Best Young Flier: Second Beat [Spitfire Short]

>Figures you'd draw duty for the stupid Best Young Flier competition, but with the Princess attending there isn't much you can do.
>You sigh and adjust your goggles.
>Sure, you could've pulled rank and made some pony else fill in for you, but you'd always been taught a leader has to share the burdens of their subordinates.
>You check down the line to make sure the others are standing properly at attention while the final contestants perform their routines.
>Some weirdo pony with a crazy costume and a contender with odd coloring seem to be going at the same time.
>Good, they must be rushing the last bit.
>It's hard not to yawn.
>Sometimes you wonder if it was worth it to distinguish yourself and climb the ranks so fast, but at the same time you'd always stood apart anyway.
>The Wonderbolts are your life, but it's not like they're your actual friends.
“Heh, friends. That's just what ponies call the ones they step on to climb up when they want to look noble.”
>The Princess’ ears swivel toward the sound of your grumbling, and she raises an eyebrow at you.
>There's no way she heard that, right?
>”Captain, some truths are harder to see than others...especially if you don't watch.”
>She gives you a roguish wink and waves up toward the performing pony above.
>You return with an uneasy smile to watching the competition at her gesture.
>Wonderful.
>Now your boss thinks you're a cynic.
>You jump slightly as Number 15 accidentally sends a bit of cloud to crash above the Princess.
>That stupid rookie better watch what she's doing!
>You shake yourself as you turn away from her yawn inducing routine to watch the strange...unicorn?
>Your mouth hangs open as a gentle cascade of sunlight filters through her clearly magical wings.
>It's beautiful!
>You weren't paying attention before, but now you wish you had been.
>A flash of movement makes you spin your head to see the other pony leaving a colorful trail as she shoots upward for her finale.
>You flinch as gasps and cries suddenly burst from the crowd and spin back just in time to see the unicorn plummet past, screaming amid the burnt cinders of her gossamer wings.
”The idiot flew too high!”
>Your instincts slam into high gear and you swiftly leap after her, signaling your teammates to follow as yells of worry trail behind.
>Soarin pulls up near you acting as wing pony with Misty Fly trailing behind.
“Well this should at least keep us awake, huh?”
>You give him your patented confident smirk, but he just eyes you quizzically and turns back to his flying.
>What's wrong with him?
>It's not like she's in any real danger.
>You slide into an easy formation to surround the shrieking unicorn as she careens toward the earth.
>This is why unicorns shouldn't be allowed to use magic for flight.
>You tsk to yourself as the others form up to surround her and…
>A flailing hoof FLIES out and crashes into your face right between the eyes.
>Silver spots and blackness flood your vision as you feel your wings buffet into a spin.
>Your thoughts feel sluggish as pain splinters through your head and your vision narrows to a tunnel.
>Screaming...noise...what?
>“Oh no…”
>The whisper barely makes it out of your throat before being torn away by the wind.
>In flashes you see the rest of your team knocked spinning and falling just like yourself.
>The ground spins dizzying up at you, dominating everything with its huge finality.
>”We’re going to d-”
>A thunderous BOOM shatters the sky into countless rings of flaring color just as the ground fills your entire world.
>You feel your body jerk in a sudden enormous lateral acceleration and some part of your mind realizes that you've been caught.
>The whole universe spins and you feel sick as it lurches, and you feel yourself being pulled away by somepony as deafening cheers assault you from every side.
>What? The colosseum? When did you get back here?
>The blackness finally swallows you.
-------------------------------
>You moan in discomfort as you feel yourself start to wake.
>It feels like an Earth Pony linebacker is doing drills in your skull.
>Hushed voices jab at you making the throbs hum louder.
>”...onic Rainboom? Everypony thought it was just a legend!”
>”I wish I was there. I saw the light, just like years ago, but I missed it AGAIN!”
>No way.
>You'd heard about the one some tiny filly was supposed to have done a while back...but you'd never really believed.
>A moan escapes as you try to sit up and open your eyes.
>”Lay back, Spitfire. You took a rather strong hit to the head, and the bandage is over your eyes at the moment. You need to rest.”
>That voice…
>”Princess Celestia?”
>You hear a book close softly and a thump as it's put down on something next to you.
>”Yes. It's me, Captain.The others of your team are here being treated as well.”
>A quick shake and a gulp of the water she presses into your hooves helps you overcome your surprise and unaccustomed warmth at finding her there watching over you.
>You try to keep the nerves out of your voice as you cast around for a topic.
>”Is what they're saying true? Somepony did a Sonic Rainboom?”
>A faint creak sounds as the Princess shifts in her seat.
>”It's true. Rainbow Dash has repeated the miracle she performed years ago. And she saved you all in the process.”
>You gasp as you nearly choke on your water.
“Repeated? She actually did it before? It was her? And she did it AGAIN?”
>Another creak sounds and you think you hear a tiny chuckle.
>”Yes. To all of that. She's a very gifted young Pegasus.”
>Awe and frustration wells up in you.
>You remember hearing that name before too.
>Not about the Rainboom.
>She had something to do with Princess Luna’s return as well.
>Who IS this pony?
“But how? How did she do it? Twice even…”
>It's hard to reconcile the emotions warring in you.
>Of course you'd tried to perform a Rainboom.
>Every member of the Wonderbolts and half the recruits have tried it even if they won't admit it.
>Especially after the one that supposedly happened a few years ago.
>But nopony had managed it.
>You start to shake your head in disbelief, but think better of it as it pounds in protest.
“She just flew up high and dove down, right? What's different?”
>This is the very method you'd tried too.
>Celestia giggles and you feel her press you softly back into the bed and tug the blanket up to your chin.
>”You may not have realized it, Captain, but there was one other factor both times she managed the feat.”
>Your brows knit under your bandage as you turn sightlessly to face her.
“What was it?”
>Somehow, you feel the warmth of her smiling even if you can't see it.
>”She was doing it for a friend, Spitfire.”
>The Princess pats you gently on the shoulder with her gilded hoof before softly walking away through the room.
>She seems to be humming happily to herself.
“For a friend…”
>You settle back as the Doctor clomps over to check on you.
“Huh…”

[The End]