Chapter 13: Instructor
Sparrow walked through the Wonderbolts Academy following closely behind his now commanding officer, Spitfire. She stepped with purpose and always what felt too quick to Sparrow for a normal pace, not that it was hard to keep up with her. As they walked through the halls Sparrow caught glances of classrooms set up with desks and chairs; Wonderbolts memorabilia scattered freely on the walls in all the rooms. He saw other ponies wandering around wearing the Wonderbolt uniform as well. None of them looked nearly as serious as Spitfire however.
Sparrow wondered how Split Shifter was doing, if he was still in the line or if he'd gotten into the facilities yet. Such an interesting accent too Sparrow thought to himself. Sparrow almost tripped as Spitfire rounded a corner and it led right to a door. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Well come on recruit, or are you gonna just stand there?" Spitfire flashed a quick grin that Sparrow almost didn't see, almost.
"Yes ma'am" Sparrow, stepping over the threshold couldn't help but admire Spitfire's office, he had thought the building itself had plenty of Wonderbolt memorabilia, but this was on another level. Posters lined the walls and the whole room was the bright shade of Wonderbolt blue. A trophy case was in the room as well with at least five 1st place trophies along with plenty of blue ribbons. Spitfire sat down at her desk in the back of the room and motioned for Sparrow to stand in front of her desk to be addressed.
Spitfire sighed loudly before reaching into her desk and pulling out an un-opened letter, there was a small muffin stamp in the upper right hand corner that Sparrow noticed, he gulped thinking of the delectable treat. He also saw Rainbow Dash's name on the letter as Spitfire pulled out the note.
Spitfire began reading the note "Hi there Spitfire, I know we haven't really been in touch since the Equestrian Games but I'm writing to you with a real reason. This griffon showed up in Ponyville the other day and he's great, just great. Let him in to the Academy whenever he shows up because he's worth the training, trust me. Sorry I can't write longer but this new Daring Do book just came out, I can't ignore it anymore." Spitfire set the letter down after she finished a small chuckle escaping her lips. She looked at Sparrow from behind her dark aviator glasses. "So you're the griffon then." Reaching up with a hoof, Spitfire took her sunglasses off to look Sparrow directly in the eyes. She had a piercing gaze with a shining orange iris. Sparrow caught a bit of a mischievous light to them, hinting that this all business instructor might just be putting on a facade.
Sparrow realized that she was waiting for his response and he fidgeted before answering "Oh, um, yes ma'am." He kept his gaze fixated onto Spitfire, he felt that if he broke contact she would kick him out then and there. He shuffled his feathers a bit but kept eye contact still. Spitfire's gaze was ever constant, she was looking for something in him, doubt maybe. Sparrow couldn't tell. All he could do is stare.
Spitfire began tapping a hoof on her desk as Sparrow stood across from her gently tapping a talon on the ground as well. The unblinking gaze of Spitfire bored into Sparrow, the intensity almost like a flame, his eyes were beginning to hurt as well as he hadn't blinked either. Then they began to water. He almost felt like his eyes were going bloodshot when he finally had to blink.
Sparrow kept his eyes closed to try and calm down the burning sensation before he heard it. Laughter. Coming from across the desk. Sparrow opened his eyes and looked across to see a teary eyed Spitfire laughing hysterically. It was a full minute before the mare composed herself again enough to speak, "Well recruit," she had to stifle a giggle again "that's a new Academy record."
Sparrow tilted his head and raised an eyebrow "Ma'am?
Spitfire got up from her desk still laughing to herself before she pushed a chair over to Sparrow "Have a seat recruit." Sparrow complied and gave his legs a rest. "First of all, you're in. Congrats. We'll train you to be the best flyer you can be if you want to."
Sparrow felt his feather fluff up from excitement "Thank you ma'am!"
Spitfire raised a hoof before bringing it back to her snout to muffle a snort "The second thing, is that that was by far THE longest staring contest I've ever had."
Sparrow looked at the instructor incredulously. "It was a staring contest? Not you testing my resolve for the Academy, or looking to see if I was lying, just a staring contest?" Sparrow slumped down into his chair pouting.
Spitfire reached a hoof over and poked at Sparrow's shoulder "Yup, and it was a good one too. You've got the resolve for sure kid, I see it in you. Now, you need to get back out there and into the line to be assigned a dorm space. Tell 'em I sent you and you'll be fine." Sparrow nodded and stood up to leave, not before Spitfire called out to him once more "Oh and don't think this makes you and I buddies. Until you complete training you're another recruit, can't have you being friends with the instructor now can we. But a short staring contest might be okay when we meet up." Spitfire grinned brightly at Sparrow and he couldn't help but smile back.
One hell of a mare there Sparrow thought as he stepped out of the office and into his new home.