"Cloud Hopper Dash, it's time to wake up!" Rainbow Dash scolded. It had been well over a year since her son had recieved his cutie mark. Shining Armour and Rainbow Dash had agreed on the fact that they would switch their son every month. This was his month, and Rainbow Dash had a lot planned. She was going to meet up with her old friend, Derpy, to eat some muffins and share stories. Hopper was excited as well, his dad said that he had a present for him when he arrived at Canterlot. He energetically leapt of his bed, combed his rainbow mane with magic, and grabbed his saddlebags. Shining had them custom made woth his cutie mark, and his coat pattern. It was the best gift ever in the eyes of his son. He never went anywhere without it. His mother didn't even bother to make breakfast, he always ate at Celestia's table in the mornings. The element of loyalty gave her son a quick kiss on the muzzle, and hen he walked out the front door of their cloud home. After discovering he could walk on clouds, he asked his mother if they could move back into their old home. It didn't take long to move back in, they only needed a few things. He leapt from cloud to cloud, leaving a shining rainbow in his wake. Once Hopper reached Ponyville's train station, he walked directly into the train. The conductor, Runaway Train, already knew that he was going to Canterlot. Hopper didn't need a ticket because of his father's promience in Equestria, as a prince and their lead guard. It only took a few more minutes until the train was full and was on it's way to Canterlot. Hopper looked out the window as they passed the Everfree Forest. It sent shivers down his spine. He saw the yellow eyes of timberwolves flash by, but they soon disappeared as they entered Canterlot's force field. Given to them by the esteemed unicorn prince, Shining Armour.

Hopper exited the train, eyes already scanning for his father. He was nowhere to be seen. Instead, all he found was a befuddled Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. She looked very lost, so Hopper decided to go help out his stepmother.

"Hey, Princess Cadance! Are you lost?" he asked casually. Turning her head to face him, her face relaxed.

"Oh, Hopper. I'd been looking for you. Hard to miss a rainbow mane and the sky for a coat." she giggled. The princess of love could be strange sometimes. She motioned for him to come closer, and as he did, she said the most cryptic thing.

"Your talents will be put to use this month." Hopper looked at her confusedly. She didn't bother with explaining, instead she took to the sky. Many ponies that had not noticed her, bowed and kneeled. Hopper, taking this as a challenge, leapt up onto a nearby cloud. Other ponies gasped at this sight, but Hopper continued to ignore them.

"You want a race, I'll give you one!" he shouted playfully. She laughed openly as she sped away, her stepson hot on her tail. They raced all the way to Celestia's castle, where she stood regally.

"Hello my little ponies. Time for breakfast, let's go eat." she said, leadin the way to the huge dining room. It was probably bigger than Hopper's cloud mansion. Layed out on a long table, was dasies, dandelions, and spinach pancakes. All served with pine syrup, extracted carefully from the Everfree Forest. Without hesitation, they all sat down and began to eat. Hopper still wondered where his father was. He had to tell him something. That something was that he was going to try and join the Wonderbolts. He would be the first nonpegasus to join, if he made it. He wanted Shining to judge his cool new tricks.  The door creaked open, revealing a grinning Shining Armour. Hopper galloped towards his dad and gave him a loving hug.

"Hey Cloudy, how's it going?" Shining asked his son. Only his father could call him Cloudy, and only his father could make it seem manly. Relased from the embrace, Hopper shook his tail his excitedly.

"Come on, I'll show you how it's going!" he replied as he galloped out towards the royal gardens, breakfast forgotten. Shining Armour laughed as he walked, trying not to keep his son waiting. Once he had reached the royal gardens, his son was already on the clouds, hopping about. Hopper went to work as his father approached, his horn alight with magic as he moved clouds, creating a crazy obstacle course. Waiting for an invisible signal, he stood ready to begin racing. Magically, a checkered flag dropped in front of him, courtesy of the white stallion below. That set off the younger stallion, as he lept through cloud rings, raced up loop-de-loops, and completed many tricks. Shining Armour applauded proudly as Hopper landed.

"So, are you ready for your surprise?" he asked. Cloud Hopper nodded excitedly. His "surprise" walked out from the shadows, where she was perfectly hidden. His eyes went wide as his gift was reveal.

"Welcome to the Wonderbolts kid."

The End