Seven Days with Spitfire - Day 6

Day 6 – All Work and No Play

The sun was just setting over Cloudsdale.  This was Rainbow Dash's favorite time of day.  The setting sun was repainting the city in oranges and reds.  Every evening, it was a different show.  

As the sun slipped behind the horizon, and Luna's night sky came with its blue and purple light, Rainbow kicked off from the cloud she had been sitting on.  She had only recently been introduced to night flying, but it was quickly becoming her favorite time to fly.  Diving through a cloud in the dark, you didn't really know where you'd end up.  There was always that risk of coming out just above trees or into the side of a mountain, a risk that was very exhilarating.

Tonight was different, though.  Tonight Rainbow flew to relax.  She just wanted to ease her mind.  So much had been going on lately, that even the typically unshakable Rainbow Dash was finding her nerves frayed.  Tonight was just about her, her wings, and the sound of the wind in her ears.  Rarity had her spa treatments to relax; well, this was Rainbows spa treatment.  She glided and banked off the thermals with ease, skimming the tops of clouds, and dancing with the shadows from the moon.

Then from behind her, she heard voices.  She banked around to see who was there.  It was Spitfire and Fluttershy.

"What are you two doing here?" Rainbow asked.

"Well, we were hoping we could join you," Spitfire answered.

"If you don't mind too much, that is," Fluttershy added.

"To be honest, I was enjoying being by myself, but it was just starting to get lonely," Rainbow dove toward her two friends and did a series of loops around them.  "Come on.  Let's fly!"

The three pegasi owned the night sky.  Climbing, diving, rolling, creating a delicate dance in the sky.  Even Fluttershy started getting a little more daring, diving slightly faster than she ever would normally.

They would take turns climbing and diving toward each other.  Seeing who could pull out of the dive the closest.  Fluttershy wasn't good at this game, but at one point Rainbow and Spitfire actually smacked hooves as they flew past each other.

Games of flying tag were played, using the clouds for cover.  Rainbow laughed each time she would tag Fluttershy, getting that signature "EEEK" from her.

Flying wing-tip to wing-tip, gliding along the thermals, this was Fluttershy's favorite.  Mainly because she could keep up with the other two easily.

If anypony could have witnessed the three friends, they would have thought they were watching a well-choreographed routine, not just three friends having fun.  For what seemed like hours, the only sounds present were the flapping of wings and laughter of friends.

"FOUND YOU!  YOU'RE OURS NOW!"

The three pegasi turned to see where the air shattering cry came from, only to see a squad of Wonderbolts flying toward them.  Without saying a word, Rainbow, Spitfire, and Fluttershy flew away as fast as they could.  

Rainbow worried for her pink-maned friend.  She knew Fluttershy was not that fast of a flyer or that strong.  She was likely tired already from their flying.  Her concerns were justified.

Two Wonderbolts caught up to Fluttershy easily.  They had a net strung between them and in an instant; Fluttershy was caught in the net.  Once they had her secured, the Wonderbolts flew off into the darkness with Fluttershy screaming in fear.

Rainbow wanted to turn and help, but she knew she would likely get caught too.  She had no choice but to fly faster still, with Fluttershy's scream still ringing in her ears.

Two Wonderbolts had also caught up to Spitfire.  They tried to use their net, but Spitfire had enough strength and speed to break through.  Two more came up, and the four then used roped to lasso the flame-colored pegasus and wrestle her to the ground.

Rainbow squinted her eyes and lowered her profile further, flying as fast as she could.  That's when she felt it, a rope around her back left leg, then one around her right leg.  She fought and pulled the Wonderbolts with her.  Two more ropes caught her legs, and then one wrapped around her neck.  Straining her neck muscle against the rope, trying to keep it from choking her, she flew faster.  Another rope landed around her neck and then she noticed a Wonderbolt flying right beside her.

"Give it up Rainbow Dash.  We've got you,"  the masked flyer said.

"No way.  I don't give up."

"Have it your way," and the Wonderbolt pulled ahead of Rainbow and used his back hoof to kick her in the side of the head with a knockout blow.

Rainbow quickly opened her eyes.  Looking around frantically she started to recognize the Apple family barn.   She looked down to see that her blankets were wrapped around her legs.  "A dream, it was just a dream," the pegasus reassured herself.

"Hey, you okay?" a voice from the darkness asked.

"Spitfire?"

"Yeah, why, you sharing a barn with someone else?  I heard you scream and I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I'm okay, just a bad dream."

Celestia's sun rose over the Apple family's farm signaling another day of hard work.  Strangely, though, there was no movement around the Apple home.  Apple Bloom wasn't up getting ready for school.  Granny Smith wasn't busy fixing breakfast.  Applejack wasn't planning out what all she needed to get done before lunch.  The only movement was coming from Big Macintosh's room as the large stallion rolled over in his bed.  In fact, everypony was still in their beds sound asleep.

The two pegasi in the barn were no different.  It had been difficult for the two pegasi to get a restful night's sleep at first.  Both suffered terrible nightmares, but eventually they both relaxed enough to fall into a quiet restful sleep.  Even the light of the sun coming in through the open windows wasn't enough to wake either of them now.

It was some time after nine that the two pegasi began to stir.  The smell of fresh pancakes and coffee wafting through the barn would have woken anypony.  As they stretched and shook the hay from their coats, they both thought about their arrival at the farm the evening before.  Rainbow was thinking about the amazing dinner that the Apples had prepared and how there seemed to be just enough food for all of them.  Spitfire thought briefly about the food, but her thoughts were more focused on the Apples themselves.  They were so open and welcoming to a total stranger.  They all seemed genuinely concerned that she was in trouble and needed help, and not just Applejack, but the whole family.  It had been a long time since she had seen anything like that.  It only helped to reassure her that it was indeed time to leave the Wonderbolts and look for that kind of family in her own life.  "Who knows?  Maybe I've already found it," she thought as she and Rainbow walked toward the house.

"Well hay, there y'all are!  I was just about to send Apple Bloom here out to the barn to wake ya two sleepy-heads up for breakfast," Applejack said as the two pegasi entered the Apples' dining room.
"We're the sleepy-heads?  Last I checked, dawn was several hours ago, and you're just now fixing breakfast," Rainbow joked back at her friend.

"Alright, alright, you know there's only one week out of the warm season that we have nothin' farm-related to do, so yeah, we enjoy gettin' a little extra shut-eye.  Now come on, have a seat and eat some breakfast.  We don't have any work to do today, but I've still got a pretty big day planned for y'all."

Everypony was seated at the table quietly enjoying their breakfast.  Spitfire couldn't help but notice the occasional stare coming from Apple Bloom and even sometimes Big Macintosh.  She remembered back to when she and Rainbow arrived the night before, those two were seriously star-struck.  She smiled when she caught Apple Bloom staring again.

"Is there something you'd like to ask me?"  she said to the now embarrassed filly.

"Oh, sorry, but yeah, how come y'all want to leave the Wonderbolts all of the sudden?  Aren't you happy anymore?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Well, that's a pretty complicated answer.  I'm not sure somepony as young as you would understand," Spitfire replied trying to dodge the question.

"I may be young, but I'm smart.  Try me," the persistent filly countered.

"Okay, the answer to your second question is no.  I'm not happy being a Wonderbolt anymore, and that's the main reason I want to leave.  Now, I know you're going to ask why I'm not happy anymore, and that's the complicated bit," Spitfire got that out just as she saw Apple Bloom taking a deep breath to ask her why.  "Do you love working here on the farm with your brother and sister?"

"Well, yeah, of course I do.  We make it a lot of fun," Apple Bloom answered.

"Alright, but do you love to go to school or hang out with your friends, too?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Now, what if you were only allowed to pick one thing to do for the rest of your life, you either work here on the farm, go to school, or hang out with your friends?  You can only do one of those things, meaning if you choose to work on the farm, you can never go to school or hang out with your friends.  How would you feel about that?" Spitfire asked, hoping she had made it easy enough for the filly to understand.

"Well, that would just stink.  I'd miss my friends a lot and Miss Cheerilee, my teacher, I'd miss her too, and, please don't tell anyone, but I really like learnin' in school too.  So, does that mean that when you became a Wonderbolt, you had to give up your friends, family and everythin'?"

Spitfire had to admit it, she was impressed by how well the filly caught on to the reality of the situation.  "Yes, I did.  To be a Wonderbolt, you give up everything.  The Wonderbolts became my family, friends, my whole life.  It was okay for a while.  They keep you so busy and distracted, you hardly have time to notice you're lonely, but once I did notice how lonely I really was, I knew I had to leave."

"But why can't you just leave?  Why are you havin' to hide and everythin'?" Apple Bloom asked.

Spitfire was stuck.  She didn't know how to answer.  She didn't know if she could answer.

"Apple Bloom, do you remember when you and the Cutie Mark Crusaders tried zip-lining?" Rainbow chimed in.

"Yeah, I still have a bruise from that one," Apple Bloom replied.

"Okay, did you actually want to ride that zip line or did you let the others talk you into it?"

"Well, it was mainly Scoot's idea and she can talk you into doin' a lot of stuff."

"Same goes for Spitfire.  The Wonderbolts don't want to let her go because then they have to train someone to take her place.  That means the shows may not be as cool as they are now.  So, they're going to want to try to talk her into staying.  Best way to avoid that is to avoid them.  Make sense?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, like the time me and Sweetie Belle hid from Scootaloo when she wanted to be Cutie Mark Crusader Pig Wrestlers.  So, I guess I can't tell Scoots and Sweetie Belle you're here?"

"We'd rather you didn't, Sugarcube.  The fewer ponies that have to keep the secret, the better it'll be," Applejack answered.

"Apple Bloom, didn't you tell me that you and your friends had a secret club house?" Spitfire asked.

"Yeah, the Cutie Mark Crusaders' Clubhouse, it's here on the farm.  We go there just about every day after school."

"How about this, you and the Cutie Mark Crusaders go to your clubhouse like you normally would, and I'll see if Rainbow and I can't stop by and say hi.  That way everypony doesn't have to keep the secret that long, and if somepony should tell, Rainbow and I will be gone off the farm by then.  That is only if you can keep my secret, okay?"  Spitfire was pleased with her bargaining skills.  She knew Apple Bloom was a fan and assumed that the others were as well.  She never wanted to disappoint a fan.

"You got a deal!"  Apple Bloom cheered.

"Apple Bloom, if you don't leave now, you're going to be late for school," the frail-looking Granny Smith said.

Looking at the clock, Big Macintosh agreed with an "Eeyup," and got up to get Apple Bloom's school bags for her.  On days like this, when he had time off, he really enjoyed walking Apple Bloom to school, even though he didn't need to, he still enjoyed it, and always came back with a big smile on his face.

"Bye Granny.  Bye Sis.  Bye Rainbow.  Bye Spitfire.  I'll see you two at the clubhouse after school," Apple Bloom said as she and her big brother walked off toward the school.

"Now, if you two are done eatin', why don't you go sit on the front porch?  I'll help Granny clean all this up and be out there to meet you in a bit."  Applejack said.

The two pegasi got up and slowly walked out to the front porch.  Neither could believe how full their bellies were from breakfast.

"Sweet Celestia, I hope Applejack doesn't want us to fly anywhere.  I don't think I could get off the ground; I'm so full," Spitfire commented as she sat down on the porch.

"I know.  I don't get to eat here often, but when I do, I don't eat again for the rest of the day.  That Granny Smith sure can cook," Rainbow said as she sat down beside Spitfire.

"Hay now, wake up you two!" Applejack's voice rang out.

"Huh? Wha?" Rainbow and Spitfire both said.  They hadn't realized that while sitting on the porch, they had both fallen asleep.

"I said wake up.  I've got a lot I want to show you two," Applejack repeated.

"Sorry AJ.  Food coma from Granny's breakfast," Rainbow said slightly embarrassed.

"Yeah, sorry Applejack, we were just so full and it's so peaceful out here.  I guess we just dozed off," Spitfire apologized.

"Don't worry about it.  I understand.  We work really hard out here and her breakfasts keep us going, but on days like these, wooo, that can be a lot of food.  Y'all feel like tryin' to walk some of it off?"

The three ponies set off walking, seemingly aimless at first, but Applejack knew just where she was taking time.  She told them some of the history of the farm on her little tour.  How this field came about.  Why this area turned out better apples for fritters.  Why this area was better for cider apples.  That happened to be Rainbow's favorite and she kept asking why that area was so small.  "It needs to be at least 120% bigger," she said.  AJ explained how the trees near the Everfree Forest were the Zap Apple producing trees.

"We're near the Everfree Forest?  Are we near Fluttershy's house?" Spitfire asked.

"Fraid not Sugercube.  The forest is huge and Fluttershy's place is on the other side from here," Applejack answered.

As Applejack continued her tour, Celestia's midday sun was shining brightly and all three ponies were getting hot and tired.  Rainbow Dash was just getting ready to start complaining when Applejack led them to one of her favorite places on the farm.

"And this here is our swimmin' hole.  We'll take breaks during the hot days and come here to cool off for a bit.  Thought you two would be ready for a dip right about…"

Applejack didn't have a chance to finish as a blue streak went past her on the left and a yellow streak went by on her right, both shouting "Woohoo!" as they went by.

As the three friends floated peacefully in the pond, Applejack decided she needed to ask a really hard question of her newest friend.  "So, Spitfire, is it really that bad bein' a Wonderbolt?  I mean what would happen to you if they did find you?"

"Applejack, have you ever met or even heard of an ex-Wonderbolt?" Spitfire answered.

"Well, now that you mention it, no, I haven't."

"That's because there are no living ex-Wonderbolts."

"You don't mean what I think you mean do you?"

"Wonderbolt until you die.  I'll be the very first one to ever successfully leave."

"I had no idea…"

"And you can't tell anypony else, ever.  I'm trying to get out in some way to not destroy the Wonderbolts.  If it ever got out how bad things can be there, it would ruin them.  Your sister looked at me with such admiration, just because I'm a Wonderbolt.  I could never do anything to break so many hearts.  It was devastating to Rainbow and me when I had to tell her."

"I gotcha, Sugarcube, I completely understand too.  Just sorry that it had to happen like this, there ought to be some way to fix it."

"Once I'm out, that's going to be one of my next goals, find a way to fix it," Spitfire said determinedly.  "Rainbow and all of you have shown me so much friendship and love, I can't take this freedom you're giving me and not do something with it."

"So, y'all got any ideas on what to do to fix it?"

"It's all about the contract.  In the book that Twilight and I read, it didn't seem like the contract was supposed to be interpreted the way it is now.  So, if I could find a way to show someone how they are using it, maybe it could get re-written.  I'm really not…" Spitfire's last few words were cut short by a shout.

"BORING!" and Rainbow quickly grabbed Spitfire and dunked her under the water.

"What the buck, Dash?" Spitfire got out between coughs, but not before Rainbow dunked Applejack too.

"Alright, yer askin' for it now," Applejack said as she and Spitfire stalked Rainbow Dash.

Once Applejack and Spitfire felt like they had their revenge, the three friends flopped out of the pond and onto the cool grass.

"Well, you were getting so serious, I was afraid you were going to bum yourself out again, and bum the rest of us too.  Thought a water fight was just the thing to break the tension," Rainbow explained.

"You're probably right, Dash.  I've needed this.  We both have needed this.  Thanks for bringing us out here, Applejack," Spitfire said.

"Ain't nothin', Sugarcube.  I didn't know you two were that stressed.  I was just wantin' to show off the farm.  You still wantin' to see Apple Bloom and the other CMCs?"

"Yeah, I promised Apple Bloom I'd be there," Spitfire answered.

"Well then, we'd best get dried off some and start headin' over to their clubhouse.  She'll be outta school soon."

"So, what,are we going to do to try and earn our cutie marks today?" Sweetie Belle asked as she and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders walked toward their clubhouse.

"We haven't tried mountain climbing yet," Scootaloo pointed out.

"Scoots, for the last time, I ain't tryin' to climb no mountain.  Besides, I think we just need to get to the clubhouse," Apple Bloom said.

"The clubhouse?  But it's such a nice day.  We've got to try something to earn our cutie marks," Scootaloo complained.

"Just trust me, we need to get to the clubhouse."

Spitfire, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack were waiting inside the clubhouse for the three fillies to arrive.

"So, you think they'll be surprised?" Spitfire asked.

"I know Scootaloo will be.  She runs a fan club for Rainbow here," Applejack pointed out.

"Your very own fan club, eh?  Rainbow, you're more of a celebrity than you let on,"  Spitfire joked.

"Well, I am pretty awesome.  Some ponies just recognize that easier than others," Rainbow replied, completely oblivious to the attempted joke.

"I still think we should try to get our cutie marks in theoretical quantum physics again.  We were nearly onto something the last time," Sweetie Belle was saying as the Crusaders entered the clubhouse.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stopped dead in their tracks when they looked up to see Rainbow Dash and Spitfire standing in front of them.  Apple Bloom simply walked on over and started the introductions.

"Now ya both know Rainbow Dash, but this is our good friend, Spitfire.  She's stayin' at the farm for a day or so and she wanted to meet us.  Spitfire, this is Sweetie Belle, she's Rarity's little sister, and this is Scootaloo, she's…"  Apple Bloom was cut short in her introductions.

"SPITFIRE AND RAINBOW DASH!"  Scootaloo screamed and began bouncing in place, her eyes huge with admiration and surprise.

"It is certainly a pleasure to meet you all.  Apple Bloom has told me about how you're all working together to try and get your cutie marks…" Spitfire started.

"SPITFIRE AND RAINBOW DASH!  THEY'RE HERE IN OUR CLUBHOUSE!  AND SPITFIRE JUST SPOKE TO ME!"  Scootaloo was beside herself, completely unable to control her enthusiasm.

It took everypony working together to get Scootaloo calmed down.  Once she was able to complete sentences without screaming, they all sat down to talk with Spitfire.  Spitfire told them how she got her cutie mark, what life with the Wonderbolts was like,  and why she was there with Rainbow Dash.

"I'm thinking about retiring from the Wonderbolts and I wanted to hang out with Rainbow Dash to get an idea of what a normal life might feel like.  That's why I need to ask the three of you not to tell anypony that I'm here with Rainbow or that we're staying at the Apple's house tonight. I don't want other ponies nosing around looking for a picture or anything," she explained.

"You mean like the pony-razzi?  My sister hates dealing with them when she has fashion shows," Sweetie Belle commented.

"Exactly Sweetie Belle, it wouldn't be a normal feeling day if I'm ducking cameras all the time.  Well, I think we're going to start to head back to the house.  I want you three to promise that you'll keep trying to get those cutie marks, but do it safely.  Don't try anything silly like…oh say mountain climbing or something,"  Spitfire said.

Scootaloo blushed deeply with embarrassment giving a slight awkward smile.

Applejack, Rainbow and Spitfire got up and started walking out of the clubhouse.

"Apple Bloom, you be home in time for dinner.  Granny's going to be makin' a nice big spread tonight for us, and I think Big Macintosh is bringin' somepony with him," Applejack instructed.

"Can Sweetie Belle and Scoots come to dinner too, then?  I mean if Granny's makin' such a big spread.  They won't eat much, I promise."

"They can come, but only if ya'll get permission first."

The three fillies nearly knocked everypony over leaving the club house so quickly, running off towards Ponyville.

"Bye, Sis!  See you at dinner!" Apple Bloom called back.

Celestia's sun was just starting to dip below the horizon.  A large group of ponies were gathered on the front porch of the Apple's home, enjoying the sunset, each one with a very full stomach from another one of Granny Smith's amazing meals.

"You know, I just realized something," Spitfire spoke up, breaking the silence.

"What's that, Spitfire?" Cheerilee asked, sitting next to Big Macintosh.

"This time of day, just between Celestia's day and Luna's night, is called twilight.  Some sort of coincidence that it has the same name as Twilight Sparkle," Spitfire pointed out.

Spitfire's revelation was simply met with quiet hums.

"Well I think it's really interesting," Spitfire thought to herself.

"Okay girls, it's getting late.  I should walk the two of you back to town.  Big Macintosh, would you mind walking with me…uh, I mean us," Cheerilee said, blushing slightly.

"Nope, don't mind at all."

"Spitfire, it was very nice to meet you, and don't worry, I won't tell anypony you're here," Cheerilee said as she gathered Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

"It was very nice meeting you too, Cheerilee."

"Now, Big Mac, don't stay out too late walkin' them ladies home," Applejack joked at her brother and Cheerilee's expense.  The resulting blush from Cheerilee and glare from Macintosh let her know it worked.

"I guess we should head back over to the barn, Spitfire.  We should call it an early night.  With so many ponies knowing we're here, we should get up extra early tomorrow and find a new place to hide out," Rainbow said, raising from the porch and stretching.

"You're the pony with the plan, Rainbow, and it's worked so far.  Looks like we'll be getting a really early start tomorrow, we'll be quiet when we leave.  No reason for everypony to get up on your day off,"  Spitfire said walking over to Applejack.  "Thank you so much for your hospitality,"  she said as she hugged Applejack around the neck.

"Shucks, everypony is welcome here all the time.  You just stay safe and come back when the apples need buckin'.  We could use the extra hooves and wings then," Applejack joked.

"Good night, Applejack,"  "Good night, AJ," the two pegasi said as they walked off toward the barn for the night.

"Good night you two," Applejack called back, "And be safe tomorrow.  Y'all so close to the end of this mess."