“Company! Attention!” The cadets on the tarmac quickly fell into formation, some still shivering from the cold mountain air but for the most part ignoring it on behalf of their commander’s order. “Present arms!” Instantly, the group threw their right forehooves into a salute, a tribute to the mare walking in front of them.
Twilight Sparkle paid them no mind as she continued her march into the Wonderbolts Academy proper. The heat and power of her own rage served as more than enough insulation, and the nip in the air hardly seemed to bother her. From behind, she could hear the company shuffle about, wondering amongst themselves how long they should hold a salute to a princess who didn't seem to have any intention of returning them to rest.
When the princess burst through the doors, she was met with all the opulence the Air Force could afford. It wasn't much, just a lot of banners from graduating classes of the academy, a display showcasing various medals and military commendations won by several of the Wonderbolts, and an entire wall covered with photographs of the showteam meeting with celebrities, but the sheer quantity was enough to blow a new recruit’s mind away.
In fact, if she had been in a better mood, Twilight would have taken the time to admire the decor, as she always did when visiting the academy, but then was not the time. Ahead of her was a T-intersection, with a single guard standing post in the center of the two hallways. Good, the alicorn thought to herself. He would serve her purposes just fine.
Upon noticing her, the guard quickly snapped to attention. “Afternoon, ma'am.” The generic greeting would have to be forgiven, as it was the only thing he was technically allowed to say to her without being spoken to.
“Captain Spitfire, where is she?” Twilight’s words were quick and decisive. The tone was concise enough to get the point of urgency across, but not so desperate that the airpony would start asking questions—a skill she had mastered since embracing her new role as a military commander. One more thing, she reminded herself, that she would have to thank Spitfire for when this was all over.
“The captain has asked to not be disturbed, ma'am.” Twilight shot him a look—that “do what I say or I'll bash your skull in with my mind” look— and the stallion quickly caught on. “She's in her office, ma'am, down by the ASF bay. Would you like an escort?”
While the guard was quaking in his boots, Twilight couldn't help but feel sorry for him. It was difficult to limit one’s rage to the pony they're angry with. In an effort to somehow make up for the lack of compassion, she quickly looked at his rank patch and responded. “No, thank you, Staff Sergeant. I'll be fine.” She turned down the right passage, leaving the poor thing cowering behind her.
Navigating the Academy was a difficult matter at first, before she started spending at least a day out of every week there. These days, however, finding the good captain’s office was simple, dreadfully boring affair. Thankfully, time flew by easily as she wandered the halls, eventually coming up on the door she was looking for.
Equestrian Air Force
Spitfire, Captain
Academy instructor/HAWC liaison
Twilight brought a hoof to the door, ready to knock, but decided against it. Best to not let her quarry know she was coming. Instead, she lowered a hoof to the doorknob and steeled herself. Turning it quickly and barging into the room, the princess almost screamed to the captain seated at her desk inside. “YOU'RE GOING WHERE?”
Spitfire quickly brought herself to her hooves, as did the stallion sitting across from her. “Princess Twilight, ma'am,” the pegasus began, stuttering slightly as she tripped over the words. “I wasn't told to expect you. We would have prepared a formal greeting.”
Twilight caught herself from melting at the voice just in time. “Don't play dumb with me, ‘Captain’!”
The captain let out a long sigh. “Sergeant Major, you're dismissed. Report back to the ASF at oh-eight hundred hours tomorrow.”
“Acknowledged, ma'am.” The stallion left the room, softly closing the door behind him. Alas, the two were alone.
“I missed you, too, Twi.”
“Why didn't you tell me you were going to war?” Twilight’s resolve was faltering, tears building in her eyes. “Why wouldn't you tell me something like that?”
Spitfire chuckled a little. “Probably because I'm not going to war.” She saw her marefriend's confused expression and continued on. “It's a three month command assignment organizing patrol missions over the Badlands border. I'll hardly even be in the air.”
“Oh…” Twilight began. “I got the letter saying that you were going to be on duty, and I know you're technically with the Air Force, so I just assumed that…”
She was silenced by the golden hoof on her lips. “No war, Twi. Not on my watch.” She lifted her hoof and gave the royal a small kiss. “It'll just be three months. And I know that our anniversary is in there, you know. So I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back.”
In that short little speech, Twilight had heard Spitfire address every last concern that she had, but something still didn't feel right about three entire months of separation. “What if I went with you?” she proposed, prompting a questioning look from the airpony. “I could go out to the border and be a base commander, or something, and then we'd still be together for our anniversary. Win-win, right?”
“Two things wrong with that, the first being fraternization. You're worth my job, but not if it can be avoided. Second, you know as well as I do that this isn't your duty—it's mine. So when I leave in two weeks, you need to do me a favor and hold down the fort while I'm gone. And do try to be waiting for me when I come back.”
Twilight let out a tear as she jumped on her marefriend, pulling the pegasus into an almost bone-crushing hug. “I'll be counting down the seconds.”
Huh... I'd never actually considered this ship, but this story was really nice.
Nicely done.
5591781 TwiFire is amazing and more people need to know about it. Seriously. Go read more TwiFire.
Also thank you.
(laughing) duty.
5592050 really? That's your comment?
5592054 Come on! It's a funny word.
5592108 no, doody is a funny word. Duty happens to mean a lot to me.
5592129 The way it sounds its funny.
5592149 that one I will give you. It does sound funny if you don't really pronounce the 't'.
5592157
I'm sorry. >.>
5592259 what is wrong with you people?
5592266
D:
5592275 im just kidding. Thanks for my first ever video comment!
I love this ship! Gahhhh.
Nice representation of it man.
5592346 yeah, TwiFire is a fantastic thing, but no one knows about it.
5592342 well, hey, thanks!
Would either of you be interested in writing for the collab?
5592502 I would if I weren't so backlogged already!
This is actually kinda' cute. Well done. A nice, light jab to my feels before bed always helps me sleep.
5594231 you should have that looked at. It doesn't seem healthy.
So, I read another story by you, and I find that you're just as good as you were before. Very entertaining, I'm glad to see more from you.
You know, I had never actually heard about Twifire before. I didn't really see it as plausible, but I suppose that in shipping anything is possible.
There still remains a certain charm in your writing, I can think of no other way to describe it.
Keep writing!
5594906
Oh? What was the other one (and why was it not all of them)?
Yay! I'm not un-improving! Shut up, it's totally a word.
TwiFire is fantastic and amazing and everyone needs to read/write more of it.
You're damn right it is.
I have elected to take this as a compliment!
You know it, brother!
5594661 It's that, or...things.
5595229 That. Definitely that.
5595231 I thought you might say that. May I congratulate you on your wisdom in this matter?
5595242 Eh, sure. Why not.
5595245 Then...my congratulations. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go do...things.
5595252 NO! NO THINGS!
5595255 No things? But...but I like doing things! I even clean my own messes!
5595260 Cleaning it up doesn't make it OK, OK? I'm just messing with you. Go write your piece.
I've just been awoken to a new ship.
I like it. Twilight jumps to the most horrible conclusion, like she always does, and has blown it out of proportion--but completely understandably. I do think Spitfire's response is a bit too calm, but that's just me.
5594920
I'm pleased that you chose to analyze my comment on your story. I found it very amusing. Of course, I hope that you don't take what I said for an insult, as it was not intended to be understood as such. I enjoy your writing thoroughly, though I do admit I haven't read your other stories (But, then again, I write for this site more than I actually read on it), yet I maintain that your writing is charming, and holds a lot of interest to me.
I'm sure I'll get around to reading your entire collection... eventually.
Until our next meeting, know that I will keep an eye out for you, and I hope that you keep an eye out for me.
(P.S. if you don't like that I write large comments, simply advise me. I will cease being so... over-detailed, for you.)
5595382 no, its good to he a critical reader. Thanks for being here.
5595404 I like long comments. I wish I could say the same about my writing, though.
you have Spitfire saying when you get back, shouldn't it be when i get back? or did you miss an enter and it's Twi who's talking?
5598429 that is my bad. Thanks for pointing it out to me. I'll fix it once I'm off-duty.
5600840 np X3
Just read your story today, I loved it, keep up the good work!!
5674333 I never intended to stop.
5674444
so cute how she over reactive,