May 16, 2015 - History of "Freezing Blood" - Authors Note:
As of January 2, 2013 I posted a note saying this story was on its way out and that I was going to abandon the project to focus on my other stories. When I made the announcement I posted what I had of chapter 4 which is why it is known as "Chapter 4 (part A)". Suddenly something amazing happened, the story became one of my most popular stories in terms of pageviews and comments. After pulling the plug many-incredibly cool-readers encouraged me to continue with the story. On January 14, 2013 I made the decision to bring the project back to life starting where I left off. Chapter 4 (part B) was where the project resumed from.
Ch.04 (part A)-If It Can't Be Patched
As the alarm-clock chirped while the sun itself was still getting up, Spitfire's woke up tired without any desire of getting out of bed. After recognizing the difference in pitch from the alarm-clock, she was reminded that she wasn't in her normal bed, because she wasn't in for a normal day. Realizing that today was the day of the race, she was suddenly empowered with excitement. She leaped out of bed, and got herself ready to attack the day.
While she dressed in her uniform, she could only think about winning. It was a common mindset for Spitfire. She knew that with a race as high-level as today's, it was possible she finished under the top three, but Spitfire only thought about winning—being the best of the best.
Spitfire utilized that attitude for all races. She always maximized her ambitions before the race, and figured that she could learn to cope with receiving a non-gold trophy after it happens—not before. In Spitfire's mind, until the trophy was engraved to somepony else, she was the proud owner of it.
Spitfire scarfed down a couple snacks she had packed in her saddlebag. Flying on a full stomach would be a bad Idea, but she needed something to give her the energy she needed that could easily be burned off. After patting the crumbs off her uniform, she headed out the door to meet with the rest of the team.
Spitfire arrived early, though not the first Wonderbolt to show up, less than half were present at the time. Amongst the few Wonderbolts there, Fleetfoot was one of them, and Soarin' was not. Since she had around twenty minutes before warm-up started, Spitfire used the opportunity to chat with Fleetfoot.
Spitfire asked, "Are you ready?"
Fleetfoot replied, "Sure am! I've been waiting here for the last fifteen minutes."
"Why so early?" asked Spitfire.
"Its the most important race I've ever trained for, I figured it's better to be thirty minutes early, than one minute late," replied Fleetfoot.
Spitfire nodded. "I guess that makes sense. Is your leg okay?"
Fleetfoot answered, "Its okay enough. I'm not really concerned about it."
"Good... and Misty?" Spitfire's voice got weaker.
Fleetfoot answered, "She's still sleeping. Just not as interested in being as early as me. She was out late last night, but after I woke up, I left the alarm on snooze so I'm sure she's aware of the time right now."
"What was she doing out last night?" asked Spitfire.
"I don't know, she said she was going to get a quick drink, but she was out for more than a few hours."
Spitfire sighed, "Whatever, at least the ponies that care about the race are here."
Fleetfoot defended Misty, "Well, its still early, and she's not the only Wonderbolt we're waiting for."
Spitfire sighed, "Yeah... We'll see."
Spitfire left Fleetfoot to see how the other Wonderbolts were doing. Soarin' was still not there, but if he was, Spitfire would have probably ignored him as much as possible. As Captain, she was responsible for making sure the whole team was at their best. She continued checking in with the present Wonderbolts while more and more were beginning to show up. Then, Sky Screamer showed up wanting to talk to Spitfire interrupting her check-in with the other Wonderbolts.
"If everypony is here you can get started right now," said Sky Screamer.
"We're still waiting on three more to show up," replied Spitfire.
"Find out where they are. The sooner everypony is here the more time we have to prepare for the race," ordered Sky Screamer.
"Yes sir! I'm on it." Spitfire flew back to the hotel.
On the way, Spitfire crossed paths with Rapidfire who was heading toward the field. Spitfire stopped to instruct the Wonderbolt, "We're meeting at the bottom of the field. We're starting as soon as everypony gets there."
Rapidfire seemed nervous and stuttered, "Y-yes ma'am!"
"You're not in uniform," Spitfire pointed out to Rapidfire. "Why not?"
"Yeah its back in my room... but I don't have a key to get back in. Soarin' has it," stuttered Rapidfire.
"You left your room without your uniform?" Spitfire questioned.
Rapidfire looked panicked, but he answered Spitfire nonetheless, "Well... sort of... I unpacked my stuff in Soarin's room... but I ended up sleeping in Lighting Streak and Wave Chill's room for the night. So now I can't get to my bags."
"Why didn't you sleep in the room you were suppose to?" Spitfire asked.
"...Because Soarin'... snores," Rapidfire replied knowing how stupid the whole situation sounded.
Spitfire sighed, "Whatever. Soarin's not at the field so I would assume he's still in his room."
"I already knocked on his door and he didn't open up. I tried his room first. Are you sure he's not at the field?" said Rapidfire.
"I know he's not. Come with me, and we'll go look for him," said Spitfire.
The two ponies flew through the hallways and through the stairwells. On their way Spitfire saw Misty strolling casually from the other end of the hallway.
Spitfire shouted out to Misty, "Misty! Double-time it to the field! The teams waiting on you!"
Misty's head snapped to Spitfire. She was startled, and stared blankly at Spitfire and Rapidfire. "Yes ma'am!" she replied before opening her wings and flying off to the field.
Spitfire turned to Rapidfire. "Which of these rooms is Soarin's?" Spitfire asked.
"Uh-this one," he replied, pointing to the door beside them. Spitfire knocked on the door, and listened for a response.
Rapidfire said, "I already knocked and nopony answered."
"Well he's not at the field. Where else can he be?" asked Spitfire.
"I don't know," said Rapidfire.
Spitfire pounded harder on the door heavily with her hoof, and shouted through the door, "Soarin'! Open up!" There was still no response. Spitfire turned back to Rapidfire.
"You're sure this is the right room?" she asked. Rapidfire nodded with confirmation.
Spitfire sighed, "Okay. Go find maintenance and tell them you're locked out of your room. Once you get your uniform fly down to the field as quickly as you can. I gotta go look for Soarin'."
Rapidfire acknowledged her and flew off to find the maintenance pony. Spitfire continued to fly around the hotel looking for Soarin'.
After making a lap throughout the entire hotel with no luck finding Soarin', Spitfire looked at a clock on the wall. The warm-up was scheduled to start. So much for starting things early, she thought. Not knowing where Soarin' could have gone, Spitfire returned to the field. She approached Sky Screamer and explained where Rapidfire was, and that Soarin' couldn't be found.
"Its time, start the warm-up now, fill in the other two when they get here. I'll go back to the hotel and find out what's going on," said Sky Screamer.
"Yes sir!" Spitfire replied.
Sky Screamer left, and Spitfire started some simple warm-up drills with the Wonderbolts that were present. In the back of Spitfire's mind she dwelt on where Soarin' could possibly be. It wasn't like him not to show up. Within ten minutes Sky Screamer came back with Rapidfire—who was still without his uniform. Both ponies approached Spitfire.
"Give your team a water-break, we need to speak to you in private," directed Sky Screamer.
Spitfire did exactly what she was told, and off to the side of the field, Spitfire, Sky Screamer, and Rapidfire conversed:
Sky Screamer cleared his throat. "Soarin' is… he's dead. Patch is up there now, waiting for the police to come investigate," he said.
In Spitfire's career, that was the only time she ever heard him hesitate to say what was on his mind, but she never heard news so serious before. Spitfire froze for a moment while Sky Screamer waited for her to process what she was hearing. Rapidfire just stood there continuing to look nervous.
After long thought, Spitfire said the only thing her mind could come up with, "... Are you sure?"
Sky Screamer didn't say anything and simply placed a hoof on Spitfire's shoulder. It wasn't very comforting, but it was more affectionate than anything else that came from Sky Screamer.
Spitfire felt uncomfortable with Sky Screamer's silence and she worriedly looked at Rapidfire expecting him to say that for the first time ever, Sky Screamer was lying to her. Instead, Rapidfire turned his head, and directed his eyes down and off to the side.
Spitfire looked back at Sky Screamer, then asked, "Patch will be able to make him better. Right? You said he's good at what he does."
Sky Screamer shook his head, "He's good, but he's still just a pony. There's nothing that can be done to bring Soarin' back."
The Following is the original authors note when the project was first abandoned on January 2, 2013:
Author's Eulogy for "Freezing Blood": I know this isn't the best place for this story to wrap up, certainly not as good as the ending I had planned for it, but I doubt people are going to read this far anyway.
Even though this story failed, and never reached its point of action, I learned quite a lot from it—possibly even more than what I would have learned if it was successful. Even though 10,000 words will be without a conclusive ending, I'm glad I had this experience. I don't enjoy giving up on projects, but the experience itself is something worth having. The bottom line is: whether something is good or bad never makes anything less of an adventure. - R.I.P
As of January 14, 2013 I have decided to resume this project.