Blaze the Pony Tale

by Wolven5

207. A `Bolt of Teamwork - Part 2

Ponyville Airfield, a recent addition to the town after Blueblood constructed an airship and donated it to Ponyville so the town could have its own air travel service. It was faster than the train but pricier, especially since they only had one airship at the moment.

“Thank you!” Midnight accepted the tickets from the box office, the pony running it smiling helpfully.

“The next flight to Canterlot will be leaving in just half an hour, Your Highness.”

“Well, I hope my traveling companion gets here before the ship has to leave,” Midnight commented in slight worry.

The airship was indeed going to leave soon, and he knew Soarin’s test was tomorrow at noon sharp! If he missed the airship, he’d have to take the train and might not arrive in time for his test.

“Isn’t that him there, Sire?” the pony in the box office pointed over Midnight’s shoulder, and the blue alicorn followed it and saw…

“Soarin!”

Midnight waved his friend over but quickly saw Soarin didn’t look very bright today.
“Hey, Soarin, what’s up? `Cause apparently it’s not your spirits.”

Soarin sighed sadly and said, “Rainbow Dash and I… just had a… disagreement that she didn’t take very well.”

“Anything I can do to help?” Midnight asked as he levitated Soarin’s ticket towards him.

“No, I’ll talk with her when we get back to Ponyville,” Soarin shook his head as he accepted his ticket. “We should probably get aboard.”

As the airship soared through the sky towards Canterlot, Midnight and Soarin stood at the starboard bow, taking it all in.

“Feel the air!” Midnight cheered, loving the skyward currents of air blowing through his mane. “I have to say, Soar, flying on your own wings is one thing but there’s actually something kinda thrilling about flying across the skies aboard an airship!”

“Y’know, you’re right,” Soarin agreed, the exhilaration raising him a little out of his funk. “Taking in this awesome view and being able to relax and not worry about staying airborne on your own wings, it’s really something!

“So! You know why I’m headed for Canterlot, what about you?”

“I have some things to discuss with Celestia and Sombra,” Midnight replied. “Plus, there’s actually a project I’m thinking of trying, and their input could be really helpful.”

“What kind of project?”

“I’d rather not say just yet. I wanna discuss it with my master first before I share it with you.”

“With me?” Soarin could hear there was something behind those words.

“Yes, this project will be of interest to you, Soarin,” Midnight admitted, “and I promise to share it with you. But right now, you need to focus on your test tomorrow, and it wouldn’t do to have you unnecessarily distracted.”

“Fair enough,” Soarin shrugged. “This test is more about weather, Midnight! I’ve been studying weather anomalies, natural and supernatural! This test could make or break my degree!”

“You nervous?” Midnight asked in concern.

To his surprise, Soarin just chuckled, “Well yeah! I’d have to be dumb as a rock not to be! But… I am more confident than I am nervous. Especially since Twilight helped me study so much for my courses.”

“That’s my Twily,” Midnight chuckled back. “Honestly, I don’t know how half of all that she knows fits into that brilliant head of hers.”

Soarin sighed in response rather morosely, “If only Dashie could take it all in the way Twilight does…”

“Alright, now I gotta ask, what exactly happened between you and Rainbow?” Midnight asked again, equal parts firm and concerned.

“...Well, Rainbow Dash wanted me to help her study for her Wonderbolts History test,” Soarin explained, “and since I’m an ex-`Bolt, she figured with my help she’d have the test in the bag.”

“Except your test and hers are both on the same day but in different cities,” Midnight gathered.

“Not to mention, Rainbow wasn’t all that… understanding,” Soarin sighed again, this time with a hint of irritation. “I explained myself, told her she was in good hooves with Twilight, but… Well, she called me a quitter for resigning from the Wonderbolts, and called my dream of earning my degree for weather stupid.”

“That pegasus needs to sort out her priorities…” Midnight shook his head but then patted Soarin on the withers with his wing. “Soar, Dash has always been braggy and kinda… egotistical. But you’d have to look far and wide to find a more loyal pony. I guarantee once we return to Ponyville, she’ll realize she was wrong and apologize to you.”

Soarin slumped onto the railing, glad they were almost to the City of Unicorns, “I hope you’re right…”

The Ponyville Airship arrived at the New Heights Avionics airfield, where Midnight and Soarin both were welcomed by Jet Set. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two friends made their way to the Canterlot streets, busy with celebrities, high horses, tourists, the list went on. Not in the mood to be mobbed, Midnight cast an aversion spell upon himself, causing anypony other than Soarin to ignore him.

“Since your test isn’t till tomorrow and I don’t need to head to the castle until later," Midnight suggested, “what say we grab a bite?”

“I’m in,” Soarin agreed, “but not one of those froufrou restaurants where the portions are ripoffs compared to the price.”

“Amen to that!” Midnight and Soarin both laughed when they heard a commotion ahead. “Now what’s going…!”

“Uh-oh…” Soarin felt his spirits begin to descend when he saw it was the Wonderbolts making another public appearance.

Ever since he resigned, Soarin hadn’t given his old squadmates a real thought, and now here they were the day before his big test. He could only imagine what they’d say to him if they saw him.

“Looks like Spitfire’s making an announcement,” Midnight commented, “let’s find out what that blowhard in a flight suit is sharing with her adoring fans.”

“Uh, Midnight? Maybe we should just- Oh…” Soarin groaned as Midnight went ahead and he reluctantly followed.

On a raised platform, before the locals who were obvious fans, Spitfire stepped up to a speaking-trumpet, obviously imbued with a voice-amplification charm, and declared, “Fillies and gentlecolts of Canterlot, as Captain of the Wonderbolts it is my honor to announce that my squad, the A-Squad, has found a new member!

“Please give a warm Canterlot welcome and congratulate him for his promotion… Sergeant Wind Waker! Come on over here, Wind!”

As the crowd cheered, Midnight watched as a Wonderbolt stallion with a white coat under his flight suit and a pale-gray cobalt mane with a highlight, and purple eyes, stepped up to the speaking horn and cleared his throat while spreading his wing, a subtle and polite way to usher silence.

“Thank you! Thank you, everypony! I can’t tell you what an honor this is, to have finally earned a spot on the A-Squad of the Wonderbolts and be given this honor and privilege of flying alongside the Head-Captain of the Wonderbolts! It’s even more special to know that I have your support and will do my very best to prove myself deserving of it!

“Which is why tomorrow, on the Canterlot racecourse, I will be making my debut as an A-Squad Wonderbolt by racing in the Wonderbolts Derby!”

The crowd gave a thunderous applause while Soarin and Midnight scanned the `Bolts attending this event.

Besides Spitfire and her new squadmate Wind Waker, they saw Fleetfoot and Rapidfire, and in the back, they also saw the Streak Twins, Fire Streak and his brother Lightning Streak, the famed and beloved Surprise, known as the Party Pony of the Wonderbolts (her appearance and bouncy smile being so disturbingly similar that Midnight swore she and Pinkie Pie were related somehow), Misty Fly, and, to Midnight’s delight, Silver Lining!

“Heh-hey! It’s Silver!” Midnight whispered to Soarin.

“He a favorite of yours?” Soarin asked with a good-natured smile.

“Favorite nothing, Silver’s one of my old mentors!”

“Oh right….!” Soarin suddenly remembered, “You trained under the A-Squad of the Wonderbolts back when Spitfire’s grandfather was head-captain! Silver was one of Hellfire’s squadmates.

“Y’know, I never got the chance to meet Hellfire; what was he like?”

“Honestly?” Midnight gave Soarin a look, “He was among the biggest capitol A-holes it had ever been my misfortune to know! He was ruthless, demanded perfection, and never said one word of encouragement to me. All I got were insults and sarcastic remarks no matter how bad or well I performed- I swear to Faust, Soarin! If Silver hadn’t been there to kick my ass into gear, the training Hellfire put me through for three months straight would’ve made me swear off flying forever!”

“He sounds very similar to his granddaughter…” Soarin deadpanned.

“Oh don’t compare those two,” Midnight sighed with a weary shake of his head. “Spitfire has certainly inherited her grandfather’s drive but even she’s not half the dick he was! At least she can offer a sincere compliment or encouragement to her trainees.

“To tell you the truth, Soarin, when Hellfire had his accident, honored as he was Silver himself told me there was a sigh of relief after he was gone.”

“Yeesh…” Soarin recalled hearing from Spitfire that her grandfather had been an inspiration to her, and she strove to live up to his legacy. But based on what he’d just heard, he wondered if he’d lucked out with Spitfire as head-captain after all during his time in the Wonderbolts.

“Well, well, well…”

That voice made them both size up and they looked to see Spitfire, along with Fleetfoot, Rapidfire, and even Wind Waker giving Soarin the stink eye. It took a moment for Midnight to remember he was still covered by his aversion spell so that left Soarin the sole recipient of the Lead Squad’s gaze.

“I have to admit, Soarin, I’m surprised to see you attending a Wonderbolt public appearance,” Spitfire commented in a spurious manner of civility.

“Uh…” Soarin wasn’t sure what to say, except, “Hey Spitfire, what’cha been up to?”

“Classified,” Spitfire turned around in a way that conveyed the message ‘talk to the plot’, “Ex-Wonderbolts don’t get to hear what I’ve been up to.”

Soarin was glad Midnight was standing next to him-

*FLIP EFFECT*

-until he realized he wasn’t.

Suddenly Soarin wished he was anywhere else but there right now as Spitfire then announced, “Wonderbolts, dismissed until tomorrow’s derby.”

She took flight, leaving Soarin to face his old squadmates as Fleetfoot threw him a dirty look and said, “Don’t clip your wing on your way home, quitter,” before she followed after her captain.

Rapidfire, Spitfire’s brother, and the one squadmate Soarin had been on good terms with back then, gave Soarin a look that said he wasn’t happy to see him (and perhaps maybe a little hurt) before he followed his sister’s example and took flight. Wind Waker didn’t even give Soarin a passing glance and followed after his squadmates, and with the A-Squad taking off, so did the crowd begin to disperse and resume all daily business.

*FLIP EFFECT*

“OK, that was freaky-freaky-nutso!” Midnight appeared suddenly by Soarin’s side, looking dizzy and wearing some ridiculous clothes.

“Midnight! Where’d you go all of a sudden?” Soarin gaped at the prince’s attire.

In response, Midnight held his tongue as he suddenly remembered where he’d just been...

With no idea how he got there, Midnight found himself in a setting where there was graffiti, Vinyl Scratch was on the turntable, and he and Thunderlane were dressed like hoodlums!

“What the-” Midnight gaped at the baggy pants that exposed heart-covered boxers around his backside and hind legs, the white tank top, and the backwards orange cap on his head.

Thunderlane wore colorful jacket with a matching sports visor, “Midnight?!”

“Thunder, what is-”

“Of course…” Midnight sighed with a facehoof.
“Well, at least the beat’s catchy,” Thunderlane chuckled, as he and Midnight got into the music.

“Pinkie Pie,” Midnight deadpanned.

“That’s all the answer I need,” Soarin responded, knowing better than to question it further.

“Not for me it is, rookies!”

Midnight and Soarin both jumped at the sound of their old drill-sergeant’s voice and they finally noticed Silver Lining giving them a stern look, with the Twins, Surprise, and Misty Fly, all standing behind him on the platform.

“Silver Lining, SIR!” Midnight quickly Vanished the clothes that made him look like a street hoodlum, stood at attention, and gave his old teacher a wing-salute.

The sight of the prince made Soarin and the `Bolts present all chuckle as Silver simply said with a face as hard as stone, “Blaze…”

Silver Lining, the currently oldest active Wonderbolt, formerly a member of the A-Squad back when Hellfire was captain before he volunteered to become Senior Training Instructor of all newly-recruited Wonderbolts at the Wonderbolts’ main headquarters in Cloudsdale.

His coat was silver-gray while his voluminous mane was cloud-white with light gray highlights, and beneath that mane was a pair of brilliant blue eyes narrowed to the point of being razor sharp. Despite his age and not far off from being past his prime, Silver’s strict diet and lifestyle had allowed him to age well, with only a wrinkle or two beneath his eyes.

Midnight didn’t move as the old warrior stepped down from the platform and circled around him, giving him such a scrutinizing examination Midnight wouldn’t have been surprised if Silver could correctly estimate the circumferences of his balls.

Finally, Silver stopped in front of Midnight with a look unreadable.
“Well… At least you haven’t allowed all the work Hellfire and I put into whipping you into shape to go to waste.”

“Sir! Thank you, sir!” Midnight responded.

“And you!” Silver turned his attention to Soarin, making the ex-Wonderbolt flinch, suddenly afraid of being re-examined by his old instructor.

Soarin kept perfectly still as Silver gave him an examination, and feared what Silver would declare. Soarin stuck to a daily workout routine but it wasn’t remotely close to the effort he’d put into training under Silver Lining’s supervision back then when he’d been freshly recruited.

“What. The. Hell?” Silver Lining finally spoke in a tone that sent Soarin’s feathers a’shivering. Until he said, “An ex-Wonderbolt I personally trained having left the `Bolts a few months ago, and instead of a paunchy meatsack of a worthless hasbeen, I find him with a passable - and I use the term lightly - physique that’s barely adequate enough to fly ten laps around the track without slowing to under 10 wing power!”

“Uh… thank you, sir?” Soarin responded dumbly, but apparently it was the wrong thing to say.

“‘THANK YOU’?! Back during the highlight of your career, you could’ve lapped fifty without going under TWENTY Wing Power!” Silver barked, pushing his snoot against Soarin’s.
“The sorry state you’re in now isn’t nearly as bad as I feared, BUT IT’S NOTHING TO BE THANKFUL ABOUT, SLAPDICK!!”

Soarin stood rigid, feeling his wingpits sweating and praying to the Goddess nopony would smell it.

“Be that as it may, you could be worse,” Silver growled with a chuckle before he sidestepped, avoiding a white, blonde, and blue blur that tackled Soarin to the ground

“Soarin, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal, ol’ friend!” Surprise happily flap-bounced over him as he laid on the ground, looking confused as the Party Pony of the Wonderbolts started shooting her mouth at a hundred Wing Power and hour.
“You’re looking awesome-possum! Seeing anypony? You gotta tell me! What’cha been up to?! Me? Same old, same old. Spitty’s as uptight as ever, Rapid’s been kinda moody, Fleet’s awesome, Silver’s hard-assed as always but you probably figured that out, the Streaks haven’t changed at all, Wind Waker worked real hard, obviously, Misty’s missed you too- MMPH!”

“Alright, Surprise, I think he gets the point,” Fire Streak sighed in good-natured weary, after putting his hoof over Surprise’s mouth and pulled her back. He was cream-white coated with an orange mane with a lighter highlight.

“Soarin, my man!” Lightning Streak stepped up, coated powder blue with a mane similar to his brother’s in style but in two shades of yellow.
“I didn’t know you were hangin’ with royalty! Hell, you might have left the `Bolts but it seems you’re still moving up in life, bro!”

“Brother, please do not speak of royalty in the presence of royalty as though royalty were not present,” Fire Streak said in a polite tone while the look he was giving his brother seemed to promise he would tear Lightning Streak’s head off if he weren’t careful.
“Do forgive my brother’s lack of any decency what-so-ever, Your Majesty.”

“None of those royal formalities,” Midnight waved it off kindly, “we both trained under the same flight instructor, that makes us sibling students.”

“Whoa, bro! We got us a royal bro!” Lightning Streak laughed, throwing a foreleg around Midnight’s shoulders.

Midnight kindly pulled Lightning Streak off his person, leaving him to be chastised by his brother (again) before saying something to Silver, the only words Soarin caught were ‘private’ and ‘word’, and the fact they distanced themselves from the group made it more apparent.

He then looked to the one Wonderbolt who hadn’t greeted him yet, Misty Fly. She was a beautiful mare of light yellow coat, a mane blue with a light streak, and sea-green eyes, which were gazing at him in a friendly way.

He stepped over to her, and moved his wings and forehooves, making different signals that conveyed, ‘Hello, friend. How are you?’

She responded with a kind smile and signaled, ‘I am well. You look well too.’

It was one of the Wonderbolts’ biggest secrets, that Misty Fly, one of the older active members, was deaf and communicated using hoof-and-wing signs although sometimes she could read lips. That didn’t stop her from being one of the most talented coordinators the Wonderbolts had ever had, some even considering her to be even better than Commander Easyglider since she took some of Easyglider’s flight choreographic routines and improved them with such refinement to the point of making them seem totally new.

“It’s great to see you again, Soarin,” Fire Streak said kindly, “the Wonderbolts hasn’t really been the same ever since you resigned.”

“Yeah, Cap’s been harder on all our asses to the point where we can’t even fart without her knowing it!” Lightning Streak added, much to Fire Streak’s irritation of his not-so-colorful vocabulary.

“And she hasn’t let me throw a party for weeks!” Surprise said sadly.

‘Captain S-P-T-F-R, work too hard’ Misty signed, concern all over her face.

“Well, guys… I don’t think it’s really my place to say anything,” Soarin hesitated, “I’m not a Wonderbolt anymore. I’m just a university student trying to earn my degree and make a living for myself.”

“She really misses you, y’know,” Surprise brought up, to Soarin’s surprise. “I know she can be so clenched up back there, but... “

Surprise didn’t finish and frankly she didn’t need to. Soarin knew exactly how Spitfire could be, on good days and bad. Looking back, he realized he hadn’t handled the way he’d left the Wonderbolts that much better than how Spitfire and Fleetfoot had lied to him and Rainbow.

They had been friends, from the beginning.

He remembered, his first week as a recruit, under Silver’s supervision and demanding training regimen, he’d found Spitfire hiding in a broom closet, crying! Her, the granddaughter of the great Hellfire, of all ponies, doubting herself, doubting her ability to live up to her grandfather’s legacy, and doubting anypony really had true faith in her.

He talked to her, he related to her, how his own father wanted him to succeed where he had failed, and promised Spitfire if ever she needed a wingpony he was there.

Where did that bond go…?

“Soarin…. Soarin!”

“Huh?!” Soarin snapped out of his reminiscing, and noticed Midnight looking at him

“I’m sorry, but we should move on. I have to see Celestia and Sombra soon, so we’ll grab a bite in the castle instead.”

“Oh, okay,” Soarin agreed before looking to all his old friends. “It was great seeing you all. If I can make it, I’ll come to the derby tomorrow.”

“We’ll be looking for you in the Royal Box,” Lightning Streak teased, Fire Streak sighing.

“Be sure to root for me, Soar!” Surprise giggled as she was the first to take flight, the Twins following.

Misty Fly signed ‘Be well, S-O-A-R-I-N, see you again soon’ and followed next, leaving Silver the last.

He gave both his old students a hard look and finally sighed, “Midnight, Soarin, I never forget my students, whether they succeed or they fail. I don’t need to remind the two of you of the way I train; I break you down and I build you back up, and either you can hold yourselves together or let yourselves fall apart.

“Midnight, there’s no denying Hellfire was an asshole, he made you like me, and that’s saying something. But it was his training that made you more than worthy enough to fly with the Wonderbolts. I just eased the tension.

“And Soarin… Was I disappointed you resigned? You bet your ass I was. But you brought heart to the `Bolts, you were able to inspire everypony to work together. The Wonderbolts are poorer without you. But there are times when a pegasus has to spread his wings and fly his own course, even if it parts him from the flock.”

To both Soarin and Midnight’s surprise. Silver placed a hoof on each of their shoulders, looking at them in a way that could only be described as paternal and maybe a hint of pride in his eyes but it was gone before they could really see it.

“Make the best of your lives,” he advised curtly before taking off.

Soarin and Midnight shared a look, and both simply decided to move along. But as they made their way to the castle, Midnight said, “Seems you had more friends in the Wonderbolts than you realized.”

“Well… Silver Lining always loved his work training recruits, and he enjoyed it more when he knew it made us uncomfortable or just plain miserable,” Soarin nodded.

“Heh, Hellfire was the same way.” Midnight chuckled. “Granted, I never liked Hellfire, but I did respect him, I’m loathe to admit. Even so, Silver wasn’t kidding about how Hellfire made me like Silver in comparison, and Silver wasn’t all that easier on me than his old captain was.”

“Speaking of Silver, what did you and he talk about?” Soarin asked curiously.

“That project I mentioned,” Midnight said in a tone firm enough that he wasn’t going to share. Yet.
“I actually consider it a stroke of luck that we ran into Silver and the `Bolts on the way to the castle. His input was just what I needed to hear regarding what I have in mind.”

“You said this project would be of interest to me,” Soarin reminded him.

“And you’ll hear all about it after your test tomorrow,” Midnight promised before he spread his wings, a competitive smirk on his face.
“Race you to the castle!”

“You’re on!” Soarin didn’t wait and took off with such force Midnight stumbled, almost certain he’d been on the receiving end of a Sonic Rainboom!

“Hey!” He launched himself skyward and pursued.

Soarin beat Midnight to the castle by a nose though Midnight insisted it wasn’t a legit victory for his taking a head-start.

In the dining hall, they enjoyed a hearty lunch with Celestia and Sombra, the latter saying, “Tomorrow will be an interesting day! I’ve never had the pleasure of watching a Wonderbolts Derby.”

“You’re in for a treat, love,” Celestia smiled as she sipped some nectar. “There are no finer flyers in all of Equestria nor faster. Even the Pegasi of the Royal Guard can’t compare.”

“Did either of you hear tomorrow’s derby will be the debut of a new Wonderbolt of the A-Squad?” Midnight asked before taking a bite of buttered mashed potatoes.

“Wind Waker,” Soarin confirmed, “Back when I was in the `Bolts, he was a confident flyer. Seems that confidence paid off.”

“Does it bother you, Soarin?” Celestia asked, her voice carrying the subtlest of concern. “I know you and your old squad didn’t part on the best of terms…”

“It’s fine, Your Highness,” Soarin assured, “I spent too much of my life pleasing my father and letting him run my life. Now I’m running my life for myself.”

“As is everypony’s right,” Sombra levitated his cup, the rest prompted to do the same (although Soarin used his hoof to hold up his). “Ladies and gentlecolts, to Soarin’s success in wherever his dreams take him.”

“Hear, hear!” Celestia and Midnight cheered, making Soarin smile, appreciative of their support, and they all enjoyed a swig.

Once lunch was over, Soarin politely said, “If Your Majesties don’t mind, I’d like to get a little last-minute studying done. It wouldn’t hurt to be absolutely prepared for my test tomorrow.”

“Don’t study too hard, Soarin,” Celestia advised in a kind tone, “or you might let the more crucial information slip. Tell the guard outside to escort you to a guest room, and afterwards he’ll send one of the maids to assist you with anything you need.”

Soarin smiled gratefully and bowed before exiting the dining hall, leaving the three royals to themselves.

“And now to business,” Celestia declared and looked to Midnight. “I understand that you have something of great interest to share.”

“One of my eyes and ears in Las Pegasus informed me he’s close to getting an entire laundry basket of dirty laundry on Blackberry Hossmane,” Midnight said with narrowed eyes.
“Once I have it, Blackberry will answer for everything he’s done.”

“The rumors alone surrounding Blackberry Hossmane were disturbing enough,” Celestia sighed as she leaned into her chair, “but when you brought evidence they were more than rumors…”

Sombra reached over and held his wife’s hoof gingerly, “No matter how brightly you shine, your light cannot reach every dark corner of this nation and there are those whose hearts were tainted long before they were inspired by your grace. You cannot be blamed for others’ own sins.”

Celestia smiled appreciatively at her husband, before looking to Midnight again.
“What exactly do you intend to do with Blackberry Hossmane once you have the evidence you need?”

“Hossmane will have one choice,” Midnight said in a tone inarguable. “Admit and answer for his crimes and make recompenses to all he’s wronged, or be buried under all the dirt he’s dug himself into.”

“I forbid you to take his life,” Celestia retorted with such a fire in her eyes Midnight almost felt like a colt being warned by his mother
“No matter what he chooses, he must live with his wrongdoings. In death he will not suffer.”

“Unless there’s a tartarus in the afterlife,” Sombra commented as he took a big swig of his drink and then let out a big BELCH.

Seeing his wife and apprentice look at him for his un-princely behavior, he chuckled, “I’m only equine.”

That spurred a burst of laughter out of Midnight while Celestia held her hoof to her mouth but couldn’t help giggling as well, Sombra smiling like a scoundrel and joining in on the laughs.