A young pegasus filly opens the door to her and was quietly sobbing. She had tears in her eyes, her face red and puffy, as she walked to the foot of her bed. She climbed up and tried to brush away her face yet she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. She looked at her little nightstand and she quickly opened up to reveal a book. Grabbing the book she inspected the title that read ‘My Diary’ on the bold words. She sniffled a little more as she placed a hoof over the surface. She opened the first few pages and began to read it’s contents.

Journal Entry #16

“Hi diary. It’s me, Spitfire. Today is the best day ever. I recently learned that daddy is going to be joining the wonderbolts! Actually, he was already in the wonderbolts, for a long time in fact, however, this time he’s moving up from the reserves. He is going to be part of the main shows and be the star attraction for all of the upcoming performances! This was his dream! He loves being apart of the wonderbolts and he loves being with them. Mommy loves him and is grateful that he is going to perform. I can’t tell how excited I am I’m just to excited. I love my daddy dear diary. I can’t wait to see him in the shows.”

She turned the next several pages, still sniffling as she read.

Journal Entry #22

“Hi diary! It’s me again. You would not believe what happened. Daddy has send us tickets to his latest show! I’m so excited! I haven’t been this excited since he got to be with the wonderbolts main shows a few weeks ago. He is getting to be the best and he is going to be joining the upcoming legends in the wonderbolts. The great Wind Rider, the daring Storm Blitz, and the fastest and inspirational Sky Yeager! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to be with them and see them up close. Daddy has so much to give and I can’t wait to see him perform with them. He’s the best dad ever!”

She closed her eyes and shook her head, tears falling down and hitting the pages. Ignoring them, she continued to turn more pages.

Journal Entry #35

“It’s me again diary. I got some wonderful news. I’m going to be turning twelve in a few weeks! I know right. The only daughter to the famed captain of the wonderbolts. Oh you didn’t hear! He was promoted to the rank of captain! He is now going to be training the new recruits and cadets of the wonderbolts! I’m so happy for him! It’s been many months since he was just a reserve. Now, he is the fastest recruit to reach the rank of captain! He officially broke the record for it! I’m so jealous. He send a letter a few weeks ago about it and now he is going to be coming back to celebrate my birthday! I’m so proud of my daddy.”

“You promise me,” she whispered, tears still flowing. She looked at the diary and pushed another few pages forward. “you promised.”

Journal Entry #48

“Daddy just got home! I was not expecting this at all! I was told he was going to be late on my birthday party. Instead, he came back way earlier, like a whole week earlier! I never believed this yet it happened. He came over gave me the biggest hug, enveloping me with his large wings. You don’t know what it’s like diary, but it feels like being wrapped in a large fluffy blanket. It was warm, inviting and that was my daddy. His large red feathers wrapped around me made me safe, made me feel at home. Anyway, after the surprise he showed me somepony that I didn’t expect to see. Sky Yeager, in the flesh! He brought Sky Yeager, the most famous the most awesome, the most amazing Wonderbolt that ever existed, for a visit before my birthday. Diary I was just froze on the spot when I saw him. The grin plastered on my face made my daddy laugh and even Sky Yeager as well. I tackled daddy in the biggest hug I could give and thanked him so much for this awesome gift. My mom and dad invited him to stay for dinner and we all had a great time. Sky Yeager loved eating my mom's special cinnamon rolls and he liked seeing my enthusiasm. When he asked me about what I wanted to be I told him that I wanted to be a Wonderbolt. He gave me smile and rubbed my head with his hoof and he told me to continue chasing that dream. He is so awesome, Fleetfoot and Soarin are going to be so jealous.”

“You said you would come home.” she said to herself, continuing to read the latest entries.

Journal Entry # 52

Hey diary. It’s me again. I know it’s been a bit but I got some sad news. Daddy was called back to his work. He was suppose to stay for me, he was told he would be given the whole week off for me and my birthday. Mom was also really sad about this to. I saw her speak a lot of things to him, some of them a bit harsh. He promised he would be back before my birthday. That night, before he left in the morning, I asked him if he would spend some time with me. He said yes and we both talked for a long time. I was worried for him and he kept telling me that everything was going to be fine. I started crying diary. I know I’m a big filly, but I couldn't help but feel alone. What he did next surprised me. He took me into his hoofs and he brought me close to his chest. He held me as I cried, he calmed me and said that everything was going to be okay. I asked him what if you didn’t return back. He then took a feather out of his red wings and gave it to me. He told me to always hold onto it and to never lose it. He then hugged me and kissed me on the head. Before he parted I asked if he can be with me. He agreed and he slept with by my side. Diary, his wings were so comforting. I snuggled up to him, the closest that I could be, and he held me close with his large wings. He was so caring, so loving, I felt that he would never leave my side. He kept me safe and warm, he kept me secure and I could hear him whisper my favorite lullaby. He then told me this one thing, just before I went to sleep, ‘I’m so proud of you my little fire. Always known this, for you will always be my best wonderbolt.’ I cried in my sleep, yet they were not sadness. In fact, it was the opposite. I was happy. I was so happy. He gave me his promise that night that he will always be with me. No matter where he is, no matter where he has gone, he will always be by my side. I love my daddy so much. I never wanted to let him go.”

Spitfire choked as she read the last sentence. Her tears continuing to stream down, staining the pages of her diary. She lowered her head as she continued to sob. No longer wanting to read on, she slammed her hoof onto the pages of her diary and she threw the book to the side. She heard something crash and falling onto the floor, resulting a loud thump onto the ground, yet she didn’t care. She went and buried her head into the confines of her pillows and promptly screamed. She cried long and loud into the cushions, her whole body shaking as a result.

“You promised me daddy! You promised!” she said through her pillow. She lifted her hoofs and beaten into the pillow, letting out her frustration and rage.She continued like this for several minutes until she heard hoofsteps enter into her room. She lifted up her head and saw her mother standing before her. She froze slightly as she stared at her. Her mother had a neutral expression, simply staring at her younger daughter. She sat up and tried to wipe away her tears as best she could, yet it did little to her already reddened face.

“Mom I…look I can explain. I was,” she tried to speak until her mother lifted a hoof to her.

“Shh. It’s okay honey. I know what you're going through.” she said in her motherly tone. She looked down at the diary and the small item that was broken. Spitfire’s eyes followed and saw that it was a picture frame. Bending down her mother picked up the picture and looked back at her daughter, her eyes were a little saddened.

“This is his favorite picture you know.” she said as she walked over to her and climbed up onto the bed with her. Spitfire looked away, feeling somewhat ashamed of her actions.

“Mom, it was an accident. I was angry and I threw my book and it hit the picture. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” she said as her mother sat next to her, looking at her with concerned expression.

“Honey. It’s fine. You’re fine and I’m glad that you didn’t hurt yourself,” Spitfire didn’t reply and continued to stare away from her, allowing her mother to continue speaking, “Spitfire. You must understand. Your father is very busy and that he-”

“You can drop the act mom. I heard everything.” Spitfire interrupted her and her mother took a breath.

“You overheard me?” She asked as she continued to look at her daughter. Spitfire closed her teary eyes and recalled her mother at the door. She watched as somepony came and delivered something to her mother. She didn’t hear what they were saying but when she watched her mother fall to the ground clearly distraught she knew something was definitely wrong. Spitfire then noticed the object was a pair of goggles, the same that belonged to her father. It was in that moment that she knew something had happened to her father and that she was silent for most of the day. It was only after realizing as to why she had his goggles is when she understood that he was gone. She tried to comprehend, she tried to understand but the more she realized the painful truth the more she didn’t want it to here it. She shook her head and tried to ignore it but the truth of the matter is that he was gone.

She suddenly tensed up when she felt a hoof placed upon her back, her body rippling from the unexpected touch.

“You didn’t hear the whole story my dear. Your father did something very courageous.” she explained, allowing the words to sink in. Spitfire turned slightly, wanting to hear more.

“There was an accident that happened at the training grounds. A large storm came in and it was destroying much in it’s wake. Your father, Spitfire, stayed behind to ensure that everyone was safe and accounted for. He believed that some might be blown away from the strong wind and he didn’t want anypony come to harm. He went into the danger, knowing the risks, yet he went back to make sure everyone was safe. It was part of the job, to look after one another.”

Spitfire didn’t say anything, she just sat there, letting the words sink in.

“I knew what trouble he would get into, Spitfire. But I always believed he would be okay, but that is just part of the job. Your father did what was right and I am very proud of him.” her mother said, reassuring her daughter as best she could. Spitfire shuddered, and another wave of tears were threatening come down her cheeks. She turned around to face her mother and she saw that she was offering the picture, along with her father’s feather, the very one that he gave to her. She grabbed the picture and looked at it closely. She saw that it was the three of them. Her mother was on the right, smiling wide in the picture. She saw herself grinning from ear to ear, a wonderbolt souvenir in her hoofs. Then right next to her, the one who was smiling the most, was her father, dressed up in his wonderbolt uniform. He looked so proud and so happy. The longer she stared at it the more she longed to be with him. To feel his warm feathers, to feel his gentle touch and his soothing voice. She loved her father so much and it pained her now more than ever for admitting it.

She missed him and he was gone.

“I miss him mom,” she finally said, her tears now running free down her cheeks once more, “I miss him so much.” she felt her mother's hoofs pull her into her and she began to cry once more.

“It’s okay Spitfire. Please don’t cry, otherwise you make your mother cry to.” her mother said as she enveloped her own wings around her, even though she began shed tears as well. Spitfire continued to cry letting out her emotions. As she held to her mother for comfort she clutched the picture and the feather close to her chest. She sobbed softly, her tears staining into her mother's coat. As she continued to whimper she looked out the window to see the night outside. She looked up saw the stars high above. When she looked she saw a shooting go by and for a split second, she could imagine that he was still out there, watching over her.

“He would be very proud of you Spitfire. Always remember that.” her mother said as the tears flowed freely from her. Spitfire hugged her mother closer and she quietly whispered as she was held in her mother’s warm embrace.

“Please come back.” she softly begged as she closed her eyes and imagined being with him once more.

“Come back daddy.”