A young Spitfire, about 17, was in what was one day to be her office at the Wonderbolts Academy. Right now, it was occupied by her dad, Sunflame. Spitfire was standing straight in front of the door while her dad stood in front of her.
"Alright, we got some new recruits today," Sunflame said, "As you know, it's your duty to train them."
"Yes, Father," Spitfire nodded.
"Good," Sunflame nodded back, "Now, get out there."
"Yes, Father," Spitfire turned to the door, but not before giving her dad a salute. He saluted back, smiling. The young mare headed out the door, closing it behind her. The older stallion sighed and turned to a picture on the wall of a light yellow mare with a sunset pink mane.
"Oh, Sunset," Sunflame sighed, "I wish you were here. You'd be so proud," The mare, Spitfire's mom, had died when the little filly was only three, leaving Sunflame to care for her by himself.
Spitfire walked slowly down the hall, her hoofclops echoing off the walls. She was still nervous about her new job. Since her birthday a month ago, when she had turned 17, her dad had said it would her duty to train the newcomers. She was still in training herself, actually, but she was almost done. Her friends, Blaze and Soarin', were also graduating soon. In fact, they were all graduating together.
Spitfire walked outside to the training field to see a group of ponies standing in a line.
"Well, looky what we got here," Spitfire said, using the same speech her dad had always used, "Bet you all think you're Wonderbolt material, don't cha? Think you got what it takes to be an elite flier? Well then, let me be the first to tell you... You don't! If you had what it took to be an elite flier you'd already be a Wonderbolt!"
Spitfire was looking at each mare and stallion as she paced in front of them. The stallion at the end of the line made the young's mare's heart skip a beat. He had dandelion yellow fur and a dark chocolate brown mane and tail. Spitfire swallowed and continued.
"You see them?" She pointed towards the class her friends were in, who were flying around, "They do have what it takes, which is why they're going to be graduating exactly one month from today. So, today, I'm gonna train you to see what you've got." Spitfire flew over to a big sheet and uncovered a large machine.
"This...is the Dizzitron," Spitfire said, "You will be spun on it for ten seconds. You then must recover as quickly as possible and land smoothly. Ok, first up is Lightning Storm." A stallion walked up and got strapped in. The Dizzitron started up and spun for ten seconds, "And...release!" Lightning was flung up into the sky. After a few seconds, he flew down and landed, skidding to a shaky halt.
"11.5 seconds," Spitfire said, "Very nice."
After the rest of the Pegasi, the last stallion was up.
"ThunderScam," Spitfire announced. The yellow Pegasus that had been at the end of the line walked forward. He strapped himself into the machine and, after 10 second, was flung into the sky. He landed.
"7.2 seconds!" Spitfire cried in shock, "That's so close to breaking an academy record!" ThunderScam smirked.
Exactly one month later, Spitfire was graduating. The event meant that the other classes could take a day off to watch. The Pegasi who were graduating families came. Spitfire was the youngest graduator, because she had started training early, since her dad owned the academy. Spitfire looked out at the crowd, taking in all the families that were there. Her eyes stung with slight tears as she found herself wishing her mom could be there.
"I knew you'd be so proud, Mom," Spitfire whispered. She heard her dad calling out names of graduating Pegasi and the stomping of ponies in the crowd.
"And lastly, my daughter, Spitfire!" Sunflame announced to loud stomping and cheering. Spitfire gathered up all the courage she had and walked out on the stage. She saw her friends, Soarin' and Blaze standing off to the side, waving. They were about a year older than her.
"One year ago, today, my daughter began training," Sunflame began, "She trained hard, and she trained great. Two months ago, on her seventeenth birthday, she started her job as a trainer for new recruits. But now, she shall become a full-fledged Wonderbolt!" Cheers and stomps sounded as Sunflame pinned a medal to the front of Spitfire's uniform. Sunflame saluted her, and she saluted back. Spitfire saw her friends salute, and then the crowd. Everypony was saluting the daughter of the owner of the Wonderbolts Academy.
Spitfire looked out into the crowd, and one face stuck out to her.
ThunderScam.
"Do you have anything to say?" Her father asked, snapping her out of her trance.
"Uh, yeah," Spitfire nodded and turned to the crowd, "I'd, uh, like to thank my Dad, for getting me here, and training me. I'd like to thank my friends, Soarin' and Blaze, for encouraging me. And lastly, I'd like to thank my Mom, even though she couldn't be here today." She looked up at the sky, "Thank you, Mom!" The crowd cheered as Spitfire walked off the stage. She walked over to Soarin' and Blaze and hugged them.
"This day is awesome!" Blaze grinned.
"The best!" Soarin' agreed enthusiastically.
"Yeah," Spitfire nodded. ThunderScam walked over with three other ponies.
"Hey, Spitfire," He said, "This is my family. My mom," He pointed to the mare on his left, "My dad," Then the stallion on his right, "And my little bro," He motioned to a small, three year old yellow colt next to him, "Con Extreme."
"Nice to meet you," Spitfire said.
"Nice to meet you, too," Thunder's dad said.
"Oh, we're just so proud of our little Pegasus," Thunder's mom smiled. Con smiled and puffed out his chest. Thunder laughed.
"They mean me, little bro," Thunder said, poking Con in the chest playfully. Con pouted.
"Spitfire!" Sunflame called, "C'mon, it's time for the show!"
"Oh, I gotta go," Spitfire said, "See ya later."
"Bye!" Thunder waved, "Good luck!" Spitfire blushed slightly but they didn't see as she flew over to her dad. Every graduation, the three best graduates did a small performance for the crowd, showing off their new skills. The other two were Soarin' and Blaze. Spitfire smiled as they got into position behind the stage.
"So, you're in the top three," she said to the other two.
"Well, yeah," Blaze said.
"And so are you!" Soarin' beamed.
"Fillies and gentlecolts!" Sunflame called from in front of the stage, "May I have your attention? In honor of graduation, the top three Pegasi in class will perform for you, a very special show." The three in back spread their wings and crouched down, prepared for take off, "May I present to you: Blaze, Soarin', and Spitfire!" The three shot into the air, going three separate directions. A bunch of twists and turns, and at the end, they spelled 'CONGRATS' in the sky before landing on the stage. Everypony cheered and stomped. The three bowed and Spitfire thanked Celestia nopony could see her blushing.
After the party, everypony's families went home, leaving only the graduates and the students. Thunder walked silently up Spitfire as she was moving her stuff from her dorm room into her old room in her house with her dad.
"Hey, you were pretty cool up there," Thunder said.
"Oh, uh, thanks," Spitfire said, carrying a box on her back.
"Hey, um, I was thinking," Thunder began, "Maybe we should do something sometime."
"Like what?" Spitfire asked, eyeing him and forcing herself to not squeal with delight.
"I dunno, like dinner?" Thunder suggested, "Of course, if you don't want to…."
"No, no, I do," Spitfire said quickly, "I mean, sure, that sound's cool."
"Awesome," Thunder grinned, "How's this Saturday?"
"I think I can clear my scedual," Spitfire said.
"Cool," Thunder said, "See you then?"
"See you then," Spitfire nodded in his direction. He flew off and Spitfire made sure he was out of range before doing a hoof pump.
"Yes!"
