//------------------------------// // Do not trust with Media // Story: ECRL: The Wonderhawks // by WildFire15 //------------------------------// Concorde was led into the interview pen after he’d been weighed by the race officials. He dried his sweat soaked mane with a towel to make sure he was still presentable, even if he’d rather not be cooped up and surrounded by media. Looking around at the other racers being interviewed or talking to whoever accompanied them, Maffett in Concorde’s case, he realised he lacked something they had. “Do you have your sun glasses with you?” He asked Maffett. “No, but even if I did they wouldn’t look even half as ridiculous as these lot, not that a 20/20 scrub like you’d be able to see through them.” She smirked, looking around. Perri of the EBC was waving to get their attention as Zip Line move along. “Over there.” Maffett said, nudging Concorde to remind him he couldn’t escape, but also making sure he didn’t look in Nicki Hest’s direction as he’d spent a lot of the short time since the race riled up about the coming together. “Oh fine.” He sighed before heading over. He barely needed to wait a moment before Perri started her interview, which so far as he was aware wasn’t live. “Concorde, only race three and you’re already fighting for podiums. How was the race for you?” Perri asked, Concorde re-thinking her words in his head before answering. “It was good.” He answered, keeping his voice straight while he searched his brains for a more compelling answer. “Have to admit I wasn’t expecting to be fighting for such high finishes so soon, but it was good.” “It looked like you were struggling to hold off the pack at the end of the back straight whenever you got ahead.” “Aye, it’s true I’m not exactly the quickest pair of wings in a straight line. I was trying to get through in the first couple of corners so I could pull away, but in a pack like that it’s easier said than done.” “You had a few battles with Nicki Hest along the way as well as Dawn Wisp and Power Drive.” She continued, Concorde’s straight face faltering. “How does it feel to be battling such highly regarded flyers so early in your first season?” “I don’t think about it, actually.” He said, his straight face returning. “On track they’re just any other racer so I give them the same respect I’d show anyone else I’m racing.” “You had an accident with Nicki towards the end of the race as well, any thoughts?” “If that was an accident, I’d hate to see what’s deliberate.” He said, his displeasure all over his face. “Thanks Concorde.” Perri smiled in an almost practiced way before turning to her camera pony. Concorde looked at Maffett to find her with her face in her hoof. *** Concorde regarded the television as they sat in their train carriage ahead of leaving Vanhoover. It had been his best race so far, yet now he was only furious as the news reported on how he’d apparently blasted Nicki Hest. His ‘if that’s an accident’ remark had become the focus of the after race programs, along with a replay of Nicki flying into Concorde on turn twelve. It was clear to see Nicki hardly slowed down and used Concorde to stop instead of his own wings, but many of the pundits thought Concorde was already growing too big for his boots and was itching for a confrontation. Maffett had initially chastised him for the remark before hurrying him back to the stable at the earliest opportunity, but now she found his discomfort and annoyance rather entertaining. “That’s what you get for not thinking when dealing with the media.” Fleet remarked as she updated some of her post-race notes. “Well f*** them.” Concorde said angrily, before heading over to the kettle for his fifth cup of tea since the race ended while Maffett giggled. “Such language.” Rainbow Dash mocked, finding his annoyance amusing as well. “You’d think you were raised in a dock town.” “Come on Concorde, smile!” Pinkie encouraged, bouncing around. “You were nearly second.” “That’s as worthwhile as nearly surviving being shot.” Concorde commented dryly, causing Fleetfoot to laugh while Dash and Pinkie looked stunned. “Regardless of what you said, ill-conceived as it was, Nicki’s completely in the wrong.” Ratchett commented, watching the TV with Spanner. “He is. He made no attempt to stop and I’m amazed the stewards said nothing.” Spanner added. “They probably just shrugged and said ‘It’s Hest’.” Maffett remarked. “Seriously though, Concorde, Pinkie has a point.” Fleet said once she’s stopped laughing. “You were second on merit, even if it wasn’t for long. You just make your tea, sit quietly for a while and calm down and you’ll realise she’s right.” “Yeah, yeah.” Concorde sighed as the kettle finished boiling. “Anyone else want one while I’m here?” No one took him up on the offer as they’d already reached their maximum tea intake for the next week. As he poured milk and sugar while the kettle boiled, Concorde looked around the cabin at his team mates. Rainbow Dash was laid out on one of the benches, reading some lap charts that quite clearly hid a Daring Doo book. Ratchett had already caught onto this ruse and magiced it out of her hooves, promising to let her have it back if she read through the data for half an hour. Concorde was aware that many considered him unfocused and foolish, but he was committed to his racing. Dash was certainly committed to getting into the Wonderbolts, yet while she didn’t seem particularly interested in the racing still threw herself into doing it as well as she could on track. Lightning Dust on the other hoof clearly couldn’t care less and he was surprised she’d even stuck out the first race, let alone three. Even with their lack of interest he was impressed with them. They were amazing flyers and had even picked up the massively different discipline that was cloud racing fairly quickly after their previous focus as performance flyers. He still doubted they’d prove him with any serious challenge, but he at least knew he may have to keep an eye out for them in future.