took me a long time to realize… But now I know. You are not only beautiful, but very brave, too, Pearl. I will do whatever it takes to turn you into a great pegasus fighter. Will you let me?”

Pearl Eyes hesitated for a second, but Bolt’s words were very soothing for her. She leaned toward him for a hug, and the two ponies embraced.

        “Yes. … Thank you, Bolt,” said Pearl Eyes.

        “Anything for you, my dear,” Bolt replied. “Now, let’s go get some rest.”

        “Alright…”

When the two returned to their quarters, Bolt Burst remembered about his own confrontation with Flare Star and how she complimented him as being “honorable.” Thinking about it now, the pegasus thought that maybe… just maybe… not all ponies in the Equestrian Allied Forces were bastards, as Aurora was saying. He hoped that he and Pearl would be granted another chance to take part in this conflict and redeem themselves for their failure.