I’m useless at this stuff, so I asked Miss de Lis what I should write about next. She said I should try to figure out “where it all went wrong.” I really like her, but that’s just dumb. Where it all started? Why the buck would I wanna write that? Nopony cares.

Crap. I shouldn’t have written that.

Why does this stupid book have an anti-blot enchantment? You can’t blackwash when

---

I’m sorry, Miss de Lis! Really! I didn’t mean it! I did mean to throw the book out the window, but I’m really sorry about that, too. Please don’t tell Uncle Fine! I’ll do like you told me to and write about it. I’m a big colt now, I can take it. Just please, don’t tell Uncle

I forgot. He’s gonna read this later, too.

Crap.

—unsigned, presumed Gulfstream Dust, Book of Shadows XLVIII,

May 30, 1007

Gulfstream marched out of the school, his head held high and his lips tightly sealed. The other foals cast anxious looks his way, but he ignored them, just as he ignored the red slip of paper in his pack. The mere thought of the thing set his mind ablaze; his second one in under a week. He wanted to rip it to shreds, but he learned his lesson from last time and wasn’t about to do it in plain sight of the flight teachers. They watched him like overgrown vultures, and he dared not meet their gaze. The temptation to stick his tongue out at them would overwhelm him if he did.

They had no right to lecture him. They were there to show the feeble foals how to use their wings, and he already could! Like he had to learn the stupid ‘rules of flight.’ That was for amateurs. Why did Aunt Flit make him go to flight school, anyway?

And there was no way he was gonna learn that stupid cheer.

“Well, somepony’s looking all mopey.”

His anger faded, lips switching to a smile in no time. He looked up just as Lightning Dust landed on the edge of the support cloud. “What’s up, kid?”

“Hey, Lightning!” He trotted towards her, his school day already forgotten. “Am I glad to see you.” He glanced around before nuzzling her; no Rainbow Dash this time. He wasn’t about to complain.

“Of course you are, I’m the coolest cousin ever.” Lightning ruffled his mane before looking to the school. She must have seen something bad, because she sighed. “You got another one, didn’t you?”

The anger zapped back into him. “It’s not my fault!”

Lightning responded with a bemused frown.

He growled and waved his hooves back at the school. “It isn’t! I just clipped her. She shouldn’t have been in the way. It’s not like I forced her to crash, she should have used her wings!”

Lightning sighed and rubbed her temples. “Most ponies your age can’t use their wings, Gulfstream. That’s part of why they go to flight school.”

“Well then, they’re just… just stupid.” He stomped, sending a puff of cloud wafting into the air around them. “I can fly, why can’t they?”

Lightning studied him for a moment, her lips twisted into a frown that was caught between concern and frustration. She squeezed her eyes closed for a while, but finally heaved a sigh. “You know what? I’m not gonna deal with this right now. I have something else I wanted to talk to you about. Come on.”

She launched, and Gulfstream followed. He didn’t know what she intended and he didn’t care; as long as they stopped talking about things that made him mad. Which was a lot of things, come to think of it. He glanced back to see the other foals having to be carried on the backs of their parents and siblings and couldn’t resist a cocky grin at their expense. Especially for that wimpy black filly he’d grounded.

It may have been an accident, but it was still funny.

Gulfstream licked another glob of ice cream from his cone before hopping onto the park bench. “Best cousin. Just saying.”

Lightning’s smile was subdued as she joined him, her own ice cream barely touched. Gulfstream hardly noticed, he was too busy trying to use his tongue to coax a large chunk of chocolate cookie out from under the vanilla blob. At last he freed the confection from its frigid prison, only to pull it into his mouth and suck on its chocolaty goodness.

“Hey, Gulfie? I gotta ask a favor.”

“Mmm.” Gulfstream shrugged, his eyes still set on his cone. He kept sucking on the cookie even as he used his tongue to keep the ice cream from dripping onto his hoof.

“You know the Best Young Fliers competition is in two days, right?”

That did it: he promptly swallowed the rest of the cookie and gave her a broad grin. “You bet I do! First place, guaranteed, and I’ll get to watch!” His wings buzzed and he forgot his ice cream up until the chilly drippings began running down his hoof. He gave a small cry and promptly began licking it off.

Lightning chuckled, though it was a quiet sound. “Did you know Nightmare Moon’s gonna be there?”

“Really?” His eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. He looked up to see if there might be some deception or trick in his cousin’s words.

She nodded, her eyes averted. “Yeah. Scary, huh?”

“Scary? It’s cool.” Gulfstream’s grin came back in full force. “Even Celestia’s scared of her. But not me!” He puffed out his chest, then took a big bite of his ice cream.

Lightning blinked, her ears perking as she stared at him. After a moment she shook herself out of it and smiled. “Well, aren’t you the brave colt? You know she might gobble you up, right?”

“Nuh-uh!” He shook his head and flapped his wings demonstrably. “I’m too fast!”

“Of course ya are, kid.” Lightning rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Alright, one thing down. Now for the other.” She paused, her smile fading as she gazed at something in the distance. After some time she took a small bite of her ice cream, not even noticing how it was melting all over her hoof.

Gulfstream had finished his ice cream and was chewing on the still-crispy cone when she finally spoke up. “Rainbow’s also gonna be at the contest.”

His face scrunched up as he pictured the rainbow-maned mare in his mind. “Uh-huh.”

Lightning finally noticed the state of her ice cream and, with a sigh, tossed it over her shoulder before using one of the napkins they’d acquired to clean her hoof. She did it slowly, as if it were something very important, which was dumb; Lightning didn’t care about being clean. That was Aunt Flit’s job.

“You don’t like Rainbow.”

The cone crunched in his hooves, crumbs and dollops of melted, leftover ice cream falling through the clouds. He gritted his teeth and glared at the mess, if only so he wouldn’t be glaring at her.

“Here.” Lightning pulled his hooves towards her and began cleaning them with the leftover napkins. Her eyes were aimed at his face, but he turned it away. He’d much rather study that uneven patch of cloud.

“Why don’t you like her, Gulfie?”

His head pulled back and he hunched his shoulders with a scowl. Lightning stopped cleaning his hooves. She bent low, trying to look him in the eyes. He refused to let her.

“Please?”

Gulfstream gasped, his anger faded as he turned to stare at his cousin. There was a quiet plea in her eyes that didn’t belong. In an instant, his frustration returned in full force. “Don’t do that!”

Lightning jerked back at his shout. “Do what?”

He jumped to the air and pointed at her with both hooves. “Lightning Dust does not say please!”

“She does when the topic is important enough.” Lightning waved to the spot on the bench he’d just vacated. “Please, Gulfie. Talk to me.”

Gulfstream’s legs trembled. The pained expression on her face made him feel something familiar, something he hated more than anything: sadness. The steady beat of his wings became jumbled as their synchronization failed. Wobbling in midair, he slowly forced himself to land, but on the clouds before her. He wouldn’t let this… this changeling dictate where he should be! He stared at his hooves and fought desperately to hold back tears.

“D-don’t say that,” he mumbled.

Lightning was staring at him. He didn’t have to look up to know it. It made him feel small.

He hated feeling small.

“Gulfie, why do you hate Rainbow?”

His lips curled back in a quiet snarl. “Because you’re my cousin.” He kept his eyes on his hooves, blood boiling. Stupid tears.

“Uh… okay. What does that have to do with Rainbow?”

His eyes jumped to hers even as his legs tensed. “You’re my cousin.”

Lightning sighed and bowed her head. “Gulfstream, I don’t—”

He screamed at her. “You’re my cousin, mine! She’s not cool enough, she’s not good enough! You’re mine!”

“Whoa, Gulfstream, calm down. You don’t have to—”

“Shut up!” He grabbed her leg and pressed his cheek to it, tears streaking his face. He did lower his voice, but it was more because he couldn’t stand his own words. “I know what you’ve been doing together, when you think your parents aren’t looking. Why does she get to spend so much time with you, huh? I don’t wanna share. You’re too awesome to share. She doesn’t deserve you!”

He trembled, his legs wrapped around hers in a vice-like grip. The words echoed in his mind. They angered him. He shouldn’t have said them. He shouldn’t be crying. Cool ponies didn’t cry. Lightning wouldn’t like him anymore if he cried, and then Rainbow would get her all to herself. He clung ever more tightly.

He tensed; Lightning was stroking his mane. He didn’t like it… no matter how good it felt.

“I thought it might be something like that,” she whispered kindly. “I knew you liked me, Gulfie, but geez…”

He growled at her tone and pressed his forehead against her leg. “You’re my cousin. Only mine.”

“And Rainbow’s not gonna change that.” She grabbed him around the waist and lifted him up. He resisted at first, gripping her leg as tightly as he could, but after a few seconds he relented. She set him on the bench next to her, in the warm recess between her foreleg and hind leg, and wrapped a wing around him. It was a familiar position, one she’d put him in before, right after his parents…

“I don’t like this spot,” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. He stared at his hooves and sniffed a few times.

Lightning’s warm smile appeared in the corner of his eye. “Gulfstream, Rainbow isn’t going to take me away. I’ll always be your cousin, you can count on it, but I can’t spend all my time with you.”

“Can too.”

“Can not.” She nuzzled his forehead. “You’re important to me too. You know that, don’t you?”

His shoulders shook. His eyes burned. Though the anger within wanted him to say no, he instead gave a small nod. “Mm-hmm.”

“And I promise, there’s no way Rainbow will come between the two of us, not ever.” Lightning rested her head on the bench. That was frustrating. It made it hard to not look at her. “You’re my precious cousin colt. Nothing can change that. Okay?”

He stared into her eyes, and though his words choked him he still managed to ask, “But what if she does?”

“She won’t.” Lightning nudged his leg with her muzzle, her smile hopeful. “Come on, kiddo, you know she’s not a bad pony.”

“Is too,” he mumbled. “She makes you do girly things.”

Lightning raised as eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

He sniffed and rubbed his nose. “I saw you two in the bed. You giggled like a wimpy girl.”

Pink bloomed across Lightning’s cheeks and her eyes went wide. “Uh… Gulfie… what exactly did you see us do?”

He shrugged. “I dunno. You were giggling and nuzzling each other. I got mad and left.”

She released a long, slow breath, but didn’t relax. “Did you tell mom and dad what you saw?” When he shook his head she seemed to deflate, a broad smile forming on her lips. “Good. Wanna make a deal?”

He shrugged once more, his eyes on his hooves.

“If you promise to never tell anypony what you saw me and Rainbow doing, I’ll take that red paper and make it disappear.” She nuzzled his cheek, prompting a smile to finally come to him. “Mom and Dad don’t need to know about it.”

Gulfstream didn’t even have to think about it. “Deal.”

“One condition.” She pressed a hoof to his nose. “You’ve got to try to stop causing trouble.”

His shoulders sagged and he scowled. His words came out with a slight buzzy quality due to her hoof on his nose. “It’s not my fault.”

Lightning's eyes narrowed. “Then no deal.”

He growled and pushed her hoof away with both legs. “You’re supposed to be cool.”

“And you’re supposed to behave.” She sighed and shook her head. “Come on, Gulfstream. My parents jumped through a lot of hoops to get them to let you live with us. You shouldn’t reward them by causing more trouble.”

Gulfstream couldn’t be sure what angered him more; what she said or that he believed her. He always believed Lightning. With a final huff, he lowered his head to the bench and mumbled something.

“What was that?”

“I said ‘okay,’ ” he repeated forcefully. “I’ll… be nicer.”

“Good.” She nodded firmly. “And now, I need a favor.”

He groaned and, without raising his head, glared at her expectantly.

“Rainbow’s going to be in the contest with me.” Lightning leveled him with a firm frown. “I want you to cheer for her.”

“Awwwww, do I have to?”

“I’d like you to,” she said, though her tone was hard. “Rainbow’s not like us, Gulfie. She’s constantly worried about her image. She needs our support.”

“But I don’t want to,” he mumbled, once again staring at his hooves. “What if she wins?”

“What if she does?” Lightning sighed and shook her head. “I want to win, Gulfie, but I’d happily be second place if she was first. She’s my friend. She’d be yours too, if you’d let her.”

He grumbled, pressed a little closer to her and closed his eyes. “No.”

Though he could feel Lightning’s gaze on him, he refused to acknowledge her. She couldn’t force him to be nice to Rainbow. She didn’t deserve it.

“She’d gonna try to do a Sonic Rainboom.”

His ears perked. “She can’t.”

Hope lingered in Lightning’s voice. “I bet she can. If anypony can, it’s her. She did it once.”

“Did not. She lied.”

“How do you know?” Lightning nuzzled him.

“How do you know?” he countered before covering his face with his legs to protect against her pleasant assaults.

“Because I believe in her. I think she’ll pull it off. Come on, Gulfie.” She bumped her muzzle against the barrier of his legs. “For me? Can’t you support her just this once? You gotta admit, a Sonic Rainboom would be all kinds of awesome.”

He shuffled his hooves and cringed; he had to admit, it would. But this was Rainbow Dash, and she was stealing Lightning. Except Lightning had promised. She kept her promises. And if Rainbow could do a Rainboom… well, maybe she was cool enough for Lightning.

Maybe.

The next two words took all his substantial willpower to produce. “I’ll… try.”

Lightning cocked her head to study him, then smiled. It was the kind of smile that left him feeling warm.

“That’s good enough for me.”

“You’re gonna stay right here, right?”

Gulfstream rolled his eyes and batted Lightning’s hoof from his mane. “Yes, LD.” He leaned forward to look out over the cloudiseum. “I can see everything from here!”

“That’s why I picked it.” She grinned and looked out over the scene. The oval structure’s stands weren’t as full as might be expected. “A lot of ponies are gonna be missing out.”

“Yeah.” Gulfie looked around at the empty space around them. “Wonder why.”

Her face shifting to a grimace, Lightning pointed her hoof to the VIP box. “Probably because of that thing.”

Gulfstream turned his gaze to the box. There sat the infamous Nightmare Moon. Even near the opposite side of the cloudiseum, Gulfstream’s keen eyes could make out her straight posture and the cool, scrutinizing expression she wore. Her head turned in slow movements, sweeping the stands like a hawk seeking prey. The idea made him shiver, but not from fear.

He was excited.

Those eyes fell upon him, and his blood chilled. The cat-like irises ceased their scanning and delved into him, and he had absolutely no intention of looking away. Their harshness, their underlying anger, the cool sense of judgement that washed over him… it made his blood boil, and he liked it.

Then the eyes moved on, and the energy left him. He sagged, panting for breath, but he kept watching Nightmare Moon. He hoped she’d look again.

“Goddess…” Lightning shivered and shook out her mane. “That thing gives me the creeps. Why’d they invite her to this, anyway?”

Gulfstream followed the dark alicorn’s gaze and noticed how everypony refused to look towards the VIP box. He could almost see their shivers passing along the stands, like a wave of fear traced by her eyes.

Was he the only one to look? Was that why she’d focused on him a little?

The blaring of trumpets diverted his attention, and all eyes turned up as the announcer introduced the judges for the contest. They flew over the cloudiseum in a perfect ladder formation, each pegasus releasing smoke in his or her wake. Gulfstream felt his heart pound as the Wonderbolts broke formation and began swirling about one another in a complex aerial maneuver that left the crowd cheering. In short order, they’d finished their display and came for a landing in the judged box just beneath the seat of Nightmare Moon. The princess, rather than showing excitement, studied the four figures with apparent curiosity.

“Alright, the show’s about to start. I’ve gotta head backstage and get ready.” Lightning set a hoof to Gulfstream’s shoulder. “I’ll be listening for your cheering, Gulfie. For me and Rainbow.”

He gave a derisive sniff. “Yeah, I got it.”

Lightning didn’t leave, not at first. He could feel her eyes boring into his back; he hunched over and refused to acknowledge her. He relaxed only when he heard her flapping wings fading in the distance.

Satisfied he was finally alone, Gulfstream sat up tall and took in the scene. So few ponies here. He glanced towards Nightmare Moon; was she really that scary? If nothing else, he thought she was rather nice to look at. So look he did, wondering at her starry mane and regal bearing. Had she led warriors into battle? She looked like she could.

She looked cool. Like, “flying over the violent horde, horn shining while her enemies flee before her” cool. Probably with rock music. Gulfstream didn’t know much about her, save that she once fought Celestia for control of Equestria. His mother liked to tell him stories about her, trying to scare him into behaving.

He shivered and drooped; he didn’t want to think about his mother.

But he did want to meet Nightmare Moon. The idea filled him with eagerness, but Gulfstream wasn’t dumb. He couldn’t just fly up to meet her. How did a foal meet the Scourge of Equestria? He cast his eye her way once more and blinked; she was looking at him again.

He looked right back, face slack and eyes wide.

The announcer was speaking, but the words were incomprehensible. The entire world seemed to be little more than background noise, slowly shifting past this weighty moment in time. The light of the world faded into a colorless grey. The cat-like irises of Nightmare Moon held him as surely as any griffon’s claws, talons grasping his throat and restricting his breath.

Gulfstream knew that the appropriate response was fear. The fact hovered in the back of his mind, lingering, teasing, begging, but he ignored it. How could he not? His blood rushed, his heart pounded, his body trembled. He felt alive, and he wanted more.

The connection was cut, like a taut cord snapping. Her face turned away.

In an instant, the world assaulted Gulfstream once more; the roaring crowd, the rambling announcer, even the quiet wind against his ears seemed disproportionately loud. He wobbled and shook his head, once again feeling his energy drain.

“What… was that?” A chill ran down his spine, and he couldn’t tell if it was a pleasant or frightening sensation. He looked to the night princess once more, an eagerness welling within, but her gaze was on the current contestant. She avoided his eye as if he wasn’t even there.

He stared. He stared and stared, but she wouldn’t acknowledge him. Chewing his lip, he leaned forward intently and silently begging for another glance. He didn’t even care about the aerial display over his head. What was a flying competition compared to this? “Look at me,” he hissed. “I want you to look at me. Come on…”

Anger began to grow within him, but before he could properly acknowledge it he felt a tap on his shoulder. He yelped and hopped away, then realized his mistake and turned to face the newcomer with wings flared. “Hey! What’s your problem?”

A royal guard stood before him, tall and imposing. Gulfstream’s eyes went wide at the muscles on the stallion and his golden armor.

But whatever strength the guard seemed to have had paled. He looked at Gulfstream with anxious eyes, his body just a little too fluid. His voice quavered. “Y-you, colt. The princess summons you.”

The air released from Gulfstream’s lungs as though from a popped balloon. He turned his eyes to Nightmare Moon, but still she refused to match his gaze. “R-really?”

“Yes, really.” The guard adjusted his armor and gestured. “Come with me, boy.”

Gulfstream was too dumbstruck to do anything but obey, trotting alongside the stallion as they went to a walkway behind the stands. He glanced back at the cloudiseum just before the arena faded from view. Lightning had told him to stay put, but… he couldn’t ignore the princess, could he? She’d understand. Worry swept over him as he realized he might miss her routine.

The guard must have noticed his worry, for he stopped and turned to Gulfstream. He shuffled in place, eyes dancing about as if afraid somepony might overhear. “Look, colt, if you d-don’t wanna meet her, I understand.”

Gulfstream cocked his head, thoughts of Lightning fading away. “Huh?”

The stallion shivered and flapping his wings. He gestured to the city of Cloudsdale. “You can fly off. I can tell her I couldn’t catch you. Sh-she might have my head, but… but I’m not gonna force you to come. After all—” he swallowed audibly, “—she’s Nightmare Moon.”

Gulfstream understood what the stallion wanted. He looked out over Cloudsdale, at the pegasi flying to and fro on their daily duties. He could disappear there, surely.

Why would he want to?

He glared at the stallion. This was a royal guard? This was the kind of pony that protected Equestria? Gulfstream puffed up his chest and met the guard’s fearful eyes. “I’m not scared. I wanna see her.”

The guard took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”

How could he be such a coward? Gulfstream hopped into the air and hovered just high enough to be at eye level with him. “I’m sure.”

The guard’s eyebrows rose. He considered the colt before him, eyes running along his wings. After a second or two, he nodded and turned to continue walking. “You’re a lot braver than I was at your age. You thinking about joining the guard?”

Gulfstream huffed, crossed his forelegs and floated after the stallion. “I used to.”

It didn’t take long to get to the other side of the cloudiseum. Gulfstream spent the short trip listening to the crowds inside and trying to determine if Lightning had done her routine yet. He was reasonably sure he’d not missed it, yet he still simmered at the thought that it could happen at any moment. The stallion opened his unusually large wings and flew up to an opening in the back of the cloudiseum, and Gulfstream followed.

The two guards just inside the opening eyed Gulfstream as he passed, their expressions unreadable. That was more like it! Gulfstream wondered why the princess couldn’t have sent one of them to talk to him.

“Mind your tongue in here,” the stallion ordered as they paused beside a long white curtain. “The princess may decide to cut it off and eat it.”

Gulfstream’s ears perked and his eyes shined. “Really?”

The guard shot him a raised eyebrow, his confusion apparent. He shook his head and mumbled something about kids before pushing the curtain open and gesturing for him to follow. When he spoke, his voice had become as hard as granite. “The colt, as requested.”

Pushing his way through the curtain, Gulfstream found himself in a room big enough to hold a dozen ponies. Light streamed in from a balcony opening out into the cloudiseum, revealing that the space was almost completely empty save for a few cloud cushions and two guards on either side of the exit. Sitting in the tallest one, her face turned away to watch the competitors, was the Princess of Darkness herself.

Nightmare Moon’s mane and tail wafted about in an invisible wind, but she was otherwise perfectly still. Gulfstream took in her brilliant black wings, massive even when folded. He could only hope he’d have wings half that big when he grew up. Slowly, his gaze followed along her back to the purple cloud of her flank and the moon emblazoned there. He only gazed at it for a moment, perhaps to confirm to his muddled mind that she was who she claimed, before looking at those beautiful wings.

The princess shifted and gestured to the cloud cushion at her left. “Come, young one. Have a seat.”

Gulfstream nodded and stepped forward, approaching the fluffy cloud. It was too tall for him to climb onto, so after a moment’s hesitation he opened his wings and flew himself onto it. Slowly, of course. He looked up at the princess eagerly, but she was still observing the show. She looked harsh, like a wolf watching a bunch of rabbits at play. He studied the curve of her neck, the length of her muzzle, the length of her slender horn. Had she stabbed anypony with that?

Her head turned to him in a single swift motion, and though her muzzle raised imperiously her eyes were upon him. He stiffened as they appraised him, passing up and down his form with those wicked irises. His breath caught in his throat as he awaited her judgement.

But he refused to look away.

Nightmare Moon’s lips curled up on one side of her face, revealing wicked fangs that she traced with the edge of her tongue. “I’m feeling… hungry.”

The guards shifted in place, their armor rattling. Gulfstream considered her words, then remembered what his mother had told him before about Nightmare Night. He couldn’t help but smile. “Then eat something.”

Her tongue paused and her eyebrows rose, the end resulting being an expression of amusement and perplexity. After a moment she closed her lips and returned his smile. “Perhaps I will. What is your name, my brave little pony?”

He sat up tall and puffed out his chest. “Gulfstream Dust.”

“Hmm…” She levitated a small booklet from the cushion beside her and flipped through it. “Ah-ha. So you know Lightning Dust, I presume?”

“Uh-huh. She’s my cousin. She’s gonna win first place!”

“Is she now? You sound certain of that.”

“I am.” Gulfstream nodded emphatically. “Nopony can beat my cousin. She’s the best flier in all of Equestria!”

Nightmare Moon turned her gaze back to the arena as an orange pony zoomed by. “And what would your cousin think if she knew you were speaking with the Scourge of Equestria?”

Gulfstream hesitated, his eyes going to the arena. With the cushion, he was just tall enough to see over the edge of the lower wall. He considered Lightning in his mind’s eye, trying to think of what her reaction might be. “I think… I think she’d be worried.”

Once again, her eyes turned to him. Her words were only a whisper, but there was a wickedness in her tone. “Are you?”

He met her gaze, and once again those eyes bored into him. There, he felt it again! That strange sensation like he was flying through a storm. An exhilaration swept through him, a desire to fly… or fight. He gave an involuntary shiver as the awe consumed his mind. He wanted to speak, to act, to do.

His eyes shifted to her horn, but only for a fleeting moment. The question was on the tip of his tongue. He saw her lips pull back in a fanged grin that had his heart flitting like a hummingbird’s wings. Oh, but he loved this feeling!

“Have you killed anypony with your horn?”

The words seemed to have taken flight of their own accord, and now floated between them like ethereal butterflies. Nightmare Moon’s grin faded, her expression shifting to curiosity. After a moment, the vicious fangs appeared once more. “Once or twice.”

Gulfstream let out a ragged breath, somehow managing to whisper, “That. Is. Awesome.”

Her eyes widened and her face went slack. An instant later, she threw back her head and laughed. “You aren’t afraid of me at all, are you?”

“Afraid?” Gulfstream took an eager step closer, his eyes aglow. “This is the coolest day ever! Is your sword really made of stardust? What about your shield? A shield made of solid night sounds awesome!”

Nightmare grinned, but this time there was no threat in her smile. Her tone grew playful. “Here, try it out.”

With but a blink from her horn, something flashed into existence before Gulfstream. The colt nearly fell off his cushion in surprise, and after recovering he let out a loud gasp; there, hovering before him in an ethereal glow, was the sword of Nightmare Moon itself. The blade glimmered like a million stars, silvery and enticing. His heard pounding, Gulfstream reached forward and touched the hilt, which appeared to be made of pure obsidian. It was smooth to the touch. Reared back, he reached high and felt at the flat of the blade; his hoof dipped into the starry substance before landing on something solid. He could not see through the glimmer to what it was he was touching, but it sent a spike of cold along his leg.

“Wow…”

She gestured invitingly. “Go ahead.”

Ignoring the continuous shifting of the guards, Gulfstream reached out and grabbed the hilt in his hooves. The hold was clumsy, but he still managed to pull the weapon closer to his chest. “It’s so light.”

Nightmare Moon chuckled. “But of course; it is made of starlight.”

Gulfstream adjusted his hold on the weapon and gave a practice thrust, then reared back and tried a downward slash. The movement came out wrong and he nearly fell forward, but used his wings to catch himself. With a giddy giggle, he raised the weapon high. He could imagine himself standing over his defeated foe. Maybe a griffon. Yes, a mighty griffon warrior, brought low by his—

“How did you get your cutie mark, Gulfstream?”

“Huh?” He dropped back onto the cushion, careful to hold the blade forward. He turned to see the princess’s eyes on him. “Why?”

Nightmare smiled, opened her mouth, then pulled back from him with a grunt. She shook her head forcefully and grimaced. Gulfstream watched in fascination and confusion; did her coat just shift colors? He could have sworn it had turned blue for an instant…

His ears perked; the announcer had just called Lightning’s number. The princess fled his mind as he turned, heart leaping into his throat. He hopped forward to sit on the wall of the balcony, a grin spreading across his face as his cousin exploded out of the curtains like her namesake! She turned a wide circle, electricity crackling in her wake over the applauding audience.

Lightning began flying across the stadium, but did so in a rapidly bobbing route that had ponies nodding as they followed her flight path. Her movement was so quick that the electrical streak in her wake still remained when she made a sharp about-face and flew right through it. This created an explosive shower of sparks that rained upon the arena! Gulfstream bounced in place as she flew a rapid loop, then circled around as if to fly through the circle she’d created. Just before she did, however, she came to a sharp stop and fanned her wings in a mighty thrust that made the electric circle erupt in a second shower of sparks over the watching Wonderbolts.

“She is so cool!”

As the crowds applauded and the Wonderbolts took notes, Lightning flew high above the cloudiseum. Gulfstream tensed as her flight path shifted to a wide circle.

“Ooh, this is one of the hard ones…”

Lightning’s flight path was nothing short of flawless. Though her energetic discharge came to a stop, all eyes locked upon her as she kept her body locked in a vertical stance, her wings spread wide. But she didn’t fly up or down; instead, she seemed to outright float in a wide circle, her descent slow and gradual as she spun like an airborne top.

Nightmare Moon hummed. “I must admit, I’m impressed. I’ve not seen an aerial pirouette in a very long time, and certainly not used like that.”

“She is the best,” Gulfstream insisted, not taking his eyes off his cousin. His wings had opened at some point during the display, but he didn’t bother to close them.

He knew what was coming next.

Lightning completed her third lap of the cloudiseum, having fallen about halfway down the structure, but now she pulled out of the graceful descent and darted for the center of the arena. When she got there, her lightning wake was replaced by a black cloud. She’d explained to Gulfstream just how she this did once – something to do with speed adjustments, air densities and precise timing with the wings – but it was beyond him. All he knew was that most pegasi couldn’t produce any physical wake at all, and his cousin could make two.

Lightning’s flight path descended in an ever-widening circle, the smoke behind her crackling with energy. Within seconds she’d formed a veritable pyramid of smoke, the pony herself lost to the darkness. Gulfstream rocked back and forth, his eyes on the strange new cloud formation and his ears perked. “Come on, LD, you can do it. I know you can…”

Then he saw it; the pyramid began to turn in place. It twisted and shook, the electricity within sparking in small eruptions as the clouds began to close in on themselves like an implosion in slow motion. Their speed picked up, the bottom began to curl under the formation…

And then Lightning erupted from the top of the formation, followed by a blast of electricity that sent jolts flying high above the cloudiseum. She came to a stop, posing with wings spread wide as the bolts continued to flash all around her in a steady stream of sparks. Gulfstream outright screamed her name as the ‘Lightning Volcano’ erupted in all its glory, setting every pony’s hair standing on end and covering the sky in a brilliant aural display that didn’t end until the last of the great cloud had dissipated into the still air.

Ponies all across the cloudiseum were in the air, cheering and clapping and screaming for an encore. Pride swelled within Gulfstream; he could almost see the other contestants defeated faces. Especially Rainbow’s. He laughed and waved his hooves, but Lightning was already on her way back to the contestants’ box.

His hoof stopped moving of its own accord.

“I would appreciate you not waving that around so carelessly.”

Gulfstream looked up and realized he still had Nightmare Moon’s sword in hoof. He blushed and let it go, settling back down on his cushion and taking a moment to get the excitement out of his system. When he next looked up, the weapon was gone. He felt a twinge of regret over that, but it lasted only a second. He turned to the princess with a grin.

“Wasn’t that awesome?”

She chuckled and nodded. “Your cousin is very talented. Barring any unexpected surprises, she’s the clear choice as the contest’s winner.”

“I know!” Gulfstream bounced a few times and turned his attention back to the arena. “We don’t even have to watch the rest of the contest. She’s got this!”

“In that case, I would ask you to do something for me.”

He paused at her curious tone. When he turned to face her, he found himself caught once more in the power of her eyes. His jaw went slack, along with his wings and shoulders. There it was again, that powerful grip on his throat. But this time was different; it wasn’t the claws of a griffon threatening to squeeze the life out of him, but a tender caress. It felt so… soothing.

Gulfstream relaxed, his mind at ease and his body light.

“Now,” Nightmare purred, “I want you to tell me how you acquired your cutie mark. Tell me the whole story. Remember it like you are there.”

And he did. Gulfstream’s mouth opened and words poured out, with no thought at all towards stemming the flow. He spoke of his last day at the orphanage, of flying with Rainbow and Lightning, of his anger and jealousy towards the blue pegasus. He described the waterfall and his attempt to repeat Lightning’s trick, the rage he felt when he failed. His heart swelled as he recounted his battle with the water and the way he diverted its path.

Then… there was a cutie mark.

Nightmare Moon hummed once more, her lips curled in a thoughtful smile. It was only then that Gulfstream noticed how he was curled up next to her on her cloud. When had he done that? His cheeks burned and the pleasantness of his mind faded. He stared at his hooves and stammered an apology.

“It’s alright, my little pony.” Nightmare rubbed a hoof between his wings, her tone kind. “I liked your story, Gulfstream. Yours is a fine cutie mark. I think that you will make for a great warrior someday.”

His head jerked up, ears perked and eyes wide. “You think so?”

“Oh, yes.” She nodded with a fanged smile. “I see great things in your future. Do you want to be a warrior, Gulfstream?”

He jumped to his hooves. “Yes! I do, Princess, I really do!”

“That is good to know. I—” Nightmare Moon cringed, her body stiffening.

Gulfstream’s ears went flat. “Princess?”

“I’m… fine. Just an old nuisance that occasionally arises.” She turned her face away and mumbled something. Her words were indecipherable, but her tone was harsh. When she turned back to him, her eyebrows rose at his concerned expression. “What?”

He sat back and looked into her eyes. “Can I help?”

The princess stared at him, seemingly perplexed. “I… no, little one. I am fine. There’s no need to fret over me.” Her ear flicked and she turned her gaze to the arena. “Ah, I believe your rival is about to go on.”

Gulfstream groaned, but turned to watch regardless. He had promised Lightning, hadn’t he? Yet try as he might, he could conjure no enthusiasm as Rainbow Dash made her appearance from the curtains. “She’s gonna blow it.”

“Your confidence in her is reassuring,” Nightmare Moon said, sarcasm dripping from her tone.

Despite Gulfstream’s doubts, Rainbow passed the first part of her routine without difficulty, flying a complex obstacle course that he begrudgingly admitted showcased her high speed agility. He grumbled as she flew towards a trio of clouds; Lightning didn’t need props. Even so, there could be no denying that a single pony spinning three clouds was impressive. Frustratingly so. Gulfstream hissed under his breath that he could do that trick… or would be able to eventually. Surely his cutie mark made it so.

But Rainbow, it seemed, could not; something went wrong while she was behind one of the clouds. It careened from its proper place and slammed into one of the others, which flew right at the VIP box. Gulfstream saw Rainbow rocketing sideways, flapping wildly to regain control of her flight. He had more important things to worry about, though… like the giant cloud heading his way.

It was just a cloud. It might be a solid pegasus cloud, but still just a cloud. Nonetheless, Gulfstream felt the urge to act and promptly jumped onto the wall between Nightmare Moon and the swirling vortex of condensed air. “Don’t worry, I’ll—”

Two things happened at once. The first was Gulfstream’s sudden understanding that, for all his bravado, he’d never be able to stop a cloud that big moving that fast.

The second was Nightmare Moon’s horn appearing over his shoulder, vibrant with dark energies that sent tingles running up and down his body. He jumped with a yelp as a streak of black lightning flew from it, striking the cloud and disintegrating it into vapor. His hooving lost, he tumbled backwards into the VIP box only to be caught halfway down by a dark aura of magic.

“Are you hurt, Gulfstream?”

Face burning, he struggled to right himself. “N-no, I’m okay.” As soon as he’d been deposited back to the cushion, he grumbled, “Sorry, Princess.”

“Don’t be, my little pony.”

His ears perked; that sounded like the princess, but… not the princess? He looked up to find the cat-like irises missing, replaced by normal cyan eyes brimming with kindness.

Then the princess blinked, and the thin irises were back. As was the strong voice. “You should be more cautious, little colt.”

“I… I will be.”

Gasps filled his ears, and the two of them turned to look out over the arena. Rainbow had flown high so that she was only a speck in the distance, but now she was diving. Fast.

Gulfstream couldn’t help it; his pulse quickened. He leaned forward, eyes wide as he saw the cone forming around her. “She’s gonna try. A Sonic Rainboom!”

“A what?” Now even Nightmare Moon leaned forward, her eyes set upon the descending pegasus. “Nopony has performed one of those in six centuries.”

Thoughts poured through Gulfstream’s mind as he watched, most of them questions. Did he want Rainbow to succeed? It would be pretty cool if she did. Cool enough to be with Lightning? Would he be okay with that? Should he be rooting for her? Lightning wanted him to. Maybe if she failed, Lightning wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore. That was a good thing, right? But she’d probably be sad, too. Maybe he should—

The entire world let out a collective gasp; Rainbow had stopped mid-flight. The cone of air around the pegasus snapped back, and Rainbow zipped through the sky like she’d been fired from a slingshot. He couldn’t tell if her cry, just audible in the distance, came from frustration, despair, fear… or all of the above.

Laughter rippled through the audience. Gulfstream couldn’t help but chuckle and wonder what he’d been so worried about. Of course she wasn’t going to pull it off! His amusement faded when he noticed the streak of lightning following after the tumbling pony. He winced as he imagined Lightning’s pained face at that moment.

A faint hum drew his attention to Nightmare Moon, who peered at the scene with an intense focus. Gulfstream glanced between her and the two dots in the distance. “What’s wrong, Princess?”

“She almost had it,” she whispered, her voice contemplative. “With a little adjustment…” Her lip pulled back into her one-sided, fanged smile. “I want to meet this pony.”

“Rainbow?” Gulfstream gawked at her, not phased at all when she turned those sharp eyes upon him. “But she failed! Why would you want to talk to her? She’s a loser.”

“For now.” Nightmare’s gaze went back to the two pegasi in the distance, who were now returning to the cloudiseum. “She may become something more in time.”

“But… but Lightning won!”

“Of course she did.” Nightmare stood from her cushion, her smile growing playful. “Come then, little colt; let us greet the winners.”

Gulfstream cocked his head in uncertainty before following her out of the room.

Gulfstream had cheered just as loudly as anypony else when it was announced that Lightning had won the competition. She looked so proud, standing atop the podium… up until she realized that her laurel crown was to be set upon her head by Nightmare Moon. The mare had trembled like a leaf before the alicorn’s looming presence, which Gulfstream found just a little odd.

But not so odd as what happened next.

“Gulfie!” Lightning stood over him, crown still on her head and eyes wide. “You mean you’ve been sitting with the princess for the whole contest? I was worried sick when I didn’t see you in the stands!”

He hunched back at her anger and pointed a shaky hoof towards Nightmare Moon. “It’s not my fault, cuz! She told me to come, honest.”

Lightning’s face twisted into an ugly grimace as he’d never seen on her before. “I’ve known you to be many things, Gulfstream Dust, but I never thought you were a liar. When I get your flank home I’m gonna—”

She froze as a dark hoof touched her shoulder. “Please, Miss Dust, restrain yourself. Your dear cousin speaks the truth.”

Lightning whipped around and bowed so quickly her crown fell off her head. “P-Princess! I’m sorry if he bothered you, I promise to—”

“Miss Dust?” Nightmare Moon’s smile was taunting. “Breathe.”

Lightning sat up and did as she was told, taking several heaving breaths. She never quite relaxed, but at least she seemed less tense to Gulfstream’s eye. He saw the princess’s gesture and eagerly trotted to her side. She ran a hoof from between his ears and down his back in one slow, fluid motion that left a pleasant sensation. Were he a cat he might have purred, but he wasn’t a cat, so he settled for a grin.

“I was feeling a little lonely in my box, and your cousin caught my eye.” The princess turned her smile back to Lightning, whose eyes constantly danced between her and Gulfstream. “I summoned him to me. I assure you, he was no trouble. In fact, I quite enjoyed our brief time together.”

“Really?” Lightning shook her head before offering a fragile smile. “I mean, glad to hear it! Uh, your majesty.”

Nightmare Moon nodded, then turned her eyes to the crowds. “Now, where is that friend of yours? Rainbow Dash, I believe it was. I would like to meet her, as well.”

“Rainbow? Why would you…” Lightning paused, her eyes going to Gulfstream and the hoof still rubbing between his ears. His tongue lolled out as he moaned pleasantly from the attention.

Lightning swallowed audibly. “I-I’ll get her.”

A few moments later, she returned at a trot with Rainbow following behind. The blue pegasus’s head hung low as she gazed up at the noble princess before her. “H-hello, your majesty.” She dropped to a bow, her bloodshot eyes set on the clouds. “You w-wished to see me?”

Nightmare Moon’s tone was pleasant. “Please, Miss Dash, stand. I would look into the face of one so daring.”

Rainbow did as she was told, her face coated in confusion. “Daring? Me?”

“Why yes.” Nightmare nodded. “Few are the ponies who would dare to attempt such a stunt as the rainboom. I understand you’ve done it before?”

With a blush, Rainbow rubbed the back of her head and averted her eyes. “Well, yeah, but I was just a filly. Nopony believes the story anyway.”

“I do.” Nightmare leaned forward, catching Rainbow’s gaze. “I have seen the Sonic Rainboom performed in the past. I can assure you of this much, Miss Dash: you were very close to succeeding. If you had, you may well have placed first in this contest, rather than sixth.”

Rainbow’s lips flipped to a grin. “I knew I was close. I could feel it, it was right there!” Then her frown came back, although now it was contemplative. “But I don’t get it. Aside from my first routine, I did terribly. How did I even land in the top ten?”

“I imagine that is because the Wonderbolts value effort.” Nightmare’s hoof left Gulfstream’s head, and he sagged with a tired, woozy smile. “From my little source here, I believe you are set to do great things in your future.” Her eyes shifted to Lightning, who abruptly stood straight. “If you can handle the competition.”

Lightning flinched and smiled at the attention. She didn’t notice Rainbow’s grimace.

Gulfstream did. He knew what was going through her mind, and though he didn’t blame her it still irked him. He looked around and discovered the laurel crown lying in the clouds between Nightmare Moon’s hooves. Snatching it up, he flew over to his cousin and planted it firmly on her head. “I knew you’d win, cuz.”

He made sure to smirk at Rainbow. She responded with a glare.

Which shifted to a grin the instant Lightning looked her way.

Author's Notes:

For those of you who don't read my blogs: there's a possibility I won't be updating this story this coming weekend due to a special project I've been working on. You all can survive me skipping one week, can't you?

I did a ton more with this chapter than I had intended, but that's by no means a bad thing. In fact, it's because of this chapter that I came to realize where I would be going with the gulfstream story, and I am now very much looking forward to the rest of it!