Though the soldiers of Equestria had come to realise that they were, perhaps, not the best combatants ponykind had to offer, that did not stop them from wanting to be as good as they could be. Nowhere was this more evident than among the barracks of the Canterlot Elite. These were Equestria's best of the best. The mares and stallions hoof-picked from other squads and divisions across the land to serve as the most able and trusted troops of their nation. Their goal? To protect and serve not only Princess Celestia but the great capital city of Canterlot. Training was often rigorous, and many would often end the day feeling exhausted and drained. But, such was the mark of a day well spent, or, at least, that's what they often told themselves. For Vapour Trail, her recent exertions since being chosen into this select group of ponies was becoming as clear as day upon her face, and as she placed her armour away in her locker for the day, she let out a long and tired-sounding sigh.

"Okay...up early tomorrow. Patrols on the western side of the city...then a debriefing with Captain Night...then extra drills with the squad...is that everything?"

She looked to the interior of her locker door, seeing the list of duties and day-plans she'd made for herself. Sure enough, her recollections matched the scrawls she'd put there, and she gave a brief nod to it. But, as her eyes slowly turned away from that, she started to bear a slight grimace. For there, right at the back of her locker, was a mirror, and her reflection was not exactly looking ship-shape right now.

"Ugh! My mane's a mess right now!"

Letting out another sigh, she reached into her locker, pulling out a small comb and starting to get to work on her unkempt mane.

"Why...why do those helmets always have to make this so...ugh!"

She grunted as she tugged on one particularly stubborn knot in her mane, and as she did so, she accidentally let her comb slip out of her hoof. Her eyes widened as she saw it fly off through the air, heading straight to the side, wherein it then collided with the still-worn helmet of another of her colleagues. She took on a look of worry as she watched this other cadet, a pegasus stallion, look down to the comb upon the floor. Taking off his helmet, he revealed himself to have a dark-blue mane, which contrasted heavily against his yellowy-orange fur. However, contrary to what Vapour might have suspected, he did not seem in any way irritated as he picked up the comb. Instead, he looked to her with a smile, walking over to her and offering it back to her.

"Drop this?"

Letting out a clearly-stressed exhale, Vapour accepted it, looking to the stallion with a more relaxed expression.

"I'm so sorry about that!"

But the stallion chuckled.

"No problem. Happens all the time."

Still smiling, he reached out, offering his hoof.

"Flash Sentry."

Relaxing a bit more, Vapour accepted the offered hoof.

"Vapour Trail."

Flash nodded.

"We haven't spoken yet, but I've heard about you. You joined about a month after me, right?"

Vapour nodded.

"Yeah, it...it was kind of a surprise."

The stallion chuckled.

"Yeah, tell me about it. One minute, I'm doing patrols around Cloudsdale, and the next, I get an invite from Captain Night Light himself."

He looked away, bearing a slightly embarrassed look to himself.

"You should have seen the look on my face when I got the news. I think my jaw might have fallen all the way down to the ground that day. And remember, I was in Cloudsdale, so that's a long way down!"

Raising a hoof to her mouth, Vapour stifled a giggle to that. But, she said nothing, watching as her colleague continued to speak.

"And you? I don't think I heard how you got the Captain's attention."

To that, Vapour's smile was replaced with a less-than-happy look.

"Oh...it's...not that good of a story."

Flash tilted his head, showing confusion, and looked on as the mare turned to her locker, letting out a sigh that was tinted with a degree of sadness.

"The day the Captain accepted me...my best friend was arrested for corruption. He lost his posting in the Guard of Manehattan. And...I haven't seen him since."

The stallion's face softened, and his ears drooped somewhat.

"I'm...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

Bit Vapour shook her head.

"Don't worry. Sky brought it on himself. I kept telling him he should stop, that he should walk away...but he just kept on doing it. And now...?"

She didn't finish, instead slowly and solemnly closing her locker. Flash, seeing that she was clearly upset, gently placed a hoof upon her shoulder, gaining her attention.

"I know that can't have been easy...but we can't control what other ponies do."

Vapour nodded.

"That's what I keep telling myself. Captain Night said he accepted me into the Elite because I showed loyalty to my friend...that it was a worthy trait."

Her grimace returned.

"But if I'd have been truly loyal...I would have done more to stop Sky before things got too far."

Flash nodded.

"Maybe...or maybe he would have still ignored you. We can't ever know what might have happened, and second-guessing ourselves only drives us nuts."

A chuckle escaped him.

"At least...that's what the Captain says."

Vapour giggled.

"Not a bad way to think about it."

Flash again nodded, and in the silence that followed, he got back to doing what he'd been doing before he noticed Vapour. He went to his locker, removed the last pieces of his armour to place within it, then closed said locker tightly. Once that was done, he let out a sigh, clearly feeling better about the day's work being done, before looking once more to his latest colleague. A warm and friendly smile came to him, and he walked over to Vapour yet again. She looked to him, with that smile of his, and listened as he spoke in an upbeat tone.

"So I was watching you fly around during our training session earlier. You were pretty good."

A blush came to the mare at that.

"Oh, you're just saying that."

But Flash shook his head to this display of modesty.

"No, I mean it! I've been here long enough to know good fliers when I see them, and you definitely qualify!"

She looked to him, her expression and tone reflecting clear and open appreciation for those words.

"Thanks...but...Captain Night still says we have a long way to go."

Flash nodded, agreeing.

"True...but from what I hear, he's always been like that. Old soldier and all that."

The two shared a laugh together, which ended when Flash, after looking around themselves for a moment, spoke up again.

"Although...I hear his daughter's coming to town in a few days. So we can probably count on him being a bit more relaxed."

Raising a hoof to her head, Vapour wiped away some of the sweat that still lingered upon her brow.

"Phew! That’s good to hear!"

Again, the two shared a laugh, and, saying nothing, they began to head off together, soon exiting the locker room of the barracks.

"So...you’re a Cloudsdale native too?" Vapour asked.

Flash's chest swelled with a little pride.

"Yes, Ma'am! Born and bred!"

Vapour looked ahead, looking like she was growing somewhat nostalgic.

"Do you remember that old stallion who used to bake those nice muffins during the summer months?"

Flash nodded.

"Oh yeah, those were good. Shame he retired though."

Then, he looked as though he'd just had an idea, and looked to his companion with enthusiasm.

"You know...I know a donut place here in Canterlot that serves some pretty good stuff too. Wanna check it out?"

Vapour considered that, and while it was clear that she had not been expecting such an invitation, she nevertheless seemed pleased at the prospect.

"Alright then, Mr Sentry...it's a date."

A blush came to Flash after having heard that, and Vapour, upon realising what she'd just said, matched that blush.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean...!"

"No, it's fine! I mean, not that I wouldn’t be interested, but..." Flash countered, sounding just as panicked.

A silence passed, and after looking to each other, they soon broke out into a joint laugh over that silly moment just now, culminating in a simultaneous sigh.

"So...donuts?" Flash asked.

Giggling again, Vapour nodded.

"Yeah...I think I could use one."