Fluttershy sat in the grassy glade of Sweet Feather Sanctuary, tenderly stroking the fur of one of her many critters. The wind brushed gently through her mane, tail, and coat, as it did to the furs and the skins of all the animals around her. Through the idyllic sounds of the birds chirping, the feeling of the sunlight soaking through her skin, and the scent of the flowers around her, Fluttershy couldn't have felt happier.
Today was a day where Fluttershy didn't have a lot on her mind. After all, she had already been given everything that she could have wanted. A place for her and her animal friends to call home; a place safe from the noise and the chaos down in Ponyville. To her credit, Fluttershy didn't want many things. She never was one to try and put forward a lofty ambition. She knew first hand that there were some kinds of things that asked a lot of her; a lot from anyone. All that she had ever tried since the moment she had gained her Cutie Mark was to try and live up to what it represented; her love for nature and the creatures living in it. So, to craft her life, her dream, and her future around that was all that she wanted, and all that destiny asked of her.
"You know, Suzy, I've got a wonderful life," said Fluttershy tenderly, as she looked down into the eyes of the brown-furred bunny by her side. "At first, I thought for sure that I wouldn't be going anywhere in life. Not as a pegasus, and especially not as a filly. But after all the things that we've seen and done together, me and my friends, I think that my life's perfect just the way it is." As she was saying this, the bunny that was by her side just looked up into her eyes; a look that she was more than happy to return.
"It's not just me, though." Fluttershy turned her head towards the sky, looking up towards the expansive sheet of bright blue beyond her. "All of my friends would tell you the same thing. Both for my dream and for theirs. Twilight's been doing wonderful things as the Princess of Friendship, Applejack and her family's farm have been having lots of good harvests recently, Pinkie Pie and her party planning career have been bringing smiles to ponies' faces for years now, Rarity's been making all kinds of headlines and magazine covers as a fashion designer. And then..." With a sigh, she looked at the clouds. "There's Rainbow Dash. She's finally a Wonderbolt; a dream that I think she's had the longest out of anyone here.
No sooner had Fluttershy finished saying that, when the sound of a jetstream could be heard. Now, of course, Equestria had no such thing as jets and planes. But one thing that they did have was pegasi. Fluttershy was but one of the many pegasi that inhabited this strange world. And the one that shot over her head was one that she could remember a mile away. If not for her daring tricks, then for her rainbow-coloured contrail and how it lit up the sky behind her. The rainbow-coloured hair of one Rainbow Dash; one of Equestria's greatest fliers, one of the Wonderbolts, and one of the best friends that she could have asked for.
"Speaking of which, there she is now." Fluttershy pointed out Rainbow Dash as she soared through the sky, zipping around in all kinds of directions; probably performing some tricks for the Wonderbolts' next performance, or maybe because she had just come off from a performance and wanted to cut loose and fly for fun for a change. Regardless, the way that she moved never failed to put a smile on Fluttershy's face. "Of everyone here, I think that Rainbow Dash has had to work the hardest for her spot as a Wonderbolt. And now, she's working as hard as she can to make them proud."
Suzy, as Fluttershy had called her, just looked towards Rainbow Dash flying through the sky. Suzy was just an ordinary rabbit, so didn't have many thoughts on the whole situation.
"I'm proud of her too, you know." Fluttershy politely chuckled. "Me and all of my friends. We all watched her journey ourselves; even helped her out along the way. Now, to see that dream bearing fruit like that, it's enough to put a smile on anyone's face."
As Rainbow Dash flew, Fluttershy couldn't take her eyes off of her. Perhaps it was because Rainbow Dash threw caution, fear, and apprehension to the wind as she flew. Or maybe it was because of her personality that gave her the push she needed to excel in flying. No matter what the real explanation for her determination was, Rainbow Dash was a natural-born flyer; which was more than Fluttershy could say for herself. Though she was pretty skilled at flying herself, she had always preferred staying more to the ground than flying at Rainbow Dash's height and speed. That wasn't to say that she wasn't entirely devoid of any talent. If it hadn't been for her contribution to the pegasi's efforts to gather up water for Ponyville's rainclouds, then her little town would never have broken the wingpower record in the first place. All because she too had shown a little bit of courage.
Ever since Rainbow Dash had come into her life, Fluttershy had felt herself get braver and braver by the day. Not to the point where she was fully able to brave any and all challenges that came her way, but to the point where she was at least able to get out there, make some new friends and experiences, and show that just because she had the word 'shy' in her name, that she wasn't entirely a recluse. Today, however, was a little bit different.
"You know, Suzy... I've always wondered what it would be like to live in Rainbow Dash's shoes," Fluttershy asked herself as she saw Rainbow Dash performing a triple loop, almost making it look like a piece of curly string. "The kind of pony who's not afraid to fly through the air; the kind of pony who's got what it takes to be the best of the best. The kind of pony who's... a Wonderbolt."
As she said that, she could already picture the scene. The scene of her flying through a packed stadium full of ponies; all different shapes, sizes, and colours. Some pegasi, some unicorns, and some earth ponies. She could see herself tumbling, turning, zipping and zagging through the air, clad in the attire of a Wonderbolt. At first, the thought seemed unnerving to her; to see that she was doing such a dangerous thing and how much out of her comfort zone it was compared to everything else going on with her life.
But then, she saw her. Dressed in that very same outfit, wind goggles against her face and her mouth curled into a grin. Rainbow hair thrashing and flapping around from the speed and force; her tail leaving behind a trail of rainbow colour as she moved in sync with Fluttershy. Even when the two of them raced around different parts of the stadium, flying in different ways to make different shapes, seeing her face made all of the intensity all worth it in the end.
Back in reality, Fluttershy sighed again. "Imagine what it would be like if I were a Wonderbolt like Rainbow Dash..." As she came out of her trance, she could see Suzy looking into her eyes, along with many of the other animals. Badgers, ferrets, goats, birds, bears, and even the odd giraffe just looked at her. A sight that just made Fluttershy bring her hoof close to her mouth. "Oh! Goodness me... whatever am I thinking?" She asked herself. "That's her dream; not mine. I've already got everything I need, so why..." She looked back at Rainbow Dash one last time. "Why can I see myself being a Wonderbolt by her side? Why do I see myself and Rainbow Dash flying together not just as friends, but as Wonderbolts too?"
She wasn't expecting an answer back from the crowd of animals. How could she? It wasn't like they could talk. Still, at the very least, she was happy to have them all be there to see her talking about these kinds of things. And it made them happy to see her smiling back at them.
"Still... I bet that it would be lovely. Not flying around at that speed and force; no, no. But... being able to fly with her. Being right next to her as we wow the crowds; doing daring stunts like that as a pair," said Fluttershy as she saw Rainbow performing some final few tricks before she flew back to the skies behind her again. "I know that the dream might seem a little bit out of my reach, and it surely wouldn't have been something I do myself, that's for sure. But with Rainbow Dash... I think that's a dream that I could go for with her help."
Fluttershy finally stood up from her spot in the sanctuary and walked away from Suzy, letting her hop back to the other rabbits in the group. As she trotted through the grassy fields of Sweet Feather Sanctuary, gazing at all of the animals around her, she knew that she had already done more than enough of what was asked of her. She felt like her dream had become complete. Like there was nothing more that she could have aspired for, being an animal sanctuary caretaker; let alone one of the six Spirits of Harmony.
As she flitted her wings and her hooves left the ground, Fluttershy could now feel the wind rushing through her feathers. It was only a light breeze today, so she couldn't feel much force being put on her body. But she could still feel how refreshing and cool the wind was as it rushed through her wings. Fluttershy started flying circles around the sanctuary. She only flew with her feet lightly grazing against the treeline. She was still nowhere near as confident or brave as Rainbow Dash to fly much higher than that. Even so, she looked down at the animals in the sanctuary, seeing how happy they were to be living in such a tranquil place away from the hustle and bustle of the town.
Eventually, Fluttershy picked up the speed slightly. She could feel the wind force becoming more abundant as she accelerated herself. The pink hair in her mane and tail also started to shake from the speed she was flying, making laps around her sanctuary. At first, she had just been looking over and seeing if there were things going wrong, but as she went round and round again, she could feel a different kind of sensation entering her head. A sensation that she had no clue as to how it even got there in the first place. A sensation of thrill. And fun that was woven into that thrill. As much as she wanted to stop because of how much she could feel the speed, at the same time, she had the visions again.
The visions of being a Wonderbolt. The visions of flying up there with Rainbow Dash. The visions of letting go of the 'shy' namesake that she was known for and putting herself out there. She had absolutely nothing to lose with that pursuit of being a Wonderbolt and she knew that she would be spending a lot more time with Rainbow Dash if she did take up this venture. She unknowingly got even faster in her flight as she thought more about being a Wonderbolt, to the point where, in reality, she was flying like any kind of stunt pegasus would. Not caring about the danger of a trick going wrong; flipping and spinning around trying to dazzle the crowd, all while she could feel the adrenaline pushing her fight or flight reflexes towards fight instead of flight.
And then, with one last lap, she landed before the animals, gently skidding on her hooves as she stopped with a smile on her face. She could hear the cheering and hollering of the animals in Sweet Feather Sanctuary; ones that once more brought her back to earth. She looked into their eyes, saw their delight at how she had pushed herself, then looked down at her own two hooves. Fluttershy had actually done it. She had forgotten all about her fears and her concerns, focusing on flying with Rainbow Dash. As she let the cheers ring out, she thought to herself.
"You know what? I've already got everything I want. I can afford to be a little bit adventurous from time to time." Fluttershy put on a smile as she looked back towards the sky, thinking more about Rainbow Dash again. Now that she had flown like or—or how she thought she had flown like Rainbow Dash—she could more and more see those visions and images of her being a Wonderbolt coming true. "So... I'll do it." She told herself. "I'm going to try and be a Wonderbolt too. Just like Rainbow Dash."
The animals stopped cheering and came over to her side; all gathering around her and pressing their bodies against her; a gesture that just made her giggle giddily. Although she couldn't hear them talking normally, she could understand everything that they were saying through their body language. They were all behind her, and they were all going to give her the support that she needed to take up this new venture of being a Wonderbolt.
"Thank you, everyone." Fluttershy stepped back from the crowd of animals and, with a smile, looked back into their eyes. "I'll make you proud. I promise." Then, turning away from the sanctuary, Fluttershy opened her wings once again and flew to the skies; to follow Rainbow Dash. And to follow her new adventure. "It might take days, weeks, months, or even years. But I want to see what it's like; to be one of the most daring fliers in all of Equestria too. As long as she's right there by my side, I know I can do it. Just you wait, Rainbow Dash. I'll be a great Wonderbolt just like you too someday..."
The next day at Wonderbolt Academy, all of the Pegasi there were training hard as they could. Both the veterans who were training for their upcoming shows and the newest batch of recruits looking to stake their claim as a Wonderbolt themselves. For both sides, the training was rigorous, demanding, and above all, it was designed to test all of their limits. And while some ponies could handle the pressures and stresses of training, there were others who just couldn’t handle it.
For Fluttershy, however, she knew that upon seeing the grounds for the academy, that a lump would form in her throat if she tried to get any closer. She knew full well that the life of a Wonderbolt was a far cry from what she was used to. Especially with how high up the training site was in general and how far down the ground was. Still, Fluttershy knew that fear would just be controlling her if she backed down now. No. She wanted to fly like Rainbow Dash. She wanted to fly with Rainbow Dash. And if being a Wonderbolt meant that she had to take on some of the hardest things a pegasus would ever have to undertake, then she was more than willing to accept the risk and face the challenge head-on.
Fluttershy flew towards the site. The lump in her throat formed as soon as her hooves touched the ground. But still, she pressed on towards the academy building and pushed the doors wide. She could see more recruits inside, some of them already dressed in their uniforms. With aviator goggles on their heads held together by elastic. Fluttershy could already see herself in a similar outfit, with a similar pair of goggles on her head. But for now, she put the thought out of her mind and walked on, towards a sign that read ‘recruitment’.
“Okay. This is it, Fluttershy. You’re going to join the academy.” She took some deep breaths as she trotted through the academy halls, moving closer and closer to the recruitment rooms that had been signed for her. “You’re going to fly just like Rainbow Dash. You can do this. That’s right. I can do this. I can do this…”
Finally, she reached the door for the recruitment rooms, her hoof shaking slightly as she reached for the knob, hanging and shuddering in place for a few seconds as her mind stalled. “Wait… Wonderbolts are the best of the best for a reason. What if… I’m not the best?” She asked herself, looking at the knob and the sign one more time. “What if I’m not as good a flier as they want me to be?” Fluttershy let the thought stew in her head, already picturing what the Wonderbolts would say about her, both personality-wise and in regards to her flying skills. After all, Fluttershy was afraid of heights, among many other things. And a fear of heights was never present in any of the Wonderbolts, both past and present.
“No. No. This is what my mind wants me to think.” Fluttershy took one more deep breath and jabbed her hoof for the door handle, gripping it as tight as she could. “My mind wants me to think that I’m scared; that I’m not gonna achieve anything because I’ve got a fear of heights. But being a Wonderbolt like Rainbow Dash helps you to conquer those fears. Maybe… maybe this’ll be just what I need, to finally fly freely, to never have to be scared of heights again. I just need to be brave here and now!”
Fluttershy pushed the door open so hard that it slammed against the wall it was attached to. She jumped slightly at the sudden noise, her brace facade shattering for a brief moment, before she took one more deep breath and resurrected that brave face of hers and walked into the recruitment office. It was a small room with cyan-coloured walls and cloudy theming around the roof and floor. There were posters on the wall advertising the Wonderbolts and the academy itself. With a few accolades and medals nearby. Most importantly, there was a desk where a pegasus was sifting through papers, trying to check the status of some of the recruits on site. It was a long and laborious job, as so many aspects of ponies needed to be checked and compared with others, to find the best ones for the job.
“I’d like to join the academy!” Fluttershy belted out from the other end of the room, trying to grab the pegasus’s attention, before walking closer to the desk and speaking in her usual soft tone. “If, uh, that’s alright with you…”
“You wanna be a Wonderbolt? Well, it’s not gonna be easy, believe me.” The pegasus spoke with a very familiar voice. “The Wonderbolts only pick the best of the best, but still, everybody’s gotta have a fair shot, so why don’t you tell me a bit about… your…” the Pegasus looked up, revealing its’ rainbow mane, light blue coat, and magenta eyes. “Wait… FLUTTERSHY?!” Rainbow Dash’s eyes shrank when she saw just who was signing up to be a Wonderbolt.
“Mmhmm.” She nodded, her face staying stoic as she stood before Rainbow Dash. “I’d like to be a Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash.”
“Uh, well, I-I-I-I, uh…” Rainbow Dash was used to handling any kinds of problems, no matter how big or small they were. But when it came to Fluttershy being a Wonderbolt, that was a new one for her. Especually since she knew how timid Fluttershy could be at times. “Fluttershy, are you sure that this is what you want?” Rainbow Dash asked first and foremost, whispering as she leaned over the desk. “I mean, being a Wonderbolt recruit, you’re gonna get yelled at a lot. The Wonderbolts don’t just take any pegasus they can find, you know. I became a Wonderbolt purely because of my hard work, bravery, and for how good I am at flying.”
“I know. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons why I want to join the Wonderbolts in general.” Fluttershy just smiled as she took a seat on the stool by Rainbow Dash’s desk. “Being a Wonderbolt means that you leave your fear behind. That you feel strong enough to fly like nobody’s watching. Being with you and the rest of our friends has really helped to build up my bravery. And now, I think my bravery’s big and strong enough to warrant me trying out for the Wonderbolts, don’t you think?”
“I mean, it’s great that you’re trying out and all and I’d be more than happy to make sure you get a spot as a recruit. But…” Rainbow Dash’s face fell. “Well, I can’t say that I recommend it, Fluttershy. Wonderbolt training is super excessive. Like, we practice EVERYTHING multiple times until we get it right. And I know how frail you can be at times.”
“Oh, I know that part. Being a Wonderbolt, the best is expected out of both its’ recruits and its’ main members.” Fluttershy kept on smiling as she looked into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “You, Spitfire, Soarin’, Fleetfoot, and all the other big names on the Wonderbolt industry. I know none of you would settle for less; not for anything.”
“So knowing that, you still wanna take part in being a Wonderbolt? Even when you know just how much is gonna be asked of you?” Rainbow Dash tilted her head to the side. “Even with all the yelling, being compared to other recruits, and with the potential that you might not even cut it for the big shows and being a proper Wonderbolt?”
“Of course. If I don’t at least try, then I may never know. Plus, isn’t it better to just try and fail than to never try at all?” Fluttershy asked, trying to lift Rainbow Dash’s spirits a little. Seeing her that distraught wasn’t something she was used to, so she knew that she had to show some kindness to a pony who was struggling to choose where her loyalties lay. “Besides, I won’t be too upset that I failed the tests, or that I’m lesser than anypony else. At least, at the very end, I gave it a try. And that’s what I think counts more than anything else.”
“I mean, when you put it like that…” Rainbow Dash knew full well what Fluttershy was about to get herself into. While Rainbow had been brave enough to face what had happened in the academy and how Fluttershy had been there to support and assist her, this was the first time that Fluttershy would have been taking on the training program for herself; being subjected to all the regimes, exercises, circuits, and everything else that went with them. Still, her words were rattling around in Rainbow’s head. Fluttershy was at least brave enough to step out of her comfort zone and try being a Wonderbolt. On that merit alone, knowing Fluttershy for as long as she did, Rainbow Dash had to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Oh, to heck with it. Why not?” Rainbow Dash eventually cracked a smile. “Sure, Fluttershy. I can get you signed up. But I’m gonna warn you. You’re not gonna be let off easy and just because we’ve saved Equestria so many times doesn’t mean that you deserve any special treatment; not even from me. If you wanna be a Wonderbolt, you’re gonna have to earn it. You’ll have to prove to me and the other pegasi here that you deserve to be a Wonderbolt, that you want this even more than the others around you.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Fluttershy gave a nod.
“Alright. Well, first things first, you’re gonna need a recruit’s uniform. We can figure out the rest of the details later.” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and flew a short flight over the desk, landing by Fluttershy’s side. “Besides, all this paperwork’s not my kinda deal. I’ve just gotta do it when I’m not out there training others or flying with the other Wonderbolts.” She wrapped a hoof around Fluttershy’s shoulders. “Now, c’mon. Let’s get you dressed up, Fluttershy.”
And on that note, both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash left the recruitment office together. For Rainbow Dash, it was still a surreal thought that Fluttershy, the scaredy-cat of her group of friends, was willing to become a Wonderbolt. If it had been Twilight, Rarity, or even Applejack, then she wouldn’t have been as weirded out; especially since most of the rest of her friends didn’t have any wings.
As for Fluttershy, she was surprised to see that Rainbow Dash was handling her orientation. But it was a surprise that she welcomed nonetheless. She had thought that she would have been oriented by one of the other big-name Wonderbolts, or a Wonderbolt she hadn’t even heard of before. Seeing that it was Rainbow Dash guiding her through these times was a sight and feeling that gave her already growing courage one more boost. Now, she was convincing herself that this would work; that she would make a stellar Wonderbolt and fly by Rainbow Dash’s side. The fame and fortune stuff, she would come too later. For now, she had to focus on the here and now.
After one long walk, the two pegasi arrived at the locker rooms of the Wonderbolt Academy. Large, dark blue lockers were seen lining the walls; marked with names and sealed by padlocks. There were also benches in the middle of the room that tired pegasi could have used to rest their bodies after such an intense session or two. But as it stood right now, the locker rooms were empty apart from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash’s presences.
Rainbow Dash was dressed in her Wonderbolt clothes. A traditional full-blue outfit with a yellow breast and lines around the middle of her hooves. As for Fluttershy, she was dressed in much similar clothes, though the colour was much more noticeable on her than it was on Rainbow Dash; the blue contrasting against her yellow coat. The only noticeable difference was that she was wearing a badge on said coat.
“Looks good, doesn’t it?” Rainbow Dash asked as Fluttershy examined herself in the mirror, looking at her clothes from all sides. “A Wonderbolt’s uniform is tight-fitting so that it doesn’t snag on anything or drag down your flight speed. It’s not just there to make you look like a pro flier.”
“I can… feel it.” Fluttershy wasn’t used to the tightness of the Wonderbolt uniform, and she shuffled and shimmied around, trying to get used to the feeling of the fabric pressing itself against her. “I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
“Yeah. You will.” Rainbow Dash commented. “Now, it’s not just about looking the part, but also handling your outfit. Fold it up neatly, with the badge on top. That’s how recruits usually leave their uniforms when they’re not wearing them. Believe me. Spitfire will blister your ears if you’re not folding it right.”
“I’ll be sure to follow the rules. I’m pretty good at trying to avoid trouble.” Fluttershy made a soft chuckle as she looked into Rainbow’s eyes again. “So, when do we start?”
“Well, you’ve got the outfit, so the first order of business for a new recruit is to get themselves squared away with a drill sergeant.” Rainbow Dash explained as the two pegasi made their way towards the doors. “Now, normally, Spitfire would be handling those duties. But today, she’s on urgent business in Canterlot, so she’s asked Soarin’ to take over in her absence. Now, he’s not gonna make it any easier. If anything, he’s gonna be a heck of a lot different to the Soarin’ you’re used to.”
“Right.” Fluttershy just nodded.
“Now, the good news is, you’re not gonna be alone. Pegasi at the Wonderbolt Academy are trained in groups, so you’ll be with other recruits too. Some of ‘em might be just as nervous as you are, but they’re all just as strong and brave as you, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash patted Fluttershy on the back and walked with her out to the training site, where some of the pegasi were already gathered together. “For drills, just keep quiet unless spoken to, and speak like you’re ready to go. And though they might seem mean, it’s best to just go along with it. They want the best for you. And sometimes, you’ve gotta be cruel to be kind.”
“Of course.” Fluttershy walked towards the other recruits waiting by the landing strip. Pegasi of different shapes and sizes, with different mane styles, Cutie Marks, and colours, all united by the same uniform that she was wearing.
No sooner had Fluttershy made it to the group that a different voice called out to them. A voice belonging to a male pony.
“Alright, recruits! Fall in!” Soarin’ shouted, as everyone immediately sped into line, with Fluttershy being the last to form said line. She was also a step behind the others, so shuffled forward as Soarin’ examined the new batch of recruits. “Now I know being a Wonderbolt’s a high-profile job, and that you’re all here for different reasons,” he started, pacing in front of the ponies. “Some of you might think you’re here for fame and fortune. Others because they wanna be part of something bigger than themselves. And maybe some of you are here to face your fears…” He said, walking in front of Fluttershy. “But! Being a Wonderbolt doesn’t just happen in one day. We’re going to find what makes you mess up, and keep on training you not to mess up, over and over again until you never mess up. And if that’s not your kinda thing, you’re better off quitting right here, right now…” He turned around, gazing at the crew. “So! Any of you wanna quit?”
“Sir! No, sir!” The other pegasi all called loudly at exactly the same time, while Fluttershy just jumped at the shouting.
“What about you, new kid?” Soarin’ asked as he approached Fluttershy. “You sure that you’re cut out for this job? You look like your hooves barely even leave the ground any…” He then realised just who was on his recruit line. “Wait, wait, wait. Fluttershy? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to be a Wonderbolt, Soarin’.” She replied, swallowing her fear as Soarin’ stared deep into her. Then, she looked back at Rainbow Dash, then to the other ponies and said, “I-I-I mean, I’m here to be a Wonderbolt, Soarin’, sir!” She yelled, sweat dropping off of her forehead.
“I’m just as surprised as you are, Soarin’.” Rainbow Dash commented as she walked up to Soarin’. “But Fluttershy insisted that she wanted to be a Wonderbolt, and it goes against recruitment protocol to turn down a pegasus for Wonderbolt training.”
“I’m aware, Rainbow Dash.” Soarin’ took a few steps so that he and Rainbow Dash could speak in private. “But, uh, well, Fluttershy’s not as hardened as most recruits. Training her into a Wonderbolt’s probably going to be impossible!”
“Still, she came all this way, so we’ve gotta give her a fair shot like all the rest.” Rainbow commented, giving Fluttershy another glance as she stood there, looking at the other recruits in the line, adjusting her posture and position to match the others. “Besides, she says she doesn’t want any special treatment. She wants to be treated like anypony else who wants to be a Wonderbolt. I think she knows just what she’s getting into, despite her nervousness.”
“Well, I’m not one to argue. But Fluttershy’s one of your friends. And I know how important your loyalty is to her as well as us. I just don’t want you to get torn between a rock and a hard place,” said Soarin’.
“Soarin’. We’ll probably talk about this later. But Fluttershy’s already made her position to me quite clear. So for now, just treat her like you would anyone else in that line-up,” commented Rainbow Dash. “No Spirit of Kindness stuff, no Saviour of Equestria, just Fluttershy. Recruit Fluttershy. And that’s it.” She then walked off. “For now, I need to get back to my work. As you were.” She commented, before walking off, whispering one last thing to Fluttershy as she went through the line of recruits. “Good luck, Fluttershy…” she whispered before heading back to the building.
“Alright…” Soarin’ watched Rainbow Dash leaving and, once she had, he shook his head a bit to psyche himself back up. “As I was saying. A Wonderbolt’s gotta handle anything, no matter how hard it might be. You might think it’s tough. You might think it’s unfair. And you may even cry over it.” That last comment was directed to Fluttershy in particular, as his eyes were cast into hers. “But that’s what we want to help you overcome. So to start, we’re going to see just how good that stamina of yours is. I want five-hundred laps of the perimeter, on the double!” He barked.
“Sir, yes sir!” The group of recruits all called together. Then, when Soarin’ blew a whistle around his neck, the pegasus recruits all took to the air, with Fluttershy swift off of the ground as well.
Now, Wonderbolt Academy was large, so a few laps would have been fine for pegasi. Maybe a hundred would have been enough. But no. These pegasi were all going for five-hundred; a big ask for anyone who wasn’t used for flying long distance. It demanded stamina, willpower, and determination to make it beyond a hundred. The recruits all still flew as hard as they could, counting off the laps as they raced past the landing strip over and over again, their wings flapping back and forth over and over again.
As for Fluttershy, she knew that she was going to be in for a lot of hard work. She had flown around in circles a few times and flown for her life, but never had she flown for such a rigorous work-out like this. Especially given the size of the site itself. Knowing that she was being watched by Soarin’, and with how much five-hundred laps would have taken out of her, she was already envisioning failing or crashing, or making another blunder that would have been unfavourable for her. The laps went on and on, with Fluttershy now in the hundreds. She could feel her wings were on fire, her breath starting to shorten, and her body shaking from fatigue. At any point, she could have given up there and then.
But she had thought back on everything she had done; the number of good deeds she had done for her friends and the creatures that she had met in her life. Not to mention the fate-of-the-world scenarios she had been caught up in. Compared to everything that she had seen, done, and experienced, this was nothing more than just flying around in a circle. And because she knew she had done more, Fluttershy focused herself, picked up the pace, took deep controlled breaths, and forged on regardless.
Four-hundred and ninety-five, four-hundred and ninety-six, four-hundred and ninety-seven, four-hundred and ninety-eight. Four-hundred and ninety-nine. Just one more lap to go. Fluttershy circled the site one more time, her wings aching and her body on fire from how much she had given to this workout. But it would have all been worth it in the end. The landing strip came into view, and she drove down towards it. Closer and closer the asphalt came, until at last, Fluttershy skidded her hooves against it and stood up proud before Soarin’, breathing heavily as she looked him in the eye and said “F-Fi… Five-hundred laps complete, sir!” She said, saluting with a hoof.
She actually did it… Soarin’ did everything in his power to keep his mouth from dropping to the ground. Fluttershy of all ponies had just done five-hundred laps of the site in training to become a Wonderbolt. And she looked like she was ready for more. As he watched Fluttershy taking her place as the other recruits continued their laps, he couldn’t help but crack a small grin. Maybe you’ve got the guts to be a Wonderbolt after all, Fluttershy. But still, better safe than sorry…
