Wonderbolts Headquarters
6.47 pm.
Wednesday

After a relaxing shower, with his mind still occupied with thoughts that tried to tell him to relax, Soarin and his teammate Thunderlane were on their way to the table that Surprise, Blaze and Lightning Streak were at. Mistyfly didn't come with them as she needed to go check up whether her new schedule was in her office like she ordered that one newbie to bring it.

After reaching the table and finally letting go of the trays that they were holding with their wings, the duo greeted the others and listened into their conversation.

"Spitfire said that we need to report immediately if we would be available to fly for the show in Manehattan in Wave Chill's place." said Surprise looking at Blaze who was sitting across her as Thunderlane cringed and turned towards Soarin; who, as he clearly saw it, was eating his dinner peacefully as if he didn't hear anything.

Blaze nodded at Surprise and replied; "Yes, and we really need to hurry up since memorizing the choreography isn't easy." she took a spoonful of salad and started chewing, though didn't stop talking.

"Say, Lightning." She motioned to him with her spoon, her words muffled. "Isn't Fire Streak's schedule free until the 'big show'." Her eyes waiting to be confirmed while still chewing.

The stallion stopped eyeing the abnormally silent Soarin and looked at the mare who was still eating her salad.

"Yes it is. I think he already went to report too; you know, him and being responsible are parallels." He said, as if matter of factly.

"Don't act like you aren't a nerd too, Streaky. It's as clear as your wings."

Soarin, who didn't even looked up and continued drinking his soup as the others at the table started laughing at the remark of their newcomer while Lightning roled his eyes, finally decided to direct his thoughts to his friends.

If this isn't the 'mare who came out of a sit-com' herself.

Say, I actually miss watching sit-coms.

I should visit Appleloosa theatres again sometime.

Ah, this reminds me of that time when all team went to watch that one theatre after a show.

It was really funny too.

Though Dash swore that 'Generic 3' was a parody of her and her friends.

Especially saying that one mare with the pink coat and blue mane was imitating her, ha ha!

...

Ugh, Soarin-

"... And Fleetfoot said that the choreography was gre-" High Winds stopped herself as she saw that Soarin was looking at them questioningly upon hearing his name. Thinking that Fleetfoot might feel... well she didn't know the right name for it but thinking that she may not want her to say it, High Winds stayed silent.

Soarin, finding this weird, opened his mouth to ask High Winds.

If Fleetfoot didn't already beat him to it.

"Why did you stop?" She took a bite out of her sandwich.

The curly maned mare looked at her weird. "Well, can I?" she asked weirdly.

Fleetfoot finished chewing her third bite. "Duh. Why wouldn't you say that I think Soarin's choreography is amazing?" she tilted her head to her right.

"Well, I mean, you are Fleetfoot so what am I supposed to think?"

A snort escaped from Blaze as she tried to cover it while others ignored her, for the sake of her, and went on with listening to the conversation that was still going on.

After rolling her eyes and finishing drinking her vegetable smoothie the 'mare who came out of a sit-com' wrapped her left hoof around High Winds.

She sure eats fast.

"What's wrong with me complementing a fellow flyer 'plus' a friend?" Fleetfoot said as she squeezed the mare before turning towards Soarin and smiling at him.

"And we all know how hard Soarin works, he deserves it."

Soarin returned Fleetfoot an equally warm smile, he really appreciated how she acknowledged him. And she wasn't wrong, he worked hard indeed.

Everypony around the table noded as they made comments like 'of course' and how they 'already knew this'; stating and being proud of Soarin's hard work and dedication, minus the pie eating and the bits that went with it.

As they were all in the middle of complementing Soarin and starting to be sarcastic, a mare with a fire-like mane showed up with her tray between her wings.

"What is this now, Soarin's birthday?" she put her tray next to a startled Thunderlane's and sat down, eyeing them all as she waited for a reaction to her statement; which, was, only a laugh coming from Lightning Streak as even Fleetfoot herself looked at her.

"That was a joke."

A collective of 'Ah's were made as Spitfire rolled her eyes and raised her mug to her mouth with her right wing; after all she had a long night on, and coffee was the best option in this situation for her.

"Well! Your humor sucks more now since Wave isn't here to laugh at your 'jokes'!" chirped Fleetfoot as she watched the mentioned mare snort while drinking her coffee, just like she planned her to.

The captain fixed her posture as she put her mug on her tray, giving Fleetfoot a neutral look.

"Well, I'm still not seeing Rapidfire around the compound."

...

Wait!

Did she really just-?!

Those 'Ah's from earlier were now replaced by shushed 'Oh's as everypony around the table cringed.

Blaze by now was right next to Surprise as they were trying to stay far away from the two mares who were sitting at the right side of the table, across from each other as Lightning was practically next to Soarin, almost clinging to him; meanwhile Soarin was giving pitying looks towards the two unlucky pegasi that were slowly shaking their heads towards their way, clearly asking for help.

I'm so sorry guys.

Not because you will die from this.

Both Spitfire and Fleetfoot gave the four ponies who were at the other side of the table side glances as they had a confused look.

But because these three want to exaggerate and try to scare you both.

As if they took their answer by reading Soarin's mind; Fleetfoot finally replied Spitfire, who was waiting for her to speak.

"It's not my fault they wanted him in the 'Canterlot Castle Special Military Team' since his skills are great."

A smirk tugged on the latter's lips as if Fleetfoot just said something wrong for her behalf.

"Really? Because it's not 'my' fault that Wave is the best for leading the flight teams, too."

Finally seeing her point, the cyan mare rolled her eyes with a sigh as she accepted the defeat, making the other three go crazy with happiness because of the end of the 'war' and immediately went to 'check' on Thunderlane and High Winds.

"I was so scared for a minute." said Surprise with her poorly acting skills.

"Who wouldn't? Spitfire looked like she was on fire!" added Blaze as she was the only one who laughed at her 'perfect' pun.

"And you know this the best since it's in your genetics-" replied Lightning almost immediately before Blaze swiped her head towards him, yelling.

"Stop with the sister joke Lightning!" the orange maned pegasus was now the one who looked like she was on fire, this making Lightning snicker more; she turned towards Soarin for support, "Soarin, have my back dude!" she looked at him expectantly.

The co-captain only shook his head, "It's not my fight and I'm currently busy with my apple pie." he took another bite after that, leaving Blaze by herself.

"Which you had to buy, by the way!" came a loud and annoying voice.

... Seriously?

"Bold words coming from a guy who was shivering a minute ago, Thunderlane." spat back Soarin without leaving his eyes from the pie on his tray.

Feeling left out and seeing a potential teasing opportunity, Fleetfoot jumped into the conversation. "Bold words coming from you as if you weren't scared!"

I'm not even going to bother with this bickering disaster.

"We both know this was stupid Fleetfoot." he was irritated now, maybe a little too much since it was turning into a loud mess and he totally didn't need that at the moment.

My mind is already busy as it is.

"Hey guys, can you scoot a little? I wan-"

"Enough!" finally shouted a 'so-done' Spitfire who also stood up and slammed her hooves on the polished floors, wings spread open and so stiff because of her irritation, thus startling the poor Mistyfly who was about to drop her tray along with her goodies. Everypony stopped arguing with one another and turned their attention to Spitfire, now all of them being really concerned, as Spitfire's right wing started to massage her temples before she sat down.

A long and tired sigh finally escaped from the captain's lips as it didn't have to be locked up there anymore.

Even if he wasn't arguing like the others around the table before Spitfire's outburst, Soarin still scolded himself as he looked at Spitfire's tired state along with the others.

What are we doing?

Seeing how the others didn't notice the crowd of recruits surrounding them, who were trying to see what was happening despite being so scared, Mistyfly took the job of shooing them away in her hooves, "Alright everypony, go back to your trays or we will take it as you are full now! If you don't want your food to be thrown away then I better see you all next to your trays right now!"

Knowing Mistyfly's nature of meaning what she said, all of the recruits flew back to their tables in a panicked state at the thought of not eating after a long day full of training; some almost crashing into somepony else.

Giving a nod to Mistyfly to show her gratitude, Spitfire finally looked at her teammates' worried eyes with her tired ones.

"I'm really sorry Spitfire, I just wanted to joke-!" Fleetfoot didn't have a chance to finish her fast, and probably long, apology as the mentioned captain raised her left wing; signalling for her, and probably the others who might have followed Fleetfoot's example to start apologizing in a rush, to stop and let herself speak.

"It's not that I'm mad because you guys are goofing around, it's just... I'm really tired." She knew they knew that already but she still carried on with her explanation, not actually having a preapared one since she never thought she would had to confront them about it.

She didn't plan on saying this to any of us.

Soarin's worried expression with his furrowed eyebrows were only met with Spitfire's guilty orbs, reading his mind; as he also read hers.

I knew it.

"Silver Lining is injured, Dash is on a royal meeting for 2 weeks..." Soarin would never admit it to anypony but if some were to look at his eyes in that moment when the firey mare mentioned his best friend; his green eyes, which were greener than the fields of Equestria as once a mare who was brighter than the blue sky-as he would like to joke about but also let her know he meant it-joked about, shined a different hue. One that certainly was duller than his', "And now, Wave is gone for a week leading a royal crew to Celes-" she quickly corrected herself, "Twilight-knows where.".

She finally let her wings fall to her sides as her eyes met with the light blue, cloud made ceiling, "I have so much work to do, and Soarin is already working so hard. That's why I was more 'crankier' after Wave left too." she brought back her head towards her teammates who finally decided to sit down on their seats back like her.

"I didn't want to tell you guys any of this," she avoided Soarin and Fleetfoot's angry and tired gazes, "even if some of you don't approve of this. I'm not saying anything because it's my job as the captain, and everypony is already working as hard as always so there is no need for me to complain about. Because there is nothing to." she heaved out another sigh before taking her mug which consisted her now a little cold coffee with her right wing, taking a long sip. "I just need to empty my mind."

...

Great.

How am I supposed to be mad at her when I'm in the same situation myself?

And I already know that wasn't a question.

Mistyfly wrapped her left wing around her now silent captain and finally spoke, "Well, looks like you already know what you have to do." she gave her a squeeze with her wing.

"I miss Silver Lining." Blaze admitted sadly as Lightning also agreed with her. "My brother might be free of schedule by the way, captain. I bet he already reported for duty too." she gave him a nod with a small smile as Lightning tried to put her mind at ease.

"Well I miss Dash's great stories." Fleetfoot added with High Winds adding a soft 'Yeah' to her remark as Soarin slightly lowered his head more, "But I need to wait for awhile and let her have new ones! She better make them thrilling!" smiled hugely the cyan mare as she also gave a smile to Spitfire, a huge and genuine one too.

Thunderlane and Soarin looked at each other before joining the others, "Come on guys, cheer up!" started Thunderlane before looking at Soarin with a confident smile. Knowing what to do, Soarin gave them all the same smile Thunderlane was giving them.

"We are Wonderbolts. And like we all know, this isn't something new. Sure, it might have been a little shocking for all of our friends' absenceses being so sudden and at the same time. But now, we should work even harder. Now stop mopping and arguing like some teens and act like young adults; meaning dig into your foods already! They have been waiting more than necessary at this point!" finished off Soarin as the others around him finally remembered their cold dinners and started laughing.

So we all are having these thoughts, huh?

Glad to know that I'm not the only one.

They better make it up to us for our wasted dinners when they all come back.

Everypony around the table started to have little chats between each other as Mistyfly looked towards Spitfire again, "Oh and by the way, when you shouted like that my beautiful carrot soup was about to meet it's doom." she stared at her captain with her glared expression now. "Don't think I forgave you for that just because you have a right to be mad at those little kids' bickering."

Between Spitfire's laughs and 'Sure's, Fleetfoot's 'Hey' was loud enough for all of them to hear before they started to laugh together once again.

Soarin smiled warmly at his friends and looked at the last bit of his delicious apple pie.

But before he could eat it, Fire Streak came into the cafeteria and started looking everywhere for somepony. After spotting it, he flew towards the table, the very table of Soarin and the others.

"Spitfire." started Fire Streak, trying to catch his breath as his wings finally rested at his sides. Seeing his brother, Lightning was about to greet him in a happy voice before he was interrupted, "Wave Chill's letter arrived."

...

Wave Chill's... letter...

Wait!-

"What?!" shouted the captain and the co-captain as they both stood up for the second time that night.

Ugh-

So much for eating dinner peacefully.

~~~

~} 2612 words