Part 4

That next morning, Spitfire had decided to sleep in. Due to her being the captain of the Wonderbolts, she wasn't normally granted this pleasure. By the time she had gotten out of bed, it was still hours before noon. She always woke up early, showering before any other mare was even remotely awake.

She took to her hygiene activities, dressing herself and going to the mess hall. She was late for breakfast, which was a surprise considering how she was always the first one in the mess hall. After eating, she went outside to fine Soarin, giving instructions to the Wonderbolt team. He had all of them gathered, and had started the day without Spitfire. Just as she walked up behind him, the Wonderbolts dispersed to go about their daily business.

"Good morning captain, you must have had a busy morning, I don't think you've ever spent so long in your office."

"I slept in Soarin, I wasn't really in the mood to get up early today. How about you? When did you get back last night?"

He shrugged.

"Just before midnight I suppose, I had a really good time out there in Ponyville, it was a nice town, you'd like it. Anyway, I've just given all the Wonderbolts the day's schedule, and they're going to so their thing without my guidance. I've put in for another day off, I'm going to Canterlot today. I know you must want me here but I have to go, I've got an appointment and I can't be late."

"You've got an appointment in Canterlot? Why didn't you tell me earlier."

"It's a private thing Spit, one second I'm so sure of myself and the next... I've completely forgotten why I wanted to do something. I need to leave within the hour."

"Well, can I go? I've only ever been to Canterlot twice, since you need a pass to go there... could you take me? We could have dinner."

Soarin thought for a moment, the idea of bringing somepony with him not settling right. Spitfire's heart was racing. She'd just established the possibility of having a date with him in one of the nicest restaurants in Equestria, Canterlot could be a really romantic setting, and she'd be alone with him.

"No Spit, I can't bring you. I really need to do this alone."

Spitfire tried to find out more about his trip, but he wouldn't tell her, and at one point got a little frustrated and nearly raised his voice at her. Spitfire ordered him to tell her, but he wouldn't. Soarin told her that it was personal, and if she wanted to complain she could just go ahead and do it. She was left in an anger daze as he left. Spitfire couldn't understand why he was so defend since and secretive about why he was leaving.

She thought about going through his office, but that would be a major violation of trust,mane to lose his affection and his trust would be more than enough to condemn any hope of rekindling their relationship.

Soarin flew to Canterlot, which was a slightly longer flight than it took him to get to Ponyville. He had to go through Cloudsdale, which was a pleasant treat for him, as he didn't go through the city's center too often. When he arrived at the gate of Canterlot, he had to show an identification pass, and state the reason why he was going.

"I'm here to see the Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard, Shining Armor is expecting me."

The guards let him through, not before asking him if he was a Wonderbolt. They told him he'd make a fine addition to the guard, and they'd be honored to work with him any day. The whole way to the castle, Soarin felt so self-conscious. He never had, and had no intention to cheat on anypony, but he felt like he was going behind Spitfire's back. Obviously when you're looking for a new job you don't tell your current boss, but she wasn't just his boss, she was his friend.

When Soarin arrived he spoke to the guards, who then lead him to where Shining Armor was. He was all dressed up in his armor, and Soarin felt small next to the rather large unicorn, even with his wings open he didn't feel full sized.

"Captain Soarin, it's nice to see you around here, I thought I'd never get my hooves on you after all this time, you're finally here for a tour!"

"Thank you Captain Shining Armor, I've got a lot going on back at Wonderbolt Academy, so it's really hard to slip away, because of work and... personal reasons."

"I understand completely, but you'd feel right at home here in Canterlot. Our pegasus guard division is top notch, nut they could use a little work if you ask me. I'd love to be there for them and show them the right way to protect Canterlot's skies, but... well I can't fly. You can though, Soarin, and the position of co-captain is still open for you if you want it."

"I'd love nothing more, I actually ran into your sister yesterday in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle."

"Tw'lee! No way that's amazing, what were you doing around there?"

"There's a pegasus there named Rainbow Dash, I spent the day with her and her filly friend Scootaloo."

"That sounds like fun, I think I know her, she was at my wedding."

Shining Armor and Soarin discussed business for a while longer, deciphering all of the details about the possible transition. Soarin made it perfectly clear that he wasn't sure that this is what he wanted, but Shining Armor was a very good negotiator. By the end of the day, it was evident that there was something preventing Soarin from making the leap immediately, because having his own division and living in Canterlot were obviously things he wanted.

"So what is it, really, what's the reason that your hooves are glued to the ground at the academy?"

Soarin felt comfortable around Shining Armor, as he was a very nice unicorn. Soarin had even met Princess Candace, who had made him cupcakes. There was no way Soarin couldn't be open with such a nice unicorn, Shining Armor knew what love felt like, so he might understand.

"There's a mare..."

"It always seems to be a mare, who is it Soarin? Is it Rainbow Dash? I could talk to Tw'lee about her if she's the reason you're so stuck."

"No no it's... it's somepony else. I used to have a really serious relationship, and it all started with the Wonderbolts. I don't know if I could just up and leave my friend like that."

"Lingering feelings, those can be the worst, but they can also be the best. Soarin, this is going to sound hard but I need to know now if you want the position or not. If you want to bring a mare with you when you come to live at the castle be my guest, there's plenty of room. It's been almost a year since you first told me you were interested, I'm sorry Soarin, I just can't wait."

"I know, I'm sorry Captain, I don't like to keep ponies waiting but I really want to be sure before I do anything so massive. I've got an idea, why don't you send the air division to Wonderbolt Academy, I'll personally train them up to snuff, and we'll go from there."

"Sure Soarin, so no matter what happens I get trained stallions in return, that's alright with me, how about I send them in a week? That won't interfere with anypony's business right?"

"Not at all Shining Armor, I'll send them back to you in shape to take out anything that even looks at Canterlot funny."

Soarin and Shining Armor talked some more, and by late afternoon Soarin was flying back to the academy. He arrived just after dinner had been served, her he didn't feel hungry. Soarin went to Spitfire's office, knocking on the door and going inside. She looked up, happy to see him after a long day of his absence.

"How was your day in Canterlot, Soarin?"

"I had fun, I spoke with Shining Armor, Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard, we went to his wedding together, remember that?"

"Yeah, I've got... I've got pictures look Soarin I'm busy planning for this years batch of cadets, so I need you to be quick."

"Alright, but first things first, I'm sorry I was short with you this morning..."

"Soarin..."

"No it wasn't right for me to raise my voice and get so sassy, you didn't deserve it. I couldn't explain then what I was doing, but I'll tell you now that things are worked out, are you still mad at me?"

Spitfire couldn't stay mad at him, she'd let the whole incident go hours previously, she simply felt sad that he was keeping secrets from her.

"No Soarin I forgive you, so, tell me about it."

"There's an air division of the guard that is going to come here for training next week. I invited them because Shining Armor wants them to brush up their skills, I'll train them myself."

Spitfire went through her little black book, which held her life laid out to the minute. She shook her head, running her hooves through her fiery orange mane.

"That means you'll have those guards here the same week we have new cadets coming, I won't have time to give them any attention."

"I know babe, I'll do it myself, I told Shining Armor I'd give them my personal attention, besides, you can handle a group of cadets, you've done it every year with little need for me to be around."

"What did you call me?"

"Spit, I called you Spit, didn't I?"

"No, no you said something else..."

"Sorry Captain, it must have slipped is all."

Soarin left Spitfire's office in a rush, he realized he'd called her bade by accident, a name she hadn't heard him use in years. Spitfire could feel her heart swell with regret and longing for the years passed, the times when he'd call her that everyday, the times when they shared a bed and he would never mis-tie his tie, because she'd be there to do it for him. Spitfire out her head in her hooves, taking a long sigh out and clenching her eyes closed, wanting desperately to not feel so weighed down by the past.

Once he was alone in his office, Soarin sat behind his desk and chuckled to himself about the mistake he'd made. He wondered if it were a mistake or not. If not for Spitfire, he'd of left the Wonderbolts a hear ago to go and work for Shining Armor in Canterlot. She had always been the one who wanted to be a Wonderbolt, he just wanted to fly and have something to call him. With the loss of Spitfire as his special somepony, he didn't have much left. Soarin grabbed a cadet application sheet, brought it to the mail room and had it sent off to Ponyville, where Rainbow Dash would eventually receive it.

With the passing of several more days,the application was returned in completed form. It was addressed to Soarin, when it should have been addressed to Spirfire. He took the application to her personally, knowing he'd have some explaining to do. They'd gotten over the nickname incident, but this was a whole new can of worms.

"Spit? Here, I got another application for you to approve of."

She took its opening and reading the on the credentials.

"This looks like a fine mare, she sent it to you? Who is she..."

Spitfire eventually found out that the name on the bottom of the application was Rainbow Dash. She sighed, watching as Soarin sat down in one of the chairs across from her, on the other side of her desk.

"So?"

"Did you convince her to do this Soarin?"

"I told her about it and she was all aboard, she's an excellent flyer, you said so when she came by all those weeks ago."

"You're right, I did say that. Soarin, do you... do you like her?"

"I... I don't know Spit, I'm not exactly sure. I'm trying to keep my options open, there's some things I'm just not ready to let go of yet."

"Your talking about... me."

"Spit I.. we tried, at least we can say we tried. I don't really want to talk about this right now, we're supposed to be working, ya gotta respect the uniform."

"Yes, yes of coarse. I'll approve of this right now and you can send it back to her."

Spitfire took out a copy of the letter of approval, signing her name and then turning it so Soarin could sign it too. She stamped it with the hot waxy seal, folding it up and putting it in the envelope, addressing it with the information given to her. Spitfire stood and walked around her desk to present it to Soarin, standing right in front of him. He took it, standing as well. Soarin put the letter down in the chair, giving Spitfire a hug faceted than she could say no. At fist she was surprised her whole body shuttering to his touch. After a moment her eyes drifted closed, her head nestling against his neck. She loved the way he touched her back when he hugged her, he was so warm and strong and Spitfire wanted them to stay hugging each other forever.

He released her, making soft and delicate feeling eye contact, his blue locked with her orange.

"No pony will ever be able to replace you Spitfire, Rainbow Dash is immature, she can't even tie a tie. You on the other hoof-" Soarin lifted his hoof so it was upright. Spirfire pressed hers against his, sighing comfortably, "-we're like this." Their hooves were pressed together perfectly, his bottom to hers.

Soarin took the letter, setting out of the office before he turned back and finished saying what he wanted to.

"You're my best friend Spit, no matter what I do and who I chose, you're my best friend."

He left her office, Spitfire breaking down in tears after he left. She locked it, pressing her back against the door and sliding down it's surface until she was sprawled out on the floor, heaving and shedding tears of agony. She still didn't know if he loved her, but she knew now with certainty that she wouldn't be able to live without her Soarin.

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