Those That Bond Together, Stay Together

It has come to my attention that an individual calling themselves "Blossom" on a MLP fanfiction site has claimed that he or she has written my story "Crystal Dreams." This "Blossom" has currently published four of my chapters already. I have already sent a note to this site requesting my work get taken down. I am a little saddened by the situation. Plagiarism is wrong. We are taught this from childhood. While I am flattered that this individual liked my story enough to try to claim it as his or her own, it could make an author not wish to share their writing anymore. I am not one of those authors that will give up a skill I love to share.

I hope this "Blossom" will learn from this situation and not attempt to steal others' works in the future.

Do not own any rights to any characters. Ever. Damn.

Chapter 3

Rainbow Dash sat up to turn around and stare in surprise at a blushing Spitfire. A spasm of pain rippled through the rainbow-maned mare's injured chest and Soarin' pulled her over to lean against him so he could gently massage the sore muscles with a hoof as the Triad sat on their couch.

"Baby, why don't we finish this story later?" Soarin' suggested as he looked down in concern at his youngest life mate.

The stallion hated to see his life mate in pain. It reminded him of a dark time when Rainbow Dash had been so sick in the hospital. Soarin' never wanted to see his "Baby" in that state again.

"Nope. I'm fine," promised Rainbow Dash honestly as she gazed up into Soarin's eyes with a grin, "I shouldn't have moved like that. It was my fault."

"You are surprised to hear that I was quite a little brat at one time, right?" Spitfire chortled still blushing as she waited for Rainbow Dash to nod, "It's not a memory of myself that I am very proud of. You see we all make mistakes no matter who we are and I couldn't see that I was not being quite the teammate I should have been."

"It wasn't completely all your fault," Soarin' added as he looked a little uncomfortable, "I have always been kind of a…bouncy pony. As a colt, I never met a stranger I didn't befriend and I always thought that everypony was as happy-go-lucky as I was. As I grew, I never took into consideration that maybe my attitude could be grating on others."

"No," Spitfire denied, "I was just being a royal brat and you know it Soarin'. Stop being so kind. I was being too arrogant."

Rainbow Dash looked between her two life mates and felt embarrassed. She knew that sometimes she could be a bit arrogant. It was a flaw that she was still working on within herself. Seeing Spitfire's regret pricked at her very being. Soarin' and Spitfire noticed her discomfort.

"You see, Baby?" Soarin' said as Spitfire leaned over and nuzzled the little rainbow-maned mare's cheek, "Even capable Wonderbolts make mistakes and don't always handle situations well."

"So what happened next?" Rainbow Dash asked settling down snuggly against her stallion.

"I got worse," Spitfire began with a self-depreciating eye roll.

Flashback

The next few weeks flew by for the newest Wonderbolts Cadets. Spitfire, Soarin', Lightning Steak, Ice Wind, and Rapidfire were put through Wonderbolts basic training. Each pony's endurance, speed, skills, and strength were pushed to the maximum levels. A normal rookie would have at least a year's worth of training before being placed into the performing squadron. A few lucky ponies in the past had been so good that they were placed into shows early, such as both of Soarin's parents. Being a pony that showed herself to be capable to perform early was Spitfire's first goal. The golden Pegasus was pleased to note that she excelled over most of the others. She was not pleased to note that Soarin' rivaled her skill levels. It made her even angrier to note that this all seemed like a…a…breeze to the cheerful stallion. Spitfire hated him.

Spitfire hated Soarin's cheerfulness. She hated his ability to effortlessly keep up with her. She hated that the whole Wonderbolts team doted on him like a baby brother. She especially hated his ridiculous love of pie. What was it with this stallion and pie, anyway? Argh!

Every evening the Cadets got free time to unwind. Soarin' and the others would play around or go out to have some fun. Not Spitfire. Determined to outshine the rest of her peers, the golden Pegasus practiced out in the training field for hours until curfew. She didn't care that her wings felt like they were going to fall off, the mare pushed herself further and further.

"I've got to get better," Spitfire said over and over to herself, "Got to show Captain Thundercloud that I've got what it takes to be in the performing squadron."

What Spitfire didn't know was that her goal seeking was causing her to distance herself from the rest of the Cadets.

"I'm telling you that Spitfire is a cold fish," Rapidfire whined as he and the other Cadets ate at a local diner, "She never relaxes. She never smiles. I feel like she is always judging me and when she offers suggestions on how to improve she always ends up insulting me. I can't stand her!"

"That's not fair," Ice Wind defended her friend, "Look, Spitfire is just trying to prove something to herself. Her suggestions are good. She knows what she is talking about. I just don't think Spitfire realizes how she comes across to others."

"Well, Spitfire is down right rude to Soarin'," Lightning Streak grouched angry with the treatment of his best friend, "I can't stand the way she looks down her nose at him."

"Calm down, Lightning," Soarin chuckled, "I don't mind, really. I mean, she is absolutely vile at times, but Ice Wind is right. Have you ever noticed that Spitfire can pinpoint any flying error just like Captain Thundercloud? That mare has real skills."

"I don't care what you say or what skills she has," Rapidfire snapped, "Spitfire does not act like a teammate. Have you noticed that all she ever does is practice, practice, practice? How can we perform our precision flying when all she ever does is try to show that she is better than the rest of us? It looks like we are 'baby ducks' following the 'Mama duck.' It's embarrassing."

"I agree, " Soarin' said, "My parents always said that it is up to the team to make another teammate see the error of their ways. We need to talk with her. We are as much to blame for a bad performance if we don't try to get Spitfire to understand that we have to work together. Let's talk with her after morning practice tomorrow."

"Agreed," the rest of the Cadets chorused together.

The Pegasi paid for their meals and returned to The Wonderbolts' headquarters. Everyone else went off to bed while Soarin' sat in the common room thinking over what to say to Spitfire the next day. A sound at the door startled the stallion, causing him to whirl around and see the very mare he was thinking of.

"What are you doing here?" Spitfire stiffly asked.

"Well, 'hello' to you too,' Soarin' greeted cheerfully, "I was just clearing my head."

"That must have been easy?" Spitfire replied with a smirk.

"Hey!" Soarin snapped getting a little angry, "Why are you being so mean? I haven't done anything to you to deserve your attitude."

Spitfire stepped back startled at the angry stallion. Soarin' hadn't shown anger in all the time she had known him and if he ran and tattled to Captain Thundercloud then she may not make the performance squadron.

"Sorry," Spitfire offered without really meaning it, "I'm just tired."

"Okay," Soarin' agreed feeling mollified, "Well, good night."

Spitfire nodded and went to her room. Soarin's eyes sadly followed her retreating form. The stallion felt somehow drawn to the golden mare. Gaining Spitfire's friendship was important to him for some unknown reason, but no matter how hard he tried to get her to open up, the mare kept her distance.

"Maybe tomorrow we can really talk and start working as a real team?" Soarin thought to himself as he trotted off to bed.

Unfortunately, the morning practice went the same as usual. Spitfire's attitude was throwing off the precision of each aerobatic figure. This had gotten old. After getting yet another lecture from Captain Thundercloud on teamwork, Soarin' and the others had had enough.

"Spitfire," Ice Wind called out as the mare was heading towards the locker room, "Can we talk with you?"

Spitfire turned suspiciously and saw the rest of the Cadets hovering behind Ice Wind. She didn't like the way this felt and it made her suspicious.

"Fine," Spitfire agreed walking over, "What can I do for you? I want to get some laps in before breakfast, so hurry this up."

"Spitfire, you are one of the best young fliers I've seen in a long time," Soarin' began, "But you're not a solo act. The Wonderbolts are a team flight group."

"Yeah!" Rapidfire added loudly making Soarin' frown at him, "How can we ever get the precision of each move down if you are always show boating?"

"What?" Spitfire snapped, "I do not show boat. Don't blame your lack of skills on me just because you can't perform an aerobatic figure to save your life."

"Wait a minute," Ice Wind tried to soothe, "We are not attacking anypony here. What we are trying to say is that we need to work to be a better team. We need to work together so than our stunts are as smooth as the performing squadron. None of us will be in a show if we don't show Captain Thundercloud improvement."

"That's right," Soarin' agreed, "We all worked very hard to get here and we all want to be in a performance. Let's work together."

"Sure," Spitfire sniped out as she rolled her eyes, "I'm sure you worked real hard to join the team."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Soarin asked in surprise.

"Like you don't know?" Spitfire hissed out, "Must be nice to have Mommy and Daddy get you a spot in The Wonderbolts? You are such a Team's Pet!"

The remaining Cadets first turned shocked eyes on Spitfire and then gaped at Spitfire's last spiteful words. Soarin' was knocked speechless.

"You don't know what you are talking about!" Lightning Streak defended his colt-hood friend angrily, "Soarin' worked just as hard as all of us to be here whether his parents once belonged to this team or not. I think you are out of line."

"I agree," Ice Wind snapped having finally had enough of Spitfire's snotty behavior, "I have tried to be your friend, Spitfire. I know you want to prove yourself, but all you are doing is showing that maybe The Wonderbolts team is not somewhere you belong. Being a good flier does not make you a good teammate. You need to grow up!"

Spitfire stepped back in surprise at Ice Wind's angry words. How could The Wonderbolts not be where she belonged? This is what she had been working towards her whole life.

"I'm sorry you feel the way you do, Spitfire," Soarin' sadly choked out, "Yes, my parents were Wonderbolts, but they taught me everything I know. Yes, I grew up around The Wonderbolts, but I would never use that relationship with the team as a tool to exceed. I love flying and I worked hard to earn my place here. I will continue to work hard and become a part of this team and I hope one day you can be a part of this team too. We cannot be held back by you anymore. If you can't improve your attitude then we are putting in a formal complaint to Captain Thundercloud."

Spitfire sank to her haunches in surprise as the rest of the Cadets turned and left. Only Soarin's saddened face turned to give her a glance as the team left. She sat trying to work out in her head exactly what was happening. How did an ace flier such as herself get labeled as a problem on the team?

"What in the hay just happened?" Spitfire said aloud.

"You finally heard the words that you needed to hear," a deep voice called out from behind her.

Startled, Spitfire jumped up and spun around to come face to face with Captain Thundercloud. The mare blushed in shame and lowered her gaze.

"Spitfire, you have great potential," Captain Thundercloud began, "However, you are not showing it."

"I don't understand," Spitfire gasped out, "I am out performing everypony…okay, almost everypony. Soarin' and I are equally matched and…"

"You are not equally matched," the stallion interrupted firmly, "Yes, your flying skills are equal, but Soarin' has something you lack. He treats the others as teammates, not as rivals. Being apart of an aerial acrobatic team means that each member must be able to almost breath as one entity. The squadron relies on each member to do his or her personal part in the skies. That is how The Wonderbolts became the best. We are a team of equals."

"And all I am doing is trying to make this a race," Spitfire affirmed clearly ashamed of herself as tears welled up in her eyes, "I am so sorry. I just wanted to prove myself to you."

"You already have," Captain Thundercloud comforted, "You wouldn't have been accepted on the team if you hadn't. Spitfire, you have the ability to have true leadership skills within you. I have noticed that you have a good eye for details and can fix aerial problems exceedingly quickly. If you can learn to work among the others as a true teammate, you could be an essential part of The Wonderbolts."

Spitfire glowed at her Captain's praise. Finally, the golden Pegasus saw the errors of her ways.

"I will work hard at being a better teammate," Spitfire promised, "I will apologize to the other Cadets at breakfast. They were right and I was wrong. I am really sorry for not having seen that earlier."

"Making mistakes is natural for your age. Don't worry about it," Captain Thundercloud advised, "However, you cannot allow these mistakes in judgment to happen during a show. There are others that are relying on you to keep them just as safe as they are going to keep you. I believe that we will not have to have this conversation again, will we?"

"Sir, no, sir," Spitfire called out giving the stallion a salute and then she gave a heartfelt promise, "I will be a proper, functioning member of the team from here on out. I swear!"

"At ease, Cadet," Captain Thundercloud chuckled out, "I think it's time to apologize to the others, don't you?"

"Yes, sir," Spitfire agreed as she turned towards the cafeteria to go and have a very difficult conversation.

To be continued…