We had been traveling almost half the day and the ride was completely quiet. The silence hung in the air like a heavy elephant pushing down on a trampoline. Occasionally I could see her glance at me through my peripherals. I wish she didn’t look at me sometimes, it creeped me out. I wanted to at least sleep, or pretend I was asleep. But each time I closed my eyes, I was plagued with images of Fluttershy which twisted my stomach in a knot. When I closed my eyes I could still feel her soft coat against mine. The way her legs draped around me when we hugged. The way she wrapped herself around me as we slept. The way her hair brushed against my muzzle. It caused a few tears to leak out of my eyes and I attempted to wipe them away.
 
I don’t know why I would do that. I don’t know why I tried to hide my sadness and tears from Gilda. She had seen me do nothing but cry these last few days. I’m surprised at how patient she had been with me.
 
In the distance I could see the castle growing closer and closer as we were making our way to Canterlot. The sun was setting and I hadn’t even noticed we were travelling all day. Gilda finally spoke up, cutting the silence with a knife. Slowly.
 
“So I hope you are hungry.” she said, clearing her throat. “I booked us a table at the White Stallion. Place is pretty ritzy. You ever hear of it?”
 
Of course I had. The last time the girls and I went up here Princess Celestia bought us a meal. Fluttershy and I split the angel hair pasta.
 
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.” I said. “Since when can you afford that?” I craned my head slowly to her, blinking my tired and sore eyes. I was a bit shocked to see her eagle face staring back at me. Her golden eyes giving off a bit of an eerie glow in the dimly lit carriage.
 
“Since I am the manager of the Wonderbolts, of course.” she said. That same, devious, jack-o-lantern smile contorting on her face. With her glowing eyes it made her a bit intimidating. “I get 70% of the profits.” she said matter of factly.
 
This pissed me off a little. I didn’t want most of my hard work to be given to her. Yeah she was the manager, so what? Besides take care of the team, what did she do to earn her all that? Why did she get so much of the cut? “What do you use that money for?” I asked.
 
She clacked her beak and began to speak. “Well for starters, a place for you guys to stay. I book public meetings, places for you to preform. Physical fitness, uniforms.” she pointed out the window and I looked out to see a Billboard with the Wonderbolts on it. “Advertisements.”
 
I looked down at my hooves and the ride remained silent. The rest of the way was spend with the both of us looking out our windows.