Chapter II: Flight Mechanics
The sun rose over the hills south of Ponyville as Rage and Rainbow where looking at Rainbow's mailbox. They were both waiting for a letter from the wounderbolts academy. Rage without his connection to Chaos was stuck in his pony form so he felt like he should work on his flying since the last time he was only able to get so far before his ego got a hold of him and he got through early after a race against Rainbow Dash.
"So Rage why again did you decide to try this again?" she asks "I mean you already fly as well as I do."
"Because, I am already very skilled in magic. But my flight is... less then admirable. Back home I could only fly when I was powered up. But even then I enjoyed running as it was my fastest way of travel. But when I arrived in Equestira as an Alicorn my speed was transferred to flight over running." Rage explains as Derpy flies down from above with two letters in her hoof.
"Letters for Rainbow Dash and uh..." she stops and looks at the other letter "Burning Rage." she hands them the letters. And they take them to read as she flies off.
They both smile at the letters. Rage was accepted as a student again. Rainbow Dash was going for Advance Teacher.
"Well I guess they really like us huh?" Rainbow Dash asks Rage
"Yeah, I will head off you have an extra couple of hours then me so I will see you." Rage says with a wave taking off one of his Sonic Flares behind him.
~Wounderbolts Academy 10 AM~
Rage lands with a group of recruits Spitfire looked at them. Rage knew that chances were she was going to act like he was never here which was fine by him!
"So you all think you're Wounderbolt material... well let me be the first to say YOUR NOT!" she yells pacing up and down examining each flyer.
She approaches Rage and looks him over before saying something "You... I bet you are the slowest here!"
"No ma'am!" Rage replies "I cut through the skies at burning speeds. Sometimes I feel like I caught fire!"
Spitfire looks with a grin at Rage for a second "I like your attitude." she says moving on down the line to a dark grey pony with a mane that looked of fire. Her Cutie Mark was a black cloud with a small flame in the center of the cloud. Spitfire looked her over as she did all the rest before saying something "And you! I doubt you can fly at all!" she scorns
"Is that a challenge?" the pony says obviously female by the voice a wide grin on her face.
"Excuse me?" Spitfire asks the female Pegasus. "You want a chance to prove yourself?" she asks. The cocky sounding Pegasus nods in reply without the grin leaving her face once. "Very well..." Spitfire says backing up and facing all of the group. There was about 10 of them "500 laps now!" she says blowing her whistle. "Once you are done report to the mess hall!"
Some complained but Rage and the other pony flew off at great speeds. Soon both had done a Rainboom of some form. Both where neck and neck for about 480 of the laps before Rage finally had the speed to pull off his Rainbolt move he calls his Firebolt as the lightning bolt instead of being a rainbow looks of fire. This caused him to finish the course within mere seconds after. Rage lands with a grin on his face and some of Spitfire's attendants had their glasses down and mouths open from the performance. About a second after the other pony flies down looking in pleasure at Rage. "Nice flying." she compliments with a smile.
"You're not too bad yourself." Rage says with a smile "What's your name?"
"Names Cloud Flare. You?" she says putting a hoof out for a hoof bump
"Name's Burning Rage but please just call me Rage." the alicorn replies bumping his new pals hoof.
"wait Prince Burning Rage or am I thinking of a different one?" she asks making sure she was thinking of the right one
"That's me. Although I more just a Protector of Equestria, the Prince is part is more of a Political title. Not like I care to much. As long as I am kept busy... which I am there is no problem with that." Rage replies
"Well I guess it's an honor too meet you. But what are you doing here?" Cloud Flare asks him
"Well I am up here with Rainbow Dash. I got board working on magic so I figured why to work on my flight I do need practice after all." Rage replies as they sit down at a table.
"I see... so what's your story? What led up to you becoming a prince? It's very unusual for Celestia to select someone of Twilight's choosing." Cloud asks Rage with curiosity in his eyes. Rage looked down for a moment in thought, this made Cloud feel bad he felt like it must have been something tragic or something the way Rage looked down.
"I don't think you'd understand..." Rage says looking up a bit.
"Hay I had no idea it was like that." Cloud says "I am sorry if it hurt you. Forget I asked alright?" Cloud smiled warmly hoping it was enough...
"yeah, thanks." Rage says before one of the other students walks in,
"Hay we are done for the day... Spitfire is going to post the lead pony/wing pony paper tomorrow. She wants us to head to our barracks to sleep." she said to the two. They thank her before heading off to bed.
[6:00 AM the next day]
Rage wakes up knowing he was going to be a lead pony with his skill and leadership capability already in tow. He walks to the same pony who told him about everything the day before and asks "So who is lucky enough to be mine?"
she looks around a second before saying "Uh... Prince Burning Rage you may want to check the post..." she squeaks like she was afraid he was going to burst at the phrase.
"Okay... and please call me Rage, my formal name just makes my skin crawl." Rage says walking over to see he was put as the Wing Pony to Cloud Flare! "huh?!"
Cloud Flare walks over to him with a grin "Well it seems they know we are the perfect team. With me to guide you we will be unstoppable!" he puts his wing on Rage's shoulder who brushes it off. "Oh personal space... got it." he chuckles
'cocky parasprite sized hoof licker...' Rage says under his breath walking to the Admin before storming into Spitfire's office
"This best be important Rage." she says "I am very busy."
"How can you put me wing pony to someone as cocky as Cloud Flare?" he asks
"I was going to put you lead but he pushes himself a little harder then you do." Spitfire says
"That's because I don't need to. I am no show off! If I wanted to push myself I would break the academy record in under a day." Rage says
"Look Rage, he's lead pony because he would be a better leader alright now please I have paperwork to do. Please head to the cloud smasher course and help you Lead Pony!" Spitfire says sternly.
Rage left her office grumbling under his breath so nopony could hear him. He catches up with Cloud Flare and begins helping with the clouds. They were about 25 clouds ahead of everypony else wheb Cloud Flare hatched an idea.
"Hay I bet we can use a tornado to finish this up quick. What do ya say?" he asks Rage
"Isn't that a little overkill I mean we are already so far ahead?" Rage asks
"Isn't a Wounderbolt The best of the best? Therefore there is no 'overkill' for a Wounderbolt!" he replies.
Rage hated the idea until what Spitfire said about pushing himself came to mind. "Fine lets do it!" Rage agrees and the two begin swirling around and around. Eventually due to Rage's greater speed Cloud Flare lost control and flew out. Soon Rage had the same happen. With all the clouds gone Rage catches a purple ball in the tornado. As Rainbow Dash lands next to him they both see it and rush into help.
"Rainbow I got Twilight and the others you get the balloon!" Rage says flying down and grabbing all five with his magic and putting them an the runway hill. The five thank him and Dash. Soon Cloud Flare landed behind them.
"Dude that was so awesome!" he laughs
"That nearly took out mine and Rainbow Dash's friends!" Rage growls fed up with the cocky stallion "I think you should have been then wing pony! That was crazy!" Rage yells
"But I am not. You are and it got rid of the clouds didn't it?" he says with a glare of anger
"But at a cost that could have killed my best friends!" Rage yells "I don't know what kind of leader would put others a risk for his own gain! You're no leader your a cock, arrogant crazy stallion!" Rage storms off to Spitfire's office...
he bursts in and she looks at him annoyed with the quick return "I thought you were to help your lead pony with the clouds." she says
"we are done." Rage says still angry
"That was fast. What's your method?" she asks when Rage told her a tornado she nodded and said it was effective even though she had a gut feeling it was going to end like Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash,
"But that is why I am here!" Rage says "Sure it's effective but it put mine and Rainbow Dash's friends at risk of death! If that is what you want here as the models are crazy, cock, arrogant, ponies then that is something I do not want to be a part of. Leadership takes the mind to know what can happen and to own up and take responsibility for it!" Rage takes the silver badge off and storms out. Back to his friends "Let's go." he says before Spitfire caught up.
"Rage! How can you storm out without letting me reply! Look you are right. A true lead pony is caution for all not just himself. I realize that now, as I did with the difference the pushing yourself and just being reckless with RD and Lightning Dust. I think you should be a lead pony." she says calling for Cloud Flare. He comes up and she rips the badge off him and hands it to Rage "You are a true leader, true and pure at heart... that is what makes a wounderbolt." she says
Cloud Flare looked at him in anger and leaped for him. Rage quickly avoids the pounce and trips the dark gray stallion. "This is not fair you went and told Spitfire about what happened! Snitching is what makes ponies mad!" he growls getting up to leap again
"But when you endanger the lives of hundreds of other ponies then I think it's something that should be done!" Rage growls "Now leap again and you will be sorry you did!" even with the warning the stallion jumped on top of Rage. Soon however he looked at his wings which where on fire. Swiftly he flies to the lake on the other side of the academy leaving a smirk on Rage's face. Spitfire looked at him in disbelief
"Rage did you just use magic to burn Cloud's wings?" she asks him
"No, it was an illusion. He thought so and it looked like it but it was harmless. I have Twilight to thank for that trick!" Rage chuckles as the rest laugh at the statement.
"Now how about doing a quick 20 if your still interested?" Spitfire asks Rage who salutes and takes off without delay.
To be continued